Why Ram Our Beliefs Down Others' Throats?

"You probably wonder why a group of students at university feel moved to support a mission to spread the Gospel there. As far as I am concerned, it springs from two facts: First, I believe that the message that is to be proclaimed is true, and vital for every single person to hear. Secondly, I believe that we are under Christ's command to spread this message to the ends of the earth—including the university.

"Christ claimed to be the Son of God, incarnate, and was crucified for it. Either He was a liar, or a madman—or a third possibility, He spoke the truth. I believe that He did speak the truth."

—David Preston.

Sunday School Religion?

"As students we seek to integrate what we learn into a meaningful world view, and we seek to formulate our own philosophy of life. This series of addresses is being planned partly to help us in this. The Christianity presented by the speakers will be no vague, anaemic Sunday School faith, but a challenge to apply the tests of impartial examination and judgment to an examination of the credentials of the Christian faith. There will be the challenge to bring our knowledge of Christianity up to the level of our academic work and to face the implication which the claims of Jesus Christ have on our lives.

"If it is true that God exists, the very heart of reality, and that He came to this planet as Jesus Christ, then this faith deserves the closest examination. If false, it needs to be exposed as a pernicious lie—on any account it demands a verdict."

—Bob Stewart.

Waste of Time?

"Why should I spend any of my crowded part-time life running around trying to help with a 'mission'?

"First, as Christians we are convinced that Christianity must be shared. Jesus Christ., its author, must be introduced to others, for His death was on behalf of everyone who will come to Him in repentance and accept His message.

"But, you may ask with 'Deist' in his letter to the last Salient, couldn't the time be better used, and the money better spent, in relief of poverty and ignorance?' I would fully agree with you, but for the fact that I believe matters of faith and religion to be even more essential for relief of the world's problems. No amount of money given to the poor will solve man's pride, hatred, and death. It is not until faith in God is established that the worth of an individual can be recognised.

Dr. Masumi Toyotorne, M.A., B.D., Ph.D.

"I am therefore convinced that Christianity cannot just be tucked away in a make-believe corner of our lives. If we are to accept it at ail, we are bound to give it pride of place, and to determine our study and pursuits in terms of it.

"Because of this, I do not consider it a waste of time to do what little I can in helping to present I he truths of Christianity to others in the university."

Peter Donovan.

An Open Letter

During April 9-14, Dr. Masumi Toyotorne, M.A., B.D., Ph.D.. and the Rev. Warner Hutchinson, B.A., B.D., will address Victoria University of Wellington under the theme "Christ in the Student's Life."

The aim of their addresses will be to present the central facts of Christianity, and to indicate their relevance to the life of a student.

As pointed out by Mr W. G. Malcolm, Lecturer in Mathematics, in the last issue of Salient, evangelism in the university should not be considered - incongruous. Evangelistic missions are three-yearly events in Oxford and Cambridge where, rightly or wrongly, British university practices are set.

No one will need feel embarrassed by attendance at any of these meetings, nor will feel that they are committing themselves to any particular religious position. The speakers themselves are prepared to examine students' difficulties honestly, and are well qualified to do so.

We therefore invite students to attend, in the confidence that they will weigh seriously the message of the speakers, and will draw their own reasoned conclusions.