IN A home where the father was a slave to drink and gambling, suffering and poverty reigned. A home missionary and a Christian lady who labored so faithfully at the gospel mission tried to win this family for Christ. They invited an evangelist from another town to have special gospel meetings in their hall. Few missions in a small hall have produced such an abundant and abiding fruit.
Jennie, a little daughter, nine years of age, belonging to this home we have mentioned, was saved by God’s grace. A few nights afterward, her mother entered upon the joy of salvation, but the father persistently refused to attend the meetings. One night at the close of a meeting, the little girl stood up and with tears she said, “Will you please pray for my Daddy?” Earnest prayers went up to God for her father’s salvation.
Years have gone by, and the evangelist paid several visits to that town, but this man had never been to hear the gospel message. He was often visited in his home and on one occasion he promised faithfully to attend the meeting that night. When his wife and daughter came, they said with tears, “He will not come. He has gone and locked himself in the chicken coop.”
The evangelist and another Christian went to the chicken coop. It was locked, but they climbed over the fence, and there they found the man and his brother. With love and faithfulness they warned and plead with these two men.
The gambler seemed as hard as ever, but right there in the coop the brother received the Lord Jesus as his Saviour. He became a Sunday school teacher, and an active gospel worker in the town, until the closing days of last year when he was called home to be with Christ. The few years of loving service are hay memories to his loved ones, and many will remember the man who was saved in the chicken coop.
The only time his brother attended a service was at the funeral. He is a sad example of the hardening por of sin. However, his Christian friends continued to hope and pray for his salvation also.
Let those I seek to win for Thee,
Know that the Lord who died for me
Has shown through me His strong desire
To save them from eternal fire;
Oh Lord, until life’s work is done,
Use me to win them—one by one.
ML-03/02/1969