76
February 1929
T h e
K i n g ' s
B u s i n e s s
Changsha, or at Nanyoh, during the first week of Sep tember, just, in time for our annual Bible conference, which continues to. the end of September. Immediately at the close of this conference they start out once more. Some of these bands are working in Hunan, others in the neighboring province of Kiangsi; all are in the fields of various denominational missions from whom we have received invitations for their help. This year two bands are in Kiangsi and six bands are in Hunan. The com bined population of these two provinces is fifty millions. Two bands are working in the fields of Presbyterian missions, one in a field of the English Wesleyan Methodist Mission, one in a field of the Norwegian Lutheran Mis sion, and four bands are in as many fields of the China Inland Mission, so you see our work is in the fullest sense cooperative and interdenominational. You will note also that the bands are at work in fields widely separated from each other and at a considerable distance from Changsha; therefore their work during the year is directed by Correspondence with the band leaders and with mis sionaries in charge of the fields in which the bands are working, and a close touch is kept with the bands by a system of monthly reports and by occasional brief visits. As1most of the missionaries were away from their stations, and many of them were out of China during the past year, the correspondence was limited to the band lead ers, and this correspondence' could be carried on more promptly and conveniently from Shanghai than from Changsha. Conditions ini the country and consular re strictions were such that it was not possible for me to make even short visits to the bands; therefore the con sular restrictions were not irksome, and were in no sense a hindrance to the work. Then, too, residence in Shanghai permitted a closer and more regular touch with the home base, and also made possible frequent conferences with missionary leaders from all parts of China, two very great advantages. God greatly blessed the work of the bands during the trying months of 1927, and even in those days of bit ter persecution many turned to the Lord. From mission aries who have since been permitted to return to their fields we have received letters expressing the deepest gratitude for the work done by the Biola Evangelistic Bands during their absence. In March of this year we were granted permission by our consuls to return to Changsha for permanent resi dence. On arrival we again found soldiers occupying our dormitories, but the administration building and our residences were unoccupied. After a couple weeks of vigorous negotiations and earnest prayer the buildings were evacuated, and we began the work of housecleaning and repairing. On May 1 we began the sessions of a Bible conference which continued to June 20. We feel that it was the best conference we ever held. The forenoons were devoted to regular conference work and the afternoons to a care fully organized and supervised evangelistic effort in the city and suburbs of Changsha. As a result of this-cam paign the church attendance was increased greatly in all parts of the city; many backsliders were reclaimed; some who admitted that they had not been in a church for. six or seven years, once more began regular attendance; and others who had never before recognized Christ as their Saviour, now surrendered their hearts and lives to Him. Stirring testimonies were given by the delegates, some of whom declared that their lives had been absolutely trans formed. Truly “there was great joy in this city,”
At the close of this conference we continued the work of cleaning and repairing the buildings, and began making arrangements for our annual Autumn Bible Conference. This is the conference usually held at Nanyoh, but this year, for several reasons, it seemed best to hold it at Changsha. Chinese pastors, evangelists and lay workers came to us from many different missions and from five of the central provinces of China which have a combined population of over one hundred and thirty millions. What a field! What an opportunity! , I must make extracts from two of the many letters: re ceived from missionaries expressing their appreciation of this conference. The head of the English Wesleyan Meth odist Mission in Hunan wrote: “May I take this oppor tunity of saying how much we as a church appreciate this splendid effort of yours to give several weeks of inspira tional instruction. You will see that we have representa tives from most of our circuits in the Hunan district, and it means much to the life of the church when these men return with renewed zeal and knowledge.” A leading Presbyterian missionary wrote: “Our dele gates report a most inspiring and helpful conference in Changsha. Their account of their experiences there was most cheering to our people. Let me thank you again for the blessing which you have given to our work in inviting our men to attend.” When you consider what these Chinese pastors and evangelists have gone through during the past months,—’ the missionaries who have led them to Christ, and to whom they have looked for counsel and help now separated from them, the whole responsibility of the work, humanly speaking, resting upon them, attacks by bandits and com munists, mission chapels, hospitals, schools and residences occupied either by labor or farmers’ unions or by soldiers, some of their colleagues captured and others killed, what a wonderful relief it must have been to get right away from it all for a few weeks, to come to a quiet and spir itual center where a hearty welcome and a restful home life awaited them, and what a help and inspiration to meet pastors and evangelists from many other parts of the field who had been going through similar experiences, trials and sorrows, to talk over these things together, to have fellowship in prayer, and at this most strategic mo ment to consult and pray about the plans and prospects of the church in this new China! How can we adequately express our gratitude and praise to God for permitting us to give this opportunity to His servants at such a time? Well, the conferences are over, but we believe that the influence of them will be enduring and increasing in many lives. Once more the Biola Evangelistic Bands are at the front, telling out the precious story of the love of God and of salvation and Eternal Life through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Many felt that it would not be possible to reopen the Bible school at this time, but after much prayer we decided to make the attempt, and now we are so glad that God led us to do so, for we do feel that He guided us, and we know that He has helped us as He alone could help. We have students from six of China’s great provinces, some of them from the province of Chekiang, way down at the coast. Mr. Roberts reached here just in time to be of the utmost help in the reorganization of the work. He gave a greatly appreciated course of lectures in the Bible con ference and is now doing splendid work in the Bible school and in the business department, on which so much depends.
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