Chaplain To Relate Personal Experiences l'n Vietnam

Chaplain Leo Stanis, former pas- Presifl,ential Unit Citation, Purple tor of North Street Baptist Church, Heart, and the Bronze Star with "V" I Raleigh, will present -aii informal for his extraordiary service while discourse with slides on his personal serving as chaplain with the Ma­ experiences in Vietnam Sunday rine Corps in Vietnam. evening, March 2 at 7:30 in the Fu- / Included in the presentation wil quay-Varina Baptist Church sanct- be an answer to the questio uary. The theme will be "War is "How do our men respond to Go Hell." and to worshiping Him while en· Chaplain Stanis, served with the r . .;ed in war?" The slides will show;

3rd Bn, 4th Marines and 3rd Shore pictures of the enemy, the weapons Party Bn. from April, 1967 through of war, and excellent shots of B-52 March, 1968. He was awarded the bombings.

Franklin Press ,,., - 1

Franklinton Pqst ~uquay Springs: Independent

~fiftVilie: Gates CO. ihdex z--. Gibsonville: News G.raha.m: Alamance News Granite Falls Press ;:xeensbo.to: Democrat

.·~ I e:t-~?-cr

He Calls Finlator Huff-and-Pull R·everend heir teaching on assumptions? Should we en­ courage a stable faith in the Christ of the Gos­ pels or a doubting skepticism in seminary stu­ dents who will then get into the pulpit and be unable to pronounce, "thus said the Lord?" Are there "vigorous-minded professors with new in­ sights and new knowledge" who can rightfully challenge the authority of the Gospel accounts? and, What is a "glorified Bible college?"

These professors might have had noble inten­ tions and their theories might be intellectually appealing, but the effects of their practice has been "shazam." Our students should be exposed to the historical-critical method but not weaned on it.

Editor, The Times: The "huff-and-puff'' reverend at Pullen Memo­

rial Baptist Church is at it again, He is now try­ ing t~ down the good image of Southeast­ ern Baptist Theological Seminary and replace it with the "Finlator image."

I must take issue with Mr. Finlator about his disparaging remarks about my alma mater. I was taught by both professors, Dr. Harold Oliver and Dr. R. C. Briggs, and felt at that time that their theory of New Testament interpretation was dishonest in endeavoring to gain the truth of the Gospels.

The historical-critical method was first prac­ ticed by three German scholars, Martin Dibelius, Rudolf Bultmann, and K. L. Schmidt, in the years just after World War I. It was introduced to the American readers by B. S. Easton and F. C. Grant. Their tactics have been dishonorable when you consider that they have promoted noth­ ing but skepticism about the Gos~els. K. L. Schmidt used- his "theoretical scissors ' on Mark's Gospel and we had nothing left of the Gospel story. R. Bultmann reached the absurd and laugh­ able conclusion that we can know next to nothing about the Jesus of History.

The questions I want to put to Mr. Finlator and to all Christians are these: Why have British scholars given this theory such a cool reception? Are these professors and scholars being honest to Gospel science and to their students and to the Lord Jesus Christ when they base much of

LEO STANIS, Pastor, r North Street Baptist Church, Raleigh.

JAN B 1965

. · BIBLICAL RECORDERP 4-6-85

l Tarheel Chaplain Using ·s,1-2

: Basketball as Witness By Mike Creswell

Marines have known for years that military chaplains will do just about I anything to get them to attend chapel.

I Southern Baptist Chaplain Leo Stanis beats men so they will attend. Beats them at basketball, that is. For years, Stanis, a former North

Carolina pastor, stationed on the island of Okinawa, has issued an open challenge to Marines to play him in basketball one-on-one. If he wins, the men must attend the church or chapel of their choice on two weekends. If he loses, the men receive colorful T-shirts emblazoned with the words, "One-on­ One Champ" and a cartoon sketch of Stanis sporting his trademark safety ~asses with day-glo orange frames. Does his approach work? "Well," he says with a grin, "on a

rrcent Sunday at the camp chapel there •·ere two pews full of men here because I had beaten them at basketball." In one recent period, his record was 50 tins and 11 losses. More seriously he adds, "People

ought to worship their Lord and this is one way to get them to go." Now, if Stanis, a Southeastern

eminary graduate, were 7 feet tall and J former Globetrotter, one could easily mderstand how such an approach might work. But at age 57, Stanis car­ ries a slight paunch and would look uch more at home behind a pulpit or ~k than on a basketball court. That appearance is absolutely

deceiving and helps explain how Stanis 'able to convince men to play. For nnis wins by simply wearing down his opponents. Consider his rules for the challenge: ey play seven straight games, each ti1h 21 points and no breaks. "My strategy is stamina. If you fall

'°1, you lose," he says. Stanis has been 1'wn by three games yet managed to rin. His playing style depends more on ceful running and close-in layups

iln on finesse. The only other condi­ "'1 is that his opponent must be some­ llC who ordinarily does not attend l'Orship services. There's an underlying serious note to Southern Baptist chaplain's antics,

of course. He has come to love playing basketball since he began in 1976 and often plays till midnight in the Falcon Gym on Kadena Air Base, one of 10 major U.S. military installations on Okinawa. But he also uses sports as a way to get acquainted with military men in a more neutral setting some­ what apart from the trappings of military life's rules and positions. Often talk in the gym will lead to

witnessing and discussions on the meaning of salvation and what the Bi­ ble has to say about daily living. When a man has just run you into the floor playing basketball, it's hard to call him-or the faith he repre­ sents-anything less than sturdy. And Stanis sees practical results

coming from his basketball-related ministry. He recalls the times he work­ ed with two drill instructors. "They would blow up when they would shoot and miss. But with the spiritual em­ phasis, I was able to see them grow in understanding of themselves," Stanis says.

Lately he has been busy helping his commanding officer, Max Weller, get settled in for his new duties as chief of chaplains on Okinawa. But Stanis says he tries to keep his gym schedule in full swing, which is not too difficult because he needs only six hours of sleep each night. When he stays off the court for a week, he can tell. "The old computer," he says tapping his head, "get out of whack and everything." Stanis often works with Southern

Baptist missionaries Elton Gray and Bud Spencer, who work with English language Baptist churches on Oki­ nawa. Their memberships include many marines. Along with his "one-on-one" pro­

gram, Stanis also has formed a "Holy Rock League," a basketball team made up of Christian men from several military branches who play Japanese teams from Okinawa. (In military circles, Okinawa is known as "The Rock." Stanis is hoping to sign up for

another three-year term if he can get approval. After all, an expansion of Marine personnel on Okinawa is bring­ ing several thousand new Marines to the island in the next year or so.

Valentine Urge Social Involve WINSTON-SALEM, N. C.

(BP)-Equipped with ''a growing sense of ethical concern and social responsibility," Southern Baptists now have unprecedented opportunities "to effect social change for God's glory and humanity's good," Foy Valentine believes. Valentine, executive director of the

Christian Life Commission of the Sou.them Baptist Convention, spoke dunng the Luce Lecture Series on Religion and the Social Crisis spon­ sored by Wake Forest University. The Baptist ethicist noted "there is

among Baptists a generally growing

Grahain Blames Sta tan For Division

LEOS. STANIS

.After what the Pulpit Committee felt was their likely

candidate, they presented Rev. Leo S. Stanis who was pastor­

ing a rural church in Neuse Association.

Mr. Stanis was born March 20, 1928 in South Bend, Indiana.

He was widely known for his talent in boxing in Indiana.

During WWII he served 3 years in the Pacific and later in

1957-1960 as chaplain in the USAR -- and returned home in 1949

to wed Shirley M. Ashley of Battle Creek, Michigan. Brother

Stanis, in his desire for entering the medical profession

entered Indiana University. While attending Indiana and work­

ing on the side, he became a Christian. It was then that he

set out for Bob Jones University. Five years later he received

an A.B. degree, M.A. in Education, and Teacher's certificate.

In 1957 he entered Southeastern Seminary at Wake Forest, N. C.

and graduated with a B.D. degree, 1961. While going to school

he lived in Raleigh and commuted. He worked for the News and

Observer Newspaper for four years, pastored Newton Grove

Baptist Church for three and one-half years in Wayne County.

On Sunday morning, August 21, 1961 a special church conference

was held with the Rev. Robert Costner, Raleigh Associational

Missionary presiding as moderator. After a heated session, a

motion was made to extend an invitation to Brother Stanis to

become pastor, seconded, and a vote was taken with only a small

majority granting that a call be extended. Mr. Stanis accepted

the call. Thus far in two and one-half years, God has permitted

him to see a spirit of unity and harmony among the mewbers. As

one who loves people and has a zeal for the Lord, progress has

been made in several areas of the church life. A Constitution

and By-Laws was formed by deacons and by congregation. A two­

year Entire Bible Study Course is being taught by the pastor;

the purchase of property within the church block for a future

sanctuary; recent renovation of the sanctuary; relocating and

remodeling of the Sunday school nursery; founding of a Day

Nursery and Kindergarten which is licensed by the State Division

of Child Welfare; Deacons' Sunrise Prayer Meeting every

LEOS. STANIS------------- 2

...

Saturday from 7-8 a.m.; and a determined quest for lost people

in Raleigh with his imphasis on "Don't hesitate, Visitate".

50 YEARS UNDER GOD'S GRACIOUS PROVIDENCE, North Street Baptist

Church, Raleigh, NC, 1914-1964 (NCCF

Also a photograph