Celebrating 125 years of Rural Evangelism

Transcription

Sept/Oct 2011
Price 75p
‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness’ (Matt.6:33).
FIRST! No. 1277 September/October 2011
EDITOR: Lin Pearson E-mail: [email protected] CONSULTING EDITORS: John Townend and Sandy Roger
The FAITH MISSION
OUR VISION STATEMENT
To reach through passionate
evangelism the lost of all
age groups, particularly in
the villages and rural areas
of Great Britain and Ireland,
and by biblical teaching to
encourage holiness of heart
and life in Christian people.
COUNCIL MEMBERS
President - Rev. N. Darragh
General Director - J. Townend
Mission Administrator and
Treasurer - J. McNeilly,
J. Bennett, Rev. J. Brand,
Miss A. Brown, D. Chambers,
Rev. J. Currie, N. Liddle,
I. MacLeod, Rev. J. Magee,
J. Matthews, Miss A. Paul,
R. A. Potts, Rev. A. M. Roger,
J. Sandall, Rev. W. Smylie,
D. Stevenson,
Directors and Superintendents.
General Headquarters Govan House, 548 Gilmerton Road, Gilmerton,
Edinburgh EH17 7JD.
Tel: 0131-664-5814 Fax: 0131-664 2260
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.faithmission.org
General Director - John Townend
Mission Administrator & Treasurer - Joe McNeilly
(Email: [email protected])
Office Administrator - Carole Townley
Practical work - John McCartney
Bible College Principal: Rev. John Brand
2 Drum Street, Gilmerton, Edinburgh EH17 8QG
(Tel. 0131-664-4336)   (Fax 0131-672-1322)
Email: [email protected] Website: www.fmbc.ac
English Headquarters Director: A. Patterson
Red House Farm, Fen Lane, Earl Stonham, Stowmarket, Suffolk
IP14 5EG. (Tel. 01449-711877)
Irish Headquarters Director: T. Matthews
62 Glenavy Rd, Lisburn, Co.Antrim,BT28 3UT (Tel. 028-9262-8286)
Scottish Headquarters Director: J. McNeilly
548 Gilmerton Road, Edinburgh, EH17 7JD
(Tel. 0131-672-2149/1419)
Faith Mission & Missionary Training Home (known as The Faith Mission)
is a charity registered in Scotland No SCO05119
LOCATION OF WORKERS
SCOTLAND
South Scottish District : Superintendent – DANIEL & JUNE CHAMBERS,
3 Southhouse Rd, Edinburgh EH17 8DZ. (Tel. 0131-672-2564)
East Scottish District :Superintendent – NOEL McCLINTOCK,
43 Great Southern Road, Aberdeen AB11 7XY. (Tel. 01224-587112)
Ministry Apprentice: Viktor Mezger
Kirkaldy: Kathy Wood
Peterhead: John & Liz Macdonald
Highland District : Superintendent – DONNIE & Catherine MACLEOD,
1 Lodge Park, Inverness IV2 4YR. (Tel. 01463-238160).
Fort William: Justin & Carol Cummings
Outreach: Richard Allen
Anglo Scottish Border District : Superintendent – WILLIAM & CAROLYN
HARRISON, The Steadings, High Barbuchany, Newton Stewart,
Wigtownshire, DG8 6QF.(Tel. 01671-403632).
West Cumbria: Gordon & Helen Bingham
Bookshops : General Manager – NORMAN & PEARL LIDDLE.
EDINBURGH, 548 Gilmerton Road (Tel. 0131-672-2152)
DUNFERMLINE, 4 Canmore Street (Tel. 01383-720643)
PETERHEAD, 2 Erroll Street (Tel. 01779-471961)
STIRLING,36 Barnton Street (Tel. 01786-451152)
BERWICK-ON-TWEED, 31 Church Street (Tel. 01289-304505)
FRASERBURGH, 40 Cross Street (Tel. 01346-517088)
PERTH, 240 Old High Street (Tel. 01738 638142)
ENGLAND
East Anglian District : DIRECTOR – ALISTAIR & SHARON
PATTERSON, Red House Farm, Fen Lane, Earl Stonham, Stowmarket,
Suffolk IP14 5EG. (Tel. 01449-711877)
Norfolk: Stephen & Cynthia Walker; Timothy Currie (Min. Apprentice)
Kent: Arabella Paul
North District : Superintendent – JOHNATHAN & Janet SLATER,
10 Millgates, York YO26 6AT. (Tel. 01904 798357).
Preston: James & Lynda Bovenizer
Durham: Mark & Sheena Nelson
Central District : Superintendent – DANIEL & GRACE HOWSON,
Glebe Farm, Langar Lane, Harby, Melton Mowbray LE14 4BL.
(Tel. 01949-860313).
Derbyshire: David & Donna Ohin
Associate Workers: Simon & Rebecca Walsh
South West District : In Charge – IAN & HAZEL GILKINSON,
8 Willow Tree Close, Okehampton, Devon EX20 1NL.
(Tel. 01837-53922).
Outreach: David Lewis
WALES
Regional Representative – PAUL & ELIZABETH CROWE, 5 Glandulas
Drive, Mochdre Lane, Newtown, Powys SY16 4JB. (Tel: 01686 628779).
►► (Locations are continued on the inside back cover)
COVER: Bright Words (early FM magazine) and snaps of Faith Mission work through the years. Clockwise from top left: Husband and wife team at an early tent
mission; missioning with a tent and horse-drawn caravan; children’s work; the Founder of The Faith Mission, John George Govan; an open air beach campaign.
Look Back : Look Forward
T
Thoughts from the Editor
Getty Images
his issue of FIRST! heralds a year
of celebration for The Faith
Mission. 14 October 2011 is the
125th anniversary of the first mention
of the Mission.
How can our small magazine do justice
to this milestone? Its 32 pages could
never adequately record the scope
of all that God has done both for and
through The Faith Mission. For that
reason this issue and the next four will
carry archive articles, each from a
different quarter century.
Too many mirrors
I once read of a young man in the
UK who was prosecuted for a traffic
offence. He was a “mod”, one of a
group renowned for the modifications
they made to their Vespa scooters. He
had fitted so many rear-view mirrors
to his scooter that, aside from being
dangerously unbalanced, he could
hardly see ahead!
There is a danger in mere nostalgia,
but looking back need not always be
bad. If we reflect on the past, learn
from it and then move ahead, then
retrospection and reflection can have
positive spiritual benefits.
Still fresh and relevant
I have been reading again some
of the earlier issues of our
magazine—initially entitled
Bright Words, then Life Indeed,
before being renamed FIRST!
The news reports, testimonies
and articles struck me as
being as fresh and relevant
today as they were when
printed, some well over a
century ago. The touch of
God was upon the lives
of the Mission workers.
In the light of their work
and faith I have had to
reassess my own spiritual
life. I now have a fresh
trust in God’s ability to
answer prayer, having
read how he acted upon
lives and situations all
those years ago. ►
What were early Pilgrims like?
So what did I read that made this
change in me? Future issues will carry
some of the stirring and challenging
stories of God working in individuals
and communities. But in the meantime
I’ll share some general observations
about the early workers, then called
“Pilgrims”:
They expected to see God in action
And they were prepared to pray
sacrificially, until he moved. When
they held a half-night of prayer,
they expected and they experienced
breakthrough.
When the going got tough, the tough
got going!
● With no transport, and working
in deeply rural areas, some Pilgrims
walked up to 10 miles a day, from
their lodgings to the scattered homes
they visited, then back to the lodgings
before heading off to the meeting
place, which might have been quite
some distance away.
● They often faced severe opposition,
sometimes violent threats, yet
persisted in their work.
● They coped with ill-health. Spanish
flu and typhoid fever touched our
ranks. With poorer medical care than
we have today, some workers died as
a result of disease or physical collapse
due to over-work.
They had “the Pilgrim spirit”
The workers I read about had no great
interest in material things; rather
they viewed themselves as citizens
of heaven and held very loosely to
temporal possessions and comforts.
Many sacrificed home, family, financial
security and marriage, in order to be
entirely free to reach the lost in what
they called “aggressive evangelism”.
They were filled with passion
They were wholeheartedly devoted
to Christ, to the goal of making him
known and to encouraging Christian
growth in all their converts. Their
passion for the lost and for the cause
of their God may have been ridiculed
by some, but to others it was the mark
of a Faith Mission Pilgrim.
They viewed personal holiness and
entire consecration to God as a
necessity.
They were not “hooked on” a stark
doctrine; they saw their need to be
utterly clean and consecrated if they
were to accomplish anything for God.
They preached it fervently and lived it
faithfully.
I hope I have whetted your appetite!
There are some pieces in this issue
which refer to the first 25 years of
Faith Mission work. And there are more
to follow in future issues, relating to
other eras in the development of The
Faith Mission. My goal is that, rather
than be interesting historical notes,
they will cause us all to reflect on the
awesome power of our God and help us
to realign our lives with his plan for us
in our daily lives and service for him.
“Go forth today, by the help of God’s Spirit, vowing and declaring that
in life —come poverty, come wealth, come pain, or come what may—
you are and ever must be the Lord’s. For this is written on your heart,
‘We love him because he first loved us.’”—Charles Spurgeon
4
September/October 2011
O
n most mission fields you
will meet former Pilgrims,
or Prayer Union members who
heard the call when some missionary
visited their meeting, or at one of the
Annual Conventions. The Fire is still
burning, but does it need renewing ?
There may be commendable activity,
and excellent organization without
the life and power which come from
the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
His presence is with us; we have seen
manifestations of His power in the
work in the Hebrides; we see it in the
stedfast preaching of the Word in the
face of the godlessness of the country
to-day, and men and women are still
being plucked as “brands from the
burning”. But the Founder, if here,
would say that we need “another
Pentecost”.
The power proceeds from God; our
part is to bring the burnt offering.
In the days of Elijah when the altar
of sacrifice was repaired, and God’s
Title graphic by Matt Gruber
in the midst
servant prayed with intense desire,
“then the fire of the Lord fell”.
Let J. G. Govan question us now:
“What are you going to let Him do
with you? If He has redeemed you, He
wants to use you to save a perishing
world. He needs as witnesses those
who fear not man, but who fear Him;
those who truly know Him; men and
women of prayer who are willing to
spend and be spent, and who count
not their lives dear unto themselves.
Have you got a pure heart? Are you
delivered from the love of the world,
and the fear of man? There is for
you, heart purity through the Blood,
power through the Holy Ghost, and
deliverance from every enemy through
the consciousness of the ever-present
God round about like a wall of fire,
and indwelling by His Holy Spirit, who
is ‘THE GLORY IN THE MIDST’.”
Extracted from When the Fire Fell by I. R. Govan Stewart.
First!
5
A
Clean
Heart
From the inception of The Faith
Mission, in addition to teaching about
salvation, there was a central emphasis
on the necessity of a “clean heart”.
The Founder here testifies to his
personal experience, and the practical
outcome flowing from it.
I
t seems to me quite clear in the
Bible, that Jesus Christ can cleanse
the heart from all sin. Else what
would be the meaning of such Scripture
as: “Who shall ascend into the hill of
the Lord? He that hath clean hands and
a pure heart…” (Psalm 24:3-4a).
“Create in me a clean heart, O God”
(Psalm 51:10).
“God is good…to such as are of a clean
heart” (Psalm 73:1).
Convinced
One thing that convinced me of the
possibility of this blessing was the
changed life of my brother James. I
witnessed the reality of the experience
into which he had entered…the blessedness and the power of a fully surrendered life. And then, after months
6
of heart-searching and of counting
the cost, the night came when I, too,
yielded all that I had entirely to God.
Christians get wonderful and beautiful
blessings at conventions and meetings,
but often these do not last because
they do not allow the Holy Spirit to get
to the depth of their being, to search
them out, and to turn His hand upon
them to purge away their dross.
The heart is meant for God’s possession
and indwelling, but it is only after a
thorough work by the Spirit in the inner
man, that Christ can really come to
“dwell” or “settle down” in the heart.
I have always felt the expression, “a
clean heart” to be descriptive of the
thoroughness of the work that God
waits to do within us.
Criticism
One reason [that some criticize this expression and believe it to be unattainable] is that many who have professed
it have not known the reality of the
experience, nor continued walking in
the light.
The reality of our experience can be
tested by the standard laid down in
the Word. It is thoroughly practical.
Cleansing is not only negative, but it
brings the life of Christ into the whole
being. Paul speaks about putting off the
old man, and then putting on the new,
and this works out in daily living—in the
effect on the mind and the thoughtlife, the hands, the tongue, and other
members of the body, the temper, the
inward spirit as well as the outward
demeanour. Christians who are still
selfish, self-centred, inconsiderate,
ungrateful, and hard in their judgment
of others, should not make a profession
of holiness.
Of course, many are not willing for
the Cross that the life of full salvation
[purity and power] means—the cutting
across of their own wishes and the ways
of the world—and they rebel against
the teaching of a deeper work of grace
after conversion. But sanctification is
a dangerous thing to speak against.
This is the very thing that Jesus came
and suffered for. He will not rest in
uncleanness or in depravity, but He will
come and cleanse us, and take up His
abode in us; and He will do the work in
us only when we are utterly yielded.
Not for only a few
The fullness of the Holy Spirit is for
all Christ’s children. This becomes a
reality sometimes at the point of full
surrender, and sometimes later. The
Bible states general principles with
regard to God’s dealings with human
nature, but there is infinite variety
in His ways with individuals. It was
after I had yielded fully, and knew
the blessedness of a heart “by Blood
made clean” that God brought me into
a new life entirely—a life of power by
the Spirit. I saw that our Lord, though
perfectly pure, was endued with power
at His baptism, and that the disciples
spoke with “great power” after their
Pentecost. The words, “tarry ye…until
ye be endued with power from on high”
came home to me, and as I searched
the Word, I felt increasingly my need.
Pride must come down
We were frequenting Salvation Army
meetings in those days in Glasgow,
and were often at their half-nights of
prayer; and at one meeting, in spite of
being known as one who had testified
to a clean heart, because of this sense
of need in my life I went forward to the
penitent form [a bench where people
could kneel to pray, seek salvation
or sanctification, or make a special
consecration to God’s will and service].
A penitent form is a proper killer of
pride, and pride must come down.
Shortly afterwards, some of us
arranged ten days of waiting on the
Lord. We gathered each evening after
business at Water Street Hall, where
we had commenced Gospel work, and
sometimes prayed right on till morning.
Room shaken
Some were not willing to go through
with God, and dropped out. But a day
came when the very room was shaken
as in the days of the early Church, and
we were filled with the Holy Spirit,
with “joy unspeakable and full of
glory”. ► Continued overleaf
First!
7
We saw Heaven opened, and the
chariots of God, and the Son of God
going forth to war—and we were
humbled in the dust at our Master’s
glory. It is worth while going through
until “the promise of the Father”
becomes a glorious reality.
Practical outcome
There were practical results to this
anointing of the Spirit.
We had a tremendous consciousness of
the glory and presence and power of
the living Christ with us.
The love of God was shed abroad in our
hearts in a new way, lifting us above
selfish and petty feelings, and giving us
a oneness with all true believers, and
a sense of compassion for the lost. Our
eyes were opened too, to see the Cross
of Calvary, and the bleeding Saviour,
and to realize something of what it
meant to Him to leave His home in
Heaven and come down here to die
such a terrible death as He died.
There was also great power in the
Did
you
know?
meetings. After one such time of
blessing when God revealed Himself
to us as we waited upon Him, we had
three days of meetings for Christians
at Dunfermline—times of the Saviour’s
near presence and power.
At the last of those meetings, nearly all
present rose to yield themselves wholly
to God, and to trust Him to sanctify. It
was a wonderful time, and a number
got into contact with God, and came to
know the power of the Spirit in a way
that left a mark on their lives throughout the years.
Emotionalism?
Some complain of emotionalism at such
times, but it is not the least to be wondered at when the Eternal God draws
near and manifests Himself to the soul,
and when His glorious and awful truths
are seen in the intense light caused by
the contact of His Spirit with the spirit
of man. 
Extracted from When the Fire Fell by
I. R. G. Stewart
Why we are named The Faith Mission
The Founder wrote: “I believe God gave us the name.
Faith was to be the principle of the Mission—faith in
God, and in Him alone; absolute dependence upon
Him for everything necessary, for guidance, for health
and strength besides food and clothing; faith for the
future as well as faith for the present. Faith lives on distinct
promises such as—‘They who preach the Gospel shall live by the Gospel’
and ‘They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.’ And the word
‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee’ covers all contingencies.”
8
Procrastination
By Ben Reed
The most dangerous word for your spiritual growth is “tomorrow.”
I’ll share my faith with my friend…tomorrow.
I’ll start praying more regularly…tomorrow.
I’ll start reading my Bible…tomorrow.
I know God wants me to _____, so I will do that…tomorrow.
I’ll start treating my wife with respect…tomorrow.
I’ll become a better parent…starting tomorrow.
I’ll quit doing ______…tomorrow.
I’ll choose to forgive…tomorrow.
I’ll choose joy, not anger…tomorrow.
I’ll choose to serve…tomorrow.
I’ll take charge of my spiritual growth…tomorrow.
Stop saying tomorrow!
Today is the day.
“Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a
certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there
and make a profit.’ How do you know what your life will be like
tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while,
then it’s gone” (James 4:13-14).
Photo by Jeff Boriss
Used by kind permission. Ben blogs at www.benreed.net
First!
9
grace
grit
gumption
Early Pilgrims remembered
T
he Faith Mission demonstrates
the truth that it is the things that
“are not” which are chosen to
confound “the things that are”.
Some of the most unlikely have been
most used.
you say? I cannot hear.”
They moved back. “It’s all right” she
assured them. “I won’t do you any
harm, but I cannot hear what you are
saying.”
The roughs were determined to finish the
ROUGHS ROUTED
mission, stoning the hall, and finally pushed
A middle-aged lady,
slightly deaf, came up
a boulder through one of the windows. She
to me [the Founder] at
went out and faced a crowd of a hundred.
a convention to say that
she had discovered she had never been
Her fearlessness had unnerved
converted. It was not long before she
them, and they turned and fled, and
was, and she immediately offered herthe mission went on, some of the
self for Faith Mission work, and made a
ringleaders being converted. “He
fine Pilgrim.
At one place in the West of Ireland, the turneth the way of the wicked upside
down” !
roughs were determined to finish the
remarkable influence
mission, stoning the hall, and finally
Grace, grit and gumption are needed
pushed a boulder through one of the
by Pilgrims, and that one had plenty
windows. She went out and faced a
of grit. I can think of another, Phemie
crowd of a hundred.
Hutton, who became a remarkable
“We’ll give you five minutes to get out
of the hall, or we’ll burn you out”, they preacher with great influence over
rough men—navvies, quarry workers
shouted.
and sea-faring men. From one of her
But Elizabeth Coles could not hear, and
calmly walked towards them. “What do missions, fourteen men went into the
10
ministry or to the mission field, and
when her preaching days were over,
she lived to intercede, spending an
hour-and-a-half in prayer for the
Pilgrims each afternoon…
God has taken men from behind the
plough, the counter, from crofts
and fishing boats, and made them
mighty in prayer, and in preaching
the everlasting gospel. Academic
qualifications are not to be despised,
but the one indispensable qualification
for soul-winning is the baptism of the
Holy Ghost. We have no power of our
own, but living faith links us on to His
power. If all of us in the Mission were
truly baptized with the Holy Ghost
and with fire, what an awakening and
conflagration there would be! Surely
such an experience is worth waiting
for, and sacrificing all for. —J. G. Govan
on the corrugated iron hall made
everybody start. Sometimes the stone
missed the hall and hit the window
instead. Worse still, for the speakers
at least, was the cayenne pepper in
the stove! But the Pilgrims and local
Christians held on to God and many
were saved.
A minister, a student, a factor [land
agent] and the above mentioned
missionary, were among those who
marched to and from the hall every
night in the snow. One man, out of a
grateful heart, paid all expenses of
the mission, expressing the wish that
all other donations and collections go
direct to headquarters to help poor
places. After the bridge was finished
the men were scattered. One wonders
what [eternity] will reveal of a work
like that. 
From When the Fire Fell by I. R. Govan Stewart
From Faith Triumphant by J.B.McLean
South Queensferry was a mission
of peculiar interest. It was held the
year the Forth Bridge was finished and
opened [1890]. It was a cosmopolitan
crowd that worked on the bridge.
The navvy missionary for the
bridge-men asked the Pilgrim
sisters to have meetings on
Inch Garvie at the dinner
hour for the men. They were
lowered down 270 feet in a
cage to the little island, and
there they sang, preached
and prayed while the men
had their dinner.
The men were invited to
the meetings of the mission.
Many of them did accept the
invitation, and lively times
followed. Stones thrown
PHOTO: The Forth Railway Bridge under
repair, with Inch Garvie below. The two
sister Pilgrims were lowered from the bridge
in a basket! Creative Commons License
First!
11
Early Faith Mission workers often referred to evangelism as “the war”.
In this extract from a 1904 Bright Words we learn of…
Battles fought and won
Letters from the front line
The Frigid Zone
“It certainly is very hard in this district,
and we don’t feel like singing, “Oh,
how happy the pilgrim’s lot”! Rev.
John McNeill said, ‘The professors [of
Christianity] hereabouts were dying of
dignity, and frozen with respectability,
and sat in the meetings like clothesprops, as if they had no souls.’ There is
plenty of outward religion, but oh, such
utter indifference to real salvation!
The Mission is not known here, there
is prejudice against women preaching,
and we cannot have a Sunday night
meeting. The minister said to us,
‘God bless you! You’re very plucky to
face this place.’ It is like being away
in a foreign land. There is nothing at
all to encourage, and not even a few
Christians to pray and consult with. Yet
we are confident it is not all in vain. I
do want to [gain from] these hard times
all that God would have me get.” 
Improvising a Hall
“Unable to get a meeting-place; we
began on the hillside, but then we
heard of an old barn we could have.
So we started to sort it up, but the
storm hindered. Though it is now pretty
presentable, as it is unplastered, the
wind comes through. We have been
stuffing the holes with moss, and then
have papered it with old papers. Then,
with help, we got a roof on, and with
some planks we arranged seating for
about a hundred. The former converts
12
are bright and real, and we have had
God's presence in the meetings; but it
is sad to turn away after thirteen weeks
without seeing any results. I cannot
tell how much the thought of the
Christians’ prayers has strengthened us
to press on.” 
In the Wee Shed
“We got a wee shed that would hold
about forty, and got seats from the
adjoining Prayer Union. There were
twenty-four at our first meeting, but
for Sundays the place is too small. The
singing is not very sweet: it is hard to
make even a noise in this little shed.
There have been two good cases of
profession—one, a big strong fisherman
who got a great shaking. The devil is
raging, and doing all he can to oppose
the light. When I was speaking about
Christ's power to save from sin, an
elder got up to ask captious questions
[intending to entrap or confuse us],
and another contradicted me; but the
people were not pleased at them.”
Later: “We had a good close. One
of the men who interrupted me that
night (a man of about sixty) was at the
penitent-form, and also an old man
near eighty. If we had had a suitable
place I think it would have been a good
mission. I know many got their eyes
opened. We had donations from the
converts, and some who had received
blessing, and they wish the school
could be got for a mission.” 
The Pilgrim group in 1893. Seated at the table are (left to right) P. L. Corsie
(a foundation Pilgrim), J. G. Govan (the Founder) and H. E. Govan (brother of the founder
and editor of Bright Words). Also in the group are J. B. McLean (fourth from the right in the
second to back row) and just behind his right shoulder is Mrs. McLean.
the Half-Night of prayer
“The Christians got definite blessing at
the half-night of prayer. I do not think
that any of them had ever been at one
before. It was wonderful the liberty
that we had in prayer and testimony.
One of the bad boys came with a cousin
to accompany her home, but while we
waited before God, the Spirit came
upon him in power, convicting and
showing him that he had neither part
nor lot with us. He said afterwards that
all the preaching he had heard had had
no effect upon him till that night, when
the Spirit revealed his true condition.
Praise God!” 
Real Anxiety
“We were only ten days working when
we had the joy of pointing two souls to
the Lord, and right from then some one
was stopping behind to speak to us after
we had closed the meeting. We had no
after-meeting at first, but as they were
going out they would turn back at the
door after the rest went out.
It was nice to see a young lad about
seventeen years one Saturday night.
After closing our meeting, very much
discouraged that we had not seen any
result, we were gathering the hymn
books when this lad came rushing in.
► Continued overleaf
First!
13
When we asked him what was wrong
he cried out, with the tears streaming
down his face, ‘My sins!’ So we dealt
with him, and pointed him to the Lamb
of God which taketh away the sins of
the world, and he accepted Him as
his Saviour, and went home rejoicing.
It was nice to hear him afterwards
praying in the meetings.
Another most interesting case was that
of a young girl who came night after
night to our meetings. We spoke to her
often. She felt her need, but on the
other hand she thought herself unfit to
give herself to God yet. One night while
going home from the meeting she told
our landlady and some others that she
Did
you
know?
felt so hard, without any impression.
When we heard this, both of us took to
our knees and wrestled with God until
some time in the morning. And the
word which I got on opening my Bible
was, ‘Ye shall be a blessing; fear not,
but let your hands be strong.’
The result of that half-night was that
the young girl who went to bed careless
and indifferent about her soul had to
rise and get her father up to pray with
her, and did not rise from her knees until she got peace to her soul. She is now
going on praying and praising God.” 
From Lights and Shades of Pilgrim Days:
Bright Words Nov.1904
How the Faith Mission started
The Founder wrote: “The first mention of the name is in
a little black diary that I kept in 1886. One page is headed
‘Moffat, October 14th. First attack of Faith Mission.’ I had
left business, and was working missions around Glasgow, while
hoping to go abroad. But God began to bless in quite a remarkable
way, and others wanted to join me.
One of these, George Colvin, went to Moffat, while I was invited to Whitehaven.
When my mission closed, I joined him at Moffat for the last week. Many were
brought to Christ, and as all our expenses were met without collections or
solicitation, we felt we could take that as a seal that God was with us and we could
go forward in a life of faith, seeking the lost. So that was how the Mission came
into being.
We saw the need of the villages of Scotland—the spiritual deadness,
the hypocrisy, the men and women enslaved by sin, and we felt God
was sending us out to preach a pure Gospel, and a life-giving religion;
the Gospel of a Saviour Who not only saves His people from their sins,
but baptizes us with power to live and work for Him.”
14
Life and Times
Some observations of the first quarter century of The Faith Mission
Monarchy
After over 63 years on the throne, in 1901 Queen Victoria died and was
succeeded by her son, Edward VII (right) and in 1910 by George V.
Politics
The Women’s Suffrage movement was active. But it
was not until the Representation of the People Act
(1928) that women were granted the right to vote on the
same terms as men.
Life Expectancy
A boy born in 1901 had a life expectancy of 45 years and a girl,
49 years. In 2008, life expectancy at birth for males in the UK was
77.8 years and for females was 81.9 years.
All images on this page are used under Creative Commons license.
Prices and money
The purchasing power of a pound fell from £1 in 1900 to the equivalent
of just 1.5 pence in 1999. In 1900 a loaf of bread, equivalent to our large
loaf, cost 2d (0.8p) Today, the same sized loaf costs £1.20. A stamp for a
letter cost 1d (0.4p); today we pay 46p.
Aviation
In 1903 the Wright brothers flew the first powered and sustained
heavier-than-air human flight. Two years later they developed
the first practical fixed-wing aircraft (see right). In 1909 Blériot
completed the first flight across a large body of water in a heavierthan-air craft, when he crossed the English Channel.
World Affairs
1898-1901 The Boxer Rebellion in China
1901 The commonwealth of Australia is formed (flag left)
1899-1902 The Second Anglo-Boer War
1905 - Russian Revolution
Religious climate
The 19th century saw an ever-widening separation between science and religion. This, despite
several prominent scientists who were believers, continued to grow as the 20th century progressed.
First! 15
Title based on an image by Hunter McGee
By Noel Darragh,
President of The Faith Mission
G
rowing up I never heard of
anyone self-harming. These days
it seems more common. I feel
very sorry for those who are driven to
this, believing that somehow it will
help with life’s pressures and problems
and make them feel better. They run
against the words of the Apostle in
Ephesians 5:29, “No one ever hates his
own body but nourishes and cares for
it.”
Tormented by their burdens, somehow
self-injury becomes the one area of
life they can control; physical pain
counteracts numbed emotions; selfpunishment attempts to deal with
guilt and shame. Our hearts go out to
those who self-harm and we long that
they might meet the Saviour who can
mend broken lives and heal shattered
emotions.
16
Spiritual self-harm
Of course it’s possible to self-harm
in the spiritual realm also. When we
hear the good news that Jesus died to
take away our sins and give us a brand
new life, we can reject this amazing
offer. And even as God’s children, we
sometimes refuse to obey God’s Word
and walk away from fellowship with
him. In these ways we can self-harm
with eternal consequences.
Christian organizations, denominations
and churches can self-harm. There
can be many reasons for this, such
as spiritual deadness, division or
diversion. Actually such self-injury can
occur with little outward evidence of a
problem—for example, an unwillingness
to move forward because of entrenched
ideas, or at the other extreme, an
obsession with change that fails to hold
on to the essentials and moves even
the very foundations of a movement.
For a century and a quarter the Lord
has wonderfully preserved The Faith
Mission from self-harm. There have
been pressures, problems and at
times pain in the work, but God has
continued to grant his favour and
blessing.
Loved and valued by God
Some individuals self-harm because
they feel unloved and devalued, but
The Faith Mission has known God’s
love in abundant measure and has
experienced his smile of approval.
He has provided for all our needs and
graciously used the Mission in the
extension of his Kingdom. Of course
real satisfaction and fulfilment
comes as bestowed love is responded
to positively. We are well aware that
it was the John George Govan’s love
for the Lord, and indeed for those
who were lost without Christ, that
brought The Faith Mission into being.
So then, standing at this juncture
and facing the challenges of the
future, there is no need to selfharm. For, aware of God’s love,
purpose and presence, we gladly
respond, “We will serve him because
we love him.”
May it please the Lord to always
protect us from spiritually injuring
ourselves either as individuals or
as an organization. May he give
our leaders wisdom and guide their
decision-making as they lead the
Mission into the future. And may he
give each individual worker a deep
trust in him that will enable us to
cope, whatever the pressure. 
Christian-based self-injury
information and resources
Whilst Noel was using the theme of
self-harm in an illustrative sense,
we do recognize that self-injury is
prevalent today. If you self-harm,
or know of someone who does, you
may find information and help,
both scriptural and practical, at the
Christian website Lysamena Project
(www.self-injury.org).
Dare we stand by?
We are saved, but not that we
might sit back and indulge
ourselves in the thought.
We are saved to serve.
If non-Christians can deny
themselves present satisfaction
for future gains and go to such
lengths to win a prize,
how much more ought we,
who serve the risen Christ?
Dare we stand by and watch
them do for gold what we
are not prepared to do for God?
—Selwyn Hughes
First!
17
A touch
of
Wales in
Ireland
Summer Conferences
Donegal 1907
“Y
Above: Donegal, the Lough Foyle coast. Photo by Paddy Barry.
ou may go through a hymn
without the hymn going through
you.” So we were reminded by the
Rev. D. Evans in Milford, at the close
of the singing of Draw me nearer. He
added, “If you have had a vision of that
‘precious bleeding side,’ you will not
sing the words harshly.”
He had come all the way from
Bridgend, Glamorgan, to be present at
the three conferences—Moville, Milford,
and Donegal—which were held June
17-21; and it was a great privilege to
welcome him to Ireland for the first
time.
In some of the places the meetings
were disappointing, as far as numbers
went. But “no meeting is small if God
is in it,” and one of the lessons of the
Welsh revival was, that “God counted
the hearts, not the heads, in a service.”
While there is never any hard-and-fast
rule or rigid programme to be gone
through at Faith Mission conferences,
yet this time the meetings were, if
possible, even more informal than
usual. No two were alike. At one the
18
time was chiefly spent in prayer, with
perhaps one address; at another there
were two or even three speakers; while
again, sometimes Mr Evans called for
spontaneous confessions of Christ—
“I confess Jesus Christ as my Saviour”;
and so on, just as the Spirit guided.
The following helpful thoughts are
worth passing on:
• “God has more trouble with the
world in the Church than with the
world outside.”
• “Obedience stands between you and
the blessing.”
• “Before the [Welsh] Revival we read
books about the Bible rather than
the Bible itself. We read books that
sat in judgment on the Bible, but
now we have set the Bible on the
throne, and it is the judge of all
books.”
• “When you fail it is not ‘try, try
again,’ but ‘TRUST, TRUST again.”’
• “The supernatural is very natural.”
From a report in Bright Words 1907
As I see it
By John Townend
Reflections and news
from our General Director
O
n 14 October The Faith Mission
begins its 125th anniversary year.
This will be marked in a number
of ways during the year, including a day
of prayer throughout the work on 14
October and a number of special rallies
in various areas at different times
through the year.
As we approach this anniversary we
remember our origins and calling,
reflect on God’s goodness and leading,
and reach forward to what he has for us
in the future.
Remembering
The Faith Mission has a rich heritage.
When John George Govan founded
the Mission in 1886 he did so with a
clear sense of call to reach the largely
unevangelized rural areas of Britain.
Choosing to turn his back on a life of
prosperity and ease, he offered himself
to Christ—body, soul and spirit—for
the spreading of the gospel message
into the much neglected villages and
countryside of his native land. He
recognized that any who joined him in
the work must have a proven testimony
to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
They must share his burden and call
to reach with the gospel the people of
rural Britain. They must also experience
the sanctifying, victorious, empowering
fullness of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
These requirements he knew were
fundamental if The Faith Mission were
to have a vibrant, effective ministry in
winning the lost. God deeply blessed
the work in those early days when, in
mission after mission, people turned
to Christ. Sometimes it was in ones
and twos, but on occasions whole
communities were transformed as the
gospel powerfully impacted people’s
lives.
Reflecting
Through generations the work has
continued to spread, and with it
blessing. The primary work of the
Mission has always been that of soulwinning and from its earliest days we
have pursued every form of outreach,
adapting our evangelism to the
prevailing conditions and circumstances
of the area and era. In the early
days, missions were the main activity,
but later generations did not have
the scriptural foundations that their
predecessors had known.
So, although missions continue
to play an important role in our
work, it has become necessary in
some areas to adapt the work, so
as to give long-term contact with
First!
19
communities. This has given the
opportunity to gain acceptance and
have sustained interaction with those
we are seeking to win for Christ.
Schools work has become an
increasingly important aspect of
our ministry, with opportunity last
year to present the gospel to almost
50,000 pupils. This summer about
1,600 children and young people were
contacted through our programme
of 30 camps. God has increasingly
blessed this ministry in recent years
and marvellously provided us with
six dedicated camp centre facilities
and a seventh nearing completion
in the Midlands of Ireland.
Perhaps the most stimulating occasions
to reflect upon are those in which God
has permitted us to be involved in
revival, the most memorable of which
was the Lewis Awakening of 19491951, when, under the ministry of Rev
Duncan Campbell, God mightily moved
across much of the Island of Lewis.
While reflecting, we must not overlook
the goodness and faithfulness of God.
As our name suggests, the principle
of faith is the basis upon which the
Faith Mission was established and
upon which it continues to exist today.
Over 125 years the Mission has been
supplied with all its needs through
dependence upon God alone. Often
this has been made possible through
the faithful and sacrificial giving of
our friends and supporters, but on
occasions through substantial gifts
which have been received at times of
particular and sometimes urgent need.
There can be no doubt that our
greatest asset has always been the
20
backbone of almost 300 prayer
support groups which regularly
meet to uphold our work and
workers in prayer. Without these
Prayer Unions and the mighty army
of individual prayer warriors who
fervently stand with us in prayer our
work would be greatly weakened
and our effectiveness reduced.
Reaching Forward
Looking back with gratitude is good,
but this anniversary is also a spring
board into the future. The God who
called The Faith Mission into being,
and blessed and provided for its
ministry ever since, has not changed or
withdrawn his commission.
We must grasp the challenge of
reaching this generation in rural Britain
and Ireland. We must not rest on our
laurels while revelling in the afterglow
of past blessing.
For this reason the Faith Mission
Council is earnestly seeking God’s
direction as we prepare for the next
twenty-five years of our ministry. This
may mean that we will have to adapt
to changing times, change the structure
or focus of our work or launch out
into new avenues of ministry. If this is
what is required to meaningfully and
effectively communicate the gospel
to our generation may God give us the
necessary wisdom and direction and the
grace and courage to obey him.
We long for people of all age groups
to trust Christ as Saviour though the
continuing ministry of the Mission. And
our hearts’ cry is that again God may
be pleased to visit this land with a
heaven-sent revival.
First! 21
Mission News
W
e thank God for an encouraging
summer with many answers to
prayer. This began with an excellent
time at Edinburgh Convention
when God’s presence was real, the
ministry was rich and attendances
were increased on previous years. As
indicated in the last issue of First! Paul
and Sharon Acheson will be leaving
the Mission later this year. However
they will conclude their service with
us at the end of December, and not
September as previously stated.
Ben and Heather Mason have told us
of their intention to withdraw from
the Mission at the close of the summer
programme. We wish them much
blessing for the future.
At the time of writing the Faith Mission
Council are in the process of finalizing
decisions regarding replacement
personnel for the work in County Cork,
we hope to have more news on this in
the near future.
We give our sincere congratulations
to Gordon and Helen Bingham on the
birth of their daughter Hannah Emily
on Friday 24 June and wish them much
blessing as a family.
We are pleased to welcome back into
the work of the Mission former Bible
College student Ruth Martin and
former worker Richard Allen. Ruth will
be based in the Ballymena area and
Richard is joining the work in Scotland.
We are also delighted to welcome
graduating students Cherith Anderson
and Heather Wilson into the work.
They will be working together in a
newly developed outreach in
Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
Tim Currie and Viktor Mezger will
also be doing long-term placements
with the Mission, as they are the
first students to undertake the new
third-year Ministry Apprenticeship
programme being launched at the Bible
College when it recommences for the
new academic session.
Other changes at the College include
a shift to an extended two semester
session, commencing in mid-September
and concluding with the Edinburgh
Convention next July. This will include
a five-week field placement for all
the students in the spring and a twoweek summer placement following
Graduation. 
“When one allows the Lord to open the eyes and show the glories of His eternal
Kingdom, how contemptible and trifling become the things of this world. I can
never thank God enough for showing me how little were earthly gains, honours
and pleasures compared with getting souls saved. In eternity we will prove
that to get one soul saved is worth infinitely more than getting any amount of
fortunes down on this earth.” — J. G. Govan
Speaking about the Mission’s motto:’Seek first the Kindom of God and his righteousness’
First!
21
The
soap
maker’s
promise
O
ne day in 1804 a poor boy met
an old captain on a tow-path
on the Erie Canal. The captain
recognized him and said: “Well,
William, where are you going?
“I don’t know,” he answered. “Father
is too poor to keep me at home any
longer, and says I must now make a
living for myself.”
“There’s no trouble about that,” said
the captain. “Be sure you start right,
and you’ll get along fine.”
William told his friend that the only
trade he knew anything about was
making soap and candles, at which he
had helped his father at home.
“Well,” said the old man, “let me pray
with you once more and give you a
little advice.”
Advice
They both kneeled down upon the
tow-path. The dear old man prayed
earnestly for William, and then gave
22
this advice: “Someone will soon be
the leading soap maker in New York. It
can be you as well as anyone. I hope it
may. Be a good man; give your heart to
Christ; give the Lord all that belongs to
him of every dollar you earn, make an
honest soap, give full weight, and I am
certain you will be a prosperous and
rich man.”
New York
When the boy arrived in the city he
found it hard to get work. Lonely
and far from home, he remembered
the parting words of the canal-boat
captain. He was then led to “seek
first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness,” and united with the
church. He remembered his promise to
the old captain, and the first dollar he
earned brought up the question of the
Lord’s part. In the Bible he found that
the Jews were commanded to give onetenth, so he said, “If the Lord will take
one-tenth, I will give that.” And so he
did, and ten cents of every dollar were
“sacred to the Lord.”
His own business
Having regular employment, he soon
became a partner; and after a few
years his partner died and William
became the owner of the business.
He resolved to keep his promise to the
old captain; he made an honest soap,
gave full weight, and instructed his
book-keeper to see that one-tenth of
his profits was set aside for religious
and charitable purposes.
He prospered, his business grew, his
Spirituality
Buried
Here
family was blessed, his soap sold, and
he grew richer faster than he had ever
hoped. He then gave the Lord twotenths, and prospered more than ever;
then he gave three-tenths, then fourtenths, then five-tenths.
He educated his family, settled all his
plans for life, and then gave all his
income to the Lord. He prospered more
than ever.
This is the story of William Colgate,
who lived for God. 
Adapted from an article which first appeared in
Bright Words May 1908.
“These are days of much
activity in the field of church
and mission work, but we
do well to remember that
no amount of activity in
the King’s service will make
up for neglect of the King
himself.
I do not believe the devil
is greatly concerned about
getting between us and
work; his great concern is
getting between us and
God. Many a Christian
worker has buried his
spirituality in the grave
of his activity.”
—Duncan Campbell
First!
23
Title image by Michael Gross
Looking Up
By Jenny Smy-Murdoch
I
t seems like it was yesterday!
Swimming lessons in the open-air
pool at school. And how I loved
those lessons! I was quite a proficient
swimmer and even a fairly good diver.
But, there was a skill I simply couldn't
get the hang of—floating. I was so
sure that I was going to sink. As I felt
myself going under, out would come
a steadying arm or leg. Floating it
wasn't! Then one day, the breakthrough
came. Without realizing it, I was truly
floating. I'd cracked it!
How did it come about? Well, it was
a beautiful sunny day, with just a few
slim strands of white cloud drifting
across the azure blue sky. They were
mesmerisingly beautiful, and I was so
busy watching them that unconsciously
there I was, floating!
24
I recalled that experience very vividly
several years back when I had been
asked to give a short epilogue at the
end of a fun evening with my church
youth group. It occurred to me that
it was a sort of modern-day parable.
As Christians, when we forget to keep
our eyes fixed on Jesus—forget to look
up—then we sink spiritually. And how
ironic it is that when the going gets
tough, that is all too often the very
time I forget to look up to Jesus! And
my guess is that it's the same for many
of you reading this.
Yet I know of no other way to
counter discouragement, a sense of
hopelessness in the face of things
life throws at me, the darts of Satan,
and, yes, the old-fashioned sins that
I struggle with daily, and always
will until I'm finally the person I was
created to be, when I reach Heaven.
When Satan tempts me to despair,
to disobey the Lord, I have only one
weapon—to look up to Jesus to keep me
afloat, and to stand on his promises! So
how do I "look up"?
I need to acknowledge God’s majesty!
As Psalm 8 reminds us: "O Lord, our
Lord, how majestic is your name in
all the earth! You have set your glory
above the heavens." Another Psalm I
love reminds me to praise Him: "Give
thanks to the Lord of lords...who by his
understanding made the heavens...who
spread out the earth upon the waters...
who made the great lights, the sun
to govern the day. His love endures
forever" (Ps.136).
I must place my confidence in him
even when all around me seems
to be in chaos. Paul reminds us in
2 Corinthians 4 that "Our light and
momentary troubles are achieving for
us an eternal glory that far outweighs
them all. So we fix our eyes not on
what is seen but on what is unseen. For
what is seen is temporary, but what is
unseen is eternal."
Did
you
know?
Placing my confidence in him means
I can have joy and peace that passes
understanding, even in the midst of
the turmoil, knowing that in his time he
will bring me through it. Not only that,
but his word assures me that as gold is
refined in the furnace, so, if I keep my
trust in him, I will come through the
harshest trials purified.
Looking up to Jesus enables me to
have a totally different perspective
on my own situation. For as I look into
the eyes of the one who endured death
on a cross to pardon me, I realize the
futility of my fears and anxiety.
Though I know the things that, if I let
them, will cause me to toss and turn
as I try to sleep tonight, I'm unaware
of the burdens you are facing. But let's
make a pact, shall we? Let's decide that
when Satan tries to plant doubts and
fears into our hearts, we will choose
to "look up" to Jesus, because safe in
his everlasting arms is surely where
much-needed rest is to be found! Let
us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of our faith. 
You can read more Musings from Jenny at
jenny-smy-murdoch.blogspot.com
Why our workers
used to be called pilgrims
The Founder wrote:
In a statement drawn up by two of us [ J.G. Govan
and George Colvin] in the first weeks of the Mission
we wrote— “We want those who will forswear all
the comforts of home, all the ambitions of life and the
pleasures of the world to go out as ‘pilgrims (perhaps under
this name) and strangers on the earth,’ and live entirely for God.”
First!
25
Part 4
The Covenant
By John Brand
T
he repeated statement that “I am the LORD your
God” is a covenantal statement. It is sometimes
followed either by “who brought you up out of the
land of Egypt” (e.g. 11:45; 19:36). Once God says, “I...
will be your God, and you shall be my people” (26:12).
The whole point of the instructions to these people about
worship and everyday life is that they are God’s people,
God’s covenant people, bound to him in the covenant
forged at Sinai, where they still are as these further
instructions are given to them.
There’s a clear parallel for 21st century believers here.
Our story is also told in the first three books of the Bible:
•Genesis tells of man’s ruin
•Exodus tells of man’s redemption
•Leviticus tells of our getting right and then staying right
with God in worship
The actual word “covenant” occurs only ten times in
the whole book, nine of them in the last three chapters,
but the covenant itself is the unmistakeable context of,
and background to, everything in this book. The purpose
of establishing and ratifying any covenant, for example
a marriage covenant, is for continuing communion and
relationship. Since God is holy, Israel had to become holy
to be able to live in a relationship with him, hence all the
commands and regulations.
Sometimes today you will hear someone despising doctrine
and commandments and so on and saying Christianity is
all about a relationship with God, not about keeping rules
and believing doctrines. That is a biblically illiterate view.
You can’t be in a relationship with God unless you have
submitted yourself to a life of obedience and submission.
There are four important aspects to our understanding
of covenant in Leviticus.
1. Grace
It is vitally important to remember that the law is given in
the context of grace. Leviticus and the giving of the Law
come after the exodus. God’s people were not redeemed
by receiving and obeying the Law. They received the Law
26
because they were already redeemed
by grace. Whenever the exodus from
Egypt is mentioned in Leviticus it is
always as a motive for keeping the Law
(see for example 11:45; 18:3; 23:43).
Remembering what we learned about
holiness from Leviticus in a previous
article, and the fact that it is a reciprocal
activity between the God who sanctifies
and the call to the believer to sanctify
themselves, we need to remember that,
as redeemed, saved, men and women,
only obedience can make holiness a living
reality in our lives.
2. Obligation
Just because Israel had been saved
from slavery in Egypt and brought into
a covenant relationship with God did
not mean that they could live in any
way they pleased. Indeed the very
reverse was the case. Think of the
pronouncements and rehearsals of
the covenant blessings and curses in
Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28.
As God’s people, if they lived in obedience to him, they would experience all
the promised blessings of God—regular
harvests, peace from their enemies,
the continued presence of God, etc.
However, if they neglect and disobey
God’s Word, they will experience the
judgements of drought, famine, sickness, death, invasion exile and so on.
If such curses result it will not be in
spite of God’s covenant with them, but
because of it. (See 26:24,28; Amos 3:2)
3. Eternity
In the midst of the dire warnings about
judgement as a result of disobedience,
there is the promise that his people will
not be cast off and deserted by God for
ever. If and when God’s people come to
their senses and repent and turn once
again to God, he is more than ready
to return to them and reinstate them.
(See for example 26:40-41,44). All of
this is because of God’s faithfulness to
his promise to the Patriarchs (26:42,
45; cp. Exodus 32:11-14).
Divine blessing depends on obedience,
but disobedience will not result in total
rejection, just continued judgement.
4. Land
A major provision of the Covenant
was God’s gift of the land to Israel, a
place where the nation could live as
a community of God’s people bound
together by God’s law. However, strictly
speaking, God did not give the land
to them. He retained ownership of it
(25:23), allowing his people to live
there on the condition that they kept
his laws.
Land, though, brings with it great
dangers. As W. Brueggemann wrote,
“Land is an opportunity to pervert
justice. Land tends to diminish the
value and even the presence of the
brother or sister.” It was for this reason
that Leviticus introduces us to the laws
about Sabbath years and the year of
Jubilee which regulated the use of the
land and enshrined in law the care of
the poor, the widow and the orphan.
Leviticus also makes a link between
the land and obedience to God’s
Law. Abundant harvests and material
prosperity were indications of God’s
blessing on his covenant keeping people
(26:3-13) but violating the covenant
polluted the land causing the land to
“vomit” them out of it (18:24-28).
John Brand is Principal of the Faith Mission
Bible College, Edinburgh.
First!
27
7
WAYS to Share the Gospel
with the People You Love
by Ron Hutchcraft
W
hen you belong to Jesus
Christ, you start to do some
“eternity thinking” about the
people you love. You begin to wonder,
“Will they be in heaven with me?” Yet
the people we most want in heaven
with us are often the hardest to talk to
about Christ. There are steps we can
take to more effectively communicate
Christ to those closest to us.
 Let go of the pressure.
We tend to become either pushy or
paralyzed. As you share, you can depend on God to answer the prayer that
“whenever I open my mouth, words
may be given me” (Eph. 6:19). Leave
the pressure for rescuing your loved
one where it belongs in the hands of
God. Yes, you have a responsibility to
represent Jesus to those close to you,
but you are to do it with opportunities,
words, and persuasion that all come
from God himself.
Pray the “3-Open” Prayer.
Paul taught us how to pray for opportunities to present Christ. “Pray for
us, too, that God may open a door for
our message, so that we may proclaim
the mystery of Christ…pray that I may
proclaim it clearly as I should” (Col.
4:3, 4). With your loved one in mind,
ask God to:
• “Open the door.” Ask the Lord to
provide a natural, unforced opportunity
to talk about your Jesus relationship.

28
• “Open his/her heart.” Believe that
the One who died for this one you care
about will supernaturally soften and
prepare his/her heart.
• “Open my mouth” to talk about
Jesus in a way appropriate to the
situation.
See it through their eyes.

Ask the Lord to help you see what they
see and feel what they feel as they
look at and listen to your faith. If we
pray for sensitivity to the perceptions
of the one we are trying to reach, we
can more effectively avoid the pitfalls
of their pride, their misconceptions,
their insecurities.
them with gentleness
 Approach
and respect.
“Always be prepared to give an answer
to everyone who asks you to give the
reason for the hope that you have. But
do this with gentleness and respect” (1
Peter 3:15). Don’t try to change their
religion, win the argument, or attack
their lifestyle; just gently and respectfully explain the Jesus difference.
Don’t “preach”—which talks about you,
the unbeliever, and tends to close a
heart. Rather “share”—about me, my
sin, my broken relationship with my
Creator, my need for a Saviour, and you
will likely find an open a heart.
Start with common ground.

Jesus had almost nothing in common
with a promiscuous Samaritan woman
he met at a well except being thirsty.
So he made water His starting point
(see John chapter 4). Look for a common starting point from which to share
the Gospe—such as the value of their
spiritual search, overcoming stress, or
discovering what it takes to be a good
parent.
 Show them the Jesus difference.
Ask yourself, “What change in me
would my lost loved one be sure to
notice and respect?” If they get a better child or parent or mate or sibling
because you know Jesus, you will be
speaking the Jesus message in their
language!
 Stay focused on Jesus.
Do not let yourself get detoured
into discussing religion or beliefs or
lifestyles. Jesus’ invitation is, “Follow
Me” not follow his followers, follow
his leaders, or follow his teachings.
It’s all about JESUS! Keep bringing the
conversation back to Jesus, what he is
like, what he offers, and, most of all,
what he did on the cross for us! Always
talk about the relationship. This is
about a Person, not religion, rituals, or
rules.
When you have sown the seed, let God
make it grow. Talk to God about the
one you love far more than you talk to
the one you love about God. Give your
loved one enough space to have the
dignity to choose Jesus on their own,
without having to feel they have
surrendered to you. By God’s grace,
one day you will experience what you
have prayed for, and even wept for, for
so long— the beautiful harvest of the
one you love coming to Jesus Christ!
Ron Hutchcraft is an evangelist, radio host, and
author. His book, A Life that Matters: Making the
Greatest Possible Difference with the Rest of Your
Life (Moody Press), contains more helpful information on how to rescue lost people for Jesus Christ.
Article used under Creative Commons license.
First!
29
Called Home
Mrs Margaret Millar was converted in
a mission conducted by two FM workers
50 years ago. Since then, she attended
faithfully the Cookstown PU. Her kindness
knew no limits and she radiated the love of
Christ. Her interest in and support for the
work of the Kingdom was a large part of her
life and she will be sadly missed.
Miss Eva Wylie was a faithful supporter of
the work in Co Fermanagh for many years
and a member of Enniskillen PU, which
latterly met in her home. She was highly
respected throughout the community and
her practical Christianity touched many.
Mrs Nan Whitten was a member of Ramult
PU, until prevented by ill-health. She lived
her life to God’s glory and her kindness
touched many lives.
Ivan Brown was a member of Ballynakelly
PU and gave wholehearted support to the
work of the mission hall there. He prayed
with passion and burden and his sudden
homecall touched the whole community.
Ben Carr (husband of former Pilgrim Gladys
McKernan) was saved in the early 1960s
at a Pilgrims’ mission. He was a founder
member of Portsalon PU, Donegal. After
it closed, he continued one in his own
home and attended faithfully until illness
prevented him.
Joyce Hewlitt joined the Edinburgh
PU over sixty years ago and attended it
faithfully for many years. In latter years she
maintained contact with the FM by regularly
attending the monthly conferences and
annual convention. Her prayerful interest
and support will be greatly missed.
Sadie Mitchell was a founder member of
the Armadale PU and faithfully attended,
until prevented by ill-health. She loved the
work of the Mission and followed with interest the ministry of many of its workers.
When Kathleen Humphreys began to lose
her sight she spent more time in prayer and
joined Callington PU in 2004. She is greatly
missed by all who knew her.
christ’s donkey
Corrie ten Boom was once asked if it was difficult for her to remain
humble. Her reply was simple.
“When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on the back of a donkey,
and everyone was waving palm branches and throwing garments on the
road and singing praises, do you think that for one moment it ever entered
the head of that donkey that any of that was for him?”
She continued, “If I can be the donkey on which Jesus Christ rides in his
glory, I give him all the praise and all the honour.”
Subscriptions
Famine Relief Fund
April-June 2011
We gratefully acknowledge receipt
of the following donations
april— 128, £1000; 132, £20;
may— 155, £125; June—179, £52
Please make cheques payable to The Faith Mission Bible College.
30 September/October 2011
First! is published bi-monthly and costs 75p
per copy, plus postage. The annual subscription
is: UK £6.30 ; EUROPE (incl. EIRE) £12.12
OTHER OVERSEAS £11.22. All postal payments
should be made to The Faith Mission Publishing
Department, Edinburgh, to which changes of
address or alterations in the number of copies
should be notified by the 15th of the month
preceding the month of issue.
Advertisements
Christmas letters to Prisoners - CLP (Christmas Letters
to Prisoners) is now in its 131st year of sending letters into
UK prisons at Christmas time. The hand-written letters
contain a friendly greeting, together with a reference to the
real meaning of Christmas. These letters are supplied in
type-written format, together with some notelets, so they can
be completed in hand-writing. These are returned to CLP for
checking and preparing for despatch. If you feel you would
like to share in this work and ministry, please contact: The
Secretary, Christmas Letters to Prisoners, 52a Whitehorse
Lane, South Norwood, London, SE256RE.
Clough, Co Down: 3-bedroomed, self catering bungalow, 4
star NITB approved. Excellent location for touring the Down
District. Short breaks and weekends available throughout
year. Visit www.cloughhaven.co.uk or telephone Heather
Parkes on 028 9077 9621 or 07733 016401.
Co. Donegal – Christian farmhouse, self-catering
accommodation available. 10 minutes drive to Rathmullen
beach. For further details Tel: 074-9158334 (UK: 00-353749158334).
Cornwall – nr. Callington. B&B. Comfortable en-suite
accommodation. Convenient for moors, towns, coast or
stopover. www.keadeen.co.uk Tel 01579-384197.
Email [email protected]
Devon/Cornwall – nr. Plymouth, Farmhouse B&B en-suite,
convenient to coasts, moors and National Trust property
with riverside walks and gardens. www.higherchapel.co.uk
Tel.01579 350894 [email protected]
House available to rent - South Belfast, BT12.
3 bedrooms. Christian owners. £450 per calendar month.
Call 07908576750.
Properties to let: Florida – Orlando, Private villa to rent.
Lake views, private heated pool – select neighbourhood,
20mins from Disney etc. Warm year-round climate – ideal for
arthritic conditions winter/summer. Short/long term rentals.
Couples special rates. Evangelical church nearby.
Northern Ireland – Luxury self-catering apartment – Antrim
Coast, panoramic views – quiet location, minutes walk to
town, 20 minutes Giant’s Causeway.
Spain – Enjoy quiet peaceful ideally located coastal
apartment complex (minutes to beach/restaurants). Year
round sunny climate perfect for long/short term rentals.
Special monthly rates for couples in winter and large families
in summer. Public transport available, Christian fellowship
nearby, car hire/pickups from airport can be arranged.
Contact: Gerald 028-42738559
www.christiancoastalapartments.com
West Cork - Self catering cottage. One double bedroom
upstairs and a sofabed downstairs with a fully equipped
kitchen/dining area. Located in the countryside, 15 minutes
from towns and beaches, golfing, fishing etc. ample parking,
owner lives nearby – prices include electric and bedlinen and
towels. Email [email protected] for more information.
Locations
IRELAND
Headquarters and Central District
Director - TREVOR & SANDRA MATTHEWS, 62 Glenavy
Road, Lisburn, Co. Antrim BT28 3UT. (Tel. 028 9262 8286)
E-Mail: [email protected]
Assisting and Missions: Andrew McCullough
Auxiliary workers: Trevor & Yvonne Bennett
West District - Superintendent - GEORGE & ANDREA
CONN, 15 Derry Road, Omagh, Co. Tyrone BT78 5DY.
(Tel. 028 8224 2286).
Assistant (part-time): Anne Brown
Fermanagh: Cherith Anderson and Heather Wilson
Outreach: Jenny Kilpatrick
North-West District - In Charge - Garry & Alison Tutty,
Sheephill House, 74 Tully Road, Limavady,
Co.Londonderry BT49 9HW. (Tel. 028 7776 8871).
North District - Superintendent - LESLIE & MABEL BRUSH,
3 Grange Avenue, Ballymena, Co. Antrim BT42 2DX.
(Tel. 028 2565 6494).
Assistant: Ian Booth
Outreach: Ruth Martin
Border District - Superintendent - PAUL & SHARON
ACHESON, ‘Cherith’, 131 Mahon Road, Portadown,
Craigavon BT62 3SF. (Tel. and Fax 028-3833 2806).
Co Cavan: Ronnie & Carey Killops
South District - Superintendent - DAVID & MARJORIE
BENNETT, ‘Bethany’, Oakvale, Stradbally, Co. Laois, Eire.
Tel. 00 353 5786 25288.
E-Mail:[email protected]
Midlands: Mervyn & Rachel Tomb
Bookshops-Gen Manager- JOHN MATTHEWS (028 9060 2102)
Accounts - Linda Collins (028 9062 4438)
Purchasing - Trevor Wilson (028 9060 2102)
BELFAST (Queen Street): Mark Conroy (028 90 233733);
Armagh: Craig Beattie (028 37 527927);
Ballymena: William White (028 25 649443);
Banbridge: Stephen Dundas (028 40 626761);
Bangor: Stephen Dundas (028 91 453222);
Belfast (C’reagh Rd): Jackie Smith (028 90 731779)
Cookstown: Iris Farrell (028 86 766569);
Kilkeel: Elsie Baird (028 41 764934);
Lisburn: Tracy Brown (028 92 665888);
Londonderry: Brian Kerr (028 71 345137)
Lurgan: Liz Lavery (028 38 325304);
Omagh: Dean Mallison (028 82 241334);
Portadown: Jim McKee (028 38 334123)
P’DOWN Clearance Shop:Glenn Yeman (028 38 332348)
THE BIBLE COLLEGE
Principal: Vice-Principal:
Staff Lecturer:
Chef: Secretary: Librarian: Property Maintenance:
John Brand
Adrian Holdsworth
Heather Holdsworth
John Frame
Alistar Frater
Valerie Robertson
Scott Worth
Where will your next step take you?
How beautiful on
the mountains
are the feet of
those who bring
good news, who
proclaim peace,
who bring
good tidings,
who proclaim
salvation.
(Isaiah 52:7)
Faith Mission Bible College
For more than 110 years the
has been equipping men and women from all over the world for a wide variety of
Christian ministries. Our course is:
 Biblical
Preparation for Christian work needs to be unshamedly based on God’s Word,
and our course is thoroughly biblical and theological, providing an overview of
the Bible, detailed exegesis of individual books, Biblical and systematic theology,
Church history, Christian ethics, world religions, missiology and homiletics.
 Spiritual
We place a strong emphasis on a student’s spiritual formation in Christ through
the development of lifetime habits of prayer and devotion.
 Practical
Students learn ‘on the job’ with placements in churches and Christian
organisations and involvement in missions, conferences, outreach and evangelism.
For more information, or to download a prospectus, visit www.fmbc.ac or write
to FMBC, 2 Drum Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH17 8QG. You may also email
[email protected] or telephone 0131 664 4336
Sept/Oct 2011
$16 per year
Bygone Days
By Isabel Minnett, Northern Ontario
E
very fall when the Canada geese
passed overhead on their annual
trip to the south, our thoughts turn
to Faith Mission. As well as signalling
the advent of winter, we knew in earlier years that this meant it was time for
those faithful mission workers to travel
north. With their arrival we felt that
surge of excitement that visitors always
brought, but this was different.
Hosting the workers
My husband Wayne's first memory of
those days is that of Harold Lund who
arrived, stayed at his parents home,
and held services in the nearby one
room school. That began many years of
hosting Faith Mission workers.
Pearl White came next and became
an icon, arriving year after year in the
trusty Plymouth station wagon which
she had loaded beyond capacity with
the latest in audio visual aids: large
story telling books, flannel graphs,
projectors, and cassette tape player—a
changing list as technology advanced.
Winter really was much harsher than
most we have now -many storms with
Right: Pamela Klavet and Pearl White
driving winds and much snow, resulting
in the side roads often being drifted
several feet (yes, still in feet) deep
just when Pearl needed to get through
for a meeting in a cold schoolroom
somewhere in the district. Pearl was
a storyteller par excellence. But as a
driver…she gave a whole new meaning
to the “Faith” part of Faith Mission!
She would pray for safe travels then
set off, undaunted, through any
eventuality, meanwhile patting the
dashboard and encouraging "Betsy," (we
think that was the car’s given name) to
plough on through the drifts. Perhaps
some shovelling or a push was needed;
perhaps she was late once in a while
but we do not recall a time when a
meeting was cancelled.
► Continued on page 31
►Continued from page 2
Pearl stayed with me while I was
teaching in Larder Lake. A few years
later then we were able to host the
workers in our own home after we
were married. We were so privileged to
have the liberty to these and any other
visiting missionaries visit the schools
where we were teaching.
Some years later, we were asked to
take responsibility for the funeral of
a seventeen-year-old former student.
Now this is not our usual assignment.
We called Pearl who readily accessed
her little record book in which she
documented professions of faith and to
our comfort, read out this little girl's
name and the date. What a help this
was to us in the following days.
Other workers
Pearl was joined by Hester Dougan and
that, too, was an unqualified pleasure.
Then Hester came alone or with other
workers; what fun times we had during
these weeks and we cherish Hester
and now Ted's friendship to this day.
Other workers—Ann Hallyburton, Joyce
Harirson and Pat McMullen we also
remember well and I know there are
many others who accompanied the
"old faithfuls". I treasure a little green
and white "Irish" dress that Pat lovingly
hand stitched and sent to us on the
birth of our first daughter.
We have always admired the cheerful
ministry rendered by these servants. It
cannot be easy moving from home to
home, and often, as in our case, having
to blend into a busy family in accommodations that are much less than
luxurious, let alone private.
Changes
Much has changed: access to children
in a school setting is limited; technology has developed; the Faith Mission
dress code of a blue suit and jaunty
blue hat has disappeared; we have our
very own Faith Mission workers, the
Porters stationed nearby King Kirkland
much to the area's benefit. However
these past workers are an integral part
of our personal and corporate histories
in Northern Ontario. Who knows the
eternal extent of their outreach?
And still, when the geese fly south, we
relive pleasant memories. 
Above: Patricia McMullen, Hester Dougan
(Rendall) and Pearl White; Pearl White with
flannel board teaching aid.
Grow more deeply into God
at our forthcoming
FAITH MISSION EVENTS
B.C.
Christian Leaders’ Luncheon
September 15 with John Shearer
Thirsting For God
Conference
Background image by Joe Krow
September 16-18 with John Shearer
“Women of Strength”
Ladies’ Retreats
ONTARIO
Ladies’ Retreat
October 21-23
Speaker: Marjorie Bennett
Thirsting for God
Conference (Caister Centre)
October 23-25
Speaker: David Bennett
October 21-23 or Oct 28-30
Faith Mission Men’s
Fall Banquet
For B.C. details contact (250) 558-1805
“Family Christmas in the
Country” Banquet
For Ontario details contact (905) 854-3284
Nov 19, 25 and 26 — 12.30 pm
Nov 18, 23 — 6 pm
Staff locations
Hamilton - Timothy & Emma Condy
133 June Street, Hamilton, ON L9A 2S1
Tel: (905) 575 5975
Mount Forest
340 Church Street, Mount Forest, ON N0G 2L2
Tel: (519) 323 9400
Napanee - Jennifer Armitage
395 Ginger Street, Napanee, ON K7R 3X8
Tel: (613) 354 9882
St.Thomas - Cheryl Mitchell
24 Sifton Drive, St. Thomas, ON. N5R 6C7
Tel: (519) 631 8774
Campbellville Centre - Bill and Heather Bott;
Timothy and Emma Condy
10463, 2nd Line, Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Tel:
(905) 854 - 6455
October 28 Speaker: David Bennett
Montreal - Jen Moldovan and Debra Hewitt
202 - 481, Boulevard Perrot, L’Ile Perrot, QC J7V 3H4
Tel: (514) 425 0740
Kirkland Lake - Andrew & Melissa Porter
21 Broadway Avenue, Box K8, King Kirkland,
ON P0K 1K0 Tel: (705) 567 2956
Coldstream - Brian & Julieanne Spence
326 Inverness Drive, Coldstream, BC V1B 3W1
Tel: (250) 558 1805
Falkland Centre - Stewart and Jill Megaw
RR1 C25, Cedar Hill, Falkland, BC V0E 1W0
Tel: (250) 379 2422
KAMLOOPS: Kevin & Janice Evans
219 Wade Place, Kamloops, BC, V2C 5T2
Tel: (250) 573 4434
MELFORT: Jeff and Jani Goudy
Box 4109, Melfort, SK S0E 1A0
Tel: (306) 752 3103
The FAITH MISSION (in Canada) - Incorporated
General Director: John Bennett Secretary: Isabel Bennett
Head Office: PO Box 376, Campbellville, Ontario L0P 1B0
Tel: (905) 854 3284 Fax: (905) 854 3827 Email: [email protected]
Website: www.faithmissioncanada.org
COUNCIL OF REFERENCE: Revs. Wm. Clayton, James Reese, Drs. Grover Crosby, Gerald B. Griffiths, A.P. Lee,
John Moore, Ted Rendall, Ian Rennie and J. Weatherall.
BOARD MEMBERS: P. Ali, J. Bell, H. Bock, W.R. Hatch, D. Hysert E. Hoey, J. Illman, M. Quigley, W. Robb, D. Robson,
R. Thompson.
ABOUT US: Information about our Aims and Principles, Prayer Newsletter, coming events, etc. may be obtained from
any Area Office (see address box on this page for your nearest).

Celebrating 125 years of Rural Evangelism

Transcription

Similar documents

to PDF Copy of Slides for this Sermon

Sales Sheet

Recursos para la Parroquia Encíclica del Papa Francisco

Calling Out the Called Out

summer wednesday evening service - First Presbyterian Church of

Retreat with O`Murchu Schedule

2016 Discipleship Classes Brochure

Greetings! December 2014

The Vine - Christ Community Fellowship

First Presbyterian Church of Potsdam