Fifty years ago, on February 5, 1971, Apollo XIV landed on the moon. On that day, a goal was realized by the Apollo Prayer League (a group of NASA engineers, scientists, administrators, and astronauts), headed by Rev. John Stout.
John Stout was born in Handley, Texas in 1922, and he grew up attending the Baptist church. Though later after seminary, Stout became a Presbyterian missionary, his Baptist roots stayed with him. In the mid-1960’s, he was employed by NASA, and volunteered as a chaplain to the agency.
One of Stout’s friends was Apollo Astronaut Ed White who had planned to take a Bible to the moon. When Ed White died in a flashfire on January 27, 1967 aboard Apollo I, Stout vowed to finish his friend’s dream. The Apollo Prayer League was soon formed.
Microfilm technology had been introduced at the New York World’s Fair, and the first book printed was a 1245 page King James Bible. The whole Bible had been reduced to a thin 2” x 2” slide weighing only a fraction of a gram, and it could easily be viewed through a student microscope. With weight a major consideration in the voyage to the moon, this miniature “World’s Smallest” Bible was chosen.
Many NASA personnel and astronauts were part of the process, and after two failed attempts - Apollo XII (left on the command module by mistake) and Apollo XIII (an onboard explosion) - the Apollo XIV Lunar Lander “Antares” set down on the moon. Astronaut Ed Mitchell carried a small packet of these Bibles in his personal gear.
Over four years before, Astronaut Ed White had told reporters: “The best all-around volume of literature you could take would be the Bible. I plan to take one.” His friends had realized White’s dream.
The Bible still commands First Place of all written literature because it is not just a book - it is the Word of God.
Prayer and Preaching
On Wednesday, February 24, 2021 we will begin the first of three consecutive, monthly fellowship lunches called Prayer & Preaching.
We plan to gather in the chapel at 11:00 a.m. for a brief session of prayer, one Bible message, and then a special meal.
The preachers for this semester have been scheduled, and our 1st messenger will be Pastor Tommy Hensley. Brother Hensley is the pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Greenfield, IN.
We invite you to come share your prayer requests, be challenged with a Bible message, enjoy some food, and spend a few minutes with the brethren. What a wonderful way to be recharged.
Richard Patrick Home in Heaven
In I Corinthians 4:2, the Bible admonishes us: Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. Such could readily be said of Pastor Richard Patrick, who went home to be with the Lord on January 23, 2021. He was 89 years old. Pastor Patrick also showed his faithfulness to his family, married to his wife, Ruby, for 64 years until her home going in 2017.
Several years ago, Brother Patrick told me the story of how he founded Bible Baptist Temple. As a young man, his father disapproved of his call to the ministry. Brother Patrick had to work his way through school, graduating from Baptist Bible Seminary of Fort Worth, TX in 1954. After college, he worked with Pastor Don Lougheed at the Flint Baptist Temple in Michigan, and later he was led to plant a church in Youngstown, Ohio.
Pastor Patrick started a ministry on the north side of Youngstown in 1955. The church began to grow, but the treasurer signed his name on the lease, and asked Brother Patrick to leave.
Pastor Patrick packed up the piano and chairs, and went to the west side of Youngstown, and founded the Youngstown Baptist Church. The church met in the Hungarian Hall, and soon they reached 75 in attendance. They had a need to build, but not enough money. Traveling over to Akron, Ohio, he received pledges from the mega Akron Baptist Temple to secure a loan and hold the property. Six months later, with money in hand, Pastor Patrick returned to pay for one acre of land. When requested, that pastor refused to honor the agreement and looking at him said these words: “I wish I never saw you.”
The discouragement on young Pastor Patrick was enormous. He drove back to Youngstown with tears in his eyes, wondering why the famous Baptist pastor had treated him so rudely. There and then he decided to quit the ministry.
Ruby Patrick called Pastor Don Lougheed, and he drove down from Michigan. When Brother Patrick saw his former pastor at the door, he stated bluntly: “I know why you are here, but I am done preaching.”
Lovingly, Pastor Lougheed, asked Brother Patrick to drive him around the eastside of Youngstown. As the young preacher saw the need, his heart revived, and he pledged to start a church for the 3rd time in Youngstown, Ohio.
On February 17, 1957, the Bible Baptist Temple of Campbell, Ohio held its first service. The Lord blessed that ministry, and for 50 years Pastor Richard Patrick shepherded that flock. In the 50th anniversary history, it is recorded that over 10,000 individuals had made professions of faith in Christ. Two of those who were saved, were a young couple from Struthers with a five-year-old daughter. They turned out to be my future father and mother-in-law.
I owe much to this man who would not give up, and also to a wise old pastor that encouraged a distraught young preacher to try it one more time.
I Owe Richard Patrick a Little More
In the summer of 1984, Richard Patrick was planning to be away on vacation. One Wednesday night, Pastor Patrick asked the congregation whom they might like to have come and preach.
A teenager was sitting in the pew in front of Mrs. Patrick. She turned around and told her: “Let’s have Russell Dennis.”
On July 29, 1984 the Heritage Harmonica Boys played the first time in a Sunday morning service at Bible Baptist Temple in Campbell, Ohio. I was reacquainted with that girl, Rhonda Gentile, having met her once, 6 months before. Two years later we were married.
I sure owe Pastor Richard Patrick, and his gracious wife, so much for their faithfulness.