Soldiers of the Great King
by Mary Wingfield Bell

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Chapter 1	Chapter 2	Chapter 3	Chapter 4	Chapter 5	Chapter 6
Chapter 7	Chapter 8	Chapter 9	Chapter 10	Chapter 11	Chapter 12

CHAPTER 1

“Donald, come down from that tree,” called Janet.  “We are ready to begin the meeting.”

 

“Yeah!” yelled Richard.  “Do you think you are Zacchaeus?  You’re the wee little man.”

 

“Oh, you think you are funny,” said Donald stepping down from limb to limb.

 

“Donald does remind me of the story of Zacchaeus,” said Maria.  “And Janet you called to him the way Jesus called to the tax collector.”

 

“That is true,” said Janet.  “Now Donald is on the ground so we will start our meeting.”

 

The soldiers of the king had gathered for their weekly meeting in Janet’s back yard.  It was a cold fall day and the children had on their jackets.  Janet wore her coat.  She did not want to shiver when she would be talking to the children in her back yard.

 

The group of children had begun to meet in Janet’s back yard when Donald and Elmer had wanted to learn about the great king that Janet told them she knew who had a secret kingdom.  Trillby, a nine-year-old colored boy, was Janet’s neighbor.  He had learned much about the great king at the Hallelujah Church he attended.

 

“This King Jesus sounds like a great man,” said Donald.  He wanted to know everything there was to know about Jesus.  He and his brother Elmer came often to Janet’s house to hear the stories that she told about Jesus.  Janet had learned much about Jesus at Sunday school.

 

“Can I be in the secret kingdom and know this king?” asked Donald.

 

“You can if you believe that Jesus died for you,” said Janet.  “Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the whole world; that means you and me.  You can believe he was buried and came out of the grave and went up into Heaven.  You can say it out loud and you will be in the secret kingdom”.

 

Donald and Elmer believed what Janet told them about the secret kingdom and they became soldiers of the king.  They learned much about King Jesus from Janet and Trilby.  Soon other children joined with Janet, Trilby, Donald and Elmer.  Maria, her two brothers and one sister moved into the new house next to Janet’s house.  They learned about the meetings and joined the other children.  A Chinese family moved into the house next to Trilby’s house.  Mrs. Cho and her three children came to the meeting in Janet’s back yard.  So they learned about King Jesus.

 

Later, a girl, Dalthea joined the soldiers of the king.

 

Richard became a soldier of the king when the children prayed for him to be healed.

 

They were all in Janet’s back yard.

 

“It will soon be winter time,” said Janet.  “We need to get a place to meet so we can be out of the cold air.  There’s not much room in my house.  Do you have any suggestions?”

 

“I meet with my group on Friday evening,” said Dalthea.  “But I think my grandmother will let us meet at her house on Saturday mornings.”

 

“Fine,” said Janet.  “Today let us talk about why we wanted to know Jesus and be in his kingdom.  Do you want to do that?”

 

“Great idea,” said Trilby.  “Can I be first to tell about me?”

 

“You might as well be first, Trilby,” said Janet.  “You are so ready to tell us.”

 

“Well, it’s like this,” began Trilby.  “Jesus came to live in my heart when I was five years old.  Neena, my mother, was always happy.  She sang when she worked.  I asked Neena, “Why are you always happy?”  She say, “Child, it is because the King Jesus lives in me.”  Then I tell her, “I want the king in me.”  She says, “Do this child.  Tell Jesus you want him to live in your heart and he will be there but you must ask him to forgive your sins.”  I say, “What is sins?”  She answers, “It’s when you do what is wrong like the time you cut up Pa Jo’s red bandana without asking permission.”  I prayed with Neena and King Jesus came into my heart.  Now I always ask Neena and Pa Jo when I want something.  Jesus made me a happy boy.”

 

All the children clapped their hands.  Then each child wanted to tell about the first time they knew Jesus.

 

“I don’t know who to let talk next,” said Janet.  “Oh, I know, I will do this.  ‘Three little bears in the snow,’ touching each child she continued, ’One was fat, one was slim and one said, ’out you go.”  Her hand stopped on Donald.

 

“Elmer and I were walking along the creek bank,” said Donald.  “We saw this white girl and a colored boy on the other side of the creek.  ‘Let’s scare them,’ I said.  Then Elmer and I began throwing rocks at them as they threw out pebbles into the creek. The white girl told us she would tell the king.  I said, ‘You don’t have a king.  American has a president.’  She answered, “Yes, Trilby and I have a king.”  The boy seemed puzzled until the girl told him something.  He said, ‘We do have a king.’  Then the girl said that they were in a secret kingdom.  You know this white girl and colored boy are Janet and Trilby.  Anyway what Janet said sounded so good that Elmer and I wanted to know this king.  Janet told me how to know this good King Jesus and how to let him come into our hearts.  Let Elmer tell the rest of what happened.”

 

Elmer stood up and said, ”Janet told us about the Son of God who was hanged on a cross by evil men.  Jesus was a good man and should not have to die but his death was the only way people could be forgiven of their sins so he died for everyone.  Believing in Jesus changes people.  They don’t feel guilty anymore.  Jesus made everything be all right.  Janet said that we must believe he died and was in the grave for three days.  Then he arose from the dead and went straight up to heaven.  People saw him go up.  He is there now.  He will come to rule the world someday.  Donald and I prayed with Janet.  We became soldiers of the king.”

 

“What you said was good,” said Janet,  “Does anyone have a question?”

 

“What kind of king do you think Jesus will be?” asked Richard.  “Will he be a strong mean king?”

 

“Oh, no,” answered Dalthea.  “I think he will be the best, kindest king that ever lived.  He will be good to good people but he will punish all who do bad things so we can have a peaceful place to live on earth.”

 

“Dalthea, I believe you are right,” said Janet.  “Why don’t you count to see who is next to talk?”

 

“I will gladly,” answered the girl.  “People on the train, people in the car, one falls out and that is where you are."” Her hand stopped on Richard.

 

“Cracker jacks!”  said Richard.  “I do like this game.  It is fun but it is more than a game.  I am one who should know because Jesus healed my foot when you all prayed for me, especially Donald.  I thought I would die.  I wanted to die, my foot hurt so bad but the great king healed my foot and I could walk without pain.  He is the greatest.  I will always serve Him and tell others how he helped me when I was hurting and so scared.  I gave my heart to him and so did my family.  We are a nice family now.  We don’t holler at each other anymore.”

 

“That’s wonderful,” said Janet.  “Do you want to count out now?”

 

“Sure,” said Richard.  “One, two, three, four, Jesus came in the door.  I don’t hurt anymore!”  His hand stopped on Mrs. Cho, the little Chinese lady.

 

“I tell my story,” she said.  “I come to Janet’s house to hear her tell stories.  She tell about Jesus and how he lived and died on a cross for whole world.  I not know about this Jesus.  Old family follow Buddha, but Buddha is dead.  Jesus is alive.  So I take Jesus into my heart.  He is my saviour.  I worship him.  Now I am happy, not sad anymore.”

 

“You are right, Mrs. Cho,” said Dalthea.  “He makes us glad not sad anymore.”

 

“Now I count,” said Mrs. Cho.  “Buddha dead, Jesus is alive.  I count one, two, three, four, five.  Dalthea, you tell your story.  I stopped with you.”

 

“I’m so glad to know King Jesus,” said Dalthea.  “Before he came into my heart, I felt sad and mean.  I hated people; I hated school.  I didn’t even like my father and he is a good man.  I was at my grandmother’s house.  She was then a cripple and I treated her badly.  You guys came to see me.  You were so happy when you worked.  I thought you were strange because Janet had a vision of me hitting my grandmother.  Because you kids were happy I wanted to know why and learned it was because Jesus lived in your hearts.  I found out that I could know the king, also.  It was then I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and live in me.  He did forgive me.  Now I am a happy girl.  I write songs and poems.  I pray every day.  I like to get out of bed every morning.  Living with King Jesus makes life wonderful.”

 

“Good, Dalthea,” said Janet.  “Don’t forget.  It is your turn to count.”

 

“I would be like Jesus if I could,” said Dalthea.  “He is so kind and good.”  Her hand landed on Maria.

 

Maria spoke softly.  “I never knew how great Jesus was when I came to live next door.  I had heard of him and his blessed mother, Mary, but I learned that Jesus is the king and a saviour to all people who ask him to forgive their sins.  I prayed with Janet.  She told me what to pray.  Now I know the king.  I am one of his soldiers, too.  My family has accepted Jesus into their hearts because they could see how much happier I have become.  I will always love Jesus and serve him until I die.  When I am older, I want to go to a land where people have not heard of Jesus and tell them the good news.”

 

“Jesus make great change in you,” said Mrs. Cho to Maria.

 

“Now I will tell you my story,” said Janet.  “I have gone to church all of my life and heard many people tell of Jesus and his love.  When I was seven I went with Daddy and Manie to a revival meeting in the Methodist Church.  The preacher told how everyone was born a sinner and needed to have a saviour.  He said, ’All who want to know Jesus, come to the altar and be saved.  I went to the altar and knelt down.  Sister Humphrey told me how to pray for Jesus to come into my heart.  I prayed with her and Jesus was there.  I knew he was there to stay and he will never leave, not ever.  He will always be my saviour and king.”

 

The youngest children did not want to talk so the testimonies ended.

 

“Any questions?” asked Janet.

 

“Yeah,” said Donald.  “Have you had a vision lately?”

 

“No,” replied Janet.  “I think I may be through seeing pictures.  Manie says that God has seasons for certain things and the season for me to have visions is probably over until I grow up.  That is the way my mother likes me to be -–no visions for me.  Anyway I have this need to learn all I can about our King Jesus.  I want to tell people who do not know him how kind and good he is.  I want to tell them how to know Jesus and they will see he is their best friend.  Jesus will never leave them.  They can tell him all their troubles.  He can fix what is wrong.  Look, do I sound like I am preaching?”

 

“Preach girl, preach,” said Richard.

 

“No, I just kind of don’t know when to stop when I talk about Jesus,” explained Janet.  “How about let’s sing now.  Dalthea, you lead the singing.  We will sing your song.”

 

The boys and girls sang happily:

 

                                    Jesus loves us

                                    He’s our king,

                                    That is why

                                    We shout and sing.

 

                                    Jesus hears us

                                    When we pray.

                                    He stays with us

                                    Through the day.

 

                                    We will love him

                                    Till we die

                                    Then we’ll live

                                    With him on high.

 

                                    Jesus love us.

                                    He’s our king.

                                    That is why

                                    We shout and sing.

 

“”Let’s march as we sing Onward Christian Soldiers, the song we often sing in church,” said Dalthea.

 

The children got in line and marched all around Janet’s house three times, clapping hands to the beat of the song.  Manie, Janet’s mother and Neena, Trilby’s mother watched the boys and girls and they sang the song, too.  Maria’s mother, Mrs. Rambelli, looked from the window next door.  The three women were

proud of these children and little Mrs. Cho who marched with them.

 

Then the youngsters sat on a quilt that Manie had let them use.  The ground was cold but the children did not mind.

 

“Now,” said Janet, “I think we should pray.  Do any of you know someone who needs to be prayed for?”

 

“Well, I think we should pray for Katie Oaks, the girl with the slow brain,” said Dalthea.  “It is bad that she has to be that way when she can play such beautiful music on her harp.”

 

“Do you think God will really heal her brain after all these years of being so slow?” asked Richard.

 

“I don’t know,” answered Dalthea.  “But I am never going to stop praying for her.  Jesus healed everyone who came to him for healing.”

 

“My mother has these awful headaches,” said Elmer.  “I think we should pray for her.”

 

“And Monday I have a geography test,” said Maria.  “Please pray for me to make a good grade.  It’s hard to study in our house because Lolita and my brothers make a lot of noise.”

 

“Maria, you can study in my house,” offered Janet.

 

“Thank you, I will ask my mother if I can study in your house,” said Maria.

 

“Dalthea, you pray out loud for Katie,” said Janet.  “The rest of you pray silently.  Maria, you pray out loud for Elmer and Donald’s mother.  We will all pray without our voices.  Donald, pray for Maria and all of us to make good grades.  Let’s all bow our heads.”

 

This was Dalthea’s prayer: “God, we all pray that you fix Katie’s brain so she will not act like a baby girl.  You made her and I know you can give her a good brain.  You let her play beautiful music on the harp.  We are thankful for that.  Amen.”

 

Maria began to pray: “God and your son, Jesus, we want you to heal Mrs. Dagg, Elmer and Donald’s mother.  She has awful headaches.  Please take away her headaches so she can work without hurting.  Thank you for healing her.  Amen.”

 

Donald prayed: “God, help Maria to study much and make a good grades on her geography test.  Help the rest of us to want to study more.  I don’t like to study but I want you to give me a way to want to make good grades.  That’s all.”

 

“Now, what can we find to do for our King this week?” asked Janet.

 

“I think we can look for a chance to tell somebody that they can know Jesus,” said Richard.

 

“Excellent idea,” agreed Janet.  “Can you think of anyone who needs to know our King Jesus?”

 

“Yeah, Old Mr. Ray Downer, who lives behind the depot,” said Donald.  “He’s always got a bottle to his mouth.  He is a friendly fellow.  I will talk to him.  Pray that I will say the right words.  Jesus visited people who sinned.  I will be like him."

 

“I know this girl at school who always has a dirty neck.  I will see what I can do to help her,” said Dalthea.

 

“I will write to my uncle,” said Maria.  “I will tell him what a good friend I have found in Jesus and that he can know King Jesus, also.  I will tell him how to pray to have Jesus come into his heart.”

 

“I tell my brother about King Jesus,” said Mrs. Cho.  “I tell him that Buddha is dead but Jesus is alive.  You take Jesus.  Forget Buddha.”

 

“These are good plans,” said the leader.  “I will pray for God to show me who I can help.  I will do something for the great king.”

 

Janet closed the meeting by asking the children to sing Jesus Loves Me.  Everyone sang with a happy smile on their faces.

 

“Don’t leave yet,” said Janet.  “Manie and Neena have refreshments.”

 

“Good,” said Richard.  “This boy is hungry.”

 

Neena brought out a platter heaped high with gingerbread muffins.  Manie had a tray of cups filled with hot tea.  They gave the children the goodies on cloth napkins.  Richard was first to be served.  He took three muffins.”

 

“Whoa!” said Neena.  “Not so many muffins.  The others will want to eat.”

 

“Sorry, Mrs. McKinney.”  Richard put two muffins back on the plate.  “Guess I was just thinking about myself.”

 

“Neena, I like help you,” offered Mrs. Cho.  “Just see that the small children get a share,” said Trilby’s mother.

 

There were enough muffins for the older children to have a second helping for which Richard was thankful.

 

“It’s dreadfully cold,” said Janet’s mother and she went into the house for a sweater.

 

When the boys and girls finished eating muffins and drinking tea, they decided to play a game of tag before they went home.  They played in the street where cars rarely came by.  Happy were the children as they tagged one another.  Finally, Dalthea said, “I must go.”

 

“We best leave, too, Elmer,” said Donald.  The boys and girls left for home.

 

Mrs. Cho had already gone home with Dan and Joy.  Tim went to play with Trilby who lived next door to his house.

 

Maria and her brothers went into their yard to play with their little sister, Lolita.

 

“I think I can come to your house to study for the geography test, Janet,” said Maria.  “It may not be until tomorrow afternoon.”

 

“That will be fine,” returned Janet.  “Manie and I will go to church in the morning.”

 

Janet went into he house where her mother was ironing in the bedroom.

 

“I thought you had ironed this week,” she said to her mother.

 

“I found this old dress in the trunk and I decided to wear it to church tomorrow,” said Manie.

 

“I always did like that,” said Janet.  “Why did you hide it in the trunk?”

 

“Dear, I was not hiding this.  I was keeping it because it was the last dress your father bought for me.”

 

“Oh, I see,” said Janet.  “Manie, Dalthea prayed today for God to heal Katie.  Do you think God will answer that prayer?”

 

“Yes, God always answers prayer but it may not be in the way we ask him to do. Sometimes he says yes to what people pray for.  Other times God says ‘No, it is not best that way.’  Then he sometimes says, ‘’Wait a while.’  God has his reasons for the way he answers prayer.  I have never heard of a slow-brain child being healed, but with God I know it is possible.  Do you think Katie will be healed?”

 

“Yes, but I don’t know when God will do that.”

 

“I wish we all had the faith of children,” said Janet’s mother.

 

Next day Janet went with her mother to the Methodist Church for Sunday school and the morning worship service.  After lunch time Maria cane to Janet’s house to study.  She was happy to be in a place without so much noise.  Now and then she did hear her bothers at play but she was able to think about the questions that she might get on the geography test.  Maria read the chapter that she was to study twice.

 

“Now I think I will get a good grade,” she told Janet.  “Thanks for letting me study in your house.”

 

When Monday came, Maria made a perfect grade on the geography test.  It is because Donald and the other children prayed for me and I did study well thought Maria.

 

Chapter 1	Chapter 2	Chapter 3	Chapter 4	Chapter 5	Chapter 6
Chapter 7	Chapter 8	Chapter 9	Chapter 10	Chapter 11	Chapter 12