CONVOY OF KINDNESS

There is a story from the end of WWII of a statue of Christ in a European city and where once the figure of Jesus had stood in the city square with hands outstretched, the bombs had left mere stubs. When asked why the town did not replace the hands, they said it was a reminder that Christ has no hands but ours.

In the late 1940's the women of the IPHC were organizing , and while some forecast this move would lead to nothing but "gossip fests", the women were quick to show, however, that they were able organizers with a heart for meaningful ministry. One of the first targets of the women was the Falcon Children's Home (North Carolina), soon to be followed by other benevolent ministries, such as the Carmen Home (Oklahoma). Dependent on sometimes sporadic support the women wanted to "remember the orphans."
For about the first ten years this covey of kindness made its way to the orphanage. Called a "cavalcade", "caravan", and "parade" the term "Harvest Train" developed later, coinciding with the "Feast of Ingathering" held on the denominational campuses.

In 1958 Charles Bradshaw wrote in the IPHC Advocate "…I realized that they too were aware of the fact that their pantries and storage rooms were full only when friends who love them came and brought supplies." (Oct. 28, 1958, pg. 5) during the Thanksgiving season it should be recalled that it is a time when its traditional spirit of national thanksgiving calls to each Christian to be the hands of Christ.

Sources: IPHC Advocate; Synan. The Old-Time Power, (1986); IPHC Helping Hand (Nov. 1956, pg. 1).

by Marilyn Hudson, Author & Historian
Director of Library Services, Southwestern Christian University

SPIRITUAL LEADERS PROMOTING A SPIRITUAL PROGRAM

A Christian…can learn mathematics, for example, from a teacher who is not a Christian; and truth is truth however learned. But while truth is truth however learned, the bearing of truth, the meaning of truth, the purpose of truth, even in the sphere of mathematics, seem entirely different to the Christian from that which they seem to the non-Christian; and that is why a truly Christian education is possible only when Christian conviction underlies not a part but all, of the curriculum of the school.
~ J. Gresham Machen, in Education, Christianity, and the State. (Jefferson, MD: Trinity Foundation, 1987. page 81).

From earliest days, the IPHC considered education and a well-trained ministry of great import. Its early leaders were all men who were trained and capable. They had a goal of balancing quality education with the vital spiritual energy of Pentecost.

The great IPHC leader G. H. Montgomery noted in 1938 that, “Education is bound to come in for more and more prominence in our ranks…Spiritual leaders will promote a spiritual program. We cannot afford to commit spiritual suicide by opposing education. Neither can we afford to let anything take the place of the Holy Spirit in the church and our ministry…” PH Advocate (Feb. 3, 1938).

Articles appeared, by S.N. Greene and others, noting the need for ministerial training and education for the creation of a clergy of which churches need not be ashamed. R.O. Corvin later added, “No denomination will rise above its highest educational institution….If we want a growing, spiritual…church, we must have a school of higher learning with those characteristics…”Advocate (July 26, 1945). A year later, Montgomery was pondering, as were many in that time period, “Do We Need a Seminary?” Advocate (Feb.15, 1946).

In 1966, the denomination had its first seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The General Conference finally named the program at ORU as the official PH Seminary but, with Roberts leaving the denomination in 1968, the celebration was short lived. (Synan, Old Time Religion ).

In 1987, the dream of a Graduate School arose seriously once more as Jack Goodson and IPHC leadership began a plan to unify the education program of the denomination. This dream was further realized with the appointment of Dr. Garnet Pike as Dean of the I.P.H.C. Graduate School in 1992. In September of 1993, the denominations first graduate school opened its doors on the campus of Southwestern Christian University. It allowed students to become part of a milestone in denomination history. The school offered a Master of Ministry focusing on practical equipping for successful ministry and taught by some of the finest leaders in the country. The impact of the program on ministers has proven true the words of G.H. Montgomery “…Spiritual leaders will promote a spiritual program.”

by Marilyn Hudson, Author & Historian
Director of Library Services, Southwestern Christian University

CHARLES EDWIN JONES - AUTHOR AND RESEARCHER

Charles Edwin Jones has held archival, library, and teaching positions at the University of Michigan, Houghton College, and Brown University.
He has also written:
-Perfectionist Persuasion
-A Guide to the Study of the Holiness Movement
-A Guide to the Study of the Pentecostal Movement
-Black Holiness (Scarecrow, 1974, 1983, and 1987).
No studies into the holiness, pentecostal or charismatic movements of the 19th and 20th centuries would be complete without referring to the vital work of this researcher.

THE GENTLEMAN OF GOD: J.H.King (1869-1949)

On July 1, 1900, a young minister named J.H. King, aged 31 years, then member of the Fire-Baptized Holiness Association of the United States and Canada was elected by unanimous ballot to be the new General Overseer. This group, with mission and evangelist work in the central and western United States in 1911 would became part of the pedigree of the present IPHC.

J.H. King was born in 1869, converted in 1885 and soon felt a definite call into the ministry. He served as a Methodist minister until he united with the Fire-Baptized Holiness Association in Royston, Georgia in 1898. Early works in Oklahoma and elsewhere would bear strong fruit years later as the “full gospel” Pentecostal Holiness Church emerged from the seeds planted under his leadership in the FBHA. His well-noted humility, intelligence, education, and leadership qualities would mean that he would be chosen to lead the new merged organization of the Pentecostal Holiness Church.

He added to the doctrinal development and instruction of the church through writings that have become classics in Pentecostal history: Passover to Pentecost (the first hardback published by the IPHC), Christ: God’s Love Gift, and Yet Speaketh: a memoir. His legacy was a strong, yet humble, spirit, a deep faith, and excellence in leadership and integrity.

Bishop King’s life was an example that God will use those who dedicate themselves, prepare themselves, and then make themselves available to God’s will. Shortly before his death he was quoted as saying, “One thing I know; I will not die unless it is God’s will for me to go. If I die, I know that it will be God’s will for me now.” Bishop J.H. King, a Gentleman of God, died as he had lived: following the will of his Creator.

For more information, see also Campbell, Joseph. The Pentecostal Holiness Church (1951) and King, J.H. Yet speaketh (1949).

by Marilyn Hudson, Author & Historian

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY. by Marilyn A. Hudson

In June of 1943, Joseph Goebbels gave his famous speech declaring the inevitable victory of Nazism. On the other side of the world, several groups of the IPHC were uniting to provide ministry, support, and a different type of victory to the vast numbers of men going into the war effort.

Prior to the war the denomination had adopted a pacifist stance, but as the dreadful war toll mounted after Dec. 7, 1941- and its force was felt in nearly every home in America - many attitudes changed (Synan, V. Oldtime Power, pg. 210).

The Rev. Samuel J. Todd, whose heart had been moved to do something, had already applied to the War Department for the Chaplaincy Corp (the IPHC's first chaplain was Lt. J. Vinson Ellenberg, quickly followed by Thomas E. Myers, Julius W. Green, Freeman Mashburn, and EL. Shirey, Synan, Oldtime Power, pg. 210). Then Todd was approached to head a "Service Men's Commission." He realized quickly that here was an equally great opportunity to minister to thousands of men in the American armed forces.

The Service Men's Commission requested the youth groups (called societies) join with the Home Missions Department and the Evangelism Department to develop a coordinated effort. The Commission board was comprised of: J.A. Synan, H.T. Spence, T.A. Melton, W.W. Carter, B.R. Dean, G. H. Montgomery, T.L. Aaron, J.W. Butler, Byron A. Jones, Virgil Gaither.Operating under the umbrella of the new Home Missions Department, the new commission was introduced via the pages of the P.H. Advocate: "We believe that this present world situation affords our church one of the greatest opportunities…to be a blessing to many young men in the armed forces… and we must take advantage of this opportunity…" (Advocate, June 17, 1943; pg. 7).

By November of that same year, Samuel Todd was already distributing a 4-page newsletter to service men. The November and December the pages of the Advocate were full of testimonies by men whom the new ministry had been able to connect with, and positively impact, in most perilous times.

by Marilyn Hudson, Author & Historian
Director of Library Services, Southwestern Christian University

DATEBOOK: OUT OF A YEARNING HEART TO HELP THE CHURCH

May 10-1944 Women’s Auxiliary formally organized in NC Conference, Lila Berry elected 1st Pres. Originally a “preacher’s Wives Club”.

Lila Berry, remarking on the first organization of Pentecostal Holiness women in May 10,1944, noted: “A small group of women (and nearly as many men) met in the historic little church in Falcon…I hardly think any of us knew just what we wanted , but out of a yearning heart to do something to help the church and a determination to find our places in God’s great harvest field, we met….” (Campbell, J. The Pentecostal Holiness Church, 1898-1948; pg.388-389). The first group was organized under the conference leadership of W. Eddie Morris in Falcon, N.C. and their first speaker was T.A. Melton. (Synan, Old Time Power, pg. 214). The first leader was Mrs. Lila Berry who set her sights on expanding the new outreach across the denomination and did so in the General Conference of 1945. The ministry touched a cord and provided a new and vital means of ministering to P.H. women – but to also reach out and impact their communities and the world.

WOMEN WITH THE GOOD NEWS

Another new work being added is - WOMEN WITH THE GOOD NEWS: The Rhetorical Heritage of Pentecostal Holiness Women Preachers - by Dr. Kristen Dayle Welch

Order from Amazon.com (click title for link) or direct from CPT Press.

The first book to share interviews with women preachers of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC), Dr. Welch explores rhetoric, gender, and religion in the biographies, autobiographies, and histories that detail what it means to be a Pentecostal woman preacher in Oklahoma. Archival materials provide a picture of Pentecostalism years before Oklahoma became a state in 1907, and a transcribed interview with the former Presiding Bishop of the IPHC, James Leggett, gives a contemporary view of what it means to be Pentecostal in the 21st century. A Christian scholar who grew up in the IPHC, Dr. Welch draws upon the field of rhetoric to use Jim Corder's theory of generative ethos to illuminate the way identity is constructed on individual, collective, and spiritual levels. She shows the role place plays in the development of faith and character in her chapter "We are of this Place: Oklahoma and Ethos." She concludes the book with an honest look at the administrative levels of the IPHC and ends with a note of hope for the future.

AUTHOR:Kristen Dayle Welch (PhD, University of Arizona) is Assistant Professor of English and Director of the Writing Center at Longwood University, Farmville, Virginia, USA.

Dr. Stanley Horton Donates Work to Collection

Dr. Stanley M. Horton, recognized as a pivotal shaper of pentecostal theology in the 20th century, has graciously donated a copy of the biography written by Lois E. Olena with Raymond L. Gannon with a Foreword by George O. Wood.

Stanley M. Horton is well known and respected as a gifted leader—a history-maker whose impact will be felt on future generations forever.

Discover how God used his writings and teachings to affirm the doctrinal destiny of Pentecostalism and the Assemblies of God in the twentieth century and up to the present. You’ll enjoy the adventures and miracles of his childhood set against the backdrop of early Pentecostalism. You’ll also learn how he went on to unite passionate faith and disciplined scholarship in a beautiful balance.

Leaders young and old will be inspired by the humble grace of this faithful servant of Christ. Paper.

RECENT DONATION

A person wishing to remain anonymous has donated the funds for this book to be added to the PRC. What a treat to add this book, by a one time interim president of the institution, to this growing collection.

AN EYEWITNESS REMEMBERS THE CENTURY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Dr. Vinson Synan.

Premier Pentecostal historian Vinson Synan shares for the first time his engaging personal assessment of and involvement in the extraordinary events of the last 100 years that gave birth to the charismatic and Pentecostal movements. Because of his unique position and participation in most of these events, Synan offers a rare and fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the phenomenal events that took place when the Holy Spirit fell at Azusa Street; the subsequent formation of the Pentecostal denominations; the surprising birth of the charismatic renewal; the emergence of charismatic Catholicism; the Toronto Blessing; and beyond.

FEATURED TITLE: Heaven Below

Grant Wacker, academic from Duke University, has written Heaven Below. In this lively history of the rise of pentecostalism in the United States, Grant Wacker gives an in-depth account of the religious practices of pentecostal churches. He also provides an engaging picture of the way these beliefs played out in daily life in both positive and negative ways as people struggled to establish 'heaven below'. Utilizing numerous primary resources, the work details both the scope and diversity of the early Pentecostal movement but also the common threads of faith and vitality the movement embodied.

R.O.CORVIN

Dr. R.O. Corvin was born in Ada, Oklahoma and was the first president of Southwestern Christian University (then called simply Southwestern Pentecostal Holiness College). He served from 1946 to the 1960's when he left to head up the School of Religion at the new Oral Roberts University. During this time period ORU's School of Religion functioned as the recognized theological seminary for the Pentecostal Holiness Church (now the IPHC).

After leaving ORU, he established several modular and correspondance training programs and wrote over 90 lessons which continued to impact leaders and church members the world over.

His books, thesis, and dissertation, including most of his training manuals from his correspondence programs, are in the SCU Pentecostal Research Collection.

His Educational Background:

B.A. Newberry College

M.A. University of South Carolina

Th.B. Holmes Bible College

B.D. Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary

D.R.E. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D. University of Oklahoma

Books In The PRC Collection at Southwestern Christian University:

David and His Mighty Men * (1950)

A Survey of Southwestern Christian University* (1956) 

Looking at the Future Through the Eyes of Daniel* (1973)

Religious and Educational Backgrounds in the Founding of Oral Roberts University* (1967)

Faith and Action of Old Testament men: New Testament Men, Great Women of the Bible, Theology and Morals,... *(1981)

Corvin, R.O. David and his Mighty Men. Eerdmans, 1950

Other Sites:

http://www.bible-ebooks.com/page5.html

THOMAS AARON, A.B., B.D.(1897-1951)

Thomas Aaron served as the President of King's College after the school moved to Kingfisher and followed as the second President of King's College (Dr. George Ryder) and was followed in turn by Clarence H. Williams (1930-1935). Aaron had degrees from Oglethorpe University, Atlanta Theological Seminary, and Holmes Bible and Missionary Institute. In 1933 he was chosen to take the helm of Emmanuel College from G.F. Taylor. The Georgia campus would be home for many years, til ill health caused his retirement in 1949. Yet, for a short time he led a growing school on a 120 acre campus in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma and left a legacy that would lead to the development of Southwestern College in 1946.

EARLY PENTECOSTAL SCHOOL PAVED THE WAY FOR SCU

A persistent myth has been that pentecostals are anti-education. The image above serves to illustrate that this was far from the case for many segments of the pentecostal movement. The value and import of a good education was firmly rooted in some groups and regions. The difference was that pentecostals also desired a strong and vital spiritual environment to support and nuture students in the process.

In 1928-29 the above image appeared in the "King's College, Illustrated Catalog". King's College had been started in Checotah, Ok in 1925 and continued there until the school moved into the vacated, Kingfisher College, located just outside Kingfisher and they operated there from 1927 to 1935. Dan W. Evans was instrumental in the development of a Pentecostal Holiness school in the region. In 1925 the school opened in Checotah, named for pioneer preacher and leader, Bishop J. H. King. King had been a leader first in the Fire Baptized Holiness Association and in Oklahoma as early as 1906.

In 1926, the school moved to Kingfisher with only about 100 students but by 1928 they had over 300 and had to turn away as many as 100 due to lack of space. Aaron was aided in his role as President by Dan T.Muse, Dan W. Evans, Lycurgis Lynch, Dr. George Ryder and others. In 1930, Clarence Williams took over the helm as leader and served in that role until the school closed in the middle of the Great Depression.

The curriculm served K-12 and offered course tracks in Business and Theology (including foreign missions). Music instruction was a highlight with a band, orchestra, classes in brass, strings, piano, guitar, vocal and other skills.

[SCU Archives; "One Nightclub and a Mule Barn: (2006)]