Monday, October 27, 2008
Campus Crusade Part 17
These years that were filled with a lot of joy and excitement
were also tinged with sadness. On July 31, 1976 the Big
Thompson river flood happened in Colorado which calmed
100 lives including 7 Campus Crusade staff women. One of
those women was June Fugiwara. June was one of the students
who came on staff from Western (WWSC) the same year (1971)
that I did. June went to the same church in Bellingham during
her student days and I got to know her during that time.
Below is taken from my September 1976 newsletter.
"I do not actually remember the first time I met June but it
must have been around 1967 or 1968. She was going to
Western (Western Washington State College) at the time.
As I recall she had not been a Christian very long. She had
come to know Christ in a personal way via one of the
televised Billy Graham Crusades.
"June attended Immanuel Bible Church at the same time
faithfully and was involved in the college-career group
on Sunday nights. During those times I saw June as
an energetic, full of life, ease to laugh Hawaiian. She was
very enthusiastic and willing to share readily what the
Lord was doing in her life. Little things and big things.
Answered prayer, people witnessed to, special scripture
verses and a quick smile were qualities that
June had in abundance.
"June was also involved on campus with a Christian student
organization called Campus Crusade for Christ. She was
involved long before my own entrance into the movement.
She became one of the key girl student leaders with her
own action group of other students. Because of this she
became a strong prospect for joining the CCC staff. Being
older than June [I found out later she was about a year
older than myself!] I graduated from WWSC in 1970 and
then took some post graduate work during the remainder
of 1970 and 1971. My primary intention however was to
work with Crusade in seeing our campus saturated with
the gospel. That was an exciting year and we saw our
goal accomplished.
"June continued her student involvement with Crusade
that year invited (along with myself) after her graduation
to Arrowhead Springs for IBS and later new staff training.
After the training we both returned to the Bellingham area
to develop our support team base. I remember very vividly
several weeks into the support time that June had hit a
snag and had run out of contacts. She was pretty discouraged.
I remember at that point I came to see her to cheer her up
and encourage her. Well I don't know if my visit did much
good or not, but she did end up raising her support more
than a month before I saw my own completed!
"June and I kept in touch over the years via prayerletters.
Because of our different locations of service (she in Berkeley,
CA. and later Hawaii) an I at Arrowhead Springs we seldom
saw each other. One of the rare times I did see her was at
Fort Collins last year. I had the privilege of taking her out
to dinner on the 4th of July. It was an excellent time of
fellowship in which we were able to catch up on each others
lives over the past four or five years. June had matured
greatly in the time. The evanescent spirit was still there
but I could see that the years of training and responsibility
had made her increasingly sober and aware of her
commitment to Christ. I noted an increasing concern
in her life for he evangelization of the Asian peoples
for her Lord.
"In the last prayerletter I received from June she enclosed
as a gift a tiny tube of 'leilani' cologne, a very sweet
Hawaiian fragrance. This fragrance was so much like
June and her life.
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His
triumph in Christ and manifests through us the sweet
aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we
are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are
being saved and among those who are perishing.
(II Cor. 2:14, 15)
"This was June and her life and her works. She was
and IS a sweet fragrance to the Lord. I am both sad
and joyful at her homegoing to be with her Savior.
Sad that we can no longer draw upon her enthusiasm
and her talents to use for the work we have here to
do and yet joyous that she is now with her beloved
Savior (II Cor. 5:8)."
Agape,
Don
were also tinged with sadness. On July 31, 1976 the Big
Thompson river flood happened in Colorado which calmed
100 lives including 7 Campus Crusade staff women. One of
those women was June Fugiwara. June was one of the students
who came on staff from Western (WWSC) the same year (1971)
that I did. June went to the same church in Bellingham during
her student days and I got to know her during that time.
Below is taken from my September 1976 newsletter.
"I do not actually remember the first time I met June but it
must have been around 1967 or 1968. She was going to
Western (Western Washington State College) at the time.
As I recall she had not been a Christian very long. She had
come to know Christ in a personal way via one of the
televised Billy Graham Crusades.
"June attended Immanuel Bible Church at the same time
faithfully and was involved in the college-career group
on Sunday nights. During those times I saw June as
an energetic, full of life, ease to laugh Hawaiian. She was
very enthusiastic and willing to share readily what the
Lord was doing in her life. Little things and big things.
Answered prayer, people witnessed to, special scripture
verses and a quick smile were qualities that
June had in abundance.
"June was also involved on campus with a Christian student
organization called Campus Crusade for Christ. She was
involved long before my own entrance into the movement.
She became one of the key girl student leaders with her
own action group of other students. Because of this she
became a strong prospect for joining the CCC staff. Being
older than June [I found out later she was about a year
older than myself!] I graduated from WWSC in 1970 and
then took some post graduate work during the remainder
of 1970 and 1971. My primary intention however was to
work with Crusade in seeing our campus saturated with
the gospel. That was an exciting year and we saw our
goal accomplished.
"June continued her student involvement with Crusade
that year invited (along with myself) after her graduation
to Arrowhead Springs for IBS and later new staff training.
After the training we both returned to the Bellingham area
to develop our support team base. I remember very vividly
several weeks into the support time that June had hit a
snag and had run out of contacts. She was pretty discouraged.
I remember at that point I came to see her to cheer her up
and encourage her. Well I don't know if my visit did much
good or not, but she did end up raising her support more
than a month before I saw my own completed!
"June and I kept in touch over the years via prayerletters.
Because of our different locations of service (she in Berkeley,
CA. and later Hawaii) an I at Arrowhead Springs we seldom
saw each other. One of the rare times I did see her was at
Fort Collins last year. I had the privilege of taking her out
to dinner on the 4th of July. It was an excellent time of
fellowship in which we were able to catch up on each others
lives over the past four or five years. June had matured
greatly in the time. The evanescent spirit was still there
but I could see that the years of training and responsibility
had made her increasingly sober and aware of her
commitment to Christ. I noted an increasing concern
in her life for he evangelization of the Asian peoples
for her Lord.
"In the last prayerletter I received from June she enclosed
as a gift a tiny tube of 'leilani' cologne, a very sweet
Hawaiian fragrance. This fragrance was so much like
June and her life.
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His
triumph in Christ and manifests through us the sweet
aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we
are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are
being saved and among those who are perishing.
(II Cor. 2:14, 15)
"This was June and her life and her works. She was
and IS a sweet fragrance to the Lord. I am both sad
and joyful at her homegoing to be with her Savior.
Sad that we can no longer draw upon her enthusiasm
and her talents to use for the work we have here to
do and yet joyous that she is now with her beloved
Savior (II Cor. 5:8)."
Agape,
Don
Monday, October 20, 2008
Campus Crusade Part 16
During those years I did do some non-ministry related vacations.
This is taken from my June 1976 prayerletter.
"Recently one of my roommates, Steve Bradshaw and myself
took a week off for vacation and took a trip up the California
coastline. We had a great time, relaxing and unwinding
from our work schedules. We did a little of everything from
sunbathing on the beaches, beachcombing, camping, hiking,
sightseeing and picture taking. I would highly recommend
the trip up the California coast to you as it is very beautiful
we stopped at Heart Castle and spent several days in San
Francisco. In San Francisco we rode on the cable cars,
visited Chinatown and Fisherman's wharf and even took
a boat trip and tour of Alcartez Island (Steve works in a
prison ministry). All in all it was a tremendous week."
As I recall this was probably the first actual vacation that
I had since joining CCC staff.
Steve was a great travel companion. He was quite outgoing
and a good talker and very interested in other people.
Another year Steve and I took a short vacation trip to see
the Grand Canyon which was the first time I had visited
this fantastic natural wonder. Steve soon left Southern
California to start his own prison ministry in in his native
Oklahoma. When Steve left our home situation on
Hampshire many of us were disappointed on one hand
but excited about what the Lord would do through Steve
in the years ahead.
In July of 1976 I again attended the San Diego Comic Con.
This was an escpecially memorable year. One of the major
guests was popular science fiction/fantasy writer Ray Bradbury.
Bradbury had written on othe the modern science fiction
classics called the Martian Chronicles. During the convention
the Viking I Mars lander touched do on the surface of Mars.
This was the first time an Earth vehicle had landed successfully
on this planet. Ray Bradbury was absolutely beside himself and
ecstatic that he was able to witness the fulfillment of his long
time dream of an Earth connection to the Red planet.
This was certainly a historic event comparable to what happened
on July 20, 1969 when Neil Armstrong first set foot on Lunar
soil being the first man on the moon.
This is taken from my June 1976 prayerletter.
"Recently one of my roommates, Steve Bradshaw and myself
took a week off for vacation and took a trip up the California
coastline. We had a great time, relaxing and unwinding
from our work schedules. We did a little of everything from
sunbathing on the beaches, beachcombing, camping, hiking,
sightseeing and picture taking. I would highly recommend
the trip up the California coast to you as it is very beautiful
we stopped at Heart Castle and spent several days in San
Francisco. In San Francisco we rode on the cable cars,
visited Chinatown and Fisherman's wharf and even took
a boat trip and tour of Alcartez Island (Steve works in a
prison ministry). All in all it was a tremendous week."
As I recall this was probably the first actual vacation that
I had since joining CCC staff.
Steve was a great travel companion. He was quite outgoing
and a good talker and very interested in other people.
Another year Steve and I took a short vacation trip to see
the Grand Canyon which was the first time I had visited
this fantastic natural wonder. Steve soon left Southern
California to start his own prison ministry in in his native
Oklahoma. When Steve left our home situation on
Hampshire many of us were disappointed on one hand
but excited about what the Lord would do through Steve
in the years ahead.
In July of 1976 I again attended the San Diego Comic Con.
This was an escpecially memorable year. One of the major
guests was popular science fiction/fantasy writer Ray Bradbury.
Bradbury had written on othe the modern science fiction
classics called the Martian Chronicles. During the convention
the Viking I Mars lander touched do on the surface of Mars.
This was the first time an Earth vehicle had landed successfully
on this planet. Ray Bradbury was absolutely beside himself and
ecstatic that he was able to witness the fulfillment of his long
time dream of an Earth connection to the Red planet.
This was certainly a historic event comparable to what happened
on July 20, 1969 when Neil Armstrong first set foot on Lunar
soil being the first man on the moon.
Monday, October 06, 2008
Rex Allen Days
I attended the Rex Allen Days Celebration in Willcox, AZ Oct 4, 2008. I went with two friends
James B and Richard K. Willcox is about a hour and a half drive east of Tucson.
We went to the Parade, visited several museums including the Rex Allen Museum,
attended the Rodeo and had a great dinner at one of the local eateries. We had
a great time. Willcox is the real America.
These photos were taken on Oct 4, 2008 in Willcox, AZ at the Rex Allen Days Parade and
the Rex Allen Rodeo. The first photo is Richard K. (left) and James B. in front of the Rex
Allen statue on Railroad Avenue.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Campus Crusade Part 15
Campus Crusade's policy toward the local church was one
of assisting and integration. It was expected that Campus
Crusade staff members were to join a local church within
a three month (90 day) period of arriving at their ministry
assignment. After some visiting of local churches I settled
in (and shortly joined) the Faith Bible Church of
San Bernardino, CA. I stayed with the church the entire
tenure with Campus Crusade.
The major thing that attracted me to the church was the clear
and expository preaching of the pastor, Leman Wendt. I
certainly learned a lesson in choosing a church that there
should be a number of factors that go into that decision.
Within a year Pastor Wendt announced that he was leaving
the church. He had a twenty year ministry in Faith Bible
Church and he apparently felt a need to move on. I believe
he later retired within a few years from full time ministry.
The next minister who was called by the church was
Rev. Thomas Kimbrough. Pastor Kimbrough was a very
forceful speaker who was more topical in his sermon delivery.
Pastor Kimbourgh served at FBC for around four years
(if my memory is serving). The next pastor was Dr. Jack
Teachout who was still serving the church when I left the
area in 1982. Dr. Teachout was a former missionary and
a very friendly, approachable man who had a vision for
building the church.
Several other Campus Staff attended FBC during the time
I was there. Ralph and Jackie Rittenhouse served as
part time minister of music. Bill Knop (my first supervisor
in the Campus Crusade's Tape dept.) and his family also
served in the church. Henry and Beverly Schneider who
worked in Campus Crusade's Lay ministry attended the
church. John and Donna Stark were members and regular
attenders. As I mentioned earlier John unsuccessfully ran
for Congress several times against the entrenched
incumbent, George Brown.
My involvement in the church was mostly as an
member/attender. I substitute taught Sunday School
several times and otherwise took part in various activities
of the church. I was involved in the churches AWANA
program as a listener for a couple of years. A listener is
one who listens to the Awana children's Bible verses
that they have memorize. I enjoyed this involvement as
it was at the other end of the age spectrum of my convalescent
hospital ministry.
The church was a member of the IFCA and was (and still is)
conservative in their theology. They had initiated a regional
annual Prophecy conference in which they bought in notable
speakers from around the nation. This was during the time
of Hal Lindsay's The Late Great Planet Earth, the 1973
Kom Kippur War, the Arab oil embargo, the height of the
hippie counterculture, the Vietnam War and the Cold War.
Many in evangelical circles were concerned about seeing
sights of the end times. Even though we all knew about the
Biblical taboo about date setting for the second coming of
Christ we thirsted for information on—might these be the
end times? Well known passages such as Ezekial 38 and 39
and Matthew 25 were examined repeatedly as current events
seemed to be falling into place for the arrival of Armageddon
and the Anti-Christ. In 1989-91 the Soviet Union collapsed
which seemed to push back the prophetic timetable. Just
recently a revived Russian military has flexed it muscles in
the squashing of the Georgian armed forces in the Caucasus
region of Eurasia. Russia again is emerging as a military force
to be reckoned with. The early and mid 1970s was just before
the emergence of Radical Islam with the take over of Iran.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of my involvement at
Faith Bible Church was being on the Board of the San Bernardino
Christian School (K-6) which met on the church facilities.
During my time on the Board (around 2 years) Mr. Don Garrison
was the Chairman and the other Board members were Bill Dodson,
Roger Hargrave, and Mitchell Burgress. Ida Gallagher was the
school superintendent. Being a single man I felt somewhat
unqualified and flattered about being asked to be on the Board
of a School. My actual input was fairly minimal which required
attending meetings and voting on specific school related issues,
approving budget proposals and so forth. It was a good learning
experience and was curtailed by my moving to the San Gabriel
Valley to work with the Narramore Christian Foundation in 1982.
Faith Bible Church during that time was a loyal Bible believing,
Bible teaching church that held a consistent morally sound
testimony in the San Bernardino community. I was glad to have
been a part of the Faith Bible Church family during those years.
of assisting and integration. It was expected that Campus
Crusade staff members were to join a local church within
a three month (90 day) period of arriving at their ministry
assignment. After some visiting of local churches I settled
in (and shortly joined) the Faith Bible Church of
San Bernardino, CA. I stayed with the church the entire
tenure with Campus Crusade.
The major thing that attracted me to the church was the clear
and expository preaching of the pastor, Leman Wendt. I
certainly learned a lesson in choosing a church that there
should be a number of factors that go into that decision.
Within a year Pastor Wendt announced that he was leaving
the church. He had a twenty year ministry in Faith Bible
Church and he apparently felt a need to move on. I believe
he later retired within a few years from full time ministry.
The next minister who was called by the church was
Rev. Thomas Kimbrough. Pastor Kimbrough was a very
forceful speaker who was more topical in his sermon delivery.
Pastor Kimbourgh served at FBC for around four years
(if my memory is serving). The next pastor was Dr. Jack
Teachout who was still serving the church when I left the
area in 1982. Dr. Teachout was a former missionary and
a very friendly, approachable man who had a vision for
building the church.
Several other Campus Staff attended FBC during the time
I was there. Ralph and Jackie Rittenhouse served as
part time minister of music. Bill Knop (my first supervisor
in the Campus Crusade's Tape dept.) and his family also
served in the church. Henry and Beverly Schneider who
worked in Campus Crusade's Lay ministry attended the
church. John and Donna Stark were members and regular
attenders. As I mentioned earlier John unsuccessfully ran
for Congress several times against the entrenched
incumbent, George Brown.
My involvement in the church was mostly as an
member/attender. I substitute taught Sunday School
several times and otherwise took part in various activities
of the church. I was involved in the churches AWANA
program as a listener for a couple of years. A listener is
one who listens to the Awana children's Bible verses
that they have memorize. I enjoyed this involvement as
it was at the other end of the age spectrum of my convalescent
hospital ministry.
The church was a member of the IFCA and was (and still is)
conservative in their theology. They had initiated a regional
annual Prophecy conference in which they bought in notable
speakers from around the nation. This was during the time
of Hal Lindsay's The Late Great Planet Earth, the 1973
Kom Kippur War, the Arab oil embargo, the height of the
hippie counterculture, the Vietnam War and the Cold War.
Many in evangelical circles were concerned about seeing
sights of the end times. Even though we all knew about the
Biblical taboo about date setting for the second coming of
Christ we thirsted for information on—might these be the
end times? Well known passages such as Ezekial 38 and 39
and Matthew 25 were examined repeatedly as current events
seemed to be falling into place for the arrival of Armageddon
and the Anti-Christ. In 1989-91 the Soviet Union collapsed
which seemed to push back the prophetic timetable. Just
recently a revived Russian military has flexed it muscles in
the squashing of the Georgian armed forces in the Caucasus
region of Eurasia. Russia again is emerging as a military force
to be reckoned with. The early and mid 1970s was just before
the emergence of Radical Islam with the take over of Iran.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of my involvement at
Faith Bible Church was being on the Board of the San Bernardino
Christian School (K-6) which met on the church facilities.
During my time on the Board (around 2 years) Mr. Don Garrison
was the Chairman and the other Board members were Bill Dodson,
Roger Hargrave, and Mitchell Burgress. Ida Gallagher was the
school superintendent. Being a single man I felt somewhat
unqualified and flattered about being asked to be on the Board
of a School. My actual input was fairly minimal which required
attending meetings and voting on specific school related issues,
approving budget proposals and so forth. It was a good learning
experience and was curtailed by my moving to the San Gabriel
Valley to work with the Narramore Christian Foundation in 1982.
Faith Bible Church during that time was a loyal Bible believing,
Bible teaching church that held a consistent morally sound
testimony in the San Bernardino community. I was glad to have
been a part of the Faith Bible Church family during those years.
Labels: Don Garrison, Faith Bible Church, Jack Teachout, Leman Wendt, Roger Hargrave, Thomas Kimbrough
