The majority of Circle Church members were ridiculously young, with all the basic characteristics of that age group in the late 1960’s—vigor, a desire to move ahead, idealism, restless energy for world-changing, confidence in our innate abilities.
The majority of the Zion church people were senior citizens, retirees who were not filled with zestful enthusiasm, but were adapting themselves to the impositions of old age and limited incomes. Many were reactionary, holding to the good times which had once been meaningful. Many clung to the shreds of a once-familiar world which had gone awry. The most secure place being the church which had sustained them through the years. The church was the place where they had brought their children for training and baptism, the comfortable climate of the church-womb.
The first source of dissatisfaction on the part of the Zion Church people stemmed from the fact that Circle Church people didn’t return after visiting one or two times. “Where are all the people you promised us?” they demanded. I will not claim that a huge group of Circle regulars changed their support to Zion, but an adequate, if not elite, group did.
The way was led by our Board Chairman and his family. At the time, this gentleman worked as a producer and announcer at Christian radio station WMBI. Several couples, one a clinical marriage counselor, one a student at Northwestern University, another a student from India and his beautiful African-American wife, made the move.
Of course, there were Al and Lynn Nestor. The music program was eventually headed by Steve Bell, who had toured with Venture for Victory in the Orient the summer before. He and his fiancée, Valerie, a voice major at Moody Bible Institute and my wife’s sister, were studying at Moody Bible Institute.
Several singles, mostly in the student status, attended regularly. They pitched in to help with the music and with the Christian education program.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.
We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.
For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.
