N.Z. Missionary Work In Africa And Asia

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30145, 31 May 1963, Page 13

N.Z. Missionary Work In Africa And Asia

New Zealand had a real responsibility in the missioneiry field in Asia and Africa, said the Rev. H. S. Thomson, secretary-general of the New Zealand Church Missionary Society, yesterday. Mr Thomson returned to Christchurch on Wednesday after five months in northern Australia, Singapore. Malaya, southern India, West Pakistan, and East Africa. His main purposes, he said, were to visit most of the 50 New Zealand Church Missionary Society missionaries, to meet the national leaders of the churches where they were working, to get an up-to-date general picture of the various countries, and to assess missionary priorities for the next four or five years.

Mr Thomson said that the church in Africa was faced with a rapidly-developing urban situation which it had tragically neglected in the pset. A new policy was needed for rural areas. Although some missionary teams were already engaiged in rural evangelism it was

hoped to establish agricultural institutes. One was to be established at Katoke, west of Victoria-Nyanza. next year. To set it up the society was sending a North Canterbury man, Mr I. Foster, and bis wife. The institute would provide a year’s course for schoolboys and short courses for farmers.

There was unlimited scope in East Africa for graduates with secondary school teaching experience, said Mr Thomson, and in Asia there was enormous scope for educationists at the secondary school and university levels. There was a great need for doctors and nurses, who were a top priority in aid Moslem Lands. Clergy were also needed overseas in the missionary field. “Considerable Challenge” Mr Thomson said it was hard in New Zealand to envisage the immense population in these Asian and African countries. He felt it presented a considerable cnailenge to New Zealand. The society was encouraged by the number of well-qualified recruits offering themselves Six recruits would leave for the various missionary fields next year, and others were completing their training. In all his discussions with national church leaders, Mr Thomson said, he emphasised that the New Zealand society was not a grant-in-aid society. New Zealand was not prepaired just to send money, but instead offered dedicated and qualified men and women.

He said he was exceedingly encouraged by the worthwhile contribution by New Zealanders to the national churches of the various countries.

Mr Thomson said that he saw the enthronement of the Rt. Rev. M. L. Wiggins, formerly of Christchurch, as Bishop of Victoria-Nyanza. There were 3m persons in this diocese. In 1951 it was served by five national and one European clergyman. Today it had 20 national and five European clergymen, tyho served 120 church centres. I In this area a further rapid advance would be made tn the years immediately ahead One of the major needs of this diocese was missionaries who could conduct regular courses for teachers and evangelists so that they in turn could build up the churches for which they were responsible. Mr Thomson said that the Rev. R. N. Glen, formerly of Christchurch. was working in the north-east area of the lake opening a new area in conducting such courses.