Concerted Prayer
Topics for concerted prayer should not be difficult to find in view of our national situation at the present time. However, we are not to confine ourselves to our own national bounds. The recent publication by the Russian author Alexander Solzhenitskyn of “The Gulag Archipelago,” unveiling the awful sufferings and deaths of millions in Communist prison camps in Russia since the Revolution of 1918, and calling on the authorities to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to trial and a confession of guilt, should remind us anew — if we need any reminder — of the evils of Communism and of our duty to pray for its extirpation and the release of all those, and especially Christians, who are suffering under its tyranny. Again, let us not forget our own mission in Rhodesia (See paragraph in Church Notes on expected arrival of new missionary in Rhodesia). If a further topic is necessary, perhaps the following letter sent from India and quoted in the Gospel Witness of Toronto will give more than a hint of the need of intercession for that part of the world: “It is a sad story in India that the doors are being closed on Christian missionaries from abroad. Right now no new missionaries are allowed to enter into the country. However, we praise God for the measure of freedom we, the Indian Christians, are guaranteed under the constitution to proclaim the gospel to our people. The Lord helping us, we would like to make the best of this opportunity and reach as many people as possible for the Lord Jesus Christ. It is our prayer that the Lord will enable us to make this ministry self-sustaining in the not-too-distant future. There is a bill in the offing in the Indian Parliament to curb all missionary funds flowing into the country. Things are definitely changing for the worse in this country so far as the Gospel is concerned. But we do not forget that the Lord is still upon the Throne.”
Committee Meetings (D.V.) — to be held at Inverness Church
Tuesday, 26th March
- 10.00 a.m.-11.30 a.m.—Publications Committee.
- 11.30 a.m.-1.00 p.m.—Religion and Morals Committee.
- 2.30 p.m.-4.30 p.m.—Finance Committee.
- 4.30 p.m.-5.30 p.m.—Dominions and Overseas Committee.
- 7.00 p.m.-9.00 p.m.—Foreign Missions Committee.
- 9.00 p.m.-10.00 p.m.—Home of Rest Committee.
Wednesday, 27th March
- 10.00 a.m.-11.30 a.m.—Church Extension Committee.
- 11.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m.—Church Magazine Committee.
- 12.30 p.m.-1.00 p.m.—Library Committee.
- 2.00 p.m.-3.00 p.m.—Training of Ministry Committee.
- 3.00 p.m.-5.00 p.m.—Church Interests Committee—to consider Church Administration.
Missionary to Rhodesia
Rev Donald A. Ross and family sailed for Cape Town on the “Windsor Castle” on Friday, 15th February, and were to arrive in South Africa on 28th February. They hope to reach Bulawayo, where Mr Ross is to be stationed, on Wednesday, 6th March (D.V.). We trust that the Lord’s people will bear Mr Ross — and also his family — upon their hearts at a Throne of Grace as he begins his labours in that distant land.
We would also mention that Miss Rhoda MacKay who came home on a short furlough in December returned to Rhodesia in January to continue her work in the Secondary School at Ingwenya.