A Great Opportunity by LUTHER J. BURGESS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 9, 1907

A Great Opportunity

By LUTHER J. BURGESS

It takes great opportunities to make great men. But no young man or woman with an intelligent knowledge of present truth need fail to obtain a position of great usefulness in this generation, for there are many doors wide open for them to enter. I will mention only one of them, but there are many others.

India has a population of about three hundred million people. Under the influence of missionary efforts of other denominations these people are just awakening out of a long sleep, and their eyes are opening to the light. These three hundred millions are divided among many languages, at least a hundred of which are spoken and read by large numbers of people.

Let us see what has been done by the believers in present truth in preparing spiritual food in these many languages. The largest book that we have is a Hindi pamphlet of twenty-four pages. The Lord moved upon the hearts of several native men to assist in the preparation of this pamphlet, each page of which is bound up with some interesting experience in connection with its writing and translation.

The plan followed has been first to prepare an article in simple English, taking extracts from the Bible and the Testimonies, then, with the help of our native friends, to put it into Hindi, after which we would read it with several other persons to see if they could easily get the thought from it. In this way about ten articles on points of present truth were prepared. When the pamphlet came from the press, there were a number of persons made happy in the thought that they had shared in its preparation.

There are doubtless many young men and women in the homes of Seventh-day Adventists who, with the help that our schools can give, would soon be prepared to come among these people, to learn a language and lead out in preparing tracts, pamphlets, and books filled with the message for these times.

This opportunity is open. Who will say, “Here am I; send me,” and then begin at once to prepare to go? The church-school, the training-school or the college may be the first step in the right direction, and then other steps will follow as the Lord may direct; only keep your object in view.

In preparing for this work there are several things essential: First, an intelligent knowledge and love of the truth and message for our time. This is of more value than philosophy, higher mathematics, or Latin; second, some experience in expressing what is known, in a clear and connected manner; third, a love of souls and an experience in bringing them into the truth.

Without this last qualification all others will be of little value. The true love for souls will grow stronger as you are brought face to face with the heathen in his own land, and while others can see only the forbidding outward appearance, you will be able to look upon the heart and say as Christ did, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick,” and you will learn from the Great Teacher “the ministry of healing.” LUTHER J. BURGESS.