In the Day of Trouble

As I begin my 91st year of life, contending with the demise of the worn-out house of flesh, there is plenty of time for reminiscencing, to allow the mind to wander back through the corridors of time, to the events that have had such a profound effect upon my life. The summer of 1935, I was attending Bethel Church. One Sunday morning, Pastor Tian spoke to me after the morning worship service. He had just returned from the annual convention of the Oriental Missionary Society. The mission had opened a school in Shangai called The Cowman Memorial Bible Institute. "If you have young people in your churches who are called of God to the ministry," pastors were advised, "we welcome them to apply to the OMS Bible School. We especially emphasize practical training in preaching, evangelism and church planting. We also have a limited number of scholarships." "When I heard that annoucement," said Rev. Tian, his voice suddenly sober and filled with intensity, "I immediately thought of you. I can't get you out of my mind. Flora, I believe God wants you to enroll in the OMS school." -excerpt from Chapter 1 By Flora Chen with Ed Erny