Breaking the Chains of Bondage in Your Family

John 10:9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

The scene is England, around 100 years ago. James McKendrick was a travelling evangelist, moving through rural areas with his Gospel "Van"....a horse-drawn carriage....to bring the gospel to those who had not heard. Please read on....

This story is reprinted from What We Have Seen and Heard: During 25 Years' Evangelistic Labours, James McKendrick, 1914


"The following, however, may be taken as a fair sample of our experience. We arrived at a place called Keddington, in Suffolk, during our first season. The darkness and needs of the place were appalling. Our custom was to go from door to door with tracts and invite people to the service........


.....When my way seemed clear, I wrote asking the man to secure a place, and I would begin on the first Sunday in February. To get a suitable place was difficult, but one of the publicans, hearing that a hall was wanted for religious services, offered his place gratis,--promising to provide seats, light, coal, etc. I was willing to pay 1 pound per week, but he would not accept a penny.



To explain this unusual offer, I will have to go back a year or two. At one time there was a brewery in the district owned by a man who was a preacher. There may seem some incongruity in brewing damnation and preaching salvation, but so it was. He lived in London, but when he visited his brewery, he often stayed the week-end, and on these occasions would conduct a religious service in the club-room of the White Horse public house. Such services were a novelty, and many people came to hear Jenner the brewer preach. When the service was over on the Sunday night, most of the congregation, as they came down the stairs, went into the White Horse to have a drink. The publican was quick to see that these services brought corn to his mill, as so many remained to drink when the service was over. At the time I write, the brewery had been closed for about two years, and no services had been held during that time, but remembering his former experience, and with an eye to business, he made the seemingly generous offer I have stated.

I confess I was surprised, for I had not been used to such kind treatment from publicans. I had prayed much for the meetings and had asked many others to do likewise. It was well known all around that the man who had been with the van was going to preach in the White Horse club-room. The place was full from the first service, and the power of the Holy Spirit was manifest in every service. People were deeply convicted of their sins, and instead of going in to drink after the service, fled home with all speed. Ere the first week was over, God has saved the chief of sinners in the place. To drink and fight were the chief delights of George Mayes, who was known for miles around. He had several days of deep conviction, and got peace with God one afternoon as he wrought in the field. When he came home that evening he threw down his lunch basket, and danced and capered through the house like a man possessed. He could not eat for joy, and he left his meal untouched. He didn't even wash his face, but set out to tell his friends and neighbours of his conversion. His good little wife had often seen him mad with drink, but this form of excitement puzzled her. I have often laughed heartily afterwards, as I heard her tell of that night's experience. She could not understand what he meant when he said he was saved; that he was a child of God, and his sins were forgiven. All this was to her foreign language.
As the hour of service drew on, he came to the club-room just as he had left the field As he entered his face literally shone. I was conducting the meeting, but when our eyes met, he shouted, "Ah, Mr. Kendrick, I'm saved, praise the Lord; I'm saved. I didn't know what it meant last night but I know it now." (He never called me McKendrick, but always Kendrick.) I had to stop, and when he had thus spoken to me, he turned to the people; and I am sure all who were there will long remember that night, as he proceeded, through tears and sobs, to tell how God had saved him. The power of God fell upon the people as that poor, illiterate farm labourer testified to the saving grace of God. "An hour before I was saved," he went on to say, "I twice went down to the river to throw myself in. I seemed to be between two powers, one dragging me into the river, the other holding me back. I felt I was too great a sinner to be saved, and hell was waiting to receive me." For quite ten minutes he thrilled the audience with his experience....

.....As these men and women became possessors of the knowledge of their salvation, they at once did all they could for others, and it was simply marvellous what gifts of utterance these illiterate people displayed, though scarcely any of the older people could read a word.....

.....Suffice it to say that we built a hall of wood with an iron roof in Keddington. A man gave a loan of 80 pounds, I advanced 20, which was all I had in the world; and with a few other small gifts we soon had a building, capable of seating 240 people, erected free of debt, and there the worship and service of God was carried on, and many added to the saved.

George Mayes was distinctly the leader of this company of believers. His little daughter taught him to read, and ere long he could read all the Bible. It is his one book; he knows and loves it well. Others also learned to read the Bible, and ably assisted George in the Gospel work. The Mayes family was a large one. George had many brothers and sisters, and all were married and had large families. There were about fifty of the Mayes family saved, including the old father and mother. It would be no exaggeration to say that within a radius of five miles of Keddington about 200 people professed to have passed from death into life during a period of three years. Two of the public-houses were closed, and the owners of the others had to find additional means of livelihood."

Back to the year 2007...
George Mayes, in fact, continued to walk with His Father until his death. He apparently talked to his children about the Lord as he stood, or sat, or 'walked along the way'. How do I know this? Because George Mayes was my great-grandfather. I only met two of his children, my grandpa and great-uncle Arthur. Both were godly men, as is my Dad. My parents have visited Keddington. There is nothing much there.......but that is where my family's spiritual history began.
Thanks for reading,
Karen

Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.