The Day God Spoke from a Saucepan
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
WARBURTON, VICTORIA, AUSTRALASIAN APRIL 3, 1967 Volume 71 Number 14 Be Sure to Read: "OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE SACRIFICIALLY" F. L. BLAND, Page 8. HO CAN LIMIT the avenues D. J. SILVER through which God will speak Secretary-Treasurer, Tasmanian Conference, W to the earnest hearted soul, Brings You This Story About— who, in simple and trusting faith, seeks guidance from Him? God spoke to Gideon through a dew-sodden fleece; to Eliezer through the hospitality of a Mesopotamian maiden; to Balaam The Day God Spoke through the braying lips of a humble ass, and this is the story of how God spoke to a literature evangelist through from a Saucepan a saucepan. It was at the 1964 camp meeting in Western Australia that Brother M. V. Should he engage in the literature the habit of wearing a hat, Brother Kuhlmann, a dedicated church elder, ministry? He was within one year of Kuhlmann looked around his camp attended an early morning colporteur long service leave. His church group tent for a suitable container, and meeting and felt again the call to en- needed his support and leadership. selected a small saucepan. gage in the literature ministry. He His wife was not an Adventist. And After very earnest prayer, he drew sought counsel of his pastor, who re- yet he felt that the Spirit of God was out a slip of paper. It said: "Go lated to him the following personal calling him to the work. His troubled now." Again he shook up the three experience. mind sought confirmation. He wanted papers and again he drew from the Some years previously, some childish some assurance to know of a surety saucepan—and again it said: "Go misdemeanour had occurred in the that he was doing that which God now." Brother Kuhlmann reports pastor's home, but unfortunately all would have him do. that his hand was trembling as he drew three of his children denied responsi- And so he prepared three slips of for the third and final time. Again it bility. The pastor told them that he paper. On the first, he wrote: "Go was "Go now." r was going into his study to pray to now"; on the second, "Wait for an- A feeling of great joy and thankful- Jesus, asking that He would reveal to other year"; and on the third, "Await ness came flooding into his heart. him who was the culprit, and that further developments." Not being in Now he was sure. God had spoken, they were to await his return with the and Brother Kuhlmann's doubts had information. Alone on his knees, he gone. He states that the wonderful earnestly asked the Lord for help, that blessings of God during the past two this may be an occasion to confirm and years have been abundant evidence strengthen the budding faith of his that he is indeed doing the very work children in the omnipotence and real- God would have him do. ity of God. In the first six months of his minis- He placed in his hat three pieces of try, he delivered $4,000 worth of paper upon which he had written the literature in his own home town. He names of his children, and in harmony placed books in 80 per cent of the with Old Testament precedent, drew homes of the neighbouring township, lots. Three times in succession he and during 1966 delivered $7,600 drew the same name, and after thank- worth of soul-saving literature. Today, ing the Lord for His help he returned the indwelling presence of the Spirit to his waiting family. of God, shines from the face of this Before he could speak, one of his trusting servant of the Lord, who children—the one whose name he had knows that he is God's man, doing drawn—stepped forward and confessed God's work in God's way in the time his guilt. Elementary psychology and place that God would have him some may say. The revelation of God, do it. say others, and Brother Kuhlmann is Among Brother Kuhlmann's most among the latter group. Of his faith treasured possessions today are three in the personal leading of God was slips of paper, and the most treasured born a determination to seek direction of the three bears the words, "Go in a similar way in his own problem. BROTHER M. V. KUHLMANN now." (Registered in Australia for transmission by post as a newspaper.) [2] 3/4/67 AUSTRALASIAN RECORD around the CONFERENCES Another Church for Murgon AUDREY M. CHERRY "And they that be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." Isa. 58: 12. After forty-seven years, the township of Murgon in the South Burnett district of Queensland is to have another Sev- enth-day Adventist church edifice. Many old-time Adventists who were previous residents in this district have fond memories of the Adventist church and church school at Boat Mountain, in the early days of Murgon's history. The church was not built in the town itself, but a few miles out on some land Brethren H. G. Harker and E. A. Parker were ordained to the gospel ministry at Kabiufa, Central New Guinea, on December 31, 1966. Pastors F. L. Bland and E. W. Pedersen of the General Con- donated by Mrs. Lamplough who after- ference, Pastors L. C. Naden and F. T. Maberly of the division, and O. D. F. McCutcheon of the wards became the wife of Pastor C. Boult- Coral Sea Union Mission officiated. Pastor Harker is the newly appointed president of the Madang ing. This land was very conveniently Mission, and Pastor Parker is director of the Wabag district. situated, being at a point where four roads met, and most of the Adventist folk Horwoods, Albons, Dingles, Coulstons, Young men from the south would lived on farms at Crownthorpe, Goomeri Loons, Burgesses, Taylors, and Cherrys. sometimes come to Murgon seeking em- West, Manyung, and Redgate. Some of these led out as elders during ployment as a means of earning money to When attending the Queensland session those years. They were Brethren H. J. further their education at Avondale or and camp meeting from August 18 to 27, Cooper, E. A. Shepherd, C. Dingle, G. the Sanitarium. One such young man 1966, I asked my father-in-law, Brother March, and R. Ballard. Most of these was the late Brother T. J. Dowling whose Eric Cherry, now residing at Coolum have gone to their rest. However, some son, Pastor Wynston Dowling, is now Beach, Queensland, for some information members of these families would still be leading out in the MV work in the about this early church, as his family alive, and perhaps feel they would like to Queensland Conference. Brother T. J. lived at Goomeri West in those days. have a part in establishing another Dowling worked at scrubfalling and later He was able to talk with some of the Seventh-day Adventist church in Mur- went to the Sanitarium, Wahroonga, other old identities in the persons of gon; we would greatly appreciate any where he graduated. He held many re- Mrs. Jenson, nee Rita Lamplough, and donations sent to F. Cherry, 39 Gore sponsible positions in the work, chiefly Brother Hodgkinson. Sister Jenson was Street, Murgon, Queensland. I mention with the Sanitarium Health Food Com- kind enough to write to other past mem- this here, because some representatives pany, right up till his retirement. bers for additional information. from these families may now be scat- There was no baptismal font in the The church was built in 1909 and a tered in other States and will not have church, but a good water-hole in the church school was opened a year later. the opportunity of giving on the Sabbath Barambah Creek on the other side of In those days, there were no bitumen of March 11 that is set aside by the Murgon was the scene of some baptisms highways such as our district now boasts, Queensland Conference for a special at least. In 1912, Brethren Eric Cherry offering for the Murgon church. and Jack and Alf Hadley were baptized and there were no motor cars, but on 41, Sabbath mornings you would see saddle- Also if any relatives of friends of these there by Pastor C. H. Watson. horses, sulkies, and buggies besides those early Adventists have any other informa- The church building was finally pulled who were walking, wending their way tion that would be of interest to our down in 1920 and moved to Albion, Bris- along the four roads to the church. Dis- members today, we would appreciate it if bane, by Brother Hodgkinson and his tance was no object, and some thought you would write to us. We would be de- apprentice, Brother Bert Pietz. Brother nothing of walking six or seven miles lighted to let you know the day of the Pietz later trained at Avondale and en- across country and along bush tracks to opening of our church if you pass along tered the ministry, where he has spent be present and on time for Sabbath your name and address to us, as it would many years in service both in the mission school. be a real pleasure to have you worship field and the homeland. He is at present As many as sixty baptized members with us on that day. leading the work in Tasmania.