~ Price 2Sp

Giving

A Miscon Fruits of Mission

Angels and an Albatross

The World In View A Modern Parable

Snippings from missionary letters

Probing Mission

G I V I N G G I V I N G G I V I N G G I V I N G G I V I N G FEATURES IT'S FUN A closer look at Christian giving ...... 3 EDITORIAL GIVING MORE TO THE KINGDOM COMMENT Ron Armstrong asks about our priorities ...... 4 TWO ANGELS AND AN ALBATROSS How did it get this far? At the time Finding suitable transport in Zaire ...... 6 of writing the deadline for Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait has not A MODERN PARABLE been reached. War has not yet from Brazil, by Peter Briggs ...... 6 begun and the estimated deaths of thousands have not taken place. We YOU CAN SEE THE FRUITS are still praying for a last minute Roz Williams sees the fruit of yesterday's work ...... 7 solution. By the time you read this, of course, the situation may have A MISCONCEPTION changed dramatically and our worst about Brazil, corrected by John Furmage ...... 8 fears realised. BICENTENARY SERIES However, we've been watching Who can be satisfied? the armies assemble and the massive airlifts of materials and - continued from last month ...... 9 personnel. How many billions of Hannah Marshman, a remarkable woman ...... 11 dollars and pounds are being PROBING MISSION invested in confrontation and On having been a missionary ...... 13 conflict? So much so that the government says it cannot give SNIPPINGS AND CLIPPINGS anything to help the millions of Some extracts from missionary letters ...... 14 people starving in Africa. What an upside-down world we IN VIEW live in! Why can't we invest as much News of the church and the world ...... 16 energy and resources into the cause CALL TO PRAYER of peace with justice? Why can't we spend as much money in trying to BMS Prayer Guide update ...... 18 even out the inequalities between MISSIONARY MOVEMENTS etc ...... 19 rich and poor? One of the emphases in this The BMS shares with partner churches in: edition is about giving, our giving Angola France Sri Lanka to the work of Jesus Christ through­ Bangladesh India Thailand out the world. We believe this is a Belgium Jamaica Trinidad right priority for Christians, a right use of our resources. In fact it has Brazil Nepal Zaire been our belief, shared by Baptists El Salvador Nicaragua throughout the country, for nigh on 200 years. MISSIONARY HERALD General Secretary As we have said so many times The Magazine of Revd Reg Harvey before, we are unashamedly a mis­ The Baptist Missionary Society sionary society. Whilst we do not PO Box 49, Baptist House Overseas Secretary ignore crises and disasters, whilst 129 Broadway Revd Angus MacNeill we quickly respond to emergencies' Didcot, Oxon OX11 8XA needs where we can, we are not an Telephone: 0235 512077 Editor aid agency. Our aim is to work Telex : 94070435 BMSB G Revd David Pountain Fax: 0235 511265 alongside Christians worldwide in order to proclaim the good news of Design God's love in Jesus Christ in word Anthony Viney and in action. This is mostly not quick and dramatic but long-term, Copyrig ht Enquiries about service overseas to: 1991 Baptist Missionary Society Personnel Secretary like the quiet growth of a mustard photoset and printed by Joan Maple seed. It is a work to establish God's Stanley L Hunt (Printers) Ltd kingdom of peace and justice and Rushden, Northamptonshire ISSN 0264-1372 love.

He rald FEBRUARY 1991 ------6Ub4 IT'S FUN!

Coming forward with the offering at Upoto, Zaire .______.. ___:..:... __..a

effect on others far beyond meeting their immediate needs. In modern society we

CHRISTIAN GIVING IS responsible have been brainwashed giving, based as it is on the constancy of God's giving, which never fails . This is into thinking that where we might begin to quarrel with ELL THAT'S WHAT the young man who says that 'giving is everything ought to be one young Christian fun' if by that he means making W discovered when he emotional responses to different appeals instant. Anneka Rice began to put part of his income on one each month. side each month. God's Old Testament promise, can get things done in 'It has set me free to give - to respond marked by the sign of the rainbow, was to urgent needs, to help someone quietly that 'while the earth remains, seedtime and anonymously. Taking so much out and harvest ... shall not fail .' His love is about thirty hours so we of my income each month means I don't constant. It is His people who break miss it and I always have something promises, not God. And then 'God so have no patience with available to offer. I now enjoy giving. loved the world that He gave His only Each month I sit down and decide how son.' anything that takes a the money is to be distributed. It's fun!' Christian giving emerges from a love That's such a refreshing attitude like that. In spite of set-backs, seeming long time. especially when compared with the failures and ingratitude it continues. grudging way so many ofus give to In modern society we have been used about the Kingdom was the Christian work. After all, didn't Paul say brainwashed into thinking that mustard seed. Any gardener knows that that God loves a cheerful giver? everything ought to be instant. Anneka after sowing seeds a lot of patience is That spirit of joy in giving is often Rice can get things done in about thirty required. You can't rush things and if seen in Zaire when the offering of those hours so we have no patience with you do try to force growth that only who are mostly poor is accompanied by anything that takes a long time. weakens the plant. singing and dancing and smiling faces . True Christian giving is always ~ M -, . . cheerful, joyful, fun , because it emerges i - . . from a spirit of thanksgiving rather than a sense of duty. 'It's because God has given so much ,,'" to me that I want to give in return,' said one elderly church member. 'God has ' always given me what I ~eed and more so. And He's given enough for me to be • ,j generous. What's more, He's given Jesus. i• I can't hold anything back when I look ~ ,\ ►- at the cross and realise how much my ,r ...., . _....,. . . ~~~~ salvation has cost.' Perhaps the Serampore mission would BMS Treasurer, Arthur Garman, So that is where Christian giving not have lasted very long in our instant reminded us of this at the November begins, with God Himself. Just as His society. It was not until seven years after General Committee when he said, 'I generosity produces thanksgiving and Carey and Thomas arrived in Bengal believe that we must continue the work generosity in us, so our giving can that they were able to baptise the first we have started and to which we are produce joyful and grateful thanksgiving Indian convert! committed.' in others. In this way our giving has an One of the illustrations which Jesus It is so easy to be diverted from the ►

Herald FEBRUARY 1991 tMM.-f------

◄ work in hand, which may have lost its of our resources. glamour and excitement, to respond to In a letter to the Baptist Times last year the latest glossy television appeal. But one correspondent suggested that BMS what kind of responsible stewardship is expenditure should be equal to the that? If God has called us to begin a giving of the churches. On the surface work He surely calls us to sustain it. that appears to be commonsense Of course emergencies cannot be housekeeping. Yet what does it really ignored. Christians especially must never mean? Something like, 'God's demands tum a blind eye to the sufferings of upon us should be equal to our giving!' those around them, but neither can they Isn't that back-to-front? ignore long-term solutions. That would Although the door to mission be like a community spending all its continues to be wide open, the BMS money and energies in treating people does not respond to every request, suffering fro~ cholera and typhoid however attractive, coming to it from whilst neglecting the need for a source of overseas. The priority in mission is clean water and the provision of a good God's not ours. Through thinking, sewerage system. praying and a great deal of discussion in committees and working groups the IF CHRISTIAN GIVING is rooted in main question is, 'What is God saying to God then it is also sacrificial. It's going us?' to hurt. It means walking the extra mile. We could start with the balance sheet. 'God loves a cheerful giver' It means responding according to God's Our questions could be, 'How much demands and expectations and not have we in the bank? How much are the according to our limited understanding churches giving? What can we afford?' SHOULD WE INVEST MORE IN THE KINGD4 ·-. That's the question in the mind of BMS ~ ;,. . Scottish Representative Ron Armstrong ·-·· ~ 1/ ~ HRISTIAN the Baptist Union of Scotland declared a BMS can only look to the support ORGANISATIONS ARE deficit of £20,000 in April. coming from committed Baptists. C facing a drought. Newsworld The Rev Peter Dowsett of the Church A recent Daily Telegraph report, headed has reported that secular cash appeals Missionary Society says, 'Perhaps active 'Charities lose out as donors begin to are siphoning off Christian funds and Christians need to decide what their tighten their belts' pointed out that fewer that Christians, in responding to priorities are and to give to activities people overall in Britain are giving to successive world disasters, are tending to with the Church rather than responding charity and those who continue to give divert money from Christian missionary to secular appeals.' are giving less. The reason? Simply the work to emergency appeals. Giving to emergency secular appeals is economic climate is forcing many people Certainly, in the past five years, there commendable, but Christians should see to cut and cut and cut again. have been an extraordinary number of this as a challenge to give more rather The Charities Aid Foundation national and international disasters than giving Christian causes less - published its report in November, stating - followed by special relief appeals. Can it because this means diverting money that the typical donor to British Charities be that, in giving compassionately to from Christian responsibilities and giving this year gave only £1.28 a month such emotive appeals, Christians are it to physically deprived areas. Thus we compared with £1.97 a year ago. So it diverting normal donations to Christian end up depriving Christian work of its seems that many Christians are also causes? lifeblood. economising in their giving to Church Various societies, like the South Televised national appeals can raise needs both at home and overseas. American Missionary Society, lnterserve, millions· in a couple of days from the In Britain there are millions of the Church Missionary Society all report entire population but Christian unemployed people who cannot give the same concern. The BMS was missionary work can only look to the much to overseas mission. I find that the struggling to meet its appeal figure at the support of committed believers and unemployed and elderly are particularly end of the last financial year. Similarly organisations like our Baptist unions and generous in proportion to their resources

Herald FEBRUARY 1991 ------1-&MiiG

But we don't. We believe that we must obey God's call and trust that the r----- World -­ churches will share the vision by finding the resources in money and people. MISSION From overseas come many stories of the way ordinary people, mainly from r--- Link -- out of their poverty, are giving to the work of the church. The rice offering in Asia is well-known. In Christian homes, when handfuls of rice are being measured out for the meal an extra World Mission Link is the new BMS handful goes into a special container scheme of mission education which ready for the offering in church. begins at Easter this year. Many are It was a great joy to read the many getting excited about it, but others are letters which came in with contributions puzzled, so we shall try to answer after we publicised a short-fall in giving some of your questions. last year. So many people have made personal sacrifices, and churches too, in How do we join a group link? Do you order to help us meet our obligations. tell us or do we have to find other But then that is the story of the BMS churches ourselves? and pray God it will continue to be so as Local churches, in a district, associa­ we seek to respond to His call to tion, auxiliary or town, together with mission. □ their BMS area or national represen­ tative and auxiliary secretary work out the WML groupings. Some places have Set these funds free and already done this, but it is important to start sorting out groups now. use them in the seroice Try to find out what is happening in your area. If nothing is being arranged of Christ and His why not get in touch with your area representative and offer to arrange a Kingdom. meeting in your church? Will we have to lose our present mis­ sionary link if we join WML? and equipment needs, to the loss of missions which are caring for churches in No. In the letter sent to you with the the Third World. A MARC Europe WML booklet, we asked whether your report says that churches in America and church would be happy for your Western Europe are spending 89 per cent individual link to be expanded into a of their income on themselves with only group Link-Up. Normally that will eleven per cent being given to causes mean grouping with three or four other outside the local congregation. churches. Please discuss this matter Even special Christian appeals can and let your area representative and divert giving from normal Christian auxiliary secretary know what you ·--=- - decide. --- t · It would be a pity to change the way we ~ relate to our link missionary and so we :,r feel we can't join a group Link-up. Being part of a group Link-Up should not change the way you relate to your Ill link missionary. You will still be expected to write letters, and send tapes and messages. When a Link-Up missionary is in the UK on Home Assignment the time spent with their Link-Up groups will be longer than is in giving to the Lord's work. work. The maintenance of old buildings possible at present. An American missionary magazine, like York Minster, evangelistic crusades Group Link-Ups will make life easier under the heading 'Ecclesiastical - in 1985 £I million was raised for Billy for missionaries. Longer Link-Up visits Extravagance?' argues that even churches Graham's Mission England crusade - will give more time with you - more are becoming more ambitious in and various independent Christian time to talk and less time spent spending money on their own building appeals all eat into normal, ongoing ► travelling. □

Herald FEBRUARY 1991 ◄ support for essential Baptist unions' and needs. tenth to the Lord - fifty-fifty to the BMS needs. Certainly there is no shortage of Baptist Union and BMS? Should we not Some Baptists tend to divert giving to money. The cash is available. The money be more committed and willing to invest non-Baptist causes. These causes can is circulating in the system. The in the work of the Kingdom? One normally count on a wide range of Electricity Privatisation Offer was suspects that often the financial support from the whole Christian oversubscribed and millions of pounds resources of Christians are tied up in constituency. Ministers and church were offered. Many Christians must have bank and mortgage accounts. The secretaries keep receiving unsolicited been caught up in this appeal. challenge of Christian stewardship mailshots from independent So where are the funds that Christian principles, which take their inspiration organisations which are seeking Baptist organisations need? Could one appeal to from Calvary, 'Set these funds free and support. Giving to such appeals may Christians who made a quick profit in use them in the service of Christ and his divert giving to mainstream church selling Electricity shares to give one Kingdom.' D TVVO ANGELS ANDAN ALBATROSS t 'It isn't a proper missionary car,'~· says Tim Bulkeley. 'It has padded seats!'

NE ANGEL IS a tall thin However paperwork tends to go wrong distinguished English here and vehicles at Matadi (the port) 0 diplomat, the other a lose parts rather quickly! It didn't seem A MODERN short, broad Zairian mechanic, but I'm the ideal solution. getting ahead of myself. Let's go back to We thought of second-hand. Not the beginning. For a story about angels, much was big enough - you're not PARABLE ifs rather down to earth. meant to have four kids! About the only We were looking for a car. BMS had thing on offer was a ten-year-old by Peter Briggs voted money to replace the old Landcruiser. In Britain ten years old is Renault-4 we have been using for the last nothing for a car, but with the roads and eight years. With four children it has the driving here . . .. fter a four week visit to Brazil we grown too small. Because of the high Francis, who works at the Embassy, Awere able to have a day off, literally import duty, and other factors, cars are said, 'It's a pity you can't wait till June. our last day in the country. So we much more expensive here. Our Peugeot 505 will be for sale then. became tourists in Rio de Janeiro. We It soon became clear that no suitable It's an estate with three rows of seats.' were taken to a graffiti covered concrete new car could be bought locally with the 'That would be ideal, but we don't football stadium and to an equally money. We explored the possibility of want to wait till June. Already, with four incongruous concrete cathedral but buying in Europe and shipping it out. in the back, the Renault is bursting at the without the graffiti. Rio is like Rome, built seams!' around heights, although in this case \ Ii We didn't know it at the time, but he mountains rather than hills. The real ~ was the first angel. sights were the natural ones, or should That night Barbara and I were so fed we say the God given ones - the Sugar • 7; • up. That money should be available Loaf Mountain and the statue of Christ the ~~ 1,;/mf f'J made our inability to find a suitable Redeemer looking down on the city. There I were beautiful views of the surrounding :·~••!!~:/1 fit;' vehicle all the worse. What to do? , ~1 ~ Early next morning Francis drove up city and country but these were marred 31'-~-~.::._.,;.~--:""=-""J~~~~-=9J~~~ti_;:.;;;,;;;· ;_::: in the 505 that we'd begun to envy. by the intervening and overshadowing 'Last night I met a man who is selling smog . The same was true of the other one of these. The price is right and he is great cities like St Paulo - God's majesty coming round to my house to show it to marred by the human race's you this evening.' thoughtlessness. That evening we went to Francis' It was our last day in Brazil and the tour . house. There it was - big, shiny, new

Herald FEBRUARY 1991 ------41#&

was arranged. I picked up their chief mechanic after work and he came with me to look over the car. Usually you YOU CAN SEE need to arrange a price beforehand for such servites. In my excitement I'd THE FRUITS forgotten. So as I drove him home, after he'd pronounced the car a good says Roz Williams looking and with seats for everyone! At specimen, 'Almost new!' I expected a first glance it was perfect, better than our protracted bargaining session. in Yakusu, Zaire dreams. It was when we got home and I was wrong. He was our second found a 1980 Herald in the house talked it over with colleagues that the angel. When we got to where he lives he I of Pastor Babundo, when I was problems began to surface. got out and said, 'Goodbye,' with a taking a Sunday School training 'Look at the other second-hand cheery wave. No request for money - course for his people. He's got a vehicles that were bought recently. Even most unusual in Zaire. It was a bit of fellowship of 2,000 or so, divided into with Alan to check them over they are Christian service, freely given and most four groups. He is also the regional all breaking down!' Alan has gone. gratefully received. evangelist, responsible for the pro­ 'It ha s embassy number plates. The Now we are enjoying riding around in grammes and for the development of Landrover for Yakusu was like that. It comfort. Looking back we see God's evangelism in the whole of the Upper took a whole year to change them before hand at work, bringing us a car, despite River Region, although he has no )we could use it!' the seeming obstacles, but using His two resources for the work. The seller assured us the American unlikely looking angels. I read the article written by Embassy would have new plates in The new car is perfect, white, big Margaret Hughes. She spoke of weeks. So we needed a mechanic. enough for all, with room for others Babundo as a pupil of her school and Jr None of our colleagues would admit even. Smooth running, with big wheels of his pleasure at having been to even knowing enough to change a to take the bumps. I've called it The loaned a book, The Christian Life, spark plug. (And I thought missionaries Albatross as it glides like a big, white bird which helped him in his spiritual life. were always handymen!) I went to the over the waves that are Kinshasa 's It is interesting to see how things little garage run by another Communaute streets. move in people's lives. Since that (church group). After some uncertainty it There's only one thing wrong with The day when he talked to Margaret, Albatross. It's a luxury version - not a Babundo has trained at EBT (the proper rnissionary car - soft padded Bible College at Yakusu as it was seats, the lot! That's the other reason for known then) in the time of Chris was good value for money. It was to end calling it The Albatross. Like in Spencer. at seven in the evening only an hour Coleridge's poem our Albatross is a sign I was there for his final two years, before the checking in time for our and symbol of something wrong. As our although he didn't think too highly of international flight back to Heathrow. The big, white car glides along these city my courses. Nor did I because my courier could not have been more helpful. streets, others struggle to live on the French wasn 't much good. Anyway, He stopped the coach in a Rio suburb, same streets. The oppressed of a third now it is as though one can see the arranged for us to catch a local bus, world city: the sick whose wounds go fruits of the Lord in the work of all waiting to tell the inspector exactly what untreated, the children unschooled, and kinds of people. the problem was and ensuring that the increasingly today often hungry. last short leg of the journey could be by Our albatross too is a sign of sin. The (from the original article) taxi. It didn't lift the fog but it sent us on sin of the rich. The sin of the churches of I saw Babundo going past the door. our way. Britain, and therefore of us missionaries He was an old pupil and I do not know What an apt illustration of the church 's that you send out. The sin of ignoring what he was doing in our school just mission! We are called to offer Christ's our suffering sisters and brothers, while then, but he came in to chat and he invitation and to pray that as people you and I enjoy our comfortable lives. D was almost speechless with delight respond their hearts might be touched to over a book - only about 25 pages stretch out in love to others. As long - which I had lent him. It was a individuals drawn together become God's simple basic Bible correspondence church, they announce in His name the course, The Christian Life. coming of the Kingdom and so catalyst 'Yes,' I said, 'when I was sent extra ■ nations to seek the vision of justice and copies, I thought one might help you righteousness which bring wholeness to in your teaching of the Young the human race and the God given joy of Inquirers class. peace and shalom. And so the sinful 'Oh yes, it does help,' he replied, smog of humanity is lifted. 'but not only for that, but for my own If you are in the Midlands and would spiritual life too.' like Peter Briggs to share with your Since arriving in Kinshasa in 1982 I can share with you what he said church more of his impressions of his the Bulkeley family has grown! Tim is Vice-principal of the Protestant Faculty and but I cannot possibly describe how contacts with Baptists in Brazil, phone Barbara helps in teacher training he said it. His thirst for God was him on 021-427 8029. There are slides evident as we talked and I went home too! □ with heart uplifted, praising God anew, and full of hope. □

Herald FEBRUARY 1991 IIWRl-t------

When you give to the needy, do not let your left comparison had been made then it cost housing and even an orphanage hand know what your right hand is doing, so would have been revealed that were put forward, but foundered because that your giving may be in secret (Matthew Evangelicals were much more socially the church was too weak numerically 6:3). active than either of the other groups. and financially, even though the local In 20 years in Brazil I have not met a authority was willing to donate sites for N DEPUTATION, I have church that did not have some form of buildings. heard the old caring for its poorer members, even if Before anyone mentions British Aid 0 misconception repeated in this was only the collecting and organisations let me make it clear that it its latest form. distribution of groceries. is extremely difficult for a small church 'Up till recently Brazil was only However, you would have to know the to interest such groups in their projects, interested in ministers, but now they are churches well to realise just how much let alone get any help. I helped present thinking of the people's needs and want caring was going on. Even as Association two such projects without success. A social workers, agriculturalists and other Coordinator for a number of years it was Christian bookshop closed because we aid workers.' often a long time before I got even an could not get a few thousand pounds of The implication is that there has been inkling of what was going on. help. a marked change of mind on the part of I knew that in Pato Branco some Our largest church, Guarapuava, has our partners overseas. This idea comes wealthier members regularly took opened a creche and is building the rest A MISCONCEI * I ION

of what will become a primary school, although caring is not the only motive. So nothing has changed in Brazil except that the apparent emphasis on evangelism has brought forth fruit in strong healthy churches that have a capacity to get involved in more visible caring projects. The use of church buildings midweek for 'multi-ministry' projects is growing rapidly all over the country. As in Britain's past the natural outcome of the preaching of the Gospel has been that the love of Christ has and is being shown to the less fortunate in society. A WARNING. The buzz word in 'Brazil is only interested in evangelism!' Britain at the moment is 'Community Care'. Unless the churches catch That's what they've been telling something of the Brazilian evangelistic zeal there is a real danger that declining John Furmage. membership will render congregations impotent in their desire to be involved in from a misconception that has been provisions to the needy. But I didn't caring. going the rounds for all the 20 years I know that, when they discovered one Watch! fo r the night is coming when no have been in Brazil. Nothing has really member could not attend church on man can work. □ changed except that the churches have Sunday because his debts had forced achieved strength, through the emphasis him to take a second job, the church II on evangelism, to engage in many more promptly paid them off. visible social projects than before. The same church supported a pastor Testimony that even these social of another denomination until he could projects are no new thing came from a find a church. surprising source even before we went to When a hurricane hit the town the Brazil. I read a Spiritist book which church was involved in helping. When reproduced figures for care organisations the church at Foz do lguar;:u heard of the run by Catholics, Spiritists and event on the news they immediately Evangelicals. The figures, compared with organised a collection. With the money membership figures, were used to show they enclosed a note: 'More to follow that Spiritists were much more active after Sunday.' There are many other John and Valer ie Furmage were appointed BMS socially than the Catholic Church. stories of quiet, untrumpeted caring. missionaries in 1971 and have served in the state of Parana at Cascavel, Pato Baranco, Dois The Evangelical figures were dismissed The pastors were not short of ideas for Vizinhos, Sao Paulo and Pa lmas. They have now as insignificant, but if the same larger projects. Craft workshops, low- returned to their native Scotland.

Herald FEBRUARY 1991 Bi-Centenary ,_I--

'Who Can be Satisfied?':

Continuing Lesley Rowe's Bi-centenary series

he felt that three months was enough for each. He therefore refused to provide further support. Faced with this blow, and despite their deep love of the Lushai people, the two men decided to return to a different part of India. They founded the Assam Frontier Mission, and in 1990 began work amongst the Abor tribe. While at work there, Savidge and • Lorraine received a letter from the BMS inviting them to take over the mission that it had just begun in the South Lushai Hills. They were thrilled, and in March 1903 they arrived at Lungleh, a jungle fortress about 100 miles south of Aijal. Already in existence was a small Christian community with a strong, simple faith. These people

J H Lorrain and F W Savidge had been converted through the witness of the missionaries and their fellow tribesmen in the North Lushai Hills. Work was made possible by funds 7. The Lushai Hills made available to the BMS from the Arthington N THE NORTH EAST border of India, Bequest. Arthington had died in October 1900. O adjoining the Chittagong Hill tracts of Savidge, who had married in 1903, and Lorrain, Bangladesh, lie the Lushai Hills of Mizoram. It is a who had done the same in 1904, worked hard to remote, mountainous area, where, in the last century, establish schools, Sunday Schools, a teacher training the inhabitants were head hunters who terrorised the school, and a dispensary. Lorrain was the one who • neighbouring tribes. devoted himself to the work of Bible translation. With the financial backing of Robert Arthington, From the beginning the Lushai Church was self­ who had set out his 'Principles of the Arthington supporting and self-propagating. In 1914 the South Aborigines Mission' in 1889, two pioneer Lushai Presbyter was formed, along the lines of the missionaries began work in 1893. They were J H Church already existing in the North. The joyful, Lorrain and F W Savidge, all that were left of the vigorous witness of the local Christians was to result original 13 volunteers. Death, disease and defection in 70 per cent of the population b,ecoming converted had taken their toll of the others. Based at Fort Aijal, by the middle of the 20th century. a military outpost in the north of Mizoram, Lorrain and Savidge mingled with the people, used their stock of basic medicines to good effect, and began to 8. The Kond Hills learn the Lushai language. They prepared a grammar ...HE KONO HILLS, an area of outstanding and a dictionary, and translated parts of the work to ■ natural beauty, lie on the borders of Orissa. the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Mission in 1898. They were inhabited by animistic hill tribes who Back in Britain, Savidge and Lorrain both felt the practised female infanticide and a savage form of need to take a course in tropical Medicine, which human sacrifice known as 'Meriah'. This involved was later to prove invaluable. Arthington, however, hacking pieces of flesh from the live victim, often a criticised them for spending so long with one tribe: child. When the area came under British influence in ►

He rald FEBRUARY 1991 --~I Bi-Centenary

◄ the 1830s, the army commanders realised that instruction was in their own Kui tongue, rather than patience and education were the best way of dealing in Oriya as in the government schools. with the situation, building roads and establishing But Millman and his fellow-workers had to wait schools. Over a period of 15 years the commanders for their convert, as Carey had before them. Six sent 250 children saved from 'Meriah' to the Baptist years after beginning their work, Bisi, an ex-sorcerer, orphanages in Cuttack and Berhampur. Colonel and his whole family became Christians. Easter Day Campbell expressed the hope that, 'in due season 1914 witnessed their baptism. It was just the start of these savage Konds will be visited by the teachers of what was to develop into a strong and vibrant a higher and purer wisdom than that of men'. Church. □ The fulfilment of that hope came in the person of John Orissa Goadby. A zealous, single-minded man, he had set his heart on the Kond people from an ~A Truly R­ early age. Ordained in the General Baptist denomination in 1857, he sailed for their mission in Orissa, making his base at Russelikonda, known as Capab the gateway to the hills . He travelled extensively in the hills, despite the dangers of wild animals and fever, and set about learning the Kui language. While Energetic: he was in Cuttack in 1868, recalled to help the Orissa missionaries in a time of terrible famine, he suddenly Jan Kendall takes a lool died, aged 35 . S Pearce Carey called him 'the first apostle of Kondistan'. N A TIME and an age when women were not Sadly it was another 20 years before anyone else highly regarded, Hannah Marshman' s responded to the challenge of the Kond people. I achievements stand out, as one of her Abiathar Wilkinson, Arthur Long and then Thomas biographers says, 'In solitary grandeur among the Wood were Goadby's successors. Within a year, women of the first generation of the BMS.' Both Wood was dead from black-water fever. By May against the background of 19th century England 1893, Wilkinson had completed a translation of where women were kept behind the scenes, and the Mark's gospel into Kui, but in 1897 he died of idea of women in public service was frowned upon, smallpox. Long and his wife Lilly worked on, full of and even more so of India where a widow was enthusiasm for evangelism despite recurrent bouts of burned alive on her husband's funeral pyre (sati) , fever. In 1905 Long persuaded the Arthington Hannah Marshman's bravery, accomplishments and Committee to support the Kondistan work, and contribution to the work of evangelisation remain begged for reinforcements, including a doctor. (The supreme. seeds of a medical work were planted in the mind of Born near Bristol in 1767, and orphaned at the age Dr Fletcher Moorshead in 1906, but it was nearly 20 of twelve, she was cared for by her aunt and years before they came to fruition in the hospital grandfather. She was baptised in her teens, and named after him in Udayagiri.) about the same time came to know Joshua In 1909 Long finally succumbed to the fever, and Marshman, of Westbury Leigh, a few miles from her m was mourned by all who had known him. He was home. He was a weaver, and one year her junior - a followed by Oliver and Isabel Millman, Ernest and remarkable man, who had received little schooling, Ethel Grimes, Peter and Olive Horsburgh and but early in life had developed a passion for reading. Edward and Dorothy Evans . In 1908 Grimes and By the age of 15, he had spent a brief time as a Millman had met Long to discuss where the bookseller's assistant in London, and acquired an mission's headquarters should be. The younger unusually wide range of knowledge in the process. missionaries favoured Udayagiri, and it was to They were married in 1791 and settled in Westbury become the centre for all subsequent efforts. Between Leigh, with Hannah teaching in a school and Joshua 1908 and 1917, Millman was responsible for continuing his weaving. But she was not happy in establishing a series of schools in and around the village environment and urged him to improve Udayagiri. The people were impressed that their status and accordingly in 1794 Joshua accepted

Herald FEBRUARY 1991 Bi - C en ten a ry Ii----

the post of Master of a school supported by Broadmead Church, Bristol, on a salary of £10 a year. It was a friend and pupil William Grant, who first turned the thoughts of Marshman to missionary service. William Carey had sent an urgent request for more missionaries to join him in his work, and Joshua responded immediately, but Hannah was shocked and reluctant to leave her native England. ~markable, ~1e and : Wo ■nan'

Her objections were so strong that, earlier, before her marriage, when there was the possibility of Joshua settling in America, she would not agree to his proposal, until he promised her that he would never Hannah Marshman require her to leave her homeland. But her devotion girls - a very successful venture, which also brought to God was real and deep and eventually she in much needed income for the work of the mission. consented to go to India with Joshua and their two In April 1801 her responsibilities increased again. small children John Clark and Susannah. The Already she was bringing up the orphan daughters journey which took 20 weeks was shared with of the Grants as her own children, but unexpectedly William Ward, William and Nancy Grant and their Carey was invited to accept the post of teacher at two children, and two other couples. They were Fort William College, which meant he could not stay unable to land in Calcutta, and so journeyed to at Serampore all the while. So in his absences Serampore, across the river in Danish territory. The Hannah also looked after his four children and date was 13 October 1799. insane wife. It has been said that she 'was not Tragedy struck when later that month William unhappy for increase of this burden'. Grant died. The remainder had planned to journey In a letter written home in 1805 we have an north to join Carey, but were unable to do so. In intimate glimpse of life at Serampore: 'My first January 1800 Hannah gave birth to a second son, business in the morning,' she wrote, 'is to see that Benjamin Wickes, and five days later Carey arrived the children are bathed and dressed, fit for the day; m at Serampore with his family (which consisted of his at seven o'clock the writing school begins; at eight wife Dorothy, who by this time had become insane, worship and breakfast; at nine school begins again, and four sons), and announced the foundation of the and continues till the bell rings for dinner, at half Serampore Mission. The following few days were past one; at three school again, which ends at half spent in forming rules for this large family - in all, past five ; and by the time everything is put in order six missionary families consisting of ten adults and tea is ready; and after tea worship immediately. By nine children. the time all is over, and the children are in bed, it is But Hannah was not content with her domestic generally nine o'clock; after which time is my responsibilities, and together with her husband soon holiday, to read, write or work; but I am often so started two boarding schools for European boys and overcome with fatigue and the scorching heat of the ►

H e rald FEBRUARY 1991 ----11 Bi-Centenary

day that I feel neither will nor power to do anything Thus her desire to increase the educational lot of at all.' girls saw fulfilment. Besides being affordable for the The years up to 1811 saw expansion of the poor, the female schools taught elementary history, I activities of the Serampore Mission through the science, geography, Bengali and English grammar as development of printing, translation work, preaching well as the three Rs and training in handicrafts such and education. During these years Hannah lost two as knitting and embroidery and scripture knowledge. more sons in infancy, but had five living children, It was this last item which curtailed the popularity of John, Susannah, Benjamin, Rachel and Hannah. the schools, but even so, many local people On 12 March 1812 there was a devastating fire in patronised these endeavours. A report from April the Serampore Mission Press which resulted in the 1824 gives some idea of their examination system: loss of both property and manuscripts. This had '230 girls from 13 schools were present. Among important repercussions, though, because it brought them 50 girls read out the words and 35 recited support for the missionary work from abroad, small books and the rest were examined for correct followed closely in 1813 by the lifting of the ban on spelling. The audience was highly satisfied. Mrs missionaries by the East India Company. This Marshman then distributed clothes, pictures and brought new, young, energetic missionaries to money as prizes for proficiency of some girls.' Serampore, but instead of helping in the work, this But the success for these schools was to be short • created tensions and problems of adjustment. lived. The period in which they flourished coincided Conflict between the old and new grew, and became with a difficult period for the Serampore large enough to threaten separation. Unfortunately missionaries. The mortality of important personnel the Marshmans became the target of criticism from and natural disaster have already been mentioned the new missionaries, and it pained Hannah very but this was followed in 1829 by the heaviest blow much to see her husband and eldest son, who was of all - the European Agency Houses in Bengal now assisting his father, so criticised. collapsed and thus the Serampore College and Thus pressure of work and mental tension told Mission lost all its funds. The ill will borne by the heavily upon her, and in 1820 she returned to 'junior brethren' against Joshua particularly was still England. As well as improving her health she also continuing, finally resulting in separation from the hoped to remove the misunderstanding back home Home Committee. These indeed were hard times. In which had resulted in propoganda against the 1836 Joshua's health began to fail, and in October of Serampore missionaries. In this she was unsucessful, that year, tragedy struck again, when their daughter but while in England, she resolved to turn her Hannah was nearly burned to death. He never attention to native female education recovered from the shock, and died in December once she had returned to 183 7. Serampore. For Hannah there followed ten years of • She set out again for India in widowhood. The death of her husband followed by 1822, but on her return met with a that of her youngest son Benjamin in 1838 were hard series of tragic events. Her eldest blows for her to take. She still showed an interest in daughter Susannah died just after the work of the Mission, attending the 7.30 am giving birth to her third child, a prayer meeting every Thursday morning, but other m son, who also died. Her son-in-law than that most of her time was spent with the poor Henry Williams was hit hard by and suffering peoples of the district. Joshua Marshman his wife' 5 death and he died in She died peacefully on 5 March 1847 - when October 1823. William Carey's eldest son Felix died asked by her daughter if she was afraid, she replied in 1822, and the youngest of the Serampore trio, emphatically 'no fears, child, no fears'. Her son wrote William Ward died in 1823. Also that year Carey's of her, 'In the long intercourse of life, nothing was house was destroyed by floods, and the Marshman's ever known to ruffle her temper.' She had overcome schoolhouses were heavily damaged. So Hannah' s her fear of a strange country and unknown responsibilities in the domestic affairs of the Mission environment, endured suffering and outlived her increased, and after Ward's death she had to take contemporaries; a truly remarkable, capable and charge over Serampore's female schools. energetic woman in every way. □

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refashion you, and there was the inculcated in me by school, university i\ patience and tolerance and love of and even theological college, than I colleagues that went with you in the did consciously preaching and refashioning. teaching about Christ? What does my There was the slow realisation that record in God's accounts look like? God was an Asian man who went to Is there enough in my conscious Africa but never Europe, that the credit column to balance my .. "' , Word of God was almost all Asian unconscious announcing of the an that early theology was mostly European idols that are part of me, , .,. . ' .. ' ...... ' African, and that most of my Europe but of which I am little aware? ., f.,: '~-.,• was the gift of people from Jerusalem When I taught history in the J t I ..•t ,., •;.; and Alexandria and Nicea and university, did I teach it as I had been .;:·.,; Carthage . taught - with no real place for the ,; . :. .. What a responsibility, having been God of history preached and lectured a foreign missionary, to be a about in the theological college? Did I missionary in a foreign field of assume the 'atheistic' view of nature Britain! Overseas I knew I was in a that governs so much of our science? non-Christian culture. Paganism was Did I unconsciously convey a culture prevalent, the idols were everywhere which had gradually limited God to and openly worshipped and adored. the smaller and smaller area of what The need to speak about the one does with one's solitude? Did I counterculture of the Gospel that proclaim a midget Christ who really judges and redeems was patently only laid claim to lordship over that 0 obvious. Consequently, my eyes and fragment of human life that our brain were always discerning and western socialisation process ON HAVING BEEN A analysing the world about me and generally leaves to religion, and who MISSIONARY wondering how it might be lifted and mildly acquiesces when we mouth, restored in Christ. 'He is true for me'? Now I am in Europe where the 'How do I see my foreign experience camouflage of Christendom still My first three points now feed my as preparation for the harder task of deceives some of the people all of future work. We do not 'retire from '. witnessing convertingly in my own the time and most of us some of the We 'retire in order to'. Retirement is country?' time. How do I retain my missionary what the 70 odd years have been attitudes of 'idol discernment' here? preparation for, and in the case of a Dr Dan Beeby, former Principal of St How do I recognise the tares in the missionary there is a seamless Andrew's Hall, Selly Oak, says, 'I crops and the controlling might of continuity between the 'from' and the now see clearly that we are all principalities and powers? And how 'in order to'. witnessing all the time, and all do I understand them , not in the light The missionary has been greatly converting all the time.' of my current ideology or some privileged. He has been showered hat a privilege to have been a fashionable trend, but as I see them with joys and opportunities that have W missionary! What an incredible measured by God's plumb line and not only delighted him in the past but privilege! I know I hardly did anything then judged and recreated by the have prepared him for the future I planned to do or thought I was hope of the resurrection. calling. called and fitted to do. I know I was In other words, how do I see my And, of course, privilege carries usually dragged screaming, foreign experience as preparation for responsibility. Noblesse oblige. The sometimes mildly, sometimes wildly, the harder task of witnessing missionary, after years and decades into various new jobs that I didn't convertingly in my own country? of preparation, has a mind-set, an want to do. I know there were germs, attitude and techniques which, with a and great rows, and difficult I now see clearly that we are all certain sea change, qualify him as no colleagues - and mosquitoes. witnessing all the time, and all other is qualified clearly to see his But, there was the sunshine, and converting all the time. It is not a own culture as it really is, to put it strange tastes, and the struggle to question of a chosen few of us being critically (himself included) alongside put all your thinking into the witnesses and being dedicated to the the holy gospel and see how little categories of another language. task of conversion. We are all they coincide. There was learning to hear the converting others to that something The missionary also is frighteningly unsaid in another culture; new we witness to. The only question is, aware how much his past witness glimpses of new unsuspected what is it we witness and convert to? has been to the pseudo-sacreds, the beauties; the discovery that the Is it our own culture, our own substitute lords, which are part not of unthinkable was regularly thought by lifestyle, our own sense of superiority his visible hand luggage, but are bu ilt some people and that laughter or sense of failure? Or is it Jesus into the concealed heavy baggage of outside Europe had unsuspected Christ? the culture that formed him and the overtones and depths. As a missionary, did I spend more education that nurtured him. There was the new viewpoint that time witnessing unconsciously to the With these gifts, the responsibility, first shattered and then began to 'atheistic' culture of Europe and the knowledge of past failure he ►

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to say something to godless ◄ is now ready. The years of Discernment. And, with a thought for preparation are now over. It's about all the countless created things that 'Christendom' and all its cultural time he did something to translate the become substitute 'creators' and offspring. hope and victory he has known asked to bear impossible burdens - The programme calls for a mission overseas into triumph in the new and the nation state, the poor, the to Western Culture; the new paganism harder task of mission in his own National Health Service, the adored which has converted the world. In land. lover, etc - maybe a Royal Society Christ's name we are called to So, how about some missionary for the Protection of Idols. Happy redeem the assumptions and collecting boxes for the new missioning! D presuppositions, the things we take missions; the missions to medicine, for granted, the hidden beliefs sociology, history - and theology, the Reprinted, by permission, from The beneath all our 'facts ' and media - and the Church; missions to Gospel and Our Culture of which Dan 'knowledge '. language, Murphy's law, Beeby is the Co-ordinator. Those who wish to know more are 'professionalism' - and the Missions? 'The Gospel and our Culture' invited to write to Dr Beeby, The Donations are invited to establish programme draws much of its Gospel and Our Culture, clo The Selly an Institute of Idol-Identification and a inspiration from three recent books by Oak Colleges, Bristol Road, Department of Hidden-Dogma Bishop Lesslie Newbigin and is trying Birmingham 829 6LQ □

the pillars erected and the trusses for We looked and prayed, quietly and the roof were being prepared, so there earnestly. Prayer and the MAF pilot's was no room for us to sit inside the skill brought us through. building any longer and the services Travel in Zaire is not easy, not were being held outside. certain, but it was worth the journey It has taken almost a year to get this to get to Pimu. Our turn had come to far, but each stop has to be paid for play our part in the Pimu project. before more materials can be bought. While Bob repaired the electricity The BMS finances the roof and the supply system Ruth and the girls church has to find the rest. With the helped the hospital staff in the state of the economy in Zaire at pharmacy and prepared for the new esent, this is getting more and more intake of student nurses. They packed bandages, counted Anyway the roof was completed. pills, cleaned shelves and catalogued Next day the rains came! text-books. It was a privilege to be Even now the extra space in church part of a hospital team providing UMBRELLAS AND ROOFS is not sufficient to accommodate health care for an area the size of have new meaning for Foster everyone and we are squashed like Wales. Almost every other day life and Jean Wright in sardines. Jean is fortunate to get a giving operations were taking place. Kinshasa, Zaire. space on a plank supported by two Those operations had to have the bricks, but old women are willing to intense lighting provided by the ' . . . and don't forget your umbrella spend the three hour service perched generators. The generator repair work next week!' That was the last line of on half a brick or some equally was difficult but somehow there was the long announcements at the service uncomfortable item of building power for every operation that needed a few weeks ago and we wondered material. The men - well some stand, it. why we had to bring our umbrellas to but usually to let a visitor sit. We've One of the joys of being in Pimu the church during the dry season. never noticed them squashing up like was the way in which the local church The following week we were glad the women are expected to do. Maybe and mission supported each other and we had paid attention as we sat the women know their place in the the closeness and bond of fellowship outside the church building in the church too! which existed between the people blazing sun! While Jean sat amongst involved. At Pimu we could see and m the women on a plank of wood taking experience the life of a Zairian village. turns at holding the umbrella, Foster The well-maintained thatched mud sat on a comfortable armchair at the WHERE'S PIMU? brick houses. The warmth and front with one of the lady deacons - not the kind of question friendliness of the people. holding an umbrella over him. She Bob and Ruth Ellett expected There was adequate food while we even kept moving with the sun. from the pilot. were there, but the children had Deacons certainly know their station swollen bellies of malnourishment. here in Zaire! 'Has anyone been to Pimu before?' The church in Kingabwe where said the Pilot. His inflight computer Foster has been appointed second had failed. pastor is in the process of building a 'Can anybody see a river?' The bigger church. As is usual here, it is whole family looked down from the built round the outside of the original six-seater MAF plane. We were 700 one. Well the walls were complete, feet above the green ocean of jungle. The Ellett family

Herald FEBRUARY 1991 ------1-hridil

Most of the population is heavily prayers which need correction and infested with intestinal parasites. discuss ways in which Roger can help Adrian Hopkins, the missionary doctor in the church. at Pimu, explained that this led to In the meantime Angela goes anaemia. The combination of this and shopping or back at the apartment will other illness can be fatal. be washing, ironing, cleaning, chatting It was noticeable that there were or sometimes visiting one of the lots of small children, fewer teenagers, church ladies. less adults and very few people over In the afternoon Roger frequently 60. People die very easily here. The sallies forth to pay the bills. On tribe was in danger of dying out Wednesday afternoon Angela attends before the hospital came. The people the church ladies' practice. Normally have learnt to cope with death but an alto, she often finds herself singing that still leaves the pain and suffering. with the sopranos because there are so Many of you are praying for Pimu, few. She also discusses general please continue this vital support. musical support or solo items on horn Returning from Pimu was another or recorder with Elane the pastor's exciting flight, this time through a wife who leads the music in the thunderstorm. We flew blind for over church. an hour. Again we have to thank the After supper that same day Angela Lord for our safety and for the goes to the Baptist seminary while provision of our skilful MAF pilot. Roger attends the prayer and Bible study at Floresta church. Roger joins Angela at the seminary at 9 pm for the second half which finishes at A DAY IN THE LIFE OF 10.30 pm. The idea is that we improve CHAMO-ME ROBERTO Roger and Angela Collinson our Portuguese as we listen and - no not a letter from Brazil in Brazil's southern state of sometimes respond to three hours of but from Robert and Rio Grande do Sul. lectures four nights per week. Catherine Atkins in France. We have animated discussions on 'I wish this traffic light would change, the way home about the different There is a group of Portuguese people it seems to have been red for ever,' subjects. One debate fades as we in our church at Versailles. They hold said Roger. arrive at those same traffic lights that a monthly service in their own 'Do you want a paper today? is your delayed us in the morning. The time is language so I thought it would be a change handy?' asked Angela watching around 11 pm and we are approached good gesture to learn enough a boy thread his way through the two not by the paper boy but by an even Portuguese to have a go at a reading. lines of waiting cars. younger looking child. So every time there are dishes to be 'Good idea, but the money is in the He is about eight or nine years old, done or some cooking, the cassette brief case behind the seat. Too late dirty, unkempt and with sad hopeless goes on as well. the lights are green.' looking eyes. He is not selling Our church had a dynamic Brazilian 'Why are you switching lanes? anything. He is simply begging. We pastor for about ten years until 1987 You're driving more like a Brazilian pass some cruzeiros out of the car and one of the things he did was to every day.' window and as the lights change and make a lot of Portuguese speaking 'The car in front is signalling to we move on the talk in the car is contacts. It is fair to say that many of turn and he's going to hold me up at subdued. these have faded from the scene, the next junction.' 'I can't stand this begging. I want to others have gone back to Brazil and 'Now this bus is in front of you. Ah go Home,' says Angela. still others have become more French well!' 'What more can we do? Should we than anything by a process of 'Perhaps we should have set off five be thinking of a,ministry to children?' assimilation. Still the Portuguese minutes earlier,' said Roger. Roger asks. m background of the church is still That conversation is fairly typical as 'Is that practical? Where do you significant. Three of the members of we travel two miles in our begin?' the church council are Portuguese Volkswagen Golf from the apartment 'It wasn't part of our original call.' speaking. to the Floresta district. Here on two 'Where do they sleep? Where is The last time but one when I spoke mornings we have brief language their family? Are they abandoned?' at the monthly Portuguese service I lessons and on Wednesday Roger Angela wonders. was interpreted from French into meets with Pastor Daltro Keidan. Inquiries about the children reveal Portuguese. Hard work for all Daltro is a very gifted Brazilian that they live on the outskirts of Porto concerned. At the end I was told that Baptist Minister who looks after two Alegre and after the traffic quietens everybody understood French perfectly churches and lectures at the local down, at about 2 am, they return well anyway, so the last time I just university. During their time together home on the night bus with their spoke in French. they ensure Roger's latest sermon can takings.' be understood, go over any letters or

Herald FEBRUARY 1991 -lln View

Baptist pastor, Fausto Baptist news through a offering at which they set a THANK YOU Rocha, was elected to the monthly cassette tape. The target of 100,000 zaires Congress. He owns a tape, which contains a digest (£28.00) to buy 50 New ohn Pullin wishes to say television station in Sao Paulo of news from the Baptist Times Testaments to be sent to the J 'thank you' for all the and has ties with the US and Missionary Herald, is Gideons in Angola. That may kindness, concern and based conservative Christian prepared especially for the not sound a lot of money, but Christian love shown during movement, in Moral Majority. visually handicapped. in the difficult economic Yvonne's illness. Since One of the biggest winners One elderly lady, no longer situation here it is quite a returning to the UK from Brazil, in the elections was the able to read because of a decent sum - and they members of the Second Universal Church of the Reign stroke, felt completely isolated actually got 137,000 zaires Baptist Church, Paranaiba, of God . until the tape was introduced (£38) . where John and Yvonne have The church, founded in 1977 to her. Throughout her life she 'We are impressed that been working, have kept in by 'Bishop' Edir Macedo has taken a close interest in people have had the vision to constant touch . Becerra, has grown quickly in Baptist work. 'Now I can keep form such a group and even John and Yvonne have also Brazil. In less than ten years, in touch,' she says. more so that they can look been conscious of the care Macedo and other The tapes are sponsored by beyond the local need and and love shown by the BMS, Universalists have constructed the Baptist Men's Movement seek to offer even a little help by the churches in Wales and 624 churches, acquired 12 and recorded by churches in across the frontier.' by many other friends . Yvonne, radio stations, and recently Kent and Oxfordshire . If any who died peacefully on bought a television station, 'TV visually handicapped person 12 December, was able to Record', which has the in your church would like to attend the wedding of their capacity to reach all of receive a monthly tape then daughter, Elizabeth - Brazil's 22 states. please write to Mr W White, something she had been Although it has been 12 Lodden Drive, Didcot, Oxon 'WE HAVE looking forward to - just a few accused of exploiting the faith OX11 7OA. MADE OUR days before. of its followers and legal John has asked that any irregularities, the Universal VOICE HEARD' donations in Yvonne's memory Church had success with should be for the work of the three out of the four Second Baptist Church, candidates it supported. GIDEONS 'W e have made our Paranaiba and sent care of the Conservative Catholic voice heard, and it will Revd D C Hughes, Hope Osmanio Pereira de Oliveira, always be heard,' said 30- Manse, 67 West Road, the director of 'Evangelisation Gideons group has been year-old Rev. Ofelia Davila, the Bridgend, Mid Glam CF31 2000' project, was also Aformed at Mbanza first President of the 4HG. elected. Ngungu, Zaire. Evangelical Lutheran Church 'Evangelisation 2000' was 'It is encouraging both in its of Peru (ILEP). created in the mid-1980's by recognition of the need for the ILEP was constituted in 1990 neoconservative sectors of the distribution of the scriptures, and elected its first national Catholic Church, including the but also in its lay initiative,' church council last February. ELECTRONIC Charismatic Renewal said Chris Spencer. Ofelia Davila is one of five CHURCHES Movement and the Communion 'They held a meeting to women and one man who and Liberation Movement. which all the local pastors constitute the church's official 'Evangelisation 2000' and a were invited. They had an T national leadership. n recent congressional similar project, 'Lumen 2000' Ielections, Brazil's are geared specifically toward 'electronic churches' the use of mass strengthened their position, communication to promote the becoming a major contender Vatican's new evangelisation in the political landscape. campaign for Latin America. In the nationwide elections In spite of criticisms that held in October 1990, 16 both programmes fail to candidates representing the address social problems, they evangelical Christian churches have made significant and the Brazilian director of advances throughout the the Catholic Church's country. Evangelisation 2,000 project won seats in Congress. Of the 16, only two are members of mainline Christian IN TOUCH Churches. The others are tied to Pentecostal churches which have spread rapidly t least 80 members of throughout Brazil in recent A Baptist congregat!::ms in years. the UK are keeping abreast of The Christian Bookshop at Mbanza Ngungu

Herald FEBRUARY 1991 In View I- -

The refugees are demanding that the government turn over land in the department of Usulutan, north of San Salvador, when they return. Recently, Usulutan has been the site of fierce fighting between government soldiers and the FMLN rebels. The refugees said that there is nothing stopping their voluntary return to El Salvador. They added, however, that they want the government to give them land in Usulutan in order to 'reconstruct our lives'.

HOW MUCH ...?

Craft work at the School for Blind Girls, Bangladesh 1991 BMS Appeal Leaflet Working in marginal areas of BLIND SCHOOL paper from the Christoffel published the capital, ILEP congregations Blinden Mission. We are offer a unique opportunity for GROWS AND producing text books for high for Lent Peruvian women. Not only are GROWS ... school students. There is a the women active in the areas great demand for the text R ecently published by the of church programmes books. We are very grateful to BMS is the 1991 Appeal traditionally spearheaded by y welve new students the BMS for its financial help leaflet How Much? calling women, such as communal entered the Bangladesh to this section. people to sacrificial giving for kitchens and work with Baptist Sangha Blind School in 'We are deeply grateful to world mission. children, but they also hold Dhaka in the first nine months God for His blessing and The leaflets will provide food official positions of authority. of 1990. This brings the total guidance to our school for thought throughout Lent as Apart from their strong to 77 students in the only blind throughout the year.' we prepare ourselves for Holy presence at the national level, school for girls in the country. Week and Easter, and when women also participate in and The children come from a we look at our own lives in the lead congregational church wide variety of backgrounds. light of the sacrifice of Jesus councils. The pastoral teams Mosammad Marzina Ghatoon Christ. responsible for the spiritual was born blind. Her widowed Available now from Baptist and material well-being of the mother is a domestic helper. House, the leaflets come with congregations are composed Now 12 years old, Marzina is offering envelopes. of both men and women. taking part in the school's Davila attributes the vocational training programme. presence of so many women Nazma Yasemmen became in leadership to the fact that blind after an attack of they are in the majority in dysentery at the age of five . DECADE OF ILEP. She also believes that She comes from an educated men recognise and respect family who knew nothing of EVANGELISM \ the contributions women have blind education in Bangladesh. to make. It was women, she A social worker told them II said, who motivated and about the Blind School. A ccording to the AD 2000 worked for the formation of 'There are 18 girls in Global Monitor 'there are this national church. 'I believe vocational training at the ON FOOT at present 36 distinct that ILEP is a sign of hope,' moment. In the carpet section, Protestant and/or Catholic said Davila. 'Men have always nine b_lind women produce global prayer networks for been visible, they are the woollen carpets and mats s ix hundred Salvadorian world evangelisation, 10 Presidents, the ones in charge. which will be exported to New refugees, who have been million prayer groups, 20 But this is a change, one step Zealand. in exile in Panama since 1980, million Christians in full-time further. Women have a lot to 'Our braille books have threatened to return prayer ministry, and some 170 contribute .' production is going well. Last home on foot to put pressure million daily intercessors.' year, we received one new on the government to initiate braille duplicator machine and repatriation.

H er ald FEBRUARY 1991 IMiiGPMd-1------

control of all situations, no matter how pastor. We are hoping that one of our CALL TO uncertain or volatile.' Suzanne and Jane objectives will be the planting of a favela Andrews both work at the UMN head­ congregation which may serve as a model PRAYER quarters in Kathmandu. of the church within a favela context. We So the UMN is able to plan ahead for hope this will include helping the congre­ the next five years. For the church in gation to confront and deal with the 24 FEBRUARY- Nepal the outlook also seems brighter practical problems of favela life. We are although it is not altogether clear how also looking for specific projects to do 2 MARCH much freedom to worship and witness with street children or care for the there is. elderly.' The BMS hostel for missionary T rin id a d and 10-16 MARCH children is situated in Sao Paulo with T obago , and John and Maria Dyer acting as hostel Jamaica parents. John and Norma Clark, BMS India : Chur ch Work Overseas Representatives for South America and the Caribbean, are based in 'We live in a divided land, a fact made Sao Paulo and Stan and Maureen Porter alarmingly clear last year,' writes Peter The BMS maintains links with Baptist have recently arrived there. They are Brewer from Trinidad referring to the churches in India which are not part of the involved in office administration and also attempted coup. He also says that 'many united Church of North India. The in church planting work. folk are finding it hard to make ends Baptist Union of North India, the Baptist meet.' Church of Mizoram, and the Bengal Peter and Sheila Brewer are leading a Baptist Union are the three provincial 24-30 MARCH lay training programme for the Baptist unions of the Council ofBaptist Churches Union of Trinidad and Tobago. 'I have in North India. been supervising a local teacher who is It is not easy for the church in India Central America assisting in one of the classes of the surrounded by many others of a different Training Programme. The plan is that the faith. However, the Baptist Church of staff will in future be drawn from local Mizoram is taking the lead in outreach Peace talks continue between the govern­ people. Those of you who teach will and mission within India itself and further ment of El Salvador and the rebels but the know that this makes more work, not afield. agonies suffered by ordinary people go less.' The BMS office in Calcutta is run by on. Thousands of people have 'dis­ Over in Jamaica, an island with a much Mr John Peacock, Secretary for appeared' and over 85 per cent of the stronger Baptist tradition, the first team Missionary Affairs and Mr Archie population lives in poverty. David and of BMS young people volunteers - 'The Edwards who looks after property and Rachel Quinney Mee work with the Jamaica Six' - has been at work for the legal matters. Mr Anjan Biswas is the Baptist Association which, together with past four months. 'We are learning what accountant and Mrs Nirmala Peacock is other denominations, is involved in it really means to have faith in God by a hostess for the Guest House. caring for those affected by the long­ daily attitude and action of trust,' they running civil strife of the country. David write. 'We are learning to be patient and and Rachel will be joined in the year by to take life one day at a time.' 17-23 MARCH Susan and James Grote who are at The 'Six' are doing a variety of jobs in present in training. different parts of the island - teaching, Last year the BMS signed an agree­ church and social work, and work with Brazil: ment with the Baptist Convention in young people. When they return to Nicaragua. Already there are American, Britain they will spend a few weeks Sao Paulo and German and Dutch missionaries working sharing their experiences with the C a mpinas with the Convention. The BMS is now churches. trying to understand how this new partnership can be expressed. BI Sao Paulo is the third largest city in the 3-9 MARCH world and is a major industrial and Lord, we praise you that commercial centre. Its growth has attrac­ in the midst of the struggle ted many from the rural areas who live in for justice and peace N e pal favelas or shanty towns. Paul and Debbie many Christians in Central America Holmes are working in Diadema where have discovered the presence over 60 per cent of the people live in of a personal and loving God; Last November the long awaited signing favelas. we thank you for of a new agreement between the United 'Diadema is a city of the Sao Paulo their joy and gratitude Mission to Nepal and the government periphery and has a population of more their friendship and generosity took place. So ends a time of uncertainty. than 350,000 people,' wrote Paul and their humility and mutual care - 'We try to live above the changes and Debbie last December. 'It has five Baptist gifts from their Lord turmoil,' wrote Suzanne Linnell last year, churches and two congregations. Cur­ who called them to be witnesses 'and it is reassuring to know that God is in rently none of the churches has a full time among a suffering people.

Herald FEBRUARY 1991 31 MARCH- 14-20 APRIL MISSIONARY 6 APRIL MOVEMENTS

Bangladesh: ARRIVALS Zaire: Health Work Christian Miss R Montacute Education on 7 December from Kinshasa, Zaire (Private Visit) Mr S Seymour At most of the hospitals run by the Baptist on 14 December from Ntondo, Zaire Community of the River Zaire, mis­ Valerie Hamilton, based in Dhaka, is the Rev & Mrs F Wright sionary doctors work alongside Zairian Convenor of the Baptist Sangha's on 22 December from Kinshasa, Zaire doctors. But it is increasingly difficult to Sunday School Committee. persuade Zairian families to accept the 'Many camps and meetings have been often isolated conditions of some of the held for Sunday School teachers and hospitals and at Pimu the situation is children in various districts,' she writes. 'It critical. is thrilling to speak to large groups of DEPARTURES 'We are getting concerned about the children in many parts of the country - Miss R Montacute ongoing medical care,' wrote Adrian and sometimes as many as 200 and 300 at a on 3 January to Kinshasa, Zaire Sylvia Hopkins from Pimu. 'Adrian is time. Young lives - so impressionable Mrs S MacDougall now the only doctor and this has proved and so eager to hear. It is good to visit and on 5 January to Vilhena, Brazil quite a strain.' Because of the increased encourage the Sunday School teachers workload Adrian has not been able to do also.' much eye work in the region. He and At the time of writing, the political Sylvia return to the UK this summer for situation in Bangladesh is very uncertain. twelve months Home Assignment so The troubles which began twelve months DEATHS BMS and CBFZ are looking for someone ago have resulted in the dismissal of the We regret to report that Mrs Yvonne Pullin, aged 52, died on 12 December to replace them over this period. President, students are on the streets and 1990 at Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan. At Yakusu doctors Chris and Mairi the political parties cannot agree among Yvonne served with the Society Burnett work alongside doctors themselves about the future. All this is in Brazil from 1969-1978 and Mocingea, Ntambwe and Meli. 'It's good affecting the church and its work and from 1989-1990. to have three national doctors working in witness. the hospital,' Chris and Mairi write. 'We now have the luxury of grand-rounds and clinical case conferences.' At both Pimu and Yakusu BMS nurses 21-27 APRIL are working in the nurses' training schools. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Baptist Assembly LEGACIES Mrs Colwill 100.00 The Baptist Assembly, which includes the Elsie Rebecca Mayger 500.00 7-13 APRIL Jane L Scott 2,500.00 annual business meetings of the BMS Miss L R Hiles 10,474.28 and the Baptist Union of Great Britain, Jessie Reid 500.00 People in Mission meets in Bournemouth this year. The Louise Pryce Jones 1,000.00 theme taken by the BU President, Roy Edward Henry Wrangles 865.72 Jenkins, is 'Cry Freedom'. At the Mrs Gertrude Sarah Putt 250.00 Reginald G Cureton 1,000.00 We thank God that people are still meetings Susan Le Quesne takes over Miss M H Barrett 3,200.00 hearing the call to work overseas. Each from Basil Amey as BMS Chairman. Miss EM Ward 3,000.00 week, BMS personnel secretary, Joan We take the opportunity to pray for the Maple, receives many letters of enquiry. other BMS officers - Reg Harvey, From then on many people are involved, General Secretary; Angus MacNeill, from local churches through to the BMS Overseas Secretary and Arthur Garman, Candidates Board, in the recognition of Treasurer. General Work the missionary call. We remember David Coffey who suc­ Bebbington: £10.00; Anon: £70.00; We remember those now in training at ceeds Bernard Green as General Anon : £10.00; Bristol: £5.00; Anon: St Andrew's Hall, Selly Oak and those Secretary of BUGB, Islwyn Davies, £28.50; Anon : £24.70; Anon: £20.00; Anon : £10.00; Darlington: £30.00; via undergoing language study. General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Sue Evans: £10.00; Charities Aid: Wales and Peter Barber, General £10.00; Charities Aid: £73.25. Thank you Lord Secretary of the Baptist Union of for the human face of mission Scotland. for calling people we know for calling people like us for calling us to mission.

Herald FEBRUARY 1991 a resource manual for world mission

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