Page 41 - Protestant Missionary Activity in the Arabian Gulf

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CHAPTER III:
THE ARABIAN MISSION AFTER OIL
(1934-1958)

1929 was a crucial year in modern economic history, for

the stock market crash of that year signaled the beginning of

a world wide depression that was to cripple the industrialized

world and greatly shake western man’s faith in the "free

market" economic system,, By the early 1930’s unemployment

was widespread in Europe and America, and soon the economic
crisis was to make itself felt in the Middle East. The De-

pression had three principal effects on the Arabian Mission.

In the first place it caused a cut-back in economic support

from the West. Secondly it encouraged an increasingly materi­

alistic and financial approach to mission problems. Thirdly,

i and most importantly perhaps, it signalled a final disillusion­

ment and disunity in the West - a disillusionment that could

m not fail to be recognized by the Arab Muslims or fail to con­

tribute to the demoralization of missionaries on the field.

From now on * spiritual encouragement and material support

would have to be increasingly drawn from the Mission’s inner

and local resources and less and less from abroad.

The cut-back in financial support was not immediately

felt by the Arabian Mission. By the middle of the thirties,

however, financial pressures had forced a curtailment of the

educational programs. These had been provided free of charge,

with the teachers’ salaries, building maintenance and text-

book fees being paid directly by the Mission. ^ There was