OUR CHANGING WORLD

 

A woman in Alturas, Ca. recently expressed her frustration to the Christian Standard relative to her life in a Church of Christ. “Little did I ever dream that I would be living in a tiny town and attending a non-instrumental church where a woman’s place is to be a silent observer,” she wrote, confessing her frustration, and added: “I know there must be many women in the same position.” This sister may have pointed to one of our more serious sins, the way we treat our women. The more aggressive ones can, of course, carve out their own ministry in their communities, but Body life in the assembly can and must include a greater role for our sisters.

The Council on Christian Unity of the Disciples of Christ is setting up a fund in honor of Peter Ainslie (1867-1934), the purpose of which is “to continue his ongoing witness to Christian unity in a strife-torn world.” Those of you who read my history of our Movement will know how highly I esteem this prophet of Christian unity. He has challenged all our people as few men have. Most of us are unwilling to be as bold in attacking “the scandal of Christianity,” as he described the divided church, as did Peter Ainslie. If you are interested in more information, write the Council at Box 1986, Indianapolis 46206.

The Southwest Church of Christ in Houston is creating a chaplaincy ministry at the famous M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute. A full time chaplain will help minister to the 2,000 patients that are treated each day, 50 of whom are members of Churches of Christ. The church hopes to extend this program to a corp of chaplains who will serve all eight hospitals of the Texas Medical Center.

We have told you before of the ministry of R. O. Brinkley, a brother who for many years has made evangelistic visits to India with satisfying results. He does this on his own, trusting the Lord that his needs will be met, which are modest, and they always are. This summer he is to be joined by 15 young people with construction skills, who will help the Indians repair or erect meetinghouses. If you want to help, write Gospel Partners, Box 253, Tryon, NC 28782.

At the spring commencement Abilene Christian University conferred 688 degrees. Willard Tate, formerly ACU’s basketball coach, addressed the graduates, telling them, “If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you don’t have it, no matter what else there is, it’s not enough. “

The founder of Wycliffe Bible Translators, W. C. Townsend, died April 23 at age 85. He was a missionary to the ethnic minorities of the world for 65 years, his chief concern being to give them the Scriptures in their own language. Challenged in his youth by a Guatemalan with “If your God is so great, why doesn’t He speak our language?,” he began a work that has resulted in Scripture being translated into 900 minority languages. Hailed by Billy Graham as the greatest missionary of our time, Townsend will continue to inspire Wycliffe’s translation work, which reports that they still have 3,000 languages to go.