Our Life Together Vol. 3, Nr. 37, September 16, 1975 -- Part 2

This is an unusual graphic from our artists. A reminder that we need to take in the blessings of God so that we don't crash.
Of course the little article that interests me most is the one about my apprenticeship. Actually I developed the apprenticeship program. The VA and State of California were most helpful in the process. I served in this program for two years and upon graduation received a certificate signed by Governor Deukmajian. I had to report monthly my hours in each of about 10 categories (I don't remember them all); custodial, administrative, teaching, directing choir, etc. Once my apprenticeship was completed (now I was a journeyman ministerial assistant) the church was listed by the state as qualified to train ministerial assistants under this apprenticeship program. Thereafter, all through the 70s and 80s, every year the state would ask if we had any applicants for the program. It was actually a good program. I think we were on to something. It sure helped me.
Of course, all during this time, we were struggling with our status concerning the city and the community. This is a scriptural encouragement that our struggle was nothing new.

Our Life Together Vol. 3, Nr. 37, September 16, 1975 -- Part 1

This was one of the more controversial events in the life of our community; Ken turned a woman "over to Satan." I remember this event -- as an event -- but not all of the details. I have been trying to sort the facts out as well as I can. I believe that the issue was that the woman in question was facilitating an adulterous affair between one of our young woman with a married man. I am sure there were more complicating issues, but I think that this was the basic issue. Ken went over to talk this over with the woman and got nowhere. This is when he "turned her over to Satan." Ken did nothing to her. In the parlance of Charismatic theology, he removed his Spiritual Covering. In other words, his protective pastoral authority would no longer be a protection. If one doesn't believe in things like this -- he did nothing. I am harping on this a little because this was mentioned as one of several instances of the abuse of authority by Ken.

This is similar to excommunication, although there was no official action by the church, or the leadership of the church. I am sure that the woman in question was hurt by this action. In Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, he discusses turning one over to Satan. Ultimately this was not bad, because the purpose was for the repentance of the man and his restoration to the fellowship. Unfortunately this woman was never restored into our fellowship. Was Ken right in doing this? I don't think we will ever know. I do know that Ken himself was emotionally hurt over this issue also. It wasn't a pretty picture.
Clay has a neat article that actually goes along with Ken's article on Self Sufficiency in my last post. It wasn't written in tandem with Ken -- nor was it a follow up; but it certainly relates.
Judy Copeland is the sister of Elizabeth Ballesteros, Sam's wife who was a missionary to Bogota, Columbia. Judy and Elizabeth currently live together in Washington State.

Dawn Schmid shows up on OLT quite often. She writes several poems. She was very active in the hospital ministry. She still lives local. I did see her a few years ago.
Larry makes a good point about the need to remember our past. I think that many of us who are a part of the church are woefully ignorant of its history; both the glory and the inglorious; and there are both.

Our Life Together Vol. 3, Nr. 36, September 9, 1975

Ken's article on Self-Sufficiency sets forth a truth that was really practiced at First Baptist Chula Vista in those days. Many of us were raised with the idea of being a "self made man" (or woman.) I had that idea which was further reinforced during my career in the Navy. If I don't take care of myself, no one else will. I think that this was one of the more difficult transitions I had to make in becoming a part of the community; realizing that I didn't have to do it all, I could trust others.

Ken then moves on to discuss this in relationship with our worship. Now, I certainly believe that we had wonderful worship. It was usually fresh, spontaneous and alive. It happened because of our dependence on the Holy Spirit. No one person had the whole picture; worship happened when a group of people, all depending upon the Holy Spirit, let the Spirit have the control. I guess that where I disagree with Ken is that he somewhat dismisses liturgical worship. Liturgy could become "just rote performance", but liturgy can also be alive. Liturgy didn't develop because of the lack of the need to rely on the Holy Spirit. Development of liturgy and its history is beyond the scope of this blog, but it is certainly more complex than that.

Ken moves on to apply this to almost all kinds of techniques that can be learned. We need to learn techniques. In fact, even during community, we would have been better off to learn better how some things can and should be done. Learning a technique for counseling, singing, leading in worship or any other area doesn't preclude the Holy Spirit from leading; it doesn't mean that we are self sufficient. Good technique enlivened and lead by the Holy Spirit can be truly awesome.

The note by Cathy Mower is touching. We really reached out and loved Cathy and she responded. One of the practices that I find quite troubling was that of taking people off of needed medications. In hind sight, I believe that Cathy was probably doing well because she had been on meds. She went down hill after that possibly because she was no longer taking them.

Art (Speedy) Alari was a first new elder. Art was a great leader in the church and in the community. I personally relied on him a lot. It is so good to know that he is still walking with the Lord. I enjoy hearing from him on Facebook. He is still local to Chula Vista.
This is another good example of the variety of art work from Abba Graphics.
Eleanor Burger writes a nice piece about our ministry to children. Eleanor is another of my friends on Facebook. It is good to see that the Lord is still working in her life.

Dot and Doris Wiseman were retired missionaries to Zaire (Congo). They were a wonderful addition to the community. Doris lived at Westby house along with me and my family. She was a godly woman -- and a lot of fun. We kept in touch for several years after they left community. They finally retired to Oregon. The last time I remember being with them was at the Charismatic Conference of 1987 in New Orleans. I suppose that they are gone by now. I value the memories of their friendship. By the way, this is the kind of quality people that came and experienced community with us.

The School of the Prophets was a great educational experience. Once again I am amazed at the people that we had as a part of the church and our community.

Our Life Together, Vol. 3 Nr. 35, September 2, 1975

Vacations were a wonderful time for the households. Westby Household, headed by Ken and Mona Pagaard went to Whiskeytown Lake outside of Redding, CA. This was a natural place because Mona came from Redding and her mother and other relatives still lived there. Where the household camped out at the lake it was really beautiful. Since there were about 25-30 of us, the operation was somewhat like organizing an army. This year was the first time that Linda and I were a part of the program. Linda had never been camping and she was pretty much overwhelmed by the whole thing. I believe that the household went there one more year. Then things changed and we had our vacations a little closer to home. It was still a very special time.

Larry Clark and his household (Mitscher) went to Yosemite. In this article Larry reflects on man as the pinnacle of creation. I really liked this article. In it he does give some warnings about our use and abuse of our spiritual gifts.
Bud's article reminds us of the fact that we always had mission trips going on; it wasn't just the large ones. Bud was one of our traveling elders. I can't remember all of his places of ministry, but I do know that he had significant ministry in Kansas.
As I have written before, one of Ken's major ministries was to our American Baptist denomination. Here we have a testimony of the moving of the Spirit in another of our baptist churches located in King, CA.
This weekend of renewal was one of our major efforts to keep the whole church moving in the same direction. Everyone may not have lived in residential community, but everyone understood it, may have experienced it and, most importantly, supported it. At our peak, about one third of the congregation lived in residential community. Most of the rest were involved in our non-residential households. These were run like a residential household with the difference that the people lived in their own homes.
Children were always very important in the church -- and in the residential community. Both of these articles reflect different aspects of that importance. Cheryl Herndon discusses the birth of Gwen Hunt's baby. It is a beautiful picture of God's grace. Incidentally Gwen became a Methodist minister a few years later. I have lost touch with her, but I assume that she is still active in the pastorate.

Judy Alsop discusses our preschool. It was not only important then, but I believe that it continues to operate at the church. This had been a thriving ministry for many years. Kids are and were important, certainly to God, but also to us.

Our Life Together Vol. 3 Nr. 34 August 26, 1975

I remember the Sandpaper Song and the Sandpaper Ministry vividly. When this issue was posted on Facebook a number of people commented on this. Kevin Cope remembered when he and some of the young men in Sonshine House wrote the little song. It does bring out a major truth however; life in a community household was not easy. When things were going well, it was wonderful. It is really great to be with a group of people who love one another and want the same things in life. But, what about when things aren't going my way? Then things get rough. It really is similar to marriage. We learn to give a little here and a little there; sand off the rough edges. Since the relationships were similar to marriage, it also made leaving difficult. I will discuss that later, but leaving was similar to divorce in many instances; I think I still feel that way about our moving out.
Perry Yates was one of our fine musicians at FBCCV. He became a very fine cabinet maker and is still in the area. He was not just a performer. As can be seen in this issue, God gave him a gift of poetry. He wrote a number of songs, some of which were sung by the congregation for many years.

The book, "Healing" was the major textbook for our healing ministry for many years. I still think it is one of the finest books on the subject in the last 30 years of so. Francis MacNutt was one of the major leaders within the US Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Several years later he left the priesthood and married. About 10 years ago I had the privilege of meeting Francis and his wife at the Holy Spirit Conference in Greenlake. He is still very active in speaking and leading a healing ministry.
Nancy Mitchell was a very talented woman who was in the church during most of this period. She wrote -- prose and poems -- she sang, drew and played the flute. She was never at the forefront in any of these areas, but she was a regular contributor to OLT. She left the church in the early 80s and succumbed to cancer a number of years ago.

Our Life Together Vol. 3 Nr. 33 August 19, 1975

Once again, Ken develops the theme of Community; we really achieve holiness and understand theology when we are in relationship with one another. I think that there is great truth in this article. I certainly was (and am) a true disciple of Ken on this issue. My final sermon when leaving FBCCV in 2005 was "When all is said and done, it's all about relationships." The only argument that I might have with Ken is that he continues to insist that this is the only way. God is much broader than this. God did speak to, in and through those theologians working in their "ivory towers." God did (and does) meet with those who get alone with him in striving to grow in personal holiness. We must be open to meeting God wherever he takes us; yes, in community with its relationships, academically as we study to improve our minds and on the mountain tops as we experience God by ourselves.
I think that the article by Clay is ironic. One of the reasons that Clay and Cheri Ford left community was because of what they perceived as abuse of the issues of submission and authority. The article itself is scripturally true. We are to submit to one another. Most of our teachings in those days whether by Ken, Clay, Larry or other of the elders was correct. There must be submission to authority. The problem lies in the fact that it is quite easy for those in authority to go past proper boundaries and abuse their God given authority. On the other hand, it is also relatively easy for those in submission to get lazy and obey authority without weighing the ramifications of that obedience. All in all, this is a good article.
Larry's article is another fine example of exhorting us to make God first in our lives.
I have mentioned George and Eleanor Burger in an earlier post. Here they are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. That was a long time ago -- I thought they were old. From my current perspective, they weren't old at all. I was just pretty immature.

Our Life Together Vol. 3, Nr. 32 August 12, 1975

I don't really know how often Ken preached on this theme, but it stuck in my mind. Even after the days of community, I realized that for the Christian witness to be effective, the Christian life must be lived. When community started, even though the households took care of human need, there was a strong emphasis on evangelism. Invite people to the household. Let them see how we live. They can see for the first time, life lived totally for Jesus. These were the rallying cries at the time. As the 70s continued, we lost this edge. We became more involved in healing those in need. We stopped inviting strangers in; sad.
David Upp was a young man very active in the church. I knew him well because he was in the choir and, later, in a small group (the Hallelujah Chorus) which was formed for ministry. David was also a part of the Timotheons (young men being trained for eldership). I remember this testimony vividly. It was a real faith builder for people seeking to follow the Lord. David still lives locally and is a facebook friend.
The week of renewal was an indication that we believed that evangelism wasn't just for non-Christians; Christians need to be led into a deeper life also. We periodically had times of renewal for the church. Another emphasis in the little paragraph at the end of the page is that of worldwide hunger. I remember our Friday evening fast nights. It was a great time. We didn't actually go without food. We just went on basic subsistence. Helen Fast used to make wonderful little bread loaves and we would have honey with them; tasted good.
I won't say much about this article by Larry. It does really illustrate how active things were at the church in those days. There were a lot of things going on. In the midst of this, we were worshiping the Lord and our children were being cared for.
Another testimony of our ministry in England. Today, actually May 10, I wished Helen a happy birthday and wrote a note to Jacque who is headed home from here. Both Helen and Jacque live in Bend, Oregon.


I have written many times about the American Baptist Charismatic Fellowship. This is one of the ministries that Ken Pagaard started that is still going strong today under the leadership of Clay Ford. The little testimony from one of our men, a sailor on the USS Kitty Hawk, reminds me that our ministry at FBCCV has always included a lot of navy men. This is not just something of the past, it is still true.
The trip to Whiskey Town Lake was a great undertaking. There were 20 plus people living in the house. We had the Westby van -- a dodge 15 passenger van, a couple of cars, another van pulling a boat trailer. We tried to keep together -- this was actually quite a feat as we traveled through the streets of San Francisco. I had the job of assigning seats. Ken wanted us to fellowship with each other (not just in our favorite cliques). Every morning I would take our name tags and place them in a seat in one of the vans or cars. People weren't always happy with my choices.

We went up the coast stopping at Santa Barbara and Arcata and . . . I remember stopping at a fast food restaurant outside of San Francisco and ordering food for 30 people or so -- we overloaded them. It was an interesting experience. It was always interesting when people would find out that we all lived together.