Revival Services Continue At Eden Baptist Church Revival services are in pro­

gress at the Eden Baptist church on High street, Draper. The Rev. Max G. Reece, evan­

gelist, is preaching each evening 1

at 7:30 and will preach at 11 a.m. Sunday. Services will continue ' through September 19. Special music is under

c'Irection of Allen Smith. The pastor, the Rev. Oren R.

Mills Sr., invites the public to attend and to "take time for God now."

ew Pastor Is Appointed By Oakley Baptist Rev. Max G. Reec{ has ac­

cepted an appointment as pastor of Oakley Baptist Church, and will begin his duties on Sunday, April 3.

The Rev. Mr. Reece will come to Oakley from the Oakview Baptist Church of High Point where he has served for the past four and one-half years. A native of Yadkin County,

he attended Boonville High School and was graduated from Wingate College. Reece and his wife, who is the

former Virginia Weaver, have 1.hre children .They are Max Jr., 13, Frederick, 4, and Deborah Lynn who is two.

The Oakley schedule of Sun­ day services include Sunday I School at 10 a. m. worship at 11, training union al 6:30, and wor- ship service at 7:30 p. m. I

,.._ __ ....,,_ ·~= -ar-N_-;:;;:__ ... ~--::;- J Siler Ci~atham- ews »: 'furuthfield Herald Snow Hill; Greene Co· Ledger Southern Pines Pilot Southport: State Port Pilot ··~~~~~~~~~

HE REV. MAX G. REECE, pastor of the Oakley ~t Church, Siler City, will be the speaker in revival services, April 10 through 16, at the East Lumberton B a p t i s t Church. Services each night et 7:30. The Rev. Haas, pas­ tor, invites the public to wor­ ship with the East Lumbertqn Baptist Church every nigh'\.. of the revival.

Kinston Free Press ~ Lenoir News-Topic Lexington Dispatch Lumbc r-Lon Robcsonian t Morgan ton News- I ler-a Id New Bern Sun- journal Ra Leigh News & Obac rvc r Raleigh Times Reidsville Review Rockingham: Richmond Co. J rnal *

Rev. Max G. Reese, pastor of Oa ey Baptist Church, will be making a ten da,y: Bible Lands Pilgrimage, departing December 23. He will be traveling by KLM Jet, Royal Dutch Adrlines, Places of interest to be visited are:

Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Atlhens and Corinth. The congregation of Oak­ ley Baptist Church is providing this trip as a Christmas gift to their pastor.

,.~ .. "''.X:} .:<:\i~~[41lf :.: .. .t... Sha..; ;;:1.- te: Brunswick Beacon Shelby: Cleveland Times Siler City: Chatham News Smithfield Herald Snow Hill: Greene Co. Ledger Southern Pines Pilot Southport: State Port Pilot

~ &-lJ:1 ev--ee_"-. OEC 2 s 1969

Rev. Max G. Reece (above), pastor of Oakley Ba~ist Church of Siler Ci y, will conduct spring revival services at Hasty Baptist Church Monday through S u n d a y begin­ ning at 7:30 each night. Reece served as pastor in High Point prior to mov­ ing to Si 1 er City. He serves as promotional sec­ retary for the S a n d y Creek B a p t i s t Assn., m o t h e r association of N or th Carolina Baptist -~~5E·. I

Statesville Record & LartdmaL"'PI:"' - Tarboro Southerner Thomasyj 11 e Tj mes Tryon Bulletin Washington Daily News Wilmington Star Wilmington News Wilmington Star-News Wilson Daily Times Winston-Salem Journal Winston-Salem Sentinel Norfolk: Va. Pilot

I "&.,,, ,J- LJ)JV"' 't

APR 3 197

Hickory Grove Baptist Church Bear ci=eek, will begin revttal services Sunday morning, .July 12, with mes­ sage by the pastor. Following the service. dinner will be spread on the grounds. Monday through Friday ev­ ening at 7:30, the Rev. Max G. Reece will lead in the services. Rev. Reece is a well known and outstand­ ing minister in the Sandy Creek As­ sociation and pastor of Oakley Bap­ tist Church, Siler City. The singing will be under the direction of Floyd Smith. There will be special group singing. The membership joins their pastor, Rel'. Bill Pardue, in extend­

welcome to the public to attend.

APR 2 2 1971

REV. MAX REECE

Diamond Hill Revival Set Rev. Max Reece, pastor of the

Oakley Baptist Church of Siler City will be"'ffie visiting evange­ list for revival services April 26- May 2 at Diamond Hill Baptist Church, located on Sowers St. just off Monroe St. Services are 7: 30 o 'clock nightly. Mr. Reece has led the Oakley

Church in a great evangelistic , and expansion ministry during, the last five years. His former pastorates were at Wadesboro.' and High Point. People throughout the Statesville-Ire­ dell area are urged to hear this man of God. Congregational and special

music will be under the direc­ tion of Miss Jane Wooten, minister of music at the church. A nursery will be provided for children through age three. Jlev .. J. Harvey Clark is pastor ~!J?.~WUn.,,~

Shelby Star ..-:Statesville Record & Landmark

Tarboro Southerner - Thomasville Times Tryon Bulletin Washington Daily News Wilmington Star Wilmington News Wilmington Star-News Wilson Daily Times Winston-Salem Journal Winston-Salem Sentinel 'k. Norfolk: Va. Pilot i:f}

p ROXOBEL - There will be rev. al services at Sandy Run B lisl Church,· Roxobel,'

inning Sunday, August 15, 8 p.m. and continuing

through Saturday, August 21. The Rev. Max Reece from

Oakley Baptist Church, Siler City, will be the visiting evangelist. He has been pastor of this growing church for about seven years. He has taken an active part in the work of the Sandy Creek Association and civic organizations as well. There will be inspirational

music at each service, ac­ cording to the Rev. John Blanchard, host pastor.

Revival services will begin at the Trinity Baptist Church Sunday at 7:30 p.m. and continue each night through September 19, according to the Rev. Fred Reece, pastor. Evangelist for these services

will be the Rev. Max G. Reece, brother of Trinity's pastor. A native of Yadkin County, he is a graduate of Wirigate and High Point colleges and has held pastorates in Wadesboro and High Point. He is now pastor of the Oakley BaJ)tist Church in Siler City. · There will be special singing ·

each night and a nursery will be ·~ provided. The public is invited. ,,

Thomasville Times .......L Tryon Bulletin Washington Daily News Wilmington Star Wilmington News Wilmington Star-News Wilson Daily Times Winston-Salem Journal Winston-Salem Sentinel Norfolk: Va. Pilot

e y: rmes Siler City: Chatham News Smithfield Herald

......_,, Juoco 181. 6 c11c 60. bteeger Southern Pines Pilot Southport: State Port Pilot ' * ~~~~~~~~~~

REVIVAL SPEAKER-The Rev. Max Reece, pastor of Oakley Ba2tist Church at S1ffir CiiF will preach at revival services to be held at 7:30 each night September 28-0ctober 4 at Lyles Memor­ ial Baptist Church in Clayton.

SEP 2 2 1970

SIL£~ C11'V, N.

Rev. Max G·m Reece will lake group on tour of Hawaii The Rev. Max C. Reece, pastor of

Oakley Baptist Church, is lo leave on a 7-day tour of Hawaii, Sept. 16. Many local people will be among the 150 passengers on this tour. Those from this area who have con­

firmed their reservations are: Mr. and Mrs. Earl Snider, Mr. and Mrs. George Dewey Dowd, Mr. and Mrs. Grady Wrenn, Miss Marie Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Holland. Miss Pauline Moon, Mrs. Thelma Jessup, Mrs. Ruby Sykes, Mrs. Julia Nell Lawrence and her moth­ er, Mrs. Ora· Byerly, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne McMath, Mrs. Ethel Cooper. Others are planning to join the group

this month. The group will be leaving High Point­

Greensboro airport aboard a D-C-8. re­ fuel in California and continue on to Honolulu airport.

Sh.allotte: Brunswrcx 01::::0'"-v'•

Shelby: Cleveland Times Siler Ciw: Chatham News

-ernnntield Herald __ Snow Hill: Greene Co. Ledger

MAY 2 5 1972

REV. MAX G. REECE

LOCAL PASTOR ELECTED TO OFFICE

Rev. Max G. Reece, pastor of the Oakley Baptist Church, Siler City, was elected vice-president of the North lcarolina Baptist Pastor's Conference, last week as the Convention met in Asheville. The Pastor's Conference meets every year prior to the Convention for inspiration, information and fellowship. This includes approximately :.:SOO pastors of North Carolina Baptist Churches. Rev. Mark Corts, pastor of Calvary

Baptist Church, Winston-Salem was elected president. Rev. Corts and Rev. Reece will have the responsibility of planning and implementing the program for the Baptist Pastor's Conference meeting in Fayetteville in 1976.

Sile~ City: Chatham News Smithfield Herald sno~o~' azo"e197~

..

Rev. Max Reece

Reece electe Baptist office

The Rev. Max. G. Reece, pastor of Oakley· Baptist Church, was elected to serve a three-year term, on the Nominating Committee of the N. C. Baptist State Convention last week at their annual meeting in Fayetteville. It is the responsibility of this committee

to present names of people over the state of North Carolina to serve as trustees of the Baptist universities and colleges as well as the institutions of the State Baptist Convention such as The Children's Homes, Baptist Hospital and N. C. Baptist Homes for the Aging.

Rev. Reece served this past year as vice-president of the North Carolina Baptist Pastor's Conference, which meets prior to the Convention each year.

Charlotte Weekly East Jacksonville Onslow Herald Morehead City Downeaster Pinehurst Outlook Pittsboro Herald Research Triangle Park:

N. C. Leader

REV. MAX G. REECE

The Rev. Max G. Reece, pastor Oakley BaW.jst ~urch, was elected to serve a three ·year term, 1977-79, on the Nominating Committee of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention last week at their annual meeting in Fayet­ teville. It is the responsibility of this com­

mittee to present names of people over the state of North Carolina to serve as Trustees of the Baptist Universities and Colleges as well as the institutions of the State Baptist Convention such as: The Children's Homes, Baptist Hospital, N. C. · Baptist Homes for the Aging, etc. Rev. Reece served this past year as

vice president of the North Carolina Baptist Pastor's Conference, which

1 meets prior to the convention each year.

ttVUCt:>U11~r1'1~ l"h .. ,.:tlu

Roxboro: Courier-Times Rutherfordton: Ruthertord Co.

News Scotland Neck Commonwealth Selma: Johnstonian-Sun Shallotte: Brunswick Beacon Shelby: Cleveland Times ~iler City: Chatham News

NOV 2 5 1976 ff-

Felix Hart presents check to Rev. Reece

-An early Christmas for Oakley pastor Christmas came early at Oakley

.~Church for the Rev. Max G. ReeCe'Tr. . Last Sunday, members of the church

presented Rev. Reece, pastor of the church for the past 11 years, a check in the amount of $1,350. Rev. Reece's present automobile has

rolled up a lot of mileage and he has been talking about trading.

As a token of their appreciation for Rev. Reece, members of the church began a fund drive to help pay the difference for a new car when he traded. At the close of services last Sunday, the

check was presented to him. Since Rev. Reece accepted the

pastorate of Oakley Baptist Church in April of 1965, the church has experienced a steady growth, and is now one of the leading congregations in this area.

- . ~~J .

Church membership has grown from 269 members to 464, with 322 new members coming in under Rev. Reece's ministry. The church budget has grown from

$19,000 to $74,000 per year. Church property has increased in value from $118,000 to $500,000. Mission gifts have increased from $1,700 per year to $10,000. Rev. Reece is currently serving a

three-year term on the Nominating Committee of the North Carolina State Baptist Convention. He is also vice-president of the Sandy

Creek Baptist Association Pastors' Conference, vice-president of the North Carolina Baptist Pastors' Conference, and director of Evangelism for the Sandy Creek Baptist Association. For the past 10 years he has conducted

"Word of Life," a 15-minute broadcast over WNCA Radio in Siler City.

CLIPPING SERVICE lll5 lflLLS80RO

RALEIGH, NC 27&03 TEL. (919) 833·2079

CHA THAM RECORD PITTSBORO, N. c.

JUN-21-84

(_ aCJ/ {Pastor attends

• seminar- Rev. Max G. Reece, pastor

Al]en Jay Baptist Church in High Join!, and former pastor or Oakley Baptist Church in Siler City, will be departing Greensboro Airport June 22 for Brisbane, Australia.

Rev. Reece was invited by the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to accompany Dr. Howard Ramsey and participate in the national Continuing Witness Training Seminar in Brisbane.

The purpose of the Seminar is to instruct the Australian Baptist Ministers in the Continuing Witness Training program. Dr. Ramsey, Director of Personal Evangelism for the Southern Baptist Convention, is the author of the program. Rev. Reece was certified for this program in February, 1983.

Rev. Reece and Dr. Ramsey will be returning to the United States, June 30.

CLfpp .._ ll 15 NG SERVICE

RALEfG~ILLsaoRo TEL. (919) ~C 27603

33-2079

CHA THAM NEWS SILER CITY, N. C

TH-3,658 .

The purpose of the Seminar is to instruct the Australian Baptist Ministers in the Continuing Witness Training program. Dr. Ramsey, Director of Personal Evangelism for the Southern Baptist Convention, is the author of the program. Rev. Reece was certified for this program in February, 1983.

Rev. Reece and Dr. Ramsey will be returning to the United States, June 30. .,--

JUN-21-a 4

(. d CJ/ (Pastor attends

• semmar Rev. Max G. Reece, pastor

·_Allen ~J11!PtistChurcb in High POiiit,. and former pastor of Oakley Baptist Church in Siler City, will be departing Greensboro Airport June 22 for Brisbane, Australia.

Rev. Reece was invited by the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to accompany Dr. Howard Ramsey and participate in the national Continuing Witness Training Seminar in Brisbane.

R~ece plans active retirement Parkinson's under control. I'm trying to find where the Lord does want me

to get busy. I'm trying to search out how best I can be used and how my experience would be used best." He already

misses delivering Sunday sermons. He preached his last one at Allen Jay Sunday. "I really miss

that," Reece says. "I love to preach, and I've been pre­ paring messages for 38 years now, but, hopefully, I'll get to use some that I've done in other services." Retiring as pastor of the people of

Allen Jay Baptist Church is far from easy for Reece. "It's one of the hardest things I've

ever had to do," he says, "trying to finish up the last Sunday. "There were times of excitement -

new births in the families, and so many of our people have been through hard times - losing loved ones. It's kind of hard to say 'good-bye' to people you've. learned to love so much." Reece, who has traveled in 24

countries on missions trips and preached in 150 revivals, has also been active in denomination and association activities over his 38 years of min­ istry. From 1981-1986, he broadcast The

Allen Jay Hour each Sunday morning on WMFR.

? CLIPPING SERVICE 1115 HILLSBORO

RALEIGH, NC 27603 TEL (919) 833-2079

ENTERPRISE fflGH POINT, N. C.

OCT -495

The Rev. MaxG. Reece • Age: 64, born in

Boonville. • Family: Wife, Virginia;

sons, Max Jr. and Frederick; daughter, Deborah; two grandchildren.

• Education: Studied industrial engineering at Serge Burns Engineering School in Louisville, Ky., 1952-53; majored in Bible at Piedmont Bible College in Winston-Salem, 1955-59; Associate of Arts degree from Wingate College in Wingate, 1964-65; and studied at the School of the Prophets, Criswell Bible Institute in Dallas, Texas, 1964-65.

• Ministry: Licensed to preach by Brentwood Baptist Church in High Point in 1957; ordained by Wingate Baptist Church in 1960; pastor at Deep Creek Baptist Church in Wadesboro, 1959-60; Oakview Baptist Church in High Point, 1961-65; Oakley Baptist Church in Siler City, 1966-77; Hillcrest Baptist Church in Greensboro, 1978-81; and Allen Jay Baptist Church in High Point, July 1981-95.

By Nick Maheras STAFF WRITER

The Rev. Max Reece Sr. will retire Sunday, but he has no intentions of leaving the ministry. After 38 years as a Southern Baptist

minister, in­ cluding 14 of those as

pastor of Allen Jay Baptist Church, Reece's health is forcing him into an early retirement. "This Parkinson's Disease for the

last three years," he says, "(has) taken quite a toll on me. That's why we're taking the early retirement. The pressure of a pastorate is just too much for me to handle at this present time." Reece, 64, would be eligible for re­

tirement anyway in several months. His church, Allen Jay Baptist, re­

cently voted to merge with Brentwood Baptist Church, the church that li­ censed him to preach 38 years ago. The congregations will conduct a

joint worship service at Allen Jay Baptist Sunday morning to retire Reece. There will be a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday to honor him at the church at 1100 E. Fairfield Rd. Reece expects retirement to pose its

own challenges. "It's a challenge- especially with my

condition," he says. "I want to be ac­ tive in supplying (fill-in preaching). I might do some interim work. I'm looking forward to going out on some more mission trips and continuing my service for the Lord. "Hopefully, I'll be able to get my

Max Reece

Page 6-B THE CHATHAM NEWS, Siler City, N. C. Thursday, December 12, 1974

Local pastor returns after tour of Holy Land Rev. Max G. ReeC41.- tour director,

along witn-three tour hosts, Rev. Garland Bordeaux, pastor of Moon's Chapel Baptist Church; Rev. Amos Garner, pasfor of Fall Creek Baptist Church, and P. M. Johnson, chairman of deacons, Fork Baptist Church, Mocksville hosted a group of 40 people on a tour of the Holy Land and Switzerland, November 27 through December 6. Local people joining the group were

Ricky Reece, Mr. and Mrs. Billy Poe, Mrs. Amos Garner, Miss Pam Garner, Gary Phillips, Mrs. Garland Bordeaux, )arrell Bordeaux, Donald Joyce, Bill tomas. Mrs. Nancy Davis, Mrs. Gilda

Lindley, Mrs. Vera Ellington, Mrs. Fallie Andrews, Mrs. Berta Mae Tillman Francis Brewer. ' 1:he group departed Greensboro by

Umted Jet at 3:10 p.m. November 27 for Newark, N. J. where they were transferred by N. Y. Airways helicopter to the John F. Kennedy airport in New York Cty. After check-in at Swissair they departed at 7:55 p.m. for Zurich Switzerland aboard a 747 Swissair Jumb~ Jet. They arrived in Zurich and transferred to a DC 10 for the flight to Ben Gurion airport in Tel-Aviv, Israel. Upon arrival in Tel-Aviv, the group boarded a bus for Jerusalem. Their hotel

Tour group in Jerusalem Members of the Max Reece tour group stroll in the old city of Jerusalem on the street known as the Via Dolorosa that leads to Calvary.

was the beautiful Inter-Continental, located on the Mount of Olives. On November 29 they motored to the

Western Wall or the Wailing Wall. November 30 was the Jewish Sabbath and they would not be permitted to go at that time. Jerusalem observes three holidays per week. Friday is the Holy Day for the Moslems; Saturday for the Jews and Sunday for the Christians. They continued on through the Kidron

Valley past the tombs of Absalom and St. James the Less and Zecharia. They visited the Spring of Gihon and while there saw the tunnel dug by Hezekiah. From there they went to the Pool of Siloam, Mt. Ophel and the Valley of Gehenna. Also to the church of St. Peter in Gallicantu built over the palace of the High Priest, Caiaphas. After lunch, they drove to Bethlehem,

observed the tomb of Rachel by the wav and visited the church of Nativity built over the stable where Jesus was born. A very impressive Christmas Service was held before driving down to Shepherd's Field for another Service. The next day the group visited Mt. Zion

and the traditional tomb of King David. Another service was held in the Upper Room where the Last Supper of Jesus was observed. They visited the model city of ancient Jerusalem and saw the Dead Sea Scrolls in the "Shrine of the Book." From the Israel Museum they visited the Pool of Bethesda and the Sheep Gate (called St. Stephen's Gate in the New Testament). St. Stephen, a deacon, was stoned to death just outside this gate. Jordan's Calvary was visited and a

wonderful service held there. On December 1 they drove through

Bethany, home of Mary and Martha. Here Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Thev stopped at the Good

Samaritan Inn on the road to Jericho and held a Sunday morning service before driving on and viewing the excavations of old Jericho and the Mount of Temptation. After leaving Jericho they drove to

Qumran near the Dead Sea to see the remains of the Essene Monastery and the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. There they viewed Mount Nebo where Moses was permitted to glimpse the Promised Land before his death. After lunch they continued along the shores of the Dead Sea through Ein Gedi to take the cable car up to Massada, site of the Zealots last stand against the Romans. On December 2 they drove north past

Nob, Gibeah and Ramah on to Beeroth "a day's journey from Jerusalem ,: through the plain of Lebonnah and the plans of Shechem. They visited Jacob's well in Shechem, the first capital of the Northern Kingdom. They traveled on through the valley of

Jezreel, passing Mount Tabor which is the stie of the Transfiguration, on to the Jordan River where they had a baptismal service. They sailed across the Sea of Galilee (after a delicious lunch of St. Peter's fish) to Capernaum where the ancient synagogue is located and also St. Peter's house is located. They drove up on the Mount of Beatitudes where a special service remembering the feeding of the 5,000 was held. The beautiful Golan Hotel in Tiberias was where they stayed and shared with each other the highlights

.of their trip thus far. The next morning, December 3 they

drove to Nazareth and had a service in the First Baptist Church, visited the Baptist School which has 600 students had a time of fellowship with Mr. George Laty and his family. From Nazareth to Megiddo, one of Solomon's chariot cities and scene of the final battle of Armageddon. After their visit they continued on to

Mount Carmel and the port city of Haifa, passing the river Kishon. After lunch on top of Mount Carmel they drove to Caesarea the capital of the Roman Providence. There they viewed the crusader's castle, Roman theatre and aqueduct and the harbor from which Paul was taken to Rome. They continued on to the Baptist village in the Plains of Sharon. This is the Baptist camp for children similar to Camp Caraway in - Asheboro. They were allowed to pick oranges and grapefruit from the trees there at the camp. That night was spent in the Shalom Towers Hotel and an early morning flight to Zurich, Switzerland their last stop before returning home. ' After their arrival in Zurich they were

taken by motor coach to the Hotel International. A tour of the city and the Baptist Seminary at Ruschlikon was enjoyed in the afternoon. The Baptist Center is located high on a mountain overlooking the beautiful Lake Zurich and the city of Zurich. They saw the banking section and the Bohnhofstrasse

with its spendid shops and Christmas lighting. The twin-spired Basilica of the

Grossmuenster, the Wasserkirche at the ~ive~s edge, the Ha!_l!_l!iaus with its local museum, a Renaissance building from 1699, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Swiss National Museum were very ' interesting. December 5 was an all-day tour of

Switzerland, taking them across the country side to Lucerne, viewing beautiful Mt. Rigi and on to Sarven Brien, Interlaken and Grindelwald'. From there they could view what is known as the Western Wall which is the very highest point of the Swiss Alps. From here they drove to Steffisburg and to Bern for a shopping experience in the quaint city. Back to Zurich for dinner a night's rest before winging home · to New York and from there to Siler

Rev. Max Reece describes trip .

Trip to Holy land for local minister described as a dream come true

By E. A. Resch

The youngish looking Baptist minister sat in his comfortable study .JlPd talked at length about a life's dream having come true, making possible a journey that will be long remembered because of its significance to his career. The speaker was Rev. Max G. Reece

who has been pastor of the Oakley Bap­ tist Church for the past four years. Mr ... · Reece was surprised before Christmas , Day by a gift of a trip to the Holy Land ·>

b~ his . church and a round ·t~ip fr~m .~ Siler City to New York was given him · by the deacons and trustees of the ·; church. "I was really shocked," he said, "when

my wife called me to say that the church was giving this trip as a Christ­ mas present. I was away on revival when she called me and asked would I go. I agreed instantly because this was a dream of many years. It has truly made my ministry more effective to have been in the land where Jesus per­ formed miracles, where He was cruci­ fied, and to see the empty tomb from which He was resurrected." He left Charlotte on December 23, fly­

ing into New York's Kennedy Airport where he joined the tour party. The first stop after an overseas flight

was in Amsterdam. Only about 90 min­ utes went by between the evening meal and breakfast, the passengers being per­ mitted some sleep before they were awakened for breakfast. They were told the short span between the meals was because of an effort to avoid jet lag (fatigue) because of crossing six time zones at high speed. The group toured Amsterdam, visit­

ing a diamond factory, the home of Rem­ brandt and some of the canal homes and an area where there are thousands of families still living on houseboats. It was here that Mr. Reece learned that religious affiliations are based on geo­ graphic Jines, the Northern part of Hol­ land being Protestant while the southern area is Catholic. After a brief stop at Munich the group

was flown into Tel Aviv, Israel, where shortly its members were transferred to buses that were to take them to Jerusalem. Travel around Israel was in air condi­

tioned buses and the tourists were on the go day and night, sometimes arriv­ ing in early morning and sometimes traveling at night so that more daylight time would be available for sight seeing. An outstanding feature of the drive

from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was the sight of the cities at night. Particularly interesting was the sight of Bethlehem and the cluster of stars reminding the pilgrims of the Star of Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born. Israel is a country of 8,000 square

miles containing a population of 3,000,000 people. Human relics have been found there dating back 400,000 years. The

'

most characteristic feature of Israel is diversity which comes in five forms: people, religions, climate, flowers and birds. The language is Hebrew and Ara­ bic, but some also spea French, Eng­ lish, Yiddish, Russian a d German. Geographically Israel is 65 miles long

and varies in width from s · miles to 70. Of the three million pr t iQll, 21/i

million are Jews who live in 70 cities and 750 villages; 250,000 are Arabs who live in eight towns and 100 villages; and the other 500,000 are of various mi­ nority groups of less number than the Arabs. Israel is a poor country in natural re­

sources. It docs not have sufficjcnt pow­ (Plcase Turn To Page !.J )

...... er; water, coal, natural fore,l;, oil or minerals. One-third of its lanrt is irri­ gated from the Sen of Galilee, The coun­ try's three chief exports arc diamonds (which they don't mine, they just cut them), oranges and tourism. More than $100 million was spent by tourists there in 1969. Various impressions arc possible.

There are many who are living in poverty over in the old city of Jerusalem. Still others working determinedly, eke out a hare livelihood with just enough to eat being a daily prob'.em. The new Jerusalem is a modern city

and its modernity is comparable to the United States cities. In new Jerusalem women wear mini

skirts and leather boots just as they do here, but in the old city are many who still wear the traditional black garb and veils over their faces. The question was naturally raised a­

bout the dress of women who are serv­ ing in the Israeli Army. "They too wear mini dresses," Reece

said as he told of the time when the bus driver picked up two who were ap­ parently hitch hiking. Both men and women in the army are

given periodic leaves on week-ends to spend with their families, following which they return to camp. · The driver of the bus on which the

party rode was Bob Liebman, a young Jew who was born and reared in the United States and educated in New York universities. He was objective in his discussion of

the various political situations and the explosive nature of Arab - Israeli rela­ tions. Liebman said that the Israelis have no use for Communists. Ile ex­ plained the kibbutz as being the only form of life that could even remotely be related to the Communist. The kibbutz is a community which is

an entity within itself. The people work together, share the fruits of their labors, have their own hospitals, a cafeteria where the travelers ate a delicious meal. The "chief difference between life in a kibbutz is the freedom of the people to go and come as thcv wish and to leave with their families at any tune they so desire. · Tensions between the Arabs and the sraelis were described by the bus dri­ ver, the American - born young Jew. While traveling near Hebron one day, one of the tour members from (~corgin saw soldiers outside the Hebrew temple,

a l !HE CHATHAM NEWS, SILER CITY, N. C. c7 .off 74J ~~~~~- ~ . -- ~~~~~~~~~~-'=-~·~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~

~Holy Lan ' r r ~cal minister 'orrnerlv controlled bv i '" Arabs and off lirni[s to .Iewi h '."' hppers. Now they were Jll'"l'.'in1 w1t11op1 l mitntion and were gom:; i 1\0 the tee· .le to worship. The travelers wcnl l!l ,, the temple

wc3n·1r; I· ':HI ro;'r'l'll1P,S, a traditional Hebrew practice. As they approached the temple doors, one of the party asked Liebman if the soldit'rs in front of the temple \\'CCC Israelis. '·~rv Lord, lady," he replied. ' I sure 1 .), 1 they arc." New ci!i 's arc kin~ built as the Is­

raeli economy accc'cratcs its pattern of growth. ;\L·n> Jews. from all parts of the world, arc rcturninr; to Israel. They arc lawvers, nr.li :iri'm , comedians and others. Thev know nothing about farm­ mg, but <ire clemonstrnting their willing­ ness to learn as they help build cities "in the mio lie of nowhc;re" on land that has been nothing but arid desert for manv years. They arc living in high-rise apartment. hut go out <very day to help on the farm. Mr. Reece s aid that this is a direct

fulfillment or the prediction to be found in the Old Testamrnt that before "lhe return of the Lord" the land shall blos­ som as a rose. The tourists wrre greatly impressed

by the beauty of the orange groves, and the apple and pear orc11::irds, fruits now thrivin ; where there was nothing. In fact, on the pl:1inc of Sharon, there was nothinr; but m'.) :quiioc.~ and swamp;; be­ fo·e ti e Isncli o('cupation of the area. The I~r;icJ;s ti :-i inrd the arcn, built a growing city, :rnd fnr1n the iand with good success. r .. rore or,111ges than needed frr home consl'mption are grown and the surplus is <>l~ippect abroad, much of it to the United States East Coast. The Chatham Count\' preacher was

greatly impressed by 'the fact that no one is on we]f.;rc. I·~vcryonc has a job nnd is working. Only the workers on roads were subsidized by thc govern­ ment much in the same manner of WPA durincr the Hoosevelt ndministration The"' future of Israel. Reece said: is

bright bec<1use the people have a goal in life. •·our guide told it Jike it is," Reece

said, adding that he w{ls describing the prngram as fulfilling the pattern God planned for them .and they. arc working to fulfill the promise tp thctr forefathers that they would nial:e this lnnd the scene of progress, Stlrh as the most progressive areas. in nil the world. ··when we \\'1.>rc 1n tlic ;1rea of Hebron "

Heece said. •·we Wer~ in some dangc'r. On the 27th of Dccernbcr a tourist from • ·cw York had been killed. This wns one of only two incitlt'nts of people los­ ing their Jives. Mcn1bcrs of tour groups :1 e given full protec:tio!l We took up an

offering for the bus ver and gave it to him for giving us a bit of extra pro­ tection by driving along the coastline instead of through the hill country used by other drivers for seeking to make better time. We would, therefore, be brought up to Tel Aviv and then to Jerusalem when we were out after dark. "The two persons killed were victims

of sniper fire of rebels not part of any army, but simply persons who hated the Jews. Our guide told us that the Israeli government, and in fact the Arabs, hJd nothing against the United States. They recognize our closeness to the Christian influence and although they do not ac­ cept 1he l\Jessiah as such, are believers in the Old Testament and its prophe­ cies." Another dnngerous area traversed by

the tourists was up near the sen of Gali­ lee, one of the highlights of the entire trip. The travelers sailed across the Sea of Galilee from Tiberias to Capernaum. It was nearby the spot where Jesus fed the 5,000. About half the people on the trip were

Baptist ministers. The remainder were laymen. Mr. Reece commented on the fact that

he had again been baptized, this time by sprinkling at the hands of a Jewish guide with water from the River Jordan. "I can now say that I was baptized by

immersion out of a pond in Yadkin County, North Carolina, and by a Jew using water out of the River Jordan." In the area of Tiberias it was learned

I.hat half of this place is above sea level and half below. When traveling across the sea of Galilee the tourists were told by their boat captain that surely the party consisted of a praying group of Baptists because earlier that morning there were six-foot waves only to be replaced by a quiet calm as the group sailed across the sea. Much of Jesus' ministry was m this

area, Reece related. The little town of Magdala is the town near the spot where Mary Magdalene was reared. It was here that the travelers could look across the hills to view the Plain of Gennesaret where ''Jesus cast the demons out of men and cast them into swine." Capcrnaum is significant because it

was the home of Peter and his family. Jesus predicted that Capernaum would be destroyed because of the sinfulness of its people and truth of the prohpecy was seen bv the travelers. The travelers, being Baptists, were

n:1turally interested in some institu· items receiving support from the denom· ination. Not only did the places visited have religious significance, but provided nbo the opportunity to visit the Baptist center in Cana of Galilee, a Baptist Church, a school in Nazareth, and a Baptist Center near Tel Aviv which is

PHOTO BY ALAN D.

Minister describes Holy Land trip Rev. ~fax neece of Onkl?y Bnptb! Church points to n map as ht> de~.::nbcs cent trip to the Holy Lnncl. Hcccc snid it \\'ns a wre:1m come true for him.

near Old Joppa. Here there is also a children's home. Also visited were two Baptist churches,

one near the old wall city and one in new Jerusalern. The members of the group were also

enabled to visit some of the Baptist mis· sionaries in tne area to discuss the nn­ turc and Progress of their work there. According to Illr. Heece the trip cov­

ered 14,000 <1ir miles and was fatiguing only to the extent that he caught the flu and spent a day in bed in Athens. He suggests that others making a simi· Jar trip. will fare well if they eat lightly and dnnk only water from approYed water systems. The local n1inistcr has been asked bv

Wholesale Tours International to lead a group leaving on December 26 and re-

turning on January ,1. On thi<; trip the travelers wiil come back by \\'ay of Rome. This will give Hrec.e <in oppor­ tunity to visit an area not touched upon during this trip. He spent two days, however, in Athens. Greece and visited the Acropolis and the Parthenon. In summing up Reece said, "the tour

strengthened my convictions on ti e word of God. A person cnn never m.ike tnis trip without becoming a better person and a better Christir.n. I think the trip was of more importance to me !nan all my formal education. It is one thing to rend about it in the clns5rooms at col· kgc or the scminnry, but ii is another thing to actunlly journC'y over the lands of our Lord and to follow the p:i1hs traver:-ed by the Apostle ~attl tl!at are mentioned so often in the New Testa- ment."

Rev. Max Gardner Reece was born March 12, 1931 in Boonville, N. C. He was licensed to preach by the Brentwood Baptist Church in High Point, N. C. on February 12, 1958 and was later ordained by the Wingate Baptist Church in Wingate, N. C. on February 21, 1960. Rev. Reece attended Piedmont

Bible College in Winston-Salem, N. C. and graduated from Win­ gate College in Wingate, N. C. in 1961. He has served as interim pastor

of the English Road Baptist Church and the former Faith Bap­ tist Church in High Point, N. C. While serving as pastor of the Deep Creek Baptist Church in Wadesboro, N. C., he was called to the Oak View Baptist Church. Presently, he is serving Oakley Baptist Church in Siler City, N. C. He is married to the former Miss

Virginia Weaver of High Point, N. C. They have three children, Max Gardner, Jr., Frederick Joel and Deborah Lynn. As the second pastor, Rev. Reece

served the church from October 1, 1961 thru March 1966.

Rev. Max G. Reece

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