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The Final Word JULY/AUGUST, 2003

John H. Giesler

ONWARD is published 10 times a year, with two double issues, by the Moravian Mission Society, South, Inc. You can subscribe for $10 per year. Changes of address and/or checks should be made out to the Mission Society, and mailed to PO Drawer Y Salem Station, Winston-Salem  NC  27108 – Attention Sheila Beaman.  Editor is Rev. John H. Giesler, 1116 Tommy’s Lake RD, Winston-Salem  NC 27105. E-mail Bethsalem@triad.rr.com  ONWARD on the world wide web www.bethabara.org/ONWARD.htm  Submit articles by last day of month

We are grateful to the Ardmore Holy Folders who process and mail ONWARD around the world. We are very appreciative to Br. William Rosenbaum for putting ONWARD on the WWW. (See address above). We have some late news we want you to know about. Br. Volker Bach began his work as assistant director of Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center the end of April, 2003. The Rt. Rev. Percival Henkelman was honored with a Queen’s jubilee medal recently. The medal was awarded for his continuous contribution to his community. Bless you, Brother.

I attended the dedication service for the new tracker organ in the Kernersville Moravian sanctuary, June 1. It was a two hour service of song with nearly 100 musicians making music to the Lord with the grand instrument. In the afternoon, the dedicatory recital was again nearly two hours of music demonstrating the rich variety of sounds the organ could produce. Both services were packed. There has been criticism about spending a half million dollars for an organ. Dr. Nola Knouse in her sermon put it in perspective. The members have been working on the organ fund for over a decade. During the past ten years they have contributed well over a million dollars for their local budget. They have paid in full the benevolent provincial budget of over $600,000, and beyond that they have spent over $125,000 on mission projects. The organ, with care, will last over a century, so the yearly cost is very reasonable. But the astonishing  fact is that Kernersville is investing for over a century, when, as Dr. Knouse pointed out, that in America at the present time, the average congregation lasts only an average of 17 years! Wow! That is something to think about.