December 1929
583
T h e
K i n g ’ s
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R A D I O K T B I T he B ible I nstitute of L os A ngeles ,C alif .
Radio Survey Shows People Want Sound Doctrine O NE of the uses to which the Pocket Testament League of Columbus, Ohio, puts its half hour daily over radio station WAIU, is to find out the desires of the hearts of laymen throughout the country. At various times during the year, the laity is asked to vote on ques tions vital to Christianity. One of these was the question as to zvhat type of song is most beloved by the listening radio public, and the result showed that “The Old Rug ged Cross” is the most requested in radio programs of all songs, sacred or secular. During the past few months, from WAIU, the Pocket Testament League conducted a contest survey, the ques tion being, “What Kind of Messages Do You Want From Your Pastor?” Entries were limited to the laymen, men and women. Hundreds of letters from all parts of the country were received. All of these letters were carefully analyzed, and the various desires of the writers were care fully tabulated. The following is a result of this tabula tion of all of the letters: Thjrty per cent desired sermons on “The Second Com ing of Christ” ; 18 per cent asked for more and more ser mons on “Stewardship” ; 18 per cent wanted sermons on “The Family Altar” ; 7 8 per cent desired more Bible teaching and less random preaching; 81 per cent asked for more emphasis on Regeneration; 71 per cent said they felt there should be more emphasis placed on lay personal evangelism; 92 per cent pleaded for plain preaching on the fact that Jesus saves from the punishment of hell; 85 per cent felt the need for more preaching regarding the Holy Spirit as the vital Third Person of the Trinity; 60 per cent felt that the pastor should emphasize that the Bible is inspired of God; and 91 per cent cry, “God give us fearless preachers.” Thus have the laymen spoken. Not all of the entries came from Christians. Some came from people who said they do not go to church because so much of the modern church sermon is a'newspaper review of the past week or month. Some came from girls in their teens, girls who were very outspoken in their pleas for real Bible teaching and preaching. Some came from business men, among them being bankers, manufacturers, doctors, law yers, and salesmen. Some came from mothers of Israel. A few came from children, and especially here was it em phasized that the one thing that satisfies the boy and girl is just the wonderfully interesting Bible. The letters seemed to be about equally divided between country farm and city street. All of them bore out the tremen dous tru th : “And I, i f I be lifted up from the earth [crucified], will draw all men unto me.” Brethren in the ministry, let us face these revelations from a spiritually hungry multitude, representing our flocks, and let us ask ourselves the question, “Are we really feeding the lambs and the sheep in the manner
Christ expects of us ?” God help us to be faithful to His Word. —Don R. Falkenberg, Chaplain Radio Station WA IU , in the “Presbyterian Here is a concrete case verifying and illustrating the preceding article. We learn that on May 29, at the morn ing hour, a vote was taken in the Veteran’s Hospital- Soldier’s Home, Sawtelle, California, and the Tuberculo sis Hospital, San Fernando Valley, as to what station the Radio manager should tune in on. Ninety-five per cent voted for KTBI and it was reported that nine hundred eleven of the inmates were listening in to the definite ex position of Scripture of that period. Just ponder on this unusual ministry going on from day to day, flung out on the air—so to speak—over mountains and valleys and ocean stretches. Surely this offers a good investment of prayer and money from the Lord’s believing people. A New Feature O NE of the new radio features, introduced this month, is intended to convey to our radio listeners the inner life and activity of the Institute. At the opening session, Mr. Hale, Superintendent of Men, gave some interesting facts and figures relative to the work of our men students. A number of three-minute talks followed, showing the spiritual activities of our student body in the workshops, and on the various ships that come into Los Angeles Harbor. A five-minute talk from a student, explaining the reason why he came to the Bible Institute of Los Angeles instead of going to the University, was full of interesting details and helped in a marked way to make the hour true to its purpose, which is to make known the soul of the Institute in its impulses, motives and objectives. The talks were interspersed with musical numbers by the Institute Male Quartet. Be sure to tune in every Monday morning, 9 :45 to 10:30. I IP Watch Night Services F OLLOWING their usual custom, the Great Commis sion Prayer League have sent out an appeal for Watch Night Services which shall be truly times of prayer. All who thoughtfully view present-day conditions in our land and in the world at large must recognize that very grave perils are threatening. Money-mad and plea- sure-loving people are forgetting their obligations to God; the sanctity of the home seems less and less to be considered; Christian institutions, which have been built up by prayer and sacrificial gifts of earnest believers, are being turned over to the use of the enemies of Christ. The nation is threatened—not by external foes, but by more insidious enemies within its borders. There is unrest among many nations, which threatens to hinder the spread of the Gospel. In view of all this and much more that might be contemplated, those who know the power of the living Christ will do well to gather together in the closing hours of the year to plead for help from above.
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