The Righteous or Sinners

The two articles that I have uploaded from this issue (Vol. 1, Nr 10, Dec. 18, 1973) illustrate another of the church's values; reaching out to those that the conventional church doesn't. Ken Pagaard's article emphasizes Christ's statement, "I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners." Everyone in church leadership knows that the purpose of the church is to reach outside and reach new people. We are to love the unlovely. Down through church history, this has been a theme. Yet, in actuality, much of the church is more involved in "sheep stealing", winning people from one church and bringing them into one's own. Much of church growth doesn't equate to growth of the Kingdom of God. We felt that we were growing as a church through growth of the kingdom.

The second article, by Eleanor Burger tells of an outreach by the Oaklawn Household. Eleanor and her husband George were the heads of the household. George is (they live in Oregon now) a retired navy man. They were a household that nurtured a number of the "tough" cases. They were composed mostly of young men. A lot of great Christian Men with leadership qualities came through this household. George was also one of our elders and was in charge of maintenance of the church building and property. Eleanor was one of the leaders among our women.