FAIR SUNSHINE

 "Years ago an Englishman had made his fortune in the gold fields in California. He was returning to England to live. He forwarded his wealth to London and came overland by stage and river steamer to New Orleans. From there he planned to take a ship to New York and from there to England. As a tourist in New Orleans he did as most tourists do; he went down to the slave market. In the early 1850's slaves were still being sold in New Orleans and elsewhere in the South. It was a noisy, active market. Men were gathered observing a young, very beautiful black woman who was up for bid. He heard the men's comments as they were speaking about her. He saw two evil looking men bidding for her, quite heatedly, and then he overheard them say what they would do with her. His heart revolted against the whole swinish business. Finally, as the bids rose higher and more frenzied, he beckoned to the auctioneer and quoted a figure which was exactly twice the last bid, utterly beyond anything ...

I see it necessary to write about the past year, without having to go into unsavory details, and look instead on the hand of God that wrought this wonderful work which I now look back to in awe and wonder. When we started our family bible studies on the last week of February 2021 we were just 6 people including I. It ran 6 nights a week even while we were in our previous congregation, till we were found out and was questioned because it was unsanctioned. This slowly led me to believe my direction was different from the local church's. After long weeks of  praying and heart searching, I came to the conclusion: we needed to separate. But it had to be done the loving way. It was never in my mind to disturb the waters or seek attention, so I also sought the counsel of godly pastors who had nothing to do with the matter, and this made their judgment unbiased. Everyone of them had dealt with members leaving, and all of them still wanted to retain the Christ like love of fellowship f...

Plenty of takers, and still some dregs who'd rather crumple the tracts and throw it to the ground unashamedly. This is a very dark area of the city. Encounters. One on one. Ups and downs. Nothing done in His name is in vain.