Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-03
Foreign Missions
Sermon by
itEy. FLOYD w. 1OMKINS.
Text, Isnlnh Nv, l-l3.


sionary committee Sometimes there
arc Two committees, one for domestic
work, that Is, work at home and an
o,hef Tor foreign work. that is work
ABROAD. There Is no more interesting
history than that of these committees
or boards. chosen TO forward the
preaching OF tho gospel to every crea-
cure, and II is Il comparatively recent
history; that Is. II has to do with tho
period since tho reformation. Before
mat great event there was miss ionary
work, OF course but 1t was largely
carried on by individuals St. Paul was
INC hrst great missionary. and through
the centuries there were earnest men
VINO went to foreign lands and estab-
lished churches. But It was only after
tue reformation. which gave the Bible
IN language understood by the masses
or people. and which called every
Nhilstian to service and TO worship.
mat churches began, as churches. to
organize for distinctivcly missionary
work.
The splendid Moravians led the way
ana the others soon followed: and we
ana that in the eighteenth century
many boar ds' werc created to give
their whole time and attention TO this
glorious service. Each denomination
mas u history of its own in this par
ncular. and II is we'll for US to know
that history. and indeed to follow not
alone that one UNCONVENTIONAL history,
but tho whole history of Christian mis-
sons az carried on by the various
churches. A good encyclopedia of
missions will give any reader fun in
formation.
GROWTH or COMMERCE.
AN AID TO MISSIONS
That which has led in modern times
70 foreign missionary work and made
u possible is the growth of commerce.
which has brought the nations nearer
together and opened the way for
'hrix ti.lr -,
10 travel and ships went from ono
place 10 another AL over the world
the way opened for missionary nc
tisity. And this again led the Bible
societies to translate the dear Book
INTO foreign languages, which enabled
the missionaries to distribute this
Word of God and teach people how to
read II. And yet again. this led to 4
concerted effort to prepare men for
foreign work in colleges and semin-
aries. Many colleges in America he
came great missionary ccntcrs. and
men and women were touched by the
spirit and offered themselves for the
work SO greatly needed. And then
followed the creation Of boards or
committees whose business 1t should
be TO raise money. TO send workers TO
special helds and to have a general
oversight Of the work. 1t was q fol-
lowing OF the Apostles cry: Let all
things be done in order" that is, syste-
maticallS.
Yet we must not think that mis-
sionary service is all modern thing
II began in the Garden OF Eden. when
God sought Adam and called: where
art ,hou?' 1t was emphasized in the
cry OF Christ: Follow me-" 1t is
nods living power running through
human experience and making every
man know that he Is his brothers
never take the place of individual re-
sponsibiltty Every Christian is called
10 be missionary. The boards are OF
hsc only TO regulate tho work and
see that II Is done in the wisest way.
cannot lie back upon the board Of
my denomination and say: THE mis-
ftonary work is cared for by the COM
mittee; have nothing 10 do with IT,"
ought 10 have everything to do with
II. for the board is mine; am TO
help them and to sec that their part
Of the work is rightly fulfilled. Every
man, woman and child in the church
Is member OF Gods great missionary
society. We arc all TO play and study
spreading the good news and bring
ing nearer the Kingdom Of God
BOARDS SHOULD USE
GREATER CO-OPERATIOS
" is rather a pity that our boards
often work in isolation instead Of CO.
operating and so avoiding duplication
OF effort or neglect of any land where
the Gospel should be preached one
great board would be unwieldy We
must have our UNCONVENTIONAL com
mittecs, only they should work in
harmony and consult together. For
they are not rivals. but fellow
workers. Happily this fellowship is
growing stronger. but there are some
who still hold hack. Let us seek 10
bring our boards more closely to-
sether and let US cooperate in every
way possible and pray one for another
This was the unity Christ prayed for:
not that we should all worship alike
or do our work alike. but that we
should work in harmony, and so adj
vance the cause OF Christ.
The magazines published by the
boards. which tell of the work done
and give US news from tho mission
fields, should be taken and read by
us all: There are some publicat TONS
Work. published at Northfeld, Mass.
which bring us news from all the
churches. knowledge increases in
terest and enables us to give wisely
nnd TO pray with an earnestness which
brings special needs before God. II
Is wise plan. followed by some of
our committees. to set forth certain
missionary fields TO be prayed for each
day: CHINA on Monday. Japan on Tues
day. Africa on Wednesday. etc. And
when we pray with knowledge. having
studied the work and the need in tho
land for which we pray our prayers
are sure to be more earnest.
PRAYERS MORE EARNEST
WHEN MORE SPECIFIC
doubt whether general petitions
for missionary work are effective, be-
cause they are SO vague and we hard
~ know what we want. But when I
pray Tor the hospital in Shanghai
with it's doctors and nurses" or for
Mr.. Jones. missionary in Tokyo"
or FOR Miss Smith, who Is teaching
little African children in Uganda"
feel my heart going >out with my
words, and in some way / may he
sure that blessing will come TO the
hospital or the missionary or the
teacher because ] have spoken the
name before the loving King. Some
OF our boards have special hours when
all Christians are asked to pray for
Corcign missions. Tho noon hour