Due to the deterioration of his wife's health, and a financial deficiency which has been greatly aggravated by the dollar devaluation, missionary Richard L. Ferris is being forced to return to the States.
    One of the best prepared and most effective missionaries that our people have ever supported in Japan, this crisis should cause a great deal of heart searching as regards OUR stewardship. GOD HAS NOT FAILED this brother; but it is quite possible that WE HAVE FAILED BOTH GOD AND OUR BROTHER. In the strange ways of Divine Providence, God just MAY be using him as an instrument of instruction and rebuke to an unconcerned, self - satisfied people whose hearts do not break (and are, in fact, little effected) over an awareness that multitudes are perishing without Christ -- many of whom might have been rescued had those professing to love the Lord REALLY loved him "in deed and in truth". Have we REALLY prayed for this missionary (and others) as we ought? Have we been liberal (or selfish) in the use of our ABILITY to support the cause of missions with our finances? How does our contribution to missions compare

with what is wasted on mere comfort convenience, pleasure and prestige?
    There is not the slightest hint of complaint in Bro. Ferris's final letter from Japan, but there is no doubt about his leaving with a very heavy heart. And there will be the inevitable taunt of "failure" from the devil and his dupes; but they judge before the evidence is all in and presumptuously flaunt their ignorance in the face of Him who is the judge of all the earth. God WILL DO RIGHT! And He will uphold that servant whose heart and life are abandoned unto Him.
    It is NOT too late to manifest a genuine, Christian love toward Bro. Ferris and his family. This we may do by earnest prayer, words of encouragement, and a sacrificial liberality that will help them to get settled so as to find the necessary medical attention for Sister Nell's health. Write them:
      c/o Pastor Willard Spilman
          6705 Fenton Street
          Arvada, Colorado 80003
    May the Lord grant to this family the grace that is needed to make the transition -- opening before them the door of opportunity for joyful service. And, may He challenge our hearts to a more dil-

    From the stable in Bethlehem Judea to the cross on Golgotha, the life of Jesus was characterized by an unpretentious submission to the Father's will. This was the very essence of His first recorded word.
    At the age of 12 Jesus went, for the first time, to Jerusalem and the temple. The Passover was alwaysa time of rejoicing, but the heart of Jesus must have been stricken by the contrast of the outward merriment and piety with the inward greed, injustice and vanity of such as made merchandise of His people. He was soon lost among the elders, wise men and leaders of Israel. Assuming Him to be among their kindred, who had journeyed to Jerusalem together, Joseph and Mary started on their return trip to Nazareth. At the end of the day they discovered that Jesus was not among his kindred.

    The Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Greencastle, Indiana has established a Transportation Fund for her missionary, EDGAR D. SULLIVAN (formerly of Japan) who will be going to Okinawa in August of this year. This church will welcome offerings from sister churches to assist them in this project.
    In addition to providing for the actual passage of the Sullivan's to their new field of labors, Antioch would like to raise sufficient finances to purchase a 10 or 12 passenger bus for Bro. Sullivan to use on the new field.
    All funds received will be placed in a Passbook Savings Account and every cent of it used for the missionary. Their goal is $2,800.00 -- $l,200 for the actual travel expenses and an additional $l,600 for the purchase of the bus.
    Make your checks payable to:
"ANTIOCH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH"
and send them to Pastor JAMES A. McCOY, Route 4, Greencastle, Indiana 46135.
    Why not take a special, liberal offering for this fund - SOON? E.G.

igent and faithful support of those who carry the banner of the cross on the far-flung mission fields of the world.
    If we are willing, God will enable us to do far better than we have ever done in the past. And there will be no lack on the part of those He has called into special fields of labor. God is Faithful; what about YOU? E.G.

    It was in great anxiety that Joseph and Mary returned to Jerusalem -- in search of Jesus. On the fourth day they found Him in the Temple, 'sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astounded at his understanding and answers, (Luke 2:43-47).
    Amazed to find her son among the fathers of Israel, Mary inquired, in substance, "Son, Why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching all over for you!" Note carefully the answer of Jesus: "How is it that you sought me? Know you not that I must BE ABOUT MY FATHER'S BUSINESS?"
    Jesus never referred to Joseph as being His "father". And He constantly manifested the consciousness of a unique relationship to the Heavenly Father. It is true that He instructed His disciples to pray, "OUR Father" (in the Model Prayer); but He never did pray in such a manner Himself. The Model Prayer contained a confession of sin, which would have ever been inappropriate upon His lips. God was His father AND their Father; but He was Jesus' Father in an entirely different sense -- just as Jesus was the "Son of God" in an entirely different and unique way.
    At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus lifted His eyes toward heaven and said, 'Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou bearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou

hast sent me', (John 11:41-42). On another occasion He asserted: "He that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him", (John 8:29).
    In the Garden where, in anticipation of Calvary, He sweat "as it were great drops of blood", He is heard to pray: "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but THINE BE DONE", (Luke 22:42). And finally in that awful hour of darkness, as He hang upon the cross, there fell from His bruised lips those words: "Father, INTO THY HANDS I commend my Spirit", (Jn. 19:30; Lk. 23:46).
    All this served to emphasize the words which He had spoken to His disciples earlier, "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I GO UNTO THE FATHER: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass that when it is come to pass YE MIGHT BELIEVE", (Jn. 14:28-29).
    Can YOU REALLY (rightfully) claim to be a "Christian" while refusing to SUBMIT your life under Christ's authority?

    According to the Gospel record; the Father twice spoke from heaven, in audible voice, declaring His pleasure in the Son. When Jesus had submitted to baptism at the hands of John the Baptist, the Father's voice resounded through Judean hills, 'This is my beloved Son

in whom I am well pleased', (Matt. 3:11). When He later took Peter, James and John up into a high mountain, He was "transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And behold, there appeared unto them Moses, and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles: one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud said: THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED: HERE YE HIM", (Matt. 17:1-5).

    To the Jews Jesus once said; "I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have HEARD OF HIM. They understood not that he spoke to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father HATH TAUGHT ME, I speak these things", (John 8:26-28).
    In anticipation of His identity with sin, at Calvary, the soul of Jesus was troubled exceedingly. But realizing that it was for this purpose that He had come into the world, He prayed: "Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spoke to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me", (John 12:28-30).
    Throughout His earthly life the ear of our Lord was faithfully attuned to the Father's voice. To what is YOUR ear attuned? Is your life characterized by "the faith of Christ"? Are you REALLY, then, a follower of Jesus?