"THE REGIONS BEYOND" (2 Cor. 10:16)

"To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you." These words, while they set forth the large-heartedness of the self-denying and devoted apostle, also furnish a fine model for the evangelist, in every age. The gospel is a traveler; and the preacher of the gospel must be a traveler likewise. The divinely-qualified and divinely-sent evangelist will fix his eye upon "the world." He will embrace, in his benevolent design, the human family. From house to house, from street to street, from city to city, from province to province, from kingdom to kingdom, from continent to continent, from pole to pole-such is the range of "the good news," and the publisher thereof. "The regions beyond" must ever be the grand gospel motto. No sooner has the gospel lamp cast its cheering beams over a district, than the bearer of that lamp must think of the regions beyond. Thus the work goes on. Thus the mighty tide of grace rolls, in enlightening and saving power, over a dark world which lies in "the region of the shadow of death."

"Waft, waft, ye winds, the story,
And you, ye waters, roll, Till, like a sea of glory,
It spreads from pole to pole."

Christian reader, are you thinking of "the regions beyond you?" This expression may, in your case, mean the next house, the next street, the next village, the next city, the next kingdom, or the next continent. The application is for your own heart to ponder; but say, are you thinking of "the regions beyond you?" I do not want you to abandon your present post at all; or, at least, not until you are fully persuaded that your work at that post is done. But, remember, the gospel plough should never stand still. "Onward" is the motto of every true evangelist. Let the shepherds abide by the flocks; but let the evangelists betake themselves hither and thither, to gather . the sheep. Let them sound the gospel trump, far and wide, o'er the dark mountains of this world, to gather together the elect of God. This is the design of the gospel. This should be the object of the evangelist, as he sighs after "the regions beyond." When Caesar beheld, from the coasts of Gaul, the white cliffs of Britain, he earnestly longed to carry his arms thither. The evangelist, on the other hand, whose heart beats in unison with the heart of Jesus, as he casts his eye over the map of the world longs to carry the gospel of peace into the regions which have heretofore been wrapped in midnight gloom, covered with the dark mantle of superstition, or blasted beneath the withering influences of "a form of godliness without the power."

It would, I believe, be a profitable question for many of us to put to ourselves, how far we are discharging our holy responsibilities to "the regions beyond." I believe the Christian who is not cultivating and manifesting an evangelistic spirit is in a truly deplorable condition. I believe, too, that the assembly which is not cultivating and manifesting an evangelistic spirit is in a dead state. One of the truest marks of spiritual growth and prosperity, whether in an individual, or in an assembly, is earnest anxiety after the conversion of souls. This anxiety will swell the bosom with most generous emotions; yea, it will break forth in copious streams of benevolent exertion, ever flowing toward "the regions beyond." It is hard to believe that "the word of Christ" is "dwelling richly" in any one who is not making some effort to impart that word to his fellow-sinners. It matters not what may be the amount of the effort; it may be to drop a few words in the ear of a friend, to give a tract, to pen a note, to breathe a prayer. But one thing is certain, namely, that a healthy vigorous Christian will be an evangelistic Christian – a teller of good news-one whose sympathies, desires, and energies, are ever going forth toward "the regions beyond." "I must preach the gospel to other cities also, for therefore am I sent." Such was the language of the true Evangelist.

It is very doubtful whether many of the servants of Christ have not erred in allowing themselves, through one influence or another, to become too much localized-too much tied to one place. They have dropped into routine work-into a round of stated preaching, in the same place, and, in many cases, have paralyzed themselves and paralyzed their hearers also. I speak not, now, of the labors of the pastor, the elder, or the teacher, which must, of course, be carried on in the midst of those who are the proper subjects of such labors. I refer more particularly to the evangelist. Such an one should never suffer himself to become localized. The world is his sphere; "the regions beyond," his motto; to gather out God's elect, his object; the current of the Spirit, his line of direction. If the reader should be one whom God has called and fitted to be an evangelist, let him remember these four things, the sphere, the motto, the object, and the line of direction, which all must adopt if they would prove fruitful laborers in the gospel field.

Finally, whether the reader be an evangelist or not, I would earnestly entreat him to examine how far he is seeking to further the gospel of Christ. We really must not stand idle. Time is short! Eternity is rapidly posting on! The Master is most worthy! Souls are most precious! The season for work will soon close! Let us, then, in the name of the Lord, be up and doing. And when we have done what we can, in the regions around, let us carry the precious seed into "THE REGIONS BEYOND."-From "Things New and Old," Vol. 2.

AFRICA

We would earnestly request prayer on the behalf of our brother William Deans, from whom we have received the following letter:

Nyangkundi, Congo Beige (written from Lolua). Dear brother:- Nov. 14,1931.

For over a month I have put off writing to you, waiting to see if any improvement should be noticed in my physical condition. I am still in a crippled state, and not at all able to participate in gospel activities in the fulness so happily enjoyed formerly. In place of energetic outdoor evangelization I am now doing translation work. Both types of service are needful. The complete Word is not yet translated into Kingwana. A portion of the New Testament remains uncompleted, and no books, as yet, of the Old have been completely translated. It is the right of these people that they should have the entire Bible in their tongue, so any efforts made to that end are well-spent. The immediate crying need, however, is "safari" work, or itinerant evangelism.

Many natives, especially children, come voluntarily to _ the various stations for twofold instruction-of God and of "letters." The desire to learn to read and write is present in the very young, and with some a sincere determination to learn of Him and know the way of salvation. This determination is heartily commendable, and the Spirit finds in such good ground in which to give germination to planted seed. The majority of the natives are too indolent, however, to rouse themselves from their lethargic mood and come. They must be sought for. The going out for the lost ones is most interesting and encouraging work, but very strenuous. On the tramp, one must live under strange conditions, eat local native food (prepared, of course, in our own way), and "think black."This engaging line of endeavor is now closed to me, as any exposure of this sort has drastic results.

If it should be God's will that I continue in this way, I am perfectly content. I would glory in my infirmities. Yet I cannot reconcile myself to the thought that such is His will. It may be that this testing and trying is to purge out the unneedful, making a servant more meet for the Master's use. This is doubtless true. Nevertheless, in the knowledge of the fact that this malady, rheumatism, is extremely sensitive to moisture, so that Congo's eighty inches of rainfall creates a condition that is hardly favorable to the regaining of health, it would seem advisable that one place oneself in a position fostering recovery.

At the Assembly gathering at Mambasa last September, the subject was brought up for discussion and various suggestions considered. The idea of returning to America was temporarily laid aside pending a reply from our brethren in Egypt. The suggestion regarding writing to an Egyptian assembly has been complied with, but as yet no reply has been received. Doctor Woodhams said that he wished me to come to Mambasa for a month's surveillance and treatment. The month of October was spent in happy fellowship with the Doctor and family, Miss De Jonge and Miss Creighton at Mambasa.

I feel that it is the right of the saints to know true conditions, so I frankly have spoken about the health matter. Uncomplainingly, but with this in mind, I will tell you that I have not known a solitary day without pain (in hips, knees, or feet, seldom all together) since Doctor left for America over a year ago.

In writing this I make no request other than that the saints pray for definite guidance from God, that He may direct in all things, that in a humble way I may serve Him fully, and that this life which is mine, yet not mine, for I have given it to Him to use to God's glory, may attain that end in whatever sphere He may place me.

This month ends our second happy year in Congo, and for the blessed privilege it has been, and is, we wholeheartedly thank the Lord, and praise Him for the measure of fruit which has been seen for our labors, and for those who have labored with us from afar, our dear brethren across the seas. Christian love to all,

Your brother .by grace,

Bill Deans.

In connection with the above, another writing at a later date says:

We lament our brother William Deans' protracted rheumatism which incapacitates him for the work which the Lord had sent him to do and which he so loves. He is now with his people at Lolua.

INDIAN WORK
Our dear brother H. A. Holcomb was called home to be with the Lord on December 31st, after a short illness. Our hearts go out in loving sympathy to those left to carry on the work. Miss Holcomb writes as follows:

You will be surprised to learn that our dear Father went home to be with the Lord yesterday afternoon, after only a few days of intense suffering from pneumonia. He was not able to lie down for the pain, and got only partial relief by sitting up. We were mentioning your letter during his illness, and I told him I would reply to it. We had little idea how very ill he was till the evening of the day before he left us, when the doctor from Shiprock came out to see him, and after the doctor left us, he was never conscious again. I am so glad that he was taken away from even one more night of such pain as he was having, and I know he is most happy in the presence of Him he loved, but I do miss him so. We sent a message after the Girdners, who had started last week for the San Diego Conference, and we are hoping they may come in some time today or to-night. I do not feel I can lay the dear body away till they come, as I am all alone here with a dear Christian white girl, who has been staying with us the past few weeks, and two Navahos.

During the last few weeks that Father was with us we often heard him singing snatches from the lovely old song, "I will sing you a song of that beautiful land, that far-away home of the soul." The last two weeks our house has been just full of Navahos both day and night, so that one's hands and time were full, but as long as he was conscious he wanted the door of his room left open, so that he might know what was going on, and who had come in. Specially the past few weeks he has been so much concerned that souls might be saved soon, and I see now that in other ways too God had been ripening him fast for glory. He has given such good messages to the Navahos at our morning and evening prayers, and I shall miss him so much in this part of the work. So many times since my mother left us, I have heard him say to our Navahos words to this effect:"My wife has gone up above, and my hair is getting white and I shall not be here much longer, and when I get to heaven, I shall be watching for you Navahos of this neighborhood to come up there too." As I always interpreted for my father I always heard his messages though he did not mine.

Miss Holcomb also sent on the following unfinished letter, written a few days before her father's death:

Dear Friends:-Greetings in the name of our dear Lord. The past few days have been full ones here at the mission, and I thought it might interest you to have a little glimpse of the activities here. As you know, we are in the midst of a nomadic people, who are frequently moving to find pasture and water for their sheep. We consider ourselves well located to reach the people of the neighborhood, though at no time in the year are there many living near the mission, and particularly is this true in the winter. Every day brings its quota of Navaho callers, and a stranger would wonder where they all come from, and well he might. But callers mean opportunities, and it is our aim to give a gospel message to each caller each time he comes. Thus in a scattering way we are able to reach a good many, though one would be glad if one might gather some together for more regular and systematic instruction of the Word. That has not proven possible so far.

During the first nineteen days of December we had 174 callers, of whom 153 heard the gospel. We consider this a good average when one considers that this has been the longest stretch of cold weather and the longest continued snow we have had in the ten years we have lived here. Snow lay deep all over the ground for five weeks, and is only now beginning to go off.

The Government had wished on us a big feed for the Navahos of this neighborhood to be given on Dec. 21st. The Government provided the food, and it was prepared and served from the mission. Several of the returned students in the neighborhood came to help us serve, and rendered most efficient help. The feed was on Monday. All day Saturday was spent in kneading and baking light bread, paring potatoes, etc., and we were thankful that there was a Sunday between that and Monday. Our guests began to arrive on Saturday, and by Sunday evening we had thirty-eight outsiders in for our evening prayers. This was an opportunity for which we were thankful, but we felt our entertaining facilities would be taxed to the limit. We have a large camp house, nevertheless when all were stowed away for the night there was scarcely a path between the beds. We had six straw ticks and thirteen quilts with which to make the thirty-eight comfortable. Usually Navaho boys will not sleep together unless they are brothers, and I know if I left it to them, more than half of our guests would sleep without any bedding, while the rest took what there was, so I loaded the quilts into the arms of three young men and went out to put the company to bed. I spread down a tick and called to the boys to roll in. The ticks are six feet long by three wide. By putting them crosswise, we got four on one tick. Of course their feet and legs were on bare ground, but they laughed heartily and were thankful when we covered them with one quilt. Next we spread down two mattresses parallel, and called for old men to fill it. They were a bit slower, but soon I had four here and covered them with a heavier quilt. When the ticks gave out, I put down a heavy quilt on the ground and proceeded as before, and by the time we came to the last quilt every one of our guests was provided for. Next morning we had practically the whole crowd for morning prayers. About a hundred and forty Navahos were here for the feed, and practically all of them heard the gospel message that was given first. That night a few less stayed than had been here the night before, and by the second night the crowd had dwindled yet more, and by the next night only the few who had come down here, with sheep (because on our southern slope the snow was melting off faster than at their homes), had remained. We were so thankful for the opportunities thus afforded us of telling the gospel to the same ones more than once, but by the time they had gone and our house was more quiet, we were ready for the more quiet days too.

The intimate contact with our people that we gain by allowing them access to our living-rooms has its drawbacks to be sure, in the wear and tear on one's nerves and by the added amount of sweeping, etc., that our house requires, but somehow it seems to me that it is more than repaid by the close touch it gives us with their lives. We find them open and friendly, and we hope we are making contacts for our dear Lord at the same time. We know it is indeed a big step for them to take-out of deepest heathenism into the light of the Gospel-but it is not too much to expect of our Blessed Lord of whom it is written that with Him, "Nothing shall be impossible." Nor is He unwilling, for again we read that He "is not willing that any should perish." So let us take courage and keep on praying the Lord of the harvest to bless each message of His Word as it goes forth from the Mission. We were particularly thankful for the more intimate contact thus afforded us with our returned students. Most of them have been baptized while away at school, some of them twice! But when they have come home to heathen camps to live they have been swept back into heathen lives. They have a hard lot in some ways, but we long to see some of them come out bright for our dear Lord.