Collection 428
[January 26, 2001]
Berry, Helen Elizabeth; 1924-
Papers; 1966-1990
1 Box (DC, .4 cubic feet), 3 Reels of Audio Tape
Restrictions
There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.
Biographys
Full name: Helen Elizabeth Berry
Birth date: October 5, 1924
Birth place: Rangeley, Maine
Parents: Charles W. and Winifred Hinkley Berry
Siblings: Two brothers, one sister
Conversion: Around 1935
Marital status: Single
Denominational affiliation: Conservative Baptist
Education:
1942 Graduated from Rangeley High School
1942-1945 Providence Bible Institute (now Barrington College, Rhode Island)
1945-1949 Wheaton College; BA in History
1952 University of Maine--Farmington; BS in Education
Career:
1954-? Teacher at Morrison Academy, Nanto, Taiwan
1966 Church work, visitation, Tou Liu, Taiwan
1967-1971 Church work, visitation, Peikang, Taiwan
1972 Church work, visitation, Pingtung, Taiwan
1974 Church work, visitation, Tso Ying, Taiwan
1975-1985 Church work, visitation, New Life Baptist Church, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
1986-1989 Church work, visitation, Wu Chang Baptist Church, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Scope and Content
The prayer letters in this collection (folder 1-1) describe Berry's missionary work in Taiwan under the Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society (CBFMS) between 1966 and 1990, except that there are no letters for the years 1972 to 1976. The topics covered in the prayer letters are much the same as those covered in the interviews described below.
Helen Elizabeth Berry was interviewed by Paul Ericksen on January 23, 1990, at the office of the Archives of the Billy Graham Center. The time period covered in the interview is roughly 1924-1990. The topics are listed in the order in which they are discussed. The "side 1" and "side 2" of this description refer to a cassette copy and not the reel-to-reel originals.
Tape T1 - Side 1
Family background
Conversion
Call to be a missionary
Education at Providence Bible Institute
Course in practical nursing
Child evangelism classes
Application to Wheaton College, acceptance and attendance
Most useful course: evangelistic hymn playing
Majored in history under Earle Cairns; most influenced by Cairns and Kenneth Kantzer
Foreign Missions Fellowship, India prayer group
Conservative Baptist missions
Mission experiences in Taiwan
Experience in substitute teaching
Missionary application process
Teaching in a small school and pastoring a small church in Maine
Appointment as a missionary teacher in Taiwan
End of side 1
Tape T1 - Side 2
Overlap from side 1
Teaching first and second grade in Morrison Academy in Taiwan in 1954
House mother for girls at Morrison while learning the language
Taiwanese language
Work in Taiwanese church in Nantow? for two years before furlough
Return to Taiwan, further language study, city church work
End of tape
Tape T2 - Side 1
Chinese wedding customs
Conservative Baptist Theological College
Second missionary term
Pressure against people accepting Christ in Taiwan
Idol worship center, description of worship
Taiwanese church leadership and church service
Polynesian tribes in Taiwan
Mongolian language taught in schools
Americans in relationship to current Taiwanese politics
Opening of China to Taiwanese visits
Religious freedom in Taiwan
Communism, guns, and drugs outlawed in Taiwan
Chiang Kai-Shek's funeral service
Christian president of Taiwan, Christians in government
Superstitions
End of side 1
Tape T2 - Side 2
Overlap from side 1
Superstitions continued
Twelve year calendar cycle in China
Superstitions in the church
Cultural advantages for spread of gospel
Obstacles to spread of Christianity
Ancestor worship
Discipling Chinese girls
End of tape
Tape T3 - Side 1
Discipling a Taiwanese woman, Serena, who has become a Christian worker
Problems with girls who lived with Berry in Taiwan
Start of new church in store front
Work with youth, Sunday school
Native pastor takes over church but his negativity drives people away
Indigenous church administration
Personal evangelism
Weaknesses of the Taiwanese church
Illiteracy
Affect on the church of strong desire for education among Taiwanese
Prayer mountains in Korea and Taiwan, prayer and fasting sessions
Pentecostals and charismatics in Taiwan, denominational cooperation
Personal conflict on the mission field
Changes made in the CBFMS over the years
Short-term missionary programs
Tape T3 - Side 2
Overlap from side 1
Difficulties of a single woman on the mission field
Women's roles in Taiwan
Roles of single and married women missionaries
Acceptance of women in leadership roles
Raising financial support
Differences in missionary training in recent years
Retirement, return to the U.S., deputation, plans for the future
Provenance
The materials in this collection were given to the Billy Graham Center Archives by Helen Berry in January and July 1990.
Accessions: 90-13, 90-81
February 21, 1996
Janyce H. Nasgowitz
LOCATION RECORD
Accession: 90-13
Type of Material: Audio Tapes
The following items are located in the AUDIO TAPE FILE:
T1 - Reel-to-reel, 3-3/4 ips, approximately 70 minutes, one side only. Interview with Helen Elizabeth Berry by Paul A. Ericksen on January 23, 1990, at the Billy Graham Center. Topics discussed include family background, education, call to be a missionary, appointment as a teacher to Taiwan under the Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society.
T2 - Reel-to-reel, 3-3/4 ips, approximately 70 minutes, one side only. Continuation of interview with Helen Berry by Paul Ericksen. Includes discussion of teaching in Taiwan, church planting, discipling girls, superstition, leadership of churches.
T3 - Reel-to-reel, 3-3/4 ips, approximately 70 minutes, one side only. Continuation of interview with Helen Berry by Paul Ericksen. Includes discussion of church and state in Taiwan, roles of women, "prayer mountains," and her retirement.
| CONTAINER LIST | ||
| Box | Folder | Item |
| 1 | 1 | Prayer letters; 1966-1990 |