An international newspaper Our mission: To inform, for Churches of Christ inspire and unite Vol. 75, No. 9 | September 2018 christianchronicle.org Can Churches of Christ be saved? IN SMALL-TOWN TEXAS, a dying IN URBAN OKLAHOMA, a growing church becomes the focus of a church makes an unlikely ministry to ‘revive us again.’ move after months of prayer. BY ERIK TRYGGESTAD | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE KRESS, Texas TULSA, Okla. — In “Hoosiers,” one of h land of rest, for thee I sigh. Mitch Wilburn’s all-time favorite mov- When will the moment come, ies, a small-town high school basket- when I shall lay my armor by, ball team beats all odds to advance to and dwell in peace at home?” the Indiana state championship game. ‘OOn a hot, dry Sunday morning In the giant arena where the in this West Texas farming town, a Hickory Huskers will play for the small Church of Christ sings that title, coach Norman Dale checks the question, posed by hymn 482 in distances from the free-throw line to a well-worn, golden-hued copy of the goal (15 feet) and the floor to the “Songs of the Church.” basket (10 feet). It’s a question God hasn’t yet “I think you’ll find it’s the exact answered for Elmo Snelling, who just same measurements as our gym turned 104. So he waits patiently to back in Hickory,” Dale, played by “dwell in peace at home.” Patiently, Gene Hackman, assures his team. but not idly. As the church sings the “OK, let’s get dressed for practice.” chorus, the words mirror his life: But out of earshot of the awestruck We’ll work ’til Jesus comes. players, the coach allows, “This is big.” After the hymn, On a recent Sunday, Wilburn — Snelling bolts from preaching minister for The Park his pew and takes Church of Christ in Oklahoma’s his place behind a second-largest city — told his table emblazoned congregation he could identify with with the words “This Hackman’s sentiment in the 1986 do in remembrance sports film. of me.” He passes ERIK TRYGGESTAD Just off a main Tulsa highway, a trays bearing the crowd had filled the 1,800 purple- Snelling Hymnals line the pews of the Kress Church of Christ. The church, which has unleavened bread seven regular worshipers, swelled to 73 during a recent Homecoming Sunday. cushioned seats in the multipurpose that represents auditorium — with basketball goals Christ’s body, then “There was hardly an empty pew. church’s attendance has swelled from pushed toward the ceiling — where leads a prayer for The singing was beautiful,” says seven to 73 for a homecoming service the fast-growing church was assem- the fruit of the vine. Kechi Beavers, who grew up in the coordinated by Sunset International bling for the first time. “Thank you for church with her sister, Kim. Bible Institute in Lubbock. Preaching See TULSA, Page 8 this cup,” he prays, So did Tracy Thomas, whose father students from the institute, which “which is emblem- was an elder of the Kress church. His trains Christians for ministry at home atic of Christ’s shed parents raised cotton on a half-section and around the globe, are here blood on the cross.” of soil (320 acres) and managed to along with senior saints from the Kechi Beavers Snelling is one of send four kids to college. Sunset Church of Christ, where about seven remaining members who wor- In the 21st century, that’s impos- 1,200 believers worship on Sundays. ship regularly with the Kress Church sible, Thomas says. The farms are Churches of Christ have struggled of Christ in an A-frame auditorium huge, and the workers are few. to make the transition from a rural to built to hold 400 souls. The church, The children of Kress live 10 miles an urban movement. The fellowship planted in 1915, is a year younger away in Plainview or an hour away stopped growing in the 1990s and BOBBY ROSS JR. than Snelling. In the late 1960s, in Lubbock. Or farther. has been in decline since 2000, says Mitch Wilburn preaches at the new attendance often exceeded 180. But on this Sunday, the Kress See REVIVE US, Page 6 home of The Park Church of Christ. 2 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE SEPTEMBER 2018 An Authentically Christian University Lubbock Christian University—our name is not one we bear lightly. Since our founding, many things about our campus have changed, but what remains constant is our focus—to be a Christ-centered university providing a transformative educational experience to its students. We seek to educate the whole student— mind, body and soul. In this community of committed Christ-followers, students seek deeper spiritual truths alongside every academic discipline to prepare them for lives of purpose and service. Academically Vibrant. Spiritually Deep. That’s Lubbock Christian University. ® Believe. Belong. Be Blue. 800.933.7601 or 806.720.7151 | LCU.edu | Connect with us at Be.LCU.edu LCUAd_AuthenticallyChristian.indd 1 8/9/18 6:15 PM SEPTEMBER 2018 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 3 Our poverty Duck boat tragedy claims three church members BY ERIK TRYGGESTAD | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE Church of Christ in Indianapolis. challenges us They were together only briefly When they boarded a tourist “duck before the calm waters of Table Rock to cling to God boat” in southwest Missouri, it’s Lake turned violent in the churn of unlikely that Steve Smith and his two a fast-moving storm. The duck boat THOMAZEAU, Haiti children, Lance and Loren, realized capsized, and 17 of its 31 passengers thought I knew exactly they were sharing the ride with a drowned — including Steve and Lance what poverty looked like. brother in Christ, Irvin “Ray” Coleman. Smith, Coleman and eight members of I expected to see multi- The Smiths worshiped with the Coleman’s extended family. tudes of hungry children 40-member Osceola Church of Christ The tragedy came in the middle Irunning around with bald in eastern Arkansas on the banks of the of the Smith family’s annual trip to PHOTOS PROVIDED heads and large stomachs, Mississippi River. About 420 miles to the Branson, Mo. Steve Smith’s wife, Pam, Steve and Lance Smith, left, worshiped with graffiti scattered throughout northeast, Coleman served as a usher had opted to shop instead of taking the a Church of Christ in east Arkansas. Ray abandoned buildings, animals for the 500-member Kingsley Terrace See DUCK BOAT, Page 10 Coleman was a church member in Indiana. lining Inside Story unpaved streets. I expected Longtime Harding to meet people frus- theology professor trated with their quality Jack P. Lewis dies of life and eager to find BY CHELLIE ISON | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE Elise Miller opportunities elsewhere. PHOTO VIA WWW.WamaVA.com Jack P. Lewis, a biblical scholar and But from the moment I Teens pull canoes from the lake at Camp WaMaVa in Virginia, 70 miles east of Washington. founding faculty member of Harding landed in this Caribbean School of Theology in Memphis, nation of more than 10 Tenn., died July 24, 2018. He was 99. million people, it became A camp’s new mission The longtime theology professor obvious that I had taken was known for pushing his something out of the picture students hard. in my expectations — God. GONE ARE THE DAYS when most campers come from church-going homes, “Those who That became more clear director says. In one week, can counselors connect kids to lifelong faith? studied under him as we drove the streets of soon learned that he Port-au-Prince on our way BY HAMIL R. HARRIS | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE gather for worship at its Chapel in had little patience to Thomazeau, a village the Woods. There’s even a greedy for uninformed just beyond the outskirts of LINDEN, Va. momma bear who likes to raid the assertions, sloppy Haiti’s chaotic capital city. n a summer Saturday dumpster for leftover burgers and thinking or frothy Yes, I did see the images morning, Joe Dunlap stood on hot dogs for her cubs. She quickly sermonizing,” Lewis of poverty I had pictured in the front porch of the dining retreats at the sound of humans. said John Wilson, my mind: trash-lined streets, hall at Camp WaMaVa, giving For eight years, Dunlap has served as professor emeritus of religion at children desperate for food. out red patches and hand- director of the camp, which hosts about Pepperdine University in Malibu, But this one-dimensional Oshakes to each child as 500 children, teens and teachers over Calif. “He called his students to perception of Haiti does they headed for their the course of six weeks each summer. hard work, clear thinking and a not account for the clear parents’ cars. He and his wife, Rebecca, met here as healthy respect for facts.” evidence of God working “I’ll see you next teens and were married 11 years ago. Bruce McLarty, president of through every seemingly year,” said a first-time “We only saw each other in the sum- Harding University in Searcy, Ark., unfortunate situation. camper with a big mer,” Rebecca Dunlap recalled. “Camp remembers taking multiple classes I came here with members smile, trying to hold meant a lot to me and my spiritual walk under Lewis. The theology school of my campus ministry. back tears. with the Lord. Joe was meant to do this, is a branch of the university. We’re on a mission to love on For 62 years, the and I was meant to support him in it.” “The thing I most appreciated Dunlap See POVERTY, Page 4 camp associated with But even in the short time since the about him was the way that this Churches of Christ has brought couple wed, the camp has changed.