Page 239 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (3)_Neat

NEGLECTED ARABIA 9

on authority. Argument with a Kurd is useless: knowing nothing of why
lie believes as he does and almost nothing of the content of the belief,
reason cannot affect the basis of his faith. Demonstration is the only
thing, so far as I can see, that can touch him. But that can. The Kurd
is a farmer, and he understands “by their fruits shall ye know them.”
He cannot deny the evidence of a life that is better than his. And that
better refers to all of life. The most patent things are material; and I
* am interested in showing him that I can grow better fruits than he can.
He is beginning to realize that he has been cheated out of intellectual
progress and is wanting to send his boys to school. Here also is a mis-
1 " sionary opportunity. But. if we let anything other than the preaching
t and practice of the gospel take first place in our activities, we are miss- i
: ' ing the mark.
- One feature of missionary work here deserves special mention. For
^ * many years the gospel has been preached by missionaries among the moun-
l tain Nestorians. In recent years, most of that work has been carried
L . by Dr. McDowell, who is now with us at Mosul, though he formerly
? *'• worked out from Urumia. A small body of evangelical, spiritual Chris-
l tians now exists among them, refugees in this country. From childhood
1 they have learned the Kurdish language along with their own Syriac;
I and now, in the good providence of God, they are here and fitted for the
I - :.work of preaching the gospel through which their own lives have been
■ transformed. ' We have a number of them now working among both
I the Moslem -Kurds and the Yezidis, who are also Kurdish-speaking. And
I we are expecting results/
I In prospect, what I am most ardently hoping for in the way of re-
I . inforcements is a doctor to work with me. With the door of literature
■ . doictl, the opportunity for a representative of the Great Physician is
m especially urgent. Our mission has asked for such reinforcement for the
if coming year; the granting of the request is dependent, of course, on the
I “ man and the money for his support being forthcoming from America.
K For that, as for all our work and for all of life here and hereafter, we
S are (Tepending on the grace of God in Christ Jesus. To be sure. He
1 uiually works through His church; and we are hoping for a response from
H the church. But if any lesson in the Christian life has been learned out
1 here, it is that of dependence on God directly rather than on the agencies
\ He may choose to do His will. Believing the promise of our Lord
X that there shall be one fold, one Shepherd, I believe that the Kurds also
| will come to Him. To have a share in bringing them is the height of
1 my ambition.

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