Page 5 - December 2019 - Truth & Tidings

rode his bicycle to work, the truth of John number of weeks. The brethren teased
5:24 gave him the assurance of salvation. us saying they were very hot meetings,
His growth in spiritual matters was with 2 Curries every night! When these
obvious and he was soon baptized and meetings concluded we drove, in Jim’s
received to the fellowship of the Parkgate camper van, from Vancouver to Phoenix,
Avenue assembly, where he became visiting various assemblies en route.
involved in every aspect of the assembly’s An illustration of his humility was seen
work. He heard about Japan from the in that, when we arrived at Palm Springs
news bulletins that were plentiful because and parked the van, he insisted that he
of World War II. He was deeply impressed would sleep in the van and I would have
at a missionary meeting where a report the bed in the gospel hall. It could be said,
of the work in Japan was given. Jim was “Let this mind be in you” (Php 2:5).
encouraged by brethren such as Mr. Tom We were together in Japan in 2003
Hay, Mr. Bobbie Wright and Mr. Leonard when Jim acted as my interpreter. A good
Mullan, all of whom had firsthand interpreter knows where the speaker’s
knowledge of the work of the Lord in message is going and what verse is coming
Japan. He found a book in the Belfast next. Jim excelled at this. The ministry just
library on how to speak Japanese and he,
with a few others, met regularly in Mr. flowed and was not a hesitant, stop-start
Mullan’s home for basic language study. situation. In almost 65 years in Japan he
never stopped learning the language. He
In 1947 he left N. Ireland for Vancouver wrote expository books in both English
where he could get a visa to enter post-war and Japanese, edited a monthly Japanese
Japan. When all administration procedures Christian magazine, and contributed to
were complete, he left Vancouver for
Japan in 1949. During that 2-year period the “Glory series” of books published
he met the girl who was to become his by Assembly Testimony. He visited Korea,
beloved wife, Edythe Topping. Jim was Malaysia, India, Egypt, Zambia, UK,
20 years old. Edythe arrived in 1950 and Europe, USA and Canada. He has left a
they were married in Tokyo. rich heritage for a rising generation.
His life was marked by faithfulness to In conclusion, we recall Philippians 2:25,
the Word, fruitfulness in his work and that could be said of Jim: “my brother, and
fearlessness in his witness. He was an companion in labour, and fellowsoldier,
ardent and accurate student of the Word but your messenger, and he that ministered
and an able teacher of divine truth. He was to my wants” (KJV). He was in the:
a man of deep conviction and stood firmly, Family (“my brother” – Affection), Field
faithfully, yet graciously, for the whole (“companion in labor” – Affinity), Fight
counsel of God. These were qualities that (“fellowsoldier” – Affliction), Fellowship
I appreciated when I got to know him as (“your messenger”– Affiliation).
a friend in the early 1970s. His speed of He is survived by his sorrowing wife of
thought and mental alertness were very 69 years, Edythe; 2 sons, 3 daughters and
obvious as he conducted Bible Readings, their spouses; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-
and these abilities lasted well into his grandchildren; 3 sisters, one brother and
eighties. In 2000 we preached the gospel their spouses; many nieces and nephews,
together in Carleton, Vancouver, for a for whom prayer is requested.

357
TruthandTidings.com I December 2019 357