King's Business - 1914-01

Testimony to God’s Direct Leading By a Student

A few years ago, after my conversion and in the joy of newness of life in Christ, the heathen and the world without Christ were laid upon my heart. Coming to a strange country and hardly able to speak the lan­ guage, in financial difficulties and obliga­ tions to my parents, no way seemed open for the study of the Word and opportuni­ ties to serve the Lord and reach the heathen. No gifts o f any kind, natural or otherwise were at my disposal. What could be done? My salary at first was $4.40 a week, then $7, and later $10. The hours at the store were long. For many months of the year work kept me out as late as 9 and 10 o ’clock every night. In the little church a missionary interest was kept up by a number of the members and the rejoicing was mine to help with a little contribution to spread the Gospel abroad. Sickness came and often the cherished hope to be on the field seemed almost gone. What was to be done in the face of facts that loomed up before m e: God asking me, “What about the millions of heathen, can you do nothing?” The vision of Living­ stone, a thousand villages where Christ was never preached woke in me the desire to have a part in sending of good news. There was a fear in me to go before the bar of God, empty-handed, to hang my head in shame. No excuse could be found and none was sought. “Here am I, send me,” was my poor but heartfelt offering, and soon much opportunity was found in the time lest to me at home to win men to Christ. At last God showed me an opportunity, never thought of before. Someone was supporting a native Bible woman in China at a cost o f $50 a year. My mouth wat­ ered as it came to me, “ Someone taking the Gospel in her own tongue to her own peo­ ple 365 days of the year.” No, one could do better than that. Great was my long­ ing to have someone there myself. With my little money 50' cents a week would do it, was my discovery, arid if that taxes me

too much at any time, someone will give me 50 cents for washing their windows and maybe another Bible woman can be sup­ ported in some other land to glorify Him. Oh, the joy that was mine! Shortly after that my salary was raised to $15 a week and that found me supporting an orphan girl training for the Lord’s service in India and a Bible woman preaching the gospel every day in China. Shortly after that the Lord opened the way to study the Word free of charge at the Bible Institute o f Los Angeles and pre­ pare for Christian work. The Lord laid it upon other hearts to take upon themselves to keep up that work in China and India in the time o f my studies. Speaking at one time of Christian work with a fellow stu­ dent, hindered through sickness’ from goirig to the field, over our supper table in a cafeteria, the Lord led me to say a word about native workers. He said: “What do you mean by that?” So, although unin­ tentionally, the great opportunity was talked over. Some days later he said to me “By the way, the Lord showed m* how to support two native workers under my denomiriation. I sent $50 away yester­ day;” and, he added, “ You know Mr. H— ? He was just rejoicing and also keeps one native worker under his board.” Soon after that, meeting Mr. H—, he said, ‘‘Mr. K— told me of what' he is doing, and I told the Lord I could save 50 cents on my meals here in two or three days.” So the Lord led, and without my saying he laid it upon those hearts. God honored the little faith. And the inability, as it seemed, to do anything urider the trying circumstances o f a poor boy'in a strange land. He has given untold blessing and new courage, time and again. Today it is not know how many have beeri won for Him in the countries beyond the sea, and “ the day” only will reveal how God worked by multiplying the five loaves and two fishes; but surely His Word “ will not return unto Him void.”

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