p. 12 | West Africa by L. R. Conradi

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 9, 1914

West Africa

By L. R. Conradi

L. R. CONRADI

FROM some points of Europe the northern shores of Africa are visible, and it was therefore but natural that workers should go from Europe to Egypt and Algeria at an early date. The work in Germany grew in strength, and attention was then, of course, directed to the German colonies in Africa. As German East Africa is the most populous, work was commenced there in 1903. Later on, the Abyssinian Mission was begun on the east coast, and then the Victoria-Nyanza Mission, both British and German. The mission board had meanwhile directed its attention to the West Coast and established permanent work in Sierra Leone. Missionaries were sent from time to time to the Gold Coast, where a native church had been established. In view of the malarial climate on the West Coast, a health station was established on the Canary Islands. Since West Africa consists mostly of European colonies, it was but natural for the mission board to turn over the West African missions to the European Division.

A glance at the map, however, shows us the immensity of the West Coast of Africa. One can readily see that the establishing of two permanent mission station in the Canary Islands was but as church on the Gold Coast, and a health station in the Canary Islands, was but as a drop in a bucket. There is only one independent government, the little Negro republic of Liberia, and it rests on a rather weak foundation. The French republic alone owns, in Africa, territory two thirds as large as all the United States, with about 27,000,000 people, and most of this is on the West Coast. The Kongo State, now a Belgian colony, is about one fourth of the size of the United States, containing 15,000,000 people. Great Britain has nearly as large a territory on the West Coast, with another 20,000,000 inhabitants.

Only a very small beginning had been made. How could these immense territories be opened? It looked as if it might be a long time before we should even have a commencement, much less a solid foothold, in all these countries. But God's ways are not our ways, and his promise that this message must go in this generation even to all the countries of West Africa, as well as other parts of the Dark Continent and the world, stands sure. Today we see the problem much nearer solution than six months ago.

During our recent visit in Sierra Leone, plans were laid for establishing permanent work in the largest English possession, Nigeria, and also at the Gold Coast. There was also a call from a company in Liberia for one of our workers to commence operations there, and the brethren will visit the place on their way down to Nigeria. In Sierra Leone, where we had only two stations, at Freetown and Waterloo, our brethren had been employed finding two large tracts of unoccupied mission territory in the hinterland, one among the Timnes and the other among the Mendis. The way is further opening up in the German colonies on the West Coast. On the German boat going to Freetown and back I had an excellent opportunity to gather information concerning German Kamerun. I learned also that the governor of this colony was home on furlough, and arranged an audience with him as soon as possible. He received me very kindly at his office in Berlin, and stated in his very first remarks that he was favorably impressed by the mission work of Seventh-day Adventists, and on a visit to our stations in German East Africa, had met our missionaries, and become acquainted with our work. Later he expressed once more by letter how extremely satisfied he was that we as a mission society planned to enter the country in the near future, and he gave us valuable hints as to the localities we should occupy, etc. At present we are securing the proper men to enter this open door as soon as possible.

While attending the East German conference, I learned from a brother who had been in German Southwest Africa for some time, and had returned to Germany to attend our school in Friedensau for a short time, that a friend of his urged him to return to Southwest Africa to take charge of his large estate while he returns home. He married before leaving, and in my conversation with him, he informed me that his real object in going was to become still better acquainted with the country, people, and language, and then he would be quite willing to render us service as a missionary. Thus two German colonies will probably be occupied during the present year.

Further, we are laying our plans to enter the Kongo from the east rather than from the west. The Germans have just completed a railway, about 800 miles in length, from Dar-es-Salaam to Lake Tanganyika. The Belgians are finishing a railway to Lake Tanganyika, on the other side; in a short time it will take but a few days to reach the very heart of the Kongo from Dar-es-Salaam.

From the information secured, I find that that portion of the Kongo has but comparatively few missions, and is quite healthful. The only real gap is in the French possessions, and we hope that erelong suitable workers can be found to make a beginning there also. God does not only open doors, but he provides means. The 50,000 marks jubilee donation will surely furnish ample means to start in the German colonies. In Sierra Leone there is every possibility of our being able to sell the mission property in Freetown at a good price, which will give us the necessary cash to establish our work in the interior of Sierra Leone, the Gold Coast, and Nigeria.

We are hard at work to find more men, and, if possible, some tried Africans. We are seeking to use to the best advantage those we already have. Elder D. C. Babcock, with some native workers, will take hold of Nigeria. Elder W. H. Lewis, with some native assistants, will take hold of the Gold Coast. Elder R. S. Greaves, who has thus far labored in Asia Minor and Greece, will join Dr. E. W. Myers in Sierra Leone, in place of Prof. T. M. French, who was compelled to return to America on account of the sickness of his wife. We have also several workers in German East Africa, who have gained an experience there for the work in Kamerun and Kongo, and we are looking around for others to join them.

Our greatest lack seems to be in English-speaking workers. Our English work in Europe being rather weak, we hope that we can secure about half a dozen sturdy, consecrated, bright young men from the States, who will enter the English fields, both in Europe and Africa, and thus furnish us the so much needed material.

We are grateful to the Lord that the prospects are good for the opening up of the West Coast during 1914-15. May we have the prayers of God's people and their support in the great undertaking before us.