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Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends Church Evangelical Friend (Quakers)

12-1979

Evangelical Friend, December 1979 (Vol. 13, No. 4)

Evangelical Friends Alliance

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THE bitterness wove their dark webs in my mind, and no light could get through. Year after year. VIEW FROM Until that night. I was on night shift along with Uncle Obed. We had combined our flocks with those of our neighbors on the north end of Bethlehem and were pasturing them in a BETHLEHEM meadow about a mile outside the village. It was a clear night, stars hanging low. The cold, as a blade, pierced BY NANCY THOMAS through my robes, and all my bones ached. We had built a fire and huddled around it, but it seemed a small gesture, a mere snap of the fingers, against the elements. Again, time and the night air meshed with my spirit. Why me? I wondered. What's before me? What's the use of any of it? My uncle's uneven snores punctured my thoughts, along with the occasional bleating of a sheep or a dog's staccato bark. Blackness filled me. When suddenly he was there! And the light, 0 Lord, the light! Sharper then a hundred suns, severe and white dancing around me like a living being! I fell back and screamed, soundlessly I screamed and covered my face! The terror, the mindless terror! I shudder at the memory. He spoke then, and his words were like water spilling down a mountainside. "Don't be afraid," he said. The sound of his music lifted the terror like a blanket from us, and we looked and saw that he was good. "Do not be afraid;" he said, "for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the ~ME. I ~eed ti!lle to s~rt it out, abs_orb, and understand TIt. The hght lmgers, IS sharp. Time, Lord, give me city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is time. Show me what and why. Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will Middle son of my father and least gifted of the lot, find a b_aby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger." darkness had long laid its claims on me. Early in our And the light grew and grew until the whole sky ex­ childhood my elder brother was chosen as the scholar ploded into color and music, and a great crowd of the released into study, and encouraged to go as far as hi~ bright creatures filled all heaven and sang, "Glory! Glory! abilities would take him. Though I, too, longed to study, Glory!" The light broke over us in living waves and the this choice was his right as the firstborn. My younger music of praise swam the air. How can I describe it? What brother even as a small child evidenced obvious skills of can I say? It was like nothing I'd ever seen or heard or dexterity and manual precision. So my father began train­ dreamed of before. We lay on the ground overwhelmed. ing him at the age of seven, passing on to him the family Soon, silence again. Absolute. Night, with her trade of tailoring. Always I've been the middle one, noted familiar stars, filled the sky. For a few minutes no one only for mediocrity. The only task left (an important task, dared say a word. Then, suddenly, we all jumped up, talk­ my father assured me) was caring for the flocks with my ing at once, weeping with joy and excitement. Together we uncles. Important! To sit all day with ragged, dirty, ran into the village. brainless sheep, to sit and do nothing, time heavy on my We found them there, just as the creature had said. A head, a dark mist. I'm not important. I've never been. small family, father, mother, and infant, crowded into a Oh, I submitted, all right. No use doing otherwise. I stable. An ordinary enough family, they seemed. The complied, without a complaint or murmur. But I hated it. mother nursed her child and listened wide-eyed and gentle And I hated them, my privileged brothers. Resentment and as we told our story. Several weeks have passed now, and still the wonder of it fills my mind. And the mystery. A Savior in a stable? The prolific and talented pen of writer Nancy Thomas, on furlough with her husband Hal and children from missionary From ordinary parents? Does anyone else know? work in Bolivia, brings this personal view from Bethlehem of Shouldn't they? Why me? Why was I chosen to be the four principals involved in the event of that first Christmas. As receiver of the news, to bear the glory? Why, Lord? we are now celebrating Christmas 1979, let us join the shepherd, the innkeeper's wife, the astrologer, and Joseph in reflecting on IME, I need time. And time is what you've always the miracle birth that had just taken place. And like them, may Tgiven me, isn't it? Hours upon days in the fields, on the we "re-search" the significance it has to our lives today. mountainside. I'm still a sheepherder, still ordinary and DECEMBER 1979 3

unimportant. But somehow (I can't explain it) a small The girl could hardly stand up straight, what with the shaft of all that light has stayed with me. Hope, that's what trip and being in her condition, but her eyes were soft and it is. Hope. My commonness has been touched by light. expectant. "Just wait," I thought as I brought in fresh I'm not the same. straw. "These young ones have just rosy dreams of The baby, Lord? Who? And why? And what now motherhood. Just wait 'til the agony, the tearing, the for me? blood. That'll wipe the stars out of her eyes!" I need time. Time to ponder. Time to heal. Time to That very night labor began. It was a hard birth as I grow. had known it would be. I did what I could to help. The pain surprised Mary (that's her name) to the point she cried out to God for mercy. As if He were interested in every small birth on this already overcrowded place! The child came while it was yet dark. A boy it was, red and squalling, but normal. He took immediately to his mother's breast, pulling and gulping hungrily. Yes, it was a hard birth and in less than ideal cir­ cumstances, but afterward as I replaced the bloody straw with clean, I couldn't conceal my bewilderment at the young mother, at the calm and gentle joy, the awe with which she regarded her child. I've assisted in births before and am familiar with joy following pain. But somehow this one surprised me. He's an ordinary enough baby, heaven knows, and I'm certainly not one to be sentimental, but Mary gazes at him as though Now I'm not one to complain, mind you, but I've had a he were a royal prince. And, through her look, I almost hard time of it. It's not easy being married to Josiah, even begin to see something more in him myself. What? when things are going smoothly. But this last month has Well, back to work. The crowds are thinning down been the worst I can remember. now, but there's still plenty to do. What a mess people It all started when the decree announcing the census leave behind them! And if I don't clean it up, who will? was posted in the town square. Like I say, I don't often Not Josiah, that's for sure! complain, but this political nonsense is becoming too much But somehow it doesn't seem as urgent today. I almost to bear. Do these Roman usurpers have any idea the upset feel like laughing. Strange, isn't it? What would Josiah do a simple little piece of paper like that can cause? Would if he saw me laugh? they care even if they did know? I hardly think so. Abuse heaped upon abuse, that's what it is! Well, about a month after they posted the decree, peo­ ple started pouring in. Everyone and his dog seem to trace their ancestors to Bethlehem. And Bethlehem wasn't built to handle so may people! People! People! People! People wanting a bed, water, stew, bread! People grumbling about mice, dirt, space. People crammed wall to wall in the sleeping rooms, spread out on the kitchen floor, crowding the courtyard. And wanting the royal treatment for their animals, too! Do you have any idea what a herd of donkeys and camels will do to an herb garden? AND JOSIAH, bighearted Josiah! Always trying to M please everyone, running here and there to fetch an extra blanket, oil, or hay. "No more," I told him (and I I've seen it coming for years. The movements and strange don't normally nag). "Not one more person or donkey in joinings of the celestial bodies are laid out before me, this inn! You carry kindness too far!" He lowered his eyes graphed and charted. The patterns of the dance have without a word. altered, and I've long suspected the time was drawing near. Just after dusk they got here, a man and his obviously Time for what? For whom? pregnant wife, tired from a long trip. What with all the din And now the star, the announcing star of some great­ and commotion, it was hard to hear the knock, but the man ness, newly appeared. It excites but does not surprise me. I was persistent. Of course Josiah let them in, putting them knew it was coming (or something like it), for the skies have in the only available space left, the stable. been preparing, yet I hesitate to advise the king. The royal runners bring no news of a birth of great import. What can by the wonder and mystery. Should I have tried harder? I say? Whom can I warn? Have I failed her in some way? And who would believe me, an old man, towered high Again, all I can do is look to Jehovah and trust. His in the temple of Sephar? Oh, I was a scholar of renown in ways are above mine, and His paths of late are strange. my youth, have no doubt of it. Schooled in the science of Always I've feared Him. From my youth I've set my the Chaldeans, taught to read the stars and to divine the heart to know His ways, to live uprightly. I've always sup­ future from their movements, I was appointed advisor to posed that someday I would marry and raise a family, carry the royal household. Long I've served and faithfully. For on the work and traditions of my father and his father be­ years this tower has been my home, my workroom, my fore him. A good plan it was, one of working hard, keeping sanctuary, and my temple. With only instruments and the Sabbath and the Law, training my children in the ways charts for companions, I've been content to serve the king of the Lord. I've had no aspirations to greatness. Simpli­ as I can. city. The good life of a hardworking honest man. These But the times are changing. Or is it just that I'm grow­ were my dreams, and they were not great or impossible. ing old? The king is senile now and no longer cares to I watched Mary growing up, and when our families know. And the young ones, they doubt. So pious and agreed we should be man and wife, how perfectly the pieces respectful in bearing they appear, but I see, I see the of my life seemed to fall together! The Lord is good to me, laughter in their eyes. A fool they think me. Am I? I thought. I thanked Jehovah for Mary and dreamed of The old gods answer nothing. Even Atarsamain of the our shared future. golden star is silent. Beyond the vegetable gardens and tamarisk trees of OW STRANGE are His ways and beyond understand­ Sephar stretch the sands, arid and endless. My heart is like H ing! I cannot describe the hurt, the shock, the in­ the desert, and I find myself longing for greenness and life. credulity at those simple words, "Joseph, I am with child." I've wandered the gardens of the sky, and the blossoming of Why, Mary? And who? Have I been such a poor the stars is beautiful to me. Their larger swayings reveal judge of character? Our plans, our dreams! Did you care much concerning nations and trends. But they cannot tell nothing for these? 0 Lord Jehovah, strength! me how to live. Or give meaning to this yearning. I walked home numb and cold, though the air was In short, I've grown discontent. Restlessness con­ warm, still loving Mary, and knowing I could never have sumes me like a cancer. I pace the floor by night, and her now. search the ancient writings by day. The old Israelite sages I'm a simple man and an orderly one. My shop is neat, predicted a leader to be born in such a time as this. A the adzes, saws, squares, awls, and hammers arranged on messiah "whose going forth is from long ago, from the days shelves, the gluepot in a corner. I know where everything is of eternity." Could it be? Oh, could it be? ahead of time and can arrange my work quickly. My shop My mind reaches out in wonder and longing. The old is a haven to me, a good place. gods have lost their hold. The star draws me like a magnet. And I love the wood I work with. I know the pungence Something real. Something eternal. I can stay here no of pine, the texture of acacia. The grains of cedar are longer. Away, then, to the West and the meaning of the familiar to me. I am acquainted with the strengths of each, star! the particular beauties and uses. This will do for a door and this for a plow. This piece I am saving for a chair for mother. I know wood. I can predict and order the creation of my trade. I control. My personality demands this. The angel's message restored my faith in Mary, but left me in chaos. There were no shelves in my mind where I could store the idea of a spiritual conception. I found myself suddenly beyond the realm of my knowledge and out of control. I believed in the future messiah and shared in my parents' yearnings. But my Mary the vehicle? No. It seemed too big and out of the common order of things. But it was true. I could not deny the changes in Mary. So I took her as my bride, as was planned. But nothing is happening as planned. The long cold trip to Bethlehem, the birth, those nights in the cave-could I have forseen any of this, would I have consented? She's sleeping now. That's good. It will be awhile before Yes, of course, I would have done just as I did. I have she has her strength back. And it will take time for the determined to follow Jehovah. I don't understand the change to become real, for me as well as for her. No, noth­ significance of the child or know what place I have in these ing will be the same. Sleep, Mary, sleep while you may. strange happenings. I'm uncomfortable. Our future's She was not prepared for the reality of childbirth, and uncertain. I hesitate to take Mary home. People talk, and there was little I could do to help. Being the eldest of my I don't want her to suffer the whispers and looks. But father's sons, I've lived through it many times. I've heard where do we go? Why doesn't the angel speak again? Am the screams; I know the sorrow of waiting helpless while I responsible to protect and raise an infant Savior? Will we one I love suffers. Birth is pain. I've always known that. ever settle down and live normal lives? Will there be other But Mary, my Mary, so sheltered and young, how children? could I have told her? I'm a quiet man and don't speak I have no answers. Nothing is certain. The mystery easily of these things. She held the wonder of this unsettles me. But Jehovah is God. May He help me be mysterious conception to her breast like a jewel, and I strong for Mary, and for the Child. feared to mar it with warnings. So I kept silent, held also Sleep on; Mary. Tomorrow comes soon enough. ~ DECEMBER 1979 5

NANCY THOMAS THE VIEW FROM COVER 2 BETHLEHEM Photo by Stan and Shirley Putman. ANTECEDENTS ANNA NIXON 'TO US A CHILD It would seem appropriate during this season when giving and receiving are emphasized that we IS GIVEN' extend words of appreciation to those who make 6 this magazine possible-our writers. Theirs is a gift of love to the rest of us who receive, enjoy, and are moved by the fruit of their talents and concern. CHARLES MYLANDER BLACK HOLES AND I've never really tabulated how many different COSMIC FIRES Friends have written for the Evangelical Friend 7 over the years. The total would probably number several hundred. In assignments, we'ver tried to maintain a balanced cross-section of interests, MELVIN L. HODGES MISSIONARY VOICE: subjects, and geographical representation. This FACING THE WORLD has not always been possible, for a good percen­ 10 tage of our articles come to us unsolicited and are OF THE 1980s finally selected for publishing on their own merit, not so much from the above criteria. JACK L. WILLCUTS EDITORIALS Friends have a wealth of writers who regularly communicate to us in one medium or another­ most generally without monetary reward. This 11 was brought forcibly to my attention when I con­ sidered the names of those who have made this TINA KNIGHT MISSIONARY VOICE: single issue possible. Nancy Thomas is primarily a missionary, but is also a widely-read free lance 'WHAT DO I WRITE, poet and writer. Anna Nixon and Tina Knight, two 26 other missionaries, have used writing skills to LORD?' transmit the "feel" of missions to us for many years. Charles Mylander, a pastor, is author of a ERROL T. ELLIOTT GOING DEEPER: new book soon to be published by Harper and QUAKER COMMUNION Row, and Errol! T. Elliott, poet and author of sev­ 28 eral Quaker books, is a widely-known writer and editor. Add to these our regular contributors: Jack L. Willcuts, Catherine Cattell, and Betty M. Hockett, all of whom are also "published" regularly outside REGULAR FEATURES this magazine; and our regional editors for "Friends Concerns" and "Friends Gather." Salt and Light 12/ Friends Write 12/ Books 17 Few of us realize the amount of time this gift of writing entails. Fewer of us who receive this gift Over the Teacup 17/ The Face of the World 18/ Once upon a Time 20 express our gratitude. All of these people deserve Friends Concerns 21/ Friends Gather 23/ Friends Record 25 our special thanks at this Christmastime for gifts that last throughout the year. -H. T.A.

EVANGELICAL FRIEND

Editor in Chief: Jack L. Willcuts Managing Editor: Harlow Ankeny Editorial Assistants: Earl P. Barker, Ruth Brown, Rachel H. Hinshaw Art Directors: Stan and Shirley Putman Department Editors: Robin Ankeny, Books; Betty Hockett, Children; Esther Hess, Missionary Voice Regional Editors: Gerald I. Teague, Mid-America; Lois Johnson, Eastern; Ralph K. Beebe, North­ west; Michael Henley, Rocky Mountain Contributing Editors: Lucy Anderson, Norman V. Bridges, Everett Cattell, T. Eugene Coffin, Kara Cole, Harold Cope, Gerald Dillon, A. J. Ellis, Olen Ellis, Myron Goldsmith, Donald Green, Norval Hadley, Robert Hess, Verlin 0. Hinshaw, Lauren A. King, Jack Kirk, David Le Shana, Russell Myers, Charles Mylander, Stanley Perisho, Lon Randall, Arthur 0. Roberts, John Robinson, Richard Sart­ A new entree for Christmas Dinner, 1979. well, Edith Wines, Dwight Spann-Wilson MEMBER EfXl EVANGELICAL PRESS ASSOCIATION

The EVANGELICAL FRIEND (ISSN 0014·3340) is the official publication of the Evangelical Friends Alliance and is published monthly (except August) at 600 East Third Street, Newberg, OR 97132. Second class postage paid at Newberg, Oregon. SUBSCRIPTION RATE: $6.00 per year. CHANGES OF ADDRESS: Send all changes of address and subscriptions to EVANGELICAL FRIEND, P.O. Box 232, Newberg. OR 97132. Please allow four weeks for changes to be made. EDITORIAL: Articles and photographs are welcome, but we assume no responsibility for damage or loss of manuscripts, art, or photographs. Opinions expressed by writers are not necessarily those of the editors or of the Evangelical Friends Alliance. Address all manuscripts, letters to the editor, and other editorial content to Editorial Offices, P.O. Box 16, Rockaway, OR 97136. ADVERTISING: Rates are available on request. Address all inquiries to Advertising Manager. P.O. Box 16, Rockaway. OR 97136. Creative lithographic publishing by The Barclay Press, Newberg, Oregon. Telephone: 503/538·7345 6 EVANGELICAL FRIEND

The International Year of the Child lives toward the glorious fulfilling of the reminds us that ... purpose for which we are born. Just look at Jesus, the Son who was given. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. Now you 'to us child know you wouldn't like a band of cloth wound around you so that you couldn't move your arms or your legs. No baby likes that. But Jesus was born when that is i\fj n' was the custom. He was born in the culture of His time and He was wrapped with it. He BY ANNA NIXON had to submit to it. Maybe He cried at first, because He was a true baby and He Some may say, "Why all the fuss?" would have wanted to wiggle. But finally Weren't there thousands of babies born HE MOST WONDERFUL story I He adjusted to it, though it never crushed before Jesus was laid in the manger? And have ever heard is one about the birth out His unique life. haven't there been millions and even Tof a baby. All of you know who that Every child is wrapped in the swaddling baby is. Every year in December we cel­ billions born since? His mother was only a poor peasant woman, and wasn't He born clothes of his own society. God has loaned ebrate His birthday. Not the way we cele­ that child in the midst of those very cir­ into the home of a carpenter? Why do we brate most famous people's birthday. For cumstances. He knows what they are and example, here in India we celebrate talk so much about baby Jesus even yet to­ day nearly two thousand years later? The He is able to bend them all to His purpose. Ghandi's birthday. We know he was once Jesus was not only wrapped in His circum­ a baby too but we never think about that. answer to that question will explain why the world this year celebrates the International stances, He was trapped in a certain period Even on his birthday we think only of the of time and space. In spite of being the wonderful things he did for India after he Year of the Child. For though God's Son could have come into the world some other Creator of the universe, whom the heaven became an old man. of heavens could not contain, He became a Ghandi freed us from British rule. He way, He chose to come as a helpless tiny babe and grow up and learn to sit and walk baby born at a place that you can locate on helped us consider the poor and the outcast. and talk and do things with His hands. He a map and on a date that you can find on a He taught us to treat others with kindness. calendar. A time of war and pestilence and He never spat on the road because he didn't obeyed His parents and He pleased God. want to make anyone ill. He never wore As the world looked forward to His com­ fancy clothes, not even a shirt, because he ing and as it now looks back, we know that wanted to understand what it felt like to be because this baby Jesus was born, the life of poor. And he taught people to spin and everyone of us has been given greater mean­ weave and plant gardens so they could have ing and significance. In the light of clothing and food and be independent. So Bethlehem we understand the value of we celebrate Ghandi' s birthday because of humanity, of each beginning life, born to what he did after he was a grown man. eternity and for a purpose beyond our com­ But that isn't the way we celebrate the prehension. birth of Jesus, even though Jesus did more Jesus is God's gift to the world. In Isaiah for us after he grew up than anybody else in 9:6 we read, "For unto us a child is born, the world. We are full of happiness at unto us a son is given: and the government Christmas because of what Jesus was as a shall be upon his shoulder: and his name an insignificant place! But there, we know, baby. Even the angels couldn't keep quiet. shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The life was shaped day by day. They sang for joy. The shepherds listened mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Though the angels' announcement wel­ carefully, then ran to Bethlehem to see Prince of Peace." The birth of a child, the comed Jesus when He was born and though Him. They found Him in a manger, wrap­ gift of the Son, the purpose of a life! This distant kings brought gifts to Him, Jesus ped in swaddling clothes. Later the kings verse, of course, was a prophecy of the was not taken tenderly into the arms of His came dressed in their purple, red, orange, birth of Jesus, but it applies to us, too. own society. Even before He was born He and green robes and riding on camels, and Even though the broad statistical facts was slapped in the face, so to speak, with they gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, alarm us, about 3,000 babies, perhaps, have rejection. The innkeeper turned Him and myrrh. been born in the world since you started away. Oh, the callousness of not caring! reading this, still we are filled with hap­ Are any of us ever like that innkeeper? The Anna Nixon, missionary to India under piness at the birth of a baby because life is children come but we don't want them here Evangelical Friends Church-Eastern an unfolding mystery. It starts for each one and we don't want them now. We are full Region, writes from the perspective of a of us with a tiny microscopic physical cell seasoned missionary, aware of the world's or satisfied with things the way they are. masses and the "ignorance, poverty, and it is shaped by its unique combination Blind to the aching and to the pain and the disease, and moral degradation" that not of genes and environment. Yet we believe longing, we try to ignore the knock at the only faced Jesus at His birth, but in an there is another shaping power present also. door. Then, sweetly perhaps, but firmly, accelerated rate, the children being born So great and so powerful, the response to we say, "Sorry, no room. After all it's not today. that power bends all circumstances of our my responsibility." DECEMBER 1979 7

The child, trapped in the ignorance, poverty, disease, and moral degradation of the times, suffers. That slap is followed by another one, a malicious one of the ruling forces that are pitted against him. All the children in the land under two years of age had to die, but the little baby Jesus, wrap­ ped in swaddling clothes, trapped in His time and slapped with rejection, now had to go to a strange land and live among strange people. Perhaps you can think of Him as being strapped to the donkey as the parents went running through the night to escape the wrath of Herod. His parents would have to find a place to lay Him again-a place perhaps not as com­ fortable as the manger. They would have to hunt for work and go hungry until they found it, because the baby Jesus couldn't live where He was meant to live, He couldn't do what He was meant to do, and He couldn't go where He was meant to go because of hostile forces. He grew up in those circumstances. How did He grow? In Luke 2:52 we read that He grew in wisdom (mentally), in stature (physically), in favor (emotionally), with God (spiritually), and man (socially). How is it possible? Would you psychology students please BY CHARLES MYLANDER tell me how any child could grow up nor­ mally under such adverse circumstances? It was possible because God loaned Jesus to A hot subject in astrophysics these days is Before turning to the biblical and theo­ Mary and Joseph. They stood against the what John A. Wheeler, Princeton and Uni­ logical perspective, take a moment to evil forces that would have just crushed out versity of Texas physicist, named "black ponder the striking analogy between what the life of a helpless babe. They gave that holes." What they amount to, if current scientists picture and what the Bible de­ little life the very best that they had, in the scientific theories prove true, are simulta­ scribes. No one can prove that "black best way they knew. That is all God re­ neous bottomless pits and lakes of fire. holes" are the same as hell itself. Yet terms quires of us, for every child loaned to us. Like cosmic magnets they pull in anything like outer darkness, bottomless pit, an un­ That's exactly what He wants, just what we within reach of their intense gravity, quenchable fire fit both. Scientists speak have, whether it is merely beating the drum whether another star, atomic particles, or of an "event horizon" where time slowly to please the baby or displacing the Herods nearby gases. Whatever falls into these in­ grinds to a standstill. It sounds like scien­ with our hopes. visible pits disappears into outer darkness tific jargon for eternity. Can you believe To us a child is born, to us a son is given, forever. Not even light can escape, or so it? Just about the time "modern" thinkers and on his shoulders ... On his shoulders, the scientists theorize. Yet once anything are ready to junk the concept of a literal who knows what will be on his shoulders? enters, it heats up to a billion degrees, an hell, science comes up with a near replica. For, friends, he belongs to God and God's authentic lake of fire. Black holes show a It's enough to make the thinking Christian plan for every living child and those yet to surprising resemblance to what the Bible take a second look. be born is beyond the horizons of our calls hell. Suppose you were damned to hell ... greatest dreams. ~ excuse me, imagine that you were banned to a space ship preprogrammed by computer The gospel teaching of Christ expresses the full range of God's plan for human to enter a black hole. What would happen? destiny. Charles Mylander, associate Of course you would never see it. Even with pastor of Rose Drive Friends Church in the most powerful telescope, no one can see California, considers the other side of a black hole, since it emits no light. But you Christmas-not just the love of God in might pinpoint its location by its effects on sending His Son, but the justice of God, a nearby star. From your interstellar which is another part of the character of cruiser the first visible sign is the gases swirl­ God. This provocative idea as expressed ing around and toward it like a cosmic by Charles Mylander is probably different whirlpool. The heavy gravity of the black from anything you have considered before hole is pulling gases from a massive star on this subject. nearby. Charged particles accelerating 8 EVANG~LICAL FRIEND

toward the black hole send out X rays that Soon you are caught in the whirlpool of energy radiates from some black holes, a the monitoring equipment on your space­ gases headed for the black hole. In only a few scientific writers indulge in wide-eyed ship might pick up. matter of time you will go over the brink speculations. At this point they can only If you did not understand before what a and disappear. But the question is, "how ask questions. Is a black hole just a pas­ black hole is or how it came into existence, much time?" According to Einstein's sageway or "wormhole" to some other part your interest in the subject might jump to theory of relativity, time slows down as you of the universe? Or does it act as a gateway the point of preoccupation. Scientists approach the "event horizon," the outside to a different kind of universe? (The real theorize that a giant star, at least twice as border of the black hole. Each 60 minutes hell, for example?) Will you reappear massive as the sun, grew old and began to is far longer than one hour on earth. But somewhere else instantaneously? In the burn out. Up to this time the outward only an outsider could tell the difference. place prepared for the devil and his angels thrust of its heat and radiation balanced the To an outside observer your spaceship perhaps? No one knows. However, a spin­ inward pull of its own gravity, giving it appears to move slower and slower as it ning black hole offers the intriguing pos­ stability. But as the star grows old its journeys toward the edge of the bottomless sibility of time travel. As a sinner you thermonuclear fires move toward the sur­ pit, the "point of no return." In fact, the might relive the agony of your rejection of face. The H-bomb-type explosions, which spacecraft reaches a standstill, at least as God, or see the hopelessness of the eternal make a star shine now, blow away its outer calculated by distant observation. Yet for future. layers. What's left, if massive enough, all of you inside the spaceship time seems to Anyone can read about black holes in begins to fall inward at a furious speed. proceed at a normal rate. No one on board current scientific journals. At the time of Think of the collapse in stages, each one senses that time is slowing down. It only forming a different cosmic phenomenon. A seems that the journey takes you further stage-one collapse forms a white dwarf star, and further down the whirlpool toward the one supported by electrons. But if the point where light and matter disappear into original star is larger, a stage-two collapse the black hole. From the point of view of squeezes electrons into protons to form an outside observer the process takes ages neutrons. If the neutrons resist further and ages, so long that you might call it crushing, a neutron star is formed. How­ everlasting destruction. ever, if the initial star is massive enough, Meanwhile life aboard your stellar cruiser nothing can prevent a stage-three collapse. changes for the worse, turning more and In this final case, even the neutrons are more miserable. In spite of massive insula­ crushed into infinite density. During this tion, the stifling heat makes life unbearable. ultimate collapse the force of gravity In reality you enter a lake of fire. By now becomes so strong that the inward crushing anxiety aboard the ship turns to despair. movement holds everything in. Even the Weeping and gnashing of teeth describe it star's own light appears to dim and disap­ well. But the end is not yet. pear forever. Thus, it "winks out," turning The overwhelming force of gravity begins dark and forming a black hole. to stretch the spacecraft and all aboard like The radius of the star at this point is a rubber band. Everyone is pulled out of known as the Schwarzchild radius, and the shape, unless the black hole was very large. surface of the star as the "event horizon." In a black hole of giant size you would be Relativity theory claims that on this surface crushed but not pulled apart first. In either this writing strong observational data sup­ all physical and biological processes become case, no mortal body could survive. But ports their existence. With constant new infinitely slow. The Schwarzchild radius Christian thinkers have always taught that discoveries in science, the thinking Chris­ remains fixed, but the surface of the star those in hell will possess immortal bodies. tian will not jump to hasty conclusions. It continues its collapse toward infinite densi­ So we will assume that somehow you would seems best to consider black holes as only ty. In fact, the scientific data suggest that survive the terrible stretching. an illustration of the biblical hell. With the certain collapsed stars crushed themselves Time marches toward infinity until your scientific analogy in mind, some of my own out of existence. Their gravity and density spacecraft passes the "event horizon," the former misconceptions about hell shatter grew so infinitely great that they compress­ point of no return. It is the very brink of like crystal. I used to think Jesus used two ed themselves infinitesimally small. Their hell ... er ... pardon me ... the edge of different "pictures" of hell. At times He vi­ volume decreased to zero. Unbelievable as the black hole. Nothing escapes now, not sualized it as eternal fire and on other occa­ it sounds, complex mathematical equations even radio messages or light beams. As you sions He depicted it as outer darkness. seem to demand it. Physicists describe this slip into utter darkness, the Bible's term Since fire and darkness do not coexist, or so state as a "singularity," meaning a gigantic "outer darkness" keeps entering your mind. I thought, the teaching had to be symbolic. mass has shrunk to nothing. It would As your spacecraft is sucked inside the Then the scientists started writing about an seem, then, that nothing would be left. Yet, black hole, its molecules and atoms smash amazing parallel description of black holes. in apparent contradiction, some black holes beyond recognition. As a passenger you All at once a shocking thought hit me. Do seem to radiate energy. Truth is sometimes compress, shred, and merge into the "sing­ you suppose Jesus was telling the LIT­ stranger than fiction. All our questions are ularity," the pinpoint-small something-or ERAL truth about hell? Maybe, just not yet answered. is it a nothing-that absorbs everything. maybe, He was. On your ill-fated spacecraft, anxiety in­ When you are flushed down a cosmic The idea brought to mind an intellectual creases as you approach this cosmic "hell." drain, where do you come out? Because struggle I went through some years ago DECEMBER 1979 9

about the reality and justice of hell. In the ed how Jesus humbled himself to make the indeed the teaching refers to the last judg­ privacy of my study I wondered, "How can supreme sacrifice on the cross for me and ment, then the one who does not know the I put together an eternal hell and a loving my sins, I began to see how worthy He is. Master's instruction will receive a lesser God?" The two concepts seemed incom­ No greater love exists anywhere, and he punishment. The one who knows better patible, even contradictory to me. But I deserves my love and loyalty. but abuses his position will receive a more found a satisfying answer about the reality My dim view of the glory of God and His severe sentence. The uniform witness of of eternal destruction when I asked myself personal love for me had to go. In fact, to Scripture is that judgment is tied to works. another question. "Do I believe what Jesus kick God out of one's life as God is the in­ The lost will receive just what they taught about heaven and hell is true?" My finite sin. It amounts to treason, and deserve-nothing more, nothing less. Let high view of the person of Christ and worse. I saw that rejecting Jesus and scorn­ every "Christian" leader who abandons his authority of Scripture forced me to answer ing Him as Lord comprised both a personal ministry for a sinful life take warning! "yes"! offense and a major crime against almighty Who is in danger of hell? What does the In my quest I read every passage in which God. To spurn His offer of grace and re­ Bible say? Jesus spoke about hell. It came as a shock fuse Him as Lord over my life is an attempt 1. Religious leaders who reject the Lord to learn how often the epitome of love him­ to dethrone Him. If God is to act in perfect Jesus Christ. self spoke about outer darkness, weeping justice, such an infinite sin requires an in­ They know all about God's truth and and gnashing of teeth, a furnace of fire, finite punishment. Daniel P. Fuller of may even claim to have accepted Jesus as and everlasting punishment. The teachings Fuller Theological Seminary writes, "If our Savior. But the essential obedience that underlying pursuit is to dethrone God and comes from faith (Romans 1:5 NIV) is miss­ become God in our own right, then it fol­ ing. "I say to you that many will come lows that our rebellion against God is ab­ from the east and the west, and will take solute. We are totally depraved in that we their places at the feast with Abraham, are as bad as we possibly can be toward Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 1 God." The insightful professor explains But the subjects of the kingdom will be that we are not as bad as we can be toward thrown outside, into the darkness, where our neighbor. It makes us look good to be there will be weeping and gnashing of kind to our friends and associates. Yet, teeth." (Matthew 8:11-12 NIV) toward God we remain as bad as it is possi­ ble for us to be. Then he continues with the 2. Anyone who refuses to forgive a brother punchline, "And when we consider that we from his heart. are totally rebellious against the God whose A strange and terrible disorder plagues glory is exalted above the heavens, then the church today. Professing Christians ra­ perhaps the Biblical teaching that unrepen­ tionalize away this strong teaching in the tant men will be punished with an eternity name of grace. Tragedy of tragedies! God in hell is not so unreasonable."' gives grace all right, to cover past sins and The second line of reasoning that helped to deal with present offenses. me answer, "Can an eternal hell really be '"Shouldn't you have had mercy on your just?" came from great thinkers in lit­ fellow servant just as I had on you?' In erature. Milton, Dante, and C. S. Lewis all anger his master turned him over to the jail­ ers until he should pay back all he owed. pour from Jesus' lips all through the synop­ point to what sin does to the inner character 'This is how my heavenly Father will treat tic Gospels. Even the Sermon on the of the sinner. In effect his own spirit each of you unless you forgive your brother Mount, widely known for its high ethical becomes a hell from which he neither can from your heart."' (Matthew 18:33-35) teachings, contains undeniable references nor would escape. Even if he had the op­ to hell. By way of contrast, other biblical tion to leave hell and live in heaven (which 3. Whoever persists in a life of sin spokesmen say comparatively little about he does not), he would reject it. The holi­ Those whose life-styles are marked by a the final destiny of the wicked. Only the last ness of God's heaven is more repulsive to habit pattern of known sins do not have book of the Bible again makes it a major him than the misery of hell. His godless their names written in the book of life, no emphasis, and that book begins with the traits develop for the worse until he would matter what they claim (Revelation 20: 11- significant words, "The Revelation of Jesus prefer anything, even the anguish of hell, in 21 :8). Excuses will not do. Christ . ... " place of standing in the presence of God. "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the If Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God's The justice of hell is its mercy in providing vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, love, spoke so often of hell, it must be real. an escape from the presence of God. those who practice magic arts, the idolators But how can an eternal hell really be just? Absolute justice suggests that hell is grad­ and all liars-their place will be in the fiery Two lines of thinking helped me. The first ed. Jesus taught about varying degrees of lake of burning sulfur. This is the second is to grasp how ghastly is the sin of rejecting punishment in the parable of the faithful death." (Revelation 21 :8 NIV) God and His Son Jesus Christ. I could not and abusive servants in Luke 12:42-48. If If black holes and cosmic fires coexist in comprehend how enormous was the crime the natural universe, how much worse will until I began to glimpse how great and glor­ 1Daniel P. Fuller, Unity of the Bible be the everlasting punishment of the bib­ ious He is. The more I appreciated how in­ Syllabus (Pasadena, California; Fuller lical hell? Now is the time to turn to Jesus finitely good He is, the more I understood Theological Seminary) p. IX, 6. with a whole heart, with a full commitment how awful it was to reject Him. As I review- 'Ibid. to trust and obey. l€i

does not find itself so crippled that it can­ not maintain its own work and progress. Two examples from our Assemblies of God work illustrate this. Missionaries were required to leave Bur­ ma, and the amount of help that could be given to the young church was very limited indeed because of government restrictions. However, the foundation had been laid, and God raised up a Burmese national lead­ er to pilot the work. The result is that the Facing the world work in Burma is stronger now than when the missionaries left. The second example comes from Latin of the 1980s America. Missionaries founded the work in Guyana with its own leaders and Bible schools. Government restrictions upon BY MELVIN L. HODGES foreign workers became such that the mis­ sionaries felt it best to leave. The national church had to assume the entire respon­ sibility for organization, evangelism, and workers' training. They have done this remarkably well. There are more Bible students in the country than when the mis­ E ARE LIVING in a time of change As the nations of the world seek their sionaries left, and the work continues to and turmoil. This has left some in own selfhood and as the influence of West­ grow. Wdoubt as to the future of missions. ern nations declines, the church in the Third A new word, contextualization, has crept Colonialism has all but disappeared, and World must learn to stand on its own feet. into missionary parlance in the last few in its place have sprung up dozens of in­ In fact, it is logical for the church to seek years. It is felt that missionaries often in­ dependent nations. Many thought these selfhood for itself since the nation has troduced American life-style and methods, countries would be closed to missions. Hap­ sought and received independence. and these were not always suitable for the national work. So the importance of mak­ pily this has not usually been the case. Missionary work, though influenced by Often leaders of the national government ing the Gospel compatible with the people political considerations, should not depend and culture comes in for special emphasis. have been educated in missions schools and on the political atmosphere for its deci­ were sometimes sympathetic to missionary OME THINK that contextualization sions. Rather, the founding of the indige­ work. And it was really a boon to the goes beyond the indigenous church nous church should be the goal because this principles in that it introduces certain church when the missionary was no longer is the scriptural model, and we are people S seen as allied with foreign political powers. concepts besides self-government, self­ of the Book. Another very strong factor affecting mis­ propagation, and self-support. This is pro­ sionary endeavor has been the turning away This means t:1at the church be self­ bably true if we limit indigenous principles from evangelism of many old-line missions. governing; that is, it should have its own to those three concepts; but if we are in­ Liberal theology, with its emphasis on so­ leaders and be able to run its own affairs terested in a truly indigenous church, one cial and political factors, is partially respon­ without dependence upon foreign leader­ that grows naturally in the cultural soil, sible. ship. Missionary leadership may be neces­ contextualization is indispensably included. Thus one of the most discussed questions sary in the beginning, but this should be To explain further: The Church in a in church circles today is: What is the mis­ looked upon as a temporary situation. given land should not depend upon foreign sion of the Church to today's world? missionaries as leaders, but in addition it In seeking to clarify our mission for the Then this church must be self-prop­ should develop its own style of worship. 1980s, I would say, without question, we agating. It must not depend upon mis­ Someone has said that we really do not must emphasize the indigenous nature of sionaries and other foreign workers to open have an indigenous church until the people the church. up new territory and found new churches. produce their own hymns and music. This This indigenous church must be imbued is a part of contextualization. This concept Melvin Hodges, veteran Assemblies of with the sense of responsibility for its own includes the style of church buildings and God missions leader, currently serves as nation and its own people. organizational procedures. associate professor of missions science at Also self-support is indispensable. The It is important, however, that contex­ the Assemblies of God Graduate School, church in any land must be able to carry on tualization not be interpreted as such an ac­ Springfield, Missouri. This article first appeared in the August 12, 1979 edition without financial assistance from abroad. commodation to the local culture that it of the Pentecostal Evangel and is There may be opportunities to help with would result in compromise and syncretism. reprinted by permission. © 1979 by the outside gifts for literature and training, but The national church must remain true to General Council of the Assemblies of the church must be established in such a the Word of God and the content of the God. way that if missions funds are withdrawn, it (Continued on page 26) DECEMBER 1979 11

parade-Mary knew it was not exactly right or for real, but she couldn't help being pleased and proud. But that good news was suddenly eclipsed with the worst of bad news. Arrested! A crazy, illegal trial at night! Profanity, bloodstains, scourged . . . . She bit her lip till it bled, too, and for the thousandth time whispered to herself the long ago words, "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he BY JACK L. WILLCUTS will reign .... " But look at Him now. And what about me? Whatever being a "favored one" means, it doesn't mean comfort, ease, or a guarantee to sudden glory. Let's take a long look at Christmas, especially those feeling life has hurt them, or On Being a 'Favored One'? who are tempted to say "humbug" to faith and salvation. Christmas has always had contradictions. "Greetings," the angel Lest we forget it, while Jesus was about His Father's business, spoke to Mary, "you who are highly favored! The Lord is with His last human concern on the cross was for His mother. you ... you have found favor with God." (Luke 1:28, 30 NIV) That's Good News. Merry Christmas! ~ For her, it was the beginning of good news, but also, of bad news. The coming of Jesus is always good news. Can you think of anything more exciting than to be picked the "favored one"? She burst into magnificent song! Think of it! To be "loved Faces Up Front dearly" by God, and told so by a special angel. In a serious scramble to be adding regularly to our Sunday But what did it mean for Mary? We soon see. Her small world worship, several creative pastors and others are well underway in began falling to pieces immediately. Simeon, dear old Simeon, a struggle to pit tradition against innovation, the old forms shocked her in the Temple saying something like her "soul would against the new. All this is not just to build attendance but to be pierced with a sword." That's bad news. make meetings more meaningful, relevant, open, and easier for God to be heard and felt. Then came the problem of explaining her pregnancy. She had to start, of course, telling her fiance. And then, that last-minute Abandoning 11 o'clock in favor of an earlier hour seemed a little trip to Bethlehem to-of all things!-pay taxes at the worst irreverent not long ago, but Quakers have survived this Sunday possible time and in the worst possible place. shift. Going to two, or even three, morning services where it's working well is another great step of faith. It is reassuring to But that was only the beginning of bad news. Whatever find the Spirit is present every time we are; God does not live in Gabriel's role was as announcing clerk for the new kingdom, he time but in eternity. was short on detail, protocol, and VIP management. Mary got few fringe benefits, no special passes, no reserved seat, no Friends are not noted for extravagance, which is somehow motorcade, no prime time TV coverage, no dignified escorts. comforting in a day of runaway religion. We are usually Joseph and Mary had to stop at all the traffic lights; her special conscientious objectors to trendy, hype, bouncy worship. secret agents were all so invisible she got no suite of rooms at the Stylistic conservatism marks our meetings; the reliable, the inn. No room at all! And this became the legend of her life. predictable are more usual than caprices. "You are the favored one!" Good news? Almost! In the latest test of our nonpriestliness, several Quaker meetings I have visited everyone sits somewhere else than on the Mary and Joseph finally worked their way out of that terrible platform. Not only is the facing bench empty, it is clean gone. scene only to hear that horrid King Herod was killing off boy In some instances so is the pulpit, with only a skinny stand, babies. Everybody's, especially hers. It's no fun sneaking out in usually to one side, for the preacher's or song leader's use when the middle of the night with a baby on a very slow donkey. these individuals emerge from the crowd. Whom do we know in Egypt, Joseph? One could get used to this, I suppose. After all, the Presence in But the boy began to grow fast; boys always do. But so did a the Midst doesn't require a chair on the platform, but somehow strange communication gap. This wonderful child was different. there's a sense of stability, an all's-right-with-the-worship when a She didn't know always how to handle things, so she decided to person, God's anointed person, is perceived to be leading the just keep her questions to herself and "pondered them in her meeting. If we ever imagined that the placing of a pastor or heart." Then almost before she knew it He was gone and she another person on the platform, in itself, would improve the got only snatches of news about Him. Her son was being spiritual condition of worshipers, we were wrong. But the Lord applauded by everybody. Her son! But, despised too .... does use Spirit-led people with poise and presence to keep us Tearful thank you notes from other mothers whose children were glued together in a Body. A loving competent pastor, elder, or being healed from crippling diseases, blindness, leprosy even! somebody up front with a reassuring microwave smile can Wonderful news. But the mail also brought hate letters. "Your instantly warm the room, inside out, when the power of the son, Mary, your son is a 'devil' ... a 'drunkard,' a Spirit is present. God uses people. 'blasphemer'." She burned them right off. Bad news. What An empty, bare platform is preferred to an ostentatious, wordy people couldn't, or were afraid to say to Him, they said to her. ham who gets in God's way. But most of us are like the child "Can't you tell Him ...?" She dreaded going to worship. afraid of the darkness in his bedroom. "God is here to take care Mothers always suffer when seeing their son getting deeper and of you," his mother promises. "I know, but I want someone deeper into trouble with the power structure. That palm with a face!" ~ 12 EVANGEUCALFRIEND

At summer camp, just after 1 was 13, I I guess that aUin ali my relationship with knelt with other kids at an altar in bewilder­ Milo Ross hasas. essence the incredible ed response to feelings of incompleteness, ""'""'"'''"' of being loved and accepted as longing for God to be "real" to me, and a I am, and of being believed in of sincere desire to live a Christian life. One lapses and limitations. by one my companions prayed aloud, then stood and '*testified" to their newfound (or again found) faith. My spiritual fervor soon turned to pain­ Does it pay to brtng children to Sunday ful self~consdousness, and I mute school? Joan Trmquist, now a pttstor's and blushing, wishing I were anywhere else. wife, recalls her childhood when a special pastor cared for her. Milo, besi4e me, whispered, "You don't have to pray aloud. Just pray to God si~ A MATTER OF BELIEVING Jently." A flood of relief-a moment of si­ lence-then Milo'.s ·whisper again,. "Would BY JOANTANQUlST you like to go back and sit down Would J! Ha.ppy as I was for being bail­ When I was 12, a neighbor invited me to The Year of the Child VBS at Howard School held by a new ed out, I still had the sense of baving "flunked" conversion-and rm very sure Friends church at Medford, Oregon. The In regard to Frank Stanger's article on that no one at camp, including me (and ex­ a extension church pastor drove across town "International Year of Child" in the cluding Milo), thought that anything had in his ancient car to pick me up. Why, l'U September is'iue of the happened to me. But he believed in God's never know. Sometimes I wasn't ready; FRIEND, we as .a Sunday school class felt it faithfulness and in my ignorant sincerity, sometimes 1 wasn't even home; sometimes I deserved a reply, and through his encouragement, the "new went along to Sunday school, church, Being aware of the real philosophy and youth meetings, parties, or wnatever. creature" was nourished, and began to grow. goals behind " we thought the read­ I was not a "religious" youngster.; I was ers ofthe EVANGELICAL FRiEND, as welt as not "promising" as a potential convert, nor Milo wasn't one to demand perfection, or even excellence for that matter. The tb.e author uf the article, should also have even very dependable or communicative­ the tight to hear the rest· of the story. but Milo Ross kept on stopping in front of needs of the new church were such that he my house honking his hom-and believing had to utilize whatever limited talents were As Christians we should be interested in in me. available. Take music for example. I soon the children of and their needs; but On the steamy summer afternoons after found myself in the role of church pianist, if we endorse "IYC" and go as far as to VBS, he loaded six or seven of us junior often accompanying with one hand only on promote it in our churches, withotlt a real high kids in a truck and took us out to the melody line of hymns J didn't know­ understanding of their goals, we will actual­ Camp White-an· abandoned army camp­ and these were many. When I goofed up ly: be giving a strong foothold to socialism to help dismantle barracks and salvage too badly, Milo would kindly say, "Let's in our country. Do we as Christian parents lumber to be used to build a Christian start that one over." Milo always gave ped­ want our children to up with socialis- education addltion to the beautiful little ple permission to "start over," and retain tic teaching and lose freedom we have to brick chapel recently completed. their dignity at the same time. teach them of our great Christian faith? Although I can't think of a worse place I'll never ·forget the church orchestra We've enclosed some information that to spend a summer day:~dry, barren., Milo started and led. It was composed of we hope you wilt be able to use in the .next ugly-somehow Pastor Milo had us believ.­ anyone, young or old, ·who thought issue. If you feel you need more informa­ ing that there was nothing we'd rather could play aninstrument. My instrument tion on this, we would be glad to send it. do-and we loved it! Of course, he alSQ en· at that time was a large, stand~up listed our. dubious help in the actual con­ bass o11 which my skill ·level consisted GARY AND SANDY SKINNER struction of the Sunday: school unit, l'm squeakily bowing and monotonous sure a careful inspection would even pah~pahs" in the accompaniment. Bethel Friends reveal nails pounded at various ;,.,.,..,,.a••~"'' assure t.he presence of vital instrument, 'Young. Married' Sunday school class here and there. Milo picked me and my bass up after school Hugoton, Kansas the life of me, I can't recall why on Fridays .and took us back •to s;;;hool on so willing to spend swimming and Monday mornings, We have been deluged with materials being loafing time in nor do I recall Now, I know that Milo knew that I need­ used by various· organizations who have Milo ever pressuring me to dzy so. It was ed to be needed and to .belong, and that correlated their own programs in attempt­ more like an unspok.en but powerful invita­ though the church could easily have gotten ing to. exploit the Year of the Child tion to participate in something important, along without my talen.ts, I could U.N.~endorsed.iheme, This is regrettable, but our purpose in focusing on the Chris· the nature of which l understood not.at alt grown as a new Christian without becoming tian concern for children is an attempt to Looking back, I see that a big part of the a part of the life of the church. Milo knew keep in perspective Christ's teaching about picture was something that characterized how to make that happen. He didn't children. and the family. This is espedttlly Milo's association with me-and wltil other "groom" people for future service--. he used needed now. We are to be, in some nec:>nle-·a sense of being valued, of being them unapologeti<;ally and gratefully exact· instances. accused ""'""'"v. of belonging. ly where they were. · DECEMBER 1979 13

First Day News

QUICK QUAKER COMMENTARY DON GREEN, chairman of the pastoral team, Reedwood Friends (Oregon) was guest lecturer for the Quaker Heritage Week at George Fox College, Newberg, Oregon, in November, and will be the featured speaker for California Yearly Meeting Midyear Conference in January. ROBERT HESS has announced his resignation as executive director of Evangelical Friends Mission effective next July. A committee has been named, one member by each EFA yearly meeting, to consider the future of EFM. A tragedy occurred on Sunday, October 21, when the pastor of Newport Friends Church (Rhode Island), CALVIN GORDON, was killed in an auto accident. General Superintendent of Ohio Friends, RUSSELL MYERS, officiated at the funeral October 25. DALE BENTON has written a new History of Rough Rock Friends Mission, an 86-page illustrated book that sells for $2. Write 2705 Carol N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87112. MERLE CLOWE of Hasty, Colorado, was coordinator for the Rocky Mountain Men's Retreat at Quaker Ridge November 9-11. Using the theme, "Celebration of Discipline," the title of Richard Foster's recent book, copies of the book were given to each registrant . LLOYDE JOHNSON, owner and manager of the Better Book Room, Inc., in Wichita, won national acclaim by the Christian Booksellers Association convention recently upon learning his store had the greatest volume of business last year of any Chris­ tian book business in the United States. Lloyde is a member of Northridge Friends . DR . CHARLES DeVOL, a lifelong missionary to China and Taiwan, was awarded the honorary degree of Humane Letters by Malone College President Dr . Lon D. Randall in June 1979 in a ceremony at National Taiwan University in Taiwan . Charles DeVol has a unique record of ministry as a Friends missionary in teaching, research, and assistance to the church in China . He now heads the Botany Department of National Taiwan University. MARY GAFFORD has had to resign after 23 years as a missionary in the Rough Rock Friends Mission due to poor health. She now l ives in Penrose, Colorado. LEROY BRIGHTUP and RAYMOND WELSON, both professors at Friends University, are leading a tour of England and Scotland January 2-19, 1980. The tour includes three days in George Fox country. KATHY ANDERSON, recently of Mexico City, was the special speaker for the Women's Retreat at Camp Neosha (Ohio Friends) with 198 registered attenders. The theme was "Partners with God." ROBERT HESS and CHARLES ROBINSON are spending four weeks in India, leaving the last of November. They will be representing the Eastern Region Friends Board of Missions. Dr. DONALD DEMARAY of Asbury Theological Seminary will be the resource person for a preaching workshop at International Friendship House, Winona Lake, Indiana, January 3-5, 1980. The sessions are sponsored for Friends pastors of the Evangelical Friends Church--Eastern Region. 14 EVANGELICAL FRIEND

KARA COLE, administrative secretary of Friends United Meeting, and HAROLD SMUCK, associate secretary of the Wider Ministries Commission, will visit Friends in Kenya, Africa, in January 1980.

FRIENDS FOCUS

FRIENDS BIBLE COLLEGE SALE

Friends Bible College, Haviland, Kansas, reports the largest profit ever in their 48th annual college sale--more than $34,000. One ftbrown and green cross-stitch quilt" went for $2,000.

EFM PUBLICATIONS

Have you read the Newsletter prepared by the Evangelical Friends Mission and edited by Reta Stuart? In its second year of publication the Newsletter is greatly appre­ ciated by everyone across the Evangelical Friends Alliance. Also being distributed now is the excellent prayer booklet introducing all the missionaries of the EFA.

McKENNA AT FRIENDS UNIVERSITY

David McKenna, president of Seattle Pacific University (Free Methodist), was guest speaker in November for the Christian Emphasis Week, held concurrently with the Mid-America Yearly Meeting annual Ministers' Conference.

INTERVISITATION OF FRIENDS MISSIONARIES

James and Doris Morris, 29 years on the Friends mission field in Burundi, are now visiting Friends churches across the Evangelical Friends Alliance . They also at­ tended the recent EFM meetings in Indianapolis, where James presented two papers on mission methods and possibilities for Friends. Russell and Esther Zinn recently visited DenveT Friends enroute back to Taiwan. Gilbert and Louise George and Harold and Nancy Thomas spent several weeks in Ohio in missionary meetings, telling of Friends work in South America.

FELLOWSHIPS AT HAVERFORD COLLEGE OPEN FOR 1980-81

Applications are being received for the T. Wistar Brown Fellowship at Haverford College for the academic year 1980-81. Fellows spend a minimum of nine months at Haverford College doing research in the Quaker Collection of the library and in nearby scholarly collections. The Fellowship is usually awarded to mature scholars, and the stipend is $8,000. Letters of inquiry may be directed to the Office of the Provost, Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania 19041.

A FUTURE FOR FRIENDS?

"If we see our calling [as Friends] as simply to be another community church just like other churches in the community," writes General Superintendent Keith Sarver in the California Friend, "then God is probably about done with us." He adds, "We still do not have a formal creed, but there are many of us who know what we believe. And we believe so strongly in the authenticity of God's revelation to us that we ac­ cept the responsibility of sharing the truth." (From the November 1978 issue, in an editorial titled "The Universal Mission") DECEMBER 1979 15

A FUTURE FOR ELDERS?

What do you think are the duties of elders? This question was discussed by Gerald Dillon in a special day for elders at Newberg Friends Church (Oregon) in November. What would you learn about this from Acts 20:17-28? Or l Timothy J:l-7? Have you read a Quaker "Query" for elders? One reads: "Do you endeavor to recognize and develop your special talents and abilities for service in the Meeting and do you pray for divine guidance in their use?"

EAST AFRICA REORGANIZES INTO THREE YEARLY MEETINGS

In recent years the momentum of Friends United Meeting's mission work in Kenya has swelled the fellowship of East Africa Yearly Meeting to around 70,000 persons. In their Yearly Meeting sessions held at Vihiga August 22-26, East African Friends concluded that the large number was getting unwieldy. They reorganized themselves into three yearly meetings that will begin their new life January l, 1980. Southern East Africa Yearly Meeting will have its headquarters in Vihiga. Home base for Central East Africa Yearly Meeting will be at Kakamega. The activities of North­ ern East Africa Yearly Meeting will center around Lugulu. Each of the yearly meetings will appoint 10 representatives to a Central Council that will meet periodically at Kaimosi to plan and coordinate cooperative endeavors. Joseph Kisia, assistant presiding clerk of East Africa Yearly Meeting, visited the United States in October 1979 to report on these latest developments. He said that Friends are seeing the fruit of the seeds that were first sowed by the missionary pioneers in the early part of this century and that the harvest continues to be bountiful.

COLLEGE STUDENT INTERNS SUCCESSFUL

University Friends Meeting, Wichita, Kansas, is now in its third year of an experiment to use college students from nearby Friends University as interns working with the pastoral team. This year four are involved working primarily with youth, Christian education, and music ministries. They are LaVonna Leach and Dana Miller of Friends Memorial Church, Seattle, Paula Cline of Friendswood church in south Texas, and Doug Chambers of First Denver Friends Church in Colorado.

THE CATACOMBS SERVICE

Talent Friends Church (Oregon) recently held a Sunday evening worship in the base­ ment without lights. Like the early Christians who met underground, Talent Friends met in semidarkness, sang songs and quoted Scripture by memory. The preaching was also done by memory. The first-century experience was reported as meaningful.

FRIENDS WOMEN WIN FIRST PLACE

The women's volleyball team of Friends Bible College won 12 of 15 games at a tournament in Kansas City in October, bringing back to campus the coveted first place trophy. Jack Holliday is the coach.

QUAKER SAINTS GATHER

Here's the last word on Quaker saints. First Friends in Canton, Ohio, held an "All Saints Gathering" October 26 in the church gym. Costumes were selected to represent any saint throughout the Bible or church history (including present-day ones). Prizes were given for the most original likenesses. Those deciding not to come costumed were asked to act like saints anyway. 16 EVANGELICAL FRIEND

NEW MISSIONARIES REACH BURUNDI

While several missionaries have been forced to leave Burundi, including two Friends, Robert and Connie Shaffer have been admitted to the field upon completing language school. They are supported by Mid-America Yearly Meeting.

PRAYER PATTERNS FOR WORSHIP In one congregation prayer request cards are placed in the pew racks. Worshipers are invited to fill out one of these cards, and the ushers pick them up. The pastor includes the requests in his pastoral prayer. Another church has a large bulletin board in the narthex. Persons coming to worship thumb tack their prayer requests there before the service starts. During the first hymn an usher collects these and brings them to the pastor, who includes them in his prayer. --Taken from Friends United Meeting Leader's Digest

HOW TO PROTEST 'THE LIFE OF BRIAN'

This film called "the foulest-spoken biblical epic ever made" (New York Times) and "grossly offensive to those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord" (Lutheran Council) may be protested by writing to the distributor, Steven J. Ross, Chairman, Warner Commu­ nications, Inc., 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10010 . This announcement comes from the Friendswood Friends Church midweek bulletin.

PELHAM FRIENDS CELEBRATE 180 YEARS

Some Friends emigrated to Canada from Philadelphia after the American Revolutionary War and settled near Ontario in the Pelham area in 1783. The Pelham Friends Meeting was established in 1799 with 79 members, the first Friends meeting in Canada. They united with the Evangelical Friends Church- -Eastern Region in 1959 . October 21 they observed their 180th anniversary.

A WORK CAMP PLANNED TO GUATEMALA

Friends of Ohio plan a work camp journey to the Friends mission field in Guatemala February 4-16. The cost is $650 for each participant. The project is entered cooperatively with California Friends Board of Missions.

HAROLD THOMPSON MEMORIAL FUND ESTABLISHED

The family of the late Harold Thompson, former president of Friends Bible College and well-known Friends minister in the Evangelical Friends Alliance, who died of cancer September 9, has established a memorial fund to the Evangelical Friends Mission. Gifts may be sent to 1201- 30th St., N.W., Canton, Ohio 44709.

FU ANNOUNCES ACADEMIC DEAN SEARCH COMMITTEE

Dr. Richard Felix, president of Friends University, announces the appointment of the Academic Dean Search Committee. Dr. Verlin Hinshaw is committee chairman, heading a group of eight others representing the faculty, administration, board, alumni and students, and two consultants. The committee is setting up criteria for the person who will become the next academic dean of Friends University. Following advertising to attract nominees and applicants, the process of screening these individuals will begin. Nominations and inquiries should be addressed to the Academic Dean Search Committee, c/o President's Office, Friends University, Wichita, Kansas 67213. The deadline for applications is January 18, 1979. D.ECEMBER 17

created the unexpected ending for the Who are they for? How are book. used in. corporate worship? Dorothy Hamilton bas Written this book~ ...... ,nnt>< are just a sample Qf the. issues dis­ as well as ·a number of others, for young xu· a straightforward with teenage readers, who may be very much Uke represented byJbe foUowing.quotes: the students she has helped through the years. -Betty M. Hockett frttE~ndedtheufiore to be a bond :d heru:eo meatl$t1fdeepen~ ing fellowship • , .• " 0. Edwin Bontrager, Divorce and the Bruce Milne, We Belong Together, Inter..: Faithful Church, Herald .191 pages. "The.rf!' is no pldce /or exercising our Press, .128 pages, paperback $L25 ticular gift [s.itnply} for our own fi.OOd. In Divorce and the Faithful Church, Eon~ This book comes as close to a .''Uteral roller "ft. is a staggering thought that if we could. trager deals with a social problem of deep coaster'' as any I've read. The· first tw.o see the Christians whom we now find it s.o: concern to the health of the church, as wetl cllatpters rt~nr•eseilll the slow, controlled as-· difficult to admire and respect as they are as to the stability of our . He sur­ cent t.o the point of no return. Then with· destined to become. we mtght be: strongly veys the Old. Testament. teaching on d.i­ out warning the reader is swept irtt() a fast­ tempted to fall down and worship th£m. " vorce, giving special attention to the Mosatc paced, thrillir~;g, and extremely challenging This book has my tbinkbtg legislation, then.summariz.es his conclusions reading experience. as to what the Old Testament teaches. He and dtanged your After laboriously building sociological continues the survey of the subject in the attention. and tbeologkal foundatio.ns on which to New Testament, noting the teaching of build his case for the need of fellowship, the Jesus in theOospeis, of Paul in the Epistles. author begins to write with his heart. The Again the author summarizes, comparing result is an \'Ol!lme that challenges the Old and the New. After this summary, every Christian to reevaluate his view of, ·fully documented by scriptural references, and relationship to, the body of Cbdst. he presents another summary of the teach­ ings different religious .bodies and de­ In a dav when books on community are a nominations on their interpretation of the dime a dozen (and not worth the price}, this Sl'lrirn·un~s cited. volume br~atbes new life into over-used terms, Agape love aud koirwnia are Bontrager well points out a basic pro. from their pigeon- blem "The Church today is caught .in the holes aud made to represent powerful ideals bind 'or upholding the law's ideal (biblical for the mature Christian. law) without compromising, and yet being sensitive to human need." How does a Christian relate to other Christians be . finds it hard to love because ENTERTAINING ANGELS Especially helpful is Bontrager's discus~ of their or "incortsistenc.y· sion on the Church· in relation to divorced What is the purpose of th~ BY CATHERINE persons as an expte"'~tion forgivenness. Helpful suggestions are given of how "the The other day l looking thro,ugh Qllt love-grace motif-love, acceptance, and guest book, our The pages, · I helpfulness-are to chl;)racterize the Body t{!rned them. Ut up priceless m.em.ortes of Christ. Tbe book presents two bonus as this nam.e and. that c.ameinto factors: an excellent bibliography and an in· ff~ friends from around the world, many valuable index of scriptural references. Book Stare whom came as: Some were rnis- Bontrager's work should be of sped;:d Serving Evangelical Friends with some help to the pastor, the counselo.r, and the best in Evangelical Literature anyone who is making a .study in depth Cbl$le~;e, and some names were A full service Christian One Was a total stranger who the subject. -Georg(! H. Moore supply store featuring Cambridge and World a pretender, preying on unsuff;pect: Bibles, books from major like me.. Dorothy Hamilton, Mad's Mou~ttaln., evangelical publishers, Herald Press, 130 pages. George Fox Press Sunday .But among the names were School literature, gifts delightful people who came as and A mountain was exactly what Marl faced and supplies for every occasion. remained as friends .from that moment for"' when she ran away from bQme. Lof!eliness, A service of the ward. They were who finding a place to .live, locating a job, learn- Evangelical Friends Church, brought encouragement and great n1e:ssn1tg how to get along on only a very small Eastern Region since 1931. to 01,1r home. What fellowsb.ip and !it.e:fon:iit amount of money, and staying away from friendships: have been forged over a cup anyone who might recognize her were :!f~ tea, or a bowl part of her mountain. The situation Book Stare It is delightful to entertain rriends eased, though, by her with a Box 176 few friendly people. Some of them, then~ Damascus, Ohio 44619 and we aU feel comfortable with we made it possible for the circumstance that k11ow but oneof has 18 EVANGELICAL FRIEND

been entertammg strangers, people who lea t expect to be invited. Now that the holiday are upon us again, it would be an excellent time to reach out, FREE offering ho pitality in a imple and homey way. The e times do not call for extrav­ agance, but for being available in simple BOOKLET sharing. The EVANGELI CAL FRI END neither endorses La t night a minister's wife told me that nor necessarily approves subject mafler unexpected guest , mi ionarie , were u ed in The Face of the World, but simply brought to her door fo r supper and over­ tries to publish material of general interest night. She gave them what was cooking­ 10 Friends. -The Editors sloppy joe -and the guest were delighted, being weary of heavy company food. The e Evangelical Financial !rangers fi t in to her family, her intere t , Organization Is off and her home o perfectly, leavi ng the gift the Drawing Board of a new friendship behind, and a benedic­ C HI AGO- Applications for member hip in tion. the new Evangelical Counci l for Financial What a gift for the giver, and what a gift Accountability (ECFA) were di tributed for the weary travelers! here recently to repre entative of nearly Having everything just perfect- the 200 Christian charitie . The wide pectrum house, the food, the table-is not the ecret o f organization present included educa­ of hospitality. The open home and an open tional in titutio n , as ociations, relief agen­ heart are. cies, and television mini trie . The in­ augural member hip meeting of ECFA cli­ I have also been on the receiving end of maxed nearly two years of planning and de­ this ho pitality bu iness. Through the year veloping tandards of financial di clo ure. how many homes have been opened to me and mine! How many women have cleaned " I believe that evangelicals ha e hown If much of what you know about wills and cooked and made room for us! How I great maturity in forming this elf-regulat­ is "common knowledge," you may not thank each one again for the joy of haring ing agency," aid ECFA board chairman know as much as you think you do. their home, however briefly, and their Ted Engstrom o f World Vision. "ECFA Research has shown that many ideas will perform a ervice that will build credi­ commonly accepted as facts about food, however bountiful or si mple! bility and confiden e: credibil ity for it wills are false, exaggerated, out­ There are people who never have been in­ dated, or apply only to certain states. members o that they can concentrate their vited into homes of other -people who no full attention upon their work without The above brochure replaces much longer have home of their own, confined wasti ng time andre ource defending them- of this false information with legally to a room or hospital bed. There are peo­ accurate facts. When you have had elves against a criti cal public- confidence, ple in the world who have no food at all , a chance to read it, you will soon resulting in increased giving on behalf of realize that a will can make a big dif­ and Christmas dinner has no meaning the public that feels its contributions are be­ ference to your heirs and any reli­ whatever. gious or charitable causes you may ing spent-and accounted for-in are pon­ want to help. There are ways to bring cheer if we put sible manner." our minds to it. Send for your free copy today. Olan Hendrix, executive director of I wonder why it i hard to find home ECFA, aid he expected several hundred or­ open to entertain strangers the e day . ganization to apply for member hip during ------clip and mail------There i a lot of ble sing going to waste. the next year. Tho e accepted will receive Don Worden, Director of Development There i o much to give, and a great deal of the 1980 ECFA seal of approval to di pia Evangelical Friends Church- inspiration to receive. in their advertising and promotional liter­ Eastern Region atu re . By 1983, he predicted, more than 1201 30th Street N.W. It i exciting to entertain " angels." You Canton, Ohio 44709 never know when you will meet one! I ,000 organi zation would be member of ECFA. -E.P. 0 Please send "37 Things People ·1 wonder in thi day o f inflation, or 'Know' About Wills That Aren't whatever it i that up ets our budget , if Really So" without cost or obligation. Peter would till ay, " Use hospitality one Layman Demands Resignation to another without grudging." Or if the of Episcopal Church Leader Name writer of Hebrew would till say in thi day DENVER-An Epi copal Ia theologian and Address of motel and re taurant , " Be not forget­ author ha called for the re ignation of the ful to entertain !ranger : for thereby orne church' pre iding bi hop, aying hi lead­ City ------have entertained angel unaware . " er hip "i incapacitated and he i the mo t Every once in a while, you do meet an poignant victim of hi own bureaucracy. " State ______Zip ____ angel. Try it! Only one stranger let me William Stringfellow also aid the chu rch, down! ~ under the leader hip of Bishop John M. vHftfl: mem~~tsare~pt'ltx~i~ll.!. f9r ~ore Zi¢~i ~tot. t~a~J>70 tt«s;ellt of tbe :q~t~au•s religi~q$ m~tfctittrcn •. · ·· .· .·•.;... .·· ... ·.· ... · . • i .·••···.· ... radio and TV, ..•...... ··• .··•!···· ... •... ·•. · ..... ·· ... ·. ···.• ...... ~r~ Yin, i~t aq annS)nqce~nt> said.~~ ...• ~aid c: .J. ;~off~.u~ sp~ker on. the :goyetruBenthad .already «sanction~ tr~~ Lt~tltertm !fret~:r. Jlw radfo t:ninistry .of the tati

... you can avoid most or all your capital gains taxes on appreciated real estate or securities while supporting quality Christian higher education at George Fox College.

Broadcasters Heard Around. the World Add~ss NRB Convention

China Plans •New Bible, The First Since 1949 2Q EVANGELICAL FRIEND

volunteers has helped over one million per­ " Not a lamb! A baby ... a boy ... son to see. born right in our manger ... . " Last year over one million pairs of old Mara sat up and rubbed her eye . "A glasses were sent to New Eyes For the baby in our table? But why? There were Needy, Inc. , Short Hills, NJ 07078 , where no people there last night." groups of volunteers, over 250 in number, "Father told me he let them Jeep there .------. have been taught to because they came late and there wa no sort and classify room in the inn. But he did not know the them. baby would come so oon." Joel sat down Simple nonastig­ on hi s ister's low pallet. His eye were matic tense go to wide with excitement and he talked rapidly, medical mi sions trying to whisper. abroad since Federal shepherds out on the hill . However, hear­ "We were sitting around our fire last law now prohibits ing only the confusion of a crowded city he night when all at once the sky got terribly their redistribution in thought, "The song is to tin the air. There bright. We were frightened for sure. And this country. Simple is too much noi e in the town tonight. " then an angel came . . . a real angel, Mara, unglasse are prized The stable wa well protected against the and it aid, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring w-....;;;;-. in bright, hot coun­ cold, and a she entered the sudden change you good tiding of great joy, which hall tries, even leper colonies where the burning of temperature made her no e hurt. Mara be to all people. For unto you is born this ray of the sun are too much to tolerate. went first to Eve, the matriarch of the fami­ day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Metal frames go to a refiner to be melted ly's small flock of heep, talking to her in Chri t the Lord."' down, along with other scraps of precious low tones and troking her heavy coat of Joel got up and paced around as he con­ metal, such as gold from denture and gray-white wool. Eve responded by nuzz­ tinued, "After that the angel said we would tooth inlays, old watche , broken jewelry, ling Mara and bleating contentedly. find the babe wrapped in waddling clothe spare cufflinks, earrings, and old silver. Mara noticed that on the other side were in a manger. But I did not dream it would The money realized from the refining three or four donkeys that belonged to peo­ be our manger. Then there wa a whole goes to establish special eye funds for ple taying at the inn. She fed them with multitude of angels and they ang 'Glory to hospitals and welfare agencies throughout the same care that she did their own God in the highest, and on earth peace, 48 of the United States, to purchase new animals, and spread fresh traw for them, good will toward men.'" perscription glasses for those who can't af­ too. "Oh, I am o glad," she aid out loud, "Oh, Joel!" ford them. "that Joel i out with the shepherds becau e "Right after the angel left , Abijah said New Eyes holds periodic sales of antique now I can feed you. Maybe he will work that we ought to go see the baby, o we jewelry and silver along with re alable for Abijah all winter and then I can come ha tened to town and found the baby-and co tume jewelry, which adds significantly out here every morning and every night. I his parent -right down there. And do you to these fund . truly hope thi will be so." Then he check­ know what Abijah said? He said this baby ed each animal again, pulled her robe and i the promised Me siah that our elders have shawl tight around her, and reluctantly been looking for. He will be our King! " went out the door. Mara' questioning voice was full of She had half anticipated and half dread­ wonder and awe, "Really?" ed these bu y day when everyone was to " That's what he aid. We've heard the come to Bethlehem to pay taxe . "Of prie t at the Temple read from the prophet course we are glad for the extra busines at Micah' writing , that out of Bethlehem the inn and every room will be taken. That would come He that i to be ruler in I rael. I doe mean more income for my father. But do not under land it, but when we walked I wish," he whi pered, " I wish that orne­ into the table Ia t night it eemed like holy thing exciting . . . omething really ex­ ground. We even knelt down before this A WISH COME TRUE citing . .. would happen. Like Mark of newborn baby and I noticed that old Abijah Nazareth coming (at thi thought she ighed had tears in hi eyes. I do not under tand it BY BETTY HOCKETT and blushed a bit) . . . or Old Eve having but it wa wonderful. When we went back Mara' warm breath made foggy little puff twin lamb ... or having deep now .. . to the heep Abijah got out hi flute. He in the chilly early-evening air as she or .... " And on and on, clear to the inn, did not play the arne sad ong a before but auntered down the rough path toward the the daydream continued. a happy, gay melody. It is indeed trange." table. She hivered and pulled her bright Before daybreak the next morning, Joel Then Joel left the room a impetuously a colored shawl even tighter, holding it to­ burst into Mara' room calling loudly. Then he had entered. gether under her chin. he lowered hi voice for fear of waking the Mara wa full y awake now and anxiou " It will be very cold tonight," he prom­ gue t , too. "Mara! Gues what! We aw to ee for her elf thi miraculou family in i ed her elf. " Maybe it will now! " Thi the baby! We reall y saw him! " their table. Hurrying to put on her day wa a pleasant thought and Mara fervently "What baby?" responded Mara sleepily. clothes, he uddenly exclaimed, "My wi sh wished that it would come to pa s. "The one down in our table." came true! Something exciting did happen She topped a moment and li tened in­ " In our stable?" Mara brightened. "Oh! ... a really exc iting thing. More than I tently for the mournful flute note of the Old Eve had her lamb! " had ever dreamed pos ible!" C10 DECEMBER 1979 21

FRIENDS CONCERNS

Spectrum Ministries and from the and observation is that pastors Two Friends Families music and testimonies of guest mu­ usually work too hard, but some­ Move to Oregon sicians. The three-day weekend times at the wrong things. To expect featured special concerts by Micki a pastor to speak three times or From Ohio to Serve and Becki Moore, Pete Carlson, and more a week will result in overex­ In an usual act of love and service, Mark Christian. posure and underpreparation. Coun­ two families recently moved to seling often forces itself into a Oregon with the sole purpose to pastor's priorities and creates its become involved in the Hilltop own set of problems. Advancement Friends Church in Oregon City, for the pastor is not really the hope Oregon. for a larger church, especially in our Bob and Kathleen Nowak and Yearly Meeting; his hope and joy Mark and Darlene Fisher with their must come in other ways. Some of four school-age children are making these are the friendships formed, their homes near Hilltop Friends and children of the congregation grown are enthusiastic about this leading to adulthood whose lives demon­ of the Lord in their lives. Both men strate the validity of the pastor's found employment and houses in preaching, teaching, and prayers. which to live in the community. Focus on Malone There are other compensations far Bob Nowak envisions his service Project T.E.A.C.H. (teacher effec· more lasting and rewarding than in the area of outreach, which in­ tiveness and classroom handling) is mere professional status, which is cludes the organization of men's Malone's answer for teachers seek· the usual prod toward perfection. prayer breakfasts, evangelism, and a ing positive approaches to deal with -Jack L. Willcuts variety of special events. His wife, classroom behavior situations. The Kathleen, wants to serve as a Bible new 15-week course is just one of Dr. Donald Chittick lectures study leader, an adult Sunday school the courses offered this fall and A Philosophy of Ministry in Bolivia and Peru teacher, women's worker, and re­ again beginning in January as part source person for adult programs in There is a constant need for a clear Dr. Donald E. Chittick, professor of of the new Malone/Ashland College philosophy of ministry for our pas­ the church. master of education program. Teach· chemistry and chairman of the Divi­ Mark and Darlene Fisher, working tors-an agreed-upon expectation sion of Natural Science at George ers now enrolled say that for the first by pastors and people that will allow as a team, have already begun a time in their careers !hay are learn· Fox College, left Oregon along with Wednesday night children's Bible the Spirit to move a meeting. Energy his wife Donna and daughter Annie, ing new alternatives to confronta­ should not be wasted struggling with hour held during the adult Bible tions with students. The course may to spend this month lecturing and study and want to plan and be involv­ mixed expectations and the loss of teaching in Bolivia and Peru. Dr. ed in many other children's ac­ be taken by teachers lor graduate or harmony and strength such strug­ undergraduate credit. Chittick is well-known, especially in tivities. gles bring. Morale suffers when a the Northwest, as a lecturer support­ Hilltop Friends Church meets in a pastor is frustrated and the people ing the creationist viewpoint, and he rented school building in the com­ are bruised and discouraged. Dr. William Choy, his wife, Jean, munity at present and has just leas· and sons Gabriel and Eric, have God's call to women is as sacred ed office space in a commercial come to Canton, Ohio, as part of and spiritual as God's call to men, shopping center in the heart of the and doors Malone's faculty exchange program of ministry will remain Hilltop area of Oregon City. They open in our with Hong Kong Baptist, the largest Yearly Meeting for pas­ have enthusiastic plans for outreach loring and preaching for both under college in Hong and ministry from this office loca· Kong; he is teach­ the Spirit's leading. The notion lion. The church is a project of the keeps creeping back into the church ing physics and Board of Evangelism of Northwest at basic math at Ma­ large that God somehow favors Yearly Meeting, and their mother lone. His wife, masculinity in the ministry; we church is Clackamas Park Friends. Jean, is enrolled understan.d the Gospel removes all Bob Mardock, the pastor, says it is such differences between male and in art classes at hard to believe all the good things the college. A female. One's usefulness in the happening at Hilltop. Referring to graduate of Bay­ kingdom is based on faithfulness, not one's sex. This is merely a the two Ohio families who answered lor University and an ad placed in the Evangelical reminder of who we are, and that it is the University of Friend and who responded to this one of our deepest convictions. Florida, Choy ar­ speaks frequently in summer camps, need at Hilltop, Bob says, "This is rived in Canton shortly after Malone A pastor of a thriving church must retreats, and seminars among the most exciting thing that has hap· Professor of History Dr. James wear an assortment of hats- bibli­ churches as well as in schools and pened to this church recently. I'm Stuckey and his cal scholar, spiritual leader, theolo· family left for a year teachers' organizations. waiting to see what God will do in Hong Kong. gian, counselor, educator, adminis· Dr. Chittick is scheduled to spend next!" trator, and communicator. The com­ two weeks teaching a course on munity of believers feels that a creation in the interdenominational Midwinter Convention Friends students at Malone, num­ pastor should be free from self­ seminary in La Paz, Bolivia, then bering 135 this year, are by far the serving attitudes, sensitive to the travel to Peru, where he is scheduled Theme Is 'Draw Me Nearer' largest denominational group at the varied needs of the flock, and able to for a training session for members of High school students in Oregon, college, having increased 10.6 per· handle crises calmly. Yet, in the the Peruvian counterpart of Campus Washington, and Idaho Friends cent over last year. Fall enrollment final analysis, a pastor may find his Crusade at the University of Lima. churches are scheduled to meet De· statistics also reveal a 10 percent in­ or her effectiveness is not based on He will also present lectures at the cember 27-31 at Twin Rocks Con· crease in freshmen students and a piety so much as on personality. School of Agriculture and in several terence Center lor the annual Mid· significant increase in the number of Without a clear understanding of schools in Lima. Plans are being winter Convention. Jerry Root, from full-time students as opposed to what is expected, or how account­ made for lectures at universities in the pastoral team at Granada part-time. Twenty-one international ability works, some confusion and La Paz, Bolivia, and Puno, Peru. Heights Friends Church in Califor· students are also currently enrolled. hurts result. Several successful Christmas week the Chitticks will nia, is guest speaker for the evening business and professional people meet with the Friends mission staff services. More than 175 teens from across have complained that our pastors of Bolivia and Peru in their annual Using the theme "Draw Me Ohio and surrounding states came are not well-organized, don't work Missionary Retreat to be held in Are­ Nearer," Root and other teachers together on Malone's campus Oc· hard enough. If they made more quipa, Peru. Before returning to and speakers will develop the theme tober 26-28 for Youth Conference '79, gospel sales, the church would grow Oregon the first week in January, the through various sessions and plan­ a special weekend of worship, teach­ faster; it is always a tendency for Chittick family will visit archeolog· ned activities throughout the con­ ing, and entertainment. Learning to those who have never pastored to ical ruins in Tiahuanaco, Bolivia, and vention into three areas-"Dr11w Me build an abiding faith in Christ was measure spiritual work largely by in Cuzco, Machu Picchu, and other Nearer-to God, to others, and to the the theme that emerged during the business standards and production numerous sites in Peru, including world." The missions project tor the weekend, both from the teaching of charts. Perhaps more of this is the well-known Nazca lines between Friends Youth of Northwest Yearly guest speaker Jackson Crumm of needed at times. My own experience Arequipa and Lima. Meeting this year is support for the 22 EVANGELICAL FRIEND

needs of the boat people from Viet­ 4,250-square-foot addition to the up­ WMU Retreat went in search of hid­ nam. Pastor Do from Vietnam, now per level. A new covered area equi­ den treasure in Oklahoma City Oc­ living in Portland, will speak at the valent to a mini-field house is being tober 5-7. convention. Attenders at Midwinter created from an outside deck. Con­ The ladies of Willow Creek were are encouraged to bring one piece of tained within the 40 x 106 foot area hostesses for the retreat, which good clothing to the convention as a will be a multiuse facility with future brought rest, relaxation, and renewal gift to the boat people. plans for another classroom when to over two hundred ladies gathered Cost of the convention is $48 if needed. Unlike other projects, the to hear Hope McDonald give her nine pre-registered by December 10,$50 if college is acting as its own contrac­ steps to a deeper prayer life. pre-registered after December 10, tor with a subcontractor hired. Com­ As a wife, mother, author, and co­ and $53 if not pre-registered. High pletion of the project is set for worker with her husband in the school students should contact their January. Young Life organzation, Hope spoke local pastors for the registration from experience as family situations forms, which are to be mailed to Jim George Fox College enrollment were shared and solutions were sug­ LeShana or Ken Beebe, Box H, gested through a deepening of per­ George Fox College, Newberg, Ore­ has increased for the eighth con­ secutive year to a record 734 stu­ sonal prayer life and dependence on gon 97132. For further information a closer relationship with Christ as a on Midwinter Convention, contact dents. Not included in the count are approximately 60 persons enrolled in guide and comforter. Jim LeShana (phone 503-538-4931) People You Ought to Know Leaders, in addition to Jane as or Ken Beebe. the college's off-campus indepen­ dent study courses. Better: Howard Ellis master of ceremonies, were Beth Nutt, leading the music with Gayle Clayton Brown Memorial Service-with a big heart. That Cox at the piano, and a Saturday Held at Newberg Friends Minorities studies are being in­ describes Howard Ellis and his wife, afternoon funtime "Bong Show," led creased this year at George Fox Col­ Eva. They are members of Haviland by Kristi Stapp. The Mid-America Clayton S. Brown, missionary, minis­ lege. The course "Minorities His­ (Kansas) Friends meeting. Yearly Meeting Office crew took first ter, and musician, passed away Oc­ tory" is being added and the sociol­ Howard has been active in the prize. Superintendents Robinson tober 12, 1979, at the age of 85 in ogy course "Ethnic Groups and So­ local meeting on the Finance Com­ and Teague visited the office scene Newberg, Oregon, and a memorial cial Minorities" has been extended mittee, as a Sunday school teacher via their wives, Betty and Marjorie, service was attended by relatives to a sequence course to be offered and Yearly Meeting representative. as scenes from "a day in the office" and friends at Newberg Friends fall and winter term. In literature, the He also served on the Finance Com­ were depicted. Several other groups Church on October 15. Clayton was sequences of American Literature mittee of the Yearly Meeting and on brought fun and foolishness to known and loved by many through­ have been chosen for a deeper in­ the CABCO Board. lighten the afternoon scene. out the western and mid-western tegration of minority authors. Hope McDonald's book Discover­ States, where he served as a Friends ing How to Pray is recommended by pastor for 13 years. For seven years those who have read it and who at­ he was a Sunday school missionary George Fox art professor Peter tended the retreat. Her book and her under the American Sunday School Snow has been elected West Coast message reminded us, as did Jane's Union, establishing Sunday schools representative and a member of the treasure hunt, that there is no better in rural communities in Idaho. As a board of directors of Christians In­ discovery than finding a closer walk carpenter he contributed to the volved in the Visual Arts. He will with Jesus. building of Christian camps in represent the national area west of California, Idaho, and Oregon as well the Mississippi. The organization as many homes and businesses. was formed to promote and develop Clayton and Louella, who was a art at the nation's Christian colleges close co-worker in all of his minis­ and art schools. tries and preceded him in death in August 1979, served as missionaries in Africa under Kansas {now Mid­ Pianist Istvan Nadas is performing While he was president of CAB­ America) Yearly Meeting for 19 the complete sonatas of Beethoven CO, he and Eva traveled around the years. in a series of seven recitals this fall world, attending a religious broad­ at George Fox College. The series of casters' convention in Tokyo, Japan, 32 sonatas is sponsored by the Col­ and visiting Radio CORDAC in Bu­ Around George Fox College lege's Division of Fine Arts in rundi. They made a second trip to cooperation with the newly-formed George Fox College's largest build­ Burundi when the government clos­ Chehalem Music Society. ing, Coleman Wheeler Sports Cen­ ed the CORDAC station there. While From left, Beth Nutt, Hope ter, is being enlarged with a on these trips, they had the rare priv­ McDonald, Jane Winters Mike Hille, copastor of the Calvary ilege of visiting in the homes of sev­ Baptist Church, Eugene, Oregon, eral stl,ldents they had befriended. was guest speaker for the annual fall Haviland has also benefited. He was on the City Council for 16 years Coming Events Spiritual Life Week series recently. His subject "The Lordship of Christ" and was mayor eight years, taking began in a Sunday evening message an active interest in civic affairs. Howard employed a number of DEC. 15-JAN. 6 at Newberg Friends Church and con­ tinued in daily morning chapels on foreign students at the Haviland Christmas vacation, Telephone Company. His patience George Fox College campus. Participating with Hille as guests during chapels were Jeff in bridging language barriers was an DEC. 27-31 asset. He practiced his Spanish on Midwinter Convention, Wells and John Lodwick, top na­ Willow Creek ladies and "Bong tional marathon runners. non-English speaking students from Show." Twin Rocks, for high Honduras as he and Eva helped schoolers them learn English. Howard taught JAN. 20-24 Newberg area residents are par­ many of them how to drive. When Missions Convention, ticipating with the George Fox Col­ emergencies arose, he contacted GFC lege faculty, staff, and students in senators and the state department, JAN. 25-26 the formation of the Chehalem Sym­ or helped the students financially. Homecoming, GFC phony, a new community orchestra Eva has been his willing aid and is FEB. 1-2 for Newberg. Performances are ten­ known as a leading artist in Western Midyear Board Meetings, tatively scheduled for November 17, Kansas arts and crafts shows. December 19, February 25, and NWYM, Newberg Friends WMU Ladies Hunt Treasure Church Easter weekend. Some perfor­ MAYM office staff and mances will be with choirs or other Led by Jane Winters of Willow Creek superintendents wives instrumental groups. (Kansas City, Missouri), ladies at the presented a "Mini Opera." DECEMBER 1979 23

FRIE DSG THEA

AlLIANCE, Ohio America, a nationwide program church history. The evening also After the service we held our sponsored by the American Cancer featured "Friends Frolics"-a talent regular Homecoming Dinner. We be­ Twenty-one of our church leaders Society. show for which a prize was awarded lieve this was one of the finest gathered at Quaker Canyon to Other items of note are a "Walk for the best act. Homecoming services we have had. discuss and study leadership from a for Missions" that netted $500; a The children's Sunday school has After a fine morning service and a biblical perspective. During the all· women's prayer breakfast this fall undertaken the project of outfitting delicious lunch we went back for an day sessions, the idea was con­ with Cindy Aufrance, along with a Becky Aufrance, the daughter of afternoon service of music rendered sidered that all true disciples are food shower for her; a new 15- Dave and Cindy. Money raised will by the Emmons family from the Put­ leaders in some way, and yet para­ member Sunday school class start­ be used as a clothing allowance for man Friends Church. doxically, they are also just lowly ed for post-high schoolers and sin­ Becky. Longview and Ferry Road youth servants, doing whatever God has gles with Tammie Karper as teacher, joined together for a party that was called them to do. Many concerns and three young people starting in held at the YMCA Camp. Halloween and prayers were raised, and new the fall term at Malone College. They ClACKAMAS PARK decorations were used. Games were goals were set. are Joe Donnelly, Marsha Close, and Milwaukie, Oregon played and refreshments were serv­ There were 23 of our ladies in at­ Alicia Morris. ed. There was very good attendance tendance at the WMU retreat this A number of Home Bible Studies and a wonderful time was had by the year, and in the evening service at continue to provide an excellent op­ young people and their sponsors. our church they were given the op­ CAlDWEll, Idaho portunity to get acquainted with portunity to come to the platform On June 17, 1979, our pastor and others and grow together through and share some of the blessings wife, Everett and Aida Clarkson, the Word. FRIENDSWOOD, Texas received, and challenges as well. were honored with a farewell dinner, "Venture in Discipleship" was the For four Sundays we had emphasis Ruth Alma Mitchell has opened as they had felt the call from the theme of the Lay Witness weekend on the total mission outreach of her home for an old-fashioned quilt· Lord to go back to the mission field held early in November. Our local Friendswood Friends, starting with ing bee Monday mornings and even­ and are now serving in Mexico. Their coordinators, Dave and Georgia reports of witness to our own city. ings. The quilt will be sent to the youngest son, Douglas, is attending Hoover, worked with the visiting The next Sunday we had reports on Disaster Auction next September. Friends Bible College at Haviland, team from Richland, Washington. our witness to the state of Texas, Kansas. Our congregation discovered a new and the following Sunday our wit­ sense of ministry to the surrounding AlVA, Oklahoma Guest speakers in July were ness in the United States. December Willard and Marian Mitchem from community and strengthened bonds 2 we heard about our witness to the Brian Smith is working with Alva Haviland, Kansas, with a message in of love and service within our own world, as James and Doris Morris Friends on weekends to assist in the film on "The Creation." body. were with us. work as youth pastor. Brian, orig­ A pounding and picnic lunch was The high school Friends Youth is Our WMS area rally was Decem· inally from California, is a senior at held at the Caldwell Park for our now meeting at the home of Tom and ber 5 at League City Friends, with Friends Bible College. pastors, Willard and Wanda Black, Linda O'Grady each Sunday evening Jim and Doris Morris again as our As our participation in the celebra­ with all reporting a good time. to enjoy "whacky" games and par­ speakers. tion of the 200th birthday of the Sun­ Bible studies are all very active ticipate in singing and devotions. Karl Newman led our youth on a day school movement, we had four again, with the fall work being com­ canoe trip, as 33 people with 17 Sundays committed to Sunday pleted. canoes stretched out across the school enlargement. On the fourth A new program "Kids for Christ," COTTONWOOD Guadalupe river. Karl was pleased Sunday we went "over the top" with for children four years old through Emporia, Kansas with the way the youth cooperated, 84 in attendance, beating our record the fourth grade, has been organized working together, supporting and of the previous year! by our pastors, with lots of en­ In November our pastor began a pro­ helping one another. The campfire thusiasm from the kids. gram of study giving the know-how sharing time was especially mean­ Craig and Marsha Johnson are our needed to lead someone to a saving ingful. ARGONIA, Kansas knowledge of Jesus Christ and pro­ Argonia Friends are celebrating the new youth directors. The junior high group presented a We are rejoicing in how the Lord viding biblical principles of follow· short puppet show tor our Halloween near completion of their new church up. Small group discussion and role plant. Located at the east edge of has answered prayers in behalf of party, and the high school group had Melvin Davenport, who is recovering playing were some of the methods booths and games for the younger the community the brick-on-slab used. construction provides meetinghouse from a long and critical illness and children. who is now back in our midst after Rita Thomsen, our new Christian facilities, which include a sanctuary education chairman, is leading our seating 250, pastor's study and sec­ being hospitalized for two and a half FUlTON CREEK months. junior church. Children in grades retary's office, department and one through five meet during the Prospect, Ohio classrooms, plus a large fellowship regular morning worship service. For Rally Day, Fulton Creek Church hall and kitchen with appropriate CANTON, Ohio They conduct their own worhip ser­ had as guest musicians "Sound In carpeting and floor covering through­ For four days First Friends Church vice complete with songs, prayer, Spirit" from Mt. Gilead church. A out. Sidewalks have been poured and testimony times, with a mes­ basket dinner, followed by an after­ and paving for parking areas should took pleasure in hearing from four missionary couples at the "World sage given by the adult leader. noon sing, completed the beautiful be complete by the time this is read. Leadership is developed as the day. Open House and first worship ser­ Outreach Conference." The follow­ ing couples shared: Dave and Cindy youth pick their own leaders and Harold and Nancy Thomas visited vices are slated for early December. take active parts in the service. with us on a prayer meeting night. Total cost will approximate Aufrance, Hong Kong; Harold and Nancy Thomas, Bolivia; Gilbert and Our church building and parson­ Their presentation of Bolivia was dif­ $250,000. Argonia Friends have age have received a new face-lifting, ferent and very enlightening. been faithful stewards and most of Louise George, Bolivia and Peru; Russell and Esther Zinn, Taiwan. as several Saturdays have been A quintet from Raisin Valley the money has come in for the proj­ spent in painting and sprucing up Church, Michigan, were invited by ect. In mid-October, a bazaar sale of Also from the Canton congregation, Alvin and Lucy Anderson, Nigeria, our buildings by members of the con­ the FY on fifth Sunday. A supper crafted items and gifts, plus meals gregation. Every room in the par­ was served by the youth at the served, netted $10,000. and Don and Dorothy Murray, Hong Kong, blessed us by relating their sonage has new paint. We have add­ Leibold home, and then the musical own missionary experiences. Sun­ ed floor coverings, storm windows evening at the church filled the even­ BELOIT, Ohio day school classes contributed by and door, and a bathroom vanity. ing with praise. The last Sunday in September was decorating classrooms depicting There remains work to do, but we're celebrated as Rally Day at the Beloit various mission fields. progressing. KENT, Washington Church, with 134 in attendance. It Richard and Mary Lou McNamara, Kent Friends bade a sad farewell to was also the beginning of revival ser­ known as "Exodus," gave an inspir­ FERRY ROAD Gene and Norma MacDonald Sep­ vices with Raleigh and Larraine Har­ ing concert in a recent vespers ser­ Danville, Virginia tember 30. The evening's activities ris. Bob and Cassie Sams appeared vice. They come from Deep Creek included dessert, singing, and shar­ on TV this summer, at which time Friends Church. Ferry Road Friends Church held a ing memories of our walk with the they witnessed to the miracle heal­ The "All Saints Gathering" was a weekend revival with Charles Lord together. We were happy to ing in Mrs. Sams' family in Kentucky. great evening of fun and friendly Church, October 17-21. He closed welcome many friends from other Also appearing on TV was Clinton competition as attenders vied for out our Sunday morning with an in­ churches that Gene and Norma have Levine, who was a speaker and par­ prizes for their costumes represent­ spiring message, "The Bridegroom helped through the years. We will ticipant on the program Smoke Out ing saints throughout the Bible and Cometh." miss both of them and wish them 24 EVANGELICAL FRIEND

success in their new home in Des terence were David and Cindy Au­ PENINSULA A drive for funds for the new EFC· Moines, Iowa. france, James and Doris Morris, Port Angeles, Washington ER campground near Carrollton, Bright and early October 13 a Russell and Esther Zinn, and Dr. October was a month of inspiration Ohio, surpassed its goal of $1,000. dedicated crew started work clean· Robert Hess. The choir presented to our congregation as it included The money was generated by an auc­ ing up the church and grounds. the musical By My Spirit in the clos­ the visits of two missionary couples. tion and the offering at a praise con· Lunch time brought some relief with ing service. Earlier in the month Riley and cert. Both were coordinated by Ron homemade soup and garlic bread. Sandy Rice spoke to us in both Sun­ Verardi. The Christian Youth Crusaders Dave and Cindy Aufrance, mis· Fellowship and hard work bring us have started their fall program with day services giving us their testi· sionaries to Hong Kong, were guest closer together and we are thankful average attendance at 74, including mony and sharing their experiences speakers in September. it does not need doing every week. teachers and helpers. during their one-year term in the October 17 many of the adults at­ Philippines. We are in the process of in· tended a performance of Pilgrim by The last weekend of October was stituting a teaching program in the the Tap Roots Theater Company. our Missions Conference and includ· nursery. Its purpose will be to give This is a modern version of Pilgrim's NORTH VALLEY ed the World Concern film on the even the toddlers exposure to the Progress and was enjoyed by all. Newberg, Oregon "Boat People," messages and slides principles of faith. The youth of the church have been North Valley Friends is undergoing by Gil and Louise George, and a meeting at the church Wednesday closing film, The Gospel Blimp, and SMITHFIELD, Ohio evening for Bible study and fellow· major changes this year and it's been exciting to watch. October 1 also a fellowship potluck. A "sacrifice of thanks" Sunday ship. They are planning a Sunday Over 100 people of all ages par­ marked the beginning of a new min· school contest is being conducted evening worship service and are put­ ticipated in our harvest party Oc· ting much work, thought, and prayer istry for Alan Stokesbary, Vancouv­ for six weeks, with emphasis on er, Washington, with us, serving as tober 31. The evening's activities in· perfect attendance, bringing Bibles into it. minister of education and outreach. eluded a cake walk, apple bobbing, and visitors. Kent Friends have much to be He has begun to rework our Sunday jack·o-lantern carving, a walk A 3-D (Diet, Discipline, and Disci· thankful for. Our dear brother Dave school programs to more effectively through the "spook house" and the pleship) program has been started Kirkland has returned to us after a minister to the present needs of our breaking of a "pinata." Prizes were with Shirley Boyd and Pat Barbai as given to the best costume, and the successful kidney transplant. Dave body. Our Outreach Ministry has instructors. is a very special person to us and we begun to expand with the sponsor­ evening closed with a cartoon film. The 175th anniversary of the Our Sunday school youngsters are praise the Lord for his return. ing of several refugee families and church was observed with a Home­ getting more people involved with earning "talents" by learning Scrip· coming Dinner. The church started missions work and Rest Home ture and bringing visitors. With with a log building in 1804, was MORNINGSIDE Ministries in the Newberg area. these talents they can buy items of replaced by a brick structure nine Port St. Lucie, Florida various values at the "country years later, which stood until 1879. A October also brought us some October was the month for some store." The store, created by Larry frame church at the cost of $2,000 friends-Charlotte and Kurt Eschel· new things at Morningside. Begin­ and Pat VanSelus, even includes the was built and lasted until1963, when men from Idaho and Paul and Mere· atmosphere of a simulated potbelly ning October 7, a beginner church the present brick church was built. dith Morse, Tigard-to share in a Lay program was initiated, with four per­ stove. The missionary society, who have Witness Mission-type weekend. sons taking a Sunday a month to Our choir, under the direction of been sewing, quilting, and making Those who participated were re· Roger Schlung, is preparing a have a special lesson for children crafts since summer, exhibited and freshed and renewed in their per· age three through grade one. The Christmas cantata Especially for sold many of their items at the Fall sonal commitments to Christ and children are in the adult worship ser­ Shepherds. Bazaar held in a nearby shopping His body. vice for about half an hour, then go mall. to a classroom for their own lesson. In November Dr. Donald Chittick PORTSMOUTH, Virginia This allows our nursery care, then, to gave his Series on Creation during the evening worship hour. A Thanks­ The Men in Missions group began SOUTHEAST, Salem, Ohio be for infants from birth through two Missionary Month at First Friends by At a Sunday morning service recent· years of age. giving special Festival of Praise was presented to us November 18 by our having an oyster roast. After the de· ly, Southeast church was privileged Plans were also laid for sponsor­ licious meal, Dr. Robert Hess spoke. to have Professor and Mrs. Don Mur­ ing a Cub Scout Pack, with Bruce Adult Choir. We praise God for fill· ing our sanctuary to overflow capaci· Other guest speakers during the ray, along with their son David and Cable, active participant in the month were David and Elizabeth guest Paul You, both students at church, as cubmaster. It is hoped ty these last two months each Sun· day morning. The Spirit has been Harris, missionaries to Belgium, at Malone College. A very inspiring that this service will make a positive which time they expressed their service of message and song was witness and give us doors for moving North Valley in exciting ways. deep concern for European nations. presented. outreach. Also one Sunday Jerry Adams, chap­ Hal and Marilyn Thomson have lain at the Chesapeake-Portsmouth SPRINGBANK, Allen, Nebraska agreed to serve as sponsors for a jails, shared in regard to the amount PELHAM A men's quartet from George, Iowa, new Friends Youth group. Average Fenwick, Ontario, Canada of missionary work that needs to be attendance in October's initial meet­ done in local communities. Another presented a musical program Sun­ ings was five teens. The congregation of Pelham Friends one of the highlights of the confer­ day evening, September 28. October was Missionary Outreach Church celebrated their 180th an­ ence was when the church choir pre­ A carry-in supper was held Oc­ Emphasis Month. William and Dor­ niversary as a Friends meeting on sented the cantata The Greatest tober 21 in honor of Vern and Lois othy Wagner, pastors in Sarasota, October 21, 1979. The church began Story Yet Untold. It was also given Ellis. We all enjoyed the pictures of Florida, were guest speakers, along in 1799 when 79 members of the at the Virginia Beach church. Faith Rough Rock and the questions and with two members of their congrega­ Society of Friends gathered together Promise commitment for 1980 answers about the mission work. tion. The month's emphasis ended for worship. The church became amounted to $15,800.18. Praise God Galan and Mary Burnett took the with Faith Promise giving for 1980 part of Eastern Region in 1959 when for the faith He has given His peo­ Kid's Club to Sioux City to see the totaling $4,343. it decided to leave Canada Yearly ple! film Jesus one Saturday evening. Meeting. Our young people went with youth The juniors gave a good report on Mildred Fling Harris, recording ar­ director Toni McPeek to Malone Col· Sunday morning. MT. GILEAD, Ohio tist and opera singer, presented a lege for the youth conference. It was Herbert and Edna Ellis, Kenneth We were made aware of God's concert of sacred music at the cele· a time of spiritual renewal and and Edna Mathiesen, Galan, Mary, goodness in the visitation of the bration. Pastor Peters preached on growth for many senior high youth. and Miriam Burnett, Margaret Holy Spirit during the recent Lay the subject "This Day Is Holy unto Puckett, and Naomi Ellis attended Witness Mission. Youth, children, the Lord" from Nehemiah 8. The area meeting in Plainview Sunday, and adults were touched. On Sun­ afternoon service featured Bruce ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio November 4. day morning there were 204 present, Burch and local historians. The con· Revival meetings were held recently Chester and Fern Benton had a and all were touched by the beauty gregation had made their goal to with Stan Scott, noted evangelist in farm sale in October; they have mov­ of God's visitation. The "Celebra­ have 180 in attendance for the day. the Upper Ohio Valley region. A ed into Allen. tion" Sunday evening lasted more As it turned out, there were 240. The prayer vigil preceded the service. than two hours as we sat together in Friends Youth also presented music, Our church has begun a Christian SPRINGFIELD, Colorado heavenly places. and many members gathered togeth· Service Brigade to bring boys from 8 Springfield WMU has just completed Missionaries who ministered dur­ er with instruments to make up the to 18 into contact with Christian the second printing of their cook· ing the 10th annual Missionary Con- Pelham Friends Band. living. book, Specialties of Springfield DECEMBER 1979 25

Friends. The ladies have had so when seven people gave their testi­ WILLOW CREEK CATHERS-MYTON. Mary Cathers and many requests they decided to print monies and then were baptized, thus David M. Myton, November 21, 1979, North Kansas City, Missouri Valley Friends, Newberg, Oregon. a second time. Proceeds from the declaring publicly to friends and Clark and Kathy Pickett were of­ first printing were used to send a relatives the newness of life that has ficially dedicated as pastoral interns COPE-RICHTER. Hannah Cope and An­ barrel to Burundi. The second print­ begun in their hearts. dreas Richter, September 1, 1979, Universi· at Willow Creek on Sunday, October ty Friends, Wichita, Kansas. ing proceeds will be used to do badly 21, during morning worship. They needed repair in the church base­ A very meaningful service with emphasis on "A Heavenly Home on received the certificate of a Minister­ DANIELS-RAMSELL. Nancy Daniels and ment. in-Training from Mid-America Yearly William Ramsell, October 20, 1979, Can­ September 30 was dedication of Earth" was experienced the last Sun­ ton, Ohio. day in October. During the service, Meeting as provided for in our Faith our Sunday school teachers and and Practice. Both are graduates of DAVIDSON-ALLEN. Jan Davidson and staff. The substitutes took over the six infants and small children were dedicated to the Lord. Pastor John­ Friends Bible College and are at­ Bruce Allen. September 15, 1979, North jobs for that day. tending Nazarene Theological Sem­ Valley Friends, Newberg, Oregon. A Bible Baseball game was played son emphasized that if we plan to dwell in a heavenly home in eternity, inary and are employed in the city. FLUHARTY-LANNEY. Tina Fluharty and between Vilas Friends and Spring­ Clark and Kathy will be working on Kevin Lanney, June 19, 1979, Salem, Ohio. field Friends, with Vilas winning by a it must begin here on earth. a volunteer basis in the youth work, JONES-LEWIS. Janet Jones and Randy good margin. An outside service and A week of missionary emphasis visitation, teaching, follow-up work, volleyball game were enjoyed by the Lewis, September 15, 1979, Medford, was held November 7-10 with David and administration. This is an ex­ Oregon. same churches later, with Spring­ and Cindy Aufrance as speakers and citing step for Willow Creek and the field winning one of the games. KAY-MURPHY. Jeannine Kay and George a film shown by Wycliffe Bible Picketts, and we praise God for this Murphy, October 20, 1979, Deerfield, Ohio. We had a missions Sunday in Translators. opportunity. November with Esther and Ralph KIEFER-EDWARDS. Doreen Kiefer and Choate as our speakers. Jim Edwards, November 3, 1979, Post We had a study of "Cults" in our Falls, Idaho. Wednesday evening services and KINSER-CASE. Rhonda Kinser and Ted found it to be very worthwhile. We Case, June 30, 1979, Bethel Friends, hope to be better able to recognize FRIENDS RECORD Hugoton, Kansas. and deal with the cults who come LEWIS-BIONDI. Rebecca Lewis and Scott calling at our doors. Biondi, May 12, 1979, Medford, Oregon. God is still performing miracles in our midst as many of us can witness MILLER-LOY. Karen Sue Miller and David BIRTHS KYLE-To Frank and Glenda Kyle, a Ernest Loy, October 27, 1979, Canton, to special answers to prayer. daughter, Susan Michelle, October 16, Ohio. BARLEY-To Gary and Maria Barley, a 1979, Friendswood, Texas. UNIVERSITY, Wichita, Kansas daughter, Heather Joy, September 27, PIERSON-SELL. Sandy Pierson and Ray 1979, Alliance, Ohio. LEWIS-To Sheryl and Larry Lewis, a Sell, October 20, 1979, Salem, Ohio. Margi Macy and Phil Speary have daughter, Lyndie Anne, October 20, 1979, joined our ministerial team. The new BOWLIN-To J. Perry and Sami Bowlin, a Haviland, Kansas. ROBERTS-FULLER. Joanne Roberts and spiritual life ablaze in our church is daughter, Andrea Lucinda, August 27, Doug Fuller, August 4, 1979, Medford, spreading rapidly, and increased 1979, Beloit, Ohio. LOWE-To Mike and Peggy Lowe, former­ Oregon.' ministries have led to the need for BUCHANAN-To Bill and Debbie Buch­ ly of Medford, Oregon, a son, Matthew THUMLER-CHRISTENSEN. Debbie Thum­ anan, a son, Ross William, October 16, Morgan, October 19, 1979, Escondido, ler and Don Christensen, August 18, 1979, the leadership that Phil and Margi California. will now provide. 1979, Medford, Oregon. Medford, Oregon. Both are serving part time in our FRENCH-To John and Linda French, a PENNA-To Floyd and Merry Penna, a ministry of Christian education. daughter, Amy Jo, July 24, 1979, Salem, son, Jedidiah John, June 24, 1978, Oregon Ohio. City, Oregon, and by adoption, Danny Paul DEATHS Margi will have responsibilities in 12, Janelle Marie 11, Laureen Annette 8, BALLARD-Barton D. Ballard, 76, Novem­ curriculum development, teacher FYE-To Charles and Donna Fye, a Robert Joseph 7, on November 13, 1979. training, and the Christian education daughter, Elizabeth Sue, September 29, ber 13, 1979, Haviland, Kansas. ministry with children and junior 1979, Hughesville, Pennsylvania. PETERS-To David and Barbara Worley COBBS-Albert Cobbs, August 21, 1979, highs. Phil's interests lie especially Peters, a daughter, Rebecca Lynn, January Beloit, Ohio. GARDNER-To James and Carol Gardner, 31, 1979, Fenwick, Ontario, Canada. with senior high and college age. a daughter, Michelle Marie, May 26, 1979, COLE-Ivan Cole, 74, October 22, 1979, Furthermore, he anticipates finding Medford, Oregon. PHIFER-To John and Prudence Phifer, an Olympic View Friends, Tacoma, Washing- creative ways to bring Christian adopted daughter, Shannon Louise, born , ton. GLOCKLING-To Bill and Connie Glock­ drama into our life at University April 15, 1979, Bethel Friends, Hugoton, ling, a daughter, Cherie Mary, August 15, Kansas. ELWELL-Bess Elwell, 78, September 8, Friends. 1979, Medford, Oregon. 1979, University Friends, Wichita, Kansas. Fred Tiffany, professor of Old PHILLIPS-To Cheryl and Steve Phillips, a GOERES-To Mark and Kay Goeres, a son, FURBAY-Margie Furbay, October3,1979, Testament at the Earlham School of daughter, Michelle Elizabeth, October 30, Brian Charles, August 10, 1979, Medford, Mt. Gilead, Ohio. Religion, brought a morning mes­ Oregon. 1979, Tacoma, Washington. sage in October. This was the first GOODMAN-Charlie T. Goodman, 87, opportunity for most of us to listen GRIFFIN-To Rick and Nancy Griffin, a SANDERS-To Joy and Arden Sanders, a member Hillsboro (Oregon) Friends, Oc· to Fred and one we wouldn't have son, David James, October 29, 1979, boy, Glenn Joshua, September 12, 1979, Iober 31, 1979, Portland, Oregon. Homestead Friends, Cedar Point. Kansas. Papua New Guinea. wanted to miss. HEATER-Edith B. Heater, 97, charter Sunday at Six is what we are call­ HARP-To James and Debbie Harp, a STILLION-To Franklin and Marsha Kurtz member Silverton Friends Church, Oregon, ing our new evening activities. daughter, Andrea Renee, August 8, 1979, Stillion, a daughter, Halley Jo, September November 12, 1979. Sebring, Ohio. 17, 1979, Beloit, Ohio. Designed to get more people active­ HOOPER-Jennings Hooper, September ly involved in a wider variety of group HOOLEY-To David and Cheryl Hooley, a TERREBERRY-To Les and Brenda Carl 24, 1979, Smithfield, Ohio. worship experiences, the evening son, Edwin Earl, November 6, 1979, Terreberry, a son, Gregory Chester, March meetings will include a great deal of Portland, Oregon. 15, 1979, Fenwick, Ontario, Canada. HULS-Eimer Huls, 65, October 6, 1979, University Friends, Wichita, Kansas. singing, special music, personal in­ HOWENSTEIN-To Alan and Nancy How­ TERREBERRY-To Richard and Sandy teraction, and devotional teaching. enstein, a daughter, Amanda Jo, August 8, Carl Terreberry, a son, Jeffrey Allen JENKINS-Ona Jenkins, September 22, Each week's meeting will be design­ 1979, Beloit, Ohio. Shapland, December 14, 1978, Fenwick, 1979, Alliance, Ohio. Ontario, Canada. ed to enrich spiritually all those who JONES-To Vern and Kris Jones, a son, PARKS-William Parks, October 1, 1979, participate. Adam Kristopher, October 29, 1979, Med­ VELAZQUEZ-To Oscar and Sue Velaz­ Smithfield, Ohio. ford, Oregon. quez, a daughter, Amy Nicole, October 18, SCHMIDT -Myrtle Lyon Schmidt, 64, 1979, Medford, Oregon. WEST PARK, Cleveland, Ohio KEHRES-To Greg and Cathy Kehres, a November 12, 1979, Haviland, Kansas. Several newly converted families son, Adam Gregory, October 10, 1979, WOLK-LANIEWSKI-To David and Vicki SMITH-Mary Smith, 94, October 2, 1979, had a time of "housecleaning" re­ Deerfield, Ohio. Wolk-Laniewski, a son, Joseph Peter Ill Hughesville, Pennsylvania. cently, at which time they publicly KEUCHEL-To Bill and Deneen Keuchel, a July 21, 1979, Medford, Oregon. burned records, magazines, books, WEIZNECKER-Fred Weiznecker, 68, Oc­ son, David Eric, September 28, 1979, tober 7, 1979, Beloit, Ohio. etc. they felt were a detriment to Willow Creek Friends, Kansas City, their Christian lives. The service Missouri. MARRIAGES WILLIAMS-Tufa (Mrs. Abner) Williams, 68, October 23, 1979, Alva, Oklahoma. was held in the Metropolitan Park. KUZMA-To Michael and Lindy Kuzma, a BATEMAN-SANDER. Cynthia Bateman A very impressive baptismal ser­ son, Joseph Frank, July 28, 1979, Beloit, and Philip Sander, July 21, 1979,.Medford, WOOD-Viola Wood, September 16, 1979, vice was experienced in November, Ohio. Oregon. Beloit, Ohio. 26 EVANGELICAL FRIEND

ment: evangelism, bringing the good news of the Gospel to all men; and Christian ser­ 'Facing the vice, revealing the love of God both to Christians and non-Christians. We are fully aware that many of the 1980s' structures of society are not right. Oppres­ sions exist. Inequalities abound. There are (Continued from page 10) haves and have nots. Gospel. Although methods and form will Someday God is going to make every­ be changed to reflect the culture, the con­ thing right and bring equality and justice to tent of the Gospel will remain intact. this world through Jesus Christ. In the This brings us to the second factor that meantime He has commissioned the Church needs emphasis, and that is that the New to preach the Gospel and live the Gospel. Testament message must be maintained. We make no apology in stating that the Here there is danger on two fronts. Gospel is the greatest factor that exists for 'W H"T Liberal theology maintains that reason, not social reform. Through it people's lives are revelation, is the basis for action. Hence, changed, evil habits are broken, men get a they say, it is not necessary to be bound by vision of something better to live for, and the New Testament; we can attempt to un­ their station in life improves. D 0 I derstand what God is doing today by taking Some tell us that the poor should be the our agenda from the world. special concern of the Church. I would like This dependence on reason and consen­ to ask, therefore, what greater benefit can I T E sus leads to subjectivism. Further, there is be brought to the poor than to preach to w a tendency to apply salvation to corporate them the Gospel of Jesus Christ with its and national structures rather than to in­ revolutionary message and transforming LORD... ' dividuals, so that the vertical relationship of power? -, a man to his God is changed to give em­ Pentecostal people, being people of the 11 phasis to the horizontal relationship of man Word and people of the Spirit, have always to man. emphasized the transforming power of the In Latin America the word concietiza­ Gospel. In fact, they have been criticized BY TINA KNIGHT cion, or in English consciousness raising, as being the people of the poor and of the put forward by Paul Freire, has had wide masses. This is as it should be! I am acceptance. This concept teaches that the satisfied that the preaching of the Gospel in missionary method should be focused in its power to the poor has done more to such a way that oppressed groups are alleviate suffering and raise Jiving standards taught to understand their true condition than all the consultations of liberal mis- and be activated politically for revolu­ sionary efforts, with their money to help tionary transformation. revolutionary units and their exhortations Sometimes liberal theologians ignore the to help the poor, together with their social fact that there would be no Christian and political schemes to deliver the oppress­ In the midst of deadline pressures and church if it were not for the Gospel of Jesus ed! The Gospel of Jesus Christ is God's previous plans, Bolivian missionary Tina Christ as taught in the New Testament. Fur­ way of raising the consciousness of the Knight and husband Roscoe find that ther, they bypass the fact that about three people. interruptions bring opportunities, and that billion people in the world today do not There are times when evangelical people inconvenience is a relative matter. have an adequate exposure to this message. have become too self-centered and cut off We believe the message of the death and from the world of need. Christians should resurrection of Jesus Christ as taught by the be exhorted to do good to their fellowman apostles is applicable today and is as and to help the suffering as an expression of necessary now as in New Testament times. what Christ has done for them. There has This message can be preached in any culture been failure along this line, just as there has and to any people. We cannot change the been failure among Christians in prayer and content of the Gospel from spiritual Bible reading. The answer is to teach and transformation of the individual to a preach the Word of God and encourage sociopolitical emphasis and still achieve Christian people to be truly Christian. success in our mission. The challenge of the 1980s is the same Finally the Church must be involved with challenge that has been upon the Church the world of man. since Jesus Christ gave the Great Commis­ This is the supreme question facing us: sion: Go and teach; go and preach; tell the How does God want the Church to face the love of Christ, and serve your fellowman. world? From a biblical standpoint we im­ This is the Christian's responsibility and mediately come up with a two-fold involve- will be so until the end of the age. · i"fi'J DECEMBER 1979 27

OR DAYS I've been thinking of Felipa continued, "So my friends told me what to write for the "Missionary of an herb doctor, and I went to him, but chRIStmas time­ F Voice." Today the Lord answered. I'm no better. I don't want to leave four I had known that Julio was arriving to motherless children." She broke down and the manqen pick out some used pieces of lumber left wept. And we all wept as we prayed together. It's Christmas time, over from our building project. But I was A busy time. hardly prepared for a visit from his wife Roscoe explained the danger of going to We run about also. Today just wasn't my day for visit­ the brujo (witch doctor), for Julio had And children shout. ing! In fact, I was a bit irritated as I left my reported privately that her family had taken Ah, there's a gift that I should buy. typewriter and walked down the stairs to her to one. But, oh, I wish you'd tell me why meet them. It costs so much to satisfy; It's a long story, but we advised her to go Why all these things are priced so high! I had planned to write to our kids in the back to her first doctor and conscientiously Money. states. The house is a mess! Boxes and bar­ follow his advice. It's easy to say the words Money. rels everywhere-nothing in order. We just but how do you find that extra $18 every Money. moved into the new house two days ago and month? Their water is turned off because Please tell me what it's all about! since there is no electricity, there's no frig, they can't pay the bill. Some days there is no lights, nor can they sand the white ce­ little food for hungry children. And some Oh yes . .. The manger. ment off the tile floor. The carpenter is still days there is no work nor sale of work for leaving curls of wood shavings on the kit­ this poor carpenter! The Christmas songs; chen floor and everything is covered with a To me it seemed a hopeless situation! The shopping throngs; layer of dust. Today he didn't come to Then I heard a voice from within say, "I Distrustful eyes; finish the cupboards, so I'm still stacking was hungry and you gave me nothing to A lost child cries. clean dishes in boxes and standing on my Oh call a cab! I'm really beat. eat ... sick and you didn't look after I simply must relax my feet. head to find oats or flour or some other me .... "Here were the hungry. Here was needed commodity for cooking. The children scream: they want a treat! the sick, the needy, and they needed our Oh no! We did forget to eat. And to top it all, it is pouring rain! As it help. Hurry! beats against the south window, it runs As Roscoe and Julio went out to dig Hurry! under the molding and down the wall, leav­ through that pile of lumber Felipa sipped a Hurry! ing brown streaks and a full two yards of cup of camomile tea, while I flew around Please tell me what it's all about! wet plaster to be dried before Dick Hamp­ preparing some stew. Thank the Lord for ton arrives to paint. Also, that window has Oh yes . .. pressure pans for fast service. As I peeled The manger. to be fixed so it won't leak again! those carrots and potatoes, I was furious So I put on my best fake smile and with Satan! Why does he always attack These cards we send greeted Julio and Felipa. The wind and new believers? He heaps problems, frustra­ To every friend .... rain blew through their thin clothing and I tions, and doubts on them-fears, impossi­ Quick! Buy some more! We missed these four! noted that Julio wore no socks, leaving his ble situations-trying his best to discourage bare feet peeking through several worn Now what about our uncle dear? them in their walk with the Lord. Job? He writes that he'll spend Christmas here. places in his shoes. Yes, but he was experienced in the faith. That means another gift, I fear. "Do come in. It's so cold out there." Julio and Felipa don't know the Scriptures. Why can't he stay at home this year? "Oh, Senora, we're used to it." They aren't strong to withstand such buf­ Christmas! fetings from the enemy. Christmas! Can anyone get used to cold blue feet and Christmas! wet wind blowing through thin clothing? I As we lunched around a small folding wonder .... table, the stew and tea helped to clear away Please tell me what it's all about! We sat and talked ... the weather ... the hopeless feeling-a full stomach does Oh yes . .. their family ... our house. I felt uncom­ help! And as they left with money for The manger. medicine (although it will only be for a fortable, knowing we knew nothing of What's this I see? poverty. They don't have a frig. The wind short time) we breathed a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to keep these new babes, add Yes-wisemen three and rain always blow under their doors and On bended knee, windows. As for tile floors, they'll never the necessities of life, and a physical touch Where joy flows free! need a sander nor even dream of tile floors! for Felipa. Oh Lord! Could I be really blessed By all this horrid anxiousness? After those first important 15 minutes of "And encourage them, Lord! Oh, do keep them encouraged in You!" Why don't I take some time for rest, small talk, Felipa mentioned not feeling To make God's love my first request? well-the doctor had taken blood tests and "I was hungry and you gave me some­ Peace. reported diabetes, advising a diet and thing to eat ... sick and you looked after Joy. medication. me .... " I somehow also heard the Lord Love. "But my husband didn't buy the medi­ add, "needy, lonely, and frightened, and I wonder what it's all about? you helped me." I hope so! cine for me." It's there: Why? "It costs $18, and we don't have My day? Thank You, Lord, for inter- The manger! it!" ruptions! i~i -John A. Braun 28 EVANGELICAL FRIEND

A. T ITS DEEPEST LEVEL prayer is The oral or written prayer often aids us in M communion, and the Meeting for QUAKER our thoughts about it, indeed helping us to Worship is essentially the Meeting for Com­ pray thoughtfully. The leading example is, munion. It is an experience of wordless of course, the prayer that Jesus taught His wonder in which the person is "caught," COMMUNION disciples to pray, "Our Father who art in within a frame of silence. It may also be in BY ERROL T. ELLIOTT heaven .... " Though it offered a form of a group, perhaps of two or of many, in thought, more than a form of words, it sug­ which one or all may be deeply aware that In one of our last in this continuing series gests the revolutionary meaning of true the Church is "at prayer." dealing in depth with our Christian prayer. We can race through that prayer in Communion naturally leads to communi­ Quaker faith Errol T. Elliott, now of seconds of time, but if we read it thought­ cation. The world of spirit that envelops us Wichita, Kansas, renowned Quaker fully, praying as we read, it can require has no language of its own, and we can and writer, poet, and editor, relates prayer as hours, or perhaps we should say a lifetime! communion in a simple "witness of what should try to witness to one another in the prayer means to one Friend. " One can test this out with his New Testa­ language that we have-a language made ment open before him, reading-praying from the daily external world of sight, with it line by line. It is a prayer that, when sound, and touch. There is no other way to COMMUNION sincerely known as experience, will change a tell of our spiritual experiences. This state­ When men stood on the rim of history world. It is the prayer of the kingdom of ment in itself illustrates the point. And hardly dreamed of ages yet to be God. The only truly creative revolution is Indeed within such a sitting and waiting What drew them each to each and toward not one devised by the overactive initiative in the presence of our Lord a pentecost may the One, of man, but the kind that God the initiator break through, not in a riot of competing Like planets finding center in the sun? inspires. Only prayer, deeply known per­ voices, but in an awareness that the Holy sonally and collectively, can change men Spirit has invaded the meeting and found us Within the twilight of that dawning day and their world inside out. open to receive. We may perhaps speak of It seems not strange, their first impulse The persons called "mystic" have known it as a "mighty rushing wind" or as "flames to pray. this inwardness. We have thought of them, of fire," but we know that it is the real A hunger deeply known within the soul in many cases, as being impractical, divorc­ presence, the experience, not the dramatic Led each to find himself within the whole. ed from the outward realities of a disturbed words about it that matter. Was not communion then their vital world. Many of them have been quite Through prayer God is speaking to His breath, aware of the circumstances around them expectant people and moving them to a By it to live, if not to end in death; and have related their prayer life to the deeper and expanding meaning for their And was not this creation's greatest art, world needs. Through "missions" and lives, personal and collective. The ex­ To give the whole the pulsebeat of the through "service" activities we now venture perience can transcend the diversity of part; into the problem areas, the dangerous situa­ languages and each hears "in his own And through the age pains of this cosmic tions of life to keep alive in the attentions of tongue" the universal voice of God. The birth men the only workable dream, revealed in resurrected Christ has come alive in His A saving grace that would o'erflow the Christ. people, the Church has found its mis­ earth! The Christian forces on the world level sion-His mission. have rightly spoken of "Man's Disorder Prayer thereby becomes not only a com­ calls the Church into His continuing crea­ and God's Design." It is this "design" that municating experience, but also an acting, tion. It is the most exciting and inspiring must break through. Back of and within all serving experience, "to the ends of the experience His people can have to know of our prayer are the words of the great earth." The Gospel through the inward ex­ themselves united as the committed fol­ Prayer, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be perience has become the "whole Gospel," lowers of Christ. The people called done on earth." the "Gospel of wholeness," but wholeness "Quakers" rose from this inward exper­ In varied words and acts the political and would have little meaning if it had no ience that "there is One, even Christ Jesus, business worlds are discovering the necessi­ informing, inspiring, nurturing center. That that can speak to thy [our] condition." ty of cooperation of all nations and races in center is communion in which God is the George Fox prayed in private and in order that each may live. In time mankind initiator. That He is seeking us is evident in Meetings for Communion. How often in must learn what it means to say that the that He is leading us into seeking Him. We meeting we cannot know, but William Penn world is truly one, "under God." That understand Augustine in saying, "Our speaks of it as a very impressive experience world must come not simply through refor­ hearts are made for Thee and they are rest­ for those who heard him. It suggests that mation, but through redemption. That is less until they rest in Thee." Fox truly prayed from depth, that it was the depth and scope of Christian prayer. It should be evident that when the much beyond "saying prayers," such as There can be no lasting reformation with­ Church is active in telling and in practicing were common in the churches of his day. out redemption. The Church, beyond all the Gospel it is because the Church has been The spontaneity of prayer should not other groups, prays the kingdom of God "at prayer." God as Creator is at work and suggest that prayers must never be written. into being. 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EVANGELICAL FRIEND Post Office Box 232 Newberg, Oregon 97132 J Second class postage paid at Newberg, Oregon 1 I I