South and South Central Africa: A record of fifteen years' missionary labors among primitive peoplesDavidson, Hannah Frances
History
South and South Central Africa: A record of fifteen years' missionary labors among primitive peoples
Davidson, Hannah Frances
Brethren in Christ Church -- Missions; Missions -- Rhodesia; Ndebele (African people); Tsonga (African people)
After consultation it was decided that the donor be appointed Foreign
Missionary Treasurer, and any desiring to donate should give their
offerings to him; and that, as soon as sufficient money was in the
treasury to justify the measure, active steps would be taken toward
sending out missionaries. By the close of the day thirty-five dollars
had been placed in the hands of the Treasurer. The funds increased
slowly but steadily.
At the Conference of 1895 held in Ontario, "A Foreign Mission Board,
consisting of Brethren Peter Steckly, B. T. Hoover, and J. E. Stauffer,
was appointed to hold office for five years, subject, however, to the
advice and control of General Council." At the next meeting of
Conference in 1896 in Pennsylvania, "The Treasurer of the Foreign
Mission Fund, J. E. Stauffer, submitted his report, and he was
congratulated for his successful effort. The amount in the treasury is
$419.60." This amount had been donated in two years. These data have
been given that it may be seen how the work has grown.
At this meeting it was decided that the funds had increased sufficiently
to take an advanced step. The Board was increased to twelve members with
an operating board of three. Of this Elder Samuel Zook was appointed
treasurer, Elder Henry Davidson, chairman, and Elder Jesse Engle,
secretary. The Board was empowered to secure volunteers for starting a
work among the heathen in some foreign country, no particular country
being designated.
Of the General Board of twelve members, Brethren Peter Steckley, J. R.
Zook, and Peter Climenhage are still on the Board after a lapse of
eighteen years.
Just what was done in the interim I cannot say, but on January 15, 1897,
there appeared in the _Evangelical Visitor_ the following:
AN APPEAL
We would call attention to the fact that the committee appointed at
last Conference is ready to act on the foreign mission work, but up
to this time they have received no applications. Why is it? Does
the Lord not speak to some hearts? Or is it because the Church is
not praying the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His
harvest?
The field is white. The harvest is ready. Who will go forth in the
name of the Master, filled with the Holy Ghost, ready to lay his or
her life down for the cause of Christ's salvation to the heathen?
It means something to be a foreign missionary. It means a full
sacrifice of home, friends and self--a perfect cutting loose. But,
praise the Lord! when it is done for Christ's sake and the
Gospel's, we shall receive an hundredfold in this life and eternal
life in the world to come.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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