Guest Editorial: Harold T. Commons

By Harold T. Commons, ABWE President 1935—1971

In August 1927, a new organization, the Association of Baptists for Evangelism in the Orient, was born. My first position with this new mission was as secretary of the executive committee. As I tried to get speaking engagements to promote the mission, some pastors said, "Oh, you represent Mrs. Peabody's little mission in the Philippines."

That was indeed the case. We were a feminist movement before the term was ever coined. We started with one man (Dr. Raphael Thomas) and four women missionaries in the Philippines, and seven men and five women on the Board. I salute those women. This mission never would have gotten off the ground without those valiant soldiers of the cross.

By 1935, Mrs. Peabody believed the time had come for male leadership. We were a feeble organization back then. Each missionary received $50.00 per month, of which Mrs. Doane contributed half. I believed that unhealthy and realized we needed to broaden our base of support bringing more churches into the picture.

I became acquainted personally with all our missionaries and established mutual rapport. This went a long way to build confidence and morale within the mission family.
In 1939, Bill and Elva Scherer who had served in Paraguay and Peru joined ABEO. This event marked an important milestone. We expanded into South America which resulted in the change of name to ABWE.

The great depression and World War II affected the world in significant ways, and missionary work was influenced by these events. ABWE, however, did not just endure those trying times; the mission grew and prospered.

We've come a long way from those early days. I have often contrasted the leaky little rowboat I inherited to the ship of state Michael Loftis inherited from Wendell Kempton. That old rowboat did have leaks, but we plugged the holes and gradually got the mission on a solid foundation.

There is no greater act of worship than laying down your life in living sacrifice on the altar of service for Jesus Christ. Missions is worth everything you can put into it. When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, I'm sure the rewards will be worth the effort.

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