Dear Friends,
Although we live in times of spiritual decay and fruitlessness, yet over the centuries countless millions have been brought to a true and saving interest in Christ Jesus. In fact in Paul’s time the number was so vast that he had to say: “For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets.” (Heb. 11:32). Indeed the list of the faithful in this chapter only touches on the fringe of all those who have by faith pleased God. Their number is so great that they cannot be numbered by man; they are like the sand of the seashore innumerable, countless millions from every nation, kindred and tongue. This number, then, is not confined to one nation. While we think of Israel in the past, we think also of Scotland, Holland, England and many other nations where we find those who fear the Lord; and to this present hour those who fear the Lord are to be found scattered among the nations of the earth.
The nations, however, to which we wish to direct your minds are the African nations. From this vast multitude of peoples many have joined the ranks of the faithful. Think even on the short duration of our own Mission in Rhodesia; in that short period, how many have come to be in the ranks of those who fear the Lord! How is this possible? Indeed, one may ask, how was it possible that so many among the Children of Israel came to fear the Lord? The correct answer would be — through the Holy Spirit’s doing a work of regeneration in their souls. Another wonderful aspect of the Spirit’s work in regenerating souls is the sending forth of the Word of Life — The Gospel — by the hand of his Church on earth.
Paul and his companions experienced this sending forth. When Asia and Bithynia were closed to the gospel, Macedonia was opened; they “were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.” (Acts 16:6). Then “they assayed to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit suffered them not.” (v.7). Finally, seeing in a vision a man of Macedonia inviting him to come over to Macedonia, Paul says: “We endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” (v.10).
This surely was the guiding factor in Paul’s missionary work: the Holy Spirit’s directing him to preach in a particular place. This surely was the guiding factor with us as a church when we sent the Gospel to Rhodesia. The Holy Spirit sent us — the only true cause of all genuine missionary work. Plainly the purpose of the Holy Spirit’s direction is because God’s elect are in that locality; because there is such a class of persons, albeit dead in trespasses and sins, to them the Gospel must be sent. So it is said of the Saviour, “He must needs go through Samaria.” (John 4:4). Paul had to go into Macedonia, and we as a church into Rhodesia. Regarding ourselves thus may appear to some as lofty talk, but one thing is certain: nothing but fruitlessness can result if we are not in the place where the Holy Spirit would have us to be, His purpose being to gather the elect from that particular place and nation. Thankful to record, after seventy years of existence we can point to fruit. Although one may mourn over so few being brought to Christ among so many, yet these few belong to the multitude which no man can number. Down through the history of the Free Presbyterian Church in Rhodesia, sinners have been brought to Christ, and are being brought, to this present time. Surely this must be a token of our being in the place of duty.
Persuaded then that, as well as a command being given us to go into the world to preach the Gospel to every creature, we are also directed to a particular place, to this place — Rhodesia — our attention as a Church has been directed from 1904-1974. All the effort on the part of our church in Scotland, the recent enormous help from Holland, and the help from Canada and other countries continue to show that we are directed by the Holy Spirit to uphold the Gospel in Rhodesia; the Gospel which is the only means to bring sinners to Christ. As well as the activities from without, there is the actual labouring on the Mission Field. Men and women have laboured in the past; they labour still; all this to bring sinners to Christ.
Our latest venture, as you are aware, is centred here in Bulawayo. The Church feels directed to extend her borders. She feels led to believe that since God has opened a door, He is showing that in this particular place the Gospel is to be preached. The Church’s confession regarding the matter is, as Paul’s and his companion’s was: “Assuredly gathering that the Lord has called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” (Acts 16:10).
When God thus opens a way for the preaching of the gospel, the hope of every believer is that God has a purpose of mercy in that community; that his elect are hidden there; and that they will be brought in by the Gospel, although, perhaps, in our eyes they are the most unlikely to be converted. To this end we labour in the Mission Field; to this end our preaching here in Bulawayo is conducted. We use ever opportunity to preach Christ.
One such opportunity came to us which was outwith the normal routine of preaching. The headmaster of Luveve Government School invited us to conduct the school worship. This we were permitted to do by ourselves and the worship was conducted along the lines of Presbyterian practice. The precentor had the difficult task of leading the praises; difficult in this case because our young school friends were only familiar with tunes which they normally use for hymns. However, after some research he managed to use tunes with which the children were in some small degree familiar. He also kindly supplied psalm sheets and one gospel which were given to each child. Over two hundred children of between thirteen and eighteen years of age were preached to. Realising beforehand that ignorance of the Word of God was an obvious factor with these children — as with any who are separate from the pure teaching of the Scriptures — and that multitudes of Africans, educated and otherwise, still believe in the return of the spirits of their ancestors, I endeavoured to preach a simple sermon from King David’s reply to his servants regarding his child who had died: “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” (2 Sam. 12:23). I attempted to show from this truth: (1) that the spirits of men do not return to this world from the dead: “he shall not return to me.” (2) David speaks of going to his son: “I shall go to him.” This shows a hereafter, and the Bible plainly shows two places where the spirits of men go: to Heaven and Hell. (3) How to attain to entering Heaven and how to avoid Hell.
These efforts to bring Christ to sinners is only a continuing of the work of those who have faithfully laboured before us. Our desire now is to continue in those ways and to wait for the blessing of the Word made effectual to the lost and hell-deserving.
“The Lord himself did give the word,
the word abroad did spread;
Great was the company of them
the same who published.” (Psalm 68:11 Metrical version)
“Brethren, pray for us.” (2 Thess. 3:1)
Yours sincerely,
Donald A. Ross.
Taipei,
Taiwan,
11th Dec. 1947
Dear Mr MacLean,
As you suggested, I enclose a statement of my expenses in connection with coming here, and studying Chinese, and I will send one also to Mr William Fraser. I expect you will have by now received a copy of our Newsletter, so will have some news of us already. In view of the fact that it was on the Foreign Mission Committee’s recommendation that the Synod agreed to finance our travel and language study, I thought it might be acceptable for each Foreign Mission Committee member to receive a Newsletter. May it be a means of stimulating more prayer, not simply for us, though indeed we need it dearly, but also for the millions of lost souls on this island.
There is a great need for a work of God here. A large proportion of the people are still steeped in idolatry, and evidence of this abounds. There are numerous temples and shrines by the roadside. The common sight of idols in shops and houses, the frequent smell of incense, and superstitious practices at weddings and at funerals, amongst other things, remind one constantly of the spiritual darkness that abounds. Yet, it is all too easy to become, even here, immersed in one’s own activities, and largely forget the needs of these poor people. The Lord give us grace to weep, and to plead for them, till He send His light to give them the knowledge of His glory in the face of Jesus. This is impossible with men, but not with God. The prospect of such a change is a spur, though, I fear, too little so, to press on with language study, till we are able to make our own small contribution to the work of spreading the gospel amongst the Chinese. There is need for many more labourers.
The language study is not easy. Though Chinese grammar is not too different from English, the pronunciation certainly is, and, of course, the writing also. Depending on how a sound is pronounced — if the voice rises, or falls, or stays level — the meaning is completely changed. This stage of learning is, of course, very important, when the ability to pronounce correctly and to distinguish the different tones is either won, or lost. We have started writing characters, which is quite fascinating, though very time-consuming, since it requires much practice. Sometimes, the task seems too great, but it is an encouragement to hear, as we frequently do, of our being remembered at the Throne of Grace by the Lord’s people in Scotland. No doubt, we receive much help in answer to these prayers.
I would like to thank you again sincerely for your help in making it possible for us to come out here. Not only did it lead to our fees being paid, but it was a means also of stirring the interest clearly of quite a number of people. And we value their prayers even more than the financial help we received, though, needless to say, that is very much appreciated.
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
Cameron Tallach