p. 10 | Days of Trial for Our Missions by L. R. Conradi

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 4, 1915

Days of Trial for Our Missions

By L. R. Conradi

We all enjoy many privileges which we never fully prize until we are deprived of them. We never prize personal liberty sufficiently until we are suddenly shut away behind bars. We do not appreciate what a privilege it is to go about freely where we please, until we are confined within four narrow walls, the doors locked, and guards everywhere. How grateful should we be if we could once more freely move about! and how gladly should we give every moment of our time to spread the glorious news of the gospel and to set the captives free!

We as a mission board did not prize the great advantage of constantly being in touch with our missionaries in all parts of the world, furnishing them with means, merchandise, and provisions, encouraging them with our letters, and receiving from them their cheering reports and their inspiring news of victory.

On the other hand, our missionaries did not realize what great privileges they enjoyed in keeping in constant touch with the home board. But today we have twenty-five European missionaries with their families, eighty native helpers, over three hundred Christians, as many more candidates for baptism, and thousands of pupils, in dark Africa, who have been entirely cut off from us for months. How much more trying is the situation of these missionaries than ours! Their parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, are living in the very countries in which the war is raging. In their fatherland are their old homesteads, the mission school, their fellow students, the treasure house, and they have no knowledge whatever as to what may have become of all these. Rumors of all sorts may reach them, and the most terrible of all is the uncertainty. They stand alone in the dark world of heathenism. A small flock of native Christians and willing helpers look to them as their counselors and their refuge. The missionaries can no longer pay the salaries to their helpers, they can no longer look after the needs of the pupils living with them, they can no longer provide the thousands of pupils with all they may need for successful schooling. The missionaries themselves are cut off from all earthly support, and their country is threatened by hostile invaders. Sickness may overtake them and their families; their provisions may run short; their souls may be aching; but though bowed down with trials, they must hold up their heads and dispense courage and comfort. This is indeed for them the hour of fiery trial, when they must lean heavily upon their God, for there is no help from man.

And it is also the hour of trial for their little flock of Christian natives. Hitherto these natives have looked upon the white Christians as men of peace, free from feudal strife such as they were accustomed to when they were under native rule. But, behold, these very white men are themselves now engaged in the most bloody strife, and they more or less encourage the natives to take sides. How many queries will this awaken in the native mind! How eagerly will they question their missionaries about the meaning of all these things! They now must learn to share their bread with the white missionaries; instead of receiving wages, they must learn to give, and to give all. The true love shed abroad by the Holy Spirit must now be tested. Will they be willing to work without wage, and even to share their own food with the white missionaries, as their teachers have done in the past?

Will the missionaries as well as the native helpers, in spite of the tribulation, of fevers, of the mockery of the heathen and the arrogance of Islam, yet work more zealously than ever for the salvation of souls? Will they stand more closely together? May God grant it!

We are assured that our God will be their strong refuge. Their Chief Shepherd will stand for his flock all the more remarkably because man cannot render help. He is their great High Priest, and he will remember them before the throne of mercy, endue them with power from on high, and fill them with his blessing. The missionaries in German East Africa today may be cut off from us, but they never can be cut off from the strong arm of God, and there is no way to deprive them of his blessings.

One way of communication, however, is still open to us and to them. We cannot see it with our own eyes, but by faith we can grasp it. All we at home, or wherever we may be, have free access to the throne of mercy. No one can debar us from that channel. The ladder still reaches from heaven to earth, and nothing can hinder us from sending up petitions to our Heavenly Father for our

dear missionaries. But the way is not only open between us in the homeland and the Lord, but also between the Lord and our missionaries. As our petitions ascend to him in their behalf, he is ever ready to answer, and to bestow upon them the blessings we desire and they need. May we all improve this open channel by living faith, and may we as a people thus forever keep in touch with all those who may be cut off from us, be it by war, or be it by persecution. The religion of Christ comforts in every time of need, and it insures an unbroken communion, although all earthly endeavors may fail. Our missionaries, their helpers, and the little flock of native Christians are being tried today as gold in the fire, but we can remember them in our prayers; and O, how glad shall we and they be if the first news that comes to us by wire or by mail shall tell us that they “have fought a good fight,” “have kept the faith,” and that new souls have been added, new doors have been opened, new victories have been won, and that the little flock has stood the test, by God’s grace.

We at home also have our trials. We may not be able today to send the means; to forward new workers, but there are some things we can do. We can, through faith, plan, devise, provide workers, so that we shall be fully ready the moment the ways of communication are again open. We can become more faithful than ever in giving our means to the missionary cause in this very trying hour. We can train suitable workers, who will be ready to respond to the first call to relieve those whose furloughs are more than due, and to strengthen and encourage those who have so nobly stood by the work. We can also then send as first message by wire and by mail: “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches . . . how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.” 2 Cor. 8: 1, 2.

We as a people have long expected times of trouble and of trial. Suddenly they have come, and to a greater portion of the world than we dreamed of a short time ago, and this is only the beginning of troubles. All the world without exception will yet experience them. All the nations will become angry before the end. Yet, amid all this turmoil and war, this gospel of the kingdom is to be preached as a witness in all the world. How real will then such passages as Matt. 24: 6-14 sound to us! Amid the turmoil of war and distress of nations, we shall be persecuted and scorned, and yet the work must be onward. This would be impossible were it not that the bright hope cheers our hearts, that the strong Arm supports us in our weakness, that the sweet Spirit of God fills our hearts with love for the perishing souls about us.

May this bright advent hope be cherished more and more by us all, and urge us on to greater consecration, to nobler deeds, to more humble service. Soon the end will come, and the Lord will not tarry; but with the end comes also that glorious reward for all those who have manfully fought the good fight of faith, and have let the grace of God abound in their hearts unto good works.

L. R. CONRADI.