Spring 1987
Dear
Co-labourers,
As
many of you may know, just now, it is a very important time for us here at Bible
College because this is my final term here, decisions have to be made as to our
future, in the Lord's will. It would be an easy thing to harken to the voice of
man. Being in a Mission College has the added problem of being very much under
the emphasis of the work that that particular mission is involved in. Indeed,
the need for labourers is great in the tribal work with which New Tribes Mission
is involved, but it is also true that each believer must act on the strength of
his or her own convictions, and on most importantly, how the Lord is leading
that person through His Word. Having heard a tape of the Pastor's message on the
guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can agree 100% with the message that today we
believers can be guided only by the Holy Spirit.
You
will remember that our connections with Child Evangelism Fellowship run deep. We
have both been involved in their work over the past 6 years; and many will
remember what I said about C.E.F. at my valedictory service last January, (86).
We have been seeking the Lord’s s will for our lives, both in His Word
and at the Throne of Grace and we believe that it is the Lord's will for us to
continue our work with C.B.F. by applying for their training course in
Kilchzimoner, Switzerland. You will appreciate that we will need much prayer,
and much re- assurance from the Lord as Satan, would often make you doubt.
Indeed, Satan has sought to 'sift us as wheat', from the task of reaching this
world with the Gospel.
Will
YOU pray for us? Will you give of your time to seek God's force for our
guidance? and perhaps, will you "GO" [Matt 28 : 18,19) that others may
hear of the blessed Gospel of Christ?
Thank
you all for your support, we really do appreciate it. Thanks also to those of
you who have put pen to paper and have written. We have quite a full summer
programme ahead of us, but will give more details in our next prayer letter.
Yours
in His Precious Blood,
Geoffrey
and Gillian.
CARRY
THE VISION
Make
it your business to reach every life you can, in every why you can, for this
important work of World Evangelism. There is no better time than now, for
tomorrow, you may be in Heaven. Those You would have challenged will be idle
still, and the heathen you would have reached will still be on their way to
Hell:
Start
your day with believing prayer. Ask
the Holy Spirit to guide you and to prepare you and empower you. Dig deeper into
the Word of God - get out and witness to the lost - challenge the saved - write
letters and pray when there’s no better way.
See
to it that all available challenging material or other spiritual helps are
provided for everyone you know. Pass on the message that God has used to awaken
you to your responsibility.
Pray
for your co-labourers – for the missionaries – for unevangelised fields –
for those in spiritual leadership – for Christians who will catch a world
vision.
Eat,
Live, Drink and Sleep your job, for its the biggest business in the world.
If You have caught the vision, Carry it!
May
it be so catching that those you reach will carry it to others who in turn will
reach others also.
(Paul
Fleming, founder of New Tribes Mission)
THE
LADIES FELLOWSHIP
We
began the New Year with a visit on 14th January from Pastor Toner of J.E.B. Mrs
Toner presented slides of the work in Japan.
She spoke of the cultures of the people and of the great work being done
for the Lord in that country. It was thrilling to hear of many Japanese people
trusting the Lord.
On
11th February Pastor Chambers from the Hill Street Church spoke to
the ladies. He read from Luke Ch. 2. His message was based on Anna the
Prophetess and we heard how women, like Anna, have their own particular part to
play in God's Work and also in our homes. We also had a testimony from Mrs
Margaret Carlisle. It thrilled our souls to hear of how the Lord had saved her
and her evident love for her Master was a joy to us all.
The
next meeting was on 11th March and was taken by Miss Vera Smith of I.E.B. Vera
shared with us her burden for the souls of Roman Catholic people, not only in
Ireland but also in Spain. She told us of the ever widening scope for bringing
the Gospel to such people and of the hunger to hear and read God's Word. She
feels led of the Lord to spend some months this year in the Canary Islands
helping the Church and also some time in Spain giving help and encouragement to
workers there. Vera’s talk was illustrated by slides.
In
addition to the Fellowship Meeting we have our Prayer Meeting on the 4th
Wednesday of each month. Attendance is sometimes very small and I would
encourage our ladies to come and pray with us and enjoy the times of fellowship
around God's Word. The workers on the Mission Field need our prayers as do our
families, our Church Assembly and our own land.
May it be true of us that we "laboured fervently in prayer".
Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.
Eph. 6 v 18.
Sally
Fleming.
On
the Wings of Prayer
I
just close my eyes and open my heart
And
feel my worries and cares depart
I
yield myself to the Father above
And
let Him hold me secure in His love –
For
my life on earth grows more involved
With
endless problems that cannot be solved –
But
God only asks me to do my best,
Then
He will "take over" and "finish the rest"
So
when I am tried, discouraged and blue,
There's
always one door that is open to me –
And
that is the door to "The house of Prayer"
And
I’ll find God waiting to meet me there,
And
"The House of Prayer" is no farther away
Than
the quiet spot where I kneel and pray
My
heart is a temple when God is there.
As
I place myself in His loving care,
He
hears every prayer and answers each one,
When
I pray in His name "Thy Will Be Done" –
The
burdens that seemed too heavy to bear
Are
lifted away on "The Wings of Prayer".
By
Adeline Larkin.
Proverbs
8 : 34
Blessed
is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of
my doors.
On the opposite page (Not on web site) is a reproduction of a four-page document issued by St. Thomas' Church of Ireland Parish, Belfast, announcing a series of meetings to promote understanding and co-operation between the various churches in the local geographical area.
Among
those taking part in this exercise are the Crescent Church (Brethren), Winsor
Baptist and Ulsterville Presbyterian who all claim to be evangelical churches.
Also taking part is St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Church.
Is
it right for evangelical churches to become involved in ecumenical ventures with
Roman Catholocism? The question must be asked is the Roman Catholic Church a
Christian church as the document states? Does
her teachings and doctrines measure up to the scriptures? Was the reformation a
mistake or has Rome changed since the sixteenth century?
The
Westminster Confession of Faith of 1646 states that the papal system led by the
Pope is the Antichrist, the man of sin that son of perdition, that exalteth
himself, in the Church against Christ and all that is called God.
The
Baptist Confession of 1689 makes a similar statement. it would seem to- day that
the men who framed these confessions and the reformers were miserably wrong
about Romanism if we accept the modern thinking regarding the Church of Rome.
But
let us consider the teachings of the Church of Rome and compare them with
scripture, to ascertain if Rome can in any way be called a Christian Church.
First let us consider Rome historically i.e. prior to the Reformation, this
period is often referred to in historical discourses as the Dark Ages. In these
centuries, ignorance, illiteracy, poverty, superstition and idolatry prevailed
throughout Europe. The Church of Rome was in full command and had the control of
the people under her thumb. Priests were the dictators and in many instances
they were as illiterate as the people. The corruption and debauchery that were
stalking the land are indescribable and they were within the Church as much as
anywhere. The doctrines of Romanism in the 16th century were never understood by
the people, they wore simply accepted as being the teachings of the only church
they knew, and that the Church was Christ's Church founded by Peter whom they
were taught was the first Pope. Owing
to the ignorance of the people it was quite simple to impose upon the people
idolatry and superstitious practices. If it is possible in this enlightened age,
it was easier in the Dark Ages. The souls of men and women wore deluded by false
doctrine, heresy was abounding on every hand and there was no alternative.
Before
the reformation dawned we find the people depending on saints and angels, or the
powers thought to lie in relies and indulgences. Statues of saints could be seen
by their thousands all over Europe and the mumblings of prayers to them was
regularly heard. There was no mention of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the place of
the Saviour, who is the one Mediator between God and men there had grown up a
network of objects of worship. There were holy places such as the Holy Sepulchre,
the Holy City of Rome, the Castle Church in Wittenberg, the alter in each church
built over the tombs on the bones of martyrs.
There were 'holy things' such as the relies of the saints, the holy lance, the holy ladder, the sacraments which continued and were the causes of grace they signified and the indulgences granted for contributing to or devoutly visiting the holy places and contemplating the holy things. There were pictures and statues, some endued with special sanctity. There were holy persons, martyrs, saints, doctors of the church and priests, monks, bishops, archbishops and cardinals, the holy family with Joseph and Anna and the Virgin Mary who reigned in heaven as the Pope did on earth.
Martin
Luther tells us that when he was in the monastery he selected 21 saints, three
for each day of the week to whom he prayed for various things. He declared that
when he had toothache he fasted in honour of St Apollonia, for protection
against fire he turned to St. Sebastian and for protection against pestilence
he turned to St. Lawrence. Luther
also tells us that it was common practice to covenant with Satan to give
abundance of wealth.
This
vast ecclesiastical structure that screened man from God was the work of
centuries; by the sixteenth century it had been legalised, externalised and
secularised. God had been forsaken for money, war and wickedness. The Gospel of
the Grace of God was unknown. Religion was only a means to fleece the people
keep them illiterate and in poverty.
In
the midst of all this the people wore still devoted to the church. They were
regularly attending Confessional, seeking absolution from sinful sometimes
debauched priests whom they watched with great awe as they performed the
celebration of the blasphemous Mass. Indulgences
were sold and the poor were scraping and starving to pay for these so called
pardons that would protect them from Hell.
History
reveals not only the religious aspect which prevailed, but also the political
and social aspects. It can readily be acknowledged that in view of the situation
prevailing in the Church of Rome, the affairs of State would not and could not
be much better. Throughout Europe the power of Popery was such that it stifled
all forms of progress, consequently corruption in high places was the order of
the day.
Even
the Church of Rome today admits that there was a case for reformation in both
Church and State as far as social and domestic issues were concerned, but not on
doctrinal issues.
About
the early sixteenth century God began to raise up men such as Luther, Calvin,
Zwingli, Knox etc., who were regenerated by the Spirit of God. Though many of
the reformers wore priests within the Roman Church once they were regenerated
they began to question the teachings of the Papacy. The Reformation which
resulted from the conversion of these and many others throughout Europe was
basically a doctrinal conflict as we will show below.
The
most important theological question that faced the reformers and indeed faces
all mankind from Adam to the present day is, how can a man be just before God?
The answer to this all important question will determine a man's eternal
destiny.
Martin
Luther found the correct answer as he read Romans 5 v 1 the Holy Spirit
revealing the truth to him.
This
truth of justification by faith alone is to be found in the Protestant
Confessions such as the Westminster Confession, the Baptist Confession, the
Augsbury Confession, the Thirty Nine Articles of the Church of England etc.
These confessions being all framed after the Reformation. We quote as an example
from Article XI of the Church of England regarding justification.
'We
are accounted righteous before God only for the merits of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ, by faith and not for our own merits or deservings' ...
The
word accounted means that God counts or reckons us as righteous even though we
are not righteous in ourselves, even though we are full of sin and have never
done any good to deserve such reckoning. This righteousness which God imputes to
us, Paul makes clear in Romans, is not our own at all, it is the free gift of
God to sinners to those who are unrighteous and undeserving. The whole point of
Paul's argument is that God justifies not the good but the bad, not the
righteous but the unrighteous, not the godly but the ungodly. If God merely
justified the godly there would be nothing new or surprising in that. It would
not have been a message which Paul could call a Gospel. But here he is declaring
something that is simply astonishing both to himself and others, that God
accepts sinful men as righteous just as they are, without becoming righteous in
themselves first.
Faith
lays hold on this amazing declaration of God in the Gospel. Such faith is not
the mere assent of the mind to certain propositions, it is trust in God, trust
in promises He has made in the Gospel. Faith of this kind contributes nothing to
our salvation but is the medium whereby we receive justification. When we
examine the Roman Catholic teaching on this fundamental issue we discover that
they are at variance with what has been stated above.
Roman
Catholicism disputes the word 'accounted', and argues that we are not accounted
or reckoned righteous by faith in Christ but that we are made righteous in
ourselves, and that this inherent righteousness is the ground of our
justification. This raises the question of how we are made righteous and their
answer is by receiving grace and strength through the sacraments so that we can
do good works. At baptism they say the slate is wiped clean, as it were, and
grace is then given to lead a Christian life. If mortal sins are committed then
the individual loses his justification, but he can be restored by the sacrament
of penance. But clearly such justification is something at which the individual
has to work and it depends upon his effort, his goodness, his obedience. This is
totally contrary to the biblical teaching and in what Paul calls in Gal. 1
another Gospel. So we see that Rome is wrong in this doctrine which is the heart
of the Christian faith.
The
place accorded to Mary in the official teaching and popular devotion of the
Roman Catholic Church must remain one of the major differences that separate it
from biblical Christianity. The references made to Mary in the Bible are few and
simple. She is depicted as a devout, virtuous and believing woman on whom was
conferred the special honour of becoming the mother of our Lord. But nowhere is
there any suggestion that she should be worshipped, prayed to or regarded as a
mediator.
Gradually
over the centuries, the devotion paid to Mary and the teaching of the Roman
Catholic Church about her have grown until now they obscure the person and
office of Christ as Saviour. In recent times the cult of the Virgin Mary has
grown and assumed great proportions. One of the important developments was the
introduction of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary in
1854. This states that Mary was conceived and born without sin, and remained
sinless throughout her life. Along with this it is claimed that Mary remained a
Virgin and had no other children, though the Scriptures speaks of the brothers
and sisters
of
Christ, and of Mary's marriage as a normal one after the birth of Christ.
In
1950 Pope Pius XII declared the Dogma of the Bodily Assumption that is, that
Mary was taken bodily into heaven after her burial and crowned Queen of Heaven.
There is absolutely nothing in the scriptures to support this erroneous
teaching. Without the least trace of embarrassment a Roman Catholic theologian
has written of it ' ....indeed this most glorious Assumption of Mary is veils in
the mystery of silence: scripture knows nothing of it, yet it declared by the
Church of Rome that those who do not believe this-dogma cannot be saved.
Lack
of space would not permit us to deal with the other spurious teachings Of Rome
such as the infallibility of the Pope, The Mass, Transubstantiation, Purgatory,
Penance etc. Rome has not changed her teachings over the centuries only added to
them. At the close of Vatican Council II in 1965 Pope Paul VI affirmed,
"Nothing is really changed in the doctrine of the Church, what the Church
taught for centuries, we teach also".
Alexander
Hislop has shown in his irrefutable book "The Two Babylon's that Romanism
is nothing but ancient paganism with a measure of Christian truth added to
deceive the uninformed. Corruption inside the Roman Church is as bad or worse as
it was in the sixteenth century. David Yallop in his book "In God's
Name" proves that the Vatican is a centre of murder, intrigue and
corruption, engaged in fleecing the world's monetary system through the Vatican
Bank. Some of the cardinals within the Vatican state ate virtually prisoners
because of certain arrest by the Italian government if they appeared outside its
precincts. In the preface to the first publishing of the book the author
challenges the Papal system to refute all of his allegations and he would donate
the proceedings from the first issue to cancer research. But in the preface to
the second edition he states that Rome has not been forth coming with evidence
to refute his allegations. Truth is not easy to disprove. What about the
estimated fifty million saints that Rome has put to death because of their
biblical beliefs?
I think we have shown that Roman Catholicism can in no way be described as a Christian church, and those evangelicals who enter into ecumenical dialogue with Rome only give credence to her teachings. No doubt these evangelicals would claim that they entered. into dialogue so that they could evangelise, but is not this similar to the New-Evangelicism which has swept America over the last thirty to forty years. New evangelicism teaches that the lend justifies the means', e.g. in evangelism all kinds such as modernists, infidels, Catholics etc. are invited to fellowship and-,take part in gospel meetings. Some of the evangelists in large gospel campaigns use this methods needless to say with disastrous results for the Church of Christ. This philosophy is contrary to the teachings of scripture. 'What concord has Christ with Belial or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (II Cor. 6 :15)
When
we talk about Roman Catholicism we are not referring to all individuals who
worship according to the Roman faith, our remarks are against the system,
against the official teachings, beliefs, doctrines and dogmas and against the
hierarchy. Roman Catholic people are just as much in need of a Saviour as the
rest of mankind outside of Christ.
Finally
in conclusion we as Christians need to shun false doctrine and teachers and
remind ourselves of certain scriptural infunctions .: "Prove all things,
hold fast that which is good", (I Thess. 5 :
21) " ., try the spirits whether they be of God" (I John 4 :
l).
Billy
Colville.
MISSIONARY FOCUS
Well
folks another missionary weekend has come and gone and for those of us who
attended the meetings it was not only a time of rich blessing but a time of real
challenge as well as we heard once again of the great need in the different
fronts of the World. Surely it has
stirred us who are Christians to Pray more to cave more and if God has spoken to
go at His call to tell those who have never heard, the good news of the gospel.
Let
me say once again a big thank you to all who have contributed to the missionary
enterprise the amount lifted this year has been the highest yet so that is very
encouraging indeed as a result of the money being given out to the different
missions I have had some lovely letters of appreciation for the gift of money
they received. I will put these letters on the Church notice board for anyone
who wishes to read them.
Since
the missionary weekend we have had a visit from Mr Ron George from Gairdner
ministries. This man is an excellent speaker, and his mission is doing a
tremendous work amongst the Muslims. It's good to hear about these missions that
we are not familiar with. and as a Church give them a little financial help. We
hope to have a visit from a few other missionaries in the next few months, these
include John Barfoot, C.E.F., Stanley Todd, S.I.M. and Wilma Wells, O.M.S., so
pray that God will bless as these folks come along.
I
have received Prayer letters in recent weeks from all parts of the World,
different missions, S.I.M. , O.M. S., J.E.B., E.C.M., A.C.R.E. etc. some tell of
times of blessing and souls being saved, others tell of heartbreaking situation
where men, women, boys and girls are dying without Christ and without hope for
eternity and the sad thing is that many of them have never heard the name of
Jesus sweetest Word. There are villages in the Amazon. jungle, in the heart of
Africa, the mountain region of Colombia and so on where the people have yet to
be reached with the gospel and the sad part is that there is no one to go.
Remember God's command! Pray
ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He will send forth labourers into His
harvest. Matt. 9 . 38.
Walter
Burrell 'Seamen's Mission' had some good news for us. He had just pointed two
Polish men to the Lord the day before he sent out his Prayer letter, so pray on
for Walter as he works on the docks in Cork.
Remember
Geoffrey and Gillian again as they continue at college, some prayer requests
include, mid-term exams, guidance for the future, for understanding to study
God's Word, and finally for what they should do in the summer break, regarding
working with the C.E.F. Remember
too Sam and Anna at Sandes, with all the extra work during the change over etc.
and then James McKeown and his wife as they continue to work faithfully for the
Lord up in Belfast.
The
cry would come again to us all Brethern Pray for us.
Desmond
Shaw.
GOOD NEWS CLUB
The
Good News Club opened its doors to the youngsters of the church and the
surrounding district on January 12th. Forty-seven children turned up that first
(very cold, wet and wintry) evening, and since then we have had well over fifty
regular attenders.
Good
News Clubs are run under the auspices of the Child Evangelism Fellowship (C.E.F.)
and use lessons, materials etc. supplied by them. Our own meetings consist of
choruses, times of prayer, a Bible lesson, a quiz (based on the previous week's
lesson) and a memory verse. Owing to the relatively young age of a good number
of our children, we teach the memory verse over two consecutive weeks, and then
test it the following evening.
The
theme underlying the Bible lessons to date has been "God's Word and
me", wherein we have used stories taken directly from the Bible to teach
such important truths as "the Bible is the Word of God" and
"God's Word is always true". While aimed primarily at the unsaved, the
lessons also seek to encourage and lead on those youngsters who have already
accepted Jesus as their Saviour.
We
would hope to invite a guest speaker along to the Club every six weeks or so,
and we are pleased that our brother Trevor Boyd has kindly agreed to give the
lesson on April 6th. Do encourage your children to come along. and have them
invite their friends as well.
We
thank the Lord for the way He has answered our prayers to date. Please continue
to pray for the Club - for the safety of the youngsters as they would travel to
and from the meetings, for the Word as it would be presented each week, and
especially for the working of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and souls of all
those who attend the Club. We have the assurance that "if we ask anything
according to His will, He heareth us" (I John 5 v 14). We also know that it
is God's will for us to "train up a child in the way he should : and when
he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22 v 6).
Ivan
Bankhead
Mercy
is Free
In
silence of night on past life I lay musing,
And
wept that ‘twas all God’s great mercy abusing
And
I scarcely could think there was pardon for me
But
a voice in my heart whispered Mercy is free.
I
thought of my sins that no angel could number
Their
greatness and blackness o’erwhelmed me with wonder
If
there be but one soul beyond mercy ‘tis me
But
there’s none said the voice seeing Mercy is free.
I
thought of the vows which in fervour I’d spoken
All
meant to be kept yet all shamefully broken
O
baser than Judas can grace stoop to me
E’en
to these breathed the whisper of Mercy is free.
I
thought of the talents with which I’d been trusted
Some
wasted on pride, some with slothfulness rusted
And
I cried in my anguish O where shall I flee
Said
the whisper to Jesus His Mercy is free.
O
how can such guilt as is mine be forgiven
O
how can a soul such as I enter heaven
When
in hell there are millions that ne’er sinned like me
It
is all said the voice because Mercy is free.
O
Jesus my Lord at they footstool now kneeling
I
ask Thee afresh both for pardon and healing
And
I pray that henceforward thou’lt keep me for Thee
Said
the whisper ‘tis granted for Mercy is free.
Let
Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy, And with Him is
plenteous redemption.
(Psalm
130 v 7)
Diane
Alexander
The
Gospel in Minature
God
so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3v16
The
heart of the Bible – The Gospel in minature. Consider these simple powerful
words.
God
The Greatest Lover
So
loved
The Greatest degree
The
World
The Greatest number
That
He gave
The Greatest act
His
only begotten Son
The Greatest gift
That
whoever
The Greatest invitation
Believes
The Greatest simplicity
In
Him
The Greatest person
Should
not perish
The Greatest deliverence
Everlasting
Life
The Greatest possession
Think about the wonderful
love expressed in this “minature Gospel”. In place of the word “whoever
God would have you insert your name. Ask
Christ to save you, trust in Him, and you will have everlasting life.
God
loved the world of sinners lost
And
ruined by the fall
Salvation
full, at highest cost
He
offers free to all.
Let
Not Your Heart Be Troubled
I
bundle all my troubles up
and
go to God in prayer
I
tell Him I am heartsick
and
lost and lonely too,
That
my mind is deeply burdened
and
I don’t know what to do
But
I know He stilled the tempest
and
calmed the angry sea
And
I humbly ask if in His Love
He’ll
do the same for me
And
then I just keep quiet
and
think only thoughts of peace
And
if I abide in stillness
My
“restless murmurings” cease.
John
14v 1 & 27
Adeline Larkin
"And
that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make
thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is Christ Jesus". II
Tim. 3 v 15.
From
my earliest days I was always taught about Jesus and His love;
"Suffer
the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not for of such is the
kingdom of God". Mark 10 v
14.
I
was taken along to Sunday School and Church, and attended a children's meeting
near my home. During one of these children's meetings I was confronted by the
verse.
"For
by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift
of God. Not of works lest any man should boast. Eph. 2 v 8-9.
The
meeting that day was taken by John Barfoot of C.E.F., who told us about God’s
gift of salvation. I desired to
know God’s gift and when I came home, I asked my mother and she pointed me to
the Lord.
Later
on in primary and grammar school, I did not go on with the Lord as I should have
done, mainly through neglect of prayer and bible study.
When things started to go wrong in my ‘o’ level studies, I again
sought the Lord in prayer, and He heard me.
In
October 1983, I enroled as a student of the University of Ulster at Jordanstown.
During my first year, the Lord enabled me to make contact with other
Christians , and I was able to attend bible studies and other meetings run by
the Christian Union. During these
times the Lord taught me more of the value of prayer and bible study.
I cannot say I am a perfect Christian but I look forward to the day that
this vile body will be changed like unto His glorious body. But until then:
“Within
the veil I now would come
Into
the Holy Place to look upon Thy face
I
see such beauty there, no other can compare
I
worship Thee my Lord within the veil”
(Ruth Dryden)
A Prayer For Missionaries
and
Absent Friends
Whom
oceans part, 0 Lord unite,
To
love Thy name, and seek Thy light;
Though
from each other far we be,
Let
none 0 Christ be far from Thee.
On
many a distant island shore,
Still
let men see Heaven's open door;
'Mid
silent hills, beneath fresh skies,
Let
Bethel’s shining ladder rise.
Bring
thoughts of home and Christian ways,
To
those who miss sweet Sabbath days;
The
long-forgotten prayer recall,
To
those who sin, and mourne their fall.
Our
sons and daughters guide in truth;
Take
for Thyself the flower of youth,
Afar
from home, through gain or loss
Keep
then true-hearted to Thy Cross.
Whom
oceans part 0 Lord unite -
One
commonwealth for God and right,
A
ransomed people strong and free
To
bring the whole wide world to Thee.
Howel
Elivet Lewis 1860 – 1953
From
: The Psalter Church Hymnary. Hymn No. 628
By
M. Robinson.
“Wilt
Thou Not Revive Us”
W
Leslie (Comp.)
(Har.) By: S.F. Cupples
Songs
of Victory Hymn No.1
Lord,
Thou hast with favour smiled upon our land,
Yet
the powers of darkness press on every hand
And
the hearts that love Thee, often cry in pain,
"Wilt
Thou not revive us, revive us, again"?
For
our nation’s sake, and for Jesus' sake revive us again
Precious
guileless children to our horses are given,
That
our love might win them to the life of Heaven.
Yet
what snares and pitfalls make our labour vain!
Oh,
to save the children, revive us again'.
For
our children's sake and for Jesus' sake, revive us again
Kindly
friends and neighbours, kindred near and far,
Learn
the love of Jesus just by what we are;
Make
a daily witness, patient, pure and plain!
By
Thy love overflowing, revive us
For
our neighbours' sake, and for Jesus’ sake revive us again
Deep
in heathen darkness, blood-bought millions wait
For
a voice to tell then of their ransomed state;
Break
the spell that binds us, but to selfish gain
By
thine own compassion, revive us again!
For
the heathen's sake, and for Jesus' sake revive us again.
By
M. Robinson
Notice Board
The
speaker at this year’s Anniversary Services is Pastor Chambers, Hill St.,
Ballymena.
Date
3rd May.
On
Sunday 31st May at 6:30pm we are to have a visit from Brother John
Barefoot (C.E.F.) presently serving the Lord in Switzerland.
Children’s
Day
Children’s
Day this year is on Sunday 28th June.
The speaker on this occasion will be Jonathan Reid (C.E.F.) Ballymoney.
Since
our last magazine Gillian McGrath has been received into fellowship.
Raymond
Herbinson
Desmond
Shaw
Joe
Stevenson
Ivan
Bankhead
Robert
Craig
Aldwyn
Calderwood
John
Livingstone
Elders
and Deacons of the Fellowship wish to express their sincere thanks to bro.
Stephen Irons for services rendered during his term in office as Treasurer and
wish him all that is good and blessed in the days ahead.
Dates for your Diary
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