Day 60: Praying for the blessing of work (1933)

Join with Salvationists of the Wales Division for day 60 of 150 days of prayer.

• ‘God has spoken from his holy place! He has promised: “I will show my power!”’ (Psalm 60:6, EasyEnglish Bible). 

1933

A Deliverer article about The House o’ the Trees (April 1933) referred to: ‘Clothes horses – a bright idea for keeping Welsh lads busy … getting them into the habit of regular work, which they have had no chance of acquiring in their deserted valley of the pits.’

The 3 September War Cry announced, ‘Some of the House o’ the Trees lads are coming to London… They will be at Leytonstone on Saturday 10th and at the Clapton Congress Hall … on Sunday 11th… They can sing songs from the mountains of Wales. They can speak for themselves. They can pray. Be in the crowds at their Meetings.’

Earlier that year, the 30 January War Cry had reported on the Tonypandy pit disaster:

‘Crowds of men and women flocked to the pithead and there waited for news, and the Army officers kept vigil with them… Tonypandy is particularly well equipped with Salvationists capable of dealing with any emergency. Adjutant Ridge and Captain Johnson, the Trealaw corps officers – covering Tonypandy – … are reinforced by three devoted officers whose particular interest is the relief of distress and spiritual work among the needy… Captain Allister Smith has of late been greatly used of God amongst the thousands of unemployed men in the Rhondda Valley.’

In these articles, emphasis was laid on the lack of work in South Wales and the effect that unemployment has upon young men in particular. Captain Allister Smith was a South African officer who was involved with the House o’ the Trees. He was a popular holiness preacher – he spoke at Keswick Conventions – with a strong desire for revival. He was very much in tune with Wales and its history of revival.

Prayer

• Yesterday we prayed for young people who are unemployed.
• Today we pray for young people who do have work and we thank God that they are learning new skills in life.