Campus Evangelism +40

Where are they?

Roy Osborne was one of the most popular speakers at the seminars. He spellbound us all with his insights and teaching. Roy was minister of the Sunset Ridge Church of Christ in San Antonio for many years.

He recently wrote me the following:

"I think I was a bit player in the movement you and Jim were promoting in the 60s.

I am now 84 and retired in 1991 but still teach a class each week and write all my own material. People have requested copies and I now e-mail 225 people in 29 states each week with a copy of my current essay.

I am still going to the Church of Christ but have been able to teach the Sunset Ridge congregation that Christianity is all about the grace of God and not at all about legal rules and regulations.  You see, I am still preaching the same things I did in Dallas in 1968."

At my invitation he added the following:

"I would like to add that I feel the Campus Evangelism did more to loosen the iron grip of legalism in which the church was enslaved than any other one thing.  I believe the young people went home from Dallas with a view that Christianity was about their relationship to Christ, not their relationship to the church.  As these young people matured they became the leaders of today and that is why many of our advances in Biblical understanding and practice have been able to thrive.

I was hung on many a cross as a liberal for preaching the grace of God instead of the rigid rules of the church, but I survived and I would do it again."

To which I say, "Right on, Roy!"

Hope You'll Read the Comments!

I am thrilled to have received comments from Wes and Cary about what they are doing and their challenge to those of us who were involved in CE to get the story out. I hope you will read their posts!

It is comments like theirs that are stirring our hearts anew. Although we haven't quite gotten our arms around how to tell the story of CE, it seems posts and comments on this blog may provide the kernel of something more to come.

I am considering upgrading my subscription to TypePad so we can invite other authors to post in the main section, not just in Comments. Probably ought to go ahead and get it done! I think we may just be getting ready for some major contributions from others.

Thanks for the interest already shown!

For Wes

Tell us more about what you're doing! The challenge has to be greater today than it was 40 years ago!

May God bless your work!

For Cary

What led you to your research? What kind of information are you now seeking? Tell us more about your work.

Interesting that you ask about a reunion. On June 11, 2005 a group of us with our wives, Jim Bevis, Charles Shelton, John Allen Chalk, and L.D. McCoy met most of the day in John Allen's office in Fort Worth to discuss just such a reunion. We first discussed an abbreviated seminar similar to the form we used in the 60s, but abandoned that and talked about other formats all the way down to an afternoon/evening reunion event.

One of the biggest considerations was how to spread the word and get "significant" attendance. When it was all said and done, most around the table felt that such an event was not where we were being led. Jim Bevis and I still had a heart for pursuing a reunion, but Jim was beginning to have some health problems and didn't feel up to it. As a last resort I suggested a cyber-reunion which led to this blog.

I submitted a version of the main blog post to The Christian Chronicle and New Wineskins asking them to publish it hoping to touch some who might be readers there. I think the Chronicle has rejected the story saying that such stories are generally solicited by them and not accepted otherwise. New Wineskins has never responded.

So, we're back to this blog which I'm thankful at least two interested people including you have responded to. We've been hoping a network would begin developing which might lead to a get-together.

Any ideas?