Des Ford at 17

don · 10-20-09 12:50 am

1946, The Social Service Centre, Sydney Australasian, December 2, 1946, page 5. (Desmond Ford, now 17, started working for a newspaper company three years ago. In this news report, he describes a sermon given by E. W. Hon, the director of the Social Service Centre. This is probably Ford's very first work published in a church periodical. I thought our readers would enjoy this example of Ford's thinking and early ability to explain things. Note especially what Hon said about preparing for the Judgment. I have highlighted in blue the section of interest.) <blockquote>In the Auburn church (Sydney), recently, Brother E. W. Hon. director of the Social Service Centre, introduced a plan of medical missionary work in which every member would have opportunity of taking an active part. During the sermon four texts were especially stressed as enfolding a message to the remnant church. They are verses which merit the prayerful study of every Christian. Rev. 14: 6: While numbers in our respective neighbourhoods have not been tested by the present truth it must be acknowledged that the divine commission awaits its complete fulfilment. God has designed that every nation, kindred, tongue, and people be made conversant with the issues of the great controversy between Christ and Satan. This work He has given His people. Isa. 43: 10. "Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord." With light comes responsibility. We are to be witnesses for God — witnesses that beside Him there is no Saviour. Adventists are to witness to neighbours, to relatives, friends, office associates, in order that this gospel of the kingdom shall be heard by the whole world. To Ezekiel God revealed the duty of all who know His love and power. Eze. 33: 6, 7: "If the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at My mouth and warn them from Me." We are watchmen awaiting the coming of the Sovereign to a rebellious kingdom which sleeps on unwarned. Jesus pleads with us to hear the word at His mouth and blow the trumpet. Matt. 25 : 19. Responsibility infers accountability, for we read that when the Lord of the household returns from a far country, He reckoneth with His servants to see in what fashion they have used His goods. What type of record is it which details the use we have made of our borrowed talents? Time, health, energy, skill, wealth, our knowledge of truth — how have we employed these? What increase has there been? How many sheaves have been prepared for the Lord of the harvest? "I was an hungered, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in: naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me; I was in prison, and ye came unto Me." These words will be spoken by Christ to those for whom He has prepared an inheritance. Do they paint a true picture of our lives as they stand today? It is to those who have dealt their bread to the hungry, who have laboured for the sick and straying, that Jesus says: "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Our possessions are of worth only as they are used to help others heed Christ's gracious call, "Come unto Me." God must be given more than the tithe, more than the Sabbath. All our means, the whole week must be used to further His work. "Religion and business are not two separate things; they are one. Bible religion is to be interwoven with all we do or say. Divine and human agencies are to combine in temporal as well as in spiritual achievements. They are to be united in all human pursuits, in mechanical and agricultural labours, in mercantile and scientific enterprises. There must be co-operation in everything embraced in Christian activity."—"Christ's Object Lessons," pages 349, 350. CALL TO SERVICE Questionnaires were distributed to all who heard the call from Brother Hon, and church members rendered an account of those talents with which God had blessed them and with which they were prepared to serve Him. Christ's army of medical missionaries will be composed of others besides physicians and nurses. There will be painters, carpenters, gardeners, engineers, knitters, Bible students—all are to be harnessed for the particular work to which they are best adapted. When all believers have fully consecrated their talents, means, and energy unreservedly to God, the whole earth will be lightened with the glory of the judgment message. At a following young people's meeting entitled "Love Never Faileth," Brother Hon unwrapped the key Heaven has designed for the unlocking of hearts. From Genesis to Revelation the one message rings—the message of love; the message that God so loved that He gave. When we begin to comprehend this, the result will be untiring labour for the physical and spiritual welfare of others. A judgment-bound people can best prepare for that judgment by unselfish ministry. Only in such a way can we be sure of eternity for ourselves. We are to develop and employ the talent of love. Because God loved, we must love; because God gave, we must give; because God has laboured for us, we must labour for others; because God has borne with our ingratitude and unloveliness, so must we bear with the same from those who know not that they are the ransomed of Jesus. In conclusion, the director explained to the church the plan of campaign to be adopted by the Centre. Door-to-door distribution of truth-filled literature by congregations, in their own neighbourhood, will effect introductions. Repeated visits will make the members conversant with those needs of families which the Centre is equipped to supply. After such inroads have been made, a mission is contemplated to garner in further believers for Jesus. <a href="http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/AAR/AAR19461202-V50-48__B/index.djvu?djvuopts&page=5" target="_blank">http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/AAR/AAR19461 202-V50-48__B/index.djvu?djvuo pts&page=5</a> </blockquote>

don · 10-20-09 3:34 am

1948, EMPTIED HER LINEN CUPBOARD FOR MISSIONS Australasian Record, June 14, 1948, page 5 DESMOND FORD (at 19 years of age)<blockquote>Hexham. A believer in the advent message but kept from fellowship by the nicotine habit with which she battles, one lady gave £1 to the student who called. She also volunteered to engage in some Ingathering in the neighbourhood from which she had previously solicited funds for worthy appeals. Later, when all three students of the band called upon her, they received as another gift from her home £4. They were shown a large supply of linen, and were told that it was for any one of our mission hospitals. May all readers add their prayers to those offered in that home by the students, that the Lord will deliver this woman from the habit which holds her in bondage. <a href="http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/AAR/AAR19480614-V52-24__B/index.djvu?djvuopts&page=5" target="_blank">http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/AAR/AAR19480 614-V52-24__B/index.djvu?djvuopts&page=5</a></blockquote>__________________________________________ Questions<blockquote><ol><li>This story holds much human interest. Imagine this woman and how she feels having these young people come and visit her. <LI>What might she be thinking? <LI>She is so positive in her actions. Can you offer an interpretation of this positive attitude? <LI>What does it mean to be "kept from fellowship"? <LI>Should the church keep someone from fellowship because of smoking? What about adultery? murder? Child abuse/molestation? <LI>How should the church manage its moral standards and membership? <LI>How did they find out that she was smoking? <LI>If you were one of those students, what would you have said to this woman? <LI>If you were the student who prayed in her home, what would you have prayed? <LI>I wonder what Dr. Ford would say to her now, if she were still alive? Or people in similar difficulties today?</li></ol></blockquote>

renie · 10-20-09 10:08 pm

Of course God will save her because she cared about others. If I remember correctly, C.S. Lewis struggled with the smoking habit and died smoking. Who deserves more than he to be saved?

don · 10-20-09 10:48 pm

1952, "Preacher's Car Falls Sixty Feet" <img src="http://www.atomorrow.net/discus/messages/10/2066.jpg" alt="">..<img src="http://www.atomorrow.net/discus/messages/10/2067.jpg" alt=""> <blockquote>Brother Desmond Ford, one of our workers in the Coff's Harbour (N.S.W.) area, sent us a cutting from "The Coff's Harbour Advocate," with this comment: "Now I do not know whether you consider this of any value, but I submit, it as a testimony to the Lord's goodness and overruling providence. Ps. 26:7: 'That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all Thy wondrous works.' " We are indeed happy to give space to the "Advocate" report of July 22, 1952, under the above title:— "Mr. Des Ford, who has become well known in Coff's and district, experienced a miraculous escape from serious injury when motoring along on Eastern Dorrigo Road, last week. "His car, a Chevrolet tourer, slipped on a wet section of Macindoes Road, Deervale, and fell about sixty feet into the gully below. "Mr. Ford was paying his usual visit to the members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in remote areas, and had almost reached his destination when the accident occurred. "He said he was travelling slowly because of the narrow road and the fact he was nearing the end of his journey. "The car slipped into a depression on the side of the road and Mr. Ford lost control as it slipped off the edge. "Although the vehicle and driver fell about sixty feet, and the car turned over four times in the process, Mr. Ford escaped with minor injuries which did not prevent him from carrying on his usual duties. "The car was salvaged and taken to Dorrigo, where attempts will be made to effect repairs." <a href="http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/AAR/AAR19520818-V56-33__B/index.djvu?djvuopts&page=5" target="_blank">http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/AAR/AAR19520818-V56-33__B/index.djvu?djvuo pts&page=5</a></blockquote>Comments<ul><li>Des has been in the ministry, since his graduation, for two years. He is 23 years of age. <LI>He submits a clipping from a local newspaper, the Advocate. <LI>A pattern of his is to link specific Bible passages appropriate to the events he reports. <LI>This brush with death must have made a profound impact on his faith. <LI>He was on his way to visit members "in remote areas". Look at the map. Notice the areas around Dorrigo. <LI>He "carried on his usual duties." This indicates his dedication to his work.</li></ul> (Message edited by Don on October 20, 2009)

cadge · 10-21-09 2:13 am

"This indicates his dedication to his work." Well, I guess that God, being able to foresee the future, preserved Dr.Ford so that he could eventually give his presentation at Glacier View. Now God must be waiting patiently for the Church to adopt the teachings. How much longer do you think that He should wait?<img src="http://www.atomorrow.net/discus/clipart/happy.gif" border=0>

don · 10-21-09 6:28 am

How much longer do you think that He should wait? God is more patient than we are. <IMG SRC="http://www.atomorrow.net/discus/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0>

maggie · 10-27-09 1:31 am

A judgment-bound people can best prepare for that judgment by unselfish ministry. Only in such a way can we be sure of eternity for ourselves. A stretch of the spiritual journey.

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#1 10-20-09 12:50 am

Des Ford at 17

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