Bangham Undergoes Heart Procedure

Editor's Note: Bill Bangham was a staff member of the Brotherhood Commission from 1981-89. He is now employed as director of photography at the International Mission Board, Richmond, Va.

“Thirteen days ago my heart went into an unnatural rhythm called ventricular tachycardia. This is a life threatening condition, if it persists. As a result, a pacemaker / defibrillator was implanted in my chest. The purpose for this device is to deliver an electric shock which restores natural rhythm to the heart in the event v-tach (as its called) happens again. Six days ago it did and the device responded. It was not all that pleasant an experience. Stunning is an inadequate description. It certainly gets one’s attention. The first reaction is the thought, 'What just happened?' followed by standing with a dazed expression, looking for the big, strong, ugly thing that just kicked you in the chest, getting ready to duck and cover if it rears back to do it again. The good news is the device did what it is designed to do; the bad news is that it had to. The simplest explanation for this condition is that I have a short in the electrical pathways of my heart. Rather than deliver a pulse that coordinates the contraction of the lower chambers with the upper chambers, my conduction gets stuck in loop that causes the lower chambers to contract over and over again, racing at 200 beats per minute. This doesn’t give time for the lower chambers to fill adequately and circulate the blood through the body. The hope was this would be a one-time event, inexplicable but easily shrugged off. The reoccurrence a week ago makes it quite possible that this is a new constellation on my horizon, something I will have to deal with again and again, if something more isn't done. I have started a medication designed to control this condition. It seems to be working and I am tolerating the drug. In the near future there will be physio-electrical studies at Medical College of Virginia where my cardiologist says, 'They have better toys.' There is a possibility of catheterization later to ablate the conduits causing the problem. We’ll see. Thanks for your concern and prayers, Bill.”

Contact Bill at wbangham@mac.com

Profile: Frank Black

From Brotherhood archives...
Many called him the “elder statesman” of Royal Ambassador work. Others called him “Mr. RA.”

One thing is for certain, not one of the thousands of Royal Ambassadors who have been a part of the program since the 1950s have escaped the influence of Frank Black.

Even today many of the Royal Ambassador materials have felt the touch of his hand at one time or another. Black authored the pledge all boys are required to learn as a part of their RA membership.

During his 29-year tenure at the Brotherhood Commission, Black developed a number of sayings in addition to his undying support of missions education. One of more noted dealt with denominational philosophy: “When all is said and done, there is more said than done.”

With Black, however, there was always more done than said. Though opinionated, he quietly went about the business of expanding the Royal Ambassador program after it found a new home at the Brotherhood Commission from the Woman’s Missionary Union.

Black proved that a good RA program can do as much--and many times more--than a civic organization because RAs was church-centered and God honoring.

In 1975 Black summarized his work this way: “I am continually thankful that the Brotherhood Commission afforded me the opportunity to help develop the Royal Ambassador program. This opportunity has proved to me the greatness of God. This alone is pay enough for me.”

Famous Trustee: Jimmy Carter

Did you know Jimmy Carter was a trustee of the Brotherhood Commission in the 1970s? Here's a passage from "From Politics to Poetics" by the former President where he mentions the Commission:

"Having studied typing and shorthand in high school, I did my own stenographic work on a portable typewriter during weekends at home. When it was finished, I called some small publishers in Georgia, none of whom would print the book. Finally, Broadman Press in Nashville looked at a few chapters and agreed to publish it. They print all the Southern Baptist literature, and I had some influence with them as a member of the Baptists' Brotherhood Commission. There was no thought of an author's advance, but I received a percentage of the volumes printed. I gave these to potential political supporters and sold a few at my early political rallies." Read the entire article by President Carter here.