SOME MISSIONARY PROBLEMS OP TODAY

Missionaries are now facing many new and difficult problems, and need our prayers and fellowship more than ever before. We believe truly that the "coming of the Lord draweth nigh." Current events in the world are but the signs of the times, showing that the Day is at hand, yet until that Day dawn the gospel testimony should be maintained and the hands of those engaged in the work be upheld. "Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing" (Matt. 23:46).

A condition which is being felt by many missionaries today is the apathy and lack of interest on the part of many assemblies and individuals in the home-lands toward gospel and missionary endeavor. Again, missionaries on furlough find in many places the saints occupied with party strife or local difficulties, and instead of being refreshed in spirit by the ministry of the Word and fellowship with saints, so longed for when away, they return to the field saddened and discouraged.

On the field, too, missionaries are ofttimes embarrassed by the confusion caused to native Christians by the false doctrines taught by missionaries of various sects or cults. Just recently a missionary laboring in Rhodesia (South Africa) reported that years of labor had almost been frustrated and the whole district inflamed by the activities and teaching of missionaries connected with the so-called "Watch-tower" movement. In another letter from South Africa just to hand a friend writes:"It is certainly a sad thing to see missions fighting one another. One can sympathize with the old Kaffir chief whose sons were Christians converted through hearing the gospel preached at the local mission station. They were naturally anxious for their father to be converted too, and when the old chief was dying they made a final appeal, to which the old man replied:"Go and tell the missionaries to agree among themselves, and then come and tell me about their God."

Another problem in connection with missionary work at the present time is the matter of remitting funds and the decreasing value of American currency in the rates of foreign exchange. The continued depression with consequent reduced incomes, or unemployment, of many of the Lord's people has caused a considerable falling off in ministry, to which is now added the exchange problem. One interested in missionary work writes as follows :"While it is true that God can make up the loss to each missionary, yet a responsibility doubtless rests on the Christians at home, for we know that when we send abroad our usual sums they shrink in foreign exchange from twenty to thirty per cent."

Yet another disturbing factor is the increased and still increasing activity of Rome in the so-called heathen lands. Added to this in some places is intense nationalism and communism, all active agencies causing missionaries to face difficulties, testings, burdens, and persecutions in a new and serious way.

These conditions call for continued and fervent prayer, by the missionaries themselves, and with and for them from the saints in the home-lands. "That ye strive together with me in your prayers for me" (Rom. 15:30).

As an example of prayer-help in connection with missionary work we quote the following from an article written concerning a work started in the almost unknown and unreached territory in the interior of Papua (New Guinea). The work is mostly done by itinerant evangelists, both white and native, who, though away from their base for months at a time, are continually remembered in prayer. Telling of this prayer remembrance the writer says:

"Needless to say every step of their journeys is faithfully remembered at the prayer meetings here at Kwato, at each out-station, and in many villages where the Lord now has His own Papuan remembrancers. It is this backing that makes their progress often a triumphant one. And it is this same backing of prayer that we need from our friends overseas if the strong fortresses of the Evil One are to be stormed in the Name of our Master. The resentment of the enemy is strong in our midst. But the Holy Spirit is working, and there can be no limit to what He may do. Our burden, and one that we would share with all who belong to the Master's service, is the unevangelized areas of this country. We think of the cannibals, the depraved and degenerate inhabitants of the vast maze of intersecting waterways of the West, of the endless forests, and the hidden mountain heights. There is no hope for these, or any, apart from the Saviour who came to open the eyes of the blind, and to loose the captives from their chains. And this we have seen Him do abundantly, before our very eyes, in Papua."

May we not add that it is this same backing of prayer that is needed for our brethren in every part of the world where they have gone with the Gospel. "Brethren, pray for us" (1 Thess. 5:25).

AFRICA

The following is a brief extract from a letter recently received from our brother Gordon Searle:

Here in the Congo again we have been kept very busy getting settled into the work and environments. As to material things nearly everything needs attention and remedying, which is also the case in the spiritual realm to a great extent. There are those that wander from the right ways of the Lord for one reason or another, that need to be cared for and brought back, nourished and strengthened, that they may stand again, and then serve the Lord acceptably. Prayer plays a most effective part in this as in all else, and we are constantly reminded that without Him we can do nothing, but with Christ how much can be accomplished through waiting on Him and for His gracious guidance…. One of our out-schools which has twice fallen a prey to the Roman Catholics has now twice been resurrected as it were, and although for five months the drum has been beaten thereat summoning attendance without any result, at last out of a clear sky, as it were, come twenty-five pupils. The chief's son now assists the local teacher to round up some of the former pupils. All this time prayer has been made for the out-school which is at a very strategical point. The chief there, who opposed us, is sick, and so is one of his children; he sends over for medicine and gets it. We trust he will become more favorably disposed toward our school and the Gospel being preached in his village.

Also from Nyangkundi our Brother Will Deans writes:

In all ages God has chosen some and sent them forth with the Gospel into needy foreign fields. To others he has committed the work of preaching the Gospel to sinful people on domestic shores, and of using Spirit-given gifts for the edification and building up of the saints. Others are diligent in prayer. Whether serving at home or afield the servant of God is assured of blessing if he is in the place which God has chosen for him.

My father tells the story of an old crippled saint in Scotland to whom he was wont to go for comfort and encouragement, and for what he as a young man needed most of all, prayer. He related how that Miss Cowie would learn of someone out of Christ, either through my father or some other Christian worker, and take the name as her special item of intercession over an extended period of time, constantly and diligently looking to the Lord for the salvation of that individual. God was pleased to look down upon that invalid woman, and honor her faith in our Lord Jesus Christ by giving her miraculous answers to prayer for the salvation of souls. My father tells of one time when, after a rousing Gospel meeting, he ran up to Miss Cowie's room and burst out with the news that fourteen had accepted Christ that night. He quickly gave the names, and Miss Cowie quietly replied, "Half of them are mine." The dear saint had striven in prayer many days for those who that night claimed Christ.

Consciousness of groups of Christians, yea, and of individual saints at home, who are able to say, "Half of them are mine," makes our hearts rejoice and spurs us on to greater zeal in the service of our Lord.

Five old Balendu women forsook their idols and charms last month (in the village of Katcho) and trusted the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. These five are the first-fruits among the old Balendu people, and we ask your earnest prayers on their behalf that God may by His Spirit lead them on. They are indeed ignorant, yet possessing spiritual understanding. They were blind, but now see. Two Christian men have left their own tribe and gone to this particular section of the Lendu tribe with the Gospel. They are resident in the village where these mammies believed, and are themselves wonderfully impressed by the way the old women have taken a decisive stand for Christ, against tribal customs and conditions. May they be but the first-fruits of many.

From a Bagaya village in which several Christians reside, Christians who have gone forth from Nyangkundi, came the news recently of the conversion of nine young people. Another village sends word of seven who have given their hearts to the Saviour. Eleven Gospel centers are now operated from Nyangkundi, and from each the clarion call to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is daily sounded forth. Evangelists called by the Spirit, have gone forth, mostly in twos, to reside at these various points.

CHINA

Up to the time of writing we have not received further news of our brethren Kautto and Foggin. It will be remembered that they had to leave their station owing to difficulty with bandits. Prayer is requested for their safety and that they may soon be able to return to Taitowing.

BAHAMAS

In a letter from our brother Jewers dated November 10th he tells of having to go into a hospital on November the 14th for an operation, and requests our prayers that he might be speedily restored to health. He also tells of many in need, unable to help themselves through conditions brought about by the recent hurricane.

BRAZIL

We have again received the following requests for prayer from our brother Penna. Our brother labors single-handed in the Aicurapa River District in the heart of Brazil. He writes:

I wish to request prayers in our favor as to this. We are greatly encouraged as to the gospel preaching. Every two Sundays we preach in the lake "Joseassu," and we are thankful for the interest we see in a few sinners listening to the Word there. Have also begun weekly trips to preach the gospel from house to house in the vicinities of the river. There is much to be reached yet, this region being so vast. Our canoe is not yet ready, and I am making use of a small and old one which I acquired at a cheap price to serve our urgent need. As soon as our canoe is ready I will try to go out for longer trips, carrying further the blessed gospel to the poor lost sinners living on the banks of the many rivers and lakes comprising this region. But I want to remind you again, dear brother, of my desire to have here a fellow-helper, a servant of the Lord to help us, and for this and also for the things I mentioned above I make to you and to all the dear saints my prayer request.