Your ShelfYour Projects

Preparation for China

20%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 9, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 2.

Read the full edition

Preparation for China

By E. H. WILBUR

CHINA is a vast country. It has about five times as many people as the United States. Out of twenty-two provinces only four have Seventh-day Adventist mission stations, and in these only a small beginning has been made. This message must be carried not only to every province, but to every part of these provinces, and that right early. While we feel thankful to God for the good beginning that has been made in the five years that our workers have been in China, yet in the future the message must be proclaimed in this land with a hundred times greater power, for “the night is far spent, the day is at hand.” We must have many more volunteers for this field, and all should have a preparation before coming. I had my heart set on China for four years before I was permitted to come, but the Lord knew that I was not prepared to come. We are glad to hear of the establishment of the Foreign Mission Seminary at Washington, and hope hundreds of our young people will take advantage of the opportunities it offers to fit them for the world’s harvest-field.
In China the Lord is preparing the way for our workers. New schools are being opened by the government. Steamships and railroads are being built, that it may be possible for our workers to go quickly from place to place with the message, and that the people may be prepared to receive it.
In suggesting what constitutes a proper preparation for this field, I would mention, first, the importance of a thorough conversion, and a love for this truth more than for anything else in this world. In order to love the truth we must become acquainted with it. In conversation with Elder S. H. Lane, eight years ago, I told him of my desire to go to China. His reply is well worth considering. He said, in substance: “Get our books and study thoroughly the doctrines we hold as a people.” One of the best ways of becoming familiar with the doctrines is by teaching them to others. This will make it necessary for one first to sit down and study them out for himself. Before going to a foreign land as a Bible teacher one ought to have some experience in teaching the Bible at home. As a beginning for this kind of work there is nothing better than the experience of teaching Bible in the Sabbath-school. The teacher who through love for the members of his Sabbath-school class can mingle tears with his prayers in their behalf, will learn to know what it means to work for the salvation of souls. We must have definite persons in mind and work untiringly for their salvation. When these have received the truth, they, in turn, will work for others. This is the Saviour’s own plan of spreading a knowledge of the gospel. May the Lord speedily prepare many of our young people for the regions beyond.
E. H. WILBUR.