I o[( c I' M

March 1958

ENSIGNS RETURN TO JAMAICA

IN LATE APRIL

CINCINNATI, Ohio, March 3, 1958 Grayson and Mrs. Ensign

planed to be bafek In Japai4a by the latter jrrt of April, and

wrote that their itinerary is completely filled until departure time.
Address on field is Box 20, Half Way Tree
Britiwh West Indies,

Samaica,

7/^

AW 28 t6

JAMAICAN
CHALLENGER
"... a great and effectual door Is opened

. and there are many adversaries..."

July, 1958

VOLUME HI, Number 1

ENSIGNS RETURN
In the providence of God the Ensigns
are again at work in Jamaica after a
lovely furlough. The boys are glad to
be sleeping in the same beds each night,
while Grayson and Grayce Marie are
happy to be working with Jamaican
saints, sinners, and children. The sched
ule . is working smoothly with a full
quota of work.
Plenty to Do

Grayce Marie has been busy as a

homemaker, helping boys with school-

work, sorting out and distributing nine

months of accumulated B.S. literature,
and teaching four hours of English each
week to the Seminary students. She and

' 'tl

Bro. Pink are planning a Holidays B.S.

in August. As always she has book
keeping work and financial records and
reports to complete for the past months.

In May several important changes

were made in the Seminai'y. Grayson
Lord's Day Gathering
and Meeting Place

for courses, teachers, students, and dis

GRAND CAYMAN REVISITED

for a return to a four-year degree and

assumed the deanship with responsibility

cipline. He worked out the curriculum

What a joy it was to be able to

return to Grand Cayman and this time

-with my family. Grayce Marie and the

boys had heard so much about the island
and the loyal Christians that they were

as pleased as I was when we found that

a schedule for the completion of all the

courses. Don Fream and Grayson are
teaching six hours.

Grayson began in June to produce

the radio program each week, which we
still consider of first importance. We
are working with Penwood Rd. and El-

we could retui'n to Jamaica via Grand

Cayman at no extra cost. Thus we were

letson Rd. congregations, visiting coun

afforded five blessed days with the old

plete the Penwood Rd. meeting house.

We earnestly desire your prayers to

and new Christians in the church which

Bro. Tom

Adam and I established in

October, 1954.

try churches, and endeavoring to com

attend our labors here.

Our expectations were exceeded in

the hospitality we received, the appre
ciation of the church at our coming, the

loyalty and stedfastness of the Chris

tians, and the grand quality of this
young church. We salute Paul Smith and
his co-workers for a magnificent job of

building the body of Christ.

God Blesses

On the Friday night of our arrival

we had a fellowship supper by the sea
shore with about fifty Christians and
friends of the church. I brought a brief
devotional message. On Saturday night
we met with the church in their neat

and comfortable "upper room" meeting

place, a

real improvement over the

(Continued on page 8, column 1)

Ensigns, April 29

July, 1958

PAGE TWO

GRAYSON HARTER ENSIGN

superficial religiosity was dominate.

Cuitism, interdenommationalism, and
"believe anythingism' seemed popular
and ilourisning. ignorance of God s doc

Churches of Christ in Jamaica

trine and a f.outing of God's moral re

IHE JAMAICAN CHALLENGER

Published by Evangelist and Mrs.

quirements were widespread.

(Jamaica Christian Mission)

Box 20 (Half-Way-Tree)
Kingston 10, Jamaica, W.I.

Halting Church
Even in the church of the Lord we

found many of these same conditions. I

U.S. address: River Pk. Church of Christ

returned lo America almost apologetic

833 30th Street, South Bend 15, Indiana

Associates in the Jamaica Christian Trust, Ltd.

for some of our Jamaican leaders and

And how did America and Americans

strike us after an absence of over three

congregations because they were far

from the N.T. pattern, but the more I
travelled, the less I apologized. With all
their backwardness, defects, and defici
encies they compared favorably with
many American congregations. Indeed,
the congregations in Jamaica who had
had any opportunity and any teaching
for the most part exceeded the better

years? Perhaps you would be interested

American churches.

in reading some candid opinions we

We were amazed at the poor, spirit

less singing in many congregations. The
worldliness. shallowness, and careless

Donald Fream
Fred W. Hintz

AMERICA REVISITED
An Evaluation

formed during our thirty-ejght weeks

touring the eastern part of the U.S. We
felt that our absence and our Jamaican

experience gave us a unique perspective.

Contemporary America
First of all, we were struck by the
material prosperity of Americans in

general in sharp contrast with the pov

erty of Jamaicans in general. Every
where it seemed that there were new

cars, new houses, TV sets, hi-fi phono

graphs, new furnishings, and lots of new
equipment^Tn-^the^kitchen an(T laundry.
Many families had two or even three
cars.

Even

with

a "recession" most

Americans seemed to be living very

high. Yet it surprised us to see how

many Americans were going in debt for
material things, spending all of their
income, and saving very little. Thrift
was not an evident virtue.

Everywhere we noted the heavyfooted impression of television on Amer

ican thoughts and habits. We listened
to thoughtful Christians who were
deeply concerned over its affect on
Christians, congregations, and especially
children.

TV

is

indeed

powerful

medium, but from a Christian standpoint

its impact is at best negative and at
worst, anti-Christian. It seems to me
that Christians need to be even more

aware of its demoralizing effect. TV's

full detrimental affect on morals and

N.T. Christianity has not yet been seen.

Certainly Christian work has been made
increasingly difficult by the introduction
of Holl3rw.ood's philosophy and ethics
into American living rooms.
Superficial Religion
Outwardly, there was an appearance
and playing of "religion" in many
places, but Paul's description of the
Athenians seemed increasingly applica

ble to Americans "you are very re

ligious, i.e., demon-fearing." We looked
in vain for the "revival" and "longing
for sniritual things" that some folk told
us about. To us it seemed that Chris

tianity had declined while a worldly.

ness of many church members almost

shocked us after the higher standard of
conduct usually demanded from Jamai
can Christians. The general ignorance
of the majority of church members was

dismaying. While church bulletins and

church newspapers gave one the impres
sion of material and numerical success,
a number of congregations revealed
shoddy workmanship without scriptural
Some leaders privately conceded the
mushroom nature of the growth and the
increasing difficulty of dealing with halfconverted congregations. Still the ma

jority, especially of preachers, seemed

content to "ride the wave" of the cur

rent "numbers racket" and shrug off re

sponsibility. Paul precisely labelled

them "for they all seek their own,

not the things of Jesus Christ." (Phil.
2:20) The theme song seems to be, "Get
yours while you can for after us the
deluge."
The Minority
Yet while many churches were f)und

drifting into mere social organizations

or denominationally-minded group", we
praised God for the notable, faithful
churches, preachers, and Christians. In
almost every area we found some stal
wart churches with qualified elders and

sound pr^chers. Definitely a minority,

but definitely they are there like gtanite pillars in a Sahara of shifting, com
promising, and appeasing sand dunes.
We Salute

We salute God's noble band. The

hope of the future is among these

churches and men, many of them young
er in years and well-grounded in the
scripture. The Lord will use this Gideon

band to accomplish His will, restore His

church, and evangelize the world.

JAMAICAN

JUVENILES

A RAINY DAY

PRIORY DAYS

(An original essay written in school for

Mark, Nathan, and -David are now at

tending The Priory School, a private
school on Hope Road just two miles

an examination by our ten-year>oId.)

"One day it rained for a week and

our backyard was just flooded with
water. We could not play very well
because our garage is not very big and
that is also our storeroom. My room is
not too big because it is the maids room
and my other brothers do not like us
to play in there. Mother does not like

from bur house. Nathan and David have

classes from 8:00 until 12:30. Then they

have a supervised class while waiting

for Mark to get out at 1:00. At the

sound of the bell, the boys come swarm

ing out of the building ready to go home

and get some lunch.
Different

for us to run in the house because it

marks up the floors so she has to polish

them again. Some times we get to play

cricket in the garage with our tennis
ball but that is not very often because

we can't find our ball. Dady makes us

do school work which we d.o not like to
do. So the rain is a trobile maker to

us

and

also

help

to our lettuce

gaordin." (This last word seems to have

been influenced in spelling by Mark's

French lessons. GHE)

This school is a school with an ex

cellent scholastic reputation in Jamaica.

We like it not only from the standpoint
that the boys are getting first class

teaching, but because it is coeducational

and more on the American order. Most
schools here feature uniforms for the

children, both boys and girls. Priory

does not. This we think is much more

democratic and

promotes individuality

and personality. Also most schools here

are either boys' schools or girls' schools.
We like the coeducational system better.

A further point in its favor is that it

is not a denominationally controlledschool like most here.

i^

High Grade

The boys are showing excellent de

velopment in their work. All are good
students. They usually have quite a bit
of home work to do. The subjects Mark
is carrying may be surprising to you
when you realize he is ten years old
Latin, French, mathematics, English
grammar, English literature, history,

geography, and science. We are pleased

with his love of French, math., and
English.

On

his

mid-term

exams he

came 2nd in English grammar, fourth

in English literature in his class of
Marlene and Nathan

nineteen; and out of 100 questions in

French he got 87 right. This is con

sidered a very high grade. We include

an
EIGHT YEARS or NINE MONTHS?
Since Nathan wanted some kind of

original

composition

which

Mark

wrote at school as a part of his Eng

lish examination.

celebration for his eighth birthday on

June 9th, he invited Marlene, a neigh

bor whom he has known about three

THE OTHER DAY

years, to celebrate with him and his

late cake with choc-olate frosting and

An amusing incident took place the

other day in one of the boys' classes.

eight yellow candles placed on it in the

form of an "N," coconut ice-cream, and

Cockney accent asked, "Teacher, how do

brothers. At his request I made a choco

koolade.

Nathan was also nine months old in

the Lord; for he was baptized last Sep

tember at Hume, Missouri, where Broth
er Bob Allen ministers.

(By the way, did you notice Nathan's

glasses he just started to wear in May?
He is quite pleased with them.)

One of the schoolboys with a strong

you put an bar with an hen?" She

obliged him by drawing a hen and con

necting it with a string to an R.
Then one of the students in Grayce
Marie's English class at the Seminary
looked puzzled when she told them th.at

his was always a pronoun. He said. "Is

it always, Si.ster Ensign? What about

'The bail his hard'?"

July, 1958

PAGE FOUR

HOME AGAIN IN JAMAICA

Have any of you traveled for nine
months

with

three active

boys not

knowing just where you would spend

the night from almost one night to the
next? If so, then you know the joy our

family is experiencing in becoming set

tled in our own home again.
House Hunting

Upon our return to Jamaica we were

quite surprised to find a list of houses
for rent in the GLEANER ads, for we

had thought we might find only one or

two. As We began to investigate them,
imagine our amazement when we dis

Contented Boys

Mark is especially thrilled to have

his own little "den." Most houses of the

middle income group have a small room

for the maid. Since we have no maid,
Mark has taken over that little room

which is off a hallway to the back of

the house. Sometimes in the privacy of

his own room he reads to his heart's

content while his brothers have to go to

sleep earlier.

In the side yard the boys have made

a cricket pitch for games with neigh
borhood children.

Under the tamarind

and sweet-sop trees they put up tents,

temporary houses, an improvised sub

old houses were renting for the same

marine, or whatever their interests de

mand. They are quite contented to be
back in Jamaica, where they can play

prices as new ones. High rentals im

out-of-doors most of the time, and to

covered that rentals had increased about

33% during our short furlough. Even

mediately decreased our number of se
lections."

have a place called "home."

Interruptions

After searching around for

about three days, we decided to take

the cheapest, although adequate, one.

Although we have lived here two

months, I still do not have a single cur

Most Jamaicans bathe and wash dishes

tain up. More important matters have

and clothing in cold water, so most

houses we looked at were not equipped
with hot-water systems. Our landlady

demanded my attention. The Seminary

opened, and I was scheduled to teach

installed that for us, for which we are

erature from the States had accumulated

most grateful.

English.

Much used Bible School lit

in my absence, and the preachers were

in-need -of -new-supplies.- Therefore t-had-

Order Out of Chaos

to take several days off to work on

sorting that and arranging it for dis

Since this was a new house, we had

to scrub plaster and cement from the

tribution. That work has not been com

tile floors and scrape paint and plaster

from llie windows. The first few days
we had no way .to cook; so we ate sand
wiches. cold cereals, etc. Until the hotwater system was installed, we grate
fully used an electric hot-water heater
placed in a bucket of water. Gradually,
however, we arranged the furniture in
its proper place, unpacked crates and

and distribute many packages. In the

meantime office work was accumulating
and demanding attention. Also, we start

cartons which had been stored with the

furniture in a Seminary room, and pack

ed away our worn suitcases.

pleted, but I have been able to prepare

ed women's meetings at Penwood; and

Bro. Pink and I are planning our Holi
days Bible School for August. Nothing
preventing, those curtains will be up
sometime or other before another fur

lough. We are getting settled in our

own home, and we praise God for giving

us this temporary nhace of abode before
going to our eternal home.

Here is a picture of
our residence in East
wood Park about four

miles from

Kingston.

It is made of concrete

blocks with reinforcing

steel, has a zinc roof

which sometimes leaks,

and

steel

casement

type
windows.
We
have a beautiful view
of the Blue Mts.

1. Mt. View Ave. Church of Christ

in Kingston dedicated this mod

ern house of worship on June 15,

1958. Solomon Levy is the min

ister. Approximate cost $7,000.

This was entirely a Jamaican

project.

2. At Priory School Nathan and

,.P,^vjd . meet, in separate singleroom buildings on the campus.

This building is actually David's
classroom.

3. This is the main building of

The Priory School. Like most

fmtmm

private schools it is a converted

loan

residence. Mark's
held here.

classes

are

4. The excellent congregation at

Braeton have almost completed
its meeting house. It is a strong
and attractive building. The folk
received

from

financial

American

assistance

Christians

on

this project. A.B.C. Livingstone

ministers here.

THE ENSIGNS' 39 MONTHS IN REVIEW

Some of you may have read the re

He arranged the first of a series of

port of our thirty-nine months' labor in

four-day Men's Institutes and altogether

Jamaica for the Lord Christ as it ap

five out of the ten Institutes held.

peared in the Restoration Herald (Feb

ruary. 1958), but we felt that others

majority of the leaders of the church

was reached by these teaching programs.

would not have seen it. This is a sum

marization of what God did with us

erings and 188 Bible school or scriptural

during the thirty-nine months in Ja

lessons in the churches.

Grayson taught 86 hours in these gath

maica.

Grayce Marie was equally busy with

thirty-nine women's classes, 350 classes

Negative

As you would expect there have been

disappointments, many discouragements,

and several heartaches in the work, for

no place is without them. They are not

the work of God but come about because

human beings fail fail to have faith,

to pray, to work in scriptural ways and

for children, 89 hours of Seminary

teaching, and 12 hours of teaching in
camp. She held the first Holidays Bible
School for the church in Jamaica, and
altogether arranged and held five and a

half weeks of H.B.S. Grayce Marie fur

ther assisted the churches in their teach

to be true to Christ. Out of defeat and

ing programs by taking all the used B.S.

disappointment and conflict, Christians

rise up with a greater sense of their

literature received in Jamaica, putting

it into the right order, and distributing

need of God and a more complete sub

it to the congregations. This is much

appreciated by them.

mission to God's will. Thus negative

things even are turned to the glorv of
God.

'

Victories in Teaching
The Lord has wonderfully blessed
and used us. and in spite of the un
pleasant and unfortunate aspects, much
was accomplished. We~Set ourselves the

Victories in Building

Grayson helped financially and/or

physically on the construction of four

church buildings and on the Seminary

building. He assumed entire responsi
bility for purchasing the i)roperty~from'

task of teaching the church, evangeliz

the governrnent for the Penwood Rd.

ing the country, establishing new con

church building and erecting the house

gregations, and educating a free, qu-^li-

of worship there.

fied ministry. Grayson taught 722 cla ;;--

The 75 x 30 foot

building, almost two-thirds completed

room hours in the Jamaica Bible Semi

now, is the lai-gest meeting hou.so own

nary during which time a total of about

ed by the Church of Christ in Jamaica.

twenty men were in the classes.

The New Hope Church

of Christ meets in this

building completed last

year by Bro. Fream. C.

A. Morris is the cap

able preacher. Eighty
souls were added last

(Continued on page 8, column 2)

ELLETSON RD. CONTINUES

Our first Lord's day visit in Jamaica

A GRAND TOUR
Our first furlough is now history,

was to Elletson Rd. We found the build

and as we evaluate it we thank God for

ing (rented from a Baptist Trust) in

a useful, refreshing, profitable, and hap

py tour. It was exciting and sometimes
wearing, especially on Grayce I\Iarie,
who was trying to wash and iron for a
family of five living in an automobile.
The nine months pa.ssed swiftly, but a

need of repair and painting, but the

yard was attractive with flowers and

shrubs. As we walked in among the chil

dren, young people, and elderly saints,
we felt like we had returned to those
who love us for what we are. The mem
bers read to us a letter of welcome and

presented Grayce Marie with a bouquet

of flowers. Their love deeply touched
us when we remembered their poverty.
True and Stedfast

During our nine-months' absence

Bro. Walker faithfully led the congre

gation. The church stood up well as an

independent, Jamaican
congregation.
They paid their bills and partially paid
their preacher. Two young brothers,
Morris and Ligismund, have been assist

ing in a helpful way. An excellent youth

meeting is carried on each Lord's day
evening.

It was a special joy to baptize a G2

year old man into Christ, the father of

Sister Clarke, our first convert on

Whitehall Ave. in 1954. Bro. Daly ran a
rum shop all of his life, but now he has

shown an unusual interest in becoming a

strong Chx'istian.,

Thus slowly but amazingly the gospel

reaches one and then another. Elletson

Rd., though small, still continues as a

voice crying out for Christ in the wilder
ness of eastern Kingston.

Jamaica is now a part of the Fed

tired family was ready to return to Ja

maica in April and settle down in one

house again. For nine months we never
had our suitcases completely unpacked.
Yet we had all learned much, seen many

new and wonderful things, renewed old

friendships, strengthened our ties with
our congregations, and spent some time
with members of our family. It was

worthwhile for us, and we hope for all

concerned.

More Than Figures

During our two hundred and sixty-six

days away from Jamaica we presented
our report (see summary on p. 6) in

ninety-cwo different places, presented

the message. "The Challenge of Christ
and Jamaica" nineteen times, gave sev
eral other special messages to churches
and special groups, and held four weeks
of evangelistic meetings with fourteen
added

to

the

church.

We

travelled

through twenty-five states and a bit of

Canada in putting on about 25,000 miles.
We visited four Bible colleges, two of

them concerned with Negro evangelism.

We lost two weeks out of the thirtyeight weeks with illness. The Lord was

very good to us in everything and provi

dentially cared for us.

Financrvilly, we were able to pay off

eration of the West Indies which came

the $1,000 loan we had secured on the

into existence this year in April. This

brings together (?) at least politically

Penwood Rd. building, pay for and keep

over three million people spread over

1,500 miles of sea.

up the radio broadcast in Jamaica, help

some congregations with their building
construction, and support some preach
ers.

A Big Thank You

Our deep gratitude and genuine

thanks go to each of you and each con
gregation who received us, assisted us,
fed us, and cared for us in such a won

derful way during our furlough. We are

thankful to God for giving us such
grand friends and fellow workers in the
kingdom of God.

Jamaica Bible Seminary has five stu

dents this term. We hope to add several
next term.

Do you know some consecrated, pos

sibly retired, school teacher with at least

an M.A. from a recognized university

who might like to establish a secondary
school in Jamaica? We believe there is
a need.

Brother Daly

To do Christ's work costs plenty;

not to do it costs infinitely more.

Paul and Wanza Smith

39 MONTHS IN REVIEW
(continued from page 6)
Victories in Evangelism
During the thirty-nine months Grayson arranged and preached 28 weeks of

evangelistic meetings. He preached 528

sermons plus 85 sermons on the radio.

This radio ministry has been perhaps

the greatest single contribution made
toward evangelizing Jamaica with the
gospel. Grayson began preaching over
our only radio station in January, 1956

to an estimated lisienership oi^ -n-VjOuO

1

f f.

'

people. Every year we renewed the

contract. Now Grayson is back on the
air reaching an estimated 650,000 souls

-. ^^ I

GR. CAYMAN REVISITED

each week. This work has been of in

estimable value to Christ and His church.
Victories in New Fields

The Lord was pleased to use the En

signs as instruments in starting four
new congregations all of which

have

proved successful. Grand Cayman church

was started with the Tom Adams in 1954

(continued from Page 1)

dirty town hall. We thanked God for

the growth and perseverance of the old

and now has over thirty members and

their own evangelist. Whitehall Ave.

was begun in 1954, and its thirty-six

er Christians whom we had known from

members became a part of the Constant

the beginning of the work. Those added

word of life in this island of 8,000 souls.

Spring church which meets in the Semi

nary building. Then Elletson Rd. church
was founded in 1955 with Brother A. A.
Walker who is now minister -of this con
gregation. In 1956 Penwood Rd. church

It was a joy to preach to them again

~bn "the Lord's day and Monday night.

laborer. "He is now the minister for tiiis

since my latest visit impressed us with

their

convictions

and

loyalty.

About

thirty Christians are holding forth the

was started with Nelville Pink

co-

congregation.
Gospel Power
These Christians, who have come
through trial and opposition are well-

son held a two-hour public discussron

taught and aggressive. Just recently

the church purchased a well-located site

helped organize the Jamaica Christian

for a house of worship. The Christians

Trust, Ltd., to protect church property,

are

island is astir under the impact of N.T.

and travelled 2,700 miles by plane and

47,000 miles by car. With Grayce Marie

Christianity.

he produced eighteen issues of the local

bearing

witness, and
Bro. Smith

the

whole

publishes a

Other Work

In addition to these projects Gray

with a 7th Day Adventist missionary,

weekly newsletter which covers the is

monthly paper and nine issues of the

land with a powerful presentation of

Challenger. Grayson

gospel truth. Great things have been

done in Gr. Cayman and, with the favor
of God, greater things are yet to come.

monthly newsletters to y.ou folk at home

also

wrote

45

as well as innumerable personal letters.

With deep thanksgiving to God, the

Ensigns rejoice with you in God's ac

complishments. It is their earnest prayer

Two were identified with the Pen-

wood Rd. church in June and two were

added to the Elletson Rd. church.

that these next months of service shall

be as profitable to the church and as

Chnst-glorifying as these past ones
Were.

THE JAMAICAN CHALLENGER

Care of River Pk. Church of Chriat
e33 30fh St.,

South Bend, 15, Indiana.

Vr. ! i r-:'cli -'c Far land

bcK 96^

JoUet, 111.

Non-profit
U.S.

Organization

POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT NO. 803

South,,Bond, Indiana

VOLUME 8

JUNE - JULY, 1958

Ml', and Mrs. Hiram Cassel

Donald Fream, A. R. A. Hepburn, and

Fred Hintz with new "Gospel Car"

Students Working With

Freams For Summer
Ml', and Mi's. Hiram Cassell, students

of Midwest Christian College, Oklahoma

NUMBER 3

'Gospel Car'
A.R.A. Hepburn, minister of the York
Street Church of Christ in Kingston, is

now the proud (and considerably poorer)

owner of a now Hlllman car. The car was

City, Okla., are realizing the dream they

had before they married of serving
Christ in a foreign field.
Mr. and Mrs. Cassell (Marceline and

for the work of the Lord; however, it al

ways gives Bro. Hepburn a great deal of

Hiram) have arrived in Jamaica and will

spend the summer working with the

trips to visit the churches become real

"joy rides" in the fullest sense of the

churches and the Christian service camps.

word.

Marceline is a sophomore at the present

Bro. Hepburn's visits to the churches

provide a real service in strengthening
and encouraging them, so to help him in

time, and Hiram is a junior.

These young people bring to the service

of the Lord a variety of talents. Mar

not purchased for his own pleasure, but

pleasure to do the work of the Lord, and

this work of evangelism, we have con

tributed toward his gas bill each month

celine plays the piano and sings both alto

and soprano. Hiram sings baritone and

out of our general fund. During M^^y,

does solo work. Hiram preached at the

Bro. Hepburn and members of the York

Church of Christ in Fairview, Oklahoma,

Street church

for eight months, prior to his going to

Harbour Road, Scott's Pass, Braeton,

Oklahoma City where he now teaches the

Bog Walk, and Papine.

college class in the Draper Park Chris

visited

churches at Old

In his own personal life, he has had

tian Church. "Marcy" teaches the Ir.;.?rmediate Girls' class.

Last summer both worked in Vacation

recent cause for rejoicing, because his

.son, who had wandered away from the
Lord, returned in repentance to the fold.

Bible School and taught in the Christian

service camp in the Wichita Mountains,

Bro. Hepburn performed his wedding,

then baptised the young wife, so the

Lone Wolf, Oklahoma.

whole family is now united in the faith.

JUNE-JULY, 1958

PAGE TWO

The JAAAAICA CHRISTIAN

Published by

Ensigns Return To Jamaica

MR. AND MRS. DONALD FREAM

JAMAICA CHRISTIAN MISSION

After a furlough of eight months in

the States, Mr. and Mrs. Grayson Ensign

Churches of Christ

and their three sons have returned to

ASSOCIATES:

Mr. and Mrs. Grayson Ensign

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hintz
ADDRESS:

Box 10 - Half Way Tree

Jamaica, B.W.I.

Forwarding Address:
Rt. 2, Moore Haven, Fla.

Jamaica, and are back in harness again.

Brother Ensign will be teaching again
in the Seminary, serving as academic
dean, doing evangelistic work, and con
tinuing with his radio broadcasting pro
gram, "The Churches of Christ Salute
You", which has been presented on the
Island's only radio station since January
of 1956.

He and his family are looking well and

in good health.

TESTIMONY
On the first Sunday in June, three men
were ordained as deacons by the Constant

Spring Church by fasting, laying on of

hands, and prayer. These were the first
officers to be so appointed by the church.
After their ordination, the three men
were called upon to give a public testi
mony. The words of one of them were
particularly worth noting.
Bro. Beckford is not a new Christian.

He has been hard at work for the Lord

ever since his conversion in 1929, holding
-Bible-School34n-his-own-yardpreaching
in the streets and villages, his well-worn
Bible his constant companion. But never,
in all those years, did he ever "take mem
bership" with any of the established
churches, for in all of them he found
teachings and practices contrary to the

Word of God. He was annoyed by the

preachers who wore "turn-back collars"
and appropriated high-sounding titles for
themselves. He could never find in his
New Testament where Christ ever did

anything like that.

And so, even though he felt alone in
the world, he continued faithful to the
truth as he saw it, little dreaming that
there were thousands of others who had
not "bowed the knee to Baal". When he
first heard some real New Testament

preaching, he recognized it at once and

received it gladly. For the first time he
felt he could wholeheartedly and in good
conscience join heart and hands with a
congregation of Christians in doing God's
work, and he and his faithful wife and
seven children have been loyal members
of the church at Constant Spring since
its establishment.

"I knew," he said, "that this was one

church that was not founded on the doc

trines and opinions of men, but upon the

solid foundation of the Word of God."

God give us more men like this!

Hills Leave On Furlough

A week after the Ensigns returned to
Jamaica, Harry and Adele Hill left 'for
the States for a short four-month per
iod to gain support for their work. The
Freams took them to the airport and
saw them safely offafter a last min
ute dash back to the waiting room for
Harry's coat just seconds before the
plane took off.
Their head teacher, Bro. Fran Hardy,
is carrying on the school in their abswice-with -the assistance--of-'one-^^f-the

Seminary students and a young woman

from the Constant Spring church.

Mrs.Click To Fly To Jamaica

The Lord willing, Mrs. Pansy Click
will fly to Jamaica the last week in
July to serve as dean of women for the
three Christian Service camps to be held
"for

The

Churches

of

Christ"

be

ginning the 27th of July and continuing

through August. Mr. and Mrs. Donald
Fream are responsible for the planning
and management of the camps.
Mrs. Click will be available for teach

ing and to assist with the music.

FREAMS VISIT BEECHERTOWN

Donald and Maxine Fream, accom

panied by two sisters from the Constant
Springs church, recently visited Beechertown, one of the furtherest churches.
The sisters sang two lovely duets. The
building was filled as Donald showed
colored slides of the Christian service

camp, and of the life of Christ, followed

by a gospel message. Their cut-stone
building is looking fine. Windows and
doors are being fitted and colored glass
has been ordered.

PAGE THREE

JUNE-JULY, 1958

.V.B.S. Groups
1 1

The picture above shows a part of the

teen-agers' class at D.V.B.S. which was

recently hold. The very'attractive- g'l'l

Stephanie Ann Fream

in the center has just recently become

a Christian.

She comes fro,m a .nice

family, and the missionaries are work

ing hard to reach the parents.
The picture below is a group of some

of the smaller children in opening exer

cises, giving their pledge to the Chris

tian flag. Shawn Fream is holding the

flag, while a little boy, to whom Shawn

always refers as "My friend. Paul" is

holding the Bible. Classes were taught
by Maxine Fream and Adele Hill

"Of Such Is The Kingdom"

Little Stephanie Ann Fream has re

cently been having quite a bout with

fate. First, she contracted "pink eye",
which proved to be a very stubborn case,
and her little eyes were red and swollen

for quite some time.

On top of that,

she caught a bad cold, and then she suf

fered

a tumble,

which left a bruise

across one cheek and a big black and

blue bump on her forehead. She looked
as if she had been the loser in a prize
fight.
These unfortunate incidents have fail

ed to dampen her cheerful spirit and

enthusiasm.

To her, the whole world,

even with all its mishaps, is a wonder

ful place. "Oh, preddie! preddie!" she

exclaims when some new delight catches

her eye. This adjective, meaning "pret

ty", which is the only one she knows, is

used to describe everybody and every
thing, and. consequently, gets a bit

overworked, but somehow the way she

ZLI

says it, with stars twinkling in her eyes,

an angelic smile on her baby lips, and

in a soft little voice that has never

learned guile, it always seems perfectly

appropriate.

PAGE FOUR

JUNE-JULY, 1958

AMONG THE CHURCHES

BUILDING UNDER CONSTRUCTION

400 ATTEND BAPTISMAL SERVICE

regularly, and souls are being saved.

They now have 42 members. 'They are
in process of gathering material for a
building.

The church at Diamond is doing a

good work. Services are being held

400 people gathered to witness a bap

tismal service held by members of the

Dunkeld church.

Three were baptized

into Christ and two were received into

fellowship.

members.

The church now has

36

As one member stated, "A

real work is going on; the dear Lord is

in Dunkeld mightily."
TWENTY BAPTIZED AT NEW HOPE

Twenty were baptized and six added

by fellowship recently at New Hope

church. The church held a month's evan

gelistic campaign. Young men were the

preachers for the first week; elders for

the second; deacons for the third; and

the minister and other workers for the

rest of the month. Attendance averaged

200 to 300 for night services.
CAMPERDOWN HOLDS RALLY

FRED HINTZ HOLDS CAMPAIGN

Special evangelistic campaigns were

held at both Mt. Pleasant and fechmond

Park by Fred Hintz. This was in addi

tion to visiting and assisting with num

erous other country churches.

Bro.

Hintz is searching for a church location

in Mandeville.

CONSTANT SPRING ORDAINS

DEACONS
Three men were ordained as deacons

on Sunday, June 1st. The church has

purchased a piano, which is now in use.

Donald Fream is showing colored slides
on the life
seiwice.

of Christ each

mid-week

An all-day rally was held by the

Camperdown Church of Christ on June
1st with a fine attendance.

Donald Fream delivered a sermon on

"What is the Church of Christ?" and
Fred Hintz spoke on "The World's
Greatest Need". - Services were contin-

ued throughout the week conducted by

Bro. Hintz.
MERRYLAND IS MERRY

Everything is going well with the

church at Merryland. Church attendance

for morning services has gone as high

as 136; for night sel-vices, 189, and for

prayer meetings, 86. There are 50
children enrolled in Bible school.

SUTTON CHURCH PROGRESSING

The church is moving forward at Sut-

ton. Regular services are being held,

and souls are being won to Christ. They
started with a membership of four, and
now have twenty-two.

YORK street holds RALLY

A three-weeks' rally and evangelistic

Christian Service Camps

The fii'St Chi'istian service camp in
the history of the churches of Christ
in Jamaica was held in August of 1956
withthirty-six youngsters -from twelve
different congregations scattered out

through four parishes, attending the

camp for a week of teaching. Of the

thirty-six campers attending, twentyone were already Christians. Ten others

were baptized during camp, leaving only

five who had not accepted Christ.

In August of 1957, ninety-three

young people from eighteen congrega
tions attended the junior and senior

weeks of camp, and twenty-eight of

them were baptized during the sessions.
This year it is planned to hold two
junior camps in order to take care of
the increase in enrollment which is ex
pected.

Shawn Celebrates Sixth

meeting was held by the York Street

BlrShday

church in cooperation with twelve other

churches in the Kingston area. On May

25th, the church observed "Pentecost
Sunday", the birthday of the church.

Donald Fream brought a message on

"Pentecost" and showed pictures.
18 PRAYER MEETINGS HELD

Eighteen prayer meetings were held

in one month by the church at Fort
George. Two have been added recently

by baptism, and two by fellowship. A

rally is planned for July 20th.'

Master Shawn Fream celebrated his

sixth birthday on May 3rd. Since it al

so happened to be Grayson Ensign's
birthday. Mom Fream invited the Hills
and the Ensigns over for dinner. Of

course,

the dessert had to be cake,

which was a big orange one with piles

of white frosting. Both of the "birth-

dayites" blew out candles, "The guests

all sang "Happy Birthday" and all left
the table stuffed to a fare-thee-well.
But no one got sick!

JUNE-JULY, 1958

PAGE FIVE

nearly to her ankles, were in the tradi

tional peasant style. Hanging from a
strap around her shoulder was a car

penter's square. In one hand, she held

a stick and a tattered Bible, with the

cover and a few pages missing; in the

other hand, she carried a small bell,
which she tinkled as she walked to at
tract attention. It attracted mine.
REPENT! REPENT!

"Repent, repent," she admonished, in

a little-old-woman's voice. "The

Word

of God says to you, 'Repent' before it

is toe late,"

The,reaction of the higglers was var

ied. Some ignored her, some smiled, and

som^' listened quietly.
"Murderers, adulterers, thieves, hat
ers of parents, God will judge you!"

When she had passed on, some of the

women raised eyebrows at one another
and laughed. Another woman, with a

large loaded basket on her head, paused

long enough to reproach her fellows.
"Don't laugh after her. Yes, she is

V./

a funny-looking little woman, but John

THE HiGSLERS AND THE

PROPHETESS
..By Maxine Fream

Going to market in Jamaica often

turns out to be more of an adventure

than a routine chore.

Bustling with

colorful charactei's

endless activ

and

ities, from street fighting

to

street

preaching, the market has a gi'eat deal

to offer besides foodthat is, if you

are interested.

the Baptist was dressed in camel's hair.

And what she says is ti-ue."

Quoting scripture passages fluent

ly, the little prophete.ss moved on, and
I. followed discreetly, arranging conven
iently to make my purchases
frarn

those higglers who wei'e close enough

to her vicinity for me to overhear what
she was saying.

"Yu never have any time for the

Lord," she accused one group. "Seventh
day, eip-hlh day, it makes no difference

yu don' keep any of 'em. The only

God yu serve is yu belly."

HIGGLERS SPREAD WARES

The particular market

ordinarily

patronize is just a half-mile from our

home.

It long ago outgrew the zinc-

roofed shelter which the government

ZEAL WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE

I waited until she had paused long

enough for me to speak to her without

interrupting, and then I approached.

built for the purpose, and covers an

"Good morning," I .said kindly. "Tell

area, at least, ten times as large. The

higglers, as the venders are called,
spread their wares out on the ground

me. do you attend services anywhere?"

"Oh, yes," she assured me. "I visit
all of them."

wherever they can find room; and in

In her ensuing narrative I leanied

making your way among them, you

must walk very carefully lest you upset

that she had been baptized several

times in compliance with varying re
quirements of different chip-chos; that
she went to se7-vice.5; on Sunday, and on
Saturday too, just to be safe.

soimeone's eggs or lose your balance and

land in a pile of tomatoes.
THE PROPHETESS

One day, not long ago, my trip to

While I was amaze<l at her credulity,

and soiTOwful_ over the maze of contra

the market happened to coincide with

dictory teachings that confronted her,

that of another visitora self-styled

neverthcle.s.^? I could not help but ad

mire her willingness to be obedient to

prophetess. But let me describe her:

She was old, tiny, and wizened. There

was scarcely a tooth left in her head;
her calloused feet were bare. The soiled

scarf around her head and the patched

dress of nondescript gray which hung

everything slio thought the Lord might

require of her. She didn't

intend

to

leave any stone unturned on her way

to heaven if .she could help it. How dif-

(Continued on page 6)

JUNE-JULY, 1958

PAGE SIX
//

THE GOSPEL IMPACT"

A new- church paper

has

recently

made its debut to the brethren in the

States"The Gospel Impact", the joint

effort of five faithful preachers: Ron-

aid Fisher, John Kinner, Sherman NichoTs,- - Wndall Parman, and

Kenneth
Washburn.

Printed "newspaper" style, and con

taining such pertinent articles as "How

the Word of God is Made Void," and

"Is One Church As Good As Another?"

the "Impact is filling a definite need.

had to be re-ordered.

These are tracts dealing with the

Christian life"How Worldly Can I

Be. and Still Be a Christian and Belong

to the Church?", tracts treating with

false teaching"The Rock, "The Keys,

Peter, and The Pope," and "Seven Rea
sons Why I Am Not a Seventh-Day
Adventist;" as well as tracts dealing
with the Church, Baptism,

and

the

Lord's Supper.

All of them are printed attractively,

many in color, on good paper, and are
easy to read.
Churches, Bible schools,

and

Bible

JAMACIANS TO GET "IMPACT"

classes In the States could render a real

Since we thought it could be used to

service by contributing toward this min

the benefit of Christ and the Church in

Jamaica, we have subscribed to the pa

per for twenty-six

of

our

Jamaican

istry.

Many souls have been won to

Christ through the use of the right kind

of religious tracts.

preachers and workers. They will re

ceive the paper once a month for a
year.

We still continue the monthly publi

cation of a local "Jamaica Christian",
containing news of Jamaica churches,

HIGGLERS AND PROPHETESS

(Continued from page 5)

ferent from those who seem to want to

do only as little as possible.

as well as doctrinal articles. Five hun

OBJECT LESSON

dred copies are mimeographed and sent

out eacii month. For a year we tried

The odd paraphei-nalia she wore,

having the paper printed locally, but

the service was so slow that the news

was stale by_t]ic time jve could get it

out, so we finally gave up in disgust
and went back to iinimeographing.
MINISTRY BY PRINTED WORD

The ministry of the printed word is

further continued by the distribution of

tracts. Thousands of tracts covering at
least, forty different subjects have been
obtained and are being given wide dis
tribution. Present supplies of several of
the tracts have been exhausted and have

THE JAMAICA CHRISTIAN

(Non-Profit Organization)
Moore Haven, Fla.

made perfect to enter. "The strap?

John the Baptist was girt about with
a leather girdle. The stick? An angel
took a rod and measured the city, thus
will God measure our lives.

Yes, I bear her witness that she had

a zeal for God, though not according to

knowledge. There is a great need in Ja

maica for the simple and straightfor

ward New Testament doctrine in all its
unsullied clarity.

SEC. 34.66 P. L. & R.

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID
Moore Haven, Fla.

Harold McFarland

PERMIT NO. 7

Box 963

Jollet, III.

JUL 7 1958

POSTMASTER: If undelivered for any reaion, notify

lender stating reason on form 3547, postage for
which is guaranteed.

learned, was the object lesson for each

sermon. The carpenter's square? The
city in heaven is four-square, which
indicates ~ perfection, so we m'u-gj oe

>o ((,

fb-Ao

KOTES OF KEWS FROM JAiaiGA

G-rayson EnsiJPgli sent word that an August let Emancipation Day

all-Island rally held at the Penwood Road housPof worship wad
attended

0 people. The rally was planned by Fred Hintz and a

committee of Jamaican brethren.

The radio station estimates that Brother Enslgi/s Friday afternoon

broadcast is now heard by nearly 650,000 listeners. When the new term
of Jamaica Bible Seminary opened in September, Mrs. Ensign* and

Brothers Fream, Hintz, and Ensign began teaching duties. Brother

Ensign serves as dean of the Seminary which is agafiin on a four-year
curriculum leading to a BSL degree.
September 15-18 a Christian lien's Institute will be held at
Jamaica Bible Seminary. The four-day program is in charge of Brother
Ensign. Don Fream will teach a course on "How to Improve the Lodal

Church;" Fred Hints will present "Use of Instruments <3if Music in

Worship Services and Tests of Fellowship;" Brother Ensign's course
will be "Missionary Principles and policies of the New Testament and
Their Use by EHangelists in Jamaica,"
According to Brother Ensign, antl-instrument brethren from Texas

are working among the loyal churches in Jamaica seeking to "buy"

preachers and obtain control of properties. He wrote "We invite the

prayers of .ChristjaiH in this critical situation." Address^on field

is Box 20, Half Way Tree, Kingston 10, Jamaica, West Indies.

7^

September - October, 1958

VOLUME 8, Number 4

CAMP HI-LIGHTS

97 Attend21 Baptized
Three

weeks

of Christian

Service

Camps for voung people from churches

of Christ throughout the island were

conducted during August on the Jamaica

Bible Seminary campus near Constant

Spring. Ninety-seven youth, from four

teen churches in five different parishes
attended the camps, and twenty-one
were baptized during the sessions.

The camp personnel consisted of six

Amei'icans and six Jamaicans, not in

cluding four Jamaican cooks.

The Freams were responsible for plan

ning, managing, and financing the camp.

Hiram and Marcclinc Ca^sel, students
from Mid-West Chinstian College, Okla

homa, helped in music, teaching, and rec

reation in the first two camps, Fred

Hintz, fellow missionary, taught, and

directed recreation for the last camp.

Mrs. J. S. Click, forwarding agent for

the Freams, was in Jamaica for the

camping period and taught classes and

served as Dean of women in aU 'hree

camps. Several of Mrs. Click's original

choruses were inti-oduced in camp and
proved very popular.
HIGH STANDARDS

Applicants for camp were required to

be recommended by '"heir prencber or

elder as faithful in Bible school attend

Donald Fream, with C. A. Morris, Minis

ter at New Hope, and A. Thompson, Min

ister at Constant Spring.

NEW HOPE CHURCH

STILL BOOMING
The New Hope Church of Christ in
Guy's Hill, centrally located in the is

land n'" .Tnma'ca is st'll on the march

and gaining victories for the Lord. Be

ginning with a small group of twenty

Christians in 1956. Bro'"her C. A. Morris,

Jamaican evangelist, has worked with

them diligently until the congregation

has now almost reach-5d the 200 mark.

They had over 100 additions during their

first year - 80 by baptism. So far this

year, thre have been sixty additions,

fifty by baptism.

"Timothys"

ance, obedient, and interested in things

Besides the growing numbers being ad

were kept on a high spiritual level, and

the co-operation and interest were fine.

been successful in recruiting no less

than six young men for the ministry.
Two enrolled in the January term, and

of the Lord. As a result, all the camps

Of the twenty-five who came to camp,

not yet having made their decision to

become Christians, twenty-one made the

decision in camp a^d were baptized

there. Another was baptized later. All

who came to the senior camp

were

supposed to be Christians already. One

happened to come who was not, but
she was baptized on the second day, and
from there on, all were Christians.

ded to the Lord. Brother Morris has

four more for the present term.

"CONTEST"

The New Hope church engaged in a

friendly contest with the Constant
Spring Church in Kingston for the first
six mcths of the year with points given
on additions and attendance. The two

(Continued on page 6)

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER, 1958

Page Two

The JAMAICA CHRISTIAN

SEMINARY OPENS
NEW TERM

Published by
MR. AND MRS. DONALD FREAM
JAMAICA CHRISTIAN MISSION

The Jamaica Bible Seminary has open

Churches of Christ

ed the year's third term with nine young

men taking the full day-time course.
Grayson Ensign teaches Acts, Donald
Fream teaches Old Testament Survey,

ASSOCIATES:

AAr. and Mrs. Grayson Ensign

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hintz
ADDRESS:

Fred Hintz teaches The Church Reveal

Box 10 - Half Way Tree

Jamaica, T.W.I.
Forwarding Address:
Rt. 2, Moore Haven, Fla.

ed and Grayce Marie Ensign teaches

English.

A serious problem has arisen recently

that threatens the unity and harmony

Eight students are living at the

school, and must be provided witii
scholarship jobs in order to remain. This
costs approximately $200 per month, and
any gifts pledged toward this end will
be appreciated.
Also, as funds permit, students will be
sent out to help and encourage country
churches needing leadership. Some
churches are already being assisted in

among the churches in Jamaica. The

this respect.

Hour For Prayer

anti-instrument group are trying to
move in on the work that has been done.

In April, a Jamaican preacher, Clifford

Edwards, who has been s^ported by

churches in the States and Canada that

use the instrument, invited to the island

a preacher from an "anti" church in
Texas. These two spent three weeks
visiting many ^ the lurches and

STUDENT TO
THE STATES
Miss Joyce Darby, a young member
of the church of Christ in Constant

Spring,TlHfnramaica on St^temb^ ^

leaders and sought to win thmr coopera

to enroll in the Cincinnati Bible Semi

tion

nary. Nearly a dozen young people from

this congregation have gone abroad in
recent years to work and to study, but
Joyce is the first to go specifically to

and

following

with

offers

of

financial assistance.

Leaders were assured that their in

tensions were not to divide the churches,

but only to extend them. Evidently, what
was said about the instrument was not

considered of major importance. None of

the churches that were visited have in

struments anyway, because (1) they

cannot afford them, and (2) they have

no one to play. It would be very easy

attend a Bible college and to further her

work in the scriptures.
Although she has been a Christian
only two years, Joyce has made fine

strides in her Christian life, growing

steadily in grace and knowledge. She
has been a faithful teacher of the tiny

for them to make a virtue out of what

tots' class in Bible School, and a leader

they already practice of necessity.

in the young people's group, as well as

"DECEPTION"

We knew that an American preacher

had visited Edwards and that they had

all phases of church activities. We re

joice in her decision to take further

training in Christian service, and pray

God's blessings on her in her new life.

been to some of the churches, but EdWMds has not co-operated with the
missionaries for some time, so that was
not surprising. However, the fact that
this man was an "anti", and the full
extent of his activities here, were not

Jamaica Bible Seminary September 1518, with Brother Ensign, Hintz, and
Fream teaching subjects on "Principles
and Policies of Missionary Work" "In-

discovered by us until August. By that

straments of Music and Tests of Fellow

ates had been led off by the dissem

ship" and "How to Improve the Local

Church in Giving. Attendance, and
Spirituality," respectively.

time, one of our older Seminary gradu

blance.

A Men's Institute was held at the

We have sent out letters of warning

to all the churches about the sectarian

attitude of those who adopt man-made

laws, and spent long hours in con-

ferences with various Jamaican leaders.

Pray with us that serious division may

be averted.

Page Three

SEPTEMBEROCTOBEH, 1958

oClttJe ^Wiib.^ionanij
"We Are But LittSe
Children"
Whom shall I send?" says the Lord,
in Isaiah's famous sixth chapter vision

of heaven, "and who will go for us?"

the question rings down the ages to
every generation.

The other day a letter came from

one of the young girls who had been in

camp. It said, in part:
"Dear

Brother

and

Sister

Fream.

Good morning. Gereeting to you all in

Jesus name. Please esquze my letter.

Dear sir, sad news from horn. (My

brother) is sick and not able to aten
to his duty, further more we need now

Trevor and Athleen, two model junior

campers

some help in the work of Christ. Our

Teacher is trying her very best with us
but she is week indeed. We askeing you

USED CLOTHING

If you could pay us a vizit in our church

NEEDED

so as to get a little help, for we are but

littl children and we need to andurstand

more about the Loi-d every day. I am

askeing you all to pray for us as we go

There is a definite need for some good

used clothing in the work here. All of

on in Jesus name. I close with love in

our Seminary boys need clothes, even

Jesus name.

to look decent when they go out on

I am your camper,
Phylis

"SEND THE LIGHT"

Sundays to preach.
Several of the young girls who came

to camp were proudly wearing dresses

given them through the kindness of

church groups in America, but there

There is no real church where Phyllis

lives, but a Bible school has been con

ducted there by a Christian postmistress

w->re others as much in need, and many

who could not come at all for lack of
clothes.

from the next district. Several young

"SACK IT"

people from there have come to camp,

Postage rates are high, so be selective

in what you send. If you will pack cloth
ing in a strong feed bag, then sew it

and now there are about a dozen baptiz

ed believers, but they are in fact, "little

children," and in need of help.
It would cost about $2 in bus fare to
send one of the Seminary students over
to visit them for a Sunday. Would you
like to help?

shut, it will reach us in better condition.

Cardboard boxes take a teri-ific beat

ing, as well as adding considerably to

the weight.

MAN BITTEN
On August 1, Emancipation Day in
Jamaica, and all-day rally for churches

Do you know that Jamaica has croc

church in Kingston, with some three

odiles?
They live in several of the
sir ams and rivers. Just the other day,
a man went out to the pasture to mi'k

hundred in

the cow when he was attaekec' by a croc

of Christ was held at the Penwood

attendance. The Penwood

building, which Bro. Ensign is respon

sible for erecting, is nearing completion,
lacking only finishing touches.

odile and was seriously bitten on his

right leg. The "croc" was finally killed,

and measured eight feet.

Page Fonr

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER, 1958

THE FABLE OF THE TREES

There is a fable they tell in Jamaica about the silk cotton tree

(from which kapok comes) and the mahogany tree.

It goes like this:

Once upon a time, as all good stories begin, thejc^tton tree

held its head up above all the other trees in the forest r O

^and

said, "Look at me! I am the largest and grandest tree

the
land. No other tree is as big as I aro, so of course, I am fne most
important." The mahogany tree
just smiled. "Size isn't
everything," it remarked.
One day some men came into theJo/.es

of the trees. A lot of people

t-hey want,"

said the

said

and cut down both

gathered around, 'It is me

cotton tree. "We'll see,'

mahogany tree.

Finally, the treeSvere cut up into wood and carried away; but the
carpenters and,cabinet-makecs^d fur^iiture-men-all-Avanted tbe rnahog^
"You see," said the mahogany tree, "it is quality, not size, that
counts."

LETTER FROM
A CAMPER
The following letter is typical of many
received from the campers:
Dear Brother Fream:

Greetings to you, and thanks very

much for the wonderful time I spent in
camp. When I went home, I told my
mother and father how much I enjoyed
the camp, and they said that if God

would spare my life to see next year,

I could come again.
MONTHS 'ROLL OVER'

time we spent in camp, and for the

things you taught us during the six
days. I understand many things which
I never heard of. While I learned plenty
more about our Father

which is in

heaven.
GRATITUDE

I pray for Brother and Sister Cassel

who have gone back to their home in

America. We thank him for the songs he

taught us, "Do Your Ears Hang Low,"
"She'll Be Comin' Around the Mountain"

and "I Pray To God," "In Waters Deep"

and "I Want To Be A

Christian."

(written by Mrs. Click)

I pray for all of the teachers who

I thank you for the teaching which

attended the camp, that the Lord may

you gave me, so that I could learn more

ever bless them and keep them to see

another camp again. I pray also for the
cooks who did the cooking that God
may ever bless, guide and keep them,
and for those who provided the food.

about our elder brother, Jesus Christ,

who died to save our souls. I wish I

were in camp now. I miss the camp and

wish the months could roll over and
make next year come again soon; I
wish the camp could last a month or a
year instead of just one week.

We must always thank you. Brother

and Sister Pream, for the wonderful

May God bless all... and again, Brotheb

Fream, I thank you for the kindness
shown to me.

Yours in Christ,
Elaine Hall

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER, 1958

Page Five

NEWS IN PICTURES

Don Pieam fits some new

glass in the windows of the Beechertown church building. Work on this

building has gone slowly, but it will be
a nice structure when finished. It is yet

in need of floor, doors, and paint. Three

young men from the church were in

camp, and two young ladies.

House of worship for the

New Hope Christians. Intended to be
entirely adequate for the congregation
when begun, it is now unable to hold
all the crowds. A gracious Christian
friend from the Mid-West donated over

$1,500 to erect the chapel, which is of

cement block, reinforced with steel to
withstand both hurricane and earth-

V
\nr1

1
Hired trucks, being loaded

for a day's outing into the country parts.

of con-

Fred Hintz and Harry Hill

veyence in Jamaica. The trucks have

This is the common

method

with A. Bogle, elder, in front of the

church of Christ at Mt. Pleasant, during
a rally held there. This is one of the

canvas covers to protect from sun and

rain, and are licensed to carry about 40

passengers. Church groups come by
trucks to attend rallies.

churches in the Mandeville area where

Bro. Hintz serves.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER. 1958

Page Six

Salvation Army
Worker Baptized
An elderly, gray-haired man, who
has worked faithfully for the Salvation

Army for twenty-six years, completed

his obedience to the Lord in Christian

baptism last month, and placed his

membership with the church of Christ in

New Hope Church...

(Continued from page 1)

churches were running a close race until

the New Hope Church conducted a
month's successful evangelistic cam

paign and gained seventeen additions.

The Constant Spring Church, as the
losers, were invited to attend the New
Hope Church and present a program.
Members hired a truck for transporta

Constant Spring. He had been attending

services regularly for weeks and en

tion, and went over for an afternoon and

evening of fellowship, preaching, and

gaged in several private discussions of

singing.

doctrinal matters with Bro. Pream. The

conviction grew on him that in baptism

he had been neglecting a definite com

When nothing whereon to lean re

mand of Christ, and he finally came

to the decision to put it off m lon<'er.
He was baptized on a Thursday night
after Bible study class.
The Constant Spring church has had
seven other additions by baptism in the
past two months.

When strongholds crumble to dust;

When nothing is sure but that God

mains.

still reigns.
That is just the time to trust.

When you are jarred by a faulty note

in others, make sure it is not the re

sponse of a string vibrating within your

self.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hill have re

turned to Jamaica after a short four-

month tour in the States to raise support

for their work. They operate a Christian

Day School in Half-Wa^y-Tree with some

60 students.

Redwood

Hurricanes "Ella" and "Gerda" passed

close enough to Jamaica to provide a
real threat to the island, but only rains

and squally weather were felt. 'Thanks

giving to God-for delinerance fwam-possible disaster was offered

in

many

churches.

Jamaica is no longer a part of the

"British West Indies." Since the West

Indian Federation this year, the word

"British" has been dropped, and the cor

"Write injuries in dust; write kind

nesses in marble."

rect name now is simply "The West

"To dare is great. To bear is greater.

Indies" . . . no longer B. W. I., but

Bravery we share with brutes, fortitude

T. W. I.

with saints."

THE JAMAICA CHRISTIAN

(Non-Profit Organization)

Moore Haven, Fla.

SEC. 34.66 p. L. & R.

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID

Moore Haven, Fla.

PERMIT NO. 7

POSTMASTER: If undelivered for any reason, notify

tender stating reason on form 3S47, postage for
vrhich is guaranteed.

7^

JAMAICAN
V

..

CHRISTIAN
Nov. - Dec., 1958

Volume 8

Number 5

ei^EETINGS

ITj irv

Stephanie Ann, James Shawn, Leslie Vee and Vanita Lou Fream

cr
here is something in the sight of a small child, kneeling in simple
faith and innocence, to say its rhyming prayer, that touches the heart
strings and gives them a tug; recalling the Import of Jesus' words: "Ver

ily I say unto you, except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall
in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Christmas is that time out of all the year that seems especially
created for children, since It is essentially the Story of a Child. Let us

be careful then, that we do not exchange or obscure that story of truth

and love for a fanciful one that tends to engender selfishness and greed r
a spirit of getting, rather than a spirit of giving.

Let us too, come kneeling with the children, with the shepherds, and

with the wise men, around the cradle of the Christ, partaking again of
the simplicity, the humility, and the purity of heart that makes men trulywise, together with ail men of good will, on whom the angel first called
down peace.

NOV.. DEC., 1958

Page Two

The JAMAICA CHRISTIAN

Published by
MR. AND MRS. DONALD FREAM

JAMAICA CHRISTIAN MISSION

Churches of Christ
ASSOCIATES:

Mr. and Mrs. Grayson Ensign

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hintz
ADDRESS:

Box 10 - Half Way Tree

Jamaica, T.W.I.

Forwarding Address:
Rt. 2, Moore Haven, Fla.

BIRTH PANGS
On the outskirts of a small town in

the center of Jamaica, a little group of

people gathered around a buxom "Mother"

in die center of a thatched booth. In the

Another new building goes up at Goshen.

Your gifts arc helping on this.

light of a five-pronged kerosene lamp,

smoke curled up from seven burning can

pocomania group on the outskirts of Lin-

dles, arranged in the form of a cross on

the table. The Mother leaned forward
over the table. Her eyes were closed, and

stead. A mixture of African voodooism,

Catholicism, and "holy roller" revivalism,

her grotesque shadow darted to and fro

the pocomanias are one of the hardest

groups to teach in Jamaica. They are

across the walls of the booth as she sway

ed, gently and firmly, like a mother hen

settling herself over her brood. The small
assemblage swayed with he- some-

swaying far, some barely nodding but

all in time and in the same direction.

It was an old English hymn that held

them together, sung with a hypnotic

rhythm that held all in the booth in its
spell.

usually very anxious to "attach themselves

to a Body" thus gaining the official
prestige of a denomination and a measure
of insurance against police interference
with their activities. However, though it
takes many years, some pocomania wor

shippers have been converted to New

Testament Christianity.
CONFLICT

Suddenly, the "Mother" stopped her

swaying and singing, as her eyes opened

Knowing all this, Brother Lindo began

shabby coat and carrying a small satchel

in his hand. Gradually, the hymn ground

to teach the small group as he visited

them once or twice a month. Some of the
members consented to the new doctrine,
and were baptized soon. The "Mother"
herself, although flattered by the appear

to a halt, as one by one each of the mem

bers of the congregation stopped singing

to grow skeptical about losing her posi

to stare at the figure of a tall, bony, bigfooted man standing in the doorway. Here
was a stranger, an outsider, wearing a

and turned to behold the man in the door

way. The night was too dark, and the

lamp too dim, to reveal the man clearly.
The sleepy mind of the Mother began to
race wth anxiety.

Who was he?

He

seemed too shabby to be a policeman ...

yet there was an air of authority about

him. For many seconds, not a word was
spoken.

"What yu want?" querried the "Moth

er."

"You

worshipping

God

through

Christ?" rallied the stranger.

Braver now, she answered, "Who else?

Come in."

So it was that the "walking preacher"

of Jamaica was introduced to the small

ance and visits of this preacher, began

tion as mother and leader of the flock. It

was soon apparent that she herself would

not change. Brother Lindo had baptized
several and gone as far as he could. His
own work in the hills took his time.

At this stage, another Jamaican evan

gelist stepped in and carried the work

further. A definite cleavage took place
between the newly baptized and the ad
herents to the old pocomania ideas. A
larger and more adequate shelter was
constructed in a member's yard, the mis
sionaries joined to help, and funds were
obtained to purchase a suitable piece of
land in the town for a permanent site.

A brief period of mushroom growth fol-

(Continued on page 6)

Page Three

NOV. DEC., 1958

OPEN THINE HAND

If there be among you a poor man of
one of thy brethren within any of tiiy gates
in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth
thee, thou shalt not harden tliine heart,
nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto

him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient

for his need, in that which he wanteth.
Beware that there be not a thought

in thy wicked heart . . . and tiiine eye be

evil against thy poor brother, and thou

givcbt him nougiit; and he ciy unto the

Loi'd against thee, and it be sin unto thee.
Thou shalt surely give him. and tliine
heart shall not be grieved when thou givest

Poverty, malnutrttton. The mother and

unto liim: because that for this thing the

five chlldFeii live in hut on the left.

Lord thy God shalt bless tliee in all thy

has no floort}.

works, and in all that thou puttest thine

hand unto.

For the poor shall never cease out of

the land; therefore I command thee, say

ing, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto

thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy
needy, in thy land.

Deuteron.jmy lb:?-11

Celebration of Christmas in Jamaica

often seem.s to us, as Americans, more

like a combination of our halloween and

New "iear's festivities. The bright-colored

paper hats, noisy horns, ear-splitting fire
crackei-s, and the staying-up-all-night re

ful and grotesque masks of the John Canoe

dancers in the streets makes one think that

1t order to encourage the liabit of

regular Bible reading, as well as encour

aging young Chiistians in their daily lives,

a Bible Reader's "Club" has been formed

The "Club" functions

only through corve.spondence. but

Christmas Customs

calls New Year activities; while the fright

BIBLE READERS

by Mrs. Fream.

It

still

seives to further fellowship among young

people of like precious faith.

Tiiose who are interested are njailed

all the witches and goblins of halloween

are loose again. The masked dancers both

attract and repell the children, who will
hide to peep out of curiosity, but will also
scream and run if the apparitions come
too clo.se.

American customs of Santa Claus and

Christmas trees have made some inroads

in King.sltm, but not in the country parts.

All these things, of course, are the

membership cards on which the rules are

customs of the world. Tlie customs of the

without missing for twelve weeks, niemo-

ing, worship services in the church house,

bringing of gifts to the poor, and the

printed. One must read the Bible daily

rize an appointed passage each week, and
write a letter to Mrs. Fream every month.

The most interesting letters are published

in the local "Jamaica Christiai."

Who

ever keeps the rules faithfully for the

twelve weeks, receives a pretty gold and

blue pin of merit.

It was hoped that two or three inter

ested youngsters m each church might be
contacted, but now teachers are sending
in lists of fifteen and twenty each. If they

all win pins, somebody is going broke!

Christians are warmly familiar: carol sing

enactmeiit of

the Saviour's birth in the

stable ("I was a king last year, let me

be a shepherd this year!")
"Tell me the story of Jesus; write on
my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious, sweet
est that ever

was heard.

Tell how the angels in chorus, sang

as they welcomed his birth,

'Glory to God in the Higiiest, peace

and good tidmg to earth!"

Page Four

NOV. - DEC., 1958

Calling Doctor Fream

The situation is tense. A young man
from the audience has staggered to the

front holding his side in evident pain, and

moaning softly. "Doctor" Fream is equal
to the occasion. Producing a small case,
he extracts stethoscope, injection needle,

pocket light, and other impressive appa

ratus, and proceeds to give the "patient"
a thorough check-up.
"Here so. Doctor," the "patient" cries,
pointing to a region near his right shoulder
blade.

"Here so. Doctor here so. Doctor!"

he exclaims again, grabbing at his left
lower ribs as the pain seems to jump.

The audience sits forward expectant

ly, some doubtful, some amused. One lit
tle child, sympathizing, bursts into tears.

RAGS and POOCHIE

WORST FEARS

After the examination, the "patient"

listens, round-eyed and straight-faced, as
the "doctor" tells him he must have a

blood transfusion. A few simple expla

nations are made: the "patient" slowly
nods his head in agreement.

A cot is

produced and he is put to bed. A bottle of

dark red fluid is suspended from a stand
beside him and a rubber tube attached to

the bottle and then to his arm. Slowly,

then, thefluid drops- lower and lower in

the bottle. The bandage around the arm

is stained slightly red. The "patient"

turns away his head and closes his eyes.

Those two characters up there are

Bible School puppets. When the Hills re
turned from the States to continue their

work with the Christian Day School, they

brought back the puppets as gifts for the
Fream children. Mrs. Fream saw in them
a way to lend an added interest to the

Bible school, and began writing some

scripts of dialogue, then having two of the

Seminary students make tape recordings.

In this way, .she can jnanipulate the_pu{h__
pets from behind a curtain while authentic

voices in Jamaican dialect do the speak

ing.

Each week, "Rags and Poochie" to

TRANSFORMATION

"Doctor" Fream

then

discards

his

white coat, picks up his Bible, steps be

hind the pulpit and becomes in reality,
Preacher Fream, with a heart-searching

gether with their friend, "George the

Dragon," romp in to Bible school and
learn how God wants people to live. The
adults enjoy them as much as the chil
dren!

message on the atoning blood of Christ.

The sermon reaches its dramatic close

just as the last drop of liquid drains from

the upturned bottle. Preacher Fream
takes his seat, and the local minister rises
to give the invitation to those outside

of Christ to accept Him as their Savior.

This scene has been enacted many

times in recent weeks in churches through

out the country parts. There have been
several confessions and re-consecrations as

a result.

Herman Johnson, one of the

students in the Bible Seminary, is the co

operative 'patient' as well as a promising
young minister of the gospel.
Women of the Constant Spring church
have formed a sewing circle to

make

SORREL
Sorrel is a small plant commonly
grown in Jamaica that blooms especially
in December and enjoys great popularity
at Christmas time. Its dark red petals are

used to make a pleasant tasting drink, and

it has become traditional to serve sorrel
on Christmas day.

The petals are placed in an earthen

ware bowl or crock, boiling water is pour

ed over them, and they are left to stand
all night. The resulting drink, now a

bright red, is strained, sweetened, chilled,

and a dash of ginger added for spice.

clothes for the needy even though some

of those helping with the sewing are among
the most needy themselves! Money for

Sound nice?

the material ia furnished from the church

treasury.

pence, so no one can complain of the

price.

A bunch of sorrel, enough to serve

six, sells in the marketplace for a three

Page Five

NOV. DEC., 1958

Journey
To Camperdown
By Maxine Fream

Flooding rains had closed many roads,

washed away homes, and marooned
whole communities; and still the rain
fell.

We had no assurance that there would

be anyone out for service that Sunday

night as we headed toward Camperdown,
a small, remote district in the interior;

but the minister had sent for my husband

to help settle some difficulties, and he had
decided to make the trip anyway. I ac
companied him, with our two younger
children.

Our usual route through a narrow

tarried to visit, waiting with the others

for the rain to slacken. Finally, one
woman, gathering courage, stoutly main
tained over the protests of her friends
that it wasn't raining so hard now, and
she was going home. She put on her coat
(a man's wool suit coat), pointing out that
it was heavy and would keep off the rain.
Her light was the common "flash-light"
of the hills a pop-bottle containing kero
sene, with a wad of newspaper tightly
wedged in the neck for a wick. Her crude
torch alight, she gaily waved farewell, and
set off up the mountainside.
Those who were going down the road
our way rode with us in the car as far
as they could. Assured by several that the
road through the gorge was now open,
we decided to take the shorter way home.

gorge beside a river had been closed all

THE FLAT BRIDGE

week by high water, and not knowing for

certain if it had been re-opened to traffic,
we took the longer but surer route over

Once in the gorge, and hearing the

flooded Rio Cobre raging so close to our
right, we began to have misgivings. Less

the hills.

than a week before, two cars had been

The main roads are all marked with

mile-posts small white cement posts

trapped on this same road by the rapidly

rising water, the drivers forced to leave

two to three feet high set beside the road

their vehicles and seek safety in a cave

to mark each mile indicating the dis

tance to the largest town. They are helpful
for distance, but not for driving time. A
sign may read "57 mi. to Kingston" but

up the hillside. There they had watched,

helpless, as their cars were swept away in

"if ^uld

take at least three hours of

driving over tortuous, winding roads to

reach there.
DESTINATION

After stopping once to help a man who

had run a wheel off the road while trying

to pass _ us along a narrow stretch, we

came without further incident to Camper
down, long after darkness had fallen. It
was still raining, but a light in the church
building, and the strains of a familiar
hymn told us that some had come out, at
least. A hurried dash through the rain,
and we were inside. Fifteen faces, hardly

distinguishable in the deep shadows, turn

ed as one man to welcome us. On the

platform, two flickering kerosene lamps

were struggling to hold back the darkness
that pressed in from all sides.
INTERRUPTION

The children sat down beside me on

the front bench, as their father rose to

preach. But he had hardly started when
Stephanie decided to lean back, not no
ticing that the only back rest cleared her

head by a good two inches, and with a

startled cry, she landed flat on her back
on the hard packed floor at the feet of

the women in the second pew. She was

hurriedly rescued, her .:obs subsided quick
ly, and the service continued without fur
ther interruption.
Later, our mission accomplished, we

the flood. It was three days before the

men were rescued, and the river receeded.
Now, as the rain continued, the water
was beginning to lap over the road again
and swirl menacingly about the car wheels.
However, the lights of a car coming from

the opposite direction reassured us, and

we hurried on. There were several deep
places that had to be negotiated slowly,
but at last we reached the Flat Bridge,
which crossed the river bare inches above

the raging torrent, and passed safely over

to higher ground. We were not surprised
to learn the following day that the road
had been closed again.
VAUDEVILLE?

Driving back through one of the towns,

we passed some pocomania head-wrap
pers, beating their drums and whooping
it up in a lively street meeting for a
gathering of curious onlookers. Some be
lieve the superstitious babblings others
just like to watch the "show." The headwrappers themselves are in it strictly for
the money.
An hour later, and we were home,
thankful that God had kept us safely on
the way.
Sidney Palmer, graduate student of
the Seminary, has begun a new church

in a place called BuU^jj^^^^^j^ontent. Al

ready the budding corigregauOTnas raised
money to buy cement blocks for a build
ing.

NOV. - DEC., 1958

Page Six

been completed for a church building, 30

by M feet, of cement nog. This time, the

"...

plans were drawn correctly and approved

by the parish council. The few members

lowed, but it came to an abortive end.

SCANDAL

of the Linstead church have sacrificed

Sin reared its ugly head, and the scan

dal of fornication besmirched the work of
the new evangelist, ruining his opportun

ity to witness and influence for good. The

building authorities of the parish sent
word diat the structure put up in the
member's yard was unauthorized and must
be taken down at once. Without either

leadership or a place to meet, the con

gregation was scattered some went to
England and the work lapsed.
ANOTHER CHANCE

and given deeply of their need, and have

raised $28 toward the foundation. The
York Street congregation has given even
more, and the start has been made.
Then what? We have agreed to help
all we can, with what funds are forth

coming, to get up a framework and a

roof. "I see nothing in Linstead but hard
work . . . but with God's help it can be
done." A new day is dawning.

Items of Interest ^

Not until this year, when Donald

Fream consulted with A.R.A. Hepburn,

hospital "diming October and November

minister of the York Street Church of

with virus pneumonia. He is at home

Christ in Kingston, and he

over the possibilities, was
toward establishing a real
stead. Bro. Fream and

now, and much improved.

agreed to look
anything done
church in LinBro. Hepburn

visited with two Christian brothers in Lin-

Hfin'r-HiH nr^nt three weeks in the

A Chinese groceryman, Edgar Yap,

converted to Christianity two years ago
by a "faith only" group, began searching

stead, who promised their help and co

operation if they could have a faithful

out ail the missionaries he could find and

leadership and some financial assistance

discount. He supplied our groceries for

camps during the summer. On the first
week in November, after further teaching,
he was baptized by Don Fream.

toward a building. After much planning

and praying, Bro. Hepburn consented to

take the responsibility. "I see nothing in

agreeing to sell them groceries at a 12%

Linstead but hard work," he confided to

-Brother Fream, ^*butr with that work, and"

God's help, it can be done."

Over the past two months, the small

group of six members have been meeting

- - Iris King, who took-over-the capitalcity's key post in April, is the first woman
mavor in Kingston's history, and the first

~ We^o womaii to-hold such a position in

once again. Bro. Hepburn, with sheer

determination, and the help of God, has
persuaded as many more of the former
members to return to the flock. A Bible

they only make a sacrifice to God of the

school of 25 is being taught. Plans have

devil's leavings.

the western riemisphere.

*

When men grow virtuous in old age,

A. Pope

THe JAMAICA CHRISTIAN

(Non-Profit Organization)

SEC. 34.66 P. L. & R.

Moore Haven, Fla.

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID

lEC 2?

Moore Haven, Fla.

. .. -

fiiission Tottth
Box 968

Joliet, 111.

POSTMASTER: If undelivered for any reason, notify

sender stating reason on form 3547, postage for
which is guaranteed.

PERMIT NO. 7

lAMAICAN
CHALLENGER
VOLUME III, Number 2

math,

fiayce

December, 1958

tJnalk

layson

3)avid

O Come, O Come, Immanuel!

O come, O come ImmanMel! How urgently men prayed for Immanuel's coming as Isrsel

through apostasy and human failure slipped toward Its doom. Yet God's lightning flashed in
the sinful darkness, "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name
Immanuell" Immanuell God with usl How hearts thrilled and reiolced over the miracle and the
condescension of God.

Then Jesus came! He who was God tabernacled with men in poverty and humility.
Sentimentalism was soon replaced with displeasure as Immanuel declared His purpose, "I came
... to bear witness unto the truth." "The Son of man came to give His life a ransom for

many." God spoke through Immanuel, but "His own" rejected his words, 'This is a hard say
ing who can receive it?" His immaculate life and incisive teaching found no acceptance in
carnal, selfish hearts. As always, rejection of Christ's word led men to crucify Immanuel.
O come, O come Immanuell Again, saints, troubled by the darkness and conflict of a sin
ful and adulterous generation, fervently pray. Oh, yes. He is with us, but we long to see our

Saviour face to face. Again, the lightning flashes, "I will come again and receive you unto
myself." "Surely, I come quickly."

"Even so, come. Lord JesusI" Humbly and gratefully we thank God for our blessings
through our Immanuel. We give Him special thanks for you, our beloved helpers, and for the
work God has wrought through all of us. "We'll work till Jesus comes, and we'll be gathered
home."

Snsigns

December, 1958

PAGE TWO
THE JAMAICAN CHALLENGER

Published by Evangelist and Mrs.

GRAYSON HARTER ENSIGN

Churches of Christ In Jamaica

(Jamaica Christian Mission)

Box 20 (Half-Way-Tree)
Kingston 10, Jamaica, W.l.
U.S. address: River Pk. Church of Christ

633 3()th Street, South Bend 15, Indiana

Associates In the Jamaica Christian Trust, Ltd.
Donald Fream
Fred W. Hintz

Charles Garrison, student from

Czark Bible College, who visited us

RICH and REWARDING

I was surprised in the U. S. by the

one week during the summer.

general ignorance of two revolutionary

books on "missionary work". I consider
these two books of tremendous value to

all N. T. Christians interested in develop

ing a scriptural program of evangelism.
These

two

Methods:

St

books
Paul's

are
or

Missionary

Ours?

Spontaneous Expansion of the

and

supporting, self-propagating, indigneous

churches and have proved to be enor
mously expensive.
SPONTANEOUS EXPANSION

the

Mr. Allen develops his thesis in the second

Church.

book, SPONTANEOUS EXPANSION, by

arguing that New Testament evangel
ism is free, voluntary evangelizing by

Roland Allen, a Church of England mis

sionary, wrote them, and they are pub
lished by World Dominion Press, I can

Christians who enthusiastically carry the

secure them here at a cheaper price than

you can in the U. S. I shall be glad to

gospel to their families and tribes. He

serve you in this regard as I feel that

sion" concept and for the local congrega

tions to be fully equipped with freedom

these books are vitally needed among

churches-of Christ.
THESIS

contends for the abolition of the "mis

and spiritual authority to multiply them

selves as rapidly as they can.

REVOLUTIONARY

Mr. Allen's thesis is that since Paul

was the most successful missionary ever

known, since he succeeded in establish

ing many indigenous churches where we

fail to, and since present missionary
methods are admittedly inadequate and
expensive, surely it is wise for us to
study Paul's methods to discover if we

The word "revolutionary' has been

appropriately applied to Mr. Allen's

thinking. It is destructive of much of
"our" traditional missionary concepts,
but I am convinced that Mr. Allen has

gotten a truer insight into New Testa

ment evangelism than any Christian

can use his principles. Since we Christ

writer known to me. As one who has

ians believe the Word of God is all-suf

lived and worked on a "mission field",

I can say that I have found Mr. Allen's
work thrilling in its scripturalness and

ficient, profitable for instruction, and

furnishes the man of God comoletely
unto every good work, it certainly ap
pears sensible for us to conduct mission

certainly the best answer to date for

the tremendous difficulties, sterility, and

ary work from the principles of "an in

resentment that we find on the mission

spired missionary like Paul.

fields. While I cannot endorse every

"OUR" METHODS

thing in the book, yet I do accept the

When Christians only began to do

missionary work on an extended scale,
they fell into two unscriptural snares.
First, instead of keeping the work of

are grounded in New Testament truth

I am attempting to teach these princi

ples in Jamaica, and to conduct my work
according to the Apostle Paul's princi

evangelism as a vital force for the enth'e

ples.

local church, a "Missionary Society" was

estaWished to do "missionary work".

Second, the missionaries sent out usually

imitated the denominational missions by
establishing a "mission" and developing
the work along denominational patterns,
often resulting in a fundanxdfttal depar
ture from New Testament polity in set
ting up a "headquarters", a "superin
tendent" (bishop), a "clergy" of jwid
workers. The result is not impressive.

"Our" methods, adopted from sectarian

bodies, have not produced strong, self-

major premises becaxise I believe they

By all means get these two books one

way or the other. Every eldership in the

church needs to make an immediate and

thorough study of these richly reward

ing books. This is my recommendation

for vast Improvements in missionary

work supported by N. T. Christians.

December, 1958

PAGE THREE

JAMAICAN JUVENILES
TRAVELING TO WORSHIP
Although we work primarily with
Elletson Road and Penwood Road con

gregations, Grayson very frequently

goes to the country on Lord's Days to
assist

and

encourage

congregations

there. Our family likes worshipping to

gether, so usually we all go with him.
Since there are no drive-ins or res

taurants along the way to patronize, we

must carry picnic lunches with us. Some

times I pack scalloped potatoes, baked
beans, or potato salad besides sand
wiches, fruit, and cookies. We always
take one or two thermos-jugs of water

or iced drink, depending on how long

we'll be away.
ON OUR WAY

Beechertown building and boys

With breakfast and morning devo

tions over, dishes washed, house tidied,
lunch packed, and everyone ready with
Bibles and songbooks in hand, we get
into the car the boys in the back
with some books for entertainment, if

JESUS CALLS

necessary. One member leads in prayer

that God might guide us safely to our
destination and back home.

In June Brother Pink and I planned

a Holidays Bible School for Penwood in
August. We decided to use workbooks
entitled "Jesus Calls", given me when

Driving one to two hours on the left

side of the road, we pass cyclists, pedes

on furlough.

donkey or mule-drawn carts. From King

To advertize the school, we planned

trians, trucks, other cars, and pe-^haps

ston we have rather good roads, but soon

a parade. Brother Hariy Pershad and

we branch off onto a secondary road

Mark led it with older Bible School chil

which is narrower and not paved, tmtil we

reach the house of worship.

dren

carrying

signs

saying, "Come.

Holidays Bible School. Church of Christ.

Next

Monday."

Gaily

we

marched

through the streets of Penwood, Balmagie, and Waterhouse housing estates

singing one Christian chorus Eifter
another and distributing brochures in
viting children eight years old and up
to attend. People attracted by our sing
ing rushed to see what was happening.
Other children joined us. Occasionally
we had to stop to rest. Finally we return
ed to the house of worship with tired

feet, but little four-year olds who march

It being 11:00 a. m., three, no four,

hungry boys grab bananas or sandwiches
from the lunchbasket besides cold drinks

before service starts. Then we enjoy

about two hours of worship.

After visiting a while, we bid farewell

amid pleadings to return soon. Then we
look for a shady spot to literally devour
our lunch while we use the trunk lid

of the car for our table. All are eager

to hurry home. There we thank God for
a lovely day.

ed all the way never complained once.

THE CALL ANSWERED

On August 4th as Brother Pink,

Brother Pershad, and I taught, children
began to leam how Jesus calls to every
one. Sister Campbell and Sister Senior

assisted. Eighty-four children attended,

and most of them particioated in the

demonstration held the following Lord's

Day night. For me the school was com

pletely successful because, as a result

of instruction received in my teen-age
' K

class, Joseph Booth answered the call

of Jesus to accept Him as Saviour.
It taxed our facilities to have three

classes, so we couldn't include smaller

children. Therefore, we promised those

under eight years the next Holidaj^

Bible School.

H. B. S. Mar^ Begins

PAGE FOUR

Scorpions On The Prowl

In May, shortly after moving here,
as I walked through the dimly lighted
dining room on my way to tuck Mark
in bed, my foot stepped on and kicked
a rather soft object. Curious to discover

what it was, I hurriedly snapped on a

light and rushed back to the spot. Charg
ing at me with its tail arched over its

back was one of the largest scorpions

I have ever seen. Immediately, I used
my bedroom slipper to kill it.

About three

months later Grayson

swung his feet out of bed and almost

stepped on a small scorpion. Previously

he had been going barefooted at night,

but it didn't take long to purchase a

pair of bedroom slippers for him to slTp

into.

One day while sorting used

Bible

school literature in the garage, I spied

a rather large, dead scorpion nearby.
Apparently a stone I used as a paper
weight was knocked off and had struck
the scorpion, for beside him lay the
stone.

Recently, we discovered dead scorp

ions in my linens-drawer and in Mark's

dresser. I'm so glad I painted these

previously with Dieldrex, a poison for

MY TWIN LISA
Just after we passed through Grand
Cayman in April, a darling girl was
bom to the Paul Smiths on May 3, which
is my birthday. Of course, I was quite
proud of my missionary twin.
SWEET-SWEET

insects and even scorpions!

VENOMOUS STING

Why are we so grateful to God for

escaping these scorpions ? At the end

In September the Paul Smiths brave

ly left their five older children (down to

the age of 3) with fr-ends and came to

visit us in Jamaica. We were especially

of its segmented tail is a curved sting.

thrilled to welcome Lisa Gayle to the_

It stings~it^prey and then "sucks the

family. Three boys without a sister real

ly took this dear little girl to their

body juices. Although the wound is ex

tremely painful, it is not usually fatal.
One Jamacian said she had fever and

hearts. She got plenty of attention, al

her arm turned black and swelled from

most too much. Grayce Marie and I were

just as happy as the boys to have a

the sting.

little

We have encountered scorpions only

at Penwood when using the tents and

with our blessed and

in this new house. Evidently we took

over their land, and they are finding
new places to live.

sure of getting to know mv twin

girl in

the

family. Thus along

wondei'ful visit

with the Smiths, we had the added plea

We were all sorry when we had to
take Lisa, Wanza, and Paul to the air

port. I really believe that little girl

would have lived a queen's life if she

had been left at the Ensigns' house.

THE OTHER DAY

The other day on one of my work

days at Penwood Rd. my heart was

thrilled as the children 4 to C came round

me, clinging by the half dozen to each

hand and happily repeating, "Brother

Ensign, Brother Ensign." Then one said,
"Brother E'-sign's church- Brother En

sign's church." I said, "No, you must

say 'Jesus' church'. It is not mine, it Is

Jesus' church." Then one vioce piped

up'from a little brown cherub with the

sweetest compliment ever paid me,"You

look like Jesus, Brother Ensign." And
between smile and tears I said, "I wish
it were true, my son".

Jamaica Bible Seminary has nine stu

dents this fall term.

December, 1958

PAGE FIVE

'-p

F'
I'

'I

'*
*"' '
^, .-' ;U

;4

a^'TC' 19^ M0
-"g 'S4r>'jil
A *' ^ i' ^

Ai-U*

'ui. -vt

1.

1. The Holidays Bible School, August,

1958, pictured at the back of the
Penwood RcL house of worship.

2.

>

The house of worship at Grant's Pen

has taken four years to reach this

stage and Is still far from being

finished.

3. The faculty and student body of the

Jamaica Bible Seminary, Kingston,
as of July, 1958.

;u

December, 1958

PAGE SIX

PINK'S PENWOOD RD. SCHOOL

While in the U. S. we heard from

Brother Pink, minster at Penwood Rd.,

that the congregation had agreed to
his use of the building for an elementary

day school. I was a little surprised for

Bro. Pink to undertake this before we

returned, but a moment's reflection

brought an elation of spirit as X realized

that what I had worked for had been
realized a free Jamaican ministry and

a self-governing church.

Neither Bro.

Pink nor the congregation had to ask

me about it. They had grown up, praise
God.

MIND, BODY, SPIRIT

After we returned, I went down to

visit Pink's Primary School at Penwood.

I was very pleased with what I found.

BUILDING AT PENWOOD
The buildinff for the Penwood Rd.

About 120 children were enrolled and

were receiving an unusually high stand

ard of work from Brother Pink and his
two teachers. The children were being

church of Christ has been taking a lot

well disciplined (often with a strap), and

of our time lately. A big push was com

pleted in July to have the bniidin<^ r-^ady

at the same time they were receiving

Christian teaching from the scriptures

for the August 1st all-island preaching

in no uncertain fashion.

rally. With hard work and "pounds"

the gable end was completed, plas

tering finished up, glass louvers went in

the windows, mahogany doors were
varnished and hung, and a tile floor
was laid throughout including three

porch floors. Then, financially and

physically exhausted, we stopped.
^BI&TANT HOPE

In October further work was under

taken as we began the construction of

poured concrete slab porches. Two of

these porches are finished.
It is our hope, though a distant one,
to be able to finish the building by our

third anniversary, January 1, 1959, and

dedicate it then.

CAPACITY REACHED

Now, with

the improved

building

facilities, Brother Pink has added an

other teacher and the enrollment is up

to 150. All the teachers are immersed

believers in Christ. Three are members

at Penwood Rd. church. Brother Pink

is_rend_ering a..great service to.his coun-,

try and a greater service to his Christ.

This is a thrilling chapter in the de

velopment of an indigenous church. This

fine school is not only utilizing the

building in a creative way, but this

school is not costing American Christions anything. It is a true Jamaican
institution.

We

salute

Penwood

Rd.

church and Brother Pink for pioneering.

Pink's Primary School at Penwood Rd., July, 1958

December, 1958

PAGE SEVEN

ALL-ISLAND RALLY
At the request of a number of Jamai

cans an all-island preaching rally was

held on August first. Brother Hinl,z

worked with a committee of Jamaican
men to organize the program. The Penwood Rd. chux-ch invited the churches
to meet in their building since it is the
largest meetinghouse in Jamaica.

Grayson rented two large tarpaulins

and put them on the sides of the budd

ing so as to make some shade for the

folk during the recesses. He also rent

ed 350 chairs which, with the chairs

and benches at Penwood Rd.. provided

seating capacity for over 450 people.
The members at Penwood Rd. worked

hard to provide an attractive building

and yard.
EMANCIPATION

August first was "Emancipation Day"

in Jamaica, celebrating 120 years of
freedom from slavery. The committee

put _ this historical fact to work in a

Teaching Institute

spiritual form with all the sermons of

the day on the th^me of oxir Emancipa

tion in Christ. Many excellent sermons
were preached during the day.

The first Men's Institute to be held

since our return to Jamaica became

In the afternoon two different youth

meetings were held. The closing sermon

Grayson's responsibility. He developed

the program for this fou'^-dav teaching
session, advertised it, and taught one of

was delivered by Grayson on "Stand

Fast in the Liberty Which We Have in
Christ."

Between 350 and 400 people attended

this rally. The pic+ure hflow
a
large part of the afternoon crowd. The
picture at the top of the page shows the
audience inside the building and the

front of the Penwood Rd. buliding.

the four-hour courses.

Grayce Marie was just as busy for

three of the days as she'prepared food
at noontime to feed between twentyfive and thirty-eight men. Everyone en
joyed the nourishing meals she so ef
ficiently prepared. We had little difficul

ty in getting rid of all the food prepared.

(Continued on page 8, col. 2)

In October, 1958, we completed five
years of service in connection with the

Lord's work in Jamaica. Fifteen months

Did you know that we have to pay an

have been spent in the U.S. and forty-five

income tax in Jamaica, and that Jamaica

has the second highest income tax in the

month in Jamaica.

world?

/
> C-

December, 1958

PAGE EIGHT

Teachlnq Institute...
(Continued from page seven)
A total of forty-three men attended
all or some of the classes during the

four days. All received duplicated les

sons to take home with them, and we

hope that they used them as we sug

gested to teach other men, who could

not attend, and the church.
PROVOCATIVE CLASS

The most provocative class proved to

be Grayson's course, "Principles and
Policies of Missionary Work as Derived
from the N. T." This was an attempt
for the first time to exp^am to ^he

Jamaican Christians the guiding prin

ciples which we believe shou.d be fol

lowed in evangelizing Jamaica and the

objectives which we seek.

The ten-page syllabus was based on

Roland Allen's amazing book,

Smiths Bring Blessings

It was a joyful occasion for us when

Mission

ary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours? Grayson made candid applications throughout
to the Jamaican situation, past, present,
and future.

Paul Smith wrote from Grand Cayman

MORE NEEDED

that he was going to accept our invita

Unfortunately, there was some mis

understanding on the part of some as

tion to come to Jamaica for a visit. We

knew that the Smiths needed a vst, a

change of pace, and the refreshment

that comes to Christians from b-3ing with
other Christians in other places after

to the purpose of the course as well as

some of the principles set forth. The

time

was too limited to

permit a

thorough discussion of all the points.

labouring so hard and faithfully in a

small island for a year and a half.

Yet valuable insights were gained by all

With the Men's Institute scheduled for

munication. Grayson is honing at an

other time to present this material again

of us in spite of the problems of com

Sept. 15, Paul decided to come for that

stimulating meeting. A week la'-er
Wanza and the baby, Lisa Gayle, arrived.

so that the future of the work in Jama

Altogether the Smiths were in Jamaica

just twentv-four days.

that missionaries will be less and less

ica will be of such a scriptural nature

needed

THE LORD PROVIDES

You know the Lord knows just what

we have need of, and during a needy

time the Smiths were used of the Lord

to encourage, counsel and bless us. It

was a grand experience to have such

genuine Christians in our home.

son showed filmstrips of the Visualized

Bible Study series. These proved very

enlightening to all who attended. Alto

gether, it was a highly instructive In

stitute.

Paul brought some moving messages

that greatly helped both the congrega

tions and us. We had many long hours
of discussion of the Christian life and
our work in the islands.

We are proud to know such great

hearted and loyal servants of God.

here.

On three nights of the Institute Gray-

We hope to renew our radio contract on

Radio Jamaica to keep New Testament

Christianity on the air in Jamaica.

Did you know that there is a Protestant

missionary for each 7,600 Protestants?

THE JAMAICAN CHALLENGER

Care of River Pk. Church of Chriit

833 30th St.,

South Bend, 15, Indiana.

Non-Profit
U.S.

PERMIT

Mr. Harrold McFarUnd

Organization

POSTAGE

PAID

NO. 803

South Bend, Indiana

Box 968

Jolleto III... -- r'kS