VS c K {XX\k>w) X b A FIVE-YEAR PROG RAM ADOPTED BY THE NORTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION AT Los Angeles, California May 24, 1915 c fHtssionar{j Campaign -OF THE- NORTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION D 'DI A Five -year Program □111 - = w THIS hour in human history is critical, challenging, decisive. No Church or de¬ nomination can suc¬ ceed if its message and spirit are not positive, aggressive, courageous, heroic. We have a sufficient message in the Gospel of the Kingdom, a sufficient dynamic in the Spirit of God. We need spiritual vision, conquering inter¬ cession, evangelistic power and social passion. The call of the hour is for a constructive, cumulative program of advance so large and so compelling as to arrest attention, unify our forces and activities, challenge our men of large resources and stir our whole people with a splendid enthusiasm for the Kingdom of God. The objective of this program should be the development of every Church into an evangelistic and social force in its com¬ munity and a resultant mighty impact of our denominational life upon the nation and the world. We therefore recommend a five-year pro¬ gram of aggressive spiritual activity with these practical goals: 1. A million additions to our Churches by baptism. 2. A missionary force of 5,000 men and women in America and the non- Christian world. 3. Two million dollars of endowment for the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board. 4. Six million dollars for additional educa¬ tional endowment and equipment at home and abroad. 5. An annual income of six million dollars for missions and benevolence. The methods recommended for the accom¬ plishment of this high aim are: 1. A persistent, pervasive Evangelism— personal, pastoral and vocational. 2. The systematic and proportionate giv¬ ing of not less than one-tenth of the income, with larger giving by those of large resources. 3. The Annual Every Member Canvass for weekly giving and spiritual effi¬ ciency. 4. An increasing emphasis on education— Biblical, missionary and scholastic. 5. The development of every Church in social service. 6. Prevailing prayer—personal, public and social. Notes 1. Put Evangelism first. Magnify the Gospel. Exalt the Christ. First make men Christian, then efficiently Christian. 2. Let us not spend time discussing the basis of tithing, but devote ourselves to the task of getting every possible member of every Church to accept as a reasonable proposition “at least one-tenth of the income’’ for Christian work. 3. There is abundant literature available on the Every Member Canvass. Send for samples. 4. All are agreed that the educational process is essential to permanent success. Plan for a better Bible School. Adopt the Ten Point Standard of mis¬ sionary education. Watch out for fine young men and women who ought to take a college course. 5. Every Church should be a community force for social righteousness. Send for literature. 6. Plan for much prayer. Form prayer groups. Prayer is the supreme essential of success. Correspondence Concerning the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board, address its Secretary, Everett T. Tomlinson, 23 East 26th Street, New York. Write Frank W. Padelford, Ford Building, Boston, Mass., secretary of the Board of Education, about matters relating to general education. For Social Service literature and other help, ad¬ dress Samuel Zane Batten, 1701 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa., secretap’ of the Social Service Commission and the Baptist Brotherhood. On questions of general religious education cor¬ respond with W. E. Chalmers, 1701 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa., educational secretary of the Ameri¬ can Baptist Publication Society. For help on the Every Member Canvass and Mis¬ sionary Education and for information concerning the FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM, address John M. Moore, 23 East 26th Street, New York, secretary of the Department of Missionary Education and the United Missionary Campaign.