The Director and the Board of Directors
of the Florida School of Preaching
By Jackie M. Stearsman, Director

As a reader of the Harvester and supporter of the Florida School of Preaching, you know of the transition that is underway. Brian R. Kenyon, graduate of the school, long standing instructor in the school, and current Associate Director of the School as been appointed to assume the full duties of directing the school in May 2009.

It is expedient that we reflect on significant items relating to the school and the bright future we are confident is before the school and has characterized the school since its beginning.

The Charter and By-Laws of the Florida School of Preaching state the purpose of the school:

To establish and maintain an educational institution wherein the Holy Scriptures shall be taught as the revealed will of God to man and as the only sufficient rule of faith and practice; that such other related subjects may be taught as thought necessary by the directors, to the end that men may be sufficiently trained to preach the gospel, to exercise the duties of elders in the church, to serve as educational directors, personal workers, song leaders, and that men and women may be trained to be efficient Bible class teachers in the church of Christ ...

Having the school under a Board of Directors is merely an expedient. The Board of the School is composed of elders, preachers, and deacons of churches of Christ. These faithful brethren are those who will support and uphold Brian as he assumes his duties of day by day operation of the Florida School of Preaching. The Board meets legal requirements in conjunction with having a charter and incorporation status.

There are sure to come efforts to upset the stability of the school. There will likely be some who would try to single out the director, a faculty member, a member of the board, or some disgruntled former or present student and sow discord. However, having a stable and united Board of Directors along with a faithful Director, the school can withstand such attacks and continue on the path that the school has traveled since it began.

Current Board of Directors

Those presently serving on the Board of Directors are introduced below. Others will likely be added to the Board following the September Board meeting.

Gordon Methvin is Chairman of the Board and has been a board member since 1978. He also serves as an elder in a local church.	Denny Smitherman is Vice-Chairman of the Board and has been a board member since 1999. He also serves as an elder in a local church.
J. H. Blackman, Jr. is Secretary of the Board and has been a board member since 1972. He also serves as a full-time preacher.	Greg Littleton is Treasurer of the Board and has been a board member since 2002. He also serves as a deacon in a local church and president and chief executive officer of a local bank.
David Anderson has been a board member since 2008. He also serves as an elder in a local church.	Steve Atnip has been a board member since 2003. He also serves as a full-time preacher and an elder in a local church, and he directs a Christian school.
Gene Burgett has been a board member since 2006. He serves as the school’s Director of Public Relations and is a Gospel preacher.	George K. French has been a board member since 1975. He also serves as an elder in a local church.
Brian R. Kenyon is Associate Secretary of the Board and has been a board member since 2004. He currently serves as Associate Director. He also serves as a deacon in a local church and is a Gospel preacher.	E. Robert McAnally has been a board member since 1982. He also serves as a full-time preacher in a local church.
Bill Norton has been a board member since 2005. He also serves as an elder in a local church and is a Gospel preacher.	Tim Simmons has been a board member since 2007. He also preaches by appointment and does mission work.
Jackie M. Stearsman has been a board member since 1990. He currently serves as Director of the school. He also serves as an elder in a local church and is a Gospel preacher.	James H. Sullivan has been a board member since 2006. He also serves as a full-time preacher in a local church.
Ted Wheeler has been a board member since 2002. He also serves as a full-time preacher and an elder in a local church.

Conclusion

Paul directed Timothy to do the following: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2).

In keeping with this admonition, we are confident that those overseeing the work of the Florida School of Preaching are faithful men. The Board of Directors is responsible for the direction the school takes, and those attending the school are given tools that will prepare them to teach others also.

It is with pride that we present to you those who oversee the work, and call attention to the noble and Biblical direction the school is pursuing. The school is needed, and those teaching and administering the school are worthy men. You may rest assured that any and all contributions that are made to the school are appreciated and well deserved. Will you help the school move forward under the direction of Brian R. Kenyon as he serves under the Board of Directors?

When Your Hour Comes.
by Gene Burgett

Three times in John’s gospel we find the phrase “his hour had not yet come.” This phrase appears in John 2:4 when Jesus attends a wedding in Cana. In this instance Jesus himself announces that his “hour has not yet come.” In the other appearances of this phrase Jesus’ life is being threatened after a verbal confrontation with Jewish opposition, after which John attributes the Lord’s escape from violence to the fact that “his hour had not yet come” (Jn. 7:30; 8:20, NKJ).

The Gospel of John also contains another interesting phrase corollary to the ominous sounding “his hour had not yet come.” John 17:1 records Jesus’ solemn announcement: “Father, the hour has come.” On three other occasions John mentions that Jesus’ hour had come (12:23, 27; 13:1). It is plain that in these passages Jesus’ hour was his crucifixion. At the crucifixion our Lord stood in the valley of decision where he had to choose between fulfilling his own desire or the will of his Father in heaven. Luke tells us he prayed fervently at this dreadful hour with sweat falling to the ground like great drops of blood: “Father, if it is your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will but Yours, be done” (Lk. 22:42).

In the Bible there are many examples of godly people who faced their hour. They found themselves at the divide where they had to choose between what seemed to be their own best interest or God’s will. Esther had to choose between the safety of the palace or going before the king and possible death (Esther 3:10-17). When Moses’ hour came, he chose “to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin” (Heb. 11:25).

Spectacular failure is sometimes the result when the hour comes. Judas Iscariot faced a critical hour after betraying Jesus with a kiss. He could have repented; he chose suicide. Peter cried bitterly when he chose to deny Jesus at his hour of decision (Lk. 22:54-62).

How one performs when his or her hour comes is not a matter of fate or chance. Christians buffet their bodies and meditate on the word of God in order to be prepared when their hour comes. For most of us, life will present many hours. Few stand at the crossroads only once. Will you be prepared when your hour comes?

If the school has helped you . . .

Since September 1969, many individuals and congregations have rightfully taken advantage of the opportunities provided by the Florida School of Preaching. These opportunities involve more than men preparing at the school tuition free in order to better serve the Lord. Our doors are open to any individual who wants to study the Bible and the related subjects we offer, whether male or female, young or old, member of the church of Christ or non-member. Many individuals have been helped beyond earthly measure by the school. Congregations have also been helped by the school in ways that only eternity can measure. Not only do our alumni fill the pulpits of churches of Christ all over the world, many congregations are helped by our students while in school. For example, it is not uncommon for congregations to call the school asking for a fill-in preacher. Sometimes the need is very short notice, and most of the time we are able to provide a man to “fill the gap.”

Paul penned at least two significant verses concerning financial support: “If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?” (1 Cor. 9:11, NKJ); and “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches” (Gal. 6:6). While these verses primarily deal with the support of preachers, there is a principle here that has an application to the Florida School of Preaching and our support: The recipients of spiritual blessings have an obligation to support the providers of those spiritual blessings. There is no doubt that the Florida School of Preaching provides an avenue of great spiritual blessings to both individuals and congregations. This is not to say that every Christian and local church of Christ has an obligation to financially support the Florida School of Preaching (though we sure could use it), any more than every Christian and local church of Christ has an obligation to financially support every Gospel preacher. However, the questions remains: Have you received spiritual blessings from God through the Florida School of Preaching? If the answer is yes, then do you not see the need to help us financially as we continue to train men to preach and to better prepare others to serve the Lord?

. . . Why not help the school?