The Mission to China (continued)
During the late 19th century large numbers of Christian missionaries from the West had arrived, representing most denominations. The map of the Sichuan province shows how they divided the territory between them.
The first FFMA workers saw their primary role in China the traditional one of spreading the Gospel. They were less condemnatory of other religions than some missionary groups of the time, able to work alongside Confucians, Buddhists and Muslims. Even so, there was resentment among Chinese people towards the Christian missionaries. Christianity was not only a foreign religion, but also the religion of the European Empires that had imposed themselves - and their opium trade - by force. Friends published many pamphlets seeking to convince Chinese people that they came in peace and with good will.
