THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 16, 1995 TAG: 9507140170
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: MR. ROBERTS' NEIGHBORHOOD
SOURCE: FRANK ROBERTS
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
My July 2 column was about faith healing, involving Mennonites and members of Church of the Brethren. I'd recently spent the day with several families at an outdoor gospel concert in Fredericksburg, Pa., about seven miles from Hershey.
Julia, about whom I wrote in that column, is a 5-year-old with a brain tumor, one of three children of Jonathan and Janice Wolf. The others are Jessica and Jonathan Jr.
The tumor's growth was slowed, then stopped, after a faith healing, the family says. Pain from chemotherapy ceased.
``What happens next?'' I asked Janice. ``We just wait.''
Janice explains that her religion commands that the man is in charge, but the woman has input.
For example? ``My husband went to buy a car. I told him it wasn't a good buy. He bought it; it was a lemon. I voted for a pickup truck. We spent two nights praying about it before we bought the truck. It's been super.''
She said, ``Women have insight that men don't have, but the man ultimately makes the final decision. We run the home together.''
It is quite a good run. Their three children are polite, well-behaved - not stifled, and quite happy.
``If they don't obey they get punished - spankings,'' Jonathan said, ``then come the hugs and kisses.''
He emphasizes that the punishment ``is not given in anger. It should hurt you as much as the child. When it's over, we let them know they're still loved.''
Initially, the punishment is ``pinching or pulling their hair, just enough to let them know they're wrong,'' he said. ``If that doesn't work, it gets stronger.''
``We pray with them,'' Janice said, ``and ask Jesus to help us forgive them. We pray at home, before meals, before bed.''
Prayer is a way of life, as is the old-fashoined work ethic.
``I make most of the clothes for my family and myself,'' Janice said. ``I make all the dresses and some of Jonathan Jr.'s clothes.''
Their clothes are a familiar picture to most Americans - long dresses, nothing fancy, plus lace-like head coverings worn by the women.
The latter is based on 1st Corinthians 11:5-6 and 13: ``But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying, disgraces her head -
``For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off -
``Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?''
Many people believe that this had to do with the culture of the day. The people I spoke to in Pennsylvania believe that since it is in the Bible, it is still to be followed.
Janice also talked about the power of the angels, and offered an example:
``My aunt was standing in the kitchen. A man came to the door to use the telephone. He claimed his car had broken down. She had her back to him. Later, he said that he tried to molest her, but he couldn't get past the invisible barrier.She was protected by the power of the angels.''
I enjoyed my day in the Pennsylvania country. The outdoor gospel sing was exciting, inspirational music. The people, though, were the best thing. I felt relaxed in their company, warm, comfortable.
And, thanks to the Mennonites and members of Church of the Brethren, I felt a strenghtening of faith. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by BETH BERGMAN
Janice Wolf, left, and her daughters enjoy an outdoor gospel
concert.
by CNB