Pilgrim Preachers 1926
From BrethrenPedia
January 1926
By T.J.H. Rich (b. 1877 Cardiff, Wales - d. 1959 Hamilton, ON)
"To the Editor of The Journal Newspapers (on Dec. 30th, 1925 from Eastview, Ottawa)
Sir:
Former kindnesses on your part make me bold to ask the privilege of space in your paper for the following: For some years now, there has been in the minds of many thoughtful Christian people, the spirit of expectation for a much needed revival, and a great deal of prayer has already been offered with this in view, and not without result, for in different parts of the world there have been awakenings of more than an ordinary character.
The long continued mission of the Rev. W.P. Nicholson in Ireland and the campaigns of Gipsy Smith together with the efforts of those known as the Pilgrim Preachers in England and Scotland have brought great blessing, and it has been noted that where such gospel preaching has been accompanied by the same scriptural teaching of the imminent personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ, there the blessing has seemed to be the greatest.
This gives us great joy but it also awakens within us a deeper longing to see similar awakenings nearer home. We are confident of at least two things. First, that a need exists, and then that God stands ready to bless us, equally with those further afield. The prophet Isaiah speaks of God as Wondering. Isaiah 59:16 "God wondered that there was no intercessor." (none to interpose, R.V. marg). The very boldness of the idea here expressed should arrest the attention of every Christian man and woman.
I address this letter to all who in every place call upon Jesus as Lord no matter where they may live or by what name they may be known in church affiliation, to ask such to join with me in the privacy of the prayer closet during the opening week of 1926, in earnest prayer and intercession daily for the land we love, for the city and community in which we live, for the people with whom we come into contact, for the churches in which we worship, that there may come to us a deepening of spiritual life, a revival of the work of God in our hearts which shall lead us to a fresh consecration of self and a dedication of all that we possess, and a putting right all that is wrong in our lives, for experience has shown that where such has been the case the added spiritual life has manifested itself in reaching out to the unsaved.
If any care to write me and let me know that they accept this challenge to prayer, I shall be grateful or any results that any may notice as coming within his or her sphere so that we may encourage one another to a fresh take hold of God. Who will rise and join in the privilege?"
Sources
- Newspapers.com
- The Ottawa Journal, Ontario, Canada: 1-2-1926; p. 8
- Ancestry.com
