A Work of Churches of Christ
CHILDREN:
A SOURCE OF LOVE AND WISDOM
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When I was a young college student at Oklahoma Christian University, I was asked to conduct my first funeral service. I was extremely nervous and distraught about taking part in such an important event. I was particularly troubled with this funeral because it was to be the memorial service for my Aunt Charlotte. It would have been hard enough to stand before a family member that had passed from this life being assured salvation and eternal peace, but in Aunt Charlotte's case, she died not believing in the existence of God or His Kingdom.
I was going to have to deliver a memorial service for Aunt Charlotte knowing that she would never find the eternal peace that comes from knowing the Almighty God and His Son, Jesus Christ. I discussed my dilemma with several professors and mature Christians. I was given some good advice. The most important advice was not to preach my Aunt Charlotte to heaven. This was hard advice to take, but I knew that it was founded in the truth.
I arrived at the funeral home several hours early so that I could pray and review my thoughts over and over again. As the time arrived for me to walk out in front of the assembly, I realized something that I had not thought of until then: Every one at the funeral was going to be an atheist! I asked God for peace and wisdom and I asked Him to show the way. I walked out and I was amazed at the crowd of 300. There were men wearing T-shirts with inappropriate pictures and words for any assembly. l could smell the alcohol on many of the people. I was relieved when I had finished my presentation without a glitch. What happened next opened everyone's eyes and pricked even the hardest hearts.
My 6 year-old cousin quickly jumped in front of everyone and ran over to her mother's casket. Judy kissed her mother and placed a slip of paper in her hands. Judy quickly ran over to me and latched on to my leg. I looked down at her and she smiled at me, as if to let me know that she would be okay. I glanced over at the slip of paper in her mother's hands and it would be an understatement to say that I was a little curious. Judy tugged at my sleeve and she told me that |
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if I wanted to I could read it. I walked over and took the paper from Aunt Charlotte’s hands. I then opened the slip of paper and realized it was a note that Judy had written in a red crayon at school. After reading the note to myself and attempting to gather my thoughts, 1 asked Judy if I could read the beautiful message to everyone that was there. She smiled and said, “If you think it will help.”
I decided that whether the people sitting there wanted to hear it or not, I was going to read the note from his little girl to her mother. It simply said, “MOMMY I LOVE YOU AND I WILL SEE YOU AS SOON AS GOD IS THROUGH WITH ME.” The 300 people sitting there might not have believed in God before they walked through the doors at the funeral home,, but I guarantee everyone at that second In their lives believed with all their heart. There was not a dry eye in the assembly. This 6 year-old child had just taught us more in one simple sentence than I could have in a 45-minute speech. These words were amazing on their own, but one has to be in awe at the wisdom and power that had been shown in this little girl that had been raised to not believe in God. After reading the note to the assembly, I noticed that Judy had began to cry. She looked up at me and asked, “Do you think that Momma will be mad at me?”
I asked her why would her mother be mad at her because that was the sweetest note that 1 had ever heard. This little girl looked into my eyes and with love in her soul she replied, “Do you think Momma will be mad at me because I will never see her again? Momma can't be in heaven with God and me. She didn't believe.'' Be careful the next time that you try to tune a child out or tell them to stop talking, you might be missing out on bits of wisdom and love from God.
Here is a passage to think on: Matthew 18:3-6: “Assuredly, 1 say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one ' little child like this in My name receives Me. |
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But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Serving a Living Savior, Vendall W. Dollarhlde
A Special Tribute to Bobbie Clark
Bobbie Clark has been one of our most faithful, hard- working volunteers for over twenty-five years. She began working with us in the early years of Mission Printing and has remained a valuable asset to this work ever since. Bobbie has been in charge of sending out memorial cards and addressing and mailing our news- letter, To The Ends of the Earth. Recently, she retired from Mission Printing due to increasing health problems. We were saddened to hear of her decision and will miss her greatly. Her long-term dedication to helping us send the saving Word of God to the mission field has been inspiring and uplifting to all of us. She has been a very special part of our Mission Printing family, and her positive attitude and kind spirit will certainly be missed. We hope and pray that her health will improve in the coming weeks and months and that she may be able to help us again sometime in the future. Mission Printing is very grateful for all the many good works done by Bobble and we want to say a special “Thank You'' for her service for all these years. May the Lord continue to bless and keep her.
IN MEMORY
Jack AldriedgeIrene Aldriedge Charles & Dorothy Jones Bob & Dorothy Fry
Lavada AndersonAndy & Alice Bennett Jessie Lee Caskey Lorene McLeroy Odeal Pearcy Charlie Ruth Rountree James & Kathy Lakey Marguerite Malone Alice Walker Nelda Sheldon Ernest & Norma Coker Grady & Ruth Paul
John BarnesGrady & Ruth Paul Margaret BeallCurtis & Wilma Bradshaw Virgil & Virginia Brown John & Juanita Teague Edna BergstromGrady & Ruth Paul Bluntt BlackmanRoy & Helen Thomas |
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J. T. BlackstoneHans & Mary Wasner Ruby BowmanFriends at Mission Printing Harold & Theda Walling Chauncey BradfordNorma & Ernest Coker Harriet BurgessJohn & Oleta Jennings Eleanor CarrollGrady & Ruth Paul Warren CarrolIrene Aldriedge Bob & Shirlee Cruse Guy CaskeyGeorge & Edith Philley Jess & Ann Lewellyn Madge CheairsDoris & Janie Walker Dean & Joy Webb Hazel Fallis Clarence & Elizabeth Shelfer Julie Cameron Bonnie Duvall Vera Lou Gleghorn Jean Haddock Maudie Hall Lorene Kerns Nora Phillips Lorina Reed Dot Smith Mary Wise Dorothy Witt Garldean Latham Judy ColeGrady & Ruth Paul Dorothy CroneHubert & Walterrene Hartin Norma Jean DunnErnest & Norma Coker Cutah Richardson Jessie Lee Caskey Nelda Sheldon Jessie Hiltibidal Jack DunsonShirley Inglis Bobbie Clark Kathy EllingtonRoy & Helen Thomas Hans & Mary Wasner Lois ElderHazel Fallis Charlie EnglandRoy & Jettie Vincent Melvin & Pearl Brown |
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Veral GentryEmery & Ann Zene Cathey Nell Cook Roy & Reba Kinslow Robert & Margaret Parrish Loy & Kaye Pressley John & Frances Snyder Dana GodeVirgil & Virginia Brown Angie Brown Cecil & Nancy Taylor Louise Caskey Jessie Lee Caskey Robert & Beth Fultz Naomi McKeever Curtis & Wilma Bradshaw Guenther & Vernell Maenius Brian Maenius John & Juanita Teague Alice Walker Reid & Tot Holmsley Mallie Bailey Jackson & Linda Dunn Juanita Graf Jack & Zeffie Beard - Roger & Mary Lynn Smith Janice Hardaway Donal & Sarah Stringer Bennie Bynum Ernest & Gail Bennett Janie Durham ' Vivian McCall Jo GorePaul & Lucille Mcclung Malcom GrantMorris & Melba Guthrie Perry B. Cotham Sally GrayGrady & Ruth Paul Frances GreenMary Nell Lipscomb Jessie GreenAl & Brenda McCalip Thurman GunterGrady & Ruth Paul Marguerite Malone Elsie HarveyMarguerite Malone Grady & Ruth Paul David M. HendersonEmery & Ann Zene Cathey Johnnie Dry John & Frances Snyder Loy & Kaye Pressley Roy & Reba Kinslow Charles & Kay Gaskill
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Maggie HollandMary Knowles Ruth Pope Cleo & Judy taker Jessie Lee Caskey Joyce Brimmer Doris McKee Mildred HubbardDoris McKee Dorothy JonesErnest & Norma Coker Cutah Richardson Alice Walker Bobbie Clark Larry & Olene Rabeck Estelle Smith Dorothy Hall Morris & Melba Guthrie Artie Loo & Mary Fitzgerald Stewart & Dorothy Whittington Nelda Sheldon Charles & Dorothy Jones Lorene McLeroy David & Karen Hobby Wendell JonesJessie Lee Caskey Bobbie Clark Alice Walker Hazel Fallis Jess & Ann Lewellyn Ernest & Norma Coker H. H; Rhode Calvln & Betty Hammons Bob & Dorothy Fry Lorene McLeroy Cutah Richardson Fannie JordanBobbie Clark Leonard KelsoeRandy & Kim Aldriedge Irene Aldriedge Lucille KeithLorene McLeroy Charlotte KnightCurtis & Wilma Bradshaw Ilia KimbrellMorris & Melba Guthrie Edith LaddHazel Fallis Zay LeFevrePerry B. Cotham Harry LoftisPauline Jones
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Daisy LucarielloFriend; at Handley C. of Christ Hans & Mary Wasner Polly LuskBob & Shirley Cruse Virginia Lois MartinFriends at Handley C. of Christ Roy MathisFriends at Handley C. of Christ Alice Walker Grady & Ruth Paul Penny MaxwellPaul & Lucille Mcclung Rubye McKeownEmery & Ann Zene Cathey Nell Cook Roy & Reba Kinslow Robert & Margaret Parrish Loy & Kaye Pressley John & Frances Snyder Ruby MiddletonEmery & Ann Zene Cathey Nell Cook Roy & Reba Kinslow Robert & Margaret Parrish Loy & Kaye Pressley John & Frances Snyder Barbara MillerFriends at Handley C. of Christ Millie MillsEmery & Ann Zene Cathey Johnnie Dry John & Frances Snyder Loy & Kaye Pressley Roy & Reba Winslow Charles & Kay Gaskill Claebom MooreJ.Y & Jackie Johnson J. D. MooreGrady & Ruth Paul Muriel MooreGrady & Ruth Paul Almeta MorrisErnest & Norma Coker Jessie Lee Caskey Nelda Sheldon Jessie Hiltibidal Cutah Richardson Lorene McLeroy Lloyd MoulderAlma Arterburn Bruce & Mary Carroll Roy & Evelyn Ballëw |
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Keith NaylorMarguerite Malone Grady & Ruth Paul J. W. NelsonHubert & Walterrine Hartin Dorothy OliverHazel Fallis Neal OliverNelda Sheldon Juanita Person PalmoreDr. T. J. Walker Alice Walker Bobbie Clark Hazel ParrishJohn & Francis Snyder Nell Cook John Spence Roy & Reba Kinslow Emery & Ann Zene Cathey Johnnie dry Loy & Kaye Pressley Alice Walker Scherry Braziel Landon & Kristi Williams Carol PrindleHazel Fallis Jean PurselleyRobert & Mozelle Brooks Dianne ReynoldsBob & Shirlee Cruse Monty ReynoldsLorene McLeroy Alice Walker Guthrie SandersMarguerite Chanslor Bill SarrattCharles & Dorothy Jones |
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Albert ScottDorris & Janie Walker Dean & Joy Webb J.C. & Dessie Ross John (Jack) SeipleRoy & Helen Thomas Bettye Shockley Perry Cotham Edward StephLorene McLeroy Jim StrongJames & Kathy Lakey Moneda SutterfieldCurtis & Wilma Bradshaw Laverne ThompsonRoy & Jettie Vincent Betty VincentBob & Shirlee Cruse Bob & Sue Herriage Ovilla Church of Christ Winston & Jeanne WellsGrady.& Ruth Paul Gene WestEmery & Ann Zene Cathey Nell Cook Roy & Reba Kinslow Robert & Margaret Parrish Loy & Kaye Pressley John & Frances Snyder Clint WhirleyHubert & Walterrene Hartin Bill & Onnie Newton Bill WhitfieldBob & Shirlee Cruse Corona WilsonThomas & Betty Conyers |
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Agie WootenRoy & Jettie Vincent Jane YeldellRoy & Jettie Vincent Bill & Onnie Newton
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Birthday Honors
100th Birthday
Myrtle MooreBill & Eileen Graves Mala RandolphAlma Arterburn Bruce & Mary Carroll
Honors
Ann BlairJulie Watson Marguerite MaloneJulie Watson Jean KevilIrene Aldriedge Susan LauderdaleIrene Aldriedge Ken SmithsonIrene Aldriedge Patti SpiresIrene Aldriedge Cathy ThutIrene Aldriedge
Ken WeatherfordIrene Aldriedge |
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