OAK HILL CHAPEL

(In view of the foregoing analysis of the Churches of Christ at the World’s Fair this description of a congregation in St. Louis will stand in interesting contrast, and it will serve to point up some of the things I had in mind in my criticism. Note, for example, the place of “church.” The letter that follows, a personal one to the editor from Carl Ketcherside, one of the leaders at Oak Hill, tells still more about this community of believers.—the Editor)

What is it? What kind of people attend there? What do they believe? How do they live? We would like to answer some of these questions for you. The sign in front of the building carries the slogan: “A Meeting Place For Christians.” And Oak Hill Chapel is just that. It is the intention to make any Christian feel at home in whatever condition he may be. Lonely, forsaken, depressed, forgotten, driven out—he will find a welcome awaiting!

The folk at Oak Hill Chapel are not so much a church as they are a family—the family of God. There are babies, there are schoolchildren, there are teen-agers, there are young married people and there are older folk. All are loved, respected and received because Christ loves us all. There are university-trained men and women, there are others who had little opportunity for formal education—but all recognize a deep need for help from without in coping with this world and its problems. All know the value of a helping hand in times of doubt and despair.

They believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. That is their only creed. There is no other written statement to which men must subscribe. The Bible is revered as the message of God from heaven. The New Covenant Scriptures constitute their guidebook on the road to heaven. Each person is encouraged to read it for himself. The deductions and opinions that he derives from his study do not constitute tests of fellowship. He is asked to retain them as private and not seek to bind them upon others further than they can personally agree.

Members of the fellowship feel that baptism is a validation of one’s faith and commitment to Jesus. It is always performed by immersion, in which one is buried in the likeness of the death of Jesus and raised in the likeness of His resurrection. By this act one crucifies the world unto himself. The Lord’s Supper is observed every Sunday as a visible token of the fellowship which exists. These two ordinances are the only ones that are kept. The first is an introduction into the fellowship; the second a constant reminder of the fellowship which is ours with each other and with the Lord.

We are saddened to admit that sometimes we do not measure up to our own standards for living. We try, but the problems of the world are as great for us as they are for anyone else. We tend to become angry when we ought not, to be neglectful when we ought to be constant, and to fail ourselves and others. We thank God that whatever state we are in our Father knows. We can ask Him for forgiveness, crave His pardon, and He will respond. We are deeply appreciative of His marvelous grace and’ thankful for the Holy Spirit, who acts as our companion and help, even when we grieve Him. We are often in prayer.

We are resolved that we will help humanity with its problems. We regularly send every month to those in need, at home and abroad. We never ask the religious inclination of one who is in need, because we act out of compassion, following the example of our Lord. Racial, ethnic, and other circumstances of birth do not enter into consideration. The only thing that counts is the need of the one whom we assist. We are firmly resolved to resist every sectarian tendency and to be God’s people only.

Oak Hill Chapel has but one enemy—Satan. It is our intention to regard every child of God on earth as our brother or sister, to treat them as such and to receive them as God has received us. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. So we invite all of you who have been driven before the lash of this world to come and find a haven of rest among us. We exist for the good we can do and for no other reason.

There is no clergyman at Oak Hill Chapel. You will listen to men who go to work every day just as you do, but who love Jesus more than anyone or anything else. They will edify you, uplift you, help you, and their testimonies to the faith will strengthen you for the problems you must face. We exist for those who need us. If you’d like to work for Jesus come and visit us. It would be such a thrill to meet you. Commit yourself to His cause.

Dear Leroy:

I am delighted with your report of your reception at Macrorie and I wish you could have known Grannie’s husband, T. W. Banting. He was quite a case. Everyone in the area knew Wilber Banting. He was as solid as a rock. The older Tweedie folk also were something else. They came from a place Nell and I had visited in Scotland and they used to like to talk about it. Their brogue was as pronounced as when they left their native land. You could slice it with a knife like tomatoes, and sometimes it was almost as sharp.

When Elgin called and told me they were in a strait for a speaker I immediately told him to lose no more sleep, that you would come and they would like you. I did not know at the time you might be ill but I give thanks to the Father that you survived. Praise His name for your going.

We are in the process of getting ready to cast all on one toss of the dice. We have decided to opt for a satellite congregation in the real inner city where we can help the weak and weary. We will maintain Oak Hill Chapel as a force behind the outpost and will have two congregations. But we have also decided that starting the first of the New Year we will invite a different speaker to address us every Sunday night. We are having a doctor, a preacher from the Wesleyan Church, a young man from the Apostolic Christian faith, an eminent Disciples of Christ man, one from the Chinese Gospel Church, a man from the Halfway House, a Presbyterian missionary, a Chinese Baptist. We are in for a good time. Please pray for us. I have the first three months filled up and we are starting on the fourth month with a representative of the Slavic Gospel Association. God be with you, keep you, make His face to shine upon you. Yours and HIS,