{"id":30604,"date":"2023-01-29T18:07:50","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T02:07:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=30604"},"modified":"2023-01-29T18:07:50","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T02:07:50","slug":"church-history-hippie-concert-1977-george-fox-university-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/church-history-hippie-concert-1977-george-fox-university-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Church History-Hippie Concert (1977)-George Fox University (2023)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

While reading <\/span>Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A history from the 1730\u2019s to the 1980\u2019s by<\/span><\/i> D.W. Bebbington, I pondered how the Evangelical church has had an impact in my life. In this blog I will chronicle my own church\/spiritual history. Bebbington\u2019s work spans 250 years of church history. My life has not been that long, but the Evangelical church has left an indelible mark on my life. This blog will consist of my early years, young adult years, and my older adult years as an organizational frame. I am grateful for how God has been a part of my life since birth and has faithfully kept me close. Psalm 71:5 The Church, the fellowship of believers in Christ, has influenced this lifelong journey I have had.<\/span><\/p>\n

Early Years<\/b><\/p>\n

I was born into a family where my mom and dad, soon after getting married, committed to working for Campus Crusade for Christ. Campus Crusade is an interdenominational Christian parachurch ministry founded in 1951.[1] They passionately pursued the work of sharing the gospel to college students for years and eventually joined the pastoral staff at Faith Center in Eugene, Oregon, under the leadership of Roy Hicks. My father held this position until I was 9 years old. Bebbington states that \u201chome background clearly remained an influential factor in the 1960\u2019s. Conversion was statistically less likely the older a person was.\u201d [2] I believe this was an influential factor in my experience in knowing Christ in the 1970\u2019s. Keith Green was a popular Christian artist (Founder of Last Days Ministries,1975) who provided a concert at our church when I was seven years old. It was at this concert that I received Christ as my Savior. After listening to the piano pound, \u201cHear the bells ringing, they\u2019re singing, that you can be born again,\u201d I stood in the aisle and prayed, asking God to cleanse me of my sin and to come live in my heart. [3] I knew that this was a gift from God, not something I could achieve. Bebbington reflects the theology I was taught, \u201cSalvation has to be received, not achieved. Jesus Christ has to be trusted as Savior. Acceptance by God, as Luther insisted, \u201ccomes through faith, not works.\u201d[4]<\/span><\/p>\n

Growing up as a pastor\u2019s daughter in the Foursquare denomination would offer different opportunities to go to church camp and different retreats. When I was thirteen, I went to a retreat where pastor Jim Hayford was speaking. I remember seeking God regarding my life and believing God gave me Psalm 126:5-6,<\/span><\/p>\n

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.<\/span><\/p>\n

This verse would set a course for my future. A critical conversation in my family was how we were to serve the Lord, talk of calling and vocation were often pursued. At another retreat I attended, many young people were being \u201ccalled to ministry\u201d and there was an opportunity to come forward to demonstrate this commitment. I remember feeling pressure to do this and I did not want to feel obligated to go to Life Bible College (the Foursquare denomination\u2019s college in San Dimas, California). As a doctorate student I am rejoicing to hear from Weber; \u201c One can combine several callings is answered in the affirmative-if this is beneficial for one\u2019s own or the general good.\u201d\u00a0 [5]\u00a0 I am seeking the Lord for what He may be calling me to in this season of my life. I long for Him to do a \u201cnew thing.\u201d Isaiah 43:19-21<\/span><\/p>\n

Young Adult Years \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/b><\/p>\n

My college choice was Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California which is rooted in the Wesleyan denomination. I thrived living apart from family and pursuing academics, which included a Bible degree and a minor in Psychology. I did not know what my major should be initially. My decision was based on my knowledge that three things last forever: God, God\u2019s people, and the Word of God. Biblicism is a \u201cmain feature of Evangelicals, their devotion to the Bible, has been the result of their belief that all spiritual truth is to be found in its pages.\u201d[6] I thought, \u201cHow can I go wrong with a Bible degree? It will be foundational to whatever I pursue.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While in college I was able to go on several mission trips, and this led me to believe that mission work may be in my future. I grew up believing that \u201chuman beings could be appointed agents of bringing the gospel to unevangelised nations.\u201d [7] Trips to the Dominican Republic and Mexico grew my heart for others. After graduating from college, I joined Youth with a Mission (founded by Loren Cunningham, 1960) and served in Costa Rica. Youth With A Mission has pentecostal roots. But long-term mission work was not going to be in my future. Returning from Costa Rica, my boyfriend of five years made a proposal for marriage. Having a short engagement of three months, my path took a quick turn to married life.<\/span><\/p>\n

In college I had met my husband; he had been raised in a Baptist home. We reconciled our differences in how we were raised in the church. Speaking in tongues did not need to be a deal breaker; evidence of being filled with the Spirit comes in different ways. Conversations were pursued about this topic of speaking in tongues, but we concluded that speaking in tongues is not always \u201cthe initial evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit,\u201d as some may conclude. [8]<\/span><\/p>\n

Older Adult years<\/b><\/p>\n

After getting married (July 4, 1994) and living in northern California, my husband and I attended a local Baptist Church. When we began going to this church I did not consider \u201cwhat kind of Baptist\u201d this fellowship was affiliated with. Over the years I grew to understand that this church was North American Baptist (NAB). Agreeing with all the core convictions of this denomination, my family has been encouraged and strengthened in our faith there. NAB has a conservative view of women and those who have the gift of teaching or preaching are not encouraged to lead in an assembly of both genders. I have been grateful for the opportunities to teach and lead in classes on marriage where both males and females attend. I am heartbroken to not receive preaching from fellow sisters who are able to take a turn at the pulpit and am disconsolate not having the opportunity to preach myself. Reading about Hannah More encouraged me as she sums up \u201cthe prevailing Evangelical attitude: \u201cAction is the life of virtue, and the world is the theater of action.\u201d [9] I do not believe women should be exempt in their action to take the pulpit and deliver God\u2019s Word.<\/span><\/p>\n

During 1994-1997, I was able to pursue my masters in Marriage Family Counseling. My husband and I became Head residents at the University of the Pacific campus in Stockton, California. This university was founded in 1851; the first private university in California with Wesleyan roots. The Evangelical background plays an insignificant role in its impact as the school has not held to any Biblical underpinnings. But these three years of my life were some of the most significant provisions that God has extended to me. Matthew 7:11 My husband and I walked out of this university not paying a dime for three years of private education. My husband got his master\u2019s in business.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Currently, I am excited to be in the doctoral program with George Fox University. This university was founded by Quakers in 1891. I have found this program true to George Fox \u2018s conviction \u201cagainst rigid sacerdotalism.\u201d[10] I am thrilled that I Peter 2:9-10 characterizes this program: \u201cBut you are the ones chosen by God.\u201d I am prayerfully seeking the Lord as to how He would want to lead me upon receiving my doctorate in leadership in May 2024. My relationship with Christ will continue and His Church will continue to be instrumental in how I will serve and love others.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[1] https:\/\/www.cru.org\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[2] Bebbington, D.W., Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A history from the 1730\u2019s to the 1980\u2019s, 1989,\u00a0 p.7<\/span><\/p>\n

[3] Keith Green, Hear the Bells Ringing, https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=38ij_W_8Bw4<\/span><\/p>\n

[4] Bebbington, D.W. p.6<\/span><\/p>\n

[5] Weber, Max, The Protestant Ethic and the \u201cSpirit\u201d of Capitalism, 2002, p.109<\/span><\/p>\n

[6] Bebbington, D.W., p.12<\/span><\/p>\n

[7] Ibid p.41<\/span><\/p>\n

[8] Ibid. p.197<\/span><\/p>\n

[9] Ibid. p.19<\/span><\/p>\n

[10] Weber, Max, The Protestant Ethic and the \u201cSpirit\u201d of Capitalism, 2002, p.41<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While reading Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A history from the 1730\u2019s to the 1980\u2019s by D.W. Bebbington, I pondered how the Evangelical church has had an impact in my life. In this blog I will chronicle my own church\/spiritual history. Bebbington\u2019s work spans 250 years of church history. My life has not been that long, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":165,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2566,1187,11],"class_list":["post-30604","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-bebbington-church-history","tag-max","tag-weber","cohort-dlgp01"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30604","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/165"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30604"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30604\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30606,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30604\/revisions\/30606"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30604"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30604"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}