y
460
T h e
K i n g ' s
B u s i n e s s
October 1930
Jewish Department of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles J. A. V aus , D irector
3pjT will occasion considerable surprise and (judging (tfly from the many congratulatory letters we have re- ceived) considerable pleasure as well, to the many **|jr friends of Rev. and Mrs. James A. Vaus, to learn that they are again with the Bible Institute, where as formerly, they will superintend the activities of the Jewish Department. For the past five years Mr. and Mrs. Vaus, with other helpers, have successfully conducted a missionary work among the Jews of Los Angeles, under the name o f “ The Los Angeles Hebrew M i s s i o n.” After months of prayerful consideration and at the request of Dr. W . P. White, Presi dent "of the Institute, and the earnest soli citation o f Hebrew and Gentile Christian f r i e n d s , Mr. and Mrs. Vaus decided that thfe larger inter ests, fof: the g r e a t c a u s e of Israel’s evangeliza tion , to which t h e i r lives have been dedicated, could best be served by responding to that which they believed to be a call of the Lord to merge the interests o f the Los A n g e l e s Hebrew Mission, with those of the Jewish Department of the Bible Institute. J ewish M issions C ourse Under the direction o f Mr. Vaus, and beginning with the opening of the 1930 fall term, a new department of study, in the form of a Jewish Missions Course, is to be added to the Institute curriculum. This course is designed especially for the training of Jewish and Gentile Christian workers for effective Jewish missionary service.. In addition to the Institute’s General Two-Year Train ing Course, the Jewish Missions Course includes special studies in the following subjects: Hebrew, Yiddish, Mes sianic Prophecy, Jewish History, Rabbinical Theology, Jewish Customs and Ceremonies, Israel’s Place in the Divine Program, Jewish Objections and Difficulties and Jewish Missionary Methods. Students taking the Four Year Bible Collegiate Course will have opportunity for advanced studies in Hebrew. Already considerable interest is being manifested in the Jewish Missions Course and a number of students, both Jewish and Gentile, have signified their intention to enroll.
Friends of Israel will render valuable service to the Lord’s cause among the Hebrews by sending in names and ad dresses of prospective students for this course. The present is, in some respects, one o f the most crit ical periods in Israel’s history. Thousands o f Jews are abandoning the synagogues, forsaking “ the faith of their fathers,” and casting about for a substitute for Judaism. Consequently an unexampled opportunity is afforded us o f proclaiming the Gospel to Jews with a larger assurance of
success than ever be fore. Our failure to reach them with the Gospel leaves them only the tragic alter native of shipwreck upon the rocks of the various cults of the day. A H ebrew -C hris - tian R ally The accompanying photograph presents but a partial and in complete view of a large and u n i q u e gathering of Jewish and Gentile friends at a Hebrew-Chris- tian Rally, conducted by Mr. Vaus, under the auspices of the Jewish Department of the Bible Institute. This most interest ing, enthusiastic, and enjoyable meeting o f
approximately 250 Jews and Gentiles presents a striking illustration. It gives abundant testimony to the changing conditions among the Jews and the fact that “ the breath of the Almighty” is now being poured out upon the “ dry bones” of the house of Israel. Such a meeting, with ap proximately forty Christian Jews, and a like number of unconverted Jews present, would have been practically impossible some years ago; first, because the Jewish con verts were then few in number; and second, because Jew ish prejudice at that time would have effectually prevented any considerable number of unconverted Jews from at tending a religious service in a Christian institution. Preceding the fellowship meeting, a group of Jewish converts presented themselves for the Christian rite o f baptism. This ceremony was witnessed by a large number of Jewish people. It requires a great deal of moral cour age for the Jewish convert to present himself for Christian baptism, because persecution by his fellow-Jews who are not of the household of faith, becomes greatly intensified after taking this decisive 'step. Dr. White, in a message of greeting, emphasized the peculiar place which Israel occupies in Biblical history.
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker