 Day's ministry while in Liberia focused on education as well as religious conversion; a former school teacher, Day was an early advocate of coeducational facilities, and taught trade classes such as blacksmithing, carpentry, and others in addition to a traditional classroom education.During his time in Liberia, Day frequently corresponded with friends and colleagues in the United States, submitted countless articles to the "Lutheran Observer", and was incredibly outspoken in his efforts to eliminate the American and European rum trade along the African coast.Although his campaigning proved unsuccessful, he was, however, able to create a dry zone around the Muhlenberg Mission.