formation and films to spur mis sionary interest at home. Still missionary-hearted is the 88- year-old Dr. Philpott, who this year celebrated the seventieth anniversary of his entrance into the gospel min istry, and is still preaching. In fact, he was on his way to conduct a Sun day evening service when contacted by telephone in Toronto, Canada, as this article was being prepared. With characteristic enthusiasm l\e ex claimed, “ Oh, how I praise God with you for the victory you are seeing at the Church of the Open Door! Back in ’30, things were pretty dark, you know. All of us needed a boost up. We got it by allowing the Lord to increase our love for the lost.” Then
he added, “ I have preached missions and believed in missions all my life —more so today than ever before!” An alert missionary committee, like the one at the Church of the Open Door, can buoy a pastor up in his efforts mission-ward, and can do a lot for him if his interest lags. For example, the sponsorship plan, introduced by the present pastor, Dr. McGee, and first stressed in 1950, was immediately endorsed and publicized by the committee, with mounting suc cess. The plan works this way: Total support of a missionary is divided into $5-per-month units, and an in dividual, family, or other group may assume full or partial responsibility for a specific worker, carrying on
correspondence directly with him, learning his personal needs and prob lems on the field, and joining in prayer and sacrifice with him. Some 118 individuals or groups are now availing themselves of this privilege. This committee meets at least once a month: discusses over-all problems, forms policies, acts on applications, considers possible additional mission ary support, and interviews newly arrived or returning workers. As signed to sub-committees are the de tails of the annual missionary con ference. These include, first, the theme, chosen in a contest amonjj young people, with prizes of $25, $15, and $10 for top choices; second, decoratioiis, which develops the cen tral thought and utilizes the perma nent 20 x 40 foot wall map, with its colored electric bulbs that indicate location and status of workers; and third, booths — some 50 partitioned sections in the lower-floor classrooms, where missionaries a n d mission boards may portray conditions on their respective fields, show films, give out literature, and answer ques tions. Such missionary awareness stirs the entire congregation. And it does more. Faith mission boards, whose repre sentatives are invited to participate, find the conference an excellent oc casion for imparting up-to-the-minute news of their fields and for interview ing candidates. Perhaps best of all is the benefit to the missionaries them selves, for through the annual confer ence and the year-long program, the isolated worker becomes not just “ a missionary on the field,” but an inti mate friend, a co-worker, to be re membered, prayed for, assisted, loved. 15
Chart shows that while costs have increased missionary giving has more than kept pace. M A Y 1 9 5 4
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