King's Business - 1927-07

JVmifo* from 'Knitgfj Uooh ROCURE me wood, and I shall supply you with arrows,” wrote Jean Calvin to the Protestant churches of France, when he began to train their ministers in what has been called his “Seminary of Martyrs.” An unforgettable fortnight at the Los Angeles Bible Institute has enabled the writer to observe, with no ,little wonder, an up-to-date process of similar transformation. The material used by the Los Angeles spiritual factory is; thanks to the careful selection of the student body, of the most dependable kind. In mixing rather intimately with that fine youthful company, we have found an unusual standard of intelligent consecration. “Men are God’s method,” and from such as the Institute takes in hand, no mean develop­ ments can be expected. The plant has, by its size, location and exceptional adaptation, exceeded our most fanciful anticipations, as an ideal instrument for its contem­ plated end. The staff compares very favorably, in numbers and in quality, with the faculty of any of the Bible schools which we have had opportunity to study in various parts of the world. The vnethods strike one as theoretically and practically, sound. To pro­ cure a better training in a shorter time seems hardly possible anywhere. The spirit regnant in the Bible Institute could be fairly described by the all-comprehensive apostolic formula: “Following the Truth in Love.” ; The product, as we have seen it on the plant, and wherever the “arrows” have been exported, is of the quality most in demand: all round men and women, usually specialized in no line, but easily adaptable to most branches of the Lord’s service. Arrows straight in Christian Char­ acter, smoothed with the polish of Christian Charity, pointed with the penetrating power of Christian Truth, feathered with a Christian Faith which insures the rectitude of their flight, . . . real Christian arrows! The by-products are the same as in the time of the Reformer, when the Geneva Seminary was the main stay and helper of the Mother church of Protestantism. The bee-hive of the Open Door community, the Cor­ respondence School family, the innumerable outside activities of staff and students, and, last but not least, the spiritual uplift of visitors, make one wonder if, as in certain well-managed industries, the by-products have not even more value than the staple article itself. • . . . . Deeply grateful for the privilege of this rare contact, I feel drawn to commend with believing fervor to the Master’s indispensable guidance and blessing this beautiful piece of Christian service. ROBERT DUBARRY, ^ Field Secretary, French Bible Mission.

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