Posted: 11/04/05

Correct wiring, grounding
crucial for baptistry microphones

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

Electricity and water create a potentially deadly combination, but metal–not microphones themselves–present the greatest danger to people in baptistries, acoustic and church building consultants agree.

The issue came to the forefront when Pastor Kyle Lake of University Baptist Church in Waco was killed Oct. 30 after he grabbed a microphone while standing in a full baptistry.

“If everything is working right, there is no way a microphone carries nearly enough electricity to cause a person's death,” said Brian Elwell, senior consultant with Acoustic Dimensions in Addison.

His firm's clients have included the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif.; Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill.; and Saddleback Church in Mission Viejo, Calif.; as well as Fellowship Church in Grapevine; The Heights Baptist Church in Richardson; and Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas.

A correctly wired, properly grounded microphone carries a maximum 48 volts–nowhere near enough to stop a person's heart, even if the individual stood in chest-deep water, Elwell explained.

But “correctly wired” and “properly grounded” conditions make all the difference, he said. If either the baptistry pool or the metal chassis of the microphone were improperly grounded, it could create a hazard.

Any pool of water carries electrical potential, and if a person standing in electrically charged water reaches out to touch a metal object, it will complete the circuit and cause a shock, Elwell noted.

Also, if a microphone line were cut and came into contact with high voltage, the metal casing of the mike could become highly charged, he added.

“The bottom line is, if you're in the water, don't touch anything metal,” he said.

LifeWay Christian Resources recommends that only wireless mikes be used in or near the baptistry–either a wireless lavaliere mike, a handheld wireless or a wireless mike on a stand.

There is not enough voltage in any wireless mike to do any damage, said Davis Byrd, director of LifeWay's church architecture department. “The water would probably ruin the equipment if it were submerged, but the battery operation doesn't have enough voltage to do any harm,” he said.

If a wired microphone must be used, it should be suspended overhead, out of reach, Byrd added–advice echoed by Keith Crouch, leader of the Baptist General Convention of Texas church architecture team.

When it comes to installing baptistries and the electrical fixtures around them–including pumps and heaters, as well as sound systems–Crouch strongly urges churches to use only licensed, certified electricians and plumbers.

He also recommends electrical plugs near the baptistry be installed with ground fault interrupters.

With additional reporting by Greg Warner of Associated Baptist Press

Posted: 11/04/05

Graham helps New Orleans
professor rebuild his library

By Gary Myers

Baptist Press

ATLANTA (BP)–Preston Nix had only been at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary one month when Hurricane Katrina inundated the campus with water. A newly appointed evangelism and preaching professor, Nix lost everything–his home, his books and 30-plus years of sermon notes.

Nix's sister, Amber Pendle-ton, wanted to do something special for her brother during his time of hurt and displacement. Knowing her brother's high regard for the work of Billy Graham, Pendleton contacted the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association seeking an autographed copy of one of the evangelist's books.

Graham's correspondence secretary, Carol Segerstrom, gladly sent an autographed copy of Graham's book, How to be Born Again.

But Segerstrom did not stop there. Despite Graham's continuing health problems, he and his staff chose a selection of books from his personal library to send to Nix.

In a note that accompanied the books, Graham's assistant wrote that the Graham organization wanted to do more but could only give a gift of this nature to one person.

"I (re)started my library with a signed copy of How to Be Born Again and some of Billy's own books," Nix said. "I'm so grateful." Nix came to the seminary after serving 11 years as pastor of Eastwood Baptist Church in Tulsa, Okla. He also has served churches in Texas. Nix was appointed to serve as associate professor of evangelism and preaching and director of supervised ministry in July.

Posted: 11/04/05

Hurricane repairs demand action

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

Repairing hurricane damage as fast as possible requires decisive action on the part of a church, Baptist General Convention of Texas church facilities consultants said.

The BGCT church architecture team can help churches walk through repairing their facilities. It recommends churches first call their insurance companies.

Then churches should protect their damaged buildings as quickly as possible after the storm, said Keith Crouch, who leads the BGCT church architecture team. This may include covering broken windows with plywood or putting a tarp across a hole in the roof. These actions prevent further damage from occurring.

Church leaders should take a large number of pictures of the damaged facilities. This documents what happened for an insurance adjustor.

With the approval of the insurance adjustor, the church then can begin removing anything wet, including furniture, carpet and sheetrock. Wet items can lead to mold throughout a building.

If rainwater has entered a building, the facility needs to be aired out as much as possible. This encourages the drying process. Fans also help.

“Anything you leave wet in that building is going to dramatically increase the damage,” said Russell Maddox, consultant on the BGCT church architecture team.

An insurance company should be able to provide a contractor to handle any needed repairs, Crouch said. This move puts the responsibility on the insurance company to keep costs down while completing the job.

Churches should not allow an insurance company to close a claim prematurely after an initial settlement, Crouch said. “There typically are damages you don't see upon first inspection.” An open settlement allows congregations to receive future funds from insurance companies in case other damages are discovered in the construction process.

If a church sustains significant infrastructure damage, BGCT church architecture team member Pat Ekern recommends leaders also call a structural engineer. That person may see issues an insurance adjustor overlooks.

The BGCT has a number of options to help congregations who sustain damages, including small-church loans and disaster-relief funds. These may be especially helpful for a congregation that needs to fix damages but does not have insurance.

Even with decisive action, a church may be out of badly damaged facilities for more than a year, Maddox said. However, slight roof damage can be repaired in less than a week.

The rebuilding process can be trying but often brings a congregation closer together, Crouch said. Members rally around a common cause of returning to their facilities following significant damage. Some churches may even consider remodeling their buildings.

“Just about every church that we've worked with has been better after the fire or storm,” Crouch said.

For more information about repairing church facilities, call the BGCT church architecture team at (888) 447-6262.

Posted: 11/04/05

Texas Baptist Forum

Root causes & accountability

Hurricane Katrina uncovered a multitude of reasons for great poverty in New Orleans, not the least of which is longstanding graft and corruption.

Letters are welcomed. Send them to marvknox@baptiststandard.com; 250 words maximum.

"Mrs. Parks was much, much more than the bus woman. Rosa Parks shifted the gears of the universe all her life. Now she belongs to the universe. Thank you, Sister Rosa. Thank you, Rosa Parks." Julian Bond Chairman of the NAACP, a civil rights organization in which Parks was active, recalling how her simple act transcended the globe (RNS) "Many of us, particularly those of us who are raising teenagers, feel like we're in a battle for our kids' hearts, minds and souls, and sometimes we're not winning. It occurred to me the other day, the only people who don't have sex on network television are married people." John Carr Secretary of the Department of Social Development and World Peace of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (RNS) "The issue is not whether you accept Jesus, but whether he accepts you! I'm afraid there will be people in hell who prayed to receive Christ, but who never allowed him to deal with their sin." Henry Blackaby Author of Experiencing God, emphasizing the need for repentance (ABP)

Throwing money at the problem will not solve it there. Good citizens and taxpayers must demand that as rebuilding begins the same people who facilitated the poverty are held accountable and not allowed to participate in the “new” New Orleans. If the root problems of poverty are not addressed, all the money in the world will not solve it. More money is spent on poverty now than ever before if you look at individual giving, government spending and corporate giving.

I don't believe racism was a factor in New Orleans' poverty problem, since many if not most of the inhabitants and leadership are of the same ethnic origin.

We must solve poverty by looking at root causes and accountability so the money that is given is used most appropriately, not wasted and does not get into the wrong, greedy hands.

Jean Whitmore

Okinawa

Out-of-kilter notion

The 2nd Opinion article, “'Big issues' confront Baptists today” (Oct. 3) begins well by confronting raw secularism but immediately derails in its description of “widespread rejection of historic Baptist views of church-state separation.”

Folks who think Ten Command-ments cases, religion in public schools or court appointments “establish a national church” are the biggest allies of the forces of secularization. How tragic that one can scarcely tell the difference between positions held by the Christian Life Commission and the Baptist Standard, and positions held by Americans United.

The majority of evangelical Chris-tians who reject an out-of-kilter notion of separation are doing so out of a Spirit-led conviction that so-called “historic Baptist views” are erasing the Founding Fathers' Christian worldview and its influence upon the formation of our laws, as well as dishonoring Christ.

I don't suppose Charles Deweese, the author, gives any credence to “those” Christians when they have a lack of peace about supporting the dethronement of Christ in our land.

Steve White

Dallas

Responsibility & blame

In response to Paul Whiteley's remarks concerning God and the poor (Sept. 19), I must take issue. America has not forgotten the poor.

Since Lyndon Johnson's so-called “Great Society,” America has spent billions of other people's hard-earned money to combat poverty to no avail.

Why? The modern welfare state is built upon a faulty anthropological assumption–if people know the good, they will do it. In fact, the opposite is true–if people can get something for nothing, they will.

We have multiple generations who now are dependent on government for everything and view assistance as their birthright. What we need is a welfare system that requires work for assistance, regardless of whether or not the recipient views the work as proper.

Having grown up poor, I realize there are two types of poor–those who take responsibility and those who place blame.

Ray Wilkins

Frisco

Dinnertime discussions

Thank you for your Down Home columns. It has been interesting to hear about life with your family. My retired minister husband and I have relived these days with you. We both grew up having discussions around the dinner table. We are thankful for the special joys around the dinner table with our two daughters.

We survived the empty nest with them, and now we are trying to adjust to grandchildren who are leaving the nest. We are thankful for special times when we are all together, even though sometimes everyone is talking at the same time.

Dinner discussions are and have been fading for some time because too many families are sitting in front of the TV instead of being at the dinner table.

God bless families who will begin to turn off their TVs and make dinner discussions with their families a priority.

Judy Bush

Port Lavaca

Posted: 11/04/05

Missouri Baptist Convention
shuts out CBF-affiliated churches

By Vicki Brown

Missouri Word & Way

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (ABP)–The Missouri Baptist Convention no longer is open to churches that support any organization considered to compete with the state convention or the Southern Baptist Convention.

The changes will shut out congregations that participate in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship or the moderate Baptist General Convention of Missouri but make exceptions for other Baptist organizations.

Such “single alignment” rules are rare in modern Baptist life. Likewise, state conventions normally do not require churches to be Southern Baptist members as well–a practice some historians consider “un-Baptistic” connectionalism.

Meeting Oct. 24-26 at Second Baptist Church in Springfield, messengers adopted two constitutional amendments on second reading that narrow Missouri Baptist Convention membership requirements.

Passed by raised-ballot vote, the first amendment changed the membership eligibility requirement from “any Baptist church in sympathy with the objects of the convention” to “any Southern Baptist church singly aligned with the convention.”

As approved, the membership article permits Missouri Baptist Convention-affiliated churches to relate to racial, ethnic, cultural and community organizations and conventions, as long as those relationships do not violate the state convention's constitution and bylaws or “accepted Southern Baptist faith, polity and practice.”

An adopted amendment to the constitution's relationship article allows the state convention to determine the churches with which it will cooperate. The article had allowed the convention to decline to seat messengers. The change now allows the convention to “decline to accept or continue cooperation with a church” as well.

Messengers overwhelmingly defeated two attempts to modify the proposed constitutional changes.

One amendment attempted to eliminate the word “singly.” Amendment author Jim Goforth of St. Louis said the intent of the alignment language is to prevent churches from supporting the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship at national and state levels and the Baptist General Convention of Missouri, an alternative state convention organized in April 2002 by individuals dissatisfied with the Missouri Baptist Convention's direction.

Calling it a matter of “integrity,” Goforth said the convention could not call affiliation single alignment when the constitution would allow cooperation with other organizations.

“I wish we would have the courage to just name the organizations and be honest about it,” he said.

Proponents of the constitutional changes argued that if specific organizations were listed, they could simply get around the constitution by changing their corporate names.

Messengers also rebuffed an attempt by David Mason of Green Valley Baptist Church in St. Joseph to return the proposals to the committee for continuing review. He suggested consideration of the proposals be delayed until legal action currently pending between the Missouri Baptist Convention and five institutions is settled.

The convention filed legal action in August 2002 to try to force the Baptist Home, Missouri Baptist University, the Missouri Baptist Foundation, Windermere Baptist Conference Center and the Word & Way news journal to rescind charter changes that allow each entity to elect its own trustees. The five agencies filed amended charters with the Missouri Secretary of State in 2000 and 2001.

Messengers also amended the constitution to turn the temporary credentials committee into a standing committee. The new committee will operate under guidelines that spell out the rules a congregation must follow to be considered a cooperating church.

Although the convention's constitution does not list a financial requirement for membership, the committee's guidelines note that a church will be considered singly aligned if it contributes to the convention “at least on an annual basis” and does not belong to or financially support another state convention or organization that “serves and/or acts as a state convention” in Missouri.

The Missouri Baptist Con-vention will consider a church as cooperating with another body if that church sends representatives to the organization's meetings, financially supports its work or includes the organization in the church's budget.

A church also must be a cooperating Southern Baptist church, which the Missouri convention defines as adopting a doctrinal statement in line with accepted faith and practice, contributing financially to the SBC, and refraining from participating with or contributing to another national convention.

The guidelines define a national convention as any organization that can independently endorse chaplains to U.S. military service branches. Under that definition, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and some state conventions, such as the Baptist General Convention of Texas, would be considered national conventions, although neither CBF nor state conventions consider themselves as such.

Under the guidelines, the credentials committee would be able to investigate the qualifications of churches and of individual messengers if either is challenged. The committee also could investigate “upon receipt or discovery of any information which causes the committee to believe” a church or individual does not qualify.

At the annual session, messengers also:

Adopted a $17 million budget. The first 1 percent is designated to promote the Cooperative Program. The remaining $16,879,500 will be split 35.75 percent for Southern Baptist causes and 64.25 percent to remain in the state.

Adopted nine resolutions, including resolutions to oppose embryonic stem-cell research, human cloning and eminent domain claims on churches and other ministries, and resolutions supporting New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, calling for religious liberty in Romania, and urging parents and churches to monitor children's educations.

Greg Warner of Associated Baptist Press contributed to this article.

Posted: 11/04/05

On the Move

Matt Broaddus to Harris Creek Church in McGregor as worship leader.

Tiffany Cohn has resigned as minister of youth at Adamsville Church in Lampasas.

Braxton Edwards to Paramount Church in Amarillo as music associate.

Dennis Humphrey to Paramount Church in Amarillo as youth associate.

Nanette Johnson to First Church in Arlington as preschool minister from First Church in Waxahachie, where she was children's minister.

Bill Jones to Neches River Association as director of missions from First Church in Wimberley, where he was pastor.

Dan LaFon to Lake Victor Church in Lampasas as pastor.

Geary Martin to First Church in Vega as pastor.

Kathy Rider to Fairy Church in Hico as interim minister of youth.

Kenny Steward to Paramount Church in Amarillo as music associate.

Alvie Stiefer has resigned as pastor of McMahan Church in Dale.

Clay Wooten has resigned as minister of youth at Fairy Church in Hico.

Posted: 11/04/05

Roadside religious displays
reveal breadth of expression

By Cecile Holmes

Religion News Service

CLEVELAND, Ohio (RNS)–From golf courses to cross gardens, believers are sharing personal religious experiences in very public ways along America's highways and back roads.

“If you talk to these artists about their work, they will describe it as a sacred process, as a form of prayer,” says scholar Timothy Beal, who has studied this “roadside religion” over the past several years.

The founders of offbeat sacred spaces such as the World's Largest Ten Commandments in Murphy, N.C., or the World's Largest Rosary Collection in Skamania County, Wash., immerse themselves in spiritual disciplines that are close kin to traditional practices.

Beal is a religion professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and author of Roadside Religion, In Search of the Sacred, the Strange and the Substance of Faith, published by Beacon Press.

As he studied the quirky, sometimes spectacular creations featured in Roadside Religion, Beal found himself making a journey that included re-examining his own religious roots in evangelical Christianity.

The wildly different places he visited might provoke amazement, even disdain, he said, but they were given birth by a common longing for self-transcendence, relationship and meaning.

“Creating these places is a kind of spiritual discipline and a way for them to meditate on the sacred story,” he said.

Their reference points and methodologies seem unorthodox, but their need to share profound experience is real. They find purpose in communing with others about a private spiritual experience in the public spaces they create. Often these offbeat storytellers are people without a church, spiritual pilgrims without a specified destination. Visiting their miniature Holy Lands, grottoes and gardens of wooden crosses with spiritual admonitions emblazoned on rusty appliances became “something of a religious journey” for Beal and his family. He began to understand them as spaces set apart in a way “that orients it towards and opens it to divine transcendence.”

Like many a student of the sacred, Beal chanced upon his first example of roadside religion. He had been working in Washington on a more traditional “scholarly” project, the functions of biblical interpretation in militant white supremacist groups in the United States. His wife, Clover, a Presbyterian minister, and his two children, Sophie and Seth, accompanied him on that working vacation.

“We were driving back to Cleveland on Interstate 68 and there, on a hilltop near Frostburg, Md., was a giant steel girder structure with a sign in front of it–'Noah's Ark Be-ing Rebuilt Here!'” Beal said. “We kept driving that day, but I knew I'd be back.

“A year later, Clover, our two kids and I were piling into a rented motor home for a tour through the Bible Belt to explore roadside religious attractions like Para-dise Gardens, the World's Largest Ten Commandments and Holy Land USA.”

Beal relates that trip in his book. With humor and sensitivity, he analyzes the substance of American faith as he explores what these places mean to the people who made them and to the people who visit them.

His journeys took him to examples of what he views as “outsider religion,” places including Golgotha Fun Park, a biblically themed miniature golf course in Cave City, Ky., and Precious Moments Inspiration Park in Carthage, Mo., home to millions of wide-eyed child angels.

The stories behind the places are as interesting as the places themselves. Beal's ability to link each to the Bible and to American religious and cultural history makes his narrative intriguing.

“Just as the highly individual works of outsider art can often powerfully reveal the breadth and depth of human creativity … so the places explored in this book can reveal the breadth and depth of human religious experiences and expressions,” Beal said.

Because they're off the beaten path, he says, such places open new routes to consider central themes in American religious life, including pilgrimage, exile, the nostalgia for lost origins and the desire to recreate sacred time and space.

“We tend to think about faith as belief. But at the heart of faith is risk and vulnerability,” Beal said. “What really struck me in my various travels and visits for this book was that faith is all about relationship, or, more to the point, hospitality. It's about letting another in. That other might be God, or it might be another human being. For many religious traditions, it's both.”

Posted: 11/04/05

Youngest, oldest children
missing out on Sunday school

By Analiz Gonzalez

Associated Baptist Press

VENTURA, Calif. (ABP)–Bible training for school-age children remains popular, but preschoolers and adolescents are kept out of the Sunday school loop in a growing number of churches.

A study of 614 Protestant churches nationwide by the Barna Group of Ventura, Calif., reveals the youngest and the oldest children in many churches are missing out on the Sunday school experience.

In 2004, churches were 6 percent less likely to offer Sunday school programs for children ages 2-5 than they were in 1997. Churches offering Sunday school to children under the age of 2 dropped from 79 percent in 1997 to 73 percent in 2004.

Sunday school for middle-school children dropped from 93 percent in 1997 to 86 percent in 2004. Sunday school for high-school children dropped from 86 percent to 80 percent.

In all, about 20,000 fewer churches provided Sunday school for each of the mentioned age groups. That may be related to the finding that only one of every seven pastors, or 15 percent, considers Sunday school the church's first priority.

The study showed, however, that Baptist churches are among the most likely to consider Sunday school their highest priority, with 23 percent of Baptist pastors calling it No. 1 on their list.

Based on the views of younger pastors, however, Sunday school might be in trouble in the future. Twenty-one percent of pastors over 59 said it was their first priority, while only 10 percent under the age of 40 called it their first priority.

Dennis Parrott, director of Bible study and discipleship for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, said he doesn't consider Sunday school to be in “serious peril.”

“It just means we need to continue to focus on that and make it strong,” Parrott said. The amount of focus on Sunday school is down because enthusiasm for anything church-related is down, he said.

The Barna Group also found that, in 2004, 15 percent fewer churches offered Vacation Bible School to children than in 1997. The study said that equals a total of 38,000 fewer churches offering VBS than eight years ago.

Among other Barna findings:

There also has been a 10 percent drop in the number of churches having midweek church programming for children–from 64 percent in 1997 to 58 percent in 2004.

One out of every five churches, or 18 percent, creates its own Sunday school curriculum for school-age children. Only 10 percent created their own curriculum in 2002.

Only 4 percent of Baptist churches create their own curriculum. They are among the least likely groups to do so.

Posted: 11/04/05

Texas Tidbits

Resolutions to BGCT may be submitted in advance. Messengers to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting who wish to present resolutions for consideration of the BGCT committee on resolutions are encouraged to submit the resolution in writing prior to the convention, said Chairman Joseph Parker, pastor of David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Austin. The deadline for submitting resolutions at the convention is 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, but to allow adequate consideration by the committee and because of printing deadlines to include the resolutions in Tuesday's Convention Bulletin, Parker encourages early submission. Resolutions must be signed by an elected messenger, with church name included. Proposed resolutions may be submitted to Parker at David Chapel Mission-ary Baptist Church, 2211 E. Martin Luther King Jr., Austin 78702 or faxed to (512) 472-5399.

Buckner Foundation names executive VP. David Slover, senior development director for Children's Medical Center, has been named executive vice president of the Buckner Foundation. Slover, 41, will oversee the daily operations of the foundation, direct its fund-raising efforts, establish and build donor relationships and manage foundation assets to support Buckner's ministries. As senior director of development and campaign director for Children's Medical Center, he led the organization's $150 million comprehensive campaign. He also has served as director of planned and major gifts at Southern Methodist University and assistant vice president at Baylor Health Care System Foundation in Dallas. Slover earned his bachelor's degree and master of business administration degree from Baylor University in Waco and attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. Slover and his wife, Carol, have two children, Seth and Sarah. They are members of Valley Ranch Baptist Church in Coppell, where he serves as a deacon.

Buckner Retirement Services names VP. Buckner Benevolences named Pearl Merritt vice president and general manager of Buckner Retirement Services. She previously served as senior vice president of operations for Sears Methodist Retirement System in Abilene. As vice president and general manager, she will lead all aspects of Buckner Retirement Services, which includes retirement communities in Austin, Beaumont, Dallas, Houston and Longview. A licensed vocational nurse and registered nurse, she earned the bachelor of science in nursing degree from McMurry University in Abilene and the master of science in nursing and master of science in management and human resources degrees from Abilene Christian University. She also earned the doctor of education degree from Texas Tech University. She is a member of Broadview Baptist Church in Abilene.

DBU Patriot Weekend scheduled. Dallas Baptist University's Patriot Weekend–a one-day preview event for high school juniors and seniors–Nov. 12 includes informational seminars for prospective students and their parents, as well as an inspirational concert by DBU's Glowing Heart music ministry team. Information on financial aid options, the admission process and campus life will be highlighted. Students interested in DBU's Christian Leadership Scholarship can interview and apply while parents meet DBU administrators. The cost for the weekend is $25 and includes two meals for both students and their parents. For more information, or to register for Patriot Weekend, contact the office of undergraduate admissions at (214) 333-5360, or register online at www.dbu.edu/patriotday. Students unable to attend this event may register for the spring semester Patriot Weekend event Feb. 11.

Posted: 11/04/05

TOGETHER:
The important thing is to come to God

The hearts of people across the nation have gone out to University Baptist Church in Waco and, especially, to the young family of Pastor Kyle Lake. Several calls came to me Sunday afternoon with painful messages about the death of this gifted minister as he was preparing to baptize a new believer. Surrounded by a loving congregation, the pastor was about to participate in one of the most joyous acts of worship any pastor gets to do–baptize a new disciple of Jesus Christ.

But he would not be able to finish the service. Something went wrong. He died, apparently from an electrical shock. Doctors from the congregation sought to help. Everyone prayed. But he is gone from us, and it is too soon for us.

Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

Every pastor knows the joy of baptizing a believer. Few things we do are more fulfilling and significant. The potential of what God will do in this new disciple's life, the joy in the smile of the one being baptized, the celebration that another soul has discovered how much God loves them, the relief that comes when sins are forgiven.

Every baptism is a moving illustration of the work of Christ and the transformation that has occurred in the life of a new believer. Jesus' death and resurrection are memorialized in baptism. The believer's death to the old life and birth to new life in Christ are portrayed in baptism. The great eschatological hope of the church is powerfully dramatized in baptism. We do not tremble in fear of dying because in Jesus Christ, though we die, yet shall we live. (See Romans 6:1-14).

In heart-wrenching moments like these, we look for a safe place to stand and a sturdy place to rest. People who love us can help. The assurance that God loves us and wants good for us in the midst of such stark pain and loss undergirds us. The knowledge that the pastor was faithfully serving his Lord in the very moment of death somehow comforts us. The realities of heaven, where the Father embraces his children, and the realization that eternal life is now a promise fulfilled become more real to us.

The answer we do not have is why something like this happens. Studies will be made to try to ascertain why there was a dangerous electrical charge in the baptistry. Precautions will be identified and taken to prevent this from happening in other places. But still we don't know why someone who is serving God and people with such devotion and love is taken too soon from us.

When I need the answer to “why” questions, I begin to realize that even if I knew God's purpose and timing, it would not change my grief. In moments of deep brokenness, what I need is his presence, not his answers. Later on, I may be able to see some signs of why, perceive some reason for my loss, but right now, it hurts too bad. And since no one can change it, please just be present with me. Understanding is always valuable, but sometimes, quiet presence is all we can hope for.

Martin Marty has reminded us that there are summer Psalms filled with delight and praise. And there are wintry Psalms filled with pain, accusation and loneliness. The people of God have known for a long time that sometimes we come to God with joy and gladness and sometimes we come with anger and desperate questions. The important thing for us all is that we come.

We are loved. Truly we are.

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

Posted: 11/04/05

Pastor lives in Sunday school classroom

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

VIDOR–Hurricane Rita took Joe Dougharty's truck, his home and everything in it. Insurance is covering the cost of his mobile home, but everything in it is gone forever. The pastor of Lakeview Baptist Church and his wife have been living in one of his church's Sunday school classrooms since the hurricane struck.

The situation is tough, but he believes this situation happened for a reason. This is a trial, but also an opportunity, he insists. Rather than focus on the needs of his family, Dougharty is working to meet the needs of the community. He and his church have given out 250 boxes of food to families. They are clearing trees off people's homes.

His generosity has prompted people to ask why he is helping others rather than himself. That offers him a chance to share the gospel.

“I got to tell him the material things could be replaced,” he said. “If one person gets saved from me sharing, it was worth losing everything.”

Day-to-day living has become an exercise in faith for the pastor's family, but God provides for their physical needs, he said. Texas Baptist Men prepared meals after the storm. Churches are coming along to help members remove trees in their yards.

Soon, Dougharty hopes to have a new mobile home placed next to the church. But that is still in the future. Now, he focuses on serving his Lord a day at a time.

“I know I'm where God wants me,” he said. “I'm just going to continue by faith day by day.”

Posted: 11/04/05

Wayland trustees approve borrowing $7 million

By Teresa Young

Wayland Baptist University

PLAINVIEW–Wayland Baptist University trustees approved borrowing up to $7 million to complete the Pete and Nelda Laney Student Activity Center and to buy the former Charter Plains Hospital property in Lubbock.

Approved in two separate recommendations from the property management committee, the move calls for borrowing up to $2 million to complete funding and begin construction on the activity center, a project started in 1999 on the Plainview campus.

Funds raised to date total nearly $2.9 million, with additional gifts anticipated. The university chose to name the building after Pete Laney of Hale Center, former Speaker of the House of Representatives in Austin, and his wife, Nelda, both of whom have supported higher education.

In another vote, trustees authorized a contract with Mill-Hicks of Lubbock for the construction project with an approximate base cost of $4.5 million, with alternates bringing the total to $4.8 million.

Another $200,000 is allowed for equipment and furnishings, with total expenditures not to exceed $5 million.

The 50,000-square-foot facility will include a double gymnasium, an elevated indoor running track, weight room and aerobics area, classrooms, a student lounge and a climbing wall.

Trustees also approved a contract to purchase the former Charter Plains Hospital property in Lubbock for $3.5 million. An additional $1.5 million was approved for renovation, equipment and furnishings for the facility, which will become the main location for the university's Lubbock campus.

Newly elected trustee officers are Chairman Vernon Stokes of Midland, Vice Chair Edgar Murphy of Lubbock, Secretary Max Gabriel of Plainview and Assistant Secretary Rose Mediano of Lubbock.

Trustees also approved an honorary doctor of divinity degree for Don Guthrie, pastor of First Baptist Church in San Antonio, noting his strong support for Wayland's San Antonio branch.