True Stories From Persia by F. A. ALLUM

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 4, 1915

True Stories From Persia

By F. A. ALLUM

F. A. ALLUM

THE following stories of mission work done in Persia were sent to the writer by Sisters Geiss and Knight, of London, England, who wrote them down from an address given in London, by Dr. Donald Carr, of the C. M. S. They have been a blessing to me, and I hope they will be a blessing to others:—

“A man of a robber tribe, a Mohammedan, stole some things, and among the loot was found a Bible (Arabic). He then returned home, and his father welcomed him; but when he saw that his son intended preaching his religion, he turned him out. The son then had to get a living as best he could.

“One night another man, a Mohammedan, dreamed that Christ was coming soon again. He desired to know more. He told his brother, who had the same dream. They went to a friend; he had had the same dream. The three set out to find some one to teach them. On the way they came across this first robber convert by the wayside. He directed them to the mission hospital, where they are now being taught.

“Another man dreamed he saw a vision of a shining person who directed him a certain way. He felt that this was Jesus Christ, and told a friend, who agreed to go with him in search of light. They went two days’ journey to where a white man was, and asked him, expecting that he was a Christian; but he told them that he could not help them. They traveled six days to another place with the same result. Finally they came to the mission where the workers received them gladly and taught them. At the close of the teaching they were advised, ‘Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.’ They did so, but it is feared that they were poisoned.

“Some Mohammedans were heard to say of a lady missionary, ‘I think there must be a corner in heaven for her, though she is a Christian, for she is so kind.’

“The hospital of which the doctor was the head, had been closed by Mohammedan authority, and ousted from five places. Now after twenty years they have a good central position for the hospital, and the head Mohammedans send patients to them. They have crowded services and overflow meetings. Once when orders came to the patients to leave the hospital, a patient sent a message back to the authorities: ‘I came here ill. I was taken in and cared for and am getting better. If you will do the same for me, I will leave; if not, I will stay.’”

The above notes show us that in a wonderful way the Spirit of God is at this time stirring up those who have been sitting in darkness, and especially calling their attention to the important doctrine of the imminent coming of Christ. Thus as the Spirit of God is drawing special attention to the second coming of Christ, he is preparing a people who will gladly accept the whole message when it is brought to them.

Then let us earnestly pray that the people of God will double their efforts to send the message to those who are so earnestly seeking for the truth. Time is short. The work is great. But, thank God, the mighty agency of the Spirit of God is going to do a work that we cannot do, and thus cut the work short. Let us co-operate with this mighty power. “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” John 4:34.

Szechuan, China.