MISSION CAMPAIGN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23320, 13 April 1939, Page 13

MISSION CAMPAIGN

ADDRESSES AT TABERNACLE NOTED BRITISH EVANGELIST A \ prominent British evangelist, Captain Reginald Waliis, who recently arrived in Auckland, began last night a fortnight's mission in the Baptist Tabernacle. He is a leader at the Keswick Convention in the north of England, and was one of the speakers at the recent Ngaruawahia Easter Convention.

Captain Wallis served in the Gfrpat War, having gained his commission through the Inns of Court Officers' Training Corps in 1916. He was seriously wounded in France in the following year. From 1921 until 19<J3 he was general secretary of the Dublin Y.M.0.A., resigning in the latter year to undertake evangeliistic campaigns. "Young people do not want cold religion or anything that is merely formal," said Captain Wallis yesterday. "They are looking for a message of life, and my experience is that when the person of Christ is present with the challenge there is a leaping response on their part. I have no evangelistic 'stunts,' and reduce the emotional appeal to the minimum." The mission which opened last night is described as a "New Life Campaign," and Captain Wallis' subject was "What is tliis new life?" He emphasised that the new life for which the campaign stood was an altogether different life from that received by natural generation. The difference between the true Christian and the unbeliever was the difference between an organism and a crystal. The crystal added pajrticles from without, but did not possess the vital charm of life within. A number of afternoon meetings are included in the programme of the campaign, and this afternoon Captain Wallis will address a women's rally on the subject of "Beauty Secrets." He will speak at this evening's meeting on "The First Gospel Message in the Bible." He is particularly known for the success of his appeal to young people.