Our mission: To inform, An international inspire and unite newspaper Vol. 70, No. 12 | December 2013 for Churches of Christ In Rust Belt, evangelism boosts church BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE PITTSBURGH — In some ways, a visit to the Whitehall Church of Christ feels like a step back in time. Like many congregations birthed in the 1960s, the 110-member church meets in a brick, A-frame building. The Sunday night service — with 50 or so souls scattered entirely on the left side of the auditorium — mixes traditional hymns, prayers and a sermon. “We’re all invited to a heavenly party but must RSVP,” says the marquee sign outside the tree- Dillinger shrouded church in the South Hills section of Pittsburgh. BOBBY ROSS JR. All across America, Churches of Students at Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas, east of Dallas, hold hands as they pray during a recent daily chapel assembly. Christ grapple with how to appeal to contemporary culture with the 2,000-year-old good news of Jesus. The Whitehall church is no exception, Financial crisis at Southwestern but its experience offers potential lessons beyond Steel City. “What we’re trying to do is encourage HISTORICALLY BLACK Christian college seeks donations, prayers to ‘be able to survive.’ the body here to be more proactive in their evangelism,” elder Bill Nichols said. BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE be able to survive this crisis.” Southwestern has 172 students this In the past, members and leaders Jack Evans, Southwestern’s presi- semester — down 24 percent from an happily shared their faith — if asked. TERRELL, Texas dent since 1967, voices enrollment of 227 five years ago. “But we’re trying to get to that next outhwestern Christian College, a confidence that God will Evans blames the decline on a poor step, where folks are not willing to just historically black college associ- provide the funds neces- economy and changing societal values. be a good example and wait for the ated with Churches of Christ, sary for Southwestern “We serve a number of low-income question,” Nichols said, “but are, in faces a financial crisis. to survive and thrive. families,” he said. “It’s also a matter effect, asking the question themselves: SThe sudden loss of $500,000 a year in Asked if the college of our holding very firmly to our ‘Do you know about Jesus?’” federal funding has exacerbated long- might be in danger of Christian principles. Some people That shift means working harder to standing financial difficulties, top admin- closing, Evans replied, avoid Christian colleges because the connect with neighbors who might seem istrators told The Christian Chronicle. “That’s been an issue students want to do some things that more interested in Steelers football than Evans “This has crippled our recruiting ever since we’ve been in we just don’t condone.” spirituality and faith, church leaders said. capabilities and several vital opera- existence. … I have just worked here Originally known as the Southern “This is requiring us to step up and tional needs,” said James O. Maxwell, based on the faith that it would get Bible Institute in Fort Worth, Texas, have a conversation about Jesus with vice president of institutional advance- better, and I still believe it. I don’t live the college moved to this town 30 miles others,” said Jeffrey Dillinger, the ment. “Please pray for us that we might under the threat or the fear of closing.” See SOUTHWESTERN, Page 11 See PITTSBURGH, Page 12 2 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE DECEMBER 2013 452,397 Students In 2,145 Public Schools Say, Thanks A Million! Lviv and Luhansk, Ukraine, say “thank you” The opportunity to participate is still to many the churches and individuals open and if you haven’t participated we who have participated in this project. invite you to do so. Visit online to donate The response is encouraging and we are at www.MillionDollarSunday.org. nearing our project goal. Just say Da! September 29, 2013 DECEMBER 2013 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 3 Christian colleges Judge admonished are great places for voicing concern to meet a spouse on gay marriages n the fall of 1988, my brother Scott — a fel- BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE Ilow Oklahoma Christian University student — cel- Judicial authorities in the Pacific ebrated his 20th birthday. Northwest state of Washington formally He took the station wagon admonished Gary Tabor — a superior we shared home to Texas court judge and Church of Christ elder — that weekend, so I had to for voicing his preference not to perform borrow my same-sex marriages. Inside Story friend Steve The recent official warning by the Lackmeyer’s Washington Commission on Judicial Hyundai JOHN JUMao-AS Conduct came on the heels of that state’s — or was Marilyn Jumao-as, a member of the Compostela Church of Christ near Cebu City, Philippines, helps voters legalizing gay and lesbian nuptials. it a Honda? distribute food to victims of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that shook the island of Bohol. After complaints were — for my filed, Tabor voluntarily first date stopped officiating all with Tamie Christians respond after earthquake marriages. Dillard. “It’s concerning to see My friend public officials face dis- Bobby Ross Jr. David shakes Philippines, cyclone hits India ciplinary action for their Hartman religious belief in tradi- served as the chef for our BY ERIK TRYGGESTAD | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE Compostela Church of Christ on the nearby tional marriage,” said Lori Tabor romantic dinner at the home island of Cebu. Many homes are unsafe, Windham, senior counsel of journalism professor Philip Churches of Christ are distributing food and drinking water is in short supply. with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty Patterson and his wife, Linda. and assessing needs after recent natural “What is very motivating, despite all in Washington, D.C. I’d like to thank the disasters in the Philippines and India. these trials, is the caring spirit of every “In this case, the judge had an option — Pattersons, but they were out A 7.2-magnitude earthquake on the island person,” she said. “They look around their he was able to stop performing marriages of town and had no idea we of Bohol, Philippines, toppled historic neighbors, check on each other and share rather than choose between his beliefs and were there until they discov- cathedrals and shop- whatever is available. ... his job,” added Windham, who was not ered David had left Linda’s ping malls, killing more Prayer is abundant. Faith involved in Tabor’s case. “It wasn’t so easy fine china in the dishwasher. than 160 people. The is strengthened.” for justices of the peace in Massachusetts Twenty-five years later, island is home to multiple In India, Cyclone and other states, who had to resign rather Tamie and I are still together Churches of Christ. The Phailin, the strongest than officiate same-sex weddings.” — happily married with meeting place of at least storm in the region in 14 In the November 2012 general election, three (in my totally unbiased one congregation was years, forced the evacu- Washington state voters passed the same- opinion) brilliant children. severely damaged. ation of 1 million people sex marriage referendum. The measure Did you meet your hus- Church members from India’s eastern received 1,659,915 “yes” votes (53.7 percent) band or wife at a Christian in Malaysia and the coast. The storm made to 1,431,285 “no” votes (46.3 percent). university? Philippines traveled to the landfall in India’s Odisha In a private meeting after the election, If so, you — like me — island days after the Oct. JOHN JUMao-AS state, where Christians Tabor quietly informed fellow Thurston are not alone. 15 quake to assess needs The quake toppled historic buildings have faced persecution by County judges and court staff that he felt A recent analysis by and begin distributing aid. and cathedrals on the island of Bohol. militant Hindu groups in “uncomfortable” presiding over same-sex Facebook’s data sci- “Thousands are sleeping the past. marriages, court records show. Tabor ence team, titled “From in tents because their homes are either Nonetheless, the state has several asked colleagues who did not share his Classmates to Soulmates,” too damaged to return to or they are too growing Churches of Christ, said Joshua objections if they could officiate in his place. determined the top 25 traumatized to go back,” said Randall John Gootam, an evangelist in Kakinada, India, When an unidentified source leaked colleges where men and Uthe, who works with a disaster relief who has preached in Odisha. Tabor’s concern to the media, the story women are most likely to effort based in Malaysia. Another church- “The church in Berhampur suffered made statewide headlines. meet their spouse. supported nonprofit, Shepherd’s Hill greatest damage,” Gootam said just after “This was never really about publicizing The top 25 colleges where International, also has supplied relief. the storm made landfall Oct. 12, “as 35 fami- what my beliefs were,” Tabor, 67, an elder men are most likely to find a Hundreds — possibly thousands — lies lost their homes completely. ... They are of the Olympia Church of Christ since 1994, wife all are religious schools. of aftershocks followed the quake, said now living in relief camps but plan to meet told The Christian Chronicle. “It was simply See SOULMATES, Page 4 Marilyn Jumao-as, a member of the for worship this coming Lord’s Day.” See JUDGE, Page 13 4 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE INSIDE STORY DECEMBER 2013 www.christianchronicle.org Go online to find news updates, an expanded calendar, classifieds and much more.