Letter to Christians

L. E. Ketcherside

[Page 9]

     Dear brethren: Our golden wedding anniversary was two days ago, but cards keep coming, with almost 200 from many states and Canada. The announcement was a real surprise, but we are grateful to every one of you. We intend to personally acknowledge every card and letter. We are both humbled and strengthened by your consideration of us.

     I have just finished reading "Biographical Sketches of Gospel Preachers." Most of these labored south and west of Ohio. Many were "One Book" men -- they had only the Bible. Despite limited educational attainments, they presented their lessons with force and logic. They received little remuneration, but some of them planted as many as 25 congregations and immersed a thousand people. Many of these congregations are now large and wealthy, and though they have had a college trained hired man over them for several decades, have never reproduced themselves. Few of these hired preachers ever planted a single congregation. What would they be doing today if those old penniless preachers had not planted so many?

     Can you imagine a preacher wearing the same suit for twelve months, and never sending his shirt to the laundry? Some of these old preachers did that. They would start on a six months trip without a dollar, and with one extra shirt and a change of underwear stuffed in a saddlebag. From one side of the saddle horn would hang a bag of corn meal and a piece of bacon, from the other would hang a small skillet. They usually prepared their meals near a spring or stream, mixing the corn meal with clear water, and cooking their corn cakes and bacon over a stick fire while the horse grazed nearby. At night they slept on the ground. If a change of shirt and undergarments was necessary, they made the change, washed the soiled garments, and spread them over tree branches to dry while they prepared a meal or reclined against a tree trunk to study.

     The record shows that many of them immersed from 40 to 150 during a four week meeting conducted under a hastily prepared brush arbor. What was the secret of their success? They were men of God! They offered Christ as the supreme inducement. Much of the preaching was in the daytime. They had no lighting facilities. People often asked to be immersed before the services began. Their requests were granted, but the preacher would wear his wet garments until they dried on his body.

     I informed a lady in Bismarck last week that we were not planning to hire a "Minister." She quickly asked, "But, who will do your visiting?" I replied that this was the privilege of all Christians. One Christian cannot do, acceptably to God, the visiting another ought to do.

[Page 10]

The two most important duties stressed by the "hired boys" appear to be "assembling" and "giving." Note the frequency of such statements in reports, as "Attendance last Lord's Day was... Offerings..." And again, "Our contributions have greatly increased." Such reports reveal strong preacher psychology. An eldership bargaining for a preacher may reason that he is worth more money if he can raise more money. But visiting the sick and afflicted is a part of your personal responsibility It could cost you the loss of your soul if you try to buy your way out of it.

     After four months of unfavorable weather, the basement at Bismarck, Missouri is under construction. We hope to have the congregation meeting in it in a few weeks, God willing. This is a new field, but the prospects are very favorable!