I New !
IF THERE WERE ONLY
VESSELS OF HONOR / by Ruth Sam a rin free
A SUMMER SLUMP
w k IN HUMAN NEED — but there isn't, ifi mjftl Summer brings a recurring annual :"squeeze" to our evangelism and relief programs, as vacations cut into giving while NMM M the calls for urgently needed relief of human 'ra misery and Christian witness continue un- H jrSffy/./ abated. Pray for us; fellowship with us in t A WnBS f^'s Christian ministry. '■MTO m T Write re advance booking for the film version m ufif of "They Looked for a City," to be released A) H I in November. Thrilling human drama in full m rajh ¡color, filmed in Europe. 16mm. 40 minutes. | H THE FRIENDS OF ISRAEL UN Missionary and Relief Society, Inc. Rev. Victor Buksbazen, General Secretary 330 K Witherspoon Bldg., Phila. 7, Pa. IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ATTEND B IOLA R a llies (Sponsored by the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Inc.) — In Two Locations — DOWNTOWN Church o f the Open Door 6th and Hope Sts., Auditorium May 3 Prof. 1. O. Henry speaks on Communist Brainwashing May 10 Dave Crane, Missionary Radio (P ic tu r e s ) May 17 Annual Rally Christian Released Time Education May 24 Radio Broadcasters' Rally Wilbur Nelson, m.c. May 31 Phil Kerr Musical LA MIRADA Campus Auditorium Biola Ave. North of Rosecrans May 3 Film: “ The Sickle and the Cross” May 10 Phil Kerr Musical May 17 Dr. Charles L. Feinberg ( p ic tu r e s ) May 24 National Welfare Agency (N a t io n a l A ssoc , of E v a n g elica ls ) May 31 Bill Bright (C a m p u s C rusade for C h r is t ) 2:30 P.M. EVERY SUNDAY AFTERNOON
really make her free. The class rose for the pastor’s wife walking ahead of her so Sara hurried until she fell in step just behind her. The story of Sara’s cancelled wedding was well known to the whole village. One glance at Sara’s troubled face told the wise woman that this girl had come for advice. The older woman’s first impluse was to change the subject, for she did not want to get involved in another family’s affairs. But then she r ememb e r e d her husband’s kind words. “Wife, you are the wife of a ‘man of God,’ you must help me to show God to the women of our vil lage.” And so Nambona, the wife of the village pastor, asked: “Sara, what can I do for you?” Sara rubbed her toe in the hard red dirt and with downcast eyes she said: “Tell me how to be free.” “Oh,” ex claimed Nambona, “but every girl must marry!” Sara looked up now hopefully: “But your husband said there was someone who could make me free.” Then Nambona realized that Sara’s heart wished freedom — not from marriage but from some un known bondage. For every girl wants a good marriage. Some other fear was haunting this young heart. “Let us draw water and go to my house,” answered the wise woman, “my husband will tell us what God’s Book says about being free.” That evening as the shadows turned from purple to black, Sara sat outside a round village hut and listened to the village pastor tell her how to be free. Others left their fires to come and listen too. Some old men asked ques tions, but Sara was silent and listened to each word. Jesus would make her free! Some day she would need to go to a strange village. She listened to the simple words of the pastor and believed. And trust Jesus she did. She attend ed reading classes regularly. The months passed and Sara was able to read God’s Word. She memorized Scripture and everything seemed ready for her to join the church. But the day came when the pastor had to say: “Sara, y ou c ann o t j o i n the church, for you willingly agreed to marry a man who is not God’s child.” In the next issue we will see what happens to Sara as she faces what is probably an African Christian girl’s hardest problem. It may be that it is your problem too.
E ditor ’ s N o te : In this issue of the King’s Business, we begin a series of articles on missions for young people. They are print ed by permission of the Brethren Mission ary Herald. Ruth Custer Samarin and her husband are graduates of BIOLA. They are laboring in Africa under the Brethren organization. W a r m sunlight danced in Sara’s eyes. She stirred contentedly on her mat. Then remembering what was to happen today, she sat bolt up right. Something was wrong! Had not her mother said that Sara must wake up before the rising of the sun to start the long walk to her future husband’s village. But no one seemed angry with her for being late. In fact, her family went about their duties as if this were an ordinary day. Sara’s mother, real izing her daughter’s unspoken ques tion, whispered: “There were not enough goats.” With a surge of joy yet shame Sara realized that the boy’s family had been unwilling to give a satisfactory number of goats in trade for her. Perhaps they thought she was too young or perhaps too lazy. Sara’s joy and temporary freedom overshadowed the possible shame attached to the affair and she danced all the way to the river while the big black water pot swayed precariously on her head. In the late afternoon Sara heard the chapel gong as she began her second trek after water. The sun was still above the edge of the earth. There W'as time to stop and see what was happening in the “House of God.” She set the black pot on the ground and entered the little grass-roofed chapel. She wiggled her way on to a bench already crowded with her girl friends. Her friends had little books from which they were reading. Sara had seen these books before. She knew that these books opened people’s eyes so that they could read God’s Book. Sara shared a primer with interest. When the reading class was over, the village pastor opened God’s Book to read. The words he read startled her. “So if the Son make you free, you will be free indeed.” Sara had been happy that morning for she was free — free from the marriage she had not want ed. But by the hour that the sun made no shadows, she was unhappy again. Already her uncle was discussing a new marriage plan. She was not really free. But now the village pastor was reading about someone who could
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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