Report by Rev. Donald MacLean, Glasgow
Although it was to rain heavily later in the day, the sun was shining when the Dutch friends of our Mission in Rhodesia gathered to the Missionary Meeting in Utrecht on 17th May 1969.
The meeting was opened with worship and the Convener of the Dutch Committee, Mr A. de Redelijkheid, made his introductory remarks to the audience of 3,500 people gathered in a very large hall.
The Convener then addressed the Rev. Donald MacLean, Glasgow, who had been invited by the Society to come to Holland from Scotland to address this meeting.
In his remarks, the Convener spoke as follows:— “Dear Rev. Donald MacLean, As on our first Mission Day in 1964 you were our guest and more than a guest, a representative of your Church, we have again the privilege of meeting you today in 1969 as deputy from your Mission Committee.
You are very welcome here to the Society’s Committee and this great gathering.
The Mission Day of 1968 was followed by a year full of events. During this period, the members of this Committee had a meeting with you and other members of your Committee in the Netherlands and in Britain. We discussed the difficulties and prayed under the Holy Spirit’s guidance to try to keep and promote the threatened Mbuma Mission with the Lord’s help.
When, on last year’s Mission Day, it became obvious that missionary Jan Van Woerden had left our Mission staff and that the Lisse office had withdrawn from the work, a Rhodesia Mission Society was called into existence to support the departing missionary. This was the cause of a split resulting in financial loss to the Mbuma Mission. It is well known to your Church Committee that our Committee here backed your missionary work and your Church firmly. It is also known that in this trouble our Committee promised to keep supporting the Scottish Church and that your Committee fully backs our Society, i.e. the Mbuma Missionary Society, for the following reasons:—
- Because we stand on the same foundation. You mentioned this foundation at the Mission Day in 1964. The foundation is that the mission work must bear the authority of the Holy Ghost.
- Because we hold the same principle. You said on that Mission Day that this was a principle of the Scottish Church that the Lord Jesus, Himself, calls His missionaries and that out of called and converted heathen, the Lord begets His preachers.
- Because we pursue the same object which is to promote the spiritual interests of the heathen as guided by the Spirit and to use the medical mission as a means to this end.
Those who belong together and want to live according to this principle and to pursue this purpose have remained with us. This is what has kept us together. From this meeting, we convey to you and to your Church, the feeling of this meeting that, through God’s grace, we hope to remain faithful to this determination to maintain this foundation and from this principle to continue the work of your Church’s Mission and to have no other aim than to fight for this cause to the glory of God. May our help be in the name of the Lord.”
Rev. Donald MacLean then addressed the meeting conveying the good wishes of the Free Presbyterian Church to the Society and expressing our sincere gratitude for the much valued and continued support to the Mission in Rhodesia. Mr MacLean’s address is given elsewhere.
On the conclusion of Mr MacLean’s address, the Convener asked the large company to stand and sing Psalm 134 as a benediction to the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland and its Mission in Rhodesia.
A very solemn atmosphere prevailed while the large assembly sang:—
“Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye
that his attendants are.
Ev’n you that in Gods’ temple be
and praise him nightly there.
Your hands within God’s holy place
lift up and praise his name.
From Sion hill the Lord thee bless
that heaven and earth did frame.”
Several ministers interested in and supporters of the Missionary Society spoke on themes relevant to the work. These addresses were, of course, all in Dutch.
Rev. C. Smits, the Secretary of the Society, who had intimated his retirement due to accepting a call to Clifton, New Jersey, U.S.A., was presented with a Bible Dictionary as a token of appreciation for his work.
Rev. G.v.d. Breevaart made appropriate references to Rev. C. Smits usefulness to which Mr Smits suitably replied.
Mr Smits was a most enthusiastic supporter of the Mission and a worthy successor to the late Mr Doctor, whose widow was present at this meeting.
The new Secretary is Mr Van Waveren and he is already pursuing his duties with vigour.
The meeting was distinguished by its usual generous giving, the total collection amounting to over £3,000. £150 of this sum was presented by six boys of Rev. G.v.d. Breevaart’s congregation representing the amount collected by the children of the congregation for the Mission. In July, the Society sent out £6,000 to the Mission in Rhodesia.
Despite the trials it has had to meet with, the Mbuma Missionary Society continues its warm interest in the Free Presbyterian Foreign Mission. The warmth felt at this meeting was especially gratifying to the members of the Society’s Committee whose loyal support of the Church is worthy of all praise. All felt the meeting to be an encouragement to carry on the good work and to look for the blessing of God which alone can make His Word effectual unto salvation in Rhodesia, Holland and Scotland.