The Lord Jesus has given us in His Word many promises which should encourage us to cry to Him that these truths be fulfilled. Often it is when we are placed in singular circumstances we begin to realise and to value the message of His words. Faith seeks to lay hold of Christ in the promise, and to hope that the Lord will stretch forth His hand to heal, ‘that signs and wonders may be done by the name of his holy child Jesus’. No matter the country, no matter the congregation, if the power of the Lord be not present to heal, there is no lasting work for eternity. We are encouraged to ask for His power to accompany His word. This is needed in Italy as in other places. Hoping for such favour from the Master, I spent the month of July in Italy—in Fornaci di Barga.
During my time there I held a service in the Fini/Campani house twice each Lord’s Day, on Wednesday evenings, and on a few other evenings as well. The numbers present were very small, and, were it not for the promise of Christ that where two or three are gathered together in His name He is there in their midst, we would soon faint and be weary. Many were personally invited to the services, but either did not come at all or came but once or twice. However dark and disappointing this may appear, we persevere in the prayer and hope that the Lord will yet pour His Spirit down, bless His word, and gather sinners to Christ. When I was in Fornaci di Barga last year I distributed a few tracts and Bibles. This year I took a large supply of tracts with me for distribution. I put a copy of the tract into almost every house in Fornaci di Barga and into the houses in the surrounding villages, and I was often pleasantly surprised at the reception it was given. This was not always the case, but there were encouraging incidents. One of the most encouraging was in a village nearby where a number of elderly ladies were sitting out in the sun, and having received a copy of the tract, one of them began to read it aloud to the others. On my return she had moved to another audience and was engaged in the same good work. Others asked for a tract for a friend. In this way I was encouraged, that although people did not come to the services they were receiving the message of the Gospel in the tract and I pray that the Lord will bless His word in this way. The tract had printed on it the offer of more information should any wish to have it.
I again press upon anyone who may read this to pray to ‘the Lord of the harvest’ that He would provide someone to labour constantly among these people. The work is difficult and there is much opposition of different kinds. A regular ministry is needed. We pray that the Lord in His mercy will provide for this part of the vineyard; the duty is ours to pray to Him for such help.
I would here acknowledge the interest shown by the friends of the Spanish Evangelical Mission (Holland), in their generous gifts for Fornaci di Barga and in their regularly inquiring after the prosperity of the work there. It is proper also to thank the friends in Scotland who have shown a similar interest, and the Blythswood Tract Society for supplying the tract which was distributed.
‘A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time’. Isaiah Ch60 v 22.