Calvary College - Covenanter Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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IVIAGIXIIFICEIXIT BUILDINGS OF CALVAIQV COLLEGE CI-ILJRCI-I Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Over 30 years ago, members of a Christian Church determined to build a house as unto the Lord. They brought the best of their gifts dedicated to His service. Many loving hands worked and sacrificed that they might have a place in which to worship God. Dr. J. P. McKnight, the pastor, spent hours in prayer and council that this church should stand as a witness unto men of the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ. So in I905, the corner stone of the Magnolia Christian Church was laid on the corner of Magnolia and 25th Streets. Thirty-three years ago! About I5 years later, Rev. C. C. Sinclair, now the pastor of the Washington St. Christian Church of Pasadena, became the Pastor. Under his ministry the church grew so rapidly that it became necessary to build a Sunday School building. What a vision the people and pastor had! What yearning to win little children to the Saviour! What sacrifice was theirs! What labor was honored of the Lord! The lots next door were secured for SI0,000. Soon there was 525,000 cash on deposit to start the building, which with the gymnasium cost 586.000, malcing a total of 596,000 expenditure. Glorious accomplishment for Christ. In I927, the building was completed and dedicated. A year later Rev. Sinclair moved to Pasadena and others then built upon the foundation of labor and love which he had laid in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thousands of little feet tread those halls, and thousands of little ears heard the story of Jesus. Other pastors and the members carried on until I937 when through the in- stigation of Chas. R. Hudson and Rev. Warren Grafton, pastor of the First Christian Church, Eleventh and Hope Streets, Los Angeles, Calif., the Magnolia Christian Church and the First Christian Church merged, deciding to worship in the First Christian Church building on Hope St. January, I937, Rheba Crawford Splivalo entered into a contract to purchase the property at Magnolia St. For six months Miss Crawford preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, assisted by her father and mother, Col. and Mrs. Crawford of the Salvation Army. Many found blessing, salvation and healing in those months. However, owing to the serious illness of Miss Crawford's husband, and then her own ill-health, she was unable to continue the responsibility of a church. For this reason, August Ist of that year, Miss Crawford most magnanimously turned over the congregation, building and purchase contract to Dr. R. M. Gray and Rev. Harriet A. Jordan without any monetary down payment on the contract, as she had had to pay upon securing the same, six months before. Her closing Sunday, she left us the following message: I feel most honored to have the privilege of malcing available to Calvary College and Church the property in which they may preach and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. My every prayer and every hope is for their continued joy and service. My love will remain always with the congregation whose gracious prayers have lightened my burdens for months. May Calvary College and Calvary Church stand in these days of unbelief, a challenge to a faithless world, telling the story of One whose glorious faith was ex- pressed in his death upon the Cross that other men might live. Rheba Crawford. We the faculty and students wished to express our deep appreciation to Rheba Crawford for this wonderful opportunity which became an open door of service to us at Calvary College. Few people would have done this without personal considera- tion for monies spent previously. We feel sure that God will grant Miss Crawford a share in the rewards of the work of Calvary College and Church, and the souls won. May Calvary College building stand, a signal of life to all who pass by, pointing to the Cross of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.

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The Humanity ol Christ . . The Word became flesh. What mystery lies behind these simple wordsl What self-sacrifice is there enshrined! Of all events which had ever taken place in heaven, not one could for a moment compare in strangeness and awe with the day on which God Himself became man. The sons of God had shouted for joy when the earth came into being: had shuddered with horror when the waters of the Flood en- gulfed the new creation: had watched with breathless interest the tragedy of Job: and marveled at the magnificent deliverance of lsrael from Egypt. But nothing had ever equalled the astounding event that now took place 'before their wondering eyes. At ,one moment the Son of God Himself, glorious in splendour, mighty in power, infinite in wisdom, in the bosom of the Father: the next moment a Being wrapped up in flesh in Mary's womb, helpless, dependent upon the care of man, needing to grow in wisdom and stature! He emptied Himself, we read in Phil. 2:7 R.V. But we can only guess at the courage, the faith, the devotion, the tender love, which led Him to step down into this hostile world and later in Hades itself. For He took a body that He might not only live upon the earth, but that He might know the pangs of the disem- bodied state. A body hast Thou prepared Me are the words recorded of the Son of God -Heb. lO:5. It is as if a prince exclaimed, l go to live in a hovel , or a millionaire, l am a pauperl That the infinite God should be Hcribbed, cabined and confined within a finite body, should know by experience suffering, pain, cold, weariness and hunger: should need to eat and sleep: should even die and rise again: such thoughts were incredible were they not in Scripture. And to-day, as we are reading, the Son of God is still the Son of Man, and He who knows the frailty of flesh is ever interceding for those who groan within themselves, waiting for the redemption of their bodies. His incarnation lends us confidence in His sympathy and mercy. He who has suffered in the flesh can help our infirmities. And as He sits upon the Great White Throne-for all judgment is committed to the Son-it will be because He too is a Son of Man, that the destinies of all the world of men will be entrusted to His hands, lest upon the lips of those who depart into the blackest night of Hell should raise the taunt, You never knew what life on earth was like . Nay, God knows full well the trials of an earthly life, and knows also the ex- haustless supplies of heavenly grace that make that life possible and keep the soul pure in the midst of sin's filthiness. And through the ages of Eternity the sons of God will gaze with adoration and wonder upon the form of Him who became poor that they might become rich, who became flesh that they might be lifted into heavenly places. -Howard Carter lUsed by the permission of the Bible School and Missionary Association Correspondence Course, of Hampstead, London, England.l

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WI-IV STUDY? ..... What vivid and inspiring scenes come before our eyes when we think of the Apostles and their training at the side of the Creator-Mastor-Saviour-King. What a privilege was theirs. Yet little did they realize the privilege until their Master had been taken from them, until they were left with the responsibility of spreading the Gospel, of carrying on through the Holy Spirit the work that He had left for them, His command, Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel . Looking back over the lives of men God has used in a mighty way, we see that before they were sent forth there was a time of preparation. Perhaps without them realizing it, Gocl's hand was upon their lives molding them so that they might fit into His plan, for 'tis through men that God must work. The majority of Christ's life here upon earth was comparatively silent letting God in His own mysterious way fashion and guide His life. Christ said, l come not fo do my will but the will of Him that sem' me '. There was this same time of preparation in the lives of the Apostles before they were left to give forth, in the power of the Spirit, the precious words of life. We note that first there was the call of the Master, then three years of training at His side, and last the command, Go ye, but furry first . If this time of preparation and waiting was necessary for such great men as Moses, Abraham, the Apostles and even the Master Himself, surely it is necessary for us who are called into His service today. Though we do not have the actual privilege of walking at the Saviour's side as did the Apostles, or sitting at His feet as Mary Magdelene, yet we have the blessed opportunity to study His word-the word that is a light unto our pathway: makes our souls fat: puts marrow in our bones: which gives life and that more abundantly. We can be still before Him cmd know fhof He is God. We can wait upon Him and let Him come into our hearts in a fuller, richer way, that He might be all and in all in our lives. We at Calvary College, like the Apostles of old, have heard the call, Follow me ond l will make you fishers of men, and with our hands in His we strive to walk by His side and listen for His voice as we study fo show ourselves approved unto God. At the end of our course when we hear the Master's words ringing in our hearts Go ye, we shall rejoice with exceeding joy, and we shall tarry for a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit that we might give forth the words of eternal life in power and in truth. -Irene Mead 48 I