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History Of The Elim Gospel Hall, Ipoh (1913 - 2003) - Part 05 - The Start Of Elim Hall And Outreach Work
It was said that Mr. and Mrs. George Wilson were very stern-looking and strict, nevertheless they were kind and caring and provided a protective father/mother figure for the children. As education was not free and funds were limited, Mrs. Wilson started a school for the children in 1920, which was held at the meeting place in the Mission House. Mrs. Wilson assisted by Sarah Shirtliff had the responsibility of the Home and the school which employed two other teachers besides themselves. They were given basic education in reading and writing, both in English as well as Chinese (Primary School level). This gave rise to a need for a separate hall for meetings.
So in 1920 the first Gospel Hall was built by Mr. Claude Henry LaBrooy. It was a smaller building than the Mission House or Girls’ Home, made of half wood, half concrete. (This building was torn down in 2002 to make way for the Chinese Assembly Library, Office and Conference Halls.) It was named “Elim,” a resting place with twelve springs and seventy palm trees mentioned in the Bible. A Chinese-speaking Assembly was also formed. This new hall known by old timers in town as “Elim Hall” began to be used by both the English and Chinese speaking assemblies. In the beginning Mr. Wilson pioneered the Chinese work but later he was assisted by other capable leaders like Mr. Koo Song Khiun, the first local Chinese Full-time Worker for the Chinese assembly. He came from China and served from 1925 to 1957. In 1931 the church grounds were further extended by the purchase of land beside the Girls’ Home (the present site of Elim Gospel Hall - English and the playing field) for $10,000 from a gift given by Mr. Toft when he sold his rubber estate.
Brother Wilson carried the gospel to outlying villages and travelled as far as Enggor and Salak North in the north to as far south as Menglembu, Lahat and Tanjung Tualang. At first it was open-air preaching but later as Mr. Wilson got older, he rented shop houses in these villages for gospel meetings. At first his only means of transport was his old bicycle with solid tyres. His habit was to keep peddling till he came to a village, then not being able to stop because his legs were cramped, he would go through the town and fall off the bicycle onto the grass verge. After recovering he would walk back into the village to sell scriptures, preach and buy some food to eat. Then he rested by taking out his boots and placed them under his head and snatched some sleep on a plank bench. Much later the Lord provided him a new bicycle with pneumatic tires. From 1919 he used a motorcycle to visit many towns travelling hundreds of miles. That machine enabled him to cover the distance more quickly and he also would not be away from home and family so often. Many who heard the “Jesus Religion” were saved. In Enggor, thirty believers were baptised by Mr. Wilson at one time. In those days it was the practice for many Chinese to return to China, their homeland. Many died there or never returned but these new Christians spread the gospel in their villages in China.
From left to right the photos show:
To go to Part 06, click here.
To read about C H LaBrooy and Dulcieville, click here.