The worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church is celebrating 100 years of Harvest Ingathering. Through this programme, the church solicits funds from the public to assist in its humanitarian work.

The 100th anniversary programme was launched on October 4.

"This is an opportunity for the Adventist Church to share with our community what we have done in communities and invite them to partner with us in continuing to meet the needs of the less fortunate and hurting in our society and the world," said Pastor Joseph Smith, vice-president and personal ministries director of the Adventist Church in the West Indies Union.

Christ's example

"It is also the church's way to follow the example of Jesus Christ, who went about doing good, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, teaching the people, and preaching the gospel. This programme, adopted by the church over 100 years ago, has made the difference in the lives of many."

The main purpose of the project is to provide funds to aid a social programme that includes medical, educational, and welfare, which brings relief and a 'living Christ' to the world.

Special issue

It also provides an opportunity to make contacts in millions of homes, where occupants are presented with a special issue of the magazine, The Advent Impact, which describes the work of the Adventist Church and offers the opportunity of enrolling in a Bible correspondence course.

Smith added: "As our members go out this ingathering season, we ask the public to continue to give their usual liberal financial gifts to this very worthy cause which has benefited the world for these past 100 years."