,CINDING THE FARM may be difficult forr .those not familiar with the unpre-dictable whims of Lancaster Countyroads. But once we have mazed acrossthe rolling countryside and have spottedthe last elusive landmark, it suddenlylies before .us,

The Jesse Dourte home lies in a se-cluded valley, removed from, but by nomeans out of touch with, the flow ofmodern life. Dropping into the valleyand moving up the long lane we see thebrick home on the right. A white barnstands straight ahead, and to the left wesee another white building in which weshall have special interest on this visit.

Beyond the buildings and to our right,a low meadow with a mature stand oftrees awaits the warm rays of a spring-time sun. On our left the open fieldS\,;'eeps to the top of an imposing hill,creating a clear horizon against the sky.Above us the gnarled and twisted armsof an old tree bear evidence of manymore raw winter days. And it is to learnmore about' what happens within theprecincts of these far-reaching branches

. that we have come to this farm home.Jesse and Wilma Dourte will tell you

that theirs is "just an average family."But we have reason to believe that wehall find evidence of more than averagequality. And in recognizing these qual-ities we share the company of an appre-~"e neizhborhood, a Ioval church~t_..,- M.d - ~ Go\~OT c= The~- re 0:: Pennsvlvania,

Go rernor ,,:illiam_ eranron recentlymet and commended the Dourte familyin Harrisburg, the state capital, in con-nection with the farm 1abor program. Itwas a day to be remembered by parentsand children alike, from sixteen-year-old Maxine to five-year-old Jeseen. Itwas a day of meeting officials in the De-partment of Labor, and, finally, meet-ing Governor Scranton and having theirpicture taken with him.

The occasion for this unusual honor isitself an index to the kind of familylife to be found here on the Dourte farm.Rev. Dourte annually employs PuertoRican laborers during the tomato har-vest. Since their stay at anyone placeis transitory, such laborers must some-how be satisfied with minimal accom-modations. But on the Dourte farm itis different.

When the farm garage was rebuiltrecently, the entire family had a handin adding a second floor to provide anew three-room apartment for theirhelp. This they furnished with the basicrequirements for comfortable living;they even added recreational facilities.When the quarters were inspected byrepresentatives of the Department of

Apt'il 27, 1964

The satisfactions of a Christ-centered home are reflected here in the living-room setting .Seen with their parents, the children are, from left: Marjorie, 13; Nevin, 7; Colleen, 10;

Jescen, 5; Maxine, 16; and Loine, 15.

A WinningCom inatiorr'~~~=~

Ray M. Zercher

The Dourte home, three miles north of Manheim, Pennsylvania.

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family." The winning of souls is primary.And they make it an integral part oftheir family life. They may tell you thatthey are going this evening to call on aneighbor who has a spiritual need. Suchcontacts may be in the form of a socialcall. They enjoy taking a freezer of icecream, calling on the family and present-ing a friendly invitation to attend churchand to consider their spiritual commit-ments.

Hev, Dourte is in his ninth year aspastor of the Speedwell Heights Breth-ren in Christ Church. This spiritual min-istry was begun as a branch Sundayschool by the Manheim church in Sep-tember 1951. The services were held inthe nearby schoolhouse for several years.The dedication of the new church onJune 9, 1957 was preceded by the ordi-nation of Rev. and Mrs. Dourte to the

Labor and Industry, in anticipation of Christian ministry. On that occasionthe. special citation, these officials did Bishop H. A. Ginder spoke on thenot miss the opportunity to try out the theme, "The Going Preacher."ping-pong equipment. The instructive comments given by

The Puerto Rican laborers, who have Bishop Ginder on that occasion werethe most to gain from these pleasant £a- well heeded. The preacher and wife 01'-

cilities, have expressed their apprecia- dained in the Saturday evening servicetion not only in word but in work well are still going strong for God. Mem-done. They have been cooperative in bership at the Speedwell Heightsperforming the extra tasks without com- Church now stands at thirty-five, Sun-plaint. Rev. Dourte reports that the day school attendance averages sixty. Aharvesters have accompanied the family full program is carried to enlist the in-to church on occasion .and t~at they terest and participation of all - thelook forward to returning with next vVMPC Christ's Crusaders Junior

_year:s_grQP·_- _ _ _ -_. -_-" --Frayer ~-Band heing especially acti-ve.Rev. Dourte .was IT,luch ImpI:essed by Membership is drawn largely from those

the ceremony m which h~ WIth other who are self-employed or who are work-farm la~or e~np~oyers rec~Ived the gu- ing in industry. The pastor receivesbernatonal CItation. Presided over by partial support from the congregationthe Secretary of Labor, the occasionmerged the interests of those who have aconcern for the physical, moral, andspiritual welfare of farm laborers. Rec-ognition of this type over the past fewyears has been the means of raising theliving standards for these workers andtheir families.

Winning citations, however, is onlyone aspect of the life of this "average

jeseen and Nevin cuddle ()n~ of their manypets '.,

The Jesse Dourte family meet Governor Scran-ton at the State Capital.

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The citation from the State Department ofLabor and Industry will be a cherished

memento in the Dourte home.

in the form of a monthly offering. Thefarm operation and part time winter em-ployment augment the requirements ofthe family budget.

The church program, too, is a familyaffair. The older children are alreadyassuming roles of responsibility. Max-ine, sixteen, and Loine, fifteen, are assis-tant teachers in the Sunday school. They

also play the organ. Maxine is vice-president of the youth organization, andLoine is assistant secretary. The par-ents also teach Sunday school classes,Rev. Dourte the Junior High Class, andMrs. Dourte the Senior Highs.

Rev. Dourte does not consider pas-toral involvement in the many aspectsof the program as being ideal. He willbe willing to turn the class to anotherteacher as this is possible. But his will-ingness to nt into many assignments isa part of the picture of this "goingpreacher" and of his concern that hisentire church program be geared to win-ning the hearts and souls of the com-munity. His commitments also includeservice as president of the local Parent-Teachers Association. In this kind ofservice, contacts can be made which arevaluable in the experience and concernof a pastor.

Nor are spiritual concerns limited toexpression through the church and com-munity programs. The Dourte familyconsiders a spiritual warmth in the homeof vital and primary importance. Familydevotional periods are alive with inter-est as they share in reading from the

A glance into the apartment kitchen shows itto be spic and span - and Fab!

Bible or from Bible story books and inquestion and answer discussions.

Song and music are means of express-ing their Christian faith. The daughtersare adept at the piano, and Maxine playsthe violin. The family often sings to-gether, giving programs of sacred musicin area churches. The children have re-cently enjoyed singing a lesson in obe-dience based on the adventures of PeterRabbit.

Home responsibilities for a family ofsix children are capably managed. As-signments are supervised with clear in-structions and follow-through. Concernfor social refinement is indicated by aposted series of instructions for tabledecorum. Provision for pleasant pas-time is found in active games or in lessstrenuous reading or handwork.

Evangelical Visitor

The Dourtes consider the farm to beideal for family living. The care ofseventy-eight acres of farmland and aherd of thirty-five cattle provides fullemployment for all. Each child sharesin the farm work, and, according to Rev.Dourte, "They do it willingly."Summertime brings opportunity for

many family activities. When time canbe taken from the demands of the farm,they may slip away to the neighbor'sfarm pond. Or, on rarer occasions, theymay drive to the river where water ski-ing has become a favorite sport for Dadand Loine.

Another trip takes the family for anannual trip with Mrs. Dourte's family,

"We're saved, saved to tell others of the Christof Galilee."

the Orville Hens, in Troy, Ohio. Andas fall comes and the children return tochool, the parents share their interest inhunting. Mrs. Dourte will show you asnapshort of a deer she almost got oneseason. (Another hunter completed thekill.) And winter brings the pleasures ofskating and toboganning for the family.

Another instance of the family's shar-ing in common interests occurred severalyears agn., When an opportunity aroseto buy a Polaroid camera, the entire fam-ily decided to forego their usual ex-change of Christmas gifts and to makethis family purchase. Since that time thecamera has been a busy recorder of thekaleidoscopic pattern of life in this livelyhousehold. And the viewfinder often in-cludes rabbits, guinea pigs, ponies,goats, two fluffy cats called Major andCotton, and a big friendly GermanShepherd named Bingo.

But farm life is not all ice cream,sports, song, and kittens. There are realdangers, and accidents do happen .. Thefamily is especially grateful for Provi-dential care in several mishaps whichcould have resulted in serious or evenfatal injury. But freedom of action inwholesome surroundings, with plenty ofworthwhile employment for ready handsand inquiring minds, makes the farm,

ApTil 27, 1964

for the Dourtes, an ideal setting for fam-ily life.

The Dourtes have lived on this farm,just three miles north of Manheim, forthe past three years. But this is nottheir first residence here. Jesse andWilma lived here for a while as newly-

An exciting moment in a favorite indoor game.

weds. Then, after an interim of tenyears, they returned to buy the farm andto make it their home.

But the home, though well built -physically, morally, and spiritually - isnot a home unto itself. An evidence tothis fact is the sequal to the building ofthe new apartment which drew theGovernor's commendation.

The building operation was a familyproject, each one taking his share and

Maxine and Loine atop. a sample of theirsummertime architecture.

doing his part in preparation for thefarm laborers. But they were buildingwith another harvest also in mind. .Afriend who attends the SpeedwellHeights Church had been engaged tosupervise the construction. As a resultof repeated contacts during the buildingoperation and of a continued friendlywitness, Rev. Dourte was privileged tolead this friend and his wife to Christin their home during the fall revivalservices.

Winning citations, winning friends,winning souls-these comprise the busylife of this young pastor and his family.It would be a high compliment to oursociety if we called them so, but wecould wish that they were in fact "justan average family."

Children and ponies, a natural combination. In background is the new farm labor apartment.

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