Our mission: To inform, An international inspire and unite newspaper Vol. 74, No. 5 | May 2017 for Churches of Christ Memories lost Fighting — but love and the stigma of PTSD faith remain ‘IT’S GONNA BE RAW,’ promises a church member, a veteran, as A FAVORITE AUNT has lived a full life. he discusses coping and Christ. Now she battles Alzheimer’s. BY CHELLIE ISON | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE od won’t quit on you.” ALLEN, texas It’s a lesson that unt Melba has no idea who Harold keeps Col. Rickie Tidwell is, but he loves her. Hagan going after He loves her from deep in his soul. ‘Gmultiple tours of duty in Iraq — He cherishes her as if she were his and the trauma that comes with own mother — a role she fulfilled for combat, even him and Gail Tidwell, his wife of nearly 50 years after the years, after their parents died. experience. Harold Tidwell, 78, is an elder of the Hagan, a Greenville member of the Oaks Church Willette Church of Christ in this of Christ in fast-growing the small suburb north Tennessee town Hagan of Dallas. of Red Boiling Never has Springs, hopes he can take the he known life lessons he’s learned and use without Aunt them to help others — military Melba. or not — find divine solace for At age the terror they’ve experienced. 97, Melba “People want you to come Warrach back home and leave the wars is frail and behind you. Well, it does not suffers from an work that way,” said Hagan, who advanced form served 37 years combined in of Alzheimer’s the U.S. Army Reserve, National disease. Guard and on active duty. She resides in Although he never got in the Bluebonnet trouble with the law after he BOBBY ROSS JR. Memory returned from the Middle East, Harold Tidwell visits Aunt Care unit SIMON YOPE Hagan became a prisoner in Melba at Christian Care Centers’ at Christian his own mind. memory-care unit in Allen, Texas. Care Centers’ A pilgrimage of sadness in South Sudan “I was a mess,” he said. “I newest senior had a routine. I would sit by living community, which opened last year. Villagers in the East African nation of South Sudan gather what they can carry and the pool, drink four or five The Greenville Oaks church donated five flee toward the Ugandan border as soldiers approach their town, Pajok. The staff Coronas, take a couple shots of acres for the Allen facility. It’s the faith-based of a medical clinic and ministry school operated by Churches of Christ escaped the tequila, and the demons would nonprofit’s third location in the Dallas-Fort conflict — between pro-government forces and rebel militias — but later learned leave me alone.” Worth area. The others are in Mesquite, east that their facilities were looted, though a boy from the town managed to save a Then he hit rock bottom. See AUNT MELBA, Page 8 microscope and an electric thermometer. RELATED COVERAGE, Page 14 See PTSD, Page 10 2 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE may 2017

Satellite School Administrator Certification Satellite School SunsetAdministrator Vision CertificationWorkshop 2017 Sunset Vision Workshop 2017 Change your congregation. Change your world. Join the growing number of congregations equipping themselves Changewith Bible your training congregation. as a Sunset Change Satellite your School.world. Join Contact the growing Jerry Pruitt number at 806.788.3282 of congregations or [email protected]. themselves with Bible training as a Sunset Satellite School. Contact Jerry Pruitt at 806.788.3282 or [email protected]. MAY 2017 the christian chronicle 3 An awesome, A baptism, then a murder confession breathtaking TEXAS WOMAN gave her life to Christ, owned up to a slaying — and got a life sentence. call to listen BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE remain faithful and share the Gospel really not that long at all,” she said, with other inmates, she speaking into a telephone on the other Ifugao, Philippines GATESVILLE, texas — Lucinda Wilson said in an interview at side of a glass partition. e nearly missed it might have gotten away with murder. the Dr. Lane Murray As Wilson visited with The Christian — one of the most Except that she became a Christian Unit, a maximum-secu- Chronicle, one Texas Department of amazing sights on and confessed to her crime. rity women’s prison 40 Criminal Justice guard stood watch. planet earth. Now 48, Wilson has served 20-plus miles west of Waco. Another guard held a phone to her own WA few months ago, as I years of a life sentence for the capital Wilson won’t be ear as she monitored the conversation. finalized plans to report on murder of her ex-fiancé’s girlfriend, eligible for parole until “I don’t deserve to have a second the Philippine Bible College Margaret Morales. July 25, 2036 — when Wilson chance really,” said Wilson, an ordi- of Bangar, the school’s Behind bars, the former U.S. Navy she would be 67. nary-looking woman — except for her director, servicewoman has worked hard to “When I compare it to eternity, it’s See CONFESSION, Page 24 Inside Story John Dionio, messaged me that we’d try to visit the “banquet rice terraces.” That was an autocorrect fail, turns out. Erik Tryggestad The Banaue (pronounced “ban-OW-ee”) Rice Terraces are a 2,000-year-old archi- tectural and agricultural marvel, carved into the mountains — mostly by hand, it’s thought — to grow rice for an ancient, indig- MORGAN BOLING enous people. Soccer players from KC University in Seoul, South Korea, scrimmage with their counterparts at Oklahoma Christian University. We left Solano, home of the Bible college, and drove 90 minutes north, winding through the mountains of central Luzon, to gaze at the Saved in their soccer jerseys magnificent terraces. It’s hard to fathom the enormity of the task this A TEAM OF KOREAN STUDENTS, immersed after Bible studies last year, engineering feat required. visits Christian schools in the U.S. for some friendly competition. Yet I finally managed to tear myself away from its BY MORGAN BOLING | FOR THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE “The American players are big and complex beauty so I could strong,” head coach Koo Daeryung duck into a wooden cabin OKLAHOMA CITY told The Christian Chronicle during to buy souvenirs. (Can you hey came to America in search the team’s visit to Oklahoma Christian really say you’ve been to a of victories on the soccer pitch. University. “Instead, we tend to focus place without a refrigerator But the battle for their souls more on techniques and skills.” magnet to that effect?) was already won. More important than the competition, I was in there only a few The men’s soccer team at however, was the chance for the Korean minutes, but that’s all it took TKC University in Seoul, South Korea, athletes to interact with brothers and for clouds to completely journeyed across the U.S. recently, sisters in Christ, Daeryung added. obscure the view. All we saw touring schools associated with “They are soccer players, but at the PHOTO PROVIDED was gray as we left — just Churches of Christ and scrimmaging same time they are Christians,” he said. One of 18 KC University soccer players See BREATHTAKING, Page 4 against fellow soccer players. See SOCCER, Page 22 is baptized on May 29, 2016. 4 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE INSIDE STORY MAY 2017

Some 2,000 years ago, ancient Filipinos carved the Banaue Rice Terraces from the mountains of central Luzon. Some are still in use by the indigenous Ifugao people. BREATHTAKING: Cut through the clouds to find wondrous beauty

FROM PAGE 3 asked him to elaborate. You’ll find his story as a group of Australian backpackers arrived. on Page 17. I pray I’ve done it justice. One turned to her Filipino tour guide and I’m blessed to be in a job that forces me to gave the plaintive cry, “What do we do now?” listen. Too few of us will get to do that, I fear, We stopped for lunch. (I got nervous when as we travel on mission trips this summer. We’ll they ordered “sizzling pork seasick” for the have a checklist of tasks we need to accomplish table. Turns out it’s spelled sisig — and it’s deli- to justify the money we and our supporters cious.) Then we returned to the Bible college, spent. (Bart Dodson tackles this in a Views where I interviewed the students, listened to column on Page 29, by the way.) them practice singing and looked like a chump There’s so much Scripture about the impor- as they schooled me at table tennis. tance of listening — be quick to do it, faith On a break between interviews, I asked comes through it. Take time and get to know Dionio my standard question: “How did you the brothers and sisters you serve. Hear their become a Christian?” stories. Find a translator if you need to. Matter-of-factly, he told me about growing Beyond the thick layers of clouds that sepa- up Muslim, the murders of his parents and his rate us, there’s wondrous beauty, impossible escape to Luzon, where he was robbed and to fathom, breathtaking to behold. PHOTOS BY ERIK TRYGGESTAD beaten, eventually ending up at the door of Be still and know. Remedios Marcos smiles as she hangs medals around the neck another Bible college, filthy and penniless. of her son, Reghie, during the Philippine Bible College of Picking my jaw up off the floor, I humbly CONTACT: [email protected] Bangar’s graduation. Learn more about the college on Page 18.

Digital News Editor: Chellie Ison The Christian Chronicle® encourages feedback that The Christian Chronicle® is published monthly and is [email protected] promotes thoughtful and respectful discussion. Letters served by a national Board of Trustees that is charged Chief Correspondent: Bobby Ross Jr. and comments should be 150 words or less and may with the responsibility for policy and governance. Our mission: Inform, inspire, unite [email protected] be edited for length and clarity. All trustees, editors and staff are active members of Advertising Manager: Tonya Patton Comments to the print or online editions are Churches of Christ. A subsidiary of Oklahoma Christian University [email protected] considered to be letters to the editor and may be Administrative Assistant: Lynda Sheehan published. Please include name, city and state of resi- www.christianchronicle.org [email protected] dence, as well as home congregation. Administrative Assistant: Joy McMillon Phone: (405) 425-5070; Fax (405) 425-5076 [email protected] The Christian Chronicle® is not a teaching or doctrinal Mail: P.O. Box 11000, Oklahoma City, OK 73136-1100 Administrative Assistant: Melinda Wilson publication but a newspaper with news and opinion Delivery: 2501 E. Memorial Road, Edmond, OK 73013 [email protected] content in sections clearly labeled. Signed columns and Staff Accountant: Louise Beyer reviews reflect the opinions of the authors. facebook.com/ChristianChronicle Editor Emeritus: Bailey McBride Advertising contains commercial messages from twitter.com/CofCnews [email protected] those who purchase the advertising space. News coverage, opinion columns, reviews, letters Trustees: President and CEO: Lynn A McMillon TO SUBSCRIBE: See www.christianchronicle.org, to the editor and advertising do not necessarily repre- Deon Fair, chairman [email protected] email [email protected] sent the views of or constitute endorsement by the Ed Biggers • Alfred Branch • Dwain Chaffin Editor in Chief: Erik Tryggestad or call (405) 425-5070. editors, the staff, the Board ofT rustees of The Christian John deSteiguer • James Moore [email protected] LETTERS: [email protected] Chronicle or Oklahoma Christian University. Robert Oglesby Sr. • Mike O’Neal • Barry Packer MAY 2017 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 5 spotlight Chicago judge killed CHICAGO — “They shot a judge.” That was the headline in the Chicago Tribune after the April 10 slaying of Cook County Associate Judge Raymond Myles outside his home on Chicago’s south side. Myles, 66, was a member and song leader of the Stony Island Church of Christ. His death drew shock and prayers from Churches of Christ across the city. Myles “He was a great singer, preacher and all-around worker in the church as well as a loving and kind patriarch for his family,” the judge’s cousin, Luke Myles, said on The Christian Chronicle’s website. He “sacrificed greatly of his talents, time and trea- sures” and “was greatly loved.” Authorities told the Tribune the TRAVIS ANDERSON attempted armed robbery of the slain judge and his injured girlfriend ‘Tell us how we can pray for you,’ Illinois church sign proclaims was not a random act. They recently Three-year-old Titan Anderson and his sister, Taya, 4, help change the sign at the Northside Church of Christ in Bismarck, Ill. They are announced murder and other charges the children of minister Travis Anderson. “Tell us how we can pray for you,” says the message they’re replacing. The preacher said: “I try against the first of several suspects. to change the sign weekly, but it doesn’t always happen. On that sign, I had my cell number up hoping to find ways to engage in the For the latest developments, see community through their needs.” The congregation, 10 miles north of Danville, averages Sunday attendance of 30 to 40. www.christianchronicle.org.

NORTH CAROLINA the previous Sunday and that the OKLAHOMA CONCORD — The Concord Church of entire congregation was in shock. TULSA — Don Millican, an elder of Christ mourns a family of four killed “We’re so sad ... because we love the Park Plaza Church of Christ, when a tractor-trailer hit their car as them so much, and we miss them,” traveled to Washington, D.C., they passed through West Virginia elder Tommy Poarch said. recently to speak on a congressional on their way to visit relatives for panel about the importance of early Easter, WSOC-TV reported. childhood programs. The victims were identified as Millican invoked the words of the Carl David Gilley, 48; his wife, Old Testament prophet Isaiah as Christine Tara Warden Gilley, 42; he spoke on behalf of the George PHOTO PROVIDED their daughter, Grace Margaret Kaiser Family Foundation, the Tulsa Don Millican and Jennifer Garner Gilley, 13; and their son, Jack World reported. Nathanael Gilley, 10. The Bible passage “tells me all of TEXAS “As shepherds of this church, we my religious practices are worthless CORPUS CHRISTI — The Arlington mourn with you over the tragic loss,” if I do not break the yoke of oppres- Heights Church of Christ partners the congregation’s elders said in a sion,” Millican told a U.S. House with Corpus Christi Metro Ministries note to the congregation. “Thankfully subcommittee. to feed shelter residents quarterly. God and His word comfort us and Also on the panel was actress The church serves meals in the constantly remind us of where we are Jennifer Garner, known for her roles park where the homeless congre- ultimately headed.” PHOTO PROVIDED in the TV series “Alias” and films gate and is looking for additional The elders told the television David, Christine, Grace and Jack Gilley including “13 Going on 30.” Garner ways to serve, minister David station that the family was at church attended the Concord Church of Christ. is a trustee for Save the Children. Srygley said. 6 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE ACROSS THE NATION MAY 2017

MAGGIE MOORE Thousands of Lads to Leaders participants, their parents and coaches sing hymns during Sunday worship in the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn., at the conclusion of the convention. Where we’ve been Leadership Training for Christ, Lads to Leaders conventions

BY ERIK TRYGGESTAD | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE for LTC — or the Lads to Leaders program — at locales from Richland, DALLAS Wash., to Orlando, Fla. Young men oday, I will be teaching and women read Scripture, demon- you four foolproof ways to strated their sign language skills and convince someone not to be produced puppet shows and dramas. a Christian,” Major Smith Lila Kelsey, age 9, produced an ‘Ttold nearly 2,000 believers during audio recording for a mass media Sunday morning worship. category at the Lads to Leaders con- Care only about yourself. Be a vention in Nashville, Tenn. Kelsey, hypocrite. Be grouchy. Be prideful. who worships with the Sylvan Springs Smith, a teen from the Burleson Church of Christ in Alabama, talked Church of Christ in Texas, ran about Moses’ disobedience to God in through the tongue-in-cheek list he the Old Testament book of Numbers. wrote as part of his speech for the “Ruth 3:5 reminds us to do all of Morrisa Summers North Texas Leadership Training for God’s commands,” she said in the ERIK TRYGGESTAD A Bible quiz team from the Leavenworth Christ convention. He was one of the recording. “We can’t obey God the Justin McQuien of the Sanger Church of Church of Christ in Kansas at the Heart of thousands of young believers who way we choose. Let’s obey God and Christ in Texas leads “Oh, How I Love Jesus” America LTC convention in Kansas City, Mo. participated in the annual conventions do all of God’s commands.” Sunday at the North Texas LTC in Dallas.

ERIK TRYGGESTAD Joshua Gibbs A chorus from the Travis Peak Church of Christ in Marble Falls, Texas, sings as Evan Smith, Chloe Baker of the Keller Church of Christ in Texas participates in the girls’ oral Bible 14, of the A&M Church of Christ in College Station, Texas, signs at the North Texas LTC. reading event at the Lads to Leaders convention at the Gaylord Texan Hotel in Dallas. MAY 2017 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 7 117 additional Songs. That makes 1482 We need to let your readers songs in all. know that The Paperless Hymnal has released another volume. Volume Twelve is now shipping. Now in 4X3 AND 16X9 formats

Readers can download free songs and order at www.paperlesshymnal.com 8 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE ACROSS THE NATION MAY 2017

Harold Tidwell shows Aunt Melba Aunt Melba points at the face of a brother she recognizes in a 1993 picture of an Aunt Melba poses for a photo with her pictures in a family photo album. extended family vacation trip to Lake Whitney, 30 miles northwest of Waco, Texas. nephew, Harold Tidwell, and his wife, Gail. AUNT MELBA: Finding contentment in ‘her world’ FROM PAGE 1 Aunt Melba was a recent high Years later, after she retired and Tidwell became the first of a dozen of Dallas, and Fort Worth. school graduate. She had no hus- moved into Christian Care’s inde- of Harold and Gail Tidwell’s rela- “Do you know who I am?” Harold band. She had no job. pendent-living cottages in Mesquite, tives — including their parents — to Tidwell asks after hugging Aunt “Go to Dallas, and be with your Aunt Melba relished making weekly reside at Christian Care Centers. Melba on a recent afternoon. sister while she has that baby,” dinners for the Tidwells. “I noticed how dedicated my “Art?” she replies. Aunt Melba’s mother told her blue- “She cooked fried chicken, mashed parents were to just going and The late Art eyed, blond-haired potatoes, gravy, homemade biscuits visiting my grandmother,” said Haddox directed daughter. ... and she got real joy out of it,” Harold Tidwell, who had served the Herald of Truth Harold Tidwell said. “And we had a in the Marine Corps and moved television ministry A SECOND MOTHER joy of being there with her and hav- back home while contemplating his in Abilene, Texas. Later, Aunt ing a real, home- future. “Somehow, that just He was one of Aunt Melba married cooked meal really stuck in my mind.” Melba’s four broth- twice — and was that our mothers Another experience that ers — all of whom widowed twice. She used to do.” deeply touched served in World never gave birth Harold Harold Tidwell: War II. to a child. But she Tidwell’s first the reaction of Aunt Melba also treated Harold exposure to See more stories in our ongoing series at his aunt Helen had two sisters, Tidwell and his Christian Care www.christianchronicle.org. Haddox, who including Harold younger brother, Centers came had dementia, to Tidwell’s mother, PHOTOs BY BOBBY ROSS JR. Johnny, as her own. as a boy. her husband Art’s death. Jettye Tidwell. Texas Rangers baseball player For 32 years, Aunt He played with other boys as “One morning real early, he was The seven chil- bobbleheads are seen on a shelf in Melba worked as Christian men, including his late passing away, and they called the dren of John and Aunt Melba’s room. a traveling auditor father, Fred Tidwell, turned the family,” said Harold Tidwell, a retired Evna Haddox — all for Walgreens — a old Gunter Bible College into the international executive for Dallas- deceased except for Aunt Melba — fact noted by a certificate on a board “Home for the Aged.” The facility based 7-Eleven. “The nurse said, were raised on a West Texas cotton outside her assisted-living room. south of Sherman, Texas, later ‘He’s gone,’ and one of my cousins farm. They survived on home-grown From the road, she always sent became known as Hilltop Haven. It looked over at Helen, and there’s a sorghum molasses and biscuits. Harold Tidwell a birthday card with opened in 1947. Medicaid cuts were big tear running down her cheek.” When Harold Tidwell entered the a dollar bill inside. That was a lot of blamed for its closing in 2013. What made that remarkable: She world in 1938, three years before money at a time when an ice-cold In the 1960s, Harold Tidwell’s had not communicated in years. the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, bottle of Coca-Cola cost a nickel. grandmother Jeanette “Nettie” Her response taught Harold Tidwell MAy 2017 ACROSS THE NATION THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 9 an important lesson: “When speaking to someone who has Alzheimer’s or dementia, always tell them that you love them. Don’t say something that you think they aren’t aware of. They are hearing it.”

PURE RELIGION While visiting relatives, Harold Tidwell became a fixture at Christian Care Centers — so much so that he was asked to serve on the nonprofit’s board in 1996. For the last 10 years, he has devoted countless hours as Christian Care’s board chairman. James 1:27 says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being pol- luted by the world.” Those words compel the Tidwells. For the couple, life revolves around the Greenville Oaks church, their three chil- dren and two grandchildren — and yes, their love and support of Aunt Melba. Christian Care Centers tout this motto: “CARING is our calling!” Harold and Gail Tidwell say they see that attitude exempli- fied daily by Aunt Melba’s caregivers. Pictures on Aunt Melba’s walls and Ray Hunter leads a devotional for memory-care residents at Christian Care Senior Living Community in Mesquite, Texas. mementos on the shelf above her TV — including bobbleheads of her favorite Texas Rangers baseball players — offer glimpses of the life she can’t recall. Music for the soul: Gospel songs At a young age, she was nicknamed “Miss Priss” because of her attention to detail. Her blouse, for example, had to still resonate with dementia patients be ironed just right. On this afternoon, a light blue blanket and decorative pillows BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE noons, Hunter offers a Bible lesson are placed perfectly on her bed. at The Courtyard. He leads hymns She doesn’t recognize her nephew but MESQUITE, Texas such as “Anywhere with Jesus,” can identify the faces of her siblings at all usic can reach “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” ages. She can piece together jigsaw puzzles. Alzheimer’s patients and “What a Friend We Have in She can read the names of Bible books. where nothing else can. Jesus.” After a closing prayer, he Harold Tidwell shows her a portrait of That’s what makes the typically shares a few silly stories her extended family, and she smiles. regular devotionals at to help lift residents’ spirits. “I hadn’t seen that,” she says of the MThe Courtyard — a memory-care “They don’t miss a word Ray photo, which hangs by her door. unit of Christian Care Senior Living says,” Bovee said. “It’s very mean- The Tidwells don’t try to convince her Community in this Dallas suburb ingful to them and important to otherwise. They welcome the opportunity — so important, organizers say. them that their faith is kept alive.” to spend as many moments as she has left “If they went to church and A resident might forget what he in her world. learned ‘Jesus Loves Me’ or ‘At PHOTOS BY BOBBY ROSS JR. or she had for breakfast but know Gail Tidwell, 72, takes Aunt Melba to the Calvary’ as a child or even as a A sign at Christian Care’s Mesquite, every verse of “Amazing Grace.” doctor and buys her clothes. The fact that beginning adult, that memory Texas, location touts this motto: “They may not know me, but Aunt Melba doesn’t recognize her could is still there,” said Hope Bovee, “CARING is our calling!” they know my face,” Hunter said. become frustrating — if she let it. activity director at The Courtyard, “A lot of times, they will begin to “If you stay in her world, it’s a whole lot home to 44 men and women with Christ that meets on campus. associate me with somebody else better for her and for us,” Gail Tidwell said. varying levels of dementia. The church’s Sunday service they’ve known — some preacher or “You enjoy her the way she is.” For 10 years, minister Ray is shown on closed-circuit televi- minister that has helped them.” Harold Tidwell echoes that outlook, as Hunter has served as the sion for residents who can’t leave And that’s fine with Hunter, Aunt Melba rests her head tenderly on chaplain for Christian Care’s their units. The Lord’s Supper is whose late mother, Helen, battled his shoulder. Mesquite location, which serves distributed to individual rooms of dementia. Aunt Melba has no idea who he is, but more than 450 residents. He those who request it. “I really have a heart for these she knows that he loves her. preaches for the Church of On Monday and Friday after- folks,” the chaplain said. 10 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE ACROSS THE NATION MAY 2017

4thAnnual

“Looking For Something Challenging and Different?”

Thursday, July 20 – Try this!!! Sunday, July 23, 2017

Hosted at the Community Center in Angel Fire, N.M. Melinda Hodge Bryan Hodge, left, interviews Col. Rickie Hagan during a discussion of post-traumatic The Theme: stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, hosted by the Youngsport Church of Christ. “Demands & Dangers of Discipleship” Plus: Six Classes on “What Is The Lord’s Church?” PTSD: ‘The church should be there’ Speakers: David Langford and John W. Smith FROM PAGE 1 needs are. We want to show God’s Sometime around 2008, after Word provides answers.” For complete program information, registration, overnight coming home and finding that his The church invited members of accommodations, RV parking and local attractions, go to: dog had, once again, destroyed his its military community to attend the water hose, Hagan grabbed his gun four-day event, and members plan to and fired. He didn’t intend to kill host follow-up events, encouraging angelfirebiblesymposium.com the animal, but he did. Finally, he attendees to come back and learn realized he needed help. He reached more about God. out to get counseling and to learn Having an Army colonel as a guest Minister of the Gospel Commerce St. Church of Christ about healthier ways to deal with speaker is a rarity, Hodge said. Few Westside Church of Christ in Elgin, Ill., is Gainesville, Texas is searching for the memories that plagued him. high-ranking officers seem willing to looking for a minister to share our vision Pulpit minister. College degree a Nine years later, Hagan traveled talk about PTSD. to evangelize our diverse community. We plus, experience is good, too. 2100 to Killeen, Texas, to speak about Agreeing with this sentiment was desire someone who loves fellowship, is able sq. ft. home provided. Small con- to work side-by-side, and is willing to develop the gritty realities of post-traumatic Chuck, a church member and retired joy-filled, service-centered relationships. gregation. Send resume and recent stress disorder and traumatic brain serviceman who requested that the Provided: three-bedroom parsonage adjoining sermon to [email protected] injury at an event hosted by the Chronicle not publish his last name. the church property. Please send an introduc- or: Commerce St. Church Youngsport Church of Christ. “Most people would consider it in a tory letter, resume, two sermons, and three Of Christ On a flyer for the event, he prom- negative term,” Chuck said. “It is my references to the elders at Westside. P. O. Box 743 ised, “It’s gonna be raw!” belief every human being who has Jeff St. Aubin, (815) 451-0391 Gainesville TX 76241 The church worships on the front lived on earth has gone through some [email protected] Gene Pat lines of the struggle against PTSD type of trauma. How do you deal with PO Box 6687, Elgin, IL 60124 940-665-4741 940-665-1428 — 15 miles from Fort Hood, home to it? How do you sustain yourself?” more than 33,000 active-duty military Awareness is of key importance personnel. Almost everyone in Killeen for Christians who want to help the Full-Time Preacher has firsthand experience with the suffering, Chuck said, but believers Full-Time Pulpit Minister disorder or knows someone who has, also must avoid stigmatizing those The Dixon Church of Christ in Dixon, Mo., South Taft Church of Christ in The Christian is soliciting applications for a full-time preacher church members told impacted by the struggle. Loveland, Colo., is looking for a full-time with a college degree (or degree/certificate from Chronicle, and most of the church’s Those recovering from trauma pulpit minister for congregation of approxi- a school of preaching is preferred). The Dixon 100 members have ties to the military. often need counseling and support — mately 200. For information regarding job congregation meets in a small rural area and has description, compensation and application “Hardly a week goes by that there and hope, he said. “And that’s what a three bedroom parsonage. Send resume and process please visit our website: is not some news report about the Christianity does. It provides hope.” sample of recent sermon (CD-ROM/DVD) to: suicide rate, drug abuse or domestic That hope, Hagan said, got him Bill Johnson, elder, at (573) 433-9370 and lovelandcofc.net should forward a resume and sample of a violence that plagues our veterans,” through his darkest days. Now he recent sermon on CD-ROM/DVD to: Contact: said Bryan Hodge, minister for the wants to pass it on to others. Dixon Church of Christ Gary Carpenter Youngsport congregation. “The “God didn’t put us here to merely PO Box 569 (970) 690-2123 church should be there to help. exist,” he said. “Everyone, from the Dixon, MO 65459 “I believe that Jesus tried to beginning of time, Adam and Eve, Application deadline is May 31, 2017 reach out to people by looking had problems. There’s nothing we at where they’re at, what they’re can do to hide from the world.” MAY 2017 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 11 David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons speak with The Christian Chronicle about their latest research on Christianity in America Beyond numbers, a real crisis of faith BY Lynn Mcmillon | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE For a long time we have asked, “Where would you go if you died hurch researchers David Kinnaman tonight?” And the answer was, “Well and Gabe Lyons give numbers and I hope I go to heaven.” Well, the voice to the changing nature of questions have become a lot more attitudes toward Christianity in complex today. Questions like: the U.S. Where do I find meaning in my In their latest book, “Good Faith: Being life? What is the good life? What is C my purpose? How do I deal with the a Christian When Society Thinks You’re pain, anxiety and fears that I experi- Irrelevant and Extreme,” the duo also ence daily? Where do I go with these uses data-driven insights to offer advice burdens? for believers as they engage with a world These require Christians to be consumed by an ever-growing list of pretty intelligent. So churches are contentious issues — politics, marriage going to have to double down on and sexuality, to name a few. their efforts to help equip the saints, Kinnaman is president of the Barna Group, which is ultimately the purpose of a Ventura, Calif.-based market research the church. firm specializing in the religious beliefs and Kinnaman: Faith leaders actually behavior of Americans and the intersection have to take the journey of a skeptic of faith and culture. George Barna launched to understand the kinds of questions the firm in 1984 to provide research and LYNN Mcmillon that are being asked today. support for churches and ministries. More thoughts on hard topics and ‘Good Faith’: See our exclusive interview Some of our peers in ministry are Lyons, a longtime minister, is founder of with Gabe Lyons, left, and David Kinnaman at www.christianchronicle.org. saying that they are noticing that the Q Ideas (www.qideas.org) — a learning kinds of questions that young people community that urges Christians to advance dance than they do by telephone. challenges. The people in the pew are asking are very different. They are the common good in society. There are a lot of things that are understand that their kids are saying, “What does the scripture say Recently, the authors sat down with The also on the decline. Some of those questioning faith and that they don’t about violence in the Old Testament?” Christian Chronicle to discuss their latest things are the percentage of millen- have the answers to respond to the To them, God seems like an angry, nials who are practicing Christians, skepticisms. We’re finding younger vengeful God, and they’ll actually research on Christianity in the U.S. In part the rise of people who say they are people are starting to look to Google name specific places in Scripture one of this two-part interview, they note of a faith other than Christianity. and YouTube for answers to their where they see that. They’ll talk a lot statistics showing a slow decline in church There’s a growing lack of confi- deepest questions. When we were about human sexuality and same-sex attendance nationwide. But the reality dence among younger generations growing up, we would have probably attraction. What does the Bible have behind those numbers — including a that Jesus was a real, historic person asked our parents or a trusted adult to say about that? What does the lagging confidence in God’s Word — is a — or, for example, that the Bible in our life. And today — because of Bible have to say about reproductive cause for greater concern, they say. is accurate in the principles that it Facebook, social media, the ability choices that people might make? teaches. There’s a growing gap of for anybody to communicate and There’s a whole range of very What do you think about the confidence in Scripture. really be perceived as an authority complex questions that are as downward trend of the Christian Those are things that are very — you have people accessing all age-old as humanity, but they are faith in the United States? worrisome because they represent kinds of information. also being expressed in new ways Kinnaman: It depends on how more than just whether people show We shouldn’t be threatened by because people can Google and you measure the downward trend. up at church on Sunday. They actu- that. We just need to recognize that’s search for particular things, and In a lot of cases, there’s actually ally represent that people’s hearts happening. So ministers need to start they are finding wisdom for living in a lot of flatness. The percentage and minds aren’t quite into the talking about it. They must acknowl- those very human questions. of Americans who qualify as evan- Christian faith, even though they use edge that there is a lot of skepticism So faith leaders need to understand gelical is relatively stable over the the Christian label. in our world. There are a lot of people the nature of the skepticism and then 25 years that we have tracked it who are questioning some of the be able to address that as part of their at Barna. Church attendance is What might church leaders do to deepest claims of the Christian faith, so ministry. Let’s go down the journey declining a little bit — but some- address the issues of confidence in this is an opportunity to step into that of why someone might think differ- times that’s partly related to the Jesus and reliability of Scripture? with confidence that our faith actually ently about these questions from how methodology that we use. Online, Lyons: I think they need to talk has something to say to the world and Christians have historically thought. people report lower church atten- about it and be honest about the to any issue or topic that it’s raising. See CRISIS, Page 12 12 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE DIALOGUE MAY 2017 CRISIS: ‘Take the journey of a skeptic’

FROM PAGE 11 So, church leaders need to put themselves into the place of those asking the questions rather College of Arts and Sciences than just seeing themselves as Dr. Gregory Straughn, Dean, ACU Box 29210, Abilene, Texas 79699-9210 providing answers? Lyons: Yes, and that requires The Department of Biology invites applications for a full-time, non-tenure track instructor for Fall 2017. Applicants humility and the ability to relate to must have an M.S. in biology or related field. Teaching experience at the high school or collegiate level is required. people that might not have the same Primary responsibilities will be to teach the Anatomy and Physiology I and II lecture and lab courses and non-majors education that you have or read introductory biology courses. Additional responsibilities will include training undergraduate A&P lab teaching all the books you have. It requires assistants/tutors, working with other professors to improve A&P pedagogy, and attending departmental and other getting on their level, eye to eye, and relevant meetings. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. Start date is Aug. 1, 2017. being able to answer those questions. Information about the department is available at acu.edu/biology. The Department of Theatre invites applications for a full-time faculty position as dance faculty The conflict ministers are dealing instructor/production choreographer. This is a two-year contract with option of renewals thereafter. Qualified with is: Are you going to live your candidates should have a bachelor’s degree; a strong background in ballet, jazz, modern, musical theatre dance life according to a preset standard and or tap dance; and two years’ experience teaching at the university level. Exceptional candidates could substitute or not? And there are going to be a performance experience and will be evaluated on an individual basis. SDC and AEA are considered a plus. It is preferred hundred different ways that people the candidate has an M.F.A. degree in dance. Essential duties include the ability to teach all levels of ballet, modern, are going to have conflict when their jazz, and tap shows; teach technique classes; choreograph for mainstage shows; direct outreach programs; advise belief and their morality are found students; and assist in recruitment. Knowledge in any of the following fields is considered an asset: repertory, in what they feel is right, what their performance techniques, Horton technique, composition, and dance history. Start date is Aug. 1, 2017. Information friend told them was right, what about the department is available at acu.edu/theatre. they think might be right as they’ve thought about this for a few minutes. School of Nursing Are we actually going to have a Dr. Becky Hammack, Dean, ACU Box 28035, Abilene, Texas 79699-8035 biblical standard and go back to The ACU School of Nursing invites applications for an instructor or assistant professor of nursing beginning the source of truth, which is Jesus Fall 2017. Applicants should maintain an active nursing license, be eligible for RN licensing in the state of Texas and himself? That requires discipleship. have a M.S.N. A Ph.D. in nursing, D.N.P. or related doctoral degree is preferred. Applicants from a variety of nursing It requires helping people under- sub-specialties (medical-surgical, obstetrics, pediatrics, critical care or nursing informatics) are encouraged to apply. stand why they ought to live by The successful candidate is expected to work collaboratively in shared governance with nursing faculty toward the the standard that God created for Christian mission of the university. ACU encourages applicants who facilitate exceptional student learning environments, human beings. It leads us to actu- value mentoring and advising students, and engage in service for the university, profession and community. Applicants ally being fully human the way God will be expected to pursue scholarly interests and engage students in these activities. Information about the school is designed us to be. available at acu.edu/academics/nursing. Kinnaman: We think one of the Brown Library big shifts is this shift from an external Dr. Carisse Berryhill, Associate Dean for Archives and Collections source of morality — Scripture, ACU Box 29208, Abilene, Texas 79699-9208 church tradition, even political or ACU’s Brown Library invites applications for the position of metadata and digitization librarian. Candidates are media voices — to an internal source expected to have demonstrated skill both in cataloging of library and archival resources, and in library instruction and of authority. The belief that we can reference services. Information about Brown Library is available at acu.edu/library. figure out what is best for us. That truth may be right for you, but it may not be right for me. There’s been an See acu.edu/academics/provost/positions.html for complete descriptions of these positions. In a letter to the inexorable shift to that position in appropriate dean or chair, applicants should address their qualifications for the position. They should include American lives today — that you can in the application a statement of how faith informs their teaching; a discussion of their spiritual journey; determine what’s right for you, that a curriculum vitae; transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work; and names, addresses and phone nobody can dictate that for you. The numbers of five references. Review of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position best way to find yourself is to look is filled. Nominations of and applications from qualified women and minorities are especially encouraged. within yourself. Ninety-one percent of ACU is affiliated with the fellowship of the Churches of Christ. All applicants must be professing Christians Americans believe that is true. and be active, faithful members of a congregation of the Churches of Christ and deeply committed to service in Christian higher education. The mission of ACU is to educate students for Christian service and leadership Lyons: And almost three out of throughout the world. ACU does not unlawfully discriminate in employment opportunities. four practicing Christians said that they thought that statement was 160309-0517 true, which shows you the crisis of discipleship in our churches. MAY 2017 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 13 ALBANIA FIER — “It’s very hard to be a Christian in Albania — particularly if from a Muslim family.” That’s what Alda, an 18-year-old woman who was baptized last year, told Justin Speer during his mission trip to this Central European nation. Speer, a deacon of the Katy Church of Christ in Texas, works with World English Institute, a church-supported nonprofit that teaches English Speer using the Bible. Speer witnessed the rebirth of another Muslim, 17-year-old Esmerelda, who got her father’s permission before she was baptized. Speer taught the newborn Christian, who had “a voracious appe- tite to learn,” he said, and was able “to devour what I believe were difficult lessons.” Three other young women were baptized during Speer’s visit. Alda had been lonely, Speer added, “so God sent her four new sisters.”

AUSTRIA ERIC BRANDELL VIENNA — “The Wheels on the Bus” and “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” are South Pacific believers launch men’s ministry — and water balloons helping Christians in this European In Vanuatu, four Christians — Bob Kalokul, John Iata, Andrew Iata, and Sam Iaruel — play water balloon volleyball during a men’s capital reach out to their community. retreat that drew 25 church members from five islands in the South Pacific nation. The weeklong retreat was the first organized by Jake Haskew and Will Kooi sing missionary Eric Brandell and fellow believers. In addition to games, campfires and s’mores, the retreat included daily Bible studies the classic children’s songs as part focusing on the keywords “cruciform, Christian, selfless and servant.” The studies emphasized “that a commitment to Christ is of an English-learning program foundational to all aspects of life,” Brandell said, “especially our relationships.” Learn more at www.facebook.com/v2brandells. for kids through their nonprofit, Kreuzung. Kooi’s wife, Holly, reads stories in English to the children, (Portuguese for “Let the Bible Cameroon — Wotutu.” spoTLIGHT who then get a homemade treat Speak”). Members of Churches of The man said he was a church from Haskew’s wife, Amanda. Christ teach the course. member 23 years ago, but that there The Vienna mission team worked “Please continue to pray for these was no congregation in his village, The Gospel’s mailman with the program’s format for years, students, many who are hearing the Anyong. The man was “crying that with mixed results, Will Kooi said. Gospel for the first time in its original, we should make haste to come and KALOMO, Zambia — Rodgers Namuswa “We decided to simplify last year pure-and-simple form,” missionaries evangelize his village so that we shall helps hundreds of people in this and truly use the talents we have Randy and Kathy Short ask in a recent restore him back to start a new rela- southern African nation study God’s instead of forcing ourselves to do newsletter. “They will soon be called tionship with God,” Word. On his motor- things we weren’t good at,” he said. through their study to make a decision said Greg Elangwe, a bike, the Zambia “Crafts? Gone. A curriculum? Out for Christ and put him on in baptism.” minister and director Mission worker the window.” of the institute. delivers World Bible The result, he added, has been CAMEROON Church members School lessons and consistent attendance and multiple LIMBE — Recently, as workers with a are planning a gospel collects them for requests to continue the program. ministry training school in this West campaign for the grading by volunteers African nation stopped at a road- village, Elangwe said. at the Brentwood BRAZIL side village for lunch, a man rushed Elangwe The church van, Oaks Church of Namuswa RECIFE — An overflow crowd of toward their blue van. he added, is “helping Christ in Austin, 90 people gathered for the start Excitedly, he pointed to the words us to have open doors to preach and Texas. Then he returns the graded of a 15-week, Saturday morning under the windows: “The Church of bring restoration to many of (God’s) lessons to the students. For more infor- course titled “Deixe a Bíblia Falar” Christ, Bear Valley Bible Institute fallen children.” mation, see www.zambiamission.org. 14 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE AROUND THE WORLD MAY 2017 Clinic, ministry Preacher Wanted MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY Minister Search Tiny congregation, beautiful mountain TheCamp Hill Church of Christ, Enterprise Boulevard Church of community. Will furnish free rent and utilities, school looted Christ is searching for a full-time, a congregation of approximately 200 nice 4BR, 2-bath mobile home and small salary near Harrisburg, Pa., seeks a minister. energetic pulpit minister. Our area in exchange for sound Christian leadership Under the oversight of elders, he should is fast growing and ripe for the in lessons, songs and community outreach. in South Sudan help us grow through preaching, teach- harvest. Parsonage available. Pleasant climate, friendly people. Retirement/ other support needed. ing, and equipping us to serve. BY erik tryggestad | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE Enterprise Boulevard If interested, please visit: Church of Christ Church of Christ www.camphillchurch.org As soldiers approached their town 2801 Enterprise Blvd Attn: Billy McCarty and contact: — interrogating and sometimes Lake Charles, LA 70601 PO Box 487, Reserve, NM 87830 Jay Corbett (717)957-4097 shooting those they believed to be Fax: (337) 430-0093 (575) 533-6574 aiding rebel militias — the people of [email protected] Pajok, South Sudan, fled south to the Ugandan border. On their backs and heads, they loaded what clothes and Prescott Valley Church of Christ in FULL-TIME MINISTER food they could gather for the journey. Prescott Valley, Arizona, is looking for a full- One boy also or part-time minister. Prescott Valley is a congrega- Springfield Church of Christ is searching for a man to preach solid, topical carried a black sermons and fulfill other congregational needs as assigned by the elders. tion of around 25 members with the potential microscope and a A minimum of a bachelor’s degree required. Salary commensurate with education for growth. We are a caring congregation that truly digital thermometer. has a great love for one another, our community and experience; a three-bedroom house provided, expenses not included. We are The items and our faith. We can provide some salary. a mixed-age congregation of about 80 in southeastern Vermont. Interested candidates Our ideal candidate is either a retired minister or should forward a resume and a CD, DVD or electronic file of a recent sermon to: belonged to a a part-time minister who would be willing to work medical clinic in another job part-time in Prescott Valley. Springfield Church of Christ Pajok overseen by Email resume to: PO Box 160 South Sudanese Yope Mark Green Springfield, VT 05156-0160 Christians. The Sudan Project, a ministry of the [email protected] Phone: (802) 886-2670 Fax: (802) 886-1457 [email protected] Mt. Juliet Church of Christ in Tennessee, supports the work, which also includes a preacher training school. The boy gave the medical items to Simon Yope, the clinic’s lab technician. “Our clinic facility is completely looted — doors broken and window glasses broken,” Yope wrote in a message from a refugee camp in Our cities are growing larger, more ethnically diverse, Uganda. “Almost everything was more complex, and more in need of the gospel of Jesus. carried away by the soldiers. Also the Bible Learning Center is looted, Harding University Master of Ministry Program with the door gunshot.” In July 2016, after clashes between announces a special summer offering online at-a-distance government forces and rebels loyal Evangelism Strategies with Dr. Jared Looney, May 8–July 28. to the country’s ousted vice presi- dent, rebel militias took control of • Dr. Looney earned the Doctor of Missiology from Fuller School of Intercultural Studies in 2010. Pajok, also known as Parajok. Since • Author of Crossroads of the Nations: Diaspora, Globalization and Evangelism and co-author of then, many Christians have fled, Mosaics: A Ministry Handbook for a Globalizing World walking for two days through the • Founder of Global City Mission Initiative (https://globalcitymission.org). GCMI focuses on wilderness — avoiding main roads “making disciples at the world’s crossroads” and gathering them in multiethnic churches. patroled by soldiers — to reach • Also teaches Small Group Ministries in the Master of Ministry curriculum Uganda. There, in refugee camps, they worship on mats under trees. All students who enroll in Evangelism Strategies will receive a 40-percent tuition discount on the course. The current unrest has not reached For further information, contact Dr. Tim Westbrook at [email protected] Bor, about 15 hours north of Pajok, Harding University Center for Distance Education in the College of Bible and Ministry where members of Churches of Christ operate a vocational boarding school and Christian literature center. Both are dedicated to winning souls and healing the country’s ethnic divisions, said Dennis Cady of the Starfish Foundation, which supports the work. MAY 2017 around the world THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 15 A crocodile hunter finds new souls

BY ERIK TRYGGESTAD | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE than all the spirits or sorcerers they’ve known. The village’s ondoafi, Sasbe, f you will come teach us, we wanted to know more. promise not to kill you.” Thus the journey to Morgan’s Missionary Duane Morgan home — and the promise of safety. remembers those words, Months later, the village, Uhli, was ‘Iuttered by a village chief from an home to a Church of Christ. In the enigmatic — and feared — people in years that followed, the church sent the remote jungles of New Guinea. about 20 men to train in a ministry The chief, called an ondoafi, had school overseen by Morgan. They journeyed from his remote village shared the Gospel with other villagers, to Morgan’s home in the Sentani who built houses of worship with province. Sitting on the mission- funds they received from the logging ary’s couch, the ondoafi, named Isak company in return for land usage. The Sasbe, made the offer. newest is in the village of Salib. “Any meeting with previously PHOTOs PROVIDED BY DUANE MORGAN “Although we had no idea how unevangelized, animistic people is Phyllis Morgan, left, wife of missionary Duane Morgan, visits with Isak Sasbe and his God would bless the new work when an eerie experience,” said Morgan, wife as Sasbe retells the story of his first meeting with the missionary in 1990. Daud brought the ondoafi to my who has served souls in Indonesia house in 1990,” Morgan said, “we for nearly a half-century. Though a Korean logging company began Tokoro lived off the land as he now see that his providential care he didn’t know what to expect from building roads into their lands, the hunted, eating tree kangaroos, has exceeded our expectations.” the chief, “all I saw from him was an Orya’s infant mortality rate was high, lizards and whatever edible plants Tokoro, now 82, continues to share invitation to begin the challenging and their life expectancy was low. he found. He sweltered under a tarp his faith. Recently, he told Morgan process of communicating. I had no Then Daud Tokoro, an Indonesian in the tropical downpours. than an ondoafi from the village of illusions about the difficulty of the Christian who worked with Morgan, One day, a group of Orya men Taja — 70 miles from where Tokoro challenge.” left his home near Lake Sentani to came upon Tokoro. first encountered the Orya — made Nonetheless, “we journey into the Orya’s lands. But they didn’t kill a 150-mile trek to Tokoro’s home left the next day to Baptized in 1987, Tokoro and his him. and asked the Christians to teach go there,” Morgan wife, Alfrida, had become stalwart New Guinea them about Jesus. said, “and the rest is believers, the missionary said. A tribesmen, Morgan This time, Morgan said, there was history.” church met in their home — and explained, “know no need for a promise of safety. That encounter — had endured violent opposition from what it is to live in “Graduates of our school have 27 years ago — was a gang of men who beat and threat- fear of enemies, trop- already spent some time there,” he Morgan’s first with the Morgan ened their preacher. Undeterred, ical diseases, malevo- Tokoro said, “and the hospitality is pure joy. Orya, a tribe isolated the church kept meeting, praying lent spirits in animals, “Many who became Christians for generations in the mountainous and baptizing. inanimate objects and disembodied in that area 27 years ago have rainforests on Indonesia’s side of the But Tokoro wasn’t in search of spirits — all controlled tenuously, long since gone to be with the island, about 50 miles west of the new souls as he walked the river- futilely, by practitioners of sorcery Lord. Many of their children and border with Papua New Guinea. banks of the rainforest. This real- and animistic ritual.” grandchildren have finished high The tribe had slaughtered a govern- life crocodile hunter was looking for They saw Tokoro as a friend in school. Some have graduated from ment contingent sent to them in 1968, skins he could sell to merchants — need — not a threat. They invited him university, becoming government Morgan said. For the next 20 years who would turn them into handbags to their village and gave him shelter. employees, teachers, entrepreneurs. they kept to themselves, often fighting to sell in Hong Kong or boots to sell In return, Tokoro told them about a “The folks at Taja are saying, ‘Please each other. By the late 1980s, when in Bastrop, Texas, Morgan recalled. benevolent God, one more powerful come teach us what you taught them.’”

A few of the men from the Orya tribe, with their wives and children, pose for a photo outside a Bible school operated by Duane Morgan. The school trained 20 Orya men. 16 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE may 2017

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ORDER TODAY! worldbibleschool.net/bible or call 800-311-2006 MAY 2017 Currents the christian chronicle 17 A former muslim, now Bible college director, recounts his harrowing journey to faith ‘God called me for this’ BY ERIK TRYGGESTAD | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE

SOLANO, Philippines grew up Muslim. My father was involved in politics and my mom was a doctor. “But they were massacred … so I fled. “Then I was robbed. They almost killed me. They were gangsters. They got my ‘Imoney and everything. “I don’t remember what happened, but I found myself in Baguio City, wandering in the streets, sleeping on the benches.” His voice seems calm, almost nonchalant, as John Serra Dionio recounts his early life — as he answers the question, “How did you become a Christian?” It’s a drizzly Thursday afternoon in Solano, a small city in the heart of the island of Luzon. Dionio, 44, a bespectacled, unassuming Filipino with a broad smile, sits in a worn wooden school desk at the Philippine Bible College of Bangar, where he serves as director. On the walls around him are maps of ancient Israel, a diagram of “The Armor of God,” a poster that proclaims, “The church Christ died for has only one name, one doctrine, one head.” Bed sheets and T-shirts hang on a laundry line that separates the second-story classroom from a ping-pong table and a set of weights. Scrawled in chalk on the black- board is a bathroom schedule for the 15 students who live in the building as they ERIK TRYGGESTAD study church history Reghie Marcos leads his classmates in the hymn “Home of the Soul” at the Philippine Bible College of Bangar. and hermeneutics. Downstairs, the The college has lost about 50 percent of its ‘IF EVER YOU’RE IN TROUBLE, FIND THE CHURCH OF CHRIST’ students practice support without Corpuz As the hymn “Sweet Hour of Prayer” echoes hymns for Saturday’s — who tirelessly raised from the students downstairs, Dionio flips graduation as they wait funds among Churches through his old copy of the Quran — a book he for the skies to clear. of Christ in the U.S., never really understood. Then, basketball. Dionio says. The new He grew up middle-class in Mindanao, a large “I cried to the Lord director has reduced island in the southern Philippines with a signifi- PHOTO PROVIDED and asked for wisdom the number of students, cant Muslim population. He followed his father’s John Dionio and his wife, to manage this who study here tuition- faith, though his mother was a baptized Christian Josielyn, celebrated their school,” says Dionio, free, and hopes to move who worshiped with a Church of Christ. 17th anniversary in February. who inherited the the campus to a plot of See more stories from Churches of In 1997, while Dionio was at work, a friend job after a surprise land outside the city Christ in Asia and the South Pacific urgently pulled him aside and told him that Muslims announcement by the college’s founder, Leo where they can grow at www.christianchronicle.org. had murdered his parents. Maybe it was a dispute Corpuz, four years ago. Corpuz — who envisioned their own food. over his family’s politics or their land — he’s still not the school as a place to train “sound, gospel “I believe this is my calling,” Dionio says. sure. He just knew he had to leave, immediately. preachers” from the rural, poor communities of “Brother Leo prepared me for this job, but God They were coming for him. Luzon — died two days later. called me for this ministry.” CONTINUED 18 MAY 2017 CURRENTS THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 19

CONTINUED ‘I FOUND THE TRUTH’ nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing is The Philippines He boarded a ship for Luzon and went Corpuz, a native of the Philippines, earned worth nothing.” to the Philippines’ capital, Manila. There ministry degrees from Harding University During the three-hour he was robbed and beaten. He doesn’t in Arkansas and Pepperdine University in assembly, John Dionio Solano Luzon remember much of what happened next. California before returning home to train and the school’s staff sing Russia Baguio Somehow he boarded a bus for Baguio City preachers at the Philippine Bible College. multiple hymns with the Manila in northern Luzon. He doesn’t know how — He wanted to open a new school in central students, including “I want to China or why — he chose that destination. Luzon for students who lived far from be a soul winner for Jesus.” Dazed, aimless, he wandered as words Baguio or the capital. He chose Solano, One of the singers, Asuncion India his mother once told him a town in the province of Nueva Corpuz, pauses as emotion Sameon echoed in his head: “If Vizcaya. It’s a seven-hour journey overwhelms her. It’s her first ever you’re in trouble, find here from Manila, over moun- graduation without her husband by her side. Mindanao the Church of Christ.” tainous roads clogged with massive “When he gave his last speech … maybe he A woman at the city’s transport trucks and tiny “tricycles” knew,” says Leo Corpuz’s widow. “He said, ‘I Australia information center — motorized bikes with sidecars am transferring the helm of PBC to my son. referred him to a for paying passengers. PBC will go on. It will be in good hands, with Mormon church, but he Corpuz put Dionio, who still refused the help of the Lord.’” knew that wasn’t it, nor to study the Bible, in charge of the One of the graduates, Rogelio Bartolome, POPULATION: 102 million; RELIGION: 83 percent was a United Church of new school’s library. Dionio also says the college gave him more than a Bible Catholic, 5 percent Muslim, 7.5 percent evangelical or Christ in town. worked in the garden and helped degree. The program inspired him to stop other Christian, 2.3 percent Iglesia ni Cristo, 2.2 other. “Finally, someone said, clean the building. Once, as he stood drinking. It changed his life. Hearing John CHURCHES OF CHRIST: Missionaries from Restoration ‘Maybe you’re looking in the back of a Bible class, he over- Dionio’s story makes him realize “that I’m Movement churches entered in 1901. After World War II, for the Philippine Bible PHOTO PROVIDED heard a discussion of the Holy Spirit really lucky,” Bartolome says — and that Christians who served in the U.S. military helped plant College,’” he recalls. Bible college founder Leo and asked, “What’s that?” God can overcome vices and churches. Now the islands are home to more Churches A receptionist gave him Corpuz with his wife, Asuncion. He gave in to his curiosity and obstacles. of Christ than any other nation in Southeast Asia or seven pesos (about 20 cracked open a Bible in the library. The story also shows Polynesia, with nearly 1,000 congregations and at least cents) to get a ride to the college, a ministry He read and read, intrigued by the stories that God never forsakes 20 Bible colleges and ministry training schools. training school supported by Churches of of a loving God offering salvation. A month his children, adds Teresa Christ. When Dionio arrived, the staff was later, he asked to be baptized. ERIK TRYGGESTAD Montero, the Bible college’s gone. He slept in a nearby park and came “Are you sure?” Corpuz asked, surprised. John Dionio and Asuncion Corpuz, right, present a diploma to Lenter Kilaban, 25, who earned a two-year degree from the Philippine Bible College of secretary. John Dionio has Philippine Bible back. A worker let him in to take a bath. “Yeah, I found the truth,” Dionio replied. Bangar. Dionio also gives medals to Kiliban’s father, Oscar, to present to his son. Lenter Kilaban left home to work as a farmer and began worshiping with a taught her that God “will let Filo Alcayde, the school’s director, listened July 17, 1999, was the first day of his nearby Church of Christ. He was baptized, and during his time at the Bible college he shared his faith with his father and mother, Betty. “We learned about things happen for a reason, Teresa Montero College of Bangar to Dionio’s story and helped him pay the Christian life. About two years later, Dionio how to be saved — that the only way is Jesus,” Oscar Kilaban said as his son translated. Both parents were baptized recently. to direct us to his plan.” city tax to get documentation so he could married a fellow believer, Josielyn Cabrera. “Kuya John is very LOCATION: Solano, a town in Nueva Viscaya, a province work. Alcayde offered to let him do odd jobs They have two daughters, 13-year-old Karylle Impressed by his command of Scripture, Francisco when he could. tion as the Bible college’s director. passionate and dedicated to in the Cagayan Valley region of Luzon. The school meets around the college. and 11-year-old Kyra. supporters in California asked the newly Corpuz continued to visit the college for Dressed in academic robes and a blue- the school,” she says, using in Solano’s Bangar neighborhood in the Huey Norried “I asked him, ‘What is your job?’” Dionio Josilyn Dionio still cries when her husband minted minister to serve a Church of Christ graduations — including one in 2013 when he feathered cap, he greets the students with a Filipino word for older Memorial Building. Administrators plan to move the recalls. shares his life story — “especially when he in the San Francisco suburb of Daly City. announced, unexpectedly, “I give my authority his broad smile as they walk to the stage brother. “I admire how he school to a plot of land outside Solano — the current Alcayde replied, “I am a minister of God.” was sleeping in the park,” she says. The congregation was a mix of black, white, and relinquish my directorship to John Dionio.” to get their diplomas — accompanied by handles the students, with meeting place of the Bangar Church of Christ. “Then I wanted to be a minister of God “His conversion encourages other Filipino and Asian believers, Dionio says. He Two days later, before returning to the U.S., parents, wives, even a few aunties who intro- so much care, and how he founded: 1999, by Filipino minister Leo Corpuz. also,” Dionio says, “because of his example.” Christians,” she adds, “and his life is really a preached and worked at an assisted living Corpuz went to a clinic for dialysis. duced them to Christ. treats them as family.” programs: Two-year Associate of Theology and But he didn’t want to study the Bible. He was, blessing to all of us.” facility to support his family. There, “he went back to the Lord,” John Shemer Sameon, a Filipino preacher from John Dionio studied Nico Montero four-year Bachelor of Theology degrees. Students must after all, Muslim. So he found a job in Baguio as In 2008, the Dionios returned to Solano Dionio says. Baguio, speaks to the graduates about the need the Bible with Montero’s be high school graduates and pass a waiter. Alcayde, however, refused to give up FROM SALVATION TO SAN FRANCISCO — AND BACK to help with the college as Corpuz battled to have “a mind that thinks like Jesus, a heart husband, Nico, who says that the former an entrance exam. Most are on the mysterious man from Mindanao. About After his baptism, John Dionio took on complications of diabetes. Then the school’s A RELIGION THAT COSTS NOTHING … that loves like Jesus, eyes focused on Jesus.” Muslim’s passionate teaching about Jesus recommended by their two months later, he approached Dionio again. the dual role of librarian and student at founder was diagnosed with blood cancer Four years later — and two days after “It will not be easy,” Sameon says. “There led to his own decision to be baptized. congregations. “Brother Leo Corpuz is planning to open a the Philippine Bible College of Bangar. — and had to spend most of his time in the sharing his testimony in that second-story will be hardships. The good news is, you’re not “He treats me like his own relative,” Nico faculty/staff: Bible school in Solano,” he said. “Would you Corpuz later took him to the U.S. to visit the U.S. for treatment. John Dionio oversaw classroom — John Dionio stands in a rented alone.” He shares a quote attributed to theo- Montero says. “I’m one of the many fruits of Director John Dionio; like to go with him?” college’s supporting churches. the school, but planned to return to San banquet hall, presiding over his first gradua- logian Martin Luther: “A religion that gives his faith.” Assistant Director Wayne B. Corpuz; Instructors Charlie Rana, Juanito Mapanao Jr. Santh Joseph Clark Jason Sullera Michael Uao Jericho Oanes Joe Darelle Bartolome Christian Rana, Rolando Toquero, Shawn Corpuz; Secretary Teresa Montero; He doesn’t know the plans Joseph, 30, grew up in the Like director John Dionio, “In high school, I was a hard- Drugs, alcohol and gambling Bartolome, 23, grew up in Finance Officer Josielyn Dionio; Cook Barnaditha God has for him, but “I know Iglesia ni Cristo, one of the Sullera, 22, came to the Bible headed, naughty boy,” says threatened to engulf Oanes’ Churches of Christ, but says Cabacungan; Property Manager Romeo Corpuz. God called me here to study,” largest denominations in college from Mindanao in Uao, 21, who has completed life until five of his friends were that his four years at the Bible community service: Students and staff grow rice says Mapanao, 28. He has the Philippines. But sound the southern Philppines. one year at the Bible college. involved in a car accident. His college — and especially the and vegetables — and participate in feeding programs, struggled with alcohol and doctrine changed his mind Part of his four years of train- He used to get in fights, but best friend died. He visited field work — have helped medical missions and other community activities. depression but found a Church — in the form of a radio ing included two months of “I’ve lost a lot of my anger here,” churches, looking for mean- him understand what he Workers at the college also serve in a chaplaincy role of Christ and was baptized in 2012. Wayne program produced by a Church of Christ. The ministry with a small, rural congregation. “You he adds, “and I’m enjoying the life-changing ing, and found the Bible college. Now 25, “my believes. In the Philippines, even those who with their local police department. Corpuz, a teacher at Philippine Bible College, church member recently completed the Bible must have time for study, because there are teaching of Christ. I want to spread the Gospel to classmates help me to overcome my vices,” says care little for Christianity “feel they are empty ONLINE: www.facebook.com/PBCBANGARFOUNDATION introduced him to the school. In his first year, he college’s two-year program and wants “to many questions,” he said of the experience. other youths who are lost, those who are alone, the second-year student. “I’m praying to have a without church,” he says. “There’s space in the Sources: CIA World Factbook, interviews received the “Most Improved Student” award. become a sound, gospel teacher.” During the practicum, he baptized three souls. those who seek answers for their questions.” good life, to know more about the Word of God.” heart … where they seek for God.” 20 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE may 2017

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LAUREN KOSKI, AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS Acappella singing group’s reunion draws 2,000 to event hosted by Texas congregation Gary Moyers, Keith Lancaster, Wayburn Dean and George Pendergrass are reunited at an who traveled from as far away as Michigan and Ohio, attended the concert, the Amarillo event for past and present members of the singing group Acappella. The celebration was Globe-News reported. The group, which has been in existence for 35 years, was founded in hosted by the Central Church of Christ in Amarillo, Texas. A crowd of 2,000, including guests Tennessee by Keith Lancaster in 1982 with a four-track recording of his own voice.

HIGHER EDUCATION LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY spoTLIGHT NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After he was diag- OKLAHOMA CITY — Kerygma, a recent HERITAGE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY nosed with HIV 25 years ago, Magic conference hosted by Oklahoma FLORENCE, Ala. — Dennis Jones, who Johnson’s Christian faith saved his Christian, was designed by Bible museum opens served for 28 years as president of marriage, the retired basketball star preachers for preachers, orga- SEARCY, Ark. — The Linda Byrd Smith Heritage Christian, has retired effec- said recently at Lipscomb. nizer Grady King said. Sixty-two Museum of Biblical Archaeology tive April 6, the university reports. Johnson, who dominated the court preachers from Oklahoma, Texas, has opened at Harding University. The 115-student with the Los Angeles Lakers, and Missouri and Kansas attended, said With more than 100 artifacts ministry training his wife, Cookie, spoke to students, King, Oklahoma Christian’s director displayed, the museum will be used school, associated faculty, staff and donors. The visit was of church resources. as a resource for students to provide with Churches of part of the university’s Imagine 2017 “I have been attending conferences context and help them better under- Christ, was founded series, titled “Nashville: Prosperity for for 27 years, and this is one of the best stand their biblical studies. as International Bible All Corners of the City.” ones I have attended for preachers,” Museum coordinator Dale Manor College in 1971. Magic Johnson — now president said Mitch Wilburn, minister for the is the field director for the Tel Beth- The decision of basketball operations for the Park Plaza Church of Christ in Tulsa, Shemesh dig site in Israel. For more followed months of Lakers — stressed the importance Okla. “It was outstanding.” Jones than 20 years, he has collected arti- contemplation by of education and faith. facts and replica objects from Israel. Jones and discussions about retire- ment and succession with Heritage’s MINISTRY TRAINING board of trustees. “The future of HCU is bright, and I SUNSET INTERNATIONAL BIBLE INSTITUTE look forward to applauding its prog- LUBBOCK, Texas — Spanish speakers ress from the sidelines,” Jones said from Argentina to Venezuela will in a letter to the board. “May God soon have handheld solar players bless all the dedicated Christians loaded with God’s Word and Bible who will take the university to a study materials produced by Sunset. better place. My prayers will be with “While we are still receiving the them every step of the way.” remainder of the $1.5 million needed Three administrators — Bill for completion of the project, enough Bagents, Philip Goad and Pat Moon KRISTI JONES, LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY has been received that many of the PHOTO PROVIDED BY HARDING UNIVERSITY — will assume Jones’ duties while Magic Johnson speaks during Lipscomb trips (to distribute the players) are “Treasures Hidden in a Field” is one of the board develops a long-term plan. University’s Imagine 2017 series. already scheduled,” Sunset reports. the exhibits featured at the museum. 22 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE PARTNERS MAY 2017

PHOTOS provided BY Faulkner university PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARK HOOPER At Faulkner University in Montogomery, Ala., a KC University soccer player meets a KC University players have a devotional before their baptisms in 2016. Being present young fan. The team played their Christian university counterparts to a 2-2 tie. for the event “felt like being in the middle of the book of Acts,” said Dan Bouchelle. SOCCER: A community comes to Christ, together FROM PAGE 3 the nonprofit formed a partnership bigger and focus on families and organized unit that was clever on “It is important for them to be more to serve as a Global Launch Site, larger social groups. This is what we the ball and had the ability to cause committed to their faith, not just to said Mark Hooper, the ministry’s see happening in the New Testament us problems with their fast speed of soccer itself.” director of Asia missions. with extended families and communi- play,” said Lipscomb assistant coach Congregations including the The goals of the partnership, ties coming to Christ together. Stephen Lunney. Otter Creek Church of Christ in Hooper said, include “Being present on the day the Still, the NCAA Brentwood, Tenn., helped found the reaching students on KCU soccer team put on Christ felt Division 1 school school, formerly known as Korea campus who are not like being in the middle of the book handed the Koreans a Christian University, in 1958. Now followers of Christ, of Acts.” 5-1 loss. most of the university’s 1,300 students working with inter- To motivate his do not claim Christianity as their faith. national students THE POWER OF CELL PHONE CONFISCATION team, Daeryung The university offers Bible classes. who may return to At Faulkner University in put the players’ cell Last year, after studying with the their homelands Montgomery, Ala., the Korean team phones in a bag and campus chaplain and other staffers, 18 Bouchelle as disciple-makers, played their counterparts to a 2-2 tie. Lunney promised to return of the team’s 22 players asked to put writing a missions The Koreans were talented, competi- them when they on Christ in baptism. So did Daeryung curriculum for the university’s tive and exceedingly respectful as won another game. That happened and another of the team’s coaches. Bible department and working with they played the NAIA Division 1 at Freed-Hardeman University It happened on May 29, 2016. churches in Seoul toward increased team, which finished in the final four in Henderson, Tenn., where the There weren’t enough baptismal involvement in missions. of its conference with a 10-6-1 record, Koreans shut out the NAIA Division 1 robes for 20 new souls, so the team- Hooper, along with Missions head coach Kyle Beard said. squad in a 7-0 victory. mates went into the water in their Resource Network President Dan “They were all hard-working kids,” More impressive than their soccer soccer jerseys. Bouchelle and board member Joyce Beard told the Chronicle, “and the skills, however, was the Koreans’ Hardin, a former missionary in Korea, staff was very driven in the match. story of faith, said Freed-Hardeman PARTNERING TO WIN SOULS witnessed the soccer team’s baptisms. But before and after, they were head coach Jason Elliott. They brought those same jerseys “Most people, especially those from enjoying every person they met and “It impresses me that a group of to the U.S. for the two-week tour, highly communal cultures, don’t every experience they came upon.” young people would all be open to organized with assistance from typically make major life decisions From Faulkner, the team headed hearing the Gospel, despite growing Missions Resource Network, a alone,” Bouchelle told the Chronicle. north to Lipscomb University in up in a background where that has nonprofit supported by Churches of “Too often, we look to lead individuals Nashville, Tenn. to be very foreign to them,” Elliott Christ. Last year the university and to the Lord when we need to think “The Korean team was a well- said. “It shows great courage.” MAY 2017 PARTNERS THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 23

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ERIK TRYGGESTAD Help secure the future of The Christian A prayer for Korea, North and South, at the DMZ Chronicle. “It’s only a river between South and North,” says minister Sang Yang as he gazes across the Imjin River into North Korea. “I have my relatives right there, not knowing whether they are still alive or not.” As tensions rise between the isolated Asian nation and the U.S., believers around the world petition God on behalf of souls on the troubled peninsula. At Call Stephen Eck of the Chronicle Planned www.christianchronicle.org, find Erik Tryggestad’s column, “Pray for Korea, North and South,” in which he recounts his journey with Yang to the Demilitarized Zone. Also, see our Giving Office for assistance at (405) 425-5080. 2013 feature on Yang, director of the Bible Correspondence Center in Seoul.

After the game, the Korean players THE LANGUAGE OF THE GAME attacked the bag of cell phones like The Koreans, in only their second hungry piranhas, Daeryung said. year as a competitive team, hope The team worshiped with the to use the experience to help them Germantown Church of Christ near succeed in their 80-university divi- Memphis, Tenn., before traveling nine sion. In addition to learning from hours west to Oklahoma Christian. the Americans’ physical style of play, The Eagles, an NCAA Division 2 Daeryung said he was amazed by squad, took a 2-0 lead before the the size and quality of the athletic Koreans connected facilities he visited. a long ball down the But part of soccer’s field to score. Late in unifying power is the second half they its simplicity, Elliott scored again, tying added. the game 2-2 — and “You don’t have escaping the threat to have money to of additional phone play — just a ball,” confiscations. Pope Elliott the Freed-Hardeman “I was honestly a coach said. “Several little surprised at how aggressive of our guys immediately hit if off they were,” said Oklahoma Christian with the Koreans just by passing the freshman soccer player Landon soccer ball in the gym when they Pope. “Coming in, I figured they’d arrived.” play more of a finesse game. Though soccer players worldwide “It was an amazing experience,” he speak different languages, “the added. “I never thought that I would language of the game is universal,” be able to play a team from an Asian Lunney said. country, so to have this opportunity At Lipscomb, athletes on both was unreal.” sides of the soccer ball “showcased Before returning to Seoul, the exactly what a Christian athlete team traveled four hours to scrim- should look like.” mage with players at Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland TRANSLATION of some interviews by Danny Kang. Hills, Texas. Additional interviews by Erik Tryggestad. 24 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE PEOPLE MAY 2017 CONFESSION: ‘I felt like I had to do the right thing’ FROM PAGE 3 that time, she said, ‘Yes, he told me white prison jumpsuit — with long, I could have it.’ At this time she took brown hair pulled behind her head. off the ring and gave it back to me. … “I just want to try and do as much After all of this was finished I put the as I can to bring the Lord the glory he ring in a ceramic jar in the kitchen.” deserves because it’s not about me,” The signed paperwork stressed that she added. “It’s about what we can do Wilson gave the statement voluntarily. for him and how many souls we can “I am giving this statement to lead to him as well.” Detective Evans because not only will it make it right with my God, but SEARCHING FOR THE LORD it will also bring justice to Margaret,” Wilson was an early suspect in the Wilson said. “It is because that I Oct. 27, 1995, robbery, kidnapping am a Christian that I stand on this and slaying of Morales, a 25-year- conviction.” old mother of two. Morales had a romantic relationship with Wilson’s FOCUSED ON JESUS former boyfriend, Sean Cullen. On March 5, 1997, Wilson pleaded In late 1995, Wilson was arrested on guilty to capital murder in Bexar capital murder charges along with her County District Court. brother Rudolfo Longoria, then 19, In exchange for her plea, the pros- and her cousin Ralph Rodriguez, 22. ecution agreed not to seek the death But while indictments came penalty. shortly for Longoria and Rodriguez, The victim’s mother and Wilson walked out of the Bexar BOBBY ROSS JR. sisters, who were present for the County Jail after 90 days because of Lucinda Wilson is interviewed at the Dr. Lane Murray Unit, a women’s prison in Texas. sentencing, told the Express-News insufficient evidence against her, the that Wilson’s remorse came too late. San Antonio Express-News reported. for 10 weeks. During each week’s two- recalled. “So she decided that was “Where was God in her life before While in jail, Wilson had access to hour class, the students would take a what she was going to do.” she did this?” Morales’ sister Isabel a Bible and read the Old and New break for coffee and snacks. Forster accompanied Wilson to Cantu asked in a front-page story Testaments, she told the Chronicle. “She’d always bring some really the police station. She admitted published the day after the sentencing. “I read it three times in 90 days nice dessert,” Massie said of Wilson, to Detective David W. Evans that More than two decades later, and learned quite a bit I didn’t describing her as an excellent student. the day Morales was killed, she Wilson pays for her crime in an know,” said Wilson, who was raised “During the class, she learned a lot “was there for the entire ordeal,” environment that she characterizes Roman Catholic. “I really was calling of about Jesus Christ and his death, according to court records obtained as never comfortable. out to God and burial and resurrection,” by the Chronicle. She resides in a praying.” the minister added, “and it In her written “big metal barn” She did not just convinced her.” statement dated with hundreds of understand the Sept. 21, 1996, beds in open-air reason for her WHY SHE CONFESSED Wilson confessed barracks, she said. release, she said. On Sept. 13, 1996, that she hit Morales “In the winter- But back on Forster baptized Wilson in the head with a time, it’s extremely the streets, for the forgiveness of sins. crowbar, trying to cold. The heaters she began her Shortly thereafter, knock her uncon- don’t always work,” personal search Wilson confessed her role scious. Wilson also she said. “And in for the Lord. in Morales’ murder to supplied her cousin PHOTO provided BY HELEN HORNE the summertime, A flier adver- Forster. with the gun and Helen Horne, a member of the it’s extremely hot. tising a “Getting “I felt like I had to do the ammunition used Gatesville Church of Christ, visits with We don’t have to Know Jesus” PHOTO PROVIDED BY LUCINDA WILSON right thing if I was serious to shoot Morales. Lucinda Wilson during her time at the air-conditioning or Bible study led Lucinda Wilson said she served about my new life and And she gave her Mountain View Unit in Gatesville. proper air circula- her to the Alamo in the U.S. Navy before she got following the Lord like I brother a can of tion. It can be 120 City Church of cervical cancer and received an wanted to,” Wilson said. lighter fluid with instructions to degrees inside of our buildings.” Christ, where honorable medical discharge. Massie was traveling, so burn the body and other evidence. At the same time, safety is always she came in Forster and Wilson tele- While driving the handcuffed victim a concern, she said. contact with ministers John Massie phoned to seek his counsel. During from an apartment to the wooded “There are fights that go on. There and Mark Forster. the call, Wilson revealed the gory, area where she was shot, Wilson are assaults that go on. There are Massie remembers that Wilson, specific details. noticed a ring on Morales’ finger, racial issues that never seem to end,” then 27, was a dashing woman who “I said, ‘Lucinda, if you want to be according to the statement. Wilson said. “I feel like I have to have caught the attention of the men in the right with the Lord … you’re going “He gave you my ring?!” Wilson eyes in front of my head, back of my class, which met each Thursday night to have to give yourself up,’” Massie recounted asking the victim. “At head and side of my head.” MAY 2017 PEOPLE THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 25

FACULTY POSITIONS AVAILABLE All candidates must be active members of the church of Christ BEXAR COUNTY COURT RECORDS and committed to Christian education. Lucinda Wilson gave a six-page statement to police confessing her role in the murder. DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING AND PHYSICS. Seeking Through it all, Wilson strives to lowshipped us the way she did.” full-time faculty member in civil engineering. The successful can- keep her eyes focused on Jesus. Horne said she was elated when didate will have a Ph.D. in civil engineering or closely related field. She previously was incarcer- Wilson wrote her about five years Responsibilities include overseeing, planning and accrediting of the ated at the Mountain View Unit, ago and sought forgiveness for her also in Gatesville. At that prison, harsh judgment. civil engineering program in coordination with department chair; she converted a fellow convicted In her interview with the curriculum development; and teaching of undergraduate lecture and murderer, Aruna Kavali, who was Chronicle, Wilson identified both laboratory courses. raised Hindu. Horne and Massie as spiritual Submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae and statement of At the Dr. Lane Murray Unit, she mentors who could discuss her faith. teaching interests to Dr. Zane Gastineau, chair, at zgastineau@har- teaches a Bible class that she said “My greatest challenge was the ding.edu or Box 12290, Searcy, AR 72149. draws between seven and 15 inmates fact that when I came here, I was a each Thursday afternoon. recently baptized Christian,” Wilson “We are reading the Book of said. “And I had to raise myself and DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES. Seek- Esther right now,” she said. grow up in a very ungodly envi- ing full-time faculty member. The successful candidate will possess a ronment without the privilege or minimum of a master’s degree in child life. Relevant Ph.D. preferred. HER GREATEST CHALLENGE the luxury … to gather with other Applicants should have the Certified Child Life Specialist credential During Wilson’s time in prison, Christians and worship the Lord on (CCLS), work experience as a child life specialist in a major medical Christians such as Helen Horne have Sundays.” center, and college teaching experience. Responsibilities include teach- visited her and studied with her. Despite her circumstances, inmate ing courses in areas of specialty; recruiting, mentoring and advising stu- “She loves the church. She loves No. 00786238 said she considers the Lord,” said Horne, 87, a member herself blessed. dents; and serving on departmental, college and university committees. of the nearby Gatesville Church of “As far as a place like this, you Submit a letter of application and curriculum vitae to Dr. Denise Christ. “That’s very evident.” never really outlive your past. Fisher, chair, at [email protected] or Box 12233, Searcy, AR 72149. But Horne and Massie said Wilson Basically, you’re a TDCJ number, has experienced growing pains in and that’s it until we leave this Additional openings are available in the following areas: her Christian walk. facility, and then we can be seen as Both said Wilson “disfellow- an individual,” Wilson said. COLLEGE OF EDUCATION shipped” them and others when “I just pray the Lord will give me Northwest Arkansas Professional Center Director certain church members persuaded that opportunity one day, and if not, North Little Rock Professional Center Director her they were teaching false doctrine. that’s OK, too,” she added. “I just COLLEGE OF NURSING “I love Lucinda. She’s like a hope to do the best that I can and daughter to me,” Massie said. “It do as much as I can in the time that COLLEGE OF PHARMACY broke our hearts when she disfel- he’s given me.” Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Department of Pharmacy Practice Inmate’s story shows ‘courage that came from Christ’ DEPARTMENT OF ART AND DESIGN DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES CHICAGO — Kevin Watson, a member The Illinois church member said of the Southtown Church of Christ, he identified with Wilson because he, DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY The Christian Chronicle encouraged too, spent time in prison. He did not DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION to share Lucinda Wilson’s story. commit the crime for which he was Watson said he and Wilson began convicted, he said. But he believes DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES exchanging letters in 2005 at one God used prison as a means for him of the lowest points of his life. to hear the Gospel and be baptized. DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS His mother had died two months “This is a young woman who, like OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAM DIRECTOR earlier, he explained. so many of us, made a mistake,” A fellow Christian named Krystal Watson said. “But she had a strength Please visit harding.edu/hr/jobsfaculty for further information on these Jackson gave Watson a copy of a 2003 and a courage that came from Christ positions. To learn more about open staff positions, visit harding.edu/hr/jobs. Christian Woman Magazine article, … and even after being freed from a Harding is committed to hiring a diverse faculty and staff. Women, minorities, titled “No Greater Faith,” that the charge that was brought against her, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply. inmate wrote about her experience. she went back and turned herself in.” 26 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE may 2017

Minister Vacancy Full-Time Minister Search - Aberdeen, Maryland FULL-TIME MINISTER VACANCY TheLemoore Church of Christ in Lemoore, We are a congregation of 110+, with elders, deacons, and a family-elder minister. Upon Hillcrest Church of Christ Calif., is looking for a full-time minister for successful integration into the congregation, the current minister will retire from full-time in Decatur, Ga., is looking for our congregation of about 80 members. We preaching. We are seeking a man with a number of years preaching experience who loves a full-time minister for are in the middle of farm country in the San the Lord and will come to love the family of God in Aberdeen by teaching, preaching, and congregation of 400 plus. Joaquin Valley. Lemoore Naval Air Station counseling. Our congregation is adjacent the Aberdeen Proving Ground and is located in Harford For job description, application, is located about 10 miles west of town with County, Md., near the Chesapeake Bay, approximately midway between Philadelphia, Pa., and and a virtual tour of our facility, its population of over 6000. We are about Washington, D.C. Aberdeen has good schools and a small-town atmosphere. We offer a please visit our website: 1 1/2 hours from the coast, 120 miles from competitive salary based on experience, education and training. If interested please send Yosemite National Park, 200 miles from San cover letter with your resume and references, with contact information and two sermons www.hillcrestcoc.net/apply Francisco, and 200 miles from Los Angeles. (DVD or flash drive), or indicate where your sermons are posted on the internet. For more information call: Contact Elder Ken Neal Church of Christ of Aberdeen Craig Case: (559) 380-6470 90 Mt. Royal Ave, Aberdeen, MD 21001 (678) 344-9871 Vernon Garretson: (559) 816-8567 [email protected], aberdeencoc.org, (410) 272-5450 Application deadline is May 31, 2017

MINISTER WANTED Pulpit Minister - Valdosta, Ga. Stolley Park Church of Christ is actively seeking a Full or Part-Minister minister. We are seeking a seasoned, mature, high- The Central Avenue Church of Christ is looking for a Pulpit Minister. We are located on I-75, We are looking for a full or part-time minis- energy individual to minister to an active congrega- and we are the last county in Georgia before you get to Florida. We are looking for someone ter for a small, self supporting congregation. tion of 100. We have five elders, four deacons, a who is visionary in nature, who is a dynamic proclaimer of God’s Word, and who is committed We are offing a salary and a three-bedroom full-time youth minister, and a part-time secretary. to building and strengthening a congregation of 500 members (275 families). We are biblically home. Please send a resume and cover letter Please send a resume to: sound yet progressive in methodology. We are seeking a minister committed to equipping a to: Stolley Park Church of Christ diverse body of believers for ministry and to proclaiming and interpreting God’s Word to a 2822 W Stolley Park Rd rapidly changing world. Supporting the work are five elders, 16 deacons, two ministers, and two Central Church of Christ Grand Island, NE 68801 secretaries. We have a newly refurbished and well-maintained facility. If you would be interested 100 Coopers Pond Rd in working and worshipping with us in South Georgia, please contact: [email protected] Monticello, FL 32344 Kevin Prior, elder, (308) 384-3901 John Klimko, Jr. [email protected] www.stolleycofc.com Central Avenue Church of Christ (229) 242-6115 (850) 997-1166 Salary and benefits will be negotiated. 304 E Central Ave The deadline for resumes is June 1, 2017. [email protected] Valdosta, GA 31601 ccofcmonticello.org

What’s Your Niche? Earn a $38,000* Scholarship doing What you Love! *Scholarships of up to $38,000 over 4 years ($9500 per year, per qualified applicant) OVU NICHE GROUPS: • Missions • Social Media • Performing Arts Love mission • Videography • Ultimate Frisbee work? We’ve got a scholarship for that! Learn more today: www.ovu.edu/niche MAY 2017 PEOPLE the christian chronicle 27 Newsmakers Milestones Showcasing the moments of your life and the lives of loved ones. Birthdays smaller bodies of Christ. In every loca- Craig’s talents, ambition and passions tion we have passionately served the to bring positive change to the people 93rd: Dorothy Polisono Lord, having been shaped and influ- of the colonias in this area. As God Richardson, March 17, Livingston, enced as surely as “iron sharpens iron” used him to do His works, Craig’s Texas. 90th: Glenn Martin, April 7, by those in the church and those whom spiritual posture is captured in Psalm Gastonia, N.C. the Lord added to the church. We still 115: “Not to us, LORD, not to us but strive to encourage our brethren by to your name be the glory, because of PHOTO PROVIDED BY HARDING UNIVERSITY Anniversaries phone calls and written letters. your love and faithfulness.” Clifton and Louise Ganus were honored We appreciate having our daughters by Harding University, where they mar- close by, and we frequently enjoy Lila Dean McManus ried after he graduated in 1943. Maynard “Bud” and contact with our son in Colorado. Sue Hammons Our three children have enriched our 1938 - 2017 RECOGNIZED: Clifton Ganus, lives with four grandchildren. We now chancellor of Harding University 61 years reside in Broken Arrow, Okla. Mrs. Lila Dean McManus passed in Searcy, Ark., with the establish- away Saturday, March 18, 2017, at ment of the Clifton L. Ganus Jr. As we reflect upon 61 years of the age of 78. She was born July 20, Distinguished Chair of History marriage and as servants of the Lord 50th: Jack and 1938, near Madill, Okla. and Political Science by the Jesus Christ, we, Maynard “Bud” and Vicki Houser, On Feb. 19, 1955, she married Harrel College of Arts and Sue, give Him all glory! It was His May 24, North D. McManus. He preceded her in Humanities. Providence that brought us together. Bend, Ore. death in 2009. Mrs. McManus was the Jimmy Allen was minister for the Director of Human Resources for the RETIRING: Col. congregation in Prescott, Ark. where Chickasaw Nation and currently served Michael Waymon Sue attended. Jimmy and elder Reese as a Legislator for the Chickasaw Summers, as state McDougald arranged Sue’s entrance into 70th: Don & Shirley Genrich, Nation. She was a longtime member of chaplain for the Harding College. Royce Blackburn, the June 22, Albion, Neb. the Galey Church of Christ. Georgia National minister at Panhandle, Texas, arranged Survivors include three daughters, a Guard. He is the Summers an early release from the Air Force for Memorials brother, a sister, 11 grandchildren, and pulpit minister for Bud’s entrance into Harding as well. We seven great-grandchildren. the Leavenworth Church of Christ met there in 1955 and were married by in Kansas. Don S. Dickerson Jr., Jimmy Allen on May Franklin Craig Cooper preacher for the Gainesville Church 5, 1956. 1946- 2017 Mary Sue of Christ in Florida. We raised our Gibson Porter, 88, family: Felicia, Franklin Craig Cooper died on Albuquerque, N.M., HONORED: Parker LaMascus, Mark and Cynthia March 23, 2017. He is preceded in April 11. a mechancial (Yeats) as we served death by his parents and is survived by engineering major a military congrega- his wife, Janet Cooper, two children, at Oklahoma tion outside Yakota and five grandchildren. Christian Air Force Base in Craig was born in 1946 in Port Arthur, Stella Norfleet, 102, Harvey, Ill., University, as the Tokyo, Japan. We were invited monthly Texas. His family moved to the Rio March 20. Phyllis B. Green, 69, university’s first to encourage a Japanese congregation Grande Valley in 1953. Craig graduated April 15, Oakhurst, Cal. Barry Goldwater through an interpreter. from Edinburg High School, served in Scholar. The Next, we served a church in New the Navy for four years, and then gradu- Correction LaMascus scholarship is the Mexico while Bud earned his Master’s ated with a Greek studies degree from nation’s premier degree. From there we accepted a Abilene Christian University. undergraduate award of its type in position in Adelaide, South Australia. Craig was truly dedicated to his James Monroe Elliott mathematics, the natural sciences In 1985, we accepted a unique oppor- family and, most of all, to being a 1926-2017 and engineering. LaMascus is a tunity with the Hands of Compassion follower of his Lord Jesus Christ by member of the ministry to become Hospital Chaplain bringing others to know Him. James Monroe Elliott of Memphis, Memorial Road for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. After a 20-year banking career, Craig Tenn., is survived by his wife of 61 years, Church of Christ in The most fulfilling ministry there was embraced his true calling. His role Gloria; a daughter, Debra (Tim) Baird of Oklahoma City. arranged while our daughter Felicia was as Director of Missions at the Pharr Searcy, Ark.; a son, Don (Julia) Elliott a patient. She had a successful brain Church of Christ touched the lives of of Marietta, Ga.; four grandsons: Steven, APPOINTED: surgery for a seizure disorder. thousands. Over a dozen church plant- Daniel, and David Baird and Jeremy Kerry Williams, as Our ministry has been concentrated ings in the Valley and in Mexico are Elliott; two granddaughters: Paige and dean of graduate mostly across the north in assisting among the fruits of his labor. God used Laura Jo Elliott; and two great-grandsons. Williams studies at Sunset International Bible Entries should be submitted to [email protected] or call (405) 425-5071. Institute in Lubbock, Texas. Rates and guidelines are available upon request (credit card preferred). 28 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE MAY 2017 In the word Making God known through art From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. — Acts 17:26-27, New International Version

onths before the Lads to Leaders and Leadership Training for Christ conven- tions began, young men and Mwomen were hard at work on paint- ings, sculptures, scrapbooks, stories and video projects on biblical themes. At the North Texas LTC in Dallas, students displayed their works on the theme “Make Him Known” from the book of Acts. Olivia Whiteside, an eighth grader at the West Houston Church of Christ, constructed a sculpture based on the apostle Paul’s speech to the Areopagus in Athens. “God made us so that we shall inhabit the earth and always seek him,” Whiteside wrote in her sculp- MARISSA ESCAMILLA ture’s description. “We need to make “The clouds are an important part of the painting,” Marissa Escamilla said of her work, based on Acts 1:9-10, “because, in him known, no matter who we are — verse nine, it mentions that Jesus was taken up before (the disciples’) eyes and a cloud hid him from their sight.” Escamilla, red, yellow, black or white — and tell an 11th grader from the Vanderveer Street Church of Christ in Burnet, Texas, submitted the painting for the North Texas the world about him so we can seek Leadership Training for Christ convention. She chose Jesus’ ascension because it “was a huge moment in the disciples’ personal him together.” transformation and the advancement of the Gospel through the church,” she said.

EDITORIAL As we celebrated with our kids, did we miss an opportunity? fter months of painstaking preparation, the Though thousands of us from Churches of Christ weekend flew by at breakneck speed. We across the U.S. gathered in massive hotels for the rushed from puppets to preaching, hurriedly conventions, did we really function as a fellowship? changing our kids into bedsheet togas for their There are deep divides among us — perpetuated, we drama performances. We barely had time for the feel, by a lack of communication. When we occupy the coffee we needed to get through the day. same space and don’t talk, that’s a missed opportunity. In the midst of the rush, did we miss something? One weekend can’t solve all our problems, but it’s a start. How many performances or sermons did we It’s such a thrill to see our children engaged in ERIK TRYGGESTAD witness at this year’s Lads to Leaders and Leadership heavenly pursuits at these conventions. We pray that — Olivia Whiteside’s sculpture proclaims the Training for Christ conventions that didn’t involve especially at the larger venues — we’ll take advantage theme of the 2017 Leadership Training for our own kids? How many of us interacted with people of opportunities to leave our comfort zones and share Christ conventions, “Make Him Known.” from outside our congregation? our joy with our extended family of faith.

Marissa Escamilla, an 11th grader from the Vanderveer Street Church of Christ in Burnet, MAY 2017 opinion the christian chronicle 29 from our readers Responses to autism As the parent of two boys with autism, I have seen three ways that various congrega- tions have responded to children with special needs. (See “Wiggles, fidgets and buddies,” Page 3, April.) One group just says they don’t have the ability or resources to deal with them and hopes we find a good church else- where. The second group allows us to bring them and will tolerate them as long as they aren’t too much trouble. (We actually had an elder say that autism is just an excuse, and they just needed more discipline!) ERIK TRYGGESTAD The third group wants them to come, and A backpacker walks across a soccer field in Catacamas, Honduras, just before the 2003 dedication of a missions hospital. actively reaches out and looks for ways to min- ister to these children as “the least of these.” Tell me, which group do you think Jesus Take a new kind of mission trip — vacation would be in? Thanks for a wonderful and encouraging article. hort-term mission trips and “voluntourism” project that needs fixing, as people to be pitied, as Trail Reeves | Kaukauna, Wis. sometimes seem mandatory for people of “the least of these” we read about in Matthew 25. faith — for anyone with a conscience, really. Three years in Honduras gave me way more ques- At church, we hear about these kinds tions than answers. Poverty is an unbeliev- Mixed emotions on coverage Sof trips constantly. Social media brims over Views ably complicated issue that can’t be solved by The April print edition gave me joy and with pictures of people posing for pictures just giving people more money or more stuff. sadness while troubling me just a little. First, surrounded by kids in impoverished But if I could give the wonderful people let me say that I treasure The Christian nations. I’ve done these things myself. of Honduras one thing, it would be confi- Chronicle’s long-term commitment to report- But I think it’s time we all took a different dence — confidence that they are not ing the great news in the growing body of sort of trip. forgotten by God, that they have received Christ worldwide without the negativity often It seems like people are reluctant to go to countless blessings from him and that they associated with brotherhood papers. a place like Honduras on vacation. There are are as wise and as capable and as loved by That said, the article on the Syrian refu- plenty of gringos taking trips to Honduras, him as anyone anywhere. gees in Canada (Page 1) was joy giving but the vast majority are there with the goal Bart Dodson Honduras is not a perfect place, but it is a because of the love for the lost shown by the of helping. It’s difficult to spend thousands beautiful place with amazing scenery, beau- Toronto brethren and saddening because of of dollars on airfare, hotel rooms, restaurants, sight- tiful weather, and a rich culture. Of all the things its reminding me of the disgraceful policies seeing and souvenirs and not do anything to try to that we did in our time there to try to connect with of this otherwise great nation toward those help when there is extreme poverty right around the local people, what seemed to make the biggest war-ravaged victims looking for better lives. the corner — or, in some cases, right in your face, impact was when we simply described to someone I was troubled by the article on Attorney begging for money or food. what we loved about their country. It was amazing General Jeff Sessions (Page 6) whose past So we go to places like Honduras and try to fix the to see their faces light up when we told them how is not, in my view, overshadowed by being problems. Then we take our vacations elsewhere. much we enjoyed one of their cities or parks or perceived to be on the right side in Ukraine. But while we are relaxing in Hawaii or Disney beaches or some typical cuisine that we had tasted. Nonetheless, the April issue was other- World, safely removed from having to deal with I think that there are appropriate ways that we wise filled with inspiring and uplifting news that pesky issue of poverty, does the issue go away can help countries such as Honduras out of the from the worldwide brotherhood­ of Christ just because it isn’t right in front of us? And, if we blessings that God has given us. But God has richly — which certainly includes Tennessee. really believe what we say we believe about mate- blessed the people there, too. Their blessings may (See “After wildfires, the shows — and the rial wealth not being synonymous with happiness not look like ours. (That’s a good thing.) But we can ministries — go on,” Page 3.) or godliness, why does poverty make us so uncom- be an encouragement to them if we focus on all they Chuck Reed | Rawlins, Wyo. fortable when we are face to face with it? do have instead of what they don’t. I’m not saying we should ignore poverty. Extreme Let’s stop treating people as projects. Let’s join As far as the refugee policy/situation poverty and gross economic inequality can and with the locals to discover the unique beauty that seems to be targeted in The Christian should be eradicated from society. But cycles of of their homelands and enjoy together all the Chronicle lately, there are strong biblical economic poverty are perpetuated by the materially different ways that God blesses his children all arguments that can be made on both sides: poor feeling inadequate or ashamed of who they over the world. Let them all in unfettered or control who are. It’s easy to see why these people may become comes here. But one side tramples on other hopeless. Often, their home countries are world- BART DODSON and his wife, Melissa, spent three years as missionary Americans’ rights; the other side does not. renowned for corruption, violence and starvation. apprentices in the Central American nation of Honduras before returning I know which I prefer. Please keep slanted The people of poor nations like Honduras are to the U.S., where they are active in ministries for Spanish speakers. political commentary out of our great paper. well aware of how the world sees them — as a They worship with the Northwest Church of Christ in Oklahoma City. Joel T. Smith | Mt. Juliet, Tenn. 30 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE may 2017

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MAY 2017 REVIEWS THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 31

21st Century Christian guides readers Reading in seasons: Minister through a love story — the Bible finds rewards in literary discipline

am encouraged by the number of prophecy and the various emphases on eading is a discipline. It is my way of keeping my sanity recent efforts to make the Bible avail- Jesus’ life, teachings and ministry. in ministry — and it’s a way to constantly feed myself. able to people in fresh and innovative Although the book claims to be a I try to read an average of two books per month, but ways. chronological arrangement of the mate- I’ve been able to get through more than 24 per year in the IIn addition to Bible apps and a rial, there are exceptions, including Rpast four years. I use www.goodreads.com to record what I proliferation of new study Bibles and parts of the prophetic books, some of am reading and receive recommendations for translations, publishers offer the psalms and likely the books further reading. What we're thoughtful edits of Scripture that In Print of Job and Esther. The material I read in seasons. Depending on what I am reading help people grasp the overall is still valuable — and some is dealing with in ministry — or what subjects flow and message of the Bible. particularly useful because of its I would like to have better exposure to — I “God’s Love Story,” thematic arrangement. read several books related to one topic to gain a published in 2016 by 21st It seems appropriate to broader perspective. Last year my congregation Century Christian, is one such contrast “God’s Love Story” organized a conference on the integration of faith recent effort. with “The Story,” published and work. In preparation for leading the ques- The editor, Brian Dowler, is an by Zondervan, which popular- tion-and-answer session, I read multiple books elder of the Zelienople Church ized this approach to arranging on the topic. Later, I took a graduate course on of Christ in Harmony, Penn. Mark Adams Scripture into a format that Islam and did another round of reading on that Bledi Valca The majority of the content in promotes readability and subject. Both of these cycles were rewarding. the book is words of Scripture from comprehension. “God’s Love Story” Regarding the integration of faith and work, I recommend the World English Bible translation. is larger and includes more passages “Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Dowler’s contribution is his editorial than “The Story.” Certain sections have Work” by Timothy Keller with Katherine Leary Alsdorf. The choices of Scripture quotations, their a robust representation, such as the book asks three basic questions. Why do we work? Why is order and placement, and the transi- Mosaic covenant in Leviticus, Psalms, work so hard? How do we overcome difficulties and find satis- tional paragraphs between sections. Proverbs, the post-exilic rebuilding and faction in our work through the Gospel? The book traces The book is divided into 39 chapters many New Testament epistles. All of answers Christians have given to these questions throughout — 24 focusing on these are only mini- history. This helps the Old Testament mally present in shape a Christian and 15 on the “The Story,” likely worldview in the New Testament. due to their non- workplace. Generally, Dowler’s narrative nature. If you are inter- comments include If you are wanting ested in learning brief transitions and a condensed about Islam but occasional summa- approach to hope to do so in ries of passages that, Scripture, focused a more conver- for the sake of the narrowly on the flow sational style project length and of the larger narra- than you’d find flow, needed to be tive of Scripture, in a typical text- left out. “The Story” does book, then Nabeel Dowler some- this better. Qureshi’s autobi- Timothy Keller Nabeel Qureshi. times goes a bit If you would ography is for you. with Katherine Seeking Allah, far in offering his prefer a condensed In “Seeking Leary Alsdorf. Every Finding Jesus: A reflections on the version of Scripture Allah, Finding Good Endeavor: Devout Muslim ongoing significance that pulls from a Jesus: A Connecting Your Encounters of certain texts, such wider assortment Devout Muslim Work to God’s Christianity as his introduction of biblical material, Encounters Work. Penguin (expanded edition). to the first chapter. It “God’s Love Story” Christianity,” Books, 2014. Zondervan, 2016. is about the Genesis does this better. Qureshi gives us 336 pages. 368 pages. creation account, In these and an informative but his comments similar efforts, may overview to understanding Islam. The book also introduces the reference both Brian Dowler, editor. “God’s Love Story.” God increase and issues that a Muslim must deal with to convert to Christianity. the Old and New Nashville, Tenn. 21st Century Christian, bless the reading of Testaments, Jesus as 2016. 448 pages. $14.99. the Word. BLEDI VALCA ministers for the Tirana Church of Christ in the European nation of Albania. He Messiah, the Church and his wife, Valbona, have two sons, Lemuel and Liam, and a newborn daughter, Siera. as the bride of Christ, and Revelation. MARK ADAMS and his wife, Carolina, live in Corpus Christi, Read more of his book reviews at bookholicalbania.blogspot.al. Dowler’s best editorial work is in his Texas, where he is preaching minister for the Kings Crossing thematic arrangement of material, such Church of Christ. He has authored several books for the FLEX WHAT ARE YOU READING? Email submissions to [email protected]. as his groupings within the chapters on curriculum series, published by 21st Century Christian. 32 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE CALENDAR MAY 2017

May 1-5 Senior Quest. Pettijohn Self-Supported Minister Needed Springs Christian Camp, Madill, Okla. CHAMBERSBURG CHURCH OF CHRIST [email protected]. seeks a self-supported minister May 2-5 74th Annual Pepperdine to shepherd a congregation of 20 in Bible Lectures. Malibu, Calif. a community with potential growth. pepperdine.edu/events. May 6 39th Annual Ladies Send resume to: Inspirational Day. Northside Church Chambersburg Church of Christ of Christ, Jacksonville, Fla. PO Box 221 nscocjax.com. Chambersburg, PA 17201 May 9 Eastern European Mission’s (717) 261-0835 (leave message) Raleigh Event. Raleigh, N.C. e-mail: [email protected] eem.org/events. May 11 7th Annual Spring www.christianchronicle.org/classifieds Apologetics Lectures. Vienna, W.Va. warrenapologetics.org. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER May 11-14 Campus Ministry United. Wentzville, Mo. Honduras campusministryunited.com. May 15-27 Literary & Hymn Mission UpReach Pilgrimage. England, Wales and seeks applications for a full- Scotland tour. Oklahoma Christian time executive position at University. oc.edu/pilgrimage. May 22-25 36th Annual Sermon our growing, mission opera- Seminar. Austin Graduate School of tion in Western Honduras. Theology, Austin, Texas. sermonseminar.com. Details / Applications: May 22-26 Come Before Winter Renewal for Men in Ministry. Filzmoos, www.missionupreach.org/job-postings Austria. comebeforewinter.org/men. May 26-28 Camp Hunt 70th Anniversary. Hubbardsville, NY. Young Adult and Family Minister [email protected]. June 2-8 Churches of Christ The Anchorage Church of Christ National Lectureship. Atlanta, Ga. in Alaska is seeking a full-time Young cocnl.com/web. Adult and Family Minister. For more June 5-8 National Hispanic English details please visit our website at: Youth Conference. Lubbock, Texas. www.anccoc.org NHEYC.org. and follow the link at the bottom of the June 6 Sunset International Solar page for the job details. Please send Event. Phase III in Spanish. sibi.cc/solar. application info and queries to: June 6-8 Abundant Living Seniors Ministry Conference. Searcy, Ark. [email protected] abundantlivingseniors.com. June 9-10 Adult Third Culture Deadline is May 15, 2017. Kids Retreat. Emory, Texas. MRNet.org/events. Preacher Training Camp June 12-16 Come Before Winter The elders and staff at the Oldham Lane Church Renewal for Women in Ministry. of Christ in Abilene, Texas, feel strongly that the Andover, Mass. comebeforewinter.org/ Lord’s church needs to be making every effort to train preachers and leaders so that the church will women. remain sound and thrive for years to come. June 16-17 Parents of Missionaries Preacher Training Camp is for young Christian Retreat. Fayetteville, Ark. men (14-18 years of age) who show an interest in MRNet.org/events. preaching and leadership. Cost is $50, and space is limited. We would love to see you at camp! June 16-23 Worship Leader Chris McCurley Institute. Nashville, Tenn. [email protected] praiseandharmony.com. (325) 695-0055 July 5-8 Florida State Youth for June 4-9 Christ Conference. Boca Raton, Fla. fsy4cc.org. Deadline to sign up is May 7

FULL CALENDAR: www.christianchronicle.org MAY 2017 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 33

400+ Churches Closed

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