Posted: 10/29/04

BGCT offers partnering ministry grants

The Baptist General Convention of Texas is offering grants of up to $1,000 to partnering congregations looking to start new ministries.

Partnering churches must be made up primarily of members from different ethnic groups. For example, an African-American church could partner with a Korean congregation or an Anglo congregation could cooperate with a Sudanese church.

The new ministry or event must be culturally appropriate to the community. Suggested projects should be planned to take place within 12 months of funding. Applications for the grants can be found at www.texastapestry.org, or requested at (214) 828-5379. The submission deadline is March 30, 2005. Decisions about the applications will be made by the end of April 2005.

Posted: 10/29/04

'God is not nice,' nor is he one of us, theologian insists

By Bob Smietana

Religion News Service

CHICAGO–Contrary to popular belief, God is not an American, one of us, religious or a capitalist. He's not very nice either, says Stephen Long.

Unfortunately, says Long, too many Christians prefer “the nice god” to the God of the Bible.

Long, who teaches systematic theology at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, is one of six scholars whose essays appear in “God is Not,” a book from Brazos Press that takes on “culturally misinformed views about who God is.” The title of the book comes from Thomas Aquinas, who argued that “we cannot know what God is, but only what God is not,” says editor Brent Laytham.

In his essay, “God is not nice,” Long reworks a famous section from Isaiah, where the Old Testament prophet is terrified when he sees God “sitting on his throne, high and lifted,” surrounded by angels crying “Holy, Holy, Holy.” The nice god, by contrast, is seated on a lawn chair, wearing a Chicago Cubs hat, writes Long. And the angels call out “Nice, nice, nice is the Lord of Hosts; the whole world is full of his niceness.”

Long, Laytham and the other essayists are all members of the Ekklesia Project, a group of scholars, pastors, and lay people who believe the modern church has forgotten its true calling. Ekklesia–taken from the New Testament Greek word for church–members believe Christians owe their ultimate allegiance to the church, not to their country, class or ideology.

When churches forget that, the group's website at www. Ekklesia.org argues, “they turn the clear and unambiguous call of Jesus and the Holy Spirit into a confused and contradictory mix of caution and self-interest.”

The purpose of the Ekklesia Project is to “remind the church of its true calling as the real-world community whose primary loyalty is to the Body of Christ, the priorities and practices of Jesus, and the inbreaking kingdom of God.”

About 120 people attended Ekklesia's annual conference recently at DePaul University in Chicago. DePaul University philosophy professor Michael Budde calls the group “friends we didn't know we had,” who are drawn together by a sense that something was missing from their faith.

“Most people share this deep sense that there has to be more to being the church, to being disciples, that what I have lived out so far,” he said.

Budde and Stanley Hauerwas of Duke Divinity School co-wrote a pamphlet, posted on the Ekklessia Web site, called “Subversive Friendships,” which outlines some of the group's goals. One of them is to “make the church feistier and more self aware.”

“We have no use for happy and/or 'friendly' churches,” they wrote. “We do not desire to see the church grow using the manipulative strategies of the church growth movement. We do not want our churches to 'entertain' us by trying to be an alternative to the American entertainment industry. If the church tries to compete with TV, then the church is already lost.”

The conference theme came from the song of Mary in Luke 1, which describes the “upside down kingdom of God”–where the mighty are knocked down and the lowly are exalted; where the rich are hungry and the poor are satisfied.

But Jonathan Wilson, conference presenter and professor of theology and ethics at Acadia Divinity School in Nova Scotia, said that the “upside-down kingdom of God” is a misnomer. Instead, he said, it should be called “the right-side up kingdom of God.”

“In God's creation, the current state of affairs is upside down,” Wilson said. “The kingdom of God comes not to turn things upside down, but to turn things right-side up.”

At a time when politicians are debating how much influence the church has on the state, Ekklesia members worry about the influence of the state on the church.

Part of one afternoon session centered on getting the American flag removed from church sanctuaries.

“The American flag does not belong in the chancel,” Hauerwas said, “partly it's because people think that it is more significant than the sacrifice of the Eucharist–and when that happens you have idolatry.”

Hauerwas added that the church is an international community, connecting people across national boundaries.

That's a theme taken up by Ekklesia member Michael Baxter in an essay titled “God is not an American.”

“In a time of war,” Baxter says, “the challenge of Christians, scattered among the nations of the world, is to live as one body of Christ, and to pledge their allegiance not to one nation under God, but to one church under God.”

Posted: 10/29/04

Nominees named for BGCT boards & committees

The following information is provided in compliance with the bylaws of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Nominations to be considered by messengers to the BGCT annual session in San Antonio, Nov. 8-9, are presented by the Committee to Nominate Executive Board Members, the Committee on Committees, the Committee to Nominate Coordinating Boards and the Committee on Nominations for Institution Boards.

Key: # new member/trustee/ regent; % non-church/denominational employee; ^ elected by BGCT; + elected by institution board; @ elected at an Executive Board meeting and must be elected at convention; E/one-year extended term

Executive Board

Members to be re-elected

Term to expire in 2007: % David Alford, Waco; Mike Barrera, Laredo; Darrell Beggs, Teague; % Wanda Bishop, Palestine; Becky Brown, Houston; % Rudy Camacho, Fort Worth; % Jean Childre, Garland; Derwin Comer, Wellington; Ron Davis, Liberty; Al Flores, San Antonio; % John Freeman, Dallas; Jim Haskell, Georgetown; % Barbara Hearn, Athens; Robert Herring, San Antonio; Charles Kimball, Allen; Manny Longoria, Lubbock; Ron Lyles, Pasadena; Ray Meador, Port Arthur; % Garnett Mitchell, Kingwood; Dana Moore, Amarillo; % Linda Murdock, Lubbock; % Johnnie Pigg, Fort Worth; Fred Raney, Hemphill; Allen Reed, Nacogdoches; % Audrene Robison, Gainesville; Eddie Sanchez, Dallas; Randall Scott, Paris; Don Shannon, Coldspring; Bill Skaar, Grand Prairie; Mark Smith, Warren; John Stanislaw, Coleman; % Charlie Summers, Dimmit; % Jean Talley, Grapevine; Barry Taylor, Winters; Betty Thompson, Mineola; John Thielepape, Arlington; % Tommy Thompson, Mission; % Gordon Wear, Leona; % Charles Whiteside, Kilgore; Mitch Wilson, Shallowater; Larry Womack, Houston

New members

Term to expire in 2007: % Janelle Boyce, Frisco; Jerry Carlisle, Murphy; % Gwenda Carrell, Godley; Sammy Garcia, Denison; % Mart Hanna, Kerrville; % Royce Jenne Harmon, Stephenville; Ron Hood, Longview; % Elmo Johnson, Houston; Rachel Lopez, San Antonio; J. Morgan Malone, Bonham; % Jose Maymi, Belton; % Glen Mitchell, Iowa Park; Bruce Murray, Austin; Jim O'Dell, Leakey; % Gary Purser, Amarillo; Ed Seay, Magnolia; Chris Simmons, Dallas; Chris Thacker, Eagle Lake; Ed Walker, Granite Shoals; Norman Whittington, Killeen; % Lisa Harper Wood, North Richland Hills; Harry Wright, Port Neches

Members nominated to fill un-expired terms

Term to expire in 2005: John Collis, Ozona; % Anna Marie Edgemon, Sulphur Springs; Joel Odom, Floresville; Troy Richardson, Amarillo

Term to expire in 2006: % Alice Curtis, Fort Worth; Nestor Menjivar, Austin; % Marshall Morgan, Odessa; Craig Rhoton, Monahans; % Gene Shelburne, Midland; % Eunice Vincent, Alpine

Member nominated at large

% Danny Montez, San Angelo

Christian Education Coordinating Board

Term to expire 2007: Jerry Sawyer, El Paso; Jerry Dailey, San Antonio; % Walt McKee, Grandfalls; #% Yuvi Cadenhead, Haskell; Craig Vire, Burleson

Term to expire 2005: #% Kate Fite, Lewisville

Institution representative, term to expire 2005: Lanny Hall, Howard Payne University, Brownwood

Human Welfare Coordinating Board

Term to expire 2007: # Lee S. Wilson, Fort Worth; #% Rebecca Hines, Houston; #% Mark Heard, Cuero; Delia Vela, El Paso

Term to expire 2005: # Luis Garcia, Corpus Christi

Institution representatives, term to expire 2005: Tim Holloway, Baptist Community Services, Amarillo, aging care; Jerry Haag, South Texas Children's Home, Beeville, child care; Art Hohenberger, Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, Waco, health care

Baptist University of the Americas trustees

Terms to expire in 2007: John Bobo, Hurst; # Frances Barrera, Plainview; Teresa Luna, San Antonio; % Jackie Miller, El Paso; Brad Russell, San Antonio; Johnny White Jr., San Antonio; Scott Willingham, Wichita Falls

Baylor University regents

Term to expire, May 31, 2008: ^% Wes Bailey, Waco; # Duane Brooks, Houston; ^% Randy Ferguson, Austin

Dallas Baptist University trustees

Term to expire in 2007: #+% Gayla Crain, Irving; ^% Charlie Frazier, Dallas; ^ Dan Griffin, Arlington;^% Charles Ku, Flower Mound; #+ Bernie Moraga, Albuquerque, N.M.; #^% Ken Pilgrim, Pittsburg; ^%Harold Sadler, Henderson; ^ Jack Shelton, Lampasas; ^ Gary Singleton, Garland; ^% Buena Stevenson, Frisco; ^% Nobu Togami, Belton, #+% Bianca Yip, Houston

Term to expire in 2006: #^% Donna Slette, Waco

East Texas Baptist University trustees

Term to expire in 2007: ^% Don Anthis, Houston; #+% Glenn Bickerdike, Marshall; ^% Don Bush, Beaumont; ^% David Chadwick, Center; ^% Robert Cooper, Carrollton; ^ Clint Davis, Mt. Pleasant; #+% Ray Delk, Marshall; #+% William Gean, The Woodlands; #^% Kenny Hall, Marshall; #+ John Hatch, Lake Jackson; #^% Denie Kendrick, Pasadena; #^% Sam Moseley, Marshall; ^% Louise Ornelas Tyler; ^% Ed Smith, Marshall; #+ James Webb, Longview

Term to expire in 2005: E/^% D.M. Edwards, Tyler; ^% Sheila Hurtte, Daingerfield; #^ Bob Mayfield, Tyler

Term to expire in 2006: #^% Joy Howell, Marshall

Hardin-Simmons University trustees

Term to expire in 2007: ^% Jimmie Cantrell, Abilene; ^ David Garza, Abilene; ^ George Gaston San Antonio; #^% Ron Howell, Arlington; #^ Bubba Stahl, Corpus Christi; #^% James Parker, Abilene; ^% Jud Powell, Abilene; ^ Charles Price, San Antonio; ^% Clinton Wolf, El Paso

Term to expire in 2006: @^% Elaine Gabbert, Dallas

Houston Baptist University trustees

Term to expire in 2007: ^% Max Grigsby, Houston; ^% George Roper, Houston; #^% David Stutts, Houston; #^ Larry Womack, Houston

Howard Payne University trustees

Term to expire in 2007: ^% Rick Akins, Salado; ^% Russell Berry, Abilene; #^ Mike Chancellor, Abilene; #^% Al Lock , Fort Worth; ^% Jim McEachern, Midlothian; ^% Robert Rockwell, Lewisville; %^ Daniel Sanchez, Fort Worth; ^% Ben Sinclair, Montgomery; #^% John Weidner, Brownwood

San Marcos Baptist Academy trustees

Term to expire in 2007: W.D. Broadway, Salado; E/% Mike Davidson, Jr., Dripping Springs; #% Bobby Miser, Missouri City; % Charlene Morgan, Houston; % Peggy Portillo, San Antonio

Term to expire in 2005: #% Jimmie Scott, San Marcos

Term to expire in 2006: #% Mel Shook, Lubbock

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor trustees

Term to expire in 2007: #+ Henry Adrion, III, Hilltop Lakes; ^ Jerry Carlisle, Murphy; ^% Kathy Cook, McGregor; #^% Martha Cooper, Grand Prairie; #+% Camille Dillard, Dallas; ^ Mike Hark-rider, Temple; ^ Jim Haskell, Georgetown: #+% Gary Heavin, Gatesville; ^% Arch Jacobson, Comfort; @^ Martin Knox, Temple; #^% John Messer, Belton; #^% Clark Potter, Belton; #+% Mary Priest, Salado; ^% Ernie Roberts, DeSoto; ^% Barbara Sherwin, Stephenville; ^% Ricky Thompson, Waco

Valley Baptist Missions/Education Center trustees

Term to expire in 2007: # Jennifer Bordenet, Harlingen; #% Esther Fraire, McAllen; Pat Graham, Harlingen; # Roberto Rodriguez, Harlingen; % Joel Salazar, Houston

Wayland Baptist University trustees

Term to expire in 2007: #^% Danny Campbell, Midland; ^% Joe Cargile, Crosbyton; ^% David Foote, Dalhart;

^% Carl Hall, Boerne; ^ Gene Hawkins, Lubbock; ^% Robert Herring, Fair,Oaks Ranch; ^% Bruce Julian, Perryton; #^ D.L. Lowrie, Lubbock; #^% Delbert McDougal, Lubbock; ^% Bill Sowder, Shallowater

Term to expire in 2005: @^% Peggy Wall, Plainview; #+% Tim Powers, Wichita Falls

Term to expire in 2006: @^ Gene Meacham, Plainview

Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio trustees

Term to expire in 2007: @^% Alice Gong, San Antonio; @^% Connie Jones, Fair Oaks Ranch, @^% Bill McCandless, San Antonio; @^ Philip McCraw, San Antonio

Term to expire in 2005: @^% Mary Brogan, San Antonio; #^ Ronnie Car-ter, San Antonio; @^ Roland Lopez, San Antonio; #+% Noah Rodriguez, San Antonio

Term to expire in 2006: @^% Ray Dinstel, Boerne; @^% Kim Moore, Fair Oaks Ranch; @^ Sam Pearis IV, Universal City

Baylor Health Care System trustees

Term to expire in 2007: ^ Bill Pinson, Duncanville; +% Jim Turner, Dallas

Hendrick Medical Center trustees

Term to expire in 2007: David Cason, Abilene; #% Ron Fogle , Abilene; % Monroe Levrets, Abilene; Charles Maciel, Abilene; % J.V. Martin, Sweetwater; % David Scott, Abilene; % Shelly Utley, Abilene; Mike Woodard, Abilene

Term to expire in 2005: # Ward Hayes, Sweetwater

Term to expire in 2006: #% Dennis Laster, Abilene

Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center trustees

Term to expire in 2007: ^ Paul Stripling, Waco

Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital trustees

Term to expire in 2007: #^% Sonja Coffman, Beaumont; ^% Walter Snider, Beaumont

Valley Baptist Health System trustees

Term to expire in 2007: #+% Eddie Caughfield, Combes; ^ Charles Dixon, Harlingen; ^% Robert Hoot, Raymondville; ^% George Labar Jr., South Padre Island, #^% Wilbron Stanteen, Harlingen

Baptist Community Services trustees

Term to expire in 2007: ^% Robert Byrd, Canyon; ^% Bob Gibson, Amarillo; +% Henry Hamilton, Amarillo; #^% Gorden Jenkins, Amarillo; ^ Charley Jones, Amarillo; ^% Don Max Vars, Canyon

Baptist Memorials Ministries trustees

Term to expire in 2007: #% Michael Epley, San Angelo; % David Green, Sweetwater; % Gretta Hill, San Angelo; #% Stanley Mayfield, San Angelo; # John Petty, Kerrville; % Mary Robinson, Eldorado; #% Lynn Rutland, San Angelo; % Carol Scott, Big Spring; #% Monty Trimble, Corsicana

Term to expire in 2005: #% Steven Saldivar, Big Lake

Baptist Child & Family Services trustees

Term to expire in 2007: ^% George Cowden III, San Antonio; ^% Larry Lummus, Bullard; %^ Martha Morse, San Antonio; ^% Randy Norris, Austin; ^ Jim Shamburger, Victoria; ^% Terry Simmons, Dallas

Buckner Baptist Benevolences trustees

Term to expire in 2007: #^% David Hennessee, San Antonio; #+ Ellis Orozco, McAllen; #+% Lynette Ran-ton, Alto, N.M.; ^% Eddie Saldaña, Garland; ^% Michelle Spinks, Midland; +% Tom Stone, Longview; +% Victor Upton, DeSoto; +% George Vorpahl , Bee Cave

South Texas Children's Home trustees

Term to expire in 2007: % Tracy Crawford, Tyler; % Tom Culver, Richmond; % Tony Gray, Bellaire; #% Ron Hyde, Kenedy; % Lynda Martin, Corpus Christi; #% Mary Lou Mc-Kaig, Arlington; #% Lamar Meadows Jr., Richmond; % Chuck Radar, Victoria; #% Sherry Sigmon, San Antonio

Texas Baptist Children's Home & Family Services trustees

Term to expire in 2007: # Barry Chinn, Del Valle; #% Buddy Ferguson, Austin; % Doak Fling, Georgetown; #% Tom Norris, McGregor; Don Shannon, Coldspring; #% Jonda White, Austin

Term to expire in 2005: #% Billie Sue Cariker, Round Rock

Baptist Standard directors

Term to expire in 2007: #% Roger Hall, Midlothian; % Diane Payne, Spring; # Betty Ross Preisler, Wharton; Rudy Sanchez , Dallas; # Wil Tanner, Lubbock

Baptist Foundation of Texas directors

Term to expire in 2007: ^% Larry Franklin, San Antonio; +% Fred Norton Jr., Tex-arkana; ^% Sam Self, Dallas, ^% Jerry Turner, Blanco

Term to expire in 2005: @^% Kim Askew, Dallas

WorldconneX trustees

Term to expire in 2007: ^ Justice Anderson, Fort Worth; #+ Daniel Carro, Annandale, Va.; ^ Greg Deering, Arlington; ^% Frankie Harvey, Nacogdoches; ^% Bill Noble, Lubbock; ^% Robert Pinder, Georgetown; ^ Nina Pinkston, Fort Worth; ^ Jeff Raines, Amarillo; #+% Joel Vestal, Houston

Term to expire in 2005: #+ Cindy Wiles, Arlington; #+% Bill O'Brien, Frisco

Committee to Nominate Executive Board Members

Term to expire 2007: # James Fuller, Beaumont; # Allison Gilliam, Valley Mills; #% Nelda Jones, Rosebud; #% Roger Malone, Dimmitt; # James Wong, Houston

Committee on Nominations for Institution Boards

Term to expire 2007: #% Kathy Averitt, Waco; #% Luis Lozano, Laredo; #% David Malone, Austin; # Bill Wright, Plains

Term to expire 2005: # Houmphanh Vongsurith, Grand Prairie

Posted: 10/29/04

On the Move

Greg Ammons to First Church in Garland as pastor from Faith Church in Iowa Park.

Jeff Baergen to San Marcos Academy in San Marcos as director of admissions.

Lloyd Christensen to First Church in Quinlan as pastor.

Terry Cosby to First Church in Burnet as pastor from First Church in Hereford.

Rick Davis to First Church in Royse City as pastor.

Bobby Dupree to San Marcos Academy in San Marcos as vice president for development, where he was director of admissions.

Bob Ethredge has resigned as minister of education and administration at Vista Ridge Church in Carrollton.

Charles Fake to Timbergrove Church in Houston as pastor.

Orvin Feliciano has resigned as pastor of Free Bridge Church in Point.

Ken Flowers has completed an interim pastorate at First Church in Burnet.

Danny Gandy to Ardis Heights Church in Greenville as pastor.

H.B. Graves has completed his work as church planter for First Branch Fellowship in Chelsea, Vt., and is available for supply and interims at (940) 658-3192.

Walt Hammond to Rocky Creek Church in Brownwood as minister of youth.

Chad Howard to First Church in Little Elm as youth minister.

Linda McCrady has resigned as ministry coordinator, new member minister and senior adult minister at First Church in Waxahachie.

John McWhorter to Mustang Church in Pilot Point as interim pastor.

Terry Mick to First Church in Mobeetie as youth minister.

Jonathan Patrick has resigned as youth minister at First Church in Sanger.

Les Rhea has resigned as pastor of First Church in Cash.

Cecil Rice to Northview Church in Bryan as pastor.

Jennifer Slack to First Church in Wichita Falls as assistant director of preschool and children's ministries.

Chris Smith to Memorial Church in Denton as youth minister.

Stan Sullinger to Crossroad Church in The Woodlands as discipleship pastor from First Church in Garland, where he was minister of education.

Joseph Taylor to Memorial Church in Baytown as associate pastor/minister of music from Fort Caroline Church in Jacksonville, Fla.

Monty Weaver to Calvary Church in Wolfe City as pastor.

Linda Willeford to Southeast Church in San Antonio as youth minister.

Clell Wright to Lytle South Church in Abilene as music minister.

Posted: 10/29/04

Sexual content on TV impacts teen behavior

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. (ABP)–A regular diet of TV high in sexual content can encourage teenagers to engage in sexual activity sooner, according to a recently released study.

Researchers interviewed 1,792 teenagers about their TV viewing habits and sexual activity. Initial surveys were taken in 2001, with follow-up interviews the next year.

“Adolescents who viewed more sexual content at baseline were more likely to initiate intercourse and progress to more advanced … sexual activities during the subsequent year,” researchers wrote in Pediatrics online journal.

“TV may create the illusion that sex is more central to daily life than it truly is and may promote sexual initiation as a result,” the researchers stated.

The researchers found 64 percent of all TV programs contained sexual content during the 2001-2002 season, the period studied by the survey. They also noted a 1999 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation that found youth watch an average of three hours of television each day.

“Youths in the 90th percentile of TV sex viewing had a predicted probability of intercourse initiation that was approximately double that of youths in the 10th percentile,” they wrote.

“It's social learning: 'Monkey see, monkey do,'” psychologist Rebecca Collins, the study's lead author, told USA Today.

The study, "Watching Sex on Television Predicts Adolescent Initiation of Sexual Behavior," can be accessed at pediatrics.org.

Posted: 10/29/04

Texas Tidbits

Two Wayland students killed. A head-on collision on Highway 70 near Halfway in West Texas killed two Wayland Baptist University students and injured three others. Kayte Mansdoerfer, a sophomore from Albuquerque, N.M., and Reid Rogers, a freshman from Plainview, died at the scene of the accident. One student was airlifted from the scene. Two students were taken by ambulance to Covenant Hospital Plainview; one was later transferred by air to Lubbock. University officials were providing crisis counseling. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the students who lost their lives in this tragic accident," said Wayland President Paul Armes. "Our prayers are, of course, also with the families whose students were injured and with the occupants of the second vehicle involved in the collision. The Wayland family is deeply saddened by these events."

ETBU offers accelerated certification. East Texas Baptist University's teacher education department has launched a new accelerated teacher certification program. It will enable individuals with at least a bachelor's degree in a non-education field the opportunity to become a certified secondary school teacher in one year or less. The program includes four preparatory courses offered during the same semester, with flexible time schedules; few–if any–subject-matter courses, depending on the applicant's current degree and abilities; a semester-long student teaching experience; and assistance with job placement. To apply, call (903) 923-2000.

Schmeltekopf awards given. Two ministerial students have received Edward Schmeltekopf Servant Leader Scholarships from the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The BGCT Christian Education Coordinating Board approved scholarships for Chris Lemmon at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon Seminary and Sarah Rochelle Montoya at Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary. The one-time $1,000 award, named for the BGCT's former associate executive director, is presented annually to a graduate of a Texas Baptist university who is continuing studies at Truett or Logsdon. Lemmon is a graduate of Howard Payne University in Brownwood, and Montoya is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University.

UMHB hosts concert. Musician Chris Rice will present a concert at 7 p.m., Nov. 19, in the chapel at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Ticket outlets include the UMHB Information Station and Christian bookstores in Temple, Killeen and Waco. For more information or for group rates, call (254) 295-5150.

HSU Acton MBA honored. The 2005 edition of the Princeton Review's Best Business Schools ranks Hardin-Simmons University's Acton master of business administration degree in entrepreneurship as having the "most competitive" students among 143 schools. The Princeton Review compiled the ranking list based on institutional data from schools and surveys of students attending the schools in the 2003-2004 school years.

DBU receives gift for International Center. Dallas Baptist University has received a $100,000 gift from DBU Trustee Charles Ku and his siblings for the new International Center in honor of their parents, H.T. and Ruth Ku. The university named one of the rooms after the Ku family. The 11,000-square-foot International Center, which opened in May, houses four classrooms, two large multipurpose meeting rooms, a computer lab, a student lounge, a full-service kitchen and offices for the international student services staff. In the last 15 years, DBU's international program has grown from 12 students to more than 300 representing at least 50 countries.

Correction: The pastor of First Philippine Baptist Church in Houston is Ernest Dagohoy, not Howard Dagohoy as stated in the Oct. 18 Baptist Standard article, "Filipino church teaches members to adopt missional lifestyle."

BUA trustees pledge support to Reyes. Trustees of Baptist University for the Americas unanimously approved a resolution offering their encouragement, support and prayers to Albert Reyes, president of their institution, when he is nominated for president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas at the annual session in San Antonio. "We believe that God has raised up Albert Reyes for this time in Texas Baptist history," said Doug Diehl, pastor of Crossroads Church in San Antonio and outgoing chairman of the BUA board of trustees. "The BUA board fully realizes the time commitment Dr. Reyes must make if he's elected, but we believe that God has ordained him as a bridge-building leader for this generation, and support his nomination

wholeheartedly."

Retired ministers' breakfast slated. A breakfast for retired ministers will be held at the Baptist General Convention of Texas at 7:30 a.m., Nov. 9 at San Antonio's Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center. For reservations, call (214) 828-5136 or e-mail loy.beaird@bgct.org. Pay at the door or come by the exhibit halls' "retired feet" booth to purchase a ticket and receive a free foot massage.

Dyess Scholarship established at HSU. Hardin-Simmons University has established the Nelson and Mary Alice Dyess endowed scholarship to benefit students in any area of study. The Dyesses of Phoenix, Ariz., gave $50,000 to the university to establish the scholarship. Dyess, a cardiovascular anesthesiologist, graduated from HSU in 1951 and was named a distinguished alumnus in 1984.

DBU endows Gregory Scholarship. Gary and Molli Elliston of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas have endowed a scholarship at Dallas Baptist University in honor of Rick and Judy Gregory. Gregory is vice president for university advancement at DBU. The scholarship was established to benefit deserving undergraduate or graduate students based on need.

HSU establishes missionary scholarship. The Charles Bryan Missionary Scholarship has been established at Hardin-Simmons University by a gift from his estate. Provisions were made in his will for this gift to benefit bilingual students who are called to missionary service. Bryan was a longtime missionary and administrator with the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board.

Scholarship established at Hardin-Simmons. Missions-minded students from disadvantaged families attending Hardin-Simmons University will benefit from a newly created endowed scholarship, established by Allen and Cheryl Purcell to honor their parents, Violet and Thomas Ralph Purcell and Wayne and Rosa Cheshire. Cheryl Purcell is assistant vice president for development at HSU and has been an advancement staff member since 1997. Recipients must be undergraduate students and maintain a 2.0 GPA. First preference will be for a student planning to be a medical missionary. Second preference will be for a student planning to be any kind of missionary. If no student meets those criteria, third preference will be for a student pursuing any field of study who is actively involved in Habitat for Humanity.

Posted: 10/29/04

TOGETHER:
Of baseball, faith & Christian living

An old sports adage claims, “Records are meant to be broken.” The Boston Red Sox believe it. Never before has a major league baseball team come from being 0 and 3 in a seven-game contest to win the playoff series. And they did it against their archrivals, the Yankees. Sweet vindication.

And then in their World Series shutout triumph over the St. Louis Cardinals, they held the powerful Cardinal lineup to a .190 batting average. This was the first time a major league baseball team has won eight consecutive games in postseason play.

What could not be done was done! Manny Ramirez, who was almost traded to the Texas Rangers last year, was selected Most Valuable Player in the World Series. He said, “I just left everything in God's hands, and I said: 'Well, if they want to trade me, I'll go any place they want me to go. If they want me to come back to Boston, I'll go and try and do my job.' I wasn't mad or nothing, because sometimes God puts you in a place for a reason.”

Many Christians will read that quote and say, “How right you are, Manny.” One of the reasons the Christian faith continues to grow and change lives is because that is the experience of countless of us. God does have a way of working in the midst of disappointment, change, threat or surprise to shape our lives so we can see his gracious hand at work. He does put us in places for a reason!

Another story in this amazing run of victories by the Boston team belongs to Curt Schilling, the courageous pitcher who gave new meaning to their Red Sox name. The cameras focused often on his right ankle, where the blood stain could be seen from temporary repairs to a tendon. For a pitcher, strong legs are as important as a strong arm. The power behind a 98 mph fastball comes from the “push off” of the legs as well as the whip of the arm.

Those who watched the games he pitched winced as he would limp coming to the dugout after pitching another strong inning. Schilling lost the first game against the Yankees and pitched miserably. After winning the next game he pitched, he said that he had to reach down inside himself and realize that he needed to depend on God and not on himself. And that he had to be willing to give credit to God for whatever he might achieve. He proceeded to pitch magnificently in his remaining starts against the Yankees and the Cardinals, even with the blood stains on his right Red Sox. And he gave credit where credit was due.

Again, ordinary Christians could identify. We all have faced failure, pain, confusion and uncertainty about how we can possibly go forward. We have found in those moments of discouragement or even despair that we can go forward if we will rely on God's presence and power.

I don't know either player. I have no idea how consistent or inconsistent their Christian lives may be. Being great ball players does not make them great theologians. But I know this: Ordinary Christians who go to work every day, in or out of the spotlight, experience God's presence and glory in very practical and real ways. That truth, shared in life and testimony, keeps on convincing people God does care about each and every one of us.

We gather in San Antonio in a few days: “Celebrando la Familia de Dios.” There is so much for us to learn from one another. Each and every one has their own testimony of how God is at work in their life and in the life of their church. We need to hear from you. I will be looking for you.

We are loved.

Charles Wade is executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas

Posted: 10/29/04

Ability to see, influence the future impacts youth ministry

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

ARLINGTON–A church's ability to foresee the impact of cultural trends plays a key role in the effectiveness of its ministry, youth specialist Mark Matlock insists.

Trends interact with society to push change, said Matlock, the founder of WisdomWorks Ministries.

Change creates new conditions and issues for people, and churches minister in that environment, he said. The faster they see the changes, the better off they are, he noted.

“Our ability to see and influence the future will profoundly impact our work,” he told participants at the Baptist General Convention of Texas-sponsored Youth Ministry Conclave.

Matlock noted four ways to respond–arrogance, denial, engagement or “go with the flow.” The best choice is engagement, in which Christians discuss their beliefs about societal issues. When that happens, he noted, the church can impact society.

“These aren't things we can fix by next Wednesday,” he said. “These aren't things we can fix by next week. It takes a lifetime.”

How Christians and society react to change produces five possibilities for the future, he said. Youth may not come to church, deeming other activities a more valuable use of their time. Youth ministries may become irrelevant to the lives of youth, leaving no lasting impression. God may raise a remnant of the upcoming generation that he will use to accomplish his will. Widespread revival could break out among youth. Mid-sized churches may disappear, as youth find more meaningful community in small and mega-churches.

Matlock outlined seven conditions he believes affect youth ministry.

The attention economy. Time has become a person's most valuable commodity, he observed. People are less willing to give it up, and it is more difficult to draw them to events. Youth ministers have limited time to make an impact on a young person's life.

Pseudo-events. Individuals are having difficulty determining what is real in their lives. The line between events and advancing God's kingdom is blurred, he noted. Some people can no longer tell what is a social church function and what is meaningful ministry.

Dualism. Christians are more likely to lead “compartmentalized” lives, he said. They separate their faith from the rest of life, failing to see that their beliefs should affect their behavior.

Market-driven ministry. Economics drives some aspects of ministry. Marketing possibilities determine which books are published. Youth ministers feel they must have the latest programs and music to be relevant. “When money becomes what drives the production of materials, we run into issues,” Matlock said.

Virtual paralysis. Technology, such as video games and the Internet, is taking up an increasing amount of people's time, leading them to feel isolated. They spend hours in front of a computer or television by themselves.

Fear of human frailty. Christians seem afraid to acknowledge their intellectual limitations, he observed. Leaders argue there is one truth and verge on claiming they know it completely. “I believe there is such a thing as absolute truth,” Matlock said. “I am less confident in mankind's ability to grasp absolute truth as it has been revealed.”

Breeding Christians. Faith is passed on through the social interaction of family members without mention of spiritual matters, rather than parents sharing their faith with their children. This leaves emerging generations to wonder if they would follow a different religion if they were born in another family, Matlock asserted.

Storylist for 11/01/04 issue

• Buckner brings hope to boys in 'cages of gold'

• Dallas church joins Buckner, Baylor in providing for Guatemalan girls' home

• Buckner provides shoes and socks for needy Iraqi children

• Executive Board recommends changes in governance; rejects efforts to postpone

• Nominees named for BGCT boards & committees

• Executive Board elects committees

• BGCT president, executive director will answer questions at workshops

• Baylor regents take no action on president; approve tuition increase

• Ability to see, influence the future impacts youth ministry

• BGCT offers partnering ministry grants

• New Wayland music lab

• Speakers sound alarm, Respond to needs of changing world

• Korean Texas Baptists spearhead partnership to send food to North Korea

• Hispanic Baptist Laity Convocation

• Denton church adjusts to growing community, growing number of challenges

• Actions show Americans don't really believe in democracy, commission report asserts

• Former Euless pastor declines seminary chaplain's position

• After a 43-year run, Baylor coach still not winded

• Clarendon crusade makes eternal impact on community, residents testify

• New horse race betting machines in Texas raise concerns

• Hardin-Simmons provides opportunities for Boneheads who dig dinosaurs

• BGCT bookstore proceeds benefit missions

• On the Move

• Around the State

• Texas Tidbits

Previously posted
• Texas Baptist chaplain collecting toothbrushes

• Christian calling, wrestling experience come together for Wayland student

• Emotional, spiritual support available to parents of special-needs children

• Big family finds bigger family at South Texas Children's Home

• Marketplace Ministries marks 20 years as God's ambassadors

• After two years in a tent, church moves indoors

• Ministers need to take God–not themselves–seriously, pastor says

• Illusionist Jared Hall wants to release audiences from straightjacket of sin


Music and Worship in an Emerging Church
• Young worshippers thrive on relationships, crave sense of God's mystery

• Only God is worthy of worship; all else is idolatry, music professor maintains

• Emergent church signals change in preaching, not just music, speakers say



• Conference showcases missions ventures involving the Fellowship

• ALS treatment creates crisis of faith for two Baptist families

• Baptist Briefs

Previously Posted
• New Orleans seminary trustees OK sole membership with reservations

• Redemptive themes reflect songwriter's spiritual pilgrimage

• CBF revenues top $24 million in past year

• Baptist researcher's apartment ministry study yields unexpected findings



• 'God is not nice,' nor is he one of us, theologians insist



• Sexual content on TV impacts teen behavior

• Abortion rate rises during Bush administration, study reveals



• Classified Ads

• Texas Baptist Forum

• On the Move

• Around the State



• EDITORIAL: Our next president should restore civility to America

• DOWN HOME: They're retiring; not from ministry

• Texas Baptist Forum

• TOGETHER: Of baseball, faith & Christian living

• Cybercolumn by Berry D. Simpson: Alive




• BaptistWay Bible Series for Nov. 7: Cheerful givers too often are in short supply

• LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Nov. 7: Make following Christ the focus of your ministry

• LifeWay Family Bible Series for Nov. 7: Guard against becoming resistant to wonder


See articles from previous issue 10/18/04 here.