CHRIST MISSlojv
Aloha Cottage; Mussoorie, U.P.; India
Serving Christ through Evangelism and Christian Education
on furlough
Phone MA 5-3967 WILLIAM ROLAND FAMILY
417 W. 24th St.
Hays, Kansas 67601
January, 1968
w
Dear Fellow Servants,
Jean and I are enjoying a few days of rest from
school. We finished another semester last Tuesday, the
23rd. The semester-end rush of term papers, note books,
study, etc. kept us up pretty late some nights, and morn
ings, but we made it! On the 29th we register for another
semester, and classes begin again February 1st. This will
be the last of the work on our Master*s degrees.
We all had a very fine Christmas and New Year's
holiday. Dr. Rothermal was with us for about two weeks.
Mary Esther and Charles - and Henki Boanaerts, a friend of
Mary Esther - were here almost a week. It was good to be
together again. It may be the last time for awhile if we
get to return to India this summer. The holidays were
brightened by many greeting cards and letters. Thanks to
each of you who sent.
Love offerings continue to come from many of
you. We are ever grateful for these. Your receipt is
enclosed. The sacrificial gifts you send give us renewed
strength and courage to continue in His Service.
The book of James has been the subject of our
evening devotions recently. We would like to share a few
words with you - "Be ye patient therefore, brethren, until
the coming of the Lord. . . establish your hearts: for the
coming of the Lord is at hand." May we be ready and found
working when He comes!
Sincerely in Christ,
"Stn^ to show thyself aiqproved onto God, a worhman . . . rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2:15
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JEAN
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MARY ESTHER
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Aloha Cottage; Mussoorie, U.P.; India
Serving Christ through Evangelism and Christian Education
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on furlough
Phone MA 5-3967 WILLIAM ROLAND FAMILY
417 W. 24th St.
Hays, Kansas 67601
April, 1968 . '
Dear Fellow Workers: ^
Pull schedules at college, speaking dates, office work, and
many other things have made the first months of 1968 fairly "fly
by." We do thank each of you for remembering us with gifts, letters,
and prayers even though we havent written very often.
Here in Hays I(William) spoke about education in India to one
of the college classes. A trip in January took me to Manhattan,
Kansas to share the Bible College preaching rally and to speak for
the mission banguet. A longer trip was to Flora, Illinois for a
wonderful fellowship at their mission rally.
On the trip to Illinois I was able to spend some time with
Mary Esther in St. Louis, and with Charles and my folks in Lincoln.
Mary Esther and I had enjoyable visits w-i-th brethren at LaGrange,
Missouri and the Akers Chapel Church of Christ near Plainville,
Illinois. Also in Lincoln we visited with the Jerry Lacsons and
Floyd Stamms, two enthusiastic young couples who are preparing to
work in India.
The Cincinnati Bible Seminary concert choir performed at the
Hays Church on April 2nd. Their presentation of the Gospel in song
was a real spiritual experience. ^
Recent developments at Woodstock School have closed that op-
portunity of service for us. Industrial Arts is no longer taught,
and there are no other positions open that we can fill. Since re
ceiving this word we have been pursuing other possibilities for
service: some in India, and some in other places. We ask you to
pray that God will guide us into the best service for Him.
The Mission Equipment Fund is still very much in debt. Cost
of the T2?uck/Camper, projector, and addressor totalled S5735.98.
Cash receipts up to April 4th were $2765.47, leaving a debit of
$2970.51. We sold the station wagon and used $1600 to pay part of
this. There is still $1570.51 owing. We also need money to pur
chase items on the enclosed list.
"Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose
help is in Jehovah his God." Psalm 146:5
Together for Christ,
"Study to showthyself approved onto God, a workman . . . rightly dividing the word of troth." 2 Tim. 2:15
&
CHRIST MZSS/O^
Aloha Cottage; Mussoorie, U.P.; India
\
on furlough
WILLIAM & JEAN ROLAND Mil 1 1 tOgB
417 W. 24th St.
Hays, Kansas 67601
forwarding agent
JANET SCHULTZ
Box 147
Lincoln, Illinois 62656
A Half Century In India
Mr. and Mrs. Sterling G. Rothermel started for India
in December 1914 to give their lives to the cause of Christ
in that land. They went under the Christian Women's Board
of Missions, after having spent a year of special prepara
tion at the College of Missions in Indianapolis.
Dr. Zoena S. Rothermel, veteran direct-support
missionary in India from 1914 to 1964.
When the Rothermels had been in India less than ten
months they were sent to Maudaha (now called Ragaul)
in the United Provinces, where they spent the rest of their
first term of over seven years. With the exception of one
missionan' who was with them for about five months they
labored in that place alone more than six years and had
over 100 converts.
Before they left India for their first furlough the mis
sionaries of the Mission voted whether the Rothermels should
be asked to return (a practice according to mission policy).
Then the Mission secretary sent them a letter of apprecia
tion for the work they had done and invited them to return.
But when the furlough was ended and they had been granted
a further year for study in the United States they were in
formed that they could not return under the U.C.M.S., which
had come into existence during their term in India. Mr.
Rothermel continued his studies and received his B.D. de
gree.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Rothermel continued making speeches
in the churches and sent letters to friends asking whether or
not, under the circumstances, they thought the Rothermels
should return to India. The great majority thought they
should return, so in 1926 they ventured forth on faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ. While many trials awaited them they
never regretted having been obedient to Christ's command.
(Continued on Page 2)
Twenty Years
A Brief Look Back
Ragaul 5 years.
William and Jean Rokind went to India in 1947 to join
Mrs. Zoena Rothermel, Jean's mother, in the evangeli.stic
work at Ragaul. They planned for a program of Christian
Education to be the main emphasis of their worktraining
Indian men and women for service among their own people.
The Ragaul Bible Seminary was started in January 1949
with Babu Lai, a recent convert from Hinduism, as the first
student. Rolands were still studying language when Babu
Lai came asking to enroll in Bible study. Rather than tium
him away they arranged for two of the native evangelists
and Mrs. Rothermel to give of their time to teach. In July
1950 twelve other students joined Babu Lai, and the Rolands
started their program of full-time Bible College classes.
Eight of those first students continued through the school
year. They were joined by others the following year for the
beginning of the Seminary's third session. Due to William's
illness, however, the Seminary had to be discontinued in
the Fall of 1951. Some of the students went into other work;
some continued their training at Kulpahar Bible College
with Bro. Rempel.
William and Jean Roland
serving in India since 1947
Many other things kept the Rolands busy during that
first term. Construction work was pushed forward on the
Primary School building that Mrs. Rothermel had started.
A pump was installed in the well and a water tank built.
Bricks were made and material collected for buildings to
replace these destroyed by a fire. Evangelism was a regular
part of the program. They joined the mission evangelists
and Bible Women on tours to nearby villages when possible.
Occasicnally weekend trips were made, and Sunday aft
ernoons Seminary students and men of the Ragaul Church
went out by truck to hold meetings. The Gospel Seed was
sown. Visible fruits were not numbered by the hundreds but
there was rejoicing in hearing a few confess the Lord as
Savior.
(Continued on Page 2)
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman . . . rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2:15
A HALF CENTURY (Continued from page 1)
From this new beginning as direct-support missionaries
they continued their work, after having purchased the prop
erty at Ragaul. It was not long, though (1928), until Mr.
Rothermel finished his earthly ministry for his Master and
Mrs. Rothermel was left to carry on alone.
The work was mostly evangelistic. Direct contacts were
made and Indian men and women were trained to preach the
Word. Mrs. Rothermel is a medical doctor and she has been
able to make many contacts through her medical work.
There was also a primary school for Christian students. Be
yond primary school children w^ helped to study as far
as they could advance in other schools. Many were given
opportunity to learn a trade or get started in some work.
Some were orphans and some had only one living parent.
Many children of poor Christian families who could not
otherwise have had an education have been helped.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Smith went to help in the work in
1931). After they studied the language they supervised the
work for about a year before Mrs. Rothermel returned to
the States for another furlough in 1933. The Smiths were
in India until the spring of 1936, when they returned for a
furlough. After taking their furlough they decided not to
return to India. Mrs. Rothermel continued to carry on as
best she could with her Indian helpers and the Lord, hoping
that someone would volunteer for this needy field.
In 1943 Mrs. Rothermel came to the States for another
furlough, as her health was not good and she had been
working in India for almost nine years. She continued to
ch^enge young people in the churches and Bible colleges.
In 1945, when she returned again to India, Mr. and Mrs.
Tom Rash and Miss Edna Hunt accompanied her.
These new workers spent some time in Ragaul but
after they had learned the language they branched out to
work in an adjoining area. In 1947 Mrs. Rothermel's daugh
ter, Jean, and her husband William Roland, went to work
wife her. About fee same time Ralph Harter joined them.
In subsequent years these workers also moved to other
areas of service in India. Mrs. Rothermel continued in fee
Ragaul work until 1964 when, at the age of 82, she returned
to the United States. The church work at Ragaul is con
tinuing under fee leadership of India men with help from
Bro. Rash.
Mrs. Rothermel does not expect to go back to the land
where her three children were bom, where two of them
and her beloved husband are buried, and where the people
she has adopted and learned to love were given the greatest
part of her life, about fifty years. But her influence for the
Lord there continues to be felt. Many, missionary and In
dian alike, stiU affectionately call her "Mamaji."
At present (June 1966) she is living in Canton, Ohio.
The First Christian Church is her living link and the people
of fee church are supplying her needs. In 1959 Mrs. Rother
mel had a cataract operation on one eye and fee resulting
Glaucoma caused the loss of vision in that eye. Because of
a cataract in the other eye she has very little vision left.
An operation may be performed if the condition progr^es
sufficiently. She recently made application to the Mt. Healfey
Christian Home in Cincinnati so will probably be moving
there this summer.
TWENTY YEARS (Continued from Page 1)
Bilaspur - 6 years.
Following a furlough Rolands returned to India in 1954,
this time to combine the Bible Seminary program wife that
of Harry Schaefer in the Central Provinces. Twenty-three
men and women enrolled in the College the first year. Seven
of them were taking their final year of work and graduated
in May 1955 to take places in several fields of service. Be
sides the regular students two groups of twelve men from
Orissa Province took special three to four month courses.
They were members of churches who were being trained for
more effective service in their home congregations.
Preaching in Melas, visiting area churches, and helping
with convention programs was also a part of the Bible Col
lege work. The students spent two days at the Ratanpur
Mela sixteen miles north of Bilaspur. A Mela is a religious
fair of the Hindus. They usually last several days and pro
vide a good opportunity to witness. The students used Gospel
songs to attract crowds. Then they preached and sold tracts.
U
i h
Central India Bible Seminary at Bilaspur.
1955-56 staff and students.
The best spot seemed to be at the foot of a hill leading up
to the temple where fee Hindus went to perform their yearly
worship. Others stayed at the Jeep and used the P.A. system,
while others mingled wife the crowds to sell literature. As
the groups returned to the camping area they related their
experiences: many bought tracts, some listened to fee stories
with interest, others mocked and went on. But the time was
not wasted because souls have come to Christ as a result
of seed sown at these fairs.
Evangelistic teams were also organized among fee stu
dents to visit area churches. Typical of these trips was the
visit to the church in Raipur, seventy miles south of Bilas
pur. The group went on Saturday and held afternoon and
evening meetings in the town wife the P.A. system. Then on
Sunday they worshipped with the local congregation and
presented special music and a message.
A Hindu worships his God
a roadside stone
Other groups of students and teachers joined Bro.
Schaefer in conventions in fee state of Orissa. These meet
ings usually lasted two or three days. People walked, or
came by ox cart or bus from many miles around. They
were anxious to learn and didn't seem to get tired sitting
through two sermons, each an hour or more long. They
brought their food and cooking utensils and stayed in the
local homes, the church building, or set up brush arbors.
Visiting and working with people so eager to hear and
leam fee Word was certainly rewarding.
This program of Bible College classes, coupled with
various evangelistic efforts, was the pattern of the major
part of the work at Bilaspur. The College continued in Bila
spur for resident students for seven years. During feat time
a total of about 200 students took different programs of
(Continued on Page 4)
i
DAVID
Sophomore
Hays High School
CHARLES
Freshman
Lincoln Christian College
MARY ESTHER
Junior
Lincoln Christian College
PAUL
Freshman
Hays High Sdiocd
Furlough Activities And A Look To Future Service
In the fall of 1964 William enrolled in the University of Illinois for a program of study leading to a Masters degree in Sec
ondary Education. During the second semester he decided that the University's program was not what he really wanted. Besides
this they did not allow him any credit on his Bachelor's degree from the Cincinnati Bible Seminary. It would have taken
five or six years to complete the program. So in the fall of 1965 they transferred to Fort Hays Kansas State College in Hays,
Kansas. This college has an excellent Industrial Arts program, which is William's major. They also accepted both William and
Jean as graduate students. William will be able to complete all undergraduate and graduate work and get his teach^ cer
tification and Masters's degree by January 1968. If present plans work out they will visit churches in the spring of 1968 and
be back in India to start with the school year beginning July 1968.
William will be continuing school through the summer this year (June, July 1966). Paul is taking some summer school
work, too, and helping his Dad as chief cook and bottle washer. Mary Esther is spending the summer in D.V.B.S. and Chris
tian Service Camp work in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. Charles graduated from high school in June and has gone
to Lincoln, HI., where he will work with the Lincoln Christian College construction crew during the summer, then enroll in
college this fall. Jean and David will spend the summer speaking in churches and working in D.V.B.S. and Christian Service
Camps in Kansas, Iowa, and Ohio. Mrs. Rothermel, Jean, Mary Esther, and David will be attending the North American
Christian Convention at Louisville, Ky. We all covet your prayers that we may render a faithful Christian stewardship.
Our Needs
Financial receipts have continued quite well and we are very grateful to aU who are sending regular gifts and extra help.
By supplementing with money from the sale of personal belongings in India we have managed to keep all bills paid. This per
sonal source is about depleted now, though, and we will need extra income from you who are interested in helping us complete
preparations to return to India. The following is a partial list of our most pressing needs. We hope you can help us meet
them.
1. Living Link for Jean, per year $900.00
2. Living Link for David, per year 150.00
3. Living Link for Paul, per year 400.00
4. Rent and Utilities, per month 100.00
Introductions
just for those of you who don't know us
William Roland was bom December 24, 1923 to Charles and Laura Roland while they were ministering to the Versailles,
Illinois Church. When William was about ten years old, while his father was minister of the Payson, Illinois Church, Lee Car
ter Maynard held a revival for them. At that time William accepted Christ as his Savior and was buried with Him in baptism.
During the depression is was hard to make ends meet on the salary of a small-town preacher, so Mr. Roland purchased a
farm and worked it during the week to earn enough to provide for the family. From the time William was eleven years old he
lived on the farm. His father continued to preach on the Lord's Day. William graduated from Pittsfield High School a
National Honor Society student in 1942. In the fall of the same year he enrolled in the Cincinnati Bible Seminary.
Jean Rothermel was born in India on November 23, 1920 to Sterling and Zoena Rothermel. They were serving their first
seven-year term as missionaries in Ragaul at the time. At an early age Jean accepted Christ as her personal Savior and was
baptized into Him. Mr. Rothermel died when Jean was not quite eight years old, and seven months later her only living brother
fell from a cliff and was killed. Jean's mother continued to serve as a missionary among those for whom her husband had
given his life.
After graduation from Woodstock High School in India Jean returned to the United States and enrolled in Minnesota Bible
College. Following a year of studies there she transferred to the Cincinnati Bible Seminary.
William and Jean met at the Cincinnati Bible Seminary during his first year there and the following summer they were
married. Jean graduated in 1943 and did aU her resident work toward a Master's degree. William serv^ two student minis
tries in MUford, Ky., and the Mt. Pleasant Church near Mt. Olivet, Ky. Following William's graduation in 1946 they presented
their mission plans to the churches. In Jime 1947 they sailed, with their daughter Mary Esther, to join the evangelistic work
of the United Provinces with Jean's mother.
TWENTY YEARS (Continued from Page 2)
study. Twenty-four of these graduated to receive the cer
tificate of Christian Ministry. Students are serving in many
