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 Dear
Brethren and Saints-in-Light:
This
is to inform you that I am a brother and one of the most
outstanding preachers of the Word. I was added to the Lord’s
church on January 3, 1965, and since that year I have been
preaching full-time, though without support; always evangelizing
towns and villages in the Mid-Western State of Nigeria.
Since
all these many years I have been preaching without a wife of my
own. The bride price in our State of the Mid-West is the huge
sum of one-hundred and eighty dollars— $ 180.I sincerely beg
you to contribute this sum of money for me to marry in order to
avoid the temptation of fornication and to help me in all
domestic affairs: 1 Cor. 7:2,9; Heb. 13:4; Eccl. 9:9; Prov.
5:18-21; 18:22 Gen. 2:18. Brethren, as long as it is a fact that
the only way to avoid the temptation of fornication is by
marriage, I beg you very sincerely to help me marry as quickly
as possible. Just turn to 1 Cor. 7:1-2. Let me be free from this
sin and its attendant effect on the soul Do not forget, I want
you to help me out of my longstanding bachelorhood. Send me the
$180. as quickly as possible...
This
is the main portion of an actual
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letter, received by a church in
Ontario, Canada. The hard-hearted brethren sent not a sou,
although it is hard to imagine a more urgent need. There was not
even the offer of a good used wife so it seems “outstanding
preachers” are not considered a desirable “catch.” In
fact, to date I am the only one to suggest that this young man
may have a legitimate appeal for general welfare. What church
will be first to sponsor and oversee the gathering of funds for
such men?
W.
L. Wharton tells a story that illustrates the all but lost art
of “doing what we can” to help others.
Uncle
Dick was a godly man, greatly respected by his neighbors for his
forthrightness and candor. When a man of the community got angry
at a mule, and hit the beast with a heavy pole — accompanied
by a few blue-black words — he became ashamed of himself and
went to talk it over with Uncle Dick. He explained the
situation, and then asked Uncle Dick to pray for him. At this
Uncle Dick balked, saying, “Reckon you’ll have to do your
own prayin’ but if you want to sing a song, I’d carry the
bass.” Now that’s what I’ call being downright
accommodating.
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