Letter from S Glyne Hunte
Background
John S Hales served at '3-day meetings' in Barbados in September 1965 in which he promoted commerce in the assembly. This letter dated 20 October 1965 from S Glyne Hunte of Barbados to David W Morren of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, is evidence of the right judgment arrived at by the assembly in Barbados regarding those meetings.
Transcript
(Bold emphasis added for clarity)
Barbados 20/Oct/65
Beloved Brother,
Please thank your local brethren for the gift sent for our 3 day meetings last month with J.S. Hales.
It is a matter of sorrow that we have to record that what was not of God was allowed to come into the meetings unchallenged by us. This was primarily commerce. Also, visitors who are successful businessmen were singled out as examples of manhood whereas only the work of God by the Spirit is of value in the assembly. Wrong application of scripture was permitted on several points. Firstly, "dispensation" in Col. 1 and 1 Tim 1 to warrant "economics" related to the Island and to business to be brought into the assembly. Secondly, 1 Cor. 11:33, that we should wait for brethren who are late in arriving at the Supper thus disregarding the scripture in Luke 22:14 - "When the hour was come". Thirdly, 1 Peter 3:7 that husbands should keep the pressure on their wives until they complain & then let up occasionally. Also that our wives are to be widows while their husbands are alive, because of their service to others. Fourthly, John 5:17, that the Father's work is connected with helping the brethren in their businesses, and that the entertainment of the Saints at noontime is disruptive of the Father's work because of the time used up. It was also taught that the effectiveness of a minister is measured by his demands on the brethren. This is entirely contrary to the new covenant.
All this has been owned in the assembly before the Lord, on the basis of Lev. 4:13-21, and we feel humbled at having failed the Lord. We have also judged that what proceeded in Barbados was part of a system that is really a "different gospel", Gal. 1:6, and rival to what the Spirit of God has established in the recovery. We have therefore judged the whole meetings as wrong & withdrawn any notes. Private business meetings attended by some were also judged to be wrong, since the basis for attending was because persons were in fellowship. Thus such a dignified relationship which relates to the assembly was degraded to business, and this was judged to be a despisal of the assembly. The taint of communism was also judged: this crept in by the stress on "equality", thus overlooking God's ordering in His government, e.g. rich & poor.
The subtlety which the enemy used in mixing up what was outwardly right with what was wrong has been exposed. We feel much indebted to our beloved brother Jim Taylor who quickly detected this evil when he got the facts from some of the New York visitors. It is a time of heart searching but we can be thankful for the deliverance which has been wrought. May we all be kept humble & watchful against the enemy's next attack.
With love to all the Saints with you,
Affectionately your brother in the Lord Jesus
S. Glyne Hunte
Copy of original
Copy of the original letter: View letter
For further information:
Barbados, W.I.
Evan Pudney
Atlantic Shores
Christ Church, BB17127
BARBADOS W.I.
Mobile: +1 246-829-4764
Email: evanpudney@gmail.com
Mandeville, Jamaica, W.I.
Simon McMullan
5 Caledonia Boulevard
Mandeville, Manchester
JAMAICA W.I.
Mobile: +1 876-773-3571
Email: simon35mcmullan@gmail.com
Nicolas Noakes
24 Buena Vista Close
Mandeville, Manchester
JAMAICA W.I.
Mobile: +1 876-821-4026
Email: nicolas.noakes@gmail.com
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Justin Pudney
2401 Globe Drive
Knoxville, TN 37912
USA
Mobile: +1 865-256-9529
Email: justinpudney74@gmail.com
Peter Allen
2213 Madison Road NW
Knoxville, TN 37912
USA
Mobile: +1 865-309-2899
Email: peter@allenstrading.com
Maryville, Tennessee, USA
Mark Jurgens
2018 Oakwood Drive
Maryville, TN 37803
USA
Mobile: +1 865-765-6242
Email: mjurgens@gmail.com
Nigel Pudney
2836 Norcross Road
Maryville, TN 37803
USA
Mobile: +1 865-995-8807
Email: nigelpudney2014@gmail.com
Clinton, Tennessee, USA
Matthew Eales
707 Riverbend Road
Clinton, TN 37716
USA
Mobile: +1 865-309-3800
Email: matthew.eales@gmail.com
Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
Jason Pudney
8161 Karr Street
Chattanooga, TN 37421
USA
Mobile: +1 423-304-1136
Email: jsn.pudney@gmail.com
Nathan Tunley
1404 Rowewood Drive
Chattanooga, TN 37421
USA
Mobile: +1 423-320-4330
Email: nathantunley1984@gmail.com
Cleveland, Tennessee, USA
Stephen Noakes
2510 Elm Drive NE
Cleveland, TN 37312
USA
Mobile: +1 423-475-0099
Email: stephen.noakes@gmail.com
Stuart Beattie
2025 Eveningside Drive NW
Cleveland, TN 37312
USA
Mobile: +1 706-264-1716
Email: lsbeattie26@gmail.com
Frankfort, Kentucky, USA
Peter Morley
706 Colonial Trace
Frankfort, KY 40601
USA
Mobile: +1 865-441-6646
Email: peter.morley.usa@gmail.com
Robin Jurgens
215 Tonkawa Trail
Frankfort, KY 40601
USA
Mobile +1 502-330-8405
Email: rsjurgens@gmail.com
Lexington, Kentucky, USA
Adin Pudney
569 Cane Run Road
Lexington, KY 40505
USA
Mobile: +1 859-285-4313
Email: adinpudneyusa@gmail.com
James Morley
576 Bryanwood Parkway
Lexington, KY 40505
USA
Mobile: +1 865-246-8420
Email: james.f.morley@gmail.com
Georgetown, Kentucky, USA
Javan Morley
122 Redding Road
Georgetown, KY 40324
USA
Mobile: +1 502-234-0116
Email: jvnmorley@gmail.com
James Paynter
603 Mojave Trail
Georgetown, KY 40324
USA
Mobile: +1 859-202-9889
Email: jamespaynter67@gmail.com
Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Daniel Bricknell
8112 Sapwood Court
Raleigh, NC 27615
USA
Mobile: +1 704-977-4886
Email: danielbricknell1@gmail.com
Jethro McMullan
8509 Stonegate Drive
Raleigh, NC 27615
USA
Phone: +1 704-684-7976
Email: jethro.mcmullan@gmail.com
Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
Roger Pudney
5517 Orchard Oriole Trail
Wake Forest, NC 27587
USA
Mobile: +1 984-444-1122
Email: rogpud@gmail.com
Concord, North Carolina, USA
Alex Paynter
113 Fryling Avenue SW
Concord, NC 28025
USA
Mobile: +1 704-606-2290
Email: alexpaynter26@gmail.com
Mint Hill, North Carolina, USA
Michael Stewart
8601 Bartlett Road
Mint Hill, NC 28227
USA
Mobile: +1 704-901-6740
Email: mikestewart35@gmail.com
Anton Jurgens
8917 Fultram Lane
Mint Hill, NC 28227
USA
Mobile: +1 704-488-7294
Email: jurgens.anton@gmail.com
Stallings, North Carolina, USA
Gavin Eales
1568 Hawthorne Drive
Indian Trail, NC 28079
USA
Mobile: +1 336-944-8033
Email: gavineales1@gmail.com
Neiel Pudney
6007 Hemlock Drive
Indian Trail, NC 28079
USA
Mobile: +1 704-870-1853
Email: neiel1981@gmail.com