JOEL C. ROGERS by Joel C. Rogers

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 14, 1912

JOEL C. ROGERS

By Joel C. Rogers

From the Furlough Viewpoint

JOEL C. ROGERS

The missionary’s heart is open and his ears are listening as he lands from abroad on the home shores. How shall I find the atmosphere and temperature in the great home movement of which I once was a part? Will the work of the message be full of greater life and power than ever? What will be the attitude of the church body to the great world work? These are some of the questions welling up from a heart filled with the longings of years of contact with heathenism.

He arrives at headquarters. He is impressed with the many burdens carried by the faithful staff of officers and assistants. That they are hard, energetic workers he observes at every turn. He can not fail to feel that the burdens of some of the department heads are extremely heavy and taxing. He now adds more earnest petitions to those he has offered daily for these brethren while away in his distant station. Their tasks entail some less encouraging duties than his among the heathen, if possible.

While at headquarters, every sign of personal interest in the mission work lying upon his heart is noted with avidity. A brother meets him with “I am so glad to meet you, for I have read your reports, and I see the Lord has been blessing your work out there. Won’t you tell me more about it?” This goes straight to his heart, and the missionary finds no greater joy than going over some of his daily and special mission experiences.

When he visits some of the colleges and academies, he feels sure that the students will heartily welcome his messages from missions, and will ply him with questions of a real live significance. I found in one academy eighty per cent who had definitely chosen their vocation in the cause. The whole class of sixteen graduates were going directly into the work. The most intelligent interest in the work abroad, as shown by many written questions, was found in the academies and intermediate schools. I was glad to find in one college visited a very lively interest, shown by the work of several bands studying particular fields. This work was carried on under the general direction of the president’s wife, which gave it the standing it deserves.

In visiting many of our schools, my experience has been that no class of our people shows a livelier interest in mission work than do our students. Certainly this is hopeful, and is as it ought to be.

But I have found this interest also very marked at some local church meetings and camp-meetings. In fact, an intelligent heart interest in missions is a sign of the times to-day for the denomination. When there is manifested throughout a whole denomination such interest as is shown by gifts of eight dollars per member—men, women, and children—for foreign work, and twenty-two dollars each for all work, it is significant. It shows the hand of God.

The wise application of these gifts of a united people by their chosen representatives at home and abroad is laying the foundations for a rapid extension of the message to every tongue and tribe.

The missionary wants above all things to be back among the people he has chosen for his work. Many whom he has taught write their simple appeals, saying, “Why do you remain away so long?” He is happy to assure them that it is not his own choice to remain away.

Takoma Park, D. C.