The Nazarene World Mission Society

78 / Mission to the Worldasked to raise the necessary $10,000 for the project on an annualbasis. As years passed, more stations and more languages wereadded, and the offering name was changed to World Mission Radio.Giving to this cause likewise increased until in 1985, $398,000 camein. Broadcasts were now going out in 38 different languages around theworld.There had been other fund-raising ideas adopted over the years,such as the selling of Scripture text calendars, which began in 1922and by 1948 was bringing in about $10,000 per year. There was alsothe Indian Head Penny Fund, which was first proposed in 1918 tosupport work among American Indians. It was not until 1928 that theprogram was officially adopted, however. Indian head nickels wereadded, and the name was changed to Indian Fund. At its height, theproject netted over $30,000 a year.The missionary society began to be involved in specific overseasprojects as early as 1926. That year the WFMS undertook to raise$10,000 to add to the substantial amount being given by the Fitkins toerect the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital in Swaziland. The followingyear, $10,000 was raised for the Bresee Memorial Hospital in China,and in 1932, $5,000 for the Reynolds Memorial Hospital in India.In 1940, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the organization,the members were challenged to raise $25,000 for the ReynoldsMemorial Bible Training School Fund, to be used where needed. Thenin 1948, upon the retirement of Mrs. Fitkin as general president, anoffering was taken in her honor to build-a Bible training school in thenew field in South China. The goal was $50,000, but over $74,000actually came in. Unfortunately the political situation in China wassuch that it was unwise to proceed with building the school, thoughproperty had been purchased and a wall built around it. The moneywas therefore parceled out to other school projects, including $24,000to Japan and $9,000 each to British Honduras (Belize) and the Philippines.In 1954, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the NWMScoming up the following year, the society sponsored a $100,000 offeringto open the work in New Guinea. Ten years later, on the 50thanniversary, $150,000 was raised to build a hospital on that samefield. At the 1960 General Convention, $15,000 was spontaneouslyraised for the work in Panama.A special Literature Fund offering for Africa in honor of Mrs.