strengthened me and filled me with real hope for the future. “Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” These same words of assurance made me know that whether I was sick or well, at home or abroad, God’s power was the same. He knew my desire to see the Gospel spread and His coming has tened. He had not forgotten the prayer of years, “How can these peo ple who have no one to go to them and who cannot even read, hear the Gospel?” Little by little the answer clarified itself. “Why don’t you send records which preach the Gospel, and sing, and explain the way of salvation?” I thought of the many phonographs scattered throughout the country — little spring-wound ones. If only we could make records in the Spanish language they could go anywhere. Many months after the time this idea first presented itself, the hour was at last ripe. True, I did not have very much money. My entire capital for the undertaking was just $15.00. This had come to me in several gifts over a period of about eight months. Now I was brought in touch with a Christian technician, who not only had the “know how” for making rec ords, but the equipment for it, and was glad to help me on a non-profit basis. The money I had was sufficient for the first record, which was made in the early part of the year 1939. When I listened back to the song of redemption it contained, to the verses of Scripture, and to the invitation to receive Christ, I knew that my prayer had been answered and that there was before me an “open door” indeed. In fact, I believed that multitudes might eventually be brought in touch wih the light of the Gospel through this medium.
" It had an uneven dirt floor, the walls were all askew. Perhaps this could be made into a studio — the roof seemed to be pretty good." (Note door in corner — the first contribution toward the studio.)
looking around I noticed an old shack bordering the back alley. It had been
Now that the work was launched in this small way, there were other barriers and closed doors which pre sented themselves from time to time. The original capital was gone so that there was need of money as well as helpers and equipment. But we could always tell our needs to our Heav enly Father and through our trust in Christ every one was supplied. After the war started we found ourselves without a studio, without equipment, and without expert tech nical assistance. We were at an im passe. The attic bedroom where I stayed at the old home place on Wit- mer Street was all too small. It had to serve as an office and storage place for records as well. We had already exhausted all the extra space around my father’s p r o p e r t y , or so we thought. One day, however, while
t
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" It was not long before this old shack had been transformed into a neat little sound proofed studio."
Later, a second technical room was added and the sides were shingled.
NOVEMBER, 1958
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