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“search the scriptures” John 5:39
One Saturday in June an open-air gospel witness was given in Trafalgar Square from 6.0 p.m. to 9.0 p.m. by workers of the Mobile Evangelistic Units usually operating in and around the London area. The open-air meeting was preceded by three hours’ continuous prayer meeting in the Lecture Hall, St. Martins-in-the-Fields Church, kindly lent for the occasion, and over 100 gathered for this essential preparation. In the Mobile Units, parked nearby, some continued in prayer throughout the whole proceedings in the Square. Promptly at 6.0 p.m. a large number of brethren and sisters mounted to the base of the Plinth, formed a singing party and commenced singing well-known and well-loved hymns. Well over 1,000 people gathered throughout the three hours while the Gospel of Christ was most clearly and faithfully preached. During the meeting eight brethren with Police authority, distributed Scripture portions and tracts, made many personal contacts and engaged in earnest talks. After the closing of the public meeting there were very many inquirers dealt with and anxious souls pointed to the Saviour. Let us still “water” with our prayers this great and memorable testimony in the heart of London, and rejoice in hope that God will be glorified in the love and faith of His servants in telling forth His great love and the wonders of His glorious Son. (S. H. S.)
The assembly at Ross Road Hall, Wallington, is rejoicing in the realization of divine blessing in the gospel work of the assembly. Over the recent years of patient and faithful toil God has given favour, and quite recently no less than ten young men and women, in response to their new-found Lord’s command, were baptized on the same evening. In a crowded Hall, many “outsiders” witnessed this public confession by these -dear friends and the word’ spoken on this occasion was with great power and blessing. On a subsequent Sunday, two more young folk were baptized and again the Hall was filled to capacity and the gospel faithfully preached to those who were present. (S. 11. S.)
The assembly meeting in Victoria Hall, Wandsworth, has been brought to know that their “labour is not in vain in the Lord,” for several young men and women have recently confessed Christ as their Saviour and, of these, seven were baptized during June. Some of them had no Christian background in home-life - in fact in some cases the parents were not sufficiently interested in their children’s confession to be present - but in spite of this there was great joy, and real sincerity in the cases of those baptized. These results in the ordinary, painstaking work of the Sunday School and Bible Class show that God stands always ready to bless and to save. Let us continue to do His work in faith and love. (S. H. S.)
We previously published a report from the assembly at Maidstone, Kent. They had received notice to quit their Hall but we now hear that they have been allowed to continue on a weekly tenancy. Plans for the new building have been passed by the authorities, and a firm of Christian builders has given an extremely favourable tender for the work. The land has been paid for, some funds are still in hand, and two friends have agreed jointly to contribute 10/- for each £1 received from other sources. A building licence has been applied for and is expected shortly.
The necessity of bringing the gospel to new housing estates led the assembly at Winchester to arrange a tent mission at the village of Weeke. The tent was on the site for a month, Harry Bedford was responsible for the work amongst adults, and Tom Moore for the children’s work. After so much preparation it was grieving to see the lack of response from the people on the estate. The congregations at the tent consisted mainly of believers (local and from the outlying districts) who brought others, chiefly young people. There was happy interest among the young with a few professions of conversion, two of which were from the estate. The brethren are much cast upon the Lord for further leading with regard to this estate. The experience of our brethren at Winchester gives food for thought as to the best means of reaching the unsaved in our new housing estates. Our next paragraph might suggest that personal work is the answer, (A. C. P.)
A baptism has been arranged at Drayton, mainly to enable a young Marine to obey the Lord. A regular Royal Marine, serving in Barracks at Portsmouth, he was brought into contact with a witnessing Christian through the latter being drafted temporarily to Portsmouth for training for duty at the Coronation. The bright testimony, consistent life and persistent witness had their effect, and the young” regular” surrendered to the Lord. Though young in the faith he has grown speedily in grace and knowledge, and in his turn is witnessing to others. (A. C. P.)
Derek Frost(Callington), and G. Greenaway (Bristol) held a tent mission in Callington, where there has been no assembly for several years. Although no conversions were seen amongst the adults, some folk showed a definite interest and, as a result, the Council Chambers have been hired for continuation meetings each Thursday evening. The tent was moved to Kelly Bray, where a soul was won for the Lord and the local Christians seemed to be greatly blessed. The next pitch was at Downgate, and on the first night a lady 88 years of age professed conversion. Interest increased as the meetings continued, and before they ended a man came to the Lord. (N. M. B.)
The Government has planned a new town at Cwmbran in Monmouthshire, and already many houses have been erected. A number of these are tin the vicinity of the assembly’s hall, which was built about 45 years ago. The assembly, now about 87 in number, is seeking to take advantage of the opportunity of bringing the gospel to this increased population by indoor and open-air testimony on Lord’s-day evenings, house-to-house tract distribution on Friday evenings, and especially by work amongst the young. The School numbers about 120 and calls urgently for some extensions to the hall, especially in view of the fact that many more houses are to be erected. Children’s meetings held on a week-night during the winter months are attended by about 100 children, some of them not members of the Sunday School.
The assembly at Llanelly is again reaching out with Saturday-afternoon visits to various towns in West Wales. The writer met about 30 of the Christians at the Hall there at 2.0 p.m. one Saturday in July. A hired bus took the party to Llandyssul in Cardiganshire (35 miles) where some went round with gospel literature while others conducted an open-air testimony, mainly in Welsh, on a spot allocated to them by the Police. The journey was then continued a further 15 miles to New Quay, with a break for tea on a quiet moor. Tracts were distributed at New Quay, the amplifiers were erected on a beautiful grassy spot overlooking the Bay, and seven speakers shared a gospel testimony which lasted for about two hours. Numbers of people sat on nearby seats and others stood near and listened, but the messages cohld be heard for a considerable distance. The expenses of the work are met from a fund contributed to all the year round by the Christians.
Open-air work and house-to-house work were carried on during June at Pontyclun by a group of brethren who gave their holidays and evenings for this purpose. Cyril Hocking took the main responsibility for this work.
During June and July, Stan. Ford conducted a tent mission at The Crystals, a large new housing estate at Cardiff, on a site allocated for the erection of a Gospel Hall. Meetings were held nightly for children and adults. About 200 children attended nightly but the work with the adults has not been easy, although the numbers attending the services increased steadily. The weekly Women’s Meetings on Wednesday afternoons attracted between 60 and 70. A few professions have been made and it is hoped to continue the work with a temporary building until the permanent one can be erected.
W. A. Norris and W. Trew have had tent meetings at Pyle. A group of young Christians, showed interest in the Word, and the Children’s Meetings were most encouraging. (H. T.)
Stated as simply as possible the Andrew League Camping Holiday Centre at Guarlford, Malvern, is part of a new effort to claim more fruit for the Lord from amongst the senior children of our Sunday Schools. The ever increasing challenge of the early teenager is a well-discussed subject among Sunday School workers of today. Every year it is becoming more difficult to hold the interest of the senior scholars, and the numbers of those who become baptized and added to the assemblies - even from large Sunday Schools - are tragically few. When it is borne in mind that the child who leaves Sunday School unsaved very often carries through life the belief that “going to Sunday School makes me a Christian,” the challenge becomes even greater. Summer Holiday Camps organized by Sunday Schools help to meet this challenge in’ a two-fold way. First, the possibility of the older boy or girl leaving Sunday School during the summer months is greatly lessened. Second, an encouraging percentage of campers’ come to take Christ as Saviour during the holiday. Bearing this in mind, it was decided in the will of the Lord to establish a permanent Camping Holiday Centre within easy reach of most Midland cities. In answer to prayer the Lord indicated in 1951 a disused Gospel Hall, situated within a mile of the beautiful Malvern Hills and surrounded by lovely Worcestershire countryside. The main Hall has been adapted to serve as dining-room, wet-weather games room, and meeting-room. Through the willing labours and gifts of many of the Lord’s people it has been possible to erect a well-equipped modern kitchen, toilet block and ablution hut, together with a 30 ft. by 8 ft. verandah along one side of the main Hall. Sleeping arrangements at the present time include a marquee and several smaller tents. A local farmer has offered for sale a small ex-army brick building in a nearby field. This has electricity laid on and, together with another hut, would make excellent dormitories. The brethren responsible - F. W. A. Payne, S. J. Levett, A. E. Tetstall, Dr. H. J. Hoyte, N. Trickett, F. Haines, J. D. Orton and S. J. Marshall - hope to improve the facilities and extend the work as circumstances permit. (S. J. M.)
Friends at Selly Oak Gospel Hall, Birmingham, celebrated their Diamond Jubilee with three weeks’ special meetings addressed by D. Porter (Solihull) and John James (Tipton). Numbers were few at first but increased latet, and one man about 30 years old was converted.
Writing to the Philippians, Paul said “the things which have happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.” One of the Birmingham brethren engaged in industry was for some time a patient at one of the large sanatoria on the outskirts of the city. The Lord graciously raised him up and he now spends most of his spare time - Lord’s Days and week-evenings - revisiting this sanatorium, which he has “carte blanche” permission to enter at any time, and at the time of writing he is in definite contact with at least 200 of those who are or have been patients in the hospital, and the Lord is blessing his ministry. He has a delightful manner and is warmly received on every visit. This may encourage others who have been in hospital to follow this good example. (P. P. C.)
At the invitation of the brethren of Nuneaton assembly, an interesting and unusual conference was held in the Manor Court Rooms in June under the title of “The Preaching of the Gospel.” The afternoon and part of the evening session were devoted to a consideration of the various elements of the gospel-meeting, and brethren from a wide circle of assemblies in the Midlands gave introductory talks on “The Hymns we Sing,” “Public Prayer,” “The Reading of Scripture,” “The Use of the Bible,” “The Language we Use” and “The Appeal.” Discussion followed each talk and many searching things were said in an atmosphere of cordial fellowship. The complaint that there was not enough time for adequate discussion only reinforced the request put by many brethren that the conference should be considered the first of a series, and it is hoped this will be so. The evening meeting closed with an address by Henry Steedman on “What is the Gospel?”, in which the Godward side of the truth was presented in all its dignity from the first six verses of Romans! Some notes are being prepared at the request of many brethren under the title of “Thoughts on the Gospel Meeting,” and notice will be given through the magazines when these are ready. Inquiries may be sent to H. E. Pope, 26 Brookdale Road, Nuneaton, Warwicks. (H. E. P.)
One of the chief items of news covering recent times has been the acquisition of a second-hand ambulance, which has been converted into a Mobile Gospel Unit for the counties of Durham and Northumberland. Willing hands have given freely of their service to put the unit into working order, and there can be no doubt that considerable interest has been stirred up. The area over which the unit can operate is a very large one and both countryside and city districts have been visited, the operation of the unit being under the care of one assembly or another. The friends at Bethany Hall, Newcastle, made good use of it for a fortnight, when about 4,000 houses were visited in the course of the nightly “raids” and much gospel literature was left in the hands of the people who were thus contacted. The first “outing” for the unit was really in connection with a special gospel effort at Maxwell Hall, John Clay Street, South Shields. Our friends there tell us that the unit was of immense value to them and was extremely useful in getting the interest of the people. During the annual Tyneside ‘* Race Week” holiday, covering ten days towards the end of June, the unit was stationed on the Town Moor, Newcastle, on the fringe of a vast fair (reckoned to be one of the largest in the world), in the hope of reaching some of the many thousands making their way into or out of the fair. Whilst the effort was not without some opposition, quite a goodly number heard the Word of the Lord and some useful contacts were made. (J. H. H.)
At the. beginning of March, Charles McEwen (Exeter) and James G. Hutchinson (Dundonald) commenced gospel-meetings in the Wellington Street Hall, Ballymena. There had been on the part of the Christians a good deal of prayer and exercise prior to the start of the meetings. Fairly early in the campaign it was evident that God was working, and soon the hearts of all were encouraged, when some professed conversion. The meetings continued for almost eight weeks, during which time a number professed to be saved, some were restored and others led on and received into fellowship. It was very encouraging to all to see twelve or more of the leading business-men of the town, along with three or four evangelists, meeting each morning at 10.30 for prayer. “Where brethren dwell together in unity - there the Lord commanded the blessing.”
Much was expected of the effort in the gospel which was made in Union Hall, Uddingston, during the latter part of March and the first few weeks of April. The evangelist responsible, Sam. Thompson of Newtownards, had had successful campaigns in the district and anticipated great interest in Uddingston. From the beginning, however, it was evident that much hard work would be necessary. It was only after a great deal of visitation of the homes of the people that attendances at the meeting began to come up to expectations. The meetings grew not only in numbers but in power. It was felt that God was working and some unsaved were deeply interested. These latter continued to attend the regular gospel meetings in the Hall after the four weeks’ campaign was over. None however reached the point of decision. This meant much disappointment to all concerned. Such results, it is felt, are intended by the Lord to exercise His people deeply and to teach them more of His ways. (A. McN.)
In Lerwick the open-air meetings, after the indoor gospel-meeting on Lord’s Days, commenced early in June, These meetings have been well supported by the Christians, whilst those who stand around appear intensely interested in the messages. During the summer months James Moar has paid successive brief visits to Papa Stour, Yell and Skerries. At the conclusion of his Yell visit in June he had the joy of baptizing a young man from the island who had been exercised about this matter for some time. About mid-June David Marrison of Inverness arrived in the islands and stayed a month. He was in Bigton district during most of his stay and his activities consisted mainly of visitation during the week with meetings on Lord’s Days. It should be noted that the summer months are generally unsuitable for meetings in the country districts here, as practically everyone is taken up with outdoor work till late in the evenings. Leslie Randall arrived about mid-July and hopes to visit Trondra, Papa Stour and Yell. There was a good attendance at the Conference on Trondra island in July when among the speakers were several from the South. (J. H. Y. S.)
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