6 INTER-AMERICAN
tunity, we should advance with all the zeal of which we are
capable using every facility at our command for the pro-
mulgation of truth. We must augment our meager staff of
missionaries in these countries while it is possible for us to
do so, and while the doors of opportunity still stand ajar.
Our Working Force
Statistical information for the fourth quarter of 1943 in-
dicates that we had 140 ordained ministers and 91 licensed
ministers, or a total of 231, in this Division at that time.
Of these workers, 105 were engaged in administrative and de-
partmental work, and 120 in evangelistic and district activi-
ties. The other six were classified as miscellaneous workers.
The task per worker is serious in the extreme, as will be
noticed from the following tabulation:
Ordained & Licensed
District & Evangel- Organized Companies
Union istic Workers Companies Per Worker
Antillian Union 27 305 11
British West Indies Union 11 220 20
Caribbean Union 21 192 9
Central American Union 19 155 8
Colombia-Venezuela Union 14 91 7
Mexican Union 28 516 i8
Totals 120 1,479 TT
Average companies per worker 12
In many places workers are endeavoring to take care of
from 20 to 30 companies of believers. How can we expect our
brethren to properly foster the work of these companies, and
at the same time evangelize the territory in which they labor?
The situation that exists is surely a challenge to our church
leadership, and to every believer within the Division.
Some Comparisons
In the following few pargraphs will be found some com-
parative figures and facts relating to the work of the North
American and the Inter-American Divisions. In making these
comparisons, we think of the various departments of our
work and the facilities at our disposal, which are about as
follows: Conference and mission organizations; senior and
junior colleges and academies; sanitariums and hospitals;
health food factories; publishing houses; the radio work; our
colporteurs, and the thousands of church members available
for missionary work.
Let us examine briefly the work in the North American
and Inter-American Divisions, and the results obtained during
1942, in the winning of souls to the message, which, after
all, is the real objective in all lines of denominational activity.
Figures for 1942
North America Inter-America
Conference or Mission Organizations 63 32
Colleges and Academies 134 7
Church Members per School 1,472 6.318
Total Number of Workers—All Lines 9.855 636
Ordained and Licensed Ministers 2.090 209
Publishing Houses and School Printing Plants 22 4
Colporteurs 039 363
Church Membership 197.215 44,226
Sabbath Schocl Membership 176.766 67,441
Baptisms per Ordained or Licensed Worker 6 26
No. of Radio Stations Broadcasting the Message 200 None
Sanitarinms and Hospitals 30 None
Health Food Companies 1 None
Population per Ordained or Licensed Worker 66,985 258,373
Population per Worker of all Classes 14.206 82.317
Net Gain in Church Membership for 1942 5,882 3,335
Excess Net Gain in North America over
Inter-America 2.547
The baptisms in the Inter-American Division for 1942
were almost one-half of those in the North American Division.
Church Membership Increase in 10 years (1932-1942) 45% 115%
Sabbath School Membership Increase (1932-1942) 32% 134%
Figures for 1943
Baptisms for 1943 10,704 5.290
Net Gain for 1943 3,806 3,247
Evangelistic Workers Net Gain in Membership
Notth American Division 2,159 3,806
Inter-American Division 231 3,247
DIVISION MESSENGER
March 1945
The baptisms in Inter-America were 50 per cent of those
in North America, while the net gain in Inter-America for
1943 was only 649 less than in North America. The number
of baptisms per minister in 1943 in the North American Divi-
sion was 5; and in the Inter-American Division, 23.
Tithes and Offerings
The tithes and offerings show a very encouraging increase
for the year 1943 as compared with those of 1942. The total
tithe increase for 1943 amounted to $90,033.32, while the in-
crease in the mission offerings was $41,640.96. A larger
amount of funds came into the Lord’s treasury by way of
tithes and offerings in 1943 than at any time in the history
of our work in the Inter-American Division.
Total Tithes and Offerings for 1943 Amounted to
Tithes and Offerings for 1942 Amounted to 493,050.89
Gain for the year 1943 : 131,674.78
The per capita tithes and offerings for 1942 and 1943 were
as follows:
$624,725.67
1942 $11.15
1943 13.16
Per capita gain T7201
1942 1943
Increase in Tithe During the Year 43% 25%
Increase in Total Mission Offerings 26% 30%
The tithe increase in 1942 over 1941 amounted to 43
per cent, whereas the increase in the mission offerings was 26
per cent. Usually the tithe increases more rapidly than is the
case in respect to the offerings. In 1943 the mission offerings
showed a larger percentage of increase for the year than did
the tithe. We are very much encouraged to note the per-
centage relationship ef tithe to mission offerings for the
year 1943.
Increase in Tithe in North American Division for 1943 over 1942 32%
Increase in Total Mission Offerings in North America for 1943
over 1942 13%
Tithe Receipts
It is interesting to note that the tithe receipts in 1943
were thirteen times as much as in 1917; six times as much
as in 1920; five times as much as in 1925; three and one-half
times as much as in 1930; three times as much as in 1935;
twice as much as in 1940; and over one and one-half times
as much as in 1941,
Mission Offerings
The mission offerings in 1943 were sixteen times the
-amount received in 1917; six times as much as in 1920; three
times as much as in 1925; twice as much as in 1930; two
times and one-half as much as in 1935; twice as much as in
1940; and one and one-half times as much as in 1941.
Ingathering
The Ingathering offerings have increased four and one-
half times since 1923; two and one-half times since 1930;
three times since 1935; twice since 1940; and one and three-
quarters times since 1941.
Missions Extension Funds
The Missions Extension Funds in 1943 were nine times
as much as they were in 1923; twice as much as in 1930;
twice as much as in 1933; twice as much as in 1940; and the
increase since 1941 amounted to 31 percent.
Self-Support
The percentage of self-support in our conferences and
missions as a whole shows a loss of 4 per cent over 1942, as
compared with 1943, Note the following tabulation:
Name of Field Percentage of Self-Support
1940 1641 1942 1943
Antillian Union 61% 69% 80% 19%
Caribbean Union 68% 0% 92% 83%
Central American Union 53% 549% 90% 81%
Colombia-Venezuela Union 45% 45% 55% 31%
Mexican Unicon 32% 52% 60% 58%
Inter-American Division "56% 60% 18% 74%