Source/Author: By Bishop J.M. Thoburn

The present seems to me, more and more, an era of wonderful possibilities to the Christian missionary. At no period during the past hundred years have there been so many doors set wide open before him, and at no time have there been so many willing and even eager inquirers calling to him for guidance and help. In Central Africa, in Sumatra and Java, in Northern India and South-eastern China, converts from heathenism and Islamism are now counted by thousands, and even tens of thousands, annually. The present measure of success achieved in these fields is such that the home churches seem unable to realise the rapid march of events. In fact a painful amount of incredulity seems to prevail, even in missionary circles, and very often this incredulity finds expression in questions which startle the missionaries who are rejoicing over the rich harvests which they are reaping.

It would seem that a latent unbelief throughout the Christian world has long stood in the way of immediate success on a large scale in the mission field. In this as in all departments of work God bestows his blessings “according to (your) faith,” and when a Church becomes enfeebled by its want of faith, the effect will surely be felt in connection with every enterprise in which the Church is engaged. The missionary work must suffer with other interests, and, indeed, the paralysing effect of such unbelief may usually be seen to some extent among missionaries themselves. Amazing as it may seem, Christian missionaries may be found even in our own day who do not believe that success on a large scale is possible in the present era, and who, as might be expected, look with extreme distrust upon the increasing number of movements in different parts of the world, which indicate the approach of an era of wide-spread conversion to the Christian faith.

Those who wish to realise a large measure of success in any mission field should carefully avoid two or three mistakes into which many fall. First, they must not try to choose their converts. We very naturally turn to the class which attracts us most, God’s choice and ours are not always, perhaps not often, the same. Second, we must put any human beings beyond the sphere of our effort. If we decide not to baptise sweepers, or pariahs, or any other despised people, we may as well cease our efforts at once. The Christian missionary dare not, even for an hour, forget that God is no respecter of persons. Third, we must not let our own opinions, or preferences, or prejudices get in the way of the work. In a score of matters pertaining to food, dress, social customs and personal habits, we must learn that we have no right to trouble the simple convert. Lastly, we must nourish and cherish the new converts with all possible fidelity and care. In no case have I ever known converts to do well without such instruction, or to turn out badly after having received it.

It is quite possible that success on a large scale cannot be realised in some fields, owing, if to nothing else, to the sparseness of the population, but while it is true enough, it does not change the fact that a relative measure of success ought to be looked for in every field. If we cannot have a flowing river, we can at least pray for and expect the sparkling rill. If we cannot number our converts by the thousand, we should at least try to gather them by the score if not the hundred. God’s set time to favour His missionary Zion seems certainly to have come.

By Bishop J.M. Thoburn
The Malaysia Message
March 1897