Practical Bible Training School - Theologue Yearbook (Johnson City, NY)

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14 He Lived For Olbefr' IV. HWHAT WONDERS GOD HATH VVROUGHTH Acts 15:12. Environment was not the chief cause of the joy that flooded the hearts of the faithful little band that forty years ago met for worship in the old school house at Hallstead, Pennsylvania. When the cool evenings caused too much discom- fort at prayer-meetings, the small group sat around a stove with a cheery fire built by Deacon Amos Millard, whose lighted lantern furnished illumina- tion. Songs of praise were lifted, and the prayers for a shepherd to lead the flock were intensely earn- est. God heard and answered in His own best way, as He always does. In 1894 john A. Davis was called to the pastorate of this struggling church, with such, humanly speaking, unfavorable conditions. He began a strenuous work and kept it up. The Boy Evangelist had the faculty of enlisting the interest and services of many railroad men. He frequently jumped on cabooses and engines, to be- come acquainted with the men. Many of them are now in glory through the personal work of this Boy Evangelist, who, in the get-acquainted talks showed them their need of a Saviour, and how to make this 'sxwg v Q ..: w - ,..,c.,,,,j,5, THE HALLSTEAD CHURCH AT THE iNc1-11-T1oN oi' REV. DAVIS' PAs'roRA'ri-1 Saviour their Saviour. It became quite customary for those men to read their Bibles in their cabooses as the opportunity offered. The round house was a good place at the noon hour to go for a fewlmin- utes to chat, and there dispense lemonade and invite the trainmen to the tent evangelistic meetings. Men responded, too. It was true of Mr. Davis that he sought there for souls as he always continued to do. The young pastor made a practice of calling in the homes with telling effect, such as: Don't fail to be at prayer-meeting tonight. A great time is expected! Come early and bring your family. In another home: How about it? Are you willing, Mr. Blank, to quote a chapter from the Bible next Sunday evening? Again at some gathering: l'Let's To become wise, have a real Thanksgiving sunrise prayer-meeting. Everyone who can do so, please bring something,- either groceries or baked goods for those less fortu- nate than we, then distribute them among the shut- ins and needy after the meetingf' Enthused with this plan, the merchants in town contributed flour, sugar, tea, coffee, butter, and other staples. At each place a song, a bit of Scripture and prayer added to the Thanksgiving spirit. One lady attending the next prayer-meeting at the church, said she came to see what sort of folks were doing such kind deeds. Later she and her husband joined the church. Their boys also came to Sunday School. Friends brought to the sunrise meeting, turkeys and chickens enough to supply each of the fourteen bushel baskets with one. What thrilling and blessed sunrise meetings those were! The youngsters were also on hand to do their part. Isaiah 50:7 was a favorite verse of the pastor's: For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know I shall not be ashamedj' He was first, last and always, a zealous personal worker, Bible teacher, Evangelist and pastor. Never was he made uashamedl' when his' face wasiset like a flint, to follow the Lord's leading. To illustrate: There was ample evidence of the need of a church edifice. He and the men whom he interested, dug the ground for a foundation. At the same time of this excavating, men's hearts were cleansed of rubbish for God's service. They hauled stones and helped to lay them, doing anything and everything possible to erect this new structure. In the course of construc- tion, also after completion, it was a common thing for two or more men to be found at the church pray- ing. This was one of the happiest ways wherein God kept His word that He would not allow His followers to be Uconfoundedf' Steady growth was another, for many were added to the church. A spe- cial prayer-meeting was held the night previous to the dedicatory services, December 3, 4, 1895, asking God to lead the people to pledge 34,000 on the church building fund the next day. He did, and the 554,000 was pledged. Wliat a dedication this was! Christian activities were contagious in the com- munity. Soon the Presbyterians built a fine brick church. The Methodists, too, built an attractive house of worship. Good fellowship prevailed. Evan- gelistic campaigns were wonderfully blessed of God, souls were born again. Great was the rejoicing when drunkards were saved, and saloons lost much patron- age or were put entirely out of commission. The pastor, though young, glimpsed the sore tests that would come to such converts when they would draw their monthly pay, meet their old pals, be urged to aslg questions.

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He Lived For Olherf, 13 vival spirit broke out among the young people and they were led into a desire for active service where they might witness for their Lord. The opportunity opened by going out to school houses in the sur- rounding country on Sunday afternoons to conduct services. One young man invited Davis to go, and so insistent was he that john consented. This par- ticular Sunday proved to be one of the most im- portant of Mr. Davis' life. As they were walking to the service the suggestion was made for a prayer meeting preparatory to the work before them. The new member of the party wondered where they might have this meeting as no building was in sight. One person pointed to an apple tree in a nearby field. This was a new proposition to john for he had never be- fore offered an audible prayer. One after another prayed and he knew it would soon be his turn, so sentences were formulated in his mind, but when it was time for him to pray, the prayer could not be recalled. At that very second a heart and life was consecrated to God. The Holy Spirit was given op- portunity to come in and infill him. From this time on, never was he hesitant to pray, testify, do personal work, nor did people have to look around to Hnd him for service for he was always ready. Someone has said, Prayer is the hinge on which the door of opportunity swings. Monday morning as he entered the store, a marked change was seen in his life. During the remainder of his stay in the store he dealt with the clerks con- cerning their souls salvation, and as he waited on cus- tomers he did personal work. He withstood much ridicule from many and he was called by some The Preacher, but never once did he give up. He went back to Afton and had services on the street corner, spoke to individuals in the home, on the street, anywhere in order to witness for his Lord. Most always he was seen with the Bible under his arm. His spare hours were devoted to Bible study, conducting meetings, and seeking opportunities to lead men to the Lord jesus Christ. He was being used so marvelously in the work that people sug- gested that he devote his whole life to that of being a fisher of men, but he waited the definite leading of the Holy Spirit. After much prayer and consideration, Mr. Davis felt a definite call to train for Christian service and to get a better knowledge of the Word of God. He resigned his position as clerk, which everyone thought a very unwise choice because of his great success thus far in a business career. Through acquaintance and association with men from the Chicago Evangeli- zation Society, he decided to make application there as a student. When he was asked how he was going to get there, he replied, By trusting God, At the :lose of his last day of work at the store, all the clerks were summoned to the basement. At this time they presented him with a purse of money. In spite of the mockery and scofhng at his Christian life every person was saddened by his departure and bowed humbly and thanked God for the blessing he had been in each of their lives. On April 19, 1893, Mr. Davis enrolled as a stud- ent of the Chicago Evangelization Society. It was the year of the World's Fair at Chicago. This year was probably one of the greatest in the history of that in- stitution. Mr. Moody made plans far in advance and secured men such as Dr. A. Gordon, Dr. john McNeil, Dr. R. A. Torrey and scores of others to speak and sing during this great exposition. In this way the students came in contact with these world- famed men. Meetings were held in large tents, theatres, public halls and churches, giving students opportunity for personal evangelism throughout the Exposition period. Mr. Davis, like many other students, was not able to pay his way through school, and so had to work. His first employment was scrubbing floors, and later waiting on tables in the dining room. Because of his alertness, he was given the honor and privilege of waiting on D. L. Moody and his guests. This was the crowning point in Mr. Davis' education be- cause he observed Moody's methods and characteris- tics. The things learned here were basic in the very principles carried out in his own work. At the closing of the World's Fair and the great evangelistic campaign, he left school on September 7, 1893, and started on his way home. This he did voluntarily to enter evangelistic work. He stopped at Kalamazoo, Michigan for a few days. During his stay he held services in one of the city churches. He was on fire for God and a real revival broke out and he was urged to continue. He stayed four weeks, during which many made confession of Christ and the crowds became so great that the edifice could not accommodate them. Witlioiit doubt this was God's approval of his work and he realized his call was to preach the Gos- pel. But the times of testing came, the temptation was to feel it had been a mistake to leave business, also that he was too young and with too little edu- cation. God's hand was guiding. A definite call came from China, New York, to conduct an evan- gelistic campaign there. He prayed that if God wanted him in this work, He would give unusual re- sults in this field. God marvelously blessed. Many a soul was reclaimed and saved. Continually invita- tions for meetings came from other places including Hancock, Deposit, and Binghamton, New York. Also an unsolicited call came from the First Baptist Church of Hallstead, Pennsylvania, to be its pastor. Mr. Davis, however, found time in his busy schedule to keep in correspondence with a young lady whom he loved. On june 19, 1894, he and Miss Etta Carr were united in marriage, and two hearts were bound together by God with a united purpose to be of service to Him. i'Tl1e Lord k'llULUt'lfl how lu deliiwr the godly out of lt'?IlPlitllU7lS, mid to rr'.wr1'i' lllr' Hlljllxl unto the day of judgment to be punished. ll Pet. Z:9.

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He Lived IJ or Ollaerru 15 drink and gamble away the support for their families, the church, and payments due on their debts. What was done to prevent their yielding to such tempta- tions? PRAYER. Mr. Davis believed in helping to answer such prayers. Groups of ladies gathered at homes and earnestly prayed for the new-born babes in Christ, for many of the men were such. They prayed for others who had not yet entered the Hock of the Shepherd of souls. While the ladies were thus engaged, Mr. Davis would go to meet some of the railroad men who might be tempted of Satan to be led astray. Many a night did he walk the streets with them, linked arm in arm until the men reached home safely with their money still in their pockets. Evangelism was carried on in various ways. Mr. Davis inspired others, he urged all to go on to victory. Conviction was strong that each person, young and old, should have some part in both the worship and activities of the church. One who took school house or a distant church for religious meet- ings. In those days a Gospel wagon was kept busy to convey singers and speakers to distant localities for services. The choir was accustomed to meet for prayer and praise previous to each service and to in- vite those whom they wished to win for jesus Christ to be present! A credit to all concerned was the strong missionary spirit that prevailed among the church members. Mr. Davis had ambition to launch out into deeper waters for souls, but how could his presence be spared? Easily answered. God says in Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass that before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hearf' To prepare for such contingencies, Mr. Davis had certainly been divinely led in the early days of his ministry to take to himself an ardent Christian wife, a tactful, sweet-spirited, energetic, young lady with musical ability. Mrs. John A. Davis was warmly welcomed by all, and proved herself to be a most -Y -W V . , ,-7e,-.... ..,. ,..... .. -W . , ,ev W, ,W Y , , l l I THE HALLSTEAD CHURCH AT THE CLOSE OF REV. DAVIS' PASTORATE no part in prayer-meeting felt conspicuous. One lady said: A person told me that I would soon go back to my former lifeg but what is there to go back to? Nothing but husks compared to the joy and friendship of my Saviour and His followers. Thrill- ing reports were given in these services of divine power and grace to overthrow Satanis allurements. The baby organ was an important factor, for it seemed to say: I'll go where you want me to go dear Lord, I'll do what you want me to do. That meant going into various homes with groups of enthusiastic young people for praise and prayer services, Bible study, and personal work. Again the organ accompanied zealous young Christians to a helpful pastor's assistant, She took his place in the pulpit when he was led of the Holy Spirit to go into other vicinities to conduct evangelistic cam- paigns. Then again some of the members would hold a platform service, or someone would preach a God-given soul-stirring sermon from his heart. Progress was marked in every department of the work of the church and with blessed results. How the parish and village was stirred one day as a young man ran his bicycle at top speed, that he might proclaim to his friends and neighbors the news of a new arrival in town, and at his home! A baby boy named Gordon C. Davis, a love-gift from God, had begun his life at the Baptist parson- age. Later this young child, and the home was But to us there is but one God, the Father, . . I Cor. 8:6.