A Great Missionary Congress by Milton E. Kern

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 18, 1916

A Great Missionary Congress

By Milton E. Kern

The national missionary congress, held in Washington, D. C., April 26-30, by the Laymen's Missionary Movement, was, in some respects, a remarkable meeting. This congress marked the close of the first decade of this organization of the laymen of the Protestant churches, and was preceded by a series of great missionary conventions throughout the United States. This congress had for its slogan,— “A Survey of Achievement; “A Council of War; “A Summons to Advance.”

There were present 1,245 delegates, from practically every State in the Union, and from several foreign countries, representing twenty-two Protestant denominations. The first session was attended by the President of the United States, and the list of speakers for the congress included John R. Mott, Robert E. Speer, George Sherwood Eddy, S. D. Gordon, J. Campbell White, Shailer Mathews, and many other well-known leaders in religious work. Mr. James M. Speers, who is president of a large mercantile firm in New York, is the chairman of the movement; and many other laymen, prominent in business and professional life, are identified with it. Although many ministers were present at the congress, the leadership and delegation seemed to be largely from the laity.

Purpose of the Laymen's Missionary Movement

It is not the plan of the movement to send out missionaries or to administer mission funds, but to stimulate missionary activity on the part of all laymen, and to cooperate with the various church missionary organizations. The purpose, as given by the secretary, is as follows:— “To stimulate initiative and activity among the men of the church. “To inspire men to take their full share in the work of the kingdom. “To promote improved methods of missionary education and finance. “To impress upon men the vital importance of deepened spiritual life and Christian activity naturally following upon this. “To stress right standards of the stewardship of life and money. “To suggest plans for the speedy completion of the missionary task.”

The appeal of the congress was for a broader vision, a deeper consecration of life and means to the task of the church in carrying out our Lord's great commission, and for businesslike methods in the great missionary propaganda. As I heard the stirring addresses that were given, and became acquainted with the results of the movement, I could not help but feel that this is one of the agencies being used of God to carry the knowledge of Christ to the heathen, and prepare the way for the advent message.

There were present in the congress men who had left lucrative business positions in order to give their time without salary to work in the mission field or in behalf of foreign missions at home. There were others who are giving a part or the whole of the proceeds of their business to the cause of missions. When, in this money-loving age, men of great earning capacity will thus dedicate their money and talents to the work of the gospel, surely those who know that the day of the Lord is near should give their all to his work.

Origin and Work of the Movement

The movement had its beginning at a prayer meeting of laymen in New York, Nov. 15, 1906, on the anniversary of that other prayer meeting held under the shelter of a haystack at Williamstown, Mass., by five students a century before, which led to the development of the American foreign missionary enterprise. In 1907 a commission of sixty-six laymen visited various mission fields at their own expense, to investigate the religious conditions, results of missionary activity, and the needs of the fields. Many of these men have since been actively engaged in giving their testimony to the churches, and have greatly stimulated interest in missionary work.

During the season of 1909-10 a national missionary campaign was conducted throughout the United States. Seventy conventions were held, which aggregated an attendance of 7,408 registered delegates, and the campaign was closed by a national missionary congress in Chicago.

From 1913 to 1915 a great interdenominational campaign was conducted, during which 695 conferences were held. This effort was followed by the second national missionary campaign, which has just closed. Sixty-nine conventions were held, with a total registration of 101,927. Of these meetings, the secretary said:— “The attendance and the interest in nearly every one of the conventions this year have been unusual. Seriousness of thought has been a characteristic feature. The delegates have seemed to realize the tremendous importance of the situation and the burning needs of the world today. World problems have been frankly discussed, and the solution sought in a prayerful spirit. Those attending have felt that a new call to world service had been sounded, and that the conditions demand a hearty response on the part of every Christian layman. As the appeal has been urged for a larger devotion of life and application of effort to the solving of the many problems connected with the missionary enterprise at home and abroad, there have come a depth of purpose and a new surrender of life to the call of God.”

In the work of the movement much emphasis has been given to prayer, sacrifice, education, and finance. Much literature adapted to the needs of men has been circulated, and a periodical, Men and Missions, is published.

In regard to financial methods the secretary said:— “To change the financial methods of the churches, containing a membership of over twenty million people, is no slight task. The old methods already referred to had such a firm hold that at first it seemed almost hopeless to think of supplanting them. But when laymen began to study the conditions that were prevalent and realized how unbusinesslike churches had been in conducting their affairs, and when they saw the absurdity of trying to finance a great world enterprise by means of the methods then in vogue, they responded heartily to the proposed simple yet practical plan. “This new plan in briefest outline is as follows: A live missionary committee in every church; an annual organized every-member canvass, preceded by at least a month of intensive educational and spiritual preparation, to secure from every member of the church and congregation a pledge for a weekly offering for the church and missionary budgets, together with the use of a duplex envelope or other collecting device, and a thorough follow-up system. This simple, business proposition appeals strongly to business men, and it is with gratitude that we are able to report its wide adoption.”

While these leaders feel very keenly that “the church is still playing with its great task,” they are gratified with the results already obtained. According to statistics from fourteen leading denominations, foreign mission offerings have increased 87.5 per cent, but the weekly average per member will seem startlingly small to Seventh-day Adventists. The weekly average per member to missionary and benevolent work is $ .037, against $ .028 ten years ago.

Impressions

Very naturally, in such a congress, the present world conditions received considerable attention. Strong appeals were made to the men of America to shoulder the added responsibilities that must necessarily fall upon the Christian people of the United States, because of the terrible sufferings of the people of Europe, the hatred resulting from the conflict, and the serious economic conditions which will surely follow. A new responsibility rests upon the people of this favored land to take up the work of bringing Christ to the entire world, with a depth of conviction and a strength of purpose never witnessed before.

While the whole spirit of the convention was one of optimism and courage, it seemed to me that I could detect an element of deep disappointment in the minds of these men, and that some readjustment of their processes of thinking has taken place. One speaker referred to the fact that people do not believe today as they did two years ago in regard to the possibilities of God's kingdom on earth, and that whereas we said at first that this would be the last war, we are now preparing for other wars. He said that we must gird ourselves to the task of making the world believe that love will rule.

Seventh-day Adventists ought to realize that the people are now more ready than ever before to believe that the kingdom of God can come to this world only through the destruction of earthly kingdoms and the coming of Jesus, and gird themselves to the task of giving the advent message. Dr. Mathews, after speaking of the impressions made by this war among Christian nations upon the minds of non-Christian peoples, suggested that we must now learn to distinguish between civilization and Christianity.

The message of Mr. Eddy, telling of the great transition taking place in the Far East, which he declared to be greater than the Renaissance, in extent, rapidity, and importance, brought a deep conviction that now of all times is our day and opportunity. He told of a district in Korea where twenty years ago there were seven Christians, and now there are thirty thousand. One church with an attendance of 1,500 has 800 at prayer meeting, and is a center from which forty-two other churches have developed. Mr. Eddy's testimony is that among the

educated classes in the Far East interest to hear the gospel has been increased rather than decreased by the war.

Seventh-day Adventists are not identified with the Laymen's Missionary Movement, but we surely should welcome any effort to arouse the churches from their lethargy and get the people to thinking of, praying for, and giving in behalf of the millions who do not yet know of Jesus and his love.

Surely in these momentous days, Seventh-day Adventists should get a new vision of God's call to service. And while life and material wealth are being so lavishly sacrificed, we should surely be willing to give our children, our means, and our service to herald the dawn of the new day to the ends of the earth. M. E. KERN.