1949 - Circles
It was 1949 when the Prewitt Circle celebrated its 20th anniversary. The Circle began at the time of the Great Stock Market Crash of 1929, when a couple of Woodland Christian Church members, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Prewitt, started the group. They would go on to meet for several decades.
Formed as “A Missionary Study Class” and long led by charter members Mr. and Mrs. Holton Ball, the membership of 26 “married couples” shared devotionals that inspired their outreach. Circle members tended to form a rather close group that stayed together for an average of 11 years per couple. Every member took part in their programs and devotionals, and the women were every bit as active as the men.
The Circle reported that “Our devotionals are on a high level of spirituality and our members put special effort on them. They are really works of art, something fine, Christian, and lovely.” Several of the members served as daily Bible readers and others read the Disciples missionary publication World Call.
They reported that since their founding, the group had an average attendance of 78 percent with 39 visitors. They made 961 calls, read 58 books, and collected dues which were donated to the church and the Living Link missionary. They studied the churches of Japan, Cooperating for a Christian nation, and invited several guest speakers from the College of the Bible and the Woman’s Christian Society.
In response to their Bible study each couple donated an “Overseas Bundle.” These were charity parcels sent to needy Europeans following World War II. The Prewitt Circle sent the struggling families new fabric, needles, threads, and other sewing supplies, as well as specialty items that were hard to come by abroad.
The Circle provided food for the hungry, and particularly, supported poor families at Christmas. For a large family, at Christmas, the Circle would donate food for a month. Each member of the family was given clothing and Christmas gifts together with bedding and other items the members noticed they needed.
By the mid-1950s, as many as a dozen such circles were active at Woodland; groups of Woodland members who advanced the Christian ministry.
Formed as “A Missionary Study Class” and long led by charter members Mr. and Mrs. Holton Ball, the membership of 26 “married couples” shared devotionals that inspired their outreach. Circle members tended to form a rather close group that stayed together for an average of 11 years per couple. Every member took part in their programs and devotionals, and the women were every bit as active as the men.
The Circle reported that “Our devotionals are on a high level of spirituality and our members put special effort on them. They are really works of art, something fine, Christian, and lovely.” Several of the members served as daily Bible readers and others read the Disciples missionary publication World Call.
They reported that since their founding, the group had an average attendance of 78 percent with 39 visitors. They made 961 calls, read 58 books, and collected dues which were donated to the church and the Living Link missionary. They studied the churches of Japan, Cooperating for a Christian nation, and invited several guest speakers from the College of the Bible and the Woman’s Christian Society.
In response to their Bible study each couple donated an “Overseas Bundle.” These were charity parcels sent to needy Europeans following World War II. The Prewitt Circle sent the struggling families new fabric, needles, threads, and other sewing supplies, as well as specialty items that were hard to come by abroad.
The Circle provided food for the hungry, and particularly, supported poor families at Christmas. For a large family, at Christmas, the Circle would donate food for a month. Each member of the family was given clothing and Christmas gifts together with bedding and other items the members noticed they needed.
By the mid-1950s, as many as a dozen such circles were active at Woodland; groups of Woodland members who advanced the Christian ministry.
- Trader, 79-81