REPORT ON MINI-MEETINGS

The Lord is providing me with time that I did not know I had, for I am somehow managing to spend every other weekend in these mini-meetings across the country. Nor did I suppose that there would be very much interest in this sort of thing, but already I have more invitations than I can take care of this year. Loving the brethren as I do, it is a refreshing experience to fly out of Dallas on Friday, after a busy week at the college, and join loved ones in an effort to do something constructive. The results thus far have been far more than I could have expected. My cup runs over with blessings of service. I am reminded of the apostle’s assurance in Eph. 3:20 that God is “able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or conceive.” He has ways of surprising us, doesn’t he? Even while we busy ourselves putting together our little games, he is conjuring up something much better. It is that way, that is, if we are intent on walking by the Spirit rather than our own way.

Due to two trips to Abilene early in the year, during which I was present for both the Preacher’s Workshop and the lectureship, the first mini-meeting was not until late in February, which took me to Nacogdoches, Texas, down East in lumber country where the pines grow Texas-size. It is the home of Stephen F. Austin State University, and part of my time was spent with college students who gather at one of the Bible chairs there. I found them vivacious in spirit as well as alive in the Spirit, and they were eager to exchange ideas. I was in meetings with professors, elders, and young couples as well, and on Lord’s Day I addressed one of the mainline Churches of Christ on Jesus Is My Shepherd,

In March I was in San Antonio, Texas and the Bay Area of California. In the Alamo city I was the guest of a youth director and his sweet little wife, who invited me down out of curiosity as much as anything else. This journal had somehow fallen into his hand, and when I offered to make visits of an unpretentious nature, he thought this would give him a good chance to see what I look like. He made plans for me to visit with the youth of the mainline Church of Christ he serves, but, when the word got around that it was Leroy Garrett that was coming, there was enough flak that he decided to change his plans. He did right, for I am determined that these meetings be for peace. We are not up to anything and we’ve had enough adrenalin in the brotherhood to last the rest of this century.

It would have been worth the trip to San Antonio just to have visited with this tremendous young couple, who were at that time “expecting” in a way that I know how to relate to. An adoptive agency was on the verge of depositing a little bundle of heaven at their doorstep. Being an interracial agency they had no idea what color their baby would be, but they were expecting it to be black. There I was with this lovely young couple, both born and bred Texans and Church of Christ to the core, expecting a Negro to join their family. The baby has since arrived, and while he happens not to be black, he is apparently too much of a mixture to be called anglo. They don’t seem to know! One thing they do know, for their latest letter says, “We love him so!”

But we were busy in San Antonio, visiting with small groups of disciples who were eager to share life in the Spirit. I was especially impressed with a group of older people, elders and leaders in various Churches of Christ in the area, most of whom are weary of the party spirit of our people. We spent considerable time talking about the unity of the Spirit and the freedom that is in Christ. I was impressed that during the prayers, in which both brothers and sisters talked to the Father, preachers and elders of the various congregations were prayed for that they might be more spiritual in their leadership. That illustrates what is happening these days: brethren in prayer groups praying for their leaders to get with it. And the leadership had better get with it or they’re going to be left behind.

On Lord’s Day I attended the assembly with my hosts, a rather large congregation, and heard an interesting lesson from a very fine minister in the Lord, who, by the way, has adopted two Negro children into his family. That afternoon I went. to see Pat Boone’s The Cross and the Switchblade with several youths of the congregation. A Roman Catholic nun sat in front of us. The young lady sitting beside me was eager to know what the nun thought about it all. I suggested she wait until after the showing and then ask her. She did speak to the sister and asked her what she thought of the film. The nun was herself young, bright and gracious. .’It shows that the power of the man was his faith in what Jesus could do for those hoodlums,” was the essence of her reply. I was thinking what a problem I would have in explaining to such a person why my church would excommunicate the star of the film. It is just as well that I didn’t try, though I was compelled to do so to Pat’s own manager when I got out to California, which I tell about in another article in this issue.

The weekend in California was filled with meetings that could hardly be called mini. While there were some small group sessions, the Restoration Workshop, conducted all day Saturday by the Blossom Hill Church of Christ, was well-attended by folk from a wide area. A good spirit prevailed throughout, and many brethren had their first experience with a unity meeting. Leaders from four different groups of the Restoration Movement shared in the program, but the greatest value was the opportunity for togetherness that involved all those present.

On Lord’s Day it was my pleasure to address three different Churches of Christ in the area, all mainline and all substantial and influential congregations. In each case I was introduced by the minister of the congregation and in each case encouraging words were spoken in reference to our unity efforts. As I flew back to Texas that night I could thank God for moving us far ahead of the timetable as I had it figured. In another decade or so I could envisage the likes of Leroy Garrett being introduced to our congregations and being encouraged to speak on unity. But I was hardly ready for the Lord to move us so quickly, even if it was California where the redwoods grow tall and where men’s spirits tower heavenward.

I felt somewhat like one enterprising brother who thought maybe he could slip me into the class he teaches on Sunday morning and be questioned by some of his eager students, that perhaps there would not be any objection if too much were not made of it. I told him I thought I could do that, but that I would first be addressing his congregation at the main service. “You’re kidding,” he said in disbelief. My reaction was also one of disbelief as I moved from one congregation to the next, three in one day, to address disciples that I supposed would be denied a chance to hear my plea.

But this is not my victory, but that of the brethren who showed themselves willing to hear a controversial person. It proves them to be more mature and freer than most. They have grown tall enough to know that they can give a courteous ear to any well-meaning brother without accepting all he may say.

So, in this one report I am not only chronicling a series of meetings intended to be mini, but also appearances before four of our mainline Churches of Christ at major services. That shows how the Holy Spirit is working with us all, bringing about changes that are surprising. To those who were uneasy over my appearance before their congregation can testify that there were no earthshaking consequences. The roof did not fall in. Pandemonium did not break loose. My lessons were reasonably constrictive and the congregations are probably no worse off because of it. Indeed, they are better off in one sense at least, and that is that they have proved themselves open enough to hear a man who is reputedly different. That makes them stand taller rather than the one they hear.

(In these reports I am deliberately omitting names of persons and congregations that I would prefer to mention because of my love and appreciation for them. But these meetings began as private affairs and I want to cooperate with that intention). --- the Editor