"The secret of enabling the home Church to press her advantage in the non-Christian world is one of leadership. The people do not go beyond their leaders in knowledge and zeal, nor surpass them in consecration and sacrifice. The Christian pastor, minister, rector--whatever he may be denominated--holds the divinely appointed office for inspiring and guiding the thought and activities of the Church"--Preface.

This volume profiles six influential Christian missionaries who have made significant contributions to the field of missionary work. It provides insights into their lives and work, as well as their approaches to evangelism and the challenges they faced in their work. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The Unseen Heroes of the Global Missionary Movement The Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions was a Protestant missionary recruiting organization. Launched in the late nineteenth century, it played an indispensable role in the creation of the modern missionary movement. While it was influenced by the optimism and expansiveness that characterized Americans at the turn of the century, it also mirrored the period's provincialism and ethnocentrism. The Kingdom of Character provides a thorough history of the Student Volunteer Movement (SVM), exposing both its strengths and weaknesses. Parker highlights how these student leaders addressed issues such as gender roles, the social impact of World War I, and various internal controversies, while emphasizing an American middle-class worldview that stressed the Victorian idea of character in their hope to spread the gospel around the world. The Kingdom of Character is a great read for those interested in the creation of the modern missionary movement.

Includes the proceedings of the annual meeting of the Society.