The Calling of Emily Evans Read Online Free PDF Page A

her first Bible school year had almost ended that Emily received her answer. Rev. and Mrs. Paul Witt, the district superintendent and his wife, were visiting chapel. Emily sat on the edge of her seat, her hands clasped into nervous knots in her lap, her hazel eyes opened wide with intensity.
    “We have countless areas open to us,” Rev. Witt was saying.“Places where they are begging us to come and start a church, and we have no one to send. God does not call us to sit idly by while the people perish. He has called us to go—to give—to preach the Gospel.”
    Emily could not help stealing a glance at the men’s side of the chapel. Surely many of them would be profoundly moved and anxious to answer the call to serve.
    “We need to be willing to obey His voice as He speaks to us. Where are the men who are willing to bridge the gap—to answer, ‘Here am I. Send me’? For how can they hear without a preacher? How can they preach except they be sent? We, as a denomination, are here to send you forth. We are here to back and support you. We are here to help you to obey God’s call—to take up your cross and follow Him.”
    Is he speaking only to the men here? The question suddenly flashed through Emily’s mind. She looked around her and caught Ruth’s eye, then turned her attention back to the speaker.
    “I urge you, if He is speaking to your heart, obey His voice—follow His leading today. Come. Come acknowledge His call on your life. Come forward and kneel here at the altar of prayer. Offer up your life as a sacrifice of love and obedience to the Lord who loves you. Who died for your salvation. Come. That others too might know the joy of knowing God.”
    Fred Russell was the first to move forward. Morris Soderquist was close behind him. And then, to Emily’s surprise, Lacey Beckett was moving quickly toward the altar, tears on his round cheeks.
    And then Emily could bear the intensity of the feeling in her heart no longer. With a sob in her throat, she hastily rose and practically ran to the altar railing where she knelt down and unashamedly buried a tear-streaked face in her clasped hands.
    The answer had come. If God had no helpmate with whom she could share His call, she would go alone. It was as simple as that. Will Pearson might think it impossible for a woman to preach, but Emily knew otherwise. Hadn’t she heard God’s call? Hadn’t He promised all of His children that He would be with them? Of course! Of course God could call a woman to serve. Emily had no idea just where and how—but she did know that her heart yearned to be of service to God.
    “Yes, Lord. Yes,” she prayed silently.“I’ll go. Wherever you want me—I’ll go.”
    A strange peace settled over her heart. She had been obedient.
    She was committed to Christ and to the goal of serving Him. She was only a girl, but God would be with her. He would lead her. Emily was sure of that.

    Emily later learned that she had not been the only young woman at the altar. Ruth had, as Emily would have expected, joined those at the altar as well. Ruth, too, had answered God’s call to serve Him—maybe even to preach.
    After the altar service was over, the good Rev. Witt spoke softly to those who had stepped forward. As Emily lifted her swollen, red eyes and looked shyly about her, she was surprised to see seven of her classmates on the front benches.
    Rev. Witt went slowly down the row, speaking to each person by name.
    “Why are you here, Mr. Russell?”
    Fred answered without hesitation.“I feel called to serve.”
    “And where would God have you serve?”
    Fred shook his head.“It matters not,” he answered just as firmly.
    “I will serve wherever my church places me.”
    The district superintendent smiled and nodded in agreement.
    “And you, Mr. Soderquist?” he went on.
    “God called me to the mission field when I was a boy,” answered Morris with a trembling voice.“I came forward today to publicly testify to that