No revival is what it ought to be if a good deal of attention is not given to the children, and much prayerful effort put forth for their conversion. If Christian people use the divinely appointed means to lead souls, young or old, to Christ, they may confidently expect God’s blessing, but this is pre-eminently true in dealing with children. Dr. Duff, of Scotland, went to India and labored for the conversion of the heathen, yet with all his eloquence I heard him say in the Free Church Assembly Hall of Edinburgh, that his labors were a comparative failure until he turned his attention to the children, and held up Christ as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world, then their hearts were touched, and many repented and believed in the Lord Jesus. From that time on he began to speak of certainties instead of continuing to speak of possibilities. “Take heed,” said Jesus, “that ye despise not one of these little ones.” The word translated “despise” is a very suggestive word. It means literally to think down, to think little or nothing of. Take heed that ye think not down one of these little ones. The conversion of a child may be of very little importance in our sight, but it is of immense importance in Jesus’s sight.
R.A. Torrey (1856 - 1928)
An American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. Called by D. L. Moody to head Bible institute in Chicago (now Moody Bible Institute). Dean of Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Pastorates included Chicago Avenue Church (now Moody Memorial) and Church of the Open Door, Los Angeles. Worldwide evangelistic meetings with Charlie Alexander. Founded Montrose Bible Conference, PA. Wrote more than forty books.Torrey held his last evangelistic meeting in Florida in 1927, additional meetings being canceled because of his failing health. He died at home in Asheville, North Carolina, on October 26, 1928, having preached throughout the world and written more than 40 books. Torrey-Gray Auditorium, the main auditorium at Moody, was named for Torrey and his successor, James M. Gray. At Biola, the Torrey Honors Institute honors him, as does the university's annual Bible conference.
Reuben Archer Torrey was an American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. Held evangelistic meetings around the world with song leader Charlie Alexander. Called by D.L. Moody to head the Bible Institute of the Chicago Evangelization Society (now Moody Bible Institute); Dean of Bible Institute of Los Angeles; pastorates included Chicago Avenue Church (now Moody Memorial Church) and Church of the Open Door, Los Angeles.
Besides his obvious gifts in all these areas, he was also a man of prayer, a student of the Bible, and an outstanding personal soul-winner. It is said that he daily read the Bible in four languages, having a good working knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. Some students of church history feel he did more to promote personal evangelism than any other one man since the days of the apostles. His prayer life has seldom been equaled in the annals of Christendom.
Reuben A. Torrey wrote some forty books and his practical writings on the Holy Spirit, prayer, salvation, soul-winning, and evangelism are still favorites of many Christians.
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