ATSS: Michael Scofield, “The Golden Age of Adventist Missions”
30 April 2025 |
Spreading the gospel to the whole world was a strong imperative in Adventism after 1870. But the number of missionaries leaving North America increased significantly between 1910 and 1940. These hardy folk endured isolation and a variety of dangers and hardships; their dedication (albeit sometimes coupled with naiveté) was impressive. The medical work expanded significantly with graduates of the newly formed College of Medical Evangelists in Loma Linda heading overseas.
As a result, there developed an image (or myth) of mission service which often departed from reality, resulting in part from the creative enthusiasm of story-tellers back home to take generous liberties with the facts.
This energy was inhibited by World War II. Indeed, a number of Adventist missionaries and their families were prisoners in several camps in the Philippines when the Japanese army invaded. Their stories are sobering.
But a number of factors changed the mission work model after WW II. These included the emerging work force of indigenous ministers and teachers, resulting in the transition of leadership positions from Europeans. This trend was enhanced by de-colonization and self rule of many of these “third world” countries. Other factors of change included shorter periods of service for the European missionaries, and the lowered cost of air travel (compared to steamship).
Incidentally, surveying historic missionary’s lives and activities has become easier with both the government documents available on Ancestry.com and the robust index of articles and obituaries on the Andrews University library website, in addition to the many denominational journals archived (and indexed) on the General Conference website.
Teacher:
Michael Scofield, M.B.A., a sixth-generation Adventist, is an avid amateur historian. He has served on numerous committees (particularly in the Pacific Union Conference) on church structure and governance. His primary career has centered outside the denomination in various aspects of data management and information technology, including database design, data quality assessment, and data visualization. He has been on the data management speaking circuit for 27 years, with over 400 lectures to professional and academic audiences all over the U.S., London, Australia, and Canada. He has also spoken on topics of Adventist culture and institutional development for many Forum chapters and progressive Sabbath School classes. He also has had humor published in the Los Angeles Times and other journals.
Moderator:
Linda Nottingham is a retired businesswoman in Florida.
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Coming up:
- Don McAdams
- Charles Scriven
- Olive Hemmings
- Landon Schnabel
- Laurence Turner
- Kevin Burton
