On Thursday, 17th July, I flew from Glasgow to Amsterdam. I was taken from the Airport to Mr and Mrs Mijnders home by Mr Treuneit, a member of the Dutch Committee formed to assist Mbuma Mission. On Friday I was driven from Lisse to Sliedrecht, again, by Mr Treuneit, where I stayed till Saturday with Rev. Smits and family. Then on Saturday, I was driven to Utrecht by Mr Smits (Jnr.) accompanied by Rev. Smits and his wife. We arrived at the Tivoli Hall, in Utrecht, before 10 a.m.
As was the case last year, everything in connection with the meeting was well planned. I was amazed at the size of the gathering, which was at least 2,000. Some said the number was larger and it could have been up to 2,500. The meeting broke up at about 4.30 p.m. They had given rapt attention to speakers for at least five hours. The whole gathering had a break for lunch between 1 and 2 p.m., catering being arranged in a large dining hall.
From among the platform party, six ministers spoke. Mr Treuneit was also on the platform and spoke. Some of the ministers made the occasion an opportunity for preaching. They prayed, the congregation sang, and they read a chapter and the minister preached from a text. The texts chosen were very appropriate. I found it very difficult throughout the whole proceedings to determine who was a minister and who was not. They do not wear, as in this country, what is called a minister’s collar.
After the meeting I was taken to Zeist by Mr Van Woerden, who, after supper, took me to the home of Rev. Tukker in Zwolle. I spent the Sabbath with the latter. On Monday morning, Mr Van Woerden took me to his son’s holiday-house, in the middle of a large forest. We went back to Zwolle, and thereafter drove to Utrecht, where I caught a train for Lieden. From here the Mijnders drove me to their home in Lisse. That evening I was shown a newspaper carrying an account of the meeting, under the heading “Bonds with Scotland Strengthened.” On Tuesday morning Mr and Mrs Mijnders and family, took me by car to Amsterdam Airport.
In all of this I should acknowledge the goodness of the Lord in taking care of me and bringing me back safely. Then I should acknowledge the kindness and hospitality of the people whose names I have mentioned; and the assurance of the President, speaking on behalf of the gathering at Utrecht, of prayer for us and our missionary work.
The Holland Christians are not only supporting our Mission, but others also. One special work some are engaged in on the Continent is among Roman Catholics and there are indications that their work is being blessed. Along with that they also showed great regard for those in Scotland who adhere to, and witness for, the truth. The names of Andrew Gray, Guthrie, Boston, Mc-Cheyne and others more recent, were constantly mentioned. Their activity and outlook show that they are very enthusiastic about the advancement of the Cause of Christ.
The President of the Committee gave me a personal address interpreted by Rev. Smits. In it, he said we were labouring in a wilderness, but the Lord could, and promised to make the desert to rejoice and the wilderness to blossom as the rose. He gave to me Isaiah 49, verse 6, and thereafter the whole congregation sang Psalm 134.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The speech which I delivered, was interpreted by Mr Smits (son of Rev. Smits), and was somewhat as follows:—
We are glad and consider it a privilege to be here. Holland is interesting to us, not merely because of its geographical features, but much more because of its association with the Reformation. We learned about this in our childhood. We believe Dutch Reformers contended earnestly for the faith. There have also been in each succeeding generation, some, who were striving together for the faith of the gospel — a remnant according to the election of grace, who fought the good fight of faith, and laid hold on eternal life. It is in connection with this faith, the faith of the gospel, that we have travelled, and are gathered here to-day.
I believe that Rev. D. MacLean, Glasgow, when he was here, gave you a brief historical sketch of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and also of our Mission in Africa. We of the Free Presbyterian Church and many here today, have much in common.
The World Council of Churches is bound together by what its members would call its “common faith.” The matters on which they agree are merely external ordinances, whether these are right or wrong. They have these things in common and that is what is of importance to them. Many truths of the faith (and by that we mean what the Bible says, “there is one Lord one faith . . . .”) are cast aside. If we of the Free Presbyterian Church and you here were to have a discussion, we would probably not agree on some matters of form; yet, a substantial number of us would agree on matters that are of the greatest spiritual importance and which unite us together.
I shall bring the matters on which we would agree before you, under five headings, as these matters are related to Missionary work.
I. That the Bible is the Word of God.
Peter said of old, holy men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. What the prophets had to speak was not their own words, but “thus saith the Lord.” When the authors of the books of Scripture wrote, the Spirit Himself guided them, so that in an unerring, infallible way, they committed to writing what God said. This is the word of truth, the word of salvation, the word of faith. Without it man has no true knowledge, without it man cannot have faith, nor can he be saved. It is the word of regeneration. “Who are born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, by the word of God that liveth . . . .”
II. That we need the coming of the Spirit.
“When he the Spirit of truth shall come, He shall convince the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.” There is sufficient evidence in the Scriptures of the old and new Testaments to show that they are the Word of God. It is necessary nevertheless, that the third person of the Trinity, by his power and influence and operation in the hearts of sinners, would persuade the hearer that they are the words of God, and the voice of God speaking to him personally.
III. That this word must be declared by Jesus’ servants.
The Saviour commanded, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel . . . .” Paul exhorted Timothy to preach the word. How can men believe in him of whom they have not heard, and how can they hear without a preacher, and how can they preach except they be sent? So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. The Scriptures show that preaching is an ordinance of God. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
IV. That the burden of this declaration must be the glory of God.
God is glorified in the salvation of sinners. Therefore they must hear about man’s sin AGAINST GOD, and as a result man’s guilt, his utter ruin, and that he is under God’s curse. Moreover the way of salvation must be set forth. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father but by Him. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; but whosoever does not believe in the Son, the wrath of God abideth on him. Christ must be set forth as the one who has glorified the Father. We ought to preach, “Christ and Him crucified . . . .”
V. That nothing less than all this would be effective in Missionary work.
We are far removed from the Modernist, who does not believe in man’s innate sinfulness, and his need of the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, to cleanse him from all sin. Nor do we accept Arminian methods of evangelism, which are based on wrong views of the word of God. We believe that it is only in the way briefly outlined already that the African, in God’s sovereignty and grace, can be saved. In this respect we are alone in the part of Rhodesia in which we labour. We are cut off from fellowship with other Missions, and we feel keenly the havoc done by teachers of “another gospel.”
I shall now say something about the work done in our Missions, especially Mbuma. It is “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” that our fellow labourers at Mbuma (and myself), seek to bring to the notice of poor African sinners, living without God in the world and being children of wrath even as others.
I have on many occasions, by night as well as day, taken patients to Mbuma Hospital, in the Zenka Mission truck. I have also on a number of occasions accompanied Mr Van Woerden when taking patients in from the Mbuma area. The last of these occasions was in February, when we visited their Mission and stayed for the night. After going to bed we heard a noise outside, and on investigation we found a man and woman waiting for us. The man was armed as usual with a “knobkerry” and spear. I informed Mr Van Woerden who was in another house nearby, and we gathered from what the man said, that someone had been “cut with a knife.” We went with them to the spot some 10 miles away, and after much difficulty found, in the forest, a woman seriously injured. She was lying beside a big fire in the kraal surrounded by dozens of relatives. Her wound, just under the breast, had been crudely bandaged. Mr Van Woerden dressed her wound properly and then asked me to pray. He, on every possible occasion, when I have been with him, spoke to the people in the home. We took the injured woman to the hospital, and after travelling slowly in low gear, we arrived at 4 a.m. There is also, after the patient has been taken in, not only the daily contact through daily treatment, but contact is maintained also at morning and evening worship. Many of you know Rev. Mr Mzamo who labours here seeking to put the truth before sinners. The most recent sermon that I remember hearing from him, was based on the words of Hosea, 7: 9, “Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not, yea grey hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.” He illustrated his doctrine by speaking about the work of the white ants. These African insects eat almost anything. They begin eating a door post from the ground upwards, inside the post. In a short time there is nothing left but a very flimsy shell with a coat of paint which very soon collapses. He said it was thus with the back-slider whose inward strength is devoured and he knows it not. We hear him at Session meetings and believe that he is concerned about “the precious and the vile.” . . . .
It was at Zenka, where I lived for the past three and a half years that Mr Van Woerden began his medical work in the days of the late Rev. Jas. Fraser. Rev. Mr Mzamo spent some time here also. Other men laboured and ye entered into their labours. One man from here is coming to Scotland in October (D.V.) to continue theological studies in preparation for the work of the ministry. I hope that in the good providence of the Lord, you will be able to see him, and hear him . . . . We believe that if you were with us, you would take knowledge of some of these tribesmen that they had been with Jesus. It is a wonder to hear a person with no Christian background, speaking the language of the redeemed; and to see him kept “in the right ways of God” in the midst of gross heathenism which is a greater wonder still.
Your liberal financial support for the Mbuma Mission was discussed in May at the Annual Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. It was decided that the Minister coming to this meeting should convey to you on behalf of the Synod and the Free Presbyterian Church their appreciation, and thankfulness for the work you are doing. We believe it is a work of faith and labour of love.