Hippie Teens to Visit Orange Church Sunday

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

December 10, 1968, North America

Fountain Valley Pastor Alvin Dana Hawkes has invited the militant Teens for Christ to evening worship services Sunday at the “First Baptist Church “to tell us what they believe in.”

The Rev. Hawkes, 31, said the church-hopping Teens have accepted his invitation to participate in a panel discussion at the 7 p.m. service in the church sanctuary, 17415 Magnolia St.

The Rev. Mr. Hawkes said Thursday he almost “got cold feet” about inviting the Teens, “It might turn out to be rather exposing” he said.

The minister, who has served his congregation since last Nov. 10, added he received the unanimous support of the church board.

“It’s a calculated risk to launch something new. We may make a mistake, or we may even fall. But if we’re not committed enough to risk an invitation to these people, then maybe there is something wrong with our motivation,” he said.

Mr. Hawkes stated that the board of deacons had discussed what their relationship should be to this very unusual group. They admitted that the church could not condone many of the tactics used by the “Teens for Christ” and that there are probably some wide differences of belief. Nevertheless, the board agreed that these young people were speaking out against some very valid weaknesses of the Christian Church. Namely: the hypocrisy of some organized religion, an over-emphasis on church buildings and the general phonyness and self centered attitude of many church people.

The board felt that the group has much to say that the church ought to hear and that they could help the church to better understand the “hippie” philosophy that is so prevalent among the young of our society. They therefore, voted unanimously to invite the group to the evening service.