 His legacy |
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From First Baptist Church to Jo Chron
May I share, on behalf of First Baptist Church, our deep love and sympathy for you and your family during this season of Brother E.C.’s Homegoing. Though there are not many folks around who remember him directly, most of the church knows the name of E.C. Chron. As we just celebrated our 50th Anniversary, we shared many memories of the past, particularly those from the earliest days of this church. You and Bro E.C. were a vital part of that legacy. We shared some humorous as well as inspirational thoughts that you had shared with us. We know that E.C. is in a much better place today than he was a week ago, but we also know he will be greatly missed. We will always be deeply in gratitude for the investment you both made in Alaska, and particularly here in Eagle River. Of the crowns that Brother E.C. will be able to lay at our Savior’s feet, crowns earned by labors for the Kingdom, one will have the name of First Baptist Church of Eagle River on it. May all glory be to God for those who have invested their lives in the service of His Kingdom. May God hold you in the palm of His hand in these days of missing your dear husband.
In Christ’s Service,
David J. Banks
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Getting out of the Navy - by EC Chron
Hi folks, Hope all of you are having a great time this special day. June the 5th is also important to me and Jo. The war was over, my enlistment in the Navy was about over, also. I left Jo in San Diego & rode a slow, slow train to Long Beach, Calif for separation. Half way to L.B. our train was put on a siding for other trains to pass. We sat there all day in the blazing sun, no food or water.
About 5 p.m. all eyes were fixed on the orange grove near the tracks. Suddenly ever man on the train jumped out, scaled the high fence, and harvested that man's orange crop!
We completed our seperation in two days, but they refused to give us our discharge papers unless we re-enlisted in the Navy Reserve for 6 years. I refused! I desperately wanted to get out and rush back to my sweet bride, but not for six more years of Navy Duty!
I killed time for three more days. On Friday they told us to eat our last Navy meal, pick up our papers and walk out the big gate for the last time. I lined up in the chow line, but my heart was not in it. As I went through the line I noticed they were piling on the food! I guess they wanted to impress us with our last meal.
I found a seat and set down. The huge pile of food literally made me sick! I decieded to dump it in the garbage can. Just as I was about to empty my tray, an officer stopped me and asked what was wrong with the food? I told him the food was fine, but I was not hungry. He said "Sailor we don't waste food in the navy. Take a seat and don't come back until that tray is clean!" Now I was really sick! If I didn't pick up my discharge papers on time I would be delayed another day. But I couldn't eat a bite of that Navy chow.
About this time the sailor next to me got up to get some water. I looked at his nice clean tray for at least a second, switched trays and walked out. The officer smiled as I walked by. I picked up my papers, caught a bus to San Diego, and picked up my sweet wife. We headed for Texas- a free man!
I still have dreams that one day that other poor sailor will track me down! Remember, the Bible says "be sure your sins will find you out!"
E.C.
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Preaching to the Eskimos - by EC Chron
I have always admired the Eskimo people. Those living above the arctic circle have an easy, laid-back kind of life. They eat when they are hungry, sleep when they are sleepy and hunt or fish when they feel like it! They have no use for clocks at all!
When summer comes they move to the river and catch salmon. The fish are cut in strips and hung on a line to dry. This is the way they make "salmon jerky."
When winter comes they hunt and fish. When one kills a moose, they all eat moose until it is gone. When several of the men kill a whale, they all eat whale until it is gone. They cut the whale blubber into little squares and eat it raw. I had trouble getting it down! They crush low-bush cranberries into the blubber and call it Eskimo ice cream. They dig down about 12 inches to reach the frozen "perma-frost." This is their "deep-freeze" for the storage of food!
Eskimos use seal oil like we use bread. The older and more rancid the better! All food is dipped in the oil as they eat. Another choice dish is "Ugruk", young hair-seal. It looks like liver, but it tastes like-ugruk! Frozen fish are eaten by both sled dogs and Eskimos. They net white fish through holes in the ice. They never clean them! The fish are stacked on a platform about six feet above the ground. They feed each dog one fish each day. The dogs eat bones and all! The Eskimos filet the frozen fish and eat it raw! The taste is not too bad, but you must swallow it before it thaws in your mouth!
Most of the time we had two services for the Eskimos. Someone would ring the large bell and the adults would come. The young people cared for the babies. After the service, the adults would go home and the young people would come after we would ring the bell.
After preaching my first service, I told our missionary, Harley Shield, that I didn't feel that the Eskimos understood what I was saying. They just sit and never say a word. Harley explained how you could tell if you were being understood. He said, "Watch their eyebrows. If they go up--they are agreeing with you. If their eyebrows go down--they are disagreeing!"
That meeting lasted over a week. Each night I would tell the people that this service would be the last if the bush plane came for me the next day. If the plane did not come, we would have another service. The weather was so bad that the plane never came for me! One day a plane did land. They had one empty seat and I bought it! As I climbed into the plane to leave, an old Eskimo man came running after me. He handed me a Jax Beer box and waved goodbye. As the plane took off, I opened the box. My "love offering" was six frozen white fish! He gave what he could!
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Starting out! by EC Chron
In July of 1958, on a Wednesday night, I answered God's call to preach. The next Sunday, in First Baptist Church, in Anchorage, I made my decision public. The next day, I sold my interest in Chron Motor Company. The following Friday, Dr. L.A. Watson, head of our Baptist Work in Alaska, asked me to preach the next Sunday at FBC, Seward, Alaska. Mrs. Watson offered to keep our children for Sunday.
Jo and I got up early and made the long drive. We arrived at the church as the morning service was starting. The rain had also started! As I stood to preach my first sermon, I felt a dark, damp gloom filling the room! The ten people seated in front of me reminded me more of a mortuary than a church! I couldn't understand it! I was excited! I wanted to preach God's Word and feel Him move in that place!
I can't recall a word I said to those dear saints. My message was short. After a closing prayer, the people filed out without saying a word!
Jo, Roy Moore and I drove around town until we found a small cafe open. After lunch we visited a dear pastor in the local hospital. After the visit, Jo and I drove back to the church and spent the afternoon sitting in our auto watching the rain come down like Niagara Falls!
The six members that came back that night seemed to appreciate my brief message.
The long dark drive home was both cold and wet. Jo didn't say much, but she was thinking! Years later, she confessed that my first two sermons caused some doubt about my calling to preach! She was also wondering if this was what she had to look forward to as a preacher's wife!
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My Grandpa
My grandpa, EC Chron, went home to be with the Lord on January 30, 2008 at Brookhaven Nursing Home in Carrollton, Texas. He was loved as a father, husband, brother, uncle, grandfather, pastor and friend. Grandpa was born in Ralls, Texas to Virgil and Nellie Chron, the second child of six. He graduated from Ralls High in 1944 and soon afterwards enrolled in the US Navy during World War II. In 1946, Grandpa married my Grandma, Melba Jo Reinhard in Chula Vista, California and had 4 children between 1947-1958; Clint,(my dad) Josa, Deanna, and Tami. In 1957, Grandpa and Grandma decided to explore the great frontier and moved to Anchorage, Alaska where a year later, Grandpa surrendered to the call to preach the gospel. From the Eskimos in Alaska, to the bums in the rescue missions, Grandpa had a heart for people. For the next 35 years, Grandpa served as a pastor, missionary and evangelist, conducting over 400 crusades in the US and India. In his spare time, he also enjoyed flying planes, fishing, reading and going to McDonalds. :) Only the Lord knows how many lives he touched through his sound preaching, compassionate ear and optimistic spirit. He was a person who "walked the talk", never judged and was a man of great character and principles. I look forward to seeing him again someday in heaven. We miss and love you Grandpa.
Memorial Service: February 5th, 2008, 2:00 pm at the First Baptist Church of Carrollton in Carrollton, Texas.
In lieu of sending flowers, please make a donation to:
Alaska Baptist Convention for New Mission Work
Alaska Baptist Convention
1750 O'Malley Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99507
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