sbc_rally_62303

Posted 6/18/03

Kingdom Family Rally promotes
'Seven Pillars' to strengthen families

By Tony Cartledge

North Carolina Biblical Recorder

PHOENIX–After three years of planning, the Southern Baptist Convention unveiled seven “pillars” leaders believe will strengthen American families.

A Kingdom Family Rally held June 16, on the eve of the SBC annual meeting in Phoenix, took a time slot normally given to the SBC Pastors' Conference. The rally attracted more than 4,000 participants, about half of whom remained through the nearly two-and-a-half-hour program.

An opening video portrayed the decline of the American family and described the SBC's attempt to reverse the trend.

Award-winning Christian vocal artist and composer Steve Green sings "Children Are a Treasure from the Lord" with his wife, Marijean, during the Southern Baptist Convention's first-ever Kingdom Family Rally June 16 in Phoenix. Green he would not be where he is today "were it not for my strong family."

In 2000, SBC Executive Committee President Morris Chapman called for formation of a council on family life to develop a comprehensive strategy to “call families back to God.”

Tom Elliff, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church of Del City, Okla., was named chairman. The council studied statistics related to American family life, brainstormed with people like James Dobson of Focus on the Family and Dennis Rainey of Family Life Today and searched the Bible for texts relating to family issues.

Building on principles Elliff has used in his pre-marital and family counseling, the council developed a statement of Christian family principles called “The Seven Pillars of a Kingdom Family.”

Contemporary Christian artist Steve Green and his wife, Marijean, billed as hosts of the event, sang “Household of Faith” and talked about how they have helped care for Green's father, a former missionary who suffers from Parkinson's disease.

Elliff and his wife, Jeannie, reviewed statistics describing sharp increases since 1960 in the rates of divorce, cohabitation and children born out of wedlock as evidence of a need for change in American families.

In a video presentation, James Dobson said he never had known a denomination devoting itself so energetically and creatively to family issues as the SBC.

The “anti-family” trend that began in the 1960s has peaked, Dobson reported, noting a shift toward conservative, pro-moral, pro-family values. As evidence, he reported that favorable attitudes toward abortion are declining among young people, and the acceptance of sexual abstinence is growing.

Rainey told the Baptists he is “bullish on the SBC” and the Kingdom Families initiative. It is the most important battle the SBC has fought since the struggle for the inerrancy of scripture, he said. The SBC won that battle, he said, and cannot afford to lose the battle for the family.

“No nation, state or church can survive the breakdown of the family,” he warned.

The Bible begins with the marriage of Adam and Eve and ends with the marriage of Christ and the church, he said. Marriage and family were designed by God to reflect his image to a fallen earth, he said, so it's no wonder Satan has worked so hard to break into Christian homes, resulting in a divorce rate for Christians that is no different from non-Christians.

Rainey said his organization's research shows that less than 3 percent of Christian couples in churches pray together. “I believe we could slash the divorce rate if we could just get husbands and wives to pray together every day,” he said.

A parade of presidents from various SBC entities spoke briefly as each of the “seven pillars” rose symbolically from the stage floor. “Mystery guests” gave testimonies relating to each pillar's emphasis:

Honor God's authority. Families are called to live under God's authority, explained Morris Chapman. Husbands, especially, need to stand in the front door and protect their families from the fiery darts of the devil, he said.

Chapman introduced Chaplain Jeff Struecker of “Black Hawk Down” fame, who is based at Fort Bragg and currently stationed in Afghanistan. Struecker used the insignia of his uniform to illustrate that he is under the authority of others and called to lead those under his authority by example.

Respect human life. Richard Land, president of the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said respect for human life is a central pillar of faith that also should be central to the family. Life must be treasured from conception to death, he said, including faithful care for children with special needs and for aging parents.

Land introduced Trey and Brenda Palmer, who have five children, but also help care for an uncle who was seriously injured in an electrical accident. Palmer said his great-grandfather, who spoke to the convention in 1949, was one of the first black men to address the SBC. Respect for human life “is paramount for a civil, free and progressive society,” he said.

Exercise moral purity. The third pillar was previewed by Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who said: "We are living in a day of moral confusion leading to moral anarchy."

The church is called to be a holy nation and a holy people, which should be reflected in Christian families, he said. That would allow others to observe them and say that only the existence of an omnipotent and sovereign God could explain the holiness of this people, he added.

Mohler introduced Pete and Debbie Livingston, who have two birth children and five children by adoption. The Livingstons' marriage survived a rocky 10-year start during which he was devoted to work and she had an extra-marital affair. After she became a Christian, they put their marriage back together.

“Folks, there is no Plan B for our marriages,” Mrs. Livingston said. “There is only God's radical plan.”

Serve the church. Jimmy Draper, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, challenged Baptists to guide their churches to lead others in faithfully serving the church. Draper introduced Gary Chapman, a staff member at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C. Chapman, author of popular books such as "The Five Love Languages," said Jesus taught servant leadership.

Chapman's own marriage improved when he learned to ask his wife how he could serve her better and be a better husband, he said. “When I let her teach me how to serve her, my wife began to reach out to me.”

Use time wisely. SBC President Jack Graham said he never regretted a moment of the time he has given to his wife and children. "Time is a treasure, and we are to use it wisely," he admonished.

Graham introduced motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, who said building a successful marriage involves a lot of little things, beginning with the understanding that men and women are different and a commitment to work together.

“There has never been a man or woman as smart as both together as a team” following God's principles for the family, he said.

Practice biblical stewardship. Annuity Board President O.S. Hawkins spoke briefly on the importance of stewardship and introduced professional bass fisherman Jimmy Houston, who spoke via videotape.

Houston, who has given up prize money because he refuses to wear the patch of a beer company that sponsors a bass fishing circuit, said Christians should give both tithes and offerings to God. Those who don't tithe are not short-changing God but themselves, he said.

Share the gospel of Jesus Christ. The final pillar was introduced by North American Mission Board President Bob Reccord and International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin. Both cited their own experience to promote family-oriented evangelism.

Reccord promoted the value of families participating together in mission trips. Rankin spoke of how all family members contribute to the effectiveness of missionaries.

Participants in the rally were given a card and encouraged to sign a covenant declaring they will encourage their families to “build their lives upon these seven pillars of the kingdom family.”