II THE
I
pastors. These materials will be available for distribution in Septem ber and may be secured by address ing the American Bible Society, New York City 22. Record Enrollment & It is now estimated that more than 5 million young people, rang ing from kindergarten age through high school, will attend nearly 50,- 000 Vacation Bible Schools this year. One of the encouraging signs of our present day is the growth of this summer Bible School movement. In by far the largest number of schools the curriculum is Christ-centered and Bible-centered, and the children are carefully taught in the great truths of the Word of God, with strong em phasis on memory work. This worth while movement reaches into every state in the Union and into the provinces of Canada. Los Angeles, with an enrollment of 100,000 chil dren, was the leader among the larger cities last year. Anniversary *5 Thirty years ago, a group of fourteen Quakers felt the call of God to do what they could to alleviate suffering throughout the world, and so formed the American Friends’ Service Committee. They have done a magnificent job as an agency of mercy. More than $60,000,000 has been spent on relief and rehabilita tion in 22 countries. This anniver sary is to be celebrated without ex pensive banquets, and coast-to-coast broadcasts, but Christians through out the world are asked to pray for this work to consider what can be done in the future. Funerals There is far too much lavish dis play in elaborate open caskets and expensive funerals, in the opinion of the Rt. Rev. Frank W. Creighton, Episcopal Bishop of Michigan. What is desired at time of sorrow is Chris tian sympathy, and those who desire to pay tribute to the deceased should be. encouraged to contribute toward a lasting memorial or give to some good work. Moreover, the burial ser vices of the church should be digni fied and brief, not combined with fraternal or military trappings. Page Nineteen
1080 & With the translation of the Gos pel of St. John into Maguindanao, the number of languages or dialects into which either the entire Bible or a portion has been translated now numbers 1,080. The American Bible Society reports that 5,000 copies of this particular translation will be distributed in Cotobato Province in the Philippine Islands. It is esti mated that there are still nearly 1,000 dialects or tongues which re main without any portion of the A very hopeful sign for the peo ple of the British Empire was the Day of Prayer called by King George VI, for Sunday, July 6. People throughout the Empire were urged to repent of their unreligion and turn to God in prayer. Men were asked to turn from all forms of distrust and dishonest dealings and urged to give freely of their best that the nation might be united by a common code of honest fellowship. It is not news that the British Empire is in great need of many things, but the greatest need of all is their need, like ours, of calling upon God to forgive their iniquities, and to heal their land. Veterans *5 A recent survey of 119 leading theological seminaries reveals the fact that 3,437 war veterans are now studying for the ministry. This con stitutes about 25% of the total en rollment in theology. In addition to this, there are many former service men who plan on entering the min istry but who are at present en rolled in colleges and universities. One of the remarkable fruits of the last war was a distinct desire on the part of many in the armed forces to go back to the lands where they served their government, but this time to carry a Bible instead of a bayonet. We believe that this group of ministerial students will be among the most earnest and success ful servants of God that we have seen for many generations. Advertising The fact is that 60 million Amer icans do not belong to any church. AUGUST, 1947 Word of God. Day of Prayer
Recently the Protestant Episcopal denomination announced a full scale advertising campaign to begin in November, with an aim of reaching the non-church-goers. Tentatively, an initial budget of $2,000,000 has been proposed, which will make use of magazine and newspaper ads, radio time, posters and motion pic tures, to endeavor to acquaint the churchless of America with the Epis copal belief. Without a doubt this is a commendable move and springs from an earnest desire to reach men and women for Christ. However, we would like to have seen a much greater emphasis on personal con tact by born-again Episcopalians with the unsaved. Truth in Advertising Mr. R. G. LeTourneau, well- known earth moving manufacturer and outstanding Christian leader, is in favor of liquor advertising. He says, “I am heartily in favor of liquor advertising that will tell of the poverty, disease, broken homes, wrecked lives, lost virtue, suicides, homicides, and sudden accidental deaths that result from drinking.” To this statement we add our hearty approval. Some organization, or group of organizations, should take upon itself the task of acquainting the youth of America with the finished product of the liquor industry. Cap able artists should be employed to portray the “gutter sots” that were once men, and the disease-wracked females who were once women, now victims of the demon rum. World-wide Bible Reading Again this year, b e t w e e n Thanksgiving and Christmas, the American Bible Society is promoting its annual World-wide Bible Reading program. The theme for 1947 is “One World—One Book” which will be em phasized in the observance of the Universal Bible Sunday on December 14. The plan is to contact pastors and church members and many not re lated to any church organization, to enlist them as daily Bible readers during this campaign. The Bible Society will supply bookmarks con taining the scripture passages, and posters and church bulletins for the
Made with FlippingBook Online document