in Scriptures the Master called for action: “ Follow Me and I will make you to become fishers of men;” “Take up your cross;” and “ Pray ye the Lord o f the harvest that He will thrust forth laborers into His field.” There must be action. The atmosphere was right at Antioch, the atti tude of the apostles was correct, and there was action; for we read that they went forth, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost. This could very well be a New Testament pattern. If all our churches could employ such an at mosphere as that of the church of Antioch, an attitude such as the apostles Paul and Barnabas experienced, and then finalize it with action to go forth, the unsaved world soon would know about the Saviour. The North Redondo Chapel has endeavored to practice some of the qualities found in the church of Antioch. We believe that when these qualities are present, God will be enabled to do His work of calling young people into His service. God is concerned about every facet o f His church. He is concerned about the minister and his message and about the people and their re sponse. In summary, He is concerned about the atmosphere of the church and the attitude and action o f the people.
This became our theme song in the building o f North Redondo Chapel. I find there are three elements which are abso lutely necessary for God to build His church. The first element is atmosphere. There must be a proper atmosphere. This simply refers to the disposition of the people inside the church. No doubt, God would have called me to His ministry much sooner than He did if the atmosphere had been right. In Chapter 13 of the Book o f Acts there is a great classical illustration on this sub ject. It reads: “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch prophets and teachers.” And, in Goodspeed’s translation it reads, “ a number of prophets and teachers.” This helped to create a beautiful atmosphere. Among these prophets and teachers were Barnabas and Saul, (Saul later be came Paul). It was in this heavenly, spiritual at mosphere that God was able to speak to these two men about the missionary cause, and they became pioneers in a tremendous work for God. Second, there must not only be the correct at mosphere, but also there must be the proper atti tude. The North Redondo Chapel has witnessed the entrance of hundreds o f its young people into both home and foreign Christian service. We believe there has been a certain spiritual atmosphere which was followed by a certain spiritual attituda At Antioch the Holy Spirit said, “ Separate me Barnabas and Saul.” Of course, the atmosphere had to be right in order for the Holy Spirit to do His work. In building a church, it is most impor tant that one knows the presence o f God the Holy Ghost in his ministry. Unfortunately, many church es are not aware o f this need today. We have or ganized beautiful, ritualistic ceremonies, but we have been wanting in the realm of the personal work of the Holy Spirit. No atmosphere can be right without His presence. We have endeavored through these years to see that He had His proper place in our ministry and in our church. When the atmosphere is right, it creates the right attitude — an attitude of response. There was no begging or pleading with Paul and Barna bas to enter their life’s work. The atmosphere was of such nature that the attitude was immediately that o f response. Our attitude determines what God can do with us. We have seen this to be very true in our church. Not every one to whom God has spoken has responded. The attitude has not been right toward God or toward man. If the attitude is right toward man, it will then be right toward God. God makes His relationship to Himself and to man to be in the form of the cross — horizontal and vertical. This brings us to a third element, and that is action. The atmosphere may be right and the atti tude may be right, but, if there is no action, the work of the Lord will suffer. Over and over again
The North Redondo Chapel was organized in 1938 as an Interdenominational Church. Dr. Her bert H. Richardson, the Pastor, has been with the church since its inception. Because o f God’s faithfulness, the church has grown to about 900 members, with an average Sun day school attendance now o f 750, and has been ordained by God for His glory. EE
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DECEMBER, 1968
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