King's Business - 1919-09

THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S but after the men leave, they keep in touch with the district by correspon­ dence, by an occasional visit, and above all by definite, persistent,, believing prayer. While in the district the indi­ vidual men of the party have made per­ sonal friends of certain picked indi­ viduals in that community, they have learned all they can about the men and their families, and when they press on to a new field they keep these men on their hearts. The result is, by God’s blessing, little growing and working churches in communities which only a short time ago were wholly without the light of the Gospel. A letter from Mr. Cheng, leader of party No. 1, which has just come to hand brings this out strik­ ingly. Mr. Cheng is writing about the village of Liu-Gia-Chiao, where party No. 1 was working some months ago. The mis­ sionary in whose district Liu-Gia-Chiao is located had. paid a visit to the little newly founded church and reported con­ ditions to Mr. Cheng. When our men went there the place was “wholly given up to idols”. They knew absolutely nothing of the true God, but were most enthusiastic in their idolatry. They had a strong society for the promotion of worship. (That is, of course, idol wor­ ship.) This society had charge of all the heathen festivals, collected funds for all the expenses of the same, and other expenses connected with idola­ trous practices. The leading men of the village heard and believed the Gospel and became as earnest in their service of the true God as they had been in the service of idols, and so the old idol society has been put completely out of business, yes even out of existence in that community. Mr. Cheng writes: “We have had a report from Mr. S--------- of Paoking that gives us great joy. It is regarding the work at Liu-Gia-Chiao. First, that society for the promotion of idolatry has been disbanded and put out of existence.

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At another house we found one who had known the Lord; but who had through family troubles “ceased to serve Him” and the moment we com­ menced to speak the tears commenced to fall. They related a story of great sorrow and bitterness in trying to find comfort in the world. Before we left that house we had a prayer meeting and the wanderers came back to the Lord and promised they would give up the worldly life they had been living and serve the Lord. Not only the parents but the two young people, son and daughter, also formerly professors, one a Sunday School teacher, came back to the Lord and we trust they will be faithful. We have used the Pocket Testaments with good results. One lady from Los Angeles who had lost her husband with the “flu” listened to the Word and “signed up,” and we intend to follow up this evidence of God’s dealing and hope to know that she is really and truly saved. We hope next month to hold some meetings in the Toltec School in the Kern River Fields Sunday evenings, and ask your prayers that God will bless the Word, give us an open door, and save the lost.—Frank J. Shelley, Supt. China Welcoming the Gospel Changsha, Hunan, China, June 7, 1919. Dear Friends: The reports that come in from our workers in the six parties are full of praise, they encourage us and make us grateful that God has committed this truly f r u i t f u l BIBLE INSTITUTE work to us. IN CHINA One thing that stands out prom­ inently in the reports of the work is its abiding character. There is not merely an enthusiastic^campaign in a district for a few weeks with a few converts,

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