R SOUTHWESTERN UNION ecor SEPTEMBER 26, 1986 "When I began teaching, I was long on courage and short on patience," Paul Kunce recalls. (Turn to page 2.) Teacher Prays for Patience; Receives Trials "I prayed for patience and estate agencies. Church at a service station, the wind gentleness. He answered by sending members asked, "What will we blew some papers from the cab. plenty of trials and troubles to do?" Then, reminded of the pre- As I was picking them up, an build and develop my patience. vious providence, they agreed, expensive automobile drove up. How wonderful and loving He "God will provide a place." The women handed me a plastic is!" Again a newspaper ad offered bag, asking, 'Is this what you are Paul Kunce has taught church the solution—a small church, looking for?' While I was look- school for 30 years, beginning in not in use, available for religious ing at the bag, she drove away. Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1956. purposes, rent free. They After I realized there was money He has served as teacher and arranged for its use, and two in the bag, I tried to find the princinpal in several schools in years later the owner donated it car, but was not successful. The Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. to the church. money was just enough to pay all He was the starting teacher in In another school, Paul expenses of the trip to Tulsa." at least four new schools, and grappled with a different kind After two years with the was instrumental, with God's of problem. Some children from Brentwood school, Paul started help, in bringing vitality to two an irreligious home were openly a new school in Decatur, Arkan- or three others that were antagonistic to the religious sas. But after two years there, endangered. activities in the school. Their the Conference asked him to go "God has been gracious to me attitude affected the other to Jonesboro, Arkansas, to help beyond measure." Paul testifies, children. The effect was threat- a struggling school. He and his "After each hard experience He ening the very existence of the new wife Luella taught there has rewarded me with some school. One evening, depressed last year, to put a capstone to outstandingly good experience." by the outlook, Paul agonized in his teaching career. He says it As he enters full retirement, prayer about the problem. The was his most enjoyable year of Paul says, "I can look back next morning the troublemakers teaching. The Jonesboro people down the corridor of time and voluntarily withdrew from the said that if they had not come see the hand of God guiding, school, and, as he reports, "a there, there would have been no assisting, teaching, and blessing wonderful peace descended on school. beyond measure." the school for the remainder of Paul's first wife, Margaret, After 15 years' experience as a the year. died in 1975. Three years ago he teacher and principal, Paul was In the summer of 1979, Paul married Luella Murray, a nurse, sent to Longview, Texas, to start thought he had retired. He who worked for many years at a new school. A week before settled down to enjoy his garden Ardmore Adventist Hospital in time for school to open, there and his bees. Then in the fall Ardmore, Oklahoma. After her was no place in sight. They came a call to establish a new retirement from Geer Adventist prayed about it. That evening school in Fredericksburg, Texas. Hospital in Connecticut, she his wife, Margaret, called his Again there was no schoolroom, spent 14 months in Thailand on attention to an ample residence no desks, no teaching equip- a Sustentees Oversees Service advertised for rent. It was ment. Again, there was prayer assignment, and then worked leased for one year with permis- for help, and within three days a four years at the Jay (Okla- sion to use it as a school. home was provided—living homa) Memorial Hospital. Classes were held in the double quarters for the teacher, and Now Paul and Luella are at garage and a game room that room for the school. Equipment home in Decatur with their had separate restroom facilities. and supplies were made availa- strawberries, rhubarb, and bees, A year later, they faced the ble by a sister church at very lit- and satisfying memories of same problem, in spite of dili- tle cost. teaching experiences in 13 gent search and help from real Still postponing retirement, church schools. • Paul next went to the Brent- Paul Kunce with Jason Neeley, a second grade Paul and Luella Kunce In their garden at pupil in the Jonesboro, Arkansas, church school. wood, Arkansas, school. A new Decatur, Arkansas. school building was erected dur- ing the first year in temporary quarters. Needing carpet for the project, they accepted the offer of used carpeting being removed from the Tulsa, Okla- homa, church. Paul tells the story: "We drove a truck over to pick it up. On the way, while we were stopped The Voice of Prophecy H. M. S. Richards, Jr. (left) and Kenneth Richards Voice of Prophecy staff meet in the Worldwide continue the radio ministry begun by their father Prayer Circle every Thursday morning at 8 a.m. in 1930. A half-hour Sunday broadcast features a to pray for the hundreds of people who have sent sermon on a doctrinal topic from the Bible, while prayer requests. God's answers to the interces- Helps the 15-minute daily broadcast emphasizes bibli- sory prayers offered are often a strong witness to cal perspectives on such topics as the Christ- those who write. fulfilled life, family relationships, healthful liv- ing, and God's creative wonders. The audiences Change for both programs are encouraged to write for the meetings. It seems that if this booklets and Bible correspondence courses that present in more detail the message of God's love way is the truth, then many and His offer of salvation. Christians are being misled on Lives the Sabbath, the prophetic 1,000 years of peace, where and what "Please don't take the Voice of wanted me to do. I prayed for hell really is, and the mark of Prophecy program off the air the truth. Then I became the beast." here," pleads a listener in Arkan- acquainted with someone at Soon after receiving this letter sas. "I've always been a Baptist," work who told me about keep- last fall, the VOP Bible School she continues, "but for the past ing the Sabbath and brought staff rejoiced to learn that few months my husband and pamphlets, books, and a card Loretta had joined the Adventist I have been listening to your for me to start receiving the Church upon profession of faith. program and attending Sabbath Bible guides. Now I attend the To assist churches in reaping Seventh-day Adventist Church, services. I'm taking a Bible the interests developed, the study from the Adventist pastor. but I have not become a Voice of Prophecy began hold- It is changing my whole life." member yet. I enjoy keeping the ing Harvestime Rallies earlier Sabbath holy." Then she adds, "The church this year. The rallies are a part and the minister reach out to From Texas comes this of the Harvest 90 emphasis and the whole community, and yet response: "I knew nothing about are scheduled upon invitation the Voice of Prophecy can come Seventh-day Adventists until six from congregations in a local into homes that are closed to months ago. I was not raised in area. almost all other contacts. I want any church, so it was very easy "We want to help church you to know it is reaching some for me to accept the truth of members reach out to their and leading them in a closer the Bible, commandments, and friends and neighbors with the walk with Christ. Thank you for most of all the Sabbath. After good news of salvation through your past programs, and I hope all, it's in black and white in the Christ," says Elder H. M. S. I may listen to them for many Book of God. I've thoroughly Richards, Jr., who presents an more years." enjoyed your lessons and am old-fashioned evangelistic ser- For over 55 years, people like looking forward to more." mon and appeal for decisions at this woman have come to know The Voice of Prophecy sends each Harvestime Rally. the Seventh-day Adventist the names of all Bible School Harvest time for God's king- Church because they first got graduates to local conferences dom is a time for teamwork. acquainted with the Voice of for follow-up by pastors or Bible Every member, department, and Prophecy. After listening to the workers. After home Bible stud- institition of the church is a part broadcasts or taking Bible cor- ies or evangelistic meetings, of the team. "We hope all our respondence lessons, they are thousands are soon ready to fellow believers in the South- frequently interested in learning make a decision for Christ and western Union will join us in more about the church and its to be baptized. prayer that the harvest may beliefs. Upon completing the New soon be accomplished," says An Oklahoma student writes: Life course, Loretta wrote from Elder Richards. "The New Life guides really Little Rock: "I have enjoyed the The Voice of Prophecy offer- helped me understand more New Life lessons. Some of them ing received in many churches about the Bible. I am looking confused me because they went on October 11, along with a por- forward to visiting the Adventist against what I believed in my tion of what is given to the Church." church.