of a decent home for himself and write Pastor Cor- lett of Carey Baptist Church in Calcutta to see if he knew someone who would help build a church. The Reverend Walter Corlett was pastor of Carey Church and knew of a missionary organization which each month met a different emergency need. Corlett felt that a struggling church in the Andamans most certainly deserved help and promised to present the need to the right committee. When he received this word, George was thank ful. It would be foreign money, but the need was so great! After the next Sunday morning service, one of the elders came to George and said, “ Sir, what about our church? When are we going to get money to build it?" “ I expect people in America to give it to us. I don’t see how our people can give enough.” “ Is that what the Lord told you?” “ No," he admitted ashamed and told the man about the tithe. “ Then why don’t we bring our tithe once each month?” Happily, George told the people and after that the monthly offering was never less than 55 rupees ($6.05) and once it was 110 rupees ($14.30). Ex cited, George began making plans and getting prices. He found that the church would cost about 1600 rupees to finish. When the offering amounted to 1300 rupees he went to a contractor, told him to begin building, confident that by the time the church was complete he would have enough money to pay the man. When there was only two weeks' work left, the man began asking for his money. But no more money had come in and George didn’t know what to do! He had to say, “ You may have to wait or week or two for all of it but I can pay most of it now and I’ll pay the rest when the money comes.” The contractor frowned, not content. George be gan to get fidgety. Each day he hoped to hear from the missionary organization. Instead, he went to the port and there was a letter telling of a special gift of 300 rupees — the exact sum he needed— coming from the staff of Calcutta Bible Institute. George re joiced, seeing that God had more than one way to answer prayer. Every rupee of the money needed for the church had come from people in India. George was so thank ful but the Lord did over and above all he asked or thought. Shortly afterwards the gift from the mis- sionry organization arrived and George was permit ted to use it for his own home— a purpose to which the Indian government could not object. It was needful if George was to remain in the Andamans. At present the church has 84 members and they permit the 41 school pupils to use their building but George is not content. He is expecting the Lord to provide money for a school building. And why not? God has proven that He can do exceeding abundant ly over what one can think or ask! ■ 25
you and not give you permission to go." “ I know,” George acknowledged. "Bu t the Lord will open the way.” No one had any hope for George or would do anything to help him but George asked a few friends at Carey Church to pray and a few of them gave him small gifts. After graduation, George was married and trust ing the Lord for his support, went to Andaman Islands. Three groups of people live there: Negrito people whose religion is a mixture of magic and spiritualism, Burmese Buddhists who have come from Burma be cause of the political unrest, and Karens who are animists or Christians. He began studying the Karen language and had difficulty with it. In fact, he had to use a drunken milkman for his interpreter. Nevertheless, several peo ple received Christ as their Saviour, including the milkman. He felt called to open a school for the children of Christian families. He wanted them to have the extra training and not be taunted for their faith. When he opened the school, the government officials sent an officer to investigate. Meanwhile George had put the children into uniforms and secured proper text books for them. The official was so impressed that he told George, “ You ought to have a subsidy from the government. How much would you like to have?" Humbly, George answered, “ Whatever you give the others.” “ No, you teach in English; your expenses are higher. Ask for more.” Amazed, George did so, and the money was grant ed. The way the Lord was answering prayer seemed almost too wonderful. Shortly afterwards, the commissioner o f the islands came to George’s village and on short notice George had to prepare a welcoming program. He didn’t know what to have them do so when the com missioner came, George lined up the children and told them to sing, “ What a Friend We Have in Jesus!” The commissioner was delighted with their youthful vigor. The building in which the church and school were held and the home in which George and his wife lived were merely bamboo shacks. A storm par tially demolished both buildings and while makeshift arrangements were made, George faced the need of raising money for a church and a home for himself and family. It seemed impossible! The average Sun day offering was between 3 rupees (39 cents) and 4 rupees (42 cents) so he felt the congregation could not raise the money. One day, when he was visiting one of his par- ishoners, he saw his chickens scurrying in and out and the Lord said to George, “ Tell them if they have ten chickens to sell one and give the money to the church.” George quailed at the idea. He couldn’t do it. Instead, he decided that he would forgo any idea JULY/AUGUST, 1970
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