09 The First Queensland Conference

Sarah Jane Lancaster

[10] GN vol. 19, no. 11, 1 November 1928

Good News

The OFFICIAL ORGAN

of the APOSTOLIC FAITH MISSION of AUSTRALASIA.

PUBLISHED MONTHLY .-- EDITOR, J. LANCASTER.

The Editor is responsible for the soundness and general character of every contributed article—but not for every detail of interpretation. Writers must be allowed latitude to express their own thoughts.

THE LORD MY SHEPHERD IS.

The Lord my Shepherd is,

I shall be well supplied,

Since He is mine and I am His,

What can I want beside?

He leads me to the place

Where heavenly pasture grows,

Where living waters gently pass,

And full salvation flows.

If e'er I go astray,

He doth my soul proclaim,

And guides me in His own right way,

For His most holy name.

While He affords His aid

I cannot yield to fear,

Though I should walk through death's dark shade,

My Shepherd's with me there.

In spite of all my foes,

Thou dost my table spread.

My cup with blessing overflows,

And joy exalts my head.

The bounties of Thy love

Shall crown my future days,

Nor from Thy house will I remove,

Nor cease to speak Thy praise.

—By Isaac Watts.

DO WHAT YOU CAN'T.

Have you noticed how Christ called upon the man with the withered arm to stretch forth his hand for healing? (Mark 3:1-5). It was the one thing he couldn't do, and he was asked to do it. The shrivelled thing had mocked him for years. The strange thing is he immediately raised it. The very endeavor to obey the word of Christ brought the power to obey. Had he said: "I can't," he would have gone to his grave a cripple.

Here is a vital truth for us all. Christ seemingly asks us often to do what we can't do. Yet if we would but take the first step to obey, we would find that strength and means would come. His commands _ are enablements. Anyone can do the humanly possible, but a Christian who moves, in obedience to his Lord ought to be able to overturn mighty strongholds in the power of the Holy Spirit. The weak can confound the mighty. F. B. Meyer says: "You do not test the resources of God until you attempt the impossible." Friend, if he has spoken to_ you—dare to act, and you will find yourself accomplishing great things for God.—"The Campaigner."

The anvil breaks a host of hammers by quietly bearing the blows.

THE FIRST QUEENSLAND CONFERENCE

Paul planted, Apollos watered, and in eighteen short months God granted a glorious increase which culminated in a blessed meeting together in order to strengthen the bond of unity which has been established from north to south, and to further the cause of a Full Gospel Evangelism for Queensland.

Where shot and shell availed not, the Spirit of the living God has caused a mighty shaking of all things movable, that the things which could not be shaken might remain.

Supreme blessing has followed the simple presentation of the Scriptural teaching regarding the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and on every hand abundant evidence is manifest to establish the fact that in this, the dispensation of the Holy Ghost, God is setting His seal upon the preaching of this paramount and most vital need of.both the ministry and laity of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout this State; yea, and throughout the world!

Before leaving Queensland for the south, Evangelist Van Eyk, realising that God was doing a quick work in this State, felt constrained to call a gathering together of the members of the Apostolic Faith Family for the purpose of conserving and consolidating the results of the arduous labors of the past months. Such a gathering would, he felt, promote a greater zeal on the part of both pastors and flocks, and would establish a deep love and heart unity, the benefit of which could not be over-estimated.

Arrangements for a conference in Brisbane, therefore, were duly completed, and the response to the clarion call proved most gratifying, resulting in an effect which surpassed even the dreams of the convener.

Meetings were held during the day at which practical decisions were arrived, and a State Advisory Committee was formed, of which Evangelist G. E. Burns, of Maryborough, was elected President.

Thirty-eight delegates in all were present, including several really fine men who, prior to their association with this mission, worked in connection with various churches.

Inspiring it most surely was to hear one after another of these dear bre thren tell with beaming countenance of the inexpressible joy of such a wide and powerful rhinistry as the baptism in the Holy Spirit enables one to attain unto. There was no difficulty now about filling the prayer room—no, the rivers are flowing out of the innermost beings of both preachers and congregations, which create a longing for prayer, a praiseful people, and a shouting of Aniens and Hallelujahs!

Perhaps the most striking feature, however, is the fact that there is a real experience behind every profession and expression—the Holy Spirit makes individuals humble, and the Church fruitful.

The main speakers for the conference were Evangelists Van Eyk, Burns, and Buchanan, and Pastors Smith, Larsen, and W. J. and Chas. Enticknap. Others were Mr. Baskerville, of Townsville; Mr. Todd, of Rockhampton; Mr. Baumgardt and Bro. Dakin, of Maryborough, and Bro. Martin, of Wooloowin.

At the opening meeting of the conference the Chairman (Evangelist Van Eyk) opened with these words: "This is a unique gathering—drawn together by the Spirit of God. They said 'Did not our heart burn within us?' (singular tense) and 'Of one heart and one soul.' The great theme and underlying principle of this movement is the Blessed Outpouring of the Holy Ghost in preparation for that glorious gathering unto the Lord Jesus Christ, our glorious Head, and tonight we come in that precious Name of Jesus, having His promise that He is in our midst.

[11] GN vol. 19, no. 11, 1 November 1928

"We glorify Jesus Christ from the depths of our being that He has drawn us together in this magnificent way with such boundless opportunities before us. As I scan the horizon it broadens out into infinity. We are here to discuss the best means possible to carry on this mighty Gospel with a united front throughout the State. I rejoice to tell you there is perfect unity amongst God's people from the north to the south of Queensland. The little differences that existed have been wiped away, and it is my great pleasure to welcome our Brothers and Sister Entick-nap to our midst. Beloved, now that we have unity, let us keep it!"

Sister Lancaster, who is Vice-President of the Executive Council, and Editor of the "Good News," the official organ of the A.F.M., was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for the magnificent and stupendous work done by her towards the furtherance of the cause ol' Christ, especially in the editing of this beautiful little messenger,, which is such a blessing to so many hungry souls. They owed her, they said, a debt of gratitude which they could never repay for her able and self-sacrificing labors.

Bro. Swenson, in paying a tribute to the value of the paper, said: "'Good News' is the most admirable little missionary paper in the world. I read it through from end to end, and then I begin again, and every time there seems to be some fresh message to my heart. The generality of people do not recognise how valuable it is. I know something of what it has done to lift humanity out of despondency and despair, and can, therefore, speak as one having authority."

Brother Smith, of Rockhampton, added his testimony thus: "The 'Good News' is about the finest paper I have ever read. I have never received so much he from any other magazine as I have done from the 'Good News.' It finds its way into the weirdest of places at times. Say, let us help to spread it further.'

Brother Smith, in addressing a meeting later, said: "I was down in Brisbane for the Congregational yearly meetings twelve months ago, being a minister of that Church. I went to hear Brother Van Eyk and to see what he was like. He asked me if I would go on his platform, but I had not then learned to walk on my feet and was rather afraid of what people might think of me, so I sat in the congregation. But I praise God to-night that I am a Pentecostal preacher instead of a Congregational minister, for there is nothing so grand and marvellous as being in Pentecost —it is the grandest experience that life holds."

He then gave a short but able address, his subject being: "The Task, or Work of Pentecost." The work of Pentecost, he pointed out, was to establish God's dominion in the soul of man. We have to witness w that Christ-conquering power for Jesus Christ, and it is only as we witness in the power of the risen Lord that our witness can have any result or effect.

Pastor Larsen said: "I feel like Jesus felt when He looked on His loved ones and said, 'I thank Thee, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes.' I rejoice in spirit, and so did Jesus. I feel right down in my heart that there is a wonderful spirit of love in this meeting—something that has linked us together in the bonds of the Holy Ghost,' He spoke of the blessing to be derived by one assembly praying for another, and said it was because of the prayers of the saints that God was working in such a marked way. He had, he said, impressed upon his people the great necessity for prayer, with the result that there is a prayer meeting every night, and sometimes two! Consequently, he said, the rain is falling, the crops are growing, and the harvest is ready to reap.

The Presidential address, which was made a blessing to all who heard it, will appear in "Good News," and Evangelist Van Eyk's conference address is being prepared for a later issue.

REPORT MARYBOROUGH A.F.M. MISSION.

August 24, 1928.

Brother Burns has recently been giving us some very fine messages, and as a result the attendances are good at all meetings. Last Sunday night, August 19, the Tabernacle was as full as it has ever been since we have been in it. On August 27 it is twelve months since we dedicated the Tabernacle to the Lord, and on Wednesday, August 29, 1928, we will have our first annual meeting. Pray for us, and pray for this meeting. Brother and Sister Mr. and Mrs. Close are shortly moving on to Biggenden. A hall has been engaged for a mission campaign to be held there (God willing) after the Queensland conference.

The mission, I think, is dated to commence about September 23. Pray that a rich ingathering of souls will be the result, and that the prejudice which now exists against the baptism will be broken down. Good meetings at Scarness last Sunday, 11 a.m., in a hall, and an open air meeting on the beach in the afternoon.

Some wonderful healings have been reported recently. There are some dozen or more hungry for the Promise of the Father. Praise the Lord, we know we can receive greater things yet, for there is nr.: to follow if we keep low, humble and willing to le the Lord have His own way with us. Praise Him.

—Will H. Dakin.

Townsville, October 7, 1928.

Dear Sister,—Greetings in Jesu's Name! We are still having good times here in Townsville—the dear Lord is blessing, there are 30 now who have received the* Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and last Tuesday week the Baptists here kindly lent us the Church, and we had a lovely service, when 16 dear ones went down into the waters of baptism. Praise His dear Name. What a Saviour! Our dear folks are growing in the Lord, and the gifts of the Spirit are being manifested through some of them. God is using them in the open air, which is indeed largely attended—between 30 and 40 standing in the ring Saturday and Sunday nights. Also our hall services are really good, one hundred attending every Sunday evening, and at our mid-week service we have about 60 attending. Having a new room now which is more central, we expect things to grow, and . our prayer meeting every Friday night we just reach out to God to work in a mighty way. I believe they are having good times in Mackay at present. Praise His dear Name! It is lovely to know that we are all working together in the unity of the Spirit, and I do pray nothing may come in to upset the work begun.

Christian love to all the dear ones, and love to yourself, from—Yours in His happy service,

JEAN AND WILL ENTICKNAP.

ARE YOU A LIVING TREE?

Dr. A. C. Dixon once said: "Every church is divided into two classes that may be called trees and posts. Plant a tree, and it begins to grow. Stick out a post, and it begins to rot. The difference between a tree and a post is simply a matter of life. The tree is alive, while the post is dead. A pastor enjoys the living trees of his church, watching thenl grow and bear fruit, while he is often perplexed to know what to do with the posts that show no signs of life. It takes much of his time and strength to paint and prop up the posts and finally have them carried off when they have fallen down."