Visiting Ministry at Bethany Chapel, Wheaton, IL

Bethany Chapel, Wheaton, DuPage, Chicago metro, IL (OB) 1936-current

Itinerants

• Edgar Ainslie 1949
• T.B. Gilbert 1944
• William Pell 1948
• Peter Pell 1948
• Melvin Wistner 1965

Commendations

• L&L 1950-1:

Lombard & Wheaton: Aug. 15, 1949: "It is with great joy that we commend to the care and fellowship of the Lord's people our brother and sister, Dr. and Mrs. William Martin Allen, who have felt the call of the Lord to His work in the Belgian Congo. Dr. and Mrs. Allen were in happy fellowship in the assembly at Lombard, Illinois, where they have won the esteem of their brethren by their godly life and consistent testimony.

They spent two years in Hawaii where Dr. Allen interned in The Queens Hospital, and since their return they have been in fellowship also in the assembly in Wheaton, Illinois. Our brother and sister plan in the will of the Lord to labor at the Mulongo Station in the Belgian Congo where J. Alexander Clarke has been stationed for many years.

For a number of years we have been aware of the great need for a medical missionary at the Mulongo Station, and we feel our Brother Allen's qualifications as a physician and his ability to minister the Word of God will meet this long felt need."

Signed on behalf of the following assemblies:

• Lombard Gospel Chapel, 40 West Ash St., Lombard, IL: Robert A. Hanson, Richard O. Neal, Willard L. Rodgers, Chas. S. Howard, F.D. Wilson, W.S. Kellar.
• Bethany Chapel, 430 North President, Wheaton, IL: W.G. McCartney, J.H. Bradshaw, H.G. Faulkner, E.R. Powell, Chas. M. Allen.

Ministry Reports

1930's

• L&L 1932-9: Assembly Hall, Buffalo: "Lyndon Hess and Ruth DeVelde were married at Wheaton, Ill., Aug. 6th. In the will of the Lord they expect to sail for Africa via England on Sept. 6."

• The Fields 1939-9:
  • "Lyndon Hess of Northern Rhodesia had planned to arrive in New York about the end of September expecting to proceed shortly thereafter to their field by way of Europe. War conditions make everything uncertain so they are presently remaining in Wheaton, Ill., until arrangements to sail can be arranged."
  • Address (Lyndon Hess): 212 East Union St., Wheaton, IL

• The Fields 1939-12: "Lyndon Hess of Northern Rhodesia after visiting Buffalo early in January, plans to return to Wheaton, Ill., and after visiting Assemblies in Detroit, Mich., expects to sail from New York on March 2."

1940's

• The Fields 1940-2:
  • Lyndon Hess: "Born in Buffalo, N.Y. in 1909. His mother and grandmother had been associated with Assembly Hall since 1896. His grandmother had been led to the Lord through the efforts of the first missionary to be commended from Assembly Hall, Miss Logan, who sailed for China in 1894. Converted at age 12 through the teaching of a Sunday School teacher. Four years later was baptized and began to take an active interest in the Lord's work."
    • "An early interest in missionary work was stimulated by the ministry of visiting brethren and the activities of this Assembly, well known for its activity in Gospel work at home and abroad. While in Wheaton College the needs of the children of missionaries were pointed out by Gammon; Miss Daisy Gibson told of the work at Sakeji School. After correspondence with Mr. Nightingdale who spoke of the urgent need at Sakeji, and some months of waiting upon God, felt constrained to offer himself for the work there."
  • Ruth E. DeVelde: "Born in Chicago; parents afterwards moved to Wheaton; saved while attending Wheaton Academy. In the providence of God her two closest friends were daughters of a missionary to Africa; many other classmates were children of African missionaries. Her interest in those... peoples matured as the Lord's servants presented Africa and its great need. During her college days the Lord pointed to a life of foreign work by laying upon her heart John 15:16 and Mark 16:15. Clearly led to this definite preparatory study Miss DeVelde, following her graduation from Wheaton College, took a year's special work at Moody Institute. They were married in July, 1932. Commended for this work by the Buffalo Assembly, Mr. and Mrs. Hess sailed for Northern Rhodesia in Sep. 1932."

• L&L 1944-11: "Good interest was manifested in the week of meetings held with T.B. Gilbert in the Lane home, 512 N. Scott St., where a group meet to remember the Lord each Lord's day."

• LOI 1948-4:
  • Wm. Pell & Peter Pell: "These two brethren in Christ and in the flesh had two weeks of profitable meetings in February, with the saints in Wheaton, Ill. They used their model of The Tabernacle."
  • George Law @ Evanston Gospel Chapel, 639 Asbury Ave., Evanston, IL: "Mr. Fred G. Elliott, London, England visited our fair city and spent a week with special Gospel and ministry meetings. Attendance was good, helpful and inspiring ministry given. Mr. Peter Pell of Grand Rapids, Michigan, along with the Bethany Quartette, Wheaton, Illinois, visited on a past Sunday, ministering the Gospel in song and story. Our brother Sobral from Portugal gave an interesting account of his work in that needy field. This brother has a real heart for the Lord's work and has been instrumental in leading many of his own people to Christ. May we remember him in prayer as he seeks to return to his native country."

• L&L 1949-4: Edgar Ainslie, 817 N. Chauncey Ave., West Lafayette, IN: "I have been ministering to a number of assemblies and conferences. Just before Christmas I finished a schedule of twelve weeks of constant ministry in Waterloo and Burlington, Iowa, Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado, Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri, Wheaton, Elgin and Chicago, Illinois. The Lord willing will soon begin ministering to some assemblies in Michigan. Will appreciate your prayers for His blessing."

1950's

• L&L 1956-4:
  • "R.F. Bayles of Wheaton, IL, ministered the word at Sioux City, Fort Dodge, Iowa, and other places in the middlewest during February and March."
  • "Alfred P. Gibbs of Wheaton, Illinois, saw blessing during meetings recently held at Lakeland Gospel Center, Florida. He is now (Mar. 14) at Hialeah."
  • Wesley Kosin, 425 W. Wesley St., Wheaton, IL: "Please pray for the following souls in Cook County (Illinois) jail:
    • H.G. joined my Bible class and began the Gospel course in Dec. He has memorized and quoted verses to earn a Bible and has completed the course with the testimony that he has now accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior.
    • E.B., age 29, was backslidden, but is now restored and rejoicing and eager to go God's way and asks for prayer.
    • J.G., age 30, through reading the New Testament and coming to the Bible class, has been led of God to receive Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord."

1960's

• LOI 1965-4: Fruitful Children's Series Conducted in Chicago Area:

"Melvin Wistner, evangelist and chalk artist of Fanwood, NJ, conducted three series of children's meetings during February in assemblies in suburbs of Chicago, Ill. He illustrated various Bible stories, and effectively emphasized them with black light. At the La Grange Gospel Chapel, attendance increased each night, with a record turnout of 95 on the last night, when two boys (ages 9 and 10) professed to accept the Lord as their Savior.

Attendance at the Bethany Chapel in Wheaton was high, ranging up to 189, and included a number of adults. Several of the adults indicated interest in the assembly, and it seemed hopeful that some of the children would begin coming to the Sunday school. In Evanston, nightly attendance was as high as 115, and 130 different children attended. Quite a few adults came as well, and interest among both children and adults was high. Four girls were known to profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

During April, Mr. Wistner expects to conduct children's series in Reading, Pa., Boyertown, Pa., then Maplewood, N.J., followed by Union City. In May he is to hold series at Audubon and Corona, N.Y., followed by the Gospel Chapel in Hartford, CT. He would appreciate readers' prayer for these efforts."

Sources

• Letters of Interest (LOI): 1948-4; 1965-4
• Light & Liberty (L&L): 1932-9; 1944-11; 1949-4; 1950-1; 1956-4
• The Fields: 1939-9,12; 1940-2