News Briefs
Diocesan Press Service. November 10, 1965 [XXXVII-7]
TEXAS LAYMAN VISITS CENTRAL AMERICA
During the latter part of September a Texas layman,. Khleber V. Atwell, Jr. travelled throughout the republics of Guatemala and El Salvador, telling groups of lay leaders the story of the difference Jesus Christ had made in his life and of the way in which his parish, St. Stephen' s Church, Houston, is developing and exercising this ministry along with others.
The need for effective Christian lay persons who can carry out their essential function in the Body of Christ has been recognized by the clergy in Central America for some time. However, it is less than effective to tell lay people what they ought to do. How much more convincing to have a committed layman tell of the joy he has found in his own ministry of witnessing.
Mr. Attwell traveled with the Archdeacon of El Salvador and Guatemala, the Ven. G. Edward Haynsworth, to four different locations, speaking in Spanish to representative laymen in each location and then again in the two capital cities, San Salvador and Guatemala City, to English speaking groups also. In all more than 80 laymen, the majority nationals of the two republics, heard the story of the laymen's essential role in the life of the Church.
Of necessity the meetings were in the evening when time was limited, except at Mariscos on Lake Izabal, Guatemala, where all of Sunday, following the Eucharist, was devoted to this program. Here 24 lay leaders from six missions around the Lake had gathered to learn what lay witnessing could mean to them. There were three full sessions with questions and discussion and the final session ended with three of the laymen giving their own witness.
The participants in these meetings and clergy in both Guatemala and El Salvador are now seeking to develop an experimental lay training program which will fit the culture of the area. They will then share their findings with the other three republics which make up the Missionary District of Central America. An essential principle in this program is that the committed layman has a witness to make and in so doing grows in his faith. The program will also help the committed layman grow in knowledge through Bible study and prayer groups.
Khleber Attwell is a typical committed layman from his parish in Houston. His rector, the Rev. Claxton Monro, recommended him because he spoke Spanish. Mr. Attwell brought with him other witnesses from his parish on tape in both Spanish and English. A certified public accountant, Mr. Attwell spoke simply and with great conviction of the new life he and his family had found in Jesus Christ.
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