There is but one mission in this world for Seventh-day Adventists, and that is to save souls. It matters not what line of work we may represent or where we may be sent. The chief objective should ever be to make known our message to the world,—the final message of salvation. A number of different gifts are listed in 1 Corinthians 12,—the gift of healing, the gift of prophecy, the gift of teaching, the gift of preaching. "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will." Whatever our gift, then, our only commission is to go to the world and make disciples, to go to every nation and win believers to this message.
On the ship, as we returned from China to the Autumn Council, a missionary conference was held by the missionaries on board. The head of the Peking Language School was asked to speak on what he felt were some of the things lacking in new recruits to the mission field. He mentioned as his first observation that frequently new recruits came to the field without a message, and so as missionaries proved failures. Some may be good teachers, with excellent training; others are capable doctors. But many of them do not know the teachings of their own church. He stated he was unable to see how missions could make progress unless the men sent out as missionaries were qualified to represent the beliefs of the church and had a passion for souls. With his conclusions we are, of course, in full accord.
We have always emphasized and should continue to stress the fact that in whatever line of work a man may be engaged, he should be a soul winner. Some may feel they are not gifted as preachers, and yet they may be fruitful soul winners. A man may be a doctor or a teacher or a colporteur, but his supreme object should be the winning of men to Christ.
During my students days, Prof. Frank W. Field, a teacher of science, exerted a profound influence upon my life. Somehow when he talked spiritual things to the young people in his classes, it made a deep impression. We expected it of the Bible teacher, but when a scientific man gave us a talk, as he frequently did, drawing lessons from the word of God, it made the presentation doubly effective. And not only did he do this in class, but he took a personal interest in us, visiting us in our rooms. He was the type of teacher I think we should have in all our Seventh-day Adventist schools, both in the homeland and in mission fields.
In our medical institutions I believe our doctors often can do a work in soul saving that the chaplain cannot do. The chaplain is expected to preach and give Bible studies to the patients. That is his work. But if the doctor takes time to follow up a lead with his patient, that really creates an impression. The Lord did a great work in the ministry of healing, but He began His work in a spiritual way. You remember when the paralytic was let down through the roof of the house, Jesus said, "Thy sins are forgiven thee." That was the first word addressed to him. He saw the man had faith, and He first prepared him spiritually for healing. That is the order which James gives to us,—first confession of sin, then prayer for the healing of the sick. So it seems to me that in our medical work we should ever give primary emphasis to soul saving.
Sanitariums have been established in the mission field as aids to the furtherance of the mission work. In these medical institutions we have an opportunity of reaching a class of rich and influential people who would rarely if ever come to our tent efforts or other meetings.
A lady came to our Shanghai Sanitarium who was very much discouraged with her condition, for it was serious. She had been operated on before at the sanitarium, and hesitated very much to undergo another operation, though it offered her only chance of recovery. Finally she consented. After the operation, she was in a very critical condition, and we sat up with her during the night. This patient was a devout Buddhist. She saw our anxiety, but did not request prayer. Nevertheless in our anxiety over her case we knelt and prayed. Immediately she stretched out her hand to us and said, "I am going to get well." At once she started to mend. And that very moment she was converted, and gave her heart to the Lord. Since that time she has been one of the most faithful workers in our Shanghai church. She was devout in her idol worship, and now she is just as devout in her worship of Christ. Her children, who had been going to a Catholic school, are now in our school. Her family is influential, and her conversion has resulted in many others' being interested and brought into our church. Such a goal should always be our supreme objective. I am grateful to report that last year we had over twenty conversions in our Shanghai Clinic and Sanitarium, and this year we have had a number also.
Remarkable experiences likewise attend our godly colporteurs. Two faithful men went up into northwest China, where they sold large numbers of books and took subscriptions for the Chinese Signs. We found they had been preaching also, and had been very warmly welcomed by the natives. Then these colporteurs sold their mules, bought two camels, and started into Chinese Turkestan. We did not hear from them for six months. We knew the extreme danger under which they worked and traveled. With the Soviet influence as strong as it is among the Mongols, for these young men to get across the line with two camels loaded down with religious literature, would be nothing more or less than evidence of the Lord's special care.
From Urumtsi, the capital of Sinkiang, we now have letters from them, telling us they arrived safely and are preaching the message. They are our first missionaries to enter the central part of Asia, the most isolated area that we have to enter anywhere in the world. I know of no other section on earth that is so hard to enter as Chinese Turkestan. But these men have found their way into that country. I am glad the Chinese opened up the work there, and that they are self-supporting colporteurs. It is a great encouragement to our church in China and to our membership the world over.
People sometimes wonder what kind of members we have, and whether after all the Chinese love this truth, or whether they follow us chiefly to get employment. I want to tell you that the Chinese are willing to take risks along with us any time. God is raising up godly native men to carry our message into the uttermost parts of the earth. It gives us great courage to believe that He is both able to finish His work and will assuredly do it. It behooves us to review these principles frequently, lest we forget.
Shanghai, China.
