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Deacon puts artifact in orbit
By Rick Cousins
Contributor
Published September 5, 2009
The 1947 Piper PA-14 monoplane boasted a top speed of 123 mph and could attain an altitude of 12,000 feet. But a piece of such plane is orbiting 220 miles over our heads and pushing more than 17,000 mph.
That’s because crew member Patrick Forrester, a mission specialist who is also a deacon at Clear Lake’s University Baptist Church, placed a small piece of one special Piper on board Discover’s STS-128 mission.
For those who know the story of Nate Saint — popularized in 1957 in the book “Through Gates of Splendor” and in 2004 by the movie “End of the Spear” — this thin metallic square represents an unforgettable story. It comes from the small plane that carried Saint, Jim Elliott and their companion Christian missionaries to a fatal first contact with the Waodani tribe of Ecuador. After the massacre of all five, widows Rachel Saint and Elisabeth Elliott went to live with the tribe, eventually completing the men’s original mission.
Forrester, unavailable for comment due his duties as a spacewalk supervisor, was quoted earlier in the Baptist Press as saying: “Bringing attention to and renewing interest in missions would be a great result of this experience. My deepest intent is to honor Nate Saint, the Saint family and all missionaries around the world.”
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There was a time when the Rev. Clarence O. Magee Jr. had to consult his watch to know which type of liturgy to conduct. That’s because he was presiding over three different congregations every Sunday: the interdenominational Tiki Island Chapel, La Marque Presbyterian Church and Trinity Lutheran in La Marque. Each, of course, had its own way of doing things.
“From Lutheranism to Calvinism each morning, it was interesting and a good change each Sunday,” he said. “But with three churches, it was also just a bit insane.”
Magee, who describes himself now as an officially retired, ordained Presbyterian minister, has left Tiki Chapel in good hands but continues to serve the other two congregations as pastor.
At 3 p.m. Sunday, in an unusual joint service at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2024 12th Ave., La Marque, two church leaders — the Rev. Dr. Don Carlson, a Lutheran, and Mike Cole, a Presbyterian — will formalize Magee’s ministry to both churches.
Call 409-935-6004 for details.
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Look for details here next week on the upcoming “Revival and Reflections” Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. Sept. 13 at Stewart Beach Park Pavilion, 701 Seawall Blvd., Galveston. Sponsored by the city of Galveston and the Galveston Ministerial Association, the event will mark the anniversary of Hurricane Ike.
Rick Cousins’ “Faith Focus” column appears each Saturday. Have a unique or unusual faith event to spotlight? E-mail details to ourfaith(at)galvnews.com at least two weeks in advance.
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