Esperanto
For many years, a team of British brothers and sisters have been preaching the Truth through the medium of Esperanto [a constructed, semiartificial language formulated in 1887 and intended to serve as an international language. Vocabulary is mostly derived from the Romance languages and the grammar is Indo-European in character] in European countries, Russia and the former Soviet territories. While the results have not been great, several individuals have responded to the call of the gospel through Esperanto. Those converted have in turn put their hearts and hands to the work of the Truth in their own lands using their native language. Reports of the labors and successes that have come, with the blessing of God, appear in the Christadelphian Bible Missionary and the Christadelphian magazines.
Funding for the effort comes through the Christadelphian Bible Mission and other sources.
A broader effort
A similar effort is ongoing in China and other far-eastern countries by an Australian team of Esperantists. Furthermore, Brazil and Japan are two other countries where Esperanto flourishes. In addition, some Esperanto adherents live in Mexico, Cuba and Korea.
Every year since 1900, supporters of the language meet for an International Esperanto Congress in a different country of the world.
Response from varied countries
During the past three years, 20 Brazilians, three Colombians, four Americans, one Pole and one Chinese have taken the International Biblio Misio (I.B-M) Bible Study Course (I.B-M Studkurso). Six have completed the course.
In March of 1990, an advertisement in English was placed in the Japanese newspaper The Mainichi Daily News (an English-language paper) offering free literature in English or Esperanto. The three replies received were in Esperanto.
Recent special mailing
In October, 259 packages of I.B-M Esperanto literature were sent to Esperanto Club members in various countries (94 to USA, 81 to Brazil, 71 to Japan and 13 to Canada). The total number of booklets was about 4,000 and we pray for a blessing upon the reading of the literature. May it lead many more to the reading of His Word.
Postage cost of $600 was provided from the UK, with other expenses for stationary, printing, etc. being met by the Nanaimo, BC ecclesia.
An appeal for greater involvement
We feel a greater effort on the part of North American brothers and sisters is justified in this matter. Much could be done if an Esperanto team were formed, which had a sound backing of both prayers and adequate funding, to cover preaching in Esperanto in the Americas and in Japan.
Learning the language
An inevitable question is, “How difficult is it to learn the language?”
I am not a linguist and am far from fluent. In fact, I am in a very low grade of the spoken “lingvo” and am not in the advanced level of the written. In spite of this, lively written exchanges are conducted every month with correspondents in at least 10 lands of foreign tongues.
Esperanto grammar is constant and well structured. Root words are expandable by the use of prefixes and suffixes. It is a pleasure to learn.
Furthermore, it is a language that has no connotations of ethnic rivalry, memories of past injustice, undesired colonialism or foreign oppression as is often the case with major languages of the world. It is non-racial as well as being new and fresh. Those using it are generally friendly, peaceable and interested in their international neighbors.
Based on the results of our small efforts to date, one feels greater things are possible in the Americas and Japan with the use of Esperanto. Indeed, with the blessing of the Lord our God, a surprising amount of fruit may be realized to His glory.
“Vi povas rakonti al la tuta mondo per Esperanto la miroj de la Evangelio.”
Write to S-ro D.W. Jenkinson, P.O. Box 277, Nanaimo, BC Canada V9R 5K9 if you are at all interested in taking the Truth into other lands by the Esperanto door.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One