CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 775, 23 September 1929, Page 14

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR

ANNUAL CONVENTION CITY-WIDE CELEBRATION Special services and meetings throughout many city and suburban churches characterised the observance yesterday of the 37th annual convention of the Auckland Christian Endeavour Union? The celebration began on Saturday, ■when a discussion on the union’s activities was held in the Beresford Street Congregational Church Hall. A junior rally was held at the Unity Hall in the evening, when 23 societies were represented. The competition shields for the largest Increases in attendance during the year were won by the Mount Eden and the Green Lane societies. Addresses on the work of the organisation were given at both meetings by Miss Jennie Street, the well-known evangelist. Yesterday evening 14 members of the Beresford Street Congregational Church Endeavour Society visited Swanson and a similar number went to Avondale. Special services were held at both suburbs The convention will conclude on Wednesday evening, when a consecration rally will be held in the Baptist Tabernacle.

FIVE MILLION MEMBERS

REVIVAL IN GERMANY GRANGE ROAD ADDRESS In harmony with other churches in tlie city, the Grange Road Baptist Church held most impressive and interesting services yesterday. These began with meetings at 10 a.m. of the Junior C.E. Society, led by Mr. Bruce Muir, and at the same hotfr, in another part of the building, of the Intermediate C.E. Society, led by Mr. B. M. Wilson. At 11 a.m. Mr. H. B. Bristow, Christian Endeavour expert, conducted the service, assisted by leading Endeavour workers of the church. An exchange of speakers with a neighbouring society, led by Mr. S. Jensen, C.E.E., a vice-president of the Endeavour Union, visited Grange Road and gave an appropriate address on the utility and value of the C.E. Society to the Christian Church. The junior society gave the special song item in place of the choir. After the usual gatherings of Sunday school and Bible class groups In the afternoon, a Christian Endeavour tea and table talk was held. This was followed by an open-air service, at which 60 workers were present, Miss Gwen McLeod officiating as organist, and Mr. Wilson as leader. At 7 p.m. the pastor of the church, the Rev. A. S. Wilson, also a C.E.E., conducted a characteristic Endeavour service, which seemed to be heartily enjoyed by all. A large number of workers assisted lu the service, and two songs were sung by the Intermediate C.E. Society. Addresses were given by Mr. H. B. Bristow, president of the senior society, on “The Call of Youth,” and Mr. B. M. Wilson, president of the intermediate society, on "The Present Challenge.” ’ The latter stated that there were now over 5,000,000 Christian Endeavourers at work in the world for the Christian Church; that over 250 new societies were started in the British Isles last year; that a great Christian Endeavour revival was sweeping through Germany, which now was the third Endeavour country in the world, with Australia as fourth. Misses Clarice Scott and Stephanie Bryant, who have recently passed the C.E. expert examination, set in London, were invested during the service with gold C. badges by Mrs. Wilson, wife of the pastor. The organist and pianists were the Misses Twentyman, Young, and McLeod.

LIGHT OF THE WORLD

“BEHOLD, I STAND AND KNOCK” EVANGELISTIC SERVICES Tjie series of special services in connection with the evangelistic campaign conducted in the Pitt Street Methodist Church were concluded yesterday. At the morning service the Rev. W. Walker preached on "Spiritual Enrichment.” He emphasised that the measure of blessing received is always determined by the attitude of the mind and heart of the worshipper. In the afternoon a youth tea and rally was held. The address dealt with the privileges and the responsibilities of church membership. The evening service was broadcast by IYA. The text chosen was “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” Mr. Walker declared that the purpose of God was to bring every person into vital union with Himself. To effectively achieve this He had revealed the fullness of His love in Jesus Christ. Jesus was God’s message to all mankind, telling of His loving thought and calling each person to a true repentance. At every avenue of the soul Jesus stood awaiting admission. The text told of the patient forbearance of Jesus as He stood knocking at the door of the heart. “He desires that every barrier which hinders His free access into the soul should be removed,” said the preacher. Persistent resistance to His appeal results in the hardening of the spiritual susceptibilities, so that it becomes more difficult to hear His voice or to respond when His voice is heard, Jesus never forces an entrance because free will is the hallmark of manhood, and the door can open only from within. To do nothing is to keep-the door closed against Him.

“Salvation is the simplest thing in the Christian religion. It consists in opening the door to Jesus, who is the Light of the World. The light of the sun travels 90 million miles to enable a person to see, but if the door of the eye be closed he will continue to dwell in darkness.” Jesus came from the heart of God to bring light to mankind, but every person must open the door before the light could shine into the soul. Mrs. W. Leather sang the solo, “Behold Me Standing at the Door.”