Reminiscing is some-times an interesting pastime and possibly may be instructive if we can draw some lessons from the past and profit by our experiences.
Having noted your suggestion in the “Around the Ecclesias” column, I could possibly pen a few thoughts which may bring back memories to some of the days that are gone. May they be to the glory of God, our Father.
After bending over a desk for more than 20 years in a city office, and taking an active part in ecclesial and gospel extension work in and around Brisbane, the writer formed an ardent desire to carry these services further afield, and also to visit the brethren in the out of-the way places. The way was made possible by a change of occupation to a window-dresser and display service.
The distant horizon often looks inviting and pleasant, but when we reach the point we were viewing we find the horizon still looks pleasant and the present surroundings not so inviting. Results are sometimes disappointing; there have been many anxious hours, filled sometimes with groundless fears; roads have often been hard and rough, and of times very lonely.
At the same time….
“There are pleasant resting places on the toil some road, Where one can stay awhile and gather comfort, as we journey down the years; And memory’s garden brings the soul refreshment, And comradeship can overcome all fears.”
If, however, the baptisms of over 60 people, some in and a goodly number out of Christadelphians’ families, is anything, then the efforts of nearly 20 years may have been worthwhile.
Where are those converts now? Some have fallen by the wayside, some have fallen asleep, but a number still await the Promised Day.
In earlier days our “invitations” brought goodly numbers of listeners, many questions, some debates and many discussions, but unfortunately results are not the same today.
One Good Friday the Gospel Van pulled into Kingaroy, 144 miles from Brisbane, where a lecture had been advertised for that evening. Whilst some of us arranged the projector and furniture, others, mostly sisters, walked down the town, where the “Ministers’ Fraternal” were conducting an open-air meeting. They heard one of the speakers deliberately warn his hearers, “There are strangers in our town tonight—don’t go near them; they are wolves in sheep’s clothing.” The warning had just the opposite effect; many of them marched straight up the street and into our hall: about 150 visitors. But apart from any outside interest we still have pleasant recollections of the fellowship with the brethren who came from far and near to a spiritual evening on the Saturday night and again on Sunday.
On the way to and from Kingaroy we passed through the township of Toogoolawah, and somehow at the back of our mind we had the idea that we would like to visit this place. Consequently at a later date we set out for it, via Marburg (Watson’s—the half-way house) and Buaraba, where a small ecclesia existed and exists.
When we arrived there on the Saturday afternoon some of the farmers were burning cattle which had died as a result of brought, and the whole Brisbane Valley area was a dust-bowl. At the close of the fellowship meeting on Sunday, the presiding brother, the late Bro. George Pryde, offered a prayer for the success of our mission and also a very fervent prayer that God might have mercy on them and open the fountains of heaven to refresh both man and beast. That same evening over a bumpy, dusty road we reached Toogoolawah and found a very co-operative helper in the proprietor of a central hall. That same night the clouds began to roll up and soon a light rain was falling, which increased during the next three days, bringing up to about 4 inches of rain to all that area.
Who thinks that prayer cannot alter things?
The next day we trudged around from house to house in the rain (my father and I) whilst my brother fixed a canvas sign to the side of the van and drove around the town. By the time our lecture was due to commence it was raining steadily and only one man was present. “You brought us some rain,” he said, (now Bro. E. Dykes), “how badly we need it.” We thought our lecture would be a “washout”, but he assured us at least a dozen more were coming that he knew of. We waited; our lecture was half-an-hour late, but by that time about 75 visitors were present. “Would they like to hear a further lecture the next night?” Up went many hands. About the same number came again. Many crowded around the door to talk and gather some booklets. The rain outside was pouring, but no one seemed to mind. Unfortunately we could not obtain a hall again that week, but a lady present announced that we could have a meeting at her place the next night, “everybody welcome.” About 20 came. Questions were asked about many subjects.
“When are you coming back to our town?” We promised to return again in another month. We continued to pay monthly visits for another two years, during which 15 people were added to the ecclesia. Later a hall was acquired for a meeting place, right in the centre of the town, plus a piano and furniture. It was almost a gift (about £250 in all, I think. This might demonstrate how the Father can use even the Gentiles to His purpose, and convert their accumulations of many years to the benefit of His servants.)
At the opening night of their “new” hall about 90 people were present, including brethren from Brisbane, Marburg, Toowoomba, Buaraba, Kingaroy, as well as a number of interested friends. The zeal and enthusiasm of many of these who came out of darkness would be hard to beat, and for a time we were “winning.” Alas! came the war! and lack of transport. The hall still stands, badly in need of repairs, but unfortunately some removals, some fallers-out by the wayside, and the grim reaper, have reduced the ecclesia to about ha If-a-dozen members.
Right through the ages every ecclesia seems to have had its periods of prosperity and of decline.
For a few years after World war II we were obliged to travel everywhere by train, as cars were very difficult to procure even if we had had sufficient money to buy. We made many such trips from Brisbane to the Atherton Tablelands, about 1,300 miles each way; and by bus to Lismore and Ballina, about 150 miles each way.
It was our policy not to pass by any brother or sister if we could possibly call on them. This often meant alighting from trains at all hours of the night or day, and on numbers of occasions we have slept on station seats until morning. Many of the brethren counted it a joy to get out of their beds to meet us on some such occasions. On another occasion we hope to tell how God provided us with two cars for the work, and of some of the experiences in travelling not less than 175, 000 miles by road.
(Our readers will look forward to reading our Brother’s reminiscences: all will be edified by them; some may even be inspired to emulate his unselfish, tireless work for his fellows in the service of our Lord—or be encouraged to continue their own—Ed.)
Excerpts From the Annual Report of the Australasian Christadelphian Bible Mission 1963