Pleasant Times

News from Mt Pleasant Christian Church - http://mychristianchurch.org - March 2011

A Second Glance… extended an invitation to Walter and Sandi to join the

by Cortney Walcott fellowship at Mt. Pleasant. Sandi remembers back
and says, “It was hard to leave where my father was
Walter and Sandi Wampler met as teenagers at preaching, but we wanted to find a church that had
Liberty Methodist Church. Walter’s family attended an active youth group for our daughters to join.”
the church and Sandi’s father was the minister there. They have called Mt. Pleasant there church home
After dating for a while, Walter proposed to her on ever since.
the evening of Christmas Day and the wedding plans
were under way. Sandi and Walter were married Walter and Sandi have found many things to keep
shortly after, on January 19th in 1963. They were
married at Simpson Chapel Methodist Church by
Sandi’s father, Rev. Woodrow Figg. Their wedding,
however, wasn’t the only one being planned in the
family. Sandi’s two brothers were also getting
married within a one month period. Sandi’s father
performed those ceremonies as well. As Sandi said,
“Mom had her hands full that month.”

Not only were there three weddings in the family

within a one month period, but Sandi had just
graduated from high school that same month. She
graduated from Bloomington High School in January
of 1963. Walter Graduated from Stinesville High
School in 1961. After graduation Walter joined the
Indiana National Guard. Following his service, he
went to work at Mathews Stone Company. Walter
then went to work for Indiana University where he
retired in 2004 after 31 years of service. Sandi
worked at RBBCSC (Ellettsville School District),
which she retired from in 2007 after 34 years of
service.

Walter and Sandi have two daughters: Tonya

Wampler and Tina (Wampler) Sturgeon, who is
married to Mark Sturgeon. They have two
grandsons, Devin and Seth. They are both currently
attending college in Indianapolis.

Walter and Sandi have always had a love for the
Lord. Walter came to the Lord in 1952 and was
baptized in Jack’s Defeat Creek by Rev. Dick
Bennett. Sandi came to the Lord in 1953 and was
baptized in the Eel River in Bowling Green, Indiana
by her father. They began attending Mt. Pleasant
when Walter’s brother, Phillip Wampler and his wife
Judith, invited them. Olive and Don Lake had also
them busy since raising their children and retirement
have left them a little extra time. They enjoy
camping, fishing and motorcycle riding. Walter
enjoys gardening and Sandi finds her serenity in
reading. They also enjoy traveling together. In
2009, they took a trip to Ireland with Phil and Judith.
As we near the holiday of St. Patrick’s Day, Sandi
has graciously shared her experience in Ireland and
a firsthand look at the Irish culture.
“In 2009 we traveled with Judith and Phil to beautiful Ireland. It was a wonderful adventure we shared with them
and 40 new friends. The land was breathtaking, lush and green. We were all awe struck with the old cathedrals
and the beautiful landscapes. We traveled from Dublin around the north of Ireland and back down to Limerick.
Along the way we were treated by our guide, who was a history professor at Dublin University, to a complete
history of Ireland and its people. In Belfast we visited the wall that separated the Catholics and the Christians and
were given the history of Irelands fight to worship as a Christian nation. The seascapes, the architecture, the
food, the history, the visits to ancient ruins of cities and monastic sites, learning of the early Christian Ireland, the
history of the early church’s and saints to the quaintness of the little villages lead to a memorable trip that will stay
with us forever. When I was working I use to read the book “Fin McCool” to the 2nd grade students each year.
On our travels we visited the site that the story was written about and it came to life for me. Our last evening in
Ireland we were treated to a medieval-style dinner with Lords and Ladies entertaining us in the 15th century
Bunratty Castle. What made it so interesting was we were treated like we would have been back in the 15th
century. We had to eat with our hands and a knife.”

 Photo of Walter and Sandi in front of St Patrick’s Cathedral

You're Either A Saint or You Ain't

by Pastor Jon Miller

This month we celebrate St.

Patrick's Day. This is a day that the
majority of people associate with
wearing green or maybe attending a St. Patrick's Day Parade (which I
did for the first time last year). To find out why we really celebrate
this day you have to go all the way back to 400 years after the
resurrection of our Lord to a bishop that served in Ireland named
Patrick. Legend teaches that he used the shamrock as a way to
explain the trinity to the people of Ireland. According to history when
the Catholic Church compiled their first list of “saints” Patrick's name
was on the list. This brings up an interesting topic for this month's
article. What is a saint and how does one according to scripture
become a saint?

Today we prefer the words: believer, follower, or Christian, to describe those who are saved and on their way to
heaven. In the writings of scripture there is no getting around the fact that the word “saint” was the preferred word
to describe the members of the church because it is found throughout the New Testament, from the book of Acts
to the book of Revelation. The reason we tend to shy away from describing ourselves with this word is because it
sounds too “holy,” a word that you would use to describe Mother Theresa, but never an “ordinary” person. We feel
unworthy to be called saints because we know that we are still sinful and we often do things that aren't “saint” like.
The purpose of this article is to help us get a Biblical understanding of what it means to be a saint. Because the
truth is, if you’re saved you’re a saint. As one preacher put it, “you're either a saint or you ain’t.” There is no in
between, no middle ground with God.

We need to let go of the notion that saints are perfect people. If that were the case, no one would be a saint. (That
may be why the Catholic Church waits until after someone has died to make them a saint). The Apostle Paul
wrote to the church in Corinth and he called them saints. His exact wording was, “To the church of God that is in
Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints...”(1 Cor 1:2). This letter was written to a church as
a rebuke. The believers in this church were divided. Some of the people were following Christ, some Apollos or
other men. There was sexual immorality of the worst kind going on with the church’s approval. The people were
even getting drunk during the service around the Lord’s table. These people were far from perfect. Today we
would probably consider them to be sinners and not saints. The approach that Paul took was very wise. Paul
started a letter of rebuke to the church by reminding them that they are saints of God. He goes on and corrects
their sinful behavior reminding them that it was God’s will for
them to live up to their name and position in Christ. From this letter of Paul we can see that saints aren't perfect
but our constant strive should be to live up to our God given calling.

● ● ●
Birthdays
Chris Harrison- March 1st
Sue Cooter March 3rd
Brooklyn Scott March 4th
Becca Anderson March 6th
Olive Lake March 7th
Myrna Lutes March 10th
Shirley Long March 11th
Bob Pruett March 12th
Jason Sims March 18th
Carl Kale March 21st
Vernal Chafin March 22nd
Marlee Chafin March 24th
Cole Chafin March 27th
Garnet Ketih- March 28th
Jessica Nickless March 28th
Ann Lawson- March 29th
Wig Frye March 30th
Madison Ludlow- March 31st
● ● ● that his righteousness did not come from the works of the
The only way that we can be saints today is solely based on
God's grace and mercy. A saint is a person that has been
called by God and has placed their faith and trust in Jesus
Christ. Back to this letter that Paul wrote to the church at
Corinth, he said that they were “called to be saints” (1 Cor
1:2). The emphasis is on the calling. The work of Salvation is
a work of God. It is Christ who died on the cross of Calvary
to save us from our sins and it is God who calls us to be
saved. This teaching upset the religious leaders in Jesus'
day. There was a large
crowd that had been following our Lord and He told them,
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me
draws him” (John 6:44). After Jesus taught this, many in the
crowd turned around and no longer followed Christ. This is
hard for us to even accept today, which is why we don't refer
to ourselves as saints very often. See, we think that there is
something that we can do to make ourselves righteous, but
the Bible teaches that we cannot even be saved unless the
Father first draws us to himself. Saints are not perfect people
but they are saved people who have been declared righteous
by God, which is only possible because of grace. Paul said
law, but by faith alone in Christ (Phil 3:9).

Maybe if we would keep in mind that we are saints if we are saved, it would help us to strive everyday to live up to
our title in Christ. Another interesting thing I noticed as I was studying for this article is that every time I came
across the word 'saint' in scripture it was also used in the
On Sunday March 13th Josh Cadwell will be plural form. One of the reasons today that some folks don't
preaching during the morning service while the fellowship with the church is because they feel inferior or
Millers are on vacation. Josh Cadwell is the son unworthy. They don't think that they are good enough or
of Karen and Ken Cadwell who are members know enough when they compare themselves to others.
here at Mt. Pleasant. Josh and his wife Becky Because of that, they stay home and isolate themselves
have three children and they attend the from needed fellowship and corporate worship. The truth
Plainfield Christian Church where Josh serves of scripture is very simple: you're either a saint or you
in the middle school and college age ministries. ain’t. In God's family there are no superior believers - only
He desires to help students experience God those who have been saved by the grace of God and have
through service, sharing their faith, and been promoted by a work of divine grace to sainthood.
connecting with each other. “Therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of
God” (Ephesians 2:19). Now that you know what it mean
to be a saint have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
 Anniversaries A “Small Group” Can Make a Big Difference
Ken & Karen Cadwell- March 12th In January Pastor John and his wife, Vicki, took the
Clay & Amy Chafin- March 14th initiative to start a “small group” that meets on Sunday
Ed & Betty Hendrix- March 17th evening. The title of the six week Bible study is
“Marriage Built to Last.” Several married couples meet
for one hour on Sunday evening and share fellowship,
stories, and laughter with one another. It is a wonderful
way to enrich our marriages in the way that God has described for us throughout the Bible.
The Bible study usually begins with a short video about a specific topic and then the couples participate in a
discussion afterwards. This small group has been a wonderful tool in uniting married
couples within our church and bringing in couples from outside the church. Although the Bible study only lasts
one hour, a few women of the church have found a way to get everyone to hang around just a little longer! Janet
Cooter, Sandi Wampler, Jane Kale, Sue Cooter, and Jeanette Chafin have taken it upon themselves to provide
dinner and snacks for the married couples each week. The fellowship that this has sparked has been a true
blessing. Although the group may be “small,” it can have a big impact on our church family by building friendships
in Christ that can last a lifetime. What a wonderful way to unite fellow Christians!


Mt. Pleasant Christian Church
3191 W. Burma Rd.
Gosport, IN 47433
812-876-9149

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