Mission Notes

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 13, 1908

TRAINING leaders has become the watchword of some of the best missionary boards operating in distant lands. It has become a recognized fact that no one is so well fitted to reach the different peoples and tribes as trained preachers and teachers out of these peoples and tribes themselves. Therefore, the investment of our means and best talent to train and educate leaders out of the different tongues to be reached with the truth, will be effort wisely expended. That man who can train ten other men to effectively work for God, is accomplishing much more than the one who undertakes to do himself the work that ten can and should do. The example of Jesus is given us upon this point. He chose out twelve men, whom he trained to become fishers of men. Shall we not pattern after him who accomplished such a stupendous task in the short space of three and one-half brief years?

Of the missionary situation in the Philippines, a bishop laboring there said: “No such opportunity is presented in any foreign mission land to win thousands of the natural leaders of the people as is now before us in Luzon. I am not a zealot, I am not naturally an enthusiast. I think I know fairly accurately the main outlines of every large missionary situation in Asia, Africa, and South America, and I deliberately repeat that the world nowhere presents a parallel to the present situation in Luzon. Korea is nearest it, with the difference that if we had similar conditions with Korea, . . . I think we could easily double her results. This is not a siege, it is not a campaign; it is a harvest-field peculiarly committed to American reapers.” This is the view of one not knowing the blessed truths of the third angel’s message. Ought not such conditions stir to action, and lead some to volunteer, even to a band, to go there and sow and reap for God; teaching these natural leaders of this people the ten commandments, that they in turn may teach others how to become true servants of the Most High?