Olivet Nazarene University Digital Commons @ Olivet Herald of Holiness/Holiness Today Church of the Nazarene 9-1-1984 Herald of Holiness Volume 73 Number 17 (1984) W. E. McCumber (Editor) Nazarene Publishing House Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_hoh Part of the Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, Christianity Commons, History of Christianity Commons, Missions and World Christianity Commons, and the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation McCumber, W. E. (Editor), "Herald of Holiness Volume 73 Number 17 (1984)" (1984). Herald of Holiness/Holiness Today. 240. https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_hoh/240 This Journal Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Church of the Nazarene at Digital Commons @ Olivet. It has been accepted for inclusion in Herald of Holiness/Holiness Today by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Olivet. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BENNER LI8RART f J E R A L D OLIVET NAZARENE COLLEGE JMNRAKEE, ILLINOIS CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE / SEPTEMBER 1, 1984 s< PEOPLE REACHING PEOPLE A N • E D TOR WHAT THE CHURCH IS ALL ABOUT by General Superintendent Eugene L. Stowe HE DOORBELL RANG. The young husband A month later I was in the morning worship service of asked his wife, “Were we expecting anybody to­ that church. The pastor told the congregation that dur­ T night?” “No,” she answered. He turned on the porching the past week this young couple had gone through light and saw a total stranger standing there. When he sorrow. The baby whom they had been so eagerly ex­ opened the door, the man said, “I’m out tonight telling pecting had been born dead! Tears flowed as the pastor people that God loves them and has a plan for their and people reached out to this family in love and lifted lives.” There was something so genuine about him that them into the presence of their kind, comforting Heav­ they invited him in. enly Father in the arms of prayer. He took his Bible and shared the good news of God’s After the service I talked to this young husband. I love as shown in the life and death of His Son Jesus. He sympathized with him in their grief. He said, “A month told them that this was God’s way of reaching out to ago we couldn’t have handled this. We didn’t have God men and women who were hurting because of sin in in our lives. But that dear man came by and introduced their lives. He explained that “If we confess our sins, he us to Jesus. He lives in our hearts and gives us strength is faithful and just to forgive us our sins...” (1 John 1:9). to carry on. And we have found a wonderful new family He went on to tell them that Jesus said, “I stand at the in this church.” door [of your heart] and knock. If anyone hears my This is what the church is all about: voice and opens the door; I will come in ...” (Revelation . .. people telling other people that God really loves 3:20, NIV). them and that Christ died so that they may have a The young couple responded to the invitation. They full, happy, eternal life; confessed their sins and in faith opened the door of their . people who have been born again into the family of hearts. Christ came in. They received the eternal life that God welcoming new family members into the caring Jesus promised in John 3:16— “For God so loved the fellowship of the Body of Christ on earth; world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever . people sharing the joys and sorrows of their broth­ believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" ers and sisters in the Lord with understanding and (NIV). The next Sunday they visited the church where compassion; this man was a member. They received a warm welcome . people sincerely trying to make the church your and felt right at home with the family of God. home. □ 2 HERALD OF HOLINESS SEPTEMBER IS STEWARDSHIP MONTH by GEORGE GALLUP, JR. RELIGION IN AMERICAN LIFE AN UPDATE ELIGION can make a profound difference in the fellowship among Americans, based on religious con­ life of the individual and in the quality of soci­ victions. New surveys indicate that this need is great: Rety as a whole. Survey after survey attests to this fact.Americans often feel intensely lonely and remote from Religiously involved and committed persons tend to other people. These feelings are coupled with the con­ develop stronger family ties than their counterparts, to viction that “people just don’t seem to care about each be more involved in charitable activities and commu­ other anymore.” A solid majority, for example, believe nity affairs. They are also more positive in outlook and that people today are less willing to help each other more likely than the nonreligious to have discovered than a decade ago. clear-cut goals and a satisfying life purpose. There is a longing among a considerable number of Americans for communication—or communion—with Much of the voluntarism in the United States—so others on a deep spiritual level. Most Americans seek vital to our society—is religiously motivated. And it to deepen their religious faith and would like to see should be borne in mind that organized religion is one religion play a greater role in society and in the years of the most cost-effective institutions in America. ahead. Were it not for the moral education and instruction Yet while the individual and society as a whole bene­ that the church provides to both young and old, the fit enormously from efforts to encourage people to be­ cost of correctional agencies and custodial institutions come part of the community of active worshipers, would reach many billions of dollars. Were it not for many Americans continue to reject organized religion. the church, the cost in additional taxes for many citi­ A large majority of Americans—many of whom con­ zens would far exceed the average contribution to the sider themselves “religious”—apparently believe they church. And in view of the reduced monies available can go it alone in their spiritual lives. Churches, there­ for many social programs, the role of organized religion fore, must continue to state, clearly and forcefully, the has become even more vital in this respect than before. importance of worshiping together. The churches in our highly mobile and increasingly Some 61 million Americans could be classified as impersonal society are also vital in terms of providing “unchurched”—that is, they are not members of a church or synagogue or have not attended religious GEORGE GALLUP, JR., is president of the Gallup Poll and services for a six-month period except for religious executive director o f the Princeton Religion Research Center, holidays. Why do they resist joining the community of Princeton, New Jersey. active believers? (Continued on page 6) SEPTEMBER 1, 1984 3 /JERALD W. E. McCUMBER, Editor in Chief Bible Quotations in this issue: IVAN A. BEALS, Office Editor Unidentified Quotations are from the KJV. Quotations from the following translations MABEL ADAMSON, Editorial Assistant are used by permission: (NIV) From The Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright © 1978. by New York Cnntrihiitinn I V H. LEWIS • ORVILLE W. JENKINS International Bible Society FHirnrs CHARLES H STRICKLAND • EUGENE L. STOWE toicors | W |LUAM M GREATHOUSE • JERALO D. JOHNSON General Superintendents, Church of the Nazarene HERALD OF HOLINESS (USPS 241-440) is published semimonthly by the NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE, 2923 TROOST AVE., KANSAS CITY, MO 64109. Editorial Office at 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City. MO 64131 Address all correspondence concerning subscriptions to Cover: From Poster, "People Reaching People" Nazarene Publishing House. P.O. Box 527, Kansas City. MO 64141 CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Send us your new address, including ZIP code, as well as your old address, and enclose a label from a recent copy SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: $5 50 per year Second-class postage paid at Volume 73, Number 17 September 1,1984 Whole Number 3405 Kansas City. Mo Litho in U S A IN THIS ISSUE WHAT THE CHURCH IS ALL ABOUT................................... 2 YOUTH REACHING O U T ......................................................... 16 General Superintendent Eugene L. Stowe Larry Leonard RELIGION IN AMERICAN LIFE: AN UPDATE...................... 3 MARK: “GETTING IN ON THE ACTION” .............................17 George Gallup, Jr. Book Brief James R. Spruce LETTERS....................................................................................... 4 THE EDITOR’S STANDPOINT................................................. 18 W. E. McCumber THE POWER OF THE PRINTED PAGE ................................ 5 BY ALL MEANS......................................................................... 20 M. A. “Bud” Lunn God Is Faithful Peggy Worst Romanoski THE YEAR OF CHURCH GROWTH.................. 6 IN THE N E W S ............................................................................21 Bill M. Sullivan NEWS OF RELIGION............................................................... 30 THE SMALLER CHURCH IN A SUPER CHURCH ERA... 7 Book review Jon Johnston and Bill Sullivan, et al, ANSWER CORNER................................................................... 31 GOD CONNECTS US TO OUR WORLD................................ 8 LATE N EW S ................................................................................35 Paul Skiles THE MASTER’S PLAN FOR MAKING DISCIPLES 9 MEMBERSHIP AND SUNDAY SCHOOL GROWTH.............. 7 Book review Win A m and Charles Arn Graph HIGH ACHIEVEMENTS IN A HIGH COUNTRY.................. 10 274 NEW CHURCHES................................................................7