CHR IST IAN P SY CH O LO G Y IN THE PHILIPPINES (Continued from Page 11) printed and sold fake pictures, and has now made her a saint so that her name, breathed in prayer, will bring marvelous benefits. The Filipino mind and soul has many traits that are favorable, and that make him reach out for a vital gospel—a tender and strong nature that responds to the love of God in Christ, that often makes him a better Christian, in some ways, than a westerner. But there are also several racial traits that make sound, virile Christianity a long, hard pull, and missionaries are often baffled iat how to overcome them. The propensity for gambling in every walk of life is very difficult to combat. Their lack of familiarity with self-rule and their general indolence of mind and body render it difficult for them to as sume initiative or responsibility. Innate politeness and courtesy make tract dis tribution very effective. However, this courtesy and desire to please causes the Filipinos to respond readily to a Gospel invitation, but often it is a response lacking in real sincerity and repentance. The Christian worker, consequently, must ascertain the depth of their com prehension and the genuineness of their conversion before baptizing them. For this reason, the probationary period was established. A deep sensitiveness and shyness often cause the Filipino to be misunderstood, or to misunderstand, and become easily offended. The American, because of Oc cidental culture pattern, must be careful how he speaks and deals with them. It is best if a native worker is with him. Tracts are never dropped in the streets, as in American cities. A Fili pino eagerly reads everything he can that is written in English. Dr. Camilo Osias, a well-known Prot estant Filipino educator, described the “ Tayo” concept of the people. It is based on the pronoun “we,” which carries a broad idea of including all others in one’s thinking and doing, instead of the selfish concept of “ I” or “you and I.” The Filipino people are very unselfish— willing to share their blessings and to bear other people’s troubles—and are in terested in the welfare of all. They are not as materialistic as the white race. This trait can make them excellent mis sionaries to their own people. So, we may say that it is compara tively easy to present the gospel to the Filipino people. They readily receive and respond to any and all methods. But they need “line upon line and precept upon precept.” It takes patience to train them to become worthy leaders, or even followers, of our Lord. F E B R U A R Y , 1 9 4 9
EXTRA! 3 o ,8 i o L S U en h O J » l EXTRA! Would you like to have your own page in the King’ s Business? IT’ S UP TO YOU! Sit down now and write up the most interesting incident that has happened in your Christian life or ministry in not more than 200 words, sign your name, and send it at once to the Editorial Depart ment. For every article accepted for publication, we will pay $ 2 . 00 !
| THE CARD W ITH A RED BORDER” The author graduated from Moody Bible Institute, but in college his faith was severely tested. His experience is reflected in this book,, as a young man goes to college and the girl to a Bible Institute. Price 75c paper — $1.25 cloth. “ The Book of Revelations,” “ The Holy Spirit,” “ The Dispensations.” All four books in cloth $4.00, paper $2.00 H UMB E R D PRESS • F L O R A , I N D .
The splendid group at Kingswood Bible School for mountain young people where, writes the A.S.S.U. Missionary: “ I had such wonderful blessings from God.” Right, south* ern California Missionary’s daughter and a friend — no race prejudice there! Left, gems in a southern Arizona cotton camp, some of their clothing supplied through our camp relief work.
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“ O t a n ’ t ï S t a k e J J r s i t s S t y l i t O ften in rural communities without church privileges, parents and children have appro* priated Sunday for pleasure, and find it diffi* cult to attend a Sunday School. The Week* Day School has proven the answer to their need, and the children, as a whole, enjoy the idea of a meeting primarily for themselves.
The ministry of the A.S’.S.U. is managed by leading Chris tian business men of the vari ous denominations who serve without pay. 1489 Daily Va cation Bible Schools were main tained last year. 75 Young People’s Bible Conferences with 5540 in attendance were con ducted from coast to coast. Our district superintendents and missionaries travelled over two million miles; and thé crowning evidence of divine blessing is found in the fact that over IO t OOO boys and girls and older people accepted C h ris t as th e ir personal Saviour.
About such a school, a godly A.S.S.U. missionary writes: “Never will we forget.that first meeting. About twenty-one children gath- ered in a small room of the church. Their ages ranged from five to fourteen years. Much interest was shown, especially when we told them to sign their names on the page’ of our textbook where space was reserved for those who wanted to accept the Lord as their Saviour. Little Peter, a lad of se'ven, queried: 'Can’t I take Jesus into my heart right now?’ , so he could sign the book before he went home. This resulted in about fourteen others doing the same thing. Each one prayed audibly. It was certainly a soul-stirring scene. In visiting a home one day, a mother brought out the Gospel of John we had given her son. ’Look,’ she exclaimed, 'he has his name signed here (under- the covenant). I asked him if he knew what it was all about, and he said: ‘Yes, Mama, that’s where you ask Jesus to come into your heart!’ “ Children love ihe Lord Jesus the moment they hear of Him, and of what He did for them. What lasting results can come from work with them!” "Gather the people together , men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord God, and observe to do all the words of this law.” (Deut. 31: 12.) You may obey this command in helpful partnership with the A.S.S.U. For full in formation, write directly to Department of Mis* sions, 1816-K Chestnut St., Philadelphia 3, Pa.
AMERICAN Sunday School Union
W ITH CHR IST ALONG THE OLD B A C K ROAD
ESTABLISHED 1817
PIONEER SUNDAY SCHO OL O R G A N IZ A T IO N OF THE U. S. A. Page Seventeen
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