Periodically members of the Board of CHRISTIANITY TODAY gather for business in New York, Philadelphia, or Washington. But a few days ago they converged for the first time upon Montreat, North Carolina. There they also attended a special dinner arranged by churchmen in recognition of Dr. L. Nelson Bell’s long service to the Church. Southern Presbyterian leaders recalled his many years in China as a medical missionary, his long and valuable service on many church boards, his ministry as a Bible teacher, and his influential role as an evangelical layman. Nor did they overlook his contribution as a writer.
Since Dr. Bell is a founding father of CHRISTIANITY TODAY and has for many years regularly contributed “A Layman and His Faith” and editorials to these pages, we took special pride in this recognition of our perambulating executive editor. One thing we have learned here at Washington headquarters: not even three coronary episodes could slow his determination to get out the Gospel. When not in Washington he is almost as likely to be in Korea as in Carolina on business for the King.
Dr. Bell’s page in CHRISTIANITY TODAY regularly draws appreciative mail. Many readers will be pleased to learn that Eerdmans soon will publish some of his best essays in a volume entitled Convictions to Live By. Nelson Bell has lived by those convictions on both sides of the globe through two generations, and the Montreat tribute echoed the esteem of a remarkable galaxy of appreciative friends.
