Herald of Holiness Volume 85 Number 09 (1996)

Olivet Nazarene University
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Herald of Holiness
Church of the Nazarene
9-1-1996
Herald of Holiness Volume 85 Number 09 (1996)
Wesley D. Tracy (Editor)
Olivet Nazarene University
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Editor ’ s C hoice
Picking Them Green
WESLEY
. TRACY
W h e n I s e r v e d a s a p a s t o r , I got used
to “picking them green.” You had to
preach two or three times every week,
so there was no time to let a sermon
ripen to full-flavored maturity.
But you would think that when it
comes to a monthly editorial, picking
them green would not be a factor. But
this month is as green as grass.
It’s not that I don’t have excuses.
I’ve been really busy trying to help out
with an international educational proj­
ect. A teaching team that I’m privileged
to be a part of has recently worked in
Argentina, Brazil, and France. It has
been exhausting, exhilarating, and time
consuming.
N a z a re n e T eachers
I wanted to write an editorial about
the Nazarene teachers I have met on
these trips. But that editorial is too
green, and the deadline is upon me. But
if this had time to ripen, I would tell you
about Claudia M. of Argentina (one of
the best educators I know), and about
Sylvia Rodriques and Pastor Gilson in
Brazil, and Maria Jeanne Bergeran in
France (a convert of the Paul Orjalas),
but then 1 would have left out so many
others. Too green to pick.
Let me share a couple more ideas
that aren’t ripe yet.
T h e A n o n y m o u s Jesu s
This one is so green that it is just a
seed. But I read it somewhere, and I
don’t want to forget it. Sidney Carter
S eptem ber
1996
has Jesus saying, “Forget my name is
Jesus. From now on I ’m anonymous.
Do not trust the people who hang me
like a millstone around your neck.”
Hmm. Where could you go with that?
was “a grunt, or bark” naturally pro­
duced by the jerks.
The “laughing exercise” was fre­
quent, loud, and hearty and practiced
only by the converted. The running ex­
ercise was also com m on, and the
singing exercise “was most heavenly.”
Those affected would sing “melodious­
ly, not from the nose or mouth, but en­
tirely in the breast.. .. None could ever
be tired of hearing it.”
The regular Presbyterians opposed
the emotionalism and the commission­
ing of “ ig n o ran t” preachers. The
Methodists, Baptists, and Stonites em­
braced both emotionalism and unlet­
tered preachers. In fact, they went up
and down the land bragging about how
ignorant their preachers were! Peter
Cartwright even thrasonically called his
Methodist preachers “illiterate.”
Question. What was the relationship
between church growth and ignorant
preachers? Was it correlative? Analo­
gous? Symbiotic? Causal? Incidental?
Did the growth happen in spite of the
C h u r c h G ro w th a n d Ig n o ran ce
I ’ve been reading about the Cane
Ridge (Kentucky) camp meeting of
1801. From that meeting, instigated by
Barton Stone, sprang a principal branch
of the Disciples of Christ (and later the
Church of Christ). The Holiness Move­
ment got a great impetus there, too, as
Methodists and Cumberland Presbyteri­
ans joined in the religious celebration.
Even the Baptists got energized, and
the wildfire spread. All these churches
grew dramatically.
Paul Bassett took me on a guided
tour of the Cane Ridge shrine a few
years ago. I got good pictures. But I
wonder if my generation really wants to
revisit those days as much as we act as
if we do. I ’ve been reading Barton
Stone’s description of that meeting. A
lot of “falling” took place. The wor­
shiper, saint or sinner,
would “with a piercing
scream, fall like a log
on the floor, earth, or
mud and appear dead.”*
Stone also cited the
The old-fashioned camp meeting
“jerks.” Sometimes the
head would be jerked
would scare my generation
“backward and forward,
witless.
or from side to side so
quickly that the features
of the face could not be
distinguished.” Some­
times the whole body
would “jerk backward and forward in ignorant preachers or because of them?
quick succession, [the] head nearly
I d o n ’t know. But one thing I do
touching the floor behind and before.”
know is that not every “green” idea that
Often the “jerks” led to "the dancing pops into one’s head deserves to be al­
exercise.” This dancing, practiced only lowed to ripen! I’m picking this one
by the born again, was “sometimes
green before it blossoms, let alone
quick and sometimes slow” but pro­ ripens. After all, it’s a thin line between
duced no levity.
ripe and rotten. Right? Scary, isn’t it?
Short History of the Life o f Barton W. Stone Written by Himself,
“The barking exercise” (the Toronto in’A Voices
from Cane Ridge, R. Thompson, ed. (Minneapolis:
blessing is not so original), Stone said, Bethany, 1954), 69-72.
Hi
1
S igns
God’s Sign
Language
came down.
MICHAEL R. ESTEP
And there is Susanne, who grew up
in an East German village. She came to
Christ when a Nazarene evangelist
shared his faith with her on the streets
of West Berlin. She was further impact­
ed by the Youth in Mission team sent to
Berlin for the Thrust to the Cities in
1993. Susanne works in the foreign ser­
vice for her country, Germany. She
trained in Bonn. Her first assignment
M ic h a e l R. E s te p is director o f the Com ­
was in the German embassy of Stock­
munications Division, Church o f the
holm, Sweden, where she met her hus­
Nazarene.
band, Bruce. They now serve in Tel
Aviv. Israel. What an exciting life— Su­
sanne enjoys serving Christ all over the
world as she serves her country. It all
started with a seed planted in her heart
R e m e m b e r t h e I r o n C u r t a i n ? Seven
when the Church of the Nazarene was
years ago, the curtain came down—torn
able to reach her in East Germany even
apart forever. P eople's lives have
before unification took place in October
changed forever too.
of 1990. Susanne is a sign.
Take Matthias: He was 12
And then Lidia. She is Pol­
on that unforgettable 9th of
ish-German with a Catholic
November, 1989. He and his
Lidia,
background. She grew up in
father were among those East
the German Democratic Re­
Germans who accepted the
Susanne,
public, close to the Czecho­
invitation for a warm meal at
the Saint James Church of the
M a tth ia s- slovakian border. Lidia came
to know the Lord in the spring
Nazarene in Berlin. This
all signs.
of 1990 and shortly thereafter
spontaneous idea for Sunday,
dedicated her infant son to the
November 12, was intended
Can you
Lord. Her husband, Michael,
to reach out an arm of wel­
a former captain in the
come that would be obvious
read them? was
East German army. While he
and convincing. About 100
is of the Communist mind-set,
grateful people came, and
he is showing an increasing interest in
many were interested in receiving a New
the gospel. Lidia is a sign.
Testament or a gospel tract. A few came
Today, seven years after the wall
back, among them Matthias and his par­
came down, we are looking at all the
ents. After about a year, the family ac­
doors that have opened for Nazarene
cepted Christ. Matthias became a faith­
missions in Eastern Europe: Moscow,
ful and committed believer, supporting
Kiev, Volgograd, St. Petersburg, Tirane,
and contributing to the local youth
Bucharest. Sofia, and even now
group. He will soon finish school and
Kazakhstan. History has taken a sharp
then enter a university. He is a promising
turn. Political systems have changed.
young man who deserves our prayers
These new harvest fields are a sign from
and support. The changes and transitions
God for the 21st century. Matthias, Su­
of these last seven years have been very
sanne, and Lidia—the firstfruits of the
demanding, but Matthias is a sign of
new fields now ready for harvest.
tfc
what God wanted to do when the curtain
2
September 1996 • Whole No. 3560 • Vol. 85, No. 9
Editor, Wesley D. Tracy
Managing Editor, Mark Graham
Administrative Secretary
Carolyn S. Hampton
Director
Division of Communications
Michael R. Estep
General Superintendents
Jerald D. Johnson
John A. Knight
W illiam J. Prince
Donald D. Owens
James H. Diehl
Paul G. Cunningham
Bible quotations in this issue:
Unidentified quotations are fro m the KJV. Q uota­
tions fro m the follo w ing translations are used by
perm ission:
(niv) From the H oly Bible, N ew International
Version® (niv®). C opyright © 1 9 7 3 ,1 9 7 8 ,1 9 8 4 by
International Bible Society. Used by perm ission of
Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
From the N ew King Jam es Version. C opy­
right © 1 9 7 9 , 1 9 80,198 2, Thom as Nelson, Inc.
( n k jv )
( n r s v ) From the New Revised Standard Version of
the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Chris­
tian Education of the National Council of the
Churches of Christ in the USA. All rights reserved.
From the Revised Standard Version of the
Bible, co pyright 1 9 4 6 ,1 9 5 2 ,1 9 7 1 by the Division
of Christian Education of the National Council of
the Churches of Christ in the USA.
(rs v )
Herald of Holiness (USPS 241-400) is
published m onthly by the NAZARENE PUB­
LISHING HOUSE, 2923 Troost Ave., Kansas
City, MO 64109. Editorial offices at 6401
The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131
(816-333-7000, ext. 2302). E-mail:
<herald@nazarene.org>. Address all corre­
spondence concerning subscriptions to
Nazarene Publishing House, P.O. Box
419527, Kansas City, MO 64141. Copyright
1996 by Nazarene Publishing House. POST­
MASTER: Please send change of address to
Herald of Holiness, P.O. Box 419527, Kansas
City, MO 64141-6527. Periodical postage paid
in Kansas City, Mo. Canadian GST No.
R129017471.
H i rtAi.i) o r H o i .i n k s s
C ontents
S E P T E M B E R 1996
V O L U M E 85, N O . 9
FEATURES
8 Adoption as a Ministry
C AR R I U R A M
12 Freedom Found
BAR BARA C U R T IS
20 Waylaid by Malachi
C H E R YL G O C H N A U E R
24 To Give All We Can Give
T IM M A S T IN
26 A Few Scattered Clouds
R O B E R T A. W A L D R U P
36 The Radical Optimism of Grace
JO H N A. K N IG H T
20
40 Missing the Sunset
T. W. M IT C H E L L
42 Will You Help Us Celebrate Our Golden Anniversary?
R A Y H E N D R IX
POETRY
19
F or Loving You,
m arcia kru g h leaser
CONTINUING COLUMNS
4
5
■■■■■■■■■
G e n e r a l S u p e r i n t e n d e n t ’s V iew p o in t,
In to th e W o rd ,
roger l
18
M a s c u li n e Jo urn ey,
19
29
31
32
46
In a W o m a n ’s Voice,
T h e F am ily A lb um ,
O v e r 6 0 , c.
.
iohn a
.
k night
h ah n
m ark metcalfe
s u sa n bates
ierry a n d lyn d a c o h a g an
ellen w atts
R h y t h m s o f th e Spirit,
O b s e r v e r a t Large,
m orris a
.
w eigf.lt
i o h n c. b o w l i n g
DEPARTMENTS
1 E d i t o r ’s C hoice, w e s l e y d . t r a c y
2 S igns, M I C H A E L R. E S T E P
6 T h e R e a d e r s W r ite
14-17, 43-45 N e w s
30 T h e Q u e s tio n Box
34 N a z a r e n e F am ily
41 S e p t e m b e r ’s 1 0 -P o in t Q u iz
47 M a r k e d Copy, m a r k g r a h a m
48 L ate N e w s
40
COV ER PHOTO:
m rc
=
General
Superintendent’s
VIEWPOINT
Statistic or Light Bearer?
by John A. Knight
television broadcast pled
for safe driving over the
L abor Day w eekend.
T h e N a t i o n a l S a fe ty
C o u n c il had p re d ic te d
several hundred deaths.
Then the announcer said,
“These are terrible statistics.
be a statistic.”
M illio n s o f P r o t e s t a n t c h u r c h
m em bers in the United States and
Canada are merely statistics. They
don't add to the force of the church.
They have no deep convictions or
burning ideals. There are no deter­
m ined actions to their lives. Only
their names swell the church statis­
tics! They give nonparticipating ap­
proval to the work of the church.
O ne a m b u la n c e d riv e r said he
hauls more spectators to the hospi­
tal from sports events than players.
F a ith fu l s te w a rd s are m o re th an
spectators or “mere statistics.”
C h ris tia n discipleship d em a n d s
o u r full participation ! Jesus shows
in the parable of the talents that we
are to m i n is t e r a c c o r d i n g to the
“ability” God gives us (see Matthew
25:14-30 and 1 Peter 4:11). Some
are gifted with five talents, some
only one. But most of us are twot a le n t p e r s o n s . O ne s p e a k e r d e ­
clared: “ In every generation, there
are few people who are born with
e x cep tio n al a b ility — fo u r-leaf
clovers, so to speak, in the field of
life. But the clover that keeps the
fields green and feeds the cows and
the bees, giving us milk and honey,
is the th re e -le a f clover, the c o m ­
mon, ordinary kind.”
Jesus did not think it too demand­
ing that His disciples put Him first
in all of their lives. Christ must be
A
4
first before p erso n a l convenience.
G o o d s te w a rd s do not lay d o w n
their crosses when it is expedient
and pick them up when it is conve­
nient.
Christ must be Lord of our fa m i­
lies. “The king’s business requirefs]
haste”
D
on’t (1 Samuel 21:8), and loyalty
to Christ must be suprem e, above
family barbecues or wedding plans
(Luke 14:20).
Christ must have priority over our
jo b or p ro fessio n (vv. 18-19). He
must be first before our m aterial se-
W,
SO EV ER SERVES MUST
DO SO WITH THE STRENGTH
THAT GOD SUPPLIES"
(1 PETER 4:11, nrsv).
curity. Early Christianity saw many
Christians change jobs. If our work
interferes with our spiritual welfare,
we need to make an adjustment.
Are we participants or statistics?
C h ris tia n discipleship is costly!
True Christianity is not purchased at
a bargain counter or sold in a bar­
gain basement. We must pay a high
price if we would be good stewards
of our lives.
Discipleship demands constancy
(Luke 9:62). A faithful steward is a
Christian alw ays— at home or away,
with those w ho know him or her,
and those who do not!
Discipleship demands the ability
to face the co n s ta n t j u d g m e n t o f
others without complaint. Political
leaders o ften have th eir integrity
q u e s t i o n e d . I f t h e y d o n ’t go to
church, they are atheists or impious.
If they do, they go for political rea­
sons. T h a t’s the price one pays for
le a d e rs h ip or s te w a rd s h ip . Good
stew ards learn to live bey o n d the
judgm ent of others. Paul wrote, “I
care very little if I am ju d g e d by
you or by any human court; indeed,
I do not even judge myself. . . . It is
th e L o rd w h o j u d g e s m e ” (1
Corinthians 4:3-4, n i v ).
Discipleship sometimes demands
lo n e lin e s s . We m ay be the only
Christian at work, at school, or in
the family. Jesus himself felt alone,
but He said, “Yet I am not alone, for
my Father is with m e” (John 16:32,
NIV).
C h r i s t i a n d i s c i p l e s h i p is r e ­
w a rd in g ! The Christian steward is
rewarded with resources in himself
t h r o u g h C h r i s t . T h e r e a re s tern
times when life drives us back upon
ourselves. Then we must draw upon
the spiritual resources we have ac­
cumulated in our hearts and in eter­
nity.
At the last day, the Christian dis­
ciple will be fully rewarded. Jesus’
words will make our seeming "sac­
rific e s ” in sig nificant: “ T ho u hast
been faithful over a few things, I
w ill m a k e th e e r u l e r o v e r m an y
things” (Matthew 25:21, 23).
The good stew ­
a rd is a l w a y s i n ­
v o lv e d , a l w a y s in
f r o n t w ith a lig h t
h e ld h ig h . A m I a
“ terrib le” statistic?
or a p a r t i c i p a t i n g
light bearer?
q.
H e r a l d o e H o l in e s s
D e v o tio n a n d D u ty in D e u te ro n o m y
Sanctified by Grace
or Obedience?
ROGER L. HAHN
R o g e r L. H a h n is professor o f New
Testament at Nazarene Theological
Seminary.
F o r you are a people holy to the L o r d
yo u r God. The L o r d yo u r G od chose you
fo r h im se lf fr o m all the peoples on the
fa c e o f the earth fo r you to he the people
o f his ow n personal possession. It was not
b ecause you were m ore num erous than all
the peoples that the L o r d becam e a t­
tached to you and chose you, fo r you were
the fe w e st o f a ll the peoples. It was b e ­
cause the Lord loved you a n d kept the
oath w hich he sw ore to y o u r fa th e rs that
he brought you out with a strong hand
a n d he redeem ed you fro m the house o f
bondage, fr o m the hand o f P haraoh, King
o f E gypt (Deuteronomy 7:6-8).*
is a priceless
treasure. It requires emotional health, the
willingness to give without conditions,
and the expectation that the other will al­
so give without conditions. Such demand­
ing requirements make secure relation­
ships rare. More often, one or both parties
try to earn the love of the other. Some­
times a person will try to demand love
from the other. Even in the best of rela­
tionships, there is a delicate balance be­
tween what is given and what is expected.
We see a similar balance in Deuterono­
my's picture of the relationship between
God and Israel. Deuteronomy 7:1-11 re­
veals what God expects from Israel if she
S e c u r it y in a r e l a t io n s h ip
S eptem ber
1996
is to be holy and what He has given that
makes Israel holy. Verses 1-6 outline
God's expectations. Verses 7-10 describe
God's grace in making Israel His own.
Verse 11 summarizes God’s expectation
of obedience from His people.
God’s demands upon Israel in
Deuteronomy 7:1-5 are some of the most
offensive parts of the Bible to many peo­
ple. The Canaanite people who occupied
the land when Israel arrived were to be
thoroughly destroyed. Israel was to show
no mercy to them. Their altars, idols, tem­
ples, and other religious symbols were to
be smashed beyond recognition. Regard­
less of the attractiveness or worth of any
Canaanite young person, no Israelite was
to marry one of them. Exclusion and de­
struction were the patterns Israel was to
follow in her relationship with the
Canaanites.
The reason for this harsh treatment ap­
pears in verse 6: “For you are a people
holy to the L o r d our God." The root idea
of the Hebrew word translat­
ed "holy” in this verse is
"separation." Israel was
called to be separate from
the influences of the sur­
rounding cultures. God de­
manded radical measures to
insure that separation. Is­
rael's later history revealed
the consequences of failing
to maintain this separation.
The nation's holiness could
only be accomplished by
obedience to God's radical demands.
Verse 6 also describes grace as the
source of Israel's holiness. The nation
was to be holy because God had chosen
her as His "personal possession." The He­
brew word means “personal property,”
but when ancient documents used the
word with reference to deity, it meant
“treasured possession" or "special trea­
sure." The treasure of a holy God dare not
be unholy.
The theme of grace is more explicit in
verses 7-8. There was nothing about Is­
rael that qualified her to be God’s chosen
people. The only reason was that God had
set His heart on her in love. Two different
Hebrew words appear in verses 7 and 8
describing God's love for Israel. The
word in verse 7 speaks of attraction and
emotional attachment. It does not de­
scribe courtship in which one seeks a
lover. Rather, it describes the powerful
bond of love between lovers who have
found each other. The word for love in
verse 8 speaks of the passion of husband
and wife. God did not choose Israel be­
cause of her qualifications but simply be­
cause He loved her.
Verse 8 also states that God's faithful­
ness to His promise to the fathers, Abra­
ham, Isaac, and Jacob, led Him to redeem
Israel out of bondage in Egypt. Thus, the
faithfulness and love of God motivated
Him to choose Israel for His special pos­
session. His choice created the responsi­
bility of holiness, separation from the
world around them.
We can no more "earn” holiness by our
obedience and separation from the world
than we can earn love by trying to please
a parent, a friend, or a spouse. Holiness is
a gift from God. Like salvation, holiness
is by grace, not by works. However, that
grace also demands our obedience.
F or fu r th e r study: ( I ) Study E phesians
2:1-10. In w hat ways does this passage
describe the grace o f God? H ow does that
grace call fo r our h o lin ess'! (2) Study I
P eter 2:9. H ow does the fo llo w in g context
describe the obedience required o f believ­
ers who are G od's "ow n peo p le" ? (3) E x­
am ine yo u r own heart. Do you seek to
earn holiness by y o u r obedience, or do
you accept it as G o d ’s gracious g ift that
m akes you w ant to obex Him?
'Scripture quotations are the author's own translation.
*
5
T he R eaders W rite
th e w a y in d i s s o l v i n g th e d i s t i n c t i o n s b e t w e e n B l a c k s and
Whites, and to do so we must eliminate irrelevant racial refer­
ences in o ur speech, writing, and ultim ately in o u r hearts and
minds. Until then, racial reconciliation will alw ays be a dream
just beyond our grasp.
Jerry Austin
Mission, Kans.
A Pastoral Response to
“ Tongues-Speaking and the Nazarenes”
Tongues-Speaking
I believe the July H era ld is the best I have read. I especially
enjoyed Rev. Kenneth G rid e r's article “T o ngues-S peaking and
the N azarenes.”
K eep them rolling o ff the presses. People today need these
k in d s o f articles. It k ee p s us u p -to -d a te on w h a t 's g o in g on
around us.
G od bless you all.
Marilyn McBride
Prague, Okla.
L et’s H ear from the Generals
T hanks for an excellent H era ld o f H oliness each month. It is
tops in reading material!
H owever, it is evident that the fo rm er professor J. Kenneth
G rider took advantage o f his past position at N azarene T h eologi­
c a l S e m i n a r y . H is a r t i c l e " T o n g u e s - S p e a k i n g a n d th e
N azarenes” has much to be desired. A s supposedly a converted
C atholic and teacher, it appears he should have further d o c u ­
m e n t e d his s t a te m e n ts a b o u t the R o m a n C a th o l ic s , E p i s c o ­
palians, L u the ra n s, N a zaren es, P re sb y terian s, and the Pentecostals. His generalizations are not docum ented thoroughly, and
some are far from being accurate!
T h e G ro w p eriod ical has recently ind ic ated that N a zaren e
churches in the U.S. are being closed at an alarming rate. W hen
the Pentecostals are “the fastest-growing group o f Christians in
the 2()th century,” how can J. Kenneth G rider say, “ W e thank
G od for them ," and be so sure that his interpretation o f the scrip­
ture on glossolalia is for Nazarenes? Let us hear from the gener­
al superintendents, as they should speak for Nazarenes!
./. E. Perryman
Park Hill, Okla.
Racial Designation Irrelevant
Without being a “stickler,” I’d like to criticize Dr. G rid er’s ar­
ticle "T o n g u e s - S p e a k in g and the N a z a re n e s " for specific ally
m entioning tw ice that William J. Seym our was a “ Black" ev an­
gelist. I believe that mentioning this fact even once would have
been too many because o f its irrelevance to the matter being dis­
cussed.
If we, as Christians, truly believe that there are no distinctions
betw een races but that we “ are all one in Christ Jesu s” (G ala­
tians 3:28), then the least we can do is cease m aking references
to a pe rso n ’s race— particularly Blacks— when the pe rs o n 's race
has nothing to do with the subject at hand.
This may seem like an insignificant issue, but it m ay very well
be one o f the little “ja b s” that keep racial tensions alive in this
country, thus revealing that A mericans and Christians alike do
not yet see persons simply as "p ersons” but instead see them as
being either “ Black” or "w hite.” I know that Dr. Grider and you
as editor do not intend by such references to offend anyone, but I
do believe that it is imperative that the Christian com m unity lead
6
In yo ur July issue. Dr. Kenneth G rid er addresses one o f the
most interesting challenges facing N azarene pastors these days
— the “ to n g u e s ” issue. On the on e hand, m ost o f o u r p astors
h a v e l e a r n e d in o u r e d u c a t i o n a l s y s t e m th a t w e a re n o t a
“ to n g u e s -s p e a k in g ” c hu rch. O u r pastors gen erally u n de rstan d
that we teach that the gift o f tongues is primarily intended to e x ­
tend the gospel message into new cultures and language groups.
On the other hand, m any o f our churches have charism atics or
n eo-P en tecostals in them . T h ese people practice the use o f an
un know n language in their personal prayers. From m y earliest
days in ministry, they have m ade me aware o f their presence as
well as their support. My response to them has alw ays been that
they are w elcom e to attend and to participate in ministry as long
as o ur denominational stand on the issue is not violated.
My interpretation o f o ur denom inational stand is that no one is
to speak in tongues publicly or be evangelistic about that partic­
ular gift. Not one time is m y 26 years o f pastoral ministry has
this been a problem. T hose w ho needed a m ore public forum for
th e ir t o n g u e s - s p e a k i n g h a v e in v a r ia b ly m a d e th e ir w ay to a
church that is more acceptable to them.
I th in k it is im p o rtan t tha t w e a c k n o w le d g e th at th ere are
charismatics am ong us. T hey are not cultic, unsubm issive, or o b ­
noxious. They attend, support financially, teach S unday School
classes, volunteer in the church office, and serve on the church
board. My experience is that they accept the holiness doctrine
and are not divisive. T hey are brothers and sisters in the faith. In
m any cases, they have helped us in ou r expressions o f worship
and have m a d e us m o re sensitive to the presen ce o f the Holy
Spirit.
T h e se are interestin g d a y s fo r d en o m in a tio n s. T h r o u g h the
Prom ise Keepers organization and, I believe, through a m o v e ­
m e n t o f G o d , th e w a lls o f d e n o m i n a ti o n s are e it h e r c o m i n g
dow n or b ecom ing less obvious. I do not see a need for us to
change ou r understanding o f Scripture or o ur stance regarding
the use o f tongues-speaking in public services and small groups.
But we N azarenes surely must confess that the sam e Scripture
that supports our understanding o f spiritual gifts most assuredly
teaches us to love, nurture, and respect everyone in the Body o f
Christ.
Pastor Wes Smith
McM innville, Oreg.
Hoots at Home
W hat a jo y fills m y soul as I sit here to write you these few
lines. G od is faithful!
• These are good days, but different. It w ould be im possible to
put into w ords how I feel in m y heart, to know I will n ever do
an oth er revival, c a m p meeting, or retreat. T his w ork has been
m y life and heartbeat. T h e e m o tio n a l battle o f it all puts my
heart in a sling. However, these are go od times, also, without a
negative thought or doubt about His perfect will. G lory h allelu­
jah!
N ow , for the first time, / am with m y fa m ily ! . . . The doctors
H e r a l d o f H o l i n f .s s
tell m e that I m ight d o one service now and then, but not often.
. . . G o d has been g oo d to me. G o d 's fam ily is precious. The
jou rn ey has been w onderful— 1 w ould gladly do it all again.
Bob Hoots
Columbia, Ky.
P.S.: W esley— After m ore than 1,700 revivals, camps, preach­
ers' meetings, and so on, I will now have extra time to p ra y fo r
yo u and your work!
Loves the H erald
I love the H era ld and read it as soon as I receive it, then pass
it on to som eone else to read. W ould you believe I actually heard
U n d e B uddy say that a heathen is a Nazarene w ho d oes not read
the H era ld o f H oliness? I have been a m em b er o f the C hurch o f
the N azarene since 1934.
Martha C. Banister
Bakersfield, C a lif
Loving the ADHD Child
T hank you for your article “ L oving the A D H D Child" in the
June issue o f the H era ld o f H oliness. It is very encouraging to
see the church recognize A D H D so these children can be m inis­
tered to instead o f turned aw ay. As the parents o f an eight-yearold boy with A D H D , in the past we have encountered our share
o f w ell-m eaning but uninform ed church workers w ho are quick
to inform others o f ou r “p o o r parenting skills due to our lack of
discipline." It was disappointing to realize that the secular c o m ­
m unity w as m ore loving, understanding, and accepting o f our
son than the Christian com m unity.
T hankfully, o ur current church situation has been very posi­
tive for o ur son. W e trust that yo ur inform ative article will save
m a ny other families from negative experiences.
Wayne and Bobbie Mahoney
La Habra, Calif.
ADD Trials
T h a n k y o u v e ry m u c h fo r the artic le “ L o v in g the A D H D
C hild ” in the June issue. It w as a wonderful article.
My son, w ho w as eight in July, was diagnosed with A D D in
January. The last three and a half years have been a nightmare. I
was asked to rem ove him from day care “because they could not
co ntro l his en e rg y c o n s tru c tiv e ly ." In first g rad e, he w as e x ­
pelled. 1 w as c on stantly getting ph on e calls from the teacher,
p r i n c ip a l , an d e v e n p a r e n t s te l li n g m e e v e r y t h in g he d id. I
cringed every time the phone rang. He has put m e in so many
em ba rrassing situations that I hated taking him anyw here. We
could n ev er do anything as a family, since I never knew from
one hour to the next h ow he w ould behave. I was so depressed
and tired o f dealing with it that I d id n 't know where to turn. I
even thought about leaving and not being a m other anymore.
W ith a caring and understanding pastor w ho listens and prays
with me every time 1 feel I c a n 't go on, and with m y church fam ­
ily w ho cares about him and is understanding when he disrupts
the service and I have to rem ove him , I am given strength. I am
also thankful for his teacher this year w ho saw through his fre­
quent disruptions to discover a very bright and loving boy. She
helped to get him tested for A D D . He is now taking Ritalin and,
with his te a c h e r 's help, attends a gifted prog ram through our
school district.
I give glory to G od for being in control o f every part o f this
situation. I love m y son very m uch. He brings me great joy, and
I w o u ld n ’t have him any other way. I realized that I could not
deal with his A D D by m y s elf and gave it to G od to handle. From
that point on, G o d has show ed me m any times that He uses my
S eptem ber
1996
pastor, teachers, doctors, and even the H era ld o f H o lin ess to p ro­
vide for my needs.
The H era ld is great, and I look forward to it every month.
Debra Pinkston
Syracuse. N.Y.
A Must Read for P arents and Teachers
T hank you so very much for the June issue. . . . It has really
ministered to me and encouraged both m y husband and myself,
as our oldest was diagnosed with A D H D in . . . 1994.
There are so many misconceptions regarding this type o f "dis­
ability," and to work with our child, w ho is eight, on a daily ba­
sis can be emotionally and physically exhausting. People d on 't
understand what a day in our shoes or in our so n 's can be like!
This issue is a “must read ” for all Sunday School and ch ildren ’s
workers as well as pastors!
T hank you . . . for . . . reaching out with love and encourage­
ment to families affected by ADHD!
Kim Dunham
Olathe, Kans.
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7
Adoption as a Ministry
These Nazarenes are trying to make a positive difference in our world
by providing Christian homes fo r unwanted biracial children
by Carri Uram
Photos by Jim Fish
ization that these shows only show ­
ollow ing the death o f our
case the extreme cases and are usu­
tw o-m onth-old son, John,
ally quite negative, so I d o n ’t watch
to s u d d e n i n f a n t d e a t h
th em an y m o re . I b e g a n sp ea k in g
syndrom e on N ew Y ear’s
with people w ho have adopted bira­
Eve 1992, I plu nged into
cial children and the children them ­
a deep despair that was to
s e l v e s , s o m e o f w h o m a re n o w
last m any m onths. During
t e e n a g e r s . I ’ve f o u n d o n ly v e ry
that time, I read everything I could
happy and well-adjusted kids. As a
find con cern ing tragedy and how
m atter o f fact, in som e places it’s
the B ib le re la te s to it. I le a rn e d
now cool to be “m ixed,” and there
th at w h ile G o d d o e s no t a lw a y s
is even a biracial clique at our local
p re v e n t traged y, H e p ro m is e s to
high school. We live in a metropoli­
use it in som e way to His glory if
tan com m unity where international
we put o u r trust in Him. So I held
on to His prom ises and challenged
Him , saying, “ It better be g oo d!” I
think H e understo od and forgave
m y brazen dem and, but I felt early
e found out that
on that He had a plan in all o f this.
M any years befo re, m y h u s ­
band, M ike, and I h ad d is c u s s e d
adopting a “h arder to place” child.
We found out that m ore and m ore
biracial infants are being b o m and
that they need hom es. Interesting­
ly, as soon as w e b e g a n to th in k
about adopting one o f these chil­
dren, ev e ry w h ere w e tu rned , this
is su e w a s b e i n g d e a lt w i t h — on
talk shows, in the new spaper, and
so on, and, as you m ight guess, al­
corporations, foreigners, and inter­
w ays very negatively. As a result,
racial couples are quite c o m m o n ­
I b ec am e fe arfu l and d e c id e d
place, so adopting children o f a n ­
a g a in s t it. H o w e v e r, at n e a rly a
other race works well here. People
year after J o h n ’s death, G od began
living in a more rural or segregated
m a k i n g it a b u n d a n tl y c l e a r th a t
c o m m u n ity m ig h t no t be as s u c ­
this was what w e w ere to do. Still
ce ssfu l. We w ere a ssu re d that
fearful, I knew I had to obey Him.
fr ie n d s a n d f a m i l y w o u l d c o m e
around. T hey have! As our kindly
So I started by d o in g w hat I
o l d e r l a w y e r s a id , “ I f a p e r s o n
should have done years before, and
could not be charm ed by an inno­
that was to investigate on my own
cent little child, well . . . they ’re no
and not let Phil D onahue or Sally
kind o f person to begin with!” How
Jessy Raphael shape m y decisions.
true!
Since then, I ’ve com e to the real-
F
W
MORE AND MORE
BIRACIAL INFANTS ARE
BEING BORN AND THAT
THEY NEED HOMES.
8
Within w eeks o f b eginning our
p rocess, w e w e re ca lle d and told
that there w as an 18-year-old girl
in college carrying a b aby b oy due
in about tw o m onths, and w ere we
interested? O f course! W e 'd been
told b y s ev e ral a d o p tio n so u rc es
that these girls w ere usually m id ­
d le to u p p e r m i d d le c l a s s — “ the
girl n ex t d o o r ”— g o o d girls from
g o o d h o m e s , and in m a n y cases,
the f a th e r s w e re th e ir first
boyfriends.
We w ere excited to m eet Deedy
the next week. W h e n she ca m e in­
to th e ro o m , o u r h e a r t s m e l t ­
ed . T h e r e sh e s to o d , l o o k i n g so
scared, with big hazel eyes and a
c u te D o r o t h y H a m i l l h a i r c u t . It
was love at first sight! We w anted
to adopt her too! As we talked, it
b ec am e apparent that she w as a l­
r e a d y b e g i n n i n g to g r i e v e t h e
e v e n tu a l lo s s o f th is c h ild . You
c o u ld tell w h e n the b a b y w o u ld
kick, because her face w ould light
up and s h e ’d b ea m . T h e next in ­
stan t, h e r h e a d w o u ld d ro p , an d
her bottom lip w o u ld quiv er with
the r e a li z a t io n th a t th is b ab y
w o u l d s o o n be le a v in g her. O u r
h e a rts b ro k e fo r her, as w e a ls o
knew the pain o f losing a son.
I ’ve since found out that m ost o f
these girls go through a real grief
sim ilar to that o f infant death. How
c o u ld they not? A fte r the g rie f
s u b s i d e s , t h o u g h , it is r e p l a c e d
w ith a s e n s e o f p e a c e th a t th e y
h ave d o n e the very b e st for their
babies! D eedy is now in her third
year o f college and plans to go to
la w s c h o o l to h e l p o t h e r y o u n g
girls through this difficult process.
H e r a l d o f H o l in e s s
- l * t . wwii
The fam ilies of Greenville, South Carolina, First Church of the Nazarene who have adopted biracial children
Seven w eeks later, as Mike, our
old er children, C h ad and Tiffany,
a n d I w a l k e d i n t o th e h o s p i t a l
r o o m w h e r e o u r little A le x w a s
w aiting for us, there was a co llec­
tive gasp. He looked so m uch like
o u r little “ J o h n - J o h n . ” We w e re
s o o n to f i n d o u t t h a t h e a l s o
s h a r e d J o h n ’s s w e e t d i s p o s it i o n
a n d h a p p y n a tu re . But the th in g
th a t t o u c h e d m e m o s t w a s th a t
J o h n lo v e d to be c u d d le d . H e ’d
bury his head in y our shoulder till
he found “ his spot.” Alex did e x ­
actly the sam e thing. No doubt, he
was o ur son!
To those w ho say w e 're robbing
Alex o f his heritage, the reality is
that since biracial babies m ost o f­
ten are born to white m others, he
w ould have been raised in a white
h o m e e ith e r way. A s fo r W h ite s
a d o p t i n g B la c k c h i l d r e n , 1 tru ly
b e l i e v e t h a t in a l o v i n g h o m e ,
th ese c h ild re n also will d o q u ite
well. I k n o w m a n y fa m ilies w ho
are shining ex am ples o f this. H e r­
itage m eans nothing to little ones
l a n g u i s h i n g y e a r a f te r y e a r in a
string o f foster hom es. 1 once read
S eptem ber
1996
that while Blacks m ake up 12 p er­
cent o f the population. Black chil­
dren waiting to find hom es m ake
u p 4 9 p e r c e n t o f all a d o p t a b l e
children. Yes, it w ould be ideal to
put ev ery B lack child in a Black
hom e, but this is not the reality.
M o s t p e r s o n s a f f ir m
OUR ATTEMPTS TO
MINISTER IN JESUS’ NAME
TO THESE UNWANTED
INFANTS.
I once read a disturbing article
in a Christian m agazine that said a
larg e p e r c e n t a g e o f y o u n g g irls
carrying biracial babies choose to
a b o r t, fe a r i n g no o n e w ill w a n t
their babies. I m ust be honest and
say I ’m frequently scram b lin g to
find a hom e when lawyers call me
about a biracial new b o rn — s o m e ­
times to no avail. W here are all of
m y pro-life friends? That sam e ar­
tic le a s k s the q u e s t i o n , “ A re
C h ristia n s rea lly pro-life, or ju s t
a n t i a b o r t i o n ? ” If w e o v e r tu r n e d
R oe v. Wade tomorrow, we would
s u d d e n l y h a v e an o n s l a u g h t o f
b irac ial an d B lack bab ies. W h a t
are we going to do with them ? We
c a n ’t tell a girl to carry her baby
and then say, "Wait a m inute; no
one wants it!” We know there will
alw a y s be p eo ple w aiting in line
for those healthy white infants.
T h e re s p o n s e fro m the p u b lic
h as b e e n q u ite g o o d . M o s t p e r ­
sons, in c lu d in g o u r p asto r. Rev.
K e v in U lm e t (G r e e n v ille , S o u th
Carolina, First Church), affirm our
a t t e m p t s to m i n i s t e r in J e s u s ’
nam e by g iv in g u n w a n te d c h i l ­
dren C h ristia n h o m es. P eo p le
m ake o v er these children as they
would any other. W e 'v e been very
t o u c h e d by the w a r m th w e feel
from the Black com m unity.
Since our first biracial adoption,
we have been blessed with ano th­
9
o f m any oth er y oun g birth m o th ­
change that! I Love You, Deedy."
er. “ N atalie" m eans “ the gift o f the
ers.
I m ight add that there w ere large
child." She is a gift not only from
W e ' r e n o w h e l p i n g to s t a r t
tear stains all over the beautifully
G od but also from a sw ee t little
G.I.F.T. (G uiding Interracial F am ­
w ritten pag es. T h e s e girls lo v ed
16-year-old nam ed Tara. She. like
ilies T o g eth e r), an a d o p tio n s u p ­
th e i r b a b i e s so m u c h . A b o r t i o n
Deedy, will always be precious to
port g r o u p fo r p e o p le w h o h ave
was never a choice for them , even
us because o f her painful but un­
a d o p te d B lack or b irac ial
s e l f i s h c h o i c e . W e 'v e e n ­
c h i l d r e n . T h i s g r o u p is
co u rag ed each birth m o th er
g r o w i n g t r e m e n d o u s l y as
to send p ictu re s and letters
this option is catching on in
to the children to help fill in
o u r city and m an y others.
the g a p s la te r on. D e e d y
It's also b e g in n in g to catch
w rote a letter w hile still in
on at o u r c h u r c h . L a w y e rs
the h o s p ita l a f te r A l e x 's
have suggested that we take
b i r t h . In it s h e w r o t e , “ I
our group nationw ide, as this
c h o s e M ik e a n d C a r r i b e ­
is a m uch -n e ed ed thing.
cause they are the only cou­
We ex pect that there will
ple worthy o f raising a m ira­
b e c h a l l e n g e s a h e a d . B ut
cle like you. . . . 1 want you
d o n 't m an y c h ild re n have
to have all the happiness and
difficult issues to deal with
stability you deserve. Today,
in t h e s e t i m e s ? D i v o r c e ,
before they took you away, I
Author Carri Uram and fam ily (I. to r.) Carri (holding Natalie),
poverty, handicaps, obesity?
tried to tell you how m uch I Mike (holding Alex), Tiffany, and Chad.
A s t h e l a d y w h o w a s th e
w ill a l w a y s lo v e y o u a n d
first to a d o p t b ira c ia l c h i l ­
why I had to do this for you.
dren in our city 25 years ago and
thou gh it w as strongly su g gested
T h e n you o p e n e d y o u r ey e s and
has also raised biological children
to e a c h one. It w as th e ir p r a y e r
looked up at me as if you u n d er­
said to me, "Y our biracial children
that a C h ris tia n c o u p le w o u ld
sto od and that it w as O K . . . . I
are at no significantly high er risk
c h e ris h th e ir c h ild re n an d m a k e
will cherish you always, and noth­
than your biological ones. . . . You
them their own. As it is the prayer
in g o r n o o n e w i l l e v e r , e v e r
Transracial Adoption: An Attorney’s Perspective
The Controversy
uring the 1950s and
1960s, transracial adop­
tion increased sharply as
a result of a rise in the num­
ber of children in the social
service system and the lack
of minority homes in which
to place minority children.
However, in 1972 the Na­
tional Association of Black
Social Workers (NABSW)
came out strongly against
transracial adoption. The
NABSW policy to date is
that a Black child needs to be
raised by Black parents to
develop a positive racial
identity and that only Black
parents can help the child de­
velop skills for coping in a
racist society. Other less vo­
cal opponents also believed
that same-race placements
should be favored. These
opinions led to policies that
resulted in children staying
in foster care because no
D
same-race families could
be found. Up until recently,
many state agencies did not
place Black or biracial chil­
dren with white parents.
A large study by psycholo­
gist Peter Benson found that
adolescents who were adopt­
ed as babies in transracial
homes do as well as those
adopted in same-race homes.
In an extensive 20-year
study, 90-98 percent of trans­
racial adoptees enjoy family
life, are well adjusted, and
have a strong sense of racial
pride.
As of October 1, 1995, it is
against the law to bar transra­
cial adoptions. The federally
mandated Multiethnic Place­
ment Act states that race can
only be one of several con­
siderations in placing a child
with a family, but it cannot
be the only factor. The Adop­
tive Families of America,
like the North American
Council on Adoptable Chil­
dren, believe that when pos­
sible, a child should be racematched, but children should
not have to wait extensive
periods of time to find a
same-race family.
How to Adopt
When adopting a Black or
biracial child, the same laws
apply, and usually the same
methods of adopting are
available. Generally, the on­
ly difference is the time line
for finding a child— about
three to six months. There
are three ways to adopt a
child in the U.S.: public
agencies, private agencies,
and private adoption.
Public Agency
Adopting through your so­
cial services department is
essentially adopting children
in the foster-care system. If
you are flexible and are will­
ing to adopt a toddler-age
by Raymond W. Godwin
child or older, you should
be able to adopt within a
reasonable time period. Al­
though dealing with the bu­
reaucracy can sometimes be
very frustrating, the fee for
the adoption service is mini­
mal, and in some cases, the
state may provide monthly
subsidies if the child is con­
sidered to have “special
needs.” In some states, being
a minority race alone is con­
sidered a "special need."
Generally, it is difficult to
adopt a newborn through so­
cial services, but it may be a
good idea to at least get your
name on their list. You will
have to attend a series of
classes and also have an ap­
proved home study conduct­
ed by your social services
department.
If you want to adopt an in­
fant, it is best to contact sev­
eral agencies and private at­
torneys who are permitted to
---------
(Left, I. to r.): Kris Fleig
holding son Sawyer,
Pam Edwards with
children M atthew and
Hope.
(Flight): Gary Fleig
holding Sawyer.
(Below): A meeting of
G.I.F.T. (Guiding
Interracial Families
Together), an
adoption support
group for people who
have adopted Black or
biracial children.
m ay have m o re trouble with
those blond, b lu e-eyed c h il­
dren that w ere born to you.
T here are never any g u a ra n ­
tees." H ow true. I never e x ­
pected to lose one to death. 1
ju s t b e lie v e th at a c h ild
raised in a lov ing , s u p p o r t ­
ive. C hristia n h o m e has the
very best c h a n c e to survive
and co m e th ro u g h v ic to ri­
ously!
The jo y that these tw o b a ­
b i e s h a v e b r o u g h t to o u r
lives is im m easurable. W hat
do direct placements. If you
have your heart set on a new­
born, you can plan to wait
three to six months for such
a placement. Most couples
who are serious about adopt­
ing, however, wait much less
time. In general, if you are a
Black or interracial couple,
you can expect to wait even
less time for the attorney to
notify you that a child is
ready to be placed.
Direct Attorney
Placement
In states where attorneys
can place a child directly with
a couple, you will want to be
on the lawyer's waiting list.
Some attorneys may waive or
lower the retainer fee for
placing your name and home
study with an office if you are
seeking to adopt a Black or
biracial child. Attorneys, as
do many agencies, like to
have on hand couples who
are ready to adopt a Black or
biracial child. In our practice,
we know of several families
interested in adopting transra-
cially, and we try to give first
priority to our clients.
In general, our experience
is that more biracial babies
than Black babies are avail­
able through private adop­
tion. Few Black birth moth­
ers place their children for
adoption through an attor­
ney. White birth mothers
who are expecting a biracial
child will often choose pri­
vate adoption. They like the
control that they can main­
tain in selecting a couple.
Usually the expenses in a
private adoption are the same
regardless of the race of the
child. These expenses are pri­
marily the attorney’s fees and
the birth mother’s living and
possibly medical expenses. If
a birth mother needs to have
her rent, utilities, and food
and clothing bills paid, you
may have to decide if this
adoption is right for you
based on whether you can af­
ford these items. Some attor­
neys may reduce the fee or
allow you to pay over time.
G od is do in g throug h these
tw o precious m iracles o v e r­
w h e lm s m e. As I ap p ro a c h
w h a t w a s to be t h e t h i r d
birthday o f our d ear “ JohnJ o h n , ” 1 can tru th fu lly say
that G od is so good; you can
trust Him through the d a r k ­
est o f days. His word is true;
He will turn ashes to gold.
He is faithful to do ex c e e d ­
ing abundantly above all that
w e c o u ld e v e r ask or ev e n
th in k ( E p h e s ia n s 3 :2 0)!
Ht
Some couples believe that
because the child is Black or
biracial, the attorney can re­
duce the fee. This is not al­
ways possible.
Agency
An agency adoption of a
Black or biracial child will
be handled much the same
way as any other adoption.
However, the agency policy
may require you to attend
classes so that you can un­
derstand the issues related to
adopting transracially. Also,
many agencies have different
standards, such as age or
length of marriage, for those
adopting transracially. They
may also have a different fee
schedule.
Private agencies want to
place the babies bom to birth
mothers that come to them.
In other words, agencies
do not want to send a birth
mother away and are usually
more than willing to place
transracially.
Some agencies have a re­
duced fee scale for those
adopting Black and biracial
children, especially agencies
with a religious affiliation
that raise support. However,
a private adoption agency
without outside support gen­
erally will charge its stan­
dard fee plus birth mother
living expenses. Because
agencies like to have a pool
of applicants for those seek­
ing Black or biracial chil­
dren, they may reduce the
application fee.
There are not as many
Black and biracial newborns
available as there are white
newborns, but there are also
far fewer couples seeking to
adopt Black and biracial new­
borns (even though the num­
ber is growing very quickly).
The best way to adopt quickly
is to make as many contacts
as possible. Join an adoption
support group and let people
who are in adoption circles
know of your desire. Many
times a child is bom and a
couple must be found. You
could be that couple.
□
FREEDOM FOUND
by Barbara Curtis
ut honey, we k n o w Satan
is only a myth. I just c a n ’t
allow you to be in a class
that teaches such primitive
concepts.”
A fter a tten d in g several
12
social ev en ts w ith a local chu rch
youth group in 1983, m y 15-yearold daughter, S am antha, had asked
to jo in its Bible study. O ne look at
the w o rkb ook confirm ed m y worst
fe ars. T h is w as a g ro u p th at b e ­
lieved the Bible literally, not in the
m o re evolved, m etaphysical w ay I
had been teaching her.
“ I ’m sorry, S a m a n th a . 1 k n o w
t h e y ’re nice kids, and I d o n ’t m ind
you going p laces w ith them . But
H e r a l d o f H o l in e s s
be careful not to let their religion
ru b o f f o n y o u . Y ou h a v e to be
free to find y ou r o w n truth.”
S am an th a d ro p p ed her sh o u l­
ders in resignation. She k n e w a r­
guing was useless. I was m u ch too
d ogm atic about m y beliefs— w h a t­
e v e r th e y h a p p e n e d to be at th e
time.
I h ad spent m y life in search o f
fr e e d o m — th ro u g h lib eral e d u c a ­
tion, radical politics, alco h o l and
drugs, and sexual promiscuity. F or
th e p a s t f e w y e a r s , I h a d b e e n
s e a r c h i n g f o r G o d . In th e N e w
A g e , I w a s f r e e to p i c k f r o m a
s m o rg a s b o rd o f beliefs and p ra c ­
tices, free to create a cu stom -m ade
sp iritu ality . I re ad v o ra c io u sly ,
p ick ed the gurus I liked best, and
attended every available N e w A ge
church, seminar, and w orkshop.
“ H o n e y , w h a t C h ris tia n s d o n ’t
r e a l i z e is t h a t J e s u s t a u g h t t h e
sam e m essag e as all the oth er spir­
itual m asters,” I re m in d e d S a m a n ­
tha. “ We only nee d to find the god
within us. T h en w e are free to c re­
ate o ur o w n reality.”
T h a t ’s w h a t I h a d b e e n do in g ,
after all. I w as n ow in m y second
m a r r i a g e , t h i s t i m e to a f e l l o w
seeker. T h ro u g h daily m editation,
affirm ation, an d p rosp erity th in k ­
ing, Tripp an d I h ad b ec o m e quite
su ccessfu l. W e o w n e d a p ro s p e r­
ous business and a fine hom e. We
had five children— tw o daughters
from m y first m a rria g e and three
sons fro m o ur own.
O u r su ccess a ttra c te d others,
w h o ca m e to us for spiritual c o u n ­
sel. W h e n they did, w e introduced
t h e m to t h e p r a c t i c e s t h a t h a d
w o rk e d for us, assuring them they
could find happ iness too.
B ut w hen w e shut the d o o r b e ­
h ind them , w e w ere left w ith each
other and the kn ow led g e that there
was a flaw hidd en beneath the sur­
face o f our m arriage. M y husb an d
a n d I, ea ch se e m in g ly so in h a r ­
m o n y with the universe, co uld not
achieve h arm o n y in o u r m arriage.
L o o king back, I see it so clear­
ly: tw o people, each claim ing godh o o d , tr y in g to liv e u n d e r th e
sam e roof. N ot an easy task.
Septem ber
1996
I d id n ’t see that then, though. I
only k n ew I w as tired o f the argu­
ing, tired o f reality being so differ­
ent th an m y id eals. F eelin g
tra p p e d , I lo n g e d o n ce ag a in for
the freedom that h ad caused m e to
m a k e so m a n y b r e a k s w i t h th e
past in years gone by.
B efo re I could take any action,
G o d intervened. F lip p in g the car
ra d io fro m station to station one
m o r n i n g w h ile d r iv in g th e c h i l ­
dre n to school, I s to p p ed w h e n I
h ea rd a kind and gentle voice. A
m an n am ed Dr. D obson was inter­
view in g a coup le about a c o n fer­
en c e that h e lp e d stren g th en m a r ­
riages.
I FINALLY ADMITTED THAT
MY BELIEFS OFFERED NO
REASONABLE EXPLANATION
FOR THE PROBLEMS IN MY
OWN NEW AGE MARRIAGE.
O f course I was skeptical. After
all, T ripp and I w ere spiritual gi­
an ts— at least t h a t ’s h o w w e saw
o u r s e l v e s — a n d w e h a d n ’t b e e n
able to find happiness in our m a r­
ria g e . H o w c o u l d s o m e o n e els e
show us?
S t i l l , in a l a s t - d i t c h e f f o r t , I
s ig n e d us up fo r the fo llo w in g
weekend. I figured that if it d id n 't
work, I could, in go od conscience,
leave and start a new life.
W e f o u g h t all t h e w a y to th e
c o n fe re n c e . T h e ca r w as filled
with bitterness w h en we arrived at
the h o te l. L o o k in g b a c k , I am
s tru c k by th e m ira c le o f G o d
re a c h in g th ro u g h o u r sp iritu al
d a r k n e s s to b r i n g us to a p l a c e
w h e re w e w o u ld finally h e a r the
truth.
B ecau se the truth is w hat w e fi­
nally heard.
T he first night was simple, b a ­
sic, an d radically o p p o sed to m y
fe m in is t, N e w A g e p e r s p e c tiv e .
W e l e a r n e d h o w G o d ’s p l a n
f o r m a r r i a g e d i f f e r e d f r o m th e
w o r l d ’s. B e c a u s e th e f a m i l y is
G o d ’s b uilding b lock fo r society,
the leaders said, S atan so u g h t to
destroy it.
S o m e th in g clicked. S u ddenly I
was convinced that Satan was not
a myth. I finally adm itted that m y
beliefs offered no re aso n ab le e x ­
planation for the p ro blem s in m y
o w n N e w A g e m a rria g e , n o r fo r
the evil and destruction ram pant in
the w orld around me.
T h e n ex t m orning , I ca m e like
an e m p ty p itc h e r , w a it i n g to be
filled. We learned that G o d loves
us and w a n ts us to “ h a v e p e a c e
with [Him] throu gh ou r L o rd J e ­
su s C h r i s t ” ( R o m a n s 5 :1 , n i v ) .
But our sin had separated us from
God.
Even o ur best efforts were inad­
e q u a t e to b r i d g e t h e g a p . B u t
C hrist died for o ur sins to bring us
closer to God. It was up to us to
c h o o s e to a c c e p t H im as Savior.
“To all w ho received him, to those
w h o believed in his nam e, he gave
th e r ig h t to b e c o m e c h i l d r e n o f
G o d ” (John 1:12, n i v ) .
I h ad n ever heard anything like
this before. G o d was personal and
H e loved me! Jesus was m ore than
a spiritual master! I prayed silent­
ly , c o n f e s s i n g m y s i n a n d m y
need, accepting Jesus as m y Lord
and m y Savior. T hrough m y tears,
I lo o k e d o v e r a n d sa w m y h u s ­
ban d crying too.
His h an d w rapped around m ine,
big and w a rm , as tang ible as the
p eace and protection I n ow sensed
over m y life and m y marriage.
T ru ly w e w e re c h a n g e d w h e n
w e cam e hom e. W ith no previous
e x p o s u r e to C h r is tia n ity , we
c o u ld n ’t p ut a nam e on our e xp eri­
e nce. B ut b e c a u s e J e s u s h a d b e ­
c o m e L o rd o f o u r lives, th ro u g h
th e H o l y S p i r i t w e w e r e l e d to
ch a n g e in m a n y w ays. W e threw
aw a y all o u r N e w A g e b o o k s ,
co n tin u ed on p a g e 18
13
N ews
Prepared by the Nazarene News Service and Herald Staff
Superintendents Respond
to Church Fires
T h e B o ard o f G en eral S up erin ten den ts
is c a ll in g fo r p r a y e r an d s u p p o r t fo r
th o s e a f f e c te d b y the rash o f c h u rc h
a rs o n s th at h a v e o c c u r r e d a c ro s s the
U nited States. T h e statem en t reads as
follows:
"W e en co u ra g e m em b ers and
friends o f the C h u rch o f the N azarene
to o f f e r p ra y e r s a n d p ro v i d e s u p p o r t
for the c o n g reg atio n s w h o se bu ildings
h ave been recently set on fire. W e e s ­
p e c i a l l y d e p l o r e th e r a c i a l h o s t i l i t y
that h as e n c o u ra g e d a rson ists to burn
A f r i c a n A m e r i c a n c h u r c h e s . In th e
w o rd s o f o u r M a n u a l s ta tem en t, 'W e
urge o u r c h u rc h e s e v e ry w h e re to c o n ­
tinue an d strengthen p ro g r a m s o f e d u ­
cation to pro m o te racial u n derstand ing
an d h a r m o n y .” ’
O n b e h a l f o f t h e C h u r c h o f th e
N a z a r e n e . the B o a rd o f G e n e r a l S u ­
pe rin ten d en ts has au tho rized a c o n tri­
bution o f $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 to the " R e b u ild the
C h u rc h e s ” c am p a ig n fu nd -raiser s p o n ­
sored by K an sas City television station
K M B Z . T h e fun ds will be dis tributed
by H eart to Heart, Inc., th ro ug h relief
organizations.
O f f e r i n g s s e n t to t h e N a z a r e n e
C o m p a s s i o n a t e M i n is t r i e s F u n d will
be d is tr i b u te d th r o u g h th e N C M
U S A /C a n a d a office. C h e c k s shou ld be
m a d e o u t to " G e n e r a l T r e a s u r e r .
C h u r c h o f th e N a z a r e n e , " a n d e a r ­
m a rk e d " R e b u ild the C h u rc h e s .”
Church Enters Hungary
T h e R epu blic o f H un gary is the 1 12th
w orld area to be en tered by the C h urch
o f the N a z a r e n e , a c c o r d i n g to L o u ie
Bustle. W o rld M ission D ivision d irec ­
tor.
" H u n g a r y ’s l o c a t i o n m a k e s h e r a
s tra te g ic b rid g e b e tw e e n c e n tr a l and
eastern E u ro p e ,” B ustle said.
Since 1990 the C h u rc h o f the N a z ­
a re n e has e s t a b l i s h e d m a n y c o n ta c ts
w ith i n th e c o u n t r y , a c c o r d i n g to R.
Franklin C o o k , Eurasia regional d ir e c ­
tor. C u r r e n t l y , a v o l u n t e e r c o u p l e is
w o r k in g w ith a H u n g a r ia n c o u p le to
o p e n t h e d o o r s o f H u n g a r y to t h e
church. T h e w ork is exp ec ted to begin
in B udapest.
14
Youth Compete at General Bible Quiz
Nazarene young people take a break from quizzing at this summer’s General NYI Bible Quiz
Tournament. Forty-four teams competed in three competition levels June 30— July 4. This
was the fifth such biannual tournament since 1988.
M ore than 30 0 teen Bible quizzers p a r­
ticipated in the 1996 G eneral NYI Bible
Q u iz T o u rn a m e n t Jun e 30— July 4. a c ­
c o r d i n g to F re d F u ll e rt o n . N Y I M i n ­
istries director. The event, held at MidA m e r i c a N a z a r e n e C o l l e g e , w a s th e
fifth biannual to u rn am ent since 1988.
S o u t h w e s t In d i a n a to o k first p lace
honors a h ea d o f 26 o th er team s in the
e x p e r i e n c e d d iv is io n . T h e T e n n e s s e e
District " B " team w on the n o v ice d iv i­
sion, and South C entral U .S.A . (S N U )
w on the regional division.
O p e n to an y lo c a l c h u r c h , d is tr i c t
all-star, o r re g io n a l a ll-s ta r te a m , the
to u rn a m e n t h o sted 44 g ro u p s from
a c r o s s th e U .S . Q u i z z e r s a r r i v e d o n
S u n d ay and participated in an o p en in g
w o rsh ip service an d m e e tin g at O lathe,
K a n s., C o ll e g e C h u r c h . Q u i z z i n g b e ­
g a n the f o l l o w i n g m o r n i n g , w ith the
c h a m p i o n s h i p ro u n d s ta k in g p la ce on
T h u rsd a y , July 4.
In te n tio n a l d o w n t i m e w a s p la n n e d
for this y e a r 's event, p ro v idin g a break
from the h ectic sch edu le and an o p p o r ­
tu n ity to in te ra c t w ith o t h e r q u iz z e rs.
T h e w eek also in c lu d e d a m o r n in g d e ­
v otional and d is c u ssio n tim e and so m e
a c ti v it ie s . C o a c h e s a n d o f f ic ia ls a ls o
p a r t i c i p a t e d in s e v e r a l b r a i n s t o r m i n g
s e s s i o n s c o v e r i n g t o p i c s s u c h as r e ­
cru iting , p ro m o tio n , an d training.
" T h e y o u n g p e o p le an d th e ir s p o n ­
s o r s a r e to b e c o m m e n d e d f o r t h e
co u n tless h ours o f study, m e m o riz a ­
tio n , a n d p r a c t ic e ." sa id D 'W a y n e
L e a t h e r l a n d , g e n e r a l q u i z e d i t o r an d
t o u r n a m e n t d i r e c t o r . " W e ’re e x c i t e d
a b o u t th e o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r m i n i s t r y
and sp iritu al d e v e lo p m e n t o ffered
th rou gh the B ible q u iz z in g p ro g r a m ."
Je n n ife r M o tw a n i, fro m Fort W o rth ,
received a $ 5 0 0 s c h o la rsh ip as the top
q u i z z e r in th e e x p e r i e n c e d d i v i s i o n .
M a d e p o s s i b l e t h r o u g h an a g r e e m e n t
b e tw e e n N Y I M i n is t r i e s a n d th e
N a z a re n e c o lle g e s an d universities, the
o n e tim e s c h o la rsh ip will be a w a rd e d to
M o t w a n i u p o n h e r a c c e p t a n c e to the
N a z a re n e c o ll e g e o r u n iv e r sity o f her
choice.
24th Nazarene General Assembly and Conventions
San Antonio, Texas
Conventions: June 18-20,1997
General Assembly: June 22-27,1997
H e r a l d o f H o l in e s s
Media International/Ron
Howard
CHA Leaders Meet in Kansas City
Leaders of the CHA during their recent meeting in Kansas City (front row, I. to r.); Dr. Edward
M itchell, medical doctor and retired missionary; Lt. Col. Richard Ulyat, national secretary
for program, Salvation Army; Dr. John Byers, bishop, Brethren in Christ; Dr. Marlin Hotle,
Tennessee District superintendent, Wesleyan Church; (backrow)/Dr. Lee Haines, general su­
perintendent, Wesleyan Church; Dr. John Sills, general superintendent, Evangelical Church
of North America; Dr. Jack Stone, general secretary, Church of the Nazarene; Dr. Daniel
Tipton, general superintendent, Church of Christ in Christian Union; and Dr. Ray Ellis, di­
rector of evangelism, Free Methodist Church of North America.
L ead ers o f the C h ris tian H o lin es s A s ­
s o c i a ti o n c a m e t o g e t h e r J u l y 9 - 1 0 in
K a n s a s C ity to w o rk on w a y s to p r o ­
m o te the o rg a n iz a tio n in its e ffo rts to
lift th e b a n n e r o f H o lin e s s , a c c o rd in g
to C H A P re s id e n t J a c k S to n e . S to n e ,
w h o is g en eral secretary o f the C h u rc h
o f the N a z a re n e . said the g ro u p m et to
d is c u s s the C H A ’s p u rp o s e , c o re v a l ­
ues. an d vision for the future.
" W e too k a hard look at o u r reason
fo r e x is te n c e an d h o w to b est p a rtn e r
w ith ea c h o th e r,” S ton e said. "T h e re is
a c o n s e n s u s th a t w e w a n t to be a
m o v e m e n t rather th an ju s t an o rg a n iz a ­
tio n .”
T h e c o m m itte e ag re ed that the core
valu es o f the C H A inclu de partnership,
cele bratio n, and fellow sh ip . T he g rou p
plan s to m e e t ag ain to d ev e lo p r e c o m ­
m e n d a t i o n s f o r the C H A c o n v e n t i o n
n ex t April.
Samoan Nazarenes Gather
A b o u t 3 5 0 S a m o a n N az are n e s m et J u ­
ly 3-7 in W aia n a e, H aw aii, for the first
f e l lo w s h ip m e e tin g o f th e U n ite d
S am oan C o nferen ce. The group in ­
clu d ed representatives from A ustralia,
S am o a, H aw aii, and the m a in lan d U.S.
"T h is c o n fe r e n c e w as for S a m o a n s
w h o have a burden for the lost souls in
th eir n e ig h b o r h o o d s and c o m m u n i­
t i e s , ” said T a u l i m a O g e , c o n f e r e n c e
ch airp erson . "G o d has granted us this
o pp o rtu n ity to fello w sh ip and w orship
t o g e t h e r and to e n c o u r a g e an d up lift
each o th e r in sp read ing the m e s sa g e o f
salvation to all S a m o a n s ."
T h e con fe ren ce includ ed reports on
the status o f S a m o a n ministries, along
w ith w o rk sh o p s on such topics as im ­
m ig ratio n , S a m o a n cu lture, and c o m ­
passion ate e vangelism .
In his e m p h a s i s on c o m p a s s io n a t e
e v a n g e lis m . T o m N ees. M u lticu ltural
M i n i s t r i e s d i r e c t o r , r e m i n d e d th e
g ro u p that they are "the m ost valuable
ex p o rt o f S a m o a .” " A s you go, spread
t h e g o s p e l o f s a l v a t i o n all o v e r the
w o rld .” N ees said.
In addition to N ees, featured s p e a k ­
ers in clu ded Bob K illen. H aw aii D is­
trict s u p e r in te n d e n t, and Ja c k S m ith ,
senio r pastor, W a ih a w a C h u rc h o f the
N azarene.
T h e g ro u p established go als for the
n ext tw o years. T h ese include chu rch
planting, recruiting full-tim e m inisters,
tran slatin g m a terials into the S a m o a n
la n g u a g e , an d s tre n g th e n i n g ex is tin g
churches.
Planned Giving Names Crabtree First Area Coordinator
F o r m e r N T S re g i s tr a r
R ob ert C ra b tree has
b e e n n a m e d as th e
firs t a r e a c o o r d i n a t o r
fo r P la n n e d G iv in g
S e rv ic e s, a c c o rd in g to
R o g e r A lexander, c o ­
o r d i n a t o r . In th e n e w
po sitio n, C ra b tr e e will
Crabtree
fa cilitate d e f e r r e d a n d
o u tr ig h t g iv in g to a v arie ty o f c h u rc h
m inistries.
“T h e a re a c o o rd in a to r is the result o f
a n e w P la n n e d G iv in g S erv ices m o d e l,
w h ich re p la c e s o u r p re v io u s m o d e l o f
reg io n al re p re se n ta tiv e s ," A le x a n d e r
S eptem ber
19 96
said. “ As o u r area c o o rd in a to rs b e ­
c o m e m o r e k n o w l e d g e a b l e , th e y will
serve as certified financial plan n ers to
assist N a z a re n e s, their friends, and a d ­
v isers w ith the c o m p le x tax is sues re ­
la t e d to c h a r i t a b l e a n d n o n c h a r i t a b l e
g ifts.”
C r a b tr e e se rv e d at N a z a r e n e T h e o ­
logical S e m in a ry fo r 37 y ears as librar­
ian, su p e rv iso r o f field service, director
o f f i n a n c i a l a f f a i r s , a s s i s t a n t to th e
p r e s id e n t f o r f in a n c e a n d p u b lic re la ­
tions, registrar, and d irec to r o f a d m i s ­
sions. M o s t recently, he serv ed as e x ­
e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r o f th e N T S a l u m n i
association.
Church of the Nazarene
on the World Wide Web
http: //www.nazarene.org
E-Mail Herald of Holiness
herald@nazarene.org
Nazarene Telenews Service
816-333-8270
15
Gallagher Elected
_
G allagher
K elly G a lla g h e r has
been elec ted d ire c to r
o f B e a c o n H ill P r e s s
by the B o ard o f G e n e r ­
al Su perin ten d en ts, a c ­
c o rd in g to M ic h a e l R.
E ste p , C o m m u n ic a ­
tions D ivisio n director,
and
Bob
B row er,
N azaren e P u b lish in g
H o u se p res id en t. G a lla g h e r w as n o m i ­
nated to the post by Estep. B ro w er, and
J a m e s H. D iehl, resp on sib le general s u ­
p e r i n t e n d e n t f o r th e C o m m u n i c a t i o n s
Div ision. T h e election c a m e during a r e ­
c e n t m e e t i n g o f the B o a rd o f G e n e ra l
Su perinten den ts.
" K e l l y w ill d o an o u t s t a n d i n g j o b
leading o u r b o o k p u b lish in g p ro g r a m ,"
said E step . “ H is c h u r c h m a n s h ip and
service to N P H . as well as his local c o n ­
g reg ation . p ro v id e s h im a strong f o u n ­
d a tio n f o r u n d e r s t a n d i n g th e n e e d s o f
o u r local ch urc hes, as well as the b r o a d ­
e r C h ristian c o m m u n it y .”
In his n ew position, G alla g h e r will be
r e s p o n s i b l e f o r th e d e v e l o p m e n t an d
le adership o f the B eacon Hill team and
its w o rk in leading the bo ok publish ing
e f f o r ts to the C h u r c h o f the N a z a r e n e
a n d the b r o a d e r C h r is ti a n m a r k e t, a c ­
c o r d i n g to B r o w e r . “ H is ro le w ill i n ­
vo lve c lo s e w o rk w ith the B o o k C o m ­
m itte e as w ell as re s p o n s ib i li ti e s w ith
the N P H an d C o m m u n ic a tio n s Division
leadership tea m ,” B row er said.
Prior to his election, G a lla g h e r served
as m a r k e tin g m a n a g e r for B e a c o n Hill
Press.
Flemming Resigns Post
B arb ara F lem m in g
resigned h er position
as g en e ra l N W M S
p resid en t Ju ly 6, a c ­
c o r d i n g to N i n a G.
G u n te r.
general
NWMS
d ire c to r.
F l e m m i n g , w h o h ad
s e r v e d as p r e s i d e n t
for seven years, re ­
signed b e cau se o f ill
health. She has suffered from a spinal
n erve in fla m m a tio n for several years.
" B a rb a r a F le m m i n g 's life is driv en
by a passion for missions," G u nter said.
“ She h as se rv ed w ith d is tin c tio n and
has truly touched the world and m ade a
16
Conference Focuses on “Recapturing the Vision”
n e e d - m e e t i n g m i n is tr y , G a l l o w a y has
N early 100 p erso n s participated in the
a u th o r e d 13 bo o ks.
recent m in istry c o n fe re n c e on the c a m ­
M o rsc h , a N a z a re n e p h y sicia n , is the
pus o f M o u n t V ernon N azaren e C o l­
fo u n d e r and c h airm an o f
leg e. H o s t e d by M V N C
H e a r t to H e a r t I n t e r n a ­
P re s id e n t E. L e B ro n
ti o n a l. T h e n o n p r o f i t o r ­
F airb ank s, the c o n feren c e
g anization, through p a rt­
w as h eld J u n e 6-8 an d
n e rs h ip w ith c o rp o ratio n s,
m e t u n d e r th e th e m e
h o sp ita ls, a n d v o lu n te e rs,
“ R e c a p tu r in g th e V i ­
sponsors em e rg en cy air­
sio n .”
lifts o f p h a r m a c e u tic a ls
“ T h e m i n is tr y c o n f e r ­
a n d m e d i c a l s u p p l i e s to
e n c e w a s s i g n ifi c a n t b e ­
p e o p le a f f e c te d by w ar.
c a u s e o f th e n e e d fo r
d isa ste r, and po v erty .
qu ality sh o rt-term , c o n ­
M o rsc h , a u th o r o f M in ­
tin u in g e d u c a tio n fo r
is tr y : I t 's N o t J u s t fo r
m in iste rs and la y p e r­
M in is te r s , b e li e v e s e v e ry
so n s ,” said R ick R y d in g ,
C h ris tian is gifted to serve
co n fe re n c e coord in ato r.
o th ers in the m inistry.
R y d i n g is th e p r o f e s s o r
O th er conference se s­
o f C h ris tia n e d u c a tio n
an d the c o o rd in a to r o f the David F e lter, adm in istrative sion s in clu de d: “ Id e n tify ­
m a s t e r o f m i n i s t r y p r o ­ d ire c to r fo r C h ris tia n L ife i n g G i f t s a n d F i n d i n g
Training/Lay M inistry for the Y o u r P la c e in M i n is t r y ."
g ra m at M V N C .
C hurch of th e N a z a re n e ,
T h e c o n f e r e n c e f e a ­ teaches a course during “ Re­ “ L a i t y a n d C o m p a s s i o n ­
t u r e d D a l e G a l l o w a y , c a p tu rin g th e V is io n ” a t ate M i n is t r y ,” “ L aity an d
the E d u c a tio n M issio n o f
w h o m a d e t w o p l e n a r y MVNC.
the C h u r c h ,” “ M o tiv a tin g
p r e s e n t a t i o n s a n d le d a
the L aity fo r M in istry ,” " E q u i p p in g the
w o rk s h o p titled “ C re a tin g and S u s ta in ­
L aity fo r M i n i s t r y ,” “ L ay M in is try in
ing S m all G r o u p s .” G a ry M o rsc h also
the W o r k p l a c e , ” “ S piritual D isciplin es
p rese nted tw o general ad d resses a n d a
fo r Lay M in is t r y ," an d " L a y M in istry
w o r k s h o p o n “ N u r t u r i n g th e C a ll to
a n d the C h a rte r o f the N e w T e s ta m e n t
Lay M in istry .”
C h u rc h ."
G a llo w a y , d ean o f the B eeso n C e n ­
T h e c o n f e r e n c e i n c l u d e d b o th laity
ter fo r B iblical P r e a c h in g and C h u r c h
and clergy. "M in is try is not the e x c lu ­
L e a d e r s h i p at A s b u r y S e m i n a r y , is a
s iv e d o m a i n o f the o r d a i n e d c l e r g y . "
f o r m e r p a s t o r o f th e 6 , 4 0 0 - m e m b e r
F airb an k s said. " R a th e r, it is the s u m ­
N e w H o p e C o m m u n it y C h u rc h in P o rt­
m o n s o f every person w h o p ro fesses
land, O reg . C o n sid e r e d on e o f the le a d ­
faith in Je s u s .”
ing a u th o r it ie s o n c h u r c h g r o w th a n d
difference in the lives o f m a ny ."
F le m m in g w a s elec ted general p re s ­
i d e n t a t t h e 1 6 th G e n e r a l N W M S
C o n v e n tio n in 1989. P rio r to this, she
s e r v e d as N W M S p r e s i d e n t f o r th e
A k r o n D i s t r ic t fo r 18 y e a r s , a n d on
th e G e n e ra l N W M S C o u n c il fo r 8
years.
D uring h e r p res id en cy , she stressed
the n eed fo r in te rn a tio n a l s tu d e n t
sch ola rship s. T h ro u g h h e r leadership,
th e N W M S I n t e r n a t i o n a l S tu d e n t
S c h o la rsh ip F u n d w as e stab lish ed for
the N W M S 8 0th an n iv e r sa ry project.
T h is project p ro v id e s n eed ed fin ances
for th e o lo g ic a l stu d e n ts a tte n d in g
N az a re n e institutions o f h ig h e r e d u c a ­
tion in w o rld m ission areas.
Koreans at NTS
S o m e 35 students from the Social E d u ­
c a t i o n I n s t i t u t e at K o r e a n N a z a r e n e
U niversity attended the K orean L e a d e r­
ship C o nferen ce at N azarene T h e o lo g i­
cal S e m in a ry , J u ly 6 -1 1. T h e stu d en ts
are lay leaders in N azaren e churches.
T h e c o n f e r e n c e w a s th e f i n a l r e ­
qu irem ent in the co urse o f study for the
C ertificate in Lay Ministry from the S o ­
cial E du catio n Institute. Instructors in ­
cluded: D o n ald D. O w e n s, g en eral su­
p e r i n te n d e n t ; G o r d o n W e t m o r e , N T S
p re s id e n t; H a r o ld R aser. N T S p r o f e s ­
sor: Ja c k S to n e , g e n e ra l s e c re ta ry ;
L o uie B ustle. W o rld M issio n director:
R ichard S pindle, M A N C president: and
D ale Jones, C h u rc h G ro w th Division.
H e r a l d o f H o l in e s s
Breckenridge ’96: Fences to Bridges
Few d e n o m in atio n s have e v e r at­
tempted what the six Breckenridge
C o n su lta tio n s on C lergy P re p a ra ­
tio n h av e a c h ie v e d . B u ild in g on
five prev io u s m eetin g s, B re c k e n ­
ridge ’96 went “from vision to real­
ity" on ministerial education. Some
75 pastors, administrators, lay lead­
ers, and educators, led by Rick Ryding of M VNC, met to put together
m odel courses for pastoral ed uca­
tion. Some 10 courses were devel­
oped, b ased on w hat p re v io u s
B reck en rid g e co n su lta tio n s b e ­
lieved a minister should “ be, know,
and do.”
T h i s y e a r ’s e m p h a s i s w a s on
building a curriculum in which spir­
itual advancement and the work of
the Holy Spirit w ould be integral
parts. Dr. Jam es Plueddem ann, d i­
rector of the Society for Internation­
al Ministries and former head of the
(Above): Internationally known educator Dr.
James Plueddemann lectures on Spiritguided education.
(Right): Table fellow ­
ship provided for in­
formal exchange
among (I. to r.): Alex
Varughese, Bonita
May, and Gordon
Wetmore.
(Left) (I. to r.): Pastor L. D.
Holmes, Education Commis­
sioner Jerry Lambert, and edu­
cator Don Stelting enjoy a
lakeside break.
G raduate School at W heaton C o l­
lege, was the primary resource per­
son. His presentations on philoso­
phy of e d u c a tio n , c u rricu lu m
theory, goals and objectives, evalua­
tions, and global p erspectives for
education were enthusiastically re-
(Right): Dr. Wilbur Brannon, di­
rector of Pastoral Ministries
and the Breckenridge consul­
tations.
(Left): What better team to
come up with a model
course on missions? (L. to
r.): Randy Beckum (France,
MANC); Roy Stults (World
Mission magazine); Chris­
tian Sarmiento (coordinator
of ministerial education,
Latin America); John Niel­
son (president, APNTS); and
Howard Culbertson (missiology, SNU).
Septem ber
1996
ceived by the conferees. The main
concept was curriculum that brings
together theory and practice.
The most dramatic achievem ent
of the Breckenridge consultations,
according to Neil B. W isem an of
N a z a r e n e B ib le C o lle g e , is that
“district superintendents, pastors,
and edu cators w ho once resisted,
even suspected one another, have
talked eye to eye and heart to heart.
And they have come to adopt a joint
vision about clergy preparation.”
P lu e d d e m a n n no ted
that most churches fail to
have these kinds of talks,
and the seminaries go one
way and the practitioners
another until tragic crises
in clergy preparation de­
velop.
“ T h e r e is m u c h w o rk
y et to be d o n e , ” s a id
Wilbur Brannon, director
o f Pastoral M inistries at
the In tern atio nal C e n te r
and director of the Breck­
e n rid g e p ro g ram , “ but
fences are down, and bridges have
been built.” In fact, one of the work
groups expressed it in a diam ond
poem:
Fences
institutional, territorial
upholding, listening, stretching
growing, networking, continuing
global, relational
Bridges
17
FREEDOM FOUND
co ntinued fr o m p a g e 13
tap es, a n d idols. In stea d , w e b e ­
ca m e avid B ib le readers. Finally,
in J o h n 3:3, w e le a r n e d th a t w e
had been b o m again.
T h a t ’s w h e n I re m e m b e re d the
B ib le s tu d y I h a d fo r b id d e n S a ­
m a n t h a to a t t e n d . T h a t c h u r c h
w ould probably be the right place
for us! We entered there as babes,
not as the highly evolved spiritual
beings we had thought ourselves to
be.
“ W h a t are they into n o w ? ” our
ch ild re n , our p aren ts, and our
friends asked. Especially skeptical
w e r e t h o s e w h o k n e w m e w e ll,
w h o k n e w m y lu st f o r fr e e d o m .
T h e y th o u g h t C h ris tia n ity w o u ld
be just another place for m e to e x ­
plore b efo re m o v in g on to s o m e ­
thing new.
N o w n in e y e a r s h a v e p a s s e d ,
and we are parents o f 10— 4 m ore
b o m to us and 1 adopted into our
family. O th e r than that, o u r lives
on the outside are m uch the same.
We live in the same place, have the
sam e business. A nd yet there is a
difference.
There is peace in our home. A l­
th oug h T ripp and I still have our
d is a g re e m e n ts , th e y no lo n g e r
threaten ou r m arriage or our love.
In the past, each o f us despised the
other for being different. N o w we
see that G od has a special plan for
our lives together, which involves
the c o m p l e m e n t a r y q u a l i t ie s He
has given us. We need each other
to m a k e s o u n d d e c i s i o n s , a n d
above all, we need God.
M y s e l f — I ’m s t i ll a s p i r i t u a l
c h i l d , d e l i g h t e d th a t G o d n e v e r
seems to run out o f new places He
wants m e to see with the eyes He
has g iv en m e. Ironically, I— w ho
sought everyw here for that elusive
state o f f r e e d o m — h a v e fo u n d it
where I least expected. N o longer
driven by desires or passions, I am
free to enjoy each day for what it
brings. I ’m not searching anymore.
“W here the Spirit o f the Lord is,
th ere is f r e e d o m ” (2 C o rin th ia n s
3:17, n i v ) .
tu
18
M asculine J ourney
You’ll Never Know
about asking, and this incident brought
to mind the older brother in the story
about the prodigal son. He felt a great
sense of injustice because he had been
unwavering in his devotion to the fam­
ily, yet had never received the lavish
treatment that his shameful brother did
upon his return from the far country.
What the father told the older brother
has given me much to consider about
the privilege I have in G o d’s family
M a rk M e tc a lfe is a senior technical writer,
that I too often take for granted: “All
husband, and father o f four who lives in
that I have is yours.”
Nashua, New Hampshire.
James 4:2-3 says, “You do not have,
because you do not ask God. When
you ask, you do not receive, because
L a s t w i n t e r , I took my friend Eric
you ask with wrong motives, that you
Magnuson to a car dealership where
may spend what you get on your plea­
he was buying a previously owned
sures” ( n i v ). Many devoted Christians
minivan. I had ice on my driver's side
are not taking advantage of their inher­
w in d o w , so w hen I
itance. Some of us are
went into the d e a le r­
a s k in g , but w ith the
ship with my friend, I
wrong motives.
W h y do I need
asked, “ Do you have
“W hy do I need to
any complimentary ice
ask God for anything?
scrapers around here?”
He already knows what
to ask God for
I have seen promotion­
I w a n t.” The answ er
al scrapers before with
has to do with God's
anything?
m e rc h a n ts ’ names on
glory and our relation­
th em , so I to o k a
ship with Him. What­
c h a n c e th at the car
ever I ask for, I try to
He already knows speak plainly and di­
dealer might have one
lying around.
rectly with God, avoid­
The salesman looked
ing vague generalities
what I want.”
at me blankly but then
and flo w e r y prose.
r e a c h e d d ow n u n d er
B e a tin g aro u n d the
his desk and pulled out an ice scraper.
bush is pointless because He already
Not the advertising kind, mind you,
knows what I want. Complete hon­
but the kind for which you’d have to
esty clears the channel between God
pay $5 or more but rarely do because
and me. It paves the way for correc­
you keep getting those free flimsy
tion— when my motives are self-serv­
plastic ones. Or, if you are like me,
ing— and for blessing when my mo­
you use an outdated credit card or
tiv e s are p u re . A s k in g God for
cassette case.
something with a pure heart gains ac­
Anyway, the dealer said, “ Here,
cess to all the Father has for me. “The
you can keep this,” and handed me
prayer of a righteous man is powerful
the mega-scraper. My friend, the one
and effective” (James 5:16, n i v ).
who was actually buying a car from
I want to ask God with a pure heart
this d e a le r, was a s to n is h e d . I
for all that He has to offer so that I
shrugged at him and said. “Hey, you
am not caught grumbling, “You never
never know unless you ask.”
did this for me.” And hey, you’ll nev­
The Bible has quite a bit to say
er know unless you ask.
MARK METCALFE
H e r a l d o f H o l in e s s
In
a
W oman’ s V oice
For Loving You
When I come to You,
Lord,
all of me—
With no games,
no pretenses,
and no bargains.
You welcome me,
even though
You see my yesterdays,
my today,
and all my
tomorrows.
I find unspeakable joy
in knowing
The perfect love,
the total
understanding,
the complete
acceptance. . .
For loving You.
— Marcia Krugh Leaser
Septem ber
1996
Father, I’ve Failed
didn't think I could try again. I would
cry to my Heavenly Father, “Please
d o n ’t make me go to this school of
life and face the tests again. I can’t
endure the shame of another failure.”
W hat do I say to my d a u g h te r
when I so deeply empathize with her?
I tell her what my Father in heaven
tells me.
“ Brittany, do you rem em ber the
story of David?”
S u s a n H a n s o n B a te s is a freelance writer
"Yes,” she whimpered, “he fought
and a frequent speaker at Christian
Goliath
and won."
Women's Clubs. She attends First Church
“True,” I smiled, “but later he lost a
o f the Nazarene, Flagstaff, Arizona.
terrible battle, a battle against tempta­
tion and sin. David failed God. In de­
feat and desolation, he retreated to his
house in shame. How do you think
S o m e t h i n g w a s w r o n g ; had been all
David felt during those long days?”
evening. But she’d held it inside until
“Probably like quitting,” Brittany
now, h o p in g b e y o n d h o p e th at it
said.
would go away. But it didn’t. And the
“Yes,” I replied, “as you do right
burden was too heavy to carry any­
now. As all of us feel when we have
more. As I tucked my daughter in,
failed. But David didn’t quit, didn’t
her words spilled out like tears, hesi­
let his horrible failure
tant, then in a wild, un­
keep him from pursuing
stoppable rush.
what God had planned
“ M o m m y ," h er 10W h o knows?
for him to do. Instead,
year-old voice quivered,
after a week, he forced
“I ’m failing.”
Maybe you’ll
himself to get up, wash,
As I lo o k e d at her
put on clean clothes, and
quizzically, the torrent
get it right
worship God. Brittany,
began.
you m ust do the same
“ I d o n ’t know w hat
this time.
thin g. W hen we e n ­
happened, Mommy, but
counter failure, we must
my te a c h e r sho w ed us
learn from it, get up, and go on.”
our grades in spelling, and I've got a
The tears stopped. There is comfort
D. If I flunk the test tomorrow. I'll
in knowing you are not alone in suffer­
flunk spelling. I ’ll get an F, Mommy!
ing failure. Many victories later, David
I w on’t pass fourth grade. Everyone
spoke these words to his son Solomon:
will laugh at me. Mommy, please
“Be strong and courageous, and do the
don ’t make me go to school tomor­
work. Do not be afraid or discouraged,
row— please?”
for the L o r d God, my God, is with
Failure. An F in school, an F in
you. He will not fail you or forsake
l i f e — the fe e lin g s are the sam e
you” (1 Chronicles 28:20, n i v ).
w h e th e r we are 4 or 40. My eyes
Today, when you feel paralyzed by
closed as memories of my own fail­
failu re , our F ath er asks you. His
ures rose before me like ghosts, still
child, to get up and go on. He still has
terrifying in their reality. I ’ve failed.
much for you to do.
Not once, but time and again, until I
SUSAN HANSON BATES
19
Waylaid
by Malachi
A Mother Learns the Value o f Stewardship
by Cheryl Gochnauer
“It’s time to look for another jo b.” I was dumbfound­
id-O cto ber loom ed like an im penetrable
gray fog. Every three years, the union con­ ed. Terry was not naturally given to change. “I know I ’m
making enough money now so you can stay home with
tract at the steel company where my hus­
the girls. But I hate this. I need a job with more stability.
band, Terry, worked came up for renewal.
I want to be a full-time truck driver,” he asserted. “And
No matter how well business had been go­
I ’m praying that the Lord will open up the right opportu­
ing, each tim e, pen din g d iscu ssio n s b e ­
tw e e n l a b o r and m a n a g e m e n t b ro u g h t
nity.”
began interviewing. Before each phone call, we
about distrust and discord, dissolving previously Terry
cordial
prayed. As Terry traveled to meet with a prospective e m ­
relationships.
ployer, he knew I was at home praying. Glittering offers
Terry and I were well-versed in running the household
of more money danced be­
on a s h o e s t r i n g . A f t e r
fore us, then were discard­
working full-time for most
ed as we realized that for
of my life, we had shifted
one reason or another, the
priorities a year earlier and
family would suffer if the
d e te rm in e d I w o u ld stay
job were accepted.
home with our three-yearOne day, Terry spotted
old, Carrie. Her big sister,
an ad in the newspaper. A
Karen, was attending sec­
small firm was in need of a
ond grade, and I was e n ­
truck driver. Although he
joying recapturing my spot
had sworn off steel com pa­
in their daily lives.
nies, he decided to check
There were few frills in
out
the fledgling nonunion
our lives, but our priorities
business. He came away from the interview with mixed
were set. The 1974 Chevy Impala and decade-old truck
feelings. Although the job itself seemed perfect, the pay
sitting in our driveway were well maintained. The m on­
was not. At almost 30 percent less than his prior salary,
ey that used to go for a car payment now assured Karen
Terry
thought as solitary breadwinner he should not pur­
a spot in the local Christian school.
sue it. But he continued to feel drawn toward the com pa­
Always a shrewd bargainer, I had honed my moneyny. “God, if this is not the job, please let them be luke­
saving skills and was dangerously close to becoming a
warm or standoffish when I call them back.”
miser. If it w asn’t on sale or if I didn’t have a coupon,
•
The next morning, Terry called Al, one of the owners
we probably didn’t need it. Wal-Mart began to look ex­
of
the small company. Al enthusiastically suggested that
pensive as I discovered treasures in neighbors’ garage
Terry
meet with him and the other owner, Ernie. There
sales. There certainly w asn ’t any money left over for fun
was
no
trace of hesitation in A l’s voice, only great hopes
or even the tithe.
for
the
future.
Already pulled financially as far as we could stretch, a
That night, Terry and I prayed again. “God, You know
strike was the last thing we needed. After days of strug­
the
money is just not there. But w e're asking for Your
gling, Terry came to a decision.
M
A
THIS STAGE, WE WERE SO
BROKE THAT ANY MONEY WAS
GRATEFULLY WELCOME.
20
H e r a l d o f H o l in e s s
Y o u SEE, I HAD
DECIDED LONG AGO
THAT IT WAS
SKINFLINT
CHURCHES THAT
PROMOTED TITHING.
occ
guidance. If You want Terry to work with this company,
please show us clearly Your will.”
The evening was filled with wonderful, heartfelt con­
versation between husband and wife. I realized that for
God's hands to be untied to work unencumbered in Ter­
ry ’s jo b situation, 1 had to be willing to submit to His
will, whatever it was. And that meant being willing to go
back to work if necessary.
The m eeting with the tw o ow ners lasted over two
hours. As I anxiously waited at home, praying almost
constantly, I tried to calm my heart, w ondering what
G od w ou ld w ork out. W hat was going on? Was the
meeting going on so long because they really liked him?
Surely Al and Ernie realized that they needed to pay
more to hold on to the best worker they had ever met.
After all, God knew I needed to be home with my girls.
Or had the meeting been short and sweet, a friendly part­
ing of the ways, and Terry was now out getting som e­
thing to eat, forgetting to call his frazzled wife?
When Terry finally got home, he told me that Ernie
S eptem ber
1996
was just as enthusiastic about him driving for their com ­
pany as Al had been. Disappointingly, there was no in­
crease in salary; the pay was the best they could offer at
this time. However, som ething extraordinary had o c ­
curred.
Al approached Terry. “Terry,” he said, “the way you
talked during the interview leads me to think you might
be a Christian.” When Terry affirmed that he was, Al as­
tounded him by saying that he was, too, and that he had
been praying for a truck driver.
As Terry related the conversation, awareness of G o d ’s
will washed over both of us. “I d o n ’t think it can get any
plainer than this.” I agreed.
I went over the figures again. The result was the
same— Terry’s first paycheck from his new job would
not cover our bills.
Silently, I rose from the table. Standing at the dining
room window, I stared outside gloomily. I ’ve been a
fool, I thought. I never really believed I would have to
go back to work. Surely, I mused, something would hap­
21
since I had been turned down after two jo b interviews.
pen to adjust the math. Thirty percent was a devastating
Once again, the school contacted me. There was a be­
loss in our family’s budget, and no amount of belt tight­
foreand after-school daycare position open. “ I ’ll be
ening or cost cutting would compensate. I had to go back
glad
to
help you out until I get a jo b,” I said. So I found
to work.
myself
playing
hangman and charades with the elem en­
How could the Lord snatch away my unfettered time
tary
students
and
discovered I loved it.
with my children? Yet, I had already had a year, much
As
th e
days
longer than many of
s
t
r
e
t
c
h
e
d
o
n
,
our
my friends had ever
m
o
n
e
t
a
r
y
s
i
t
u
a
t
i
on
had w ith th eir c h il­
b
e
c
a
m
e
m
o
r
e
a
nd
dren. Maybe through
m
o
r
e
p
r
e
c
a
r
i
o
u
s.
his G o d - g i v e n j o b ,
I
*
Sunday
m
orning
we
Terry would be able
atten d ed
church.
to influence someone
“
W
ill
a
m
a n ro b
to a c c e p t C h r i s t ,
G
o
d
?
Yet
y
o u ro b
f
•
som eone who might
. ■
1
m
e
.
”
“
H
o
w
d o we
otherwise have been
i
rob
y
o
u
?
”
“
In
tithes
w
lost. I kept trying to 11L. :■
|r -•
a
n
d
o
f
f
e
r
i
n
g s.”
find a rational expla­
Pierced
to
the
heart,
I
nation, even if it ex­
sat
rigidly
in
the
pew.
isted only in a nebu­
Here I was, a C hris­
lo u s ,
m ysterio u s
ti a n f o r 21 y e a r s ,
future.
listening to my thou­
Over the next few
sa n d th tith in g m e s ­
d ays, g riev ing gave
sage, and for the first
w ay to a c c e p ta n c e ,
t i m e , th e w o r d s o f
and then acceptance The Gochnauer family (I. to r.) Terry, Carrie, Karen, and Cheryl
M alachi slapped me
to a n t ic ip a tio n as 1
right
in the face (3:8,
b e g a n to c o n s i d e r
N
IV
)
.
G o d ’s w ill f o r m e.
A
sm all-g ro u p
Ju st as we had p re ­
F o r GOD’S HANDS TO BE UNTIED TO WORK
l
e
a
d
e
r,
a m o m s-atp a r e d f o r T e r r y ’s
hom
e
coordinator,
a
s e a r c h , w e n ow
UNENCUMBERED IN TERRY’S JOB SITUATION,
p
e
r
s
o
n
w
h
o
h
a
d
p r a y e d f o r G o d ’s
e x p e r i e n c e d G o d ’s
I HAD TO BE WILLING TO SUBMIT TO GOD’S WILL,
gu id an ce in fin din g
w o n d e rfu l h ea lin g
my job. The number
WHATEVER
IT
WAS.
AND
THAT
MEANT
BEING
powers,
a staunch de­
c ru n c h e r in me had
fender
of
Christ— yet
d eterm in e d that if 1
WILLING
TO
GO
BACK
TO
WORK
IF
NECESSARY.
Jesus
had
one thing
c o u l d j u s t c l e a r so
against
me.
Just like
m u c h a w e e k , we
the
rich
yo
ung
ruler
could squeak by with
in
L
u
k
e
,
1
h
a
d
re­
m ay b e a w eekly
fused—
no
matter
how
politely—
to
turn
over
my
money.
W endy’s burger— but I still h a d n ’t put the tithe in the
You see, I had decided long ago that it was skinflint
budget. It w asn’t going to be so bad after all, I reasoned.
churches that promoted tithing. And putting in my two
I could just work part-time.
ce n ts w o rth w a s n ’t as h e a v e n ly o rd a in e d as it was
I decided to network purely among Christian friends
pushed by p reachers n eeding to m ake their car p a y ­
and see what turned up. Amazingly, four solid leads ap­
ments.
peared almost immediately, and I thanked God.
In the m id st o f this in terv iew in g p eriod, K a r e n ’s
So as the years rolled by, I periodically put something
school called. The daycare provider’s grandson was ill,
in the plate whenever I felt generous. And, by the same
and they needed someone to fill in for a couple of days.
standard, when times were tough, I figured making my
Would I be interested?
house payment was at least as important as helping the
Normally, I would not because of the low pay. But at .pastor make his.
this stage, we were so broke that any money was grate­
God, it seems, in His infinite wisdom, had decided to
fully welcome. So 1 took on the role of preschool teacher
wait until our family was on the brink of financial disas­
while I waited to hear back from my interviews.
ter to m ak e His point. “ I the L o r d do not c h a n g e ”
(Malachi 3:6, n i v ) . There went my “ It’s just the Old Tes­
A couple of days later, the school called again. One of
tam ent” excuse. “ You are under a curse,” the prophet
the teachers was out; would I like to substitute? That
continued, “the whole nation o f you— because you are
would be great. I could use the extra money, especially
1ja
Emm
w ■
mm
Wmx
22
H e r a l d o f H o l in e s s
robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse”
( v v . 9-10a, n i v ).
Then, just like the Jesus I’ve come to know and love,
He softened His tone and said, “Test me in this . . . and
see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and
pour out so much blessing that you will not have room
enough for it” (v. 10 /? . n i v ).
Overwhelmed, I left the service and went home. All
through dinner and the afternoon, the p a s to r’s words
spun in my head. How in the world were we supposed to
come up with another 10 percent when we were already
down by 30?
During prayer time with the small group that evening,
1 broke down. “ I need to say this out loud so I ’ll be ac­
countable to someone.” I hesitated; this was harder to talk
about than sex. “The tithing message this morning hit me
right between the eyes.” Terry began to smile; he had
been trying to convince me for more than a year that we
should get serious about tithing. “ I d o n ’t know where
H e’s going to get the money, but I want you to know that
I have made a commitment to give God 10 percent of our
income. Now, God," I looked at the ceiling, “You know
what a bad witness it will be if we pay You but not our
light bill. So, I'm trusting You to provide. Thank You.”
Two days later, 1 was shocked, hum bled, and then
honored when I opened our mail and found a $75 gift
certificate for a local supermarket in an unmarked enve­
lope. “God,” I prayed, “bless whoever sent this for lis­
tenin g to Your voice and send ing this m u ch -n e ed ed
money. Because I know this is directly from You, I thank
You so much. Please give whoever sent this five times as
much back because of their obedience to You.” A few
days later, when the money ran out but the month h ad n’t,
we cashed the certificate and gratefully stocked our cabi­
nets.
With the change in Terry’s job, we found ourselves
facing December with two unanticipated bills— one for
health coverage to fill the gap during the probationary
p e r io d an d the o t h e r fo r p e r s o n a l p r o p e r t y ta x e s .
Through diligent premium shopping, I was able to find
coverage for our family for $169. Taxes on our antiquat­
ed vehicles amounted to only $72.31, but since we had
no money, it might as well have been a thousand. Al­
ready wondering how we would pay for these two bills,
terror struck when Terry remarked that we had received
a letter from the IRS. Opening it, he found a surprise— a
letter saying a mistake had been made on our income
tax es, and we w ou ld soon be re c e iv in g a check for
$241.72. You do the math. (I wonder what the extra 41
cents is for!) True to His Word, the blessings were al­
ready beginning to pour.
“Well, the last door has closed,” I sighed. It was Tues­
day, a little over a week since a few verses from Malachi
had changed my life. My last two prospective employers
had called, one wanting me to work full-time instead of
part-time (which I regretfully declined, still jealously
guarding my time with my children), and the other say-
W o r d A c t io n
MORALITY
IS LOSING GROUND
The June 1996 issue of Emerging Trends, published
by the Princeton Religion Research Center, reports:
One of the seeming paradoxes of American so­
ciety is that religion is gaining ground, but morality
is losing ground. The final figures for 1995 showed
that organized religion in America was at a 10-year
high.
Despite these findings on religion, evidence of
a moral vacuum in society is seen from the findings
of many studies. U.S. teen pregnancy, drug abuse,
and juvenile crime rates are among the highest in
the industrialized world. Six in 10 new marriages
will break up. Gallup surveys show that Americans
today are more concerned about the state of morality
and ethics in the nation than at any other time in six
decades of polling.
There’s no easy answer to the myriad of problems.
But one place where we’ve looked before for help— and can
look again— is the Sunday School. Now more than ever
there is the need for a strong, Bible-based learning environ­
ment for people of all ages.
You, as teacher, must bring a love for students and
God’s Word to make Sunday School effective—and Word­
Action will be there to support you with materials that are
true to the Word, true to life, and true to the church.
M
W
o
-
d
A
c t io h
PUBLICATIONS
For a FREE WordAction catalog
call NPH at
1- 800- 877-0700
co n tin u ed on p a g e 33
S eptem ber
1996
23
TO GIVE ALL WE CM GIVE
A Couple Finds Fulfillment in Giving to Nazarene Missions
By Tim M astin, Stewardship D evelopm ent M inistries
“T he older I get, the m ore I b e ­
tew ardship”— images com e
com e aw are o f G o d ’s love for me
to m i n d o f t i t h i n g e n v e ­
and m y family,” Ron says. “ 1 b e ­
lopes and special offerings.
lie v e H e is c o n c e r n e d a b o u t all
B u t s t e w a r d s h i p is m o r e
that we are involved with. S o m e ­
than offering plates— m ore
t im e s w e n e e d to let g o a n d let
th an e v e n g iv in g b a c k to
G od bless us. S om etim es it is dif­
G o d o n e - te n t h o f o u r i n ­
c o m e . A s C h r i s t ia n s , G o d c aficult
lls to let material things go. My
philosophy is that we h a v e n ’t giv ­
each o f us to be stewards o f every
part o f our lives—
o ur fin an c es, our
time, our jobs, our
fam ilies, o ur e n v i­
ro n m en t— e v e ry ­
thing!
J u s t as b e in g
a good stew a rd
s h o u l d be p a r t o f
the life s ty le o f a
C h r i s t i a n , it a l s o
has a direct effect
o n m i n i s t r y . It is
o n l y t h r o u g h th e
gifts of o u r f i­
n a n c e s , o u r tim e ,
and o u r lives, that
G od affects people
and m eets n eed s
en a n y th in g to G o d u ntil w e ’ve
around the world. O u r stewardship
given b ey o n d the tithe. I believe
efforts actually change lives!
that is w hat the Bible teaches. It
R on Smith and his wife, Sue, re­
m ay seem a little pious to say so,
c e n tly s h ared th eir story o f h o w
but tith in g is a d u ty — w h a t G o d
they cam e to the decision to give
re q u ire s o f us. B ut g iv in g o ff e r­
an airplane to N azarene M issionings brings the blessing!”
A ir as p a rt o f th e ir d e s ire to be
T h e s e w o r d s a re f r o m a m a n
“good stewards.” The Smiths have
w ho c o n sid ered h im se lf a failure
an 800-acre cattle and farm opera­
until he was alm ost 30 years old.
tion ca lle d L iv in g W aters E n terR on believes he really d id n 't u n ­
p rises/A gri-G ro M arketing. T heir
derstand m any things until then. “I
com pany m anufactures a nontoxic,
s e rv e a f o r g iv in g G o d , a lo v in g
e n v ir o n m e n ta lly safe, b io lo g ic a l
G o d , an e m p o w e r i n g G o d w h o
e n z y m e p r o d u c t th a t is u s e d by
m a k e s us o v e r c o m e r s f r o m o u r
agriculture, hom es, and lawn and
p ast fa u lts and m is ta k e s ,” R on
t u rf industries. All three o f their
say s. “ T h a t is an e x c it i n g th in g
sons, Michael, Stephen, and S h an­
that I can share with those w ho are
non, are also involved in the busi­
struggling with life.”
ness. T he following is the story be­
In 1982 R o n p u rc h a s e d a s e c ­
hind Ron and S u e ’s generous gift.
S
24
on d airplane (a P iper L ance, v al­
u e d at a l m o s t $ 8 0 , 0 0 0 ) f o r h is
business. "W e already had a C e s s ­
na 206, but we needed som ething
a little bit faster, m o re c o m f o r t ­
able, and with a longer range,” he
says. “ We had lots o f m eetings to
show farm ers and other users how
they can reduce chem ical and fer­
tilizer input and re­
turn to a m ore n at­
u r a l a p p r o a c h to
a g ric u ltu re . The
P ip e r s e rv e d o u r
business w ell.”
Ron and Sue
e v e n tu a lly
m et
M a r k R. M o o r e ,
fo r m e r d istrict s u ­
p erin te n d en t, c o l­
lege president, and
the fo u n d in g re c ­
tor o f Africa N aza­
re n e U n iv e r s ity in
K enya.
It
was
M oore w ho planted
a s e e d in t h e i r
m in d s that s o m e ­
day they might want to give a plane
to missions. Moore told the Smiths
about the d e n o m in a tio n ’s m ission
aviation program, being spearhead­
ed by aviator John Sprunger.
R on says they later felt that the
P ip e r w a s s o m e th in g they d i d n 't
n e e d — that it s h o u ld b e g iv e n to
m issions. “ W h e n Sue and I m ade
the decision to give it away, it was
as if a burden was lifted,” Ron says.
There w ere challen ges to o v e r­
co m e on ce the decision had been
m ad e. “ D u rin g the tim e s w h e n I
faced the task o f actually p rocess­
ing the gift, there w ere instances
w hen I q u estioned if this was real­
ly o f G o d , ” R o n says. “ B ut G od
w ork ed it all out His w ay.”
W ith this gift, the C hu rch o f the
H e r a l d o f H o l in e s s
N a z a r e n e is o p e n in g a N a z a re n e
M is s io n - A ir o p e ra tio n in C entral
A m erica.
T h e g ift w as re c e iv e d w ith
th a n k fu ln e ss and a p p reciatio n by
th e C h u r c h o f th e N a z a r e n e . “ I
thank G od for speaking to individ­
uals like R on and Sue Smith, w ho
h av e p ro v id e d the m e a n s so that
the c h u r c h c a n e x p a n d into n ew
a r e a s , r e a c h i n g p e o p l e w ith the
gospel of Jesus
C hrist,” said Steve
W eber, d ire c to r o f
S te w a r d s h ip M i n ­
istries. “We are e x ­
cited to see the av i­
atio n m in istry o f
th e C h u r c h o f the
N a z a re n e reachin g
in to the M e x ic o
and Central A m e ri­
ca R egion.”
W hen
asked
w h y th e S m ith s
g a v e t h e g i f t to
th e C h u r c h o f the
N azarene,
Ron
s a y s it w a s b e ­
c a u s e the d e n o m i ­
n a tio n p la c e s su ch a s tro n g e m ­
p h a s is on c a rry in g the g o s p e l to
other parts o f the world. “ I believe
that the C h u rc h o f the N a z a re n e
ranks at the top o f all the groups I
h av e been c o n n e c te d w ith in u n ­
d e r s ta n d in g w h a t m is s io n s is all
ab ou t,” R on says.
S m ith s ay s he w a n ts no g lo ry
for giving the aircraft. “ I told Rev.
S p r u n g e r th at it is G o d 's p la n e ,
not m in e ,” he says. “That piece o f
e q u ip m e n t can a c h ie v e g reat
things for K in g d o m work. I desire
that any one w h o com es into c o n ­
ta c t w ith m y b u s in e s s or w ho
h ears ab o u t o u r gift sees Jesu s
C h r i s t at w o rk in it all a n d that
they give H im the glory.”
In fact, he says G od has already
blessed him fo r his faithfulness in
w a y s th a t he n e v e r a n t i c i p a t e d .
“ M y y o u n g e s t son told m e right
a fte r the d eal w as c o n s u m m a t e d
t h a t he w o u l d be g l a d w h e n he
could give aw ay an airplane,” Ron
says. “T h at really spoke to m e. It
tells m e that m y w ife and I have
S eptem ber
1996
apparently planted good seed.”
S m ith says he has learned that
all he has c o m e s fro m the L ord.
H e is especially grateful for those
s p e c ia l b l e s s i n g s lik e C h r i s t ia n
children w ho are m arried to C h ris­
tian wives and w ho are seeking to
serve the Lord at hom e, at work,
at church, and in their world.
R o n ’s philosophy o f stewardship
is simple. He says he d o esn ’t m ea­
sure his success by the size o f his
b a n k ac c o u n t, but ra th e r by h ow
his life aligns itself with the will of
G o d . “ G o d ’s w a y s a r e th e o n ly
ways that are going to work in the
e n d ,” he affirm s. “ His w o rd s are
true. His love has never failed.”
M y y o u n g est so n told
ME RIGHT AFTER THE
DEAL WAS CONSUMMATED
THAT HE WOULD BE GLAD
WHEN HE COULD GIVE
AWAY AN AIRPLANE.”
R on and his three brothers were
r a is e d in a M e t h o d i s t c h u r c h in
H a z e lto n , In d ian a . C h ild h o o d
sweethearts, he and Sue have been
m arried for 34 years. “ S h e ’s been
a m a i n s t a y o f m y li f e , b o t h in
b u s i n e s s a n d in m y C h r i s t i a n
w alk,” R on is quick to say.
C h u rch and holiness p layed an
im portant part in the upbringing of
both R on and Sue. T he first time
he and Sue ca m e in con tact with
Nazarenes was in Esther Flat R iv­
er, M issouri, in the 1960s. At the
time, he was in training as an in­
d u strial e n g in e e r
with a shoe c o m p a­
ny. “It was a d ra w ­
ing o f our spirits to
the N a z a r e n e s ,”
Ron rem em bers.
“ We w o u ld atten d
the B aptist church
S u n d ay m o rn in g s
a nd th en d riv e up
to th e N a z a r e n e
c h u rch on S u n d ay
n igh ts. A fte r that,
w e s tarted a t t e n d ­
ing the S o u th w e s t
Church o f the N az­
arene near D e x ­
ter, M is s o u r i . We
s ta y e d th e re until
1983 when we bought this farm in
D oniph an, M issouri. We now a t­
tend a Church o f G od [Anderson,
Indiana].”
T h e S m i t h s ’ en tire fa m ily has
h a d th e p r i v i l e g e o f s e r v in g on
trip s to m is sio n fie ld s in p lace s
such as Guyana, Puerto Rico, M ex­
ico, Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, and
T rin id a d . R o n ’s first trip w as in
1978 w h e n he tra v e le d w ith his
pastor, O rv ille S w an so n , and a
group from the Missouri District to
T r i n i d a d to w o r k a t C a r i b b e a n
Nazarene Theological College. He
h a s b e e n b a c k to C N T C tw o or
three times since.
“M y heart is in m issions,” ex ­
plains Ron. “In fact, if G od grant­
ed m e the desires o f m y heart, it
p r o b a b ly w o u ld b e th a t I c o u ld
s p e n d t h e m a j o r i t y o f m y tim e
helping people in m issions.”
A s a b u s i n e s s , L i v i n g W a te rs
Enterprises has helped build a mis­
sion station in L aguna de Sanchez
in M e x ic o ’s Sierra M adre M ounco n tin u ed on p a g e 47
25
A FEW SCAT
t ’s going to be a nice
flig h t hom e to n ig h t,
Jim ,” I said.
“ Y e ah , i t ’s c o o l,
c le a r , w ith a f ul l
m o o n ,” m y boss re ­
plied. “Sm ooth flying
ahead.”
A n e m e rg e n c y with a c u s t o m ­
e r ’s electronic security system had
prom pted us to fly from Charlotte,
N o rth C a ro lin a , o u r o ffic e l o c a ­
tion, to A sheville. Since Jim had
just gotten his first plane, and the
tw o -h o u r ro u nd -trip flight w ou ld
replace alm ost six hours o f d riv ­
ing, w e c h o s e to fly ra th e r than
drive. After a quick lunch, we had
flown to A sheville that afternoon
a n d p l a n n e d a r e t u r n f l i g h t to
Charlotte that evening.
T h e j o b to o k l o n g e r th a n e x ­
pec te d , so we had d in n e r befo re
returning to the airport. An 11 p . m .
w e a t h e r b rie f in g c o n f ir m e d that
the w eather was great— clear and
calm with a few scattered clouds.
The “few scattered clouds” proved
to be our undoing.
C lim bing higher than usual, we
occasion ally flew throug h one o f
the clouds.
I t ’s g o o d t h e y ' r e s m a l l , th in
c lo u d s , I th o u g h t. J im w a s a li­
c e n s e d p ilo t, a n d I ’d h ad a few
hours o f instruction, but neither of
us was proficient at flying by in­
struments.
As Jim p ilo te d the p la n e , I
w a t c h e d a m o o n p r e g n a n t w ith
light chase cloud shadow s toward
the e a s te r n v e r g e s o f th e N o rth
C aro lina m ou n tain s. T hen, su d ­
denly, the plane fell to the left, and
m y reverie turned to terror.
C louds enveloped us. T he m oon
had d isapp eared— and with it, all
26
visual references. The plane went
wild. M y fingers, as if talons o f an
animal desperate with fear, claw ed
at the sides o f m y seat. M y m ind
blindly struck out for a m ean s o f
escape.
T o olb o x es on the flo o r b eh in d
us b u r s t o p e n . H a m m e r s s a i l e d
past our heads and sm ash ed
against the w indshield. W renches
b a n g e d into the c o c k p it c e ilin g .
H eavy tools s lam m ed against the
doors. S cre w d riv e rs reb o u n d ed
from the instrum ent panel. Small
tools sw arm ed around the cockpit,
first one direction and then anoth­
er. Direction? W h at was ou r direc­
tion? T h e g yro scopic instrum ents
show ing the p la n e ’s orientation to
the earth cou ld no lo n g er fo llow
o ur violent m o v em en ts. With the
instrum ents not w orking and noth­
ing o u ts id e bu t m u rk y d a rk n e s s ,
w e c o u ld n 't tell left from right or
up from down.
W h e n I lo o k e d t o w a r d J i m , I
p an ick e d . He stare d stra ig h t
a h e ad . F ro z e n . U n m o v in g , he
clutched the control wheel as if it
were life’s last breath.
“ Jim , turn loose! Let m e have
th e c o n t r o l s , ” 1 y e l l e d o v e r the
p a n d e m o n i u m o f an u n c o n t r o l ­
lable engine. Eventually, Jim b e ­
cam e aw are o f m y yelling. In slow
m o tio n , he tra n s f e rre d his dea th
grip on the controls to the d o or as­
sist strap and an armrest.
T he th ro ttle h ad no effec t.
W h e n w e c l i m b e d , o u r a irs p e e d
slowed, and the engine seem ed a l­
m ost to stop, as if out o f breath.
W ith o u t e n o u g h a ir s p e e d , the
plane w o u ld quit flying and fall.
T h en o u r airspeed got faster, and
the engine w ou nd up to a scream
as we descended. D escended? Oh,
G o d ! T h e m o u n t a i n s ! W e w e re
rapidly falling tow ard them.
D e s p e r a t e l y , I t r i e d to b r i n g
by Robert A. Waldrup
TERED CLOUDS
S uddenly, the plane fell to the left ,
AND MY REVERIE TURNED TO TERROR.
som e sem blance o f order back in­
to m y life and get the airplane un­
der control. M y m ind raced, fran­
tically trying to find a solution to
o ur deadly dilemma.
A n y m o m e n t , I e x p e c t e d to
sm ash into the side o f a m ountain,
and m y body stiffened in anticipa­
tio n o f the i m p e n d i n g im p a c t. I
c o u ld see no th in g e x c ep t a thick
gray fog and a useless instrument
panel. I clum sily w run g the c o n ­
trols first one way and then anoth­
er. T h e re s e e m e d no h o pe o f r e ­
g a in in g c o n tro l o f the p la n e .
Finding no solution, I w aited for
eternity to overtake me. I thought,
so this is w hat it is like to die.
Then as I clung there, physical­
ly and mentally consum ed, I heard
som eone on the radio saying, “Let
go. Let go o f the controls. Just let
go.”
T his person was o bviously out
o f his mind. He d id n ’t know what
he was asking. "L et go o f the c o n ­
tr o ls " — w e ’d c rash an d die! But
nothing else I had tried was w o rk ­
ing.
It was then that I finally accept­
ed the fact that I was about to die.
A nd then I did the hardest thing I
have ever done— I let go. As I let
go o f the con tro ls, a great c a lm ­
ness o verflow ed me and suffused
m e w ith p e a c e . I s u d d e n ly no
lo n g e r fe a re d death. I re a liz e d I
was in the hands o f God.
A fter w aiting for w hat seem ed
aeons, we broke out o f the clouds,
a n d I saw the m o o n , b rig h t and
full. B u t s o m e th in g w a s w ro n g .
T he p lan e w as u p sid e d o w n ,
clim bing at an odd angle. Im m ed i­
ately, I returned the plane to level
flig h t. W h e n I lo o k e d at the a l ­
timeter, which indicated how high
w e w e re a b o v e th e g ro u n d , I
c a u g h t m y b r e a th — w e w e re b e ­
low the level o f the m ountains. A
27
frantic look sh o w ed m e we w ere
east o f and clear o f the m ountains.
The danger was over. I piloted the
p l a n e b a c k h o m e as J i m , s t i l l
stunned, sat quietly.
A fte r a n o n e -to o -p e rfe c t la n d ­
ing at Charlotte, we shakily began
to exam ine the cockpit.
“ Look, h e r e ’s a h am m er on top
o f the instrum ent panel.”
“ W hy is the windshield not bro ­
ken? It’s not even cracked.”
“A ny instruments d am ag e d ?”
“ Nope, d o e s n ’t look like it."
“There are w renches and screw ­
drivers under the seats and stuff in
all kinds o f nooks and crannies.”
“ It's am azing to m e that none of
these things ja m m e d the controls.”
“ T alk a b o u t a m a z i n g — h o w
could all these tools and stuff fly
all o v e r th e c o c k p i t , b a c k a n d
forth as they did, and never hit ei­
ther one o f us? T h at big w re n ch
could really raise a bum p."
B ut n o th in g had even to u c h e d
us. After we cleaned up the “tools
and stuff,” the only m ark rem ain­
ing o f the ex p e rien ce w as in our
minds.
S in c e th en , c ritica l p e r io d s in
m y health have reaffirmed and re­
inforc ed the e x p e rie n c e o f o v e r ­
flow ing calm ness. L if e ’s ups and
d o w n s n o l o n g e r w o r r y m e so
m uch, even when life seem s out o f
c o n tro l an d p r o b le m s s w a r m all
aro u n d . E v en w h e n th ere are no
references with w hich to find d i­
rection, neither m oon nor stars to
steer by, I am confident that “ we
live, and m ove, and have our b e ­
ing" (Acts 17:28) in hands bigger
and infinitely m o re ca p ab le than
mine.
Years later, som e questions still
rem ain un answ ered. W h y did we
not notice such large, thick clouds
until they en g ulfed us? W h y had
w e clim b ed so m u ch hig h er than
norm al? W hat if I h a d n ’t had fly­
ing lessons? M ost o f all, the voice
on the radio— w ho was telling me
to let go?
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28
H e r a l d o f H o l in e s s
T he Fam ily A lbum
A d v e n tu re s in C h ristia n P a re n tin g
The Shopping Trip
JERRY AND LYNDA COHAGAN
drama duo, Hicks and Cohagan. Lynda
is a high school English teacher in
Olathe, Kansas.
T his
pa st J u l y 5, we celebrated our 10th
anniversary, or as Jerry likes to say, 7
years o f wedded bliss. And to mark such
a mom entous occasion, o f course we went
shopping. Now, w e 're not your gold-anddiam ond-type couple, and w e 'v e never
felt any compunction to follow those giftgiving rules for anniversaries; but we did
feel the occasion merited some extrava­
gance, so we decided to purchase a dining
table.
A nd so we set out in early summer,
Chase and Tori in tow, to trek from one
furniture store to another. For the most
part, the kids were real troupers. Chase
especially liked the store that had a k id s’
area complete with Nintendo. He d idn't
know how to work it but had tons o f fun
trying. Tori, on the other hand, quickly
tired o f watching Chase push buttons, so
she wandered out o f the k id s’ area. We
eventually found her sobbing while hug­
ging a Queen Anne table leg. (At least the
girl has taste.)
O ur kids found the next store fascinat­
ing because it had fake "m esses” placed
around the store on various pieces o f fur­
niture. You know, the fake Hershey syrup
can tipped over and anchored in the m id ­
dle of a brown plastic "puddle." Or the
French's mustard ja r pouring forth yellow
plastic all over a burgundy chaise lounge.
Septem ber
1996
Jerry could be heard muttering, “ Yeah,
like th at’d never stain.” O ur kids were be­
mused, bewildered, and bewitched to dis­
cover themselves in the middle o f all
those messes while not one single adult
started hyperventilating and screaming
for paper towels.
The stores that offered neither a kids’
c o m er nor fake messes proved a bit more
o f a challenge. You know y o u ’re not in
kid-friendly territory when a perfectly
manicured and coiffed saleslady (I mean
“design consultant” ), wearing more gold
jew elry than it took for Aaron to make the
golden calf, meets you at the door with a
wan smile frozen in place and says,
“Oh— y o u ’ve brought children.” We
would each grab a little hand tightly, d e­
termined to brave the icy regions o f furni­
ture retail. When asked in a voice that
was much like walking into an arctic cold
front, “And based upon your budget,
might I inquire what kind o f dining table
you had in m in d?” Jerry grinned stupidly
and replied in his best
G om er Pyle voice, “Oh, ya
know, it d o n ’t much matter
to us. Probably the kind that
comes with chairs.” It didn't
take long before Lynda was
leading all three of her kids
out the door and on to the
next place.
During the whole process,
we observed some interest­
ing behavior in our kids.
W henever they were happy
and having fun, they were their usual
bouncy, energetic selves. They covered
four times the distance we walked by cir­
cling each and every furniture grouping
we passed. They played follow the leader.
They pretended the store was a giant
maze with treasure awaiting them just
around each comer.
But then when they became bored with
"casual co ntemporary" and “traditional
elegance,” they turned into frail lumps of
Jell-O. Chase developed a limp. He
claimed h e 'd skinned the bottom of his
toe on the bottom o f the community pool.
W e’d been sw im ming two days before,
and this was the first w e ’d heard of any
injury.
Tori announced with her bottom lip
protruding, " I ’m so tired I c a n ’t walk an­
other step. Hold me." We said, “Just lie
down.” And Tori and Chase, standing in
the middle o f countless couches, ot­
tomans, and wingbacks, forlornly looked
up and moaned, “ But w here?” Not only
were our four-year-old and five-year-old
incapable of walking, they were blind too.
But miracles never cease. W hen we de­
cided to grab lunch at a M cD on ald ’s with
a "Playplace"— voila! All maladies van­
ished as Chase and Tori ran full-throttle
toward the play area, jerked off their
shoes, and quickly climbed to the top,
where the slides sent them zooming (o the
floor. “Watch me, Mom. I ’ll do it again.”
“ Hey, Chase, I thought your foot was
hurting.”
“ What? Oh yeah . . . well, it’s all better
now!"
“H o w ’d that happen?”
“ I d o n ’t know. Hey, it must be a mira­
cle!”
After 10 years o f marriage, please al­
low us a little Hallmark sentiment. With
“Oh— you’ve brought the
children,” she said icily.
the first decade behind us, we have
learned with all the furniture that crowds
a marriage, the most comfortable seat in
the house is still next to each other. And
the best arms to be inside aren't Chippen­
dale but each o th er’s. And no matter how
exasperating furniture shopping, or life,
can get, this family still affirms the daily
miracle, “ It’s all better no w !” because we
have each other.
And by the way, the dining room looks
swell.
tfc
29
□
THE QUESTION
BOX
CONDUCTED
BY W E S L E Y D. T R A C Y , E d it o r
Is it acceptable to put aside the M an u al at
the annual church elections and elect board m em ­
bers by plurality rather than m ajority?
. A . * The M anual (paragraphs 113-113.14, 127,
136, 141-142.1) does not require that church board
members be elected by majority vote. The terminolo­
gy is simply elected. Paragraph 113.10 uses the
phrase majority rote, but that has to do with the re­
quired approval to elect a class of board members
and later designate them as trustees or stewards.
Paragraph 113.11 also uses majority vote, but this has
to do with a congregational vote approving the elec­
tion of board members for two- and three-year terms.
Most churches probably practice election by ma­
jority vote, and that seems prudent to me, but a ma­
jority vote is not the requirement. If a majority of
those present at the church meeting to which your let­
ter referred actually voted to elect by plurality, your
new board members are duly and legally elected. Dr.
Jack Stone, general secretary, says, “Plurality must
be expressly stated and accepted by the body. An un­
defined election is always by majority."
Should the church accept donations from
sinful people or w orldly organizations?
. A . * It is hard to come up with a brief one-size-fitsall rule on this. We do not want to say, “In today’s of­
fering we will accept tithes and offerings only from
those who are saved and sanctified and up-to-date in
their prayer life." Usually donations can be accepted
from most individuals. Donations from many corpo­
rations and organizations are also acceptable— except
when that acceptance compromises the church’s wit­
ness or tells the donor that the church has been
bought off. In one case, a certain businessman want­
ed to open a liquor store a few feet closer to the
church than the local “3,000-foot rule” allowed. The
pastor didn’t even have to call a board meeting to re­
ject the man’s offer to build a basketball court on the
church property.
Many Christians felt that it was a scandal when the
ailing Oral Roberts organization was bailed out by
the financial largess of a greyhound racing kingpin.
A better example is the St. Joseph Catholic Church of
Thompson, Connecticut. According to H. B. London
of Focus on the Family, that church returned a $5,000
donation from U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd because
his public support of abortion “goes against the fun­
damental teachings of the church."
The views expressed in the responses in this column are those o f me editor and do not
constitute official statement by or fo r the Church o f the Nazarene. The editor is not able
to send replies to questions not selected fo r publication. Address: Herald o f Holiness,
6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131.
30
Called
to
Counsel?
In a world rampant with marital strife,
domestic violence, and addictions of
every sort, the counseling demands on a
local pastor are almost overwhelming.
Nazarene Theological Seminary
has responded to these ever increasing
demands by developing a specialized
emphasis in pastoral counseling.
The new program integrates a strong
core o f biblical, theological, and practical
ministry foundations with focused
counseling courses.
Incorporated into the master of
divinity degree, the counseling emphasis
will enable pastors to face the counseling
challenges o f everyday ministry better
prepared to extend the transforming grace
of the gospel o f Jesus Christ.
Nazarene Theological Seminary
“COMMITTED TO
HOLINESS MINISTRY”
Nazarene Theological Seminary
1700 East Meyer Boulevard
Kansas City, MO 64131
1-800-831-3011
ministry@nts.edu
H e r a l d o f H o l in e s s
Children’s Hour
C. ELLEN WATTS
C . E llen W a tts is a freelance writer living
in Nampa, Idaho.
O n c e u p o n a t i m e , I knew next to
nothing about remembering the
Sabbath day and even less about
keeping it. Holy had to do with the
heels and toes of my constantly
moving socks. Still, I liked Sunday,
the one day of the week when M a­
m a closed the lid on her sewing m a­
chine and let the hoe dangle from its
peg on the back side of our oldfashioned washhouse.
Sundays were when Dad saddled
Old Babe, and we could ride just for
the fun of it or go coasting. When no
canning jars had to be lugged from
the cellar, and Mama had no buckets
of beans for us to snap.
Cows must be milked, of course,
and the sheep tended, along with
other chores. Then, while Dad
checked floodgates and rode fences,
M am a stirred up a sunshine cake or
maybe some blackberry cobbler,
fried three or four chickens, and
pulled, peeled, buttered, sliced, and
mashed succulent mounds of po­
tatoes and other vegetables and
warmed big pans of the “light rolls”
included with Saturday’s baking.
Following the kind of a dinner
many during those Great Depres­
S eptem ber
1996
ture of G od’s working for six days
and resting for one. Like my greatuncle Isaac, God had a beard that
fanned in the breeze while He lolled
on a cloud through that whole sev­
enth day. God ate, goofed around,
and, on Monday, returned to work.
When I finally got around to
meeting God, He w asn ’t like that at
all. Sunday, however, includes some
striking similarities.
While the work week may have
come to a halt like the luminous
hands on M am a’s trusty alarm
clock, chore time still rolls around.
Loving, caring, serving kinds of
chores. Teaching, tending, ushering,
counting, and more.
If all are to feast, then many must
prepare. And serve.
Naps have their rightful place.
As for the warm, fuzzy feeling I
experienced while swinging from the
back of Dad’s rocker and listening to
tales of scalpings and buffalo stam­
pedes, I can’t help thinking he missed
the greatest literature ever when he
missed reading us the Bible.
Still, those were good times and
the parallel apt. For Sunday, accord­
ing to Joseph Addison, clears away
sion days knew nothing about, we
did dishes and jum ped rope or
played Simon says while our par­
ents took naps that sometimes lasted
as excruciatingly late as 4 p . m .
After that, anything could hap­
pen. Sunday evening chores got re­
duced to a minimum and done in a
hurry. In summertime, while we all
stood listening for the crack that in­
variably ran ahead of her knife, M a­
ma might cut the striped watermel­
on she’d had cooling in the shade.
Or Dad could disappear inside a
shed straddling our tiny creek and
come out carrying a gunnysack
filled with pond ice left buried be­
neath sawdust until w e ’d done with­
out M am a’s home-cranked ice
cream for about as long as we could
stand it.
Winters, we played authors or
Uncle Wiggly, made
popcorn and molasses
taffy, and supped on ap­
ple slices and bowls of
crusty homemade bread
soaked in creamy milk.
Sunday clears away the “rust”
Before bed, Dad read
of the week.
aloud from a Zane Grey
novel.
Small wonder a single
verse penned by
Longfellow made me
the “rust” of the week. Worship and
think of him as a friend who knew
a family feast around the Word of­
our family well:
fers a fresh beginning to Monday.
Between the dark and the day­
As for Sunday evening, it’s still a
light,
deliciously simple bowl of Bread
When the night is beginning to
with Milk— a buttery popcorn kind
lower,
Com es a pause in the day's occu­
of a time filled with the possibility
of growing closer to God and my
pations,
church family.
That is known as the C hildren’s
Hour.
I guess I ’m still a kid at heart. I
Then, I had my own distorted pic­
still like the Children’s Hour.
^
31
R hythms
of the
S pirit
Growing Through
Creative Listening
MORRIS A. WEIGELT
M o rris A . W e ig e lt teaches spiritual forma­
tion at Nazarene Theological Seminary.
M a j o r s t u d i e s s h o w th a t m o s t p e r ­
so n s liste n at a b o u t 25 p e r c e n t o f
th e i r p o te n tia l. T h e a v e r a g e p e rs o n
h e a r s a b o u t 4 0 p e r c e n t o f th e w o r d s
s p o k e n a n d fills in th e r e m a i n d e r w ith
c o n te x t c lu e s . S m a ll w o n d e r th e r e is
so m u c h m i s c o m m u n i c a t i o n !
In his d i s tu r b i n g b o o k N u r tu r in g
S ile n c e in a N o is y H e a r t. W a y n e
O a t e s o b s e r v e s th a t o u r d e m a n d i n g
w o r l d h a s so m a n y v o ic e s th at w e c a n
n o l o n g e r listen to t h e m all. W e s o o n
le arn to tu n e m o s t o f t h e m o u t. H e is
e s p e c i a ll y c o n c e r n e d w ith th e w a y s in
w h ic h c o u p l e s lo s e th e art o f stra te g ic
lis te n in g to e a c h o t h e r a n d s o o n
c h o o s e to e n d th e i r m a r r i a g e s a n d
lo o k f o r s o m e o n e e ls e w h o w ill lis­
ten . T h e la z y h a b it o f s l o p p y li s t e n in g
is te r rib ly d e s t r u c ti v e .
L is t e n in g a n d sp iritu a l g r o w t h are
c o n n e c t e d . W h e n s e l e c ti v e li s te n in g
d i s c o n n e c t s us fr o m the v o ic e o f th e
S p irit, s p iritu al g r o w t h is lim ite d .
S o m e fo r m o f th e w o r d “ l i s t e n " a p ­
p e a r s 3 6 4 t i m e s in the B ib le . T h e
w o r d “ n o t ” is a s s o c ia te d w ith it in
147 v e rs e s . J e s u s o ft e n said: " L e t
a n y o n e w h o h a s e a rs li s t e n !” T h e r e ­
fu s a l to listen is at the c o re o f s p i r it u ­
al s h a l lo w n e s s .
In 4 0 y e a r s o f p r e a c h i n g , I h a v e a l ­
w a y s b e e n in t ri g u e d b y the c re a t iv e
32
l i s t e n e rs in th e a u d ie n c e . A f e w p e o ­
p le listen c a r e f u l l y a n d r e s p o n d w ith
th e i r fa c e s . S u c h p e r s o n s d r a w th e
b e st f r o m th e p re a c h e r . A c r e a t iv e a u ­
d i e n c e in th e p r e s e n c e o f th e H o ly
S p ir it e n a b l e s m e to v o ic e th i n g s I
h a v e n e v e r p r e v i o u s l y b e e n a b le to
a rtic u la te .
O n e o f th e r e a s o n s th e r e a re so f e w
g re a t p r e a c h e r s t o d a y is b e c a u s e th e r e
are s o f e w g o o d liste n e rs. W e h a v e
b e c o m e la z y li s t e n e rs t h r o u g h th e in ­
fl u e n c e o f th e m e d i a , b e c o m i n g
“ c h a n n e l s u r f e r s ” at th e first h in t o f
b o r e d o m . W h e n a to p i c d o e s n o t p a r ­
ti c u la r ly g r a b o u r a tt e n ti o n , w e drift
o f f to th i n k a b o u t s o m e t h i n g els e. W e
h a v e lo st th e a rt o f c r e a t i v e liste n in g .
A s c h il d r e n , w e le a r n e d to liste n
s e le c ti v e ly to o u r p a r e n t s . N o w w e
h a v e d e v e l o p e d th a t s e l e c ti v e li s t e n ­
ing to a fin e art ( i f it c a n be c a ll e d an
art).
It t a k e s e n e r g y to liste n c re a tiv e ly .
It r e q u i r e s in te n tio n a lity .
O n e p e r s o n in o u r local
c o n g r e g a t i o n t a k e s n o te s
in e v e r y s e r v ic e as a w a y
o f h o n i n g th e sk ills o f
c r e a t iv e lis te n in g .
T r a g ic a lly , w e te n d to
tu n e o u t th e th i n g s o f the
sp iritu a l w o r l d first. T h e
loss o f th e art o f c r e a t iv e
l i s te n in g ste a ls p o s s i b i l i ­
ties o f g r o w t h fr o m us.
W e m i s s tr u th s a n d in ­
s ig h ts th a t c o u l d t r a n s f o r m a n d r e ­
n ew . W e trip o v e r s e r e n d i p i t i e s o f
g r a c e a n d n e v e r se e th e m . P o e t E l i z a ­
b e th B a rre t t B r o w n i n g w r it e s o f th e
p e o p le w h o live in a w o r l d so
c r a m m e d w ith th e h o ly th a t e v e r y
b u s h is a fire w ith G o d , b ut a re s o u n ­
a w a r e th a t t h e y are c o n t e n t to o n ly
p ic k b l a c k b e r r i e s . T o b e t o n e d e a f to
th e th i n g s o f th e S p ir it re s u lts in li v ­
ing a th i s - w o r l d l y e x i s t e n c e th a t is
fr u s tr a tin g a n d d e s p a i r in g .
D a lla s W il la r d , in In S e a r c h o f
G u id a n c e , o b s e r v e s : “ T h e still s m a ll
v o i c e is th e u s u a l w a y in w h i c h G o d
in d i v id u a l ly a d d r e s s e s t h o s e w h o
w a l k w ith h i m in a m a t u r e , p e r s o n a l
relationship, p ro c la im in g a n d s h o w ­
in g fo r th th e re a l it y o f th e K i n g d o m
o f G o d ."* W h at a w o n d er G od
s p e a k s to u s in w a y s th a t a re b a c k ­
g ro u n d -sp ecific, c o n tex t-sp e cific, and
personality-specific. T h e p erso n w h o
h a s n o t d e v e l o p e d th e fin e art o f c r e ­
a ti v e lis t e n in g in c o m m u n i t y will
m iss m ost o f those m essages.
I a m p a r t ic u l a r ly a l a r m e d b y the
la c k o f skill in l i s t e n in g to S c r i p tu r e .
W e r e a d f r o m th e B ib le , b u t w e h a v e
lost th e fin e art o f h e a r i n g it. T h e
w o r d s s p o k e n in 1 S a m u e l a re e q u a l l y
a p p l i c a b l e to d a y : “ T h e w o r d o f th e
L o r d w a s rare in t h o s e d a y s " (3 :1 .
N R S V ).
T h i s w e e k I a t t e n d e d a n e a rl y
m o r n i n g w o r s h i p s e r v i c e in w h i c h th e
W o r d s o u n d e d w ith e x t r a o r d i n a r y
c la rity. T h e W o r d w a s s o p o w e r f u l
We read from the Bible, but we
have lost the fine art of hearing
it.
a n d so t i m e l y th a t th e r e w a s n o w a y
to e s c a p e its ca ll. 1 b e l i e v e th a t J e s u s
still c alls: “ L e t a n y o n e w h o h a s e a rs
lis te n !"
T e r e s a o f A v ila f r e q u e n t l y w r it e s
th a t p e r s o n s w h o le a r n to liste n to
G o d w ill r e c e i v e a d i v i n e in fillin g
th a t w ill c l e a n s e o u r s o u l m i r r o r s o f
d u s t a n d m a k e us a b le to re f le c t
G o d ' s lo v e to an a c h i n g w o r ld .
‘ Dallas Willard, In Search o f Guidance: Developing a Conver­
sational Relationship with God (HarperSanFrancisco, 1993),
91
^
H e r a l d o r H o l in e s s
WAYLAID BY MALACHI
co n tin u ed fr o m p a g e 23
ing they had postponed filling the position until after the
first of the year.
I began relating some hum orous incidents to Terry,
laughing about antics the kids at school had pulled. As I
spoke, I realized how much I enjoyed working with the
elementary students. “If only the school paid better . . .
I started, and then, im m ediately, I countered, “ Well,
that’s a lack of faith!” so strongly that I surprised myself.
The next day, I was back at school, helping out while
the s e c re ta r y w as on m e d ic a l leav e . T he p rin c ip a l
stepped into the office and asked if I would talk with
him for a few minutes. Curiously, I followed him. On his
desk was a copy of my resume.
“W e’ve been looking for a part-time computer teacher,
and I think w e ’ve had the perfect candidate under our
noses all along,” the principal said. As he proceeded to
outline duties, hours, and salary, tears welled up in my
eyes. I qualified for the position. The hours were perfect.
And the salary not only covered our bills but also includ­
ed enough to pay not only my tithe but also my hus­
b and ’s, almost to the dollar.
“ ‘Test me in this,’ says the L o r d Almighty, ‘and see if
1 will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour
out so m u c h b le s s in g th at you will not h av e room
enough for it’” (Malachi 3:10, n i v ).
^
Do You H a v e a
F r ie n d o r L o v e d
O n e S e r v in g i n t h e M il it a r y ?
D o n ’ t L e t Y o u r S e r v ic e m e m b e r
“ F a l l T h r o u g h t h e C r a c k s .”
C a ll
to report new names and addresses
and changes of address. We will send
our quarterly newsletter, UNDER
ORDERS, and notify a nearby pas
tor and/or chaplain for follow up.
HELP US STAY IN TOUCH BY
KEEPING
USIN
CHAPLAINCY MINISTRIES
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S e p t e m b e r 19 96
33
N a za r e n e F a m ily
Endowment Honors SNU Educator
SNU President
Loren Gresham
receives a
$10,000 check to
create an endow­
ment in honor of
Anna Belle
Laughbaum. (Lett,
I. to r.) Gresham;
Alice Stooker,
AAUW president;
Laughbaum; Lois
Coe, chairman of
the scholarship
committee; and
Michael Crab­
tree, SNU director
of university de­
velopment.
Nearly Half Century
Devoted to Service
A $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 sc h o larsh ip e n d o w m e n t w as
recently a w a rd e d to So u th ern N a z a re n e
U niv ersity to h o n o r A n n a B elle L a u g h ­
b a u m , S N U p ro f e s s o r e m e r it a o f E n g ­
lish.
T h e g if t w a s p r e s e n t e d to S N U by
the A m e ric a n A sso ciatio n o f U niv ersity
W omen.
Dr. L a u g h b a u m is a lo n g tim e m e m ­
b e r o f the A A U W .
Texas Youth Attack Urban Eyesores
Norman, O kla., First Church Pastor Wes
Meisner presents a clock to W illis Baldwin
for his 49 years of service as custodian of
the church. Baldwin’s w ife, Mildred, looks
on.
Wi l l i s B a l d w i n h a s b e e n h o n o r e d for
alm o st a h a lf cen tury o f service to N o r ­
m a n , O k la ., F ir s t C h u r c h o f th e
N az are ne. In D e c e m b e r 1946, B ald w in
a p p l i e d to s e r v e a s c a r e t a k e r o f th e
c h u r c h . H is s t a r ti n g s a la ry w a s $ 15 a
w eek an d o cc u p a n c y fo r his fam ily o f a
c h u r c h - o w n e d h o u s e . T h e 9 2 - y e a r - o ld
B aldw in served as cu sto d ia n until Ju ne
30 o f th is y e a r. An a c tiv e m e m b e r,
B ald w in co n tin u es to m a k e w e ek ly vis­
its to parishioners.
Send Stories and Photos to:
Nazarene Family
Herald of Holiness
6401 The Paseo
Kansas City, M0 64131
816-333-7000, ext. 2302
34
A lm o s t 150 N a z a r e n e c a m p e r s a n d
their co u n se lo rs sp ent th ree d a y s m i n is ­
tering to o th ers as th ey serv ed in a v a ri­
e t y o f s e r v i c e p r o j e c t s in M a r s h a l l ,
Tex., in Ju ne. T h e y o u n g peo ple, p a rtic ­
i p a n t s in t h e D a l l a s D i s t r i c t S e n i o r
High C a m p in Scottsville, clea re d lots,
p ic k e d up litter, d e m o lis h e d an o ld
c h u rch b u ild in g , and c lea red d ebris
fr o m a ro u n d a structure that n eig h b o rs
say h a d b e c o m e a d ru g den.
T h e c a m p e rs w ere p raise d by city o f ­
ficials an d in a n e w s p a p e r editorial and
w e re tr e a te d to a free s w im at a c ity o w n e d pool.
(Right): Jason Mosley, a senior high camper
on the Dallas District, uses a weed cutter
to clear debris during one of several ser­
vice projects this summer in M arshall, Tex.
Longtime Teacher
Lillian C u r t i s re cen tly retire d a fte r 38
years o f teac h in g S u n d a y S c h o o l classes
in t h e C h i l ­
d r e n ’s D e p a r t­
m ent
at
L eonardtow n,
M d. She re ­
m a in s activ e
in h e r c h u r c h ,
w h ere she is a
m e m b e r o f the
b o a rd . S h e a l­
so s e r v e s as a
ch ap la in in the
N av y W iv es
F le e t
R e­
serves.
H e r a l d o f H o l i n f .s s
Ordinations
(Right) 1996 Anaheim District ordinand class (I.
to r.): District Superintendent Thomas L. Goble,
Rev. James and Amy Payton, Dr. Bao-Yee Liu,
and General Superintendent William J. Prince.
(Abot/eJ1996 Dakota District ordinand class: (I.
to r.): District Superintendent R. J. Wegner, Rev.
Ernie and K ristina H ockett, Debbie and Rev.
Craig Bickel, and General Superintendent Jer­
ald D.Johnson.
(Above) 1996 Northern Michigan District ordi­
nand class (I. to (.): General Superintendent Jer­
ald D. Johnson, Rev. James and Louise Harvey,
Janis and Rev. William Lowe, and District Su­
perintendent Milton E. Hoose.
(Above): 1996 South Arkansas District ordinand
class (I. to r.): District Superintendent Russell
Branstetter, Rev. Jim and Sharon Wilkins, Rev.
Jeffery and M arla W olfe, Rev. M ichele John­
ston, Carolyn and Rev. J. B. Evans, and General
Superintendent Jerald D. Johnson.
(Below) 1996 Metro New York District ordinand
class (front): Rev. Trevor and Jennifer St. Hill,
Rev. Alexander Madrigal, Rev. Amanda Arboleda Madrigal, Rev. Vilma Benjamin, Rev. Lynette
H ollow ay, and Jane and Rev. Larry A bate.
(Back): District Superintendent Dallas D. Mucci
and General Superintendent Jerald D. Johnson.
(Below) 1996 Chicago Central District ordinand
class (I. to r.): General Superintendent Paul G.
Cunningham, Rev. Brad and Lori Lee, Rev. Tim­
othy and Ellen S tid h a m , R ev. P a tric e and
Robert W ells, and District Superintendent E.
Keith Bottles.
(Below) 1 99 6 S acram ento D is tric t ordinand
class (I. to r.): General Superintendent John A.
Knight, Rev. Paul and Tammy Slaton, Rev. Tim
and Pam Gerdes, Rev. Perry and Michelle Arbogast, Rev. Steve and Barbara Sheets, Rev. Bill
and Nancy Sawyer, Rev. Scott and Ronda Walk­
er, Rev. Bruce and Carolyn Colburn, Rev. Jim
and Carol Smith, Rev. Jim and Esther Hanson,
and District Superintendent Ron Greeno.
(Left) 1996 Canada Central District ordinand class
(I. to r.): General Superintendent James H. Diehl,
Rev. Carl and Rev. Barbara Moulton, Rev. Rodney
and Kara Murphy, Rev. Harold and Phyllis Cobb,
Rev. Octavio and Gena Torres, and District Super­
intendent Ronald G. Fry.
S
ept em ber
19 96
35
THE RADICAL OPTIMIS
by John A. Knight, general superintendent, Church o f the Nazarene
Photo by Kingswood Images
A rt by Tim Nyberg
This article is excerpted from an address delivered at the Christian
Holiness Association, April 24, 1996, Indianapolis.
If th a t's not the “ra d ic a l o p ti­
rem ark ab le re n a is ­
m ism " o f g ra ce, then I w o u l d n ’t
s a n c e is ta k in g p lace
know w here to find it.
in Wesley studies. His
blend o f theology and
1.
ALL OF US NEED TO
m in istry is attractive.
BE SAVED
His insistence on d is ­
The reason is sim ple— all p e o ­
c ip leship fits the c u r­
p
le
r e n t e m p h a s i s o n C h r i s t i a nare s in n e rs . T h e y a re e i t h e r
s e l f - i n d u l g e n t s i n n e r s l i k e th e
g r o w th , sp iritu al fo r m a tio n , an d
prodigal
son or self-righteous sin­
renewal.
ners
like
his elder brother, or else,
T h e best o f W e s le y ’s th eolo gy
like
m
o
s
t
o f u s, th e y are s o m e ­
em erged from his sermons. He d e ­
th
in
g
o
f
b
o
th . “ A ll h a v e s in n e d
v e l o p e d his th e o l o g y not in the
and
[do
now
] fall short o f the g lo ­
iv o r y t o w e r b u t in th e m a r k e t ­
ry
o
f
G
o
d
”
( R o m a n s 3 :2 3 , n i v ,
p la c e . H is t h e o l o g y is l i f e - c e n ­
em
phases
added).
tered, not idea-saturated.
You d o n ’t have to be a C hristian
I have chosen to highlight W es­
to
realize that som ething is w rong
le y ’s radically optimistic teachings
w
ith
th e h u m a n ra c e . E v e r y o n e
w ith a s im p le f o u r fo ld f o r m u la ,
seem
s
to be asking, esp ecially in
b o rro w ed from W esleyan th e o lo ­
A
m
erica,
“W h a t is w ro n g ?”
gian P h ilip W atson. (1) All m e n
Wesley
asked the sam e question
n eed to be saved; (2) All m en can
in
the
18th
century and concluded
be saved; (3) All m en can kn o w
that
the
fundam
ental p roblem was
th ey are saved; and (4) All m en
hum
an
sinfulness.
T h e first step in
ca n b e sav e d to th e u tte r m o s t. I
u
n
d
e
rsta
n
d
in
g
o
u
r
W esleyan h e r­
will follow this outline, changing
itage
is
to
u
n
d
e
r
s
ta
n d the d e p th
the wording slightly.
and
tragedy
o
f
h
u
m
an
sinfulness.
T h e c e n tr a l d o c t r i n e o f W e sT h is d o c trin e w as not p o p u la r
l e y a n i s m is th e d o c t r i n e o f r e ­
in W e s le y ’s tim e. T h e p re v ailin g
d e m p tio n . As P aul said , “ C h rist
view w as on e o f “o p tim istic h u ­
died for o u r sins . . . he was buried
m a n is m ," c h e e r f u l f a i t h in th e
. . . he was raised on the third day
possibilities o f m ank ind . All that
in accordance with the Scriptures”
p e o p le n e e d e d w as m o re k n o w l ­
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4, r s v ) . Christ
e d g e , m o re e d u c a t i o n , m o re e n ­
cam e to bring deliverance from:
lig h te n m e n t. L ib era l th e o lo g ia n s
the g u ilt o f sin— justification
earlier in this century said ess e n ­
the p o w e r o f sin— conversion
tially the sam e thing. T h a t p o s i ­
the pollution o f sin— entire sanc­
t i o n is n o t o p t i m i s m b u t b l i n d
tification
“u n r e a lis m . ” A g a in s t th is fa ls e
the effects o f sin— glorification
v ie w , W e s le y s e t t h e C h r i s t i a n
T h e ato n e m e n t o f C h rist deals
doctrine o f “original sin.”
not only w ith the m an ife sta tio n s
S o m e still d e n y the o b j e c t i v e
o f sin but with the fountainhead of
reality o f sin altogether; others d e ­
sin; not only w ith the sy m p to m s
ny its p o w e r and explain it as the
but with the disease itself.
A
36
a b s e n c e o f g o o d n e s s; still others
e x c u s e it by s a y i n g , “ N o b o d y ’s
perfect.” We need a fresh affirm a­
tion o f the re ality and d a n g e r of
sin. You see, we need a S avior o n ­
ly if w e n ee d sav in g ; w e need a
S avior only if we cannot save o ur­
s e l v e s . T h i s is w h y W e s l e y a n
thought began with: all o f us need
to be saved.
If sin were a “ thing,” we might
find som e w ay to rid ourselves of
it or cut it out surgically. But be­
cause it is a spirit, a power, an in­
fection o f o u r hum anity, the only
option is transform ation. We ca n ­
not try hard enough, learn enough,
o r w o r s h i p e n o u g h to h e a l o u r ­
selves. T h e solution is tran sfo rm a­
tion. We all need to be saved. We
all need a Savior!
2.
ALL OF US CAN BE
SAVED
Wesley never spoke o f sin's ef­
fects w ithout also speaking o f the
remedy. Som e preachers spend 90
p e rcen t o f th eir tim e spea k in g of
the disease and 10 percent o f the
re m e d y . T h e r e is p o w e r fo r the
p o w e r l e s s . T h e r e is h e l p f o r
the helpless. There is a cure for the
disease. O ne o f W e s le y ’s favorite
texts was: “ H ere is a tru stw o rth y
s a y i n g . . . J e s u s c a m e in to the
w orld to save sinners” (1 Tim othy
1:15, n i v ) . G od took the initiative.
“ G o d com m en d e th [demonstrates,
n k j v ] his love tow ard us, in that,
w hile we w ere yet sinners, Christ
died for us” (R om ans 5:8).
To be sa v e d is to be d e liv e re d
fro m the p o w e r and d o m in io n o f
sin. Sin no longer reigns o v er one
w ho has been saved. T hat one
H e r a l d o f H o l in e s s
MOFGR
For the grace of God that
brings salvation has
appeared to all men,
teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and
godly in the present age,
looking for the blessed
hope and glorious
appearing of our great God
and Savior Jesus Christ,
who gave Himself for us,
that He might redeem us
from every lawless deed
and purify for Himself His
own special people,
zealous for good works
(T itu s 2 : 1 1 1 4 , n k jv ).
g oes out o f the sinn ing business,
h a v in g b e e n f r e e d fro m the
bo nd ag e o f sin. Christ “breaks the
p o w e r o f c a n c e lle d sin ; / H e sets
the p r is o n e r f r e e ." Wow! Is that
“ radical o p tim ism ,” or what?
C h a r l e s W e s l e y c a p t u r e s th e
th e m e o f triu m p h o v e r sin in his
classic h y m n “ A nd C an It B e ? ”
L o n g m y im p riso n ed sp irit lay,
F a s t h o u n d in s in a n d n a ­
ture's night.
T h in e eye d iffu se d a q u ic k ’ning
ray.
I w o ke; th e d u n g e o n fla m e d
w ith light.
M y ch a in s f e l l off; m y hea rt w as
fre e .
I ro se , w e n t f o r t h , a n d f o l ­
lo w ed Thee.
central them es in W esleyan theo l­
ogy. O n e d o e s n o t h a v e to liv e
w ith a “ h o p e - s o , ” “ th i n k - s o , ”
“ m a y b e - s o ” faith. It is the m i n ­
3.
ALL OF US CAN KNOW istry o f the Holy Spirit to bear w it­
W E ARE SAVED
ness to us that we are the children
A n a s s u r e d faith is o ne o f the
o f G o d . W e s l e y ’s fa v o rite v e rs e
S
eptkm bh r
1996
r e g a r d i n g th is is R o m a n s 8:16:
"T h e S p irit [H im se lf, n k j v ]
b e a r e t h w itn e s s w ith o u r sp irit,
that we are the children o f G od .”
W hat is it that we know when we
know we are saved? We know we
are ju stified —pardoned and accept37
fu lness, g e n tle n e s s, se lf- c o n tro l”
(G a l a t i a n s 5 :2 2 - 2 3 , n k j v ) . T h is
Charles Wesley hy m n says it well:
H is S p irit to us H e gave,
A n d d w ells in us w e know ;
T h e w itn e s s in o u r s e l v e s w e
have.
A n d all its fruits w e show.
This assurance is not arrogance,
sp iritu al co n c e it, or s e lf- c o n fi­
d e n c e . It is c o n f i d e n c e in G o d
alone, the opposite o f pride.
4.
ALL OF US CAN BE
SAVED TO TH E U T TE R ­
M OST
ed by God. We know we have been
reconciled to G od and adopted into
th e fa m ily o f G od . We k n o w we
have been regenerated, made new,
“bom from above,” raised from the
g ra v e o f t re s p a s s e s an d sin, and
quickened to new life in Christ.
A n d h o w d o es o ne k n o w ? By
the w itness and fr u it o f the Spirit.
Wesley talked about the objective
w itness, by which he m eant G o d ’s
Word and promise. “ If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse
us fro m all u n r i g h t e o u s n e s s ” (1
John 1:9).
Then Wesley spoke o f the s u b ­
je c tiv e or inner w itness. T his in ­
cludes the d irect witness o f G o d ’s
S p irit w ith the p e n ite n t b e lie v e r
— no condem nation, only com fort
a n d p l e a s u r e in the p r e s e n c e o f
God. It is a “divine evidence and
c o n v i c t i o n th a t w h a t G o d h a th
p ro m ised , he is able to p e r fo rm ”
and “that he is able and willing to
do it now,” and a “divine evidence
and conviction that he does it. In
that hour it is done. 'A c co rd in g to
thy faith be it unto th e e !’ Look for
it then every day, every m o m en t.” 1
This subjective or inner witness
also involves the indirect witness
o f the Spirit— the fr u it o f the Spir­
it is d e m o n s tra te d in o n e ’s daily
w alk— “ love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith­
38
F or Wesley, the w ork o f salv a­
tion is not c o m p le te d w ith “ c o n ­
v e rs io n ” or even w ith assurance.
The believer m ust go on to “entire
sa n c tific a tio n " or “ C hristian p e r­
fection.”
U s i n g J o h n ’s t e r m i n o l o g y (1
J o h n 2), W e s le y h e l d t h e r e a re
several stages in the Christian life:
“ little children” (babes in Christ);
“ young m e n ” (those w ho have b e­
gun to be established in the faith
and assured); and “fathers” (those
m ade perfect in love).
B ut ev e n “ b ab e s in C h ris t” do
not c o m m it sin— a w illful tr a n s ­
gression o f G o d ’s law. T he p ow er
a n d d o m i n i o n o f sin is b r o k e n .
“ W h o s o e v e r is b orn o f G o d sinneth not; but he that is begotten o f
G o d k e e p e t h h i m s e l f , a n d th a t
w icked one to ucheth him no t” (1
John 5:18). He does not sin “ w ill­
fu lly ” or “ h abitually.” Every true
Christian is so far perfect as not to
co m m it sin, W esley taught.
O f new Christians Wesley says,
“ H ow naturally do we imagine . . .
d u r i n g th e w a r m t h o f o u r f i r s t
love, . . . that because we f e e l no
sin, we have none in us.”2 But until
one goes on to entire sanctification
or C hristian perfection, the sinful
n atu re re m a in s, th o u g h d o es not
reign, in the heart o f the believer.
Entire sanctification is d e liv e r­
ance from the p o llu tio n o f in-be­
in g s i n — f r o m s i n f u l p r i d e , th e
selfish will, the spirit o f self-sov­
ereignty. T h e C hristian will have
no doubt o f the favor o f G od, but
he w ill c o m e to a “ c o n v i c t i o n ,
w r o u g h t by the H o ly S p ir i t,” of
"the sin " that still rem ains in the
heart (spoken o f about 28 times by
the apostle Paul betw een R om ans
c h a p t e r s 5 a n d 8 ), t h e “ c a r n a l
m i n d , ” w h i c h r e m a i n s e v e n in
th o s e w h o a re r e g e n e r a t e d — a l­
though it no longer reigns.
T he believer, with the gentle re­
p r o o f o f th e S p i r i t , d i s c e r n s in
time a m ixture o f evil (un-Christliken ess)— “ so that n ow [we] are
m o re a s h a m e d o f o u r best duties
th a n fo r m e rly o f [ou r] w o rst
s i n s . ” ' W e c o n f e s s o u r a b s o lu te
h e l p l e s s n e s s to t h i n k o n e g o o d
thought, to form one go od desire,
or to perform one g ood action, but
through C h ris t’s grace.
To b e “ c r u c i f i e d w ith C h r i s t ”
d e s c rib e s a d e liv e r a n c e fro m in­
ward as well as outw ard sin. There
is
a sin fu l self to be cru c ified with
Christ;
a t r u e s e l f t o b e r e a l i z e d in
Christ;
a h u m a n s e lf to be d iscip lin e d
by Christ.
W h a te v er else m ay be said, for
Wesley, the essence o f entire sanc­
tific a tio n is love (a g a p e )— G o d ’s
kind o f love. E ntire sanctification
is C h r i s t l i k e lo v e so f i l l in g the
h e a rt th at sin is e x c lu d e d or e x ­
p e lle d . T h e s a n c ti f i e d C h ris tia n
“ loves G od with all his heart, and
D a d k ' ai
O ptimism
IkY ISU vS
Dr. John A. Knight delivering the message on the radical optimism of grace to the Christian
Holiness Association Convention in Indianapolis.
WE
'E NEED A SAVIOR ONLY IF WE NEED SAVING;
WE NEED A SAVIOR ONLY IF WE CANNOT SAVE OURSELVES.
with all his soul, and with all his
mind, and with all his strength; so
Jesus now reigns alone in his heart,
the Lord o f every m otion there.”4
For Wesley, there is no holiness
a p a r t f r o m s o c i a l h o l i n e s s , in
which one actively seeks the w e l­
fare o f even o n e ’s enem ies. C h ris­
tian h olin ess is not m ere ly a p ri­
vate, esoteric ex p erience with the
divine (“Just Jesus and m e ” )— it is
lo ve fo r G o d a n d o th e r s , lo v in g
o u r n e i g h b o r as o u r s e l v e s . C a n
you im agine a m ore “ radical op ti­
m i s m ” ? W h o w o u ld not w a n t to
live in a society like that?
C h ristia n p erfec tio n do es not
m ean “ p erfect” in know ledge; nor
fr e e d o m fro m ig n o ra n c e o r m i s ­
takes or p oo r jud g m en t; nor deliv­
eran ce fro m te m p ta tio n s o r infir­
mities; n or from thoughts o f evil,
bu t fro m evil th o u g h ts in w h ic h
we glut the im agination and relish
the thought.
C o n s e q u e n t l y , W e s le y w o u l d
not sp eak o f “s in le ss" perfection
but o f “C h ristia n " perfection.
Se p te m b e r
19 9 6
T h e m o t i v a t i o n c a n be rig h t,
though the action m ay be flawed.
H o w e v e r, the e n tire ly s a n c tifie d
w ill not ju s t if y the p o o r ac tio n s
but will ask forgiveness and offer
rectitude.
C h r i s t ia n p e r f e c ti o n is p o w e r
over sin.
It is r a d i c a l d e p e n d e n c e o n
Christ.
It is equ ipm ent for ministry.
It is an i m p e t u s to c o n t i n u e d
grow th in grace.
It m anifests itself in social c o n ­
cern.
It s e e k s to e x a l t C h r i s t a n d
dem onstrate His Spirit.
To u n d e r s ta n d the m e a n in g o f
C h ristia n p e rfe c tio n , one m ust
look at J e s u s ’ use o f the term in
M atthew 5. It is going the second
m i l e , g i v i n g u p o n e ’s c l o a k as
w e ll a s c o a t , t u r n i n g th e o t h e r
cheek, praying for o n e ’s enemies.
In s h o r t , it is C h r i s t l i k e n e s s .
C hristlikeness is holiness, and in­
creasing C hristlikeness is increas­
ing holiness. There is no “ceiling”
to the life o f holiness. None o f us
h a s y e t “ a r r i v e d . ” G o d is n o t
through with us yet.
A n d y et th e lo v e o f G o d ca n
co m e into the heart and life now
until it is fin a lly p erfec te d at the
la s t d a y — “ T ill w e all c o m e in
the unity o f the faith, and o f the
know ledge o f the Son o f God, un­
to a p e rfe c t man, unto the m easure
o f th e s t a t u r e o f th e f u l n e s s o f
C h r i s t ” (E p h e s ia n s 4 :1 3 -1 4 , e m ­
phasis added).
W e all as k o u r s e l v e s : Is th is
m essage that has been bequeathed
to us still relevant in our world of
technological expansion and infor­
m ation superhighw ays? T he rad i­
cal optim ism inherent in ou r h er­
itag e o n ly p e r m its o n e p o s s ib le
a n s w e r — a r e s o u n d in g , p o s itiv e
affirm ation— “YES!" It is our gift
to the 21st century!
Bob Reardon tells a story about
a grandfather sitting in a lawn chair
sw in g w hile tw o y o u n g s te rs tear
about the darken ed yard, chasing
fireflies on a hot s u m m e r ’s night.
The skies are suddenly m ade bright
by a m eteor shower, which alarms
the children. They run to Grandpa,
crying, “The sky is falling! The sky
is fa llin g !” G ra n d p a puts his big
a r m s a r o u n d th e m , o n e on ea ch
side. A fter they h ave qu ieted, he
points to the great constellations of
Orion and Ursa Major. “ See those
big stars?” he asks. “T hey haven't
budged an inch.”
We h ear from m an y q u arte rs
that we have m oved into the postC h r i s t ia n e ra , th a t the lig h ts o f
C h ris t’s C hurch are going out, and
we will soon be engulfed in total
d a r k n e s s . “ Y ou s e e t h o s e b ig
s tars”— that infinite con stellation
o f g ra ce— salvation, ju stifica tio n ,
re g e n e ra tio n , a d o p tio n , en tire
sa n c tific a tio n , h o lin e s s, h ea lin g,
unity through the indwelling Spir­
it?
“T hey h aven't b u d g ed an inch."
1. Here Dr. Knight collects a number of exhortations from
sections 15-18 of John Wesley’s sermon "The Scripture Way
of Salvation.” See John Wesley's Fifty-three Sermons, Ed­
ward H. Sugden, ed. (Nashville: Abingdon, 1984), 731-33.
2. John Wesley, “The Wilderness State," Sugden, 589.
3. John Wesley, “The Repentance of Believers," Sugden,
679.
4. John Wesley, “A Plain Account of Christian Perfection," in
Works, Vol. XI, 384.
^
39
M issing the Sunset
by T. W. M itchell, pastor.
Church o f the Nazarene, Ashwood, South Carolina
ill Gaither, in his delightful
book / Almost Missed the Sun­
set, said, “One time 1 was an­
gry over something that had
happened in our church, and 1
spouted off about it. Uncle
Jess calmed me by saying sim­
ply, ‘Bill, you know, you can be
and still be wrong.’ How true. I may
have been right in my opinion, right in
my conviction, . . . but 1 was surely
wrong about how I expressed it."
This happens time and time again
in life. A person can be right and
wrong at the same time. And when
your conviction is right but your spirit
is wrong, you will miss the sunset.
1 remember an incident that hap­
pened when I was just a boy. 1 was out
playing with some of the neighbor
boys one afternoon and lost my sling­
shot. One of the other guys, an obnox­
ious kid named Buster Buchanan,
found it but refused to give it back.
That evening, as his family sat at the
supper table, I barged in, demanding
that he give me my slingshot. Buster
refused, and we scuffled. I really can't
remember who started it, but Buster’s
mom ended it. She took the slingshot
and invited me to leave.
I went home and told my parents that
Buster had my slingshot and wouldn't
give it back. Dad said he would go and
talk with our neighbor the next day. He
did. and when I got home, 1 was not
pleased with what happened. Mrs.
Buchanan had told him about the scene
at the supper table. Dad told me that al­
though I was right in wanting my sling­
shot back, I was wrong in what 1 had
done to get it back. The next thing I
knew, 1 was standing on the B u­
chanans’ front porch, blurting out an
apology. Mrs. Buchanan smiled, wiped
her hands on her red-checkered apron,
and presented me with one pat on the
head and one slingshot. I was right, but
I was also wrong.
B
40
I remember another time when I
believe I was right and wrong. I re­
ceived a phone call from my father
asking if I had seen Mother or any of
the children. He was drinking at the
time and threatened Mother and the
children. They left the house and went
out into the fields to hide. I was really
upset and had every intention of going
to the house after I got off work and.
right
H f.r a i . d o e H o l i n e s s
B,
BELLIGERENCE AFFECTS BOTH THE EYESIGHT AND THE
SOUL. YOU CAN NEITHER SEE NOR APPRECIATE A SUNSET.
if necessary, using physical force to
let him know that he was not to abuse
Mother or the children in any way.
Before leaving the shop, I picked up a
wrist pin to use if it came down to a
fight between us. The wrist pin fit
snugly in my hand, and when I made
a fist, it would give me a solid punch.
Dad and I met and talked and argued
and threatened each other but never
did fight. I believe I was right in
wanting to protect M other and the
children, but 1 was totally wrong in
the way 1 went about it.
Several years later, I had the privi­
lege of leading my father to Christ.
That put an end to his drinking, and for
the rest of his life, he was a good hus­
band and the kind of father that was a
joy to be with. I often wonder if I
would have had the privilege to “pray
him through’’ if we had fought that af­
ternoon. Would he have lost all respect
for me and I for him? Would he have
come by the shop that Saturday after­
noon, a broken man at the end of his
row, and asked me to come by after
work to help him get his life straight­
ened out? I wonder! I think I was right
in motive but completely wrong in
thinking that a fight would settle the is­
sue. A fistfight with my dad would
have caused us both to miss the sunset.
In the church, we have similar situa­
tions. We may be right in wanting to
defend the church, but we may be ab­
solutely wrong in the way we go about
it. As Gaither said, sometimes we get
September’s
10- P m
tQ
5. In 1988 our churches reported 912 associate pastors. How
many w ere reported in 1995?
A. 1,297
B. 1,402
C. 566
D. 814
u z
1. The form er private pilot for Oral Roberts who has turned
into a m u ltim illio n a ire te le v a n g e lis t and has produced a
m ovie starring h im s elf as a born-again gunslinger named
W ichita Slim is:
A. Chuck S w indoll
C. Rev. Ike
B. Kenneth Copeland
D. Bennie Hinn
2. On May 6, 1996, the U .S. Supreme Court upheld a lower
court ruling that a cross that stood with a covered wagon, oil
derrick, and a train had to be removed from the official seal
depicting the history of which of these cities?
A. Vernon, Texas
C. Independence, Kansas
B. Salem, Oregon
D. Edm ond, Oklahom a
3. Fifty-three percent of N azarene pastors attended one of
our eight lib eral arts co lleg es. About 22 percent attended
N a za re n e T h e o lo g ic a l S e m in a ry . W h a t perce n t atten d ed
N azarene Bible College?
A. 16.6%
B. 36.6%
C. 46.6%
D. 6.6%
4. According to official statistics from the general secretary’s
o ffic e , th e re w e re 3 2 9 e v a n g e lis ts in the Church of the
Nazarene in 1988. In 1995 there were:
A. 401
B. 126
C. 296
D. 39
Septem ber
19 9 6
angry over things that happen in the
church and spout off about it. The gen­
tle but firm reminder from his uncle
calmed him, and he was made to realize
that you can be right and still be wrong.
In most churches, there are those
who are right in opinion, right in con­
viction, right in judgment about some
issue, but they are wrong in the way
they go about trying to change the is­
sue. At such times, we need a dear
saint to calm us with a gentle but firm
reminder, “You can be right and still
be wrong.” You have already missed
too many sunsets.
Lord, please help me when I am
right about an issue in the c hurch not
to be wrong in the way I try to change
it. Being wrong, even when 1 am right,
will lead to hurt feelings, misunder­
standings, strife, and division. Help
me, Lord, to commit the problem to
You, and give me the patience I need
to wait on Your answer. Help us not to
let anger rob us o f the tranquility o f
another sunset. This I pray in Jesus'
name, and fo r the sake o f churches
everywhere. Amen.
^
6. According to A m erican E n terprise, among the persons
classified as “poor” in Am erica, 93 percent have televisions
and 72 percent own washing machines. How many also own
microwaves and VCRs?
A. 30%
B. 60%
C. 70%
D. 15%
7. How many American Indian tribes own a casino license?
A. 40
B. 60
C. 85
D. 90
8. California counselor Diane Kelly comforts how many “pet
bereavem ent clients” each week?
A. 10
B. 15
C. 20
D. 30
9. In a recent poll reported by the Washington Post, 60 per­
cent of persons questioned didn’t know that the government
spends more on M edicare than foreign aid, and 75 percent
did not know that senators serve six-year term s. W hat per­
cent could not nam e the vice president?
A. 60%
B. 45%
C. 27%
D. 10%
10. W hich of these denom inations give church secretaries
the largest paychecks each week?
A. Church of the Nazarene
C. United M ethodist Church
B. Disciples of C hrist
D. M ennonites
Answers:
Q-01 :V-6 :o -8 :q -Z :g-9 :v-S : o t :v -£ -Q-Z
:g-l.
41
w m You Help Us
CELEBRATE OUR
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY?
by Ray Hendrix, director, Publications International
W
ho w o u ld have
th e S p a n i s h D e p a r t m e n t , ” r e ­
follow these influential leaders in
im agined that a d e ­
plied Dr. Jones.
m a n a g in g the g lo b a l m in is try of
cisio n m a d e at the
R e z a w as fla b b e rg a s te d . He
Publications International.
1944 G e n e r a l A s ­
h a d c o m e to K a n s a s C ity e x ­
The current staff o f 24 e m p lo y ­
sem bly w ould have
pecting to be told w hat his a s ­
ees develops literature in Spanish,
had such extensive,
s ig n m e n t w o u ld be. He h ad
P o rtug uese, and Intercultural E n­
long-lasting ram ifi­
n o th in g p la n n e d on p a p e r and
glish (ESL). They also do the m ar­
catio ns. T h e d e c is io n w as
r e eth
­ ink q u ic k ly to r e c o n ­
h a dth to
k e tin g a n d the p r o c e s s in g o f o r­
fold:
struct som e o f the earlier ideas
d e rs fro m o u r 3 ,0 0 0 o r m ore
1. Begin a graduate theological
which he had placed in writing.
re g u la r c u s t o m e r s fr o m all over
sem inary (today— N azarene
th e S p a n is h - a n d P o r tu ­
Theological Seminary).
g u e s e - s p e a k i n g w o r l d as
2. Start the N azarene R a­
w e ll as E n g l i s h - s p e a k ­
dio L ea g u e (to d ay — World
ing m a r k e t s . T h r o u g h the
M ission Radio).
B ooks in M ission program,
3. Start a Spanish D epart­
thousands o f donated books
m e n t for the d e v e lo p m e n t
are also p rocessed and sent
o f church literature in S p an­
to the m inisterial education­
“ ...The word of the Lord endureth forever.
ish ( t o d a y — P u b l i c a t i o n s
al centers around the world.
-1 Peter 1:25
International).
A s I lo o k into th e final
In h i s b o o k A C u p o f
years o f the 1900s and into
W arm In k, au th o r F ran k lin C o o k
the b eg in n in g o f a new m illen n i­
“ It seems to m e that three b a ­
d e s c r i b e s Dr. H. T. R e z a 's firs t
um, I am challenged by:
sic things are needed as a start.
day on the job.
1. O u r international grow th as a
First, a Spanish H era ld o f H o li­
It was a hot, muggy, June day
denom ination.
n e s s. S e c o n d , S u n d a y S c h o o l
in 1946 w h e n H. T. R e z a a r ­
2. T he fast-m o vin g and rapidly
materials for adults. Third, S un­
rived in Kansas City to assum e
changin g technology.
d a y S c h o o l lite ra tu re fo r c h i l ­
his n ew p o s itio n . O n M o n d a y
3. T h e s u p e r s o n i c s p e e d with
dren.”
m o rn in g , afte r a w e e k e n d of
which once illiterate societies are
T h a t is h o w it b e g a n 50 years
settlin g in the old C o llin w o o d
educating them selves.
ago, but that is not the w ay it has
H o te l, w h ic h h a d b e c o m e the
4. T h e d e c e n t r a l i z a t i o n and
remained. U nder the leadership o f
Sem inary Hall o f the new ly o r­
d o w nsizin g trends in o ur evolving
Dr. H. T. R eza from 1946 to 1982,
g a n iz e d N a z a re n e T h e o lo g ic a l
global society.
a n d Dr. B e n n e t t D u d n e y f r o m
Seminary, R eza reported to the
5. T h e cost involved in develop­
1982 to 1992, the Spanish D epart­
o ffic e o f Dr. C. W arre n J o n e s
ing and supplying literature to the
m e n t h a s e v o l v e d into a d e p a r t ­
for work. (Dr. Jones was the e x ­
global Holiness com m unity.
m ent assigned with the task o f c o ­
ecutive secretary o f the D epart­
It is e x c itin g to re a liz e that if
o rd i n a t i n g th e d e v e lo p m e n t and
m ent o f Foreign Missions.)
the Lord tarries in His return, Pub­
distribution o f H o liness literature
"1 am h e r e , Dr. J o n e s , a n d
licatio n s In te r n a tio n a l will enter
in m ore than 70 lan guage groups
re a d y fo r w o rk . W h a t d o you
its se c o n d 50 y e a rs o f existence
where the C hurch o f the N azarene
wish me to d o ? ”
w i t h t h e s a m e o b j e c t i v e s and
is present around the world. Since
“ Well, tell me your plans for
d r e a m s th a t w e re e v i d e n t in the
1992, it has been m y privilege to
World
Mission
literature
42
H e r a l d o f H o l in e s s
m i n d o f its f o u n d e r , D r. H . T.
Reza. N am ely: the dev e lo p m e n t o f
H oliness literature for evangelistic
purposes, training o f future H o li­
ness m inisters and workers, bibli­
cal studies for all ag e s— children
through adults, discipleship m a te ­
rials fo r laity , h y m n o lo g y th a t
c o n f o rm s to o u r W e sle y an tr a d i­
tion, a n d b o o k s , m a g a z in e s , a n d
related products that nurture, e d i­
fy, and strengthen the faith o f new
as well as e s tab lish ed C hristians.
T h e lo ng-rang e benefits o f P. I . ’s
m in is try are etern al. As a g lo bal
team , we prioritize things in k e e p ­
ing with the m andate given to us
in the G reat C om m ission.
A t f i r s t g l a n c e , h o w e v e r , th e
current needs seem o v e rw h e lm ­
ing. A n d it is true that try in g to
h elp fin a n c e the d e v e lo p m e n t o f
H oliness literature in m ore than 70
la n g u a g e s in v o lv e s h e a v y f i n a n ­
cial investm ent. T he reality is that
as we celebrate our 50th ann iver­
sary, we are also faced with yearly
needs o f nearly $1 m illion in order
to translate and print non-English
H o lin e s s lite ra tu re g lo b ally .
T h e r e f o r e , P u b lic a tio n s I n t e r n a ­
tio n al has e sta b lis h e d th e W o rld
H. T. Reza, founding director of what is now
Publications International (Nazarene
Archives).
M ission Literature F u n d in order
to b e g i n m e e t i n g t h e s e u r g e n t
needs. Laun ched in S ep tem b er o f
1995, the W orld M iss io n L ite ra ­
ture F und is designed to generate
fund ing through the d o nations o f
c o m m itte d N a za re n e s g lo b ally
w ho will contribute $25 a year for
literature developm ent.
In 1946 the Church o f the Naza­
rene was relatively small, and the
world econom y was concentrating
on try ing to rebuild itself after a
very costly World W ar II. Today,
th e C h u r c h o f th e N a z a r e n e is
m uch larger, and the global econo­
m y h ea lth ie r. We are c a llin g on
Nazarenes everywhere to join us in
this effort, allow ing non-Englishspeaking Christians everywhere to
benefit from Holiness printed m a­
terials in their own languages.
P u b l i c a t i o n s I n t e r n a t i o n a l is
n ow 50 years old! Join us in our
c e le b ra tio n by j o i n in g the t h o u ­
sands w ho will help us begin our
second 50 years o f service. With
your prayers and support, Publica­
tions International will continue to
produce non-English Holiness lit­
erature.
^
V ital S tatistics
Deaths
REV. LEO H. B A LD W IN , 81, p io n e e r
m is sio n a ry to Hawaii and fo rm e r d is tric t
superintendent, Santa Cruz, Calif., May 15.
Survivors: wife, Bernice; sons, Larry, Tim;
daughter, Janice Hudson; brothers, Frank,
Gary; s iste rs, Cecile Key, V iola R oberts,
R o w e n a E y e s to n e , M a x in e W a lk u p .
D o ro th y Jo h n s to n ; e ig h t g ra n d c h ild re n ;
three great-grandchildren.
STELLA B. BRICKEL, 91, Denver, Colo,,
May 17. Survivor: sister, M ary Haviland.
LEO EARL CLEGG, 89, D en ton , Tex..
M ay 29. S u r v iv o rs : w ife , B e tty ; so n s ,
Harold, Richard; daughter, Carol Ham ilton.
ERW IN G. ELLIS, 77, Eugene, O reg.,
May 21. Survivors: wife, Marie; sons, Tom,
Denny; d a u g h te r, C arolyn H iday; s iste r,
Lu cille Beven; 10 grandchildren; 4 great­
grandchildren.
HANNAH FORD. 102. Denton, Tex., Mar.
27. Survivors: daughter. Ruth Ponder; one
grand son ; one g reat-g ra ndda ugh ter; tw o
great-great-grandchildren.
L U E L L A VER A M A R S H FO R D , 94 .
M e d fo rd . O re g .. M ay 2 7 . S u r v iv o r s :
daughters, Lila (B ozarth) W ilson, S hirley
B e lz e r; 15 g r a n d c h ild re n ; 24 g r e a t­
grandchildren.
IRENE FOREMAN, Sherman, Tex,, June
19. Survivor: nephew, Tom m y Foreman.
M ARIE M. GREER. 83, D inuba, C alif.,
Ju ne 16. S u rv iv o rs : so n . Rev. H a ro ld ;
da ughters. W anda R ollins, Joyce Cason;
brother, Arvey Daniel; 9 grandchildren; 12
great-grandchildren.
S eptem ber
1996
O R V ILLE G R IS S 0 , 72, C h a tta n o o g a ,
Tenn., May 26. Survivors: wife, Margaret;
sons. Dale, Kenneth; daughter, Ruth White;
b rothers, Paul, Charles, Joe; sister, Ruth
Shipley; six grandchildren.
LOIS B. HEDGES, 88. L e vitto w n , P a„
May 24. S urvivors: son, Keith; daughter,
Rev. Ora Cook; tw o grandsons.
REV. WALTER F HUBER, 81, pastor of
53 years, Temple, Tex,, May 15. Survivors:
w ife, Lillian; sons, Frank, Paul; daughter,
Lee C age; b r o th e r , L in d y ; s ix g r a n d ­
children: one great-grandchild.
REV. HAROLD LAKE SR., 81, pastor fo r
m ore than 50 years, M ountain Home, Ark.,
Feb. 4. S u rv iv o rs : w ife , Lo is; son, Rev.
H arold J r.; d a u g h te rs, R ob erta W illa rd ,
S h ir le y R u ff, J a n is B e la n d e r; 14
grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren.
SH AR O N LEE LEACH, 39, P o rtla n d ,
O re g ., J u n e 28 . S u r v iv o r s : h u s b a n d .
R o b e rt; p a re n ts , J a m e s an d P h y llis
M anning; brothers, Paul, Keith, and Wesley
M anning; sisters, Joanne Sm ith, Carolyn
Farrow, Beverley Farrow, Denise Manning.
REV. NORMAN JOHN LEWIS, 79, West
C olum bia, S.C., May 21. S urvivors: w ife,
Lillian; brother, R aym ond (W illie); sister,
Christabel Hunnicut.
JANE PATTON. Edgew ood, Tex., June
20. Survivors: husband, Rev. Burl A.; sons,
Mendeil, Mark; tw o grandsons.
THELMA H, PEIRCE, 89, Batesville, Ark.,
J u ly 1. S u r v iv o rs : s e v e ra l n ie c e s and
nephews.
REV. C H ESTER A. S M IT H S R ., 90 ,
p a s to r fo r m ore th a n 40 ye ars, Round
R o c k, T e x ., J u ly 11. S u r v iv o r s : w ife ,
D orothy; sons, Rev. Chet Jr., Rev. Paul;
d a u g h te rs , B a rb a ra C la rk , M a rjo rie
Brundage.
GEORGE F. S M IT H , 83, Ja m e s to w n ,
Tenn., Apr. 22. S urvivors: wife, D orothy;
son, Dan; sister, Henrietta; one grandson.
C H A R LE S H ENRY T IN K L E , 8 1 , and
M ARIO N CHARLOTTE TIN KLE, 77, San
D ie g o , C a lif., M a r. 11 and A p r. 16.
S urvivors: son, Phillip; daughters. Susan
S a n d e rs o n , J a n e t M ille r : on e g r a n d ­
daughter.
RUTH (BOTTLES) TIREY, 74, D ayton,
O h io , A p r. 28 . S u r v iv o r s : s o n , T im ;
daughters, Patricia W elton, Brenda Farris;
b ro th e rs , H a rold, R ussel, and C hica go
C entral D is tric t S up e rin te n d e n t E. Keith
Bottles; eight grandchildren.
MARY VICE, 98, Belton, Mo., June 16.
Survivor: nephew, John Deere,
FRANCES YARBROUGH, 84. Bethany,
Okla., May 23. S urvivors: husband, Rev.
Jo hn; d a ughters, M adalyn Long, Esther
G iro u a rd , S ylvia Evans; ste p d a u g h te rs ,
C arol Davis, Karen Y a rb ro u g h , D o ro th y
M o rg a n ; s is te r , V irg in ia M o o d y ; 8
g ra n d c h ild re n ; 7 s te p g ra n d c h ild re n ; 5
g r e a t-g ra n d c h ild r e n ; 12 s te p g re a tgrandchildren.
Births
to JA Y
AKKERM AN,
Lauren Marie,
to HERB
an d K IM
(R 0 S E N A U )
S ilv e rd a le , W a sh ., a g irl.
Mar. 19.
an d .JEN N IFER (B 0 L D T )
ALBERTSON, Oklahoma City, Okla., a boy,
Benjamin Herbert. May 22.
to H O W AR D and TERESA G IVEN S,
Le xington, K y., a g irl, Joanna C hristine.
May 1.
to ALAN and KAREN (R U TZ ) HARP,
N o rw o o d , M o., a bo y, Evan A le xa n d e r
Birdell, May 18.
to MARK and TARA (REISS) HINSEN,
Olathe, Kans., a boy, Adam Mark, May 6.
to JERRY and LANI (HUBBERT) LEWIS,
Mountain Home. Ark., a boy, Brady Austin,
May 19.
to D AN N Y and PAM (S C H W E N K )
M A R T IN , O la th e , K an s., a b o y, Ja co b
Daniel, June 18.
to C H R IS and K ELLY W EBSTER ,
Potterville, M ich., a girl, Rebecca Collette,
Feb. 12.
Marriages
DONNA L. NICHOLSON and MARK L.
GRAHAM, July 13 at Waco, Tex.
Anniversaries
0 R IN and HELEN KARGAES, Beulah,
N.Dak., celebrated their 50th anniversary
June 9.
The Kargaeses have fo u r ch ildren and
nine grandchildren.
REV. CLAUDE and ELLEN PITTENGER.
S p rin g , T e x ., c e le b ra te d th e ir 5 0 th
a n n iv e rs a ry Ju n e 29 w ith a re c e p tio n
hosted by th e ir fo u r ch ild re n and three
grandchildren.
43
REV. LEONARD and M IR IA M YORK,
M ontag ue, C alif., ce le bra te d th e ir 50th
a n n iv e rs a ry A ug. 10 w ith a re c e p tio n
h o s te d by th e ir c h ild r e n an d g r a n d ­
children.
REV. FLOYD and HELEN ZURCHER,
M u n c ie , In d ., c e le b ra te d th e ir 5 0 th
anniversary June 1 w ith an open house
reception given by their daughter, Debra
Reiniche.
Announcements
ARCADIA (FLA.) FIRST CHURCH w ill
celebrate its 65th anniversary Oct. 13 w ith
s p e c ia l m o rn in g s e rv ic e s fo llo w e d by
dinner on the grounds.
Form er pastors, m em bers, and friends
are invited to attend or send greetings. For
m o re in fo rm a tio n , c o n ta c t th e c h u rc h
o ffic e , 132 W. G ibson St., A rcadia, FL
33266, 941-494-1861.
CAMDEN (S .C .) FIRST CHURCH w ill
ce le b ra te its 5 0 th a n n iv e rs a ry N ov. 3.
A c tiv itie s begin at 10 a . m ., fo llo w e d by
dinner and a 3 p . m . concert by the Reiters.
Form er pastors, m em bers, and friends
are invited. For more inform ation, contact
P a s to r R onald A dam s, 22 76 J e ffe rs o n
Davis Hwy., Camden, SC 29020, 803-4323750.
CONCORD (CALIF.) FIRST CHURCH w ill
celebrate its 50th anniversary Oct. 19-20
w ith a 6 p .m . banquet Saturday and 9:30
and 10:55 a .m . services Sunday featuring
form e r pastors.
Form er pastors, mem bers, and friends
are invited to attend or send greetings. For
m ore in fo rm a tio n , c o n ta c t the ch u rc h ,
1650 A sh bury Dr., C oncord, CA 94520,
510-685-4343.
ESTHERVILLE (IO W A ) CHURCH w ill
celebrate its 40th anniversary Sept. 22.
For more inform ation, contact Rev. Cliff
Vander Burgh, 3068 Sorrel Ave., Sanborn,
IA 51 248,712-729-5523.
G ALION (O H IO ) FIRST CHURCH w ill
celebrate its 70th anniversary Sept. 13-15
w ith a F rid ay e vening teen c o n c e rt by
B u rn in g B ush. S a tu rd a y a fte rn o o n ice
cream social and games, and a combined
10 a.m. Sunday service follow ed by dinner
on the grounds and a praise and w orship
service. General Superintendent W illiam J.
Prince is the special speaker, w ith m usic
by Ron and Carolyn Patti.
Form er pastors, m em bers, and friends
are invited to attend or send greetings. For
m ore inform ation, contact the church, 777
Fairview Ave.. Galion, OH 44833, 419-4681262.
LAKE JACKSON (TEX.) CHURCH w ill
celebrate its 25th anniversary during the
m onth of S eptem ber w ith ho m e com ing
Sept. 8 and revival w ith Rev. David Nash
and ONU's Promise Sept. 22-25.
Form er pastors, m em bers, and friends
are invited. For m ore inform ation, contact
Phyllis Bertram, 409-297-5433.
PORTAGE (IND.) GRACE CHURCH w ill
celebrate its 40th anniversary Sept. 14-15.
Form er pastors, m em bers, and friends
are invited to attend or send greetings. For
m o re in fo rm a tio n , c o n ta c t Rev. M ark
H o s te tle r, 5 3 6 0 Clem Rd , P ortage, IN
46 368,21 9-7 62-717 9.
PRYOR (O K LA .) FIRST CHURCH w ill
celebrate its 50th anniversary Oct. 6 with
form e r pastor John Donnerberg speaking
in the m orning service, follow ed by dinner
and afternoon service and dedication of
new facilities w ith D istrict Superintendent
Russell Human speaking. Former pastors
Rev. and Mrs. Rob McDonald w ill provide
music.
Form er pastors, m em bers, and friends
are invited. For m ore inform ation, contact
P.O. Box 474, Pryor, OK 74362, 918-8253728.
P Y LE S V IL L E (M D .) FAW N GROVE
CHURCH w ill celebrate its 30th a n niver­
sary Sept. 13 -15 w ith a Friday sin g sp iration service, Saturday picnic, and 11 a . m .
S u n d a y c e le b ra tio n s e rv ic e w ith Rev.
Richard Diffenderfer speaking, follow ed by
dinner.
Form er pastors, m em bers, and friends
are invited to attend or send greetings. For
m ore in fo rm a tio n o r to RSVP, c o n ta c t
Pastor Tom Umbel, 5300 Fawn Grove Rd.,
Pylesville. MD 21132, 410-452-5330.
ROCHESTER (N Y.) TRINITY CHURCH
w ill celebrate its 40th anniversary Sept. 22
w ith G eneral S u p e rin te n d e n t E m e ritu s
E ugene L. S to w e s p e a k in g . The a n n i­
ve rsa ry ce le b ra tio n w ill be preceded by
revival services Sept. 18-21.
Form er pastors, m em bers, and friends
are invited. For m ore inform ation, contact
the ch u rc h o ffic e , 855 Long Pond Rd.,
Rochester, NY 14612, 716-225-1690.
SARATO GA SPR IN G S (N Y .) GRACE
CHURCH w ill c e le b ra te its 1 0 0 th a n n i­
versary Sept. 29 at 11 a . m . The congrega­
tion, w hich was the birthplace of Eastern
Nazarene College, w ill be addressed by Dr.
Kent Hill, current ENC president.
Form er pastors, m em bers, and friends
are e n c o u ra g e d to a tte n d o r send
greetings. For m ore inform ation, contact
Rev. Leon Blaise, P.O. Box 116, Camillus,
NY 13031-0116, 315-672-5350.
TERRE HAUTE (IN D .) FIRST CHURCH
w ill celebrate its 75th an niversary Sept.
2 8 -2 9 w ith a 5:30 p . m . S aturday din n e r
and tim e of reflection and 10 a . m . Sunday
praise and w orship service.
Form er pastors, m em bers, and friends
are in v ite d . For m ore in fo rm a tio n , call
812-466-5817.
W A R N E R R O B IN S (G A .) FIR S T
C H UR CH w ill c e le b ra te its 4 0 th
anniversary Oct. 13 w ith 10 a . m . services,
a fellow ship dinner, and dedication of the
new Christian Life Center. Founding pastor
Rev. Frank Bohler w ill be honored.
Rev. David M ille r en courag es fo rm e r
pastors, m em bers, and frie n d s to attend
o r send greetings and pictures. For more
in fo rm a tio n , c o n ta c t The H o m e c o m in g
Com m ittee, 300 Lois St., W arner Robins,
GA 31093. 912-923-2108.
W A U K E G A N ( IL L .) C H U R C H w ill
celebrate its 60th (years in W aukegan) and
2 5 th (y e a rs in p re se n t b u ild in g ) a n n i­
versaries Sept. 27-29 w ith evangelist Tim
Young speaking, m usic by Prom ise, and
special events fo r all ages.
Form er pastors, m em bers, and friends
are invited to attend or send greetings. For
m ore in fo rm a tio n , c o n ta ct P astor Jerry
Harris, 3132 M cAree Rd., W aukegan, IL
60087, 847-662-5593.
W EBB C ITY (M O .) CH UR C H w ill
celebrate its 75th anniversary Oct. 18-20.
Form er pastors, m em bers, and friends
are invited to attend our "M iracles on 10th
S tre e t” c e le b ra tio n . F or a s c h e d u le of
events, contact the church, 729 W. 10th
St.. W ebb City, MO 64870, 417-673-2764.
FOR THE RECORD
Moving Ministers
R. SCO TT B E A M E R , fro m a s s o c ia te .
C am bridge (O n t.) P reston, to pastor.
Thorold (Ont.) Niagara
JOSEPH E. BELL, from associate. Gastonia
(N.C.) Eastside, to pastor, Forest City.
N.C.
LEON E. BLAISE, fro m pastor, Saratoga
S p rin g s (N .Y .) G ra ce , to d is t r ic t assigned, Upstate New York
W ILLIA M J. BOEHM, from DeKalb. III., to
M uncie (Ind.) Riverview
W IL LIA M BONEE, fro m A lb e rtv ille (Ala.)
First, to Ponca City (Okla.) St. Luke's
IR A F. B R O W N J R ., fro m P o n ca C ity
(Okla.) St. Luke's, to Mesa (Ariz.) First
TIM P. CLARK, fro m associate, Junction
City (K ans.) First, to pastor, Augusta,
Kans.
C. TONY CLEMONS, fro m O xford, M iss.,
to Forrest City, Ark.
CURTIS COOMBS, fro m Augusta. Kans.,
to Beaumont (Tex.) Cornerstone
TIMOTHY W. CRUMP, from Lombard, III..
to Kalamazoo (M ich .) First
BRAD DYRNESS, fro m associate, W ichita
(K ans.) First, to pa stor, J u n ctio n City
(Kans.) First
TIMOTHY D. FLICK, fro m Covington. Ky.,
to W rightstow n (N.J.) New Egypt
JOHN GARNICA. from Las Cruces. N.Mex..
to Ponca City (Okla.) Trinity
REED T. GOE IV, from G reensboro (N.C.)
Northside, to Charlotte (N.C.) Plaza
Your giving has provided
t buildings and land,
but the needs
continue to mount.
Need we say more?
“I ju st love the old hym ns. Don’t you?”
44
H e r a l d o f H o l in e s s
JOSEPH HAND, fro m Palm er, Alaska, to
Quincy, Calif.
A. LYNN HOLMES, from W oodw ard. Okla.,
to M em phis (Tenn.) Calvary
RONALD E, JEFFRIES, fro m Goldendare,
W ash., to Stockton (Calif.) Fremont
S. M AR K JO N ES, fro m C leo S p rin g s ,
Okla., to Stillw ater (Okla.) First
ROBERT J. KILPATR IC K, fro m Lo o m is ,
Calif., to San Jose (Calif.) Cambrian
D. GEOFFREY K U N S E L M A N . fro m
C o lu m b u s (O h io ) W h ite h a ll, to
Colum bia (S.C.) First
WESLEY E. LOCKHART, to pastor, Fargo,
Okla.
D AN NY M cSW EEN E Y, fro m a s s o c ia te .
H u n tin g to n (W .V a .) W a ln u t H ills , to
pastor, Beckley (W .Va.) First
MARK E MEDLEY, from Gloucester, Va.,
to G reensboro (N.C.) W hite Rock
ROBERT MILLER, from Kahului, Hawaii, to
Jet. Okla.
J. E. M ITCHELL, fro m N orth L ittle Rock
(Ark.) Grace, to M illinocket, Maine
M ARION S. PRESSLEY, fro m associate,
R ock H ill (S .C .) W e s t M a in , to
Lancaster, S.C.
M ARK R AM SEY, fro m d ire c to r, O.S.U.
S tu d e n t C enter, to p a s to r. M e d fo rd ,
Okla.
PETER RYDER, fro m stu d e n t. Nazarene
T h e o lo g ic a l S e m in a ry , to a s s o c ia te .
W ichita (Kans.) W est Side
JACK SANDERS, fro m student, Nazarene
Bible College, to pa stor, Las Anim as,
Colo.
JAMES L. SHERMAN, to pastor, Pleasant
Garden, N.C.
M IC H A E L S H IR L E Y , fro m K in g fis h e r,
Okla.. to Tulsa (Okla.) First
JEFFREY L. S M IT H , fro m s tu d e n t to
pastor, W ilson, N.C.
RO BER T G.
S N O D G R A S S , fro m
e v a n g e lis m to d is tr ic t- a s s ig n e d ,
Colorado D istrict Office
JOHN E. VO LIN SKY, fro m H ilto n (N Y.)
New Life C om m unity, to Rocklin, Calif.
W . C. (B IL L ) W A TTS , fro m a s s o c ia te .
W e s t C o lu m b ia (S .C .) F irs t, to
associate, York, S.C.
S. PAUL WEHR. tro m Jacksonville (Fla.)
Central, to Potsdam, N Y.
TERRY L. W EYM AN SR., fro m Freedom
(Pa.) Pine Run, to Elm ira (N Y.) Calvary
GARY W H IT M O R E , to p a s to r, W ic h ita
(Kans.) Park City
BR IA N W IE S IN G E R , fro m a s s o c ia te ,
B etha ny (O k la .) Lake O ve rh o ls e r, to
pastor, Bethany (Okla.) Lake Overholser
M E R R IL L S. W IL L IA M S , fro m p a sto r,
Manhattan, Kans., to m issionary
STEVEN D W IL L IA M S , to p a s to r,
Corunna, Mich.
HERB ZUERCHER, from district-assigned,
Colorado D istrict, to district-assign ed.
Central Ohio D istrict
Moving Missionaries
ADAMS, BRIAN and BERYL, Brazil, Field
Address: Caixa Postal 6586, Agencia B.
G e ra ld o , 1 3 0 8 2 -9 7 0 C a m p in a s, SP,
BRAZIL
BERG, D A N IE L an d D O R IS , S ta te s id e
Address: 10927 Reeder. Overland Park.
KS 66210
BORGER, PAM. Papua New Guinea, Field
A dd ress: Box 456, M t. Hagen, W HP,
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
BOUDEWIJN, JACOB and INGRID. South
A fric a , Field A d d re s s: P.O. Box 668,
2040 Honeydew, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH
AFRICA
CORNETT, LAR R Y and ELAINE, Kenya,
Stateside Address: 720 N. Hickory, Apt.
B, Cookeville, TN 38501
COX, DON and CHERYL, MAC Central Field
O ffice, Field A dd ress: 86 9 N.W . 97th
Ave., Box 571. M iam i. FL 33172
EADS, ANA, Papua New Guinea, Stateside
Address: 225 Lebanon Rd., Clarksville,
OH 45113
G A ILE Y , ROB and W A N D A , S ta te s id e
Address: 6501 W oodland, Kansas City,
MO 64131
HALL, JOHN and SHEILA, M exico Field
Office, Field A ddress: Apartado Postal
44-970, 03101 M exico D.F., MEXICO
ISHAM, GEORGE and BARBARA, Stateside
A dd ress: 2933 Law ndale, Las Vegas,
NV 89121
JOHNSON, D. JAMES and JOY, Fiji, Field
A d d re s s: P.O. Box 3 0 7 7 , La m i P ost
Office, Lami, FIJI
McCOY. BILL and MARSHA, Papua New
G uinea, Field A d d re s s: Box 456, M t
Hagen. WHP, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MERCER, TIM and MARY. Korea, Furlough
Address: 200 Spencer Ct.. Bourbonnais,
IL 60914-1937
MILLER, HILBERT and NORMA, Stateside
Address: P.O. Box 311, Som erville, IN
WHERE THERE IS A WILL
47683
MOORE, DONALD and CYNTHIA, Bulgaria,
Field A d d re s s: ITE F o u n d a tio n , 149
Evlogi Georgiev, 2nd Floor, 1504 Sofia.
BULGARIA
M O YER , D A V ID and M A R Y E L, S o u th
Africa, Field Address: P.O. Box 22406,
1733 Helderkrum, SOUTH AFRICA
NEAL, WARREN and JANET, Papua New
Guinea, New Field Address: Box 456,
M t Hagen, WHP, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
OWENS, DENNY, M ic ro n e sia , Stateside
Address: 13152 W. Park PL, Oklahoma
City, OK 73162
PARK. PHILIP and RUTH, Thailand, New
F ield A d d re s s : 8 8 /2 M oo 4. S oi
W a n g s in g k h a n , P atan R d., T am b on
Patan, Muang, Chaingmai 50300
PATCH. B IL L and G A IL . K o re a . Field
A d d re s s : K u k -D o n g A p t. 2 0 1 -1 0 0 3 ,
C hong-su Dong 209. Chonan, SOUTH
KOREA 330-190
RICH, HARRY and M AR IO N , S ta te sid e
Address: R.D. 1, Box 254, Carmichaels,
PA 15320
RO TZ, JA M E S and C AR O L, Kenya,
F urlough A dd ress: 2701 N.E. B urton
Rd., Vancouver, WA 98662
S C H M E LZ E N B A C H ,
HARMON
and
BEVERLY, S tateside A dd ress: 13716
Britton Dr.. Hudson, FL 34667
SCOTT, JON and MARGARET, Romania,
F u rlo u g h A d d re ss: 84 W enda ll Ave.,
Quincy, MA 02170
STROUD, PAUL and NETTIE. Ghana. Field
Address: P.O. Box 7847, Accru-N orth,
GHANA, WEST AFRICA
STARGEL, SCOTT and LINDA, Haiti, Field
Address: c/o MFI-Nazarene, Box 15665,
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
TE A K E LL, G AR N ETT an d M A R IL Y N ,
Guatemala ITN, Field Address: 869 N.W.
97th Ave., Box 571, M iam i, FL 33172
WARD, VERNE and NATALIE, Papua New
G uinea, Field A dd ress: Box 456. M t.
Hagen, WHP, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
W ILSON. BRIAN and JOAN, ENBC, Field
A d d re s s : E u ro p e a n N azare ne B ib le
C o lle g e . P o s tfa c h 60 , C h -8 2 3 8
Busingen, SWITZERLAND
PAUL W BUSBY, e vange list. Rte. 3,
Box 137, Berry. AL 35546, by B. J. Garber,
Alabama North District.
G ERALD
H. C A S S E LM A N JR .,
e vange list, 940 V irg il Dr., Gas City, IN
46933, by F. Thomas Bailey, Northeastern
Indiana District.
ROBERT E. JO H N S O N , e v a n g e lis t,
LRM C, C M R -4 0 2 , Box 19 14, APO, AE
0 9 180, by H ugh L. S m ith . W a sh in g to n
Pacific District.
STEPHEN J. LORD, evangelist, Harvest
T im e M in is tr ie s , HCR 30 , B ox 9.
Broadview, NM 88112, 505-357-2222. by
W oodie J. Stevens, New M exico District.
DIRECTORIES
BOARD OF GENERAL SUPERINTENDENTS
Office: 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO
6 4 1 3 1 . W illia m J. P rin c e , c h a irm a n ;
Jam es. H. Diehl, vice-chairm an; Paul G.
C u n n in g h a m , s e c re ta ry ; J e ra ld D.
J o h n s o n , J o h n A. K n ig h t, D o n a ld D.
Owens.
GENERAL SU PER IN TEN DENTS EM ER ITI:
V. H. Lewis, 1406 Cambridge, Olathe, KS
66062; Orville W. Jenkins, 2309 W. 103rd
S t., L e a w o o d . KS 6 6 2 0 6 ; W illia m M.
Greathouse, 1179 Rosew ood Tr., M ount
Juliet, TN 37122; Eugene L. Stowe, 5555
S. Em poria C ir.. Englewood. CO 801113635: Raymond W. Hum. 7810 W. 118th,
Overland Park, KS 66210.
Notice
Vital S tatistics are printed as soon as
possible after they are received. Please
in clu d e y o u r nam e and phone n u m b e r
w hen s u b m ittin g in fo rm a tio n fo r V ita l
Statistics to:
Herald of Holiness
Recommendations
c/o V ital S tatistics
6401 The Paseo
Kansas City, MO 64131
The follow ing have been recommended
by th e ir re s p e c tiv e d is t r ic t s u p e r ­
intendents:
E-mail:
<herald@ nazarene.org>
Sendjvryour FREE WILLKIT todayI
Rev.
Dr.
Mr. .
Mrs.
M iss
Address
Citv
State
Telephone
THERE IS A WAY
1 For YOU to name guardians for minor children.
2
For YOU (not the State) to say to whom and how your
estate shall be distributed.
3
For YOU to exercise a final act of stewardship over the
things you leave behind.
S eptem ber
1996
Zip
(
)
Birth Date
(Month)
(Day)
(Year)
(Month)
(Day)
(Year)
Spouse’s Birth Date
better yet, your church may
wish to have our representa­
tive conduct a W ills Seminar.
C all today.
1 -8 0 0 -5 4 4 -8 4 1 3
{ { P
% ^
—
lanned
l g iv in g
6401 THE PASEO
KANSAS CITY, MO 64131
45
Observer
at
Large
Foundations Are
Fundamental
J o h n C . B o w lin g is president o f Olivet
Nazarene University.
s i t s o n t w o c i t y b l o c k s and rises
over one-quarter of a mile into the
sky. Its 110 stories comprise 4.5 mil­
lion square feet of office and com­
mercial space.
Two thousand workers, toiling
around the clock, took nearly three
years to build it. And for more than
20 years, from its construction in
1973 until just a few months ago, the
Sears Tower stood as the world’s
tallest building.
But on February 13, 1996, Chica­
go's architectural stature was reduced
slightly when the first of two twin
towers in the city of Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia, reached its full height of
1,475 feet, 21 feet higher than the
Sears Tower.
I'm not sure what all is involved in
the engineering and construction of
such massive buildings as these, but
one thing I do know is that when they
begin to build those great skyscrap­
ers, the first direction they work is
not up but down.
Before a building can reach for the
sky, it must first be anchored on a
firm foundation. Foundations are fun­
damental. This is not only an archi­
tectural principle but a spiritual prin­
ciple as well.
Jesus ended the Sermon on the
Mount, the most famous sermon ever
It
46
are like movie sets— they look great
but are hollow, empty, just built for
the sake of appearance.
This also applies to furnishings. A
house may be elaborately furnished
and beautifully appointed; but that
makes little difference in the long
run, for if the foundation is eroding,
the furnishings are in jeopardy.
Spiritual reality is not a matter of
looking good, feeling good, or having
the right possessions. Rather, one
must come to serious grips with the
fundamental issues of being Christlike— of hearing and putting His
Word into practice. That’s the test of
discipleship.
The Christian whose life will stand
and whose faith will respond to the
tests of life has reached bedrock spiri­
tually, so that on good days or bad
days, joyful days or sad days, his or
her faith still holds steady.
The house of the wise person
stands because the builder laid the
foundation before the storm ever
came. Storm time is no time to try to
fix the foundation. When you are in
the emergency room or sitting outside
the operating theater, when the phone
preached, with a story about two
buildings, both of which were tested
by sudden, violent storms. Only one
stood firm, the one built upon the
rock.
His call is to build one’s life on a
foundation that will last. And that
foundation, He says, is a commitment
not only to hear but also to put into
practice (as the habit of one’s life) the
words of the Master.
The parable begins with this decla­
ration: “Therefore everyone who
hears these words of mine and puts
them into practice is like a wise man
who built his house on the rock”
(Matthew 7:24, n i v ).
The word “wise” here means pru­
dent. It doesn’t mean that one has to
be a genius to build a solid life. It is
not intelligence that Jesus is speaking
of; it is wisdom.
He is pointing out that if one acts
prudently, reasonably, one would
want to build his or her life upon a
foundation that lasts.
This means if our lives
are to stand firm, we must
go beyond a passive hear­
ing of the Word of God.
We must put that Word
Storm time is no time to try to fix
into practice in daily life.
We are to make G od’s
the foundation.
Word the habit of our
lives, the inclination of
our days, the direction of
our walk.
A foundation is the
least apparent but the most necessary
rings in the middle of the night and
part of any structure.
there is tragedy, when the storms
The size of a building makes little
come, you can't say, “ Hold off for a
difference if the foundation is shaky.
moment while I fix the foundation.
One of the reasons our lives come to
Wait while I make some things right."
disaster is because we put more and
No, Jesus says lay the foundation
more commitments, more and more
of life now, before another storm
obligations and burdens, on too slen­
strikes. Do the deep work of hearing
der and shallow a foundation.
and practicing the Word of God.
That is also true of appearance, the
Then, when those sudden storms
facade, the way life looks. Many lives
come, you'll be ready.
H e r a l d o f H o l in e s s
marked^opy^
TO GIVE . . .
c o n tin u ed fr o m p a g e 25
tains. It currently ministers to 880
families. It was there that R on had
one o f the most phenom enal exp e­
riences o f his life. His grou p met
a m an n am ed S an to s, w ho was
chained hand and foot, naked, in a
r o o m fo r a l m o s t 10 y e a rs . T h e y
w ere told that he was d em o n-p os­
sessed. T he story was that he had
gotten loose once, and it took 15 to
2 0 m e n to c h a in h im a g a in . He
co u ld th ro w a ro c k the size o f a
b a s k e tb a ll an d h a d ev e n killed a
w o m a n . R on h ad a little tap e
r e c o r d e r , so h is g r o u p r e c o r d e d
scriptures in Spanish. They left the
recorder and tape with the m an to
play co ntinu ously after they were
gone. Ron learned that tw o months
later, the “d em o n iac” was again in
h is r i g h t m i n d a n d b a c k in th e
f i e l d s w o r k i n g . R o n s a w h im a
couple o f years after that. “ My ex ­
p e r ie n c e s in m is s io n s h a v e been
nothing short o f am azing,” he says.
"The Word delivered that m an,” he
says, “ and I was witness to it.”
T he S m ith s ’ business is d ed icat­
ed to the Lord. T he m o tto o f the
c o m p a n y is “ to learn all w e can
learn, to share all we can share, to
earn all we can earn, to give all we
can give.” “ O nly as we give unto
the K ingd om do we receive back
b le ss in g s,” R on explains. “ I a l­
ways tried to tithe, but then I got
to the point in m y life that I w a nt­
ed m ore o f G od, so I realized that
I had to sow m ore seed, and I b e ­
gan to give m o re than 10 percent.”
Only eternity will tell what b e n ­
efits m a y c o m e fro m this gift o f
the S m i t h s ’ airp lan e. F o r sure, it
will be a useful tool as m issionar­
ies, pastors, and supplies are trans­
ported with new speed and relative
ease throughout Central Am erica.
R on and Sue were able to m ake
this gift w o r k i n g t h r o u g h the
P lanned G iving S ervices office o f
the C h u rc h o f the N azarene. Ron
has this advice for any one co n sid ­
ering sharing their gifts to spread
the gospel: “ Let G o d lead you to
give all you can g iv e!”
^
S eptem ber
1996
N otes from an e d ito r’s jo u rn a l
by Mark Graham, Managing Editor
Love Means...
I
I was about 2:30 on a Monday m o rn ­
ing, and I could not sleep. I had gone
to b e d a r o u n d 1 0 :0 0 th e p r e v i o u s
evening, hoping to get up by 5:30.
E arlier, as I lay in bed trying to drop
off, I heard Joey talking (not too quietly)
to Cathy down the hall. I cou ldn 't d eter­
mine the exact nature of the conversation,
but 1 could hear her telling him to go to
bed. R o b b ie (o u r f o u r - m o n t h - o ld ) w as
c r y i n g l o u d e n o u g h to
w a k e th e n e i g h b o r s . It
w a s n ’t an " I ’m h u n g r y ”
cry. Rather, it was an " I ’m
extremely unhappy" wail.
W it h all the u p r o a r , I
c o u ld n 't go to sleep, so I
decided to help Cathy out
by getting Joey out o f the
h all. “ G O T O B E D !" I
boomed as 1 bounded from
o u r b e d ro o m . Joey was
c a u g h t o ff gu ard , but his
face showed that he heard
m e , u n d e r s t o o d m e , an d
was frightened by the freight train style I
used to handle the situation. He retreated
back to his bedroom, upset and crying—
his feelings hurt.
I walked dow n to the other end o f the
hall w here C athy w as trying to co nso le
the baby. “ W h a t ’s going on out th e r e ? ”
she asked. Realizing I had handled the sit­
uation with Joey badly, I mum bled. “Can
1 help you with R ob ?" before retreating
back to our bedroom.
So, by 2:30, 1 knew I w a s n ’t going to
sleep any, so 1 got up, went to my study,
a n d b e g a n to p e r u s e f r e e l a n c e m a n u ­
scripts. W e receive lots o f them here at
the H erald. Dr. Tracy and I have an “ in"
box where the freelance subm issions rest.
We lovingly refer to it as the “slush pile.”
A bout every six weeks, we grab a stack
from the pile and take them hom e to re­
view (yes, we do read every one).
As I sat at m y desk wading through p a­
per clips and self-addressed, stamped e n ­
velopes, I found my attention wandering
back to the way I had handled the situa­
tion with Joey earlier. I knew I had done
wrong the mom ent I did it, but it was too
late. Bad timing, bad response, bad— bad
— bad.
As I sat there slinging manuscripts into
their respective piles (accepted/rejected),
m y m in d lingered on the situation with
Joey. Just then, I pulled a manuscript out
and read the title: "L ov e Means Saying
‘I ’m Sorry.” ’ Conviction hit me— hard.
Just moments before going to bed Sun­
day evening, we had had a family dev o­
tion during which I had read the following
words from Seeking G o d ’s Peace in a N u ­
clear A ge: A C a ll to D isciples o f C hrist
(CBP Press): “In the face of the needy, the
sufferer, the enemy, we see the face of the
incarnate God. What we do to the needy,
the sufferer, the e n e m y ,
we do to God. Moreover,
our every action as Chris­
tians e ith e r ex p re s ses or
d e n i e s th e i n t e n t i o n o f
Christ who, in indwelling
o u r h u m a n i ty , liv es not
only in all other persons,
but in each of us as well.
. . . The Christian life is a
c o n t i n u i n g e ff o rt to r e ­
lease the div ine im pulse
t h r o u g h all th a t w e say
and do."
W ell, th e re you are. 1
had read it. but it h a d n 't quite sunk in,
had it ? I grabbed a piece o f stationery and
began jotting down a note of apology to
my 12-year-old son. He know s how im ­
perfect I am already, so I d idn 't make a
big deal about how stupid I can be; but I
did tell him that I had acted wrongly, in a
way that would not be pleasing to Christ.
1 asked him to forgive me and signed it
"Love, Dad." Then I look it into his bed­
room and placed it on the nightstand.
As I re re a d the w o rd s from S e e k in g
G o d 's P eace in a N uclear A g e, I thought
about the words o f Scripture ("Inasmuch
as ye have done it unto one of the least of
these my brethren, ye have done it unto
m e ” | M a t th e w 2 5 :40 ]). S o m e tim e s we
do n 't do such a good jo b o f treating oth­
ers as if they were God, do we? Maybe
y o u ’re like me on that night (and at many
o t h e r t i m e s ) — in n e e d o f f o r g i v e n e s s
from so m e o n e you treated in less than
Christlike fashion or from God himself. I
am just glad that we serve a God o f for­
giveness. May we— His sometimes fool­
ish, insensitive children— learn from our
mistakes and do a better jo b o f releasing
“the divine impulse."
S o m e t im e s w e
d o n ’t d o a v e ry
g o o d jo b of
tr e a tin g o th e r s
a s if th e y w e r e
God, do w e ?
47
L ate N ews
Davis to Head ILC Committee for ’98
Charles
D av is,
a
Nazarene
la y m a n fro m
Wi n t e r
H a v e n , F la .,
has
been
s e l e c t e d to
s e r v e as c h a i r p e r s o n o f th e
International Lay C o n fe ren ce
C o m m itte e , a c cording to Talm adge Johnson, Sunday
S ch o o l M in istrie s D iv isio n
d irecto r. D av is w a s se lecte d
by the B oa rd o f G en eral S u ­
pe rin tend en ts during their re­
cen t m eetin gs.
D a v is, a m e m b e r o f W i n ­
te r H a v e n C h u r c h o f th e
N aza ren e, serves as a circuit
ju dg e. He has s e r v e d as the
c h a ir p e r s o n o f the T r e v e c c a
N azaren e U n iv ersity B oard
o f T ru stees an d is a lay rep re ­
s e n t a ti v e on th e G e n e r a l
Board.
In a d d i t i o n to D a v i s , the
IL C E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e
includes: V ern o n L u n n (vice
chair), Bettie W o o d c o o k (im ­
m e d i a t e p a s t c h a ir ) , W a y n e
R ice (representative at large),
a n d T a l m a d g e J o h n s o n (ex
officio). R eg ion al re p re se n ta ­
tives on th e IL C C o m m it te e
include: D a v id F alk , C a n a d a
(C N C ) ; G a r y Streit, C e n tra l
(O N U ); C. W a y n e R ice, East
C entral (M V N C ) ; Jo hn M u cci. E a s t e r n ( E N C ) ; V e r n o n
Lunn,
N o rth
C e n tra l
(M A N C ); D eb b ie W eisen ,
N o rth w e s t (N N C ); D av id
M c C lu n g , S o u th C e n tra l
(S N U ); and B arb a ra H ornbeck. S o u th w e st (P L N C ).
D a v is r e p r e s e n t s th e S o u t h ­
east (T N U ) region.
T h e c o m m itte e is re s p o n si­
ble for d e v e lo p i n g th e p lan s
a n d p r o g r a m s fo r th e 9 th
IL C , w h ic h will b e held July
1-5, 19 9 8 , at th e O p r y l a n d
Hotel in N ashville. T h e 1991
c o n f e r e n c e w a s a ls o h e ld at
the O p ry la n d H otel an d d rew
a re c o rd n u m b e r o f 3 ,450.
T h e 1995 c o n f e r e n c e w as
held in O rla n d o , Fla.
" W e are a n n o u n c in g these
le adersh ip a p p o in tm e n ts n ow
so th a t d i s t r i c t l e a d e r s c a n
b e g in p r o m o tin g th e 1998
c o n f e r e n c e ,” Jo h n s o n said.
" W e are lo o k i n g f o r a great
e v e n t in 1 9 9 8 a t w h i c h
N a zaren e la ype rso ns will fo ­
cu s o n re n e w a l, e n r i c h m e n t ,
a n d c o m m i t m e n t to C h r i s t
and the ch u rc h ."
PK Conference
Planned
T h ere is finally a co n fe re n c e
fo r tho se w h o g re w up in the
g l a s s h o u s e c a l l e d th e p a r ­
sonage. A g ro u p o f N a z a re n e
reco rd in g artists h av e te a m e d
up to p re sen t C e le b ra te T h e ir
H eritage, the first co n fe re n c e
fo r ad ult c h ild re n o f p re a c h ­
ers (PKs).
L ed by C h o n d a P ie rc e ,
C h ristian co m e d ie n n e and
a u t h o r , th e c o n f e r e n c e w ill
be h eld O ct. 2 5 -2 6 at N a s h ­
ville, T e n n ., First C h u rc h o f
th e N a z a r e n e . P i e r c e is the
f o u n d e r o f Se c o n d R o w M i n ­
istries, Inc., and a u th o r o f the
b o o k S e c o n d R o w , P ia n o
S id e.
T h e c o n fe r e n c e is fo r any
adu lt w h o has g r o w n up as a
m i s s i o n a r y ’s k i d , e v a n g e ­
l i s t ’s k id, o r p r e a c h e r 's kid.
acc o rd in g to Pierce.
“ F o r tho se w h o g re w up in
a p a r s o n a g e , life w as u n ­
d o u b te d ly filled w ith a v a ri­
ety o f e m o t io n s ,” P ie rc e said.
"T h e stress an d strain o f
m i n i s t r y is a l w a y s f e l t b y
Prayer for Persecuted Church
S e p te m b e r 29, 1996, has
been decla re d an In te rn atio n ­
al D ay o f P ray er fo r the P er­
secuted C h u rch , a c co rd in g to
G eneral S ecretary Jack
Stone. "It is a day to sp ecifi­
cally r e m e m b e r o u r b ro th ers
a n d sisters in C h ris t a r o u n d
the w o rld w h o are persecuted
f o r t h e i r f a i t h in C h r i s t , "
Stone said.
T h e day is bein g o rg an ized
by th e W o r ld E v a n g e lic a l
F ellow sh ip, o f w h ich the N a ­
tio n a l A s s o c i a tio n o f E v a n ­
g e l i c a l s is a m e m b e r . T h e
C h u rc h o f the N a z a re n e is a
m e m b e r o f the N A E .
“T h e re is d o c u m e n te d e v i­
d en ce th at tens o f th o u s a n d s
o f o u r bro thers and sisters in
C hrist are b ein g m arty re d for
their faith ann u ally in v arious
p a rts o f th e w o r l d ,” said
N A E P resident D on A rgue.
" T h e A m e r i c a n E v a n g e li c a l
c h u r c h is c a l l e d u p o n to
m a k e th is d e s p e r a t e n e e d a
h i g h p r i o r i t y in p r a y e r a n d
ac tio n .”
th o s e clo s e st to the m in is te r
an d his fa m ily .”
T h e c o n f e r e n c e w ill f e a ­
tu re w o rk s h o p s by D a v id
G a t e w o o d , c l i n ic a l d i r e c t o r
fo r F o c u s on th e F a m ily ;
N o rm a n H enry, e x ecu tiv e d i ­
re c to r o f C h ris tia n C o u n s e l ­
in g S e r v i c e s o f N a s h v i l l e ;
A lis o n E v a n s , l e a d i n g p s y ­
c h o lo g is t fo r the S o u th C a r ­
o lin a M ental H ealth A s s o c i a ­
ti o n ; a n d M i c h a e l B e n s o n ,
m i n is te r and so n o f the late
B o b B enson.
For
24th Nazarene General Assembly and Conventions
San Antonio, Texas
Conventions: June 18-20,1997
General Assembly: June 22-27,1997
48
m ore
in fo rm a tio n
ab ou t the c o n fe re n c e , co n ta c t
S e c o n d R o w M i n i s t r i e s at
P.O. B ox 1393, S m y r n a , TN
IBOE Receives Grant
T he T e a g le F o u n d a tio n of
N e w Y o rk h a s a n n o u n c e d a
$ 6 9 , 0 0 0 g r a n t f o r the I n t e r ­
nation al B o a rd o f E d u c atio n
f o r th e C h u r c h o f th e
N a z a re n e , a c c o rd in g to Jerry
D. L a m b e r t, e d u c a t io n c o m ­
m issio n er. T h e g ran t follow s
a 1994 T e a g le g ra n t for a
stra te g ic p la n fo r c o l l a b o r a ­
tion a n d n e t w o r k i n g a m o n g
its m e m b e r institutions.
F u n d s fro m th e re c e n t
grant will be u se d for P hase
II o f the plan , w h ic h involves
a c o n tin u a tio n o f so m e activ ­
ities fro m P h a se I, prim arily
the stud y o f o th e r m o d e ls of
c o l l a b o r a t i o n in b o t h t h e
b u sin ess and n o t-fo r-profit
sectors.
“ C o n ti n u in g s u p p o r t from
th e T e a g l e F o u n d a t i o n will
allo w us to h a v e m o r e faceto -face m e e tin g s o f the m e m ­
b e r c o lle g e p re s id e n ts , m ore
t r a v e l by t h e m to n o n N a z a r e n e in s ti tu t io n s to o b ­
se r v e t e c h n o l o g ic a l a p p l i c a ­
ti o n s , a n d a g r e a t e r c a ll on
ou tsid e e x p e rts in a reas such
as m a r k e tin g , p ro g r a m d e v e l­
o p m e n t, te c h n o lo g y , and
p artn e rsh ip a g re e m e n ts ,”
said L e B ro n F a irb a n k s,
c h a i r m a n o f the C o m m i t t e e
on C o lla b o ra tio n and N et­
w o rkin g.
In a d d i t i o n to F a i r b a n k s ,
the c o m m it te e in clu des John
B o w lin g , Je rry L am b e rt,
M illa rd R e e d , a n d R ich ard
Spindle.
“W e are e x tr e m e ly p leased
w i t h th e r e s u l t s o f P h a s e I
a n d a re l o o k i n g f o r w a r d to
the su c ces sfu l c o m p le tio n o f
P h a s e I I .” s a i d R i c h a r d W.
K i m b a l l , p r e s i d e n t o f th e
T e a g le F o u n d a tio n . “ It is our
fee lin g th at the In ternational
B o a rd o f E d u c a tio n is im p le ­
m e n tin g th eir p ro g r a m in the
best p o ssib le w ay, and we
w ish th e m c o n tin u e d sue-
37167.
H f.r a l d o f H o l i n e s s
V
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