wore off, he remembered the kind treatment he had received at the Mis sion, and contrite, he went back, where he was given another chance. His tools were restored; he went out on another job. But once more he failed. At this point many Christian workers would have given up, and considered time spent on this wretch wasted. But the Los Angeles Mission believes that while there is life there is hope that a man may be really saved. Sure enough, the third time he seemed to really mean business with God. He turned the control of his life over to the Lord, and was “ trans formed by power divine.” He began to give a ringing testimony. Other lives were affected by his example. His mother, in a distant state, hear ing of this change for which she had prayed for years, sent for him. Soon there came a happy letter to the Mission, stating that he was going on with the Lord, that he had married a Christian girl, and soon would be in business for himself. What if the Mission worker had given up after the first or second time he fell? A soul, and a life, would have been lost forever. Strange as it may seem, some men have never heard the true gospel of a Saviour crucified, buried, and risen again for their salvation until they reach the Mission. What churchgoing they may have done was only sketchy; often the only messages they had heard were anemic sermons by mod ernistic preachers. One such man had held a lucrative position, with a bet- ter-than-average salary. Success led him into “high society,” and there he acquired a taste for champagne. Soon he was a hopeless alcoholic. He lost his fine job; his wife left him. He joined the pathetic parade on Skid- row, and finally drifted into the Los Angeles Mission. Mr. Gilpin told him the way of salvation, and later in the service, he made public confession of Christ. At once he made a right-about- face in his life, and became a bright and shining Christian. Within a few months he secured a position which paid $400.00 per month. Now reunited with his wife, he is a “pillar” in an' evangelistic church, and a credit to the Lord and to the Mission. Hundreds of examples could be cited of men delivered from narcotics, men who have attempted suicide and were restored to hope and happiness, men who were cleansed from the vilest sins of the flesh, and received again into the bosoms of their families. Tt (Continued on Page SU)
their steps lead to the Los Angeles Mission, which has never turned a deaf ear or an unsympathetic heart to any man in need, however far he may have fallen. Occasionally men reach the Mission who are not degraded, but who are simply in need of a “hand-out.” An almost unbelievable number of stran gers are robbed and left stranded in this place. Others promised prosperity in “ The City of the Angels” spend their last cent getting here only to find it a mirage. The war too has con tributed hundreds of ex-G. I.’s to the Mission “ family.” Many of these young fellows returned from the con flict, overjoyed at the prospect of restoration to their families and jobs only to discover that their ranks had been filled and no place left for them in civilian life. Disillusioned and despairing in not finding any tangible appreciation of their unselfish service for their country, they soon joined the wanderers on that “ Avenue of Forgotten Men”—Skidrow. Of course, there is always great re joicing on the part of the Mission staff when a man comes forward in one of the gospel services and makes a profession of faith in Christ, or, when being dealt with in a personal way, he declares that he will receive Jesus Christ as his Saviour. But long years of experience in this most difficult kind of Christian work has caused the Mission worker not to be too elated over his convert until he sees by his daily life that the man has really turned from sin to God, and is genuinely born again. There is much backsliding in this type of work and the Mission worker would become cynical and depressed were it not for some heartening cases of lives truly transformed after a number of “ tries.” There was, for instance, a poor “wino” (wine drunkard) who stumbled in, begging for help. Once a successful plumber, he had become so enslaved to drink that he had pawned the tools of his trade to continue his debauch. With his money and job gone, he finally came to himself, and, penitent, wanted to make a new start in life. Mr. Gilpin pointed him to the Lord Jesus Christ and the man claimed to accept Him as his personal Saviour. For a time he was placed on the building maintenance staff where he proved invaluable; then a job was se cured for hint, the Mission redeemed his plumbing equipment, and he went on his way rejoicing. But as soon as he had money in his possession again, temptation overtook him. Again his tools were pawned; again he debased, himself. Wheri the effects of liquor J-U L Y , 1 9 5 0
Pictures from top to bottom:
1. Mr. Eldridge and Mr. Gilpin at entrance of Mission. • 2. Men receiving food at window.
3. Noon-hour Gospel service in chapel.
4. Modern dining room.
Page Eleven
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