For almost six years I have had the privilege of serving as minister of the great missionary-minded church at Sellersburg, Indiana. I refer to this church as a missionary- minded church because with it missionary work is a “Must.” To bear out this statement, I give you this personal experience: A few days ago one of our officers said to me, “ Our offerings have increased this year, but we haven’t increased our missionary giving.” This matter was brought up at the next regular Officers’ Meeting and a special gift of $125 was made to ward the work in Japan. In addition to this, our regular outlay for mission work was increased from $100 to $115 per month. This monthly giving does not include many generous contributions to special needs, which are always considered. The church is also acting as sponsor, and handling funds for Brother S. D. Garrett and family, now laboring in Africa.
On account of crowded conditions, the congregation here is badly in need of a new building and a special fund for this purpose, which was started some time ago, is growing with regularity. Many churches, no doubt, would be tempted to neglect their missionary work until they had acquired their new building; but not so with Sellersburg. The officers are definitely agreed that no work of the church shall be curtailed for the sake of this fund. In fact, when the special fund was started, it was not called a “building fund”; but was placed in the bank under the title, “ Emergency Fund.” The object in so doing was to relieve the officers of being bound to use the money for building alone. In other words, if some missionary emergency need should arise, or any other good work should become an emergency, they could feel free to draw upon it. However, they have not had to draw upon this fund (which is now over $16,000″), but instead have increased their missionary giving each year, as well as contributing large amounts for special under takings. I, for one. believe that they will obtain their new building much sooner than if they had neglected this great work of God in order to get it.
Now let us note the results: First, it must be acknowledged that none of us can tell how much good has been accomplished through the missionary efforts of even this one congregation; but we do know that the results are glorious here at home. Some one has said, “The light that shines farthest away shines brightest at home.” Many of us have found this to be true by experience.
A leading member of a church not far from here once said to me, “Our church is getting along so poorly, debts are piling up, crowds are dwindling, there are no converts, and we have done no missionary work for years.” Later, this man suggested to the congregation that they tithe their regular offerings for missionary work. Being in debt, this met with some opposition; but they finally agreed to try it for a few months. They kept their promise to God, and set aside one tenth of their total offerings for missions. One year passed, and the church was out of debt; they had moved a minister in on the field; crowds increased; they were receiving new members regularly; and a new interest was manifested in every department. Does this not prove the truth of God’s word as given in Malachi 3:10: “Bring ye the whole tithe into the store-house that there may be food in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith Jehovah of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it”?
The spiritual thermometer of any congregation goes up or down according to its missionary spirit. We are witnessing the results here at Sellersburg: 290 souls have been added to the church in five years and nine months; 337 gathered together last Monday to study the Bible; the Sunday School class rooms are over-crowded; and most of all, a wide-spread interest in the entire community is being manifested.
In closing, let me give this message to all congregations and Christian people: Do not permit anything to cause you to neglect missionary work. If we admit the deity of Jesus Christ and His divine authority, we must be up and speeding away with His glorious message to those who know Him not. We will thus be carrying out His command, the Great Commission, and the results to us will be glorious. Try it and see.
– “Missionary Messenger,” Vol. XXIII, No. 10, November 1946