A New Vision of China’s Needs by J. N. Anderson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jun 10, 1909

A New Vision of China’s Needs

By J. N. Anderson

This General Conference is truly a great meeting; not, indeed, because of the great number present, nor even because of its enthusiasm, but because of its fixed, dominant purpose to carry the message to all the world. It seems to me that this is the time and the occasion in which this entire denomination is seriously setting itself, in accordance with its chief article of religious faith, to the superhuman task of preaching the glad news of the soon coming of our Lord to the ten hundred million souls in the heathen and Mohammedan worlds.

Viewing this Conference from the standpoint of China, with its population of nearly one third of the human race, there is much of encouragement and promise. It shows unmistakably that as a people we now have a better knowledge of the situation in that field, a larger faith in God and in the work now going forward there, and a more adequate conception of the urgency and magnitude of the work to be done in that country. From the spirit and general tenor of the meeting I am persuaded that there is a full determination to arise and attempt great things in the land of Sinim. I am compelled to believe that this Conference has had a new vision of China’s pressing needs, and a fuller realization of our own responsibility as a people possessing so great light. The much-needed men and means will surely be forthcoming; to fail in this would be to deny our faith and our own spiritual experience granted us in this very meeting. Our resources may seem very meager, but the Lord of the harvest will, as of old, surely multiply as we divide.

The present situation in China does not call for large institutions established at heavy expenditure of money that always demands large corps of men. We do need a well-equipped printing plant, from which a large volume of literature can be issued, three or four schools in different parts of the field, a hospital or two, and a small sanitarium, and several homes for our workers; but all these should be of such proportions as not to impede our one aim, that of giving the message and gathering out souls for the kingdom. I am fully convinced that our success in that difficult field will come through hand-to-hand evangelistic and canvassing work, which must be seconded and solidified by our schools and other institutions. The great majority of our workers, both native and foreign, must be left free to go to the masses who live in the large cities and a million or so villages in that vast empire.

So far as China is concerned, I conceive that this general advance into the heathen world is most opportune. The work there seems to be ripe for this step. We have had sufficient time to place the work on a good foundation. Six languages and five provinces have been entered, and our workers, with a knowledge of the languages and a large experience in laboring for that people, and ably seconded by a large, efficient corps of Chinese assistants, are now prepared to enter into this greatly enlarged forward movement. The situation in that field not only needs this enlargement from the home church, but the present status of the work there justly demands what this Conference is sure to do.

The work in China must indeed be regarded as superhuman, but we must not think that the day of spiritual miracles is in the past. It is not for us to say how our God shall accomplish this great work. Mighty forces are at work in China, and it is the hour of our opportunity. All other missionary societies operating there regard this time as a crisis in mission work in that field. I can not escape the conviction that this is the “fulness of the time,” so far as that land is concerned; and it is a cause for deep gratitude that this Conference is boldly going forward to place the leaven of this gospel message in the meal of Chinese heathenism and philosophy.

J. N. ANDERSON, Assistant Superintendent China Mission.