118Th Annual Report of the Board of World Missions Reformed Church in America
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Hope College Hope College Digital Commons Annual Reports Board of World Missions 1950 118th Annual Report of the Board of World Missions Reformed Church in America Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/world_annual_report Part of the Archival Science Commons Recommended Citation Reformed Church in America, "118th Annual Report of the Board of World Missions" (1950). Annual Reports. 95. https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/world_annual_report/95 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Board of World Missions at Hope College Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Annual Reports by an authorized administrator of Hope College Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEENTH 'pjHHtta/ tfiehtyd BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD 1948-51 Rev. Paul H. Achtermann, German Valley, Illinois. Rev. William C: De Jong, Hull, Iowa. Rev. Harvey B. Hoffman, 291 Clinton Avenue, Hackensack, New Jersey. Rev. Joshua M. Hogenboom, 172 W. 26th Street, Holland, Michigan. Rev. Floyd V. Nagel, Guilderland Center, New York. Mr. Clifford P. Case, 120 Broadway, New York 5, New York. Mr. Lawrence R. Chambers, 63 St. Johns Avenue, Yonkers, New York. Mr. E. F. Sheppard, 25 Mountain Avenue, North Plainfield, New Jersey. Mrs. David Bogard, Little Falls, New Jersey. Mrs. Abraham De Young, Allegan, Michigan. Mrs. Chester A. Moore, 400 East 67th Street, New York 21, New York. Mrs. Henry W. Pietenpol, 709 Peace Street, Pella, Iowa. Mrs. Howard C. Schade, 43 Bedford Road, Tarrytown, New York. , 1949-52 Rev. Paul E. Ammerman, 41 Marwood Street, Albany 2, New York. Rev. Elton M. Eenigenburg, 848 West 62nd Street, Chicago 21, Illinois. Rev. Leroy J. Hess, 76 Sherwood Road, Ridgewood, New Jersey. Rev. Richard P. Mallery, 82-50 Kew Gardens Road, Kew Gardens 15, L. I., New York. Rev. Gerard C. Pool, 2607 Palisade Avenue, Union City, New Jersey. Rev. Abraham Rynbrandt, 882 Caulfield Avenue, S. W., Grand Rapids, Michigan. Rev. John C. Van Wyk, 314 Eight Street, Oakaloosa, Iowa. Mrs. Martin de Wolfe, 5 Morris Avenue, Schenectady, New York. Mrs. Paul E. Hinkamp, 64 West 14th Street, Holland, Michigan. Mrs. M. Stephen James, 6 Bishop Place, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Mrs. Jacob Juist, 8163 Kenney Avenue, Detroit, Michigan. , Mr. Howard B. Nichols, .33 Elm Place, Hastings-on-Hudsoh, New York. Mr. W. Lloyd Van Keuren, 4507 Smith Avenue, North Bergen, New Jersey. Mrs. John J. Van Strien, Gardiner, New York. 1950-53 » t , Rev. Harry L. Brower, 311 Park Street, Morrison, Illinois. Rev. Harold Leestma, 1536 West Gils Road, Muskegon, Michigan. Rev. George H. Mennenga, 214 West 15th Street, Holland, Michigan. Rev. Le Roy Nattress, 7 Gaviota Way, San Francisco 16, California. Rev. Henry V. E. Stegeman, Orange City. Iowa. Rev. John E. Buteyh, 417 Alexander Street, Rochester 7, New York. Mrs. Stanley Brown, Elm Grove, Wisconsin. Mrs. Emmett Paige, 309 Kenwood Avenue, Delmar, New York. Mrs. Leonard Sibley, Claverack, New York. Mrs. M. Tjoelker, R. 1, Everson, Washington. Mrs. P. T. Wagner, 514 Wyndham Road, Teaneck, New Jersey. (Continued on inside back cover) 4950 The Board of Foreign Missions respectfully presents to the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America its One Hundred and Eighteenth Annual Report, the Ninety-third of its Separate and Independent Action and the Fourth of the Reorganized Board, continuing the former Wo m a n ’s Board of Foreign Missions. ,o FOREWORD The Board of Foreign Missions presents herewith its one hundred and eighteenth annual report to the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America. It is well to be reminded year by year of this long history during which the world has seen many changes but the Church has gone steadily on carrying out the commission of her Lord and widening the circle of her influence r o u n d the world. The year under review has witnessed n e w changes. India has become an independent republic; China has fallen into the hands of Communists. Perhaps no changes in the years that are past have possessed deeper significance. E v e n n o w w e are too close to these revolutionary happenings to know what they may bode for the future but it becomes at least increasingly clear that the East will be an ever m o r e vital factor in the years which lie ahead. That the Church will have its share in shaping that future is equally clear. T h e L o r d ’s blessing u p o n the w o r k w h i c h has been done, the high courage and faith of missionaries w h o have remained at their posts in the midst of danger, a n d our o w n reliance u p o n an omnipotent G o d all challenge us to such high optimism. The Report as presented to the General Synod does not contain all financial statements because of the early date of the annual meeting. T h e y will be ad d e d to a later final report. It is expected that the fiscal year will soon be c hanged to the calendar year w h i c h will cause s o m e confusion at first but thereafter will m e a n m o r e orderly preparation of the report for the General Synod. O n c e again w e express for the Bo a r d grateful appreciation of the loyal support of the Ch u r c h wh i c h has m a d e it possible in spite of increased costs to maintain an expanding w o r k overseas. R ut h Ra nsom L. J. Shafer F. M . Potter U Annual Report 1950 CHAPTER ONE " . for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, a nd there are m a n y adversaries.” (I Cor. 16:9) _ The report for last year foreshadowed the revolutionary change of government which took place in A m o y in the early fall. T h e first half of the year under review w a s thus spent in antici pation of this event. It is impossible for us here to realize the tension of those months. T h e missionaries had taken their resolution to remain, but none could predict the course of events. H o w and wh e n would the turnover take place? W o u l d there be violent fighting and mass disturbances? H o w would the conquerors treat the missionaries and their Chinese colleagues? W e have every reason to be thankful to G o d that in spite of the large movement of troops in retreat and the advance of the armies of the n e w government, and in spite of the bombs which fell and the danger from flying shrapnel, broken glass a n d falling plaster, all the missionaries c a m e through unscathed. After the change over, there w a s s o m e difficulty at first with communications and the sending of funds, but at the present time these have largely been overcome and letters come through frequently. T h e stations sent their full reports directly to us this year instead of to a m e m b e r of the Mission for condensation and most of these have reached us. W h a t is the situation today a n d w h a t can be expected in the future? A summary of some statements in the reports will help us to an answer to these questions: • Reports from China vary so much that it must be difficult for anyone living outside of the country to formulate any definite opinion. F r o m one center c o m e reports of friendly negotiations, f r o m another arbitrary restrictions a nd outright persecution. It is still the military phase in South Fukien, since the island of Formosa, 100 miles to the east, and the island of Q u e m o y , lying only seven sea miles f r o m A m o y , are still in the hands of the Nationalist government. W h e n the civil government takes over, the situation will undoubtedly be different. But it is well to remember China’s history. Her people are not philosophers but practical fanners a nd business men. In the past "pragmatic adjustment of life to life w o n out over principle a nd ideology, g o o d a nd bad.” If any country should be able to reshape C o m m u n i s m to serve its o w n practical good, that country should be China. Although apparently ruled by monarchs, the people’s inherent freedom of thought a nd action has been axiomatic. Rulers held sway as long as they respected this inherent right of the people. Today the Utopia promised by the Communists finds warm sympathy in the hearts of the masses, disheartened by the long years of w ar and disillusioned by unfulfilled promises of the past impotent regime. Communists proclaim certain freedoms and the right of private property. Actually, however, freedom is guaranteed only to those w h o in blind obedience follow the path ■ of Communism. Never has there been such rigid regimentation a nd absolute control. This irks the Chinese, a nd the disregard of the middle-aged and the aged a nd the catering to youth also runs counter to basic Chinese thought patterns.