New Britain herald., 1928-12-01
CHURCHES TO TRY
new 'S7EP.UP' Plan
Congregational Parishes ID
Move to Increase Funds

A Step Up plan to increase sup
port for the work OF the Congcrsa
tional churches throughout the coun-
try will be inauguratcd this month.
The plan will be introduced in con-
nection with the annual Every Mem.
Der Canvass which will be taken by
most OF the churches on Sunday, De-
cember O.
All members are asked to step
Up to higher level OF giving. Those
now giving ten cents a week are
asked to increase to fifteen cents.
those giving fifty cents TO siNty-fivc,
those giving Il dollar to Il dollar and
quarter and those giving other
amounts to make similar increases.
The plan has been launched ma
tion-wide by the denominations
commission on missions 1t was mi
tiated several years ago in the Flat
bush church. Brooklyn, and proved
SO effective that 1t has been repeated
there each year since. 1t has also
been used with great success it is
said. by the Broadway tabernacle.
New York. and by number OF other
congregations.
The basic principle of the plan is
stated 10 he that that Iulistian
church can be content with nothing
less than Step-Up' each year IN
its work for human redemption.
l,attar t1r.alipoin.ry n las, I'\ary
Member Canvass and 10 the general
introduction OF the step Up plan
this year has been sent to the pas
tors in all states by Rev. Charles Z.
Merrill, u. d., Chicago. H., secre-
tary OF the Commission OIL MiSsio. :.
The reign OF Christ in state and
nation calls US TO supreme effort
DIR. Merrill states. ~ hen men aic
told about the God and Father OF
Jesus Christ, u radical change Il,
sooner or later bound TO take place
in both character and human society.
The Christian enterprise is the one
force that lies atlwart the cXpioita-
ton OF backward and unp,iIlitgru
pCOPIto III Jug lIOut lIi' NDI'u i lli- 10
the reason why missionaries are 80
cordially hated by the trading elias
scs i'll missnary countries and why
their work is so in1ust ri ou.Sly dis
parageJ. Th, y speak out too definite
iy against social AMI industrial in
justice and the acceptance OF Their
message leads people too certainly
to revolt asains such injustice"
The Step Up plan according
to DR.. Merrill. is 80 simple that il
is almost certain 10 bring 4 smile
When presented in a pubic way. ii
it is followed however it win mean
greater resources for the local
church in its service to its member
ship, TO its community. to the nation
and to the world.
The individual ei>cr is tho man
whose step Ip' is OF essential I'M
poriauc". His stop I y viii max"
church. This in turn it carried out
in all or III many OF the churches
Of the state will bring about the step
Up OF tn. state. The states together
VIII maxi the Step u for the na-
ton"
The STEP | p plan Wit hr pre-.
stntcJ 10 the individual -i,or both
FROM the pulpit aud Icy the visitors
who will maxi the Every Member
Canvass in each parish. The method
of the Canvass has spread gradually
any widely Jurlng til" last two de
ca1cs until now it is generally used
throughout the country. The visit
ors or canNassers so in pairs and Us
far as possible each home in a par
ish is visited. Each person in every
family is asked to make an individual
pledge for the support of the work
of The church the coming year.
The total amount which is needed
10 finance the regular local expenses
and missionary work of the 5,54S
Congre gational churches in the
United States during 1929 is over
twenty five million dollars exclusive
or III" increase which win com"
through III" step | y" plan. Tn"
amount RAISED last year by tho
churches for io"a; "Np"ns"S was s..
| hH6, SIS. the amount rsis"d for reg
| ular missionary work was S5.o16.-