With last week's issue, we completed eighteen years publication of Truth Magazine. For the past five years, Truth Magazine has appeared on a weekly basis. The Latins had an expression, tempus fugit, which means "time flies." Allen Sommer amused me a few years ago as he wrote the last article for the more than one hundred year old American Christian Review. He closed by saying, "tempus sure do fugit." And so it does. It hardly seems possible that we could already have completed five years as a weekly journal.

Last year we enlarged the paper, and intended to go to an 8 1/2 by 11 inch page size. However, since we have bleed-off color on the front page (i.e., color all the way out to the outer edge of the trim size), we were unable to get a full 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper this year. Truth Magazine is printed on a very fast rotary web-fed press (both sides of both sheets, including the color are printed on one press run). The rollers that pulled the paper through the press from two one-thousand-pound rolls picked up the color on the outer edge of the front cover, and then transferred that color to the outer edges of succeeding pages. We therefore ended up with an 8 1/4 by 10 3/4 inch page size.

However, this next year we have purchased wider rolls of paper so that we will be able to trim out a full 8 1/2 by 11 inch page. This 1/4 inch on each margin may seem insignificant to most readers, but it is important when we come to bind the 200 bound volumes each year. The one inch wider paper will permit us to have '/4 inch more margin on the inside or gutter of each page. This will make reading from the bound volumes much easier. We are shortening the lines of type from 21 3/4 picas to 21 picas, which means we are shortening each line about 1/8 of an inch, in order to have a larger outside margin on each page, which will make for a better looking paper, and also allow more space for trim for the bound volumes.

This kind of information is technical and of little interest to many of you, but I thought some explanation needed to be made. You will notice also that in the last issue of Vol. 18 we included not only an Author Index, but for the first time also a Topic Index. Several brethren have mentioned how valuable a Topic Index would be in years to come, as preachers and teachers sought to utilize the good material presented in various issues of the paper. In order that the last issue of Vol. 18 might not be consumed almost entirely by indexes, we added an eight page supplement to that issue, at a cost of about $250.00 to us.

It also is our intention to include in Vol. 19 the November and December issues of 1975, so that thereafter each bound volume will be on a calendar year basis. At some time in the future, we hope to publish a subject index for all the preceding volumes of Truth Magazine. This would be a major and costly project, but it will make the paper much more useful to those who keep their copies, or buy bound volumes.

Everything continues to increase in costs, as I recently discussed with you in an article on "Inflation and Religious Printing." We have just been informed that there will be a price increase of 12.5% at least by January 1st. That means that our prices will have increased by 34.6 % in the last two years. These percentage increases may not sound too bad to you, but to illustrate what it does to us, the increase over the past two years would add approximately $50,000 to the cost of the printing which we did at Berne, Indiana between January and September, 1974. Some price increases are inevitable, if we are going to remain solvent and stay in business. We have put off price increases as long as possible, but we probably will have to make some across-the-board price increases about January 1, 1975.

But now let us come to some more pleasant thoughts, and tell you who our new staff writers are, and something about each one of them.

New Staff Members

After several months of deliberations among ourselves and of discussions with those to be involved, we now are ready to announce the appointment of several new members to the Truth Magazine staff. Those to be named are being appointed as "Staff Writers." Due to our wide dispersion geographically, it seemed a little inaccurate to continue to add people to the staff as "Associate Editors," since there is so little opportunity for us to confer editorially.

Before announcing the names of these men, there are a few introductory remarks that I deem appropriate. It should be understood, without our having to state it, that the fact that one is on the staff of a journal like Truth Magazine does not imply that he endorses every statement made by some writer within the pages of Truth Magazine. Nor should the appointment to the Truth Magazine staff be construed by anyone that those appointed agree with every statement that the Editor of this journal makes, or with the manner in which it is made. No attempt at coercion into a blanket sort of endorsement has been made, or ever will be made, so long as I have anything to do with the editorial policy of this paper. Truth is made to shine brighter by the conflicts that occur in regard to it. On some occasions, there may even be articles written by staff members in reply to something written by other staff members. We hope that the occasion for such a reply will be rare, but it is not precluded. This paragraph is written more for the exoneration of our new "Staff Writers" than for their intimidation. It is unfair to charge anyone, other than the writer, with the import or plain teaching of any article, unless that person has somehow otherwise in dicated approval of the position under discussion. Every man does have the responsibility to defend, or repudiate, what he has written for public consumption, and no staff member will be excluded from this duty.

Some of our readers may be a little surprised at the youth'of some of those whom we have chosen as "Staff Writers." We are realistic to know that the remaining work for some of our current staff members, by reason of their age, necessarily will be limited in quantity, even though their maturity probably will enhance the value of what they produce. A few of us on the staff are supposedly in the middle-years of our life, though we all realize that the vicissitudes of life may later make evident that those of us who thought we had many years of fruitful work ahead also were in the sundown years of our lives.

All of us who now are on the staff thought it timely that we reach back and pull into the efforts made through Truth Magazine some of the able younger men among us. Choosing such men was a difficult task, because there are so many able young men among us. We could as easily have chosen a dozen or two dozen such able young men. Some of the younger men chosen were selected because of long acquaintance with them which has resulted in implicit confidence in them. And to be perfectly frank, we realized that their ability was such that someone else would soon snatch them up for appointment to the staff of some other journal. Since we wanted some younger men on the staff of Truth Magazine, after great deliberation we have chosen eight younger men to work with us as Staff Writers. Two or three of these men would probably require the stretching of one's definition of "younger" in order to get them in, but of the remainder, some are quite young.

We have not chosen any man about whose soundness we had the slightest doubt. Of course, no man is an infallible judge of men, nor is any one of us immune to the possibility of apostasy. Should anyone of us digress from the truth, it would be the duty of the others on this staff to reply to his error, and to dismiss him from the staff of Truth Magazine. While discussions intended at arriving at truth, or illuminating for others truth already known, are the primary purpose for a journal like Truth Magazine, it is our intention that Truth Magazine shall never devolve into a platform for digressives or those with crank-ideas. There is such a thing as editorial responsibility, and we intend to discharge that responsibility as judiciously as we know how, until either God or men shall remove us from such a position of responsibility. Some brethren have the idea that everything that anyone wants to say on any subject should be published in the pages of a journal like this. If such were the case, there would be no need for an Editor; we simply could hire a printer and instruct him to print everything that came in for publication.

We have asked each of our new "Staff Writers" to provide us at least six articles a year. If the time should come when they, for any reason other than sickness or other justifiable hindrance, should decide no longer to write for Truth Magazine, we have asked that they be manly enough to ask that their name be removed as "Staff Writers." We do not need a Masthead loaded down with non-productive staff members. It always is difficult to ask anyone to resign, simply because he is not writing. Perhaps to lessen the frequency of that difficult chore, it has been my practice to ask that men who no longer intend to write for Truth Magazine ask that their name be removed as a "Staff Writer" or as an "Associate Editor." I will assure you that if the Editor were to cease writing, my associates would not permit me long to remain on the staff.

Writing For Digressive Journals

However, we have never made any effort to discourage our writers from sending articles to other journals which stand for divine truth. Several brethren who have been writing frequently in the Gospel Guardian, while under its Wallace -Fudge management, have begun seeking to get their articles of general interest published in the Christian Standard, a publication by Christian Church personnel. The July 28, 1974 Christian Standard gave a brief review of the history of that journal. From its inception in 1866, it has always been a journal that stood for digression. In fact the defense of digression was the very thing that precipitated its birth. The afore mentioned issue says, "Standard editors, all of them, do worship and serve in local Christian churches .... Twenty-nine of the editors teach regularly in Bible school; five are superintendents; five are youth sponsors; ten sing in choirs. Three are preaching regularly; one is an associate minister; one serves as an elder, and one as a director of Christian education." If brethren Gordon Wilson, Edward Fudge, and Wayne McDaniel were writing in the Christian Standard on subjects that are pertinent to the errors held by Christian Church people, my reaction would be, "More power to them!" However, they have only written inane little pieces that might as easily appear in a Methodist Sunday School journal, and in some cases have written articles that teach precisely what the Christian Church would like for them to say. In most cases, saying what the Christian Church has wanted some gospel preacher to say is the very reason why their articles have been published. Some of the articles have taught Christian Church doctrine better than most Christian Church preachers could do it. Why brethren Wilson, McDaniel, and Fudge would even want their names connected with the Christian Standard, I do not know. Why they would lend their influence to its purposes by writing for it, I do not know.

Other Good Papers

But I digressed from my initial statement in the above paragraph. Several good papers are published by faithful brethren, and some new journals are being started. A detailed reference to these new journals will be made in a later issue. If any of our staff writers wish to send material to other journals, that is entirely their business. As "Staff Writers" of Truth Magazine, we would like the first chance on what they write. But if they wish to write additionally for other papers, of course none of us already on the staff would object. In fact, several of us have written and yet may write for other journals. Brother James Adams continues to serve as "Front Page Writer" on the Preceptor staff. But I had better get on with the announcement of our new staff members. Lest anyone think I am attempting to rate our new staff members, I have chosen to introduce these new staffers in alphabetical order. A little biographical information will be given concerning each man.

Donald P. Ames

Don Ames was born in Denver, Colorado on July 28, 1938. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Ames, operate an apple orchard in Union, Nebraska, though his father has worked previously as an engineer. Don has three younger sisters. Don's family, during his early years, were members of the Christian Church. Paradoxically, it was none other than Leroy Garrett who taught them what was wrong with instrumental music. It would be such a blessing if Leroy would go back, restudy those old lessons that convinced the Ames family, and learn again himself the lessons he once taught.

Don had great aspirations while in High School. He decided he was going to be: (1) a banker; (2) a preacher; and (3) a fighter pilot in the Air Force! That would be quite a combination.

Don's early years in college were spent at York College. While at York, he met brethren Vinson, Pennock, and Leslie Diestelkamp who just had started a new journal called Truth Magazine. Don completed two more years of college at Florida College. Upon graduation, he moved to Aurora, Illinois where Truth Magazine had originated and continued to be published for its first six years. Don served as Business Manager for the paper and operated the bookstore. While in Aurora, he met and married Miriam Travis. They now have two children: Mark who is 11, and Joel (adopted) who is 3.

After Truth Magazine was moved from Aurora, Don worked in a local bank, though all the time continuing to preach. I have no information regarding any "fighter pilot" activity during these years while he "banked" and preached. From 1964-1972 he preached for the church at 410 S. Michigan in Chicago. A conflict with bank officials over contributions to the United Fund severed his bank connections, and in 1972 Don moved to Tuckerman, Arkansas to work full-time with the good church there,. At Tuckerman, Don is engaged in a heavy load of teaching and preaching. He speaks regularly on a radio program, and edits a weekly bulletin for the local church, and edits a monthly bulletin which is mailed out to people in the community. Don has written, "Throughout this time, my interest in Truth Magazine, its fine stand for the truth, . . . has remained high, and I regard it as a real honor to be asked to return again to the staff of the magazine." And we are glad to have him!

Karl Diestelkamp

It seems strange to be announcing the appointment of one to the staff who has been writing for the paper regularly for-twelve years. But Karl has never been given any formal position other than "News Briefs Editor," and we felt he also officially should be on the staff. Karl will continue to handle the "News Briefs" section, and write on other subjects as he sees fit, and is disposed to do so.

In the mid-1940's Karl's father moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin, when there were only three small churches in the entire State. Most of Karl's childhood years were spent in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and all his full-time preaching has been done in the State of Wisconsin. He began preaching in 1951, and did his college work at Freed-Hardeman College. After college, Karl has worked with the 35th and Cherry church in Milwaukee four years, three years at Sheboygan, and then has spent the last ten years with the West Allis church, located in a suburb of Milwaukee. Recently Karl moved to work with the Kenosha, Wisconsin church. This Fall Karl spent six weeks in Nigeria in a concentrated series of preaching and teaching efforts. His Father did the pioneering work in the Western part of Nigeria.

Karl's work in writing "News Briefs" entails the reading of all the other journals published by brethren, plus staying current on all the letters and news reports by preachers in foreign lands. At this time, he receives the bulletin of about 200 churches in over 30 States and from several foreign countries, but there are hundreds more that he should be receiving in order to make the "News Briefs" as comprehensive and as interesting as possible. Please check to see if he is on the mailing list of the congregation where you worship, and if he is not, please add his name to your mailing list. His address is 8311 27th Avenue, Kenosha, Wisconsin 53140. We would like for him to be able to write his widely read column for many years yet to come. He can improve it, if readers will cooperate and send him news reports of forthcoming events as far in advance as possible. Karl has been steadfast in his work as "News Briefs" Editor, and his efforts are much appreciated by us all.

Bruce Edwards, Jr.

Brother Bruce Edwards, Jr. is the youngest man being added to the Truth Magazine staff. But it is my opinion that his writings and work will commend themselves to all, and that none will have occasion to be disappointed with our appointment of one so young. It has been my pleasure to know Bruce since he was a very small boy, and I also had the pleasure of baptizing his parents in the early 1960's. His father's family were very active in the "Jehovah's Witnesses" group.

Bruce Jr. was born September 5, 1952 in Akron, Ohio. He graduated as Valedictorian of Akron Central High School with a 4.0 grade point average. He was a member of the National Honor Society, Editor of the school yearbook, and also Editor of a literary magazine. He completed one year of college work in Akron University, where he majored in English. In 1971 Bruce, Jr. transferred to Florida College and there majored in Bible. He graduated from Florida College as Salutatorian of his class with a 3.92 grade point average. He then did one year of work in the Upper Division at Florida College, and was Sower's Club President.

While at Florida College, Bruce Jr. preached on weekends at Lake Wales, Florida. He spent one Summer working with Royce Chandler and the church in Danville, Kentucky. In October, 1973, Bruce Jr. began work as a gospel preacher at St. James, Missouri, where he still resides. Though young in years, already Bruce Jr.'s writings have appeared in several religious journals published by faithful brethren.

On September 28, 1973 Bruce Jr. was married to Joan Christine Lungstrum of Poteau, Oklahoma, having met her at Florida College. It is Brother Edward's intention to enroll at the University of Missouri at Rolla and to complete his degree in English. Bruce Jr. already is an accomplished writer and his literary contributions should enhance the value of Truth Magazine to those who subscribe to it.

Richard O. N. (Ron) Halbrook

Ron Halbrook obeyed the gospel early in life, and always demonstrated great courage in contending for the Truth. He was sent home summarily in 1961 from the Short Mountain Camp, which he had attended regularly for five years when he requested the privilege of worshipping with the faithful brethren at the Woodbury, Tennessee, and for "disturbing" some other campers with his "Anti-ism."

Ron was born in 1946 in Indianola, Mississippi, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James P. Halbrook of Grand Bay, Alabama. But most of his childhood years were spent at Belle Glade, Florida, where his father owned the Home Hardware Store. Ron became a hardware store clerk at the age of 9, in order to pay for a bicycle tire he had purchased. While at Belle Glade, the church there split and Ron's parents early in that conflict took a firm stand for the truth on the institutional issues.

After High School, Ron attended Florida College, and completed a Bachelor's degree in history in August, 1969. While a student, Ron had the opportunity to preach many places. For several months, he made a 300 mile round-trip each weekend to preach for a small country congregation called Central, near Trenton, Florida. During his third year at Florida College, Ron preached regularly at Clearwater. During the Summer of 1967, Ron went to Palestine and Rome to study for six weeks. It was while he was in Jerusalem that Donna Bell accepted his marriage proposal, and they set their wedding date as December 26, 1967. Donna Kaye Bell is the daughter of Brother and Sister Clifford Bell of Baytown, Texas. Brother Bell serves as one of the elders at Pruett and Lobit in Baytown. Ron and Donna have one son, Jonathan Edward, who was born on January 27, 1972.

From 1967 until May, 1973, Ron taught in Athens Bible School. That being a small school, he was called upon to teach many different subjects at various times: Alabama History, Civics, Communism, Speech, American History, Church History, World History, Bible, and even Driver Education! While teaching at Athens Bible School, Ron preached for the brethren at Wooley Springs. While there, he conducted a debate with a Pentecostal preacher on "The Work of the Holy Spirit." In July, 1973, Ron moved to Nashville, Tennessee to begin work with the Broadmoor church, where he yet labors. He is working on a graduate degree in American church history at Vanderbilt University.

His very first article, "Immorality Won't Work," appeared in Truth Magazine in March, 1965. He also has written in Preceptor, Searching the Scriptures, Torch, Gospel Guide, Gospel Guardian, and Bible Standard. Brother Halbrook did yeoman's service when he stepped forth to indict his close personal friend, Brother Edward Fudge with teaching false doctrine. Those who followed that controversy through the pages of this journal are aware that Ron dealt honorably (I felt he leaned over backward at times to give Edward Fudge the benefit of every possible doubt), and yet ever so firmly with the error being gradually poured out by Brother Fudge. Brother Halbrook voluntarily stepped forth and provided the documentation to prove what many of us already knew to be the erroneous positions of Edward Fudge, but which documentation we did not have readily accessible. If the false teaching of Edward Fudge has not been stopped completely, at least it has been driven underground, and Brother Fudge has shown no inclination of late to say anything publicly about it. However; neither has he 'inade any retraction of any false doctrine which he has taught. Brethren, for many years to come, will, in my estimation, owe a debt of gratitude to Brother Halbrook.

Repeatedly, he showed himself to be not only a faithful gospel preacher, but also an able one. In that discussion, he showed great perception of the issues involved, but he also demonstrated compassion in dealing with a brother who was teaching error, in the hope of salvaging him: But Ron also showed himself to be a .man of integrity, of fortitude, and of an unyielding love for the truth God has given. This is the kind of man we want on the staff of Truth Magazine, and we appreciate Ron's willingness to work with us as a "Staff Writer."

Jeffery Kingry

Another able young writer whose articles have appeared in numerous journals, and who evidences much writing ability in my opinion, is Jeffery Kingry of Glen Burnie, Maryland. Already you have seen many pieces from his pen in Truth Magazine, and all his articles evidence thorough preparation, and the ability to thinkthrough a point quickly. Impressive also, to any editor, is the fact that his manuscripts always are nearly letter perfect.

Jeff is 28 years old, and refers to himself as a "Navybrat." That simply means that his father was a career navy officer. Jeff has either lived in or visited every state in the Union, except Maine. His family background is Episcopalian. After finishing High School in Maryland; he went to California to visit his girl-friend-who now is his wife. Anna, like Jeff, also was a "Navy-brat." Anna had always attended services conducted in Navy Chapels. But after moving to California, she visited the services of the brethren in Milpitas, California. After hearing a sermon on "Denominationalism," she challenged the preacher after services regarding the content of his sermon. Within a week, Anna had obeyed the gospel. When Jeff arrived to visit Anna, he also soon was converted.

Jeff was drafted in 1965 and entered the Air Force. While in the service, he worshiped at Biloxi, Mississippi, while Jim Cooper was preaching there. It was Jim who gave Jeffery his first opportunity to preach. Over his "Christmas" leave, he traveled to Memphis, and there married Anna. While stationed at Columbus, Mississippi, he worshipped with the East Columbus brethren. Jeff feels that he owes much to Jim Cooper, Aubrey Belue, Sr. (an elder at East Columbus), and to Walt Tally who "turned me on" toward personal work. Brother Tally also helped to arrange preaching appointments for Jeff.

In 1968 Jeff was sent to South Vietnam, where his work was to direct bombing missions in the extreme Northern Section of S. V. N., which section was known as I Corps. He worked with the same Army units that destroyed My Lai in March, 1968, the "infamous Charlie Company under Lt. William Calley." Jeff has said: "What Charlie Company did to My Lai was a common occurrence I found in my year in Asia. Lt. Calley was different only in that he was caught and prosecuted." Jeff received the Bronze Star Medal, third highest military decoration, for his service in I Corps. But his experiences there also changed his views regarding a Christian being a combatant in the military.

While he was in Vietnam, Anna taught Second Grade at the Florida College Academy. When Jeff was discharged, he entered Florida College as a Biology Major. His military service had damaged him spiritually until he felt he was unfit to preach the gospel, which had been his ambition since he was converted. But brethren Homer Hailey and H. E. Phillips assisted him in making a spiritual recovery.

In 1970 he began full-time preaching at Kirkland, Illinois. The two elders at Kirkland also greatly contributed to his spiritual growth, as did the entire congregation there. Ray Ferris likewise was a great encouragement to him. He baptized ten at Kirkland, and helped in the restoration of several others. Preaching was now in his blood, and he has been overflowing with zeal ever since.

In September, 1973, he began work with the Glen Burnie, Maryland church. Glen Burnie has had a difficult time taking and then maintaining a solid stance against digressive tendencies which have destroyed so many congregations. Though several other gospel preachers have done much to solidify the stance of the church in Glen Burnie, Jeff certainly has done his share too. There are many good solid brethren there. It seems that these brethren have been brought together so that they now are working "with one heart and one soul," and much fruit is being borne. Attendance has increased from about 85 to about 125 or 130, and the contribution has increased about $100 per week.

Jeff is a diligent student, and a prolific writer. He and Larry Hafley amaze me at the number of good quality articles they produce. Judging from the amount of their material that is published by the various journals, I often have thought that they must each have an unannounced goal of writing at least one article a day. If God extends Jeff's life, I feel confident that his pungent pen will be effectively wielded for many years to come, and his literary productions will enhance the value of the material appearing on these pages.

John McCort

Another of the very young men who is being added to our staff is John McCort, whom I have known for well over ten years. Often I have said that preaching is about 10% ability and 90% work. Whenever I see a young man who has even average ability, but is not afraid of hard work, I look upon that young man as a "comer" among preachers: John McCort is most certainly a hard worker. In preaching and writing, .study and preparation are the bases of all excellent efforts. John is not afraid of hard work, and he puts in long hours when he attacks any subject or project.

John was born June 6, 1951 in Wichita, Kansas, but most of his childhood years were spent in nearby Mulvane. His father was a test pilot for the large Boeing Aircraft manufacturing company, and was killed in a B-52 plane crash in March, 1957. His mother remarried in 1960. John attended Florida College from 1969-1971. While there, he met Rhonda Davis, the daughter of Robert Davis, an Elder at the Westside church in Marion. Soon after their marriage, John and Rhonda moved to Wellandport, Ontario, intending to work there only a Summer and to return to Florida College that Fall. But the work to be done there was so challenging that John did not return to school that Fall.

The next Summer, John was invited to work in a twopreacher arrangement with the Bellaire church in Houston. W. R. Jones was the preacher there when John moved to Bellaire. But "Dub" Jones soon thereafter returned to work in his hometown, Nacogdoches. My brother, Don, replaced W. R. in the work at Bellaire. Don had preached in Wichita, Kansas, and also knew John well. The work at Bellaire was both good and pleasant for John.

But John found himself wanting to get even more involved in preaching than the two-preacher arrangement made possible, since neither of the two then was engaged in a lot of gospel meetings. In September, 1973, John began work with the Peru, Indiana congregation. John has assisted me in preparing for three debates, and a better coworker one never had. It takes about six hard-working assistants to get me prepared for a debate. John has been of invaluable help to me in these preparations.

As long as John maintains the diligent study habits he now has, he will continue to improve as a preacher and writer. Hard working men make good writers and good preachers. Combined with excellent intellectual and character qualities, this hard working characteristic put John in good standing in whatever he undertakes to do. You will enjoy what he writes and profit therefrom. Though also quite young, I feel ourselves fortunate to get good, capable, sound in the faith, young men to fortify the Truth Magazine staff. Thus, we are grateful to have John McCort to join our work force.

Harry Ozment

Harry Ozment already is quite well known among the brethren in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. He has done outstanding work with several congregations. Harry was born in Louisville, Kentucky on January 2, 1947. After graduation from High School in Louisville, Kentucky, he attended Florida College for one year, 1965-66. In 1969 he resumed his scholastic pursuits at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.

In 1972 he graduated with many high honors from MTSU. His B.S. degree was granted magna cum laude. He graduated first in his class of over 1700 students. Among other awards, he received awards as the "Outstanding Political Science Graduate" and the "Outstanding History Graduate." Presently he is completing his work for a Doctorate in Jurisprudence at Vanderbilt University School of Law. While at Vanderbilt, he has served on the Administrative Staff of the Vanderbilt Law Review, and on the Editorial Staff of the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law.

Harry began preaching when he was but 16 years old. His first sermon was preached at the Highview Church of Christ in Bloomfield, Kentucky. He has worked regularly with the Campbellsville, Kentucky church. In 1967 he moved to Nashville to work with the Perry Heights congregation. After six years with Perry Heights, he began work with the Lakewood church in Nashville in July, 1973. A new meeting house has been erected, and this congregation now is known as the Tulip Grove Church of Christ.

In recent years, his school work has hampered Harry's writing. But hopefully, his school days are behind, and he can now give himself without distraction to gospel preaching and writing. He has consented to write regularly for Truth Magazine, and it is our belief that our readers will appreciate good solid men of his caliber as they expend their best efforts in order to give you the best articles which we are capable of producing.

Steve Wolfgang

In September, 1953 I moved to Indianapolis to work with what then was known as the Irvington church. Steve Wolfgang's Grandfather was an elder there then, and it was largely through his instrumentality, and that of some others in the Wolfgang family, that I was invited to work with that congregation. I was 21 years old, and Irvington was a large, old, and well-known congregation. It was a splendid opportunity for me, and I always have been grateful for that "open door."

James Stephen Wolfgang was approaching his 5th birthday when I moved to Indianapolis. Steve's father, Jim, was a deacon of the Irvington church, as well as its Treasurer. When the institutional issues forced a crisis in the Irvington church about one year after I had moved to Kansas City, it became necessary for those who wanted to keep the Lord's church from becoming a handmaid to human institutions to leave Irvington. So the Wolfgang families moved to 40th and Emerson congregation. Steve's Grandfather served as an elder at 40th and Emerson until 1972, when he resigned due to failing health. Steve's father now serves as an elder at 40th and Emerson. I therefore think I know Steve Wolfgang well, and am tremendously glad to see him on the staff of Truth Magazine.

During High School, Steve was very active in various speech contests. He represented his High School as senator at the Indiana State Speaker's Congress held at Purdue University. In 1965, he was ranked fifth in the State finals in debating, and in 1966 he placed Second in the State Finals in Extemporaneous speaking.

From 1966-69 he attended Florida College. While there, he participated in various speech and dramatic activities, and was President of the Phi Sigma Chi Society, andi served two consecutive terms as Student Body President. In the Summer of 1967, he spent six weeks studying Bible! Lands in company with Melvin Curry, Ron Halbrook and others. While there, he procured more than a thousand slides of various aspects of Bible Land geography and archaeology, and has spoken numerous times upon these subjects.

During the Summer of 1968, Steve won the Florida College, and finally Florida State WCTU speech contests. This qualified him to participate in National competition, with other State winners, including those from California, Oregon, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and others. Steve emerged as National Champion WCTU speaker.

His preaching began in 1966 at various places in Indiana and Florida by appointment. In May, 1969 he moved to Marion, Indiana to work with the newly formed Westside congregation, and continued with us until June, 1971, during which time the congregation experienced very good growth. While working in Marion, Steve completed requirements for a Bachelor's Degree in Religion and Philosophy at Marion College, and completed course requirements for a Master's Degree in Church History at Butler University in Indianapolis. His Master's thesis was A Biography of Daniel Sommer, 1850-1940.

He moved to Atlanta, Georgia in June, 1971, and worked with the Southwest church, a small congregation of about 35 people meeting in a Black community. While there, he completed course requirements at Emory University for another Master's Degree, this one in History of Science. He did some course work under Thomas J. J. Altizer, the infamous "God is Dead" professor. Steve's Master's Thesis there is entitled, A History of the Biological Evolution Controversy in America from 1860-1900.

In September, 1973 he moved to his wife's home town, Franklin, Tennessee, where he now preaches for the West Main Street church. He now has almost completed his course requirements for a Doctorate in History.

Steve has plenty of ability. He also has one short-coming that I am going to mention publicly to try to pressure him into overcoming it. He feels he is not qualified to write on anything until he has studied everything on that subject. His study leads him into ever wider realms of study, the results of which is that it is like pulling eye-teeth to get an article on anything from him. We expect him to write regularly for the paper, just as we do of the others being added to this staff at this time. Many good comments have been received regarding the articles which we have published from him. We certainly expect him to provide us more of the same quality material.

George T. Eldridge: Circulation Manager

At a staff meeting in Memphis a few months ago, it was decided that we needed to appoint someone who would take the responsibility of promoting the circulation of Truth Magazine. Brother George T. Eldridge was appointed to that role. George is another of those younger men whom I have known most of their lives. George was born April 4, 1942. I must have met him shout 1960. Some of his brothers I had met in the early 1950'x. George has a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and Income Taxes, which he received from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. I performed the wedding ceremony for George and Lillie Mae Owen August 28, 1965. George preached by appointment for ten years (1958-1968). He worked at Hilliard, Ohio for two years, at Lafayette, Louisiana for two years, and has just completed three years of work at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is to begin work with the church at Alexandria, Indiana about February I, 1975. His wife, Lillie who is a Business and English teacher in High School, is going to work with me as my secretary. Hopefully, she can get me organized so I can get done some additional things that need to he done as the editor of a paper like Truth Magazine.

George has two brothers who are very active and influential in the congregations where they worship. Jimmy, a Chemist, is with the church at Griffith, Indiana. Howard, a Pharmacist, is with the church at Connersville, Indiana. Both these brothers have been very instrumental in helping to keep the church to which they belong sound in the faith.

George has been quite successful in some business endeavors, and we are hoping that he can he equally successful in assisting us to increase the circulation of Truth Magazine. If he should solicit your help in procuring subscriptions, if at all possible, please assist him. The amount of good done through the publication of a journal like Truth Magazine directly is proportionate to its circulation.

Summary

Though we have not restricted any Staff Member from writing on any Bible subject, nonetheless we have asked that certain ones concentrate on areas for which they have particular interest, background, and competence. Harry Ozment will devote considerable attention to the subjects of Divine Law and Authority; Steve Wolfgang and Ron Halbrook will concentrate on items of interest from Restoration History and from the Current Religious Scene; John McCort and Bruce Edwards Jr. will write on Cults, Premillennialism, and First Principles; Jeff Kingry will write articles that have to do with Practical Living of one's life as a Christian; Don Ames will discuss the History of Various Innovations; and of course, Karl Diestelkamp will continue to devote his efforts primarily to "News Briefs."

Those who already have been staff members are given somewhat general assignments. Irvin Himmel we have asked to write primarily on First Principles, since he does that so well. Ferrell Jenkins will write, as time permits, on Evidences; Jimmy Tuten on various aspects of Teaching; Mike Willis will write his "Book Reviews" columns and devote some time to Biblical Word Studies; Larry Hafley will continue to write on Denominationalism, and his "That's a Good Question" column; writings from Luther Blackmon necessarily must consist only of reprints of previously published articles and some unpublished manuscripts; Roy Cogdill, O. C. Birdwell, and Earl Robertson are given no special assignments, but are to choose their own subjects; and James W. Adams and I are to attend to the reviewing of articles that teach error and which we think need public exposure.

Some have said that Truth Magazine is not a wellbalanced paper. Now look back over these writing assignment areas, and write us regarding any major areas that you think are being overlooked. It is our purpose, as time and space permit, to "declare the whole counsel of God."

Truth Magazine XVIII: 1, pp. 3-12
November 7, 1974