H OW CHR IST IAN ITY WORKS — 3 A
School Teacher By Tena Thomas trees and big weeping willows. I remember the close friendship of my father and we were perfect pals. And he and God were perfect friends. We built fences together, planted crops, gathered wood and studied together. He was the greatest per son in the world. I always wanted to be like him. I remember some of the hymns we loved to sing: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, 1 am Bound for the Promised Land, Blessed Assur ance, Jesus is Mine. Well, it seems like yesterday that we were to gether on that blessed farm. The little one-room school. My horse Shine. The little country church and Uncle Charley our pastor. How we children would imitate Uncle Charley. His favorite phrase was “ Go preach my gospel, saith the Lord.” It was a beautiful, secure child hood. Not in wealth materially, but in the things that really make a home secure. I know now what held that home together. I know now why the still ness of those woods meant so much, why the music of those creeks and branches meant so much. I know now who was in the center—God. When I was 14 my father de cided our little country school had given me all it had to offer. So we got on a smoky little train and went to Baton Rouge. He introduced me to my new teacher and told her some things about me. And then I was alone in a strange city. It was there in Baton Rouge that I came face to face with Jesus Christ. I had always known about Him but had never trusted Him myself. I shall never forget that Friday night in the New Guide Baptist Church. It was a revival meeting and for the first time the things I had known about so long became real. I remember my say ing, “ Oh, Jesus, Oh, Jesus. Oh, Jesus.” I was almost 16 that night that I came to Him and promised to follow Him. That was the be
I am a school teacher in Los An geles. And I’m a Negro. Some folks wonder if it’s easy for a Negro to live a happy, meaningful life in America. I can’t speak for all Ne groes but I can for myself. But first I want to tell you about my background — how I arrived at where I am today. I was raised in Louisiana and my childhood was a happy one. Ever since I can remember I can recall the term God. My father and mother walked and talked with God as surely as I walked and talked with them. I can remember the family altar, the family Bible and the family prayer. I can remember my fath er’s Sunday m orn ing “ before breakfast” prayer meeting. And how we as children would wish for the end because we knew hot bis cuits and butter were waiting in the country kitchen. I can see very vividly this little house located back in the woods among many kinds of trees—tall pines, big oaks, gum trees, (we would chew the gum), china ball
ginning of a great and mighty ad venture. After finishing college I was giv en what most folks considered a very difficult job. I was made su pervisor over 44 schools and 98 teachers in a Klu Klux Klan area. Up to that time no supervisor had stayed on this job for more than a year or two. This is where the Lord stepped in and took over. The job was about impossible. But you know, I worked with the Minister ial Alliance and prayed to God for guidance. I experienced the prom ise “ Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all things will be added.” I held this job for seven years. I found out later that one of the KKK leaders who had always given trouble told a friend why she hadn’t worked against me. “ She opened her meet ing with prayer and I don’t bother praying people.” For several years now I have been teaching in Southern Califor nia where I am a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Hol lywood. And life today is full of real, deep-down meaning. And I know that anyone who wants to can experience this same meaning ful life if they will but trust in Jesus Christ. “Dear Father, I thank you for all the people, the situations, the circumstances that helped me to know You. I thank You for Jesus Christ, Your Son, my Brother, who died on the cross to save me from my sins. I thank you that I was listening when His voice spoke to me. I thank You for the power of Your Holy Spirit that worketh within me now to guide, direct and in struct. Father, I pray that all who read this message will experience Thy love and power that You are long ing to give to them. Bless their lives and may they too know that to know Jesus Christ is to know real life. Lead them to this fountain of Life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.” THE K IN G 'S BUSINESS
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