The Bond of Missionary Interest by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jun 18, 1914

The Bond of Missionary Interest

By William Ambrose Spicer

CONTINUALLY we have reminders of the blessed tie that binds the hearts of our people together in active interest in the missionary cause. The missionary toiling away in one far quarter of the earth, isolated from associates of like precious faith, little realizes how very personal an interest is being taken in his work by many whom he has never seen.

Out in Southern Oregon some time ago we heard of a little girl who returned from the missionary meeting with heart aflame. The children of that conference were working to supply a typewriter for the Tsungwesi Mission, South Africa, pioneered by Elder M. C. Sturdevant. Half the amount had been raised, and the State secretary had sent word to the local group that efforts must be made to close up the enterprise. This little girl came home with a purpose.

“Mamma,” she said, “Elder Sturdevant just must have that typewriter, he cannot wait any longer; we have got to raise the money. I am going to sell my chickens and send the money in, for Elder Sturdevant must have that typewriter.”

In itself, perhaps, a small item financially, in the great fund of half a million dollars needed every year for the mission fields; yet this little maiden’s interest illustrates the manner in which needs in the far fields appeal to hearts in the home churches. Thank God for a living movement and a progressive work that invites every believer to join in partnership with it.

Here is another word just in from Mrs. A. C. Gilbert, Sabbath school secretary of the Saskatchewan Conference, western Canada. Writing of the manner in which the little children of that conference worked for missions, she says:—

Some of these children have raised chickens; some gardens; some sold papers; others picked berries; two brothers owned a little cow, and their parents gave them the price of the best can of cream, which was ten dollars; and they were so pleased to send this in for the native teacher. Another little boy watered and fed a calf while it was in the stable, for which he received three dollars. This he sent in for the same purpose. I will not take more of your time in telling of the different ways in which they earned money for missionary purposes.

Thus in every conference and local church the little rivulets are started which keep flowing on into the main stream of missionary giving until the mission treasury can pass on to the fields over a thousand dollars a day to keep the work moving. Our churches rejoice to hear the words of progress from the fields, and to the workers far away they send the message that they will stand by as God may enable, so that the means and the recruits may be kept moving onward into the regions beyond.

W. A. S.