A Plea For Help
Warner Robins, Georgia June 20, 1960 Dear Brother Tant:
For many months the church of Christ at Warner Robins, Georgia has been spiritually divided over the question of church support of human institutions which are among us, and the scripturalness of the Herald of Truth type of cooperation. Recently the liberal-minded brethren in Warner Robins became sufficiently strong numerically to force the sound brethren to depart and start a new work. The liberal brethren became numerically stronger mostly due to liberal newcomers who joined their ranks. The liberal brethren took steps to withdraw from those who were outspoken in opposing their liberal views. (See enclosed petition.) Among those forced to leave were the brethren who started the work in Warner Robins and who purchased the property and had a large part in erecting the meeting house. Only three families among the liberals who now control the property were among that original group of Christians. Before the split came there were two elders and five deacons. One of the elders and four of the deacons are among the faithful.
Shortly after the split took place, brother Hugh Piper of Oak Ridge, Tennessee was called in to lecture on the issues. This was the work of the liberal brethren. Needless to say he really gave the "Antis" and "Aginners" a good shellacking. The liberal brethren are leaving no stones unturned to destroy the influence of the sound brethren.
We are writing this letter as a request to have our problem put before the brotherhood by means of the Gospel Guardian. It is our prayer and desire for our brethren to come to our aid financially and help us put a full time evangelist in this city. The newly formed congregation is made up of about 10 families or about 50 in attendance. Our contribution has averaged about $125 per week. We are at present meeting in a funeral home which has been made available on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. We can barely seat 50 persons in this space. We are badly in need of two things: (I) A place to meet and (2) a full time evangelist at work in Warner Robins. We feel that we can, in time, fill our own need of a meeting house if our brethren will come to our aid in supporting a preacher. At present brother Bob Tuten, a former student of Florida Christian College, is donating his services while supporting himself in secular work. It is our desire to support him here in full time work.
Warner Robins is a city of about 30,000 and is located 18 miles from Macon, Georgia.
Please address any correspondence to West Side Church of Christ, 100 Honston Road, Warner Robins, Georgia.
Yours in Him, WEST SIDE CHURCH OF CHRIST: Vincent D. Mize, Odie Winters, Charles D. Graves, Herbert G. Tuten, Walter O. Hester, Fred E. Motley, Jr. Johnnie F. Hamm, and Robert G. Tuten.