A People with a Mission Baptist erald Volume 60 July/August 1982 Number 7 & 8 United ..... 4 Monthly Publication of the North American Baptist Conference 1 So. 210 Summit Ave., Oakbrook Terrace, IL. 60181 8 ..... Cameroon Interim editor: Barbara J. Binder Celebrating 100 ve~rs of "iss·~~s This year we begin the celebra tion of 100 years of mission effort Expanding ... .. 12 of The North American Baptist General Missionary Society, 1883-1983. This special issue of the Baptist Herald is not a com plete history of the Mission Socie ty, but the Rev. Harold Lang, associate missions director, has painted with words in a sweeping brushstroke what North American Wherever your assignment has put you, Baptists have done at home and around the world. The Rev. Fred others have labored there before you. You Folkerts, missions director, has have entered into their labor, like it or not. assisted in the selection of photographs. They may not have had the high I. Q. that This special issue of the Baptist Herald celebrates the ministry of you have; they may not have had your Ministering missions and challenges us to con to Minorities ..... 20 tinue "In Jesus' Name" to bring talents, opportunities and your brand of the Gospel to a needy world. Sec tions of the Baptist Herald usually theology, but they were dedicated to the included each month are not ap cause of Christ as you are today. Remember pearing this month, but will return in the September issue. this while you develop your world-shaking It is our prayer that you may let the Lord speak to you as you read plans for your present charge. It behooves us 24 ..... A Look Around of the past and allow him to challenge you for the future. to remain humble, faithful and tactful. BJB "I have planted , Apollos watered; but God gave the Increase" I Cor. 3:6 BAPTIST HERAl..D: Send editorial and businoss COf' rospondonco to Barbaro J. Binder. I So. 210 Summil Avo .. Paul Gebauer, December 1950 OokbrooL Torroco. IL 60181. Send oddross chongos to Ba p tist Harald Subscriptions. I So. 210 Summit Ave .. OokbrooL Torroco. IL 60101. Six wooks notico roquired for chnngo o! oddross. Furnish o!foclivo doto ond oddross label from ro cont Issue. Publishod monthly (oxcopt Jonuory/Fobruory Looking Ahead ... .. 29 ond July/ August bi·monthly) by tho North Amoricon Baptist Con!oronco. I So. 2 tO Summit Avo .. OokbrooL Torrnco. IL 60161. Second cluss postogo poid ot Villa Pork. IL 60181 ond at uddltionol moiling ollicos. Subscription rotas in tho United Stutes und Cunudo: ono yoor-SB.00: two yours $ 15.00 Church Family Plun-SB.00: sin81o copv-S 1.00: foreign subscription-$15.00 onu your Mombor o{ llvungollcol Prose Associutiun. Nows roporlod uml viows oxproseml uro not nocussuril)' tho position o{ lhu Nlll· th Amoricon Buptist Con{uronco. (Printod 111 tho U.S.A.) USPS 042560 . A People with a Mission
There large cities were develop General Missionary Society ple with a mission. Who were dent; 55 home missionaries were ing; industry was flourishing; Formed these people? being supported; and 2,191 United and life was more stable. Slowly fears were allayed; All had a German heritage. members were added. Patiently, skillfully, those feelings subsided. On September They came from a variety of The total Conference member favoring consolidation answered 26, 1883, by act of the Seventh countries in Western Europe, ship increased from 10,000 to the objections. They pointed out General Conference meeting in where the use of German was 13,000, and the total number of that two-thirds of the salary of Cleveland, Ohio, the General widespread. Some came to North churches grew to 161 from the the General Secretary would be America to escape religious time the first church was '' 'f'T General Ml ~sion a ry Sec'.etary G.A Schulte and wife in front seat with the Rev. and Mrs. Eduard Gruetzner at Hanover, ON, in 1911 on the oc casion of the Gruetzners 60th weddrng annrversary. 4 BAPTIST HERALD JULYI AUGUST 198Z 5 A People with a Mission but made frequent trips to the But Great Britain was no longer is anxious to become a foreign Professor Rauschenbusch that mainland. When, because of the anxious to extend its vast colo missionary ... He hos a pleas prompted action by the German Catholic Spanish government of nial empire. When Germany ing personality, is a devout committee. As a result, on Cameroon Fernando Po, persecution of Bap claimed sovereignty over the Christian, a good conversa March 27, 1891, a young tists arose, Saker and his group Cameroon, Great Britain tionalist, and above o11 very American, who himself had im of Baptists needed to find a new withdrew. active in Christion work. He is migrated to the United States, home. Sailing along the coast, they established the town of Vic Cameroon Comes under German establish a Christian witness toria in 1858. Control r'J1he closing decades of the When Cameroon became a l nineteenth century witnessed there. He studied diligently to Clark, Prince, Merrick, Saker-these and their fellow German colony, it raised the the rise of a new European na learn the language and later problem of what the English Bap established a printing press at missionaries from England and tion. Germany was coming to its Jamaica were all related to the tist missionaries should do. They own. It felt any nation of Bimbia. British empire. They hoped that realized that they would no significance needed to have col Among others who volunteered the entire area would be longer be welcome in a country onies. So Germany eagerly joined in England was Mr. Alfred established and continue as a now under the influence of a dif the race to complete the carving Saker. Mr. Saker worked on the protectorate of Great Britain. ferent European power. The up of Africa. island of Fernando Po initially English Baptists withdrew from On July 14, 1884, Colonel Cameroon. To whom could they Gustav Nachtigal, emissary of entrust their work? the German government, signed agreements with coastal chiefs The Baptists of Germany, still of the African country of a small and struggling group, did Cameroon (Kamerun]. As a not feel they could take over the result, Germany claimed this work that the Baptists from land as its colony. Great Britain had begun. As a result, the mission stations were English-speaking Missionaries given over to the Basel mission, Mrs. Anna Cappell Steffens August Steffens, first missionary from the Volunteer for Cameroon a German-speaking mission in Missionary In Cameroon 1891-1901 United States sent by the Baptists of Germany Baptist mission work in to Cameroon, baptized 136 believers in the first Switzerland. year and five months of his ministry. Cameroon had begun 40 years Since this mission was before. Incentive came from Bap Presbyterian in its beliefs and possessed by a desire to go to became the first missionary of tist Christians of African church policies, there was con the Cameroons. He is healthy the Baptists of Germany to enter ancestry who had been taken as siderable friction between the and a very likeable person." the Cameroon. slaves to Jamaica. Now freed, mission and a number of the The man to whom Professor At the end of 1891, shortly these devout Christians longed to churches that had been Rauschenbusch referred was after he and his young bride, revisit the land of their birth and established by the English Bap Mr. August Steffens from Tren Anna, arrived in Cameroon, he bring the Gospel to Africa. tists. Soon native Baptist ton, Illinois. Steffens had wrote to the mission in Berlin: Among the first to volunteer to churches asserted themselves. previously written to the Baptists "Our experiences here hove accompany the Rev. John Clarke These appealed to the Baptists in of Germany concerning his will far exceeded our expectations and Dr. G. K. Prince to establish Germany to take up the work. ingness to serve as a missionary . .. From every side, the black mission work was the Rev. in Cameroon. Stirred by ac inhabitants ore flocking to us Joseph Merrick, pastor of a large Steffens-First German Baptist counts of German colonization, and look upon us as God 's very church in Jericho, Jamaica. Missionary he saw the opportunity of own people. Every day young Clarke and Prince had, in 1840, As the Baptists of Germany witness there. men come to us and hove the made an exploratory tour of the seriously considered this However. it was the letter by tears stream down their black West Coast of Africa and recom possibility, there came a letter mended establishing mission from Augustus Rauschenbusch, work at the Island of Fernando professor of the German Depart Po, just 20 miles off the coast of ment of the Rochester Baptist Cameroon. Seminary. An excerpt reads: Soon after his arrival at Fer "There is a young man in our nando Po in 1844, Rev. Merrick journeyed to the mainland to seminary in Rochester who will graduate next spring and who Centennial monument erected on the oceanfront where pioneer Baptist missionary Alfred Saker landed In Victoria, Cameroon. Alfred Saker, missionary to Africa, who landed, founded and named the township Victoria. This tablet is erected in memory of his devoted work to mark the centenary of Victoria, 1858-1958. 8 BAPTIST HERALD JULY/AUGUST 1982 g America, they were closely daughter of Professor and Mrs. There was a link between the related with the American Bap Augustus Rauschenbusch of the German-speaking people in the tist Home Mission Society. It was Rochester Baptist Seminary, left United States and Canada and natural that, in looking to for India and the Telegus in those in Europe. Many in the overseas service, there would be 1882. new world had relatives and cooperation with the American Shortly thereafter, Mrs. John close friends still in Europe. Baptist Foreign Mission Society. Heinrichs, the youngest daughter There also was the possibility In the 1870s reports came of pioneer pastor, the Rev. that some of those who became from American Baptist mis Konrad A. Fleischmann, served Christians in Europe would later sionaries in Southern India con in India along with her husband. immigrate to North America and cerning the Lord's working Leaders showed the way in sup join the churches already estab among the Telegu people. During porting their own children as lished here. the months of June and July part of the world-wide mission. Although the initial purpose 1878, more than 8,500 followed for the formation of the General Christ in baptism. This spurred Direct Support for European Missionary Society was the the vision of German Baptists in Evangelism evangelizing of German-speaking North America to the possibility Simultaneously, there was an persons in North America, there of worldwide mission service. increasing interest in mission was a worldwide vision from the Young people responded. It is work among German-speaking very beginning. This vision would significant that among the first people in Europe. This, in fact, grow. D missionaries to go out from Ger became the favored work for man Baptist churches were direct support by the German children of founders of the speaking people in North denomination. Miss Emma America. This interest was Central Conference meeting in Baileyville, 11\\nols, In 1897. Rauschenbusch, younger natural. that a General Missionary Mission Field Arriving in Ports Christ: "Harbor missions" in Secretary is elected, one thing of North America port cities, evangelists on the stands fast, that he must devote Immigration! German-speaking Dakota and Manitoba prairies, his entire time to the office." people came from Russia, prayer groups in Chicago and Bulgaria and many other coun Detroit and assistance for con Schulte Becomes General Mis tries of Europe as well as Ger struction of churches in Wiscon sionary Secretary for 23 Years many itself. German immigrants. sin. The Conference tried again. often from a totally irreligious The evangelistic zeal of the The Rev. G. A. Schulte became background or from state German Baptists was inspiring. the full-time General Missionary churches with little emphasis on Few in number, poor, often ill Secretary on August 1, 1893. He a personal relationship to Jesus trained-they felt compelled to continued in this capacity until Christ, were a continous mission share their faith. They were his death 23 years later. field. They arrived in the ports truly a people with a mission! of North America, spreading out God blessed their efforts. In to the cities, the plains and the those early years, there was an prairies. An unprecedented mis average of eight new churches a sion opportunity-persons from year. More than 1,000 new unevangelized foreign countries members were added to the Ger were moving to the New World. man Baptist churches yearly Baptists, disparagingly regard through baptism, an annual in ed as a strange sect in Europe, crease of approximately 10 per took up the challenge of cent. evangelism. German Baptists, A native feast prepared for mission worllers and famine coolies June 4, 1900, by the missionaries at Ramapatam, India, In honor of their son Edgar, whose birth· with considerable help from the A Growing Worldwide Vision day and recovery from scarlet fever were thus celebrated.-J. Heinrichs, missionary. American Baptists, faithfully From the very beginning, Ger strove to make an impact for man Baptists showed concern for overseas missions. In North 6 BAPTIST HERALD JULY /AUGUST 1982 7 faces as we tell them of the and myself, I present to the Missionaries' Lives Taken by American Baptist missionaries Bender Appointed to Cameroon love of Je sus for them." mission. Please take care of Disease were struck down not by spears When, in 1899, another young Three months after his arrival, Anna; she has been a faithful August Steff ens was the first or bullets but by disease along American, measuring a mere August Steffens had his first wife: and we were so happy." of a number of Baptist martyrs the coast of Africa known as the five-foot-three inches tall and baptismal service of 24 Cam in Cameroon. These North "white man's grave yard." weighing scarcely 110 pounds, eroonians. A few months later, All these, nearly the entire in applied for missionary service, 78 more were added. Within a itial missionary force sent to he was continually warned, year and five months, he had Cameroon by the German Bap "You'll die there." baptized 136 believing Chris tists of North America, paid for "You don't look like a strong tians. their commitment to Christ with man." Then in July of 1893, came the their lives, four within a ten "You're too small in stature." following cablegram: month period-a people with a 'Tm afraid of consumption." "Steffens is dead. mission! But, the Rev. Carl Jacob Shall I come home?" - Anna Steffens. Arrived in Died Just before his death, August Cameroon Steffens wrote to Rev. Eduard August Steffens Dec. 8, 1891 July 4, 1893 Scheve, director of the work in March 18, 1897 The Rev. Stephen Nteff (left), the Rev. Peter Mrs. Pauline Suevern June 13, 1894 Jam, and the Rev. Gary Schroeder (right), Berlin: Peter Wedel Nov. 11 , 1895 Aug. 10, 1897 evangelism secretary, contributed much to the "My dear brother Scheve, H. C. Enns January 1897 July 5, 1897 development of Christian leadership training when you receive this letter, I Maria Enns January 1897 Jan. 3, 1898 courses. Missionary Schroeder supervised the Anna (Steffens) production of materials in which pastors were shall no longer be among the trained, and they, in turn, trained their church living. I am very weak. I have Suevern Dec. 8, 1891 May 17, 1901 members. Rev. Schroeder was killed in a car loved you as a father loves his (Widow of August Steffens and wife of Emil Suevern) accident on February 12, 1970, in Cameroon. son. I love the Cameroon peo ple with all my heart. The little Missionary Carl Bender (left) and his wife Hedwig (Clober) (right) as they attended the wedding of the structed in the area where he teacher David Williams and his bride at Soppo. The Williams are parents of Mrs. Beatrice Nokuri, now presi Bender was not easily daunted. worked so faithfully. house I built here for Anna dent of the Cameroon Baptist Convention Women's Union. Second from left is Mr. G. L. Haddison, father of Daisy and Hannah Haddison, who were members of the "College Singers" and "Cameroon Choristers," "I shall not die, but live and In more recent years, others respectively. proclaim the works of the Lord." have died in service. Dr. Leslie This was the theme of his Chaffee and the Rev. Gary farewell message in the church Schroeder are continually in Berlin on his way to remembered by their graves in Cameroon. In 1899 Rev. Bender Cameroon. D began his missionary service in Cameroon. The predictions were not com "I shall not die, but live and pro pletely unfounded. Through near claim the works of the Lord." ly 30 years of missionary ser -Carl Jacob Bender vice, Rev. Bender repeatedly suf fered from the effects of tropical disease, but he continued on. He gained great respect and ad miration among the Cameroon ians for his commitment, his wisdom, and his love for the peo ple. In 1935, he died as a result of Dr. Leslie Chaffee, first medical doctor sent by black water fever. Today his the North American Baptist Conference to Cameroon served there from Dec. 4, 1948, to grave stands at the entrance of 1965. He and his wife returned In 1973 to the Soppo Church, which he con- Cameroon, where he died. Chaffee Is pictured with the Fon of Nsaw at the dedication of the Banso Baptist Hospital on April 2, 1949. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hildebrand of Stafford, Kan sas, were the first " laymen-i n-action" as they went to Cameroon in 1950 to build an addition TheHrst mission house was built in Victoria, Cameroon, by August Steffens. Pictured are early missionaries Mr. and Mrs. Suevern at left and Mrs Anna Steffens at right. · to thi s hospital, missionary homes, school buildings and a chapel. 10 BAPTIST HERALD JULY I AUGUST 1982 11 ======11 A People with a Mission raise a million dollars for amounted to more than a third of denominational purposes during a million dollars. the following three years. As Dr. Expanding Kuhn writes, Evangelism in Europe "This project had not been Another part of the mission premeditated by any commit was an evangelism emphasis in tee. There was a spontaneous various countries of Europe. In enthusiasm about this matter 1920 Dr. William Kuhn travelled s exciting things were taking A highlight in Rev. Kuhn's that almost guaranteed its suc in Europe to examine mission A place in Cameroon, there early ministry as General Mis cess. Already at that General possibilities there. Two years was activity in other areas of the sionary Secretary took place in Conference, a considerable later, the Rev. Carl Fuellbrandt world. Young people from Ger 1919. The General Conference in part of the million dollar offer of Austria visited the United man Baptist churches in North Chicago, Illinois, determined to ing was pledged." States, attending the General America were feeling the call of Conference. Plans were drawn. God to serve in many places. Following the Conference, Dr. They went out under various .JJRNUBIRN Kuhn accompanied Rev . mission societies. They served in Fuellbrandt, who was director of .. ,..,,H1f{&Tlt rlOIVS Burma, China, India, and the ~ ovr~TlfTIONS the Danubian mission, to Europe Philippines under the American to organize the work. In some Baptist Foreign Mission Society. At the peak of the mission wOO<, German Baptists of North America supported 89 pastors and evangelists In ways, the European work was Others served with the Cana the European countries of Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovak ia, Latvia, Hungary, Poland, Switzerland, the "mission field of our own" Roumanla, Yugoslavia and Germany. Money was given for relief and evangelism of German.speaking peo dian Baptists in Bolivia, Sudan ple In Europe. for German Baptists of North Interior Mission in Nigeria and America. This work, however, China Inland Mission in China. In 1922 at the following World War I had caused was carried on through Euro The German and English publica General Conference in St. Paul, devastation and indescribable pean pastors and evangelists. tions of the growing denomina Minnesota, it was reported that suffering in Europe. German At its peak in 1935, 89 tion vividly pictured the progress $1,056,273.06 had been re Baptists contributed sacrificially workers were supported in the of their work. ceived! Enthusiasm turned into for needs especially of German European countries of Austria, Meanwhile, churches at home actuality. The German Baptists speaking people in Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Latvia, were reaching out to German were responding to their mission. Hungary, Poland, and Russia as Hungary, Poland, Switzerland, speaking peoples flooding the Dr. William Kuhn, general missionary secretary, (lett) and Dr. Martin L Leuschner, editor, toured Europe Part of the mission was well as Germany itself. Relief Roumania, Yugoslavia, as well as New World. Gradually the with the Rev. Carl Fuellbrandt of Austria and director of the Danubian mission. On this tour, they organized reaching out to hurting people. ministry following this war in Germany itself. the mission work for German Baptists of North America, a work carried on through European pastors and churches no longer depended on evangelists. the American Baptists to aid in the expanding work. Kuhn- General Missionary Secretary- 1916-1946 In 1916 after 23 years of faithful service as General Mis sionary Secretary, the Rev. G. A. Schulte died. The Rev. William Kuhn became the new secretary until 1946. Between the two mis sionary secretaries they served more than 50 years. Dr. William Kuhn signs receipts for contri but ions received toward the three-year million dollar project (1919-1922) for Conference mission work. Dr. Kuhn said: "There was a spontaneous enthusiasm about this matter that almost guaranteed its success. Already at that General Conference, a c onsiderable part of the million dollar o ffering was pledged." The first Gypsy Church In the world was organized and built in Golinzl, Bulgaria. 12 BAPTIST HERALD JULY/AUGUST 19R? 1 'l A People with a Mission First Gypsy Church Organized forgiveness of sin ... On interest. finances, and personnel By June of that same year, at The work among the Gypsies Easter Sunday morning, five were part of a global mission. 0 least a dozen other young people of Bulgaria was unique. In the Gypsies gave their hearts to War-Its Impact had contacted Dr. Kuhn concern village of Golinzi , the first Christ. They stood up and ing the possibility of missionary organized Gypsy Church in the brought their joyous testimony service. The first of the post-war world was established. Chris that they wanted to follow the wave of new missionaries went tians in North ·America were risen Christ, their Lord." to the field in 1945. thrilled to hear the reports com In 1947, the first of a series of ing from this work. The Rev. Thus the work progressed on A s war clouds began to gather ting- all were woven together. booklets concerning missionary Georgi Stefanoff, pastor of the many fronts. At home churches Il.in 1935, German Baptists Then the war came. All Bap Church, reported in 1939: of German Baptists in North reached another landmark in tist missionaries from Germany America were multiplying. their broadening mission. itself had to leave, never to "In April we had thirteen Established churches were grow Previously, all missionaries sent return. For German Baptist mis evangelistic services, six ing; new churches were being to Cameroon from German Bap sionaries from North America, it prayer meetings, four meetings established. . tist churches in Nor th America meant depletion of numbers and for men and three communion Now financially independent, had served under the Baptist concern for the future. services. For all these 26 they gave freely in money and Mission in Germany. In 1931, the gatherings, the chapel was personnel to mission enterprises Rev. Paul Gebauer began his mis Enthusiasm Building for Mis filled as at no other time in its abroad. Support was given for sionary ministry with this ar sions in Cameroon As the war neared its conclu history. More than 20 Gypsies relief and evangelism of German rangement. sion, a new enthusiasm for mis were converted for which we speaking peoples in Europe. Mis In 1935 as Gebauer prepared are especially thankful to God. sionaries were sent to Cameroon to return for a second tour, he sions was building in North After the service on April 2, through the Baptist Missionary was a uthorized to develop the America. Reinforcements were there were 11 Gypsies who Society in Germany. Through Mbem and Mambilla areas urgently needed to go to asked for our prayers, and all various groups missionaries under the German Baptists of Cameroon as soon as possible. On May 14, 1944, at the Mis of those prayed themselves for ministered in other parts of the Rev. Georgi Stefanoff, pastor of the Gypsy Church North America. Now the German God's salvation and world. German Baptists through in Bulgaria, pictured with his family. Baptists definitely had their own sionary Young People's Rally of overseas mission field. the General Conference held in Dr. and Mrs. Gebauer were Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dr. 4._,.- soon joined by Miss Edith Koppin William Kuhn presented nine in 1936, and by the Rev. and new missionaries to the excited Mrs. George Dunger and Miss audience. In response to the call Laura Reddig in 1938. The work for volunteers given by Dr. Paul began with a holistic approach. Gebauer, five more young people Laura Reddig, missionary nurse for 40 years in ~ came forward and were included Cameroon, began her ministry at Mbem, Medicine and education as well Cameroon, to those who needed medical and d as evangelism and church plan- in the prayer of consecration. spiritual help . ... Paul Gebauer organized the mission for North American Baptists in I Dr. George Dunger trained church leaders In Mambilla, which at that time Cameroon and was active In evangelism in the grasslands for nearly 30 years was in Cameroon. Now it is part of Nigeria. Rev. Carl Fuellbrandt spoke at the dedication of the church in Golinzi on September 28 1930. Matthew 11:28 appeared on plaques on the front of the church (1932-61). He is shown with Fulani women whose life and culture were a part rn the Gypsy language and rn Bulgarian. ' of Dr. Gebauer's anthropological studies through the years. 14 BAPTIST HERALD JULY /AUGUST 1982 15 J Close by, another group of people sat on the grass singing, laughing and making daisy chains. They were blissfully unaware of the fate of these, un concerned that they were l perishing. Florence was deeply convicted by what she read in this book. She thought of what she was do ing as a Bible school student tak ing in all the Biblical teaching, enjoying all the Christian fellowship with other students, but having little concern for those who had never heard of the coming judgment and need for personal faith in Jesus Christ. That night she promised God, she would go to a place where Miss Florence Miller (center) with Miss Kltahara who became their household he lpe~ (at left) and the name of Christ was not well Miss Yoshiko Yamamoto (at right) who helped Miss Miller start the first North American Baptist known. mission station in Japan In lse In 1953. couple, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Hirth, conducted by a missionary, began corresponding with Rev. Yoshiko came to know Christ. Schilke. Mr. Hirth had been in She became a zealous witness. Nine missionaries were commissioned for service in Cameroon, Africa, during the General Conference at ~ilw~~kee, WI, Ma.y 1944: (l eft to rig~t. Japan as a serviceman with the Because she refused to work on back row) Edwin and Verna Michelson, Earl and Lois Ahrens, Paul Gebauer (returning to Cameroon following .m1l1tary chaplaincy), Laura Reddig, Allied Occupation Army. He felt Sundays, she was dismissed from Verna and Donald Ganstrom, and Myrtle Hein (front right center) bidding farewell to Evangeline Wegner. Hilda Tobert Is not pictured. strongly the call of the Lord to her job at the spinning mill. personnel on the field was Sensing the Need in Japan William Kuhn, after more than return to this land as a mis When Florence met her, published. The title: Now We During the war, many 30 years of leadership, retired sionary. Yoshiko was a complete These volunteers felt God' s Are 22! American servicemen became from service in 1946. He was stranger, speaking no English. Following the war, all the exposed to the people of Asia for replaced by the Rev. Helmut G. call. They expressed their will But both felt God had brought former German mission stations the first time. Some of these ser Dymmel as Missions Secretary, ingness to go. But should a new them together. They agreed to were turned over to the North vicemen came from North and then in 1951 by the Rev. field be opened? work together in opening the American Baptist Conference (as American Baptist churches. Richard Schilke. Immediately first North American Baptist the German Baptists were now Although they were in the Rev. Schilke had the responsibili Decision Made to Begin Work in mission station in Ise. Yoshiko's known). The Conference then of Pacific to fight a war, they ty to determine whether the Japan friend, Miss Kitahara, who had ficially organized the Cameroon became aware of the spiritual North American Baptist mission After careful consideration, also been dismissed from the Baptist Mission. needs of the people. Increasing should expand to a new conti the decision was made. Consent spinning mill, became their Dr. Gebauer, returning to the ly, it seemed that the land of nent and a new country, Japan. was given. In 1951, the Rev. and household helper. field after the war, served as Japan might be open for mis Early in 1951 Rev. Schilke Mrs. Jay Hirth and Miss Yoshiko helped Florence in field secretary of the Cameroon sionary effort. received a letter from a young Florence Miller became the first visiting, preparing messages and Baptist Mission until his retire As the war ended, General lady, Miss Florence Miller. North American Baptist mis in teaching Sunday school. She ment in 1961. Work continued in Douglas MacArthur, commander While a student at Moody Bible sionaries to Japan. was a natural storyteller and In Japan, Florence Miller's gifted in dealing with children. the areas of education and of the Allied Forces and Occupa Institute, Florence had become Dr. Richard Schilke served as General Missionary medicine as well as in tional Army in Japan, appealed acquainted with a book written Secretary from 1951 to 1979. work began through contact with With the indispensable help of evangelism and Bible training. for missionaries to be sent to by Amy Carmichael, Things As one Japanese girl. Her name was Yoshiko, Florence Miller By 1952 there were 37 mis Japan. He felt that the people They Are. Feeling a tug to the land of Miss Yoshiko Yamamoto. Many established the first church. sionaries in Cameroon. Con would be receptive to Christiani This book depicted a dream in Japan, she corresponded with of Yoshiko 's family had died dur tinually increasing numbers ty and that thousands of mis ing the war. Because of the war, which Amy saw a procession of Rev. Schilke as well as others. Yoshiko was not even able to get were involved in missions there. sionaries were needed urgently. people marching toward a The decision had not yet been In 1964 short-term missionaries Meanwhile, back in the United an elementary school education. joined those serving under precipice. Because they were reached whether North At 15 she went to work and States, changes were taking blind, they were unaware of the American Baptists should open regular appointment. place within the structure of the live at a spinning mill. There, danger that lay ahead. One by work in Japan. through evangelistic meetings General Missionary Society. Dr. one they fell over the precipice. About the same time, another 16 BAPTIST HERALD JULY/AUGUST 1982 17 J canned fruits, dried prunes, and raisins. In one three-month period in 1948, a staggering total of 413 tons of relief goods were sent to Europe. All this "In Jesus' Name." here was another side to the Tend of the war in Europe. Many countries where North American Baptists had sup ported mission work were now closed. The iron curtain was real- no resumption of work in Bulgaria, Rumania, or Poland . . . ./ -....-.ms~~ In Copenhagen, Denmark, the Baptist Church distributed clothing from German Baptists in North America to German Baptist refugees in Den mark. Persons Involved in administering relief work at the North American Baptist Office were Roland Ross, The work in Japan has not comptroller, (back row, left to ri ght); Dr. Martin l euschner, promotional secretary; Dr. Frank Woyke, been easy. Through 30 years of executive secretary; the Rev. Helmut Dymmel, general missionary secretary; and Dr. Wiiiiam Kuhn, effort, growth has been slow. At - former general missionary secretary, (seated). the present time, there are eight should have seen the radiant voice say: 'Our brethren in churches with nearly 300 bap faces of our children, especially America have not forgotten us.' tized Christians. Though the Our fellowship in Christ Jesu s is growth has been slow, it has that of our youngest boy of four! been steady. Those who have He could not contain himself, worldwide; it crosses the wide ocean. You us new come to a point of decision know jumping up and down and clap have given the meaning of making Christ ping his hands as we unpacked strength and hope. You have Lord as well as Savior. Commit all those wonderful things. Again proved to us again that Christ is ment usually comes after literal we have experienced God 's love. the true shepherd of his people. " ly years of exposure to Chris His arm is long enough to enfold tians and the Christian witness. and keep us." "Thank you a thousand times for Once it is made, it is a lifetime your gift. My own eyes were commitment. "God knows how much we filled with tears, and the eyes of need everything your parcel my two children sparkled with the list goes on. Only Austria joy when we saw those precious Relief-Again a Primary Con brought us. When we are at the was left. cern Miss Gretchen Remmler, secretary, and Dr. William Kuhn display some of the relief ministry at the General end of our own strength, he things. God must have known For a number of years, money In Europe the war had Conference In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1949. always finds ways of helping. that we had not had meat nor fat was sent to support local pastors devastating effects. New and im We had to leave our home in in four weeks. It is a hard lot to and evangelists in Austria. After proved agents of destruction The relief ministry once again Namen Jesu." be a refugee on the face of the 30 years, Dr. Carl Fuellbrandt worked their havoc in the Euro became a primary concern. By East Prussia, lost everything, The Rev. William Sturhahn, now we are refugees. One earth· but to be a pilgrim on the retired as Director of the Danu pean countries, particularly Ger the thousands, CARE packages the official representative of the way t'o our heavenly home is joy many. Hundreds of thousands of were sent to alleviate in some treasure we shall never lose, bian Mission in 1954. The Rev. North American Baptist Con namely Christ, and we trust him and blessedness." William Appel, an experienced refugees seeking to escape com small way the tremendous suffer ference for relief work in Ger munistic control, fled from the to lead us safely through the American pastor, served as ing. Through sacrificial giving many, observed the distribution Packed by volunteers at the East to the West Zone of Ger and volunteer labor of North dark days tha t lie ahead." director of the Austrian work of relief supplies and assisted in denominational offic.e in Forest from 1956 to his retirement in many. Myriads of people, in American Baptists, hundreds of making immigration ar Park, Illinois, a continuous _ 1960. As Baptists in Germany cluding many German Baptists, thousands of parcels were sent rangements. Letters indica ted lost virtually "!mmediately after your parcel stream of essentials found its . began to become financially out in the years following World the effectiveness of this ministry. arrived, the family gathered to those in need: Clothes, tm able, the work in Austria and its everything-relatives, homes and War II. In each parcel was in wayt fats cocoa, dehydrated material possessions. "With much joy and thanksgiv around to see what had come. meas, • · support were turned over to cluded the simple message, "Im ffee dried peas, rice, them.D ing we received your parcel. You ~hat amazement, what rejoic soups, Co • lilg! Within my heart, I heard a 18 BAPTIST HERALD JULY/AUGUST 1982 19 J A People with a Mission drank of this life-giving A Ministry to Spanish-Americans substance and was saved. This Ministering man was Joe Rabbit of in Colorado Nordegg, Alberta, first Chris Farther south, North American tian Indian to be baptized by Baptists felt concern for those of us. Spanish-American descent living to Minorities "It is no wonder Brother in the San Luis Valley of Col Benke was broken down in orado. health. Doctors tell us that his In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, heart was half dead when he 1944, at the same service when new missionaries were commis The Indians close to the sioned for work in Cameroon, the l northern churches in Canada Rev. and Mrs. J. J. Reimer were and the Spanish-Americans liv presented as missionaries to ing at the southern tip of the work among these Spanish United States-each living at the American people. Poverty, extremities of the North American Baptist work-were minorities often neglected and ig nored. North American Baptists learned to see needs close at hand as well as halfway around Benke Memorial Chapel (in background). the world. The name most often associated with work among In was living. If a man in that ministry you con and leave dians of Canada is that of the condition could do what he them to themselves. " Rev. Fred W. Benke of Edmon did, how much more ought we The Committee, however, felt ton, Alberta. The Rev. Reinhard to be able to do with all our the work should be more orga Neuman, who himself served heart alive unto the Lord! nized. faithfully as missionary among Although Brother Benke was ...... __, ~ _ ... not highly educated in secular First Missionary to Indians Ap the Indians for nearly 15 years, The Rev. Reinhard Neuman (left) was the first missionary to live on the Montana Reserve. Chief John Bear schools, he posessed a learning described his early travels with (center) opened the door for Rev. Benke to minister to the Indians there. This led to the appointment of a pointed Rev. Benke: full·tlme missionary couple, the Neumans. The work expanded to the Bull Reserve where Missionary Ray· which he could not receive In 1946, Miss Twila Bartz "My first trip with Brother mond Harsch located (right). anywhere. The school to which became the first of 20 mis Benke was to the northern he went was Jesus' school. sionaries to the Indian field. country of Valley View, Alber Because of so many years he Work was conducted on the Missionary David Keiry ministers to Spanish· ta. Unlike most preachers who spent under the teaching of Montana Reservation, Bull Americans In Center and Del Norte, Colorado. hod raced through to their Jesus, he became like him. " Reservation, and Muscowpetung destination, Mr. Benke took Through the vision of Rev. Reservation. alcohol, disease-many of the time off to stop here and there Benke and others, attention was God blessed the ministry, but conditions faced in the Indian to contact some half-breed In turned to possible work among there was a variety of dif work-were prevalent in the dians along the way. Like Jesus Indians in Canada. The Missions ficulties. One of the greatest pro Valley as well. who had the multitude with Committee of the Northern Con blems was to find continual mis The ministry begun by the and about him, he took time to ference showed concern. There sionary personnel. For the sake Reimers continues to the present see the individual and to talk was one man who strongly op of effectiveness and continuity, it time. It, too, has been a difficult with him, as if he were like posed to the very last an orga was decided to turn the work work, involving dangers and Zacchaeus in the tree. nized work on the Indian field. over to the Northern Canada disappointments as well as vic "The trip which he made to This was Rev. Benke himself. Evangelical Mission, specializing tories. Through the years, con Nordegg in the mountains will His reason for opposing it was in Indian work. This was done in gregations in three towns have never be fully understood nor this: 1971. known. He mode it alone with "You cannot do much among his car only to contact one Indians in an official and whom he felt was hungry for Pastors from neighboring North American Baptist churches would come to the Reserves to help conduct organized way. The best way the living bread and thirsty for adult Bible schools. In February 1964, the Rev. Wi lliam Sturhahn, the Rev. W. W. Sibley, the Rev. Phil to work with them is simply to the living water. It was soon Grabke, and Missionaries Reinhard Neuman and Ray Harsch conducted the Bible school on the Bull go in Re serve. Mr. and Mrs. John Bull (grandson of Chief Frances Bull) are seated In center front. Students from and befriend them afterward that on Indian ate the Christian Training Institute, Edmonton, and youth from the Calvary Baptist Church Wetaskiwin Alber· yourself. Give them whatever ta, assisted the missionaries on weekends and during the summers. ' ' 20 BAPTIST HERALD JULY/AUGUST 1982 2l J Gloves boxing champion, Defying the flight of churches to tion that his gun could not hit it, and Orientals in the New dedicated his life to Christian the suburbs, here and there in but the plane could hit the ship. York/Newark area, Philadelphia, This gunner knew that in just service. Almost a decade later, dividual congregations have re Sacramento, Los Angeles, and seconds the plane would destroy in 1954, he became a home mis mained and adapted their Chicago. Of ten the churches are the ship, and he would be blown sionary for the North American outreach to changing small and the finances uncer to pieces. Baptist Conference, beginning neighborhoods. tain, but the congregations He screamed into the wind, work in the Rio Grande Valley of These now include ministries courageously respond to God's "God, help me!" Texas just north of the Mexican to Spanish, Portuguese, Blacks call to mission. 0 As he faced certain impending border. death, he heard the shattering This Spanish-American work, burst of an explosion. He saw supported especially by the the plane, hit by anti-aircraft Southern Association of North fire, veer off into the ocean and American Baptist churches, has disappear in the waves. Sudden continued and grown. Organized ly there was absolute silence. churches minister at Edinburg As he thought a bout his ex and Rio Grande City, Texas, with perience, Raymond Castro made missions also in Mexico. a commitment to God: Both churches presently have "Lord, now that you have pastor/missionaries who came helped me, I promise that I will from Mexico and are serving serve you full-time.'' people of their own background: As a result, this sailor, a Latin The Rev. and Mrs. Lindbherg American Christian and Golden Ake and the Rev. and Mrs. Juan Helen Lohse served for a time as missionary to the Spanish-Americans In Center, Colorado. Luna. developed: Del Norte, Center and Inner-city Ministries Monte Vista. Other North American Baptist Along with church-related churches have ministered to Robert and Maryscella Sandoval served Garcia's Ranch Baptist Church in Rio Grande City, ministries, a Baptist Health Texas, for 15 years from 1963 to 1978 and reached over the border to minister in Camargo and ethnic groups in urban areas. Villa Neuva, Mexico. Center at Monte Vista meets health and maternity needs. Clothing distribution, thrift shop, distribution of food supplies and assistance in housing- all this and more are vital parts of the ministry. The Rev. and Mrs. David Keiry have served for 25 years. Dr. and Mrs. Earl Ahrens, following 18 years of service in ~e Cameroon, went to the Valley m 1963 where they are continu ing their ministry. Miss Katherine Hunt is the nurse/mid wife at the Baptist Health Center in Monte Vista, Colorado, since 1976. Missions on the Mexican Border At the height of the war in the Pacific, a young sailor serving as a gunner m the United States Navy was aboard his ship. As he looked up from his position, he Missionary Earl Ahrens, Monte Vista, CO, not only m inisters to the spiritual needs of Spanish· saw.a Japanese plane diving Americans, but also to their physical needs through a food distribution program and construction straight at him. Its bombay door of low-cost housing. was open. He was in such a posi- "Lord, now that you have helped me, I promise that I will serve you fulltime." In 1954 Raymond Castro (left) became a home missionary beginning work in the Rio Grande Va ll ey of Texas. 22 BAPTIST HERALD JULY/AUGUST 1982 23 J A People with a Mission extension. With rapid urbaniza tion taking place within the "God's Volunteers"-Youth country and suburbs of large Evangelism Ministry A Look Around cities springing up seemingly " God's Volunteers," a pro overnight, there were vast areas gram challenging the commit of the population that were un ment of young people to God, churched or underchurched. began in 1956. Assisting in both Through the church extension new and established churches, program, new works began, par the teams of "God's Volunteers" trip around the world begins the 1950s within the urban ticularly in larger towns and have provided impetus in Aat home. Sometimes in focus churches, many members did not cities. These were not connected evangelism and reaching out to ing on what is happening have a German background. with a German heritage. Rather others. Begun through the overseas, developments in local What now? they were churches established General Missionary Society, the churches are ignored. It was at this time that several to serve their communities team members agreed to devote In the 1950s the influx of Ger new movements began to take whatever the national back a year of their lives to this op man immigrants, spurred by the place in the churches in North ground. The work of church ex portunity. They received exten conditions in Europe following America. The General Mis tension began in the 1950s under sive training in door-to-door World War II, began to slow sionary Society had always been the direction of the Rev. Daniel visiting, witnessing, discipling, down. Language changes con involved in supporting pastors Fuchs. conducting workshops and sing tinued to take place within the and evangelists, providing chapel ing. building funds, aiding churches churches. The vast majority of In 1973 "GVs", as they were North American Baptist not yet financially independent, affectionately known, became a churches were now all English. and providing for retired part of the newly formed Church The North American Baptist ministers and their wives. Now it Ministries Department. They are In 1956 the Evangelism Committee decided to adopt a new evangelistic method, the "God's Volunteers" Conference originally served accepted the challenge of new presently known as "New Day." program. Under this plan, six young volunteers, who donated their services for the major part of a year, German-speaking people in the areas of outreach. were selected as an evangelistic team. After training for about a month in the early fall, they spent six Now divided into music and months visiting churches, spending one week or more with each congregation. The first team consisted of United States and Canada. By discipling sections, they continue (back row) Mr. and Mrs. Oswald Orthner and the Rev. Daniel Fuchs, evangelist and the first Director of Expansion through Church God's Volunteers; (front row) LuElla Wolff, Bonnie Tesky, Katie Michelson and Eunice Kern. Extension -- .. The Missionary Society saw _ to provide musical evangelistic opportunities in areas of church programs and training for North ' American Baptist congregations. A New Mission Field in Brazil From the local churches and pastors themselves came the challenge for a new overseas mission field. North American Baptists had worked in Africa, The Rev. Lyle Wacker became associate Asia, and to some extent in secretary for church extension In 1967. In 1976 the church extension ministry became a Europe. What about South department all its own; at which time Rev. America? Wacker became Director of Church Extension Pastors visiting in South until his death In 1978. America, Baptist World Alliance sessions in Rio de Janeiro, young Realizing the importance of this ministry, the Church Exten people feeling called to ministry sion Department became in south of the border-all these dependent of the General Mis contributed to the urgency of beginning a new work. Following siona ry Society in 1976 under a visit by Dr. Richard Schilke to the leadership of the Rev. Lyle The Rev. and Mrs. Herman Effa, Allen and Jerilyn, were a number of potential mission Wacker. One hundred and ten one of the first two N.A.B. missionaries to the State of fields, North American Baptists churches have been added to the Rio Grande do Sul, Brazi l. They conducted outdoor evangelism services and built this church in Porto decided to begin work in Brazil. North American Baptist Con Alegre. ference through church exten sion. The Rev. Daniel Fuchs was the first Church Extension Director combined with his responsibility as Evangelism Director. 24 BAPTIST HERALD JULY I AUGUST 1982 25 The Japan Baptist Convention, of Nigeria. Along with this Even as the countries of organized in 1967, has eight change came the political in Cameroon and Nigeria were churches with almost 300 dependence of both Cameroon gaining independence, the members. It is the goal of the and Nigeria. churches, too, became increas ingly self-sufficient. The Cameroon Baptist Convention was organized in 1954 and the Mambilla Baptist Convention in 1973. They elect their own ex ecutive secretary, hold th~ ir own General Councils, and elect their own leaders at regular biennial conferences. In Cameroon in 1970, the schools, which had been F I ...... ___ originated through Baptist mis The emphasis In Brazil for the past three years has been on sion work, became part of the establishing new churches. The goal for Rio Grande do Sul has been Educational Authority of the eight new churches in three years. This year the final two churches are being established. Missionary Richard Kaiser (left) is deeply in· Cameroon Baptist Convention. In valved In th is. 1975, the hospitals and other medical work came under the Medical Authority of the Ralph Nelson, shown here, making a follow-up visit to a family in Brazil. Ralph E - --·· Cameroon Baptist Convention. and Martha Nelson began their missionary service In Rio Grande do Sul, b ng.llsh classes have been taught by missionaries and short-term missionaries In colleges, homes and Now North American Baptist Brazil, through outdoor evangelistic meetings and the establishment of b~s~nesses. Here friendships bring opportunities to Invite people to Blblfil study groups such as this one led preaching points In various cities where later a church would be planted. They now serve in the State of Santa Catarina. lorence Miller and then to a relationship with Jesus Christ. This new mission work was "Trans Brazil," an emphasis Convention to double its member not to be carried out inde in evangelism and church plant ship within this decade. pendently but in cooper ation ing, has captured the enthusiasm Capable pastors and Chris with the Brazilian Baptist Con of Brazilian Baptists. Each state tians provide able leadership. vention and five other Baptist has its own "Trans" program. Career and short-term mis mission groups. North American Trans RS covers Rio Grande sionaries cooperate with the Baptists chose the southernmost do Sul. With a goal of eight new Japan Baptist Convention in state in Brazil, Rio Grande do churches in three years, 1982 is church extension and growth, Sul, in which to work. Sending the final year. Only two church serve at the newly acquired two couples there, the Rev. and es remain to be started to reach Christian Education Center, and Mrs. Herman Effa and the Rev. this goal. Pastors, evangelists, make contacts through conversa and Mrs. Richard Rabenhorst, students, and lay people work tional English and English Bible the work began. together so that Christ will be classes. Still small but not Very recently the work ex discouraging, the Japanese work known, loved and honored The Rev. Richard Rabenhorst has been the panded to the neighboring state throughout Brazil. field secretary of our mission In Brazil. He and ~ o ok s to the challenges of open of Santa Catarina. North his family were one of the two missionary mg doors of opportunity. American Baptists continue to The Japan Baptist Convention families who began our work In Brazil. work in Brazil as part of a Today Nigeria Added to Mission cooperative effort, supporting Japan? God is working there, Outreach the Brazilian Baptist Convention, A baptismal service for nine can too. The year 1981 saw a one didates was the largest single In Africa the quirks of world The Rev. Wilfred Weick (right) acted for the North American Baptist Mission in Japan at a handing-over which numbers half a million in ceremony in October 1978, when all church properties were transferred to the Japan Baptist Conference percent increase in membership baptismal service in 30 years of Politics suddenly gave North its constituency. Evangelism, in North American Baptist American Baptists another coun represented by the Rev. Yoshie Akasaka (left). The Japan Baptist Conference was organized In 1967. church extension, and church North American Baptist ministry churches in the United States ther e. try of outreach. As a result of a growth are the ministries in and Canada. In contrast, the in Plebiscite in 1961 the portion of Brazil. crease in Japan was ten percent. mission ente rpri s~ on the Mam billa Plateau now became a part 26 BAPTIST HERALD JULY/AUGUST 1982 27 A People with a Mission missionaries are working in The Outlook for the 80s close cooperation with the local As we enter the 1980s, North conventions. This is also true in Looking Ahead American Baptists, along with Brazil and Japan. other Christian organizations, find themselves facing challeng Emphasis Continues on Training ing economic times. Inflation con National Leadership tinues around the world. Stabil In both African countries, em ity of currencies is a perennial phasis continues on developing Now We Are 22-1947 dollar performed poorly especial problem. "Recession" has qualified national leadership. Now We Are 55-1952 ly against the Japanese yen and become a household word. As Principals of schools, midwives Now We Are 82-1962 the French franc. Tremendous the North American Baptist Mis at outlying maternities-more Now We Are 88-1964 losses were experienced in the sionary Society celebrates its lOOth anniversary, it faces many and more responsibility and Now We Are 109- 1969 currency exchange. In that authority are assumed by na single year, there was a deficit questions and challenges tionals. In 1982 the first These publications, describing of nearly $400,000. concerning the future. The Society is actively meeting Cameroonian medical doctor was the personnel of the North As North American Baptists American Baptist Missionary gathered for the Triennial Con these challenges and seeking employed at the Banso Baptist answers for the questions. Hospital. Society, give an indication of the ference in Bismarck, North And so, in some senses, a new consistent increase of mission Dakota, in 1979, the shocking Short-term missionary pro era of missions is being ushered . personnel, expansion into new truth came with an indelible im grams with candidates raising Theological Education by Extension provides the opportunity for people not able to attend Bible school to pact. The North American Bap in. It is an era when the mis- receive Bible and theological training. This includes workers in hospitals, schoolteachers, untrained pastors, countries, and introduction of a portion of their own support and other church workers. new programs. tist Conference was a million As the 1970s began, it seemed dollars in debt. It is somewhat Helping support missionaries as though the mission work was ironic that exactly 60 years through funds generated on proceeding smoothly on all previously at a General Con the field fronts. Regular and short-term ference there was the goal of a Laymen-in-Action supported missionaries had gone over the million dollars for expansion in three years. Now, in 1979, there privately and through local 100 mark, a very commendable churches number to be supported by a was a different million dollar denomination of less than 55,000 goal- one to liquidate the million Cooperation of other groups in members. dollar debt by 1982. helping to supply and fund It was in the 1970s, however, workers that drastic changes took place. Drastic Measures Taken Drastic measures were Recruiting evangelical Chris Someone said, "What satan was tians outside the North not able to do for decades in necessary, directly affecting mis sions as well as other Con American Baptist churches to thwarting mission advance, fill needed positions economics succeeded in doing in ference ministries. First, there ...~~-.. - - -~ ~ would be no more deficit spend 1es assist churches In various ways. The Rev. David Burgess, Missionary Barbara Kieper treks from village to village training village health a few years." Increased responsibilities be MJsslonar eaptlst Theological Co llege teacher, and Dr. Dennis Palmer, workers ~nd with them providing primary health care as well as teaching ing under any circumstances. ing turned over to national ca rri ero~~cto r at Banso Baptist Hospital, design a building for one of the preventative health measures. Village pastors talk to persons as they wait Emphasis was placed on medical n Baptist Convention churches. A missionary's task is diverse. about Jesus Christ. A Deficit Causes a Reduction workers carri eroo Beginning in 1971, the North eradicating the Conference debt. . arY is working together with Dr. Richard Schilke retired as American Baptist Conference ex Then, the overseas missionary swnd under th e supervision. . and General Missionary Secretary in pended more money than it force had to be reduced. No mis =~thority of national leadership. 1979 following 28 years of received from the churches. sionaries in active service were The desires and felt needs of the distinguished service. There were seven years of asked to return home. However, national churches become in At the Triennial Conference in deficit spending, not significant missionaries who retired, re creasingly important. Working Bismarck, North Dakota, in 1979, amounts; yet each added to the signed or came home for health together, missionary side-by-side the Rev. Fred Folkerts, who had other. Reserves, which had been reasons often were not replaced. with the national, the North served as Associate Secretary built up, were depleted. As a result, the number of American "mission" merges with for Overseas Missions since Then came 1978. Inflation in career missionaries on the field the national convention. 1973, was elected General Mis many places overseas proceeded and on furlough dropped from 72 sionary Secretary. Having at an alarming rate, pushing cost in 1979 to 56 in 1980. All fields eanwhile there was a tran previously been a missionary in of living allowances for mis experienced this cutback, but M sition in the Missions Cameroon, Rev. Folkerts is well The Rev. Fred Folkerts, missions director, (left) and sionaries in those countries those most severely affected Department of the North equipped to direct the mission the Rev. Ralph Cooke, chairman of the Board of higher and higher. The American were Nigeria and Cameroon. American Baptist Conference. Missions discuss items on the agenda for the annual work during this time of change. Board meeting. 0 28 BAPTIST HERALD JULY/AUGUST 1982 29 All these are ways in which the and needs. They have much to Dr. William Kuhn 1916-1946 Missionary Society is adjusting contribute. Rev. H. G. Dymmel 1946-1950 to and coping with the economic Working relationships between Dr. Richard Schilke 1951-1979 problems. the mission and national conven Rev. Fred Folkerts 1979- A People with a Mission When the million dollar debt is tions are very cordial. It is im eradicated and limited reserves portant that this continue. The future? Me? You mean me? built up, it will be possible to Future effectiveness of missions The future, what of the replenish some of the losses in That's really what it comes down to, isn't it? The bottom line. depends on these relationships. future? The opportunities on our Me, with my particular set of abilities .. . interests ... gifts ... personality ... mission personnel through the Over the past 100 years, God mission fields are un normal channels of the N.A.B. has been at work within North precedented. Relationships with perspective. Conference Budget. American Baptist churches and the national conventions are How do I fit into God's worldwide missionary plan? within the Missionary Society to positive. The doors continue to Take time to prayerfully consider this crucial question. And as you do, think about some of Facing Challenges in the 80s face and rise above the be open to the sending of new these options: In the 1980s North American challenges which have come missionaries. God continues to Baptists also face the challenge their way. The instability when speak to the faithful within our Become a Missionary of how to be increasingly effec Career missionary service tive in today's world. It is impor Short-term missionary opportunities tant to look into new avenues of Laymen-in-Action programs service and ministry. There are unreached peoples around the world and in North America Know a Missionary itself. Urbanization overseas, as Acquire information about one particular missionary or family well as the urban populations in Pray regularly for that missionary the larger cities in the United Write faithfully to _that missionary States and Canada, call for our Try to become personally acquainted with the missionary while on furlough attention. North American Bap tists need to be on the cutting Support the Mission Work . edge of missionary evangelism Become informed about the mission work through publications and outreach. Pray regularly for the needs of the mission field We live in exciting and Give faithfully and sacrifically especially in these crucial times challenging times. Modern Provide hospitality for missionaries as they visit your area technology is available to be ef Laymen-In-action supplement the missiona- ries work by providing much needed technical assistance. fectively utilized for Christ: com Ed Quiring from Minneapolis, MN works with a national on an electrical installation in Cameroon. Encourage Others in Missions puters, satellites, and improved Serve on the missions committee of your church means of comm uni cati on and Make missions a vital part of your Sunday school class or youth group transportation. the Society was first begun a denomination, young and old Programs in Theological hundred years ago-the threat alike to become part of the Speak of missions to young people or others who seem suited as missionaries Education by Extension for train of death from disease to the reapers in the fields that are Be willing to support those in your own family whom God may call ing of Christian leaders and Life early missionaries who went to white unto harvest. In a very Give leadership to a missionary emphasis in your church Abundant Programs for primary serve in Cameroon-the disrup real sense, the future of our health care and evangelism in tion of missionary work caused outreach at home and abroad is The list could go on . .. and on ... and on. villages are being developed. by the world wars-tremendous in our hands just as we are There are many ways in which you can become actively involved in missions. These need to continue and needs of peoples involved in ultimately in God's hands. But don't just think about it-Get involved! grow. Other innovative ap those wars-the need of chang proaches need to be tried. ing objectives and attitudes as North American Baptists are If you wish further information on your involvement, In all of this, the imput and countries became independent a people; have questions concerning the mission program, priorities of the national Baptist and national conventions were a people with a mission, or /eel God 's call to service conventions and churches are formed-all these presented a people with a continuing please write: essential. On all fields North challenges in the past. God mission; Missions Department American Baptists serve through directed in each of these. but more than that North American Baptist Conference the local conventions of He led through the leadership a people with an 1 So. 210 Summit Ave. churches. Each of these now has of our mission secretaries: expanding mission! Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 experienced, mature leaders. They understand their people Rev. J. C. Grimmell 1883-1892 Rev. G. A. Schulte 1892-1916 30 BAPTIST HERALD JULY/AUGUST 1982 31 I' II Baptist Herald 1 So. 210 Summit Ave. Oakbrook Terrace, Villa Park, IL. 60181 Non-profit organizati on Second class postage paid at Villa Park, Illinois 60181 and at additional mailing offices Reaching downward to those devastated, neglected, rejected by society Reaching outward to the millions speaking myriads of languages who still have never heard Reaching upward to firmly grasp in faith the outstretched hand of God Reaching, ever reaching, Stretching every fiber To save, to love, to serve We are a people with a mission. - Harold F. Lang