Christian Friendship ess eng er TO KNOW CHRIST — HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM — MAKE HIM KNOWN Volume 23 November 1969 Issue 11 © Give Thanks Unto The Lord Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever. Psalm 106: WARREN — Visitors from Syracuse, Medina, all the Akron- ‘Area churches, Including Barberton, Cleveland and Union City, Pennsylvania gathered with us on Sunday, September 28 to hear what great things the Lord has done in the hearts, and lives of John Enyingi and his sister in-law, Barbara Roby. ‘John testified that he had arrived at a point in his life where he had a choice of doing one of two things—visiting his sister- ‘indaw and have her take him to a minister, or, committing suicide. By God's grace he chose the former, and through His love was led out of complete despair into the way of Light land Life and Peace. The horror of his past lay before him and hhe had to eamestly pray the Lord to take him out of the environment of this world, and to forgive him for his past sins. Step by step God led him and helped hm make rest tutions where he had done wrong. Now John says, "I know this is the right way—I went the “other” way and saw there ‘wasn't anything there. This is where I want to stay.” Barbara said one morning she opened her Bible and asked ‘the Lord to speak to her ... and He led her to the home of 4 friend, Sister in falth. Barbara asked her to please just talk to her as she didn't know which way to tum. She knew she was lost and had to repent. She started to come to church fand the Lord heard and answered her plea that He should show her the right way. She further testified: “When HE leads, ‘you know it I feel like diferent person.” Our joy was exalted as we listened to their testimonies of the new life they have in Christ who cleansed and pardoned them from all sin and we Join them in continually praising ‘Him for His wonderful blessings. Congregational singing after ‘supper was an inspiration to all who joined us in thanksgiving for His wonderful works. MEDINA —"We greet you, our companions blest ... And may His blessings on you fall” Such was our prayer as we gathered from far and near on the weekend of October 4, to hhear the testimonies of Susan Demiter and her brother Philip Demiter, children of Sister Helen and the late Elder Brother John Demiter. Susan sald it was easy going down hill but in her heart she knew it wasn't the right way and she didn’t want to re- ‘main there. When God answered some of her prayers it gave hher faith to pray more and it was her willingness to give herself over to the Lord that opened the way for her. She had left home in resentment, and while working with people who really need help she had time to "find" herself. It took a long time for her to realize what she had to overcome but the Lord helped her and now she wants to livein such a way that her works will support her faith, Philip testified that he felt wretched and hopeless and had ‘to ask the Lord with all his heart to forgive him for all he had done wrong against His will. He expertenced that prayer changes things and now he has the peace and love that only God ean give. He wants only the Lord's wil to be done in his life for he can find nothing more perfect outside the body of Christ. DENVER —On October 18 we rejoiced to hear the te ‘monies of three teenagers, which proved to us that the Lord is stil working miracles In the lives of those who will yield to Him, Inge Prefer, daughter of Joe and Rose: When I was about 13 years old I made a decision to follow Christ. I backsld, though, because I didn't let Christ lead my Ife. I tried todo it all by myself. After that I just didn't seo to care about God. People always told me I was s0 good and 1 started believing it Satan had me convinced that T'was just ‘88 good as any Christian. Then one night at a youth group ‘meeting the person in charge ofthe program decided we would all talk about our Christian experiences. Apparenty he didn't know that T wasn't a Christian. When he came to me T had to ecome right out and say, "I'm not saved.” After that T could really hear the Lord talking to me. He showed me that He really did love me, and when I finally realized that Christ really did love me, 1 decided to give my life to Him. After that I prayed that the Lord would forgive my sins and give Continued on page 2 ® Give Thanks: Unto The Lord’, Call Upon His Name: Make Known His Deeds Among The Peuple.® Give Thanks Unto The Lord Concluded from page 1 me peace. He showed me I had peace when He led me to Romans chapter eight, verse one, in the Bible I know I don't deserve His love or salvation, but I pray that He will use me in some small way for His honor and glory. Patty Kinkel, daughter of Allen and Betty: ‘About five years ago I made my first decision at camp, but 5 wasn't a real one. When I went back to school I wanted to do what the others were doing. I was very popular in school. T would cheat and lie to my parents. This made me feel bad because when you have nice parents who love you it hurts to hurt them. This past summer I found peace with God and roally feel that Jesus Is going to work through me. I haven't one much for Him yet but I do want to be a witness for Him, Fred Kailer, Jr, Son of Frod and Ruth: Tmade my decision two years ago at Prescott. I thank the Lord that T wasn't scared into this decision. I was drawn to ‘the Lord through His love. I knew that I would be lost if I ied but I'm glad that T took my time in repentance. Many times I felt I should give up, but then I knew that if 1 would Td be lost. I used to have a real hard time at home but it's fetting easier all the time. AE SKYLINE DRIVE One of the largest groups ever to assemble at the Skyline Drive Outing, approximately 230, were blessed with warm ‘sunshine and beautiful fall colors to complement the blessings of fellowship and worship. Many local campers gathered with us for Bible Class and moming worship following breakfast ‘and fellowship, ‘Bible Clase, led by Bro. Werner Leimgruber, was taken from 11 Chron. 20:14-80. It was brought out that if we, like Jehosha. phat, should be confronted by the enemy of our soul, we should 0 immediately to the foot of the cross and leave it there. If ‘ve, willingly and fearlessly, acknowledge our helplessness be- fore God publicly, we "shall not need to fight in this battle” because “the battle is not ours, but God's God told Jehosha- phat, “sit yourselves, stand ye still and see the salvation of the Lord with you,...fear not, nor be dismayed: tomorrow go ‘out against them: for the Lord willbe with you.” This promise Is also for us, and we "shall rejoice over our enemies” and hhave “rest round about” However, we must not forget to “praise the Lord; for His mercy endureth forever.” to thank Him for His undying help and glorious promises to be near us at all times. ‘The moming worship service was delivered by Bro. John Zeug trom Luke 15:1-7. Bro. John told us of an event he wit ‘essed while in Germany. A shepherd was leading his sheep Into a corral, and some of them strayed a little way from the gate. The shepherd, apparently in a hurry, beat the straying sheep until they were Inside the corral with the others. Bro. Jon contrasted this episode to Christ and His sheep. The ‘Shepherd of our souls, Jesus, is kind and loving. He said, “Re- Joice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.” The Blessing Of The Lord, It Maketh Rich. PAGE TWO Pleace Be Unto Vou Continue in prayer, and wateh in the same with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2, MANSFIELD — Adam and Marietta Baumann, son and aughterin law of Bro, Jacob Baumann, were announced to hhave peace with God and man. They too confess, as did Solo- ‘mon of old, "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:6. PORTLAND — We rejoice that three young people were recently announced as having peace with our Lord. They are: Dennis Feucht, Sandy Hrubik, and Marilyn Peck. e NORTH AKRON —""For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord." Tom Hillich, son of Brother ‘Joe, having found this wisdom, has also in the course of his repentance found peace with the Lord. Thanksgiving comes to the people of the United States and Canada once a year by statute. To the grateful man it comes as frequently as the heart of grat- itude will permit. ‘This is quite a contrast to the earthly shepherd who beat his, sheep. However, before Christ can be the Shepherd of our souls, we must recognize that we are sinners, In need of repentence land reconeliation with God. A sinner is not necessarily one ‘who commits gross sin. It takes just unbelief and you are as lost as the “great” sinners. "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not Is condemned already. ‘To "believe" is to recognize yourself as a sinner; so when you see your sinfulness, see how utterly lost you are. Then, when you make this realization, you will want to accept Christ as the Shepherd of your soul and let Him into your heart to lead you to the “sheepfold.” Tt is up to us, the Sheep of His Flock, to tell others what Christ did for us. We can't just sit down and rejoice: that Is necessary but we should proclaim the salvation of Jesus Christ so that others can rejoice with us as they, too, become His sheep. Our life, being an example, may not be enough; we hhave to speak the Truth. Theo, with our good example and our witnessing, Christ has a better chance to save more souls for His sheepiold. We must take every chance we can to talk bout Christ instead of letting conversation dle; and, If we Seriously ask, the Lord will afford us opportunities to be an effective witness for Him. He ls calling each of us to awaken from our sleepy condition. He needs us to be "shepherds" for Him, to the fulfilling of His purposes of spreading the Gospel Let us awaken to the needs all around us so that others can find Christ as their Savior. It takes a desire and willingne and love for our sinner friend todo this. And, with the Lord’ help, we can be shepherds for Him. S CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIP MESSENGERTHANKSGIVING 1S THANKSLIVING One of America’s most precious and Deautiful traditions is THANKSGIVING — when we are called by a Presidential proc- Jamation issued nearly one hundred and eighty years ago to give witness to our sratitude for the mercy and beneflcence of a Provident Creator. In each of our hearts there should be a deep and abiding sense of thankfulness for the dally bless: Ings with which our lives are encompass- ‘ed. Even our failures and sorrows serve {to Intensify the joys that come through friendships with their comfort and encour- ‘agement. Our best thanksgiving is thanks. ving! A PSALM OF PRAISE Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lids. Serve the Lord with gladnes ‘come before His presence with singing Know ye that the Lord He is God; it is He that hath made us, and not we our selves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and Into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bles His name. For the Lord is good: His mercy 's everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations & MAKE YOUR WORLD BEAUTIFUL Make your world beautifl Begin with ust the simplest thing ‘A word to speak, a song to sing, A prayer to say, a note to write, ‘A room to clean, a lamp to light ‘To lead some pilgrim through the night. Make your world beautiful Be kind to one you thought unkind, Give selflessly and you will find ‘The miracle that makes a friend, ‘A rosesstrewn pathway round the bend, A rainbow atthe river's bend. Make your world beautiful... ‘Awake to beauty, come aware fal the good in which you share, ‘The love that round about you lie ‘And you wil see with glad surprise How close you live to Paradise, THANK THE LORD "And since it is of Thy merey, © gracious Father, that another week is added to ‘our lives; we here dedicate again our soul and our bodies to Thee and Thy service, in a sober, righteous, and godly life; during the week we made new resolutions and {in these, do Thou, O merciful God, confirm and strengthen us; that, as we grow in ‘age we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray...” thus uttered the crew of a large aircraft cartier wich had just lost almost haif its men during an attack in the second world war. ‘The men had good reason to be thankful; they had been spared the agony of dying famidst tremendous smoke, heat, and flames which resulted when they were hit; they hhadn't lost their lives in the iy waters of the great Pacific; and they weren't mortally wounded by flying shrapnel. The scene of all three were very vivid in thelr minds fs they were faced with the task of burying at sea the remains of several hundred ‘of their buddies. Their reaction to the situation was to hold a service of thankugiving, When we come through trying times, moments of despair, hours of great sorron, what Is our reaction? Do we have a feeling of gratitude for the Lord's presence? He Promises to be with us every moment of our lives. Only our selfwill and lack of Submission to Him keep us from His promise: “Lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the world” “Alway” is every minute in a twenty-four hour period! The Word also promises, “The Lord is not slack conceming His promise as some men count slackness, but is longsuflering to usward.” Thank the Lord that He is long suffering or we in our mortal flesh and human, finite reasoning would never have chance to be with Him someday. Thank the Lord for allowing us the time to tum ‘to Him and for accepting us as His own children as sinful as we were—as rebellious fs we acted—us sel-villed as we insisted on being—as hateful and spiteful as our thoughts were. We deserved completo and utter destruction in contrast to the per fection of God's creation. But no—thank the Lord His love is greater than all our sin, His forgiveness is complete, His plan of salvation is simple, His peace—periect Peace—is far more precious than anyone or anything in the whole world, His Spisit lives within our hearts to guide and direct every thought and action according to His will. Thank the Lord all we have to do is submit to Him: be obedient to His Word, stay in constant communication with Him, live so that our joyful hearts are almost bursting with love for Him! Thank the Lord we have ample opportunity 10 serve Him, whether big or small, to reflect His love. Thank the Lord we don't have to serve Satan anymore—we are no longer slaves to his activities which result rom the lust of the eye, lust ofthe flesh How can we help but be grateful for His bountiful blessings which He bestows on lus when we seek Him frst? The more eamestly we seek Him and the farther in the background we put ourselves, the farther up front and the more of our lives Christ ‘can oceupy. We can't help but reflect Him If He occupies our whole hearts. ‘Just as the men on the ship, we are most grateful for the things which God does land gives which we know satisfy a need. It takes only a moment of pondering to realize how great our needs would be if God didn’t provide. Let our thanks enumer. ate from there TWO PROVERBS If we have no faith in ourselves, and in the kind of future we can create together, we are fit to follow, not to lead. Let us remember that the Bible contains two proverbs we cannot afford to forget. The first is, “MAN DOES NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE,” and the second is, “WHERE THERE IS NO VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH.” Let Kverything That Hath Breath Praise The Lord. \ Praise Ue The Lord. November 1969 PAGE THREE