TH

formerly NICHOLS' NEWS LETTER

Volume 1
APRIL

Number 2

1952

Mrs.Nichols Returns Area Evangelism

MRS. EDGAR NICHOLS arrived

AFTER seeing Mrs. Nichols safely

off for the States, Mr. Nichols,

in London enroutehome, on Feb ruary 14th. On the 15th she wit nessed the funeral procession of the late King George IV. On the 19th

she boarded the Queen Mary and

arrived in New York on the 24th.

assisted by the Khasi evangelists and with the cooperation of the Fairbrothers, began an intensive campaign of visitation and evangel
ism. He held a series of services

She enjoyed briefly the Christian hospitality of the Elmer Kiles, and then entrained for Painesville, Ohio where she had the joy of meet

ing and becoming acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Robert Byrns, and Beverly. Mr. and Mrs. Byrns have been the forwarding agent for the Nichols family since April 1951.
Mrs. Nichols then went to

at Nongtaloh, a trip that involved 32 miles of jolting on the local bus, and 14 miles of walking through the jungle. It is important to com plete this phase of the journey be fore dark because of the danger from man-eating tigers and leo pards, which still infestthe region. Our party arrived well ahead of
sunset, and after rice and tea, and

Youngstown, Ohio where she spent

a few weeks with her relatives and co-workers Dr. and Mrs. N. H.

a brief rest, word having grapevined around the village, the believ
ers and the curious assembled for

Bare. During this time, she atten ded the tri-state rally atEastPalestine, Ohio, and spoke inmost of
the New Testament churches in

service. Thatnight, pictures of the

life of Christ were shown, hut the

the Youngstown area. She is spending April with her daughter, Mrs. Robert Mills, at
Lincoln, Illihois.

for a long service, so the people were urged to return for Gospel
preaching the next day.

evangelistic party was too weary

{see EVANGELISM on page 2)

THESE PEOPLE WALKED FROM THEIR VQ^LAGES

9-12 MILES IN THE HILLS TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL CONVENTION

AT

MAWLAI

EVANGELISM

(began on page one)

Early Sunday morning, Mr.
fjy NICHOLS' N6Wa LBTTER

Nichols took Reuben, and three companions and walked three miles

News Organ of the

Assam India Mission Churches of Christ

fiery trail. Here one woman made

to Berkuri, over a rough and slip-

he good confession and was bpptized. They returned to Nongtaloh in time for Mr. Nichols to preach

The Assam Messenger is published

in the interestof the cause of Christ

atthe morning service. The Lord's Supper was observed in the after noon, and Mr. Chyne preached. In

in Assam Province,

India,

for

the eveningpictures of the parables

of our Lord were shown and the

Assam India Mission Churches of

Christ, at Mission Manor, Willernie, Minnesota. Printed in U. S. A.

MISSIONARIES ON THE FIELD

teaching explained, and three local

men were ordained as deacons. The

charge to them and to the congre gation was the theme of the evening
sernion.

{Mrs. Nichols is on furlough)

Archie and Marguerite Fairbrother Mawlai, Shillong, Assam, India
FORWARDING AGENT FOR THE NICHOLS

Edgar and Mabel Nichols

After a few busy days at Maw lai, Mr. Nichols, with pastors Khongwir and Chyne took the train Friday afternoon, for Silchar. They
went third class and had little Reu

ben with them.

It is difficult for

Robert and Kathryn Byrns

216 Park Boulevard Painesville, Ohio
FORWARDING AGENT FOR THE FAIRBROTHERS Mrs. E. D. McKitrick 2437 E. Mifflin Street

one who has nottraveled third class on one of these trains to visualize

such atrip. In the firstplace, there

are only enough of the hard wooden

benches to accomodate perhaps half of the mass of humanity thatcrowds

and pushes into the car. From Gauhati where they boarded the
train,
hours.

to Silchar,

takes about 15

Madison 4, Wisconsin

After the first five hours

the bench becomes a torture rack,

and by this time all who had been standing in the beginning, have set

tled into every bit of floor space

and on the laps of all the meek or

defenseless occupants of benches. The train provides not even so

much as a drink of water.

Sumarhill, one of the minister ial students, met the train at Sil char, and, after a brief rest, the

party boarded a bus for the 20 miles to Bagpahar. At Bagpahar, Sumarhill took them into his home and there, that

evening, the neighborhood gathered

to see the slides of the Life of

I
EDGAR NICHOLS preaching at Mawlai, with interpreter.

Christ and to hear the Gospel. The program was progressing wll when the Kerosene supply in the lantern usedfor showingthe pictures failed. Since the evangelists had not had
their clothes off, nor a chance to

lie down, for 36 hours, they conclu

ded the service withabrief exhor-

(see EVANGELISM on page 3)

The ASSAM MESSENGER - Volume I, Number Z - April 1952 - 2

A. Religious Awakening
IS THERE one Church described in

the New Testament? If so, why do we, a New Testament people,

pise it. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, being the truth, has caused many
to give up their life for it. Still there is one of two ways to go in
this life. We can die for the cause of trutii or for the cause of false hood. We must choose which is

act like there is possibly ano^er

said that Cornelius and his house

way? Some of our own people have hold were saved before baptism and in the next breath quote Acts 2:38; I am not writing to settle the ques tion I have just brought up, but to

most profitable for ourselves as

well as others.

reveal a way in which the church

should be aw^ikened. I do want to

The movement of the New Tes tament Church in Assam is one of

say that Cornelius was not saved until his baptism nor was Paul
saved when he saw the vision on

struggle and heart-break. The lea ders in this movement struggled

for the truth in the face, of much

road to Damascus. The

Lord was

o n earth o r rather through His

Apostles. We should take this log

logical in His teaching while here

opposition by the denominations, and it was heart-breaking to leave

old friends aind relations for the cause of Christ. We are thankful that there are those still in the

ical teaching and use it as it is. If

there is but one Church described

in the New Testament, and there is,

we should be careful in our refer

world who are willing to face op position of the devil for the Truth
of Christ.

ence to all religious sects as of

God, even if we have friends in the
denominations.

It is not surprising to find a man from a foreign land, who has

come to our country, clinging to old (see AWAKENING on page 4)

It takes a lot of courage to be the only ones to stand for tiie truth and preach even to those who des

traditions and teacnings of his na-

EVANGELISM

(began on page one)

tation, a hymn, and the assurance
of more tomorrow.

Mr. Nichols with Reuben, went to

Dudhpatli; Khongwir and Chyne, to Laikpur. The importance of the lat

ter is that Khasi, Lushai and Khukis
come there to trade. There was

The Lord's Day morning ser vice was held in the open, and was well-attended, the people listened
attentively to the sermon on, "One

good interest at both villages. The

party reassembled at Silchar for

turned out for the evening service,

a study of the parables of Jesus.

Lord, One Faith, One Baptism," and it seemed that the whole village

the ordeal by train that took them

to Gauhati, from which 60 miles by

tram was more crowded, and little except bananas was available at the way stations so you may be able to

jeep got them home to Mawlai. The

imagine how good it was to get home

Monday morning the evangelists separated to cover more territory. Take your share of hardships as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
I I Timothy 2:3
Williams' Translation

to a cooked meal and a clean bedJ

and villages, preaching and bringGod, and with Him, the twelve.
Luke 8:1

He went about through cities

i*ig good tidings of the Kingdom of

The ASSAM MESSENGER - Volume 1. Number 2 - April 1952 - 3

DID YOU ever hear a young child say "I want to go home ?" Perhaps it was the first day at school or a sudden sick spell or an accident. The child's first thought and awise one, "I want to go home." Or per haps it was a picnie or a day at the
zoo or a visit to Grandma out in the

HOME
battle

church who are over-mature, re tired and still tired, not because of

Erived of service. These, who have

is so far from won. Like

service, but because they are de-

elped to achieve the progress made in three quarters of a century are loath to go. to the rear when the

countrythe result is the same and by night-fall the tired little mind and body are surfeited and the feel ing is there if not always expres

Paul, they cry out "I want to go home," but nevertheless to abide
in the flesh is more needful for

you (Philippians 1:23-24).

Thank

sed "I want to go home."

Some years ago, my greindson, Clayton, asked his father if he could go with us on a drive quite a distence out of the city. His father consented. On arriving at our des tination, Clayton got out and played

God that substitute homes are now

provided for His children whether little ones, missionaries, or aged.

Whether therefore you eat or

drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the Glory of God.
I Corinthians 10:31
AWAKENING

with a yoxingster who happened to

be there while his father attended

to start back and Clayton climbed

on your lap and get me warm." And

to business. We were soon ready

(began on page 4)
tive land. Therefore, it is not too

in and said, "I'm cola. I ought not to havQ come, Grandpa. Take me

surprising to find tiiat a person

you may be sure I did. The same

The almost universal

ideaI want to go home.

desire

disguised by the word "Christian ity,"' still clinging to some forms

coming out of the false teaching,

and expectation of blooming young

and practices which were instilled in him. It is true that the religion
is still false when human doctrines

people is to have a home of their own. It is their abiding dream and anticipation through the drab years of toil and preparation, and being natural and proper, they hold firm

are there, but if the one seeking

the truth really wishes to learn of God's way it can be taught. The
Christiansthose Immersed into Christwant to learn all of the
Truth.

ly to it, overcoming delaying dif

ficulties.

But have you thought

missionary recruits, and the foggy uncertainty, about a home, which

they enter, on following their Mas ter who had no place to lay His
head? There is some satisfaction in

about the rapid increase of our

We are happy here because the Lord has recently convinced the people that a New Testament
Church is distinct from the denom

the

adventure of being among strange people of a strange lan

inations. They now see the unique stand that is ours to proclaim to all the world. They came to realize that there is no place for human
doctrines in the Church of Jesus

guage,

ideas and customs,

but

this is but a spoonful compared with the full cup of sacrifice and service required. The time has not yet come when a missionary can
have two homesa home at home

what the Bible says. They have heard a lot of Theology ^already,
"but now for the Truth. I call this

Christ. The people want to know

a religious awakening because they

only one Church revealed in the New Testament, and then saying all others are of God. May the LiOrd continue to guide these and others who are seeking for the Truth.
Archie Fairbrother

pealing^ the plea ofachildoramissionary' who can say "I want to go

homeI have no home."

and one on the field,

and how ap

see the inconsistency of claiming

There is still another class, and

much nearer to home-going, who

used to be called war-horses of the

The ASSAM MESSENGER - Volume 1. Number 2 - April 1952 - 4

A RECRUIT FOR ASSAM

MISS DOROTHY NICHOLS, daugh

ter of Mr.and Mrs.Edgar Nichols, is preparing to go to Assam with her parents when they return. Dorothy was graduated from
Lincoln Bible Institute in June, 1951 and has taken further workat

this often involved being'cumbered with much serving,' she also found opportunities for choosing 'the bet ter part,' and has an unusually wide
acquaintance among the ministers,
missionaries and church workers She has also

in general who have refreshed their

souls at Cedar Lake.

Platte Valley Bible College to pre

spent one

summer in New York

pare her for evangelistic teaching

and children's work where such a

ministry is so sorely needed among the Khasi and Lushai people of the
Khasi Hills.

City evangelism with the Elmer Kiles, and has had valuable exper ience teaching in Daily Vacation
Bible schools. Miss Nichols can be reached for

During her undergraduate years, Dorothy spent several sum mers in the culinary department

appointments with churches

B, Scottsbluff, Nebraska,
Painesville, Ohio.

camps, c^o Edgar Bare, 2012 Ave.

or Ro

or

at Cedar Lake, Indiana (Lake Region Christian Assembly). While

bert Byrns, 216 Park Boulevard,

ROBERT AND PHYLLIS MILLS

MR.and MRS. ROBERT MILLS are candidates for the vast untouched
field in the Province of SouthWest

These young people will be

available this summer for Chris

tian Service camps and to bring to

Africa. They plan to go first to Windhoek (Vint-hook), the capitol city and center of transportation of that province. It is about 500 miles south of the equator, andnearlyZOO
miles inland from Pelican Point on
the east coast. Mr. Mills was ordained to the

churches the challenge of this Af rican field. While traveling this summer, they expect to use their trailer. They hope to have the es
sential funds and the necessary passports and visa for a departure

in the early spring of 1953.

Christian ministry by the Webber

Street Church of Christ, Urbana,

Illinois May 20, 1951.

For nearly

two years he has ministered to the congregation at Dalton City, Ill inois and spent one summer with the "Go Ye Chapel" evangelistic work in New York City.
Phyllis is the daughter of the
veteran missionaries, Mr. and

Mrs. Edgar Nichols. She spent five years on the Tibetan border with her parents. She well remembers the hardships and privations the
mission field offers, but she also

knows our Lord's divine impera tive, and His sustaining grace.
The ASSAM MESSENGER - Volume! 1, Number 2 - April 1952 - 5

Ou/i ^iiehn Bayi

JOSEPH returns to Tibet he will be able to

WE BROUGHT with us from Tibet

to India four Kamba (natives of

Eastern Tibet) Yosay or Joseph,

ber of the community, and we hope will prove a living witness to the power of the gospel.
ANDREW

make his way as a respected mem

John, Andrew and Reuben. Joseph

Andrew is a good worker; when given a job he sees it through to the end. We have always considered
that he would be one of the faithful, plodding kind, but now, allatonce, he has taken a new interest in studying. He has finished the first

and John are second-generation Christians, growing into young manhood, whom we noped to save

from the damning indoctrinations

of Communism, and make useful
workers for the Lord. Andrew and

Reuben we adopted into our family. We knew that Joseph was under suspicion, but we thought that be ing removed from the oppressive
and coercive environment in which

book in 'A Way To English, " and is

very proud to be reading in Book

he found himself, he would follow

Two. We are very thankAl to Mar

out that purpose he had declared of fitting himself forthe Lord'swork. Joseph is gifted in languages, and in the ability to express himself. He had also some rather glar ing faults. We feel deeply our sense of failure in not having been able to
help him realize the best that was
in him. The time came when we felt we had to sever all connections

guerite who takes an hour from her 3usy day to teach him.
REUBEN

Reuben continues to be a great

joy and comfort to us. He is so

animated and happy that he makes friends everywhere. One problem is that someone is always offering him something to eat, and he nev
er refuses. This sometimes causes

with him. Joseph is now in Kalimpong and making his own way work ing in a Shoe Store. We ask your prayers for him.

digestive disturbances in other

John has now spent about 18 months learning tailoring. He can

now make shirts and trousers for

words "tummyache." He surely has taken to his newly found cou sins, Marilois and Jewel. They really have good time s making mudpies together. But the other morningduring " stretching time" he an

the boys. He has yet to learn cut

"She doesn't." "No,

has entered.

nounced to me solemnly, "Marilois doesn't love you." "Oh," I said,

only I love

ting and fitting, then he will be a fullfledged tailor. John is a good boy, but he doesn't have the per sonality that Phillip has. When he

you." So, it seems that even into

their "garden," a tittle jealousy

Edgar Nichols

THE CONGREGATION AT MAWLAI-

THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST

SHILLONG AREA

The ASSAM MESSENGER - Volume 1. Number 2 - April 1952 - 6

MARILOIS'
WHEN AUNT MABEL was getting
ready to go to America, I wan ted to go along. Uncle Ed and Reu ben could stay and take care of Daddy, Mama and Jewel. Mama asked me where I would stay if I
went back to America. I would like

LETTER
Mawlai, Shillong, butlwish we had
some American neighbors. If Aunt Mabel would bring my Grandpa and
Grandma Bare back with her they

Jewel and I are happy here in

could live by us, and then we would have American neighbors.

to live on the farm with my Grand

pa and Grandma Fairbrother.

(see MARILOIS on page 8)

FINANCIAL
EDGAR AND MABEL NICHOLS

Total on hand
Disbursements 107.50

284.75
177.25

FINANCIAL REPORT FROM THE FiaD

for July 1, 1951December 31, 1951 Balance as of July 1, 1951

General Receipts Total receipts
DISBURSEMENTS

Balance as of December 31, 1951

PHILUP

$1248.00

$3114.25
97.50

Balance as of July 1,1951

Receipts
$4459.75
Total on hand

36.00

Received from A.B.Stockhoff

85.50
121.50

Disbursements

83.70
37.80

Balance as of December 31, 1951

JOHN

Salary of Mr. Nichols Salary of Mrs. Nichols Salaries of Evangelists Bible Schpol Day Schools Church building fund
Travel Medical Relief Fund

444.00 444.00 417.00 106.25 183.90 68.00

296.45 95.75 107.50

Balance as of July 1, 1951

Receipts Added from General Fund
Toul on hand

000.00

4.00 41.00
45.00

Disbursemenu

45.00
000.00

Balance on hand December 31, 1951

EDGAR AND MABEL NICHOLS

Church offerings and charity

Advance rent Loans

66.75
100.00 100.00

FUNDS RECEIVED AT PAINESVILLE, OHIO

Phillip
John

83,70
45.00

July 1, 1951-December 31, 1951

By forwarding agents Robert and Kathryn Byrns

$2596.50
1863.25

Miscellaneous. Postage, etc.

Total Disbursements

38.20

Balance as of July 1, 1951

Received Total on hand $4212.66

$3006.92
7219.58

Balance on hand December 1. 1951

Designated salary for purpose of income tax

REPATRIATION

DISBURSEMENTS

Edgar and Mabel Nichols

000.00

$2705.00
150.00 63.43

Balance as of July 1, 1951

Received 500.00

Lois GaU Nichols Projector

No disbursements

Medicine and food supplement 126.00

500.00

Balance as of December 31, 1951

TEACHER FUND

Fairbrothers

23.00

Misc.(Bankcharges. Wes
tern Union, Magazine sub

Balance as of July 1. 1951 Receipts

Added from General Fund to balance account
Total in account

000.00

35.00
154.90 183.90 183.90
000.00

scriptions. freight charges, newsletters, postage, office

supplies. Yo-Hon (John) Ho-Du -Bow (Pmiip) 236.16

4.00 85.50

Disbursed

John Nichols (Designated)

Teachers* Salaries Khasi Relief Work

225.00
35.00 284.75

Balance as of December 31, 1951

KHASI RELIEF FUND

Total Disbursements
000.00

$3937.84 $3281.74

Balance as of July 1, 1951

Total receipts
$284.75

Balance as of December 31, 1951

The ASSAM MESSENGER - Volume 1. Number 2 - April 1952 - 7

MARILOIS

(began on page 7)
Reuben plays with us everyday. He doesn't have a Mama, now, so sometimes my Mama loves him.
Sometimes we call Uncle Ed "Ma

PHILLIP
WE FEEL quite proud of Phillip,
though certainly to Miss Schwake goes most of the credit for his care and training. But he is one of

ma Ed" and it sounds funny. Ma-ma

means "uncle" inKhasi. Whenever

jingjop" (Onto victory), and we all

sing with him. The song Jewel and
1 like best is "laid Lem Bad Jisu"

we go anywhere in the jeep, Reu ben starts singing "Tur sha ka

our Batang Boys, and naturally we are happy in any and all of these who show promise as servants of.
our Lord.
taken an

Since our removal to

active interest in the

Mawlai, both Phillip and John have

(Walking With Jesus). Daddy trans

lated it into Khasi and all the Khasi

people like it.

Daddy goes away every morning

to teach some men at the church. He

comes home for lunch,

but some
Mama

times he comes home late.

teaches

some women on Sunday

morning and on Sunday afternoon after church. Jewel and I go to the children's class in the morning. Daddy takes us home when Mama
teaches in the afternoon. Sometimes

has often been asked to speak in these meetings, speaking in Eng lish with a Khasi interpreter, So now we have a Tibetan missionary to the Khasi, using English as the medium of teaching. At the recent assembly, at Nongwar, and at the request of the Nongwar brethren, Phillip was asked to bring the mes sage for the Young People's Meet ing. He spoke on "The Call of Zaccheus" and we heard only favor able comments on the message he brought.

Young People's Meetings. Phillip

Daddy goes to other places on Sun day. Then Phillip takes care of us while Mama is teaching.
Leslie comes to teach Daddy and Mama to talk Khasi. One day she. brought Jewel and me each a
"ka khaw" with a "ka star." The

medical training as a Compounder

When Phillip has finished his

hope and pray that someday he may

be able to go oack to his native-land
to evangelize, but we are very hap py that his talents are even now
devoted to the Lord's work. Funds

he will probably enroll in the Bible College under Brother Archie. We

ka khaw is a basket to carry things

on your back, and the ka star is the strap that the basket hangs in from your head. The ones she brought us are little ones so we can't carry
water like the water woman does.

for the support of Phillip may be

sent through Mr. and Mrs. Robert

Byrns,

216 Park Boulevard,

We carry our'^dolls in them.

Marilois, by her mother

Painesville, Ohio, and designated "For Phillip."

Edgar Nichols

IF YOU CAN USE MORE COPIES OF THE MESSENGER, PLEASE LET US KNOW AND WE WILL BE GLAD TO SEND THEM TO YOU

NICHOLS'

NEWS

LETTER Sec. 34. 66 P. L. & R.

U. S. POSTAGE

mailed by Robert and Kathryn Byrns

216 Park Boulevard

Painesville, Ohio

1^ PAID
Painesville, Ohio.
Permit No. 327

FORM 3547 REQUESTED The ASSAM MESSENGER - Volume 1. Number 2 - April 1952 - 8