F A L L 2 0 0 5

A NEWS JOURNAL FO

Ministries in Greater PortlandComplete New Buildings;Experience New Grauth

See Stories on Pages 10 ami 12

NEWS

Pepperdine Law Professor L. Randolph Lowry AcceptsPresidency at Lipscomb University

Pepperdine University School of Law Profes-sor L. Randolph Lowry was recently namedpresident of Lipscomb University in Nashville,Tennessee. In accepting the new position, Profes-sor Lowry will leave his post as director of theStraus Ins t i tu te for Dispute Resolut ion atPepperdine, an internationally acclaimed insti-tute which he founded in 1986.

"Professor Lowry is a great choice for theLipscomb presidency. He has given PepperdineUniversity 19 solid years of leadership and I ap-preciate the strength and trajectory of the pro-gram he leaves behind," said Pepperdine Presi-dent, Andrew K. Benton. "Randy and his wife,Rhonda, will be missed by this community, buttheir new opportunity to lead is both unique and important. I am glad we willcontinue as colleagues in higher education, albeit at different points of service. Wehave always had a warm relationship with Lipscomb University and I know itwill only grow stronger in the future."

Lowry succeeds Dr. Steve Flatt who stepped down as president June 1 to ac-cept a position with National HealthCare Corporation. Dr. Harold Hazelip, whoserved as president from 1986-1997, is serving as interim president until Lowrytakes office on October 1.

Pepperdine Life Regent Evelyn Clark Passes AwayEvelyn Clark, Pepperdine life regent,

former AWP president, and belovedChristian servant, passed away on August 3.She was 100 years old.

Evelyn joined Pepperdine's original boardof trustees in 1974 which transitioned into theboard of regents in 1976. She became a liferegent in 1989. She left an enduring legacy atPepperdine and is loved and remembered forher dedication to young people.

Evelyn was a charter member of theAssociated Women for Pepperdine (AWP)and was its first ways and means chairperson.

She later became president for two, two-year terms. She was instrumental inestablishing and building many of AWP's fund-raising activities and traveledthousands of miles to start new AWP districts.

One of Evelyn's most lasting and significant gifts was establishing anendowment fund for Church of Christ young people who need financial assistanceto attend Pepperdine. Established in 1977 with an initial $1,000 gift from Ruth R.White, Evelyn's sister, the fund's value now exceeds $2.3 million.

She is remembered as someone who was ever grateful for her many blessingsand as someone who served as a positive role model for many other women.

Volume XXI Number 1

PACIFIC CHURCH NEWS ispublished periodically by theDepartment of Church Relationsat Pepperdine University. Pleasesend all correspondence toChurch Relations, PCN Maga-zine, Pepperdine University,24255 Pacific Coast Highway,Malibu, CA 90263-4270.

EDITORJerry Rushford

ASSOCIATE EDITORSBill Henegar

Agnes Gibson

DESIGN & PRODUCTIONAgnes Gibson

CONTRIBUTING REPORTERSGarth Black, Bakersfield, CA

Larry Cain, Yuba City, CAWalt Fennel, Sacramento, CARich Griffin, San Diego, CA

Emily Lemley, Westlake Village, CABonnie Miller, Vancouver, WABillie Silvey, Los Angeles, CAMel Weldon, Longview, WAEdwin White, Phoenix, AZ

Bud Worsham, Long Beach, CAJohn York, Roseburg, OR

COVERTwo churches in greater Portland,the Southwest Church of Christ inTigard and the Vancouver Church ofChrist in Vancouver, have movedinto new church buildings in 2005.

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LIFESTYLE

Bobby Murcer's Field of Dreams

by Rick Gibson

Many kids dream of playingprofessional baseball and living the lifeof their major league heroes. Some evencatch a glimpse of the dream when theymeet a major league star in person andget an autographed ball. But for BobbyMurcer, life exceeded his dreams whenat 19 years of age he donned Yankeepinstripes and played professionalbaseball along side Yankee greatsnamed Mantle, Maris, and Stottlemyer.

Bobby and Kay Murcer keep their church relation-ships strong as they move each baseball season fromOklahoma, to California, to New York, and back.

As a youngster growing up inOklahoma City, Robert and MaybelleMurcer's middle son showed signs ofbeing a star athlete early. Bobby playedbaseball, football, and basketball. Manythought he would become a footballplayer when he signed a letter of intentto play for the University of Oklahoma.But things changed for Bobby ongraduation day. While all of his friendsshed their cap and gown to go tograduation celebrations, Bobby wenthome and fielded offers from majorleague baseball teams. In those days,professional baseball teams could notapproach a young prospect unt i l he

graduated. The ink was barely dry onhis diploma before Bobby had signedwith the Yankees.

In 1967, Bobby was drafted into theArmy. He missed the 1967 and 1968seasons, but he went on to playeighteen seasons in the major leaguesat a time when the average player'scareer was made up of six years in theminors and four in the majors. Heenjoyed many great moments andhighlights in his career including fiveAll-Star games, one Golden GloveAward, two American League

Championship series,and one World Series. Heplayed in 1,908 games,hi t t ing .277 wi th 252homeruns and 1,043RBIs. Perhaps thegreatest highlight, though,came in 1970 when he joinedLou Gehrig as the only otherYankee to hit homeruns infour consecutive at bats.

Not all of Murcer'sbaseball memories are good,however. Bobby's closestfriend on the 1979 Yankees,team captain ThurmanMunson, died in a planecrash in Ohio on August 2.Fans who follow the Yankeeswi l l remember Murcer 's

tearful and loving eulogy of his goodfriend. They will also remember thatnight, returning to Yankee Stadiumafter such an emotional day, theYankees were down 4-0 against theBaltimore Orioles when Bobby hit athree run homer in the seventh inning.He drove in the winning run in thebottom of the ninth in memory of hisgood friend.

Most would say that Bobby Murceris a lucky man to live such dreams. Hewould simply say he has been blessed.He and his wife, Kay, have two children,Tori and Todd, and continue to enjoy ablessed life. Living most of the off-

season in Edmond, Oklahoma, theMurcers flee the rough weather in thewinter and head to the low desert ofSouthern California during late winterand early spring. In each location theyare active members of a local Church ofChrist community. In Edmond, theyattend the Memorial Road Church ofChrist. On any given Sunday in the off-season the Murcer's can be found inOklahoma Christ ian Universi typresident, Mike O'Neal's Sundaymorning Bible class. During the springthey can be found taking notes duringPaul Schlosser's sermon at the PalmDesert Church of Christ.

When spring hits though, Bobbystill feels the call of baseball —literally.Though no longer an active player,Bobby Murcer keeps close to baseballand the Yankees as a broadcastannouncer. He has spent 23 yearsbehind the mike sometimes calling playby play and other times offering colorcommentary and pre and post gameanalysis. He has shared the booth with

See Bobby Murcer, page 15

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PEPPERDINE BIBLE LECTURES

The Promise: Lifted Up

by Bill Henegar

President Andrew K. Benton set thetone for the 62nd Annual PepperdineBible Lectures in his welcome messagefor the lectures booklet, when he wrote,"We are l if ted up with forgivenessbecause He was lifted up in sacrifice.We are lifted up with hope because Hewas lifted up from apparent defeat. Wewill be lifted up to ul t imate glorybecause He was lifted up to the Thronefrom whence He descended."

And indeed, thousands ofChrist ians were l i f ted up, May 3through 6, 2005, on the Malibu campusof Pepperdine. The Bible Lectures werea stunning collage of events—inspiringmajor addresses, stimulating classes,glorious music, and heart-warmingfellowship—a composition that becamea feast for the soul.

Keynoter David Fleer of Michiganlaid the background with his message,"Lifted Up," on John 12:32. The nextday, Randy Harris of Texas addressed"The I Am and the I Am Not,"referencing John 18:1-27. OnWednesday evening, Jeff Walling ofNorth Carolina considered the scenario,"When Kingdoms Collide," using John18:28-19:16 as his text. On Thursdaymorning, the midway point of lecturesweek, David Young of Kansas described"The Communi ty Created by theCross," drawing from John 19:16-30.

Ken Durham of Cal i forn iaaddressed the crowd on Thursdayevening, with "Lifted Up From theGrave" as his subject and John 20:1-18as his text. On Friday, the last day ofthe conference, Greg Anderson ofAlabama spoke in the morning on "TheCommunity Lifted Up by the HolySpirit," referencing John 20:19-29. MikeCope of Texas closed the week with thesubject, "The Gospel of DO OVER,"using John 21:15-19.

When the last guestleft and silence settled overthe campus, the letters andemails began to roll in withoverwhelming thanks andsupport. From Dallas, awoman wrote, "thelectures were a breath offresh air," and "we arealways grateful when wefinally let go of the busyschedule and get on theplane Pepperdinelectures are a part of thecycle of our year." Thepresident of a university inFlorida wrote, "It was arich experience to be on thePepperdine campus againand to experience the richworship services andfriendship of many old andnew friends."

An element of theBible Lectures that hasbecome a favorite for manyattendees is the surprisehonoring of great servantsof the Lord. A man fromTexas confessed, "Often, Ifelt tears well up in myeyes with joy for the tributepaid those who have spenttheir lives in service to ourLord!" (See the article inthis issue on honoreesunder "Tribute.")

There are alwaysnewcomers to the lectures.And it is often a surprisingand wonderful experiencefor them to gaze out overthe vast Pacific Ocean, tobreathe the fresh sea air, towalk among the terra-cotta-roofed buildings, andto drink in the messages of God and Hispeople. This year, a preacher fromFlorida wrote, "It was my first occasionto visit your campus and attend the

President Andy Benton welcomed a capacity crowd toFirestone Fieldhouse on opening night.

Emily Lemley (left) and Sara Jackson (right) joined theirmother, Helen Young, at her class in Raitt Recital Hall.

lectures, and it was such a blessing.... 1really appreciated the overall tone andquali ty of classes and keynotes. In myopinion the emphasis and balance was

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Taylor Walling (left) engages his father, JeffWalling, in dialogue during their class onpassing the faith to the next generation.

just right. I came away uplifted andencouraged and with a commitment toreturn next year." He concluded, "Itseems to me that Pepperdine is a brightand shining l ight for us in ourwonderful fellowship." Others who areregulars never seem to tire of the sceneand the spiritual mood. They say thingslike, "Every year we come we say it justcan't get any better, but somehow italways does. We had several peoplefrom our congregation come with usthis year and hope for even more tocome next year. It is quite a trip fromAnchorage, Alaska, but well worth it."

A surprising number of attendeescommented on the fu ture of theRestoration Movement and itsrelationship to the Pepperdine Lectures.One of these said, "I have so much faithand hope for our movement—theexciting scholarship, the engagingspeakers, the real hunger for deeperspi r i tua l i ty and greater unity. I 'mexcited about our future, and thePepperdine Lectures are part of whatmakes this such a great time for theChurches of Christ!"

Some call the Pepperdine BibleLectures the "premier event ofChurches of Christ." Others refer to thelectures as "the Gold Standard." Thetruth is, the hearts that are prepared toreceive a blessing receive the most. Oneperson reflected, "I needed refreshing,and the speakers, music, and fellowshipwere marvelously renewing." The best

The sound of more than 4,000 voices lifted up in thunderous congregational singingechoed through Firestone Fieldhouse during the four-day event.

Manuel Magos led prayer in both Englishand Spanish on closing night.

water is that which a parched throatthankfully receives.

The toughest critics are often thoseclosest to home. But even from Malibu,a woman affiliated with the Universitywrote, "I am so impressed each year, butI think this year topped all that I havehad the opportunity to attend." A largeportion of the messages mentionedlectures director Jerry Rushford and hismagnificent orchestration of the great"symphony by the sea." The lecturesteam and the student workers are oftenincluded in the thanks.

Mike Cope stirred the audience inFirestone with his dramatic Friday nightlecture on "The Gospel of DO OVER."

A couple from Texas looked beyondthe lectures and observed, "The hardestpart is coming home and trying toconvey to our friends all of thewonderful experiences we had duringthe week." The comment points towardthe mult iplying effect of the BibleLectures, as participants return homeand share the lessons they have learnedwith their local congregation.

So, what makes for such memories?Is it the campus, the setting, the salt air,the magic of Malibu? An Arkansaswoman considered the stirring beautyof the Pepperdine campus and wrote,"That your campus and surroundingsare beautiful is obvious to all, but Iwanted you to know that theencouraging words I heard were themost beautiful thing aboutPepperdine." To which the Universitysays, "Amen."

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TRIBUTE

Servant Leaders Honored

by Kymberlee Dildine

The 2005 Pepperdine Bible Lecturesonce again "Lifted Up" attendees asthey heard about the many ministriestheir brethren were involved in tofurther God's Kingdom. PepperdineUniversity and other Christ ianorganizations presented DistinguishedChristian Service Awards throughoutthe week to individuals for their hardwork and commitment to serving Godwith the many gifts and talents Hebestowed them.

The excitement of the week beganwith the honoring of Paul Giboney atthe Associated Women for Pepperdinedinner on Tuesday, May 3, openingnight . Paul was recognized as anoutstanding AWP alumnus for hismedical service to underprivilegedpeople in the Los Angeles area. Theopening night men's dinner recognizedRick Rowland as a "visionary leader ofCampus Ministries" across the WestCoast.

Wednesday was also f u l l ofopportunities to express our gratitude.Wineskins began the day with honoringSandra Henderson for her musicministry with the College Church inFresno, California. During the mainsession in Firestone Fieldhouse thatmorning, Pepperdine honored Davidand Sue Gaylor for their dedicatedservice to the body, by creating aministry of communicating the gospelof Christ through Gaylor Multimedia.Howard Publishing honored EverttHuffard for his years of faithful serviceas Dean of the Harding GraduateSchool of Religion in Memphis,Tennessee. An appreciation dinner washosted in honor of Neil Lightfoot forhis fifty-five plus years as a preacherand forty-five plus years as a Bibleteacher at Abilene Christian University.At the evening session in FirestoneFieldhouse, Pepperdine recognized

Chi Ekwenye, Obuzor, Nigeria, Africa

David & Sue Gaylor, Nashville, Tennesseewith Jerry Rushford

Ellen Walker, a dedicated missionaryto Tirana, Albania and Chi Ekwenye ofEastern Nigeria, Africa, for her love anddevotion to orphaned and abandonedchi ld ren . It was a de l igh t fu l andemotional evening for all.

Thursday brought many occasionsof acknowledgement for others. Joe andRuth Belts of Ibaraki, Japan, wereshowered in appreciat ion at themorning session in FirestoneFieldhouse for their f i f t y years asfa i thfu l missionaries in Japan and withIbaraki Christian School. 21s' Century

Bob & Jan RandolphCambridge, Massachusettes

Evertt HuffardMemphis, Tennessee

Christian and Power for Today honoredBil l McDonough of Phnom Penh,Cambodia, for his many years ofmissionary service around the world.At the Friends of Pepperdine dinnerthat night, President Andy Bentonrecognized Bob and Jane Jackson fortheir continued work with youngpeople and their support of ChristianEducation at Rochester College andPepperdine University.

Tributes continued on throughFriday. Pepperdine awarded Eno andLaVera Otoyo for their work among

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Allan McNicol (left), Austin, Texas, with Neil LightfootRick Marrs Abilene, Texas

Eno & LaVera OtoyoHollywood, California

Rick RowlandCorona, California

God's people, especially through theirpromotion of Nigerian mission work.The Restoration Quarterly luncheonhighlighted Allan McNicol for hisdedication to students throughteaching at Austin Graduate School ofTheology for more than thirty years.The Center for the Family atPepperdine University dedicated itsluncheon to showing appreciation toHelen Young for her graciousness andrelentless work to further God'skingdom. At the Friday night dinner,Pepperdine took the opportunity to

Ruth & Joe Belts, Ibaraki, Japan

Bill McDonough (left), Phnom Penh,Cambodia with Steve Lemley

honor Bob and Jan Randolph ofCambridge, Massachusetts, for theirwork with the Brookline Church ofChrist in Boston for nearly forty years.

Honoring God's dedicated servantsis one of the highlights of thePepperdine Bible Lectures. We "LiftUp" our gratitude for their commitmentto strengthening the work of our Lordaround the world. Join us the week ofMay 2-5, 2006, as we honor more ofGod's servants.

Ellen WalkerTirana, Albania

Paul Giboney (right), Hollywood, Califor-nia, with Kanet Thomas

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SCENES FROM PEPPERDINE'S

Large crowds gathered in Firestone for the seven theme lectures. Children's classes were a special part of the Lectures program.

School of Law Dean Ken Starr taught adaily Bible class in Smothers Theatre.

Nigeria's Chi Ekwenye was honored onWednesday evening.

Ken Young & Hallal Singers led singingeach night in Firestone Fieldhouse.

IKen Durham was the featured lecturer on Jeff Walling and Andy Fleming co-taught Guests enjoyed the spectacular views of theThursday evening. a class on unity in Churches of Christ. Pacific Ocean from Pepperdine's campus.

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62ND ANNUAL BIBLE LECTURES

Hundreds of books and Bibleswere available in the displayarea in Tyler Campus Center.

Brady Smith from Switzerlandtaught a daily class on Godworking through Jacob.

David Fleer from Rochester College in Michigan opened the62nd annual Bible Lectures on Tuesday evening with a keynoteaddress on "Lifted Up."

John Mark Hicks from Lipscomb University taught a daily class inStauffer Chapel on a Christian response to Tlte Da Vinci Code.

Smother's Theatre was filled to capacity with enthusiastic audi-ences from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day.

For younger lecture guests of all ages, there were multiple modesof transportation available.

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CONGREGATION

Southwest Church of Christ Revisited

by Bill Henegar

Nearly a decade ago, Emily Y. Lemleywrote an article for Pacific Church Newscalled, "How To Grow a Church: OregonChurch Uses LIFE Groups To More ThanDouble Attendance." It was publishedunder the section heading, "Vision." Wethought we would revisit the SouthwestChurch of Christ in Tigard, Oregon, to seewhat has transpired in the last nine yearsand ask questions, like, "Has themomentum continued to build? And hasattendance continued to grow?" Here iswhat we found:

At 8:30 a.m., in an auditorium thatseats at least 700 people, a tall man inwhite shirt and tie rises to welcomemembers and guests to the early churchservice. His friendly and inviting smilewarms the room, and we areimmediately drawn into the worshiphour. He ends his welcome by askingthe congregation to join him in recitingthe church's mission. Together,hundreds of voices say that theSouthwest Church of Christ is "A Christfocused family committed to: Living forGod, Loving each other, Lighting theworld."

After a prayer, the communionmeditation is offered by a 40-somethingman, and younger men are very evidentamong the servers. Following theLord's Supper, the tall welcomer donshis sport jacket and announces that hewill continue his series of sermons onRomans 15 and 16. He takes two stepsdown to the auditorium floor, andwalks freely as he speaks. A guestphotographer is invited to join him onthe stage, where two chairs and a smalltable have been placed for an informalconversation. Photos by thephotographer are projected on the sametwo screens where songs and hymnswere appearing minutes before. Theman gives the background of eachphoto taken during a campaign to

India . The "firesidechat" is an innovativeand engaging vehicle tocapture the attentionand imagination of theaudience.

Jef f Hicks, thepreacher, eventuallyremoves his jacket againand continues hissermon, with the help ofPowerPoint slides. Hesmiles almostcontinually as he showsphotos of "Priscilla andAquila, Epenetus,Andronicus, and Junias"(people mentioned bythe Apostle Paul in the Book ofRomans)—except that the photos reallyare of people around the world,communicating the idea that Paul wasgreeting all of us—we are the Christiansat Rome, in that sense. After the sermon,elder Mike Anderson has a final word.He mentions that it is impossible tominister to members the way the elderswould like to minister, unless eachperson is part of a LIFE Group. He hasthe group leaders stand to berecognized, and the advantages ofbeing in a small group of Christians,sharing their lives and their faith, isagain emphasized.

Emily Lemley wrote in 1996 thatStan Freitas, the preacher at the time,closed his first sermon in 1994 with thewords, "Let us rise up and build!"quoting from the Book of Nehemiah.Whereupon the whole congregationspontaneously rose and repeated theline: "Let us rise up and build!" Emilyconcluded, "Southwest has done whatthey promised on that summer Sundayin 1994; by 'staying out of God's way,'they have seen God rise up and build-not buildings but a growing family of

The new worship facility seats 700 people.

believers who are sharing their faith.May their tribe increase."

When that article was written in1996, the congregation had grown fromabout 200 to 423. Attendance nowstands at about 650, with nearly 900members, children, and regular guestsassociated with the church. One is leftwith the overall impression that theSouthwest Church of Christ in Tigard,Oregon, is a place—a people—thatexudes life.

In a meeting with three of theeleven elders and their wives—Mikeand Kathy Anderson, Lynn and CarleenHamm, and Randy and Kitty Young—the elders discuss the "culture" or majoremphases of the Southwest church:outreach, small groups, missions, andyouth. There is a "synergisticrelationship," they say, between thefour areas of concern that drives thechurch forward. When asked how thechurch manages to ma in ta in itsmomentum, they mention "MondayNight For the Master," a time whenleaders and members gather to pray,make telephone calls and visits, writecards to people, mail WBS lessons, andprepare food for members and workers.

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Pictured above are nine of the eleven elders for the SW Church. There are currently eight staff members at the SW Church.

"We've been through periods ofdoldrums," they admit, "but we justkeep stumbling forward behind God."

Without micromanaging, the elderslead through the deacons, whom theyempower to do most of the ministryleadership in specific areas ofresponsibility. They lovingly strive forconsensus among all the members, asdid the New Testament leaders in theBook of Acts (chapters 6 and 15). Everymember is encouraged to be a part ofthe process. But the elders believe that,in the final analysis, the work must goforward, so "You get to have your say,but you don't necessarily get yourway." They spend most of their timesetting agendas and shepherding thepeople: praying, counseling, dealingwith absent members, and directing theLIFE Group operation. It is the LIFEGroups that allow them to "get biggerthrough getting smaller," they say.Growth, fellowship, and evangelismcome through the small groups. Thereis a thriving women's ministry, in whichmost of the activities are organized bythe Ladies Bible Class. Individualministries abound, as do specific classeson marriage, life skills, communityoutreach, and dozens of other timelytopics.

Jeff and Sandra Hicks moved to theTigard area in the year 2000, and Jeff hasbeen the preacher and senior evangelistsince then. For about six months beforethat, the church had preachingprovided p r ima r i l y by its ownmembers. This followed the ministry ofStan Freitas. The Southwest Churchdidn't have to go far to find its new

preacher. Hicks was the minister for theHazel Dell Church of Christ inVancouver, Washington, just across theborder from Portland. In all, he waswith the Hazel Dell Church for 18 years.In fact, after graduating from ColumbiaChristian College (now CascadeCollege) in Portland, Jeff ministered inCoquille and Oregon City before goingto Vancouver. So, all his work for theLord has been in the Northwest.

Jeff preaches in both expository andtopical styles, within the framework ofan annual theme. Recently, that themewas "God and Country." Hisconversational approach seems to bewidely accepted at Southwest. "I'mhaving more fun than I've ever had,"he laughs. He has deep respect for theelders and the members of thecongregation. "The elders have highexpectations and demand a focus in ourpreaching and programs," he says."They are evangelistic, serving more asleaders than directors. They doresearch, are deliberate, and insist onconsensus." When asked about his ownphilosophy, he replies, "I'm committedto the Restoration Movement, to whatsome call the mainstream of theChurches of Christ." As such, he seemsto represent most of the people ofSouthwest.

Jeff reiterates two of the mainfocuses of the church. "We commit 15percent of our contribution to missionsaround the world and across the nation.Whenever we waver, we can trace ourproblems to having lost our focus. TheLIFE Groups are the key to our internalgrowth. It's like the hub of a wheel. We

are a congregation of—not with—LIFEGroups."

Those thoughts are actually echoesof the solid history of the SouthwestChurch. In June of 1973,171 people metfor worship, and it was determined thata percentage of the contribution fromthat and all subsequent meetingsshould go to missions. The church wasthe vision of Claude and Sammie Guild,La Vega and Nancy Parker, and Woodyand Gracie Hughes, with the supportof the Rosemont Church of Christ inFort Worth, Texas. The Guilds werereturning from six years of missionwork in Brisbane, Australia, while theParkers were supported by a church inTulsa, Oklahoma. The Hugheses wereself-supporting, and they encouragedsecretary Ruby Ellis to join the originalstaff.

Three years later, the churchconstructed the building at Durhamand 98th in Tigard. In 1979, the Parkersmoved on to new assignments, andSonny and Eunice Guild arrived towork with Southwest. Sonny and hisfather, Claude, served as co-ministers.Many preachers, elders, and membershelped in the church's growth throughthe years. But certainly, Stan Freitas'arrival in 1994 was a key advancement.

Today, the church staff includesoutreach minister Dan Goodyear, youthminister Jeff Grow, youth ministryassistant Wayne Prui t t , f ami ly lifeminister Kevin Hall, administrat iveassistant Sarah Israel, receptionist

See Southwest, page 13

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HERITAGE

Vancouver Church of Christ—A Church in Transitionby Bonnie Miller

On the first Sunday of August in1941 about 14 people gathered in thehome of Catherine McCoy for the firstmeeting of the Vancouver Church ofChris t . McCoy was working as ahousekeeper in the local hospital whereshe had met a patient who was also amember of the church. A handful ofothers who lived in Vancouver and hadbeen driving across the river to attendchurch in Portland, agreed there was aneed for a congregation in Vancouver.They arranged for a young preachernamed Claude Guild to conduct theirfirst service.

Many who had moved toVancouver during the early years ofWWII to work in the Kaiser Shipyardswere Christians and within a year of itsbeginnings, the congregation hadgrown to two Sunday morning services.Af te r meeting in several rentedfacil i t ies, around 1944 the churchpurchased its first building at 18th &West Reserve Street. (The 1-5 freewayoccupies that property today.)

In 1950 the property on ReserveStreet was sold and within two weeksthe church had closed a deal to purchasea bu i ld ing at 26"' & F Streets. Eventhough the population of Vancouverdecreased following the war, and thechurch experienced a rapid turnover inmembership, they continued to grownumer ica l ly and sp i r i tua l ly andappointed their first elders and deaconsin 1958.

The fol lowing year the churchmade a down payment on a newbuilding site on the northwest cornerof Andresen Road and Mill Plain Blvd.Through sacrificial giving and the saleof church bonds, ground breaking tookplace in February 1961.

Much of the construction on thisbuilding was done by the men of thecongregation who would leave their

The Vancouver Church of Christ (formerly known as the Andresen Road Church) willmove into its new facility on the Padden Parkway in September according to construc-tion foreman Dave Foster. The auditorium/multi-purpose room will seat 1,100. Dedica-tion of the building is scheduled for November 6.

jobs at 5 p.m. and work on the buildinguntil 10 p.m. Some even took vacationtime to work on the building.

The Andresen building was hometo the congregation from July 1961 untilMay 2003 when it was sold. With its eyeon growth, but land-locked at theAndresen site, in 1978 they hadpurchased more than 20 acres in thenorth part of the county. LastSeptember, construction began on anew facility on those 20 acres.

Since the sale of the Andresenproperty 20 years ago, the Vancouverchurch has been meeting in a local highschool auditorium. The opportunity tohave a new facility has also given thecongregation an opportuni ty toevaluate its values, goals, and methods.A renewed emphasis on reachingpeople with the gospel is leading themto become what pulpit minister CraigBrown calls a "transitional church."

"We have no intention ofabandoning our heritage as a 'mainline'

Church of Christ," Brown said. "We'rea church functioning as a bridge. Wewant to remain well-connected to ourpast while bridging into a new worldwhere future generations will face aworld radically different from the onein which we traveled."

"We are a very diversecongregation that spans severalgenerations," Brown added. "But thatis also our strength as we utilize thewisdom of the older generations tostabilize us as we grapple withquestions of unity, hermeneutics,worship styles, women's roles, etc.Same gospel, new world."

The Vancouver church is inpartnership with Columbia ChristianSchool, located in Portland since 1947,and is discussing ways the school canshare the church property to expand thegrowing school. Completion of thechurch b u i l d i n g is anticipated inSeptember with a dedication serviceplanned for November 6.

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The first meeting of the Vancouver Churchof Christ was held in the home of CatherineMcCoy in August 1941.

Preacher Grant Gower and family in 1942stand in front of the store where the churchmet at that time.

In 1958 the church began plans to build a new facility at Andresen and Mill Plain Blvd.Ground breaking ceremonies were held in 1961. Robert Rowland (center) was thepreacher from 1958 to 1960 and had spearheaded the campaign to purchase the land forthe building.

The congregation numbered around 130 when they began meeting in the Andresen build-ing with Maurice Tisdel in the pulpit. Through the following decades attendance oftenexceeded 600 and required double services.

The church held a gospel tent meeting dur-ing the early 1940s.

Southwest Churchcontinued from page 11

Debbie Murphy, and bu i ld ingmaintenance person Andy Nagy, inaddi t ion to Jeff Hicks. Women'sministries are coordinated by CindyDurfee. Terri Burnette and Gail Hess arein charge of the preschool.

Many fa i th fu l men have served aselders over the years. Today the churchhas eleven active shepherds: MikeAnderson, Dan Goodyear, OkieGrossarth, Bruce Hall, Lynn Hamm,Dave Harle, Wayon Mueller, BobPatterson, Gary Strealy, Jerry Tucker,and Randy Young. The church's manyministr ies and outreaches are toonumerous to mention, but a samplingincludes missionaries to Argentina,Tanzania, Mexico, New Zealand,Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Malawi, and BakerCity, Oregon. There are 25 deacons whoserve in nearly 20 ministry areas, andthere are a total of 32 LIFE Groupsmeeting in several communities in andaround Portland and Vancouver.

As we revisit the Southwest Churchtoday, we realize that, what began as atremendous vision, has continued toproduce frui t—because the visionessentially has not changed. Thecongregation has grown and is growingdaily. And as new members add theirstrength to the church, they alsocommit themselves, in the words of themission statement, to living for God,loving each other, and lighting theworld.

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PEPPERDINE PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

by Agnes Gibson

Robert Chandler, chair of Commu-nication Division, preached for the LaHabra Church of Christ once a monthin May and June.

Rich Dawson, director of Interna-tional Student Services and EnrollmentManagement, spoke for the VenturaChurch of Christ on June 29.

John Jones, assistant professor ofCommunication, preached for the SierraMadre Church of Christ on June 12.

Scott Lambert, University Churchof Christ campus minister, worked withthe Pepperdine Let's Start Talking teamin Croatia from May 9 - June 24. In Au-gust, he conducted a church plantingworkshop in Norman, Oklahoma.

Daniel Rodriguez, associate profes-sor of Religion and Hispanic Studies,

was in China from May 27-July 11 withseven interns, where he spoke at severalhouse meetings. He delivered a themelecture in July at the first annual GlobalMissions Conference in Arlington,Texas.

Jerry Rushford, professor of Reli-gion and director of Church Relations,spoke at a "Celebration of Heritage"event for Churches of Christ and Chris-tian Churches in Woodland Hills onApril 17, and led a "History of Hymns"tour to England and Scotland in May.He preached for Wall End Church ofChrist in Kirkby-in-Furness, England,May 22. He preached for NortheastChurch of Christ in Greenville, SouthCarolina, and Providence Road Churchof Christ in Charlotte, North Carolina,on June 5, and taught six classes at theannual Blue Ridge Family Encampmentnear Asheville, North Carolina, June 6-

9. He preached for Manhattan church ofChrist in New York City June 12, andfor the Brooklyn church plant thatevening. He preached for Kinneloa Can-yon Church of Christ in Pasadena July10 and 17.

Larry Sullivan, assistant director ofthe Straus Institute for Dispute Resolu-tion, spoke for Faulkner University atthe 9th Annual Alabama Conferenceon Dispute Resolution. On June 23-24he co-directed a seminar with RandyLowry titled, "Leading the ChurchThrough Difficult Moments." On June26, he preached for the Conejo ValleyChurch of Christ. During July he taughtconflict resolution at the Handong In-ternational School of Law in South Ko-rea, and at a Christian attorney seminarin Seoul, Korea, on August 1. Septem-ber 30-October 2, he will preach for theShaffer Church of Christ.

Pepperdine Welcomes New Faculty...

Dr. Ron COX - joins the faculty in the Religion Division as an assistant professor teachingHistory and Religion of Early Christianity. Ron grew up in Carson, California, and attended theTorrance Church of Christ. He completed an M.Div. at Pepperdine University in 1996 and receiveda Ph.D. from University of Notre Dame in 2005. He taught for four years at Rochester College, inRochester, Michigan and his wife, Shelly, was an adjuct professor of religion at Rochester College aswell. In spring 2004, Ron was named Rochester College's "Most Influential Faculty Member." Ronhas preached and ministered to Churches of Christ in Indiana, Michigan, and California. Ron andShelly have four boys, twins Paul and Sam are age 9, Joel is age 5, and Eliot is age 2.

Dr. Gary Selby - joins the faculty of Seaver College as an associate professor of Communication.A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Gary attended Harding University for his undergraduateeducation and received the MTh degree from Harding Graduate School of Religion. He returned tothe Washington area in 1983 to work as an associate minister with the Silver Spring Church ofChrist, where he enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Public Communication at the University ofMaryland. Three years later, he helped to plant the Church of Christ in Columbia, Maryland, servingas that church's minister until this past July, a span of almost twenty years—the last five in the dualrole of preaching and worship minister. For the past nine years, he has also held an appointment tothe Communication faculty of the George Washington University. He and his wife, Tammy, havebeen married for twenty-five years and have two college age sons.

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NEWS

Bobby Murcercontinued from page 3

broadcast and baseball greats — PhilRusutto, Mel Allen, Mickey Mantle,and Tom Seaver. He has won threeEmmy awards for outstanding sportsbroadcasting.

Even while living in a hotel inNew York City during home gameswith the Yankees, Bobby and Kaymake time to connect with a thirdchurch f a m i l y —the Manha t t anChurch of Christ. Kay remembersfond ly raising her kids at theManhattan Church in the seventies.She says that some members remainfrom those days but many faces havechanged. On their most recent visitthey enjoyed a t tending a specialSunday service when the congregationwas honoring its six g radua t ingseniors. Among those honored was theson of Lester Holt, anchor for MSNBCand the Today Show.

In retirement, Bobby does not lethis good fortune go to waste. He useshis celebrity to serve good causes. Hehas participated in the annualCelebrity Quail Shoot with NolanRyan, and has been a driving forcebehind the Tobacco Free OklahomaCoalition. But one of the charitiesclosest to his heart is the annualAmerican Cancer Society GolfTournament that he plays in honor ofhis brother DeWayne.

Bobby Murcer has played in afield of dreams and has led a life thatmost could only conjure up in adream. But through it all, he has kepthis life firmly rooted in family and theChurch and has kept his focus onthings that matter. Above all, thosethat know him best would agree withPaul Schlosser, minister at the PalmDesert Church of Christ, "He sharesan honest devotion and faith in God.He's just a good ol', down-home,Oklahoma boy who loves the Lordand is not afraid to show it."

Scott Lambert Leaves the University Church of Christin Malibu to Pursue Church Planting

After 20 years in campus ministry,Scott Lambert left the University Churchof Christ to pursue his dream of plantingchurches in Southern California.

Scott is working with the KairosChurch Planting Ministries as a regionaldirector and will also be working half-t ime with the Hi l l top Communi tyChurch of Christ in El Segundo whichwill serve as a "catalyst church" for theplanting of new Churches of Christ inCalifornia.

The entire Lambert family has beeninvolved in Let's Start Talking, and overthe years Scott has become one of thenation's leaders in campus ministry. In2003 he was recognized as NationalCampus Minister of the Year among Scjm and Rim Lambert wifh their

Churches of Christ. children Luke, Micah, and Isaac.

Dennis Lynn Steps Down as President ofCascade College in Portland, Oregon

Dr. Dennis Lynn, president ofCascade College in Portland, Oregon,announced his plans to retire from hisposition in May of 2006, however theBoard of Cascade has asked Dr. Lynnto immediately assume the role ofChancellor for the school. Lynn hasbeen the president of the college since1996 when it first opened as CascadeCollege. Previously the campus washome to Columbia Christian College,but after losing its accreditation due tofinancial difficulties, the school wasrestructured as the Portland campus ofOklahoma Christian University.

Under Lynn's leadership, the smallliberal arts college grew in enrollment,financial stability and academicofferings. When the school opened inthe Fall of 1996 the enrollment was 119students. The 2004-2005 school yearwitnessed an enrollment of 283.

"God calls us to do His work at acertain place for a certain purpose anda certain time. I believe it is the righttime for Cascade to begin searching forthe next servant who will lead thisyoung college," Lynn said. Hisimmediate focus as Chancellor will befund raising, "to be sure we meet thechallenge before us to keep the schoolgoing strong," he stated.

Dr. Lynn and his wife Debbieintend to continue to make their homein the Portland area although his dutieswill require a great deal of travel. Lynnsaid he and his wife love the church inthe Northwest. The Lynns are membersat the East County Church of Christ inGresham. He stressed the importanceof Cascade to the region. "It is by God'sgoodness," he said, "that Cascade ishere and it will be by His goodness thatit will continue to be here and grow."

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Pepperdine Schedules Fall Events

Preachers Luncheon

Dr. Charles Siburt

Abilene Christian

University

Vice President for

Church Relations

ISO., 35TH ANNUAL PEPPERDINETHANKSGIVING YOUTH FEST

Nov. 25- 27

Pepperdine University

Department of Church Relations

24255 Pacific Coast Highway

Malibu, California 90263-4270

26th AnnualWilliam M. Green Lectures

October 10-11, 2005

For more information, contact theDepartment of Church Relations at

(310) 506-4270Email: kdildineC«>pepperdine.edu

Nonprofit Org.U.S. PostagePAIDPepperdine University