A Brief History of the D. M. Stearns Missionary Fund Inc.
The Rev. Daniel M. Stearns was ordained in 1880 and served as pastor of Grace Reformed Episcopal Church, Scranton, PA, until October 2, 1892, when he became pastor of the Reformed Episcopal Church of the Atonement in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. He served this relatively small congregation, notwithstanding overtures from larger churches, until his death on November 6, 1920.
Dr. Stearns, very early in his pastorate became widely known as an outstanding Bible teacher. In addition to serving his own church faithfully and well, Dr. Stearns taught many Bible classes in the area bounded by New York City, Harrisburg, PA., and Washington, D. C. In 1896 there were 20 such classes, meeting weekly or biweekly, with an average attendance of 185. His travel was by public transportation, in fair weather and foul. In his later years, his health required him to reduce his schedule, but he continued with his classes in New York City, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington until a year or so before his death at age 75. In his Bible classes as well as in Atonement Church, Dr. Stearns emphasized Jesus’ command, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15); “. . . to all nations” (Matthew 28:19); “. . . unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
He took this command personally and literally and exhorted other Christians to do the same. Those not called to go were urged to pray and give to support those on the mission field. To encourage missionary giving, Dr. Stearns collected missionary offerings to be distributed “without any deduction for office expenses to help make Him known, hasten the completion of His church and bring Him back to set up His kingdom of righteousness and peace. on earth.”'
To aid in this effort, Dr. Stearns edited and published a monthly paper, Kingdom Tidings, which featured devotional and challenging messages from the Scriptures and excerpts from letters and missionaries supported in whole or part by gift from members of his church and Bible classes.
An editorial in Kingdom Tidings, entitled “Pleasant Surprises,” is as challenging today as when Dr. Stearns published it:
The man who begins to tithe and give to foreign missions will have at least seven pleasant surprises: He will be surprised:
1) At the amount of money he has for the Lord’s work.2) At the deepening of his spiritual life in paying the tithe.
3) At the ease in meeting his own obligations with the nine-tenths.
4) At the ease in going from one-tenth to larger giving.
5) Over the preparation this gives to be a faithful, wise steward over the nine-tenths that remain.
6) At the Lord’s blessing and increasing his income.
7) At himself in not adopting the plan sooner.