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By Ali__**
 * __The Beginning of the Student Volunteer Movement

// Dwight L. Moody
 * "The [|evangelization] of the world in this generation." -**Dwight L. Moody

These famous words characterized and motivated the Student Volunteer Movement, the most potent student mobilizers in all of history. From its creation the SVM called students to commit their lives, first, to the person and lordship of Christ, then, to taking the gospel of Christ to the unevangelized portions of the world. Students, looking for a cause worth giving their lives to and moved by the Holy Spirit, committed themselves to the evangelization of the world in their generation. At one point of its history, 75% of all female missionaries and 70% of all male missionaries were volunteers, who had been brought to this pursuit by the SVM. In its history, the SVM was responsible for over 20,000 missionaries on the field, not committed to going but on the field. 20,000 college students had abandoned their dreams for the adventure of following Christ's heart to the nations and over 80,000, remained at home, supporting their fellow volunteers as well as increasing missions education.

The most significant Christian student conference ever held was that in the boys' school at Mount Hermon, Massachusetts, in the summer of 1886. It was called under the initiative of the leaders of the Intercollegiate Young Men's Christian Associations of the United States and Canada and was presided over by Dwight L. Moody. It was attended by 251 students from 89 universities and colleges of these two countries. Each of these men signed a declaration that read, "We, the undersigned, declare ourselves willing and desirous, God permitting, to go to the unevangelized portions of the world." From the momentum of this event arose the Student Volunteer Movement.



Evangelical Bible conference of an invited group of college YMCA leaders, from which grew the Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions, 1886.//

The Secret of God's Will -Miss Grace Wilder I sought the secret of Thy will; But, Lord, I did not knowThy lowly life - Thy heavy cross -Life's plan and purpose show.I thought some special path and plan, Bearing my name I'd see; Instead I found in Jesus' life Footprints for such as me.To save the lost His aim, so mine, Poor, hungry ones to feed; Weak, sightless eyes to turn to light; Sore, erring feet to lead. Since Jesus' life reveals God's will,Surely I'm in His way, When choosing rough, dark mountain paths To find the sheep who stray.To be like Him, I ask to hold My light where it is dark, To carry bread to those passed by; Let this, Lord, be my part. Thus preaching Christ where yet unknown, God's worldwide love I show; And since for this Christ lived and died, God's will for me I know. .....[|The Traveling Team]