Herald of Holiness Volume 81 Number 04 (1992)

Transcription

Olivet Nazarene University
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Herald of Holiness
Church of the Nazarene
4-1-1992
Herald of Holiness Volume 81 Number 04 (1992)
Wesley D. Tracy (Editor)
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■ APRIL 1992
Herald of Holiness
■ Good Friday: Enduring the Cross
I The Resurrection: God’s Final Word
I A Family Easter Basket
I Easter Portraits
I What Singles Need from the Church
I Roses in the Desert
N aza ren e C olleges a n d U niversities . . .
. . . Pa r t n e r s in M in istry
Nazarene colleges and universities are inseparably linked to the church in a partnership of ministry. This
year more than 15,000 young men and women are enrolled in Nazarene colleges and universities
in the United States and Canada. While on campus they are given the best in higher education in
an environment of faith.
Nazarene colleges and universities offer strong academic programs in over 60 areas of study, including
religion, music, nursing, education, business, sociology, art, natural sciences, psychology, communi
cations, mathematics, languages and literature, engineering, and many more. As graduates enter
professions and graduate schools around the world, they also return to local churches for lives of
service.
This is a partnership of ministry that extends
from the church . . .
to the campus . . .
to the church . . .
and beyond.
Take an active role in this important partnership by
• praying regularly for our schools
• encouraging our young people to attend
• continuing the strong financial support provided
by educational budgets and special gifts
N a z a re n e I n s titu tio n s o f H ig h e r E d u c a tio n —U.S. a n d C a n a d a
Canadian Nazarene College
Eastern Nazarene College
MidAmerica Nazarene College
Mount Vernon Nazarene College
Nazarene Bible College
Nazarene Theological Seminary
Northwest Nazarene College
Point Loma Nazarene College
Southern Nazarene University
Trevecca Nazarene College
Herald of Holiness
C H U R C H
OF
T H E
N A Z A R E N E
Volume 81, Number 4
APRIL 1992
FEATURE ARTICLES
Roses in the Desert
P r is c il l a R a u e
24
44
A Family Easter
Basket
A Special Tie That
Binds
H. S c o t t
R obert
L in d a E b e r t
28
The Resurrection
Is God’s Final
Word
P h il B e d s w o r t h
POEM
Nazarene Higher
Education: Focus
on People
St e p h e n W . N
22
Easter Portraits
ease
I. M o o n e y
Illustrations by
Edwin B. Wallace
Bea
10
Three Things
Singles Need from
the Church
J a n i n e T a r t a g l ia
20
Good Friday:
Enduring the Cross
D on M. Aycock
CONTINUING
COLUMNS
8
G eneral
S uperintendent’s
Viewpoint
J o h n A . K n ig h t
19
W hen You Pray
30
T he Fam ily Album
E. D ee F r e e b o r n
J erry a n d
31
Into the Word
Roger
42
Lynda Cohagan
L. H a h n
9
O bserver at Large
W . E.
M cC um ber
E ditor’s Choice
W esley
D
T racy
14-18, 38-41
News
M ark G raham
In a W om an’s Voice
R e b e c c a L a ir d
43
DEPARTMENTS
Tom
34
48
F elder
T he R eaders W rite
L ate News
ROSES IN THE DESERT
Nazarene Indian Bible College:
The Family Campus
Story and p ho to g rap hs by P risc illa R aue
Al A ntone cam e to N azarene Indian Bible College in 1987, “just to check it out for one
Z -Jm
quarter.” He had “battled w ith the Lord
.X. j L . ab o u t a call to the m inistry for at least
two years— because o f the size o f my family and the
need to support them.”
But when his wife, D eanna, cam e hom e from a
local cam p meeting and said, “Al, we are going to Bi
ble college,” he resigned from his job the following
week and was on this cam pus in the Rio G rande Val
ley near Albuquerque, N.Mex., the next week.
H e’s still there, w orking tow ard his associate of
V isitors to N IB C soon beco m e aw are th a t this
arts degree in biblical studies. “ But, 1 only need eight fam ily cam pus in the desert, w ith its 26 one-story
m ore credits to graduate,” he says.
sand-colored buildings (including trailers), is hom e
He isn’t alone in his need to extend the three-year to n um erous children an d teens— som etim es ab o u t
biblical studies curriculum into four or five years. A 100 o f them . A nd th a t keeps N IB C ’s 17 acres lively,
m em b er o f the T ohono O ’o d h am (D esert People) som etim es even noisy, but hom elike.
tribe, Al is one o f N IB C ’s older m arried students.
Two o f those children an d a teenager belong to
C ouples (20 o f them this year) m ake up m ore th an B arbara C h atto (Navajo), a single m o th er w ho m ust
half the student body, and both spouses are en co u r work to su p p o rt her family, as well as to pay her
aged to take classes. O ne person
cam p u s rent and college fees. It’s
m ust be a full-tim e student w ork
not easy, b u t she says, “G o d really
ing tow ard one o f the six degrees
takes care o f us.”
Ninety-six percent of
o r c e rtific a te s c u rre n tly offered
To help fam ilies w ith food and
NIBC students grad
and taking at least 12 class hours
clothing, each N IB C household is
per quarter.
allowed 10 n o o n m eals a m o n th
uate. At the nearby
A ccording to Al, this schedule
in the dining hall, an d the school
“was hard at first, because I was
operates a used clothing store. In
state university, 96
so m any years out o f school.”
addition, preschoolers can atten d
percent of native
T h e L o rd has h e lp e d h im to
a lo w - c o s t d a y - c a r e p r o g r a m ,
keep his fam ily o f six children and
w here an early c h ild h o o d e d u c a
Am erican students
a niece together in one o f several
tio n specialist cares for 25 to 30
trailer hom es on cam pus. H e cur
children, using stu d en t helpers.
drop out.
rently works as an NIBC m ain te
School fees are kept low, b u t a
nance m an.
stu d en t taking 12 class hours m ay
2
H e ra ld o f H o lin e ss
(Above) Barbara Chatto and her son, Andre, on the NIBC
campus.
(Left) Marcelline Frank with
daughter, Cassandra.
(Right) Al Antone working to keep
the NIBC campus attractive.
(Lower right) Enrique Mendoza. He
started playing basketball with
some Nazarene boys in Mexico and
ended up at NIBC.
(Lower left) Protessor Lloyd
Commander prepares to teach a
class in New Testament.
Student Henry Yellowhorse
paints an original design on
a ceramic pot.
Deep Spiritual Roots
usic has always been important to Barbara Chatto
and she’s never given up on the dream to become
a gospel singer—a dream she’s had since she came back to
the Lord in 1982. It was one thing that inspired her to
come to NIBC.
“I took voice training back in New York,” she said.
“And, although I was disappointed not to have more mu
sic here, I have gotten the Bible training I needed.
“Everyone has been so supportive through the Bible
training and my Christian education internship. Because
of this and the fact that I’ve always gotten along well with
children, I started Bible quizzing here on campus last year.
“We worked together during the whole school year. And
at the end of the year, we came in third in the zone com
petition. I was so proud of the children, because they were
competing only against Anglo churches. And, as far as I
know, no other Indian churches have quizzing.”
Barb now teaches a junior class at the First Indian
Church of the Nazarene in Albuquerque, N.Mex. She said,
“It will be a children’s Bible study, in which each one will
keep a journal as we go through the Bible. We’re also do
ing the missionary lessons and reading the books.”
Barb confesses to “getting a little anxious now because I
see that Indian students need more Indian teachers. I
pray, ‘Lord, if I could stay here and teach, what would I
do?’ But I still feel a pull toward being a professional
singer when I hear a good concert.
“Before I came back to the Lord, my life was full of
struggles and life pressures. But after releasing all of my
problems and struggles to Him, I experienced a peace I
hadn’t known before. God healed me from lots of prob
lems, and He’s still healing me.
“The main thing now is, I want to be sure, no matter
what God has for me to do, that my roots are deep and
I’m really grounded,” she said. “I want to keep growing in
Him.”
M
4
pay as m uch as $700 to $800 for each o f the three
q uarters th a t school is in session. H ousing rental is
set up on a sliding scale, depending on the n u m b e r
o f class hours the stu d e n t takes.
For Barb, studying was easier th an for Al. "In New
York, before I cam e here, I was alm o st a ‘profes
sional stu d en t,’ often in college, b u t never g ra d u
ating. I’m p ro u d o f th e d ip lo m a in ad v a n ce d lay
leadership I received in 1991,” she said. She’s w ork
ing now tow ard the three-year associate o f arts in
C hristian education degree.
However, she did fin d one thing difficult to accept
at first. “It’s tru e th a t som e stu d en ts are high school
dro p o u ts a n d w orking for G E D diplom as, a n d som e
need rem edial study. But som e have had college and
need to be challenged.
"B ut the faculty is try in g to help us all do o u r
best,” she said. “ I to o k one class w here hom ew ork
was assigned every day a n d it h ad to be d o n e to
pass. I sweated to com e o u t w ith a C, b u t I still re
m em b er w hat was taught. It’s the h ard teachers th a t
m ake you learn.”
Barb spoke o f a teacher, D avid H offm an, as being
“the best teacher I ever had. H e was a hard teacher
an d gave a lot o f work. B ut he gave a lot o f in fo rm a
tion too, an d was so helpful an d p a tie n t— an ideal
C hristian m an.”
“Because o f NIBC, I feel like I u n d erstan d the Bi
ble better an d I’m n o t so scared to talk to som eone
ab o u t it now — or to w itness either. I'm even c o m
fortable in front o f groups,” R a m o n a said.
M exican s tu d e n t E n riq u e M e n d o za also spoke
ab o u t N IB C teachers. H e said, “If they see th a t one
m eth o d d oesn’t work, they try another, a n d another,
an d another. Here, if a student d o esn ’t m ake it in
the end, the teacher feels b ad — as th o u g h he d id n ’t
do his part. I love N IB C for this.”
H e ra ld o f H o lin e s s
Enrique, who is m arried w ith children, graduated
in 1991 with the associate degree in biblical studies.
Now he is w orking tow ard the new four-year degree
in biblical studies.
N1BC has also a d d e d a fo u r-y e ar b a c h e lo r o f
Christian education degree, an d a n u m b e r o f recent
graduates have retu rn ed to take advantage o f these
two new p r o g ra m s . T h e y w e re m a d e p o s s ib le
through N IB C ’s affiliation as an accredited ethnic
extension o f N azarene Bible College in C olo rad o
Springs. The one-year d ip lo m a in lay m inistries is
attractive to m any spouses o f students.
Enrique’s wife, Enedelia, was draw n to one o f the
vocational program s— office occupations. A lthough
she worked as a secretary for several years in M ex
ico, she w ants to im p ro v e h er typing, office p ro
cedure, and English skills.
A d m in is tra to r a n d D e a n o f th e C ollege, Tom
McKinney calls the ad d itio n o f the c o m p u te r and
data/w ord processing p o rtio n o f th is p rogram “ a
miracle.”
“G od gave us 10 IBM M em o ry w riters plu s 14
computers and 6 printers!
“T hat’s not all, though, G o d gave us a professor,
with a Ph.D. from H arvard to teach the classes. Dr.
Larry Scott w orks in a laboratory in A lbuquerque
and teaches at N1BC part-tim e. H e’s the one who
got scrap-piled co m p u ters from labs an d redesigned
them especially for us.”
M cK inney said, “ T h is fills a real need because
some o f the best jo b s anyw here, even on the reserva
tions, use c o m p u te r an d secretarial skills.”
Students interested in this program have the op
tion of com bining it w ith a lay leadership diplom a,
because at N IB C all stu d e n ts are expected to b e
come involved in som e type o f m inistry.
According to M cK inney, “T h e forem ost fact o f life
in Indian m inistries is th a t m inisters, b o th clergy
and lay m inisters, m u st n o t only su p p o rt them selves
but also know how to m ake needed repairs to their
own hom es, parsonages, or churches.”
So students are offered train in g in w oodw orking
as well as electrical a n d p lum bing repair.
A n o th e r v o c a tio n a l o p p o r tu n i ty is a v a ila b le
through classes in the ceram ic w orkshop. Students
made the first kiln from a 55-gallon d ru m . It’s still
in use, though a new, larger one has been donated.
They are hoping to find som eone w ith the expertise
to do needed repairs a n d m ake the correct electrical
hookup for the new one.
Artistic students, such as H enry and Cecilia Yellowhorse, w ho are Navajos, create bells, m ugs, and
pots in the old kiln.
The ceram ic item s, along w ith silver jew elry m ade
by In d ia n silv e rs m ith s su ch as P ete a n d R eg in a
Riggs (Navajo), are eagerly snapped up by visiting
Work and W itness team m em bers an d others.
A Minister Preaches
with His Life
nrique Mendoza grew up in a Catholic home in
Mexico. But as a young teen, he played basketball
with boys at the Church of the Nazarene a half-block
away.
“At church, I found myself asking, ‘What am I doing
here?’ So, on Sunday, I’d go to mass at 8 a . m . and then
to the Nazarene Sunday School at 10:00,” he said.
He was a natural leader at school and said, “This was
so important to me that I felt a responsibility toward
the other boys. I’d walk to school when there wasn’t
money for the bus. But I was also a joker, and it often
got me and others into trouble.
“I didn’t really understand my spiritual need, but
what was important was the people at the Nazarene
church really wanted me there and were nice to me. . . .
I was saved, but was still confused and kept going back
to the altar again and again because my actions at
school didn’t change much.
“I knew it wasn’t right to act the way I did at school,”
he said. “I remember times when I was praying at the
altar and I wanted to go to heaven right then, because I
knew I’d only act the same way tomorrow.”
After finishing secondary school at age 15, Enrique
sneaked into San Diego because there was no money to
send him to preparatory school.
“I couldn’t speak English, so there was no job for me
and I had to stay in the home of my friend’s aunt. All I
had for company was a Bible and a guitar,” he said.
“The lady was very religious, and the whole household
fasted until 3 r m . every day. Almost daily, someone
would come and take me to a mountain or some quiet
place to meditate and pray. Those three months actu
ally strengthened me—it was a growing experience.”
But Enrique’s illegal status bothered him, so he re
turned to Mexico, where he was able to join a Christian
musical group. “We played in all kinds of churches, and
that meant I heard all kinds of preachers. I loved it, but
I began to see that the preachers who helped me the
most were the ones who seemed to be more prepared,”
he said.
“I saw that a pastor should learn as much as he can
in order to meet the needs of a congregation full of peo
ple with many levels of education. He needs to study
whether he wants to or not because he is a leader,” he
said. “I know Jesus really meets the needs and the pas
tor is a helper, but the pastor represents God, and the
people must see God in us.
“Now that I’ve studied here at NIBC, I know that
preaching is only one little part of a sermon. A pastor
really preaches with his life. . . . You are really the mes
sage, not just a messenger.
“And I see that at NIBC. I learn not only in the class
room but also from the lives of the staff and adminis
tration. They are messages, not just messengers.”
E
continued on page 46
April 1992
5
Nazarene Higher Education:
FOCUS ON PEOPLE
B Y S T E P H E N W. N E A S E , C O M M IS S IO N ER O F ED U CATIO N
azarene higher education at its best focuses
on people! Our theological colleges, semi
naries, liberal arts colleges, and universities
worldwide unite in educating God-called
men and women that they may effectively
serve Jesus Christ in full-time ministry or as
whose professions become a means of witnessing.
Read prayerfully and joyfully excerpts from but three of
many letters received by the International Board of Edu
cation this year. These expressions from people on our
Nazarene campuses are representative of the impact of
Nazarene higher education on hundreds of others in our
schools throughout the world.
N
From Sem inario T eologico N azareno Sudam ericano
in Q uito, Ecuador:
I am 25 years old and am a
Venezuelan. I was converted
in 1985. The Lord m ade a
marvelous change in my life;
He rescued me from sin, alco
hol, and drugs. In 1986, in the
third district assembly in Ven
ezuela, God called me to the
ministry. That same year I was
married, and we were assigned
to pastor a church that did not
have a pastor—or members.
We pastored there for four
years. The Lord blessed us
with a beautiful new group of
believers, confirming our call.
At the close of 1990 my district superintendent . . . re
turned from Quito, Ecuador, where he .. . spoke to the
seminary president about the possibility that I attend the
seminary. . . . I was in my first year of CENETA (studies
by extension). I began to make plans to leave Venezuela
with my wife, Nancy, and our 18-month-old daughter,
Leidy. The church leaders in Venezuela supported us, and
although it was very difficult to leave, we felt it was an
opportunity that the Lord was giving u s ... .
We began classes in February 1991, and with that came
an avalanche of new light and new challenges. The time
that I have spent here has given me a renewal in my min
istry, a greater vision, and a deeper consecration to the
L ord.. . .
At present, we are in our next to last class. .. . We are a
6
little tired, but grateful to God. The sacrifice of leaving
our family, church, and country has been wonderfully re
warded in our time here.
.. . The South American Nazarene Seminary has been
the wayJ that this is possible.
„ . „ ,
— C arlos C ordero
laypersons
From Southern N azarene U niversity
in Bethany, O k la„ U.S.A.:
I cannot express how thankful I am for the generous
scholarship that 1 received from the Board of General Su
perintendents and the International Board of Education.
When the Lord called me to preach and impressed
upon me to go to SNU, I wondered how I would ever be
able to afford it. The scholarship I received is an answer to
prayer.
I made a com m itm ent to the Lord when I came to
school that I would study to
the best of my ability for two
reasons. The first is because I
am working for the Lord, and
I believe nothing short of our
best pleases Him. The second
is because I want to be able to
be the best servant possible to
reach out and win others to
Christ.
— Leon T. D ixon
F rom A s ia -P a c ific N a za ren e
T h eo lo g ica l Sem inary
in M a n ila , the P hilippines:
I feel very privileged to be
B rad Elsberg. M edia International
a ^ [g
{q
c o m e
tO
th is
S e m in a r y .
My time here has broadened my understanding of theol
ogy and different contemporary philosophies that I would
never have known if I had stayed in Samoa. At some time
in the future I might then have been trapped by them if I
had not compared them to biblical truth while a student
here.
This time has changed my perspective on life. Samoa is
small. . . . Its people see themselves as poor, desiring what
they do not have. I have learned that Samoans really have
what they need and must learn to be content and thank
ful. . ..
My education has deepened my level of understanding
theological issues and the Bible. The international setting
has helped me look at other cultures and races without
critical and prejudiced views.
My view of the church has also changed. The Nazarene
church in Samoa is small. Now I see that I belong to an
international church that is a real church with a signifi
cant message that is needed in Samoa. I am proud to be a
Nazarene, part of a church that is reaching so many cul
tures and languages. . . .
I'm going back to the battlefield in Samoa. The tough
time is ahead. We need better teaching for our pastors re
garding what our church believes. We haven't always fol
lowed the paths that would make us the kind of Christians
the Nazarene church wants to produce. We need more Sa
moans who are well-grounded in the teachings of the
church and its doctrines, biblical truths, etc.
It is a joy as well as a challenge for me to go back and
teach. The Bible college is where I am most needed, and it
fits the dream of ministry that God has given me.
— Peni Fakaua
hi
Progress Report on Nazarene Higher Education
n establishing the International Board of Education,
■ Nazarene Theological College—Manchester (for
the 22nd General Assembly stated that its purpose
merly British Isles Nazarene College) has received
was to serve Nazarene educational institutions world
approval from the Council for National Academic
wide, encouraging each institution to be all that it can
Awards in London to offer a master of arts degree
be in quality, achievement, and service to Jesus Christ.
on “Aspects of Christian Holiness.” This will be the
In fulfilling this responsibility to our institutions world
only postgraduate degree in Britain that has as its
wide, several outstanding accomplishments and events
focus an in-depth examination of Christian spiritu
in our worldwide educational enterprise are worthy of
ality with particular attention to the Wesleyan tra
your notice.
dition. In cooperation with the council, it will be
possible in the future for students at NTC-M to
■ Two campuses dedicated: Sem inario Teologico
pursue a doctoral degree.
Nazareno Sudamericano in Quito, Ecuador, with
General Superintendent Eugene L. Stowe as speak
■ Kenya Nazarene Bible College in Nairobi gradu
er; and the campus of the Proposed Africa Naza
ated its first class of six students. Application pro
rene University in Nairobi, Kenya, with General
cedures are underway with the government to es
Superintendent Jerald D. Johnson speaking.
tablish Africa Nazarene University.
■ New presidents or rectors installed: Kenya Naza
■ Korea Nazarene Theological College announced in
rene Bible College, where Dr. Al Jones has suc
October that bachelor of arts degree certification
ceeded Dr. Mark Moore who retired.
has been received from the Ministry of Education.
Korea Nazarene Theological College, where Rev.
■ Upon General Board approval, Nazarene Bible
Lee, Ho-Jung replaced Dr. William Patch, who re
College, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S.A., has added
mains as adviser to the president.
a fourth year of studies leading to a bachelor of
Dr. John Bowling has been inaugurated as presi
biblical studies degree. The new program has been
dent of Olivet Nazarene University, replacing Dr.
approved
by the American Association of Bible
Leslie Parrott who retired.
Colleges.
Dr. Hal Cauthron now serves as rector of Nazarene
■ Significant new buildings have been erected on the
Theological College, Muldersdrift, South Africa,
campuses of Eastern Nazarene College, M ount
replacing Dr. Bruce Taylor who retired.
Vernon Nazarene College, Olivet Nazarene Univer
Rev. Robert Collins now serves as director of Semi
sity, Point Loma Nazarene College, and Visayan
nario e Instituto Biblico da Igreja do Nazareno in
Nazarene Bible College.
Brazil, succeeding Dr. J. Elton Wood who retired.
Rev. Lin, Ching-Tung now serves as president of
■ Northwest Nazarene College has been included in
Taiwan Nazarene Theological College, replacing
the U.S. News and World Report listing of “Amer
Rev. Robert McMurdock.
ica’s Best Colleges” for the second year.
Dr. Millard Reed now serves as president of TreWe marvel at the leadership of the Lord in our edu
vecca N azarene College, replacing retired Dr. cation endeavors, rejoicing in the dedication and abil
Homer Adams.
ity of our teachers, admiring the manner in which our
Mr. Lodrick Gam a is serving as principal of Swazi educational and church leaders work to provide educa
land Nazarene Bible College, replacing Rev. Peter tional experiences for all who come to the Lord and
K. Walker.
feel His call to service.
Mr. Elliot Shongwe was recently elected to serve as
Regardless of location, curriculum, or level of aca
director of Nazarene Teacher Training College in demic work offered, our schools, colleges, seminaries,
Swaziland, replacing Dr. Anderson Nxumalo who and universities are part of a great “system” of higher
is now a professor at the University of Swaziland.
education that exists for one purpose—to “go and
Dr. Terrell (Jack) Sanders from Nazarene Theologi make disciples of all nations.” Each institution is deter
cal Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., U.S.A., has an mined to retain its identity as an integral part of the
nounced his retirement effective June 1992, and church.
the process of searching for a new president is cur
— Stephen W. Nease
rently underway.
hi
I
April 1992
7
s r
VIEWPOINT
Resurrection Power
B Y JO H N A . K N IG H T
n P h ilip p ian s 3:10,
the apostle Paul ex
presses his life’s pas
sion: “ th a t I m ay
know [C h ris t] a n d th e
power pf[the] resurrection."
Our age is fascinated by
only two kinds of power:
mechanical power and man
power.
It is “God-power” that
we so mightily need—the
kind of healing, redem p
tive, compassionate energy
that flows from the heart of
the risen Christ through the
hearts of His com m itted
disciples.
T he re s u rre c tio n o f
Christ is the manifestation
o f God-power. Jesus was
“declared to be the Son of
God with power . . . by the
resurrection from the dead”
(Romans 1:4). It was God’s
mighty power that broke
the b an d s of death and
gave the Savior His glori
fied body.
The apostle speaks of
t h i s p o w e r a s G o d ’s
“mighty power, which he
wrought in Christ when he
raised him from the dead,”
and it is “to usward who
believe” that the “exceed
ing greatness” of this power
comes (Ephesians 1:18-20).
For Paul, the resurrection
was not merely a past event
in history—something that
happened to Jesus. Rather,
to Paul, resurrection was a
living power that operates
on and in the life of the in
I
8
dividual Christian. G od’s
resurrection power is avail
able to all believers.
But beyond the conflicts
and victories of our histori
cal existence, the resurrec
tion of Christ is the guaran
tee o f th e life to com e.
Christ defeated the devil,
w ho h ad th e p o w e r o f
death, and delivered those
who through its fear were
all th eir lives subject to
bondage (H ebrew s 2:1415).
Even more breathtaking
is the truth that the resur
rec tio n o f C h rist is the
guarantee that in life and in
death and beyond death the
presence of the risen Lord
is always with us. This is
the fundam ental truth of
the “power of [Christ’s] res
urrection.”
I am writing this article
on New Year’s day. Many
people are m aking New
Year’s resolutions in an an
nual attempt to be different
or better than they are. We
m ust move beyond mere
man power. The power of
Christ’s resurrection is the
power of new life.
This is what Paul found.
What his heart could not
find in striving for selfrighteousness, he discov
ered in the grace of God.
All that had seemed gain to
h im b e f o r e , h e n o w
counted but loss. The goal
and center of his whole life
were changed.
Resurrection is a chal
lenge of the “is” on behalf
of the “ oug h t,” and the
power to make us what we
“ought to be.” It is G od’s
movement in us toward the
ideal of Christlikeness.
The risen
Christ sends
the Holy Spirit
in sanctifying
lordship
to the
consecrated
believer's
heart.
M ic h e lan g e lo d r a m a
tized this tru th when he
leaned against a great slab
of m arble and rem arked,
“There is a magnificent an
gel imprisoned in this stone
waiting to be released.”
Furthermore, the power
of C hrist’s resurrection is
power for abundant life, for
a full salvation. “Wherefore
he is able also to save them
to the uttermost that come
unto God by him, seeing he
ever liveth to make inter
cession for them" (Hebrews
7:25). It is Christ, risen, ex
alted at the right hand of
God, who sends the Holy
Spirit in sanctifying lord
ship to the consecrated be
liever's heart.
Christ, the embodiment
o f Love an d T ru th a n d
Goodness, is through His
Spirit, His “other self.” the
effectual inward prom ise
and power of our continu
ing transformation.
It is His Spirit that fills
our emptiness, that opens
the gate from death to life,
selfishness to otherness,
loneliness to com m unity,
fragm entation to at-onement, narrowness to under
standing, tim id ity to in
volvem ent, phoniness to
a u th e n tic ity . H is S p irit
makes a way for us to move
from an o bsession w ith
things to a passion for peo
ple, from p reo ccu p atio n
with goods to a preoccu
pation with the Good, from
a thing-centered existence
to a God-centered life.
M echanical power and
man power leave us hope
lessly interred in our self
created tombs, bound over
for “ death, hell, and the
grave.” But God-power, res
u rre c tio n power, m akes
possible the resurrection of
men and women who are
dead in the grave of “tres
passes and sin.”
“Hallelujah! What a Sav
ior!”
^
WESLEY D. TRACY
A Preacher’s Kid Gone Wrong
o, it is not a new story— one
But the preacher’s kid of whom I
more preacher’s kid gone write lived a long time ago. He was
wrong. Usually we think a contemporary of Jesus. He shared
that preachers’ children havesomething
the
special with Jesus—they
best o p p o r tu n itie s to grow up shared the same first name. They
straight and true. And, we expect also shared a mission. Both young
more of them.
men named Jesus wanted to deliver
We feel a unique twinge of pain Israel from her oppressors— one
when still another PK renounces through rebellion and slaughter, the
his or her upbringing and strikes other through redeeming love.
The two men made headlines on
out like the prodigal son to wade in
the same day. You remember the
a pigsty.
1 d o n ’t know m uch about the story. It was part of Rome’s foreign
preacher whose son is the subject of policy to release a political prisoner
this piece. As far as I know, he faith during the Jewish high holy days. A
fully studied and taught the Scrip paternalistic gesture, well-known to
tures, was committed to prayer and colonial types.
Pilate wanted to make the most
to serving the community of faith.
of
this goodwill gesture. He would
He was, as far as anyone knows, a
not only release a Jewish prisoner,
devoted family man.
but he would let them
He ministered in times of social
choose who they wanted
unrest and oppressive injustice.
set free. The first "Jesus”
Doubtless, he preached about free
was well known to the
dom and justice.
people. Matthew called
And it was, apparently, matters of him “notorious” (27:16,
oppression and injustice that led to NKJV). Mark and Luke
his s o n ’s d o w n fall. T he fa th e r point out his role among
seemed too willing to wait for the th e r e b e ls w h o h a d
“mills of the gods to grind slowly “com m itted m urder in
away” toward justice. The young the insurrection” against
man did not have the patience to R o m e ( M a r k 1 5 :7 ,
wait for prayer to work.
NKJV).
No one seems to know how he
T his p reach er’s kid,
first got involved with the subver apparently, was a popular hero for
sive political groups that sought to the “resistance.”
bring down an abusive establish
But let M atthew pick up the
ment. But once started, he soon story. When the crowd “had gath
rose to some position of leadership ered . . . , P ila te said to th em ,
among the revolutionary guerrillas. ‘Whom do you want me to release
Clandestine meetings, subversive to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is
propaganda, revolutionary speech called the Christ?” ’ (27:17, NKJV).
es, and sabotage soon dom inated
The great proposition, as you
his life. Inevitably, these led to ter read it in most translations, has just
rorist activities, including sedition one omission. Those early scribes
and murder.
who have handed our scriptures
His story ends like so many oth down to us did not want anyone to
ers. He got caught, captured, jailed, share that name that is above all
and sentenced to death. It sounds names with our Lord. So they sim
like a story off the front page of to ply referred to Barabbas by his last
morrow’s newspaper—anywhere in nam e only. However, in the best
our world.
early manuscripts— Sinaiticus, Vat-
N
icanus, Alexandrinus, Bezae, and
others—Pilate’s question reads:
“Whom do you want me to re
lease for you? Jesus Barabbas or
Jesus who is called Christ?”
R epresenting us all, the m ob
made the wrong decision, the same
one we have been making all these
centuries. They raucously cheered
for the release of the Jesus who
wanted to deliver them through
war. The Jesus who wanted to save
them by redeeming grace and un
conditional love was (and is) too
much of a threat. We don’t know
how to cope with Him —but vio
lence and war we know.
The choice between Jesus, the
Son o f God, and Jesus Barabbas,
I t sounds like a story off
the front page of tomorrow’s
newspaper—anywhere in
our world.
April 1992
the preacher’s kid gone wrong, still
faces us this Easter season. We have
a choice to make.
But how do you know that Jesus
Barabbas was a preacher’s kid? By
his nam e, o f course. B arabbas
means "the rabbi’s son.”
We do not know whatever be
came of Barabbas, the preacher’s
kid gone wrong. Do you suppose he
knew that he could kneel at the
Cross and find forgiveness and sal
vation and restoration? Do you
suppose that all the PKs (and lay
men’s kids too) who have lost their
way know that they, too, can kneel
at the Cross and find forgiveness,
salvation, and restoration?
^
9
An open letter to the Lord from the prayer journal o f
one who is experiencing the trials and triumphs o f
being single in the Church o f the Nazarene.
ear G od,
i
You know I d id n ’t set o u t to be 39
I years old a n d single. As a little girl, I
i had proposed to You m y “form ula for
fulfillm ent.”
— By 24, I was to be m arried to a m an w ith the
spiritual fervor o f Billy G rah am an d the character o f
D avy Crockett.
— By 28, we were to have three adorable children
who perpetually sm iled an d were p o tty train ed three
weeks o u t o f the hospital.
— By 30, we were to m ove in to a lovely h o m e
w ith a garage the size o f a football field to fit our
D
tio n 21:7), m ore th a n a co n q u ero r (R o m an s 8:37),
and com plete in you (C olossians 2:10).
It is Your will th a t A LL SING LES, be they d i
vorced, widowed, never m arried, o r single p aren ts
find w holeness in You. It is also Your will th a t Your
c h u rc h help p e rp e tu a te th is w holeness. M ay th e
church be Your tool for:
A F F IR M A T I O N — To co nvince singles they are
valued an d needed
C O N N E C T IO N — To p ro m o te m eaningful friend
ships, and
M O T I V A T I O N — To in sp ire singles to grow in
C hrist by leading positive, productive lives
Lord, here are. . .
THREE THINGS SINGLES
in d o o r sw im m ing pool, jacuzzi, sauna, yacht, and
three sports cars.
— By 32, I was to land a rewarding, high-paying
jo b in television.
At least one o u t o f four dream s cam e true. I did
pursue a jo u rn alism career a n d for several years re
ported news on stations th ro u g h o u t C alifornia. A nd,
although I have so far n ot becom e a wife, m other, or
the p roud ow ner o f a spraw ling hom e, I can h o n
estly say I am fulfilled. It is all because one day I
invited You, Jesus, to be m y Lord.
In the last 10 years, You have been m y co n stan t
com panion. You have been m y Escort to countless
co u p le s-o rien te d ch u rc h fu n ctio n s, m y P ro te c to r
w hen driving alone a t night, m y E ncourager w hen
Satan a n d the w orld rem ind m e th a t m y biological
ticker is ab o u t to tucker out.
You have enlarged m y heart to develop m eaning
ful friendships. You have given m e w isdom to p u t
Your K in g d o m p rio ritie s above w orldly passions.
A nd You have offered m e infinite patience to pla
cate relatives who advise, “Honey, if he’s single and
breathes, snag him !”
In short, Lord, You have blessed m e w ith u n c o n
ditional w orth. Regardless o f m y m arital status, You
have redeem ed m e (Isaiah 43:1), m ade m e a new
creatu re (2 C o rin th ia n s 5:17), victo rio u s (Revela10
L O R D , MAY Y O U R C H U R C H
A F F IR M S IN G L E S
Jesus, before You helped people, You to o k tim e to
listen an d u n d erstan d them . A nd before the church
can begin to m in ister to a n d th rough singles, Your
pastors an d people need to take a closer look at who
singles are, th eir struggles, a n d th eir dream s.
I w onder if m ost pastors know th a t close to 65
m illion adults in A m erica are single. A nd m ore th an
h a lf o f th at staggering n u m b er are singles w ho have
never been m arried. Lord, You know firsth a n d th at
ju st because som eone has never m arried does n o t
m ean he or she is irresponsible, unattractive, or hos
tile tow ard m arriage.
I have friends w ho have chosen not to m arry be
cause they, like P aul, w a n t to focus m o re singlem in d e d ly o n fu ll-tim e m in istry . T h e y g e n u in e ly
seem fulfilled w ith the celibate life, despite incessant
needling from saints trying to m atch th em up.
O th er friends have p o stponed m arriage for a vari
ety o f reasons, the first o f w hich is they have not
found a com patible partner. T his m ay be linked to a
significant dem ographic shift in o u r society. T here
are currently 6.3 m illion m ore w om en th a n m en in
A m erica. Even if a C hristian w om an m eets an el
igible m an, b o th need to share values, interests, an d
a co m m itm en t to Christ. A nd a healthy relationship
“I will never
forget the church
Christmas party
at which I was
seated at a table
full o f children,
apart from all the
couples
Jim Kersten, M edia International
NEED FROM THE CHURCH
B Y JA N IN E TARTAGLIA
leading to m arriage takes tim e to grow. Lord, please
tell Your c h u rch to give singles th a t tim e. R ath er
than pressure, we need prayer. R a th e r th a n ju d g
ment, we need acceptance for w ho we are and e n
couragem ent to m ake the right choice— Your choice
— for a godly m ate.
Lord, w idow s a n d w idow ers c o m p rise a n o th e r
large group o f singles for w hom You require special
care by Your church (Jam es 1:27). T hose experienc
ing recent loss need o u r quiet presence a n d sensitiv
ity to th eir pain. M ay th e church be m obilized to re
spond w ith counseling a n d sup p o rt groups. O ften
the best care-givers are o th er widows a n d widowers “There’s more to life than news, weather, and
who can e m p ath ize w ith the grieving process and
can offer suggestions born from th eir own experi sports.” That’s what form er television
newscaster, Janine Tartaglia, fou nd out while
ence.
D ivorced and separated singles are also adjusting covering the Iranian hostage crisis o f 1979-81.
to loss, having been separated from once loving rela H er coverage o f Rev. Earl Lee, whose son was
tionships. Lord, even though Your W ord states You
a hostage in Iran, led her to a personal
hate divorce (M alachi 2:16), I recall your com pas
sionate m in istry w ith th e divorced w om an at the relationship with Jesus Christ. The Lee fa m ily ’s
well. You offered h er resto ra tio n a n d forgiveness. fa ith made an incredible im pact on Janine’s
Likewise, th e church should be an agent o f recovery. life. That ultim ately prom pted her to pu t down
Som e fo rm erly m a rrie d s are facing th e tra u m a
alone. O thers are raising children a n d teenagers in her reporting notebook, pick up a Bible, and
single-parent hom es. All are in need o f and search share the G ood News in churches, colleges, and
ing for support.
conferences throughout the U.S.
April 1 9 9 2
11
If a divorced perso n is a C h ristian , he m ay be
seeking forgiveness from You, Jesus, o r possibly
from him self, friends, o r from a fo rm e r spouse.
M any singles tried to keep th eir m arriages together,
b u t w ithout cooperation from th eir m ate, it d id n ’t
w ork out. Therefore, they feel guilty an d need C hris
tian guidance for healing. They m ay also need prac
tical assistance w ith finances, child care, jo b place
m ent, housing, an d future relationships.
Lord, I pray every person w ho is single by choice
o r by c irc u m s ta n c e c o u ld be e m b ra c e d by Y our
church. I wish pastors w ould affirm us by speaking to
an d o f us from the pulpit. So often serm ons are aim ed
at the n u clear tw o-adult, 2.5-child family, a n d are
n o t inclusive o f the experiences singles are facing.
Testim onies from Spirit-filled singles in w orship
services can help us all overcom e the negative ste
reotypes o f singleness. T he presence o f singles on a
pastoral staff, church board, a n d in n u m ero u s m inis
tries tells us o u r gifts are needed. Frequent o ppor
tunities to interact w ith couples also tell us we are
welcome.
L ord, I will never forget th e ch u rch C h ristm as
party w hen I was seated at a table full o f children,
ap art from all the couples. T hough I loved the chil
dren, I m issed conversing w ith friends m y ow n age. I
felt so isolated an d w ished I w ould have been al
lowed to bring a m ale o r fem ale guest to the social,
ju st so I could share the experience w ith som eone
close to me.
Singles are also assim ilated in to the church fam ily
through sim ple courtesies such as couples inviting a
few singles ho m e for dinner, providing m eals a n d
baby-sitting for stressed-out single parents, an d offer
ing single senior adults rides to night functions.
A nd, Lord, rem ind us singles to affirm each other.
S o m etim es we get so involved w ith o u r p erso n al
needs an d in n er circle o f friends th at we fail to reach
o u t to newcom ers. It is n o t easy to step in to a singles
Sunday School class for the first tim e, especially for
those w ho used to atten d church w ith th eir spouses.
M ay we w elcom e all singles w ith a sm ile an d en
couragem ent to return. A n in vitation to lunch after
church says volumes.
R em em ber, Lord, how devastated I once felt w alk
ing o u t o f w orship am ong hundreds o f bustling peo
ple w ithout a friend or place to go. I was so relieved
w hen a carload o f singles stopped m e an d invited
m e to jo in them . From th a t day on, I began to feel
as if I really belonged. T he church w anted me. My
presence was valued.
LO R D , MAY YO UR C H U R C H C O N N E C T
S IN G L E S IN M E A N IN G F U L F R IE N D S H IP S
Jesus, the m ore I know You, the m ore vulnerable
an d willing I becom e to share m y life w ith others. As
a single, I can be tem p ted to com bat loneliness w ith
busyness and to m ask feelings o f inferiority w ith an
accum ulation o f possessions and d istant a cq u ain t
12
ances. Your W ord, how ever, d o w n p lay s aloofness
a n d stresses the im p o rtan ce o f m eaningful relatio n
ships. D avid an d Jo n ath an , N aom i a n d her d au g h
ters-in-law, a n d Your friendship w ith Jo h n show m e
th a t I do n o t have to be m arried to experience in
timacy. In order to grow as a C hristian, I need to be
involved in h e a lth y frien d sh ip s in w hich th e re is
honesty, trust, a n d accountability. T h e church can
h e lp c u ltiv a te th e se re la tio n s h ip s th ro u g h sm all
groups, singles retreats, an d one-to-one prayer p a rt
nerships. T here is a place for fun activities, b u t the
church m ust also provide an atm osphere for singles
to really get to know an d care for each other. We
need a com fortable, safe setting to u n lo ad o u r hearts
a n d be real. We need to laugh an d cry, to pray a n d
pass on w hat we’ve learned to build each o th er up.
About 65 million Americans
are single, They have unique
needs and untapped potential,
L O R D , MAY Y O U R C H U R C H M OTIVATE
S IN G L E S T O G R O W
R a th e r th a n sim ply viewing singles as people w ho
“need o u r help,” th e ch u rch needs to u n d e rsta n d
how m u ch it has to benefit an d receive from singles.
T h e re is a vast h a rv e st o f love a n d ta le n t to be
reaped. W ith Your help, Jesus, singles can teach the
larg e r c o n g re g a tio n a b o u t h a n d lin g p a in , liv in g
alone, a n d leaning heavily on You. We can also teach
th a t singleness is n o t a disease for w hich th e only
know n cure is m arriage. It is a season full o f chal
lenges an d opp o rtu n ities to grow in a variety o f ways.
T he church helps singles grow spiritually through
dynam ic Bible study. Jesus, we need sou n d teaching
th a t em phasizes Your ability to deliver us from guilt,
discouragem ent, a n d bitterness. We need to be re
m in d ed a b o u t Your standards for m orality a n d holy
living. U ltim ately, we need to die o u t to self-pity an d
the drive to prove o u r w orth a n d be filled w ith the
H oly Spirit.
T h a n k You, L ord, for th e h a n d fu l o f s p iritu a l
w om en You have placed in m y life to pray w ith m e
an d keep m e close to the Cross. M ay all singles have
close co m p an io n s w ith w hom we can be ac co u n t
able. To foster this accountability, m y church paired
older believers w ith young singles in a prayer p a rt
nership for six m onths. T he senior adults co m m itted
to pray each day a n d freq u en tly m ee t w ith th e ir
“ad o p ted singles.” At th e end o f the prayer project,
both age-groups had developed genuine friendships
an d a new appreciation for each others’ needs.
T he church can also p ro m o te grow th am o n g sin
gles by sp o n so rin g singles conferences a n d w o rk
shops on grief, divorce recovery, and in n er healing.
These short-term teaching an d training experiences
can be life-changing. T h eir benefits will wane, how
ever, w ithout ongoing follow-up. Singles need co n
tinued op p o rtu n ities to discuss biblical principles re
garding self-esteem , fin a n c e s, frie n d sh ip , d a tin g ,
marriage, an d sexuality.
Beyond a d d re s s in g p e rs o n a l c o n c e rn s , singles
grow when we live out o u r faith in fruitful service.
It’s exciting to see singles teaching Sunday School,
visiting shut-ins, singing in th e choir, serving the
homeless, a n d p a rticip a tin g in W ork a n d W itness
teams aro u n d the world.
Lord, I know You care m ore ab o u t m y c o m m it
ment to You th an m y m arital status. Regardless of
whether or n o t I m arry, I am m o tiv ated by Your
Word a n d e m p o w e re d by Y our S p irit to live an
abundant life.
May Your church help m e an d all singles to ac
cept this season w ith peace a n d dignity. Jesus, give
the ch u rc h Y our eyes to fo cu s o n o u r p o te n tia l
rather than o u r problem s. G ive the church Your ears
to hear o u r cries for love an d acceptance. A nd give
the church Your heart th a t is willing to forgive, heal,
and help us to be w hole adults w ho are redeem ed
and destined for glory.
Yours always,
Janine
hi
Want to Learn More About
Single Adult Ministries?
Linda H ardin, denom inational director o f Single
Adult Ministries, refers those who want to know more
about ministering to singles to the following books:
Singles Ministry Handbook, Douglas L. Fagerstrom,
Victor Books, HH089-693-4373 $ 17.99.
National Single Adult Ministries Resource Directory
1991/92, Jerry D. Jones, NavPress, HH 089-109-6167
$12.95.
The Faces o f Single Adult Ministries, Linda G. Har
din, editor, N azarene Publishing House, H H 083411-3627 $4.95.
Linda also invites Herald readers who are single
adults of all ages and walks of life— never married, di
vorced, widowed—to attend the 1992 SoloCon retreats.
The Memorial Day SoloCons are scheduled for West
ern Indiana, Northeast Oklahoma, and Big Bear Lake,
California. Cost is $ 105-$ 115 (see ad in the March Her
ald o f Holiness). Labor Day SoloCons are scheduled in
Virginia, Michigan, Minnesota, and Alabama.
Linda encourages anyone who wants to know more
about denominational resources and programs to con
tact her at
Single Adult Ministries
6401 The Paseo
Kansas City, MO 64131
Telephone 816-333-7000, ext. 2257
T he more t h a n 3 5 0 S t u d e n t s / A d m i n i s t r a t o r s ,
F a c u lt y a n d S t a f f o f N a z a r e n e Theological S e m i n a r y
w i s h to s a y
to all the i n d i v i d u a l s a n d churches w h o ha v e
g iv e n to the 1 9 9 0 S e m i n a r y Offerin g.
W e e x i s t becaus e o f y o u r p r a y e r s a n d su ppo rt.
O f fic e o f D e v e lo p m e n t, 1 9 9 2
April 1992
13
NEWS
l \ l
I—
1# W
^
NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS
Church Opposes Nearby Clinic
NAZARENE PASTOR LEADS FIGHT
AGAINST PLANNED PARENTHOOD CLINIC
M any people would tell you that you
c a n 't fight city hall. At least one St.
Louis area developer has decided that
fighting city hall is m u ch easier than
fighting the church.
James Green ran into problems when
he decided to move a Planned Parent
hood clinic out o f the shopping center
he h a d j u s t p u r c h a s e d in F a i r v i e w
H e ig h ts . 111., ea st o f St. L o u is, Mo.
Since other businesses were refusing to
locate in his s h o p p in g ce n te r, G reen
offered to build Planned Parenthood a
new clinic if they would agree to move.
T he site ch o sen for the new clinic
w as ac ross the stree t from P a rk v ie w
Church of the Nazarene. The property
is also n ea r a city park, a residential
area, another church, and church-relat
ed offices.
Immediately. Russell Brewer, pastor
of the Parkview Church, notified other
pastors about the proposed action. The
pastors decided to oppose the move and
encouraged their parishioners to attend
a city council meeting at which the per
mits were to be approved.
"To our amazement, over 150 people
a t te n d e d the c ity c o u n c il m e e t i n g , ”
Brewer said. “ Many of those spoke up
in opposition to the new clinic.”
Russell Brewer (r., at pulpit) addresses the
press conference called to protest a pro
posed Planned Parenthood clinic across
the street from the Parkview Church. Sev
eral ministers from area churches joined
the protest.
14
However, the council took no action
on the matter.
Ten days later Brewer and a group of
area pastors called a press conference to
p u b lic ly o p p o s e the p r o p o s e d m o v e .
More than 300 people from 15 denom i
nations attended the meeting, including
26 c le r g y , n e w s p a p e r r e p o r te r s , and
reporters from all of the St. Louis area
television stations.
T o m m y C up ples, m issio n s director
for the Metro East Baptist Association.
J a m e s L o n g o f St. A lb e r t the G r e a t
Catholic Church, and Brew er spoke at
the press conference, which was held at
the Parkview Church.
“ D o n ’t th i n k th e b a t t l e is o v e r , ”
B r e w e r to ld the c r o w d . “ L e t ' s g e t
involved. L e t’s call on friends and get
them involved. L et’s call our city coun
cil m e m b e r s . A n d l e t ’s c o n t in u e to
pray.”
O ffic ials w ith P lan n e d P a re n th o o d
d en ied that they intended to p erfo rm
abortions at the new clinic. However, if
the city council approved the m ove to
the new site, zoning ordinances would
a llo w su rg ica l p r o c e d u re s , in c lu d in g
abortions.
“If Roe vs. W ade is overturned, Mis
souri could very well make all abortions
i l l e g a l , ” B r e w e r sa id . “ W h e r e e ls e
would they go except to their clinic here
in Fairview Heights.”
In the days that followed, the pastors
m e t w ith r e p r e s e n ta t iv e s o f P la n n e d
P a r e n t h o o d , b u t n o a g r e e m e n t w as
reached. The developer also expressed
Pastor Russell Brewer (I.) and Tommy Cup
ples, missions director for the local Bap
tist Association, stand in front of the Park
view Church of the Nazarene.
More than 300 people from 15 denomina
tions attended the press conference at Park
view Church.
d eterm ination to co n tin u e his fight to
build the clinic.
“W e intend to pursue this,” G re e n ’s
a t to r n e y M a r k G o l d b e r g sa id at the
time. “W e d o n 't think they [city c o un
cil members] have any reason to deny
the building permit. W e are going to
see it through to the end.”
F o u r m o n th s a f te r the c o n t r o v e r s y
began, Green withdrew his proposal to
build the clinic at the new site near the
church. A cc o rd in g to B rew er, G reen
told F airv ie w H eigh ts M a y o r G eo rge
Lanxon, “ I can fight city hall and win.
but I cannot fight the clergy and churches
and win.”
“ I am e c s t a t i c ," B r e w e r said afte r
le a rn in g th e p r o p o s e d m o v e was
scrapped. "H ow ever, we will continue
to attend city planning meetings to see
where the developer might be going.”
EWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • f
BY M A R K G R A H A M a n d T O M F E L D E R
NWMS CELEBRATES RECORD YEAR
WHILE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
The denomination must
o f f e r m o re in n o v a tiv e
options to local church
es to help them fulfill
the o b j e c t i v e s o f the
N W M S , a c c o r d i n g to
Nina G. Gunter, general
NWMS director. Gunter presented her
challenge to the General NW MS Coun
cil during their recent meeting in Kansas
City.
"We must becom e revolutionary in
our thinking," G unter said. "W e must
e x p lo re a l t e r n a t i v e s f o r the l a r g e r
churches, do all we can to help districts
in world mission regions, anti expand
the base in how we think as leaders.”
In presenting her sixth report as gen
eral director, Gunter reported 8,405 local
NWM societies with a m em bership of
590,207, an increase o f 309 societies
and 9,353 members. More than 6.300
churches reported an active prayer min
istry and 66 districts achieved Mission
Award status.
A record 71 of the 203 districts in the
world mission regions and 14 of the 85
U.S. and Canada districts paid General
Budget in full for a total of more than
$30 million.
The P rayer M o b iliza tion Line also
reported a record number of calls, aver
aging 2,235 each month.
Gunter reported that $15,300 has been
received through the NWMS to provide
Bibles for the Commonwealth of Inde
pendent States. “ Nazarenes are helping
make available Testaments, Bibles, and
stories of the life of Christ that will have
eternal ramifications,” Gunter said.
World Mission Radio provides daily
broadcasts in China and weekly programs
in the C o m m onw ealth of Independent
States. Around the world the denomina
tion provides broadcasts on more than
1,000 radio stations in 40 languages and
dialects in about 100 countries.
" T h i s is no tim e to be w o b b l y , "
G u n t e r told the c o u n c il. “ W ith the
Lord’s enablement, NWMS can aggres
sively fulfill its objectives in the decade
o f the ’90s and enter the 21st century
strategically positioned and enthusiasti
cally poised as a visionary, dynam ic,
and spiritual force o f m issions in the
Church of the Nazarene."
NEW YORK DISTRICT TOPS THRUST GOAL
The New York District will close the
final year of its Thrust to the City with the
organization of seven churches, according
to Dallas Mucci, district superintendent.
The district began its Thrust emphasis
in 1987 with a goal of 23 churches. At
this point, it appears that 36 churches
will have been organized as a result of
the Thrust by the close of the ’91 assem
bly year.
The latest church was Patterson, N.J.,
THRUST TO THE CITIES UPDATE
(As o f February 17, 1992)
FOC*
T o ta l"
Chicago '8 6 ............................. .....15........... ................... 18
Mexico City ’8 7 ....................... .....11............ ................... 27
New York '8 8 ........................... .....34............ ................... 50
Los Angeles '8 8 ...................... .....25............ ................... 50
Paris '8 9 ................................... ....... 1............ ................... 13
Sao Paulo '8 9 .......................... .....29............ .................192
Toronto 9 0 ............................. ....... 3 ........... ................... 59
Seoul 9 1 .................................. .....2 4 ........... ................... 25
TO TAL.......................................... . . 1 4 2 ........... ..................4 5 2
"F0C = fully organized churches
"Total new works including church-type missions, Bible classes,
and preaching points
April 1992
Bethel, a Haitian-speaking congregation.
Three other churches will be organized
before this y e a r ’s district a ssem b ly —
they are: Spring Valley Haitian, Valley
Community, and New Pulse Spanish.
"D r. B resee a c tu a lly s p o k e in the
building where Spring Valley Haitian is
meeting,” said Mucci. “W e ’re not mov
ing out and leaving the com m unity to
the other religious groups."
The churches begun out of the Thrust
are d o in g w ell, a c c o r d in g to M ucci.
Living W ord Church in Dumont, N.J.,
under Pastor Frank Bolella, raised more
than $100,000 last year and is averaging
200 in w orship. T w o other churches.
N e w a r k H a itia n C o m m u n ity (P a s to r
Pierre Prophete) and Far Rockaway, N.J.
(P a sto r W e n to n Fyne), are av erag in g
about 120 each in services.
Bible studies are beginning with Chi
nese and Portuguese groups, and a new
K o re an ch u rc h is d e v e lo p in g , M ucci
reported.
The New York District reported 47
fully organized churches in 1980. It will
close this assembly year with 95.
General Superintendent Eugene L. Stowe
(I.) and James J. Hudson, Caribbean regional
director (r.), traveled to Cuba in January
to conduct the Cuba D istrict Assembly
and v is it churches on the island. (See
related story in March 1992 Late News.)
Stowe and Hudson are pictured w ith
Cuba D is tric t S u p erin ten d en t A rnaldo
Miranda and his w ife.
NEW CHURCH ORGANIZED
AMONG CARIBE INDIANS
A Nazarene church has been organized
among the Caribe Indians on the island
o f D o m in ic a , a c c o r d in g to J a m e s J.
H udson, C aribbean regional director.
T h is is the on ly e v a n g e l ic a l c h u r c h
serving the Caribe tribe, Hudson said.
Sixteen persons joined the church as
charter members.
W ayne Lawson, a Native American
from the Cherokee tribe, has helped the
you n g co n g re g a tio n secure property.
M ore than 1,000 C aribe Indians live
within walking distance of the new site.
Lawson, who is in the Caribbean as
part of the Nazarenes in Volunteer Ser
vice program, will be meeting with the
Caribe tribal chief to solicit his support
in e s ta b l is h in g the new c h u r c h as a
strong evangelistic center.
Plans call for a W ork and W itness
team from Alaska to build a chapel and
d evelop a youth center for the entire
tribe.
Moses Archibald will serve as pastor
of the new church. A successful busi
nessman. Archibald recently received a
call to preach.
D o m in ic a is one o f the W in d w a rd
Islands, which also includes the island
nations o f St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and
Grenada. Wilvin Clarke serves as su
perintendent o f the W indw ard Islands
District.
15
NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEW
ANBP PROVIDES ADVICE ON CHURCH EXPANSION
P astor Rolston Roberts addresses the
more than 350 persons who attended the
d e d ic a tio n o f B o lan s C hurch of th e
N a za re n e in A n tig u a , th e L e ew ard
Islands. The church was built by a local
work crew and a Work and Witness team
from Grand Rapids, M ich., on land donat
ed by the government.
G uests a t th e d e d ic a tio n in clu d ed
members of Parliament.
D is tric t Superintendent Rosa E. Lee
(seated I.) installed Roberts as pastor of
the new church.
MORE
EXCELLENT
WAY
Christian Holiness
Association
124th Annual
Convention
April 2 1 -2 3 ,1 9 9 2
H arrisburg H ilton and Towers
H arrisburg, Pa.
For more information, contact:
Christian Holiness Association
P.O. Box 100
Wilmore, KY 40390
16
More than 170 pastors and laymen front
the East Central educational zone attend
ed a seminar, “ How to Improve G o d 's
H o u s e , ” r e c e n t l y on th e c a m p u s o f
Mount Vemon Nazarene College. Spon
sored by the A ssociation of N azarene
Building Professionals (ANBP), the con
ference provided practical help for local
c h u rc h es p la n n in g to r em o d e l or e x
pand, according to Rick Conklin, ANBP
president.
“Our intent was to bring state-of-theart information to the church by profes
sionals who are actively engaged in the
design and construction o f ch u rc h es,”
Conklin said.
W orkshops focused on a variety of
issues related to building or remodeling
churches. Some of the sessions included
information on upgrading older churches,
planning for future growth, financing a
bu ild in g or re m o d e lin g p ro g ra m , and
designing a building for evangelism.
“This was most helpful to my board
of trustees," said one pastor who attended
the seminar. "M any important questions
were answered.”
The organization hopes to repeat the
s e m i n a r on e a c h o f the e d u c a t i o n a l
zones within the next two years.
A N BP includes architects, engineers,
builders, contractors, and others in con
struction-related professions.
A N B P is a f f i l i a t e d w ith C h u r c h
E x t e n s i o n M in i s t r i e s in the C h u r c h
Growth Division.
GENERAL NWMS CONVENTION COORDINATOR SELECTED
G w en Bass has accept
ed the position of 1993
G e n e ra l N W M S C o n
v en tio n c o o rd in a to r,
a c c o r d i n g to N in a G.
Gunter, general NW MS
director. She will begin
her new assignment July 1, 1992.
A nativ e o f Red Deer, A lta., Bass
c u r r e n tl y r e s id e s in O v e r l a n d P ark .
Kans. She is a graduate of the U niver
sity of Missouri and attended Eastern
N az aren e C ollege. She and her hus-
b an d . Bill, a tte n d K a n s a s C ity F irst
Church of the Nazarene.
As convention coordinator, Bass will
act as liaison for the G eneral N W M S
C o n v e n t i o n in m e e t i n g s c o n c e r n i n g
G eneral A sse m b ly /C o n v e n tio n s. She
will coo rdin ate inform ation and m a il
ings to all districts and work with the
g en e ral N W M S d ir e c to r and g en e ral
council in theme presentation, special
events, speakers, resolutions, and other
items. She will also supervise person
nel at the convention.
JOHNSON RECOGNIZED BY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
B. Edgar Johnson, pres
id e n t o f th e N a ti o n a l
Association o f Evangel
icals and former general
secretary of the Church
o f the N a z a r e n e , w as
h o n o r e d r ec en tly with
the 1992 P r e s i d e n t 's A w a r d by the
R elig io us C o n fere n ce M a n ag e m en t
A s s o c ia tio n ( R C M A ) . J o h n s o n w as
recognized for his service to the Church
of the Nazarene as general secretary for
26 years and his current leadership of
the NAE, as well as service to RCMA.
"B. Edgar Johnson is a talented and
g e n e r o u s p r o f e s s io n a l." said M elv in
Worthington, RC M A president.
Johnson has been a key person in the
d e v e lo p m e n t o f the R C M A from the
organization's earliest days.
MINISTERS’ 1991 BENEFITS TOP $27 MILLION
A record $27 million were paid out in
benefits from plans administered by the
Board of Pensions and Benefits USA in
1991, according to Dean Wessels, direc
tor.
The $27 million included more than
$6.7 m illion in “ b a s ic ” p en s io n plan
benefits, over $4.3 million in TSA and
IRA retirement plan benefits, over $1.1
million in life insurance and disability
insurance claims, and more than $14.8
million for medical and dental claims.
"Funds to cover these benefit distribu
tions come primarily from local church
es and districts who pay the Pensions
and Benefits Fund, insurance premiums,
and contributions to the Nazarene TaxS heltered A nnuity retire m ent plan on
behalf of their ministers." Wessels said.
" T h e c h u r c h c a n be p r o u d o f th e
employee benefits that they provide to
their Nazarene ministers."
H e ra ld o t H o lin e ss
• NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS
1992 GENERAL BOARD HIGHLIGHTS
The fo llo w in g represen ts item s o f s ig
nificance th a t w ere m e n tio n e d in the
reports p resented to the G eneral B oard
at its 1992 session.
for publication by the book committee
• T h e H e ra ld o f H o lin e ss printed 12
issues with devotional helps, news,
and articles on denom inational pro
grams and social issues
CHURCH GROWTH DIVISION
Bill Sullivan. Director
• 85,657 new Nazarenes
• Reached and surpassed decadal goal
of 10,000 new churches
• $ 2 4 3 ,4 8 7 in g r a n ts d i s t r i b u t e d by
Nazarene C o m passio nate Ministries
in Canada/U.S. (CANUS)
• 72 W o rk and W i tn e s s te a m s w ere
involved in projects in the U.S. and
Canada (1,229 volunteers)
• 412 chaplains (154 full-time and 258
part-time)
• 24 Nazarene chaplains were deployed
during Desert Storm
• 548 churches organized worldwide
• 662 c o m m i s s i o n e d a n d r e g is t e r e d
evangelists
• 11,588 ordained elders and deacons
worldwide (gain of 262)
• 4.567 licensed ministers
COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
Paul Skiles. Director
• Publications International published
four new S p a n ish b ook s; tw o new
P o rtu g u e se b o o k s; and tw o new
books in French
• English as a Second Language co m
pleted six projects for publication
• Seven units o f Intercultural English
materials completed
• 8,600 b o o k s d is t rib u t e d th ro u g h
"Books in Mission" program since its
inception
• Translated docum ents into more than
15 languages
• Media International provided audio/
visual support for three major confer
ences: L a y m e n 's Conference, N aza
rene Youth International Conference,
and Evangelism Conference
• M edia I n te r n a tio n a l p r o d u c e d tw o
public television spots for the Church
of the Nazarene Canada
• Media International produced prom o
tional ads for N Y C '91 and Crystal
Sea recordings
• Media International p roduced audio
and videotapes for a variety of educa
tional and promotional purposes
• 30 book manuscripts were approved
April 1992
FINANCE DIVISION
D. M o o d y Gunter. D ire ctor
• 1,650 families assisted with wills by
Planned Giving
• $ 2 , 9 3 3 ,0 0 0 re c e iv e d in by c h u r c h
e ntitie s th ro u g h m a tu red wills and
trusts
• M ore than 3,700 retirees served by
the “ b asic" pension plan with total
benefit paym ents o f more than $6.7
million
• 91.45% denom inational paym ent of
Pension and Benefits Fund with 12
districts paying 100% or more
• 1,916 churches awarded the Stew ard
ship Honor Roll
• 3,027 churches in the U.S. and C ana
da paid their budgets in full (59%)
• 19 new loans added to the G eneral
Church Loan Fund for a total princi
pal amount of $ 1,348,900
• More than $9.5 million received for
the 1991 T hanksgiving Offering for
World Evangelism
SUNDAY SCHOOL MINISTRIES
P h il Riley, D ire cto r
• 1,323,343 persons on Responsibility
L ist ( e n r o l l m e n t ) — an in c re a s e o f
3,842 over previous year
• Sunday School average attendance of
665,711 (increase of 7,745 over pre
vious year)
• 62,295 officers and teachers
• 48% o f the S u n d ay S ch o o ls in the
U.S. and Canada showed increases in
attendance
• 257,127 NYI members worldwide
• $ 6 9 , 7 1 4 r a is e d fo r the A m e r i c a n
Bible Society offering
• 26,143 C L T credits awarded
WORLD MISSION DIVISION
R obert H. Scott, D ire ctor
• 590,207 N W M S m e m b ers in 8,405
societies
• R e g io n a l C o u n c ils and R egional
Conferences held on each of the six
world regions
• 95 world areas
• 608 missionaries
• 203 W ork and W itn ess team s with
2,981 participants
• M o r e th a n $2 m i l l i o n r a i s e d fo r
Alabaster offering
• $2.4 million given N azarene C o m
passionate Ministries Fund
• Nazarene Compassionate Ministries,
Inc., was approved by the U.S. gov
ernment to receive corporate agency
gifts
• First Nazarene missionaries appointed
to Ukraine
EDUCATION BOARD
S tephen Nease, C o m m is s io n e r
• 12,902 students enrolled in the U.S..
Great Britain, and Canada
• 2,855 degrees awarded
GENERAL SECRETARY
J a c k S tone
• C hurch m em b ersh ip grow th of
5.73% to 1,002,150
• 15 new districts for a total of 292
• $468,476,452 paid by Nazarenes for
all purposes
• 279 new elders' credentials issued in
the U.S. and Canada and 118 in other
world areas
• Credentials o f 28 elders from other
denominations recognized
• 18 new deacons ordained in the U.S.
and Canada
GENERAL TREASURER
N o rm a n 0. M ille r
• $48.4 million total income
• $13.4 m illion received for m ission
specials
• $29.7 m illion received for G eneral
Budget (+2.14%)
NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE
R o b e rt Foster, M a n a g e r
• 533,879 books printed
• L ill e n a s P u b l i s h i n g C o m p a n y r e
leased 10 new choral books, 6 key
board collections, 10 dram a books.
14 choral octavos, and 17 recordings
• I n tr o d u c e d n e w r e c o r d i n g s la b el.
Crystal Sea
• A p p ro x im a te ly 3 ,0 0 0 ca lls w ere
received weekly on the toll-free sales
line
17
NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS
An artist’s rendering shows the new entrance to the Indianapolis Convention Center and
Hoosier Dome and skywalks to nearby hotels and parking spaces. The expansion is to be
completed before Nazarenes gather in Indianapolis for the 1993 General Assembly.
The skywalks will connect the convention center with the Westin Hotel (r.) and the
Hyatt Regency Hotel (I.).
INDIANAPOLIS CONVENTION CENTER TO UNDERGO
$43 MILLION EXPANSION
When Nazarenes return to Indianapolis
in 1993 for the 23rd General Assembly
they will see se v e ra l c h a n g e s in the
In d ia n a p o lis C o n v e n tio n C e n te r and
Hoosier Dome (ICCHD). Construction
has begun on a $43 million expansion
and re n o v a tio n pro jec t at the center,
accordin g to Indianapo lis conv ention
officials.
The expansion will include a m ulti
p u r p o s e ro o m , f le x ib le m e e tin g and
convention space, a new lobby and reg
istration area, p refu nction space, and
skywalks.
Construction is expected to be c o m
pleted in June 1993 prior to the General
Assembly.
T w o g la s s - e n c lo s e d sk y w a lk s will
connect the convention center with the
Westin Hotel and the Hyatt Regency.
The pedestrian skyw alks will connect
1,068 hotel roo m s and 2.700 parking
spaces to the convention center for the
first time.
A new 22,740-square-foot lobby and
registration area will be added between
the convention ce nte r's main entrance
and the new meeting rooms. The new
m eetin g ro om s will p rovide an a d d i
tional 22,050 square feet o f space for
up to 13 m e e ti n g r o o m s . T h is w ill
bring the number o f meeting rooms in
the convention center to 60.
In addition to the m eeting space, a
new m u ltip u rp o se room will be c o n
structed, providing about 36,000 square
feet of event space. This area will be
su rro u n d e d by 18,300 sq u a re feet o f
prefunction space, which can a c c o m
modate up to 2,400 people.
In addition to the new space, other
i m p r o v e m e n t s w ill be m a d e to th e
H o o s i e r D o m e , i n c l u d i n g tw o n e w
video screens and improved ventilation
and handicapped accessibility.
Opened in 1972, the convention cen
ter a d d e d tw o e x h i b i t h a lls an d the
Hoosier Dome in 1984.
The newest release in the Dialog
series line, th is book takes an
in-depth look at “ life-changing
experiences” through the use of
p e rs o n a l te s tim o n ie s . E ach
c h a p te r d is c u s s e s how to be
more than an overcom er when
we face m ajor “turning points"
in life , such as aging, death,
birth, and fa m ily conflict.
H H 0 8 3 -4 1 1 -4 0 1 1
$ 3 .9 5
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CHA TO BEGIN CABLE BROADCAST
T h o m a s H. H erm iz , p re sid e n t o f the
Christian Holiness Association, will be
featured in a 13-part television series on
the Vision Interfaith Satellite Network
beginning Apr. 3 at 1 p . m . The series,
titled “Aflame," will emphasize the teach
ings of John Wesley.
The sermons were taped at sum m er
c a m p m e e tin g s and c o n f e re n c e s and
edited for the 30-minute broadcast.
Colleges, local churches, radio and
T V s t a t i o n s , a n d i n d i v i d u a l s w ith
access to a satellite dish can receive the
18
program on S A TC O M F IR , T ranspon
der 5. The program may be recorded or
retransm itted if credit is given to the
VISN network.
CH A is com posed of 15 den o m in a
tions and 50 educational institutions in
N o rth A m e r ic a . It is e s tim a te d that
more than 11 million people are a part
of the Wesleyan tradition worldwide.
The 124th annual convention of the
CH A will be held Apr. 21-23 in Harris
burg. Pa. The theme o f the conference
will be “The More Excellent Way."
Great for personal
reading or for use
as an adult Dialog
Series elective.
N a z a r e n e P u b lis h in g H o u s e
1-800-877-0700
Prices subject to change
Plus postage
E. DEE FREEBORN
Praying Together
his month I have been par
ticularly bothered by the
nagging notion that in all
the writing I have been doing
about prayer, someone might get
the idea that prayer alone is more
valuable than prayer together. Con
centrating on the development of a
secret prayer life and disregarding
God’s people in prayer together is
historically short-sighted and spiri
tually dangerous.
It has been argued that such no
tions of privacy are, in fact, in er
ror. Eugene H. Peterson, in his
probing book Earth and Altar, de
clares: “The single most widespread
American misunderstanding of
prayer is that it is private. Strictly
and biblically speaking, there is no
private prayer.” He goes on to
point out there is a difference be
tween “solitude” and “privacy.” Pri
vacy involves insulating the self,
moving away from others who dis
turb us. Solitude is leaving others
in order to be able to hear them
more profoundly, to hear the whis
pers of God that call us to serve
humankind.
The Scripture record is replete
with illustrations of God’s people
gathered in prayer. In the New Tes
tament, for example, there is the fa
miliar assembly on the Day of Pen
tecost in Acts 2. Later in the
chapter, we read: “They devoted
themselves to the apostles’ teaching
and to the fellowship, to the break
ing of bread and to prayer” (Acts
2:42, NIV). The scene repeats itself
in chapter 12 when Peter miracu
lously escaped from prison and
“went to the house of Mary the
mother of John, also called Mark,
where many people had gathered
and were praying” (12:12, NIV).
What a graphic picture of the
power of the praying community
T
April 1992
while the participants were un
aware of the electrifying results!
There is another illustration of
such group power in prayer in
James 5:14-15: “Is any one of you
sick? He should call the elders of
the church to pray over him and
anoint him with oil in the name of
the Lord. And the prayer offered in
faith will make the sick person
well” (NIV). I pray best when my
prayer life is balanced between
prayer in solitude and prayer in
community.
It is at this very point that Ben
Campbell Johnson, in his powerful
little book, To Will God’s Will, pro
vided a new insight that I want to
share with you. He suggests that we
learn how to pray the or
der of worship. I have
tried it, and it made a
profound difference in
my worship and in my
understanding of who
the church is. When soli
tary prayer is balanced
with corporate prayer,
our personal prayers take
on a new dimension.
The next time you en
ter into worship, try
praying the order of wor
ship. At the invocation or call to
worship, listen to the words used
by the minister. Imagine it is Jesus
Christ himself inviting us to wor
ship, not just me alone, but all of
us gathered together, calling us into
the presence of God. Get a sense of
the community as a whole. If it is a
choral call to worship, let the words
ring in your heart; hang on every
word as if coming from God him
self.
As the hymns are announced, be
focused and ready to sing the
words as a prayer. Lift them as a
sacrifice of praise to God. Let your
heart sing out; let the words be
your words. The music can lead us
to prayers of praise, confession, and
thanksgiving.
As the minister leads in prayer,
picture the body of believers before
God, bringing to Him their deep
concerns for persons of family,
community, and the world. The
pastor leads, but we pray too! We
are involved.
The offering brings forth the act
of submission and giving. It is a
moment of worship that professes
our dependency on the sufficiency
of God and God alone. We refuse
to let our minds wander here; this
is the symbolic offering of our
selves to Him.
L i f t them as a sacrifice
of praise. Let your heart
sing out. Let the words
be your words.
Now we are ready to hear the
Living Word through the spoken
word. Pray as the minister speaks,
that his words will be made alive
by the Spirit. Finally, let the bene
diction send you from the sanc
tuary to the world, realizing that is
no small assignment!
When I prayed the order of wor
ship as a part of the community of
faith, it made a profound differ
ence! Would you be willing to try it
next Sunday?
E. Dee Freeborn teaches p ra c tic a l
th e o lo g y a n d sp iritu a l form ation at
N aza rene T heological Seminary.
19
GOOD FRIDAY:
ENDURING THE CROSS
B Y D ON M. A Y C O C K
enelik II was the em peror o f E thi H im . A fter the m eal was com pleted, Jesus to o k the
opia from 1889 until 1913. News E le v en — J u d a s left a lo n e to c o m p le te his grisly
reached him o f a successful new task— and w ent to the M o u n t o f Olives to pray. The
m eans o f d isp atch in g crim inals. hours to com e w ould be the clim ax o f all He had
T h e n ew s w as a b o u t a d e v ic e been ab o u t during His entire life.
know n as an electric chair. T he em perorT he
eagerly
or o f w hat C hrist did for us w hen we
sym bol
dered one for his country.
could do nothing for ourselves is a cross. It took ev
U nfortunately, no one bothered to w arn him that eryone by surprise w hen the C h u rch was no m ore
it w ould never w ork because E thiopia at th a t tim e th an a gleam in G o d ’s eye. T he C ross has becom e
had no electricity. M enelik was determ ined th a t his the m ode through which G od gives h im self and, in a
new purchase should not go to waste. He converted sense, d efines him self. I th in k A lister M cG rath is
the electric chair into a throne.
right on target w hen he says in T he M ystery o f the
T here was an o th e r occasion w hen an in stru m en t Cross, “All h u m an conceptions o f w hat ‘G o d ’ m ust
o f death becam e a throne. O n a Palestinian hillside be like are shown up as in adequate a n d ridiculous,
ab o u t 20 centuries ago, a cross becam e a th ro n e for a n d we are th u s h u m iliated through the failure of
one nam ed Jesus o f N azareth. To this day, th a t a n o u r reason a n d w isdom , a n d com pelled to consider
cient in stru m e n t o f to rtu re an d death is converted G o d as he has revealed him self in the crucified and
into a powerful sym bol o f life, hope, an d resurrec dying C hrist.” M cG rath calls the Cross “the sole au
tio n . M illio n s o f p eo p le a ro u n d
thorised sym bol o f the C hristian
the world see the Cross as G o d ’s
faith .” E xactly! W h a t we know
way o f indicating His refusal to let
a b o u t G o d th ro u g h C hrist is fil
death and destruction have the fi
te re d th ro u g h th e p ris m o f the
Ihe traitor’s kiss
nal word.
Cross. It is m ysterious, difficult to
O n th e last Friday o f H is life,
com prehend, and even em barrass
sealed the
J e s u s w as fa c e d w ith a h e a v y
ing.
choice: th e decision to c o n tin u e
Few p e o p le c o n s id e r th in k in g
transaction and
an d fulfill His m ission or to abort
a b o u t G o d from the perspective of
it a n d s a v e H is life . L a te o n
suffering, degradation, a n d death.
made the silver
T h u rsd a y night, Jesus h ad been
Yet, on the final Friday o f H is life,
with H is disciples in Jerusalem for
J e s u s g a v e u s a n e w a n g le o f
jingle in his
a m eal in celebration o f the Passv is io n — a new w ay o f th in k in g
over. H e c h a n g e d p a rts o f th a t
a
b o u t G o d . H e d id c h o o s e th e
pocket.
m eal a n d re m in d e d th e Twelve
fo o lish a n d lowly, as P a u l had
th at they w ould never participate
said. H e showed us a side o f him
in it again w ith o u t rem em bering
self th a t no one had noticed be
M
20
H e ra ld o f H oliness
W hat we know
about God
through Christ
is filtered
through the
prism of the
Cross.
H. A rm stro n g R oberts
fore. As M cG rath says, “T he cross reveals the funda
mental u n c o n tro lla b ility o f G o d , w ho b reaks the
mould o f o u r thinking.”
Even so, C hristian s have alw ays tried to u n d er
stand, at least a little, w hat G od did on the Cross to
change people. T his change is called the A tonem ent.
The A tonem ent is the effect th a t the life, teaching,
death, and resurrection o f Jesus has on the life o f
those who will ap p ro p riate the pow er o f those events
into their own lives. T his results in the forgiveness o f
sins at a personal level, a sense o f pow er an d victory
over hostile forces, a sense o f having been redeem ed
at an enorm ous cost, an d the possession o f an exam
ple to follow. Jesus, as th e C hrist o f G od, did for
men and w om en w hat they could not do for th e m
selves; namely, becom e reconciled to G od. This, in
broad strokes, is the m eaning o f the A to n em en t and
what G ood Friday is all about.
G ethsem ane
A part o f the M o u n t o f Olives was an area know n
as G ethsem ane. Jesus to o k the Eleven in to this grove
and sta tio n e d eig h t o f th e disciples by th e o u te r
ADril 1992
edge. H is instructions were simply, “Sit here while 1
pray” (M ark 14:32, NIV). W hatever else the G e th
sem ane experience m ight have been, it was at least
Jesus’ absolute victory in following His Father’s will
to its com pletion. T he integrity th a t had given H im
au thority on Tuesday also carried H im through Fri
day. He prayed to m ain tain th a t integrity and urged
His disciples to jo in the vigil.
A rrest and T rials
T he action in the G ospels at this point is co m
pressed like a steel spring in a box. T here is a b u n
d a n t p o te n tia l energy sto red there. A ctions were
swift, if n ot too certain. D ecisions were m ade in a
hurry. People gave their support to dark and d u b i
ous work. Political intrigue was at its height. Som e
reached F austian b argains for th e sake o f power.
M any were confused. A few were crushed. In the
end, only one m an stood out with His integrity in
tact.
T h e a rr e s t o f J e su s w as a c c o m p lis h e d e a sily
enough. He was exactly w here Judas had told the
continued on page 27
21
' -
Easter Portraits
by Bea I. M ooney/Art by Edwin B. W allace
Courtesy of the Wesleyan Advocate
Peter’s Dilemma
How quick his lie
three tim es a lie
and then the rooster crowed.
Ashamed, head hung low,
he could not lift the weight he bore.
A sham ed that in his strength was weakness;
he slunk away,
darkness swallowed him.
Alone
he felt his deeds were cast in stone.
His heart was torn.
Far he wandered, desolate,
his acid anguish churned;
he beat his brow upon the rock
where Jesus prayed.
T hen because there was no other way,
because it mattered not w ho saw,
he stood before the Cross.
Alone, lost in the noise
and color o f the crowd.
he willed his eyes to look
an d caught his M aster’s gaze—
that laser, healing, melting wholeness
wrapped him in His love.
There Peter stood
his spirit aw ed—
one look,
a gift from God.
Judas’s Alchemy
U n d er the ancient tree
he sat
an d spat
to clear his mind.
Silver coins lay clinking, winking in
his lap.
He cursed their spell, now a trap;
he d u m p e d th e m in the moneybag
to hide them from his eyes.
“ He could have saved him self—
He d id n ’t have to die.
He could have stopped m e —
He d id n ’t have to die.”
Wild, he rushed to return his gain
so heavy in his hand, but
blood coins no one would to u c h —
blood coins were his;
he’d bought th e m with a kiss.
He slung th e m at their feet,
he fled;
hands on ears, he heard the clink;
eyes closed, he saw th e m wink.
His soul grew black,
clinking, winking,
clinking, winking.
He raced to the tree
where he’d sat
an d spat
to clear his mind.
He noosed the rope.
Yet he d id n ’t have to die.
Shouldering Loads
Striding u p the dusty road,
dust swirls d ancin g in his wake,
S im on’s goal was near com p lete—
one league m o re to go.
Then his pace was slowed.
A raucous crowd strangled his way.
Simon strode to o n e side
over boulder, stubble, grass,
oblivious to the sw arm ing mass.
“ Hey, you, strong man!
Here, carry this,”
thundered a soldier, spear in hand.
Simon neither swerved n o r answered
but picked up his pace.
By his ear he heard it
sizzle thro ugh the air
strike the path before him.
Sim o n lurched a n d stopped.
“ Halt, strong m an, o r die.”
Sim on tu r n e d his head,
saw the crowd break like bread
revealing one w h o struggled
with a rough-hew n cross,
a heavy, awkward, m a n -h e w n cross.
“ Me?” S im o n stood still.
“You!” snarled the soldier.
“ M ake haste.”
Sim o n turned,
trod through the broken crowd.
“ Let m e bear this load,”
an d held his wineskin
to the stranger’s lips.
T h en knelt a n d with a mighty heave
shouldered the cross,
struggled to sta nd—
the cross was his m o m e n tu m
with short fast steps for balance.
“T h a n k you, friend;
som eday I’ll bear yours.”
Sim on picked up his pace,
puzzled at the clear, soft word,
for he knew this m a n w ould die.
A Better Fragrance
She staggered through the garden
across the dew -drenched grass,
head bent
in light o f dawn.
Shattered m em o ries askew,
golden days gone,
holding only o in tm e n t bought with
care.
Haltingly timid,
she tiptoed in,
head stretched forward to extend
her sight—
only cold, stone walls.
H ow could she bear m ore sorrow?
T he o in tm e n t fell a n d broke,
its a r o m a pulsating through d a w n ’s
gloom,
wafting o n little winds
from fragrance spilled on grass.
M ary wept into her headcloth bitter
tears
out o f tu n e with the rising song of
birds.
T h en through the mist o f sadness
were two beings
bright an d white with in n e r light.
“W hy do you weep?”
“My Lord is gone.”
With em p ty h ands an d anguished
heart
she tu rn e d to leave,
but in her path a figure,
clad in w orking clothes,
stood straight a n d still.
He spoke b u t one soft w ord—
“ Mary.”
Sweet joy bathed her spirit,
spilled into her eyes.
“ Master, You are here;
You were near.”
At His word
she ran to share the news
with the fragrance o f hope wafting
after her.
eed an Easter activity th a t the entire
fam ily will enjoy and be involved in,
th a t will increase the m eaning an d re
m em b ran ce o f the E aster story, not
take too m uch tim e, and can becom e
a family tradition?
T hen try doing a real E aster basket.
Each day for nine days before Easter, the activity
begins w h en you firs t read sc rip tu re th a t c o rre
sponds to the events in Jesus’ life th at first week and,
second, w ith an item h id d en som ew here in y o u r
house th a t sym bolizes those events. It’s your chil
d ren ’s jo b to fin d these item s and p u t th em in a
large E aster basket. T h e basket can th en becom e
your table centerpiece. Or, if you prefer, you can use
the item s to build a dioram a or an Easter interest
center, rather th an an Easter basket.
A fter the Scripture reading, fam ily m em bers can
w ork together to m ake item s for the Easter basket.
Som e item s will have to be purchased ready-m ade.
Such item s can be handled, passed aro u n d w ith di
alogue ab o u t their significance.
As a real E aster basket is used through the years,
encourage your fam ily to com e up w ith their own
sym bols th at rem ind them o f the Easter story.
N
Day 1: Saturday Before Palm Sunday
Scripture: John 12:1-11
Topic: M ary anointing Jesus’ feet
Item : perfum e
24
Day 2: Palm Sunday
Scripture: Luke 19:28-44; M ark 11:11
Topic: Jesus’ entry in to a n d tears for Jerusalem
Item s: palm b ra n c h (p lastic leaf); c o a t (doll
clothes); toy donkey; teardrops (cut out o f
felt or paper)
Scripture: Luke 19:45-48; M atthew 22:1-14
Topic: tu rn in g over the m oney changers’ tables;
the parable o f the w edding b a n q u e t
Item s: coins; an invitation to a heavenly w ed
ding b a n q u e t (write one and have a signa
ture space for each fam ily m em b e r to sign
an d date if they have accepted or w ant to
accept Jesus’ inv itatio n ); a w hite robe o f
righteousness (doll clothes or sew a sim ple
one)
H e ra ld of H o lin e s s
Day 4: Tuesday
Scripture: M atthew 24
Topic: Jesus’ teaching on the Second C om ing
Item s: angel w ith tru m p e t; cloud, m oon, sun,
star (cut o u t shapes in felt— a puffy cloud
could be sewn a n d stuffed)
Scripture: M atthew 26:1-16
Topic: a w om an a n o in ts Jesus’ head; Judas’ plot
Item s: perfum e; 30 silver coins
Day 6: Thursday
S crip tu re: L u k e 22:7-13; J o h n 13:1-17; th e n
back to Luke 22:14-65
Topic: the foot washing; Last Supper; G arden o f
G ethsem ane; betrayal o f Jesus
Item s: bowl and towel; bread and grape juice;
angel; kiss (a lipstick kiss on a w hite piece
o f paper); a sword (cut one out o f c a rd
board and paint it); toy rooster
Scripture: Luke 22:66-71; Luke 23; M atthew
27:3-5, 62-66
Topic: th e C ru c ifix io n ; th e to m b is sealed.
(Since Jew ish days w ent from su n set to
sunset, the P reparation D ay for the Sab
bath was from sunset T hursday to sunset
Friday. T hus, for the chief priests and Phar
isees to have gone to Pilate and request a
g u ard a fte r th e P re p a ra tio n D ay m e a n t
th e y b ro k e th e ir ow n s tr ic t law o f n o t
w orking on the S abbath in th e ir d esper
ation to get a guard stationed at the to m b
Friday night.)
Item s: crow n o f th o rn s (single th o rn from a
rosebush o r m ake a w reath from a rose
b u sh b ra n c h o r ask a g re e n h o u se for a
thorn); nail; cross (two sticks tied together
in the m iddle); clothes a n d /o r dice; sponge;
black p a p e r (for the darkness); lam b (to
sym bolize Jesus as the L am b o f G od); cur
tain; to m b and seal (Using an oven-baked
clay th at is available at m any craft stores,
shape a tom b. Shape a “stone d o o r” to fit
an opening in the to m b and press on. C ut a
piece o f tw ine to go across the d oor an d at-
tach to th e sides o f the to m b w ith sm all
pieces o f clay. Im p rin t these pieces w ith a
ring. Bake as directed); R om an guards (two
toy soldiers).
B enefits Q uestion s
Answered by Dean Wessels
W hy a re reg u lar cost-of-living increases not
given to recipients of “ Basic” Pension benefits?
T h e f o llo w in g in f o r m a t i o n m a y g iv e a h e lp fu l
p e r s p e c ti v e o n this q u e s tio n . T h e m a jo r ity o f U.S.
p e n s io n p la n s c o n t a in n o p r o v is io n s fo r p e r io d i c
b e n e f it in c re a s e s a f te r a p e r s o n is retire d . U s u a l ly
w h a t e v e r b e n e f it is paid u p o n r e ti r e m e n t is th e
b e n e f it r e c e iv e d for life. In rare c a s e s , s o m e p e n s io n
p la n s p r o v id e l o n g - tim e r e tire e s w ith in c r e a s e s as
f u n d s b e c o m e a v a ila b le .
Scripture: Psalm 22:1-18; Isaiah 53
Topic: prophecy o f the C rucifixion; prophecy o f
the suffering servant
Item s: toy lions a n d lam b; w ater; wax; nails;
dice
Day 9: Easter Sunday
Scripture: M atthew 28:1-15; Luke 24:13-49
Topic: the R esurrection; soldiers paid to spread
the lie Jesus’ body was stolen; Jesus m eets
disciples on the road to E m m aus, quotes
O ld T estam ent prophecies concerning the
M essiah an d breaks bread w ith them
Item s: Initially the basket is em pty because He
has risen! A fter the Scripture reading, p ut
in the basket an angel; m oney; scroll (C ut a
dowel in two equal lengths. C ut a piece of
w hite paper slightly shorter th an the dowel
and write “ Isaiah 53” on it. G lue the ends
o f the paper to the dowels and roll up like a
scroll, tying w ith a ribbon); bread
To m ake these fam ily tim es m ore m eaningful:
1. Light a candle during each reading to sym bol
ize Jesus as the Light o f the World.
2. Serve hot cross buns on Friday as a rem in d er o f
the cross. T he yeast in the rolls is a sign o f new life.
W hen Jesus is in o u r lives, He raises us to new life.
3. A ttend an Easter sunrise service.
^
26
A s h a s b e e n d is c lo s e d m a n y t im e s , th e “ B a s i c ”
P e n s io n P la n a l w a y s h as b e e n in a n “ u n f u n d e d ”
p o s itio n . T h is m e a n s tha t, to d a te , th e r e n e v e r h a v e
b e e n e n o u g h a s s e ts in r e s e r v e to e q u a l th e “ p r e s e n t
v a l u e ” o f th e b e n e f i t s p r o m is e d . In fact, w h e n the
p la n b e g a n in 1971. it d id a v e r y ra re th in g . It
r e c o g n iz e d y e a r s o f s e r v ic e f o r c r e d it b a c k to th e
v e r y b e g i n n in g o f th e d e n o m i n a t i o n , e v e n t h o u g h
n o f u n d s h a d b e e n r e s e r v e d o r w e r e o n h a n d w ith
w h ic h to m e e t t h o s e p r o m is e s . In a d d i tio n , sin c e
1971 th e re h a v e b e e n o v e r 3 0 im p r o v e m e n t s , 7 o f
w h ic h h a v e in c r e a s e d th e b e n e f it f o r m u l a . E a c h
raise p r o f it e d all c u r r e n t, as w ell a s fu tu re r e c ip ie n ts .
T h is h a s b e e n a u n iq u e f e a tu re o f th e p la n . M o st
p la n s g iv e r aise s o n ly to th o s e w h o re tire a f t e r th e
d a te o f th e f o r m u l a c h a n g e .
F u r t h e r m o r e , p r o f e s s io n a l a c tu a r ie s , w h o a n n u
ally r e v ie w th e p la n , in d ic a te d last y e a r th a t
“ B a s i c ” P e n s io n b e n e f i t s h a v e k e p t u p w ith the
c o s t o f liv ing ( in f l a ti o n ) s in c e its sta rt in 1971. In
o t h e r w o rd s , c u r r e n t p u r c h a s in g p o w e r f o r th o s e
r e c e iv in g b e n e f i t s to d a y is as g r e a t o r g r e a t e r th a n
it w a s in 1971. T h e a c tu a r ie s in d ic a t e d th is is a rare
a c c o m p l i s h m e n t fo r a p e n s io n p la n th a t is n o t fully
fu n d e d .
A G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y C o m m i s s i o n c u r r e n tl y is
s tu d y i n g v a r io u s p e n s io n issues. O n e iss u e is
w h e t h e r o r n o t f u n d s a re a v a ila b le to in c re a s e the
“ B a s i c ” P e n s io n b e n e f it f o r m u l a ag a in . T h e 1989
b e n e f it in c re a s e n e a r ly d o u b l e d th e u n f u n d e d
liability. U n fo r tu n a te l y , th is o c c u r r e d at th e s a m e
ti m e th e G e n e r a l B o a r d a n d G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y
r e d u c e d th e f o r m u l a b y w h ic h local c h u r c h e s are
a s s ig n e d p e n s io n fu n d a l lo c a tio n s . O f c o u r s e , th is
r e su lte d in a d e c r e a s e in p r o je c te d f u n d in g s o u r c e s .
T h u s , a n y f u r t h e r b e n e f it in c re a s e s w ill n e e d to be
r e v i e w e d v e r y carefu lly .
Q u estio n s abo ut ben efits m ay be sent to the
Board of P ensions and B enefits USA, 6401 The
Paseo, K ansas City, M O 64131-1284.
H e ra ld of H o lin e s s
Good Friday...
continued fro m page 21
au th o rities to find H im . T he
tra ito r’s kiss sealed the tran s
a c tio n a n d m a d e th e silv er
jin g le in his p o c k e t. A bove
all, th e e v e n ts o f th e a rre st
an d the “trials” are full o f iro
nies, illegalities, contradictions, a n d tragedies. C o n
sider som e o f these.
The first tragedy was th a t Jesus was the victim o f
a plot by the Pharisees to in crim in ate H im . T he plot
also involved others w ho w ould serve as witnesses
against H im . T h eir collusion broke dow n, however.
W hen Jesus was before the S anhedrin, “ M any testi
fied falselv against him , b u t their statem ents did not
agree” (M ark 14:56, NIV).
A second tragedy on th a t Friday was th a t Jesus
was the victim o f evaded responsibilities. A fter His
arrest, Jesus was hauled before six groups or persons
for His “trials.” T he first was A nnas. Jesus was next
taken before C aiaphas the high priest. C aiaphas sent
Jesus on to the S a n h ed rin . T his g roup sentenced
Jesus to death, b u t it had no pow er to carry out the
sentence. They sent H im to the R o m an au th o rity
for th at job.
P ila te w as th e fo u rth p e rso n to see Jesus. He
evaded his responsibility to be a ruler a n d allowed
the m ob to choose. Pilate learned th a t Jesus was a
Galilean and, therefore, u n d e r H erod’s jurisdiction.
He sent the prisoner to H erod. It was a convenient
way to pass a political/religious hot potato w ithout
getting b u rn e d — or so he thought.
T h e in te rv ie w b efo re H e ro d w as th e fifth for
Jesus. He w ent back before Pilate for this sixth inter
view o r trial. Pilate, to his credit, gathered the people
who m ade the accusations against Jesus and said, “I
have e x a m in e d h im in y o u r p re se n c e a n d have
found no basis for your charges against him . N either
has H erod, for he sent him back to us; as you can
see, he has done n othing to deserve death. Therefore
I will p u n is h him a n d th e n release h im ” (L u k e
23:14-16, NIV).
In all six o f the so-called trials, one fact stands
out. W hile everyone w anted to be in on the accusa
tions, no one seem ed very w illing to take full re
sp o n sib ility for e x e c u tin g Jesus. T h e S a n h e d rin
hated H im b u t could n ot put H im to death. Pilate
could have had H im killed easily, but he w anted no
part o f it. Instead, he shuffled H im o ff to H erod for
th e d irty w ork. H e ro d enjoyed th e sp o rt, b u t he
would n o t co n d em n Jesus either, so he m arked H im
“retu rn to sender” a n d sent H im back. Even the sec
o n d tim e , P ila te w a n te d no tro u b le w ith Jesus.
Evaded responsibilities were part o f th a t last Friday.
T he last day o f Jesus’ life was th u s full o f travesties
o f justice, the rule o f a m ob m entality, an d the be
April 1 9 9 2
trayal o f a people’s deepest beliefs. U nusual alliances
were form ed, a n d form er enem ies cam e together.
Even nature itself seem disturbed.
Hearing the Word Today
G od decided to give him self to h u m an ity in a new
way in the Incarnation. He fully accepted the risk
th a t people w ould react to His Son in exactly the
sam e way people react to everything— som e accept,
som e reject, som e ignore. Even so, in love G od gave
him self to bring us back to himself. T he results at
first seem ed like failure because the C rucifixion ap
peared so perm anent. Jesus died and was genuinely
dead.
Jesus accepted suffering as the way to bring peo
ple to G od. H ad Jesus m erely w anted to save His
life, He could have. But He had som e goal in m ind
larger th an His own life. He accepted the suffering
on the Cross in order for the transform ation o f sin
ful people to take place. W hen all is said and done,
we really c an n o t explain th at fact. We can only pro
claim it.
Don M. Aycock is a m in iste r living in Lake Charles, La. H e is
the a u th o r o f the b o o k Eight Days That Changed the World.
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27
THE RESURRECTION IS
GOD’S FINAL WORD
B Y PHIL B ED S W O R TH
t w as E a s te r 1 9 87. M y
testified: “ D eath is stro n g — b u t
church in Hesston, Kans.,
G od is stronger! T he final victory
was filled to overflowing.
belongs not to death b u t to G od.
M ore th an 700 m em bers
We die not into cold, em pty shad
had gathered to celebrate
ows but into the loving arm s o f
two resurrections: th a t o f Jesus,
o u r H e a v e n ly Father. C h rist is
and my own.
ris e n ; we n o lo n g e r n e e d fe a r
S even m o n th s e a r lie r I h a d
death. We can stop being afraid.”
been diagnosed with chronic m y
It is now Easter 1992. T he last
elogenous leukem ia. T he progno
five years have brought setbacks,
sis was bleak. My only hope was a
victories, a n d a b it o f w isdom .
bone m arrow tra n sp la n t, a p ro
R esurrection faith, I am discover
cess th at w ould “kill” my faulty
in g , s h a p e s n o t o n ly o u r a p
im m u n e system. O n January 15,
proach to death but also o u r ap
1987, I received m y tra n s p la n t
proach to life.
with my sister-donor, Beth. It was
1.
Resurrection is G o d ’s fin a l
successful, and I began the slow
word. News re p o rts tell us th a t
process o f recovery.
p e o p le s p e n d th e g re a te s t p e r
D u rin g m y h o s p ita liz a tio n , I centage o f their health dollars in
h a d p ro m is e d m y s e lf a n d th e
th e last six m o n th s o f life. I n
ch u rch I w ould preach
on Easter Sunday. How
w o u ld I r e tu r n to th e
p u l p it a f t e r a fiv e m onth absence?
I found m y answ er in
the c h ild re n ’s tim e. As
th e c h ild ren c am e for
w a rd , I s n e a k e d o n to
the platform , covered by
a b lan k et. Sue G ering,
th e storyteller, to ld the
c h ild re n a b o u t m o th s,
cocoons, and butterflies.
N oticing the large “ co
c o o n ” b e h in d her. Sue
helped the children call
m e out. To the sound o f
c o n g re g a tio n a l a p
plause, I was “reborn.”
My hom ecom ing ser
m o n w as title d “ S to p
B e in g A f r a i d .” W ith
new found conviction, I
I
creasing n u m b ers o f sen io r c iti
z e n s a re sig n in g “ liv in g w ills”
o n ly to be o v e rru le d by fam ily
m em bers. W hy is there this o b
session with avoiding death?
T he Shadow K eeper is an e f
fective liar. D eath tears us away
from those we love. D eath feeds
us the illusion o f u ltim ate a u th o r
ity. If death is indeed ruler o f this
world, we should m ake every ef
fort to p o stp o n e his advent. We
s h o u ld e m p lo y every h ig h -te ch
resource to prolong life.
B ut th e a p p a r e n t v ic to ry o f
d e a th is a sham ! T h e pow er o f
death has been broken. T h e sting
o f death has been defeated, once
an d for all, by the light o f Easter
m orning. We dare to confess with
the apostle Paul: “For to
me, to live is C hrist and
to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21, NIV).
Let us not m isu n d er
s ta n d P a u l. H is is no
death wish. He had lots
o f unfinished work. He
c o v e te d th e c h a n c e to
co n tin u e his m issionary
service. Yet, if life cam e
to an a b ru p t end, there
w as a b e tt e r w o rld
w a itin g o n th e o t h e r
side o f the river.
L ik e P a u l , I d o n 't
w a n t to die. I w a n t to
grow old w ith m y wife,
Joyce. I w ant to see m y
children, Sara a n d Ste
ven, en ter college, m a r
ry, a n d give m e so m e
grandkids. T h a t p ro b a
bly w on’t happen. I’ll be
O)
'i
doing well to see 50. D eath will
be a disap p o in tm en t. But it will
n ever, n e v e r g a in th e v ic to ry .
T hanks be to G od! We have the
victory th ro u g h o u r L ord Jesus
Christ.
2.
R esurrection w ill bring rest
and reunion. C hronic illness has
p rom pted m e to th in k seriously
a b o u t life a fte r d e a th . H eaven,
once an afterth o u g h t on the pe
riphery o f m y faith, is now a cen
tral concern.
In my childhood days, heaven
w as “ u p t h e r e ” w ith g o ld e n
s tre e ts a n d B ev erly H ills -ty p e
m ansions. T here was lots o f sing
ing but little w ork to do. H eaven
would be one long vacation.
T h a t w a s a lo n g t im e a g o .
M oon flights a n d space shuttles
have taught us th a t “u p ” is a rela
tive word. T here is no “ u p ” be
yond e a rth ’s g ra v ita tio n a l field.
Im a g e s o f g o ld e n s tr e e ts a n d
stately m ansions no longer c o m
fort me.
W hat does heaven m ean to m e
n o w ? S im p ly p u t , h e a v e n is
w h e re G o d is. W h e n I a m in
heaven, I will be w ith G od.
T he a u th o r o f H ebrew s speaks
o f an “eternal rest” th a t G o d has
prepared for G o d ’s children. I am
g rea tly a ttra c te d to th is im age.
T he daily struggles o f the last few
years have often brought fatigue
a n d w e a r in e s s . T h e w o rd s o f
Psalm 55:4, 6, 8 (N IV ) have ta k
en on new m eaning for m e. “ My
heart is in anguish w ithin me; the
terro rs o f d e a th assail me. . . . I
said, ‘O h, th a t I had the wings o f
a dove! I w ould fly away an d be
at rest. . . . I w ould hurry to my
place o f shelter, far from the te m
pest a n d storm .’”
Rest does n o t m ean inactivity.
I e x p e ct to be bu sy in h eav en .
W ith the busyness, however, there
will be p eace o f m in d , th e c er
tain ty o f G o d ’s love, an d the as
surance o f being safe.
H eaven, for m e, will be a place
o f rest. It will also be a place o f
relationship. I have been to m any
f u n e r a l s in w h ic h p r e a c h e r s
p ro m ise th e su rv iv o rs th a t they
April 1992
will be reunited w ith those who
h ave gone on before. T h is is a
heartfelt yearning; is it a biblical
expectation?
T here are a variety o f New Tes
ta m e n t passages referring to the
R e s u r re c tio n . I ta k e d ire c tio n
from a verse nestled in 1 C o rin
thians 13 (NIV): “Now I know in
part; then I shall know fully, even
as I am fully k n o w n ” (v. 12b).
T h ro u g h o u t ou r earthly sojourn,
G o d gives us s tre n g th a n d th e
Spirit to grow tow ard the likeness
o f Jesus C hrist. I do not believe
s u c h a j o u r n e y e n d s a b r u p tly
w ith death. W hatever m akes me
“ P h il” will c o n tin u e. T he tim e
table o f o u r resurrection and the
I w ould be a household word. I
w ould show the older generation
how to steer m y d e n o m in a tio n
into the 21st century.
My b ru sh e s w ith d e a th have
changed all that. D uring my hos
pitalizations, 1 did not m iss the
u rg e n t c o m m itte e m e e tin g s or
guest sp o ts at c o n fe re n c e c o n
v en tio n s. I m issed th e e v en in g
prayers with m y children, coffee
breaks with m y wife, o p p o rtu n i
ties to talk serio u sly w ith d e a r
friends.
For m any years, I was a faithful
advocate o f postponed living: a f
ter college, a fter sem inary, after
the kids have grown up. No m ore.
I cannot assum e I have tom orrow
to play w ith Sara a n d Steven. I
c an n o t plan to visit a friend when
it’s convenient. I d o n ’t know how
m uch tim e I have.
At our house, we speak o f “liv
ing
on the edge.” Occasionally, we
Heaven, once on
m ove back a step or two from the
brink, b u t we never leave the cliff.
the periphery of
T h e shadow o f d e a th is alw ays
there. O u r aw areness o f d e a th ’s
my faith, is now a
proxim ity can be a threat. It can
also
be a friend.
central concern.
T he certainty o f death prom pts
m e to be a good stew ard o f my
schedule. T his involves learning
to say no. I am m ore cautious in
frittering m y tim e away on proj
shape o f o u r resurrection bodies
ects about which I do not care. I
rem ain a mystery. I am con fid en t
am m ore generous in giving m y
th at I will know and be know n.
self to things th at m atter. I recog
3.
T h e in e v ita b ility o f d e a th n iz e t h a t t h e t im e to c r e a te
p u ts life's clutter in perspective.
m em ories is now: to m ake every
T h e re ’s alw ays th e te n s io n b e
h o lid a y s p e c ia l, to c e le b r a t e
tw een the urgent and the im por
friendships, a n d to heal b ro k en
tant. T he urgent cries o u t for a t
relationships. Now is the tim e to
tention. We divert o u r atte n tio n
say, again and again, “I love you.”
a n d o u r energy to pressing p rob
T h e c e rta in ty o f d e a th r e a r
lem s. It m ight be a d ead lin e at
ranges priorities. I no longer care
w ork, a cry for help, an e m e r
ab o u t the big tim e. It is enough
gency requiring o u r tim e, o u r en
to live one day at a tim e. I am
ergy, o r o u r money. T here are, in
c o n ten t to be a good husband, a
deed, urgent m o m e n ts to which
good father, and, I hope, a faithful
we m ust respond. However, it is
servant o f Jesus Christ.
easy to let the urgent crowd out
Phil Bedsworth te a ch e s p art-tim e at
the im p o rtan t.
H e ssto n (K ans.) C ollege. The s to ry o f
A fte r g ra d u a tin g from s e m i
his b a ttle w ith leukem ia is to ld in the
nary in 1977, I had dream s. I in
book, Fight the Good Fight, H e rald
Press, 1991.
ten d e d to be th e prem ier p u lp i
teer o f m y church.
From Gospel Herald, Scottdale, Pa. U sed b y perm ission.
Hi
29
THE FAMILY ALB
A d v e n t u r e s in C h r i s t i a n P a r e n t i n g
As Sure as Death and Taxes
B Y J E R R Y A N D LYNDA C O H A G A N
A p r i l 15. A n in d is p u ta b le , una v o id a b le reality. As cer/ M
ta in as d e a th a n d fo u r
.A . J m . m o r e y e a rs o f Q u a y le
jokes.
M y m i n d f l o u n d e r s in a p o o l o f
n u m b e r s to ta le d a n d r eto tale d from
s a v in g s a c c o u n t s , m o n e y m a r k e t s ,
C D s, an d m u tu a l
funds. A n y w ay I shove
t h e m a r o u n d , they j u s t
d o n ’t to ta l th e
“a m o u n t y ou o w e’’ o n
lin e 65 o f m y 1040.
A n d in a m o m e n t o f
deep co m m ise ra tio n
w ith m y wife, 1 glibly
sp o u t, “ I h ate m y life.”
G r e a t w o rd s o f c o m fo r t
to m y life’s m ate.
Slowly a n d p atien tly
she coax es m e aw ay
from th e s p re a d sh e e t o f
n u m b e rs em b laz o n ed
o n t h e c o m p u t e r sc re en . H o w c a n
o u r w h o le life c o m e d o w n to a col
u m n o f assets versus debits? Even the
n u m b e r s glare b a c k in a b rig h t green
as if to m o c k m e as t h e s u p p o s e d
b readw inner o f o u r home.
She w raps her a rm s a ro u n d m e
a n d tries to h u g aw ay th e facts. My
a r m s h a n g lim p. “ H o w c a n y ou j u s t
p r e te n d th is p r o b le m d o e s n ’t exist?
Life in th e real w orld d o e s n ’t w o rk
like that. We c a n 't j u s t h u g a n d play
m ake-believe!” A n g ry w o rd s fired o f f
in f r u s t r a t i o n , n o t a t t h e c e i l i n g
(w here th e y w o u ld hav e b e e n b etter
d ir e c te d ) b u t a i m e d d e a d c e n t e r at
th e h e a rt o f th e o n e 1 love.
A q u ie t dinn er. W h ile she silently
c le a rs t h e ta b le , I c o n t i n u e to m e
th o d ic ally b e a t th e l u m p s o u t o f m y
30
m a s h e d p o ta to e s w ith m y s p o o n a n d
g n a w at m y Swiss steak as if it w ere
th e last r e m a in s o f a n IR S em plo yee .
L a te r on , she su g g ests a d riv e
a b o u t th e c o u n try sid e . T h e n u m b e r s
o n t h e s c re e n refu se t o c h a n g e , so
w h y n o t? I s l u m p d o w n o n th e p as
senger side, refusing to drive. As we
I w onder who is really
the stupid animal.
The cow or me?
leave s u b u r b ia a n d th e s o u n d o f lawn
m o w e r s a n d k id s p l a y i n g in e v e r y
o th e r driveway, 1 b u r y m y s e lf d e e p e r
in m y seat. L rom m y v an tag e p o in t I
c a n ’t a v o id t h e fact t h a t t h e sky is
p r e p a r in g to p u t o n a n u n d e n i a b l y
b e a u tif u l s u n s e t. S he k n o w s b e t t e r
th a n to d r a w it to m y a tte n t io n , so
she j u s t c o n t in u e s to drive slowly a n d
let th e ro a d lead us t o wherever.
T h e k in k in m y n e c k is killing m e,
so I finally sit u p a n d stare o u t the
side w indow. 1 n o tic e a p a s tu r e full o f
H o lste in cows. T h e y ’ve all m a n a g e d
to stick th e ir n e c k s b e tw e e n th e
b a r b e d w ire t o get t h e b e t t e r g rass
a lo n g th e roadside. Stu pid, d u m b a n
imals, I th in k . T h e n I n o tic e far o f f to
o n e side o f th e field s o m e th in g else is
ta k in g place.
“ S to p th e car,” 1 say. O n e c o w is
n o t b usy c h e w in g h e r cud. S he s ta n d s
o f f from th e o th e r s w hile a sm a ll c a lf
r o m p s all a b o u t her, n u z z l i n g h e r
w arm u n d ersid e a n d th e n ru n n in g
o f f a few feet o n ly to kick u p its heels
a n d t h e n r e tu r n b a c k to its m o th e r.
T h e s e tw o are different. S he a n d h e r
n ew born are n o t c o n
c e r n e d w ith g e ttin g th e
b est grass. A t this m o
m e n t in tim e , th e y are
o n ly c o n c e r n e d w ith
celeb rating each o th e r
a n d p l a y i n g in th e
s p rin g d u s k before light
is gone.
I w o n d e r if th e
m o t h e r k n o w s t h a t this
m o m e n t o f p la y ,
th o u g h m a k e-b eliev e ,
is special a n d lim ite d .
A nd that soon enough
h e r n e w b o r n will grow
u p a n d ta k e its p la ce a lo n g s id e th e
o th e rs w h o strain for w h a t is j u s t o u t
o f reach, c u t tin g th e m s e lv e s in th e a t
te m p t.
A n d t h e n I w o n d e r w h o is really
th e stu p id a n im a l. T h e c o w o r me?
A pril 15 will c o m e a n d go.
1 rea ch across a n d rest m y h a n d o n
m y wife's. She e n t w i n e s h e r fin gers in
m in e , c e le b r a tin g w h a t is real. T h e
su n s e t b u r s ts ac ro ss th e sky in streaks
o f b lu e a n d gold, a m b e r a n d w heat,
d e m a n d in g o f m e to a c k n o w le d g e
w h a t is w o rth h o ld in g o n to a n d w h a t
is not.
Jerry Cohagan is o n e h a lf o f the c o m
e d y /d ra m a duo, H ic k s a n d C ohagan.
Lynda is a h ig h s c h o o l E n g lish te a c h e r
in Olathe, Kans.
rq
R O G E R L. H A H N
Portraits o f Jesus in John
Out of This World
Jesus answered, “M y kingdom is
not o f this world. I f m y kingdom
were o f this world, m y servants
would fight" ( J o h n 18:36).*
i n d in g o u r p la ce in th e w o rld
is o n e o f th e m a j o r ta sk s o f
h u m a n d e v e lo p m e n t. R e c
o gnizing a n d tr u s tin g th e w o rld o f
the faces o f lov in g p a r e n ts a n d
family is a sig n ific a n t proce ss for
a n infant. N o r m a l d e v e l o p m e n t
will m e a n t h a t a c h i ld ’s w o rld ex
p a n d s to in c lu d e h o u s e a n d h o m e ,
the c h u r c h , th e n e i g h b o r h o o d , a n d
school. T h e sc hool s h o u ld help in
still a sense o f city o r c o u n t y pride,
o f state identity, a n d o f n a t io n a l al
legiance. T h e c i r c u m s ta n c e s o f
s o m e p e o p le e x p a n d th e ir w o rld so
t h a t th e y b e c o m e w o rld citizens
a n d identify w ith all o f p la n e t
earth . We m e a s u r e t h e m e n ta l
h e a lth o f p e o p le in th e W estern
w o rld by h o w well th e y fin d th e ir
id e n tity in e a c h o f th e se “ worlds.”
T h u s , Je su s’ w ords, “ M y kin g
d o m is n o t o f th is w orld,” a re u n
settling w ords. To p e o p le w h o d e
fin e o u r success a n d id e n tity by
h o w well w e fit in to a n d b e lo n g to
th e w orld, th e se w o rd s a t ta c k th e
very f o u n d a ti o n s o f o u r lives. B u t
we c a n n o t follow C h r is t a n d dis
m iss th e se w o rd s as idealistic a n d
n o t a p p lic a b le to th e real w o rld in
w h ic h w e live. Je su s s p o k e th e se
w o rd s as H e w as o n trial for H is
life. T h e y w ere n o t d e s ig n ed to save
H is life; in fact, th e se w o rd s f u rth e r
j e o p a r d iz e d Je su s’ life. T h e y reflect
a n a b s o lu te ly essential t r u t h for
C h r is t— a n d th u s for follow ers o f
Christ. S uccess a n d id e n tity c a n n o t
be m e a s u r e d by fittin g in to this
w orld. Je su s c h o s e to live a n d die
o n th e basis o f a n id e n tity a n d val
ues th a t literally d o n o t b e lo n g to
th is world.
F
A pril 1 9 9 2
Je su s’ following w ords clearly
sh o w t h a t n o t b elo n g in g to this
w o rld also m e a n s a reje ction o f h u
m a n a n d w orld ly te c h n iq u e s. “ If
m y k in g d o m w ere o f th is world,
m y se rv a n ts w o u ld fight.” N ew Tes
t a m e n t G r e e k c o n s tru c ts c o n d i
t io n a l s e n te n c e s to sh o w w h e th e r
th e r e a d e r s h o u ld a s s u m e th a t the
c o n d i tio n is tr u e o r not. T h is c o n
d iti o n is n o t true. J o h n ’s first r e a d
ers w o u ld hav e read Je su s’ w o rd s to
say, “ I f m y k in g d o m w ere o f this
w o r l d — b u t it isn ’t — th e n m y ser
v a n ts w o u ld f ig h t— b u t they w o n 't
b e c a u s e m y k in g d o m is n o t here.”
Jesus a n d H is followers will n o t
fight for success, identity, survival,
a n d p o w e r in this w orld. T h o u g h
t h a t is th e h u m a n way, it
is n o t th e w ay o f C h r is t’s
k in g d o m .
I d e n tity in th e king
d o m o f C h r is t c o m e s
f ro m o b e d ie n c e r a th e r
t h a n from survival a n d
success. J o h n ’s p o r tra it
o f Je su s a p p r o a c h in g the
C ross sh o w s n o w av e r
ing, n o fear, n o u n c e r
tainty. Je su s m a rc h e s res
o lu te ly forw ard to w a rd
H is d e a th sim p ly b e
c a u se it is th e F a th e r’s will. T h a t is
w h y H e dec la re s in J o h n 18:11 as
H e is arrested, “T h e c u p th a t the
F a th e r h a s given m e I’ll certainly
d r in k , w o n ’t I?” T h e an s w e r is
clearly a r e s o u n d in g yes. W h e n h u
m a n success, c o m fo rt, o r a c c e p
tance becom es m ore im p o rta n t
t h a n o b e d ie n c e to th e Father, th e n
o u r k in g d o m is o f this world.
T h e p u r p o s e o f th e k in g d o m o f
C h r is t is to w itne ss to th e t r u t h as
Jesus states in J o h n 18:37. T h o u g h
P ilate sarcastically asks, “W h a t is
tr u th ? ” th e r e a d e r o f J o h n k n o w s
Jesus h i m s e l f is th e t r u t h (John
14:6). G o d 's W ord s p o k e n is tru th.
T ru th is th e gospel message that
G o d loved the w orld so m u c h th a t
H e gave His S on to die so th a t
th o se w h o tru st in H im m ig h t have
life. G o d loved th e w orld e n o u g h to
offer d eliv eran c e to a w orld b o u n d
u p in its ow n identity, success, a n d
values. B ut th a t deliv eran c e is n o t
o f this world. It will n eve r be o u rs
as long as o u r ide n tity a n d success
c o m e from this world.
As C h ristia n s t u r n th e ir th o u g h ts
a n d eyes to th e Cross, we m u s t
never lose sight o f th e fact th a t o u r
ide n tity is n o t o f this world. T h a t
m e a n s we c a n n o t live o n th e basis
o f th is w o rld ’s u n d e r s ta n d in g o f
success a n d value.
Jesus and His followers
will not fight for success,
identity, survival, and
power in this world.
For further study: (1) Study John
18 and 19. Summarize the verses
that show Jesus in control o f His
own destiny and functioning as a
King. (2) List areas o f your life
where you feel the pull o f this world
more strongly than the pull o f the
kingdom o f Christ. (3) Ask the
Holy Spirit to begin to wean you
away from this world and to place
your confidence totally in Christ.
‘ Scripture q uotations are th e auth or's ow n translation
Roger L. Hahn teaches N e w Testa
m e n t at S outhern N azarene U niver
s ity
^
31
Do I Have To?
B Y H. B. LO N D O N , JR .
o I have to? As a parent of
tw o very a c tiv e sons, i
have heard th o se w ords
m any times.
in their early years, when certain
things were expected of them that
d id n ’t alw ays fit th e ir m o o d or
pleasure, the response to a direc
tive was, “Oh, Dad, do I have to?”
Those days did not last forever. . ..
Before my very eyes they grew up,
became men, and now do as they
please.
For 31 years, I served as a pastor
in the Church of the Nazarene. 1
had the privilege of sending more
than 30 Work and Witness teams,
o f raising over $4 million for world
missions, and of traveling around
the world and preaching the gospel
o f Jesus Christ to soul-sick th o u
s a n d s. My in v o lv e m e n t in th e
w orld o u tre a c h an d evangelism
mission of the Church of the Naza
rene has been one of the most re
warding experiences o f my m inis
try. And to think there was a time
in my ministry when I said, “Do 1
have to?”
Let me explain. A lot of pastors
and church leaders complain about
p a y in g th e ir a ssig n e d b u d g e ts.
They, too, say, “ Do I have to?” I
said it in the early days of my m in
istry when I thought the paym ent
o f General Budget or a special mis
s io n a ry o fferin g w ould w eaken
other areas of our church’s minis
try. In so m any ways I said those
words. The truth is, no, we really
d o n ’t have to. We do, how ever,
have a m andate from Scripture to
“go into all the world and preach
the gospel to every creature,” but
we don’t have to. We do have a re
sp o n sib ility to su p p o rt o u r 608
missionaries in 95 world areas, but
we don’t have to. Or do we?
I urge you to accept the General
Budget and your 1992 Easter O f
D
32
fering for World Evangelism as a
wonderful opportunity to fulfill the
m andate o f our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ and to say to our dedi
c a te d m is s io n a rie s a ro u n d th e
world, “We love you. We support
you. We stand alongside you.”
In my 31 years of ministry, the
churches where I pastored never
missed paying their General Bud
g et o r m e e tin g an E a s te r o r
Thanksgiving goal. How did we ac
complish that? Simple:
a. Present the need; set a goal.
b. Establish the Easter Offer
ing as a priority for the total con
gregation. Include the children!
c. S ta rt th e E aster O ffering
cam p aig n early . . . fo u r to five
weeks in advance of the offering
date.
d. Put an Easter Offering en
velope in the hand of every church
m em ber and friend.
e. Invite folks who have been
on Work and Witness trips, or who
have visited foreign fields, to share
their testim ony
f. Give yourself!
Do you have to? No, you really
don’t . . . but in fact, you do. The
Church of the N azarene depends
u p o n y o u r g iv in g in th e 1992
E aster O ffering for W orld E van
gelism so that together we can do
what God, through His Son, Jesus,
has asked us to do.
I m iss m y “ m issio n in v o lv e
m ent” m ore than I can say. As I
look back, I only wish I could have
done more and not been so prone
in those early days to say, “ Do I
have to?"
H e liv e d ! H e d ie d ! H e ro se
again! Jesus didn’t have to do those
things either . .. but He did. Why?
Because He loves you as though
you were the only one in all the
world to love!
Have a glorious Easter!
^
CHILD S P O N S O R S H IP
C O M PA SSIO N ATE M INISTF
C H A P LA IN C Y M INISTRIES
PASTORAL TR A IN IN G
S T U D E N T S C H O L A R S H IP S
P E NSIO NS AND BENEFITS
C H U R C H PLANTING
LO C AL C H U R C H E S
W O R LD M ISSION RADIO
IN TER N A TIO N AL PUBLICA1
H OM E M ISSIO NS
M ISS IO N A R Y RETIREMEN1
NEW M ISSION FIELDS
W O R LD M ISSION EDUCAT
U .S./C A N AD A C O LLE G E S I
SP E C IA L M ISSION PROJE(
A N B P A N S W AN S R
T H R U S T TO THE CITIES
U S W O R LD MISS 1C N St:A
N A Z A R E N E HOSPITALS EL
CHILD S P O N S O R S H IP
CC MPASSIQNAT1 M N I3W
C H A P LA IN C Y MINISTRIES
PAST: )RAL TRA NlNG
S T U D E N T S C H O L A R S H IP ;
These are just a
few areas where
your planned
giving could
help advance
God’s kingdom.
Write us for more information.
N am e
A dd re ss
C ity _________________________________________
S t a te ___________________________________Z ip _
A /A /E D
GIVING
6401 TH E PASEO
K A N S A S C ITY, M O 64131
1 -8 0 0 -5 4 4 -8 4 1 3
H e ra ld of H o lin e ss
NWMS
R ecog nizes Ou t s t a n d in g D ist r ic t s
The General NWMS Office reports that the following
districts were outstanding in achievement in 1990-91.
DISTRICTS PAYING
GENERAL BUDGET 1 0 0 %
OR MORE
District
Navajo Nation
Central Florida
Hawaii Pacific
South Carolina
Alaska
Southern C alifornia
Florida Space Coast
Illinois
Maine
Northeastern Indiana
Northwestern Ohio
Sacramento
Southwest Latin Am erican
Virginia
Percent
Paid
109%
105%
104%
102%
101%
101%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
W est Virginia South
Iowa
W est Virginia North
M ichigan
Southwestern Ohio
100%
97%
96%
95%
91%
DISTRICTS ACHIEVING
WORLD MISSION
SUBSCRIPTION GOAL IN 1991
( 3 0 % of Church Mem bership)
British Isles North
Southw est Indian
South Carolina
33%
31%
30%
N orthw est
N orthw estern Ohio
Los Angeles
South Carolina
Kansas
Southw estern Ohio
Colorado
New England
Kansas City
M ichigan
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Akron
Illinois
N ortheastern Indiana
Oregon Pacific
Southw est Indiana
April 1 9 9 2
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Central Ohio
Southwestern Ohio
South Carolina
N orthw est Oklahoma
Southwest Indiana
M ichigan
Sacramento
Kansas
Eastern M ichigan
Illinois
2,677
2,522
2,211
2,081
2,049
2,033
2,009
1,933
1,793
1,758
TOP T E N MEDICAL PLAN GIVING
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
$18,872
15,835
14,980
14,184
13,389
12,491
12,415
11,756
11,729
11,656
WORLD M ISSIO N RADIO
OFFERING
TOP TEN— HIGHEST PERCENTAGE
OF PARTICIPATION
SUBSCRIPTIONS
CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
STEW ARDSHIP SERVICES
TOP TEN W ORLD M ISSIO N
RADIO GIVING
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
TOP TEN—
WORLD MISSION
South Carolina
Southwestern Ohio
M ichigan
W ashington Pacific
N orthwest
Southwest Indiana
Oregon Pacific
Eastern M ichigan
Indianapolis
$10,351
9,649
9,374
9,172
9,109
8,924
8,711
8,573
8,391
8,206
TOP T E N ALABASTER GIVING
WORLD AREAS 95 / M ISSIONARIES
608 / W ORLD M ISS IO N DISTRICTS
192 / ORGANIZED CHURCHES 4 ,3 78 /
BIBLE COLLEGES AND SEM INARIES 42
/ MEDICAL CLINICS 35 / RADIO
STATIONS 1,000 / WORK AND
W ITN ESS TEAMS 374
SHARE THE JOY
EASTER OFFERING
FOR WORLD EVANGELISM
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Akron
Southern Florida
Southwestern Ohio
Michigan
Eastern Mich'igan
Colorado
N orthwestern Ohio
Tennessee
Indianapolis
$52,796
47,199
42,943
41,427
41,079
40,178
40,027
38,963
38,762
38,461
Hh
33
Inerrancy
I want to express my appreciation for your discussion of “in
errancy" in the “Question Box" (p. 33) of the January issue of
the Herald. Your answer to the question was an excellent ex
pression of our historic Wesleyan/Nazarene position.
Three cheers also for Doug Samples' “Open Letter to Magic
Johnson” on p. 18 of the same issue. This ought to be posted on
the locker door of every high school student in the country.
R o b L. Staples
O verland Park. Kans.
C lassic Inerrancy
Your response to “The Question Box” concerning inerrancy is
a classic. A well-rounded response. Great!
M o n ty N eal
Bristow. Okla.
F undam entalism and Inerrancy
I would like to address the issues presented in “The Question
Box,” January 1992 issue.
Fundamentalism is needed in the holiness church. We need to
be rigid on Bible doctrines, as those in our “Articles of Faith.”
More “inerrancy warriors” would help prevent the attack on
the Word of God today, even by churches. Inerrancy is “an ac
curate record of what was said” in the original autographs. “Ple
nary inspiration” means all the words.
How can holiness people be anything but “conservative” po
litically? How can a Christian vote for liberal, left-wing poli
ticians who stand for abortion, etc.? Most Christians are more
loyal to their “political party” than to their God. . . .
and encouraging. Please keep this type of reading coming.
However, in my opinion, the cheap cartoon on page 21 is u n
called for. Had I used language like "Heavens, no” my mother
would have washed my mouth out with soap.
M u rie l C u rry
Griggsvilte. III.
F am ily F inances
The December issue of the Herald o f Holiness was very help
ful to me. The article “Your Family's Finances” was excellent! 1
believe that family finances is one of the major problems that
face our families in o ur society today. I feel if every family
would implement a budget system into their finances, the stress
level would not be as high as it is in the home. 1 am personally
going to, and have im plem ented some o f the ideas that Mr.
Dean Nelson mentioned in his article.
R ev D a v id Soren sen
O akw ood. III.
M a rk D B echtel
Tell City. Ind.
V ision and E xcellen ce
I’ve been wanting to send this letter to you for some time, but
procrastination and laziness delayed it until now. Then when I
got my latest issue [January 1992] of the Herald I knew I could
no longer delay.
I have been in our great church all my life, and a member
since 1949 when I joined at nine years of age. The Herald has
always been part o f o ur family from childhood. . . . I really
thank our leaders for the vision they carry for such great mate
rial.
To each of you, I just want to say “thanks” for carrying on
such a marvelous heritage. The magazine is excellent in all
ways. I especially appreciate the openness afforded to all sides of
an issue, pros and cons . . .
Please keep up the good ministry to the Kingdom through the
Herald.
E lw o o d C. O ’D ell
H a in e s City. Fla.
Pro and Con
The article “The Church Endures” in the January 1992 issue
of the H erald o f Holiness by W. E. McCumber is unusually good
34
“Pastor, we appreciate you so much! Before you
came we didn’t know w hat sin was!”
T im ely
I have been a lifetime reader of the H erald o f Holiness. 1 was
very much impressed with the Editor’s Choice article “Justified
by Love” in the February 1992 issue. This is a very timely
article— also the others on marriage and divorce. Keep up the
g 0 0 d w
0 r k '
C h a rlo tte R e id e l
G reen leaf. H is.
H o lin e ss D octrine
While I’m at the typewriter, I would like to add that—
In September, 1 enrolled in the “Joy Bible Study" class. 1
don't understand whether the teaching there is part of the “New
Age” teaching or what, but I d on’t buy their teaching that once
one comes to the Lord, he is “sealed” by the Spirit and, because
he is “sealed,” he is forever safe. (To me, that sounds like the
teaching of “eternal security,” which I can’t buy.)
Also, they teach that when one comes to the Lord, he receives
the Holy Spirit and at that time, he is “filled with the Holy
Spirit.” What has become of the teaching of “Second-Blessing
Holiness” and living the life hidden in Christ? T h at’s the reason
that I’m so thankful for the articles o f the H erald o f Holiness;
they’re inspiring, uplifting, and they give spiritual food for the
innermost part of my being. I thank the Lord for truly Spiritfilled men and w omen and their contributions to the Herald.
G eraldine B uhla
N am pa. Idaho
P rayer and Revival
I really enjoy reading the H erald o f Holiness. Many articles
speak to my heart and conscience. Often the articles are just
what I need, and seem to arrive at just the right time. Wes
Tracy’s editorials are usually superb! Thank you for your minis
try!
One request: Would it be possible to concentrate in an up
coming issue on prayer and revival? This is the great need of the
church today.
„
n ,
B ruce P oling
W altersburg, Pa.
H e ra ld R eaders N ot D um b
I think every issue of the H erald is significant, well edited,
well written, and related to our Christian lives as we are living
them. You are not shy about discussing controversial matters;
and you respect us as readers. You do not seem to mind letting
us all in on material that I suppose you used at times for your
lectures when you taught at N TS—as I think you did in Jan
uary in your article on the significance of preaching. I also
think that is the same issue Dr. C. S. Cowles must have opened
up to us all some o f his lecture material on preaching. Great!
The Herald readers are not dummies.
J. K en n eth G rider
K a n sa s City, M o.
W h ere th e P astors Went
In response to November’s article “Where Have All the Pas
tors Gone?” I can personally offer several answers. Some o f us
had to get a job to pay the social security a church promised to
pay and didn’t. Some of us decided we had to find a way to
retire in dignity, even if it meant another occupation. Some of
us got tired of our parents feeling sorry for us as they unselfishly
purchased our clothes and other necessities 20 years into our
ministry. Some of us could no longer smile and say thank you
when the board decided that the only way to help the church
financially was to cut the pastor’s salary. However, we all love
the Church of the Nazarene and wish it didn’t have to be this
w a ?'
April 1992
W illia m D R e id
Tell City, Ind.
D eep ly Stirred
First, I want to say that I think you are doing a great job as
editor of the H erald o f Holiness. Keep up the good work. We
have taken the paper all the 46 years of our married life and
certainly would not want to be without it.
When 1 read the article in the January 1992 issue of the Her
ald titled "Every Woman’s Nightmare Became My Reality,” my
heart was deeply stirred. I can hardly decide how to put into
words what I want to write. 1 consider rape to be one of the
most terrible crimes that can be inflicted upon a human being.
Especially at gunpoint. This lovely servant of God shall never
be able to recover from this awful shock, except through the
grace of God .. .
L aV erne S tierly
D anville. III.
A Stronger C hristian
Thanks for placing me on your mailing list. I am happy to
receive this informative and educational publication. Each arti
cle I read makes me a stronger Christian and has equipped me
to serve as a better pastor.
I hope and pray that many more persons will be won for
Jesus through this magazine.
R h a w a se H arripa u l
G uyana, S o u th A m erica
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35
The Cost
of Caring
O ttum w a Trinity
Pays the Price
T h e “ Basic” Pension Plan has
e x is te d s in c e 1 9 7 1 , b u t th e
a b ility o f lo c a l c h u r c h e s to
m eet th e ir P& B F und a llo
c a tio n has n o t b e e n w ith o u t
sacrifice. T h e last 2 0 years o f
th e n a tio n ’s e c o n o m ic h e a lth
have been p u n c tu a te d w ith re
cessions. Today in m any areas
o f the U nited States, to say th a t
“tim es are to u g h ” is an u n d e r
statem ent. In tim es like these,
som e congregations w o n d e r if
it w o u ld be in th e “m inister’s
b e s t i n te r e s t ” to ta k e th e
m oney they w o u ld pay into the
P e n s io n s a n d B e n e fits F u n d
an d c o n trib u te it, instead, to a
TSA a c c o u n t for the pastor.
To gain perspective, lo o k at the
Trinity C h u rch o f th e N azarene
in O ttu m w a , Iowa. T his local
church is representative o f the
m ajority o f churches th a t faith
fully su p p o rt the Pensions and
Benefits Fund. C heck th eir his
to ry and “tra c k ” w h a t this lo
cal c h u rc h ’s “ Pension D ollars”
provide. T his c h u rc h ’s su p p o rt
o f th e P e n sio n s a n d B enefits
Fund, tak e n along w ith 5 ,0 0 0
o th e r local N azarene churches,
enables each to fulfill its initial
responsibility for paying for the
pensions o f its m inisters, b o th
past a n d present.
O ttu m w a T rin ity w as e s ta b
lished in 1 9 5 4 and n o w has a
m em bership o f 120. (A pproxi
m ately 4 ,1 0 0 o r nearly 80 per
c e n t o f N azarene chu rch es have
150 o r few er m em bers.) T his
c h u rc h h as p a id its P e n sio n s
and Benefits Fund in full for 32
years o f its 36-year Fund his
tory. For th e 1 9 9 0 -9 1 assem bly
year, its Pensions an d Benefits
F und a llo c a tio n w as $ 2 ,0 4 5 .
H ere is w h a t p aym ent o f these
“ Pension D o llars” has en ab led
this local ch u rch to provide:
Since it began, O ttu m w a T rin
ity has had 10 full-tim e m inis
ters. O f these, 4 are retired and
1 is d e c e a s e d ( t h e w i d o w
co n tin u e s to receive a pension).
T hese 5 p eo p le rep resen t 156
y e a rs o f f u ll- tim e N a z a r e n e
m in istry . By p a y in g its P & B
Fund, O ttu m w a T rinity p a rtici
p a te s in th e “ B asic” P e n sio n
b enefit for each o f these indi
viduals.
In a d d i t i o n , F u n d p a y m e n t
helps this local ch u rch provide
its p a rt o f th e “ Basic” Pension
b e n e fit fo r its re tire d d is tric t
su p e rin te n d e n t. O th e r previous
d istric t lea d e rs a n d th e ir sur-
H era ld of H o lin e s s
viving spouses also have fo u n d
the plan a valu ab le so u rc e o f
benefit.
By paying in to th e F u n d , O t
tum w a Trinity also provides for
the fu tu re retire m e n t needs n o t
only o f p re v io u s p a s to r s b u t
also o f its c u rre n t p a s to r an d
district su p e rin te n d e n t.
O ttu m w a T rin ity , lik e m a n y
N azarene con g reg atio n s, gener
ally ho ld s tw o revival m eetings
annually. B ecause o f this c o n
g regation’s Fund p a rticip a tio n ,
every licensed N aza re n e evan
gelist a n d song evangelist w h o
has served this local c h u rc h e x
pects a retire m e n t benefit.
If O ttu m w a Trinity d ecided to
take th e m o n ey it paid in to th e
P e n s io n s a n d B e n e fits F u n d
and p rovide o n ly fo r th e c u r
rent pastor, th en they w o u ld no
longer be c o n trib u tin g to th e
retirem en t needs o f th e fo u n d
ing p a s to r’s w id o w o r to each
o f th e o th e r fo rm e r p a s to r s ,
d istric t lea d e rs, o r evangelists
w h o receive re tire m e n t b e n e
fits.
L ook a t these estim ates based
on a P& B Fund a llo c a tio n of
a p p r o x i m a t e ly $ 2 ,0 0 0 : A p
p ro x im a te ly 1 7 p e rc e n t pays
for c u rre n t Basic G ro u p Term
Life I n s u r a n c e , B e n e v o le n c e
program s, an d certain ad m in is
trative expenses. Ju st over 64
percent w o u ld be req u ired a n
nually to care for th e p ro p o r
tio n a te share o f th e retirem en t
needs o f fo rm e r p a sto rs, th eir
surviving sp o u ses, fo rm e r d is
trict su p e rin te n d e n ts, m inisters
serving in d istric t assig n m en t,
April 1 9 9 2
an d evangelists. Paying for fu
tu re , “already p ro m ised ” retire
m en t benefits o f previous p as
to rs yet to re tire w o u ld ta k e
a b o u t 12 p ercent. T h a t w o u ld
leave a p p ro x im ately 7 p ercen t
o f $ 2 ,0 0 0 — $ 1 4 0 a year— to
be used to care for fu tu re re
tire m e n t needs o f th e c u rre n t
pastor.
From its sta rt in 1 9 7 1 , th e in
t e n t o f th e “ B a sic ” P e n s io n
P la n w a s t o in c lu d e a ll o r
d a in e d a n d d i s t r ic t- l ic e n s e d
m inisters a n d all years o f q u a l
ifying service since th e birth of
t h e d e n o m i n a t i o n in 1 9 0 8 .
O ttu m w a Trinity C h u rch o f the
From the earliest days, th e C h u rch
o f th e N azaren e has recognized an
obligation to provide financial assis
ta n c e fo r r e tire d m inisters. O rig i
nally, this aid cam e th r o u g h a sys
te m o f “ b e n e v o l e n c e s , ” i.e .,
c h a r i t a b l e , r e li e f - ty p e p r o g r a m s .
M o n e y w as c o lle c te d a n d d is t r ib
ute d only to th e m o st needy. M a n y
tim es m one y ran o u t before every
o n e got help.
N azarene has helped to m ain
ta in th is t r a d i t i o n o v e r th e
years. T h ro u g h faithful su p p o rt
o f th e P e n sio n s a n d B enefits
F u n d , th is lo ca l c h u rc h c o n
tinues to help provide for the
re tire m e n t n e e d s o f m any
individuals, n o t just the c u rren t
parsonage family.
T he “ Pension D o llar” certainly
leaves tra c k s— tracks th a t origi
n a te a t th e d o o r o f a lo c a l
church an d lead to the d o o rs o f
r e tir e d , f a ith f u l c h u r c h s e r
vants. T he record stands. N aza
re n e s c o n tin u e to c a re , a n d
they co n tin u e to m eet th e cost
o f caring.
funds for retirement. A lthough par
t i c i p a t i o n w as v o l u n t a r y f o r t h e
ch u r c h a n d its em ployees, th e in
c o m e g e n e r a te d by c o m p o u n d i n g
in te re st allow ed p a r tic ip a tin g ser
vants o f the church to supplem ent
Social Security.
Today, th e C h u rch o f the N azarene
is fo rtu na te to provide a retirem ent
b e n e fit p ro g ra m th a t includes n o t
only a co n trib u to ry plan (TSA) for
c h u rc h es a n d th e ir em ployees b u t
also a n o n c o n t r i b u t o r y plan (the
“ Basic” Pension). T h e “ Basic” Pen
s i o n P l a n , e s t a b l i s h e d A p r i l 1,
1 971 , provides ministers w ith a re
tir e m e n t ben e fit th a t is n o t based
o n p e r s o n a l salary o r t h e size o f
church served.
O ver the years, the church strength
e n e d its ability to p ro vide fo r the
n e e d s o f r e ti re d m inisters. Begin
n i n g in 1 9 5 5 , m i n i s t e r s in t h e
U n ited States finally w ere allow ed
to p a rtic ip a te in th e g o v e r n m e n t’s
plan o f Social Security. As they be
gan to pay in to this p r o g ra m , th e
d e m a n d u p o n th e ch u rc h ’s old be T h r o u g h s u p p o r t o f th e P ensions
nevolence system diminished.
an d Benefits Fund, a “ Basic” P en
T h e in tr o d u c tio n o f th e N azaren e sio n b e n e f it is m a d e p o ss ib le for
R e t i r e m e n t P r o g r a m ( t h e T a x - over 3 ,7 0 0 retired N azarene minis
Sheltered A nnuity Plan) in 1 9 6 3 es t e r s a n d w i d o w s o r
ta b lis h e d a c o n t r i b u t o r y p e n s io n w id ow ers o f ministers.
p rogra m for N az aren e ministers as C u r r e n t l y , o v e r $ 6 . 7
well as o th e r ch u rc h employees into m illio n is p a i d o u t in
w h ich the local chu rch c ould place benefits annually.
37
NEWS OF RELIGION
PASTORS GIVE CHURCHES LOW MARKS
Most pastors feel that Christ
w o u ld give the church low
marks, according to a recent
su r v e y by B a rn a R e se a r c h
G r o u p . T h e su r v e y a s k e d
p asto rs how Je su s C h rist
w o u ld p r o b a b ly a s s e s s the
effectiveness o f the Church
in America today.
L e ss th a n o n e h a l f o f 1
percent felt Christ would say
ch urches are doing tre m e n
dous. highly effective work.
T h e m a jo r ity (53 p e r c e n t)
said they felt C hrist w ould
rate churches as having little
positive im pact on souls or
society.
"M ore than $25 billion is
spent in this co u n try every
year by churches, with much
em phasis upon reaching the
u n ch u rc h ed and n o n - C h r is
t ia n s ," said G e o r g e B arna.
p r e s i d e n t o f th e B a r n a
R esearch G roup. "Y et, we
still see that m o re than 80
percent of all church growth
th a t o c c u r s in th e U .S . is
transfer growth— people mov
ing from one church to a n
other. instead of unchurched
p e o p l e c o m i n g in to o u r
church."
B a r n a sa id his r e s e a r c h
indicates that while there is
no f a i l - p r o o f a p p r o a c h to
c h u r c h g r o w t h , t h e r e a re
some general principles.
“ First, pastors c a n 't do it
all them selves," Barna said.
“Too many congregations sit
back and wait for their lead
ers to bring people into the
church."
Barna also suggested that
church leaders need to figure
out w ho they are try in g to
reach and what they are try
ing to accomplish.
"Understanding the people
y o u ’re tr y in g to re a c h can
r a n g e fro m m e e t i n g t h e s e
people fac e-to-fac e and e s
tablishing relationships with
them, to using sophisticated
m ark etin g research te c h
niques to gather key inform a
tion," Barna said. "The cru
c ia l t h in g is th a t, w ith o u t
c o m p ro m isin g their beliefs,
c h u rc h es m u st d e m o n stra te
their relevance to people."
PRIME TIME TELEVISION IGNORES RELIGION
Prime time television virtual
ly ignores the place o f reli
gion in America, according to
a recent study.
S c h o la rs in c o m m u n i c a
tions, psychology, and p s y
chiatry from three universi
ties reached that conclusion
a fter v ie w in g 100 fictional
s h o w s on th e A B C , C B S ,
NBC, and Fox networks.
“ O v e r a l l , the m e s s a g e
being prese n ted about re li
gion by network television is
that it is not very important
because it is rarely a factor in
the lives o f the c h a r a c t e r s
presented on TV," the report
states.
That image is in sharp con
t r a s t to c o n s i s t e n t s u r v e y
fin d in g s that 94 perc en t of
A m e r ic a n s b e lie v e in G od
and 75 percent pray daily and
38
consider religion important.
In the TV show s, alm ost
the only kind of prayer por
t r a y e d is a “ T h a n k G o d ! ”
w hen the ch a ra c te r escapes
disaster. The implication is
that God is the last resort in a
crisis.
“T elevision’s treatment of
religion tends to be best char
a c te riz e d as a b u s e th ro u g h
n e g l e c t . ” a c c o r d in g to the
report.
C o m m i s s i o n e d by the
A m e ric a n F a m ily A s s o c ia
tion based in Tupelo, Miss.,
the researchers condu cted a
systematic content analysis of
n e t w o r k p r o g r a m m i n g fo r
one month in 1990.
R ecently released results
show that only 5.4 percent of
the characters had an identifi
able religious affiliation.
AMERICANS ASKED
TO OBSERVE NATIONAL
DAY OF PRAYER
Thursday. May 7. will mark
the 41st co n s ec u tiv e o b s e r
vance of the National Day of
Prayer. The National Day of
P r a y e r T a s k F o r c e , w ith
P re sid e n t and Mrs. G e o rg e
Bush as its hon o rary c h a ir
persons, urges all Americans
to be involved in this nation
al observance, especially by
setting aside five minutes at
noon on May 7 to pray for
the nation.
" A s A m e r i c a n s p ra y t o
g e t h e r , w e ' l l f in d n e w
strength and g uidan ce from
G o d — b o th as i n d i v i d u a l s
and as a nation." said Shirley
D obson, ch a irp e rso n o f the
National Day o f Prayer Task
F orce. “ U n ited p ra y e r can
help A m eric a renew our
c o m m i t m e n t to o u r m o r a l
and spiritual heritage so we
can fulfill our potential as a
nation."
T he N a tio n a l Day o f
P r a y e r T a sk F o r c e , a n o n
sectarian group with no polit
ical affiliation, says it is the
right, privilege, and responsi
V o n e tte B rig h t (I.) and P at
Boone serve as cochairpersons
of the N ational Day of Prayer
Task Force. Shirley Dobson (r.).
w ife of James Dobson, serves
as the national chairperson.
bility o f citizens to pray for
the nation and its leaders.
N ational days o f prayer
have been traditional in the
U .S . s i n c e th e f i r s t w a s
declared by the Continental
Congress in 1775. In 1952.
b o th h o u s e s o f C o n g r e s s
called on President Harry S.
Truman to set aside an an nu
al N a tio n a l Day o f Prayer.
In 1988, Congress and Presi
d e n t R e a g a n sig n e d an act
d e c la rin g that the N ational
Day o f Prayer will fall on the
first T hu rsday o f May each
year.
SCRIPTURES NOW TRANSLATED INTO
NEARLY 2 ,0 00 LANGUAGES
At l e a s t o n e b o o k o f th e
Bible has been translated in
n ea rly 2 ,0 0 0 la n g u a g e s,
according to the latest Scrip
ture L anguage Report. The
report, issued by the United
Bible S o c ie tie s, sta te s that
portions of the Bible are now
available in 1,978 languages.
T h irty -tw o la n g u ag e s r e
ce ived at least one book o f
the Bible in 1991 for the first
time. O f those 32, six have
New Testaments for the first
time, and 26 now have Scrip
ture portions, which usually
constitute a complete book of
the Bible.
C o m p le te B ib les w ere
reported for the first time in
f o u r l a n g u a g e s : tw o fro m
Zaire, one from G uatem ala,
an d o n e fro m Y u g o s la v ia .
This increased the number of
l a n g u a g e s w ith c o m p l e t e
Bibles to 322.
“ It is wonderful to see the
numbers increase and to real
ize that w ith ea ch in c re ase
more people are going to be
able to read G o d 's Word for
themselves in their own lan
g u a g e s , " s a i d E u g e n e B.
H a b e c k e r, A m e r ic a n B ible
Society president.
B u t, w ith an e s t i m a t e d
3,000 to 6,000 languages in
the w o r l d , B i b le s o c i e t i e s
still face a major task in the
area o f translations, H abeck
er said.
M ore than 80 p e rc e n t o f
the w o r l d ’s p o p u la tio n has
access to at least one portion
o f the B ib le in a la n g u a g e
they can understand.
VITAL STATISTICS
Deaths
BETTY MARIE APPLEBY, 55. Jan. 27.
Survivors: husband, Robert; son, M ark:
(laughter, Donna Trujillo; to u r sisters; four
brothers; four grandchildren.
TED BALOF, 77, Russell, Ky. Survivors:
wife, Mary; daughters, Kathy Patterson,
Beth DeLong; two grandchildren.
GUY M. BOLLER, 74, Ainsw orth, N e b r,
Nov. 24. S urvivors: w ife , M ary; sons,
Maurice, Marvin; daughter, Harriett S m all
wood; six grandchildren; three sisters; one
brother; six foster chidren.
DONNA BOND, 95, Hammond, Ind., Jan.
6. Survivors: sons, Vern, Donald; daugh
ters, Vera Kirk, Ruth Rigg, Eunice Bell.
RICHARD W. CHERRY, 49, R iverside.
Calif., Jan, 28 S urvivors: w ife, M aytie;
sons. Stanford Clark, Trenton Keith, Ben
nett Wayne; one sister.
HARRY L. CHILDERS, 71, fo rm e r m is
sionary and pastor. Oklahoma City, Okla.,
Oct. 3. Survivors: wife, Kathleen; daugh
ters, Linda, Barbara. Kathy; five grandchil
dren; six brothers; three sisters.
ELSIE M. CRAWFORD, 75, Beaverton,
Oreg. S urvivors: husband, Rev. Edwin,
S r ; sons, Edw in, Jr., D onald. Jim ; nine
grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
HELEN DRAKE, 83, N orth Tonawanda,
N.Y., Dec. 31. Survivors: sons, Clarence,
Jr., David; daughters, Barbara. Louise; 2
brothers; 2 sisters; 11 grand childre n; 15
great-grandchildren.
ALPHA J. ELDER, 68 , B re c k e n rid g e ,
Tex., Jan. 31. S urvivors: w ife, D orothy;
da ughters, O leta B auer, La D ora G rant,
M argaret C athey; so ns, A lpha W ende ll,
Dallas, David, M argil, and Dulan; 3 sisters;
1 b ro th e r; 17 g ra n d c h ild re n ; 4 g r e a t
grandchildren.
ANNA E. ‘ BETTY” FIKE, 93, Yucaipa,
Calif.. Dec. 8. S u rv iv o rs : sons, Frank,
Frederick; daughters, Evelyn Price, M ary
Jane Canfield, Ruth Quarles; 12 grandchil
dren; 12 g re a t-g ra n d c h ild re n ; 1 g re a tgreat-granddaughter.
WM J D. GRESSER, Evansville, Ind.,
Dec. 19. S u rv iv o rs : w ife , O la; so n s,
Ralph, Rev. D avid , G ilb e rt; d a u g h te rs ,
Phyllis Welden, Naomi Austrew; 10 grand
children; 19 great-grandchildren.
RUSSELL B. HARTZELL, 90, M o rg a n
town. W.Va., Jan. 6. S urvivors: daugh
ters, K a th ryn M o o re , Ju n e L o u g h ; fiv e
grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren,
DUFFIE HODGE, 86, M em phis. Tenn.,
Nov, 2. Survivors: son, Douglas; daugh
ters, Stella (M rs. L. E.) Drake, Edythe H.
Leddy, M elver (M rs. J. E.) Boone.
AM ELIA HENRIETTA HUFF, 96, Yakima,
W ash., Dec. 19. S u rvivo rs: daughters,
Anne "S u s ie " W ilso n, Belle Broom ; son,
Philip; 7 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchil
dren.
THERESA N. HUHNKE, 92. M onum ent,
C olo., Jan. 18. S u rv iv o rs : d a u g h te rs,
Geraldine, Alfreda Hanna; three grandchil
dren; one great-granddaughter.
ROY GOODWIN INGLE, 68, V ictorville,
Calif., Dec, 21. S urvivors: wife, M uriel;
sons, Marc, Mike; three grandchildren.
FRANCES C. JIMENEZ, H udson, Iowa,
Jan. 31. S urvivors: husband, Jim ; son,
Larry; daughter, Susan; tw o brothers; four
sisters; five grandchildren,
Z IL P H IA P IT T M A N LIT T O N , 92.
C ha rleston, W .Va,, Dec. 27. S u rvivo rs:
d a u g h te rs , G e rry D e J a rn e tte , Jo y c e
Carnes; tw o sisters; seven grandchildren;
seven great-grandchildren.
REV. W ALTER S. M acPHERS O N, 93,
C larksville, Md., pastor fo r m ore than 46
years, Dec. 25. Survivors: wife, Maude;
d a u g h te rs , E un ice O s te rh o u t, P ris c illa
M acPherson; sons. W alter, Jr., Neil, David;
13 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren.
COBURN W. M cPH AIL, 66, C arthage,
M o., Jan. 4. S u rv iv o rs : w ife , Geneva
Elaine; sons, Jeffrey, Ron, Steven; daugh
ters, Linda Joyce S m ith, Kathy M ouller;
m other, Clenna Gibson; tw o brothers; one
sister; seven grandchildren.
RUTH MEEKER, 75, B ettendorf, Iowa,
D ec. 30 . S u rv iv o rs : d a u g h te r, Lind a
W ilm es; sons, Ralph, Brian.
CYNTHIA LOUISE M ICHAEL, 35, Dec.
13. Survivors: husband, Stephen; sons,
B rett, S eth; d a u g h te r, Ja cklyn ; parents,
Rev, and Mrs. Richard James; tw o sisters;
tw o brothers.
ROBERT R MOORE, 77, Bethany, Okla.,
Dec. 15. Survivors: son, Paul; daughters,
Pat D eitrick, Kay H enderson, Beth Byler;
12 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren.
ALM A E. ROTH, 89, Overland, Mo., Dec.
31. Survivors: son, Perry, Jr.; daughters,
R hoda R in e b a rg e r, E laine M cC ann; 10
grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren.
REV. ROBERT C. SEELIG, 64, Desert
Center, Calif., pastor fo r 37 years, Nov. 13.
Survivors: wife, Margaret; daughter, Car
PUBLISHING HOUSE
EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY
The Nazarene Publishing House has an opening lor an
experienced Litho Pressman. This is an exceptional
opportunity for Kingdom service through the church.
Qualified applicants should reply to:
Director of Human Resources
Nazarene Publishing House
P.O. Box 419527
olyn E brahim i; son, Rev. S tephen; fo u r
grandchildren; one sister.
IVA MYRL SENTER, Bonham, Tex., Dec.
13. S u rv iv o rs : h u sb a n d , Ja m e s; one
brother; one sister.
STEPHEN B SMITH, 48, R ockford, III.,
Dec. 3. S urvivors: w ife, Pamela; sons,
Stephen “ Skip,” David; foster son, James
Ward; m other, M arjorie Sm ith.
REV. LEONARD SPARKS, 92, Dec. 7.
Survivors: wife, Pearl; daughters, Jennifer
M cDonald, Pearl Shelly; son, David; eight
grandchildren,
TREVA A. SPEER STRA, 94, L o w e ll,
M ich., Dec. 7. S urvivors: 3 children; 6
grandchildren; 13 great-g ra ndch ildren; 4
great-great-grandchildren.
CH. GORDON TINK, 54, Mankato, M inn.,
Jan. 15. S u rv iv o rs : w ife . Hazel Ruth:
daughters, Paulette, Laurette Waddle; par
ents, Albert and Eunice Tink; one sister.
KENNETH R. W ATTS, 44, R ive rsid e ,
Calif., Jan. 5. Survivors: wife, Mary Lou;
daughter, Shelly Marie; son, Tim othy Ray.
JANE HOPE W IL LIA M S , 67, M arshall,
Tex., June 29. Survivors: daughters, Mary
K o e h le r, Ja y W illia m s ; so n , R oy; tw o
grandchildren; tw o sisters.
DONALD E. ZEIDERS, 45, Dec. 24. Sur
vivors: wife, Darlene; son, Mark; daughter,
Beth; parents; one brother; tw o sisters.
DARLIENE J. ZIM M E R M A N , 66, M in
neapolis, M inn., Jan. 6. Survivors: hus
band. A rthur; father, M arion Jenson; one
brother; one niece.
Births
to JIM AND BECKY (GREEN) BEALS,
Grants Pass, Oreg., a girl, Dena Marie, Jan.
16
to SCOTT AND DIANE (COUCHENOUR)
BOSWORTH, Olathe, Kans., a girl, Briana
Ranae, Jan. 5
to REV. RICK AND LINDA (NUTT) COLE,
Antioch, Calif., a girl, Clare Elizabeth, Dec.
7
to DAN AND S A N D R A (C O LS TO N )
DAVIS, Spring, Tex., a boy, Austin Daniel,
Aug. 6
to M IK E AND G IN G ER (H IN D S )
FLUHARTY, C lin to n, M d., a g irl, A lliso n
Ann, Oct. 3
to CHIP AND DEBBIE (SIMMONS) GAR
RET, Lothian. M d., a g irl, K ristin Nicole,
Jan. 21
to JERRY AND ROBYN (K IR B Y ) G INTER, East Stroudsburg, Pa., a boy, Andrew
Patrick, Jan. 16
to KEVIN AND JOYCE (LINGENFELTER)
GROSSKOPF, N orth Tonaw anda. N.Y., a
boy, Steven Arthur, Dec. 31
to JEFF AND PAM HIATT, M adison, Fla.,
a boy, Nathan Jeffrey Charles, July 5
to CAPT. TIM AND RUTH ANN (KEPPLER) HURSH, Ogden, Utah, a boy. Mikal
R y a n ,J a n .3
to HARLAN AND RONDA (GROSSMAN)
KENYON, Colorado Springs. Colo., a boy,
Allan Scott, Dec. 24
to JA M E S AND LL O R A (O 'N E IL )
KRANICH, Bourbonnais, III., a girl, Jenna
Katherine, Feb. 6,1991
to REV. JIM AND LIN DA McGAFFEY,
Iowa Falls, Iowa, a girl, Julie Ann. Nov. 5
to STEPHEN AND ANNETTE MORLEY,
O klah om a C ity , O kla., a g irl, E lizabe th
DeNay, Feb. 3
to RODNEY AND SARAH (VAN METER)
REED, Madison, N.J., a girl, Rebecca Mae
Oct. 27
to JOHN AND CECILLIA RIVAS, Kansas
City, Mo., a boy, Jonathan James, Jan. 14
to CAPT BRIAN AND KAY (EMMERT)
SATTLER, A le xa n d ria , Va., a g irl, A m y
Katherine, Sept. 24
to FRED AND KARLA (FIN KB E IN E R )
SLONAKER, W enatchee, W ash ., a boy,
Kurt Frederick, Jan. 24
to CHUCK AND M A R IA (JEFFCO AT)
URBANEK, W. Cola. S.C., a g irl, T ristan
Shea, Nov. 20
to CHUCK AND VICKIE WATSON. Bed
ford, Tex,, a girl, Heidi Joy, Nov. 21
to CHAP. PAUL AND KATHY YACO VONE, F ort D rum , N Y., a boy, Jo shu a
Paul, Dec. 20
Anniversaries
ALFRED W. AND MINNIE M. JACKSON
celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary
Jan. 28. They have tw o sons and seven
grandchildren.
EARL AND MARY BOW MAN, W ichita,
K an s., c e le b ra te d th e ir 6 5 th w e d d in g
anniversary Dec. 26. They have three chil
dren, seven grandchildren, and eight great
grandchildren.
IRA AND SARAH C LARK. C h a rlo tte ,
N .C ., c e le b ra te d th e ir 5 0 th w e d d in g
anniversary Dec. 20.
M A R V IN AND M A R Y ETTA DELK.
M uncie, Ind., celebrated th e ir 50th w ed
ding anniversary Feb. 2. They are the par
ents of Lloyd, who is deceased, and David.
They have five grandchildren.
REV. AND M RS. PAUL A. M AD DEN .
Land O'Lakes, Fla., celebrated their 50th
wedding anniversary recently. They have a
son, Paul, and thre e d a u g h te rs, Donna
(M rs. D arrell) W a llin g fo rd . W ilm a (M rs.
Alan) W hitlatch, and Dorothy (M rs. Dan)
M cDowell, nine grandchildren, and three
great-grandchildren.
BEN AND FRANCES M O SER , C edar
Rapids, Iowa, celebrated their 50th w ed
ding anniversary Jan. 18 w ith a renewal of
vows hosted by their daughter and grand
children.
R IC H A R D AND RU BY N IK K E L,
K else yville , C alif., celebrated th e ir 50th
wedding anniverary Dec. 5 w ith a reception
hosted by th e ir sons, Lynn and Rodney.
They pastored 39 years in C alifornia and
W ashington. They also have fo u r grand
children.
JOHN AND MABELLE SPARKES, New
Brunsw ick, Canada, celebrated their 50th
anniversary July 28 with a reception.
FOR THE RECORD
Moving Ministers
KEVIN M. ANGEL, from student to associ
ate, W aynesburg, Pa.
FREDERICK J. BANEY, fro m stu d e n t to
pastor, Springboro, Pa.
MARK S. BERNHARDT, from Eagle River.
Alaska, to Monterey, Calif,
KUHRMAN K. COX, from Carthage, Tenn.,
to Vicksburg (M is s ) First
MICHAEL F DAVIS, fro m associate. Hot
Springs (Ark.) First, to associate, Benton
(Ark.) First
W AYNE L D AW SO N , fro m a s s o c ia te ,
Atlanta (Ga.) First, to associate, W ichita
(Kans.) First
MARK EAST, from associate, Fort W orth
(Tex.) Liberation Com m unity, to pastor,
M iddlesboro, Ky
ELMER B. FERGUSON, fro m K e n tu cky
Heights, Ky., to Olive Hill, Ky.
DAVID W GARNER, from Evansville (Ind.)
Trinity, to Louisville (Ky ) Southeast
DANIEL H. GREENE, from C alifornia Cal
vary, Pa., to Pittsburgh (Pa.) Terrace
ROY D. HARRIGER. from Highland. Mich
to Mercer, Pa.
JOHN T. HAYES, fro m A sh la nd. Ky., to
W aynesburg, Pa.
R. JEFFREY HIATT, from student. NTS, to
pastor, Madison (Fla.) First
JOSEPH H. HOLOWAY, fro m Santa Ana
(Calif.) Edinger Avenue, to Salinas, Calif.
ROBERT A. JONES, JR., fro m M illcreek,
Pa., to Jerome. Pa.
DAVID T. KONECHECK, fro m associate,
Franklin, Pa., to pastor, Penns M anor,
Pa.
RANDY MARSHALL, from associate, Des
Moines (Iow a) Southside, to associate,
Harris Chapel, Ind.
DENNIS D. M IDDLETON, fro m R oyalton
(III.) First, to Centralia (III.) First
G. SCOTT NEWKIRK, from Jackson (M ich.)
Grace, to Bolivar Drive, Pa,
KIRBY POPPLEWELL, fro m M ontezum a,
Ind., to Robinson, III.
ARTHUR T. ROXBY III, fro m stu d e n t to
pastor, M illcreek, Pa.
RAYMOND E ROWE, from pastor, Greater
Pittsburgh, Pa., to evangelism
PETER J. SCHARLER, from Jerome, Pa., to
Phillipsburg, Pa,
D O U G LAS B SEDO RE, fro m p a s to r,
M elfort, Sask., to student
BARRY W. SW ANSON, fro m associate,
Bethany (Okla.) First, to education, NNC
C H A R LE S J. W H EELER , fro m p a s to r,
Hawthorn, Pa., to evangelism
MALCOLM H. WHITE, JR., from student to
pastor, Colchester, Conn,
PA U L A. W IL LE T T E , fro m S a ra to g a
Springs (N Y.) Grace, to North Haverhill
(N.H.) Trinity
HENRY E. W ISNER, to pastor, Oswego,
Kans,
W DAN WRIGHT, from Monroe (La ) First
to Brownwood, Tex.
Announcements
M O U N T A IN CHURCH (H A M IL T O N ,
ONT.) w ill celebrate its 40th anniversary
Apr. 24-26. A banquet w ill be held Friday
evening, and a m usical concert w ill be held
Saturday evening. Sunday services wil be
at 11 a . m . and 6 p . m . F orm er p a sto rs ,
members, and friends are invited to attend
or send greetings. For m ore inform ation,
contact the church at 910 Upper Sherman,
H a m ilto n . O ntario . Canada L8V 2L8, or
phone (4 15)389 -69 81.
BUTTE (M O N T.) FIRST CHURCH w ill
celebrate its 50th anniversary May 3 with
an all-day celebration. For m ore inform a
tio n , c o n ta c t P a s to r A. P. L illie , 1914
Texas, Butte, MT 59701, or phone (406)
723-5088.
SONOM A VALLE Y (C A LIF .) CHURCH
w ill celebrate its 50th anniversary May 2-3
w ith special speakers, m usic, fun, food,
and fellow ship All form e r pastors, m em
bers. and friends are invited to attend or
send g re etings. For m ore in fo rm a tio n ,
contact Rev. W ilfred Stukas. P.O. Box 10,
El Verano, CA 95433, or phone (707) 9967515.
DUPO (ILL.) CHURCH w ill celebrate its
40th anniversary May 17. John Hancock,
district superintendent, w ill preach in the
m orning service, which w ill be followed by
th e no o n m e a l. F o rm e r p a s to rs and
friends w ill share in the 3 p.m. service. For
m ore in fo rm a tio n , co n ta ct Rev. Edward
Stovall, 201 Richard, Dupo, IL 62239, or
phone (6 18)286 -46 98.
HARRISBURG FIRST CHURCH (M ID
DLETO W N, PA.) w ill ce le bra te its 50 th
anniversary May 16-17
For m ore in fo r
m a tio n , c o n ta c t th e c h u rc h at 1901
Rosedale Ave.. M iddletown, PA 17057, or
p h o n e (717)939 -37 40.
Recommendations
The follow ing have been recom m ended
by th e ir re sp e ctiv e d is tric t s u p e rin te n
dents:
BRIAN ARNER, registered song evange
lis t, 1861 Lake Ave. S., C le a rw a te r, FL
34616, by Gene Fuller, Central Florida Dis
trict,
MICHAEL BENSON, evangelist, 2927 W.
24th Ave , Emporia, KS 66801, (316) 3422858, by W. T. Dougharty, Kansas District.
LARRY HUMRICH, evangelist, 3302-G
C irc le B ro o k D r. S .W ., R o a n o ke , VA
24014, (703) 989-5068, by C L, Thom p
son, Virginia District.
W. RILEY JAMES. JR., evangelist, H.C.
69, Box 1140, Inez. KY 41224. (606) 2983089, by C. Harold Sm ith. W est V irg in ia
South District.
UDELL MOSS, evangelist, 1980 S. New
F lo ris s a n t R d., F lo ris s a n t, MO 6 3 0 3 1 ,
(314) 524-6159, by Hiram Sanders, M is
souri District.
STEVE STEVENSON, evangelist, 6276
W arrent St., Groves, TX 77619, (409) 9624630, by J. W. "Bill" Lancaster, Houston
District.
CURTIS W IL L IA M S , eva n g e list, 3536
Evansville, Dayton, OH 45406, (513) 2763410. by Harold B. Graves, Southwestern
Ohio District.
Moving Missionaries
BENNETT, REV. STEPHEN and CH RISTI
A N *, P h ilip p in e s , F u rlo u g h a d d re ss:
6401 The P aseo, K a n sa s C ity , MO
64131
HOWERTON. REV NORMAN and JOANNA,
Argentina, Furlough address: c/o Lynda
L a n g fo rd , B ox 8 5 1 7 5 7 , Y u k o n , OK
73085
IRWIN, DR, GLENN and RUTH. Papua New
Guinea, Field address: P.O. Box 456, Mt.
Hagen, WHP, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
KRATZ, REV. ELDON and KAY, Brazil, Field
address: Rua Souza Doca 115, 90,000
Porto Alegre. RS. BRAZIL
POWER, REV. RICHARD and VICKI*, China
M in is trie s , F u rlo u g h a d d re ss: 13815
Chittam Oak, San Antonio, TX 78232
SCH M ELZENBAC H, REV. HARM ON and
BEVERLY, Kenya, Field ad dress: P.O.
Box 20025, Nairobi, KENYA
SCHORTINGHOUSE, REV KENNETH and
LEANNA, New Zealand, Field address:
30 Riverhills Avenue, Pakuranga, Auck
land, NEW ZEALAND
SRADER, REV. DUANE and LINDA, Portu
gal, Furlough address: 6401 The Paseo,
SWAIN, REV. AL and ARLENE, Peru, New
Field address: Apartado 21-00 65 Lim a
21, PERU
V A N C IE L, REV. BR IA N and E V E L Y N *.
Samoa, Furlough address: 660 W elling
ton, Porterville, CA 93257
W E LC H LY , M R . JA M E S and D O N N A *.
C om m onw ealth of Independent States.
Field address: The U kraine. YKPAIHA
252116 KNIB, 11IOAYAEHKO. 16, K820
•Specialized Assignm ent Personnel
DIRECTORIES
BOARD OF GENERAL SUPERINTENDENTS
Office: 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO
64131. John A. Knight, chairm an; Donald
D. O w e n s , v ic e -c h a irm a n ; W illia m J.
Prince, secretary; Eugene L. Stowe, Jerald
D, Johnson, Raymond D. Hurn.
GENERAL SUPERINTENDENTS EM ERITUS:
G eorge C o u lte r, 93 1 0 C a n te rb u ry, Lea
wood, KS 66206; V H. Lewis, 1406 Cam
bridge, Olathe, KS 66062; Orville W. Jenk
in s, 2 3 0 9 W . 1 0 3 rd S t., L e a w o o d , KS
6 6 2 0 6 ; W illia m M G re a th o u s e , 1 1 7 9
Rosewood Trail, M ount Juliet, TN 37122.
Notice
Vital Statistics are printed as soon as
possible after they are received. W hen
s ubm itting inform ation, please observe
the following guidelines:
DEATHS: Please provide nam e, age,
hom etow n, date of death, and the names
of survivors and their relationship to the
deceased.
B IR T H S : P le a s e p ro v id e p a re n ts ’
nam es, hom etow n, name of child, sex of
child, and date of birth.
CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS: Please
s ubm it church announcem ents at least
three months prior to the issue you want
the notice to be printed in.
Please include your name and phone
num ber when subm itting inform ation for
the Vital Statistics pages to:
Herald of Holiness
6401 The Paseo
40
“The New Testament-On-Cassette helped some, but ever
since I got this ‘Prayer-On-Tape’ series, my
devotional life has really taken off!”
CHILDREN’S M INISTER
HONORED . . . Pat V erbal
was honored recently at the
11th Annual C hildren’s P as
tors Conference in Denver,
with the “ Excellence in M in
istry to Children" award.
A resident o f Glendora.
Calif., Verbal has served as
children's pastor at Pasadena
First Church of the Nazarene
and Orlando, Fla., Central
Church.
Verbal currently presents
seminars in local churches
and education conferences
such as the Greater Los
Angeles Sunday School C o n
ference, the Association of
Christian Schools Interna
tional Conference, Children's
Ministries University, and
the Nazarene General S un
day School Convention.
Verbal specializes in ven
triloquism, puppetry, and
drama. She has hosted the
Southwest Regional Puppet
F'estival for the past three
years, training more than 400
puppeteers.
ENCORE! . . . (J. Bradley G ar
vin, a m em ber of Oak Park.
111., Church
o f the N aza
rene, was
recently se
lected as
“ Young Per
former o f the
Connecticut,” an operatic com
petition conducted by the state.
A graduate of Olivet Na/.arene College and the Indiana
School o f Music, Garvin is
currently pursuing a doctor
ate at Yale University under
a full scholarship. He has
appeared with the St. Louis
Opera Com pany and has
been invited to appear at the
Baniff Fine Arts Center in
Canada.
BEST OF THE BEST . . . Dean
Thompson, director of
social ser
vices at T ra
dition House
Healthcare in
Joplin, Mo.,
was recently
selected as
the "Best of the Best" nom i
nee by his coworkers and
residents. Thompson, who is
also a Nazarene elder,
received a diamond pin and
w ill advance to the regional
competition. The com peti
tion is sponsored by the Hillhaven Corporation, a national
healthcare company.
A graduate o f Southern
Nazarene University,
Thompson has been in the
ministry for nearly 25 years.
He has pastored churches in
Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas,
Oklahoma, and Arizona. He
and his wife, N orm a, and
daughter, Tara, are currently
involved in evangelistic
work.
The Del Rey (Of The King) Sun
day School class at Pasadena,
C a lif ., F irs t C hurch of th e
N azarene c e le b ra te d its 50th
anniversary recently. The class
started in 1940 w ith 53 m em
bers. Currently, the class has
1 3 0 m em b ers and a v e ra g e s
about 80 each week. The class
is taught by Carol W agstaff.
A pril 1 9 9 2
Close to Home
News About Nazarenes
BY TO M FELDER
Pat Verbal and her ventriloquist
doll.
USAF HONORS NAZARENE
DENTIST . . . Major Scott E.
Gray was recently selected
as Junior Dental Officer of
the Year by the U.S. Air
Force. He was honored for
his military and dental
achievements in 1991.
Gray was deployed during
Desert Storm to a contingen
cy hospital in England. He
also served as chief of the
restorative section in an
advanced education in gener
al dentistry program and as
program director for the
USA F clinical operative den
tistry postgraduate course.
Gray and his wife, Cyndi,
are graduates of Mount Ver
non Nazarene College. They
live in San Antonio, Tex.,
with their two daughters.
PASTOR HONORED FOR 25
YEARS OF SERVICE . . . Gar
den City Church of the
Nazarene in Roanoke. Va.,
held a surprise reception
recently in honor of Pastor
Robert E. Field and his
wife, Zella. Rev. Fields has
served as pastor o f the
church for 25 years.
Nearly 150 people attend
ed the reception including
family members, fellow pas
tors, and friends from around
the country.
Former District Superin
tendent Reeford L. Chaney
was the keynote speaker.
Letters from the general
Major General Donald J. Butz (I.)
presents a plaque to Major Scott
E. Gray honoring him as Junior
Dental Officer of the Year in the
USAF, as his wife, Cyndi, looks on.
Lindsey and Lauren.
The Grays attend San
Antonio First Church of the
Nazarene, where he serves
on the church board.
superintendents and current
District Superintendent C. L.
Thompson were read.
The church presented Rev.
and Mrs. Field with S I.000,
an engraved wall clock, and a
scrapbook.
Rev. Robert and Zella Fields
D EL R E Y jrji40
41
m
REBECCA LAIRD
a
When Does God Draw Near?
here once was a woman who went over the theological words,
wanted to meet God. What
and walked with a controlled, even
would she wear? “Your
gait down the street. She felt con
Sunday best,” everyone told her. fident
So God would meet her there.
she went shopping. Trying on
Sure enough, just as she turned
many different styles, she finally
the corner, God was coming to
settled on a dark, modest suit,
ward her. God was very close. She
black pumps, and a fashionable
was so excited she wanted to dance
hat. They weren't the kind of
with joy, but she remembered her
clothes she would normally wear,
manners and stood politely and
but they seemed appropriate for
quietly. God came closer and she
meeting God.
wanted to shout out a greeting, but
After the woman knew what to
she kept still, just like she’d prac
wear, she wondered what God
ticed. God was almost to her! Her
would want to talk about. Theol
heart pounded, but she forced a
ogy, of course. She checked out
polite smile. She was doing every
several books on religion. She actu thing perfectly. Surely God would
ally learned when to use words like stop.
justification, hermeneutics, eschaBut God walked right by. He
tology, and entire sanctification.
walked right by her!
She didn’t normally use such
The woman watched in
words, but she wanted to make
disbelief. She had behaved
sure she and God could speak the
perfectly and God walked
same language.
right on by. How could
Then it dawned on her that she
God do this to her? Why?
hadn’t been to church in a while.
The woman dropped to
How did one act when one met
her knees right there on
God? She must brush up on her re the curb and sobbed and
ligious manners. So she visited sev sobbed until she thought
eral churches and, by watching, she her heart would break.
picked up what seemed to be ap
Several moments passed.
propriate behavior. One didn’t laugh Then she felt a hand on
much, cry loud (except to shed one her shoulder. She looked
tear quietly in a handkerchief), and up. Her face was puffy and her
one never got angry. Most of all,
hands wet from her tears. There
one smiled politely, kept still, and
was God.
nodded in agreement to everything
“My child,” said God, “what has
the minister said. There was no
made you so unhappy? It pains Me
dancing in the aisles and very little
to see you this way.”
talking or movement at all.
The woman, sputtered, “You
The woman normally laughed a
walked right by me, God! I was
lot, cried when she hurt, yelled
standing right here, and You
when she got angry, and danced
walked right by and didn’t even
when filled with joy. But appar
stop!”
ently God didn’t like people acting
God replied gently, “I didn’t stop
that way. At least, that’s what she
because, with those clothes, that
learned in church.
polite smile, and put-on airs, I
Now the woman felt ready to
didn’t recognize you. I didn’t think
meet God. She put on her suit,
it was you!”*
T
42
Who of us hasn't felt inadequate
when drawing near to God? Who
of us hasn’t tried to impress God
with our behavior, propriety, and
piety?
God knows how we look in our
bathrobes, and God doesn't care if
our hair is messy or our teeth un
brushed. God doesn’t even care
whether or not we own a dark suit.
We come to God as we are.
God wants to talk to us about
anything that is of concern to us.
We can speak to God in everyday
words.
Last, God is not afraid of our
emotions, even the powerful ones.
God designed our emotions as a
special means of communication.
S h e wanted to shout out
a greeting, but instead
she gave a controlled,
polite smile.
Through our feelings, we discover
the hard and happy truths about
our lives. God often speaks to us
through them.
Ultimately, this story reminds us
that our humanness is nothing to
be ashamed of. God made us in the
divine image, and none of our im
perfections can ever keep God
from recognizing our authentic
love and honest openness to Him.
*This sto ry is one that has been p a ss e d a n d retold in the oral
tradition. T he source is un kn o w n
Rebecca Laird is a p ro fe s s io n a l w riter
a n d e d ito r S he lives in S an F ra n c is c o
a n d is a lic e n s e d minister.
rq
W. E. M c C U M B E R
The Son of God
ecently, 1 r e a d th r o u g h , for
th e u m p t e e n t h tim e , m y
. favorite G o sp e l, t h a t o f
M ark. Its brevity, r a p id pace, a n d
clear m essage h a v e e n d e a r e d it to
m y h e a r t for decades.
We used t o sing w ith th e c h il
dren, “ E v e ry b o d y o u g h t to k n o w
w ho Jesus is.”
T h a t, in essence, is th e p u r p o s e
o f th e G o s p e l o f M a rk .
T h e G o s p e l is n o t a biography,
th o u g h it d o e s c o n t a i n rich b io
graphical m a teria ls. It is n o t a his
tory, t h o u g h v a lu a b le h isto ric al m a
terials a b o u n d therein.
T h e G o s p e l o f M a r k is p r o c la
m a tio n , w h a t sc h o lars call kerygm a, w h ic h is a G r e e k w o rd for
preaching. ( E v e ry b o d y o u g h t to
know at least o n e G r e e k w ord, so if
you d o n ’t h a v e o n e in y o u r v o c a b
ulary already, k e r y g m a is a g o o d
one to a d opt.) M a r k w as w ritte n to
p roclaim w ho Je su s is.
T h e a u t h o r d o e s n o t fool a r o u n d .
H e gets to his t h e m e in th e o p e n
ing sta te m e n t: “T h e b e g i n n in g o f
the gospel o f Je su s C hrist, th e S on
o f G o d ” (1:1).
Jesus (th e h u m a n one), C h rist
(the a n o i n t e d O n e , t h e M e ssia h) is
the S on o f G o d . T h is is w h a t M a r k
in te n d s to sh o w b y w h a t h e writes.
E verything t h a t follows th e o p e n i n g
s ta te m e n t e lu c id a te s this, enlarges
u p o n this— t h a t Je su s is t h e S on o f
G od.
To this t r u t h th e F a th e r bea rs
positive w itness. W h e n Je sus is
b ap tize d a voice s p e a k s from
heaven, saying, “ T h o u a r t m y b e
loved Son, in w h o m I a m well
pleased” (1:11).
To th is t r u t h d e m o n s b e a r n e g a
tive witness. “ W h e n e v e r t h e evil
spirits b e h e ld h im , th e y fell d o w n
before h i m a n d crie d out, ‘You are
the S on o f G o d ’” (3:11, N IV ).
R
April 19 92
T h r o u g h t h e a u th o r, th e c h u r c h
— th e in sid ers— b e a rs w itne ss to
th e u n i q u e s o n s h ip o f Jesus, as we
n o te d in th e G o s p e l’s o p e n in g
s t a t e m e n t (1:1).
T h e c e n t u r i o n in cha rge o f th e
C ru c ifix io n , a m a n o f th e w o rld —
a n o u ts id e r — b e a rs c lim a c tic w it
ness. As Jesus died, this soldier ex
c la im e d , “ S urely th is m a n was th e
S o n o f G o d ! ” (15:39, N IV ). In d o
ing so, c o n v e r s io n to C h r is t w as a t
tested.
By th is succession o f w itnesses
th e id e n tity o f Jesus, th e m a n from
N az a re th , is disclosed. H e is th e
Son o f G od.
M a r k ’s p r im a r y c o n c e r n is n o t to
sh o w t h a t Je su s o f N a z a r e th is th e
M essiah o f Israel. R a th e r, h e i n
t e n d s to sh o w t h a t Jesus
o f N a z a re th , th e M essiah
o f Israel, is th e S o n o f
G o d . H e is n o t m e re ly
th e S o n o f D avid, H e is
L
th e S on o f G o d . H e is
n o t o n ly th e S o n o f
M a n , H e is th e S o n o f
G o d . All H is n a m e s , all
H is titles, all H is f u n c
tio n s are s u b o r d in a t e to,
a n d expressive of. H is
id e n tity as t h e S o n o f
God.
W h a t it m e a n s to call Jesus th e
S o n o f G o d b e c o m e s clea r as H e
p u r s u e s H is m ission, w h ic h reach es
its pow erful a n d p r e d e stin e d c lim a x
in H is c ru c ifix io n a n d resurre ction.
E v ery th in g flow s o u t fro m this
p o in t, e v e ry th in g flows b a c k to this
p o i n t — t h a t Jesus is th e S o n o f
God.
W h o Je su s is sta n d s revealed by
w h a t H e does. B u t w h a t H e d o e s is
d e t e r m i n e d by w h o H e is. H is b e
in g u n d e r lie s a n d gives m e a n i n g
a n d valu e to H is doing. T h a t
m e a n i n g a n d valu e re a c h th e ir cli
m a x in H is d e a th a n d resurre ction,
a n d these c o n s titu te g o o d n e w s —
th e gospel.
H is d e a th a to n e s for sin a n d r a n
so m s th e s in n e r from bondage. His
re su rre c tio n billb o ard s th e F a th e r ’s
a c c e p ta n c e o f H is a t o n in g sacrifice.
It also illu m in a te s th e S o n ’s id e n
tity for H is disciples, a n d t h u s it
inspires— in d e e d c re a te s— th e faith
by w h ic h th ey are saved.
T h e r e is a n e m p h a s is o n p o w e r
in M a rk 's G ospel. In a single c h a p
ter, for e xa m ple , we fin d stories
th a t exalt th e p o w e r o f Jesus over
d e m o n s , disease, a n d d e a th (ch. 5).
To rea d it is to k n o w th a t a u n iq u e
p e rso n is at w ork, a tta c k in g a n d
c o n q u e r in g th e strongest forces o f
evil in th e w orld. H e c a n be n o
o th e r t h a n th e S on o f G o d in a
reached its powerful
and predestined climax in
His crucifixion and
resurrection.
sense th a t n o o th e r is o r ca n b e
co m e.
T h a t is th e g lorious tra c k on
w h ic h th e r e a d e r sets his feet w h e n
he sees— o r h e a rs— th e o p e n in g
t r u m p e t blast o f M a r k ’s book:
“T h e b e g in n in g o f th e gospel o f
Jesus Christ, th e S on o f G o d .” To
follow t h a t tra c k w ith o p e n m i n d
a n d rev e re n t spirit is to reach a n
a g r e e m e n t w ith its in sp ire d a u tho r,
a n d to offer o n e ’s life in service to
its d iv in e Subject.
W. E. McCumber is a preacher,
teacher; author, a n d fo rm e r e d ito r o f
the Herald of Holiness.
43
Recognize i t . . .
Acknowledge i t . . .
Propagate i t . . .
A SPECIAL TIE THAT BINDS!
B Y R O B E R T H. SC O TT, D IR EC T O R , W O RLD MISSION DIVISION
aybe it should be
called p art o f the
“ g e n iu s ” o f th e
C h u r c h o f th e
N azarene. W h at
ever you call it, it is true: N azarenes o f the world fe e l a special
tie to each other. E veryw here I
have gone in th e w orld am o n g
“o u r fam ily” I have seen it. In
deed, we are family. A nd we love
the “ family m eeting.” We are one
in a special bond o f His love.
You have seen it and felt it if
you have been to a G eneral As
sembly. D uring 1991, I saw it and
felt it in the six regional confer
ences a ro u n d th e w orld. N azarenes who have never seen each
o th e r before fin d in g an in sta n t
relatedness a n d e n jo y m e n t w ith
each other. T h at relatedness and
enjoym ent energized th em to go
out to do a better work for God!
Surely, it is part o f the “genius” o f
the C hurch o f the N azarene.
Doubtless, m uch has been co n
trib u te d to th e p e rp e tu a tio n o f
th is sp irit by o u r m issio n aries.
They go to distant places to rep
resent us all. They return in years
o f fu rlo u g h to r e p o rt o n w h a t
they have seen and w hat H e has
done. They show us the “faces” o f
people m ost o f us will never see.
They tell us their stories.
As they do, these distances and
differences m elt away, a n d th is
unique N azarene “oneness” takes
a deep root w ithin ou r hearts and
m inds. T here is, indeed, a special
tie th at binds.
M
T he “ Family S pirit” at R isk
But in a com plex world, filled
w ith c o m p e titio n a n d n a ti o n
44
alism, this tie can be in jeopardy,
not because we wish it w ould go
away b u t because we becom e too
busy to recognize it an d acknow l
edge it and propagate it. N one of
us w ould w ant to suffer this loss.
All o f us m ust take on the task of
preserving the fam ily feeling.
O u r very success in developing
s tro n g a n d s e lf - s u p p o r tin g
ch u rch es a n d d istric ts in w orld
areas can inadvertently place this
spirit in jeopardy. N azarenes have
a c le a r p h ilo so p h y o f m issio n s
th a t ru n s d iam etrically opposite
to colonialism . We do not place
m issionaries o r establish in stitu
tio n s w ith i n te n t to e s ta b lis h
p e rm a n e n t d e p e n d e n c e o n th e
m issio n a ry or o n an e x p a tria te
support system.
We sow His m ustard seed faith
fully and carefully. We lay solid
f o u n d a t i o n s fo r r e p r o d u c tiv e
evangelism a n d holy living. We
establish local churches an d Bible
schools an d clinics an d even hos
pitals. But even as we do this, we
pray for a n d expect th at one day
th e lo c a l N a z a re n e s w ill ta k e
charge o f their own ecclesiastical
destiny. We hope th at soon there
w ill be s u f f ic ie n t n u m b e r s o f
m e m b e rs w ith t h a t a u th e n t ic
N azarene spirit th at enables them
to o p e ra te th e ir ow n p ro g ra m s
and institutions. This, o f course,
allow s th e m is s io n a ry a n d th e
m issionary dollar to m ove on to
other new frontiers w here people
have not yet heard the clear call
o f the gospel.
“ I n d ig e n i z a t io n ” is th e big
w ord th a t d efin es this m issions
philosophy. We believe in it. We
a r e p r a c t i c i n g it a r o u n d th e
world.
Is it really w o rk in g o u t th a t
way? Well, did you know th at o f
th e 95 w o rld a re a s w h e re th e
C hurch o f the N azarene is now at
work, 47 o f these have no foreign
N a z a re n e m issio n a ry presence?
T h at is a sign th at we are serious
a b o u t in d ig e n iz a tio n . T h a t is a
m ark o f o u r success as a church
c o m m itte d to c re a tin g a w o rld
holiness m ovem ent based on the
strength and auth en ticity o f local
N azarenes everywhere.
Rev. Rosa Tee and the
Nazarene Family in Antigua
I have traveled in m ost o f these
95 areas over th e past years. In
such events as the 1991 regional
co n feren ces a n d co u n cils, I am
often w ith N azarenes th a t com e
fro m all o f th e s e w o rld a re a s.
W hat we have is indeed a “fam
ily,” b o u n d to g e th e r by tie s o f
love, c o m m itm en t, an d m ission.
W herever o u r “fam ily” is found,
it is ev an g elizin g th e lost, p r o
c la im in g a n d liv in g th e life o f
C h ristian holiness, paying G e n
eral Budget, and feeling a special
in sp iratio n from know ing it be
longs to a “fam ily” th at is w orld
wide in scope.
So, le t’s p ra is e G o d fo r th is
a ch iev em en t. T e t’s recognize it,
acknow ledge it, and propagate it.
A few m o n th s ago, I was on the
tiny island o f A ntigua in the C a
r ib b e a n Sea. A n tig u a is w h ere
N azarenes have a lady district su
p erintendent, Rev. Rosa Lee. She
a n d her faithful p a sto rs are e n
gaged in sincere attem p ts to evan
gelize th e peo p les o f th is place
H e ra ld of H o lin e ss
(Upper left) Several Nazarene pastors confer with their district superintendent, Rev. Rosa
Lee. (Above) One of Antigua’s scenic harbors. (Upper right) Beacon Light Church of the
Nazarene. (Right) Dr. Robert Scott, director of World Mission Division, and District
Superintendent Rosa Lee.
w ith its u n iq u e g e o g rap h ic iso
lation. As we shared a delightful
lu n ch e o n fellow ship, one o f th e
young pastors asked m e a p ro b
ing question. “Since there are no
m issionaries here to take o u r pic
tures a n d stories to o th e r N aza
re n e s in o th e r c o u n tr ie s , how
does o u r N azarene fam ily aro u n d
the w orld know ab o u t o u r tin y is
land? H ow are o u r special prayer
requests m ade know n? H ow are
o u r special victories and burdens
shared?”
It was, I told him , a very good
question. I reco u n ted for him and
the others o u r c o m m itm e n t to be
April 1 9 9 2
a w orld fam ily connected by ties
th a t bind. I told him ab o u t World
M ission m agazine, the H erald o f
Holiness, the m issionary reading
b o o k s, th e N W M S , a n d p ray e r
line. I even told him ab o u t the
positive dim ension o f the “N aza
rene grapevine.” I m ean th at in
form al system o f co m m u n icatio n
by w hich if one N azarene know s
ab o u t good news (or bad), soon
all N azarenes know it. We rem ain
connected, I assured him . We are
a family. We w on’t forget o r a p
p re c ia te less th e g row ing areas
su ch as th e irs from w h ic h th e
m issionaries have m oved on. We
will m ake the m ost o f the special
philosophy o f m issions an d inter
n a tio n a liz a tio n th a t we have
adopted and affirm ed in each of
o u r recent G eneral Assemblies.
I believe I told the young pas
to r in A ntig u a w hat you w ould
have w anted m e to tell him. A nd
he was glad to hear th at message.
Now it is up to us all. T his spe
cial tie th a t binds? L et’s be agents
to recognize it, to acknowledge it,
and to propagate it all aro u n d the
world! It is part o f a N azarene ge
n iu s th a t we c a n n o t a ffo rd to
lose.
^
45
Roses in the D esert. . .
continued from page 5
C a m p u s v isito rs o fte n a ssu m e all s tu d e n ts at
NIBC are Navajo, since it’s so close to the Navajo
N ation and over 50 percent o f the students com e
from that tribe. But eight different tribes are repre
sented, in clu d in g M ojave, C herokee, Seneca, and
Papago (Tohono O 'odham ).
Tribal differences m ay not be apparent to white
visitors, but they are real. Barb C h atto spoke about
how these differences affect students: “It’s always a
little hard at the first o f the year, because everyone is
getting used to one another. But as the year progress
es, we do get closer to each other.”
A ccording to C harles S tu art, d e a n o f students,
m o st In d ia n stu d e n ts do e x p erien ce som e crosscultural problem s. “T here’s personal tension w hen
they try to m ake C hrist real in their lives. It’s differ
ent for everyone, especially with their different tribal
backgrounds.
“ Som e have to deal w ith h u n tin g a n d farm ing
legends— and especially w ith beliefs ab o u t the C re
ation. O thers m ust w ork through experiences with
alcohol and drugs, som e o f th at in connection with
fam iliar Peyote doctrines.
“O u r goal is to develop C hristian Indians w ithout
taking away their heritage. So m uch tribal life is re
ligious, and C hristianity c a n ’t ju st be added. C hrist
m ust becom e central,” he said.
Barb C h atto recalls facing som e questions o f her
own. “ I rem em b er asking m yself d u ring one class
discussion, ‘W here does the Indian C hristian fit in?
W here does culture end w hen you take on C hris
tianity; and, where does C hristianity end w hen liv
ing in the culture?’ Each o f us [Indians] m ust experi
ence his o r her own guidance from G od. We c a n ’t
ju st set o u r heritage on a shelf.”
Professor Lloyd C om m ander, the school’s only In
dian teacher, teaches A m erican Indian History. He
said, “W hen we talked about C olum bus’ com ing to
this continent, students asked, ‘How can som eone
discover a place th a t's alread y p o p u la te d ? ’ M ost
w hite m en d o n ’t u n derstand there were com plex In
dian cultures long before the w hite m an got here.
“Indian cultures are ju st part o f the m any cultures
in A m erica. Som eone has said, ‘T he tru th is, the
U.S. will never be a m elting pot, b u t a stew pot.’ A
carrot in a stew still tastes like carrot, but it’s e n
hanced by the flavor o f the o th er vegetables and it,
in turn, enhances the flavor o f the others,” C o m
m an d er said.
“ Like any college cam pus, this is n o t a perfect
place,” D ean M cK inney noted. “ In any given year,
three or four students will stum ble. But we m ust be
redem ptive. If a student repents and is willing to be
counseled, we’ll w ork w ith him or her. People m ay
46
Nothing to Brag About—
Except God’s Redeeming Grace
ohono O’odham Indian Al Antone says, “I hate to
even mention the things I used to do— it’s nothing
to brag about. But I’m a living testimony of what the
Lord can do in someone’s life, and that’s what I brag
about.”
For 13 years, Al was a member of a drug smuggling
ring. “I knew it affected my whole family,” he said.
“And because of this, my wife and three sons began go
ing to church in 1984.
“One day, my son came home from church and
asked if I knew what a particular scripture meant. He
read it for me. ‘For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
him should not perish, but have everlasting life’ (John
3:16). Just hearing it through his young voice made it
come alive to me.
“I began attending church, too, but didn’t end my
association with the gang. Then, in 1985, everyone else
was arrested and sent to prison—some are still there.”
Al accepted the Lord that year, but he said, “I didn’t
give Him everything. Then, one day I questioned the
pastor about the peace and joy they all claimed to have,
and he asked if I had really given God my all. I began
crying and, when he asked if I'd like to, I said yes. From
that time I’ve felt that peace and joy myself”
Al has a burden for the people he’s hurt in the past,
and he regularly phones and writes to those in prison.
“They sometimes ask why I don’t preach to them.
But I wait for them to ask about the change in my life;
then, I can testify and let it all come naturally into the
conversation,” he said.
And God has given Al a burden for his people. He
has talked to tribal elders about his new faith.
T
n ot u n derstand this, but ‘we m ust obey G od, rather
th an m en.’”
This obedience has led to the school having an a t
trition rate any college can be proud of. O nly ab o u t
4 p ercen t o f the stu d e n ts w ho begin as freshm en
leave before graduating. T h at looks pretty good, es
pecially w hen c o m p a red to 96 p e rc e n t o f N ative
A m erican students leaving the nearby U niversity o f
New M exico before graduation.
C harles Stuart, though p roud o f b oth the school
and students, said, “ No place is perfect. Every c a m
p u s, ev ery w o rk p la c e , ev e ry c o m m u n ity , ev e ry
church has its problem s. W hen I was studying at
B ethany Peniel College, som eone told m e, ‘You’ll
fin d roses o u t th ere. S om e will blo sso m a n d be
beautiful, b u t others will be very thorny. You m ust
deal w ith a n d accept both kinds.’ It’s been good ad
vice. Here, we are cultivating roses in the desert.”
Priscilla Raue is a se m ire tire d jo u rn a lis t livin g in Merrillville,
Ind. She h o ld s a c o m m is s io n as m in iste r o f C hristian e d u c a
tion in the C h u rch o f the N azarene.
rq
Herald of Holiness
People M ake the
Difference at NIBC
e d ic a te d p eo p le. G o d - d i r e c t
ed p e o p le . P e o p le w ith a
sense o f m ission. T h e y ’re th e r e a
son th e d o o r s at N I B C a re o p e n
today.
A d m in is tr a to r s lik e T om
M c K in n e y ( a d m i n i s t r a t o r / d e a n o f
th e c o lle g e ) a n d C h a r l e s S t u a r t
(dean o f stu d e n ts), a lo n g w ith o t h
ers, ta k e for g r a n te d th e fact th e y ’ll
often be called u p o n to “ fill in th e
gaps” w h e n lack o f f u n d s req u ires
extra w ork.
R e g u la r t e a c h e r s a n d a d m i n i s
trators travel m a n y m iles in to th e
rese rv atio n s several w e e k e n d s a
y e a r t o t e a c h e x t e n s i o n classe s.
P re sen t e x te n s io n classe s are
aim ed at p rep a rin g In d ian s w ho
c a n n o t a t t e n d th e sch ool for o r d i
n a t io n . H o w e v e r, la y t r a i n i n g
classes m a y be offered soon.
S ta f f m e m b e r G e n e C o p e ( d i
r e c to r o f d e v e l o p m e n t ) in c l u d e s
te a c h in g a n d c o o r d i n a t i n g W o rk
a n d W itn es s efforts in his jo b.
M a n y te a c h e r s a re p e o p le w ith
reg u la r fu ll-tim e jo b s, w h o use
th e ir exp ertise a n d e a r n e d degrees
to te a c h at N IB C p a rt-tim e .
P rofessors fro m o t h e r colleges,
a lo n g w ith p a s to rs w ith specialties
to share, visit th e c a m p u s to te ac h
sem inars.
Several v o lu n te e r couples, su c h
as W a y n e a n d V irginia Faul, Cecil
a n d F reda Miller, a n d th e c o u p le
w h o r u n th e d in in g hall, d e d ic a te
th r e e - q u a r t e r s o f every y ea r to
serving N IB C .
S te v e a n d C a t h y B o w m a n o f
L a r i m o r e , N .D a k ., p u t t o g e t h e r
N I B C ’s q u a r t e r l y n e w sp a p e r. S a
cred Jo urney.
N u m e r o u s W ork a n d W itn ess
t e a m s f r o m all o v e r t h e U n i t e d
S tates c o m e to k e e p th is c a m p u s
th e a ttra c tiv e place it is.
T h e r e 's n o w a y to n o te all th e
w ays p e o p le m a k e a d iffe rence to
N IB C . B u t e v e r y o n e w ith a vision
for th is m in i s tr y c a n h a v e a p a r t
th r o u g h th e n ew “ Seed J a r ” p r o j
ect. F or in f o r m a ti o n , write: K a r e n
C o p e , N a z a r e n e I n d ia n Bible C o l
lege, 231 5 M a r k h a m R d. S.W., A l
b u q u e r q u e , N M 87105.
April 1992
D
Whole No. 3554
•
Vol. 81, No. 4
E D IT O R
Wesley D. Tracy
V
Here is a book that w ill help you ef
fe c tiv e ly fo c u s your in te rp e rs o n a l
w itne ssin g s k ills in the w orkplace.
From the boardroom to the sw itch
board, this book w ill provide valuable
encouragem ent to be a living exam
ple of Jesus Christ.
H H 0 8 3 -4 1 1 -4 3 0 5
$ 7 .9 5
M A N A G IN G E D IT O R
M ark G raham
A D M IN IS T R A T IV E S E C R E T A R Y
Judith Perry
D IR E C T O R
D IV IS IO N O F
C O M M U N IC A T IO N S
Paul Skiles
G E N E R A L S U P E R IN T E N D E N T S
Eugene L. Stowe
Jerald D. Johnson
John A. K night
R aym ond W. H u rn
W illiam J. Prince
D onald D. Ow ens
B ible quotations in this issue:
U nidentified quotations are from K.JV
Q uotations from the following trans
lations are used by permission:
(NIV) From The Holy Bible. New Inter
national Version, copyright © 1973.
1978. 1984 by the International Bible
Society.
(N K JV ) From the New King Jam es Ver
sion. c o p y rig h t© 1979, 1980, 1982.
T hom as Nelson, Inc.. Publishers.
C o v e r P h o to : Christopher Griffin
A u th or Neil W isem an provides 40
proven m ethods fo r reducing stress
in our lives. The underlying them e
p o in ts ou t our need to d e velop a
deeper frien dship w ith God to help
us in fighting the external pressures
of the w orld.
H H 0 8 3 -4 1 1 -4 2 9 1
$ 1 4 .9 5
Order your copies today!
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Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City
Prices s u b le t to change
A pril 1 9 9 2
•
Plus postage
Herald of Holiness (USPS 241-400) is
published m onthlv by the NAZARENE
PUBLISHING HOUSE, 2923 Troost
Ave_ Kansas City, MO 64109. Editorial
offices at 6401 The Paseo. Kansas City.
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concerning subscriptions to Nazarene
Publishing House, P.O. Box 419527,
K ansas City, MO 64141. Copyright
1992 by Nazarene Publishing House.
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47
NEWS
LATE NEWS
NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • IS!
NEW MISSIONARIES
COMMISSIONED
One of the largest missionary
classes in recent history was
commissioned by the General
Board o f the C hurch o f the
Na/.arene during its 1992 ses
s io n . T w o o f the c o u p l e s
were com m issio ned for ser
v ic e in the f o r m e r S o v ie t
U n io n , a n o th e r c o u p le was
commissioned specifically to
serve the Chinese people.
T h irty -o n e in d iv id u als
w e re c o m m i s s i o n e d in the
special service. They include:
David and Sandy Allison
fr o m C a n a d a , a s s i g n e d as
agricultural m issio n arie s to
Bangladesh
Dr. A b r a h a m an d Ju d y
A th ia ly from I n d ia n a p o lis ,
assigned to Asia-Pacific Naz
arene Theological Seminary,
Manila, Philippines
C h a rles and V era Brow n
from O la th e , K an s., to the
Dominican Republic
Rev. Jim and Betty Cooper
from Enid, Okla., assigned to
the South America Region
R e v. R a n d y a n d L in d a
G a n t fro m S o m e r s e t , Ky.,
a s sig n e d to the M in iste ria l
T ra in in g C o u n c il, N airo b i,
Kenya
Thirty-one individuals were commissioned by the 1992 General Board for missionary service. Two of
the couples were commissioned for service in the Commonwealth of Independent States and another
couple was commissioned specifically to serve the Chinese people. (See story)
Rev. John Haines, who has
been serving as a missionary
in the E u r a s i a R e g io n a l
office, was given career mis
sionary status
R e v . D a v id an d S h e lly
Hayes from Nashville, Ind.,
were assigned to the Eurasia
Region for Arabic language
studies
R e v . E ric a n d P a u la
Kellerer from Hailey, Idaho,
a s s i g n e d to A s i a - P a c i f i c
R e g io n , T h a i l a n d C h u r c h
Growth Council
MVNC STUDENT DIES IN CAR CRASH
A M o unt V ern o n N az arene
C o lle g e stu d e n t w as killed
and another seriously injured
F eb . 3, in a
car accident
so u th o f the
campus.
Susan Ann
F a r m e r . 19,
w as
pro
n o u n ce d dead at the scene.
E i g h te e n - y e a r - o ld M ich ael
K e e n w as t r a n s p o r t e d by
LifeFlight to the neurological
in te n siv e care unit at O hio
S ta te U n i v e r s i t y M e d ic a l
Center in Columbus.
K e e n , a f r e s h m a n fro m
Spencerport, N.Y., was driv
ing the car when he reportedly
lost control and crossed the
center line. Farmer, a fresh48
man from Triadelphia, W.Va.,
was killed when the car was
hit by an oncoming van.
The four occupants o f the
van were treated and released
fro m a lo c a l h o s p i t a l . A
fourth p a s s e n g e r w as eight
months pregnant. She deliv
ered a baby boy the following
day.
Fanner is the third member
of the MVNC student body to
die in an automobile accident
in the 1991-92 school year.
Ron H o l m e s an d D a r r i n
Brooks were killed in a headon collision Sept. 5.
Keen and Farmer reported
ly were returning to the cam
pus f r o m N e w a r k , O h io ,
where they had gone to pur
chase an engagement ring.
R e v . a n d M rs. D a n ie l
Miller o f K ansas City, Mo.,
assigned to the Africa Region,
S en eg al C hu rch G ro w th
Council
D a v id and S y lv ia P o tte r
fro m K a n s a s C i t y , M o.,
assigned to the Asia-Pacific
Region. P apua N ew G u in ea
Medical Council
Rev. Rick and Vicki Power
fro m G e o r g e t o w n . T e x . ,
a s s ig n e d to M a n d a r i n l a n
guage studies, Taipei, Taiwan
Rev. Chuck and Carla Sunberg from Austin, Tex., to the
E u ra sia R eg io n, M oscow
Church Planting Council
Rev. Ung and Susan Kim
Ty from Long Beach, Calif.,
to Asia-Pacific Region, C a m
bodia Church Planting Coun
cil
Jim and Donna Welchly of
San Antonio (who have been
serving several months as lay
missionaries to the Ukraine)
assigned to specialized mis
sionary contract. Kiev
R e v . D a v i d an d G le n d a
W e sle y from O rlan d o , Fla.,
assigned to Hispanic language
school
Rev. and Mrs. Larry West
fr o m K a n s a s C i t y , Mo.,
a s s i g n e d to A s i a - P a c i f i c
R e g io n , I n d o n e s i a C h u rc h
Growth Council
W o r ld M is s io n D iv isio n
D irec tor R obert Scott intro
d u c e d the n e w ly appo in ted
m is sio n a rie s to the General
B oard w ho u n a n im o u sly
a c c e p te d the r e c o m m e n d a
tions o f the W o rld Mission
Department. A prayer of ded
ication was prayed by Gener
al S u perin te n d en t Raymond
W. Hum.
PICKENPAUGH IS NEW D.S. OF MINNESOTA
S am P i c k e n p a u g h , 58, has
been a p p o in te d s u p e r in t e n
dent o f the M in n e so ta D is
trict. The appoin tm ent was
made by General Superinten
d en t R a y m o n d W. H urn in
c o o p e r a t i o n w ith the M i n
n eso ta D istrict A d v iso ry
Board. Pickenpaugh replaces
R ussell H u m an w ho was
appointed superintendent of
the Northeast Oklahoma Dis
trict.
Since 1987, Pickenpaugh
had se rve d in a specialized
m i s s i o n a r y a s s i g n m e n t as
superintendent o f the W est
ern Australia District. Begin
n in g in 1988. he w as also
su p e r in t e n d e n t o f the A u s
tralia N orthern Pacific Dis
trict.
He an d his w ife. G ra ce ,
have a daughter, Charlotte.
H e ra ld o f Holiness
NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE
Features of the Month
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tures a n d c h a ra c te rs t h a t m a k e God's W ord c o m e a liv e to y o u r c h ild re n .
I n c lu d e d are: " H u m b l y G ra te fu l o r G r u m b l y H a te fu l? " "Moses, You're
Not Listening," "By Faith," a n d m ore.
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a n d s i n g - a lo n g . I n c lu d e d in t h e 15 se lec tions are: "If You Believe," "He
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Herald of Holiness Volume 81 Number 04 (1992)

Transcription

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