p. 11 | Greater New York a Mission Field by Ole Andres Olsen

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

Greater New York a Mission Field

By Ole Andres Olsen

The population of Greater New York is given as 4,422,685, and of this number, sixty-seven per cent, or 2,948,417, are foreigners. Just think—nearly three millions! There are only six States in the entire Union whose population is larger than this.

In this great city, forty-five nationalities are represented. Among these the Germans stand first, with an estimated number of 1,500,000. Then come the Italians, 800,000; Scandinavians, 150,000; Hungarians and French, 100,000 each; Bohemians, Slavonians, Ruthenians, Russians, Poles, and Austrians, about 440,000 altogether; and others. This does not take in Jersey City, Newark, and other neighboring cities.

Here we have three small German churches, also one Italian, with twenty members, one Bohemian-Slavish of ten members, and five Hungarian Sabbath-keepers. Aside from the Scandinavians, these represent the total number of foreign believers, among all these millions. Just note the 145 Germans out of 1,500,000, 20 Italians out of 800,000, 10 Slavonians and Bohemians out of 440,000. And what about all the others?—Not a single representative. Yes, indeed, this great city is a mission field.

What can be done, and what course of procedure is possible, to meet such conditions? One thing is evident—laborers are needed. That which seems the most feasible is to establish a training mission. There are a number of persons from these different nationalities who would be glad to enter such a mission and give themselves to labor for their own people. They are bright and intelligent, and have the truth at heart.

We must have a training mission. While these would be receiving a training under an experienced leader, they would at the same time be putting forth missionary effort in the city among their own people. During a part of the day they would be receiving instruction, and another part be engaged in selling, lending, and distributing literature, making visits, giving Bible readings, and inviting people to the meetings. All this is practical indeed. But this can not be carried out without funds to meet the expense, and the Greater New York Conference is not prepared to meet this need. Therefore, we ask to be remembered by those whose hearts God has stirred up to help us.

Another urgent need is the development of literature presenting truth in the various languages. In some of the foreign tongues we have a fair supply, but in others we have very little, or nothing. This will also require means.

Thus means becomes one of the first requisites for the advancement of the message among the thousands and millions of foreigners in our country. We need money with which to open training missions. We need it with which to secure places for meeting where we can gather the people and present the truth to them. We need it with which to get literature, the need of which is imperative. So we make an urgent appeal for money in behalf of this effort, and we earnestly pray that the Spirit of the Lord will move on some hearts to render help. All that has been spoken and written by the servant of the Lord, Sister E. G. White, on the importance of labor in the large cities, backs up this appeal; for, as already shown, the larger portion of the population of our most populous cities consists of foreigners.

We invite any on whose heart the Spirit of the Lord moves to help this foreign department, to send such contribution to the treasurer of the General Conference, Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C., or to his own conference treasurer, who will forward it to the General Conference. But in each case, please mention the fact that the donation is for this foreign work in the home field, so that proper credit may be given. We shall await with special interest the response, because the work to be done is most urgent.

O. A. OLSEN.