News
A. Chester Grimes, 1548 Heights Blvd. Houston 8, Texas: "The work with the Heights congregation is encouraging in many ways. We had a very successful vacation Bible school in which 221 were enrolled, about 70 of these from homes where the parents were not members. This was the first vacation Bible school at Heights, at least in several years. Baptized a lady last Wednesday night who had been a member of the Baptist Church for many years. This was a blind lady, but she is no longer blind spiritually. I will be in a meeting with the brethren in Paris, Ark., August 15-27."
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R. D. Simmons, 441 Clark Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas, July 17: "I have been used in three meetings recently, preaching for morning and night services at Bishop, Texas, Stockdale, Texas, and Cowan, Tenn. In the Bishop meeting, there were three additions, the Stockdale meeting twenty-one additions, seventeen were baptized; and the Cowan meeting, thirteen additions, and ten baptisms."
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A. E. Emmons Jr., 820 N. Ury St., Union City, Tenn., July 19: "On July 6, the meeting closed at Samson Ave. Church, Gadsden, Ala. (Alabama City). I preached and Earl Barton directed the song service. Interest was good throughout. Three were baptized and two restored. W. A. Black has faithfully served this church for more than twelve years as regular preacher and is still loved and highly respected. In brother Black's absence, Carl Smith rendered valuable assistance. I begin July 23 at Vesta, in Wilson County, Tenn. This is the community where I held my first gospel meeting and where I held five consecutive meetings as a boy preacher. I have not been back to this community until this year. The work with the church here in Union City shows progress. One was recently baptized, and four placed membership."
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Bob Craig, Huntington, Texas, July 24: "We have just closed a good meeting here with Roy Cogdill preaching. There were two baptisms during the meeting, one the Lord's Day before the meeting began, and two restorations from the Christian Church Lord's Day after the meeting closed. I recently closed a meeting near Camden, Texas, in which one was restored."
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H. H. Dunn, Huntington, Ark., July 22: "Two were baptized in the meeting in Hot Springs, Ark., which closed last Sunday night. Very pleasant work there indeed. Because of people from throughout the land going to Hot Springs to take the hot baths, perhaps the congregation there has more visitors than any other in our country. During the meeting we had visitors from across the United States. A hearty welcome is always there for them. Through the efforts of the congregation in Joplin, Mo., I am now in Carterville, Mo., in a mission meeting. Other congregations nearby are cooperating nicely in this work. It is hoped that a congregation may be planted here. Begin in Prescott, Ark., August 3. Then to Maywood, Cal., August 18."
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M. Roy Stevens, Freeport, Texas, July 24: "The work continues here, with four recently added by membership. In a recent meeting at Ezzelle, Texas, nine grown people were baptized."
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W. E. McDaniel, of Clute, Texas, was a visitor in the Banner Printing office on July 24.
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Loyd I. Smith, Lawton, Okla., July 22: "We have received word that Thomas 0. Ward Jr., who has been working at Nowhe Mission, Macheke, S. Rhodesia, for the past three years, died the 18th of this month after a short illness of polio. It will be impossible to bring his body home for two years. His wife, who has been in poor health recently, will come home immediately. They had no children.
Brother and sister Ward were reared in Lawton in some of our very best Christian homes. They were highly respected as faithful Christians, and were sent to their work by the 8th and Lee St. Church, with Sixth and Arlington, and other helping. He fulfilled a boyhood ambition when he went to that country to preach the gospel. He attended Harding college, but had to take time out to serve as a pilot in the Air Transport Command during the war. After his discharge, he went back to Harding for a year, then to Africa in 1947. We feel keenly this great loss, but God does all things well.
Their support was never adequate, but they never complained. If you would like to help with the great expense she now has, you may send it to the Eighth and Lee St. Church, in Lawton."
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Wm. J. Shackleford, 323 W. Sherman Neosho, Mo., July 22: "From July 10-19, it was my privilege to assist the congregation at Wesley, Ark., (15 miles east of Fayetteville), in a series of meetings. Four were baptized, and one restored. This is perhaps one of the oldest congregations in north Arkansas. Here, about 1850, my great-great-grandfather, Wesley W. Lucas, began to preach the plain New Testament gospel, without knowledge of the work of other earlier restorers farther east. My great-grandfather, Mark D. Lucas, also did much preaching at Wesley during the latter part of the 19th century, while serving as county judge and state senator for Madison County. No church has a more glorious history than Wesley, where such men as Joe Warlick, J. W. Chism, and Bynum Black have conducted numerous meetings. This venerable old congregation is not, however, satisfied with the triumphs of the past. Just last year, a comfortable native-stone building was completed, finished inside with knotty pine throughout. L. M. Counts, and George B. Lucas serve as elders. They are building and planning for the future... Although the denominations have long ago left the beautiful rich land valley, where Wesley is located, the church is aggressive in work and sound in doctrine. Throughout its long history, this congregation has been neither digressive nor "anti." I have been invited to return for another meeting next year."
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J. Edward Nowlin, Box 101, Maryville, Tenn., July 1: "Paul Brock, Johnson City, Tenn., conducted a fine meeting with us, June 18-28. The preaching was the best, with two baptized, and the church strengthened. One hundred seventy was our June average for Bible study, the highest weekly average in the history of this congregation. I am to be away in meetings, July 20-August 31. My first stop is Pike Road, N. C. Bob McCready will fill the pulpit here during that time."
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J. P. Johnston, Ferris, Texas, July 17: "Our meeting, with James R. Cope preaching and Stafford North directing the song service, closed Sunday night, July 16. The preaching was plain, positive, and true to the Book. The song service, under the direction of brother North, was excellent. We hope to have these men for another such meeting."
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R. Richard Weaver, 3310 Wheeler St., Haneville, Ga., July 16: "One placed membership today. We have grown from sixty-eight since last September to 119. We are now engaged in a tent meeting with excellent attendance from the community. Hugh Davis of the East Point Church is preaching. In this congregation there are six who are qualified and who occasionally preach. We have one of the nicest daylight basement buildings I have seen. Our building is located on the corner of North Avenue and Old Jonesboro Road, which is 41 detour and by-pass for south-bound traffic, just seven miles from downtown Atlanta. Worship with us when Florida bound. The elders announced today the plans to begin construction on the superstructure next April. The congregation will have been in this building two years in October."
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Tillman B. Pope, Alma, Ark., July 18: "The meeting at White Rock, Ark., was well attended, and two were baptized. I am now in a splendid meeting at Greenfield, Mo., I shall close the 30th."
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Elmer L. Roy, 503 Stilwell, DeQueen, Ark., July 20: "The largest crowd for worship of this year and a new all-time record attendance for Bible study was set July 9 at the church here. June average for the two were new records also."
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Max L. Johnson, 410 S. College Ave., Tahlequah, Okla., July 19: "June 18, I preached for the church in Hialeah, Fla. One placed membership. The 25th, I was with the church at Warners Chapel, Clemmons, N. C. One was baptized at this service. The night of the 25th, I began a meeting at Tamarack, N. C. In this effort twenty were baptized, five came out of the Christian Church, and one confessed faults. Up until this time, there had never been a New Testament Church in that community. This was a tent meeting. I will begin a meeting with the congregation at Gore, Okla., July 24. Our meeting, with L. R. Wilson, begins August 17."
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Arley E. Moore, 841 Flanagan Ave., Coos Bay, Oregon, July 19: "The growth and progress of the work in this virgin field has exceeded our expectation. We knew of only five members within thirty miles of here when we came. June 4, we held our first service with seven present. We have found and now have in this area about twenty members. A few of these have not lined up with us yet, but we have hope they will. The morning attendance for June averaged twenty-six per Sunday and the regular contribution averaged $45.13. For the first two Sundays in July, attendance has averaged twenty-nine and offerings $49.85. Having about outgrown the private home (our house), we have secured the American Legion Hall to hold services, beginning July 30. Now have a 15-minute program on the local radio station each Sunday morning at 10:15 to 10:30. If you know of members of the church in Coos Bay, North Bend, Empire, Eastside, Reedsport, Coquille, or Myrtle Point, please send me their names and addresses."
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Jack P. Lewis, 103 Beacon Ave., Providence, R. I., July 16: The Garden Oaks Church supported Basil Doran in a meeting here, July 9-16.
Five adults were baptized, and one came for the prayers of the church for adultery. Our daily vacation Bible school at the same time averaged twenty-five in attendance."
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Cleon Lyles, Little Rock, Ark., July 20: "The Lamar Avenue Church, in Paris, Texas, closed a meeting last night in which I preached. Eight were baptized, one restored, and two placed membership. Perry B. Cotham is the preacher for this good church, which is doing the best work of its history."
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M. C. Cuthbertson, 1220 Elden Ave., Los Angeles 6, Cal., July 18: "Work with Central Church, 12th and Hoover, continues well. Three married people have recently been baptized, and three others have placed membership. Attendance is good and interest is being manifested in all the work. Many visitors from Texas, and other states. Your good work is much appreciated."