Salvation Army Mission: A Glimpse into 1950s Skid Row Redemption (silent)

for e e e for e how we turn our song books gentlemen to number 49 tonight number 49 we'll ask Mrs Ferguson if she' kindly lead it or lead singing of it number 49 Standing on the Promises of Christ my king ages let us Praises Ring glory in the highest I we shirt and sing standing on the Promises of God on thees [Music] the now we're going to ask you if you'll kindly rise at this time and we be led In Prayer by Jim in heaven be thy name th Kingdom th will be done on Earth as it is in heav give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation Deliver Us from Evil for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory forever amen now this time we're going to have an expression from some of the men on the platform men who have what shall we say been through the mill they know what it is to be under the bridge they know what it is to be up the alleys they know what it is to be thirsty and I don't know where you think that's worse than been hungry or not it all depends doesn't it and so having this experience behind them they're telling them be able to tell of how they got out of that position what they were in and now they're occupying a position where they have the first foot on the run of the ladder upwards or I should say they putot on the first run of the ladder upwards toward success and now this time we're going to have a testimony from Richard and then we're going to sing a verse of number 73 all right well I'm always happy to give my testimony and I have many many blessings to be thankful tonight it wasn't too long ago that I was in a heart of skidrow and I had no hope I lost all hope I didn't know which way to turn I was down and out ragged and worn not only mentally but physically as well and I'm happy tonight because I put my trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and I asked him for help I said Lord help me and he did help me he took me out of the mess I was in and he set me on S Solid Rock Christ Jesus so men I'm telling you tonight that there is help and you can receive help right now just put your faith and trust in the Lord and I praise His holy name this evening one thing about this place perhaps that is different from any other place there are never too uh meetings the same and there's never a d dull moment we don't know no one knows what's going to take take place the next moment well we're going to have tonight we're going I'll tell you something what's in the back of our mind I'm not sure how we're followed through or not the first thing we're going to do is going to have the the group on the platform sing to us and Mama she's going to be the choir leader tonight she's going to lead us into singing then after that we're going to have the offering and you're going to take part in that aren't you or just seen one felling that smiling well the rest of you did that means that we're going to have a real good collection tonight if you haven't got $5 you can't put it in can you but if you got h a niggle and you don't know what to do with it we do do the best you can when the time comes for the offering which will be immediately after we sing this song all right [Music] 47 wonderful love him [Music] now fance how about it do you really want to see life do you want to enjoy life well I'm tell we're telling you on the authority of God's word and from our own experience that life alone is f in Jesus only there it is offered thee you thank God tonight fellas it's offered with price or money it's a gift of God sent free now fellas what he has done for us he will do for you don't hesitate but come to him now we're going to give you the opportunity to come out here and pray is there a man here anywhere in the audience tonight who will accept this invitation and come to him now just rise from your chair where your are other fellow make wait for you to come here and kneel and pray come along there's no other way there's no better way there many other ways you can try but eventually sometime in your life you'll come come to the place when you admit that you can't get on without God why not start this new way tonight will you come on we're going to sing just as I am without one flee while we sing it you come kneel here and pray we're not asking to join the Salvation Army or join a miss or a church or anything we're asking you to come and give God the opportunity that he wishes in your life come well then we're going to ask Mama for the close of prayer all [Music] [Music] right for me [Music] and we come to thee at the close of this service amen for e e e e e e e to their heart we pray that many more would truly turn away from their sin and turn unto thee for salvation we pray oh God that thou would have thy way in the heart of each and every one we pray especially that thou would bless these men and bless their homes and the families that it is Mar's birthday I believe it was Sunday morning were yes you need a your decision for to have a change of way in your life change your way yes but tell me now that you've been here with us so long what what how do you appraise our program is it really worthwhile in your case now well it surely is I think it's a wonderful program to help anyone in the condition I was in to find this new life to the new road well now your particular sin of course uh was uh you were an alcoholic that's I was well how did you tried any other method of Breck inness habit yes I tried every method that I knew of and I didn't seem to get much help out of it now that you have made such remarkable Pro progress in this 16 months what are your plans for the future well I've been employed as you know for a little better than a year now the firm where I worked here in the city as a boil amerus Helper and I I'm trying to get straightened out so that I can uh help some of other young people and follows in the same state that I was in to find their way out well now um tell me your age is about 30 I was 30 last May well I the 30 years prior to your conversion had you uh taken up any church activities at all did you belong to a church well yes as a boy I did but I didn't know what I was doing at the time I don't hold it as I really did because I didn't understand it as a church certainly doesn't let me see it was Washington's birday when you made your decision yes it was the most important part about this place of New Beginnings in the Salvation Army is that I can see it's been in my life it's straightened me out and help me considerably I'd like to see the results of this and I would like to urge that anyone listening for any young people that's my age or older either if they want to get out get off of skro and to get on the right track why the thing to do is to come and accept the Lord as your own personal savior