Is There Any Word from!
T h e singing of Longstaff’s familiar lines — chosen by Dean Elbert L. McCreery as the first number on the program of the opening of the fall semester at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles on September 17—became a beautiful transition between the moods of natural gayety and spiritual reverence. Take time to be holy, the world rushes on; Spend much time in secret with Jesus alone — By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be; Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see. Strong young voices carried the melody; strong young faces glowed with the light of under
standing as the message of the hymn con tinued—sung with thoughtful earnestness. As one looked on and listened, he became quickly aware that this was not merely a song that Was being sung by an audience of per haps five hundred people—faculty, students, and employees of the Institute. But it was, rather, a holy ambition that was being chosen, a fervent prayer that was being uttered. One
View o f the Bible Institute'
E lbert L. M c C reery Dean and Vice- President
ENCOURAGEMENT 1. T he Bible Institute building is filled to capacity. It has been n eces sary to provide accomm odations for more than sixty students in the Frances E. W illard H otel, part of the Bible Institute block. 2 . A t the time of writing, there are seventy-eight more students regis tered than w ere enrolled at the sam e time last year. 3. Registrations are still com ing in, but already 393 students have been received. 4 . Increasing demands upon the teaching staff necessitated the em ploy ment of two new part-time workers. 5 . The student em ploym ent situation has improved. Opportunities for student em ploym ent have increased in number. 6 . The Lord has raised up for the Institute a great group of praying friends. From tim e to time, these dear children of God have been informed about the Institute's needs. They have engaged in intercession. And it has pleased the Lord to grant the glorious answer that is seen in the opening of another year at Biola. “A call to thanksgiving” ! Her heart leaped as she heard the words. Six months earlier, she had known nothing of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. At that time she had realized only that her heart was crushed, her hopes broken. The plan of a lifetime to attend a Bible school in England, in preparation for missionary service, must now be abandoned suddenly, completely. Business affairs required that the family should move immediately to America—to Pasadena, Cali fornia. She must go, of course, but not until she had sought her pastor’s counsel. Sick with disappointment, she began to explain to the became conscious, not so much of the presence of other individuals, or of the mechanics of the program, but of the movement of God’s Spirit. Thus it was to a company made receptive by the Holy Spirit that Dr. W. E. Edmonds, representing the Board of Directors of the Institute, arose to speak. He quoted a part of Jeremiah 37 :17: “Is there any word from the Lord ? . . . There is.” And the lines from the book of the weeping prophet became the basis for courage and joy. While the speaker took time for only the briefest suggestion of three definite matters on which the “word from the Lord” is clear, many a listening individual was able to fill in, from his or her own experience of God’s dealings, the details that made the outline personal •in its application. “Is there any word from the Lord? . . . There is.” 1. There Is a Call to Thanksgiving The call to praise came with particular insistence to one student— a young woman of culture and native charm, whom God had led more than six thousand miles in order to bring her to Biola. Over land and sea He had directed her course, in order to show to her, and to others, that far more awe-inspiring than the captivating beauty of her moun tain home in Switzerland is the rugged strength of the promise of God: “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker