The Letter 7
The South African Adventure:
A Miracle Working God Abroad
April 1930
Published by The Groups
A First Century Christian Fellowship
This unique and special booklet is from April 1930, this was a time that the Oxford Group had not take on the name of ‘The Oxford Group’ yet and were known as “The Groups: A First Century Christian Fellowship”.
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The Groups
A First Century Christian Fellowship
“The Groups are a movement of life within the churches to make the principles of the New Testament practical as a working force today.
THIS IS A PERSONAL LETTER. It is addressed to members of a spiritual family of many nationalities scattered over the world. It is not intended for general circulation.
The contributors are of various churches, and their backgrounds were of every kind, religious, agnostic, atheistic, and frankly pagan. They are of different ages, and represent varying degrees of spiritual maturity. They have this in common, that in each the Christian life has been born or reborn through contact with a movement within the churches known as the "Groups," or "A First Century Christian Fellowship." Their mutual bond is not creed nor method, but a common experience of Christ.
The purpose of the "Letter" is to keep these friends in touch with one another. It aims not to mould opinion but to reflect experience.“
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Here is short description of this special booklet written by AA Historian Dick B:
The Letter 7 “The South African Adventure: A Miracle Working God Abroad” (April, 1930). There may be other letters, but my information indicates that this is the seventh and last letter that was published by “The Groups” under the name “A First Century Christian Fellowship.”
The letter is surfeited with stories by Frank Buchman such as the “Bill Pickle” story. It deals heavily in the surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. The Bishop of the Cathedral of Bloemfontein rendered an article on “God is the End. Jesus is the Way,” pointing out: “Thus when we are in Christ, we are now in a position to realize fellowship with God and man. As regards God, our fellowship takes the form of adoration, worship, and love. As regards man, our fellowship takes the form of service.” The Bishop gives the rudiments of daily quiet time, daily reading of scripture, daily prayer, daily surrender of sins, and sharing. And there must be nearly one hundred articles by rank and file Oxford Group people, telling what they do, what they believe, and how their lives have been changed through acceptance of Christ and establishing fellowship with God and other believers.
Again, I would emphasize that you learn from these early pieces of literature exactly what Rowland Hazard, Ebby Thacher, Bill Wilson, Dr. Bob, Anne Smith, Henrietta Seiberling, and Mr. and Mrs. T. Henry Williams were really reading and seeing and doing. -Dick B.
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This 1930 booklet is in very good condition. There is some staple rust in the center pages and slight foxing on the back cover. It comes with the original picture/poster included.
Please view all of the photos for the conditions.
