SPREADING THE GOSPEL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 253, 22 September 1933, Page 2

SPREADING THE GOSPEL.

ADVENTISTS’ FOREIGN MISSIONS. Adding one now language to their world-wide missionary activities in less than every ten days during the past six years, the Foreign Mission Board of the Seventh-day Adventists, with headquarters in Washington, D.C., United States of America, are now proclaiming their gospel endeavours in 485 languages and dialects of the world, according to the latest annual report just issued by H. E. Rogers, statistician of the denomination. A total of 20,715 evangelistic and institutional workers are now operating in 275 countries and islands, which leaves but very few places in the world where representatives of the faith have not yet established themselves. The Adventists believe that to them has been given the commission, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature,” and that “this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end (of the earth in its present condition) come.” The report by Mr Rogers further declares:—“The membership of the 7322 churches at the close of 1932 was 362,101, an annual; net increase of 26,055, or. 71 added every day during the year, an ' equivalent of nearly two churches added every day. Those baptised and added by profession of faith totalled 41,629, a number greater than the entire church membership in all the world after nearly fifty years of effort as a denomination. This is a gain of 114 every day during the year, the largest annual gain ever recorded in the history of the denomination: Arranged as a daily basis, the figures stand thus: Baptised, 114; died, 15; withdrawn, 28; net gain in members, 71 Denominational literature is now produced in 157 languages, in the form of 6607 different publications, one copy of each- costing £390. The value of denominational literature sold in 1932 wa5’£699,861: since 1863, £19,195,007. The number of primary schools is now 1630, with 2171 teachers, and an enrollment of 55,268. There are 204 advanced schools, employing 2189 teachers, and having an enrollment of 23,556, or a- total enrollment of 78,824. The value of buildings a'nd equipment thus used is £1,706,618, while the value of the 3113 church buildings is £2,098,653. There are 214 organised conferences, 289 mission fields and 424 institutions, having, a total investment of over £10,800,000. These institutions are divided thus: Publishing, 68 ; sanitarium and treatment -rooms, 108; advanced schools, 204; food companies, etc., 44; total 424.

The, total income for evangelastic work during 1932 was £1,851,407, a per capita income of £5. The total funds raised in North America were £1,175,393, a per capita amount of £8; while the funds raised outside this country were £676,015, a per capita sum of £3.