For Him and Them by Dean Cowles, YPN President

A monthly message from YouthPartnersNET President Dean Cowles.

For Him and Them by Dean Cowles

September 2005

We thank God for every gift to YouthPartnersNET. We know each of our faithful donors gives from the depths of their hearts on behalf of less fortunate children in America. Up to this point, all of the donations we've received have come from donors all across America.

I was surprised and over come by emotion when I opened a card and a folded check fell out. It caught my eye because it was from the University of Hong Kong. We don't get checks like that and it was made out for an unusual amount, $70.15. Then when I read the name on the "Pay to the Order of" line I had a clue. The check was written to my father, C.S. Cowles but I knew it wasn't really his gift, although my folks give on their own every month. This check, dated July 30, 2005, from Hong Kong really came from my great-grandfather who passed away 40 years ago in 1965. Sounds strange? Let me explain.

My great-grandfather, Roy T. Cowles, was a missionary to South China. He was a printer by trade and brought the first movable type printing press to that region. There was no electricity however to operate his press. So he had to build a dam and by himself install a small hydro turbine which created enough electricity to run his press and the small mission compound that surrounded it. He was also a gifted linguist. He learned the very difficult Cantonese language with very limited resources. Over the decades he lived in China he perfected his Chinese until he was known all over that part of China as "the white man who speaks better Chinese than most Chinese". A book was written about his life: Footprints on the Sands of China.

When he retired, he moved back to California and finished his life's work, The Speaker's Chinese-English Dictionary, a thick volume and a smaller pocket supplement that has been used by the military and countless others across the decades. Both of these breakthrough books are still being published by the University of Hong Kong, which brings us to the $70.15 check.

First you have to understand that when my great-grandfather wrote these books, royalties were pennies per book. These royalties have been handed down from generation to generation. When Roy Cowles died they went to his eldest son and former Chinese missionary printer, Milton Cowles. While we were missionaries in Kenya, grandpa Cowles sent those checks to support our work among the Africans. When my grandfather passed away, those royalty checks passed on to his eldest son, my pastor-professor father C.S. Cowles, who in turn forwarded this check to his eldest son, that's me, for the work of YouthPartnersNET.

Amazing true story isn't it? From the sands of China to the inner city streets of your city and mine, the work of the Lord goes on throughout the generations. It's like a pebble thrown in a pond, the ripples go on and on across time and continents. Obviously you can see why I got so emotional when I saw this check. But I know there is a story in each of your lives similar to this of how God's faithfulness across the generations has allowed you to give and press on in supporting missionaries and ministries that reach into the darkest places with the light of Christ. Gifts like this remind me to be the best steward I can be. In fact, I have copied this check and it will remain on my desk. It will remind me each time I sign a YPN check to ask, "are we doing the best with the gifts God has given us?" That's a heavy responsibility especially when my great-grandfather and grandpa are watching over my shoulder from above.

For Him and Them,

Dean Cowles

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