One of Our Own: Edith Heard

The following is excerpted from Rev. Edith Heard’s new book, Little Lady from the Tribe of Gad, which will be available at General Convention.

During the General Board meeting immediately following the 1955 Pentecostal Church of God General Convention, I was asked to work with the ladies of the Pentecostal Church of God in organizing a nationwide and worldwide service auxiliary.

With the Lord as our Guide, we started out on an uncharted course. Ideas poured into the general office, and at each service where the new program was mentioned, the ladies showed a great desire for this new program of helping others.

One could say I was a “courier” as I traveled from one district to another gathering and passing on ideas.... Our first national project was for Susan King, a daughter of one of our Brazilian missionary families. We bought an accordion costing $125. Although the dollar amount was minimal compared to projects that would follow, it was a big step for the PLA general office as it tested our ability to cooperate and succeed nationally.

We soon realized we needed national guidelines. A working format for a constitution and by-laws was mailed to representative ladies across the United States who were serving in various areas of ladies’ work. Ladies’ groups were functioning under titles such as “Willing Workers,” “Missionary Band,” “Missionary Ladies,” and others. Working alone in their localities, all were interested in the promotion of the gospel, with some assisting pastors in building programs and in raising finances for missionaries.

During the 1959 General Convention the constitution and bylaws for the Pentecostal Ladies Auxiliary was accepted. The official red and white banner displayed a tilted cup; the motto “JESUS, OTHERS, YOURSELF” with the Scripture reference Mark 9:41 written on the inside of the tilted cup. The slogan “Laborers together with God, 1 Corinthians 3:9” was written across the top. The bottom line of the banner carried the name of the local PLA group. Red and white were chosen as the official colors—red representing the blood of Christ that saves us from our sins; and white for purity, depicting a life of holiness unto the Lord.... With the basic organization and logistics in place, our ladies were ready to progress. They took to new programs with dedication and enthusiasm.

Probably one of the most unifying programs was that of foreign missions. PLAs joined forces across the United States and in foreign countries to help build churches, sponsor foreign workers, and purchase needed equipment such as generators and medical supplies.

During the 1950s and ’60s trading stamps such as S & H Green Stamps, Blue Chip and Top Value became a remarkable way of providing vehicles and other expensive equipment for missions. Through trading stamps the PLAs purchased nine automobiles and refurbished one boat in Indonesia. As I traveled about the nation, ladies’ groups gave us sacks of loose stamps. Brother Heard and our daughters, Beth and Alice, and even two of our granddaughters, Nannette and Melissa “licked” untold numbers of stamps and filled up literally thousands of stamp books. We really felt we had hit pay dirt when we were presented already filled books. It was a great program and blessed in every way.

Dorcas Boxes, containing a 4-year’s supply of linens and other household goods furnished by PLAs were always appreciated by missionaries preparing to leave for the land of their calling. Bible schools in foreign countries have been blessed by the PLAs. through the “M & M” program—”Machines for Missions” (washing machines and sewing machines). Bible courses were typed and furnished to Haiti and Jamaica.

The Pentecostal Ladies Auxiliary also assisted the Indian Missions Department in the provision of household supplies, appliances and clothing. Each December special fund-raising drives were promoted for the Indian missionaries and their families, along with our Christian Indian families. [Other projects of the PLAs were the children’s homes, Bible colleges and the Great Plains Boys’ Ranch.]

To all of my coworkers, I encourage you with Hebrews 6:10. “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints and do minister.”