MAY FAITH MESSENGER 2005
A MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE "Godly Influence" When I think of Lyell and Una Janes, I think of my grandparents. Yes, they were Servants of God and spent many years in spreading the Gospel. I saw and knew of the respect that they had earned both in the church and the community for their dedicated efforts and Christ-like lives. Although I heard stories of their lives repeatedly as a child, a couple of years ago, I read again about their early lives as missionaries and was profoundly inspired. The book described how differently they lived from our world of today as well as how they approached life and their Christian service. Reading my grandfather's experiences in his book, Experiences with the Lord, always amazed me. I would find myself asking if indeed I would be willing to endure all the things that he and my grandmother endured. They chose to give up many comforts preferring instead to use their finances to spread the Gospel, on the mission field - in Jamaica, Panama, Corpus Christi, and in the printing and mailing of Christian literature. This was their chosen way of life. I would just finish reading one passage about God’s provision and protection for them, when another example of God's care was relayed. Growing up next door, I personally witnessed God’s provisions and protection. In thinking about their lives, I sometimes have wondered whether I (or we) today with all our many comforts would be willing to live with as little as Lyell and Una Janes did in their efforts to spread the Gospel. That which always impressed me the most about my grandparents was their dedication and devotion to God. They were always willing to spend less on themselves in order to have more to buy paper, postage, and ink as well as pay helpers, in their efforts to spread the Gospel to every creature. Some of that devotion and dedication to Christ was seen when my grandfather traveled, trying to give out Testaments and Bibles to those who did not really want them. These same people were being told not to accept the Bibles by the organized churches in the area. During this time, my grandmother was in another city in Panama
waiting for the birth of their first child (Evelyn). Surely, it must have been very trying and discouraging for them to be apart. But they trusted God for their safety and protection; and God came through for them. In reading accounts of their lives in Panama, I remember stories such as - once, there was not enough oil to cook their meals, but somehow like the widow, they seemed to find just enough for a meal until God sent more money. If there was a need, they just prayed and asked God to supply it, then trusted Him to provide for them. In times of danger, God provided for their safety. If shelter was not available, some one offered them their home or a room and once an area to plant a garden. Today, we often find it difficult to put our faith and trust in God, even though we have family and friends to help us when things get really tough. Being totally cut off from family and friends, in a foreign country, with no one to turn to but God is not an easy way to live. However, that is just what Lyell and Una Janes did. "What am I willing to do or give up in order to follow Christ?" I can just imagine my grandfather asking himself that question as a young man. We can look back now and realize he was willing to sacrifice and do much in his service for the kingdom of God. We are nearing the Memorial Day holiday in which we honor those who have served our country to keep it free and have provided for us those same freedoms. Many of those who have served in our military also gave their lives bravely so we can have these freedoms. How much more should we Christians pay respect to those who have given all to serve God and to tell others of the love of Christ Jesus. Many have given their lives as well in telling others about the plan of salvation. We need to keep these remaining "soldiers of the cross" in our prayers daily as we remember their sacrifices to serve our Lord, whether they are Missionaries, Ministers, Sunday school teachers, or workers in our music programs or other areas of service.The road was long and many times discouraging formy grandparents, but their trust in God was a constant example to me and to others. My grandfather was my teacher. He taught me about Christianity through the example of his life,
his sermons and his encouragement. As well, he took time to teach me about the printing business. My grandmother with her loving spirit, caring ways, and cheerful smile gently gave herself to others, and she became as a saint in my eyes. Her motto was “Keep Sweet� no matter what was happening. Even as a child, my grandmother was my role model of how I should live and act. Working all day in the printing of literature and preparing for services was my grandparents' way of life. The church was part of Grandpa's mission, preaching to those in the community, taking time to pray with, encourage or lead someone to Christ. This was all a part of their every day life. The older I get the deeper my respect and appreciation become for the life that my grandparents, Lyell and Una Janes, lived. I remember not only their sacrifices but their lives which were "Godly" and beyond reproach. They lived simple, honest and very dedicated Christ-like lives, placing emphasis on spreading the gospel and the salvation of Souls by preaching and sending out the printed Word of God. I wonder if, in their place, I would have been as willing to do the same. This is a question we might all ask ourselves, "What are we willing to give up or to do for Christ?"
GONE HOME Orville Coleman Noel Anderson Anita Hunter Ruth McMakin GOLDEN MOMENTS WITH MOM By Nancy Hunter Mothers, in general, are very selfless individuals. Often they work inside the home and outside the home. They have very little personal time to relax, enjoy the sunsets, or take a day off. They practice the Golden Rule without even considering the positive consequences. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The Word of God, however, promises these fruitful consequences. "The measure you give will be the measure you get," (Matthew 7:2). Many Mothers give immeasurably. Having just lost my mother due to the complications of Alzheimer's disease, the finality of that experience is heart breaking. One quickly learns that those "golden moments" in which one may share with mom are precious and temporary. The reality of "giving back to mom" certainly takes on new meaning; it is not difficult to understand that "now" is the appropriate time, not later at her memorial service. Take heed from one who knows: "Time waits for no one." (Dedicated to my mother, Anita R. Hunter: GONE HOME - March 16, 2005)
by Una Nolavyn Collins,
MEMORIALS:
"Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything that I need! He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He restores my failing health. He helps me do what honors Him the most. Even when walking through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way. You provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies. You have welcomed me as your guest;
In Memory of HUNTER JAMES SCHILLINGER January 4, 2005
(Great-great grandson of L. Y. and Una Janes) The measure of a life, After all, is not Its duration, But its donation. Corrie Ten Boom Dedicated to all precious Babies who have gone to be with Jesus.
2
She could even respond to me, no matter if others could see and feel nothing for her. Even though they pointed out that my baby was just an old rock, I was convinced otherwise, for my love for her made all the difference. Now that I am older, I remember that little rock, and it reminds me, dear Lord, that one day, "You" also reached down on an Ozark hillside and claimed me as Your very own special child. You accepted me as a unique, beloved person even with my bare feet and reddish, wind-blown hair. You loved the countless freckles on my face, and You saw what no one else could. Even when it was difficult for me to respond to you (just like my little rock doll), You still knew what I could and would become. With a loving whisper in my ear, You told me of Your love as I stared back at You, just like a stone. In keeping and remembering my special rock doll, dear Lord, I am reminded of Your own unusual and devoted love for me. I pray that You will help me grow on the richness of Your Word. Clothe me in Your righteousness that I may see others and love them as You do. May I never forget that it was Your love that saw in me a person of worth, and it was Your mercy that changed my heart of stone into a responsive, thankful child of God.
Jesus said, "I am the Resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die." (John 11:25.26) Our prayers are with all those Who lost a loved one this year. God bless! Our loss is Heaven's gain! (New column)
The Story Teller Dee Allen When I was a little farm girl in the Ozark hills of South Missouri, my friend, Anita, and I each had a doll. My friend's doll had a frilly pink dress, white socks and black shoes. When handled in a particular way, the doll would even say "Mama". As Anita gave it water, I watched with fascination while the doll's clothes became wet. When the doll lay in her bed, she even closed her eyes. My own doll was just as wonderful as Anita's. I would often whisper love words in her ear. In my imagination, I dressed her in beautiful clothes as I sat in my playhouse down near the spring. I gave my doll water to drink and even rich cream from the milk that we kept cold in the spring. I watched as my doll "smacked her lips" on the rich cream and was so glad I gave her the very best. I loved my doll so much. No one else could have fed my doll even if one had tried. My doll only called me, "mama", and no one else. My feelings for my doll were as important as any emotions that a little girl could have. Yet, you see, my little doll did not come from a catalog; instead, I found it on the hillside above the spring. Everyone who saw my doll, as I carried it so carefully, told me it was a "rock", but I called it my beautiful and special little girl, "Dolly". In my thoughts, I saw a baby, and I loved her very much.
GOD CHANGES US Like a Pumpkin (Provided by Martha Jones,
a special mother) "A lady had recently been baptized. One of her co-workers asked her what it was like to be one of God's children. She was caught off guard and did not know how to answer, but when she looked up she saw a jack-o-lantern on the desk and answered, 'It's like being a pumpkin.' The worker asked her to explain that one. 'Well, God picks you from the patch and brings you in and washes off all the dirt on the outside that you got from being around all the other pumpkins. Then He cuts off the top and takes all the yucky stuff out from inside. He removes all those seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all to see. It is our choice 3
to either stay outside and rot on the vine or come inside and be something new and bright.'" Author unknown "When we were utterly helpless…Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners…" (Romans 5:6)
David ran quickly towards the giant, put his hand into the bag of stones, took one and slung it, and it struck the huge Philistine on the forehead, giving him a mortal wound. As God's children, we have the opportunity to run (in His power) toward our problem, not away from it. Just as David knowingly trusted in his God for deliverance, so we also have that same promise of help in our time of need. In the book of Daniel, chapter 3, King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image and declared that every person had to worship this idol. However, three young Hebrews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who had been put in charge of the administration of the province of Babylon, purposed in their hearts that they would not kneel and would not worship the golden image. Yet, disobeying the King meant certain death. Nevertheless, these young men absolutely "knew" the God in whom they trusted, and they did not bow. The fiery furnace into which they were to be tossed was heated seven times hotter; yet, the three young men said to the king, "…if there is a god who is able to save us from the blazing furnace, it is 'OUR' God whom we serve, and He will save us from your power, O king…", and God did save them. The words from the hearts of the three Hebrews may mean little to those who have no relationship with God. Yet to those who "know" their Lord, these words are very pure and simple; for to know God is to love and trust in Him. In the well known 23rd Psalm, David - the shepherd boy- ordained by God to become a great King, wrote about the Lord, his God, whom he knew and loved with all his heart. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for YOU (God) are with me. YOUR rod and YOUR staff, they comfort me. YOU prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. YOU have anointed my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy (loving kindness) will follow me all the days of my
KNOW THE GOD THAT YOU SERVE It has been said that this is the year of overflow, of new beings, and of great things coming your way. Many Christians are waiting for just that to happen in their lives, hoping that all of a sudden their lives will be changed forever. Sometimes, we live as in a fairytale wishing all our problems away, hoping that somehow they will all be solved. In reality, our hope is to be placed in the authority of our God. To do that without fear, we must "know" and trust the God that we serve and worship. Moreover, to know our Lord is to love Him. In the Old Testament, the Shepherd boy who eventually became King of God's people, David, sets a good example for us. David wrote in the 23rd Psalm, "The Lord IS MY Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures." These are the words of one who truly knows God. As a young boy, David took care of his father's sheep. During these peaceful but also challenging days and nights, David learned to trust in God. One night while David was protecting the sheep, a bear and a lion came out of nowhere, trying to attack the vulnerable animals. David fought the predators, killed them, and saved the sheep. David was able to accomplish this because he trusted in God, not in his own human abilities. Later, in First Samuel, chapter 17, verse 45, the Bible tells us another story about David. Day after day, the enemy's huge champion, Goliath, was harassing and threatening God's people. With simple faith in His Lord, David chose to face this murderous giant. By trusting in God, David declared, "The Lord who saved me from the lion and the bear will save me from this Philistine." As the 9-foot tall giant walked defiantly behind his shield-bearer, he looked with contempt on the little shepherd boy, but David cried out, "I come to you in the Name of the Lord of Hosts!" As the giant began moving towards him, David did something that required great knowledge of God. 4
life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." To truly know God is to sincerely love and trust in Him. In His Service, Evangelist Andres De Leon
Dear Sir/Madam: I am very happy to write you this letter. …I have been chosen as a Sunday school teacher. Please I want to be a man of God like you so I want you to send the following thing (s): Bible storybook… Lawrenc Mensah Frimpong Ghana, West Africa Sir/Madam: …Please the ambition why I am sending you this letter is that, I had read some "Bible" stories about the second coming of Christ because Jesus Christ die on the cross to pay my sin debt. I want to get to live life of Christian and I have accept him as my person Saviour. Please I want you to send some of your free Holy Bible…to help me know more about the Savior Christ. As it is said in Matthew 7:7 that knock and it shall be open and ask and it shall be given to you." AMEN …Goodbye, Yours Faithfully Aggudey Christian Ghana, West Africa
LETTERS FROM HERE AND ABROAD
But thanks be to God! For through what Christ has done, He has triumphed over us so that now wherever we go, He uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Gospel like a sweet perfume. (2 Corinthians 2:14)
Our Greetings: As the pastor…I should like to do much for Christ and His cause. Brazil is an open door to the Gospel's message now. We live in a city of 250,000 inhabitants that need …salvation. Tracts and Bible portions are very useful to us…we always distribute them in our meetings with good profit. Your literature is excellent and very useful to us. In the next months, we have an Evangelistic campaign and we need a great portion of tracts for free distribution among the unbelievers here and other places. Thank you, beloved Friend… Edgard L. Albuquerque, Pastor CARUARU, Pernanbuco, Brazil
Dear Sir/Madam: …want to become a Christian from about twelve years old. What I need from you is a Bible for my Christian studies. I hope hear from you soon. Thank you. Extend my greetings…to everybody. Goodbye, Yours friend, Baribar Ibrahim Ghana, West Africa *
In Christ, The main reason I informing you this letter is that I am very interesting in Bible reading …of the Jesus storybook. Well, I will like to take this wonderful opportunity to ask you to send me a Bible to attend Church…I was having one but it has torn and tear…because I not having the Bible, I can't gathered the people in my area to preach to them…I am teaching (some people in my school) 16 Bible studies twice a week. Yours Faithful, Duvor Albert, Ghana, West Africa
MANY THANKS TO THOSE WHO SENT BIBLES, TESTAMENTS, AND SUNDAY SCHOOL LITERATURE: Trammel/New Castle, Indiana First Church of God, Athens, Tx O.C. Moore, New Castle, Indiana First Church of God, Middle River Rd. Donica Memorial Church of God, Bedford, IN * Dear Brethren in Christ,
5
Christian greetings. I am the founder of the Harvesters Bible Church with the vision to win souls to Christ. My parents were killed by the …terrorist in the year 1970, am the only child survived in the crisis…I was thrown into the bush and take care by orphangehome. I and the evangelism group went to a neighboring villages to preach Christ for two weeks, we were attacked by the false religions leaders, seized our properties, destroyed …Bibles…we now lack of standard Bible and gospel materials for growth on evangelism. We gather with one accord in prayers and fasting, on our way home, we saw a tract on the ground-Know Your Future. Photostaat it into five thousands copies, there was a revival in our Church…Brethren, send me study Bible, other Bible of your choice…prayers and fasting to the people that are concerned in your ministry. Hope to hear from you, God blessings! Yours reaching the world for Christ. Evangelist Israel Osamagbe, Founder Nigeria, West Africa
many fond memories of my missionary trips to Ecuador and Chile. 1992 & 1993, I visited Ecuador with a work camp group when Brother Narciso was a missionary in Ecuador. In 1994 and 1995, I and Ann Morgan from Odessa spent 2 weeks assisting with Vacation Bible Schools. (Chile) Sister Evelyn went with us on the last trip. Brother Narciso and his wife, Udelia, are one of the most dedicated couples I have known. I am so impressed with their missionary zeal, their passion for souls, and sacrificial spirit - the same as manifested in the lives of Brother and Sister Janes, and Sister Evelyn. The Zamoras including their 2 sons need your prayers and support. Should God lead you to help them financially, you can send a personal check to Rev. Narciso Zamora, Casilla 54, Isla de Maipo, Santiago, Chile. Love and prayers to all, Doris Barberena Christian Triumph Church sent a contribution to the Zamoras, along with our prayers. * Long-lasting Words of Appreciation
LETTERS FROM HERE: "Christian Triumph Company wishes to take the opportunity to thank all of our brothers and sisters in Christ who have supported us with their prayer and finances down through the years… Because of the combined efforts of these faithful stewards and those who labor in this harvest-field, the miracle goes on today. The poor still have the Gospel preached to them… Most of these people could not afford to pay for the literature which they need in order to grow spiritually and to evangelize their neighbors who need to know the Lord. 'Let us work the works of Him that sent us while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work.'" (These words (above) were taken from the book, Seed Sowing in Latin America, written many years ago, by a member of the Janes family, perhaps, L. Y. Janes)
Dear Friends in Christ, I am sending you a gift…and a request for some Spanish tracts & literature. I have gotten acquainted with a little group and they need help. I'd like for the tracts or literature to have at least one on The Holy Spirit. The workers have only been saved 4 years so they need to give out good literature on their visitation and Bible studies…Please send any list of books or tracts you have. I want to see that they have good doctrine (Bible) in their hands. 15 or 20 of each tract will be enough to start with. All the older people speak only Spanish but the children can speak and understand English. N. Hall, Oklahoma City, OK * Dear Christian Triumph Family, Warm greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ…I think of sister Evelyn often and wonder how she is. She is a precious sister, and I love her very much. I enjoyed the article about Brother Narciso Zamora and the church in Chile. It brought back
(below: provided by L. H. Means) "Like most boys who become great men, Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China had a good mother. She had prayed for him and asked God to make him a minister of the 6
gospel. But when he was 15, he went to work in a bank and grew careless about his habits and failed to pray. This brought great grief to his mother and to his sister, Amelia. She made up her mind that she too along with her mother would pray for Hudson. One day his mother went away on a visit 70 miles distant. Having nothing special to do one afternoon, she went to her room, locked the door and prayed for her boy who continued to drift away from God. Hudson Taylor was at home and being alone, went to his father's library and began to search for something to read. He found a little tract called 'It is Finished'…Hudson did not know that very afternoon his mother was praying for him…Hardly aware how it came about. Hudson found himself upon his knees, 'Oh, God, I thank thee for your great love, for your plan which has included me. Forgive me, Lord, for my sins…,for my unbelief.'…Praise God for the lad who started to read only half a tract and became the great missionary to China…'" (Hudson Taylor)& his mom and sister. (Author unknown)
7