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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
October, 1940
'Legitimate Business” A Glimpse into Biola’s Personal W ork laboratory HE THAT WINNETH SOULS IS WISE ■ AT IX) YOU vaiu it fo r?” asked the wary pawnbroker, his black Jewish eyes appraising the pro
collection baskets placed at the audi torium doors—and into the baskets went $27.00 that morning, contributions of loving hearts from slim pocketbooks. Mid-term examinations did not deter many from volunteering to roll up their sleeves and get to business that very week. Some would paint and some would clean. The spirit of willingness was reflected in'one young man’s offer: “I can only scrub floors, but I’ll sure be glad to go down and do that!” So he went. Brooms and buckets, hammers and saws, scrub rags and paint brushes found their way into East Fifth Street to aid in putting a new dress on the erstwhile liquor store. Dilapidated chairs were acquired, and strength was wired -into their wobbly legs. The Institute basement yielded books, stored and for gotten for years, that contained the old familiar hymns. A portable organ came from the practical work, department. And lo, Biola Hall became a concrete reality, ready for use by the first night of Easter vacation. Testing in the Laboratory Volunteers held meetings during the holidays. But with the re-opening of school the men students were organized to ea>rry on meetings every afternoon and week-end evenings. Six to twelve- are on a team, and each team takes charge at the same time once a week. Forty-five minutes before each meet ing, the young men may be found on their knees in Biola Hall seeking the blessing of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit for the task ahead. Then all go out on the street to attract men with tracts and invite them into the hall. AU forces are on hand to bolster up the song service, but most of the team retires outside again to continue giving out tracts while one of their number is left to give a twenty-minute message to the audience — which on a [ Continued on Page 370]
it would not do to send these to practice at the big city missions where they might be responsible for the souls of one or two hundred men in their first attempts. They must have a little place, just for themselves, in which to test with their own hands the power, of God’s Word on the down-and-outs—and this was the place. When he stepped on the. starter, Mr. Sutherland’s mind was made up. Two days later he returned with the student body president, and whom should they find sitting in the liquor shop doorway but the landlord himself, all agog to catch a renter! He invjted them in. True, the place needed some renovating, but there it was: the only available place in the section, just the right size, with two small compartments at the back that could be used for inquiry rooms—and the price was right, too! Installing the Laboratory In God’s own way, the rent was pro vided. The time had come to take the entire student boay into confidence. Al ways eager to enter doors of service, the young people were enthusiastic in their approval of this new move to reach sin-sick souls for their Lord. The only hindrance to beginning work imme diately Was the need for alterations in the shop, and alterations would take cash. Their leader was loath to ask the stu dents again for an offering. Had they not emptied out their purses the previous week, that a city-wide tract distri bution campaign might be gotten under way?* But the suggestion came from the yotfng people them selves. They insisted on having
spective renter. Far be it from him to divulge the rental price of his landlord’s vacant liquor store to a customer who might be an unwelcome intruder if he should open shop next door! “Vat do you vant it fo r?” he re peated. The stranger hesitated. ' “Just for a little legitimate business,” he finally answered. A shower of Yiddish came from be hind, where the pawnbroker’s wife was listening in. The conversation proceeded in Yiddish. All the stranger was able to catch was something about “fifty dollars”—that was all he wanted to know just now anyway. He handed the shopkeeper a Jewish tract and went back to his car. Seeking a Laboratory The incident took place in March, 1940; the liquor store was located in a disreputable section of East Fifth Street; the stranger was Samuel H. Sutherland, Director of Practical Work at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. He sat in his car and counted the men who passed—shiftless loafers they were for the most part. There were not nearly so many on Fourth Street, nor on Sixth, for he had spent parts of several days makiifg reconnaissance tours into the neighborhood. "That’s the place we want,” he told the Lord, as he realized that right here, within convenient walking distance of the Institute, was a district which of fered tremendous opportunities to the students for laboratory practice to sup plement their classroom studies. They needed more varied personal work ex periences than Sunday-school classes and general deputation meetings af forded. Many willing, consecrated young peo ple had come from sheltered homes. They had never rubbed elbows with those who live on the seamy side of life. But now they were in training for Chris tian work. A majority of the newcom ers had never in their lives stood before an audience to give a real message— •St* THE KINO’S BUSINESS, July, l»i0, page m .
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