| Volume XXIII |
February 2003
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Number 7
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Jack Cronk
Service to the Florida School of Preaching
 12-21-02 Board of Directors Dear Brethren, It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter. It is always sad when one must say farewell to close and dear friends. I felt honored when I was asked to serve on the Board of Directors and I have enjoyed every minute of our association since. The Board serves a very important part of the school and I was pleased to serve with you and I thank you for that privilege. Following my heart attack, I felt it was best for me to move near my family so if I were to suffer another attack Bonnie would be near those who could help her in my absence. Please allow this letter to tender my resignation from the Florida School of Preaching Board of Directors. I would enjoy receiving your publications and a note when the Lectureship books are available. Please notify me the cost of each and I will send you a check. I plan to keep you, the school and the students in my prayers. The books, I plan to pass on to my son, a deacon at the Mt. Juliet congregation where Bonnie and I attend. Thank you in advance, Your brother |
When the Board received the letter from brother Cronk, I wrote him to express my appreciation for his service to the Board. Some of my statements to him were as follows: “With you on the Board, I always knew I had a friend that would stick closer than a brother–you did so time and time again.” Again, “Your insight into Bible truth and commitment to the same was always reassuring to the Board in any deliberation. Your only concern has ever been to have a school faithful and effective in being an influence for good throughout the world and especially in the church.”
Brother and sister Cronk have always encouraged me as a preacher. It was a pleasure to serve where he was an elder and to work under him as a member of the Board of Directors. Editor
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“ONE OF THE BEST” (By Brooks Boyd, Oxford, Alabama church of Christ bulletin, January 12, 2003) “This church is not in the habit of giving blanket endorsement to, or running ads for any brotherhood school. Yet it does believe that Christian education and preacher training are good and important works. And the lectureships that derive from some of these schools can be great opportunities for spiritual growth. “As one who has attended a variety of these lectureships, this preacher has seen some good ones, and some not-so-good ones. Without question, one of the best brotherhood lectureships takes place each year at the Florida School of Preaching, in Lakeland, Florida. The content, format and featured speakers have been very, very good. This year’s F.S.O.P. lectures will be January 20-23 (Monday- Thursday). The theme will be “Do You Understand Fellowship?” Some of the scheduled speakers are V.P. Black, Jimmy Clark, Allen Webster, Jeff Clark, and Tom Holland. As is always the case, the speakers will be bringing the “meat” of the word. “If you can attend, it will be well worth the trip to feast on these rich lessons. If you cannot attend, audio and video tapes will be available shortly after the lectureship concludes. And if you have a computer and have internet service, it is now possible to listen to a live broadcast of the lectures. Just go the web page, “www.fsop.net” and click on the “Listen Live” button. You will be glad that you did.” |
The lectureship book was dedicated to brother and sister G. K. Wallace. On Monday morning Brian Kenyon and Micky Bell (Micky preaches where sister Wallace attends) made the presentation to sister Wallace. Sister Wallace is ninety-one years old, and we were thankful that she was able to be here for the occasion.
Internet Reflections
There were hundreds with access to the internet connection that listened to the daily broadcast of the lectures. Our greatest complaint was that they were unable to connect, or while listening they were disconnected and could not get reconnected. This occurred because the connections were limited to a given number. We are working to have next year’s lectureship broadcast with unlimited capacity.
Our thanks to WILLIAM HOWARD, a graduate of the school, who provided the technical assistance for the internet broadcast.
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Following are excerpts from the materials presented during the week that may be obtained by purchasing the Lectureship Book: From V. P. Black: “It is so hard for us to understand, and possibly we can never understand, why men would persecute the good Christian person who harms no one; the person who is meek, humble, good; the one who is merciful and trying to make peace. Someone has said, ‘The dedication of the saints only magnifies the depravity of the sinner.’ The world extends a hand to the person who will compromise the truth, but tends to hate the man who is set on doing the will of God.” From Stephen Atnip: “We have ... noted that a common meal can also be used as an act of fellowship in Christianity. The Lord’s Supper must never be used as a common meal fellowship act, but there are situations outside of the assembly in which brethren share in close, intimate relationships as an expression of their association in Christ. Brethren are to cease such intimate acts of fellowship with an erring brother, including eating meals which fall under such intimate association in Christ. “It is possible that there may be times when situations arise in which eating a common meal in the same place as a brother does not fit the definition of ‘keeping company with.’...” From Terry M. Hightower: “If one chooses to participate by speaking on a program, must he universally and uniformly refute all false teachers (either present in his audience or those who will be present as speakers) in order to remain faithful? For instance, if so asked by the family of the deceased, would I be sinning if I participated in a funeral in which a denominational person (or Mason?) Also was a part, unless I specifically rebuked his error then and there?” From Bill Greer: “There are those who want to change worship by adding to the silence of the Scriptures such things as clapping and cheering, praise teams, mechanical instruments, soloists, the time of the partaking of the Lord’s Supper, prayer chains, fund raisers, etc. There are those who refuse to have fellowship with their ‘traditional’ brethren, and yet are anxious to have fellowship with their ‘denominational’ brethren.” From Roy Dicks: “Most of the troubles in congregations arise over personal matters. They are not over what we call ‘doctrinal matters.’ They are not over principles of right. They are over personalities. One man is afraid someone else is getting a little more publicity, exercising a little more authority, influencing a few more people, or in some way overshadowing him. As a result of this, unkind words, cutting remarks, and snappings flare here and there. However, the fact that personality problems often occur and make working together difficult does not mean that brethren have to break fellowship.” From Jackie M. Stearsman: “It is sometimes asserted, ‘If we withhold fellowship from a congregation, we destroy the autonomy of that congregation.’ However, the very opposite is true. If I am not permitted, and the congregation of which I am a part is not permitted, to withhold joint participation with others, it is I, or the congregation of which I am a part, that has lost our autonomy. I/we would be forced to do that which God forbids. ‘And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them’ (Eph. 5:11).” From G. K. Wallace: March 23, 1984 Dear Jackie: Thanks for your letter of March 21st and the article about Unusual Days. You did a good and needed job. It is Unusual that some elders do not know what Paul told Titus in his qualifications of elders to ‘stop the mouths’ of false teachers. ‘Whose mouths must be stopped’ (Tit. 1:11). More power to you Sincerely, ❦ |
You need this volume, it is a valuable resource on fellowship. Editor.