Here's another installment on the history of Kye Valley. Part 9 started in 1949 and went through the 1950s. Part 10 takes place during the 1960s.
3 Friends
It became the early 1960s. The Bible study was still going strong.
During this time tent crusades/meetings were held by various evangelists throughout the Northwest. Ed Hart, Jack Kealy Sr, and Marty Stephens went to a couple of these meetings because of reports of miraculous physical healings. They wanted to know if healing was still for today. They witnessed for themselves people being healed during the altar calls.
The three friends went home and searched for themselves God's Word concerning miraculous healings. Their church taught that miracles had ended back in the first century with the last of Jesus' 12 apostles. But Ed, Jack Sr, and Marty could not find anything in God's Word that said such a thing would happen.
For several weeks Ed taught the Bible study a series of messages based on Hebrews 13:8. It was the verse about Jesus being the same yesterday, today, and forever.
One autumn night the Bible study experienced the miracle of a physical healing. A woman, who had been hobbling around on crutches, was suddenly able to walk after the worship and prayer time. Everyone there that night shouted, clapped their hands, and praised God for what He had done for this woman.
The church pastors heard about the healing and accused the three friends of a fake healing. But Ed, Jack Sr, and Marty all insisted that the healing was real. They personally knew the woman who had been attending the Bible study for about two years. She had been injured in a car accident several months earlier.
Ed simply told the pastors, "I feel like if I were to denounce healings I would be judging God. Who am I to tell God what He can and can't do?"
The church asked Ed, Jack Sr, Marty and their families to leave. They were no longer welcomed in that fellowship. This hurt Marty because he had grown up in that church. But the three friends agreed to forgive and pray for reconciliation.
The Bible study continued to meet. One night Marty lead in a prayer of forgiveness and reconciliation. Marty's son Jacob and Ed's son Shawn were both there. Both boys always remembered Marty's prayer. The idea of reconciliation was a seed that remained in their hearts.
The Bible study lasted into the spring with much prayer and fasting about what to do next. What was God's will in all of this? On Easter Sunday the Bible study became Morning Star Fellowship.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
"A Fictional Place" - part 9
Here's another installment to the history of Kye Valley. This little series, "A Fictional Place", has now grown to 9 parts. I think I'm going to start a new little series called "Morning Star Fellowship". Maybe I'll start the new one in about a couple of weeks. I think I have a little bit more that I want to do on this one. Enjoy. :)
3 Friends
A son was born to Marty and Jane Stephens. They named him Jacob. The following year a son was born to Ed and Marie Hart. They named him Shawn.
Jacob and Shawn played together even as babies. As they grew older they became best friends. Jacob and Shawn were never close to the sons of Jack Kealy Sr. because Jack Jr. and Fred were both several years older than them. Still all four boys were friends. But Jacob and Shawn palled around together with other friends while Jack Jr. and Fred each hung out with their own friends.
As time went on more children were born to the Hart and Stephens families. Ed Hart and Marty Stephens each had three children while Jack Kealy Sr. just had his two. Of the eight children in the second generation, Shawn Hart was the creative talented one.
Shawn started writing poems while he was still in grade school. At first he wrote about the beauty of God's creation in snow-capped mountains, cascading waterfalls, and winding rivers. As he grew older he wrote more about God's love and grace for people in the midst of seemingly hopeless situations. At the same time Shawn sang in children's choirs both at church and at school. A few times he sang solo. He was about six-years-old when he started taking piano lessons. By the time he was about 12-years-old Shawn was very accomplished on the piano.
In the midst of all of this Shawn wanted to hear his father tell him that he was doing a good job. But Ed Hart never told his son how proud he was of him.
Still, Marie always told Shawn, "That was good, Son. God has given you a gift."
3 Friends
A son was born to Marty and Jane Stephens. They named him Jacob. The following year a son was born to Ed and Marie Hart. They named him Shawn.
Jacob and Shawn played together even as babies. As they grew older they became best friends. Jacob and Shawn were never close to the sons of Jack Kealy Sr. because Jack Jr. and Fred were both several years older than them. Still all four boys were friends. But Jacob and Shawn palled around together with other friends while Jack Jr. and Fred each hung out with their own friends.
As time went on more children were born to the Hart and Stephens families. Ed Hart and Marty Stephens each had three children while Jack Kealy Sr. just had his two. Of the eight children in the second generation, Shawn Hart was the creative talented one.
Shawn started writing poems while he was still in grade school. At first he wrote about the beauty of God's creation in snow-capped mountains, cascading waterfalls, and winding rivers. As he grew older he wrote more about God's love and grace for people in the midst of seemingly hopeless situations. At the same time Shawn sang in children's choirs both at church and at school. A few times he sang solo. He was about six-years-old when he started taking piano lessons. By the time he was about 12-years-old Shawn was very accomplished on the piano.
In the midst of all of this Shawn wanted to hear his father tell him that he was doing a good job. But Ed Hart never told his son how proud he was of him.
Still, Marie always told Shawn, "That was good, Son. God has given you a gift."
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
"A Fictional Place" - Part 8
Here's another installment of the history of Morning Star Fellowship in Kye Valley, Oregon.
3 Friends
Ed Hart, Jack Kealy, and Marty Stephens all graduated from seminary. Ed and Jack decided to go with Marty to his home town of Kye Valley, Oregon. There they ministered in the church that Marty grew up in and his family had attended for over 50 years. In fact, Marty's paternal grandfather had been one of the men who had helped build the church.
It was about a year later when Ed, Jack, and Marty started a Bible study out in the community. The Bible study started in a room at a local restaurant. As it grew it moved to a banquet room at a local hotel. Ed, Jack, and Marty took turns preaching each week. Ed and Jack took turns leading praise and worship. This went on for several years as the Bible study grew to about 200 people.
During this time Marty and Jane had a son born to them. They named him Jacob.
Once again Marty asked Ed, "How come you're not dating?"
Ed simply told him, "I will when the time is right."
It wasn't long after this when Ed met a young Christian woman named Marie. She was about 6 years younger than him. She and her family attended the Bible study.
Ed and Marie dated for about a year. They saw in each other someone who was quick to pray for needs, someone who read their Bible every day, and someone who walked close to God and talked to him throughout the day. Ed had peace that Marie was the woman that God had chosen for him to marry.
One evening Ed and Marie had a candle light dinner at a fancy restaurant in another town. He opened up a small red velvet jewelry box and presented her with a diamond ring.
Ed asked, "Will you marry me?"
"Oh, yes!" Marie exclaimed. "Of course I will! Oh, isn't this just grand!"
3 Friends
Ed Hart, Jack Kealy, and Marty Stephens all graduated from seminary. Ed and Jack decided to go with Marty to his home town of Kye Valley, Oregon. There they ministered in the church that Marty grew up in and his family had attended for over 50 years. In fact, Marty's paternal grandfather had been one of the men who had helped build the church.
It was about a year later when Ed, Jack, and Marty started a Bible study out in the community. The Bible study started in a room at a local restaurant. As it grew it moved to a banquet room at a local hotel. Ed, Jack, and Marty took turns preaching each week. Ed and Jack took turns leading praise and worship. This went on for several years as the Bible study grew to about 200 people.
During this time Marty and Jane had a son born to them. They named him Jacob.
Once again Marty asked Ed, "How come you're not dating?"
Ed simply told him, "I will when the time is right."
It wasn't long after this when Ed met a young Christian woman named Marie. She was about 6 years younger than him. She and her family attended the Bible study.
Ed and Marie dated for about a year. They saw in each other someone who was quick to pray for needs, someone who read their Bible every day, and someone who walked close to God and talked to him throughout the day. Ed had peace that Marie was the woman that God had chosen for him to marry.
One evening Ed and Marie had a candle light dinner at a fancy restaurant in another town. He opened up a small red velvet jewelry box and presented her with a diamond ring.
Ed asked, "Will you marry me?"
"Oh, yes!" Marie exclaimed. "Of course I will! Oh, isn't this just grand!"
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