Beloved of God,
Having returned from the visit
to the USA, I want to thank all those friends who so faithfully
prayed for us during that time, and to accord our deepest gratitude
to all those there who showed us so much love and fellowship.
I am not going to report here
in any fulness upon the time in America. The Lord graciously
carried us along and gave us a real sense that He was with us. If
there was any weakness, it was that we tried to cover too much
ground and put too much into the limited time. This meant that we
had to leave much undone where we did go, and are sorry that many
requests for ministry had to be left unfilled for the present.
As to the general impression?
well - need - need - need! Deep and appealing, sometimes
heart-breaking need!
I have returned with a very
heavy heart and a strong cry to the Lord. I suppose this burden
and distress is because of some vision of the Lord's fuller
purpose for His people, and therefore, inability to accept or
accommodate to the so much less which seems to exist everywhere;
not only in the USA. Only the Lord can do what is necessary to
reach and realise His full end, but we are compelled to a
stronger-than-ever seeking those acts of sovereignty and grace
unto something much more. Pray with us that, yet, He may have His
"eternal purpose" brought into fuller expression in a
concrete way in many places. Unto this we are made to search our
own hearts and to seek a clearer way in ourselves for the Lord;
and, of course, all who share the desire for "the fulness of
Christ" must have the same exercise. It will be nothing
short of His travail, "the fellowship of his
sufferings". Surely Paul meant the sufferings which lead to
fulness, not our salvation! "The sufferings of Christ for
his body's sake, which is the Church".
One thing has surely come out
of this extensive touch with the spiritual situation: it is the necessity
of the ministry entrusted to us. More than ever I feel that we
have that which would touch this situation, and, although I have
no illusions as to how many may receive it, there are not a few
evidences that it is recognized as that which answers to the deep
sense of need. Do pray much about the enlargement of this
ministry in every way, not forgetting that we labour under severe
and many restrictions in this country, which the Lord can
overcome, and will do so as you pray. We feel that a next phase
is at our door, and we are much before Him as to what it is.
A wide and needy door is open
to us which could extend us for all our days, but we need the
economising wisdom of God. Again we say, "Brethren, pray for
us".
We assure you that you are much
in our hearts; not for the success of our ministry, but
truly for the fuller satisfaction of the Lord; that "He may
see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied".
With love in Him, and warmest
greetings,
Yours in His bonds,
T. Austin-Sparks