ies of married
life have been prayerfully accepted the varying claims on
time and strength will not result in a permanent conflict of
loyalties.

"The establishing of a Christian home should be for the
glory of God and the spread of the Gospel. One danger to be
avoided is that of missionaries becoming so absorbed in
their home as to neglect an active ministry amongst the
people to whom they have been called. It is the mutual
responsibility of both husband and wife to see that each
does not hinder the other from fulfilling his or her
ministry. Where there are children, it is recognized that
new responsibilities are involved, but care should be taken
that family claims do not monopolize the time and energies
of either parent. Children who grow up in an atmosphere of
loving yet firm discipline are not only a joy to their
parents but an asset to the work of the Gospel. But when
children are over-indulged or uncontrolled, whether on the
field or at home, serious harm to God's cause as well as to
the reputation of the Mission may result."

_--The Overseas Manual of the
China Inland Mission
Overseas Missionary Fellowship_
(1955), p. 22.

What a wonderful thing is a Christian home! What a privilege to be
able to establish, among thousands of darkened, pagan homes, one that
is truly Christian; and to be able to live out the love of Christ in
actual family relationships before people who know nothing of it!

This privilege has not been given to me. The Lord has not led me in
that path. And yet, as I have observed many young couples on the
mission field, and older ones too, I have been able to see a little of
the price they have had to pay. The outsider, looking on, saw only the
love and blessing that radiated from these homes. But as I lived in
some of them, I found that these young couples were faced with
constant problems, and even frustrations, and I wondered whether or
not I could have overcome all obstacles in the gallant way in which
they did.

Shall we take a look at the sort of thing a young married couple on
the mission field has to face? We will call them John and Mary, and
make them just ordinary folk who meet the kind of situations most
young missionaries meet.

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