1999 Year-In-Review

Hopewell Church of Christ

December 26, 1999

This presentation will be different from our normal message. A biblical message will be included, but abbreviated. I believe that such a presentation as this one is suitable because it is a reflection upon this past year of life that we have, at least in part, shared together as a family. Several, including some of the elders, have said that this year has been one of the most difficult in the sense that so many of our families have been touched with grief and other difficulties. Perhaps it will be helpful to think about some of the events of our lives over this year. 1999 will also be remembered just because it occupies a memorable spot in this century and this millennium.

Joshua to Israel. Often in the Bible there is a call to remembrance of the past and what God had done in their lives. Joshua called the tribes of Israel together at Shechem before his death. (Joshua 23 & 24.) He reminded them of the work of God in keeping his promises with them. "And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. Ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you. All are come to pass unto you and not one thing hath failed thereof." (Joshua 23:14.)

Jesus to his apostles. Jesus spoke at length with his twelve (now 11) apostles before his death. He said much about their past, why they were called and what their lives and work should be. Among the many good things said are these: "You have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit; and that your fruit should remain that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15:16.) He reminded them of their relationship with the world and warned them that as he was hated by it, so also will they. (15:18-19.)

Paul and the Ephesian elders. Paul knew that he would not see the elders of Ephesus any more. He called for them at Miletus. When they came, he said, "You know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews; and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you and have taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem. . . . " (Acts 20:17-22.)

Jesus to the seven churches. Each of the letters to the seven churches of Asia begin with, "I know your works." (Rev. 2 & 3.) These brief letters express what they had done, both good and evil. They say what the Lord is pleased with and what displeased him. We might add that the Lord knows everything about us as well. He knows our joys and grief; the moments when we did well and the times when we grieved his heart.

Benevolence: $13,701.00

a) Local work: approx. $4,000 money; pantry in addition

b) Fair Haven Children's Home: $3,600 year or $300 month

c) Disaster Relief fund, Nashville: $3,000 yr. or $250 month

d) Special contribution: Disaster Relief: $3101.00

Special contributions: $6,219.68

a) John Crosslin for Russia: $1745.68; Feb. 21

b) Vernon Starling for India: $1373.00; August 8

c) Disaster Relief Fund for Nashville: $3101.00; Oct. 3

Regular weekly contributions: approx. $245,000 year or $4711.54 week

Plus special contributions: $251,219.68 for the year.

a) State-side: Roanoke Rapids, NC; Central Church at Bedford, VA; Southside Church in Williamston, NC; Newport News Church in Keller, VA; Piedmont Church of Christ in Farmville, VA; West Broad Church in Richmond, VA.

b) Adam Davis, preaching school in WVA; Donnie McGhee, who preaches in TN.

c) Two missionaries in Italy; Ebenezer Pitchaiach in India (support has been withdrawn recently after receiving a report from Peter Solomon & Vernon Starling).

d) The total support in all these missions: $28,000 (11% total budget)

Baptisms

Twelve (12) people obeyed the Gospel this year: In July: Jessica Ralsten, Doug Ralsten, Ryan Garrett. In August: Nell Matthis, Jay Davis. In September: Bob Cason, Heather Davis, Kathy Ralsten, Bridgette Allen, Mildred Dunbar. In October: Lindsey Shelburne. In November: Janie Daniel.

Three weddings: Sandra Shelburne & William Hudson; Danna Casey & Jamie Davis; Erin Harper & Jay Davis.

Three births: Haley Michelle Goniwicha (9/25); parents are Tony & Wendy Goniwicha. Matthew Robert Turner (8/24); parents are Steve & Elizabeth Turner. Madison Grace Fleenor (9/1); parents are Mandy & Brent Fleenor.

1) Sunday luncheon to welcome seven new families on March 7: Glenn & Cindy Asher family, James & Marilyn Bredon family, Frank & Nila Ingles family, Paul & Shannon Holder family, Kathy Rye & Thomas, Belinda Parker & Kristopher, and JoRae & Robbie Herman.

2) Special singing, Sunday evening October 31; ten area churches participated with 295 in attendance.

3) Area-wide fellowship meeting; August 9-13; 240-300 present each night Monday through Friday.

4) Annual Labor Day barbecue; September 6; usually hosted at the Mannings, but due to rain it had to be held in the multi-purpose room.

5) Spring Gospel meeting with Flavil Nichols, May 16-21. Special guest speakers included Vernon Starling (4/25) and John Crosslin (2/14 & 6/6).

Seven members of the church.

1) Lacy Meadows (Jan. 15): Juanita's husband, Matt's and Arnie's father. Matt loved to play tricks on his father. He once dressed up as a relative from Florida and sat talking with his father about old times making up stuff as he went along. However, Lacy could always tell it was Matt when he came dressed up as Santa. I was standing with Matt on his porch when we knocked on their door. Lacy opened the door and greeted me. Then he said in a deep voice, Hello, Matt.

2) Ruby Good (Feb. 26): She was a quiet and wonderful person. Our ladies helped care for her in her home during her last weeks. They said of her, She was a good patient while suffering.

3) John Whitehead (May 5): In the church bulletin dated May 16, brother Harper wrote, "Brother Whitehead had been a member of the Cawson Street Church of Christ since its establishment in 1940. In the early years, he served as treasurer, and as one of its deacons. He also served in the eldership for more than 25 years. One of his greatest joys was teaching young people's Bible classes in his early years. He was much loved by all of us, and we along with his dear family will sorely miss him."

4) Juanita Harper (May 26): At her service, her brother Clyde Balderson wrote, "My Sissy was a complex figure, but one who was jolly, full of fun, friendly towards all and zealous for the good of her family and friends... Sissy was a big-hearted person, always ready to share her material goods, time, attention and love."

Billy wrote, "Two men were standing by the bedside, holding the callused, work worn hands of a frail, grey-haired lady. . . as they shared the last moments of her life. She looked at them and in weak and trembling voice said, 'I'm so afraid that my life has not been filled with enough good things. . . that the Lord will want me in His presence.' Where upon her brothers said, 'Sis, show him your hands, just show him these hands.' There have been few, that we feel were her equal, in the preparing of food for our table. And her eyes looked beyond our table and saw other tables, which needed food in times of sickness and sorrow. . . and her heart would reach out to them through those willing hands. And so today, we lovingly echo those words of the past, 'Juanita, show him your hands. . . Show him those kind and gently. . . work worn hands.' Our wife, mother, grandmother loved us deeply. . . and she loved all of you as well."

5) Gladys Covey (July 9): Nettie lovingly cared for her mother for 21 years, taking her into her home. Gladys lived to be 91 years old. Nettie was her only child, but she still left 6 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and one great, great grandchild. She was buried near her home in Grayson Town, VA. I will remember one thing especially about my first trip to Grayson Town; that is, that those guiding me out of the mountains there ran off and left me lost in those winding roads!

Del wrote this about Nettie: "She loved her mother more than anyone could imagine. They were best friends. Thousands of times over the past years my grandmother would call out my mother's name. 'Nettie,' she would say. She usually only wanted my mother to hold her hand or just sit by her. What a pair they were!"

6) Lucille Bishop (Nov. 14): Berry's and Trilby's mother died within 15 minutes of Mamie Easter, Norma's mother, who died in Tupelo, MS the same day. Lucille and Jimmy Bishop were among the first six members in Hopewell, along with John & Verna Whitehead, and Verna's mother and father. At first they worshipped with the Lakeview Church of Christ in Colonial Heights on Sunday mornings. On Sunday evenings, they would worship in the Bishop's or Whitehead's home.

Her calm, gentle spirit will be remembered by all who knew and loved her. We can say about her that she along with the apostle Paul kept the faith until the end and that she was ready to be offered.

7) Carmen Harrison (Dec. 10): Her husband Elden preceded her in death in '97. She had no children of her own. Her funeral service was especially sad because she had so few family to note and mourn her passing. Her brother Shirley Lingo and his wife were the only family members present. There were no family members to comfort her during her last days in the hospital.

I will remember many things about my visits with her and Elden. But one unusual thing was the way that she sat up in the middle of the bed.

Many others among us lost their parents this year.

1) Delane Meadows' mother, Imogene Meadows, died in January. 2) Lamar Russell lost his mother in February. 3) Mary Watts, Rob's mother, in July. 4) Fenton Vick, Juanita's father, was buried in Franklin, VA in July. 5) Jackie McQuage's father, Albert Price, also in July. 6) Chuck Welch's mother, Mrs. Long, in April. 7) Hattie McQuage, Frankie's mother, in November. 8) Norma's mother, Mamie Easter died in November. 9) Vicki Garrett's stepfather. These are in addition to those already named above. Others lost brothers and sisters this year.

Death: "How to come down the mountain"

A preacher, John Claypool, and his wife in Kentucky lost a child some years ago to cancer. He often presented messages to the church where he preached about this experience during the years of their suffering. He once compared his experience to that of Abraham and Isaac. (Tracks of a Fellow Struggler, John Claypool, 1974.)

Abraham was told to go offer his only son, Isaac on an altar of sacrifice on Mount Moriah. When Abraham started to slay his son with a knife, an angel stopped him and a ram was offered instead. The minister said, Lucky man Abraham was, he got to walk down the mountain with his son at his side. How do we walk down the mountain alone without our son, our daughter, father or mother at our side?? He suggested the following options.

Silent resignation. Many come down the mountain with such confusion and pain that they cope by resigning themselves to life's problems by withdrawing. It is the method of the Stoics to keep one's feelings inside, not expressing the pain. The preacher then argued against this option. It does damage to a person's spirit rather than helping to heal. Silent resignation is one of those medicines that cures at the expense of killing the organism it is supposed to heal. (Claypool, 74.)

Intellectual understanding. A second option is intellectual understanding. Job tried this method. He simply could not understand why he was suffering. The theological expertise of the day compounded the problem by suggesting that all suffering was the cause of some hidden sin. Some deaths are easier to accept that others. But all deaths cause us to ask the why question. Why must men and women die? We desire to live so much. The problem with seeking an understanding of everything in life should be self-evident; that is, we cannot possibly understand everything. There are many mysteries. Even when the Bible explains death and sin, we still do not understand it all. The other aspect of it is accepting that which we are told about life and death.

Claypool wrote, "I am called to live in order to know, rather than trying to know in order to live." (page 37.) Do not think that you must understand everything before you can go ahead and live. We do many things that we do not understand, like driving a car and using a telephone or a computer. We live in order to know rather than knowing in order to live. There are many things that we learn by living.

Road of gratitude. We can all come down the mountain of death without our loved ones if we do so in gratitude. Life is a gift for which we should be thankful. Do not cling to life as if we can control it. Someone else is in control of life. We cannot maintain our own spirit in the day of death, much less someone else's. "There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit." (Eccl. 8:8.)

If, instead of trying to control what happens to us, we lived in gratitude to God for the precious gift of life, we will be able to keep on living after walking down the mountain. We could also add that death does not end our existence. (John 11:25-26.) The spirit of man lives on. We can and should be grateful that life does not end, but continues in a better way in a better world for the Christian.

Conclusions

What happened in your life this year? The physical things also are important to our well-being; they affect our spirits inwardly. The really important questions are these: Did we grow in faith? Are we keeping the faith as we grow older, or are we gradually leaving it? Has sin entered into your life and separated you from God? (Isa. 59:1-2.)

What have you decided about the future? Will you be among the few who hold onto to faith in God and His Son? We have families and individuals who leave every year? Remember Jesus' parable about the sower going forth to sow? It is true and revealing. Only one of the four soils were suited for the seed to grow and bring forth fruit.

No one from the outside will destroy the church, in my opinion. The greatest threat comes from the inside. We can destroy easier than anyone else. Allow Satan to control your life and allow sin to dominate your thinking and life, then Satan will have successfully destroyed part of the church.