‘Give us friends’ – Indian churchman A. S. Azariah in his famous speech about missionaries at the 1910 Edinburgh World Mission Conference. Ref 11
A conference held to consider the problems with the relationships of European missionaries and those who had been on the recieving end of their mission-ing... and were now partnering with them in the gospel
He travelled across India and observed the various missionary societies from Europe and what he described was, with some exceptions - there was a problem of co operation between what he described as foreign and native workers...
he observed 'a certain aloofness, a lack of mutual understanding and openness, a great lack of frank intercourse and friendliness.'
The relationship between Him and His immediate disciples and fellow workers was not only one of Teacher ,and pupils, .Master and disciples, but, above all, that of Friend and friends. He placed Himself alongside of those weak, frail, and stumbling disciples as their Friend and Brother, and lifted them up to a clearer vision, stronger faith, and nobler life. The disciples were admitted into the closest friendship with their Divine Teacher, they learned to love Him, confide in Him, follow Him, and walk even as He walked.
'Through all the ages to come the Indian Church will rise up in graturude to attest the heroism and self-denying labours of the missionary body.
'You have given your bodies to feed the poor, you have given your bodies to be burned. We ask ask also for love. Give us friends.'