The Geftakys Assembly in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles
Tom Maddux: I never invited GG to lead the Bible study in the Valley. What actually happened was that we all just got together on Friday nights, sang some hymns, and then sat around "waiting for the Spirit to move". There wasn't anything going on that would be called a Bible study!
On some nights, no one had anything to say. Sometimes we would have the Lord's Supper. Other nights, I would give a short talk on whatever I had been studying. A few other folks, like Al or Jerry Beebe might have something to say once in a while. Some nights we just argued.
The night GG showed up we all sat quietly "waiting for the Spirit to move". No one had anything to say...so GG piped up and gave his chapter summary of I Corinthians chapter 1. It was so much better than anything I had ever heard that I was very enthusiastic about his teaching. I was glad to receive it.
The next week, GG didn't hesitate. After we had prayed and sung, he just stepped in and gave his talk on chapter 2. I was glad to hear it, and no one objected. After that, there was a tacit understanding that he would continue to teach. There was never any actual agreement by me or among us that we would let him take over.
We did passively let him take over. I for one was desperate to learn
what to do about my idea that we needed to recover the "true New
Testament church". I had not a clue what to do...and knew less. GG
seemed like a gift from heaven.
Joe Sperling re. puppet ministry: I'm not positive, but the "puppet ministry" may have been started by Glenn Strome from the Valley. He and his wife joined the Assembly in 1978/1979 time frame out in the Valley and eventually lived with Tom Maddux in the brother's house. Glenn was very much into puppets for some reason, and I helped him to make several of them which were used to entertain the children (I believe this was during lunch time--but don't remember really well). Glenn was only involved with Assembly for a short time as I remember, so his name may not ring any bells. Of course, there was a much larger "puppet ministry" going on at the same time in the Assembly itself--there were about 300 puppets in all.