General Conference Bulletin, vol. 3

OPPORTUNITIES

L. A. HOOPESJ. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:9, 10. GCB October 1, 1900, page 195.3

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:19, 20. GCB October 1, 1900, page 195.4

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. GCB October 1, 1900, page 195.5

Opportunity is defined as “a time or occasion attended with propitious or favoring circumstances; fit or convenient time; favorable or advantageous chance or opening.” GCB October 1, 1900, page 195.6

In the things of this world, it is often the case that one sees something that ought to be done; but much as he desires to perform the work, he has not the authority to do it; nor the means at hand for accomplishing that which he desires, even if he had the authority. Therefore a real opportunity embodies 1 a knowledge of what needs to be done; 2 liberty to perform the work; 3 power, and facilities with which to meet the emergency, and do that which should be done. GCB October 1, 1900, page 195.7

In the things of the Lord, as declared above, we are fully commissioned to “do good” wherever and whenever an “opportunity” appears to us. In doing good, the field of operation is the whole world—” all nations.” As for power to do, the Lord has said, to the worker: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, ... and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” GCB October 1, 1900, page 195.8

Foremost in the doing for all men is the conveying to them the precious light of the gospel of Christ,—teaching others what Christ taught in his life and ministry,—doing this, not simply in theory, but in our lives bearing the Christ-fruits, willed and wrought in us by the Spirit of the living God. GCB October 1, 1900, page 195.9

The Lord has emphatically said, concerning the work of bearing to our fellow mortals the message of our Saviour’s soon coming, and the needful preparation to meet him: “I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” How wonderfully has the way been opened that the gospel of Christ may be proclaimed to all nations, and that in the most striking manner, in the last half-century—since the going forth of the great threefold advent message! GCB October 1, 1900, page 195.10

In tracing the advancement of the present truth among the different nationalities, we see, all the way along, that when the time came to introduce the third message to those of another nation, the Lord has moved upon some one to accept the truth who was familiar with the language of that nation. In several instances persons have first come to our people with some of our works—tracts or pamphlets—already translated into their language, and asked to have the work printed and circulated among their people. GCB October 1, 1900, page 195.11

Step by step, works have been prepared, until now there are publications in thirty-nine languages on some point of present truth. Although some of these are small tracts only, it is nevertheless a beginning, and will lead to something still greater if the work is continued. In 1852, when I accepted present truth, our facilities for advancing the message were limited to a sixty-four-page tract, and an eight-page Advent Review, semi-monthly, and in English only. What a different outlook at the present time! GCB October 1, 1900, page 195.12

With this article we give a tabulated statement(*) of the various languages in which reading-matter has already been printed, and the number of persons in the different language, who, in some manner, should be furnished with the light on the great truths for this time. [* For this statistical table of publications, see page 228.] GCB October 1, 1900, page 195.13

In collecting the statistics of the number of persons in the different languages, I have availed myself of the use of the census reports, encyclopedias, and encyclopedias of missions, etc. Some of the statistics were not quite up to date, so the number I give may fall a little below what a present accurate census might show. GCB October 1, 1900, page 196.1

In making out the list of periodicals, books, pamphlets, and tracts, with the number of pages, I have carefully examined the catalogues of our various publishing houses, and the reports of our different missionaries. This has taken considerable time, and in some cases I could learn only that they were publishing in a certain language, but am unable to say what, or to give the number of pages. The figures given would therefore be slightly increased if I had all these blanks filled. In counting books sold by canvassers, where there are several styles of binding, I have counted, in each case, only one book, so the numbers given in the table are for distinct and separate books. GCB October 1, 1900, page 196.2

The table prepared contains thirty-nine languages, spoken by 1,130,851,941 persons. Publications already prepared by Seventh-day Adventists in these various tongues consist of the following: fifty-one regular weekly, semimonthly, monthly, and quarterly journals, and forty-eight missionary papers issued in the interest of conference and colporteur work; 215 bound books, containing 69,167 pages; 174 pamphlets, of 15,212 pages; 697 tracts, with 8,042 pages; or a total of 1,086 books containing 92,421 pages. GCB October 1, 1900, page 196.3

The few books already issued in Chinese are in the dialects read by three-fourths of the Chinese nation. If we deduct one-fourth-100,670,000-from the Chinese, the total number of persons in whose language reading is already printed would be 1,030,181,941, or about five-sevenths of the total number of the inhabitants of the world. Thus, as far as material with which to prosecute our work is concerned, there is surely a good beginning. GCB October 1, 1900, page 196.4

As to places in which to work, the Spirit of the Lord has said to us: “God calls for personal effort from those that know the truth. He calls for Christian families to go into communities that are in darkness and error, to go into foreign fields, to become acquainted with a new class of society, and to work wisely and perseveringly for the cause of the Master.... GCB October 1, 1900, page 196.5

“The Macedonian cry is coming from every quarter of the world, and men are saying, ‘Come over, ... and help us,’ and why is there not a decided response? Thousands ought to be constrained by the Spirit of Christ to follow the example of Him who has given His life for the life of the world.... Those who have means are doubly responsible; for this means has been entrusted to them of God, and they are to feel their accountability to forward the work of God in its various branches.... Will you be content to enjoy the comforts of your home, and not try to tell perishing souls how they may obtain the mansions Christ has gone to prepare for those who love him? Will you not sacrifice your possessions, in order that others may obtain an immortal inheritance?”—The Review and Herald, July 21, 1896. GCB October 1, 1900, page 196.6

The Lord has not called us to go alone, for we read again: “All heaven is in activity, and the angels of God are waiting to cooperate with the human agent who will devise plans whereby souls for whom Christ died may hear the glad tidings of salvation.”—The Review and Herald, February 28, 1893. GCB October 1, 1900, page 196.7

“Heavenly intelligences are combined with human instrumentalities in carrying forward the Lord’s work. Angels have their places assigned them in connection with the human agents on earth. They will work through every person who will submit himself to labor in heaven’s ways; therefore not one human being should be cast aside or left with no part to act.”—The Review and Herald, July 9, 1895. GCB October 1, 1900, page 196.8

“God reminds his army that they are to fight in unison with the angels of heaven, and that more than angels are engaged in this warfare. The Holy Spirit, Christ’s representative, is in their ranks, arming the weakest with his might to press forward unto victory.”—The Review and Herald, October 6, 1896. GCB October 1, 1900, page 196.9

“All heaven is waiting to cooperate with those who will be subordinate to the ways and will of God. God gives grace, and he expects all to use it.”—The Review and Herald, November 9, 1897. GCB October 1, 1900, page 196.10

In view of these facts, what an “opportunity” is before those who have the light of the third angel’s message!—material prepared with which to work among five-sevenths of earth’s inhabitants; calls from “all the world” for the workers, and an assurance that angels and the Spirit of God will use every consecrated worker; angels “waiting” to accompany those who give themselves and their substance to the work. Truly, it can be said of this people: “Thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” Isaiah 60:1. The “Gentiles”—nations—will come to the “brightness of thy rising.” Who will heed the injunction of the Lord to arise and shine? Who will heed the call, and improve the opportunity to do good in this last great message to a perishing world? GCB October 1, 1900, page 196.11

“Who will answer, gladly saying, Here am I, O Lord, send me?” GCB October 1, 1900, page 197.1

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH. GCB October 1, 1900, page 197.2