Of Primary Importance

Mission Work

Mission work – whether domestic or foreign – has always been of primary importance to Heritage Christian University. Our original name, International Bible College, emphasized the universal nature of the gospel of Christ. We know that Jesus really meant His command to take the truth to every person on this planet (Matt 28:18-20). We also understand that without an obedient faith responding to the gospel men stand lost before the Creator. Thus, we do everything within our power to snatch men and women from the coming fire (cf. Jude 23).

This week some from the HCU family have left comfort and home to preach Jesus’ message.

Joey Barrier and family, accompanied by Travis and Stacey Harmon, will travel to Peru to work with HCU alumnus Ramon Gonzales.

Dr. Jeremy Barrier and his father, HCU Board Member Wayne Barrier, are in Asia. They sent this report Monday morning: “Everything is fine here in the Philippines. We are in Cebu, Philippines, and we are teaching in the Philippine Institute of Biblical Studies. We also preached several times yesterday for several congregations. One of the congregations meets in a restaurant. The owner of the restaurant, Helen, is a widow, and she has all of her workers attend the worship, while they take a ‘break’ from working on Sunday. She's quite evangelistic and has converted quite a few of them.

HCU student Bubby Rushing is in Lithuania. He sent the following report: "I am in Vilnius, Lithuania preparing for a camp starting later today in Moletai, Lithuania. The camp is for ages 8-13 and includes boys and girls. The camp is a week long and is set up like most youth camps in America. During the week I will be serving as a counselor, a Bible teacher, and on Wednesday, I will be the keynote speaker for the nightly worship. I started being a part of this work in 2008 and was also able to be here in 2009, but due to financial difficulty in 2010 the camp session was closed for the year. Other people on this trip include Danny Dodd, Bud Meyer, Stacy and Hillary Humphries, Judy Peacock, Judy Julian, Stephanie Williams (all of Pensacola Florida), and Scott Jordan (from Memphis Tennessee). Also, while we are here, we are spending time with local church members and ministers encouraging and in fellowship with them. So far it's been a very rewarding and great trip so far."

We ask that you remember these efforts before the Father’s throne.

On 1 Corinthians 16:1

Why Does Paul Mention "the Churches of Galatia"?

Written by Dr. Jeremy Barrier

In regard to Paul's mention of the Galatian churches in 1 Corinthians 16:1, the significance is unknown! Paul wrote a letter to the churches of Galatia, but this does not really bring us any closer. First, "Galatia" is not a city but is a work that represents an ethnic group of Celtic people who migrated from southern Germany in the third century BC down into Macedonia, Thrace, and then over into Turkey, and finally residing in central Anatolia (Turkey). These people were called Celts or Gauls or Galatians. After Rome established themselves in Turkey during this time period, by the time that Paul wrote this letter (circa 48 AD), Galatia was also a word that referred to a Roman Province in southern Galatia, as northern Galatia, home to the Celts, was still largely unmanageable by Rome with a quasi-independent state. It was just slightly more independent than Palestine at this time.

So, when Paul uses the term "Galatians" it is uncertain who he means. Could he have meant his letter to the Galatians? Maybe. However, Paul does not seem to address giving of money very much in the Galatian letter that we have (Galatians 2:10). What he does say here is not in regard to how money should be gathered. We know that Paul wrote multiple letters (See 1 Cor 5:9; Colossians 4:15-16), and even letters now lost, thus we can conclude that there must be another letter that was written to the Galatians that has now been lost. In addition, it is uncertain of whether or not the Galatians were good givers or not. Did he single them out to commend them or reprove them?

What is certain is Paul is making mention of them here, because he is trying to emphasize that he was encouraging a practice of setting aside money, in advance, everywhere he went. The reality of the ancient banking systems is that if Paul were to gather money for the poor in Jerusalem (Galatians 2:10), then he would not be able to use a debit card, ATM, credit card, check, or paper money. He would have been carrying coins of various metals. This would be heavy and dangerous, and it is something that Paul thought should be done in advance, with preparation. This is especially important for churches around the world were people are more like "day laborers" than what we experience in most of the USA. A day laborer, lives from one day to the next, and if anything is going to be given to God, it needs to be cut out of the daily amount every day or every week, and slowly, very slowly, an amount can be set aside to be used in the service of God!

Heritage Happenings

Cory Collins begins a meeting with the Cloverdale Church of Christ here in Florence this Sunday (April 17). Sunday services: Bible study (9 am), Worship (10 am & 5 pm). The meeting runs through Wednesday; services are at 7:00 pm Monday through Wednesday.

Dr. Jeremy Barrier has been doing mission work in India this past week. He has just arrived in Ho Chi Minh City where he will conduct a leadership training session.

Dr. Justin Imel will be speaking at the Pleasant Valley Church of Christ Sunday evening (April 17); services begin at 6:00.