Mike's Amazon
When I first got on Facebook in 2009, Marla Carlton, a Nazarene Bible College alumnae, got in touch with me. Soon a conversation started between me and several other Bible College Alumns from those early years when Doctor Richard Strickland was President.
My late wife Lynne was a part of that experience. In 2008 she passed away. In 2010 I met and married Mary.
The occasion that got this event rolling was James Russom's 60th birthday.
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| James Russom |
From Mike to James Russom:
Greetings from the old hound dog to the young pup! (James Russom)
I thought I'd let you know why your ears were burning! Earl was asking if we knew each other at NBC, and as I was reminiscing I brought up your name. Correct me if my facts are wrong. It's good to see you looking so healthy, intelligent, and happy, especially on your 60th. I can barely mange to look awake without drooling. I did pastor some nice churches, but it was because Lynne impressed them.
From Mike to Earl Carlton, (Marla's husband and fellow Alumn)
Did you go from 69 to 72? I believe that was the third class. I attended in the day. I worked on 2nd shift at Western Forge, and sang on week ends with Dave and Jane Smith, (Dan Smith's brother) and my wife Lynne, with the unofficial college group, the Insights. My dad, William or Bill, started in 70, and attended night class. He graduated, I did not. I dropped out in my third year to go full time with the Insights, and then I went on to be an Associate Pastor with Bob Leffel, who taught at the Bible College.
I was one of the younger students, only surpassed by the most Honorable James Russom, who was 2 years younger (20) when he started. He was part of the other unofficial college quartet, the Harvesters, (with Wayne Rose, Dan Allen, Chet Smith, and???)) and later James pastored in southern California, not too far from where I was an associate with Bob Leffel. I also vaguely remember that James played the piano, (before they were called keyboards!)
From James Rayford Russom: Hi Mike and Earl,
I attended 69 - 71 and graduated in the second class. Susan's parents, Roy and Nell Smith traveled with a singing group as well, George Hurst was also in that group. Mom and Dad Smith went on to pastor the Quechan indians and George was a missionary in Africa.
Harvesters: Wayne Rose - regisered evangelist and pastor,
Dan Allen - pastor and trucking business, Dick Clifton - pastor Assy. of God, Doyle Gregory dropped out and went his own way.
I pastored for 35 years and am now teaching and adminisration at NBC full time. After NBC I continued my education until I earned a Doctorate.
From Richard Clifton: Greetings..
I also traveled with Harvester, playing bass. I graduated in '72. I am few months younger than James Russom, and Doyle Gregory, our bass singer, was just younger than me. I never thought of it, but I guess the 3 of our group were the youngest of students at the time.
I did not know, or remember that you went full time with the Insights in those days!
I have pastored 4 churches, done full time evangelism. I am currently serve as GM of a Christian TV station in KY.
Blessings.
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| Earl and Marla Carlton |
From Earl R Carlton: Yes, thanks guys (Mike) for getting back so quickly to me, but I guess when you are as old as we are now every minute counts. My time at NBC was nights 69 - 73. I took a little longer to do everything. I remember Wayne Rose, Bob Cunningham, and a few others, but I did not make too many close friends. I worked construction to support my family. Marla and I had 5 churches- Bingen Wa., Union Gap, Wa. Bellingham, Wa. and Deer Park, Wa. and Culver Or. for a total of 32 yrs. I'm semi retired now, working construction off and on, mostly off these days. We live in Central Oregon close to grand kids and teach Bible at the county jail once a week. The district closed the Nazarene Church here, so we attend the A.G. church. I am really glad to hear from you guys, and that your are so active in serving King Jesus. I would love renewing our friendships. Bless you all!
From James Rayford Russom:
Hi Dick,
There probably aren't that many people that were in our class still active in ministry, as most of them had 10 or more years on us. We were among the few young ones who came to NBC because we wanted only one thing... to learn to be a good pastor. I never dreamed I would come back to NBC to teach. As a matter of fact I am the first NBC Alum. to be hired as faculty and/or administration.
Dick, remember when we cut our record and the Flying W Ranch band played for us? The current band has one member who is a full time student, studying to be a pastor. I taught him the other evening. He has started a cowboy church at the Flying W. Worshiped there last week. It was fun.
From Marla LaVerne Riddle Carlton:
Well it is good to read all the history you men put on. I was one of only a few women who was studying for ministry at NBC. I went Day's while my husband Earl R. (Dick) Carlton went nights. We were very busy, we had 4 children and a business. "D" Gutter, and we hired Bible College students. It took us longer to get through because I had to have surgery so we had to come back an extra quarter. We sold our business when we left and took 'Home Mission' churches and rebuilt them up; what a joy. I so enjoyed your musical singing groups. I was commissioned in Christian Education and we worked as a team. Went to Northwest College a year, getting more counseling classes. Then while in the Deer Park church, I did the studies with our District, I finished and was Ordained.
From Mike Dittmer:
James, I didn't realize there was a whole litter of you young pups.
Lynne had your bright cheerful personality. I'll bet you wake up that way! I enjoyed being around her, and you, but that much cheerfulness in the morning seemed unnatural.
Thanks for all the details! Lynne handled that for me, so until Facebook came along, I was pretty much in a fog about those years. But talking about it has sharpened my memory.
I remember Sue's parents and their group. They had a nice Chuck Wagon Gang sound. I really enjoyed their group.
Enjoyed chatting with everybody. Let's do it again sometime. Whose birthday is next?
By the way, was anybody in the class with Ron Lush, when one of the students asked what the text book meant by a perversion of the original style? Ron had me come to the front of the class and play Blessed Assurance in the Evangelistic style, then he instructed me to play it like the arrangement I had played for the Insights, where we were scheduled together with Ron. I changed the timing from 6/8 to 12/8 slowing the song down, and giving it the feel of a black gospel choir, and then I put in a few licks to top it off. The class erupted in Amens and praise Gods and they were waving hankies and shouting and standing and clapping. When I finished the revised version, Ron looked at the class, and said, "According to the author, that was perverted." Whenever he was scheduled with us, he requested that song.
From Daniel C. Smith:
Hi all you guys..Great to see the pics and hear from you. I graduated in 71 also and pastored 5 churches, and did music evangelism for a total of 25 years with the church. Recently retired with one of those great Nazarene pensions, not complaining, Was honored to serve.
Presently living with my wife Leona of 40 years, whom I met while in Bible College and married at Southgate Church of the Nazarene there, we are in Emmett, ID. just outside of Nampa, Boise area.
My kids are serving the Lord. One is married to a Nazarene pastor in Emmett, the other is married and living in Medford, OR.
Wife is still teaching school and I still play with race cars. During my ministry years, I also spent time working for GM. Makes retirement for me easier.
Dave, my brother, of the original Insights, lives and works in Tulare, CA. Stay in touch. Like to know what everyone is doing these days.. seems we lose touch with a lot of the older guys.
Dan
From Arnold John Allen:
Hi Guys! I also was one of the younger ones. Graduated in '72 @ 20. Pastored & then went to missions with YWAM. Now doing home churches, counseling & working with prophetic/apostolic teams in our region. (Northwest U.S.) Carol & I had our 40th last summer.
From Deaf Ranger:
Arnold, I remember you from NBC. I was 25 when I started at NBC. I had a wife and 3 children and worked in a cabinet shop, going to class in the evenings. I left there and went back to N. Hollywood CofN stayed a year or so and worked on the streets of Hollywood doing street evangelism. Then in August 1973 went to near Pittsburgh, PA and started a Christian Coffeehouse. Many young people got saved and off of drugs and alcohol. They were not accepted in the local churches so we started an independent church. Then in 1978 we went to YWAM till 1999 and then left there and started an independent ministry called Deaf World Ministry, which is still going but down sized to my wife and I and relocated to AZ where we are now entering the Deaf community and building relationships and ministering to the Deaf as the Lord leads us.
We are semi-retired - who retires fully from the Lord's work? We have a tent-making business making period clothing for those involved in Cowboy Action shooting, and I do leather crafting making holsters, gun belts, and lots of things of leather, doing tooling etc. We love it here in AZ. It makes for great winters and nice summers.
Did not mean to shun anyone else by addressing Arnold...I just remember him most clearly.
This is the conclusion of that Facebook get together. If I dig up any more material, I'll keep you posted. #rmdo
