The Ohio Independent Baptist, October 1990

_9~ober, 1990 THE OHIO INDEPENDENT BAPTIST 3 ARICH HERITAGE... THE OHIO INDEPENDENT BAPTIST .by Mrs. Merle Brock Perhaps many of you are not aware of the history of the Ohio lndependenl Baptist paper, now beginrung its 64th year of publication, the oldest continuous Baptist paper in the United States. The 0.I.B. had four name changes in the first three years. The first issue, called TheHomer, was published inJanuary 1927 by PastorChester E. Tulga to "counteract the compromise and pussy-footing leadership of the Northern Baptist Convention which is responsible for the ex-· istence of the Baptist Bible Union." (A group of churches withdrawn fr(?m the Convention.) To quote Pastor Tulga;. "The poiicy of The Hornet is to have absolutely no fratemai relationship with those who deny·the faith. Themissionofthe-hornet in the ancient battle (conquest ofCanaan) was to make the enemy willing to vacate the land...to make conditions intolerable for the Ca– naanites...So the mission of The Hornet is to make conditions intolerable-in the Baptist . fold for those who are undermining the Baptist faith. We decided to call it The Hor– net...We intend to disturb every peace th-at. is purchased by compromise.'' In July of 1927 the name of the paper was changed to The Bible Unum Baptist and con– tained the first advertising of the monthly publication. The Union of Regular Baptist Churches (now known as Ohio Association of Regular Bap– tist Churches) was formed onOctober 31, 1928. PastorTulga resigned his church and as editor to take an om-of-state pastorate and turned the paper over to the newly formed association. The Bible Union Bapzist became the official organ of the new group and was renamed The Ohio Regular Baptist, with a new editor, Clinton E. Garvin, pastor at Lagrange. Whereas The Homet containedmostly messages and articles about the concerns of the day for those coming out ofthe Northern Baptist Convention, The Ohio Regular Baplist began in– cluding articles concerning the churches in Ohio. The last name change, Ohio Independent Baptist, came in 1929, the same year that the asso– ciation name was changed to Ohio Association ofIndependent Churches. It has remained that to this day in spite of the fact that the Association became the Ohio Association of Regular Baptist Churches. Clinton Garvin H.O. VanGilder PastorGarvin continued as editorunti!January of 1931 whenDr. H.0. VanGildertook over the helm with the assurance that: "with your (churches) help, it (the paper) may become from month to month more and more effective as an instrument for 'building up yourselves on your most holy faith' for developing the spiritual life, and for keeping ourpeople informed about the movement of God in our churches." Editor VanGilder served until 1932 and later served as assistant from 1938 to 1944, when he was named Field Representative of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches. H.K. Finley R~lph T. Nordlund H.K. Findley ably filled the position as editor from 1932 until 1957, when he was fatally in– jured in an automobile accidentonFebruary 9, 1957. Hehad given a labor oflove ofmore than 25 years to the people of our Ohio churches through the O.I.B. Ralph T. Nordlund, pastor at Fostoria, took over as editor protem after Mr. Finley's death, and was soon named permanent editor, serving until 1961. He commentedwhen he stepped in that: "We believe the first purpose of the O.I.B. is to serve as a mediumof fellowship between the churches of the Association and news will prove more effective for that purpose than sermons. The pastor of the smallest church should see to it that his church is represented in the news columns...and the busiest pastor should find time to send in...reports...from the larger churches. 'None of us liveth to himself.' Others do care what happens in our church and will rejoice or pray for us, as the need may dictate." Sound fami liar? Pastor Nordlund served until 1961 when he asked to be relieved of the paper that he might go into Bible Conference/Evangelistic ministi-y. M.-. James Johnson, a graduate ofCedarville College and secretary to the managing editor of the Springfield Daily News, became the "chief' of the O.I.B. Donald and Lois Moffat began helping wilh the paper in 1962 and when l\1r. Johnson resigned in 1965 because of conflicting work loads, Don took over the paper as editor and served well until he retired. He also "filled in" as temporary State Representative James R. Johnson Donald Motfat_ but physical problems with his leg were somewhat of a hindrance to himanci he officially "re– tired" in 1981. Ohio "lost" him and Lois to Florida. William Brock Mrs. Merle Brock Dr. William Brock had been helping with the paste-up of the O.I.B. for many years under Don Moffat and when he was called as State Representative by the Council of 12,1.t was an easy step for him to become editor also, beginrung in January of 1982 He served inthis capac– ity, with the help ofhis wife, Merle, until theLord took himhome suddenly inAugust of 1988. I (Merle) was asked if! would carry on for a while and I gladly assumed the "job,"pasting up the September issue (which my husband had begun) the very week ofhis death. My son, Mr. Kevin Brock, h~s ably assisted with paste-up for each issue since and now, this October issue will be our last. ) The Association possesses a bound-books library of all issues of the O.I.B. from its incep– tion - a service done by the Cedarville College Library. It was interesting to note that as I per– used the 18 volwnes, with the many changes ofeditors through theyears, tllere was no visible change in the O.I.B. except in gradual additions or changes of contributing personnel. It was as though each of the editors held the position as a "caretaker" of this heritage thatbelonged to the churches of Ohio. By 1938, the magazine format had grown to about 24 pages and remained so until 1973 when, after a year's study and research done by Dr. Moffat and Dr. Brock and the Council of 12, it was felt that perhaps a change in format would be beneficial in that it could be produced more economically as a newspaper and thus couldbe sent to all ofthe Association churches in bundles, enough for each family. Before this time, the magazine was by subscription only, with about 4,000plus copies printed of each issue. A sample issue ofthe proposednewspaper format was distributed to the messengers at the 1973 0 .A.R..B.C. Conference and the change was unanimously approved. Presently over 10,000 copies are printed of each issue and are sent to our churches inbundle lots. It is knowi+, however, that every family must not be receiv– ing a copy for, if they were, at least 15,000copies should beprinted. An official organ ofanor– ganization is only fully effective if it is put in the hands of all .of those who make _up that organization. So many folks have contributed materials through the years. It would be impossible to name them a11; but here are some familiar ones: Bill and Lorene Fusco onmissions and, in re– cent years, Dr. BenKendrick's "On TargetWithMissions;"Dr. George Lawlor, "Glimpses of Troth from The Book;"Dr. B.C. Jennings, poetry and "The Bible In Verse;" Youth columns by Paul Gonder and DaleHarhager in 1959, "Teen-Age Topics," which became "Teen-Time" byDave Gower in 1961. In the past year Dennis George has provided an informative "Totally Teens." A children's page was introduced in 1938 called "AuntMarguerite and HerJuniors.'' In recent years children have enjoyed "Button Family" stories by Mrs. Patty Conant. There have beenSpiritual Drawings byJ. Emerson Russell, "RuthHegeTravelog," stories ofhymns by Clint Bonner and Doug Snow, "Your Business World" by Ken St. Clair, countless special messages by some of our great pastors through these many years, and the mutual sharing of news and activities of our churches in "Church Happenings" and articles. What a fascinating journey through O.I.B. ~d OARBC history as one can follow the birth and growth ofmany ofour churches; the acquiring ofCamp Patmos in 1951; thepurchase and growth of Cedarville College since 1953; the additions of Scioto Hills and Skyview Ranch camps for our youth. And did you know that once the Association owned Hilltop House in Barberton, a home for the aged? I even came across an article and picture ofthe ordination on October 27, 1958 of Dr. Paul Tassell, the National Representative of the G.A.R.B.C. There have beenmany features added through the years as the interests and needs of chur– ches and people changed. The Women's page bega.11 as a "KozyKitchen Komer," recipes by Mrs. Wilbur Rooke for 1953-54. Mrs. Theona Smelser began "From the Women's Viewpoint" in 1954 and faithfully ministered -to the ladies of Ohio until 1960 when Mrs. fuez Milner took over with "Heart to Hea.-r Among the Women." She filled the position of Wo– men's Editor until 1972. Mrs. Earl (Sergie) Umbaugh, who had been the Christian Education editor, assumed the job until 1978 when her husband, Earl, retired as State Missionary· and they moved to Florida. Mrs. Marcia Elmore then to9k the "reigns" in December of 1978 and so lovingly served the ladies of Ohio with "The Women's View" untii 1986. Mrs. Susan Hayes graciously stepped in until 1989, when Mrs. SueMiller willingly helped with the wo– men's page and bas challenged the ladies with her Open Letters to this time. It was a delightful journey - one I would wish that each ofyou could experience; renewing "old acquaintance" ofmany who have gone to be with the Lord and of the many pastors who were (and some still are) part ofthe Fellowship; to rejoice with the many ne;v-born congrega– tions added.overthe years; to "agonize" with those who took a sta.,d in coming out of theCon– vention and whopaid a price for what weenjoy today. A Rich Heritage, indeed- TheOhio As– sociation of Regular Baptist Churches and our .Ohio lndependeni Baptist!