Peeksill is a commuting city within a few minutes' ride of the throbbing heart of New York City. Here thousands of New Yorkers live, and because of this have opportunity to listen to our message. A little handful of our faithful members are holding meetings every night in different parts of the city, and some are holding two meetings an evening.
Because of the extent of this interest, the writer recently moved to Peekskill. Within two weeks appointments were made for a high school auditorium meeting, a high school men's Bible class was organized, other school-house meetings were arranged, and home bible study appointments were made for every night in the week. These are but a few of the many growing interests in this section, and this is by no means an isolated case. It is well for us as ministers ever to remember that the work of God will be finished to no small degree by the men and women comprising the membership of our churches. These we must train and lead.
This laymen's movement must not only be matched, but surpassed by a forward movement on our part as a ministry. This fact impresses itself increasingly upon me. But that which concerns me most is the importance of a living Christian experience that will not only be commensurate with the laymen's revival, but will surpass it. This is the challenge confronting our ministry today. We must have a ministerial movement as well as a laymen's movement—a ministry that will keep in the lead of the laymen's advance.
The depression has no bearing upon things divine. There is no crisis with God. God lives! All heaven is astir, and this gospel of the kingdom "shall be preached" in spite of any obstacles that Satan may cast athwart our pathway. This is no time to fret and whine over a depleted treasury—no time for despondency and apprehension. Like the children of Issachar, we need a leadership that not only has an "understanding of the times," but has faith and divine illumination to know what Israel ought to do. To give Israel this leadership, we must have a Christian experience that surpasses that of the laity. Our faith must even surmount our depleted treasury.
Does our financial crisis mean that evangelistic soul-winning effort is to cease? If such an' unthinkable conclusion were admitted, it must inevitably follow that either this gospel of the kingdom has gone to all the world, or that this is not the last generation. But we cannot admit either of these propositions. The fact is that God is laying the burden of finishing the work upon the hearts of His remnant church. Some of our laymen are receiving the Holy Spirit. They are witnessing in the uttermost parts of the earth. This is God's Pentecostal plan. This arising of our members will finish the work without excessive demands upon the treasury. When all our people scattered abroad go everywhere preaching the word, how long will it take God to "finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness"? Again I repeat, we as workers need a double portion of that unction which will keep us in the lead of the laity.
If it is money we need, God will provide it. It is said of our workers: "At times it may seem as if they could advance no farther. But if they pray and work in faith, God will answer their petitions, sending them means for the advancement of the work."—"Gospel Workers," pp. 367, 268. Money should not be the root of our worries at this time. What we need is to see the hand of Providence in these closing days. While the wheels of industry may slow down, the wheels of God's providence are to speed up. "Ministers and people, wake up! Be quick to recognize and seize every opportunity and advantage offered in the turning of the wheel of providence."—"Testimonies," Vol. VII, p. 14. In our watching the signs of the times, let us not fail to see God's divine providences all about us. If we were to seize upon the wheels of His providences, there would be an awakening among our ministry such as we have never seen.
In noting the signs of the times on earth, are we also discerning God's appointed signals from heaven? In recognizing the times, are we witnessing the "going in the tops of the mulberry trees"? We are reputed to be the clearest discerners of the times today, but there is more to this message than the interpretation of world events. Politicians are also keen exponents of the times.
What we as ministers need is a greater and deeper discernment of the "times of refreshing" and "times of restitution." Our congregations are almost as familiar with the interpretation of world events as are we. Our young people have heard us talk of these matters over and over. The youth of our movement should see our sermons illumined with the fires of Pentecost. We must have this divine ignition if we are to strike fire in their young hearts. We need a preachers' movement that we may keep in the, lead of the laymen's movement.
Peekskill, N. Y.
