Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

Missionary Conference, at Urbana,Illinois, in December.We are happy to report that ourcentenarian, Mr. G. Harootunian is nowable to be in his place again at the morningworship service. He has been in thehospital several times during the pastcouple of months. He was 101, February 7.We are enjoying the fellowship of theRev. Raymond McCracken family who arenow living at 20563 Barnard, Walnut,California. Mr. McCracken has undertakento work in a new area for ourdenomination. He is being very wellreceived in the community where he hasbeen calling and both Mr. and Mrs. Mc­Cracken are having Bible studies withsome of the people contacted. Pleaseremember this important work in yourprayers.One of our fine young persons, MissPriscilla Luther, attended the Inter-varsityMissionary Conference at Urbana,December 27-31. Priscilla gave an interestingreport of the activities there. Approximately12,000 attended. She said heroverall impression of the affair was verygood and inspiring.The Bible study and prayer groups, often or so to a group, were very helpful anduplifting. Priscilla said a really fine workis being done among students and she wasthrilled to be able to attend.Our pastor was in Washington, D.C,January 18-23, attending a LeadershipBriefing Seminar of the NationalAssociation of Evangelicals. He gave avery inspiring and interesting report of theSeminar. Mr. Stewart had the opportunityof visiting many of the Governmentbuildings and also speaking with manyimportant personages and governmentofficials and listened to many finespeakers. He urged us to write to ourCongressmen to let them know our impressionof what they are doing for ourcountry and to pray for them and also totell them we are praying for them. Apersonal letter of commendation, if we arehappy with their performance, or one ofconstructive criticism, carries considerableweight. We were very proud thatour pastor was selected to attend thisimportant Seminar and we wish everyreader might hear his report.Dr. Alan Hemphill attended aWestern Pediatric Research Seminar atCarmel, California, January 27-30. Hiswife Gerry and daughter, Tammy, accompaniedhim.The new officers for the CovenanterDaughters Missionary Society, elected inNovember, are Miss Ruth Gilmore,president; Mrs. Gladys Chambers, 1st vicepresident; Mrs. Sue Boyd, 2nd vicepresident; Miss Alice Robb, secretary;and Miss Edith Fowler, treasurer.Our annual congregational meetingwas held Friday evening, January 29,following a carry-in dinner. The youngpeople provided the dessert and made anominal charge for it, the proceeds to gointo their fund for expenses at the PacificCoast Presbyterial and Youth Conferencethis summer. The officers for thecongregation are Chairman, Mr. DonaldBirdsall; Assistant Chairman, Mr. JimHazel; Secretary, Miss Margi Boyle;Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Louren Wolcott;Correspondent to the Witness, Mrs.George Chambers.PRAYER MEETING Fr. page 12out that "time and personnel and callsmade upon us all determine the emphasisgiven at any particular time." It was thenpointed out that the narcotics problem hadbeen claiming much time recently; thatsharing the Gospel, person to person, wasbeing stressed this year; that we had thusfar done nothing in the area of familyplanning and abortion.But where is the power to keep highmoral standards to come from? One'sresolutions, fear of the law, example offriends — these are helpful but are entirelytoo weak. Citizens must be called back tothe Bible to learn what the true standardsare, and to the Savior for the power to liveaccording to those standards. Jesus said:"For from within, out of the heart of man,come evil thoughts, fornication, theft,murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness,deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander,pride, foolishness. All these evil thingscome from within, and they defile a man"(Mark 7:21-23,RSV). Hence it follows thatthe most permanent national reformespecially in a republican form ofgovernment depends on personal reformsuch as King David pleaded for: "Createin me a clean heart, O God; and renew aright spirit within me" (Ps. 51:10).The NRA has campaigned, andrightly so, to legalize Bible reading andprayer in our public schools. But do wewant atheists reading the Bible and aprayer? This must be done by Christianteachers. The Christian teachers mustcome from Christian homes, Christianschools, Christian churches. Hence theNRA must give attention to sharing theGospel. Reforming society involvesaggression on a broad front ifrighteousness is to prevail — running "as amighty stream" as the prophet Amospictured it. (Amos 5:24)For social reform we need newcreatures in Christ, as Paul said in 2Corinthians 5:17, and we need God'sguidance in making laws, as He guidedJoseph in Egypt. (Gen. 47:26) In urgingpeople to avoid taking into their bodiesnarcotics, too much food, cigarette smoke,it must be stressed, along with otherreasons, that the body is the temple of theHoly Spirit, as Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians6:19. And that is the reason, that onsome occasions, the AdministrativeSecretary of the NRA has taken a converteddrug addict with him when showinga film on narcotics that a testimony mightbe given to the transforming power ofChrist. And at other times a convertedalcoholic has been taken for the samepurpose. Thus along with much informationthat would lead one to desirefreedom from the grip of narcotics, thereis witness to the power which makes itpossible to live up to one's resolution.Here are a few Scripture passages,among the many that apply to nationalreform: Deut. 6:1-3; 28:1-14; 30:10-20;Psa. 2:10-12; 33:20-22; 2 Chron. 7:14; Prov.4:23; Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:21-23; John 5:39-40; 1 Tim. 1:8-10.Suggestions for prayer:1. that the NRA will keep reformbased on Biblical truth.2. that in working for practical,immediate changes, the long rangechanges be kept as essential—those socialchanges resulting from a change in theheart of man.3. that satisfied, comfortableChristians stir themselves to action:a. sharing the Gospel b. invitingpeople to church andbor SabbathSchool c. writing to lawmakers, stateand national, in support of good bills andagainst bad ones d. taking a stand for theright when talking to friends, neighbors,and others.4. that the NRA be guided: a. inchoice of causes to support or opposeb. in choice of a new AdministrativeSecretary when the present one retires inthe spring of 1972 or earlier if his successorcan be found c. in publication of theChristian Statesman, tracts, books d. inthe use of funds contributed for thework e. in its effort to get out among mento learn their work, their problems, theirtemptations; then attempt to help meettheir visible and their spiritual needs.FEBRUARY 24 1971 15