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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
June, 1941
NOTES on Christian Endeavor FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
of the curiosities caused by the air war is a church one hundred twenty feet below ground where ancient Britons once lived under the chalk hills of Chis- lehurst. The congregation, numbering about one thousand, is drawn from the four thousand Londoners who take ref uge in the caves. Not many people can get into the ‘nave’. Hence those sitting along the'walls farther away join in the hymns though they cannot hear the sermon.” The Children’s Special Service Mis sion, and other groups of Christian workers of England, have recognized the spiritual opportunity created by the evacuation of the children to the quiet villages of the land. “In the strange cir cumstances in which the little ones find themselves,' they are. eager to hear about the Saviour who not only saves, but also keeps and comforts,” writes one of these workers. 3. In Belgium. Excerpts from letters of a Christian pastor in Belgium read: “These days have been days of the severest trial that any of us have ever known, but they have also been days of the richest spiritual experience, and I have never known a time in my life when the Lord seemed nearer, nor when we all lived in closer, communion with Him and with one another. . . ■. There have been a number of. cases of wonderful conver sions. . . . On Sundays our attendance has trebled.. . . . In the opening of the assembly the old hymn, ‘Count Your Many Blessings,” was sung, and we could distinctly hear three languages being used, French, Flemish, and Eng lish. They blended like parts in music.” 4. In France. Pastor Jacques Kaltenbach of the French Reformed Church of Saint Quen tin (deserted and plundered by March 11, 1940), writes: “ On that day we were only fifty in the Assembly Hall to re mind ourselves together of the un bounded value of the treasures that no thief can steal and1no bombardment can destroy. . . . On March 15, the last service was held, with only six present to take part. With all our ’sorrows we were, calm and confident.” 5. In Sweden. A Swedish Christian writes (Dec. 14, 1940), “I am just writing a little pam phlet which I will put into print and send out soon, appealing to the hearts of my people and asking them to pray to God that He may make the souls in Europe more precious to the people of Sweden.” For the Leader “The most precious thing on earth has come to be the break of day,” is a sentence repeatedly emphasized by war correspondents. In the light of this, may we study the following Scriptures: Deuteronomy 28:67; Psalm 130:6; Rev* elation 22:20, 21.
The W r ite rs
July 6—NADINE K. WARNER
Hiss Warner Is Professor of Christian Education at the Bible Insti tute of Los Angeles.
July 13—MRS. HARRY J. HILL
Mrs. Hill (Mary Ross, Biola ’14) is in America at present only be cause conditions in the Orient necessitated her return. She and her husband, who is still in Korea, haVe given many years of service under the P r e s b y t e r i a n Board of Foreign Missions and are acutely aware of what is happening to the church in the Orient. Known to KING’S BUSINESS readers for his comments on national and world affairs published monthly in this •magazine, Dr. Gilbert has had wide contact with youth groups through his speaking en gagements in many parts of America. He is General Secretary of the World’s Christian Fundamentals Association. Pastor of the Calvary Church of Santa Ana, Calif., Mr. Wendt (Biola ’34) ministers also to interdenominational young people’s groups at various rallies and camps.
July 20—DAN GILBERT
July 27'—LYMAN A. WENDT
JULY 6, 1941 W H A T IS HAPPENING TO THE CHURCH IN EUROPE?
cult to gather any definite news from Europe concerning the life and work of the Christian churches. But in spite of the destructive work, we see much that is of a constructive nature. Recently, in a message to the students of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles,. John G. Winston of the Belgian Gospel Mission related an incident which seems strangely symbolic: When the water supply of the city of Brussels became contaminated a few months ago, all unexpectedly a deep well of pure water was discovered on the premises of the Belgian Gospel Mission. The people of Brussels then flocked to the Mission to quench their thirst at the life-giving stream. So is it, that, through war con ditions, many hearts are coming to drink deep at the Wells of Salvation. 1. In Germany. The Bible outsold Mein Kampf in Germany last year. A Christian worker recently returned from Vienna, Aus tria, relates how,'when a German Bible Society was forced to close, a Swiss woman bought out the entire stock, and is now mailing the Bibles back into Germany in small packages of one or two books each as the requests come.. It is a well-known fact that German Christians are praying daily for their fellow Christians in England, and else where. 2. In England. . A dispatch from England quoted by Revelation (March, 1941) relates: “ One
L a m e n t a t io n s 1:1-5; 2 C o r in t h ia n s 4 :1 7 B y Nadine K . Warner Introduction
May we clarify the word “church” according to definitions? In this article, It is used in the sense of a living organism, not merely an organization; it is applied to the body of believers in Jesus Christ rather than the buildings of meeting. I. WAR SUFFERING. 1. Its Meaning. Suffering from war is permitted by the Lord and is to be expected increasingly in .the last days (Matt. 24:6, 7). A ir suffering is the re sult of the presence of sin in the uni verse (Gen. 3; Matt. 15:19, 20). 2. Its Results. War suffering, in common with other kinds of suffering, has the following effect upon the true church: It purifies believers (1 Pet. 1:7; 2 Cor. 4:17, i8; Heb. 5:8; 12:11); unifies believers (2 Cor. 1:3-5; 2 Thess. 1:4); testifies to unbelievers (Acts 9:15, 16; 2 Cor. 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:12), and glorifies the Lord (1 Pet. 4:12, 13, 16; 2 Thess. 1:12; cf. vs. 5, 6). II. THE CHURCH IN EUROPE TO DAY. The smoke of war makes it very diffi- For Those Who Have Topics
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