Truth Magazine

By Andy Alexander

The Prom is a familiar event to those who have attended high school. It is recognized as a formal dance in honor of the senior class of the school in which it is held. When writing about a subject such as the prom it is imperative that we understand the meaning of the word as it is used in our common language.

Webster’s Dictionary defines the prom as, “a formal dance given by a high school or college class.” This definition came from a 1972 dictionary, so in order to make sure the word had not changed in meaning over the past few years a 1989 World Book Dictionary was consulted and it gave the definition as, “a dance or ball given by a college or high school class.” In both resource books there was only one definition given. There were no secondary meanings listed.

The world’s concept of the event called the prom is a dance. A dance with fancier clothes, but a dance. A recent article in the Tennessean newspaper bears this out when it states, “West had been to dances and socials before, but tonight was special. Tonight was the prom” (“Prom Night,” The Tennessean, Nashville, TN, May 31, 1993, p. B-1).

The only people that attempt to alter this definition seem to be Christians. We might add “worldly-minded” Christians. These Christians try to make the prom sound like something that is not: some kind of big event with the dance as a minor sideshow. This attempt is made because dancing is sinful and these Christians know this to be true. It is a work of the flesh which will keep one out of the kingdom of heaven (Gal. 5:19-21).

Apparently some parents want their children to be a part of all the activities that take place in high school whether these activities are sinful or not. They do not want their children to be ostracized by their class mates. While it would be nice if all the activities sponsored by our local schools were upright and wholesome, such is assuredly not the case. Sweetheart dances, cheerleading, and sporting events where immodest clothing is worn are a few examples of similar activities that Christians should shun.

Children of God are not to conform to the world about them and should realize that following Christ means that they will be different from those in the world (Rom. 12:1; 1 Pet. 2:9). Christians should start well before their children’s teenage years teaching this vital principle.

Some worldly-minded Christians claim they are trying to clean up the event known as the prom so that future generations can have some wholesome activity to en-gage in. What is wrong with this effort? First, dirt is dirt and no amount of soap and water will change its inherent character. The way to deal with error is to strike it down at the root! Destroy it altogether! God gave his formula for dealing with evil in Jeremiah 1:10 when he said, “See I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” The prom needs to be destroyed, not supported and defended by people who are supposed to be setting a godly example for the world about them (Matt. 5:13-16).

Paul commanded the Ephesians to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:11). The word “reprove” means to “expose”; thus, Christians are not to participate or share in the evil about them, but expose it for what it really is  evil. In this way the world can recognize the evil and not be encouraged by Christians to continue in their ungodliness.

There are other passages that come to mind when thinking about our relationship in the world.” Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Rom. 12:9). “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thess. 5:21-22). Not only is the prom one appearance or form of evil, but also Christians are to abhor and abstain from such sinful activities.

Paul told the Romans, “Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealously. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Rom. 13:13-14, emphasis mine, AA). Can attending a school function where the primary activity is sinful, in that it creates lusts, temptations, and evil thoughts, be justified in any realistic way? “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; and put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isa. 5:20)

There are occasions, sadly more than there used to be, when members of a local church attend the prom. They give lame excuses if questioned, but in a majority of the cases, nothing is ever said. No word of rebuke given; just silence. The silence of a congregation, its elders, and its preacher does not change the sinful behavior of some of its members into righteousness.

The influence of those who attend the prom is damaged (Jas. 1:27). Reproach is brought upon Christ and his church, and souls will be lost for eternity, because of the careless behavior of some professed children of God. “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” (Matt. 18:7)

The prom is not good, wholesome activity and it cannot be changed into such because of its inherent nature. It is a dance and our children need to be taught the dangers of attending dances at any age. Adults who defend their right to attend need to be taught God’s truth more plainly. When they openly defend a dance, then surely teaching and preaching has not been plain enough to expose the unfruitful works of darkness.

Congregations who condone this lascivious behavior by silence need to wake up and take an honest look at their spiritual condition. Thyatira tolerated Jezebel who taught and led Christians into immorality (Rev. 2:20). She and her followers were admonished to repent and the congregation was rebuked for tolerating her sinful actions (Rev. 2:22). Someone needs to speak out against the worldliness that is invading the church today. “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but If found none” (Ezek. 22:30). Can any be found today who will make up the hedge and stand in the gap?

There are plenty of wholesome activities that our children can enjoy. Parents should make it their goal to suggest these activities and provide them if necessary. Fancy clothes can even be worn and pictures taken if desired, but reveling and carousing does not have to be, nor should it be, a part of the festivities.

Worldliness is an ever-present danger is the Lord’s church. We must determine to stand firm and hold fast the sound doctrine of Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 1:13). Let us all make this firm resolve.

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 9, p. 24-25
May 5, 1994

By James P. Needham

The last two months have been the most difficult in the history of my immediate family. I had my first heart attack in 1980. Six weeks later I had four by-passes. While I was never free of chest pain under physical stress, I was able to live with it until the last year. My chest pain became more severe and unstable. I reached the point that I had to take a “nitro” tablet to get out of bed.

I saw a cardiologist on January 12, 1994, and he suggested that I have a heart catheterization (my sixth) to see what was going on. The “cath” showed that all my four by-pass grafts from 1980 were 100% blocked, and only one artery was supplying blood to my heart. A second by-pass surgery was recommended with some reluctance since the second one is more dangerous than the first. However, there seemed to be no other alternative. Accordingly, I had three by-passes on January 14 at University Community Hospital in Tampa. Everything seemed to go normally. I was taken off the respirator at a normal time, and moved to progressive care where after three days I had not had one good day. It was obvious that something was wrong. Breathing became extremely painful and more shallow by the breath until finally I lost consciousness. Thirteen specialists were conferring to try to decide what was wrong and what to do to save my life. They suspected that I had picked up a staphylococcal infection during the surgery. Cultures showed this to have been the case. “Staph” infection showed up on the mainline tube and my chest tube, and it attacked the pericardium and the pleural wall resulting in the collection of a massive amount of fluid around my left lung necessitating the inserting of a second chest tube to drain off the fluid.

I was rushed back to intensive care where they had to resuscitate me twice and doubted that I would survive. I was put back on the respirator on which I stayed for the next four miserable days! I was given the strongest antibiotic drugs known to man by I.V. for six weeks, and stayed in the hospital for 30 days. At this writing I remain on the antibiotic drugs by mouth, which will continue until my blood sediment rate is normal. This to make sure that the “staph” infection is gone, otherwise it will begin to multiply and become extremely difficult to handle.

About two weeks after I came home from the hospital, and still quite ill, my wife went to Karla’s (our 36-year old daughter who lived with us) bedroom to see if she had left for school (she taught music in the public school). As she tried to open her door, something was against it, and she could open it just enough to see that Karla was on the floor against the door (she evidently had realized that something was happening and tried to make it to the bathroom). My wife screamed for me to come, which I did at once. After some minutes I was able to get the door open wide enough to get inside, only to find Karla lying on her back against the door, and having hemorrhaged from the mouth. Medics said she had been dead several hours. Following an autopsy the medical examiner says the cause of death in “inconclusive.” The case is being examined by more sophisticated laboratories and they tell us it may be a month or more before we get a final answer.

Our precious Karla obeyed the gospel at age ten when I preached for the Expressway church in Louisville. It was during a gospel meeting held by Dudley Ross Spears. Karla grew into a very mature Christian. She was endowed by her Maker with exceptional artistic and musical talent. She attended college on a voice scholarship, majoring in voice, and minoring in piano. She was a graduate of the University of Central Florida, Orlando and had done extensive work at the University of South Florida, Tampa. She was certified in music and elementary education. Our greatest pride however came from the fact that she was an able Bible student and teacher. Her greatest joy was teaching the Bible and music to children. She extended herself beyond her physical limits in these areas, putting in many long hours in preparation of lesson material. A few weeks before her death her chorus was one of 15 chosen from Hillsborough County schools to appear on television to showcase “Music in Our Schools.” Since her death, the tape has been re-edited and dedicated to the memory of Karla. And will be shown twice on Tampa television.

Karla was dedicated to her family. She was a caring, loving and thoughtful daughter and brought us much joy and happiness. She was a survivor and a fighter she never gave up! She left us with a thirteen-year-old granddaughter, Heidi-Marie, whose father was killed in a car wreck before she was born. We now have full responsibility for her up-bringing, which was Karla’s expressed wish. While we do not shrink from this responsibility for one moment, my wife and I are in our late 60’s, and both of us have had open-heart surgery, and I have now had it twice. But we believe that with the help of God and the prayers of the saints we shall be able to meet the challenge. Heidi has been our pride and joy all her young life, but even more so now that our Karla is gone, and she is our only connection to our precious baby daughter. We will do our very best by her.

We take comfort in the words of little Heidi when she realized her mother was dead. She said to her grandmother, “Mother has gone to a better world. Hadn’t you rather be with Jesus than to be here? We will see her again some day.” She speaks often of seeing her mother again in heaven. Knowing the kind of person our Karla was, our hope is strong and stedfast that these dear words are true. The funeral was conducted by three dear and long-time friends, Melvin Curry, Cecil Willis, and George Eldridge. We derived much comfort from their precious words and will treasure them forever.

Word of my critical illness and of Karla’s death spread across this nation like a firestorm and special prayers were offered in many congregations, and phone calls, cards, gifts, floral offerings, and letters came from everywhere. Every mail brings another handful of cards, and every day brings phone calls from across the nation, some from people we don’t even know. Not being able to answer all these personally, we would like to use this medium to inadequately express our heart-felt appreciation to each and every one who has taken the time to share our burden. We pray God’s blessings upon each one of you, and ask that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we face the future. “We’ll understand it better by and by.”

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 9, p. 16
May 5, 1994

By David A. Padfield

“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? So they said, Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He said to them, But who do you say that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 16:13-16).

Public opinion about Jesus Christ was mixed; his divinity was unknown to many. If you had heard this lowly Galilean carpenter in the first century, would you have believed him to be the Son of God? If you say “Yes,” upon what basis would you make your determination? What evidence would you use?

When Jesus commended Peter for his affirmation of faith, our Lord said his Father had revealed to Peter that Christ was “the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:17). Have you ever wondered how the Father revealed this fact to Peter? I believe there are several ways Peter could have known about the deity of Christ. Let’s look at a few of these ways.

Fulfilled Prophecy

The Old Testament contains well over 300 prophecies concerning the Messiah. All of these prophecies were made at least 400 years before the birth of Christ. No one else in all the world could have fulfilled these prophecies.

It appears the gospel of Matthew was written to prove that in Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the fulfillment of all Messianic prophecy. Matthew often records an event in the life of Christ and then quotes from the prophets to show that his action was done to “fulfill” prophecy. Here are just a few examples:

1. The Messiah would be born of a virgin (Matt. 1:22,23; Isa. 7:14).

2. The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:5,6; Micah 5:2).

3. The Messiah would be “called out of Egypt” (Matt. 2:15; Hosea 11:1).

4. The massacre of innocent male children (Matt.1:16-18; Jer. 31:15).

5. The Messiah would be preceded by a messenger (Matt. 3:3; Isa. 40:3).

6. The Messiah’s work would begin in Galilee (Matt. 4:12-16; Isa. 9:1,2).

7. The Messiah would take “our infirmities” (Matt. 8:17; Isa. 53:4).

8. The Messiah would teach by parables (Matt. 13:34-35; Psa. 78:2).

9. The Messiah would enter Jerusalem on a donkey (Matt. 21:1-10; Zech. 9:9).

10. The Messiah would be sold for 30 pieces of silver (Matt. 27:9; Zech. 11:12).

11. Lots casts for the Messiah’s clothing (Matt. 27:35; Psa. 22:18).

Testimony of John The Baptist

While John was in the wilderness, the Jews sent priests and Levites to him to find out who he was (John 1:19-34). John confessed he was not the Christ, Elijah, or “the Prophet” (cf. Deut. 18:18). After the baptism of Christ, John said, “I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, `Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God” (John 1:33,34). Later, when Christ went up to Jerusalem, He told the Jews, “You have sent to John, and he has bore witness to the truth” (John 5:33).

The Miracles He Performed

“Now Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them” (Matt. 4:23,24).

As Jesus visited the 240 towns of Galilee, the caravans passing through the country carried reports of his works into the surrounding regions of “Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan” (Matt. 4:25).

Jesus said his miracles were a greater witness to his divinity than John himself (John 5:31-36). This is because no one in history had ever claimed to be the Messiah and had the ability to perform bona fide miracles. The prophets of old were able to perform the miracles, but never claimed to be the Christ. Other men claimed to be the Messiah, but could not perform genuine miracles.

Testimony of the Father

Peter knew that at the baptism of Christ the Father spoke from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). Later, on the mount of transfiguration, Peter would see a bright cloud overshadow them, and the Father would again testify of his Son, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matt. 17:5)

The Resurrection

Though our Lord had not yet gone to the cross when he asked his disciples about his identity, we can now look back to the resurrection as the crowning act in proving the divinity of Christ. The apostle Paul opens the Roman letter by pointing to “Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the

Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Rom. 1:3,4).

The very foundation of the gospel rests upon the Lord’s resurrection from the grave (Rom. 1:3,4). In fact, if there was no resurrection, then our preaching and our hope is in vain (1 Cor. 15:14).

Conclusion

There was a time God “in different ways” spoke to the fathers by the prophets, but has “in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (Heb. 1:2-4).

Since Christ is God’s final spokesman, if we neglect his message, we have missed the “great salvation” (Heb. 2:3).

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 9, p. 6-7
May 5, 1994

By Marc Smith

Urged by brother Ron Halbrook and my father, Truman Smith, to write about our good news, I hope to share with the readers of this journal the events we have enjoyed over the past eight months in the Estates church of Christ in Hewitt, Texas (a suburb of Waco). We have had almost unprecedented success here among the liberal brethren in taking an active stand for the truth and truly letting the community know where we stand. Perhaps others can take suggestions from what worked here to apply to the works they are involved with in other places.

The Beginnings of Success

I began my work here at the end of June 1991. The membership only numbered about 25 at the time but it was evident to me that there were talented people here and possibilities in this small number. The first year or so we had six baptisms and the second year four. Our member-ship increased to about 40. The 25th Street congregation merged with us adding about six more at the beginning of 1993. This merger realistically represented that the two groups could get along and this was perhaps the most positive thing that had occurred in many years to promote a sound unified work in the Waco area. We did not know at the time that we were making a deep impression upon the liberal churches of Waco.

Not long after we moved here I made contact with an elder in an ultra-liberal church close by. We conversed many times, at first only on the phone because he could not afford to be seen with me, an “old Anti.” He was extremely disturbed at the level of digression in his congregation and was actively fighting it. He began giving me printed material of liberal teachers and preachers that taught modernistic heresy, namely the so-called “new hermeneutics” line of thought. Some of this stuff had been taught where this brother worshipped and many there were upset about its blatant error. I studied this material and in the mean time arranged to have a gospel meeting this past April featuring Ardie Brown as the speaker, to whom I had forwarded all the printed material. In preparation for the meeting I sent out a letter to 700 homes of Christians in the Waco area, after obtaining their church directories from helpful members. The level of concern among the moderate liberal element of Waco was at an all time high and my letter got to them at a critical time. We got an immediate response to the letter mailout, in that two elders with their wives immediately left the group they had been working with and began attending with us, not knowing of our existence previously. We began the meeting the following Sunday after this and we never dreamed, though we had prayed for it, that people would respond the way they did.

Elders Leave Liberal Churches for the Truth

Folks came from all over Waco. Our comfortable little building can seat only about 70 or so in the pews. Every night of the meeting we had in the high 90’s and many had to sit in rows of folding chairs. On the last night of the meeting we had 119 in attendance with people standing in the foyer! The two ex-elders and their wives placed membership that night. Brother Brown did an outstanding job and we thank him for his fine efforts. The meeting left us with great expectations for the work, not to be unrealized.

Since that meeting we have continued to increase in number and are 76 in number at present. We have a permanent row of folding chairs along the back wall in constant use. People must park up and down the street and walk in the mud to get to the building, but they are willing to do so to be a part of this work. Among those who are now members with us are five former elders and their families including the elder I first made contact with in the “ultra-liberal” congregation. We are told by all these good people, who have fled the fruits of liberalism, that all eyes in Waco are on us to see what we are going to do. These folks assure us, and I am completely convinced, that there are dozens if not hundreds of people hoping we will get into a larger building so they can conveniently worship with us. It really is a terrible situation to be in to actually not be able to get these spiritually weak folks to come and work with us when they know they are in fellowship with error, simply because we cannot fit them into the seating in the auditorium!

Planning to Build New Building

To Hold Burgeoning Numbers

With this in mind we have purchased 2.55 acres on Interstate 35 south of Waco, only about 2 miles from our present place of worship, to build a new building on. We applied to the Akin Foundation for their support in this, and were sent $10,000.00 to go toward the $30,000.00 price. We were able, by donations made by the members, to raise another $5,000.00 and make a total down payment of $15,000.00. We hope to pay this off very soon and get started on a new building that will be adequate to hold the growth we expect to follow. Brother Harold Fite has assured me that the Akin Foundation will stay with us and help the congregation “for a long haul.” Brother Fite has also agreed to come on a Sunday soon to visit with us. I have already shown him the new location and he is satisfied that it is prime, where thousands of cars pass daily traveling between Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin/San Antonio. The new location is no longer in Hewitt but is in Waco itself, which is another advantage.

The whole idea is that there are so many people in the dozen liberal churches of Christ in Waco who are dissatisfied with the drift toward apostasy that we will benefit by standing by to receive and teach these under-spiritually nourished souls who yearn for the truth. These good people, many of whom I have already met, will join with us and increase our numbers, it is thought, to make a combined group of 200 or even more in the Estates church of Christ. We have already received a good many like this and these all assure us there are many more. We have had more baptisms in recent months with several restorations.

It would warm your hearts to hear the resolve in the voices of these good people who have come out of these liberal churches and are now active workers for the truth. These folks are already conservative minded in ways even when compared to some we have heard of in what we have always considered the conservative ranks. They are straight on marriage, divorce, and re-marriage; autonomy of the church; the need for church discipline; etc. They have readily studied in detail our major previous differences: eating in the building and support of human institutions, the sponsoring church arrangement, etc. They unanimously agree that these things caused the drift to the “new apostasy” and want no further part in them.

Setting Up Vigorous Sound Meeting Schedule

To Keep the Momentum Going

The brethren here have entrusted me to set up a vigorous meeting schedule to feature some of the most capable gospel preachers in the sound brotherhood for five to seven years in advance, three or four per year.

Brother Ron Halbrook just completed a five night series with us recently in a successful gospel meeting. He taught in a very effective manner on the theme of “Authority.” Hislessons went into detail about how apostasy developed historically with the Missionary Society heresy of the last century, and how it is that Christians who leave New Testament authority continue this same digression today in different ways and drift into apostasy. Attendance during this meeting was not as heavy as the last meeting, but our membership needed to study these things in a concentrated manner like this and it has done us lasting good. We also had a good many visitors from area liberal churches who are still curious and some want to talk with me about working with us.

Opposition to Our Efforts Begins and Turmoil In the Ranks Arises Among Area Liberal Churches We learned after the meeting with Ron Halbrook was over that once our mailout letters were received (960 were mailed out this time to the homes of Christians in Waco) there was strong opposition to the meeting by preachers from their pulpits and in bulletins. One preacher, who supposedly preaches for the most “conservative” of the (liberal) churches in town, told the assembly to throw the invitations in the trash like he had done! The elders of an “ultra-liberal” church published a warning in their bulletin for members to come to them for “counseling” if troubled by our letters or phone calls! An-other church recently met to discuss whether they should give up support of orphan homes and whether or not they should sell their fellowship hall. We expect to have to work a little harder now than before, but we have definitely shaken up the status quo of these weak liberal brethren who could not defend their beliefs if their lives depended upon it, even if their souls do!

We will show in the passing of time that we are not going anywhere, so laying low will not help. They are going to have to face the reality of the fact that the gospel of Jesus Christ will be taught in this town and can be found with the Estates church of Christ! Their liberal and ecumenical drift will continue but we are going to teach as many out of error as we can and it is going to upset the applecart. Waco has gone for too many years without a strong sound church proclaiming the purity of the Word and that time of inactivity has ceased. I am reminded of Acts 17:6 where it was charged against Paul and the faithful brethren by the Jews of Thessalonica, “They that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.” The gospel of Christ is still a potent force after nearly 2,000 years and we can see its power and the fear it instills in those who jealously guard their apostasy.

“… there are so many people in the dozen liberal churches of Christ in Waco who are dissatisfied with the drift toward apostasy that we will benefit by standing by to receive and teach these under spiritually nourished souls who yearn for the truth.”

This situation requires an extra effort to be made in order that the gains and successes of the past continue. I have really worried that the momentum achieved in our past work and the events that followed will be lost if we do not act quickly. Having measured the situation here against all I have ever heard of, I am convinced that what we are dealing with here is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Waco has never had a sizeable sound congregation, self-supporting and without some problems and peculiarities, since the brotherhood split here in 1962. We are faced with having prayed for an opportunity to be afforded us and the Lord having definitely provided it. I truly believe we can build a strong and effective local congregation. With God’s help there is nothing that will prevent it!

Elders Selected to Serve

On top of all these developments, we have just selected six men to serve as elders. These brethren just began this work at the beginning of November, 1993. You may know one of them. He is Jim Wellman who served as an elder with the South Houston church of Christ for about 10 years. He is the only one of the six who is not from Waco and is from a long-time sound background. All six men however are good men in whose capable hands the work will be well served. In fact, recently they contacted members of a small liberal church of 45, and talked to them about our differences and were warmly received. While we want to proceed with caution in this situation, not ever compromising the Truth, it seems like a situation loaded with promise!

Perhaps a Second Preacher is Needed Here

There is so much going on here that the elders are now considering asking for another preacher, perhaps a more senior man, to come and work with me because so many of those coming out of the liberal churches are folks in their 60s and over. Such a man would need to provide one hundred percent of his support because we are unable at this time to provide anything toward his living expenses.

But again, this is a highly unusual situation that needs desperately to be capitalized upon.

Come Move to Waco and Work With Us!

We are also calling upon sound brethren to think of Waco as an excellent place to move to seek employment or to retire. The climate is moderately dry and warm, with brief, rather mild winters. Waco is located 90 miles north of Austin and about 90 miles south of Dallas/Fort Worth. Two scenic rivers, the Bosque and Brazos meet at Waco and the city sports a large man-made lake within the city limits that is surrounded by beautiful cliffs with homes overlooking the water. The countryside is mostly open, low rolling hills with wooded areas along rivers. Waco is a college town with Baylor University, McClennan Junior College, and Texas State Technical College providing lots of young people and cultural advantages to the whole area. Waco and suburbs have a combined population of about 150,000 with a V.A. hospital and two large public hospitals. The city is located about 30 miles north of the Temple, Belton, Kileen and Ft. Hood Army Post combined area. There are two shopping malls in Waco and an inordinately large number of good restaurants.

I say all of this about this area because we have come to love not only the church here but also this portion of Texas is really to be highly recommended simply as a good place to call home. If you are interested in making a change, consider Waco as a prime place to live and because there is a church that meets in this town that would appreciate your help and talent. Feel free to contact me for any information you may require. You will be greeted warmly and be highly appreciated but we will put you to work!

We ask for the prayers of all the brotherhood that we may remain strong and determined to do the work at hand. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13).

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 9, p. 13-15
May 5, 1994