The Bethany Baptist Church ladies had a Mother-Daughter Banquet at Saturday, May 7. The guest speaker was Elaine Wilson the widow of long-time evangelist and pastor, Art Wilson. Elaine was born on August 4, 1915 in Warsaw, New York. Elaine and her mother, Florence Sweet, accepted Christ the same night at a revival meeting at an old-time Methodist Church. They drove to meetings in a horse and buggy.
Elaine attended Baptist Bible seminary of Johnson City, New York. While there Elaine sang with a ladies trio and played some on an accordion. This led to an invitation to join a group that was planning to hold daily vacation Bible school at a church in Kansas and hold evangelistic meetings on the way. Elaine was next asked to work with young people in a small country church near Burrton, Kansas. This was the small beginning, but Elaine has been an active soul-winner ever since that time before and during her marriage. She has written books, poems, Sunday school lessons, skits, and plays. At the age of 95, she is frail in body, but clear minded. She is still devoted to soul-winning.
The mothers were honored Sunday morning. Pastor Bob Sorensen brought a message about a great mother.
Jesus said of John the Baptist, “Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist…” If John the Baptist is the greatest man, except for Jesus, then we should look at his mother. What does the Bible say about her.
Luke 1: 6 speaking of Zacharias and Elisabeth says that “They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” This godly woman was a “wife” not a “live-in.” She was modest in dress and behavior, submissive to her own husband. She was no gossip, not worldly, and not much concerned about social acceptance. She was accepted of God. She raised her son to serve God.
Elizabeth was a patient woman. She had been barren for years, but had not become bitter and demanding against God or her husband.
Elizabeth was an humble woman. When she found she was with child, she hid herself. She spent this time in praise and worship of God. She did not desire a spotlight upon herself.
Elizabeth was a grateful woman as expressed in Luke 1:25. “Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.”
Elizabeth was a God honoring woman. This is obvious in all her conversation with Mary the expectant mother of Jesus and when she honored God and her husband in naming their son “John” even when her cousins and neighbors questioned that name.
Pastor Bob and Darlene Sorensen honored their son, Luke, by providing a lunch for church members and guests who came to see Luke graduate in a 1:00 service. Pastor Sorensen brought a message on “What is the Secret of Life?” from Proverbs 9.
Proverbs 9 tells about two calls, two choices, and two kinds of consequences. There is the call of wisdom and the call of wickedness. Wisdom has a house that is spacious and stable built upon the seven pillars. It is not in the main streets of life, but in a narrow way. In this house there is the fear of the Lord and knowledge of the living word of God. Folly also has a house. It is in a broad way and can be entered easily. One may chose wisdom and long life or foolishness and death. A wise man will chose life. A fool will not realize that he has chosen death, until it is too late.
