Close Up
Who I s
E lwoo d
Mcclu aid?
lwood McQuaid might
never have become a
Bible-believing Christ-
ian if not for a Jew.
It happened soon after
Elwood's father found re-
ligion, then took his son
to a program in downtown Detroit. The
speaker was Hyman Appleman, born
Jewish but then a "Hebrew-Christian"
minister who traveled the country, talk-
ing about his newfound love for and un-
wavering commitment to Jesus.
Elwood was enthralled.
"He spoke like a man who knew what
he was talking about," Dr. McQuaid re-
cll s "It was the first time I really heard
the gospel."
Today, Dr. McQuaid is preaching his
own gospel. Executive director of the
Friends of Israel Gospel Ministries Inc.,
he oversees an organization with 47,000
constituent churches throughout the
world.
His message is twofold: support for Is-
rael and a drive to "make Christ known
to all peoples of the world in openness
and without deception."
For years Dr. McQuaid has had his pri-
vate opponents (who question his "open-
ness" when it comes to evangelizing). But
two months ago, he became the focus of
an emotional, public debate that pitted
Jew against Jew.
The first issue was whether Dr. Mc-
Quaid belonged at a National Unity Con-
ference for Israel.
The second was a letter dated March
22, 1995, signed by Dr. McQuaid and
mailed to supporters of the Friends of Is-
rael. It reads in part:
IE
(/)
LU
(/)
w
F-
CC
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LU
1-
38
On (April 19), thousands of mourners,
including many Jewish and Israeli young
people, will return to the Polish towns
where their ancestors lived, and visit the
Mark Powers labels it "obnoxious."
The head of Jews for Judaism, a
counter-missionary group based in Bal-
timore, Mr. Powers has had it up to here,
there and everywhere with Elwood Mc-
Quaid and his "love" for the Jewish peo-
ple.
'What he is trying to do is worse than
the Nazis," he says. "The Nazis destroyed
us physically. They (the Friends of Israel
Gospel Ministries) are trying to destroy
us spiritually."
lwood McQuaid was born and raised
in Romulus, where his father set-
tled after finding work at an aircraft
factory in Wayne. The family was
originally from Pennsylvania.
Elwood's early years hardly lay the
path for his future career as a minister.
His home, he says, was in no way re-
ligious — "or to put it in a delicate way,
we were refined pagans." They cele-
brated Christmas, "but not by going to
church."
Elwood McQuaid
After the McQuaids divorced, Elwood's
ghettos and death camps where they per- father became a Christian.
Soon after hearing "Hebrew-Christian"
ished. The Month of Remembrance will
climax on April 27 with the Holocaust evangelist Hyman Appleman speak, Ell-
wood, too, "became a believer."
Memorial Day.
He studied at Bob Jones University, a
On these solemn occasions, The Friends
of Israel will come alongside of these griev- fundamentalist Christian college in South
ing people, comforting them in the Spirit Carolina, then was ordained a Baptist
of Christ and expressing our solidarity minister. His first pulpit, in 1953, was at
and love with Jewry and their nation, Is- a church in Virginia. He served at vari-
ous congregations throughout the state
rael ...
We cannot undo what was done. But and established, in 1965, the Timberlake
we can reach out to the thousands of Jew- Christian School. Offering kindergarten
ish people who are searching desperately through high school, it was one of Vir-
for peace of heart in the face of horrible ginia's first accredited Christian schools.
While working as pastor of the Tim-
memories.
By God's grace, we will bring them berlake Baptist Church, Dr. McQuaid,
God's message of true comfort and hope: who holds an honorary doctorate from
the wonderful news of a living Messiah! Trinity College in Florida, became in-
volved with the Friends of Israel. Estab-
"Unfortunate," is the way Dr. Mc- lished in 1938 as the Friends of Israel
Missionary and Relief Society (the name
Quaid's friends describe the letter.
E
Is this
Michigan
native
one of
Israel's
most
valuable
friends
or a man
engaged in
`deceptive
proselytiz
ing' of
Jews?
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
-