Teens for Christ Quit Huntington, Go Home for Yule
By James McNabb, Jr., Daily Pilot Staff, The Daily Pilot, California
December 23, 1968, North America
The marching Teens for Christ are marching out of Huntington beach, “Uncle” Dave Berg, 49, founder of the militant sect reported today. The exodus, however, is only temporary.
“They’re going home for Christmas,” he explained.
The hippie-appearing teens Sunday capped of two months of march-ins into county churches with a visit by invitation to the First Methodist Church of Fountain Valley followed by Christmas dinner and football in Lake Park in downtown Huntington Beach.
Robed in their biblical garb, about 30 of the sect marched into the sanctuary at 18225 Bushard St. before the 11 a.m. service taking their customary seats at the front of the church.
The Rev. Ken McMillian said he made the last minute invitation when he learned the group had received no invitations to attend Christmas Sunday worship services.
Our people responded very well. They were a little bit up-tight about the suddenness but the overall response was a loving one,” the pastor commented.
Only at the conclusion of the service was there an outburst by Team member James Burke who warned the congregation that “whosoever is a friend of the world is an enemy of Jesus (James 4:4)”.
Berg said today he hoped his young missionaries would “be successful in converting their parents over the holiday.” Members will regroup later this week “In time for more marching next Sunday,” he added.
Sunday afternoon the group marched to Lake Park witnessing to the children in the play areas and then feasting on a turkey dinner given to them by sympathizer Mark Forsyth of Huntington Beach.