Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

NOTICEThe Hebron Congregation, near Idana,Kansas, will celebrate its 100th Anniversaryon August 21 and 22, 1971. Aninvitation is extended to everyone to comeand help us celebrate this historic occasion.NOTICEA student from WestminsterTheological Seminary, Mr. Gordon J.Keddie, is available for service andministry in the R. P. Church this summer.He is a member of the Free Church ofScotland which accepts the Westminsterstandards and in worship sings only thePsalms with no instruments. Ifcongregations are interested in availingthemselves of his services, please write tohim: c/o Westminster TheologicalSeminary, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia,Pennsylvania 19118.SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIAWe praise God for His continuedblessings upon us in San Diego. During thefirst quarter of 1971 there were 59 newvisitors, Sabbath School attendance increased16 per cent to an average of 67, ourtotal offering during the morning andevening worship services increased 52 percent from $2,088.20 to $3,149.50. TomHostetter, a baptized non-communicantmember, was received by the Session intofull communicant privileges. John Hollisterwas also received into membership byprofession of faith.We thank God for sending to us Mr.Ed Miller. Ed is a young Christian in theNavy, who previously had contact with ourLaFayette Ministry. He is very active bothin the study of the Word and in bringingother young men to church with him. Mr.Dennis Remillard and Ben Broadway aredoing visitation each Tuesday night in thecommunity. Pray that the Lord wouldanoint their lips and bring to fruition theseeds which are being planted.Mr. Gaylord "Brad" Bradford andMr. Ben Broadway have been electeddeacons by the congregation. We trust thatby the time this letter is printed they willhave indicated their desire to serve in thiscapacity and have been ordained andinstalled.The parsonage has been paintedoutside and railing installed on the outsidestairs of the church, but much needs yet tobe done by way of repairs and improvements.Pray for the Bible studies in Santeeand Chula Vista that the Lord may giveedification and outreach through thesegroups. Also remember the individualBible studies with members and adherents,especially Mr. Steve Christensen. Steve isjust getting out of the Navy and has beguna study of I John with much enthusiasm.Pray for his conversion!It is almost unbelievable how manyhave been tested by sickness or by beingout of work. Your prayers arestill neededhere. Again, we all need the continualreviving of the Holy Spirit so as to renewour interest in Jesus Christ and in HisChurch. We regret that Don and LindaReed will soon be transferred to anotherpoint of service by the Navy. They havebeen a big help to us and we hope that theyhave been encouraged by the ministry ofthe congregation in their lives.We confess our coldness to the Wordof God and indifference to the fellowshipof His people. Crying out for mercy andforgiveness through Jesus Christ, we alsoask for the strength and courage to fightthe good fight of faith. We claim thepromise of Psalm 108:13; "Through Godwe shall do valiantly: for He it is that shalltread down our enemies."MEMORIAL FOR MELVIN MEANS"The Session of the Phoenix FirstReformed Presbyterian church wishes torecord our sorrow and sense of loss in thedeath of our friend, fellowelder and clerk,Melvin Means. His courage and patienceand ready smile, through the almostconstant pain and physical suffering of thepast three years will be remembered andappreciated, as will his faithful interest andwilling labors, almost from the founding ofthe congregation and building of thechurch building to the present time. Hiscounsel was modest and thoughtful, withconviction and concern for God's glory inHis church. We commend his family to theGod and Savior of their late husband andfather, to the God of all comfort who is'able to make all grace abound toward you'(II Cor. 9:8)."Melvin W. Means was born atAmbridge, Pennsylvania, in 1922 and wasmarried to Flora Heineman of Beaver Fallsin 1942. After serving as crew chief on a B-24 bomber in the South Pacific in WorldWar II, having completed his missions asthe war ended, he came to Arizona with hisfamily in 1951. He suffered a cave-in accidentwhile in construction work in 1968,but the Lord raised him up and spared himto his family for three years more. Henever fully recovered but was in constantpain, and died in a fall at his home, onApril 6, 1971. He was an elder and clerk ofsession in the First R.P. Church of Phoenixat the time of his death. He is survived byhis wife Flora; by four children: Dean, ofthe home, Tim of San Diego, a daughterMarilyn McMurray of Flagstaff, andMelvin Wayne the II, in an airbornedivision of the U.S. Army in Vietnam; byhis mother, Mrs. Janet Means; and twobrothers, Robert and Gary, of Pennsylvania."Blessed are the dead which diein the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith theSpirit, that they may rest from their labors;and their works do follow them."N.A.E. PRESIDENT SAYSTHE BIBLE COULD SOLVECURRENT ISSUESWHEATON, ILL. — The president of theNational Association of Evangelicalspredicted that the 29th annual conventionof N.A.E., convening in Los Angeles, April20-22, may be one of the most significantthat the three-million-membetorganization has ever had.Dr. Hudson T. Armerding, presidentof N.A.E. and president of WheatonCollege, pointed to serious social problemsin the nation and the need to bring theScriptures to bear on contemporaryculture, in a taped interview that went outto a hundred radio stations across thecountry recently."We are living unexamined lives," hesaid, "and I thinkit is up to the NationalAssociation of Evangelicals to help theChristian community focus the truths ofthe Bible on some of the current issues sothat there can be a greater degree ofobedience to what the Word of Godteaches."Armerding said that the governmentand the family have both been brought intoquestion recently, and that the Bible oughtto be applied very directly to questionssurrounding these issues.FORMER BEAVER FALLS RESIDENTHONORED BY GENEVAALUMNI ASSOCIATIONVINCENT L. ROCERETOVincent L. Rocereto, Topeka,Kansas, a native of Beaver Falls, wasamong those awarded the DistinguishedService Award (DSA) at the Alumni Daydinner, May 1, in Metheny Field House,Geneva College.Mr. Rocereto is Executive VicePresident and Agency Director of theAmerican Home Life Insurance Company,Topeka, Kansas.14 COVENANTER WITNESS