Posted: 5/28/04

Tornado rips roof off Conroe church

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

CONROE–A tornado slammed RiverPointe Baptist Church, ripping off a large section of the sanctuary roof and damaging much of the facility's interior.

In about 90 seconds, the tornado tore off a 20-foot-by-30-foot section of the sanctuary roof and turned the inside of the building into a wind tunnel, said Pastor Dane Riddle, who was the only person in the church when the storm hit.

Winds bent a large portion of the building's metal frame, including the supports for a glass atrium. Tiles that created the ceiling were torn down in several rooms, corridors and the sanctuary. Walls were damaged.

Keith Crouch, director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Church Facilities Center, visited the church, helped assess damages and advised leaders regarding steps in the rebuilding process. Ron Gunter, a BGCT regional associate, also was on site.

Riddle estimated the congregation will not be able to use the building for several months, and church services will be moved to a shopping center next door.

The relocation to the shopping center is a return to the church's roots, Riddle noted. The church did not have a permanent building for its first three years, until it moved into the now-damaged building about 18 months ago.

But church members remain upbeat, Riddle indicated. They recently have been working through Rick Warren's “Forty Days of Purpose” and just finished the section about the importance of strong fellowship.

“The spirit of the congregation has been wonderful,” he said.

The congregation has been able to share the Christian message of hope because of the tornado. Numerous media outlets interviewed Riddle in the days following the storm.

Riddle asked Texas Baptists to pray that the church continues to have a strong fellowship and makes wise decisions in the rebuilding process and that Christ will be glorified through the incident.

Posted: 5/28/04

	Larry Blackmon, pastor of First Baptist Church in Hearne, helped his grandchildren escape rising water by lifting them through a window.
Maria Rodriguez, temporary emergency child care volunteer from First Baptist Church in Magnolia, plays with a toddler.

Flood leaves pastor praising God for volunteers

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

HEARNE–In two weeks, Larry Blackmon went from watching furniture float in his swamped home to singing the praises of Christian workers who helped him and his town after widespread flash flooding hit May 13.

The pastor of First Baptist Church in Hearne was one of many people affected by 17 inches of rain in less than nine hours. Reports indicate as many as 200 homes, including the First Baptist parsonage, were damaged in Robertson County.

A surge of water three feet high blasted through the town, saturating furniture, accessories, walls and carpet in homes, Blackmon recalled.

The pastor helped his grandchildren escape rising water by lifting them through a window to a man driving a tractor by his home. While he was saving what belongings he could, Blackmon was shocked when the water rose to the electrical plugs.

“Everything we had was ruined,” he said.

That afternoon the waters began receding, and help came calling in the form of Ron Gunter, regional associate for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Gunter quickly assessed the situation as he talked with Blackmon and contacted Texas Baptist Men for disaster relief help.

Sam Rodriguez of First Baptist Church in Magnolia and a young child play with a toy in a temporary emergency child care facility in Hearne. Texas Baptist Men set up a day care facility there to allow parents free time to find relief services following widespread flooding throughout the area.

Volunteers with the Texas Baptist Men Gonzales Baptist Association clean-out unit, owned by Second Baptist Church in LaGrange, quickly arrived. In two days, they pulled up carpet and baseboards and knocked out sheetrock in 16 homes, including the pastor's house.

A TBM chainsaw unit from Harmony-Pittsburg Baptist Association served in Bryan soon after.

But ministry went beyond the houses. The TBM childcare unit set up a temporary day care that provided a safe environment for about 40 children in the wake of the floods, said Tracy Barber of First Baptist Church in Farmersville.

For Blackmon, the ministry had a personal touch. Several TBM volunteers spent all night separating and sorting rain-drenched pictures in ruined photo albums. Instead of preaching that Sunday, Blackmon encouraged TBM volunteers to give testimonies about how they became involved in this ministry.

“It's just amazing how hard they worked,” Blackmon said.

When Hearne residents discovered they did not qualify for federal aid, the BGCT was there again. Jim Young, director of the Missions Equipping Center, delivered forms for people to gain access to disaster relief funds from the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions and designated Texas Baptist donations. The convention distributed funds to 24 families.

The initial shock from the flooding and disappointment about lack of federal relief has turned into determination for Blackmon. He is attempting to alert people to the seemingly unreasonable standards for federal relief in Texas.

In this state, damages must total $23 million in a community before residents qualify for federal funding, Blackmon said. In other states, the damages must reach much lower levels. The May 13 floods covered more than half of Robertson County but caused only $11 million in damages, leaving residents to fend for themselves.

Blackmon also has become determined in praising the work of Texas Baptists. He stood and told parts of his story during the BGCT Executive Board meeting May 25.

Christian volunteers played an integral role in helping Hearne residents through their ordeal, he said.

“I am proud to be a Baptist, and I am proud of … (the BGCT) staff,” he said. “They guided me through it.”

A lot of work still remains in the town. Parts of Blackmon's home need rebuilding. Many members of his church also face home reconstruction.

But Blackmon remains optimistic about the future of his family, town and congregation.

First Baptist Church celebrated 135 years in April, he noted. “We'll be around another 135 years if the Lord doesn't come. We'll make it,” he said.

Contributions can be designated “Disaster Relief” and sent to Texas Baptist Men, 333 N. Washington, Dallas 75246. Mary Hill Davis contributions can be sent to Woman's Missionary Union of Texas, 333 N. Washington, Dallas 75246.

Posted: 5/28/04

Pastor sends potent picture postcards
to patrons of 'adult' businesses

By Erin Curry

Baptist Press

KENNEDALE–Jim Norwood got so fed up with the negative impact sexually oriented businesses were having on his local community he began an unusual campaign to run them out of town.

And in the process, the Baptist minister was elected mayor.

The pastor of Oakcrest Family Church of Kennedale, a Baptist congregation in suburban Fort Worth, began taking digital photographs of cars parked at local adult businesses and mailing them to the homes of the customers.

Texas public vehicle registration records allow individuals to obtain addresses of vehicle owners just by taking down license numbers.

As his photo-taking efforts were in full swing, Norwood was elected mayor of the town of 3,600 in a two-to-one landslide victory over the incumbent mayor in mid-May.

The postcards Norwood sends have a photograph on one side.

On the other side is printed a message: “Observed you in the neighborhood. Didn't know if you were aware there is a church in the area … Please stop by next time. We'd love to have you visit.”

Also included is a schedule of church services and the church's counseling classes on sexual addiction.

Norwood said his first objective is to send a message to adult business customers that what they are doing is wrong and to make them aware of the help available to them at Oakcrest Church.

His other goal is to curb business at the local sexually oriented places so that they will be forced to move elsewhere.

“Being a chaplain at the jail, I deal with a lot of sex offenders,” he said.

“And almost everyone I talk with says, 'Even if it would have been of the negative nature, I wish there would have been some intervention so it wouldn't have gotten to this point.'

“And unfortunately those are pastors, youth ministers, teachers and coaches that I talk to who have watched their lives totally crumble around them because of what happened.”

Norwood also has noticed the negative image his community has developed with the abundance of adult businesses.

He added the pornography industry has overflowed into the general public as magazines are left on the streets and lewd acts are performed in parking lots.

For those worried about the problems such a postcard could cause upon arrival at a house, Norwood said the outcome is worth it.

“The thing I tell people is that if the husband and wife or boyfriend and girlfriend are on the same page, regardless of what page they're on, then my postcard isn't going to have any effect,” he said.

“But if they're not on the same page, I can look at this as possibly bringing attention to a problem a wife might want to know about to protect the children, to confront their mate.

“And there aren't just husbands down there, there are wives I've seen too.

“At least maybe it would open up a line of communication between the two so that they can talk about the problem.”

Despite any criticism he may receive for his postcard-sending campaign, Norwood said he and the volunteers he has gathered are determined to keep it up.

“We'll continue the emphasis as long as the Lord says so, but I did hear … one particular store that's probably the nastiest of them all has plans to move out of the community,” he said.

Also, since the effort began in December 2003, Norwood said the church has seen or received calls from 12-15 people who either saw the media reports or received a postcard and were seeking help with sexual addiction.

“One thing I would attribute our victories to is that we have a group of people who pray on a consistent basis from different churches around the community,” Norwood said.

“And I believe the spiritual emphasis does more than anything else we do.”

Posted: 5/28/04

REBECCA ST. JAMES:
Preaching purity

By Leann Callaway

Special to the Baptist Standard

NASHVILLE–At age 26, Rebecca St. James has been voted the most influential woman in Christian music by Crosswalk.com and listed as one of the top 50 evangelists under age 40 by Christianity Today.

The Grammy Award-winning recording artist is using her influence to shape teenagers' attitudes about sexual purity and Christian commitment.

This summer, she will perform at the Baptist General Convention of Texas' Youth Evangelism Conference at Reunion Arena in Dallas June 26, helping to lead a massive True Love Waits rally.

“Probably a few of my main words of advice will be to guard your heart and your mind,” said St. James, author of the best-selling book “Wait for Me,” a personal plea for sexual abstinence until marriage.

“If you're listening to trashy music or watching movies that are promoting immorality, that's going to affect your life. These young people need to only allow things in their lives that are going to encourage purity. They also need to learn how to set major boundaries in their dating life and relationships. It's so important for them to talk about their commitment to purity, and only date people that are committed to purity, as they are.”

The key to remaining sexually pure is having a strong loving relationship with Jesus Christ, she emphasized.

“Most importantly, (young people) need to spend time with Jesus every day. When you're spending time reading the Bible and growing in that love relationship with Jesus, it's hard to sin. They say that sin keeps you from the Bible, and the Bible keeps you from sin. Spending time with God each day and in prayer really helps you to live a holy life,” she said.

St. James, a native of Australia who now lives in Nashville, grew up in “a real solid Christian family, so it has been an amazing heritage of faith,” she said. Her family attended Thornleigh Community Baptist Church in Australia, and she made a profession of faith in Christ at age 8.

Because her father was a Christian concert promoter, she became familiar with the Christian music industry at an early age.

“Music has always been a natural part of my life,” she noted. “When I was about 12, I committed my music and my gifts to God. I moved to America with my family when I was 14, and I sang at different youth groups and churches. Some guys from a record label saw me sing when I was about 15 and signed me to that label soon after that. So, it was one of those things that God definitely led me to do. I had a little bit of vocal training when I did my first album, but my training came more from things I learned growing up around music.”

Today, a busy touring schedule keeps her on the road most of the year. “There's a lot of sacrifice involved,” she said.

“It's hard being away from home and missing my family and friends. Some of my immediate family travel with me, but the rest of my family is pretty much in Australia. I also miss the formality of church. But knowing I'm being used to make a difference and that God has me where he wants me to be is absolutely wonderful.

“My favorite part is knowing that the music is reaching people and that God is using it to change lives. I definitely feel very fulfilled in what I'm doing.”

Before each concert, St. James has a devotional and prayer time with her band members. Then, she spends time alone in prayer before she goes on stage.

“I hope that people connect with God and are able to express their love for him at these concerts,” she said. “I hope that people walk away filled with Christ's love and his hope. I think a lot of people today are searching for hope and a reason to live. My prayer is they find that. At my concerts, we also have an altar call and commitment time each night. I hope that those who don't know God will come to know him that night, and those who do know him will be refreshed in their commitment.

“I think music in itself is very powerful and engaging, but when you put the Bible with that, it becomes a powerhouse … because the Bible is the most powerful tool in the world for life change. I've always had an emphasis on worship at my concerts, and I've really seen people respond during that time.”

A key message she seeks to communicate to young people is the importance of “being on guard against spiritual attack,” she said.

“I feel that Satan is out to steal, kill and destroy. Satan wants to draw us into compromise and wants to discourage us and distract us from living for God,” she said.

“We need to be on guard, realizing it's not just the flesh and bones world we live in, it's a spiritual warfare going on. We need to be in prayer and have people praying for us, and daily spending time with God, so our eyes are set on him and not things of this world. That's kind of my theme lately.”

Posted: 5/28/04

Brazilians hear language of love from Singing Men

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

RIO DE JANIERO, Brazil–Police escorts, a packed arena and large crowds may sound like a rock and roll tour, but it was all part of the experience for a group of Texas Baptists during a recent trip to Brazil.

The north central chapter of the Singing Men of Texas performed nine concerts in nine days to crowded venues.

The Sing-ing Men of Texas is a ministry started and coordinated by the Baptist General Convention of Texas Center for Music and Worship. The BGCT's Texas Partnerships Resource Center, which has set up a cooperative relationship between the Texas convention and the churches around Rio de Janiero, facilitated the trip.

Crowds flocked to see the 54-voice choir. More than 5,000 people nearly filled an arena in Teresopolis. Sanctuaries were standing-room only. Some churches ran closed-circuit television feeds for people to watch the concert in other rooms. Some people listened while standing outside.

The Singing Men of Texas connect with local churches because “they are the lifeblood of getting people” to the concerts, said Don Blackley, associate pastor of music and worship at First Baptist Church in Richardson and director of the Singing Men of North Central Texas.

The Singing Men of North Central Texas visited the statue of Christ the Redeemer atop Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janiero during their recent trip to Brazil.

But people wanted to do more than listen. They sang in Portuguese while the choir worshipped primarily in English. The two groups sang in unison during the men's four Portuguese songs.

And the Brazilians responded.

They made commitments to follow Christ during each concert. About 500 people committed their lives to Jesus after the arena concert, which also featured a sermon from Nilson Fanini, pastor of First Baptist Church in Niteroi and a former president of the Baptist World Alliance.

Music can move large numbers of people because of its powerful presentation, said Chuck Bridwell, minister of music at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco and president of the Singing Men of North Cental Texas. “Music is an international language.”

The Brazilians' enthusiasm went beyond the concerts. Congregations planned a year for this tour. Many of them provided dinner for the men, 16 of their wives and six medical personnel who also took the trip. Second Baptist Church in Petropolis arranged a police escort of the choir's buses as they toured the area.

The two doctors and four nurses visited several medical clinics in the region during the trip. Because of legal restrictions, they could not practice medicine but spent time bathing children and observing ministries in some of the poorest parts of Brazil, including a community that lived off what it found in the city dump.

The Brazilians' excitement and generosity continue inspiring the men in their ministries and faith, several said.

“Every time I lead worship, I'm reminded about the passion we should have,” said Mark Hill, associate pastor of music and worship at Casa View Baptist Church in Dallas.

The group, including Larry and Rebecca Wesson of First Baptist Church in Eastland, also went out into the streets to invite local residents to attend their concerts.

Bridwell termed the trip “a special touch” that affected the lives of each person involved. Each individual can recount a moment that was stirring.

For Bridwell, singing “We Are One in the Bond of Love” arm-in-arm with Brazilians believers was especially moving.

“I think we all came back better ministers and ministers of music,” Bridwell said.

For more information about mission opportunities in Brazil, contact the Texas Partnerships Resource Center at (214) 828-5181 or send an e-mail to texas_partnerships@bgct.org.

Posted: 5/28/04

Church collects letters to Congress
opposing legal redefinition of marriage

By Gregory Tomlin

Southwestern Seminary

FORT WORTH–Members of a Fort Worth church mailed 750 letters supporting the biblical definition of marriage to Republican Texas Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn in Washington, D.C.

Travis Avenue Baptist Church collected the letters as part of a campaign promoted by the church's Christian citizen task force. Each of the letters was written, addressed and stamped by individual members of the congregation to comply with Internal Revenue Service guidelines for political action.

Under IRS regulations, churches and other tax-exempt nonprofit groups cannot expend funds in support of candidates or legislation.

Individual members of congregations, however, can use private funds for political action.

Dillard Wilbanks, associate pastor and program ministry coordinator at Travis Avenue, said it was significant that the church gathered actual letters “in an era of e-mail convenience.”

A Mother's Day sermon by Pastor Michael Dean prompted the letter-writing campaign. Dean said the biblical definition of marriage was under attack. He insisted American churches would have to speak on the issue of same-sex marriage for the institution of marriage to survive.

He called on church members to write to their senators and congressional representatives and express their views that God had ordained marriage to be between one man and one woman.

The church's Christian citizen task force provided sample letters for both adults and young people.

Wilbanks also said it was significant that 750 letters were returned to the church with one week's notice.

“Mobilization of evangelical church members to take this initiative could well make the difference. I know of no other way to mobilize and motivate the numbers of persons necessary to have a significant impact on politicians,” he said.

Posted: 5/28/04

Website becomes handiest item in toolbox
as church seeks to attract, contact visitors

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

ALLEN–First Baptist Church believes its website looks good. But more important to Minister of Education Jeff Humphrey, it is pulling people out of cyberspace and keeping them in church space.

The congregation increased the resources it puts into its site after noticing how many techno-savvy residents in the northern Dallas suburbs are searching for church online, Humphrey said.

The site, www.fbcallen.org, is designed to give visitors a glimpse into the life of the congregation, he said. The front page features pictures of the sanctuary and the pastor, along with announcements and a list of the week's activities. The website's pictures portray the age and ethnic diversity of the congregation.

Once visitors attend the church, the Internet space serves as the primary avenue for members to encourage visitors to become involved in the congregation. Bible study leaders can access each week's list of guests through a secure area linked to the site.

Visitors' names, ages, how many times they have been a recorded visitor and whether they are involved in a Bible study group are listed. If a visitor gives it, a phone number also is provided.

From there, it is up to the Bible study groups to follow-up, Humphrey said. The staff has provided information for the congregation to encourage prospective members to become more involved in the church.

And Humphrey can tell which classes are using the list by noticing which ones are growing. Growing classes are contacting visitors and making them feel welcomed, he said.

“When they come to our church, they feel wanted,” Humphrey said. “They're invited back.”

The site, developed by church member Rick Gipson, also gives information for care groups. The lists tell how many times a person has missed class recently and if any follow-up is needed. From there, needs can be transferred to a voluntary e-mail prayer list.

The website serves members in ways other than expanding the congregation. It provides several resources for Bible study leaders, including commentary on upcoming lessons, online Bibles and teaching links.

The site currently includes a congregationwide emphasis encouraging members to “take the next step” in becoming involved in the church. Ministry options are outlined. Helps for personal Bible study also are provided.

Online sermons have proven to be valuable to members as well, Humphrey said. Believers download sermons onto their digital music players and listen to them while jogging, biking or driving to work.

While the site is meeting needs, Humphrey noted it continues to evolve.

Staff members are consistently trying to work with their site provider to improve the space. As with many ministries, the website is a process, not a one-time fix.

“Most churches don't go 'boom' and have everything right,” he said. “They go step by step by step.”

Posted: 5/28/04

Around the State

Winfred Moore will be honored at the Texas Baptist Elder Statesman Celebration June 6 at Independence Church in Independence. The program, sponsored by Independence Association and the Baptist Distinctives Committee/Texas Baptist Heritage Center, will begin at 10 a.m. Moore was pastor of First Church in Amarillo 30 years.

The College of Business and Economics at Houston Baptist University presented awards of excellence to Sarah Emmer, accounting; Allison Fox, business; Anita Garcia, computer information systems management; Brett Mosher, economics; Steven Koehler, entrepreneurship; Abbey Moore, finance; Gabriela Anchundia, management; and Debra Hanna, marketing. In addition, Natalie Knox received the accounting excellence award from the Texas Society of CPAs, Anami Patel the Accounting Education Foundation Scholarship, Joshua Baird the Financial Executives International Scholarship and William Cotton garnered the Robert Griswold Outstanding Teaching Award.

John and Marie Chiles of Dallas were presented Baylor University's Milton T. Gregory Distinguished Award during the April 17 meeting of the Baylor Development Council. Baylor President Robert Sloan made the presentation. The Chileses were organizers and members of the founding board of directors of the Strecker Museum Associates. He served as that board's first president from 1989 to 1993 and again from 1997 to 1998. He also is a past president of the Baylor Law Alumni Association, life member and past director of the Baylor Alumni Association, member of the Torchbearers Society and chair of the executive steering committee to raise $23 million to construct the new facility for Baylor's Strecker Museum and the Ollie Mae Moen Discovery Center. The new facility, the Harry and Anna Jeanes Discovery Center, centerpiece of the Sue and Frank Mayborn Natural Science and Cultural History Museum Complex, opened to the public earlier this month. The Gregory award is named for a 1935 graduate and university trustee who served the school more than 50 years by promoting its interests at every opportunity.

Members of Wayland Baptist University's faculty have been approved for promotions beginning July 1. Promoted to professor are Glyndle Feagin, religion, and Polly Lackey, library science. New associate professors are Elise Adamson, mathematics; Cindy McClenagan, English; Joshua Mora, Spanish; Adam Reinhart, biology and chemistry; and Ann Stutes, music.

East Texas Baptist University honored staff and faculty for their years of service. Kathy Bland, coordinator of payroll/employee benefits, and Carolyn Snow, professor of behavioral sciences, were honored for their 25 years of service. Honored for 15 years were Ron Bartlett, carpenter supervisor; Martha Moore, accounts payable coordinator; and Eric Wilburn, director of physical facilities. Jose Alonzo, assistant professor of modern languages and men's soccer coach; Mark Dimmitt, manager of publications and photography; Lynn Merrill, assistant professor of marketing; and Bert West, instructor in physical education and basketball coach, were honored for 10 years of service.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Scott & White School of Nursing held a pinning ceremony marking the graduation of 32 nursing students. Receiving special recognition were Dorothy Todd for clinic excellence and Jena Porterfield for academic excellence. Deborah May received the Laura Cole Award for overall excellence. Jessica Johnson received the Golden Cross Award and Billye Sims the Purple Heart Award, both of which are voted by students and faculty.

Hardin-Simmons University honored four students for outstanding achievement during graduation ceremonies. Samantha Robare received the Minnie L. Anderson Award, which is presented to the senior woman who has excelled in character, personal development and service to the university. David Krake was presented the George Skiles Anderson Award, the previous award's counterpart for men. Rocky McAdams received the Julius Nelson Olsen Medal for the highest grade average. John DePoe received the Hemphill Graduate Honor Award, which recognizes the graduate student who had excelled in academic studies, possesses character and behavior consistent with the university's purpose, and exhibits potential for significant contribution to his chosen field.

Dallas Baptist University presented its 2004 Good Samaritan Award to Fred White and Paul Cardarella.

The Little George Havens Cowboy Camp will hold it 38th annual family camp June 18-27. It will be held at Flying H Acres on Highway 84, between Santa Anna and Coleman. Participants are encouraged to bring campers, tents or bedrolls. The tent revival meeting features a pot-luck dinner each evening except Saturday, when the camp provides mesquite-smoked barbecue. Activies include horseback riding, games, wagon rides and museum tours. For more information, call (325) 348-3686.

Anniversaries

Billy Barnes, fifth, as senior adult minister at First Church in New Braunfels May 13.

Loyd Don Phelps, 25th, as minister of music/education at First Church in Linden.

Larry Soape, 20th, as minister of education and administration at First Church in New Braunfels June 1.

Wally Black, 10th, as minister of music at First Church in New Braunfels June 1.

First Church in Old Ocean, 60th, June 13. The church will hold only one service at 10:45 a.m. Former Pastor Bobby Good and former Youth Pastor Jim Clemmons will attend. The Singing Payne Family will provide the special music. A catered lunch will follow the morning service. At 2 p.m., a time of fellowship and prayer will take place at the church's new building site, four miles from its current location. Bill Tharp is pastor.

University Church in Fort Worth, 75th, July 3-4. A block party will be held Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. Sunday morning's service will feature former Pastor James Carter and long-time Minister of Music Joe King. A lunch will follow. A concert and fireworks at Forest Park will cap the festivities. Mark Woods is pastor.

Retiring

Sam Franklin, as music director of Mount Sylvan Church in Lindale, after 35 years of service.

Larry Shotwell, as minister of education at First Church in San Angelo. He will be honored with a roast and toast dinner June 28 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children.

Deaths

Gene Strahan, 90, April 16 in Marshall. A veteran director of missions for associations in several states, he became director of the Mission Service Corps of the Baptist General Convention of Texas in 1978. Taking responsibility for the MSC in its infancy, he recruited volunteers who served all over the world and established procedures now standard throughout the Southern Baptist Convention. At his retirement, he and his wife, Malissa, served as consultants for the Home Mission Board. After retiring, he served Second Church in Marshall as minister of missions. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1996. He is survived by his daughter, Claire Rodgers; son, David; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Roy Sutton, 95, May 10 in Waxahachie. Sutton was executive director-treasurer of the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention from 1970 until 1980, first joining the convention staff in 1946 when the convention included churches spanning nine states, from Mexico to Canada. He also helped begin two state conventions–Colorado and Nevada. He was a graduate of Baylor University. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy Anne, and his second wife, Helena. He is survived by his wife, Marie; daughter, Farrell Graham; and son, Mike.

Tony Rengifo, 65, May 19 in Raytown, Mo. Rengifo and his wife, Renee, were appointed by the International Mission Board in 1987 as missionaries to Costa Rica, where he was a professor. In 2003, he tranferred to the Mexican Baptist Theological Seminary in Mexico City. He was undergoing treatment for leukemia and blood clots when he contracted a blood infection that could not be effectively treated due to his weakened condition. Prior to his missionary appointment, he was director of youth and student work at the Baptist Spanish Publishing House in El Paso. He also served a number of churches as pastor, including International Church in El Paso. He was associate pastor at Calvary Church in Nacogdoches. He is survived by his wife; daughter, Vanessa Rengifo; and mother, Alicia Rengifo.

M.A. Ervin, 79, May 20 in Nacogdoches. Ervin was set to preach at the church he served as pastor for many years, Calvary Church in Nacogdoches, the night he died. “He came in and sat down, but when I called for him to bring the message, he did not respond,” Pastor Paul Sevar said. Ervin had suffered a stroke and later died in a local hospital. A Hardin-Simmons University graduate, he was pastor of Bethel Church in Appleby from 1956 until 1959. He then served the Nacogdoches church from 1959 until his retirement in 1991. While no longer a pastor, he continued to minister, making hospital visits the morning he died. He is survived by his daughter, Janice Robertson; sons, Philip and James; five grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Events

The Heights Church in Richardson will be the site of a concert by the Australian Christian music group Rocfish June 6 at 6:30 p.m. The group, with a strong appeal to children, will kick off the church's Vacation Bible School. For more information, call (972) 238-7243.

Paul Daily will present a horse training demonstration at Forestburg Rodeo Arena, located on FM 922, June 8 at 7 p.m. During the presentation, Daily will teach a young colt, which is halter broke but never ridden, to let him take over the reins. Throughout the training process, Daily will relate horse training with God–based on trust, faith, obedience and love. Admission is free, but a collection will be taken. For more information, call Forestburg Church in Forestburg at (940) 964-2470.

Mexican Baptist Children's Home in San Antonio is planning a reunion of former residents for July 3. Former residents or anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of any former residents are asked to call (210) 633-9283.

Ordained

John Carlson, Joe Crawley, Jerry Kindig, Kent Johnson, Perry Sims and Lee Smith as deacons at Mount Sylvan Church in Lindale.

Posted: 5/28/04

Barna reports increased giving
to nonprofit organizations last year

By Adelle Banks

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS)–The average amount of money given to nonprofits–including churches and other houses of worship–rose significantly last year, the Barna Group reported.

Donations to nonprofit groups increased from a mean of $991 in 2002 to $1,079 in 2003, an 8 percent increase.

While the amount of donations rose, the percentage of all households who donated money to at least one nonprofit group in 2003–80 percent–remained consistent with the previous two years.

Houses of worship continue to be popular recipients for donations.

Sixty-three percent of households gave money to churches and other places of worship. That percentage has remained constant since 2001.

The average amount of money given to houses of worship in 2003 was $824, a 14 percent increase over the giving level in 2002 and the highest mean since 2000.

About 5 percent of households tithed their gross income to nonprofits.

Researchers found 12 percent of those who had an active faith–people who had prayed, attended church and read the Bible in the previous week–gave at least 10 percent of their income to their house of worship.

Others most likely to tithe included African-Americans, charismatic or Pentecostal Christians and people from households with a gross income of $60,000 or more.

The findings were based on telephone interviews conducted in late January and early February with a nationwide random sample of 1,014 adults and have a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Posted: 5/28/04

Baylor CFO announces plans to leave
university, return to private business

WACO–David Brooks, vice president for finance and administration at Baylor University, has announced plans to leave the school at the end of July to return to private business.

Brooks, who was named to the chief financial officer position in August 2000, came to the university from a career in banking, real estate development and investments.

He will resume a more active role in McKinney-based Independent Bank Group, of which he is founding chairman.

Additionally, Brooks intends to make investments in Central Texas, including a banking opportunity in the near future.

“I am profoundly grateful to David Brooks for temporarily suspending his leadership of a very successful business enterprise four years ago to come help his alma mater prepare for and navigate one of the most significant financial transitions in Baylor's history,” Baylor President Robert Sloan said.

“I believe his contributions in this important arena, while appreciated by many today, will be recognized by even more Baylor constituents in the future for the role they have played in moving this university forward.”

Reagan Ramsower, associate vice president, chief information officer and dean of libraries, will provide interim leadership for the finance and administration division while a national search for a new chief financial officer is conducted, Sloan said.

Brooks, 45, has been principal architect of the financial model associated with Baylor 2012, the university's controversial 10-year vision to position the institution among America's top 50 universities.

During his tenure as chief financial officer, Brooks led Baylor to take control of the investment and management of its endowment, which had been outsourced for more than 50 years.

He also oversaw the largest construction and campus expansion in the university's history.

“When I came to Baylor, I felt called to serve the cause of Christian higher education,” said Brooks, a former mission pastor.

"It has been one of the most fulfilling periods of my career. Our family has thoroughly enjoyed living in Waco, and we plan to keep our residence here. "I also look forward to remaining active in my support of Baylor University and President Sloan."

A 1980 graduate of Baylor's Hankamer School of Business, Brooks also holds a master of business administration degree from the university.

He and his wife, Carolyn, a certified public accountant and 1981 Baylor graduate, have two children, Ryan, 16, and Reece, 14.

They are members of Harris Creek Baptist Church in McGregor.

Posted: 5/28/04

Gay-rights rally organizer strikes plea bargain with Baylor

By Robert Marus

Associated Baptist Press

WACO (ABP)–A recent Baylor University graduate says he signed, under protest, a statement admitting he violated the school's conduct code by organizing a gay-rights rally because he feared he wouldn't be allowed to graduate if he refused to sign.

Pawnee, Okla., native Darrin Adams graduated from the school May 15. In late April, school officials informed him he was being prosecuted under Baylor's student conduct code for his role in organizing the off-campus rally.

In a letter informing Adams of the charges, a school official said his involvement in planning the event made Adams “part of an advocacy group that promotes understandings of sexuality that are contrary” to traditional Christian beliefs.

The charge was a reference to a Baylor policy that reads: “The university affirms the biblical understanding of sexuality as a gift from God. Christian churches across the ages and around the world have affirmed purity in singleness and fidelity in marriage between a man and a woman as the biblical norm. … It is thus expected that Baylor students will not participate in advocacy groups which promote understandings of sexuality that are contrary to biblical teaching.”

Another part of Baylor's student policy says the school expects “that each Baylor student will conduct himself or herself in accordance with Christian principles as commonly perceived by Texas Baptists” and that students can be prosecuted for off-campus conduct that “interferes with Baylor's pursuit of its educational and Christian objectives.”

A group of gay and gay-friendly students, alumni and friends of the school sponsored the rally. According to an article in the campus newspaper, the Baylor Lariat, speakers at the event in downtown Waco “called for action in order to attain equality on campus (for homosexual students) and a non-discrimination clause in university policies.”

The 22-year-old Adams, who is gay, said an administrator informed him that if he signed a statement admitting wrongdoing, he would only receive a verbal warning.

However, if he refused, he would have gone through an appeals process in which a tribunal of students and faculty would decide his fate. After consulting with a civil-rights attorney, he reluctantly agreed to sign the statement, he said.

“It was either choosing a written warning–a punishment that I knew–or not signing it and having to go through two hearings and not knowing what the punishment would be,” he said. “I just wanted to graduate.”

Adams is the founder of two Baylor-related gay-rights groups, and in March spoke about the issue on national television. He was included in an on-air discussion about homosexuality at Baylor on the Fox News Channel's “O'Reilly Factor” program.

Adams said school officials were aware of all those activities. He said he was informed that none of them were sufficient to prosecute him for violation of the policy barring student involvement in pro-gay advocacy groups.

In addition, Adams said Baylor officials informed him they would not seek to discipline other students who were present at the rally, but had singled him out for prosecution because of his role in organizing it. He said a fellow student had sent administrators an Internet article from a Houston gay community newspaper that mentioned his efforts to organize the event.

The rally took place in March, and was partially in response to another gay former Baylor student's situation. In December, officials at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary revoked Matt Bass' scholarship, apparently because he is gay and openly supported same-sex civil marriage and other gay rights.

School officials have refused to discuss the specifics of either case. However, responding to publicity about Bass' case in February, Truett Seminary Dean Paul Powell did tell an ABP reporter that he would not dismiss a student simply because they openly advocated gay rights. “We don't dismiss people for their opinion; it's for their lifestyle,” he said.

Powell also said he wanted students to be free to discuss issues of difference in biblical interpretation. However, he went on to say homosexuality was plainly condemned in Scripture. “It's not up for debate with me,” Powell said. “I mean, you can talk about it, but the issue's settled,” Powell said. “The Bible consistently says (homosexuality) is wrong.”

Besides Adams' and Bass' situations, the school was roiled by another controversy over gay rights this year. The editors of the Lariat, which is run by students but published by the university, earned a stern rebuke from Baylor President Robert Sloan and the school's Student Publications Board for a staff editorial that appeared in the paper's Feb. 27 edition. The article endorsed expanding civil marriage rights to same-sex couples on constitutional grounds. It stopped short of a theological endorsement of same-sex marriage.

But, according to Lariat staffers, Baylor administrators in rebuking the paper cited the same “Statement on Human Sexuality” that they used with Adams.

Adams, who earned his degree in journalism, has moved to Washington to intern for a public-relations firm. He said it was ironic that Baylor is using the very freedoms guaranteed to it as a private religious institution to curtail its own students' freedom. “I think Baylor forgets that they're not a country in itself. The reason it exists is because of the Constitution,” he said. “I just hate the fact that they use the heading 'Christian' while at the same time they practice bigotry against other people.”

Posted: 5/28/04

BGCT staffers to resign NAMB appointments

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS–Five Baptist General Convention of Texas employees appointed by the North American Mission Board will end their relationships with the Southern Baptist agency and become fully supported by the Texas convention by the end of the year.

BGCT employees who will resign their NAMB appointments are Dexton Shores, River Ministry director; Patty Villarreal, consultant with the Missions Equipping Center; Patty Lane, intercultural initiatives director; Jim Young, Missions Equipping Center director; and David Guel, consultant with the Church Multiplication Center.

Most NAMB missionaries nationwide are in posts jointly funded by state conventions, associations or agencies.

E.B. Brooks, coordinator of the BGCT church missions and evangelism section, told the convention's Executive Board annual NAMB financial support for the five staff members totals about $50,000.

But he later explained to Texas Baptist Communications the precise impact on the state convention budget is uncertain because the BGCT and NAMB still are negotiating funding for next year.

The change allows those staff members to focus on their BGCT assignments, Brooks said. They can spend all their time on their BGCT ministries without having to deal with NAMB requirements such as representing the board in two promotional conferences each year.

“We feel like they should move into full BGCT support,” Brooks said. “We are grateful to the Home Mission Board, predecessor of the North American Mission Board, for their assistance in enlarging the BGCT church starting and community ministries staffs.

“Their provision of start-up salary supplements and benefits made it possible for us to strengthen mission work in Texas more rapidly than we could have otherwise.”

Brooks said the move to fully support those employees has been discussed for several years, but leaders were waiting for the cooperative agreement to be signed and BGCT Cooperative Program funds to become available.

The move is the first decision from a committee recently appointed by BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade to monitor the effectiveness of the BGCT/NAMB cooperative agree-ment signed in 2003.

“Texas Baptists want to be fully responsible for the members of our Executive Board staff and felt it was best for them to be funded out of our Texas budget,” he said.

The BGCT's cooperative agreement with NAMB, which was negotiated for more than a year, “was of significant concern to the Executive Board,” Brooks said. The wise move is to monitor the relationship, he said.

Representing the Executive Board on the monitoring committee are members Jim Nelson of Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin; Phil Lineberger, pastor of Williams Trace Baptist Church in Sugar Land; and John Thielepape, pastor of Meadow Lane Baptist Church in Arlington. Bill Shiell of First Baptist Church in McGregor represents the Administrative Committee. Bill Tinsley of Rockwall represents WorldconneX.

Others are Carolyn Porterfield, executive director and treasurer of Woman's Missionary Union of Texas; Leo Smith, executive director of Texas Baptist Men; Phil Strickland, director of the BGCT Christian Life Commission; and Brooks.

The BGCT will continue to look for ways to work with NAMB to accomplish shared goals, Wade added.

“Pray for the committee that is considering how best to work with our partners in ministry as we respond to the needs that are all around us,” he said.

Managing Editor Ken Camp contributed to this report.