/6^t) OPINIONS OF PASTORS CONCERNING MISSION STUDY A COMPILATION OF THE TESTIMONY OF PASTORS WHO HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW THE RE¬ SULTS OF MISSION STUDY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE YOUNG PEOPLE’S MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 156 FIFTH AYE., NEW YORK CITY i_—----- •:<,?£* Opinions of Pastors CONCERNING MISSION STUDY The Pastor and Mission Study Much has recently been said about the pastor s relation to missions, and the consensus of opinion seems to be that ‘The real problem of foreign mis¬ sions is in the home church, and with¬ out the pastor it cannot he solved. His position gives him authority and his character and work give him vast influence.’ Is it not also true that the pastor can solve the problem more easily and more speedily with the help of the young people? With their hearty co-operation his work is much simplified. Possibilities of Young People Not only are the young people to constitute the church of to-morrow, hut they have great ability to serve the church while still young. Although they have not come into the full pos¬ session of their inheritance, it must be remembered that the youth of the church have great influence. The ques¬ tion of what the church should do for the young people is rapidly giving place to the consideration of what the young people may do for the church. Even in a financial way, because of their numbers, their resources are very great. The Sunday Schools of one denomi¬ nation gave last year to Missions, $484,322, or more than one-third as much as w r as given by the Church itself. If the present willingness to give is fostered by a sustained cam¬ paign of education, the church of to¬ morrow will be indeed a conquering missionary church. In the interest of this educational movement, the well-known Forward Mission Study Courses for young people are offered. One of the most remarkable movements of the day is now taking place in connection with this Mission Study Work. In practi¬ cally every large denomination and in many of the small ones, the work is growing very rapidly. The enrollment this year throughout the United States was more than double that of last year, thousands of young people being enrolled for the systematic study of missions. When this movement shall have enlisted the entire young mem¬ bership of the Church, or even a majority of it, a great step will have then been taken toward the evangeli¬ zation of the world. The Pastor's Relation to the Mission Study Class The question is often asked whether or not the pastor himself should lead the study class. As a rule, pastors are already overburdened with the numerous duties of pastoral life, and they find it more desirable to encour¬ age leadership on the part of others. In almost every church there will be found a school teacher, lawyer or some other person with sufficient training who would be able to lead a Mission Study class, by using the special helps which are provided for leaders. In some instances, however, where such a leader is not to be found, the pastor has thought it desirable to teach the class, in order that leaders might be developed for the next season s work. The following are a few of the many testimonials which have been received from pastors concerning the results of mission study among their young people. An Interesting Theme Pastors have discovered that the young people find the subject intensely interesting. One pastor says : “ The members have been enthusiastic in their class work and have been edified 5 and entertained alike in their informal meetings at the homes.” Another says: “We have no other gathering in the Society for which they are more eager. ’ Others have used the following expres¬ sions : “Our young people prefer com¬ ing together for the study than at¬ tending other places of amusement. “Many expressed regret that we had come to the end of the course. “They have extended the course, not being satisfied with eight weeks.” Social Benefits One of the pastor s problems is to cultivate a pure, healthy, social life amcng his young people. This is not one of the primary aims of the Mission Study class, but it frequently has such results. “ The Mission Study class has influenced the young people to an inter¬ change of ideas and hooks, and has developed conversational powers. "They are more intimate, more sociable, and more at ease with each other, the pastor and others of the church.” “It tends to establish a common level and to break up caste.” “The young people are better acquainted, have stronger sympathies, and clearer methods of expressing thou ght, and greater self- confidenoe. Eagerness to Work A knowledge of the needs of man and the wonderful power of the Gospel to meet such needs, coupled with the stones of the sacrifices of the mission¬ aries, almost always results in a new conception of duty and privilege. This has come to the notice of the pastor. “ New life and energy is manifested in all departments.” “ Several non¬ workers were drawn in. “ One result coming almost directly from the Mis¬ sion Study class has been the decisions reached by several young people to go into direct church work.” “ They see their responsibility towards the unen¬ lightened and seek to measure up to what is desired and expected of them in the way of prayer and giving. ” It has helped to keep the weaker ones interested in the Church and Young People’s Society.” “ It has helped to get them outside themselves. The dan¬ ger in a country place is that we lose sight of the mam army and carry on a guerilla warfare.” Missionary Meetings The Mission Study class develops increased efficiency in conducting the missionary meetings of the Young People s Society, and thereby extends its benefits to tbe entire membership. The members of tbe classes are pre- f >ared by tbe study for tbe duty of eadersbip. “ Many have caught tbe inspiration of missionary interest from tbe members of tbe class.” “Ihe monthly public meetings in tbe Young People s Society, under tbe direction of tbe Mission Study class, have in¬ formed those who before knew but little about missions. Almost tbe whole secret is in making people see tbe work of missions as it is.” ‘ There is a renewed interest in our mission¬ ary devotional meetings.” “The young people are able to discuss tbe mission¬ ary topics, thereby adding greatly to tbe interest of those meetings.” Intellectual Results There are at least three distinct ways in which pastors have noted an intel¬ lectual development as the result of Mission Study class work. First of all, an increased knowledge of mis¬ sions has resulted. Involving as the missionary enterprise does, a knowl¬ edge of geography, history, litera¬ ture, language, institutions and gov¬ ernments, its educational significance is in no sense small. ‘‘The young people are helped intellectually by get- 8 ting a glimpse of the real greatness of the work that is being done. “ Those wh.o have studied the different courses are more capable of discussing mis¬ sionary subjects. “A knowledge of geography, history, the character, needs and possibilities of people ” has been gained. The Mission Study class in many cases has inspired the members with a desire for better reading. There is manifest '* a greatly increased desire for general reading of a high char¬ acter.” “ Some whose reading was confined to newspapers and magazines were given a taste for good books.” The young people are often too much engrossed in every day affairs to understand the wonderful age in which they are living and the signifi¬ cance of world movements. Several pastors have spoken specifically of this point, “ There has been awakened a new perception of the significance of the world movements. “They made a keener study of the question in the Far East. “ They have broader visions of the problems affecting the welfare of the nations.’ “ The class received an intelligent understanding ol Japan as a factor in future world politics and the strategic importance of giving her the Gospel at once. “The 9 members of the class have a better knowledge of tbe work of tbe Kingdom of God, its power, its present activity and adaptability to all peoples and conditions and its absolute necessity in tbe development of tbe world. Increased Giving Tbe theory that increased knowl¬ edge would inevitably result in larger and more regular giving is tbe founda¬ tion principle of tbe Mission Study movement and has been proven well founded. Tbe testimony of one pas¬ tor may be quoted at some length, although it deals with other means of missionary education in addition to the Mission Study class. “ While we have not been organized in Mission Study prior to this year, much study has been given to missions by both pastor and people for three years back. Missionary Campaign Libra¬ ries and many single books and tracts have been read, commented on and distributed throughout the church. Consequently our benevolences have increased steadily for the past three years. At the beginning of my pas¬ torate the benevolent report for all causes was $150 for the year. The report for succeeding years has been ! O as follows: $525, $802 and $1,104. The giving to missions increased as follows: $80, $207, $307, $420. The first year there was no Woman s Missionary Society. Last year this- Society reported $280. I could give individual instances of a few who have been so changed that gifts for missions of $1 have been increased to $20 and $40 per year through the study of missions and Christian Stewardship. The spiritual life and activity of the Church has kept pace with the collections and I believe have been greatly helped by them.’ “The information they have received made it far easier to raise our appor¬ tionment in full. In the hardest finan¬ cial year in twenty, when I expected a shrinkage in benevolences, we have reached high-water mark ($300) an increase of $75 over last year, the average being $2 per member. Benev¬ olences were all raised two months before the close of the year. It was the easiest year ever experienced. I credit it to the Mission Study class. Other pastors have reported as fol¬ lows : “ A decided increase. Several have increased their gilts many times over to missions. One now supports special work in India. “ Members of the Mission Study class have given n more freelv, cheerfully and liberally.” 4 A very large increase. Some mem¬ bers of tbe class wbo did not give to missions last year gave $5 this year. Others wbo bad given one or two dollars previously gave tbis year $10, $15 and $20. Tbe Young People’s Society gave $300.” Tbe influence of tbe study is not confined to tbe members of tbe class but reaches out into other departments of tbe church as tbe following state¬ ments clearly show. “Of three hundred contributors to tbe general missionary collection, all but six increased their contributions, notwithstanding tbe in¬ creased financial obligations of a new building project. “ Before tbe Mis¬ sion Study class was started last year our church gave only $80 for missions, and that in face of opposition. Last year tbe church gave $120. Tbis year we shall reach $1 per member.” “Missionary enthusiasm was carried into tbe church. The young people are supporting work in India and they pay part of the support of a missionary in South America. One family gave last year $25 for missions. This was the largest individual subscription ever given here and was given by the people in whose house the Mission Study class is held.” Spiritual Blessings There are several phases of the spiritual results of Mission Study, which pastors have thought worthy of notice. First may be mentioned an increased desire for the salvation of souls. 11 The class has an increased longing for the conversion of those here at home, as well as for the con¬ version of those abroad.’ “ Greater interest is manifest in all spiritual work of the church.” “Many of the class are giving time to our Mission Church.’ “ They are more concerned for the sal¬ vation of others. An increased volume of prayer for missions, which is so greatly needed, has undoubtedly resulted from the Mission Study movement. Pastors have reported many instances. “Fne members of the class are praying for missions. “ Their views have been broadened and their prayers have been greatly increased.” “ ihe name of some worker is presented and his or her work discussed and especially prayed for. “There is an increased interest in the prayer meeting. “More are ready to testify and to pray than before. Concerning the general spiritual re¬ sults the pastors have said: “They are beginning to sympathize with mis- 13 sionary work and to see the need of consecration and sacrifice. “ Tfiey have been given a deeper faith in the f iower of Christ to save, a large out- ook on the work and purpose of the Kingdom, have seen, as never before, the binding obligation of the last com¬ mand of Jesus, to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, and especially their personal obligation in the matter.” “Perhaps spiritually, more than in anji- other way, has there been growth. There is a more vital con¬ nection between personal religious life and the salvation of the world.” “ Some for the first time have come to regard missions, not as a separate department of church service, hut as an integral part of the church’s spirit¬ ual work. ’ “ All have been helped, and several in a very marked degree. One, I think, was greatly aided to a definite espousal of the cause of Christ.” “The young people have a deeper interest in all religious work of the church. This is particularly true of the leader, a University man, grown somewhat cold, who has been thoroughly awakened in his religious life work. The Pastor’s Opportunity This testimony is conclusive. It shows that the mission study move- 14 ment is destined to have a large place in the coming of the Kingdom, that it is sound in principle and fruitful in result^. The pastors who have studied the movement endorse it most heartily, and will continue to foster it in their churches. The benefits which they have mentioned as resulting from Mis¬ sion Study are widely needed through¬ out the church. What has been done the past year among thousands of young people can be accomplished this year among tens of thousands. The testimony given above is sufficient to warrant every pastor, who has not had a personal knowledge of the benefits of mission study, to give the young people his active support and sympathy. This does not necessarily mean that he will become the leader of the class, but it does mean that he must emphasize the value of the study and urge them to undertake it. The work is new, and the young people will need his advice, sympathy and prayers. This move¬ ment offers the pastor a large oppor¬ tunity to direct the unused energies, and to influence the spiritual life of the young people and to give them a world vision. Correspondence All correspondence concerning Mis¬ sion Study should he directed to the Secretary of the Missionary Society or Board.