When we see what has happened to those who have gone out unpre pared, we realize that it is a conflict to which the missionary goes. In modem warfare we insist that our young men go through basic training and be thoroughly educated in the use of weapons. Should we be con tent with less for those who go out to wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers? The question arises, how can our fu ture missionaries be fitted for life, witness and conflict? A Solution Sought During my nearly thirty years of service as a missionary of the China Inland Mission, I was deeply con scious of my own failure, and as I traveled in every province but one in China, I had many opportunities of witnessing failure in the lives of fellow-missionaries. Often while in China I gave thought to how young missionaries might be better prepared. When I was not able to return to the field in 1949, the Lord led me into the fellowship of the Far Eastern Gospel Cmsade where, as personnel secretary, my time was wholly de voted to the task of selecting and preparing young people for service in Japan and the Philippine Islands. For three years I prayerfully consid ered every possible way in which I might more fully and perfectly do this task to which I believe God called me. In all of our correspondence and interviews with prospective candi dates, the need for experience in God’s work was very evident, as well as the need for a deeper spiritual experi ence. While the candidate was out gaining experience, he was out of touch with us and we were not able to observe how he reacted to the sit uation in which he found himself. In talking with pastors in the Minne apolis area, a number expressed a willingness to receive accepted can didates for the mission fields into their churches for a period of six months. During the spring of this year we had fifteen Cmsade candidates work ing in local churches under my su pervision together with that of the pastor, and meeting together one day each week in a time of spiritual re treat and discussion of missionary principles and problems. The Inter-Mission Candidate Training Program During the past few years several mission board executives have dis cussed with me the possibility of or ganizing a training program in which a number of boards might share by sending their accepted candidates for such a period of training. Realizing
the importance of preparing candi dates for the field and the burden God has given me for this work, the Far Eastern Gospel Cmsade has agreed to my giving full time to this ministry as an Inter-Mission Candi date Training Program. We now have 20 candidates, repre senting three mission boards, for the first training period which began October, 1953. In October of 1954 we will be ready for a second group. Our Christian colleges and Bible institutes are laying a good founda tion both in Bible teaching and the study of the Biblical basis of missions, but while the teacher-student rela tionship is maintained, there is a def inite limit to what can be learned. It is necessary for a new relationship to be established -r- that of fellow- workers, or “ workers together with God.” For this reason the six-month training period will be for fully ac cepted candidates only. It is not to be a “ probation period.” Our objec tive is not to eliminate, but to pre pare acceptable young people for mis sionary service. This period of inti mate relationship with the candidates, however, should give us a deeper knowledge of them as we have op portunities to observe them at their work. When weaknesses show up, directed by the Spirit of God, we will seek to be of help. At the end of the period we will be in a posi tion to give mission leaders informa tion regarding the candidate’s spirit ual condition and common reaction to life situations. There will be no attempt to orien tate the missionary candidate to life and customs of the people among whom he is to live and work in the days to come, nor do we propose to instruct him in regard to his mission board or methods of work. A ll of this, we are assured, can be done more effectively by the home executives and field leaders of the respective boards. In other words, this training period will not take the place of the orientation course usually given to groups of candidates before they sail. About the Author T he Reverend R. E. Thompson, missionary counsellor of the Far Eastern Gospel Crusade, is widely known among evangelical churches for his knowledge of missions gained through almost thirty years of evan gelistic and administrative mission ary work in China. From his service in that land during the critical years when Communism was gaining its foot-hold, Mr. Thompson also speaks with authority on the development of Communism and its relation to
M IS S IO N S continued the Far East, have for many years had to contend with the spirit of na tionalism, but today it is a greatly accentuated problem. The need for care in the selection of missionary candidates has long been recognized. A letter written by Ann Judson of Burma to Luther Rice and quoted in a memoir dated 1843 sets forth some desirable traits in missionaries which are as much need ed in our day as they were in hers. “ In encouraging young men to come out as missionaries, do use the great est caution. One strong-headed, con scientiously obstinate man would ruin us. Humble, quiet, persevering men, men of sound, sterling talents, of de cent accomplishments, men of ami able, yielding temper, willing to take the lowest place, to be least of all, who live near to God and are willing to suffer all things for Christ’s sake without being proud of it—these are the men we need.” An outstanding Japanese Christian wrote as follows to those contemplating coming to Japan as missionaries: “ Come to us with your Christianity sifted from your isms and your common sense well sharpened, and, last of all, with devils fought out in your own souls.” The Problem It is freely admitted that spiritual and mental immaturity is the most common cause of breakdown on the field. The personality problems that plague mission fields are chiefly due to immaturity. When young people have been helped to grow out of childish ways and can declare again with the great missionary, Paul, “When I became a man, I put away childish things,” they will be better fitted for life in the isolated places of the world. We fully recognize the value of linguistic ability and a thorough ac quaintance with the cultural back ground of the people, but spiritual results will not be according to the worker’s ability in these fields, but according to his experimental knowl edge of Jesus Christ. This is clearly revealed as we study the great mis sionary Paul, who declared, “ I am determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and him cru cified.” We hear much regarding the mis sionary’s task. Whole books have been written on the subject, but if we were to seek the briefest description, we would turn to God’s Word— “Ye shall be witnesses unto me.” There should be evidence here at home that a candidate is a witness before we are justified in allowing him to go forward. '
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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