Charles E. Cowman
Charles Elmer Cowman (1868 - 1924). American missionary and co-founder of the Oriental Missionary Society (now One Mission Society), born in Toulon, Illinois. Raised Methodist, he worked as a telegraph operator from age 15, rising to a high-paying role in Chicago by 19. Converted in 1894 after hearing A.B. Simpson at Moody Church, he married childhood friend Lettie Burd in 1889. In 1901, they moved to Japan, co-founding the society with Juji Nakada and Ernest Kilbourne, establishing Bible training institutes in Tokyo by 1903. Cowman led the Great Village Campaign (1913-1918), distributing Gospels to 10 million Japanese homes across 161,000 square miles. Known for holiness preaching and organizational zeal, he authored no books but inspired Streams in the Desert by Lettie. They had no children. Health issues forced his return to Los Angeles in 1917, where he continued guiding the mission. His work sparked revivals and trained thousands of native evangelists.
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Charles E. Cowman preaches about the journey of walking with God alone, emphasizing the moments of solitude and trust in Him, even when faced with narrow and winding paths. Through surrendering all to God and finding everything in Him, the speaker experiences the tender guidance and love of Jesus, leading to a deepening relationship and illumination along the rugged way. The sermon reflects on the eventual reunion with loved ones in heaven, where the memory of leaning on Jesus alone in difficult times will be cherished above all.
Alone
"Alone" (Deut. 32:12). "The hill was steep, but cheered along the way By converse sweet, I mounted on the thought That so it might be till the height was reached; But suddenly a narrow winding path Appeared, and then the Master said, 'My child, Here thou wilt safest walk with Me alone.' "I trembled, yet my heart's deep trust replied, 'So be it, Lord.' He took my feeble hand In His, accepting thus my will to yield Him All, and to find all in Him. One long, dark moment, And no friend I saw, save Jesus only. "But oh! so tenderly He led me on And up, and spoke to me such words of cheer, Such secret whisperings of His wondrous love, That soon I told Him all my grief and fear, And leaned on His strong arm confidingly. "And then I found my footsteps quickened, And light ineffable, the rugged way Illumined, such light as only can be seen In close companionship with God. "A little while, and we shall meet again The loved and lost; but in the rapturous joy Of greetings, such as here we cannot know, And happy song, and heavenly embraces, And tender recollections rushing back Of pilgrim life, methinks one memory More dear and sacred than the rest, shall rise, "And we who gather in the golden streets, Shall oft be stirred to speak with grateful love Of that dark day when Jesus bade us climb Some narrow steep, leaning on Him alone." "There is no high hill but beside some deep valley. There is no birth without a pang." --Dan Crawford
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Charles Elmer Cowman (1868 - 1924). American missionary and co-founder of the Oriental Missionary Society (now One Mission Society), born in Toulon, Illinois. Raised Methodist, he worked as a telegraph operator from age 15, rising to a high-paying role in Chicago by 19. Converted in 1894 after hearing A.B. Simpson at Moody Church, he married childhood friend Lettie Burd in 1889. In 1901, they moved to Japan, co-founding the society with Juji Nakada and Ernest Kilbourne, establishing Bible training institutes in Tokyo by 1903. Cowman led the Great Village Campaign (1913-1918), distributing Gospels to 10 million Japanese homes across 161,000 square miles. Known for holiness preaching and organizational zeal, he authored no books but inspired Streams in the Desert by Lettie. They had no children. Health issues forced his return to Los Angeles in 1917, where he continued guiding the mission. His work sparked revivals and trained thousands of native evangelists.