.y;;.gq . \ ' I .,: I 3 , , , , , ,,

1 , I , . ' : I

Ladjangiroeweg 81 - Makassar, East. Indonesia.

CONFERENCE EDITION

Facts and figures

for which this field is responsible . , 5,000.0 outstations in Mission districts . . . . .' 1 oustations .in National Church districts . . ~ . 62 j

, . umber of inquirers . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.859

The .Alliance Press.

, , . .. ~__-_-.--&-** . . .... . . ,. . i~ ~~

I , , , I

. EDITORIAL

Since the last Pioneer was published, Rev. and Mrs. G. W . Rose, Rev. and Mrs. W. A. Cutts. and Miss Morscheck have ar- rived at Makassar. They have received ii very cordial welcome into w r homes and hearts as members cf the Alliance family in Indo- nesia.

Rev. and Mrs. Rose (previously Mrs. Deibler) were only with us for about a week until they sailed for Biak and then up to the Wissel Lakes in New Guinea. In spite of the fact that one is not supposed to "rush the East", they managed to get their freight and baggage through customs and transfered to the Biak boat in one week.

On March 6th. Rev. Mickelson and Rev. and Mrs. Rose left Makassar for Biak. later to ptoceed to the Wissel Lakes. Mr. Troutman had left a month earlier to get supplies prepared in Biak to be loaded on the plane for the last hop of the journey to the Wissel Lakes. Mrs. Troutman, Kay and Ken Jr . , and the Misses Doble and McIlrath left by plane shortly after Mr. Troutman. Since Jacqueline Mickelson was rather seriously ill Mrs. Mickelson remai- ned in Makassar as long as possible. Every effort to take the Gospel into the enemy's territory is strongly resisted in one way or another. In this case Satan hoped to hold back the parents through thew daughter's sickness. But praise God, He answers. prayer and on March 10th God had touched Jacqueline with His healing hand, hence Mrs. Mickelson was able to leave that day by plane.

During the week of March 20th all our missionaries and five new national workers and supplies were*flown into the Wissel Lakes by plane. This is the first opportunity since Conference our missionaries have had t o return to the Wissel Lakes, which vividly reveals our need for our own twin-motor plane.

Rev. and Mrs. Cutts ,are busv studying Malay and will soon proceed to their appointment, which is as yet undecided.

Miss Morscheck will do secretarial work and later teach in th? Bible School in Makassar.

For these new missionaries we covet an unusual term of ser- vice with thousands won to Christ.

3

, ,

,, .1 " SUMBAWA.

Your s p e c d attention is called to our work among the Donggo people in Sumbawa. It is the stated intention of another church to place four of their preachers right in the midst of our converts m Donggo. This is bound to bring confusion to these young Chris- tians. It is a pitiable condition when a 'church has to step right into another's field and try to take over their Christians. There are only about 10,000 Donggo people who have not embraced Islam and to have two societies working among so few is a waste of effort, If we could agree with the teachings and practices of the said church we would be willing to turn the whole work over'to them. and seek others yet unreached with the Gospel. Please pray that God will work out His plan and will in Donggo.

4

T H E P I O N E E R

FIELD REPORT FOR T H E ' Y E A R 1948.

By J. Wesley Brill. Joel 2 : 25, "I will restore to y-ou the years the locust hath eaten".

"Stabilizing" is the one word that best describes the work of the year just past. One does not recuperate from a severe illness in .a week or two, nor does a church convalesce spiritually in a year or two from the ravages of a long war. It is true, inquirers have nun.. bered nearly seven thousand and seventeen hundred have been baptized, and even more might have b be en. but the general thought was.that the converts should be better taught beforehand. A fur- ther stabilizing effect is that hundreds of backsliders have been brought again to Christ. The progress of the year rests in the laying of solid foundations for a future Gospel advance.

The Long Bia Bible Schcol has been opened to train Dyak pastors for all of East Borneo who will under God do much toward the .building up of the church, and carrying the Gospel to tribes still in darkness. Having a Bible School in East Borneo saves moxev for the mission and enables us to train Dyaks ,in their own environ-

,

' I

ment. , .

More primary schools, most of them self-supporting, have been ' .', opened which will provide more young people for our Bible Scbocls ","

and Normal Schools, to eventually become teachers of their own ' ,I: people. Literacy has increased among the Christians, but there is ,"

much yet to be done. T h e present political situation has not brought about much of

a change in regard to our work. However. even the near future is unpredictable.

A quick look a t the field shows that we are responsible for five million souls. There are 147 churches, 62 Sunday Schools, 17,754 baptized Christians, 133 national' workers, 14 primary schools, 2. Bible Schools and during ,the year there were 1.698 baptized.

, , . ,

,,

, '

NEW GUINEA. This year it was the Troutmans' turn to be isolated. The 'fact

that God provided a plane for their evacuation.when Mrs. Troutman

I

:

was sick proves God’s loving care for those who will take this Gospel into the strongholds of satan.

Shortly after Mr. and Mrs. Troutman arrived at the Lake the situation had sufficiently improved so that the national workers could spread out to the villages around the Lakes. Soon each had two villages to minister to. There has been a veryfine response to the preaching of these men. In fact, we do not have enough teachers to supply the villages which are asking for them. In one service in Enarotah over thirty came forth and expressed a desire to wholly follow the Lord.

, T h e hardest part of the isolation is the waiting for the plane. especially when radio batteries give out. W h a t a thrill for them to see a B-25 coming over to drop mail, rice and other supplies. However, we cannot expect any more such drops of blessing beca- use the Dutch Army base has moved from Biak.

One of the Dyak preachers went over to a village, the peodc of which had threatened to kill anyone from outside. He went Lo obtain palmwood for flooring and returned with two hundred men and enough palmwood for three houses. Better yet, they requested a teacher to be sent to their village to tell them of Christ. Every two weeks one of the national work.ers goes there for a service and the work is progressing rapidly,

A literacy school has been started for young people and some twenty-five have availed themselves of this privilege. Miss Doble has prepared a primer. song^ book, and Old Testament stories in the Kapaoekoe language. Among these young people there are some seventeen teen age boys who are studying in what might be called the beginning of a Bible School. These boys are going out over weekends telling what they have learned. Thirty-one Kapoe- koes have believed and have been baptized to,date and the Gospel is being preached in tweelve villages quite regularly.

and Uhuduni tribes. It is the burden of the Mickelsons and Troutmans that someone enter these tribes immediately. May God give us tile men and the money.

. W e have government permission to enter the Moni

T H E PLANE. How we praise God for givmg us a plane, inadequate though it

The plane has been be. and for sending Brother Lewis to pilot i t .

6

flown over three thousand miles, most of which was taken up in the seventeen trips to the interior of Borneo. It has carried per- sonnel and supplies into the interior cheaper than we could in dugout canoes, besides saving valuable time and energy. Howe.ier,~ 3ur plane cannot serve the Sesajap area of Borneo nor the New Guinea field. W e must seek God in believing prayer that He will provide a twin motored plane, which will be able to serve the whoie field.

During the past year the New Guinea missionarie? have had to he unnecessarily away from their field, because of the lack of a twin motored plane. I t is time lost which will never be redeemed as far as the work is concerned.

The Sesajap Church SESAJAP DISTRICT, EAST BORNEO.

has again regained its spiritual equili- brium, having given up most of drinking and smoking taught them during the war by,.the army of occupation. T h e indigenous church has reached the cherished goal of self-support. but there still remain problems which need to be adjusted. The faithful labor and leader- ship of Rev. Aris Doemat, Chairman of the Sesajap indigenous conference, and Rev. L. A. Kim's wise counsel have done much to stabilize this fast growing, spiritual church.

The Sesajap Church boasts an accepted constitution, a plan for financing the work of the district, a self-supporting primary school and a widow's fund. The Kajan area, being much more developed than the Mentarang area, has been able to assist the Mentarang area in the support of its national pastors. It is hoped that the Men- tarang area will soon become entirely self-supporting, capable of providing for the ten young men who are serving its churches.

In the Kajan area one student evangelist is in charge OF a wholly self-supporting school with 150 pupils, .and also serves a church of 400 members.. His work has been so acceptable that Brother- Kim has recommended him for ordination, even though he has not yet graduated from Bible School. One is amazed at his energy. That the spiritual temperature of this Church is high is widenced by the fact that when the Christians are not in their rice, fields they gather for daily prayer at 5 : 00 A.M. During the past year 350 have been baptized and there has been an increase of 20 aational workers. Fifteen students are attending the Long Bia Bible School.

7

APO KAJAN DISTRICT (BOELONGAN). EAST BORNEO. The telegram from the government official in Long Nawang.

Apo Kajan, stating that most of the non-Christian chiefs had pro: mised to become Christians after the rice harvest. proved a slight exaggeration. We know of only two villages which did become Christian after that rice harvest. The keynote of that official's advice and speeches was 'progress'. Since the taboos of the heathen religion retarded progress, he urged them to discard that .which retarded. Being an official, he was neutral, but being a Christian. he hoped the Dyaks would become Christians. Satan has blinded and hardened the hearts of many and they do not want to follow Christ. A subtle substitute for the Gospel has made its appearance in what is called the Boengan Malan religion. It is definitely the work of the enemy. A back-slidden, Christian claims to have received a vision from Boengan Malan. father of all spirits, who told him it was too difficult to be a Christian, therefore it would be better to follow' him. He'was told to abandon the bad omens and objectionable practices of their old religion, but not to give up the worship of Siap Kajon, the spirit of head-hunting, and the exal- tation of the male sex. About one thousand former inquirers and Christians have gone over to this new religion and it now has a following of some 6.000 Dyaks. one-third of the population of the Apo Kajan district.

Messrs Dixon and Whetzel have visited all 22 villages of the Apo Kajan district, instructing Christians and proclaiming the Gospel to unbelievers. Five hundred and fifty-three were baptized making a total OF 1,314 believers.' A conference was held with the local pastors and church leaders. During the conference the king of the. Apo Kajan- promised before all the village chiefs that, at the end of the year, he would give up his heathen ieligion. This was what the underchiefs were waiting for, so they promised to follow suit. However. he has not yet kept his promise. Believing prayer will yet see many of these Dyaks swept into the Kingdom.

A delegation. on their way to ask the Boengan Malan priest to come to. initiate their village into his religion, was advised by the king to cast their lot with the Christians, the which they did.

A girl's school has ,been opened in the Apo Kajan and there is a growing desire among the young people to secure an education.

8

, .

, , , , ' ,

, , ,

POED~OENGAN DISTRICT '(BOELONGANJ. ' . ,

EAST BORNEO.

Messrs Dixon and Whetzel spent two weeks in this district ,on Later

zi two-day conference was held with the pastors and church elders. Four hundred thirtyseven believers were baptized, making a ,total 6f 2.500 baptized Christians in this district.

. a recent trip. They visited each village and held services.

LOWER KAJAN' (BOELONGAN). EAST BORNEO. Spider-webbing out from Long Bia. there are 10 groups of

Christians, numbering about a thousand among a population of 6.500 Dyaks. They are ministered to by students and teachers from the Long Bia Bible School and one or two other national wore kers. None of these groups has a church building and only recently have they started to partially support their pastors or student pastors, This area is influenced by Malay tribes people. There are still practices in the church which are 1:nbecoming to the Gospel. however, among some of the young people there is also a growing zeal for witnessing. A call has come for a teacher from the Dyaks in the Beran River Valley-, three days journey south of Long Bia and a trip has been made to that district.

At Long, Bia there is a preparatory schaol of 80 students besides the Bible School. The Van Patters, Mrs. Dixon and Mrs. Whetzel. with others have done excellent works in the Bible School. preparing worker: for all of East. Borneo. Buildings for teachters and students are being constructed. This school will play a tremendous part in the establishing of the Church and the evangeli- zation of untoucher areas.

. MAHAKAM DISTRICT, EAST BORNEO. The years of 'seed sowing' in the Mahakam has not been in vain:

The harvest is being reaped. though slowly and not without much opposition. Throughout the district,there is an awakening among the youth. One group of 'Christians is made up mainly of young people. They have not only been awakened spiritually. but also mentally and are so desirous of an education that many are turning to the Romen Catholics for it.

'9

'In this district, as in other. there have been backslidings during the war: among whom were two s t ,dent evangelists who have become real stuiubling blocks, Brbther Harry Post writes: "Obviously, one of our tasks is to yet the Dyaks from their original 'unit' faith to a clear 'individual' faith." No,other part of the Iield has produced so many (disappointments) in men who have at(eqdet! our Makassar Bible School. However. we rejoice that in the Tabang area new converts are being added regularly to the believers and two of the chiefs are Christians. Many~in the area are Ken@ Dyaks [ram the Apo Kajan. One village from Apo Kajan rnoi,ed into this area, among !hem are about two hundred believers. 'The chief of another group, coming from the Apo Kajan area, wanted to borrow Christianity so that they could quickly get to their destmi- tion without being delayed by evil omens.

One Toedjoeng village headman has become a Christian cvcq in opposition to the Sultan and is determined to follow Chri,st even if i t costs his position. In the whole of the Mahakam district there is an open-heartedness to the Gospel heretofore not seen,.

BELlTANG DISTRICT, W E S T BORNEO. Rev. J. C. Meltzer and Rev. C. C.. Olenhouse were the first

missionaries to visit this district after the war. During their meetings many' backsliders were reclaimed. For a whole year, during the war, t h e Christians were forbidden by the Japanese to congregate and there were many spies to see that the order was cat'ried out. A rumor spread that young unmarried people would be used by the Japanese. This caused many to seek refuge in hasty and too youthful marriages. Upon their return, Mr. and Mrs. Mouw found many of these Dyaks had been divorced and remarried. This condition created a serious problem. Not long after the missionaries arrived, self-support was again instituted Conferences with the national workers and meetings in the churches soon brought about a spiritual quickening. Soon there was-more than enough in the church treasury. The problem of divorce still remains the greatest confronting the church.

There are eight self-supporting churches, and four outstations manned by young men, not reyular,workers. who give their services to the Lord without financial remuneration. The district has eight

>

' . self-supporting primary schools.

10

~ ' , ' MELAWI~DISTRICT. WEST BORNEO. ~,

This district too has been ill affected by the war and much,fime 1 and energy has been expended in bringing the Christians to a closer walk with God. Nevertheless'the Spirit of God is working in the hearts of over a thousand inquirers. All the churches have been .visited by Messrs Meltzer and Olenhouse ,and services have been held in which the Holy Spirit has been faithful to reclaim backsliders, and to save unbelievers. One professing Christian was healed, but seemingly became demon possessed when sorcery was used upon ,

. At a night fair; Scripture portions etc. were sold and the' Gosp,el preached to many listeners who perhaps would not haue - otherwise been reached. Brother Olenhouse has interested a.group ,'<

of young Chinese basketball players in the Gospel. A site was found for the. West Borneo Bible School, but the ac- ' ,:

tual erection of the school was hindered, hence nothing was accotn-' ',

plished. We request much prayer that the West Borneo School will '.'

, ,

'

him. However, in answer to prayer he has been restored. , , .

soon become a reality. . . .

. , BANGKA A N D BILLITON.

Unfortunately no regular report has "been received from Rev. ' *: C. Y. Wong of Billiton, .nor from Rev. T. H. Tsang of Bangka.. ' "

However, letters tell of growth.ahd blessing in the churches in Bil- , ',

liton. Rev. Tsang has recently taken over the work in Bangka. " The ; / I Christians will be able to assume his full support in the near future ':',,

even though they are in the midst of a building program. , .,

S U M A .T R A. Our national worker. Soelan Iboe. has ministered faithfully to

the Koeboes'in-the interior, but since that part of Sumatra has been in the hands of the Republic, no contact has been made with him.. ,

L O M B 0 K .

,

, , ,

, ,

The work in Lombok is suffering because of schism among. the, However, God did a real work in the h,earts of , ',

The lack of a resident mis- May God giue us

nationa1,workers. some during the visit of.Rev. Schisler. sionary has retarded the progress of the work.

,,,

~, , . . ,

11

b-, , ,

, , , , . ,'.', Hjs man'for the,:Island of Lombok. the Gokpel OE John in Sasak ,has been published and is being distributed. May God use it to bring the. 'Light of the W o r l d to many Sasaks.' _ .

S U M B A W A . God, has been using Rev. B. J. Taka since before the war ,as a

wise. spiritual leader for the work in Sumbawa. During the past year there has been a marked growth in grace in the believers, thoQgh not 'much numerical increase in the number, of Christians. In one village a fire destroyed 43 homes. God is turning this severe Ioss into 'a proving ground to test their faith. There are over 800 believers in the 7 churches and i20 inquirers. Brother Schisler's visit proved a blessing and encouragement to Brother,Taka and the Church. Two men from the Donggo people have come to the Makassar Bible School and in three months were able to read and write sending letters back to their people. W e are expecting yet "greater things among the Donggo people.

:' '

: . , ,

I,.

, , wayside. W e do praise God for those who have stood true. T h e

SOUTH CELEBES. BOETON A N D MOENA. The work in South Celebes. a Moslem area, is meeting with

', , renewed opposition and. because of it, some have fallen by the

Lord has blessed the ministery 'of Rev. J. Schisler among the Moslems near Benteng Tinggi and six have been baptized during

In Boeton and Moena, severe trial has come to the churches in the form of a great siege of sickness, followed by a crop failure. Nevertheless. the two groups stood true to God and are, making progress under the faithful ministry of Messrs Bana and Day. TGenty-two have been baptized during the year. These Moslem areas need the direct supervision of a missionary, the which, to the present, we have not been able to give.

;

\\

': ' the year.

,.

,

. ,

M A K A S S A R. , . Early in 1948, twenty-three men and four ,women graduated

from the Makassar Bible School. Later in the year, eight men were graduated. Ten from these two classes have left our mission to work

12

. ,

, ,

. ,

. ~ ~ ~... - , , , .

1

among their own tribes where we have no work. All the missimaries stationed in Makassar have given valuable assistance in the Blible School. The Kemah Indjil ( the Gospel Tabernacle) has continued its growth numerically and spiritually under , the able leadership of Rev. M. Titaheluw. The membership has reached fi,ve hundred and there are four hundred scholars in the Sunday School. Church offerings amounted to just over ten thousand guilders during the year.

It is a areat iov to all the oarents of this field that the Board v ~ ~, ~~

~. ~~

has made possible a primary school for-missionaries' children. Mrs. Jackson and Miss Roseberry have done splendid work in teaching and nursing. Mr. and MIS. Schisler have been wise and under- standing in their role as Father and Mother to the children.

T h e carrying on p f this work i s a stupendous task and we cry unto God for His help and wisdom. W e desperately need your prayers for the work in Indonesia.

THE ,.WALL SPIRIT"

by R. Whe?rel

Near the headquarters of the Kajan River is the small village of Long Soengai Barang. The Dyak inhabitants rarely have foreign visitors for its isolated location in the steep foothills of high mountains is not conducive to tourist travel. This is a village of long-houses, as are all the Apo Kajan villages. A long-house is simply a collection of any number of houses under one roof. Each house has a back room which is partitioned off from the other houses, but the front is left unpartitioned. making a covered porch the ful l length of the long-house. The social life of the community is enacted out on these porches. Children use i t as a playground; the sick sit or lie by the open fire-place, with mangy dogs stretched out in the warm ashes at their feet; the women cluster near a patch of sunlight to sew or mend and gossip: the men just sit and gossip. And in the evenings the young people dance their native danc,es to the tinkling accompaniment of home-made three-stringed man- dolins.

:

. ,

13

Although the Dyaks themselves are completely unaware of it, their crowding together under one roof gives contagious diseases every chance to take their toll. These-former head-hunters a re still ignorant of the that certain diseases are contagious. Nevertheless they do not doubt that sickness passes from person to person ox from village to village. But whereas we lay the blame on invisible germs, they are convinced that- invisible evil spirits are to blame. Naturally they do not associate cleanliness or isolation wiht the checking OF disease. but they do go all out to placate and ootwit these evil spirits that are forever trying to blind them, deafen them, rack them with fever: pock-mark their faces and take their lives.

When news reached the village elders that some of these delrons of sickness were playing havoc in the neighboring village to the north, that scores suadenly had taken sick, they were alarmed at once. and promptly set the necessary machinery in motion that would build a wall of pratection round aboud them. They would try to erect this barrier.by an', ,adat" ceremony, that is. directing their prayers and rituals, in this instance to Bali Ending, which literally means "Wall Spirii" or the spirit that has the capacity to shield from sickness. A few hours after Brother Dixon and I arrived, the village was closed to travel, none being allowed to enter as long as the ceremony lasts. Although we were foreigners, we were permitted to stay because we were alleardy inside the village limits. However.. it was only when we tried t o cross the bridge in the afternoon that we learned we were restricted to our side of the river.

An eye-witness of the ceremony would be more accurate in the detail. but the following is authentic in the main, as related b y ' a native Christian. Lesser ceremonies usually merit the sacrificing of a chicken, but this being an important one, the sacrifice can be, nothing less than a pig or, perhaps several pigs. Really there is no loss incurred. might lead us to believe. because as soon as the "sacrifice" has been offered, it i+ cooked and served to those present, and. to the Dyak. swine's flesh is the most succulent of foods. , ,

Strong hands hold the struggling sacrifice while the leading witch-doctor grasps it about the throat with both hands, and ad- 'dressing the pig. says:

as the term "sacrifice"

I4

~ ' '

..O Spirit of"the pig, I intend to kill y o u so that you may return,home to the Father (Boengan or Satan). Before you go, wash the souls of these sick ones with your blood. When you arrive find out why these children are sick. And then. 0 Spirit of the pig. just as you in times past have rooted and turned up the ground with your snout, .so in like manner, root out the sickness from these afflicted ones. Furthermore. 0 pig, go to Bali Ending and beg him to shield us from the demons of disease." .

After uttering this supplication to the pig, he slashes its throat open with a small knife. Before all the blood has spilled, the witch- ,doctor saturates fuzz-sticks in the blood flow. These sticks resemble small pieces of kindling with shavings cut on one eud. Prior to,the sacrificing of the pig, the very sick people of the village had been brought to the chief's house, where the ceremony was held. T o effect their healing, the witch-doctor touches each one with the blood soaked stick.

It is late afternoon by this time and preparations~now get under way for the other half of the ceremony, because everyone must be indoors before dark. The first thing to be done is to hand, large leaves in the doorways and openings of all houses and all along the open porches. They believe this curtain of leaves insures their protection from the imps of sickness; all the more as these leaves are chosen for their distinctly bad odor. some even tie leaves to their waists and in their hair. The head of the longhouse performs the final rite. We happened to be standing nearby and could ob- serve one of the men check to see that all the openings were leaf- eovered and that everyone was inside. Carrying one the blood- soaked sticks in his hand he.walked in front of the longhouse for its full length and came to a halt before a wooden idol. The ap- pearance of the.idol was enough to make one think that just anything would serve the purpose. It was nothing but a pole set in the ground. about one'foot in diameter, some five feet high, with the remote likeness of a human head carved on the uppermost part. For three or four minutes he stood praying to'this idol, holding up as an offering the stick dipped in pig's blood. I t may be hard for u s to believe. but there was a man begging in.all sincerity the idol to ward off the evil spirits of sickness should they come near. The gist. OF his supplication is this: ,,I come before you, 0 idol: here is an ofte-

15

-4

ring of the blood of the pig, which gives’you all power. Now we are Coing to hide in our houses: behind the curtain of leaves. When those fiends and demons of darkness and disease come nigh and attempt to enter oui houses. you resist them. drive them off. We are :inder your protection and you have power to scatter these evil; spirits because of the blood I have given you.”

Not long after our evening meal we heard the sound of people wailing and moaning. W e were told that a child of seven years had passed away. This untimely death nullified the ceremony and the sacrifice offered that day: the witch doctor would have to repeat the ritual on the morrow. Apparently Bali Ending had not been properly enticed and had permitted the evil spirit to steal through a gap and snatch a young one away.

When we Christians know that there are those in the world who look for help to nothing higher. nothing more fhan lifeless idols of wood and stone, surely a second call to pray should not be necessary, nor for that matter, to give, to work, to surrender one’s life to the great Task of our Master, which is to carry His news of liberation to those bound in darkness.

The Kapaukoe village chieE

who has been baptized.

16

i

MIRACLES AT THE WISSEL LAKES By Kenneth Troutman.

As we iook back upon our ministry a t the Wissel Lakes during the past year, we see a series of miracles performed'by the same Jesus who healed the sick, raised the dead unto lile, coniorted the brokenhearted and.gave the hope of eternal salvation on the shores of Galilee long ago.

When we arrived at the Lakes we asked God to do two things~ for us: namely, t o give US the confidence of the Kapauku people and to give a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit. W e express our -gratitude and praise to God for hearing our humble cry.

At the time we arrived a t the Lakes our ministry was limited to a small area surrounding the mission station as the people further away were still hostile to the return of the white man. The reason for this was that the occupation of the Japanese had now made them suspicious of all foreigners. However. our hearts were thrilled one day when a large group of people from across the lake same to us with their singing, chanting and dancing which denotes friendliness on their part. They came to us that they might become our friends and they also wanted to learn about Jesus. In another area the people threatened to kill the missionary or ,native teachers if they attempted to enter their territory. God performed a miracle in a h - wing one of the teachers to enter, and to make our joy full to over- flowing rhe men of the entire area came in a body to ask me to send a teacher to them - Praise God. W e sent the teacher and God is doing a real work in the hearts of the people of that area - God had performed a marvelous miracle.

After we had been qt the Lakes five months without communi- cation with the outside world, the people and our native workers were becoming restless. Rumors passed around that the Japanese were coming again and that the world was again a t war. Just at that . time God performed another miracle in the form of a drop by a B-25 Bomber. This revitalized all our hearts and'the rumors'passed away. . , On July 16th. again it seemed that we were up against a stone wall. Mrs. Troutman had to get out for medical attention and there seemed to be no way in the'natural,. W e had waited long and expectantly for a plane to come and now in our hour of need, we cried out to God. God again showed Himself faithful on Monday morning,July 17th. We saw as it were a large bird on the horizon,

17

, ' a n d as it drew nearer, we knew that it was a Catalina Flying doat + Praise God He is the same yesterday. today and forever.

God performed another miracle in our home at the Lakes on the night of July 17th. Mrs. Troutman had gone out by plane to Biak while I remained to carry on the work. T h e plane which had come that day brought, five Dutch officials who planned to stay until the next day. There were.two men from the Dutch Navy, two men from the Department of Interior. and Dr. D e Bruijn. the Con- troller at Biak. After supper was finished Dr. DeBruijn, the two Interior Departmen men and one Navy man were gathered around the table in Conference. I was about to be excused and go to bed when the other Navy man asked to have a talk with me. H e was in much trouble and did not know what to do. We had a long talk about the Lord and I was privileged to hring horn to the feet of Jesus. I have since received a fine letter from him telling me of his new found happiness in the Lord - Praise God for another miracle. God had brought a Dutch Navy Photographer to the end of the earth, as he expressed it, that he might find Christ.

The climaxing miracle was God's healing touch to Mrs. Troutman. T h e doctor at Makassar told us he could not understand the case. because according to all cases like it. she should have died in June while we were still a t the Lakes. We understand this because God has heard prayer and has performed another miracle.

These things that God has done have given us greater faith to trust Him for larger things in the future. There are many stag- gering problems confronting the work in New Guinea, but we know that He is able to do the same things now that He did on the shores of Galilee.

REFRESHING A N D VISlON

Mrs. H. A. Dixon. "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh har-

vest? bebold, I say unto you, LiJt up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." - John 4 ; 35.

I t was during our tenth field conference at beautiful Benteng Tinggi. in the mountains above Makassar, in November, that we

18

. , ,, ~

were made to lift up our'eyes and behold the fields which are white already to harvest as never before.

Airplanes, ships and cars had brought our forty-two adults and twenty-eight children from far-to-the-east New Guinea: tram far distant Wes t Borneo: from lonely East Borneo and from the Celebes. We had some not only to a picturesque spot,, but to blesses fellowship with God and reunion with friends.

We came rejoicing that a fine group of new recruits and seve- ral older missionaries had arrived on the field since the last con- ference, and because God had permitted us to labor many months among the national Christians and heathen. Now, we were , together. pooling our diversified experiences, our ahouding pro- plems: our desperate need and limitless prayer reguests. Out of the initial sessions grew the certainty that we needed 2nd desired above everything else an outpouring of God's Spirit. Thus, we gave most .of the hours to the study of God's Word , to inviting Him to search our hearts and to prayer. How wonderfully He came to us! I t happened one afternoon. in a business session, when we faced a problem no one~could solve. Someone said, "Let us pray about it". In a short time we were caused to forget the issue.before the con- ference, For the^ glory of God filled that room and entered. into every heart.Tears. confession, surrender, and rededication of hearts a n d lives, followed by praise and thanksgiving brought peace to eroubled souls, quietness to minds. a deep trust in God. and assuran- ce that He would reveal His plan for the future of His work id Indonesia.

Before the close of conference.God did, we believe, unfold His program and laid upon us two vital commissions:

W h a t a taskl Today there are thousands of Christians - Christians, yes; but utterly without knowledge of God's will for a Christian life: unable to read His Word: without a spiritual leader and without a church ' to attend. This- must not continue so. It is a must that ever:, missionary hasten out there to the villages and organize the be- lievers into strong church groups, having their own pastors and church officers. so tmat when we are no longer present God's work will progress under the direction of national leaders. This calls for the training of young men and womem in our Bible Schools; for the translation of gospel literature, and for the printing of Bibles and

,'

.. !

First, the building up of the national Church.

-

19

, , , . . ,. . ; , .

Song Books in the vernacular. so that the current situation shall never be repeated - in the great Apo Kajan two-thirds of the -congregations are conducting their services without a Bible or Song Book.

Second, (and this is breaking our hearts) those thousands upon thousands of heathen living in areas adjacent to our present districts need to have the. News of Salvation preached to them. In Wes t Borneo alone there are well over 190,000 souls, being born. living out their lives and dying, without once hearing the name of Christ. Some of the tribes there have called long and loud for workers 10 come so they too might have a chance to hear. In central Borneo there wanders the Punan tribe, wild men of the jungle. flitting here and there and hard to reach, yet precious in God’s sight. They too, want to know how to be saved. Recently. a national wosker.in the Apo Kajan, near to Punan-land, sent word to a certain Punan village that he wished them to weave him a mat. So much time passed the worker could not understand why his mat was not deli- vered. When he. sent a man to inquire this is the answer he received - “Tell the preacher the mat has been ready for a long time, but 1 am holding it until he comes himself, for when he comes he will preach God’s Word to us.’’ In New Guinea there are whole districts peopled with thousands who cannot pronounce the Forld, -“Christ”. in any language. for never has that sound fallen upon their ears.’ Space permits Rot our telling of Lombok. Snmbawa, Sumatra, j3ali’ a i d p a r b o f the Celebes. We missionaries know these heathen are located near us: we have the woe in our souls if we preach not the gospel to them. With our number of workers it is impossible to evangelize these as yet unreached areas. True. we trust the church will~assume this commission and take the Good News to these tribes and tongues; however, while,workers are being trained the heathen continue to .die without hope. W e , as, a Conference, gazed upon this picture of dying mankind until we cried out to God to send workers from some place, any nationality. 0.11~ send someone to stop this awful waste of souls.

Now that Conferense is ended we go our diverse ways trusting God to use each one for the building up of His church, for the preaching of the gospel to the heathen and praying Him to multiply our ministry a hundred-fold.

But, what can we do?

, I

~ , . , \ 'DEATH, R O ~ B E D OF ITS PREY By 1. Wesley Brill

One beautiful sunny Sunday morning I was ushered into the chilly atmosphere of a ,large unfinished' building. Its dull wal contrasted greatly "with the surrounding brilliant tropical green. 'Two Dutch soldiers accompanied us and stood at attention wit bayonette-conspicuous guns ready for action. Being the first suc experience of my life. I felt rather strange in the presence of about 'one hundred Japanese W a r Criminals.'

My first impressions were so indelible that even years will not erase them. My first thought was. "I'am looking death in the face. , .', realizing that mary of them would receive the death penalty. M > ~ attention was drawn to the ' flint-like expression on their faces. Looking death so grimly in the face made cold chills run up and down my spine, The Dutch Army Chaplain had graciously invited us to help present the Gospel of Christ to these Japanese W a r Criminals. The first time I preached the tears succeeded in bre.. >king through: my heart was filled with love for their souls and ,certainly there was no trace of hatred.

Sunday after Sunday the Gospel was preached to about twen- ty men first, but more later. The rest of the men spent t praying majong. I recall once looking squarely into their faces and saying, "What will, you do when vour buddies call you traitor, - follower of the despi; cable foreigner! Will you have the lortitude to say 'Iam n lower of the foreigner but of the Lord Jews Christ!" Later their

'comrades did persecute them. In giving them the Word t led me, to use the parables and discourses of Christ more other part of the Borde! "

Of all' the faces I peered into that first day, one stood among the rest. Without doubt it was the hardest of all on Tuesday nights the Chaplain and I had a special cla to answer their questions about the Gospel. One night by the Spirit to call for decisions for Christ. T o my su seemingly hardest of the men raised h is hand indicatin wantcd to accept Christ. ' In order to help him make th more specific I invited him' to come and sit between the and me while I explained as simply as possible how to acc

' . '

,,

The Gospel was not presented as a ,,fire '

n

j , , . ~ , , i , . /

and helper him with a simple piayer. He was the hrst to confess, faith in Christ, and later proved it. From' then on m,ore and more acceptrd the Lord.

Six months later the scene changes to a Dutch court room here in Makasser. The man mentioned above is on trial for his life.

. During the war he was a captain in the Japanese Gestapo. Eleven of his surbordinates are also there, as witnesses. Five of them now Christians and knowing what sin is told the truth about their guilt. When the Captain was asked if he were guilty .of the charges faid against him he said, "I am guilty and worthy of death". Such a straight-forward confession of guilt among war criminals was unheard of be lo re:^ hence the Court was amazed. Moreover the Captain pled with the Court to place upon himself all resposibility .for orders he had issued, snd that they should allow his subordinates who carried out his orders. to be set free. The five Christian men said, "No we committed the rrimes and are worthy of death but our Captain should be set free, let us bear the responsibility". This created no small stirr in the Court room. Tears were seen rolling down the faces of the staid judge and other officers, I was to]$., These men had earlier seized the oppotunity to weave in their testi- mony for Christ. Hallelujah, the Gospel triumphs over death! Death is swallowed up in glorious victory! The Prosecutor asked the death sentence for the Captain and seven of his subordinates; and life in prison for four others.

It is another beautiful Sunday morning and the writer finds himself behind iron bdrs and dull grey walls: yet that dingy prison is alight with heavenly radiance. ' A box. stood on end, draped with Twelve blood-washed, Christ-redeemed war criminals are about to be bap- tized by the Chaplain. On the morrow five of them,are to be exe- cuted,. including #the Captain mentioned above. After the Baptismal service the writer was asked to speak a few words. With restrained emotion I read and commented on 1st Thess. 4 : 13-18. After prayer I shook hands with each one. Words fail to describe the light and smile on the Captain's face and my own 'reaction as I shook his hand, and left- awaiting, "The voice of the archangel and the trump of God".

Scores of times i t was the writer's privilege to proclaim the Gospel to these W a r Criminals and war prisoners. Only God knows

a'blanket serves as a table for the bowl of water.

LL

, . , , . ...~ , ,

how many have been saved, very likely it is between forty and fiky. ' , Some have been executed but most of them have been released and returned to' Japan. Like the Jailor who inflicted grevious wounds upon Paul and later was saved, so these men. T h e writer feels that the "got it back on" the old Devil who instigated hatred in the hearts of the Japanese, who so ruthlessly killed four of our own beloved missionaries and one baby. and caused the d ja th of four others. Truly this kind of "reaenge is sweet".

Pray for them.

LEAVENING ACTION OF T H E GOSPEL IN N E W GUINEA

B y E. H . Mickelson -

"The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven." Matt. 13 : 33. This parable reveals t h e mysterious increase of the kingdom.

of God. While the immediate preceding parable in the chapter sets forth the visible manifestation of the kingdom of God on the earth. this parable reveals its mysterious working or i t s influence on the , , ,:',

world which i t touches. We must each be satisfied to believe that, "till the whole be leaven'' must imply, that all have felt the influence , ,

of the Gospel. ,

in implanting the leaven of the Gospel in the center of unevangelized ' : tribes of earth. . .

their national helpers to observe the leavening action of the Gospel , , ,

upon the lives of local people. Upon the arrival of the missionarj and four native workers in the interior in 1946 they soon learned, that they were "persona non grata". To clarify if must be said that the mountain folk of the interior of this land suffered at the hands of the Japanese. The presence of non-indigenous folk in the interior at the outbreak of war precipitated the coming into the interior of the Japanese. The natives did not care to have the same thing recur.

Less than a week after the missionary arrived in the interior,.and while he was still living in a small tent shelter, he was informed that natives had congregated at a large pig feast near his camp site and were contemplating attacking his camp that very night,. To whom

23

Praise God for the small part each of us may have '

It ha; been the pivilege of the New Guinea missionaries and , ,

' I

' ~

' .

,

. , , ,

bu%.tlie-lord could he turn'? A paper had bem.signed releasing the Dutch Governmetlt of all responsibility as , to his personal safety and well being. Whcn the plane that flew him into the interior flew away again, his communications with the outside world were severed. There were hundreds of hostile natives prepared to slay us as they did more than forty Japanese who were well armed. I t was a threat that drove the missionary and native workers to their knees and to the Word. The whole night was spent in prayer. The missionary prayed that the burden prayer might, be placed upon faithf,ul prayer warriors ot home. Soon anxiety was replaced by confidence in the faithfulness God. God began to speak from His Word. "Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." (Ps. 50 : 15) "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear hih and delivereth them." (Ps. 34 : 7 ) "God reigneth over the heathen." (Ps. 47 : 3 Tears were dried and praise began to assend to God. We certainly were in trouble and that qualified us to expect the Master to deliver us as we most definitely called upon Him. We praise God that the angel of the Lord was camping near us. After a time of heart searching and prayer we had the assmance that everything was under the blood and that we'could rely upon His faithfulness to take care of us. When we comprehended that "God reigneth over the heathen'' our cups began to run over.' T o think that God was ruler even over these hundreds of hostile natives located about an hours hike away was they key to victory.

During the night khe natives could he heard yodeling to onc another beyond the periphery of our camp. We praised God to witness the light of another day dispelling the dakness. W e have, after many months. learned that an unnatural fear of us came upon the great gathering of hostile natives during that momentous night, They expected that we would momentarily attack them.

This was the first of seven eight threats that, were experienced during the following eight months. Natives began killing our pigs and chickens. stomachs towards our cows and.were chased away. They never had an opportunity to use their arrows, upon them: not one arrow fell- in our camp during this period. I t is of interest to mention that ,a day does not go by that natives do not pray for the protection of all livestock and equipment owned by the missionary and 'mission.

24

They were detected worming their way on their

All during the'period the missionary had no communications with the outside world. He, together with the native workers. ,

spent much time in prayer. of what they were told a t first but as they witnessed how ,in answer to prayer God intervened on our behalf, they began to listen in a sober manner to the proclamation of the Gospel. An influential chief on one occasion remarked, "If you are alive tomorrow morning. I will know that God answers prayer and 1, will believe in Him." The next morning he decided to be a follower of Christ. Though not baptized he has influenced others to turn to Christ including members of his own family.

Many have been praying for the work in New Guinea since its inception. The Lord has seen fit to work with His Spirit in.the hearts of many natives located here. For your encouragement to continue to pray it can honestly be said that the interest in the Gos- pel is definitely increasing.

Because of the nature of leaven it influences that with which it comes in contact. T h e Gospel is ex'erting an influence upon the lives and culture of the local people. An increasing number are ,,

recognizing the Sabbath whether they believe or not. Two villages located about an hour's distance away were at war with one another. , : W e were very much concerned as there were believers in one of the , '

villages. When the Lord's day came around both factions stopped ' ' ,

fighting. Currently a large war is in progress a t Tigi Lake, which is

about a day's journey away. Natives from many villages are affec- , ; ted. The Kepaukus recognize and are conscious of Divine help and '. :. aid. On one side of the current struggle the natives know how to , pray, and on the other side they do not. Their enemies acknow- ledge it is besause ol prayer that they are unable to be more suc- cessful. Sbangely. native young men from both factions are atten- ding ourBible school and with no apparent animosity between them.

A humble Bible school has been started For the traininig of young people to become pastors and Christian workers. About sixteen are encolled. It is a source of rejoicing to note the way some of those attending school are growing in grace. They listen with wrapt attention as the Gospel is ei-plained to them. 1Vo;l't you pray that God might 'raise up great leaders froa among the belie- vers? There are young women also who are desirous of attending

The natives were very skeptical

; Souls are cornins to the Saviour.

, ,

25

school. but we do not have accommodations for them. 'MIS. Mic-. kelson has a daily class for a group of them on the porch of the house. Many of these girls have come from quite a'distance. They sleep in Kepauku homes located near the mission property and they ask. or more accurately beg, for food so that they can continue to learn to read. How precious the Word of God will be to them as .they read it in their own language. It is hoped that in about three months it will be possible to enroll women in a class in the Bible school also. I t is very gratifying to note the willingness with which the students .aftending our Bible school are working to enable t h e school to be self contained. Daily after school hours they have a certain amount.of work that they must do in the garden. Should the Lord continue,to bless the efforts,~the school should be self contained in about six months.

Another very important thing that should tie brought to your attention is the attempt that is being made to give the Word of God to these people in their own language. The most spiritual of you reading this are very conscious of neglectshould you not read your Bible one single day. You realize the value of God's Word. Believers in New Guinea need Gods Word also. Can we refuse simple babes in Christ the stabilizing influence of the Word? Can we expect a strong church without making the Word of God available for believers to read? It is wonderful that in answer to prayer, the Lord has supplied the New Guinea work with a conse- crated linguist who has already made great strides in preparing pri- mers and reading material. Please pray for Miss Doble, our language worker, that the Lord might richly bless 'h,er as she camries on her important work of translating ?he Scriptures into the Kepau- ku language.

The leavening of the whole lump of these interior mountain tribes by the Gospel will be facilitated by your remembering to pray for the believers, the Bible school. and the work of translating the Word of God.

'

.

TENTH CONFERENCE

Marion Doble From our scattered stations ranging over an area equal to that

between Denver, Colorado and Delaware. we all gathered together

26

by

',

in our Tenth Conference at Benteng Tinggi. near Makassar, Celebes. We brought our problems. perplexities. troubles, needs.

3 and met together every morning at 8.00 that we might first of all, before our business sessions, open the Word together and in worshipping our Lord together be refreshed in our spirits.

In our first hour meeting thus, our chairman, Mr . *Walter Post. talked to us about the "vow of the Nazarite" (Numbers 6:l-12) The man who voluntarily took the vow of the Nazarite partook of no product of the vine, and in that same way we choose to partak,; not of earthly pleasures. but are partakers of the joy of the Lord. The Nazarite did not cut his hair, symbolizing to us the reproach that accompanies following the Lord. The Nazarite also could touch 00 dead body of friends or loved ones, reminding us that as Nazarites unto God we have to put God first before relatives and friends.

In the evening of the first day Mr. Mouw spoke'about the "Last words of Christ'', fro mthe last chapters of the Gospels and the first chapter of Acts. Among the last words of Jesus were not' only the Words "Go ye into all the world," but also "Tarry - t i l l ye be endued with power."

Mr . Schisler talked to us intimately about "Brotherly Love' ( I Peter 4:7.8), reminding us that it is a command to have fervent '

love among the brethren; a fervent love which is God-given an?. impossible to work up or imitate, but contingent on our willingness to confess our wrongs and to love our brethren.

A Christo-centric life and service, power, and program. was the theme of MI. Mickelson's message.

Of all our great and tremendous needs, the greatest of all. said Mr. Rankin, is Jesus Christ Himself. As we cry out with Paul that we might "know Him, and t h e power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings," that fellowship we need to share with Christ is the fellowship in His burden for the lost. for shepherdless believers. and for weak and sinning believers. (Phil. 3.7-14).

Mr. Brill's theme was "Floods upon the .Dry Ground." (Jer. 4.3: Isa. 44.3: 57.15). To obtain such floods we might plow up the weeds of sin and break up the crusted top-soil, plowing up the unused corners of the fields that we might make full use of our

,

, ,

(Phil. 1.21; Psa. 2 .8) .

27

, ,

opportunities. When He comes in revival power He will purge out. all that is displeasing to Him. (Matt. 3:11,12).

We see the tremendous needs around us, bEt we cannot meet them without a revelation oI Jesus Christ. Mr. Troutman spoke further of the "Revelation of Christ's Ministry" as well as of the "Revelation of Himself". His ministry, as foretold by Isaiah. and as ours mustBlso be, was preaching the Gospel to the poor. healing the broken-hearted, releasing prisoners of Satan from captivity.

I

. . (Luke 4:18,19).

Mr. Dixon's oractical subiect was "Much Praver and Little talk."^ Most Christians like Lo talk, but comparaGvely few like to pray. In the record of Soloaon dedicating the temple there are only ten verses which record the sermon, but thirty-one for prayer and seven for praise., There are no short cuts or detours in learning to pray. We must simply pray more. (Heb. 10:19-25).

(Mhrlt 6:34-42). Both the still ureached multitudes and hungry believers as well, famished for the Word . The word comes to us. as to the disciples of old. "Give ye them to eat.'' We cannot yet say of the mutitudes around us, "They did all eat and were filled."

On Sunday morning Mr . Walter. Post dwelt on the depth of truth which is contained in the simple well-known verse, John 3:16. God had a Son. and revealed the depth of His love for us in giving Him. Do we know what the love of God is? Have we felt. it? It will lead us out in deeper consecration to our task. He toid the story of a little African girl who sold herself to bring the money as an offering to Jesus. God gives to different ones a burden for different fields, but God's love takes in them all. May our love be enlarged to take in all the fields, the unreached areas, the national workers, and the believers.

Sunday evenings were devoted to singing our favorite hymns and- choruses around the fire-place.

Mr. Harry Post's theme was "Identification with Christ" (Heb. 2:9-16). Before we could be indentifield with Him, He had to become identifield with us . He subjected Himself to the physical limitations of men, opposition by men, and to temptation, - all this that we might he quickened together with Him. raised with Him. and seated with Him in heavenly places "far above" beyond any claim o j Satan. "All ouc peace will come from what we believe about His Son.'' H e was made like us, and we shall be like Him."

Mr. Conley's burden was "The have nothing to edt."

28

, . , . ~~,~ , .

':We often wait till something .hapbms in our district before ' '

we begin to really pray; W e should be on the offensive in praye.r ' ' ,

before Satan works,'' said Mr. Whetzel: Here is' an invincible " : combination, - the Spirit of God working in and thrqugh a yielded . ; ' vessd. The Gospel will have world-wide coverage in spite of ic- , ,: ~,

tense hatred. (Matt. 24:s-14) MI. Mouw read Hannah's prayer (1 Sam. 2:l-19) and ,,:,

paraphrased another portion thus, "by politics, or by maneuvering. or by wanting our own way 'shall.no man prevail'." He spokz pointedly about the sin of murmuring and complaining. Many 0; burdening of our hearts which lasted several days and culminated in a new sense of oneness and appreciation of one another.

and r f our t ime here is limited. that we leave something lasting behind (Psa. 90:12). Giving them the Word involves not only preaching. , '.

but giving them the written Word. That will be an abiding con- tribution which will remain when we are gone. Then we will be ,'

able to pray in faith for the church we have left behind because , ': "(we) have given them thy Word."

;: remembering thankfully America, in singing "My Country 'Tis of ''

our hearts were convicted, and we began a confession and un- , , ",'

Thee;" and then in remembering a better Country prepared for us , , ,,, we sang a number of times in rousing Nyack style "We're on the . - Homeward Trail." After other songs and testimonies, MI. Brill spoke to us on Paul's great prayer that we might "know the love ' ,

of Christ." and that "Christ may dwell in (our) hearts by faith", . ' ;~ (Eph 3:14-21). We would put our treasures in the strongest a n d - ; best vessels we could find, but God has put His treasure in earthen ' , ,

vessels. Mr. Brill asked the searching question, "Do we make Jesus > feel a t home in our hearts?" So long as the motor in the plane is operating, it overcomes the law of gravity which is always operating> So in proportion to how we permit Christ to operate in our iives do we overcome. And in proportion to how we love the Lord Jesus Christ will we be able to love our bre;h:en. All this and.a whole lo: more H e is able to do. We have not begun to ,ask or think what God js able and eager to do for us and in the Indies.

Mr. Meltzer enumerated seven "spiritual blessing;" of Eph. ' ' .

1:15-23.' We are chosen to be holy, predestinated, adopted into ' '

, .

, .

'. '

, , \ ~:

Mr. Van Patter wai concerned that we do wisely,

The various activities of Thanksgiving Day were begun wi th ,

~ , '

29

tlie royal family of God, redeemed through His blood, forgiven according to the riches of His grace; we have obtained an in- heritance and have been sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. W h a t is His object in making us the recipients of all His blessings? Because we are His inheritance!

From Eph. 3:7-10. MI-. Konernann spoke of our being ministers, those who distribute to others the Gospel. Ours is a high office, to preach -the mystery, to make all men see the fellowship of the mystery which is "Christ in you" as revealed inCol. 1:26; and that to principalities and powers in heavenly ,places might be known by the church,; the mystery.

On Sunday morninq again Mr. Walter Post spoke on the paradox "the meek - shall inherit the earth" (Matt . 5 : 5 ) . It is seemingly impossible, meekness being the very opposite of selI- seeking. It is really strength, not weakness, being control of self. and patience. The meek man can afford to be meek, because he knows everything is in God's hands. ' Though Lot selfishly chose the best, he did not enjoy it, and was vexed from day to day But Abraham. who took the,meek place, was promised it all. The Corinthians were split into two near-sighted factions, some saying they belonged to Paul, others to Peter, and others to Apollos. But Paul rebuked their smallness with the words "all things are yours, and ye are Christ's and Christ is God's.''

Mr . Olenhouse exhorted us to consider and remember whom we serve. "In the beginning God......" He, the Creator of the vast expanse of the heavens. and of ;this little earth. krbws even the number of the hairs of our heads. Little David, who trusted the living God,' put old Goliath and the armies of the Philistines to flight.

Before Jacob could receive the blessing a t Peniel (Ge. 32:24-29) he had to confess who and what he was. "Then," said Mr, Melt- zer. "God blessed him there.'' Jacob's "there" was a place of loneliness, of struggle, and of determination, as well as a geograDhi- cal location. W e need also to be in the geographical "there" to receive the blessing God has for us. Jacob was not only blessed, but broken. and as the blessed, and broken bread was distributed to the hungry multitude when Jesus was on earth. may we also be blessed and broken and given. for their sakes.

30

I ,

On the last day of Conference, as we were looking forward to the months of workiahead. Mr. Brill read.us the story of Aaron and Hur holding up Moses' hands (Ex. 17:S-l6);and make a plea that we remember to continue this attitude of strengthening one another. Not for a little while only. but until the final victory, tbe going down of the sun. The hands which hang down. let us not knock them down but lift them up: hold them up in prayer, and in cooperation, and in confidence. God is never in a dilemma. never in a tight spot. W e all have great opportunity lor trusting God this year, and as we hold- up one another's hands we will be able to say, at the close of the Conference Year, "Jehovah Nissi, the

a Lord our Banner of Victory."

MISSIONARY DIRECTORY

Ladjangiroeweg 81, Makassar, Celebes, I n d o n e s i a.

Benteng Tinggi, Malino via Makassaf Celebes, Indonesia Melak. Via Samarinda East Borneo, Indonesia Tandjongselor Via Tarakan. East Borneo Indonesia , Long Bia. Via Tandjongselor fi

Rev. and Mrs. J. W. Brill Rev. and Mrs. J. C. Meltzer Rev. and-Mrs. W. Konemann Miss L. F. Marsh Miss M. E. Kemp Miss. M. M. Shaneman Miss V. M. Morscheck Rev. and Mrs. W. A. Cutts (Not

yet appointed) Rev. and Mrs. L. A. Kim Mrs. F. C. Jackson Miss P. Roseberry Rev. and Mrs. W. W. Conley

"

;,'

.,

Rev. and Mrs. F. R. Whetzel Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Lewis

Rev. and Mrs. J . L. Van Patter Miss A. E. LeRoy

31

, , . . , ' m& M , ' b f 'Jaffray:' ' , , '

, . Tarakan. -East' Borneo. Indonesia Long Nawang. Via

East Borneo, Indonesta Long Berang. via Malinau '& Tarakan. East Borneo lndoqesia Nan$a Pinoh Via Pontianak. Wes t Berneo Indonesia Balai Sepoeak. Rev. and Mrs. J. A. Mouw Via Pontianak. Wesr Borneo. Serandjin ".

Via Pontianak, West Borneo Indonesia Wisselmeren, New Guinea , ,

Via Biak, Netherlands Rev. and Mrs. E. H. Mickelson East Indies Rev. and Mrs. K. E. Troutmaix

Rev. and Mrs. G. W . Rose Miss M. Doble Miss M. McIlrath

, ,

Rev. and MIS. €1. A. Dixon ,

, , , 'Fandjongselor E. Tarakan ~, ,

, Rev. and Mrs. Harry Post' Rev. and Mrs. H. Rankin,

Rev. and Mrs. C. C. Olenhouse

'

Rev. and Mrs. J. R. 'Schisler

On Furlogh - Rev. and hhs. W. M. Post

: 32