July, 1941
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
257
band’s and her own decision to enter, in a new way, the walk of faith as it related to the giving of the gospel in their unchurched community. February 5 a p o k e of plans being drawn up for the church building. February 8 mentioned their possession of the deed to the property. But there was another' entry under February 8. A gift of five hundred dol lars had come from a high official in the near-by airplane factory, from .one who saw a spiritual need in his com munity and wanted to have a part in meeting that need. A lot and five hundrèd dollars—-that was a start. The eager pastor began to visit lumber companies. But they were unresponsive; too little security was of fered to satisfy them. To them, thè visible assets were only a lot and five hundred dollars. To t h e ______ _
homes, largely owned by young house* holders Vfho were busy at work designed to build the nation’s defenses. A major ity of these people werd quite ignorant of their own need for those spiritual defenses without which their souls were bared to, eternal danger. Here were 2,500 homes filled with precious souls, and not a church of any kind among them! Day by day, Mr. Wall and his wife prayed about this neglected mis sion field located within a few minutes’ drive of their own home. 'Phere was no established church that was ready to take a forward step into this commun ity, and there was no constituency from which to draw the membership or finan cial support for a new church. But there were lost souls there over whom the Sav iour yearned. Should these be neglected ? Although they were busy in other work, "early that _________
Months passed. The Walls returned to California. Would the lot still be vacant ? If it would be, they would regard the fact as God’s approval and His provi sion for a forward move. The lot was vacant! During their .absence, the owner had almost closed at least six different deals for the sale of the property, but always there had been some uncertainty before the deed actually was Signed. Mean while, God had provided the pastor and > his wife personally with an amount suf ficient to meet the modest price of the lot. They were willing to give their all and to trust God for the completion of what He had begun. Mrs. Wall’s diary began to have some significant entries: January 16, 1940, recorded her hus“Security” for Defense Workmen*
servant of the Lord, they were a lot and five hun dred dollars, and God. He dared not retreat; he could not see the way clear to go forward. He s p e n t a week in prayer, and after ward w e n t again to the lumber company. This time —and who can be unaware of the cause of the changed attitude? — the company was ready to cooperate, and the lumber w a s delivered i m m e d i a t e l y . Unques tionably, God was moving upon the hearts of both be lievers and unbelievers, for His own name’s sake. Workmen Heady To obtain workmen was the next problem. Two ca pable carpenters offered their services. They were not young, and could not do the more dangerous roof work, but they were trust worthy and willing to work for a wage m u c h lower than that w h i c h was usually asked. Perhaps they were a bit surprised when they saw that the one who engaged them was himself ready to roll up his sleeves and go to work with them. D o z e n s of carpenters came by and asked for work, but there was no money in hand to hire more, f One day, when work on the floor had just begun, a car drew up to the curb. A man got out, looked around questloningly, and i n q u i r e d , "Who’s the builder?” “I am,” replied one of the workmen— the pastor — as he scrambled to his feet, and approached the visitor.
summer Mr. Wall and his wife did some calling in the neighborhood to see wheth er a church would be wel comed. They made clear that they were not solicit ing funds, but merely opin ions., People received them warmly. The calling con vinced Mr. Wall more than ever that a great opportun ity for evangelism was be fore them. But how should he enter the field ? A n d from whence w o u l d the funds come for the under taking? Unable to answer the questions of his own heart, he nevertheless made the rounds of real estate agencies. They were frank- .ly uninterested. Cod’s Provision of a Choice Location Then it was t h a t Mr. Wall noticed a vacant lot in a very desirable location. By actual count of blocks, it was in the geometrical center of the entire church less community. The owner, when called upon, stated that he was willing to sell; in fact, it was necessary for him to sell immediately. His price was reasonable. That he had found the Lord’s place, Mr. Wall re garded as evident. But how was he to acquire the lot? And was it really the Lord who was leading on, or merely the strong desire of human hearts ? Just at that time, he was called East on an extended preaching tour, and plans for the aircraft district were held in abeyance. But his heart did not rest from prayer about the matter.
Albert Bronson* was just one of 20,000 men employed in a certain airplane factory. He had Worked for the firm for fifteen years. Then he fell ill, and his case was seri- ' ous. His employers showed him marked kindness. “We’ve done ail, we could for him,” the welfare direc tor explained to Peter Wall, the pastor of the community church. “We arranged for him to enter the hospital and to have the operation he needed. We assured him he need not worry about expenses. But—” he sighed, "he says he is afraid to die. And we don’t know how to give him the, sense of security he wants.” t ‘T il go to the hospital to see him,” the pastor said. In his heart he prayed, “Lord, bring the sense of the se curity in Christ to these other men; they need it, too,” Mr. Wall found a patient very weak and unable to speak more than a few words, a man desperate in his de sire to find a firm foundation on which to rest his faith. Sympathetic in his approach, the pastor gave a quiet, sim ple explanation of God’s plan for saving the souls of men. The sick man listened, as he had not been willing to listen when he was well, to the good news of the gospel. “Will you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Sav iour?” the pastor asked him. Clearly he replied, “I will!” , , K Peace filled his heart and the joy of the Lord bright ened his face. Basing his trust on John 3:3 and 5:24, he obtained the security for which he yearned. The follow ing days and weeks, while his physical strength ebbed, Albert Bronson grew strong in faith and confidence. When the Lord called hjm Home, a large number of his associates from the factory came to the funeral. They heard from the lips of the faithful pastor the story of Al bert Bronson: his longing for spiritual stability, his ready acceptance of Christ, his consequent rest and joy. They faced, too—some of them for the first time—the straight forward question Albert Bronson had heard: “WILL YOU accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour?” How many responded, and how fully, God knows. But in the reception to the truth that some of his listeners gave, the grateful pastor saw an answer to his prayer. 1Actual name withheld.
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