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THE K I NG ' S BUS I NESS
May, 1937
a hundred years ago, the first witness to Israel was borne to the Jews of this region by an English layman, who loved them. Twenty years later, the Church Mission So ciety to the Jews began its work here. This is still a blessed work, under the leadership of a consecrated young man. Later, the Mildmay Mission began a ministry in this territory, and today has two workers. Last spring, another mission established a work on. the other side of the Vistula River, with two men workers. In addition to these other evangelical groups that are at work in this area, there is our mission, the American- European Fellowship, which, up to the present time, is the only one to carry on work particularly among children. The four missions cooperate most happily. A united prayer meeting is held the first Friday of each month, and a united evangelistic service the following Saturday night. But how few are the witnesses among a million souls! About eighteen kilometers outside Warsaw, lies beau tiful Radosc. Served bv a new electric train which travels on an hourly schedule, Radosc is developing into an attrac
Children at the Altar of Decision
By FRANK A. MILLER* Los Angeles, California F OR M O N TH S , I had been praying for an evangel ist and his wife who were conducting only night services, and who paid little or no attention to boys and girls. As I pleaded with them to hold after-school meetings for children, they replied, “ W e are not interested. W e don’t know how to deal with children.” One day as I was driving to San Diego from Los An geles, I saw a large tent near the highway, bearing an announcement of meetings being held by these workers, and I stopped to see my friends. “ Next Saturday morning, the Lord willing, I shall be passing this way on my return trip,” I told them, “ and if you will invite the children to be here, I believe the Lord will help me show you how they may be won for the Lord Jesus Christ.” They assented readily. The following Saturday morn ing, a large company of boys and girls with some teach ers and parents greeted me in the tent. I unfolded my blackboard and little organ. For an hour— aided by chalk and story—we showed these eager listeners that they needed Christ to save them from their sins, and that, moreover, Christ must be received as personal Saviour. How they listened! When the invitation to accept Christ was given very quietly and thoughtfully, about twenty boys and girls stood up apd said, individually, “ I want to be a Chris tian.” They came forward, and prayed. Their faith was based upon the W ord of God which each one held in his hand, and these young believers arose and confessed Christ as their Saviour. This response was a revelation to my evangelist friends. It gave them an insight into the necessity for presenting the gospel to youth, and they began to seek to win the boys and girls for the Lord Jesus Christ. Wonderful letters have come to me from these workers, telling about the conversion of children "in their meetings and of in stances in which fathers and mothers and whole families have been won for the Lord Jesus Christ through the chil dren’s acceptance of Him. M ethods W h ic h H ave P roved U seful The question may be asked, What are some of the methods to be employed in dealing with youth? First, be sure that your own heart is absolutely right with God. Then pray that He will show you the value of a soul, especially the soul of a child. Second, plan special services for the boys and girls. Visually present the great truths of God’s Word. Show what sin is. Make plain that all are sinners, needing a Saviour (cf. John 1 :12). Third, give an invitation to accept Christ. This need is vital. Shun “ mob decisions,” and beware of premature responses. Never say,' “ Now all of vou who want to be Christians come forward.” I once witnessed about 150 [Continued on page 190] * Superintendent of the Children’s Evangelistic Union and author of Evangelistic Chalk Talks.
tive summer resort. From Radosc, a walk of twenty minutes over the sand will bring one to Villa Bethel, the property of the Ameri can-European Fellowship— a place of happy memories where Jewish children and others have learned of the Messiah’s love for them. Situated on the edge of a great pine forest, and sur rounded by a beautiful gar den, green lawns, and an orchard, rise four buildings. First, there is Villa Bethel proper, which has nine large rooms and seven smaller ones, including the kitchen and two good-sized porches. There is another building with four rooms, a laundry, and a combination woodshed and barn. This location is
Miss Christoffersen (left) and Helper
known to many Jews and is a great attraction to them in the summer time when it is the scene of many activities. W ho S h a l l A t t e n d ? How are we to determine who shall enjoy the privileges of Villa Bethel? In the spring, when we gather at the mission in Warsaw for meetings on Saturday afternoons, a mixed company usually greets us. There are pious Jews, rationalistic and communistic Jews, and some who are altogether indifferent. There are finely dressed ladies, poor mothers with babies in their arms, children of all ages, from three to sixteen years of age, young business women, young men, and even workingmen— all begging for a holiday at Radosc. Their motive, of course, is to get out of their dark and dirty quarters in the slums and into the beauty and freedom of the woods and garden. W e begin our work of preparation. W e teach'these pupils gospel songs. W e give them Bible verses to mem orize— especially those portions bearing on sin and salva tion. As nearly as we can, we take note of every phase of the listeners’ response. After five or six weeks o f .ob servation, and when we have given prayerful consideration to the matter, we begin to register pupils for attendance at Villa Bethel. Parents of children who attend are [ Continued on page 1SS]
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