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The Greene Street Letters
A Ministry OF Vineyard Gadsden
Issue #111 January 30, 1999
A Time to Give Birth¦
A Time to Die..
-Ecclesiastes 3:2
I guess if I have gained wisdom and insight into any one thing that God has shown me over the past 8 years, it is that nothing is forever. By that, I speak of works that God gives birth to for his Kingdom. God raises up people and gives them vision for appointed times and seasons to bring about His purposes. The problem likes within our human nature. We tend to try to sustain our successes, even after the goals of purposes for their existence have been accomplished. So we continue in the strength of our flesh, rather than in the "ONE" who brought us to the place of victory. God may have only wanted to use us for a specified period of time, but for whatever reason, fleshly nature replaced the desire to serve God. What once had God's approval and direction is now being run by the dictates of a heart that is not in line with the Father's.
Surely God would not stop a work that is benefiting the Kingdom? Yes, I believe he would! I have to realize that the words in Isaiah 55 are not just in the Bible to take up space, but that they are truth; For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. We read in John 3:30 where John the Baptist came face to face with this issue of his ministry ending. John speaking says, He must increase, but I must decrease.: he knew that his calling extended only for a finite period of time and that the real probability existed that it would end at the appearance of the lamb of God, Jesus. God raises up and puts down that which will accomplish His will. This sounds like a hard thing, but we must remember that in the process of this raising up and putting down, those who are obedient will receive blessings and grace from God for being a part of His plans and who remained open to His desires.
On December 19, 1998, as president of the Administrative Board, I presided over a vote that ended a 25-year ministry that served this town. Many of you may have heard of Christian Brothers Association, and if you live in the Gadsden area, then that name is sure to conjure many images.
Christian Brothers was founded by a group of young people who were attending Gadsden State Junior College during the early 70's. Each person in the group had had a powerful encounter with God and, as a result, found an increasingly compelling need to be together, to share what God was doing in their lives and in the lives of their friends. Even to this day if you ask Brook Finlayson, he will tell you that at that time, the people he was playing with thought they had created Contemporary Christian Music. So it was an awakening when they discovered others around the country also experimenting with a new type music to reflect God's goodness.
As time passed, God began to increase the vision that He had given to the original members of Christian Brothers. A meeting place was established for Saturday night gatherings called Free house. This was to be the precursor of the coffeehouse ministry that came later. The Saturday meeting soon became a hub for creative people to share what God had given them. A sound company was created with a state of the art festival system. This became a powerful tool for the kingdom as Christian Brothers provided sound and support personnel for countless bands, churches, and meetings. Such bands as Sweet Comfort, Leon Patillo, Michael Card, and the Terry Talbot Band have all used the sound system.
It is also hard to say the words Christian Brothers and not have memories of the Falls Festival drift through your mind. A two-day event, the Falls Festival was a celebration of Christian creative community. Wonderful relations were formed over the years of this festival as we got to know such people as Paul Clark, whose album "Hand to the Plow" is still as fresh and alive as the day it was released back in the 70's. Who could ever forget Dogwood with the original Stephen Chapman, Ron Elder and Steve's wife Annie. Pat Terry playing songs from his new album "Humanity Gangsters". Or the soaring harmonies of Joel, a most unusual band consisting of piano, electric guitar and three vocalist. But hey! It worked.
The Festival always started at sundown on Friday and ran that night, all day Saturday and ended that night. Drama was a vital part as the New Covenant Players came to show us the truth and reality of God and His purpose for us through plays, skit and mime presentations. The festival itself had a feel of a family reunion as people from neighboring states came to attend. Blankets covering the ground at the falls with people lying here and there as if to create a mosaic of God's love. An image I can still see in my mind to this day.
Always listening for God's direction, Christian Brothers moved from the days of the Festival to a coffee house ministry. Out of this came "Skylight". A wonderful gathering place where wee would meet on Saturday evenings. The coffeehouse almost became like a mother who was giving birth to children, as person after person came through, playing their songs, while at the same time honing their skills. People like Don and Faith Peters, Joel, Asaph, Don and Jennie Rakestraw, Barry Goss, Psalm, Brook Finlayson, Nori Kelly, Debbie Handy, Craig Dobbins, and yes, even yours truly: Michael Bynum (Just for the record, the first song I sang at the coffee house was the theme to the Flintstones-don't ask me why). Others such as Richard Rutledge, Love Notes Band, Crossfire, and Son & Brothers Band. David Finlayson came through providing not only really great songs, but also countless hours of laughter. It was an incredible time and an incredible place.
Believe it or not, there was even a Christian Brothers Choir. Directed by David Asbury and Bill Scroggins, we made the rounds to churches in the area taking our contemporary sound into their sanctuaries. Even to this day, I can't hear "Marching to Zion" and not think of that bunch.
Over all the years that have passed, Christian Brothers has had one purpose. To fill the gap in any way, shape, form or fashion to help the Body of Christ become what God intended it to be. Part of the "gap filling" was a record and bookstore. During the 70's and 80's it was impossible to get any contemporary Christian Music locally, as we relied on people who had been traveling to bring back bootleg copies of concerts and albums. Christian Brothers Bookstore was born to meet the need for this new music. Music by Larry Norman, Mark Heard (who could ever forget Victims of the Age). Honeytree, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Randy Matthews and Don Francisco were all made available to this town.
For 25 years, Christian Brothers changed its focus, as God directed, meeting the needs of the community. During this past Summer, it became evident that God was speaking to the members of the board. One by one we began to talk among ourselves and discovered that unanimously, we felt it was time to put the ministry to bed. To be sure, we began to seek God in earnest, and ask if this was the right thing. It was! But God, in His wisdom, had brought new ideas into the mix. After consulting with a lawyer, we found that we could pass our non-profit status to another group for them to use (just for the record-it is a time consuming effort to apply for non-profit recognition by the government). The new group, Living Stones International, was still in the planning stages but was looking at having to acquire the status of a non-profit organization. After reviewing their vision for what God had given them, we felt that it would be an honor to pass on to them Christian Brother's non-profit status. What had happened was that in being obedient to God's will of ending the ministry of Christian Brothers, he was resurrecting it, with an even greater vision than any of us could ever have imagined, in the form of Living Stones International. What had been a ministry to Gadsden, Attalla, Rainbow City and Etowah County, was now going to launch and encircle the globe. A time to give birth and a time to die, but in dying, raised up for an even bigger mission. Glory to God!
There have been hundreds of people who have given their time, talent, and money over the years to Christian Brothers Association, but tow names come to mind. Emory Boggs and Jim Thompson. Emory was a part of the original group who started Free house. Fueled by a love from God, Emory had a heart for people, ministry, and God. Emory died in a tragic accident during a robbery that went wrong. Somehow I think he is proud of the work and lives that were changed through Christian Brothers.
Jim Thompson-what can I say about him except "Servant". Handy with his tools and terrible at telling jokes, Jim was the behind-the-scenes guy who spent countless hours at a building repairing, wiring, and planning new projects. Jim was the quiet presence who let his ministry flow from his hands as he gave from the talent God had given to him. If it needed fixing, then Jim was the man to see. Somehow time and life has a way of robbing us of the importance of things that people have done. I never want to forget Emory Boggs and Jim Thompson.
Here is a listing of others that have sweated and bled for CBA (I know that I have missed someone, forgive me if it is you).
Robbie & Irene Elrod, Brook & Jennifer Finlayson, David & Gina Finlayson, Cindy Finlayson, Misty Gamble, Tony Entrekin (Book those bands), Richard Moon, Don & Jennie Rakestraw, David & Sharon Asbury, Phil Byram, David & LuAnn Burton, Lisa Hill, Lori Howell, Angelo Gonfiantini, Bill Cleabur, David Creel, Chris and Janna Mc Donald, Johnny Burttram, Bill & Karen Scroggins, Ken & Debra Bonner, Connie Burttram Hammock, Kenny Young, and many others.
Special Recognition to Mr. Francis Asbury, a true friend to Christian Brothers, whose help made it possible to do all that we have done. Also Central United Methodist and Rev. George Creel who believed in us when no one else did. Thank you for all the support over the years.
It would have been quite easy to have hung on to the memories and let that be the purpose for keeping CBA up and running. But it would not have been God and He is the one who birthed it, so under His direction we have laid it down. Thank you Lord for 25 wonderful years.
-Michael Bynum
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