Avis M B Christiansen – died

ON THIS DATE

Avis Marguerite Burgeson Christiansen died 1/14/1985 in her native Chicago.  She had a grandmother who loved poetry and with her encouragement Avis wrote her first poem at ten.  When on a Lord’s Day at Moody Church she heard Harry Loes sing a new song, she felt God reminded her of her talent and she responded, resulting in two songs.  She married (1917) Ernest C. Christiansen, who later became a vice president at Moody Bible Institute.   She had been born 10/11/1895.  Haldor Lillenas (a foremost Nazarene song writer) wrote the music and Avis wrote the words to:

“It is glory just to walk with Him whose blood has ransomed me;

It is rapture for my soul each day.

It is joy divine to feel Him near where’er my path may be.

Bless the Lord, it’s glory all the way!

Refrain

“It is glory just to walk with Him, It is glory just to walk with Him,

He will guide my steps aright Through the vale and o’er the height,

It is glory just to walk with Him.”

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George S Schuler – birth, Apr. 11, 1882

George S Schuler was born this date, 4/11/1882.  He was an American music educator and part of Moody Bible Institute for 40 years.  Schuler composed melody to the song “Make Me a Blessing.”

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William R Newell – death, Apr. 1, 1956

Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary.

Refrain

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.

By God’s Word at last my sin I learned;
Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary.

Now I’ve given to Jesus everything,
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary!

Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!

William R Newell died this date, 4/1/1956, at Deland, FL.  Born in Ohio (Savannah, 5/22/1868) he graduated from Woos­ter Coll­ege there and later attended Princeton and Oberlin Seminaries.  He pastored Be­thes­da Con­gre­ga­tion­al Church and was as­sist­ant su­per­in­ten­dent of Moody Bi­ble In­sti­tute, both in Chi­ca­go.  He penned Bib­li­cal com­ment­aries on Ro­mans, He­brews, and the Book of Rev­e­la­tion but is best known for “At Calvary” (“Years I spent in vanity and pride”) written while at Moody Bible Institute.

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John Stam & Betty Stam – beheaded, Dec. 8, 1934

Elisabeth Alden Scott (Mrs. Betty Stam) was born in China, 2/22/1906, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Charles E. Scott, Presbyterian missionaries.  Betty dedicated her life to the Lord at Keswick, New Jersey, Bible Conference.  She then went to Moody Bible Institute, where she met John Stam.

John Stam was born 1/9/1907 at Paterson, New Jersey.  Betty shipped our for China in 1931. John arrived in 1932, and they were married in October of ‘33.  God blessed them with a daughter, Helen Priscilla, the following September at Wuhu, Anhwei Province.

They were sent to Tsingtch, Anhwei, in November 1934.  The Stams were captured by Chinese Communist bandits the morning of December 6, and they both were beheaded two days later.  God allowed Helen Priscilla to be preserved and to be returned to the States.

It has been stated that the martyrdom of John and Betty Stam did more to inspire missions than any previous event in the history of Gospel work in China.

 

John Stam and Betty Stam were beheaded this date 12/8/1934, by the Communists in China.

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Avis Marguerite Burgeson – birth, Oct 11, 1895

Out of the depths to the glory above,
I have been lifted in wonderful love;
From every fetter my spirit is free,
For Jesus has lifted me!

Refrain

Jesus has lifted me!
Jesus has lifted me!
Out of the night into glorious light,
Yes, Jesus has lifted me!

 

Out of the world into heavenly rest,
Into the land of the ransomed and blessed,
There in the glory with Him I shall be,
For Jesus has lifted me!

 

Out of myself into Him I adore,
There to hide in His love evermore;
Through endless ages His glory to see,
My Jesus has lifted me!

 

 

 

Avis Marguerite Burgeson was born this date, 10/11/1895, at Chicago, Illinois.

Avis married Ernest C. Christiansen (1917) who later became vice president in charge of investments for Moody Bible Institute.  She wrote at least twenty some songs  

among which are also “Up Calvary’s Mountain” and “Precious Hiding Place.  Mrs. Christiansen passed from this life in January 1985 at her native Chicago.

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Helen Howarth Lemmel – birth, Nov 14, 1863

“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”  (stanza 1, chorus, stanza 2)

 

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Chorus

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

 

Through death into
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!

 

Written by Helen Lemmel, born this date in England.  She came to American with her family when 12 years of age.  She lived (as a girl in Mississippi, Wisconsin and eventually called Seattle, Washington home.  Her musical talents were used as a music critic, at Moody Bible Institute, and with the work of Billy Sunday. The heartaches of her (including a husband who left her and blindness) make her admonition that much more real.

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