E ven th ou g h Larry Keyes had been told what to expect when he ar rived at Hawkins Bar, everything was strangely different from what he an ticipated. You see, Larry is from the city of Los Angeles, California, where he is one person among many thous ands. In Los Angeles, Larry is accus tomed to crowded streets, massive buildings and numerous churches, each having a full program for its members. And now — as he looks down the main street of Hawkins Bar, a logging town in northern Califor nia — he feels as if he were the cen tral figure in a TV Western. But Larry didn’t make this thous and-mile trip just to look at the scen ery or to ponder over a changed en vironment. As a member of the RUR AL OUTREACH Gospel Team, he came to this isolated community to teach the Word of God and to share some of the good things he had re ceived from the Lord. It’s difficult to pin-point the origin of the Rural Outreach program, but like many other worthwhile projects raised up by the Lord, many people shared in the effort. However, Miss Thelma Bain, a faculty member of BIOLA College, and Rev. Robert Bun nell, Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest District of the American Sunday-School Union, played an im portant part in this “New Frontier” for reaching rural boys and girls for Christ. The need of “ on the job train ing” for Bible School students and other Christian young people in the Los Angeles area, as well as the need of the American Sunday-School Un ion and the Kentucky Mountain Mis sion for volunteer workers in their summer activities, somehow sparked a project which blossomed into a well- organized program of mutual benefit. As Mr. Bunnell presented the need for summer workers, Miss Bain and several BIOLA students began to pray concerning a number of communities in northern California, Nevada and Colorado in which missionaries of the American Sunday-School Union were working. However, as they learned more about the need, their vision was enlarged and in prevailing prayer they laid hold of God for greater things. Little did they dream that when summer rolled around over 65 fine Christian people, including a group of choice young people and adults from several Los Angeles churches, would volunteer for service with the American Sunday-School Union in a three-state area. At the outset, the leaders concluded that if this endeavor were to be effec tive it must be well organized. They agreed that every team member should be carefully selected and JUNE, 1962
a unique summer experience
trained and that every precaution should be taken to guard their health and safety. It was decided that the purpose of the Rural Outreach would be threefold. (1) To give practical training to young people planning to enter Christian service; (2) To con duct Vacation Bible Schools in rural areas where none would be held; (3) To help young people grow spiritual ly into Christian maturity. One of the added benefits of such a venture for a young person would be to have a unique summer “ vaca tion with a purpose.” Of course, one could not actively participate in such a ministry without having his interest
and missionary vision greatly en larged. As envisioned by the lead ers, the main thrust of Rural Out reach is to provide “ on the job” training for young people in Bible Schools and in local churcnes who de sire to prepare themselves for Chris tian service. Such a program is also helpful to missionary organizations in that they receive trained leader ship for special activities and at little or no cost to them. During the school year, promotional literature and deputation teams from BIOLA were sent to the evangelical churches in the surrounding area to (Continued on next page) 17
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