Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

Prayer is a recognition that these things lie withinthe control of God; it is an acknowledgment thatmore human wisdom and influence are needed. Inprayer we are reminded that the work is not ours butGod's. It may even make us examine our motives andaims to see that they are untainted by self-interest.And God chooses to work through prayer.But our prayer should not be simply for a wideopen door for foreign missionaries. That may notbe for the best interest of the Indian Church or ofthe work of Christ in the land. It is more importantto pray for divine wisdom to meet the opposition ina Christian way, to learn from it the lessons it hasto teach us, and to ask the Lord to turn it to blessingfor the work, restraining any excess that wouldbring harm.We should also continue our interest and support. Somehow, when we get the idea that a field isclosed to the entrance of foreign missionaries, wetend to relax our interest and our giving. It is as ifwe thought that the progress if the work dependedentirely on the number of missionaries we could sendout and support. We fail to realize that sometimesa smaller force, with more adequate resources, wisely geared in with the national church, can be fully aseffective.There are needs in India today that are far frombeing met, needs that do not depend on a greatly enlarged missionary force. One is the need for Christian literature. The percentage of illiteracy in theIndian Church is very large, even though it is lessthan in the country as a whole. How can a strongchurch be built on the foundation of a membershipthat cannot even read its Bible ? And what incentiveis there for them to learn to read if we cannot provide them with the materials, and at a price thatthey can afford?Finally, let's not overlook the British missionaries. They are not faced with the problem of rejected visas. But more than this, there are among themsome excellent missionaries whose work has had tobe curtailed because funds from the homeland havedropped off alarmingly. In some cases Americandonors have stepped into the breach and helped out.By their generosity they have shown that Americansare not selfishly interested only in the propagation ofan Americanized Christianity. Such generosity showsa real concern for the work of Christ in India, regardless of the nationality of the worker.As we face the situation in India, let us realizethat the problem is not simply the opposition to theentrance of missionaries. It is much broader thanthat. It is the problem of helping the Indian Churchto be established in such vital contact with thesource of life in Jesus Christ that from it will soundout the gospel in all that populous land. The opposition is serious, but, opposition or no opposition, thework cannot succeed except in proportion as thathappens.Report of the Board of Foreign MissionsYour Board is conscious of its responsibilitiesto Synod. Four meetings have been held since thisCourt met last year. Correspondence has been maintained with special attention given to Cyprus (re theproblem of Psalmody) and the situation in Hongkong.FinancesThe Finance Committee of the Board has submitted a Budget to the Co-ordinating Committee forour fiscal year 1954-55 which we believe is the minimum necessary to carryon the present program.This budget makes no provision for new personnel.Any reduction will necessitate a revision of ourpresent work or staff. Our need is $30,000.00 for the1954-1955 year.A word is in order concerning the overdraftwhich we find upon our books. It has been possiblefor the Board to operate with an overdraft as therehave been certain "Restricted Funds" at the Board'sdisposal. However, before long these funds will beused and the Board will have no reserve upon whichto call to meet the pay roll, or face emergencies. It isbecause of this that we say our request of $30,000.00from Synod's Budget is a necessity.On April 1, 1953, our Treasurer reported a balance overdrawn of $2,096.72, which has been reducedto a balance overdrawn of $1,264.72. In order to meetour operating expenses and reduce the overdraft by$832.00, it has been necessary to call upon $10,000.00which the Board has invested with the PresbyterianMinisters'Fund. The challenge to meet the operatingexpenses of the Board (as well as the other depart-134ments of the Church) could be reached if the tithewas the practice of the membership of the Church.PersonnelAfter many yea'rs of faithful service Miss MaryR. Adams retired from active service on the foreignfield. She departed from Japan October 5 and arrivedOctober 16, 1953.The Rev. David D. Hansen and family sailed forJapan September 28, arriving October 16, 1953.Mr. Harold Hutcheson has completed his termas a teacher in the boys school at Latakia, Syria,andplans to return to the United States this summer.Miss Rose Munnell was called to her home atRose Point, Penna., by an emergency and will notreturn to the field at Nicosia, Cyprus. She arrived inNew York City on May 25, 1954.The following is a list of the arrival and departure dates (or anticipated dates) of missionarieson furlough:Name and FieldArrival DepartureOrlena Lynn, Japan March '54S. E. Boyel & Family, Japan June 14, '54Ruth Reade, Nicosia, CyprusMr. and Mrs. W. W. Weir, Larnaca, Cyprus August 4, '53August '53August '54Blanche McCrea, Nicosia, Cyprus Summer '54Eunice McClurkin, Latakia, Syria August 4, '53 September'54Chester Hutcheson, Latakia, SyriaSeptember 11. '54(Mrs. Hutcheson to sail for Syria this fall)Elizabeth McElroy, Latakia, Syria June 10, '54Mr. & Mrs. K, Sanderson, Latakia, Syria Summer '54The Board has also invited the Rev. Mr. KhalilAwad, pastor of our Latakia, Syria, Congregation,to visit a few of our American congregations andattend the Y. P. Conference and Synod at Grinnell.THE COVENANTER WITNESS