Working under Great Difficulties What Is the Motive?
By W. B. White
BY W. B. WHITE
President South African Union Conference
As the writer has traveled in different parts of South Central Africa, mingling with the native heathen population, visiting their kraals, sitting by their camp fires, observing the dense darkness in which they are living and the superstition and ignorance that surround their minds, he has many times been led to wonder what it is that holds intelligent gospel workers among such a people, teaching, preaching, sacrificing even life itself for the sons and daughters of Africa.
Just Simple Love
The answer to this question is not difficult. The motive that holds the true Christian missionary to his or her work with bands of steel, is love—pure, simple love for the souls of mankind.
Kafr Woman and Baby
Here is a people in great need, sitting in the shadow of death. Thousands are dying each year without a knowledge of Christ, having never heard the good tidings of salvation that we have heard so long. It has been shut away from them; and as a consequence, they are to-day in ignorance and squalor. This great need appeals to the heart of the true Christian missionary; and after he gets a taste of working for this people, and sees the wonderful change that is wrought in the lives of many through the power of the gospel, he can scarcely be enticed away from his work long enough to take a needed physical rest.
As the writer has come in contact with Christian missionaries of all denominations in Africa, he has discerned this divine love burning in their hearts,—a love which would lead them to give their lives willingly, that some in this dark land might be rescued from Satan’s power.
And many are responding, especially the young men and women of Africa. They are coming to the gospel light by hundreds, and greatly desire a higher, better life than they have been living. They have caught a glimpse of a great light above and beyond, and are already piercing the veil of ignorance and blindness behind which they have been living so long.
To assist them to a true knowledge of God and the religion of Jesus Christ, to lead them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to the peace and liberty of the children of God, is all the work a true Christian needs between here and heaven. But the teacher must himself know the way. He must know that his own sins are forgiven. He must know of the transforming power of God in his own life. Then he can show these poor, ignorant natives the way.
