The Meaning of Gifts Christmas in Japan Liberating Christ from Christmas December 1969 by Paul Tournier and Cameroon by Richard John Neuhaus by Lucille Wipf/ Peter Fehr Bop istHerold

Volume 47 December 1969 No. 20

The Meaning of Gifts, Paul Tournier, 4 Christmas in Japan, Lucille Wipf, 6 Christmas in Cameroon, Peter Fehr, 7 History of the Baptist Herald, M. L. Leuschner, 8 A Post-Christmas Prayer, Charles Waugaman, 12 Valley View Baptist Plans to Organize and Build, Herbert Vetter, 13 Love is a Feeling, Walter Trobisch, 14 Liberating Christ from Christmas, John Neuhaus, 15 Coming World Peace and Evangelism, Mark H atfield, 18 An Agnostic and Christmas, 21 Baptist Herald Index, January to December 1969, 26 Ask the Professor, Gerald Borchert, 10 God's Volunteers, JO Youth Scene, Bruce Rich, 11 Book Reviews, B. C. Schreiber, 12 We the Women, Mrs. Herbert Hiller, 22 Insight Into Christian Education, edited by Dorothy Pritzkan; Children are Natural Believers, Ervin Gerlitz, 23 Bible Study, James Schacher, 24 Our Churches in Acti on, 28 In Memoriam, 31 News & Views, 32 As I See It, Paul Siewert, 32 What's Happening, 32 Editori al: A New Look, Sharing the Christmas Event, 34 Open Dialogue, 34

Mo111hlv Puhlication of the Editor: Joh n Binder o f the · North A 1ll!·rica11 Baptist Editorial Assis/a/I/: Bruno Schreiber /?ager IVilliwm Press G eneral Conference Business M anager: Eldon Janzen HOPE. 7 308 /\fadisnn Street l:."ditMial Co111 111ittee: John Bi11der the promise of Christmas Forest Park. Illinois 60130 G rrhard Panke. Arthur Garling PEACE . the message of Christmas Gl'rald Borchert. Eldon Ja 11 ze11. LOVE · · · the reason for Christmas The Bapti.

December 1969 3 riding his new bicycle or of seeing the groceryman's Jocked-up cupboard containing the gifts, the running and or a long time I have wanted to write about gifts. which I am presenting to myself; it is not just fo r the young daughter. Sometimes I, too, will offer. to drive guessing of the imagination, the rituals - stockings hang­ What has been told me in confidence has im­ pleasure of writing but equally for the public recognition someone home just for the pleasure of the dnve or of ing on the fireplace, or the poetry that must be recited F pressed upon me the importance of their role in so much coveted by me. showing him the superiority of my car. From such moti­ life. Gifts have many meanings, deep and subtle, both before the gifts can be opened. For children, as for On the other hand, vacation time is for spending, not vations our scruples, our connivances, and our crazy epi­ adults, gift means party and party means gift. And no for those who give and those who receive. T he signifi­ earning. It is a kind of truce in the midst of life's war­ sodes are spawned innumerable. Someone makes a ges­ one can say how great is the thirst for parties and gifts cance is no less for those who hope for, but do not re­ fa re. It is li kewise a gift to which everyone feels he ture of great generosity, while in reality he has for a long which li es hidden in every human breast, even in the ceive; nor is it less for those who do not give or do not has a legal right, ever since our changing way of life time been secretly waiti ng for the chance, for his own oldster's, who feigns surprise as he exclaims, " But you receive the gifts proffered to them. has generalized the two-week holiday. I watch my money satisfaction. Many times, also, people arrange for others shouldn't have done it! I'm too old to be receiving gifts!" H ere I am, on vacation, happy to be able to apply my­ Jess closely than normally; I buy frivolously, things I to present them with gifts which they would not dare The mystery of the surprise plays a big role. Basically, self to writing. Yet, before giving myself the pleasure of would never permit myself at any other time. I feel quite buy for themselves. everyone is always living in a vague and more or less undertaking a new work, I have wanted to finish up other free to waste time or to use it, according to my own ersonally, I should like to be always malcing gifts - conscious hope of someday receiving something for which works I have promised. This task is a kind of present good pleasure. I do not forget my friends. For them I to everybody as well as to myself. But, is it really in he had never dared ask, some regal gift symbolized so which I've given myself and whi ch I enjoy as a reward shall take back a little surprise, or else perhaps simply order to make others happy, or is it in fact for my well in our fairy tales. Doubtless, fairy tales captivate for finishing off other duties. Thus I find myself deep in the gift of thought, transmitted by a postcard. Pown sa tisfaction in making others happy? Is it in order to us because of their marvelous poetry. Yet, their power this study. T here are gifts not only for others; there are Good and bad conscience constantly play a part in be appreciated by others? God gives me the gift of 24 lies also in what Jung has call ed the "collective u ncon­ those we give ourselves, generous or parsimoni ous, ac­ the number of gifts, pleasures, or self-indulgences which hours a day; yet he is kind enough to accept in return the cording to the formation we have had. we allow or refuse ourselves. Everyone takes care not scious," that which unites all men from one pole to the little time I give back to him. H appily he is interested in other, and from the most civilized to the most primitive, There is, as well, a whole series of rewards or punish­ to spoil himself, or at the ve ry least. not to let it appear all that I do and is not selfish. Thus I am able to consider that which stirs them all in the presence of archetype­ ments which we give ourselves as prizes fo r our accom­ so. A man on vacation, or after passing a test, will al­ as a gift not only the time I set aside for worship but images. They also grip us because of a certain "sym­ plishments. We set them up to benefi t ourselves in two low himself things he would never dare do without such also the time I spend in all my other activities. bolic accomplishment," as Mme. Sechehaye has called ways: both to receive the prize and to fulfill the task. a pretext; a patient similarly will celebrate some minor When a father enjoys seeing his child playing with the it : Both in the child and in the adult there is identifi­ First of all there are those which we a ll ow ourselves in success by taking chocolate, or wi ne, or a cigarette, toys he has given him, is it not the child who is givi ng to cation with the hero to whom the fairy extends, as a gift, order to put ourselves into a better mood before assum­ something in which he finds a special satisfaction, all of his father, unknowingly, the gift of his joy? But let the a power that extends beyond the restricted and narrow ing the less agreeable tasks. Then there are those we this quite against doctor's orders. Then there are con­ child turn from those toys for some given by another per­ limits of our human nature. Through this act of identi­ promise ourselves afterward, as a reward. And yet, solation prizes for disappointments or upsets, and other son. Then, very clearly, he is withholding that gift from fication, we can at least for the moment live this dream­ when can we ever feel that we're up-to-date in our sev­ types of gifts self-give n in order to fi ll the void left when his father. life wherein time, space, poverty, weakness, and disap­ eral responsibil ities? At the very moment these words others do not make us gifts . Someone has told me of T here are parents who, concerned with their child's pointment no longer hold us in unbreakable bondage. are being written my wife may well want me to make meeting a friend who pointed to her new purse and ex­ her the gift of a little time, the ve ry thing which I mea­ educatio n, instead of unnecessary toys, give only " useful his is a double pleasure. for we identify ourselves claim ed, " Look at the beautiful gift I received from my gifts." Thus the little girl who was hoping for a bicycle sure ou t so sparingly to her when I am weighted down not with the hero of the tale bu t also with the fairy husband!" "But I thought you were single!" replied discovers that she is give n a dress. She knows very well by consultati ons, lectures. correspondence, and so on. in her joy of doing good. T his is what we feel the other. "Is that any reason," came the answer, "just that her parents would have had to buy her a dress, T Yet, my writing is also done for my wife. fo r she lov­ when we offer the unspoiled child a more beautiful gift because T am unmarried, that I should receive fewer birthday or no birthday. Yes, they've choseH a more ingly keeps a colJection of all my books and publi shed than he could ever have imagined in his na·ivete, one gifts than a married woman? Each year, both on my luxurious dress, but is it not for their own vanity? What articl es . When I earn some money fro m them, I always which overwhelms him. Veritable joy of the gods! T he birthday and at Christmas, I select something that T will they call a beautiful dress is one that they, not their feel as if I were making her a present. Tt is just as though joy of taking a child into wonderland, of initiating him really enjoy, and I call it 'my hu sband's gift.'" daughter, find beautiful. She may well envy the more I did not profit by the money just as much as she. and to pleasures he does not yet know, to the discovery of the Besides th is, many favors we do others are actu ally modest dress of a friend while her parents choose for her just as though I were not a more profligate spender. gifts to ourselves, either because of the pleasure that outside world in his first trip. or of nature itself. T his is Likewise. my writing is a kind of gift being prepared fo r one that looks li ke the dress that wealthy friends have the joy of taking him to the theater with all its magic. or their doing affords us or else because of a pleasure which gotten their daughter. the readers both known to me and unknown. When they we would not all ow ourselves withou t such a pretex t. even to a simple merry-go-round under its many-colored write and express thanks for somethi ng I have written, hu s there are many gifts whi ch really are not gifts. lights and lively music. Thus a little boy suddenl y becomes ve ry co-operative in I think of the strict education one woman received I am very deeply moved. T hus, it becomes again a gift running errands fo r his mother, either for the pleasure of T hus parents who love their children look forward to in an austere and pious setting. Whenever she had Chri stmas every bit as much as they, or for that matter. Tdone so mething particularly well. had worked hard to pick any other special occasion fo r surprising them. T hey the garden frnit or had tidied up all her room, she was a r~ always a bit afraid lest their gift will not be appre­ given two pennies as a reward, but with the added remark, ciated enough. They hesitate to make their choice; they The Meaning of Gifts "You will give these to the missionary work among the look around, talk it over, and try to recall their own African boys and girls," H er parents might better have childhood memories. T hey stop and study the store give n directly to the Mission and have saved their daugh­ windows fi lled with toys and they scrutinize the catalogs. ter from being repulsed. "The great gift, the unique and living one, is not a All day Jong I hear tales of lives and many childhood thing but a person. It is Jesus Christ himself ... . Should by Paul Tournier memories. A good part of them is about gifts received then the li ttle gifts of our daily existence lose their im­ and gifts not received, the magical surprises of Chri st­ portance in the face of such a great and unique gift? mas, and also its disappointments. Yes, the fairy tale of Many men have thought so. . . . But this shows that Christmas! The waiti ng, the element of surpri se, the they had not yet grasped the meaning of the gospel. for Dr. Paul Tournier has h 0 e 11 a phvJician i11 Geneva. Swit­ the gospel is never a fli ght from reali ty .... Far from zerland. since 1928. He is a Christian in the practice of psy­ turning us away from the world. C hrist directs us to it. He chotherapy. awakens with{n us an altogether new concern for it. This article is used by permission from rhe boo'<. The Meaning of Gifts. by Paul Toumier. translated hy John S. Then. just as little children. we can enjoy all the little Gilmour. published by John Knox Press © M . E. Bratcher gifts of this earthly life, seeing in them so rnanv signs 1963. of that great and fi nal gift which awaits us. O · ~

BAPTIST HERALD December 1969 5 are filled with inserts placed there by The grass is dry, the leaves are fall­ church members. In some areas this various stores advertising clothing, toys ing and the air is beginning to fi ll takes much of the night as their Christmas and other items at greatly reduced with dust . transportation is their two feet, or • prices. Ill But amidst all of the commerciali­ Christmas The missionaries usually find an CM2 as we say in Cameroons. zation of Christmas our churches seek evergreen tree to use to decorate Most churches also have a C hrist­ to make known the true message of • and have a North American style mas D ay morning service after which Christmas. During the days prior to Ill C hristmas. Some of the missionaries the people go to visit friends, have Japan the church Christmas activities, every­ get together with those on a nearby a big dinner and celebrate. one is busy with necessary prepara­ mission statio n for Christmas to enjoy Y es, Christm as for the Christian in tions and practices. The ladies have a Cameroon a big dinner, some games and fel­ Ca meroon is a time for new clothes, Christmas meeting to which they in­ lowship. For the first-year mission­ a big dinner and real celebration . vite their friends and neighbors. In­ aries it can be an especially lo nely Just before Christmas every tailor cluded are games, refreshments and a by Lucille Wipf time but o ne soon o vercomes the is completely booked up for weeks Christmas devotional. The young peo­ these set on the tables which have been feeling. Of course, th e season is making new dresses and gowns for ple sometimes go caroling as part of set up in the church. Though the prolonged for missionaries. as the Christmas. The price of cloth goes their celebration. Paper lanterns with ladies are busy with the preparation by Peter Fehr mail service and the irregular mail­ Already in November signs of Christ­ a lighted candle inside are carried by they know that there will be many up just before Christmas because of mas begin to appear in the stores and the participants as they walk along coming for whom it wi ll be the first ing schedules at home bring them the big demand. Many of the men on the streets as decorations are hung singing carols. Though caroling is time that they have heard the true Christmas ca rds from D ecember un­ borrow mo ney to buy new cloth for up and Christmas carols can be heard quite new in the Tse area some people meaning of Christmas. Reservations til Easter. new clothes for their children. You from the loudspeakers in the stores. do come to the door to listen and are made fo r this meal and there are The Cameroo nian celebrates could always be certain the season Christmas cards, with Japanese scenes, really seem to enjoy the singin g. Af­ between 60 and 70 who attend. Many C hristmas in many ways following was approaching when the workers and Merry Christmas and a Happy New ter the carolin g they meet at the are yo ung people who have read about those celebrations he has seen, heard would request advances o n their sal­ Year printed inside are put on sale in church for games, refreshments and Christmas customs in other lands in a ry for these purposes. Then they the shops. devotional. their textbooks at school but have not Many Japanese have begun to associ­ spend the months after C hristmas heard its real meaning'. paying off their debts just as the ate cake with Christmas. This is a The fe ll owship supper is followed by credit card shoppers here in North cake decorated much like we decorate a Christmas pl ay or some other pre­ Someone asked us one day, " How did America. a birthday cake. Through advertise­ sentation of the Christmas story. The the natives of the Cameroons cele­ ments in the papers and in the bakeri es candlel ight service which concludes the brate Christmas before the arrival of Many non-Christians are using this people are reminded to order their evening is very lovely. Each person is the first missionaries?" time to promote business and also as Christmas cakes. Some stores give given a candle and after some special an excuse for excessive drinking. away Christmas cakes to lucky win­ It is natural for us as North Amer­ music the li ghts are turned off and the So as we approach this C hristmas ners. In exchange for showing his re­ icans to assume that everyone has al­ fl ame is passed from the pastor's candle ceipt the customer gets to turn the ways celebrated C hristmas and may Seaso n, whether in Cameroon or in to another and on until the entire room handl e on a sma ll machine and if a indicate that we have forgotten cer­ North A merica, let's not get lost in is bright with candlelight. A short colored ball fa lls out the individual tain facts. First, Christmas is the the rush of shopping for gifts, Christ­ wins a cake. meditation brings the evening to its mas parties. new clothes. big din­ climax. celebration of the birth of Christ Yes, the non-Christi an world has its On the Sunday afternoon prior to ners. but let us remember that here Once Christmas Day has ended the and secondly, before Christian mis­ celebration of Christ mas too. Though Chri stmas a group from the Tse church in North America as in Cameroon. Japanese are busy preparing for the sionaries went to Cameroon the peo­ t~e Japanese are known fo r givi ng presents a program at the Juvenil e New Year's holidays. During the days ple knew no thing of Christ; there­ Christmas is just another day without gifts at New Year's time there are home near Ise. Wh at they usually do ri ght after Christmas is when the mis­ fore they didn' t celebrate his birth. Jesus Christ. L et us remember that those who have started exchangi ng is give the Christmas play which will sionaries get together for their Christ­ But what are the C hristmas cus­ for us it is the time to be tha nkful Christmas presents. For many Japa­ be given at the church Christm as cele­ mas celebration. Last Chri stmas we that God sent us the greatest gift nese. Christmas means gifts, cakes and bration. Each boy and gi rl is presented to ms in Cameroons? The Christmas possible. His Son. to earth - to parties on Christmas Eve. One lady with a gift of frui t from the church. had the Christmas party as the begin­ season in Cameroons, weather-wise, of, or been taught. Most of the tl~is came to my home and asked me to T here is always a representative of the ning of our annual missionary confer­ is the early part of dry season. No churches hold Christmas Eve services li ve as a man and to die for our sins. ence. The skit, musical number or tell her how we celebrate Christmas ~ o m e who makes the thank you speech Snow! The song " I'm dreaming of with recitatio ns, songs and plays Around the world wherever Christ because she wanted to have a Christ­ in behalf of all the boys and girls. other presentation put on by each mis­ a white Christmas" is very appropri­ as we might do here. The light is known. Christmas will be cele­ sionary unit are always enjoyed by all. mas party for her five -year-old boy The program put on by the children ate for North American Missio na ries. sources for the evening services are brated in the hearts of those who and his playmates. She was, however. Christmas carols, the Chris tmas story of the Sunday school, on the Sunday kerosene lanterns which carries an know and love Him. O interested mostly in the customs con­ evening pri or to Christmas, affords the and the exchange of gifts make up nected with Christmas rather than the the program. Dr. Pe1er Fehr is a former mission­ atmosphere all of its own. The opportunity of sharing the Christmas ary m edical doctor in Cameroon, Christmas story is frequently very true meani ng of Christmas. The fifth story with the families of the children. As the old year draws to a close graders learn both the English and and the Christmas cards are taken off Africa, now a prac//cm g physician in dramatically portrayed with angels On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day Minneapolis, Minn. Japanese words to Silent Night from there 1s a fellowshi p dinner prepared the wall one realizes that another having fl apping wings and soldiers their music book at school. by the women of the church. In our Christmas season has passed away. ma rching. In the absence of cos­ During the weeks prior to Christmas Ise .church the ladies prepare some Many have heard of Christ fo r the first tumes, it is the action that gives each the papers are fil led with Christmas special .Japanese dish. Duri ng the day time. T hough the season passes away character his role and is much more sales advertisements. Morning papers the ladies are busy preparing the vege­ yet the Christ of Christmas remains interesting to the audience. Of tables, ric.e and other food. lt's really to be shared wi th the people of Japan Miss Lucille Wipf is a North Ameri­ course this is done in pidgeon E ng­ a rewarding experi ence to work to­ d uring the coming year. O can Baptist General Conference mis­ li sh. gether with these ladies. When the sionary to Japan. She is presently on After the Christmas eve service preparati ons are fini shed the food is furlough. the choirs go th rough the town or placed on the individual plates and village caroling at the ho mes of the 6 December 1969 BAPTIST HERALD 7 be entrance to the imposing Archives Building in of the Board of Directors of the Home for the Aged. H e for each issue, and now this too has become a reality. Now We Are 55, and Now We Are 88, received their Washington, D .C., has these words prominently is a nephew of the late Dr. William Kuhn, and he has Indeed, the past is a prologue opening a door of oppor­ inspiration through the popular introduction to our paper. T chiseled into the marble at the head of the stair- always been a strong denominational supporter. Mr. tunity fo r the future! Several articles were too long to be published in the way: "The past is only the prologue to the future." A Kuenne's cover design was uniquely d ifferent and very In the earl ier years of our editorial ministry, we sought BAPTIST HERALD; this gave us the vision for the prepara­ glimpse into the past years of the BAPTIST HERALD'S artistic, but it lacked some of the simplicity that was being to give our readers articles of unusual interest that might be tion and distribution of The Annual. ministry and the early days of this editor's apprenticeship widely used at that time on the covers of many religious regarded as "editorial scoops." During 1935 at least four his partnership with our people kept the channel of almost 35 years ago will soon convince the reader that periodicals. such articles were featured wh ich still have interest value. news into our churches wide open th rough the years. those early editori al efforts were only the prologue to a So a contest was held toward the end of l 935 re- D r. Paul Gebauer with a prophetic voice wrote about T The one feature that has remained largely unchanged greater future. Many of the early hopes and dreams of questing our people to submit new designs. A dozen or "The Pentecostal Field of the World" in which he por­ since the fi rst issue of the BAPTIST HERALD in 1923 years ago are now being realized with this new monthly more readers submitted an array of covers. Mrs. Clara trayed the indigenous church of Cameroon. " There w ill has been the "What's H appening" page. The seri al story edition of the BAPTIST HERALD serving Gebauer, who had recently become the be strange music flowi ng from their lips but it will confess for many years was a popular feature with some readers, an entire denominational family with bride of the Rev. Paul Gebauer of Came- the same faith. An African church, the tribe of J esus, will but it was fin ally crowded out because of the more im­ m ~re .colorful att.ractiveness under the HISTORY roon, Africa, submitted eight art covers. arise to the glory of God." Even at that time Paul Gebauer portant articles. One of the highlights of the earlier years e~ 1 tonal leadership of the R ev. John As a student at the Chicago Art Insti- felt that our missionaries should be fl uent in French to was the th e o l o~ i ca l presentation of important questions Bmder. . tute, she was eminently qualified for this be ready for God's open doors for missionary service. and subjects. Older readers still remember wi th nostalgia But one outs t a n~m g featu re has not changed o F ministry, and one of her designs was selected and In ·1935 Mrs. Lydia Heinrichs, the only li ving child of the feature, " From the Professor's Desk" by Dr. R alph ov~r ~he years. ThJrty-fi ve years ag~ when sub- used for several years. It symbolized simplicity the R ev. a nd Mrs. A nton Fle ischmann, founders of the E. Powell , seminary professor. were. at a low ebb and mterest was and permitted a practical use of pictures to be sc n~t 1 ons Fleischmann Memori al Baptist Church of Philadelphia, In closing, a few personal references may be permitted wanmg, the editor took on the reins of leader- THE featured on the front covers. Pa., gave us an intimate personal account about her from one who can look with joy over the past 35 years. determined that th is should be a partnership This was the first of many contests held by s ~ ip , mother, Maria Margaretta Fleischma nn, who was a pillar My heart was strangely warmed when many readers said with all of our people and with God's BAPTIST HERA LD for oreater reader in- of strength behind her husband. or wrote that they first read the editorial page when the direction._ W~ felt that as our people terest. T hese includ;d snapshot con- iss Anna Jaruis, the founder of Mother's D ay, BAPTIST HERALD arrived. This little personal pulpit beca~e .1dent1fied personally wi th this BAPTIST tests, the submission of photographs, gave us an exclusive article on the early begin­ for this editor was a sacred, inspiring place behind which pubhcat1on and could :ense that it be- brief essays on " W hy I Like the BAP- M nings of this observance and the story of her home he could stand in the presence of h is Chri st and Savior. Jonge? to them that th.is sense of part- TIST HERALD," and suggestions for im- life and of her associations with her mother. Dr. Her­ Over the years several thousand pictures from our mis­ nersh1p woul? result 111 a better and proving the paper. Literally hundreds of HERALD man von Berge with his musical knowledge wrote an sion fi elds have passed through our hands and been fi led more 111fluent1al BAPTIST HERALD. people sent in their entries to these con- article about Johann Sebastia n Bach on the occasion of The first editorial written for the Jan- tests. away for future use. Every missionary in Cameroon. the 250th anniversary of the birth of this German com­ Japan. the Balkans. among the Indians and Latin A meri­ uary 1, 1?3~, issue w~~ e~ti tl ed '.'W~." All of us have heard the proverb that poser. cans during these three decades has given us a pictorial It states s1gruficantly: This pub1Icat1on "variety is the spice of life." The BAP- These special single featu res soon grew into memorable record for our publications and for the denominational belongs to all of us. It wi ll always rep- TIST HERA LD has endeavored to make a series of articles. I n 1939 the editor published a series resent our composite experiences and by Martin L. Leuschner variety of such changes in layout, head- archives. Among these choice pictures has been one of of articles about his missionary trip with Dr. William Daph ne D unger as a baby riding in the hand-made wagon needs. It is WE who will make th is ings, type, features a nd a rt designs. As K uhn to the Balkan countries. climaxed by the visit to publication a meaningful contribution to our religious soon as the limited budget permitted it. we featured built by her father. Dr. George A Dunger. (Daphne is the G ypsy Baptist church at Goli nzi, Bulgaria. D r. Wil­ now a missionary-nurse in full-time service among the life. The consciousness of this fellowship will always be occasional colored covers for Easter, C hristmas a nd Pub- liam Kuhn found it impossible to publish his memoirs in a source of renewed inspiration to me." li cation Month. For years we dreamed of such covers Cameroon people.) Other pictures show Paul and C lara The greatest joy of more than thirty years of an edi­ book form and so he gave BAPTIST H ERALD readers Gebauer in their first home in Cameroon, a primitive torial ministry in guiding the BAPTIST H ERALD to its the thrill of reading his 22 articles of his life story over tha tched-roof hut; Laura E. Reddig distributing dapsone greater heights of service has always been this sense of an entire year. T he history of our conference was re­ pills to the first wretched leprous patients at the New Hope partnership. Literally hundreds of people from all walks viewed by the Rev. Charles F. Zummach in a series of Settlement; and the Indian C hiefs on the Bull and Mon­ of life were enlisted in the ministry of this publication to articles before the book, These Glorious Years, was pub­ tana R eserves of Alberta. Canada. attending the mission deepen the interest in its pages and have them participate lished. T he trip to eight South American countries was church services. in determining its objecti ves. colorfully described by the editor in 1959 shortly before ost of all , we rejoiced to witness the tremendous The cover appearance of the BA PTIST HERALD was the Baptist World Congress convened in Rio de J aneiro. growth of our North American Baptist General one of our first concerns. Its attractiveness to the reader Brazil. M Conference in its m issionary outreach, its services. at the first glance was an objective. Instead of ooing to The BAPTIST HERALD h as been the forerunner in its total church membership. and its beautiful new church art professionals in these first years, we tri ed ~o enli st helping to in stigate other denominational publications. edifices. The BAPTIST H E RALD tried to keep pace with some of our people with artistic talents to make their Mr. H . P. Donner, business ma nager of the Roger Wil­ this onward progress by means of pictures. reports. inspi­ contribution. liams Press, beli eved strongly in devotional pages and rational articles and annual statistics. The cover for the 1935 issues was designed by Mr. insisted that this feature, edited by P rof. Lewis Kaiser, This has been an adventure in "paper partnership" over Frank of Philadelphia, Pa .. a leading member of ~uennc be incorporated into the BAPTIST H ERALD. Later our the years working with God's people who have been won­ ~he Fle1schm~ nn Memorial Baptist Church, a youth leader paper published daily prayer requests to be followed by derful fri ends in our churches. Above all. God continues in the Atlantic Conference and in later years the president our people. U ltimately. these early beginnings were en­ to be the present editor's guide and partner in demonstrat­ larged and incorporated into the popular devotional quar­ ing dramatically that the past. hO\Yever in terestin~ and Dr. Martin l. Leuschner of Oak Park. Ill .. served as editor terly, Moments With God. meaningful it has been, is only the prologue to a g~· eater of 1/ie BAPTIST HT:RALD from 1935 10 !96fi. The various missiona ry publications, Now We Are 22, and brighter FUTURE! 0 - 8 BAPTIST HERALD December 1969 9 in the highest;" and about whom men The Youth Congress was just great. shouted, "crucify him!" Word got back to one of our members (For the first column a portion of a 111'1 from someone outside our denomina­ personal letter has been used with per­ tion that he considered it of a high mission.) caliber. - Rev. Tom Kramer, N e­ braska Dear Dr. Borchert : Maybe I don't un­ llLllllllll Boy has the Lord been working derstand young people today, but why since we left G reen Lake. At the Con­ are some of our "Christian" young by Eileen Busenius, gress there were six kids that rededi­ people becoming so involved in marches Team 1 reporter cated their lives. On the way home and other so-called peace efforts which these kids really went to work on the help the Communists. . . . Don't they bus, sharing what C hrist had done to know what they are doing? J.M. "Greetings from G od's Volunteers them and before we got home, a little Team I." This phrase will be heard over one-half of the bus had re-dedi­ Dear J.M .: This problem is intensely in many of our churches th roughout complex. But try to understand the cated their lives. We asked for volun­ the coming months. We, as a team, teers to say something in the Sunday confusion which exists in many of our have completed our five week training by Gerald L. Borchert youth today. Most young people know by Bruce Rich evening service and 15 young people period at our North A merican Baptist gave their testimonies. Many of them only the prosperi ty of the fifties and Seminary. We are thankful to the the frustration of the sixties and they had never spoken in public before. D uring the past year and a half the seminary president, faculty, staff and WOW! We fin ally made it - a page As always, should you be killed or are by n.at~1 re. idealistic - probably What a service! There were over 300 view has been emerging that there is students for giving us the royal treat­ for young people in the BAPTIST captured, the secretary will disavow more 1deahst1 c 1f they are Christian. in our eveni ng service and the impact again a need fo r the inclusion of a ment. Our instructo rs were the Rev. H ERALD. We want you to use this T hey want an end to frustration and any knowledge of your actions. of their testimonies has really been column in the BAPTIST HERAL D in Daniel F uchs, the Rev. Bruce Rich, page to share your ideas with each Good luck, and remember . .. " . .. ~ an y are _convinced that U.S. money something to behold. which various opinions of our con­ Dr. H ugo Lueck, the Rev. R udy Lem­ other. Send in program ideas, per­ with God, all things are possible" 1s interested in keeping the war Last year we started a bi-weekly Bi­ stituency may be debated and in whi ch ~ ctu a ll y ke, the Rev. Leon Bill, D r. Roy Sei­ sonal testimonies, articles and interest­ (Mark 10:27). going. Certainl y, there are some who ble Study for anyone who was inter­ questions of perti nence may be dis­ bel, Dr. G erald Borchert, the Rev. Ed­ ing notes on trends and ideas among are counter-productive and who care ested. We averaged about 8 or 10. cussed. After some hesitation the au­ gar Klatt, and the Rev. Raymond youth in your area, school and church. Rich Replies li ttle for. nati onal indentities, but most Tuesday night we had 21 present. We thor has agreed to chai r this open H arsch. T o them we say a hearty Send your questions about youth pro­ love their God-given homes. Remem­ This column is for answering letters had a sharing time and about one-half forum which is modeled upon the thank you, for these have been very gramming, problems, service opportuni­ ber, however, that they see many other from young people. Jn quoting you, of the kids told of how they have style of Dr. Dale Ihrie's "Speak Up." enriching classes for us all. ties and other areas that may be a youth who _are dyin g in a war in wh ich onl y your initials will be used. T he shared Christ with their friends at Naturall y in a colum n such as this. concern to you. They will be answered they fin d li ttle idealism expressed, ex­ D uring training we visited 124 homes following problem was raised at a school. We prayed for one another even though the author is a member in the RICH REPLIES column. cept .the general ideal of stopping Com­ and found a possibili ty of 15 pros­ youth-adul t workshop. and tried to help those who were hav­ of the editorial committee, it should munism. pects. We were able to minister to A dults do not seem to realize the ing problems witnessing. It was one of be understood that his remarks are some nearby churches and sing in some Here's an Idea changing needs of yowh in a world of those meetings you d ream about . . . . Now I cannot go into the complexi­ (Publicity idea from Bethel Baptist personal. On the other hand, where ties of guerrilla warfa re but th' . homes for the aging. daily change. They want to maintain thank G od this was real. N ow the issues of denominational or depart­ • > IS IS a Church, A naheim, Cal. ) s t r~ n ge kmd of war for the U.S.; and Our youth ministry was especiall y the ideas of their own generation. challenge is to keep this enthusiasm mental policy are pertinent he will 1t 1.s a differe nt kin d of war in terms exciti ng at both Madison and the South They are narrow-minded and umvil/ing going. After two weeks it is increasing seek to consul t those involved before Mission: Impossible of ideology. Most of our youth do not Dakota Associati on. Several groups to listen to new ideas. which seems to be a good sign. - Rev. addressing his remarks to the reader. rea ll ~ understand the natu re of Com­ were inspi red to become more in­ On the Sundays of March 23, 30 Do young people live in a different Jim De Boer, British Columbia As the writer has travell ed through­ munism. Indeed, the same could b volved wi thin their groups and begin and April 6, there will be an attempt world? We all face the same changing I wouldn't have missed this Con­ out our denomination he has found said for . politicians, both li beral Bible studies and sharing groups within on the part of a highl y organized, in­ world. It is only natural for adults gress for anything. It was so diffe rent. that our youth, lay people, and pastors an~ conserva_t1.ve, who use the war for their their hi gh schools. We ask that you ternational subversive power to keep to hold on to their ideas, u ntil they fin d All the kids came searching for an­ have some very sti rri ng ideas and own political advantage. especiall y pray for our young people. Junior hi gh teens away from church. adequate new ones to replace the old. swers and got them. - D ixie Kruse, questi ons. This column is directed to This organi zation is headed by someone Many of our youth wish the Church Our team also covets your prayers as As young people you are discovering; Iowa those who seek dialogue and clarifi ca­ known as the Devil. ~o ul d take a stand for peace. When we conti r.ue to travel and serve Christ. you are forming ideas. Its all new to Through the Youth Congress I tion. Let no one fear to write, for Your m ission, should you decide to it does not they wonder if the Church you. A communication barrier exists. learned to let Christ control my li fe . s~ o u l ~ he wish to remain anonymous accept it, is to compl etely destroy this is at all concerned. When you look at Have you tried to understand the It was an awakening experience that his wish wi l! be g r ~ nt e d ; but according your church, do you think the· pl an by not only comi ng, but by bring­ changing needs of ad ults? A growing was too good to m iss. - Ted Bron­ t? proper iournaltstic policy no un­ . . ir ques- ing a record number of visitors, all tion is totall y illegiti mate? How teenager in a home creates a rapidl y leewe, Iowa. D s.1 gn ~d letters wi ll be accepted for pub­ ~ b · many three Sundays, but especially on the changing world for an adult. Be patient li cation. your ' mem ers . actually pray dail y fi nal Sunday, April 6, when we expect kids, the adults will catch on. God s answer m this war and for May God grant that through the ~or_ to break all previous records in our insight to be given to the p .d "A wise man will hear, and will in­ medium of such a column we may th U S ? res1 ent of department, and have the greatest pro­ crease learning . ... The fear of the grow to understand one another better. e . . . He is only human, and he gram yet ! Lord is the begin ni ng of knowledge : needs .the prayers of Christi ans. Or do Although we will differ, may we ac­ The rewards will be several. I st, but fools despise wisdom and instruc­ we that such praying is worth cept each other as brothers in Christ t ~ink anyone bringing one or more visitors tio n" (Prov. I :4, 7). anything - reall y? Maybe if we prayed and may every one of us work mo r ~ during the 3 Sundays will contribute more fervently God would show us the Team 1: (/. to r.), Becky H eerts, Sue earnestly to the end that the world to the physical fitness of their sponsor, Youth Congress Echoes next step. It may be that man in his Ann Salem , K en Priebe. Perry K arges, may sense the wonderful wholeness of Bob Walker, by causing him to run As a result of the Congress at Green present s t ~te is unable to fi nd the solu­ Marsha Wilkins and Eileen Busenius. life which is available in the one about one mile per visitor. 2nd, the person Lake, the youth of Kansas have formed tio n, but it may be that God is waiting Va cation Bible school scene showing whom the angels sang, "glory to God bringing the most visitors over the 3 to see the commitment of his people one of the four tents used for class­ a group called "T he Living Circle." rooms. Sunday evenings will be rewarded with T hey are touri ng the churches of their This world is not the Kingdom of a $ 10 credit applied to camp at H ume state giving a ministry in music and Addres~. le1ters to: Dr. Gerald L. ~ea v e n. The thorns and thistl es prom­ Borc~ ert , Ask the Professor," 1605 S Lake. testi mony as they promote their m is­ ised _to Adam are sti ll present, but the Euclid Avenue. Sioux Fa/1 1· fo ti D . T his mission will apply only to Sun­ sio n project, camp and C hristian living. kota 57105. ·' · u 1 a- Chnstian C hurch is call ed to be the salt day evenings. - Bob Lang, K ansas " Well anyway, Reggie - of the earth. H as it lost its savor? 0 it was nice while it la ste d ." 10 December 1969 11 R A P T l <;T H ERALD could recount the problems or af­ our church attendance is running at flictions of which Paul speaks. 30 or more. Interest is growing and Valley View B ut thanks be to God for the the possibilities are increasing. strength afforded us by Jesus Christ The area has great potential for Baptist Plans and the communication and help of growth. There is much land avail­ BO Ok our sister churches and fellow chris­ able for new growth. There are sev­ tians. We are deeply grateful. eral areas of new housing develop­ to Organize O n the first Sunday of October ments planned within only a mile or 1968 the Valley View Baptist Church, two from the church property. It is ReVieWs and Build Everett, Wash., met for the first ser­ considered that with its accessability vice in the Jefferson school auditorium to Interstate 5, the main west coast by B. C. Schreiber located about three fourths mile from our church property. That first ser­ The Broadman Bible Commentary. vice was attended by the pastor's fam­ CHURCH EXTENSION Nashville, Tenn., Broadman Press. $7.50 ily and two other families, consti.tut­ BUILDERS' PROJECT per volume ing 13 in all. On D ecember 15,' the FOR DECEMBER, 1969 Volume l , General Articles; Genesis­ parsonage was completed on the 4 V2 Exodus and Volume 2, General Arti­ acre plot of ground purchased for lVill you pray n11d contribute? cles; Matlhew-Mark are available now. church development. T he pastor and Anyone having friends or relatives in Volumes 3 to 8 wi ll be published and by Herbert V etter the family took up their permanent the area is encouraged to send their completed by 1972. residence there. names and addresses to the pastor: The Clifton J. Allen, retired editorial Since then much calling has been Rev. Herbert Yetter. 9717 - 31st Ave., secretary of the Sunday School Board There are two verses that seem to ap­ done. There have been two can­ S.E .. Everett. Wash. 9820 1. of the Southern Baptist Convention is ply to this work of church extension. the General Editor of this challenging vasses of the area, one to inform the They are found in Phil. 4: 13-1_4, people of the beginning of the new project. "I can do all things through Chnst Contributing editors number about church and one to invite children to highway via Portland, Seattle, Van­ which strengtheneth me. Not with­ 60, most of whom are professors of our Bible school which was held in couver, etc., and the big B oeing 747 Southern Baptist Seminaries or scholar­ standing ye have well done, that ye August. Our first Bible school had plant, which is only about five miles ly pastors of Southern Baptist churches. did communicate with my affliction." 32 enrolled besides the teaching staff. from our present location, this could A F uller Semir.ary professor and a few There can be no question but that This was held in the parsonage and become one of the fastest growing British scholars are the exception. we as church extension pastors and borrowed tents that were used for areas in all Snohomish County. Whether such a commentary will workers can do all things through added class room space. The city of Everett has grown from find a ready market outside of Baptist C hrist who strengthens us. H e is all In the last part of June we gave 40.000 in 1960 to 57,000 in 1968. circles in this age of ecumenism is suffic ient to meet each trial and test­ thought to organizing. Eleven ex­ This is being accelerated year by presently debatable. However, there ing. It is clear from this statement are many evangelical conservatives who pressed their willingness to become year. L ast year alone some 1500 new that the church at P hilippi, and the welcome good commentaries. charter members. We are presently phones were installed in the general The format fo llows the usual ar­ C hristians there, had given of their in the process of drawing up a area which our church should have rangement of most commentaries. The means to help him in his need as he church constitution and movi ng for­ part in serving. Just one mile from general articles in the first volumes of sought to extend the church of Jesus ward to official organization a nd rec­ our present location there is a the Old and New Testaments include C hrist. He says, "This is good." We ognition. planned interchange off of Interstate information on translation, interpreta­ as church extension pastors must say Plans are also being made for the 5 that is to be completed in 1971 tion, geography, archaeology, history the same. I t is good when others at the cost of about five m ill ion dol­ and theology. Addressed primarily to much needed church building. We communicate with us in our affliction. will only be permitted to use our lars. Surely it is a Strategic Area the student and the minister rather than People moving into these urba_n to the established scholar, these articles present facilities until October. 1970. and one that is deserving of the full­ give important and inspirational infor­ areas have been uprooted from their We must make provision for our own est support of God's people. O mation in concise form. All the ma­ former church ties and it is difficult facilities before that date. Already terial has been brought up to date ac­ fo r them to find another church that cording to the latest Biblical scholarship. seems like home. Add to this all The commentary follows the com­ the attractions of the new world mon pattern of paragraph-by-paragraph about them and we find a people interpretation and expositi on. Criticism hard to reach and become activated has been kept at a minimum. Alter­ in the work of the L ord and His native views are presented without church. T his becomes increasingly comment. Footnotes, technical words, harder in church extension because Greek and Hebrew are used sparingly of poor or inadequate facilities and so that the average student of the Bi­ no church building to which we ble does not become lost in schol arly m ight invite people. On and on we exegesis. The Revised Standard Ver­ sion is used as the Bible text. Vacation Bible School scene showing The Rev. Herbert Vetter is the pastor of the Valley View Baptist Church, one of the four tents used for class­ Marilyn Vetter with a V .B.S. grollP in Everett, Wash. rooms. a tent.

12 December 1969 13 BAPTlST HERALD n India, one tells this legend Love is a feeling to b e learned. The argument is appealing but runs into the same I about the creation of man and problems encountered by yesteryear's admonitions to woman: It is tension and fulfillment. It is deep longing and hostility. " Keep Christ in Christmas." Some distinctions are in When he bad finished creating the order. For instance, which Christmas are we talking It is gladness and it is pain. man, the Creator realized that he had about? There is not one without the other. used up all the concrete elements. There is the Christmas of Main Street so scathingly H appiness is only a part of love There was nothing solid, nothing celebrated by Howard Nemerov as "This annual savior - this is what h as to be learned. compact or hard, left over to cre­ of the economy." Suffering belongs to love also. This ate the woman. Since the image of Jesus is so vulnerable, we have been is the mystery of Jove, its beauty able to do weird things with him. Among the weirdest After thinking for a long time, and its burden. is this palship with Santa, making Christ an accomplice the Creator took Love is a feeling to be learned. in Main Street's Christmas crime. But I am not at all the roundness of the moon, the It caused Sylvia almost physical sure that Jesus wants this association terminated. The fl exibility of a clinging vine and pain to give up her dream. But the trembling of grass, "bums" who play Santa for money are just the type now she was sure: This was the Jesus was always taking up with back in Palestine. I per­ the slenderness of a reed and the end of it. blossoming of flowers, sonally have reason to fear the day when Jesus stops asso­ Before she had m et him, she had ciating with phonies. Anyway, the overstuffed men in the lightness of leaves and the had a dream image of what her fu­ serenity of the rays of sunshine, red are not among the more subtle and dangerous pho­ ture husband would be like: tall, nies of our society. the tears of clouds and the insta­ slim, a good athlete, intelligent, full bility of the wind, Yes, you say, but the dressed up derelicts are not the of spirit, a university graduate, a issue. The problem is with the media men, manufac­ the fearfulness of a rabbit and few years older than she, and, of the vanity of a peacock, LOVE turers and shopkeepers for whom Santa and the Child course, a lover of music and poetry, the softness of a bird's breast and are but puppets in the commercial exploitation of the possibly a professor of English liter­ the hardness of a diamond wistful and the sacred. Be fair. They are only making a IS ature or religion or a holder of a the sweetness of honey and the buck like everyone else. And aren't we always urging well-paid job with the government. cruelty of a tiger, that "Christ be brought into the marketplace"? You When she passed a florist shop the burning of fire and the cold­ A FEELING have heard it said : "We have to make Christ relevant ness of snow, and saw the dark-red roses in the to people where they are!" Good. For better or worse, window, Sylvia pictured to herself the talkativeness of a magpie and the department store Christmas is where Americans are. just how it would be some day when the singing of a nightingale, TO BE And right in there is the Christ Child being as relevant someone would bring her such roses the falseness of a crane and the as relevant can be. faithfulness of a mother lion. LEARNED as a declaration of his love. If we try to dissociate Jesus from the grubby business Gone was the dream! H e was so of Christmas, we may "purify" him right out of the con­ by Walter Trobisch different. There was absolutely noth­ Mixing all these non-solid ele­ Liberating sciousness of our contemporaries. We would be left with ing exciting about him. When he ments together, the Creator created a theologically lucid image of Jesus carefully preserved had asked her for their first date she the woman and gave her to the man. danced and sang, how she looked within the four walls of our empty churches. Jesus was had prayed in her heart: " Please, After one week, the man came at me out of the corner of her eye not known for keeping himself untainted by contact with Lord, not him! H e's not the one I back and said: how she chatted with me and the ~ Christ the sordid and perverse. The job is not to get Christ want to marry!" . "Lord, the creature that you have snuggled close to me. She was so out of Christmas, but to get the real Christ the whole She had never been interested in given to me makes my li fe unhappy. beautiful to look at and so soft to Christ, into Christmas. More on that later. First consider technical things and that was his She talks wi thout ceasin g and tor­ touch. I liked so much to hear her another version of Christmas that some people would whole fi eld of interest, because he from ments me intolerably, so that I have laugh. Please give her back to me." like to get Christ out of. was a construction engineer. H e a!s0 no rest. She insists that I pay atten­ The Creator said: "All right " Unlike the Christmas of the commercial pitch, the was rather dull. No, he didn' t bnng tion to her all the time and so my And he gave her back. · other Christmas is soft and sweet and nostalgic. For the her roses. H e didn't bring her any­ Christmas commercial Christmas we like to blame the shopkeepers. hours are wasted. She cri es about But three days later, the man every little thing and leads an idle came back again and said: thing. H e just came a nd there he and they come in for a verbal whipping from ten thou­ was. sand pulpits each year. But this other Christmas of de­ life. I have come to give her back "Lord, I don't know - I just can't H e was so down to earth and so to you, because I can't Jive with her." explain it, but after all my experi­ by Richard Job11 N euhaus lusive sentimentality is our own handiwork. Consider the sober. The Creator said : " All right." ence with this creature, I've come silly things done in the churches: the elaborate and. for Not that he was without feeling. A nd he took her back. to the conclusion that she causes me the most pa.rt, tasteless decorations; the demeaning of ~ut just the expression of his feel­ After a week had passed, the man more trouble than pleasure. I pray God's angelic warriors by turning them into sexless fairies mgs irritated her. She couldn't rely came back to the Creator and said: t~ee, ~ake her back again! I can't or bouncing chernbs ; the "worship of the Christ Child," "Lord, my life is so emotv since T li ve with her!" upon them, because they could as though J esus never grew up to be murdered as an adult change so quickly. One minute he gave that creature back to you. T . The. Creator replied: "You can't iberating Christ from Christmas. The very sugges­ extremist but was caught in H erod's bloody scheme after always think of her - how she hve without her either!" was im petuous and enthusiastic and tion seems presumptuous. If he is C.hrist and Lord. all ; the semi-annual homecoming of faithless folk who the next he was as solemn as a stick. just adore the carol-sing on Christmas eve. And he turned his back to the as we say he is, we cannot do him any '.avors. When she longed for a tender word, L Wa lt ~ r Tr?bisch, also author of I Loved man and continued his work. But we can, for our sake more than his, honor .him, or a G irl, is a well-k nown speaker in he offered her a kiss instead , and " The man said in desperation: at least stop dishonoring him. One way to do this, some The R e v. Richard John N e11ha11s is a L11thera11 cler!!VllWll Europe, .the United States and Africa in the same breath talked about foot­ What shall I do? I can' t Ji ve with concerned churchmen argue, is to get C hrist out of the i11 Brookly n. H e is the autho r of 111 a 11 y articles and h ~ ; co - on questions of love and marriage. ball or his studies. 11 her and I can't Jive without her!" Christmas business. lrib11ted to a 111 1111 ber of books. 14 (Continued 011 page 35) December J 969 15 BAPTIST HERALD I~ this Christmas a more accurate statement of the churches. Perhaps, as is often suggested, we need to find Christ is not imprisoned in Christmas past. H e is the lib­ sp~ne:tinglin g sensation of listening to boy sopranos at Christ-event than the statement exhibited 1·n Mac ' · new symbols to communicate what we mean by Christ­ erated Lord calling us to the works of liberation. If d ? I · y s wm- ~idnight mass. Yet mystery is at the heart of it all. This ow. t is on!y more outrageous, for it is Christ in the mas, but equally urgent is taking more seriously the Christmas is to call men to new life, we must liberate is my~te ry , how the future of mankind came b awling into n a ~e ?f Chnst whereas the other is more candid) symbols we already have that say so much more than our image of Christ from the Christmas observances our history at a birth in Bethlehem. This is mystery, Chnst m the name of the dollar. Y we are ready to mean. "The startling truth," writes J. that are dominated by the forced cheer and seductive how that future keeps confronting us in the most unlikely L ast y~ar ~he pastor of a liberal Presbyterian church B. Philips, " must break over us afresh - that we live on nostalgia which are among the more pathetic forms of ways: through the blacks who are the Jews of our time; despair. t ~uch_e d m his Christmas sermon on the racist bigotry throuah students h · . . a visited planet." disguised b~ ~he kindly facade of his community. "We "' w o prove their love m resistance to our Recently a group of liturgical scholars invited social Let the churches refuse this year to hold Christmas wrong; through the peasants of V ietnam and the starved want our minister to speak on soci al questions " d 1 d scientists to discuss with them the possibility of develop­ services designed to play to the gallery of pagans who th h h' d. , ec are corpses on the streets of Calcutta. This is the mystery of e c urc s leaders, " but his timing was bad. will return at E aster to lunch on the hill of Calvary. We I~tre~se d our future that tl1 ·11 · · · t ing new symbols to communicate ideas such as incarna­ That sort of thing is not for Christmas " B f . h ' ey w1 surely n se to witness agams tion, redemption, resurrection, judgment. Sociologist Pe­ might even celebrate the Christ-Mass, the meal of com­ D . . · e air to t ese our P.O\~er , pride and indifference. m~n. . ecades o~ American Christmas piety taught them ter L. Berger remarked to the liturgists and theologians, munal commitment and hope, challengi ng the crowds w at is for Christmas. For Christmas this year - like This is the present mystery of Christmas revealing the not to admire the Christ Child but to follow the Christ. f uture · th ~ " You are frustrated because you feel you are not com­ p : ey wi· n come with him, dusty from' the roads of Church groups might well abandon their schedule of last year, and way on back to that little white clapboard 1 municating with people inside the church and out. But Ne:v E ngland ~h ap e l where Grandma went to meetin g a e: t~ne, of the Congo, of Brazil and of Indochina, a I suspect the problem is not one of communication so Christmas parties in the month of D ecember and let the isbthe charming bundle of religious sedative to softe; . rea h ost of the unkempt, joined by our own neighbors If austerity of the weeks of Advent p repare us for the won­ ~ m w om f ·1 d ~ much as it is of content. you know what you want to e ows of a hard world. The Christmas ceremon is r ,, we ai e to see " the m ystery of the incarna- say, I believe you will have gone a long way in finding der of Christmas hope. Let preachers surprise their mem­ the homage that unbeli ef pays to tradition y ~0 \ II T~ e aged who exhausted our compassion, the the symbols to say it." This sounds simplistic in a time bers who think they know what's for Christmas. What's God knows, it. is a har? world. And ~ e n will not t en .a Y ill we refused to understa nd the poor we de- when the conventional w isdom includes McLuhan's maxim for Christmas this year? The promise and challenge of ermmed not to notice , and should not, give up their suspicion that th . ' that the medium is the message. The fault is with the God's rule in justice and love. th· b ere 1s some- Christmas is t fi ct" . mg e_tter. We suspect we are meant to be more than . no n mg our place m the lovely tableau maxim. The question of truth cannot be evaded. The We liberate Christ from the perversions of Christmas o f a s11 e nt and h 1 · h '.""~ ~~e m a world that is more than it is. Quench that o Y mg t long ago Christmas is the mys- not by trying to take him out of C hristmas but by assert­ t ery o f G od' ·11 . ' Christmas medium may be beautiful, moving, poetic and in mt1on and we quench our humanity. The Ch . t And t h s wi m the present. Christmas is judgment. in some deeply felt sense "meaningful." But is it true? ing his lordship within Christmas. Why should we sur­ observance, for all its distortions speaks to our n s n:as o t ose who repent, Christmas is hope. That is, does what we say and do at Christmas reflect render this feast to the merchants of Main Street and to for th t " ,, ' yearning I can understand h · t a more. We cannot help but en' t1·c 1.ze and we from the or w .Y ~eop l e want to separate Chns our understanding of the universe in which we live, or is the spiritual tourists who crowd the churches twice a are tempte? to laugh at, the things we do at Christm call Ch . gy of exploitation and sentimentality that we it a seductively fanciful escape from the reality we think year? T hose who would serve Christ can challenge those B~ t there is something real there; to despise it is to ; s. We d 'tn shtm as · But h e w1·11 not Jet us separate h1m' . we know too well? N o revision of our observances will who would use Christ by demanding that merchants pre­ sp1se an a. uthentic . part of the human e xpen·e nce Thee- in it ~n k ave to keep Christ in Christmas. H e is already renew Christmas unless such revision grows out of the sent the full picture in their display windows. Negotiate prob) emat1c truth is that people do "find . . " . su es~r eeps. It will not even do, as one churchman and demonstrate to get the beatitudes posted alongside Christmas. meaning in daring premise that "Christ is indeed the Lord of all u a~ 'ft~ tr ~ n s fer our celebration of Christmas to J an­ things whether spiritual or material, heavenly or hellish." the shepherds, the cross behind the creche, Jesus' invitation 6 In their legitimate search for meaning people a not G, doh owing the eastern orthodox pattern. We can- Such a renewed feast is for grown up people. Christ­ to poverty beside the merchant's pitch for possessions. It couraged to look backwards. Christmas f . re en­ ' oh elp us, evade December 25 of Ameri ca J 969 . mas is for children, to be sure; but not so much for chil­ is not a bad thing if merchants wish to advertise the mes­ see d · d ' or instance H ere t e lordsh' f Ch . c h ·~~ ~s 1 ~e to recapture some lost innocence of brated 1P 0 n st must be asserted and cele- dren still gu llible enough to believe anything as for those sage of Jesus. But if they want to promote sales through or not at all. I oo . ut the truth of Christmas is not so much who have become as children in the fervor of their re­ the cult of divine babyhood, let them fin d another myth. "Christ is ind d h re~ e mbra n ce of things past as it is an a ntici ati on o~ d ares "of d ee t e L ord of all things " Luther de- sponse to the gospel of the Kingdom. H ere is no place Our job is not to deplore the presence of Christ in the things to come. As it is usually observed C hri~m a . and h'arlots g~~ ~~ d b ~ d , of a ~ ge l s and d e~ il s , of virgi ns for the cloying sweetness of fa iry tales and pretty choirs; commercial Christmas, but to help businessmen decide gaz i n~ int? the rear view mirror in o rd~ r to d e te :~ ~n: government · is Km.?dom is not an outward b ody or here is the startling news of God's becoming man to between presenting the whole Christ or no Christ. our d1rect1on. Such navigation is bound toward d' spiritual or ' yet .everything is subject to him, whether make all things new. This does not mean that our C hrist­ As for the tourists a t Christmas services, let them be Surely there. is. value in knowin g where we have b isaster. th at is h ll~ha t ~ n a l , heavenly or helli sh." There is much mas observance should be bereft of beauty or poetry. confronted by the pilgrims. If the churches ignored De­ the extent it illumin ates where we are o· Been, to manipulatie v is m our soci·e ty and, in its own evas·ive , It does mean C hristmas should be relentlessly honest. cember 2 5, we would miss this chance. N o doubt the gospel message is that paradise is not t; ~~g. ut the hellish e way, ~ur Christmas observance adds to the If what we say about the lordshi.P o~ Chris t i ~ ti:ue, television networks would produce their own miclniaht from the past bu t welcomed from the future recaptured ness. There is t "b . s delicately omitting references to the broken body, our observa a em le cruelty in suggesting, a we are compelled to stretch our imaginations to their hm­ m ~sses, We must turn around our celebration of Ch~i s tm W of life is to ~ ~efoduoes ~ u gge s t , that reli ef from the h o rror,~ its in order to capture its meaning and, failing to capture it, spilled blood and brutal death of the Christmas child. do not worship the child of memory nor even th as. e with ·t nd m an annual game of " Jet's pretend to break into poetry of sheerest praise. ~h e po:try of our If the churches declined, others would take the lead in ;abbi of the. cross, but the eternally ~ i sen Lord . e r~b el a th o~ sopf agea ~t s , tinsel and soft li ghts We sense the praise, however, is no escape from the immediate. That celebrating what they think is the C hristmas story, all P man s des · t I smoothly refined to offend the sensibilities of no one, to is our promised destiny. To be sure he can : ~ w om reality 'f perate effort to escape the bru a is, when we envision the fi elds of Bethlehem, we envision arated from that Palestinian sojourn , In h"mno II e. sep­ , 1 even for a s challenge no one, to save no one. the supreme f moment. Thus Christmas become them not so much as they were in the first century but past,. present, and future - holds to;ethe I Th a history east of d · · t Christmas is here to stay, at least for the foreseeable mas sanctua · espair. People leave our Chris - as they are under the mortar fi re of the twentieth. We th.e incarnation is the good news that ~ ~r . e ev~n t of ~utu re . It is a piece of culture religion. T he church's job cryin g m iste? by the beauty of it all. envision the trash strewn streets of Brooklyn, the bomb without purpose, that within our calendar i n s i d~ '. esc'. ~~es a ~?, d~~e ~s dn~t But they h b ~od , if life were only like that. scarred valleys of Vietnam, the political prisons of Gua­ 1s to make the ~e st of the feast, to reform it where possi­ relentlessly and mysteriously resent y . o is ave een tricked · · · · ·11 ted ble, to check its more outrageous perversions where world to receive his rule. p , prepanng our but not satisfi ed· h agam; their yearning t1t1 a f temala. 0 D o not sing the Christmas songs if in order to do so necessary. And don't worry abou t C hrist beincr mixed M t · bread. ' ungry people off ered stones instead " ys ery is a .word much used at Ch n.s t mas Th you must block out what is contemporary and unplea­ up in ~ hi s. Christmas b~si ness . He is already li b er~ ted. his mystery of the mcarnation " the m st . e It is the feast of d . sant. Do not praise the wonder unless you are prepared lordship 1s secure. His freedom is perfected in self-sur­ flickering on gothic walls, , the m ys~e re ryo~ f candlelight L ord of all th· ,, es pair unless "Christ is indeed the Christmas obseinrgs. The redemption of our prostituted to undertake the work the wonder demands. The Christ­ rendering involvement in the ambiguous affairs of man. songs to ancient tune. It is a much ab~sed psa~m~ and vances depe d . as- mas celebrated in song is not a magic moment of the past T he real issue this Christmas is whether we are liberated used to cover everything from the gr fwGor ' it gets sert and celebrate ti . n s . on our read mess to . by the same involvement. D ace o od to the changing wh at 1ed c 1a im of his lordship. T his requires to be retrieved, b ut the promise of a future to be reali zed. 0 16 we around C hristmas time in the December 1969 17 BAPTIST HERALD on the earth. Yet, many postulate cause of man's sin. As long as sin sphere floating through space. And cal struggle, we have lost sight of the human dimensions of the con­ that such a " balance of power" - or abounds, there will be "wars and then consider that the inhabitants of flict - of the passion, will, and suf­ "balance of terror," to be more pre­ rumors of wars," they say. I, of that planet spend 15 times more money on creating weapons to de­ fering of individuals which lies at ci_s~ - is the only trustworthy con­ course, do not dispute the reality of the roots of this war. d1tion of peace. man's selfish and sinful nature. But stroy each other than on efforts to We have failed to understand the But there is not true peace when I do take issue with those who re­ cooperate together for social and the threat of instant annihilation ject any responsibility for overcom­ economic improvement. Yet, 10,000 Vietnamese people and to sense their hangs over the head of the majority ing the obstacles to peace simply of its citizens die each day because true needs. And once having im­ posed military measures which have of mankind. There is no peace when because sin is a reality. That was they do not have enough to eat. The only escalated the violence, we have fear of destruction, rather than hope not the way of Christ. H e has not total wealth of those "developed" resisted any change in our action, for reconciliation, is the only force told us evil will ultimately triumph, parts of this world is broken down to and any admission of our misun­ Coming restraining the use of our arsenals and that we should resign ourselves an average of $2, 107 for each inhabi­ derstanding. of nuclear destruction. I reject the to such a fate. R ather, He asks that tant; yet, the total wealth of the re­ The war will cost us about $30 simplistic notion that peace is the we follow Him into the midst of man's mainder of the world equals only World billion this year, one out of every five absence of conflict. Peace is not turbulent world with His reconciling $182 for each person. tax dollars. Currently, we spend this merely stability or order. Rather, and redeeming love. R ecognizing the That is how we look from outside at the rate of about $950 per sec­ Peace pea~ e is fulfillment, harmony, satis­ existence of sin does not eliminate ourselves. And our Creator views ond. Most tragic, this war has ~a c t1 o n , understanding, and well-be­ our ma ndate to act as peacemakers. His world from this perspective. mg. Christ calls us to witness to His As long as such an unjust distribu­ .claimed the lives of more than 38,- and 000 Americans, 96,000 South Viet­ ~s long as there is deprivation, suf­ love through our lives. That witness tion of the world's resources persists namese, and 540,000 "enemy" Viet­ fenng, alienation, self-seeking, ex­ involves ministering to man when­ and continues to grow, as it is at Evangelism namese. Through our effort, then, ploitation ... there is no real peace. ever and wherever he is in need . present, we can never expect to be Christ's description of the Good Sa­ granted true peace on earth. more than half a million Vietnamese Peac~ can come only when needs have died because somehow, we be­ - physical and spiritual - are ful­ maritan provides us with valu able Living in a country that we some­ lieve they individually are our ene­ by Senator Mark 0. Hatfield filled ; for us, peace means far more insights into our responsibilities as how feel bears God's seal of ap­ my, and a threat to our nation. We than simply avoiding conflict. Christians. As we heal wounds, we proval, many of us as evangelicals continue to measure our success of In the Old T estament the Hebrew nurture peace. tend to discover these foes of peace Last December I had the privilege equity continue, isn't it plausible that these efforts by the brutalizing no­ word for peace is "Shalom." The We all know of those who suffer only in other people and nations. of visiting India. There are grave revolutionary pressures claimina al­ menclature of "killratios" - by full meaning is actually "wholeness, from deep personal needs - mean­ But Christ warns us about criticizing pr?blems fa cing that land, which to human dignity and comparing how many of the enemy ~ egia n ce e~ u a l- soundness, completeness." inglessness, emptiness, futility, es­ the speck in our broth_er's eye when holds one-fifth of humanity. One par­ 1ty may be related to the influence are killed for every American that Peace is a wholistic concept. It trangement, alienation, and lack of we ignore the plank in our own. ticular area of the country is of the Good News? dies. Christian compassion. I be­ entails the fulfillment of needs, love. These needs, when unfulfilled, In all candor, it is my conviction plagued by a minor, yet serious rev­ The relation between evanaelism lieve, cannot remain quiet when the 0 will frustrate peace. T hey will cre­ that this is precisely the case with olutionary movement. This is in the whether this be within a nation or and peace in the world is fa r more ate envy, bitterness and discord in our involvement in the Vietnam war. basic valu e and dignity of human northwestern frontier region, where within an individual. A true under­ complex and s ~imu l ati n g than many families and between friends; they Let us face this matter honestly. life is depreciated in such a manner. members of the Naga tribes have been standing of peace includes harmony of us would hke to believe. will sustain anxiety, turmoil, and Any discussion of peace today can­ This war has been brought into each in rebell ion against the central gov­ between nations, reconciliation be­ What is the true meaning of peace. despair at the core of one's life. Here not ignore the gravest, most destruc­ one of our homes. L iving in our ernment. When I went on to visit What do we mean - and what does ~we e n people, a nd the well-being of comfort-laden sanctuaries, we are individuals. is where the obstacles to peace have tive event that presently keeps our Thailand, I then became more thor­ our Faith teach - about this issue? world seething in violence and our spectators to this hatred, slaughter, T oo often we speak of world their beginning - in the individual oughly informed about the insur­ nations seething in unrest. It is my and death. Gradually, we become peace as though it were completely life that lacks fulfillment. gency that threatens the northeastern I. THE DIMENSIONS OF PEACE conviction that peace will not come insensitized to it all ; the nerves of section of that country. u~re_l a t ed to peace within nations, The love of Christ brings inner, to Vietnam as long as we persist in compassion that once caused us such I was fascin ated to learn that both . Some academic strategists and na­ within communities, within families, personal peace. T he gift of His applying military solutions to fun­ anguish so easily become numb. of these areas had experi enced the tional_ security advisers avoid even and within individuals. Spirit is the true resource for whole­ d amentally social, political, and cul­ Why should we - a nation found­ extensive influence of Christian mis­ ~pea~ in g about terms as vague and I~ _i s inconsistent, for example, for ness of personali ty. Then the task tural problems. ed by those seeking a New World sionaries. In my judgment, this is idyllic as "world peace." Rather a c1t1 zen to urge warrina nations to of peacemaking includes the call to 0 We intervened in what was essen­ blessed by God - now be bound perhaps more than coincidental. th ~~ would like to increase the prob ~ make peace if he li ves in hostility evangelism . tially a civil war, in my judgment, by "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a . T h_e Christian message of salva­ abili.t y of . a world " that mm1m1· . . zes toward his neighbors. It seems un­ Peace, however, is also frustrated tooth"? ~o the fruits of the Spirit tion mcludes the truth that all men th~ incentives for armed, violent so­ by unjust social conditions. In the having its origins in the desire of the reason.able to protest against vio­ - love, Joy, peace, patience, kind­ are equal and valuable in God's eyes. lutions to confl ict situations." In communities where we Jive, there Vietnamese people to rid their lence m. Vietna m by employing v i ~­ ness, generosity .. . and self-control ~Id_ cu~toms , social mores and class ?ther w~rd s , this means that if there lent tacti cs here at home. And it is are those who suffer from impoverish­ country of foreign domina tion and bring themselves independence and - do these h ave any relevance to d1stmct1on are dispelled. T he gods is anything one can call peace it hypocritical for a C hristian to claim ment, through no fault of their own, dignity. This cause has been con­ the concrete realities '""e face? t h_a~ freeze men in cycles of super­ means the absence of war or vioient ~ e has the peace of God in his heart despite the prosperity of our land. st1t1on. fear, and resignati on to fate c_onfhct. This, I suspect, is the no­ if he remains obli vious to the vio­ Consider the condition of our stantly frustrated, in ancient history by the Chinese, and in modern his­ Ill. GOD'S STRATEGY OF are _d ~~ troyed . Man is offered the t10 n _many of us share about the lence and destructi on in the world. World; but rather than looking a t our­ PEACE poss1b 1 l~ty of new life - with social meaning of peace. We also hear of selves from a limited terrestrial per­ tory by the French, the Japanese, and_ spmtual dimensions. So when how the " balance of power" is the ll. THE OBSTACLES T O PEACE spective, let us remove ourselves from the French again , and now by our We must always remember th t own involvement. But such a na­ social patterns of oppression and in- guarantee of peace. The United the confines of our earthly environ­ regardless of the c ircumstance tha States and the Soviet Union together When I discuss these matters with tionalistic determination can never Id . . h" s e ment. Picture our planet from out­ word' is m, . istory remains under . Mark

BAPTIST HERALD December 1969 19 through Christ has revolutionary plowshares, and their spears into and Christians must witness to the implications for our attitudes toward pruning hooks; nation shall not lift need for national repentance; that is, our fellow man. Again in Ephesians, up sword against nation, neither shall to turn from present ways unto the "H e has made a unity of the con­ they learn war any more" (Isaiah 2: "way of the Lord." flicting elements of J ew and gentile 4, Micah 4: 3). God's strategy is to by breaking down the barrier which For we who are Christians, then, bring this to pass; we do not know it is our basic responsibility to ex­ lay between us. H e . . . made in the time, but we know that He con­ himself out of the two, Jew and gen­ press the values and truths that we trols history and is moving it toward have acquired through our faith. tile, one new man, thus producing this end. peace. For he reconciled both to Further, we must attempt to implant IV. OUR MISSION OF PEACE them within the lives of others. God by the sacrifice of one body on Our responsibility is to bear wit­ We are called to be stewards of the cross, and by this act made ut­ ness to the love of God through our resources. Are we, as a nation, terly irrelevant the antagonism be­ Christ. This is a mission of peace, tween them. Then he came and utilizing our abundance in a way and we are under the call of God to that pleases God and seeks His pur­ told both you who were far from fulfill it. In this task, we must not poses for mankind? God and us who were near that the be bound by rigid categories of what AN The nation of Israel experienced war was over" (Ephesians 2: 14-17, is a spiritual message and what is a Phillips). situations similar to that of our own social action. land. In their quest for stability and In God's eyes, then, every indi­ Our task requires personal in­ power, they were often tempted to vidual is of the most infinite value. volvement in the world. We cannot trust in their military power as the AGNOSTIC God does not judge people as Amer­ abdicate our personal responsibility ultimate source of their security. Ho­ icans or Russians or Chinese; he to an institutional response. sea warned prophetically against this does not categori ze them according That, of course, includes churchly danger : "Because you have trusted to nationalistic, political, or ideologi­ responsibilities of preaching, edify­ in your chariots and the multitude AND cal labels. Christ has broken through ing, and instructing. But evange­ of your warriors, therefore shall the those barri ers. God views each per­ li sm - our message and mission as tumult arise among your people" son as His creation - as unique and Christians - is primarily an individ­ (H osea 10: 13-14). as infinitely valuable to Him, so val­ ual, rather than an institutional re­ The questi on is not whether we CHRISTMAS uable that He gave His son fo r each sponsibility. should have an army, but rather, it of them. Our faith calls us to seek God's is whether our trust rests solely in God's purpose is to bring all cre­ will for man and for the world. our military power as a means of ation into unity th rough Christ. As such, we must look at our own insuring our security and peace. The ingly true. Because religion is not a~ comfort, Christian­ In the Old Testament, the vis ion country - look at the values that Scripture does not condone such a 10 t of people who do not It is that time of year when a · d d f the ity, for instance, e.xpects you . to give up adultery and of God's final peace is clear. In are guiding ou r cu lture and ask h bout it get remm e o trust. normally worry muc a ' h . _ nd-Easter swearing and cheating your neighbor, and a lot of other Isaiah, for instance, as well as in whether they are true to God's will Thus, the mi ssion of peace can­ Christian religion. I don't mean th.efiCdnst~asc~ mfortable interesting human activities. It sometimes looks like a Micah, we are told of the day when and purpose. If not, they must be not be severed from the task of evan­ Christians because they are satis e an · kind of rough and gloomy life, particularly if you are al­ nations "shall beat their swords in to challenged wi th a prophetic word, gelism. Seeking peace requires wit­ , f h son. a oood wa 11 ow m with the sentimentality o t e sea ' C:, · fi them ready a little nervous and . t ~nse. There are obvious ad­ nessing to God's will , judging na­ "Silent Ni ht" or "Good King Wenceslaus sat1s es . vantages in a neutral pos1t1on. But then along comes tions, orienting one's life to the pur­ . . g h ill listen to Handel and again FOR CHRISTMAS GIVE THE until spring, when t ey w h I'd Christians. Christmas reminding one that just possibly something is BoptistHerold poses of His peace, influencing the f 1 I h I N r do I mean t e so I ee vague y o Y· 0 d d delight in the being said and if you're not listening you might never get A cord will be sen t announcing your gift. A form is thinking of the public, action in l?ve Christmas to them is a just rewar an over feeling alone and sad ... . provided below for your convenience. towards our neighbors, and proclaim­ pageant of their year. . h ti e in- Another insidious thing for the agnostic is that at ing the power of Christ to remake hu­ . d f ople you m1g t ca11 1 Baptist Herold One year I do mean the km o pe of them Christmas there is emphasis on warmth and love and 7308 Madison St. Individual man life according to the "fulness I . . tics There are more te lectual Chnstian agnos · . h . the councils of one gaiety. Christmas turns you to watching children who Forest Pork, Ill. 60130 Subscription: $3.50 of Christ." than you think, some of them hig ~nth ear their rela­ take to it naturally without any doubts, and who think We cannot protect the status q~o. the whole idea sounds pretty good. A child sees only the following Gift Subscriptions: We know that peace is not stat.Jc. ~eno~ in a ti o n or another. Throt~ost i ~riia t es them; and t1onsh1p to God them, its retelling of the fan­ delight in the Christmas story. So perhaps the Christmas The Christian must realize that the bothe~s a~ name . __ new 0 renewal 0 then along comes Christmas adn 'd hether they believe message to the tempted agnostic is the hope of recov­ impact of his message challenges a n~ t as t'1 c story an d th e y have to ec1 fe w long time ITTown- ering and sharing that childlike joy and faith. address .... questions things as they are, an 0 it or not They are reminded that or a b . For instance, take this Christmas drawing by a six year claims that new li fe is possible. up intelligent men have accepted that God was orn m a new 0 renewal 0 old girl. It is a sort of disorganized angel. I seem to re­ :/ norne -· So we go forth into the world s~e­ · 't then they are sup- 1 stable, and that if they also beheve I '. new life as a member that one is supposed to hold the cross in the • f'I ing new possibilities - grasping address posed to act in certain ways and to live a · right hand, not the left, .and anyho:v, this angel's grip is v (print names and addresses cl early) God's vision of what H e can do. We " . That is what makes these agnostics un- insecure; she may very likely drop 1t. Her hair is a little have the certain hope that H e can w1 tness". . . . . h ti beauty and solace '" comfortable, because along wit 1e . ders of the re- messed up and there's some question about those winos. Gift cord to be signed as followS: impart new life - new li fe to indi­ But the important thing is that smile. I think it has ~o viduals, to nations, and to all cre­ of the story and the season, come remm your name amount enclosed $ be called a successful drawing, saying to a lot of us seri­ sponsibilities of Christians. . · t choose not ati on. That hope is based in the 1 ous, troubled doubting Thomases, "Remember. being an your address Risen Christ. All hi story is consum­ Your good kind thoughtful agnostic m1 g 1 d bl'nd- , , ·r . uddenly seeme i angel can be fun." D ~ mated in Him. He is our Peace. D to embrace the story even 1 it s 20 BAPTIST HERALD December 1969 21 but thought-provoking devotional by use of these stamps which you have must be a natural response to Christ, our president, Mrs. Herbert Hiller, the given so generously. not to please the teacher or parent. group had an unbroken chain of The WMU Executive previewed the A child can understand that he has a prayer which caused our hearts to White Cross fi lmstrip "Unto the Least need (Romans 3 : 23), that Jes us is the beat as one. of These." We realized anew how this IDSiUhl way to meet that need (John 3: 16), Each morning as we gathered around labour of love and concern is the con­ a nd that he must personally ask Jesus the conference table at 9 o'clock, the necting link that keeps us as NAB wom­ to do so (Revelation 3:20). Prolong­ tone for the day was set with a devo­ en communicating with those who are ing an emotional appeal or frightening tional thought and a prayer for guid­ yet without Christ on our mission into the children with hell is not appropriate. ance under the leadership of Mrs. Er­ fields. A personal experience r.est Hoffman, Mrs. Walter Stein and The WMU publications were dis­ Mrs. Adam H uber respectively. Thus, cussed at great length. Noteworthy It should be a personal experience. It is easy for children to respond en by Mrs. Herbert Hiller as our busi ness meeti ng was called to is the excellent work the editors have Christian order, we looked to the day with a done to provide inspirational and in­ masse. The wise teacher will avoid challenge. The work of the past year formational reading materials for us. giving an invitation which will result was reviewed as the various reports To have a wider circulatio n of the in group pressure. If several teachers were given by each executive mem­ same, the "We, the Women" colum n Ed canon a re available, they can be waiting in Mrs. John Wobig is givin g the report ber, and by Mrs. Evelyn Pyle the wi ll be extended to a full page in the separate rooms where interested chil­ on our recent Executive Committee WMU office secretary, and Mrs. Viola BAPTIST HERALD. Special silver cover dren can seek them out. The leader se.ssion. She has served faithfull y Nelson the office White Cross sec­ editions are being used to note the Children As Christian parents and teachers, we can ask children to come to her after with her husband during the 35 years retary. We were also given helpful observance of the 25th year of need to be aware of the importance a service is dismissed. T he sensitive of D r. John Wobig's ministry to three suggestions and assistance by our Ex­ publication of the BROADCAST and are of the first seven years of a child's life. teacher is aware of the subtle cha nge of our churches in Wausau, Wis. , St. ecutive Secretary, the Rev. G. K. UNSER AUFTR AG. The program Psychologists tell us that a child's .char­ in a child who is seriously considering Paul, Minn., and Portland, Oreg. She Zimmerman and other members of the packets continue to be an invalua ble Natural acter has been largely shaped by the the claims of C hrist. She can seek out the child after a meeting, or arrange has always been keenly interested and Executive Staff, which were sincerely source for program pla nning. All time he reaches school age. It is time active in the various mission societies appreciated. women are urged to use these program Believers for Christians to take advantage of this for a later visit when it will be possible and capably fi lled the position of p r es i ~ materials. fact. to complete the work begun during a dent of the Northwestern and Pacific T here a re only I 0 months left to Scripture teaches that spiritual things class session. WMU's, as well as being by Ervin Gerlitz Con~e r e nce reach our $90,000.00 goal project. are spiritually discerned ( 1 Cor. 2: 14, Understanding is essential president of the Oregon Baptist Women. T hrough sacrificial givmg, we will Rom. 8: 5) . T his is also true for chil­ Even in their recent retirement years again be able to have the joy of bring­ It should be a clear decision. The It was New Year's day. We were en­ d ren. T hey can spend years in Sunday the Wobigs are serving churches in an ing the message of salvation to a needy school learning Bible stories and spiri­ child should be questioned to deter­ joying a quiet holiday. The children interim capacity. They have two daugh­ world. tual truths wi thout being given an op­ mine his motives. If there is an ob­ were playing with their Christmas toys; ters and one son who is a doctor. All T he next 1970 General Conference portunity to respond to Christ as their vious lack of understanding, the child Mother and I were talking about our are active in the Lord's work. Women's activities co-ordinator, Mrs. personal Savior. Is it possible to pro­ should not be encouraged to think he Christi a n faith. Suddenly, our five year Her many acquaintances and con­ Walter Stein, gave a detailed account mote spiritual growth before there has has made a decision. A child should old daughter announced, "Mommy, I be encouraged to pray in h is own tacts_ within our denominati onal family of preparations being made for the been a spiritual birth? Jesus was dis­ want to be a Christian." After some words as a part of his salvation deci­ qua li fy Mrs. Wobig for the position of Mrs. John Wobig (I. to r.), Mrs. women's luncheon a nd missionary tea pleased because His disciples refused to sion. Some of the most thrilling ex­ Nominating Committee chairman for Henry Fluth, Mrs. Willy Herke, M rs. whi ch a re being planned for the Con­ gentle questi oning, we felt that she was give children the dignity of being hu­ periences we have had have been the our Woman's Missionary Union at the Adam Huber, M rs. Paul Kohman, Mrs. ference at W innipeg. Pla n now to join able to make a decision for Christ. man beings. "Let the children come to beautiful, simple and sincere prayers of next General Conference in Winnipeg. Elton Kirstein, Mrs. Herbert Hiller, us for a time of spiritual blessings After prayer our seven year old son me! Do not stop them, because the children. Her committee consists of the nine Mrs. Charles Lit/man, Mrs. Ernest Wal­ and Christian fellowship. said, " I want to be a Christian, too." kingdom of God belongs to such as After careful questioning to determine regional confe rence WMU presidents. ter Stein. These all served on the The WMU executive committee ses­ these" (Mark I 0 : 14 TEV). Follow-up work is equally important. his motives, we knelt once again and ~l ease. support them with your prayers W.M.U. Executive. sions adjourned at 4 p.m. on Friday Adults often assume that a child is Try to meet with children a week or m their great responsibility. asked the Lord to come into his heart. two after their decision. Give the child a~te r many hours of study and pla n­ unaware and unaffected by his environ­ Mrs. Wobig shares with you some That was twelve years ago.. T here a booklet such as First Steps by C hild With grateful hearts we praise God mng to make our Woma n's Mission­ ment. A mother in a troubled home facts and thoughts as she observed our for the fai thfulness of the women who ha ve been some severe testings of such remarked that her little son "doesn't Evangelism , The Way by Wayne Leitch, business sessions. ~ r y U nion effective in every phase of have given so generously of their ti me, its outreach. young faith, but we can joyfu ll y affirm know what's going on." What a tragic or M y Personal Commitment work­ as we look back that this was the be­ book by Billy Graham Evangelistic As­ money and effort for the cause of mis­ Many of us do not realize the count­ mistake! How often Christi an parents Report on W.M.A. ginning of a salvatio n experience. We sociation. Teachers should be instructed sions. During the past year four ship­ less hours the members of the execu­ have cause to lament about their twelve, Executive Committee meeting shall always be grateful that God to give special e ncouragement to these me_nts of White C ross materials, a net tive committee give to the advancement fourteen or sixteen year old, "We by Mrs. John Wobig open the hearts of our children at a children. Do not urge little children weight of 35,153 pounds were sent to of our WMU program . I, for one, started too late!" T hey didn't realize tender age and gave us as parents .the to be baptized. Cameroon. Some WMU groups ac­ have seen them at work and have a that their casual religious li fe when It was a delightful a nd enli ghtening gr eat joy of leading them to the Savior. expenence for me to meet with the cepted special projects above their deeper appreciation for the service their children were pliable had left a Let love be genuine assigned quotas to furnish bed li nens WMU Executive committee at our they render not only to the NAB The first seven years permanent impression. curtains and drapes for the Belo, B a ~ Children can quickly detect whether He~dqua rte rs in Forest Park, Ill. , for women but to Christ their Lord a nd menda, and Victoria Rest Houses, the C hildren are natural believers. It is A natural experience or not we are interested in them as their annual meeting from Sept. 30 Saviour. Let us r e~1 e m b e r them in both a profound responsibili ty and j~y­ individual persons. If we can love a to Oct. 3. Belo Maternity Ward, a nd the Leprosy Leading a child to Christ is easy! If a nd . General Hospital in Mbingo. prayer as they carry out their duties ful privilege to have the oppo:tumty the Gospel truth is presented lovingly, child, we will find an eternal soul as The first evening was set aside for which we have entrusted to them. T he to infl uence an impressionable child fo r well as an unspoiled life open to the a time of fellowship. Each one present Ladies, do you realize how much one simply and clearly, m?st children w i~l two or three pages of a book of S & Apostle Paul says, " I can do all things C hrist. Measured by eternity's values, be responsive. For this very reason it Lord Jesus Christ. sha:ed some of the blessings a nd ex­ through C hrist who strengtheneth me." there is probably no service mo_re re­ penences they had during the past H Green Stamps can mean to help is important that the child's salvation The teacher or parent will find As we commit our lives to Christ His warding than the m inistry to children. year. _We realized anew how God s ~ppl y some of the needs on our mis­ experience be natural, personal and ab­ many helpful suggestions in the book­ sion fi eld? A large supply of bed li n­ promise is "Greater W orks Shall Y e let, Explaining Salvation to Children works m _and through us as we com­ Do!" solutely clear. It should be a natural ens, towel sets, blankets, thermos jugs, -The R ev. Ervin Gerlitz is pastor of experience. We should not urge or by Marjorie Soderholm , Beacon P ubli­ mit our lives to Him. After a brief etc., were made avail able through the the Sierra Heights Baptist Church, pressure for decisions. The decision cations. O Mrs. John Wobig, Portland, Oregon 22 Renton, W ash. 23 BAPTIST HERALD December 1969 tunes of the nations of his day were to a train crossing shorted out, it would I. GOD'S SON COMES FOR BAP­ BETWEEN THE TESTAMEN TS WORLDS RIPENED FOR THE MES­ INTRODUCTION. Jesus was born (Dec. 14, 1969) be greatly altered (Isa. 7: 15-17) . be the duty of a by-passer to alarm TISM. Matt. 3: 13-15. John the SIAH'S COMING. Luke 2: 1-3. The in a barn. To recreate this scene it Scripture: Ps. 119:1-8; Luke 2:1-3 The manner in which this fits into a truck driver that a train was round­ Baptist had denounced sin and had Roman government controlled the po­ would be proper to hold Christmas the context of Matthew chapter one is ing the bend. announced doom for sinners. The THE CENTRAL THOUGHT. The litical fortunes of the day. This in­ Eve services among the smell and agricultural surroundings provided an quite clear. God spoke one message III. JOHN PROCLAIMED REVIVAL. events of the lnter-Testamental Period sured that there would be a time of sounds of the cows and horses on a illustration of judgment ( 3: 12). The for King Ahaz's day. But this same Matt. 3: 11-12. The One who was to prepared the way for Christ's coming. unrivaled peace. A system of roads farm. The glittering stars made of tin farmers of that day commonly tossed eased the travel of early missionaries. passage possessed an additional (or replace John would provide God's INTRODUCTION. Following the foil a nd the shiny rayon bathrobes the grain into the air so that the chaff A postal system permitted more di­ double) interpretation. Under divine Spirit to empower their lives, John as­ Jews' retum to Jerusalem, the Greeks would be replaced by ancient lanterns would be fanned out by the breeze. rect communication between different inspiration this sequel explanation is serted. The Presence of the Holy Spirit became the new world power by con­ and rags and gunny sacks. Perhaps, Then the priceless wheat would be sepa­ churches. The Greek language pro­ uncovered by the New Testament. Un­ is almost a secret to modern Chris­ quering the Persians. Alexander the sitting on a cold, dirty flo or, the a udi­ rated and stored, but the worthless resi­ vided a universal tongue with which hesitatingly, the New Testament asserts ti ans. According to the manner in G reat swept into control and spread ence then would grasp some of the due would be destroyed. to converse. Large urban centers grew that Christ fulfilled Isa. 7: 14 in the which they occupy their time, it would the G reek culture and language humility of God which was revealed But Jesus was holy (Luke 1: 35 ). up around bustling seaports where New T estament era by being born of appear that they trust in other things throughout the Mediterranean. After when He lowered Himself to provide John could not understand of what sins trading ships anchored. The spread of a chaste woman. rather than in God's working. Pro­ Alexander died, the Egyptians and for our redemption. Jesus had to repent. Why should Jesus the Roman army throughout the Med­ QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION grammed publicity plans, specialized Syrians took turns dominating Pales­ be baptized? Jesus' reply was that this iterranean world established a common I. GOD CAME TO BE WITH US BY 1) Is there any difference whether one filing services, professional financial tine. During this time Antiochus was necessary to complete righteous­ MEANS OF A VIRGIN. Matt. 1: l , asserts the Virgin Birth of Christ or Epiphanes, a Syrian leader, sacrificed a ness. H e wanted to demonstrate that 18-21. Christ did not have a human the Virgin Conception of Christ? pig (unclean) upon the altar in the He was identifying H imself with men. father. This view has been supported 2) List the fundamental doctrines Jewish Temple. Such outrageous acts Thus, as a perfect offering, He could by J. Gresham Machen who has written which would be affected if the Virgin produced the revolt by the Maccabee a classic volume defending the Virgin die for us. brothers. Finally the Roman ge neral, Birth were not true. Birth of Christ against the Form II. GOD'S SON IS ACCR EDITED. Pompey, conquered the land just prior Cri tics. How can the average layma n GOD'S HERALD Matt. 3: 16-1 7. Jesus taught that God to the first coming of Christ. make up hi s mind about such scholarly (Dec. 28, 1969) is the Father of all who follow Him. questions? The answer is that a per­ I. BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12 The parable of the Prodigal Son a nd son's ger.eral theological position ofte n LEGAL TRADITIONS WERE RE­ THE CENTRAL THOUGHT. As a the Lord's P rayer contain evidences to VERED. Ps. 119: 1-8. The religious determines the way in which he will final preparation for Christ, John d~­ support this idea. Somehow God may worl d into which Jesus came empha­ interpret a specific passage of Scrip­ clared that true religion affected ones be Father to human beings. sized the law. Though the Jews fi nall y ture. For instance, if one rejects the attitude and actions. But in today's lesson the idea of gave evidence that they had overcome reli abi lity of the Bi ble or if one dis­ Father and Son has a higher meaning. the tendency toward idolatry, a new counts the possibility of a miracle be­ INTRODUCTION. There had been a It concerns the Son and the Father who monster reared its head. Their awe of fore the evidence is considered , then prophetic silence for about four hun­ alone knew one another in this special Scripture advanced to the place of wor­ obviously there can be no acknowledg­ dred years. During this period. the intimate acquaintance (Luke 10:22). shiping its interpretations. Dead legal­ ment of the Virgin Birth. However, scribes had studied, taught a nd inter­ In fact, it is said that "as the Father ism replaced idol worship. The Phari­ if one feels that Christ was a sinless preted the Law and the Prophets. But hath life in himself; so hath he given sees exemplified this emphasis upon Substitute, then there is no hesitation no fresh word from God had broken to the Son to have life in himself" (John human tradition. They exalted the cultural bond which promoted the to accept the d irect statement such as the hush - until the voice of John the drives, tape recorders and mimeograph 5: 26). We should grant the Son equal learned opinions of great teachers to civilizing process. The increasing Ro­ M ~ tt. I : 18 which provid es supporting Baptist erupted. H e was a colorful, machines are lifted out of their places honor with the Father (John 5 :23). evidence. the point of absurdity (Matt. 23:4) . man skepticism concerning the G reek uncompromi::; ing figure. as instruments of service to become The application of this is that the In contrast, the Sadducees opposed gods created a religious vacuum into The details of this story back up the I. JOHN PROCLAIMED REPEN­ ends to attain. In the next endeavor, doctrine of the Trinity is more than just these legalists. They advocated com­ which Christianity could burst. conservative viewpoint. Joseph was TANCE. Matt. 3: 1-6. The piercing why not try consciously concentrating the logical reasoning of scholars. The promise with the Roman rulers. With In all of these human factors, the read y to divorce Mary. It required a cry of John the Baptist now shattered on the nearness and working of God? Scriptures specifically interpret who this supernatural message to thw<.rt his in­ regard to doctrine they rejected im­ power of the Holy Spiri t is not deni ed . the silence of the Intertestamental Pe­ QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION Jesus is. He is the unique, only-begot­ mortality, the resurrection, and the ex­ tenti on and to soothe hi s alarm. Rather it was by His superintendence riod. H e declared that fin al prepara­ I ) H ow many synonyms for repen­ ten Son of God. istence of a ngels and spirits. Various that these conditions ripened in the The second point is that this is not ti ons were being concluded (Isa. 40:3; tance can you name? III. GOD'S SON IS ANNOUNCED. radical groups developed in reacti on to world that woul d reject and then li sten only a virgin birth but also a virgin Mal. 3 : 1). The Messiah was about to 2) Was it unkind to label the Pharisees John 1: 32-36. The divine signal was these dominant groups such as the to the Savior. con7eption (a baby conceived by a be unveiled. H e coupled this informa­ a "brood of vipers"? given and the Spirit descended upon Zealots. They advocated violent over­ v1 r g ~n ). T his means that the genesis of QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION tion with a demand that the people 3) Have you had an experience that Jesus in the likeness of a dove. throw of the Roman establishment. Christ and not merely the delivery­ I ) What are exam ples of legali sm in individually be ready to give Him a you would identify as bei ng baptized Also there were the Essenes who iso­ experience was of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, we discover through this ex­ our churches today? proper reception. They needed t ~ ad­ by the Holy Spirit? O perience, is Lord. If H e had immedi­ lated themselves in communi ti es away This teaching is an im portant corollary mit the wrongs they had committed, from where all this action was. As­ 2) List various ways in which the ately retired to heaven after He arose to the doctri ne of the pre-existence of feel regret for their actions and th~ n ceticism. marked by self-denial, labor, world was prepared for the coming of GOD'S BELOVED SON out of the water we would still know Christ, His role in the c reation of the reverse their pattern of living. To sig­ and purity, comprised their chief pur­ Chri st (religion, politics, culture ). (Jan. 4, 1970) His identity. He is the one who bap­ world, and His native Being as Deity nify this change of heart John bap­ suit in life. The famous Dead Sea 3) What part did God play in these (Col. 1 ). Scripture: Ma11 . 3:13-17; John 1 :32-36 tizes with the Holy Spirit. His is the ti zed them in the Jordan R iver. Scro lls were preserved because of their preparatory events? What role is H e CENTRAL THOUGHT. At the begin­ exalted Name to which every knee shall II. "GOD W ITH US" FULFILLED efforts. pursuing in our day? II. JOHN PROCLAIMED RETRIBU­ ni ng of His ministry Jesus was approved bow. T his means that He is the one PROPHEC Y. Matt . I :22-25. T he TION. Matt. 3:7-10. John declared by the Father as our Leader. His cre­ who call s the signals. He maps the II. BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS simple fact is that Isa. 7: 14 was spoken THE POLITICAL AND CULTURAL that God in righteous d ispleasure over dentials were publicized. route. He programs the computer as GOD W ITH US lo King Ahaz as a sign - in spite of · s ay ob- far as our C hristi an lives are con­ s111 will punish rebels. ome m INTRODUCTION. T he start of our (Dec. 21, 1969) that ki ng's stubborn refusal to seek ject to this thought on the basis that cerned. These /esso11.1'. prepared by 1h e R ev. one ( Isa. 7: I 0- 14). Therefore the new year coincides with the beginning Scrip/lire: Matthew 1:1, 18-25 1't may scare people mt· o h ea ven · But Jam ~'.1· Schacher. S1a[/ord. Kanrns are birth of a c hild was somehow to be a of Christ's Publ ic Ministry. We know QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION based on lmemariona/ Sunday School THE CENTRAL THOUGHT. Christ if a father on vacation in the mou~ ­ message to Ahaz in his time. The very little about H is older chi ldhood 1) Describe the impressions you ex­ Ourlines. Copyrighred by the lntema­ came to us in a miraculous manner, tains with his fa mily fail ed to warn .his meaning of this sign to Ahaz was that and youth. But He e m~rged from_ ~b­ perienced when you were baptiztd. tional Council of Religious Education, fulfill ing the O ld Testament and pre­ children about the danger of g e.ltln ~ scurity in conne7tion with the activity 1964. before the child was old enough to 2) What would Peter have blurted out serving the sinlessness of His Deity. lost in the forest he would be neghgen of John the Baptist. if he had been present? O make moral decisions the poli ti cal for- in his duty. Or ' if a n electric signal at 24 25 BAPTIST H ERAL D December 1969 INDEX INDEX FEATURE ARTICLES Evangelism The Challenge of Building New Churches in Japan, by Yukio Hanazono, January I issue. North American Baptist Seminary People Helping People, by llert Uraun, August Common Sense and the Christian Calling, by Millions on the March, by W. C. Fields, J anu· page 6. issue, page 16. Charles Kiker, April 15 issue, page 6. Africa ary I issue, page 24. X cw :'l!issionaries Renee! on Their Task, by Se~inary Celebrates Accreditation, January 15 MAP - A Spark Becomes a F la me at South The \\'omen Called to Serve, by Arnold Rapske Witnessing Opportunities as a Nurse, by Patricia God's Volunteers Team I Reports, by Ginny Van Wilfred W. Weick, January I issue, page 7. ISSUC, page 15. Canyon Baptist Church, by :'l!eh·in L. \Var­ and J. Walter Goltz, April 15 issue, page 7. Meinerts , January 15 issue, page 10. Kirk, January I issue, page 14. A M acedonian Call, by Tomokuni Aoki, J anuary Presenting the 1969 Graduates, by Frank Veninga, kentin, September I issue, page 11. Who Should Be Ordained, by \Verner \Vaitkus Baptists on the Air, by Harold Lang, August Witnessing Opportunities on My ~ampus, by I issue, page 8. March 15 issue, page 6. Whose Shall Those Things Be? by Arthur Doy· April 15 issue, page 8. ' issue, page 4. Mary Beth Ross, Mark Rozelle, Bill KaufTeldt Ts the Missionary Outdated H ere? by Kenneth Seminary Appoints Miller and Long to New mook, :\o,·cmhcr 15 issue, page 6. Program of the NAB Family Conference, April The Gebauer Baptist Church, by David C. Jennell M auch, January 15 issue, page 4. ' S. Roundhill, January I issue, page 9. Positions, i\!arch 15 issue, page 14. 15 issue, page 1 O. Ghogomu, August issue, page 5. Winning Persons to Christ, by Daniel Fuchs ls This the Turning Point? January I issue, N A.B Seminary Apppoints Breitkreuz, April 15 Problems of the Christian Life by T. B. Maston, The Parable of the White Cross Talents, by Janu>ry 15 issue, page 19. ' page 11. issue, page 18. Thanksgiving April 15 issue, page 17. ' Ardicc Ziolkowski, August issue, page 6. God's, Volunteers Team I Reports , by Ginny Van An Open L etter, by Rev. and Mrs. Hisashi Dr. ~!oody ~ddresscs Seminary Convocation, by Thanksgiving in Canada, by J. W. Goltz, October Problems of the Christian Life - Death with Kirk, February I issue, page 14. 26 Graduate from BBTC at NDU, Cameroon, :'l!urakami, February 15 issue, page 14. Richard J..:almbach, July I issue, page 32. I issue, page 4. Dignity, by T . B. .Maston, May I issue, page August issue, page 10. \Vinning Persons to Christ, by Daniel Fuchs Japanese Youth in Search of a Master, by Seminary Commencement Activities Cited as 14. February 15 issue, page 6. ' Gratitude, the Rare Virtue, by Robert Hess, The Frcitags Appointed to Serve in Cameroon, F lorence Miller, June I issue, page 10. "Great Experience," by Hans J. \Vilcke, Xo\'crnber 15 issue, page 4. A View of the Sunnyside Nursing Home and by Richard Schilke, August issue, page 12. God'~ Volunteers T eam II Reports, by Joyce 70 is the Year to Sec Japan, by Richard May· August issue, page 15 . Bapist Haven of Rest, May 15 issue, page 12. Meet the Fifth Team of Short Term Missionaries, G1edt, February 15 issue, page 8. forth, June I issue, page 12. 8th Annual Seminary Retreat, by l\!rs. Darwin How to be a Popular Tourist, by T erese H. Hagemann, June I issue, page 7. by Richard Schilke, September I issue, page 4. The Dynamics of Pauline Evangelism, by Gerald To Serve God by Serving J\!an, by Richard Stahl, :'.\'ovember 15 issue, page - V acation L. Borchert, March I issue, page 6. Reconciliation Through Christ, by Josef l\ordcn· New Library Dedicated at the BBTC in ~DU, Schilke, October I issue, page 8. You Can Help Direct Students to the Seminary, 15 Ideas for a Spiritually Satisfying Vacation, haug, June I issue, page 13. by George W. Lang, September I issue, page Evangelizing the Post·Christian Man, by George Scn.se of Mission an~ Concern, by Richard Sch· hy Uonald :'llillcr, C\ovcmbcr 15 issue, page 9. 8. Bc.u ley·Murray, J\!arch I issue, page 12. 1lke, October 15 issue, page 17. June I issue, page 5. Tributes to Dr. Albert Brctschneider, by G. K. Zimmerman, Arthur R. \V eisser, Frank Ven­ Cameroon Choir to Sing in America, by Richard God's Volunteers Team I, by Geneva Van Kirk Chr_istmas in J apan, by Lucille \Vipf, December Schilke, ] unc I issue, page 8. March 15 issue, page 3. ' issue, page 6. Obituaries of Pastors inga, June I issue, page 18. 7 The Dynamics of Pauline ~vangelism, by Gerald War and Peace \\ o men Come to Green L ake, by J\Irs. Everett L. Brochcrt, March 15 issue, page 4. Lower, Rev. Frederick Y., January 15 issue, Barker, June I issue, page 25. page 23. The Christian and the State, by George Ladd, Baptists \Vinning Per.sons to Christ, by Daniel Fuchs, Tribute to Re,·. Connie Salios, by Daniel Fuchs March 15 issue, page 11. Journalism Baumbach, Rev. Louis Da,·c, March I issue, :'l!ay 15 issue, page 4. June I i'5ue, page 26. ' A Brief History of the Baptist World Alliance page 23. Peace by Christian Liie Commission, Southern 1 Gcner~ I ~ouncil Sets X!'w Goals With Daring by Cyril E. Bryant, February I issue, page 11'. Canned Faith, by Carol Siegrist, April I issue, Cliches: How to Confuse and Alienate Your Baptist Convention, May 15 issue, page 7. page 10. Reader, by Lillian Harris Dean, N O\-ember Schmitt, Rev. William E., April I issue, page 23. Faith in God and His People, July I issue, Xorth. American Baptist Fellowship News, l\larch I issue, page 5. Darroch, Dr. Maurice A., April 15 issue, page 23. Bra,·e ll!en - Li\'ing and Dead, by Karl A. page 8. I ISSUC, page 24. God ' ~ Volunteers .Team JI Reports, by J oyce Olsson, :l!ay 15 issue, page 9. G1cdt , Apnl I issue, page 19. Drctschneider, Re,·. Albert, July I issue, page 31. :'l!y Country ! R ight - Wrong? by Glen H. Baptists in Eastern Europe Thrive Under D is· Faith in a Stress Situation, by John \ V. Kelly, Asquith, July I issue, poge 16. crimination, May 15 issue, page 14. God's. Volunt~ers T ~am I Report, by Geneva Van Itterman, Rev. Gottlieb, October I issue, page 23. :'l!ay 15 issue, page 11. Kirk, Apnl IS issue, page 19. Nigeria A Sojourn in Sheba-Land, by Laura Reddig, 1esscr, Rev. Albert, October 15 issue, page 23. Coming \\'orld Peace and E,·angelism, by :'lfark August issue, page 8. God' s. Volunteers :ream I Reports, by Geneva Van The J\!ambilla W itness, by W. D. Gutowski, Ha tfield, December issue, page 18. Kirk, l\Iay I issue, page 13. Richter Accepts Adult Ministr)', by Bruce A. Bible September I issue, page 6. Rich, August issue, page 11. \Vinning P~rson s to Christ, by Daniel Fuchs Pastoral Ministry Bible Teaching in the Home, by Lorimer Potratz, May 15 issue, page 19. • Harsch Appointed New Co·Director of God's September 15 issue, page 6. Salaries and t he ~'!inisterial Crisis, by Gerald Youth Volunteers, by Daniel F uchs, August issue, Committed .to Evangelism, by Gerhard Schroeder, page 17. June I issue, page 14. 1970 General Conference Borchert, February 15 issue, page 9. CBYF: A Challenge for Our Churches, by Leo N.A.B. Churches' Contributions for April I, 1968 Southwestern Co~fcrcnce Pastors and Deacons Program Plans for the 1970 General Conference, l Can A!Tirm the Pastoral Ministry, by Richard Reck, Jr., January 15 issue, page 7. Brazil L. Keach, March 15 issue, page 8. to March I, 1969, September I issue, page 12. Stage E.'·angehsm Laboratory, by Bill Cowell by Donald Miller, October 15 issue, page 4. Contemporar)' Youth M issue, page A T n~ute to Our Mother, by Rubin Kern May n!Ap S ' 111· . . Powell, July I issue, page 6. 1 issue, page 10. ' b trengthens Stakes and Enlarges 1 1111stnes, 12. Y E ldon Schroeder N o,·ember I issue, page 7. A '[fributc_ to a Father, by Herman Palfenier, ~ Problems of the Christian Life - Dh·orce and CtiUCl\L~ " ay I issue, page 11. . t;\f-s1.ooo,ooo- \\·il1 \\'e Reach It? by Sin, by T . B. Maston, March 15 issue, page Inventory Day for Dad, May I issue, page 11. Vcrctt Barker, April 1 issue, page 13. 13. When to Stop Praying, b y Jack Scott, April WIT ti issue, page 4. Shall Jlfan Live Ago in? by Leon Bill, April General Missions issue, page 6. 13.:?U~() \V eighing Clues to the Easter E,·ent, April H o~v to DiscouraJrc a Missionary on Deputation 1Nn 12 Easy . L essons, by Miss J. O'Nary issue, page 8. D~fini tion of a committee: A group of ovcmber I issue, page 11. • Who Am J, Lord? by Marilyn Heiliger, April uninformed persons appointed by the l issue, page 9. f the Christian Life - Personal .and unwilling to do the unnecessary. 1 Prog0c~i~i ifornlity, by T. B. Maston, Apnl I Japan issue, page 14. . . . d Scope of Christian Calling, by Mot~1er to neighbor, "l always wanted Witness Beginning in Nagoya City, by Edwin Th\J:aN'.rcM~:her, April 15 issue, page 4. . C. Kern, January I issue, page 4. • by E. Klntt and B. Schalm, April a child with long hair. but I was hoping Apt to 1 eac 1i, 5 it would be a girl." 26 15 issue, page · BAPTIST HERALD 27 December 1969 OUR CHURCHES IN ACTION OUR CHURCHES IN ACTION shine Society and Mr. John Smith, Melva Wic.kman of the Immanuel Cameroon College Singers Four girls receive Christian Service Brigade Dallas Church presents President of the Men's F ellowship. Covenant Church of Chicago, spoke give concert in Ashley scripture memory award scripture memory and and Pioneer Girls receive awards (Mrs. H ilda Zopf, reporter. ) to us on "F aith ." M iss Barbara Kieper, ASHLEY, N.D. On Oct. 3, 1969, the MARION, KAN. Sunday evening, Oct. attendance awards our missionary on furlough from Cam­ Ashley Baptist Church had the privi­ 7. Dwight Kruse, Strassburg Baptist DALLAS, TEX. Christian Service DALLAS, TEX. The North High­ Couple observes SOth eroon, gave us an outline of her 36- lege of hosting "The College Si ngers" Church Sunday school superintendent, lands Baptist Church in D allas, Texas, Brigade awards were presented by the boys' leaders. Edwin Tieszen, D aryl wedding anniversary hour day on the mission field. M usic from Cameroon, Africa. About 1,200 presented Sallman's H ead of Christ to presented a record number of Scrip­ director, Mrs. Bea Pankratz and h er attended the inspiring concert at the T yree, Bill Allen and John Barnett, to H UNTINGTON, N.Y. A luncheon four gi rls who completed nine years of ture Memory awards to 16 young peo­ daughters. led us in old and new Ashley High School Auditorium. The 16 boys of the North Highlands Bap­ was held Sunday, Aug. 31, a t the ple. Each person received a choice of songs. Everyone said they are look­ Rev. Etan Pelzer is pastor of the tist Church who qualified in their H untington Baptist Church in honor of a partial scholarship to camp, a Bi­ ing forward to the next retreat. (Mrs. church. (Mrs. Carl F ischer, reporter.) particular category. the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Mr. ble, or a book. Cross and C rown pins Gladys Siemurrd, reporter.) were also presented to 16 young peo­ Mrs. Russ Atkinson, Mrs. D aryl T y­ and Mrs. Charles Schneider. About Pastor and wife observe ple who had attendance records from ree a nd Mrs. Dua ne Lindsey are the 150 guests attended. Many gifts, cards Woman's Missionary Society Dinner SOth anniversary one to eight years. Scripture Memory Guides for Pioneer Girls. They pre­ and telegrams were received including sented awards at a Pal-gal party to 18 a personal telegram from President and has global flavor ERIE, PA. The Rev. and Mrs. Rich­ teachers for the year were Mrs. Bill girls who qualified in various st~ges Mrs. Richard N ixon. RACINE, WIS. D elving into family ard A. Mikolon (pictured ) celebrated Allen, Mrs. Robert Thomas and Mrs. of their program. (Mrs. Duane Lind­ and church history, members of the their Golden Wedding Anniversary on Gordon Thomas. Mr. Schneider and the former K a­ Sunday, Aug. 24, 1969. In addition to these awards, a pas­ sey, reporter.) trin Yudt, natives of Yugoslavia, were Woman's Missionary Society of Grace A reception was given in their hon­ tor's trophy is presented each year. married there 50 years ago Aug. 28, Baptist Church, Racine, Wis., learned or at the Holiday Inn for 200 friends The person with the highest number of WMS holds annual 1919, in a German Baptist church in more about each other and other na­ and relatives who came from eight the Scripture Memory course. Left to points has his name engraved on the birthday and guest night the town of Charles. They emigrated ti ons at their 88th anniversary dinner to this country in 1921 and lived in on Oct. 2, 1969. Flags of many na­ states and Canada. T he Mikolons have right the girls are Judy Kreutziger, trophy which is on display in the ASHLEY, N.D. The ladies of the Dia na Evans, A utumn Ka ufman, and Queens, N.Y., where they owned ·and tions graced the table and correspond­ five children, 13 grandchi ldren and church. If the same person wins Woman's Missionary Society of the Ash­ operated a dry cleaning busi ness until ing costumes were worn by hostesses. three great-grandchildren. The Rev. Diane Weber. three years in succession he is allowed ley Baptist Church held their annual retirement in February 196 1. They Speakers representing their countries Mikolon had the pleasure of dedicating The Strassburg Baptist Church ob­ to keep the trophy. This year's win­ bi rthday and guest night on Oct. 7, served its a nnual H arvest-Mission festi­ moved to H untington, N .Y., upon re­ were Mrs. H. Brygger, Africa; Mrs. L. their only great-grandson, Paul 0. Bis­ ner, as well as last year's, was Suzanne 1969. val Sunday, Sept. 28 , with the Rev. tirement. They are closely associated K elm. Russia; Mrs. C. Knatske, Italy; choff Jr.. of Deerfield, Illinois. Thomas. The Rev. Gordon R. Thomas A program was arranged by the Walter Sukut, Avon, S.D., as guest with friends in the Immanuel Baptist Miss M. Schacht, Germany; M rs. S. The Mikolons were married Sept. is pastor of the church. (Mrs. Duane pastor's wife, Mrs. Etan Pelzer, coml 10, 1919, at Maspeth, L.I., New York, speaker. The Marion and D urham Lindsey. reporter.) Church, N.Y. (Mrs. R. C. Lohman, Schacht, Philippines. churches were invited to share in the posed of appropriate readings, sev_era reporter.) Scri pture was read in Spanish and in the Trinity Evangelical L utheran special numbers in song by various Church. Since graduation from the service. The Rev. Sukut also showed Grace Church bids farewell to an Indian version of Psalm 23 was pictures of our mission work in Japan. pastor and welcomes another groups and a clarinet solo. The n e \~ read. M iss Dorothy Nelson was the Internati onal Baptist Seminary in 1925 filmstrip, "Unto the Least of These, the Rev. Mikolon served Polish Baptist (Mrs. H arvey Kruse, reporter. ) CALGARY, ALT A. After four years soloist. Mrs. G. Breitkreuz closed with of service at Grace Baptist Church. depicting White Cross work was shown. prayer. churches in New Jersey a nd New York The me n were also invited as guests. under the American Baptist Home Mis­ Calgary, the church bid farewell to the The offering was designated for our New church building dedicated (Mrs. Carl Fischer, reporter.) sion Board. In 1951 they moved to Rev. R. Neuman and family, on Aug. mission in Japan and Brazil. (Mrs. H. WASHBURN, N.D. June 15 , 1969, 24, 1969. The Rev. Neuman accepted Schacht, reporter.) Erie to serve the Baptist Open Bi ble the Washburn Ba ptist Church dedicated Tabernacle. Since retirement in J964 the call to the Capilano Baptist Church, King's Highway Church their new building. The maximum Edmonton, Alta. installs new pastor he served as interim pastor and pulpit seating capacity is 475. Total cost of Church reports baptism supply. T he Grace Baptist C hurch members BRlDGEPORT CONN. T he Rev. the project is $ 120,000. and other activities and friends expressed their thanks for Jesse G. H ood wa' s installed as t h e new . The Rev. Richard L. Mikolon Jr. Dedication festi vities bega n on Sat­ TURTLE LAKE, N.D. Our beloved their services in the church and com­ pastor of King's Highway Bapti st followed in the footsteps of his grand­ urday evening, J une 14, with an Ap­ physician's wife, Mrs. F. Luke Chiu. munity. Ch urch, Bridgeport. Conn., Sept. 2S, father and entered the full-time min­ preciation Banquet. Spec ial guests in­ was baptized by our pastor, the Rev. On Sept. 21, 1969. Grace Baptist istry after his ordi nation in May, 1969. cluded local public officials who do­ 1969. Gordon Huisi nga. She and the Doc­ welcomed the Rev. Peter Schroeder as · of H e served the Community Bapti st nated time, effort and funds. T he Rev. M r. Raymond Taylor. chairman tor, and Mrs. Gertrude Kessler, were Church of Addison, Vt., until hi s death, thei r new pastor, formerl y o f Ester­ the Board of Deacons, gave the we1 - Reuben Stading. former pastor, brought welcomed into our fellowship. July 6, 1969, at the age of 24. (Wan­ hazy, Sask. (L. McColl , reporter. ) the message. come and recognition to t~e new t~­ In June, the young people of our da M ikolon, reporter. ) Dr. J. C . Gunst, Central District tor, his w ife and three chil dren. . e BYF spent a week on the mission Father and Son Banquet Rev. A. Malmberg, Central Bapt_ist Secretary, brought the messages on held in Ashle y church field at Monte Vista, Colo .. helping with Sunday. The Rev. Er.ianuel Broeckel, Church, H a mden, Conn., gave the ind ASHLEY, N.D. The men of the Ash­ V BS and doing repair work and paint­ who was pastor of Washburn Baptist vocation and cha rge to the pastor . an ley Baptist Church Brotherhood held . H b rt Hiller ing in some of the homes. Church whe n its former buildin g was congregation. Dr. er e . ' their ann ual father-son banquet on Oct. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schneider On Aug. 24, we had a fellowship constructed in 1913, led in the dedi­ Woodside Baptist Church. Wood s id~. 16, 1969. A good representation of dinner and farewell service honoring cation prayer. Mayor Earl Chase, repre­ N .Y., and moderator of the Atlakntlc men and boys came from a number the R ev. and Mrs. Douglas Woyke who sentatives of local churches a nd pas­ Conference was the guest spea ·er. Illinois Association Women of neighboring towns as well as from Words of 'welcome were brought_ by sailed for Japan to serve on the m is­ tors of neighboring churches brought hold fi rst retreat sion field. the local community. The Rev. Etan representatives of the North Amenc~n greetings. (H arry Haas, pastor.) CHICAGO, ILL. The first women's In October we observed our annual Pelzer is pastor of the church. Baptist General Conference, the A~ l a n~~ retreat of the Chicago area Baptist The highlight of the evening was a Confere nce and the Fellowship Mi ssionfest. The Rev. Oliver Be nder of Women's Service U nion and the Il­ Underwood. N.D., was guest speaker. group of men from the Calvary Bap­ E vangeh.c al C hurc h es of Greater linois Association was held at the Cove­ The Cameroon Colle ge singers were tist Church, A berdeen, S.D., and their Bridgeport. nant H arbor Bible Camp, Lake Ge­ with us a nd brought their songs and pastor, the Rev. Eugene K ern, who Special words of welcome were ~ ~­ neva, Wis., Oct. 3-4. The retreat com­ testimonies to a packed house. brought Team II of God's Volunteers tended to Rev. H ood a nd hi s fa mi f whose director is the Rev. Raymond mi ttee and t he chairman, Mrs. Sharon Scripture memory awards were pre­ by the moderator, Mr. C harles . W~f Rich, planned an inspiring weekend sented to Cynthia Haas and Mark Wol­ Harsch. They conducted a crusade at lace· President Mrs. Lillian J acopian with the theme, "Reflecting Christ" itarsky who completed nine years. Mr. Aberdeen from Oct. 14-24. (Mrs. Carl the 'Women 's Missio' nary Soc·i ety·· Pres- Rev. and Mrs. Richard Mikolon Washhurn Baptist Church Fischer, reporter.) (Col. 2: 6). Our guest speaker. Mrs. Rubin Mehrer. superintendent. and Mrs. ident, Mrs. Ottie G ilmore of the Sun- 28 29 BAPTIST HERA LD December J 969 OUR CHURCHES IN ACTION Rex Folkerts, 74, of Steamboat Rock, children: Donald, Mrs. Lewis (Gloria) well liked - a top-notch teacher - a future. The emphasis is not on num­ Edwin Wacker, Scripture memory direc­ Oct. 22, with the Rev. G. G. Rauser of Iowa, died on Oct. 7, 1969. H e was Kaiser, Miss Jean A. Werner; six grand­ real fine person." bers, but on individuals. The pastor tor, are pictured with them. Paul, Idaho. (Mrs. A. F. Schiller, re­ born near Steamboat Rock, Iowa, children and six brothers and sisters. She is survived by her husband, her and his wife are pictured. (Geraldine Evangelistic meetings were held on porter.) Dec. 19, 1894. On Dec. 4, 1917, he The Rev. Albert W. Richardson offi­ son John and his wife, Priscilla, her Martin, reporter.) married Minnie Christians to which ciated al the funeral services. son F rank H. Jr., two brothers and Community Baptist welcomes union the Lord gave three children. two sisters. new pastor In 1914 Mr. Rex accepted Jesus Memorial services were held in For­ Mr. Edwin Wacker, 60, of Turtle Lake, XENIA, OHIO. On Sunday, Sept. 28, Christ as his personal Savior. On est Park, Ill., and in Bridgeport, Conn. Community Baptist Church, Xenia, March 29, 1914, he was baptized and N.D., died on Oct. 16, 1969. Participating in the services were the Ohio, had an installation service for our united with the First Baptist Church, Mr. Wacker married Lydia Klein of following: D r. . Richard Schilke, Oak new pastor, the Rev. Will Dachtler. Steamboat Rock. He served faithfully Washburn, N.D., on Oct. 3, 1929. Their Park, Ill.; the Rev. John E . Grygo, The Rev. Reubin Kern was the guest on the T rustee Board for six years marriage was blessed with two sons: Norridge, Ill.; the Rev. Gideon K. Zim­ the Rev. Lyle Wacker of El mhurst, Ill., speaker. and could always be counted on to merman, Forest Park, Ill. ; the Rev. Jesse Since the pastor came attendance at lend a helping hand tv build up the and Professor D uWayne Wacker of Hood, Stratford, Conn.; Mr. Edwin Sunday school and church has in­ Church. Grand Forks, N.D. Mr. Wacker ex­ H . Marklein, Hempstead, N.Y.; and Dr. perienced faith in Jesus Christ, and was creased. A visitation program is u n­ He is survived by his wife, Minnie; James M. Windham, Silver Spring, Md. a member of the T urtle Lake Baptist der way; varic.,us boards and commit­ three child ren, Harry and George, In lieu of flowers, the family re­ Turtle Lake, Marion, Strassburg tees are busy making plans for the Rev. and Mrs. Will Dachtler Steamboat Rock, Iowa, and Mrs. Wil­ Church for the past 27 years. H e quested that memorial gifts be sent to served as Sunday school superinten­ son (Luella) Patterson, Elgin, Iowa; North American Baptists, Inc. for the dent. trustee and deacon. four sisters, Mrs. Esther Daleske, Mrs. education o f missionary children in He is survived by his wife, Lydia; 1969 Giving of North American Baptist General Conference Churches Erastus (Anna) Akers, Mrs. Tom Cameroon, Africa. two sons: Lyle and DuWayne;. one (K ate) Kruse, Mrs. Louis ( Elizabeth) Local Local Total N.A.B. Total Total brother, Walter of Greely, Colo. and Church Building for Missions Local for all Non­ for all Total Muller; 10 grandchild ren. Three broth­ one sister, Mrs. Chester Johnson of Mrs. Anna Jacopian, 84, of Stratford, Operating Fund Local and Conference N.A.B. N.A.B. Mission for all ers and two sisters preceded him in Conference Expenses Expenses Field Benevolent Missions Missions Missions Purposes Purposes Turtle Lake, N.D., a grandson and a Conn., died Oct. 22, 1969, at Oak death. Funeral services were held in granddaughter. A memorial service was Park, Ill. Mrs. Jacopia n was born to Atlantic ···-··--· $ 267,636.87 $ 175,459.72 $ 443,396.59 S 56,329.42 $ 3,933.60 $ 60,263.02 s 71.956.92 $ 132,219.94 s 575,316.53 the First Baptist Church, Steamboat held in the Turtle Lake Baptist Church Mr. and Mrs. Johann Muschitz on Rock, Iowa, with the pastor, the Rev. Central______1,111 ,625.86 336,531.78 1,448, l 57 .64 304, 718.29 26,394.78 331,1 13.07 11 6,201.35 447,3 14.42 1,895,472.06 with the pastor, the Rev. Gordon Huis­ June 15, 1885, at Vienna, Austria. In Jacob Ehman, officiating. Dakota ______554,673.89 218,470.1 1 773, 144.00 181,500.84 24,077.64 205,578.48 20,997.76 226,576.24 999,720.24 inga, officiating. 1904 she was married to Mr. Garabet Eastern ______287,938.76 154,720.48 442,659.24 36,925.1 0 4,523.03 4 1,448.13 25.224.87 66,673.00 509,332.24 Jacopian. In the first decade of this century they immigrated to the United Northern ·---·-· 680, 177 .82 260,866.3 1 941,044.13 220,6 12.16 72,960.71 293,572.87 39,823 .38 333,396.25 1,274,440.38 Fred W. Ziegler Jr., 77, of Jamesburg, N.J., died on Oct. 11, 1969. He was Mrs. Christine A. Woyke, 58, of Si lver States and settled in the area o f Bridge­ Northwestern .... 504,415 .18 373,393.97 877,809. 15 157,9 14.28 14,597.69 172,511.97 73.283.33 245,795.30 I , 12 3.604.45 born on Sept. 19, 1892, in Philadelphia, Spring, Md., died Oct. 22, 1969, in Oak port and Stratford, Conn. Here they Park, Ill. Mrs. Woyke was born to Pacific 1,033,663.98 300,941.94 1,334,605.92 278,570.76 57,397.45 335,968.21 52,738 .25 388.706.46 1.723.312.38 Pa. became members of the K ing's H igh­ Mr. and Mrs. Garabet Jacopian on way Baptist Church. Bridgeport, Conn. Southern 75,3 15.47 10,706.64 86,022.11 12,984. 16 4,228.78 17,212.94 1,729.89 18,942.83 104,964.94 Mr. Ziegler was a retired farmer and Sept. 6, 1911, in Long H ill, Conn. Six children were born to them : F ra n­ Southwestern ... 201 ,255.15 39,134.90 240,390.05 79,573.7 1 6,772.43 86,346.16 7,497 .31 93,843.45 334,233.50 long-time resident of Monroe Town­ Early in her life she accepted Christ cis, F red, Sabina (Mrs. Reuben Jes­ ship. Recently the Zieglers made their T otals .. --·------$4,716,702.98 $1,870,225.85 $6,586,928.83 $ 1,329, 128.72 $ 2 14,886. 11 Sl,544,014.85 $ 409,453.06 $1,953,467.89 $8,540,396.72 as her Saviour, was baptized and be­ chke) . Christine ( Mrs. Frank H . home with their daughter, Mrs. Frank Totals came a member of the K ing's High­ Woyke), Minas and Ma rion (Mrs. K atona. As a member of the F irst Last year 4,515,524.38 2, 165,885.64 6,681 ,410.02 I , 178,022. 11 180,286.90 I ,358,309.01 369,018.63 1,727,327.64 8,408,737.66 way Bapt ist Church of Bridgeport, K ronmuller) . Baptist Church of Jamesburg, Brother Total Conn. Mrs. Jacopian was a truly remark­ Ziegler served as a trustee of the Increase .. .. $ 201 ,178 .60 $ 151,106.61 $ 34,599.21 $ 185,705.84 $ 40,434.43 $ 226, 140.25 $ 131,659.06 On June 5, 1937, she was married to able person, gifted with many talents church and in other capacities. Total Frank H. Woyke, who served as a and languages. Although she had trav­ Decrease $ 295,659.79 $ 94,481.19 He is survived by his wife, Clara; a member of the faculty of the North eled widely and raised a large family, daughter, Mrs. Frank (Ruth) Katona, American Baptist Seminary at the time. she still found time to honor her Lord and many relatives and friends. Fu­ 1969 Statistics - No rth American Baptist General Conference Churches D uring the years 1946-1968 she lived a nd Saviour. She was a member of the neral services were held at the First in Forest Park, Ill, where her husba nd K ing's Highway Ba ptist C hurch for 60 Church Sunday Sunday School W.M.U. W.M.U. B.Y.F. B.Y.F. Baptist Church, Jamesburg, N.J., with Conference Churches Baptisms Members Schools Enrollment Societies Members Societies Members served as Executive Secretary of the years. During this time she was also the pastor, the Karl E. Bieber officiating. North American Baptist General Con­ a member of the Women's Missiona ry Atlantic 2 1 83 3,441 19 2,422 34 866 18 237 ference. Two children were born to Society. Central 4 1 439 10,403 4 1 9,765 70 2,544 65 1,113 Adrian E. Werner, 70, died recently Mr. and Mrs. Woyke: John F. and She is survived by two sons. two Dakota . 65 175 7,951 65 7,650 82 1,365 93 1,346 in Mohler, Wash. He was born Aug. F rank H., Jr. daughters, two sons-in-law. three Eastern 25 73 3,213 22 2,486 35 847 30 505 7, 1899, at Crab Orchard, Neb. In Besides being a devoted wife and daughters-i n-l aw. eleven grandchildren 1923 he moved to the west coast mak­ mother and maintaining an interest in and nine great grandchildren. Memo­ Northern 66 289 8,623 66 9,065 94 2,302 66 1,499 ing his home at Mohler in 1928. On her church and denomination. Mrs. ri al services were held in F orest Park, 1,641 73 Northwestern 39 210 6,810 39 5,480 59 1,164 Sept. 28, 1930, he married Addline H. Woyke had in recent years also been 111. a nd Bridgeport, Conn. Pacific 50 446 11.1 94 49 11 ,467 77 2,686 82 1,782 Roloff of Lamona, Wash. Three chil­ a beloved elementary school teacher. Southern II 30 822 12 771 12 176 II 170 dren were born to this union. Mr. Daniel Franco, her principal at He later took C hrist into his life Lincoln School in Oak Park, I ll.. for When an obituary is submitted for pub­ So11t/11vestem 27 59 2,623 27 2,518 38 703 39 424 and was baptized in the Odessa Baptist several years, said of her: "She was an lication in the BAPTIST H E RALD. please outsta nding teacher who really took follow the format used in this issue. 347 1,804 55,080 340 51,624 501 13, 130 477 8,240 Church. He served as S.S. Superin­ T otals H owever. in the future. the ''In Me­ T otals tendent for many years and as adult her job seri ously. She had a way of Last Year 339 1,874 55,100 335 51 ,689 489 13,372 487 8,216 Bible teacher. He also held several re­ getting to diffi cult children who gave moriam., items will be reduced to a sponsible jobs in his community. He some teachers a rough time. She had maximum o f 15 lines. Payme nt. of a Total Increase 8 5 12 24 was known for his kind hospitality and a cha rm about her. She had wri tten fl at rate. of $2.00 per item is to be sent Total Decrease 70 20 65 242 10 helpfulness to others. several children ·s story books that are with the obituary. T his will eliminate being used in the schools. She was very W.M.U. Figures Include Girls Groups Surviving are his wife Addline; three the bill ing procedure of the past. O

3 0 December 1969 31 BAPTIST HERALD NEWS0YIEWS lhot·s Happening Kentucky Associatio n refuses Koosman g ets N.T. •The R ev. and Mrs. Edwin K ern, of •The Rev. Ted Keck has become the to oust churches o ver Baptism NEW YORK - Jerry Koosman, star • The R ev. Arthur Kliever, has become Nagoya, Japan, announce the birth of pastor of the Glencullen Baptist Church, VERSAILLES, KY. (BP) - The Elk­ pitcher of the World Seri es winning twin brothers, Joel H erman and Na­ the pastor of the Elim Baptist Church, Portland, Ore., effective November horn Baptist Association refused to con­ New York Mets, received on Oct. 17 than Philip, born Oct. 8, 19 69. Beausejour, Man. As 1969. He previously served the Ebe­ sider motions to withdraw fellowship from the American Bible Society the nezer Baptist Church, Hope, Kan. • Mr. Elwyn Zimmerman has accepted from churches practicing "alien im­ 17 mi llionth copy of "Good News for •The Rev. and Mrs. Donald Decker the call to become the pastor of the mersion" and from one church in the Modern Man," best selling modern lan­ I of Lorraine, Kan., announce the birth •Congratulations to the North Ameri­ First Baptist churches (American Bap­ association which has ordained women guage version of the New Testament. of a son, Monte Richard, born Oct. 17 can Baptist College of Edmonton, Alta., tist Convention) of Hudson and To­ see 1969. ' as deacons. The presentation took place at a which received full accreditation in the wanda, Ill., Dec. 14, 1969. H e previ­ The effort to withdraw fell owship news conference at the Travelers Ho­ Accrediting Association of Bi ble Col­ •Dr. Gerald Borchert of Sioux Falls, ously served the Shell Creek Baptist from churches that accept as members, tel-Motel, at LaGuardia Airport, home it. leges (A. A. B. C.) of the United States S. D., was appointed secretary of the Church, Columbus, Neb. persons who have been baptized (im­ of the Mets duri ng the season near and Canada, at the annual sessions of Baptist World All iance Commission on • Mr. Walter Bernadsky, a recent mersed) by churches of other denom­ Shea Stadium. the A. A. B. C. held in Chicago, Ill. , Cooperative Christianity, during the graduate of the North American Baptist inations and ordaining women as dea­ "This volume is presented to Jerry by Paul Siewert Oct. 29, 1969. The College held asso­ Seminary, has accepted the call to be­ cons was led by Ross L. Range, pastor Koosman in recognition of his service B. W. A. sessions in Baden, Austria, ciate membership with the A. A. B. C. July 1969. of Ashland Avenue Baptist Church, to the Bible cause," said Dr. James for several years. come the pastor of the Esterhazy Bap­ Lexington, Ky. z. Nettinga, executive secretary of the ti st Church, Esterhazy, Sask., effective •Mr. John Silvey from Mill Valley, • The Rev. John von Harten of St. November 1969. At least six churches would have A.B.S. Cal. , has become the pastor of the First bee n excluded if Range's motion to ex­ Koosman, with the Mets since 1968, Dr. Eugene Carson Blake has said that Catharines, Ont., has accepted a call • The Rev. and Mrs. E. P. Wahl ex­ the reason religions die is that their Baptist Church, Mercer, N. D., effective to an American Baptist Convention clude churches practicing alien immer­ expressed his concern that Sunday af­ Nov. 2, 1969. press thanks. "So many of you dear sion had been approved. ternoon games meant leaving for the words wear out. He also noted that church in the state of New York. Christian friends have been such a great Range, vice moderator of the asso­ ball park by I 1 : 30 a.m., preventing many of the great Christian words comfort and encouragement to us after ciation, said that such a practice was many players from attending church are suffering grave abuse and are be­ our accident. We herewith wish to coming threadbare. This is a rather unscriptural, unbaptistic, and was dis­ services. OUR STEWARDSHIP RECORD - NAB BASIC MISSION PROGRAM thank you one and all. rupting to the fellowship of the asso­ "Some of us wo ul d li ke next season startling reality. Too often "love" sim­ "We were on our way home from a ciation. He cited several historical to start the custom of an interdenomi­ ply refers to what goes on between blessed Sunday of services at the First movie stars, off and on the screen Total for seven months Baptist statements supporting hi s view national half-hour service, conducted April-Oct. 1969 - $589 ,316.50 Goal for 1969-70 Baptist Church, Leduc, Alta., when including an association cons t itut i o~ by a visiting clergyman, in the motel, today. "Service" has the image of the April-Oct. 1968 - $562,428.1 1 $1,380,000 while crossing a railway track, we were unpleasant menial task of the unedu­ provision for the association to deter­ on Sundays before games," he said. ..c struck by a train. The car was com­ ,,: u mine its membership and protect its "The message of the Bible," said Koos­ cated. "Redemption" reminds you of c: Cl ii u .: ..ci ;; pletely demolished. We were brought " .. 0 .. 0 .. unity. man, "has been a source of strength green stamps. They are redeemed for ....." <" V) z c ..... u.. ~ to a hospital in Edmonton. . Frank Owen, pastor of Calvary Bap­ and guidance to me many times." household items. "Gospel" is a slang ''Mrs. Wahl was discharged from the for truth. We must tell the Gospel ti st Church in Lexington, the largest He recommended its reading daily hospital on Oct. 24, 1969, and Mr. truth! "Grace" is a gi rl's name. And chu.rch m the association, argued to "anyone in search of direction for $1,400,000 Wahl left the hospital on November 10, "hope" is confidence in the unlikely. against the motion, saying that alien living." Koosman, who has a special 1969. God has been gracious. loving T here is another significa nt word immersion was not a test of fe ll owship desire to use his influence to help 1,300,000 and good. His name be praised." for the Southern Baptist Convention or American youth find meaning in their that has been so castigated it almost the Kentucky Baptist Convention, and lives, said he has accepted many speak­ escapes recogni ti on as a Christian term. • The College Singers from Cameroon, should not be for the Elkhorn Asso­ ing engagements this fall and winter You guessed it, it's the greeting, "Mer­ 1,200,000 Africa, sang at the General Assembly ciation. in order to reach them. ry Christ mas." of the United Nations in New York on We all know that the word "merry" 1,100,000 Nov. 27 just before they returned to means "joyful." But I wonder how Cameroon. They are a group of 19 British religious press many of us realize that the word students that have toured the United circulation is declining ''Christmas" comes from the medieval 1,000,000 States and Canada for three months un­ LONDON, ENG. - (ABNS) - Brit­ word "Chri stes Masse" which means, der the sponsorship of the North Amer­ ish religious newspapers have lost 60,- "Mass of C hri st. " or the "Worship of 900,000 ican Baptist General Conference. The 000 readers in the past year. accord­ Christ." Actuall y, if you can imagine following comments illustrate some of ing to a detailed survey published in yourself a li ttle dated, you could be the enthusiastic responses to the College 800,000 the first issue of The Christian Record, saying, "Have a Joyful Worship of Singers. new evangelical weekly journal here. Christ" when you say "Merry Christ- The Rev. Allan Strohschein. Minne­ Jn the same period, it sn id. the com­ mas." 700,000 apolis, writes: "The choir was certainly bined circul ation "of Britain's two So, in the tradition of the golden well received and most enjoyed by all kinkiest sex magazines shot up by 29,- past, may I wish you all a " Merry v, who were present. It was a blessed 600,000 000." Chri stm as!" D experience!" Well-known papers for whom the ( ) The Rev. Peter J. Wiens. Hebron. survey shows considerable losses during 500,00 0 N.D., writes: "We cannot say enough Dr. James Z. Nettinga and Jerry Koos­ the past year include the Universe and about the appearance of the choir. It Catholic Herald (both Roman Catho­ man. ./? 400,000 was simply fabulous.... Crowds were lic ), the Christian Herald, Life and tremendous. In the high school in the Work, Challenge and the Methodist jv afternoon we had over 800." Recorder. All lost 5,000 and 11 ,000 300,000 7 [...... --"""' Mr. Paul Mueller of Minitonas. Man .. readers each. The leading Anglican writes: "With great joy we expected newspaper, Church T imes, kept its 200,00 0 j~ and welcomed the Cameroon College lo.ss below 2,000, while the Baptist Singers and heard their concert and Times and the (Nonconformist) Brit­ ~ ~ ish Weekly maintained their positions. 100,000 their witness. This was a highli ght uch as Minitonas never experienced~ About Blue line for 1969-70; Block line for 1968-69 835 were present in our church." 32 BAPTIST HERALD 33 HELP YOUR EDITORIAL FRIENDS scription rate or to request greater sub­ Love is a Feeling FIND WHAT sidy. (Continued from page 14) In order to make some significant OIPIEN THEY REALLY and necessary improvements, and still Everything was reason and will WANT keep the cost down, it was recom­ DilAlOGUIE with him. He called her stupid and mended to the General Council, and sentimental when she put more faith approved, that the BAPTIST HERALD in her intuition than in his reasoning become a monthly magazine with De­ cember 1969. The number of pages and thinking. Why can't a boy be like a girl? are to be increased from 24 to 32 letters to the editor pages with some special issues havin g Sometimes she wanted to be like a 36 pages. At least two or three colors "I have read and reread with great ap­ porcupine, roll together and show will be used in each issue and four preciation the articles on Evangelism her prickles in order to make him colors on the cover of some issues. in the October I, 1969 issue of the understand in a thorny way that The BAPTIST H ERALD was one of very HAPTJST H E RALD. The article by Rev. moonlight did n ot increase her de­ A New Look few magazines issued on a semi-month­ Barker, "What The Community Thinks sire for contact. ly basis. Most news magazines are It's a monthly! It has more color! Of Us," gave some shocking news to us In his presence, she felt the desire It has a new design! This new look of weeklies, and if they try to deal with comfortable Christi ans! The d ata, in subjects in some depth, they are usu­ to withdraw into the fortress of free­ the BAPT IST HERALD is a result of the empirical research, of similar studies, dom and hoist the fl ag of inde­ editor, the editorial committee and the all y monthlies. would reveal similar or worse evi­ pendence. Board of Trustees of the Roger Wil­ There are several magazines that dence in nearly all of our church com­ Yet Sylvia did not send him away. liams Press seeking answers to some have recently changed from semi­ munities. Maybe, we have been preach­ signifi cant questions. mo nthly to monthly. The semi-month­ ing too long as well as believed the Not yet, sh e thought; maybe later What is the purpose and function ly issues seem especiall y unnecessary concept, "just preach the Gospel and on. during the summer months when peo­ of the BA PTIST H ERALD today? Is it a people will come and be converted!" But later on, a half a year or so, news magazine? Is it a promotional ple go on vacati on and get behind in That concept is false and our growth a few things dawned on her. She their reading of magazi nes to which magazine for the denom ination? Is it exposes the startling evidence. began to understand that a young they subsc ribe. educational? Is it a combination of "It is the writers contention that we To achieve some o f our objectives, m an who sends a book to her which these things? What should its main must get back to BibliC: al methods of interests him, may be m ore serious thrust be? What is the best format it was also necessary to change our proclaiming the Gospel. The neigh­ than someone wh o sends roses. for the future? printi ng process from letterpress to off­ set. This meant getti ng another printer bors knew during those N.T. days, The book says: I want to sh are It was agreed that the appearance that they had Christian people living as well. The H ERALD is now being something with you w h ich m oves my of the magazine should give an impres­ near them and so did the employers sion of aliveness, conviction and con­ printed in G rand Rapids, Mich., by heart at present. I want to give you Dickinson Brothers. Inc. of these converts. Evangelism must be temporaneity. To accomplish this, bet­ done in both the mass and personal a part in my life. I want to k now ter photos, more readable type, at By these changes, we do not think what you think. It is important to that we have adequately answered all method. Maybe, we are so fearful of least two colors in every issue and me to know what you think. the questions raised about the future persecution, in a time when we aren't professional assistance in design were persecuted, such as the N .T. believers She discovered to her astonish­ needed. of the B APTIST H ERAL D. We ask you experienced, in our afflu ent society. ment one day, that she had stopped ,,. THESE BOOKS It was also agreed that the content to help us answer these questi ons. We must remind ourselves that the to look at a bridge. For the fi rst CAN HELP MAKE must be made more relevant to the person without Jesus C hrist as his per­ THE DIFFERENCE ... readers' life situations. The magazine time she saw the beauty of its swing, sonal Savior is going straight to hell! of its lines. Or she stood and must be more than a cheerleader for Sharing the 1:'he N.T. believers were young Chris­ the denominational team. It must deal watched as the beams for a sk y­ tia ns but they had zeal and maturit y, DEFROST YOUR FROZEN ASSETS $3.95 wi th controversial issues in some depth scraper were hoisted upwards and FAITH UNDER FIRE $4.50 Christmas Event in sharing their faith, that turned the c. w. Franke Creative answers t.o prob­ Donald B. Strobe Challenges to the from a Christi an perspective. It must 'world upside down. ' May God lay tho ught: I should sh ow this to him. ing questions concerning our faith and Church in a changi ng world. Is our speak to the concerns of people. This And suddenly the shepherds saw, on such a burden on the heart of every It was no lo nger important to her our mission in life today. commitment faulty . . . or our faith? is a big order, and we don't presume their peaceful hi llside. the angels come C:hri ~ t i an is my prayer and may it be­ just to be understood. She herself DEAR GOD: WHERE ARE YOU? $3.95 for one min ute that the new look of to proclaim : "Don't be afraid ! For 1 EARTH, MOON AND BEYOND $4.95 gin in me, for the G lory of God!" had begun to understand. She h ad Robert E. Goodrich, Jr. A p owe~u l book Bob Parrott Timely, significant. In­ this issue is going to achi eve these am here with good news for you, which C11 r1is Haas, Pastor, Valley City, N.D. learned the first lesson in lo ve: one . .. answering the wistful questions of a cludes comments from astronauts space goals. The degree of achievement is for will bring great joy to all the people. 0 generation of unbelievers. scientists, plus color space phot~s. you to judge. This very night in David 's town your has to give up dreams, because they How could the BAPTIST H E RALD move "Just want you to know we enjoyed stand in the way of h appiness. THE GUTTER AND THE GHETTO $4.95 WALKING WITH THE WIND $3.95 Savior was born - C hrist the Lord! .. . Don Wilkerson Inspiring story of the Love is a special way of feeling Sallie Chesham Lovely collection of in this direction without greatly in­ G lory to God in the highest heaven! the BAPTIST H ERALD - especiall y the work of Teen Challenge with drug addicts poems from a splendid and sensitive creasing the publication cost? The And peace on earth to men with whom one tell ing about the General Con­ - something to b e learned. D and others abandoned-for-lost. career Salvation Army Officer. Board of Trustees struggled wi th this he is pleased!" (Luke 2: 10- 14). ference at Winni peg and the article question fo r about a year. When the angels left. the shepherds reporting on the ministers' salary sur­ DON'T SLEEP through the REVOLUTION I~ ~E.ARCH OF BALANCE $3.95 FIBERGLASS SPIRES Paul s. Rees Eye-opening apl?raisal ?f V1rgm1a R. Mollenkott Ethical dilemmas The costs of producing and mailing hurried off to Bethlehem. After their vey." Orville fl. M eth, pastor, Elgin. the church's mi nistry and m1ss1on m Iowa. O largo variaty of sizes and pricat of spi ra1 demand. a mind open to both poles of the magazine have been going up about confrontation with Christ the Lord, and crouos. Easily Installed. light Weight. this complex, revolutionary age. $2.95 paradoxical truths, s eeking the balance. five or ten percent a year for the ·'The shepherds went back, singi ng Just a note to thank you for the edi­ Also, gos & eledric wate r heaters, fibcrglau ba ptistrics and " Beauty Gian" for w indows. AVAILABLE THROUGH ROGER WILLIAMS PRESS last several years. The subscription praises to God for all they had heard torial, "We Never Get the Full P ic­ price has not been increased for dec­ and seen; it had been just as the angel ture," in the Oct. I issue of the BAPT IST ades. A magazi ne with 9000 circula­ had told them" (Luke 2:20 ). May H E RALD. It was something we need to tion cannot pay its own way, it needs we also share the good news of the hear often. I am glad you had the to be subsidized. However, it was not love of God in Jesus C hrist with our courage. Bernard Sclwlm, professor, thought feasible to increase the sub- fellowmen. - J. B. WORD hooks Ed111011to11 , Alta. ROGER W ILLI AMS PR ESS, 7308 Madison Street, Forest Park Illinois 601 30 34 BAPTIST HERALD • Chi ldren wi ll discover for themselves for the first time for their interest and value to young ch ildren. The author the joy and excitement of the Scriptures helps young children to understand such abstract concepts • All new and strikingly different as honesty and dishonesty, love and hate, pride and • Parents will love it! humility, faith and unbelief. Each of these concepts is Children will adore it! illustrated by carefully selected stories from the Bible. One glance will tell you that this Bible storybook is dif­ They speak to the ch ild and influence his everyday life. fe rent from all other s. The bold, colorful, yet simple, line illustrations team up The first thing you will probably notice is its large type. with the simple,. st r~ight -forward text to provide interest This Bible storybook is meant to be read by children and ond create lasting impressions. These illustrations, much as well as to children and therefore a large typeface was like the young child would draw himself can be easily selected. Most second- and third-graders will hove little understood and interpreted by the chi ld. ' difficulty in reading this book. The style is c~nve~sotion? I Goo.d .N ews for Children will be welcomed by thousa nds and natural, using contemporary language which little chil­ of Christian homes as tlie Bible storybook written and de­ dren understand. signed with th e young child in mind. Parents will read it A second feature which distinguishes this book from to p~e - schoo l ch ildren. It will be given as a gift to children others is its thematic arrangement. The Bible stories in of six to ten years of age. Vacation Bible Schools and Good News for Children a Baker Book House Publication, Sunday Schools will find it the ideal gift to a child who are arranged according' to topics. All of the stories were has responded to the ca ll of Jhe gospel. carefully selected from both the Old and New Testaments $4.95

order from ROGER WILLIAMS PRESS 7308 Madison St., Forest Park, 111. 60130 Baptist Herold

7308 Madison Street Forest Park, Illinois 60130

Non-profit organization. Second class postage paid at Forest Park, Illinois 6013() and at additional mailing offices.