A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

Meditation

“Gome unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.

Here is a call to all to come to Christ. There may be some great sinners here, and if we were to ask such of you what is the greatest sin that ever you committed, some would be thinking of one and some of another. Well, I can tell every unbeliever what is his greatest sin. It is his refusing to come to Christ. The word of God is to believe on Him whom He has sent. This is His commandment, that we believe on Him. We lay His invitation before you, and we pray you to be reconciled. We lay His promise before you and plead that you believe it. We lay His complaint before you — “And ye will not come,” etc. — and beg you to remember it will appear again. We lay His sovereign command upon you, and ask how you shall meet Him with a refusal? You shall be welcomed if you come, however guilty, however polluted.

If you do not come — if you persevere in standing out, the time is coming when you shall no more hear “come,” but “depart” — Oh! sad word — who can describe the misery implied in that sentence? He has set it down that you may study it. “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” I shall not enlarge upon these words, but leave them before you, and beg you never from this day let the sentence out of your view till this text, or some part of Scripture, deliver you out of that sad number who shall be told to depart. He now says “come”, and to those who come now He will say at the great day, “come” — I may say an everlasting “come”. May He who can open the ears of the deaf make us all to hear His voice saying, “Come.”

(Taken from the application of a sermon on the above text by Rev. John Sinclair of Scotland in the early 1800’s.)

Timothy Mission Fund

During the month of May the sum of $3.00 was received as a gift to our Mission Fund, and two checks were issued — one in the amount of $40 for Rev. G. Kuijt, and the other in the amount of $45 to Miss D. Sonneveld. This leaves us no balance at the end of May, although we are happy to report that additional gifts have already been received in June.

We realize that in certain of the missions which our fund is supporting, we are duplicating the collections taken up in most of the churches, but in other of the mission fields, we are giving our readers an opportunity to support those which our individual churches do not cover. However, we do feel that the labours of these mission groups deserve our help, and, with God’s blessing, it might yet be to the eternal welfare of the poor heathen peoples.

May the Lord remember the laborers in the mission fields. May the consideration of their willingness to forego many of the comforts which we take for granted cause a willingness among us to assist them financially, be it only in a small way. “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”

Letters of acknowledgement for our gifts were received from Dini Sonneveld in Nigeria, and from Mr. and Mrs. Harold Popovich in Brazil, which we will place as space permits.

Miango

June 5, 1965

Dear Friends,

Thanks for your letter dated May 17, 1965. Thanks to all the readers of “Timothy” for the gifts we received for the work in Egedde.

You will be interested to know about the progress of our buildings. The clinic is nearly finished. Also the quarters for our helpers. The building of our houses has just been started. We hope before the end of this year to move in. There is also a dam built in the river near by our new clinic. We hope this will give us sufficient water during the dry season as you know the water supply is a problem in our area during the dry months.

The attendance of our daily clinic is still high. It has been a bit lower during the first rains as the people were busy to get their farms ready.

At the beginning of April there has been unrest in one of the areas of Egedde. A neighbouring tribe (the Isi’s) came to revenge a case of two years ago. Four Egedde were murdered and some badly wounded whom we took to Oturkpo Hospital. Many Egedde’s went to the area armed with bows and arrows and guns, ready to fight. Rumors have been going round for some weeks but the case seems to be settled now as we don’t hear about any trouble again. It hasn’t been a big fight. Much more is going on in other countries as we hear.

There can be only peace between the nations, between the people, if we get to know Christ Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.

I am writing you from Miango in Northern Nigeria where I am staying for a short local leave. The climate is much cooler here than in our area and it is very quiet here. I am staying at the rest home of the Sudan Interior Mission. There are many missionaries of the Sudan Interior Mission working in the Northern Region.

I enjoy the rest and fellowship here very much. New strength, physical and spiritual, will be of great value for the work.

Yours sincerely,

Dini Sonneveld

(Nigeria)

Nanuque, Minas

Brazil

May 26, 1965

Timothy Mission Fund,

We received your gift of March and gratefully acknowledge it; we are thankful for your care.

We have recently returned to our base town from the Brazil Branch bienniel conference and Harold is planning on visiting the Indians this week.

Before the conference old Justino and his brilliant son Otavio spent 10 days here at the base in some good solid Bible translating. We feel that they are not far from the Kingdom. They would be the first Maxakali believers. Would you please join us in prayer on their behalf?

Our language goal sheet lies here in front of me and it looks impossible. To mention a few items: a polished write-up on the intonation of the language, revised paragraph analysis pater, prepare 200 pages of tribal stories to run through a computer for making a concordance, prepare transitional reading materials to go between primers and scriptures, and last but not least, finish the translation of Mark. We would appreciate your prayers.

Fran continues to teach the boys their first and second grades. They are up to grade level in their work but it isn’t easy. Time out for sickness, tribal visit, and the month out for conference have already used up our three months vacation for this year. With no domestic help it has meant quite an added work load for us, so we are deeply grateful for the generous gifts that have made it possible for us to buy a kerosene refrigerator for our base home. It should save us a lot of food shopping time. Annette just turned three, is rapidly learning Portuguese, and never confuses her two languages.

In Him,

Harold and Fran Popovich

A LETTER FROM RHODESIA

Zenka Mission,

P.B.T. 198

Bulawayo, Rhodesia

2nd Jan. 1965

My dear young friends,

As I begin this letter to you, I am aware of the many pleasant sounds that come from the great forest at sunset. Bullfrogs are croaking, crickets are chirruping, and in the distance there is the tinkle of cowbells. The cattle are coming home. This is perhaps the loveliest part of the day in Africa, and certainly the best time to begin this letter in which I would like to tell you the story of a young African boy whose life had a bright and glorious sunset.

About three and a half years ago Wilson Sibindi, a boy of about twelve years of age, came to Mbuma Hospital with a heart condition so serious that the doctors could not operate. They said he would not live long. However, medicines relieved the pain, and he began to attend school at Mbuma where he won first place in class examinations and even took part in debates. His cheerful patient temper endeared him to teachers and pupils. Visitors to the hospital often remarked on the gentle expression in his soft brown eyes which gave a grave beauty to his face, and marked him out from his companions. His manner, too, was winsome. Any little gift was received with the warmest thanks, and his face would light up with surprise and delight. He never learned to take kindnesses for granted. In one letter of thanks he wrote, ‘I was so happy that I cannot get angry. Oh! I think I will never be angry again.’

This new pattern of life for Wilson continued for about two years. Morning worship at the hospital with Mr. Van Woerden was followed by school at seven a.m., then back ‘home’ to the hospital where he would spend the afternoon in various ways, preparing lessons for school, talking with the other patients, helping the nurses, or reading his Bible. After evening worship on the verandah it would be time for bed in the corner of the bright ward. Despite the weakness and the pain which often kept him away from school, these were happy days for Wilson.

Soon after coming to Mbuma, Wil son showed that he took a special delight in the Sabbath Day and the Church services. He was eager to be taken to Church when he was too weak to walk there, and if his place was empty it was a grave sign. Gradually he became weaker, and from the time of Mr. and Mrs. Van Woerden’s departing there was a steady decline. He uttered no word of complaint on this account for he was now passing through the Psalmist’s experience.

The Holy Spirit had taught Wilson that he was a sinner, and for some months he had been learning more and more about the sins of his nature, and his need of a Saviour. One day, when Sister Tallach was sweeping the floor, she said to him, “This floor is no sooner swept than it is dirty again, as if it has never been swept.” After a moment, Wilson replied, “That is just like my heart. It is full of sins. I try to get rid of them, but no sooner do I think I have got rid of some of them, than I find that I have more, and awful ones.” Sister Tallach asked what lesson he learned from that, and he replied, “I can do nothing of myself. Only Jesus Christ can cleanse my awful heart.” She then encouraged him to pray for that cleansing, and he told her that that was his prayer. Later on the same day he said, “I am amazed at the cunning of Satan. There is so much unrest among the people, and Satan makes use of that by telling people that Jesus was a White man and that He is a Saviour for the White man only, and that Africans must worship their own gods and have nothing to do with the Bible.”

During the last Communion season of his life at Mbuma, Wilson had serious thoughts about the Lord’s Supper which he expressed in this way, “I do not think I shall ever go forward to the Lord’s Table, because although I might feel I had undergone a change, I might only be deceiving myself, and then I would be heaping coals of fire upon my head.” During the same conversation he said, “I believe that, although a person could not read and knew very little of the Scripture, the Holy Spirit could teach him that he was a sinner and could show him the way of salvation.” These are some tokens of the great work that was going on in Wilson’s heart.

For a few weeks before his death he was in great pain and weakness. His body was a prison house of pain from which he longed to be away. He expressed his desire to die saying that if he lived he would only sin more and more. On being asked what his hope for Eternity was, he replied that his hope was in Jesus. — “It is easy to die trusting in the Lord Jesus.” These were his last words, repeated again the night before he died, just before becoming unconscious. Some members of his family were present and seemed to be affected by his testimony.

On the morning of 16th, May, 1964, as the day was beginning to dawn, Wilson passed away to be, we believe, forever with the Lord. His life and death are a glorious testimony to the saving power of Jesus in plucking a sinner from the very heart of heathendom. May each one of you be encouraged to seek salvation in Jesus.

Yours sincerely,

WARNINGS BY THE WAYSIDE

I now want to lay before you a notice — a solemn warning of unspeakable weight and importance. I was walking one bright day in a country lane when I crossed over a bridge with the important caution, THIS BRIDGE IS NOT SAFE.

I want to affectionately warn you of the vital distinction between morality and real religion.

It is good, my dear young friends, to be upright in your dealings, and truthful, and honest; it is good to go to catechism and the house of prayer, and be obedient and dutiful children; but if you hope to go to heaven by doing these things, I warn you, This Bridge is not Safe.

The only safe bridge is the Finished Work of Jesus; His doing and dying; His precious blood; His spotless righteousness; and on this bridge, a SURE FOUNDATION, every redeemed soul travels safely over the River of Death into the realms of everlasting bliss. No man ever entered the gates of glory by good works. “By grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” I know it is the anxious prayerful desire of those who seek your best welfare that the Holy Spirit might be pleased to begin the good works of grace in you. The God of Truth who wrote the Word of God is the Author of all real religion. O may this solemn fact be deeply engraved in your young hearts.

It will rejoice the hearts of those who love you to watch you growing up into useful, truthful and honest men and women, and if the God of Truth should open your hearts and eyes, like Lydia of old, and lay you low at the feet of Jesus as guilty, needy, repentant sinners, O what an unspeakable mercy for you, my dear young friends! O may the God of Truth bestow this invaluable blessing upon you!

“ ‘Tis religion which can give
Sweetest pleasures while we live;
‘Tis religion must supply.
Solid comfort when we die.”

The next notice is a wise and kindly warning: “THIS WATER IS NOT FIT FOR DRINKING PURPOSES.” I sometimes look in bookstores and examine the contents of the books, and I feel it could be said of thousands of books, “This water is not fit for drinking purposes:” — “These books are not fit for boys and girls to read.” The bottles in the chemist’s shop are often marked with a red label “Poison”; and many gaily covered books — novels — and books of erroneous teaching, could be truly labelled, “Poison.” Boys and girls, Beware of Bad Books! One hymnwriter sings: —

All worthless books away I’d throw,
Whatever may result;
These eyes were never given, I know,
My Maker to insult.
Lord, give me grace to shun all books
Which lead from heaven and Thee;
And make Thy Word, Most Holy One,
More precious unto me.”

I sometimes feel that a huge bonfire would be made if all the books which ought not to be on the bookshelves of people who profess the truth were gathered together in an heap. Fathers and mothers, be careful what books you put into the hands of your children.

My dear young friends, when you pick up a book which is called a novel, a book of fiction, or a book which is contrary to the Word of God, think of the warning: “This water is not fit for drinking purposes.”

Good John Newton said, “I have many books that I cannot sit down and read: I have some silver books, and a very few golden books: but I have one book worth them all:—The Bible.”

Another notice by the wayside is the warning, DANGEROUS CORNER. The pathway of life contains many dangerous corners, and boys and girls, I would affectionately warn you to “Ponder the path of thy feet.”

One “Dangerous Corner” is when boys and girls leave school, and go out into the busy world to earn “the bread which perisheth.” O how many youths begin to depart from the ways of honesty and integrity when they enter into situations. I would counsel you, my dear young friends, to do what is right, and “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” Do not enter into any situation, in which you are required to break the Sabbath day, and do what is wrong. Beware of such a “Dangerous Corner.” And remember the blessing and privilege of being able to hear the Gospel preached and read in its purity.

Another “Dangerous Corner” is when boys and girls become young men and women, and begin to form friendships which may lead to a united journey through life. O this is an important step! “Ponder the path of thy feet” in such a solemn matter, and remember in turning this “Dangerous Corner” “How can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

And now, my dear young friends, I have tried to lay some moral truths before you, and to give you helpful advice and instructions. I wish you well in your journey through life, and I earnestly hope you may grow up useful and honourable men and women.

A certain person was rather sceptical about the story of Jonah being swallowed by a great fish. He enquired thus of an old lady, “Do you believe that Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a whale?” “I do believe it.” she said, “and if God’s Holy Word said that the whale was in Jonah’s belly, I would believe it.” The Bible is the inerrant Word of God.

Bible Quiz

Dear Boys and Girls:

Our quiz this month is about the subject “Prayer”, and the first letters of the answers spell out four words from the prayer which Jesus taught his diciples while He was on earth.

I am sure you have all been taught by your parents to pray — in the morning, at meal times, and before going to sleep at r.ight. In the Bible we read of many, many examples where God answered prayer, giving victories in wars as in the days of Jehos-haphat, extending life as of Hezekiah, and even withholding rain for several years in the days of Elijah, all in answer to prayer. May we also be taught to pray by the Holy Spirit, for then Jesus Himself has said — “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

Here is our quiz —

Who was cast into the den of lions because he prayed?

What was the name of the son of Seth, born at the time when men began to call upon the name of the Lord?

The name of the woman, whose heart the Lord opened, as she heard Paul by the river side, where prayer was wont to be made.

Who was out in the field meditating (praying) when his wife-to-be arrived from a far country?

What did John the Baptist call The Pharisees and Sadduccees who came to his baptism, but did not bring forth fruits of repentance?

Who was the wife of Zacharias, the priest, who was told by an angel, “Thy prayer is heard, thy wife shall have a son”?

Upon what were 3000 men and women, as Samson prayed, “O Lord God, remember me only this once”?

To what God did the people of Athens have an altar, about whom Paul spoke?

Of whom was it said to Ananias, “for behold, he prayeth”?

In the prayer of the Pharisee in the temple, what did he claim to do twice a week?

Who came to the door of the house where many were praying, as Peter stood knocking after being led out of prison by an angel?

Who took 100 prophets in the time of Jezebel, and hid them in caves?

Who wrote the 90th Psalm, which is a prayer?

Who prayed to the Lord to open the eyes of his servant to see the horses and chariots of fire which protected them?

What did the sailors make unto the Lord when the sea became calm after casting Jonah into it?

What do the Ten Commandments tell us shall not be made for the purpose of worship?

Of what material was the ephod made which Samuel wore as a child, when ministering before the Lord?

Answers to the quiz in the June issue are: Remember the Sabbath — Exodus 20:8.

Rested —Genesis 2:2

Ears of corn —Matthew 12:1

Man —Mark 2:27

Eden —Genesis 2:8

Myrrh —Genesis 37:25

Bed —John 5:9

Endor —I Samuel 28:7

Raman —I Samuel 7:17

Two —Exodus 16:22

Hand —Matthew 12:13

Ebenezer —I Samuel 7:17

Six —Exodus 20:9

Abiah —I Samuel 8:2

Benjamin —I Samuel 9:1

Bethlehem —I Samuel 16:4

Agag —I Samuel 15:33

Trumpet —Revelations 1:9

Haman —Esther 3:2

Answers were again received from the following:

Adrie Remijn (2) . . Gerdy Remijn (2) . . Mathew Remijn (2) . . Berty Remijn (2) . . Jim Vander Boon . . Ronny Vander Boon . . Jane Van Zweden . . Mike Mol . . Joanie Lee Mol . . Archie van Kempen . . Betty (from St. Catherines) (no last name) . . Lois Pluim . . Jan Pluim . . David Staal . . Robert Staal . . Ronald Staal . . Janice Vande Waerdt . . Joanne Vande Waerdt . . Jenny van Kempen . . Carol Moerdyk . . Betty Moerdyk . . Geraldine Moerdyk . . Alice Moerdyk . . Janice Kaat . . Roger Kaat . . Kenneth Kaat . . Kris Vander Male . . Martha Vander Male . . Tom Blok . . Sandra De Visser . . Sharon De Visser . . Dena J. Spaans (2) . . Joanne Spaans (2) . . Gertrude Lynn Spaans (2) . . Joanne Rus . . Gilbert Rus . . Joanne Beeke . . Joe R. Beeke . . Sally Slotsema . . Mike Meeuwse . . Alice K. Schoneveld . . Alice Koppert . . Harry Koppert . . Agnes De Meester . . Ruth De Meester . . Maria Stryd . . Linda Kay Bleeker . . David Bleek-er . . Gerrit Bleeker . . Patty Boluyt . . Judy Teunissen . . Mark Teunissen . . Randy Teunissen . . Diane Teunissen . . Dianne Rosendall . . Mariene Rosendall . . Joyce Ann Fluit . . Carol Van Tilburg . . Jean Van Tilburg . . Jackie Vanden Berg . . Roy W. Kaat . . Janna Westrate . . Dick Westrate . . Laurie Westrate . . Connie Mol . . Corinne Etelman . . Albert Etelman . . Arie Vandenberg . . Geraldine Van Dyke . . Joanne De Pater . . Susan De Pater . . Helen Van Beek . . Gary Koedam . . Marsha R. Koedam . . Russell Vanden Toorn . . Betty Joosse . . Alan Verbeke . . Jennie De Pater . . Sjaane Van Wingerden . . Margaret Van Wingerden . . Bill Van Wingerden . . John Van Wingerden . . Archie Van Wingerden . . Benjamin Hegeman . . Neal Hegeman . . Leonora Hegeman . . Mary Van Stelle . . Betty Van Stelle . . Kathy Van Stelle . . Andrew Feyter (2) . . Julie Ripma . . John Stubbe . . Sandra Eppinga . . Peter Kievit . . Doris VanDer Weile . . Jackie Sinke (2) . . Dorothy Van Dalen . . Gary Roozenboom . . Robert Hults . . Dickie Stubbe . . Laurie Vander Male . . Sandy de Jong . . Willis Van Den Top . . Judy Mae Koedam . . Mary Meeuwse . . Sheryl Van Giessen . . Linda Ryan . . Lois Pluim . . Janet Pluim . . Viola Van Beek . . Debra Koedam . . (Marsha or Gary) Koedam . . David Kamp . . Nancy Den Herder . . Roelie Stapel . . Rudolph Stapel . . John R. Kamp . . Linda Sue Vissia . . Kathy Johnson . . Mariene Van Den Toorn . . Andy Van Den Toorn . . Herbert Van Den Houten . . Janet Van Grouw . . Albert Van Grouw . . Dianne Van Ravenswaay . . Brenda Fletcher . . Cathy Droogers.

And now the answers to our letters —

ANDREW FEYTER — It certainly was nice of your sister to type your answers and also the letter for you, Andrew. I hope you always appreciate your big sister, and do nice things for her, too. What are you doing during the summer vacation?

VIOLA VAN BEEK — I am glad you sent your answers in this time, Viola. I’m always happy to get them, for then I know that the boys and girls are working them out. Do you live right in Rock Valley? Write again, won’t you.

JACKIE SINKE — If you have arithmetic twice a day in school, Jackie, you ought to be an expert. Yes, I know your uncle and also your cousins, as I see them in church every Sunday. Tell your friend Nellie I’ll be looking for her letter.

DORIS VAN DER WEILE — Thanks for your letter, Doris. I checked your answers and couldn’t find any mistakes. Once in a while some one makes a mistake, but usually they are all real good. Are you enjoying the summer vacation?

NEAL HEGEMAN — Say, you get out of school real early in Iowa, Neal. Our schools are not over until the second week of June. You probably would like to live in Michigan so that you could go to school three weeks longer, wouldn’t vou?

SANDY DE JONG — A belated Happy Birthday, Sandy. I would have liked to come to your party. Do you like to drive the tractor? I’m sorry you didn’t receive the Banner of Truth in April. Maybe it was lost in the mail.

BENJAMIN HEGEMAN — Your typing is improving, Ben. Must be you’ve been practicing. Your sister must have done real well in school. Tell her “Congratulations”, from me. It takes a little effort at the time, but it certainly is worth it.

BETTY JOOSSE — That is a nice name for a little boy, Betty. Was he named after someone? I imagine he can smile at you by this time. Do you take care of him quite a little? I hope his cold is all better.

JOHN STUBBE — How many cucumbers in three acres, John? I would think quite a few. Your teacher probably knows quite a bit, but he is trying to find out what you know. Don’t you think so? I saw your mother when she was in Kalamazoo.

DICKIE STUBBE — Sorry to hear you had been in the hospital, Dickie. ‘Hope you are feeling all better now. Glad to have you write me, as I hear from your brother Johnny quite often. Has your dad got the tractor all fixed?

ALICE SCHONVELD — Glad to hear from you again, Alice. Do you ever get any snow in California? Some day I would like to visit there. Would you like to work in a bank when you get older? Or would you rather be a school teacher?

ARCHIE and JENNY VAN KEMPEN — Happy to have you join in answering our Bible quizzes. Australia seems so far away, but it comes a little closer when we know someone there — at least it seems that way. I imagine it takes quite a while for the Banner of Truth to get to you, doesn’t it?

ADRIE REMIJN — Two nice letters from you, Adrie. It is real nice to hear from you. I am glad that yon found several pen pals from the United States and Canada. It seems strange to be thinking about cold weather starting in June, but your seasons are just the opposite of ours. Our coldest temperatures in Kalamazoo in the winter time are around 12 degrees below zero. Give my regards to your brothers and sister.

CATHY DROOGERS — Your letter arrived just in time, Cathy. Did you get to go on the bus trip with your class? By the time you get this issue, the weather should be real warm. What are you doing now that school is out for the summer?

And now, boys and girls, this is all for this time. Thanks again for your wonderful response to our quiz. May the Lord add His blessing.

(I have just received the June issue of our paper, and find that the printer added a piece about “Negro Literature” which was not supposed to be included. It must have been in with the materials which we sent in. I hope you will excuse our mistake.)

Again with best regards to all,

Your friend,

Garret J. Moerdyk

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen