The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1928, Page 166

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

nothing about Jesus. Talk to them about their souls.
And what about the little children you know? Are
some in your home still living without Christ and
without hope? Nota day passes but we have oppor-
tunity to speak to some one about Jesus, eternity,
and heaven.

In our Lutheran Church there are thousands of
communicant members, yes, thousands of soul-win-
ners. There are some, however, who will never be set
in action to win souls, some few that are not Chris-
tians. But we appeal to all of God’s dear children to
plead with people everywhere to come to Christ au
thus to flee from the wrath to come.

And then ask God to bless your efforts, to bless
the words you speak. You have God’s unfailing
promise that your efforts will not be in vain. Per-
chaps you will not immediately see the fruit of your
labor of love, but success will come, and souls will
be won. Your God, who has promised it, is faithful.

Heavenly Father, set the hearts of Thy children
on fire with a passion to win souls for Thee. Yea,
heavenly Father, set me, me, on fire with such pas-
sion. And bless my and my fellow-believers’ efforts
to build the walls of Thy Zion. Bless our efforts to
rescue the perishing in these last evil days of the
world, before the night cometh when it is too late.
This we ask in Jesus’ name. G.A.S.

Bettie Skinner.
A True Story from Alabama’s Black Belt.

_It was in 1923 that Bettie Skinner found her
Savior. Troubled because of her sins and her in-
ability to keep God’s holy Law, she was moved to
visit a Lutheran meeting in Selma, Ala. Just as
the dove let out of Noah’s ark could find no rest for
the sole of its feet, so Betty Skinner could find no
rest or peace for her heart and conscience. Yes, she
had tried other churches in a vain effort to find
something that would quiet that annoying and
accusing voice within. Neither the church to which
she belonged nor any other could give her soul the
desired relief. Her husband, a minister in the
church with which she was affiliated, could not help
her. In her earnest, but vain endeavor to obtain a
Satisfying answer to the question, “What must I do
to be saved?” she also asked others to help her
troubled soul. ‘Tossed about with fears, doubts, and

" misgivings, the load of sin she carried was exceed-
“ingly oppressive, and the future looked dark for this
colored woman.
Then something happened! .

The gracious God, who desires the salvation of
every sinner, led Bettie Skinner to a Lutheran ser-
vice one night. The service was held in a rented
house. The attendance was small. But what an
important meeting it was! It was important for
Bettie Skinner and for hundreds of other poor
sinners. Speaking on “The Forgiveness of Sins,”
the Lutheran pastor directed those present to the
Lamb of God slain for sinners, through whose blood
God wipes out all sin. The burden of that night’s
lesson is expressed beautifully in the words of
the poet:

Not what these hands have done
Can save this guilty soul;

Not what this toiling flesh has borne
Can make my spirit whole.

Not what I feel or do
Can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers and sighs and tears
Can bear this awful load.
Thy work. alone, O Christ,
Can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,
Can give me peace within.

I bless the Christ of God,
I rest on love divine;

And with unfaltering lip and heart
I call this Savior mine.

It was evident to the pastor that Bettie Skinner
was clinging to each word he spoke. She sat trans-
fixed. And the Savior got into her heart that night;
He opened her eyes to the sufficiency of His shed
blood and God’s mercy. Said she after the meeting:
“T never knew that wonderful truth before. Every-
thing looks so different now.” She joined the Lu-
theran Church. Getting her dates mixed, she
appeared a day too soon for a meeting weeks later.
Disappointed, she exclaimed, “Now I must wait
another whole day before that service takes place!”

Bettie’s husband was a preacher in a sectarian
church. She knew that eventually he would be dis-

‘charged were she to join the Lutheran Church.

It meant for him the loss of a salary and a rather
good position. It might even lead to a breaking up
of the home in which there were four children, all
boys. But Bettie Skinner was too much concerned
about her soul’s salvation to allow even such con-
siderations to keep her from joining the Church of
the pure Word, the Church where she had found her
Savior and, with Him, rest for her soul.

She joined us and later was given a position as
teacher in one of our schools. Aflame with love for
her Savior and anxious to bring to others the glad-
some message which she had recently learned, she