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Herald of Holiness/Holiness Today Church of the Nazarene

6-1-1992 Herald of Holiness Volume 81 Number 06 (1992) Wesley D. Tracy (Editor) Nazarene Publishing House

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Recommended Citation Tracy, Wesley D. (Editor), "Herald of Holiness Volume 81 Number 06 (1992)" (1992). Herald of Holiness/Holiness Today. 78. https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_hoh/78

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Volume 81, Number 6 FEATURE ARTICLES JUNE 1992 20 24 The Snares of Suffer the Little tJnanswerable Death Children Questions D a v id M . J o h n s o n B r e n d a N ix o n Rebecca Laird 26 Don’t Forget the Children M a r k A . Y o r k 36 Of Such Is the Church Composed J o s e p h D . B is c o e , J r . 46 A Dad’s Father’s Day Meditation A Chip off My Joy 22 C h u c k M i l h u f f Janet W hite Red, with a Green 10 Stem DEPARTMENTS M a r y S c h r a m m The Promise of 7 Editor’s Choice Perfect Love W e s l e y D T r a c y W illiam M. G reathouse 8 The Readers Write 14-17, 38-41 News 18 M a r k G r a h a m T o m F e l d e r Vacation Worship 43 The Question Box J o l i n e C h a n g W e s l e y D T r a c y 47 Marked Copy M a r k G r a h a m POETRY 48 Late News M a r k G r a h a m 12 T o m F e l d e r O Flame of Love CONTINUING J. K e n n e t h G r i d e r COLUMNS 30 5 Family Album A Sunday School J e r r y a n d L y n d a C o h a g a n 6 General Teacher’s Prayer SPECIAL REPORT Superintendent’s Pledge Viewpoint I n a J. H u g h s E u g e n e L. S t o w e 34 13 Into the Word 45 A Grade Card for R o g e r L H a h n 42 When You Pray God of Growing Nazarene E. D e e F r e e b o r n Times Preaching 44 Observer at Large N a n c y C . S p i e g e l b e r g W e s l e y D. T r a c y W E M c C u m b e r The fear of the Lord a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27, NIV THE SNARES OF DEATH

BY DAVID M. JOHNSON

used to capture Alaskan wolves for a living. When I lived in Interior Alaska, I worked as a wildlife bi­ ologist. My coworkers and I caught the wolves, tranquilized them, fitted them with a radio trans­ Imitter collar, and then released them. Lock snares were an effective way to catch these resourceful carnivores unharmed—if we were clever enough. Wolves have a sure instinct for are just as real. Consider two: so­ detecting threats. They have an cial drinking and promiscuity. extraordinary sense of smell that Neither are crimes in most plac­ we humans can only dimly imag­ es. In fact, both are part of a way ine. Their ears swivel to catch the of life for millions throughout the faintest whispers of sound. Sharp, world. Nevertheless, the enemy intelligence-filled eyes see slight has cunningly concealed death in movements, even in dim light. these snares—death for our spir­ God has superbly equipped these its and perhaps our physical bod­ masterful predators for life in a ies as well. world full of danger. Many faces come to mind On more than one occasion, I when I think of those who got remember the frustration of see­ trapped in the snares of death. In ing wolf tracks in newly fallen particular, I think of a young snow all around my cleverly con­ friend named Kenneth. “Liquor cealed snares. One time, the is no problem for me,” he always tracks showed that a wolf had said, and so he took a social walked right into my snare. The drink several times a week. The wolf must have realized at the occasional cocktail served as bait. last possible moment that some­ Now liquor is a problem for him. thing was not right. It backed out He spends all his money and of the snare, giving me the slip most of his time trying to find again. the next drink. The “snares of death” we face Just as God equips wolves for a are more cleverly hidden than world full of danger, so has He those faced by wolves, and they equipped us. “The fear of the

2 She rushed blindly and eagerly into the snare o f death.

Lord is a fountain of life,” the scripture reads. When we accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can avoid the snares of death. Our Maker also gave us a full de­ scription of the devices of Satan in the . It describes in detail the common snares he lays in our paths, and how to avoid them. Snares for wolves often involve bait. Once, I found a dead moose frozen in a lake. A pack of wolves regularly visited this site. They had come so often they had es­ tablished a network of trails in the brush at the lake’s edge. This, I realized, was a perfect spot to catch a few of them. That time, I even had an expert wolf trapper help me set the snares. We set a lot of them. Nevertheless, we did not capture any immediately. Even the youngest wolves care­ fully followed the lead of their el­ ders, evading capture time and again. As with the wolves, if we will teach our children to drink from the fountain of life, they, too, have a better chance of avoiding the snares of death. In Deuteron­ omy 11:18-19, we read, “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on continued on page 33

© 1991 Jim Brandenberg 3 A CHIP OFF MY JOY

BY JANET WHITE

spent hours on each intricate detail, carefully apology, “I’m sorry 1 took a chip out of your joy, painting the colorful leaves and flowers, bugs M om.” and butterflies, critters and quilt patterns on My outburst vanished into my own tears of repen­ three plaster plaques. With fine brush strokes tance, as I hugged him tightly. “That’s OK, honey. 1I finished the lettering of the words—“LOVE,”I’m sure we can fix it.” “JOY,” and “PEACE.” I com pleted my masterpieces The funny thing is that I never did. I returned it by staining and sealing them, then letting them dry to its place between LOVE and PEACE, chip and all. overnight. It was a good reminder of the valuable lesson God I hummed as 1 hung the three plaques vertically taught me that day. on the paneling of our family room, feeling pleased How easy it is for me to lose my joy, I thought. All with my creative accomplishment. Their message it took was a little mistake, a slight bump, and I, too, would remind me to practice those three fruit of the had a chip off my joy. This couldn’t be the same Spirit every time I saw them. kind of abundant joy that talked about when But then tragedy struck. My son bumped the wall He said that His joy would be in me in fullest mea­ hangings and JOY came toppling down, breaking a sure. chip off the corner, exposing the bare white plaster “Father, forgive me,” I silently prayed, “and help beneath. 1 screamed at his carelessness. I groaned me to live in the fullness of Your joy, and learn to and ranted about my ruined creation. 1 carried on practice what I paint.” ^ loudly until he stopped me short with his tearful

The fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, and peace, are more precious than art objects.

Ceramic by Rowena's

4 Herald of Holiness THE FAMILY ALB Adventur es in Christian Parenting A Letter to Dad

BY JERRY AND LYNDA COHAGAN

ear Dad, Dad? Sure I did. Right after I pierced that. I don't know whether the angels j As I descend from your earlobe with a No. 4 Bear Claw were rejoicing, but I know that the ' 15,000 feet, I glance out hook. saints in the waiting room were when my window and look at I recall you and me playing golf al­ the doctors wheeled you out and said CasperD Mountain below. I recall as I most every weekend for a couple of they were surprised at how well you was growing up you used to bring me years when I was in high school. You did, but that the next 24 hours were to Garden Creek at the foot of this were never any good and were the critical. mountain just before sunset. We'd sit first to admit it. For 18 holes you February 17 on the hood of the car and watch the would gasp, groan, agonize, and mut­ We watch as the heart pump deer come down into the valley to ter, “I don't know why I do this. Fm comes out. The local pastor takes feed and drink. We never said much losing more balls than I’m hitting.” your hand and prays an eloquent to each other, we’d just watch the But, as we’d load the clubs into the prayer of thanksgiving. When he says deer and know that it was special. I trunk, you’d say, “W asn’t it relaxing “Am en,” you say, “Pastor, get me a don’t know if we will see the deer this out there? Want to play again tomor­ drink of water. That prayer was so time, for this trip began five hours row?” A nd we would. long-winded, it made me thirsty.” We and 1,000 miles ago when Mom all laugh and hug and cry some called to tell me you'd had a massive more, knowing that you’re going to heart attack. be OK. February 10 W e all smile at February 24 I stand next to your hospital bed, As I ascend to 15,000 feet, I think and you tell me you have a heart the memories and about the healing miracle that began pump. They tell us your heart is “like 10 days ago. Looking out my win­ wet tissue paper,” and the pump al­ grow silent, each dow, 1 see Casper Mountain fading lows your heart to rest. “ How long behind me. Once again, my mind can the pump stay in?” we ask. They of us desperately sees the deer we used to watch. We tell us no longer than a week. Roy, did not make it to Garden Creek this Terri, Mom, and 1 take turns holding hoping to make time. But you told me yesterday that your hand while you gaze beyond us, more. the deer were now tame enough to looking frightened and bewildered. eat out of your hand. Together we February 11 watched the sunset from the second We are informed that quadruple floor window of room 208. Once bypass surgery will take place on Feb­ again, we know it is special, made ruary 14. Until then, we are allowed Terri, my sister, remembers the more so by the reminder that our to see you only 15 m inutes every two time you got her snow skis for Christ­ days here are limited and precious. I hours. In that am o u n t o f tim e we try mas. As she began unwrapping them, sit next to your bed and take your to be the strength you no longer you were so excited to see her reac­ hand. You’re the first to squeeze have. Chris, your grandson, sends tion that you actually got up and tore back. I meet your eyes and see myself you a get-well card, and writes, the wrapping paper off for her. Don’t reflected in them. We both grip tight­ “Aren’t you lucky! You get to have deny it, we have the snapshot. W heth­ er. I lean over you, for I have some­ your broken heart mended on Valen­ er it was unwrapping gifts, golfing, or thing im portant to say. You already tine’s Day.” We all pray for the fishing, you were never one to sit still know it, but that doesn’t matter. It of an 11 -year-old. for long. We all smile at the memo­ still needs to be said. Can you hear February 12-13 ries and grow silent, each of us des­ me? Listen, Dad. Listen closely to the For the next two days we hold each perately hoping to make more. beating of a son’s thankful heart. I other and try not to cry, and spend February 14 love you. I love you. I love you . . . the time between visits telling stories Before the surgery, the doctor pulls about you. Roy, my older brother, re­ us aside and tells us to say everything Jerry Cohagan is one-half of the minds me of the time we were fishing we want to say to you before the sur­ comedy/drama duo, Hicks and Co­ and you kept telling me, “Cast the gery and not to expect a miracle. For hagan. Lynda is a high school English other way, Jerry.” D id 1 listen to you. the next 4 hours we pray for exactly teacher in Olathe, Kans. rq

June 1992 5 3 S VIEWPOINT

ZZZ^ a a A A A A The Pattern and the Cloth BY EUGENE L. STOWE

n early March, 1 attended two er called us to teach and preach our Spirit to crucify (our) lusts, affec­ conferences that impacted my distinctive theology of Wesleyan holi­ tions, and desires” (Victorious Chris­ life very meaningfully. ness. In this day when Reformed/ tian Service, Revell, 1 17-19). The first was the eighth Calvinistic doctrine is proclaimed so A few days after the theology con­ Theology Conference of the Church widely by so many, we must not yield ference, I was privileged to attend the of the Nazarene. 1 have been privi­ to pressure to “cut the pattern”— not 50th anniversary convention of the leged to attend seven of these. This just because we are Wesleyan, but be­ National Association of Evangelicals. one was unique in that it was co­ cause this is the clear teaching of At this meeting, this second related sponsored by the education offices of Scripture. was sounded: the Wesleyan and Nazarene churches The word holiness and its deriva­ II. Christian ethical patterns must and was attended by the religion fac­ tives appear in the Bible more than not be cut to fit the cloth of our tragi­ ulties of the colleges/universities and 600 times. When purity and cleans­ cally immoral society. O ur own Dr. seminaries (and general superinten­ ing are added, the total comes to B. Edgar Johnson, N.A.E. president, dents) of both denominations. The more than 1,000. In 1647, a century introduced President George Bush to theme was “Theology in the Service the convention. Mr. Bush reaffirmed of the Church.” Scholarly papers his unconditional opposition to abor­ were presented by professors, general tion on demand and promised to and district superintendents, and Patterns are veto any legislation that would make pastors. it legal if R oe v. Wade is reversed. Ho­ But this conference was more than nonnegotiable. liness people must not bow to pro- an academic exercise. Participants choice pressure to compromise the dealt with doing theology in a very They must not be biblical teaching of the sanctity of practical way. life. One of the presenters stated graph­ tampered with. The pattern of principle must nev­ ically, “We must never be guilty of er be cut to accommodate cultural cutting the pattern to fit the cloth.” cloth. Elton Trueblood speaks to this My wife is an excellent seamstress. To issue: “In its great periods the Chris­ make a dress, she must have a piece before Wesley lived, Ralph Cud- tian faith has been shocking to con­ of material and a pattern that is her worth, a professor of Hebrew at Cam­ temporaries because it challenged size. On one occasion when she put bridge, picked up this biblical truth them by its refusal to conform. Chris­ the pattern on the cloth, she found in a sermon before parliament in tians must attack the world” (The that there was not enough material. these words: “The end of the Gospel New Man for Our Time). She could have cut the pattern down is not only to cover sinnes by spread­ In this same conference, Dr. Den­ to fit the cloth, but that would have ing the Purple Robe of Christ’s death nis Kinlaw decried the media blitz left her with a dress that was too and suffering over it, whilst it still re- that is destroying America’s moral small to wear. maineth in us with all its filth and fabric through what he called “toler­ This principle applies in our Chris­ noisomness unremoved; but also to ant pluralism.” He also reported that tian lives. Patterns are non negotiable. cleanse us and free us from it.” a recent survey revealed the alarming They must not be tampered with. And more and more non-Wesley- fact that a majority of Americans There are two areas where this is ab­ ans are declaring this timeless truth. would lie, steal, and be involved in solutely necessary. Alan Redpath, onetime pastor of extramarital sex if such actions I. Doctrinal patterns must not be cut Moody Memorial Church, writes: seemed appropriate and expedient. to fit unscriptural cloth. “None can ever ascend the hill of the He called upon evangelicals to dem­ Dr. Thomas Oden, the renowned Lord except he has clean hands and a onstrate a holy intolerance against theologian from Drew University, pure heart, for without holiness, no such social sin. was the keynote speaker. He issued a man can see the Lord. ... Our lives May we never be guilty of cutting ringing challenge to conferees to be will have to be made pure by the the pattern of sound doctrine and true to our Wesleyan-Arminian theo­ blood of Jesus Christ. . . . We must holy living to fit the cloth of compro­ logical tradition. Speaker after speak- know what it means for the Holy mise.

6 Herald of Holiness Wesley D. Tracy For Damon—Lest He Be Forgotten and Not Even Missed

innertime for the Tracys—a ly accused by the real perpetrators poet, was killed in a drive-by shoot­ booth at a fast-food restau­ of the crime. He was released. He ing. “Wearing the wrong color for rant. I'm exhausted from showed up to enroll in school again. that part of town,” his classmates Dfighting deadlines, Bettye fromBut the powers that be would not said. teaching 125 senior high students. enroll him. They said that his pres­ Bettye was supposed to retire “How did your day go?” I asked. ence would endanger others be­ from teaching this year. But in the Bettye pushed her salad around cause reprisals from the gang mem­ end she couldn't go through with it. in the little plastic dish, “1 have a bers he had to testify against were Damon and Kevin had something vacancy in Row B, Seat 3. Damon possible, even probable. Damon to do with that. But there are other dropped out of school.” was turned away. students too. I do not have time to “One less set of papers to worry A short time after that Bettye re­ tell you about Jerrie who lost her about,” I said. ceived a message: Mrs. Tracy: I have hair from chemotherapy, to whom “1 don't worry about the papers, enrolled in G.E.D. classes. I'm going Bettye took lessons and encourage­ but knowing the risks for young to finish high school one way or an­ ment, nor about Ronnie in the psy­ black male dropouts, 1 do worry other. I just wanted you to know. chiatric unit to whom Bettye took about Damon. He is such a good- D am on instruction and friendly counsel. hearted kid. Always courteous, no Nor is there space to tell about back talk. He doesn’t always work amon made the paper again to­ Marge, and Mitzi, and Charlene hard, but he never blames someone D day. The trial of the bank rob- who shared their pregnancy di­ else for his failures. I love that kid.” ber-killers against whom Damon lemmas with their English teacher. “Did you try to talk him out of was to testify is just days away. But I wanted Bettye to retire this year. quitting school?” I asked. a t 6 :30 a.m. today they found But thinking of those kids, especial- “Of course, but he said, ‘It’s for Damon in Swope Park, the best. My folks have divorced. 1,900 rolling acres deco­ .. . Maybe I can get a job.’ rated with tulips, red­ “I put my arm around his shoul­ bud, and flowering euca­ der,” Bettye said. (You see Bettye lyptus trees this time of has taught black kids long enough year. He was dead, shot I ’m going to finish high to know that when a pseudo-expert once in the head from says, “Don’t touch the black stu­ close range. school one way or another, dents, they resent it, ” he is spouting I tried to remember a silly notion. She knows that black the stats I read recently just wanted you to know. kids need hugs, and pats, and hand in T im e or was it News­ clasps just like everybody else.) week? The chances that “And I told Damon ‘I don’t want to a typical U.S. citizen will read about you on the front page of be shot are something the newspaper.’ like 1 in 30,000. But the chances ly Damon, I understand why she “He gave me a long look and that a young black male will be shot can’t quit just yet. Who would said, ‘I’ll be all right, Mrs. Tracy.’” before he reaches age 30 are 1 in 26! mourn Damon? Who would even A few weeks later Bettye picked Bettye is grieving tonight. Damon miss him? And next year there will up the Kansas City Star. There was is the second student she has lost be another D am on sitting in the Damon. Some young men had this year. Kevin was another black now empty chair in Row B, Seat 3 robbed a bank and murdered a cus­ student who struggled in American on the seating chart. Who will pray tomer. Lit until Bettye helped him to be­ for him? Who will reach out to “I can’t believe that!” Bettye de­ lieve in himself. “I’m impressed by him ? ^ clared. “Damon could not kill. the insights in your poetry,” she There’s too much good in him. He’s would tell him. Kevin started com­ such a tenderhearted kid—he just ing by on Bettye’s planning period would not do that.” to get one-on-one coaching. Great Bettye was right. The police dis­ progress. But one weekend just be­ covered that Damon had been false­ fore Christmas Kevin, the budding

June 1992 March Issue Top-Flight Reading Had to Let You Know I commend you for your courage in bringing the abortion is­ Just this note to tell you how much I enjoyed this March is­ sue squarely center stage. A prominent pastor confessed to me sue of the Herald o f Holiness. Although I am not a Nazarene, I once that he never touched abortion—it was too hot an issue. have read this magazine for many years. I used to subscribe, but But he rode hard on all the “in” safe issues— child abuse, etc. As now a daughter (who is a member of your church) moved close Nazarenes we need deeper convictions than that. to me, so she sees that I get it. Moreover 1 commend you for the editorial, “Search and De­ I believe that was one of the best ones for many a day. Praise stroy,” and for Jim Christy’s article, “Conquering Sin." In fact God for it! It surely lifted me. As you can tell, I can hardly write the entire issue is crammed with top-flight reading material for because of my age (82) and health conditions, but I just had to the Christian. let you know how much I enjoyed this one. Richard S. Taylor By the way, I must tell you that I am a saved, sanctified Bremerton, Wash. Christian and on my way to Glory. I would appreciate your prayers, and keep the good books coming. Your sister in Christ, A Winner Mrs. Bessie Wilkerson The March H erald was another winner, cover to cover. I es­ Wellston, Ohio pecially hope and pray a lot of people read “The Scarlet Lady” and “Viewpoint." Horrified Speaking of covers, I always get a chuckle out of some of the letters people write to you. Perhaps you should try a plain white I am horrified by the H erald I received today (March 1992, cover with black stenciled lettering and no pictures or art. Ha! “The Scarlet Lady”). We are a holiness denomination. I agree Keep up the good work! this abortion is terrible but such ta ste— put it on the outside of Joel Merrill our magazine in such a horrible manner for the world to see! Pella, Iowa Lela Baxter Mountain View, Calif.

Abortion Industry Yo, Who? If, in response to the recent Herald, someone challenges the idea that abortion is “big business,” he should read what I did Yo, Herald o f Holiness: this morning at the neighborhood McDonald’s. As I ate my We, as in a Christian firefighter and a Christian valedictorian, breakfast burrito, imagine my surprise to look down at the place believe your May 1991 issue had a “more one-sided than mat on my tray and see an advertisement for business from needed to be article,” more precisely, “Managing the Music in Planned Parenthood. If there is not money to be made in abor­ Your Home” by Angela E. Hunt. First of all, we would like to tion, why advertise at McDonald’s? point out the picture where you have a mess of secular artists An argument could also be made that this represents a subtle and then a totally awesome tape by Dana Key. You made no form of racial genocide. Why position these “clinics” in inner- mention of the fact that his Christian tape was present. We hope city neighborhoods and advertise at fast-food restaurants in pre­ this was not intentional or inferring that the tape was not Chris­ dominantly black neighborhoods? I never see these advertise­ tian in total. ments in the suburban establishments. Second, have you even considered at whom Christian rock is targeted? It is not targeted at people who listen to country west­ ern and opera; it is, however, geared toward those who already listen to this style of music and those whom God chooses it should affect.... The message may be lost to you and many others, but to those who have found, are finding, and will find Christ through this music, it is the Word of Life. We wish to point out that the words are the most important part. Christian heavy metal is nearly always right on track with the message of Christ. Without the right music to back up that most important message, who will even listen? This is not a letter to rip you apart. You guys are doing a great job! Praise the Lord! The majority of your article we did agree with, we are happy to tell you. May God continue to light your path and guide your words with His wisdom! D. "D ude" E ric A ston Wyll E. "Extreme" Jones

8 Herald of Holiness Notes on Music I am writing to let you know how much I appreciate the Feb­ THE HERALD OF HOLINESS ruary and March issues in the Herald o f Holiness on "Each One Home Is Where the Herald Is Has a Hymn” and “Why Have Music in the Church?” 1 have been a song leader in churches for many years (still Fill out this form and mail today to am). We used to be called “Singing Nazarenes,” but seems like it start receiving the Herald of is hard to get people to sing any more. I like what Morris Wei- Holiness. For faster service, gelt said, “Keep the hymnal and the Bible together if you wish call toll-free 1-800-877-0700. to grow.” Those songs in the March issue are not sung much anymore. Enter my subscription for They celebrate our victories, our hope, our sanctifying power. □ One year, $9.00 Also, the article on “Why Have Music in the Church?” is so □ Two years, $ 17.00 good. R ita H ay □ Three years, $25.00 Alva, Okla. □ Enter a gift subscription at $ for year(s) and send to: Deserves a Thank You Your March 1992 publication deserves a thanks to you. Here Name. you have dealt with issues needed— at least by me. Address. You should not have to delete from Carol Everett’s plain and fearless words, the “Search and Destroy” reminder with Jim City___ . State/Prov.. . Zip_ Christy's arrangement, or Jerald D. Johnson’s experiences. □ Bill me Please continue to deal with the enablement to love and be □ Enclosed is my check for $_ compassionate when it's the least emotion we feel. I need the Herald. To charge your order to Visa or MasterCard, call toll-free Milo DeMint 1-800-877-0700. Nottawa, Mich. Name. Search and Destroy Address. March's issue of Herald of Holiness was worth the price for City____ . State/Prov.. . Zip. the one article by the editor on "Search and Destroy.” . . . It was powerfully written and reminds us that we must take sin seri­ Phone (_ -)■ ously. It has been many years since I have even read an article Make checks payable to: Herald o f Holiness that says it like it really is. We must get back to preaching/writ­ The local Church of the Nazarene I attend is ing and thinking about heart purity. Many individuals that worked for God in the past and waged Name of Church. a war on sin, have taken a light view of putting sin in its place and pointing to the biblical emphasis of living near to the heart Address______of God. Editor Tracy has given us a wake-up call. Holiness is the City. . State/Prov.. . Zip. "grand depositium” of our heritage. I only wish some of the writers for other holiness magazines would follow this keynote If ordering by mail, clip and send to: message and pass the gospel bucket on to this generation! The Herald of Holiness I must note that I had two or three magazines in hand as I sat Nazarene Publishing House down at a “snack bar” at the local Wal-Mart . . . waiting for my P.O. Box 419527 • Kansas City, MO 64141 car to get some new brakes. I found this article first and had to read it two times ... so the juice of its good contents could be digested. I found the other magazines less attractive . . . and continued with the H erald for the balance of time. tors, and decisions to make, the vibrant recalling of several songs along with God’s Word brought an inner peace and M o n ty N eal Bristow, Okla. strength. I absolutely sat in amazement when I read this article, for you have written an article. Professor Weigelt, that has been burning in my heart, but I did not know how to express it. Search and Destroy Right On Joyce L. Porter We are so thrilled with your editorial in our March issue of O m aha, Nebr. the Herald. “Search and Destroy” is RIGHT ON! It is encour­ aging to know our leaders are still pointing us in the right direc­ Holiness and Alcohol tion. I enjoyed reading the March 1992 H erald o f Holiness. One How blessed we are! article in particular was very timely for me. Having been a The information on abortion was very enlightening. member of the Church of the Nazarene since 1958, I've seen We are still thankful for our Nazarene heritage over our life­ many changes take place within the church. The article titled times. Frank and Fauneil Dabney “Holiness and Alcohol” reminded me of standards that the Salem, Oreg. church has upheld and continues to uphold. I believe the Church of the Nazarene’s standard concerning the use of alco­ hol is commendable and justified. ... Rhythms of the Spirit I have been told . .. that [the] traditional Nazarene attitudes Thank you. Professor Weigelt, for your "Rhythms of the toward alcohol consumption are having a negative effect on the Spirit” article, “Each One Has a Hymn.” In November, when I message of God’s grace to people who want to be accepted in learned that the word cancer was to be part of me, for several the culture in which they live. days the song “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?” by George N. Charles D. Taylor Allen, was a part of me. While educating myself, visiting doc- Library, Pa.

June 1992 9 FOUNDATIONS FOR THE HOLY LIFE THE PROMISE OF PERFECT LOVE

First in a series on Christian holiness by General Superintendent Emeritus William M. Greathouse

hat the world needs now is love, The Neglected Doctrine sweet love,” a once popular song It is critically important that we see with clarity says, echoing a truism of current the essence of this “neglected doctrine of holiness.” culture. The song is right to a cer­ It is the doctrine of Christian perfection seen as per­ tain extent. We do need love, but fect love. not the love that pop singers twang theirThe New guitars Testament word for perfection is not a Wabout. We need the love the Bible speaks of— perfect static but a dynamic, functional term. Our English love. How we hunger for God’s perfect love to fill word comes from the Latin perfectus, which means our hearts, expelling everything contrary to love and absolute holiness and sinlessness. The Greek word reproducing Christ in us (1 John 4:17). (teleios) derives from the root telos, which means Is such love something we can only dream about? end. or intended purpose. A thing is “perfect” when Not if we believe the gospel. The promise of the gos­ it answers to its true end. For example, the pen now pel is that we can receive and manifest perfect love. in my hand is perfect, not because it is flawless but English reformer John Wesley (1703-91), recov­ because it writes. It answers to the end for which it ered for the Church this scriptural truth that had was designed. been shoved into the background in much of Protes­ Deploring the connotation of the English word tant practice. perfect, Wesley nevertheless refused to give up his In one form or another, the truth of Christian per­ doctrine of perfection because, correctly understood, fection, or holiness understood as perfect love, had perfection is a scriptural term. lain at the heart of the Christian tradition from the What Wesley did was to redefine perfection ac­ time of Jesus and the apostles. cording to its New Testament meaning. Adam Protestant reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546), Clarke summarized the Wesleyan and New Testa­ who rediscovered the truth of justification by faith, ment idea of perfection when he explained: overreacted against the Catholic tradition of holi­ As God requires every man to love him with ness. In his zeal to avoid anything that smacked of all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, and his by works and to keep central the truth of neighbour as himself; then he is a perfect man salvation through grace alone, Luther neglected too that does so; he answers the end for which God much the “be ye holy for I am holy” of the Bible. m ade h im .2 “Here John Wesley rose to mountain heights,” Underscore in your thought that last phrase and claims the late George Croft Cell of Boston Univer­ you have the essence of holiness. As a com m and­ sity. “He restored the neglected doctrine of holiness m ent of God, perfect love is the substance of the law; to its merited position in the Protestant understand­ as a prom ise of God, it is the quintessence of the ing of Christianity.”1 gospel.

10 Herald of Holiness The Promise God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God As the law is in the New Testament (“Be perfect, did from his" (Hebrews 4:9-10, NIV). For this per­ therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” Mat­ son, the Christian life is a perpetual Sabbath of wor­ thew 4:48, NIV), so the gospel is in the Old Testa­ ship, praise, and service in the spirit of Jesus. ment. “The Lord your God will circumcise your Blessed quietness! Holy quietness! hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that What assurance in my soul! you may love him with all your heart and with all On the stormy sea Jesus speaks to me, your soul, and live” (Deuteronomy 30:6, NIV). And the billows cease to roll! What G od com m ands in the law. He promises to do Worship in Song in the gospel. Nazarene Publishing House At the very heart of the gospel is the promise of a A “Habitual Disposition” of Love deeper working of God’s grace in the heart of the Drawing from Thomas Aquinas, Wesley declared Christian believer, a grace receivable by faith in this that Christian perfection is “that habitual disposi­ present moment, enabling us to be and to act in con­ tion of soul, which, in the sacred writings, is termed formity to the great commandment, i.e., to love God holiness.”1 It is a “habitual disposition,” not habitual

The Bible word > “Holiness is not the translated “perfect” second effort; it is the means purpose or 'XX second re st” it intended end.

supremely and love every other person as we love perfect performance. That is why the plea for for­ our own souls! giveness (Matthew 6:12) is not foreign to perfection When Wesley explained this to his English bishop but indicative of it. as the meaning of his doctrine of Christian per­ As members of Adam’s fallen race, our habitual fection, the good bishop told him to preach it in all disposition is that of inordinate idolatrous self-love. the world! We are born, as Luther noted, “curved in on our­ This is indeed good news! God can remove the selves.” We are born psychocentric, but we grow up uncircumcised heart—the stubborn, rebellious egocentric. Each of us by nature wants to be the cen­ heart—and give us a tender, pliable heart that says, ter of the universe, that is to say, God. “I delight to do thy will, O God!” This idolatrous “heart of stone” is the essence of Not Perfectionism original sin. But God has promised: “I will remove We must distinguish between Christian perfection from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of and “perfectionism.” This we have not always done, flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to the confusion of many who, in the late Dr. Ed­ to follow my . . . laws” (Ezekiel 36:26-27, NIV). ward Lawlor’s words, “take pains and give them to Then, we joyfully sing. everybody else!” in trying to be “perfect.” No won­ I ’ll say “Yes, Lord, Yes" der so many say, “I was better when I didn’t try!” To your will and to your way; Under these conditions, it is easy to succumb to I'll say “Yes, Lord, Yes” what Bonhoeffer called “cheap grace” and “throw I will trust you and obey. out the baby with the bath water”! When your Spirit speaks to me Holiness is not the “second effort,” it is “the sec­ With m y whole heart I ’ll agree, ond rest.” A believer who has yielded utterly to God And my answer will be and received the infilling of the Holy Spirit is not “Yes, Lord, Yes!”4 uptight, trying to dot every i and cross every t in or­ Perfect Love, Not Sinlessness der to please God. “There remains, then, a Sabbath- Fundamental to Wesley’s teaching is the dis­ rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters tinction between “the perfect law” of love (as delin­

June 1992 11 eated in 1 Corinthians 13 and the Sermon on the Mount) and “perfect love” (understood as “pure love to God and man” or singleness of intention). A Prayer for Pentecost Sunday Even those perfected in love “fall short of the glory of God” and are, therefore, with every other Chris­ tian “justified by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus ... apart from observing the law” (Romans 3:23, 24, 28, NIV). O FLAME OF LOVE This distinction explains Wesley’s doctrine of the double nature of actual sin. His primary definition of sin is “every voluntary breach of the law of love O Flame of love and holiness, .. . and nothing else.”? But after spelling out the per­ fect law of love in 1 Corinthians 13, Wesley writes, Thou dost indwell my heart; “You who feel nothing but love, compare yourselves with the preceding description. Weigh yourselves in But grant to me the lowliness this balance, and see if you are not wanting in many That was the Master’s part. particulars.”6 For this reason, Wesley writes, “sinless perfection is a phrase I never use, lest I should seem to con­ tradict myself.”7 It is salvation fro m sin—from its O Pentecostal Life of joy, pow er in the new birth and its root (false self- centeredness) in full salvation—but not sinlessness. O Brightness of my day, Thou givest peace without alloy, Wesley believed that And lightest all my way. sin is “every voluntary breach of the law . . . it Thee I would praise while life shall last; and nothing else.” Thee I would own and serve; Would day by day before Thee cast since “the best of men .. . fall short of the law of M y self without reserve. love” and therefore “need the atonement.”8 It is, therefore, appropriate, as long as we live, to say, Every moment, Lord, I need J. Kenneth Grider The merit of thy death.9 Christian perfection is a Christ-centered existence. The holiest of [persons] need Christ as their Prophet, as “the light of the world.” For He does not give them light but from moment to mo­ ment; the instant He withdraws all is darkness. They still need Christ as their King; for God In the series of articles that follow, we will search does not give them a stock of holiness. But un­ the Scriptures to see if these things are true and, if less they receive a supply every moment, noth­ so, to examine their implications for Christian living ing but unholiness would remain. They still today. need Christ as their priest, to make atonement Reference Notes 1 George Croft Cell, The Rediscovery o f John Wesley (New York Henry Holt and Co., 1935), for their holy things. Even perfect holiness is ac­ 3 59 ceptable to God only through Jesus Christ.10 2 Adam Clarke, Christian Theology Samuel Dunn, ed. (New York T Mason and G Lane, 1840), 183 Such a Christian’s confession is, therefore: “Thou 3. John Wesley, “The Circumcision of the Heart,” Wesley's Standard Sermons, Edward H Sug- den, ed. (London: The Epworth Press, 1921), 1:267 art my light, my holiness, my heaven. Through my 4 ..© copyright 1983 by Manna Music, Inc., 25510 Ave Standford, Suite 101. Valencia, CA 91355 International copyright secured All rights reserved. Used by permission union with Thee, I am full of light, of holiness, and 5 The Letters o f the Rev John Wesley John Telford, ed (London The Epworth Press 1931) 5 :3 2 2 happiness. But if I were left to myself, I should be 6 John Wesley, A Plain Account of Christian Perfection (Kansas City Beacon Hill Press of Kan sas City), 83 nothing but sin, darkness, hell.”" 7. Ibid, 44 8 Ib id , 8 3 “Called unto holiness, ” praise His dear name! 9 Letters, 4 2 08 This blessed secret to faith now made plain: 10 Plain Account, 82 11 Ibid Not our own righteousness, but Christ within, 12 Lelia N Morris, “Called unto Holiness," Worship in Song (Kansas City: Lillenas Publishing Co , Living, and reigning, and saving from sin.12 1972).

12 Herald of Holiness ntOThe Wo ROGER L. H A H N

Portraits of Jesus in John A Breath of Fresh Life

And after He had said this. He verb appears in Ezekiel 37:9 to de­ era when some Christians were sep­ breathed on them and said, "Re­ scribe life being breathed into the arating the Holy Spirit from Jesus. ceive the Holy Spirit" (John bones in the Valley of the Dry The result was more emphasis on 20:22*). Bones. John wanted his readers power and gifts and less emphasis to understand that when Jesus on Christlikeness. John certainly grew up as an outdoors per­ breathed on the disciples. He was expected powerful ministry from son, but my vocation places giving them a new life. They were believers, as John 14:12 shows, but I me in an office. A few years receiving a fresh breath o f life that for him, the Spirit would always ago, 1 was instructed to never again would reenergize them to be and to point to Christ and lead to Christ­ open my office window. The tem­ do what Christ asked of them. That likeness. perature would be taken care of by breath of fresh life came with Jesus’ The breath of fresh life that be­ the thermostat. The problem is effective command, “Receive the lievers need today is the life of that the thermostat doesn’t provide Holy Spirit.” Christ re-created in us through the fresh air. There are times when 1 Many Christians are puzzled by work of the Holy Spirit. T hat will feel I need a breath o f fresh air or verse 22 because they do not know give us new strength and energy to I'll die. Fresh air gives me a fresh how to relate it to the Pentecost ex­ accomplish the work and will of sense of life, vitality, and energy. It perience of the Early Church de­ God in our world. It will also focus enables me to believe that I really scribed in Acts 2. We should re­ our power and our gifts on minis­ can do the work and will of God in member that John did not write try and not on ourselves. my life. John 20:22 portrays Jesus the Book of Acts, and breathing on the disciples. The life there is no evidence that and power of the Holy Spirit re­ copies of Acts existed in sulted for them. the part of the world in John 20:19-23 presents Jesus' res­ which John lived. In fact, J oohn wanted his readers urrection appearance to most of it is unlikely he even to understand that when the disciples in the evening of the knew that the Book of first Easter Sunday. Jesus’ first Acts had been written. Jesus breathed on the words were, “Peace to you.” No He was about to bring doubt, this is the translation of the his Gospel to a close, but disciples, He was giving traditional Jewish greeting, “Sh a ­ he could not end it with­ them a new life. lom. ” However, that greeting had out telling of the gift of immeasurably more meaning that the Holy Spirit. night than it could ever have had John’s preview of Pen­ before. The disciples’ lives were in tecost accomplishes two impor­ complete chaos; the Crucifixion tant purposes. First, it shows the For further study: (1) Read John had destroyed all that they had fulfillment of the promises of the 14— 17. List the features o f the hoped for during the previous three Paraclete made by Jesus during the work of the Holy Spirit that are years. The Resurrection, Jesus’ per­ Last Discourse of John 14— 17. given in the last discourse. (2) Read sonal appearance to them, and His The Holy Spirit had been given to E zekiel 36— 37. Describe the bless­ effective word, “Peace to you,” be­ create new life and to guide the dis­ ings that are to come from the work gan the re-creation of their lives. ciples into all truth during the con­ of the Holy Spirit as Ezekiel saw it That re-creation of life was also fusing days that lay ahead. Second, unfolding. (3) Write a brief prayer communicated through John’s John shows us that the Holy Spirit asking the Lord to breathe a breath comment, “He breathed on them.” comes to us from the Father o f fresh life into you to re-create the The Greek word breathed is the through the agency of Christ. John life o f Christ in your life. same word used in the Greek Old 16:13-14 clearly states that the ‘Scripture quotations are the author’s own translation. Testament in Genesis 2:7, “God Paraclete would not speak on His formed man of dust from the own, but would take the words and Roger L. Hahn teaches New Testa­ ground and breathed into his nos­ ministry of Jesus and apply them ment at Southern Nazarene Univer­ trils the breath of life.” The same to believers’ lives. John lived in an sity. ^

June 1992 13 NEWS NEWS NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS •

NBC CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY Nazarene Bible College celebrated its er, representing the Church of the 25th anniversary in a special service at Nazarene, and Wally Erickson, presi­ Colorado Springs First Church of the dent, Compassion International, who Nazarene, Mar. 26. A celebration ser­ represented the more than 35 Christian vice, special chapels, college and com­ organizations in the Colorado Springs munity rallies, and a strategic planning area. session for the NBC Board of Trustees Audrey Williamson, retired teacher were held to mark the event. and wife of the late General Superinten­ Jerry Lambert, NBC president, chal­ dent G. B. Williamson, provided the lenged the congregation with “A For­ Scripture reading for the service. ward Look.” The service also featured Speakers at the special chapel ser­ Stephen Nease, education commission- vices included Norman Oke, first aca­ demic dean of the college; L. S. Oliver, NAZARENE BIBLE COLLEGE second president of NBC; Wayne Albright, first NBC graduate; and Mrs. President: Jerry Lambert Williamson. Nazarene Bible Collge President Jerry Lam­ bert addresses the college/community Campus: Colorado Springs The NBC Board of Trustees met at rally for NBC’s 25th anniversary celebra­ Glen Eyrie conference center for a Enrollment: 408 (Colorado Springs campus) tion. strategic planning session. The theme of Extension Centers: 22 the session was "Leaders for Interces­ Extension Enrollment: 672 sion and Intervention.” Resource per­ Past Presidents: Charles Strickland (1967- sonnel included: Bill Sullivan, Church Other resource persons included: Neil 72), and L. S. Oliver (1972-84) Growth division director; Michael R. Wiseman, Roger Bowman. Carl Clende- Estep. Church Extension Ministries nen. Clarence Bowman, Barry Cunning­ Degrees Offered: A.A. in biblical studies, director; Terry Taylor, chief executive ham, Jonathan Salgado, and R. T. Boler- church music; diploma in lay ministries officer, Navigators; General Superinten­ jack. and women's studies; and B.A. in biblical studies, Christian education, and church dent Raymond W. Hum; Jack Van Ens, Since it opened in 1967, NBC has music. church growth consultant: and Wilbur graduated more than 2,000 students. Brannon. Pastoral Ministries director.

NATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER CONFERENCES GENERAL BUDGET PLANNED FOR 1992-93 OVERPAYMENT TO FUND Invitations have been sent to more than dents will also be represented. One of OPENING OF NEW FIELDS 62,000 Nazarene Sunday School teach­ the general superintendents will direct a All overpayment of General Budget by ers for the 1992-93 National Sunday closing "commissioning" service for a local church will be designated for School Teacher Training Conferences. the teachers at each conference. world evangelization projects, accord­ Sponsored by the Sunday School Min­ The sites and dates for the 1992 con­ ing to action by the General Board. istries Division, the conferences will ferences include: Seattle, Wash., Aug. The money will be used to open new begin in August and will be held at 16 20-22; Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 27-29; fields or designated projects, according sites around the U.S. Detroit, Mich., Sept. 3-5: Chicago, 111., to an announcement by the Board of “This is a first in the Church of the Sept. 24-26; Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 1-3; General Superintendents. Nazarene." said Phil Riley, Sunday Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 8-10; Pittsburgh, “Overpayment of General Budget, School Ministries division director. Pa., Oct. 22-24; and Denver. Colo., Oct. according to recent General Board "These conferences are a direct result of 29-31. Conferences will be held in 1993 action, will now be used totally for the 1988 General Board's desire for a at: Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 7-9: Raleigh, world evangelization and new mission 'PALCON' type conference for our N.C., Jan. 14-16; San Francisco, Calif., projects,” said John A. Knight, chair­ Sunday School teachers. This is a criti­ Jan. 7-9; Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 28-30; man of the Board of General Superin­ cal time as we plan for ministry in the Anaheim, Calif., Feb. 11-13; Oklahoma tendents. “This will give greater flexi­ 2 1 st century." City. Okla., Feb. 25-27: Dallas, Tex., bility and stronger motivation to our The conferences will feature Dennis Mar. 1 1-13; and Orlando,.Fla., Mar. 25- people as they seek to carry out the Kinlaw, chancellor of Asbury College; 27. Great Commission through General and Andy Miller, retired commissioner There is an $80.00 registration fee Budget giving.” of the Salvation Army. Either Kinlaw for the conferences. For more informa­ The overpayment plan will be effec­ or Miller will speak at the Friday tion, contact the Sunday School Min­ tive with the 1992-93 assembly year. evening session of the conference and istries Division at 6401 The Paseo, Each year’s project will be announced in a Saturday morning seminar. Kansas City. MO 64131, or call (816) by the Board of General Superinten­ The Board of General Superinten­ 333-7000, extension 2341. dents.

14 Herald of Holiness WS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • h

BY MARK GRAHAM and TOM FELDER COMPASSIONATE MINISTRY DIRECTORS MEET Compassionate-Ministry Center (CMC) in their communities by meeting various directors from throughout the U.S. and urgent and long-term needs.” Nees said. Canada gathered in Kansas City recent­ “They are providing effective solutions ly for a leadership retreat, according to to the very real problems faced by the Tom Nees, coordinator, Nazarene Com­ hungry, homeless, sick, unemployed, passionate Ministries, Canada and the and others who are overwhelmed with U.S. (CANUS). At least 43 directors hopelessness and despair." attended the weekend session. The retreat will be held on an annual "CMCs affiliated with the Church of basis, providing an opportunity for the the Nazarene are increasing rapidly," directors to fellowship, share ideas, and Nees said. “Many of these centers have motivate each other. Nees estimates been unaware that they had numerous that, by 1993, there will be at least 60 counterparts in various cities across the organized CMCs in the U.S. and Cana­ two countries." da. The retreat included an opportunity Compassionate Ministry Centers are Rita Bright, director of Washington, D.C.’s for each of the directors to share infor­ organizations that are legally incorpo­ Community of Hope, shares some of her mation about their particular ministry rated, nonprofit, tax-exempt, and whose concerns with fellow directors of Nazarene with the group. Other sessions focused applications have been approved by compassionate ministry centers at the on the theology of compassionate min­ NCM CANUS. recent meeting of the group in Kansas istries, leadership, spiritual motivation, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries City. and resource development. CANUS is a part of the Church Growth “CMCs are engaged in changing lives Division.

INTERCULTURAL ENGLISH COUNCIL FORMED BY PUBLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL A new advisory council for intercultural The group discussed a workshop for ca, the potential for distribution of these English materials produced by Publica­ selected writers, which will be held in printed and nonprinted materials repre­ tions International met in Kansas City June. The workshop will focus on sents an unlimited market,” Hendrix recently, according to Ray Hendrix, development of Christian radio pro­ said. “This market must by addressed Publications International director. The grams for an audience interested in by the church if we are to maintain a group, formerly called the English as a learning English. relevant intercultural ministry both in Second Language (ESL) Advisory “With the demographic and sociolog­ North America and in the English- Committee, assists Publications Interna­ ical changes occurring in North Ameri­ speaking markets globally." tional in the developm ent of English materials that can be used in all cultures around the world. ANSR HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING Chaired by Wes Eby, coordinator of The Association of Nazarene Sociolo­ ies of district superintendents. Russ English as a Second Language for Pub­ gists of Religion (ANSweR) met in Bredholt, consultant, outlined various lications International, the committee is Kansas City recently to discuss the role models of leadership, and Ron Bene- composed of persons with experience in of the district superintendent in the fiel, senior pastor, Los Angeles First intercultural ministries. The committee Church of the Nazarene. The 11th Church, presented an alternative plan members include: David Barker, Des annual meeting focused on the theme for determining district size. Plaines. 111.: Ruth Rawlings Marshall, “Socialization of the Nazarene District A panel consisting of three former Lewisville, Tex.; Adelaide Parsons, Superintendent.” and current district superintendents dis­ Cape Girardeau, Mo.; LaNell Stahl, “The meeting was intellectually cussed how they were trained for the Flagstaff, Ariz.: and Nancy Zumwalt, stimulating and spiritually moving,” role. The panel included Jim Diehl, Yorba Linda, Calif. Members and said Jon Johnston, ANSweR chairman. senior pastor, Denver First Church; resource persons from Publications “The sight of dedicated church leaders Jesse Middendorf, senior pastor, International include: Karen Phillips. discussing ways to make their denomi­ Kansas City First Church; and Keith Kelvin St. John. Ray Hendrix, and Ivan nation more effective in our day was Wright, Kansas City district superin­ Beals. inspiring.” tendent. During their meeting, the committee Participants in the conference The 1993 ANSweR meeting will be adopted the designation, “intercultural included sociologists, professors, pas­ held Mar. 18-20 in Kansas City. The English," for all English materials tors, district superintendents, and head­ theme will be “Creating Greater Struc­ developed by PI. They also announced quarters personnel. tural Effectiveness in Our Denomina­ a new label. Global Series, for these Johnston and Dale Jones, research tion.” For more information, contact materials. These materials will be pro­ analyst for the Church Growth Divi­ the Church Growth Division at: 6401 duced on four levels of difficulty. sion, presented information from stud­ The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131.

June 1992 15 NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEW

NAZARENE STUDENTS SPEND SPRING BREAK IN A DIFFERENT WAY Forty MidAmerica Nazarene College wall around the church property. students decided to spend their spring The second group spent the week in break in a different way. Two groups of San Francisco where they painted and MANC students took part in ministry did minor repairs at Oak Street House, trips to San Francisco and Panama. a ministry of Golden Gate Compassion­ Twenty-one students joined groups ate Ministries. The house provides shel­ in Panama from other Nazarene col­ ter, rehabilitation, and counseling facili­ leges as a part of the C.A.U.S.E. (Col­ ties for the city's lege and University Students Sharing homeless. Experinces) program. Other schools in The students ▲ Twenty-one MANC students spent a Panama included Trevecca Nazarene also w o rk ed in week in Panama building a house and a College. Southern Nazarene University. other shelters and wall around a church’s property. Olivet Nazarene University, and Point food kitchens and Loma Nazarene College. helped provide While in Panama, the students built a food to AIDS ^Marcos Barbosa cleans a kitchen at St. house and distributed more than 15 duf­ patients as a part Mark’s Lutheran Church in San Francisco fel bags of clothing and personal sup­ of "Project Open during an MANC mission trip. plies. They also constructed a concrete Hand.”

SOUTH AMERICA CONTINUES GROWTH NIROGA TURNS 20 Two South American districts have Prince visited 31 districts and 8 coun­ The first NIROGA retreat at Cdorietta. gained regular status and a new district tries in the region. N.Mex., this fall will kick off the has been formed in Venezuela, accord­ “Many districts reported fantastic denomination's celebration of the 20th ing to Louie Bustle, South America growth during the recent assembly anniversary of the senior adult retreat regional director. year," Bustle said. “Especially notewor­ program, according to Randy Cloud, South Uruguay and Northeast Brazil thy is the North Uruguay District, Adult Ministries director. have achieved regular district status. which organized 16 new churches and Established in 1972. NIROGAs are Four other districts moved from nation­ had more than 100 percent membership held at several locations throughout the al mission to mission (phase III) status: growth. They have set a goal of 1,000 U.S. and Canada each year. The Gloriet- Colombia Central, Ecuador Costa, total members and 20 new churches by ta retreat will be held Sept. 14-19, 1992. Brazil Paulistano, and Brazil Curitiba. the end of 1992.” Many of the past NIROGA leaders will Venezuela’s new district was formed Many districts on the region are par­ be present, including Sam Stearman and in Lagos, an oil-producing state on the ticipating in the “Impact” program, Ponder Gilliland. western side of the nation. Luis Benco- which targets cities for a concentrated Five other NIROGAs will be held mo was appointed district superinten­ evangelistic effort. Currently, 95 cities throughout the year in New York, Cana­ dent by General Superintendent in South America have been targeted da, Georgia, Florida, and the Ozarks. William J. Prince. for evangelistic campaigns and prayer For more information, contact Adult Prince was in South America for six cells in local churches and city-wide Ministries at: 6401 The Paseo. Kansas weeks this spring, according to Bustle. campaigns. City, MO 64131, or phone (816) 333- 7000, ext. 2364. PRESCOTT ACCEPTS POSITION WITH HUD Bob Prescott, assistant “Bob will continue to serve NCM coordinator for Naza­ International as an associate and advi­ rene Compassionate sor,” said Weber. “His prior travel to 37 Ministries, has accepted countries, 19 years of living overseas, the position of director and extensive work with international for HUD’s Public projects and leaders makes him unique­ H ousing D ivision in ly valuable to the church." Detroit, according to Steve Weber, Prescott has assumed responsibility NCM International coordinator. for a 10,000 unit housing program Prescott worked with HUD for more plagued by problems. Currently, the than 25 years before coming to Kansas Detroit Housing Authority is ranked as City in 1984 to help establish NCM. the "most troubled” in the country, with As assistant coordinator, he has been nearly half of its apartments vacant. involved in every aspect of the denomi­ Prescott was contacted about the job nation’s compassionate ministries pro­ because of his prior experience in crisis gram. management.

16 Herald of Holiness NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS

PROPOSED AFRICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY BREAKS GROUND FOR NEW LIBRARY Nazarene leaders in Africa recently cel­ ebrated the ground breaking for the Grace Roles Library on the campus of Proposed Africa Nazarene University, according to R. F. Zanner, Africa regional director. The two-story, 16,000 square foot building will house the university’s first permanent library on the ground floor, with administrative offices and conference space on the second level. Construction is expected to be completed in several months at a cost of $100,000. Alfred Jones, PANU rector, envi­ sions 2.000 students by the year 2000. Jones also has set a goal of 500 gradu­ Pictured (I. to r.): Paul Kisoso, PANU fac­ ate students in the school's seminary. ulty member and 0NU graduate; Daniel The university campus sits on 70 Anderson, mission director for Kenya; Gary acres adjacent to Nairobi National Park. Moore, mission director for Zaire, Rwanda, The campus includes 6 buildings that and Tanzania; and Theodore P. Esselstyn, Africa regional coordinator for education; were built by more than 34 Work and review plans for the new library. Witness teams. "The campus and buildings represent individuals and churches who have sac­ more than $1 million in non-General rificed to be part of the dream,” Zanner Budget funds, with most coming from said.

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June 1992 17 VACATION WORSHIP

C a m e riq u e

BY JOLINE CHANG, KANEOHE, HAWAII

t’s 11 p.m . Saturday night in Anaheim deliberate choice, not habit or routine. I’m Best Western Stardust Motel, when not wearing my usual Sunday morning la­ I eight-year-old Jennifer bursts into sing­ bels of board member, Sunday School ing. From the shower, the sounds of her How teacher, ministry staff member, or mis­ praises to the Lord fill the rooms. “Thank sionary’s daughter. I am drawn by the Holy You, Lord, for this wonderful day. You are so Spirit to worship with these fellow Naza­ great. I love You so much. You are so won­ amazing renes. derful.” For at least Five minutes these spon­ 1 am reminded as I look around that God taneous songs of joy continue. She reminds are the has put no difference between these Califor­ me of a songbird exploding with trills of joy nia Nazarenes and us Hawaiian Nazarenes. in the early morn. For an hour before, she ways in I take note of the well-cared-for sanctuary has been singing every praise song that she and the carefully appointed order of wor­ knows, but songs written by others are inad­ ship. These people have prepared well for equate to express her adoration and thank­ which God this hour of worship. Pastor Scott’s message, fulness to the Lord. “They Were Once His,” continues the Holy I am deeply humbled and convicted by directs Spirit’s ministry to me, reminding me again this pure and unexpected worship. How of the need to keep first and foremost my long, 1 wonder, has it been since my worship worship of the Lord. The Lord’s presence is has been so honest and pure? Worship di­ my steps. very real and near me this day. rected only to the Lord from the overflow of Leaving the sanctuary. Mrs. Scott greets my heart. Her worship creates in me a long­ I am me and asks me where I’m from. Upon ing to “return to my first love,” as Paul learning that I'm from the Kaneohe Church would say. I have a heartfelt need to wor­ of the Nazarene, she exclaims that several ship. filled years ago she and her husband had brought This week has been filled with crowds, a Work and Witness team to help build our crowds, and more crowds as we toured with educational unit. I’m now a teacher at that Southern California amusement parks. I school. Windward Nazarene Academy. The want nothing more than to withdraw from Scotts and their Work and Witness team people and be alone. Yet this longing for wonder built my classroom. How amazing are the corporate worship pulls me to the telephone ways in which God directs my steps. I am book to Find the closest church. I’m tempted and filled with wonder and praise. to continue the tourist routine and visit the Some people shout, some sing, I cry when Crystal Cathedral, but I want to experience the Spirit of the Lord comes upon me. Driv­ worship among Nazarenes. The motel desk praise. ing back to the motel, the tears run freely clerk directs me to the Garden Grove down my cheeks as the Spirit of the Lord Church of the Nazarene. overwhelms me. I am lifted. I am filled. Slipping into my pew, I am here by very Thank You, Lord, for vacation worship. ^

18 Herald of Holiness It’s T H E L E A S T You Can D o

“Bring the whole tithe into the store­ house, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “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.”

MALACHI 3:10, NIV TITHING— IT WORKS

r.HIIRP.H DF THF NIA7ARFNIF • STFWARDSHIP SFRVIHFS “SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN”

BY BRENDA NIXON

As a Christian parent with a husband and two Jesus said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them children, I often wear myself out trying not, to come unto me” (Matthew 19:14). Obviously, to sustain our family life together. And this was not an “adults only” crowd who came to .X. S the effort to keep us a “family” is not al­ learn from Jesus. Our Master pointed out the prior­ ways appreciated. ities to adults and parents. He placed a priority on Satan constantly is on the prowl, seeking what children and acknowledged their place in our life. In families he may devour. Newspapers and television fact, Jesus alluded to the tender teachability of chil­ bombard us daily with case after case of sexual dren when He said we all must become like them. abuse, incest, adultery, drug problems, and violence I feel my parenting career is threatened in three of every sort. Further, Satan chuckles as he manipu­ ways when church programs tell me “adults only.” lates the complexities of our greed-oriented society, First, I am offended when others make the deci­ fragmenting families who try to keep three jobs plus sion for me that my children are not coming. It a vigorous social agenda going. Families are being must be assumed I have not performed my job as a pulled apart by the very way life is structured these parent correctly. The message I receive is that my days. children and other parents’ children are so unruly The attacks of the world and of Satan himself, that they are a distraction and nuisance. My respon­ however, can be identified and resisted. What sneaks sibility as a parent is stripped from me, and I am up on us is the way the Church carelessly falls into a denied the choice to parent my children in public. family-fragmenting life-style. How can you fight Second, I feel threatened when children are ex­ that? What do you do when the “church family” cluded from church functions simply because it ex­ fragments your natural family? poses those who are intolerant and cannot adapt to It’s the children who are the problem—not for noise and distraction. Preoccupation with self­ me, but for others. The Bible tells us that our chil­ comfort anesthetizes minds to the ministry of lov­ dren are a gift from God, precious blessings who are ing, accepting, and nurturing children. People who to be trained up in the way they should go (Proverbs have the ability to screen out distraction in their 22:6). And Deuteronomy 6:6-7 reminds us of the workplace, their home life, and concentrate on tasks daily com m itm ent to teach our children. I believe all claim inability to worship if a toddler drops a song- that, and my Christian response is to practice what book. the Bible preaches about these matters. Third, when others dictate that an activity is for However, some things that go on in the name of adults only, it is I who is discriminated against! My the Church cut me off at the pass. usual options are to not attend and I miss out, or Trendy, subtle attacks come through “adults only” hire a baby-sitter, which is not always financially class parties and church functions, childcare pro­ possible. vided for every program, and activities that separate When tradition dictates, such as Mother’s Day family members the minute they walk into the and Father’s Day, nobility is placed on Christian par­ building. Too often, the distraction or noises chil­ enting and the worth of children reiterated. How­ dren cause are intolerable to adults who then decide ever, I find on other occasions during the year it children should not be part of their adult worship, seems that children are not necessary in church life church dinners, class parties, fellowship activities, because “there isn’t enough room,” “they don’t like etc. One church even excluded daughters at a children in their home,” “children need to experi­ mother and daughter activity if the daughter was ence worship at their own level,” “the children under age 12. would get bored.” These polite excuses to dismem­

20 Herald of Holiness Faith P e n n in g to n

ber families deny our future board members, teach­ How many people will invite a new family over ers, greeters, pastors, opportunities to bond with for dinner if they have children? I observe, as a other Christians. greeter in my church, that childless couples receive My fondest memories come from church activities the most invitations. Sadly, a missionary couple with where families were together. I made friends with children, home on furlough, shared with me that

One church even excluded daughters at the mother and daughter activity if the daughter was under 12!

my parents’ friends, and they knew mine. Many they aren’t invited into homes and explain it as Christian adults watched me grow and prayed with “people without children do not want children in me as I sought G o d ’s direction in my life. I had op­ their homes.” Ministry is sometimes inconvenient. I portunity to observe interdependence, conflict reso­ trust I'm reaching out to others even when it may be lution, tolerance, and Christian fellowship. Today, uncomfortable to be with all of their family. some of my church friends don’t even know I’m a Don’t get me wrong. I know there are times when mother, and many people in my local church don’t the various family members need to learn things at know my children. continued on page 33

June 1992 21 RED, WITH

nce a little boy went to school. It | was quite a big school, but when the boy found he could go right to his room from the playground outside he was happy, and the school didn’t W a llo w itc h seemO quite so big anymore. One morning when the little boy had been in school for a while, the teacher said, “Today we are going to make a picture.” Good, thought the little boy. He liked to make pictures. He could make lions and tigers and trains and boats. He took out his crayons and began to draw. But the teacher said, “Wait. It’s not time to begin.” And she waited until ev­ eryone looked ready. “Now,” said the teacher, “we are going to make flowers.” Good, thought the little boy, and he began to make beautiful flowers with his orange and pink and blue crayons. But the teacher said, “Wait.” She drew a picture on the blackboard. It was red, with a green stem. “There, now you may begin.” The little boy looked at the teacher's flower. He liked his better, but he did not say this. He just turned his paper over and made a flower like the teacher’s. It was red, with a green stem . On another day the teacher said, “Today we are going to make something with clay.” Good, thought the little boy. He could make all kinds of things with clay—snakes and snowmen and el­ ephants and mice—and he began to pinch and pull his ball of clay.

Illustrated by Lacy Perry

22 Herald of Holiness A GREEN STEM

A child's God-given creativity is a But again the teacher said, “Wait. I will show terrible thing you how." And she showed everyone how to make one deep dish. The little boy just rolled to waste. his clay in a round ball and made a dish like the teacher’s. And pretty soon the little boy learned to wait and to watch and to make things just like the teacher’s. And pretty soon he didn’t make things of his own anymore. And then it happened that the little boy and his family moved to another city and the boy had to go to another school. On the very first day he went to school the teacher said, “Today we are going to make a picture.” Good, thought the boy, and he waited for the teacher to tell him what to do. But the teacher didn’t say any­ thing. She just walked around the room. When she came to the boy she said, “Don’t you want to make a picture?” “Yes,” said the boy. “W hat are we going to make?” “Well, I don’t know until you make it,” said the teacher. “How should I make it?” said the boy. “Why, any way you like!” “And any color?” “Any color,” said the teacher. “If everyone made the same thing in the same color, how would I know who made what and which was w hich?” “I don’t know,” said the boy, and he began to draw a flower. It was red, with a green stem.

From Gifts of Grace, by Mary Schramm, copyright © 1982, Augs­ burg Publishing House Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress.

June 1992 Unanswerable

Questions

BY REBECCA LAIRD

ne day last winter my husband was bed­ ridden by a flu virus. He cancelled all but one of his appointments for the day; Oit was a life and death matter. He asked me to keep that appointment in his stead. The day before, a woman who was in the late stages of AIDS called Michael, looking for a chaplain. Her husband had died of AIDS earlier in the week. The woman’s children were asking questions she didn’t know how to answer. She needed someone to come over and talk about God and show them what the Bible said about heaven and about why their daddy had to die. As I drove across San Francisco to an un­ familiar industrial part of town, I prayed for courage, wisdom, and confidence that God would let this family feel a measure of divine love and concern, even if I didn’t have the words to explain the unanswerable questions that sur­ round death. I’d talked with plenty of people with AIDS before, but never with children who had to face the recent death of their father and whose mother’s health was failing fast.

24 Prior to her diagnosis, she and her friends had laughed and agreed that all people infected with the AIDS virus should be quarantined.

When I arrived at the gate of their small, neat apartment, a new friend of the family let me in. The articulate mother, who looked gaunt, assured me that she had a community of supporters who pro­ vided practical help. What they didn’t have was someone in their lives to talk with about God. The mother and her children had lived in the small town where she had grown up, married, and attended church. When her husband confessed his involvement in some risky activities, their marriage crumbled, and they separated. Her husband moved to another state and soon telephoned, asking that she and the kids be tested for the HIV virus. The unimaginable had happened to her—she, too, car­ ried the virus. “Thank God, my kids are OK,” she said matter- of-factly and with great affection for her children. The quality bond between this mother and her chil­ dren was palpable. This was a loving family. The woman told me that prior to her diagnosis, she and her friends had laughed and agreed that all people infected with the AIDS virus should be quar­ antined, shunned; they were a group of invisible people out there somewhere. Now she was one of them . In her hometown she could find no one else in the vicinity who shared her plight. Her pastor moved away, and she felt she couldn’t talk to the new one. I admitted sadly, “The church isn’t always a safe or loving place, is it?” “No,” she agreed, without malice or anger, “but it should be. The church should be where people like continued on page 28 Illustration by Roland Miller 25 C o m s to c k DONT FORGET THE CHILDREN!

BY MARK A. YORK

hat comes to mind all people, then children most requires specific training in the when you think of certainly are included. According customs and language of the peo­ the Great Commis­ to the 1990 U.S. Census, nearly ple to whom the missionary goes. sion? Missionaries 44 million Americans are under It also takes a special kind of per­ W in faraway places? Churchthe age plant­ o f 12. In o u r churches, son to work in Children’s Minis­ ers starting new works in wealthy children often make up a third tries. Psychologists and learning suburbs or poverty-blighted inner or more of the congregations. specialists tell us that children see cities? Certainly the Great Com­ Clearly children are an important the world differently from adults. mission’s admonition to “make part of the “nations” spoken of Although every adult was once a disciples of all nations” (Matthew by Jesus. child, children’s workers need to 28:19, NIV) calls the church to go Nazarene Children’s Ministries become familiar once again with to countries, but really its call is is the office of the church that the world of children. However, to reach the people of these na­ has the special responsibility to since the culture of childhood is tions rather than the places them­ fulfill the Great Commission always changing, children’s work­ selves. with children. It’s mission state­ ers usually find that the customs Today’s English Version Bible ment is simple: and language of contemporary clarifies this by translating “na­ To carry out the Great Com­ children are not what they re­ tions” as “peoples.” The New mission to children, establish­ member. In fact, teachers may ex­ Century Version says, “So go and ing the foundation for a life of perience culture shock as they at­ make followers of all the people Christian holiness. tempt to understand today’s chil­ of the world” (Matthew 28:19, Most agree that it takes an ex­ dren. EB). ceptional person to become a It isn’t easy to see the world If we are to make followers of missionary to another culture. It from a child’s perspective. Too

26 Herald of Holiness many adults idealize their own call their trips to Indianapolis tries, part of the Sunday School childhood. Too many don’t take and the lunches at Ponderosa. Ministries Division headed by children and their concerns seri­ District leaders, like local Rev. Phil Riley. U nder the lead­ ously. Some are content to wait workers, share a passion for com­ ership of Dr. Miriam Hall, these until the children are older to municating God’s grace to chil­ women and men prepare in­ “deal with spiritual things." How­ dren. Many break the trend to­ structional materials, newsletters, ever, the church must include ward short-term commitments. and other resources to serve local children if it is serious about ful­ Wilma Pauley of Nebraska and and district children’s workers. filling the Great Commission. Betty Ward of Missouri are exam­ Their mission statement con­ The Church of the Nazarene ples of directors who served their stantly guides them “To carry out has people at the local, district, districts for many years. the Great Commission to chil­ and general levels who feel called District directors work to help dren, establishing the foundation to minister to children. Volun­ children realize that they are part for a life of Christian holiness.” teers devote thousands of hours of something big. District rallies Who are the people of Chil­ working with children. Just as dren’s Ministries? They come missionaries endear them­ from all parts of the country, selves to the people with There are exciting and from a variety of back­ whom they work, children’s opportunities to follow the grounds. All consider their workers earn special places in position a ministry, and sense the hearts of youngsters. They Great Commission right that God directed them to guide children as they explore their current responsibilities. the wonders of God’s love. If under your nose! Many different pathways you grew up in the church, lead people to Children’s Min­ you probably remember a chil­ provide opportunities for chil­ istries. Some have come through dren’s worker who made an im­ dren from churches of all sizes to leadership roles in public educa­ portant contribution to your life. gather for exciting times of fel­ tion. Dr. Hall came to Children’s Local children’s workers are lowship. Even in a district as far Ministries from her work as read­ people like Phyllis Weldon who flung as Kansas, director Garry ing coordinator in Denver. Ev­ gave countless hours to the chil­ Wright sponsored rallies that elyn Beals and Beula Postelwait dren and young people at Evans­ drew more than 1,000. District also came from positions in pub­ ville, Ind., Grace Church. The directors are men and women lic schools. Others, like Patty Hall children at Kansas City Victory who see that ministry extends be­ and Bill Rolfe, came through the Hills Church fondly call Golda yond their local churches. They churches, as associate pastors or Masters “Grandma Golda.” Hal encourage local workers, share children’s ministers. Latta Knapp Bilyeu faithfully drove his bus ideas, and build supportive net­ came from a teaching job in a through Harrisonville, Mo., col­ works for ministry to children. Christian school. Still others lecting children who had no other The general church has a staff came from positions in Nazarene way to come. Betty Jarvis’ students of 10 full-time children’s workers. colleges. Lois Perrigo came after at Greencastle, Ind., happily re­ They make up Children’s Minis­ serving as dean of women at Tre- vecca. Amy Lofton came from a position at MidAmerica. The most striking element of continued on page 33

Part of the Children’s Ministries staff at Nazarene Headquarters. (L. to r): Patty Hall, Miriam Hall (director), Janet Reeves, Donna Fillmore, Cathy Haworth, Mark York, and Laura Soliday.

27 tween her fingers, and asked me to imitate Donald Duck. Her response was so childlike, so interwoven— voicing eternal questions was as natural to her as playing silly games. I cuddled the girl in my lap and asked her brother, “What did you say at the beach?” He replied, “I threw all my anger in the water with the shells.” His words cut me to the quick. How much this young boy had to be angry about; his father was dead, and his mother was wasting away before his very eyes. I asked the boy to join me and his sister on the sofa. I read them a children’s book about the cycle of life, the reality of death. They intently read along with me. Unanswerable Questions... When we finished reading, we talked about how continued from page 25 people die when their bodies get too sick and too tired to function anymore. Most people’s bodies me can come with our pain and our many ques­ work for about 70 years, but the disease their daddy tions.” had made his body stop working earlier. I told the How well she defined the mission of the church. little girl as honestly as I could that her daddy could She told me that after her diagnosis, lifelong not come back and visit; he now lived in a place that friends walked by her on the sidewalk, pretending was impossible to leave. not to know her. As her disease progressed, her doc­ It seemed time to talk about heaven. tor recommended that she seek the best of medical I asked the children to close their eyes and imag­ care, so she packed up a few belongings and moved ine a place that 1 was going to describe. her children to San Francisco. I simplified the words from Revelation 21: As the mother and I talked, her little girl, a blond­ I saw a new heaven and a new earth, a place haired, blue-eyed, freckle-faced sprite, cuddled up where God lives with men and women. In this place close to me. Her older brother put down his comic there is no death, no mourning, no crying, and no book and listened in. Once I had a little back­ pain. ground, I knew it was time to see how the children I stopped, and we talked about what such a place were feeling. would be like. I asked the children, “Can you tell me what hap­ The little girl said, “Is it like in the movie A ll Dogs pened last week?” Go to Heaven?" I admitted to her that I hadn’t seen The little girl answered, “Our daddy died on Fri­ the movie, and she assured me that heaven was a day.” nice place. I probed gently, “When was the last time you saw We agreed that we didn’t think mosquitoes would your daddy?” He had died in another state; the chil­ be in heaven, but tigers might. Then we talked about dren learned of their father’s death from a phone heaven as a place where their daddy now lived and call. They had spent some of the last year in their would live forever. The kids got excited. father’s care and obviously loved him greatly. The boy said to his sister, “Heaven is in another “How did you feel after that phone call?” I asked, place, kind of like where Grandma and Grandpa trying to get the children to talk about their emo­ live.” He described for me a country town where a tions. hundred trees lined the road, and he was the tree- The boy, a sensitive, open-hearted child, said, climbing champion. “Sad, I felt sad.” I asked the children to close their eyes again, and I The girl told me more, “We went to the beach and told them about the river of the water of life in Rev­ threw shells in the water and said some words.” elation 22. “What grows on the banks of a river?” I “What did you say?” asked. “Trees, flowers, ducks ...” The children made “I said, ‘Why did my daddy have to die? Why a game of thinking of everything they could imagine does God need my daddy more than 1 do? I want that was beautiful and lush. my daddy to live again and to live until I die so that “I think that’s what heaven is like,” I told them. he can die with me, and we will be together. I want But the little girl was still bothered by the fact that my daddy to live forever.’ ” heaven was too far away to visit. Whew. The powerful words gushed out of the little I decided to share with her one of my own visions one’s lips. Then she stopped, pinched my nose be­ of heaven. “I don’t know for sure, but I sometimes

28 Herald of Holiness imagine that heaven has a room with a glass floor. Perhaps your daddy can go in that room and look down and see you. He knows that you are sad, that you miss him, and that you love him very much.” Father’s Day Thoughts She liked that idea and began to imagine what her daddy could see. sit alone in my room and think about my son. After we talked about heaven, we talked for a He is gone from home. It’s been months now while about God. They knew God created every­ I... no word, no contact. Where can he be? Is he body, including their daddy. They knew Jesus loved safe? everybody, including them. I told them the story of He did not even say good-bye, just left. He Jesus and the little children. 1 assured them that they might be near; he could be far away. But he left could talk to Jesus as a special Friend when they behind a painful emptiness. His conception and his birth alike are known couldn’t talk to anyone else and that they could talk to me. I remember the pride, the joy, the eager to Jesus even without saying any words at all. Jesus anticipation. My son, in whom I delighted, that could hear what they felt on the inside, be it love, little bundle. I held him close and thrilled to his fear, anger, or sadness. every mew and sigh. I dreamed such dreams; I Bedtime quickly approached, and the children was so proud and happy. seemed to have run out of questions. The girl He grew so fast, my son. Soon he walked, he showed me a musical unicorn that turned around jigged, and entertained. A happiness we had not and around under a glass globe. The globe was her known before; he was so special. mother’s. My heart felt pierced when the mother But, in early teens, there came a time of es­ stroked her daughter’s head and told me, “This will trangement. I don’t know why, nor perhaps does be hers when I die.” he. He had some need I did not fill. I tried, but I could only be me, and that was not enough. His The boy brought over a cartoon book, showed me active mind found others he could follow. No his favorite one, and howled with laughter. I laughed malice, it just seemed the way to go. He left in along, even though I didn’t get the joke. mind, though still in body was with us. We be­ When the time came for me to leave, I asked if I came as strangers, though our lives were so closely could pray with them. We held hands, and I inade­ intertwined. My touch, my hug, without response, quately struggled to find the words to say. I simply brought a shuddering chill, a fear, a silent sob. I asked God to help them with their sadness and to loved him so much, but he was distant. give their mommy strength, and to care for their I sit here and recall the earlier days of fun, of daddy in heaven. songs, of games, of trips, our family meals to­ Then we hugged. The boy squeezed my neck for a gether. The memories seem so joyous. What hap­ long time. His sister leapt into my arms and pened? Where did I go wrong? Somehow by de­ fault, our bond was not complete, at least was wrapped her legs around my waist. The mother weak. My loyalty, yes, admiration for him has al­ asked me to come back and bring Michael too. “I ways been strong. But did I tell him? Did I express stopped doing anything about God after my diagno­ it? Did he know and feel my unconditional love? sis, but I’ve got lots of questions now.” Without bur­ The fault is with me. We grew alongside, but not dening her children with the starkness of her illness, together. she let me know that she was readying to face her So here I sit, and he is gone, “into a far coun­ own death and preparing to make the excruciating try.” I must not dwell on the past nor emphasize decisions about her children’s future. my present grief, for I believe he will return. It is I left the mom some prayers written for persons for that time that I must hope and must prepare. with AIDS, a Bible with a list of suggested verses to There are lessons he will have learned, and so read, and a copy of my husband’s book on AIDS. have I. When he returns we will rejoice. We will cele­ She flipped through the book, noticed that there brate and not think about the past. I will show my were stories of people with AIDS in the book, and love, my concern, my admiration. I will say it; I said, “Oh, good. This will help. It’s good to read will do it. about other people like me. Sometimes we have the His childhood is gone, but we will recapture same kinds of questions.” those early ties. We will rebuild what was lost. The I promised we’d come back. best is yet to come. O God, just bring him back! I drove home through the dark city streets in awe. Karl A. Hampton, a father in Bellevue, Wash., reports In 90 minutes or so, that mother and her children that his “prodigal" son has now returned. had become my heroes. They were facing life during its hardest moments with honesty, love, and a vigor­ ous desire for God. Their small apartment was a holy place, near to the heart of God. Rebecca Laird is a professional writer and editor. She lives in San Francisco and is a licensed minister. ^

June 1992 29 A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S PRAYER PLEDGE

BY INA J. HUGHS

We pray for children who sneak Popsicles before supper, who erase holes in math workbooks, who can never find their shoes.

And we pray for those who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire, who can’t bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers, who never “counted potatoes,” who are born in places we wouldn’t be caught dead, who never go to the circus, who live in an X-rated world.

We pray for children who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions, who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money.

And we pray for those who never get dessert, who have no safe blanket to drag behind them, who watch their parents watch them die, who can’t find any bread to steal, who don’t have any rooms to clean up, whose pictures aren’t on anybody’s dresser, whose monsters are real.

30 Herald of Holiness who squirm in church and scream in the phone, whose tears we sometimes laugh at and whose smiles can make us cry.

And we pray for those whose nightmares come in the daytime, who will eat anything, who have never seen a dentist, who aren’t spoiled by anybody, who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep, who live and move, but have no being.

We pray for children who want to be carried and for those who must, for those we never give up on and for those who don’t get a second chance.

Jean-Claude Lejeune

For those we smother ... and for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to We pray for children °ffer ^ who spend all their allowance before Tuesday, who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food, who like ghost stories, who shove dirty clothes under the bed, and never rinse out the tub, who get visits from the tooth fairy, who don’t like to be kissed in front of the c a rp o o l,

June 1992 31 CONGRESOS REGIONALES DE OBREROS NAZARENOS HISPANOS DE EUA EN 1992

Pastores y esposas, Presidente: Rdo. Raymundo Lopez Presidente: Rdo. Ernesto Bello ministros asociados, F e c h a : Octubre 5-9, 1992 F e c h a : Sep. 28-Oct. 2, 1992 locales y de musica, L u g a r: Episcopal Conference L u g a r: Camp Takonic, New York pastores jubilados, Center, Okahurst, CA C o sto : $150 por persona personas a cargo de C o sto : Lodge, $150: Dorm., $125 Information: (716) 232-2332 misiones hispanas. Information: (213) 929-8286 REGION SURESTE Deberan inscribirse antes REGION SURCENTRAL Presidente: Rdo. Melquiades del 31 de agosto de Presidente: Rdo. Eneas Gonzalez Santiesteban 1992. Fecha: Octubre 19-23, 1992 F e c h a : Octubre 12-16, 1992 Lugar: Camp Arrowhead, Glen L u g a r: Princeton Camp, Miami, FL. Orador de los Congresos: Rose, TX C o s to : $110 por persona Rdo. Bruno Radi C o sto : Lodge, $125 por persona Information: (305) 888-8651 Information: (214) 376-5552

Invitamos a que asistan a uno de estos grandes eventos regionales. Su alma y su mlrtlsterio seran enriquecidos.

32 Herald of Holiness Suffer the Little Don’t Forget the Children... adults would want to compete with their children’s quiz team. Children... continued from page 27 The Bible memory program, co­ continued from page 21 all these paths is God’s unmis­ ordinated by Donna Fillmore, provides an orderly way to help their own level. I appreciate the takable leading. When staff mem­ children bank verses in the vaults skillful Sunday School teachers bers join Children’s Ministries, it of their memory. Other programs, who instruct my children for an is amazing to see how God uses like Caravan and VBS. focus on hour each week. I, myself, appre­ seemingly unrelated experiences outreach, evangelism, and fellow­ ciate and help in the ministry of to prepare them for their assign­ ship. Children’s church fosters VBS. ments. worship, while Sunday School is Further, some of the church’s Local, district, and general an all-purpose ministry that in­ work and business has to be done Children's Ministries workers re­ corporates all the strategies for by groups of adults. And I realize alize the Great Commission by ministry to children. couples need an occasional break concentrating on reaching out to There are exciting opportuni­ from constant parenting duties. communities, teaching Bible ties to follow the Great Commis­ On the other hand, I work hard knowledge, building Christian fel­ sion right under your nose. Part to give my children the message lowship, inspiring worship, and of the “nations” are in your that they are valued and wanted nurturing a life obedient to homes, neighborhoods, and all the tim e, not ju st when it is Christ. Ultimately, the goal is to churches. They are the children. convenient. I want my church to make disciples in the fullest sense Sometimes they can be as baf­ treasure them too. Those memo­ of the term: people who dedicate fling as the most remote tribe. At rable childhood years will be themselves to following Christ. other times they are as familiar as gone too soon. Since people are different, your own family. “So go and Children's Ministries has de­ Brenda Nixon lives in K ansas City. She signed an exciting variety of plans make followers of all the people has a husband. Paul; two children, Lyn- to help carry out the Great Com­ in the world” (Matthew 28:19, sey 10, and Laura 4; and a master’s EB), but don’t forget the children. degree in religious education. She mission with children. Children’s works part-time in a Kansas City Quizzing, under the direction of Mark A. York is Children's Ministries ex­ School District program called Parents Kathy Hughes, helps children ecutive editor for the Church of the as Teachers. ^ master Bible knowledge. Few Nazarene. ^

when they saw me. I was disap­ wreck. The Snares of Death... pointed, because 1 was sure that We need not think that Satan continued from page 3 I had missed them again. But, as traps only the young in the snares it turned out, I had caught one. of death. They catch seasoned your hands, and bind them on This young wolf ran into the men and women too. Perhaps the your foreheads. Teach them to brush in a panic. The older enemy of our souls purposely your children, talking about them wolves neatly avoided the con­ tries to panic us into his snares in when you sit at home and when cealed snares along their trails. the same way that I accidentally you walk down the road, when When I came up, the large did the wolves. In this case, the you lie down and when you get youngster was struggling in the older wolves remembered God’s up” (NIV). Just like people, not snare. I tranquilized her, fitted wisdom, so to speak, as they ran all young wolves heed their el­ her with a radio collar, and care­ through the brush. They remem­ ders. Many die as a result before fully laid her out to recover from bered the snares. the end of their first year. the drug. Regardless of our age, we must I finally did catch a wolf near The wolf had run blindly into stay close to the Shepherd, study the dead moose. It knew about the snares. How that wolf re­ the Word of God. listen for the the snares, and it also knew to minds me of Karen, a teen with Spirit’s still small voice, and avoid them. It had been avoiding everything going for her—Chris­ drink from the fountain of life all them for weeks along with the tian family, good grades, a church our days. The snares of death are others in the pack. I caught it kid. Then, adolescent sexual real, and the stakes are high. when it forgot the wisdom that drives (what the Bible calls David Johnson and his wife are mem­ God gave wolves. Here’s what youthful lusts?) panicked her into bers of the Juneau Church of the Naz­ happened: I saw the wolves on promiscuity. She rushed blindly arene in southeast Alaska. They have the ice gathered around the car­ and eagerly into the snare of two children. David is a wildlife biolo­ cass one day as 1 approached the death. The abortion was botched, gist supervisor for the Alaska Depart­ lake. They bolted into the brush and she’s a physical and spiritual ment of Fish and Game. tq

June 1992 33 The Year of Preaching: Report 1 A GRADE CARD FOR NAZARENE PREACHING

he service lasted an U.S.A. The tabulation of the re­ aspects of preaching. Respond­ hour and a half. Of sponses reveals a tremendous ents were asked to evaluate the those 90 minutes, ex­ vote of confidence for the preach­ preaching they hear on each of actly 1 1 were given ing of Nazarene ministers. Naza- the 30 aspects on a Likert scale of to the sermon. The renes appreciate good preaching 5 to 1. That is, the highest score impact of the sermon was—and “I’m to hear them tell it, they possible was 5.0, the lowest possi­ OK,T you’re OK, and we would all are getting it. ble 1.0. O n this scale, the laity be even more OK if we were The questionnaire probed 30 gave the clergy an overall score of more psychologically balanced and had better manners.” The preacher read a text and prompt­ Table 1: Thirty Aspects of Preaching, ly forsook it to speak of Greek Graded and Ranked by Laity and Pastors

mythology, a novel, and a paint­ Sentence Stem: (laity) The preaching I hear .. . S co re by R ank S co re by R ank ing. The preacher sounded no L aity on by Pastors on by Sentence Stem: (pastors) I believe my preaching . . . 5 to 1 Scale L aity 5 to 1 Scale P asto rs call to repentance, commitment, or service. ... is soundly grounded in the Bible 4 .7 3 1 4 .8 9 1 The high point of the service .. . clearly proclaims the love of God for sinners 4 .5 6 2 4.61 3 for me was the use of one of John . .. is distinctly Christian, focusing primarily on Jesus Christ 4 .5 4 3 4 .6 0 4 Wesley’s prayers that I use in my . . . employs everyday language and not “Christianese” or theological jargon 4 .4 9 4 4 .4 0 1 1 devotions almost every day. The . .. comes from the very heart and soul of the preacher 4 .4 8 5 4.57 5 low point, I would have to say, ... is such that I would be happy to invite my neighbor to hear 4 .4 7 6 4 .6 2 2

was the choir anthem. Directed ... is characterized by proper use of the English language 4 .4 6 7 4 .2 6 16

by a lady in a red and white . .. gives evidence that the preacher has worked hard on the sermon 4 .4 5 8 4 .0 8 22 jumpsuit, the choir lustily ren­ ... can be called part of worship 4.43 9 4 .5 5 6

dered—are you ready for this?— . . . makes me a better Christian 4.41 10 4 .5 3 7

“I Don’t Know How to Love . . . represents good scholarly thought— is intellectually respectable 4 .4 0 4 11 4 .2 2 18-19

H im ” from Jesus Christ, Super- . . . explains and interprets the Bible, making it more understandable 4 .4 0 3 12 4 .5 2 8

star. . . . faithfully deals with sin, judgment, and redemption 4 .3 7 5 13 4 .4 6 10

Had I been in a Nazarene ... is direct and personal communication 4 .3 7 2 14 4 .3 5 12

church last Sunday, I would have . .. reveals that the preacher has good communication skills 4 .3 6 15 4 .0 0 25

participated in quite a different ... is logical and “makes sense.” 4.3 5 16 4 .3 4 13

service. For one thing, the ser­ . . . applies the Bible and Christian doctrine to everyday life 4 .3 2 17 4 .4 9 9

mon would have been a lot lon­ . . . makes Christian beliefs easier to understand 4 .3 1 6 18 4 .2 7 14-15

ger and a lot better, if you take ... is relevant to the times 4 .3 1 0 19 3 .5 2 30 the word of the folks we polled .. . emphasizes holiness, or entire sanctification 4 .2 4 20 4 .0 4 24 about preaching in our denomi­ . . . holds attention 4 .1 8 21 4 .0 6 23 nation. . . . makes the Bible more interesting and more useful 4 .1 4 22 4 .1 9 20 To accent our denomination’s . . . inspires me to give my time and energy in Christian service 4 .0 9 23 3.82 27 1992 theme, “Go . . . Preach,” . . . calls for a response— that is, challenges us to do something specific 4 .0 8 24 4.2 3 17 Wilbur Brannon of Pastoral Min­ . . . touches my heart and soul 4 .0 7 25 4.2 7 14-15 istries and I created a question­ .. .challenges people to seek salvation— has evangelistic appeal 4 .0 5 26 3.85 26 naire that was distributed by the . . . helps me with my own personal and family life 3 .9 5 27 4 .1 8 21 Church Growth Division’s Lis­ . . . helps me understand the Christian view of the great social issues 3.7 6 28 3.6 6 29 tening Post research team. The of our time (poverty, abortion, etc.) ... is fresh, creative, and not boringly repetitive 3.75 29 4 .2 2 18-19 survey was sent to 600 randomly . . . takes less than 25 minutes of the Sunday service 3 .7 0 30 3.7 2 28 selected church members and 600 pastors from around the Overall Average 4 .2 7 9 4.25

34 Herald of Holiness Church members and pastors rate 30 aspects of the preaching they hear and do.

4.279! In schoolteacher language, rating the preaching they do. “comes from the very heart that’s a B+. Table 1 shows that laity and and soul of the preacher.” Table 1 charts the way the lay­ clergy make similar “high” rank­ Both groups also agree in gen­ persons and the pastors ranked ings on such items as eral about some other items, giv­ the 30 aspects of preaching. Keep “grounded in the Bible,” ing them lower rankings in the in mind that the church members “proclaims the love of God for preaching they hear or do. They were rating the preaching they sinners,” both agree that most of the hear and that the pastors were “distinctly Christian,” and preaching they hear and do takes more than 25 minutes, that evan­ gelistic appeal could be stronger, Table 2: Church Member Responses that Nazarene preaching could do Arranged by Category more in helping us understand Score Rank S core the Christian view of social is­ 5 to l in O verall for Q uestion Scale Category R ank C ategory sues, and that preaching on holi­ ness ranks in the bottom one- SERMON CONTENT AND ORGANIZATION third of what really goes on in our . . . grounded in Bible 4.73 1 1 . . . explains Bible 4.40 6 12 churches. . . . logical, makes sense 4.35 8 16 Table 1 also shows that in some . . . distinctly Christian, focuses on Christ 4.5 3 3 areas pastors believe they are do­ . . . emphasizes holiness, sanctification 4.24 9 20 ing better than what is perceived . . . scholarly, intellectually respectable 4.40 5 1 1 by the laity. For example, pastors . . . evidence of thorough preparation 4.45 4 8 think they are doing a much bet­ . . . proclaims God's love for sinners 4.56 2 2 ter job of applying the Bible and . . . deals with sin, judgment, redemption 4.376 7 13 Christian doctrine to everyday . . . fresh, creative 3.75 10 2 9 life than the laypersons give them 4.38 credit for. Closely related to this STYLE AND DELIVERY is the item that probes whether or . . . direct and personal 4.37 4 14 . . . makes beliefs easier to understand 4 .3 1 6 18 not preaching “explains and in­ . . . proper English 4.46 3 7 terprets the Bible, making it more . . . reveals good communication skills 4.36 5 15 understandable.” Here again, pas­ . . . holds attention 4 .18 7 21 tors rank themselves higher than .. . everyday language, not “Christianese” 4.49 1 4 the people do. ... 25 minutes or less 3.70 9 30 Pastors also rate their calling . . . comes from the heart and soul of the preacher 4.48 2 5 for a specific response in a ser­ . . . fresh and creative 3.75 8 2 9 mon higher than laymen do. Pas­ 4.23 tors report being deeply touched APPLICATION AND EFFECTIVENESS by their preaching (rank 14th), . . . makes Bible more understandable 4.40 3 12 while the laymen rank this factor . . . touches my heart and soul 4.07 7 25 . . . challenges people to seek Christ 4.05 8 26 no higher than 25th. When it .. . calls for a specific response 4.08 6 24 comes to keeping sermons “fresh, . . . makes Bible more useful 4.14 4 22 creative, and not boringly repeti­ . . . helps with family problems 3.95 9 27 tive,” the pastors rank themselves . .. Christian view of social issues 3.76 10 28 much higher than the church .. . happy to invite my neighbor to hear it 4.47 1 6 members do. . . . makes me a better Christian 4.41 2 10 In several areas the people rank . . . inspires me to Christian service 4.09 5 23 the preachers’ performance high- 4.14 continued on page 36

June 1992 35 OF SUCH IS THE CHURCH COMPOSED

JOSEPH D. BISCOE, JR.

he name and address of the you can no longer drive, when there church on the envelope was is no family left, when you are con­ barelyT legible. The writing on the fined to a no-frills apartment, does postal money order showed the God expect you to give? While talk­ sender’s hand was weak. There it ing to the sender of the postal mon­ was—monthly tithe from an aged ey order, I carefully probed to catch couple, both of whom were too sick his reaction. “There are two reasons to attend church. why I give. God has always pro­ Two thoughts were prompted by vided for me . . . and I believe He the gift: always will. I was taught to give by a One—A church board has a sa­ family that raised me when my par­ cred trust as it fulfills the role of ents did not want me. I will always receiving and disbursing church give 10 percent of my income to funds. The tithe was deposited from God.” a family who does not need to hear Circumstances never determine if a definition of poverty, but in their I will or will not give. Love and loy­ day-to-day lives they experience it. alty are the determining factors. Their sole source of income is a So­ The church is composed of those cial Security check—less than $700 who give faithfully, because they per month. They live in govern­ have been taught that God’s way is ment housing, and they have a best. medical card (hopefully a physician I was tempted to ask the board to and a pharmacist will accept it). give the elderly family a check The church board determines how equal to the amount on the postal This is a list such amounts given by the faithful money order. On second thought, are to be used. What an incentive why deprive them of the joy of giv­ of everything this should be to administrators ing, the honor of building the King­ you’ll take and boards to act wisely and to be dom, and the realization that even with you when thankful. in old age the lessons learned early Two—Isn’t there some escape in life are good ones? The church is you die. from giving when your monthly in­ composed of men and women who You’ll need a valid will or come is less than $700? Isn’t there put God first. Thank God for them. trust to responsibly manage some reprise from giving when Hh the rest. medical bills are staggering? When Write for our free brochure, Reflecting on Tomorrow. doing best in the category per­ A Grade Card... taining to Sermon Content and N am e continued from page 35 Structure. They rank our Style and Delivery second, and they A d d re s s . er than the pastors themselves do. rated preaching lowest in the ar­ These factors include eas of Application and Effec­ C i t y ___ avoiding “Christianese and tiveness (see Table 2). Pastors theological jargon,” ranked their own preaching in S ta te______Z ip _ “use of proper English,” the very same sequence. G*! “intellectual respectability,” In spite of the great grade card V “good communication skills,” that Nazarene preaching received, and sermons that are there are a few things that people fe P l a n n e d “relevant to the times.” want changed. We will look at ' f G IV When you arrange the church those things in Report 2 next 6401 THE PASEO members’ responses by clustering m onth. KANSAS CITY, MO 64131 them in categories, you discover — Wesley Tracy 1 - 800 - 544-8413 that the people say pastors are bf

36 Herald of Holiness Benefits Questions THAT CALLS FOR Answered by Dean Wessels ACTION! ne evening a local congregation invited a fu­ turist to talk about life on earth in the year How long has the Church provided financial O2000. The speaker said that there most likely would benefits for retired ministers and widows? be none. He said that at the present rate of con­ From its start. However, in the early days, sumption we are rapidly depleting our supplies of “benevolence” was all the Church could provide. energy and other nonrenewable natural resources; In 1919, the General Board of Ministerial Relief that we are poisoning our world with toxic sub­ was established to raise funds from the churches to stances; that population is growing worldwide faster assist retired ministers, ministerial widows, and than our ability to feed the people. He went on to orphans. forecast a scenario which would soon lead to a col­ Even after becoming eligible for help, some lapse of the international economic system causing individuals had to wait months before receiving worldwide depression. This would drastically reduce the production and distribution of food, leaving in their first monthly relief check. Ample funds simply its wake such massive starvation that billions would were not available. Those in need had to wait until die. This in turn would lead to grave political tur­ someone receiving a check no longer needed it. moil and international tensions which would finally Today, Nazarene ministers have the opportunity result in nuclear holocaust and the annihilation of of participating in a professionally structured and life as we know it. administered retirement program. Great progress At the conclusion of his speech there was a long has been made since those early days when silence. Then a little old lady stood up in the back of retirement needs were met only through "benevo­ the room and said: “I’m not sure just what has been lence" programs as funds were available. said here, but it sounds very important and calls for The Nazarene Minister’s Retirement Program is some committed action on our part. Would it help if composed of several elements. Taken together, they I baked a cake?” offer a funding approach which both the minister — Ted Peters, Fear, Faith, the Future and the local church may use as they plan together Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing Company for the minister's retirement income. To meet the hr challenge successfully, any retirement income plan must consider several sources: participation in Social Security; private pensions from job-related activities; and personal retirement investments and savings. The Nazarene Minister’s Retirement Pro­ gram takes this into account by emphasizing four retirement funding sources: (1) Social Secu-rity, P&B Update: (2) the “Basic” Pension Plan, (3) the Nazarene Tax-Sheltered Annuity Plan, and (4) additional personal savings through the Nazarene IRA Plan. New Mileage Rate for 1992 The “ Basic” Pension Plan is the part by which Released by IRS the denomination provides every eligible minister a non-contributory defined benefit plan based on The Internal Revenue Service has announced the years of service. This plan, established April 1, standard mileage rate for use during the 1992 tax 1971, was never intended to be the sole source of year. The new rate of 28 cents per mile is applicable retirement funding for Nazarene ministers. The to all qualifying business miles driven during 1992. intent of the "Basic” Penion Plan always has been The 1991 tax year rate was 27.5 cents per mile for to provide a "safety net” benefit regardless of the qualifying business miles. minister's income category or church size. Preced­ This new rate will affect all churches that are ing it by 8 years was the Nazarene TSA Plan which using the standard mileage rate when reimbursing was started in 1963 and which always has been the their employees’ business-related mileage under an contributory pension plan of the church. Its benefit “accountable reimbursement plan.” More informa­ levels are determined by amount of contributions tion is available from the Pensions office by accumulating at tax-deferred interest in the individ­ requesting Memo: Church Management #11, “Auto ual’s account. and Other Business Expense Reimbursements.” Questions about benefits may be sent to the Board of Pensions and Benefits USA, 6401 The Board of Pensions and Benefits USA Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131-1284. 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131-1284

June 1992 37 NEWS OF RELIGION SCHULLER ESTABLISHES NEW CHURCH ALLIANCE IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION INCREASING A group of large church pas­ network will enable the tors has formed a non-denom- churches to tackle specific The number of people who to religion. Non-whites (75 inational alliance led by tele­ humanitarian and evangelis­ consider religion as an percent), especially black vangelist Robert Schuller. tic challenges. Recently, the important part of their lives Americans (82 percent), are The group, Churches Uniting group provided nearly 11.000 continues to grow, according the most likely of all races to in Global Mission (CUGM), prepared meals for the hun­ to a recent study by the say religion is important. In seeks to "share, positively, gry in Moscow. The group is Princeton Religion Research comparison, just 55 percent the message of Jesus Christ also concerned about the Center. Nearly 6 persons in of whites feel the same way. and His love for the world," plight of young, black males 10 (58 percent) said religion The sense of importance according to Chester L. Tol- in the inner city and is look­ is very im portant in their grows as people mature. Less son, executive director. ing at successful models for lives. An additional 29 per­ than half of those under 30 “The most creative and ministering to this group. cent said it is fairly impor­ (46 percent) believe religion effective things in ministry O rganized in N ovem ber tant, while just 13 percent is very im portant to them. are happening on the local 1991, CUGM is directed by a m aintained religion is not Just over half of those 30-49 level through inspired lead­ general council composed of very important. (54 percent) say it is very ers,” Schuller said in a recent about 40 senior pastors, The number of people who important. Among those 50 Christianity Today interview. according to Tolston. Annual feel religion is important has and older, 70 percent consid­ "The time is ripe for a coali­ dues are $1,000 per congre­ grown steadily since 1986. er religion of great impor­ tion like CUGM that is unen­ However, the number is still tance. gation, and all members must cumbered by organizational considerably lower than the Where one lives also sign a declaration agreeing to politics and theological record high, which occurred makes a difference. People the group’s basic beliefs. infighting." in 1952 when 75 percent of who live in the South (69 These include: “commitment Nearly 80 pastors have those surveyed said religion percent) or Midwest (56 per­ to Jesus Christ as Lord and joined the alliance, including is important in their lives. cent) are more likely than Saviour and to his life as a John Calhoun, senior pastor Women (66 percent) were those residing in the East or pattern for living" and " of Long Beach First Church more likely than men (48 the West to view religion as in the Holy Bible as the of the Nazarene. Calhoun, a percent) to attach importance very important. inspired Word of God, our member of CUGM’s general trustworthy guide for faith council, sees the group as and practice.” Membership is Those who say religion is “very important” both a fellowship network by invitation only and all and as a coalition of churches in their lives: members must be approved able to meet specific chal­ by the general council. lenges. The general council agreed "This group provides a ral­ 1991...... 58% 1983...... 56% to an offer by Schuller to lying point for churches who 1990...... 56% 1982...... 56% adopt the Hour of Power as agree on the need to be 1989...... 55% 1981...... 56% CUGM's worldwide televi­ redemptive and evangelistic,” sion program. The program 1988...... 54% 1980...... 55% Calhoun said. “These large- has nearly 2 million viewers, 1987...... 53% 1978...... 52% church pastors are also hun­ making it the most-watched 1985...... 55% 1965...... 70% gry to be a part of a Christian religious program in the U.S. 1984...... 1952...... fellowship." ...... 56% .75% Schuller has also announced According to Calhoun, the that the program will soon be TRANS WORLD RADIO PLANTS CHURCHES THROUGH THE RADIO seen in the Commonwealth of Independent States with a Trans World Radio is opening guage represents a million or referred to as trade languages. potential 200 million view­ new doors of ministry to more speakers each. Broadcasting to indigenous ers. unreached people groups. The "We have never before people groups has resulted in Each show begins and gospel broadcaster has joined heard about this Jesus Christ the formation of new church­ ends with an invitation for with three other international — only after listening to your es. Thirty-seven churches viewers to attend a CUGM broadcasters to provide gos­ radio programs,” wrote one have been started in Mozam­ church in their community. In pel programming to millions listener from India. “Now we bique alone where TWR has addition, the Hour of Power who would otherwise not be have stopped worshiping been bro ad castin g in the will recommend attendance exposed to a Christian wit­ other and started wor­ Lomwe language for several at a CUGM church to the ness within their communi­ shiping only Jesus Christ." years. ties. TWR works in cooperation many viewers who write to TWR transmits over 1,000 D uring 1991 and 1992, with more than 300 broad­ the program, according to TWR targeted language casters in an effort to provide hours of gospel programming Tolson. groups in India. Africa, and programming for indigenous each week in 90 languages Tolson said that no money the Himalayan countries of groups and the millions who from 7 transmitting locations from local churches goes to Nepal and Bhutan. Each lan­ speak what are commonly to a worldwide audience. Hour of Power.

38 Herald of Holiness VITAL STATISTICS MYRTLE L. NORSWORTHY, 97, Meade, to REV RUSSELL A AND LINDA Calif to Tucson (Ariz) Oro Valley Kans., Feb. 2. Survivors: son, Robert, (CHANDLER) HOSEY, Sherman, Tex . a RICHARD E BEAN to pastor. Clearlake, Deaths daughters, Dorothy (Mrs. Phil) Conway. girl. Melanie Rae, Feb. 22 Calif ALICE M. ALEE, 90, Connell, Wash,, Audrey (Mrs. John) Overman; 8 grandchil­ to MARTY AND ANITA (TURNER) LEON E. BLAISE, from North Tonawanda, Feb. 6, Survivors: husband. Rev, G, dren; 14 great-grandchildren. HUGHES. Rockford. III., a boy. Justin N Y . to Saratoga Springs (N Y ) Grace Franklin; daughters, Leone Steenblock, REV. DONALD EDWARD OYLER, 73. Scott, Mar. 1 HAROLD D. BRADLEY, from Pine Bluff Bethel W inslow, Fairy Borgens. Oklahoma City. Okla., pastor for 31 years, to REV. LARRY AND KAYLA (DAVIS) (Ark.) Oak Place, to Akron (Ohio) Trinity MERL BULLOCK, 59, Boonville, Ind . Oct. 5 Survivors: wife, Elva; daughters; KEISS, Lincoln, Nebr., a girl. Autumn Nich­ STEPHEN D. CARPENTER, from Oak Har­ Mar 6 Survivors: wife, Jeanne, daughters, Anita Akin, Jane Green, Nancy Drake; sons, ole, Mar 5 bor, Wash., to Tucson (Ariz) Mountain Merla Carver, Debbie Bourassa, Angie Bul­ Stanley, Terry; 2 brothers; 1 sister; 12 to RANDY AND DONNA LEWIS, Orlan­ View lock: son, Christopher; parents, Laurel and grandchildren. do, Fla., a girl, Rebekah Grace, Dec. 27 VIRLON D CHAMBERS, from Taloga Catherine Bullock, twin brother, Earl ESTHER E. PERRY. 60, Ebenezer, La.. to ART AND JEANETTE (STEWART) (Okla.) Camp Creek to student. NBC, WENDELL N. BURROWS, 61, Galveston, Feb. 6. Survivors husband, George; sons, MIHILL, Baton Rouge. La., a boy. Alex Colorado Springs. Colo Ind Jan 5 Survivors wife Wilma, sons, Larry, Ron, Dwight, Ned, three sisters; four Timothy, Oct 27 LARRY COX. from Marsing, Idaho, to Ken- Stephen, Gregory, brothers; nine grandchildren. to DAVID AND DEBRA MULL, Selins- mare. N Dak EVELYN CARTER, 83. Enid, Okla., Feb LOIS RIDINGS, 82, Feb 3 Survivors: grove. Pa., a girl, Krista Marie, Jan 19 J. ALLEN DEAN, from Shipshewana. Ind 27, Survivors: husband,.Owen; son, Louis; husband. Rev. E Paul: daughter, Joy to RANDY AND JUDY (BELZER) NIST, to Charleston (W Va ) First daughters, Martha (Mrs Lawrence) Pauley; sons, Paul, Mark; seven grandchil­ Chandler, Ariz , a boy, Andrew David, Feb. KEVIN W. DOUGLAS, from Norman (Okla.) Williams, Lucretia Carter; five grandchil­ dren; two great-grandchildren; one brother. 20 Grace, to Levelland. Tex. dren: three great-grandchildren REV. FLOYD W. ROWE. 79, Oklahoma to JONATHON AND GRACE (ROSS) ROLAND E. DUNLOP, from Anderson RUBY P, CONRAD, 88, Hutchinson. City. Okla., pastor for 45 years, Feb 6. RASH. Lowell. Mich., a girl. Linnea Chris­ (Ind.) First, to South Portland, Maine Kans.. Mar 10 Survivors: sons, Harold, Survivors: wife, Louise, son, David: four tine, Mar. 14 DANIEL R EDDINGS, from associate Gerald; daughters, Edna Ullom, Elsie grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; to CORT AND JODY (WALLS) Duxbury, Mass.. to pastor. Springfield Burns: 13 grandchildren; 26 great-grand­ two sisters SPRINGER. Marysville, Ohio, a girl. Jill (Mass.) First children; 4 great-great-grandchildren. REV. JERRY L. SCHROEDER, 40. Cortney. Dec. 10 HARRY L. EVANS, from Austin (Tex.) HAROLD E, DEESE, 67, Centreville, Ala., Muncie. Ind Survivors: wife, Brenda; to MICHAEL AND SUSAN STRICKLER, Grace, to Seattle (Wash.) Ballard Jan, 24. Survivors: wife, Reba; sons, daughter. Bethani; son, Jerry; father, Selinsgrove. Pa., a girl, KateLynn Susanne. CRAIG GOFF, from associate. Lake Jack­ Joseph, Randall: daughter. Dori Nakajima; Robert; one sister. Jan. 22 son, Tex., to pastor, Wichita (Kans.) two brothers; one sister; two grandsons. ALTA F. SMITH. 95, Sept. 29. Survivors: to REV. GREG AND LORRIE SUTTER, Olivet EARL L. ETHERTON, 83, Mar. 23 Sur­ one brother; two sisters; nieces and Laramie, Wyo.. a girl, Kaytlin Elizabeth, LAWRENCE E. HALL, from Hooker, Okla., vivors: wife, Alta; sons, Robert, Deraid, nephews. Mar. 9 to Watonga. Okla. Floyd: daughter, LaVon (Mrs Tarzey) Tur­ WESTON SMITH. 74, Seminole, Fla.. to JOHN AND LAURA (CLERC) TADER, LAWRENCE J. HALL, from Newcomers- ley; two brothers; one sister; nine grand­ Mar. 24. Survivors: wife, Kathryn; sons. Hickory Hills. Ill . a girl. Rebecca Lynn, town, Ohio, to East Liverpool, Ohio children; nine great-grandchildren. Kent. Philip. Steven; daughter, Leah; nine Dec. 6 G LLOYD HOWELL, from Sun Valley MINNIE FRAZIER, 93, Nampa, Idaho, grandchildren, three great-grandchildren (Nev.) Shepherd, to Libby. Mont. Oct. 28 Survivors son, James; daughter, GRACE MAE “THOMPSON" TIDWELL. ROBERT HUMPHREY, from pastor, Ken- Margaret (Mrs, Cecil) Dobbs; 1 sister; 11 90. Bethany. Okla., Jan. 1. Survivors: son, Marriages mare, N Dak., to education, MANC, Harry; 8 grandchildren: 14 great-grandchil­ Olathe. Kans. grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren, DONNA FAYE LOBB and JOHN DAVID dren. CRAIG A. HUNNEL, from student. NTS. REV CHARLES W, GREEN, 39, FREY at Campbellsville, Ky.. Mar 13 GRAYCE I. ULRICH, 83. Merrillville, Ind.. Kansas City, to pastor, Severy, Kans. Carthage. Mo., Jan. 1, Survivors: wife, Car­ SYLVETTE RIVERA and CH DAN M Mar. 28 Survivors: son, Jerry; 6 grand­ W. RILEY JAMES, JR.. from Charleston, ole; daughter, Rachel, son, Tyler; parents, GEEDING at Shawnee, Kans , Apr. 11 Wesley and Wretha Green: three sisters: children; 12 great-grandchildren; 1 sister. W Va., to evangelism one brother ZULA WALLACE, 91, Fresno, Calif., Mar. RICHARD A. JORGENSEN from Kuna. MARY E. GROENIG. 92, Yakima, Wash., 25. Survivors: husband, Sam. sons. Merle, Idaho, to Riverton. Wyo. Nov. 3, Survivors: daughter, Arlene Hage- Lyle; 2 sisters; 5 grandchildren; 12 great­ Anniversaries RICHARD P KANE, from Cincinnati (Ohio) dorn: son, E Paul: four grandchildren: five grandchildren. RALPH AND LUCILLE DELCAMP. Mount Hope Community, to St. Marys, W Va. great-grandchildren DONNA M WATSON, 59. Muncie, Ind , Ida, Ark., celebrated their 65th wedding JOSEPH P. KNIGHT, from Seattle (Wash.) MABEL R. HERRON. 88. Panama City, Feb 18. Survivors: husband, Wilmer: anniversary Feb. 27. They have 5 living North, to Georgetown (Tex.) First Fla., Mar. 13. S urvivors: sons, Hubert, sons, David, Stephen; daughter, Karen children, 20 grandchildren, 22 great­ DAVID LAPIERRE, from Mechanic Falls, Don; daughters, Ruth Cook, Edith Arnold. Leamon: one granddaughter; parents. Don grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren. and Maine, to Dade City (Fla.) Chapel of the Lois Moland, Raebeca Hite; 19 grandchil­ and Leah Hay; two brothers; two sisters. 14 step-great-grandchildren Hills dren: 17 great-grandchildren. ELIZABETH ANN (RICE) WHITAKER. 82. KYE SUN LEE. from Glendale (N Y ) Eden, JOHN HOWELL, JR., 35, Grand Rapids, Oxnard. Calif., Mar. 20. Survivors: son. ESTELL AND GENEVA BANDY. Villa to Colorado Springs (Colo.) Korean Mich., Mar. 14. Survivors: wife. Dorothea: Paul; daughter, Bettina Chandler; one Hills. Ky., celebrated their 50th wedding LARRY L. LEONARD, from evangelism to daughters; Chasity, Karen, Cristy; son, brother; two sisters; two grandchildren; anniversary Mar. 28 with a reception in the pastor. Lake Mary (Fla.) First Allen; parents, Joann and Don House: four one great-grandchild. Fellowship Hall of Covington Central MARK ALAN LINER, from Bedford (Ind.) brothers; two sisters; two grandmothers JOHN PAUL WHITAKER, 82, Oxnard, Church. Fort Wright, Ky. The Bandys have First, to Charleston (W.Va.) Elk River REV RAY HUFFMAN, 69. Alanson. Calif., Dec 15. Survivors: wife, Elizabeth; three children, eight grandchildren, and DONALD A LOHR. from evangelism to Mich., Jan. 27. Survivors: wife, Hazel; son, Paul; daughter, Bettina Chandler; two three great-grandchildren. pastor, Huntington (W.Va.) First brothers; four sisters; two grandchildren B. EDWIN MCDONALD, from district daughter, Susan Rae Neeland. and one REV. AND MRS. HARRY J ZURCHER one great-grandchild. superintendent. Northeast Oklahoma, to brother, recently celebrated their 50th wedding pastor, Prescott. Ariz. MERLE HULING, Scott City, Kans., Feb- anniversary with family reunions in Col­ PETER G. MANGUM, from associate. How­ 19. Survivors: son. Darrell; four grand­ orado and Oklahoma. The Zurchers served Births ell (Mich ) First, to pastor. Laurel. Mont sons as missionaries in Peru and Puerto Rico to REV. ERNIE AND REBEKAH ARNOLD. JEFF MIHELICH, from New Braunfels. Tex., ETHEL A. JONES, 86, 29 Palms. Calif., for 28 years and now reside in Bethany. Albany. K y, a girl, Danielle Nicole, Jan. 21 to Pocatello. Idaho Feb. 28. Survivors: son, Paul; one sister. Okla They have five children and nine to JEFFREY AND JANET (POE) BAM- GARY W. MONK, from evangelism to pas­ GERTRUDE MAY KNIGHT, 91, Ceres, grandchildren. C alif. Feb. 5. BLING. Fairfax, Va.. a girl, Lindsay Hollis. tor, Melbourne (Fla.) Eau Gallie DONALD J. MAY, 78, Sheridan, Wyo„ Jan. 5 STEPHEN J. MORLEY, from associate, Mar 9 Survivors: wife Margaret; daugh­ to REV. BUDDY AND KIM (KUGLER) Monte Vista (Colo.) Valley, to pastor, ter, Ida Brady; sons, Donald, Richard, 4 COOK, Arkansas City, Kans., a girl, Jocelyn Lakeside (Calif.) Community sisters; 2 brothers; 11 grandchildren; 21 Rebecca.Jan. 5 FOR THE RECORD RONALD J MOSER, from student. NTS. great-grandchildren. to RICK AND NIDA DIXON, Oxnard. Moving Ministers Kansas City, to pastor, Rawlins, Wyo JOHN METCALF. SR.. 84. DeSoto, Tex., C a lif, a boy, Tim othy Daniel. Mar 3 BRUCE B. POLING, from Philippi, W.Va.. to WAYNE L. ALBRIGHT, from evangelism to Mar. 6. Survivors: wife, Edith; son, John, to DARRYL AND CYNTHIA (HEATH) Waltersburg. Pa. pastor. Woodland Park. Colo Jr.; one sister: two grandsons; three great­ EVANS. St. Louis. Mo . a girl. Erika Lynn. MITCHELL R. POLLIC. from associate, THOMAS G. ANDERSON, from Chico, grandchildren Jan. 30 Lebanon, Ohio, to West Carrollton. Ohio

June 1992 39 RICHARD D. POWER, from pastor, ication of its new facility July 12. General Recommendations WHP. PAPUA NEW GUINEA Georgetown (Tex.) First, to missionary Superintendent William J. Prince will be REV. JOHN and ROSE SPRUNGER, Africa The following have been recommended HAROLD R. ROBBINS, from Evansville the speaker. All former pastors, members, Ministries Council, Field address: P.O. by their respective district superinten­ (Ind.) Beacon, to London, Ky. and friends are invited. Contact the church Box 14, Manzini, SWAZILAND dents: SCOT M. SCUTT, from Saginaw (Mich.) at 5443 Norton Rd., Grove City, OH 43123, REV. DUANE and LINDA SRADER, Portu­ DWIGHT SHIREY, evangelist, music, Central, to Monroe, La. or phone (614)877-1719. gal, Furlough address: 1602 Haven Ln., 38092 Butcher Rd., Leetonia, OH 44431, ROBERT J. SHEPHARD, from Tucson Olathe, KS 66062 (216) 427-6006, by Marion W. Barber, (Ariz.) Mountain View, to Albuquerque EUREKA (ILL.) CHURCH will celebrate its REV. CHARLES and CARLA SUNBERG. Akron District. (N.Mex.) Sandia 50th anniversary Aug. 16. F. Thomas Bai­ Russia, Furlough address: 1150 Sheri­ JOHN KISSEE, evangelist, P.O. Box G. ERWIN SHRECKENGAST, from Logan, ley, district superintendent, will speak at dan Bridge Ln., Olathe, KS 66062 the 10 a . m . service. There will be a potluck 1144, Olathe, KS 66061, (913) 782-2374, W.Va., to Elkins, W.Va. MISS JENNIFER SUTCH, Swaziland, Fur­ dinner at noon, followed by a praise ser­ by Pal L. W right, Joplin District. JOHN E. STALLINGS, from associate, San lough address: c/o Victor and Rebecca vice at 2 p . m . and a reception celebration JAMES RUNYAN, evangelist, 418 B St., Antonio (Tex.) Valley High, to associate, Sutch, 8004 N. Everton, Kansas City, following the service. All friends and for­ Waurika, OK 73573, by Carl B. Summer, Denton (Tex.) First MO 64152 mer members are invited to attend or send Southwest Oklahoma District. JERRY TOWNLEY, from associate, Mid­ REV. DAVID and PAT TAYLOR, Haiti, messages to 1601 S. Main, Eureka, IL west City (Okla.) First, to pastor, Wichita Stateside address: 120 Westhumber 61530. (Kans.) Trinity Moving Missionaries Blvd., Rexal, Ontario, CANADA M9W 3N2 GERALD VAUGHT, from St. Louis (Mo.) LEESBURG (VA.) CHURCH will celebrate REV. BRUCE and RUTH BLOWERS, Papua REV. PETER KEN and LINDA WALKER, Bridgetown, to Lebanon, Ohio its 50th anniversary July 10-12. A gospel New Guinea, Furlough address: c/o Miss Swaziland, Field address: P.O. Box GARY J. WHITE, from Barrhead, Alta., to concert with the Speers will be held Friday Merna Blowers, 10456 Wornall, No. 1460, Manzini, SWAZILAND St. Alberts (Alta.) Community at 7:30 p .m . There will be a banquet Satur­ GARY WILSON, from Saco, Maine, to Mar­ 202, Kansas City, MO 64114 REV. DAVID and GLYNDA WESLEY, Lan­ day evening, and General Superintendent MR. RUSSELL and PATTIE BOYES, Papua quette, Mich. Eugene L. Stowe will be the guest speaker guage Study, Costa Rica, Furlough New Guinea, Field address: P.O. Box STEPHEN J. WOODS, from Juliaetta, address: 2863 Plaza Terr., Orlando, FL at the Sunday morning service. The cele­ 171 S.I.L., Ukarumpa via Lae M.P., Idaho, to Rawlins, Wyo. bration will conclude with a barbecue on 32803 Papua New Guinea RICHARD R. WOODWARD, from Searcy, the church grounds. All former pastors, REV. JAMES and SHIRLEY WILLIAMS, MR. CHARLES (CHASE) and VERA Ark., to Pampa, Tex. members, and friends are invited to attend Swaziland, Field address: P.O. Box 3, BROWN, Dominican Republic, Furlough or send greetings. For more information, Siteki, SWAZILAND address: 2138 E. Cedar, Olathe, KS Announcements write P.O. Box 913, Leesburg, VA 22075, REV. JIM and KAY WILLIAMS, Taiwan, 66062 PAULDING (OHIO) CHURCH will celebrate or phone (703) 777-6850. R.O.C., Furlough address: 4318 Bon­ REV. ROBERT and NORMA BRUNSON, its 75th anniversary June 14. All friends, ham, Amarillo, TX 79110 Costa Rica, Furlough address: 6355 N. former pastors, and former members are NEOSHO (MO.) CHURCH will celebrate its MR. DAVID and CATHY ZIEGENFUSS, Oak Ave., No.10, Temple City, CA 91780 invited. Jack Shankel, district superinten­ 50th anniversary Aug. 2. There will be a Papua New Guinea, Furlough address: REV. GARY and HARRIET BUNCH, Brazil, dent of Northwestern Ohio, will speak at combined service at 10 a . m . followed by a c/o Alton Ziegenfuss, 4116 Wood Dr., Stateside address: 8804 N. Rockwell the 10:30 a . m . worship service. LeBron carry-in dinner. A celebration service will W alnutport, PA 18088 Dr., Oklahoma City, OK 73132 Fairbanks, president of Mount Vernon begin at 2 p .m . All former pastors, mem­ REV. ROBERT and RAMONA CRAFT, Nazarene College, will speak at the 2:30 bers, and friends are invited to attend or Philippines, Furlough address: RR 9, DIRECTORIES p .m . service. Dinner will follow the morning send messages to 1045 Fairhill Dr., Box 3806, Cullman, AL 35055 BOARD OF GENERAL SUPERINTENDENTS worship service. For more information, Neosho, MO 64850, or phone (417) 451 - DR. ROBERT and CELESTE FRASER, Office: 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO phone(419)399-3865. 1847. Philippines, Furlough address: 6401 The 64131. John A. Knight, chairman; Donald WALTERS (OKLA.) CHURCH w ill cele­ WILLMAR (MINN.) CHURCH w ill cele­ Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131 D. Owens, vice-chairman; William J. brate its 60th anniversary July 4-5. Friday brate its 50th anniversary July 3-5. All for­ REV. HUGHLON and EVELYN FRIBERG, Prince, secretary; Eugene L. Stowe, Jerald evening there will be a buffet/pie supper mer pastors, members, and friends are Africa Nazarene Theological College, c/o D. Johnson, Raymond W. Hurn. followed by special music. The Sunday invited. For more information, write 515 Northwest Nazarene College, Nampa, ID GENERAL SUPERINTENDENTS EMERITUS: morning service will be followed by dinner 12th St. S.W, Willmar, MN 56201, or 83686 George Coulter, 9310 Canterbury, Lea­ on the grounds. The afternoon service will phone (612) 235-1717. MISS ARLENE GARDE, Costa Rica, Field wood, KS 66206; V. H. Lewis, 1406 Cam­ have special music and a memorial to J. E. address: Apartado 3977-1000, San bridge, Olathe, KS 66062; Orville W. Jen­ Zimmerman, the first pastor. All former C orrection Jose, COSTA RICA REV. BRIAN and JEANNIE HELSTROM. kins, 2309 W. 103rd St., Leawood, KS pastors, members, and friends are invited. The Great Falls (Mont.) Church was Sweden, Field address: Merkuriusgatan 66206; William M. Greathouse, 1179 For more information, write the church at incorrectly identified in the May issue 160,260 35 Odakra, SWEDEN Rosewood T r, Mount Juliet, TN 37122. 211 E. Colorado, Walters, OK 73572, or as a Michigan church. The church will phone (405) 875-2112 or (405) 875-2447. celebrate its 50th anniversary July 4- MISS BRENDA JACKSON, Papua New 5. For more information, phone (406) Guinea, Field address: P.O. Box 376, Mt. Notice Hagen, WHP, PAPUA NEW GUINEA DARBYDALE CHURCH, Grove City, Ohio, 453-3941. REV. ARLEN and JOYCE JAKOBITZ, India, Vital Statistics are printed as soon as will celebrate its 50th anniversary and ded­ possible after they are received. When Furlough address: 2010 W. Rocksprings submitting information, please observe the Rd., Decatur, IL 26521 following guidelines: MRS. KATHRYN JOHNSON-ADKISSON, DEATHS: Please provide name, age, PUBLISHING HOUSE Swaziland, Furlough address: 9212 hometown, date of death, and the names Jacaranda Ave., California City, CA EMPLOYMENT of survivors and their relationship to the 93505 deceased. DR. AL and KITTY JONES, Kenya, Field OPPORTUNITY BIRTHS: Please provide parents' names, address: P.O. Box 53067, Nairobi, hometown, name of child, sex of child, and KENYA date of birth. The Nazarene Publishing House has an opening for an REV. DANNY and CHERYL McMAHAN, CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS: Please sub Philippines, Furlough address: c/o Henry experienced Litho Pressman. This is an exceptional mit church announcements at least three Kildow, 2608 N. Donald, Oklahoma City, opportunity for Kingdom service through the church. months prior to the issue you want the OK 73127 notice to be printed in. Qualified applicants should reply to: DR. ROGER and KATY PACHOLKA, Swazi­ Please include your name and phone land, Field address: P.O. Box 14, Manzi- number when submitting information for ni, SWAZILAND Director of Human Resources the Vital Statistics pages to: DR. RUTH SAXON, Trinidad, Furlough Nazarene Publishing House address: 1100 Amherst Dr., Dothan, AL P.O. Box 419527 36301 Herald of Holiness Kansas City, MO 64141 MISS NANCY SEALE, Papua New Guinea, 6401 The Paseo Field address: P.O. Box 376, Mt. Hagen, Kansas City, MO 64131

40 Herald of Holiness Close jto Home News About Nazarenes

BY TOM FELDER

OREGON NAZARENE program focuses on calling REPRESENTS CHURCH ON the nation’s women to I DO, AGAIN . . . Nine cou­ nearly 30 years of marriage. NATIONAL COMMITTEE . . . greater involvement in prayer ples renewed their marriage Their son. Kevin, and his Rubena Poole, a member of and evangelism to reach the vows at a combined ceremo­ wife, Courtney, were a part Salem, Oreg., First Church of lost by the — year 2000. ny recently at Sedalia, Mo.. of the ceremony. the Nazarene, was invited to Poole is one Church of the Nazarene. The Ken and Pansy Burnett participate in a planning ses­ ceremony capped a two-part said the class reminded them sion for women’s involve­ of 50 women chosen for the marriage enrichment seminar that the Lord is an important ment in the AD 2000 and planning com­ led by Roy and Lenore part of their marriage. "When Beyond Movement for North mittee. Each Simpson. you are closer to the Lord, A m erica. member repre­ have been married for nearly you are closer to your wife," The prayer and planning sents a major denomination 35 years, the longest of the Ken said. conference was held recently or religious movement in nine couples. “We thought it would be in Washington, D.C. The ceremony was con­ nice to show the unity and The women's track of the North America. ducted by Elvin Powers, strength in our marriages, administrative assistant to which is the strength of this SAM GROUP REACHES OUT Kansas City District Superin­ church and our families, TO THE COMMUNITY . . . tendent Keith Wright. Pow­ too," said Gary Lobaugh, The Senior Adult Ministry ers was called in to conduct who has been married to his (SAM) group of Ottawa, the ceremony because Pastor wife, Donna, for nearly 27 Kans., Church of the Naza­ Greg Crofford and his wife, years. rene recently hosted a carni­ Amy, were one of the cou­ Jonathan and Cynthia val for senior adults in their ples renewing their vows. Lowe, Allan and Lora community. Led by directors Adding their years of mar­ Chatham, and William and Noel and Dorothy Snell, the riage together, the couples Jeanne Hutton also renewed group invited members of the can count more than 150 their vows during the cere­ Ottawa Senior Citizens Club Members of the Ottawa, Kans., Senior Citizens Club were years of commitment. mony. to the church for a special entertained by the senior Ron and Judy Anstine program. adults of Ottawa Church of the The program included renewed their vows after [Photo: Jerrey Roberts, Sedalia Democrat] Nazarene. clowns, skits, special music, FIFTY YEARS OF HOLINESS with a gathering of former and other activities. MINISTRY . . . Denver ministers and members. Greg Brown serves as City. Tex., Church of the A highlight of the week­ pastor of the Ottawa church. Nazarene celebrated 50 years end celebration was the of holiness ministry recently recognition of Calvin Stew­ LONGTIME SERVICE . . . art, church treasurer. Stewart Carl Junction, Mo., Church has served as treasurer for of the Nazarene recently hon­ more than 35 years. ored R. I., and Pearl Hight Pastor Charles Self (p ic­ for their service to the tured. right) presented an church. R. L. has served on engraved bronze plaque to the church board for 60 con­ Mr. and Mrs. Stewart in secutive years. Pearl has just honor of their service. completed nearly 50 years of The Mights have also service as NWMS president. served as Sunday School teachers, church treasurer, Beavercreek, Ohio, Church of the Nazarene recently NYPS president, and every­ held a mortgage-burning ceremony to celebrate paying thing else, according to Pas­ off their building eight years in advance. On the same tor Bruce Davis. day, the church voted to build a $1.3 million sanctuary Pictured (I. to r.): Rita addition. Tygart, NWMS president; Participating in the mortgage-burning ceremony Jan Wright, Joplin District were (I. to r.): Pastor James F. Mahan; Jim Cole, Stew­ NWMS president; District ardship Committee chairman; Martha Willis, Finance Committee chairman; and Building Committee mem­ Superintendent Pal Wright; bers: John Rowland, Glenn Kirby, and Morris Neal. Pearl Hight; Pastor Davis; and R. L. Hight.

June 1992 41 E. DEE FR EE B O R N

In the Name of Jesus

he minister prayed with sin­ Maxie Dunnam, in his excellent magic but life, the life o f the loving cerity, deftly leading us all discussion on the subject ( The Savior! into God’s presence. He Workbook of Intercessory Prayer, How will this understanding of Tconcluded his prayer with a simple,Upper Room. 1979), highlights prayer in His name affect the way 1 naked, “Amen.” For a fleeting mo­ several helpful insights. First, to pray for those I love? How will it ment, 1 was caught off guard. The pray in the name of Jesus is to pray impact my list of prayer concerns? ending wasn’t complete, proper. not in our own strength or ability, Finally, Dunnam asserts, “It is Now what? Will the prayer be any but to pray as citizens of the King­ difficult, in fact, it may be impos­ good? He left out “in Jesus' name” dom. When we pray as believers, sible, to pray in Jesus’ name unless or some such equivalent. With a we pray as one of the fellowship, we live in Jesus’ name” (p. 127). smile, I realized how I depended we belong to each other, we are a Not only is prayer in the name of on hearing that phrase at the end part of the great community of Jesus a sign of our citizenship in of every prayer and how careful I faith. We are praying in the name the Kingdom and a witness to the was to use it myself. of our King, the one who has all powerful love of the Savior, but it Reasons for this prayer practice authority and all power, the one is to acknowledge our need to live no doubt vary. For some, invoking who has defeated the evil one. Even in that name. It is to live the qual­ the name of Jesus seems to border when I pray in solitude, in on magic, as though its use will in­ a very real sense I am pray­ sure results. Another idea is that it ing in community, I am a works somewhat like our bank pass part of the household of code numbers, authenticating our God. >eyond rote, magic, or prayers so that they may be an­ When we pray in Jesus’ B e swered. A further idea suggests that name, we pray from lives habit, the use of the name the use of the name of Jesus forces lived in Jesus’ name. As we God to answer our request because go about our day, we can of Jesus needs to be taken of the authority vested in His name. bring the Kingdom to bear seriously. Considering the emphasis of in our work, in our rela­ some upon using the phrase, it is tionships, and in our con­ interesting to note that only in cerns by consciously ac­ John 14— 16 does Jesus invite us knowledging the presence to pray in His name. In the rest of of the risen Christ. We can pur­ ity of life best described as ser- the New Testament, there is only posefully live and act in Jesus’ vanthood. It is to live in Christ, to one other explicit reference, Ephe­ name! abide in Him. sians 5:19-20. Be that as it may, to Second, Dunnam suggests that To the extent we have developed pray in Jesus’ name is worthy of to pray in His name means to take that kind of life, living and acting study and thoughtful practice. into account the significance of in His name, to that extent we can It is Jesus who asks us to pray in biblical names and their reference realize the power of the promises this manner. Further, the results of to character. Names of persons of Jesus. As we allow His power to such praying are extensive. For ex­ tended to describe who they were. flow in our daily lives, we will real­ ample, Jesus says, “And I will do To know a person’s name was to be ize His power in our prayers. It is whatever you ask in my name, so more than just polite, it was to awesome to think that when we that the Son may bring glory to the know them at a deeper level. pray in His name, we are calling Father. You may ask me for any­ Therefore, to pray in Jesus’ name is upon the same power He revealed thing in my name, and I will do it” to pray in the power of His love, and the same power that raised (John 14:13-14, NIV). Beyond rote, for love characterized His life (pp. Him from the dead! magic, or habit, the use of the 91 ff.). W hen I pray in the nam e of E. Dee Freeborn teaches practical name of Jesus needs to be taken Jesus, I pray in the powerful love of theology and spiritual formation at seriously. Jesus. The phrase is no longer Nazarene Theological Seminary. ^

42 Herald of Holiness THE QUESTION BOX CONDUCTED BY WESLEY D. TRACY, Editor

Retaliation some guesses and leaps of logic. sented the herders, Cain the crop Is it true that a sanctified person They also demonstrated an unset­ growers. This has been called the will not retaliate in anger to insults, tling rigidity and literalism, “de­ original Western story. In the ear­ hurts, and slights? m anding” that real Christians must liest times, mankind appears to declare that the earth is precisely have been wanderers and gatherers Nothing about the experience of 6,000 years old, and that the "days” (hunters and gatherers of nuts, ber­ entire sanctification does away with in Genesis have to be 24-hour days. ries, etc.). The next step in sophis­ one’s capacity for anger. There are The Hebrew word for day (yarn) tication was to domesticate ani­ times when the Christian is to wield is used in the Old Testament to mals and live the nomadic life of a holy anger. But when it comes to designate 19 different periods of the herdsmen, moving about, fol­ “insults, hurts, and slights,” Jesus time. This suggests caution to me lowing the pasture and water sup­ teaches us that we are to turn the as it did to H. Orton Wiley, who plies. Then came the stationary other cheek, walk the extra mile, wrote the standard Nazarene theol­ farmers— like Cain. They had love our enemies, pray for those ogy some 50 years ago. Further, learned how to live in one place who despitefully use us, bless those dating the age of the earth by way and obtain a living from the soil. who curse us, and forgive 70 times of Hebrew genealogical tables is an In this scenario, Abel was the 7. If retaliation is right, then Jesus imprecise exercise, given the fact traditional (conservative?) and Cain was wrong. Sanctified Christians that the makers of such ledgers of­ the progressive (liberal?). will be more loving and more for­ ten omitted dishonorable or insig­ When it came time for the sacri­ giving than anyone has a right to nificant persons from the family fice for sin, Abel brought an ani­ expect them to be. tree. Dating biblical history is ex­ mal from his herd. But Cain tremely difficult in the pre-Moses brought produce from his farm— Honesty? eras. even though he knew that without It seems to be the common practice The fact that 1 have reservations the shedding of blood there is no at our church to count those who about some of the claims of Cre­ remission of sin. Perhaps Cain felt come a little early for the worship ation Science does not mean that 1 that bringing a blood sacrifice service in our Sunday School atten­ like Darwinian evolution. Darwin would be acknowledging that the dance, to report more members and his offspring deal in guesses, il- old way, Abel’s way of life, was in than we have, and to count readers logic, and unwarranted conclusions some way superior. To ask a crop of missionary books who did not galore. Many parts of this system farmer to bring a symbol of the read. Why isn’t this seen as dis­ are being thoroughly discredited by herdsman to that high and holy honest? modern science. atonement ceremony may have It is. God’s Word gives us two delight­ been offensive to Cain. ful accounts of the Creation in Cain had become so progressive Creation Science Genesis 1 and 2. They tell me what that he invented his own sacrifice Why doesn’t the church in general I really need to know about the for sin, and the results were tragic. and the H erald in particular come origin of the universe and the cre­ Cain’s mistake was that he de­ out in favor of the Creation Science ation, nature, and destiny of the pended on his own resources (his movement? human race. I know by these ac­ fancy crops) to save him from sin. I am not fully informed on Cre­ counts that God created (and sus­ The part of his curse that you cite ation Science, but I have heard two tains) this world of ours. In Gene­ in Genesis 4:12 shows that the very of the movement’s “experts” speak sis, God did not tell me every thing that he did best, the new mod­ on the subject. If those two gentle­ detail of how He did it, and the ern way of life (resident farming), men accurately represent the move­ two “experts” that I heard would the very thing that he trusted and ment, my judgment is that Crea­ have been more credible if they put in the place of simple obedi­ tion Science does not yet enjoy the had admitted that He didn’t tell ence was taken away from him. credibility and intellectual respect­ them everything either. Cain became, as the Bible indi­ ability that would warrant a blan­ cates, a wanderer. The implication ket “baptizing” of the movement What Did Cain and is that he was required to return to by our church or the Herald. His People Eat? the old-fashioned life style and diet Some of my friends in our Chris­ In Genesis 4:12, part of the curse of the wanderers, gatherers, or tian schools tell me that Creation put upon Cain was that when he herdsm en. Science has made a great contribu­ planted seeds the earth would yield The views expressed in the responses in this column tion. 1 respect that. I respect the him no crops. What, then, would are those of the editor and do not constitute official statement by or for the Church o f the Nazarene. The goals of the movement. But the Cain have to eat? editor is not able to send replies to questions not se­ “experts” that 1 heard, while saying In the Cain and Abel story, we lected for publication. Address: Herald o f Holiness, 6401 The Paseo. Kansas City, MO 64131. many useful things, also dealt in see a clash of cultures. Abel repre­

June 1992 43 W. E. McCUMBER

Perspective

he first five years of my School class taught by Dr. James ments are based upon perspectives. ministry overlapped the last Dobson. During a testimony ses­ “We preach Christ crucified: a five years of Dr. J. B. Chap­ sion, a young married man, who stumbling block to Jews and fool­ Tman’s ministry. I met him and had shortly before become a Chris­ ishness to Gentiles, but to those heard him at his wisest and best. tian, told of his newfound love for whom God has called, both Jews He was my favorite general super­ Christ and the church. “But,” he and Greeks. Christ the power of intendent. (It's OK to have favor­ said directly to Dr. Dobson, “I still God and the wisdom of God” (1 ites among those who are dead, un­ can’t agree with you that reading Corinthians 1:23-24, N IV ). How less you live near the descendants the Book of Romans is more ex­ we interpret and value “the old of their contemporaries.) I thought citing than an NFL game.” rugged cross” depends upon our him the wisest of the bunch then The point is, perspective not understanding of, and relationship in office— not in business matters, only governs what we value, seek, to, the Christ who died thereon. but in spiritual life. and enjoy, but perspectives do not Some prisoners who shared the He once wrote that perspective usually burst into being full-grown. Bataan “death march" in World governs our values. For example, if They are developed, sometimes at War II valued , not because a politician and a preacher looked a snail’s pace, with our increase in they provided words of courage at the same crowd, the former saw experience, knowledge, and wis­ and comfort for desperate times. so many votes to be gained, the lat­ dom in various areas of ter so many souls to be saved. life. 1 thought of that the other day For this reason, a person when I was reading a column by often has conflicting val­ one of my favorite pundits, George ues resulting from con­ Will. Will remarked that “micro­ fused perspectives. I re­ I still can’t agree with you chips matter more than potato member a certain college that reading the Book of chips.” That again is a matter of student, a religion major, perspective. If Will were starving to who was planning to be­ Romans is more exciting death, I think he would trade mi­ come a gospel minister. He than an NFL game. crochips for potato chips. Many told me, “I don’t want to politicians, and commentators take any English or other thereupon, would probably rede­ junk—I just want to take fine the national security value of Bible courses.” He was microchips if they were starving planning to spend his life in a field but because the thin paper on and could swap them for potato where effective communication de­ which the Bibles were printed chips. termines fruitfulness, where his could be handily used for rolling To Karl Marx, religion was “the stock-in-trade would be words to cigarettes. They valued smoke in opiate of the masses.” To many dis­ clothe ideas, yet he didn’t see any their lungs more than truth in their ciples of Jesus Christ, however, au­ value in learning things like gram­ hearts. thentic religious experience is the mar and composition! His attitude How we view God, people, and energizing force that secures the was shortsighted to the point of things depends upon our perspec­ mind and life against the seduction stupidity, and I trust that he out­ tive. God’s grace changes and cor­ of such godless schemes as Marx grew it. If not, he is probably w ork­ rects perspectives. proposed for society’s redemption. ing at some other and less demand­ W. E. McCumber is a preacher, It was my privilege once to speak ing vocation today. teacher author, and former editor of at a weekend retreat of a Sunday Paul recognized that value judg­ the Herald of Holiness. ^

44 Herald of Holiness GOD OF GROWING TIMES

NANCY C. SPIEGELBERG

In the springing M aster o f selective of the year, cutting. to blossom, His eye is trained flower, and upon the harvest. fruitfulness, But I, I asked the God Reduced and bare, of growing times sad. To mature me M ourn in His usefulness. the cuttings-off of branchings-out And quietly That took my strength I stood And bore no fruit. And waited, through the springtime, Fresh-shorn, through the summer, 1 trem ble through the autumn. in the wind, yet Into winter. Feel the sunlight Then He came to me. Penetrating stronger, In the stillness lightened and the cold Fimbs, relieved Was His appointed to lift tim e now higher Of visitation. Kathleen Macrory toward the sky Their latent fruit. ■ Now the Pruner hi leaves the tree. A DAD’S FATHER’S DAY MEDITATION

BY CHUCK MILLHUFF

o one should judge Tuesday each week. I stopped schooled in the public schools their parenting until driving and traveling by train and and graduated from MidAmerica their children are all flew to all of my engagements Nazarene College. at least 40, and then except summer camps. These we I can never remember their Ndon’t take too much credittraveled or, for to with the whole family complaining about my missing a heaven’s sake, too much blame. on what we called the camp basketball game (Chip played Take some solace in the fact that meeting trail. high school and college basket­ God raised two children and both I remember the night Jeanne ball) or a choir or piano recital. of them flopped. On the other went to the altar and prayed They knew I wanted to be there. hand, our kids should look at it through on the issue of my leav­ They talked to me every day by this way, we never tried to raise ing her with the children. She re­ telephone. Chip learned to fix anyone like them before. In spite alized that she could not weep things when they broke or flood­ of all of this, and the fact that time and time again when I left ed or stopped working. Melinda neither of my children is 40, I’d and give the children a right per­ became her mom’s best girl­ like to pay them a tribute. spective on my calling. friend. Our children decided to Chip is 26 and Melinda is 25. I Chip graduated last month as a be good students. They loved the have been evangelizing for 3 1 medical doctor. Melinda gradu­ church and lived by its rules, al­ years and so have missed much ated with her MBA last Decem­ lowing my message to be consis­ of their lives. ber. These children are both tent with my home. Believe me, Jeanne and I decided to estab­ strong in the Lord. Chip is mar­ any success I have had over these lish a home base where they ried to his college sweetheart, 31 years is to a large part due to would grow up day by day with Linda, and is very happy. The fact the fact that I had little or no her. On this subject there is no of the matter is this: Chip and worries about my wife and kids at “right” way in general to do this. Melinda are the people they have home. 1 give Jeanne so much Each family must decide for itself chosen to be. We created and out­ credit for so many things: always how to best build a home, raise lined an atmosphere; they made using the best dishes on Sunday, children, and create “normal.” the choices. They were both never using my absence as a rea­ Full-time evangelism by its son for her absence at anything, very nature is unnatural. In an at­ and never holding punishment tempt to create a home as close for my administration. to the natural as we defined it, Let me sum it up. I give God our kids grew up in a church, a “I give God all all the glory and Jeanne all the neighborhood, and a school. I de­ credit. But beyond all of this, the veloped a plan from which I al­ the glory and thing I want to say is, “Thanks, most never varied. I started all Chip and Melinda, for making my meetings on Wednesday, an the choices that have not only set idea I was cursed for in some cir­ Jeanne all the you up for life’s best but have cles 25 years ago when the regu­ also made your mom and dad the lar meeting was of the Wednes­ credit happiest parents on earth. You day over two Sundays, or Sunday both have a long way to go. Keep over Sunday variety. My purpose it up, guys, with God’s help, just was to be home Monday and keep it up. ^

46 Herald of Holiness Herald of Holiness

June 1992 • Whole No. 3556 • Vol. 81, No. 6

EDITOR Wesley D. Tracy Notes from an editor’s journal

MANAGING EDITOR by Mark Graham, Managing Editor Mark Graham ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY Judith Perry DIRECTOR Suffer the Parents? DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS Paul Skiles used to have several sermons on showed three easy steps to take for the proper way to raise children. every situation and included answers GENERAL SUPERINTENDENTS I Then, something happened that to all of his questions. Alas, they Eugene L. Stowe caused me to throw them all out— don’t make books that large. Jerald D. Johnson my wife and 1 had a son. We often find ourselves talking about what we should have done or John A. K night Children are phenomenal. They can spill milk, whine about not get­ how we should have responded to Raymond W. Hurn ting their way, step on the dog, hog our son’s behavior. We aren’t always W illiam J. Prince the Nintendo when a friend is vis­ pleased with our course of action. Donald D. Owens iting, and then and we often find make their par­ ourselves praying ents forget about that God will for­ it all with one lit­ give us and ask­ tle hug. “If Jesus made the ing Joey for for­ Bible quotations in this issue: A few days ago, world, how did He get giveness too. Unidentified quotations are from KJV. I was grumping at W e want to Quotations from the following trans­ my son, Joey, protect our child lations are used by permission: born in Bethlehem?” about something. from bullies, from (EB) From The Everyday Bible, New As I spoke, he accidents, from Century Version, © copyright 1987 by Worthy Publishing, Fort Worth, Tex. walked down the pornography, hall and looked up at a crafty deco­ from drugs, from alcohol, and from a (N1V) From the The Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright © ration my wife, Cathy, had just hung hundred other pitfalls, but we know 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International up that day. “Hey dad!" he said, read­ that we can only do so much. In the Bible Society. ing the words, “ ‘Love is kind. Love is course of our nine years of parenting, (NKJV) From the N ew K ing Ja m es Ver­ patient . . .’ Did you read this. Dad?” we have come to the conclusion that sion, copyright© 1979, 1980, 1982, I hate it when he does that. God’s grace covers a multitude of our Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers. The conversations we have about mistakes and inadequacies, at least Cover Photo: Roland Miller God are usually deeper than I can we hope it does. fathom (and I have a 93-hour semi­ I think back to the times before I nary degree). My professors prepared was a parent. I don't remember hav­ me for answering the questions of ag­ ing as much pressure on me then, but nostics and Jehovah’s Witnesses, but I also didn’t have a loving little boy Herald of Holiness (USPS 241-400) is they didn’t warn me about answering to tell me, “I love you. Dad!” or to published monthly by the NAZARENE my kid. “If God created us, who cre­ play catch with. PUBLISHING HOUSE, 2923 Troost ated God?” “If Jesus made the world, There is a little saying, “Children Ave, Kansas City, MO 64109. Editorial how did He get born in Bethlehem?” are a gift from God.” I am thankful offices at 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131. Address all correspondence Then there are the questions that for such a wonderful gift. I just hope concerning subscriptions to Nazarene come from just watching the news or that in the course of the next 10 or 11 Publishing House, P.O. Box 419527, from hearing the radio. “What is sui­ years my son picks up a few of my Kansas City, MO 64141. Copyright cide?” “Why would anyone want to good traits and forgets the bad ones. ^ 1992 by Nazarene Publishing House. POSTMASTER: Please send change of kill himself?” “Why do people abuse address to Herald of Holiness, RO. Box children?” “Why doesn’t God stop 419527, Kansas City, MO 64141. SUB­ wars?” SCRIPTION PRICE: $9.00 per year. Cathy and I do our best to answer Second-class postage paid in Kansas City, Mo. Litho in U.S.A. Joey’s questions, but we always wish there was some kind of manual that

June 1992 47 NEWS LATE NEWS NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • N

NAZARENES SEEK RECONCILIATION IN TORN CITY CHURCH OF THE The Exposition Park Church Church Sunday, May 3, for a classes during the height of NAZARENE of the Nazarene and a thrift combined service of thanks­ the riots, because of the ENTERS CAMBODIA store it operates were looted giving and praise, according threat. and burned during the vio­ to Benefiel. "O ur city is really in an The Church of the Nazarene lence that swept south central A food distribution center uproar," said Davis. "We entered the Southeast Asian Los Angeles in April and has been set up at Los Ange­ hope all Nazarenes will pray n atio n o f C a m b o d ia in May. The church was meet­ les First Church, Benefiel for peace here.” April, according to Robert ing in a rented storefront, hut said. Distribution points have An apartment complex H. Scott, World Mission owned all of its furnishings. been set up at several other burned less than 200 yards division director. Rev. and Damage to the contents is churches in the riot-torn area. from Los Angeles First Mrs. Ung Ty, recently com­ estimated at about $40,000. Violence, which included Church, which is located missioned by the General according to Paul Benefiel, looting, fires, and the beating north of where the violence Board as missionaries, flew to Phnom Penh to begin the Los Angeles district superin­ of motorists, broke out in the began. Ron Benefiel, senior work there. tendent. Nazarene Compas­ area following the acquittal pastor of Los Angeles First Ung Ty, 42, and his wife, sionate Ministries/Canada of four white Los Angeles Church, appeared on a local Susan, came to the U.S. and the U.S. has authorized policemen by a jury April 29. Christian radio station in Los giving to the L.A. crisis and after fleeing Cambodia. The men had been charged Angeles to discuss the crisis the Exposition Park Church They were converted and with using excessive force in in the city. as a Ten Percent Special. the beating of black motorist later joined the Church of Scott Chamberlain, who Contributions should be Rodney King. The beating the Nazarene in Long pastors the Central City made to the general treasurer was videotaped by a citizen Beach, Calif. Church, told his D.S. that and marked "Los Angeles and has been shown repeated­ Sensing G od’s call to the many windows were knocked Crisis.” ly on news programs. ministry, Ung Ty pursued out of buildings near where Harrie Trotman. pastor of More than 40 persons died ministerial studies, was his congregation meets at 420 Exposition Park Church, said in the violence; hundreds ordained in 1989, and pas- South Broadway. all of his people were safe. were injured. tored the New Life Cambo­ The district superintendent The Exposition Park Lamar Davis, senior pastor dian Church of the Nazarene said a Molotov cocktail was Church was established dur­ of Los Angeles Grace in Long Beach. thrown in the fellowship hall ing the Thrust to the City of Church, 10936 South Nor­ “Now the circle is com­ Los Angeles. Until the con­ mandie, said department of the Monrovia, Calif., plete,” Ung Ty said as he gregation of about 60 can stores near his church were Church of the Nazarene and his family boarded the find another place to meet, it burned, fires were set at a apparently following prayer plane for Cambodia. “We will resort to its original nearby school, and a number meeting Wednesday evening, return to our homeland with “Church on Wheels” pro­ of properties were vandal­ April 29. Landing on a vinyl the message of Christian gram. The program uses an ized. floor, the device never fully hope.” oversized van that allows the Davis said the 360 students ignited and was discovered Cambodia is the 99th parishioners to meet in places and 39 faculty members of Thursday morning. Benefiel world area where the such as parks. Woodcrest Christian School, said he assumed the incident Church of the Nazarene has Church members were operated by Grace Church, was an outgrowth of the ver­ churches and/or missionar­ bused to Los Angeles First were told not to come to dict in the King case. ies. PORTER ELECTED SUPERINTENDENT IN D.C. Los Angeles District Superin­ Jerry Porter, 42. has accepted Porter has served as direc­ Sponsorship. tendent Thomas Goble; the call to serve as superin­ tor of the Mexico and Central They have two children, Susan and Ung Ty; and John tendent of the America Region since being Amy Jo and William Britt. Calhoun, senior pastor, Long Washington appointed to that post in Amy has been undergoing Beach First Church; hold a (D.C.) Dis­ 1986. He was born in Okla­ chemotherapy for cancer flag with the Nazarene sym­ trict. Porter homa but grew up in Puerto since doctors amputated her bol. was elected Rico where his parents left hand in January. on the third served as missionaries. The Porters have been ballot April Porter and his wife, Toni, residing in Dallas to be near 8, according to General were appointed as missionar­ the hospital where Amy is S uperintendent Eugene L. ies to the Dominican Repub­ being treated. Stowe, who presided at the lic in 1975. They transferred Porter holds B.A. and assembly. to Costa Rica in 1979 where M.A. degrees from Southern Porter officially began his Jerry served as director of the Nazarene University. He also new assig n m e n t M ay 10, seminary in San Jose. attended Nazarene Theologi­ although he and his family Toni serves as regional cal Seminary. SNU conferred will not be moving to the dis­ women’s ministry director the doctor of divinity degree trict until mid-August. and as coordinator for Child on him in 1988.

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