Posted: 6/26/05

Hawkins credits health awarenes for premium drop

By William Perkins

Mississippi Baptist Record

NASHVILLE—Forty percent of the participants in GuideStone Financial Resources' health plans received decreases in premiums last year, apparently due in part to increased health awareness, Guidestone President O.S. Hawkins told messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention.

While GuideStone offers a variety of programs to address participants’ health needs—and will continue to do so—individuals must take responsibility for their health and churches must take responsibility for promoting the health of their members in order to control health care costs, Hawkins said during his report to the convention.

Hawkins acknowledged messengers’ second and final vote allowing the agency to change its name from Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to GuideStone Financial Resources.

He also noted that of the hundreds of people who had visited GuideStone’s SBC exhibit for free medical tests, 67 percent were in danger zones for high blood pressure, cholesterol, and other health problems.

Posted: 6/26/05

Thousands witness eight local church
baptisms during SBC annual meeting

By Jennifer Davis Rash

The Alabama Baptist

NASHVILLE—Southern Baptists might not remember Luke Charlton, but the 7-year-old from Nashville always will remember the 16-million member Baptist body.

The first person to experience a local church baptism in front of thousands of Southern Baptists from across the nation—at least in recent memory—Charlton was baptized by his pastor during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Nashville June 21–22.
Jim Cross, pastor of First Baptist Church, Donelson, Tenn., where Charlton is now a member, said, “I told Luke that for about an hour and a half he could say that he was the only person ever baptized at the Southern Baptist Convention, then after that he would have to adjust it slightly to say he was the first person ever baptized at the Southern Baptist Convention.”

Charlton was one of eight candidates for baptism from five Nashville-area churches who agreed to allow Southern Baptists to peek into their churches’ observance of this local church ordinance.

Eric Kilby, now a member of Hermitage Hills Baptist Church in Hermitage, Tenn., said, “The purpose of baptism is to display obedience. Why do it in front of 1,000 when you can do it in front of 10,000?”

Kilby and his wife, Julie, were baptized in the Wednesday evening session of the annual meeting.

During each session of the convention, a different church held its baptism in a five-minute slot on the program. Descriptions such as “awesome,” “exciting,” and “It’s a God thing” flowed from the mouths of SBC messengers, members of the churches that held the baptisms and those baptized.

Julie Kilby said it was something she always would remember. “It was special. It was neat to look out and see that many Christians, brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Cross explained that the local churches performed the baptisms, not the SBC. It was a local church event that was being held on the convention floor.

“For those few moments, the SBC is joining us as a family for that celebration,” he said. “We are not joining the convention.”

Each baptism was conducted with the approval and support of the sponsoring home church. And members of each church were present to serve as witnesses.

“It was fantastic to be part of history,” said Cross, who organized the baptism segment at the annual meeting.

Cross said he did experience apprehension from several pastors as he contacted them to participate. “Naturally this is a new thing and some polity issues came up,” Cross noted. “But once I explained that the local church service just happens to be there at the convention, they were on board.”

As Cross organized the baptisms, he worked with the four other pastors to insure a variety of baptismal candidates. “We had a child, a senior adult, a young married couple, some raised in church and some who just came into church, Cross said. Two of the three people baptized by Phil Gruita, pastor of Ivy Memorial Baptist Church in Nashville, came to Christ during Crossover Nashville June 18.

“Sharing the gospel, seeing people saved and baptizing, this is really what we are about,” Cross said. “This was a great way to be able to say (that).”

SBC President Bobby Welch added the baptism segment to the 2005 annual meeting as a way to depict the challenge he launched June 22, which is to “witness, win and baptize 1 million” in one year.

“Baptism is that huge, first giant step toward discipleship,” Welch said. “For some, this was the first baptism they had seen in at least 12 months.”

Posted: 6/26/05

IMB reports God moving in Asia, Africa

By Todd Deaton

South Carolina Baptist Courier

NASHVILLE—Like a mighty wave, God is moving, pouring out his grace in astounding and marvelous ways, Jerry Rankin, president of the International Mission Board, and Southern Baptist workers in South Asia and Africa told messengers to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.

“In an instant, 250,000 lives were swept into eternity without Christ,” Rankin said, recalling the tsunami that devastated eight Asian countries on Dec. 26, 2004. “This tragedy reminds us of the urgency of the task of getting the gospel to all people.”

Rankin shared with Southern Baptists about another wave that is sweeping the world today that is far more powerful than that tsunami in Asia. This wave, he said, is “the tsunami of God’s spirit, that is moving in the power of the gospel to break down barriers, open doors and sweep souls into the kingdom of God.”

A year ago, Rankin said, the board rejoiced to report for the first time more than a half million baptisms. In 2004, IMB missionaries saw an increase of almost 20 percent, as more than 607,000 new believers were “swept into kingdom,” he noted.

“Passionately devoted to pushing back the frontiers of lostness,” missionaries and national workers are penetrating many previously unreached people groups, Rankin said. The harvest of souls is accelerating in Africa and Latin America, and massive population groups in South Asia and China are hearing the good news of God’s love for the first time, he emphasized.

“All together, 21,000 new churches were started last year. That’s 400 every week,” Rankin reported. “This church planting movement will obviously continue as missionaries last year reported more than 50,000 additional outreach groups and mission points around the world,” he said.

Rankin expressed gratitude to Southern Baptists for their faithful giving to the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, which enabled the board to support more than 5,200 missionaries around the world. This year, Southern Baptists gave more than $133 million to the Lottie Moon offering, enabling the mission board to send out 692 new missionaries.

More and more churches are joining in the task, responding to the Acts 1:8 challenge, he said, noting that more than 30,000 short-term volunteers participated in overseas projects, multiplying Southern Baptists’ witness in 184 countries. Southern Baptist work was initiated among 163 people groups, 131 of which were previously untouched by the gospel, he reported.

As a part of the International Mission Board’s presentation, five Southern Baptist workers shared testimonies about a “wave of lostness” that is dragging millions into an eternal abyss— not because they have rejected Christ, but because they have never heard the gospel and about the hope of salvation.

“The numbers are massive. The lostness is overwhelming,” Rankin acknowledged. “Yet Jesus died for each one, and our Lord has committed to us the responsibility of taking the gospel to all the peoples, even to the ends of the earth.”

Highlighting the outpouring of compassionate relief to the victims of the tsunami by Southern Baptists, Rankin challenged, “Will we also respond to tsunami wave of lostness?”

Don Dent, regional leader for the Pacific Rim, related the challenge IMB missionaries face there. Dent noted that the region is comprised of 39 countries with 3,000 ethnic groups, five of the 10 largest cites in the world, and 800 million souls. The board’s priority focus, he said, is the 350 people groups—a combined population of a half billion people—that have little access to the gospel.

Through a video link, David Garrison, a Southern Baptist worker in Sri Lanka, underscored the need to share the gospel with approximately 1.4 billion lost people in the region.

Calling the region “the greatest concentration of lostness on earth,” Garrison told of how missionaries are already seeing the Holy Spirit at work in South Asia. Today there are more than 340 missionaries serving in the massive region, he said. “And we are growing rapidly because God is calling out workers from across Southern Baptist Convention to come to this great harvest field,” he said, rejoicing in 150,000 new believers baptized and nearly 15,000 new churches started last year.

Dent reported doors for evangelism opening up among three of five previously unreached people groups that missionaries have been able to access as a result of tsunami relief work. Among the exciting things happening, he noted that one Buddhist people group, in which missionaries saw the very first believers coming to Jesus just a little over a year ago, now has believers in more than 30 villages. In one Muslim group, he added, in the last nine months missionaries have seen 1,200 profess faith in Jesus.

Dent called on Southern Baptist churches to undergird the board’s work through strategic prayer partnerships and by sending 100 more volunteer teams to join IMB workers in ongoing relief efforts.

Thanking Southern Baptists for all their involvement in South Asia, Garrison said that even though there are 344 IMB workers currently serving in the region, at least 1,000 were needed. “For every square mile of South Asian territory, there are 873 lost people,” he said. “We want Southern Baptists to continue to pray. We want to thank Southern Baptists for giving and ask them to continue to give through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program,” he said. “We also want to extend an invitation to respond to God’s calling to come to South Asia to share their faith and their love of Jesus Christ with the lost people of this region.”

While there was nothing anyone could have done to save those victims of that tsunami wave from losing their lives, there is something Southern Baptists could have done to keep them from going to hell, Rankin concluded.

“Will we respond to the pleas of our Lord to go to the uttermost ends of the earth to be his faithful witnesses?” he urged. “Everyone can give, pray and go, because we are his hands and feet to fulfill his mission.”

Posted: 6/26/05

NAMB said taking 'battle' to enemy by impacting
culture through evangelism, meeting needs

By Stella Prather

Arkansas Baptist Newsmagazine

NASHVILLE—Kelly once made excuses for not attending church. Now, she is a faithful member of a new congregation located on the Palm Coast of Florida where she recently came to know Christ.

Michael thought he had experienced “hell on earth” one Thursday last summer after Hurricane Lilly ravaged the Gulf Coast. The next day, Southern Baptist volunteers arrived in the storm area, and the first day of Michael’s new life came on Saturday when he met a SBC disaster relief volunteer. He later met Jesus.

Several months ago, Jonathan resented fellow college students who attempted to talk to him about Jesus Christ. Offended or not, it was an on-campus encounter where the student accepted Christ, and now he is the one witnessing to collegiates.

Kelly, Michael and Jonathan were among thousands who were introduced to Jesus Christ through ministries of the North American Mission Board during 2004 and featured on a video presented during the NAMB report at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, June 21-22 in Nashville, Tenn.

The video, a modern day spin-off of C.S. Lewis’s 1941 book, The Screwtape Letters, took a look from a demon’s perspective, how the gospel message is reaching today’s society even in the midst of darkness.

“The enemy knows it and even more important God promises it,” NAMB President Bob Reccord said after the video. “The battle has already been won, but that doesn’t mean the other side has given up.

“We’ve all seen it in our world, in our neighborhoods, in our workplaces and in our families,” said Reccord. “Satan still walks around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. As a result, Reccord added, “We at NAMB, along with you, are convinced that God desires to use us, to use you, as together we send missionaries and share Christ and start churches, mobilize volunteers and impart the culture of North America.”

Before the video, Reccord shared six ministry areas in which NAMB is helping Southern Baptist churches and Christians fulfill the Great Commission. These include: sharing Christ, volunteering in missions, equipping leaders, sending missionaries and impacting culture.

Last year was a banner year for the NAMB, Reccord said, as more than 1 million Southern Baptists were equipped in evangelism through NAMB ministries.

NAMB also assisted in mobilizing 116,000 Southern Baptists who took part in short-term mission projects. Of these, more than 24,000 were youth who ministered in inner-city areas through World Changers, while another 15,000 went into disaster relief areas and prepared more than 3.5 million hot meals.

In addition, 27,000 ministry leaders took part in NAMB leadership training opportunities, many of which focused on meeting needs and challenges of young pastors and ethnic leaders.

“Men and women, our culture is reflecting Revelation 7 that says, ‘I saw a crowd so big before the throne no man could number, made up of every tongue and tribe and kindred people,’” Reccord told the audience. “And if we are going to spend an eternity there together, we better be working here to make that reality a truth.”

Reaching others for eternity is also the drive behind two ministries focused on electronic and print media, which NAMB launched during the SBC meeting. These include broadband services, print materials and a media campaign titled “Who Cares,” which will feature commercials focused on sharing Christ in today’s culture.

Posted: 6/26/05

SBC challenged by 'Everyone Can' theme

By Lonnie Wilkey

Tennessee Baptist & Reflector

NASHVILLE–As the final gavel sounded on the 148th annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention and balloons were released from the top of the Gaylord Entertainment Center, messengers chanted “Everyone Can” in response to a challenge from SBC President Bobby Welch to witness, win, and baptize one million people in the coming year.

Building upon momentum from his bus tour of the Southern Baptist Convention this past year and in sessions of the annual meeting, Welch exhorted messengers to leave the convention united in one purpose.

“It’s going to take everybody doing everything with all they can and it has to happen now,” Welch told messengers.

“We’re going out there and we’re going to attack the gates of hell for the sake of souls.”

Prior to Welch’s closing comments, messengers were challenged by Jimmy Draper, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, to stop “hiding in the stuff” and to respond to the challenge Welch placed before them.

Basing his message on the story of Saul, found in 1 Samuel, Draper noted that he was an “incredible talent” presented with an “incredible opportunity” by God. Yet when it came time to anoint Saul as the king of Israel, he could not be found. Scripture says Saul was found hiding among the supplies “or as the King James puts it, hiding away in the stuff,” Draper said.

“Saul, the son of Kish, presents a timeless picture of greatness that was diminished by petty pursuits, detours, vendettas, and sidetracks. He squandered great opportunity at the fee of unworthy triviality,” Draper told messengers and visitors at the final session.

“Saul’s tragic story has been repeated in the life of many a minister, church, and even denomination,” Draper observed.

Draper recounted how God has blessed the Southern Baptist Convention. “God passed by the great magisterial denominations of this land and He put His hand upon a group of people considered by the elitist of society to be under classed, backward, ignorant, and prejudiced.

“God took a group of people huddled around little churches in the south and on the frontier and elevated them into the greatest denomination in the strongest country in the world.”

Yet, Draper noted that after 160 years “of his singular blessing” Southern Baptists may be “hiding among the stuff.”

The LifeWay leader cited stagnated baptism figures over the past 50 years. “In spite of the struggle for 25 years to recover biblical faithfulness we are still witnessing a stagnation in evangelism,” Draper said. “Our passion for souls has cooled. It has slipped away from us.”

He challenged Southern Baptists to stop hiding “in the stuff of personal, church, and convention power struggles and of bitterness, resentment, and cynicism.” He noted some churches today are filled with chaos and division.

“While the world around us slides toward hell, our churches are often battlegrounds instead of lighthouses, refusing to abide by clear, biblical principles of reconciliation and restoration,” Draper said.

“Many churches are torn to shreds by carnal members and arrogant leaders. We can’t hide in that stuff anymore,” Draper exhorted those in attendance.

“Southern Baptists have been called by God to be the leader in evangelism and missions in confronting our culture with the gospel of Lord Jesus Christ.

“Let’s rise up and follow him and his story to its glorious conclusion,” Draper said.

During the annual meeting three other “Everyone Can!” challenges were presented throughout the sessions.

Singer, songwriter and author Dawn Smith Jordan reminded messengers and visitors that everyone can forgive those who have caused them even the most grievous hurt.

The former Miss South Carolina 1986 and second runner-up for Miss U.S.A. described how God has convicted her through the years of her need to forgive others, beginning with the man who kidnapped and brutally murdered her 17-year-old sister, Shari, in 1985.

Jordan, who is a member of First Baptist Church, Columbia, S.C, recounted the letter Shari’s murderer allowed her to write before he murdered her, which her family received after her death. In it, Shari told her family not to worry about her—she knew she would be safe with God—and to not let her abduction and fate ruin their lives. She further assured them that some good would come out of the terrible wrong.

Years later, Jordan said, she and her mother had the opportunity to visit with the man who had been convicted of the brutal act and to assure him of their forgiveness.

God’s Word calls Christians to forgive others like Jesus has forgiven them, Jordan reminded her brothers and sisters in Christ, pointing them to the exhortations to forgive in Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:12-13.

Forgiving the man who had murdered her sister was an act of obedience to God in response to the mercy she had received from him, Jordan explained.

Jordan would later have to repeat that act of forgiveness after her husband of seven years left her with two small children.

While she has learned that life is going from one storm to the next, she concluded, “His grace has made me strong,” calling attention to her mother’s favorite Scripture passage, 2 Corinthians 12:9.

A bivocational pastor from Oklahoma exhorted messengers to “have a lifestyle of evangelism.”

“Everyone can witness. Everyone can reach people for Christ,” said Anthony Williams, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Durant, Okla.

“Folks, we need to be telling people the message that Jesus saves. It is our obligation. It is our job.”

Williams encouraged pastors to equip their congregations. “It is the folks in the pews who will get the job done. Train them, pray for them, encourage them.

“We’ve got the greatest news in the word – the good news of salvation. Let’s share it,” Williams said.

Using 2 Kings 7, Michael Lewis emphasized that “everyone can go and tell” others about the Good News.

The senior pastor of Great Hills Baptist Church of Austin, pointed out people today are miserable, just as the lepers in 2 Kings were. When asked to name the church’s purpose in the world today, only 11 percent of respondents said the church exists to reach people for Christ.

With baptisms plateaued since 1962, churches should be asking themselves: “Should we sit here until we die?”

Southern Baptist churches cannot sit still, Lewis said, because God has given them the goal to baptize 1 million people this year.

The Samaritan lepers in 2 Kings had three options. So does the church today – to go back, to sit still and hold the fort or to go forward by faith, Lewis said.

The average church today only baptizes nine people each year, he said. “We’ve got to go

forward by faith…. Reaching people we never thought we’d reach – that’s faith.”

Just as the lepers experienced a miracle, so has the church. Today’s church is the “victorious church,” Lewis said. “We are fighting from victory.”

Overcome with guilt after discovering the feast and riches the Arameans had left, the lepers decided they needed to report the find to their king.

Today, Christians sometimes keep the Good News to themselves. “As long as we are here…it is a glorious opportunity for people to be saved,” Lewis said.

Sharing the Good News also promises results. “People will get saved if we will go out,” Lewis said.

John Loudat of the Baptist New Mexican and Vicki Brown of the Word and Way (Missouri) contributed to this report.

Posted: 6/25/05

CBF considers criteria for partner schools

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

Leaders at theological schools that have received financial support from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship generally agree the Fellowship needed to reconsider how it relates to “partner” institutions.

But “the devil is in the details,” one administrator said, particularly for schools that stand to lose money if the CBF approves recommendations in a partnership study committee report.

The committee’s recommendations create a three-tiered approach to partnership for theological schools—identity partners, leadership partners and global partners. Schools in each category would be eligible for scholarships and collaborative initiative funding, as well as “relational resources” such as references and referrals. But only identity partners would be eligible for ongoing institutional funding, and no more than six of the 14 theological education partner schools could be designated as identity partners.

“Criteria for defining of these institutions will include factors such as enrollment, the number of graduates in congregational ministry, level of support for CBF, geographic location, willingness to self-identify as a CBF-affiliated school and historical connection to CBF,” the report states.

The Fellowship’s Coordinating Council will discuss and vote on the committee’s report at its June 29-30 meeting, prior to the annual CBF General Assembly in Grapevine, Texas. If the council approves the report, CBF Moderator Bob Setzer of First Baptist Church in Macon, Ga., plans to ask the General Assembly to affirm the action.

At least one freestanding seminary—Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond—fully anticipates being named as an identity partner based on its historic relationship to CBF and its size.

“I assume (Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond) would be one of the identity partners since we have been one of two institutions funded by CBF from the time of the adoption of their very first budget,” said President Tom Graves.

“We are also one of the largest of the seminary programs, enrolling over 325 students in our courses last academic year. We are proud of our relationship to CBF and are glad to be identified publicly as a CBF-related school.”

Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond receives $241,216 annually from CBF, which amounts to less than 10 percent of the school’s total budget but makes the Fellowship the seminary’s largest denominational source of funding, Graves noted. The seminary also receives $177,424 from the Baptist General Association of Virginia.

Graves voiced strong support for the study committee and its report.

“The financial well-being of CBF is a key to our own well-being,” he said. “We do a disservice to jeopardize the financial stability of the CBF for the benefit of some of its related agencies. It is wise to understand that there must be limits to what the CBF can do for its partners.”

Of the remaining three freestanding seminaries that partner with CBF, Baptist Seminary of Kentucky appears sure to be a leadership partner, since its only funding from CBF is three leadership scholarships totaling $15,000, said President Greg Earwood. International Baptist Theological Seminary almost certainly will be designated as a global partner, possibly along with Baptist University of the Americas. Global partners are schools developing leaders outside the United States or leaders within the United States whose first language is other than English, according to the study committee’s report.

Among freestanding seminaries, that leaves Central Baptist Theological Seminary, which hopes to be identified as an identity partner, according to President Molly Marshall.

“We are focused on the same strategic initiatives as CBF—faith formation, building community, developing leaders and missional outreach,” she said. “We are grateful for the sustaining support CBF has offered to Central in the past and trust that we will continue our strong partnership.”

Central Baptist Theological Seminary is seeking to align theological education with congregational needs, as demonstrated by its teaching church initiative, she added. First Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Okla., and First Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, Tenn., are part of the initiative to offer theological education in a local church context.

Marshall affirmed the Fellowship for “grappling honestly” with the matter of partnerships.

“I believe it is good stewardship for CBF to be asking how funding of theological institutions contributes to the goals and objectives of CBF partnerships. Calling partners to accountability is a constructive way to align the whole organization for greater effectiveness,” she said.

Six divinity schools or schools of theology at Baptist universities are CBF theological partners—Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary, Hardin-Simmons University’s Logsdon School of Theology, Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology, Gardner-Webb University’s White School of Divinity, Campbell University Divinity School and Wake Forest Divinity School.

Leaders at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary “have some reason to believe Truett will get favorable treatment,” said Dean Paul Powell, newly appointed special assistant to the president for denominational relations. “At least I hope so.”

With 391 students enrolled, Truett is the largest theological school in partnership with CBF, Powell noted, adding that the school also has produced the most graduates. Truett has graduated 386 students since its founding, and it graduated 80 students last year.

In 2004-2005, Truett received $167,348 from CBF.

Alan Culpepper, dean of the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University, reported holding a preliminary meeting with CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal and Terry Hamrick, the Fellowship’s coordinator for leadership development.

“But we did not talk about its effect on the allocation to McAfee,” Culpepper said. “We have not yet received a formal invitation to be an identity partner, and I do not know what effect that might have on our budget status. I am sure all of this will be worked out in due time.”

Other observers expressed confidence that McAfee and Truett likely would be named identity partners, probably along with Campbell University Divinity School and White Divinity School at Gardner-Webb, based on the criteria outlined in the study committee report. If so, either Hardin-Simmons’ Logsdon School or Wake Forest Divinity School could fail to be named as an identity partner.

Wake Forest understands that its ecumenical identity—expressed in its mission statement as “Christian by tradition, ecumenical in outlook, and Baptist in heritage”—will make the school a “second-tier” entity in the CBF’s eyes, said Dean Bill Leonard.

Wake Forest Divinity School currently receives $20,000 from CBF, all of which goes to scholarship funds for students preparing for ministry in CBF-related churches, Leonard said. The school’s total annual budget is about $1.5 million, and Leonard has “no idea” whether funding from CBF will increase or decrease, he said.

Since its founding 1999, the divinity school has graduated four classes of students—nearly half of them from CBF-related churches.

“Since 2002, we have given an average of $75,086 per year to students related to CBF,” Leonard said. “The total average scholarship awards to CBF students for a three-year cycle is $225,259. This means that the divinity school is raising its own scholarship funds that go to students connected to the CBF and carrying them financially far beyond the funding provided by CBF nationally. …We will continue to work as best we can to secure scholarship aid for CBF related students who choose to join us.”

Irma Duke, communications and development director for Campbell, affirmed the partner study committee and its work. Duke, who serves on the CBF Coordinating Council, said she believes the committee “tried to provide more flexibility and accountability in the funding levels, and I sense that this is being accomplished.”

Campbell University Divinity School clearly asserts its identity as a CBF-related school, and it promotes CBF missions and training opportunities to students and alumni, she added.

“CBF has been generous to us, and we are appreciative,” she said. “I hope that funding for the school and our students will not be reduced because it has allowed us the opportunity to do some things that we would have, otherwise, not been able to do. As a new school, the operational funding has been particularly helpful.”

Likely losers under the proposed three-tiered approach would be the Baptist studies programs at non-Baptist universities.

Duke Divinity School’s Baptist House of Studies expects to lose $20,000 in institutional funding since “there is little question that the Baptist House at Duke will not be an identity partner,” given its formal relationship to the United Methodist Church, said Director Curtis Freeman.

By that understanding of the committee’s criteria, Baptist studies program at Texas Christian University’s Brite Divinity School and Emory University’s Candler School of Theology also would fail to qualify as identity partners. Brite is affiliated with the Disciples of Christ and Candler with the United Methodist Church.

Duke’s Baptist House already is making contingency plans to cope with the anticipated funding cut, Freeman noted.

“Our board of directors discussed the funding change at our spring meeting. We are in the initial stages of talking with churches and individuals who can make up the difference,” he said. “It may take a little time, but we’re discovering that our students make the best case for why Baptists need to support Duke. We’re hopeful that in the long run they will own the value of theological education for Baptists at Duke.”

Freeman took issue with the approach the partner study committee has taken in its proposals. The committee chose to base partnership on a school’s self-identification with CBF rather than the value a school brings to CBF-related churches, he asserted.

“My suggestion to the CBF leadership from the time I got to Duke was to consider funding partners based on the resources they provide to CBF and like-minded congregations. This seemed to be consistent with their stated aim to move beyond denominationalism,” he said. 

“What I proposed was for CBF to assess the level of their support for our partnership based the value of those leadership resources to CBF and like-minded congregations.  The study committee has chosen a different direction, one that by contrast is most-denominational rather than post-denominational, as partnership will be defined primarily in terms of institutions that identify themselves as CBF entities.”

If CBF eliminates institutional support for Duke Divinity School, “The only relationship between us and CBF besides shared ideas and convictions will be some scholarship support for students—right now at $20,000,” Freeman said.

“This is a good thing, but to put it in perspective, in terms of scholarship support for Duke students, CBF would rank either third or fourth behind several other organizations.  Conversely, there are three or four congregations whose support for Baptist House together will be significantly more than CBF’s support for scholarships.  So all this will give us some pause as we reassess what partnership means for us, and how we understand our partnership with CBF.” 

Posted: 6/24/05

Casa Bautista finds market
for Spanish materials in U.S.

By Meghan Merchant

Communications Intern

EL PASO–The world's oldest evangelical Spanish publishing house has distributed its materials to more than 70 countries during the past 100 years. But today, the El Paso-based publisher sees the United States as its largest market.

“It used to be that we sent 60 percent of our materials overseas and 40 percent to the United States,” said General Director Jorge Diaz of Casa Bautista de Publicaciones–the Baptist Spanish Publishing House. “Now, we send 60 percent to the United States and 40 percent overseas.”

This shift is due in part to the growing Hispanic population in the United States, which Diaz said provides “big opportunities” for the publishing company.

Casa Bautista, which printed 37 titles last year, now faces the new challenge of competition from other evangelical Spanish publishers in the United States. At the same time, Diaz said the market is not as open to Casa Bautista's products because of the economic turmoil in many Latin American countries.

“They are not receiving religious products as before,” he said.

Nevertheless, challenges are nothing new to the publishing house, whose struggles have included the political strife of the Mexican Revolution, withdrawal of support from the Southern Baptist International Mission Board and financial concerns.

The publishing house, founded in a kitchen in Toluca, Mexico, was a pioneer in providing printed materials to Spanish-speaking countries.

For decades, it shaped Baptist theology in Latin America through its commentaries, books, Sunday school materials and Bible studies, because its publications were the major Spanish materials available, said former General Director Thomas Hill.

The materials, written by Hispanics from a Hispanic perspective, provided direction and a foundation of solid theological principles for new pastors and churches in Latin America for the past century, leaders of the publishing house noted.

“The printed word gets places that spoken words don't get,” said Burton Patterson, secretary of the Baptist Spanish Publishing House Foundation.

Patterson noted he could recall many stories of individuals who had never seen a missionary or pastor but found some of the Casa's materials and made the decision to follow Christ.

As leaders of Casa Bautista look to the future, they want to continue to offer quality products and translations to the Latin American and U.S. markets.

J.T. Poe, former general director, also hopes Casa Bautista will continue to encourage more national authorship of materials, as the publishing house puts a priority on material coming from Hispanic leaders.

The publishing house has multiple events planned to celebrate its centennial year, the final one taking place Nov. 17 at First Baptist Church in El Paso, which will include the revelation of a new mural for the front of Casa Bautista's building.

Posted: 6/24/05

Synagogue blesses Baptists

By George Henson

Staff Writer

It seems only natural that Congre-gation Beth Torah and WillowCreek Fellowship have joined together in ministry. Their rabbi and pastor have been teaming up for years.

The latest occasion came when the Jewish congregation celebrated its first Karen Leynor Mitzvah Day. The “mitzvah,” or good deed, that included Pastor Roy Frady's Plano Baptist congregation was a contribution of food, clothing, diapers and other items collected by Rabbi Jeffrey Leynor's congregation to mark the first anniversary of his wife's stroke. She never recovered and died last September.

Members of Beth Torah also cleaned cages at animal shelters, volunteered at a shelter for battered women and performed other good deeds across the community.

Leynor said the acts of kindness brought a balm to his congregation, as well. “I think for many of us, we find that the way to heal ourselves is to help someone else,” he said.

This wasn't the first time the Richardson Jewish congregation joined the Baptists in the nearby Plano church. On another occasion, members of Beth Torah brought 2,500 pounds of food for WillowCreek's food pantry that ministers to impoverished families.

WillowCreek also reaches out to the community through English as a Second Language classes, as well as Spanish as a Second Language classes. It offers computer training and various support groups. Beth Torah members have offered to teach some of those classes as well.

The congregations are close because of the deep friendship between their leaders. They first became acquainted as police and fire chaplains in Plano, and later they were Victim Relief Ministry chaplains.

They even were roommates when they traveled to Israel to learn how to counsel people in the event of mass casualties, such as in a terrorist attack.

“We have a good sharing between us,” Frady said. Leynor put it a bit differently: “He's kind of like a Christian version of me.” The men respect one another's beliefs. Frady is interested in Jewish rituals and festivals, and he said Leynor has a keen knowledge of Christian belief.

“He's become very interested in this rabbi from Nazareth (Jesus) and has now read the entire New Testament in the original language,” Frady said. “We're friends on a journey together.”

Neither lets a person's beliefs get in the way of ministry, Leynor said. “I have people of many faiths that come to me,” he said. “To me, it doesn't matter. I just want to minister to them. I serve people, not just Jews.”

That is what makes the men and their congregations so compatible, Frady noted. “Our church is used to reaching out to everyone in every way possible,” he said. “They are used to having a kingdom vision.

"The fact that they know that I'm the way that I am, they do not think it's strange at all that I have a friend who is a Jewish rabbi.”

Posted: 6/24/05

Nuevo Laredo violence
makes mission groups cautious

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico–Escalating violence in Nuevo Laredo prompted the Baptist General Convention of Texas' River Ministry office to issue a safety advisory for the border city and led some volunteer church groups to cancel their planned trips.

But River Ministry Director Dexton Shores stressed the advisory is limited to Nuevo Laredo, and even there, no mission volunteers have been harmed.

“We do not see any reason for groups serving in other border regions to panic or be alarmed, as our coordinators report no problems out of the ordinary,” Shores said. “This advisory is strictly for Nuevo Laredo, due to the current unrest.”

While some mission groups have noticed heightened security elsewhere along the border, volunteers have reported the increased presence of law enforcement officials made them feel even safer than usual, he added.

Most United States citizens who cross the border are in no danger, as long as they exercise “common-sense precautions,” such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas of border towns during the daytime, Shores said.

“But because violence in Nuevo Laredo had reached the point where it was occurring in public places in daylight hours–with one shootout even taking place on the Mexican side of the international bridge–the risk was that somebody could get caught in the middle in the crossfire,” he explained.

At least 70 people have been killed in Nuevo Laredo this year. That includes Police Chief Alejandro Dominguez, who was gunned down just hours after he took office–reportedly by drug traffickers who wanted to send a message that they controlled the city. The Mexican government dispatched 1,000 federal troops and special forces to Nuevo Laredo to restore order.

“Nuevo Laredo is under martial law, for all intents and purposes,” said Ruben Harrison, River Ministry coordinator for the Laredo/Nuevo Laredo area.

A group from North Pointe Baptist Church in Hurst decided to cancel their mission trip to Nuevo Laredo after repeated conversations with a Southern Baptist missionary in the border city. The volunteer team regrouped and instead traveled to San Antonio to help lead an inner-city sports camp and backyard Bible clubs, Pastor John Tyler said.

Tommy Beard, missionary in Nuevo Laredo, said he has told some coordinators who were dealing with particularly anxious parents of teenaged mission volunteers, “Your safest option is to stay home.”

But Beard insisted he feels no danger personally and generally has encouraged volunteers to continue mission trips to his city.

“I live in this city with a wife and three daughters. If our lives were in a state of threat, I would get myself and my family out of here,” he said.

Operation Safe Mexico–the federal government's campaign to restore order–extends beyond Nuevo Laredo to include 13 other Mexican cities, including eight along the border.

But in an e-mail to River Ministry supporters, Shores encouraged mission volunteers not to panic or view all border cities as lawless.

“River Ministry mission group coordinators and churches ministering this summer along the Texas/Mexico border in Matamoros/Reynosa, Acuña/Piedras Negras, Ojinaga and Juarez have reported no incidents of concern related to border safety,” he wrote.

“Groups that have scheduled a trip to Nuevo Laredo this summer are encouraged to communicate with your counterparts in Nuevo Laredo churches to determine the best course of action regarding upcoming mission endeavors.”

Harrison plans to redirect mission groups slated to work in Nuevo Laredo to other projects in Laredo. At least three churches in Laredo need construction crews, and new congregations need help conducting door-to-door surveys, he noted.

For updates, Shores encouraged mission groups to call (956) 723-9475 or e-mail rubenharrisonjr@netzero.net. For more information, contact the U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo at 011-52 (867) 714-0512 or NuevoLaredo-ACS@state.gov or visit the website at http://nuevolaredo. usconsulate.gov/nuevolaredo/index.html.

Posted: 6/24/05

Dotson sentenced in slaying of Baylor teammate

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

WACO–A Waco judge on June 15 sentenced former Baylor University basketball player Carlton Dotson to 35 years in prison for killing his teammate, Patrick Dennehy.

Dotson, 23, must serve half his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

Dotson surprised prosecutors–and even his own family–when he pleaded guilty one week earlier. He submitted an open plea, meaning he was seeking no deal for leniency, just two days before jury selection was scheduled.

Motive for the slaying remains unclear.

Five days after Dennehy was last seen on June 12, 2003, Dotson contacted authorities in Maryland to discuss his teammate's disappearance. Four days later, he was arrested.

Court documents reveal Dotson told the FBI he shot and killed Dennehy. He claimed the two were shooting handguns at a garbage dump outside of Waco when Dennehy pointed a gun at him and pulled the trigger, but the gun jammed. Dotson said he shot Dennehy in the head because he believed his teammate had been forced to try to kill him by people who wanted to see Dotson dead.

Dotson claimed “people were afraid of him and wanted to do him harm because he is the Messiah,” the court documents stated.

On July 25, 2003, Dennehy's body was discovered in a gravel pit near Waco. Dennehy had two bullet wounds in his head.

Dotson initially was declared incompetent to stand trial but that finding was reversed after he received treatment at a state hospital. He remains on psychiatric medication. His attorneys did not attempt an insanity defense.

The murder investigation uncovered a scandal in the Baylor basketball program, including improper tuition payments for Dennehy. Coach Dave Bliss and Athletic Director Tom Stanton subsequently resigned.

After Dotson pleaded guilty, Baylor University Interim President Bill Underwood said the resolution of the case “brings us a step closer to concluding what has been a painful period for Baylor University.”

Underwood, who led an internal investigation into the basketball scandal, extended a pledge of prayer support both to the family of the victim and to Dotson's family members “who have endured a different, but no less painful ordeal.”

Posted: 6/24/05

Teen discovers meaning of
family living in Glass household

By Craig Bird

Baptist Child & Family Services

GONZALES–Even the most strong-willed person needs some unexpected help when a rough life gets even rougher, Arlene Sanchez discovered.

Nearly three years ago, Sanchez reached such a spot. After living at the Baptist Child & Family Services Youth Ranch for six years, she was a sophomore taking honors classes at Gonzales High School, playing sports and staying active in community service projects.

She had weathered the resentment of her siblings when she chose to stay at the ranch instead of returning home with them to live with their mother, and she had worked through her own anger and fear spawned by that choice.

Arlene Sanchez pets an abandoned fawn brought to the home of Bryan Glass, a veterinarian in Gonzales.

But an increased demand for emergency shelters for abused children led Baptist Child & Family Services to convert the youth ranch facilities from residential homes to short-term care units. Suddenly, the dependable world she had worked so hard to build threatened to

collapse. She had to choose between a foster home in Port Lavaca–almost 90 miles away–or a group home in San Antonio.

The 16-year-old broke the news to her teammates at volleyball practice. One of them, a casual friend named Cydney Glass, still was emotional when her mother arrived home from work that evening.

“I don't think I was even all the way through the door when Cydney blurted out, 'Arlene has to move,'” Mrs. Glass recalled. “Even though they weren't best friends, they were in honors classes together and had played sports together. So, we knew some of her history, and it just didn't seem fair after all she'd been through that she would be uprooted again.”

No one remembers who first suggested Sanchez might move in with the Glass family. But for two weeks, the idea dominated family discussions and prayers.

“We all were involved, because it would have an impact on all of us. But we told Cydney the biggest part of the decision was up to her, because it would obviously have the greatest effect on her,” Mrs. Glass explained.

Bryan and Celia Glass rushed through the foster-home application procedure at breakneck speed, taking training classes, having their references checked and their home inspected.

Two months later, just before Thanksgiving 2002, Arlene moved in. After a smooth honeymoon period, the hard realities of family living emerged.

“Arlene had to learn that just because we fussed at her, it didn't mean we didn't love her,” Mrs. Glass explained. “We had battles over her cleaning her room, just like I had battles with Cydney about her room. And she didn't like it at all when I grounded her one weekend after she was rude to her caseworker.”

But everyone adjusted, and Sanchez became a part not only of the Glass family, but also part of the family at First Baptist Church in Gonzales.

“I have a lot of questions for God about why my life has been so hard,” she admitted. “But a lot of people have helped me understand that God really does love me.

“The Glasses are real 'God people.' They don't just talk about religion, but they live it out, and I've seen that up close for more than two years now.

“Our youth ministers at church have been awesome, too, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle at school has been great. Cydney, especially, has shown me how a Christian should live, because I've seen her live it day-in and day-out, at home, as well as in public.”

In May, Arlene graduated from Gonzales High School–fifth in her class with a 97-plus average.

“I don't think any of us, including Arlene, really knew what we were getting into,” Bryan Glass conceded. “It's been challenging, but all of us have benefited, too.”

His daughter concurs. “I had never had to share my family before, and there were times when I would think, 'I'm ready for you to leave now.' Had I known how much we'd go through, I probably wouldn't have made the decision to say yes. But now, I'm glad I did. It wasn't easy on her, either, but my family had always had each other. Who did she have?

“This has made me appreciate my family more, helped me realize that life really isn't fair. God has shown me that if I make a choice because it is best for someone else–even if it makes my life more difficult–in the long run, it proved to be the right decision for me, too. God has blessed all of us through Arlene.”

As Sanchez heads to the University of Texas at Austin and Glass packs for Texas A&M in College Station, the next step in the foster family's relationship with Sanchez still is evolving.

“We are trying to figure out how to be available but not to be a crutch–to recognize Arlene's freedom but still be a resource, the same as we're doing with Cydney,” Glass explained.

“She knows she'll always be a part of us,” his wife added. “I guess we'll have to wait and see how much dirty laundry she brings with her the first time she comes back from Austin.”

Posted: 6/24/05

Around the State

Charles Garraway, professor and head of the political science department at Hardin-Simmons University, set the standard for faculty and staff receiving service award pins with his 35 years of service. Recognized for 30 years of service were Larry Brunner, Joe Darnall, Sandy Graham and Charles Richardson. Receiving pins for 25 years of service were Joe Garcia, Dorothy Kiser and Belinda Norvell. Linda Carleton, Dennis Harp, Tim McCarry and Ronald Rain-water were recognized for 20 years of service. Karanne Grubbs, Steve Jenkins, Jimmie Keeling, Mickey Sartor, Caroline Volbrecht and Alan Wartes have been with the school 15 years. Honored for 10 years of service were Mary Christopher, Vernon Davis, Joyce Fehr, Herb Grover, Britt Jones, Terry Minami, Jimmie Monhollon, John Neese, Elizabeth Norman, Dennis O'Connell, Janelle O'Connell, Mark Ouimette, Phil Palmer, Andrew Potter, Tina Tarrant and Donathan Taylor.

Mike Puryear has been elected chairman of the Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom Board of Directors. He is a graduate of the Howard Payne University academy for honors students and has served on its board previously, including as vice chairman from 2000 to 2004.

Students from the Big Country Home Educator's Association gathered at the Hardin-Simmons University computer lab for hands-on experience in interactive learning. HSU students belonging to the organization Students in Free Enterprise taught the home schoolers and parents how to find age-appropriate learning sites and led them through a number of interactive learning games. HSU students Jordy Bernhard, left, and Jordan Maxwell were two of the facilitators.

Thirty-four University of Mary Hardin-Baylor nursing students were presented pins during graduation ceremonies. Included were Sara Allen, Deborah Allred, Jolene Beth-une, Jennifer Brown, Margaret Cowart, Stacia Chandler, Jennifer Dancer, Jamy Dillon, Jennifer Doskocil, Michele Fuller, Elizabeth Gutierrez, Jill Harper, Christina Heil, Jill Hilburn, Olivia Jackson, Adina Madrid, Seresea Mitchell, Gina Pampell-Lagrone, Faith Para-deza, Emily Rackley, Kayla Ranly, Christina Smith, Court-ney Stewart, Spring Stohler, Amber Thiele, Beverly Torre-cillas, Wendy Tucker, Stefanie Waugh, Sara Weir and Jessica Wright.

The East Texas Baptist University athletic training program has received accreditation. It has become one of 11 schools in Texas and 322 schools nationwide to offer an accredited athletic training education.

Three finalists have been named for Baylor University's 2006 Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching. The award winner, who will be announced in spring 2006, will receive $200,000 plus $25,000 for his home department and will teach in residence at Baylor during fall 2006 or spring 2007. The three finalists are Anton Armstrong, Tosdal Professor of music at St. Olaf College; Robert Brown, Institute Professor of physics at Case Western Reserve University; and William Cook, distinguished teaching professor of history at State University of New York at Geneseo. The three finalists each will recieve $15,000 and will present a series of lectures at Baylor during the fall. Each will present a Cherry Award Lecture on their home campuses during the upcoming academic year. The home department of the finalists also will receive $10,000.

Esther Molina, who works in the Baptist University of the Americas business office, was elected to serve another term as vice president of Hispanic Woman's Missionary Union. Ana Laura Sura will serve as vice president of the Hispanic Baptist Pastors' Wives Fellowship for another year. Sura is a BUA student and works in the academic office.

Retiring

Jimmy McGuire as hospital minister at Bacon Heights Church in Lubbock after 16 years. He was in the ministry 48 years, including 12 years as pastor of First Church in New Deal.

Jason Paredes, associate pastor of College Avenue Church in Fort Worth, received the LifeWay Pastoral Leadership Award during a ceremony at Southwestern Theological Seminary, where he is a student. The award is given to the seminary's most promising master of divinity student preparing to become a pastor.

Anniversaries

John Park Jr., 25th, at Trinity Church in San Antonio June 26. He began his ministry at the church in community ministry, the adult athletics/ recreation ministry, men's ministry and spiritual formation. He recently became associate pastor.

Vance Purkey, 10th, as minister of education at Fairview Church in Grand Prairie, June 26.

Kendrick Lane Church in Waco, 50th, July 10. Wayne Blackshear will preach in the morning service. Music will be presented by the Homer Wallis Family, MB Brass Ensemble and Bob Sullivan. A lunch and afternoon service will follow. Greg Brumit is pastor.

Frio Church in Hereford, 7th, Aug. 7-8. For more information, call (806) 276-5380. James Peach is pastor.

Acton Church in Granbury, 150th, Aug. 25. The church will celebrate the anniversary with activities each Sunday of the month. Richard Jackson, a former pastor's son, will preach in the morning service Aug. 7. A historical marker also will be displayed and commemorative quilt squares distributed in the morning service. The evening service will feature a quilt display and pie-baking contest. Former Pastor Buddy Reeves will preach in the morning service Aug. 14, and commemorative fans will be distributed. The evening service will be at the Boozers' farm with crafts, horseshoes, fishing and food. Former Pastor Billy Frazier will preach in the morning service Aug. 21. The evening service will feature a video presentation and activities by the pastor and staff. Saturday, Aug. 27, will feature a time from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. when stamped envelopes can be imprinted by a custom designed cancellation stamp commemorating the church's anniversary. A reception will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Former pastor Joel Gregory will preach Aug. 28 in the morning service. A lunch and afternoon service will follow. There also will be an antique car display. Glen Ward is pastor.

Deaths

Brownie Clapp, 88, May 21 in Waco. An accomplished pianist, she volunteered to play in dozens of churches in four states for 69 years. She was the pianist at Gollihar Church in Corpus Christi 30 years. Her husband was a former pastor and, beginning in 1966, president of the University of Corpus Christi, a Baptist university at the time. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Capp; two granddaughters; and two great-granddaughters.

Peaches Mathews Smith, 84, June 13 in Athens. While a Dallas resident, she was a member of Highland Church in Dallas, served as a trustee of Dallas Baptist University, and was secretary and administrative assistant to the president. She also was administrative assistant to Mary Crowley at Home Interior and Gifts. She was preceded in death by her first husband, James Mathews, and second husband June Smith. She is survived by her sons, Harry and Frank Mathews; brothers, Gordon and Kade Gaines; stepson, Jay Smith; stepdaughter, Jan Wilder; 14 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Events

The Crossing Church in Mesquite will hold a book signing for Ruth Wilkerson Harris. Harris, a member of the church, has written a book called The Wilkerson Legacy, a story of a family dedicated to ministry and prayer. She is the sister of David Wilkerson, pastor of the Times Square Church in New York City and author of The Cross and the Switchblade, and Don Wilkerson, who started Teen Challenge with his brother. All proceeds from her book will go to support mission efforts. For more information, go to www.crossingbaptist.org.

The Heights Church in Richardson will hold a summer music camp July 18-22 from 9 a.m. until noon. Campers will learn the musical “King of the Jungle,” designed to teach children about trust, obedience and faith. The camp is open to children who have completed kindergarten through sixth grade. Cost is $50 per child; $60 after June 30. Price includes camp shirt, activities, snacks, music and camp materials. Registration deadline is July 10. Performance will be at 7:30 p.m. July 22. For more information, call (972) 231-6047, extension 305.

Ordained

Wayne Doyle, Todd Rushing and Chris Wilson as deacons at First Church in Texas City.