IS YOUR FAITH KNOWN ABROAD?
By Editor
FROM the "Home Department" of the Missionary Herald, conducted by Cornelius H. Patton, a corresponding secretary of the American Board, we take this sentiment: "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world." Rom. 1:8. We place a verse of Scripture at the head of this department each month as a sort of anchor in this work. The task of winning the world to Christ is so hard, the distractions of minor matters so constant, and the danger of dropping into business routine so imminent, that we need to fall back again and again upon the scriptural basis of the undertaking. The thought we present this month is the advertising of our faith throughout the world by means of foreign missionary work. By faith here Paul means the quality of faith. The fact of faith in the church of Rome was taken for granted. That their faith was of such a nature as to provoke world-wide commendation was something the apostle felt profoundly thankful for. He could not speak thus of some of the churches to which he wrote. Do all of our churches to-day deserve this word? Take your own church for example. Is it the first thing to be remarked in your case—"that your faith is proclaimed throughout the world"—or is your faith a parochial affair? The attention which a church gives to foreign missions is a sure test of the quality of its faith. In proportion as our churches are interested in this work, and contribute generously to it, the people far away will estimate our faith as large or small. Let us see what account we gave of our faith the past month.