July 1929
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not take time in fhis article to describe this trip, but will leave it for a later article. Suffice to say that the entire interior of Borneo up this river is without one witness of the Gospel. We passed a score of towns on the way, inhabited by Malays, Arabs, Indians, Chinese and Dyaks. In each town there was a Mohammedan mosque, but no Gospel hall. The Dyaks, the aboriginal-tribesmen of the interior of Borneo, have been crowded from the coast and even from the banks of the river and have made their dwelling away in the interior, in the mountains and jungles of Central Borneo. Thither must the missionary o f the cross go after him with the message o f salvation. The trip required one week and on returning to Sama- rinda it was a joy to find that the last of the work on the repairs of the Chapel were about complete. On Sunday, the 24th of February, a solemn but joyful service was held in our new Chapel to dedicate it to the Lord for His service. Mr. C. Y. Lam, his wife and mother, Mr. K. L. L in , and two Christians, one from Fukien and one from Canton Province, and the writer were present. Shortly after the meeting, the writer boarded his ship for Balik- papan, a twelve-hour sail down the east coast of Borneo. Mr. Leland Wang, one of China’s most consecrated Gospel preachers and an evangelist who has had a min istry in the salvation of souls all over China, in response to a clear call had left China early in December for the South Seas. After three months’ service for the Lord in the cities of Cochin-China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Java, and Celebes, speaking in no less than twenty-six centers, Brother Wang arrived in Balik-papan, Borneo, on Feb ruary 28. In the will of the Lord it was arranged that we travel on the same steamer back to Hongkong. , C h in e s e C h r is t ia n s i n B a l ik - P a p a n But a few words should be added about Balik-papan. A year ago the writer visited this place, the Oil City of the Far East. During three days’ sojourn at Balik-papan, two more Chinese Christians were found and the time was well spent in fellowship with them. We tried to arrange a public meeting for the Chinese, but the time was too short. We were able, however, on Mr. Wang’s arrival to gather these few Christians together and had a photograph taken of the group. We then had a splendid meeting and exhorted them from the Word of God. Mr. Leland Wang is from Fukien and these Chinese Chris tians are from Canton, therefore he could not speak to them in their own language. He, however, spoke in Eng lish and the writer interpreted into Cantonese. It was rather amusing'for a foreigner to be interpreting from the English language into Chinese for a Chinese evan gelist, but the message must be told and this was the only way. We urged the four Christians of Balik-papan to rent a place where regular meetings could be held and we trust that our newly arrived Chinese brethren in Sama- rinda will be able to minister to them and that ere long a Gospel hall will be opened in Balik-papan also. There are 3,000 Chinese in this city. P r a y F or T h e N e w M is s io n a r ie s Our two Chinese missionaries are commencing at once in a thorough course of study in the Malay language. This is to be their chief work for the first year at least. In the meantime they will, of course, when formal permis sion from the Dutch Colonial Government is obtained, commence to preach in their own Cantonese tongue, to the Chinese. A much greater field of usefulness, however, will open to them as soon as they are able to preach in the Malay language. These cities are the “melting pot” of
the Far East; but all varieties from India, from China, and the Islands of the South Seas converse together in the common Malay tongue; even Chinese from different parts of their own country find it convenient to speak to one another in Malay. Please pray for 'these two young men that God may help them and that they may become real Malay scholars and able ministers of the Gospel in this language. The meanings of the names of these young men seem very significant. At the farewell meeting in Hongkong, reference was made to this. Mr. Lam’s name, Ching-ye, means “to witness for Jesus.” Mr. Lin’s name, Kwong- lam, means “the coming of light.” And so it is ; they have gone where Christ is not named, where total darkness prevails, to witness for Him and to bring the Light which alone can scatter the darkness, to those “other cities A word of testimony as to how these two young men were called to Borneo will interest the reader. One morn ing in November last, the writer was heavily burdened for Borneo and cried to the Lord of the harvest for work ers. Suddenly, as from above, it came to him, if foreign missionaries are not yet available why not send Chinese missionaries to these "other cities”? At once these two young men came vividly to mind. But at the time neither of them was free. One was employed as a preacher in a Chinese church in Hongkong and the other was following a rather ambitious education course. We could do but one thing—commit them to the Lord of the harvest. At once God began to work in the hearts and lives of these men and it was not long before they were set free, not by human manipulation, but by the hand of God. They both experienced definite dealings from God, and made full surrender of themselves to Christ in laying down all per sonal ambitions in view of His call to service in Borneo. They both can tell of the way in which the Lord broke down the barriers which hindered them, and how He led them forth in His will, giving them at each step a remark ably appropriate scripture upon which , they could base their faith. The story is well worth repeating. Possibly we may be able, at another time, to translate these into English. Thus in the purpose of God, He has brought to ful fillment the burden and vision of a year ago with regard to these four “other cities” of the South Seas by placing His workers in Surabaya, Makassar, Samarinda, and Balik-papan. The cry of the need of these cities, like the cry of the Man of Macedonia of old, has been heard, and His faithful servants have responded. Who would forbid the Sons of Sinim becoming missionaries of God to other nations? The Lord complained through Amos that He had raised up of Israel’s sons for prophets and of her young men for Nazarites, but He says, “Ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink, and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not” (Amos 2:11, 12). Let us rather help these brethren by our prayers. They surely need the full support of God’s faithful children everywhere. The “wild man” of the interior of Borneo and the Celebes still calls, “Come over; come away inland and help us.” Many of the Islands of the South Seas are still waiting for the Light of the Gospel. Their cry also comes to you today, “Come over, come over and help us.” Will you surrender your all to Him, and if He says, “Go,” go ? And if He says, “Give,” give? And if He says, “Send,” send? “Pray ye the Lord of the harvest that He will thrust forth laborers into His harvest.” Remember what Jesus said, “I must preach the Gos pel in OTHER C IT IES ALSO , for therefore am I sent.”
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