Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 9
September 5, 1957
NUMBER 18, PAGE 18b

"Anti-Orphan Home Argument"

Pryde E. Hinton, Dora Ala.

Brother Jack Meyer's "Homewood Belletin" is quoted this month, July, in "The Childhaven News" under the heading of this short article. He thinks that we have been misled into objecting to such homes as Tipton, Child-haven, and others. He calls us "anti orphan home brethren." Not especially "anti orphan home," Brother Jack, just pro-church and pro-New Testament brethren. We are not 'anti-instrumental music brethren," Brother Meyer; we are just pro-New Testament.

So far as I am concerned, I believe in Gal. 6:10 with all my heart. The little church at Sayre spends a minimum of $40.00 per month, and most of her giving has been to a family that had no Christian in it, until three of the children obeyed the gospel. Our average giving, as a church, directly to those in need is far above this minimum figure given above. But they pay their minister $75 per week. Of course, I could not live on that, if I had to pay rent, etc.

We know, some of us (including Brother Guy Woods, as one can see by reading the article by Brother John T. Lewis in the Gospel Guardian of June 13, 1957) that, and I quote Brother Woods, "The church is the only organization authorized to discharge the responsibilities of the Lord's people." I trust Brother Woods has not changed that position, because in it he was unquestionably right. We who believe and teach that truth are not so much "anti-orphan home," Brother Jack, as we are uncompromisingly for that which we KNOW is God's plan. So far as I am concerned, we, the church of Christ (either congregationally or universally) have nothing that we can call "OUR orphanages scattered over the country." You do not prove that such organizations as Childhaven are scriptural by attacking the position of a few who say we have no responsibility toward orphans and needy in the world outside the church. Why don't you just face the issue; none of you has so far.