News

Glenn A. Parks, 116 Prospect Ave, S. W., Camden, Ark., June 8: "I closed a meeting with the church at Stamps, Ark., June 3 in which three people were baptized. The church there is small and has had a real struggle to survive, but is now nearing the time when it will be on a more permanent basis. They will be out of debt in September. They have a very nice building and it is well furnished. I am very grateful to have had a small part in the growth and establishment of this group of faithful Christians. This was the eighth meeting in which I have done the preaching with this congregation. I go next to Daingerfield, Texas, for a meeting beginning June 15. Our work here at home is doing nicely. Plans are now in the making to begin a new congregation at Cullendale, Ark, which is a part of Camden."

M. A. Mansur, 1405 Richardson, Columbia, Missouri, May 31: "The interest and attendance at the Paris Road church of Christ is very fine. Another precious soul was baptized into the Lord this morning, for which we thank God and take courage. Three came to be restored last Sunday morning; thus we close the month of May with seven baptisms and four restorations in the last seven weeks, making a total of 24 responses to the Gospel during the past nine months. We seek an interest in your prayers to the end that the Lord's work may grow and prosper in Missouri. When in this area come worship with us."

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Texas H. Stevens, 1815 Melbourne, Dallas, Texas, June 4: "The highlight of the work here last month was a gospel meeting in which Brother Wilson Coon did the preaching. We feel that the church was edified, and the seed was sown. Construction has begun on our new building and completion is scheduled for January 1, 1954. God is good to us all. When in Dallas, Visit with us."

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James W. Reynolds, 135 Vernon Place, Pueblo, Colorado, June 2: "In May there were five baptisms, two restorations, and two identified. Our Vacation Bible School begins June 15 with Brother Glenn E. Green of Colorado Springs and Frank Graves will help in the school. Worship with us when you are in Colorado."

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W. Curtis Porter, Box 195, Monette, Arkansas, June 6: "I am scheduled to meet A. J. Wall, Missionary Baptist, in a four night's debate at Broken Arrow, Okla., beginning June 29. And on August 4 I am to meet D. L. Welch, United Pentecostal Church, in a four night's debate at Mobile, Ala. I also have propositions signed for a debate with T. A. Drinkard, Premillennialist, at Morrilton, Ark. And I have signed propositions with Julian O. Hunt, of the Christian Church, for a debate in Lexington, Ky. These have no definite dates as yet. Propositions have been signed also for a debate with Mack D. Abbott, United Pentecostal Church, for Farwell, Texas, or Texico, New Mexico. But we have been unable yet to get a date from them. Efforts are being made by his brethren to get Billy Sunday Myers to meet me in debate at West Frankfort, Ill. So far he has not come through. Other debates are in prospect if my health permits."

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Keith T. Thompson, Jordan, Ontario, June 5: "It was recently my privilege to preach in a meeting with the Fennel Avenue church in Hamilton, Ontario. There were four baptisms and one restoration during the meeting. This congregation is less than two years old but has made rapid progress. They have a small building but are thinking of moving it and building a larger one. Roy Merritt, the local evangelist, is doing a great work there. Two were baptized here recently. Brother Roy E. Cogdill begins a meeting here June 14."

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Marlin Conducts Holy Land Tour

J. T. Marlin, minister of the Fourth and Elm Church of Christ, Sweetwater, Texas, left Sweetwater by plane Sunday evening accompanied by two of the church members there for his second visit to the Bible lands. Others joined his party at Fort Worth and New York. They left New York at 3:00 p.m. Monday, June 8, for Paris, France.

From there they go to Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland, and England in the above order. In 1950 George DeHoff and J. T. Marlin toured most of this country, making thousands of feet of movie film and hundreds of colored slides. This time Brother Marlin is taking along five thousand feet of 16mm movie film and several hundred shots of 35mm. Many in the tour he is conducting will also be taking along a large supply of film. They are traveling by air and plan to return July 17."

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W. E. (Bud) Irvine, Baytown, Texas: "The Pruett and Lobit Streets congregation of Baytown, Texas, formerly known as Murrill and Ashbel Streets, moved into its new building April 12, 1953. The brethren had been meeting at the old address for over 26 years and it was with great thanksgiving and rejoicing they moved into new facilities. The work of this congregation had been handicapped a great deal because of the crowded conditions. Now there is a bright future of work and service for the Lord and it is our prayer the brethren may take hold of the new opportunities now before them as they have in the past. The building was constructed at a cost of almost $150,000 including furniture. It has a seating capacity on the ground floor of 688 with facilities in balcony to seat another 100. There are 20 classrooms, two offices, nursery and utility rooms. The building is also equipped with a refrigerated air conditioning unit, which is almost essential in this part of the country. Since moving into our new quarters Sunday morning Bible school attendance has averaged over 355 per Sunday and contribution around $650. However, the contribution has averaged near the $600 mark for the past 18 months. For morning preaching and worship service we are averaging between 500 and 600 in attendance. This congregation is the oldest in this part of the country, having its beginning about 28 years ago with the help of Brother W. R. Smith of Abilene, who was then superintendent of schools in this district. After meeting in the city hall and other public buildings for about three years they bought the Murril and Ashbel Streets property. About eight years ago they bought the Pruett and Lobit Streets property, and erected a nice preacher's home there about three years ago. The church building and preacher's home are located side by side. Three congregations were established with the assistance of brethren from Pruett and Lobit which are: 2600 Virginia St., Baytown; So. Main and Cleveland, Baytown; and the Highlands church about ten miles from Baytown. Ministers serving this congregation were: W. R. Smith, Thomas Rose, Leonard Bankhead, Bela Watson, Osby Weaver, and W. E. Irvine is the present preacher, having worked here almost four years. Brethren Landis Ford, Gordon, Phillips and Roy H. Rowland serve as elders. In addition to the regular local church program, this congregation participates in a local daily radio program over station KREL Baytown, Sunday through Friday 9 a.m. Brother Bute of Messina, Sicily, is being supported full time by this congregation. In the future the brethren hope to have another man in the field preaching. The elders have outlined a very ambitious program for the next few years, and congregational enthusiasm is at its highest."

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Vaughn D. Shofner, 1524 24th Place, Lubbock, Texas, June 9: "Plans to relieve the crowded condition of the Southside church began as early as Oct. 1, 1950, while I was preaching there, when two services were started on Sunday mornings, and reached completeness in the new work which started in Vandalia Village March 8, 1953. Of the 450 members of the Southside church, 60 favorably responded to the "swarm" that first day. With help coming from the other churches of the city, 135 people signed membership cards at that initial service. Some "John Marks" have gone back "home" but some "Silases" have united with us, and the membership now numbers 208, seven of them having been baptized and three restored. Brother Thos. McDonald preached in the first meeting, May 31-June 7. Four were baptized and one restored in this effort. The Vacation Bible School conducted during the meeting averaged 240 students per day, with enrollment of 300 and a peak attendance of 261. The New Testament churches in Lubbock often have 3,000 people in Sunday morning Bible study now, a number never reached before this new work began. This is sufficient proof of the value of God's way, "swarming," and belittles man's idea of building a tower to top the high heavens, 'lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth'."

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Luther W. Martin, Box 567, Rolla, Missouri, June 8: "The church in Rolla, Missouri, is interested in securing the help of a gospel preacher, and two or more elders. Rolla is a college town of some 10,000 persons, and located near Fort Leonard Wood. The Rolla church owns a building lot, and an equity in a small residence in which they now assemble. The congregation needs elders, and also the help of a fulltime gospel preacher. They are now saving money with which to eventually begin the construction of a building. If any brethren who can qualify as elders can arrange to move to Rolla permanently, we'll do anything we can to assist in such a move. If any gospel preacher is interested in investing plenty of hard work, in a community in which the church should and can grow, please write to the church of Christ, First and Main Streets, Rolla, Missouri."

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W. E. Fortney, 162 Harrison, Clarksburg, West Virginia, June 8: "The meeting at Sand Hill, Pennsylvania, resulted in one baptism and one restoration. Good interest prevailed throughout the meeting."

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Garnie Atkisson, Fort Morgan, Colorado, June 10: "We closed our work with the good congregation in Lovington, New Mexico, the last Lord's day in May and began work with the small group here in Fort Morgan the first Lord's day in June. The church was very good to us in Lovington and we feel we are better able to serve the Lord, having been with them. We are looking forward to a pleasant and profitable work here."

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Charles E. Crouch, 1051 Upnor Road, Baltimore 12, Maryland, June 12: "C. E. McGauhey closed our meeting Sunday night. Four were baptized, four confessed wrong, and three placed membership. Curtis C. Coombs of Washington led the singing. These two men did their work well."

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M. C. Cuthbertson, Box 6343, Tucson, Arizona, June 11: "Total baptized during May was eleven, with three from the Christian Church, and three by membership. Two baptized and five by membership so far this month. We begin a meeting in Flagstaff, Arizona, Tuesday, the 16th."

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