Brothers Carl Young and Carl Martinson
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Religion in NE
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God Provides Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. -JOB 12:9.
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. -DEUT. 33:7.
God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work. - 2 COR. 9:8.
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. - GAL. 26:2.
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God Provides
There remains yet one more interesting fact concerning the Bethphage Mission that must be told, for it belongs to the story and deserves the attention of the reader. It is the evidence of the loving kindness and mercy of our Heavenly Father, and it should be told to His honor and glory. It refers to the manifestation of His providing care.
In preparing the constitution and by-laws of the Mission, Pastor Dahl and the Board of Trustees did not even mention how the funds were to be secured. The only thing that was specifically stated under the "Objects" that refer to finances was the brief statement, "Primarily it (the Bethphage Mission) is intended for those who are unable to contribute anything toward their support and care."
It would seem from this governing document as well as from the unwritten laws of the organization that the founders labored under the conviction that God would in some way provide. There was an unshaken confidence in the One that laid it upon their hearts to start this work that He would complete it. He has never failed His faithful servants.
When the hourglass of time shall have run empty and all the different ministrations of the Kingdom of God shall have finished their course; when each man's work shall have been made manifest, it may then be revealed that one of the chief purposes of Bethphage was to show that our Heavenly Father loves and cares for His helpless ones.
Sometimes He has provided in rather unusual ways - ways that approach the spectacular. These are often more interesting and impressive to us who are by nature slow to believe. Bethphage has had its share of these evidences that show God can provide in unusual ways. The stories of some of them will be told in the closing pages.
God does not very often provide the daily bread of His children by sending ravens to feed them, as He did Elijah by the brook Cherith. More often it is by sowing and reaping and then He gives the increase. In either case it is He that provides. There have been a great variety of ways in which God's people have responded to the needs of the unfortunate at Bethphage. Sometimes that response has been just the ordinary ways in which we give to those that are in need. Sometimes they have acted on suggestions that have been made by those who have had the responsibility to guide the destiny of this refuge for them in bonds, but more often by methods and means of their own choosing. In any case these gifts of love have been thankfully received, and with the confidence that back of them was a constraining spirit.
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God Provides
During the existence of the Bethphage Mission, there have been many instances when those who have been entrusted to its management have been faced with anxiety for its material needs. Some of these have approached the state of a crisis in its history.It was such an instance that occurred the first summer when the writer of these words had assumed charge of the Mission as its acting director. It was during the hot days of August in 1937. Nature itself seemed to militate against this venture of faith. The corn and feed were withering, as day after day the hot blasts from the southwestern winds swept over the prairies. What would we do for feed to maintain our dairy herd and thus provide food for our large family? Oh, there would he the friends that would understand! God would place this too on their hearts and the daily bread would be forthcoming; but the immediate evidences of this were not so good.
Dr. Lonnquist, who had recently gone to his eternal rest, had often written in his Bethphage Letters telling of how the income at Bethphage was like a silver stream - and that stream had its source in the heart of God. A beautiful thought - but in August that stream was running rather low.
It was with a heavy heart that I discovered one day that there was only three hundred dollars in the operating fund and I had learned from hard facts that we were needing in those days an average of at least one hundred and fifty dollars a day. The outstanding accounts were mounting and our good creditors were asking that their bills might be paid, at least in part. Just then, the housemother informed me that they were having trouble at Home Tabor. The refrigerator had gone bad and that a new freezing unit must be purchased. It could be procured for one hundred and fifty dollars, but it must be paid in spot cash. What could we do? We were praying those days: "Our Father who art in heaven give us this day our daily bread." Did he hear that prayer? It did not seem very hopeful.
Looking back at those days, I see now that we had not taken into account the glorious fact, so beautifully expressed by the Psalmist, "The River of God is full of water." (Ps. 65:9.) God was answering that prayer for daily bread in His good way. During that time He was laying the needs of Bethphage on the heart of a man out in ________ (I will not mention any names for fear of betraying his confidence.) This friend wrote us at that time: "I have heard a great deal about your work that you are doing, and my reading of GULDAX convinces me that you are doing all that you can to bring happiness and health to those in your care.
"I have in mind making, what I consider a substantial contribution to your cause, I don't know exactly how much I shall give before I do so, I want to satisfy myself that you can make use of this money efficiently. So I am asking the following questions: (I) Do you honestly need more funds? (2) Can you accommodate more patients, if this
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money were given you? (3) May I have some information on the number you care for and what would you do with this additional money?"
That letter was not long unanswered. With a heart full of gratitude to God and his steward, the questions were answered to the best of our ability. In a few days this good friend made his investment in the cause. The missive of good will from him brought the generous sum of $3,500.00. He had in a concrete way remembered them that are in bonds. The "silver stream" was running over that day. The Apostle was right, "My God shall supply every need of yours."
It has been a joy for me to record this evidence of God's providential care. I can well imagine that it rejoiced the heart of our good friend to be used by the Heavenly Father to supply the needs of those who are not able to help themselves. And you who read this are invited to join in thanking God for this demonstration of His love.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all his benefits."
It was sometime after the passing of the founder and in the early days when Dr. C. A. Lonnquist was the director of Bethphage, that the workers in Home Tabor noticed a Ford stop in the driveway. It was in the days when it was fashionable to have a touring car with side curtains.The day was beautiful, the first days of October, and the leaves had turned to a rich golden yellow. Just the kind of day that housewives would choose for house cleaning, and that was what was happening in Home Tabor when they noticed the automobile and saw the two strangers coming up the walk. Sister Aurora, who was in charge, went to the door. The strangers did not introduce themselves but stated that they would appreciate if they could visit the different departments of the institution.
Sister Aurora was already housemother at that time and likewise served as hostess when visitors came. She was glad to serve as good-will guide and did her best to explain to this couple the objects of interest in the newly founded colony of mercy. She made some observations as she went along. Although they were strange to her they seemed to have a fairly good knowledge of the founder and the story back of the institution. She was impressed with the interest they had in all of the departments. She concluded they were husband and wife and were friends of Bethphage, though they were unknown to her. Another observation that she made was that the gentleman was carrying a little brown satchel. She offered to place it in charge of Miss Engstrand, who was even then occupying her room in Tabor. To this suggestion he volunteered that he found it no burden to carry this piece of baggage.
After a very complete survey of the place, it was just noon. Sister Aurora as a good hostess invited her guests to remain for dinner. They had no objections and sat down with the Mission family to their humble
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God Provides fare. She noticed again that the gentleman carried the brown satchel to the table and placed it at his feet.
When they had finished the meal, he suggested that he would like to have an interview with Sister Aurora and just a little more privately. They found a room and then he asked her several questions about the founder and his early plans, he also asked about the number of guests, the workers, and the present director. Her answers seemed satisfactory.
It was at this point that he made the remark: "Maybe you think it queer that I have been carrying this satchel and that I have been so careful about it. Well, I have a gift in it for the institution."
Sister Aurora was somewhat surprised and offered the suggestion that she would gladly send for the director, Dr. Lonnquist. The visitor was quick to reply, "Sister, that will not be necessary. I will give it to you."
No sooner had he said this until he opened his satchel and brought out a pack of currency. He suggested, "Sister, will you count these, please?" This she did very carefully and stated, "That is one thousand dollars." She still remembers that each bill was one hundred dollars and that she was very excited. She had never had that much money in her hands at one time in her life.
But that was not all. He reached again into the brown satchel and brought out another pack. Again he stated, "Sister, will you count these, please?" Again she answered, "That is one thousand dollars." She was becoming stirred emotionally. A third time he reached into his satchel and brought out another pack, that was getting familiar. The same statements and the same results were produced. Sister Aurora was standing there with three thousand dollars in her hands, probably the largest gift that had been received at Bethphage up till that time. She was deeply moved and it was no wonder that tears of gratitude came into her eyes. It was difficult for her to speak on behalf of those that were in bonds and under her care, for there was a lump in her throat.
The benefactor of those that were bound sensed this and kindly said, "There, there, this isn't any crying matter." His errand of mercy was over. Very few words were spoken. He parted with the request that they would not try to find out his name and that if they must report the gift, they should simply mention the donor as, "A Friend of the Bethphage Mission."
Sister Aurora had passed through an unforgettable moment - she was extremely happy. As soon as she had collected herself she went to the telephone to call Dr. Lonnquist. Her first words were, "How would you like to receive a generous gift for the Mission today?"
"Why that would be splendid," he answered.
"Come to Tabor and you shall have it," she added. Not many moments passed until the director was there. The Sister had just learned how to turn over a large sum of money in a rather dramatic way and when Dr. Lonnquist came into the room she enacted the scene of the benefactor just as it has previously been told.
Those were happy moments on the Hill that will never be erased from the memory of those who were present. This will especially be appreciated, if you go hack to that part of the history of Bethphage that
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happened shortly after the death of the founder. Debts had been increasing and the income decreasing. Those were crucial days for Bethphage. Was the sun that ushered in the day with so much hope and prospects for good going to set so soon? Were the plans of the founders that seemed so well laid and with such unselfish motives only a dream? The One who knows and cares was answering those questions in no uncertain terms. Dr. Lonnquist understood. He called the workers and the Bethphage family together. After telling them of this evidence of God's love he explained the purpose of the gathering by saying, "Let us thank God for this wonderful gift."
And what became of the two benefactors? That is a question we are apt to ask. There is very little to add about this, only that a week following a letter came with an apology that they had forgotten to pay for their noon meal and were enclosing one dollar. It was signed, "Two well wishers."
The story of the man with the little brown satchel has been told. It seems to me that it is a beautiful commentary on the words written so long ago by the Apostle: "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." - Hebr. 13:2.
It was three or four years ago that we received notice of one of the rather unusual gifts that occasionally find their way into the coffers of the Bethphage Mission, It was a letter from a friend that will be quoted in part:"Dear Friends:
"I am sending an insured package to you. It is money taken from my father's pocket after his sudden death from heart failure. I do not know how much there is, as I have never felt that I could count it - there is also some new bills taken from my mother's purse after she passed away Both my mother and father were interested in Bethphage. While they could not send much to help, they did contribute in small amounts from time to time May God's richest blessings come to you and your faithful helpers
A day or so after this letter was received, the package came and you can be sure that those who knew of its coming were interested, if not curious, as to what it really contained. It was an old billfold that had served its carrier for some time as he went about settling his monthly accounts. We emptied its precious contents. There they were; some of those "long fellows" that were in use some years ago; there were a few new, crisp bills also; and there were some pieces of silver and other coins, too. When all had been counted it amounted to two hundred and thirty-two dollars and nineteen cents.It represented more than the coin of the realm, which would find its way into the general treasury and soon be spent. It was a testimony of the silent influence of godly' patents that had a heart of compassion
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God Provides for those less fortunate. Their good thoughts and deeds were being lived out in their child.
It represented an unselfish act that was not for show, for it was requested that all names be withheld. It was the rightful property of the sender to be used by her as she saw fit. She confessed, "I cannot use it - something says, 'No.'" We want to believe that it was the Spirit of God that was prompting her and she was ready to obey and has received His blessing.
We are convinced that the Lord will not suffer us to want, if we go his errands among the helpless and suffering. It is well to be able to cast our burdens on the Lord. He careth for us. Hitherto nothing has been wanting. Both workers and means have been supplied, it has often been hard to understand whence the help is to come but the Lord has His ways. In the right moment He sends what we need.Just a minor illustration. By the first of August we needed five hundred and fifty dollars. During July the income had been S200 from membership fees, and about $150 in gifts. Where would we get the remaining $200? I wondered much about this as we were on a journey at the close of the month I even thought of the idea of borrowing this sum. But the Lord had prepared unexpected help. When I arrived home at Axtell, I was welcomed with the news "Tomorrow we are to thresh on the Mission land." Oh, I had almost forgotten that God had given us a beautiful harvest on our forty acres that belonged to Bethphage. The threshing started, but hardly had we begun when it started to rain. We must wait yet a few days. At this time the war in Europe started and the wheat price advanced to 70 cents per bushel. On the last day of July we sold the wheat the following day the price went down; but we had enough money to meet all obligations.
And so it goes month after month and day after day. The other day we needed fifty dollars; we had only fifty cents. But on just that day the mail brought us fourteen dollars by money order, a check for thirty-five dollars, and one dollar in currency - total fifty dollars, just what we needed.
The same has also been true with regard to workers. We tried at seven or eight places to get a suitable housemother for the Mission cottage; each time we were disappointed. It was approaching the time to open the cottage and still we had no supervisor. But the Lord had one in readiness for us. In the right time he gave us Sister Malvina, an experienced deaconess from Bethesda in St. Paul. Besides this we also received two young women from the Bethphage congregation, Miss Edna Palmblade and Miss Nettie Martinson. So we had our first Bethphage Sisters, as we are wont to call them.
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Little Falls, Minnesota
March 14, 1916
I desire to thank you for the little paper "Guldax" and the calendar which we received some time ago. There are no doubt many that write to Pastor Dahl, so that you cannot remember all of them. It was a year ago that I wrote you about an important matter; I sent you at that time a contribution for some bricks that should become a part of the new building, that you had proposed to build. That which I sent was very little, but it was a precious memorial to our dear daughter who a few months before had gone to a better home above, to be with God.
The work which you are doing for suffering humanity, Pastor Dahl, can only be rightly appreciated and comprehended by God. He is rich and will help and support you. I myself am weak and sickly, and my husband is only a day laborer and it was therefore necessary that our daughter must early find employment and thus help us and herself. She was only eighteen years old, and it could hardly he expected that she should more than support herself; but after she had left us all and gone to be with God, which happened suddenly, we discovered at the place where she was employed that she had left twenty-five dollars of her wages. So far, this money has been bedewed with our tears, but it has not been spent -- I believe they belong to God in a special sense and probably Home Tabor is the right place for them.
When I read in your last periodical, Pastor Dahl, of the different things needed for the new home, I noticed among other things the desire for a simple altar in your little chapel. Right away I thought that it would he a joy if this small gift could be used for that altar, where prayers may always ascend to the throne of heaven and where thanks and praise to God might be heard. We, of course, desire that this little sum could be used for some special purpose.
(In the following issue of "Guldax" there appeared these words: "for an altar, $25.00.")
Quotations:"Ever since the Mission was founded, the 19th of February, I have saved the income from the eggs that have been gathered on Sundays. I understand that you want five dollars. I have that much and am sending it, but there will no doubt be another five before Thanksgiving."
Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
December 11, 1943Dear Rev. C.
Kindly accept this gift of $21.00. I had some old gold that I thought a great deal of, but I sold it and got the above mentioned sum. I wish to give it to the Bethphage Mission. May God bless your work!
A Friend of the Mission, A. C. N.
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God Provides Albert City, Iowa
December 19, 1942Bethphage Mission Axtell, Nebraska
Dear Sirs:Though confined to a wheel chair and the use of only one hand the last thirty-three years; thanks to God and my good relatives, I am well and cared for. And the Lord has so blessed my feeble efforts at fixing timepieces the last year, so I feel called upon to send this little gift. With it goes my best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to those less fortunate than I am. You may apply same wherever you see most needed.
Respectfully, E. L. F.
Gentlemen:I am late for our Symphony Concert due to the fact that I had a conference and consolation meeting with the matron of the Children's Home. As I entered the concert hall door, right in front of me were these dollar hills. I picked them up, turned them in at the ticket office. No one claimed them so at the last concert I was notified to call for them. I know no better place to send them than to Bethphage. Here they will give blessing in the Lord's work.
Yours respectfully. F. D. J.
One of the noticeable things in the many letters that come to the Mission office is the fact that back of the gifts that are presented is a spirit of thankfulness to God. This will he noticed in the following letters or quotations from them:"It is my birthday today. My dear wife has invited my children and grandchildren to our home. We have just thanked God that we have health and understanding. And then we thought of all the infirm in the Bethphage homes and want to remember them with an offering. I am sending five dollars and fourteen cents. It is one cent for each year for the total years of my dear ones that are gathered with me this afternoon. I am 85 years, my wife is 78 years; we have five children and five grandchildren our ages together are 514; therefore $5.14 for Bethphage."
"I have been able to do my washing for seven weeks. The Pastor cannot imagine how thankful I am to the Lord for this. What I have saved belongs to the Lord. When 1 hired help for this, it cost seventy-five cents per washing. I am sending this to Bethphage."
"We have had a good crop this year and I wish to give ten bushels of wheat for me and my family. I have five children, all are well and happy, five bushels; for my dear wife, two bushels; for myself, one bushel; and for my little boy that the Lord took home, two bushels. I am sending money order for .............
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"Dear Brother Christenson:
"For the past few years I have been happy to be able to send Bethphage a gift this time of the year. The Lord has been good to me and given me good health, provided me with work so that I have been able to meet my expenses, and His hand has protected me so that I have received no serious injury in my work. For all these blessings and many more I am thankful to my Lord.
"As you undoubtedly remember, I wish to give my gift in accordance with Jesus' teaching in Mt. 6:1-4. 1 kindly ask you to accept this check for Bethphage as a gift from A Friend in New York State. May God bless Bethphage, all its workers, and all them that arc in bonds during the holidays and throughout the coming year."
An Unwritten Letter
C. A. Lonnquist
"Yes, sometimes there come unwritten letters, as eloquent as those that are written. For instance, a year ago we received a paper dollar in an envelope - to it was attached a slip of paper with these words: "From an Outcast." That was an unwritten letter with many chapters. It gave both my head and heart cause for thought. It certainly told a story of sin, but still more need. It told of man's probable indifference and coldness to the lost; but most of all, it told of the mercy of God - who with his light of love reaches down into the depths."I shall never forget that letter. I know, that more than one who reads this account, has already been at the throne of grace interceding for this son of sorrow and need. A hot tear for such a one will neither hurt us nor him."
The many gifts received at the Bethphage Mission are very encouraging and reveal the guiding and providing hand of God; but there is that which is even more impressive in this great cooperative endeavor for the afflicted. It is found in the willingness of men and women to offer their lives in humble service among the guests of this colony of mercy.It happens once in a while that some visitor will remark, "Isn't it difficult to get workers in a place like this?" To the outsider it may seem so but the experience of those connected with Bethphage is, that just as the daily needs of food, clothing, and shelter have been provided by a loving Heavenly Father, so it has also been true that as the need has arisen for more laborers there have been those who have come forth in one way or another and have offered their services.
If we could be allowed to enter into the controlling motives and influences that have led to the decisions of these workers to consecrate
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God Provides themselves to this labor of love, it would indeed be revealing. In reviewing the answers that were given by members of the Bethphage Sisterhood to the question, "Why I became a Bethphage Sister?" it is interesting to notice that they were guided by God. It was not always easy for them to decide to come, but once they had made the decision they were content that they were in the will of God.
Here are some statements that help us to appreciate the unselfish motives in their coming:
"Filled with the joy of knowing that I was saved, I longed to serve my Lord and Saviour as a deaconess." (God led her to Bethphage.)
"My wish was to serve the Lord and I asked his guidance - after some training in caring for the feeble-minded and invalids, I felt quite certain that the Lord wanted me at Bethphage."
One Sister tells of the call that came to her while she was a temporary worker, "Here I was in the midst of a great need, I could plainly see the need for more Sisters - the call came and I could not get peace with God until I surrendered my life to this service."
Another Sister while she was a temporary worker tells, "I had grown to love all of our guests and wished to serve them more. I felt it was God calling."
"One night as I was praying, these words came to me, 'Remember them that are in bonds.' The thought came to me, 'Maybe God wants me to work at Bethphage,'"
"Another tells of a prayer that was constantly on her heart:
"Oh, find a place for me.
A place where best the strength I have may tell;
It may be one that others shun;
Be it a wide or narrow place, tis well
So that the work it holds be only done."God answered that prayer by guiding her footsteps to Bethphage and now she feels content.
© 2002 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Reitsch, Ted & Carole Miller.
