together with the southwest provinces, is relatively quiet, although it is only natural that apprehension exists. The work of the Institute is proceeding quietly with a “ refugee” Seminary from the war area participating. We have a united student body of 175 and a fine Chinese faculty of twenty. Mr. Russell Davis remains at Changsha in charge of the Business Administration, and Mr. and Mrs. William Ebeling in charge of the Educational Department. The Taylor Memorial Hospital continues to operate on the Insti tute compound, and Dr. and Mrs. Fritz Eitel are carrying on a splendid medical center. Other departments of the work —the Evangelistic Bands, the Orphanage with its 155 children, the Scofield Correspondence Course, are carrying on in full force. We earnestly ask the prayers of our friends that Biola in China may continue its work undisturbed. Mrs. Roberts and I are in America for a few months and expect to return to China at an early date.
HUNAN WORK TO CONTINUE Missionaries Not Abandoning Their Posts In The New China Crisis By DR. CHARLES A. ROBERTS
The faculty of the Hunan Bible Institute R ECENTLY in a radio interview, Dr. Talbot asked me to state plainly just what was the threat to China by the Communists. This is a very difficult question to answer in a few words. The Communist situation in China is a serious threat to the Nationalist government, and one that may yet involve the whole world, for Manchuria and North China are to the Asiatic continent What Belgium and Northern France are to Europe. Manchuria and North China are now completely in the hands of the Communists. In the midst of this conflict which threatens the life of the Nationalist government, there stands the most tragic figure of the world today, Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek, for whom we Christians should pray. The Generalissimo, a real Chris tian, and one who has stood firmly from the beginning against Communism—but living in the midst of a decadent paganism, with all the implications of corruption and other evils—has not always been able to assert his power. No one minimizes the confusion and corruption that exist in China, but, on the other hand, let us remember Yalta! At Yalta “ expediency” was the word. China, a faithful ally, was sold down the river and Russia was brought into the Far Eastern war, with the result that after only nine days of war Manchuria was completely occupied by the Russians and later stripped of all its industrial plants. Northern Korea was likewise occupied and the Christian effort of a century was thwarted. Not even Japan placed in the way of the church such hindrances as this godless system has done now. The question that confronts us is: What effect does all of this have on the missionary effort? • First, missionaries are standing by at their posts. It may be necessary at times for groups to move out of certain districts to places of safety in order to avoid possible violence by the few in mass disturbances. At this writing, however, there is no wholesale evacuation of missionaries to the home land, in fact, many who were evacuated to the coast cities are again returning to their inland stations. Second, many feel that although the present civil war may disrupt the work for a period of time, even years, mis sionary work will continue in China. By no means would we convey the idea that the end of missionary work is at hand, although, unquestionably, many changes in the future may be necessary to meet a new situation. How does the present war affect the Hunan Bible Institute? The present fighting is north of the Yangtze, and Hunan province, in which the Hunan Bible Institute is located, at Changsha, is approximately four hundred miles southwest of the war area. At this writing the province of Hunan, Page Twelve
The Great Wall of China at Nankon Pass Photograph by Philip D. Gendreau, N. Y.
CALL BACK If you have gone a little way ahead of me, call back— 'Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stonv track; And if, perchance, Faith's light is dim, because the oil is low, Your call will guide my lagging course as wearily I go. Call back, and say He was beside you in the storm; Call back, and say He kept you when the forest's roots were torn; That, when the heavens thundered and the earthquake shook the hill, He bore you up and held you where the very air was still. Oh, friend, call back, and tell me' for I cannot see your face; They say it glows with triumph, and your feet bound in the race; But there are mists between us, and my spirit eyes are dim, And I cannot see the glory, though I long for word of Him. But if you'll say He heard you when your prayer was but a cry, ' And if you'll say He' saw you through the night's sin-darkened sky— If you have gone a little way ahead, oh, friend, call back— 'Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track. —Author Unknown . T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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