River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-07-13
.Rayburn At
BelleviIle, Kansas
The Union Evangelistic Campaign
Witnesses 500 Conversions In
Belleville

hammers will be knocking down the
building which covered little spot
of ground where hundreds of souls
found their Savior-a place never to
be forgotten. For it will hold sweet
memories not only for hundreds who
started the Christian life there, but
for thousands who caught new Wis
ion of the beauty and joy of the Chris
tian life
Yes, the "Union Meetings" are over
but the revival is not over. Great
and wonderful as it has been, its real
work has only begun. With a new
vision of the Christ, and g new sense
of our duty and responsibility to Him.
And with hundreds of new workers
entering our churches to find some
task to perform for our common
Master, the revival cannot stop. With
the old members reconsecrated, and
with this new life coming in to in
spire and enthuse us, we bespeak for
every church in Belleville and sur
rounding community spiritual awak-
ening which shall not only fill the
pews at every service but will repeat
the Apostolic experience when "There
were added to the church daily such
as we're being saved"
Now, when we can look back to
where we were five weeks ago, we be-
! II ~ 0f
campaign for souls. We did not
have worked up" revival. We had
"prayed down" revival. Mr.. Ray
burn did not bring the revival with
him, neither will he take it away with
him. God sent the revival in answer
to the prayers Of the faithful Chris
tian people and He will leave it with
US just as long as we want it. But
great blessing can come only through
a great channel-So the Lord sent us
the great evangelist.
There are hundreds of happy hearts
today who will never forget the man
whose fearless messages showed them
their sin and pointed them to the Saw
Tor. No words, however eloquent,
will ever picture adequately the bless
/ ing Belleville and community has re
ceived. Whole families have been
brought to Christ. Husbands have
taken up their end of the yoke which
makes burdens tighten. Boys and
girls have accepted mothers God.
Only eternity will ever measure the
blessings these meetings have brought
US. But the blessings reach far be-
yond the home life. Men have
caught a new vision of co-partner-
ship with Christ. And when Christ
becomes a partner in our business,
He always dignifes it, and enriches
it. and enlarges it. Business will be
better in Belleville and cur town will
be better town to live in. 1t will
be easier to do right and harder to do
wrong. When Christ comes into our
home He always makes the home
sweeter. When Christ comes into our
business He always makes it bigger
and better.
But there is another great blessing
which these meetings have left us.
And it is one we have needed much. |
It is the spirit of cooperation. For
five weeks there have been no Metho-
dist, no Baptist, no Christians, no
Presbyterians, no United Brethren,
etc. But there has just been one
great body of Christians working to-
gether for the common cause OF |
Christ. We fully believe the Lord
wanted different denominations else
why has He so richly blessed the sew
eral branches of His great church ?
But He wants us to have spirit of
unity and be ready to unite our forces
in common cause against sin. These
meetings have brought US together.
We are less selfish. We have rejoiced
in doing something not for our church
but for the cause of Christ. This fell |
lowship will mean much to the church
Of Belleville.
AS to the results Of these meetings
we do not feel that they can be meas
ured. About 47O have signed cards.
Nearly everyone of them were pres
ent at the last meeting only a few
who could not possibly be there miss
ed the wonderful converts meeting.
But this does not give an adequate
idea of results. 1t is safe to predict
that more than 500 people will be tax
en- into the churches on profession of
their faith in Christ, and they will
continue to come. Scores who have
not signed cards have decided to give
their hearts to God and they will
come into the churches. Then, who
would even venture to measure the
number Of church members who have