Heritage Baptist Bible Fellowship – Fall Meeting
Pastors and Christian workers gathered at Bible Baptist Church in Goshen (Cincinnati), OH on October 11-13 for the fall meeting of the Heritage Baptist Bible Fellowship. Over 40 preachers attended, and we were introduced to some wonderful pastors while seeing many old friends. The various speakers each brought forth an excellent message from the Word of God.
We want to thank our host, Pastor Sam Gabbard, his wife, and his church family for hosting this fine meeting.
The Winter HBBF meeting will be in Webster, Florida on January 3-5 at Faith Baptist Church where Brother Emory King is the pastor.
Out from Among the Dead
Harry J. Leslie, a star fullback, lay in the morgue alongside sixteen other young men, most of them fellow players on his football team. Leslie’s jaw was broken, his legs fractured, he had a concussion, there were internal injuries, and his head, face, and body were all bruised and cut. At the scene, he had been pronounced dead, and his body had been carted off with the deceased.
Only a few hours before, they had been riding a chartered train with 900 fans and players from W. Lafayette, IN. Leslie was a gifted leader on the Purdue team, and he and his players rode in the first car behind the locomotive. On that day, October 31, 1903, his team was headed to meet their rival, Indiana University, at Washington Park.
As the train rounded a curve (near present day Methodist Hospital), it ran full force into a coal train that had just backed onto the main line. The locomotive burrowed under the coal cars, while the wooden passenger car, full of football players and coaches, was reduced to splinters. Bodies were flung all over the rubble.
In total, 17 young men died, while over 40 were injured.
Later in the morgue, as the morticians tagged and prepared the bodies, someone saw a slight movement from the bloody body of Harry Leslie. Quickly feeling his arm, the staffer detected a faint pulse, and they rushed him over to Deaconess Hospital.
The Purdue tragedy gripped Indianapolis, but little hope was offered for the star fullback. On page 2 of the October 31, 1903 Indianapolis News, 7th Extra, several pictures of the football victims along with Leslie’s were printed. The paper stated that because of his injuries “he cannot recover.”
Yet Henry Leslie did. It took many weeks in the hospital and several surgeries, but Henry Leslie finally returned to college a year later. In time, he graduated and soon he entered into politics. On January 14, 1929, Henry Leslie was sworn in as the 33rd Governor of Indiana. Ephesians 2:1 reminds us that Christ has raised us up: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Think of the blessing that the individual received that rescued Harry Leslie. That deed bore countless fruit in the future. Spiritually, we have that special opportunity to share with individuals who: dead to sins, should live unto righteousness. I Peter 2:24.
God Directed
Born in Ohio, Ulysses S. Grant lived a life of high adventure. From his service in the Mexican-American War to leading the Union Army to victory, Grant witnessed up close, death and destruction. Only a few years later, he held the most powerful position in the country as President of the United States from 1869-1877. After the White House, Grant and his wife, Julia, began a world tour that lasted over two years. Grant would be the first United States President to visit the city of Jerusalem.
On his return to America, the Grant family settled in New York. To secure an income, Grant invested all this money in a brokerage house that went bankrupt by 1884. In October of that same year, Grant was diagnosed with throat cancer.
Realizing his failing health, and the prospects of leaving his wife in debt, Ulysses S. Grant determined to write his memoirs. Mark Twain, a friend, encouraged the former President, and offered him a generous contract for the privilege of publishing the work.
Grant began the task immediately, and as he slowly grew weaker, others began to assist him. In July of 1885, Ulysses S. Grant finished his massive 1200+ page memoir. A few days later on July 23, 1885 he passed away.
Before the year was out, The Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant was published. The book was a success, and Julia Grant received over $450,000 ($12 million today).
When one reads this lengthy and interesting autobiography, one is struck by how Grant recorded the Divine protection.
Ulysses S. Grant acknowledged God’s role when in the opening line of the book he states: “’Man proposes and God disposes.’ There are but few important events in the affairs of men brought about by their own choice.”
Grant wrote those words in his preface dated July 1, 1885, only 3 weeks before his death. A lifetime of experience had shown Ulysses S. Grant the Truth.
Today, we live in very troubling times. How comforting it is to know that we have a God who has everything under control.
Upcoming Autumn Banquet
Every year for the past 35 years, we have hosted a Fall Banquet. These banquets have come to be known for their delicious food, great messages, and good music. Over the past decade, Heritage Baptist College has used this banquet to raise funds for the increased winter costs.
Back in April, I wrote an Update article about the “unknowns” that lurk within the present pandemic. Now six months later, we have seen what can happen when the Virus has a breakout. There are still many unknowns.
For this November banquet, we had planned for Dr. Tom Wallace to be our scheduled speaker. Recently, a number of our friends, including the speaker’s wife, have contracted the virus. We would feel very sad if any of our Heritage family became seriously sick because of attending the indoor Fall Banquet. After much prayer, we have been led to change the format for the Fall event.
The winter college need is still present, but for this year, instead of gathering together to hear music and a speaker, I plan to mail you a CD of the best banquet message I have ever heard. Along with the message, there will also be music.
We hope to begin mailing the CD’s by November 1st. Watch for it and be blessed.