December 1925
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
550
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Interesting Stories from Real Experience As told by Bible Institute Workers---- ——
Evangelistic Department
Lord has been to me these past two weeks—the answers to my prayers, and what a change has come into my heart.” We were glad to hear this testimony, and asked, “Who led you to Christ?” Pointing to one of our workers, he said, “That lady over there.” “Oh,” he said, “please keep coming. These men need your help.” Will you not, when praying for lost souls, remember the convicts, the con verts, and those who go with the mes sage? SEAMEN’S DEPARTMENT Claude H . Pearson, Supt.— Our W orkers board all v essels in the p ort of San Pedro, holding Gospel Services and D istributing Literatu re. H E HAVE all made preparations for a long journey, perhaps on train, tram car or in an auto, and a few hours before starting have found ourselves very busy, and frequently confused. Trunks needing to be roped, valises packed and numerous other things help to cause such confusion, and the larger the family or group traveling, the greater our needs. This picture will give you a faint glimpse of conditions on a huge Oil Tanker a few hours before sailing. The vessel has been in port perhaps only a few hours and at the most, unless stopped for repairs, a day. Some of the men have been ashore, others are re turning, and the balance very busy. Just how can we reach these men with the Gospel of the grace of God? Our first difficulty, of course, is to gain attention without hindering the work. This we do by visiting their rooms and leaving Gospels, tracts and magazines. Sometimes men will start off to work rather than listen to a “sky pilot.” Others gladly receive the literature, promising us that they will read it at the first opportunity. We assure the officers that we do not want to hinder and if the men are very busy we will not take their time. However, God al ways has some men who can listen to a conversation. A few days ago we visited one of these tankers, going from room to room, and just as we were leaving entered a very untidy room with one lone sailor in it. Whether he was hiding from work, or stopping a moment to rest, we do not know, but we do believe that he was the one man whom God had ready. Laying some tracts and a magazine on a table, and knowing the condition of the ship, we were tempted to hurry, but then lifted our hearts to God, pray ing for guidance and patience: “Lord, if this is your man, hinder others from entering the room, and give us time to open the Word;” for, after all, it is the Word of God we wish to teach in the power of the Holy Ghost. Then, line upon line, we went through the third
each floor, making eight tanks all told in the four story building. A long table can be seen in the centre of each tank, surrounded by men in blue cover alls and jumpers, some reading, some talking, while it is not an uncommon occurrence to see one or two continual ly walking around the table, not looking to the right nor to the left, but keep ing their eyes fastened upon the floor. After hearing the Clang of three heavi ly barred doors, we find ourselves be fore these tanks. The first thing one must do depends upon what he has come for; if to sell candy, he calls “candy on the line;” if pies, then “pies on the line.” We have come to “hold church,” as they would say, So we call “Church on the line.” Were you there, you would see the men begin to pull the benches up to the bars. About one third of the way back you can see a wire ’ stretched across the room. A curtain is thrown over this wire per mitting the men to come on our side of the curtain or remain where they are, just as they choose. However, we do our best to see that the message gets over the curtain, as Well as on this side. Now we are ready for “church,” We sing, then pray, have a five minute mes sage, and after the message prayer, personal work, distribution of literature. We have just finished our first hymn, when we hear a voice from the crowd, say “Let us sing for you.” We gladly step back to listen and hear forty men begin to sing “Holy, Holy, Holy” with out any hymn books. After finishing they informed us that forty-five out of the tank of eighty or ninety, had started a prayer band. This certainly was an inspiration for the one Who was to give the message that day. When the serv ice was over, one man stepped to the bars and said, “We are not just having prayer, but we read the Bible and try to explain it. Could you bring us some lesson helps?” A King’s Business was gladly given. Another man said, “Could you bring me a Bible? I’m going on the Road Camp and will try to start a prayer circle and have Bible reading there.” For those who may not understand What the Road Camp is,—let us explain. If the prisoner has been above the average, he is given an opportunity of helping repair State roads. This affords him the chance of earning a little money as well as giving him fresh air. The following week, when we brought the Bible, you should have seen that man’s face; it was radiant. After our service, we asked the Christians to raise their hands. A number of them did. Then a man came up and said, “I’m glad you asked that question. I gave my heart to the Lord two weeks ago and felt I ought to confess Him. Raising my hand has given me a start.” The tears started down his cheeks and between sobs he was heard to say, “You’ll never know how precious the
BIBLE WOMEN’S WORK M rs. Lym an Stew art. S u p t.-T w en ty -.fiv e W om en Engaged in H ouse to House Personal W ork, Bible C lasses and Soul W inning Clubs. “ L ittle is much if God is in it.” w M d j NOWING that Pomona was to M be hostess to the fourth Los SM a J I I I Angeles County Fair (which, by the way, had an attend- ance of over one hundred and one thousand people), and wishing to “buy up” its every opportunity, the Eteri Club of Pomona, with the assist ance of some friends, rented a booth at the fair where people-might rest and be supplied with literature and tracts. During the five days of the fair a to tal of nineteen thousand invitations to young women to visit the Eteri Club of Pomona were handed out. Frequently the invitation opened the way for an interview, the person being reminded of her need of the Lord Jesus Christ, or if a follower, of her privileges as such, going on her way with suitable tracts or a Gospel of John. A number of young ladies from other Southern California cities were told of the Eteri Club in their own town, and left the booth, promising that they would at tend when they returned home. The aim of the Pomona Eteri young women was not only to invite people to visit their club, but to reach them for ChrisL Approximately fifteen thou sand tracts, including five hundred Gos pels of John, were given out. Many people promised to read them, some promised to heed them. A motherless Mexican family passed the booth and the father was handed a Gospel of John. Being told what it was, with a smile on his face, he pointed to the oldest child and said, “She read, muchas gracias.” An old man, a free thinker, refusing a Gospel of John was influenced to take suitable tracts and promised that he would read them. A young man, a concessionaire, not believing in the reality or personality of God, after conversation with the Eteri girl, was given tracts on the way of salvation. He told other concession aires near by, urged them to "visit the booth, and later came back thanking the girls for speaking to him. A small space, a short period of time, both made use of by Christian young women, possessed by the spirit of their motto “Others,” demonstrated that “Little is much if God is in it.” A GLIMPSE BEHIND THE BARS The jail work offers great opportuni ties of winning souls for Christ, but before telling of the souls that have been saved, let us give; you a descrip tion of what is called-’a “tank.” Think of a room twenty feet in width, one hundred feet in length, on each side small dark cells, and you have a fairly good idea of a tank. There are two on
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