I attention to Keller: the latter's emphasis on the free distribution . 6 of the Scriptures, a unique position at the time, I and innovative J Keller's most imbitious project was that . of the river boat bands. Valuable insight about the team members and their initial thirty-six day venture is revealed in his correspond- ence with R.D. Smith, President of the Bible House of Los Angeles;
late in 1909. -----
• There were six men in the party, Mr. Yang leader, Hospital Evangelist Mr. Tien, Hospital Assistants Y~ and Chiang, a Christian student from Yale School, Mr. Chen, and a Christian cook Siao. Most of these men gave up their plans for the summer, some of them giving up a visit home to go on this trip. As it was a volunteer party, we did not pay them anything, simply 8 provided the boat and their food.
The successful nature of the operation as an evangelistic agent~ __ emphasizing scripture distribution and personal evangelism . ~- - -- - was conveyed by Smith to Stewart - who was certainly impressed - ·- . . ~ - ~ ·. - •. ~ as reflecting on his own interests. 9 Equally' important was the quality of the operation as evidenced by the caliber of the team :.l "''--' -=_ c- members. Keller's ability to pull together medical and educated personnel bade well for future enterprises. The numerous converts, as well as the thousands of pieces of Biblical materials distributed, is indicative of the receptive nature of the population to the te2m. In over seventy locations visited on the Siaing River between .........__ Hengc~nd Yan~chow, little resistance occurred except in the 10 most remote and superstitious areas. It would be hard to imagine that this and subsequent bands did not use their considerable
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