Posted: 8/06/04

Texas Baptist Forum

Gambling battle

The battle to keep our schools free from funding through gambling and other sin taxes is not over!

The Perryman Report claims casino gambling, with 34 licenses issued, would generate $2.3 billion, with 15 percent going to the state. Can you just imagine the detrimental effects of increased criminal activity, loss of income, needed dollars drained to Las Vegas crime lords and rise in gambling addiction with 34 full-time casinos in Texas? They do not build those things so people can be entertained and win money.

Of course, casinos must be OK if the members of the Texas Enhancement Group “are not casino owners but are potential investors in projects if gambling is legalized,” which is what group member Barry Keenan told the Baytown Sun. The last time I looked, investors are owners!

State Sen. Rodney Ellis of Houston has promised to introduce a bill asking for a constitutional amendment legalizing casino gambling in next year's legislative session.

This is not going to go away. Those of us who want our state and our schools funded on something besides gambling and addiction must prepare for another intense and lengthy battle.

Attention! Stand in the ranks! Ready! March!

Cyrus B. Fletcher

Baytown

Sinful attitude

Of all the barriers that hinder the church's ability to impact a fallen world, one of the most substantial is the prevalent, sinful attitude of anti-intellectualism.

Jesus teaches that the most fundamental aspect of a lifestyle obedient to God is the ability to love the Creator with all the heart, soul and mind. Sadly, many Christians have ignored Jesus' call for the development of the mind as a means of worshipping God. A breakdown of the educational vision of the local church may be largely responsible for the problem of anti-intellectualism that plagues the entire church, especially Southern Baptists.

Sunday school has become a time for enjoying refreshments and scheduling social events instead of significant study of the Scriptures. As a result, sound theological training and meaningful Bible study have been ostracized from the classrooms of the local church and can be found only in the classrooms of Christian seminaries and universities.

Renowned Christian author Os Guiness, in “Fit Bodies, Fat Minds: Why Evangelicals Don't Think and What to Do About It,” appropriately labels evangelical anti-intellectualism both scandalous and sinful. Certainly theological study alone does not fulfill Christ's commission to love God with the mind. Yet the leadership of the local church must set the pace for comprehensive Christian intellectual growth by showing that it embraces the task of providing sound theological education.

Lance Patrick Higginbotham

Arlington

Presidential actions

I read with interest the article on Jimmy Carter (July 26).

While it is admirable that he has been a Sunday school teacher all these years and draws a large following, many of his actions as president did not support what we as Baptists believe. His support for human rights is important, but his pro-abortion and pro-gay rights stances are opposite of what the Bible teaches.

Also, probably the most overlooked aspect of his presidency was his judicial appointments and the anti-family decisions these judges have taken in the past 20 years. Most of them are liberal activists who have undermined the Constitution by taking positions that the majority of Christians are against.

He is someone who may be a good and honest person, but when he was president, his political actions, as a whole, were not friendly to Christians.

Steve Kent

Dallas

Foul language

Recently, Vice President Dick Cheney raised eyebrows when he hurled an obscenity at a U.S. senator with whom he disagreed. Not just any obscenity, but the infamous “f” word.

One would think he and his party would be embarrassed for 10 generations.

Not so. Cheney and his party are busy justifying the comment and saying he was “provoked.” I suppose this sets a new standard of conduct. When a fifth-grader is “provoked” by his teacher, he would be justified with any obscenity in response.

What has been the response of President Bush to this offense? U.S. News & World Report (July 12) says Bush told Cheney, “Don't back away from it.” In fact, the article indicates Bush himself frequently uses this type of language. An “insider” says it's “like guys talk.”

We have never had a president who mentioned his religion more than has George W. Bush. How can an individual tell us what a great Christian he is and how God put him in the White House and at the same time pour this filth from his mouth and try to justify it?

When I was 21 and working in a factory, one of my co-workers told me I had the most filthy mouth he had heard. Initially, I was angry but then realized he spoke the truth. Filthy language simply means one is lacking in vocabulary.

We need to take responsibility for our words and actions, not blame others.

Carl L. Hess

Ozark, Ala.

Pastoral attributes

Two characteristics so needed of a pastor are the love for people and the love for peace. Our pastor at Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Michael Dean, is an exemplary personification in these areas as well as being an inspiring pulpiteer.

May I cite two examples: Our church has the distinction of having numerous family members of former staff personnel. Several former staff members themselves still are members, including myself. This is a rare situation in most churches. We all feel as welcome and as loved as any other Travis member.

Also, he has kept our church focused on a vision higher and nobler than church disagreements. A peaceful fellowship prevails, even though there are strong opinions on both sides of the Southern Baptist Convention controversy. We as members were given the opportunity privately and individually of choosing how our tithes and offerings should be directed. This called for additional financial records staff, but he felt the results were worth it.

I thank the Lord for Michael Dean and pray for him daily. We so desperately need more pastors like him.

James E. Coggin

Fort Worth

Departed giant

He was a scholar and a gentleman. I would have taken his courses just to hear him pray before his lecture. But the prayer was just a prelude to the opening of the Old Testament to a classroom full of want-to-be ministers.

D. David Garland, a role model for many a Southwestern Seminary student, was one of my heroes. In recent years, we met at the same barbershop and swapped past and present seminary stories.

I will miss him, and so will many a grateful Southwesterner. Another giant has departed our midst.

“Well done, good and faithful servant. … Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

Dan R. Crawford

Fort Worth

Courageous stand

I see absolutely no similarities between Rebecca St. James and Michael Jackson (June 28)!

Rebecca St. James has beautifully devoted her talents to take the message of purity, abstinence and modesty to mainstream teens. We should be applauding her courage, her stand!

She is living proof that it is possible to combine fashion savvy and modesty. Her look, her book, her public testimonies all encourage our youth to wait for God's best.

In addition, I think her hairstyle is “dahling”!

Linda Kovach

The Woodlands

We must do more

A Disciples of Christ minister recently wrote a wonderful article in the Austin American-Statesman about his church’s summer camp for children and youth. The camp features the usual church-camp things, but for eigth-graders, the entire camp is about sex.

Since l988, the Disciples of Christ camps have done this. They teach covering about human anatomy, the reproductive process, sexually transmitted infections, teenage pregnancy, contraceptives, dating and sexual abuse. The underlying idea is that sexuality and the human body are wonderful gifts from God that should be treated with respect and care, and failure to do so can and will create big problems and even death.

They stress that abstinence is the only 100 percent effective way to prevent these problems. This camp is affirming; it is also biblical.

For 20 years I was an educator in this area—a Mission Service Corps volunteer, doing AIDS ministry. I can tell you few Baptist churches are doing enough, and often parents do nothing at all about sex education. Sadly, I was called in to clean up after the mess was made.

Teen pregnancy has declined, but sexually transmitted infections, including those from which you can die, are on the rise. Oral sex is common among youth, and they often think it is not sex and not dangerous.

We owe our kids. We can and must do more.

Betty B. Arrell

Austin

Politics has drained evangelistic zeal

Jimmy Draper, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s LifeWay Christian Resources has complained about the decline of baptisms in the SBC and avowed the reason, “we have lost our focus.” His proposed panacea was for Southern Baptists to focus on increasing the number of baptisms to fill the void, a totally worthy objective to be applauded by every true believer.

However, relating to this loss, he and other SBC conservatives are overlooking another reason for the decline. In their misguided enthusiasm for orthodoxy, they have shredded the once beautiful unity experienced and cherished within the pre-1970s convention.

In short order, the New Right leaders upended cherished Baptist distinctives, issued creedal directives to be followed as a test of loyalty, and published standards for accountability. Then came the exit of creedal-leery, freedom-loving Baptist churches and members, resulting in a diminished number of significant churches and capable leaders.

A simple calculation will tell “the rest of the story.” With such serious losses, the SBC could no longer maintain a bold evangelistic thrust to sustain old levels of baptisms and accessions to the churches as experienced in the past.

Their preoccupation with convention politics—which was totally a control issue,—drained a once-effective evangelism force of its effectiveness and left a weakened remnant, a shadow of its former glory.

Dwight Baker

Duncanville

Southern Baptists becoming isolated

Southern Baptists, by majority rule, have established the fact that there are no Baptists left on earth who are worthy of association (June 28).

One can feel the “holy” usurpation of the Baptist World Alliance, now seen as liberal, nonjudgmental and unfit to walk with the emerging, narrowly defined and politically motivated steamroller of insensitive machinations.

In grasping the import of this latest vote, to withdraw from those who are perceived to be found derelict in their support of anything mandated by Southern Baptists, the echo of the publican, standing on the corner proclaiming his self righteous virtue, can be heard across the land.

The denomination, by recent survey tabulation, is failing. The argument that most mainline denominations are in the same boat does not help.

We have been listening, for 25 years, to those who have hidden the agenda of political control behind the “sky is falling” subterfuge that liberalism was eroding the denomination. In their hands, we were told, we would be made whole again and the work of God would take precedence in our daily walk with God.

After all this time, we have made no forward movement in those things that we say are important and have listened to one of the leaders of this contrived takeover as he cautioned us to wait at least another 20 years before concluding they were wrong.

We are not regenerated; we are isolated.

Edward Clark

Danville, Ky.

Thanks for support of public education

Thank you for your support of public education.

The Establishment Clause prohibits government funding of religion (Everson v. Board). The constitutional prohibition against taxation for religion institutions is not discrimination, because the prohibition applies to all of them.

James Madison, in his 1785 “Memorial and Remonstrance,” objected to taxation for religion institutions and for teachers of the Christian religion.

In two February 1811 veto messages, President Madison objected to congressionally passed faith-based initiative bills.

On February 21: “The Bill exceeds the rightful authority, to which governments are limited by the essential distinction between civil and religious functions, and … vests in the said incorporated (Episcopal) church, an authority to provide for the support of the poor, and the education of poor children of the same; an authority which … would be a precedent for giving to religious societies … a legal agency in carrying into effect a public and civil duty.”

On February 28: “The bill, in reserving a certain parcel of land of the United States for the use of said Baptist church, comprises a principle and precedent for the appropriation of funds of the United States, for the use and support of religious societies; contrary to the article of the Constitution which declares that Congress shall make no law respecting. …”

The principle of separation between religion and government is voluntarism. Government is coercion. Public tax funds are for public institutions.

Gene Garman

Pittsburg, Kan.

Holman translation errors

LifeWay Sunday school material provides an excellent theological study. Unfortunately the printed Holman Scripture translation departs from God’s word. “Explore the Bible” on May 23 has a flagrant error in Titus 2. Verse 6 has the first phrase from verse 7 added to the sentence. I have reviewed 17 other translations. All 17 other translations kept “all things” applying to church leaders—not to encouraging young men.

I can understand why the translation error was placed in Titus 2:6-7. Church leaders who persecute dedicated missionaries and now urge Baptist parents to remove their children from public schools would be uncomfortable when God’s Word (NIV) says: “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.”

A less serious error is in verse 15, where God tells leaders to work with Christians in a way that “no man despise” them. Holman chooses to use the word “disregard” which I find in some less-popular translations. ”Disregard” does not carry the implied meaning that we should live in community with fellow believers who do not completely agree on secondary theological issues.

We must always use an accurate Bible translation when we are studying Scripture. Else we will possibly be teaching incorrect doctrine.

Bill Osborne

Houston

The gospel is confrontational

I differ with Steve Pruett’s suggestion that one sermon at the Areopagus is “the New Testament model for effective evangelism” (July 12). Consider Peter’s sermon and resulting events (Acts 3:11-4:22); Stephen’s defense and stoning (7:1-60); Paul and Barnabas (13:1-52) also the apostles in Iconium and Lystra (Acts 14), Philippi (Acts 16), Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9) and Corinth (Acts 18:1-22).

The model for evangelism was to announce the good news. This was by its nature confrontational, causing the enemy to rise up. Our friends in Bangladesh and Indonesia and many other parts of the world preach the gospel, and the cost is not a passive darkness. They give up their lives, their homes are burned, they are ostracized by family and friends.

Has Pruett accepted the postmodern god of “tolerance-for-every-view”? When will he stand up and say to the public, “You are wrong!” The gospel speaks to all of life! Evangelism is the public confrontation of the pluralistic, tolerant worldview of non-believers with the glorious Christian world view.

I agree with Pruett, we believers must live consistent lives, but let’s not announce the gospel in such a way that hides the hard stuff until after they believe. That is like the car dealer telling you, “Buy this car, and then I will tell you what it costs.”

We are faced with cultural wars and must battle spiritual wickedness with love, wisdom, courage, boldness and patience. Confronting culture as well as the individual is part and parcel of the gospel we preach!

Jerry Perrill

Irving

Posted: 8/06/04

On the Move

Steve Bowen has resigned as pastor at First Church in Bloomburg.

Donnie Brown to First Church in Olton as interim pastor.

Paul Carter has resigned as pastor of First Church in Lucas.

David Compton to Mount Sylvan Church in Mount Sylvan as minister of music, where he had been interim.

Justin Cook to Georgetown Church in Pottsboro as youth minister.

Harold Davis has resigned as pastor at First Church in Whitehouse. He is available for supply, interims, Bible conferences and revivals at (903) 839-4665.

Candelario Espinosa to Primera Iglesia in Chilton as pastor.

David Estevens has resigned as pastor of Primera Iglesia in Royse City.

Jon Floyd has resigned as pastor of Fellowship Church in The Colony.

Leo Gomez has resigned as minister of music at Rosanky Church in Rosanky to move to the Spring area, where he will be available for interim music ministry.

Starkey Gunn to Zion Hill Church in Linden as pastor.

Charles Higgs has resigned as pastor of First Church in Portland to become the founding pastor of the Cowboy Church of Erath County in Stephenville.

Debbie Hudspeth to Forestburg Church in Forestburg as children's minister.

Bryan Hutchinson to First Church in Argyle as pastor.

Richard Ivy to Avenue D Church in Brownwood as pastor.

Gerre Joiner to Forestburg Church in Forestburg as minister of music.

Shaun Lynch to Temple Church in Hereford as pastor.

Mark Markle to New Prospect Church in Jefferson as pastor.

Christopher Martin to First Church in Hart as youth director.

Manuel Martinez to Iglesia Nueva Vida in Gonzales as pastor.

Mark Mohler to First Church in Slidell as pastor.

Mike Mowery to First Church in Grapevine as pastor.

Jonathan Murdock has resigned as youth minister at School Creek Church in Lampasas.

Daniel Norton to University Church in Arlington as minister of music and youth.

Butch Perkins to First Church in Lometa as pastor.

Glen Pipes to First Church in Eunice, N.M., as pastor from Meadowbrook Church in Rockdale.

Heath Powers to First Church in Runge as pastor.

Gerald Ray to Memorial Drive Church in Houston as interim minister of music.

Chris Rice to First Church in Beeville as minister to youth.

Ricky Roman to First Church in Skidmore as youth minister from First Church in Mathis.

Louis Rush to Trinity Church in Palacios as pastor from First Church in Palacios, where he was youth minister.

Taylor Sandlin to First Church in Marlin as pastor.

Michael Smith has resigned as associate pastor/music minister at Lakeway Church in The Colony.

John Sorrell to Great Hills Church in Austin as children's minister.

Angie Stevens to Georgetown Church in Pottsboro as children's minister.

Vic Taylor to First Church in Alpine as interim pastor.

Chandler Thompson to College Avenue Church in McGregor as interim youth minister.

Justin Tollison to First Church in Queen City as youth director.

Cory Veuleman has resigned as youth minister at Lakeside Church in Roanoke.

Darrell Wallace to Live Oak Church in Gatesville as youth minister.

Suzy Wallace to Live Oak Church in Gatesville as children's minister.

Brent Warren to Northway Church in Dallas as pastor from First Church in Lewisville, where he was minister to youth.

Bob Webb has resigned as pastor at Northside Church in Corsicana.

John Wheat to First Church in Kenedy as pastor from Columbus Avenue Church in Waco, where he was college minister.

David Williams has resigned as pastor of First Church in Rising Star.

Clay Wooten to Fairy Church in Hico as minister of youth.

Posted: 8/06/04

Operation Multiplication strategy
builds on Jesus' discipleship model

By Mary Crouch

BGCT Summer Intern

SAN ANTONIO–Jesus made disciples one at a time. If it was his technique, San Antonio-area Baptist leaders feel it's the best for them as well.

San Antonio is the pilot site for Operation Multiplication, an evangelism strategy devised by the International Evangelism Association in Salado and San Antonio Baptist Association. The method stresses the importance of one-to-one discipleship, based on the model presented in 2 Timothy.

The association has sponsored several training events in conjunction with Operation Multiplication and is encouraging churches to get involved. Representatives from 59 churches already have shown interest in the effort.

The method also is endorsed by the Baptist General Convention of Texas' Center for Strategic Evangelism. The Baptist World Alliance recently has partnered with the International Evangelism Association as well.

Doyle Pennington, director of the men's department of the Baptist World Alliance, said this strategy will strengthen the work of Baptist churches.

“It is a process of one-on-one mentorship,” Pennington said. “We have a whole generation of people who have never been discipled.” Jesus told believers to go out and “make disciples, not converts,” he said. And “we've not done a very good job of disciple-making” in Baptist churches, he added.

By training new believers and church members, Pennington, said churches can help to “close the back door” and keep new members in the church.

University Baptist Church in San Antonio has tailored the technique to its congregation with a program director and specialized teams. Each team is divided according to age group, including adult, youth and senior teams.

The strategy of Operation Multiplication is to create discipling partnerships between current church members, then to spread out in the community and establish relationships. Pennington believes training within the church will help those who want to go and disciple outside the church.

Operation Multiplication is designed to have a chain effect, starting with a Christian mentoring a non-Christian or new believer in the gospel. Once the relationship between the mentor and protégé is established, and the protégé understands enough to put ideas into practice, he or she can go out and find someone new to connect with.

Church members who choose to start the process must attend a training session given by the church, which comes with books that guide them through discipleship training.

University Baptist Church has averaged 35 to 40 at the training sessions. The church's goal is to have at least one trained disciple in every Sunday school class.

Although the church is early in the process, it already has ideas for joining Operation Multiplication with its Sunday school program to create a “faith and discipleship” model, Pastor Randall Bales said.

The goal is to strengthen Sunday school itself and to have a more organized structure for implementing Operation Multiplication, he explained.

Although the program is new, Bales said his church members are “very excited” because Operation Multiplication “involves the church in purposeful discipleship and creates connections between individuals.”

For more information about Operation Multiplication, call the BGCT Center for Strategic Evangelism at (888) 269-3826.

Posted: 8/06/04

Three Russian orphans still need parents

Anastasya, 13 Nicknamed "Nastya," she was born in October 1990 in Leningrad. A talented performer, singer and dancer, she likes fruits, potatoes, spaghetti, cheese and beef. During the Angels from Abroad trip, she said she enjoyed her host family and their children, learning how to operate a washer and dryer, and swimming.	Galina, 10 Born in St. Petersburg, "Galya" also is a talented performer who likes cheese, bananas, apples, chicken and potatoes. Her orphanage caregivers describe her as "merry and sociable" and her favorite things about her Angels visit were her host family, their children and dog and "playing outside."	Sergey, 13 A St. Petersburg native, Sergey has an "amazing voice" and his caregivers describe him as a "happy, social and responsible" boy who likes fruits, cheese and sweets. He especially enjoyed seeing all the tall buildings in Dallas and going to a Texas Rangers baseball game.

DALLAS–Nearly two months following their visit to North Texas, three Buckner “angels from abroad”–orphan children from St. Petersburg, Russia–have yet to be matched with prospective parents in the United States.

The three were among 18 orphans who traveled to the United States for a two-week stay sponsored by Buckner Orphan Care International as part of its Angels from Abroad initiative. The children stayed with volunteer host families in North Texas.

The Angels from Abroad trip was planned to “raise awareness about the needs of older children living in Russian orphanages and Buckner Orphan Care International's programs to improve their lives,” said Tiffany Taylor of Buckner.

The program was so successful that many families committed to adopt internationally through Buckner International Adoption.

Many of the orphans were matched to prospective parents since the trip, but three remain on referral and are in “urgent need of adoption,” said Mary Ann Hamby of Buckner International Adoption.

Galina, 10, and Anastasya, 13, both girls, and Sergey, a 13-year-old boy (see below), are available immediately for adoption to families through Buckner, said Hamby. “Galina, Anastasya and Sergey represent the urgent need to find families for older children ages 7 and above and for sibling groups. There are many more children in Russia and Guatemala who need a home and family in addition to these three.”

The urgent nature of the adoption need is both physical and emotional, said Hamby, who also is an adoptive parent.

“Every day these children live in an orphanage, they are deprived of the resources, love and nurture a family provides.”

For more information about international adoption, Buckner hosts several international adoption orientations throughout the year for interested families. The orientation, held at the Buckner International Adoption offices at 4830 Samuell Blvd. in Dallas, is an opportunity for families to learn about the international adoption process.

Upcoming orientations are scheduled in Dallas on Aug. 31, Sept. 24, Oct. 26, Nov. 12 and Dec. 14. For more information about orientations or the three "angels," contact Sharon Hedrick at shedrick@buckner.org or toll-free at (866) 236-7823. Information also may obtained at www.bucknerinternationaladoption.org.

Posted: 8/06/04

Associations help pregnant women in need, one at a time

By Janelle Bagci

BGCT Summer Intern

Dallas and San Antonio Baptist associations are working together to help struggling pregnant women, one family at a time.

The associations have come together for the One by One program, which will connect trained mentors to mothers in need. Although still in the beginning stages, mentors will visit once a month and teach a basic parenting curriculum.

“We're really excited, because its given us the opportunity to collaborate with two major associations” and create a much-needed ministry, said Jana Whitworth, church and community minister for Dallas Baptist Association.

One by One, a ministry supported by the Baptist General Convention of Texas Missions Equipping Center and funded in part by the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions, works with local obstetricians, pediatricians and hospitals to connect mentors with mothers in need. Mentors meet with mothers from their second term of pregnancy through their child's first year.

“One by One is an exciting collaboration that focuses on some of the most at-risk young people in our communities,” said Jim Young, director of the BGCT Missions Equipping Center.

Sizable grants from the Piper Foundation and Christ is My Salvation enabled One by One to launch a three-year study that evaluates the program's effectiveness in nine ZIP codes. If successful, One by One could spread to other cities.

“I believe One by One is needed as much as literacy is needed,” said Camille Simmons, coordinator of ministry missions for San Antonio Baptist Association.

Parenting programs for at-risk families have proven “instrumental in preventing child abuse,” she said. Child health care and immunizations are kept current and families are linked to a Christian support system.

The program is designed to mobilize large groups of volunteers in a church to do ministry in the church and community, Simmons said.

“It gives the local church long-term contact with a family” and an intentional friendship. “I call it the ultimate evangelism tool,” Simmons noted.

One by One began training mentors in April. Program coordinators aim for a mid-September party and prayer time to dedicate the One by One program and send out mentors to families.

One by One coordinators hope to have 50 mentors when they launch the program in the fall. They foresee the need for a Spanish version of curriculum.

Posted: 8/06/04

Study reveals Protestants becoming
minority religious group within U.S.

By Jonah D. King

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS)–Protestants could cease to be the majority religious group in the United States within the next year, and their numbers already may have dipped below 50 percent, a new study by the National Opinion Research Center says.

From 1972, when the University of Chicago-based NORC began its General Social Survey, until 1993, the Protestant share of the population remained constant, averaging 62.8 percent.

It then began to show a decline, reaching 52.4 percent in 2002.

The study attributed the decline to, among other things, the fact that fewer children were being raised in Protestant homes over the past four decades.

The share of people who said they were raised as Protestants dropped from 64.7 percent in 1972 to 55.7 percent in 2002.

Among people born after 1980, less than half said they were raised Protestant, suggesting the downward trend would continue.

The study found the retention rate for Protestants also fell over the years.

In the 20 years leading up to 1993, a steady 90 percent raised in Protestant households remained Protestants as adults.

That had dropped below 83 percent by the turn of the century.

But not all churches report a decline in their congregations.

Sherri Doty, statistician for the Assemblies of God, said between 1993 and 2003 the number of adherents grew 20 percent, as reported by local Assembly of God churches.

Increasing numbers of ethnic congregants contributed to the growth of the church, which had 2.7 million adherents in 2003, she said.

Immigration is another factor that has lowered the proportion of Protestants in the United States.

The study found that only 24.5 percent of immigrants are Protestant, but said, “while it helps to sustain the current decline, it cannot explain the start of the decline in the mid-1990s or its recent rapid rate.”

The NORC study conducted personal interviews with more than 2,650 respondents.

Posted: 8/06/04

Religious students' politics cross lines

By Jonah D. King

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS)–Strongly religious college students have conservative views on sex, abortion, gay rights and drugs, but more liberal views on gun control and the death penalty, a new study says.

The study by UCLA's Higher Education Research Institute polled nearly 3,700 college juniors at 46 schools across the country, and found that one-fifth of college students are “highly religious.” A similar percentage said they have little interest in religion.

Those two groups have widely divergent views on a number of social issues, the study found. While 80 percent of the least religious students said they felt casual sex was acceptable, only 7 percent of the most religious students felt the same way.

The least religious students were more than three times as likely to support legalized abortion, while highly religious students were more than twice as likely to support laws prohibiting homosexual relationships.

But while highly religious students tend to be more conservative than less religious students on certain issues, they can be more liberal on other issues, the study found.

Compared to those with little or no religious interests, a higher percentage of highly religious students supported federal controls on handguns sales (75 percent to 70 percent) and they also were more likely to support abolition of the death penalty (38 percent to 23 percent).

College women reported higher levels of spirituality and religiousness in the study than did college men.

Women reported more than 150 percent more commitment to religion and spirituality and half as much religious skepticism as men.

To determine their level of religiosity, students were asked whether they attended religious services, read sacred texts or joined a religious organization on campus.

Posted: 8/06/04

Texas Tidbits

Carroll Institute starts classes. The B.H. Carroll Theological Institute started its first fall semester Aug. 2, offering 30 courses at churches in the Houston, San Antonio, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth areas. The schedule features two eight-week terms in the fall–Alpha running from Aug. 2 to Sept. 25, and Emmanuel from Sept. 27 to Nov. 20. Beginning Aug. 30, the institute also will offer seven on-line, on-demand courses. The curriculum is divided into four learning clusters: Scripture and witness, faith and heritage, ministry and formation, and worship and mission. For registration and enrollment information, visit www.bhcti.org; phone (817) 274-4284; e-mail admin@bhcti.org; or mail to 120 E. Abram St., Arlington 76010.

Baylor regents approve graduate programs. Baylor University regents have approved new graduate programs in exercise, nutrition and preventive health; theological studies; and engineering. The department of health, human performance and recreation in Baylor's School of Education will offer a doctor of philosophy program in exercise, nutrition and preventive health–one of the first such multidisciplinary doctoral programs in the United States. Regents also approved a master of theological studies degree at Truett Theological Seminary. The graduate program will provide a basic foundation in biblical and theological disciplines, while allowing students to combine theological studies with other Baylor graduate degrees in social work, music, education, business administration and law. Baylor's engineering department will offer eight joint bachelor's/master's degree programs in electrical, computer, biomedical and mechanical engineering.

Incomplete annuals mailed. The Baptist General Convention of Texas began mailing copies of the 2003 BGCT Annual to churches last week before staff discovered 48 pages were missing from some of the books. The printer left out pages 186-234 in about 10 percent of the annuals, said Rand Jenkins, director of BGCT's creative services office. The missing pages include statistical information about BGCT institutions. Churches that receive an incomplete annual should contact Shirley Smith via e-mail at ssmith@bgct.org and a new one will be sent to them.

DBU creates Vaughn Scholarship. An endowed scholarship has been created at Dallas Baptist University in memory of Charlotte Vaughn, a longtime supporter of the university and alumna of Decatur Baptist College, DBU's institutional predecessor. Students in the College of Education pursuing a degree in education with a focus on special education will be eligible for this scholarship. Vaughn, a member of Royal Oaks Baptist Church in Dallas, died in March at age 93.

CBF, Buckner sponsor Kenya trip. Buckner Baptist Benevolences and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship are jointly sponsoring a mission trip to Kenya Dec. 1-12. The ministry focus will be the boys and girls of the Baptist Children's Center in Nairobi, Kenya. Buckner President Ken Hall and CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal will lead the mission trip. A two-day visit to the world-famed Maasai Mara game park is covered in the all-inclusive trip cost of $2,900. A non-refundable $250 deposit is due by Sept. 1 with payments of $1,325 due on Oct. 1 and Nov. 1. Buckner will host an orientation session Sept. 28, but a video of the event will be mailed to anyone unable to attend the orientation. For additional information or to register for the trip, either contact CBF at (770) 220-1600 or volunteer@thefellowship.info, or contact Buckner Orphan Care International at (214) 758-8055 or orphancare@buckner.org.

UMHB schedules Welcome Week. About 900 freshmen and transfer student are expected to attend Welcome Week at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, beginning Aug. 21. Fall classes start Aug. 25, and night classes begin Aug. 30.

Posted: 8/06/04

TOGETHER:
BWA blesses Baptists from Texas

We had breakfast in Seoul, South Korea, with a Baptist missionary from Nagaland who serves in Cambodia. His bright smile and winsome personality blessed us as we talked about mission strategy and rejoiced in the work of our Baptist family around the world.

I learned 90 percent of the population in Nagaland–a province of India–is Christian, and almost all the Christians are Baptists. When American and Canadian Baptists first came to the area in the late 19th century, they reached the tribes by starting schools and caring for the people. The tribesmen were headhunters who counted severed heads as trophies of their dominance. But they no longer are warlike people. Their hearts have found their place in the love of God and gospel of Christ. Now these self-supporting Baptist churches send missionaries to people in other parts of the world. The Nagaland Baptist Church Council is one of 211 Baptist conventions that work in cooperation with the Baptist World Alliance.

The Korea Baptist Convention is another. BWA President Billy Kim, the founding pastor of the 20,000-member Central Baptist Church of Suwon, is “Mr. Baptist” in Korea. He translated for Billy Graham in a great Korean crusade in the '70s, and he knows and encourages many of his nation's spiritual, business and political leaders.

When I preached at his church recently, I was struck by the miracle of God in bringing the Korean people to Christ over the past 100 years. They have known grievous persecution. But they have learned to depend on God, give generously and pray earnestly. Korean Christians pray early every morning and have all-night prayer meetings most every Friday. God has blessed the extraordinary faith, hard work and spiritual desire that marks the lives of so many Korean Christians.

As we attended the BWA General Council in Seoul, we were encouraged by the partnership in the gospel we find with our Baptist brothers and sisters of the world. We were reminded again that mission work is effective. When people go to bear witness and live among those who need Christ, God uses that to bring people to salvation.

I yearn for hundreds of Texas Baptists to experience personally the joy of being part of this great worldwide Baptist family. The BWA centennial anniversary will be held in Birmingham, England, July 27-31, 2005. Pastors and directors of missions across Texas are putting together groups to attend the celebration, and the BGCT has worked with travel agents to develop tours. One proposal is a 13-day tour for $2,995, but the price could vary somewhat. If you can't spend that much time or money, there will be other less-expensive options. This could be the trip of a lifetime, filled with visits to historic British and Baptist sites, brimming with inspiration and gratitude for the fellowship we share with our Baptist brothers and sisters who have–often in the most trying circumstances–experienced so much of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For information on putting together a group tour, please call Becky Bridges at (214) 828-5232, e-mail bridges@bgct.org or write her at 333 N. Washington, Dallas 75246.

Texas Baptists will be fully represented when Baptists from around the world gather next year. They look forward to meeting you, and your life will be enriched deeply by meeting them.

We are loved.

Posted: 8/06/04

Welfare overhaul needed, group says

By Kevin Eckstrom

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS)–A coalition of Christian and Jewish groups urged Congress to stop keeping welfare alive with temporary extensions and instead move to a long-term overhaul of the program.

Ten mainline Protestant churches were joined by anti-hunger groups, Jewish organizations and a Catholic social justice group to urge a five-year reauthorization of the 1996 welfare law.

“Congress is denying the states the certainty of funding and clarity of program direction that they need to operate their programs most effectively,” said a recent letter to senators from the Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs.

Temporary Aid to Needy Families originally was set to expire in September 2002. Unable to reach agreement, Congress has passed seven temporary extensions. The most recent, in late June, funds the program at current levels through Sept. 30.

The House has passed one version that increases weekly work requirements for welfare recipients from 30 to 40 hours per week and provides marriage incentives.

The Senate version proposes a 34-hour work week but adds increased money for child care. That measure has not reached the Senate floor because of disputes on whether to include an increase in the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7 per hour.

“We are extremely disappointed that Congress has not yet passed a long-term reauthorization to strengthen the program so families can move out of poverty,” said the letter., which was signed by the Washington offices of American Baptist Churches USA, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church (USA), the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Friends Committee on National Legislation, the National Council of Churches and NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice lobby, among others.

Posted: 8/06/04

Mission Arlington nurtures, trains
next generation of missionaries

By Sarah Farris

BGCT Summer Intern

WACO–Mission Arlington's outreach extends far beyond the city limits.

The community ministry's goal is to nurture a new generation of missionaries for worldwide service, Director Jim Burgin said.

“Through Mission Arlington, God is raising up kids to be missionaries,” Burgin told the Texas Leadership Conference, sponsored by Woman's Missionary Union of Texas.

About 90 vocational missionaries were trained at Mission Arlington, he said.

About half serve throughout the United States, and the rest work in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America, and one works with an unreached people group.

Every Mission Arlington volunteer who has interviewed with the Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board has been appointed, he noted.

In addition, 28,000 people from 26 states have come for a week-long mission immersion experience.

For instance, volunteers from a church in Lexington, Ky., spent a week at Mission Arlington.

When they returned home, they immediately launched a similar ministry to help people in their community, he said.

Burgin grew up on the mission field in South Korea, and his mother, Tillie, founded Mission Arlington.

For 17 years, he pointed out, thousands of people have come through Mission Arlington's doors seeking food, money for bills, clothing, medical aid, crisis intervention, help during the holidays and spiritual aid offered by the urban missionaries.

By meeting the physical needs of the poor in Arlington, the organization gets a chance to share God's love, Burgin explained.

Each week, 254 Mission Arlington-related congregations meet, generally under the leadership of lay pastors.

Many evolved from Bible studies and still meet in the living rooms of apartments.

Posted: 8/06/04

Women challenged to invest time in the lives of poor families

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

WACO–As a child participating in a mission group, Diana Lewis visited a family living in a chicken house.

“I never forgot that,” she told the Texas Leadership Conference, a training event sponsored by Woman's Missionary Union of Texas.

Lewis serves as missionary in Arkansas with the Southern Baptist Convention North American Mission Board, helping people who live in poverty. She described her ministry as being to “people who live with holes in their walls.”

Lewis prefers the term “people in poverty” to the more tradition “poor people” in describing those with whom she works.

“We're all rich in some ways. We're all poor in some ways,” she said. “Some of the richest people I know haven't had indoor plumbing, but they love the Lord.”

Ministry to people in poverty is “very slow work, is very hard work,” Lewis said. “There isn't any way you can meet every need.” Rather “you must be available to them, be a friend to them,” and a long-term commitment is needed.

Before ministering to people in poverty, “examine your attitudes,” Lewis said. People in need, like others, do not always spend their money wisely. A judgmental attitude must be avoided.

“There are going to be people who are hard to deal with,” she said. But try to imagine what their lives will be like if they come to Christ.

Poverty, of course, is not limited to Arkansas. In a workshop about Project HELP, WMU's effort against poverty, Patty Villareal said one in eight Americans live in poverty, and “around the world poverty has a tight grip on people.”

Texas has the eighth-highest poverty rate in the nation, with about 15.2 percent of Texans falling below the poverty line, she noted.

“Here's what's real, and here's what's going on outside our doors, said Villareal, consultant for the BGCT Missions Equipping Center. “We must address this somehow … and break the cycle of poverty.”

“It's time to refocus” and remember the importance of ministering to the poor that is reflected in Scripture, she added.

WMU's Project HELP will mark its 10th anniversary with a special “A Bag, a Buck and a Bible” emphasis Feb. 13, 2005.

Baptists will be encouraged to contribute a bag or box of food for local ministries, money for national projects and Bibles for distribution.

But Villareal encouraged participants in her workshop to “not be content with a sack and a tract mentality.”

Relationships are needed. she insisted.

“Pledge a year to invest in the lives of a family,” she said, suggesting family-to-family ministry. “I encourage you not just to think about the immediate.”

Diana Lewis, a Southern Baptist North American Mission Board missionary in Arkansas, speaks about mission work with the poor and hungry in her state during a workshop in Waco.