Always Abounding - Fall 2017-x

Fundamentalist
Always
Abounding
Fall 2017
Timeless Truths of Separation
preaching conference
The theme of our spring Preaching
Conference is A Chosen Generation—
Timeless Truths of Separation. The dates
are April 22-26, 2018. We will hear Bible
teaching and preaching from which
convictions and standards originate. In
this day of apostasy we dare not shrink
from this unpopular subject.
We invite you to attend. We look
forward to hearing from Evangelist Randy
Starr, Dr. Mike Allison, Pastor Bill Gorman,
and Pastor Travis Burke.
college days
This week will coincide with our
College Days. Visiting teens will get a
taste of college life. They will stay in our
dormitories and attend college classes. In
addition to the preaching, they will enjoy
getting to know other Christian young
people at the many planned activities.
alumni
Our annual alumni meeting will be on
Wednesday. This has proven to be a great
reunion, not just for our graduates but
also for the members of Fairhaven Baptist
Church who have given much and continue
to sacrifice for the ministry of Fairhaven
Baptist College.
Plan ahead to join us. More information
may be found on our college website.
“. . . be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” I Corinthians 15:58

L O V E
We love him because he first loved us. I JOHN 4:19
We love him because he first loved us. I JOHN 4:19
S T R I N G H A V E N
F AS ITR HR A VI E N GB AH P TA I SVT CE ON
L L E G E
F A I R H A V E N B A P T I S T C O L L E G E
1 Preaching Conference &
College Days 2018
3 Rules?!
by Evangelist Eric Ramos
6 Never Alone
by Dave Olson
CONTENTS
8 The Power of Words
by Pastor Steve Damron
12 Preparing for Special Meetings
by Dr. Randy Starr
14 The Telltale Timbre
by Missionary Bill Hardecker
©Published by Fairhaven Baptist Church. For correspondence or changes in subscription
information, write: Fairhaven Baptist Church, Always Abounding - The Fairhaven Fundamentalist,
86 East Oak Hill Road, Chesterton, IN 46304, U.S.A. For more information, call (800) SEE-FHBC.
2 ‌‌‌‌│ ALWAYS ABOUNDING

Rules?!
Eric Ramos
Rules provide
people the
freedom not
just to live but to live
in peace with one
another. What if
everybody had the choice whether or not
to stop at red lights? What if there was no
such thing as a speed limit? Though many
people gripe at these types of rules, they
actually keep the roads safe.
Simmering in the hearts of disgruntled
teenagers is this idea: “If I could just have
my freedom, then I would be so much
happier.” Many feel like they have been
given a “raw deal” by others or simply life
in general. Is the “grass really greener”
at the place they think it is? Is there
greater “freedom” away from all these
restrictions?
Well, what is freedom? It is not the
right to do as you please but the liberty
to do as you should. There are two
freedoms—the false, where a man is free
to do what he likes; the true, where a man
is free to do as he ought.
Why do gates lower prior to a train
coming? They are there to keep people
safe from crossing into danger. But there
are always those who ignore the gates to
beat the train. Sometimes people run a
red light without causing any problem;
however, every time a law is broken,
whether there is an accident or not,
there is the possibility of injury or death!
Teenager, remember this when you seek to
escape the structure of authority in search
of “freedom.” Every time you break a rule
in your home or church, you run the risk of
injury or even fatality in your spiritual life.
So how can you, a teen in a good church
and home, guard against the desire to get
out from under “all these rules?” When
mom and dad come to you and demand
TEEN CORNER
that you stop hanging around a certain
person, how can you go from bristling up
like a porcupine to thanking them and
responding in a genuinely appreciative
way? The Bible provides many boundaries
and guards to “fence us in” for protection
from spiritual danger. Here are three:
Boundary No. 1 – Have a clear salvation
testimony.
Salvation provides freedom from the
penalty of sin and fear of the future. Only
you know if you are truly saved. Do not
settle for the word of anyone else when
it comes to your salvation. Do you know
Jesus as your personal Savior? Is your trust
in God or in the faith of mom and dad?
You may have wonderful Christian parents,
but the only way to enter heaven is by the
grace of God, not by the goodness of your
parents. The Bible states in John 8:36, “If
the Son therefore shall make you free, ye
shall be free indeed.”
Salvation is a work of God, not of
man. When you settle this, you are free
from the penalty of sin. This will allow you
to live in liberty. When you doubt your
salvation, you have many uncertainties in
the Christian walk. This, I believe, is where
many young people are in their lives. If
they are unsettled about their position in
Christ, when it comes time for them to
“venture out on their own,” the calls from
this world will confound them. However,
when you know the One Who saved you
from hell and a ruined life, you can be
happy and settled in obedience to Him.
What about your salvation? If you
listen to someone else give their testimony
and have to mimic it when sharing yours,
then you do not have a personal salvation.
(cont., pg 4)
www.fairhavenbaptist.org │ 3

TEEN CORNER
Rules?!
(cont.)
At salvation, the Spirit of God comes to
live within you and according to Scripture,
liberty is given (II Corinthians 3:17). You
are not given the liberty to do as you
please, but to be a servant once again. You
were once the servant of sin, but salvation
allows you freedom from that sin and the
privilege to serve a new master, the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Boundary No. 2 – Realize who really cares
for you.
Godly parents and Scriptural authority
figures are your true friends. Teenagers
understand that parents will not let a young
child play in the middle of a busy highway
because of the danger involved; yet for
some reason they cannot understand
when a parent tries to keep them from the
dangers of this fleshly world. What is the
difference? Absolutely nothing! But there
are young people who look good at church
and maybe even at home, all the while
their heart screams out for their “space”
and “freedom.” At the core of this attitude
lies this problem—the feeling that they are
missing out on something.
What about the prodigal son in the
book of Luke? He had a good life, but he
thought “the far country,” away from his
father’s guidance, was a freer place. He
thought he was missing out; however,
when he sat in the pigpen enjoying the
“swine buffet,” he realized that back
home was not so bad after all. He was
not missing out on anything worthwhile.
God’s greatest gift, without a doubt, is
salvation; but another of His great gifts to
you is authority (parents and pastors) who
care enough to keep you “fenced in” from
the dangers of this wicked world. Cherish
them! Love them! Spend time with them!
Thank God for them!
Don’t be fooled. The lovers of pleasure
will tell you they care for you. But
understand that on the other side of that
very temporary pleasure of sin are waiting
the real gifts of the devil for you—sorrow,
heartache, pain, disappointments, misery,
disease, depression, worry, loneliness, and
suffering. You will find yourself empty,
just wishing you could have real freedom,
which is found in loving reproof and caring
restriction.
Boundary No. 3 - Recognize that YOU will
not be the exception.
YOU will end up the same way as
everyone else who desires his own way
and runs from what God has placed in his
life. Sometimes young people see another
teen living a miserable life; and although
they are heading down the same path and
are warned about it, they are sure that
the end for them will be much different.
People fall into wicked sin that they have
been warned about over and over again.
They may never have said it, but they have
lived thinking, “I know what is right, but
this sin will not affect me like it did the
others.”
God says “the wages of sin is death.”
This is a fact. Sin’s wages have never been
reduced, and God is not a respecter of
persons. You are not better than anyone
else; and if you choose to seek your
freedom, you will end up in a mess, bound
by the chains of sin.
Do you want lasting happiness? Find
it in the path of the Lord. You will be
spiritually strong and free to live out the
perfect will that God has planned for you.
(Eric Ramos is a staff evangelist for Fairhaven Baptist
College.)
4 ‌‌‌‌│ ALWAYS ABOUNDING

joy in serving jesus
Every Saturday morning, many members gather for ministry meetings. Pastor Parrish
coordinates those involved with the teen outreach and discipleship ministry Teens on Target.
Pastor Damron gives instruction to our bus route workers while Dr. Mitchell encourages
those canvassing in our Harvesters soulwinning ministry. In other rooms, our nursing home
ministry leaders gather with their workers to prepare for services in a number of local
retirement homes.
After these meetings, church men and women, working together with college students and
teens, spread out across the area in the Lord’s work. Each Saturday evening, our church
men, college guys, and teen boys gather back at church to pray for God’s blessing and power
on the Sunday services.
May we never forget the great joy that comes through serving Jesus!
www.fairhavenbaptist.org │ 5

DEVOTIONAL
Never Alone
Dave Olson
Are you lonely?
You do not have
to be. Loneliness
occurs when we are
without a friend or
companion. For those
who know Christ as
Savior, they have “a friend that sticketh
closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).
Though other friends may abandon us, the
Lord promised, “I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). If you are a
Christian, you are never alone!
Unfortunately, there are times that
we feel alone. Why? Perhaps we have
neglected His presence. Since He never
leaves us, we should never be overcome
with loneliness. However, at times we
begin to feel sorry for ourselves and
indulge in pity parties. As strange as it
sounds, we often want to be alone when
we wallow in self-pity. While the pity
party is in full swing, we may want to invite
others to it, but we plan on doing all the
talking. Jesus sees when things are not
well in your life, and it is His desire to draw
near and console you. He promised, “I will
not leave you comfortless: I will come to
you” (John 14:18). If you are lonely, all you
need to do is acknowledge the One Who is
trying to engage your fellowship.
It is true that losing a loved one leaves
a huge void in one’s life. Grief is normal,
but once again it is meant to turn our
attention to the Lord and strengthen our
relationship with Him. Having a broken
heart is understandable, but don’t forget
that the Savior wants to mend it. He said,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…he hath
sent me to heal the brokenhearted” (Luke
4:18). Allow Him to do His job of healing!
When we are bereaved of loved ones,
God steps in and extends special care to
us. The psalmist said, “When my father
and my mother forsake me, then the LORD
will take me up” (Psalm 27:10). Regardless
of who we lose, we must focus on what
we gain. Who could comfort and cheer us
better than the Lord? If you are sad and
lonely, turn at once to the waiting Savior
and enjoy the sweetness of His counsel,
the gentle touch of His Spirit, and the
reassurance of His constant love. Open
your Bible and allow Him to settle your
fears and fill your lonely heart with hope.
The psalmist found God’s Word to be a
source of strength and encouragement.
He offered these words of praise, “Thou
art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in
thy word” (Psalm 119:114). Will you allow
God to fill your heart with hope through
His Word?
Since the Christian has God’s abiding
presence, loneliness is a self-inflicted
emotion. When David found himself
feeling lonely, he sought the Lord. He
prayed, “Turn thee unto me, and have
mercy upon me; for I am desolate and
afflicted” (Psalm 25:16). Allow each pang
of loneliness to trigger a prayer similar
to David’s. Soon, you will have the same
comfort he enjoyed.
Jesus faced times when He was alone.
Shortly before His crucifixion He spoke to
the disciples, “ye shall be scattered, every
man to his own, and shall leave me alone:
and yet I am not alone, because the Father
is with me” (John 16:32). Though He was
forsaken by earthly friends, He understood
that as long as He had the Father, He
was not alone. Then, the most horrible
thing happened to Him. When the sins
of the world were placed upon Him, the
Father forsook Him. He was totally alone.
Because of His sacrifice, no Christian will
ever experience the loss of the Father’s
presence like He did. So, when feeling
6 ‌‌‌‌│ ALWAYS ABOUNDING

lonely, turn to the One Who has “borne
our griefs, and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah
53:4). Since He has known true loneliness,
He can help you.
Too often we are tempted to dwell on
our losses and bereavements. Another
valuable lesson to learn is that of
thankfulness. In the midst of suffering,
Paul learned to rejoice in the Lord
regardless of his circumstances. He said,
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”
(I Thessalonians 5:18). We can be thankful
that we have God’s presence, promises,
protection, and provision. Further, we
can be grateful for the time He gave us to
enjoy those people or blessings that we
have lost. Thank Him for the good times
you had and the memories that you can
continue to enjoy. Once you begin to
thank the Lord, you will find yourself in
His presence—“Enter into his gates with
thanksgiving, and into his courts with
praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his
name” (Psalm 100:4). If you are saved, you
are never alone.
(Dave Olson is the Director of Missions at Fairhaven
Baptist College.)
DON’T FORGET THE SPEECH AND MUSIC COMPETITION!
www.fairhavenbaptist.org │ 7

FROM THE PASTOR
The Power of Words
Pastor Steve Damron
Death and life
are in the power
of the tongue:
and they that
love it shall eat
the fruit thereof
(Proverbs 18:21).
Speech can be misunderstood. Here
are a few examples when translation
became humorous. These are signs
(translated into English) seen in other
countries:
1. In a Denmark airline office: “We take
your bags and send them in all directions.”
2. On the door of a Moscow hotel room:
“If this is your first visit to Russia, you are
welcome to it.”
3. On a Bucharest hotel elevator: “The
lift is being fixed for the next day. During
that time we regret that you will be
unbearable.”
4. On a restaurant menu in Poland: “Salad
a firm’s own make; Limpid red beet soup
with cheesy dumplings in the form of a
finger; Roasted duck let loose; Beef rashers
beaten up in the country people’s fashion.”
As you can see, someone should have
been a little more careful, or should have
consulted someone else who understood
not just grammar but the vocabulary and
nuances of the English language.
So it is in our lives. We should take a
little more care in the choice of words that
we use both with fellow believers and the
world around us. We must understand that
words do matter in our relationships with
fellow believers and with the community
in which we are going to share Christ.
A great deal of good or harm can result
from how we use our tongues. The Word
of God tells us that “Death and life are
in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs
18:21). While a skilled orator can influence
vast numbers of people, sometimes it is to
their disadvantage. On the other hand,
the tongue of a believer, when under
the control of the indwelling Holy Spirit
(I Corinthians 6:19), can be used to bring
blessing and happiness to many people.
What we say and the things we talk about
most frequently and naturally reveal what
is in our minds and what dominates our
thinking—for as a man “thinketh in his
heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7), and “out
of the abundance of the heart the mouth
speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). The Holy
Spirit led and inspired James to write an
intensely practical epistle in which he
makes several references to the ways we
can use our tongues and the consequences
that come from these actions. I have listed
the following references for your personal
study on this topic: James 1:19,26; James
2:12; James 3:1-12; James 4:11; and James
5:12.
In James 3 we are given both warning
and guidance regarding the use of the
tongue. Believers are told that those
who teach others the Word of God must
teach prayerfully, carefully, and honestly as
they are enabled and empowered by the
Holy Spirit. They will come under severe
condemnation when what they say and
teach is not consistent with their manner
of life (James 3:1).
I would like us to consider some
Scripture from the book of Proverbs
concerning how our speech reveals what
is inside our hearts. For a believer this is
important, but for a pastor it is imperative
to comprehend how words have the ability
either to help build or to destroy members.
8 ‌‌‌‌│ ALWAYS ABOUNDING

The tongue of the just is as choice silver:
the heart of the wicked is little worth
(Proverbs 10:20).
The thoughts of the wicked are an
abomination to the Lord: but the words of
the pure are pleasant words
(Proverbs 15:26).
The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth,
and addeth learning to his lips
(Proverbs 16:23).
We see from the above verses the
relationship of the tongue with the
heart and thoughts. The tongue that is
continually causing strife and contention
is evidence of a heart that dwells on the
same. The tongue that is vulgar and vile
reveals a mind that is dwelling on impure
thoughts. There is a direct correlation
between one’s thought life and his speech.
You may ask then how an unworthy sinner
can tame the tongue. This is why I included
the third verse in this grouping. Proverbs
16 tells us that a good man teaches his
mouth. He decides to ask for God’s help in
guiding what he says and thinks.
A tongue under control is evidence
of spiritual maturity; and if a believer’s
tongue is controlled by the Holy Spirit,
then every other aspect of his life will
be under the Spirit’s control (v. 2). The
tongue is a comparatively small part of
the human body, but it has great power.
James stresses how a horse is controlled
by a small bit placed in its mouth, a large
ship is maneuvered by a small rudder,
and a small fire can kindle a large, fierce,
uncontrolled blaze (vv. 3-5). Men have
tamed and controlled all kinds of animals
(v. 7), but no man can tame the tongue (v.
8). However, the tongue can be controlled
by the Holy Spirit. When a believer is living
close to God in submission and obedience
to His will as revealed in the Word of God,
his tongue will be used to speak gracious
words of blessing, comfort, and edification.
Let’s consider another set of verses to
further help in this area of the tongue.
The mouth of a righteous man is a well of
life: but violence covereth the mouth of
the wicked (Proverbs 10:11).
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but
perverseness therein is a breach in the
spirit (Proverbs 15:4).
Let’s continue the thought of the work
of the Holy Spirit and the tongue. I believe
that Proverbs 10:11 is referring to the
regenerating work that the Holy Spirit can
do in a person’s heart through the Word of
God. The righteous man who is teaching
his tongue through the instruments of the
Holy Spirit and the Word of God will find
his tongue a well of life. In John 4:14 and
John 7:38, we find references to the “well
of living water.”
But whosoever drinketh of the water that
I shall give him shall never thirst; but
the water that I shall give him shall be
in him a well of water springing up into
everlasting life (John 4:14).
He that believeth on me, as the scripture
hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers
of living water (John 7:38).
In both instances, Christ refers to the
work of salvation done through Himself,
the Living Water. You can see the word
(cont., pg 10)
www.fairhavenbaptist.org │ 9

FROM THE PASTOR
The Power of Words
(cont.)
picture. Now let’s tie in the verse in
Proverbs 10. The regenerated man feasting
upon the Word of God and invigorated by
the water of life can experience a well of
life that brings nourishment to others
through his conversations with fellow
believers as well as unbelievers. This is the
glorious privilege of the righteous. Thus, a
mouth supplied from heavenly waters is a
well of life.
As we conclude in this specific area
of our tongue, consider the references
to the tongue in Proverbs 15:1-7: “A soft
answer,” “the tongue of the wise,” “a
wholesome tongue,” “the lips of the wise,”
and “the prayer of the upright.” What a
collection of thoughts about our tongues.
These key words touch one of the greatest
spheres of human influence. If we can rule
our speech by surrendering our tongue
and lips to the keeping of God’s Spirit, we
would save ourselves and others a world of
trouble.
Do your words align with the teaching
of Scripture? Consider the following
verses:
There is that speaketh like the piercings
of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is
health (Proverbs 12:18).
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it
stoop: but a good word maketh it glad
(Proverbs 12:25).
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb,
sweet to the soul, and health to the bones
(Proverbs 16:24).
Do your words encourage others to
move forward for Christ? Do your words
help lift the heavy load that others are
bearing? It amazes me to see the lack of
empathy that the average Christian has for
fellow believers. We live in a self-consumed
world. How do I know this? Take a look
at the average person’s Facebook page.
They are consumed with sharing pictures
of their dog, their artwork, their cars, their
food choices, and their hobbies. We live in
a “selfie” world where most people believe
that everything revolves around them.
“My happiness” is the most important
thing in this world. Yet, we find more
unhappiness and more despondency than
ever. Why is this? Because happiness is not
found in the “self-life”; instead it is found
in a “self-less” life. We should be looking
for folks to encourage and help. This is
what these verses are trying to encourage
us to do with our speech. Is your tongue an
instrument that promotes pleasantness, or
do your words make others stoop?
Finally, let’s consider two more verses
from the book of Proverbs.
A man hath joy by the answer of his
mouth: and a word spoken in due season,
how good is it! (Proverbs 15:23).
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in
pictures of silver (Proverbs 25:11).
10 ‌‌‌‌│ ALWAYS ABOUNDING

These two verses reveal the
satisfaction that words can bring to both
the speaker and the hearer. In Proverbs
15:23, the speaker has joy by what he says.
He is not getting his satisfaction by tearing
someone else down or speaking abusively.
The second part of this verse indicates that
a godly speaker knows the correct time
to say things or the time to refrain from
saying something. Having this confidence
produces joy in the heart of the speaker.
We then come to Proverbs 25:11. The
word “fitly” is a very curious one in the
Hebrew. It signifies “wheels.” So what
do “wheels” have to do with speaking? It
deals with the hearer, referring to words
which roll smoothly and pleasantly from
the lips of the speaker to the ears of the
hearer. In this time era, wheels were not
used very often, and most things were
carried on horseback. On some occasions,
makeshift wheels would be needed to
ease the burden of travel. Today, we have
wheels that are light and smooth so that
carrying a burden is easy. The application
for a wise man is to learn to “carry” his
words with ease so that they are not
burdensome to the hearer. The wise
man speaks so that his words do not jar
or shock the hearer. The speaker’s words
should not produce hurt by any harshness
or roughness, nor should his words leave a
painful rut behind in the memory.
Let me close with a great example
of words that were fitly spoken by the
Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord always spoke
graciously; in fact, in John 1:14, He was
said to be “full of grace and truth.” People
did not always agree with Him, and there
were times that folks were riled up at His
speech. However, in John 7:46, we learn
that “never man spake like this man.”
There are other references in the Gospels
that reveal this as well. One such verse is
Luke 4:22 where they “wondered at the
gracious words which proceeded out of his
mouth.” Peter says in his first epistle that
there was no “guile found in his mouth…
when he was reviled, [He] reviled not
again; when he suffered, he threatened
not.” The Lord created all things by the
power of His word (Psalm 33:6-9; Hebrews
11:3). He spoke and a storm ceased (Mark
4:39); He spoke to an unclean spirit and it
came out of a man (Mark 5:8,13); He spoke
and a man was raised from death (John
11:43,44). For those of us who minister
to people, the physical tool that we must
use is our words. Let’s be sure that we
understand the Biblical truth of the power
of words. The Bible still says that we will
give an account for every idle word. Christ
understood that words count, and He used
them wisely to fulfill God’s purpose in His
life—to bring people to salvation.
(Steve Damron is the pastor of Fairhaven Baptist
Church and is president of Fairhaven Baptist College.)
www.fairhavenbaptist.org │ 11

PASTORS CORNER
Preparing for Special
Meetings
Dr. Randy Starr
As an evangelist, my wife and I travel
from church to church to have a
maximum impact in each church
we schedule. I preach revivals, family
conferences, mission conferences, Bible
conferences, special days, etc. We make
planning checklists available to every
pastor to help him think through steps in
preparation for our meeting to give it the
best chance of success. I encourage pastors
not to plan a lot of activities in the week
before, during, or after the meeting so the
revival will be the focus and people will
be ready to come. However, more often
than not, upon arrival, I find the preacher,
his wife, and people fatigued with all the
activities while the only preparation for
the meeting has been an announcement
and flier. Then, the pastor makes apologies
for the low crowds. The truth is, special
meetings are an afterthought, just a
calendar add-in.
Through detailed planning and
repeated emphasis we make the special
meetings the BIG ACTIVITY of the year.
We can do better in preparing for special
meetings.
Here are some practical ideas to
help. When I pastored, we kicked off
most of our special meetings with a big
day (e.g., Friend Day) on Sunday. We had
two checklists for preparation, one for
the special day and one for the meeting.
Preparation began two months or more
ahead of time with a meeting of leaders to
make assignments and explain the special
nights of the revival so that these leaders
could then motivate their departments to
get visitors to the meeting. I would preach
on revival, enlisting fasting and prayer
for the meeting. We planned prayer
meetings prior to the meeting, decided
whether to have a banner or not, planned
special music for the conference, talked
to the nursery director to remind her to
organize workers nightly for the meetings,
and planned to announce revival meeting
dates in the bulletin weekly. Folks were
asked to clear their schedules to be there
every night. I appointed the secretary to
send out revival fliers to area churches and
preachers, planned the expense check and
offerings to care for the evangelist, and
created a colorful post card to put in the
bulletin that our people could distribute to
neighbors.
As a pastor, five weeks before a
meeting I would distribute blank 3x5 cards
to the congregation asking them to write
the names of people they were burdened
about for salvation. I had them invite
them and pray for them. Four weeks
before the meeting, we chose personal
altar workers and had a meeting to review
what to do and how to complete the
decision card. We reviewed the literature
available to give away. We met with the
ushers in anticipation of an overflow
crowd. Someone was assigned to write
news releases for local radio stations,
newspapers, social media, and our website.
Someone else was assigned to put the
announcement on the church’s outdoor
sign. Posters were printed to put up two
weeks before the meeting at laundromats,
restaurants, stores, etc., all over the area.
All of these required pastoral approval.
Three weeks before the meeting, we
had a sign-up list for folks to fast for the
meeting. Two weeks before, as the pastor,
I would email all area pastors a reminder
of the services. One week before, I
announced that the evangelist would have
a book table each night. We had someone
set up the tables before he arrived and
12 ‌‌‌‌│ ALWAYS ABOUNDING

someone to help carry in his supplies.
There was also a person assigned to care
for him upon arrival whether it involved
taking him to a motel, getting him settled
in our prophet’s chamber, or directing him
to the RV spot. Finally, as pastor, I planned
time to spend with the evangelist early—
maybe a meal with our entire staff before
the meeting began.
Here are suggestions to increase
attendance each night: (1) Have the junior
choir sing one night. Grandparents and
parents can’t resist coming. (2) Have the
church choir sing one night. (3) Have a
free meal 90 minutes before the evening
service to get everyone there (or maybe
the church can provide the meat and drink,
and each family bring a dish or two). (4)
Have special nights such as Youth night,
Coworker & Neighbor night, Relatives
night, Prophecy night, etc., AND (5) pray,
pray, pray.
Churches either prepare for success
or defeat. They are in earnest to touch
as many lives as possible with a revival,
or they just let it happen (Calvinistic in
thought). No, we can’t organize revival,
but we CAN organize the elements to give
us the best chance of success by getting
more people there. If these elements
aren’t there, it won’t do the people any
good.*
Brethren, for the sake of souls and
God’s stirring of His children, let’s get
serious about the preparation for our
special meetings.
*Pastor, if you want more information,
contact me for the password to the
“Pastor’s Planning” section of our website.
(Dr. Randy Starr is a local church evangelist sent out
from Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Brogue, Pennsylvania.)
www.fairhavenbaptist.org │ 13

MUSIC
The Telltale Timbre
Missionary Bill Hardecker (‘99)
Music is a combination of sounds
composed in such a way as
to produce beauty in melody,
harmony, rhythm, and timbre (character
or quality of sound). Colossians 3:16 says,
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord.” Godly music packages
Bible doctrines in memorable format.
Psalms (i.e., the Old Testament Psalms) add
depth of expression to both our singing
and prayers. Hymns are songs of praise.
Spiritual songs refer to musical expressions
that are distinct from worldliness.
Contemporary Christian Music
proponents disagree that such a distinction
exists: “We hold these truths to be selfevident,
that all music was created equal,
that no instrument or style of music is in
itself evil–that the diversity of musical
expression which flows forth from man
is but one evidence of the boundless
creativity of our Heavenly Father.” [The
Christian Rocker’s Creed, CCM Magazine,
1988, pg. 12]
Harold Best (Dean Emeritus of Music at
Wheaton College) said, “There is nothing
un-Christian or anti-Christian about any
kind of music.” [Music Through the Eyes
of Faith, 1993, page 52] He adds on page
59, “The Christian is free from the moral
nothingness of music.”
Al Menconi (non-denominational
speaker) said the following: “Which style
[of music] is best: mellow, spicy (upbeat,
contemporary, rock), or somewhere in
between? Again, the answer is that one is
no more correct than another. Each style
of music is simply different. A person’s
choice of music depends on his cultural
background, maturity and age, the music
he grew up listening to, and his personal
tastes.” [Staying in Tune, 1996, page 161]
Charlie Peacock (singer, songwriter,
record producer, Dove Award winner, and
Grammy nominee) said, “We must respect
all forms of musical and lyrical artistry,
recognizing that God delights in and
makes intelligent use of the diversity of His
creation.” [At the Crossroads, 1999, page
202]
Rick Warren (Senior Pastor of
Saddleback Valley Community Church,
Orange County, California) said, “I’m often
asked what I would do differently if I could
start Saddleback over. My answer is this:
From the first day of the new church, I’d put
more energy and money into a first-class
music ministry that matched our target. In
the first years of Saddleback, I made the
mistake of underestimating the power of
music.…(page 279) Churches also need
to admit that no particular style of music
is ‘sacred.’ What makes a song sacred is
its message. Music is nothing more than
an arrangement of notes and rhythms;
it’s the words that make a song spiritual.
There is no such thing as ‘Christian music,’
only Christian lyrics. (page 281) The sacred
message of a song may be communicated
in a wide variety of musical styles. What we
discovered is that 96 percent of our people
said they listen to middle-of-the-road adult
contemporary music…for the first time
in history, there exists a universal music
style that can be heard in every country
of the world. It is called contemporary
pop/rock…. After surveying who we were
reaching, we made the strategic decision to
stop singing hymns in our seeker services.
Within a year of deciding what would be
‘our sound,’ Saddleback exploded with
growth. I will admit that we have lost
hundreds of potential members because of
14 ‌‌‌‌│ ALWAYS ABOUNDING

the style of music Saddleback uses. On the
other hand, we have attracted thousands
more because of our music.” [The Purpose
Driven Church, Zondervan, 1995, page
285]
The Bible teaches us that there is a
“distinction in the sounds” (I Corinthians
14:7). It mentions a trumpet giving an
“uncertain sound” in verse 8. The music
produced must be intelligible so that
instructions may be given to either charge
or retreat. In Exodus 32:17-18, Joshua
mistook idolatrous worship for a “noise
of war” mainly because of how they were
singing. Isaiah 23:15 reports that Tyre shall
“sing as an harlot.” This is a sensual song.
In Ezekiel 33:32, the Bible identifies “a
very lovely song,” “a pleasant voice,” and
a skillful instrumentalist. Similarly, spoken
language contains “evil communications”
(I Corinthians 15:33), “corrupt
communication” (Ephesians 4:29), and
“filthy communication” (Colossians 3:8).
The Bible assumes that we know this. The
timbre identifies godly music from worldy
music.
Howard Marshall McLuhan (educator,
and literary critic) pithily said: “The
medium is the message.”
The message resides in the music.
Music can add, reinforce, or contradict
the lyrics. It has the capacity to transform
mood, behavior, a church’s historic and
doctrinal positions; and it can even change
the perception of who God is (cf. Romans
1:23).
Rick Warren said, “Traditional churches
think I’m changing the message, but all I’m
doing is changing the method.” [A Look
at Pastor and Author Rev. Rick Warren,
Dateline Alabama, March 25, 2005]
But the truth is when the music is
changed, so is the message.
(Bill (‘99) and Marcia (Starr ‘03) Hardecker are
currently serving as missionaries in the Philippines,
along with their two boys, W. T. and Joseph.)
UPCOMING EVENTS
www.hardecker.com
November 6-9
Empowered Youth
December 12
Glory of Christmas Concert
February 9
Mother/Daughter Banquet
March 9
Men’s BBQ
March 15-16
Academy Basketball and
Volleyball Tournament
April 22-26
Preaching Conference &
College Days
www.fairhavenbaptist.org │ 15

86 East Oak Hill Road
Chesterton, Indiana 46304