November 1924
TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
695
Our Bible Institute in Hunan Province, China Dr. Frank A. Keller Superintendent
The Hunan Bible Institute (the China Department of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles) is organized along sim ilar lines to the home Institute,— training native Chinese young men and women for Christian work, and at the same time carrying on an active evangelistic w ork among the unsaved. The w ork (which is recognized by the different, evangelical missions as one of the best in China) has three departments. (1) A Bible! Institute at Changsha (the capital city of Hunan Province.) (2) Twelve Colportage Bands with 13 men in each Band, devoting the mornings to Bible Study, and the afternoons to giving the Gospel in the native homes, (3) The Autumn Bible School and Conference at Nariyoh (one o f China’s three sacred mountains). Hundreds of conversions have resulted from the w ork done among the thousands of pilgrims. THE HUNAN CHRISTIAN CHURCH CONFERENCE
An Ideal Meeting Place The Conference met under almost ideal conditions. The fiewly erected auditorium of the “ Milton Stewart Hall” was loaned by the Hunan Bible Institute for the occasion, and the dormitories of the Institute accommodated the dele gates, thus making possible a fellowship often denied to large gatherings, even in the home lands. The Right Rev erend Logan H. Roots, D.D., Bishop of Hankow, a man of wide and much valued experience, gave the writer permis sion to publish his opinion that the Conference, both as. to accommodation of delegates, suitableness of meeting place, despatch of business, and spiritual helpfulness, was one of the best that he had known. Mr. M. K. Hsiao, of the Hunan Bible Institute, was the very able Chairman of the Conference, and to his services, both before hand and during the meetings, much of their value must be attributed. How we thank God for such a man as Assistant Superintendent of this Institute, and how gladly, too, we recognize that he belongs not only to us but to the whole Church of Christ in China. Enthusiastic Discussions It was refreshing to see with what enthusiasm the dele gates entered into the various discussions. Sometimes the opinions expressed were not of the highest value, but always the earnestness of the speakers was worth while. Discussions were conducted on city evangelism, country evangelism, hospital evangelism, educational work, and on methods for the suppression of popular evils. (Continued on page 750)
■E HAVE just come to the close of the greatest Conference in the history of the Christian Church in Hunan, and one of the most significant ever held in China. Even before the Conference, many of us expected great things, but the meaning and possibili ties of the Hunan Christian Church Conference became more vividly apparent after the very timely address which the Rev. G. G. Warren, of the Wesleyan Methodist Mission, delivered on the opening day. What more fitting introduc tion to the Conference than to hear of the early struggles of the messengers of the Gospel in this, once so tightly closed province? Let me quote one experience typical of many in the closing decades of the last century. For six years, Adam Dorward of the China Inland Mission, preached up and down this province. During that time there were only a few weeks when he was able to rent a place which he could call “ home,” and his labors ended, so far as man could judge, fruitless. Then, in the early days of the present century, the more permanent phase of mission ary work in Hunan commenced and Mr. Warren called the attention of the meeting to the conspicuous service of our own Dr. Keller and Mr. Hsiao in those days when foreigners were at best but coldly tolerated as residents in the province. And today? A great Christian Conference, with two hundred and fifty Chinese delegates from twenty-three churches or Christian organizations, meeting with perfect freedom and profoundly concerned with the problems of the Christian Church in China and more particularly in Hunan.
Delegates to the Hunan Christian Church Conference held in the auditorium of the “Milton Stewart Hall,” June 28-July 2, 1924.
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