By N. C. WILSON, Vice-President, Southern Asia Division
Foreword: One fundamental requisite for the ultimate success of our world mission program is the development of a sense of responsibility for self-support on the part of the converts in mission lands. Prerequisite to any measure of success in self-support, however, is the necessity of placing an increased responsibility for leadership on these same converts. In some mission fields, our leadership has been slow to recognize the potential ability of their indigenous membership, and the strength which could come through the use of this ability. We believe that committees in all mission divisions will do well to give consideration to this phase of their work, for in so doing the membership would be strengthened, and increased funds would become available for new work.
The following article, by N. C. Wilson, sets forth the advantages to be gained through this attitude toward the convert. We commend it to our readers, particularly to those in our mission divisions. This was first presented before the Missions Round Table at the recent General Conference, on June 2, followed by a profitable discussion by mission-land representatives. --E. D. Dick.
This topic is one of deep interest to all of us, I and one which we have often discussed in committees and at our councils. I recognize that there are many shades of opinion regarding it. Conditions in various countries differ so much that any general rule or statement is rather difficult. The development of the work is not at the same point in any two divisions, nor in different parts of any particular division. But surely there is a great need that at this world conference we face anew with open and sincere hearts this very important problem.
In the early church it was the custom to develop strong local leadership wherever the gospel was preached. "Ordain elders in every city," was the apostle Paul's instruction to Titus. The success of the church in that day depended on the development of local leadership. It is evident that the local leadership of the church in apostolic times was placed on the shoulders of the new converts just as quickly as possible. It is said that the apostle Thomas went to India, and in a few years succeeded in winning a large group to Christ, and in training a local leadership. As a result, we find today a Christian community of several million people who for all these centuries have withstood the influences of Hinduism and other destroying forces.
Though it is true that an exchange of workers and the presence of the foreign missionary are a blessing to any field, it is equally true that failure to develop local workers of strength and ability is a great hindrance to the work in the field where such a condition obtains. Strong, consecrated local leaders are a great blessing to any field. Should we not recognize that it is only right and in harmony with the spirit of the gospel that the people of any country where we may be laboring should quickly be trained and prepared for places of responsibility?
Consecration and ability should be recognized wherever they are found. And surely it is a great blessing to the work of God, from every viewpoint, to encourage and develop the leadership of the people of all lands. A spirit of holding back the people of any country and depriving them of the opportunity of growth into responsibility is certainly not the spirit of the advent movement. The spirit of this movement calls for a comradeship and fellowship which know no barriers of nationalism or racial feeling.
We are simply standing in our own light and are defeating the purpose and ideals of this movement when we fail to strengthen and train our indigenous fellow workers for strong leadership in the church. It should be the delight of every foreign worker, whatever his position may be, to so train and develop local workers that they may qualify to stand by his side and help bear the burden. It may surprise us to see how much better some of these men may do than we expect. True, we shall be disappointed at times. However, our disappointments are by no means confined to indigenous workers. A spirit of trust and confidence on the part of the foreign worker will inspire in the heart of the local worker a like spirit, and will call forth from him a strong determination to be worthy of the confidence placed in him,
The condition in some countries today makes it impossible for anyone to carry on mission work except by the nationals of the country. In other countries the authorities have required that the number of foreign workers be greatly reduced. With the spirit of nationalism growing in every land, we may soon find ourselves largely dependent upon local workers in many places where foreign workers are now located. Should not the present situation and our understanding of events soon to take place cause us to think most seriously and plan most carefully for the stability and continuance of the work the world around?
In some parts of the world several of the very large mission societies have traveled much farther along this road than we have. It may be that in some cases they have gone too far in the pursuit of a local-responsibility policy. In some cases an unfortunate spirit of nationalism and independence has crept in. However, judging from their reports, these societies have felt that the local-leadership policy has been a great help, and they have no idea of modifying or abandoning the plan. In several parts of Southern Asia, certain of the large mission societies have placed upon the indigenous church the entire responsibility for existing work. The foreign workers are thus released for strong, aggressive evangelistic activities. It is, of course, essential in whatever steps we take, that absolute unity of the church throughout the world be maintained.
Training to Bear Responsibility
How can some of these desirable and necessary ends be attained? May it not be that we should give very much more attention to conducting local church officers' meetings? In these meetings we can come very close to the local church leaders and help them to feel the burden of the world task and teach them how to help us carry the load. In many places we are losing much because we fail to train in local church officers' meetings those who are willing to work, and who have ability.
Then may it not be that much more careful attention should be given to training our indigenous people through the home missionary and Missionary Volunteer departments? These two departments provide a means of training our entire church membership, and if more detailed attention were given to organizing and promoting their work in some of our fields, it would result in great blessing to the indigenous churches. Under the pressure of many needs, we are in danger of failing to capitalize the strength and blessing of these departments in the upbuilding of our mission program.---
Should we not do much more for our indigenous workers in institutes where in a very definite and careful way we can train and inspire these men, many of whom have capacity and ability for efficient work? We cannot overemphasize the importance of ministerial institutes and times of counsel with the local workers.
The foregoing program is sure to do much toward encouraging self-support on the part of our people in mission lands. Our people in these distant fields will never get under the financial burden as they should until they know that something very definite is expected of them. The indigenous leader is a wonderful help, too, in encouraging his fellow countrymen to get under the burden in every way.
Our only hope of extending the work in the vast mission lands as rapidly as we should is by helping the believers in these places to feel a very personal responsibility for the upbuilding of the work in their own country, as well as elsewhere. Just as quickly as possible they must square themselves to the task of supporting their own preachers, teachers, and other workers. We must lead them away from the belief, which is unfortunately so widespread, that America, or some other home field, has sufficient men and means to finish the work without definite sacrifice on their part. The goal of ceasing to be receivers and of becoming contributors instead must constantly be upheld. A consistent policy of training and developing the people of mission divisions as responsible workers and leaders will do much to encourage the indigenous church to assume an increasingly large burden in self-support.
We offer the following suggestion: Each local mission field at the time of the distribution of the annual budget should prepare two budget sheets—one covering the strictly indigenous work and the other covering the foreign workers' salary and expense. Each indigenous worker and local leader should be given a copy of the budget for his field or station. The local mission-field officers, at the time of general meetings and through printed promotion material, should make frequent explanations and appeals to the indigenous membership in an endeavor to bring in sufficient funds from their churches to care for the financial needs of the indigenous church.
Positions of Responsibility and Leadership
It would be a great blessing to the cause in many places if we had more indigenous workers who were so trained that they could act as strong local church elders, heads of mission-station schools, station directors, colporteur leaders, district and field superintendents, or departmental leaders, or could serve in other positions of trust. Wherever and whenever possible, indigenous workers should be placed on local and union committees. If necessary, the committeeand the agenda can be arranged in two sections. Thus the time of the indigenous committee members need not be taken for items wholly relating to foreign work and workers. When problems of an indigenous nature are under consideration, the counsel of our local brethren on committees is necessary. Such counsel may save us from serious mistakes.
We have not prepared the King's highway nor built solidly for God in other lands until by God's grace we have sought out and encouraged indigenous workers capable of solid constructive work and leadership. Before the work is finished, many of our local fellow workers will bear heavy burdens and responsibilities in their own country. May God help us in training and encouraging them so that they may be ready for such responsibilities.
