Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 14
July 28, 1982
NUMBER 12, PAGE 4,13c

A Time For Sacrifice

Editorial

The church in Jerusalem, not yet out of her swaddling clothes, was facing a crisis. An appreciable number of her members were finding themselves without adequate sustenance; want and destitution drew nearer by the hour. An emergency was in the making. And how did the disciples respond? What was their reaction to the need? Even at this far date, across nearly two millennia, one finds it difficult to read what happened without deep emotion:

"And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common For as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as any one had need." (Acts 4:32-35)

The church in America, in our day, faces a crisis in many ways similar. All over the nation, in big cities and small, faithful brethren have undertaken the task of starting simple. New Testament congregations where sincere people can worship and work and serve God "according to the pattern" set forth in His word. As the crisis in Jerusalem called for unprecedented sacrificial giving on the part of those who had, so the present crisis calls for unparalleled giving in our day by godly brethren. This is no time to ask "can I afford it"! The only question now for both individuals and congregations is, "What can be done?" The needs are terrific; the pleas for help are crowding every mail. Opportunities are all around us. Typical of the needs is this letter from Waco, Texas:

Dear Brother Tant:

We have never met you personally, but we have heard you preach over Radio and then, of course, we read the Gospel Guardian, so we feel as though we know you and that you are interested in seeing a sound congregation of the Lord's church established in Waco, Texas.

It has been a year, come July, since a few of us in this city came out of error and began serving the Lord as he directs in his Word. At present there are, in our little congregation, four adults and four children. I am the only man left in the congregation. To be so young we have had many trials and disappointments, but our aim is to keep pressing on as long as there are those with whom to assemble for worship and service to the Lord.

Soon after we began to meet in our new congregation, one of our faithful families was transferred to Sacramento, Cal. It was with sad hearts we saw them leave us. Then three months ago one of our faithful young men died suddenly of a heart attack. His widow and two adopted children are with us. Now just recently a man and his wife have deserted us and have, brought false charges against us and are doing and saying many hurtful things against us, and the Truth for which we stand is hindered.

We desperately need a preacher to work with us and have had hopes from the beginning that this would be made possible by the conservative congregations nearest us and that a sound gospel preacher would move to Waco to work with us in this great work for the Lord and his Truth. We have had promises for help but nothing has materialized so far.

Brother James Pleasants, who formally lived in Waco, and who taught us the truth concerning these issues which are dividing the churches today will move to Waco to help us if he can raise the support for his family. He has a wife and two children and is, and has been, preaching for the church in Cooper, Texas, for the past two years. We are praying that it may be made possible for him to move to this city.

Brother Tant if you can help us, in any way, to accomplish what we have started out to do for the cause of Truth in this place, we will be forever grateful.

Yours in Christ, James T. Mullins Route 5, Box 140 Waco, Texas

Now, who can help? There are hundreds of faithful congregations who are doing much already — but are they extending themselves to their full ability? Where is the congregation who will declare that she is doing ALL she can do? Where are the brethren who will not respond to this need if properly challenged to do so?

We believe the elders of the churches in most instances would be amazed at the willingness of brethren to sacrifice for the cause IF the need is properly presented to them. Before saying "No" to an appeal like this from Waco (or similar ones from Shreveport, Richmond, Miami, Hawaii, South Africa, Oregon, Detroit, and a hundred other worthy places) why not let the congregation say what it will do? Why not present the appeal to the members and give them a chance to make the sacrifice necessary to take on extra work? There are very, very few congregations of as many as a dozen members who could not give an additional $25.00 per month if encouraged to do so! And with even as few as 2,000 of the congregations who are not aligned with the "centralized cooperative combines" giving in this fashion, an additional 250,000.00 per month could go toward building up the cause of Christ! Think it over.

— F.Y.T