Fully Prepared to Proclaim Christ (Urbana 51)
page 1 of 5by Mrs. Ford L. Canfield
Speech given at Urbana 51 to the women delegates on what it takes to be a missionary.
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Since my husband and I are actually packed up and even now on our way for service in the Orient, this subject presents itself in a very personal and practical light. In considering preparation., complete discussion of the subject may be found in many helpful books and pamphlets available through IVCF. At the top of the list I would call attention to In Training by Rowland Hogben. To his chapter on "Qualifications of a Missionary" I am indebted for the general outline of this message. Especially helpful also are books such as The Foreign Missionary by Dr. Arthur J. Brown, Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret by Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor, and Ambassadors for Christ by Francesca French and Mildred Cable. As you will see upon examination, these are of great practical value and far exceed fiction in interest.
To begin with, almost everyone thinking of foreign service asks questions about an outfit. "What shall I take out? What clothes? A bike? Camera? Typewriter? How can I plan now for the equipment I will need later?" Material needs arise first in our minds. A few generalizations may be helpful. Select things for durability, simplicity, and remember that overloading may be a disadvantage under some circumstances. "A tooth brush and Bible" was formerly the traditional outfit for the missionary. One thinks of this rather wistfully while traveling, fumbling through innumerable pieces of baggage, or paying for excessive weight.
Some mission boards suggest that a minimum outfit be taken by the first term worker since it is considered that he should spend most of his first years in the study of the people and their language. He may then leave to his first furlough the purchase of more heavy and expensive items, for then he may be better able to appraise his future needs.
Another aspect of overloading should be considered. "How will all this outfit look in the eyes of the people to whom I hope to minister? Do I wish to impress people as a wealthy benefactor, or as a follower of One who became poor that He might enrich others?" Is the best missionary one who draws the largest crowd in the shortest space of time? Does he build the national church around himself and the foreign financial support he supplies? Or is he one who plans eventually to render his services unnecessary by encouraging and training national leadership?
If the latter is his objective, an elaborate and expensive outfit will be a hindrance. This may be illustrated by an item found in a recent missionary magazine, inexactly quoted, "Our faithful Pedro wishes to preach to the many scattered villages now open to the gospel, but having no truck and no public address system he cannot do this." Of course, Pedro's two feet could eventually carry him to the needy villages. Many isolated folk enroute might also hear the message as he passed by. But naturally enough, the national aspires to what he sees in the missionary. It is not surprising if he feels he cannot work without that special equipment!
But shall material needs be the first consideration as we prepare to proclaim Christ? An outfit of infinitely greater concern is the "infit," that thorough furnishing of the inner man. This must not be taken for granted. It is intensely practical preparation, to be started immediately and anticipated carefully and prayerfully. "Apart from true spiritual enduement, all other qualification will ultimately prove inadequate for the missionary's task." Such chapters as Romans 12 and Colossians 3 may prompt you to consider what the Lord wishes included in His ambassador's inner life. Why not start an "infit" list the better to compare personal deficiencies with God's standards? This also will be a definite reminder. "Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24).
A summary of qualifications has been offered by a missionary "of long experience and outstanding achievement."
- A life yielded to God and controlled by His Spirit.
- A restful trust in God for the supply of all needs.
- A sympathetic spirit and a willingness to take a lowly place.
- Tact in dealing with men, and adaptability towards circumstances.
- Zeal in service, and steadfastness in discouragement.
- A healthy body and a vigorous mind.
- Some experience and blessing in the Lord's work at home.
- Love for communion with God and for the study of His Word.
May I comment briefly on each of these:
1. A life yielded to God and controlled by His Spirit.
Even the missionary recruit may humiliated to discover in himself areas of resistance to His sovereign will. To remedy this, a first and once-for-all yielding to Christ must be followed by a daily and moment-by-moment yielding. The first is like presenting all the life in a huge bundle. This would include desires and aspirations, talents, trials, tears or fears, all the best of life, and all the worst. Then as the fingers of time open the bundle each bit is surrendered afresh.
More Urbana 51 Resources
This talk has been put on five pages for ease
of use. This is the first page.
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next >>
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