Northwestern Bible School - Scroll Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

Page 89 text:

“MY CALL 9 9 Any place but China, Lord! But the word o( the Lord came to me, saying, the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. Then there came that deep conviction that I MUST go to China, and with the going there came that settled assurance and perfect peace in having done the v ill of God. I had never dreamed of going to a foreign field, for somehow a missionary seemed to me an individual who lived on a plane so far above mine that it appeared something entirely outside and beyond me. Through the reading of those two priceless volumes which relate the life story of Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission, and the father of all present- day faith missions, there came that inward working of the Spirit which caused me to know I was called of God. I was neither called to preach, nor to teach, nor to do any service, but to obey the will of God, and in obedience these other ministries have taken their rightful place. What did I really do? After a brief period in the province of Kiangsi my serv¬ ice there was abruptly ended by the great anti-foreign outbreak of 1927, re¬ sulting in the riot and devastation of our Mission Station at Loping. At that time I learned, with many others, what it meant to take the spoiling of my goods joyfully. As a result I came to the worlds greatest Mission Administra¬ tive Center, Shanghai, and there served in the Financial Department of the China Inland Mission, The Lord had very much to teach me, and He alone knew the best place for the learning of those lessons. I wanted to go inland and preach the Gospel and was not satisfied with my portion until 1 Cor. 12:18 came home to my heart. “But now hath God set the members everyone of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him, After that I rejoiced to be just where I was. Many have been the blessed experiences gained in connection with the work of this wonderful Mission, f shall never cease to thank God for the opportunity which has been mine of working and having fellowship with this splendid group of missionaries. Residence in cosmopolitan Shanghai brought to my attention the tremendous need among the thousands of foreigners, spiritually so sadly neglected, and put into my heart an ever increasing desire to give them the message of life. The Lord abundantly blessed these contacts and eventually led to complete foreign service. Before sailing for China the first time the Lord gave me the promise which we find in Gen. 28:15, ’ and behold I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and v ill bring thee again into this land, for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. When the Lord gave this promise to me I believed He meant to bring me back to this land again some day, and so was not surprised v hen He led away from China, at least for a season. After thirteen years in China the Lords call is just as insistent. His word has told me that He which hath begun a good v ork in me will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. During the past few years He has shown me more specifically than at any previous time that His field is the world, and thus He prepared my heart for the change He had in store. My life has been linked v ith that of another and as we have been called of God to tread life ' s road together, we have been given that glorious promise in Ephesians, which we know is even now being made a reality in our lives. For we are His work¬ manship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which Gad hath before ordained (prepared) that we should walk in them, Irma Day Pol, J 24 (Mrs, Henri Pol) (85)

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HOME MISSIONS ORIENTALS The people who have come to our country from the Orient have brought their heathen religions with them. There are 5,000 Buddhists and 50,000 Hindus in North America. The Chinese have built Buddhist temples in New York and Los Angeles where they carry on the worship of their idol, Buddha. RURAL FIELDS Very few country churches receive the full time of a pastor A majority of country churches are closed throughout most of the year. One denomination reports nine-tenths of its thousands of churches served by absentee pastors; three-fourths of its churches have but one service a month; while one-fourth have no Sunday school. Thousands of miles of open country have no Protestant churches. WEST INDIES There are still virgin fields in the Islands! Haiti has been influenced least of all and has ranked lowest in civilization of all the republics in the world, Voadooism, a relic of African fetichism, is said to be widely practiced. Social, moral, and religious conditions of all these Islands, with the exception of Porto Rico, are largely those of the less advanced states of the Caribbean seaboard. The masses are cut off from opportunities of culture and advance¬ ment, and live in poverty and ignorance, Lo, we have left all and have followed Theel (Mark 10:28). Mr. and Mrs, Talbert and Son, Laredo, Texas Louise Giffin (84 )

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Who Can Be a Missionary ? Oh, anyone can be a foreign missionary ' Is it true? Have you ever con¬ sidered what is required to make a real missionary? Hudson Taylor said, A trip across the ocean will not make a missionary,” Because of Hudson Taylor ' s experience and success in mission work, we have these thoughts from hts writings. Let us consider the missionary, CALL A missionary must be called of God and must feel that call so strongly that conscience would not rest were he not to offer himself to God for the needy heathen. Mere pity for the spiritual and temporal miseries of the heathen is not enough, God ' s command, brought home to the heart and conscience, God ' s love, the constraining power, and God-given facilities which make foreign service possible are considerations of the highest moment and taken together are not likely to mislead.” PERSONAL CHARACTER A missionary must be unmistakably saved and thoroughly consecrated to God, living a holy and consistent life. It is equally desirable that he should have shown himself useful and helpful and should have already influenced and impressed others. But beyond this, a missionary should be unselfish, considerate of, and attentive to the needs and feelings ol others. He should be patient and able to bear opposition calmly and with longsuffering. He should also be persevering, and not easily discouraged. Energy-—well under control—is needed, and power to influence and to lead. One of the most important characteristics of a successful missionary is the absence of pride of race, for the Lord reststeth the proud.” Power to come down to the level of those he seeks to save and to become one of them is most important. QUALIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE Besides his personal character, certain qualifications for service are needed; physical, mental, and spiritual 1. Physical qualification—This qualification may close the door to many who have a great desire for the mission field. The nervous system should be able to bear the strain of acclimatization, ol study, and of any nature of isolation the work may call for. Good digestive power, and good muscular strength which tends to keep the whole system in health by its exercise are vital Men who have melancholy temperament and who are highly excitable are risky candidates. In the case of a lady missionary, a healthy and vigorous frame is desirable. 2. Mental qualifications—The mind should be thoroughly sound and good judgment is also valuable. Ready tact which takes in the situation and makes the best of it is never out of place. Best intentions and earnest eflorts are often neutralized by the lack of these qualifications. A candidate should have ability to learn and become whatever may be necessary: doctor, car¬ penter, farmer, potter, preacher or whatever it may be. Missionary study and work are in themselves educational; and if there is ability, very useful service may be rendered. Attractiveness and leadership are gifts of the highest value when used by the Holy Spirit, especially in work with children, 3. Spiritual qualifications—These are of extreme importance, Imperfect physical health or mental furnishings are not absolutely fatal to success, but a true missionary must be a man of spiritual power. The work to be done is spiritual work, and the foes, spiritual foes.” Hudson Taylor said that it was not the language, nor the mighty powers of numbers, nor the prejudice, nor the hindrances caused by opium that were the principal difficulty; but it was the wicked spirits in heavenly places who reign in the hearts of the heathen. Therefore, above all things the missionary must be spiritually- minded; holy men, loving the Word, feeding and feasting on it, having it ( 86 )