00:00:21.899 - 00:03:26.169

Oh OK Yeah. uh When we come to the choruses. Uh Um Right. And And Uh Right back. This

00:03:26.169 - 00:03:47.149

meeting is our annual meeting. It's fitting and right and proper that we have a few set formalities, but tonight they've been streamlined down to the barest minimum. And to sum them all up, I'm going to ask chairman. Mr. Torry Martin, who is a tremendous tower of

00:03:47.149 - 00:04:05.529

strength to this work, just to extend a welcome to all our visitors. Thank you, Mr. Martin. Mr. Bremner has already said what a grand thing it is to see so many supporters. And prayer partners with us tonight. Really, it thrills our hearts as we look out

00:04:05.529 - 00:04:19.450

on this great audience here together tonight, and we do thank you all very much for coming along and making this a worthwhile effort. We trust that you'll go away very much blessed in your souls tonight. We know that some of you have come a long distance

00:04:19.450 - 00:04:33.128

tonight. And we do trust that you'll get a very special blessing and on your way home, you'll realize the presence of the Lord with you in a very marked degree. We have some outstanding visitors with us tonight. We'd like to give them a special welcome into

00:04:33.128 - 00:04:55.880

our midst. First of all, we have, uh, Mr. and Mrs. Duffercy, that's correct, Mr. and Mrs. Werry, we're awfully sorry the good ladies can't be on the platform tonight. I'd like you to realize that Australia hasn't got all the pretty girls. I beg your pardon, I

00:04:55.880 - 00:05:30.579

went the other way around. I me. I'm not, you know. I'm not Irish, but I'm allowed to speak till I'm understood. We do extend a very special welcome to our visitors just passing through. We're sorry this day is so brief. They do us good every time

00:05:30.579 - 00:05:44.929

we meet them, and we, they leave a fragrance of Christ behind them when they go. They're real men of God and we're proud to be associated with them on the platform tonight. And we do trust that as they go forward, God will abundantly bless them all

00:05:44.929 - 00:06:04.619

the way and bring them back to us many times here in Auckland. Then we have uh Two visitors and the persons of the Reverend John Taroney and Mrs. Terroney. And Ron, is it that the name and Ronnie, yes. Uh, there are folk who are working in

00:06:04.619 - 00:06:22.410

evangelistic work in Australia among the Aboriginals and the whites also. Now, Mr. Tirroney is a man of very many parts. He was out that place this morning for morning tea and he got his violin out of the case, and honestly, I've never heard violin playing quite

00:06:22.410 - 00:06:37.859

like it. I used to think I could play the violin a bit one time, but after what I heard this morning, I'm gonna saw mine up. Oh And a little later on you're going to have an opportunity to share my views. He's going to play a

00:06:37.859 - 00:06:55.380

couple of little pieces for us. We're very glad to have you with us tonight, folk, and Trust God will bless you greatly. Then we have another very distinguished visitor, one whose name is known to us through the medium of HCJB. We listening to that program pretty

00:06:55.380 - 00:07:17.970

well every night in our house, and the name of the Reverend Frank Cook is a household word with the children. Would you stand up? Mr. Cock, please, and let them all see you. Then we have our brother Mr. Jacobson from Wellington, a member of the Wellington

00:07:17.970 - 00:07:39.010

Council, father of our brother Alf here. Mr. Jacobson, will you stand up please? I don't know you. Now, uh, we're getting down to the end of my list. We'd like to extend a very warm welcome tonight to the Elam Male Choir. I gladly consented to come

00:07:39.010 - 00:07:54.079

along tonight and sing it, sing us a bracket of numbers, and I'm sure we're looking forward with great interest to what they're going to bring to us tonight. Thank you very much, Elo Male choir. Then I have a little note from our good friend Mr. Jack

00:07:54.079 - 00:08:13.660

Hume, concerning the big Crusader rally to be held in the town hall on Thursday next. Wester Martin, while the Elim male voice choir are moving up onto the platform, I would just like to uh, Say that the Reverend John Pritchard was very, very sorry that he

00:08:13.660 - 00:08:33.580

couldn't be with us tonight. He is a special friend of Mr. Duffercy and Mr. Werries and he sent a, a, a particular greeting for them. There are other men who have also would have liked to have been here. Nevertheless, I'm sure that Although we miss these

00:08:33.580 - 00:09:14.650

men who are helpful to our work and who, who are interested in getting the gospel out to people who normally don't go into churches. It's just grand to have a word of appreciation from them. Yeah. I. trusting. rejoice.

00:09:15.789 - 00:10:02.960

Swelling the chorus in praise of his sings all my soul for now. What we. Bye On Um, Save, save, save, ransom from death and the grave. Strong was the arm that redeemed me from sin, precious the blood that hath washed my soul please. was. rejoice

00:10:02.960 - 00:11:27.340

the dead alive, swing the chorus in praise. I. I love Save, save, save, not with those of. my name is the last book of life and equipped for the war and the strong. Right I Oh. I. by the Oh. In

00:11:27.340 - 00:13:00.510

my life for. I Um But. I. come from OK I What hast thou given for me? And long year for me. That Oh. joy. Oh Um. Long for me. Oh. one for me. Um, are brought to Um.

00:13:01.640 - 00:14:20.359

Oh. and. my Um. Um. I was. What hast thou brought for me? Oh That might be. y. for me. And. And joy. My of myself. Mm. I'm going to ask Mr. Day to lead us into

00:14:20.359 - 00:14:45.380

the immediate presence of the Lord. As we together pray. Through and shall we bow in silent prayer. Bow down our hearts before the cross. And thanked the Lord Jesus for what He did for us when he gave his life. When he shed his blood. When he

00:14:45.380 - 00:15:12.400

gave great gifts for us. Or the love that drew salvation's plan. All the grace that brought it down to man. All the mighty gulf that God did span of Calvary. Mercy there was great and grace was free, hard and there was multiplied to me. There my

00:15:12.400 - 00:15:39.000

burden soul found liberty. At Calvary Lord Jesus, we bow down our wills before thee. We bow down our hearts before thee tonight. We praise thee for all the blessings that have flown from the hill called Calvary. Calvary or Calvary, mercy's vast unfathomed sea. Love eternal love

00:15:39.000 - 00:15:58.020

to me, Savior, we adore thee. And we pray that our love in return for thy love may be a real one, a practical love. Teach us to love the lost as thou dost love them. Teach us to search for them as thou dost search for them.

00:15:58.750 - 00:16:17.520

Teach us to sacrifice for them. No, Lord, we can't say as thou hast sacrificed, but all give us Calvary love, so that we may love them even though they may be unlovely, and we may go at thy bidding to take thy message of love to them.

00:16:18.539 - 00:16:39.109

We ask it in the Savior's precious name. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Mr. Day. Now is the time to meet Mr. NC Gibson, Mr. Noel Gibson, known to the rest of us on the staff just as Noel. I'm going to ask Noel, just to stand up and

00:16:39.109 - 00:16:55.750

to for you people to meet him now and then I'm going to ask him to uh tell us just in a few minutes, just as long as he as he chooses, he knows how long he can go for. Why, why it is that he is in

00:16:55.750 - 00:17:13.189

open air campaigners. Thank you. As a matter of fact, uh, thank you very much, Mr. Bremner. When I was um at the annual rally in Sydney, I was very honored by being asked to speak for 5 minutes on behalf of New Zealand. Mr. McGuinness took quarter

00:17:13.189 - 00:17:26.599

of an hour to explain to me how long 5 minutes was. Um, I had a pretty fair idea of how long it was until I got up there. And did I go over to to Liz? Thank you. About right. He's very kind. I think I was

00:17:26.599 - 00:17:41.619

about a minute over. So George told me that I can have just a few minutes to, um, these later instructions, George, just a few minutes to tell you the reason why I'm at OHC. But first of all, I want to tell you just a little delightful

00:17:41.619 - 00:17:59.469

little story that Mr. Duffercy tells. He's not going to tell it to you tonight because I'm gonna beat him to it microphone over closer to you. But why didn't teach you that. Well, Jim, look, I'll, I'll be bashful. I'll just leave it where it is. Well,

00:17:59.550 - 00:18:10.709

Jim says just this that a chap once wanted to borrow a donkey. So I went along to a farmer and he said, Look, can I borrow your donkey, please? I've got a little job I want the donkey to do. And, um, I don't know why Jim

00:18:10.709 - 00:18:24.380

picks on this one. No, um, family relationship or anything like that, was it? But anyway, he went along to the farm. The farmer said, yes, you can have the donkey, but look, there's only one thing when you get when you get the donkey, you've got to

00:18:24.380 - 00:18:38.900

speak very kindly to him. He's not a donkey that reacts to very well to bad language or rough talking, so he said, you speak kindly. So alright, um, the man went along and he spoke kindly to the donkey. Donkey looked at him and flapped his ear

00:18:39.260 - 00:18:54.270

and simply dug in and he wouldn't move. Well, he got behind the donkey and he pushed. And he shoved. He got in front of the donkey and he pulled. He did everything but use bad language. Finally went back to the farmer and he said, Look, excuse

00:18:54.270 - 00:19:06.550

me, but I can't get this donkey to go. Can you help me? He said, Well, I'm pretty busy, but I'll come down. So down he went to the far end of the farm. As he went down, he picked up a 42 as he was walking along,

00:19:06.859 - 00:19:19.400

the first thing he starts to do is belt the donkey around the ears, you see. This fellow said, now just a moment. You said that I was to speak kindly to the donkey and not to ill treat it. He said, yes, he said, but I forgot

00:19:19.400 - 00:19:40.599

to tell you one little thing. He said, You've got to get his attention first. So uh. Hello I don't think I need to get your attention tonight because after all, um, seeing us all sitting up there, I suppose you're probably thinking which of these empty vessels

00:19:40.599 - 00:19:56.099

will make the most sound. Well, I'm in for a penny, in for a pound. Well, now look, ladies and gentlemen, I've got to be serious now because this is a very serious business, this question of open air campaigners. George has asked me to tell you the

00:19:56.099 - 00:20:16.500

reason why I'm an OAC. I've got 6 reasons why I'm an OAC. The first one, they all begin with C. The first one is because of my confession. Confession of Jesus Christ is my own personal savior, because I've confessed him and he's mine and I belong

00:20:16.500 - 00:20:33.939

to him, I have a duty to him just the same as you have. Because OAC gets out and speaks to the people in the street, that doesn't absolve you from the duty that you have received a priceless heritage from God. You've received the gift of God

00:20:33.939 - 00:20:49.439

which is everlasting life, and I felt I was a debtor because I had confessed Jesus Christ to tell my neighbor, who is my neighbor, you know. You know the one you work with, you know the one you walk down the street with, the one that you

00:20:49.439 - 00:21:10.640

see. I felt that because I confess Jesus Christ, I have an obligation to be an RAC. Secondly, because of conviction. I'm an OAC because I feel that OAC methods are the methods that God would have us use in these days. I love the church. I believe

00:21:10.640 - 00:21:29.459

it's the most necessary institution. I support it wholeheartedly. But I feel that in these days when 95% of the population of this country is unchurched, that we've got to go out to the church. I remember Doctor Orr at the Sydney rally saying justice. There were some

00:21:29.459 - 00:21:45.410

people that think the one lost lamb should visit the sheepfold at least once a week for a little instruction. But the Lord went out to the sheep, and I feel by conviction that OAC methods are getting out to the people where they are, regardless of their

00:21:45.410 - 00:22:05.079

condition or their state and bringing before them the claims that Jesus Christ has on their lives. Then thirdly, I'm an OAC because of a call of God. As a young man, I somewhat feared a call of God the service because it meant giving up a lot

00:22:05.079 - 00:22:22.069

of things. It meant that I'd have to leave this perhaps and leave that and uh I like them rather dear. Then the call came, the clarion call came to me twice from two full-time members of OAC to consider before God as to whether the Lord would

00:22:22.069 - 00:22:35.900

have me go into this method of service for himself. I went home and I thought it over. I knew I was convicted that that was the thing to do. I remember well George talking to me after an open air in the High Street Lower Hutt one

00:22:35.900 - 00:22:52.140

night. I turned to George and said, well, look, George, I figured it this way. I'm spending a lot of my spare time in Christian work. I'm able to give some of my money to to support Christian institutions. I feel I can't do any more. And George

00:22:52.140 - 00:23:10.079

looked at me and I can understand now why he looked at me. He said the opportunities that are available, he said in OAC far outweigh the opportunities that you at present have. Then I came to another sea. I came to the point of the consecration that

00:23:10.079 - 00:23:24.920

I had made before God. And my wife and I thought this over and we prayed it over, and we read the scriptures, and I came to this conclusion that when God called me after I had consecrated my life to Him, I had to give him a

00:23:24.920 - 00:23:40.089

good reason why I shouldn't go into OAC. It wasn't a question so much to me of looking to the word to get the confirmation. I did and it came in a most remarkable way. But I felt if I'd consecrated my life to Jesus Christ, if I'd

00:23:40.089 - 00:23:55.030

come and told him all on the altar I lay, I did everything and then when the first call comes to me, I backpedal and I'll tell you why I wanted to backpedal. Because I had a car, a business car, a free car, because I had a

00:23:55.030 - 00:24:11.500

good salary. Those two things kept me. When I came, I realized to the turning point in my career I was to go on or I was to go back. If my consecration meant anything, I had to go on. This is the verse that God sheeted home

00:24:11.500 - 00:24:29.849

to me, and I'd like to read it to you. It's found in Ecclesiastes chapter 4, chapter 5 and verses 4 and 5. When thou vows to vow unto God, defer not to pay it, for he hath no pleasure in fools. Pay that which thou hast vowed.

00:24:30.339 - 00:24:50.849

Better it is that thou shouldst not vow than that that thou shouldst vow and not pay. That verse hit me. That verse hit me right between the eyes. I've spoken of fools who reject the the message of God and who deny there is a God, but

00:24:50.849 - 00:25:07.459

I realize for the first time that a man who vows to God and turns back, and the eyes of God is a foolish person. I felt that I couldn't go back. I had to go on. And I went on because I was consecrated to the Lord.

00:25:08.569 - 00:25:27.369

Then another C, there came the confirmation. It has been my privilege, ladies and gentlemen, for the last 4.5 months to work with some amazing men of God in the OAC team in Australia. I've worked alongside them. I stood with them at factories and down at dwarves.

00:25:27.489 - 00:25:44.160

I've stood and spoken in the shopping centers of Sydney and other centers throughout Australia, and I've seen people come to Jesus Christ as a result of the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We know that when in the early Acts of the apostles, as the

00:25:44.160 - 00:26:01.839

apostles went out and as they preached the word, God was worse than confirming in signs following. I saw signs following. I've seen it in this city just after I came into full-time service. I remember the Lord very graciously gave some souls here in Queen Street one

00:26:01.839 - 00:26:18.119

Sunday night. We went back to Wellington and we saw the Lord's hand in blessing there. And I can say very humbly that I've seen the Lord's hand moving through some of his evangelists in a mighty way, confirming, I'm in the OAC because God has confirmed his

00:26:18.119 - 00:26:43.260

word that what he says is true. God has confirmed my call. And I'm in the OAC for another C because of compulsion. But not the compulsion that gets behind and shoves, the compulsion that is led forward by drawing. The Lord Jesus Christ, the love of Christ

00:26:43.260 - 00:27:02.680

constraineth us. I've been constrained. I felt I could not do anything else but follow. I felt I couldn't hold on to myself. I had to go. Ladies and gentlemen, maybe some of you people have been in just the same position as I have. Maybe some of

00:27:02.680 - 00:27:17.390

you have and maybe some of you have gone on and some of you have turned back. I'd like to sound this note of warning at the beginning of the time when I'm setting out in full-time service for God. If God speaks to you ladies and gentlemen,

00:27:17.520 - 00:27:35.349

if he brings a challenge into your life, do answer it. This blessing if you go on with him. The love of Christ constraineth us, and I'd like to just crave indulgence of those that were at the luncheon this afternoon and re-quote the hymn that came to

00:27:35.349 - 00:27:52.390

us as a mighty challenge in the staff conference at the Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney, when all the staff of OAC throughout Australia were there, and I was privileged to be there with them. This hymn. Came to us. This hymn became the

00:27:52.430 - 00:28:18.550

theme of our conference. This hymn has become the ideal of the evangelist as they went out to serve God with us whoever he called them. I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back. The cross before me, the world behind me, no turning

00:28:18.550 - 00:28:37.520

back, no turning back. Oh, take the world, only give me Jesus. No turning back, no turning back. I'm going to ask Jim and Les if they'll sing that with me. We sing it as a prayer, ladies and gentlemen, but that got into my, that got into

00:28:37.520 - 00:28:55.099

my soul that hymn. It really got there and is there to stay. What a tremendous challenge with the cross before us, the world behind us. No turning back. That's why I'm an OAC. By the grace of God with the cross before me, with the prayers of

00:28:55.099 - 00:29:26.880

the Lord's people that I may serve Him and follow Him, the love of Christ. Constrain of us. I have. to follow Jesus, I have. Follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back. The cross before me, the world behind me, the

00:29:26.880 - 00:29:57.060

cross before me. The world behind me, the cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back, no turning back. Oh, take the world only give me Jesus, or take the world. Only give me Jesus, take the world, only give me Jesus. I'm satisfied. I'm satisfied.

00:30:02.469 - 00:30:24.229

As Mr. Gibson steps out into full-time work in this country. We would just like to surround him with our prayers, and with a little act, a little ceremonial act, we're just going to in the apostolic way, lay our hands on Mr. Gibson. Shall we all bow

00:30:24.229 - 00:30:44.359

and pray? Our gracious Father, we commit to thy keeping and to the work of an evangelist as thy servant Noel Gibson. We pray that thou take him and use him mightily for thy glory. May he know that he that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed,

00:30:44.569 - 00:31:03.974

shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bring his sheaves with him. We pray now thy special anointing upon him and thy blessing as he is set aside to the ministry of preaching the gospel in the highways and in the byways, for the glory of thy name we

00:31:03.974 - 00:31:23.079

ask it, amen. We thank the our Father that the Lord Jesus has promised. That he is with them that take his gospel. Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of

00:31:23.079 - 00:31:42.790

the Holy Ghost. Lord Jesus, we pray thee that thy servant may see thee clearly and preach thy gospel plainly. And we pray that thou will give him patience in tribulation, that thou will give him love for the lost, and that thou will keep his heart true

00:31:42.790 - 00:34:28.600

to thee. Bless him indeed, for Christ's sake. Amen. That in all things, he Christ Jesus might have the preeminence. Amen, amen, amen. Now I'm going to ask Mr. and Mrs. Carlyle to bring us a message in song. I

00:35:02.350 - 00:36:53.949

Yeah. I The thing right through Christianity is the cross upon which the Lord Jesus died. As we change our positions, physically, we can keep our focus continually on the cross as we sing together, number 4, the

00:36:53.949 - 00:39:10.199

cross, it standeth fast. Nothing can defy it. Shall we all stand And every. Um, Oh. Oh. The last verse was. And was. Oh on. Oh

00:39:30.060 - 00:39:57.070

Uh Isn't that a grand old hymn? It's a wonderful hymn. You can enjoy the words as you read them as well as sing them. But I think it's very nice tonight to be able to sing that to the to the tones of such beautiful music, and

00:39:57.070 - 00:40:22.639

we're indebted to Mr. Neville Smith. I should really say, Mr. uh, I should really say NW Smith and Company for kindly lend loaning to us this magnificent machine and also for charming Mrs. Maskell to come along and bring out its beautiful tones at the console. This

00:40:22.639 - 00:40:48.090

happens to be the latest instrument of its type in New Zealand. Uh, I'm sure you'll like to hear it many times again. You'll know where to contact the, the people who go. Now tonight we're very glad to have, as Mr. Martin has already said, Mr. LT

00:40:48.090 - 00:41:06.560

Jacobson from Wellington. Mr. Jacobson is the most active member of our committee in Wellington. And I have pleasure in asking him now just to bring Aucklanders a report on what's happening in open air campaigners in Wellington. Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Mr. Chairman and Christian friends, it

00:41:06.560 - 00:41:31.129

is a great privilege to me tonight to be able to say something about that lovely city Wellington to an. I'm sure you'd all like to live there. Well, we do. Somebody said if we can stand it. Well, it's the place where people live healthy lives. I

00:41:31.129 - 00:41:54.810

think that the gentle zephy breezes have a lot to do with that. Well now, open air campaigners in Wellington have already made a mark. I think we've followed Auckland's example, for Auckland commenced first in the work of the open air campaigners in New Zealand. Wellington followed.

00:41:55.290 - 00:42:12.520

While Mr. Gibson has been away, it has been the privilege of many of us to conduct the meetings on Saturday night and Sunday night. Recently, on a Sunday evening. One of our brethren had been preaching the gospel with great power, and when he made the appeal,

00:42:12.719 - 00:42:33.709

quite a number came forward and said emphatically in front of the crowd, I am prepared to accept Christ tonight. I noticed two elderly ladies standing amongst the listeners, and I watched them carefully. One of them, I suppose, was about 70 and the other probably about 75.

00:42:34.790 - 00:42:53.159

And then I I saw them turn and walk away. I felt compelled to follow them. And follow them I did and began to chat with them. Ask the one if she was a Christian. She said, no, I'm not. Wouldn't you like to be? Yes, she said

00:42:53.159 - 00:43:12.209

I would, but I was afraid to come out and stand before the people. We kept in touch with both of them for a few days and invited them to a special meeting. When the appeal was made, the lady, aged 70, rose up and went out to

00:43:12.209 - 00:43:32.669

the front uh to accept Christ in front of the crowd in a great meeting that was held in Saint John's Presbyterian Church in Wellington. I noticed that the elder lady did not go forward, so I made it my business to press through the crowd and go

00:43:32.669 - 00:43:50.320

and sit beside her as she sat in her seat waiting for her companion. And I spoke to her about her soul. She said, I believe I should accept Christ. Well, will you do it? Yes, she said, I'll do it tonight. And she rose up, very crippled

00:43:50.320 - 00:44:10.919

she was, and came and went with me through to the inquiry room and knelt down at a form, and it was my privilege to kneel beside her and show her how to come to Christ. And both of those ladies came to Jesus Christ and accepted him

00:44:11.209 - 00:44:33.399

as their savior, as the result of open air campaigners' work in Wellington. We feel that this work is very worthwhile, and it carries out the injunction of our Lord when he said go into the highways and byways and compel them to come in. Why how many

00:44:33.399 - 00:44:49.489

people come and listen to us down there who will never go to a church, you'll never get them inside a building. But they are attracted by the music, and then they listen to the preaching. And last Saturday night for over 2 hours, a crowd of people

00:44:49.489 - 00:45:10.090

stood and listened in the cold. It does get cold down there sometimes. They stood in the cold and listened to the gospel being preached. Sometimes it was argued and others argued against us. Nevertheless, they stood and listened. So dear Auckland fellow believers, will you pray for

00:45:10.090 - 00:45:32.580

the work of the open air campaigners in Wellington. We're glad to have our brother Gibson back from his experience in Australia, and we believe that God is going to do great things in our city, the capital city of. Thank you very much, Mr. Jacobson, it's grand

00:45:32.580 - 00:45:52.320

to hear the good news from Wellington. Now the travel from Melbourne. They're trying to put something onto us, these fellows, but we won't open up on that because Jim will never stop about this terrible river that they've got over in Melbourne. I'm going to ask our

00:45:52.320 - 00:46:12.439

friend Mr. Dennis Crompton to come up and say a few words to him. If you haven't met Dennis before, now is the time to meet him. Meeting all these people up here, um, I'm afraid you'll just have to put up with my accent. I'm sorry. These

00:46:12.439 - 00:46:32.280

people behind and and some workers in the audience will insist on going out into the streets and preaching the gospel with the obvious result that I become a Christian, so they've only themselves to blame. Well, friends, it really is a privilege to be able to Um,

00:46:32.290 - 00:46:54.010

speak a few words. Um, in acknowledgement of what the OAC has done for me, hardly, uh, the OAC so much as the Bible, the word of God, Jesus Christ. The OSC was something new to me 12 months ago, 15 months ago rather, and when I came

00:46:54.010 - 00:47:07.149

across this wagon just by the town hall a wee bit further down here on Sunday evening, I wondered what on earth I'd hit. And I thought, well, I might as well stand here a few moments and pass a bit of time. I've nothing else to do,

00:47:07.719 - 00:47:23.909

and I'll just see what these lads have got to say. I had plenty of time to waste and so I was quite prepared to waste a bit there. Well, friends, before I realized it, almost 2 hours had elapsed and I was still there. Now, What was

00:47:23.909 - 00:47:42.459

holding me there? Well, it wasn't so much the people. They didn't look very happy some of the time, some of the time they did. No, it was something new, something I'd never heard before, quite so clearly and so simply, and it was the message of God,

00:47:42.669 - 00:47:57.260

of Jesus Christ, the cross of Calvary, and the blood that cleanseth it from all sin. Now I've been going to church for many years. Friends you wouldn't realize just how religious I was. I used to go to church, you know, on Sundays and, uh, put on

00:47:57.260 - 00:48:09.060

my best suit and I'd sometimes go 3 times a day. So I used to reckon that I was pretty good in any way as good as the next man next to me, and I thought that I was well on the right track. I had nothing to

00:48:09.060 - 00:48:28.510

worry about. But when I heard the truth. Well, I knew that that's something that I'd been missing. Was Jesus Christ. That spark that vital thing that I was lacking was just Jesus Christ in my heart. I can explain it more clearly by giving you a recipe

00:48:28.510 - 00:48:47.620

for scones. Now that's pretty unusual, I suppose, to give you a recipe for scones here on a platform, especially a Christian meeting. Nevertheless, scones helped me to convey what has happened to me since I became a Christian. Now ladies, listen carefully. Here's the recipe for scone.

00:48:49.419 - 00:49:12.649

I'll not give you the quantities because in the airport where I'm cooking, we alter it slightly. The reason is pretty obvious. If we make the scones soft and they are thrown at us, it doesn't hurt so much. Well, anyway, the recipe for scone, we use flour

00:49:12.979 - 00:49:30.699

or the ingredients. We use flour. Uh, somebody's objected me saying margarine. We use margarine in pome land, you see, and it generally makes a better scone, so I'll use fat instead. Flour, fat, baking powder, salt, and milk. Now those are just plain scones, and I could

00:49:30.699 - 00:49:45.629

have a scone on this hand, uh, completely made and, and, and, uh, you wouldn't see anything wrong with it. It'd look all right. But if I missed one of those ingredients out and made the same scone and put that one on this hand, you still wouldn't

00:49:45.629 - 00:50:00.280

see any difference. But if I left one ingredient out, there would be a vast difference. That scone would look all right. It would look the same as this one with all the ingredients, but until you cut that scone open. Put on the butter and the jam

00:50:00.280 - 00:50:13.919

or whatever you like, and then pop it in your mouth to taste it. It would only be then that you saw the difference. That scone I got something missing. We'd forgotten to put the salt in. And what an insignificant thing salt is, isn't it? We take

00:50:13.919 - 00:50:31.419

it for granted every day. We use it right throughout the kitchen. And yet such a little thing like that as a pinch of salt can make a thing worthless. You can have everything else, but without that vital pinch of salt, the scones are worthless. Well friends,

00:50:31.459 - 00:50:49.139

that's my life. Before I was a Christian, I was like the scone without the salt. I was missing that vital ingredient. And friends, it's a wonderful change. I know the difference between what I was and what I am today, and I know who I owe it

00:50:49.139 - 00:51:07.600

to. You see, I don't have to depend on men's opinion. I can go on God's word, and this is what I heard in the open air 15 months ago. Jesus Christ said, Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give

00:51:07.600 - 00:51:21.479

you rest. You see, friends, I thought the church would give me rest. I thought perhaps the minister in going up into the pulpit and expounding the scriptures, uh, was doing the job for me, you see. I thought, well, he's doing the job, I don't have to

00:51:21.479 - 00:51:38.350

worry more about it, and I left it at that. And many, many people, friends, I know, are making the same mistake. They think that because they enter into a church, that that's all they need to do. But Christ and the Bible make it very personal. And

00:51:38.350 - 00:51:54.310

this is the word that has made it personal to me, that has changed my life, and this was pointed out to me in the open air 15 months ago, for by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of

00:51:54.310 - 00:52:10.899

God, not of works lest any man should boast. 15 months ago I found out that to become a Christian, to get that vital ingredient that I needed in my life, I had to have come to a personal decision. Between what Christ had done and what I

00:52:10.899 - 00:52:29.409

was all that I did, friends, was accept Christ. I knew that I was a sinner without the Bible telling me, but I can stand tonight and say it makes a wonderful difference in one's life. If there's anybody here tonight that hasn't. Tasty The gospel of Jesus

00:52:29.409 - 00:52:50.479

Christ that hasn't put the Bible and God's word to the test. I advise you tonight, friends, don't go away from this meeting until you know that you are a Christian. Now it's our pleasure to have with us on the platform here, Reverend Frank Cook. To just

00:52:50.479 - 00:53:07.169

say farewell to a New Zealand audience. We'd like Mr. Cook just to feel perfectly free to say just whatever he would like to say and for just as long as he likes to say. That's a dangerous thing to say to a chap from the voice of

00:53:07.169 - 00:53:28.790

the Andes. I consider it one of the greatest privileges of my life to be here tonight on this platform of the OAC. As I was sitting here, I was taken back through the years to my childhood, which is a fair long time ago now, as the

00:53:28.790 - 00:53:48.030

top of my head begins to indicate, so the barber says, I was taken back to the time when my mother used to set us kids to topping and tailing green beans. I think many of you have probably done that, take both ends off. Well, I arrived

00:53:48.949 - 00:54:12.280

Down under about 3.5 months ago, a very green beam from America. It was a great delight to me to see at the airport our brother less weary, to see his smiling face and to get his hearty handshake. Then I was taken to the OAC office and

00:54:12.280 - 00:54:36.000

I was duly topped. Yeah. I was told what I should and what I shouldn't do in Australia, and believe me, it was plenty. I learned fast and I thank God for the lessons learned. And now as I arrive at the end of my trip, ready to

00:54:36.000 - 00:54:56.620

step back into the plane tomorrow afternoon. I get the privilege of getting tailed, but I think I'm gonna reverse the tables tonight. You know, it has been a wonderful experience for me to be in Australia and New Zealand. God has wonderfully blessed my own heart. He's

00:54:56.620 - 00:55:14.540

filled it to overflowing. I'm going back over to Quito to the voice of the Andes, praying that God, in a new and wonderful way would use the broadcasts as they go out day after day to bring men and women into right relationship with the Lord Jesus

00:55:14.540 - 00:55:31.540

Christ. And I trust that as I go back, I will be able to inspire my fellow workers over there with the same blessing that I've received, so that they too may be used of God. But now I'd like to just say a word or two to

00:55:31.540 - 00:55:49.010

my two brethren here, Jim and Les. And as I say it to them, I say it to you and I say it to myself. I suppose that it is fitting in as much as they're leaving tonight for the United States of America. That I refer a

00:55:49.010 - 00:56:09.070

story that is told very frequently by the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Judge Earl Warren. He has a story that he tells of a man that was walking down the street and saw a number of men engaged in a building, the erection of

00:56:09.070 - 00:56:26.439

a building. And he stopped and he asked the first man and he said, What are you doing? The fellow looked at him, he says, why I'm earning my living. He went on to the next one and he said to him, What are you doing? He says,

00:56:26.540 - 00:56:46.330

I am following my trade. Then he came up to the 3rd man and he said, and what are you doing? The chap stood up to his full height and said, Sir, I am building a temple. Now I think the implication is quite obvious. There are many

00:56:46.330 - 00:57:08.770

men and women today in the world. Who are merely earning a living. There are many men and women today who are merely following a trade. And I'm not referring now. To the material I'm referring to the spiritual. But God grant that every one of us tonight

00:57:10.239 - 00:57:29.209

Starting with those of us here on the platform. that God may make us of us temple builders. That we may build a temple that shall be for the glory of God. These two men and their families are going into the United States, as someone has said,

00:57:29.219 - 00:57:45.939

the benighted States. As far as I know, there is nothing that compares to the work of the open air campaigners over there. And I know that as they go, they will go in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. I know that they

00:57:45.939 - 00:58:03.239

will have many open doors and opportunities. I know that men will stop and listen to what they have to say. Their hungry hearts over there just as they are over here. I know they're going to have a lot of problems. They're not gonna be able to

00:58:03.239 - 00:58:21.969

go from Wellington to Auckland from wind to, what do you have here anyway? Land of eternal summer, did they say? or the winterless north or something, I don't know. And they're not going to be able to talk about the Sydney coat hanger or the upside down

00:58:21.969 - 00:58:36.530

river down in Victoria and all the rest of it. They're going to have to learn a new lingo. And as they go from the north where it is cold and the snow is deep, They'll have to leave that and go down to the sunny South. They're

00:58:36.530 - 00:58:49.030

going to be like the rich. They're gonna have to follow the sun. And when they go down south, they're gonna have to learn the southern drawl. When they get over to Texas, they're gonna have to learn a brand new language. The Texans have one all of

00:58:49.030 - 00:59:06.949

their own. And so, so it is, they're going to have all sorts of problems. But how wonderful it is to know that they're not going in their strength. They're not going alone, but God is going, and he can take them and use them so that they

00:59:06.949 - 00:59:23.290

will in turn be able to build this temple that shall be for the glory of God. Beloved friends, if you have never done it before, I trust that you will start praying for the open-air campaigners, not only for the effort that is being made right here,

00:59:23.629 - 00:59:43.300

whose results you can see, not only for the effort being made in Wellington, Or over in Australia, but do pray for this work in North America. There is a great need there. And they can fill that need in some measure. And pray that God may use

00:59:43.300 - 01:02:03.510

them. Then pray that God may use you too. That you may build for him, for our blessed Savior, a temple for His glory. Thank you, Mr. Cook. Now it's our pleasure to introduce to you the Reverend John Troney and Mrs. Terroney. Thank you. Yeah.

01:02:04.780 - 01:02:39.280

Yeah. To conclude this brief bracket with the use of His eye is on the sparrow. I sing because I'm happy. I sing because I'm free. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.