Our Life Together Vol. 4 Nr. 26 July 6, 1976

The Cover art prepares us for the cover story inside where Ken Pagaard presents an article entitled Mystery.

Ken starts his article by quoting 1 Timothy 3:16 "Great is the mystery. . ." He then discusses how much we, particularly in the western traditions want to explain everything about God. Fundamentalists seem to know all of the answers, Theologians set up systems and cults are born through the effort to supply all of the answers. Ken is becoming comfortable with not having all of the answers. He is also comfortable with profound doctrines such as the trinity and the incarnation even though he doesn't understand them fully.

He continues to discuss the atonement and free will. He then discusses the mystery of communion and states that maybe we were never meant to really understand this mystery.

Of course this page also has another McFoone strip. McFoone searches for God -- but it is God who finds him.

Ken completes the article by suggesting that we embrace the Great Mystery which is in Jesus Christ.

Next, he begins to discuss the American Baptist Charismatic Fellowship. He traces the early years up through the beginnings of the conference at Green Lake, WI. Of course this fellowship continues as Holy Spirit Renewal Ministries. Clay Ford is the current Chairman of the Fellowship. I continue as an adhoc member of the Executive Committee.

The Fellowship was never meant to be a tight-knit organization, yet we found that it was too loosely organized in the early 1980s. We are now better organized than we were then, but the philosophy is still very similar to the early picture that we see on this page.


We also see that, in these early days, Our Life Together was the official paper of the Fellowship. Of course this is no longer true. HSRM has its own publication "Refreshing Times."

This page continues with information about articles that would be included in OLT in the future. Not much of this actually happened. I found out later, it is very difficult to solicit good articles from busy people across the nation. But, some of this did occur. Then there is a report on the conference at Green Lake. I found this to be very interesting. The number of 300 is smaller than our current conferences, but that is still a large number for a conference at Green Lake. I notice that the Southern Baptist speaker, Roy Lamberth, was a speaker at the Baptist meetings the following year in Kansas City.

On this page, Ken continues to discuss the conference. He discusses the teaching by Howard Ervin. How I miss this man. He was a great Bible teacher. In the early 80s when I was struggling, he took me under his wing. I miss him. 

Larry Clark provides us with Quotable Quotes by Stephanie Mahan (Harris) and Joe Atkinson. Joe is still active -- he is a permanent member of HSRM Executive Committee.

This page wraps up the report on ABCF. Coming events are announced. We did follow through on these "Weeks of Renewal." They were great opportunities for those of us in the church to get to know pastors from all over the country.

Finally there is an article by Frauke Kuo. She was a young woman who used to visit us at Westby house quite often. In this article, she is struggling with the fact that her husband has cancer. I'm not sure when, but he did die of this cancer.

This page starts with the conclusion of Frauke's psalm.

The next little article describes a visit to the First Baptist Church of Littleton CO, by the Clark family. The description of the worship generally mirrors the worship of FBCCV during those years. One of the things that I find very interesting is that the pastor of the church was Jerry Babylon. Jerry was one of my best friends during High School and College. We sang in a Quartet together that represented the Cal Baptist Seminary (where Ken Pagaard attended). It is a small world isn't it. Linda and I had occasion to eat with Jerry and his wife here in San Diego last year. He is still going well -- loves the Lord and is serving him.

I always love the "In the Family" section. I suppose that for all of us who were in the church at this time it brings forth many memories. I certainly remember when Misty and Cheri came and were placed with Helen Fast. Later, their mother Susan came and lived in community and became their real mother again. I think that they still have a relation with Helen though. The old Shiloh house which became Third Avenue house was purchased with the proceeds of the house that Linda and I owned before moving into community (Mike Sandez also was a part of this -- I don't remember all of the financial details.) Thus we became owners of a Community house -- although we never lived there. I remember later when we sold that house; interesting times!


The rest of this page details some of the things that seemed important at the time. Of course the composing machine (way before PCs) really changed the look of OLT. The little note about announcements is quaint; I was scribe for the elders.

These last two pages advertise one of our "Pastor's Week of Renewals." These were always interesting times of meeting new (to us -- me) pastors from around the country. As a long time American Baptist layman -- yet with a "place" in the church, I was always excited about these times. They were "heady" to me. 

Our Life Together Vol. 4 Nr. 25 June 29, 1976

This is the Bi-Centennial issue. The scripture from 11 Chronicles 7:14 was not only appropriate, but it was used a lot in the early 70s. The Christian community sensed a need to pray for renewal. This was particularly apparent as we moved toward the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

The cover story is actually a reprint from the San Diego Union. It is an interview with Jimmy Carter (still candidate at this time) about Civil Disobedience. This was a big issue for the Ministering Community because of our dispute with the city of Chula Vista. They ordered us to disband the community households (or move out of R1, single family residences, zone). We refused. There was a lot of tension within the community however because we also believed strongly in being law abiding citizens.

This article by Judy Alsop which actually began on the last page is a remembrance of the night when her first husband, Jim Thomas (our youth director) was killed in a plane crash.

Just to refresh those who may not remember, McFoone was a strip created by Tim Pagaard, Ken's oldest son. Here, McFoone is on the horns of dilemma -- "Which direction should I go?"

This page completes Judy's remembrance. I remember so well when Jim died. I was new to the eldership. When we met we were really struck down emotionally. I also remember the memorial service. This was one of the few times that I saw Ken so emotionally moved that he cried and couldn't finish reading the scriptures. This was a tough time, but as Judy remarked, it was a time of love and coming together.

Dawn Schmid was a regular contributor to OLT with interviews, articles and poetry.

The rest of the issue is taken up by In the Family -- this is good reading for those who were part of the church or community at that time.

Of course, I should have also mentioned the artwork -- neat stuff. I suppose this was by Gary Bell -- I am not sure.

Our Life Together Vol. 4 Nr. 24 June 22, 1976

This issue starts off with another cover of good 1970s artwork illustrating the Kingdom of Camelot.

Of course this is the cover which illustrates Ken's article on Camelot which proved all too prophetic. His article starts with a review of the musical, Camelot which was popular in the 1960s. The musical was a favorite of John F. Kennedy when he was president of the USA. When he was assassinated, his presidency was often described as Camelot -- and of course Camelot came to an end when he died. He goes on to identify our community life with that of the idealism of Arthur's idea of Camelot. He asks the question, "Can Christians really come to love one another?" Can we live out the dream of Camelot?

Ken goes on to present examples from Scripture and from modern life where sin has killed the dream. What would become of us? The quote by Cardinal Suenens is great.

Gary Bell follows with a poem and some artwork about maintaining the dream. I am always amazed by the great talent that was present within the community. Gary was really one of the leaders in making Our Life Together work. I am indebted to him for the loan of his collection which is making it possible for me to upload the work. He is presently in Costa Rica (I believe -- doing missions work). His wife Georgia is with him.

On this next page, Larry Clark continues his series on the history of the Pentecostal Church. He discusses the background of the Assemblies of God and the Foursquare churches. This instruction comes out of our "School of the Prophets." We not only had artistic people, but we also had good teachers; Larry was one of them.

Larry continues his article as he discusses the ministry of Aimee Semple MacPherson. The McFoone cartoon will be discussed on the next page.

McFoone learns about faith.

On this page, Larry concludes his historical article. He presents another article which illustrates the way that we can be troubled by wrong ideas about who God is.

This is a humorous article by Bud Miller about the journey of the Green Lake Team. These trips were always interesting. Notice also the tube tires -- and the $14 price tag. This was a long time ago.

Finally, the issue concludes with the "In the Family" section -- and our need for money to buy the typesetter. Also we were raising money to "termite" the building. To my knowledge, this still has never been done. Maybe some day!

Our Life Together Vol. 4 Nr. 23 June 15, 1976

The artwork on the cover is very appropriate since the lead article is about the beginnings of the Pentecostal Movement in the United States. They symbol of the dove was all over the place during the days of the Charismatic Renewal. This picture of the dove hovering -- or lighting (perhaps on Jesus at his baptism) was used often at FBC. This is another great image from Abbacraft.

Dawn Schmid was a relatively frequent contributor to OLT. She was a good student and writer. Here she presents a paper on the history of the Pentecostal Movement. I still find it interesting. She mentions the excesses present in the Azusa Street movement with the presence of mediums. I had forgotten this. I think that excesses such as these are part of the reason that people fear outbreaks of Holy Spirit revivals. When we are open to the movement of the Spirit, there is always this danger; we must be vigilant without quenching the genuine movement of God. Dawn still lives locally in Chula Vista -- although it has been some time since I have seen her.

On this page, Dawn concludes her article and Bobby Dyal starts another one. Bobby was also a frequent contributor. Bobby was an older gentleman (I have to laugh as I write this -- being in my 70s -- he was probably in his late 40s or early 50s.) I have no idea where he is now.

McFoone gives a good word on our resistance to change -- very accurate.

I am always amazed at how many different people did contribute to OLT. Bobby finishes his article and then Karen Ratliff begins one. She discusses how she was brought out of her shyness. I remember Karen, but have no idea where she is now. 

The letter from the Coates is another example of how OLT was used by people over the years. Other than the letter I know nothing of these people.

This little page has the conclusion of the letter, a notice about our Super Summer Session (I have mentioned our children's program before) and a note about the farewell for the Wolfords. There is also a nice little scripture verse with the grapevine motif -- this was also very common in OLT and other materials from Abbacraft.

The next two pages are an illustration and a poem which I assume was written by Tim Pagard (now Pagaard.) Tim is the oldest son of Ken and Mona. He is still local. He is a professor at Cuyamaca College in San Diego. (Tim -- if you see this you can clear this up for me -- I think you did so at another time -- but I am old and forget.)

The next page has a "filler" poem -- nice but from a book, not from someone in community. Tom and Shirley McCulloch owned the Bible Book Store in downtown Chula Vista. It was one of several businesses that helped support people in community as well as provide a ministry to the wider community. Tom was one of the senior elders. He and Shirley were also heads of MadronaTemecula area and just celebrated their 50th anniversary. Household. They now live in the

Once again, there is a lot of information in the "All in the Family" section.

Our Life Together Vol. 4 Nr. 22 June 8, 1976

This issue is perhaps one of the most historically significant in the entire collection of Our Life Together for it contains the description of the joint Catholic and Baptist communion service. I will discuss this as we get to the appropriate page in the issue. Pictured on the cover is the priest who celebrated holy communion with us, Father Garcia-Herreros from Bogota, Columbia.

Ken Pagard introduces the visit of Father Garcia-Herros. He also mentions that we had a household in the community of El Minuto de Dios which is a part of the Father's ministry. Sam and Elizabeth Ballesteros were the heads of that household with Dale and Bev Hunter, John Gudino, Sally Trejo and perhaps one or two others that I can't remember who were members of that household.

Father GH (Sam Ballesteros used to refer to him that way -- and it will cut down on my typing) begins his article here. It is certainly a word of affirmation to our community -- and specifically to the ministry of Ken Pagard. Ken made at least one trip to El Minuto. He and the Father had similar visions for the unity of the church and the fullness of the Holy Spirit in bringing about that unity.

On this page, Ken continues his article about the Friday evening service. There were four Catholic Priests present (including Father GH), one of which was from the office of Cardinal Suenens of Belgium who was over the Charismatic Movement within the Catholic Church. I will say more about the Cardinal later when we get to the issue about the Kansas City Conference in 1977. Ken goes on to describe the communion service. This was monumental! I was interviewed by the New York Times several years later. We didn't have a clue of how monumental the experience was. This was all done appropriately within the guidelines of  the Catholic Church with the permission of the Bishop of San Diego. I don't know all of the rules but I do know that the celebrant was Father GH. Anything that the elders (including Ken) were in assisting. Those were the rules -- but the experience was actually breath taking.

In the middle of this momentous event, we have an observation on Christian art by McFoone.

Ken finished the article with some interesting thoughts about the future of our cooperation with the Catholic Church. None of these events happened; the future doesn't always work the way that we think it will.

This page also concludes the article by Father GH. I am still overwhelmed to read how much we were held in esteem by this humble, but very important person from Columbia.

Ken also starts a separate article that is really about repentance. He wrote it because we seemed to be in a stagnant place. This seemed to be the way things went all during the 70s; lots of growth and excitement and moving forward followed by a time of complacency (stagnation.)

Ken states that the sins that should bring about our repentance were a critical spirit, moral laxity and worldliness. We really believed that we should be in unity -- this was big. We were also to be holy and holiness required that we not be like the culture around us.

We had several editions of the song book. I'm not sure which edition this was.

The next two pages are the conclusion of "The Lizard" by C.S. Lewis which was started in the last issue.

The next page and a half is a prophecy received by Eleanor Burger. She is still alive and well and lives in Oregon. She and George were heads of Bethel Household; George was one of our elders. In her introductory words she mentions a prophecy that come up over and over again concerning a word that we wouldn't receive God's power until we fully embraced Submission, Obedience and Discipline. This became quite controversial as the days of our community came to an end. At this time they were not controversial, they were just difficult for all of us to embrace.

Mike Shaw provides a list of guidelines for participation in the non-residential household meetings. They are pretty good for most church "small group" meetings. Mike continues to serve in FBC ChulaChula Vista. Vista along with his wife Linda. They are still good friends of my Linda and I. Mike is now retired from his position in the city of

As I have mentioned before, anyone who was around during this time will enjoy reading the "In the Family" section although there is nothing earth shaking in this issue.

The next little article by Ken was very important. He explains the rationale for licensing all of the elders as "lay ministers." This was probably a good thing at the time, although I take issue with Ken's statement about how well prepared we were. I can only speak for myself; I wasn't.

Dolan and Ramona Wolford along with their family were a really important part of our church. DolanWolford's house. We owned it for several years, but never lived there. was an Elder, and he and Ramona were heads of the Third Avenue Household. They still live in West Virginia and are still serving the Lord. From time to time we see them. Incidentally one of the problems was the fact that they owned the house; we didn't want it to leave the community. When Linda and I moved into community, we owned a house, so we sold it and bought the

Then we have the announcement about the Green Lake Conference. We took quite a team. I always envied these teams; I wanted to go. I got my chance in 1979 -- and I still like to go.