The Ministry of Healing

One of the themes presented in this issue, Vol. 1 Number 5 -- November 13, 1973 is the issue of Healing. The ministry of healing has been a major emphasis in the Charismatic Renewal since its inception in the 1960's. Of course, we would also point out that healing was a major ministry of Jesus and His Disciples. We see a vital ministry in healing both in the Gospels and in the book of Acts. Most of us in this renewal will report many healings that we believe are miraculous. We also are disappointed and confused that so many people don't seem to be healed. This is part of what Clay Ford was grappling with in this article.

Dr. Clay Ford is an interesting man. When he wrote this article he was quite young. While he was still here in Chula Vista, he ran for mayor of the city (I was his campaign manager -- not very good at this). After he left CV, he obtained his doctorate and served in churches in Pennsylvania, and the LA area. Finally he had a long pastorate in Arcata CA. Then, he returned and became pastor in CV for a couple of years. He is now the pastor of the First Baptist Church of La Jolla (forgive me La Jollan's -- I know you changed your name). Clay is now also the head of the Holy Spirit Renewal Ministries. Ken Pagaard started this ministry as the American Baptist Charismatic Fellowship in 1974.


I just placed this in the posting because I thought it was cute. Another early example of the art that was going to become a major part of OLT.

Complete issues of Our Life Together

I have started to post complete issues of OLT on my Facebook page. If you are on Facebook, you are invited to become a friend and read the whole thing.

Music, Missions and Mental Health

The House of Abba was the "Coffee House" ministry of the church. Music was always a major part of this ministry. I would add that music has been very important in the life of First Baptist Church of Chula Vista during the years that I was there (1967-1975). The church was blessed with a lot of musical talent -- actually I should say artistic talent (visual, drama and music). During the explosion in young people in the early '70s, a great many people with good musical ability came into the church. This little article gives the genealogy of the early music groups from the House of Abba. I find this very helpful in trying to put things into order. This is a part of Vol. 1, number 4 of Nov. 6, 1973.

This issue also contains two other important articles. One was written by Dr. Dan Fountain, a missionary in Zaire. Ken Pagaard traveled to Zaire and had a great ministry in bringing the Charismatic Renewal to the American Baptist Missionaries there. Ken had a heart for Africa. He was born in Swaziland. Another side note is that Dr. Fountains brother Dave, Lcdr in the Chaplain Corps of the Navy was a member of our church.


The next article is one titled "Please Hear What I'm Not Saying" by Anita Cunningham. The reason that this article is important is that it demonstrated the reason why healing of the emotions, which became "Inner Healing, was a great necessity. This was often read in later years to illustrate this need. I believe that this was the first appearance of this article.

Our Life Together and Art

I finished my move and am back.

This is the third issue of OLT, October 30, 1973. It is the first one to present the artwork that would be one of the trademarks of our newsletter. The first page illustrates Matthew 5:14, A city on a hill. I believe that this is Gary Bell's artwork.

In the same issue, the last page illustrates the music group, Hebron Israel. This page also discusses the new "format" of the House of Abba. Elsewhere in this issue the announcement was made that the House of Abba had outgrown the previous meeting place and was moving into the main sanctuary of the church.

I neglected to mention in my last post that the article by Tom McCulloch was from the second issue of life together. Of course this post is also based on that issue. This article by Ken Pagaard is a basic review of "They Left Their Nets" by Graham Pulkingham, the pastor of the Church of the Redeemer in Houston. I wanted to highlight both of these articles because they show that relatively early in the life of the community, two ideas had already become prevalent. My last post discussed one of these; the universality of community. Ken's article already begins to put forth the idea that when one leaves community or the church, that they are turning away from following Jesus. I don't think Ken wanted to make his statements that strong -- but that was a widespread interpretation -- and a feeling that many would take away from the community.


Ken reviewed this book because it is a report of how the community at Church of the Redeemer came about. It is filled with personal testimonies of the people who were the early members of that community. It was a very challenging book. I can remember devouring it myself. It was just the book for one who was really seeking a deeper walk with God. I was that person in 1973. I wanted to grow closer to God and I didn't want to be one who turned back. Of course, the idea of the early disciples leaving their nets, their occupation, to follow Jesus was the genesis of my decision to leave the US Navy.

This picture of the Madrona St. Household was taken in 1975. I am not sure of the identification of everyone. Front row is Wee Mother (Tom McCulloch's mother) and Beverly Peterson (Miller). Second row: Stephanie Mahan (Harris) Shirley McCulloch, Tom McCulloch, unsure, unsure and Joy Trejo. Back row: Aeja King, Nancy Schukantz, unsure and Sharon Glass (McCulloch).

The following article was written by Tom on the occasion of their third anniversary. Notice his closing paragraph. This was a widely held belief among the leaders of community, "During the last three years I have come to feel and realize that everyone needs community with no exceptions. Community is something that the Holy Spirit is bringing about and I am glad that I can be a part of it."

Madrona was the second household to start, Westby being the first. Actually, Ken Pagaard originally started community at Madrona which he owned at the time. Ken and his household moved to Westby, the McCullochs bought Madrona and started a household.