News
Marvin T. Pegg - Rod Eason, Honolulu, Hawaii, June 22: "Due To The Large Number Of Members Of The Body Of Christ, Including Those Faithfully In Attendance At Worship And Those Slack In Service To God, Plus The Tremendous Potential To Whom The 'Gospel Had Not Been Preached Residing In The Hickam Air Force - Pearl Harbor Navy -Fort Shatter - Area And Surrounding Communities Of Pearl City, Aiea, And Aliamanu It Was Believed That An Opportunity Should Be Made Readily Available Toward The End, And A Committee Was Appointed By The Honolulu Church Of Christ To Seek Out A Suitable Meeting Place.
'With the committee's report to a later business meeting the Church of Christ at Honolulu gave their blessing and assurance of fellowship to those desiring to be a part of this new work. The nucleus of this group met in the Pearl Harbor area at 2 p.m. on April 29, 1956 with Brother F. B. Shepherd of the Honolulu church preaching the first sermon and has continually grown in both numerical and spiritual strength.
"The Church of Christ at Pearl Harbor has since obtained the services of Brother Lynn Cook, formerly of Belleville, Illinois. Brother Cook and family arrived to work in this community on Friday the 8th of June. At Belleville, during less than two years of Brother Cook's work with the church, there were 127 responses, the majority of which were from denominational homes. The same systematic program of personal work that achieved this success in Belleville is planned for the work here at Pearl Harbor.
"To date, we have had one baptism, one restoration, and have had a record attendance at one or more of the services every week. Your prayers are solicited that these good reports might continue.
"Anyone having sons or daughters stationed in one of the above areas are requested to write to Marvin T. Pegg, 811 Nye Circle, Honolulu 18, T. H. If you should know of someone stationed at the Kaneohe M.C.A.S. you are invited to write to Ben Guillermo of the Church of Christ at Kailua, T. H. Should you know of someone stationed at Schofield Barracks or at Wheeler Air Force Base please contact Ben Shropshire of the Church of Christ at Wahiawa. Resident in, or visitors to, the Waikiki-Honolulu area are urged to call F. B. Shepherd of the Honolulu congregation.
"Those moving to this locality can receive further information on the exact location of Churches of Christ on the island by phoning Brother Pegg at Honolulu 852375."
Richard A. Robinson, 330 West 16th, Holland, Michigan, July 26: "The Lord's work in Holland is continuing to grow in spite of several setbacks. As written in our last report, we failed to get the building that we had desired. We have also lost three members due to their unfaithfulness. We have pleaded and prayed with them but to no avail. Perhaps letters from interested congregations and Christians would give them the encouragement that they need. It is easy to become soon discouraged in a small congregation such as the one here. They are Mr. and Mrs. Cor it Rogers,181 West 9th, Holland; and Mr. L. C. Rogers, 352 Columbia Avenue, Holland.
"In spite of these setbacks, we continue to grow. Our faithful membership now stands at thirty-seven, an increase of nine in the last two months. Brother Skaggs, ex-Christian Church preacher, has been preaching every Lord's day in either Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, or Grand Rapids. We glory in his ability to use his talents for the Lord. His desire is to preach in an area where the church is strong and then return to Western Michigan to do the same thing I am doing in Holland, If any of you are about to change preachers or know of someone who is, please contact me or Brother Gerald Skaggs, R. R. 4, Holland, Michigan.
"Besides growing in faith and numbers, the church in Holland is growing in finances. We have $1,500.00 in the building fund and approximately $350.00 balance in the general fund as of July 1.
"As for my support, the church at Conroe, Texas, and the Union Road church of Lufkin, Texas have both increased their support. The church at Caraway, Arkansas has started helping. The East End church of Detroit has had to cease its support as of July. Our family budget is almost balanced, for this we are thankful. As always we ask for your petitions to the Father on the behalf of the Holland church and my family."
Awake
T/Sgt. Ray C. Rankin, 4454th USAF Hospital, Ardmore AFB, Oklahoma, July 18: "I would recommend all to read the article in the Gospel Advocate, dated July 12, 1956, page 617-618, titled `More For Others Than For Ourselves' by Charles F. Scott Especially, this statement from his pen which is very timely — 'we mention the fact of these brethren being supported by this congregation, not to boast of what is being done, but to demonstrate two facts: first, that the church, the Lord's only 'missionary society' is not only the right agency to send and support gospel preachers in destitute fields, but is still an effective one in our own day that can yet accomplish the Lord's work without unscriptural entanglements or costly overhead. And second, that when a congregation earnestly strives to do more for others than for themselves, God will bless that effort, and enable them to accomplish far more than many people would have thought possible.'
"With all these other agencies, such as orphan homes, colleges, Herald of Truth and the missionary society plans which we have among us, it is indeed a strange thing to see such an article as this allowed to be printed, especially as this very paper has been striving earnestly to uphold these false agencies contrary to the right agency. No doubt but what the editor was musing, or he is gone aside, or he is on a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth. ('1 Kings 18:27.)
"Brother Scott then informs us that the Old Hickory local congregation is now fully supporting six gospel preachers and partially supporting two more preachers in destitute fields. This is the very reason the Apostle Paul, by the authority of God, write 1 Timothy 5:16 that you may realize that the churches primary mission is missionary and all monies, efforts, talents should be used for this purpose with slight exceptions — help other churches in emergencies and widows indeed, otherwise with all diligence fulfill Romans 10:13-15.
"Can't you see what will happen, if today, every local church of the Lord that is able and there are thousands of them, would support one, two, four, eight, sixteen preachers in the field, within ten years every person in this country would be able to hear the pure gospel, not only this country but all the world. It must be done this way (God's way) or we shall miserably fail. Building and supporting ten thousand colleges, orphan homes, hospitals, Herald of Truths, Lubbock plans will not get the job done, never. But, awake to the simplicity of God's way, the way."
Joe H. Morris, Rt. 6, Benton, Kentucky: "Our tent mission meeting in the county came to a close recently with home forces in the lead. Crowds were large throughout, overflowing the last night. Two were baptized and one identified. Also, two were baptized at Sharpe recently. I began a meeting at Millwood, Kentucky September 3. Our work at Sharpe is beginning to roll."