The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-11-05
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
topic For the Week Beginning Nov.
Comment by Rev. 4. Ill. DOYLE.

topic For the Week Beginning Nov. 4.
Comment by Rev. 5. ii. Doyle.
ToPIc.-The most interesting thing / know
about foreign missions.-Acts xvii, 1871.
The topical reference presents TO us
one Of the most interesting foreign mis-
sionary incidents in the New Testament
Paul standing in the cultured city OF
Athens, in the areopagus on Mars hill,
preaching Jesus and the resurrection"
to the philosophers of Greece. IL should
inspire us to select many interesting
things concerning this important work
Of Christ's church.
When Christ came, the whole world
was open to Christ. Rome was the one
great power of the world, and under the
protection of Rome the missionaries OF
the cross could go practically through
out the whole world. Later ON many
large sections of the earth were closed
to the gospel, but today again the doors
Of heathendom stand wide open, and
the missionary may enter. In two years
(lS5S-60) 675, 900, 900 souls were opened
to the gospel, 40, 900, 900 in Japan by
treaty with Great Britain, 800, 900, 900
i'll OnlDd ny titutlg NOO, WV
900 in India by transfer Of the govern
ment to the crown, 150 900, 600 in At
RIGA by Livingstone explorations, 49,
900, 900 in Italy and 10, 900, 900 in Mex
leo. The doors of the world are wide
open. Will we go in and possess the
land for Christ?
This interesting incident in Paul's
life suggests three important missionary
facts:
/. Why the heather need. Pauls
soul was stirred within him at Athens
because of the city's idolatry. Athens
was the most idolatrous city in the
world. 1t was wholly given to idolatry.
| 1t was a city of idols and even had one
| inscribed ITO the Unknown God" II
should have worshiped God in Christ.
1t was worshiping idols; hence its
need. This is but picture of heathen-
dom today. 1t should be worshiping
God, but instead is bowling down to ma
ture, to gods of its own handiwork, or
| to the gods of the human heart; hence
| its great need. The number of these idol
| worshipers in comparison to the number
| of Christians and Christian workers
among them is simply appalling.
| 2. What the heather need. Paul saw
the great need of the Grecian idolaters,
and che preached unto them Jesus and
the resurrection. A resurrected Christ
is what heathendom needs today. 1t ID
dead in trespass and in sin. 1t is blinded
by ignorance and superstition. 1t needs
living Christ to give life instead OF
death, and to open the eyes of the blind.
3. How this need can be supplied.
By the preaching of men. Prayer and
pains, men and money are the agencies
by which this living Christ may be sent
to heathendom. Heathendom needs the
best men. Paul was the best preacher OF
his day. God sent him to the foreign
field. God needs His best men today in
tho foreign field.
Interesting and important missionary
facts, taken from "Ihe Missionary Pas
tori
DISTRIBUTION OF CHRISTIANS.
In United States, TO 40 persons
evangelical Christians; in foreign field
to /, 200 persons; in United States,
minister 10 740 souls; in foreign field,
missionary to 200, 600 souls; | medica
missionary to 1890, 900 persons; IL
United States, Christian worker TO 81
persons; in foreign field, to "a, 0o(
persons.
ANNUAL EXPENDITURES IN UNITED STATES
Liquor and tobacco .s2,OOO,VOOOV
| Popular amuSemo nts.......,......, aO,OUc,W
| Dogs. .....,..................... SuObUoOVV
| Kid gloves and ostrich feathers. 25,OUO,n
| Foreign missions ................... o,-oV,Vv
Is it any wonder, in the face of thes'
figures, that the world is not Christian
lied?
Christian adherents in foreign field
| In lov4. .......'...'..'...'''''s.' o'oVl'Vv
Those not Christians. .............. l,2OO.VUO,OV
| Annual increase. ................... oVVVV
Dying yearly without CHRISTI. 36.OOO,UV
Bible Readings. lisa. xiii, 6, z; xix
6; lii, 2; Nab. j, 10; Math. xviii, 10
90; Luke ii, 25-32; Acts i, s; tx, 2G-40
xiii, 1-3l, 46, AZ; xvi, 8, 10; xvii
1884; Rom. i, 14-l6;x, IA, 10; / Thess
iii, 1.l3 Rev. xxi, IL.