Chapter XI

The German Baptist Churches and the Larger Baptist Brotherhood

"That ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God." 2 Thess. 1:5.

 

There is always a pleasurable satisfaction in thinking that one is a part, however small and insignificant, of something large, of something alive and doing big things. The cash girl in a great department store, and the messenger making his rounds in the service of a mighty banking house, speak with pardonable pride of the "firms" with which they are connected.

Something of this satisfaction the writer has frequently experienced when he was saying to himself that, while early environment led him to cast his lot with the German speaking Baptist churches in our country, yet he belonged also to the larger Baptist Brotherhood which was doing great things for the Kingdom of Christ all over this world of ours. This satisfaction the writer shares with thousands of the people with whom he is especially connected in religious work.

The German Baptists, as the outline sketch of their history shows, constitute only a small segment of the Evangelical Christian forces in our country, and they are also only a small fraction of the denomination whose name they bear. But there is nothing that separates them from the fullest participation in the struggles, aspirations and triumphs of the larger evangelical or denominational brotherhood but the adjective, and this adjective stands for the particular mission which they feel themselves called upon to perform. They are making use of the German language in their endeavor to win souls for the Master's Kingdom. On the temporal nature of this special work, there is no need for further comment. If all religious perplexities could be solved as easily as the question of language in missionary work or in a church service, we would indeed be fortunate. Its best solution is to leave it solve itself.

The special mission of the German churches of our denomination may not yet be ended so soon as some think, for at the present time there are coming to our larger cities scores of Germans, and in their lonesomeness and oftentimes helplessness they are turning to the churches which people of their own race and language have founded and ask for participation in their services. For a time like this our German churches may yet have a great mission to perform.

"We are not here to play, to dream, to drift.

We have our work to do, and loads to lift.

Shun not the struggle; face it. 'Tis God's gift."