 HEROES WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR US
In my 47 years in the brotherhood of Churches of Christ I have been privileged to meet, hear and know many of the men who proved themselves heroes of the faith. They loved God, they served Christ wholeheartedly, they led thousands to the Savior. They built up the churches in which we now serve. While this list is not comprehensive, it is representative of what preachers of the church of which we are part believed and did in their labors for the Master. - B. C. Goodpasture preached until his death when he was some 83 years old. He served as an elder in the Hillsboro church in Nashville. For upwards of
50 years he edited the Gospel Advocate, the most influential gospel paper ever published among us. He loved the church. He believed that we need to keep our ties with those who had preceded us in the kingdom. He published scores of great books by our pioneer preachers so we could understand how the church began and grew here in America and the message they preached. - Gus Nichols preached for the Sixth Ave. Church in Jasper, AL for most of his life but his influence was felt throughout the Southeastern part of the nation. He was a great evangelist and led several thousand to salvation in Christ. He planted numerous congregations in North Alabama. Not only was he a great preacher, he was a great debater, often defending the faith against the teachers of error. He was humble as a little child.
- James D. Bales was a towering scholar among us. Most of his career was spent as a professor at Harding University. He wrote over 100 wonderful books. He conducted numerous debates, especially with unbelievers. His knowledge of God's Word and related subjects was legendary.
- Batsell B. Baxter devoted most of his years to teaching at David Lipscomb College. In addition, he preached for the great Hillsboro congregation. For years he was the featured speaker on the Herald of Truth radio and T. V. broadcasts. He was known, respected and loved for his loyalty to Christ, his masterful preaching and his humility. The outreach of his preaching was greater than any man among us.
- Guy N. Woods spent most of his years conducting evangelistic meetings. He was the most effective debater of his generation.. He was a masterful writer and logician and in later years served as editor of the Gospel Advocate. He wrote adult Sunday School materials for years. For some 20 years he conducted the Open Forum at the Freed-Hardeman College Lectureships.
- L. O. Sanderson was the most prominent song-writer and editor of hymnals in his generation. For years he served the Gospel Advocate in the preparation of their several hymnals. Being a gifted writer, teacher and leader of music, he worked diligently to see that the songs in our hymnals reflected truth and not error in their lyrics and that they actually contributed to the worship experience of those who sang them.
- Otis Gatewood was the best know missionary of the post WWII period. He had proven himself in his mission work in Utah's Mormon country where he converted many and planted several congregations. Following the war, he led a group of dedicated young missionaries into Germany. Many of the churches we now have in Europe owe their existence to his wonderful influence. He refused to allow the Iron Curtain of Communism to keep him out of Eastern Europe and Russia and at great risk to himself he led the way in planting the church there as well. He was a scholar as well as a great organizer and leader. He was honored by the governments of Germany and Russia.
All of these heroes of the faith believed that the church of which they were part was the church of Christ revealed in the New Testament. They believed that denominationalism was wrong. They viewed the New Testament of Christ as the only rule of faith and practice for God's people. They all preached that salvation by grace was available only to those who in faith, repented and were baptized for the remission of their sins. They all taught that in worship, we are to sing without instrumental accompaniment and that we are to commune each Lord's Day. They were committed to the principle of restoring the original faith and practice of the apostolic church. They were unwilling to compromise with religious error. "Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations: Ask thy father, and he will show thee; Thine elders, and they will tell thee" (Deut. 32:7). May we learn from these great heroes. JHW |
