At the 1932 SVM conference, the watchword, which had been the movement's crowning glory was conspicuous by its absence. They had evidently not studied the Bible in their homes, in churches or in colleges and universities. Wilder never gave up his efforts to maintain the SVM as mission centered. Movement leaders, however, could no longer embrace evangelizing the world as a primary theme. It was during these turbulent times that Robert Wilder was laid to rest in 1938, at age 75.
Sin blocks the way to a pure heart.
He hoped that students would see the structure of the Bible and the point of the Bible best revealed through Jesus' world mission command. In following years, the SVM was continually transformed. Fewer and fewer students signed the pledge to go to the foreign mission field. The SVM left its mark on Korea a century ago. In 1889, Samuel Moffett was the first of the student volunteers to sail for Korea.