Walla Walla Foreign Mission Band by H. C. Kephart

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 2, 1916

Walla Walla Foreign Mission Band

By H. C. Kephart

DURING the winter of 1907-08 about twenty-five of the students and teachers of Walla Walla College organized a society now known as the Foreign Mission Band. They determined, first, to make a diligent study of the work and its needs in the foreign fields, with the purpose of preparing themselves as speedily as possible for the work in those fields; and, second, to take special interest in laboring for the unconverted in the school.

The Foreign Mission Band has made a steady growth ever since its organization. In all, about 240 have at one time or another been members. The majority of the sixty-five representatives of Walla Walla College now in foreign mission fields have been active members of this band, and have helped in its development.

At our first meeting after the opening of school this fall, the following plan was adopted, which bids fair to become a permanent method of conducting the work: The band is divided into groups, according to each individual's interest in a particular foreign field. After making a thorough study of its field, each group is to render a program at the general meeting. The general meetings are held every other week, on Friday evenings, while the group meetings come on the alternate Friday evenings.

Each division constitutes a unit for organizing and carrying on personal missionary work, especially for unconverted students. In this connection, too, each group is a prayer band, and marked results can properly be expected as this work proceeds.

There have been seven groups formed: the China-Japan, the Malaysian, the Indian, the African, the South American, the Alaskan and Northern North American, and the Home Band. The interest manifested in each group is proof of the effectiveness of the plan. More students are joining the band every week. Thirty-four have been added already this fall.

The group leaders assist the officers of the band in arranging the programs for the general meetings. The officers at present are: Leader, H. C. Kephart; assistant leader, A. B. Tetzlaff; secretary-treasurer, Miss Ellen Firman; assistant secretary-treasurer, Miss Laura Forsythe.

H. C. KEPHART.