The Calumet Area
Cecil Willis
| It recently was my privilege to work with the good church at Griffith, Indiana in a gospel meeting, during
which two were restored and nine were baptized. Eural Bingham is the faithful preacher working with
the Griffith church. Though this church is only about five years old, it already has a commodious
building, and a Sunday morning attendance that averages about 160.
Brother Aubrey Belue helped to start the Griffith church. Since Griffith has progressed so well, this church is now supporting Brother Belue while he works in nearby Portage, Indiana to establish a congregation there. Griffith for a while was supplying his complete support. The Portage church also is doing real well. They have an average attendance of 60, and are planning to erect a new meetinghouse this summer. The area about which I am talking is called "The Calumet Area," and embraces Hammond, Gary and environs. There are several good churches in this area, and they all work harmoniously together. The two oldest congregations in the area are Glen Park (Harvey Williams is the preacher; attendance 125) and Hessville (Cecil Belcher is the preacher here; attendance averages 190). All the other churches have, of course, grown out of these two older congregations. The Griffith church was largely formed from Hessville members. The Hobart church (J. Mark Raulerson preacher; attendance averages 125) and West Gary (where Elvert Hines preaches; attendance of 65) both were started largely from members who formerly worshipped at Glen Park. There are also faithful churches at Highland where Lloyd Barker works (attendance runs 200) and at Lowell where Bill Sexton preaches (attendance of 65). All who have been to the "Calumet Area" will testify that it is a delightful experience to hold a meeting here. It is one of the few places that I know where one has to come early to get a front seat. The fellowship between brethren is such that nearly any meetinghouse is filled during any series of gospel meetings. If there is any friction between any of the named churches, I did not detect it. These eight churches with a combined attendance on the Lord's Day of about 1,000 constitute a mighty power for the cause of Righteousness in the Calumet. There are two small liberal churches in the area. Six or eight years ago a malcontented element left the Glen Park church over personal differences and formed the Miller Church. They since have met and built a house in East Gary. It is reported that this small congregation has recently split over personal matters. So there now are two small liberal churches in the Calumet area of Indiana. One could wish that churches all across the land had withstood the threat of digression and liberalism as well as have the good churches in the Calumet. May their tribe increase! Truth Magazine VIII: 10, p. 1a July 1964 |