Issuu

>3-

EVANGELICAL

MENNONITE

CONFERENCE

i<IW

Hil

i71

a B^

called the place of

a skull,

With the Gospel in in Japan 3

which is called in the Hebrew, Golgotha:

Where they crucified him, and two others

" The Suffering of Sin 4 '.r

with Him, on either side one, and Jesus in

!S'

Cripple Tom

Spring Cleaning

the midst.

1".

/■

"• . . LET TOUR CONDUCT BE WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST . .

PHIL. 1:27

EDIT

lAL

ALL THIS — FOR THEE

Records have it that into the famous public gallery in Dusseldorf one day there came a gay, young nobleman. He was rich, young, inteUigent, the world bright, and it’s treasures within his grasp. Coming to Stenburg’s picture of the crucifixion he stood, arrested by what he saw. Again and again he read the legend on the frame; “All this I did for thee What hast thou done for me?” He could not tear himself away — it grew into his heart. The love of Christ laid it’s grasp on his soul. Hours passed; we are told. The light faded; the curator touched the weeping nobleman and told him it was time to close the gallery. Night had come, but for a young noble man the dawn of eternal life. He was Zinzendorf, later to be known as the father of Moravian Missions. And from this moment on he threw all, life, fortune, and fame at the feet of Him who had whispered to his heart “All this I did for thee. What hast thou done for Me?” The cross of Christ stands as the central point of all history. Originating in the mind of God before the founda tion of the world (Revelation 13:8). It is pictured to us as far back as the writings of Moses, it is seen in prophecy by Isaiah and the Psalmist it became a reality when the Son of God was raised on a cross to die a death accorded to common criminals. The Iamb had been slain! A new era had begun. Today believer and unbeliever alike record dates from the time of Christ. The date 1963 signifys that we are now that many years removed from the birth of Christ. The Old Testament prophets and saints looked forward to the cross, we look back. Between us, on a hill called Cal vary the Son of God became sin for us. He who knew no sin, was made sin, so that we, sinners by birth and by practise, could be made the righteousness of God. (II Cor inthians 5:21). On that eventful day, John tells us, Jesus went forth “. . . bearing His cross . . .” (John 19:17). So far God had always provided a substitute. When Abraham lifted his knife over his son, God halted him and showed him a ram caught in a thicket. On the great day of atonement it was not the sinner who died, but the goat, as a sin offering. (Leviticus 16:15). But the time came when Christ should die. This time there was no substitute. But He went forth beamg his cross, and on this cross He died to atone for the sin of the world. But, asks the hymn writer: “Must Jesus bear the cross alone And all the world go free?” Jesus Himself answers the question in Luke 14:27 when He points out that “. . . whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” 2

Thus the cross and discipleship are synonomous. They go together. But it becomes hard because apparently there is a choice. In another place Jesus talks about taking up the cross. (Matthew 16:24). Thus we are faced squarely with a choice. Christ as Saviour, yes. But the cross, well that’s another thing! Already in Paul's day there were those who had the same philosophy. He speaks of them as “. . . enemies of the cross of Christ.” (Phillipians 3:18). What is our cross? I believe the simplest definition would be; submission on my part whenever my will, and Christ’s will, cross. On the other hand if I refuse to bow to God’s will, and go my own way, I am avoiding the cross, but maybe also a crown! But shall we this Easter rather with Isaak Watts exclaim: When I survey the wondrous Cross On which the Prince of Glory died. My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride. Were the whole realm of nature mine. That were a present far too small; Love so amazing so divine. Demands my soul, my Ufe, my all.

MY ADVOCATE I sinned. And straightway, posthaste, Satan flew Before the presence of the Most High God, He said, “This soul, this thing of clay and sod. Has sinned. ’Tis true that he has named Thy Name, But I demand his death, for Thou hast said, ‘The soul that sinneth it shall die,’ Shall not Thy sentence be fulfilled? Is Justice dead? Send now this wretched sinner to his doom. What other thing can righteous ruler do?” And thus he did accuse me day and night. And every word he spoke, O God, was true! Then quickly One rose up from God’s right hand. Before whose glory angels veiled their eyes; ‘He spoke, “Each jot and tittle of the law Must be fulfilled; the guilty sinner dies! But wait—suppose his guilt were all transferred To Me, and that I paid the penalty! Behold My hands. My side, My feet! One day I was made sin for him, and died that he Might be presented faultless at Thy throne!” And Satan fled away. Full well he knew That he could not prevail against such love, For every word my dear Lord spoke was true! —^Martha Snell Nicholson

The Messenger Official organ, in the English language, of the EVANGELICAL. MENNONITE CONFERENCE. Published bi-weekly under the aus pices of the E. M. C. BOARD OP PUBLICATIONS AND EDUCATION. Editor, David K. Schellenberg, 502 Fifth Ave. N.W. Portage la Prairie, Man. Assistant Editor. Abe P. I nger. Authorized as second class mail. Post Office Department, Ottawa, and for payment of postage in cash.

THE MESSENGER.

MISSI J*'*"

With Gospel in Japan By Mary Koop “Musashifujisawa” is one of the ma ny farming areas in the Saitemaperfecture where the Gospel is not known. This is not only a farming area, but also, you will find a large housing area of about a thousand homes. These are small homes with three or four little rooms. Many more like these are being built at the present time ,so that in a very short time this wiU be more like a city than a farming district. The people in this housing area are mosty high class —Tokyo folks. The men go back and forth to Tokyo to work. The other day as I was walk ing through the narrow streets and saw all these homes it seemed an impossible job to reach these people with the Gospel. As I continued to walk it was as though the Lord was walking by my side and He said . . . 'This is my work child, all I want you to be is a channel, through which I can How the Living Waters to these peo ple.” Matthew 19:26, “With man this is impossible, but with God all tilings are possible..” He is going to reach these thousands of souls through His servants. House Visitation One way to evangelize a new area

This is a typical Japanese farm home in this district. On the left side of the house you will see a little chicken coop connected to the home. In front of the house you will see the father of the home. When I asked if I could take a picture of their home, he was very glad and wanted to be on the picture too. is to do house calling. Soon after mov ing into this district I visited my neighbours. Since, I am living in an apartment building, I visited my neighbors upstairs first. “Gomenkudasai’ I called, (this means please ex cuse me), the lady answered “hai” (which means yes) and came to the door. Since, we had met each other before I told her that I was going from door to door and telling the Gospel,

and giving out tracts. I handed her two tracts and asked her to read them, she refused to take them. ‘I belong to a different religion,” she said, “I have no permission to take any liter ature from any one that belongs to any other religion.,” Then I said, “This is not a religion, but truth,” Hesitat ing for a little she decided to take the tract. Then I left. Each time I met her outside she seemed very friendly, a.s long as I talked about everyday things. One evening I had to go upstairs for some business, the husband as well as the wife asked me to come in for a cup of tea. I went in and sat down This picture was with them at the “kotatsu” (a Janpantaken in a Junior ese fire place) and she served tea, High School. I etc. After we had finished our busi teach Bible and ness, the husband said, “my wife be English in this longs to this religion (pointing to an school every other idol standing on the dresser) there Saturday. Standing are many different groups of this re to the left of me ligion, and they all stem from Budd are: the principal hism,” he continued, “and each group of the school and a flunks they are the right ones, so there man teacher. Then is a lot of quarreling and fightings is a woman, she’s between these groups. What about very open to the Christianity, do they fight like that Gospel. Through too?” he asked. This question gave me her I got permis a very good opportunity to tell the sion to enter this Gospel. I explained to them the dif ference between religion and truth. school. (Cont’d. page 7)

April 5, 1963

The Suffering of Sin By Harold Ockenga

other words what Isaiah said when he declared that “all we like sheep have gone astray.” Sin may have a pleasure for a sea son (Heb. 11:12), but it turns out to be toilsome business, wearisome work and full of sorrow. Sin always returns to one. Moses said, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Thus the sins of Jacob’s youth returned to plague him in his old age. Thus the sins of Samson resulted in his grinding in the prisonhouse. Thus David in the tower of Ammon heard the news that the young man Ab salom was dead and saw the sword of judgement glittering in his own house. His sin returned to him. Moreover, sin brings pain. George Bernard, who wrote “The Old Rugged Cross,” once told how a young man whom he knew had committed suicide. He was engaged to marry a lovely girl but just before getting married, he al lowed some of his friends to prevail on him to go out for a fling, and he contracted a dread disease. His convic tion was so heavy that he took his own life. For this reason, the Scripture says, “The wages of sin is death’’ and “He that soweth to the whirlwind shall of the whirlwind reap destruction.” B. The Wounds Made by Transgres sions. Sin causes sorrow to be inflicted upon our loved ones. I knew a civil service I. THE SUFFERINGS CAUSED BY employee who had pilfered funds that SIN were committed to his trust until fin “He was wounded for our trans ally he was discovered. He had a love gressions, he was bruised for our ini ly family, but the disgrace of his be quities.” I ing dismissed from his position and A. The Way of the Transgressor is being threatened with a prison sentence left his family brokenhearted. I know Hard The text describes sin as going a young student who had great poss astray or as turning everyone to his ibilities and a fine mind but who suc own way. The comparison is between cumbed to temptation, brought his men and sheep. Sheep may be lovable father to an early grave and his and helpless, but they are also stupid, mother into the depths of sorrow. and they are prone to wander. The There are no such things as solitary figure of sheep as representative of sins. We hurt others by our selfishness people is often used in the Bible (Ps. and by our waywardness. When we 23; John 10; 21; Jer. 23). A dog or a turn to our way, as Isaiah describes horse wiU rarely wander or be lost, sin, we are pursuing our own interest, but a sheep needs perennial supervi forming our own plans, gratifying our sion. When the Scripture tells us that own pleasures regardless of the good there is none righteous, no not one, of others. This makes us dissocial. that all have sinned and come short of The universal problem attacked by the glory of God, it is simply telling in the utilitarians by attempting to add

Text: Isaiah 53:6. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned ev ery one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniqiuty of us all.” Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-12 The universality of the Christian message is emphasized by this text which begins with the word “all” and ends with the word “all.” It can only mean that all men are under sin and wrath, and that divine mercy can be had upon all (Romans 1132). Sal vation, like the Bible, is addressed to all men and it is available to all. This includes you. Whattext is used of God to bring men to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Get a repentant sinner on his knees with this text before him and it will not be long before he is rejoicing in the knowledge of salvation. The text tells what Christ did for you when He died on the cross. Chiang Kai Shek, president of Free China, once was a prisoner of the Com munists when he was dealing with them in reference to unified China. He bore witness that during this time, it was the power of the cross and the knowledge oif te sufferings of Christ that made him do what was right. He was so overwhelmed by the love of Christ that he was unwilling to com promise is convictions.

penalties to antisocial actions so as to make it more pleasurable to be social than to be antisocial. This is one way to attack the universal problems. The sorrows of the world are directly traceable to sin and selfishness, greed, ambition, discontent and avarice. Sins never affect us alone. C. The Willingness of Christ to be Wounded Isaiah says, “He was wounded for our transgressions.” This is a remark able prophecy that details the suffer ings of Christ in His passion. It is clear evidence in the inspiration of Isaiah for he wrote as if he saw the entire crucifixion. Let us review these things as Isaiah described them. The word, “wounded,” means to perforate or to pierce. This literally applied to the painful infliction o f positive wounds upon the body of Christ in His hands. His feet. His head and His side. But it also may apply to such things as the denial of Peter and the kiss of Judas. These were as effective in their wounding as the crown of thorns, the scourge, the nails and the sword. The word, “bruised,” means to be broken to pieces, crushed. The Lord Jesus was crushed down by calamity and overwhelmed by mental and phy sical sufferings. The word, “stripes,” means welts or bruises and is sometimes translated to mean blueness or bruised. Our term is “black and blue.” This is the result of beating or scourging, leaving such, stripes with blood collected under the skin. The Lord Jesus had thirty-nine such stripes laid upon Him in the scourging which was administered in Pilate’s judgement hall. All this He suffered as our representative. Through out the idea is suggested and stated that it was not on account of any sin of which He was guilty that He suf fered, but for the sins of others. II. THE SUFFERING COMPENSAT ING FOR SIN Isaiah speaks of “the chastisement of our peace . . . the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all . . . he was wounded for our transgression.” A. The Vicarious Nature of the Suffer ing of Christ Surely the New Testament doctrine could not be stated more clearly than it was by Isaiah (II Cor. 5:21; Rom. 4:25; Heb. 9:82; I Pet. 2:24). The ground and motive of the Messiah’s suf fering was here as for our sins. That includes my sin. He was my substitute (Continued page 5)

THE MESSENGER.

TRUTH for youth

manifestation of God’s power. It has been said that prayer is to the soul what air is to the physical body. If that is a true comparison then prayer is indeed indispensable. God has pro vided the power for victory but we must claim this power. Isa. 40:31 “. . . they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they Shall walk and not faint.” “Pray with out ceasing.”

ian! 'The Christian life is a life of challenge. A normal school child will readily respond to a challenge, espe cially if he is encouraged by someone who he thinks quite highly otf. Could By J. Loewen it be that you do not think of Christ If we turn back the pages of time highly enough and therefore refuse about 3000 years, we come to a mem to take on the challenge? If you, as a Use God’s word when you are tempt orable day in the history of the Is Christian, must constantly admit de ed, He quoted Scripture. Matt. 4:1-11, feat you are undermining the power raelites. Two armies and two individ “Sin will keep you from this Book; uals are facing each other. On the one of Christ for He has said, “AU power this Book will keep you from sin.” Be is given unto me ” . side we have the mighty giant Goliath filled with the Spirit. Don’t attempt to There are certain conditions to be representing the Philistine: on the oth resist Satan in your own strength—Gal. er side we have the stripling David met in order to live victoriously. There 5:16, 25. Let the Holy Spirit have the must be faith and this involves an ini representing the Israelite camp. The key to every room of your heart and issues at stake are of immense im tial, genuine Christian experience. It life. Be alert. Recognize temptation portance. The outcome of this combat must be a living faith—a faith wiUing when it comes. One girl used the illus will either mean defeat or victory for to be exercised. We must learn to take tration of her brother sneaking up be the Israelites. If David is defeated it God at His word and act on His prom hind her to make her lose her balance will mean captivity and probably cruel ises. Phil. 4:13, “I can do aU things by pushing in her knee. When she was bondage; if David is victorious the through Christ who strengtheneth me.” alert enough to notice his approach, Philistine army will be routed. A second condition is prayer. No he was unsuccessful. May we be alert ’The Christian’s conflict with the un dcubt David will have learned to com when Satan approaches, in order to seen forces of evil is in many ways mune with God when he was out defeat him. similar to the conflict of David and alone on the hillsides with his sheep. Goliath. But as David was vitorious Christ often went alone and prayed, Other conditions or steps to victor over his foe, so can also the Christian and at times He spent most of the ious living would be to expect temp be. As someone has said, “In the mind night in prayer. The apostles, when tations, believe victory is possible, of the person who is convinced of the they were threatened by the Jewish know Satan’s methods, yield to Christ, validity of his cause, victory is a must Council, did not shirk back but with flee temptation, and resist the Devil. at any price”. If anyone ever had a one accord they petitioned the Lord to Some other time perhaps, we might valid cause certainly it is the Christ- help them and the result was a great discuss the results of victorious living.

VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIVING

His sufferings on the cross were for by which our peace was effected was me. The fact that my sufferings may laid upon Christ. He took what we be vicarious are in a much lesser sense should have had to endure. Therefore, for they are not redemptive as were He “is our peace” (Eph. 2:14; Rom. those of the Messiah. 5:1). The nature of this chastisement was similar to what a parent inflicts B. The Transference of our Iniquity The word “laid” means to impinge to correct the faults of a child. It was upon or to strike. The analogy is of remedial for us but not for Him. His rushing upon a foe to overwhelm him. sufferings had a moral influence over It represents a meeting or a concur us. I'key were not for His personal rence. Our sins met on Him, over correction but for our correction. Chas whelmed Him and prostrated Him. He tisement was only one phase of His was struck by the burdens of our sins. suffering. Satisfaction in punishment Christ was the suffering Lamb taken was also present. He compensated for in substitution to die for those whom our transgressions. He bore our ini He represented. There is a nice ques quity or guilt, and He took in His tion here as to whether this was an body the enmity of the law which exact transference of the amount of should have fallen upon us. He suffered our guilt, or a token transference, or as if He were guilty of sin. a mere accommodation. Whatever it III. THE SUFFERINGS CURING SIN was, the Lord Jesus Christ made a suf A. They Satisfied Justice for Guilt In the sufferings of Christ, eternal ficient satisfaction for all. C. The Chastisement due to Sin justice was met and satisfied. The deThe chastisement or the punishment mands of the broken law of God were April 5, 1963

met. Forgiveness could now ensue while God remained just and the justifier of him who believeth in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:25). The assurance of justification is thus given in the believ ing sinner whose sins have been judged in Christ and whose position is now identified with Christ. B. They Produced Peace by ReconcUiation (Eph. 2:14ff). Peace follows justification and re conciliation with God. There is no continued enmity between God and man. God is appeased. God is recon ciled. God is ready to forgive. The knowledge of this reconciliation through the sufferings of Christ is the central experience of the Christian faith. C. They Effected Healing Isaiah says, “with his stripes we are healed.” This is a healing which is spiritual. It produces soundness of (Cont’d. page 7)

CHILDREN S STORY

Cripple Tom By J. H. Hunter

Cripple Tom listened intently as the Sunday school teacher explained the lesson. An accident when he was five had deprived Tom of his left leg. He was now ten. He was one of a dozen boys who attended Sunday school at Grace Mission in the slums of the large city of Milchester. For twenty years Miss Manly had taught the slum boy.s there. Many of her pupils had grown to manhood, and God had permitted her to see that her labor had not been in vain. Not one boy had ever passed through her class that she did not seek to lead into a definite experience of Jesus Christ.

It was Easter Sunday, and the teach er had told the boys the story of the resurrection of Christ. That the story had laid hold upon their imaginations and touched their hearts was evident from the rapt attention. Simply, graph ically the teacher pictured the closing scenes of the Lord’s life. His death, and His resurrection. In simple words she told them that this was the one story that would bring men to God, and that no one was too weak or to young to tell it. “Remember, boys,” she said, “be cause you know that the Lord Jesus Christ died for you and rose again from the dead that he might destroy death, you should tell that story too.” She had drawn a picture from the world of nature. The cold, frozen, un responsive earth was like the heart of man, she said until, warmed by the sun of God’s love, it burst into new life of faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ. The story touched Tom that day as he hurried home to his father, his crutch tap, tap, tapping on the pave ment. His father stayed in bed all Sunday to sleep off the effects of his drunken spree on Saturday night, and it was Tom’s supposed duty to go home on Sunday afternoon and put the kettle on for his parent and make him tea. As he hurried along, the teacher’s words were ringing in his ears. He wa.s only a little fellow with ojie leg, and it never occurred to him 6

that God might use him much in His service. Of course, he had asked other fel lows to come to Sunday school, but that was not much, he thought. It was so good to be there that he thought others must enjoy it as much as he. He did not know much, but he knew Jesus had done something for him that made him happy, and perhaps he could teU someone that He had risen from the dead. Tom wondered if he dared tell his father the good news. While he did not object to Tom going to Sun day school, he said frequently he “had no time for religion.” “Still,” Tom thought, “I don’t want to talk about religion, but about Jesus, and He is alive today.” When Tom reached the third floor of the tenement in Hogan’s Alley, he found his father sitting on the bed with his head in his hands and the picture of despair. Tom hastened to put the kettle on the miserable stove. He hopped about on his crutch for all the world like a sparrow. He placed a loaf of bread on the rickety table, two cups without saucers and no handles, one knife, and a microscopic piece of but ter. This finished, the boy then hopped to an overturned box in front of hi.s father and sat down.

hand Tom laid it gently on his parent’s arm and said again, “Father, Christ is risen from the dead. Teacher told us to day. He is alive. He has all power, and He can save you from sin — and the drink?” For a minute or two the bemused eyes of the man looked at his son uncomprehendingly. It seemed as though the words had penetrated no farther than his ears. 'Then gradually, it seemed, they entered into his mind and he muttered to himself, “Christ is risen.” Rising from the bed, he walked the length of the garret and back again and murmured, “Christ is risen.”

The sword of the Spirit of God then pierced his heart, and he turned with eyes overflowing to his little crippled son. “Tommy, my boy,” he cried “tell your poor father some more. Is it true? Can Christ save the like o’ me?”

For a moment Tom was stricken dumb at the change in his father. The tears of remorse and repentance were streaming down his cheeks. The lad could not preach, but he remembered his Testament given him when Miss Manly had presented one to each of her class, “Listen, Father,” he said, “I’ll read you what it says.” Opening His Testament at the place they had been studying that day, Tom read to his father the story of the crucifixion of the Lord. “And, Father,” he said, “that is for you and me. If you will believe it, Jesus wlU forgive your sin.”

Eagerly the man listened to his crippled son. “Tommy, lad,” he said hoarsely, “do yo think He can take away the craving for the drink?”

The man lifted up his head and peered at his son through eyes that were bleared with drink. “Tommy, lad,” he said, “never take the drink. Look at me, your father. I once was a man, and now I’m an animal. You are to good a boy. Tommy, to have such a father as me.” Tom looked at his father and hi.s face glowed with suppressed excite ment, and a fire was in his bones to tell him about Christ. “Father,” he cried, in a voice that thrilled with excitement, “Clirist is risen.” It was the first sermon that the lad had preached, and his father looked at him in amazment. Reaching out his

“Listen, father,” said the child ea gerly, “I’ll read the story of the Resurrecton.” And Tom read the wonder ful story that tells of the first Easter morning when the mighty Saviour rose from the tomb. “Father, see what it says, ‘All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.’ The Lord can break the power of the drink if you will ask Him.” The man put out his hand and laid it on his son’s. “Tommy, lad you ask Him for me.” And there on the floor of the garret knelt the dissolute fa ther and his crippled son. But that garret was as the gate of heaven to a poor soul that was born anew through the faith of a little child. —The Evangelical Christian

THE MESSENGER

FROM

HOUSE

TO YO

HOUSE

cious promises of God. Irritability and discontent need to be aired out in the sunshine of God’s love. The windows of our eyes may be dirty and spotted hindering a clear spotless view of others about us. The spots and stains of sin need to be removed. Let us ap ply the cleansing power of the blood

of Christ to remove every spot and wrinkle. Only as we remove all trash and sin can Christ, our risen Saviour, fully live in our hearts and help us live a clean, victorious life daily. This is my wish and prayer for each one of us this joyous Easter season.

WITH THE GOSPEL IN JAPAN SPRING CLEANING By Elma B. Dueck

I 1

Spring is here! With it comes the new awakening of life all around us. The coldness and drabness of winter is past. Everyone now has plans and ambitions. Farmers are getting their seed cleaned and ready to sow. The children are happily wading in the muddy pools in their new rubber boots. (Don’t scold too much, mother, if the boots are not quite high enough at times! Remember the time when you were young.) To us housewives spring means house cleaning, doesn’t it? We are usually filled with enough ambition to go at it with a will. First, there are all the drawers and closets to clean and sort out. Mine al ways do have the tendency of getting cluttered and disordered, even with the best intention otherwise and need a regular sorting out of things that are useless, outgrown, or out of season, so the essential things have room in an orderly way. Then there is the cleaning of walls, windows, curtains, the airing of the bedding, and so on. The reward — a clean, sweet smelling, orderly house. No matter how much we resolve to keep our house tidy and clean as we go along, we need the spring cleanning for a thorough job, to remove the dust and grime accumulated during the winter from the furnace, cooking grease, and the like. This makes me think of our lives. Even though we try to keep our lives clean as we go along, its essential that we also stop to thoroughly search our hearts in every nook and corner. We may carelessly have put pride, jeal ousy, petty grievances, misunderstand ings into our closets and shelves, crowding out love, joy, gentleness and faith. The cobwebs of hurry and im patience may mar the pattern of our walls. The dust of doubt and gloom may be hiding the beauty of the pre

April 5, 1963

(Cont’d.)

and gave my personal testimony how Christ saved me. The wife sitting next to me said, “What you have is differ ent from my religion.” She was not willing to admit that this was the truth, but, she agreed that hers was different. House visitations continued in a few more months many of the homes in this neighborhood were reached by tract and spoken word. Student Work Musashifujisawa has three fairly large schools, Elemetary, Junior High, and High School. My first contact with these students was through house call ing. One day, a mother of one of the Junior High school girls asked me if I would teach English, my reply was that if her daughter wanted to come to my house in the evenings I would be happy to help her. I continued to tell her, that my main purpose in being here was to spread the Gospel and that in the afternoons I was out do ing house calling. So only my eve nings were open to teaching English. My first students were three Junior high school girls. They were very shy in the beginning, but after a few weeks this barrier was gone. One night after teaching them English. I told them the simple way of salvation using the Life of Christ pictures to illustrate the Gos pel. These girl’s have been coming faithfully ever since, and they love to sing, so I taught them some Gospel songs. This was the beginning of the student work in Musashifujisawa. More and more students began to come, by Christmas time about 40 students were coming regularly. 'This seemed to be the beginning of reaching thc;se students with the Gospel. As new stu dents would come I would first tell them the Gospel then teach a little English. I found that these students went home and told their whole fam ily what they had heard, this way the Gospel was going into each home. Little Teiko-chan, just a first grader in Elementary school has been ccining

Io my house for a few months now. The other day I told her the “word less book” story and song too. I ex plained very simply what each page meant. After a few days I met her mother and she said, “Teiko-chan tells me everything that you tell her, she told me that people that tell lies have a black and dirty heart” Very lew Jap anese think that telling lies is bad, they only use it as an excuse, they say! Teiko-chan’s mother has expressed her desire to read the Bible, may they through this come to know Christ as their presonal Saviour. “Say ye not, there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Be hold, I say unto you. Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to Harvest.” John 4:35. Mary Koop is an E.M.C. missionary serving her second term in Japan un der New Tribes Mission. Her address is: Mary Koop 1330, Shimo Fujisawa, I Musashi-machi, Irima-gun, Saitama-Ken, Japan

* * *

THE SUFFERING OF SIN (Cont’d.)

soul. In quoting this, Peter makes it refer to pardon and forgiveness (I Pet. 2:24). As a result, the believer is in the care of the Shepherd and Bishop of his soul. The recovery can be complete. There will be soundness and health through Christ. Hence, the Benedic tion: “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be the glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

NEWS

•(1

Tent Meetings at Jack Pine Portage

Every other Sunday the Flin Flon group conducts a service at Jack Pine Portage. They minister here to a small group of Indians. Jack Pine Portage is on the Hanson Lake Road about 30 miles west of Flin Flon. There are some 10 - 15 Indian fam ilies living here. They make their homes in portable cabins and tents. Services are conducted in the larg est tent. Some six grown men with their wives and numerous young people and children come out. It is a joy to minister to people so eager to hear. Arnold Reimer

* * * Young People Serve on Indian Reserve A group of young people, accom panied by Rev. Jac. L. Kroeker, went to the Bloodvein Indian Reserve on Sunday, March 17, to present a pro gramme. The Bloodvein Reserve is about 60 miles from Washow Bay. The last 10 miles, which is across the lake, had to be travelled by bombardier. This transportation was supplied by missionary Neufeld (E.M.M.C.) who is stationed there. The service was well attended. The same programme was also ren dered at Matheson Island on the re turn trip. Andrew Dueck ♦ ♦ ♦

From the M.C.C. News Service CAPTIVES IN VIETNAM IN GOOD HEALTH

Akron, Pa., (MCC) — On February 8, 1963, the Christian Missionary Alli ance in New York received this hearten ing telegram from Vietnam: “Authen tically reported three alive good health halleluja.” This cable was sent by Grady Mang ham, the CMA director in Vietnam. Further details in a letter from Mang ham revealed that the Vietnam govern ment forces have recently captured a communist soldier who claims to have been the leader of the Viet Cong group which captured the Christian workers in May, 1962. In a raid on the Banmethuout Leprosarium, the Viet Cong group which captured Daniel Gerber, an MCC Pax worker, and two other workers at the leprosarium, Dr. Vietti and Reverend Mitchell. The captured leader also reported that he saw the three captives almost every day, and they were being used to care for sick and injured soldiers. Until his own capture on February 7, he was in contact with the captives.

The STEINBACH BIBLE INSTITUTE will again offer short course high school courses during the spring semester. Classes will begin on April 8 Interested persons may write The Steinbach Bible Institute Steinbach, Manitoba

Coming Events

’4

April 4 - 14 Evangelistic meetings at Ridgewood. Speaker, Frank Kroeker from Maryfield. April 7-12, Revival meetings at Portage la Prairie. Elmer Hamm speaker. April 16-21 Revival meetings at Kola (Butler). Rev. Elmer Reimer from Winner, South Dakota speaker.

April 7 • 21 Evangelistic Meetings at Burns Lake. Speaker: The Rev. Joe Ash, Pennsylvania.

* * »

April 8-21, Revival meetings at Prairie Rose. John P. Loewen will be the speaker.

Noble truths, when sincerely and habitually held in the mind, find their way into our deepest life, shape it and rule it. —Selected.

April 28 - May 5 Missionary Confer ence at MacGregor. Edwin Wright, pastor of the Endeavour (E.M.C.) Fel lowship Chapel is the main speaker.

Kola Church Dedicated

The Kola (Butler) congregation reached an important milestone on the afternoon of March 24, when the dedication of our church building took place. The program on this occasion included a message by both Rev. Art Neufeld and Rev. John Harms, a time of testimonies, and several numbers in song provided by the choir, girl’s chorus and men’s quartette. Since the inception of the work here seven years ago, the Lord has marvellously led. The general feeling throughout the service v/as thankfulness for all the Lord has done and a desire that He would work greater things in our midst in the days to come. After the seiwice a fellowship lunch followed in the basement. Mrs. Ernest Giesbrecht 8

Order Form

Change of Address

THE MESSENGER Box 1447 Steinbach, Manitoba 0 Please enter my subscription for THE MESSENGER Subscription rate $2.50 per year.

Enclosed find $

(P.O. Money order or check)

O I have changed my address.

Name

(Please Print)

Present Address Old Address

(If you have moved)

THE MESSENGER