Hidden in the answers to these queries lies a beau tiful secret— an aloes-fragrant secret— the reason for the continuance, year after year for a quarter o f a century, o f an institution without endowment, without tuition, often without more adequate resources in view than Abraham had as he trod the Moriah road un flinchingly and explained to his questioning son, “ God will provide.” Can the answers be found that will disclose the secret ? They can, easily. They creep into letters; they grow out o f interviews; they spring from friendly con versation. If all o f them could be combined in one succinct sentence, it might be this: Young people come to the Bible Institute of Los Angeles in order to know, and then in order to g o ; to know the Lord Jesus Christ “ and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship o f his sufferings, being made conform able unto his death,” and then to go “ into all the world and preach the gospel.” Knowing and going have char acterized each succeeding group trained within Biola’s walls. The buoyant youth of 1933 who are clamoring Why do young people choose to come to the Bible Institute o f Los Angeles ? Why do pastors who watch for their souls, as those who must give an account, urge them to come ? Why do parents, who would give their very life blood for the preservation of the faith of their sons and daughters, send them here with joy ful confidence? I t is t h e w e e k before September 21. Gay little groups are everywhere; laughing softly, chatting animatedly; clustered around pictures of former students, that are close hung in Biola’s long halls; mulling over new books in the Book R oom ; swarming about mail boxes; sallying forth with shouts and smiles to greet shy newcomers that approach on foot, their baggage with them, or pour from cars o f antique model, bringing forth bags and nicknacks from their seem ingly limitless depths— this is the Bible Institute of Los Angeles in the week o f the opening o f the fall semester. Life, youth, hope, ambition on every hand! Out o f it all, three questions emerge, arrow-sharp ques tions :
A TRAINED NURSE
A NATIVE OF SITKA, ALASKA
The young faces in the outside columns are those of newly accepted Bible Institute students. Above, a Biola graduate (extreme right) with her mother (fourth from left) is shown with her pupils in. Los Angeles and the kind she will teach soon in Africa.
for admission this .fall are not unlike their predecessors. They are young, strong, fairly bursting with enthusiasm. They have sensed the awful significance o f the unfinished task of world evangelization. Wanting desperately to go—anywhere with the gospel— they besiege Biola’s gates, pleading for equipment for the fray. In scores of letters received at the Institute each week, their insistent young voices are calling. Pick up a few of these at random. Read a sentence here and there. You will find yourself standing on holy ground. You will be looking deeply into hearts that beat warm and true for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Dear Friends at the Bible I 1*11 sure be glad to get b ward to the best year of let God have His way in i have one of the biggest sf There is more prayer back The Bible Institute wasy around these parts befra through. Fve met many ^ pressed by the lives of B. I. difference in their lives. I*d like to tell you a lit have done— not because I’ the Lord, and I love to seey How the Lord used tho hearts and turn men and ing there were sixteen youn altar for consecration. Th I*ve been working all thi was when I stopped to com ing, but I wouldn’t miss t the jobs in the world. The Bible Institute has the place because I got a and a touch of what He c young people. Looking for the be F
A PROSPECTIVE MISSIONARY
Y o u n g P e o p l e S p e a k f o r T h e m s e l v e s Take, for instance, this letter with a Canadian postmark. It comes from a distant town in Saskatchewan, a village little known. The young man who wrote it is also undistinguished, but in two simple sentences he shows himself on the rugged path to true greatness. “ I am keenly interested in the work of the Bible Institute o f Los Angeles,” he declares. “ My desire is to dig deeper into the Bible, the Book o f Life.” T o dig deeper! This was the fervid aim that dominated Moody, Spurgeon, Finney, and many others, that lifted them from obscurity, and that gave them the world as their parish. God may be calling another world leader. Who shall say He shall not find him among Biola’s eager, consecrated youth ? Not only young people, fresh from school, but ministers desiring fellowship and further study turn Biolaward. They know that here they will receive food for their own souls as well as for the flocks over which God has made them overseers. One writes: “ I am a young Baptist preacher and feel the need o f more time in school.” Another, a Texan evangelist, states his need tersely: “ I have spent three years in the ministry. Would like to enter your school for one semester, principally for the fellowship, Bible study, and to review church history, homiletics, and English.”
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