Help Needed In Searcy, Arkansas
Would you like to see a strong, sound church in Searcy? This is the home of Harding College which is rapidly increasing in its detrimental influence on churches of Christ, not only in this immediate area, but all over the nation.
Harding makes no "bones" about its ambition--that of being the directing influence for churches. They manifest this by two of their annual programs. The "Christian Workers Workshop," held late each summer, "seeks to serve the need for training in the various areas of service in the local congregation." They also conduct a missionary training program each year.
Both of these efforts are designed to discredit the ability of churches of Christ to do their own work--that of edifying themselves.
There is something you can do to help counteract these "liberalistic" trends among the churches.
The central church of Christ began meeting in Searcy, Ark., on the first Lord's Day in February, 1965, in the Union Hall with an attendance of 21. At the present time our attendance varies from 35 to 60, and the contribution averages $35 to $55 a week.
With the expense of our 15-minute local radio program, the rent on the meeting place, an ad we recently placed in the Gospel Guardian, and my house rent (the only support I am accepting from the church here at the present time), our budget is $35 a week. As we grow, we hope to be able to purchase property and build a permanent meeting place.
Our Sunday morning radio program over KWCB at 9 am has a wide listening audience, We are encouraged by the response from it. There are three "liberal" churches in Searcy, all large, and all dominated to a more or less degree by Harding College. There is a great potential in this area. There are some brethren in these "liberal" churches whom we feel can be influenced of good, There are also about two dozen small congregations, mostly rural, in White County. Some are standing firm for the New Testament organization. Many of the others possibly can be salvaged from the "liberalism" sweeping the churches.
Our need is for support for me and my family. From the time we moved here at the urging of Guthrie Dean (then at Bald Knob), I have been working in a newspaper and printing plant. If enough churches would be willing to aid us in this endeavor, I could devote full time to the work of an evangelist in this area.
The church at Bald Knob has agreed to help with $85 a month. Two other churches have promised help providing I can obtain full support. They are Walnut St. church in Greenville, Tex. ($50 a month) and Holly Grove, here in White County ($20 a month).
Are there other churches that would like to see a strong church in this area. As Paul wrote in Philippians 4, who will "have fellowship with me" in this matter?
-Box 423 Searcy, Arkansas