Restoration Movement History

Sam E. Stone: Upon His Hiring as Editor . . . and Retirement

We are devoting our “Throwback Thursday” features during February to our long-serving editor Sam E. Stone, who died Jan. 25 at age 84. Sam served as Christian Standard’s editor for 25 years—longer than anyone else—before retiring in 2003. (We are posting the first feature this month a couple of days late due to some necessary updates to our website.) This first installment will focus on what two prior editors wrote about Sam upon his hiring for the position and conclude with what Sam himself wrote upon his retirement. _ _ _ Sam E. Stone, Editor, 1978 By Edwin V. HaydenEditorialMay

February 1, 2021

Fate Hagood

What’s Wrong with Our Movement?
Why Can’t We Unify?
Why Can’t We Reconcile?

(Read “When Brothers Dwell in Unity,” a companion article by Fate Hagood’s brother, Rudy Hagood.) Our movement, like many other movements, has been fractured, fragmented, and frustrated. I grew up in the Church of Christ vein of the Restoration Movement during a time when our purpose and passion were crystal clear. We saw the Bible speaking of one church. That one church could be discovered through a simple reading of Scripture and a commonsense understanding of what Scripture teaches. The idea of restoration is about going back to the primitive church of the first century and attempting to be that

January 27, 2021

Longtime Christian Standard Editor Sam E. Stone, 84, Dies

Former Christian Standard editor Sam E. Stone passed away from cardiac failure on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, at the age of 84. Over a lifetime of Christian ministry, Sam served as a preacher of the gospel in Ohio and Missouri, academic dean of Cincinnati Christian Seminary, Bible college professor, president of the North American Christian Convention, world missions advocate, author, and advocate for the developmentally disabled. He served as Christian Standard editor for 25 years, from 1978 to 2003, the longest tenure in the magazine’s 154-year history. The New Mexico native graduated from Ozark Bible College, Joplin, Mo., and also

December 31, 2020

‘Have We Plans for 1921?’

"All the Standard asks is the opportunity to serve, and it yearns to render in 1921 the greatest, finest, and best service of its history. . . ."

December 24, 2020

‘If He Is with Us . . .’

For the final two Thursdays of 2020, we will share short editorials from the Christmas Day 1920 issue of Christian Standard. The first 100-year-old editorial is an homage to Christ and Christmas, while next week’s will look back at 1920 (and “forward” to 1921). George Perry Rutledge was editor during the years 1917-22, and he presumably wrote both of these editorials. _ _ _ Emmanuel An editorialDec. 25, 1920; p. 10 The soul of Christmas is revealed in one of the names of Jesus—“Emmanuel,” God with us. The world’s habit of parade, and noise, and money-getting, has obscured this great

December 17, 2020

His Biography Is Not Complete

Edwin V. Hayden wrote this Christmas editorial 50 years ago. _ _ _ God Sent His Son An editorialDec. 20, 1970; p. 10 How remarkable is the biography of God’s Son! . . . God’s messengers of old spoke of a maiden conceiving, of a son being born, and of Bethlehem as the place from which a timeless ruler would come. The heart of a man named Joseph provided Matthew with the key to the mystery. . . . The explanation in Matthew 1 combines Joseph’s experience with Isaiah’s prophecy. In chapter 2, it brings Micah’s prophecy to bear on

November 19, 2020

Alexander Campbell Restoration Movement History

A Study of Alexander Campbell (Part 2)

And now, part 2 of John L. Morrison’s series on Alexander Campbell from 1967.

November 12, 2020

Alexander Campbell Restoration Movement History

A Study of Alexander Campbell (Part 1)

I spoke with a former Christian college professor a couple of times in the past few weeks. John L. Morrison is a pleasant gentleman enjoying retirement in California. Through the years, he taught at San Jose Bible College (now William Jessup University), Milligan College (now Milligan University), and Puget Sound College of the Bible (now closed). I can’t recall Mr. Morrison’s exact age, but it’s in the neighborhood of 90. Mr. Morrison told me he had written for Christian Standard a number of times. I became curious and checked into this. Sure enough, I found articles by him from the

October 22, 2020

Renegade Preachers

The “Throwback Thursday” online feature from Christian Standard’s archive has been on hiatus for a few months. We hope it was missed. We resume the feature this week with a short item about punishing “renegade preachers” that appeared in our pages exactly 150 years ago today. _ _ _ MICHIGAN CONVENTION—RENEGADE PREACHERS Oct. 22, 1870; p. 3 It will be remembered that one J.H. Davis was dismissed from the Franklin, Ind., Church in May, 1869, and was published for “lying, hypocrisy, and for keeping company with bad men and women generally.” About a year ago he retired to Michigan, and

August 11, 2020

My Memories of Marshall Leggett

By Ben Merold As I think about Marshall Leggett, who passed away on March 2 at age 90, two personal experiences keep coming to my mind . . .

June 4, 2020

Key Documents Restoration Movement History

‘Why All the Different Names?’

Barry Cameron wrote this essay about church names in 1989 while he was serving with First Christian Church in Port Charlotte, Florida. Cameron started with First Christian, now called New Day Christian Church, in 1980. In 1992, Cameron became senior pastor with Crossroads Christian Church in Grand Prairie, Texas, where he continues to serve. _ _ _ “We’re Not the Only Christians . . . But We’re Christians Only” By Barry L. CameronApril 23, 1989; p. 15 “We’re not the only Christians . . . but we’re Christians only.” I heard that statement for the first time when I was

May 21, 2020

Barton W. Stone Restoration Movement History

A Biographical Study of Barton W. Stone (Part 4)

Here is the conclusion of our four-part series on Barton W. Stone, as excerpted from Frederick D. Kershner’s 1940 series on six of the “most significant advocates” of the Restoration Movement. (Click on any of these to read the earlier installments of the series: Part one — part two — part three.) _ _ _ “Stars: Message of Barton Stone” May 4, 1940; p. 7 The first relations of [Alexander] Campbell and [Barton] Stone appear to have been somewhat strained and not altogether cordial. The Kentucky reformer was a little dubious about too much emphasis being placed on water regeneration;

May 17, 2020

Gonzalo Venegas

My Story . . . from Denomination to Renewed Vision

By Gonzalo Venegas The Restoration Movement is an inviting movement—that’s something I’ve learned firsthand. You see, I didn’t start out in the Restoration Movement. For a long time, my faith experience was limited to having served as an altar boy in the Catholic church. Then I spent time in gangs. (See “My Life Story . . . from Gang Member to Church Planter” from March 2019.) After coming to faith in Michigan, I was discipled, educated, and ordained by the Reformed Church in America. I developed a seemingly unquenchable desire to study God’s Word. I preached many sermons and did

May 17, 2020

Matthew Wilson

Our Impact in the Wider Evangelical World

By Matthew Wilson As a pastor in an independent Christian church, I’m excited and encouraged that many denominational churches are abandoning traditions and conventions and are migrating toward movements like ours that embrace biblical supremacy. In many ways, I believe we are coming out of a dark ages and entering an era of enlightenment. People no longer follow doctrines and practices just because they are told to; instead, they demand to understand the context for what they believe. In modern history, many Christians relied on the authority of their governing bodies, but now we live in an information-driven age where

May 17, 2020

Melissa Wuske

‘We’ve Found Our Tribe’

By Melissa Wuske An identity crisis is occurring among many denominational churches today. As they wrestle to define themselves amid the competing voices of denominations and modern culture, the Restoration Movement offers leaders and their churches the freedom, in Christ, to craft an identity that fits who they are as a local body while placing Christ firmly at the center. Shifting Identity Is Nothing New Churches leaving their denominations to become independent Christian churches is not a new phenomenon. “Most of the churches that became [part of] the Stone-Campbell Movement were something else first,” said Tim Cole, executive director of

May 17, 2020

Tyler McKenzie

An Acts 2 Movement: Restoring the Dynamic Life of the First Church

By Tyler McKenzie I was born, raised, baptized, and ordained in Restoration Movement churches. I’ve served all my years in ministry in the Restoration Movement. I married a Restoration Movement girl. I got a Restoration Movement degree. I’m Restoration Movement tried and true. But that’s not why I love our movement. I love the Restoration Movement for what it stands for. It is a movement of churches aiming to restore the dynamic life of the first church in Acts. That church is worth restoring. It’s a movement marked by the pioneering grit of Jesus’ apostles trying to establish Jesus’ church

May 17, 2020

Megan Rawlings

A Restoration Movement for Everyone

By Megan Rawlings In 1962, while NASA was taking its first feverish steps to land a man on the moon (and bring him home safely) by the end of the decade, President John F. Kennedy visited the NASA Space Center for the first time. While touring the premises, he observed a janitor mopping the floor. Kennedy started a conversation with the janitor by asking what he was doing. Much to the commander-in-chief’s surprise, the custodian replied, “I’m helping put a man on the moon.” Everyone who worked for NASA—astronauts, engineers, mathematicians, janitors—shared the same vision and knew they had a

May 17, 2020

Josh Ross

Restoration . . . Not Preservation

By Josh Ross Family reunions typically carry with them a mixed bag of emotions. There is joy and sadness, excitement, and even anxiety (when we forget a name or can’t place a face). A small part of family reunions is catching up with everyone. But for the most part, family reunions are about reminiscing about the past, and this can be delightful and frightening simultaneously. It’s nostalgic to hear stories we haven’t heard in years. It’s frightening when the stories entail embarrassing moments from our lives. We all have stories of breaking windows, running over a mailbox, and getting caught

May 17, 2020

Nate Ross

UNITY: When Our ‘It’ Is Misplaced

By Nate Ross In the quarter mile before I arrive at our church’s campus, I pass a Nazarene church, a United Methodist church, a church of Christ (noninstrumental), and then turn into our campus about 500 yards later. Competition, co-laborers in Christ, or critic are the three most common thoughts that come from my heart when I see another church. (I know, that’s really mature for a pastor.) The lens in which I see another church leads to how I love another church. It’s quite easy to quickly judge and criticize neighboring churches that have different biblical interpretations from ours

May 17, 2020

Brian Sevits