Minister Halts “Pray-In”!

By James McNabb, Daily Pilot Staff, The Daily Pilot, California

November 25, 1968, North America

An apparent attempt to disrupt church services by a band of self-styled “Christian revolutionaries” from Huntington Beach was thwarted Sunday by a muscular minister of a Santa Ana congregation.

Pastor H. Syvelle Phillikps of the First Assembly of God Church reported the band of 40 to 40 hippie-appearing persons, with some infants-in-arms, entered the sanctuary at 500 W. Fifth St. shortly before he was to begin his 11:30 a.m. sermon.

Youthful zealots of both sexes marched up the aisle taking seats in the front rows. “They came to take over, but we stayed on top of the situation,” the Rev. Phillips said. He said he was forced to leave his pulpit and reprimand one of the agitators after several outbursts of, “that’s a lie!”

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound minister said the interruptions ceased when he jumped down and gently laid a finger on the nose of one of the noisiest.

At an afternoon picnic in Lake Park, “Uncle” Dave Berg, spiritual advisor to the group, said his young adherents intend to continue Sunday marches to the churches in the area to “end the hypocrisy of organized religion.”

He declined to state where they would strike next Sunday on Dec. 1.

The slightly built leader, who appeared to be in his 40s, said a second goal of his group is the :”end of modern education as the compulsory religion of America.”

Berg said he arrived in Huntington Beach five months ago to take charge of the crusade quartered in the old “Light Club.”

“We’ll be here till they throw us out,” he snapped, “preaching on the beaches, on the streets and in the schools.”

He declined to reveal specifically where funds to finance the movement originated. He admitted some of his following came from middle-class families and brought with the “resources to be shared by all.”

Seven day-a-week Bible Classes from 7 p.m to midnight attracted about 70 young persons, staff member Louie Nolind said. He indicated the 35-member leadership team lives communally in seven residences scattered throughout the Huntington Beach area.