nineteen hundred and forty-six - Amazon Web Services

WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION. 475
In addition to class study there is also the opportunity to learn through
the Union's Reading Courses and the Missionary Round Tables, the latter being
essentially "set" for adult women who have a broad background of missions
and also the time and desire to read and then discuss certain carefully selected
books more fully than is possible in the usual mission study class.
Likewise there is additional and regular study provided through the programs
rendered each month by the many W.M.U. organizations. The programs
for W.M.S. members are set forth in their magazine, Royal Service, the goal
of which for 1946 is 175,065 renewals and new subscriptions. This anticipated
increase of 5% seems quite reasonable because it has long been the habit of
the magazine thus to enlarge its circulation at least 5% annually, the past year's
record showing that every state except one went beyond its goal, the combined
victory being a gain of 21,773 in the all-time high total of 167,643 renewals
and new subscriptions.
"LIFT THEIR HEARTS TO THE LORD"
Among the many helpful features of Royal Service is its W.M.U. Calendar
of Prayer. Thus the women in their homes and societies are regularly reminded
to "lift their hearts to the Lord" for S.B.C. home and foreign missionaries
and for all phases of denominational life in its relationship to missions.
The magazine also carries daily readings as suggested for the family altars
and encourages even more intercession by listing under the words of Jesus,
"Pray Ye," certain items for individual meditation.
Upholding such regular prayer plans and in turn increasing the fervor of
all who use such plans are the Union's three seasons of prayer. The one for
state missions is usually held in the early fall, each state arranging its program
and financial goal as it thinks best. All the states unite each March and then
each December in the use of the Union's programs for the Week of Prayer
for Home Missions and the Week of Prayer for Foreign Missions respectively,
the combined offerings of each of these weeks being veritable life-giving
streams in the work of the S.B.C. Home and Foreign Mission Boards. Last
year the March offering, which is called the Annie Armstrong Offering in
grateful tribute to the Union's first corresponding secretary, yielded $468,-
801.54 for home missions. When added to the record as kept since 1907 the
total, $3,643,682.39, is recognized as "marvelous in our eyes." Equally
miraculous has been the total provided through the years since the Union in
its beginning (1888) undertook a Christmas offering for foreign missions;
this offering is now called the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, because it was
Miss Lottie Moon who from far north China wrote the letter which called
forth the original offering. The total for the many years, including the 1945
record victory of $1,164,931.72, amounts to $8,421,397.40.
Both the Foreign and Home Mission Boards are so certain of the constructive
benefits resultant from these offerings and the prayers and study
accompanying them that their secretaries urge the pastors and other promoters
of Church Schools of Missions to arrange so that no such school will be held
during these two seasons of prayer; similarly is it hoped that no such school
will be held in any church when its state W.M.U. is observing its Season of
Prayer for State Missions, the dates of which can be readily secured from
the state W.M.U. headquarters. It may help to know at this time that the
inclusive dates for the 1946 Week of Prayer for Foreign Missions are December
2-6 and that the inclusive dates for the 1947 Week of Prayer for
Home Missions are March 3-7. These dates might be further protected by
quoting a "standing" statement in the W.M.U. Plan of Work: "Earnest effort
should be made by the Woman's Missionary Society to guard against the
holding of study courses or other activities during these seasons of prayer."
"A MESSAGE TO GIVE"
In message they larger or is not otherwise. addition realize giving perfunctory of salvation that of It to tithes their is the on gratifying to and the tithes sinsick offerings part offerings and souls to of offerings believe W.M.U. to around of the the that Co-operative women are the three even a world. definite and the seasons Program, young This paying means past people of of of undesignated
year prayer their giving but W.M.U.
tithes that the there is th