| LUMBER RIVER
[ CONFERENCE
| SOME REAL PURPOSES OF
. CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS
i (Second In a sates of srtktes
j about The Lumber Elver
? Conference of the HoHness
j Methodist Church).
j Last time we gave you the
i new appointments of the
ministry staff assignments
made at the 82nd Annual
Conference. To complete the
report the following staff
? members were also re-elect
F ed: Brothers: C.N. Lowty who
j has faithfully served the con
> nrence as secretary for 26
' years. Mr. Lowty also is a
retired North Carolina public
school teacher with about 40
years of service and is very
activate church work over the
years. Donald W. Bullard as
conference treasurer is the
son of the late Belton Bullard
who served many. years as
pastor in the conference, 6
years as Bishop. Mr. Bullard
(his son) is an attorney-at-law
with his practice in remnroae.
'Andrew Ransom, a long time
professor of science at PSU as
Sunday School Supervisor.
Mr. Ransom has served in the
position for several years. He
is a graduate of PSU with a
graduate degree (Masters)
from Ohio State University.
Mr. Ransom is very capable of
carrying out his duties to
promote such activities rela
tive to: Sunday School Super
intendent Conferences, Sun
day School workers Conferen
ces, and Sunday School work
shop activities.
Clyde Colbert, Lay Leader
of Young People joined the
Conference a few years ago as
a young fine christian gentle
man. He serves the conferen
ce in many ways, however, his
primacy duties are to cultivate
and promote Christian stew
ardships relative to vacation
Bible School, Youth for Christ
organization, camping, foster
mutual understanding and
activities and make recom
mendations for improving the
genera] Church programs.
There were of course sever
al conference committees ap
pointed-we will share these
with you later as they will be
listed in our new official
Journal for 1982-83.
SOME REAL PURPOSES
OFCHURCH
ORGANIZATIONS
More and more we notice
many new church buildings
constructed in Robeson Coun
ty. These buildings are con
structed beautifully, causes
one to want to learn some
thing about the people, the
ch programs, their primary
motives for building and their
general procedures in con
ducting their church affairs.
Shall we take a look at what is
organization? To organise is
to set up an administrative
structure to arrange by sys
tematic planning with a unit
ed effort. A church organisa
tion or s union for that matter,
wfll strive for a large member
ship to make them a strong
workable group of people.
Whenever a group of people
assmble themselves and draw
up a sort of constitutional
by-laws for the group, by the
group shown coherent unity
working together with the
administrative staff that en
forces the by-laws shows
characteristics of being organ
ized.
All kinds of people with
different minds and physical
make-up might not complete
. ly understand all the details of
n~ functional organization.
How be it. let us look at how
I >**'is taught in simple terms.
Jtobeson farming is w j is
decreasing, as weti as over
the nation, most Robesonians
are familar with living close to
the soil and general farm
terms. Economically speaking
up to about W.W.D cotton
corn and tobaoco were the
chief crops gfown in the
southland as well as in
Robeson County. These crops
were attended by people with
mules and plows. By hooking
s mule to a plow, a common
term was used to say be sure
to get rtie jnule traces even
and have the back ban in the
proper place. That decision
was based primarily on the
size of the mule. The mule
traces(chains) generally last
for a good number of years, or
until one would trade off the
old mule for a younger mean
mule that would jump and
break a trace. If a family
living in the community gets
sick and was not able to wort
for some time, it would be a
common practice to see sever
al people with their mule and
plow helping their neighbor.
Educational and religious
community had a church and
a small school located in close
proximity of each other. The
school was generally a one,
two or three teachers, the
Principal being one of the
teachers. This school system
was highly organized by the
county Superintendent of
schools that was responsible
to the state Superintendent of
Public Instruction.
The churches were general'
ly small too, very highly
organized holding member
ship with their church organ
ization in the rural areas o
the county are the Baptist an<
Methodist. These two churcl
of tfcsir origin and iij slip ,
AeLM*erb0et ** '***** "*
to tot rClS study
unit to woftMp^C^TAtoo, ,
while we are reading and |
studying together, shall we
take a real look at same of the
conditions we find ourselves
in that has become typical at
the connty, state, and nation.
The crime rate is higher,
there are several murder
cases in the county unsolved
to-day. Does this seem right,
while the number at churches
are increasing, the number of
murders increasing? The
same is true of the divorce
rate, child support, stealing,
breaking and entering, drug
abuse and many others.
Some of our large Church
organizations sponsor college
and universities in this coun
try as well as overseas play a
different role on a larger
scale. Traveling particularly
in rural areas for one to
observe the school and church
, building as well as the farm
homes and farm houses, tells
us a lot about the people and
their concernments.
It would be a real good
piece of research project to
share the organizational
! church programs, to learn
how one deals with their
individual problems in the
church, to read your by-laws
or constitutions of order, and
to learn about any other
important things not mention
ed that go on from time to
time in these many fine
beautiful church buildings in
this county.
In my 35 years working with
school children, people and
school personnel, 30 years in
North Carolina and 5 years in
South Carolina with a contin
uous up-dating our school
systems to not be able to solve
money problems, maybe we
should take a serious look into
our homes and church pro
1 grams O.K.?
i There seems to be a
mutual feeling that there are
I several church organizations
in the county that one does
not know about thtpther. And
1 funny to the others. For
! example: I said to a small group
the other day that our confer
ence, The Lumber River Con
i fere nee has two former Bis
i hops living as the United
i States has three former Presi
dents-they laughed and in
quired-we know the Presi
dents names-what are the
f names of the Bishops? Do I
have my reading audiences'
- attention? Are you with me
f thinking about your church
organization? Is it for granted
that we just go to church
f every Sunday for fifty years or
I so and not realize any growth
i .for ourselves or the church
n*btoti?i ***** '
itaa right diataacn fro?
hiehway under a group <* 1
XTtJeea-Asyouetoerthe .
hoot ?tt tM CM ?J*r.01!!
mrue P?h the deer beH i
thatrin**beautifultune end ,
yo.?eWj^Thtr^? <
ftobesoo^Coufity thai <**7 <
this same type of llviaf 1
conditions that la far bett
than we have ever known to
rural areas. There are modern <
convenience* that anyone
could have, town or country.
Notice drat we have
Invited Into the home.* could
be a long article whMnUs*
to write about the findings.
TheparentocomeandgoweU
? dressed working on_ the yob
earning a comfortable living
for the family. Say. left'??*
at the furniture, electxK.1
appliances and all the other
thiig, that make for a comfor
table living. There are so
m?ny queationa one could a*
about these homea. Going
tway back In Watery to our
mother country, England con- ,, ?
sidered a man's home Ms
castle and is treated very
fffivately. It is somewhat like
visitfiipthe White House or
President's home in Wasn
ington. DC. Visitors only see
certain outer fringes of the
living quarters an<!1 a?^not
allowed to see on the inside or
the teal Irving quarters of the
I presidents. As the old saying
goes, "One can not know
S^t a book just Woking*
the cover." About the closest
one may discern about the
values (philosophical analy
sis) the parents ?nd th?
children as they go in and out
of these homes causes one to
really wonder, just what is
there behind those closed
doors? The number and tend
of books found on the shelves,
the amount of drinks and the
type found in the refrigerator,
etc. The example of L-O-V-E
and appreciation for each
other is considered very im
portant. What about reveren
ce of God at each meal time
that jrdu wW'fbid *hafls sk?
during the happiest time of
the day. children will take
note of earlier in life than you
might think.
For oar sister* and brothers |
walking on fine carpet, sitting
in oar very comfortable chur
ch pew with stained glass'v
windows could be another
exciting trip for an interesting
piece of research to try to
answer, why do we have so
many church organizations in
Robeson County?
Long years of teaching
experiences or other profes
sional experiences does not
necessarily give one the an
C swers to human problems.
i Yes, right off someone could
Q say as a fifth grader 11 years
" old-look to God to solve
Ievetything-we agree-but, and
a great big but, how are you
going to get a person to look
you straight in the eye and teD
the truth or treat his fellow
man right so God can help
them with serious problems or
n share good blessings with
q them?
S I here are so many govern
mental programs nowadays
with forms to fill oat, one has
to be real careful not to tell
the untruth, or become com
Ipltely complacent about mat
ters of honesty, with Integrity
in the home, church and!
school community.
A unified strong church
organization that carry re
| spect that will up hold high
I christian principals could
have a far teaching influence
with people that get up each
morning going to work in
oar many county, state, and
federal positions that make
contact with a whole lot of
people during the day. A
church organization, as well
as any type organization need
outstanding men and women
J wall trained in leadership
roles who may relate very well
. with people. Small church
organisations may not have
the financial means to support
collages and universities,
however, could wa look at oar
own hdividaaie hi our respec
tive communities and set
aside a small amount offends
I continue Ihoir studies in ae
tkmr*Wh^
Headers, will you stopl
look) and Listen! at what It
going an in the hmUa of yen
church organhethm In lobe
* son County? Wei, wa havs
oofcad in many other aieaa of
ou ixl the answer to our
erious problem*. We an aot
act being critical- tt'a a fact to
ake a lock at the many
nil Hon* of federal dollar*
ipeat la Kobesoa County
hroegh the yean of LBDA,
he Pood Stamp Program, the
wdfttie and Social Service*
Department, Mental Health
ind general health agencies,
kfl of these agencies, we an
tun- have hehwd a lot of
people, but whenever a lady m
ivortdng on die job and is shot
it and robbed is becoming a
omroon thing to happen in
Robeson Ceunty, the home of
two higher learning instituti
3ns, Robeson Technical Coll
ege and Pembroke State
University. Many other coun
ties in the state an not this
fortunate to have these insti
tutions of learning.
Now, church organizations
an s very touchey matter and
the people an really sincere.
Believe me, it is taking a lot
of courage to write about us.
It is considered to be most
sacred of the sacrifices of the
past. For example, if someone
expnsses a desire of change
at Hopewell Church when I
have been a member and still
am a member, for SO years,
you have all the older people
to deal with (the cemetery is
nearby) living or dead. You
see, by the time you hear
about what our parents and
grandparents look for, and
new techniques of training fall
by the way side. We an
continuously living in the
past,
rather than the present and
future planning.
Shall we return? Church
organizations in Robeson
County. Yes. The church. Has
the church trace chain faster
even-won thin-would a new
idea finish breaking it? An
you about ready to use a
larger chain, say a log chain
pulled behind one of those big
tractors, rather than a poor
mule? The size, numbers
exercises strengths and influ
ences power when needed.
Fifty years, as spoke of above
brings on a whole lot of
change, good and bad, differ
ent and indiffennt. A big,
big question? Should a church
organization have any influ
ence in making political deci
ffcris outside the church? It
appears that a church group
made up with strong Chris
tians who go to make up a
church conference organizati
on would be a very powerful
county, political or otbcnHic.
mioua rani 5 fa
county. Of coono. tin influ
ence of education and religion
faund in the towns and dries
of Robeson County were the
??d the poHtica! wheel of the
county.
Now that we have a more
equal share of the pie, all
feces of people serving to
gether on the county board of *
education, county commissi
oners, etc. By so doing, have
we lost our pride, love and
appreciation for our children's
educational religious princi
ples? We have been taught by
great educators of the past the
concept of learning, an ab
stract or generic idea genera
lized from particular instan
ces. If we take into considera
tion the importance of living
examples for our youth, what
has happened in recent years
of our leadership roles in our
schools and churches? Where
is the great influences of the
church and church organiza
tions when we have just about
anybody on the board of
education with political ex
pediency of having staff
members and school princi
pals with more than one living
wife at the head of our schools
as an example for our child
ren. 0.k. that's an old fesh
ioned idea to think this way in
1982- yes- I know- then we
wonder why our bourses are
broken into- the doors locked
every night, the gun under
the bed. Let's not be silly with
important matters- You better
have it under your pillow
loaded. My preachers for the
most part (Lumber River
Conference) have long given
up-it's a sign of the times.
Jesus is coming soon! If He
does not hurry up and come
on, He is going to meet a
bunch of tired people stand
ing and waiting.
If we had the power of God
in our church organizatkms
we could send just one godly
man with God and a few
people that would be the
majority with God to tell ole
Pharoah, not of Egypt but of
Lumberton to let my people
go under the right type of
leadership.
Next time: "Why Do We
Have So Many Chair bee?
% * ** !
PINEY GROVE SCHOOL:
An Educational House
I,
For years Plaey Grove
School has taken mack pride
in its endeavor to educate
each child to Ms/ber potenti
al; educationally. socially,
mentally and physically. This
has not been done only
through textbooks, bat throu
gh involvement, resources
and resource persons.
We thrive on first-hand
news and evcats. To accom
plish this we osll in die Fire
Chief to explain Fire Safety
and the work of the fireman.
To learn " Hew A BUI
Becomes Law," we call in our
Legislators and Senator; to
learn more about dental heal
th, we call in a Dental
Hygienist. To learn more on
highway safety, we call on die
District Highway Patrol.
There was a need to up-date,
move and renovate the play
ground area. This was accom
plished by placing the play
ground in what was a thickly
wooded area, but now has
been cleared and is shady,
thanks to the Saddletree
Community Volunteers.
With the financial support
of interested persons, parents
and patrons and volunteers,
we have built a concrete
screened-in picnic area for
school and community usage.
Our athletic department is on
the move upward. With sup
port and help from parents
and interested persons, a
modern baseball diamond has
been erected with "dug-outs"
for each team and a concessi
on stand.
?*diooi of ootditlity ? Our d^Hfi -
Superintendent Pirull
Swett, hit Associate, Assis
tants, Central Staff, schooll
member* county com*
House ot Representatives
members ate often invited to
come oat and abate meals,
with as. Escb year the?
Saddletree Senior Citizens
look forward to and aajoy
deMcioos meals with Principal
Grady Locklear in oar lanch
room. Parents are estwnAed
open Invitations to come oat
and eat with their children.
The Title One programs,
reading, math and Migrant
Education have changed to
Chapter One Programs. So as
to keep the patents informed,
a tea was held in die Math
Lab to explain the program to
parents.
Students at Piney Grove ate
given culture and social
growth through field trips and
visits to performances at the
. PSU Performing Arts Center.
Clubs and supervised social
activities are held at least four
nights a year.
Piney Grove has a PT A that
is to be commended, it cannot
be praised enough. There
is always something going on
to make Piney Grove the
BEST.
We take pride in Piney
Grove for surely it is an
educational house, an involv
ed house and a much used
house.
Lauren Elizabeth Saeupai
Celebrates
First
Birthday
Little Elizabeth Sampson
celebrated her 1st Birthday on
December 8th 1982 with a
party in her home. Attending
were some of her little friends
and everyone had a good time
? eating, cake. She is the
daughter of Kelvin and KMn
Sampson in Butte, Montana.
The grandparents are Mr. tc
Mrs. Willie Von Lowry and
Mr. Sl Mrs. John W. Sampson
of Pembroke, NC
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HOW IT KEEPS YOUR
BMDOWN.
i ' ?'??"? \j ,.>
COAL NUCLEAR OIL I
100
80
? I i I I
K} /*
Ifcl*.
fcfa flElJ i -?
&y. 2 9ir. 0
^<?mu^<M(&^NudKr(2ntHfi)rQ(1%0l(r%)
Today thereare just three
basic fuels that we can use to
produce electric power: coal,
nuclear and oil.
And, as you can see by
the chart,we put far more into
coal and nuclear than oil.
For a very simple reason:
the cost of doing business
The fuel for generating
electriaty costs us about ffl
per kilowatt hour for nuclear;
3 for coal, and 104-W for oil.
So suppose you were in ?
1 "For People Oi A fight Budget" \
|HUNT'S AUTO COMPANY J
? Owner James A. Hunt I
Phone 875-3055 oi1875-3206 (Raeiord)
jjP Robert Eden, Seles Manager
? Located on Old Maxton Highway near South Hoke School |
OFFICE HOURS: 8a.m.-5 p.m. jjj
A REUABti USED CARS
1 ???? CltAMlATl I
jr freeTukjkey ok MODfL )
VI COUPfTlY HAM WTTH- #
V raicHASEOPCAl USED CARS
5 ?If You Come Walking 7
IP You'll Leave Riding I !
| ?THE WALKING MAN'S FRIEND! G
|P?Anything horn a Volkswagen to a Cadillac! /
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