The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-04-17
SPLENDID GIFT
TO GREAT CAUSE
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH MAKES
GENEROUS RESPONSE TO FOR
EIeN MISSION APPEAL.
And ALMOST Sl,4OO IS PLEDGED
Following An Eloquent Sermon BY
The Pastor, Rev. 7. n.
Athey.

Z
Athey.
Following an earnest and eloquent
appeal by the pastor, Rev. T. H. Athey
the congregation of the First Baptist
church on Sunday morning made one
Of the most notable gifts to the cause
Of foreign missions ever made in this
section and one that will compare
with the responses which have been
made to similar appeals by congrega.
tons in the great centers of popula.
ton where the membership is wealth.
Ter and larger. Almost 81 400 was
pledged to answer the command to
Go We therefore in to all the world,
etc, and it is believed that additional
appeals will bring the sum total to
$1,000. This sum will enable the con-
gregation 70 consummate its plans to
support three workers in the foreign
mission fields.
The meeting was great one, the
power of the Holy Spirit was made
manifest and the members of the CON
gregation We're moved to liberal re-
Spouse to the appeal for aid in the
foreign work. The meeting was truly
a great missionary revival and mem
bers were moved to unusual generosi-
ty. The largest contribution was
made by ]. F. Brownlow, who gave
$1,000 and this was followed by a
number of substantial pledges.
Rev. T. H. Athey preached an elo-
quent sermon from the text Jonah
IL and 2: The word of the Lord
came unto Jonah, the son of Amittai
saying, arise, go to Ninevah, that
great city and cry against it, for their
wickedness is come up before me-"
DR.. Athey said in part:
my theme is Every Christian
Messenger of Jehovah" If a messen,
ger, then he has message to deliver,
and if he has message he has some
to deliver that message to. Christ
stands at the highways of life to point
out the right way, to warn and en-
courage and stimulate.
"The continuity of the disciple of
Christ in all ages. We are the sue
cessOrs of all the prophets and saints
in ages past Such company should
be stimulating, and energize us to
greater activity. The word of the
Lord came unto Abraham and called
him to go out from his father-land to
the land that God would show him,
and he became messenger of Je-
hovah and the channel of blessing to |
all people and ages. The word of the |
Lord came unto Moses and sent him
to be His messenger and deliverer of
MS people. The word of the Lord |
came unto Elijah and sent him to
wicked Ahab. It came to Paul, to
to John Knox and John
Wesley. 1t has come to you and to
ne, if we are the children of the
most high.
"The difficulties of the work. If Alb
'aham, Jonah, Moses or Elijah had
een what they must endure and suffer
t would have staggered them. God
Ices not call to easy things, but to
worthy of us and Him; to
hat which brings out the best in US.
f we undertake great things, even
hough we fail, we are better for hav-
ng tried We may feel that we are
ciipsed by the achievements of 9TH
RS, but that does not excuse us be-
ore God for not filling our sphere.
lie only asks us to do what we can.
he very character of the people to
7hom we minister makes 1t harder,
ome unsympathetic and hostile and
ct many are yearning for our mes
age Hands are extended in mute
ppeal, begging us to come over and
clip" them.
The joys of the messenger. He
aries the message of God. A work
nat angels long to do God has hon {
red men more than angelic spirits.
I'm spite of his panic and fight
1nah was still the prophet of God. q
God has entrusted us with the !
1spel. We are stewards of his
ace, men are starving at our very I
yors. Will me feed them? All
eaven is expectant and watching to 0
,e what we are going to do. What \
lall our answer be?"