Welcome To Bethany Community Church -- Lynwood, Illinois

WELCOME to Bethany Community Church

THE DECADE OF 1960-1979

The sixties started with a promise of tranquillity and peace, this hope was soon to be dispelled as this decade became a period of social unrest such as the United States had never before seen.

THE EVENTS:

President Dwight Eisenhower, bound by the SEATO treaty, had sent armament and logistic support to South Viet Nam along with military people as instructors for its use.
President John F. Kennedy, under many kinds of pressure, committed U.S. troops to actual combat in 1964, something that Eisenhower had forbidden and something that the treaty did not require.
President Lyndon B. Johnson escalated the war, eventually committing 500,000 Americans to action. As a result 56,000 of our troops died and 5,000 were listed as Missing In Action and never accounted for. Fourteen of Bethany's sons were in action. One, Artie Turkstra, was not to return alive.
President Richard M. Nixon, elected in 1968, took office in 1969 and true to his campaign promise, ended the shooting in 1971. The actual Armistice was not signed until January 27, 1973. Nine years of war. Nothing gained. What a waste.

AT HOME

Resentment over the draft and dissatisfaction with the war itself caused many outbreaks of anti-social activities. Demonstrations, sit-ins, burnings of the Flag, The Kent State riot, and street marches were common. America's youth was sick of war and their discontent, particularly on college campuses, made their minds fertile soil for Communist cadres who had infiltrated almost every college in the country. Jane Fonda, whose well articulated speeches stirred up many a demonstration, has been strangely silent concerning the victims of the North Vietnam incursions into Cambodia and Laos.

THE CHURCH

Oddly enough, during these troublous times, God's churches reversed the usual procedure. Instead of increasing in size and scope, they decreased. Attendance continued to fall at an alarming rate. This was particularly true of churches in urban areas where demographic shifts were occurring at an ever increasing rate. To put it plainly, as the minority groups moved in, the white people began to move out, and began to transfer to suburban churches. This, of course, worked to the detriment of Bethany which was in an area much affected.

Stop and think of how God arranged these moves. The pressures caused us to leave our nice homes and communities BUT we moved into even better homes and communities, while the black people moved, out of the ghetto, into much better homes and surroundings. Every one moved up.

Bethany continued to function but the attendance diminished and, at congregational meetings the number of people on the membership rolls often came into question. Nevertheless, by our continued support and prayer the Seaman's Mission Chapel was built and occupied during this period. This home away from home saw sailors from every country in the world seek this house of God for the experience and exposition of God's Grace.

The loss of people and the concomitant loss of revenue was a prime cause of concern to the pastor and the consistories of the last year of the decade. Could Bethany remain, after eighty years of existence, as a viable church in the R.C.A? Many hours of agonizing prayer were spent in pleading with God for direction. Decisions had to be made. Truly these were "moments of discontent" . What was to be done? We knew God would work it out but the question was, how?

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