Practica DOUG LAS C H R I S T IA N F E L L O W S H IP
I t was just a Scripture text, placed on an aircraft worker’s tool-box that the Lord used to start what has now grown to 15 Bible classes. Each of the classes meets five days a week during the lunch hour. That first meeting was ten years ago. The place was along an assembly line of the huge Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California. An o t h e r Douglas employee who was a Chris tian noticed the verse on the tool-box, and soon the two men were having lunch together. Before long, more men were added to the group in a sincere desire to see the testimony broadened. In a short time, a dozen men were seated together studying the Scriptures under the shadow of a huge wing jig. The Lord continued to bless the ef forts of the leaders. Top manage ment was approached to secure con ference rooms during the noon hour. From one building, the witness spread to others until today there are nine huge buildings in which noon day classes are meeting. It was then decided that some form of organization should be set up; that it should be flexible enough to permit freedom of organization, and that it should remain non-denominational. Three days a week there is a care ful, analytical study of the Scripture; the fourth day is given to summariza tion and to work with the Navigator Memory System. On the fifth day there is a large public meeting in a cleared area along the assembly line. For this public meeting noted Chris tian businessmen of the area are in vited to address the group. Mission aries and ministers are also invited to speak to the group and an invita tion to accept Christ is always given. Follow-up wo r k is immediately handled by experienced and mature Christians and the converts are di rected to Bible classes in their own area. Some of the early converts are now officers in the Fellowship, while others are in Bible school preparing for Christian service. Leaders of the Fellowship are care ful to point out to all members that
On Fridays, during lunch, the group gathers together in one of the hangars to share in a program of inspirational music and challenging message. Here First Mate Bob and the crew from the Haven of Rest minister to the group.
One of the fellowship groups gathers for lunch and to share together in a time of Bible study. There are 15 such groups meeting each week.
Below, Rev. Thomas E. Steele, director of extension for BIOLA, talks with fellowship leader AI Hude. With Mr. Steele are Bill Davidson and Dorothy Heisler, BIOLA students.
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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