Dr Forrest

By Dr. R. A. Forrest

The president of the United States and the governor of Georgia asked that Friday, March 8, be a day of prayer. Doubtless thousands prayed, and I believe we will hear of miraculous things as a result of the request of thousands. However, not all the prayers spoken were “availing much.” The reason is found in Hebrews 11:6 where we read, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Sadly, many people today do not believe in Jesus Christ. They may acknowledge that there is a god, but far too often now, they are not willing to bow before the God of the universe as an act of worship and prayer.

If a person believes that God is, he must also believe that the Lord is all He claims to be. He must also believe the words Jesus spoke in Mark 10:27, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” Usually our first impression about God is: “He can do anything!” However, we allow doubtful thoughts to creep into our minds, and we begin to wonder if His promises are true. There are many places in the Bible where He declares His sovereign ability. Most of us know the story of Abraham and Sarah. God promised to give them a son. However, when it came down to the wire, Sarah’s faith wavered.

The Bible says, “When Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth . . . Then they said to him, ‘Where is Sarah your wife?’ And he said ‘There, in the tent.’ [The Lord] said, ‘I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.’ And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing.

“Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?’ And the Lord said the Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh, saying, “Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?”

“‘Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.’” Like many of us, Sarah felt caught and tried to deny her doubt, “I did not laugh,” she said. But God knew the truth, “No, but you did laugh” (v. 15). Thankfully, Sarah did not pursue the conversation any further. More than likely, she became aware that she was in the presence of God.

The words that should stick with us from this interchange are the ones that form the question, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” It is the same question we need to ask ourselves whenever trials linger and seem unbearable or life suddenly turns dark and stormy. Does God know about the heartache, stress, and struggle we are facing? Does He care and will He act on our behalf? I believe He will and He does. In Romans 4, we read that Abraham knew his body was as good as dead, but his faith never wavered. “In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, ‘So shall your descendants be.’

“Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform” (Romans 4:18-21).

Likewise, Job lost everything . . . yet he cries, “I know You can do everything.” In Jeremiah 32, the Promised Land is over run by the enemy. [Life] seemed hopeless and yet Jeremiah believed God could and would deliver the nation of Israel from bondage. His cousin Hanamel challenged his faith by asking him to buy a certain piece of land for 17 shekels (Jeremiah 32:8-15). At the time of the purchase, God’s prophet was in prison. What would he do with a piece of property that appeared to be useless to a man being held captive? Not only this, but it seems this purchase cost him everything.

There will be times when God will ask us to do something that from a human perspective does not make sense. This was one of those situations. Jeremiah knew God was behind the entire matter and obedience to Him was more important than how he appeared to his peers or his enemies. The purchase of this piece of land was also representative of God’s promise to the nation of Israel. He would restore them to the land. When we purchased Haddock Inn in 1911, we did not know how we would make ends meet. Yet, Mrs. Forrest and I knew God had led us this far and He was not about to fail us now. We trusted the Lord, Will you do the same with your life and whatever problem you are facing?

As he sealed the deed, Jeremiah said, “Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You” (Jeremiah 32:17). Several verses later, we read God’s answer, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh, is anything too difficult for Me?” God’s reply came in the form of a rhetorical question. In other words, the answer was within the question. Nothing is ever too hard—too difficult or too time consuming for the Lord. Whatever need you have, He has a plan to meet it.

No matter what your position is in life, God is with you and He knows your need. You may be unconvinced of this, but all you need to know is that He believes in you. He is steady and He is sure. Brethren, you are on the winning side. Don’t laugh behind the tent door as Sarah, Abraham’s wife, once did. And don’t faint in times of trial. Have courage because God has a wonderful plan for your life, and you will discover it when you trust Him and allow Him to guide you where you need to go.

—Taken from a sermon by Dr. R. A. Forrest preached on August 10, 1946

We have collected several of the letters he wrote to her while he was away. They are very personal, but we felt as though sharing them with you at this time of the year would only underscore the true meaning of love. And we also believe if they were here today, they would tell you of their love one for another and encourage you to do the same—love others with the love of Christ.

Actually, there is no way to read their notes, journals, and letters without discovering how deeply in love they were. Their wedding took place on December 24, 1901, and as far as we can research, this was the only Christmas they were separated. Richard makes reference to their wedding in one of the letters we will post over the next few days. We hope you will enjoy reading these love letters to home and that the love he and Evelyn shared for one another, and especially their Savior, will spill over into your life this Christmas season.

My darling wife,

Have time for just a word or two, but wanted to tell you I love you and am so happy that the time is drawing so near when you will be free from your bondage. I believe it is Saturday the 21st when you expected the cast to be removed, and when I get home I am going to squeeze you so hard you’ll wish you had it again for protection.

I left Pyongyang last night about eight, slept pretty well except when I was rudely wakened at midnight to show my passport, fill out a long questionnaire for visa and have my luggage examined when crossing the border from Korea to Manchukuo.

There is not so much to see here except the people look and dress different from any I have yet seen. We got here in time for breakfast and by the time I finish this it will be time to go to the train for Peking, which we reach in the morning about nine.

I must stop now and run along. I love you with all my heart, and I’m missing you more every day.

Devotedly,
Richard

My darling Wife,
This thing of being a “tourist” is a hard life. I left Pyongyeng Monday night at eight o’clock after a hard day of visiting and speaking, and arrived at Mukden the next morning after a restless night. Had only a short time in Mukden and took the train for Peiping or Peking. Had to stay up until after ten last night for the Chinese Customs Inspector to come aboard the train. Finally, after filing out another long questionnaire giving all our family history I was allowed to go to sleep. Then I had another shock when they put a woman into the same compartment with me. She was very nice about it, and they had curtains around each of us so it was even more private than the average Pullman car at home. She was still asleep when I got out this morning.

Arrived here about nine, and have had a wonderful trip around this city, which was a well-organized town with a wall around it and a good government two thousand years before Christ.

I visited the justly famous Temple of Heaven, the Winter Palace, the Forbidden City, and many other world renowned shrines and historic places. Tomorrow, I go out to the Great Wall, about sixty miles from here, and am eager to see it. [I] expect to get back by three p.m. and leave for Nanking at six p.m. arriving there midnight Friday night or Saturday morning. Will visit our son, Pres. Hospital there and Howard VanDyke will probably meet me Saturday and take me to their station for Sunday and Monday. I then visit Chinkiang, China, where Mr. Crenshaw the Cornelia pastor was a missionary, and hope to reach Shanghai by Thanksgiving.

I have been thinking of you constantly this week visualizing you going back to Charlotte to have the cast removed. O how good it will feel to you to be free of it, and how good it will feel to me to have you in my arms again without that hard old thing. I am praying and believing that you will find the bone healed and getting strong again.

I have also been thinking a great deal about Kelly these days, and I surely am grateful to him for taking on my work as well as his own. Our lives and work would not have been complete without him and Alice, to say nothing about the baby, a combination of them both. I’m looking forward with greatest joy to fellowship with VanDykes, Ethel March, the Woodberrys, Robert Jaffray, Jack Turner, etc. That begins Sunday.

I love you with all my heart and am about wild to get to Shanghai to get mail from home.

Devotedly,
Richard

My Darling Wife,
I am sitting in the house that was built some twenty years ago by Brother Crenshaw, who is now in Cornelia. It is a comfortable house on a high hill overlooking the city of Chinkiang and the Yangtze River. I got here yesterday afternoon and was met at the station by Brother Farrior, who makes this his headquarters. They had a reception here for me last night, which all the missionaries and Bible women and native workers of the city were present. Among them was a sister of Mrs. Dimmock of Newport News, whom I was glad to meet. These missionaries certainly are a spiritual people and all of them are looking for the coming of the Lord. It is a treat to be with them and to know them.

More and more disquieting word is coming from the strike situation in America. They now say that our tickets around the world are not worth anything and we will have to get back to America the best way we can. If this is true I am on a bad spot and I am anxious to get to Shanghai to get the truth. I hope to get there tomorrow and will go and see about it at once. At any rate, I think I shall go on down to Borneo since that is a different line from Manila and my ticket is already bought one way and I can get back to America just as well from there as from here.

You have been in my thoughts all the time the last few days thinking of you getting out of your cast and wondering how the x-rays show up the bone. I surely do hope and pray that it comes out all right and I will have my wife back again when I get home. You will probably get this about the time I get to Borneo and I know you will be praying for me. . . . Don’t forget that I love you with all my heart.
Devotedly,
Richard

My darling Wife,
I received two letters from you in Shanghai, one written Oct. 22nd and one Oct. 27th. They were water to one who is thirsty, but you then had not had time to write any details about the post office or your cast, etc. I do hope there will be some more details when I reach Manila. I shall cable you from there and hope I may get a reply.

This strike in America has thrown all schedules out of gear and I’m doing the best I can. They tell me now that the rest of my passage around the world is worthless since the Dollar Line is going into bankruptcy and it really does look bad. I had to buy another ticket from Shanghai to Manila costing over fifty dollars gold and may never get a cent back for the old ticket. On the other hand, if I don’t use my Dutch Line ticket from Manila to Makassar, I won’t get anything back for that. So, I’m going on and taking the chance that the strike may end by the time I’m through in Borneo and I shall be able to go on with my present ticket. There are hundreds of round the world passengers over here stranded and a great howl is going up everywhere.

I only had two days at Shanghai but they were full ones—speaking several times through an interpreter, visiting various institutions, a reception one afternoon, and a radio address over the strongest radio station in the Orient. The speaker first before me was Leland Wang, known as the Moody of China. I boarded the ship Friday night and it left early Saturday morning. We are now on the China Sea and it is beautiful. There are some China Inland missionaries on board and I am enjoying them.

We hope to reach Hong Kong early tomorrow (Monday) morning and I am going across to Macao to visit Mr. and Mrs. Galloway. She was Mrs. S. C. Todd (you will remember). I am on an Italian ship, companion to the Esperia. I’m in Second Class but miles and miles better than our experience. I then take an Empress boat in two days to Manila and leave there Dec. 10th for Makassar.

I have a cabin all to myself. There are two more berths in it. I surely do wish you were in one of them. Somehow or the other, I have been homesick this whole trip, and am hungry for more word from home. My love to all the family, especially yourself.

Devotedly,
Richard

Love Letters

My darling wife,
Here I am held up in Hong Kong for days waiting for a ship to Manila. Not only do I have the expense of staying here, which cannot be less than five dollars per day, but I have had to buy another ticket to Manila, which cost nearly sixty dollars. All this is on account of the strike in America.

I suppose you don’t feel it there or even know much about it, but you should hear the commotion over here! Everywhere one turns there is an American who is stranded. If all the curses pronounced upon the steamship companies are fulfilled none of them will ever survive.

I had a good trip down from Shanghai arriving in this beautiful harbor this morning at seven. Am planning tomorrow to go over to Macao to see the Galloways (see Mrs. Todd) and I’ll have some time here to get some writing done. I suppose it really is a good thing I have to stay these days in more or less quietness because I have been surely living strenuously.

I am sending this on the Clipper. Save the stamps. Am also planning to cable you from Manila. I leave you again. Pray about the strike and don’t fail to have that money in the bank by Jan. 1st. I am counting upon $300.00 (??), and to reassure me I wish you would send a cable soon as you know the money has been put in the First National Bank of Atlanta. Just say “Jaffray Makassar, yes. Forrest.” Or you may use the Postal Code you prefer.
It’s a pretty serious feeling to be away over on the other side of the world not knowing what you will do, and no money.

If you can make it $350.00 with the PO money I wish you would. I hope Kelly has been putting some in along and not waiting for strain at the last moment. I have a feeling the Starke money won’t come this year and he cannot depend upon that.
I left a little there in the bank when I came away. But I have had to check on that since then. Our other experience caused so much suffering. I fear any repetition. I’m so sorry to add to the burdens now but I’ll make it up.

Devotedly,
Richard

My darling Wife,
It would be impossible to describe my disappointment when I went this morning to the American Express Co. the Dollar Line and the PO and found nothing from home. I suppose it is because there are no ships leaving the US for the Orient and the mail is all balled up. However, the disappointment was keen and I am sending you a cable today since I am so anxious to know about your condition since the cast is removed and also something about affairs at home.

You see, I’ve had no word from home about you, school, church, Post Office, or any of the other many things I’m so anxious to hear about. Your letter written Oct. 27th is the last word I’ve had and that was only about Mrs. Lewis. I hope you will send me a cable in answer to mine.

I had a fine visit to Hong Kong and went over to Macao to see Mr. and Mrs. Galloway. They have a fine work under the Southern Baptist board. He works mostly among the river pirates and has thrilling experiences. I also visited the Alliance children’s hostel at Hong Kong, where Mr. and Mrs. Becktell are located. It is a beautiful place and the children of South China, Philippines and East Indies missionaries stay there in school. Hong Kong is a British port so the splendid schools are taught in English.

By the way, at Macao, I was invited to tea at the home of Mrs. Sun-sen, widow of the first president of China. She is a fine Christian woman. Also while there I visited the grave of Robert Morrison the first missionary to China and saw the iron cross, on the ruins of a great Catholic Church that inspired the old hymn, “In The Cross of Christ, I glory, towering over the wrecks of time.”

I had to buy a new ticket from Hong Kong to Manila and came over on the Empress of Japan—a perfectly wonderful ship. While I was in the usual confusion of finding my baggage and getting through Customs a nice looking young man stepped up and asked if this was “Dr. Forrest.” I said, “Yes,” and he said we have been looking for you and expect you to preach for us at eleven this morning. It was Sunday and again this afternoon and tonight. They have a Bible Institute here and a fine work which split off from the Baptist Convention because of Modernism in the old board. It was blistering hot, and even my light coat and my pants were wringing wet, but I had good services and several were saved last night among them a brilliant young university student, who has been a scoffer. I preached through an interpreter tonight to a large Chinese group here in Chinatown, and tomorrow morning to the Institute students and again tomorrow night in an English service and three times Wednesday. I hope to sail by Thursday for Makasser.

I suppose the next address will be c/o American Express Singapore and then c/o Jack Turner. The c/o American Express Bombay. If anything else develops, I’ll cable you. . . . I’m sending this by Clipper today since no ships are running. I’m sorry to add anything to Kelly’s burden, but will make up for it later. I surely do appreciate his “standing by the stuff.” Am dying to hear of your condition, for you are the greatest asset I have this side of Heaven, and I want you to be well and free from suffering.

Again, I hope you cable me here before I leave on Thursday and again you are to cable me c/o Jaffray, Makasser, assuring me about the money. If you use the Postal code, use the word: ODENI, which I found on page 60 of the Postal code book and means “Have cabled money as requested.”

I don’t want the money “Cabled,” but will know what you mean. In my last letter, I said to simply say “Yes,” so either one will do. I hope you can use from the same code the word “MUPOS” on page 50, which means, “All are well at home,” or “NUWUB” which means “ Improving rapidly.

I love you with all my heart, and “how I am gong to demonstrate this when I see you again!!! Merry Christmas to all. Wish I were there to celebrate our anniversary. We’ll celebrate it later. Give my love to Kelly, Alice, Walt, Alice Grace, Mary and Edith. I sent a small package of my “heavenlies” that I won’t need for Hong Kong. Don’t be disappointed in opening it. The shirts were given to me by a missionary. I can’t even get them over my head.

Devotedly,
Richard

My Darling Wife,

I hear another Clipper leaves today so I want to get this off on it to say how happy your cable received yesterday made me feel. I surely am glad the cast is off and I hope you will be walking when I get back.

I have been more than busy while here and have greatly enjoyed the fellowship with the missionaries. I leave tonight for Makasser. Will board the ship at six and she leaves sometime during the night.

So far as I know now I will be leaving Bali on January 7, arriving in Calcutta about January 20. That means I will be with Jack Turner about January 21. So that will be the next point to address. Send me something there, and something c/o American Express to Bombay. Port said and Naples. Hope to be home before March. Surely am homesick for you. I love you. Am more sorry than I can tell you to miss our 35th anniversary but my heart will be there with you. Am sending a radiogram to you today through a “Ham” who will forward it to you without it costing me anything. The Army will send it and forward it to you.

My love and Christmas greetings to all on the place. I’m feeling pretty well, but the heat is beginning to tell on me already. I have my helmet and wear it all the time. Must stop and run with this to the Post Office for the Clipper. Hope you get it before Christmas.

Devotedly,
Richard

December 17, 1936
Makassar

My Darling Wife,

Well, here I am in Makassar! I left Manila on December 10 and had a beautiful voyage for five days, landing at Makassar on December 15. I was met at the wharf by Mr. Jaffray, Mr. and Mrs. Post, Margaret Jaffray, and Miss Lillian Marsh. They surely did seem to be glad to see me. I landed about six a.m. and went up to Jaffray’s home for breakfast.

This work is a modern missionary miracle and grows on one the more you look into it. It is only seven years old, but here and Borneo and other islands there are more than ten thousand converts at the Bible training school with over a hundred students, four native workers in the field, a graduating class this next spring of twenty more, and a continuous revival going on.

I still don’t know when I can get over to Borneo. Dixon is away up in the interior with the boat and although word has been sent up to him by special courier no definite reply has come yet and I may have to wait a week. This may delay me a couple of weeks getting home, but since I’ll probably never be here again, I’m sure it would be bad to miss going. As soon as we receive word at the mouth of the river, I’ll go on the next boat that Dixon is at the coast at mouth of the river. I’ll go over on the next boat to meet him there.

There is still a great deal of confusion over here about boats and it still looks like I shall have to buy a new ticket all the way home. They are cold blooded about it and simply say the strike is an act of God for which they are not responsible and we must get back the best way we can. I go from here to Singapore—thence to Calcutta via Rangoon. I will have to miss French Indo China because of the expense and you have no idea how I dislike that. I wanted so much to visit Johnnie McCollins-Ziemer near Bangkok. Siam, near where Neil Chrisman’s brother was located.

Word has just come since writing the above that two young men came in this morning from Borneo and Jaffray has gone to see them to get some word from Dixon. I may go back on that boat tonight. I hope so, for I’m anxious to be on my way. I am preaching every morning in English to the missionaries and others and every night to the Malays through an interpreter. The latter is agony for me.

I was wishing so much you could have been with me when we crossed the Equator. They always make a great ceremony of it. I was elected King Neptune and was all rigged up in long whiskers, boots, crown, and all the rest of the paraphernalia. All the passengers had to appear before me and the barber and the doctor were told what to do with them. Most of them were thrown overboard into the swimming pool. It was great fun, and at the last, they all caught us, the barber, the doctor, and Neptune and we were also thrown “overboard.”

It is now the 18th and I still don’t know what I’m going to do about Borneo. No word comes from Dixon, and there is no way to contact him. If I don’t hear from him by tomorrow noon, I think I shall leave here for Bali and Batavia and visit Borneo from the west side where there has recently been a great revival with two thousand baptisms. It will be a disappointment to the Dixons, but I can’t wait always.

It is very hot, but not so bad as I expected. We are about the same distance south of the Equator as we were north when at Abijan or Grand Bassam. The Borneo work is right on the Equator.

I have received only one letter from you since leaving Seattle and that was at Shanghai. Not a word from anybody at Manila except your cable, and only one letter from Kelly here enclosing a note from Miss Halderman. I surely did appreciate these and have read them over and over. I don’t suppose there is a chance for any more until I get to New York. Pretty bad to get only one letter from the one you love most in five months, and I have written you over and over again although constantly on the trot. I might get something at Bombay c/o American Express, if it comes by airmail via Europe. Must get this off. I leave for Borneo tomorrow. I love you dearly.

Devotedly,
Richard

Love Letters

My Darling Wife,
Thirty-five years ago there was a boy, who got up before daylight and fumbled around in the dark in a little stable in an alley near St. Ann’s P.C. Church hitching a black horse to an old fashioned buggy. He had an eighteen-mile drive ahead of him and it was very cold, but he had something inside him that kept him warm and happy on the way. He was on his way to marry the finest girl he had or has every known.

Today that boy is a grey-headed old man and is approaching the shores of Borneo right on the Equator to a town called Balikpappan. The Dutch have great oil fields here and they also have the largest paraffin plant in the world.

The sea is smooth fortunately for we are on a very small boat. I have a second-class ticket, but the captain invited me to eat with him, so I am getting first class fare and attention. From Balikpappan we go on tonight to Samarinda arriving there tomorrow morning. Dixon meets me there and we proceed at once to go up the Mahakam River to Melak, where he is located.

The shores of Borneo are now insight and not very inviting. On the Celebes side there are green hills and beautiful scenery with waving palm trees, etc. but the coast is low and flat and not at all attractive. They say they have mountains in the interior and I may change my mind. So far as I know now, I will come back on the same ship on January 3rd, and will be in Makassar one night, then on to Bali, Java, Billiton, and the west coast of Borneo, where I go inland again—this time having Jaffray with me.

I surely was glad to get your cable and sent you an answer. It only coat $1.60 in our money. My heart and thoughts are there today, and I sincerely wish my body were there too. I love and miss you. Please give my love to all the family (including everyone at the school) and friends. I hope you are walking. I’m sending this to you airmail via Europe.

Devotedly,
Richard

Dr. Richard Forrest

Sombody Knows You

Somebody knows when your heart aches
And everything seems to go wrong.
Somebody knows when the shadows need
Chasing away with a song.

Somebody knows when you’re lonely,
Tried, discouraged, and blue.
Somebody wants you to know Him
And to know that he dearly loves you.

Somebody knows when you’re weakest,
Somebody knows when you’re strong
Always is waiting to help you,
He watches you all the day long.
Needing His friendship so holy,
Needing His watch care so true,
His name, they call His name Jesus
He loves everyone; He loves you!

—Dr. R. A. Forrest

“It happened that Richard had only carfare to Nyack, New York, where he felt that he had been called to get the Bible training he needed.

“He swung off the train, picked up his telescope, squared his shoulders, and started up the hill to the business office of the Missionary Training Institute, where he hoped to get some help finding a job.

“’Dear Lord, help me find a job. I’m willing to do anything,’ he prayed as he walked along.

“Within moments he was ushered into the presence of the business manager of the Institute, a lady, who asked what he wanted.

“’A job—anything so I can stay here and get some training.’

“’How much money do you have?’

“’None—but I’m not afraid to work.’

“’Why did you come?’ she demanded. ‘You know it costs money to operate a school, and the students have certain fees and other obligations that must be met. How do you figure on paying?’

“’I believe the Lord will supply my need and, as I said, I’m willing work.’

“’Young man,’ she replied, ‘I appreciate your desire for an education and your zeal. But the fact of the matter is that nearly all of the young people who want to come here are in circumstances similar to yours. They have no money. How can the Institute pay its bills?’

“’Isn’t there anyone here in Nyack who needs help? I’ll build fires, carry ashes, anything?’

“’I’m telling you, there is no work to be had. I’m sorry, but that’s the truth.’ With that, she turned back to her work.

“Richard turned dejectedly and walked slowly from the room. Now what would he do? He was sure God meant for him to be here. Could he be wrong?

“Aimlessly, he wandered into what was known as the South Parlor, a reception room in the same building. He walked over to a table in the center of the room and glanced down. Without realizing what he was doing, he began reading a newspaper lying on the table, left open at the want ad section. Suddenly he picked up the paper. One ‘Help Wanted’ ad had caught his attention. He reread it: ‘Wanted—girl to do general housework.’

“Girl? He could do anything around a house that a girl could do. He scanned the page, then looked back to the first ad. It was the only one for which he could at all qualify. Taking his knife out of his pocket, he cut out the notice, pocketed it, and walked quickly from the room.

“A few minutes later he was knocking at the door of the home of Miss Sarah A. Staley, a godly Episcopalian woman who was at that time principal of Greenpoint Public School of Greater New York.

“Miss Staley opened the door and looked at the gangling youth standing there. Now, what could this lad want? He looked most uncomfortable, but determined. Then she saw the advertisement in his hand. ‘Yes?’ she encouraged, trying not to smile.

“Richard could see the corners of her mouth twitching. He wanted to turn on his heels and run, but he had a determination born of desperation. Holding out the slip of paper, he said, ‘I came to answer this.’

“’Are you sure you read it correctly?’

“’I thought so.’ (If only it hadn’t so specifically said ‘girl’!)

“’The advertisement calls for a house girl, you know.’

“’Yes, ma’am, but I can do anything about a house that a girl can.’

“She started to say no—then hesitated. She inspected the boy, from the crown of his head to the soles of his shoes. She noticed his earnestness—the pleading in his eyes.

Richard Forrest

Then she smiled; and he knew he had the job. He breathed a prayer of thanksgiving.

“For two years, Richard Forrest worked for Miss Staley. He helped cook, made beds, cleaned, and did many other jobs that a girl couldn’t have done, such as mowing the lawn and riddling ashes. (Hard coal was burned, and all that dropped through to the ashes without burning was retrieved.) Another of his duties was taking Miss Staley to the train and bringing her back each day, since she commuted to New York City for her work.

“Miss Staley had one idiosyncrasy, which affect Richard personally. She could not stand to have a chipped dish in the house. Whenever a chip appeared in a plate, cup, or other dish, Miss Staley would seize the offending article and march out into the back yard. Then with all her force, she’d hurl the dish, smashing it against a stonewall.

“Richard soon learned that he was expected to pay for any dish that met this untimely doom, and he tried to be as careful as possible, for each penny was precious. His fingers were sometimes clumsy, though, and another cup or plate would sail through the air.

“Human nature can stand only so much punishment of a kind, however, before it strikes back. This time it was a plate, the chip hardly noticeable, but Miss Staley’s sharp eyes caught the defect. As she snatched the plate and started for the door, Richard called: ‘Wait, Miss Staley, I’m going to have to pay for that plate. Give me the satisfaction of smashing it.’

“Miss Staley never smashed another dish so long as Richard worked for her.” (Taken from Achieving the Impossible With God).

Richard A. Forrest when he was a student at Nyack and having to work. It is probably the only photo we have of him without a mustache! He is the third person on the left.

“It seems that there was a young couple attending Nyack at that time, a couple whose open shows of affection was quite sickening to all around. Noticing the reaction of all to these two, Richard wrote to Evelyn, who was two weeks late entering school, and asked her whether she did not think it would be wise for them not to give any indication that they were interested in each other. She agreed; from September until Christmas time they treated each other almost as strangers. Only once, and then in a group, did they even speak to each other for four months.

“At Christmas time they rode home together on the train. There were a number of other Nyack students in the same car—and a great deal of walking past the two with ‘Why, hello, Richard!’ and ‘How do you do, Miss Drennan!’ and ‘Fancy seeing you two together!’ How sweet it was after that time of self-discipline to acknowledge each other openly!

“The lesson? Most of their married life, the Forrests were separated by the work—he out in evangelistic endeavors, she at home helping take care of the school. Always the work of the Lord came first; therefore self-discipline was a necessity.” (Taken from Achieving the Impossible With God)

In this photo, Evelyn and Richard Forrest are a young couple.

“It was a hot Sunday afternoon. Richard’s father was sitting near an open window, reading a newspaper. Richard had decided to join to of his friends in running a tent meeting sixteen miles away in New Castle, Delaware. His mother had already packed his telescope (an old-fashioned traveling bag). Nothing remained to be done-except to inform his father as to what he intended to do.

“The youth stood, summing what courage he could. He fidgeted, trying to determine how best he could word his farewell. He looked at his father, but the newspaper covered his face.

“Finally Richard spoke to the open newspaper. ‘Pop, I’m going to help some boys in a tent meeting at New Castle.’

“The newspaper didn’t move or even rustle slightly. But the words from behind that paper were quietly ominous.

“‘If you’re going to a tent meeting, keep going. Don’t come back.’

“Richard picked up the telescope and walked out. Over and over came those words on the way to New Castle.

“After the service that evening came the problem of bunking, while the other two fellows, Samuel McBride and Frank Hammel, slept in the tent. There were only two cots, and by right of priority those two occupied them. Richard slept on the platform.

“That first night he didn’t sleep very much. He kept hearing his father’s words: ‘If you’re going to a tent meeting-keep going-keep going-keep going.’ That platform became harder and harder. He thought of his comfortable bed at home, only a few miles away. For the first time, he really began to understand what Mr. Bancroft had been trying to tell him; he began to sense the price he’d have to pay if he followed the leading of his convictions. He courageously decided that it was worth the cost. He’d go on with the Lord.

“O THOU FAIREST AMONG WOMEN.”
The Song of Solomon

“During the summer, the three youths moved their tent to Wilmington and began services there. As Richard walked into the tent one day, he noticed a young lady at one side taking books out of a trunk and placing them on a table there. His natural curiosity, plus the attention the young lady was receiving from the other fellow, made him hasten over to become acquainted. Then she turned around! His heart turned over! This was the girl of his dreams-the girl whole loveliness he’d held enshrined in his heart for a solid year.

“It had been perhaps chance-no, it must have been the leading of the Lord-that had brought him, a year before, to a cottage prayer meeting on Jackson Street in Wilmington. As the group was assembling, three young ladies came in and were introduced. ‘Come,’ said the hostess, ‘I want you all the meet a young lady who has endeared herself to us. She’s a great worker for the Lord and is planning to attend The Missionary Training Institute at Nyack, New York, this fall.’ Thereupon, she introduced Miss Evelyn Drennen.

“Miss Drennen was standing between the two other young ladies, who were also introduced to the group. But for Richard Forrest the faces of the other two faded into the background. The room swirled; everything grew black except the face of Miss Drennen, which was all he could see, and he felt then that he wanted to look at that face the rest of his life.

“The meeting was called to order. Richard, coming somewhat out of his daze, made his way to a seat. However, he didn’t know whether the group was singing ‘Yankee Doodle’ or Nearer, My God, to Thee.’ He couldn’t have told whether the leader was reading Scriptures or Sanskrit. All he could see or think of was that beautiful face and the fact that he must somehow become acquainted with Miss Drennen. ‘Evelyn, isn’t that a beautiful name,’ he mused. ‘How musical! Eve-lyn, not Ev-lyn, as so many say. Eve-lyn! Eve-lyn!’

“During the following year, he wrote one letter to his lovely girl at Nyack. Laboriously, he penned that epistle, scarcely expecting her even to read it, hoping for-yet not anticipating-an answer. When she did send a reply, he actually and literally wore out the letter. He held her in such high reverence that he didn’t dare answer her letter-he just didn’t dare write her again. He felt that she was so far above him that surely she wouldn’t stoop so low as to continue a correspondence with him.

“Now here she was, in person, in their tent! Joy unmingled flowed through him.

“Richard Forrest was not the only one swept off his feet by this beautiful girl. Frank Hammel, another one of the trio, was having similar thoughts. So it was that there were two anxious fellows a short time later when a note was sent down to the tent stating that Miss Drennen was very ill with asthma, and would they ‘send a man to fan her all night?’

“Miss Drennen was living with an unmarried lady, Miss Mary Fisher, and her father. They could provide the necessary care for her, but the weather was extremely hot. Those were the days before electric fans; therefore, it became necessary to find someone who would be willing sit by her bedside and fan her.

“Frank, who was more or less the leader of the group, grabbed the note, pocketed it, and ordered: ‘You fellows stay here and take care of things. I’ll go offer my services for the care of Miss Drennen.’

“Richard rose. ‘Wait a minute, Frank. Did you notice the wording of that note? It said they wanted a man to fan Miss Drennen. I’m going!’

“As the other fellows looked on with mouths agape, Richard turned on his heel and strode out.

“You may be sure that the fanning did not stop once all through that night and that the labor seeming light, because it was a work of love.

“Like Richard, Evelyn Drennen was trusting God for all her money. Her father was not able to help her, as their family was very poor, just like Richard’s. However, unlike the Forrests, The Drennens had been prosperous. Evelyn’s father had had a very productive farm, but had lost it in business reverses. After completing her schooling in the public schools of Cecil County, Maryland, Evelyn decided to prepare for a teaching career at the State Normal College at Newark, Delaware, and earned her way by doing housework in a private home there.

“Now, feeling that God was directing her to full-time Christian service and realizing the need of training in a Bible institute, she was attending The Missionary Training Institute at Nyack, New York, during the winter months. In the summer, to help earn her way, Evelyn was selling books, literature, mottoes, and subscriptions to the Christian Alliance. Before each service she’d put her books and other items on the display, and after the meeting put what hadn’t sold back into the trunk. Richard soon began helping her-and dared any other young fellow to put her books away for her at night or take them out of the trunk before services started. In that way they became more closely acquainted.

“One night, Richard gathered up his courage enough to tell Evelyn how much he cared for her. Then, characteristically, they got down on their knees to pray about it. After they’d both prayed, to his intense amazement, she leaned over to kiss him, and he didn’t know what she wanted! He backed away from her because he was so embarrassed. He didn’t think it was possible that she would stoop that low. He couldn’t imagine-why, she was in a different world from him! So did he feel about the girl who was to become his wife and companion throughout more than half a century.

“That night marked the beginning-not of sorrow-but of joys for these two.

“The following fall Richard’s father reluctantly allowed him to return home. Meanwhile, Evelyn Drennen resumed her studies at The Missionary Training Institute, where she became the target of much teasing by her roommate, Lillian Stemm, concerning her relationship to Richard. During a visit to Wilmington, Evelyn told Richard what her friends were saying. He asked her: ‘What did you say?’

“She responded: ‘I told Lillian that you’re my brother in Christ.’

“A bit irked, he replied, ‘What do you want to tell her that for! You know better than that. You know I’m more than that.”

“‘Well,’ she retorted, spiritedly, ‘that’s all I can say. You’ve never asked me to marry you.’

“Later Dr. Forrest was accustomed, when speaking of this occasion, to say, with a twinkle in his eye: ‘There wasn’t anything else to do and still be a gentleman. So I asked her to marry me.’

“But don’t think he didn’t want to ask her! Or that he wasn’t the happiest person in the world when she answered in the affirmative.

(Text taken from Achieving the Impossible with God)

Evelyn and Richard

Richard and Evelyn Forrest celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary

In January 1902, I accepted a call to become the pastor of a Gospel Mission in Orlando, Florida. Thus began the wonderful privilege of preaching the gospel around the world. January 1, 1911, I first saw Toccoa Falls and gave a ten dollar bill as a down payment for Haddock Inn, a beautiful piece of property at the base of Toccoa Falls. And it was here that Toccoa Falls Institute and Bible College was born. I am now on what they call “the return list.” But you can see from the happy memories I have how anxious I am to do all I can to overcome the ravages of time.

They have made me President Emeritus of Toccoa Falls Bible College, and I am eager that my friends should be reminded of the school and acquainted with the problems which must be faced and conquered. We have the plans and specifications for a new library, which will cost about $150, 000.00. So far, we have about $30 thousand held in reserve for the Library, but we cannot begin the construction until we have at least one hundred thousand. We thank God for what we have, and we are trusting Him and our friends to make it possible to begin the library at the earliest possible date.

You have made possible by your prayers and your gifts the development of the school. Letters from former students come in almost daily telling of their gratitude for the training and guidance received at Toccoa Falls Institute for their life work. This constitutes a dividend from the help you and God have given. It is a good investment, and the best part is this: the results will continue through all eternity.

With all my heart I want to urge you to help us get enough money on hand to build a library. I believe God will be pleased to have us make Him a love gift for this much needed department or current needs of the school. Won’t you do something about it as a Christmas gift? All such gifts maybe deducted from your Income Tax.

It is a great joy to us to give gifts to loved ones at this season. This custom started when God gave “His only begotten Son” as our Saviour. I know you will want to help us to continue to send this message around the world.

May God bless and refresh you with His eternal hope.

Merry Christmas,

“Richard, who by this time was seventeen, attended a cottage prayer meeting held in Miss Roger’s home. It was at this meeting that he made the most momentous decision of his life—to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior. . . . It was 10:30 p.m. and Richard was on his way home from the cottage prayer meeting at which he had been converted. He was alone—there was nothing humorous about that. He was walking past a Roman Catholic convent—nothing funny about that, either. But suddenly he was seized with a spirit of laughter—he laughed himself into hysterics on the way home. And he’s been laughing or chuckling ever since. It has been, in a sense, his trademark.

“This would not seem unusual, unless you had known Richard’s nature before he became a Christian. It seems almost impossible to believe, but he was a natural born grouch. He never smiled. For three or four days at a time, he would not even speak to any member of the family. His mother used to apologize to company for Richard’s grumpiness.

“So it was, that when he was born into the kingdom of God, he was given a new disposition—the spirit of laughter. [Over the years,] thousands upon thousands have been [touched] by his little chuckle or hearty laugh.” Miss Roger was instrumental in introducing Richard to the Savior and also to a young woman named Evelyn Drennen, who was a student at the Missionary Training Institute in Nyack, New York. Evelyn had her heart set on going to the mission field—especially to West Africa.

The Girl of His Dreams
Later, he recalled how he felt after their first meeting: “The room swirled; everything grew black except the face of Miss Drennen, which was all he could see, and he felt then that he wanted to look at that face for the rest of his life. The prayer meeting was called to order. However, he didn’t know whether the group was singing ‘Yankee Doodle’ or ‘Nearer, My God, to Thee.’ He couldn’t have told whether the leader was reading the Scriptures or Sanskrit. All he could see or think of was that beautiful face and the fact that he must somehow become acquainted with Miss Drennen.”

The next time he saw Evelyn, he confided to a friend that he had just seen the girl of his dreams and the one he would marry. After high school, he entered Delaware College, but soon moved to Nyack, New York, where he became a student at The Missionary Training Institute—later renamed Nyack Seminary. He felt God wanted him to enter the ministry.”

“One night, Richard gathered up his courage enough to tell Evelyn how much he cared for her. Then, characteristically, they got down on their knees to pray about it. After they’d both prayed, to his intense amazement, she leaned over to kiss him . . . . He backed away from her because he was so embarrassed. He felt she was so far above him. He didn’t think it was possible that she would stoop that low. He couldn’t imagine—he felt as though she was in a different world from him!

Evelyn Drennen became his wife on December 24, 1901 in a quiet ceremony at her parent’s home in Strickersville, Pennsylvania, which was sixteen miles from the Forrest home in Wilmington. A few days later, Richard and Evelyn began their Christian service in Florida serving as home missionaries in Orlando, Florida. “It was during these early years that Richard Forrest began his work as an evangelist—the work by means of which he was endeared to many, won hundreds and hundreds of souls to the Lord and to fruitful Christian service, and made the work of Toccoa Falls Institute known to thousands. . . .

“He played the organ and piano very well, and also sang a good deal . . . . He also liked to lead song services and, in a sense, ‘put on his own show.’ It helped in many, many places where the people would not come just to hear a preacher. They would come for the other things, and then hear the gospel message, too.” As a result of the Forrest’s’ efforts in Florida, fourteen Sunday Schools were established. Many of these later became churches—one being The First Alliance Church of Orlando.

A New Direction
“While attending the Missionary Training Institute, Richard had become a close friend to Dr. A. B. Simpson, founder of The Christian and Missionary Alliance and pastor of their church in New York City. After the Forrests moved to Florida, Dr. Simpson sent them yearly steamship tickets north for the annual convention at Old Orchard, Maine. As Dr. Simpson’s protégé, Rev. Forrest often supplied his pulpit—at one point for two months straight.” He made many friends while attending the conventions and as a result of preaching in Dr. Simpson’s church as well as other churches across the country.

“In 1904, a missionary conference was held in Atlanta, Dr. Simpson was the director, and he insisted the Forrests come up to the meeting. There they met David Fant, Ulysses Lewis, and many other Atlantans who later became close friends. It was at this conference that the Forrests were persuaded to move to Atlanta and establish their headquarters there. . . . God used them to build the Christian and Missionary Alliance organization in Atlanta. They started in a second-floor lodge room on North Broad Street. It was not long until the little prayer band outgrew these quarters.”

“Sometimes the Lord, in a spectacular way, makes know His will to His children; sometimes, on the other hand, through many seemingly minor events, He brings a growing conviction that something should be done about a critical situation. It was by means of the second method that God began to speak to Rev. and Mrs. Forrest (separately) concerning the establishment of a school.”
With this idea turning over in his mind, Rev. Forrest met J. F. Dunn, who was saved in Jacksonville, Alabama, under his ministry. This boy told him that the Lord had called him to preach, but he had no way of studying and equipping himself. Since had gone to work in a cotton mill before reaching the age of ten, he only had a third grade education. It was this boy’s intense desire for knowledge that crystallized Rev. Forrest’s interest in getting someone to found a school where a boy like this could get an education.

“Upon his return to Atlanta, Richard attended a Wednesday night prayer meeting where he mentioned the young man he had met in Alabama. The next day Miss Elizabeth Trailer, a very prominent socialite, came to see Rev. Forrest. She stated that she hadn’t been able to sleep the night before because she was thinking about that boy. ‘There should be a place—a school—started where a boy like that could go,’ she said pointing her finger emphatically at Rev. Forrest. She also added, ‘And you ought to start it!’ Although he had been aware of the need, up to that time Rev. Forrest had never dreamed of beginning such a work. Before he could remonstrate, however, Miss Trailer continued, ‘I have no money, but I brought something here that you can turn into money if you’ll accept it to start such a school.’ She handed him two beautiful diamond earrings. They were sold for $300.00. Rev. Forrest thought of this challenge for some time before mentioning it to his wife. He wasn’t sure that she would feel led in the same direction. Imagine his surprise when she confessed to him that she had been doing much thinking about the same thing.”

Originally, they purchased a school that was up and running in Golden Valley, North Carolina. However, since it was located 17 miles from the nearest railway station, Dr. Forrest began searching for a more convenient location. Through D. J. Fant, an engineer of the Southern Railroad and a former resident of Toccoa, Georgia, Dr. Forrest learned that Haddock Inn was for sale and thus made contact with Mr. Simpson. On January 1, 1911, Dr. Forrest purchased the property at Toccoa Falls from E. P. Simpson, a local businessman for $10.00 down and a promise to pay $24,990. On the property stood Haddock Inn, a hotel of 58 furnished modern rooms that had previously been used for summer guests. The attraction on the 100 acres was Toccoa Falls, a waterfall of 186 feet.

His Greatest Joy
Richard Forrest was a man who was known as a friend to countless people. He knew senators, lawyers, doctors, clergy from all denominations, and those who had, as he put it, “every advantage available” as well as those who did not. Without a doubt one of his greatest joys was leading people to Jesus Christ. “Whether at the altar rail, in a train, on the street, or in a home—he remembered the commandment of the Lord: ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you, that ye should bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain, and whatsoever ye shall ask of the father in my name, he will give it to you.’

“Dr. Forrest’s whole ministry can be epitomized in his love for the soul of the individual. For this reason he left his lovely wife alone much of their married life to go out in evangelistic work; for this reason he developed a Bible school to train others in the art of soul-winning; and for this reason he knew no rich nor poor, no great nor small as he greeted the man, the woman, the boy, and the girl in the everyday walk of life.

“Praise God for a man whose ear was so attuned to the Lord that he could hear His command, whose heart never failed as he set forth to carry out His desires, and whose vision did not grow dim through the passing years as he put His plans into fruition—the man Dr. Richard Alexander Forrest.”

(Editor’s note: All quotes were taken the book Achieving The Impossible with God.)

Richard A. Forrest, Sr. and Elizabeth, in front of their home in Florida. The sign about the door says, “For-rest.”

Richard A. Forrest, Sr. and Elizabeth Hagan Forrest in front of their home in Delaware. He was of Scottish decent and she was Irish.

Richard A. Forrest, Sr. and Elizabeth Hagan Forrest

Dr. Richard A. Forrest as a child.

Dr. Richard Forrest as a youth.

Dr. R.A. Forrest as a young man.