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Robert Gessner

I could not find any information on this author.

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Jean Gibson

In 1973 William MacDonald, long-time friend and author of numerous books and commentaries, invited Jean to join him in starting an Intern Discipleship Training program in San Leandro, California.  Fairhaven Bible Chapel, a church which Jean had helped found, became the hub for this powerful ministry from 1973 to 2000.  Mr. Gibson sacrificially poured his life into training over 200 young leaders to serve Christ, most of whom are in foreign mission fields worldwide. Others who were in the IDT program are church leaders, teachers, and many foreign nationals. Jean’s gifts in shepherding and evangelism have led to thousands of people coming to know the Lord personally and to the strengthening of churches worldwide through mature, Bible-believing saints. His efforts in training young men and women in spiritual reproduction have led to hundreds of churches planted throughout the world.

He has written and published such books as Survey of Basic Christianity, Basic Christian Training, Intermediate Christian Training, Advanced Christian Training, Living Discipleship Principles, The Dynamic Church, I am a Christian-True or False, and a counseling course in disciple-making. He has newer books entitled Accuracy of Scripture with accounts of fulfilled prophecies, Answers to Bible Critics, and Creation or Evolution.

Another Bio from intro to one of his books

Otis Jean Gibson has written and published in more than thirty languages millions of copies of his seven books and Bible training manuals for church use. He has helped train more than two hundred leaders in discipleship, evangelism, leadership, preaching, and counseling. At least 40% of them are on the international mission field. Others are church-planters, elders, deacons, youth leaders, and key teachers worldwide. The Discipleship Intern Training Program (D.I.T.P.), which was begun in association with author and teacher William MacDonald, is responsible for most of this training. Mr. Gibson has called Mr. MacDonald “the most influential man in my Christian life.”

The author was a baptized, active member of a mainline Protestant denomination. He was president of his youth group and an altar boy. He attended a Christian university, yet he never remembers a single person inquiring about his soul or questioning the reality of his salvation hope. He had a Bible, knew its stories, recited the creeds, sang the hymns, but had no comprehension of the message of the Gospel. This has resulted in a life-long concern about false professions and improperly grounded hope for eternal salvation. He is a believer in salvation by grace alone, through faith in the Gospel offer, apart from works. He accepts no labels such as Calvinism (reformed), Armenian or other labels. When asked what kind of Christian he is (a label), he replies, “plain vanilla.”

He was converted in June 1946 after years of vainly seeking satisfaction in pleasure, travel, religion, and glory which he sought when joining the U.S. Marines as a volunteer immediately after the attack on U.S. forces in December 1941. After serving in the South Pacific, he was released from duty, still feeling an emptiness in the “God-shaped vacuum” within. After being led providentially to the San Francisco Bay Area to visit a friend and former Marine colleague, he was guided by the Lord to a Bible believing church which had an evening class for inquirers established by the Navigators ministry. There he learned the Gospel. Shortly thereafter, in a solitary room which he occupied as a single man, he knelt and surrendered his life to the Lord Jesus Christ without any reservations.

Thereafter, he worked for the Pacific Coast edition of the Wall Street Journal as a business reporter. Then he entered service with the US Veterans’ Administration. From there he entered the pharmaceutical industry and became Western Sales Manager and Assistant National Sales Director. While in business, he witnessed to business associates and preached at Christian business organizations, Bible conferences, and youth camps throughout the nation. In 1973 he gave up his position in business to become a full-time preacher who lived by faith alone. MacDonald’s urging to do this was a decisive influence. He helped plant a church, establish training ministries, and co-taught the Intern Program with MacDonald. He was an elder for almost fifty years.

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T B Gibert

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John MacArthur

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F W Grant

Extracted from “Chief Men among the Brethren”, 2nd. ed., Pickering and Inglis.

His claim for a permanent place in the hearts of the saints rests—as it really does with any, but more ostensibly than with most—in his identification with the Word of God. Unknown to many in the flesh, who have profited by his ministry, with little of what may be called popularity, or the magnetism supposed to be so essential in a leader, he is lost sight of in the precious truth which it was his joy to unfold. Those who knew him personally loved him for the worth and Christian nobility of his character, the fruit of God’s grace; for that wondrous mind received from Him; and for the simplicity and dignity of a true Christian man. But it is not of these things that we speak, while we would ever seek to walk in the steps of piety and faith wherever seen. We turn rather to that Word to which he held fast, and, in conscious feebleness and dependence, used so constantly. What views of the Word did he give us! What thoughts of Christ! What truths under the guidance of the Holy Spirit! These abide.

He had been for years a diligent student of the Book of Psalms. Not only did their contents attract, but the form in which they were written—their divisions into a pentateuch, the acrostic form of a number of them, their evident relation one to another in various groups—all these things impressed him with the fact that God had written them upon a distinct plan in which the numerical significance of psalm and group and book had a clearly marked and important place. But if the Psalms were written thus, why not all Scripture? So he went on, till he found the same Divine harmony throughout the inspired Word, set to work, and with unbounded patience produced “The Numerical Bible,” issued in several volumes, unfortunately not embracing the whole Bible. He was the author of “Facts and Theories as to a Future State,” “Genesis in the Light of the New Testament” “Spiritual Law in the Natural World,” “The Crowned Christ,” and many other valuable books and pamphlets, which have had an extensive circulation on both sides of the Atlantic.

The passion of our brother’s life, the desire that consumed him, was to make Christ more precious, to make His Word, more loved, more read, more studied. He made a significant utterance shortly before his departure. Sitting propped in his chair, with the Word of God open before him, as was his custom through the days of weary, helpless, waiting, he turned to the writer of these lines, and with a depth of pathos, glancing at his Bible, said: “Oh, the Book, the Book, the BOOK!” It seemed as though he said: “What a fulness there; how little I have grasped it; how feebly expressed its thoughts.” Thus he passed to be “with Christ” at Plainfield, New Jersey, on 25th July, 1902, on his sixty-eighth birthday. R.

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Anthony Norris Groves

Chief Men Among the Brethren Biography

It is not to be wondered, then, that Mr. A. N. Groves took after his father, and was fond of bold and daring enterprise, only not in the way of “loving his life” and amassing money, but rather in throwing his life and his money away—as it appeared to many. 

He was converted at Exeter, through Miss Paget, whose name is well known in connection with the work of Messrs. Chapman and Hake at Barnstaple. As a dentist he had a practice worth £1000 a year, which he relinquished to go out as a missionary. 

One of his first “ventures” was to take up a poor mason boy of the name of Kitto, who had fallen from a ladder and lost his hearing. This poor boy, with Mr. Groves’ unwearied help, became well known, and after Mr. Groves had taken him to Palestine and the East, he returned to England and wrote his famous “Kitto’ s Pictorial Bible,” was made a D. D., and afterwards pensioned for life by Queen Victoria. This investment alone surely surpassed all his father’s ventures. 

When Henry Martyn crossed from India to Syria, via Persia, all England was interested to hear of those countries, but Mr. A. N. Groves alone prepared to give himself to carry the Gospel to them. No tempting and comfortable steamer lay at London Dock ready to take him and his family on board. A small sailing yacht was lent to him by a friend, and in this the little party sailed for St. Petersburg. Mrs. Groves wrote: “Our party consists of our little family—two boys of nine and ten—Mr. Groves’ sister Lydia, Miss Taylor, and Mr. Bathie, a young man who came from Ireland.” One of the little boys was called Henry, who afterwards lived to serve the Lord for many years in this country. 

Trials and hardships abounded, of course, on the little yacht, and in Russia, travelling through rough, wild country in a carriage with their bag and baggage, hardships without number. Daily they were “in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness,” but they were all as nothing compared to what lay before, so that it would appear almost like a waste of time to dwell upon the details of this long overland journey from St. Petersburg to Bagdad. 

Bagdad is a city on the ancient river Euphrates, not far from the supposed site of the Garden of Eden, but Mr. Groves found the city to be a dreadful place, the temperature at times so hot that during the day all took refuge in the cellars under the house, and by night all slept—or tried to sleep—on the roof of the house. Nearly all the inhabitants were fanatical Mohammedans, who delighted in murder, war, and robbery. Little wonder that he found there, too, the dreadful plague, carrying off thousands of victims; and this with “war,” “famine,” and “flood” was the sum of the history of his three years’ stay in that dreadful place. The most distressing and touching part of it all was when his brave and noble-hearted wife, Mary Groves, died of the dreadful plague. Family after family had been swept out of existence in the district all round about where the missionaries lived, and still the “plague came not nigh their dwelling,” but when the storm seemed to have passed over, and light, and hope, and the dawn of a new day appeared to be breaking upon them, Mr. Groves makes this entry in his diary: “The Lord has this day manifested that the disease of my dear wife is the plague, and of a very dangerous type, so that our hearts are prostrate in the Lord’s presence. . . It is indeed an awful moment, yet my dear wife’s faith triumphs. The difference between a child of God and a worldling is not in death, but in the hope the one has in Jesus, while the other is without hope and without God in the world.”

From Bagdad, Mr. Groves and family went on to India, and finding very many open doors for the Gospel there he decided, “as much as in him lay,” to preach Christ to the heathen millions of this most populous country in the whole of Asia.

After seeing the need in many parts of India, Mr. Groves returned to England, and took back to India Messrs. Bowden and Beer, both of Barnstaple. These two missionaries settled in the Godavari district, and began work somewhat to the south of the Delta proper. For twenty years they toiled on almost alone, and with little encouragement, but others were raised up to join them—Mr. Heelis, Mr. M ‘Crae, Mr. Miles, Miss Taylor, and others—and now the work has spread into the Delta and over a wide area. 

Mr. Groves, in those early days, was blessed to a native, J. C. Aroolappan, who traveled about among the village some distance to the south of Godavari, Many through him believed, and churches were formed, but the work was not known to Christians in this country. Aroolappan died, and troubles came to the little assemblies. Some good missionaries wished to help them and join them to the Church of England, but the simple people could not fall into their ways. A Baptist society next tried to befriend the few native churches, but hitches occurred. They had been taught differently by Aroolappan, and when Mr. Handley Bird visited them a few years later, they received him with open arms. Can we imagine the joy of our brother in seeing in those many churches the fruit of Mr. A. N. Groves’ small beginnings sixty years before? 

Mr. Groves applied all his inherited ingenuity in seeking to improve the lot of the native Christians in India. Silk farming, coffee planting, and other industries were tried, involving the outlay of much of his own money,. with but little success. 

But years of anxiety and privation had told heavily upon him, and he was forced to return to England. He fell asleep at Bristol in May, 1853, and the first number of The Missionary Reorter was published in July of the same year. The Missionary Echo, afterwards Echoes of Service, has followed the work of The Missionary Reporter, so that as we from time to time read reports of work for the Lord in India, China, Africa, and many other distant places, we are forced to remember the hero who, under God, laid the foundation of much of the missionary interest happily found throughout our assemblies.

F S A

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James Gunn

(1900 — 1982)

. . our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellowbondslave in the Lord.” — (Colossians 4:7, NASV)

After over 60 years of faithful and devoted full-time service for his beloved Lord, Mr. James Gunn was called Home to be “with Christ” from Bethany Lodge, Unionville, Ontario (where he had been for only a day or two) on November 27, 1982.

On the afternoon of November 30, 1982, between four and five hundred people gathered for the funeral service at Don Valley Bible Chapel, Toronto, which had been Mr. Gunn’s home assembly for the last few years of his life.

Appropriate ministry was given by Dr. James T. Naismith and Mr. T. Ernest Wilson, special music having been provided by Mr. Gary Pickell. Dr. Naismith, who was personally acquainted with Mr. Gunn for twenty years, read from Romans 8:28 & 29, and paid tribute to a great man of God, a beloved father and friend, an outstanding servant of Christ, and a devoted student and teacher of God’s Word. He spoke of Mr. Gunn’s more than 60 years of service in several countries, including Venezuela, where the latter labored in the work of the Lord during his early years.

Mr. T. Ernest Wilson ministered from 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 and 4:5-8, having first met Mr. Gunn 52 years before at Swanwick Gospel Hall, Toronto. By then, both brethren had been on the mission field a few years — Mr. Gunn in Venezuela and Mr. Wilson in Angola. Mr. Wilson also took the graveside service, having recalled a message on three passages in Revelation which had been given by Mr. Gunn 40 years before at a conference in Forest, Ontario. Mr. Gunn’s subject was, “What Heaven Is Like,” and the references he used were Revelation 4:1-4, 21:1-5 and 22:1-6.

All of us who are linked with “Food for the Flock” magazine, along with a host of friends in Canada, the United States and overseas, join in expressing our Christian love, heartfelt sympathy and the continuance of our prayers to Mr. Gunn’s daughter, Gene (his faithful companion and nurse for the last years of his life); to his son, Graham; to his daughter, Anne; and to his four grandchildren.

It was my personal joy to have first met Mr. Gunn at the old Louisiana Street Gospel Hall in Houston, Texas, in the early 50’s during my student days at Dallas Theological Seminary (I even recall on that day that he spoke from 1 John). A few years later we met again in Houston, and it was at this time that our friendship began to blossom. It was also at that time that he both invited and encouraged me to do some writing for “Food for the Flock” magazine. In later years we ministered together at conferences in Ontario, Texas and New Jersey and, of course, we always looked forward to renewing fellowship at our annual magazine committee meeting in Toronto. In 1969 Mr. Gunn invited me, with the full approval of the magazine committee members, to join him as associate editor. Toward the end of 1973 he indicated that he would like me to take over the editorship, so during 1974 we worked closely together toward this goal, and then at the close of that year (with a proper sense of “fear and trembling” on my part) we switched responsibilities. From 1969 we enjoyed a particularly close relationship and frequently corresponded. Both my wife and I felt a special kinship with Mr. Gunn, since Mrs. Gunn and my father-in-law had multiple sclerosis, and through this we were able to genuinely appreciate this specific kind of trial which Mrs. Gunn endured for over 40 years.

Mr. Gunn was one of my chief encouragers in the work of the Lord and, among other things such as his personal friendship and fellowship and his prayers, I shall greatly miss his letters. As a fitting close to this brief sketch, I quote from the words of his last letter to me which was written on September 24, 1982, words which express his usual gracious and gentle manner:

Dear Brother Ross:

I deeply appreciate your kindness and thoughtfulness: your phone call, your card and letters. I have done very little writing, and am sorry that you had to wait so long for an acknowledgment of all these.

May the Lord Himself reward you fully, both now and in the future.

I have very little strength just now but the doctors say that will increase. I can only hope so.

Following some personal words of counsel, Mr. Gunn closed by writing:

May the Lord bless you, Ross, and continue to make you a great blessing to His people.

With warm love in our Lord Jesus, I remain,

Sincerely in Him,
James

W. Ross Rainey

(Editor’s note: Additional gratitude is expressed to Dr. James T. Naismith for providing me with specific details of the funeral service for Mr. Gunn.)

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Grian Gunning

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Milton Haack

Milton when home to be with the Lord.

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Ken Hardisty

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R Edward Harlow

He was a native of Toronto, Canada, who had been a winter resident of Frostproof for 12 years. He was a self-employed minister, missionary and author. He was a member of Frostproof Bible Chapel. He was co-founder of Emmaus Bible College, founder of everyday Publications, Bible teacher and writer of more than 50 books about the Bible. He was a missionary to the Congo.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret Burrit Harlow, in 1963.

He is survived by his wife, Gertrud Harlow of Frostproof; two daughters, Rhoda Hess of Mason City, Iowa, and Mary Lou Steffen of Iowa; a son, Stephan Harlow of Merritt Island; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

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W.J. Hocking, 1864-1953

(contributed by Mr. F.T. Pettman)

Mr. Hocking edited the Bible Treasury, (previously edited by William Kelly) for some time until this publication ceased. He edited a new magazine called the “Bible Monthly”. Under the pseudonym of “Yod”, he wrote a number of pamphlets for younger Christians. He also wrote some expository books on the Bible. His book “The Son of His Love” was a defence of the Lord’s Eternal Sonship.

At the request of brethren at the time, he ministered quarterly at the Memorial Hall, Farringdon Street, London, for some years. These meetings preceded the later fellowship meetings at the Lloyd Jones Hall, Westminster Chapel. His addresses at the London and provincial Whitsuntide Conferences are well remembered by the older brethren. He ministered on several books of the Bible to monthly gatherings of younger brethren at the former Y.M.C.A. Hall, Farringdon Street, held on Friday evenings for some years.

Although a quiet non-controversial brother, he possessed a moral influence among the meetings of his generation, and was much appreciated and valued by all.

He lost his youngest son, Leslie, on the Somme, in the R.A.M.C. His attitude, though deeply distressed, was an example to all the Lord’s people of quiet resignation to the Lord’s will.

According to a letter from his son, Stanley, to the four brothers engaged in the 1978 revision of the Little Flock hymn books 1881, 1903 and 1928, Mr. Hocking single-handedly produced the 1928 revision of Mr. Kelly’s 1894 edition of the Little Flock hymn book. This tremendous task affected Mr. Hocking’s health.

Mr. Hocking has five hymns in ‘Spiritual Songs’:

194 Lord and Saviour, we remember (Suitable for the Breaking of Bread).

232 Gathered to Thy Name, Lord Jesus (Suitable for the Breaking of Bread).

305 Our God and Father unto Thee (Suitable for the Prayer Meeting).

420 Gladly let us join to sing (Suitable for Worship at any time).

462 O Gracious God, our Father, we thank Thee for Thy Word (Suitable at all

times in relation to the Scriptures).

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Steve Hulshizer

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Brief Biographical Sketch Of The Life And Ministry Of Henry Allan Ironside

Written in honor of Dr. Ironside’s tenth anniversary as Pastor of The Moody Church.

Birth

Henry Allan Ironside was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on October 14, 1876. His father died before he was two years of age, leaving him with his widowed mother and a brother, three weeks old. The Lord proved Himself again to be indeed the husband to the widow and father of the fatherless with the result that Mother Ironside did all in her power to bring up her little ones in the fear of God.

Conversion

Harry, as he has always been known, although a religious boy, did not definitely accept Christ and come to the assurance of salvation until February 1890. It was then, to use his own words, “I rested on the Word of God and confessed Christ as my Saviour. From that hour, the Word of God seemed to be like a burning fire in my bones and I have my first public testimony in a Salvation Army ring three nights later.”

In The Salvation Army

The young lad joined the Salvation Army shortly after his conversion and at the early age of fifteen, served as an acting officer. Six months later he took the usual course in the training school and at sixteen, became a Lieutenant, assisting in two different Corps. He then became a Captain and had charge of various posts in the state of California. Trials through which he passed in those early days, when the Salvation Army work was not as popular as at the time of this writing, resulted in schooling him to “endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” This, combined with the thoroughly evangelistic type of the ministry, was used greatly of God in moulding the life of his servant.

Among The Brethren

Due to certain phases of doctrinal differences which developed, especially relating to Bible teaching concerning the subject of holiness, the young Captain felt led to resign from the Army work. He sought and found fellowship among that group of Christians commonly known as Brethren. He labored for years among them and although not confining his ministry to their assemblies, was, nevertheless, used of God to help establish a number of Bible truth centers and groups gathered only to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Ironside recently said, “I still enjoy their fellowship as I have opportunity and count myself as one of their number.” When in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales on recent Bible teaching and evangelistic tours, Brother Ironside took every opportunity afforded to fellowship in the breaking of bread on Lord’s Day mornings with groups often referred to as Plymouth Brethren.

Missionary Work Among The Indians

“For some ten years,” says Dr. Ironside, “it was my privilege to spend a considerable part of each year in work among the Indians of the Southwest.” The ministry led to many lifelong friendships with a large number of real “original Americans” which have been greatly enjoyed. Not infrequently do [Native American] visitors call to see the Pastor of The Moody Church, and oftentimes they are to be seen in its services. More than one male child of Navajo or Mojave origin has been christened “Henry” or “Allan” or “Ironside” in answer to a sense of gratitude or appreciation on the part of Reservation parents. Many Indians, through the instrumentality of the Pastor, have been persuaded to attend regular Bible Schools where further training has resulted in effective service for Christ and His Kingdom among their own people. A country wide ministry of evangelism and Bible teaching was maintained during the entire period with ever widening blessing.

Bible Conference Ministry

Bible conference ministry has had a prominent place in the life of our Pastor. Great spiritual centers, during the summer months, such as Montrose, Pa; Winona Lake, Ind.; Gull Lake, Mich.; Erieside, Ohio; Stony Brook, Long Island; Ashbury Park, Atlantic City and Ocean Grove, N.J.; Massanetta Springs, Va.; Hendersonville, N.C.; and several others, have felt the impetus of his ministry for many years. During the spring, fall and winter months, brief conferences in churches, missions, tabernacles and Gospel halls, associated with a great variety of evangelical denominations and independent testimonies, have been held. Since coming to The Moody Church as its Pastor, two, three and four day Bible Conferences have been features in about forty of the fifty-two weeks of each year. This has resulted in a tremendous volume of testimony in 350 Bible Conferences, requiring 350,000 miles of travel in ten years, when over 5500 addresses were given, for which the entire church at large is truly grateful.

Pastor Of The Moody Church

After the resignation of Dr. P.W. Philpott, whose ministry was signally used of God in the erection of the present D.L. Moody Memorial Church and Sunday School building, Harry Ironside, the Bible teacher, was approached by members of the Church Executive Committee and asked to consider the pastorate of The Moody Church. He did not, at first, feel that this invitation could possibly be of the Lord as he had no experience whatever in pastoral work and did not consider himself fitted for, or called to, it. However, after some months with frequent consultations on the part of different members of the Executive Committee, he decided, in fear and trembling, to let his name be presented and, eventually, accepted the call to the pastorate on March 5, 1930.

Dr. Ironside preached his first sermon as pastor of the church on Sunday, March 16, 1930. From that time until the present his messages have resulted in the conversion and upbuilding of multitudes of precious souls. May God grant that this may continue for a long time to come.

Campaigns Abroad

Pastor Ironside has made four trips across the Atlantic in evangelistic and Bible conference ministry. On one of these he was accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. J. Stratton Shufelt, Gospel musicians, as well as members of his family. He also, with his wife and daughter, travelled to the Holy Land. His ministry was greatly valued in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Several invitations have come to minister in Australia, New Zealand, Korea and other foreign lands which he has felt, thus far, unable to fill.

Author

Throughout the Christian world, Dr. Ironside is probably better known through his printed ministry than in any other way. His expository volumes include notes and lectures on Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Jeremiah, Daniel the Prophet, Minor Prophets, Romans, First Corinthians, Second Corinthians, Ephesians (“In the Heavenlies”), Philippians, Colossians, Hebrews, Titus, Epistles of John, Jude and Revelation, with charts on Daniel and Revelation. Other devotional and expository volumes include “Four Hundred Silent Years,” “Bible Lands,” “The Mysteries of God,” “Mission of the Holy Spirit,” “Praying in the Holy Spirit,” “Sailing with Paul,” “Holiness,” “The False and the True,” “Miscellaneous Papers,” “Changed by Beholding,” “The Way of Peace,” “The Lamp of Prophecy,” “Random Reminiscences,” “Except Ye Repent” ($1000 prize book), “The Unchanging Christ,” “Charge That to My Account,” “Full Assurance,” and “Only Two Religions.” In addition to these, the Pastor has written over fifty tracts which have had a very wide circulation. Dr. Ironside’s book reviews, appearing in The Moody Church News and other publications have been highly valued. His magazine articles appear frequently in leading Christian periodicals. One of the most prominent of these is the notes on the International Sunday School lessons found in the Sunday School Times.

In College Affairs

Wheaton College honored itself when it honored Henry Allan Ironside by conferring the Litt. D. degree upon him because of his widespread literary accomplishments. Legions of Bible students in all parts of Christendom acquiesce in the decision of its board of trustees in granting this distinction. Although not a college graduate himself, he has been honored in becoming a board member or trustee of a number of educational institutions including Dallas Theological Seminary, Wheaton College, Bob Jones College and William Jennings Bryan University.

Western Book And Tract Co.

Some twenty-seven years ago, Dr. Ironside organized the Western Book and Tract Co. of Oakland, California, for the purpose of disseminating Christian literature. The influence of its testimony has been felt not only on the Western coast but throughout the length and breadth of the land. Dr. Ironside has been president of this organization since its inception. Book funds, supported by voluntary contributions, have made it possible to supply young preachers with helpful material in preparation for more effective ministry.

God Honored Leadership

During the decade that Dr. Ironside has served as pastor of The Moody Church, the number of Moody Church foreign missionaries on the active list has been increased from 91 to 107 at the time of the present writing. The church building debt, which stood at $319,500.00 in 1930 has been reduced to $103,150.00 (in both instances, deducting bonds reserved for annuities) in spite of days of severe depression. This accomplishment means that the interest (originally at six percent, now at three percent) debt per annum has been reduced from $19,170.00 to $3,094.00 which, interpreted into weekly amounts, would mean a reduction from $368.00 to $59.00.

Customary high spiritual standards of The Moody Church have been maintained. Many precious souls have found Christ as Saviour. Multitudes have been built up in their holy faith. In all we are bound to give thanks to God for His rich blessing upon and through the ministry of His servant. Hitherto hath the Lord helped us! It is with like faith that we look into the future and say, “Henceforth—our God shall supply all our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” To Him, our glorious Saviour, be all the praise.

A Life Partner

No man’s life story is complete without referring to the one who is “heir together with him of the grace of life.” Our sketch goes back to the year 1898. In the providence of God—Harry had met Helen—a story as old as the race. A Christian courtship, and Helen Georgia Schofield, daughter of a Presbyterian pastor, became Mrs. Henry Allan Ironside. Together they shared the privations and the trials of faith, especially in the early days of ministry. Through the years, though often privileged to travel together to Bible conferences, and, two occasions, abroad, much of separation which falls to the lot of the travelling Bible teacher and his loved ones, has been the portion of the Ironsides. However, the courageous endurance of this sacrifice to the small family circle has meant the enrichment of that greater spiritual family, bearing the name of Him, “of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” How mindful all of us should be of the Word of God which tells us that those “who stay by the stuff” shall share in the spoils of battle with those who have been in the thickest of the fight. When we think of this we realize that our sister, Mrs. Ironside, will have a great share in the reward of her husband. Though ill at the time of writing this article, it is our hope that Mrs. Ironside will be well enough to join in the celebration of her gifted husband’s tenth anniversary.

What marvelous compensation, even here and now, when we think of one son, Edmund, who for years has served as president of the Southern Bible Training School, of Dallas, Texas, for colored* ministers, where a host…have received a Bible training which has sent them back to [home] with a real ministry; of another son and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. John Ironside, now in training at the Moody Bible Institute (the West Point of Christian Service) preparing for any field to which God may see fit to send them; a daughter, Lillian, in Wheaton College, with its slogan, “For Christ and His Kingdom,” being trained for high usefulness in the service of her blessed Lord and Savior. All of this has been a source of untold comfort and compensation to our devoted Pastor, who has been careful to praise God for these evidences of His grace.

Anniversary Services

Special anniversary services will feature the tenth milestone of our Pastor’s ministry on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, March 13, 15 and 17. A special feature of the Wednesday night meeting will be the dedication of the new entrance way to Sankey Auditorium, a project often mentioned by our Pastor as one which he would like to see accomplished. The entire Executive Committee of the Church plans to attend this initial mid-week service in a body and join in praise and prayer with our membership and friends for God’s rich blessings.

On Friday night, March 15, at least ten outstanding leaders, representing as many different fields of Christian testimony, with whom Dr. Ironside has had fellowship during his pastorate at The Moody Church, will be present to voice their congratulations and express their Christian greetings.

Sunday, the 17th, has been named the “great day of the feast.” Three services at 11:00 a.m., 3:00 and 7:30 p.m. will bring to a climax the effort to give honor to whom honor is due, not forgetting to praise God, from whom all blessings flow. We trust that every reader of The Moody Church News, who shall find it possible, will plan to attend these sessions and do all that can be done in inviting others and in praying for God’s richest blessing. —Charles A. Porter

* Editor’s note: The term “colored” was once commonplace in the American society of Dr. Ironside’s day. The term was complex in meaning; however as used here, it was not meant in a derogatory manner. 

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Samuel Ridout

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F C Jennings

He was apprenticed to a firm in the tea business, becoming a tea taster, and in 1871 came to the United States, where, in New York, he established his own business as a tea importer. This occupation so prospered that in the late 1890’s Mr. Jennings retired from commercial life.
Always active in Christian work and teaching Sunday school, after retiring from business he devoted his whole time to study, writing, and ministering. This last activity, especially, he continued until almost the end of his long life, holding Bible classes particularly for elderly people who could not always attend the usual evening meetings. He also carried on an extensive correspondence with many friends in various countries of the world.
An intimate friend of Arno C. Gaebelein, F. W. Grant, and the two founders of Loizeaux Brothers publishing house, Mr. Jennings wrote and published many books, magazine articles, and pamphlets on Biblical subjects. A poet of much talent, and with a knowledge of the original languages of Scripture, he was able to reproduce in his writings, and particularly in this book on Isaiah, much of the poetic beauty and grandeur of the original. His readers cannot but be delighted with his literary style while they profit from the able exposition of Scripture, in which the writer sought first and always to glorify the Lord and edify His people. Mr. Jennings lived a long and fruitful life, departing to be with the Lord, whom he so faithfully served, in his 101st year, on April 17, 1948

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S Lewis Johnson

Hear every sermon preached by the Dr. S. Lewis Johnson at the SLJInsitute.net or download the app on your phone!

This site is dedicated to the teachings of the late Dr. S. Lewis Johnson, Jr.

You can access more than 1,500 of his sermons using the menu above or by using the search function. SLJInstitute.net provides multimedia distribution of roughly 1,500 of Dr. Johnson’s messages compiled from the 1960s through the 1990s.

This is a free resource made possible by the SLJInsitute, working in conjunction with his former congregation at Believers Chapel of Dallas.

About the SLJ Institute

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Keith Keyser

Keith left secular employment to give all of his time to the Lord’s service beginning in 1999. He is mainly engaged in an itinerant Bible teaching and gospel preaching ministry throughout North America, western Europe, and Asia. He also writes various articles on the Scriptures for Christian publications, and produces articles and a podcast available on his own website.

Married to Naomi since 2005, they have been blessed with four children. Whenever possible, they join Keith in traveling amongst God’s people.

https://www.goodwordsandworks.com/

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David Kirk

David Kirk was born in Belfast, N. Ireland in 1907. He was saved when he was nine and baptized at ten years of age. He spent his youth in what was called the “Village Work”. He and others his age went on their bicycles to outlyng areas to preach the gospel in the open air. In August 1931 he was commended by his home assembly, Ebenezer Gospel Hall, Belfast, to the work of the Lord in Nova Scotia, Canada. In 1932 he was joined by his fiancee, Molly Macartney, and they were married that year.

In 1942 he moved to Stirling, Ontario where he lived until 1947 when he and his family made a trip to Ireland and stayed for 15 months. During that time he had a ten-week long series of gospel meetings in which he spoke seven times a week (Monday to Friday evenings and twice on Sunday). In that series 60+ accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

On his return to Canada, he settled in Hamilton where he fellowshipped at MacNab Street Gospel Hall/West Fifth Bible Chapel until his death in 1974. His wife passed away in 1987 and one daughter, Grace, in 2002.

In many assemblies across Canada and the USA, he was well accepted as an evangelistic preacher and (more so in latter years) as a gifted Bible teacher.

Two sons and two daughters and their families still live in the Hamilton area and praise God that nearly all know Jesus as Lord and are faithfully serving Him

David Kirk wrote the following booklets, some of which may still be available in print:

• The Wonderful Word of God
• Joseph’s Bones
• From the Manger to the Throne
• Mystery of Divine Chastening

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William Lincoln

Chief Men Among The Brethren Biography

But his soul began to be exercised about his position in the Church of England, though he preached and published a sermon on Infant Baptism, seeking to refute Mr. Spurgeon’s memorable discourse on Baptismal Regeneration. But he continued more and more to realise that his position was a false one, and the remaining copies of the sermon just mentioned were carefully burnt. In 1862 he finally broke his connection with the establishment. He read out his reasons for so doing on a Sunday evening to a congregation which crowded the building to the utmost. The effect was, of course, at once manifested in the reduced attendances, though large numbers still continued with him, a few, however, dropping off by degrees.

Immediately after his secession, he wrote the “Javelin of Phinehas,”  in which he exposed by the Word of God, the evil of the union between Church and State. The work at Beresford continued to progress, though the changes were gradual; one step at a time, we may say, just as light was given. Many attempts were made to get Mr. Lincoln to join one or other of the various denominations; but his expressed determination always was, “never to join anything or any party,” but to cleave to the Lord alone. His purpose and joy ever was to press the truth of gathering to the Lord’s Name alone, making Him the one centre, and going forth “to Him, without the camp.” None preached more faithfully the doctrine of separation, and to Jesus only; and we may add that he practised what he preached.

For the sake of allegiance to his Lord, and obedience to His Word, he surrendered worldly prospects and emoluments of no ordinary character. He had his reward in seeing many believers walking according to the Truth; and one by one the old practices were abandoned, and worship according to its Scriptural simplicity was established at Beresford. Week by week the saints began to assemble together to break bread, in obedience to the command of the Lord, as gathered unto Him alone, and submitting to the Spirit to guide as He pleased.

While giving open ministry its due place, Mr. Lincoln never failed to press godly order and rule in the assembly, and opposed the spirit of democracy and communism having any place in the church of God. He was also very careful to maintain the value of ministry in teaching from the Word of God, by those whom God had sent as teachers; and the time of service was made half an hour earlier, in order that, whilst time was given for worship and ministry in connection with the breaking of bread first, there might be special opportunity after for the ministry of the Word. All who have had experience of this would confess its value; and the benefit to the assembly has been incalculable. And thus helped and kept by God in His grace, the work went on at Beresford for 28 years, though loud were the prophecies, at the outset, that it would not last a twelvemonth.

It was in this ministry of the Word that Mr. Lincoln was so powerful an instrument in the hand of God. He presented Scripture in its broader features with a clear grasp of principles, by which the saint was to be guided in filling in details. In this way his ministry was most useful, as it put the hearers in the way of gaining instruction for themselves from the Word. In prophecy also he was much used, especially in connection with the Lord’s coming for His Church, and the apostasy of Christendom. He loved to press the truth of the Lord’s imminent return, and lamented much what he thought was a growing coldness in respect to it. Earnestly he warned against the spreading darkness in the professing Church, and pressed the truth of separation from evil.

Always accessible to any who came to him with difficulties and questions, he was used to the help of many in all parts of the world; and his answers were always remarkable, as was his teaching, for clearly presenting and pressing fundamental principles. As to the source from which he himself drew the knowledge he had, though with large opportunity of studying the writings of others, he always confessed himself as “the man of one book;” he drew what he gave to others from the fountain head—from the Word itself. His own writings were not very numerous, and we may mention the principal of them: “Joseph and Jesus” and “Four Lectures on the Second Advent,” published before he left the establishment; “The Javelin of Phinehas,” published immediately afterwards (difficult now to obtain); and, subsequently, “Lectures on the Hebrews,” “The Epistles of John,” “The Book of the Revelation,” and “Typical Foreshadowings in Genesis;” with a series of Lectures and leaflets on some fundamental truths in the Word of God.

Mr. Lincoln’s heart was in the work at Beresford, to which he considered the Lord had specially called him, though many have objected and thought he should have extended his service more for the benefit of other assemblies. However this may be, a serious obstacle to it was his condition of health, and few probably had any idea of his continued sufferings for about the last twenty years of his life. It is a marvel that he was able to continue to study and teach so constantly as he did; but his nervous system was gradually undermined.

The last time he spoke was on 18th September, 1887, and, remarkably, it was upon the early verses of 2 Corinthians 5. The last time he was present at the breaking of bread was on 1 lth December. But though the outward man was perishing, the inward man was renewed, and his joy and peace continued unclouded. His remark, as he left the meeting for the last time, was, “It is all well; the Lord reigneth.”

Life’s sand ran slowly out, and the body grew weaker and weaker; but his spirit was stayed upon God, and he could say, “I’m full of praise and joy.” And thus the end came, and the last answer he could give upon earth, when asked if he were happy, was, “Yes, in the Lord, ” and in a few brief hours he was “with Christ, which is far better.” He quietly fell asleep, without any apparent pain, early on the morning of the 25th April, 1888.

We can but admire the grace of God displayed in his unswerving and unfaltering faithfulness to the Truth of God. Whenever he saw a thing to be right he persisted in it, no matter what the consequences to himself or others. And yet he was not a man of extremes, for one of the great lessons of Scripture he ever sought to impress was the balancing the Truth of God, and never to push one side of truth to the disparaging of another. A simple verse which he passed on to Mr. J. R. Caldwell truly indicates his aim and spirit:

“Lord Jesus! make Thyself to me
A living, bright reality;
More present to faith’s vision keen
Than any outward object seen;
More dear, more intimately nigh,
Than e’en the sweetest earthly tie.”

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