| Child of FA [message #3088] |
Mon, 01 September 2008 23:23  |
 jewelsboye
Messages: 10
Registered: September 2008 |
Junior Member |
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I was a young child when my parents started attending Faith Assembly in 1980. I have never felt or experienced anything quite like it since then no matter where I attend church. I am sure there are other people out there like me. Also, is there anyone out there that attended FA as a child and still remembers it?
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| Another Child of FA [message #3421 is a reply to message #3088] |
Sun, 21 September 2008 12:46  |
M Chupp
Messages: 8
Registered: September 2008
Location: Elkhart |
Junior Member |
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I was a FA child. My parents left a Mennonite church to attend FA, and I have a clear memory of sitting in the backseat of the car when they discussed it and made the decision. I was very excited about it. I too remember sitting as a child and being fascinated by the messages. What kids nowadays will sit still for an hour and half message? I do think it was a shame however, that they stopped the children's meetings. They were held on Wednesday nights only, and it was an awesome time for children to learn things about creation, fruits of the spirit, the Holy Spirit, and other things at a child's level.
I remember the very long rides to the Glory Barn 4 to 5 times a week, and playing on the logs outside the barn and feeding the goats. Since we got there so very early for a good seat, there was plenty of time to mess around before Church. Do you remember sitting in the barn after a three hour service, and smelling the popcorn that Mel Grider was fixing. Absolute torture for a kid!
I do remember awesome times of worship, but I also remember it getting very long and wierd too. Folks getting up and sharing stupid things, wierd prohpecies and just plain nut cases. Does anyone else remember the guy that stood at one of the mics and yelled "beam me up Jesus?" Hilarious.
In the mid eighties, as more and more people were dying, I think that Dr. Freeman snapped. What kind of man that has the responsibility of a congregation of 2000 people just holes himself up in his study and never (rarely) got out. I think he became a hermit.
I am thankful for the early teachings and being grounded in the authority of God's Word. It is sad to see so many of the other kids my age now adrift in the world, having turned their back on God altogether.
God Bless,
-Mark
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| Memories [message #3435 is a reply to message #3421] |
Mon, 22 September 2008 13:54 |
Greider
Messages: 2
Registered: September 2008 |
Junior Member |
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I have seen pictures of those goats. And their was a black dog that used to bark at me. I'de like to hear any other memories you have about the Glory Barn and more specifically Mel.
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| Mel Memories [message #3482 is a reply to message #3435] |
Thu, 25 September 2008 02:07 |
M Chupp
Messages: 8
Registered: September 2008
Location: Elkhart |
Junior Member |
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I don't have too many memories of Mel, as he was usually in the background. I do remember him being scary. To a small boy, his towering, tattooed hulk was intimidating. Not to mention the long grey beard. 
He would occasionally get up in front of the church and talk about how credit cards were setting us up for a one world government. I wonder what he would say about the internet? He was also really into this end-time survival stuff. I remember the book he wrote about it; I believe it was called "woman in the wilderness". Once he and MaryBeth got into that stuff, there were rows of canning jars down in the basement, and they dug an underground cellar out behind the barn. The local TV station in Elkhart had him on their morning show to talk about it, but when they opened up the phone lines for callers, all anyone wanted to talk about was Sally Birkit's death. Poor Mel looked so flustered.
We were all very focused on end-time events back then. I remember wondering if I would get to grow up before Jesus came back. Now my children are almost grown up.
I think the goats were part of the survival bit. I remember trying to con my little brother into touching the electric fence that ran around their pen. He wouldn't do it, so I tried touching it with a stick. Yep, it was turned on.
I remember the black dog too. He wasn't very friendly. Do you remember when she had puppies? They were adorable, but mother was even less friendly.
But the thing I remember mostly about Mel is smelling that dang popcorn. Sheer torture I say!
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