Why Do You Go to China?

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 27, 1910

“Why Do You Go to China?”

JUST before the party sailed for China in October, 1909, two young missionaries were asked the above question. The two young people gave the following answer:—

Soon to sail for China! Why are we going? and why are we going to China rather than to some other place? These questions have been fully answered to ourselves.

We are going because we are young, and also because our going will hasten the coming of the Lord. We also believe that every young person truly believing that Christ is soon coming will be constrained to answer a similar call.

We have chosen China, not only because the harvest is ripe, but also because the harvest is great, and the laborers are few. In China we find a double call, hence an urgent call. Is it not the instinct of nature to send immediate aid to the most needy place? Does not man's sympathy and help fly first to those who are in greatest need? So should it be with the third angel's message. That place where numbers are the greatest, and that place where laborers are the fewest, challenges the immediate attention of God's remnant people. And surely one of these is China, with its four hundred fifty millions. The call will swell until every consecrated young person answers, now “Here am I, Lord, send me.”

As our boat widely separates us from our native land, and soon connects us with a stranger's land, the words which float over the waters to our home land will be words of courage, for the God of Israel is leading us.