by
T. Austin-Sparks
September-October 1944
"THY GOD REIGNETH"
Beloved of God,
The contents of this letter will doubtless come as a shock to many
of our friends, especially to those who have had personal fellowship
with us in London. But as you read on, while there may remain some
questions and problems, perhaps light will filter through which will
help. The news is that, during the new phase of things - the "flying
bomb" attack on London - our Conference Centre - house and hall -
has fallen to this destructive activity, and for residence and
conferences is no more. The same applies to other adjoining premises
which were used for accommodation.
There is a wonderful story of simply miraculous deliverances and
preservations; for while quite a number of friends were in
residence, not only was there not a single life lost, but only very
superficial scratches were suffered. In the cases of Mr. and Mrs.
Paterson and Mr. & Mrs. Foster the house was wrecked on top of
them and the rooms in which they were in bed were demolished, yet
they were unharmed. Not only so, but in the days following when we
have had to face a situation of devastation which might well have
made the stoutest heart sick, on my arrival on the scene I found
everyone most triumphant, and all in a state of spiritual
ascendency. Through the days of working amidst the ruins to salvage
all that was possible, we have been a "sorrowful, yet always
rejoicing" company. This is no small testimony to the inworking of
His mighty power.
It is too early yet to forecast anything, or to say what may be the
Lord's meaning in this. For some time past the Lord has been
increasing His emphasis among us upon the essentially spiritual
nature of His work in this dispensation, and the necessity for
heavenliness in our position, relationships, and character. Only on
the Lord's Day prior to this happening we were led to speak of how
heavenly vision led Abraham from the solid civilisation of Chaldea
and kept him in a tent. This we do not interpret to mean that the
Lord will never want and use temporal things to spiritual ends, but
it is perfectly consistent with the position that we have always
taken that the spiritual must always eclipse the material. We hold
earthly things very lightly, and whether or not we are able to
resume in a new Conference Centre in London, we are glad that with
us there is such an extensive and strong spiritual ministry and
testimony that we do not feel that real values need be affected
by such happenings as these. We were given the text at the head of
this letter as the motto for this year, not knowing then what was
before us, but it is now coming into its own, and it is
true!
We have to see in His time what the Lord's major thought is in
allowing what has happened. Through four years, and at times when
destruction approached to within a few yards, the whole place has
been marvellously preserved. But now His time has come for a
suspension of activities there. It may mean that He desires a change
in form or location. It may be unto expansion; or it may be
something quite unimagined; but of this we are sure, it will prove
to be the working of the law of the grain of wheat: life out of
death; gain out of loss. It will be increase in some most essential
form. So we wait and watch.
Some practical points immediately arise; others will appear as time
brings new situations. In the meantime,
1. Conferences at that Centre will be suspended indefinitely.
2. All communications should be addressed to me at Kilcreggan.
3. Patience will be shown by our friends if any delays occur. (All
the literature and printing-room equipment is safe, and it is only a
matter of transferring the former, with office equipment, as may be
necessary).
4. The local assembly will continue to meet in the basement of the
old "Centre".
There is nothing definite upon which to build such expectation at
present, but it may very well be that the Lord is purposing to have
the coming Winter months occupied with wider ministry, rather than
centralised or localised; and who knows but that it might be very
wide, to the countries abroad which are a continuous burden upon our
hearts? During the War years while travelling abroad has been
impossible, there has been a very real preparation in various ways
for such ministry, and many in various countries have come to reach
out strongly for the ministry with which the Lord has entrusted us.
There is no doubt that a very deep movement is taking place in many
hearts and many places, with a growing consciousness that the
general Christian system, and very largely, the evangelical bodies
have not the spiritual food that is necessary to real spiritual
maturity. Reality and fulness are becoming a growing demand, and we
know of very many who are deeply disappointed with the "measure"
that is in the churches and organisations. "Revival" in the sense in
which that idea is generally held is not the need, but a return to,
or recovery of, the true revelation of God's order, method, and
purpose.
You will be praying over all this, and for us at this time, that we
may see the way of His meaning in "the things which have happened".
Yours in the fellowship of His Son,
T. Austin-Sparks