In the Beginning

Dr. Rafael Thomas - A Man of Principle

"My desire to combine medicine and evangelism was hindered and finally forbidden. It was clearly stated that I must either be an evangelist or a hospital superintendent. I could not be both. Such a plan was not only objectionable, it was impossible." [Excerpt from a letter written by Dr. Thomas]

"The Association of Baptists places the accent upon evangelism because the Scriptures place the emphasis there. Any mission agency that makes preaching the Word its one primary objective will succeed." [The Message, March '36.]

Dr. Rafael Thomas - A Loving Father

August 16, 1927

Dear Winky,

I am so glad always to hear from you. Your last letter speaks of a "boy friend" who writes to you more often than I do. If this is the case, I think he writes too much. You are pretty young yet, dear, to be corresponding with boys, and I advise you to go slow. I have so much of this old world in me that I am anxious for my little girl to be "different" from the ordinary run of girls who seem to think more of their powder puffs and lipsticks and vanity cases than they do of their other duties to the world. Don't emulate them.

[Excerpt from a letter to his daughter, Winifred.]

The Gospel Ship

The province of Palawan consists of nearly 100 islands at the extreme end of the Philippine archipelago. The most practical way to evangelize such an area was with a seaworthy boat. Enter Captain Ellis Skolfield. "A sea captain, who had been a lieutenant in the Navy during the World War and later master of a ship, heard the call of God to go out as His witness to the Philippine Islands. He sailed with his family and has been preaching the gospel of peace for several years in these Islands which have waited for 'His law.' In the Gospel Ship, which a Christian woman provided and others are supporting, and with his crew of students from the Bible School in Manila, he has reached islands never before reached by missionaries.

"In the Sulu Archipelago, he came to one Moro group where the people were extremely warlike and savage. He was warned not to go ashore, as his life would be in danger. He promptly accepted the challenge and landed. The old Chief of the island was ill, and the people hoped the Captain could give him medical aid, which he was able to do. He sat beside him all night, telling him of the only hope, through the Savior of the World. As he prayed, the chief saw the light. He begged the Captain to return and preach to the people, giving him permission to use a religious building. As Captain Skolfield left in the morning, people joined in the request, begging him to return. The Captain saw the graves of the Government officials who had been sent there and asked why they were so friendly to him, when they had murdered all these others. They answered, 'You brought no guns.'" [A Wider World for Women, Lucy W. Peabody, Fleming H. Revell Company, New York, 1936]

The Gospel Ship saw active duty for nearly ten years before the ministry ended.

Back to Top	Respond to this Article Email Article to a Friend Print this Article