Herald of Holiness Volume 81 Number 08 (1992)

Transcription

Herald of Holiness Volume 81 Number 08 (1992)
Olivet Nazarene University
Digital Commons @ Olivet
Herald of Holiness
Church of the Nazarene
8-1-1992
Herald of Holiness Volume 81 Number 08 (1992)
Wesley D. Tracy (Editor)
Olivet Nazarene University
Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_hoh
Part of the Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, Christianity Commons, Church
History Commons, Missions and World Christianity Commons, and the Practical Theology
Commons
Recommended Citation
Tracy, Wesley D. (Editor), "Herald of Holiness Volume 81 Number 08 (1992)" (1992). Herald of Holiness. Book 80.
http://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_hoh/80
This Journal Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Church of the Nazarene at Digital Commons @ Olivet. It has been accepted for
inclusion in Herald of Holiness by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Olivet. For more information, please contact
[email protected].
NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE
Features of the M onth
Crystal© Sea
R
E
0
Instrumental Hymns of Worship
A n expressive collection of tim e -h o n o re d h y m n s consisting
of solo p ia n o a n d orchestra in s tru m e n ta tio n . Compiled by
Joseph Linn, these 12 d y n a m ic arra n g e m e n ts m a k e a n y lis­
te nin g tim e an enjoyable w o rsh ip experience.
H y m n s include: "And Can It Be?" "Im m o rtal, Invisible"; "Jesus
Paid It All"; "The Love of God"; "A M ighty Fortress Is Our
God"; "Our Great Savior"; "I Sing th e M igh ty Power of God";
"This Is My Father's World"; a n d more!
HHTA-4010C
H HDC-4010
S7.98
$9.98
Cassette
C ompact Disc
DARE TO RUN NIV STUDENT BIBLE
B IB L E
[ Di l i
NEW
INTERNATIONAL
VERSION
;
THE WESLEY BIBLE
This is th e sam e NIV Stu­
d ent Bible th a t is receiving
hig h praise n ationw ide, but
n ow in a Dare to Run spe­
cial edition. In add itio n to
its succ essful s t u d y t e c h ­
niques, this Bible features a
redesigned, c o n t e m p o r a r y
c o v e r a n d a Dare to Run,
Words-Only C ho rus Book.
A great back-to-school Bi­
ble buy!
H H T R -8 1 1 4 0
$15.95
Few m e n have so positively
affected the course of A m e ri­
can C hristianity as has J o h n
Wesley. Not o n l y w ill m i l ­
li o n s o f C h r i s t i a n s o f t h e
W esley an -A rm in ian tra d i­
tion rejoice over th e p ublica­
tion of The Wesley Bible, but so
w i l l a ll e v a n g e l ic a l C h r is ­
tia n s w h o are co n cern ed
about th eir Christian walk.
HHTR-985
Black Bonded Leather $64.99
Burgundy Bonded
Leather
$64.99
h h tr-9 8 2
Hardback
$29.95
h h tr-9 8 5 B G
Plus postage
Prices subject to change without notice
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE FINE MONTHLY FEATURES TODAY!
Call us at 1-800-877-0700
Herald of Holiness
C H U R C H
OF
T H E
N A Z A R E N E
Volume 81, Number 8
AUGUST 1992
FEATURE ARTICLES
2
20
Positive
Self-esteem
A Promise to
Keep— a People
to Serve
R o n a l d L. P h e l p s
God, Go Away
L o n n i C o l l in s P r a t t
S t e v e n P. J a c k s o n
44
Will the Light
Go Out?
St e p h e n W . N ea se
DEPARTMENTS
CONTINUING
COLUMNS
8 Editor’s Choice
W
6 General
Superintendent’s
Viewpoint
R
W. H
aym o nd
orn
7 Into the Word
R
o ger
L
H
ahn
D
ee
F
J
erry
reebo rn
and
Lynda C
S t a n In g e r so l
T
ohagan
racy
14 - 18 , 38-41 News
M
T
ark
om
F
G
raham
SPECIAL REPORT
eld er
34 The Readers Write
37 The Question Box
T
13 The Family Album
43 Nazarene Roots
D
C o ndu cted
12 When You Pray
E.
esley
by
W
racy
47 Marked Copy
M
ark
G
raham
48 Late News
M
T
ark
om
G
raham
F eld er
esley
30
D
Benefits of
Nazarene
Preaching
W
esley
D.
T racy
POSITIVE SELF-ESTEEM
DISCOVERING
I
WHO I AM
IN CHRIST
BY RONALD L. PHELPS
ew people experience the godly
blend of contentment and sat­
isfaction that God planned for
them. From the starting point
of life, we find ourselves searching to
give peace to an inner restlessness we
cannot explain. This hunger causes us
to find people who will fill the void in
our lives. The desire for acceptance
forces us to act and react for the praise
of others.
In the Scriptures, God has given us
the necessary tools and words to dis­
cover our sign ifican ce and worth as
He sees us. From the earliest chapters
of Genesis, we read of man’s creation,
his intended purpose and value. In
the New Testament, we discover a clue
to human worth in God’s love for us
through C hrist’s com ing, death, and
resurrection.
F
The inner desire for self-esteem is given
to us by God and only He can satisfy us.
,
As C h ristia n s, we n eed a n
a c c u ra te kn o w led g e o f G o d ’s
tru th . T h is is th e first step in
o u r search for p erso n a l selfw orth.
“ W h e th e r la b e le d ‘s e lfe s te e m ’ o r ‘s e lf-w o rth ,’ th e
feeling o f sig n ifican c e is c ru ­
cial to th e e m o tio n a l, sp iri­
tu a l, a n d so cial sta b ility o f
people. T h e n ee d to believe
we are sig n ifican t is th e d riv ­
ing e le m e n t w ith in th e h u ­
m a n s p irit. U n d e r s ta n d in g
th is s in g le n e e d o p e n s th e
d o o r to u n d e r s ta n d in g o u r
a c tio n s a n d a ttitu d e s ”
( R o b e r t S. M c G e e , T h e
Sea rch fo r S ig n ifica n c e, 13).
T h e b o o k s to re s are filled
w ith s e l f - h e l p b o o k s t h a t
p ro m ise to in cre ase a n d im ­
p ro v e th e in d iv id u a l’s selfw o rth . W h a t h a s to b e u n ­
d e r s to o d is t h a t th e i n n e r
d e s i r e f o r s e l f - e s t e e m is
g iv e n t o u s b y G o d , a n d
o n ly H e c a n satisfy us. We
desire to re c a p tu re th e rela­
tio n s h ip o f A d a m w ith G o d
in th e gard en . L o st as a re­
su lt o f sin, we struggle to re­
g ain o u r lost sense o f w o rth
a n d v alue. T h a t sense o f self-w o rth is fo u n d o n ly
w h en w e ac cep t th e love a n d a c c e p ta n c e o f G o d . H e
created m an . O n ly H e u n d e rs ta n d s how to m e e t all
o u r needs.
A p a rt from G o d ’s re d e m p tiv e p la n a n d H is to ta l
p ro v isio n for o u r needs, n o o n e will ever d isco v er
tru e self-w orth. As w e tru s t in th e L o rd for o u r for­
giveness, o u r salv atio n , a n d o u r sa n c tific a tio n , we
begin to d isco v er o u r w o rth in th e eyes o f G o d .
O u r d iffic u lty in liv in g d a ily w h a t G o d says is
tru e, is th e resu lt o f S a ta n ’s lies th a t have b ee n e m ­
b ed d e d in o u r su b c o n sc io u s m in d s. T h e lies o f S atan
b eg an to be p la n te d in to o u r m in d s from b irth . We
learn ed his lies a b o u t o u r self-w o rth from th o se w ho
cared for us as ch ild ren . M a n y agree th a t by age six
we h av e alre ad y h id d e n o u r self-w orth ideas in th e
d eep est su b c o n sc io u s areas o f o u r m in d s. All o u r ex­
p erie n ces o f life from th a t p o in t are filtere d th ro u g h
o u r b e lie f system a b o u t o urselves a n d o u r w o rth . S a­
ta n w o u ld h ave us believe:
The provisions for our
mental well-being are
found in Scripture.
Four False Beliefs
T h e re are fo u r false beliefs S a ta n likes to a n c h o r
d eep in o u r self-co n cep t. F irst, I m u s t m e e t c e rta in
sta n d a rd s to feel g o o d a b o u t m yself. S eco n d , I m u st
be a p p ro v e d (a cce p te d ) by c e rta in o th e rs to feel good
a b o u t m yself. T h ird , th o se w ho fail are u n w o rth y o f
4
love a n d deserve to be p u n ish e d . F o u rth , I a m w h a t I
am . I c a n n o t change. I a m hopeless.
T h e re is a b ib lical an sw e r to each o f th e false b e ­
liefs o f S atan.
If we c o u ld ju s t k n o w th e false b e lie f a n d n o t ac­
ce p t it, o u r p ro b le m w o u ld b e easy to solve. H o w ­
ever, ea ch false b e lie f h as c o n se q u e n c e s. If m y life is
lived try in g to m e e t th e sta n d a rd s o f p e o p le in o rd e r
to feel good a b o u t m yself, I will live w ith th e fear o f
failure. E ach d ay will b rin g a d re a d o f failu re to m eet
ex p e ctatio n s. W ill I b e g o o d e n o u g h , will I d o th e
jo b right, will I reach th e goal?
T h e s o lu tio n to th e p ro b le m is to u n d e r s ta n d
G o d ’s answ er. G o d ’s an sw e r is Justification. J u s tifi­
c a tio n m e a n s G o d n o t o n ly h as forgiven m e o f m y
sins b u t also has g ra n te d m e th e rig h te o u s n e s s o f
C h rist. B ecause o f ju s tific a tio n , I h av e th e rig h te o u s­
ness o f C h rist a n d a m p leasin g to th e F a th e r (R o ­
m a n s 5:1).
I f m y life is lived try in g to gain th e a p p ro v a l o f
c e rta in o th e rs in o rd e r to feel g o o d a b o u t m yself, I
will live w ith th e fear o f re je ctio n . I will d o w h a t o th ­
ers w an t, rig h t o r w rong, in o rd e r to n o t e x p e rien ce
rejectio n . We see th e force o f p e e r p re ssu re in o u r
society today. It isn ’t so m e th in g th a t affects ju s t th e
y o u th . A d u lts o f all ages suffer fro m th is lie o f S atan .
H e ra ld o f H o lin e ss
G o d ’s a n s w e r is Reconciliation. R e c o n c ilia tio n
m eans th a t, a lth o u g h at o n e tim e 1 w as h o stile a n d
alienated fro m G o d , I n o w h av e b ee n forgiven a n d
b ro u g h t in to a n in tim a te re la tio n s h ip w ith G o d .
C onsequently, I a m to ta lly a c c e p te d by G o d (C olossians 1:21-22).
If I live w ith th e lie th a t th o se w h o fail are u n ­
worthy o f love a n d d eserv e to b e p u n ish e d , I will live
with th e fear o f p u n is h m e n t. F u rth er, I will d evelop
a p attern o f p u n is h in g o th e rs for th e ir w rongs.
G o d ’s an sw e r is Propitiation. P ro p itia tio n m e a n s
to satisfy th e w ra th o f so m e o n e w h o h as b ee n u n ­
justly w ronged. It is a n ac t th a t so o th es h o stility a n d
satisfies th e n e e d fo r v e n g e a n c e . G iv in g H is o n ly
Son as th e p r o p itia tio n fo r o u r sin s w as a liv in g
d em o n stratio n o f th e d e p th o f G o d ’s love for m a n (1
John 4:9-11; R o m a n s 5:6-11). We free o u rselv es from
Satan's lie by u n d e rs ta n d in g a n d a p p ly in g th e tru th
of p ro p itia tio n th ro u g h s a tu ra tin g o u r m in d s w ith
those passages o f S c rip tu re th a t tell us o f G o d ’s love
for us.
If I ac cep t th e fo u rth lie o f S atan , “ I a m w h a t I
am. I c a n n o t ch an g e. I a m hopeless,’’ th e n I live w ith
the c o n se q u e n c e s o f sh am e, inferiority, a n d m a y d e ­
velop d e stru c tiv e b e h a v io r p a tte rn s. G o d ’s an sw e r to
such in flu e n c e is Regeneration. R eg e n e ra tio n m e a n s
that I am a n ew c re a tu re in C h rist (Jo h n 3:3-6).
R eg en e ratio n is n o t a se lf-im p ro v e m e n t pro g ram .
R eg e n e ra tio n is n o th in g less th a n th e im p a rta tio n o f
new life. P aul to ld th e E p h esian s we w ere o n ce d ead
in o u r sins, b u t we have b een m a d e alive in C hrist.
We are alive, forgiven, a n d c o m p le te in C h rist (T itu s
3:3-7).
T h e key to a re d e m p tiv e view o f se lf-w o rth o r
s e lf-e s te e m is s im p ly d is c o v e rin g w h o w e a re in
C hrist. T h e p ro v isio n s for o u r m e n ta l w ell-being are
fo u n d in S crip tu re. We will alw ays be in flu e n c e d by
S a ta n ’s lies. T h ey are th e result o f th e fall o f m an .
p a rt o f o u r im p erfe ct w orld. T h e lies a n d th e ir in flu ­
en ce are n o t re m o v e d w h e n we are saved, n o r are
th ey clean sed aw ay w h en we are san ctified . T h ey re­
m a in in o u r d eep est su b co n sc io u s m in d s as false b e­
liefs. We are able to o v erco m e th e false beliefs by in ­
te rn a liz in g th e tru e beliefs th a t G o d ’s W ord details
for us so clearly.
Yes, w e s u ffe r fro m a n e p id e m ic o f low s e l f ­
esteem . It will c o n tin u e u n til we disco v er o u r selfw o rth is n o t in o th e rs’ o p in io n o f us, o r th e ir ac c e p ­
ta n c e o f us, b u t in G o d ’s stated tru th o f us in H is
W ord. We are H is ch ild ren , deep ly loved, co m p letely
fo rg iv en , to ta lly a c c e p te d , a n d c o m p le te in H im .
W h o c o u ld s u ffe r fro m a low v a lu e o f p e r s o n a l
w o rth k n o w in g th a t?
Ronald L. Phelps is an ordained Nazarene minister, serving
as chaplain at Presbyterian Hospital, Oklahoma City.
^
Will Someone You
Know Be Going Away
To
School
This
Year?
C a ll CARE-Line and someone from
a local church can invite your loved
one to find a new church home.
1 - 8 0 0 - 821-2154
August 19 92
5
s r s
v ie w p o in t
Sent from God
BY RAYMOND W. HURN
certs o f prayer for those who have
eclining n u m b ers (churches,
c h u rc h m em bers, S unday
testified to G od’s call.
W hen the apostle John acknow l­
S c h o o ls, o r clerg y ) h av e
the forerunner o f Jesus (John
b een g e n e ra lly a c k n o w le d g e d edged
by
the Baptist), he described the Baptist
m ain lin e C h ristian ity in A m erica.
as being “a m an sent from G od . . .
There are also declining num bers of
for a witness . . . o f the Light, that all
those preparing for the ministry. Poll­
m en through him might believe. He
sters, pundits, and preachers during
was not that Light, but was sent to
the last decade have analyzed and
bear w itness o f th a t L ig h t” (John
discussed these trends at length.
1:6 - 8 ).
How refreshing th en to see th at
W hen the apostle Paul testified be­
during the 1992 assembly season in
fore Agrippa he told o f his call when
the C hurch o f the Nazarene there is
overwhelming evidence that G od is
rev ealin g h im s e lf to h u n d re d s o f
young people as they respond to His
call to preach the gospel and to other
areas o f full-time Christian service.
D u rin g th e year o f o u r “go . . .
preach” emphasis, we are identifying
those w hom G od has called. Since
nearly all preachers testify to recog­
nition of a call from G od in child­
hood or teen years, it seemed im por­
tan t to identify those persons early so
th at nurturing, prayers, and active in­
volvem ent could encourage young
a voice from heaven said to him ,
people in fulfilling the call o f G od on
“Stand on your feet. I have appeared
their lives.
to you to appoint you as a servant
In Seattle (W ashington Pacific Dis­
and as a w itness o f w hat you have
trict), in answer to the appeal to iden­
seen o f me and what I will show you.
tify n o n c re d e n tia le d p erso n s w ho
. . . I am sending you to open their
have a call from G od, parents and
eyes and turn them from darkness to
other delegates witnessed to knowl­
light, and from the power o f Satan to
edge o f those who have such a call.
G od, so th at they m ay receive for­
They cam e forward quickly to kneel
giveness o f sins and a place am ong
in prayer, and later to give names, lo­
those who are sanctified by faith in
cations, and ages o f 69 different per­
m e” (Acts 26:16-18, NIV).
sons. D istrict assem blies th a t fol­
G od still “sends” those w hom He
lowed had a co n sisten t p a tte rn o f
calls. C hildren an d yo u th in large
response sim ilar to Seattle. T hose
num bers still respond by saying yes
nam ed were mostly teens and youn­
to G od’s will. Increasing num bers of
ger who presently do not have a dis­
people in mid-life are also respond­
trict license or m inistry assignment,
ing in increasing num bers, b u t the
though some were older. The active
proportion is m uch sm aller in youth­
elders, licensed ministers, and m inis­
ful categories. Local church m em bers
terial retirees joined us in these con­
D
“ I treasured the
warm presence of
Christ in my boyish
heart and . . . it
encouraged me to
say yes to G od’s
will.”
6
m ust be constantly aware o f the im ­
m ense im portance o f creating a local
atm osphere that will encourage and
not frustrate the call o f G od in the
lives o f the young. By our very personhood, o u r dem eanor, attitudes,
and actions we m ust indicate that
G od’s will, G od’s way, is always best,
always right. In the pressure o f “do­
ing” the w ork o f G od can we not
concentrate on “being” at our best in
G od’s will and G od’s plan?
C onstantly acknow ledging G o d ’s
call and encouraging those who ad­
m it to a special call o f G od will keep
faith and hope alive for the future.
O ur friendship, conversation, m od­
eling o f C hristian attitudes are im ­
p ortant in shaping leaders for the fu­
ture. Pastors and staff persons help
im m easurably to establish the atm o­
sphere by their tender m inistrations.
I reflect with great pleasure on the
m o m en t in a w orship service as a
preschooler when Pastor L. D. Meggars held a C o m m u n io n service in
the O ntario, Oreg., C hurch. He in ­
vited children first to gather around
him at the altar. He explained the
death and resurrection o f Christ. He
led us into a c o m m itm e n t o f our­
selves to Christ with gentleness and
deep m eaning. C hrist’s presence be­
cam e so near and so precious in that
m om ent that during teenage ups and
dow ns I w ould venture only so far
away from G od’s will, but no further
for m em ory o f that precious m om ent
when Christ was so real. I have never
referred to this as a childhood con­
version because I picked up the idea
th a t th e a d u lts b eliev e d th a t you
c o u ld n ’t b e c o n v e rte d u n til you
reached the age “o f accountability.” I
did not know for sure when account­
ability m ight occur. I treasured the
continued on page 11
H e ra ld o f H o lin e ss
:o the Wo
ROGER L. HAHN
How Far Can You Push God?
m ent o f sins com m itted, and fi­
nally a statem ent of the pun­
ishm ent that was coming. The ex­
pression, “For three transgressions
and for four . . . ” reflects the style
of listing found in Proverbs 6:16-19
and 30:15-31. The point is that
G od had already tolerated several
instances of disobedience. Not only
has G od tolerated repeated sin, but
y three sons love to see
He has been defied in the process.
how far they can push
The word translated “transgres­
me. They seem gen­
sion"
uinely curious to know w hether
or throughout Amos 1— 2 liter­
ally m eans “act of rebellion” or
not they’ll be punished for dis­
“revolt.” The prophet is not pro­
obeying me. Even if they will be
testing accidental slipping in an ef­
punished, they seem to have some
kind o f lottery going to see whether fort to obey God. He is describing
the intentional decision to do the
punishm ent will com e after the
opposite o f what G od had com ­
first act o f disobedience, the third,
m anded. Israel and the surround­
or the seventh. They act as if they
ing nations defied God's
are ignorant o f this process and
will to pursue a selfwill adm it only under pressure that
centered agenda.
they had been warned and knew
The sins Amos con­
what they should do. They only
dem ned provide an im ­
shrug when I ask, “How often do
portant insight into
you think I’m going to let you get
G od’s character and pur­
away with disobeying me?”
pose. The sins o f the sur­
Amos 1— 2 indicates that the
rounding nations all vio­
question, “How long do you think
lated other hum an
I’m going to let you get away with
beings. Gaza and Tyre
disobedience?” was on G od’s m ind
were condem ned for up­
as He dealt with the N orthern
rooting com m unities for
Kingdom o f Israel. Am os’ m inistry
deportation (Amos 1:6,
represented one o f G o d’s final at­
9). Edom was judged for relentless
tem pts to explain the im portance
pursuit o f kinsm en to kill them
of obedience to Israel before judg­
(Amos 1:11). The A m m onites had
ment cam e sweeping over them.
ripped open pregnant women in
About 30 years after he affirm ed
their “scorched earth” military of­
the Lord’s com m itm ent to obe­
fensive against Gilead (Amos 1:13).
dience, the Assyrians destroyed the
M oab had desecrated the bones of
Northern Kingdom. Eight tim es in
the Edom ite king (Amos 2:1). The
Amos 1:3— 2:16 the prophet
N orthern Kingdom sold out the
pointed his finger at transgression
righteous poor and lived with glut­
and declared judgm ent. First,
tonous greed and sexual im m oral­
Amos targeted the surrounding na­
ity (Amos 2:6-8). Each nation knew
tions; eventually, the accusation
that the actions Amos condem ned
pointed hom e to Judah and Israel.
were wrong, but they arrogantly
The prophet followed a basic
did them anyway.
pattern: “For three transgressions
Amos’ message is that G od will
.. . and for four, I will not turn
back the punishm ent,” then a state­ not be pushed forever. He will not
Thus says the Lord, "For three
transgressions o f Tyre and fo r four I
will not turn back the punishment.
For they handed over complete
com m unities fo r deportation to
Edom and they did not remember
the covenant o f brotherhood”
(Amos 1:9).*
M
tolerate continued injustice. The
judgm ent pronounced against Is­
rael's neighbors was the burning of
their walls and fortresses with fire.
G od would destroy the source of
confidence and strength that en­
abled their acts o f injustice. They
would become as vulnerable as
their enemies had been before
them.
God will not tolerate injustice
from us in the late 20th century
any more than He did in the day
of Amos. Should we attem pt to
boost our egos or accelerate our
climbing the ladder by stepping on
others, our very strength will turn
into faltering, uninvited vulner­
ability, and eventual downfall.
Jesus’ teaching on servanthood in
T h e whole earth catalog
o f sins that stirred God’s
wrath were sins that
violated people.
August 19 92
M ark 10:42-45 shows that G od has
not changed His m ind about how
people are to be treated.
For further study: (1) R ead Am os
1:1— 2:16. Describe how the sins o f
Israel and Judah differed from
those o f their neighbors. (2) Read
R om ans 1:18-32. How is the judg­
ment o f God expressed in Rom ans
1:24, 26, and 28 sim ilar to the
judgm ent described in A m os 1— 2?
(3) A sk God to reveal to you an
area o f relationship in which you
need to become more sensitive and
C hristlike in your treatment o f that
other person.
‘ Scripture quotations are the author’s own translation.
hr
7
Abused Believers
arolyn’s punishm ent for her like every o ther w om an who was
“spiritual adultery’’ was to not fully subm itted to G od and her
clean the filthy bathroom
husband, was possessed by the “evil
floor in the pastor’s m obile hom spirit
e— o f Jezebel.” They m ade her
with her tongue! Her pastor, who confess th a t she had “ lustful d e­
operated churches in Juarez, Mex­ sires” for all the m en and boys in
ico, and Alabama, had caught her the church. Further, her love for the
keeping com pany with Ed, another children w ho were to rn from her
church member. After all, Carolyn proved that she idolized them . She
was o n e o f th e seven “ sp iritu a l w as a c c u s e d o f h a v in g an ev il
wives” o f her abusive pastor and was “spirit o f m otherhood.” M aryann
not perm itted to date. She cleaned was terrified to show any attac h ­
the floor with her tongue. “I didn’t m ent for her children. Even when
her son had a bad fall and “split his
want to go to hell,” she said later.
Ten-year-old Aaron N orm an got head open” she walked away, pray­
sick. H e c o n tra c te d ju v e n ile d i­ ing for th e pow er to ig n o re th e
abetes. But A aro n ’s parents were bleeding child.
The coach o f the church softball
m em bers o f the No-Name Fellow­
ship C hurch (also known as Cham - team failed to m ake all the
paign-U rbana M inistries) in Spo­ lineup changes that the pas­
kane, Wash. No doctors were con­ tor ordered in the seventh
sulted. Rather, A aron’s father took inning. Pastor Phil Aguilar
him to pastor Doug Kleber. The el­ o f th e Set Free C h ristian
d ers p ray ed . W h en th e boy got F ello w sh ip in A n a h e im ,
worse instead o f “rising up to walk,” C alif., g o t o n th e lo u d ­
the elders discerned that the lad was speaker and bawled out the
sick because he had sinned. But team. They were forced to
A aron co u ld th in k o f no sins to apologize. As punishm ent.
confess. A a ro n ’s fa th e r received P a s to r P h il m a d e th e m
what he said was a revelation from play the next gam e back­
the Holy Spirit th a t the boy was ward. T hat is, right-handers
guilty o f the sin of m asturbation. had to bat and throw leftBut A aron w ould n o t confess it. h an d ed , a n d left-h a n d ed players
C hief elder Doug K leber and the had to bat and throw right-handed.
One preventable death per m onth
boy’s father beat the child with a
w o o d e n p a d d le u n til th e b ad ly since 1978. T hat is the record o f the
bruised boy confessed in order to Faith Assembly founded by Indiana
stop the beating. T hat night Aaron preacher H obart Freeman. On aver­
age, the true believers stand praying
died.
W hen M aryann joined the River once a m onth while one o f their
num ber dies w ithout a doctor and
o f Life M in istrie s in T h o u sa n d
Oaks, Calif., she was willing to do w ithout m edication o f any kind.
any th in g to save her soul. W hen You see, founder Freeman declared
p a s to r Ed M itch ell (w ho called t h a t m e d ic in e s h a v e d e m o n ic
him self the “m ajor end-tim e Apos­ nam es and that doctors are evil de­
tle”) told her that she, her husband, ities. O ne p rev en tab le d ea th per
Paul, and their children m ust sepa­ m onth since 1978, including 42 ba­
rate, she did what she was told. Her bies, 10 children, 7 m others, and
spiritual leaders told her that she, num erous other adults. These died
C
8
w ithout treatm ent. Pastor Freeman
and his sons don’t even perm it their
devoted followers to wear glasses,
c o n ta c t lenses, o r even use seat
belts. They live by “faith alone.”
These are only a few o f the cases
o f ab u sed believers ex a m in e d in
Churches That Abuse, by R onald
M. Enroth (Zondervan, 1992). It is
an alarm ing study o f the dark side
o f fringe evangelicalism, prim arily
in the charism atic m ovem ent. Most
of the inform ation in this editorial
com es directly from E nroth’s study.
C hurches T hat A b u se is a “ m ust
read” for thoughtful Christians.
The sort o f wildfire th at fosters
d iscip le ab u se has c rack led a n d
E v a n g e lic a lism ’s fringe
has given the world a
bumper crop o f bully
pastors and
damaged disciples.
flam ed on the fringes o f evangeli­
calism for 25 years now. It has pro­
duced a bum per crop o f bully pas­
tors and dam aged disciples. T h o u ­
sands are still u n d e r the abusive
a u th o rity o f th e le a d e rs o f th is
m ovem ent. But m any thousands of
disillusioned victim s are trying to
return to society. They are psycho­
logically handicapped, em otionally
dam aged, and spiritually crippled.
Society is hearing their stories. And
an unforgiving society is stacking
up a c re s o f s e rio u s a lle g a tio n s
against “evangelical religion.” The
a n tics o f Swaggert an d th e esca­
p a d e s o f B a k k e r are m ere pec-
H e ra ld o f H o lin e s s
WESLEY D. TRACY
cadillos, “finger sins,” com pared to
the charges o f physical, spiritual,
emotional abuse now being laid at
the doorstep of evangelical religion.
T h o se w h o h av e m a n a g e d to
break aw ay from th e se a b u siv e
churches live in a “penance o f per­
petual regret,” a continuing sorrow,
an ongoing sense o f loss. Many are
unable to trust anyone, particularly
religious people, and m ost certainly
not p asto rs. M an y c a n n o t tru s t
themselves or their own shattered
emotions. Some cannot m ake even
simple decisions. Some find them ­
selves un ab le to pray or w orship
God in any way. The very sight of a
Bible can invoke an anxiety attack.
Christian hym ns create em otional
disturbances. For many, relating to
a marriage partner is nearly im pos­
sible. They are wounded, poisoned
by toxic faith, victim s o f the swal­
low and follow m entality o f pastors
who were beyond contradiction.
E ducators, ju ro rs, social scien ­
tists, and the m an on the street have
had it w ith such goings-on. They
have an angry gleam in their eyes.
Charism atic TV shows are no lon­
ger mere com edy sketches that give
us som ething to laugh at. There is a
rising cry o f outrage in the land
against the abusive religion prac­
ticed on th e frin g e o f e v a n g e li­
calism.
What Kind o f Church Abuses
Its Members?
There seems to be no shortage of
churches who operate the way one
“survivor” o f th e Body o f C hrist
Fellowship (Costa Mesa, Calif.) says
that the boss lady o f th at church
functions: “ She is h o ld in g those
people hostage and threatens them
with G od” (Enroth, 122). Here are
some characteristics o f the abusive
churches a n d religious o rg a n iz a­
tions studied by Enroth.
August 19 92
1. A lm ost w ithout excep tion , ten you bathe, what clothes can be
abusive churches or movements are worn or purchased, who you can
led by pastors or gurus who are an­ date or marry, where you work, how
swerable to no one. They are be­ m any children you may have, what
yond c o n tra d ic tio n an d beyond sorts of sexual activity are approved
confrontation. Pastor Phil o f the Set or disapproved for married couples,
Free C hristian Fellowship declares and what you may eat. Don Barnet,
that in his church, “ It's my way or the boss o f Seattle's C o m m unity
the highway. . . . So when 1 get in Chapel, once outlawed Oreo cook­
your face, receive it from the Lord” ies because they contain lard.
(196, 81). Don Barnet o f Seattle's
4.
Typically, the abusive church
C om m unity Chapel told his follow­ makes submission of wives a cardi­
ers, “God wants you to do what I nal doctrine. Enroth provides a car­
ask you to do . . . if you don’t, you load o f case studies on this matter,
are going ag a in st G od h im se lf" which should make any Christian
(89-90). Kip McKean of the Boston blush. One wom an publicly had liq­
M ovem ent told his people that they uid soap squirted in her m outh be­
had “a responsibility before God to cause she had spoken disrespect­
. . . obey and subm it to His anoint­ fully to “ her lord.” her husband.
ed serv an ts. . . to oppose
th em is to oppose the
G od w ho a n o in te d
them ” (116).
shepherding movement
2. Leaders o f the abuhas produced “a toxic faith
siv e c h u r c h e s in th is
study all apparently be­
that is as alien to Christianity
lie v e d t h a t th e y h a d
as Mother Teresa is to
received a special revela­
tion from God, a revela­
Donald Trump.”
tion higher than any re­
Ron and Vicki Burks, D am aged Disciples
c e iv e d by a n y o t h e r
C h r i s t ia n s , liv in g o r
dead. T hey claim th a t
God has chosen them for a unique Jean Laing, Korean headmistress of
m i s s i o n n o t s h a r e d by o t h e r the Church of the Great Shepherd,
branches o f the faith. Thus, they is quoted as declaring that it is bet­
give their people unique titles such ter for girls “to grow up submissive
as G od's Green Berets, Joel’s Army, and retarded than intelligent and
G o d ’s E n d -T im e Arm y, an d the rebellious” (85).
5. D issenters are treated with
Manifest Sons o f God.
3. Almost all the groups investi­ public humiliation, threats, and, if
gated by Ronald Enroth in Church­ they leave, prayers that calam ities
es That Abuse have a form of mil­ will befall them “to show them the
itary organization, that is, a strict error o f their ways.”
6. Most of the abusive churches
chain of command. Every m em ber
is under the direct supervision o f a studied by Enroth promote disin­
personal pastor, discipler, or shep­ tegration of the family unit. Marie
herd. T his personal pastor, along Kolasinski adm onishes her converts
with his supervisors, make all your to “be prepared to switch your loycontinued on next page
decisions for you, including how of­
71,
9
alty from your natural fam ily to
G od’s family. Those blood ties are
filthy rags u nto G o d ” (203). D e­
stroying family bonds is, according
to the No-Name Fellowship, G od’s
will for “separating oneself from the
stain o f the world” (129).
M arie K olasinski declared th at
God him self is “trying to tear down
the family un it” (123). As her own
boost to what God is trying to do,
she has ordered vasectomies for all
male church members.
7. The abusive churches studied
by Enroth spend a lot of time and
energy damning other Christians
and denominations and their prac­
tices. One leader declared, “Ninetynine percent of the people who pro­
fess to be Christians are enemies of
the cross” (202). One way to tell if a
disciple has given up his false Chris­
tianity is to watch him on Christ­
mas and Easter. In the eyes o f many
abusive groups, these are regarded
as pagan holidays, and observance
of them is considered to be serious­
ly sinful. H obart Freem an's Faith
Assembly and C olorado’s Em m aus
Christian Fellowship are am ong the
d o z e n s o f g r o u p s w h o o u tla w
Christm as and Easter.
8. Almost w ithout exception, the
abusive churches examined by En­
roth have substituted subjective re­
ligious experience for the Bible as
the rule of faith and practice. Scrip­
ture is often “reinterpreted” to fit
the subjective, em otional, religious
experiences o f “enlightened” lead­
ers.
9. Typically, the abusive churches
have an inordinate attraction to the
subjects of dem ons, evil sp irits,
physical healing, and “ signs and
wonders.”
10. Many abusive churches de­
value education. Pastors often have
little or no formal ministerial train­
ing. Educational achievem ent is of­
ten discouraged. Bruce H ogan, a
bright university scholar in M is­
souri, was tau n ted into dropping
out of school by leaders o f a branch
of the Potter’s House, operated by
W ayland M itchell from Prescott,
Ariz. Hogan says that they called
him “an educated idiot with a high
IQ” (198). Pastor Aguilar declares,
“The only thing worse than an old
[experienced] Christian is an edu­
cated C hristian” (26).
10
11.
Abusive churches value le­ he has to pass on— a creed for bully
galistic conformity and despise indi­ pastors who dom inate and damage
viduality. While m ainstream evan­ their disciples.
g e lic a lis m v a lu e s a n d re s p e c ts
4. A pastor who values the well­
individual differences, the abusive being of an in stitu tio n above the
fringe will not tolerate them . To en­ well-being of the persons who make
force conformity, m ost o f the abu­ up the institution is a candidate for
sive groups studied have a highly “Abusive Pastor of the Year.”
developed system of surveillance by
5. M ost abusive pastors appear
which m em bers report each other to be power-seeking people who are
for sins or disloyalty. Enroth reports deeply insecure, needing constant
that using teens to spy and report adulation and obedience from fol­
on their parents is particularly ef­ lowers in order to reinforce their
fective.
sense of self-worth. The authoritari­
an pastor usually craves visibility.
W hat Does an Abusive Spiritual
6. Abusive pastors run controlLeader Look Like?
oriented
administrations. They seek
E nroth’s work presents the pro­
control
through
fear, guilt, in tim i­
file of the abusive pastor as follows:
dation,
threats,
and
m anipulation.
1. A m an or wom an who partic­
7. The abusive pastor is “ selfularly enjoys bossing a religious or­
ganization without having to answer centered and adversarial rather
to anyone. They are apt to often than reconciling and restorative”
m ake statem ents like this one from (23). He typically lacks the com pas­
Wayland Mitchell (Potter’s House). sion and gentleness usually associ­
“ 1 am the shepherd. You are the ated with the spiritual gift of passheep. . . . 1 am answerable only to toring.
Enroth calls all C hristian leaders,
Him [God] and don’t you forget it”
(199). O r they m ay sound like a clergy, and laity, to consider the fol­
leader of the Pennsylvania C hurch low ing co u n se l o f the resp ected
of O ur First Love, who proclaimed, Christian writer and physician, Paul
“A nyone who hinders the
work 1 do, G od will remove
him ” (203).
2. M any o f the abusive
JS /[a in strea m evangelicals
pastors investigated by Enseem now to be gazing at the
rot h had i n a d e q u a t e
mi n i s t e r i a l e d u c a t i o n .
charismatic movement’s growth
Though several were highly
with all the yearning the
educated, m ost had m in ­
imal training. Enroth notes
ancient Israelites felt for the
that Aguilar of the Set Free
leeks and garlic o f Egypt.
C h ristia n Fellow ship has
two semesters o f Bible col­
lege an d B arnet o f C o m ­
m u n ity C hapel has tw o years o f Tourmer.
training at an unaccredited Bible
T h ere is in us, especially in
college in Idaho.
those whose intentions are o f the
purest, an excessive will to power
3. A nother phenom enon am ong
which eludes even the m ost sin­
th is g ro u p o f a b u siv e re lig io u s
cere and honest self-exam ination
m ovem ents is that the only theolog­
. . . To be looked upon as a savior
ical education permitted for those
leaves none of us indifferent . . .
“called to ministry” is to be done by
They look upon us as experts,
the head pastor or his inner circle
G o d ’s m o u th p ie c e s, the in te r­
“clones.” The students get only one
preters o f his will . . . they insist
view— the view o f their abusive pas­
on requiring it o f us. Very soon,
tor. T hey becom e victim s o f the
too, we find ourselves thinking
“ swallow and follow ” syndrom e.
that when they follow our advice
For them , to a tte n d a college or
they are obeying God, and that
se m in a ry w ould be re g ard e d as
when they resist us they are really
rebellious sin. The abusive pastor
resisting G od (218).
passes on to his subpastor just what
H e ra ld of H o lin e ss
What Kind o f People Get Abused?
One wonders why anyone would
put up with being ordered to play a
softball gam e backward, why any­
one would accept separation from
one’s children, or obey a bully’s or­
der to clean th e b a th ro o m flo o r
with her tongue. E nroth’s study tells
us som ething o f the people who get
trapped by abusive churches.
1. New and immature Christians
who know little about the Bible or
Christianity. They cannot tell when
an abusive leader is properly break­
ing the Bread o f Life and when he
transgresses scripture.
2. Persons from dysfunctional
families. B roken hom es, divorce,
child an d spouse abuse, “set u p ”
some people for the authoritarian
gospel. They com e searching for the
intim acy o f a “ fam ilylike” fellow­
ship. Bruce Hogan, a victim o f the
Potter’s House, says he joined be­
cause he was “searching for a real
father . . . [a] ready-m ade fam ily”
(197).
3. R efu g ees from tra d itio n a l
evangelicalism who w ant m ore free­
dom in w o rsh ip a n d s o m e th in g
more than “business as usual” re­
ligion.
4. M any w ho were captured by
this m ovem ent were first captured
by th e d esire for exciting, em o­
tional, and supernatural religious
ex p erien ces. E n ro th w a rn s th a t
John W im ber’s Vineyard, with its
“ em p h asis on pow er, signs, a n d
wonders, has a definite appeal” to
people looking for exciting and su­
pernatural experiences.
5. Persons given to excessive ide­
alism and with altruistic natures are
often taken advantage o f by abusive
movements.
6. Persons with low self-esteem
who are uncertain, lonely, fearful,
and yet hopeful. Enroth says there
have always been charism atic fig­
ures read y to tak e ad v a n ta g e o f
those m ost afraid and m ost hopeful.
7. Persons who want someone to
“cosign for their lives” (205). With
am azing regularity, people show
th em selv es w illin g to s u rre n d e r
their freedom and responsibility to
som eone (anyone?) who will take
charge o f them . Jerry P M acD onald
in “M anipulation o f the Scriptures
August 1 9 9 2
with the G reat C om m ission Inter­
n a tio n a l” w rites, “ R em ark a b ly ,
m any intelligent Christians actually
enjoy being told what to do” (En­
roth, 201).
It seems that we have a need to
create evangelical gurus, Christian
celebrities, superpastors, and mega­
churches, and m iscellaneous other
“teachers” an d “ experts” th at we
place on pastoral pedestals. W hat is
it about people, including evangeli­
cals, th a t ex p lain s th is a p p a re n t
need for authority figures, the need
to have someone “ cosign for our
lives”? (205).
8.
A nother sort o f person often
falls v ictim to th e a u th o rita ria n
cult. The person who, with a broken
and contrite heart, hungers for more
of God. Those who long to know
th e d e e p e r th in g s o f th e S p irit.
Those who would pray with David,
“As the hart panteth after the water
brooks, so p an teth my soul after
thee, O G od” (Psalm 42:1).
Tragically, those w ho are m ost
v u ln e ra b le , m o st sin c e re , m o st
teachable, m ost tenderhearted, are
m ost easily captured by wolves in
sheep’s clothing.
Why Tell Me All This?
W hen it com es to evangelism and
num erical growth, m uch o f m ain­
stream evangelicalism has been in a
long losing streak. As its leaders
have watched their meager gains (or
large losses), the runaw ay charis­
m atic m ovem ent, with its wave af­
ter wave o f followers, gets to look­
ing better and better. Some m ain­
stream evangelicals are looking at
the gains o f the fringe charismatic
m ovem ent with all the yearning the
ancient Israelites felt for the leeks
and garlic o f Egypt.
The South Am erican revival cer­
tainly has caught the attention of
N orth America. M ainstream evan­
gelicals are taking notes as fast as
they can. According to Christianity
Today, S outh A m erica is tu rn in g
P rotestant faster th an Europe did
during the Protestant Reformation.
R e v iv a l f i r e — a n d w ild f ir e — is
sweeping the continent. C hurches
are being planted by the thousands.
At this m om ent, 175,000 pastors
are serving w ithout the benefit of
one day o f formal ministerial edu­
cation am ong them.
General Superintendent’s
Viewpoint. . .
continued from page 6
warm presence of Christ in my boy­
ish heart and m ind, however, and it
encouraged me to constantly say yes
to G od’s will for my life.
In district assem blies o f 1992, I
have watched hundreds o f parents,
Sunday School teachers, pastors, and
staff persons come quickly to the al­
tar to pray for a boy or girl, m ost of
them between 7 and 15 years of age,
who has acknowledged G od’s call to
full-time service. There is noticeable
sensitivity to creating a clim ate for
the young to pray “yes” to G od's will.
T here is encouragem ent being o f­
fered. There are hundreds who deep­
ly care that the call be nurtured. We
can thank God for His leadership in
this respect. M any who read these
lines can point to those who with the
apostle John can say there is one
“sent from God.” These with a divine
call are the hope of the world, and
the hope o f the holiness movement.
hn
According to Christianity Today,
the cults and the fringe charism atic
m ovem ent com prise a significant
part o f the revolutionary revival of
religion in South America. M uch of
this fringe m ovem ent is directly or
indirectly related to the charismatic
m ovem ent th at has flourished in
N o rth A m e ric a for th e p ast 25
years, the same m ovem ent that pro­
duced a scourge o f bully pastors
and damaged disciples.
There are indications that m ain­
stream evangelicalism is beginning
to “try o n ” som e o f the w ildfire
frin g e ’s m e th o d s . T h e h o p e, o f
course, is to use its m ethods while
avoiding its madness. W hether such
a thing can be done or not remains
to be seen.
Let us prayerfully keep our own
fellowship Christ-centered and free
o f oppressive practices th a t have
p ro d u c e d d a m a g e d d isc ip le s in
other movements. With our Naza­
rene system o f checks and balances
and m utual accountability m ech­
anism s fu n ctio n in g properly, the
w ildfire fringe can n o t easily take
root am ong us. May it ever be so.
hi
11
Ancient Prayer, New Method
here is God? W here does
He live? Yes, G od is ev­
erywhere, but where
does He dwell? In the Gospel of
John, chapter 1, the two disciples
asked that question. “Rabbi . . .
where are you staying? W here do
you live?” And Jesus replied,
“Com e and you will see.” After fol­
lowing the M aster for three years,
the question was ultim ately an ­
swered in the Upper Room. “If
anyone loves me, he will obey my
teaching. My Father will love him,
and we will com e to him and make
our hom e with him ” (John 14:23,
NIV). Where does God live? He
lives within you!
I’ve always known that truth, but
for the m ost part I have tended to
pray as though God were “out
there somewhere.” In our activist
culture we may be inclined to see
and practice prayer as essentially a
m ind game. It becomes prim arily
intellectual, and we can end up
thinking that our praying is only
speaking to God. This can create
all kinds of problems. If I am talk­
ing to God, bringing to Him my
difficulties that need solving, my
questions that need answering, and
there seems to be no answer, then
what? It is m ore than likely I will
begin to suspect that I am the only
one talking.
A nother trap is to see prayer as
simply thinking about God. Now
G od becomes a subject to be in­
vestigated, to be analyzed, to be re­
flected upon. Prayer success is dis­
covering new insights about God
while musing deeply about all the
data concerning Him.
Both o f these kinds o f praying
flow naturally out of a culture
enam ored with the intellect. D on’t
m isunderstand, there is certainly a
W
12
proper place for the intellect and
reflection in the life o f prayer. In
our crazy, confusing world, how­
ever, we find ourselves wanting
more. As Henri Nouwen so suc­
cinctly puts it: “The crisis o f our
prayer life is that our m ind m ay be
filled with ideas o f God while our
heart remains far from him ” ( The
Way o f the Heart [New York: Seabury Press], 75).
The life o f prayer and its prac­
tices are as varied and unique as
hum an beings themselves. This is
what m akes the journey such an
adventure.
Acknowledging all this, I want to
focus on one form of
prayer that is both ancient
and new. It has been called
by several names: contem ­
plative prayer, meditative
O
prayer, centering prayer,
and prayer o f the heart. It
should be said at the outset
that it is a way o f simple
prayer and one m eant for
everyone. This is not the
sole possession o f the re­
ligious elite or just for peo­
ple with special gifts.
If you are attracted to try heart
prayer, Basil Pennington suggests
the following simple outline for a
beginning.
1. Decide on a place where you
can be quiet and relaxed. For most
o f us, this is necessary at the start.
With practice, however, we Find
that we can practice the prayer of
the heart wherever we are.
2. Through faith and love, be
aware o f the presence of God
within. C enter on the fact o f G od’s
indwelling through the power of
the Holy Spirit. “And this is how
we know that he lives in us: We
know it by the Spirit he gave us”
(1 John 3:24, NIV).
3.
Choose a word o f affection
and let it gently be present in your
m ind and heart as you com e before
God. This is not a mindless m an ­
tra, but a word o f your own choos­
ing that will help you keep attuned
to the inner Presence. It may be
“Jesus,” “Father," or “Shepherd,” or
any other word that is m eaningful
to you. W hen thoughts invade your
tim e o f prayer and pull your atten ­
tion away from G od, such a calm,
gentle word can bring you back
into His presence.
minds may be filled
with ideas o f God while
our hearts remain far
from Him,
u
,
4.
Close your tim e o f heart
prayer with the Lord's Prayer or
some other prayer that rises effort­
lessly from within you ( The Way
Back H om e [New York: Paulist
Press], 19).
This m ethod o f prayer may not
be for everyone all the time. But if
your heart yearns for som ething
deeper, m aybe G od is calling you
to try this way, the prayer o f the
heart. If contem plative prayer has
been m eaningful for you, I would
be delighted to hear from you.
E. Dee Freeborn teaches practical
theology and spiritual formation at
Nazarene Theological Seminary.
H e ra ld of H oliness
THE FAMILY ALB
Adventures
in C h r i s t i a n
Parenting
Showers of Blessing?
BY JER RY A ND LYNDA COHAGAN
A p r il left o u r heads spinning.
O ur second child was due
/ ^
th e firs t p a rt o f A pril.
jL. . a *
(She's a beautiful baby
girl named Victoria Anne; we call her
Tori.) And in an ticipation o f being
the all-A m erican fam ily w ith tw o
kids and a m ortgage, we went out
and bought a m inivan two weeks be­
fore Tori was born.
Now that all sounds well and good
until you throw in a hailstorm one
week after the baby was born. It was
the genuine article, the actual golfball-sized stuff. Fortunately, it didn’t
fall in our particular neighborhood.
Unfortunately, the brand-new m ini­
van was at the dealership getting a
short in the radio repaired, and the
dealership received the very worst of
the hail. So there it was: a brand-new
van th a t lo o k ed like it h ad lived
through the looting o f Los Angeles.
We hadn’t even m ade the first pay­
ment yet!
And speaking o f paym ent, April is
always a lousy m o n th for us. With
Jerry being self-employed, April hits
us with those tax paym ents for the
old and the new year. And the prop­
erty tax is due then too.
And speaking o f due, it seem ed
that we would lie awake night after
night w orrying ab out all the mess,
not being able to turn our m inds off.
Just when we would relax enough to
drift off, Tori w ould be due for a
feeding. For a few weeks there, we
didn't think we were having any fun
at all. You know, the old “Why me?”
syndrome.
But G od always seems to interrupt
my self-pity routines, usually like a
slap in the face. But lately. Tie's been
pretty sneaky about it. I’ll just be go­
ing along trying my best to cope with
two kids in diapers, thinking my exis­
August 1 9 9 2
tence is m easured in four-ounce in­
crem ents o f Similac formula, when
som ething breaks through the blur,
com es into focus, and says, “This is a
blessing, cherish it.”
T here’s the blessing of the sand­
box. During Chase’s “the new baby’s
here and I'm gonna w hine” phase,
Jerry bought $20.00 worth of sand,
came home, and dum ped it into last
sum m er's baby pool. Chase loved it.
T he first day, he sat ou t there for
S o there it was: a
brand-new van that
looked like it had
lived through the
looting of Los
Angeles.
hours, playing in sand, stirring sand,
digging sand, eating sand (he thinks
it's another food group). Jerry and I
were able to sit down and eat a meal
in peace, enjoy each o th e r’s co m ­
pany, and realize there’s still a m ar­
riage here and we still like i t . . . a lot.
T here’s the blessing o f the love pat.
C hase sneaks over to Tori’s cradle
and peers over the edge. Fie stretches
his arm out and pats her back while
saying “Bebe” like only he can. My
heart is warm ed as I realize children
com e ready to love. In that m om ent I
learn that if I am going to im pact my
world at all, I am going to have to ap­
proach it ready to love.
T h ere’s the blessing o f laughter.
Flave we told you about the day Jerry
was going to the mall with Chase?
Chase was in the stroller as they en­
tered through an expensive depart­
m ent store directly behind a lady in a
full-length fur coat. C hase sits up,
lunges forward, points to the fur coat,
and yells, “ Doggie! Doggie!” for as
long as the lady is in sight. We think
he’ll probably be one of those animal
rights activists when he grows up.
T here’s the blessing of ceremony.
W hen Tori was five weeks old. we
had her baptized. It was one o f those
auspicious occasions that calls for ev­
eryone to be on his best behavior.
Surprisingly, no one was too em bar­
rassed. Tori slept through the whole
ordeal, but looked great in the obliga­
tory white lacy dress. Jerry even wore
his one and only suit in honor of the
occasion. A nd in betw een all my
worries about possible spit-up and
probable crying (of Tori, not Jerry),
th e w ords o f th e p a sto r a c tu a lly
b ro k e th ro u g h . A n o th e r o f th o se
clearly focused m om ents. I realized
anew th a t G od, th ro u g h His prevenient grace, reaches out to us be­
fore we are even conscious of Him.
Baptizing Tori affirm ed that which is
truly im portant: We have been re­
deemed. and we claim that redem p­
tion for our children.
In the light o f all the richness of
my life, things like damaged vans be­
com e mere chaff. I can look at my
son’s sand-caked smile, or watch my
daughter sleeping, or see the glory of
redem ption in a baptism al chalice,
and everything within me shouts: Let
it hail; I have seen a bit o f heaven.
Lynda Cohagan is a high school En­
glish teacher in Olathe, Kans. Jerry is
one-half of the comedy/drama duo,
Hicks and Cohagan.
^
13
NEWS
NFWS
NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • N E W S '
N a za re n e s S p e a r h e a d Ef f ort
AIRLIFT PROVIDES FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO RUSSIA
T h e H eart to H eart Airlift, an effort to
ra ise 75 to n s o f m e d i c a l s u p p l ie s a nd
in fa n t fo o d for the C o m m o n w e a l t h o f
In dep en d en t States (form erly U .S.S.R.).
left O lathe. Kans., M ay 19. T he c o m ­
p a ss io n a te m in is try p ro je c t w as s p e a r ­
h e a d e d by N a / a r e n e p h y s i c i a n . G a r y
M o rsch . a m e m b e r o f the O lathe Rotary
C lu b . T h e p r o j e c t w a s s p o n s o r e d by
R otary International.
A U .S. D e p a r t m e n t o f D e f e n s e C-5
transport plane lo aded with the supplies
li f t e d o f f f r o m th e J o h n s o n C o u n t y ,
Kans., Industrial A irport T u e s d a y after­
n o o n a n d a r r i v e d in M o s c o w F r i d a y .
M ay 22.
“ A b o u t o n e - t h ir d o f the m i ll io n s o f
d ollars o f m ed ical supplies and fo od we
h a v e r e c e i v e d w a s d i s t r i b u t e d to the
U nio n o f E van gelical C hristians, w hich
in clu d es the C h u rc h o f the N a z a re n e ."
said M orsch. "T w o tons o f su p p lies
w e re s h i p p e d to th e W e l c h l y s ( N a z a ­
rene lay m ission arie s) for d istribution in
Kiev. H erm an G s c h w a n d t n e r (E astern
E u ro p e M inistries c oo rd ina tor) received
a portion o f these items, w hich will be
Pallets of medical supplies and baby food for the “ Heart to Heart A irlift” were loaded onto
a U.S. Air Force Reserves C-5A cargo transport at Johnson County Industrial Airport near
Olathe, Kans. (Photo: Dave Kaup/The Olathe Daily News)
d istribu ted by N a z a re n e Y o uth In M i s ­
sion an d W o r k an d W itn e s s te a m s this
su m m e r. S o m e item s w ere sent to V o l ­
go g ra d (fo rm erly Stalingrad).
D o n o r s i n c l u d e d th e U n i v e r s i t y o f
K a n sa s M edical C en ter, S h a w n e e M i s ­
sio n M e d i c a l C e n t e r , O l a t h e M e d i c a l
Center, M arion Merrill D o w , an d others.
EVANGELICAL DENOMINATIONS UNITE
TO PROMOTE SUNDAY SCHOOL
The Church of the Nazarene and 50
other denominations that are members
of the National Association of Evangel­
icals (NAE) will join together for a
combined Sunday School growth cam­
paign this fall, according to Phil Riley,
Sunday School M inistries division
director. The denominations, repre­
senting more than 40.000 churches, will
sim ultaneously participate in “Vote
Sunday School,” Sept. 27—Nov. 1.
The idea for a cooperative Sunday
School campaign came from NA E’s
National Christian Education Associa­
tion during Riley’s tenure as chairman
from 1989 to 1992. Although Riley
completed his term as chairman at the
recent NAE convention, he will continue
as campaign chairm an for the Vote
Sunday School emphasis.
“Our goal is to emphasize the impor­
tance and relevance of Sunday School
to individuals of all ages, churches of
all sizes, and to d a y ’s society as a
14
whole,” Riley said. “This campaign
should unite efforts of evangelical
den o m in atio n s in reaffirm in g the
necessity of Sunday School for this
generation.”
The cam paign has won en d o rse­
ments from several politicians and
celebrities including: Tom Landry, for­
mer coach of the D allas Cowboys;
Marilyn Quayle, wife of the U.S. vice
president; Sandi Patti, musician; and
Missouri Governor John Ashcroft.
“Our country's values depend upon
the molding of its people,” said Mari­
lyn Quayle. “Attendance at a Sunday
School that teaches such values is vital
if we are going to halt the slide we
have started into an amoral and value­
less society.”
Inform ation and m aterials for the
campaign were mailed to pastors in
June. Additional materials are avail­
able through the Nazarene Publishing
House.
M o rsch said o n e-th ird o f the supplies
w e re sh a re d w ith n in e h o s p ita ls in the
R u ssia n C o m m o n w e a l t h an d on e-th ird
w ere d is trib u te d to s ev en ped iatric ho s­
pitals.
T h e O la th e p h y s i c ia n w a s j o i n e d in
M o s c o w by o th e r N a z a re n e s including:
R a y M a ttix , J i m K e rr. B a r b ie M o ore,
a n d D e a n F l e m i n g , a ll m e m b e r s o f
O l a t h e . K a n s .. C o l l e g e C h u r c h o f the
N azarene.
M o rsc h and o th e r N a z a re n e s traveled
f r o m M o s c o w to R ig a , L a tv ia , fo r the
A .D . 2 0 0 0 C o n f e r e n c e . S p o n s o r e d bv
the L a u s a n n e O rg a n iz a tio n . A .D . 2000
is a s e m in a r fo r so m e 8 00 p asto rs from
th e C o m m o n w e a l t h o f I n d e p e n d e n t
States.
M o r s c h an d F ra n k lin C o o k . E urasia
r e g i o n a l d i r e c t o r , s p o k e at th e e v e n t.
T h e y w ere a c c o m p a n ie d by R on Lush,
p a s t o r o f the P h o e n ix . A riz .. B iltm o re
C h urch , and G eneral B oard m em ber.
M erritt M ann.
M o rsc h said the trip also in clu ded an
a s s e s s m e n t v i s i t to A l b a n i a to d e t e r ­
m i n e h o w t h e c h u r c h c a n s e r v e that
c o u n t r y ’s c o m p a s s i o n a t e m in is try
needs. T h e y also spen t tim e in R o m a ­
nia p lo ttin g a stra teg y fo r c o m p a s s io n ­
ate m inistries there.
A c o m p l e t e r e p o r t o n th e H e a r t to
H e a r t A i r l i f t w ill be i n c l u d e d in the
O c to b e r issue o f the H e ra ld o f H oliness.
H e ra ld of H o lin e ss
WS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS •
BY M A R K G R A H A M a n d T O M F E L D E R
EURASIA, AFRICA REGIONS
RECEIVE LITERATURE
DEVELOPMENT FUNDS
The Internatio nal S u n d a y S c h o o l Y e a r
C o m m itte e h a s g iv e n a $ 1 7 0 ,0 0 0 g ran t
to the E u ra s i a R e g io n a n d a $ 7 5 ,0 0 0
grant to th e A fric a R eg io n to d ev e lo p
S u n d a y S c h o o l l i t e r a t u r e in t h o s e
areas, a c c o rd in g to Phil R iley, S u n d a y
School M in istries d iv isio n d irecto r.
T h e E u r a s i a g r a n t w i l l b e u s e d to
dev elop literatu re s p e c ific a lly fo r the
em ergin g E a ste rn E u ro p e nations.
“T h e C h u rc h o f the N a z a re n e d e s i g ­
nated 1986 as th e I n te rn a tio n a l S u n ­
d ay S c h o o l Y e a r , ” R i l e y s a i d . “ A
d en o m in atio n -w id e S un d ay School
offering w a s ta k e n fo r the p u rp o s e o f
d e v e lo p in g S u n d a y S c h o o l m a t e r i a ls
in areas w h e re N a z a re n e m issio n a rie s
were w o rk in g w ith o u t h o lin e ss litera­
ture.”
Since 1986 the offering has p rov id ed
a s s is t a n c e f o r 2 2 l i te r a tu r e d e v e l o p ­
m e n t p r o j e c t s in f o u r o f t h e w o r l d
m issio n re g io n s , R ile y said . T h e
recen t g r a n t s w ill u se th e r e m a i n i n g
fu n d s , t h u s e n d i n g t h e c o m m i t t e e ’s
work.
VBS OFFERING
SETS RECORD
N azarene b o y s an d g irls h a v e set a
record fo r th e V a c a tio n B ib le S ch o o l
o fferin g fo r th e f o u r th c o n s e c u tiv e
year, a c c o rd in g to M iria m H all, C h i l ­
d r e n ’s M i n is t ri e s d ir e c to r . T h e total
o fferin g re c e iv e d fo r 1 9 9 1 -9 2 w as
$ 1 2 0 ,7 0 4 .9 5 . T h is fig u re t o p p e d th e
p rev io u s y e a r 's to tal by n early
$ 10,000.
“ W h a t m a k e s th is a c h i e v e m e n t so
re m a rk able is th at c h ild ren , ag e s 3-12,
bring in th e m o n e y , ” Hall said. “ C h il­
d re n 's M inistries h a s re c e iv e d reports
of V B S cla s se s tha t raised th e ir o f f e r ­
ing thro u g h sp ecial p ro je c ts a n d selfsacrifice.”
T h e 1 9 9 1 -9 2 V B S o f f e r in g w ill
fund tw o p ro jects, Hall said. A p p r o x i­
mately $ 1 ,5 0 0 will h e lp p ro v id e e d u ­
cation f o r s e v e n p a s t o r s ’ c h i l d r e n in
fi v e w o r l d m i s s i o n r e g i o n s . T h e
rem ain d er o f the m o n e y will b e u sed
to p u r c h a s e v e h ic l e s f o r a v a ri e ty o f
mission m in istries.
August 1 9 9 2
Living Praise, a music m in­
istry group from Mount Ver­
non Nazarene C ollege, w e l­
comes participants to one of
th e s u m m e r’ s WILCON III
gatherings. More than 2,500
w om en w e re e x p e c te d to
a tte n d one of th e c o n fe r­
ences that began in June at
Olivet Nazarene U niversity,
according to Shirley R iley,
WILCON coordinator.
CHURCH GROWTH RESEARCH CENTER PARTICIPATES
IN U.S. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP STUDY
An e x ten s iv e ch u rc h m e m b e rs h ip study,
C h u r c h e s a n d C h u rc h M e m b e r s h ip in
th e U n ite d S ta te s : 1 9 9 0 , w a s re le a s e d
J u l y 7 at a n e w s c o n f e r e n c e in N e w
Y o rk City. A lth o u g h the study is p u b ­
lished by G len M ary R esea rch (G M R ),
a C a t h o l i c r e s e a r c h o r g a n i z a t i o n , the
C h u r c h o f the N a z a r e n e p la y e d a k ey
role in its d e v e lo p m e n t.
T h e C h u rc h G ro w th R esearch C e n te r
(C G R C ) in the C h u rc h G ro w th D ivision
co lle c te d data fro m the m o re than 120
d e n o m i n a ti o n a l g ro u p in g s listed in the
b oo k and p rep ared the c o p y for p u b lic a ­
tio n , a c c o r d i n g to D a le J o n e s , C G R C
director. T he b o o k p ro v id e s a statistical
look at the n u m b e r o f p eo p le w h o a s s o ­
c ia t e w ith a C h r i s t i a n c h u r c h in e a c h
co u n ty a nd state in the U.S.
G len M ary started the project in 1950
and has rep eated it each d ecad e. H o w ­
ev er, p erso nn el c h a n g e s in the m i d - ’80s
c a u s e d G M R to lo o k e ls e w h e r e fo r
so m e o n e to c ollect the d a ta and prepare
the copy.
T h e p roject w as g iven to the A s s o c i­
ation o f S tatisticians o f A m e ric a n R e li­
g io u s B o d i e s ( A S A R B ) , o f w h ic h the
C h u r c h o f the N a z a r e n e is a m e m b e r .
Since the C G R C had already p u rc h a s ed
a c o m p u t e r p ro g ra m that cou ld help in
c o l l e c ti n g a n d c o m p i l i n g m e m b e r s h i p
d a t a , th e d e n o m i n a t i o n r e c e i v e d th e
project.
A c c o r d in g to J o n e s , the p ro je c t has
b e e n fu n d e d totally by the Lilly F o u n ­
d atio n a n d th r o u g h o th er p rivate gifts.
T h e 1 9 9 0 s t u d y is i m p o r t a n t to
c h u r c h e s an d relig io u s b o d ies b ec a u se
the U .S. C e n s u s d o e s not includ e reli­
g io u s inform ation.
T h e 1990 study also includes gro u p s
th a t h a v e n e v e r b e e n c o u n t e d b e fo r e ,
J o n es said. T h ese include several o f the
A m erica n black Baptist d en o m in atio n s,
s m a l l c h u r c h e s in t h e A p p a l a c h i a n
region, and large in d epen den t churches.
A c c o r d i n g to the s t u d y , m o r e th a n
137 m i l l i o n A m e r i c a n s c l a i m s o m e
c h u rch a ffiliatio n , re p re se n tin g m ore
th a n 50 p e r c e n t o f th e p o p u l a t i o n .
A c c o r d in g to Jo n e s , this is sig n ifica n t
b eca u se it reveals that nearly 45 percent
o f the po pu latio n claim no relationship
with a C hristian church.
T h e stu d y a ls o lo c a t e d s t r o n g h o l d s
fo r v ariou s d en o m in a tio n s. A cc o rd in g
to a D e n o m i n a t i o n a l F a m i ly M a p ,
w hic h a c c o m p a n ie s the book, L uth eran s
are p r o m in e n t in the N o rth e a s t Plains,
B a p t i s t s a re p r o m i n e n t in th e S o u t h ,
M e t h o d i s t s are p r o m i n e n t th r o u g h o u t
the c entral and s o u th e rn M id w es t, and
C a th o l ic s are p r o m i n e n t in the N o r t h ­
east and S outhw est.
T h e C h u r c h o f t h e N a z a r e n e is
p r o m in e n t in five N o r th w e s t e r n c o u n ­
ties, a c c o rd in g to Jon es. T h re e o f the
co u n ties are in Idaho, one is in O reg o n ,
and on e is in W ash in g to n . T h e d e n o m i­
n a tio n is als o the p r o m i n e n t g r o u p in
S k a m a n ia C o u n ty , W a sh in g to n , with at
lea s t 2 0 p e r c e n t o f the c o u n t y ' s r e s i ­
d e n ts c la i m i n g a f f ili a ti o n w ith th e
C h u rch o f the N azarene.
Jo n es said only seven d e n o m in a tio n s
have c h u rc h e s in m o re co un ties than the
C h u rch o f the N azarene. T h e d e n o m i­
nation is represen ted in ev ery m e tro p o l­
itan area ex cept three.
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t io n a b o u t th e
s tu d y , c o n ta c t th e C h u r c h G r o w th
Research C e n te r at (816) 3 3 3 -7 0 0 0 , ext.
2473.
15
NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS
KANSAS/LOUISIANA WINNERS IN
L ouisiana an d K ansas led all o th er d is ­
tr ic t s in the H e r a ld o f H o lin e s s s u b ­
scription ca m p a ig n fo r 1991-92, a c c o rd ­
ing to W e s l e y D. T r a c y , e d it o r o f the
H era ld .
D o n a l d W a l k e r s e r v e d as th e c a m ­
paign c o o rd in a to r for the L o uisian a D is­
trict. H a rry D i c k e r s o n w a s th e c a m ­
p aig n c o o r d i n a to r for the K a n s a s D is ­
trict.
L o uisian a, represen ting districts with
av era g e S u n d ay m o r n in g atte nda nce o f
less th an 6 .0 0 0 , r e a c h e d 1 05.9% o f its
goal (the hig hest p ercen ta g e o f any d is­
trict in eith er category). K an sas w on in
the 6,0 0 0 an d up cate g o ry w ith 91.23%
o f its goal.
M a in e w a s the se c o n d p lac e w in n e r
in th e u n d e r 6 ,0 0 0 c a te g o r y w ith
7 8 . 5 5 % o f its g o a l. A l a b a m a S o u th ,
w ith 6 1 .2 7 % o f its goal, w as the third
p lace w in n e r in this cate gory.
Rev. Franklin L o w e w as the c o o r d i­
n ato r for M ain e D istrict. R ev. Jim
M c G ra w w as the c o o rd in a to r for A la b a ­
m a South.
S ec o n d and third place w in n e rs in the
CAMPAIGN
6 ,0 0 0 an d up c a t e g o r y w e re : Illin o is
(7 5 .7 6 % ) and P ittsburgh (65 .4 7% ).
Rev. Larry H u c k e r w as the c o o r d i n a ­
tor fo r Illinois D istrict. Rev. L e o n a rd
B u d d w a s th e c o o r d i n a t o r f o r P i t t s ­
burgh.
T h e g ra n d prize fo r these to p districts
is a trip to visit N a z a re n e m issio n aries
in Q u ito , E cu ad o r. Rev. W a lk e r will be
h o ste d by S o u th A m e ric a R e g io n al
D ir e c t o r L o u ie a n d E llen B u s tle fo r a
w e e k - l o n g v is it to th e a n c ie n t lan d o f
the Incas. Mr. D ic k e rs o n d o n a te d his
p rize to his distric t s u p e r in te n d e n t, W.
T. D ou gh arty . D o u g h arty has c h o s e n to
v isit his son a n d d a u g h t e r - i n - l a w . Dr.
K ent and M ary D o u g h arty , m edical
m issio n a rie s to the Ivory C o a s t o f W e st
Africa.
S e c o n d p lac e w in n e rs will rec eiv e a
c o p y o f all the b o o k s (e x c lu d in g c u rr ic ­
ular item s) p u b lish e d by N az a re n e P u b ­
lishing H o u se d u rin g 1991. T hird place
w in n e rs will receiv e a $ 1 0 0 gift certifi­
cate from N P H .
“ W e are grateful for the effo rts o f o u r
district c o o rd i n a to r s ,” said W e s T ra cy .
Wesley D. Tracy, H erald o f H oliness editor
(I.), c o n g ra tu la te s D o n ald W a lk e r,
Louisiana D istrict campaign coordinator,
and L o u isian a D is tric t S u p e rin te n d e n t
Ralph E. West (r.). Louisiana led all other
districts in reaching 105.9% of its goal.
" T h e i r d e d ic a te d effo rts resu lted in the
h ig h e s t level o f s u b s c r ip t io n s in th ree
y e a r s . I c o m m e n d t h e m , o u r d is tr i c t
s u p e r in te n d e n ts , an d the p a sto rs in o u r
c h u r c h e s w h o c o n ti n u e to p ro m o te the
H e ra ld .''
MVNC PITCHER PLAYER SELECTED BY COLORADO ROCKIES
M ark V o isard . a
p itc h e r for M ount
V ernon N azaren e
C o lle g e 's b a se b a ll
team , w as ch o sen by
th e C o l o r a d o R o c k ­
ies in the 13th round
o f the m a j o r le a g u e
d ra f t J u n e 1. V o isa rd b e c o m e s th e
n in t h M V N C p l a y e r to be d r a f t e d o r
signed to m a jo r le ague contracts.
T h e R o c k ie s and F lo rid a M arlin s,
both N ational L eagu e e x p a n sio n team s,
will b egin play in 1993.
V o isard, a S id n ey , O h io , nativ e, led
the C o u g a r pitchers in w ins and ea rn ed
run av erag e, a c c o rd in g to K eith Veale,
M V N C b a s e b a l l c o a c h . In th e 1992
s e a s o n , he p o s t e d a 6-1 r e c o r d a n d a
1.18 E .R .A . w ith 5 9 s t r i k e o u t s w h ile
a llo w in g j u s t 4 2 hits and 16 walks.
" M a rk is on e o f the m o s t likable guys
y ou co uld h av e on a te a m ,” V eale said.
“ He has d e m o n s tra te d p e r s e v e ra n c e to
earn the o p po rtu nity to play b ey o n d the
co llege level.”
V oisard w as also selected in the 1991
m a j o r le ague draft. T h e T o ro n to Blue
16
Jays p ic k e d h im in the 3 2 n d ro un d, but
V o is a r d c h o se to re tu rn to M V N C for
his sen io r season.
A f t e r h e o f f i c i a l l y s i g n s w i t h th e
R o c k ie s, V o isa r d is e x p e c t e d to sp en d
tw o w e e k s in D e n v e r b e f o r e g o i n g to
the C lass A o rg an iz atio n in B end, O reg.
In addition to V o isard, o th er M V N C
p la y e r s d r a f te d o r s i g n e d to c o n t r a c t s
w ith m a j o r le a g u e te a m s in clu d e: T im
B elcher, curre ntly a starting p itc h e r for
the C in cin n a ti R eds; Jo e L asor, C i n c i n ­
n ati R e d s ; G a r y W e t h e r a l l . D e tr o it
T ig e rs : J e f f K u d e r, P it ts b u rg h P ira tes;
K eith B ryan t. S eattle M ariners; A m n e r
R ey es, P h ila d e lp h ia Phillies; Julio O su nia, C alifo rn ia A n g els; a n d E frain M o n tero, C le v e la n d Indians.
COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO PLAN
1995 INTERNATIONAL LAYMEN’S CONFERENCE
T h e B o ard o f G eneral S u p e rin te n d e n ts
h as s e le c te d m e m b e r s o f th e I n t e r n a ­
tional L a y m e n ' s C o n f e r e n c e C o m m i t ­
te e w h o w ill h a v e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y fo r
p lan nin g the 1995 ga therin g, a c co rd in g
to P h il R i l e y , S u n d a y S c h o o l M i n ­
is trie s d iv i s i o n d ir e c to r . B a s e d o n a
r e q u e s t by th e o u t g o i n g c o m m i t t e e ,
n ew c o m m itte e m e m b e r s w ere ch o se n
by regions. N o m in a tio n s w ere s u b m it­
ted by district su perin tend en ts.
The new co m m itte e m em b ers
inclu d e; K e n S eale , E d m o n t o n , A lta.,
C a n a d a R e g io n ; B ette W o o d c o o k ,
O w e g o . N . Y ., E N C R e g i o n ; V e r n o n
L u n n , O la th e . K an s., M A N C R e g io n ;
D a v id G r a n g e r , C e lin a , O h io , M V N C
R eg io n ; D eb b ie W ie s e n , V e ra d a le ,
W a sh .. N N C R eg io n ; D ale S p e n c e r,
F r a n k l i n , M i c h . , O N U R e g i o n ; D ic k
W illis, P a s a d e n a , C a lif., P L N C
R egion; K en M a rch an t, C o p p ell. Tex.,
S N U R egion; R uss B redholt. W in te r
H a v e n , F la ., T N C R e g i o n ; a n d R o n
M ercer, B e th an y , O kla.. past c h a irm a n .
T h e c o m m i t t e e w ill c o n s i d e r t w o
lo ca tio n s , o n e on the W e s t C o a s t an d
the o th e r on the East C o ast, as po ssib le
sites for the 1995 C o n fe re n c e .
T h e In te rn a tio n a l L a y m e n ' s R etrea t
is s p o n s o r e d an d a d m i n i s t e r e d by the
S u n d a y S cho ol M inistries D ivision.
H e ra ld o f H o lin e s s
NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS
CARIBBEAN REGION
REPORTS SUCCESSFUL
CAMPAIGN
C u b a le d a ll o t h e r d i s t r i c t s in t h e
C a r i b b e a n R e g i o n in r e c e i v i n g n e w
Nazarenes during the H arvest N o w C r u ­
sade, a c c o r d i n g to J a m e s J. H u d s o n ,
Caribbean regional director. C u ban D is­
trict S u p e r i n t e n d e n t A r n a l d o M i r a n d a
rep orted 3 1 0 n e w N a z a r e n e s r e c e i v e d
during the c a m p a ig n from E aster 1991
to Easter 1992. T his represents a 4 5 %
increase in m em bersh ip.
A total o f 5,437 n ew N a zaren e s w ere
received on the region du rin g the y ear­
long cam p aign , H u d so n said.
More th an 2,0 0 0 laypersons c o m m it­
ted to sharing the gosp el w ith as m any
as possible d u rin g the c a m p a ig n . O ne
la y p e r s o n . J e a n F o s t e r o f C o l l y m o r e
Rock, B arbados, reported 37 new N a z a ­
renes received into h e r church, including
5 that she had w itnessed to personally.
In addition to C ub a, seven oth er dis­
tricts re p o r te d s i g n ifi c a n t m e m b e r s h i p
gains. T h o s e d is tric ts and p e rc e n t a g e
g ain s a re : W i n d w a r d I s l a n d s ( 2 6 % ) ,
B aham as (2 0 % ), L e e w a rd Isla n d s
(20%), G u y an a/B erb ice (18% ), G u y a n a /
Dem erara (1 7 % ), J a m a ic a E ast (1 7 % ),
and D om in ican R epublic Central (15% ).
Because o f the results, the C aribbea n
Regional C o u n c il v oted u n a n im o u sly to
co n tin u e th e H a r v e s t N o w C r u s a d e
through E aster 1993, H u dso n said.
MANC PUBLICATIONS
WIN AWARDS
Two M id A m e ric a N azare n e C o lleg e
p u b lic a tio n s r e c e n t l y r e c e i v e d th e
A D D Y A w a r d f r o m th e A d v e r t i s i n g
Federation o f C e d a r R ap id s, a m e m b e r
o f the A m e r i c a n A d v e r t i s i n g F e d e r a ­
tion. T h e r e c r u i t i n g b r o c h u r e s w e r e
designed b y S ta m a ts C o m m u n ic a t io n s ,
Inc., o f C e d a r R apids.
T he p u b l i c a t i o n s w o n first p la c e in
the d i r e c t m a i l m a r k e t i n g c a t e g o r y ,
business to c o n s u m e r c a m p a ig n . T h e
brochures will a u to m a tic a lly a d v a n c e to
the district co m p etitio n .
“ T h e A D D Y c o m p e t i t i o n is t h e
advertising in d u s tr y ’s largest an d m o s t
representative c o m p e t it io n fo r c re a tiv e
excellence,” said J o y c e C o k e r, d ire cto r
of public relatio ns at M A N C .
NYI MINISTRIES ANNOUNCES STAFF CHANGES
T w o e d i t o r s h a v e r e s i g n e d f r o m th e
N Y I M i n i s t r i e s s t a f f to a c c e p t o t h e r
p o sitio n s, w h ile a n o th e r edito rial p o s i­
tion has b een filled, a c c o rd in g to Fred
F ullerto n, N Y I M inistries director.
K aren D e S o lla r resig n ed as ed ito r o f
B r e a d a n d T e e n s T o d a y to a c c e p t the
po sitio n o f directo r o f c o m m u n ic a tio n s
at P o in t L o m a N a z a re n e C o lleg e. A lan
E. Jo h n s o n re s ig n e d his position as teen
p r o g r a m e d i t o r to s e r v e as p a s t o r o f
D in u b a , Calif., C h u rc h o f the N azarene.
A g ra d u a te o f O liv et
N a z a re n e U n iv e rs ity a nd
B all S ta te U n iv e r s ity ,
D e S o l l a r s t a rte d in N Y I
M in istrie s in 1982 as an
intern an d b e c a m e a s s is ­
tant e d it o r o f B r e a d and
DeSollar
T e e n s T o d a y in 1 9 8 3 .
S h e w as selected as ed ito r o f both p u b ­
lications in 1986.
B o th B r e a d an d T e e n s T o d a y
r e c e i v e d a w a r d s fr o m th e E v a n g e lic a l
P r e s s A s s o c i a t i o n u n d e r D e S o l l a r ’s
leadership.
Jo hn so n jo in e d N YI
M inistries in 1985 as an
editorial assistant for the
W o r d A c ti o n cu rr ic u lu m .
He b e c a m e s e n i o r h ig h
e d i t o r in 1988 a n d te e n
p r o g r a m e d it o r in 1990.
H e is a g r a d u a t e o f
S ou thern N a z a re n e U n ive rsity and N a z ­
arene T h eo lo g ical S em inary.
D a v id W . C a u d l e h a s a c c e p t e d the
p o sitio n o f lead c u rr ic u lu m e d ito r,
a c c o r d i n g to F u l l e r t o n .
C a u d l e w i l l e d i t th e
W o rd A c tio n y o u n g adult
cu rricu lu m and c o o rd i­
nate o th e r age-level c u r ­
ric u lu m p ro d u c ts for
NYI Ministries.
Caudle
A g ra d u a te o f O liv et
N a z a re n e U n iv e rsity and N azaren e
T h e o lo g ic a l S e m in a ry , C au d le has
serv ed as p a sto r in R o ckfo rd , III., as an
O N U a d m is s io n s c o u n se lo r, a n d as an
assistant p asto r at D etroit First C h u rch
o f the N azaren e.
Illu stra ted
BIBLE
Your key to discovery
o f the ancient world...
Learn about life during Bible times
as each issue provides you with:
■ well-researched articles about the
customs, rituals, governments, and re­
ligions that shaped the world of Jews
and Christians.
■ insights for gaining a better u n d er­
standing of the Bible from the finest holiness
scholars of our time.
■ a dedication to editorial excellence through the abundant use
of photography, maps, and charts.
Each quarterly issue also tracks along with your WordAction
Sunday School Lesson!
1-800-877-0700 WordAction Publications
August 1 9 9 2
17
NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NE
NAZARENE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY GRADUATIONS
H u n d r e d s o f s t u d e n ts
N a z a re n e co lleg es and
spring. T h e fo llo w in g
tw o r e p o r t s o n t h e s e
cere m on ies.
g r a d u a t e d fr o m
universities this
is the seco nd o f
com m encem ent
CANADIAN NAZARENE COLLEGE
Riley Coulter, president
DATE: April 25
TOTAL GRADUATES: 11
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER:
W illiam Stewart
superintendent, Canada Atlantic D istrict
BACCALAUREATE SPEAKER:
Riley Coulter
NAZARENE THEOLOGICAL
SEMINARY
Terrell C. (Jack) Sanders, Jr.. president
DATE: May 18
TOTAL GRADUATES: 69
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER:
John A. Knight
general superintendent
BACCALAUREATE SPEAKER:
Terrell C. (Jack) Sanders, Jr.
NORTHWEST NAZARENE COLLEGE
Gordon Wetmore, president
DATE: May 24
TOTAL GRADUATES: 250
NAZARENE BIBLE COLLEGE
Jerry D. Lambert, president
DATE: May 25
TOTAL GRADUATES: 136
BACHELOR DEGREES: 19
UNDERGRADUATES: 205
GRADUATE DEGREES: 45
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER:
Stephen IMease
education com m issioner
BACCALAUREATE SPEAKER:
Gordon Wetmore
ASSOCIATE DEGREES: 62
LAY MINISTRY DIPLOMAS: 42
POINT LOMA NAZARENE COLLEGE
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER:
Alex R. G. Deasley
professor o f New Testament
Nazarene Theological Seminary
DATE: June 7
BACCALAUREATE SPEAKER:
Russell Metcalfe
senior pastor, Wollaston, Mass.,
Church o f the Nazarene
HONORARY DEGREES:
James A. Sheets
mayor, Quincy, Mass.
HIGHLIGHTS:
•First graduates to receive bachelor’s
degrees
•Climax of 25th anniversary year
Jim Bond, president
TOTAL GRADUATES: 539
UNDERGRADUATES: 407
EDUCATIONAL SPECIALISTS: 110
GRADUATE DEGREES: 110
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER:
Loren P. Gresham, president
Southern Nazarene University
HONORARY DEGREES:
B. Maurice Hall, superintendent
Southern California D istrict
Clarence James Kinzler. superintendent
Northern California D istrict
MURUGAN REELECTED PRESIDENT AT CNTC
Jo sep h M u ru g an , 59, sp ecialized
a s s ig n m e n t m issio n a ry , has been
r e e l e c t e d to a f o u r - y e a r t e r m as th e
presid ent o f C arib b ea n N azarene T h e o ­
logical C olle ge, a cco rd ing to Robert H.
Scott, W o rld M ission division director.
M u r u g a n r e c e i v e d a u n a n i m o u s v o te
from the C N T C B oard o f Trustees.
M u ru g a n w as first e le c te d C N T C
p r e s i d e n t in I 9 8 8 . P r i o r to t h i s , he
served as su p erin te n d e n t o f the G u y a n a
D istrict. D u rin g his s u p e r in te n d e n c y ,
G u y a n a b e c a m e a self-sup po rting , re g u ­
lar district.
18
C N T C g ra d u a te d eight stu den ts from
five C a r i b b e a n n a tio n s in c o m m e n c e ­
m e n t c e r e m o n i e s M a y 18. S t e p h e n
N ease, ed u catio n c o m m is sio n e r, p re ­
sented the c o m m e n c e m e n t address.
D u rin g the g ra d u a tio n w eek , C N T C
also c e le b ra ted the d e dica tion o f a new
s t u d e n t l o u n g e a n d c o u n s e l i n g o ff ic e .
F u rn ishin gs for the lo un ge w ere p r o v i d ­
ed th ro ug h a con trib ution from D o ro th y
S a y e s , f o r m e r m i s s i o n a r y to T r i n i d a d
and T o b a g o . T h e office w as c o n s tru c t­
ed with private gifts and regional f u n d ­
ing.
LILLENAS SELECTS
COPYRIGHT MANAGER
L ille n a s P u b lis h in g C o m p a n y has
a n n o u n c e d th a t I n t e g r a t e d C o p y r i g h t
G ro u p , Inc., will m a n a g e all c o p y rig h t
lic e n s i n g a n d r e n e w a ls , a c c o r d i n g to
H a rla n M o o r e , L illenas dir ector. T he
N a s h v ille -b a s e d g ro u p will h a n d le all
asp ects o f print, m e c h a n ic a l, an d s y n ­
c h r o n i z a t i o n c o p y r i g h t l i c e n s i n g , as
w ell as s o n g co n trac ts , c o p y rig h t r e g ­
istra tio n s and re n e w a ls, and w riter
royalties.
“ W h ile L illen as has su cc essfu lly
m a n a g e d its o w n c o p y r i g h t a d m i n i s ­
tra tio n t h r o u g h o u t its h is to ry , w e are
c o n sta n tly try in g to im p ro v e o u r p r a c ­
ti ces a n d se rv ic e to c h u r c h e s and the
m u s ic in d u s try ,” M o o re said. " W e
feel th at I C G c a n p ro v id e us th at s p e ­
c i a l i z e d e x p e r t i s e in t h i s c r i t i c a l l y
im p o rta n t a re a .”
L illen as P u b lish in g C o m p a n y has
m o r e th an 15,000 c o p y ri g h ts u n d e r its
v a r i o u s e n ti ti e s : L il l e n a s P u b l i s h i n g
C o . , F a i t h M u s i c , J. M . H e n s o n
M u sic, M o sie L iste r P u b lic a tio n s ,
N azaren e P ublishing H o u se, B eacon
Hill M u s ic , P ilo t P o in t M u s ic , S teve
A d a m s M u sic, a n d P s a lm S in g e r
M usic.
All lic e n sin g re q u e s ts fo r s o n g s in
t h e s e c a t a l o g s s h o u l d b e d i r e c t e d to
In tegrated C o p y rig h t G ro u p , Inc., P.O.
Box 24 1 4 9 , N ash v ille, T N 3 72 02 .
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a c t the
c o p y rig h t p e rm is s io n s d e sk at L illenas
P u b lish in g C o ., at (81 6) 9 3 1 -1 9 0 0 .
Steve Adams (seated left) recently signed
a contract with Lillenas Publishing Com­
pany allowing a group of his songs to be
used in future Lillenas publications and
catalogs. Pictured with Adams are M er­
ritt McKay, Nazarene Publishing House
assistant manager (seated right); (stand­
ing I. to r.) Ken Bible, special projects
m an ager, and H arlan M o o re, Lillenas
director.
Included in this collectio n of songs
a re such tit le s
as: Peace in the
M id s t o f the
Storm ; A ll B e­
cause o f God’s
Amazing Grace;
God S aid It , I
Believe It, That
S e ttle s It ; and
A ll in the Name
of Jesus.
H e ra ld of H o lin e ss
TOTAL OFFERING RECEIVED:
$9,227,381
D. M oody G unter
Director
STEWARDSHIP
SERVICES
For the Lord your God will bless you in all
your harvest and in all the work of your
hands, and your joy will be complete.
D euteronom y 16:15
(n iv )
A PROMISE TO KEEP
A PEOPLE TO SERVE
BY STEVEN P. JACKSON
Photos by Timothy J. Gonzales
A
chill N ovem ber mist clung to the air as Dr.
David M ata walked to w ork at Salud Medical
Center.
It w as T uesday evening, a n d th e clin ic
stayed open late to accom m odate the farm workers who
couldn’t afford to miss even a few hours o f work.
A rom as wafted from the white stucco buildings near
the clinic: roasted chilies, jalapenos, and braziered m eat
from th e re s ta u ra n t o n th e c o rn er; fresh p a s trie s—
conchas, elotes, and pum pkin em panadas— and tortillas
from the bakery next door.
D o c to r M a ta h e s ita te d a n d in ­
h a le d d e e p ly , s i f t i n g t h e lig h t
b reeze for m e m o rie s — o f fam ily,
o f his c h ild h o o d in s o u th e rn C ali­
fo rn ia ’s b arrios.
B u t t h a t w as lo n g , lo n g ago.
T h is w as W o o d b u rn . O reg., a n d
he w as th e 3 5 -year-old m ed ica l d i­
re c to r o f a clin ic w hose p a tie n ts
w aited. H e sighed a n d h u rrie d on.
E n te rin g th e c lin ic th ro u g h a
re a r door, he w as im m e d ia te ly b e ­
sie g e d b y n u r s e s , m e d ic a l s t u ­
d en ts, a n d w h ite -c o a te d staff.
D o c to r M a ta w a d e d th r o u g h
h is staff, p a u s in g a m o m e n t to
frow n o v er a re p o rt th a t th e la b o r
c a m p s w ere still full o f p e o p le ,
a n d w in te r w as c o m in g on.
T h e d o c to r lo o k ed u p w h en he
re ach e d th e lobby. It w as a typical
cro w d — b ro w n faces sh ad o w ed by
a v a r ie ty o f b a s e b a ll c a p s o r
fram ed by ra v en -b lac k hair, m o st
w e a r in g s e c o n d h a n d c lo th in g ,
th o u g h clean a n d p a tc h e d w here
n e c e ssa ry . D o e -e y e d c h ild re n
clu tc h e d at th e ir m o th ers. Slight,
20
w iry m e n ta lk e d q u ie tly in S p a n ­
ish a b o u t th e w eather, a b o u t th e
lack o f w ork, th e ir sm iles n erv o u s
a n d q uick.
T h e b u zz o f L a tin o voices s u b ­
sided as Dr. M a ta ste p p e d in to th e
ro o m .
"B uenas tardes," so m e o n e said,
a n d th e d o c to r re tu rn e d th e g re et­
ing. Even th e old m e n w ith th e ir
sc a rre d a n d g n a rle d h a n d s w ere
d e f e r e n tia l to th e m e d ic in e
m a n — h e w as o n e o f th e ir ow n . -..
a n d a doctor.
A d o z e n p a irs o f d a rk eyes
sta re d b a c k a t h im — eyes b rig h t
w ith fever a n d h o p e, re m in d in g
h im o f a p ro m is e h e h a d m a d e
years ago, a p ro m ise he in te n d e d
to keep.
DAVID’S ROOTS
D a v id M a ta ’s p ro m ise h a d its
b e g in n in g s in th e h e a t a n d frus­
tra tio n o f a C a lifo rn ia b arrio .
T h e b a r r io s — o n c e n e a t little
n e ig h b o rh o o d s o f tin y h o m e s a n d
ro s e g a r d e n s — h a d f a lle n lik e
d o m in o e s in to w eedy n eg lect as
th e ir o w n e rs g av e u p on th e ir
d ream s.
Few fo u n d a w ay o u t; ra ts a n d
g a n g s p ro life r a te d . M o s t o f th e
p eo p le ju s t trie d to h o ld on; did
th e best th e y could.
T h e y w ere p o o r in m o st things,
b u t th ey w ere rich in ch ild re n , lots
a n d lots o f ch ild re n . A n d th ey had
t r a d i t i o n . T h e r e w e re fe stiv a ls,
C in co d e M a y o parades,, a n d th e
shy, flash in g sm iles o f se n o rita s at
th e ir q u in c e a n e ra — th e d a y th a t
girls b e c o m e w o m en .
In th is w orld o f c o n tra sts, D a ­
v id ’s father, Jose M ata, a m in iste r
in th e C h u rc h o f th e N a z a re n e .
p re a c h e d th e gospel.
F ro m S an A n to n io to C o rp u s
C h risti to S an D iego to S an B er­
n a rd in o , th e M a ta fa m ily — Jose,
his wife, Jo sefin a , a n d th e ir th ree
boys— m o v e d fro m o n e tin y p a r­
sonage to th e next.
T h e c h u r c h e s u s u a lly p a id
a b o u t $20.00 a w eek, so th e y su r­
vived o n c a rp e n try jo b s th a t Jose
p ick ed u p a n d w h a te v e r c u lin a ry
H e ra ld o f H o lin e ss
m agic J o s e fin a c o u ld w o rk w ith
the d o n a tio n s p a ris h io n e rs left at
th eir d o o rstep .
D a v id le a rn e d a b o u t c o m fo rt­
ing p e o p le fro m h is p a re n ts. H is
father, a n o rp h a n raised in Texas,
an d h is m o th e r, th e d a u g h te r o f
m ig ran t-se aso n al farm w o rk e rs in
C alifornia, p la n te d th e seeds o f his
prom ise.
S h o rt, p lu m p , fo rev er sm iling,
J o s e fin a M a ta w as re n o w n e d
th r o u g h o u t th e b a r r i o s fo r h e r
w a rm th , h e r S u n d a y S c h o o l
classes, a n d h e r to rtilla s.
T h e sm ell o f spicy S p an ish rice,
frying to rtilla s, a n d ro a ste d green
August 1992
J o s e explained
that the Word of
God often needed
the hands of man
to accomplish His
work.
c h ili p e p p e r s g re e te d th e b o y s
m o st d ay s as th ey re tu rn e d h o m e
fro m school.
T h e boys rew ard ed h er efforts
b y m o p p in g t h e i r p la te s c le a n
w ith th e to rtillas. A n d if h e r food
w as to o spicy, J o s e fin a s o o th e d
t h e b o y s ’ s t o m a c h a c h e s w ith
m a n z a n illa h erb al tea. In fact, she
tre a te d m o st o f th e ir a ilm e n ts
w ith h erb re m e d ies d eriv e d from
a n c ie n t M exican folk m ed icin e.
J o s e fin a h a d le a rn e d th e a r ts
from h er m o th er, M aria, w h o had
le a rn e d it fro m hers, a n d so o n
b ack in to antiquity.
D a v id sh o w ed a n a tu ra l c u ri21
osity for th e arts, a n d his m o th e r
an sw ered his q u estio n s.
B ut th e re c a m e a tim e in D a ­
v id ’s life w h e n h o m e re m e d ie s
c o u ld n ’t cu re his illnesses o r sa t­
isfy his c u rio sity a b o u t th e a rt o f
healing.
Before h e w as in g rad e school,
D a v id b e g a n d o c t o r i n g s m a l l
a n i m a l s — a s m a ll, g ra y k i t t e n
w ith a n in ju re d leg, a b ird th a t
h a d left th e n est to o soon.
E ach p arso n ag e h a d a sad little
c o rn e r in th e b a c k y a rd th a t served
as a p e t c e m e te ry for his p a tie n ts
w h o d id n o t recover.
By w a tc h in g his father, D a v id
h a d le a rn e d to love p eople. S o m e ­
tim e s he even d a y d re a m e d a b o u t
b e c o m in g a m in ister, w a lk in g th e
streets o f th e b arrio , giving h o p e
to th e poor, c o m fo rtin g th e sick.
Tall, ch a rism a tic , w ith th e d a rk
m u s t a c h e a n d w a v y h a ir, J o s e
M a ta to ile d ag a in st th e in g rain e d
h eritag e o f th e C a th o lic C h u rc h o f
M exico: th e sh ru g g in g a c c e p ta n c e
o f o n e ’s lo t in life.
H is p a rish io n e rs w ere th e poor,
a n d o p p o rtu n itie s to m a k e a b e t­
te r life for th em selv es w ere few.
A n y h o u r o f th e n ig h t w as
lik e ly to b e d is tu r b e d b y s o m e
m e m b e r o f th e c o n g re g a tio n
search in g for Jose. T h e k n o c k at
th e d o o r w o u ld ro u st D a v id ’s p a r­
e n ts from th e ir bed, a n d th e boy
w o u ld w a k e to lis te n to th e
h u sh e d voices a t th e fro n t door.
O ften , D a v id h e a rd so b b in g a n d
w o rd s edged w ith p an ic.
E v e n w h e n D a v id c o u l d n ’t
q u ite m ak e o u t w h a t w as said, he
w o u ld h e a r his fa th e r’s voice fall
like a q u ilt o v er th e o th e rs— soft,
g e n tle , w ise. T h e n J o s e w o u ld
dress a n d ru sh aw ay in to th e d a r k ­
ness.
In th e m o rn in g , Jose w o u ld re­
t u r n h o m e t i r e d a n d h a g g a rd looking. Later, D a v id w o u ld steal
g lan ces a t his fa th e r as he relaxed
in his fav o rite ch air; th e son saw
peace in his fa th e r’s d ee p b ro w n
eyes.
A t su c h tim e s, Jo se e x p la in e d
th a t th e W o rd o f G o d o fte n
n e e d e d th e h a n d s o f m a n to ac­
22
co m p lish H is w ork. It w as a n im ­
age a n d a n o b lig a tio n D a v id
w o u ld n ev er forget.
D a v id w as a ttra c te d to th e m in ­
istry , b u t w a s n ’t s u re t h a t w a s
w h a t G o d w a n te d h im to do. A n
excellent s tu d e n t, D a v id w as fasci­
n a te d by science, especially b io l­
ogy, a n d h e loved th e logic a n d or-
' \ o u know we
have no money
to pay for
college.”
d e r o f m a th e m a tic s . S o m e h o w he
w a n te d to fin d a w ay to c o m b in e
faith, m inistry, a n d science.
COULD HE BECOME A
DOCTOR?
F in a lly , a m a g n i f i c e n t i d e a
sp ro u te d in D a v id ’s m in d . M aybe,
if he s tu d ie d a n d p ra y e d h a rd
en o u g h , h e c o u ld be a d o c to r— a
C h ic a n o d o cto r.
W aiting for th e rig h t m o m e n t,
D a v id p r o u d ly a n n o u n c e d h is
g ra n d p la n to h is fa m ily a t th e
d in n e r tab le. Jo s e fin a w as q u ie t, it
d id n ’t su rp rise her, b u t Jose, w h o
h a d b ee n w ip in g u p th e re m a in s
o f his m eal w ith a to rtilla , pau sed ,
th e n slow ly sh o o k his head.
“You b e tte r w o rk even h a rd e r at
s c h o o l — b e b e t t e r t h a n a ll th e
o th e rs— so th a t you c a n get sch o l­
a rs h ip s . You k n o w w e h a v e n o
m o n e y to p ay for college.”
M ost o f th e C h ic a n o s tu d e n ts at
C haffey H igh S chool in O n ta rio ,
Calif., h a d resigned th em selv es to
th e ir fa m ily ’s poverty.
W ith o u t k n o w in g o r q u e s tio n ­
in g why, C h ic a n o s tu d e n ts to o k
th e ir seats in th e b ack row s o f th e
c la s s r o o m s a n d r a r e ly p a r t i c i ­
pated.
B ut D av id held o n to his d re a m
a n d refused to a c cep t th e c u ltu ra l
ste re o ty p e s. H e s a t in th e fro n t
row, th e o n ly C h ic a n o in th e e n ­
tir e s c h o o l ta k in g c o lle g e p re p
courses.
T h ic k g lasses a n d r o u n d fea­
tu re s g av e D a v id a n o w lish a p ­
p e a ra n c e as he q u ie tly w a lk ed the
h alls o f th e ra u c o u s sch o o l. His
a r m s s t r a i n e d to c o n t r o l th ic k
b o o k s o f science a n d m a th as he
n av ig ate d th e crow ds.
H is friends, so m e o f th e m gang
m e m b e r s , t e a s e d h i m . “ H ey ,
b ra in , w h a t d o y o u th in k y o u ’re
d o in g w ith a ll th o s e h e a v y
b o o k s?” D a v id b ru sh e d o ff th eir
ta u n ts . T h e y c o u ld h av e th e b a r­
rios. M a th a n d science w ere going
to be his tic k e ts out.
D a v i d w o u l d la y a w a k e a t
n ight, w o n d e rin g if his d re a m was
even possible. H e trie d to en v isio n
him self, D av id J. M ata, M .D ., re­
tu r n in g to th e b a rrio s, a s te th o ­
sco p e in o n e h a n d , his faith in th e
o ther.
M ost o f D a v id ’s te a c h e rs d id n ’t
seem to k n o w w h a t to m a k e o f a
m o t i v a t e d C h i c a n o k id . S o m e
w ere h o stile a n d b la ta n tly racist.
B u t D a v id d e m a n d e d t o b e
H e ra ld o f H o lin e ss
Although most of his work is done at the
clinic, Dr. David Mata finds that he must
still make house calls. He says housing tor
migrant workers is often dilapidated and
crowded. It is not unusua! to find two
families living in one room. Anemia is
rampant. Ninety percent of the children
treated at the Salud clinic are anemic;
many have been exposed to tuberculosis.
ta u g h t, a n d , f o r tu n a te l y , th e r e
were so m e te a c h e rs w h o saw b e ­
yond c u ltu r a l s te re o ty p e s a n d
n u rtu re d h is d esire to learn . H is
Anglo p ee rs re c o g n iz e d his ta le n ts
as well, elec tin g h im th e first C h ic a n o p r e s i d e n t o f t h e C h a ff e y
High S ch o o l H o n o r Society.
D av id h e s ita te d to d iscu ss his
goal o u ts id e th e s m a ll c irc le o f
people he tru s te d , u n til o n e su n n y
day, w h e n a s c h o o l g u i d a n c e
co u n selo r ca lle d h im to his office.
As he w alk ed acro ss c a m p u s to his
a p p o i n t m e n t , D a v id p o n d e r e d
how to ex p lain his d re a m to th e
counselor.
W h en D a v id arriv ed , th e c o u n ­
selor w a n te d to k n o w w h a t c a ­
reers in te re ste d h im . W ith perfect
grades in m a th a n d sc ie n c e , he
n o te d D a v i d c o u l d g o m a n y
places.
D avid w as to o e m b a rra ss e d to
say w h a t w as in h is h ea rt. H e h ad
alre ad y d e c id e d to go to P o in t
L om a N a z a re n e C o llege, b u t he
August 19 92
h a d n o t yet ap p lied , fearing rejec­
tio n fro m th e p re m e d p ro g ram .
“ I d o n ’t know , I w a n t to h elp
p eople, a n d I really like science.”
W h a t h a p p e n e d next seem ed
like a slo w -m o tio n d re a m to D a ­
vid M a ta , b u t it w as a d re a m th a t
w o u ld n ev e r fade in his m em ory.
“ P erh ap s,” th e c o u n se lo r began
in n o cen tly , “y o u sh o u ld co n sid e r
m e d ic a l school. H a v e y o u given
a n y th o u g h t to b e c o m in g a d o c ­
to r? ”
O n th e d a y h e le ft h o m e fo r
P o in t L o m a , D a v id M ata, th e son
o f a m in ister, th e g ra n d so n o f m i­
g ra n t farm w orkers, p ro m ise d to
re tu rn to his people. H e w o u ld be
b o th a d o c to r a n d a n e x a m p le o f
w h a t c o u ld be a c c o m p lish e d d e ­
spite th e odds.
B u t C h ic a n o s a t P o in t L o m a
w ere few in n u m b e r an d , for th e
m o s t p a rt, p o o r ov erach iev ers o n
sc h o la rsh ip like D a v id M ata.
A t first, m o st o f D a v id ’s friends
w ere o th e r C h ican o s. B ut as th e
co u rse w ork go t to u g h e r a n d his
in te r e s t in s c ie n c e s tro n g e r, h e
fo u n d h im se lf d ra w n to th e c o m ­
p a n y o f th e all-w hite p re m e d s tu ­
dents.
H e h a d to. H e h a d n o tic e d how
th ey h u n g to g e th e r to study, q u iz ­
z in g e a c h o t h e r r e le n t le s s ly —
living, b re ath in g , ea tin g m ed icin e.
As h e h a d in high school, D av id
k new he w o u ld h av e to a d a p t to
co m p ete.
T h e o th e r p re m e d s tu d e n ts
w ere from w ell-to-do fam ilies. D a ­
v id e n v ie d th e i r $ 3 0 0 H e w le ttP ack a rd ca lc u la to rs as he fu m b le d
w ith his old slide-rule.
By h o a rd in g every p e n n y from
o d d jo b s he to o k to help w ith his
ex p en ses, h e sc ra p e d to g e th e r a
few h u n d re d d o llars to b u y a d e ­
c re p it ’64 F ord G alaxy. B u t th e
o th e r s tu d e n ts all se e m e d to be
d r iv in g b r ig h t, s h in y n ew c a rs
b o u g h t fo r th e m , n o d o u b t, by
th e ir parents.
F or th e first tim e in his life, D a ­
vid felt tru ly poor.
D a v id w as chan g in g , struggling,
achieving.
H e w as le a rn in g th a t if he
w a n te d so m e th in g b ad ly en o u g h ,
he co u ld get it.
T h e n , he m e t Ju d y S ym ons.
In th e days th a t follow ed, D av id
w as d e lig h te d to d is c o v e r t h a t
th e y w o u ld s h a r e m a n y o f th e
23
sam e classes. A n d b ec au se o f th e ir
m e d ic a l a s p ira tio n s a n d P ro te s ­
ta n t faith, D a v id a n d Ju d y b egan
m o v in g in t h e s a m e c i r c l e o f
friends. Judy, h e h a d learn ed , h ad
ch o se n P o in t L o m a b ec au se it w as
a C h ris tia n sch o o l w ith a n u rsin g
p ro g ram .
T h ey b eg an ta k in g lo n g w alks
to g eth er, ta lk in g a b o u t th e ir fa m i­
lies a n d h o p es for th e future. D a ­
v id s h y ly t o l d J u d y a b o u t h is
p ro m ise to b e c o m e a d o c to r a n d
re tu r n to th e C h ic a n o c o m m u ­
nity; he fell in love w h e n she got
c a u g h t u p in his d re am .
By th e e n d o f th e first sem ester,
Ju d y w as sav in g D a v id a seat at
th e fro n t o f th e biology class.
By th e tim e o f th e ir g ra d u a tio n
fr o m P o i n t L o m a , D a v id a n d
Ju d y w ere engaged. S h o rtly th e re ­
after, th ey w ere m a rrie d a n d D a ­
vid w as h eav ily in v o lv ed in g ra d u ­
a te s tu d ie s a t C a l i f o r n i a S ta te
U n iv ersity , L o s A ngeles. D u rin g
th is tim e , D a v id o fte n th o u g h t
a b o u t his p ro m ise to re tu rn to his
p eo p le as a d o cto r, w o n d e rin g if it
w o u ld really h a p p e n , o r if it w as
ju s t th e false b ra v a d o o f a scared
b a rrio kid.
24
A s his d ay s as a g ra d u a te s tu ­
d e n t w o u n d to a c lo se , r e a lity
b ro u g h t h im b a c k d o w n to ea rth .
T h e c o u p le w as th o u s a n d s o f
d o lla rs in d e b t to s tu d e n t lo a n
p ro g ram s. H e ’d se n t o u t a p p lic a ­
tio n s to 15 m e d ic a l schools. H e
h a d a p p lie d to th e N a tio n a l
H e a lth S ervices C orps, w h ich p a id
tu itio n fo r a lim ite d n u m b e r o f
m e d ic a l s tu d e n ts w h o ag reed to
w o rk in im p o v e ris h e d c o m m u ­
nities.
B ut th e re h a d b ee n n o w o rd —
n o t from th e schools, n o t from th e
corps, n o t fro m G o d .
T h e n o n e m o rn in g , D a v id got
o u t o f b e d feeling th a t so m e th in g
im p o rta n t w as a b o u t to h a p p e n .
T h e a ir see m e d u n u su a lly still
o u tsid e as he w alk ed to th e m a il­
box. H e c a u g h t his b re a th w h e n
he p u lled o u t th e e n v e lo p e w ith
th e m ed ica l sch o o l logo o n th e re ­
tu r n address.
W ith t r e m b l i n g h a n d s , h e
o p e n e d th e letter.
D ro p p in g to h is k n ees, D a v id
c lu tc h e d th e e n v e lo p e a n d sen t his
t h a n k s s o a r i n g s k y w a r d . H is
p r a y e r h a d b e e n a n s w e re d . H e
h a d b een accep ted .
E ventually, D a v id w as a c c e p te d
by five m e d ic a l schools.
H e p ic k e d th e U n iv e r s ity o f
M in n e s o ta S ch o o l o f M e d ic in e in
M in n e a p o lis for its large a n d d is­
tin g u is h e d fam ily p ra c tic e c u rric ­
u lu m a n d b e c a u se th e sch o o l o f­
fe red J u d y a m a s te r ’s in p u b lic
h e a lth n u rsin g .
F a m ily p r a c t i c e — it m e a n t
g ra n d m a s a n d ch ild re n . It m e a n t
ta k in g care o f p a tie n ts ’ social, e c o ­
n o m ic, a n d c u ltu ra l n ee d s as well,
a n d it see m e d ta ilo r-m a d e to his
p r o m i s e . A n d m o s t o f a ll, h e
w a n te d to d eliv er babies.
In 1987, D a v id g ra d u a te d in th e
to p five o f his class, e a rn in g th e
sch o o l p re s id e n t’s aw ard for le a d ­
e rs h ip a n d service. In th e a u d i­
ence, his fa th e r a n d m o th e r w ept
as he received his d ip lo m a . H e ’d
m a d e it. D a v id M a ta w as a d o cto r.
OFF TO OREGON
N ow h e h a d to fin d a p lace to
d eliv er o n a p ro m ise.
D a v id M a ta ’s a c c e p ta n c e to th e
resid en cy p ro g ra m a t th e S an B er­
n a r d in o c o u n ty h o s p ita l se e m e d
like a g o o d start, a n d it w as close
to h o m e . D a v id ’s c o m p e te n c y as a
d o c t o r g rew in th e m is e ry a n d
H e ra ld o f H o lin e s s
< David and his wife, Judy, with their sons,
Daniel (in his father’s lap) and Timothy, at
their church, Woodburn, Oreg., Church of
the Nazarene. With a B.S.N. from PLNC and
a master’s degree in public health nursing
from the University of Minnesota, Judy
works at a home health nursing agency
operated by Salem, Oreg., Memorial
Hospital. She is in charge of quality
assurance for the program and is the
wound care coordinator for the hospital.
David says he and Judy pray that their
boys will have compassionate hearts that
are sensitive to the needs of others as they
grow older. He also says he wants them to
attend a Nazarene college.
Dr. Mata wraps up a visit with one of
►
his young patients and her mother.
“I often pray with my patients, and
several accepted Christ,” said Dr. Mata. “As
a Christian physician I want to be available
to meet the total needs of my patients.”
< Dr. Mata pauses to confer with Lorri
Hendon, one of three family physicians at
Salud Medical Center. With 60 staff
members, the clinic offers a complete
range of services from dental and prenatal
care to home healthcare and nutritional
counseling.
During the summer months, the clinic
provides a mobile health screening unit
that goes to the migrant workers in the
fields. Last summer they reached 3,800
persons.
blo o d o f th e c o u n ty h o sp ital.
A s his re sid e n cy p ro g ra m c a m e
to a clo se, th e N a tio n a l H e a lth
Services C o rp s se n t D a v id a list o f
clinics w h e re h e c o u ld w o rk o ff
his c o m m itm e n t.
H is a tte n tio n w as d ra w n to th e
Salud C lin ic in W o o d b u rn , Oreg.
D a v id h a d n ’t c o n s id e r e d th e
plight o f los c a m p e s in o s— th e m i­
g ra n t fa rm w o rk e rs — w h e n he
th o u g h t a b o u t w h e re to p ra c tic e
m ed icin e. It w as m o re o f a ru ral
p ro b le m a n d , d e s p ite b e in g th e
g ra n d so n o f m ig ra n t farm w o rk ­
ers, h is im ag e o f h im s e lf h a d b een
as a n in n e r-c ity d o cto r.
S e a rc h in g fo r a m e d ic a lly u n ­
derserv ed a re a w h e re a m a jo rity
o f p a tie n ts w e re L a tin o , D a v id
August 1 9 9 2
h e a rd a b o u t S alu d M edical C e n ­
te r, a m i g r a n t h e a lt h c lin ic in
W o o d b u rn , Oreg.
A fte r a b r i e f f lu r r y o f le tte rs
a n d in te rv ie w s, it w as c le a r th e
c lin ic a d m in is tr a to r , Al N u n e z ,
th o u g h t th a t D a v id w o u ld b e p er­
fect for th e jo b . A C h ic a n o d o c to r
w o u ld b e p u re go ld in re a c h in g
th e M e x ic a n fa rm w o rk e rs w h o
m a d e u p th e b u lk o f th e c lin ic’s
p a tien ts.
In O reg o n , th ey o fte n lived in
filthy, cro w d ed la b o r cam p s, lack ­
in g th e basics in s a n ita tio n su ch as
r u n n i n g w a te r a n d sew ag e d is ­
p o s a l. S o m e w e r e n ’t e v e n t h a t
lucky, living u n d e r bridges o r in
cars.
B efo re D a v id ’s a rriv a l, S a lu d
w as b ein g ru n as a n u rg e n t care
clinic.
M edical em erg en cies w o u ld be
t r e a te d — b ro k e n b o n e s a n d th e
lik e— b u t th e d ifficu lty in k eep in g
d o c to rs o n th e s ta ff m e a n t th a t
th ere w as v irtu ally n o lo n g -term
lo o k in to th e p a tie n ts ’ real needs.
B ecau se o f th e tu r n o v e r rate,
th e d o c to rs a t S a lu d — o fte n o n ly
filling in as te m p o ra ry h e lp — h ad
n o h o sp ital privileges. T h ey d eliv ­
ered n o babies.
W ith o u t a n y notice, h e w as also
to ld th a t he w o u ld be th e clinic
m ed ical director, su p erv isin g th e
m ed ica l a n d clerical staff, d ealin g
w ith th e n itty -g ritty o f k eep in g a
clinic su p p lied a n d open.
T h e M a ta s b o u g h t a m o d e s t
b lu e h o u s e o n tr e e - lin e d a n d
tric y c le - c lu tte r e d A r t h u r S tre e t
ju s t a few blo ck s from th e clinic. It
was a sy m b o l o f his prom ise.
T h e n Dr. M a ta b egan m a k in g
c h a n g e s . H e a n d fe llo w fa m ily
p ra c titio n e r , D r. R ic h a rd L ew is
co n tin u ed on p age 42
25
All the years o f keeping that awful
secret about the man in the pulpit
turned my insides into knotted,
twisted lumps o f fear.
GOD, GO AWAY!
BY LO N N I C O LLIN S PRATT
Illustration by Roland Miller
W
at was I doing in a church again? After
all, G od and I weren’t on speaking term s
anym ore.
Eight m onths ago, I curled up on the
deck o f a friend’s boat and told G od to go away. It was
only weeks since receiving a diagnosis o f leukem ia and
learning my husband had filed for divorce.
T h e d iv o rce w a sn ’t a surprise. M y h u s b a n d h ad
d e m a n d e d th a t I n o t be tre a te d for m y illness; he
said p eo p le w o u ld ta lk if th e p a s to r’s wife w e n t to
d o c to rs in ste a d o f G o d .
H e w a n te d n o ch allen g e to his lead e rsh ip o f th e
sm all, in d e p e n d e n t c h u rc h h e h a d fo rm e d a fte r c o n ­
tin u a l fig h ts w ith th e d e n o m in a tio n a l lead ersh ip .
“ If yo u w o u ld ju s t tru s t G o d a n d pray!” h e yelled
at m e as his fin g ers tig h te n e d a ro u n d m y th ro a t. I
kn ew th e re ’d be bruises.
“ I f y o u ’d be a n o b e d ie n t wife, G o d w o u ld heal
you,” he c o n tin u e d as he s la m m e d m e ag a in st th e
b e d ro o m wall. A d u ll p a in sh o t th ro u g h m y n eck to
m y sh o u ld ers. I sh o v ed a t h im to get h im away.
H e g ra b b ed m y c o lla r w ith b o th h an d s. I sh u t m y
eyes a n d p re p a re d for w h a t c a m e n ext as h e th rew
m e ag a in st th e w all again.
26
“G o d ’s c h a stisin g you, a n d it w o u ld b e sinful for
a n y o n e to in terfere in th e c h a stise m e n t!” H e yelled,
p u llin g m e o ff th e flo o r by m y hair. 1 lo o k ed u p at
him , ex p e ctin g th e blow s to start, th a n k fu l th e ch il­
d re n w ere in bed.
T h e n his h a n d s d ro p p e d . H e realized I w a sn ’t cry­
ing. F or 14 years I h a d b u c k le d to his abuse, alw ays
begging h im n o t to h u rt m e. I feared an e sc alatio n o f
v io len ce— fu rn itu re th ro w n across th e ro o m , h o t tea
in m y face, b lack eyes, o r w orse.
B ut as I liste n ed to h im saying th a t G o d w as p u n ­
ish in g m e, a n in n e r voice s ta rte d w h isp erin g , “ H e’ll
let you die, h e ’ll let you d ie b e c a u se h e h a te s you.”
T h e n e x t d a y I s e n t m y c h ild re n to a re la tiv e ’s
h o m e, th e n I c h e c k e d in to th e u n iv e rsity h o sp ita l at
A n n A rbor, M ich. I k n ew w h a t th a t a c tio n m ean t.
H e w o u ld file for a d iv o rce b ec au se o f m y “d iso b ed iH e ra ld of H o lin e ss
ence.” I w as right.
T h a t d ay I stared at cold L ake H u ro n a lo n g tim e.
Its chill se e m e d to h av e in v a d e d m y b o n e s. I felt
n u m b . I liste n ed to a gen tle in n e r voice try in g to
b re ak th ro u g h m y icy walls, a n d 1 w h isp ered , “G o
away, G o d . Ju st go away. I d o n ’t w a n t to ta lk to you
an y m o re .” I th o u g h t it w as settled a n d G o d w o u ld
w alk o u t too.
Now, as th e p a s to r b egan his se rm o n , I folded m y
a rm s a n d b lin k e d m y eyes b risk ly to s h u t o ff tears. I
w a sn ’t th e re to listen.
H e re I a m — 31, d iv o rc e d , w o rk in g 55 h o u r s a
w eek as a re p o rte r to s u p p o rt m y girls, a n d I’m d y ­
ing! I th o u g h t. “ I’ve h a d it. If le u k e m ia is h ow You
rew ard m e, I d o n ’t w a n t a n y th in g to d o w ith You. If
You loved m e, Y ou’d heal m e, You w o u ld n ’t h av e let
h im assa u lt m e y ear a fte r year. You w o u ld p u n ish
h im . If y o u lo v ed m e, You w o u ld n ’t h av e le t m e
m a rry him .” O n a n d o n I w e n t in m y m e n ta l b lu d ­
g eo n in g o f G o d a n d w h a t H e w o u ld h av e d o n e IF
H e loved m e.
T h e re I was, in th e th ird row o f a c h u rc h , m u tte r­
ing th a t I w a sn ’t go in g to talk o r listen to G od.
C h rist. I gave H im free reign to a c c o m p lish g o o d for
m e, n o m a tte r w h a t it takes.
In th e years th a t follow ed, w h e n e v e r s o m e th in g
aw ful h a p p e n e d , so m e o n e q u o te d R o m a n s 8:28 at
m e.
“A n d w e k n o w th a t all th in g s w o rk to g e th e r for
good to th o se w h o love G o d , to th e m w h o are called
ac c o rd in g to his p u rp o se .” T h a t w as th e ir w ay o f say­
ing “G o d h a s a re a so n ” for w h a te v e r g rie f h a d hit
m e.
I h e a rd th a t passage fro m th e lips o f fellow C h ris­
tia n s as I b u rie d m y o ld est d a u g h te r— a v ic tim o f in ­
fa n t cancer.
A fte r tw o h e a lth y c h ild re n , tw o m o re d a u g h te rs
died. O n e lived th re e days, th e o th e r th re e h o u rs.
A gain, th a t passage.
That was their way of saying
“God has a reason” for w hat­
ever grief had hit me.
I trie d to fin d a safe p lace to settle m y gaze. It’s
im p o rta n t to lo o k like y o u ’re p a y in g a tte n tio n in a
c h u rc h th a t is k n o w n for c o m p a ssio n a te , c a rin g p e o ­
ple. If y o u lo o k to o d istrau g h t, so m e o n e will w a n t to
pray for you.
I fixed m y eyes o n a m a n in th e re a r o f th e choir.
T h e o n e w h o in v ite d m e to ch u rch . H e sm ile d at
m e.
I s h o u ld n e v e r h a v e ta lk e d to h im , I th o u g h t.
W h e n he ask ed m e o n a date, I sh o u ld h av e ru n in
th e o th e r d irec tio n . B ut he h a d sh o w n k in d n ess, a n d
I n ee d ed so m e o n e to be kind.
I d id n ’t k n o w he w as a C h ristia n . I d id n ’t k n o w
h e ’d w a n t to pray. I d id n ’t k n o w h e ’d en c o u rag e m e
to go to c h u rch , o r in sist th a t I h a d to get b a c k in th e
B ody o f C h rist w h ere o th e rs co u ld s u p p o rt a n d pray
for m e a n d help.
“G o d , You h a d n o rig h t to in terfe re in m y life th a t
way. I to ld You to go away.”
T h e p a s to r w as halfw ay th ro u g h th e se rm o n , a n d I
c o n tin u e d to ig n o re his w ords. I th o u g h t o f th e first
tim e I w alk ed in to a B ib le -teac h in g c h u rc h . I w as
ju s t 16. T h a t day, I tu r n e d m y life o v e r to Je su s
28
I h e a rd it in a h o sp ita l b ed w h e n m y b o d y h ad
ta k e n m o re kicks a n d blow s th a n it c o u ld bear. T h e
m e m o ry o f m y h u s b a n d ’s fists s la m m in g in to m y
b o d y w as still fresh w h e n a b ro th e r in C h rist lean ed
o v er m y b ed a n d w h isp ered th a t verse a t m e.
A fte r aw hile, I d id n ’t like R o m a n s 8:28. I c o u ld n ’t
u n d e rs ta n d how th is “w o rk in g ” o f g o o d th in g s a c tu ­
ally occurs.
In m y anger, I o n ly saw w h a t w as “ta k e n away.” I
fo c u se d o n th e aw fu l s itu a tio n . A s itu a tio n fro m
w h ich I th o u g h t I w as e x e m p t if I alw ays trie d to
p lease G o d . I d id n ’t p ay m u c h a tte n tio n to m y ow n
c o n trib u tio n to th e p ro b lem s.
A n im m a tu re m arria g e d ec isio n a t 16 p lace d m e
H e ra ld of H o lin e s s
R ecently, I m a rrie d th e m a n in th e b ac k row o f
in a re la tio n s h ip w ith a n angry, v io le n t m a n , o b ­
th
e
c h o ir. F o u r y e a rs ag o , G o d ’s h e a lin g p o w e r
sessed w ith rid d in g th e w o rld a n d his wife o f all u n ­
w
ip
ed
every tra c e o f le u k e m ia from m y body.
righ teo u sn ess.
M
o
re
im p o rtan tly , w h en I fin ally gave G o d p er­
All th e years o f k ee p in g th a t aw ful secret a b o u t
m
issio
n
,
H e re ach e d in sid e a n d healed th e w o u n d s I
the m a n in th e p u lp it tu r n e d m y in sid es in to k n o t­
h
a
d
in
flic
te d u p o n m yself.
ted, tw isted lu m p s o f fear. T h e fear e n tw in e d m e u n ­
I d o n ’t b e c o m e im m u n e to foolish decisions, trag ­
til every tra c e o f G o d w as w ip ed fro m m y w orld.
Even th o u g h I w as b a c k in a c h u rc h , I to ld m y se lf edy, o r p a in “b ecau se I’m a C h ristia n .” B ut I a m p ro ­
it w as ju s t to p lease a m a n I liked. B u t I k n ew better. te c te d by G o d ’s love. L ife’s v a rio u s e x c ru c ia tin g
S o m e th in g a b o u t th e p a s to r’s voice b e c k o n e d to m e ach es c a n ’t defeat m e. G o d is m a k in g all th in g s w ork
to ju s t give G o d a c h a n c e , listen for ju s t a m o m e n t. o u t for m y good.
S o m e d ay I’ll die, m a y b e it’ll be disease th a t fin ally
T h e tu g g in g a t m y h e a rt w o u ld n ’t stop.
G o d h a d c o m e a fte r m e. I w as ru n n in g aw ay a n d e n d s m y life. B u t, I’ll e n t e r e te r n ity w h o le a n d
H e c a m e lo o k in g for m e. W h ile d o c to rs sh o t h arsh h ea le d a n d well. W o n d ro u s th in g s h a p p e n b ecau se
^
ch e m ic als in to m y body, I ra n away. W h ile I liste n ed G o d loves us.
to a ju d g e d ec re e th e e n d o f m y m arriag e, I ra n from
the P resen ce th a t trie d to co m fo rt. Yet, th ro u g h it all,
G o d d id n ’t let m e o u t o f H is sight.
G o d p u t m e in t h a t c h u rc h o n th a t S u n d a y to
h ea r th e p a s to r say, “You c a n ’t ru n so far th a t G o d
w o n ’t fin d you. You b e lo n g to H im ; H e loves you.
He w a n ts g o o d for you. B ut if you d o n ’t give H im
y o u r h u rts, if y o u d o n ’t s u rre n d e r it all. H e c a n ’t d o
an y th in g to m a k e it w o rk o u t for y o u r good. It’ll ju s t
c o n tin u e w ith o u t a h o ly in flu e n c e to w o rk for you.”
T h e w o rd s s tu n g a n d y et w ere te n d e r, as i f th e
L ord h im s e lf h a d w h isp ered th e m d ire c tly in to m y
ear. I re co g n ized th e g en tle voice o f G o d ’s S p irit stir­
ring in m y w o u n d e d h ea rt. D e sp ite th e m a n y tim e s I
had se n t H im away, G o d w as re a c h in g for m e o n c e
m ore. H e w a sn ’t go in g to leave m e — n o t ever.
“G o d w a n ts m o re th a n th a t o f you,” th e p a s to r
said. “ H e w a n ts c o n tro l o f y o u r life so th a t H e c a n
Lock into a higher interest rate the older
do g o o d th in g s for you. So H e c a n c o n q u e r all th e
you are w h en you invest. Contact us for
thin g s th a t h u rt yo u , th a t b rin g y o u d o w n , th a t rip
m ore information about this investm ent
y o u r h e a rt o u t. G iv e H im y o u r e n tire p e rso n a n d
uniquely geared for senior adults.
H e’ll go to w o rk for y o u r good.”
G o d u n d e rs to o d a b o u t m y rip p e d -o u t h eart. H e
Write today for help with planning a Gift Annuity!
cared. H e w a sn ’t p u n ish in g m e. N o, I w as p u n ish in g
myself.
Rev.
Mr
I slip p ed o u t o f th e pew w h e n th e p a s to r in v ite d
Mrs _______________________________________________________________________
Miss
us forw ard . I w a lk e d d o w n th e c e n te r aisle to th e
front o f a large, u n fa m ilia r c h u rc h a n d k n e lt a t th e
A d d re s s.
altar.
C ity .
T h e p asto r, a big m a n w ith flo w in g robes, b e n t
o n e k n ee, lo w erin g h im s e lf to lo o k in m y eyes. H e
.Zip.
State .
sm iled. H e d id n ’t say m u c h ; h e e x p la in e d th a t he
Telephone (
was go in g to p ra y fo r m e a n d th a t n o o n e w o u ld e m ­
barrass o r h u rt m e. W h ile we prayed, his m assive,
Birth Date _
(Year)
(M onth)
(Day)
g en tle h a n d s , w e t w ith m y te a rs , h e ld m y h a n d s
tightly.
Spouse's Birth D ate.
(Year)
(Day)
(M onth)
For a lo n g tim e , I h a d it all w rong. G o d w a sn ’t d o ­
ing th in g s to “g et” m e. H e w as sta n d in g rig h t a t m y
side, w a itin g for m e to let H im d o so m e th in g w ith
C all Toll Free
N N E D
th e m ess c a u s e d in p a rt by m y o w n u n w ise d e c i­
1-800-544-8413
IV IN C
sions. H e w a n ts g o o d for m e; H e alw ays has.
6 4 0 1 T H E PASEO
Five years h av e p assed since th a t w in te r d ay at th e
K A N S A S C ITY , M O 6 4 13 I
c h u rch I n o w call h o m e.
Now, an investment that doesn’t
penalize you for growing older.
A ugust 1 9 9 2
29
SPECIAL REPORT:
BENEFITS OF NAZARENE
PREACHING
BY WESLE T D. TRACY
Part Three o f a Series o f the “Year o f Preaching” Reports
on the State o f Preaching in the Church o f the Nazarene
n our first report (June 1992 issue), we examined
30 aspects o f Nazarene preaching as evaluated by
laym en and pastors. In that Listening Post poll,
church m em bers gave their pastors’ preaching a
grade of 4.27 out of a possible 5.0. In spite of that
high score, church m em bers had som e definite ideas
about desired changes in the preaching they hear. As we
saw in the July issue, they wanted shorter sermons more
than anything else. They also wanted pastors to preach
more about the practical problem s of life, m ore about the
doctrine o f holiness, and they w anted m ore biblically
based sermons.
This m onth we explore the benefits that the church
m em bers in our poll shared with us.
Personal Benefits of Preaching
C hurch m em bers were asked ab o u t the benefits o f
preaching that they themselves had experienced. Eleven
items were listed that called for a response on a sliding
Likert scale: Never, Once, Two or Three Times, Several
Times, M any Times. Some 90% o f the laypersons declared
that God had used a sermon “M any Tim es” or “Several
Times” to help them “respond to G od in worship from
I
the heart.” A bout 85% said th at preaching had helped
them understand G od’s Word, and about 82% found new
hope in a tim e of despair “m any tim es” or “several times”
through a sermon. See Table 3 for the rest o f this story.
Note that clergy report profound results in their own ex­
periences.
The Most Profound Difference
Moving from the general benefits they had experienced
from sermons, we asked the respondents to write a brief
account o f the one occasion when “preaching m ade the
m ost profound difference in your life.” O f the 181 lay re­
spondents, 104 took tim e to write an account o f the time
that a serm on had a life-changing result for them.
By far the m ost frequent “profound difference” made
by preaching in the lives o f this group was to convince
them to seek Jesus Christ as Savior. The category record­
ing the 43 reports that this was the most profound change
that has com e to them via a serm on is called in the chart,
Christian Conversion. However, not 1 o f the 43 used that
term . M ost called it “getting saved,” som e “accepting
Christ.” One response said “when I accepted Christ as my
Savior at the age o f 46.” A nother cited a revival sermon
T a b le 3. B enefits o f P re ac h in g
H a s G o d eve r u sed a serm o n
o r p r e a c h in g s e r v ic e to . . .
Percentage o f L aity M arking
“ M any" or “ S everal” T im es
Percentage o f Pastors M arking
“ M any” or “ S ev eral" T im es
1. help you respond to Him in w orship from the heart?
89.9
93.7
2. help you understand a Bible passage?
84.8
94.5
3. give you hope in a tim e o f despair?
81.8
94.1
4. m otivate you to acts o f C hristian service?
81.8
94.1
5. bring you new light to walk in?
78.7
95.7
6. increase your financial support for C h rist's kingdom ?
68.2
79.2
7. give you insight into fam ily problem s?
66.7
79.4
8. help you m ake a tough decision?
63.6
80.8
9. convince you to m ake som e w rong or m isunderstanding right?
45.4
62.5
10. call you to seek entire sanctification?
36.5
41.2
1 1. bring you to repent and seek salvation?
31.5
44.0
30
H e ra ld o f H o lin e ss
,
Because o f convictions gained during sermons I changed
careers to have more time with my Lord and my fam ily.
that convinced her “that I should not wait for my hus­
band to becom e a Christian before I m ade a . . . com m it­
ment.” A nother cited his “greatest difference” occurred
when, in response to a sermon, he “repented at an altar of
prayer.” Several o f these persons in other parts o f the ques­
tionnaire express questions as to why preachers give so
few and such short altar calls. Several cited the preacher
who proclaim ed the Word when they “got saved.” Two
who were m entioned were Uncle Bud Robinson and Dick
Howard.
Entire sanctification responses claim ed the second rank
among those who cited the m ost profound difference in
their life prom pted by a sermon. O f those counted in this
category, 2 described th is “ second blessing” as being
Spirit-filled, 5 spoke o f com plete consecration, and the
other 19 used the term “sanctification” or “entire sanctifi­
cation.”
One responded to a Red Sea (conversion) C anaan land
(sanctification) serm on th at “caused me to go to the altar
and receive entire sanctification.” A nother said the most
profound difference o f a lifetime cam e when “I heard the
message o f heart holiness— G od com ing into m y heart
and [my] receiving entire sanctification.” A nother re­
ported seeking entire sanctification “before I becam e a
Nazarene, stim ulated by a serm on I heard as a teen.” An­
other cited “my pastor’s call to entire sanctification.” It
was a call, according to this respondent, “o f giving myself
away to G od.” A nother declared that “a Holiness Crusade
preacher” led him (or her?) to becom e a “Spirit-filled
Christian.” A nother cited a series o f serm ons on holiness
by Lenny W isehart as bringing the respondent “to com ­
pletely yield all . . . to the Holy Spirit.”
Nineteen (18.2%) cited a life-changing insight as the
most profound difference that preaching produced. Every
preacher rejoices to see “the light go o n ” in the experience
of a sincere follower o f the Lord.
“Lights” th at went on for this group included the re­
spondent for whom sermons by M. K im ber M oulton and
Norm an Oke changed “my view of G od— and my view of
me.” A nother respondent cited the preaching of William
Greathouse as a “voice o f reason and love” that rescued
him from a “fire and brim stone” childhood. “The words
of our pastor finally penetrated my heart,” wrote one re­
spondent. The penetrating message was that “God loves
me where I'm at.”
The preaching o f “Pastor Lee" on Psalm 37 becam e “a
reference point and a foundation of faith” for one re­
spondent. A nother was convinced that G od cares for us as
individual persons by “Cliff Fisher’s serm on on John 17.”
A nother reports finally understanding that salvation is by
grace. “I am free in Christ . .. there is no way in two life­
times to repay . . . Christ . . . and I don’t have to . . .” A n­
other reported that preacher G ordon Wetmore helped to
convince him that “God hates sin, not me.”
The m ost profound difference brought about by ser­
m ons for 11.5% o f the respondents was dram atic im ­
provements in the areas o f spiritual form ation and the de­
votional life. Several cited help toward a deeper prayer life.
O ne respondent declared that he “gleaned som ething"
from every serm on that “helped,” "blessed,” or “chal­
lenged” him — from the worst of sermons.”
Twelve lay respondents cited ongoing “generic help”
from preaching through the years— although they did not
specify a single serm on or preacher. Their response re­
m inds one o f the truism that com pares the spiritual sus­
tenance that comes from hearing the preacher break the
bread o f life week after week to the m an who spoke of his
wife’s cooking, saying. “She’s been cooking for me for 50
years. I don't recall any specific meals at the m om ent. But
w ithout them, I would have starved long ago.”
Help with marriage and family problems came through
serm ons and provided “the most profound difference” for
6.7% o f the respondents. One respondent wrote, “My m ar­
riage was in trouble, my business had failed, and our son
Table 4: Profound Difference Responses
A sermon umade me
give my marriage an­
other chance. ... That
was six years agoy and
we are closer than
ever.”
August 1 9 9 2
T im es C ited
R esponse
Percentage M aking
T his R esponse
C hristian conversion
43
41.3
E ntire sanctification
26
24.9
L ife-changing insight
19
18.2
A ssistance in the spiritual/devotional life
12
1 1.5
G eneral help through the years
12
1 1.5
H elp solve m arriage/fam ily problem s
7
6.7
D ecision m aking
6
5.7
Preaching never m ade a "profound difference"
6
5.7
T im es o f illness, grief, death
6
5.7
D epression and personal trials
5
4.8
O ther
4
3.8
31
was in trouble at college. Dr. Stowe preached . . . right at
me from Philippians 4:19.” To m ake a long story short, the
respondent wrote, “I do n ’t know how our marriage could
im prove now.” Dr. K inlaw ’s preaching “on praying for
your children,” wrote another respondent, “helped me to
understand my . .. son and learn to pray for him.” An­
other respondent wrote, “It was preaching that m ade our
family a Christian family.” Still another respondent cites
“the most profound difference” o f preaching as help while
“going through a rough period in my marriage m ade me
give my marriage another chance. . . . T hat was six years
ago, and we are closer than ever.”
Am ong the 5.7% o f respondents who said that “the
m ost p ro fo u n d ” effect o f a serm on was helping them
m ake a decision, the m ost dram atic case is the respondent
who changed careers because o f a sermon. “Because of
convictions gained during sermons, I changed careers to
have m ore tim e for my Lord and my family.” A nother
dropped plans to attend a secular university in favor o f a
Nazarene college.
Serm ons in times of illness, death in the family, and
deep grief provided “the m ost profound difference” for
5.7% of respondents. “I was helped the m o s t.. . when our
“It was preaching that made our
fam ily a Christian family
son lay paralyzed, and 1 drank in the serm ons o f the pas­
to r who visited him ,” w rote one respondent. O ne re­
spondent decided to try church again when her husband
died. “It alm ost seemed to me as if God were speaking to
me personally,” the wom an wrote, “through our pastor’s
messages.”
Serm ons m aking trials bearable and breaking the spell
o f depression provided “the m ost profound difference” for
4.8% o f the respondents. Typical o f such responses was
this, “W hen my husband left me, for a tim e I was at the
bottom .” A serm on on Saul’s Arabian desert experience
lifted this woman.
Six respondents could not recall hearing serm ons that
m ake a “profound difference.” One specified em phatically
that it has never happened, not even once. A nother pre­
ferred discussion over preaching. A nother would rather
have Bible study sessions than preaching services.
It is im portant to note that the respondents were not
asked to list all the ways preaching b en e fited them .
Rather, they were asked to report the one occasion when
“preaching m ade the m ost profound difference in your
life.”
Let us give thanks for all these benefits o f preaching.
Every preacher knows that G od needs not only anointed
preachers but also anointed listeners who are ready to
hear the Word o f G od when it com es through a sermon.
T hank the Lord, we seem to have m any anointed listeners
am ong us.
The am bition o f every preacher at his best is to be what
Augustine called “a little basket in which the Bread o f Life
is laid.” For “it pleased God by the foolishness o f preach­
ing to save them that believe” (1 C orinthians 1:21).
fq
32
Benefits Questions
A nsw ered by Dean W essels
W ho pays the bill for the retirem ent incom e
o f ministers?
This is a key question. G enerally speaking, many
of the dollars can be traced to local church
contributions. However, the answ er goes deeper
since it is particularly im portant for m inisters who
may be called to several different areas o f service
during their lifetim e of m inistry. Specifically, it is
the em ployer who is responsible for the total
com pensation package— salary and benefits, in­
cluding a pension or "deferred com pensation.”
W hen a m inister works for a local church, that
local church is responsible for paying for the
m inister’s pension and Social Security which is
related to those years of em ploym ent. This responsi­
bility initially is fulfilled through paym ent o f S.E.
tax and through contributions made to the Pensions
and B enefits Fund which, associated with the
contributions o f 5,000 other N azarene churches in
the U.S., supplies funds for the " B a s ic ” Pension
Plan (the years-of-service “ safety net plan").
C ontributions to this Fund pay for current benefit
paym ents to past m inisters, evangelists, and district
superintendents who are retired now as well as pay
for future benefits for those who will retire. The
further retirem ent incom e responsibility of the local
church for current w orkers should be cared for
through the TSA contributory plan.
W hen an em ployee changes from one em ­
ployer to another, the responsibility for retirem ent
incom e changes to the new em ployer. For exam ple,
when a m inister leaves a local church assignm ent
to work as a m issionary. W orld M ission becom es
responsible for paying for that m inister’s Social
Security and pension for those years o f m issionary
em ploym ent. W hen a m inister works for Nazarene
Publishing House, NPH becom es responsible for
those years of NPH em ploym ent. The sam e is true
when a m inister works for a N azarene college or the
General Board.
At retirem ent, the m inister may receive retire­
ment incom e from different plans to account for all
the years o f em ploym ent. However, church plans
would not provide overlapping years of coverage,
with the exception o f the TSA plan. The TSA plan
is vital in the local church setting but also may be
utilized by other church em ployers if they so desire.
Q u estio n s abo ut b en efits m ay be sen t to the
B oard of P ensions and B enefits USA, 6401 The
Paseo, K ansas City, M O 64131-1284.
H e ra ld o f H oliness
BRECKENRIDGE III:
PREPARING PERSONS TODAY
FOR MINISTRY TOMORROW
cording to Irving Laird o f Northwest
ne h u n d re d lay leaders,
Nazarene College.
pastors, district superin­
T he program , developed by Rev.
te n d e n ts , d e n o m in a ­
W ilbur Brannon, Pastoral Ministries
tional leaders, and theo­
logical educators gathered at director,
Breck- featured addresses by Myron
A u g s b u rg e r (s e m in a ry p re s id e n t
enridge, Colo., June 15-19. The pur­
tu rn e d in n e r-c ity p asto r); H aro ld
pose o f this “C onsultation on Clergy
Raser, N azarene Theological Sem i­
Preparation” was to negotiate a m u ­
nary; Neil B. Wiseman, Nazarene Bi­
tually ag reed u p o n co re o f c o m ­
ble C ollege; R o b e rt S m ith, P o in t
petencies aro u n d which m inisterial
Lom a Nazarene College; Paul Benepreparation could be built.
fiel, form er su p e rin te n d e n t o f the
The consultation, sponsored by the
Los Angeles D istrict; and G ordon
Division o f C hurch Growth, was de­
Wetmore, who presented an address
scribed by division director. Bill Sul­
in behalf the college presidents.
livan, as “a new m odel for m u lti­
Research reports were presented by
la te ra l c o lla b o r a tio n a m o n g th e
K e n n e th C row , M A N C ; R u sse ll
principals involved in clergy prepara­
Bredholt, Atlantic Com m unications;
tion.” Sullivan believes that the im ­
and Paul T hom pson o f SRI-Gallup.
pro v em en ts th a t we all d esire in
Worship sessions were led by G en­
clergy preparation cannot be reached
eral Superintendent William Prince,
except th ro u g h co llaboration th a t
Stephen Nease, M arjorie O sborne,
leads to shared missions.
and Jesse Middendorf.
“ T h is B rec k en rid g e c o n fe re n c e
W ilbur Brannon facilitated a panel
represents the whole church engaged
presentation by professionals from
in careful discussion and planning,
various fields who spoke o f educa­
which can lead to m o re effective
tio n a l s ta n d a rd s an d p ra ctices in
Christian ministry,” said Albert Truestheir vocations. M ark Potter repre­
dale, dean o f N azarene Theological
sented the field o f medicine, Charles
Seminary.
Wilkes the field o f law, and Bettye
“The opportunity for intensive di­
Tracy represented teacher education.
alogue am ong leaders from the vari­
The panel em phasized a strong lib­
ous segments o f the church . . . was
eral a rts fo u n d a tio n , professional
truly helpful and appreciated,” ac­
O
Wilbur Brannon (I.) introduces a panel to discuss professional
education (I. to r.) Mark Potter, medicine; Bettye Tracy, education;
and Charles Wilkes, law.
m entoring, ongoing evaluation, and
continuing education as essential to
competency.
Rick Ryding, professor at MVNC,
led the whole conference in smallgroup explorations, which produced
a list o f core com petencies. These
c o m p e te n c ie s re p re se n t w h at th e
group believed that a m inister should
be, know, and do. Wisconsin District
Superintendent Laurel M atson called
this “a unique opportunity for the
stakeholders in the preparation o f
clergy to present differing perspec­
tives in open discussion, which led to
agreem ent on the directions clergy
preparation will take.”
W ilbur Brannon said that one of
the m ost significant aspects o f the
consultation was “the high level of
m utual understanding” achieved by
the participants.
R eflec tin g on the B reckenridge
consultation. Com m issioner of Edu­
cation Stephen Nease said, “The con­
sultation can . . . have positive and
lasting effect on the future ministry
of the church. I am confident that
each o f our educational institutions
will reaffirm and review its mission
and curricular offerings in light o f our
recom m endations o f what our m inis­
ters should be, know, and do. ”
^
In “tables of eight” the conferees explored ministerial
competencies, what a minister should be, know, and do.
j
THE
mm i
s 0
1 3
; <■
<
<
___ ! <
Yea, Janine
Big Sister, Little Sister
Just a note o f th a n k s to Jan in e Tartaglia for her article on sin­
gleness a n d the c hu rch (April issue). T h a n k you to the H erald
for allowing the issue to be addressed.
T h e H era ld o f H oliness has b een a great blessing to us for
m a n y years. We appreciate the creativity, planning, a n d prayer
th a t help to m a k e the pu blication an e n c o u ra g e m e n t to us each
m o n th .
In th e re c e n t M a r c h issue, I was a tt r a c t e d p a r t ic u l a r ly to
“ Viewpoint,” as I a m well acq u a in te d with th e w riter a n d his
“Little Sister.”
T h a n k you, B ro th e r Jerald (Johnson), for r e m in d i n g m e of
G o d ’s great grace, for I k n o w y o u r w ords are from a c o m p a s­
sionate heart. Shirley’s life co n tin u e s to be o n e o f love for me
also.
Claudia Phillips
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Any Church Libraries Out There?
Just on e m o re idea! We need people to read so badly, how can
N P H p ro m o te “G ive Your T V a Rest N ight” a n d p ro m o te read ­
ing good books?
D o it th ro ug h chu rch libraries?
I k no w tha t it is hard to get folk to read even N W M S books,
b u t th ere does seem to be a grow ing guilt feeling a b o u t to o
m u c h TV. Is there a chu rch with a successful ch u rch library that
could be featured in the H era ld o f H oliness?
H er B ig Sister,
A rdith Wolstenhohn
Boise. Idaho
Nancy Seale
Papua New Guinea
E d ito r’s note: I f y o u have a great a n d useful church library, let
us hear fr o m you.
Reader Since James B.
I have for a long tim e w an ted to write a n d c o m p lim e n t you
on the splendid service you are rendering o u r chu rch an d the
k ingdom o f G o d as editor. I read it carefully every m o n t h a n d
co n tin u e to find it tru e to o u r positions as well as up-to-date in
every particular. I th in k you are addressing in an excellent m a n ­
n er th e problem s th a t con fro nt o u r c hu rch in this tim e o f o u r
developm ent.
1 have been a reader o f th e H era ld since Jam es B. C h a p m a n
was the editor. A lth ou gh to m e n o o n e surpasses h im in th e
d ep th a n d width o f his deep dev otion to Christ, each edito r in
tu r n has im p ro ved the scope a n d th e applicability o f o u r p ap er
to m eet the ch anging needs.
L. Wayne Sears
Chicago, III.
Who Is Allah?
In “T h e Q u estion Box” o f the c u rre n t issue o f the H erald,
yo ur response to th e q ue stio n c o n cern in g praying to Allah was
right on an d I appreciate it very m uch . However, I w o n d e r if it
fully answ ers th e statem ent: “1 heard a n evangelical m in ister ar­
gue th a t w h en a M u slim prays to Allah, he is praying to the
C hristian G o d , Yahweh, or G o d the Father.”
W h e n M u h a m m a d c le a n s e d t h e K a ’b a (th e p la c e o f p il­
grimage in Mecca) at Mecca, it was Allah, the c h ief god o f M u ­
h a m m a d ’s Q usayy tribe, w h o m he preserved after e lim inating
som e 300-plus o th er “lesser” gods from th e M ecca pan theo n.
He th e n declared A llah to be th e o n e tr u e G o d . In M u h a m ­
m a d ’s new religion, th e Jewish an d C h ristian beliefs were syncretized, a n d M u h a m m a d claim ed th a t this Allah was indeed
the G o d o f A b ra h a m , w ho chose Is hm ael over Isaac. He rewrote
history to claim that Ishmael was saved from d e a th w h en his
m o t h e r H ag ar ( A b r a h a m ’s tr u e wife) w a n d e re d in th e desert
n e a r M ecc a after bein g expelled from A b r a h a m ’s c a m p , th en
again w hen G o d intervened with a ra m as A b ra h a m p repared to
sacrifice Is hm ael (n ot Isaac) at Mecca.
Pontius' Puddle
ALL RIGHT. CrOD, <,0 W E 'l/E PLAYED A L IT T L E
HARD6ALL W ITH YOOR. PLA N ET. 5 0 W E 'V E
DESTROYED A PEW MILLION ACRES OP FOREST,
POLLUTED A FEW THOUSAND MILES OF RIVERS,.
EXTERM INATED HUNDREDS O F
/ ~ ))i
AN1NVAL SPEC. IE S. T H E R E 'S
NOTHING- YOG C.AN DO
M30CTC tT \
34
H e ra ld o f H o lin e ss
M an y years after A b ra h a m , th e cult o f A b ra h a m w orshiped a
god n a m e d A llah t h r o u g h o u t th e Negev a n d H e ja z ( n o r t h ­
western Saudi Arabia) regions. T h e cult flourished long before
M u h a m m a d established Islam as th e religion o f the Arabs. T h e
suprem e god o f the A b ra h a m ic cult was Allah. But Allah was
not Yahweh; Allah has n o relationship to the Father o f Jesus
Christ. Allah is the god o f th e Ka'ba, o n e o f m a n y false gods
who was singled o u t a n d elevated to the “o ne tru e G o d " by a
m an w ho de nied th e deity o f Jesus Christ a n d claim ed th at anyone w h o believed th at G o d had a son was an infidel. T h ere is
salvation in no o th e r n a m e except that n a m e o f Jesus Christ the
Son o f G od . a n d Messiah o f Israel.
John Conlon
Leavenworth. Kans.
Faith Mentoring
D ear Mr. Bredholt:
I read y o u r article th a t ap p eared in the February 1992 issue o f
the H era ld o f H oliness c o n c e rn in g the transferring o f the mis­
sion o f th e ch urch to th e next generation. I was especially inter­
ested in yo ur sm all article a b o u t m entoring. For the past few
years, I have been very active in m e n to rin g college students. I
have been on the faculty at Po int L o m a N azarene College and
M o u n t V ern o n N a z a r e n e C ollege o v e r th e past seven years.
Some ti m e ago. Dr. H a d d o n R o b in so n , p resid en t o f D e n v e r
Theological Seminary, w rote an o p en letter to faculty a n d a d ­
ministrators at C hristian colleges in the U.S. challenging th e m
to find o u ts ta n d in g C h ristians a n d personally m e n t o r th e m in
their faith. I began to d o th a t five years ago. Since th a t tim e m y
life has n o t been th e same. My wife a n d I have had sm all groups
(6 to 12 stu den ts) m e e t in o u r h o m e each w eek for Bible study.
In addition, I have m e t with th e m on e-o n -o n e for individual
guidance an d counseling. Further, we have th e m co m e to o u r
hom e for m eals a n d “fellowship tim es” periodically. Finally, we
try to have m iniretreats (w eekends away) together. T h ro u g h all
o f these, o u r plan is to show th e m the life o f the C hristian th a t
Christ taught, in clu din g w h at it m e a n s to be a p art o f the Body
o f Christ. It is exciting to watch th e m grow a n d b eco m e free to
serve C hrist a n d each o th e r w hen th ey begin to un derstan d. As
they leave, I h a v e a t t e m p t e d to m a i n t a i n c o n ta c t. I a m es­
pecially enco u rag ed to learn th a t th ey are still growing a n d now
are b eginning to lead th eir o w n gro up s across th e country.
I a m writing to enco u rag e you in y o u r message to m e n t o r
others. I deeply believe th a t you are correct in th a t we need to
reach o u t to oth ers individually. My ow n con victio ns a n d ex­
periences b e a r this out.
THE HERALD OF HOLINESS
Home Is Where the H era ld Is
Fill out this form and mail today to
start receiving the H era ld o f
H oliness. For faster service,
call toll-free 1-800-877-0700.
Enter my subscription for
□ One year, $9.00
□ Two years, $17.00
□ Three years, $25.00
□ Enter a gift subscription at
$
for
year(s) and send to:
Nam e
A H H tpcq
P ity
State/Prnv.
Zip
□ Bill me
□ Enclosed is my cheek for $
To charge your order to Visa or MasterCard, call toll-free
1-800-877-0700.
Name
Address
City_____________________State/Prov.__________ Zip
Phone ( . . . )
Make checks payable to: Herald o f Holiness
The local Church of the Nazarene I attend is
Nam e o f CHnrrH
Address
C ity____________________ State/Prov.__________Zip
If ordering by m ail, clip and send to:
T he H erald o f Holiness
N azarene Publishing House
P.O. B o x 4 1 9 5 2 7 • K an sa s City, M O 64141
Paul M adtes, Jr
A ssociate Professor o f Biology
Point L om a N azarene College
McCumber and the Generals
Paying the Price for the Free Gift
I have been m e a n in g to w rite for m o n t h s to c o m m e n d you
and y ou r staff for th e su p er jo b o n the Herald. T h e covers an d
layout are so attractive, a n d th e regular features o n prayer an d
spiritual fo r m a tio n are so helpful. T h e n the special articles on
to ugh issues y o u h av e a d d re s s e d h a v e b e e n right o n target.
T han ks for stan d in g straight a n d tall.
My wife a n d I always enjoy Dr. M c C u m b e r ’s pieces, too, an d
the writings o f th e general sup erinten den ts. . . .
Again, let m e say how m u c h we appreciate the H erald. We
read it from cover to cover.
I agree w holeheartedly with y ou r statem ent, “T h ere are no
C hristians in hell” (Q uestion Box. M ay 1992), b ut th e real q ues­
tion is, “C a n an individual claim the n a m e o f Christ an d c o n ­
tin ue in sin, thereby grieving the Holy Spirit?” I th in k not. My
Bible does n o t teach this.
O n ly throu gh sanctification m ay a person realize th e keeping
o f the Holy Spirit a n d the eradication o f the carnal m ind. . . .
R o m a n s 8:6-7 plainly states tha t “to be carnally m in d e d is
de ath . . . the carnal m in d is e n m ity against God." Somehow, it
ju s t d o e sn ’t so u n d as if G o d likes carnality. In fact. He hates it
because it c a n n o t yield itself to His will. Let us n ot sell salvation
short. We are either His or we are not. We c a n n o t “serve two
masters,” n o r c an we straddle th e fence. E ith er accept G o d 's full
plan o f salvation o r d o n ’t, bu t d o n ’t soft sell Christianity; it is
strong en ou gh to stand forever in the hearts o f those willing to
pay the price for the free gift o f G o d ’s love . . . Sanctification is
n ot a n option.
Paul B artram H icks
St. Paul. M inn.
NTS Tops
R i c h a r d N e i d e r h i s e r ’s a rtic le , “ W h a t Y o u r P a s t o r N ee d s
Most,” is right on target w ith th e excellent p ro g ram for th e D o c ­
tor o f Ministry. H a v in g w o rk ed o n several cam puses, N T S tops
my list in every way.
M onty Neal
Bristow. Okla.
A ugust 1 9 9 2
Nancy Collier
Jonesboro. Ga.
35
The Dialog Series
Ttimimhout our lives me all face
r j
'
rJ VI ! \ I U
JJJJjl
No. 1 D ialog Best-seller!
TURNING POINTS
The newest release in the Dialog
Series line, this book takes an
in-depth look at “life-changing
experiences” through the use of
personal testimonies. Each
chapter discusses how to be
more than an overcomer when
we face major “turning points”
in life such as aging, death,
birth, and fam ily conflict.
HH083-411-4011
HH083-411-4003
Book
$4.95
Leader's Guide
$3.95
MISGUIDING LIGHTS
A compelling look behind the veil
of cult worship. Each section has
been written by an expert who has
firsthand knowledge into the se­
crets and mysteries that shroud
these religions. The purpose of
the book is to provide a clear and
in-depth understanding of cults
without the sensationalism that
typically follows w orks of this na­
ture.
HH083-411-2809
HH083-411-2795
Book
$4 .95
Leader’s Guide
$3.95
Great for personal reading, or for use as
an adult Dialog Series elective.
Order a copy today!
NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE • 1-800-877-0700
Prices sub/ect to change
Plus postage
The
QUESTION BOX_______
C onducted by Wesley D. Tracy, Editor
Pastor—T reasurer?
Is it appropriate for the pastor to be one of the per­
sons authorized to write checks on the church’s ac­
count?
1 cannot im agine a local church situation in which it
would be prudent for the pastor to be authorized to
write checks on the church’s account. There m ay be sit­
uations, beyond the scope of my im agination, in which
it would be appropriate. However, M anual paragraph
425 puts definite limits on such arrangements. It says,
in part, “The pastor shall not . . . count moneys, or dis­
burse funds for the local church unless authorized and
directed by a m ajority vote o f the church board or by
m ajority vote o f a church m eeting; such action, if
taken, m ust be approved in writing by the District Ad­
visory Board.” The rule was not m ade because pastors
are dishonest. Rather, it stands because few things de­
stroy a pastor’s m inistry more quickly than accusations
(false or true) about financial irregularities. If financial
questions arise and the pastor has neither “counted”
nor “disbursed” church funds, accusations dam aging to
both church and pastor cannot be responsibly made.
Letters to a Caring Church
H u n d re d s of le tte rs co m e to th e B oard of
P e n s io n s and B e n e fits U S A e v e ry ye a r fro m
th o s e w h o re ce ive “ B a s ic ” P e nsio n b e n e fits or
o th e r b e n e fits fro m p ro g ra m s a d m in is te re d by
th e B oard. A lth o u g h th e y a re d ire cte d to the
P e n s io n s o ffice, th e ir m e s sa g e of th a n k s is
re a lly in te n d e d fo r th e N a z a re n e s w h o have
m a d e th o s e b e n e fits p o s sib le th ro u g h th e ir
s u p p o rt of th e P & B Fund. H ere are a fe w
e x a m p le s of le tte rs re ce ive d re ce n tly:
" L i k e m a n y o f o u r fellow retired m inisters an d
th eir w ives, we n ev er d re a m e d in o u r early days
o f sacrificial m in is try that the C h u rc h w o uld do
so m u c h tor us w hen we b e c a m e o ld er a nd unable
to c a rr y o n the m inisterial w ork th at we loved so
m u ch ."
Cooking the Books
One of the churches on our district “ cooks the
books” regarding local church income so that district,
education, and General Budget allotments won’t be so
high. One of the board members openly told me they
did this. Is this wrong? It seems dishonest to me.
If the “board m em ber” you spoke with is accurate in
what he said, then I agree with you. It seems “wrong”
and “dishonest” to me too. The old adage may be in­
structive here; “If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck,
and quacks like a duck—-it just may be a duck.”
Complaint
I wrote you a letter of complaint about one of the
adult Sunday School lessons, but my letter never ap­
peared in “The Readers Write.” How come?
“The Readers Write” feature is reserved for dialogue
among the readers, editors, and writers o f the Herald
about subjects that appear in the Herald. Since your
letter had nothing to do with anything in the Herald.
we did not print it. Nor are we able to acknowledge
submissions to “The Readers Write” which are not se­
lected for publication.
While your letter was not in this category, it is sur­
prising how m an y people th in k th a t the “ R eaders
Write” should be a tattletale post where anyone who
disagrees with them can get reported.
^
" T h a n k s so very m u c h for w h at yo u are do ing for
me. T he “ B a s ic ” P ension ch eck really helps out
as we h av e quite a few e x p e n se s to pay for and
we do not get m u c h Social S ecu rity .”
" I d o a pp reciate so m u c h th at I a m still
re m e m b e r e d by th e C hu rch . G o d has been g oo d
to m e this past y ear and su pp lied m y e v ery need,
with y o u r h elp ."
" W e are th an kful fo r w hat the C h u rch has done
for us an d no w we look fo rw ard to n ew av enu es
o f service w ith e x p e c ta n c y and jo y as we follow
His leading in th ese g old en y e a rs ."
" W e are w ay b eh in d in ex p res sin g o u r a p p re c ia ­
tion fo r all you h ave do ne fo r ou r retire m ent. May
G o d richly bless y ou for th in kin g o f us retired
m in isters an d fa m ilie s ."
N e a rly 1 2 ,0 0 0 N a z a re n e m in is te rs are e ith e r
re tire d o r a n tic ip a tin g re tire m e n t u n d e r the
“ B a s ic ” P e nsio n Plan. Y our s u p p o rt of th e P & B
Fund e x p re s s e s y o u r a p p re c ia tio n fo r th e ir
m in is try and a ss u re s th e s e s e rv a n ts of the
C h u rch a m ore a d e q u a te re tire m e n t in co m e .
The views expressed in (he responses in this column are those o f the editor and do not
constitute official statement by or for the Church o f the Nazarene. The editor is not able
to send replies to questions not selected for publication. Address: Herald o f Holiness.
6401 The Paseo. Kansas City. MO 6 4131.
August 1 9 9 2
37
NEWS OF RELIGION
NAE LAUNCHES VOTER REGISTRATION EFFORT
T h e N a tio n a l A sso c ia tio n o f
E v a n g e lic a ls (N A E ) has
la un che d a n atio n w id e effort
to reg ister I m illion n e w v o t­
e rs , a c c o r d i n g to R o b e r t P.
D u g a n , Jr., d ir e c to r o f
N A E ’s W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . ,
office. T he C h ristian C iti­
z e n s h i p C a m p a i g n w ill a ls o
e n c o u r a g e e v a n g e l i c a l s to
p ray for political leaders.
“O u r nation is ca u g h t in a
p ro fo u n d cu ltu re w a r,”
D u g a n said. “ E v a n g e lic a l
C h ristia n s
possess
th e
w e a p o n s to w in th at w ar."
W h ile it is e s t im a te d that
a b o u t 7 o f e v ery 10 e v a n g e li­
c a l s a r e r e g i s t e r e d to v o te ,
trends indicate that o n ly h a lf
o f th e ir en tire co m m u n ity
will ca st b a llo ts in the n e x t
g eneral election.
“T hat reflects a w id e ­
s p r e a d c y n ic i s m a b o u t g o v -
e rn m e n t that the e v a n g e lic a l
c o m m u n i t y t e n d s to s h a r e
w ith th e r e s t o f th e p o p u la ti o n , ” D u g a n sa id . “ B u t,
e v a n g e l i c a l s m u s t n o t re a c t
as th ose w ith o u t hope. T h e y
c o u ld be a m u c h m o r e sig n if­
icant political fo rce for go od
g o v e rn m e n t.”
M e m b e r d e n o m in a tio n s o f
th e N A E ’s 4 5 , 0 0 0 c h u r c h e s
h a v e b e e n a s k e d to a p p o i n t
d en o m in a tio n a l ch airs w ho
in turn will secure leaders in
lo cal c h u rc h e s , o r g a n iz a ­
tions, an d e d u ca tio n a l institu ­
tions to stim ulate p ray er and
vo ting activities.
Phyllis Perkins, d irecto r o f
adm issio n s at N a zaren e Bible
C o lle g e , h as b een a p p o in te d
to s e r v e as th e c h a i r p e r s o n
fo r th e C h u r c h o f the N a z a ­
rene, a c cordin g to Jack Stone,
general secretary.
ILLEGAL CHRISTIAN STATIONS ORDERED
OFF THE AIR IN CANADA
T h e C a n a d ia n R a d io -T e l e v i­
sion and T e le c o m m u n ic a ­
tions C o m m issio n (C R T C )
r e c e n tly o rd e r e d fo u r illegal
C h r is ti a n te l e v is io n sta tio n s
to cease their reb ro ad ca stin g
o f s ig n a ls fro m th e U .S .based T rin ity B ro ad castin g
N etw o rk (T B N ), acco rd in g
to t h e C a n a d i a n C h r i s t i a n
n e w s p a p e r C h ristia n W eek.
“ W e h ave giv en th ese ille­
gal o p erato rs ev ery o p p o r t u ­
n ity to o b e y th e l a w , ” s a i d
CRTC
c h airm an
K eith
S p ic e r. “T h e y h a v e r e p e a t ­
ed ly refused, in deed, they are
o p e n in g new ille g a l s ta ­
tion s.”
W h ile the C R T C is c r a c k ­
ing d o w n on th e b r o a d c a s t ­
e r s , it a l s o h a s a n n o u n c e d
h e a rin g s o n re lig io u s b r o a d ­
c a s t i n g . H e a r i n g s in 1983
led to the d e v e lo p m e n t o f the
m u l t i f a i t h V i s i o n T V c a b le
ne tw o rk b ut did not allow for
any o th e r relig io u s b ro a d ­
casters.
T h i s t i m e , h o w e v e r , th e
38
C R T C has p ro m is e d to “ fu n ­
d a m e n ta lly r e t h in k ” its p o li­
cie s th at c o u ld lead to m o r e
f r e e d o m s , a c c o r d i n g to
W illard T h iess en , sp o k e s m a n
fo r th e N a tio n a l C h r is tia n
B roadcasters.
B e c a u s e o f th a t p r o m i s e ,
o n e ille g a l r e b r o a d c a s t e r in
L ethb rid ge has a g re ed to take
h is s ta ti o n o f f th e air.
A n o t h e r r e b r o a d c a s t e r in
E d m o n t o n h a s r e f u s e d to
c o m p ly with the g o v e rn m e n t
o rd e r and is c h a lle n g in g it in
court.
NEW TESTAMENT
PUBLISHED FOR WOMEN
IN CRISIS PREGNANCY
T h e In tern ation al Bible S o c i­
ety (IB S ) h as p u b lis h e d a
N IV N ew T e sta m e n t and
P salm s d e sig n e d esp ecially
fo r w o m e n in crisis p re g n a n ­
c ie s . A c c o r d i n g to G le n
P a a u w , IB S p ro d u c t d e v e lo p ­
m e n t m a n a g e r , th e S c r i p ­
t u r e s , p u b l i s h e d u n d e r th e
title H o p e f o r th e F u tu re , are
d e sig n e d for p reg n an t w o m e n
sea rc h in g fo r an sw ers.
“ W e d is c o v e re d th at there
w ere n o S c rip tu re s a v a ilab le
to m e e t th e sp ecial n e e d s o f
w o m e n in c r i s i s p r e g n a n ­
c ie s ,” P a a u w said. “T h e o u t ­
c o m e o f this is H o p e f o r th e
F u tu re , d e sig n e d specifically
to e n c o u r a g e , c o m f o r t , a n d
in s tru c t w o m e n w h o seek
co u n se l at crisis p re g n a n c y
cen te rs n a tio n w id e .”
F iv e h u n d r e d o f the N e w
T e sta m e n ts w ere p resen ted
to participan ts in the In te m a -
Hope fo r th e Future, a New Tes­
ta m en t and Psalm s designed
for women in crisis pregnancies,
was recently introduced by the
International Bible Society.
tional C ris is P re g n a n c y C e n ­
te rs D ire c to rs C o n fe re n c e
recen tly in K a n sa s C ity. IBS
also has set a go al o f p ro v id ­
ing 5 0 ,0 0 0 o f the n e w S c rip ­
t u r e s t o w o m e n in c r i s i s
p r e g n a n c i e s d u r i n g th e nex t
12 m o n th s.
CELEBRATION TO HONOR BICENTENNIAL OF FINNEY
A special cele b ratio n will be
h e ld to h o n o r th e 2 0 0 th
an n iv e rsa ry o f C h a rle s G.
F i n n e y ’s birth . T h e F in n e y
B icentenn ial C eleb ra tio n will
b e held Sept. 11-13, 1992, in
A d a m s , N . Y . , a c c o r d i n g to
Francis G. V a n S c h a ic k , p re s ­
id ent o f the H istorical A s s o ­
ciatio n o f S o u th Jefferson.
The
c e le b ra tio n
w ill
includ e w o rk s h o p s o n to pics
re la te d to F i n n e y ’s m inistry ,
an o u td o o r ev an g e listic rally,
a n d a m u s i c a l s a l u t e to
F inney.
“ As a revivalist, F in n ey is
k n o w n as the ‘fath e r o f m o d ­
ern e v a n g e l i s m , ” ’ a c c o rd in g
to V a n S c h a i c k . “ H i s m i n ­
istry is c re d ite d w ith a m ajor
r e a w a k e n i n g w i t h i n th e
C h ris tian C h u r c h .”
T h e ce le b ra tio n is o pen to
th e p u b l i c , b u t r e g i s t r a t i o n
fo r the w o rk s h o p s is limited.
F o r m o r e in f o r m a t io n , write
to F in n ey B ic e n te n n ia l C e le ­
b ra tio n , c /o H isto ric a l A s s o ­
ciatio n o f S o u th Jefferso n , 9
E. C h u r c h S t., A d a m s , N Y
13605.
DENOMINATIONAL SWITCHING IS COMMON IN UNITED STATES
A bout one in fo ur adults have
s w i t c h e d d e n o m i n a t i o n s in
their lifetim e, a cc o rd in g to a
recent study by the Princeton
R e lig io n R e se a rc h C en ter.
T h e study rev ealed th at 23 %
o f adult c hu rch m em b ers have
c h a n g e d faith s or d e n o m i n a ­
tio n s at le a s t o n c e fr o m the
r e lig io n in w h ic h th e y w ere
raised.
A m o n g those w h o changed,
t h e - v a s t m a j o r i ty ( 8 1 % ) are
now Protestants. T h e sm aller
P ro testan t d e n o m in a tio n s are
u s u a l l y the b e n e f i c i a r i e s o f
these changes.
W ithin the Protestant faith,
th e m a i n l i n e d e n o m i n a t i o n s
a p p e a r to h a v e lost the m o s t
m e m b e rs to oth er followings.
B a p tists ( 1 9 % ) h a v e b e e n hit
the hardest in this respect, fol­
lo w e d by M e th o d is ts (11% ),
and Presbyterians (6%). Roman
C a th o lic s also sh o w heavy
losses, a cco un ting for 18% of
th o s e w h o c h a n g e d to o th er
religions.
O n e p e r s o n in 2 0 h a d no
relig iou s identity p rio r to his
cu rrent affiliation.
H e ra ld o f H oliness
VITAL STATISTICS
Deaths
HAROLD T. BLAIR. 81, Zephyrhills, Fla.,
Apr. 21. Survivors: wife. Zola; daughter,
Joyce: two sisters.
TRISTAN BLANN. 7, N ashville, Tenn.,
Jan. 16. Survivors: parents, Ron and Bar­
bara; one sister.
PAULENE E. BORNAMANN. 78, Harbor,
Oreg Survivors: husband, Charley; son.
Charles; daughter, Charlene Thomas; 2 sis­
ters: 2 brothers; 9 grandchildren; 10 great­
grandchildren.
OWEN CARTER, 91, Enid, Okla., May 27.
Survivors: son. Louis; daughters, Lucretia
Carter, M artha (M rs. Lawrence) W illiam s;
five grandchildren; three grea t-g ra n d ch il­
dren; two sisters.
FERN M AY DOGGETT, 89. N a s h ville ,
Tenn.. May 19. S urvivors: son. Wayne;
one sister; three grandchildren: fo u r great­
grandchildren.
PAUL S. FEHR, Elizabethtown, Pa., Mar
31 S u rv iv o rs : w ife . C a th e rin e ; so n.
David; three sisters; tw o grandchildren.
PAUL H. GEIST, 76. Colorado Springs.
Colo.. Apr. 21. S urvivors: w ife, Grace;
sons, David, R obert, Ronald; daughters,
Carol Chisman, Pauline Neal; 1 sister: 1
brother; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grand­
children.
MARIE L GIPE. 97, Prescott, Ariz., Apr
17 Survivors: sons, Bill, David, Robert;
daughter, Elizabeth Slater; 17 g ra n d ch il­
dren; 22 great-grandchildren.
HAROLD F, HAM M OND, 88, Nashville,
Tenn.. M ay 9. S u rv iv o rs : w ife , Vera:
d aughter, Edra Ann F arish; one g ra n d ­
daughter; one sister.
MARIE C. HANSEN. 89, Nampa, Idaho,
Mar. 24. Survivors: son, M erlin; daugh­
ter, Sharon G riffith ; 8 gra n d ch ild re n ; 17
great-grandchildren.
MARY J. HARRIS, 55, O lathe. Kans.,
Mar. 4 Survivors: husband, Cecil; daugh­
ter. Tamara Rooney; son, Jim : one brother:
one sister; m other
RUTH J. HONEYCUTT. 90, M em phis,
Tenn., Apr. 28. Survivors: sons, Herbert,
Bill, Danny; d a u g h te rs, D ot, M ary Lois,
Bettye Jean; 1 brother; 1 sister; 19 grand­
children; 21 great-grandchildren.
RUBY LATHAM, 84, Kansas City, Mo.,
sister of M ary Latham, founder of NAVCO
(curren tly M edia In te rn a tio n a l). Jan. 29
Survivors: sister, Mary; brother, W illiam .
REV CLYDE A RHONE, 83. Sun City,
Ariz., Jan. 13, pastor fo r 43 years. S ur­
vivors: wife, Louise; daughter, Judy (M rs.
Paul) Berry; son, David; fo u r g ra n d c h il­
dren; tw o brothers; one sister.
BETTY JEAN W E LLS S E LLE R S , 63,
West M ifflin, Pa., Apr. 5. Survivors: hus­
band, Robert; sons, Paul, David; daughter,
Carol Jean W hite; one sister: tw o brothers;
six grandchildren.
REV. M AR TIN STEPP, 68, L o u is v ille .
Ky., Apr. 22. Survivors: wife. Ruby; sons,
Harold, Darrell; daughters, Janet Centers,
Joyce Stucki; eight grandchildren.
GOLDIE STEVENSON, 81. May 9. Sur­
vivors: three sisters.
PATRYCIA JANE TATE, Sun City, Ariz..
Dec. 15. Survivors: husband. Raymond;
daughters. Bettina Jane (M rs. Keith) Pe­
derson, Peggy Suzanne (M rs, Dale) W att,
O livia; tw o g ra n d s o n s ; one s is te r; tw o
brothers.
ARLIE BELL TAYLOR, 86. Akron, Ohio,
Jan, 24. S u rv iv o rs : th re e so n s, fo u r
d a u g h te rs , g r a n d c h ild re n , and g r e a t­
grandchildren.
August 1992
D A IS Y U YTER SC H O U T, 91 , L o w e ll,
M ich May 14 Survivors: one son, one
d a ughter, six g ra n d c h ild re n , one g re a t­
grandchild.
ALM A WRIGHT. 88, Carthage, Mo., Jan
26 Survivors: son. Pal; one brother; four
grandsons; seven great-grandchildren.
Births
to D A R R IK AND SUSAN (FECHNER)
ACR E, O la th e , K a n s., a b o y, J e re m y
Christopher, Mar 30
to SCO TT AND JE N N IE (B A R B E R )
COUCHENOUR, C olum biana, Ohio, a boy
Samuel Nash. Apr. 7
to RICKY AND SHARON (BRASW ELL)
McKENZIE, Nashville, Tenn., a boy, Chris­
tian Tyler, May 11
to BEN AND DONNA (H E N D ER SO N )
NORTON, Valdosta. Ga.. a girl, Karlee Eliz­
abeth. Sept. 25
a d o p te d M ay 1 by STAN AND PAM
(NANCE) PORTERFIELD, a boy. S tanley
Isaac Jon, Dec. 7
to JEFFREY AND KIMBERLY (HUDSON)
STILW ELL, Ankeny. Iowa, a boy, Joshua
Jordan, May 15
Marriage
TAM ARA SUE HARRIS and DOUGLAS
JOHN ROONEY at Olathe, Kans., Sept. 21
Anniversary
LYLE AND M ARVEL GREEN. Topeka,
K a n s., c e le b ra te d th e ir 6 0 th w e d d in g
anniversary June 13, They have two ch il­
dren, five grandchildren, and seven great­
grandchildren.
FOR THE RECORD
Moving Ministers
W IL L IA M E. ABELL, fro m O regon T rail,
Nebr., to Omaha (Nebr.) Heritage
JOSEPH D. ATKINSON, fro m evangelism
to pastor, New Orleans (La.) First
PHILLIP L. BOWER, fro m Som erset (Ky.)
First, to Logan, W.Va.
ANNETTE F. BROWN, from associate. Kerrville, Tex., to associate, San Bruno, Calif.
STEPHEN L. BROWN, from Kerrville. Tex,,
to San Bruno, Tex.
B. SCOTT BUELL, from associate, Dunbar,
W.Va., to pastor, Ronceverte, W.Va.
STEPHEN D. CECIL, fro m In v e r G rove
Heights (M in n ) Grace, to Shipshewana,
Ind.
RONALD L. C H R IS TIE, fro m a sso cia te ,
K en t (W a s h .) F irs t, to a s s o c ia te ,
Puyallup, Wash.
STEPHEN D. COFFMAN, fro m associate,
Springfield (Ohio) High, to pastor, Jack­
son Center, Ohio
BO BBY GENE COX. fro m a s s o c ia te .
Carthage (M o.) First, to pastor, Spring­
field (M o.) East Grand
VINCENT L. CROUSE, from associate, Dan­
vers, Mass., to pastor, Claremont, N.H.
GORDON E. GRAHAM, from Eleva-Strum,
W is „ to Laona, Wis.
RICHARD C. HANSEN, from Sisters, Oreg.,
to Dallas. Oreg.
BYRO N R, H IS S O N . S R ., fro m S m ith
Creek, W.Va., to M iam i, W.Va.
RAY T. HUFF to pastor. M ahomet. III.
ROBERT W. KNIGHT, from pastor, Mount
Erie, III., to associate, M ount Carmel. Ill
MARK E. LAIL, fro m Sanborn (N Y.) St.
Paul's, to Newcom erstown. Ohio
CHARLES H. LAMBERT. JR., from Denver
(Colo.) Grace, to Freeport, Tex.
RICHARD H LEFFEL, fro m P ort A rth u r
(T e x ) Grace, to Rogers (Ark.) New M is­
sion
TED J. LOVELACE, from Nicholasville, Ky.,
to Evansville (Ind.) Trinity
K. RAY M C D O W ELL, fro m M a n h a tta n ,
Kans., to Austin (Tex.) Grace
JAMES E NASH, from m issionary to pas­
tor. Frankfort (Ky.) Capital
JAM ES R PEAK, fro m Snyder. Tex., to
Kannapolis (N.C ) Westside
W IL LIA M G. PERKINS, fro m C olum bus,
Kans., to DuQuoin, III.
KATHLEEN S. PERRY, fro m a s so c ia te .
Kankakee (III.) First, to associate, Kent
(W ash.) First
SCOTT A. PERRY, from associate, Kanka­
kee (III.) F irs t, to a s s o c ia te , K ent
(W ash.) First
R. H O W ARD ROGERS, fro m B u ffa lo /
Knowles, Okla., to Talihina, Okla.
JAMES R. RUSSOM, from Flagstaff. A r iz ,
to Green Rock, III.
R. ALLEN SCHLEGEL, fro m G rapevine,
Tex., to Green Rock, III.
M. RAY SNOW, from Valdosta (Ga.) First,
to Douglasville (Ga.) First
JAMES R. STAGGS, from Fort Sm ith (Ark.)
Trinity, to Baton Rouge (La.) First
RUSSELL THAYER, fro m L a w ren ceville
(III.) Faith, to M ount Erie, III.
RONALD L. THORNTON, fro m C handler
(Okla.) First, to Panama City (Fla.) First
MARTIN E. WAITE, from Red Bluff, Calif..
to Onalaska, Wis.
GARY G. WHITE, from Salina (Kans.) Bel­
m ont Boulevard, to McAlester, Okla.
RAYMOND H. WHITE, from Laona, W is., to
Danville (III.) Douglas Park
THOMAS H. WHITTEN, from Scottsboro,
Ala., to Fairview, Ala.
EDWARD A. WILDER, from evangelism to
pastor, Laingsburg, Mich
LESLIE N. W ILHE LM to pastor, C arbondale, III.
ROBERT H, W OODS, fro m S ou th P itts ­
burg, Tenn., to Bennettsville (S.C.) First
Announcements
MONTROSE (COLO.) FIRST CHURCH will
celebrate its 75th anniversary Sept 20. All
form er pastors, members, and friends are
invited to attend or send messages to the
ch u rch at P.O. Box 178, M o n tro se , CO
81 4 0 2 . For m ore in fo rm a tio n , c o n ta ct
Donna Gardner at (303) 249-6822.
McCUNE (KANS.) CHURCH w ill celebrate
its 75th anniversary Sept. 13. Form er pas­
tors, m em bers, and friends are invited to
attend or send greetings. For m ore in fo r­
m a tio n , w rite th e c h u rc h at Box 117.
McCune, KS 66753.
FARGO (OKLA.) CHURCH w ill celebrate
its 60th anniversary Sept 6, Former pas­
tors. m em bers, and friends are invited to
attend or send greetings. The m orning
service w ill be follow ed by a noon meal
An afternoon service w ill feature special
m usic. For more inform ation, w rite Rte. 1,
Box 38, Sage, OK 73843, or phone (405)
698-2428.
ANDERSON (IN D.) PARKVIEW CHURCH
w ill celebrate its 50th anniversary Sept. 20.
Activities begin at 9:30 a m. Former pas­
tors, mem bers, and friends are invited to
attend or send greetings to Rev. George B
H e m m in g s e n . 911 S. R a n g e lin e Rd .
Anderson. IN 46012 For more inform a­
tion. p h o n e (3 17)643 -58 51.
BEAVER FALLS COLLEGE HILL (P A .)
CHURCH will celebrate its 50th anniversary
Sept 4-6. Former pastors w ill speak in the
services and Roy Fuller, d istrict su perin­
tendent. will bring the Sunday 3 p.m mes­
sage All fo rm e r pastors, m em bers and
friends are invited For fu rth e r in fo rm a ­
tion, contact Rev. Ron Schaeffer. 720 34th
S t.. Beaver Falls, PA 15010. or phone
(4 12)843 -26 75
FREEDOM PINE RUN (PA.) CHURCH will
celebrate its 50th an niversary Sept. 13
The m orning service w ill be followed by a
noon meal. The M cNichols Family will pre­
sent a concert at 2 p.m. For more infor­
m ation. contact the church at 1475 Harvey
Run Rd., Freedom, PA 15042, or phone
(412) 774-2764.
BRYAN (TEX.) FIRST CHURCH will cele­
brate its 50th anniversary Aug 15 and 16
All form er pastors, members, and friends
are invited to attend or send greetings. For
m ore info rm a tio n , contact the church at
2122 E. W illiam J Bryan Parkway, Bryan,
TX 77802, or phone (409) 776-2735.
RENTON (WASH.) CHURCH w ill celebrate
its 50th an niversary Sept 23-27. There
w ill be an o n -g ro u n d s p icn ic Saturday.
The Sunday m orning service w ill be fo l­
lowed by a potluck dinner. All form er pas­
tors. mem bers, and friends are invited to
attend or send greetings. For more infor­
m ation, contact Rev Lyle Coblentz, 850
Union Ave. N.E., Renton. WA 98059, or
p h o n e (2 06)271 -32 06.
COLORADO SPRINGS (COLO.) TRINITY
CHURCH w ill celebrate its 40th anniversary
Sept. 12-13. For more inform ation, phone
Polly Travnicek, (719) 633-8350.
Recommendation
The follow ing have been recommended
by their district superintendent:
Mr. and Mrs. W illiam T. McMahan, song
evangelists, 4218 Lazard St., Chattanooga.
TN 37412, by Thomas M. Cox, East Ten­
nessee District.
Moving Missionaries
A N D R U S , DR. PAU L and BERNICE,
Venezuela, Furlough address: c/o First
Church of the Nazarene, 2099 E. Main
St., Chattanooga, TN 37404
BEECH, REV. RON and RUTH, Philippines,
Furlough address: c/o Cathy Borger.
1233 Andrew, Nampa. ID 83651
BLOWERS. REV. BRUCE and RUTH. Papua
New G uinea, F u rlo u g h a d d re ss: c/o
M iss M erna B low ers, 10456 W orn all,
No. 202. Kansas City. MO 64114
BORGER, MISS PAM, Papua New Guinea,
Furlough address: c/o Rev. Fred Borger.
43 35 N.W. S ixth Dr., Des M oines, IA
50313
BRO W N . MR CHAR LES (C HASE) and
VERA, D o m in ic a n R e p u b lic , Field
address (Language Study): Escuela de
Idiom as Costa Rica. Apartado 250-2010.
San Jose, COSTA RICA
BRUERD. DR. CHARLES and YVONNE,
Papua New Guinea, Field address: P. O.
Box 456, Mt. Hagen, WHP, PAPUA NEW
GUINEA
39
BRUNSON. REV. ROBERT and NORMA,
Costa Rica. Furlough address: c/o Ray
Hendrix, 5500 W. 162nd, S tillw e ll, KS
66085
C AM PBELL, REV. ROY and CARO LYN,
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Sem i­
nary, Field address: MCPO 556, 1299
Makati, M etro Manila. PHILIPPINES
FRASER, OR. R O BERT and CELESTE,
Philippines, Furlough address: c/o Mrs.
S hirle y Johnson, 7646 Grand, Dexter,
Ml 48130
FRIBERG, REV. HUGH and EVELYN, Swazi­
land, Furlough address: 824 E, Bird St.,
Nampa, ID 83686
GANT. REV. RANDY and LINDA. Kenya.
F ield a d d re s s : 12 4 B re c k e n rid g e
Square, Louisville, KY 40220
GRUVER. MRS. BEVERLY, Ecuador. Field
ad dre ss: C asilla 7 -1 1 -0 5 0 2 7 , Q uito,
Ecuador
HARRIS, REV. PAUL and LILL IA N , O ki­
nawa, Furlough address: 4730 Auburn
Rd. N.E., No. 29, Salem, OR 97301
HUD SON , REV. ROBERT and SH EILA ,
Mexico, Furlough address: 1445 Pen­
rose, Olathe, KS 66062
KELLERER, REV. ERIC and PAULA. Thai­
land, Furlough address: P.O. Box 265,
Hailey, ID 83333
LAFORCE, REV, WAYNE and CONNIE, Oki­
nawa, Field address: 1198-2 Aza Yoshihara, Chatan Cho, Okinawa Ken 904-01,
JAPAN
M cM A H A N , REV. DANNY and CHERYL,
P h ilip p in e s , F u rlo u g h a d d re s s : c/o
Henry K ild ow , 2608 N. D onald, O kla­
homa City, OK 73127
POWER, REV. RICK and VICKI, Taiwan.
Field address: Box 3-2, Pei Tou 11272,
Taiwan, REPUBLIC OF CHINA
ROBINSON. REV. MICHAEL and KATHER­
INE. Honduras, Furlough address: No
1 6 1 3 th St., Sioux City, IA 51103
ROSBRUGH, M ISS LOLIS, S outh Africa,
F u rlo u g h a d d re ss: c/o M a rv in R osb ru g h , R .R . 3, B ox 99 , El D o ra d o
Springs, MO 64744
ROTZ, REV, JAM ES and CAROL, S ou th
Africa, Field address: P.O. Box 3083,
2040 Honey Dew, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH
AFRICA
SLAUGHTER, MR. RUSS and MARGARET.
Swaziland. Furlough address: 4210 E.
31st, Tucson, AZ 85711
WELCHLY, MR. JIM and DONNA, Ukraine,
F ield a d d re s s : The U k ra in e , Y K P A lH A, 25 21 16 D U E . HI03YZIEHK0,
16, K.B 20. RUSSIA
WESLEY, REV. DAVID and GLYNDA, South
A m erica R egion, Field ad d re ss (L a n ­
gu age S tu d y ): E scuela de Id io m a s
C osta Rica, A pa rtado 2 5 0 -2 0 1 0 , San
Jose, COSTA RICA
W IL L IA M S , REV M E R R IL L and JA N ,
P hilip p in e s, Furlough address: 3031
Kimball, Manhattan, KS 66502
in c o rre c tly id e n tifie d T ho m as G oble as
superintendent of the Los Angeles District.
Goble is the superintendent of the Anaheim
District.
Clarification
GENERAL SUPERINTENDENTS EMERITUS:
G eorge C o u lte r, 9 3 1 0 C a n te rb u ry, Lea­
wood, KS 66206: V. H. Lewis, 1406 Cam­
bridge, Olathe, KS 66062; O rville W. Jenk­
in s , 2 3 0 9 W . 1 0 3 rd S t., Le a w o o d , KS
6 6 2 0 6 ; W illia m M. G re a th o u s e , 1179
Rosewood Tr.. M ount Juliet, TN 37122.
A s to ry in th e J u ly 19 92 Late N ews
reported that rates fo r many participants of
the Nazarene Health and H ospitalization
P ro g ra m (N H H P ) w ill be re d u c e d . It
s h o u ld have been em ph asize d th a t the
reduction applies to the new standard rate
that becom es effective Ju ly 1. The new
standard rate w ill, in fact, be greater than
the old standard rate paid by m ost partici­
pants, according to Dean W essels, director
of the Board o f P e n sions and B e n e fits
USA.
W e s s e ls e m p h a s iz e d th a t th is ye a r
m arks the firs t tim e NHHP rates w ill be
reduced from the standard rate based on
age. W e s s e ls sa id p e rs o n s 35 and
younger can expect at least a 30 percent
savings from the new standard rate. Per­
sons 36 to 50 years of age should experi­
ence a 10 percent savings.
PUBLISHING HOUSE
EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
Nazarene Publishing House has an
opening fo r a M aintenance Mechanic.
H y d ra u lic re p a ir e x p e rie n c e is
required.
Nazarene Publishing House has an
opening fo r an Editorial Assistant. A
degree in J o u rn a lis m o r E ng lish is
required, as w ell as good interperson­
al skills.
These are exceptional opportunities
fo r K in g d o m s e rv ic e th ro u g h the
church.
Q ua lified a p p lic a n ts sh o u ld reply
to:
Corrections
DIRECTORIES
The article “ D on’t Forget the C hildren,”
by M ark Y ork (June 1 9 9 2 ), in c o rre c tly
stated that the general church staft has 10
fu ll-tim e ch ildren's w orkers. The correct
figure is 20.
A ph oto in the June 1992 Late News
BOARD OF GENERAL SUPERINTENDENTS
Office: 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO
64131. John A. Knight, chairm an: Donald
D. O w ens, v ic e -c h a irm a n ; W illia m J.
Prince, secretary; Eugene L. Stowe, Jerald
D Johnson, Raymond W Hurn.
Director of
Human Resources
Nazarene Publishing House
P.O. Box 419527
Kansas City, MO 64141
a
i
u d W P 'e f w
,9«
(furs'
read.
and
eVvngs
W o n ' Ot
\G t e
f
f
HO*
\
5 e v e \o p '
desiu'■” rates' <
.p.oofts °r_.-.nn Bad'0
sir
c a n n a v e " non end mai'mQ
o u t t h e C<Vvsted toetow-
address
t
*£sS |
R u ss'a |^ 0 (e
s'J ^ j □ P le a se a d d m y n a m e to th e TransMission m a ilin g list.
to t
B te O d
□ In a d d itio n , p le a s e se n d m e th e W O R L D M IS S IO N R A D IO
ju s t
rs r.
in fo rm a tio n p acket.
1
****
j
n am e
:
-
a d d r es s
50,1.1
V '“’
5“1004
f
”,jS'l®'
c it y
:.
:.
m a il t o :
state
:.
z ip
:.
W o rld M is s io n R a d io , 6401 T h e P a s e o , K a n s a s C ity , M is s o u ri 64131
■“i
40
H e ra ld o f H oliness
Close to Home
News About Nazarenes
BY T O M FELD ER
PLNC COACH HONORED . . .
Brenda Barrett attains the status of chief m aster sergeant, the
first fem ale in Tennessee to achieve that rank. She is joined by
her brother, Chris (r.), and mother, Lee Barrett.
A FIRST IN TENNESSEE . . .
Brenda Barrett recen tly
earned the ran k o f c h ie f m a s ­
ter sergeant in the A ir Force,
bec o m in g the first fem ale in
T en nessee to a c h ie v e that
status.
A m e m b e r o f M u rfeesboro, T en n ., First C h u rc h o f
the N a za ren e. Barrett teach es
Sunday S ch o o l an d serves on
the ch u rch board.
Barrett is a g ra d u a te o f
M id dle T e n n e s s e e State U n i­
v ersity and a fo r m e r school
teacher. A fter she entered
the A ir Force she serv ed as a
c o m m u n ic a t io n s specialist
an d receiv e d the M erito rio us
S erv ice M edal and the A ir
F o rce C o m m e n d a ti o n Medal.
Barrett has also receiv ed a
pu blic service a w a rd for her
w o rk with Project Pencil, a
p ro g r a m d e sig n e d to help
inner-city children.
Point L o ina N az a re n e C o l ­
lege track and field coach J im
Crakes w as n a m e d m e n 's
N A IA C o -C o a c h o f
the Y ear at the recent
N A IA national c h a m ­
pio n sh ip s in A b b o t s ­
ford. B.C.
C rak es will share
the aw ard with Josh
C o lb reath o f Central
State Ohio.
C ra k e s has been with the
P L N C C ru sad ers for 18 years
and has c o a c h e d collegiate
track a nd cross cou n try for
32 years. In 1990 he w as
in d ucted into the N A IA
T rack and Field Hall o f Fame.
"T h is is one o f m y greatest
ho n ors in c o ach in g , and it
c o m e s at the co n clu s io n o f
on e o f o u r best co m b in e d
(m en and w o m e n )
seaso ns e v e r." C rakes
said.
m
*
T he C ru sad ers finis hed fifth as a te am
in A b bo tsfo rd. T w o
| w eek s earlier th ey had
d efeated even tual national
ch a m p io n A/.u/.a Pacific in
the District 3 C ha m p io n sh ip s.
A grad u a te o f the U n iv e r­
sity o f O re g o n . C ra k e s te a c h ­
es c o u rses in kinesiology,
p h y sio lo g y o f exercise, and
optim al health at P L N C .
Interm ountain D istrict 1992 Ordinand Class (I. to r.): General
Superintendent Raymond W. Hurn, M elodee and Rev. Tim Bunn,
Paula and Rev. Eric K ellerer, M arjorie and Rev. Curt B lackw ill,
Sonja and Rev. Jim Vogel, Shirley and Rev. Mick Dean, Marsha and
Rev. Dennis Sams, Angie and Rev. Tim Shea, and District Superin­
tendent Ron Kratzer.
Anaheim District 1992 Ordinand Class (I. to r.): Jerald D. Johnson,
Rev. Hy Huy Do, Rev. and Mrs. Adolph Perez, Rev. and Mrs. Mike
Phrasavath, Rev. and Mrs. Anong Nhim, and District Superinten­
dent Thomas L. Goble.
Philadelphia District 1992 Ordinand Class (I. to r.): District Super­
intendent Talmage Haggard, Rev. and Mrs. Pablo Muniz, Rev. and
Mrs. James J. Mindling, Jr., Rev. and Mrs. Richard E. F. Gargiulo,
Rev. and Mrs. Lloyd H. Herbert, Rev. and Mrs. Mark A. Maddix, and
General Superintendent Donald D. Owens.
A ugust 1 9 9 2
▲ W est Texas D is tric t 1992
Ordinand Class (I. to r.): General
Superintendent Jerald D. John­
son, Rev. and Mrs. Craig Beals,
Rev. and Mrs. Johnnie Johnston,
Rev. and Mrs. Keith Beckman,
Rev. and M rs. D arrell Brown,
Rev. Awilda Hayes, Rev. Dennis
Hayes, and District Superinten­
dent Charles E. Jones.
Send news about
Nazarenes to:
Close to Home
Herald of Holiness
6401 The Paseo
Kansas City, MO 64131
41
A Promise to Keep . . .
C o n tin u ed fr o m p a g e 25
a p p lie d fo r p riv ile g e s a t S a le m
H o s p i t a l , w h ic h w e re e a g e r ly
given to sav e th e h o s p ita l fro m
h av in g to call in local d o cto rs.
T h e c lin ic w as a fu ll-s e rv ic e
M o r e than a third
of the migrant
children tested
positive for
tuberculosis
exposure.
h e a lth c e n te r, in c lu d in g a sm all
p h a rm a c y , X -ra y fa c ilitie s , a n d
h elp w ith fam ily n u tritio n , child
rearin g , a n d h e a lth c a re classes.
A ll c h i l d r e n b e g a n t o b e
screen ed for ex p o su re to tu b e rc u ­
losis— m o re th a n a th ird o f th e m
tested positive. N o ch ild left th e
clin ic w ith o u t c u rre n t im m u n iz a ­
tio n ca rd s a n d a c o m p le te c h e c k ­
up.
A n d Dr. M a ta b eg an te a c h in g
th e fu n d a m e n ta ls o f c u ltu ra l m e d ­
icin e to his co lleag u es a n d visiting
m ed ical stu d en ts.
By w o rk in g w ith th e ir p a tie n ts ’
b e lie f sy ste m s, h e sa id , d o c to r s
c o u ld in te rc e d e w h e n necessary.
T h e n he p ra c tic e d w h a t he
tau g h t.
H o u rs a f te r h e d e liv e re d o n e
baby, th e ch ild b eg an ru n n in g a
d a n g e ro u sly h igh fever. T h e h o sp i­
ta l d ia g n o s is w as m e n in g itis , a
k iller if left u n tre a te d .
42
T h e p a re n ts o f th e child, n ativ es
o f th e s o u th e rn M ex ico sta te o f
O axaca, how ever, h ad o th e r ideas.
T h ey believed th a t th e ir b ab y s u f­
fered from m a l o jo — th e evil eye.
S o m e o n e w ith th e p o w e r m u s t
have lo o k ed a t th e ch ild w ith o u t
also to u c h in g h e r to re m o v e th e
curse.
H e h a d to b e carefu l. I f th e y
sen se d h e w as d e n ig ra tin g th e ir
belief, th e y m ig h t j u s t ta k e th e
c h ild b a c k to th e la b o r c a m p
w here she w o u ld surely die.
B ut if h e agreed w ith th e ir p ro g ­
nosis for th e cause, h e m ig h t get
th e m to ac cep t his tre a tm e n t.
“T h e m e n in g itis m ay well have
b ee n ca u sed by m a l o jo ,” D a v id
said to th e su sp icio u s p aren ts.
A red b ra celet w as tied a ro u n d
th e b a b y ’s right w rist to w ard o ff
fu rth e r evil.
A n d — ju s t to be safe, he assu red
th e m — she w as k e p t in th e h o sp i­
tal for tw o w eeks o n in tra v e n o u s
d oses o f an tib io tic s.
A y ea r a n d a h a lf a fte r D av id
M a ta w a lk e d th ro u g h th e c lin ic
d o o rs , th e fa rm w o rk e rs a re re ­
tu rn in g to th e S alu d M ed ical C en ­
te r in ste a d o f slip p in g aw ay into
th e m ig ra n t stre a m , n e v e r to be
h ea rd o f ag ain ex c ep t in a m edical
em ergency.
A n d th e re are m o re th a n 100
“ M a ta b a b ie s ,” h is re w a rd s for
p ersev era n ce a n d courage.
Dr. M a ta ca n lo o k in th e m irro r
a n d , in h is ow n d e e p b ro w n eyes,
see th e p ea ce th a t he o n c e saw in
his fa th e r’s.
Still, as h e p a u s e d in th e lobby
o n th a t T u esd a y e v e n in g n o t so
lo n g ago, h is s m ile fa d e d as he
c o n sid e re d th e m o ist a p p ro a c h of
w inter. F o r all th e g ain s th e clinic
h ad m ad e, it re m a in e d a d esp erate
w o rld b e y o n d th e clin ic w alls for
th e farm w orkers.
B ut a fte r a m o m e n t, seeing the
12 p a irs o f eyes lo o k in g a t h im , he
sighed, shrugged, a n d sm iled.
T h e a n s w e r s to t o m o r r o w 's
p r o b le m s w e re in th e h a n d s o f
G o d . T o n ig h t, h e h a d a p a tie n t
w a itin g for h im a n d a p ro m ise to
keep.
E xcerpted from the Salem, Oreg., Statesman Journal Used by
perm ission
hj-|
LIVING A HOLINESS LIFE
IN TODAY’S WORLD
HOLINESS IN EVERYDAY LIFE
A u th o r G eo rg e Lyons o ffe r s a
b ib lic a l, s o u n d , y e t s im p le a p ­
p ro a c h to h o lin e s s . H e n o t o n ly
e m p h a s iz e s th e n e e d fo r o u r b e ­
lief b u t a ls o c h a lle n g e s u s to p u t
o u r fa ith in to a c tio n . T h is b o o k
h e lp s to b rid g e th e g a p fro m u n ­
d e r s ta n d in g th e m e a n in g o f
s c rip tu re to th e a p p lic a tio n o f its
p rin c ip le s in to d a y ’s w o rld . It p ro ­
v id e s a lo o k a t t h e p r a c t i c a l
m e a n in g o f h o lin e s s fo r to d a y 's
d isc ip les .
H H 083-411-4321
Prices sub/ect to change
$3.50
Plus postage
To order your copy call,
BEACON HILL PRESS
1 -80 0-87 7-07 00
P.O. B o x 4 1 9 5 2 7 , K a n sa s C ity, M O 64141
H e ra ld o f H oliness
la z a re n e H oots
N a z a re n e R o o ts
Nazarene R o ots
N a z a re n e R o o ts
The Quaker Dimension in the American Holiness Movement
BY STAN INGERSOL, D EN O M IN A TIO N AL A R C H IV IS T
he Society of Friends, known
as Q u a k e r s , e x p e r ie n c e d
changes in the mid-19th cen­
tury that altered Quaker faith and ob­
scured d istin c tiv e s th a t had c h a r­
acterized the sect since the 1600s.
Early Quakers, like English founder
George Fox and theologian R obert
Barclay, emphasized the doctrine of
the Inner Light—the belief that each
person is born with a degree of inward
knowledge o f the way of salvation.
They emphasized sanctification as a
gradual process and rooted their lives
in prayer and contem plative silence.
They also em braced C hristian paci­
fism, opposed slavery, an d c h a m ­
pioned prison reform.
At the dawn of Q uakerism ’s third
century, American Friends stood at a
crossroads. A liberal wing led by Elias
Hicks denied original sin and other or­
thodox doctrines, while the majority,
in reaction, abandoned Q uaker dis­
tinctives to enter the evangelical main­
stream. Then, in the 1870s, the holi­
ness revival in Methodism spilled over
into F riends m eetin g houses afte r
Methodist revivalist John Inskip led
David Updegraff, an Ohio Quaker, into
the experience of entire sanctification.
Updegraff prom oted holiness reviv­
alism among Friends until his death.
By 1900, holiness Q uakers com ­
posed a major branch of the Friends
m ovem ent. B usinessm an J. W alter
Malone established Friends Bible Insti­
tute and Training School in Cleveland,
Ohio, in 1892 as a holiness institution.
O th er Q u a k e r co lleg es w ere also
friendly to the holiness movement.
The rise of the holiness revival party
created new tensions among Friends by
substituting noisy revivalism for tradi-
T
A ugust 1 9 9 2
Nazarene Archives
David B. Updegraff
tional silent worship and by other in­
novations in practice. Conservatives
rejected interdenominational holiness
work as a religion of the “lowest com­
m on denom inator.” Through inter­
church work, some Quakers indeed left
the Friends to unite with other holiness
churches.
Q uakers were am ong the various
folks that leavened the Methodist core
of the early Church of the Nazarene.
For instance, a remarkable trio met in
the early years of Malone’s Bible Insti­
tute: Edgar P. Ellyson, a Friend from
Ohio; and Mary Emily Soule and Su­
san Norris, Canadian Quakers. Ellyson
and Soule soon married. Ellyson and
Miss Norris became Quaker ministers,
and all three eventually became Naza­
rene ministers. Emily Ellyson was ap­
pointed pastor by Phineas E Bresee of
the first Nazarene congregation in the
South (Peniel, Tex.), organized in the
spring of 1908. Six months later, at the
General Assembly at Pilot Point, Tex.,
Emily Ellyson was ordained by Bresee.
E. P. Ellyson became the most promi­
nent Quaker in the Nazarene move­
ment upon his election as the third
general superintendent of the church.
Ellyson declined renomination in 1911
and becam e president of Nazarene
University, now Point Loma Nazarene
College. Reelected general superinten­
dent in 1915, he declined this election
and continued his ministry of educa­
tion as president and faculty member
of various church colleges until 1923,
when he became the first executive
secretary of the Department of Church
Schools, which he guided for 20 years.
Emily Ellyson taught in the religion
department at several colleges and in
1923 became an editor of Nazarene
curriculum. Their friend and former
classmate, Susan Norris, married evan­
gelist Abram Fitkin and founded the
Nazarene World Missionary Society.
Another prominent Quaker in Naza­
rene life was Seth C. Rees. He united
with the P entecostal N azarenes in
1912, but had already had a major in­
fluence on the church’s social ministry
as national director of the Rest Cottage
Association, which spawned Nazarenerelated homes for unwed mothers in
Kansas City and Pilot Point.
Most holiness Quakers remained in
the Friends Church and in 1965 estab­
lished the Evangelical Friends Alliance,
today a member of the Christian Holi­
ness Association. Evangelical Friends
have participated with Nazarenes and
other Wesleyan groups in publishing
the former Aldersgate curriculum, the
Preacher’s Magazine, and other ven­
tures.
43
WILL THE LIGHT GO OUT?
Excerpts from an address delivered at the 1992
commencement ceremonies o f Trevecca Nazarene College
and Northwest Nazarene College by Stephen W. Nease
Commissioner o f Education Church o f the Nazarene.
,
,
“And After That, the Dark”
See the Light
onday morning, May 5, 1992. An awful weekend
that began with the verdict acquitting four Los
Angeles police officers o f the beating o f Rodney King
has ended. There is relative peace in the city today. . . .
But the city itself is a shambles. The Rev. Edgar Boyd of
the Bethel African M ethodist Episcopal C hurch said
Sunday, “My God, I wish I could say healing will com e
in prayers and singing and sermon, but I know that
isn’t the case. The valve is still backed up. If there is
going to be healing, it will take years.”
Ironically, am ong the m ost Christian words uttered
am idst the carnage were those from the victim o f the
beating, Rodney King, him self on parole for arm ed
robbery when he was stopped by the police. As his
voice choked with em otion, he said, “I m ean, please,
can we all get along here? We’ve just got to. I mean,
we’re all stuck here for a while. Let’s try to work it out.
Can we all get along?”
Perhaps the m ost perceptive and challenging words
o f all were those penned for USA Today by Linda Cha­
vez, a senior fellow with the M anhattan Institute and
former staff director for the U.S. Com m ission on Civil
Rights. She says:
We face a moral crisis in this nation and m ost o f us
are uncom fortable even discussing the problem. . ..
W hat we saw in Los Angeles this last week was not
simply outrage at a verdict that struck m ost A m eri­
cans as unjust. W hat we saw was a total breakdown
in social order and mores.
The m ost violent acts— the beatings, killings and
arson—were undoubtedly the work o f a small m inor­
ity o f those who live in that com m unity. But the loot­
ing was widespread. Adults with children in tow were
stealing whatever they could carry.
T h is co u ld n o t h ap p e n in a c o m m u n ity w ith
strong families, where churches and other social in­
stitutions held some m oral sway. It was able to hap­
pen only because these institutions are either absent
or so weak that they have no power to influence be­
havior.
erhaps against such stark background concerns,
you will understand why, as I thought ahead to
this com m encem ent day, I determ ined to affirm that
despite the efforts o f a sinful world to extinguish the
Light o f Christ, that Light can never be quenched.
H ear the apostle John describe the com ing o f Christ.
W hen all things began, the Word already was. The
Word dwelt with G od, and w hat G od was, the Word
was. The Word, then, was with G od at the beginning,
and through him all things cam e to be; no single
thing was created w ithout him. All that cam e to be
was alive with his life, and th at life was the light of
men. The light shines on in the dark, and the dark­
ness has never m astered it (John 1:1-5, NEB).
Scholars have observed that the Greek verb, which
we have translated as “m astered” or “overpowered,” ba­
sically m eans “take hold o f ’ and can also be used ei­
ther in the sense o f being understood (com prehended
m entally) or o f being seized hold o f with hostile intent
(that is, to “snuff ou t”). Both m eanings are rendered in
recognized texts.
The point is twofold. First, though the things o f the
darkness o f this world constantly seek to overwhelm
and extinguish the light o f the C hristian witness, this
has not and will not happen. Next, and o f equal im­
portance, there is an inevitable lack o f understanding
between those who follow Jesus Christ and those who
don’t.
M
44
P
“The Christian faith calls on
us to participate in the liber­
ating activity o f the God who
is love.”
H e ra ld o f H oliness
■
Christ’s Sure Victory Gives Hope in Chaos
om P eters, a u th o r o f th e best-selling b o o k In
Search o f Excellence, recently has published an ­
other volum e w ith th e in trig u in g title T hriving on
Chaos. T he title . . . holds a message for today’s Chris­
tians. H ear Peters describe his dilem m a as he decides
whether the book’s title should be T hriving A m idst
Chaos or Thriving on Chaos.
To thrive “am idst” chaos m eans to cope or com e
to grips w ith it, to succeed in spite o f it. But that is
too reactive an approach and misses the point. The
true objective is to take the chaos as given and learn
to thrive on it. T he w inners o f tom orrow will deal
proactively with chaos, will look at chaos per se as
the source o f m arket advantage, not as a problem to
get around.
W hile any co m parison o f C hristian responsibility
with the business world soon breaks down, Peters’ ob­
servations clearly point followers o f Jesus Christ to the
m anner in which they should view their interaction
with an ever m ore sinful world.
R ather than throwing up one’s hands in despair as
sin increasingly abounds, C hristians should reaffirm
Paul’s assurance in R om ans 5:20 that “W here sin in­
creased, grace increased all the m ore” (NIV) and go on
the attack for G od and the advancem ent o f His king­
dom, believing that ultim ately realization o f the very
darkness o f sin will create an increased realization of
the need o f Christ. If the Light o f m en, who is Jesus
Christ, cannot be quenched, we who are His followers
must abandon o u r defensive posture, simply protecting
ourselves from the influence o f a sinful society and be­
gin to deal proactively with sin and its consequences.
G raduates o f the Class o f 1992, I point you to faith
in the present and ultim ate victory o f the Christ who is
the Light o f the world. W hatever your vocation may
be, I urge you proactively to m ake your prim ary calling
one o f exemplifying C hrist’s love and offering salva­
tion, justice, and hope to all m ankind. Your incentive
for so doing is your assurance o f the ultim ate victory of
the cause o f Jesus Christ.
T
Brad Elsberg
This verse may come back into
vogue for North American
Christians. “In this world you
will have trouble. But take
heart! I have overcome the
world” (John 16:33, NIV).
The People Who Live in Darkness Do Not Understand the Light
A p art from G od’s grace, the m ind of sinful m an is
'x m . incapable of fully understanding the Christian mes­
sage. Here, then, is the other meaning of our background
verse, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness
has not understood [or com prehended] it” (John 1:5,
NIV).
Simply put, the mind-set of the committed Christian is
diametrically opposite of the mind-set of the unredeemed.
Perhaps this explains why the “Church Lady” (so called!)
on “Saturday Night Live” is popular as “she” pokes fun
and sarcasm at the Church.
Recently, an editorial appeared in Christianity Today ti­
tled “Light in the New Dark Ages,” with a subtitle, “Will
American Christians Learn How to Live the Gospel in a
Non-Christian Nation?” It provides food for thought:
Much has been written in the past few years about
the loss of “Christian America.” A convincing case has
August 1 9 9 2
been made that we no longer live in a culture that ac­
cepts Christian values as normative. When important
decisions are made in courtrooms, businesses, or mayoral offices, we cannot be as sure as we once were that
the decision-makers are guided (at least subconsciously)
by the Ten Commandments or the Golden Rule. Today
it is just as likely that the mother’s milk of our leaders
was laced with the relative values of secularized pop
morality, and they are now suffering from undiagnosed
moral malnutrition. . . . The Bible nowhere guarantees
that the United States of America will always have a
Christian majority population.. . . We m u s t. . . prepare
to face the possibility of a new Dark Age in which our
values come under increasing attack. That means . . .
facing head-on the possibility that some of the suffering
and persecution we have been spared is coming our
way.
45
What Is Our Task as Witnesses to the Light?
W
e have found assurance that the darkness o f this
world can never overcome the Light o f Christ;
we have seen that there is a great gap between the p rin­
ciples o f Jesus Christ and the interests o f a sinful world.
It is now im portant to consider the nature o f o ur task
as Christ-followers in this sin-darkened world. W hat
are we to do?
Light a Candle
The apostle Paul, speaking to the church at Corinth,
said, “The god o f this age has blinded the m inds o f un­
believers, so th at they cannot see the light o f the gospel
o f the glory o f C h ris t. . . God, who said, ‘Let light shine
out o f darkness,’ m ade his light shine in our hearts” (2
C orinthians 4:4, 6, NIV).
My witness, coupled with the witness o f other faith­
ful servants o f Jesus Christ, will have an effect far be­
yond what I may presently imagine! Some years ago, I
took my young family to the Rose Bowl on the Fourth
o f July. The highlight o f the evening cam e when all
lights in the stadium were extinguished and, after a
long m om ent o f darkness, everyone was asked to light a
match. W ithin m om ents, total darkness vanished and
my little match, coupled with the flam e o f countless
others, blazed forth until the arena seemed as bright as
day.
The power o f m y “little light,” united with the “little
light” o f countless others and coupled with the power
o f Almighty God, m ust never be underestimated.
Bloom Where You Are Planted
For years, on the wall in our family hom e hung an
old piece o f shingle artistically inscribed w ith the
words, “Bloom where you are planted.” I had read it
m any times, but its true m eaning cam e to m e one day
when, du rin g m y first pastoral assignm ent, I co m ­
plained to my family about the condition o f the world,
the state o f the church, and several other dismal things.
W ithout words, my m other pointed to the shingle, and
I got the message! Even as it is well to be concerned
about the problem s o f the whole world, G od gives each
o f us talents, aptitudes, and abilities that can be exerted
in the particular niche in life where we live and have
influence. You, as Christ’s follower, cannot solve all the
problem s o f hum anity, but you can com m it your Godgiven abilities and apply them to the needs o f C hrist’s
world that are right at your elbow.
Consider Esther Sanger, a little lady with a difficult
past, who, by her own adm ission, once lived pretty
m uch for herself. O ne day, G od transform ed her life,
and, through His direction, she saw the needs o f the
homeless, not ju st “som ewhere” in the world bu t right
in the town where she lived. From the back o f a simple
van she began providing meals, roam ing the city by
night, helping the street people. G od used her will­
ingness to “bloom where she was planted,” and ulti­
mately a crisis center cam e into being where people to­
day are being fed, clothed, housed, counseled, and
educated. In her part o f the world they call her “The
M other Teresa o f the Q uincy-South Shore Area.” With
G od’s help, she bloom ed where she was planted. You
can too!
Define “Success” in Christian Terms
Rightfully, each one here today desires to be success­
ful. But, have you carefully considered your definition
o f “success”?
Surely, it is proper to w ant to apply the knowledge
and skills acquired at this college to a lifetime o f work
that will bring comfort, sustenance, and fulfillm ent to
you and your loved ones. But will your jo b be for you a
true vocation— a calling that will benefit hum anity and
build Christ’s kingdom?
T he C hristian definition o f success is faithfulness!
F aithfulness in the m idst o f adversity. F aithfulness
when the bright lights tu rn the o th er way. Faithful­
ness when worldly values strongly beckon. Faithfulness
when even those closest to you m ay not understand.
FAITHFULNESS!
The Last Word
cite again the words o f Linda Chavez’ analysis of
the chaos in Los Angeles,
T h is co u ld n o t h ap p en in a c o m m u n ity w ith
strong families, where churches and other social in­
stitutions held som e moral sway. It was able to hap­
pen only because these institutions are either absent
or so weak that they have no power to influence be­
havior.
I challenge you, as Christ’s follower, whatever your
profession, wherever you m ay serve, to be faithful, to
light a candle right where you are, to work to strength­
en Christ’s Church, and thus to help undergird our so­
ciety with Christian values.
As you do, you will be doing your part to assure that,
the L ight that shines in the darkness o f this world shall
never be quenched!
—Stephen W. Nease
I
hi
46
H e ra ld of Holiness
H erald of H oliness
markedcopy^
Ju ly 19 92 • W h o l e N o. 3 5 5 6 • Vol. 81 , N o. 7
E D ITO R
Wesley D. Tracy
Notes from an e d ito r’s jo u rn a l
by M a rk G raham , M anaging E ditor
M A N A G IN G E D ITO R
Mark Graham
A D M IN IS T R A T IV E S E C R E TA R Y
Judith Perry
D IR E C TO 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. Knight
Raymond W. Hurn
William J. Prince
Donald D. Owens
Bible quotations in this issue:
Unidentified q uotations are from KJV.
Q uotations from the following trans­
lations are used by permission:
(NEB) From the N ew English Bible, ©
The Delegates o f the Oxford University
Press and T he Syndics o f the C am ­
bridge University Press. 1961, 1970.
(N1V) From the The H oly Bible, New
International Version, copyright ©
1973, 1978, 1984 by the International
Bible Society.
Cover Photo: T im othy G onzales
Herald of H oliness (USPS 241-400) is
published m onthly by the NAZARENE
PUBLISHING H OUSE, 2923 Troost
Ave, Kansas City, M O 64109. Editorial
offices at 6401 T he Paseo. K ansas City,
MO 64131. Address all correspondence
concerning subscriptions to Nazarene
Publishing House, P.O. Box 419527,
Kansas City, MO 64141. Copyright
1992 by N azarene Publishing House.
POSTMASTER: Please send change of
address to Herald o f Holiness, P.O. Box
419527, K ansas City, MO 64141. SU B­
SCRIPTION PRICE: $9.00 per year.
Second-class postage paid in Kansas
City. Mo.
Litho in U.S.A.
August 1 9 9 2
Following in His Steps
o p e n , sh e w as th ere. W h e n s o m e ­
h a v e n ’t k n o w n m a n y p e r s o n s
th in g n e e d e d to be d o n e a n d n o o n e
w h o a r e r e a l ly “ p o s i t i v e ” p e o ­
v o l u n t e e r e d t o h e lp , Y v o n n e d i d it.
p le — in d i v id u a l s lik e R o b e r t
O n S a t u r d a y m o r n i n g s , s h e c a lle d
S c h u l l e r o r N o r m a n V i n c e n t P e ale.
o n k id s in a p a r t m e n t s n e a r th e
B u t, i f y o u w e r e t o a s k m e , “ W h o is
ch u rch . O n S u n d ay s, she w as th ere
th e m o s t po sitiv e p e rs o n y o u ever
w ith th e b u s to g a th e r th e k id s a n d to
k n e w ? ” I w o u ld p r o b a b ly say
ta k e th e m h o m e after ch u rch .
“ Y v o n n e.”
Y v o n n e k n e w w h a t it w a s lik e to
I firs t m e t h e r w h e n I p u l l e d i n t o
hurt. She w as th e p ro d u c t o f a b r o ­
M e m p h i s f o r m y fi r s t j o b a s a y o u t h
k en h o m e . W h ile
m in iste r/a sso c ia te
som e m ig ht have
p a s t o r . F re s h o u t o f
Yvonne has represent­ u s e d t h a t as a n exT re v e c c a , 1 h a d n o
cu se. Y vonne
m oney or fu rn i­
ed Christ in a way that d i d n ’t. I n s t e a d s h e
tu re. S he a n d th e
set a n e x a m p l e a n d
p a s to r h a d p ick ed
I am sure makes Him
prayed her m o th e r
o u t a co m fo rta b le
a n d ste p fa th e r in to
little f la t in e a s t
a proud Father.
a r e l a t i o n s h i p w ith
M e m p h is for m e
Jesu s.
a n d h a d s t o c k e d it
F o r years, Y v o n n e a n d h e r h u s ­
w i t h f u r n i t u r e a n d fo o d .
b a n d , A ndy, w a n te d c h ild ren . P eople
“ 1 h o p e y o u lik e it,” s h e s a id in h e r
t h o u g h t it a s h a m e t h a t s o m e o n e
t e e n y - t i n y v o ic e . O n e w o u l d n e v e r
w h o c a r e d so m u c h fo r o t h e r s s h o u l d
have k n o w n by ta lk in g to h e r o n th e
be u n a b le to b e a r a ch ild . I th in k
p h o n e t h a t s h e w a s 2 0 y e a r s o ld. S h e
G o d h e a rd h e r p ray ers a n d rew ard ed
s o u n d e d m o r e lik e a f o u r t h g ra d e r . It
h e r fo r h e r f a i th f u l n e s s t o o t h e r s by
w as a c h aracteristic th a t g a in e d h e r a
b le s s in g h e r w i t h a p r e c i o u s little girl,
lo t o f g o o d - n a tu r e d rib b in g . S he
K a te . 1 u n d e r s t a n d t h a t K a t e is p r e t t y
d i d n ’t m i n d .
s p o i le d now , b u t i s n 't t h a t w h a t little
A m e m b e r o f t h e c h u r c h a l m o s t all
g irls a r e for?
o f h e r life, Y v o n n e h a d b e e n o n s t a f f
T h i s s u m m e r m a r k s Y v o n n e ’s 2 0 t h
as s e c re ta ry to th e p a s to r for tw o
a n n iv e r s a ry as se c re ta ry at th e
y e a rs w h e n I g o t th e re . S h e w as a
c h u rc h . D u rin g th is tim e , she has
w a l k i n g c o m p e n d i u m o f h e lp f u l i n ­
b e e n a frien d to th e p a sto rs a n d to
f o r m a t i o n o n e v e r y o n e in t h e c h u r c h .
th e p a rish io n ers. She has served u n ­
W henever I needed background de­
se lfis h ly a n d loyally. A n d s h e h a s r e p ­
ta i ls o n a f a m i l y o r a te e n , I t u r n e d t o
r e s e n t e d C h r i s t in a w a y t h a t I a m
Y v o n n e . S h e w a s n ’t a b u s y b o d y o r a
s u r e m a k e s H i m a p r o u d F a th e r.
g o ssip , b u t s h e k n e w w h a t w a s h a p ­
P a s t o r s m a y c o m e a n d go. b u t i f
p e n i n g in t h e c h u r c h . A n d s h e p r a y e d
Y v o n n e e v e r d e c i d e s t o retire , 1 k n o w
o v er th e h u rts a n d th e jo y s o f th e
a c h u r c h t h a t w ill h a v e a t o u g h t i m e
p e o p le .
fin d in g a rep lacem en t.
^
I r e m e m b e r w a l k i n g i n t o h e r o f f ic e
m o r e t h a n o n c e a n d s e e i n g te a r s in
h e r eyes— te a rs b o rn e fro m th e b u r ­
d e n s s h e c a r r i e d fo r t h e p e o p l e in o u r
co n g reg atio n .
W h e n t h e d o o r s o f t h e c h u r c h w e re
1
47
NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • N
MILLS SUCCEEDS McLAIN IN NEW ENGLAND
K e 11 n e t h
L.
M i ll s . 4,S. h a s
* _
been ele c te d
su p erintendent
ci I' t h e N e w
E n g la n d D is>
4
t r i ct .
M ills
w as elec ted on the sixth b a l­
lot by the N e w E ngland D is­
t r i c t A s s e m b l y . J u n e 13,
a c c o rd in g to G en e ra l S u p e r ­
i n t e n d e n t J o h n A. K n i g h t ,
w h o p r e s id e d at the a s s e m ­
bly. Mills a c c ep te d the call.
M i l l s m o v e d to th e p o s t
from
th e
p a sto rate
of
N a s h u a . N .H . . C o m m u n i t y
C h ap el w h ere he had served
s i n c e M a r . 1 9 9 1 . P r i o r to
this, he w as p a s t o r o f D a n ­
v e r s . M a s s . . C h u r c h o f th e
N a z a r e n e f o r a l m o s t 17
y e a rs . He e a r l i e r se r v e d in
s t a f f p o s i t i o n s at N a s h v i l l e
F irst C h u rc h a nd C a n to n ,
O h io . F irst. H e p a s to re d
N e w to n Falls. O h io , C h u rch
from 1969 to 1971.
A g ra d u a te o f E astern
N a zaren e C o lleg e and N a z a ­
re n e T h e o l o g i c a l S e m i n a r y ,
M i ll s h o l d s a D . M i n . f r o m
B o s t o n U n i v e r s i t y . He a n d
h is w i f e , P a t t i , h a v e t h r e e
c h i l d r e n , K e n n e t h , K r is te n ,
and Kerri.
M i ll s s u c c e e d s N e a l e O.
M c L a i n w h o r e t i r e d at th e
assem b ly .
M c L a in had
s e r v e d as s u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f
th e N ew E n g la n d D is tr ic t
since 1984. Prior to this, he
p a s t o r e d c h u r c h e s in C o n ­
n e c ti c u t, New' J e r s e y . M a s ­
sa c h u s e tts , M a in e , an d V e r ­
mont.
UPSTATE NEW YORK GETS NEW D.S.
C h arle s E. Zin k. 48, pastor o f
O w e g o . N.Y., C h u rc h o f the
N az are ne. w as elected s u p e r­
intendent o f the U pstate N ew
Y ork D istric t
J u n e 11. T h e
e lec tio n cam e
o n th e s ix th
b allo t, a c c o r d ­
ing to G e n e ra l
S u p e rin te n d e n t
D o n a l d D. O w e n s , w h o
p r e s i d e d at t h e a s s e m b l y .
Zink acc ep ted the call.
Z ink has se rv e d as p a sto r
o f the O w e g o C h u rc h sin ce
1989. P rio r to this, he p a s ­
to r e d c h u r c h e s in E x c e l s i o r
Springs, Mo., and San Anto-
n io , T e x . A g r a d u a te o f
E astern N a z a re n e C o lle g e .
Z in k re c e iv e d a m a s te r of
arts d eg ree fro m the U n iv e r­
sity o f Utah in 1970 and the
m aster o f d iv in ity deg ree
from N azaren e T h eo lo g ical
S e m i n a r y in 1984. He w as
o rd ain ed on the K ansas City
District in 1984.
T h e e le c tio n w as p r o m p t ­
ed by th e r e t ir e m e n t o f
G e o r g e E. T e a g u e . T e a g u e
had served as sup erinten den t
o f th e d i s t r i c t s i n c e 1 9 8 0 .
P r i o r tit t h i s , he p a s t o r e d
ch u rch es on the W a sh in g to n ,
U p s ta t e N e w Y o r k . M a i n e ,
and New' E n glan d districts.
BRANSTETTER APPOINTED IN SOUTH ARKANSAS
R ussell
W.
Branstetter. 43.
has b een a p ­
p o in t e d s u p e r ­
in te n d e n t o f
th e S o u t h A r ­
kansas District.
T he app o in tm en t was made
by G e n e r a l S u p e r i n t e n d e n t
E u g en e L. S to w e in c o o p e ra ­
tion with the South A rk ansas
D istrict A d v iso ry C o u n cil.
B r a n s t e tt e r r e p l a c e s D o n a ld
Irwin, w h o retired at the D is­
trict A sse m b ly M ay 28.
48
B r a n s t e tt e r h a d s e r v e d as
p a s to r o f C h a rlo tte . N .C ..
Pineville C h u rc h o f the N a z ­
a r e n e s i n c e 19 87 . P r i o r to
th is, he s e r v e d as p a s t o r o f
s e v e r a l c h u r c h e s i n c l u d in g :
Clovis. N .M ex., First: Bartles­
ville, O k la .. First; H o u s to n ,
T ex .. Sun V alley; and Jon es­
boro. Ark.. Forest Home.
A g rad u ate o f S o u th ern
N a z a r e n e U n iv e r s ity . B r a n ­
stetter w a s o rd ain ed in 1973
on the N o rth A r k a n s a s D i s ­
trict.
EASTER OFFERING SETS RECORD
M o re than $9.2 m illion w'as
received for the 1992 E aster
O ffe rin g for W o rld E v a n g e ­
lism, rep resen tin g the largest
E a s t e r O f f e r i n g in t h e
d e n o m in a tio n 's h is to r y .
a c c o r d i n g t o D. M o o d y
G u n te r. F in a n c e d iv isio n
director.
A total o f $9,277,381 w as
r e c e i v e d f o r th e o f f e r i n g ,
w h i c h is a n i n c r e a s e o f
S 3 7 6 . 9 4 9 o v e r la s t y e a r ' s
total.
" W e e x p re s s o u r heartfelt
gratitud e to ev ery c o n g re g a ­
tion for th eir sacrificial giv­
ing to the E aster O fferin g ."
G u n te r said. " T h e s e su b ­
s t a n t i a l g i f t s w ill tr a n s la t e
i n t o i n c r e a s e d r e s u l t s in
e v a n g e lis m ."
T h e p r e v i o u s h i g h w as
$ 9 , 1 6 3 , 2 7 0 in 1 9 8 4 .
In
1990, $ 9 , 1 0 1 ,3 1 6 w as given
in the E a ste r O ffering .
FRY ELECTED SUPERINTENDENT
OF CANADA CENTRAL
R onald G. Fry, 36. p asto r o f
T o ro n to E m m an u el C h u rch
o f the N aza ren e. w as elected
su p erin ten d e n t
o f th e C a n a d a
C entral District
J u n e 12. T h e
ele c tio n cam e
on the s e v e n th
b a llo t, a c c o r d ­
in g to G e n e r a l S u p e r i n t e n ­
dent W illia m J. P rince, w h o
presid ed at the assem bly .
Fry had serv ed as p asto r at
T o ro n to E m m a n u e l sin ce
1987. P rio r to this, he p a s ­
tored o ther c h u rc h e s in W i n ­
n ipeg , H a m ilto n . T o ro n to .
a n d G u i l d f o r d . A g ra d u a te
o f N o r th w e s t N a z a r e n e C o l­
lege an d N a z a re n e T h e o lo g i­
c a l S e m i n a r y , F r y w as
o r d a in e d on th e C a n a d a
Pacific D istrict in 1963.
Fry an d his wife, Barbara,
h av e th re e c h ild re n , E liz a ­
beth. L arry, and Jon ath an.
T h e e le c tio n w as p r o m p t­
ed by the retire m en t o f L o m e
V. M a c M i l l a n . M a c M ill a n
had serv ed as su perintendent
o f th e C a n a d a C e n t r a l D is ­
t r i c t s i n c e 1 9 7 8 . P r i o r to
this, he pasto red c h u rc h e s on
th e N o r t h e a s t e r n I n d ia n a
District.
MVNC STUDENT KILLED IN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
T im o th y
E.
Bays. 23. a stu­
d e n t at M o u n t
V ernon N a z a ­
rene C o lle g e ,
d i e d J u n e 14.
o f injuries s u s ­
tain e d in a m o to r c y c l e a c c i ­
dent.
A c c o rd in g
to
p o lic e
reports, the acciden t o ccurred
arou nd 1:43 a.trt. w h e n B ay s'
m o to r c y c l e w en t o f f the left
side o f the road an d struck a
m a ilb o x . He w a s not w e a r ­
in g a h e l m e t .
B a y s w'as
t r a n s p o r t e d by h e l i c o p t e r to
C lev elan d
M e tro -H e a lth
M edical C e n te r w h ere he w as
p ro n o u n c e d d ead at 4:2 9 a.m.
B ays, a C h ristian e d u c a ­
ti o n m a j o r at M V N C , h a d
ju s t c o m p l e te d his freshm an
y e a r. A n a tiv e o f L o rain ,
O hio , B ays w as a m e m b e r of
the U.S. A rm y R eserve. He
atten d ed
E ly ria ,
O h io ,
C h u rch o f the N azarene.
H e is s u r v i v e d b y his
m o t h e r L e d a R a f t e r : his
father. C h a rles E. Bays. Jr.: a
sister. Trina: a brother. Matt;
an d g ran dp are nts. W alter and
E v ia l e e M a t n e y a n d L illian
Bays.
B ays is the fourth M V N C
stu d en t to die in an accident
since S e p te m b e r 1991. Susan
A n n F a rm e r died in an auto­
m o b ile a c c id e n t south o f the
c a m p u s Feb. 3. Ron Holmes
a n d D a rrin B r o o k s w ere
k illed in a h e a d -o n collision
Sept. 3.
H e ra ld of Holiness
\P^tfte,,clm,xne
M A M
I
I
A
A
9
•
l/l/oraf Mission
I •
Radio
Used individually, each product serves a valu­
able purpose for evangelism and evangelism
training. When implemented into a complete
evangelism program, these tools can work to­
gether to take church members from salvation to
sanctification.
A Vision for the Lost— Harvest Eyes is a video
that demonstrates the power of friendship evan­
gelism through personal testimony. An excellent
motivational tool to recruit members for evan­
gelism training.
A NEW PRODUCT! HHVA-1704 $11.95
Training for the Commission— Personal Evan­
gelism Training by Beverly Burgess has proven
to be an invaluable resource in training your lay­
people to share their faith and lead others to
Christ.
HHS-2600
$24.95 Leader’s Notebook
HH083-411-058X
$7.95 Study Guide
Training for a Deeper Walk of Faith— Personal
Evangelism II by Beverly Burgess is designed to
train laypeople to move young Christians into a
deeper commitment of faith. A crucial step to
maintaining a young and growing church.
A NEW PRODUCT!
HHS-1991
$29.95 Leader’s Notebook
HH083-411-4100
$9.95 Study Guide
Making a Lasting Commitment— The Growing Up
in Christ materials by Neil Wiseman are for matu­
ring Christians who have become steadfast disci­
ples of Christ. This material fills a critical need in
the deepening of a Christian’s faith.
A NEW PRODUCT!
HH083-411-4135
$4.95 Study Guide
HHU-1100
$13.95 Text and Study Guide
HH083-411-4143
$9.95 Pastor’s Manual
Discovering Sanctifying Grace— The Spirit-filled
Life Bible Study program by Chic Shaver has
been developed similar to the Basic Bible Stud­
ies, and provides the basis for understanding the
Holy Spirit as Sanctifier in our lives.
A NEW PRODUCT! HHVE-91 $2.95
Plus postage
The Basics of Belief— With sales approaching
one-half million, the Basic Bible Studies by Chic
Shaver continue to be a proven success in form ­
ing the basis for establishing new converts in
the Christian faith.
HHVE-80 $1.10 Adult
HHYD-501 $2.50 Youth
HHVE-51 $2.95
Children’s Leader
HHVE-50 $1.95
Children’s Student
3 s
Prices subject to change
Available from Nazarene Publishing House
1 800 877-0700
-
-