Did you enjoy it?

Last Sunday we went to Grace Church of the Nazarene to hear Helen Evans speak.

We’ve known Helen since she came to Charlotte to minister to the Montangards, more than 20 years ago. She is 91 years old, served in Viet Nam and Indonesia for 37 yrs and in Charlotte since 1986. She actually “retired” in 1989 but continued to minister and is still busier than your average pastor!

After the service Mary asked me, “Did you enjoy that?” Yes, I did!

First, I’ve never been to a Nazarene Church. That was an interesting experience in itself. I felt bad for the brethren there – they got no background information on Helen before she spoke. The bio above was printed in the bulletin, but they were not told that she had served with the Christian & Missionary Alliance or the history of the C&MA in Vietnam. The pastor did explain that he liked history and was fascinated with the history of the US involvement in Vietnam, but that really was not related to Helen.

Second, Helen is an inspiration herself. She chose celibacy in order to more effectively serve the Lord. But I would have you without carefulness . . . The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. And she did just this.

Third, her message. Helen explained that serving the Lord in Vietnam runs in the family – her uncle went to Dalat in the 1920s and ministered to the tribal people. All Helen did was tell the story of her uncle’s ministry and then her ministry, but in doing so she spoke of:  faith, obedience, sacrifice, prayer, persistence, power encounters, the power of the blood of Jesus, suffering for Jesus and enduring in the Faith. Yeah! This is the old-time Alliance message! This is old-time Gospel!

Fourth, the Vietnam conflict. I come from the generation, or that part of the generation, whose motto was “Hell no, we won’t go.” We only saw the bad of this conflict (see song below). But Helen said something that was very intriguing. After the US pulled out of Vietnam and the communists took over, life was very difficult for the tribal church. She said the US presence allowed them to reach the tribal people and establish a strong church, strong enough to endure the persecution that followed the communist take-over. Interesting.

So, yes, I thoroughly enjoyed Helen’s message as well as seeing her again. And following the service we joined them for lunch.

Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: 

for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood 

out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation

the Vietnam Song by Country Joe and the Fish, made famous at Woodstock

Well come on all of you big strong men, 

Uncle Sam needs your help again,

he got himself in a terrible jam, 

way down yonder in Vietnam,

put down your books and pick up a gun, 

we're gonna have a whole lotta fun.

and its 1,2,3 what are we fightin’ for?

don't ask me I don't give a dam, 

the next stop is Vietnam,

and its 5,6,7 open up the pearly gates. 

Well there ain’t no time to wonder why...

WHOOPEE we're all gonna die.