Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

Covenanting ObedienceBy Rev. E. Clark CopelandDear Covenanter Brethren,12th July, 1954This morning many of you will be setting out forGrinnell. At heart we are setting out with you,though our car is not rolling off the miles on thehighway. We shall be with you in spirit as you meetfrom day to day, and especially as you sign the Covenant. It has been our prayer from the beginning thatthis act will be one step in a great revival to sweepthrough the church from top to bottom. To pledge ourallegiance among men is a solemn act, but to pledgeour obedience to the Laving God is a gracious andfearful privilege, for He knows the very thoughtsand intents of the heart. The signing of the Covenantin 1954 may go down in history as one of the greatestevents of the 20th century in the Covenanter Churchof N. A., or it may be merely a sentence in the account of the Grinnell Convention of 1954. If we cometo this act in the spirit of true repentance, turningfrom sinful indifference to loving, faithful obedience,God may in His grace be pleased to use us for Hisglory in turning many to righteousness and the nation to the acknowledgment of the claims of Christupon her.When Israel was beginning the conquest of Canaan, the disobedience of one man at Jericho broughtdisaster in the battle at Ai, and delay in the Godgiventask. God has given us a special task of conquest in the church and the nation. That task stemsfrom the core of this Covenant absolute obedienceto the revealed will of God without addition theretoor subtraction therefrom. If one holds back from obedience, it will mean delay and maymean disaster.Where all go forward in faith even where the obstacles ahead seem insurmountable, God will removethem as He did the Jordan River at flood stage frombefore the feet of the priests as they marched forward in obedience to God's command.Rev. T. M. Hutcheson and a group have gone upto Troodos this morning to open up camp. I shouldhave gone with them, but workmen are still at thejob of mending the roofs of our buildings here inNicosia after the cyclone we had week before last. I'llhave to see this work done before leaving. Our campthis summer will include only two students for thetime being, possibly one more later, so we look forward to a more restful vacation.Last Thursday evening we signed a contract forthe construction of the Nicosia Academy builidng.is'The contract price for the ground floor 24,200 or$67,760. Beyond that are items that will amount toanother $5,000 or so. That will give us a day-schoolonly. We shall still have to rent property for theBoarding School. Even that, however, will be a greatfacility. We shall have proper class rooms. Theywillbe our own and we can develop them as we like. It willmean much to the public, also. We ask your prayersas the construction goes forward that the Lord willsupply the need, and guide in the work: "Except theLord build the house, they labour in vain that buildit."With this matter, settled, Miss McCrea expectsto sail from Cyprus on her furlough July 28. We are8praying that someone may yet come to help out inher absence. Miss Reade will have her hands full, indeed, in running the school alone. Miss Munnell's being called away by the illness of her mother has leftan empty spot in the Nicosia staff.year of school in LarWe had a very satisfyingnaca. The enrollment was down a bit, but the spiritwas rather high. The effect of more missionaries onthe school staff over the last five years is making itsmark in the general spirit and conduct of the school.It would seem that the greatest problem of the Covenanter Church towards its missions in the Near Eastis not financial, but a personnel problem. We cannotbuild a Covenanter Church on the mission field without Covenanter staffs in our schools. We have hadthis year applications from two evangelicals outsidethe Covenanter Church in America, and one in theNear East, and only one application from a Covenanter. If this continues to be the case, we must face thequestion of whether we wish to conduct non-denominational mission work which results in a non-denominational body of believers. That of course, iscontrary to our Confession of Faith. The CovenanterChurch must therefore implement its Confession ofFaith by developing consecrated Covenanter youthand sending them into the Lord's harvest field.Our youth Conference meets August 4-9 atTroodos. The theme: "POWER." Subdivisions: Sacrifice with regards to Comforts and Discipline. Sacrifice with regards to Friendships and Love, Powerthrough Service. Join us in prayer that God will giveus His Spirit, the only Power of the ChristianChurch.Last week Mr. Thomas Edgar underwent an operation for double hernea. He is getting along fineand expects to be about again soon and at his duties.He will be taking over the responsibility of directingthe Larnaca Academy as Mr. W. W. Weir expects tostay on until the first of January in the U. S. in theinterests of the Building Fund."All pathways of the LordAre truth and mercy sureTo such as keep His Covenantpure."And testimoniesSincerely yours in theBonds of the Covenant,E. C. Copeland.A Navigator's AppreciationThe Covenanter WitnessTopeka, KansasDear Sir,27 July 1954I would like to take the opportunity, throughyour publication, to express to all the members of theReformed Presbyterian Church of North Americamy gratitude and sincere appreciation for the fellowship extended to me by your Mission in Cyprus during the two years it was my privilege to teach in theAmerican Academy at Larnaca.Not only I myself, but the Navigators as awhole, have considered it a privilege to co-labor withyou all in Cyprus. We feel that the Mission in Cyprus,with the two Academies, has been given a uniqueopportunity by God with respect to the evangeliza-THE COVENANTER WITNESS