Posted: 5/03/04

Nehemiah Project: Making an impact

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

MINERAL WELLS–Many church leaders talk about the importance of breaking down walls or going beyond the walls of a church to minister. But the inspiration for Tommy Pophin's ministry vision came from an Old Testament passage about building a wall.

Pophin, pastor of Eastridge Baptist Church in Mineral Wells, became concerned about the spiritual health of his community six years ago.

As a result, he and the pastor of a non-denominational church started holding a pastors' prayer meeting at the local Chamber of Commerce building each Tuesday at noon to intercede for their city.

The Nehemiah Project was born out of that prayer meeting. The group took as its motto a portion of Nehemiah chapter two, verse 17: “Come, let us rebuild the wall … and we will no longer be in disgrace.”

Not that Mineral Wells was in disgrace, but it was economically depressed, Pophin noted. Decades earlier, the city boasted a resort hotel that drew Hollywood celebrities attracted by its "healing" mineral baths. Not quite as long ago, the city was home to Fort Walters, a key military training base for helicopter pilots.

But the “crazy water” wells dried up, the base closed and the city suffered.

Mineral Wells needed a boost–not just economically, but spiritually, the pastors concluded.

“There were a lot of barriers. We wanted to raise the spiritual level of the city and see souls saved,” Pophin said.

As the pastors came to know one another better and prayed with each other regularly, they discovered needs and a willingness to work together to meet them.

More than 200 people made faith commitments to Jesus Christ during Impact events in Mineral Wells, including 127 seeking salvation. (David May/Mineral Wells Index Photo)

For example, they found out about an African-American Church of God in Christ whose facility had been damaged by a windstorm and whose members were “ripped off” by unscrupulous building contractors, Pophin noted.

About 120 volunteers from various denominations cleaned up the church's property and started working on the rebuilding project. Christian contractors offered their services, and building supply companies donated some materials.

In addition to serving together to meet community needs, local Christians also started worshipping together. Thursday evening “nights of inspiration” draw participants ranging from Missouri Synod Lutherans to Pentecostals.

The most obvious byproduct of the Nehemiah Project was a recent six-day, inter-denominational evangelistic event.

More than 1,000 people gathered each night for evangelistic rallies in the Mineral Wells Expo Center, a metal livestock barn that was “transformed into a sanctuary,” Pophin said.

Evangelist Jon Randles preached each evening, and he spoke in schools throughout Palo Pinto and Parker counties during the daytime.

More than 200 people made commitments to Christ, including 127 first-time professions of faith, during the six-day “Impact” event and its “Lateral Impact” youth track.

“The local newspaper gave the event the largest news coverage of any event I've seen in the last 10 years in Mineral Wells,” said Mark Bumpus, pastor of First Baptist Church.

One day, the local newspaper devoted its full front page to Impact.

In addition to making a spiritual impact on the community, leaders of the evangelistic event also wanted to make a tangible, physical difference, he added.

“On Saturday, the youth were enlisted to do local mission projects–service-oriented Christian ministry,” he said.

A love offering for Lateral Impact focused on raising the standard of living for needy people in the Mineral Wells area.

Wayne Shuffield with the Baptist General Convention of Texas Center for Strategic Evangelism helped with training for the evangelistic event, and his office contributed financially.

Youth leaders and others now are helping new Christians work through an 18-week discipleship and mentoring program.

Bumpus baptized five young people who made faith commitments during the six-day event. He called it "as comprehensive an approach to evangelism in a citywide event that I've ever seen. It focused on evangelism, Christian service, the nurturing of people in follow-up and worship musical styles that appeal to adults and youth alike."

But improving the spiritual climate of the community has created one drawback, Pophin acknowledged. It takes longer to go shopping, because every trip to the store is like a family reunion.

“Now you can't go to Wal-Mart unless you have an hour and a half,” he said.

“Christians from all different churches start greeting one and sharing the joy of the Lord with each other.”

Posted: 5/03/04

Texas, Mexico partnership produces base camp for ministry

By George Henson

Staff Writer

ACUNA, Mexico–A partnership between a Mexican church and three Texas congregations has produced a ministry base camp on the south side of the Rio Grande.

Camp Getsemani, a ministry of First Baptist Church of Acuña, Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston, First Baptist Church in Edna and First Baptist Church in San Antonio, is “the only semblance of a camp in the whole state of Coahuila,” said Bob Ives, a member both of Tallowood and the camp's board of directors.

The camp began when local rancher Fransisco Lopez retired and donated his ranch to the Acuña church on one condition–that it be used to serve the cause of Christ.

The population in the area has exploded since the North American Free Trade Agreement. Census figures from 1990 placed the population at 56,000, but that had grown to more than 110,000 in 2000. Some estimate the population may have doubled since then.

Members of Tallowood Baptist Church have seen that growth firsthand, sending at least one group there to minister every year since 1993.

“Acuña has been a place of tremendous growth in the last 10 years,” Ives said. “It's a very fruitful field.”

Mission teams from the United States generally use the camp, which will sleep about 120 people, as a base for a variety of mission activities, including medical clinics, construction projects and evangelism.

Tallowood now is sending its missions teams a little further up the Rio Grande, but the church still supports the camp financially and through board members like Ives and Robert Armendariz.

The camp is playing an ever-enlarging role for Mexican churches as well, they said.

“The camp is very important because it fills a big need,” said Almendariz, vice chairman of the Getsemani board. “It gives the local churches a place for retreats and training. Now churches as far away as Cancun use it as a place for their youth camps and retreats.”

The camp also is ministering to the nearby Santa Maria colonia. A medical clinic, the only health care available for miles around, opens one day a week. The clinic currently is housed in a room in one of the camp's buildings, but “we now have blueprints to build a medical clinic to house the ministry,” Armendariz said.

A benevolence ministry also provides poor families in the area with baby formula, clothing and food.

Plans call for the camp to house a theological school “to develop those leaders they are finding now,” Armendariz said. “I've been there from the beginning, so I can tell you about every brick.”

Jay Walthall, an industrial engineer from First Baptist Church in Edna, visits the camp to distribute about 1,500 pairs of glasses each year.

A pediatrician works in the medical clinic housed in a room at Camp Getsemani.

While on a trip to Venezuela as a translator for a group of Alabama Baptists, he saw the need for vision care and bought instruments to test eyes and match them with correct glasses.

He receives the eyeglasses he distributes primarily from Lion's Club International and Southwestern Bell Retired Employees of Houston, which donate glasses for indigent people.

“My primary goal is sharing Jesus Christ with people,” he said. “I never examine eyes that I don't find out about their relationship with Jesus Christ. Examining eyes for me is a means of sharing Jesus Christ.”

Dexton Shores, director of the the Baptist General Convention of Texas River Ministry, said the camp will only increase in importance to Texas churches.

“Especially since 9/11, it's such an advantage for U.S. church groups to stay on the Mexico side of the Rio Grande. The wait at the bridge (to cross the border) can be so long it can really impact the time you have for ministry,” he said.

As a result, other encampments on the Mexican side of the river are beginning to sprout. Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall has begun a partnership for a similar facility in Piedras Negras.

“Getsemani's been a model that others have seen and said, 'We need to do this in our area,'” he noted.

For more information, visit www.campgetsemani.org.

Posted: 5/03/04

CLC staff denied access to governor's office

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS–Representatives of Texas Baptists' moral concerns agency have been trying since spring 2003 to talk with Texas Gov. Rick Perry about public school financing.

As of late April, no such meeting had taken place. But Robert Black, a spokesperson for Perry, said the governor is “more than willing to work out a time” for such a discussion.

The issue of access has become more urgent in recent days with Perry's proposed school finance plan that includes introduction of video lottery terminals into the state. CLC legislative associate Suzii Paynter said the proposal opens the door to casino-type gambling.

“It has been astonishing to me that the governor does not choose to meet with the public policy agency of the Baptist General Convention of Texas,” said Phil Strickland, director of the BGCT Christian Life Commission.

“I personally have had ready access to every governor since John Connally (in the mid-1960s), both Republicans and Democrats. They haven't always agreed, but we have had the chance to make our case.”

CLC representatives first sought to meet with Perry during last year's regular legislative session, Strickland said.

One meeting was scheduled, but when the BGCT contingent arrived, the governor's office informed them Perry was not available. They met instead with Chief of Staff Mike Toomey, who formerly was a lobbyist for the gambling industry, Strickland said.

In January this year, the CLC renewed its effort. The governor's office did not respond.

Then in March, at the instruction of CLC trustees, Strickland contacted the governor's office again, but additional effort yielded no meeting.

Black, deputy press secretary in the governor's office, said a senior advisor met with a CLC representative April 8.

A meeting with the governor himself should have taken place by now, Black said. “Our director of scheduling should have been in contact with someone in your office by this time.” Black did not know if the failure was with the governor's office or with the CLC.

It has been “our intent” to have such a meeting, Black said. “If it hasn't happened, I apologize.”

He did note that the governor is “fully aware” of the BGCT's position in regard to the gambling issue. And in regard to concerns about Toomey's connections to the gambling industry, Black said, “He's not the governor.”

Perry's gambling proposal is part of a school finance package that would lower residential property taxes, shift commercial property taxes to the state and increase taxes on cigarettes and adult entertainment clubs. It would allow the video lottery terminals at Texas' horse racing tracks and on land owned by Native American tribal groups.

Perry's plan calls for 18,000 video slot machines to generate $2 billion over the next three years. Recently, the forecast has escalated to 40,000 machines.

“This is being referred to as a sin tax, but in this case they are having to create the sin to get the tax,” Strickland said.

“The burden of adding 18,000 video slot machines would fall most heavily on the poor, the disenfranchised and the citizens of our state who feel they have no opportunity for success unless they 'hit it big,'” Strickland said. “We feel the governor should be more focused on creating opportunities than selling hope with the push of a button and the spinning of numbers on a screen.”

A story in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram April 21 reported the governor as saying the proposal would reduce gambling because of the impact it would have on eight-liners, which are slot-machine-like devices that can legally pay out non-cash prizes.

Strickland took a different view. “We find the governor's claim that adding 18,000 slot machines would reduce gambling impossible to believe,” he said. Perry “claims that adding 18,000 slots would replace machines that are already illegal. The Texas Supreme Court has already ruled unanimously that eight-liners are illegal. We simply need our current laws enforced.”

In a letter to regional Texas Baptist leaders, Strickland said: “We are being told that this is not a major increase in gambling and that it will lead to better regulation of current gambling.

“Don't believe it! It is a major increase. It is 'class 3' gambling, which the gambling industry is trying to legalize without people understanding the implications.”

In Texas, gambling is divided into three classes. Classes 1 and 2 cover social games, bingo, the state lottery and pari-mutuel gambling. Class 3 refers to all other gambling.

Strickland noted several concerns with the video shot machine proposal.

For every $1 of revenue there are $3 of social costs that result from addiction, bankruptcy and crime, he noted.

“Local communities will pay the bill, which amounts to $200 a year for every person in Texas,” he said.

“Addiction is essential to the VLT slot machines, which are called the 'crack cocaine' of gambling,” Strickland continued.

“Pathological, serial addicts” provide 30 percent to 42 percent of total revenue. More children are hooked on gambling than on drugs, smoking or drinking.”

Video lottery terminal income is not dependable, the CLC director said.

“We should not gamble on the future education of our children,” he said.

“In 1991, we were assured that gambling would solve education funding.

“Today, proceeds from the lottery pay for 10 days of education a year.”

The proposal “opens the door for the gambling industry to spend millions to turn our children and adults to gambling,” Strickland said.

Video slot machines “may allow casinos in Texas,” he said.

“It authorizes 'class 3' gambling, which Native American casinos are then free to offer. Native land disputes may result in native land ownership in many locations across the state.”

Strickland ended his letter by encouraging Texas Baptists to “act now to help us stop this intense effort in the special session.”

Posted: 5/03/04

Evangelical Christians–powerful or persecuted?

By Robert Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (ABP)–Although American evangelicals overwhelmingly view themselves as part of mainstream America and think they hold significant political influence, they nonetheless believe they are a besieged minority, a new study has found.

And the study found evangelicals now mirror the rest of the country demographically, ranking much closer to nationwide socio-economic norms than their brethren 30 years ago.

“Looking at demographics, evangelicals are just not that different from the rest of America,” said Anna Greenberg, vice president of the polling firm that conducted the study.

Those findings came from a landmark survey conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research.

It was commissioned by U.S. News & World Report magazine and the PBS television show “Religion & Ethics Newsweekly.”

Among other results, the survey found that American evangelicals hold seemingly irreconcilable views of their role in the wider culture.

For instance, although 75 percent of all evangelicals–and 78 percent of white evangelicals–agreed with the statement, “Evangelical Christians are part of mainstream American society,” an identical percentage agreed that evangelicals “have to fight for their voices to be heard by the mainstream.”

Meanwhile, among all respondents–evangelical and non-evangelical alike–only 55 percent believed evangelicals had to fight for their voices to be heard in society, while 65 percent of all respondents believed evangelicals are part of the American mainstream.

A similar division between evangelicals' views of themselves and their perception by the broader society was evident in the responses to a question about whether “the mass media is hostile” to the respondent's moral and religious values.

Only 52 percent of all those surveyed agreed with that statement, but 72 percent of evangelical respondents did.

In addition, 48 percent of evangelicals believed that they were “looked down upon by most Americans,” while only 35 percent of non-evangelicals agreed with that assertion.

However, the evangelical respondents did acknowledge their political influence in a culture where the president and leaders of the majority parties in both houses of Congress are evangelicals.

Sixty-seven percent of all evangelicals surveyed agreed that they had either “a lot of influence” or “some influence” on the Bush administration. Only 9 percent of evangelicals believed they had “no influence at all” in the current White House.

Despite their starkly different views from other Americans on their own place in society, evangelicals now lag only slightly behind the rest of America in education and income levels.

They also are only slightly more likely to live in the South and marginally more prone to live in rural areas than the average American.

John Green, a University of Akron (Ohio) professor who specializes in the study of evangelicals and politics, said the survey results reflect the internal self-perception conflicts of a population that has seen a monumental shift in its social standing since World War II.

“This is a group of people who fall, in many ways, at the center of American society–but are, in many ways, still thinking that they are a people apart,” he said.

The survey of 1,610 respondents had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. It was conducted in late March and early April.

The study's complete results are available at www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics.

Posted: 5/03/04

Interfaith coalition raises concerns about
plight of 44 million uninsured Americans

Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe churches and other religious organizations should help raise awareness and concern about the 44 million people in the United States–including 8.5 million children–who lack health coverage, a broad-based group of religious leaders announced recently.

Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, has joined representatives of the National Council of Churches, the United Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the Islamic Society of North America, the Salvation Army and other religious organizations on the Cover the Uninsured Week interfaith advisory board.

The religious leaders are encouraging faith organizations and congregations to learn more about the issue of the uninsured and to call for a solution to the problem during Cover the Uninsured Week, May 10-16.

The faith community has a moral obligation to make sure everyone has health care coverage, said Eileen Linder, chairperson of the interfaith advisory board.

“There are many issues about which religious leaders disagree, including when we go to war and to whom we should extend the rites of marriage. But health coverage is an issue around which faith leaders are unifying more than ever before,” she said.

Cover the Uninsured Week includes a series of national and local activities. It is part of a year-round, nonpartisan effort to support securing health care coverage for every person in the United States.

“The men, women and children who have no health care coverage are not strangers to us. Some of them are in our families. Others live in our communities. They pray, work and study with us,” Land said.

“Uninsured Americans include followers of every religion and members of every race. It is time for national and local faith leaders to ensure that all of us have the health care coverage we need to live in the fullness of health in which we are intended to live.”

The religious leaders noted eight out of 10 uninsured Americans are in working families.

In 2002, the number of people without health coverage increased by more than 2 million, the largest one-year increase in a decade.

The Institute of Medicine estimates 18,000 adults in America die each year because they are uninsured and lack access to medical care.

Posted: 5/03/04

Religious supporters, opponents
of abortion rights rally in Washington

By Adelle Banks

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON–Standing at a worship service shortly before the official start of the March for Women's Lives, Theresa Helfrey held two signs stapled together. One declared the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s call for justice, and another supported NARAL, a prominent abortion rights organization.

She said the juxtaposition of the two signs was completely appropriate for her participation in the massive rally for reproductive rights that brought throngs of supporters to the nation's capital recently.

“We believe in our God,” said Helfrey, 22, of Hollywood, Fla. “And we also know that that being gave us the power to choose and for the government to take that away from us is just ridiculous.”

Helfrey joined hundreds of others next to the U.S. Capitol's reflecting pool for the “Prayerfully Pro-Choice Interfaith Worship Service” that the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice hosted hours before hundreds of thousands of people marched and rallied through downtown Washington.

The service was one of several that combined prayer with protest as others prepared to march in Washington's first large-scale abortion rights event in 12 years.

“I believe God stands with women as they end pregnancies, just as God stands with women who deliver babies and with women who give their babies to adoptive parents,” declared Mark Pawlowski, a member of the Clergy Advisory Board of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, reading from a “pro-choice credo” at the service.

“God does not choose God's allegiances. God stands with all of us, regardless of where we stand.”

He was joined by clergy and lay people of Jewish, Unitarian, Buddhist and Sikh traditions and the crowd sang “Dona Nobis Pacem” in Latin, English and Hebrew.

Prior to the prayer service, people from a range of faiths took part in a 24-hour vigil the coalition organized.

Close to the end of the vigil, seven people representing four different denominations joined an American Baptist minister on a bright blue tarp.

The Baptist led them in the reading of a prayer and the passing of the peace, a Christian ritual of shaking hands with fellow congregants.

Debbie Harris, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America from Palmyra, N.J., said her daughter encouraged her to attend the vigil and the march in a first-time demonstration of her views about reproductive rights.

“Justice and fairness, I think, are all part of faith,” said Harris, a construction company bookkeeper, standing in the shadow of the Capitol.

Barbara Kavadias, director of field services for the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, said people gathered morning, noon and night at the 24-hour vigil that began on Saturday.

Some of the prayers moved participants to tears, said the Conservative Jewish laywoman.

Prayer topics ranged from “the pain people have from the suffering that existed prior to the Roe vs. Wade decision” to concerns about lack of adequate resources for women to access abortion, child care and medical assistance for their children.

About 10 blocks away from the services in favor of the march, worshippers gathered at Freedom Plaza as they prepared to stand in opposition to abortion.

Archbishop Randolph W. Sly, leader of the Eastern Province of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, opened a Eucharistic service for more than 200 people who took part in Operation Witness, an effort opposing the March for Women's Lives.

“Psalm 23 says that he even will prepare a table in the presence of our enemies and here is the table and we're in the presence of the enemies of life,” declared Sly, opening the service beside a small table holding a gold chalice and gold crucifix.

“But we're here to celebrate life and to celebrate Jesus.”

Lauren Martin, a nurse from Woodbridge, Va., carried a sign saying "My baby was a casualty of my choice. I'm sorry, baby." Martin said she hoped–and prayed–for changes of heart among the march participants more than changes in laws.

“I'm praying for the people that they can feel God's love like I felt it because I was them,” said Martin, a member of an Assemblies of God church who regrets her abortion.

“They could be where I am and I pray that they will have the experience of God's love and forgiveness.”

Posted: 5/03/04

Latin American Baptist union elects
Texas church starter as president

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

The Union of Baptists in Latin America has elected as president a Texas Baptist church-starting strategist.

Otto Arango, director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas-affiliated Church Starting Institute, was named president of the body that represents one of six Baptist World Alliance regional fellowships.

National conventions from all South and Central American nations, several Caribbean countries and Mexico are represented in the organization.

Arango said he hopes to further church-starting efforts throughout Latin America with the same strategy that dramatically is expanding Baptist work in Mexico. Through his strategy, laypeople are encouraged to become trained church starters. They start Bible studies in their homes that evolve into churches.

Using this technique, Mexican Baptists started 800 churches last year, nearly doubling the size of the National Baptist Convention of Mexico. About 10,000 more people are enrolled in church-starting classes. Mexican Baptists are aiming for 10,000 Baptist churches in the country by 2010.

Arango is looking for similar results from the Latin American union. He challenged messengers to start 50,000 churches in 10 years. He hopes to have church-starting specialists in each Latin American Baptist church.

“To me, it's a great opportunity and platform to carry the vision across Latin American countries,” he said.

The church-starting emphasis could renew and strengthen Baptist efforts across Latin America, said Arango, who was elected to a five-year term. It also could have positive effects in areas of Spain, Canada and the United States where there is a large Latin American population, he added.

“We hope, according to our prayer, that we bring revival,” he said.

Posted: 5/03/04

Around the State

Maston Scholars were recognized at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology during the T.B. Maston Christian Ethics Lectures. They are Patrick Hill and Joshua Allen of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Allison Backus and Angela Heape of Baylor University, Ana Laura Sura and Jose Luis Sura of the Baptist University of the Americas, Justin Hyde of Houston Baptist University, Jeremy Shepherd and Chuck Pope of Dallas Baptist University, Jacob West and Ben Johnson of Hardin-Simmons University, Randy Curtis of Wayland Baptist University, and Jared Hollier and Laura Garlock of East Texas Baptist University.

Maurine Ellison and Paulette Lawrence carried the banner that led Pastor Frank Slayton, deacons, members and guests to the plot of land that will be the new home of Swenson Church in Swenson. The dedication and groundbreaking service included prayer, pledges to the Bible and the Christian and American flags, singing and a dedication sermon.

Three University of Mary Hardin-Baylor voice students won awards in a recent competition held at Southern Methodist University. Rachel Gibson, soprano, was awarded first place and received a $500 check. Second place and winner of $400 was Cody Fosdick, baritone. Third place went to Devon Owens, soprano, and winner of $300. UMHB voice students also competed in a contest held at Texas State University in San Marcos. Earning semi-finalist recognition were Sarah Walker, Jacque Bush and Gibson. Eight students were finalists including Billy Chapman, who won second place in graduate men; Fosdick, second place in senior men; Vicki Boyd, second place in senior women; Owens, third place in senior women; Aimee Ates, second place in junior women; Austin Daniel, third place in sophomore men, Amy Eadson, fourth place in sophomore women; and Kelly Criswell, sixth place in freshmen women.

Milton Higgins, a 1959 Baylor University graduate, received an honorary doctorate of divinity and presented the commencement address at May 1 graduation ceremonies at California Baptist University. Higgins, president of California Baptist Foundation, served California and Washington churches 25 years as pastor before taking his current post.

The Hardin-Simmons Alumni Association honored several faculty and staff members at its May 1 appreciation dinner. Retiring sociology professor and department head Julian Bridges was honored for his 31 years of service. Music faculty members Loyd Hawthorne and Jaynne Middleton both received 30-year service pins. George Van Devender, professor of English emeritus, received the former faculty member of the year award, while his late wife, Fay, received the former staff member of the year award. Honored for 25 years of service were Dorothy Barnes, Linda Butts and Ron Smith; 20 years, Kimberly Howell, Gary Stephenson and Charles White; 15 years, Martha Ferguson and Teresia Taylor; and 10 years, Bruce Ayers, Thomas Copeland, Cheryl Davis, Robert Ellis, Guadalupe Gutierrez, Leigh Anne Hunsaker, Allan Landwer and Doug Thomas.

Anniversaries

Roger Ratliff, 20th, as pastor of Vansickle Church in Greenville May 2.

South Main Church in Pasadena, 50th, May 12-16. A time of recalling the church's history will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. A homecoming reception will be held Saturday from 2 p.m to 6 p.m. with food, fellowship and memorabilia. The church's first pastor B.J. Martin will preach at 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Sunday morning. A bluegrass gospel concert will conclude the festivities at 6:40 p.m. Ron Lyles is pastor.

West Mesquite Church in Mesquite, 50th, May 23. A lunch and anniversary program will follow the morning service. Joe Stanley is pastor.

Dorso Maciel, 45th in the ministry May 30. He is pastor of Primera Iglesia in Laredo. His first pastorate was Primera Iglesia in Marlin.

Meadowbrook Church in Rockdale, 50th, June 5-6. Saturday evening, a fellowship with music and homemade ice cream will be held under a brush arbor. Former pastors William Davenport, William Agee, James Featherstone and Jack Gilliland will participate in the Sunday morning service. A lunch will be served. Glenn Pipes is pastor.

Elliott Church in Hearne, 115th, June 13. A lunch will follow the morning service. An afternoon music program also is planned. Dale Wells is pastor.

Kevin Dinnin (left), president and CEO of Baptist Child and Family Services, accepts a check of $375,000 from Roy Lee Williams, executor of the estate of Mildred Yeager. The check will benefit the ministry of Breckenridge Village in Tyler, a facility for mentally handicapped adults. Yeager wanted the funds to be given because she had a sister in need of such a facility when none existed. The ribbons on the flowers say 'thank you' and bear the names of current residents of the facility.

Oak Lawn Church in Waco, 70th, June 13. Former Pastor James Looby will preach in the morning service. A lunch will be provided, but reservations must be made by June 6. An afternoon service will be held at 1:30 p.m. For more information or to make reservations, call (254) 799-2112. Terry Wilkerson is pastor.

Retiring

Wallace Philpot, as pastor of Oak View Church in Irving May 2. He served the church 38 years and was in the ministry 43 years, previously serving at Edgefield Church in Waco and Duffau Church in Hico.

Deaths

Troy Womack, 85, March 29 in Hot Springs Village, Ark. Womack was the first vice president of financial affairs at Houston Baptist University, and was the second employee hired when the college was founded. He served 26 years prior to his retirement in 1988. He was on the school's board of trustees from 1989 to 1990. While living in Houston, he was a deacon at Second Church. He is survived by his wife, Janet; sons, Stephen, Paul, Mark and John; sister, Elna Wood; and eight grandchildren.

Marjorie Vermillion, 86, March 30. Her husband, Leland, was a Texas Baptist pastor and camp administrator. They served churches until 1956, when he took over administration of Peach Creek Baptist Assembly in New Caney. She ran the camp's office and food service. They also served at Lakeview Baptist Encampment in Lone Star, Chaparral Baptist Assembly in Iowa Park and Alto Frio Baptist Encampment in Leakey. When they retired, they bought an R.V. and began to live a lifelong dream of helping to build churches with Texas Baptist Men Retired Builders. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2002. She also was preceded in death by her daughter, Martha Vermillion; son, Paul; and grandson, Farley Vermillion. She is survived by her daughters, Jerry DeSpain and Jan Smith; sons, Joe Mark, Carey, Andrew and Judson; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Wes Lepard, 60, April 10 in Grand Prairie while visiting family. He was president and CEO of Magnolia International Corporation, a leader in maquiladora plant development along the Texas-Mexico border. He served on the Valley Baptist Hospital Board since 1994, and as chairman of the Valley Baptist Health System since its inception in 2001. He held a position on all subsidiary boards within the system. His outreach through the health care field included service on the Texas Hospital Trustees Foundation Board, chairing the Baptist General Convention of Texas' nominations committee for institutional boards for Valley Baptist and was the first person from South Texas to be appointed to the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board. He was a deacon at First Church in Harlingen. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Doris; daughters, Tommi Jo Hurt and Cassie Stanteen; sister, Marjorie Culpepper; and four granddaughters.

Licensed

Jonathan Hart to the ministry at First Church in Goldthwaite.

Ordained

Curt Simmons to the ministry at First Church in Saint Jo.

David Caldwell, John Fouts, Steven Grand, Leon Jones, Donnie Rieger and Kenny Thompson as deacons at First Church in Haskell.

Doug Amburn and Lonnie Traxler as deacons at Neuville Church in Center.

Andy Andrasi, Larry Proctor and Jose Fornespierantoni as deacons at Woodlawn Church in Austin.

Events

Southeast Church in San Antonio held dedication services for its 6,000-square-foot sanctuary Feb. 29. Jerry Cosper is pastor.

Jason Ranton, organist at First Church in Waco until his death in 2002 due to a diabetic seizure at age 32, was honored April 18 when a piece commissioned from composer Richard Webster of Chicago in his memory was played for the first time. The piece was played during Calvary Church in Waco's festivities to mark the 50th anniversary of the church's pipe organ.

The gospel group Gold City will perform at Memorial Church in Pasadena at 7 p.m. May 8. Tickets are $12. For more information, call (281) 998-9051.

Revivals

Faith Memorial Church, Houston; May 2-5; evangelists, the Larry Sinclair Family; pastor, James Morris.

Neuville Church, Center; May 6-8; evangelist, Luke Garrett; pastor, Marion Huckaby.

First Church, Oglesby; May 16-18; evangelist, Paul Powell; music, David Mathis; pastor, Aaron Tyler.

Posted: 5/03/04

Baptist Briefs

SBC, BWA leaders meet. Officials of the Baptist World Alliance and the Southern Baptist Convention have agreed to meet annually, but a meeting in mid-April did not prompt any change in SBC plans to defund the global group and withdraw membership from the worldwide fellowship. BWA President Billy Kim of Korea and SBC Executive Committee President Morris Chapman co-chaired the Nashville, Tenn., gathering of 19 leaders from the United States, Canada, Bulgaria and Brazil.

Elder announces retirement. Lloyd Elder will retire as director of the Moench Center for Church Leadership at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., effective June 1. Elder joined the Belmont School of Religion faculty in August 1991, filling the Paschall Chair for biblical studies and preaching. He helped establish the Moench Center in 1996 to teach leadership skills to ministers. Elder served as president of the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board from 1983 to 1991. He was executive vice president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1978 to 1983, assistant to the executive director at the Baptist General Convention of Texas from 1975 to 1978, and pastor of several Texas Baptist churches.

Louisiana college affirms text policy. Louisiana College trustees have re-affirmed a controversial textbook policy and named an interim president for the school. In a called meeting, trustees passed a resolution requiring professors to receive approval from their department chairs and the school's vice president for academic affairs for all textbooks and classroom materials. The resolution stipulates faculty must make curriculum choices in harmony with the college's identity and mission statement, as well as the school's faith statement and the pronouncements of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Trustees also elected retired pastor John Traylor as the school's interim president. Traylor, 76, was the longtime pastor of First Baptist Church of Monroe, La., and is a former Louisiana Baptist Convention president.

Medical missions leader announces retirement. James Williams has announced he is retiring as executive director of the Baptist Medical/Dental Fellowship, an organization that enlists health-care professionals as volunteer and career mission workers. Williams, 69, cited the health of his wife, Jo, as the primary factor in his decision. She has undergone two lumbar surgeries and has battled chronic sciatic nerve pain. Williams joined the fellowship in 1997 after serving six years as president of the Southern Baptist Brotherhood Commission. Fred Loper, associate director of the Baptist Medical/Dental Fellowship, will serve as interim acting executive director.

Truett breakfast at CBF set. Gary Furr, pastor of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., will be the keynote speaker at a Truett Theological Seminary breakfast held in conjunction with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship general assembly. The breakfast, sponsored by the Truett Alumni Association, will be at 7 a.m. June 25 at the Birmingham convention center. Cost is $20 for non-members of the alumni association and $17 for members. Reservation deadline is June 11. For more information, call (254) 710-3755.

Baptists featured on ecumenical radio program. Preachers representing the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will become regular participants in "Day 1," a 59-year-old ecumenical radio series. George Mason, pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, and Bill Self, pastor of Johns Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Ga., will be featured on seven programs beginning in July. CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal presented a sermon for "Day 1" broadcast last December, becoming the first Baptist participant on the program in more than 50 years. The radio series is produced by "The Protestant Hour" in cooperation with the Episcopal Media Center, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church.

Posted: 5/03/04

Preparation for ministry requires church/school partnership

By Marv Knox

Editor

ABILENE–Preparing men and women for ministry is a partnership, insists Tommy Brisco, dean of the Logsdon School of Theology at Hardin-Simmons University.

At its basic level, ministerial training takes place between students and their teachers, Brisco explained. But more fundamentally, it's a partnership between the school and churches.

“I want Logsdon to be a resource for the churches in our region–Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma,” said Brisco, who is completing his first academic year as Logsdon's dean.

“We're not just training young men and women in ministry; we're helping churches achieve their mission and ministry.”

That requires keeping in close contact with congregations while keeping an eye toward the future, he noted.

"What do we need to be doing to train ministers for the 21st century?" is a question the Logsdon faculty ponder, Brisco said. "Churches are constantly changing. How can we continue to partner with them so the actual experience of ministry takes place in the churches, so our students keep pace with the change?"

A key to the answer is immersing ministerial students in the life of churches through internships and also providing mentors for young ministers, he reported.

Such congregational involvement “enfranchises the churches” in preparing ministers while it helps the students gain experience they never could find in the classroom.

Still, Logsdon will continue to emphasize close contact between students and their professors, he said.

Such contact is possible in a relatively small setting like the Logsdon School, which has 85 undergraduate religion majors and a similar number of students in Logsdon Seminary, the graduate program that offers master of divinity and master of arts degrees.

“One of the greatest things (about Logsdon) is that the relationships between students and faculty are really quite personal,” Brisco said he has discovered.

Larger schools offer some advantage in terms of a broader range of course offerings, he conceded, but added training for ministry should “be about the whole reality of our existence, and you have to know the people to emphasize that.”

“That can happen here better than some other places, in part because of our size,” he said. “Logsdon provides a dimension of nurture and shaping of human life.”

That doesn't mean the Logsdon School doesn't intend to grow–within limits.

“Our mission is to prepare as many ministers as we can,” he acknowledged. “As far as (undergraduate) religion majors, we hope to increase to triple digits. We've been there before, and that's doable. And we'd like to have at least 100 (master's-level) ministerial students here on this campus.”

The strong majority of master's degree students–about 65–are working on the M.Div. degree and planning for ministries in local churches, he said.

Logsdon could train another 100 students at two remote locations–the Baptist Learning Center in Corpus Christi and through a new joint program at Wayland Baptist University's campus in Lubbock, Brisco predicted.

“We want to build Logdson in terms of number of students without losing our strengths, particularly nurturing and relationships,” he said.

That concept fits with the Baptist General Convention of Texas' overarching goals for training ministers, he added. "The BGCT hopes for theological education to be available at all levels. We share that goal. Where our resources can match with needs and build partnerships, we want to do that."

Brisco came to Logsdon last summer after teaching Old Testament and archaeology for two years at Baylor University in Waco and biblical backgrounds and archaeology for 21 years at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.

He jumped directly into a self-study process that comprises a significant aspect of maintaining the school's accreditation.

“We know there are needs” for ministerial training, he said, citing the desire by some Baptists for more options for training programs that specialize in Christian education, as well as youth ministry and childhood ministry. “We're looking at what we can do without stretching ourselves beyond what we need to do.”

Some ministers also have asked Logsdon to offer a doctor of ministry degree, he noted, adding, “We don't want to be presumptuous, but we would need to look at it in the future.”

The seminary particularly is going to focus on how best to mentor ministers, “to be a resource, teacher, friend,” he said.

And in addition to partnering with churches, Logsdon is building partnerships with other institutions, he said.

For example, Baptist-based Hendrick Medical Center sits across the street and serves hundreds of thousands of people across the Big Country. Logsdon also is partnering with seminaries in Russia, the Caribbean and western Europe. “And not so far away, but nearby, we're asking: 'What's Logsdon's role in our city?'” he said.

Brisco intends to seek a balance as he guides the Logsdon School into the future.

“The trick is to not get too far ahead of yourself, but still dream,” he said. “If we're not thinking 10 to 15 years down the line, we're not serving the churches. …

“We have to keep the focus on the larger enterprise of the kingdom of God in partnership with the churches and many others. We all exist for the kingdom's sake.”

Posted: 5/03/04

Posted: 5/03/04

First BGCT-endorsed Army chaplains
complete officers' school with honors

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

The first Baptist General Convention of Texas-endorsed Army chaplains recently completed officer training with honors.

Ned Bartlebaugh, Casey Campbell and David Ward are the first BGCT chaplains to complete the training program required of all Army officers. Ward and Bartlebaugh earned physical training honors.

The U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School acclimates new officers to the military lifestyle. It includes a basic- training period, classroom time that teaches military procedure and field exercises.

Chaplains who transferred their endorsement to the BGCT already completed the training prior to changing their endorsement.

“These guys are groundbreakers,” said Robert Hutcherson, a retired Army chaplain who helps the BGCT chaplaincy relations office minister to Army chaplains.

“These are fellows who have looked at their endorsing options and honed in on the BGCT.”

The trio impressed Hutcherson with their performance throughout the program, as well as their strong faith and enthusiasm toward ministry.

“They're eager,” he said. “They're motivated. They're ready to go.”

Bartlebaugh said he is honored to be one of the BGCT chaplains to go through the school and hopes the trio serve as models for current and future chaplains.

“I'm proud of that because I hope the three of us set a high bar of what BGCT chaplains are about,” he said.

Many people asked the three chaplains about BGCT endorsement, Ward said. The students explained what the convention believed and outlined the chaplaincy program.

“There's so much buzz about the BGCT in the chaplaincy endorsement area,” he said.

Bartlebaugh now is stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky. Casey Campbell is at Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla. Ward is a reserve chaplain for a unit in Seagoville.

Ward, a graduate of Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary, said he is looking forward to ministering to the soldiers in his assigned unit.

Ward's primary assignment is to a unit in Seagoville, but he also will minister to several smaller units in surrounding states.

The work will fulfill a calling he felt in college after serving several years as an Army chaplain assistant, he said.

“The chaplain is in a unique position in that you get to go out and strike up conversations,” he said. “You get to build up relationships and then share your faith.”

Bartlebaugh, a former minister of education who was enlisted in the Army, said he hopes to use his past military experience to relate to soldiers more easily. Chaplains often serve as the only spiritual presence in the lives of soldiers who are looking for hope and certainty in tough military situations.

He said he looks forward to ministering to the larger Christian body. He will perform ceremonies for people of many denominations. He also can share his faith with non-Christians as he works with them.

Campbell felt a call to chaplaincy during his pastorate at South Side Baptist Church in Gainesville, but he indicated his mission remains the same as when he was leading the congregation–evangelize non-Christians and strengthen the faith of believers.

Bobby Smith, director of BGCT chaplaincy relations, praised the men's work and was proud to take part in the “opportunity for BGCT to stand next to these ministers as they go from one calling of God for ministry in a local church to a new calling of God for ministry in Army chaplaincy.”