Evangelism and Native Self-Support by Joel C. Rogers

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 25, 1911

Evangelism and Native Self-Support

By Joel C. Rogers

JOEL C. ROGERS

Wrestling with the situation in Central Africa forces upon one some serious questions as to financial methods among the heathen. No other problem has given me more serious study in the actual affairs of mission work, nor more real embarrassment, than that of wisely administering the money received from abroad. First, we well know that nine tenths or more of it comes from sacrifice and toil. In my efforts to help the natives receiving its benefits, I have occasionally used the expression, “The people who send this money to help you, work hard for it; in fact, they work harder and more hours in the day than you ever do.” This is one key to the problem. The money comes from toil and sacrifice of which the native is blissfully ignorant; it is no small task to convince him of this fact. All the foreigners that he has seen, work but little with their hands—the only kind of work the native understands. We may not digress here to ask whether or not the foreigners, including missionaries, would be better for more hand-work mixed with head-work; as a rule, the latter have sufficient of both—indeed, of all sorts of work.

I shall modestly set down some ideas gained from my own experience and observation:—

1. We should seize upon every chance of obtaining means of support on the field of evangelistic or missionary effort.

2. The natural resources of each field should suggest the best ways of obtaining means of support.

3. The principles of gospel self-support are the same for every country and place; but no one rule nor method can be made for all countries.

4. The Scriptures furnish the very best guide in principles, and in methods of their application.

5. The Scriptures have not been sufficiently studied nor followed in the matter of missionary activity.

6. Leaders as well as others in gospel evangelistic work will derive great benefit from a thorough study of this problem.

Some suggestions, made with equal modesty, follow. These are both from experience and from limited study:—

1. The soil may be safely looked to as one of the first means of gospel support. No argument is required here. Teach the inhabitants of the mission field to turn attention more and more to mother earth, whence, after all, come the things which supply most of our human necessities. The parables of Christ form a good basis for this instruction.

2. Handicraft, with its limitless scope and possibilities, may well be given a prominent place. Skilled artisans in some handicraft are to be found in every conceivable place. I am surprised, and the surprise never abates, at the skill developed by the native African in matwork, basketwork, building, iron-work, wood-work, and weaving. Any reader or traveler knows that I have not mentioned a tithe of the works of native handicraft. Encourage this skill, and direct it in the line of God's plan of self-support.

3. Live stock in its varied uses and products must have a place in the scheme. This line is capable of great extension and development. Within four years I have seen our little herd of native cattle increase from seventeen, not producing a drop of milk on my first acquaintance, to one hundred fifty, bringing a monthly income of one hundred dollars; and this appears to be only a beginning of what may be done. I must state that the increase was not entirely natural; some cattle were purchased. The income on the investment, however, is almost a parallel to the parable of the good seed.

4. Unpaid work of our people among whom we live as evangelists. I believe this may be greatly increased. Last year one of the leading mission societies in Central Africa erected a good training institution of burned brick without any money from abroad. The cost would be not less than from three to five hundred pounds in any European country. I saw the making of the brick by students—all hand-work—and native teachers under the oversight of their missionaries. The missionaries gave some money, with head-work and hand-work. The natives did the rest. This example is worthy of imitation everywhere.

5. Offerings from natives will come in due course, and the principle of giving should be taught from the first.

I have given the merest outline, which may be enlarged indefinitely. Let us all enlarge.

Nyasaland, British Central Africa.