We, the Pumpkin Center church of Christ, wish
to thank all those who helped make our hosting of the 2004 West
Virginia Christian Lectureship a great success. As we began to
make plans for this lectureship, we had no idea of how many would
attend, so, in some ways, it was hard to plan for. Yet, as the
Bible tells us, we need to "walk by faith and not by sight."
We began October of 2003 to pick speakers and assign topics. We
requested each speaker to write a manuscript for the book which
was printed. We assembled over 500 copies of this book of which
we still have some 135 left. If you would like a copy, please
let us know.
The theme for this lectureship was "Great
People of the Bible." All speakers realized the importance
of the person they discussed and did a masterful job in presenting
the lessons to those in attendance. Many of the speakers approached
their subjects with how they were viewed in their lives and then
gave a practical lesson as to how that we need to follow their
examples. I think of the verses that the apostle Paul used in
Romans 15:4. "For whatever things were written before were
written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort
of the Scriptures might have hope." 1 Corinthians 10:6: "Now
these things became our examples, to the intent that we should
not lust after evil things as they also lusted." 1 Corinthians
10:11: "Now all these things happened to them as examples,
and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of
the ages have come." As we studied both men and women of
the Old and New Testament, I was really encouraged.
We had speakers that have preached for over 50
years, and we had speakers that have preached for fewer than three
years. We had speakers who have masters' degrees, those who attended
preacher training schools, and those who were "self-taught";
yet, each did a very fine job of handling the assigned topics.
We hear a lot of what is happening to the church
now days. I am here to say that, from the standpoint of the speakers
we heard, the church is in good hands. We might not all have been
scholars (as the world uses the term), but what was presented
was plain, easy to understand, and true to the Word of God.
There were visitors from New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Ohio, Alabama, and many areas of West Virginia. We averaged
around 55 during the day and 100 at the evening services.
There are audio tapes of each lesson. If you would
like a copy, please let us know. They cost $1.00 per tape.
We want to thank all who have a part in putting
out the West Virginia Christian paper and for the privilege
of hosting this great Lectureship. May God bless us all in the
work we do for His cause. -18 Darrah Lane, Fairview, WV 26570.