Southern Union Conference of Seventh Day Adventists' •
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SOUTHERN UNION CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS' • Howard F. Rampton (right), General Conference Sabbat school director, discusses Appalachian Adventure with Clyd Bays, Jr., a dentist in Jackson, Kentucky, and his wife, Jackie, speech therapist. BRACKEN/ MASON 'ROBERT- LEWIS GREENUP • HLAND — 10D • FLEMING / NICHOLAS CARTER `-„!-- ROWAN LAWRENCE PRESTONSBURG — LEE FLOYD ; BREATHITT PIKE JACKSON OWSLE0 KNOTT PERRY • BELCHER — 24 CLAY LEECHES MANCHESTER HITESBURG — 4 HARLAN • HARLAN — 15 111410E580RO COMPANY by George A. Powell rontier Evangelism. The words conjure up images of McCoy became synonymous with family rivalry and con- tangled jungles and tropical glades reeking with malaria, flicts. cholera, and savage inhabitants. Eastern Kentucky has a personality all its own. Having It comes as a surprise to many that vast frontiers exist experienced exploitation scarcely paralleled in modern in the United States—enclaves virtually untouched with times by mining and timber conglomerates, and having the gospel. Still more surprising is that one of the most been bypassed for generations in medical and educa- challenging frontiers lies within the boundaries of the tional services, many have become resistant to outside Southern Union Conference. influences and new ideas. Eastern Kentucky has a history as rich as the minerals For Seventh-day Adventists the statistics are grim. In that underlie its surface and as colorful as its forests on the eastern 36 counties, organized churches may he an autumn day. found in only six. Several of these are not strong, having Into its dense woodlands and steep slopes strode such as few as four members. The total church membership is self-reliant adventurers as Daniel Boone. The bit- 274—one SDA per 2,253 inhabitants. Discount the con- tersweet experience of those pioneers is reflected even gregations in Ashland and Manchester and the member- today in a haunting blend of pride and dismay, resource- ship in 34 counties is 73—one in 7,480. Numerous coun- fulness and resignation. ties have no Adventist members. The Southern Union They waged fierce battles with the native Indians, average is one in 374. even while adopting many of the Indian's ways and in- True to its mission, the Church is embarking on a bold termarrying widely. They were with Andrew Jackson thrust to bring the gospel to the 617,287 inhabitants of when he met the British at New Orleans. They split into this vast region. The local and union conferences, sup- vicious factions during the War Between the States, a ported by the General Conference, are gearing up for an microcosm in which warfare raged long after the guns at unprecedented adventure in service and evangelism. Appomattox were silenced. Names such as Hatfield and The catalyst for this outreach was the designation of Volume 72 SOUTHERN TIDINGS Number 1 Two Published monthly. Second-class postage paid at Collegedale, Tennessee 37315. Subscription rate—three dollars per year. POSTMASTER, send form 3579 to SOUTHERN TIDINGS, Box 849. Decatur, GA 30031. NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS. These homes in Harlan dramatize the dis- parity between the rich and poor in Appalachia. eastern Kentucky and Yukon, Canada„ as areas in North There are numerous ways this call can be answered. America in which "new work" will be supported by the The Holy Spirit will tell each soul what his response 1978 Sabbath school Investment offering. Sparked by should be. But one way in which every member can help this timely opportunity, a broad, comprehensive thrust penetrate the vast spiritual darkness with the light of is planned, involving health and community service per- truth is by aggressively participating in this year's Sab- sonnel, youth volunteers, retired persons (especially bath school Investment program. "It is our sincere hope former church employees), literature evangelists, self- that many will adopt the motto, 'Double your Invest- supporting workers, etc. ment for Investment Double A,' " states Fernon D. Ret- Statistics are cold, but the 1970 census reveals some of zer, Southern Union Sabbath school director. the needs. The per capita income in the United States The conscience of a Church is troubled over Appa- was $3,119. In one county of eastern Kentucky it was lachia. The shout of the archangel cannot be heard until $979. The average person 25 years or older in the U.S. the laborer in the deepest mine, the toiler on the re- had completed 12.1 grades of school. In eastern Ken- motest farm, and the mountaineer on the steepest hill- tucky the average was as low as 7.3 in some counties, side has heard the news of God's love and the Christian's with the 36-county average being 8.6. Some have com- hope for tomorrow. fortable incomes, but that affluence is clearly not shared by all, revealed by the report that the 36-county average of persons with what the government considers very low incomes was 37.7 percent, compared with 10.7 percent in the country as a whole. In some counties the total was as high as 61.6 percent. Unemployment is widespread. Almost the entire region is included in the government's list of critical health care shortage areas. It should not be surprising, then, to understand why 36.7 percent of the homes in the United States had air conditioning, and more than half of those in the South, but the number in eastern Kentucky counties was as low as 3.0 percent. It should not be too startling to discover that while only 5.5 percent of the homes in the United States lacked some or all plumbing facilities, more than two-thirds of the homes in some eastern Kentucky coun- ties had inadequate facilities. The region most severely affected in each category is the mountainous territory known as Appalachia. The discovery of coal has brought mixed blessings to eastern Ken- tucky. While it has spurred road development and provided employ- Just as Macedonia called in the days of the apostles, ment for many mountaineers, few of the original landowners have eastern Kentucky is crying out today, "Come over into shared in the profits. In addition, it has scarred the landscape, polluted Appalachia and help us!" the streams, and displaced many inhabitants. Belcher Harlan Weeksbury These are the only three buildings owned by the church in the heart of the Kentucky mountains. The Belcher church is raising funds for a new sanctuary. The building at Weeksbury is not in use at present. A recent mining explosion shattered its windows. The Prestonsburg, Whitesburg, and Middlesboro groups have no buildings. The Middlesboro company is meeting in its eighth location in two years. The Harlan church has room for a school, but lack of financial resources forced it to close. THREE Architect's rendering of Chattanooga "s new Avondale School and Day Care Center. n Sunday, November 20, near four o'clock in the afternoon in Chattanooga, the corner of Orchard Knob and Wilson Streets came alive. The parking lot of the Avondale Seventh-day Adventist School and Day Care Center filled with cars and spilled out onto both streets as parents, children, and guests came for the dedication of the newly constructed- school building. The impressive program included civic, educational, and religious leaders of Chattanooga as well as conference and other church leaders. Two former students, Edward Mattox, an educator in Virginia, near Washington, D.C., and Dr. E. E. Cleveland, from Oakwood College, traveled many miles for the occasion. Other city leaders, former students of the school, were present. Mrs. Esma E. Woods, who retired this year from teaching butwho remains chairman of the school board, Present for the dedication were D. A. Walker (left), secretary-treasurer of gave a running history of the school in a paper titled, the South Central Conference, alumni Edward Mattox and E. E. Cleve- From Whence We've Come." land. With them is Patrick Vincent, pastor of the church. Also in attend- ance was Dr. J. F. Dent, South Central's superintendent of education. "This is a very special day — a day to be remembered forever! — the dedication of our very own Avondale SDA School and Day Care Center! Think of it— a reality and not just a dream. Thanks be to God! To God be the William Freeman, builder. glory, great things He has done! "In 1919,58 years ago, in the basement of our church on Cross Street our school had its beginning. Many young people and teachers passed through its doors. These young people found their places in the world — preaching, teaching, nursing, and other meaningful activities. "Teachers who served on Cross Street were Mrs. Edith Jaro, Mrs. Emma Scott, and Mrs. Billie C. Rowe. The Cross Street students included Dr. E. E. Cleveland and his brother, W. J. Cleveland. "In 1940 a new church was built at 1001 East 8th Street with two rooms for a school in the rear. Some of the 8th Street teachers were Mrs. Emma Scott, Mrs. Lawerence Britton, Mrs. James Britton, Mrs. Delilah Mae Custard, Mrs. Ruth Jenkins, Mrs. Ruby Lowery, Mrs. Jacobe, and myself. "The 8th Street student body included, Edward Mattox, Elder Harold E. Cleveland, Fredrick Johnson, Billie Hill, Mrs. Tresa Mattox Powell, Mrs. Iris Smith, Miss Iris Starks, and others. "In 1962 Mrs. Hortence Johnson walked to the rear of the church and viewed the situation. She was displeased with the limited facilities and the congested condition of the school. She shared this burden with others. Elder W. Watkins and Billie Charles Green had the same insight, and joined with Mrs. Johnson to give birth to 'a new school building' concept. Others quickly joined them. There were programs, teas, roadblocks, concerts, and many gifts to raise funds for the school building.