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TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
YOUTH EVANGELISM IN
&
THE DEEP SOUTH
A thrilling trip to our own A merican Mission field.
By Elmer L. Wilder
I T’S books!” With this announcement, recess was over in one of the mountain schools of eastern Kentucky. The missionaries had arrived with two California preachers to teach the Bible lesson. The warm welcome given was in considerable contrast to the one accorded the same missionaries on their first visit to this school six years earlier. Then the children, thinking that they were nurses coming to finish their typhoid shots, jumped through windows and ran out of the doors, removing themselves quickly to the safety of trees and hillsides. One large boy ventured closer than the rest and inquired, “Be you a nurse?” The cordial missionary replied, “No, we came to teach the Bible and Christian songs.” He was not easily convinced, “What yo’ all got in them thar bags? Any needles that stick?” When the missionary had opened the bags and showed Bibles and hymn books, the boy was satisfied and, turning to his companions, he said, “Come on, they ain’t nurses—they’re Bible teachers.” Fortunately for the children of the mountains of Ken tucky, the State legislature has enacted laws permitting Christian workers to give Bible lessons each week in the schools during their regular sessions. Workers are avail ing themelves of these openings, but in many schools no such classes are conducted. Two workers must often care for as many as sixteen schools each week, with a total attendance of nearly one thousand children. The words of Jeremiah, “The young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them” (Lam. 4:4), are particularly applicable to the spiritual condition of many communities. This is particularly true of the eastern part
of the state, where the coal miners and ipountain farmers live. Primitive Religion The primitive mountain church has nothing construc tive to offer boys and girls. Educationally and morally the standards are very low. Many preachers neither read nor write, and they depend upon tradition for their infor mation. Most of them smoke, and many drink whisky and gamble. When young people, troubled about their souls, inquire of the mountain preacher as to the plan of salvation, they are often advised to enjoy the pleasures of sin until they are certain they are going to die. Then, they are told, call upon God for mercy. Consequently there is very little concern among children and young people about their spiritual condition, except in those lo calities where the missionaries have taught the truths of God’s Word. Scriptures are grossly misinterpreted by these blind leaders. A gospel preacher came to a certain locality. One of these native preachers immediately accused him of being a wolf in sheep’s clothing, only because he wore a wool suit, made of sheep’s wool. It is a common belief that no one can be saved until he has had a dream or a vision. Here is a typical case: “My baby is sick! I wish I done tole you to bring yo’ thimble, Brother Martin,” the mother whose baby had hives said to a primitive preacher. "I brung it.” An incision was then made in the baby’s back, and the thimble was half filled with his blood. The preacher finished filling the thimble with “baccer” (to bacco) juice and, after mixing it with the blood, rubbed the mixture back into the incision.
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