Hope College Hope College Digital Commons Annual Reports Board of World Missions 1957 125th 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, "125th Annual Report of the Board of World Missions" (1957). Annual Reports. 102. https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/world_annual_report/102 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]. BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS of the REFORMED CHURCH in AMERICA BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD 1955-1958 Mrs. Irving H. Decker, 23 South Second Avenue, Highland Park, N. J. Rev. William C. De Jong, 500 Franklin Street, Pella, Iowa Mr. Harold J. Dobbs, Hickory Hill, Far Hills, N. J. Rev. Arnold Dykhuizen, 1901 South Grove Avenue, Berwyn, 111. Mrs. M. Howard Gideon, 5671 North Westnedge, Kalamazoo, Mich. Rev. Marion G. Gosselink, Jr., 25 Joy Boulevard, Baldwin, L.I., N. Y. Mr. E. Leroy Hand, 141 Lafayette Parkway, Rochester 10, N. Y. Rev. Harvey B. Hoffman, 291 Clinton Place, Hackensack, N. J. Rev. Peter J. Muyskens, Box 266, Coopersville, Mich. Mrs. Andrew Patrick, Pine Grove Road, Herkimer, N. Y. Mr. Wendell Phillips, Port Jervis, N. Y. Mrs. Howard C. Schade, 37 Clinton Avenue, Nyack, N. Y. Mrs. Gordon Van Eenenaam, 1302 Ransom Street, Muskegon, Mich. Rev. Harry Ver Strate, 70 High Street, Metuchen, N. J. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD 1956-1959 Mrs. Gordon Alexander, Middleburgh, N. Y. Rev. Bernard Brunsting, 22220 Saticoy, Canoga Park, Calif. Mrs. Martin Chapman, 525 West 107 Street, Chicago 28, 111. Mrs. Wilbur E. Ivins, Park Ridge, N. J. Rev. Theodore J. Jansma, 644 Goffle Hill Road, Hawthorne, N. J. Rev. David A. Laman, 314 North 8 Street, Oskaloosa, Iowa Mrs. Irwin LeCocq, 719 West Edson, Lynden, Wash. Mr. Norman MacLeod, 20166 Beach Road, Detroit 19, Mich. Rev. Vernon O. Nagel, Old Bethpage Road, Plainview, L.I., N. Y. Mr. Howard B. Nichols, 33 Elm Place, Hastings-on-Hudson, N. Y. Rev. Ray Olthof, Fulton, 111. Rev. Herman J. Ridder, 503 Broadway, Pella, Iowa Mr. Henry Te Paske, Orange City, Iowa Mrs. Philip T. Wagner, 514 Wyndham Road, Teaneck, N. J. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD 1957-1960 Mrs. Raymond Fairchild, R.D. #3, Gordon Road, Schenectady, N. Y. Mrs. Wilhelm K. Haysom, 41-42 Elbertson Street, Elmhurst 73, N. Y. Rev. Leroy J. Hess, 101 California Street, Ridgewood, N. J. Rev. Orville J. Hine, 22 Maple Avenue, Warwick, N. Y. Mrs. Gerard Koster, 83 Nesbit Terrace, Irvington, N. J. Rev. Richard P. Mallery, 82-50 Kew Gardens Road, Kew Gardens 15, N. Y. Mrs. Arthur Schiereck, 1053 Grove Street, Waupun, Wis. Rev. Norman E. Thomas, 2000 Broadway, Schenectady, N. Y. Rev. Raymond R. Van Heukelom, Ph.D., 25 East 12 Street, Holland, Mich. Continued on Back Cover A NEW NAME FOR A NEW AGE For several years the Board has been considering a change in name, something which w ill more adequate­ ly describe the changes which have occurred in the world and the establishment of Christian churches in every land. These factors require a change of name which would reflect more accurately the more permanent functions of the Board. The Board at its May 1957 meeting voted to recommend to General Synod a change of name which would be used ex p erim en tally fo r two y e a rs. The G eneral Synod approved the recommendation of the Board with this action: "That the name of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church in America be changed to The Board for the Christian World Mission of the Reformed Church in America as more truly representing the functions of the Board, and that the new name be reviewed by the Board and the General Synod after two years before the corporate name is changed." During this period of two years the new name will appear on all the Board's literature and letter­ heads but not on any official papers; the corporate name, "The Board of Foreign Missions" w ill appear on all legal documents. It should be clearly under­ stood that in presenting this new name, the Board does not in any way presume on the functions and the program of the Board of Domestic Missions. The relationships between the Board of Domestic Missions and The Board for the Christian World Mission reinain u n a lte re d . THE ARCHIVES BEARDSLEE LIBRARY WESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMINAJflf 1957 The Board of Foreign Missions Respectfully presents to the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America Its One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Annual Report The One Hundredth of its Separate and Independent Action and the Eleventh of the Reorganized Board, Continuing the Former Woman’s Board of Foreign Missions REFORMED CHURCH HEADQUARTERS, 156 FIFTH AVE., NEW YORK Foreword T his slender volume contains the one hundred twenty- fifth annual record of the Christian efforts of the Reformed Church in other lands; it also marks the one hundredth year that the Board of Foreign Missions has served the Reformed Church as a body separate from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. On this occasion the Board of Foreign Missions sends these formal anniversary greetings to the Churches: PRAISE FOR THE PAST We praise Almighty God for the pioneers who in faith went forth to proclaim the unsearchable riches of the gospel of Christ to their brothers in all parts of the world. We rejoice in the untold thousands who have responded gladly and the strong churches now a part of the world-wide fellowship in Christ. PRAYER FOR THE PRESENT We pray that we may be worthy of so glorious a heritage and that God will give us courage and confidence to meet the chal­ lenges of this new day, matching the sacrifice, devotion and vision of those who have gone before and working in full cooperation with sister churches as we continue to proclaim the unchanging gospel in a changing world. FAITH FOR THE FUTURE We call upon the Church to trust in the leading of the Holy Spirit as we enter a new century of service and witness amid the complexities of this revolutionary world, moving forward in confidence that the weary and confused peoples of the world will find in Christ their healing and joy as the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. H enry G. Bovenkerk J o h n E . Buteyn B arnerd M. L uben E d w in a P aige R u t h Ra n so m L eonard A. Sibley, Sr . 1. Expanding Boundaries of the mission of The Reformed Church Overseas Agencies at Home 1642-1670 Johannes Megapolensis, the first Reformed Church mission­ ary to another race, ministered to the Mohawk Indians with scholarship, fluency and versatility. 1796- 1816 The New York Missionary Society formed by Baptist, Presby­ terian and Reformed congregations sent missionaries to American Indians; in 1816 it was merged with the United Missionary Society (1816-1826) composed of Presbyterian and Reformed congregations which enlarged its purpose to include Indians in Mexico and South America. 1797- 1830 Other Baptist, Presbyterian and Reformed congregations formed the Northern Missionary Society for work among American Indians; out of this organization the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in 1810 was born as the oldest interdenominational foreign missions agency in America. 1826-1832 The United Missionary Society merged with the American Board in 1826 and until denomination societies were formed the American Board was the important foreign missions agency. 1832-1857 In 1832 General Synod appointed nine ministers and six laymen as members of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Dutch Church which functioned as part of the American Board. The Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen was pres­ ident of the American Board for ten years. Founders of Our Christian Ministry Overseas Rev. D. B. Simmons 1857- Partnership with the American Board was dissolved harmoni­ ously in 1857 and the Board of Foreign Missions of the Re­ formed Dutch Church was founded with the Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen as president and Dr. Isaac Ferris as secretary. 1875-1946 Founded in 1875 the Womans Board of Foreign Missions was associated with Board of Foreign Missions, supporting women missionaries, schools and evangelistic programs for women until it merged with the Board of Foreign Missions in 1946. Missionaries and Missions 1793-1855 John Scudder, prominent and devout physician in New York City, accepted in 1819 the call of the American Board as medical missionary to India. Skilled surgeon, printer, itinerant and evangelist he is the progenitor of seven sons, eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren who have served as missionaries. 1804-1846 David Aheel, born in New Brunswick and graduate of New Brunswick Theological Seminary, sailed for China in 1829 under the Seaman’s Friend Society and after a year’s service in that land became a missionary of the American Board. His vision of human need for Christ in all lands, his constant speaking and writing awakened the Reformed Church to its mission around the world. 1836-1849 In response to the appeals of David Abeel the Borneo Mission was founded. Some twenty missionaries participated but be­ cause of political difficulties and devastating illnesses the Mission was abandoned. 1842-1952 The Amoy Mission founded by David Abeel in 1842 had a history of 110 years.