Posted: 8/8/03

Wayland touches Africa through Kenya program

By Teresa Young

Wayland Baptist University

NAIROBI, Kenya–Simon Mwangi is not a typical Wayland Baptist University graduate.

He's not 22 years old, armed with a new diploma and out to conquer the world in a new career. He's not spent the last four years calling a small dorm room home, dropping into bed after midnight or attending sporting events with his classmates.

And unlike his counterparts nearly half the globe away, Mwangi is not sitting through his graduation ceremony wishing it were over, ready to take off the cumbersome gown and awkward mortarboard cap.

Instead, Mwangi, associate pastor of Parklands Baptist Church in Nairobi with a membership nearing 1,000, is giving the student address at the first commencement ceremony held by Wayland in Kenya, and he's speaking with deep gratitude.

“Simon spoke about the broader knowledge he has now with his Wayland degree and how those classes were like gifts from the faculty,” explained Vaughn Ross, professor of biological sciences and program director for the Wayland partnership with Kenya Baptist Theological College. “He spoke of the gift of science, the gift of history and the gift of languages–gifts because of what he can now do with them.”

A church choir of Maasai from the town of Kajiado traveled 100 miles by bus to perform at the graduation ceremony, dressed in traditional tribal attire.

Unlike many new college graduates, Mwangi and the other 15 members of the Kenya class of 2003 know their new associate of applied science degrees don't represent an end but a continuation of training for ministries to their church families.

It was that big-picture thinking that had Ross entranced during the commencement ceremony this summer. Admittedly, his mind was in other places, thinking back to when Wayland's involvement in Kenya was in its infancy stages just four years ago. Then, the dream of making education accessible to the people of Kenya–with whom he had worked as a missionary for 19 years–was just in the planning stages.

“Two things kept running through my mind,” Ross said. “First was a personal dream to see Wayland–the school I love–involved in participation missions, then combining that with the dream the Kenyans have to meet their greatest challenge, which is Christian leadership training. Just getting to be part of that dream was great.”

Ross' next thoughts, however, were even more mind-boggling, he said.

“Thinking that these are just small parts of God's bigger dream of winning the world for Christ gave me an overwhelming sense that we were helping the churches to write Christian history in Kenya,” he said.

That big picture is what makes the newest Kenya graduates most excited. Take Isaac Esilima, for example.

An older student and a pastor, Esilima has been a public schoolteacher for many years and is nearing retirement from that profession. He still is excited about earning the diploma that Ross says is an opportunity “he never would have dreamed of.” This gentle pastor proclaims that it will equip him to serve his congregation better. He leads a new church in Nyahururu.

For many of Esilima's classmates, the diploma they now have is not a promise of great riches but an open door to better serve Christ through their churches. They also in some cases will be able to advance their vocations–many of which involve teaching–and expand their territory to spread the gospel.

David Howle, director of Wayland's Virtual Campus, gave the commencement address, and Ross conferred the degrees with help from Anne Foster, program registrar at Kenya Baptist Theological College, and Bernard Kabaru, the college's principal. Along with their degrees in theology from Wayland, students earned advanced diplomas from the college.

A tradition from the college's ceremonies was carried into the Wayland ceremony as well–presenting a symbol of servanthood.

“Each student received a charge to servant ministries at their churches, and they each received a towel as a symbol of being a servant,” Ross explained, adding that the towels had been embroidered with the Swahili word “mtumishi,” meaning “servant,” and their initials, courtesy of Don Smith's Sunday School class at First Baptist Church in Plainview.

Other Wayland faculty who have taught in the program sent gifts for the graduates as well, including devotional books and jackets with the Wayland logo.

Ross noted that about one-third of the graduating class are members of the Giriama, a people group that were first ministered to about 30 years ago by missionaries Clay and Pat Coursey, Wayland graduates now retired in the United States.

During the visit to Kenya, Howle spent much of his time setting up an electronic database for the college's library and working on connections that may soon make a satellite link to Wayland's home campus possible.

Ross spent time planning with college leaders.

“We came to a point of looking back and looking forward, and two things really emerged,” Ross said. “First was the success of the students, about their transformations in critical-thinking skills for ministry, plus English language skills and writing.

“We also reaffirmed our original concept, which was to train those with few other opportunities and to retain those who would have opportunities but can get their education here rather than go abroad.

“In this graduation exercise, the number of Baptists in leadership with a college degree increased by approximately 50 percent. I can remember when there were very few Maasai believers in Kenya, and now there are 3,600 Baptist churches representing multiple tribal groups. These Baptist leaders were trained in Kenya and will remain there. Baptist churches in Kenya just can't afford to lose those Christian leaders.”

Posted: 8/8/03

BIG DADDY WEAVE:
Weaving a way

By Leann Callaway

Special to the Standard

Before they became successful recording artists, the musical group Big Daddy Weave grew accustomed to holding concerts at a variety of unique locations–ranging from used car lots to Chinese buffets.

With a surge in popularity, venues now include national tours, church camps, festivals and promotional appearances, such as at LifeWay Christian Store headquarters in Nashville, Tenn.

Wherever they perform, the focus remains directed toward Christ, who they consider their “audience of one.”

These five musical talents–the Weaver brothers (Mike and Jay), Jeff Jones, Joe Shirk and Jeremy Redmon–are based in Mobile, Ala., and met while attending the University of Mobile.

“We started leading praise and worship at various events, and God really just took it from there,” lead vocalist Mike Weaver said.

From the start, Big Daddy Weave felt led to share the message of Christ's love with songs of praise.

“We kind of use whatever means necessary to allow people to see God,” Weaver noted. “Our music is a blend of what people find in contemporary Christian music and what crosses over into worship music. The spectrum of where we can wind up and where God can use us is fairly broad. We sing some worship songs that may be familiar to people in the church. We also sing hymns every now and again, and we use our own original songs. We constantly point people to Jesus through the music and through our words. Hopefully, an event with us is not so much a concert as much as it is a worship gathering.”

In addition to receiving a New Artist of the Year Dove Award nomination, Big Daddy Weave has the distinction of receiving the highest charting single for a new artist in adult contemporary radio with the song “In Christ.”

This fall, Big Daddy Weave will join the musical group FFH on tour. They also will release “Fields of Grace,” the follow-up to last year's critically acclaimed debut, “One and Only.”

“We're really excited about the new album,” Weaver said. “I think it's a good representation of what we perform live. It has the whole aspect of worship from a congregational-side and testimonial-message songs. One song is a 'reverse-vertical' song, from God to us, called, 'Let Me Be Your Everything.' The songs are a cross-section of what God's been doing in the life of Big Daddy Weave for the past two years.”

Their success, they contend, is due to following God's plan.

“Over the past two years, we've just continued to walk where God's led,” Weaver said. “He's always confirmed what we were doing by the peace in our hearts. If we ever step out of that (boundary), he yanks the peace out from under us, and we have to come running back so fast. We've found that we can't really live without that peace; we shift into just existing. For us, it's all about following God's peace.”

By performing in more than 200 events, Big Daddy Weave is making waves around the country. However, they believe this is God's work and not their own.

“We've had some times where we were certain in our minds that we were totally messing up, and no one was getting it,” Weaver said. “Then, at the end, all these people come up and share all these different experiences. They've said, 'I was having a rough time, and the Lord really spoke to me through this.' That's so cool to see. … God is not nearly as interested in our ability as much he is in our availability.

“We have all wanted to play music for a long time,” he explained. “It has been a dream of ours to do this full-time. I think my favorite part is doing something we've always dreamed about, but it also being what God has called us to do. It's so cool to be doing something that is our job, but it's not just a 'job.' It's something that we would do even if we didn't get paid. We love doing what we do, and we feel like God has ordained it.”

Posted: 8/8/03

Whites paid to go to church

By Hannah Lodwick

Associated Baptist Press

SHREVEPORT, La. (ABP)–Looking to make some extra spending money? A pastor in Shreveport, La., is offering white people money to attend services at his mostly black 4,000-member church.

Fred Caldwell, the pastor, says he grew tired of looking down from the pulpit and seeing only black faces in his congregation. “Our churches are too segregated, and the Lord never intended for that to happen,” Caldwell told the Shreveport Times. “It's time for something radical.”

Caldwell said the idea for diversifying Greenwood Acres Full Gospel Baptist Church came to him during a sermon. He is paying whites $5 an hour for Sunday services and $10 an hour on Thursdays. The plan started Aug. 3, and 10 white people–some glad for the money, some glad for the invitation–showed up for the Sunday morning service.

While some critics say the worship-for-wages plan amounts to bribery, Caldwell said he just wants the kingdom of God on earth to look like it will in heaven.

Caldwell used the parable of the vineyard workers in Matthew 20 as a biblical context for his program. In the parable, no matter what time of the day the owner of the vineyard hired workers, he paid them all the same amount.

“This isn't just a good idea,” Caldwell said. “This is a God idea. I ain't got no better sense than to obey God.”

To get their money, white visitors must register before the service, and Caldwell pays them out of his pocket. His offer lasts through the end of August.

Members of the Greenwood Acres church have met Caldwell's challenge with enthusiasm. Torie Jenkins has attended the church all of her 21 years. She told Associated Baptist Press she has enjoyed Caldwell's decision to invite whites to their church.

“It has been very interesting,” Jenkins said. “We just love them, and we open our arms to them.”

Jenkins said she doesn't know if the white visitors will continue attending Greenwood Acres after the payments stop, but she hopes they will. “I'll look and see what God's going to do,” she said.

Posted: 7/25/03

Posted: 7/25/03

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Aug. 10

Faith always has feet; deeds indicate devotion

James 2:14-26

By Jim Perkins

Madison Hills Baptist Church, San Antonio

How do you convince me that you own a real race car? Don't just open the hood and show me the motor; race it!

Faith without works

This text perhaps is the most controversial passage in James. Foundational for our understanding and interpretation of this passage is the premise that James (faith with deeds) and Paul (faith alone) agree salvation is by a personal faith in the “Lord Jesus Christ” (2:1). Because their letters are occasional literature (written to a particular group for a particular situation), however, the positions they state and defend in their letters give some surface appearance of disagreement concerning saving faith. As we shall see, though, that truly is not the case!

James wrote to these dear brothers to explain that a faith purely intellectual and purposely divorced from good works “is dead” (2:17). The specific situation might have centered on a group of needy brothers and sisters within the church (2:3, 5, 15) who required assistance with food and clothing. The author was very clear: His readers had the opportunity to show the genuineness of their faith by responding to the needs of others with concrete actions.

Let's be very clear on this issue. Faith always has feet. Even if those feet of faith have been crippled by the circumstances of life, they are still willing to step out and help when possible–it truly is a matter of the condition of the heart, not the strength of the step.

Paul and James agree on this foundational matter, as Paul made clear in his defense before King Agrippa: “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds” (Acts 26:20; also Ephesians 2:10). Good works are not a condition for salvation, but they are an inevitable result.

Faith that works

James continued his defense of faith with accompanying deeds by recording the text of a debate with a foe, who maintained faith and deeds are separate issues in the Christian life (2:18-20). Rather than assign this argument to a “straw man” or imaginary foe, a better interpretation would be that this position had been supported in the churches to which James wrote and he was inspired and impelled by the Spirit to a corrective response.

The erroneous position held by James' opponent might well have been that an “intellectual faith” was sufficient–agreement with the facts of the gospel was all that was needed for salvation. Verse 19, however, certainly is startling with its remonstrance that even demons accept the fact of the one true God–but that statement of fact is not equivalent to trust or faith in Christ as Lord and Savior.

Before proceeding with his own position on this issue, James took one last jab at the opposing position/person: “You foolish (empty-headed) man”! How could a person defend the position that a true and saving faith can be partitioned off from good deeds except that he has no brains at all?

Faith, works and salvation

James provided an appropriate statement of his position on works and deeds in 2:21-26. Again, remember that James did not state that good deeds save one apart from faith. Instead, turn that concept around and we can see the precedence of faith and the accompaniment of good deeds. As it has been said, a defective faith (faith divorced from any works) never saves, and an effective faith always brings forth good deeds–like a spring naturally emits a flow of fresh water, or else it is simply an empty hole in the rock!

The examples of Abraham and Rahab are both intriguing and inspiring. James maintains “his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did” (2:22). Good deeds, then, as they accompanied Abraham's faith, completed it (“brought it to completion” or “brought to complete maturity”). While James did not commend Rahab's profession, he did congratulate her confession of faith that naturally issued forth in good deeds–and those deeds demonstrated the vitality and validity of her saving faith.

The truth and experience of salvation by faith is as multifaceted as a cut precious stone. Paul and James would agree that salvation comes through a personal trust in Christ as Savior. They also would agree that a true, saving faith cannot be divorced from good deeds motivated and directed by the Spirit and done for the glory of God.

Questions for discussion

With today's passage also read Acts 26:20; Galatians 5:6, 6:9-10; Ephesians 2:10. Write in your own words a combined summary of Paul's and James' positions on faith and works?

What "good deeds" characterize your salvation experience? Look to Galatians 5:22-6:10 for guidance in examining the outflow of Christ's life and love in your life!

Posted: 7/25/03

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Aug. 3

James offers relational and ethical guidance

James 1:19-2:4, 8

By Jim Perkins

Madison Hills Baptist Church, San Antonio

Most of us enjoyed the privilege of growing up in a home in which our parents loved us enough to offer practical advice as to how we should live daily. We profited by being able to thrive in a life filled with a variety of relationships and roles.

Live by good principles

James wrote this letter with concern like unto a loving parent. To that end, James constructed this portion of the letter with a view toward guiding them in their relationships and ethical behavior.

Verse 19 contains a theme common to much of the wisdom literature: Be a wise and considerate person as you avoid rash, ill-advised comment and allow others to speak (Proverbs 10:19, 17:27-28, 29:20; Ecclesiastes 7:9). Indeed, James insisted the Christian cannot live the “righteous life” (1:20) God intends unless we renounce our tendency to anger.

This passage contains one other significant challenge for the believer. James insisted in verse 21 that just as his readers would dispose of a soiled and ruined garment, they also should rid themselves of every trace of the “moral filth” and “evil” that was so prevalent and characteristic of the world (that is, people) in open rebellion against the cause of Christ. At the same time, they should find themselves in humble agreement with “the word” (of God, probably the gospel message mentioned in 1:18). Here some would see the phrase “the word planted in you” as an allusion to the fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:33.

Learn from God's word

Humble acceptance of the word of God was needed to bring forth a concrete result in the life of James' readers. His injunction was concise and straightforward: Hear clearly and then obey faithfully.

Why the concept of reception and subsequent action was so vital is explained in James' parable-like discussion of two men in verses 23-25. The first man peered into a mirror and unwisely departed without recognizing the visage was his and that it demanded attention (perhaps to comb his hair or wash his face!). The second man would appear to have done the opposite–he was attentive and acted on the demand. Here, though, James leaped ahead to the intended application: This man heard the word of God–here the “perfect law”–and recognized its claim on him and his need to apply it.

Much of the discussion of this letter has centered on the identity of “the perfect law that brings freedom.” Perhaps this might be described best as the sum total of the moral and ethical teaching contained in Christianity. In addition, the concept of the “perfect law” and the “royal law” (2:8) should be interpreted in the light of Jesus' teaching concerning the “greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:36-40) and Paul's teaching on love for neighbor (Romans 13:8-10).

Look toward others

In 1:26-27, James offered an appropriate illustration of the practical application of a life lived in awareness of the demands made on the Christian by the perfect law that brings new freedom in Christ. The author chose three real-life situations encompassing life with the Father and his children. Two of these topics reiterate subjects mentioned previously.

First, James insisted a “religion” flowing from a true relationship with the Father would necessarily result in a tight rein kept on the unruly tongue. The truth of the need to control the tongue was introduced in 1:19, and will be developed more fully in chapter 3. Here James simply and forcefully asserted that one who will not control his tongue is deceiving himself concerning the efficacy of his professed religiosity.

The second and third life situations included in this section offer positive evidence of a sound religious faith. A vital life of faith will include the care of those who are socially disadvantaged, specifically here widows and orphans. These two categories of people typically were vulnerable to exploitation by society, and at the same time were the object of particular concern on the part of the loving Father (see Exodus 22:22; Isaiah 1:17; Zechariah 7:10; Mark 12:40, 43-44).

The last life situation mentioned here was the need to avoid the ethical and moral pollution which was common in the “world” (people in rebellion against God) and a temptation to God's people living in a society so opposed to the Lord (1:21, 27).

Love all people

Chapter 2 begins with one additional illustration of the Christian life lived in obedience to the royal law that commands us to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (2:8). We cannot be certain whether James was reminded of a specific situation in their meetings that had been related to him or instead chose to include a generalized word of instruction. The net result, however, is that James forbade showing favoritism–whether based on financial considerations or any other factor. God does not exhibit favoritism (Exodus 23:3; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9) and neither should the believer.

Questions for discussion

Make this passage specific to your life: In what area are you most challenged to “be doers and not hearers alone”? What needs to change to make that happen?

Posted: 7/25/03

LifeWay Family Bible Series for Aug. 10

Flee temptation and avoid the places it prowls

Genesis 39:2-10, 19-23

By Tim Owens

First Baptist Church, Bryan

Out of hatred and jealousy, Joseph's brothers sold him to Midianite merchants, who in turn sold him to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials, in Egypt. Joseph served as a slave in Potiphar's household. This part of Joseph's life poses a relevant life question: How can God's people remain faithful to him in times of testing and temptation? The testimony of Joseph is that God graciously empowers those who remain faithful to him when tested and tempted.

Genesis 39:2 says, “The Lord was with Joseph, and he prospered.” Joseph was successful. Success is a major goal in contemporary life. The world measures success by power, prominence and possessions. God measures success by obedience to his will. Success is living in the will of God. Humble servants of God know they are successful only because God allows them to be successful.

Perhaps the greatest lesson God taught Joseph about success was that those who are greatly blessed and used by God are inevitably tempted by Satan. Another way to state this lesson is that those whom God greatly uses are tested by God. Sometimes it is hard to tell whether God is testing his people for the purpose of making them more useful for his purposes or whether Satan is tempting them for the purpose of leading them into defeat. Sometimes temptation and testing are interwoven. God does test his people to prepare them for greater usefulness, but Satan relentlessly tempts God's people in an effort to destroy their usefulness. Joseph was certainly being tempted by Satan, but he also was being tested and strengthened by God for even greater blessing.

Joseph went from being a menial servant to being Potiphar's personal servant to being overseer of the entire household, until finally Joseph assumed the oversight of everything Potiphar owned. Everything Joseph touched was successful, because it had the touch of God's blessing. Joseph was about to learn that today's successes are often times a prelude to seasons of enormous challenge. His success turned into an intense season of temptation and testing.

Genesis 39:6-7 says, “Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, 'Come to bed with me!'”

It is remarkable that Joseph withstood this kind of pressure. He had the pressure of single manhood. Through the failures of his father and brothers, he had a family history of sexual misconduct. The Egyptian culture of that day was characterized by sexual promiscuity, adultery and fornication. Furthermore, the Bible makes it clear Potiphar's wife tempted Joseph with the proposition day after day. In spite of all the physical odds being against him, Joseph continually resisted the temptation and remained faithful to God. How did he do it?

Genesis 39:8-9 suggests three reasons why Joseph resisted this temptation. First, Joseph says, “Your husband trusts me.” It meant something to Joseph to know his master trusted him. Joseph said, “Your husband put me in charge of everything he owns; I have privilege to everything except you, his wife.” Adam and Eve used the exception in their life as an opportunity to sin. They could eat all of the fruit except the fruit from one tree. It was a forbidden object that attracted Adam and Eve. This same rationale was used by Joseph to give him strength to reject that which was forbidden. He said, “I have everything but you, and I cannot go to bed with you because Potiphar trusts me.” Second, Joseph said, “You are his wife.” For Joseph this was a simple matter of doing God's will. Third, Joseph said, “It will be a sin against God.” Joseph was saying, “God sees me, and if I disobey him, it would bring a reproach against his holy name.”

Of all the reasons Joseph resisted this temptation, this is the one that most challenges the believer of any generation. God was more real to Joseph than anything in the world. Joseph was saying: “God is worthy of my obedience. His holiness and love are to be taken with utmost seriousness.”

The following principle cannot be stated strongly enough: Any time the Christian encounters the temptation of sensuality, the only appropriate response is to run from it. Joseph's example says to all Christians, “Don't talk about sin; don't reason with it; don't debate it; don't sit down and discuss it with somebody– run from it!”

If Christians are serious about being men and women of God, here is what Joseph says to them:

Do not give the devil an opening. Do not enter into situations where it would be easy to be led into sin.

Do not take fleshly passions lightly. Joseph ran. He did not stick around. Did God reward him immediately for his obedience? No. Obedience might cost the believer before it will reward the believer. God has his schedule. He calls on his people to be faithful, and in his time he will reward them.

Saturate the heart with the truth and worship of God. When one's life is filled with God, there is little room for the tempter to gain a foothold.

Questions for discussion

Do sexual temptations cease after marriage? How can a husband and wife help one another avoid sexual temptation?

What lessons about avoiding all sorts of temptation are present in this passage?

Posted: 7/25/03

LifeWay Family Bible Series for Aug. 3

God has a plan even when circumstances hide it

Genesis 37:3-8, 23-28, 34-36

By Tim Owens

First Baptist Church, Bryan

The story of Joseph is a lesson in how God's gracious plan in a life can still be fulfilled in less-than-ideal circumstances.

The patriarch Jacob had 12 sons. He showed favoritism to Joseph, a son of Jacob's preferred wife, Rachel. That demonstration of favoritism contributed to the tension in this family.

Genesis 37 raises the question, “How can one make sense out of life's devastating experiences?” Some people believe life's events are attributed to chance. Thus, they have difficulty making sense out of the trying circumstances of life.

Christians believe God is working even in the crises of life to accomplish his purpose. While he may allow his people to suffer the consequences both of sin in the world in general and of specific sins in their own lives, he is always at work to accomplish good in his people's lives even in the midst of devastating experiences. How can the believer depend on God's grace in the crises of life?

Remember God has a plan

Genesis 37:3 says Israel (Jacob) made Joseph a “richly ornamented robe.” The important thing about the coat was its significant meaning. 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 states how the birthright was transferred from Reuben to Joseph, because of Reuben's sin of fornication. The coat Jacob made for Joseph designated Joseph was to be the heir to the birthright. His brothers knew this, and for this reason they hated him.

What follows in the story only intensified the brothers' hatred toward Joseph. In Genesis 37:5, Joseph had a dream, and he told the dream to his brothers. In the dream, Joseph and his brothers were binding sheaves of grain in the field when suddenly Joseph's sheaf rose and stood upright, while the brothers' sheaves gathered around Joseph's and bowed down to it. The brothers recognized the meaning immediately–Joseph was predicting that someday he would rule over his brothers. Because of the dream, the brothers hated Joseph all the more.

Although some would question Joseph's motive in sharing this dream with his brothers, it seems Joseph was genuinely seeking to discover God's plan for his life. He was saying to his brothers and his father, “I don't understand all of this, but somehow I know God has a purpose for my life.” This is what motivated Joseph for the rest of his life–the assurance that God was always working his plan. Joseph was a man who said, “Whatever trial and testing I have to accept, whatever rebuke I have to endure, whatever adversity I have to face, and even if it seems God has forgotten me, I will remain confident God is working his plan for my life.” What a worthy example to follow!

Persevere in spite

of shattered dreams

Motivated by their jealousy, the brothers plotted to kill Joseph. They ended up selling Joseph to a caravan of Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. Joseph must have asked himself, “How are these circumstances working for the glory of God?” He must have wondered about his dreams and their fulfillment. Certainly the next 13 years of his life were filled with many tests and trials. Had Joseph been looking at only the circumstances, he would have despaired of all hope, but his trust remained in God.

The persevering Christian must know that God's ways are often beyond human comprehension. As God sovereignly works his plan, the believer is often unable to understand why he/she is being led down a certain path. Believers need confidence in God that he will accomplish his will, whether they understand it at the time or not.

Joseph teaches this timeless principle: Believers learn more from the pits of life than they do from the mountain tops of life. It is usually from the valley experiences that God prepares his people for effective service and ministry. This is why perseverance is absolutely essential. James is right–consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4).

Frequently, God is best able to deal with his children when they are alone. Even Christ spent agonizing hours alone in Gethsemane before he was betrayed and finally crucified.

For Joseph, the night in the pit was not a night of defeat but a night of victory. He was now completely under God's control, and any dreams of self-ambition and self-importance were now dead. Joseph realized that his dreams were God's revelation to him and, therefore, it was God's responsibility to fulfill those dreams. Joseph was not to try to fulfill the dreams on his own, but he was to make himself available to God, so that God could fulfill the dreams through him.

Questions for discussion

Have you had circumstances in your life where you felt God was distant only to discover later that he was working his plan in your life?

Posted: 7/25/03

In Houston, Flores has a flair for finding fishers of men

By Karen Simons

Union Baptist Association

HOUSTON–Moises Flores is preparing laity for ministry, following the model that drew him from work as a civil engineer in Mexico to a multi-tasking minister in Houston.

During a Promise Keepers gathering in Houston in the mid-1990s, Flores met Jorge Camacho, now a Union Baptist Association consultant but then pastor of Iglesia Bautista Del Redentor in Houston. Camacho invited Flores to become the church's mission pastor.

Moises Flores (right) receives congratulations after a recent class graduation. He is director of the Bible Institute for Church Planters.

Flores knew God had called him to ministry, but he also knew he needed to study. Camacho offered him not only a ministry role but a place for training as well through the Bible Institute for Church Planters–Instituto Biblico para Plantadores de Iglesias, which he founded.

Flores graduated from the institute in the summer of 2000, and today he is pastor of Iglesia Bautista Del Redentor. He also directs and teaches at the institute, serves on a leadership development training team for Union Baptist Association and juggles the demands of husband and father to four children, ages 1 to 12.

Meanwhile, his church has sponsored five church starts in the Houston area since September 2000.

That's the model of multiplication in ministry he advocates through the Bible Institute for Church Planters.

Since its launch in 1998, the institute has graduated 47 students. The recent class of 12 came from five local churches and attended weekly Monday night classes for 16 months to complete the 11 required courses.

Each course takes five to seven weeks of three-hour sessions and covers topics such as Old Testament, New Testament, methods of Bible study, cults, church starting, pastoral ethics and preaching.

“We are doing an important role to engage the lay person to become a leader–or pastor if the Lord calls him,” Flores said. “It changes their vision. We have laypeople we are training to become cell group leaders or even church planters. We have the testimony of students who come with no idea (they could start a church) but the Lord opens their eyes.

“The Lord is moving,” he explained. “When the Lord calls someone, my role is to facilitate God's movement. I need to be aware. I want to be a part of those movements among church planters.”

Flores sees church starting as an effective tool to reach non-Christian people. For example, three of the churches recently started by Del Redentor have a total attendance equaling the sponsoring church.

So Flores keeps recruiting people from the pews to consider what God may be asking them to do by way of leadership and church starting.

“We try to provide tools for leaders, to help them become a better leader or teacher in the churches. And we always include the information and passion to plant churches,” he explained.

Of the 35 students who completed the course work prior to the latest graduates, 12 have moved from lay leadership roles to pastoral roles.

Posted: 7/25/03

Gay marriage question confronts more candidates

WASHINGTON (RNS)–Leaders in the Democratic race for president expressed commitment to homosexual-rights issues at a mid-summer forum, but most stopped short of endorsing gay marriage.

Speaking to the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay-rights organization, the seven Democratic presidential candidates who attended endorsed measures to prevent discrimination against gays.

But only three candidates–Al Sharpton, a minister from New York City; Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio; and former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois–said they supported homosexual marriage. All three are considered longshots for the nomination.

Other candidates were more ambiguous in their statements, saying they supported civil unions that would grant homosexual couples most of the rights heterosexual married couples enjoy, such as hospital visitation rights and survivor's benefits under Social Security.

Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut both said they favor civil unions but added marriage is a “historic, cultural” institution between men and women.

With the Supreme Court's ruling to overturn a Texas law that criminalized sodomy and Canada's recent legalization of homosexual marriage, presidential candidates are facing pressure to state their views the issue, which may prove a stumbling block for Democrats seeking votes from both liberals and social moderates.

Americans remain split on the issue, according to a recent Gallup poll, which found that 55 percent of Americans oppose gay marriage.

Meanwhile, conservative Republican leaders, including President Bush, have spoken out against homosexual marriage.

Republican leader Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., told reporters he favors upholding the Defense of Marriage Act, which was signed into law by Democratic President Bill Clinton.

“The restatement of that is that marriage is very simple–a union between one man and one woman, not two men or three men or four men, or one man–or one woman–or two women, three women, or three women and three men. It's not that. It's one man, one woman. It's what the law of the land is. I will support that,” Frist said.

Posted: 7/25/03

Graceview offers new perspective
for special-needs families

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

TOMBALL–Graceview Baptist Church is giving disabled people and their caregivers freedom to worship by offering them a little joy.

For about eight years, trained church members have cared for disabled individuals during Sunday School and worship services through the church's Joy program. It enables parents or caregivers to join the rest of the congregation for spiritual enrichment.

Volunteers lead the disabled people–whose afflictions include cerebral palsy, autism, retardation and Down syndrome–in Bible studies and recreational activities.

Some of the people attend mainstream Sunday School classes at a level they can understand, but special classes for the disabled also are offered.

The outreach enables caregivers to attend the church, said Denise Briley, mother of a child with cerebral palsy and founder of the program.

Many parents feel uncomfortable taking their disabled children to worship services because of their special needs, she said.

The attention directed toward parents when their children require a feeding tube or breathing apparatus makes them feel unwanted, she added.

But unless workers are trained to help disabled people, the church cannot handle them, she said.

“If you think about it, you can't take a baby on a feeding pump into the nursery and say, 'Here you go,'” Briley said. “They're stuck at home.”

Briley encountered similar feelings as she searched for a church with her son, she said. Soon after joining Graceview Baptist Church, she shared her vision for a place where disabled people could safely study the Bible in classes designed for their needs.

To her surprise, 16 people volunteered immediately after she testified about her desire, and the Joy program was born. The program continually expanded until about 80 volunteers provided a weeklong Vacation Bible School for 15 disabled people this summer.

Millie Bass, a volunteer in the program, said she is amazed at how the people responded to Bible studies during the years. Music and pictures especially are effective in communicating the gospel to them, she noted.

Parents and children have become closely connected to her paintings of the people “as God sees them,” without disabilities, she noted. Disabled individuals comprehend the love and many times the message of the outreach, she said.

But the students are not the only people who are blessed, she continued.

“The greatest reward is the hugs and smiles from the kids,” Bass said. “The kids are so honest and open with their love. It's unconditional. You couldn't run me off with a stick.”

Special-needs individuals are a segment of the population that primarily has not been touched by the gospel, but the church is discovering this mission field, Briley commented.

“It is an untapped mission field,” Briley said. “There are so many families who give up. They don't want to be rejected anymore. Churches just don't know how to reach out.”

The outreach has caught the attention of other congregations, and Graceview leaders gladly have helped 300 churches start a special-needs program and hope to assist many more.

“My vision is that one day it won't be a question; there will be something there,” Briley said.

Posted: 7/25/03

HBTS volunteers make more storage

SAN ANTONIO–Forty volunteers from 10 churches spent the first week of June building 20 storage sheds at Hispanic Baptist Theological School.

The 8-by-10-foot sheds will be used by students living on campus and by the school to store seasonal items, donations to the Agape House clothing ministry, library materials and maintenance equipment.

The volunteers are part of a newly formed group called Lone Star Builders.

Volunteers pose amid a field of storage units they constructed on the campus of Hispanic Baptist Theological School.

In addition to labor, the group brought about $13,000 to buy materials. Funds were donated not only by the churches and individuals doing the labor, but also by three other churches and another donor.

Teams where organized to build floor frames, walls and roof trusses. A kitchen staff provided lunch and dinner each day in the school's dining hall.

Rain slowed the work somewhat, preventing the volunteers from having time to paint the sheds. However, Victor Perez, a student who also is a painting contractor, stepped forward to finish the job.

HBTS Project Manager Jim Fowler praised this group and others who have worked on the San Antonio campus within the past year.

“These groups have provided money, material and a lot of labor of love to fix, repair and paint areas all over the campus,” he said. “We now are beginning to see an end to major projects that can be handled by volunteer groups and can begin to focus on areas that will require contractor support such as repairing the chapel parking lot base and repaving, removal of tile flooring in the kitchen area, installing additional security lights at the parking areas and replacing exterior doors.”

Churches represented among the Lone Star Builders crew were Wilshire, Dallas; Lakeshore Drive, Weatherford; First Baptist, Roby; First Baptist, Rule; First Baptist, Tulia; Garner, Weatherford; Pioneer Drive, Abilene; Harlandale, San Antonio; Christian Faith Fellowship, Argyle; and Broadview Baptist of Temple Hills, Md.

Lone Star Builders is led by Luther Thomas of Weatherford.