April, 1944
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PRIVATE BEN [Continued from Page 127]
Christian experience that even the nurses could scarcely believe he was the same person they had known be fore. Stuart’s life, touched by illiterate Ben, reached out to others. Showing the Way of Victory About that time, Louis arrived on Ward 4^. At first, he caught the spirit of the ward, and he stated his ac ceptance of Christ. But Louis was not changed. His human nature remained as bad as it had been before. He stayed away from the little group of Christian soldiers on the ward, and, by preference, associated with those who wanted to play poker. He also cursed unmercifully on occasion. One day he ripped out a few curse words in the presence of Stuart—and, mind you—it was Stuart who formerly had been the foul-mouthed scapegrace. Stuart exclaimed: “ Please don’t use the Lord’s name like that where I can hear you, Louis! I love my Lord, and I just can’t stand it to hear His wonderful name used like that.” The rebuke got under Louis’ skin. He thought and worried about his awful way of living for a few hours, and then he came to me. He told his whole condemnable story. I learned that two years before this time, he had been involved in a rob bery. He was placed on probation, and was still on probation when he was inducted into the Army. In his community, he had been shunned by a l l . the “ best” pebple. He was told that no decent mother would let her young people associate with him. A ll that time, he was longing to reform. He even began to go to Sunday- school, but every one there treated him as though he were poison, so he soon quit and gravitated to doubt ful company who did not look down on him. On the ward, he had felt the same way—that he was not wanted in re spectable society. But he was long ing for help. That was why he had accepted Christ, even though he had not allowed himself to be converted, or .turned about in his thinking and manner of life. I _knew he had been sincere in his desire to receive Christ as Saviour, so I asked him: “Louis, do you know what has become of that crime that you once committed?” “No, Sir.” He supposed it would remain always in his past. "Let’s look, the!i, at 2 Corinthians 5:21 and see what God says about your crime and what has been done for you that you could not do for yourself.” I read the familiar verse in this fashion: “ God hath made Jesus to be
Biola in China
Letters from China are indeed pre cious. Two fine reports have just come to hand, covering Biola-in-China ac tivities in 1943. As is well-known, these activities cluster about the Hu nan Bible Institute, at Changsha, Hu nan, China, the China department of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Biola Evangelistic Bands have con ducted missions in eleven towns, have visited 18,271 homes, and have w it crime for us, when he knew no crime, that we might be made the righteous ness of God in him.” He had not only taken Louis’ pun ishment upon Himself, but He also had promised him some of His own goodness—the goodness which Louis had yearned so long to have. He pondered these wonderful facts a fq*v moments. Then his chin began to quiver, and he burst into tears and sobbed lieavily for some ten minutes. When he looked up, his face was wreathed with smiles. From that time onward, his human nature was totally and wonderfully changed. He had seen how great was Christ’s finished work on his behalf, and he entered into the realization and en-> joyment of it. Without waiting even to -wipe the tears from his face, he rushed out of the office to tell how wonderfully Jesus had cured his crime. The very first soldier he met exclaimed, “Why, Louis, why didn’t you tell me about your robbery before? I could have helped you. I had a record like that before I was saved on Ward 47.” ' Louis promptly became the most active Christian on the whole ward. He forsook his old gang and began to work with the group studying their Testaments. He also began leading others to Christ. One day another boy hit Louis in the face with a paper wad. Without thinking, a curse word came out, all unbidden. Louis was at once very much ashamed and discomfitted. A f ter thinking a moment about what he ought to, do about it, he rushed to his bed and fell on his knees. “O Lord,” he implored, “I just didn’t want to say that word! It slipped out, and I’m sorry, and I
nessed approximately 50,000 people listening to the gospel. Hundreds have accepted Christ. The I n s t i t u t e ’ s Correspondence Course Department reports that nearly one hundred hew members have been enrolled: And all this is taking place in China’s “Rice Bowl,” where bitter fighting recently has taken place. Praise God for His grace! i really don’t want to be like that any more.” "'Forgiveness came at once, and the radiance came back into his face. Later that same day, I overheard Louis witnessing for Christ to another soldier. The soldier’s question; was: “But suppose I don’t live up to it? Suppose I slip?" “You will anyway; you’ll do it when you least expect to. I did— even this morning.” And then he told the other soldier how he had acted, how terrible it had made him feel, and also how he found grace and vic tory through 1 John 1:9. The next day Louis was transfer red to another ward. He continued to testify, and he even gathered the soldiers of that ward together each evening to study their Testaments, just as they were doing on Ward 47. And now it should be easy to judge whether Chaplain King is accomplish ing anything worthwhile when he leads soldiers to receive Jesus Christ as Saviour, and whether the Lord is able to use a "no account” illiterate soldier to do a great work for Him. WORD TO THE WISE Effective April 1, 1944, the price of THE KING'S BUSINESS will be $1.50 for 1 year; $2.00 for 2 years. Send in your order today, while the old rates are still in force: Each Canadian or foreign sub scription requires 25 cents extra. THE KING’S BUSINESS 558 South Hope Street 558 So. Hope St. Los Angeles 13 $1.00 for 1 year $1.50 for 2 years
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