FACTS, EVENTS & MISSIONS

Brethren:

I have just returned from my tenth trip to Belize and here am sending you my record, impressions,and conclusions of that trip. Belizean Briefs X is included in this message.

Bobby Graham

bobbylgraham@pclnet.net

24978 Bubba Trail

Athens, AL 35613

(256) 233-3509

BELIZEAN BRIEFS X

The Trip: For the tenth time since April 1999 I was privileged to be able to travel to help my dear brethren in the Lord’s work in the country of Belize in Central America. This trip differed little from most of the others, though there are small and almost imperceptible differences on each trip. A later section will deal with changes observed over the two-year period. My friend and brother Joe Greer, preacher form the Elkton, Tennessee, congregation, traveled with me from October 30 to November 7, 2008. We went from Huntsville, Alabama, to Houston, Texas, and then on to Belize City, Belize. The entire trip takes only four hours of flying time, but the layover in Houston is a long one for both going and returning from four to five hours). Joe has traveled to Michigan, Western Canada, South Africa, and Zimbabwe on earlier preaching trips. Some might wonder why I return to Belize yearly; but when the brethren ask me to come back and I read that Paul and Barnabas revisited their brethren on the Second Missionary Journey, I also see that the same need sometimes exists to ”see how they are doing“ in both Orange Walk and San Narciso.

Support for the Trip: The good brethren in the Butler, Alabama, church again supplied my travel expenses and some incidental necessities for the trip, as they have done for several years. The church on Spring Avenue in Decatur, Alabama, sent some funds for tracts and books which we took to the Christians and others in Belize and for shipping costs involved in the trip. The church in Sudbury, Ontario, upon learning of my plans to make this trip, also joined in sending money to help with the trip. Individuals at Old Moulton Road in Decatur, Alabama, and Eastside in Athens, Alabama, gave money for needs arising in Belize. Any who have traveled recently know how much expenses for flying, luggage, food, and gasoline/diesel have increased. Individual funds are used for meeting medical and other needs of Christians and a few non-Christians in the country. The liberality of churches/individuals has never failed in my experience of making these trips.

Joe Greer: Joe married the former Sandra Richter of Athens, Alabama, a former student of mine.  His in-laws, Fred (an elder) and Magdalene Richter, work with Eastside in Athens, which supports Dana Whisler at Orange Walk Town in Belize. He and Sandra moved from Michigan to Lewisburg, Tennessee, for his work with General Motors about twenty years ago, For many years he did some preaching in Michigan and Tennessee, but he began full-time work with the church in Elkton, Tennessee, a few years ago after retirement from GM. Joe’s work is of a high caliber because he is conscientious, sound in faith, and talented in song leading and preaching.

Improved Health: The Whisler family has suffered repeatedly and sometimes greatly because of health problems. If memory serves me correctly, Luke has remained healthy. All of them seem to be much improved; and it is clear that young Caleb and his mother Carol, who have had the most puzzling problems, are doing much better. Many were concerned about them and prayed for them. We thank our Father and theirs for their improvement!  

Orange Walk Meeting: We spoke here Thursday night through Sunday morning, and again on our last Thursday night. Joe taught thrice and I spoke four times. My lessons dealt with Humbling Ourselves, Temptation’s Progress, Aids for Remembering in the Lord’s Supper, and Not Worth Doing Wrong For. Attendance here ranged from 17 to 26, but it was mostly in the 20’s. There were some neighborhood visitors present. Efforts were made to spread the word by means of radio and door-to-door work.

San Narciso Meeting: We taught for this group Sunday afternoon through Wednesday night. Joe spoke twice and I spoke thrice. My lessons covered two of the same topics as Orange Walk with one added (Marks of a Humble Person). Attendance here ranged from 50 to 65. Some problems in recent years have diminished the number, but the troublers have left. The members seem to be enjoying peace and love for each other. 

Ben Junkin: Readers of Belizean Briefs for the last few years will recall that Alton Bailey of Cullman, Alabama, went to Belize with me a couple of times before he and his wife Diana went on their own earlier this year. Their daughter Melissa, who is married to Colby Junkin, gave birth to their firstborn named Ben, while I was in Belize on this trip.  Colby turned from Baptist doctrine and practice about three years ago, and most of his family have done the same in recent years. He now preaches Christ. I mention this item of special interest, because Alton tried to reach me by cell phone at the Houston airport before we left there for Belize and then sent an email with Ben’s picture attached to me in Belize. That was one proud grandfather wanting me to know and to see that new grandson. Because I was unable to open the attachment, I did not see Ben’s picture until tonight at home in Alabama. This all made me to think about the wonderful news of salvation in Christ which the gospel declares to the world. How many of us try to get the message out to any who will hear it (Mt. 28:19-20)?

Daily Studies: Each year I arrange to spend daily time with Greg and Dana (Acts 17:11), American brethren in Belize, because they are the most mature ones in the two congregations and often teach others, they rarely are able to spend time studying with others doing the teaching. The Book of Ecclesiastes was the study this year with Greg, but we also spent much time discussing problems and concerns Involved in their work. Our studies with Dana dealt with the Bible’s teaching on wealth, particularly as a hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

Yard Yelling: In our country we call it door knocking; but in Belize the custom is to approach the door or possibly stand before the steps or at the gate of the yard, calling out ”Buenos Dias“ or ”Good Morning“ until someone comes to the door or no one appears to care enough to answer. Door knocking has become much more difficult in many places because few people are at home much of the time, but Belizean society still has not changed as much as American society has. Less developed countries make this practice somewhat productive, where someone is usually at home. Paul’s familiarity with this or a similar way of teaching from house to house is mentioned in Acts 20:20. Even in Belize, mixed reactions take place at the door, ranging from not showing up, cordial invitations to come in to talk, or being busy with something else. In parts of our country I have had several say, ”I am Catholic,“ or ”I’m not interested,“ and a few slam the door.

Conspicuously Absent: When I was boy at home, I remember Brother Vernon Freeman’s prayers frequently saying, ”We are thankful, Lord, for the faithful few upon whom we can depend.“ It sometimes becomes obvious that some of those faithful few are not present for good cause––sickness, death, injury, vehicle problem, weather, flooding, etc. In this instance, a brother and sister living in Blue Creek were unable to be present at any time during our visit to Belize. They were likewise unable to make it to Orange Walk Town for their weekly class with a sister whom they taught and converted to the Lord. Rains over the last month had caused flooding, so that seven to ten feet of water covered the road leading out of Blue Creek. These diligent workers (the Tostis), who live at their own expense, are a boost to the American workers in Belize.

Luke Whisler: Eleven-year old Luke is one of the three children composing Dana and Carol’s ”second family,“ with their two older children (who accompanied them on their move to Belize) being back in the Keystone State of Pennsylvania. I highlight Luke here because of his outstanding ”footprint“ for his young age. Like Hannah and Caleb, he is well-behaved, courteous, and helpful. Now that he is a Christian, he leads prayer, reads the Scriptures (as he did for me during my preaching), leads singing in both English and Spanish, helps with the Lord’s table and contribution, goes regularly with Dana on studies one day a week, as he went with me to do yard yelling and studies. He also enjoys riding his horse and playing with others near his age like John, another young and impressive Christian. Luke helps with daily chores and ”manages“ Dana’s (and ours, while in Belize) computer problems. He came to San Narciso each night Dana came. Joe Greer spent some time helping Luke on song leading. Dana uses all such times to teach Luke, as Deuteronomy 6 instructed Israelite fathers to teach their young ones. Luke Whisler is quite a boy for eleven years old!

Local-Church Problems: Like local churches anywhere else in the world, congregations in Belize sometimes have problems because people constitute them. The church as designed by God is perfect, needing no correction; but the church as composed by humans is far from perfect, needing constant correction. The divine and human aspects of a local church differ greatly, just as they differed in the writings of the New Testament letters. One has but to compare the existing problems in those first-century churches with the divine model used to bring about correction to those problems to learn the difference between the divine and human sides of local churches. Churches in Belize have had problems involving lack of faithful devotion, immorality, gossip, and pride. Perhaps the greatest problems in all congregations result from pride, as reflected in the desire for preeminence and the unwillingness to see and admit one’s faults. The involvement of pride worsens and prolongs any church problem, as well as hindering its solution (Prov. 6:17; 16:18). Sometimes the attempts of many to help one are thwarted by that one’s proud refusal of the help, because of the refusal to concede sin and the need for help. 

Incommunicado: Sunday-morning phone calls failed to reach me from my wife Karen, because the line was busy at the Whislers and then there seemed to be a problem with the phone at home.     Email is out of the question with Karen. A daughter Mary Katherine later sent an email message explaining the situation. Moving on to Greg Whipples that afternoon placed us where there was no internet service at the house. I was unable to read the message from our daughter until Monday at the internet shop. News of the Presidential election at home did not arrive till the next morning by means of a telephone worker, who came to the Whipple house to put their telephone in working order. All of this points out the need for dependable and trustworthy communication. Technology often fails, as do humans. Humans ought to be more careful about what they say, to ensure its accuracy. As indicated in Paul’s reference to ”faithful/trustworthy sayings“ in his letters to Timothy and Titus, God’s message is ever trustworthy. Aren’t you thankful that it is?

Early Morning: Having been an early riser from youth on a small farm, it is nothing new for me now to rise close to 5:30-6:00 to begin the day’s activities. A long walk usually begins my day, and Joe joined in. Time is then available to discuss activities of that day or previous days, talk about needs, and plan and coordinate lessons, while working out stiffness from sleeping on an air mattress and getting valuable exercise. Walking by the way was one time mentioned by the Lord in Deuteronomy 6 for talking to one’s children about the Lord’s word, and it was while walking possibly 50 miles to Mt. Moriah that Abraham surely taught Isaac by word and example (Gen. 22). May all parents take time to teach their children, and may all of us ”take time to be holy.“

Strengthening American Families: American families dedicated enough make necessary sacrifices to go to distant lands for the Lord’s sake are already among the strongest; but their years away from families, friends, and brethren take their toll in some ways. The need for spiritual companionship with mature Christians is an area that often suffers, making visits by others especially meaningful. Such time spent in mutual edIfication by visiting and residing brethren can be just as beneficial as their time used in teaching the lost, because it keeps the saved strong for the needed work (2 Tim. 2:2). One of our major efforts this year was to study with the two evangelists (wealth and its hindrance to the gospel with Dana; Ecclesiastes with Greg) and to talk about matters that would encourage them. Some yard yelling and home studies did take place, but we used more time with the families this time. Barnabas was an encourager/exhorter who needed the help of Saul in Antioch for a year (Acts 11:22-23).

Changes over Ten Years: God’s desire to see all saved and man’s need for Christ have not changed! What has changed since I first went to Belize? Some people both in the church and in the world have grown richer, diminishing their sense of dependence upon God. Some brethren have grown unfaithful, just as in your congregation. Once newly established churches have begun experiencing some of the same problems which the rest of us have long had--strained/broken relationships among brethren, love and zeal growing cold, less actIvity toward teaching the lost by some, gossip by some ”Christians,“ and proven lack of dependability by some thought to be stalwarts. The years have also brought  some new faces, newly found faith, fresh supplies of ardor for the Lord’s work, maturing faith and readiness for service by some growing brethren, understanding the need for peace and ways of keeping it in the local church, and a steady stream of visitors to the services, making teaching the lost a continuing definite possibility. Such positive changes far outweigh the negative ones cited. Assured that our ”labor is not in vain in the Lord,“ we thus persevere in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58)!

Bobby L. Graham

bobbylgraham@pclnet.net

Work in Virgin Islands

CONTACT:

Tol Burk

AW 15 Calle Rio Turabo

Valle Verde 1

Bayamon, PR  00961

Islamic Terrorists

CURRENT ATTITUDES

By Garreth L. Clair

Everywhere one turns today people are discussing the problems of war and terrorism. Perhaps this is because there is certainly much news that addresses directly the problems of hatred and human disregard of other people's lives. The problem of Moslem terrorists is perhaps one of the greatest threats to peace and prosperity of the down-troden and poor throughout the world, especially in third world countries where mere existence is difficult due to the harshness of the enviroment and the uncivilized actions of terrorists.

The nature of the ongoing war with terrorists in many Asian and Europeian countries such as France, Afganistan, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, West Bank, India, and many other places insures the continued efforts of many nations to work diligently to check the terrorists as expeditious as possible. Again, one of the major importers of terrorism to the United States is and will surely be Islamic terrorists. The actions of our government under the leadership of George Bush has been consistently to guard the nation as new threats and modes of carrying out terrorists acts have been discovered - God bless the efforts that are ongoing by the nations protective services.

Although the major portion of Islamic Terrorists are operating outside America the rise of the Islamic Religion on American soil may be a contributing factor to the events that took place in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC. on 9/11. The secret service is surely careful to moniter the ACTIVITIES OF HOME GROWN ISLAMIC TERRORISTS FOR OUR PROTECTION, THIS YOU CAN DEPEND ON IF THE GOVERNMENT IS REALLY ON ITS TOES, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS!

Posted: October 16, 2006

Preaching the Gospel

A monthly magazine for preachers and those who want to preach.

Paul K. Williams, editor

P.O. Box 324, Eshowe 3815, South Africa,  035-474-2656

E-mail: bible@netactive.co.za; Web page: www.knowyourbible.co.za

THE  JEWS  IN  PROPHECY

-Wayne Jackson

   King Frederick the Great (1712-1786) of Prussia, though skeptical in his philosophical viewpoint, once asked his chaplain for the strongest argument in a word for the validity of the Bible and Christianity. The response was, "The Jews, your Majesty."

   Such might not be the absolute strongest line of argument (compared, for example, with Christ's resurrection from the grave), but surely it is one of considerable force.

   The Old Testament prophecies regarding the Hebrew nation -- its fortune and its fate -- are numerous and detailed. In this study we will be limited to but a few of these.

The Jews in the Divine Plan - The Jewish people were a vital component of Jehovah's great plan for human redemption. This body of people was the instrument through which the Savior came into the world. Our Lord himself, in a conversation with the Samaritan woman, acknowledged, "Salvation is from the Jews" (Jn. 4:22). But the Jewish people were not without significant weaknesses.

   Anyone who calls attention to the failures of the Hebrew nation in their appointed role will be accused of anti-Semitism. In this case that is not an accurate charge. The Christian happily acknowledges his indebtedness to Israel for the contributions of that nation to his own salvation.

   The Jews were not perfect, however, and they failed in their sacredly appointed task on numerous occasions. No one with integrity will attempt to re-write history to accommodate the modern mind that is so saturated with the ideology of "political correctness."

   In this article we will focus our attention upon several prophetic texts pertaining to the Jewish people. We will examine the uniqueness of the nation, and the judgment visited upon Israel for her repetitious rebellion. The incredible fulfillment of these prophecies is demonstrated by the historical facts.

The Uniqueness of the Nation - From the heights of Sinai, the Lord spoke to Moses, and through him, to Israel:

    "Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among

    all peoples: for all the earth is mine: and you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation" (Ex. 19:5-6).

   There was a significant declaration from the Gentile prophet, Balaam (cf. 2 Pet. 2:16), a man of wretched character, but used by God for the conveyance of several prophetic messages. One of these concerns the projected isolationism of the Hebrew nation.

    "For from the top of the rocks I see him [Jacob, i.e., the Jewish people], and from the hills I behold him: lo, it is a people that

    dwells alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations" (Num. 23:9).

   Regarding the phrase, "a people dwelling alone," one scholar notes: "This phrase broadly hints that Israel is in some way solitary among the nations" (Timothy Ashley, The Book of Numbers, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993, p. 471).

   While this certainly was true from a spiritual vantage point, it was a physical fact as well. And, as one scholar observed. "To this day, though they have no country, they are still a separate nation," distinguishable from other peoples (D.R. Dummelow, A Commentary on the Holy Bible, New York: Macmillan, 1914, p. 114). Though it appears this quote is dated, it is still a significant observation of history up to 1948. The present state of the current Israeli nation is one of constant turmoil, its future is yet unknown.

   The nation of Israel was separated from the other peoples of the planet for a special service, and the Lord took careful measures to ensure that distinction. The separation was sharply defined, and would have remained so had they been faithful to their obligations. Consider the following mandates designed to facilitate this plan.

    (1) Jehovah brought the Hebrews into Canaan, a small land surrounded by natural barriers - mountains in the north, deserts to the east and south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Had they obeyed the Lord by eradicating the pagan tribes in the land, they would have been considerably isolated from idolatry, and more effective in their sacred, messianic mission.

    (2) The rite of circumcision for Jewish males was a sign of their separation from the nations. While circumcision was practiced within some countries of the antique world (e.g., Egypt), its religious significance, as a sign of the covenant relationship between one nation and the one God, was unique to Israel (cf. Gen. 17:11; Lev. 12:3; Acts 7:8).

    (3) When the Israelites entered the land of Canaan they were not to make contracts with the heathen tribes, nor was marriage with these peoples permitted (Dt. 7:1-4). While there were cases of Jew-Gentile marriages, they usually were considered illegal (Clinton Arnold, "Acts," Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002, Vol. 2, p. 365).

    (4) Under the law of Moses the Hebrews were required to observe strict dietary rules (cf. Lev. 11), and these regulations, from the very nature of the case, kept them separate from considerable Gentile influence.

    (5) The separatist disposition of the Jews from others is clearly portrayed numerous times in the New Testament (cf. Mt. 15:23; Mk. 7:1ff; Jn. 4:9).

   These facts (and possibly others) indicate reasons why, in the divine scheme of things, the Jewish people have always maintained their unique identity.

Scattered - In spite of their unusual longevity of identity, the Jews are a scattered people, with really no place on earth to call "home." Reflect upon a couple of prophetic utterances in this regard.

    "And Jehovah will scatter you among all peoples, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth ... And

    among these nations you shall find no ease, and there shall be no rest for the sole of your foot: but Jehovah will give you

    there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and pining of soul" (Dt. 28:64-65).

   Or consider the testimony of Jeremiah:

    "And I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed to

    and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an execration [a curse], and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a

    reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them; because they have not hearkened to my words, says Jehovah,

    that I was sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but you would not hear, says

    Jehovah" (Jer. 29:18-19).

   The prophet Hosea announced: "My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations" (9:17). To this Amos adds: "For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all the nations, like as grain is sifted in a sieve" (9:9).

   While an immediate application of these texts clearly involved those Jews who were to be taken into the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities, they by no means exhaust the prophetic language. Neither Assyria nor Babylon could be depicted as "all the kingdoms of the earth."

   Evidence of the fulfillment of these prophetic pronouncements if found in numerous places. Of course there were the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities, and in neither case did all the refugees return to Canaan under the leadership of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. The Jews were dispersed again during the days of Alexander the Great, and the regime that sprang from his conquests.

   In Acts 2 there is the record of the Jews that came to Jerusalem on Pentecost, the day of the commencement of the church of Christ. The Hebrews came from Rome in the west, and throughout Asia Minor; from Media and Persia in the east, and Egypt in the south (see the list in 2:9-11, and note the broader reference in 2:5).

   Even before the final scattering of the Jews in connection with the destruction of Jerusalem (A.D. 70), Josephus declared that "the Jewish nation is widely dispersed over all the habitable earth" (Wars 7.3.3). And such is no less so in modern times.

   After the fall of the Roman Empire (A.D. 476), a concentration of Jews appeared in western Europe. From the 9th to the 12th century they enjoyed a degree of peace and a period of literary activity. From the time of the Crusades in the 19th century, however, the Hebrews were driven from country to country. In 1881 a wave of persecution against the Jews commenced in Russia, moving westward into France.

   With the rise of Nazism in the early 1930's, a militant persecution was launched against the Jewish people. It is estimated that between 5 and 6 million Jews were massacred during World War II -- about a third of the entire population of the descendants of the Israelites.

   Following the war, many of the Jews began what was called a second "exodus," migrating back to Palestine. In 1948 Israel became an independent state (with recognition from the United Nations). On the day it declared its independence (May 14), Israel was attacked by armies of Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. Because they were better organized under one leader (David Ben-Gurion), Israel's army proved victorious. But, as everyone knows, their conflicts are far from over.

   According to the data provided by the online Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia:

    "Between the Roman destruction of Judea and the re-establishment of a Jewish state with the independence of Israel in

    1948, all Jews were considered to be living in the Diaspora [i.e., dispersed throughout the world]. Currently, the term refers

    to Jews living outside of Israel" (see "Jewish Diaspora").

    As of 2005, the largest body of Jews now live in the United States (5,280,000). Other figures are: the Former Soviet Union (1,000,000), France (494,000), Canada (372,000), the United Kingdom(298,000), and Israel (5,235,000).

Conclusion - Ironically, the Hebrew people in large measure wandered away from their own Messiah, and now they themselves aimlessly are wandering over the face of the globe.

   The five million plus Jews that now live in "Israel" do not own that land by divine right. They took it in warfare, and it is likely that they will have to fight to defend it henceforth. The modern notion that this territory belongs to the Jews is an illusion propagated by the people of that ethnicity, along with the misguided so-called "Christian dispensationalists."

   As J. J.  Given once reflected, "every Jew is a living monument to the truth of Scripture" ("The Book of Hosea," The Pulpit Commentary, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1950, p. 284).  Indeed he is.

  Or, in the words of the Lord Byron:

   Tribes of the wandering foot and weary breast,

    How shall ye flee away and be at rest.

    The wild dove hath her nest, the fox his cave.

    Mankind their country; Israel but the grave.

-Christian Courier, Vol. XLII, No. 1, Stockton

Edsel's note(s) - Do not lie to one another {Col. 3:9}. Only truth makes free {John 8:32}. God's word {John 17:17; Rom. 15:4}; and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the measuring stick for all TRUTH {John 14:6; 1 Cor. 2:13f; Rom. 1:16f; 2 Tim. 3:16-17}.

Read sound doctrinal books on specific subjects. This can be beneficial in your spiritual growth as you learn to discern between good and evil; as pertains to worship {John 4:24; Heb. 10:24-25}, and work for the Lord {1 Cor. 15:58; Eph. 2:8-10}. Always let the Bible be the final measuring stick of truth on any given subject matter--God cannot lie {Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18; 2 Tim. 2:11; 2 Pet. 1:20-21}.

  Select a Christian whom you observe striving to live that Christian life as God would have it, and imitate him/her {see 1 Cor. 11:1; Eph. 5:1}. Look at the whole-person concept of godly living/appearance [includes speech, conduct, friends, purity, proper clothing, etc.]{2 Pet. 1:3; Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 15:33; 1 Cor. 6:18 (Gen. 39:9-12); John 7:24 (1 Sam. 16:7); 1 Thess. 5:21}. {See 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Tim. 4:13,16; 1 Pet. 2:2; Heb. 5:13-14; Psa. 1:1ff}.

HISTORY OF THE BRITISH CHURCHES OF CHRIST

Archie Watters in the preface of his book, 'The History of the British Churches of Christ' wrote "The story of the Churches of Christ in Great Britain is of particular value in correcting an error which has persisted

for some time that the movement is peculiarly American. Alexander Campbell was at considerable pains to point out the fact that the movement was as much native to Britain as America".

In 1891 Walter Crosthwaite was baptised at Ulverston, England. The late American brother, John Allen Hudson, said of brother Crosthwaite in his book 'The Churches of Christ in Great Britain (1948)', page 250, to have "saved the cause of our Lord from complete defeat in Britain".

It was from brother Crosthwaite that the work of training evangelists to prepare the church for the later part of the twentieth was undertaken.

Brother Crosthwaite was born in Ulverston on October 30th, 1873. His father Joseph had started the Ulverston congregation in 1876, on the 19th of March and was an elder there for many years.

The fellowship to which Joseph Crosthwaite belonged was the churches of Christ which had started in the Furness Fells of England in 1662, and those churches were in fellowship with other churches of Christ, which went back many years earlier, for a history of those churches visit the following web site:

http://Traces-of-the-Kingdom.org.uk

Consider Magazine is an independent work by Garreth L. Clair

Garreth has over 50 years experience as a preacher, and is currently the preacher for the church that meets at 4840 Cemetery Road, in Hilliard OH.

http://www.cemeteryroadchurchofchrist.org/

Copyright 2005, All Rights Reserved.  (Please contact us for permission to reprint.)

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