Last Friday and Saturday, Jan. 25-26, the three area Wesleyan churches (Alva, Hopeton and Cedar Grove) held their annual banquet and quail hunt.

On Friday night, about 75 people crowded around the long tables in the fellowship hall of Alva Wesleyan and feasted on home-style foods like fried chicken and potato salad. Many of those in attendance were pastors or their families – perhaps 20 pastors stood to appreciative applause after the feasting was over and before the speaker took the podium.

State Senator Roland Peterson, who grew up near Cedar Grove, spoke briefly from the sidelines. He said that he would be on the Agriculture and Wildlife Committee this year, and noted that Alfalfa County has a growing population of hunters and fishers – a group that, statewide, has a $2 billion impact on the state's economy, he said.

Speaker: A Time To Honor

The speaker of the night was Wayne Vineyard, a Bartlesville auctioneer, businessman and Vietnam veteran. Vineyard has been very involved in mission work for many years, particularly in Africa, where he preached in numerous villages and helped build 40 churches there.

"We're in a time when I don't see a lot of honor," he said, noting that people don't honor those in authority, including those in the church. "We're here to honor the pastors. You honor the men of God," he said, to a few amens from the audience. "Take care of your pastor," he said.

Wives and husbands must also honor each other, he said. "All you husbands have an uncommon wife," he said, to loud agreement from the male segment of the crowd. "All you wives have an uncommon husband," he said, and paused to laughter, because the wives' response was not nearly as vocal. "Stay uncommon," he said.

After Vineyard's speech, a short auction was held to raise funds for the Voice of the Martyrs in honor of Rev. Marvin Moberly, a long-time Wesleyan pastor and leader in the Wesleyan tri-state district, who passed away last February. Moberly's many pastorates included Alva Wesleyan, and, in fact, he led the building project of the Alva church. Moberly worked for Voice of the Martyrs for 15 years.

A handmade quilt, a painting, a hunting knife and a handgun were auctioned, raising about $1,200 for Voice of the Martyrs (VOM). VOM is a nonprofit, interdenominational Christian missions organization "dedicated to serving our persecuted family worldwide," according to the VOM website (www.persecution.com).

Target Shooting, Quail Hunting

Warren Little and Kathleen Lourde

TOP LEFT: The quail hunters headed out in groups of six or seven. From left: Dave Hadsell, Wes Hadsell, Trayven Kirkhart, Jeremy Little, Rev. Marion Hadsell of Hopeton Wesleyan, and Seth Piper. TOP RIGHT: Noah Hosier, son of Cedar Grove Wesleyan Church pastor Nathan Hosier, won second place in Class 4 of the target shooting Jan. 26. LEFT MIDDLE: Wayne Vineyard speaks about the importance of honoring others. LEFT BOTTOM: Some of the items auctioned at the Wesleyans' banquet. BOTTOM RIGHT: The late Rev. Marvin Moberly was honored at the Wesleyan banquet Friday, Jan. 25. Here, his family gathers around a watercolor of Moberly painted by Warren Little. Pictured are (men, from left) Rich Moberly, Nathan Glass, Ron Moberly, Gordon Johnson; (women) Shirley Johnson, Stephanie Johnson.

Saturday morning, about 37 people arrived at Cedar Grove Wesleyan Church to participate in four classes of target shooting. The class participants were scored, and winners determined. The winners were: in Class 1, Matthew Hada won first place, Chailey Wilcheck won second place and Cody Hada won third place; in Class 2, Denim Sullivan won first place, Dustin Hada won second place, and James Wall won third place; in Class 3, Trayven Kirkhardt won first place, Steven Colaw won second place, and Don Stievers won third place; in Class 4, Wayne Vinyard won first place, Noah Hosier won second place, and Richard Moberly won third place.

In the afternoon, about 55 hunters and dog handlers – separated into seven groups – headed out into gorgeous countryside for a quail hunt.