Posted: 9/10/04

Texas Baptist Men teams race
to work between Florida storms

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

MOBILE, Ala.—After days of waiting on Hurricane Frances to move through Florida, Texas Baptist disaster relief volunteers and their Southern Baptist counterparts from other states raced to meet needs in the storm-ravaged state.

Chainsaw, clean-up, building and feeding units stationed for several days in Mobile, Ala., received the green light by the Southern Baptist Convention North American Mission Board Sept. 7. About 75 people who were in Mobile are coordinated by Texas Baptist Men.

Volunteers left Mobile early Sept. 8. Teams included the TBM East Texas and Top of Texas feeding units, an Oklahoma chainsaw crew and a trailer of meals. Texas chainsaw units from Collin Baptist Association, Sabine Neches Baptist Area and Amarillo Baptist Association also left Mobile.

The Top of Texas unit was traveling to First Baptist Church in Bronson, Fla. The rest of the teams, including the group of retiree builders, were to be based at First Baptist Church in Lake Wales.

Relief help is needed in Florida. More than 74,000 people live in shelters. Estimates indicate the storm may have caused $10 billion of damage. Six million people have no electricity.

Frances was the second hurricane to hit Florida in less than a month. The more intense Hurricane Charley slammed the state several weeks ago. And residents were watching Hurricane Ivan as it moved west in the Atlantic Ocean.

The volunteers activated out of Mobile was the second Southern Baptist deployment in as many days. Several units moved to Florida from Savannah, Ga., Sept. 6. The mission board has stationed teams in at least 19 locations, said Jim Burton, director of volunteer mobilization. He expects further action as needs are discovered.

“The operation has gone well,” he said. “We have been pleased with the response of the states.”

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship-directed disaster units entered Florida Sept. 7.

The Southern Baptist mobilization command was welcome news to disaster relief volunteers, some of whom had been camping at Government Street Baptist Church since Sept. 4.

A sense of relief flowed over the volunteers as news spread of the activation.

“It’ll get exciting now as everyone will be relieved to know where they are going,” said TBM President Kevin Walker, who was in Mobile.

Several workers indicated they are happy to see an end to days of waiting. Though the volunteers cleaned their equipment, fueled vehicles and underwent further training, they clearly were ready to move into Florida.

“We’re thankful,” said Joe Detterman, who coordinated the Collin chainsaw unit. “It’s very difficult to wait.”

Some Southern Baptist disaster relief teams remain on hold or on standby. Several Texas Baptist Men feeding units still are in Mobile. Two feeding teams remain in Perry, Ga.

Those volunteers still may be called to service as the Red Cross continues assessing needs, Walker said. Hurricane Ivan hampers long-term relief planning.

“We’ll be ready to respond to get to Texas for Ivan or go back to Florida if needed,” Walker said. “They are as important right now as the units that are being activated now.”

Posted: 9/03/04

CYBERCOLUMN:
Like no one’s watching

By Brett Younger

Alfonso Soriano and I were on television together—sort of. On Staff Appreciation Day—which ought to rank just behind Easter and Christmas among church holidays—my family hit the jackpot. We received tickets to a Texas Rangers’ game.

When I buy tickets we, sit close to teenage fans with painted faces, pigeons and God. Since “bleachers” and “upper bleachers” are about the same, I don’t pay much attention to where our seats are located. But on this occasion, I noticed “VIP infield, Row 1.” I thought our friend was kidding when she handed me the tickets and said: “Dress well, because you’re right behind the plate. You’ll be on TV the whole time.”

When we got to the game, I decided that we were far enough toward first base that we weren’t on TV. Not being televised made it easier to sit back, relax and enjoy watching millionaires scratch themselves.

Then during the third inning, Carol’s parents called to tell us that of the 44,348 at the Ballpark, the four of us were the ones in living color. We had been warned, “If you’re on TV, don’t be the guy who talks on his cell phone and waves, ‘Look, Ma, I’m on TV,’” so we tried to stay calm.

My father-in-law wanted to know why we were unhappy. None of us thought we were unhappy, but now we felt the need to look giddy. We could wave our arms and cheer, but the camera was on us only until the batter made contact. Gesticulating wildly when nothing was going on would have been peculiar.

Carol decided to say “hello” to her mom in sign language. The sign for “Grandma” is not subtle— a thumb to the chin and 10 fingers extended like a spider. Those who do not know sign language could interpret it as an obscene gesture.

I began to think I should have dressed differently. I was wearing a plain blue T-shirt, which seemed reasonable, but now I wondered if I should have worn a T-shirt that makes a statement—”Amnesty International,” “Bread for the World” “Broadway Baptist Church!” Maybe I should have dyed my hair and held up “John 3:16.” Could I have gotten people to look up “Isaiah 22:18”? “God will seize firm hold of you, whirl you round and round and throw you like a ball.”

In the sixth inning, we discovered that Graham had eaten two-thirds of our peanuts before we left home. This would normally lead to a gentle reprimand, but no one wants to lecture their child on Channel 27.

Caleb decided to go for cotton candy. I thought it would make me look like a good father, so I went with him. Should we buy pink or blue? Which looks better?

We watched a tape the day after the game. The Toronto Blue Jays, who lost 11-2, looked better than we did. Why didn’t we tell Graham to put his feet down? Why didn’t we kiss when the Rangers scored? Why does eating a sucker make you look like one? Why did I take off my cap?

So here’s what I learned from my brush with stardom: The camera really does add 10 pounds. Sunglasses make even the gentlest minister look like a member of the Mafia. And most obviously, caring that somebody is watching keeps you from enjoying yourself.

Reinhold Niebuhr said that we need a “genuine Christian nonchalance”—indifference to the foolishness in the world. He means that Christians shouldn’t care about the stupid things other people care about.

But next time, I will get a haircut.

Brett Younger is pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth and the author of “Who Moved My Pulpit? A Hilarious Look at Ministerial Life,” available from Smyth & Helwys (800) 747-3016.

Posted: 9/10/04

Outreach ministries take many forms

By Craig Bird

Special to the Baptist Standard

CANYON LAKE—Giving away bottles of water and soft drinks to sunburned tubers may be the most unusual outreach project at First Baptist Church in Canyon Lake, but it is certainly is not the only one.

u Wayne and Fran Bradbury manage a clothing ministry that is growing rapidly and has even bigger dreams.

Thrift shops in Lampasas, La Grange and Canyon Lake provide a regular supply of high- quality clothing.

Every Tuesday morning and once a month on Saturday morning, volunteers sort, shrink-wrap and pack items into boxes and then onto pallets. In addition to two 8,000 to 10,000 pound shipments to a reservation in South Dakota, the ministry also sent clothes to Native American churches in Sanostee, Rock Springs and Fort Wingate, N.M.

The clothing ministry even receives mission help from time to time.

Earlier this summer, a youth group from First Baptist Church in Irving traveled to Canyon Lake to paint houses, but that project was rained out. Youth leaders called Pastor Gordon Hightower at First Baptist to see if he had any projects, and they wound up sorting and packing clothes.

“One teenage boy quietly prayed over each box as he loaded it on the pallet,” Bradbury said. “He was thanking God that somebody who really needed those clothes would receive them because of this ministry.”

Bernie Glasford, a truck driver who grew up on the Lower Brule Reservation in South Dakota, has hauled two truckloads of clothes to Bible Baptist Church there in support of the work of Pastor Mike Smalljumper. He hopes to take a group of young people from the church to the Sioux reservation to round up and brand cattle while helping the church in community evangelism.

Ken Johnson, a waste water treatment specialist who works for Texas A&M University, heads a church construction team that keeps busy at Alto Frio Encampment and is ready to branch out to other projects. Recently, the team built a gift shop for the Baptist camp as well as assembled scores of wooden beds.

Jan Johnson leads a sewing ministry. She and a co-worker recently made 687 dresses and shipped them to a missionary in a Muslim country for use in her work. She also makes church banners and baby quilts that Hightower distributes to the families of terminally ill children.

Alex Powell, a Mission Service Corps volunteer coordinator, is in charge of an in-demand disaster relief unit. The church bought a trailer, which is capable of serving up to 10,000 meals a day, three years ago and the truck to pull it two years ago. Already, volunteers have worked in the debris of Hurricane Claudette on the Gulf Coast, in Piedras Negras, Mexico, after the flooding there last April and at the scene of a derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals in San Antonio.

Ironically, their first job, almost immediately after the first group completed training with Texas Baptist Men, was to help their own town recover from the 2002 flood that swamped 256 houses.

"Backhoe Bob" Whitehead made a profession of faith in Christ after Hightower witnessed to him as the two men worked to repair a water pipe leak. Six months ago, he agreed to go as a support person when a preacher from Tyler started a “trucker’s chapel” at a truck stop on I-35 in New Braunfels. The second Sunday, Whitehead agreed to preach—and has been doing it ever since.

Darin and Pam Zumwalt went to New Mexico to deliver used clothing and hauled loads in their company’s trucks and trailers. They are putting together teams to return to the reservation churches to do construction projects.

Additionally, they are leading efforts within the church to provide furniture, school supplies and other necessities, as well as coordinating a "shoe box" project for children in those churches. Locally, Pam Zumwalt heads the Helping Hands program, which provides holiday gifts of food and personal items for families. The primary funding source is the offering taken up for Helping Hands at the children’s Christmas cantata each year.

Bill and Wanda Steward spent a year in Zimbabwe and Malawi in southern Africa as volunteers with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. That has lead them to several projects including gathering clothes, linens and school supplies to ship to Angola and supporting a missionary couple in a closed country by supplying materials they need to run a business.

Hightower, who gladly admits to preaching and teaching the need for mission involvement, also has intentionally changed his role.

“For the first 15 years are so, I thought I had to be the one in the middle of doing everything, that I had to lead by example—whatever the task was,” he explained. “Now I’ve seen that my primary role is to seek the vision from God, present it to the congregation and equip the members. I still stay plenty busy, but it’s important for others to lead out as God calls them.”

Posted: 9/10/04

70-year-old swims English Channel for missions

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. (ABP)—George Brunstad of Wilton, Conn., gives new meaning to the term “putting feet to your faith.” In fact, he also put his arms and his legs into it. In an effort to raise awareness for his church’s ministry in Haiti, the 70-year-old Baptist layman swam the English Channel.

His swim set a new record, not for speed—he finished in 15 hours, 59 minutes—but because he is the oldest person ever to tackle the channel. He broke the record of Bertram Cliffort Batt of Australia, who was 67 years old when he made the journey in 1987.

“His inspiration for the swim came when he went with our church last November on a mission trip to Haiti,” said Bob Guffey, Brunstad’s pastor at Wilton Baptist Church. “George swam to raise awareness of and money for the Center of Hope orphanage and school project that (the church) sponsors in Hinche, Haiti.”

Brunstad, who is a retired American Airlines pilot, has competed in several open-water swims, even winning medals. But he said the channel swim was the most grueling feat he has undertaken.

“My preparation swimming in Long Island Sound and especially off the coast of Maine helped me,” Brunstad told the News-Times of Danbury, Conn. “But I had to swim as hard as I could for as long as I could” to make it across the channel.

Brunstad swam a total of 32 miles—seven more than a direct route across the channel from England to France.

“Near the end, I had to swim four hours to make two hours' time because of the tide coming toward me,” he recalled. “It was pulling me to the north. I had to fight it.”

Brunstad credited the “hand of the Lord” for giving him good swim conditions.

Posted: 9/10/04

San Angelo church sends team to help dig wells in Bolivia

By George Henson

Staff Writer

SAN ANGELO—Southland Baptist Church is digging deep to continue the growth of its commitment to missions.

Pastor Bill Shiell and 15 other church members recently traveled to San Julian, Bolivia, to help drill wells, lead Vacation Bible School and support the efforts of missionaries Terry and Kathy Waller.

The Wallers resigned as Southern Baptist International Mission Board missionaries rather than sign the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message statement.

For awhile, the Wallers were supported by a relief fund set up by the Baptist General Convention of Texas, but now they receive their support from Southland Baptist Church, Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio, Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., two churches in Cloudcroft, N.M., and a cadre of individuals.

“I think this might become a model for missionary support in the future,” Shiell said. “But we have not cut off our cooperative missions giving at all. This is an additional missions effort, not in place of what we do cooperatively.”

The team from Southland was the first to travel to Bolivia to assist the Wallers since they returned to the mission field nine months ago. During those nine months, Terry Waller has led in drilling 200 wells within a 30-mile radius. In all the time he has spent in Bolivia, more than 1,400 family wells have been manually drilled. The wells produce more than 1,000 liters of water per hour.

The Southland team drilled a well for a school in San Julian. The cost of drilling the well was only about $45. Waller, an agricultural missionary, has designed the drilling process so the Bolivians can make the bits and parts themselves and then train others to do the same thing. The cost of building a drilling rig is about $250, but it can be used more than once.

Families come together to form water clubs to drill their own wells. Depending on the depth required, the cost for the well and pump combined can range between $50 and $100. The cost of drilling a well with a motorized rig is about $1,500.

The process is labor-intensive and somewhat slow, however. It took more than three days for the Texas team to drill the 50 meters required for the well.

The Vacation Bible School was filled to overflowing. The team had planned for about 150 children, but that number was exceeded the first day and grew to more than 300 children on the final day.

The team also led Sunday worship for a congregation while they were there.

“I can tell you that the 16 people who made the trip to Bolivia have an excitement about missions now, and we think at least one of them many hear a call to missions as a vocation,” Shiell said.

For more information about the drilling project and its methods, visit www.geocities.com/h2oclubs.

Posted: 9/07/04

Historic hurricane slashes through
Florida, damaging churches, delaying relief

By Greg Warner

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Hurricane Frances, historic in size if not strength, crossed all three coasts of Florida over Labor Day weekend, damaging buildings — including several churches — and leaving an estimated 5 million people without power.

This second major hurricane to pound the state in 23 days moved slower than Hurricane Charley, the more powerful category 3 storm that slashed the state from southwest to northeast on Friday, Aug. 13. But the size and longevity of Frances — more than 250 miles across and 30-plus hours in duration — stretched the state's resources and nerves to the limit. The category 2 hurricane, forced the evacuation of a record 2.8 million people and at times covered the entire Florida peninsula,

At Cocoa Beach, midway down the Atlantic Coast, Frances crept ashore Sunday, Sept. 5, with 100 mph winds, tearing the steeple off First Baptist Church and spearing the roof of the sanctuary. The church, one block form the ocean, suffered other serious damage. But no one was injured — including church member Dave Guise, who rode out the storm inside the church in an effort to protect the building.

Frances was downgraded to a tropical storm as it slowly crossed the state from southeast to northwest Sept. 5. It exited into the Gulf of Mexico north of Tampa, only to regain strength and pound the Florida Panhandle with more wind and rain.

Meanwhile, more than 100 Baptist disaster-relief teams from across the southern United States waited less than patiently in Alabama and Georgia for the weather to clear enough to enter Florida and add their help to the feeding and recovery effort. The largest Baptist disaster-relief mobilization ever, which includes 40 mobile kitchens, was preparing to feed a million meals a week to Florida residents without electricity.

Despite the massive scale of Hurricane Frances, Floridians were relieved that the storm — a category 4 storm with 145 mph winds when it slammed into the Bahamas — weakened to a category 2 before the eye made landfall near Ft. Pierce. Even the drenching rain and flooding was not as bad as expected in most parts of the state. But Polk County and other parts of Central Florida — where the paths of Charley and Frances intersected — endured the second major hurricane of the month.

As one Orlando resident was making preparations to move his family, including his elderly mother and mother-in-law, out of Orlando ahead of Frances, he said, "Here we go again…. Just when we were thinking that life could return to normal, it looks like we're in for another uncomfortable ride."

Meanwhile, forecasters began warning of Ivan, another category 4 hurricane, on course perhaps to strike Florida later in the week.

President George Bush declared 18 counties major disaster areas in Frances' wake. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, working with Federal Emergency Management Agency, warned of major gasoline shortages across the state and pleaded with residents to be patient with authorities who are seeking to manage relief and recovery services.

The American Red Cross reported 108,000 evacuees spent at least part of the day Sept. 5 in 249 shelters. Over 7,000 Red Cross volunteers were mobilized, making this the largest disaster-relief response in the charity's history. Florida recorded only three known deaths related to Frances — the Bahamas two.

In Ormond Beach, 70 miles north of Cocoa Beach and a couple miles inland, the roof on a Pentecostal church blew off and laid in pieces, soaking in the flooded parking lot. In nearby Daytona Beach, trees and buildings suffered moderate damage but First Baptist Church and Central Baptist Church escaped mostly unharmed.

Sonja Phillips, co-pastor of Central Baptist, said she hadn't inspected the church yet because of other needs. "We've been dealing with stuff at home, mostly flooding," she said. She knew of one church family that lost the roof of its house. Three weeks earlier, two other families lost roofs to Hurricane Charley as it exited the state. But the spirits of church members remain high, Phillips said. "People have said, 'We're going to be OK.' There's a lot of hope."

Phillips, a newcomer to the state, said, "From the spirit I've seen in Florida, you just go on. You deal with it. … I think they'll be strong, but they're worried about the next hurricane."

In Melbourne, 20 miles south of Cocoa Beach, three dozen members of First Baptist Church rode out Frances by barricading themselves in the four-year-old concrete block building, beginning about 1 p.m. on Friday. They joined members of the church's Haitian mission and everyone shared food they had brought — shrimp, scallops, linguine and clams.

The church escaped unharmed, except for the loss of power, even though other parts of Melbourne received moderate damage. When the storm was over, the huddled congregation gathered for what Pastor Larry Bazer called a "catacomb service," much like the early New Testament church, reported church member Billie Norczyk.

The Melbourne church was expected to serve as operations site for the North Carolina Baptist Feeding Unit, one of 14 Southern Baptist mobile feeding kitchens expected to line the 1-95 corridor beginning Sept 6.

Florida Baptists' three mobile feeding units were expected to take up a position in Stuart, another hard-hit city further south on the Atlantic Coast, after spending three weeks in North Port after Hurricane Charley. Three Kentucky Baptist feeding units were expected to arrive this week in Port Charlotte and Wauchula to continue feeding Hurricane Charley victims and relief workers. However, it was unclear Sept. 6 where the 100-plus volunteers from Texas, who spent three days waiting in Mobile, Ala., will be deployed.

Meanwhile, a four-person survey team from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is probing damaged sites in the state looking for appropriate staging areas. Paul Thibodeaux, who is coordinating the CBF effort, said two rapid-response teams from Georgia likely will move to Florida Sept. 7.

If Hurricane Ivan follows the path of Frances, as some are predicting, don't expect to find Dave Guise hiding out in the sanctuary of First Baptist of Cocoa Beach. Guise spent most of the night crouched in a hallway at the bottom of the stairs leading to the sanctuary, thinking he could help protect the structure in the event of fire or other danger.

At 1 a.m., as the massive building creaked and groaned under the relentless winds, a thunderous crash drew the man to the church sanctuary, where the massive steeple broke off from its foundation and plunged through the roof to rest on the church's balcony.

"It was very scary," Guise said. "I don't think I will ever do that again. I think I'd rather fight a war than to have to endure that."

The steeple is a landmark in the Cocoa Beach community, said church deacon Don Johnson. Pilots from nearby Patrick Air Force Base are said to line up for the runway using the steeple as a navigational tool. Base officials once offered to repair the tower light when it once burned out.

Lori Bazemore of Cocoa Beach and her two young children returned from evacuation Sept. 6 to their home in the shadow of the steeple. The small original sanctuary next door to the church had been converted into apartments, including hers. Her home was undamaged.

Bazemore, who attended the church occasionally, said the congregation's good reputation will help it now. "They're great people. Pastor Ken is awesome," said Bazemore, whose daughter previously attended the church's daycare center.

"If everybody sees this," she said pointing to the broken steeple, "they're going to help."

Barbara Denman, John Hall and Tim Norton contributed to this story.

Posted: 9/03/04

Baptist Distinctives Committee
presents annual Baptist Heritage awards

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

DALLAS–A veteran missions leader, a former theological educator, a longtime Dallas business leader and a retired Baptist newspaper editor received top honors at the recent Texas Baptist Heritage awards banquet.

James Semple of Dallas, chairman of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Baptist Distinctives Committee, presented the awards on behalf of his committee and its Texas Baptist Heritage Center.

Ophelia Humphrey, a former president of Woman's Missionary Union of Texas, received the Mary Hill Davis Missions Award.

Humphrey, who was a church, associational, state and national missions leader during more than 60 years at First Baptist Church in Amarillo, relocated to Seattle, Wash., earlier this year.

She served on the BGCT Executive Board, on the board of consultants for the BGCT Christian Life Commission and as a trustee of Wayland Baptist University, Baptist Child & Family Services and the Huntsville Hospitality House.

She also served on numerous denominational committees, including the BGCT Missions Review and Initiatives Committee and the Theological Education Committee.

Joshua Grijalva, former president of the institution now known as the Baptist University of the Americas, received the J.B. Gambrell Denominational Service Award.

Before he served as the school's president, he was a teacher, dean and field director of ethnic leadership development. He also served at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary as a professor and national consultant for ethnic leadership development.

Grijalva, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Nueva Esperanza in San Antonio, is a past president of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas and was the first moderator of the San Antonio Mexican Baptist Association. He was a trustee of the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board and Annuity Board, and he was a trustee of Howard Payne University.

Fred Roach received the Sam Houston Distinguished Service Award, presented each year to a Texas Baptist lay leader in civic and business life.

Roach, a member of The Heights Baptist Church in Richardson, was president and chief executive officer of Centennial Homes. After his retirement from business, he served nine years as president of the Leadership Center of Baylor Health Care System.

He is a former president of Texas Baptist Men, and he served on the building committee for the Baptist Building in Dallas.

He has served as a trustee and regent at Baylor University, as chairman of the board of trustees of Baylor Health Care System, and as chairman of the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation.

He and his wife, Gloria, were co-chairs of a fund-raising effort that garnered more than $20 million for the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions and the Mission Texas initiative that helped start 2,000 churches from 1985 to 1990.

Presnall Wood, editor emeritus of the Baptist Standard, received the George W. Truett Religious Freedom Award for promoting Baptist distinctives, including advocacy for the separation of church and state.

Wood served the Baptist Standard from 1977 to 1995, the longest tenure any of editor in the newspaper's history.

After he retired as editor, he worked five years as director of denominational relations for Buckner Baptist Benevolences.

He was a former chairman of the BGCT Baptist Distinctives Committee and served on the BGCT Executive Board, the board of trustees of Hendrick Memorial Hospital and the board of directors of the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board.

He was pastor of churches in Houston, Midland, Goldthwaite and rural Coryell County.

Bill Pinson, BGCT executive director emeritus and director of the Baptist Heritage Center, presented a special recognition to Buckner Baptist Benevolences President Ken Hall marking Buckner's 125th anniversary.

Pinson posthumously recognized Dallas banker Noble Hurley and his widow, Jane, for their significant financial contributions to the Baptist Distinctives Committee.

Their gifts include funding a series of educational resources that will appear as paid advertisements in the Baptist Standard next year.

Pinson also announced the committee was publishing a Baptist doctrinal library series in conjunction with other BGCT entities.

Paul Powell's book, “Back to Bedrock,” is the first volume in the series.

The committee also has developed a children's book on distinctive Baptist beliefs.

Posted: 9/03/04

Nation needs visionary Christians in
pulpits, courthouses, Falwell insists

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

FORT WORTH–Visionary Christian leaders in America's pulpits, courthouses and statehouses can transform the nation and change the world, televangelist Jerry Falwell told students at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Falwell, an Independent Fundamentalist-turned-Southern Baptist, spoke Aug. 24 for the first time at Southwestern Seminary, preaching a sermon on visionary leadership and sharing his own vision for turning the United States toward God.

Seminary President Paige Patterson introduced Falwell as a “prophet and a man of true courage,” and Falwell reciprocated by calling Patterson “the only clergyman I know slightly to the right of me.”

“The vision is world evangelization. That's the ultimate goal of the gospel,” Falwell said, describing how God transformed his life and gave him of a vision of starting a church in a city where his family had been known for generations for their ungodliness.

“There's nothing wrong with assuming a pulpit” in an established church, he said.

“But there's something nobler about starting one,” he continued, noting pastors don't have to teach members of new churches how to unlearn traditions.

Even so, he added: “May God lead many of you to some of these moderate churches that deserve fundamentalist pastors like you. … Sometimes it takes a full year before that church is who you are.”

Falwell told the seminary students God gave him a vision not only for planting a church, but also for starting a school where students could sit in classrooms from kindergarten through graduate school and never be exposed to ungodly teaching.

The latest addition to that growing dream is a law school to “train men and women in the legal profession to be legislators and judges … who can help bring this nation back to God and back to the faith of our fathers,” he said.

“America is about to lose her vision. We're a nation under God, built on the Judeo-Christian ethic. Runaway judges have almost wrecked the country these last 40 years, expelling God from schoolhouses and now courthouses,” he said.

These “activist judges” have attempted to “create a secular nation out of a Christian nation, which our founders clearly intended,” he continued.

“Your job and mine is to refuse to let them do it,” Falwell insisted.

Liberty University's law school opened this week with 60 students, but Falwell predicted the school will grow to 450 students within three years.

Falwell said he has “no intention” of allowing Americans United for Separation of Church and State “to steal the country from people of faith.”

Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United, recently asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate Falwell for posting a website column endorsing George W. Bush for president.

At the beginning of his chapel address, Falwell had quipped, “The press is here today, expecting me to get into politics, which I'm not going to do, except to tell you to vote for the Bush of your choice.”

After the chapel service, he reiterated his position to reporters, saying: “I think John Kerry is a formidable opponent. I also think he is the most liberal person ever to run for the office of the president, and I hope he loses.”

Even though he believes pastors have the legal right to endorse candidates without endangering their churches' tax-exempt status, Falwell emphasized the key is not pastoral endorsement but get-out-the-vote efforts in churches.

“All the surveys indicate that people of faith who are regular church attenders will vote pro-life and in support of traditional families. In this election, that means George Bush,” he said to the media.

Before Falwell's chapel sermon, Patterson told the crowd the seminary would launch a concerted voter registration effort among students.

“This year's election–whether it's the presidency, the House, the Senate or whatever–is really a referendum on what constitutes marriage,” Patterson said.

Before Falwell came to the pulpit, Patterson invited Pat Carlson, chair of the Tarrant County Republican Party, to make an appeal for seminary students to become registered voters.

“Do you realize how different this country would be if every Christian voted? Our elected officials and our government policies would reflect biblical principles,” she said, noting in particular Christian voters could elect officials who oppose abortion and support “traditional family values.”

She particularly urged ministerial students to challenge their church members to become politically involved.

“I truly believe we will not see any change in the behavior of Christians as far as participating in politics until the pastors of this country have the courage of their convictions to stand in the pulpit and hold ungodly elected officials accountable,” she said.

Phil Strickland, director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Christian Life Commission, expressed concern that Southwestern Seminary could be placing its own tax-exempt status at risk–not by urging students to vote or discussing moral issues, but by failing to present a balanced view in a contested political race.

“It will be interesting to see if Southwestern provides that required balance,” he said.

Failing to offer students that broader perspective offers a poor model for ministers who want to encourage responsible Christian citizenship in the churches they serve, Strickland insisted.

“Local churches should not become platforms for partisan politics,” he said.

Posted: 9/03/04

Interfaith dialogue at Wayland Baptist University-Lubbock

By Teresa Young

Wayland Baptist University

LUBBOCK–Few people would be surprised to see a Christian worldview permeate the academic experience at a school like Wayland Baptist University. But many may be surprised to know that Islam, Buddhism and other religions have a presence, too.

They're front and center in Jay Givens' world religions class at Wayland's campus in Lubbock.

“I told the students that I wanted them to have a basic understanding of the major world religions. In the 21st century, it'll be crucial to know about these things,” said Givens, assistant professor of religion.

“I also wanted them to find ways to share a witness to people in other religions, a way that is genuine and not canned.”

The course is offered as a religion and philosophy elective. It has attracted both undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of religious backgrounds.

The course covers the major world religions–Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism–as well as some smaller groups like Baha'i, Jainism and some Native American religions.

The class also has introduced students to forms of Christianity that are less familiar in the Western world, including the Mar Thoma church and the Coptic Orthodox church.

Students last semester learned about the groups' basic belief systems and practices during class lectures and discussions.

But the class also took field trips. Givens planned visits to four congregations in Lubbock, requiring students to attend only one and offering extra credit for attendance at other trips. Several students attended two or even three worship services as a group.

“When you study religion in a textbook, what you get is often dry, and many times you only get what the thinkers of the religion have said. You don't get what the average person thinks and what the practice is like,” Givens explained. “The field trips allowed us to see the religion being practiced.”

The field trips involved visits to Emanuel Mar Thoma Church, St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, Congregation Shaareth Israel and the Islamic Center of the South Plains.

On each trip, students would attend a worship service and then ask questions of the clergy or laity from the congregations.

Student David Miller, a priest in the Orthodox Church of Canada, was asked to participate in the service at Emanuel Mar Thoma Church since his church and the Mar Thoma church are in fellowship.

The Mar Thoma church is a Christian church originating in India whose followers believe it was founded by the Apostle Thomas. It consists of a unique blend of Indian culture, Syrian Orthodox liturgy and Anglican missionary fervor.

At the Jewish synagogue, the group visited with Anne Epstein, a local physician and a Torah reader at the congregation, who gave a tour of the facility after the service.

The Muslim imam, Mohamed El-Moctar, answered questions for more than an hour after Friday prayers before asking questions of his own for a book he is writing.

“I think the students were able to find out that these folks are real people with the same concerns they have and they can talk to them and share their beliefs,” Givens said.

Gloria Wellington, a graduate student at Wayland Baptist University-Lubbock who is working toward a master of divinity degree under the new partnership with Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology, said the class opened her eyes and her mind.

“I never knew enough about other religions to talk about them, and now I feel more comfortable with it,” she said.

Wellington found a few surprises on the field trips she attended, including a feeling of kinship at the Coptic Orthodox service.

“I was pleasantly surprised at how much they revere and love the Lord,” she said. “The entire service was like a re-enactment of worship during Old Testament times.”

Miller, who graduates in January, said he took the class in order to learn more about other religions, especially in knowing how to witness to them when he eventually becomes a chaplain, perhaps in the U.S. Army.

“We as Christians don't know enough about other religions. It's hard to witness to people when you don't know anything about their religion,” Miller said.

“The synagogue field trip was very interesting, to see the link we have with Judaism.

“The mosque was very interesting as well, and the people were very different from what you expect, based on what you hear in the media. I wish we could expose more Christians to that kind of experience and moderate some of the discord that's going on.”

Wayland Baptist University­Lubbock student David Miller, a priest in the Orthodox Church of Canada, participates in the service at Emanuel Mar Thoma church in Lubbock during a field trip with his world religions class.

Posted: 9/03/04

Around the State

Two Texans were among 17 chaplains and pastoral counselors endorsed by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship last month. Wayne Boyd and Robert Williams both serve as U.S. Army chaplains; Boyd in Fort Worth and Williams at Fort Hood.

Shane Williford has been named men's and women's tennis coach at Hardin-Simmons University, replacing Jimmy Cole who resigned this summer. Williford had been head tennis coach at Howard Payne University.

Tony Neal, pastor of Mildred Church in Corsicana, (right) prepares to baptize Debbie Adams and her husband, Jeff. The church baptized several people that day following an evening of gospel music, preaching and a dessert social. The church met on Deacon Richard Rash's property.

Martin Bressler, professor of entrepreneurship and marketing at Houston Baptist University, was named a “Houston Hero” in entrepreneurship by the Services Cooperative Association. The award is given to recognize continued “dedicated commitment in empowering Houston's emerging entrepreneurs.” Bressler joined the faculty in 2001.

Denise Karimkhani has been named director of learning services in the Townsend Memorial Library at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. She has been with the university since 1977. She is a member of First Church in Belton.

Dallas Baptist University has added 10 professors to its faculty. They are Karen Bullock, academic director of the new doctoral program in leadership and professor of church history; Wayne Davis, associate dean in the College of Adult Education and assistant professor of adult education; Bob Garrett, professor of missions; Stephen Holcomb, director of choral activities and professor of music; Beverly Lucas, director of adult student enrollment in the College of Adult Education and assistant professor of adult education; Judy Morris, director of the Master of Arts in Christian Education program and assistant professor of Christian education; Keith Rosenbaum, professor of psychology; Kaye Shelton, director of online education and assistant professor of adult education; Mary Stripling, assistant professor of English; and Elaine Wilmore, director of the Master of Education program and professor of education.

Anniversaries

Pam Nicholson, 20th, as associate pastor of education at The Heights Church in Richardson, June 25.

Lanny Allen, 25th, as minister of music at First Church in Amarillo, Aug. 20.

Pete Freeman, 10th, as pastor of First Church in The Woodlands, Aug. 21.

Open Door Church in Queen City, 10th, Sept. 11. The Saturday celebration will begin at 7 p.m. Dennis Gibbons is pastor.

Silver Oaks Church in Orange, 10th, Sept. 11-12. Ed Rawls is pastor.

First Church in Petrolia, 100th, Sept. 26. Coffee and doughnuts will be served at 9 a.m. A lunch and time of celebration will follow the morning service. Former pastors David Dunham, Bill McKee and Bob Webb are expected to attend. Rick Ergle is pastor.

Earl Oglesbee, 30th, as pastor of Emmanuel Church in Denison, Sept. 29.

Danny Wood, 25th, as pastor of West Sherman Church in Sherman.

Rodney Stanford, 10th, as pastor of Kentuckytown Church in Whitewright.

West Robinson Church in Waco, 15th, Oct. 3. Baylor University President Robert Sloan will be the guest speaker in the morning service. Marvin Donnell is pastor.

First Church in Breckenridge, 125th, Oct. 9-10.

Diamond Hill Church in Fort Worth, 95th, Oct. 17. Former Pastor Don Worthington will be the guest speaker. A luncheon will be followed by singing and testimonies. Make lunch reservations by Oct. 1 by calling (817) 624-2148. Chris Galbraith is pastor.

Carancahua Chapel in Bay City, 20th, Oct. 17. Hollie Briscoe is pastor.

Retiring

W.L. Walker, as pastor of Cedar Creek Church in Whitney, Aug. 31. He served the church more than 18 years. His previous pastorates included First Church in Whitney, First Church in Jewett and First Church of Thorp Spring in Granbury.

Harold Sellers, as executive director/director of missions of Coastal Plains Area, Dec. 31. He has served the Coastal Plains 21 years–three years as mission development director and 18 years as executive director/director of missions. A retirement dinner will be held Feb. 19. Reservations may be made by calling the area office at (979) 532-0233.

Events

Liberty Church in Avinger dedicated its facilities Sept. 5. Bob McCarty is interim pastor.

Beginning Sept. 8, The Heights Church in Richardson will offer a range of spiritual and personal growth seminars that are open to the community. Included will be a drama workshop, a divorce recovery class, a parenting class, a Mothers of Preschoolers group and several specialized Bible study classes. The church also is beginning a new children's program call “Boot Camp: Basic Disciplines for Living the Christian Life.” The 12-week program, which is held at 6 p.m. each Wednesday, will feature song and creative expression as well as mission projects. The church also will host a parenting conference Sept. 26. Tim Kimmel, founder and executive director of Family Matters in Scottsdale, Ariz., will lead the conference. It will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and include pizza and a workbook. They are $35 at the door. For more information, call (972) 238-7243. Gary Singleton is pastor.

First Church in Happy will celebrate the dedication of its worship facilities Sept. 12. The church was heavily damaged in a May 5, 2002, tornado, and then a fire swept through building May 23, completely destroying the building. The morning service will begin at 10 a.m. with the theme of “Where We Were.” A second session will begin at 11 a.m. with the theme of “Where We Are.” A lunch at the community center will follow. At 2 p.m., a third message will be brought with the theme of “Where We Are Going.” Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Director Charles Wade will bring a charge to the church. An open house and tours will be conducted from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Paul Burwash is pastor.

Park Memorial Church in Houston will celebrate 72 years of service to the community with homecoming services Sept. 12. A catered lunch will follow the morning service. The afternoon will include singing and fellowship. To make reservations for the lunch or for more information, call (713) 923-2853. Ricky Fletcher is pastor.

Woman's Missionary Union of Union Association will celebrate 100 years of service with a birthday celebration Sept. 12. It will be held at the youth building of Sagemont Church in Houston from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Springdale Church in Queen City will hold homecoming services Sept. 12. A luncheon and special music will be included. James Wallace is pastor.

Priddy Church in Priddy will hold homecoming services Sept. 19. Former Pastor Mike Henson will preach in the morning service. A luncheon will follow. Butch Pesch is pastor.

San Jacinto Association will hold a singles' conference at First Church in Crosby Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Jon Redmond of Pasadena will be the keynote speaker. Session topics will include finances, understanding yourself and others, healthy relationships, “How to Raise Your Kids God's Way,” “Have You Lost Your Passion for Christ?” “When the Bottom Drops Out,” “Mars and Venus on a Date,” leadership and more. Cost is $25 until Sept. 10, when it increases to $30. Lunch is included. For more information or to register, call (281) 422-3604.

Central Church in Evadale will hold homecoming activities and dedicate its renovated worship center Oct. 17. Events will start at 9 a.m. with a time of fellowship and conclude with a dinner. For more information, call (409) 276-1700. Robert Manley is pastor.

Deaths

Norma Allen, 81, March 12 in Fort Worth. She served as a pastor's wife more than 50 years. She was a longtime member of Rosen Heights Church in Fort Worth, where her husband was pastor 35 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Allen; sister, Alline Wade; and daughter, Norma Allen. She is survived by her son, Todd; daughter, Joy Newcom; five grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Gladys Young, 96, Aug. 26 in Friendswood. Following World War II, she worked for the Baptist General Convention of Texas as a bookkeeper until her retirement in 1969. During that time, she and her husband, Robert, were active in the youth ministry of Gaston Oaks Church in Dallas. Following retirement, they moved to Waco and then Friendswood and were members of Heritage Park Church in Webster. She was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by her son, Wayne; three grandsons; and and seven great-grandchildren.

Thomas Johnson, 68, Aug. 30 in Nederland. He was the retired pastor of Calvary Church in Nederland, where he served more than 25 years. He previously was pastor of First Church in Centerville. He was a police officer in Fort Worth while attending seminary. He also was past president of Mid- and South Jefferson County Ministerial Alliance, a founding member of the Volunteer Chaplain Association of Park Place and Mid-Jeff hospitals, president of Crisis Intervention, volunteer chaplain at the Gist Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and the chief of the Texas State Guard chaplains. He is survived by his wife, Jane; daughters, Wanda Corn and Mary Pulliam; son, Wacey Johnson; brothers, Byron and David; and six grandchildren.

Ordained

Shawn Nichols to the ministry at Parkwood Church in Houston.

Brandon Spinn as a deacon at First Church in Holland.

Mark Belvin as a deacon at East Sherman Church in Sherman.

Revival

Colonial Hills Church, Cedar Hill; Sept. 12-15; evangelist, James Semple; music, Dick Baker; pastor, Billy Johnson.

Posted: 9/03/04

BaptistWay Bible Study for Sept. 12

Paul knew what it was to be unfairly maligned

2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11

By Todd Still

Truett Seminary, Waco

Can you recall a time when you were maligned by others for what you thought were unjust reasons? Can you remember a relationship about which you cared deeply that was strained, due in no small part to the groundless claims of others, and despite your best intentions, seemingly every effort you made to restore the relationship was misinterpreted? If so, then you are acutely aware of the pain and the anxiety you experienced; if so, then you are in the right mind-frame to interpret 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11.

The Apostle Paul wrote 2 Corinthians for a variety of reasons. To counter false accusations and to suture damaged relations were among the apostle's purposes in writing. Paul places these concerns front and center in this letter. After an introductory salutation (1:1-2) and benediction (1:3-11), Paul turns immediately to assert his and his coworkers' ministerial integrity (1:12-14).

The apostle propounds that he and his colleagues have a clear conscience before God because by God's grace their conduct toward the Corinthians had been characterized by veracity and purity (1:12). Moreover, Paul maintains, despite the claims of others (see 2 Corinthians 10:10-11), he writes them letters to reinforce their spiritual commitments (1:13-14).

Should one find Paul's “boasting” here (1:12, 14) and elsewhere in this epistle to be off-putting, at least two factors should be kept in mind. First, this type of “self-commendation” was a common rhetorical device in Paul's day. Second, Paul probably would have agreed whole-heartedly with the sentiments expressed in the second verse of “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”: “Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God; All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.”

Reading between the lines of 1:15-2:4, we may responsibly infer that there were at least three related reasons for the relational tension between Paul and the Corinthians–his change in travel plans, a grievous second visit and a distressing, unpreserved letter.

For starters, the apostle's retooling of his announced itinerary prompted some of his detractors to declare this about-face was indicative of his duplicitous character. Paul counters his critics by declaring he had not spoken out of either side of his mouth, simultaneously saying “Yes, yes,” and “No, no.” On the contrary, the apostle testifies that even as God is faithful, so also has he been trustworthy in executing his ministry. This much was evidenced, Paul declares, when he, Silvanus and Timothy proclaimed Christ, the “Yes” and “Amen” of God, in Corinth.

Be that as it may, based upon his second visit to Corinth, which Paul depicts as “painful” (1 Corinthians 16:5-9), the apostle had decided he would journey to Macedonia before he visited Corinth again (2:1; 2:12-13; 7:5). This signaled a change in his previous plans to visit Corinth both prior and subsequent to visiting Macedonia (1:15-16). Paul insists, however, this alteration does not indicate vacillation. Rather, it expresses his desire to forego another hurtful encounter with his beloved converts (2:1).

Apparently, there was one person in particular who gave Paul grief during his second visit (2:5). This rancorous encounter seemingly gave rise to what Paul describes as a “tearful epistle” (2:4). The identity and activity of this individual are now lost on us, as are the precise contents of the apostle's “letter of tears.”

We will have the occasion in a later lesson to put a few more pieces of this interpretive puzzle together (7:5-16). For the time being, however, there are two salient points that need to be underscored. First, whatever the specifics of the “letter of tears,” we should observe what prompted Paul to write it. The apostle indicates it was boundless love for his converts that caused him to pen the so-called “tearful epistle” (2:4). When Paul writes what we now know as 2 Corinthians, he had been informed by Titus that the Corinthians had responded positively to the letter he had written “out of much affliction and anguish of heart” (2:4, 13; 7:5-9). However, even if the epistle had not had its desired effect, the apostle could have been comforted in the fact that he had sought to allow the love of Christ to control him (5:14).

The second matter that merits mention is that whatever else Paul might have addressed in “the letter of tears” it is clear he redressed the congregation regarding the person who had caused him pain. Convinced the assembly had taken appropriate disciplinary action against this individual, the apostle now enjoins the church to forgive, console and love this person (2:5-12).

Unwilling to grind an axe or nurse a grudge, the apostle follows the counsel he later would give to the Romans in a letter he wrote from Corinth on the occasion of his much anticipated third visit to the city: “If it is possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18). Ironic though it may be, the persistent pursuit of peace will win many a “relational war.” And even those “battles” we lose as we work for relational truces and treaties are worth the struggle, for we serve “the God of love and peace” (2 Corinthians 13:11).

Discussion question

What would make it easier to treat lovingly people who mistreat you?

Posted: 9/03/04

BaptistWay Bible Study for Sept. 19

Magnify the words written on your heart

2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6

By Todd Still

Truett Seminary, Waco

Preachers seem particularly prone to verbal detours. Stated otherwise, “chasing rabbits” often becomes a ministerial avocation, though not one always appreciated by congregations!

In 2 Corinthians, Paul succumbs to the temptation of digression on more than one occasion. Nowhere, however, is there a more pronounced and protracted aside in the letter than at the point where this week's lesson begins, 2 Corinthians 2:14. In fact, it is not until some five chapters later (7:5 to be precise) that the apostle returns to the subject he had broached in 2:12-13. The transition between verses 13 and 14 is so sudden and substantive some interpreters have proposed that 2:14-6:13 and 7:2-4 originally formed a portion of another letter.

Be that as it may, for our present purposes we need only to note that Paul commences a lengthy discussion of, and at points defense of, his apostolic ministry in 2:14 that he does not conclude until 6:10. And far be it from tangential, this remarkable Pauline “rabbit trail” proves to be integral to his larger epistolary and pastoral project among the Corinthians.

As Paul begins to reflect theologically upon his ministry, he gives thanks to God for leading him in triumphal procession in Christ (This is likely an allusion to the Roman celebration of military victories. Interestingly, Paul casts himself here as God's POW.) and for allowing him to share the fragrance (probably suggesting presence) of Christ (2:14). For those who embrace Christ, Paul's gospel ministry becomes fragrant; for those who reject Christ, Paul's proclamation of the cross becomes repugnant (2:15-16).

The gravity of Paul's apostolic remit prompts him to ask in 2:16: Who is sufficient (that is, competent or worthy) of such a divinely entrusted, eternally oriented responsibility? He offers both a negative and positive response to this far-from-rhetorical question in 2:17. Paul contends that unlike so many, not the least of whom would be other “ministers” now in Corinth who were criticizing him, he is not a peddler, a huckster or a charlatan. On the contrary, Paul insists he and his co-laborers are marked by sincerity and integrity as those who have been sent by God and speak for God.

A few verses later, Paul makes it clear his confidence is in the Lord and his competence is from the Lord (3:4-5). Despite being viewed as an arrogant authoritarian by both his ancient and contemporary critics (10:8), Paul did not regard himself as a self-made man whose lot in life was to recast incompetent subordinates into his impeccable image. Rather, the apostle viewed himself as one who had been grasped by and enabled by God to take the gospel to the Gentile people. If other missionaries thought it necessary to commend themselves to the Corinthians or to flash recommendation letters to the church or to request reference letters from the church, Paul contends he and his colleagues did not need to do any of these things (3:1).

Far from needing letters for or from the congregation, Paul claims, by virtue of his connection with the Corinthians through his ministry to them, that they themselves are his living letters. They are not, Paul says in so many words, impersonal pieces of correspondence that can be tossed into the trash bin like junk-mail. Instead, they are an epistle of Christ the apostle has carefully prepared and eagerly displays (3:2-3).

Developing further the letter-writing metaphor, the apostle contrasts human and divine instrumentation by declaring the letter that is the Corinthians was not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God. Moreover, Paul propounds they were not chiseled on stone tablets but inscribed on human hearts (3:3). In verse 6, Paul brings together and expands upon the images he has employed and the ideas that he has raised in the first five verses of the chapter.

Specifically, the apostle asserts God has made him competent to be a minister of the new covenant. Paul describes this new covenant in an antithetical fashion. It is not, he insists, written script; rather, it is a spiritual inscription. Moreover, he maintains that whereas the letter kills, the Spirit produces life.

In the remainder of the chapter (vv. 6-18), which is not included in this lesson, Paul makes the provocative claim that the “old covenant” was a ministry of death and condemnation. By employing Jewish interpretive techniques, the apostle is able to argue that the previous covenant, represented by Moses and the Ten Commandments, possessed a degree of glory. This fact notwithstanding, whatever splendor it once had, the apostle exclaims, now pales in comparison to the covenant that continues on in Christ. By the Spirit, Paul instructs, the Lord provides spiritual insight and freedom and begins to metamorphose believers into his image.

Regardless of one's vocation or institutional/church affiliation, every Christian should be actively engaged in ministry. In carrying out the particular ministries to which we have been called, we would do well to be mindful of the theological principles and the personal commitments Paul has articulated in the Scripture we have studied today. Faithful application of the apostle's instruction will allow us to be transformed more and more into Christ's character and will enable us to become more and more Christ's letters.

Discussion questions

Why are people quick to believe bad reports about others?

Could you be described as a walking, talking letter of introduction to others about Christ? What would make you easier to read?