Well, we have a lot of history, a
lot of background, and it's been a privilege
for Kathy and myself to be a part
of the vision of this church and all
the things that have come through it, not
only here, but to the ends of the
earth.
Now, in order to keep my thoughts organized,
I'm going to read something, rather than just
ad lib.
And I need to get it close enough
to my eyes so I can see it.
Sixty years ago, on Palm Sunday, April 16th,
1943, sixteen people who were a part of
Ted Hegry's Sunday afternoon Bible study group met
in a home and incorporated Bethany Chapel Church
as an independent church.
Ted Hegry was called to be the pastor,
where he would all and was called as
a parish worker.
Of that group of sixteen, two are still
with us today.
There's five members of, with the church and
later the fellowship.
Hal Strand and Duane Love Strand, Betty Johnson
are here, as those from that five couples.
And of course, many of the children and
grandchildren of the first couples are here.
The first Sunday service was on Easter Sunday,
April 25th, 1943.
Later, a chapel building was purchased.
It was located on Nicollet Avenue and 57th
Street and was purchased for $7,000.
The motivating factor for the Bible study group
that met in Hegry's home was a desire
in these people to live in holiness, victory,
and fruitfulness.
Ted's message was that of Christ not only
died for us, but we should be forgiven
for our sins, but he took us with
him to the cross.
As it says in Romans 6, 6 and
7, knowing this, that our old self was
crucified with him and the body of sin
might be done away, that we should no
longer be slaves of sin, for he who
has died has been freed from sin, quoting
from Romans 6, 6 and 7.
That by total surrender to him, we can
say with the Apostle Paul, it is no
longer I who live, but Christ who lives
in me.
Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to make
this real and to give us power to
serve him.
The study and receiving of this message transformed
lives.
One day when Ted was alone in prayer,
he became convinced that God was calling the
church to send out missionaries.
The number that came was 100.
He was hesitant to share the vision with
the congregation.
Finally, though, Ted shared what God had spoken.
To his amazement, the congregation agreed and began
working to reach that goal.
The hundredth missionary was sent out from the
church in 1976.
They were challenged by God's word in Haggai
1, 4 to 6.
It is a time for you to be
living in your paneled houses.
While this house, the temple, remains a ruin.
You have planted much, but it harvests little.
You eat, but never have enough.
You drink, but you never have your fill.
You put on clothes, but are not warm.
You earn wages only to put them in
a purse with holes in it.
Also, Luke 14, 33, the same way any
of you who does not give up everything
he has cannot be my disciple.
In response to this, a plan was drawn
up for five couples to sell their homes,
their houses, pool their resources, and move together
to enable them to increase their contributions to
world missions and to train and send missionaries.
Thus, two years later, Bethany Fellowship was birthed.
So the vision of the whole of Bethany
Fellowship came out of Bethany Church.
And hundreds of missionaries have been trained and
sent to the far corners of the earth
because of Bethany Missionary Church and its humble
beginnings with 16 people who were obedient to
God's call.
You know, this is a great thing to
be a part of the body of Christ
and this local body of Christ.
We are glad that we can be identified
with it, be part of this vision, that
not only will we have addition to the
missionaries going out to the ends of the
earth, but multiplication of what God wants to
do.
And so we praise the Lord for this
opportunity to have this kind of a celebration
and recognition at this time.
And I think there's some other things I'm
supposed to invite.