Our Life Together Vol.4 Nr. 17 May 4, 1976

If you have been following this blog, you will see that we haven't posted anything for Vol. 16. It is one of the few issues that is missing from my collection. I would love to have a copy!

The cover picture shows the prophet Ezekiel prophesying over the dry bones and bringing them to life. This illustrates the following cover article by Ken Pagaard. This should have been mentioned before, but better late than never; OLT at this stage still lists Ken's name as Pagard. A few years later he changed the name to Pagaard as this was his family name while they were still in Denmark.

Ken describes the renewal which occurred at First Baptist Church of Chula Vista. It was a strong, traditional church in the 50s and early 60s; it was actually started in 1929. Linda and I joined the church in April, 1967 when this renewal was still in process. I am not sorry I missed the fireworks of 1965. My understanding is that the church lost almost 50% of its membership. When we joined, the services were still fairly traditional -- most of the "Holy Spirit stuff" took place outside of the worship services. At that time of my life, I wasn't unhappy about that. I really had to pulled into the church -- I didn't believe in any of that "tongues stuff." What a difference a few years make. If anyone had told me that I would eventually be the pastor of FBCCV I would have laughed in their face. Thank God we can change.

Even though Ken's history is short, it is one of the few histories around that give some of the early days of the renewal.

This page continues the history, but give more information on our community households. It also tells of some of our National and International missions activities.

Larry Clark begins an article related to Inner Healing. He states that we really need to trust people to be telling us the truth when they say how they are feeling. It is a sign of mistrust to say, "Are you sure."

After Larry concludes his article, Ken presents us with another article; "The Establishment." He writes about the tendency for renewal to stagnate and become just another establishment. He expresses some disappointment with the leadership of the church in becoming "the establishment." He encourages us to continue being renewed. This article is completed on the next page.

Kerry Farrer reports on a meeting of Area Youth Directors. The report itself is interesting but it also brings up the issue of how much has changed in 30 years. Most of the churches in the area have very few if any youth. Most don't have youth directors. By the time I became Pastor, there was no Area Youth Coordinator. A few years later, Herb Dominguez who was mentioned in this article, became the Area Minister.

When we turn the page sideways to check out McFoone, we find that he receives a lesson in giving.

Kerry goes on to discuss the remainder of the Youth Directors Retreat. He mentions the importance of Youth Directors. I was really "saved" by the Youth Director in my home church, First Baptist Church of Bellflower, CA. I don't mean saved in the spiritual sense. I mean socially. I was very shy. I didn't want to go to church because I was sure no one liked me -- but Bill came after me, took me to the youth group and to camps; he even had me over to his house with a few others for over nights. Soon I had a group of friends and became a leader in the youth group. He really made a difference.

Linda Coale gives a nice analogy of Christian Commitment with that of commitment to a Psychiatric Hospital. I don't remember a lot about Linda. I know that she worked in our office for a while. I believe that she was in the Clark's (Mitscher) household. I don't even remember how long she was in the church.

Judy Alsop give a nice, short article about how we can be touched by living in a Community Household. She and her husband Ron are still actively serving God in Southern CA.

Just a note about Men's retreats -- these were very well attended and were high points. Personally, the only thing that I loved more than the men's retreats were the elders retreats (only men here also, but a smaller group.)

I left out another kind of retreat that was a real blessing. That is the "staff" of the church. We had a very large staff for a church our size (around 450-500) regular attenders. We were only able to have this size staff because our community living. The nine listed here are not the entire staff: there were those who worked in the office, printing, Abba Crafts, and the Pre-School. It was an amazing time.

This is another page of our artwork. The clusters of grapes and the vines were often used -- of course symbolizing passages in the Scriptures such as John 15 where Jesus states that He is the vine and we are the branches. 

There are several interesting things listed in the calendar including our first court date for the community, but I also noted three weddings listed. I think that most of these are not only around but they are on Facebook. 

The Elders Notes is interesting to me; I was the writer of them. I don't think we ever did very well on quitting at 9:30!

The last page is a continuation of our "announcements." I think that this just illustrates the fact that there was a lot going on at FBCCV in those days.

Our Life Together Vol. 4 Nr. 15 April 13, 1976

This cover was very touching to those in the congregation of First Baptist Church of Chula Vista for the cover shows a healed Bob Granigan standing on the cover. Bob was a quadriplegic confined to a wheel chair. The main story in the issue is Bob's story as told by Gary Bell who also drew the cover.

This page details how the accident occurred.

This page begins the story of his rescue and medical treatment.

Even McFoone comments on Bob.

On this page Bob receives the devastating news that he would never walk again.

Bob returns to school. The picture is from the San Diego Evening Tribune in June, 1968. He looks very young there.

The story of Bob's conversion is really neat.

He continues to grow and is filled with the Holy Spirit. He also begins to move into Community. He evidently also had his first contact with the FBCCV group at the Kathryn Kuhlman meeting.

I love Tim Pagaard's picture of Granigan freedom. On this page, Bob moves into the Ministering Community of the FBCCV.

I was always impressed by the love shown to Bob through the ministry of those at the Lincoln Court House. Love was shown through their actions.

Obviously life was not easy for Bob or those caring for him. 

This is a contemporary picture of Bob

Bob passed away sometime in the 80s. He became quite self sufficient in the last years. He was a vital part of the ministry in the community -- and not just ministry to him -- but through him. Gary is now ministering in Belize. It is only fitting that the issue is completed by the invitation to Gary and Georgia's Wedding.

Our Life Together Vol.4 Nr. 14 April 6, 1976

This issue starts off with a nice picture to illustrate the theme scripture. Ken Pagaard writes an article titled "The Gospel" to start the issue.

This article is basically a discussion of evangelism. Ken is quite correct in stating that there seemed to be a new emphasis on evangelism. The first few years of community were essentially evangelistic. Community started as a means to help the people that had been won to Christ to have a protected place to grow. But as we began to have more and more people with severe problems (emotionally, mentally and addictive) we concentrated more on healing those we had rather than reach out for more.

The Billy Graham Crusade was a major event, and we were involved at many levels. I was the coordinator for Lay Men's work in the South Bay. I had to contact the pastors to elicit their cooperation and receive lists of their key laymen. Then we arranged training for ushers, counselors etc. It was a big job. I might add that I was "roped" into this position by Clay Ford -- I didn't really volunteer.

Secondly was the "Here's Life Campaign." This was an outreach through the use of advertisement and phone outreach.

Ken's warning about having a shallow interpretation of evangelism was well taken. The Great Commission was to make disciples -- and we really did take this seriously.

Ken continues with the exhortation that we are to evangelize so that we can build the church. In salvation we receive much, but Jesus also demands much. When we share the gospel we must honestly present both sides to the person we are evangelizing.

Tim Pagaard brings another McFoone strip with another truism -- we seek God because that is the way we are made -- not out of obligation.

On this page, Ken concludes his article.


Even though Larry was not the "Professional Director of Christian Education," he did fulfill that function (among several others). He writes about the issue of discipleship with the children. Mary Fountain is the wife of Dave Fountain. Dave was a chaplain in the Navy -- a Commander. Dave and Mary were in the church for several years and then moved to Fallbrook. Finally the moved to Florida and I don't know of their current status. Incidentally, Dave's brother, Dan, is the missionary doctor in Zaire that pops up in OLT from time to time.


"If My People" is continuing. This was a very successful ecumenical ministry at that time.

This is another example of our work with children. The whole church was really involved with them. Our young artists were very good at working with our children.

This is an injunction to pray for our country. While this is always timely, note the date of the issue; it is no accident in 1976 that we are praying for the country and singing the musical "If My People."

The "In the Family" section is always interesting to me -- it brings back memories. Joe Marone was one of the leading guys in the early coffee house days. He was badly injured in an automobile accident. He passed away a number of years ago.


The banner is advertising the House of Abba on Saturday Nights.

Brenda Smith (Gire) always drew delightful pictures of animals and children. I believe that she is still in FBCCV. She lived at Westby Household for several years at the same time as our family. When we left Westby, Brenda moved with us.

Shelly Hendrickson (daughter of Glee Blasingame) was a teenager when she wrote this poem. She is now an Elementary School Teacher and still lives in the area. Once again, I believe that she attends FBCCV.

Our Life Together Vol. 4 Nr. 13 March 30, 1976

This issue starts off with another Abba Graphics cover. I particularly liked the nature themes. All of the "wood working" around the picture looks very 70's.

Ken Pagaard's cover article is about the absolute need for perseverance in the Christian life. I think that this is a truism for all time, but it was especially true during the days in community. Life in community was difficult -- sometimes great -- other times horrid. It was very easy to rationalize dropping out.  We had a lot of drop outs during my seven years in community. Thankfully not all of the drop outs from community were drop outs from the Lord! I have to say that because there was a general feeling of those in community that to leave community was to leave the will of God. Of course that wasn't (isn't) true, but we had a lot of strong feelings in those days. The call was to hang in there. 

Gary Bell starts an article on Christian Friendship. Actually the principles are good for any friendship, but he is really talking about friendship in a Christian setting; community. These principles were very important in maintaining community. Lack of trust, resentments, gossip will quickly destroy community.

McFoone discusses things with C.S. Lewis. He was a very important author in the life of our church and the community during the 70's.

Larry Clark reports on the ministry that he and his wife, Joyce, experienced in Edinboro, PA. He begins by relating an anecdote on the high level of expectancy among the people there.

Larry continues his discussion of how he and Joyce had been able to minister to the people there.

Joyce Clark was the pastor's secretary. She was the main person involved in typing OLT for years. In this article she discusses how she had to come to grips with her own selfishness in order to really love others.

As Joyce continues with her article she deals with the concept of loving another whether we are loved in return or not. The question of how we love one another was a very practical issue within community. We were not doing this in order to fulfill some kind of ideal; we really believed that this was what God wanted. Thus, God was the glue that held us together, but this was seen in the way we were able to love one another.

Clay writes a little article encouraging us to continue to pray for our nation and state. Of course we are always to pray for our government, but this seemed even more of a crucial practice during this bicentennial year.

Carolyn Cool provides us with another article on love; this really was more than a theological issue -- very practical. Carolyn later married Mike Secor. She and Mike are still in the local area. At the time I believe that she was a member of Oaklawn (later to become Bethel) household which was headed by George and Eleanor Burger.

I don't remember much about Harry Orgovan. I do remember playing golf with him a couple of times. I have no idea what ever became of him.

Harry's little article is followed by another prophecy. We usually didn't put a name on them because we wanted to accept them as words from the Lord and not from an individual.

Here I am really going to show my ignorance. I have no idea who "Yes" is. I assume that they  were a popular Christian music group.

The following pages are more practical issues: in the family, money and Pastors week of renewal.

Our Life Together Vol.4 Nr.12 March 23, 1976

This cover of this issue is a stark picture of Jesus. A song which I don't know (or remember) is written towards the bottom. It is not really very legible.

 Ken Pagaard leads off the issue with his article of Covenant. He starts off by discussing the disappointments that some felt at the Charismatic Leadership Conference over people not really observing their covenant. Based upon his article in the last issue, this probably revolves around the issue of the Shepherding Movement. Ken then proceeds to discuss the idea of covenant as presented in the Old and New Testaments. His use of marriage as the best example of covenant in use today is brilliant. I have continued to use this in my ministry to the present day. He then laments that churches today don't take covenant seriously; if I am no longer happy, I will just leave. Ken states that church membership must be taken much more seriously than this.

Ken finishes his article on this page by stating that he is in for the long haul. He than asks if we are ready to join him. This sense of what belonging to the church means really colored all discussions of belonging to the church for the next several years. I still believe strongly that Ken was right in this. Yet, as the church began to fall apart in the early 80s, I spent much of my time blessing people as they left; hurt, angry, disappointed and disgusted.

Clay begins his article of First Love which will be concluded on the following page.

 McFoone comes to the realization that he can cooperate with the creativity of God or the destructiveness of Satan.

 Clay uses as his text Revelation 2:1,4,5 where the church is told that they have lost their first love. Clay starts by talking of how we feel when we first fall in love. He then equates this with falling in love with Jesus when we first come to know him. But, then we can become complacent and take him for granted. Clay was and is very single minded in his following Jesus. He is an evangelist and an encourager. It is no wonder that he is now the leader in our Holy Spirit Renewal Ministries. In the 70s, among other things, he was our evangelist.

f

After Clay finishes his article there is a small discussion about the Friday morning discipleship group. This is written by Ken. He really did enjoy working with the young men of the church.

We didn't fully know what to do with prophecy in the church. We never gave it the same authority as scripture. Therefore most were not written down. We did believe that they represented God talking to us however, so we took them seriously. I have no idea who gave this prophecy. It certainly goes along with Clay's article.

y

This is an illustration by Gary Bell for his poem, "Prisoner of Hope."

g

 This is another illustration of the talents present among our young people; music, graphic and visual arts, drama, poetry and other writing.

h

 Bud Miller writes about one of the big issues in the residential community; responsibility. Bud was one of the elders and household heads at FBCCV. I was close to him in those years, but have no knowledge of where he is now or what he is doing. I know that the millers were in Temecula for several years, but I think they returned to this area. The article itself doesn't get completely to the problem -- it stays more academic. The problem was simple -- what belonged to everyone belonged to no one. Therefore few would really take responsibility for what went on in the household. Therefore someone (the head usually) had to give orders which led to people feeling that they were treated like children. Bud also presented the other side of the coin, that we leaders needed to give authority and hold people accountable for being responsible.

g

 

Larry Clark gives some interesting perspectives on Seminary Life. Larry was a well educated man. He loves learning. He recognizes that live in the spirit can't be just academic, it must be practiced.

d

I suppose that Brian Gire wrote the song/poem. Brian and Pam are still married. Pam is a regular participant on comments re OLT on FB.

f

There are always practical issue like the kitchen that need to be addressed. One of the interesting items in the community was the participation in studies of alternate lifestyles at UCLA. There were generally favorable in their evaluations of our kids.