‘The Missionary who Stayed Home’
With unbridled enthusiasm, Olan Hicks launched into the first front-page…
After 70 years, The Christian Chronicle maintains its love for Churches of Christ
The Christian Chronicle exists to inform, inspire and unite Churches of Christ with stories about effective congregations, mission efforts around the world, outstanding Christians in many walks of life and matters important for the spiritual development of believers everywhere.
Even though churches are much more diverse than they were even 30 years ago, many essential beliefs are held by Christians in all congregations. This international newspaper provides unifying information so that the sense of oneness has grounds for growing and unifying the Churches of Christ.
The Chronicle has a long and honorable history, thanks to readers who have supported the paper. Many times the Chronicle has faced problems that threatened its mission to “perpetuate the New Testament Church,” in the words of Olan Hicks, who founded the paper 70 years ago.
The first edition appeared June 2, 1943, at a dark time of World War II. Hicks had the vision to see the need for a common source of news as the war stressed the nation and as Christians began to have a wider vision of making Churches of Christ more than a regional movement. The international concept of evangelism dominated Hicks’ work until he lost the paper in 1954.
After Hicks, the Chronicle had numerous leaders, including James Walter Nichols, Ralph Sweet, Haskell Chesshir, Clark Hicks (Olan Hicks’ son) and John Beckloff. Each struggled to rally the financial support to sustain the paper. By the end of 1980, Beckloff and his wife, Dotty, realized they could not continue to produce the paper.
When they offered the Chronicle to Oklahoma Christian College, then-president Terry Johnson realized that the paper could be a great service to churches and members. He presented the situation to a few key people at the college, and Howard Norton, longtime missionary to Brazil, was excited by the idea and became the editor in 1981. The first issue from Oklahoma Christian appeared in September 1981.
Norton worked through various people to produce the paper. After a four-year struggle, he brought together Joy McMillon and Scott LaMascus, whose understanding of the church enhanced the Chronicle’s effectiveness. Then Glover Shipp and Lindy Adams produced the paper.
Now McMillon’s husband, Lynn, serves as editor and CEO. A longtime Bible professor and marriage counselor, he is an elder of Memorial Road Church of Christ in Oklahoma City. He and his wife have conducted marriage seminars in churches across the country, which makes them appreciative of the diversity of congregations and their influence on communities. Lynn McMillon’s desire to make the Chronicle the highest quality paper — with faithful adherence to biblical precepts — assures that the paper will continue to inform and unify Churches of Christ.
In 2001, Erik Tryggestad came on board to cover international news. He had completed a graduate degree in journalism and had worked for daily newspapers in his home state, Georgia. His experience made him invaluable. He recently returned from Ireland — the 50th country from which he’s reported for the Chronicle. Because of the paper’s limited budget, he finds outside funding for many of his trips. He and his wife are faithful members at Memorial Road.
In 2005, Bobby Ross Jr. left The Associated Press to work with the Chronicle as managing editor. Ross has 25 years of experience as a journalist and editor, which has enhanced the publication greatly. His monthly column has provided insights about trends and movements within the church.
Ross, who has reported from 46 states, has a unique ability to give a personal face to church work and workers. He is a member of the Edmond Church of Christ in Oklahoma, where he is loved and appreciated for his faith.
Despite financial struggles, The Christian Chronicle continues to grow and improve. God is blessing the church through the dedication of these faithful people who love and serve the Churches of Christ.
CONTACT: [email protected].
Even though churches are much more diverse than they were even 30 years ago, many essential beliefs are held by Christians in all congregations. This international newspaper provides unifying information so that the sense of oneness has grounds for growing and unifying the Churches of Christ.
The Chronicle has a long and honorable history, thanks to readers who have supported the paper. Many times the Chronicle has faced problems that threatened its mission to “perpetuate the New Testament Church,” in the words of Olan Hicks, who founded the paper 70 years ago.
The first edition appeared June 2, 1943, at a dark time of World War II. Hicks had the vision to see the need for a common source of news as the war stressed the nation and as Christians began to have a wider vision of making Churches of Christ more than a regional movement. The international concept of evangelism dominated Hicks’ work until he lost the paper in 1954.
After Hicks, the Chronicle had numerous leaders, including James Walter Nichols, Ralph Sweet, Haskell Chesshir, Clark Hicks (Olan Hicks’ son) and John Beckloff. Each struggled to rally the financial support to sustain the paper. By the end of 1980, Beckloff and his wife, Dotty, realized they could not continue to produce the paper.
When they offered the Chronicle to Oklahoma Christian College, then-president Terry Johnson realized that the paper could be a great service to churches and members. He presented the situation to a few key people at the college, and Howard Norton, longtime missionary to Brazil, was excited by the idea and became the editor in 1981. The first issue from Oklahoma Christian appeared in September 1981.
Norton worked through various people to produce the paper. After a four-year struggle, he brought together Joy McMillon and Scott LaMascus, whose understanding of the church enhanced the Chronicle’s effectiveness. Then Glover Shipp and Lindy Adams produced the paper.
Now McMillon’s husband, Lynn, serves as editor and CEO. A longtime Bible professor and marriage counselor, he is an elder of Memorial Road Church of Christ in Oklahoma City. He and his wife have conducted marriage seminars in churches across the country, which makes them appreciative of the diversity of congregations and their influence on communities. Lynn McMillon’s desire to make the Chronicle the highest quality paper — with faithful adherence to biblical precepts — assures that the paper will continue to inform and unify Churches of Christ.
In 2001, Erik Tryggestad came on board to cover international news. He had completed a graduate degree in journalism and had worked for daily newspapers in his home state, Georgia. His experience made him invaluable. He recently returned from Ireland — the 50th country from which he’s reported for the Chronicle. Because of the paper’s limited budget, he finds outside funding for many of his trips. He and his wife are faithful members at Memorial Road.
In 2005, Bobby Ross Jr. left The Associated Press to work with the Chronicle as managing editor. Ross has 25 years of experience as a journalist and editor, which has enhanced the publication greatly. His monthly column has provided insights about trends and movements within the church.
Ross, who has reported from 46 states, has a unique ability to give a personal face to church work and workers. He is a member of the Edmond Church of Christ in Oklahoma, where he is loved and appreciated for his faith.
Despite financial struggles, The Christian Chronicle continues to grow and improve. God is blessing the church through the dedication of these faithful people who love and serve the Churches of Christ.
CONTACT: [email protected].
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