| February 20, 2000 |
Vol. II, No. 43
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[Ed. Note: With this issue we mark the tenth anniversary of the beginning of this congregation. The following article originally appeared in the May/June, 1990 issue of "Spreading The Word." We have edited it somewhat because of certain personal references. Note that the writer refers to the congregation as "the York congregation," but it later came to be called the Wrightsville church of Christ. After we moved to the present location that name was changed to Susquehanna church of Christ. It might also be noted that our history is not quite complete without also noting the history of the group that met in Lancaster Co. from June of 1981 until spring of 1994, but that history will have to wait till some other time. --crj]
"And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in and honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance" (Luke 8:15). Throughout His earthly ministry Jesus was constantly amazing people with His teaching and miracles (Mt. 7:28; 19:25; Mk. 2:12; Lk. 4:36; 9:43). Interestingly, there were only two things that caused Jesus to be amazed by the people around Him: great faith, and, a great lack of faith! He questioned the lack of faith in those who doubted in Him and apparently should have known better (Mt. 8:26; 14:31; 23:37). But the Lord seemed to be most amazed when He was confronted by great faith that came from strange and unexpected quarters (Mt. 8:10; 15:28; Lk. 7:44-50). Even the Son of Man could not help but marvel when the seed of truth He sowed fell on soil that was sincere and honest, living, as we do, in a world so utterly filled with insincerity and dishonesty. Jesus rejoiced when He found a virtuous heart. Like the Master, every soul winner today is filled with happiness upon finding a noble and pure heart that will accept the truth "with great eagerness" (Acts 17:11). Our quest for such is long and hard, but when successful we cannot help but glorify God and encourage one another with the news that some are receptive to the Message (Acts 15:4). That is the reason for this article. I have been blessed to find some virtuous hearts in York, Pennsylvania and would like to share with you that story. My hope is to be able to encourage others to know that the fertile soil is there; God will help us find it if we pray for guidance and never grow weary in sowing the seed.
"And the seed in the good soil..." The city of York is about an hour's drive east of Gettysburg, PA where my family and I have been living the last year and a half. Numerical growth in the church at Gettysburg is slow. Like many places, denominational traditions and indifference to the truth have the town in their grip. Lack of conversions was not due to an unwillingness to work and teach on the part of the saints here. They are willing workers and concerned about the lost. Even the Lord faced such difficult places (Mt. 13:54-58). Prayer was being made by one and all that the Lord might direct us to those honest hearts, and bless the many efforts being expended by the church here. Little did anyone realize that the door that Lord would open would be in another town nearby.
A man from York published a letter to the editor in the Gettysburg Times paper about six months ago. His letter expressed great dissatisfaction with the United Church Of Christ (UCC.) of which he is a member. I made a trip to the library, got the York directory and located his address and phone number. I wrote to him thanking him for his courage to put his convictions on the line (something that some Christians are afraid to do), explained to him that the things he pointed out In his letter were biblically correct, and asked If he would like to discuss other points of doctrine where the UCC is amiss. He answered and said he would welcome such a discussion. The day after receiving his letter I met with him and his wife at their home in York. We had a good discussion, however, in that discussion and two following talks I could see that baptism was going to be a problem. He kept bringing it up, denying that water baptism was essential to salvation. He had been heavily Indoctrinated with the Charles Stanley/Billy Graham plan of salvation by faith alone. He finally severed all discussion we were having and refused to have me come back. That really hurt since he was seeing the truth cleanly on other matters.
About a month later I received a call from a woman in York who had gotten my phone number from this man before he discontinued our talks. She too was frustrated over UCC doctrine and wanted to talk with me. I first met with her, then her family. They are Ray and Louetta Hilt and their two sons. we began having a class each Monday night. The class grew in number every single week! They kept inviting virtually everyone they were related to or friends with. The class grew from six to about 16 in just a few weeks. In addition to that class they had me conducting other classes throughout the week both in the daytime and evening hours. It was quite common to have ten or 12 people in each class (including my teaching companions I'll mention later). At one point In time there were as many as six different Bible studies in progress each week involving at least two dozen people. Eventually each of the four members of the Hilt family was baptized. Who says "household baptisms" necessarily involve infants! Four others obeyed the gospel shortly after. Still other relatives and friends gave their lives to Christ until, in all, 14 were numbered among the saved in just a few months. There are others who are close to the truth at this writing, and still classes continue to be conducted with new students nearly every week. Because of the great faith and zeal of these new Christians I continue to meet mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends of these people as they steadfastly endeavor to save the souls of everyone they know! We continue to teach the truth to folks coming out of the Catholic, Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist, and UCC churches. I don't know where this will all end. I hope it never does And it all started with a letter to the editor in the local newspaper! That was the beginning of the answer to many prayers.
"...Heard the word in an honest and good heart..." The long drive to Gettysburg to worship with the saints was no obstacle to these new soldiers. Some had to drive nearly an hour and a half each way each Lord's day to meet with other Christians at first. They were thankful for the opportunity. They spent the entire day as often as possible to take advantage of association with others of like precious faith. Their dedication is seen in every facet of their lives...
Rich and Charlene are two others whose purity of heart overcame their previous indoctrination in Episcopal Church doctrine. Rich was already seeing the truth in many areas but was struggling with the thought of deceased loved ones not having been properly baptized. Finally he realized he could change no one s eternal destiny but his own. And he did. Todd is a young man who was at the point of tears one night because he saw that his Methodist minister, a man whom he loved and respected, was not teaching the truth. He gave his life to Christ just a few weeks ago. Then there is Gladys who was silently weeping in one of our worship services not long ago. When asked why she simply replied, "This is the most wonderful thing I've ever known." The Hilt family has been involved In Bible studies with family members that have run the emotional gamut from intense anger and resentment to tears and even ridicule. Their faith in the truth only increases.
"...And hold it fast..." One thing that has impressed me most from all of this is the zeal these people have shown in their efforts to teach others in their former denominational churches. Each one realized immediately the need to save others. And, they started at the right place: at the top! Louetta Hilt and Nita Smith first approached the UCC "pastor" about church doctrine. When he rejected the truth on salvation and the one New Testament church they went to the head of the consistory (a ruling body In the church). They met him one afternoon in a Wendy's restaurant. Louetta described the meeting this way, "Nita and I walked in with our Bibles under our arms, but he didn't have one. He had all this intelligence, but he didn't have a Bible, and he didn't have the truth." They already knew that "the foolishness of God is wiser than men." Nita talked further with the church pastor about scriptural baptism until he finally felt compelled to deliver a sermon on infant baptism. The sermon was taped and most all the new converts have listened to it. His false reasoning and misuse of scripture only deepened everyone s new faith in the truth!
Mark and Jay Hilt (18 and 20 years of age) studied the subject of baptism with a Methodist preacher. He became so frustrated by their knowledge of the truth he finally exclaimed, "Please stop quoting the Bible to me!" Joe Wallick has studied Catholic doctrine so intensely in an effort to convert his mother that I think he knows more about it than the Pope. The entire group hat been referred to as a "cult" and a D.R.G. ("Dangerous Religious Group"). They are turning the world upside down, and the world in York is feeling the weight of the truth (Acts 17:6). Through all this, the greater the persecution, the more these new Christians go about preaching the word (Acts 8:4). Opposition to the truth only stirs their spiritual adrenaline. Their hearts are saddened by those who reject the word, but they will not stop proclaiming Christ to all within reach.
"...And bear fruit with perseverance..." Never before have I had new converts ask me to teach them all the lessons they just learned that brought them to salvation over again so that they could teach others, but that Is a common occurrence here. Whenever a class was arranged with someone new, several of the new Christians were present because they wanted to go through the material again and again to make sure they could effectively teach their friends and acquaintances. What a lesson for the church today! In many congregations today a preacher has to spend much of his time trying to convince the brethren of the need for "personal evangelism." I have heard preachers who work with congregations of a hundred souls or more say that there is just a handful of brethren they can depend on to teach the lost in their community. If not for the lack of desire, it is often due to a lack of knowledge, both of the Bible and of how to teach the Bible. This new work in York has proven to me once again that "Where there's a will, there's a way." Many of us need to create within us a stronger will (desire) to save the lost. When we do, we will find a way, no matter what the cost.
York Co. has a population of over three hundred and fifty thousand. Prior to this new work, there were only two congregations of the Lord's church there, and both have digressed from the truth regarding the work of the church... The group began meeting in the home of the Hilt's at first, but outgrew those accommodations almost immediately The Lord blessed the church with a building that is large enough to permit much future growth and is well equipped with most everything needed for worship services. This work was sorely needed. Now the truth can be proclaimed in that area by sound, faithful Christians.
In conclusion, I am eternally indebted to Percy Wilson, Jr. and his... hard work in all of this. Percy is a former member of Gettysburg but lives in York. He is now a member there and continues to help in teaching classes with the brethren. Percy teaches a class for the young people each Wednesday night and a class on the life of Christ each Sunday. He also has encouraged the brethren to meet each. Tuesday night to provide opportunity to learn hymns and spiritual songs. In addition to this he preaches whenever I am unable to be there. Perhaps to encourage those among our readers I should mention that Percy is legally blind. He has only a little sight in one eye which necessitates the use of a specially made ocular lens. With this aid he is able to magnify the written page enough to study and teach God's word. It is a disability which would give a spiritually weak Christian a "good excuse" not to teach others. Percy wouldn't even consider such a thing.
Finally, let me say to all preachers and congregations of brethren everywhere: a man can do "located" work, faithfully discharging all his responsibilities in regard to edifying the saved in the local church, while working in nearby communities saving the lost and beginning new works if the need exists. I am fully aware of the fact that I am by no means alone in this kind of work, and have always had infinite respect for those men who have labored thus in places around the globe. But I am also aware that some preachers and churches seem to think that a preacher's place is in the building! Some seem to seek to confine his work only to those who comprise that particular local church, visiting the nearby hospital and funeral home when needed. One can do that work, yet reach out and do much more if he will but "look on the fields, that they are white for harvest." I commend the brethren at Gettysburg for having the insight and love for the lost to allow me to do all within my power to teach others within reach. The men here have gladly taken advantage of the opportunity to preach in my stead during those times I am at York. I love and appreciate them for it
Beloved let us all preach and teach the word with boldness and persistence. Don't forget to "beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the harvest." But, be ready. God answers prayer! You may be the very one He will select.
--Denny Freeman April 23, 1990