Autumn…“Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness…”
(first line of “To Autumn” by John Keats,1795-1821)
Autumn…“Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness…”
(first line of “To Autumn” by John Keats,1795-1821)
October 2005Volume 117 No. 7
FEATURES Why Do Churches Die? 5by Glenn D. Black
A Quickening Ray: What Wesleyans 7Mean By “Prevenient Grace”by Glenn D. Black
DEPARTMENTS The Editor’s View 2The President’s Page 3Letters To The Editor 4The World To Win 4Second Thoughts 6News From The Hilltop 10Revivalist Family 10Dear Phil 14World Pulse 15Revivalist Pulpit 17Alumni Spotlight 19Mending Nets 21Thoughts For The Quiet Hour 23
EDITORLarry D. Smith
STAFFZachary Steinbrook, production manager
Kevin Moser, art director, managing editor
Jon Plank, graphic designer, webmaster
God’s Revivalist and Bible Advocate (ISSN 0745-0788) is published ninetimes a year for $10.00 per year ($11.50 in Canada and foreign countries)by the Revivalist Press of God’s Bible School, College and MissionaryTraining Home, 1810 Young Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Periodicalpostage paid at Cincinnati, Ohio, and at additional mailing offices. POST-MASTER: send address changes to God’s Revivalist and Bible Advocate,1810 Young Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
God’s Revivalist and Bible Advocate, the official organ of God’s BibleSchool, is a magazine founded by Martin Wells Knapp in July of 1888. Weseek to proclaim the good news of salvation; to stir a revival spirit amongChristians; to stimulate Christian growth and responsible Christian living; topresent the happenings and interests of God’s Bible School.
Please obtain permission before reprinting any articles from God’sRevivalist and Bible Advocate. Unsolicited manuscripts are welcomed,but not returned.
God’s Bible School and College does not discriminate on the basis of age,race, color, national or ethnic origin, or against otherwise qualified handi-capped persons in its admission of students or employment of its facultyand staff.
God’s Bible School and College can be reached by telephone at (513) 721-7944 (Revivalist Press, ext. 296); by fax at (513) 721-1357;by email at [email protected] or [email protected]. Visit us online atwww.gbs.edu or www.godsrevivalist.com.
CONTENTS
LARRY D. SMITH
UNDER THE OLD CONSTITUTION
Ira Spear was the elderly layman who kept us to the dailyschedule at the old Ansley campground. Lifting acracked and welded bell from its shelf near the crank-
operated telephone in the kitchen, he would sally forth,swinging it with such insistent clamor that only deafenedears or hardened consciences could ignore its summons.Although Brother Spear moved long ago to his final home,his bell echoes in my memory still.
“Camp and conference” continued in that dusty littletown for twelve days during the scorching heat of late Julyand early August. We kept ourselves from meltdown withfuneral-parlor fans and tepid water from the family bucketin our tiny cabin. But the heat really didn’t matter, for campmeeting was a foretaste of that “holy Jerusalem” which theRevelator saw “descending out of heaven.”
For us youngsters, of course, there were times far moreterrestrial than celestial. We loved to soak each another at“Old Face-ful,” the mud-surrounded drinking fountainmade from a lead pipe and a wooden trough. We yelledlike painted warriors during the baseball game between“the preachers and the kids.” We guzzled orange pop andteased the giggling girls at Brother Gossard’s hole-in-the-wall concessions stand.
But for all of this, heaven was constantly impressedupon us; and so was its blistering alternative. At whatevercost, as our evangelists forcefully reminded us, we mustgain the first and escape the second. So for an hour or twoeach evening, while the village light plant belched noisilynearby, we were confronted first by Sinai law, then com-forted by Calvary love. Whenever “Softly and Tenderly”began the altar call, I was ready to hustle down the narrowway that led to coming glory.
At times, however, coming glory seemed already pre-sent. Whether we were “caught up” into heaven (p22)➡
GOD’S REVIVALIST and BIBLE ADVOCATE
02
theeditor’s
view
Since 9/11, President Bush has developed a doc-trine on terrorism that seeks to find, confront, anddestroy the terrorist in the very land that breeds
him and in the very cave that hides him. The ApostlePaul had a similar doctrine for evangelism. He believedin taking the battle to the strongholds of sin. Like ashrewd general, Paul targeted Ephesus, Thessalonica,and Corinth—large population centers, wealthy in com-merce and flourishing with pagan gods—with thegospel. He confronted pagan scholars, cut-throat busi-ness leaders, and demon-possessed sorcerers withunflinching confidence that the power of grace wouldwin the day. He was determined to press the claims ofthe gospel all the way to Rome. That gospel must besounded in the ears of Caesar!
This common approach shared by President Bushand the Apostle Paul comes from the belief that youhave to beard the lion in his own den. Early Wesleyansshared this belief. John Wesley saw the English people
languishing under the tyranny of sin and took the gospel to the coal mines and open fields. The Salvation Armymarched into the jaws of Hell itself to save the most degenerate and neglected among society. American circuit rid-ers followed the settlers by boat and on horseback to confront sin and convert the sinner. The Methodist come-out-ers of the late 19th century left a staid mother Church and started hundreds of store-front missions, all for the pur-pose of getting the gospel to those who needed it most. With only a few exceptions, the first Bible colleges werelocated in the hearts of our greatest cities so that their students could confront the lost masses with the gospel mes-sage. To put it plainly, the church has always taken the offensive to reach lost souls wherever they are found.
It seems that the contemporary Church has lost this philosophy. America’s population is increasingly more urban,but the church is becoming more and more suburban or rural. The great urban centers of America are ripe for thegospel, but the Church is leaving them untouched. Why? Have we lost confidence in the power of the gospel? Haveclass, status, and racism paralyzed the Church? Have we silenced our conscience by telling ourselves that we giveheavily to foreign missions? Are we so out of touch that we can’t see the rise of a new frontier in missions?
Not everyone has missed the great open door. Robert Lupton and F.C.S. in Atlanta, Jim Cymbala and BrooklynTabernacle in New York, and Eric Himelick in Indianapolis are men and organizations that are bucking the trend andadvancing the gospel in the hearts of major cities. A group of young people right here in Cincinnati are going intothe inner city, working the streets, befriending other young people, taking them to Sunday School, church, youthcamp, and camp meetings. They are winning them to the Lord, discipling them in the faith, helping them get aneducation, and starting them down the road to a meaningful life that breaks the cycle of sin and rescues generationsyet unborn. Five of those youth with changed lives are enrolled in our school right now. The beginnings look small,but the long-term impact will be huge.
The Church holds the answer to the problems within our large urban areas. It was the gospel that savedEngland from revolution, and it will be the gospel that saves America’s large cities from implosion. But some-body is going to have to rise to the forefront with a confidence in the gospel and a boldness that dares to beardthe lion in his own den.
OCTOBER 2005
03
thepresident’s
pageBEARDING THE LION IN HIS OWN DEN
by Michael R. Avery, president
TO THE EDITOR
MISSIONS REPORTS
Each month we publish brief “field reports” from missionar-ies around the world. Missionaries are invited to send us theirnewsletters and other information about their activities. GBSgraduates are especially urged to respond, but we also wish toinclude others who uphold our vision and our commitment.
PHILIPPINES. “Our Conference Center building pro-ject in Illagan Isabela is well underway. The surround-ing walls are up; the well is dug and a second one ishalfway completed; the road is poured, the twelve-foot front gate and the smaller pedestrian gate havebeen hung; the foundation for the national home andoffice and dormitory is complete; and the beams arebeing formed. Thanks for your prayers for DavidYucaddi, Leo Dirilo, Manuel Balido, and myself as wedirect this project.” —Tim Keep, Email
ROMANIA. “I feel like a shepherdess with severalflocks of sheep. Some of my ‘ewes’ (church ladies) aresuffering from various maladies (emotional exhaus-tion, overwork, no support system, spiritual assault).Several of my lambs have sprained joints and strainedmuscles from the exhausting adaptation to their owngrowth. One of my lambs is determined to go his ownway and do his own thing, but he’s limping horribly.One of my lambs is having trouble recognizing theGreat Shepherd’s voice for herself, and would ratherI told her what He is saying. One ewe lamb from amore distant flock doesn’t know how to forgive, andthis makes life hard for her and two other ewe lambsin her flock…. Would you please ask God to give meHis own wisdom for ‘shepherding?’” —AndreaWhiteman, Email Newsletter
SPAIN. “The summer arrival in Spain of Josh and SusyFajardo and their two daughters marked the officialopening of Free Methodist work in our 71st coun-try…. Josh says, ‘God is doing something great inSpain,’ a country where there is only one evangelicalchurch for every 50,000 people.” —Light and Life
(continued on page 6) ➡
Letters should be addressed to the Editorial Office, 1810 YoungStreet, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, or emailed to [email protected] reprinted here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of theeditor of God’s Revivalist nor those of the administration of God’sBible School. Names and locations of writers will be withheld at theirspecific request or at the discretion of the editor. We reserve the rightto edit and condense.
GREETINGS FROM KIEV
The following message was received by email September 2, 2005,from the Rev. Tim Boyd, missionary to the Ukraine and instructorat Kiev Wesley Biblical Seminary. —Editor
Dear Brother Smith,Greetings in Jesus from Kiev! For some time I have
been desirous of writing you, but class preparation for col-lege kept me perpetually occupied; and then cameappendicitis. I am recovering from the surgery, which wasa small thing compared to those who suffer daily withsuch infirmities for which they have little hope of care orcomfort. I give all glory to the Lord for the care I had inthe hospital here and for the healing He is giving me.
However, I am somewhat consoled that I delayedwriting you because of the report I want to give youabout the blessings I have been gleaning from your writ-ing and publishing ministry. I have found a deep well ofresource in God’s Revivalist, The Journey, and your ownWhen Steeples are Falling for classes (Christian Theologyand Practical Christianity).
I have been preparing to teach at Kiev Wesley BibleCollege and have used the three aforementioned worksto much gain. Specifically for the Practical Christianityclass I have been greatly helped in the practical articlesin The Journey and God’s Revivalist. I have studied thethoughts and content of many of the articles and havebeen impressed by their counsel in practical spiritualdisciplines. I can feel confident that when I am teachingstudents who have lived in a country long bereft ofapplicable practical principles from the Word of Godthat I am drawing from some of the best in matters ofspiritual formation and practical Christian living.
From your own work (When Steeples Are Falling), Ifind applicable truth in the context of a beautiful literarystyle. I use your material in so many ways to initiateideas or bring stability to my own faltering concepts.Your words are encouraging, enchanting, (p21)➡
GOD’S REVIVALIST and BIBLE ADVOCATE
04
OCTOBER 2005
05
By Glenn D. Black
Churches are born. And churches die. In betweenthese two epoch events are exciting happenings.
But a church’s demise is always sad. Why do localchurches die?
Churches die because of lack of focus. A churchcan appear, organizationally polished and purring withefficiency, but inwardly and in spirit undernourished,anemic, decaying… totally deficient in clear and con-stant focus relative to evangelizing the lost, disciplingbelievers, and ministering to society. Too often thegeneration which gave birth and life to a local churchwill also be the generation to inflict death to the samelocal church. Why? Because of a selfish focus onthemselves instead of Christ and others.
Churches die due to a lack of faith. A loss of faithpropels a local church to hoard money, ignore theneedy around them and neglect world missions. Alack of faith tempts a local church to cease providingfor the needs of its pastor and participating in districtand denominational activities. Replacing a vibrantfaith will be affluence, apathy and animosity…not tomention spiritual conceit and arrogance.
Churches often die for lack of finances. Localchurches’ assets may total into the multiplied thou-sands. But the dwindling of giving of tithes and offeringswill strangle a church to death. When our outgo is morethan our income, our downfall is eminent. A dyingchurch will first cease paying budgets to the denomina-tion and district, then cease providing adequate salaryfor its pastor, and…it ultimately ceases to be at all.
Why do churches die? A lack of focus, faith andfinances are among the reasons. The ultimate bottom-line reason is discovered in Revelation 2:4. In spite ofour religiously romantic talk, we simply have ceased tolove God with our whole heart, soul, mind, andstrength and our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). We have left and lost our first love. And we arethe church!
The Rev. Glenn D. Black (GBS ’69 HS, ’74 BRE) is a former editorof God’s Revivalist and the superintendent of the Kentucky Districtof The Wesleyan Church. This article is reprinted with permissionfrom the Kentucky Wesleyan Messenger.
GOD’S REVIVALIST and BIBLE ADVOCATE
06
THE VIRTUE OF WEAKNESS
“… I will glory in my weakness…” (IICor. 12:9)
My wife does the grocery shopping forour family, but I usually have the
“privilege” of lugging the results of herefforts from the car to the kitchen. Maybeyou husbands can identify with me. I sur-vey dozens of grocery bags piled haphaz-ardly around a twelve-pack of Diet Rite, acase of laundry detergent, and a crate ofpaper towels! (That’s a bit of an exaggera-tion, but not much!) I ponder the situationwith one question on my mind: “How doI get all this into the house in one trip?”And so, with plastic bags looped aroundeach finger and various items under eacharm, I try to be the hero who I am not!
What is there in the nature of a manthat wants to prove himself strong—thatlongs to conquer, to achieve, to over-come? I’m certain that this instinct is Godgiven; but as with other things human, ithas been tainted by the Fall, twisted intosomething that can produce a thousandwoes. Every society, modern andancient, has been obsessed withstrength, including our own—a factattested by the rampant steroid abuse inthe athletic world. Weakness is not avirtue in this earthly kingdom.
We Christians, though, are not pri-marily citizens of an earthly kingdom,but a heavenly one. And this heavenlyKingdom is filled with paradoxes, one ofwhich is articulated by Paul in IICorinthians 12:10: “When I am weak,then I am strong.”
The Corinthian church was notknown for such humility and self-abase-ment. Rather, the apostle had to deal
with its members sternly about arro-gance, pride, and self-confidence. Paulthen suggests that if they want to getinto a bragging contest, he could winsuch a debate. His vigorous itinerary, hislitany of sufferings, and his supernaturalspiritual revelations are entered as a fewexamples of the sorts of things aboutwhich he could brag.
But Paul chooses not to do so.Ironically, he opts to brag about a “thornin the flesh” that God had allowed to“buffet” him. Though Paul had cried outfor deliverance, God’s response threetimes had been to urge him to submit toits pain and allow the thorn to be anentry point for grace. When Paul beganto understand that this hurtful thing wasa potential magnifying glass throughwhich the grace and power of God couldbe revealed, he quit his protest and,beyond resignation and submission,moved to embrace the thorn and even to“glory” in it!
This is not some twisted thinking thatimagines pain to be pleasurable. No! Atthe end of the day, after all, the “thorn”was still a thorn. But Paul got ahold of theidea that God’s grace and power are mag-nified more in weakness than in strength;and with a sanctified spirit, he found thatthe hurtful became helpful.
Pondering this attitude I am begin-ning to understand that God is notimpressed with “supermen.” (Rememberthis the next time you haul in groceries!)And I’m learning to appreciate the para-doxical truth that God can do mightythings, if He can just find a weaklingthrough whom to do them.
Ben Durr, Jr., is a pastor and member of the facultyin the Division of Ministerial Education at GBS.
(continued from page 4) ➡VIETNAM. John Parker reportson a recent conference at whichhe and Melvin Adams, Co-Director of Barnabas Ministries,spoke to pastors. “We arrived inCambodia, one of the poorestand most devastated countries inthe world…to minister to pre-cious, persecuted pastors andchurch leaders from Vietnam.These dear brothers had bravedthe guns of the Communist bor-der guards and the perils of athree-day walk through ruggedterrain…. How blessed it was tominister to those who haveproven their faith in such trials!After two back-to-back confer-ences, we visited ministry in thepoverty stricken villages…. Hereministry has taken on the form ofsimple humanitarian outreach inproviding sources of food andincome as well as clean waterand hygiene training.” —JohnParker, Bible Methodist Missions
ZIMBABWE. “I have now trav-eled to Zimbabwe on six occa-sions. Our work is focused onmeeting basic needs of orphansand vulnerable children. We areinvolved in providing food assis-tance in over 20 locations, serv-ing more than 7,000 orphans.We have provided the funds topay school fees and purchaseuniforms for nearly 1,400 chil-dren. We have shipped over2,000 school-supply kits…. TheAIDS pandemic of southernAfrica has been called the ‘great-est humanitarian crisis’ in thehistory of humankind. Millions ofchildren have been orphaned.Millions more will follow…. I amconvinced that history will judgethe Church of this generationbased in part upon how werespond to the needs of the suf-fering children of Africa.” —GregJenks, Good News
A QUICKENING RAY:What Wesleyans Mean By “Prevenient Grace”
by Edsel Trouten
Sometimes it is easier to tell what a thing is not thanwhat it is. Consider some statements about what
Wesleyans do not believe about prevenient grace.
1. Wesleyans do not believe that prevenient graceempowers sinners to come to God any time theychoose. Jesus said, “No man can come to me, exceptthe Father…draw him” (Jn. 6:44).
2. Wesleyans do not believe prevenient grace allowssinners to choose to come to God because they possessfree will. Wesleyans deny all natural “free will” and con-fess all “human willing” comes about by “free grace”(Phil. 2:12-13).
3. Wesleyans do not believe prevenient graceempowers sinners to exercise faith any time theychoose. The author of faith and salvation is God alone(Eph. 2:8; Heb. 12:2).
4. Wesleyans do not believe prevenient graceempowers sinner so that they may turn to God on theirown initiative. Every movement toward God is a graceassisted movement (Rom. 3:11).
5. Wesleyans do not believe that a sinner can com-prehend the truth of God without prevenient graceoperating through the ministry of the Spirit of Truth (IICor. 3:6).
6. Wesleyans do not believe that forgiveness comesto a sinner automatically, but, rather, it comes through aprevenient grace-assisted continuum of human respons-es (Jn. 15:5).
Dr. Ray Dunning defines prevenient grace as “thatgrace that comes before and refers to God’s activityprior to any human movement toward God.” He con-tinues by noting “that from the human side its neces-sity is the all-pervasiveness of original sin, or totaldepravity, which affirms that total inability of man toinitiate the divine-human relationship.” He adds that“from the divine side, it is grounded in the nature of
God as love” (Dunning, Grace, Faith and Holiness:338).
John Wesley described prevenient grace even morecarefully when he identified what occurs in the earlystages of what he would have thought of as a “regener-ative process.” He wrote that prevenient grace is seen in“that first wish to please God, the first dawn of light con-cerning his will, and the first, slight, transient convictionof having sinned against him.” All this, Wesley noted,“implies some tendency toward life, some degree of sal-vation, the beginning of a deliverance from a blind,unfeeling heart” (Wesley’s Works, VIII: 472).
Charles Wesley caught the concept of prevenientgrace beautifully in a verse of hymn:
Thou dost the first good thought inspire;The first faint spark of pure desireIs kindled by thy gracious breath.By Thee made conscious of his fall,The sinner hears the sudden call,And starts out of the sleep of death.
John Wesley gave particular attention to prevenientgrace in the operation of conscience. “No man living isentirely destitute of what is vulgarly called natural con-science. But this is not natural; it is more properlytermed preventing grace [i.e., prevenient grace]. Everyman has a greater or lesser measure of this, which waitsnot for the call of man” (Wesley’s Works, VI: 512).
“Wesleyan-Arminian theology holds that humanconscience is not a natural attribute of humankind; con-science is created within us by the prior work of preve-nient grace” (www.revneal.org/writings, 1/11/2005,Prevenient Grace: 4).
The graphic scene in the Garden of Eden followingAdam’s disobedience is a beautiful portrayal of preve-nient grace. The Lord God called unto Adam, and saidunto him, Where art thou? (Ge. 3:9). For Whose sakewas the question asked, Adam’s or God’s? “Where art
OCTOBER 2005
07
REVIVALIST PRESSA new book for teens by the Bible faculty of God’s Bible School & College
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CHURCH MUSIC MATTERS by Garen Wolf, Division of Music
A clear analysis for pastors, parents, and laypersons with aChristian perspective on music—$25 plus $4.40 S&H
WHEN STEEPLES ARE FALLING by Larry D. Smith, Editor, God’s Revivalist—Arich selection of Revivalist editorials on many subjects of interest to you, the
holiness movement, and the Church—$10 plus $2.00 S&H
HOW CAN YOU BE SURE: CHARLES STANLEY AND JOHN WESLEY DEBATE
SALVATION AND SECURITY by Mark Bird, Div. of Ministerial Ed.—Wesleyan per-spectives on Christian assurance and the security of the believer—$10 postpaid
thou?” is the call of love; the call of prevenient grace.God’s question to Adam is not for His sake but forAdam’s sake. “God seeks him not because he is lostfrom His knowledge but from His communion”(Dunning, Grace, Faith and Holiness 291).
The important question to ask here is, “Did Adamhave an ability prior to the restoration of his fellowshipwith God to respond to God’s entreaty?” The simplenarrative seems to suggest that he did! But it must beclearly stated that Adam’s response was not an unassist-ed response. This is the first example in scripture of theassisting, empowering work of prevenient grace.
Another beautiful example of prevenient grace isseen in the story of Lydia (Acts 16:14-15), “…whoseheart the Lord opened, that she attended unto thethings which were spoken of Paul.” Before she was con-verted and baptized, the Holy Spirit in prevenient graceremoved the scales from her eyes so she could compre-hend and receive the message preached by the ApostlePaul. She was dead to the message apart from this Spirit-applied prevenient grace.
Wesley’s “theology ends where it begins, with theoptimism of grace triumphing over the pessimism ofnature. ‘With man’ because of the deadly effects of sin,‘it is impossible’ to be reconciled to God and to do hiswill. ‘But with God all things are possible.’ The life avail-able in Christ is a life of free salvation. It is life free forall, a life that already is at work in all by the ceaselessoperation of God’s prevenient grace, and a life that cancome to flower in all through the one way of faith inChrist” (Williams, John Wesley’s Theology Today: 199).
Surely we must sing with Charles Wesley:
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.Thine eye diffused a quickening ray;I woke, the dungeon flamed with light!My chains fell off; my heart was free.I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
The Rev. Edsel Trouten (GBS ’58 HS; ’61 ThB) is an evangelist andconference speaker residing with his wife Alice (’60 ThB) in Kuna,Idaho. He is a former faculty member and campus pastor at GBS.
OCTOBER 2005
09
2005October 27-29
For more information: www.youthchallenge.net
Youth ChallengeHigher Ground Conference
& Retreat Center West Harrison, Indiana
Registration begins Thursday, Oct 27 at 3:00 PM
10GOD’S REVIVALIST and BIBLE ADVOCATE
On these pages, we featureitems about GBS alumni,vital statistics, significantevents scheduledthroughout the “Revivalistfamily,” and brief newsnotes from across theholiness movement. An itemfor inclusion in the“Revivalist Family” must besubmitted within fourmonths of the event which itreports and should beaddressed to the EditorialOffice, 1810 Young Street,Cincinnati, Ohio 45202; [email protected].
SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED ATOPENING SERVICES
At convocation services, Sunday,August 21, marking the opening ofthe 2005–06 academic year, thefollowing scholarships were award-ed by the Rev. Jack Hooker, GBSVice President for Advancement:
(1) Crawford Family Scholarships,Faith Resor, Stephanie Rose; (2)Myrtle Jessup Ministerial Scholarship,Jesse Moke; (3) Marvin JewellMinisterial Scholarship, NathanGumbiner; (4) Frank LittleScholarship, Peter Highley, JoelChopp; (5) C. Helen MooshianScholarship, Rebekah Raisch; (6)
Rhyne Memorial Scholarship,Nicole Kilgore; (7) H.E.Schmul, Sr., Scholarship,Michael Mater; (8) VaughnSomers Memorial Scholarship,Chadwick Kemp; (9) Meredithand Florence Vance
Scholarship, Angela Fry; (10)Mr. and Mrs. K.W. Wong
Scholarship, Heather Stewart;
(11) Ethel Belle Baughey Scholarship,Nicolas Logan; (12) Rev. William E.and Hazel C. Jackson Scholarship,Heather Christner; (13) Dr. LeslieWilcox Scholarship, Joanne Loper;(14) Edna Erle Brothers MesserschmidtMemorial Scholarship, JenniferHartkopf; (15) Merle D. WolfMemorial Scholarship, Joseph Hough;(16) Nathaniel Joslin Memorial
BIRTHS
To Michael and Juanita(Wilson) Albertini, a son,Isaac Michael Albertini,born August 7, 2005,
Albany, New York. Juanita, a GBS gradu-ate (AA in Secretarial Science, 1999),worked in the Office of Admissions,1994–2000, and later in the Office ofFinancial Development.
To Tim and BeckyKeep, missionaries to thePhilippines, a daughter,Samantha Elizabeth Keep,born in Manila, August 16,2005.
To Joey and AndreaRatcliff, a son, EthanCharles Ratcliff, bornAugust 2, 2005, Cincinnati,Ohio. Joey is a GBS seniorin the Division of Ministerial
Education, and Andrea is a 2004 GBSgraduate (BA in Music Ed).
To J.D. and Heather Williamson, ason, Shawn Diesel Williamson, bornJune 13, 2005, Chillicothe, Ohio.
Grandparents are Stan (GBS‘76 HS) and Jan Ellingson,and great-grandmother isCatherine Taylor Ellingson(GBS ‘85 BA).
GBS 2005 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTSGBS 2005 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
11OCTOBER 2005
DEATHS
Rev. Robert L. Newbrey, 77,Orange City, Florida, died June 16,
2005. A U.S. Navy vet-eran of World War IIand a student at GBS,1951–1953, he becamea minister in the Churchof the Nazarene and
served as pastor of congregations inOhio, Michigan, Kentucky, andGeorgia. Survivors include Marjorie,his wife of 52 years; one grandchild,three grandchildren, a brother, andtwo sisters. He was a member of theDeltona Church of the Nazarene.
Lenos Bereman Perry, 96, diedAugust 10, 2005 (See page 19).
Carney C. Smith, 87, ofAllentown, Pennsylvania, and for-
merly of Cincinnati,Ohio, died August 22,2005. He was thehusband of Lois I.(Compton) Smith, whodied in 1987. He was
a graduate of God’s Bible School(‘52 CWC; ‘56 HS; ‘57 ThB) andbecame an ordained minister. Hewas a longtime GBS staff member,serving in the following positions:press room, 1957–1959; binderyforeman, 1959–1969; press room
supervisor, 1969–1977; and custo-dian of dining room/gymnasiumcomplex, 1977. He is survived bythree sons, Don, Jerry, and Paul.Funeral services were conducted inAllentown, Pennsylvania.
The Rev. James H. Stone, 93,of Peebles, Ohio, went to be withthe Lord on August 3, 2005. Hebecame an ordained minister withthe Churches of Christ in Christian
Union in 1948,served as pastor of anumber of churches,and received a plaquein 1992 honoring himfor 50 years in ➡
Scholarship, Jeremy Robison; (17)Stanley and Evelyn Kendall/StantonChristian School Scholarship,Elizabeth Clemens; (18) Aubrey ElamIndoor Camp Scholarship, AngelaSagely; (19) The Carl Victor andBessie Hedstrom and Alvin andGertrude Hedstrom MemorialScholarship, Keith Flynn; (20) TheChester C. Elliot and Leliah E. RobertsElliot Scholarship, Eric Stanberry; (21)The Hazel (Trouten) Scheid MemorialScholarship, Troy Burns; (22) TheJohn O. (Mickey) and Annie E.McGuire Memorial Scholarship,Elizabeth Reimann; (23) The Leonardand Janet Sankey Scholarship, KristaBlair; (24) The David and ClareMartin Scholarship, Kimberly Roy;(25) The Norma J. Sturgeon MemorialScholarship, Joshua Cook, CandyGarrett; (26) The Gertrude TaylorMemorial Scholarship, Eric Stanberry;(27) The Dr. J.D. Young MemorialScholarship, Jason Hopkins; (28) ThePeter B. and Patricia J. MoranScholarship, Bennett Bullock; (29)The Dr. R.G. Flexon MemorialScholarship, Samson Godatha; (30)The Marjorie Bryner Memorial
Scholarship, Carlson Benjamin; (31)The Ronald M. Sherrill MemorialScholarship, Laura Chapman.
The following are recipients of aone-time scholarship provided byMr. Tom McClain: Aubrey Ng’Andu,Cherie Jones; and of The Betty JaneSpeth Scholarship: Jaleesa Ford,Jennifer Key, Jordan Duncan,Elizabeth Thompson, StephanieGrosso; and of the Barbara RussellMemorial Scholarship: ValerieProfitt. In addition, two new schol-arships commenced this school year.These included the McNeillMemorial Scholarship: BrandonMills; and the South Bend UnionChapel Scholarship: Kurtis Lewis.In total, 43 students received schol-arships totaling $23,355.
President Avery and the appro-priate divisional chairpersons greetedeach of the scholarship recipients.
DR. MARK A. SMITH APPOINTEDPRESIDENT-ELECT OFCIRCLEVILLE BIBLE COLLEGE
Dr. Mark A. Smith, a member ofGBS’s Board of Trustees for the past
ten years, has beennamed President-Electof Circleville BibleCollege, Circleville,Ohio, and willbecome the school’s
tenth pressident on January 1. Hesucceeds Dr. John Conley, who hasserved in that capacity since 1994.Before going to Circleville, Dr. Smithwas Vice President of the College ofAdult and Professional Studies andthe College of Graduate Studies atIndiana Wesleyan University. He isan ordained minister in TheWesleyan Church, in which he hasserved as pastor and as assistant dis-trict superintendent.
He holds the degree Bachelor inBiblical Studies from Hobe SoundBible College, a Master of Sciencedegree in College Teaching fromNortheastern State University, and adoctorate in Higher EducationAdministration from West ViriginiaUniversity. He is the co-author ofseveral books and a ConsultantEvaluator for the Higher LearningCommission of the North CentralAssociation. Dr. Smith and his ➡
GOD’S REVIVALIST and BIBLE ADVOCATE
12
➡ wife Debbie are the parents oftwo children; Douglas, age ten, andMicah, age one.
GBS REPORTS ENROLLMENTSTATISTICS
“We’re always happy to sharegood news about enrollment gains,and so we should be self-disclosingabout this year’s drop,” commentsGBS Vice-President for AcademicAffairs Dr. Kenneth Farmer.
“Our census date for the maincampus was September 2. Thecollege yielded a head count of247 and a Full-Time Equivalency(FTE) of 231. This does notinclude enrollments in theAldersgate Distance EducationProgram, which for the first timehas a separate census date(October 10). This will add anadditional 23-26 persons to thehead count.” In contrast, Dr.Farmer notes that “Last year was agreat year for us. We posted justover 19% increase with a headcount of 301 and an FTE of 274.”
EDITOR WRITES EPILOGUE TOHOLINESS MOVEMENT BOOK
“I hope that Counterpointbecomes the catalyst to wide-spread discussion. My own rolewas limited to the final chapter,but the whole book offers us plen-ty to think about. Drury’ s com-ments on the role of form and con-tent are an eye-opener, as well asa warning to all of us.” These arethe comments of Revivalist editorLarry D. Smith about Counterpoint:Dialogue with Drury on theHoliness Movement, just releasedby Schmul Publishing Co.
Described by publisher CurtisHale as a “powerful document onthe state of the holiness movementtoday; where it is going in the futureand the issues that are taking itthere,” the book marks the tenthanniversary of Dr. Keith Drury’sfamous 1995 “The HolinessMovement Is Dead” address beforethe Christian Holiness Association.Counterpoint contains essays,
updates, and responses by Drury, awell-known scholar and educator inthe Wesleyan Church; Dr. RichardS. Taylor, veteran Nazarene theolo-gian; Dr. Kenneth Collins, Wesleyscholar and Asbury Seminary profes-sor; and Wallace Thornton, formerGBS faculty member. Concludingthe book is Smith’s final “epilogue”with his summaries, evaluations,and conclusions. It may be pur-chased for $14.99 plus postage andhandling by contacting SchmulPublishing Co., PO Box 716, Salem,Ohio 44460 1-800-772-6657.
BROWN PRESENTS PAPERS ATFACULTY CONFERENCE
This summer Dr. Philip Brownrepresented GBS faculty during ses-sions of the Bible Faculty Leadership
Summit held at DetroitBaptist TheologicalSeminary. He present-ed two academicpapers, “Categories ofTruth vs. Categories of
NEWS FROM THE HILLTOP continued
continued
➡ ministry. He was a 1961 graduate of the GBS HighSchool, and “throughout all the years since then, hehad nothing but praise for GBS,” according to his wife,Mrs. Sylvia L. Stone, who adds that he “loved God’sBible School so much.”
The Rev. Leroy A. Wilcox, 95, of Ostrander, Ohio,died July 27, 2005. A 1930 graduate of GBS, heserved as pastor of seven churches, then as assistantpastor in two others. He was preceded in death by hisfirst wife Stella (Long) in 1962, a daughter EdnaEdwards in 2003, three infant sons, and a brother, Dr.Leslie D. Wilcox, former Dean of Theology at God’sBible School. He is survived by his second wife,Dorothy (Taylor), whom he married in 1963; a son,Marion; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchil-dren. Funeral services were at the Cypress WesleyanChurch, Galloway, Ohio, with General SuperintendentDr. David W. Holdren officiating.
ALUMNI INTEREST
“Thanks for making our visit so meaningful,”write Alice and Loren Carey, who with Alice’s par-ents, Floyd and Lillian Shirley, were summer campusvisitors. Floyd attended GBS 1930–35. He was the sonof Herbert A. Shirley (GBS 1905–06, 1910–11) and hiswife, Edith Winder Shirley (GBS ‘03-’06), who “went toAfrica as pioneer missionaries,” where they were col-leagues of pioneer Nazarene missionaries Harmon andLula (Glatzel) (GBS 1906) Schmelzenbach, as theCareys explain. “Rev. Shirley did Bible and hymnaltranslations and started the Shirley Press…. Floyd toldus he played with the Schmelzenbach’s children. [His]mother died in Africa and his father remarried…afterhis mother’s death. Floyd returned to the States as a12-year-old child to live with an aunt and uncle.” Herecalls his days as a GBS student, seeing the Knapp
God’s Bible School and College seeks to glorify God and to serve His Church by providing
preparing faithful servants to proclaim Jesus Christ
OCTOBER 2005
13
Exegetical Certainty: What ReallyMatters and How Much Does ItMatter?,” and also a response to Dr.William Combs’ presentation whichargued against the Wesleyan under-standing of prevenient grace. Both ofDr. Brown’s papers are available onhis new website, www.apbrown2.net.
DR. DAVID KALE GIVESASSESSMENT WORKSHOP
GBSC greatly profited from atwo-day workshop during Faculty
Week in mid-August with Dr. DavidKale, Director of Assessment at Mt.Vernon Nazarene University andevaluator-consultant for the HigherLearning Commission. He began by“making the case for assessment,”showing that faith and reason arecompatible, since “both come fromthe same source. Therefore therecan be no contradiction.”Subsequent presentations offeredinsights into assessment techniquesused in individual classes as well asin divisional planning.
Our AcademicCommittee willemploy theseinsights, embarkingon a year-longrevision ofinstitutional anddivisional objectivesbased upon“conceptual maps.”Conducting a typeof pilot program todevelop these newconceptual maps is
the Division of MinisterialEducation, which presented itspreliminary work to the faculty inMay. The Division, which willcontinue to refine and revise itswork, will offer its next report to theentire faculty this fall.
Dr. Kale also gave valuableinformation concerning the use ofportfolios in assessment. Both hismaternal grandparents, BlancheFord and Hobart Basham, attendedGBSC. —Dr. Ken Farmer, VicePresident for Academic Affairs
BRIEFLY NOTED: Opening schoolrevival services were held August22–26 with the Rev. Ben Durr, Jr.,preaching in the morning services,and President Michael Averypreaching in the evening. The mes-sages were presented with theanointing of the Spirit, studentswere welcoming and responsive tothe truth, and many found spiritualhelp and strength.
Memorial Building under construction, working in theRevivalist printing department, and seeing Mrs. LulaSchmelzenbach and her son Paul, “who visited GBS ina Model T Ford.”
“My mother, Laurene Carol Straham, was a 1937GBS graduate,” Mr. Carey adds. “She told me sheworked in Rev. M.G. Standley’s office as a stenograph-er. My dad, Albert F. Carey, was a graduate in 1935. Myparents met at GBS. They dated in Miss Peabody’s par-lor. They married several years after they left GBS.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
“My father, Rev. Elmer C. Farmer, pastored thePilgrim Holiness Church in Newport, KY. We are tryingto locate a photograph of this church. If anyone has apicture or information leading to a picture, please con-tact my mother, Mrs. Betty Farmer, 2509 Jefferson Ave.,Point Pleasant, WV 25550, or me, Kitty Lou Hamlin,1326 Main Street, Barboursville, WV 25504, [email protected]. Please don’t hesitate to contact us toask questions.”
higher education centered in Holy Scripture and shaped by Wesleyan conviction, thus
and spread scriptural holiness throughout the world.
WASTE A YEAR IN BIBLECOLLEGE?
“Are you sure you want to waste ayear at Bible college?”—Mom
The expression on her face wasone of worried concern. Her son satnext to me filling out his paperworkto enroll in GBS. She pressed again,“Are you sure this is what you want todo?” He responded confidently, but Icould tell she wasn’t convinced.
Statistics say that of the college-age young people in the conserva-tive holiness movement who actual-ly go to college, less than half attenda Bible college anywhere. In thebroader holiness movement, thenumbers are even less encouraging:under 20% attend Bible college oreven denominational schools.
Was the mother sitting in myoffice right? Is it really a waste forstudents who don’t plan to be infull-time Christian ministry to spenda year in Bible college? I couldn’t letthat question go unanswered in myoffice, and I’d like to share myanswer with you.
Dear Concerned Mom (and Dad):If you’re like most parents, you
really want what’s best for your chil-dren. You know that a large percent-age of available scholarship moniestarget fresh-out-of-high-school stu-
A BIBLICAL RESPONSE
dents. You know that the tuition for in-state, public city colleges or universities issignificantly cheaper than private collegesor universities. You also know that it takesmoney to live, and your children will needa good job if they are going to makeenough money to live well. You rememberthe struggles you had getting started, andyou’re not sure your children need tocope with that kind of stress on their livesand marriages.
And the local college is, well…local!Why send your children halfway acrossthe country when you can send them justa few miles away and see them regularly?Besides, students who aren’t called intofull-time ministry as preachers, teachers,missionaries or musicians don’t need aBible-college education. Case closed,right? All the Bible-college PR rhetoricaside, it really isn’t necessary, is it?
I can hardly think of a conclusionmore tragically misguided or thoroughlyunbiblical. This kind of thinking betraysunscriptural values and a massive misun-derstanding of the nature of the Christianlife and ministry. No, I’m not grandstand-ing. I’m serious.
If your primary or even secondaryconcern for your children’s education isthat they be able to land a good enoughjob to make a decent living, you havefailed to integrate Matthew 6:33 into youreducational philosophy. Jesus wasn’t talk-ing to students preparing for “full-timeChristian service” when he said, “Seek firstthe Kingdom of God and His righteous-ness.” He was talking to blue-collar labor-ers and white-collar financiers andlawyers. Jesus didn’t say, “Once you haveyour financial house in order so you don’thave to worry about food and clothing,then you should give your time, attention,and support to my Kingdom.” He said justthe opposite. “Don’t make a good job anda decent living your first priority. Your firstpriority must be my kingdom.”
Seeking first the Kingdom of God inyour children’s education means givingfirst priority to their spiritual prepared-ness to do what God calls every singleone of His children to do. Let me askyou, are your college-age childrenequipped right now to do the following?
• Lead unchurched people to sav-ing faith in Jesus? Are they doing it?
• Provide weekly, spiritual trainingfor new converts so that they move fromspiritual immaturity to maturity?
• Defend their faith against thesubtle and sometimes not-so-subtle pres-sure of mockery in the secular education-al environment?
• Give compelling biblical answersto questions about why they believeabortion is murder; why homosexualbehavior and homosexual “marriage”are, without exception, condemned byGod; why they dress modestly; why theybelieve clothing should be gender dis-tinct; why they don’t believe childrenshould be reared by a village rather thana home with a father and a mother?
• Refute the Jehovah’s Witnessesor Mormons who come to their doorsteprather than just close the door in theirfaces, and teach others how to do thesame?
If you cannot confidently affirm thatyour children are prepared to lead others toChrist and then disciple them into Christianmaturity both doctrinally and practically,then they are not prepared to do the twothings that Christ has commanded allbelievers to do: witness and make disciples(Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15).
Your children are not adequatelyprepared to obey Matt. 6:33 if they arenot well equipped to defend their faithand refute false teaching. In light of ourLord’s command, there are no groundsfor considering a year or two spent gain-ing these skills a waste. Far from it! Itmay be one of the few times your childwill learn things in college that will mat-ter in eternity.
I hope you won’t take offense from mystrong language. It is time, however, for thiskind of unscriptural thinking to be exposedfor what it is. Oh, and don’t forget howJesus ends Matt. 6:33, “and all these thingswill be added unto you.” Your kids willnever lack the things they need if they givefirst priority to the Kingdom of God.
Sincerely,
Philip Brown
GOD’S REVIVALIST
14Dr. A. Philip Brown II is a member of the faculty in the Division of Ministerial Education at God’s BibleSchool and College. He may be contacted by email at [email protected].
OCTOBER 2005
15
CHRISTIAN GROUPS RESPONDTO HURRICANE KATRINA
In the wake of massive destructionby Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana,Mississippi, and Alabama, Christianagencies have launched heroic efforts,first to bring immediate relief, andnow to help rebuild. Denominationalagencies, such as CompassionMinistries, sponsored by theEvangelical Free Church of America,and more broadly-based Christiangroups, such as Samaritan’s Purse andthe Salvation Army, have collecteddonations, organized shelters, andbrought medical and other supplies tostricken areas and evacuation centers.“The devastation is so severe and thesituation is so desperate that I’m send-ing out a spiritual SOS to Christians ofall faiths to come…,” implored BobbyWelch, president of the SouthernBaptist Convention. “We need to pray,pray, pray, give, give, give, and go, go,go, as we never have in all our con-vention’s history for the sake of lostand dying souls, for the sake of JesusChrist, and for the sake of theKingdom of God.”
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR TOVETO SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
A spokesperson of CaliforniaGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger hasannounced that he will veto a billapproved by the state legislature tolegalize gay-marriage in that state.Citing a vote by citizens of California in2000 to ban same-sex marriage, the
governor’s office said, “We cannot havea system where the people vote andthe Legislature derails that vote.” Bittercontroversy between advocates of themeasure and conservative Christiangroups surrounded the action of theState Assembly, which approved the billby a vote of 41–35. At present, 16states have constitutional prohibitionsagainst same-sex marriage, whileMassachusetts is the only one allowingsuch “marriage.”
RELIGION AND POLITICSReligion is both a strength and
weakness for America’s political parties,according to materials released by thePew Research Center. Americansbelieve that secular liberals have toomuch control in the Democratic Party,while almost as many declare that reli-gious conservatives have too much con-trol in the Republic Party. Only about29% see the Democrats as supportiveof religion, down from 40% in August.The survey indicates that 55% believeRepublicans are friendly to religion.
“BLEAK FUTURE” FOR BRITISHCHURCHES
“The Future of the Church,” a newreport just released in Great Britain,warns that church attendance is “rapid-ly moving toward virtual wipe-out,”predicting that only two per cent—incontrast to the present 9.4 percent—ofthe population will be going to Sundayservices by 2040. According to theChristian Post, the report projects that if
present trends continue “the number ofMuslims attending prayers at Britishmosques on Friday will be double thenumber of Christians at church onSunday” by that year. It also “predictsthat by 2020 evangelicals are poised todominate the Anglican Church.However, by 2040, there will apparent-ly be so few members that churchman-ship will become ‘irrelevant,’ as, too,will denominations.” The documentpointed out that the four main denomi-nations in the United Kingdom, theChurch of England, Roman Catholic,Methodist, and United ReformedChurches, “are all suffering from a long-term decline in attendance figures,”according to the Post.
HOMESCHOOLERS ANDACADEMICS
According to statistics gathered bythe Home School Legal DefenseAssociation, youngsters who havereceived a homeschool education dobetter on ACT college entrance exami-nations than the overall national aver-age. “This year, the 8075 homeschoolgraduates who took the ACT collegeentrance exam scored an average of22.5, which is several points higher thanthe national average,” according to theChristian Post. “In both 2002 and 2003,the national homeschool average was22.5, while the national average was20.8%” According to Michael Smith,president of HSLDA, “Homeschoolerscontinue to excel academically.”
CHURCH PROPERTY IN DISPUTEIn a lawsuit which may have nation-
al repercussions for mainstreamProtestant denominations, an OrangeCounty, California, superior court hasruled that a local congregation leavingthe Episcopal church is the rightfulowner of its buildings. The bishop anddiocese of Los Angeles had sued St.James’ Church, Newport Beach, whichhad left the denomination with its assetsin a dispute over liberal doctrinal trends.According to a statement by the diocese,the judgment will be appealed.
GOD’S REVIVALIST and BIBLE ADVOCATE
16
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✃
CAN
YOU
LOSE
ETER
NAL
LIFE
?
“And
thi
s is
life
ete
rnal
, tha
t th
ey m
ight
kno
w t
hee
the
only
tru
e G
od, a
ndJe
sus
Chr
ist,
who
m t
hou
hast
sen
t.” (
John
17:
3)
INTR
OD
UC
TIO
N
“Ete
rnal
life
is li
fe th
at n
ever
end
s,” m
y stu
dent
ans
wer
ed in
resp
onse
to m
y qu
es-
tion.
The
n I a
dded
thes
e qu
estio
ns to
stim
ulat
e di
scus
sion:
(1) “
If et
erna
l life
is li
fe th
atne
ver
ends
, es
sent
ially
une
ndin
g ex
isten
ce,
does
n’t
ever
yone
hav
e et
erna
l lif
e by
desig
n of
the
Cre
ator
?” (2
) “H
aven
’t yo
u he
ard
prea
cher
s sa
y th
at e
very
one
will
live
som
epla
ce fo
reve
r, ei
ther
in h
eave
n or
in h
ell?
Is liv
ing
som
epla
ce fo
reve
r the
sam
e as
wha
t the
Bib
le m
eans
by
eter
nal l
ife?”
Con
sider
wha
t the
Bib
le s
ays:
I. C
HRI
ST I
S TH
E SO
URC
E O
F ET
ERN
AL L
IFE
John
dec
lare
s th
at e
tern
al li
fe is
not
a t
hing
or
a m
essa
ge b
ut a
Per
son.
“Th
atw
hich
was
from
the
begi
nnin
g, w
hich
we
have
hea
rd, w
hich
we
have
see
n w
ith o
urey
es, w
hich
we
have
look
ed u
pon,
and
our
han
ds h
ave
hand
led,
of t
he W
ord
of li
fe;
(For
the
life
was
man
ifest
ed, a
nd w
e ha
ve s
een
it, a
nd b
ear
witn
ess,
and
she
w u
nto
you
that
ete
rnal
life
, whi
ch w
as w
ith th
e Fa
ther
, and
was
man
ifest
ed u
nto
us”
(1 Jo
hn1:
1, 2
). Th
us, J
esus
Chr
ist H
imse
lf is
eter
nal l
ife. 1
John
5:2
0 em
phas
izes
that
Jesu
sC
hrist
is “
the
true
God
and
ete
rnal
life
.”
II. E
TERN
AL L
IFE
IS T
HE
GIF
T O
F RI
GH
T RE
LATI
ON
SHIP
WIT
H H
IMJo
hn 1
7:3,
tells
us
that
we
have
ete
rnal
life
whe
n w
e kn
ow G
od a
nd H
is So
nJe
sus
Chr
ist. T
he t
erm
“kn
ow”
(gin
osko
)in
thi
s co
ntex
t sp
eaks
of
som
ethi
ng m
ore
than
sim
ply
cogn
itive
info
rmat
ion.
It im
plie
s a p
erso
nal r
elat
ions
hip.
In o
ther
wor
ds,
whe
n w
e en
ter i
nto
a pe
rson
al re
latio
nshi
p w
ith G
od th
roug
h H
is So
n, Je
sus
Chr
ist,
we
are
said
to
have
ete
rnal
life
, bec
ause
we
are
unite
d w
ith H
im a
nd a
re p
artic
i-pa
ting
in H
is lif
e. Y
ou m
ust b
e co
nnec
ted
to th
e so
urce
of e
tern
al li
fe in
ord
er to
hav
eet
erna
l life
. If
you
have
tru
ly r
epen
ted
of y
our
sins
and
plac
ed y
our
faith
in J
esus
14
neve
r ce
ased
bei
ng t
he s
on o
f hi
s fa
ther
. Bu
t by
the
sam
e sa
me
logi
c, w
e w
ould
have
to c
oncl
ude
that
no
one
can
ever
be
save
d! F
or E
phes
ians
2:3
teac
hes t
hat w
ew
ere
all b
orn
“chi
ldre
n of
wra
th,”
and
acc
ordi
ng to
1 Jo
hn 3
:10,
we
wer
e “c
hild
ren
of th
e de
vil.”
Tr
ue, t
he P
rodi
gal S
on w
as a
bac
kslid
er w
ho “
was
ted
his
subs
tanc
e w
ith h
ar-
lots
and
riot
ous l
ivin
g,”
they
adm
it; b
ut fo
r all
of th
at, t
hey
insis
t tha
t he
was
still
the
“son
” of
the
fath
er. T
he p
rimar
y pr
oble
m w
ith th
is vi
ew is
foun
d in
Jesu
s’ o
wn
stat
e-m
ent t
hat t
he P
rodi
gal w
as d
ead
and
lost
whi
le h
e liv
ed in
sin
(Luk
e 15
:24,
32)
. In
disc
ussin
g th
is se
rious
topi
c, w
e m
ust r
ecal
l the
war
ning
of J
ames
5:1
9, 2
0:“B
reth
ren,
if a
ny o
f you
do
err f
rom
the
truth
[if a
bel
ieve
r bac
kslid
es] a
nd o
ne c
on-
vert
him
[the
bac
kslid
er re
pent
s an
d hi
s re
latio
nshi
p w
ith C
hrist
is re
stor
ed];
let h
imkn
ow, t
hat h
e w
hich
con
verts
the
sinne
r fro
m th
e er
ror
of h
is w
ay s
hall
save
a s
oul
from
dea
th, a
nd h
ide
a m
ultit
ude
of si
ns.”
See
also
the
war
ning
s in
Ezek
iel 3
:20,
21;
18:2
4-26
; 33
:12,
13.
V. E
TERN
AL L
IFE
BEG
INS
IN T
HE
PRES
ENT
BUT
HAS
A F
UTU
RE D
IMEN
SIO
NAs
indi
cate
d by
John
17:
3 an
d 1
John
5:1
1, e
tern
al li
fe is
def
ined
as
the
gift
ofrig
ht r
elat
ions
hip
with
God
thro
ugh
Jesu
s C
hrist
. Thi
s be
gins
in th
is lif
e, a
nd is
nur
-tu
red
and
deep
ened
thr
ough
out
one’
s lif
e on
ear
th.
But
ther
e is
a di
men
sion
toet
erna
l life
tha
t ca
n on
ly b
e kn
own
fully
by
bein
g w
ith H
im i
n th
e es
chat
on(th
efu
ture
afte
r de
ath)
. In
this
sens
e, e
tern
al li
fe is
the
bel
ieve
r’s
hope
. Pau
l spe
aks
ofth
e ho
pe o
f et
erna
l lif
e (T
itus
1:2;
3:7
) an
d em
phas
izes
, “H
e th
at s
owet
h to
the
Spiri
t sha
ll of
the
Spiri
t rea
p lif
e ev
erla
stin
g. A
nd le
t us
not b
e w
eary
in w
ell d
oing
:fo
r in
due
sea
son
we
shal
l rea
p, if
we
fain
t not
” (G
al. 6
:8, 9
).
CO
NC
LUSI
ON
Eter
nal l
ife is
not
a th
ing
but a
Per
son.
It is
a g
ift—
the
gift
of a
rela
tions
hip
with
God
thro
ugh
Jesu
s C
hrist
. We
can
eith
er n
urtu
re o
r ne
glec
t tha
t gift
. If w
e nu
rture
it, w
e sh
all e
xper
ienc
e th
e fu
llnes
s of
ete
rnal
life
whe
n at
last
we
are
with
Him
inou
r re
surr
ecte
d bo
dies
. Bu
t if
we
negl
ect
that
rel
atio
nshi
p an
d fin
ally
wal
k aw
ayfro
m it
, we
will
forfe
it th
at g
ift fo
reve
r.If
you
now
hav
e a
pers
onal
rela
tions
hip
with
God
, you
hav
e et
erna
l life
. If n
ot,
you
are
head
ing
tow
ard
eter
nal p
unish
men
t (M
at.
25:4
6) i
n th
eLa
ke o
f Fi
re,
whi
ch i
s ca
lled
“the
sec
ond
deat
h” (
Rev.
20:
14;
21:8
). So
we
mus
t di
stin
guish
bet
wee
n un
endi
ng e
xist
ence
and
eter
nal
life.
Tho
se w
ithou
t C
hrist
will
hav
e un
endi
ng e
xist
ence
,bu
t it
will
be
eter
nal d
eath
. Th
ose
who
live
and
die
in H
im w
illha
ve e
tern
al li
fe, H
is gi
ft w
hich
com
es th
roug
h pe
rson
al r
elat
ion-
ship
with
Him
.—
serm
on o
utlin
e by
DR.
ALL
AN P
. BRO
WN
“CO
MM
ITT
ED
TO
EX
CE
LL
EN
CE
INP
RE
AC
HIN
G”
C. A com
mitm
ent to maintain the relationship
Jesus promises anyone w
ho wishes a personal relationship w
ith Him
, “I will
never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).
IV. THIS RELATIO
NSH
IP CAN
BE FORFEITED
Sadly, though, a person m
ay decide that he doesn’t want to continue a rela-
tionship with Jesus, and he can turn his back on H
im and w
alk away. Rem
ember
that without a relationship w
ith Him
, no one has eternal life.Som
eone may ask, “W
hat about Jesus’ promise,‘M
y sheep hear my voice, and
I know them
, and they follow m
e; And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall
never perish, neither shall any man pluck them
out of my hand’ (John 10:27-28).”
There is no doubt that this affirms the safety of C
hrist’s sheep. But note ourLord is unm
istakably clear as to who H
is sheep are: “My sheep hear m
y voice, andI know
them, and they follow
me” (verse 27). A
more literal rendering of the prom
iseis: “M
y sheep are hearing My voice, and I am
knowing them
, and they are follow-
ing me.” Because H
is people have these qualifications for being “sheep,” Jesus givesthem
“eternal life, and they shall never perish.” But if a person is not living up tothese present-tense statem
ents, he does not qualify for the present-tense promise.
The knowledge that certain attitudes or actions displease Jesus requires the person
who is hearing and follow
ing Jesus to cease such behavior. Willful disobedience
demonstrates that the person is not “hearing” in the Biblical sense of the w
ord, noris he follow
ing where Jesus leads. Therefore such a person, by Scriptural definition,
is not one of Jesus’ sheep. Thus, there is nothing in John 10:27–28 that gives security to those w
ho arenot presently follow
ing the Shepherd. One m
ust also remem
ber Jesus’ teaching inJohn 15. U
sing an analogy of a vineyard, He says that H
e is the true vine and His
Father is the vinedresser. A C
hristian is described as a branch that is organically con-nected to the vine and draw
s its life from the vine. Jesus w
arns that if any branch inthe vine does not bear fruit, the Father w
ill remove the unfruitful branch from
thevine, leaving it to w
ither and die, and then be thrown into the fire and burned (John
15:1, 2, 6). This passage does not contradict John 10:27, 28. It is not “man” w
hosevers the branch from
the vine, but God H
imself. It is also H
e who w
ill pluck theunrepentant backslider out of H
is hand.I ought to m
ake an important clarification. A
lthough there is the real possibil-ity of forfeiting one’s eternal life, w
e should not speak about “losing our salvation.”Rem
ember that eternal life is the gift of right relationship w
ith God, and w
e do notnorm
ally speak of “losing” a relationship but rather of “breaking up” or discontinu-ing it. G
od does give us the grace-enabled ability to break relationship with H
im;
and in doing so, we do forfeit eternal life. But w
e should not speak of “losing” it,w
hen really we have w
alked away from
the relationship which gives it to us.
Some argue that once a person is born into the fam
ily of God, he can never be
unborn. “Once a son, alw
ays a son,” they argue, pointing to the story of the ProdigalSon. A
lthough the boy was w
ayward—
even a “pig-pen” Christian, as they say—
he
Christ, you are said to be “in C
hrist.” And as a result of being “in C
hrist,” you haveeternal life (1 John 5:11; 2 C
or. 5:17). The gift of eternal life and the Giver of eter-
nal life are inseparable.Rom
ans 6:23 also describes eternal life as a gift: “For the wages of sin is death, but
the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus C
hrist our Lord.”This gift is not like a birth-
day present, which requires no on-going contact w
ith the giver. If he moves aw
ay oreven dies, the gift still rem
ains with you. But the gift of eternal life com
es from a per-
sonal relationship with
Jesus Christ its G
iver, and that must be continuous and ongoing.
How
to obtain the gift of eternal life was apparently a burning issue in Jesus’
day. When H
e said, “Do not w
ork for the food which perishes, but [w
ork] for thefood w
hich endures to eternal life, which the Son of M
an shall give to you” (John6:27),
some m
isunderstood Him
and thought He w
as teaching that certain “goodw
orks” would gain them
eternal life. On several occasions H
e was asked w
hat goodw
orks must be done to obtain it (M
at. 19:16; Mark 10:17; Luke 18:18; 10:25).
Although Jesus did urge the people to work for the food w
hich endures to eternallife, H
e was not speaking about “good w
orks” as the means of obtaining eternal life.
He w
as urging the people to seek diligently to understand the truth and to learn that“faith” in C
hrist is the key to obtaining eternal life (John 3:15, 16).
III. THREE ELEM
ENTS ARE N
ECESSARY FO
R THIS
RELATION
SHIP
These three elements, at least, are necessary to develop this personal relation-
ship with Jesus:
A. A desire to have a personal relationship
Both parties in a personal relationship must have a desire to cultivate it. The
Bible makes it clear that Jesus desires such a relationship w
ith all who w
ill turn fromtheir sinful w
ays in true repentance and place their faith in Him
. Statements such as
“For the Son of man is com
e to seek and to save that which w
as lost” (Luke 19:10),H
e is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should com
e to repentance” (2Peter 3:9), and “…
whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlast-ing life” (John 3:16) indicate H
is desire that all be saved (1 Tim. 2:4). H
e says that He
knocks at the heart’s door of individuals and that He is w
illing to establish a person-al relationship w
ith all who w
ill open their hearts and invite Him
in (Rev. 3:20). B. A w
illingness to spend the necessary time to nurture the relationship
It takes time to nurture a relationship, and Jesus has all the tim
e in the world
to spend with anyone w
ho wishes to do so w
ith Him
.“Com
e unto me, all ye that
labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (M
at. 11:28). He invites us to
“come boldly unto the throne of grace, that w
e may obtain m
ercy, and find grace tohelp in tim
e of need” (Heb. 4:16).O
ne of our privileges is 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-w
eek access to God (Rom
. 5:2). Too often, though, we don’t m
ake sufficienttim
e in our busy schedules for meaningful tim
e with Jesus. U
nless we do this,w
e will
be like the seed that was sow
n among thorns. True life did spring up, but “the cares
of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering
in” choked out that life (Mark 4:18-19). 2
3
LENOS BEREMAN PERRY: “HER EDU-CATION SERVED HER WELL”
by Larry D. Smith
“My mother…would have especiallyenjoyed the cover (Sept. 2005)
on the current God’s Revivalist,” writesMrs. Phyllis Orman. On that cover werefeatured four GBS pioneers, Meredithand Bessie Standley, Minnie Knapp, andMary Storey, all of whose portraits nowhang in the Administration Building. Onthe editorial page, we paid tribute tothe “legacy of their love and labor,”which “remains an imperishable monu-ment, not only here, but also in a thou-sand other places where boys and girlsfrom God’s Bible School have taken thelove of God in Jesus Christ.”
“You are right,” Mrs. Ormanremarks; “many monuments exist tothose giants of GBS. My mother’s lifewas a monument to all those at GBSwho took the time to help mold a younglife so many years ago.” Her mother,Lenos Bereman Perry, died August 10,
2005, at the age of 96. She was only 13when she came to the Hilltop, whereshe attended high school classes fornearly four years.
But three weeks prior to her gradu-ation, she went to Indianapolis for afriend’s wedding and never returned toreceive her diploma. That was rectifiedon May 10, 1999—73 years later—when the 90-year-old great-grandmoth-er was given that diploma by high schoolprincipal Paul Clemens. “I cannot tellyou how much my visit to GBS means tome,” she commented.
“During the Depression, Mrs. Perrybecame a telegraph operator; and thenafter an interval as homemaker, sheworked in banking for twenty years,”according to a September 1999Revivalist article. “She has served as achurch pianist, organist, and choir mem-ber, and is also an accomplished seam-stress…. She has been a Christian all ofher life….”
Through the years, Mrs. Perry sharedfond memories ”of President Standleyspeaking in chapel, singing a duet withher at a funeral, participating with stu-dents in sledding fun during winter andthen offering them hot chocolate in hishome afterwards.” “From the storiesMother related to me from the time Iwas very young until shortly before herdeath,” Mrs. Orman says, “I think theStandleys were very like surrogate par-ents to her.”
Lenos Perry also remembered “alge-bra, Latin, and geometry classes; ‘juniortheology,’ in which she memorized a
great deal of scripture; and activities inchoir, where she sang alto; and orches-tra, where she played violin.” About ayear ago, Mrs. Perry was so sick that shehad been taken to a hospital emergencyroom. As she and her daughter discusseda great-granddaughter in college, Lenosasked, “Is Emma taking Latin in highschool?” Phyllis told her that Emma stud-ied French. Lenos then replied:
“Latin is a language as dead as itcan be,
At first it killed the Romans, andnow it’s killing me.
All are dead who wrote it,And all are dead who spoke it.All are dead who learned it. Blessed be their death—they
earned it!”“I realized that she had committed
this to memory 75 years earlier whiletaking four years of Latin at GBS,” herdaughter adds.
“On another occasion when she wasill, my husband and I sat by her bed asshe slept fitfully…. On awakening sheasked me to read the 23rd Psalm. As Iread, she recited the words with me.Then she asked that I continue with the24th Psalm. She recited all of those,too.” Memory work from “junior theolo-gy” at GBS? Probably, for as Mrs. Ormansays, her mother received an “excellenteducation” here—an education that“served her all of her years.”
Lenos Bereman Perry’s life now andher life forever is “a monument to allthose at GBS who took the time to helpmold a young life so many years ago.”
OCTOBER 2005
19
Lenos Bereman Perry and family, May 10, 1999, when she belatedly received her GBS high school diploma from Mr. Paul Clemens.
JOIN GOD’S BIBLE SCHOOLFOR A TEN-DAY
PILGRIMAGE TO
ISRAELFebruary 22 – March 3, 2006
Hosted byPresident Michael AveryDr. Allan BrownRev. Robert Thompson
$1,845(plus tax, tips,
and fuel surcharge)
Tour Includes: Breakfast and dinner; six full days of sightseeing to all the major sites, plus new areas ofinterest, with all entrance fees included; one free day.
Airlines: EL AL Israeli airlines round-trip JFK / Tel Aviv / JFK.
Hotels: Dan Panorama, Tel Aviv; New Scots Hotel, Tiberias; The Grand Court, Jerusalem (all of whichhave websites that can be accessed online).
For more information, call (513) 721-7944 ext. 202 and ask for Brendaor visit our website: www.gbs.edu/israeltour.
20GOD’S REVIVALIST and BIBLE ADVOCATE
LETTERS continued
Learning about God by studying His Word and learning aboutourselves by evaluating our spiritual health are both essential.But we often need others to help us in doing this. Parents,
spouses, ministers, teachers, mentors, and friends perform a service ofgreat value by instructing, correcting, comforting, challenging, andencouraging us. Thus, wise counsel may come from many sources, andit may also help us in many areas of our lives. Don’t think that it is justfor “non-spiritual” problems.
Whether your getting upset “very quickly” is a spiritual problem ora problem of the mind, of the emotions, or even of the physical bodyis extremely difficult to determine. Too often we try to compartmen-talize our human nature and find easy formulae and solutions. Butremember that people are united entities. Spiritual problems affect ouremotions, our minds, our social interactions, and our physical beings.So also, emotional, mental, social, or physical problems affect ourother entities.
For example, a person may be hypoglycemic and thus irritable. Thismay feel like a spiritual problem, as well as an emotional one; and cer-tainly it may be both, since the two interrelate. Moreover, that personmay struggle with his faith because he cannot stop being irritable whenthat irritability is caused by hypoglycemia. At the same time, feeling irri-table and communicating this irritability have emotional and socialimplications. How do we determine the cause?
I know someone who changed from being a very positive person toa very depressed one. She came to believe that she was “losing out”spiritually, but then she was diagnosed and treated for low blood sugar.Quickly she became “spiritual” again! Remember that we walk by faith,and faith by its very nature trusts and obeys God.
Our spirituality cannot be determined by our emotions, and it takescare and help to know the source of our problem. Let me urge care-givers, whether pastors, physicians, counselors, parents, or teachers,never to place additional and unnecessary burdens on people by adiagnosis that is too quick or too superficial. It is true that we are oblig-ated to rebuke sin and to try to lead the rebel to repentance. (p23)➡
GETTING UPSET?
Too often I get upset at people and situations very quickly. How doI know if this is a spiritual problem or a counseling problem?
➡(p4) and laced with the proper man-ner of critique. So you can rejoice thatGod is blessing your ministry as I absorbit on the buses and subways during mycommute time in Kiev, Ukraine.
Please convey my gratitude to thehost of writers and contributors to theworks God’s Revivalist and The Journey.
Your brother in Jesus and servant ofthe Lord,
TIM BOYDKiev, Ukraine
“SECOND CLASS CHRISTIANS” AGAIN
In the September 2005 issue [was aletter to the editor], referring to “SecondClass Christians.” I can understand perfect-ly what this couple has been goingthrough. The very same thing happened tome. We got saved after divorce and remar-riage, and shortly afterward a preacherfaced me with the adultery issue…. Well,finally, after a thirty-year struggle, I havecome to a complete rest on what I neededto do. I am free spiritually and scriptural-ly…. I would love to help those that arestruggling with the issue.
PAUL BUTLERHobe Sound, Florida
NEEDS HOLINESS LITERATUREAbout four years ago, after my
open-heart surgery, someone was kindenough to send me a dozen back issuesof your beautiful magazine, God’sRevivalist. I still have those magazinesand read them over and over again. I’mtrying to reach souls for Jesus, and withthe help of a holiness pastor fromOntario, we are working on [starting] achurch here. Would you be so kind anddonate a bunch of your magazines…andany other holiness materials…?“
MARY E. DAVISNewfoundland, Canada
Editor’s Note: We keep only very limitedsupplies of old copies of the Revivalist in ouroffice, usually for archival purposes. Perhapsreaders would be willing to send this sisterthe kind of materials she requests. If so,please contact the Editorial Office. Thanks.
OCTOBER 2005
21
GOD’S REVIVALIST and BIBLE ADVOCATE
22
EDITORIAL continued
➡(p2) as was “the man in Christ” described by SaintPaul, or whether heaven came down to us, as it did toSaint John, I cannot say. But in either case, we gazedupon the City. Granted, this is figurative language; butsome truths are best presented in this way, especiallywhen we describe that deep and direct communionwhich we share with heaven.
This is subjective, as it must be, for it is all about per-sonal, conscious, and loving relationship with Godthrough immediate experience by the Spirit. If not bal-anced by the sober restraints of Holy Scripture and sanc-tified discernment, it can degenerate into sentimentalmush, impulsive emotionalism, or raging fanaticism. Butwithout it, Christianity becomes merely intellectualassent and dutiful performance. These are essential, theskeletal framework of religion; but they must be drapedwith warm and living flesh. We must know God’s truth,but we must also feel His heart.
Our Methodist forebears exulted in this rich, sane,and evangelical mysticism, but so have all the saints whothrough the centuries have lived in fellowship with God.In loving terms, often symbolic and poetic, they havetold about those transporting moments, recalled by amajestic Anglican hymn, when “heaven comes down oursouls to greet / And glory crowns the mercy seat.”
This is the metaphor of heaven coming down to us.In contrast, Charles Wesley uses the metaphor of our ris-ing up to heaven: “Come let us ascend, / My companionand friend, / To a taste of the banquet above…Come upinto the chariot of love…By faith we are come / To ourpermanent home; / By hope we the rapture improve: / Bylove we still rise, / And look down on the skies, / For theheaven of heavens is love.”
Sometimes it was like that in Ansley. Especially dur-ing the Sunday morning “love feast,” right after BrotherSpear had finished his third bell-ringing expedition, the“chariot of love” would swoop down to carry us farabove that old Free Methodist campground borderingthe Nebraska Sandhills. “Lost in wonder, love, andpraise,” we came upon the walls of jasper and the streetsof gold, then drew near the Throne with its burninglamps and its crystal sea.
For the love feast was an hour of impassioned testi-mony, often punctuated with flowing tears, fiery exhor-tations, and wonderful “foretaste[s] of glory divine”—touse Fanny Crosby’s term. Of course, she was an oldMethodist herself and knew about such matters. “Visionsof rapture now burst on my sight; / Angels descending,bring from above, / Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.”
Those “whispers of love” often merged into shoutsof praise, as Sister Gall or Brother Stalder would “catchfire,” as they often did. She was old, and he was young;but each was a “real Christian,” as I knew, sincere, gra-cious, and consistent. Tears sometimes glistened on my
chubby cheeks, for more than anything else, I wanted tobe like that, too—a “real Christian.” By this time, someof the other “pilgrims” had joined in the surging Jubilee.Then we would hear the chariot approaching. It wouldpause, and we would climb on board.
One testimony puzzled me, however. Smilingthrough scars and crows-feet, a brother or sister wouldrise and say, “I’m so glad that I got in under the old con-stitution!” “Getting in” meant genuine conversion; ourconference was strong on that. But what about “the oldconstitution”? I thought it probably had something to dowith church government.
Gradually, though, I came to understand that this wasa cherished term for the authentic and earnestChristianity that birthed our movement, as well as everyother movement that has brought renewal and revival.Even as we were testifying at Sunday morning love feast,it was threatened by those attempting to replace it witha soft and shallow substitute. There are those among usnow who would make the same delusive trade. Yet timehas only enriched my gladness in its contents and con-firmed my loyalty to its convictions.
For I, too, am “glad that I got in under the old con-stitution.” Its supreme value, though, is not that it is old,but that it is true, based in Holy Scripture and con-firmed in the witness of God’s people through all gen-erations. Serious Christians from many denominationsembrace its unyielding certainties, though I receivedthem—as did most of you—through the sturdy pietyand faithful witness of our Methodist forebears andthose who followed them.
But what are its unyielding certainties? What is theessential contrast between “the old constitution” andthe cheaper imitation offered for it? Generalizations aresimplistic and therefore dangerous. But we may say thatthe real difference is in sharpness of distinction. Theone draws lines that are deep and immovable; whilethe other is reluctant to draw any lines at all; or if itdoes, they are shallow and fuzzy. One is firm and stal-wart on fundamental principles though charitable innon-essentials, while the other is marked by wafflingand compromise.
In doctrine, for example, “the old constitution”embraces all the central truths of classical Christianity,while its substitutes subvert and “redefine” them. To oursorrow, we now have “Wesleyan” spokesmen who denythe absolute truthworthiness of the Scriptures and thereality of entire sanctification.
In proclamation, authentic Christianity delineates anddenounces sin and demands that there be no trifling withit. Those who prefer the sham to the real blur the linesbetween right and wrong and prefer the broad way tothe narrow one. That is why we are struggling once againwith worldliness and drift.
In Christian experience, the “oldconstitution” insists on immediate andtransformational conversion and urgesbelievers to “go on to perfection” in aclear-cut moment of sanctifying full-ness. Today’s version of spirituality ismostly about “faltering faith journeys”without climactic encounter withGod or continuing victory over sin.
In piety, the earnest faith of his-toric, undiluted Christianity insiststhat both outward action andinward motive must reflect control-ling reverence and pervasive love forGod. This is exhibited in commit-ment to holy principle, vigorous dis-cipleship, forthright witness, andfaithful use of the means of grace.All these imply solemn, lifelongcovenant with God and Hischurch—a concept utterly foreign tocompromised and compromisingreligion which stresses self-indul-gence and ends in self-destruction.
In hope, “the old constitution”builds upon the promises of God’sWord confirmed by conscious fel-lowship with Jesus. Hope is thatconfident expectation of presentgrace and future glory that is an“anchor of the soul, both sure andsteadfast.” It was this that promptedSister Gall and Brother Stalder tolead the Jubilee at love feast, but italso sustained them later “throughthe valley of the shadow of death.”Substitute religion can offer neitherthe security of the Word nor thecomfort of Jesus’ presence.
It’s been over fifty years sinceBrother Spear rang his last bell forSunday morning love feast. I wish Icould answer its summons onceagain, watch those happy saints“catch fire,” and then climb aboardthe chariot which would carry us farabove that old campground border-ing the Nebraska Sandhills. Butwhat I can do and what I mustdo—and what you must also do—isto live and die “under the old con-stitution.” Then we shall rejoice for-ever that ours was authentic Chris-tianity, not its cheaper imitation.
By Anita K. Brechbill
“…Concerning the work of my hands command ye me.” Isaiah 45:11
World governments speak of “the balance of power.” The nation mightiest inweapons, technology, and resources wields influence that brings other nations
under its control. In the spiritual world, men and women who truly pray also hold“the balance of power.” For ultimately, the outcome of events—the fate of men andnations—is not decided in the council halls of world leaders, but in the secret clos-ets and in other places where God’s people gather to pray.
To a great degree we have lost sight of the power of prayer. Despite our readyassent to the priority prayer deserves, a subtle sense that when we are praying we arenot doing anything creeps on us unawares, and we shorten the prayer time because wehave so much to do. It is a fatal snare to listen to the whisper of the enemy that we arenot as dependent on prayer as we used to be. We have better organization, more high-ly-trained leaders and lay people, and greater resources of knowledge and finance thanthe saints of yesteryear.
Our warfare is not carnal, neither will carnal weapons win the day. “We wres-tle…against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of thisworld….” (Ephesians 6:12). Satanic forces laugh at mere human effort. They recognizenothing but the power of the Cross. By the power of prayer, we command the powerof God. Let us ask God for a new view of His estimate of prayer. Taking and makingtime for prayer is never easy but must be done. The “balance of power” lies there.
Anita Brechbill, Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, is editor of RopeHolders and a regular contributorto the Revivalist.
OCTOBER 2005
23
➡(p21) That is why we must be careful never to label known rebellion asa physical, emotional, or learning issue when really a person needs toacknowledge sin and repent of it. But on the other hand, let us not usurpGod’s authority by blaming others for what they cannot help.
“Mending Nets” explores God’s readiness to “mend” the breakdowns which so often mar ourlives. It is written by the Rev. Richard Miles, GBS Vice President for Student Affairs. Send ques-tions to be addressed in this column to [email protected]
The Phase II Academy Expansion Project isalmost completed. Soon our students will
be moving into their brand new classrooms.This state-of-the-art facility will feature a com-puter lab, science lab, classrooms, assemblyarea, and offices. The “old Revivalist floor” istruly experiencing a new birth. Your investmentin this phase of the capital campaign will make adifference in the lives of young people for yearsto come. Several donors have “adopted” a roomin honor or in memory of a loved one or friend.We have a few rooms still available for such anaming opportunity. Please call the Office ofAdvancement at (513) 721-7944 ext. 223 formore information, or email [email protected].
“The Capital Campaign of God’s Bible School isa bold and creative step into God’s tomorrow.Its purpose is to improve our facilities and toincrease our ability to meet the challenges ofour youth, and indeed, the challenges of thisgeneration. My wholehearted support goes tothe capital campaign.”—Dr. Leonard SankeyGeneral Secretary, IHCChairman of the Board, GBS
Jack HookerVice President for Advancement
