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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 emphasizes the significance of the ribband of blue worn by the Israelites as a reminder of God's commandments, symbolizing a heavenly spirit and the importance of maintaining a close relationship with God. He challenges believers to reflect God's glory and beauty in their daily lives, being witnesses for Christ in every aspect, just as the ribband of blue was carried by people from all walks of life. Cowman urges Christians to imitate God and walk in love, embodying a spirit of Godlikeness in all circumstances.
Badge of Christ
"...bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments...and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue...that ye may took upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord" (Num. 15:38-39). God would have all His people wear a badge. They were to make them fringes in the borders of their garments, and to put upon the fringes a ribband of blue, that they might look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them, and might be a holy people. Blue is the color of heaven. When the clouds come between, then, and only then, is the deep blue lost. It is the will of God that there should never be a cloud between His people and Himself, and that as the Israelite of old, wherever he went, carried the ribband of blue, so His people today should manifest a heavenly spirit and temper wherever they go, and should, like Moses, in their very countenances bear witness to the glory and beauty of the God whom they love and serve. How interesting it must have been to see that ribband of blue carried by the farmer into the field, by the merchant to his place of business, by the maid-servant into the inner most parts of the dwelling, when performing her daily duties. Is it less important the Christian of today called to be a witness for Christ, should be manifestly characterised by His spirit? Should we not all be "imitators of God, as dear children," and "walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and given Himself for us"? And should not this spirit of Godlikeness be carried into the smallest details of life, and not be merely reserved for special occasions?
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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.