Page 181 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (3)_Neat

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12 NEGLECTED ARABIA

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at one of the larger towns in the Mosul area. They admit that their i
people are benighted (not altogether their fault though) but that i$ 1
their main argument, their people need the light so badly. Another -j it
point they make and one that sticks, is that whatever we may <]<, i|
among and for Christians can be no glory to us like bringing the 1
light to people who have none. It is rather hard to explain to
people that the Mission has a budget and harder yet to say that thU.-S
year there is nothing for extension. In fact, I did not attempt ii^S
I tried to express the interest I felt without arousing any fal^|
hopes. Now I wonder if you can conjure up the picture? “Thcr*
was a man of . . . standing, beseeching him and saying, Comr:|
over and help us. And when he had seen the vision, straightway^
he wrote a letter back home. *•**
a
* Vv
A Baptismal Service .
Tim time is Christmas Day, our gbul day, and the place ii ll$
sitllitg-ruuiu hi the Mission house where about twenty-live lining
ested people are gathered. Two men ure to be bantized after Iuivinf3
been under instruction for some months. One ol them is a simply-;
unlettered man from a village to the east of Baghdad, but very
earnest and consistent. The other man comes from one of the great?
Shia centres of this country and is well educated. He studied* tl*.<
Bible for years and became convinced that Jesus is his Savior*
he was anxious to take this final step. In addition to the
baptismal vows they are asked if they abjure the Koran and ail iuJ
teachings contrary to the Gospel and the answer is clear, I do.Tvj
We all realize that in abjuring their former faith and making public.'
profession of the new, they are cutting themselves- off from 4j
former associations and means of livelihood. But there is joy be­
cause the Lord is adding such as are being saved to His church. -3