On Monday 30th April, 1973 the annual meeting organised by the Mbuma Missionary Society was held at Utrecht, Netherlands.
The Chairman Rev. G. Van De Breevaart began the meeting with the singing of Psalm 119 verses 9 to 15. He read II Kings chapter 5 and then prayed. When the prayer was ended, he announced that a telegram had been sent to Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, by the Mission Committee representing the great gathering of people of the Reformed persuasion at Utrecht on that day. (The 30th April is observed as a national holiday in honour of the Queen’s Birthday). The gist of what was in the telegram I believe was, that they wished her to know “the faithful Saviour Jesus Christ, who with his precious blood has made full satisfaction for sin—her only comfort in life and death” (Heidelberg Catechism Q1).
He also welcomed into their midst Rev A. Ndebele and D. M. Campbell who among others had been invited to address the gathering. He thereafter addressed the assembly regarding the miraculous cure of Naaman the leprous Syrian. He dwelt especially I understood on the testimony of the captive maid of Israel, and exhorted young Christians to be like her. Psalm 122 verses 1-4 were then sung.
There then followed an address by Rev. D. M. Campbell. This was interpreted by Rev. C. Smits who last year, with three other Dutch friends visited the Mission stations in Rhodesia, and who also spoke on 24th May at the Synod held in Inverness. Mr. Campbell’s address was followed by the singing of Psalm 87, and the meeting broke up for lunch.
When proceedings resumed Rev. F. Malan was called on to address the meeting. He spoke about the deliverance of Rahab the harlot (Joshua 6). Not only had she deliverance from physical death, but also from eternal damnation. He hoped there would be many black Rhodesians saved by faith in Christ like Rahab. Psalm 32 verses 1 and 2 were then sung.
Rev. A. Ndebele addressed them from the words “Fear not Abraham, I am thy shield and thine exceeding great reward.” His address was ably interpreted by Mr. Van Waveren. I hope Mr Ndebele’s address will appear in the Magazine in due course and I make no comment on it except that I believe that it was eagerly looked forward to and closely followed.
After the singing of Psalm 86 verses 9 and 10 Rev. Dorsman from Staphorst addressed the meeting from Acts 16:14 about Lydia whose heart the Lord opened. Following on this Rev. C. Smits gave a short address. He welcomed Rev. D. MacLean, Clerk of the Foreign Mission Committee, who had arrived at mid-day, and who had interviewed several young women who had a desire to go to Mbuma Hospital as nurses. The Dutch Committee appreciated Mr. MacLean’s help in their undertakings. The meeting concluded with the singing of Psalm 132 verses 17 and 18.
One could not but be impressed with this event. To a foreigner who attends it has its drawbacks. One could not give a decided and dogmatic opinion, for example regarding the quality of the lectures given in Dutch, although a person might not doubt their orthodoxy. However the singing, appealing in these circumstances to the senses more than to the understanding, was in my opinion excellent. All their Psalms are like our long metre versions (perhaps longer) and were sung with perfect timing. There was no overlapping of the end of a line with the beginning of the next one, as in the Scottish Highlands! It sounded grave and serious but at the same time sung by over 5,000 people, sweetly melodious. The serious attitude of the speakers both in prayer and lecturing, the views expressed by them, and the sobriety of their claims, made it evident that this meeting was very different both in style and nature to the hyper-evangelistic meetings of modern times. Equally impressive was the thought that, when others were spending the holiday in the vain pleasures of the world, 5,500 people came together to listen to the word of God from 10.30a.m. to 5p.m. A large number of these were teenagers. Besides no one could doubt their genuine and hearty interest in the Free Presbyterian Church’s Mission in Rhodesia. At the close of the meeting 87,000 Dutch guilders had been collected, or the equivalent of £13,000 May it be for the good of the Cause of Christ and to the glory of God. The flight and visit to the Netherlands were pleasant, and we should acknowledge the goodness of the Lord in bringing us there and back in safety.
D.M.C.