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. My heart aches to recount this chapter of Divine Trial, but I must declare His faithful hand in it all. When I commenced our family devotion—a private study which began in the last week of February, 2021—we were but six souls, myself included, meeting six evenings a week, even while we were in our previous congregation. Alas, we were discovered and grievously questioned, for the work was unsanctioned by the authority of man. This conviction slowly grew upon me: that the LORD's direction for my soul was diverging from that of the local assembly. After long weeks of fervent prayer and painful heart-searching, I came to the clear conclusion that we needed to separate. Yet, it must be done in pure love! It was never my desire to disturb the waters or seek the vain attention of men. T...

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.