night Dr. Graham seemed to be talk ing to me alone. He preached on suicide. He said you can kill the body but you can’t kill the soul. That made me realize I couldn’t run away from my problems . . . that I had to face them and I couldn’t do it alone. I knew I needed the Lord to help me. I started to pray in my heart that the Lord would come into my heart. Then Dr. Graham gave the invitation to make a decision for Christ. I was frightfully afraid of disturbing my friends so I didn’t walk forward. During these moments of conflict within my own soul Dr. Graham said very quietly, “ For the first time since I’ve been in London I feel there is someone out there who wants to come but just doesn’t have the cour age.” Already some 250 to 300 had gone up. Then I stood and walked forward. I knew I wanted Christ more than anything in the world. In the counselling room I stood at the back. I didn’t want to be noticed but I had on a bright red coat and I’m afraid it was rather difficult to be unnoticed. The woman who sought me out and counselled with me was Mrs. Billy Graham. Later she wrote me and we had lunch together. She taught me to pray and encouraged me to read my Bible. “ Souls in Conflict” was ready to be filmed at the same time I found Christ. Of course I knew nothing about the film. I believe all the parts had been filled except the part of Ann Woodbridge. The film was being pro duced by Great Commission Films of Hollywood in cooperation with Anglo- Scottish Pictures. Dick Ross of Great Commission called me and I read the part. I was amazed to find the part so nearly paralleled that of my own life story. I was given the part and working on the picture helped me so very much. Colleen Evans was such a dear friend. She gave me a verse that I shall never forget. It is Matthew 6:33: “ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Since finding Christ I’ve been given many opportunities to speak for Him. The very first time I spoke was in an Anglican church and 30 came for ward. The Vicar had never given an invitation before. And the Lord has let me deal with three people who were on the verge of suicide. Perhaps this in some small way is the working out in my own life of Matthew 6:33.
E arly last winter I had reached the place where life for me was as drab as our soot-covered build ings and as empty as cold, shapeless masses of our London fog. I’d wake up in the morning and think, “ how can I get through this day?” I got to the pitch where I wanted to kill myself. And yet I was exactly where I had always dreamed of being. Since I was a little girl I had wanted to be an actress. Now I was an actresss. And I was infinitely unhappy. My mother—she was from Scot land—died when I was quite young. At school I recall one dear head mistress who taught us the Scriptures but my all-consuming interest was acting. When I finished school I be came a secretary. I’m afraid I wasn’t a very good one. I was always dream ing about the stage. In four years I had ten jobs. During this time I gradually stopped going to church. Then my big opportunity came— I was given a role in the stage play, “ But For the Grace of God.” It was a small part but it was a part. Later I got a bigger part in “ The Chiltern Hundreds.” I was with this play for two years. I was no longer an unknown. I made friends and there were parties and there was
laughter but I’d go home after the parties and I’d be so lonely. In my loneliness I’d pray but I didn’t look upon the Lord as someone who would be interested in my problems. I thought of Him as being the Creator of the universe . . . but never as a Father concerned with His child. After the end of the play I made some films and did some TV shows. Billy Graham was in London now but I never thought of attending the meetings at H a r rin g a y . I often thought of going to church but each week when Sunday came I would find an excuse and wouldn’t go. One night some friends whom I hadn’t seen for six years rang me up and asked if I’d like to go hear Billy Graham. I couldn’t imagine it being a very jolly evening but I agreed to go. We sat far in the back. Somehow I was conscious of the Spir it of God the moment I walked into the arena. Dale Evans was there that night and gave her testimony. It meant so much to me to hear another actress tell how Christ had trans formed her life. Then Dr. Graham started to preach. It was in such a simple way and I realized for the first time that Christ could be a personal Saviour. That
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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