The Great Southwest
The Great Southwest The Great Southwest
J. EMMETT WAINWRIGHT
Territory. The “Great Southwest” suggests to the mind Cali' fornia, Arizona and New Mexico. El Paso, Texas, occupies an ex`treme position in the “Lone Star” and is considered strategic when thinking about invasion of Southwest and Mexico. Classification of Nevada and Utah may be nroblematical, but the solution may be found by invasions from every direction! Conquered territory must be occupied—developed!
Population. Cosmopolitan indeed! In Southern California, the East has met the West; and, blending of Orientals and Occidentals have brought forth strange and peculiar customs. All states are rep`resented along with representatives from both hemispheres. The Spanish-speaking people, along the border, run into the hundreds of thousands; most of them speak (Colloquially) Mexican and American.
Religious. Should our beloved Paul be permitted to return to this earth and appear in Los Angeles, he would likely repeat his “Mar’s Hill” address, with an enlargement, because of many strange altars. No doubt, he would find it necessary to put extra emphasis on evidences: “God Is,” in order to expose the atheist, the infidel and the agnostic. “Our own” came to the golden west looking for “apples of gold” but evidently brought along several “lemons” of preferred customs! Agitators were ever ready to magnify petty differences, draw imaginary lines, erect dinky standards, and demand that all others humbly bow at their sectarian feet! However, many honest hearts refused to suffer the “whiff.”
Enlightenment. Through long-suffering and forbearance, de-marcations caused by misunderstanding gradually crumbled. The uninformed have been schooled, and the misinformed have been cor`rected. A better understanding concerning law and custom, commands and circumstances, essentials and incidentals, has ushered into our midst enlightenment and happier days. Strong men are proclaiming the gospel publicly and privately; and efficient teachers are mold`ing characters with sacred truths for time and eternity. Godly men, who have been successful business men, are liberal in their contribu`tions to every good work.
Difficulties. As the program of “Christian Education” moves forward many difficulties disappear. Of course, progress incurs lia`bilities. Every generation must have the “old faith restated”; and, often, each generation should be retaught several times! Humble soul- winners, thoroughly rooted and grounded in the truth, willing to spend and be spent for the blessed Cause of Christ, self-forgetful with unbounded faith in the Lord’s urogram and promises, may make in`valuable contributions in precluding difficulties. Doubt and disbelief are not confined to the Great Southwest; racketeers have invaded uni' versities of every nation with their question-marks.
Opportunities. Inviting doors, unusual and unique, may be ob`served on every hand. The wide-awake child of God does not always wait for some one to open a door, nor depend on some one to open his eyes in order to see an open door! When the heart is characterised by love divine, the “passion for souls” not only enables one to observe opportunities, but inspires to the point of “making new opportu`nities.” Multiplied thousands of “strangers within our gates” can be reached and should be reached. Thank the Lord we are not required to “convert the world,” but to preach the gospel, to every creature and in every nation, is a solemn duty and a sacred privilege! One hundred churches in the South could support one hundred men in barren fields of the Southwest until the work is well established. A commendable showing has been made in supporting work among the colored people; why exclude the white? It is possible that the cos`mopolitan population of the Great Southwest has encouraged us to reconsider the breadth, height and strength of the world-wide age-last`ing commission of our Lord. We feel near those who are laboring in foreign fields, and maintain an abiding interest in the workers among the sinners of our home country. Difficulties of the past were detri`mental; present activities in many good works show improvement; the future will demand greater things for our God.
Prayer. “Father, we are thankful for the great provisions for human salvation; may our hearts be alert to dangers which attach themselves to numerical and financial growth; may we be preserved in gospel simplicity unto thy heavenly kingdom, in Jesus’ Name— Amen.”
JUDEA AND SAMARIA
Jesus said: “Ye shall be my witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” To many of us neighbors the Great Southwest represents “all Judea,” Mexico represents “Samaria” and all Spanish America represents “the uttermost part of the earth.” A beginning has already been made in this respect. There are Mexican churches of Christ in Abilene, Texas, Sweetwater, El Paso, Dallas, Ft. Worth and San Antonio besides other members scattered in other places such as Sonora and Sinton. The brethren of Los Angeles—which has a great`er Mexican population than any other city except Mexico City—are already making a beginning with the Mexican work. The brethren of Tampa, Fla., have sent a missionary to Cuba; the churches of the Southwest are debtors in a very special way to Mexico and all South America. Think of our opportunities there!
Missionary workers among the Mexicans include Brothers Jesse G. Gill, John F. Wolfe, H. R. Zamorano, Juan Longoria, Jcse Dias, J. W. Treat, H. L. Schug. Brother Schug was the pioneer in this field and all the workers have been fostered or inspired by Abilene Christian College. Likewise the marvelous development and growth of the church along the Pacific coast is largely due to the efforts of alumni of the college. The contributions of this college and Harding Cob lege and David Lipscomb College and other Christian schools and cob leges to the foreign field and neglected fields at home have been so great that we can hardly imagine what the extent of the cause would be today without them. May these schools grow yearly in power and influence and consecration to the Lord! May they serve the church, more faithfully from year to year!
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Which states present excellent opportunities for evangelism in the great Southwest?
2. Of what peoples and customs are the population?
3. What is their religious condition?
4. What difficulties must workers overcome in this field?
5. What opportunities does this field offer?
6. What fellowship can I and my congregation have in this field?