' - 3a-p3vi- ^OD NEWS INSTITUTE J Kev, 3Iiir:i<»ka (center) and sniiie friends on the y\ny to an outpost meetiiiji^ result- ing from a newspaper ad- vertisement concerning the Christian religion. The Good News Institute T o the Good News Institute: “I am so weakened that 1 am just skin and bones. My sickness is tuberculosis. I wonder if I shall live until November. Day before yesterday 1 received baptism in bed. I am sorry it could not be in th e sea. But I m greatly blessed. My soul is always peaceful. Being prepared for death, I’m wrapped up in joy unspeakable. I’m going to His Kingdom. Oh, what joy, what blessedness that is! 1 can meet Jesus. When 1 just think of that, my heart dances . . . .” This is one of the letters received at the office of the Newspaper Evangelism and came from a young woman who was dying. She had been a member of the reading club of this organization for thirty-five months and in that time had read eighty-six books and introduced many of her friends to Christ. This letter is typical of the letters which are received at the office of this great work and indicates how much joy the services of the institute have brought. The title, Newspaper Evangelism, is comparatively new in missionary terms. About fifteen years ago. Rev. A. Pieters, a missionary in Oita City, Japan, began systematically to use the newspaper for the spread of the good news of Jesus Christ. He tried the idea for seven years and in that time became so convinced of its worth that he went to the Conference of the Federated Missions (the organization of the various missionaries working in Japan) and put the plan before them. They appointed a committee on Newspaper Evangelism and so the movement became interdenominational. During Rev. Pieters’ furlough, in 1920, he succeeded in interesting individuals and organizations in his project, with the result that when he returned to his post in Japan he had with him $5,000 to carry on the work for the first year. His original dream had been to establish a central office in Tokyo, but funds did not justify this and so the central office was located in Fukuoka in April, 1921, and Rev. Pieters became the first 2 The News Institute ree at work in the Garnian Mission II OIII4S 'rok>4>. It haiulles the leniling lihr«iry« newspaper sind correspondence evstng'elisni w(»i‘k. ]^Ir. t^arinan sits at the desk, to the left, writing’; Mr. K. Ando, one of our theolog;- ical students, is seated in the center -with the filing' cabinet; 3Ir. T. Oishi, stands at the ri^'ht, wrappings books f4»r inailin^^'. 3 The work is supported by gifts and appropriations from Missions and small fees which those who join the reading club must pay. Our own church is supporting it this year to the extent of one thousand dollars, a part of which is being raised by groups of young people who are attracted by the possibilities of this missionary method. Our own Mr. Garman had begun to use the columns of the newspapers for Christian advertising about as far back as 1916. He had also begun a Christian library from which books could be loaned to applicants by mail, and corre- spondence by which the personal problems of the applicant might be dealt with. For a number of years he carried on this work in the northern field, but when a branch office, as before mentioned, of the interdenominational movement was established here, he trans- ferred his work to the Middle Field, using one of the Utsunomiya papers, and Mr. McKnight became the secretary in Sendai. Mr. Garman says: “The advantages of this form of work are that with the exception of the first step, contributing articles and advertising in the newspapers, one is dealing with persons already interested to a greater or less degree; also it reaches those who for 1. Tills young' fnrnior is reading about the Cliri.stian religion through our advertisement in a Jaiianese daily newspaper while his mother “irons” the elothe.s. What he reads appears in the next pieture. Notice the “hoe” or “plow” he has by him. manager. During the first year of its existence 2,499 persons wrote to the office for pamph- lets, 598 joined the reading club, and 1 3 baptisms were re- ported. So successful was its work that in 1922 four branch offices were opened, one of them being in our own field, Sendai. * 2 , Here is what the >01111;? man is rendiii;?. On the eross are the words, **Hiinianit>'*s Ii;?lit, life's li;?ht, men's li;?ht is Jesus Christ." At the side are the words, ^*In Him is life and the life is the liu'ht of men." Corre- spondence with our office is invited. 4 some reason are unable or unwilling to attend the local church to get their teaching or, more frequently, those who are too far from churches to attend. Frequently we find our applicants are in trouble and in need of a friend or at least of some one to whom they may tell their troubles. "Many applicants continue their correspond- ence with us but for a short time, or read but a book or two. We send them copies of our church paper, in which we have certain pages intended especially for enquirers and including a contributor’s column, a column for announcing new books, etc. Others ask for introduction to pastors, ioin the nearest church, and thereafter get much of their instruction from that channel. One man who is now taking the Correspondence Course received his early instruction from us and on our introduction united with the nearest church, which happened to be an Episcopal Church, in a neighboring town. Later corre- spondence reveals that his doctrinal belief is colored by Episcopal teaching, which is but natural. We continue our teaching as desired on the basis that we are now supplemental to the church of which he is a member, and in no way in opposition to it. Another of our members is a Christian past middle age, formerly a Methodist, but now affiliating with a Holiness Church. He is a diligent Bible student and talks of giving the remainder of his life to direct Christian work, which will probably be in the group with which he now affiliates. Our work is to help him as best we can in his preparation. “Naturally, many of the people who answer our newspaper advertisements know little or nothing of Christian teaching. Recently, a young man re- sponded on a postal with the brief statement, ‘Wanted: Sample of Christ.’ To these applicants we always send a questionnaire, asking of the edu- cational attainments, their religious affiliations, their knowledge of Christian teaching, etc. To the question, ‘Are you a Christian?’ one reply was, ‘More or less.’ We felt the writer unconsciously diagnosed the cases of a very large number of people with fewer advantages than his. “A number of years ago some students in a Middle School at Karasuyama, a town off of the beaten track and then without even a light railway, noticed our newspaper advertisement that Chris- tian teaching would be given by correspondence to applicants. The first applicant informed others and it was not long before we had five or six regu- lar correspondents. Some of these graduated and went elsewhere, some asking for introductions to churches and some ceasing their relations with us. Always before graduation the old members of the circle were careful to see that their places were filled by members from lower classes. At last a light railway was built to the town and soon Rev. Fry and his co-laborers began to hold meetings there, with our members as a nucleus. The two following letters show some of their later activities and aspirations: 3. The youns man lay.s a.side his paper and at once applies for in- sfriietion in the Christian way of iife from our Newspaper Evangel- ism oiliee. This will include the loan of Christian hooks and instruction ill the Word of God. 6 4. The yoiinj^ man has received his first Christian book, which he rends as he soes out to work with a companion, who also learns of the “liKht.” Thus the correspondence enqnirer in turn becomes a personai worker. "Karasuyama, July 8, 1925. "To the Good News Institute: We trust that this finds Mr. Carman and all of you in good health. The members of our club, who are likewise mem- bers of your Good News Society, are very anxious to hold tent meetings during the coming summei vacation. We are troubled for want of a tent to carry out this plan. Could you provide us with one, even a small one could be made to serve, or is this asking too much? Good News Members.” “Karasuyama, September, 1925. "To the Good News Institute: It is just a year ago this month that the 'Companions in Learning’ came to life through the co-operation of Good News Institute members and Salvation Army mem- bers and now it is like a plant putting out leaf and blade, or a child that has just begun to talk, and is attracting the notice of the general public. Rev. Tsujimura, who gave himself so unstintedly for us weak folks, is still confined to his bed with suffering and Rev. Kimura has begun to visit us as an out- post from Utsunomiya. We held the first anni- versary meeting of the organization of our society on September 26. Mr. Totsuka Unpei, a young man under the railway employ, made the prepara- tions for a large public meeting. It was a little surprising that the attendance was not larger. I think that we are very fortunate to have the Way of the Master taught to us even in this secluded mountain town. I have not the least doubt that progress will continue to be made. H. K.” 7 - TKe following is a typical letter from another country town : 5. The young man anti other enquirers reeeived a call from one of our Japanese pastors, who “expounds the word” from “The Book of Life.” So the story of Christ is carried, and tlie number of those who learn to know and follow him continues to grow. and read, if only a page or two. books. “To the Good News Institute: By your kindness 1 have been able to use the books borrowed from you for a very, very long time and 1 am most grateful. Both of the books were good, but the ‘Student’s Manual’ 1 read every day without fail. 1 think that every boy and young man should read this book, not allowing a single line or letter escape him. 1 found it a very helpful book, indeed. Every month 1 visit a village some twenty miles distant three or four times, peddling from door to door. Not once did I neglect to carry the book with me. Every time 1 reached my stop- ping place 1 took out the book 1 hope that you will kindly lend me other helpful W. E.” “To the Good News Institute: Many thanks for the loan of the Bible. 1 who have always been so crooked of heart have already become so honest as to surprise myself. But 1 still lack about 999 out of 1,000 of being really honest yet. But every day 1 am improving, 1 believe. 1 hope ultimately to become entirely honest. However, my duties prevent me from reading as I would like to do. Especially is this the case as 1 must 8 wait on guests and can only find time for reading after all have retired. At first I forgot to pray morning and evening, but now 1 never miss. I am rejoiced at this, which is also the teaching of Christ and of your Institute. The proprietor’s family are all Shingon (Buddhist Sect) followers, so ever since the mistress found me praying one night she has continuously spoken evil of Christ, but as 1 had already taken my stand, I have not wavered. The former self would have been easily influenced, but 1 have recently become obedient to God. As this has all come about through the aid of the Bible loaned me, please accept hearty thanks. Yours gratefully, K. K." “The preceding letter is one from a thirteen-year-old girl who is absent from her country home as a waitress in a tea-house of a small city. Having seen our newspaper notice that instruction in Christian teaching would be given, she responded by postal. A letter was written her and a book sent which she mistook for a Bible. This is a translation of her second letter.” We are indebted to both Mr. Carman and Mr. McKnight for the information con- tained in this interesting article. As we have already indicated, the Christian Church, through these two brethren, is taking a very active part in Newspaper Evangelism. A recent note from Mr. McKnight states that there are now eight hundred enquirers being reached through this means in our Sendai field alone. With a corresponding work being carried on in the Utsunomiya field by Mr. Carman, we feel that the Christian Church is actively engaged month after month in one of the most effective means of reaching Japan for Christ that has ever been attempted. We rejoice that our young people are seeing the importance and the possibilities of this type of service and that they are supporting it so splendidly. We hope that larger support will be given this work by our whole Church, so that it may become a greater factor in the evangelization of Japan. These frienils at Karsisuyaiiia learned of the Christian religion through the daily newspaper evangelism of our Japan Mission. Rev. Kimura (tallest man in back row to right) pastor at IJtsunomiya is now holding regular services at this new' outpost. Does it pay? The Christian Church Foreign Mission Department W. P. Minton, Secretary C. P. A. Bldg. Dayton, Ohio