Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Narramore Years Part 4
Dr. Narramore and Ruth and their two children, Melodie and Kevin
often performed as a family singing group during the Seminars and
other events. The Narramore family were all very musically talented.
After work while waiting to go home Dr. Narramore often sat down
at the NCF piano and played classical religious and classical pieces
from memory. The Narramores were gracious hosts and usually had
dinners for the Seminar attendees at their Pasadena home. I,
as an often "holiday orphan," spent several nice Christmas or
Thanksgiving meals with the family. Melodie Narramore was
a drama instructor at Biola university and later California
Baptist College (Riverside). Kevin Narramore specialized in
organizational psychology and later became a consultant. My contact
with the younger Narramores was somewhat limited during the
time I worked there.
Dr. Narramore was well connected within the contemporary
evangelical Christian movement. When Billy Graham needed
counseling for his employees he would contact Dr. Narramore.
During the seminars there were different devotional speakers
that were lined up to challenge the attendees. One morning
Chuck Smith, the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement,
spoke. Dr. Narramore enjoyed telling a story about a young
graduate psychological student who came to him for advise.
This student was preparing to launch a career in the counseling
field and asked Dr. Narramore whether there was room in the
field of Christian psychology for other workers such as himself.
Dr. Narramore encourage the young man to avail himself of the
opportunity to enter Christian psychology. There was more than
enough room in the then pioneering field. This young man was
James Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family.
often performed as a family singing group during the Seminars and
other events. The Narramore family were all very musically talented.
After work while waiting to go home Dr. Narramore often sat down
at the NCF piano and played classical religious and classical pieces
from memory. The Narramores were gracious hosts and usually had
dinners for the Seminar attendees at their Pasadena home. I,
as an often "holiday orphan," spent several nice Christmas or
Thanksgiving meals with the family. Melodie Narramore was
a drama instructor at Biola university and later California
Baptist College (Riverside). Kevin Narramore specialized in
organizational psychology and later became a consultant. My contact
with the younger Narramores was somewhat limited during the
time I worked there.
Dr. Narramore was well connected within the contemporary
evangelical Christian movement. When Billy Graham needed
counseling for his employees he would contact Dr. Narramore.
During the seminars there were different devotional speakers
that were lined up to challenge the attendees. One morning
Chuck Smith, the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement,
spoke. Dr. Narramore enjoyed telling a story about a young
graduate psychological student who came to him for advise.
This student was preparing to launch a career in the counseling
field and asked Dr. Narramore whether there was room in the
field of Christian psychology for other workers such as himself.
Dr. Narramore encourage the young man to avail himself of the
opportunity to enter Christian psychology. There was more than
enough room in the then pioneering field. This young man was
James Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Narramore Years Part 3
Within the realm of Christian psychology there are various schools
of thought. Some schools are very critical of others claiming that
they have adopted too much of secular psychology to the detriment
of Biblical principles. I admit that that is something I that I did not
examine or study with any kind of thoroughtness. Dr Narramore was
a sound Christian man and the organization had a good doctrinal
statement and was sensitive to overt aberrant teaching. NCF offered
a referral service of Christian counselors across the country. They
were very sensitive that people be directed to good, sound Christian
counselors and would drop any counselor who was not adhering to
solid Christian doctrine as well as compatible psychological principles.
The people I worked with closest with at Narramore were those
associated with the publications. Roy Mathison was NCF's chief
designer/artist who started with Dr. Narramore in the late 1960s.
His desire to semi-retire in 1982 was the reason I was able to
come in. Roy turned 65 that year and was wanting "to back off"
from full time work. After I came Roy cut his time to four days
a week and within a year it was three days a week. By perhaps
1990 he was coming in two days a week and by the move from
the Rosemead campus in June 1996 he was coming in one day.
After 14 years Roy fully retired from NCF at age 80 in 1996.
Roy was a joy to work with. He did article illustrations and a
monthly cartoon for the magazine. Roy's background was varied.
Roy and his wife Phyllis were from Algona, Iowa. During the 1940s
he produced single panel cartoons and comic strips for a small
midwestern newspaper syndicate. He and Phyllis and their
growing family moved to Southern California. He worked with
the calendar publisher, Brown & Bigelow. He later worked with
Child Evangelism Fellowship as an artist and was involved in
designing one of their popular evangelistic tools of the period.
When Child Evangelism decided to move their headquarters
outside California Roy not wanting to move was able to get a
position with Dr. Narramore. Roy and Phyllis live in Whittier,
California (near Rosemead) and I was a welcomed guest in their
home on numerous occasions. Since Roy and I shared an interest
in cartooning we enjoyed many pleasant conversations
about the art form.
I worked closely with Mrs Ruth Narramore, wife of Dr. Clyde
Narramore. Mrs Narramore had taken over the editorship of
the organization's magazine, Psychology for Living, some time
before I arrived. Mrs Narramore, a highly intelligent and
talented woman, was a very gifted musician. My procedure in
working with Mrs Narramore was similar to the process at Campus
Crusade. I would come up with illustration ideas for the articles
in the magazine and then I'd present them to her for her evaluation
and approval before going ahead with the layout production.
of thought. Some schools are very critical of others claiming that
they have adopted too much of secular psychology to the detriment
of Biblical principles. I admit that that is something I that I did not
examine or study with any kind of thoroughtness. Dr Narramore was
a sound Christian man and the organization had a good doctrinal
statement and was sensitive to overt aberrant teaching. NCF offered
a referral service of Christian counselors across the country. They
were very sensitive that people be directed to good, sound Christian
counselors and would drop any counselor who was not adhering to
solid Christian doctrine as well as compatible psychological principles.
The people I worked with closest with at Narramore were those
associated with the publications. Roy Mathison was NCF's chief
designer/artist who started with Dr. Narramore in the late 1960s.
His desire to semi-retire in 1982 was the reason I was able to
come in. Roy turned 65 that year and was wanting "to back off"
from full time work. After I came Roy cut his time to four days
a week and within a year it was three days a week. By perhaps
1990 he was coming in two days a week and by the move from
the Rosemead campus in June 1996 he was coming in one day.
After 14 years Roy fully retired from NCF at age 80 in 1996.
Roy was a joy to work with. He did article illustrations and a
monthly cartoon for the magazine. Roy's background was varied.
Roy and his wife Phyllis were from Algona, Iowa. During the 1940s
he produced single panel cartoons and comic strips for a small
midwestern newspaper syndicate. He and Phyllis and their
growing family moved to Southern California. He worked with
the calendar publisher, Brown & Bigelow. He later worked with
Child Evangelism Fellowship as an artist and was involved in
designing one of their popular evangelistic tools of the period.
When Child Evangelism decided to move their headquarters
outside California Roy not wanting to move was able to get a
position with Dr. Narramore. Roy and Phyllis live in Whittier,
California (near Rosemead) and I was a welcomed guest in their
home on numerous occasions. Since Roy and I shared an interest
in cartooning we enjoyed many pleasant conversations
about the art form.
I worked closely with Mrs Ruth Narramore, wife of Dr. Clyde
Narramore. Mrs Narramore had taken over the editorship of
the organization's magazine, Psychology for Living, some time
before I arrived. Mrs Narramore, a highly intelligent and
talented woman, was a very gifted musician. My procedure in
working with Mrs Narramore was similar to the process at Campus
Crusade. I would come up with illustration ideas for the articles
in the magazine and then I'd present them to her for her evaluation
and approval before going ahead with the layout production.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Narramore Years Part 2
The NCF ministries has developed over a period of many years.
Dr. Narramore was a psychologist with the Los Angeles Unified
School District and in his share time developed a ministry
speaking in churches and other groups about mental and
emotional problems and how those relate to the Bible and
the Christian experience. Dr. Narramore had a a vision for
the integration of the Bible with sound psychological principles.
He established the Narramore Christian Foundation to address
these issues on a popular/lay level. When the Rosemead facility
was built it added greatly to the potential of helping people with
their mental/emotional issues. Rather than Dr. Narramore
spending a weekend church conference in Pennsylvania where
he could at best only lightly touch on important issues there
were seminars at Rosemead that could go into much more depth
over a greater period of time.
These seminars were aimed at specific groups. There were seminars
for Business People & Professionals ( 1 week); Laymen (1 week);
Ministers & Missionaries (2 1/2 weeks); Teachers & Educators
(1 week); and Missionary Kids (2 1/2 weeks). The Laymen's seminar
was given at least twice a year and the others once a year.
The seminars included lengthy and intensive psychological
testing (written), lectures by the Narramore staff and guest
speakers, and group work. The group work consisted of the
conferees splitting up into several small groups and going
over the material that had been presented during the lectures
and class sessions. For those who wanted it individual counseling
with a trained therapist was also provided during the seminars.
For those receiving this type of specialized help they were
encouraged upon returning home after the seminar to seek out
a qualified Christian counselor to continue work on their issues.
The seminars were designed for people who were functioning
individuals. People with severe emotional or mental problems
or handicaps were not invited to the seminars as they needed
more intensive help than a week or two week seminar could deal with.
About two years into my time with NCF I had an opportunity to
take one of the Business People seminar. I found it interesting
(I'm not sure how helpful). I had to go through the lengthy written
testing again and I had read enough of Narramore's literature
since coming to NCF to have a heads up on what was being
presented at the seminar.
Prior to this time my interface with psychological matters was
a subscription during college to the magazine Psychology Today.
I found the magazine (it was seductively secular) very interesting
though not enough to want to go into the field. Also I appreciated
the Campus Crusade staff psychologist Howard Blandeau whose
tapes I collected and listened to frequently. Also I happened on
to James Mallory's The Kink and I which made a big impression
on me early in my Campus Crusade years. I even gave some
devotionals on it.
Dr. Narramore was a psychologist with the Los Angeles Unified
School District and in his share time developed a ministry
speaking in churches and other groups about mental and
emotional problems and how those relate to the Bible and
the Christian experience. Dr. Narramore had a a vision for
the integration of the Bible with sound psychological principles.
He established the Narramore Christian Foundation to address
these issues on a popular/lay level. When the Rosemead facility
was built it added greatly to the potential of helping people with
their mental/emotional issues. Rather than Dr. Narramore
spending a weekend church conference in Pennsylvania where
he could at best only lightly touch on important issues there
were seminars at Rosemead that could go into much more depth
over a greater period of time.
These seminars were aimed at specific groups. There were seminars
for Business People & Professionals ( 1 week); Laymen (1 week);
Ministers & Missionaries (2 1/2 weeks); Teachers & Educators
(1 week); and Missionary Kids (2 1/2 weeks). The Laymen's seminar
was given at least twice a year and the others once a year.
The seminars included lengthy and intensive psychological
testing (written), lectures by the Narramore staff and guest
speakers, and group work. The group work consisted of the
conferees splitting up into several small groups and going
over the material that had been presented during the lectures
and class sessions. For those who wanted it individual counseling
with a trained therapist was also provided during the seminars.
For those receiving this type of specialized help they were
encouraged upon returning home after the seminar to seek out
a qualified Christian counselor to continue work on their issues.
The seminars were designed for people who were functioning
individuals. People with severe emotional or mental problems
or handicaps were not invited to the seminars as they needed
more intensive help than a week or two week seminar could deal with.
About two years into my time with NCF I had an opportunity to
take one of the Business People seminar. I found it interesting
(I'm not sure how helpful). I had to go through the lengthy written
testing again and I had read enough of Narramore's literature
since coming to NCF to have a heads up on what was being
presented at the seminar.
Prior to this time my interface with psychological matters was
a subscription during college to the magazine Psychology Today.
I found the magazine (it was seductively secular) very interesting
though not enough to want to go into the field. Also I appreciated
the Campus Crusade staff psychologist Howard Blandeau whose
tapes I collected and listened to frequently. Also I happened on
to James Mallory's The Kink and I which made a big impression
on me early in my Campus Crusade years. I even gave some
devotionals on it.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Narramore Years Part 1
My last working day with Campus Crusade was Wednesday,
July 7, 1982 and the actual termination day was July 16, 1982.
I attended the San Diego Comic Convention July 8-11 and
during the next week I looked for an apartment in the Rosemead
area. I closed out my San Bernardino apartment July 16 and
moved temporarily to the Narramore housing facilities on
July 17. During the next several weeks I moved into an
apartment in nearby Montebello.
There were some similarities and many differences between
the Narramore Christian Foundation and Campus Crusade.
Both were thoroughly evangelical in their orientation and doctrine.
Where Campus Crusade was a very dynamic organization with
new (and mostly young) people coming on the staff constantly,
NCF was much smaller with a static and mostly older staff.
Whereas the CCC headquarters had perhaps 300-400 staff
and hourly employees Narramore had perhaps around 30 staff
during the early years that I was there. Campus Crusade was
dedicated primarily to outreach, evangelism and discipleship.
Narramore was much more narrowly focused. Dr. Narramore
emphasized three aspects of a person's makeup. There was the
physical, emotional/mental and spiritual. In Dr Narramores
lectures, radio programs, tapes, books and other printed matter
he does touch on the physical and spiritual aspects of
human makeup. The spiritual relates to a right relationship
with God through Jesus Christ (the Christian gospel). However,
by far Dr Narramore's emphasis was on the emotional and
psychological makeup of people. Being born again didn't
necessarily mean that all the emotional and psychological
baggage one had acquired during life is immediately gone.
He often said that the churches were filled with people who
had great emotional and psychological needs. Dr. Narramore
was a pioneer in the Christian counseling movement and his
many books and pamphlets conveyed this commitment.
The time I arrived at the Rosemead campus of the Narramore
Christian Foundation (mid-1982) was a time where the
organization had reached its zenith and was plateauing off.
In the mid-1960s Dr. Narramore was given the Rosemead
property where the NCF headquarters and counseling center
were built. In the late 1960s Dr. Clyde and his nephew,
Dr. Bruce Narramore, started the Rosemead School of Psychology
which was a graduate school for Christian counselors. By the end
of the 1970s Biola University had taken over the graduate school
and it was moved to the Biola campus in LaMirada, California.
In 1982 when I arrived the lower part of the main administration
building housed a functioning counseling out patient clinic/center
that served the local area. This center was eventually closed (as
was one in Arizona) several years after I had started working there.
During the first couple of years I was at NCF another building
(plus a small swimming pool and hot spa) was constructed. This
building served as a dinner area and a residential facility. The
campus was composed of a two-story main administration building,
a separate auditorium, a residential facility (besides the then-newly
constructed building) and a Print Shop-Mailing/shipping building.
Another building was licensed to Southern California Edison.
There were several parking lots. The buildings were situated on and
around a hillside which made for a multi-level campus. There was a
sense that the best days of the organization were still ahead as the
new building was constructed to provide for additional housing for
more conferees. Prior to this time some of the conferees to various
NCF seminar had to secure off campus housing.
July 7, 1982 and the actual termination day was July 16, 1982.
I attended the San Diego Comic Convention July 8-11 and
during the next week I looked for an apartment in the Rosemead
area. I closed out my San Bernardino apartment July 16 and
moved temporarily to the Narramore housing facilities on
July 17. During the next several weeks I moved into an
apartment in nearby Montebello.
There were some similarities and many differences between
the Narramore Christian Foundation and Campus Crusade.
Both were thoroughly evangelical in their orientation and doctrine.
Where Campus Crusade was a very dynamic organization with
new (and mostly young) people coming on the staff constantly,
NCF was much smaller with a static and mostly older staff.
Whereas the CCC headquarters had perhaps 300-400 staff
and hourly employees Narramore had perhaps around 30 staff
during the early years that I was there. Campus Crusade was
dedicated primarily to outreach, evangelism and discipleship.
Narramore was much more narrowly focused. Dr. Narramore
emphasized three aspects of a person's makeup. There was the
physical, emotional/mental and spiritual. In Dr Narramores
lectures, radio programs, tapes, books and other printed matter
he does touch on the physical and spiritual aspects of
human makeup. The spiritual relates to a right relationship
with God through Jesus Christ (the Christian gospel). However,
by far Dr Narramore's emphasis was on the emotional and
psychological makeup of people. Being born again didn't
necessarily mean that all the emotional and psychological
baggage one had acquired during life is immediately gone.
He often said that the churches were filled with people who
had great emotional and psychological needs. Dr. Narramore
was a pioneer in the Christian counseling movement and his
many books and pamphlets conveyed this commitment.
The time I arrived at the Rosemead campus of the Narramore
Christian Foundation (mid-1982) was a time where the
organization had reached its zenith and was plateauing off.
In the mid-1960s Dr. Narramore was given the Rosemead
property where the NCF headquarters and counseling center
were built. In the late 1960s Dr. Clyde and his nephew,
Dr. Bruce Narramore, started the Rosemead School of Psychology
which was a graduate school for Christian counselors. By the end
of the 1970s Biola University had taken over the graduate school
and it was moved to the Biola campus in LaMirada, California.
In 1982 when I arrived the lower part of the main administration
building housed a functioning counseling out patient clinic/center
that served the local area. This center was eventually closed (as
was one in Arizona) several years after I had started working there.
During the first couple of years I was at NCF another building
(plus a small swimming pool and hot spa) was constructed. This
building served as a dinner area and a residential facility. The
campus was composed of a two-story main administration building,
a separate auditorium, a residential facility (besides the then-newly
constructed building) and a Print Shop-Mailing/shipping building.
Another building was licensed to Southern California Edison.
There were several parking lots. The buildings were situated on and
around a hillside which made for a multi-level campus. There was a
sense that the best days of the organization were still ahead as the
new building was constructed to provide for additional housing for
more conferees. Prior to this time some of the conferees to various
NCF seminar had to secure off campus housing.
Labels: Biola, Bruce Narramore, Clyde Narramore, Montebello, Rosemead
Monday, June 01, 2009
Campus Crusade Part 42
The next two months after my decision to leave Campus
was a whirlwind of activity. I was committed to designing
a final issue of AIA magazine (while my successor was being
chosen). It was also a time of packing and getting ready for
a move from the San Bernardino area to the San Gabriel valley.
I didn't seriously consider the option of continuing to live in
San Bernardino and doing the commute to Rosemead. While
many living in Southern California then and now do such daily
trips I didn't think it was at all practical. I needed to survey
the new area and find an affordable place to live.
There was a final prayerletter to write and send to my faithful
supporters informing them of my decision to leave Campus
Crusade and take up a new position with Narramore
Christian Foundation. My brother Russ, Nancy and nephew
Eric came to visit Southern California in June and were
supportive of my move. I officially resigned from my position
on the San Bernardino Christian School Board. There were
numerous good-byes to be offered to the many friends I had
made at CCC. This was made easier because I was within
easy driving distance and I planned on maintaining as
many relationships as possible. I had become a regular
with the CCC headquarters book discussion group and was
determined to stay in touch with many who were attending that.
There were many lunches and dinners with friends and former
housemates during this time.
Perhaps one of the hardest to leave was my friend Don Franklin.
He took it quite hard (I had become almost a son to him).
Don was very special as we had done a lot together. He had a
special place in my life. He was one of the most unforgettable
characters I'd ever met. He was a sincere Christian, a World War II
vet (though he was never sent overseas), a long time worker on
the Santa Fe Railroad and a dedicated weight lifter. He was still
doing 400 lbs full squats at 60 years old. He did actually go
with me and helped with the move in July and met some of
the people at my new workplace in Rosemead. I continued to
stay in touch with Don until his untimely death in 1986 (March 14).
I was told he was hiking up Mt Rudidoux, which we had done
together, when his heart gave out. While this was very sudden it
was a way that was appropriate for Don to leave this Earth
and enter heaven.
was a whirlwind of activity. I was committed to designing
a final issue of AIA magazine (while my successor was being
chosen). It was also a time of packing and getting ready for
a move from the San Bernardino area to the San Gabriel valley.
I didn't seriously consider the option of continuing to live in
San Bernardino and doing the commute to Rosemead. While
many living in Southern California then and now do such daily
trips I didn't think it was at all practical. I needed to survey
the new area and find an affordable place to live.
There was a final prayerletter to write and send to my faithful
supporters informing them of my decision to leave Campus
Crusade and take up a new position with Narramore
Christian Foundation. My brother Russ, Nancy and nephew
Eric came to visit Southern California in June and were
supportive of my move. I officially resigned from my position
on the San Bernardino Christian School Board. There were
numerous good-byes to be offered to the many friends I had
made at CCC. This was made easier because I was within
easy driving distance and I planned on maintaining as
many relationships as possible. I had become a regular
with the CCC headquarters book discussion group and was
determined to stay in touch with many who were attending that.
There were many lunches and dinners with friends and former
housemates during this time.
Perhaps one of the hardest to leave was my friend Don Franklin.
He took it quite hard (I had become almost a son to him).
Don was very special as we had done a lot together. He had a
special place in my life. He was one of the most unforgettable
characters I'd ever met. He was a sincere Christian, a World War II
vet (though he was never sent overseas), a long time worker on
the Santa Fe Railroad and a dedicated weight lifter. He was still
doing 400 lbs full squats at 60 years old. He did actually go
with me and helped with the move in July and met some of
the people at my new workplace in Rosemead. I continued to
stay in touch with Don until his untimely death in 1986 (March 14).
I was told he was hiking up Mt Rudidoux, which we had done
together, when his heart gave out. While this was very sudden it
was a way that was appropriate for Don to leave this Earth
and enter heaven.
