Amerikai Magyar Reformátusok Lapja, 1932 (33. évfolyam, 1-53. szám)
1932-11-26 / 48. szám
AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 7 AZ IFJÚSÁG KÖRÉBŐL. C. E. Topics for November 27. TO WHAT EXTENT IS OUR CHURCH THE RESULT OF MISSIONARY EFFORT? Lesson: I Cor. 4: 6—16. As far as I know all of our Hungarian churches are the direct result of missionary effort in the sense that they all were started as missions. And sad to say, most of them are still missions; they are still receiving aid from the various mission boards to augment or fully cover the salaries of their pastors and deaconesses. I must confess that it is this one remote phase of our otpi&> that I wish you would concentrate upon particularly. Personally, I feel that it is of momentous consequence that we learn to look upon our churches as spiritual homes — homes that must be supported and sustained by loyalty, work and, especially in these trying times, by our financial assistance. Today when we are making retrenchments and are curtailing our expenses, where do we start? I am positive that it isn’t with the movies and I am equally as positive it isn’t with clothing. Absolutely not. We begin shamefully to cut the most sacred allocation in our budget — charity, and even in this our church-givings get the biggest slash. Am I mistaken? Certainly not. As long as our attitude of the grave responsibility of supporting the activities of our churches remains the same, our churches will ever stay in the mission class. My good friend, Rev. Mr. Szabó, of Alpha, used to say that money may not be everything or the main thing, yet it is something. The more I ponder over these wise words, the more I am convinced he is right. The greatest work on earth — that of our churches — cannot be run on air or euphemistic words; it, too, needs money — and clean, honest money with your hearts attached to it at that. Bear this in your mind. For only thus shall our churches cease to be anaemic and floundering missions. Frank Nagy. HUDSON TAYLOR, MISSIONARY TO CHINA. I was glad to read that the Y. P. S. of Lackawanna was studying China this year, for this vast nation with its 400 million people holds for us a deeper interest than that of its political and economic relations to the rest of the world. China interests us both as Magyars and as Christians. It was here where one of our own Hungarians, Körösi Csorna Sándor, spent part of his lifetime studying the language, custom, religion and past history of the Tibetans in the hope that he could trace the origin of the Magyars to that country. His EnglishTibetan dictionary as/ well as others of his scientific researches in Tibet, Mongolia and the province of Cham brought him fame and everlasting honor. As Christians, China interests us because when the long closed doors of this great Empire were opened to the world the messengers of the King of Kings came in. They did not stop near the shore for safety. They penetrated deep into the darkest, most dangerous regions, going even further than Körösi Csorna Sándor. They were willing to suffer, to risk their lives in answer to the Great Command: “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creatures.” Who were some of these people? One of the best known, most beloved of all was Hudson Taylor. He was born a hundred years ago in England. As a child he had a strong desire to go to China as a missionary. To this end he prepared himself to be a physician of both body and soul. There were eleven interior provinces of China without an evangelist. Not one society dared to attempt this new and difficult work, so Hudson Taylor started the work himself. He penciled on the margin of his Bible: “Prayed for twenty-four willing, skilful labourers at Brighton, June 25, 1865.” Sventeen went with him in 1866. This was the beginning of the China Inland Mission, which now numbers 1,183 missionaries, 3,222 Chinese workers, 297 stations, 1,894 outstations, 15 hospitals, 86 dispensaries, 292 native schools. Each missionary works on Hudson Taylor’s principle — that is the power of prayer. Jesus said: “If ye ask anything in my name, that will I do.” (John 14:14.) They do not solicit funds. They only pray to God — and always He sends money and help to them. Dr. Taylor believed that with all his soul. He took the challenge of the Scriptures, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33), and he was not disappointed. In 1886 he prayed for 100 workers a year. He expected all. He said: “If anyone could hand me photographs of the 100 who are coming in 1887 I could not be more sure than I am now.” It is recorded that they did go — 102 of them that year. Dr. Hudson Taylor, the servant of God, was born 100 years ago; he lived the abundant life, and then . .. “The dreamer died: they laid him ’neath the sod, But now a countless host adores his God!”
