Posted: 5/27/05

Most Americans oppose feeding tube removal

By Holly Lebowitz Rossi

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS)–A poll taken in the aftermath of Terry Schiavo's death shows 80 percent of Americans oppose removing the feeding tube of a disabled person who is not terminally ill or in a coma when that person has not left clear written wishes.

The poll by Zogby Inter-national was conducted in the immediate aftermath of the death of Schiavo, 41, a brain-damaged Florida woman.

Her feeding tube was removed after a long legal battle that reached all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and involved intervention by both President Bush and Congress.

The poll asked, “If a disabled person is not terminally ill, not in a coma and not being kept alive by life support, should or should they not be denied food and water?” Only 7 percent said food and water should be denied.

Forty-four percent of the 1,019 likely voters polled said an incapacitated person should be presumed to want to live if he or she does not have a “living will” or other written document detailing his or her wishes. The poll, which was conducted on behalf of the Christian Defense Coalition, had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.

Other news and polling organizations have reported very different findings than what Zogby concluded.

The Gallup Organization, which has polled on the case since 2003, has found in a series of polls a majority consistently supported the removal of Schiavo's tube, with 61 percent supporting the removal in the days surrounding her death.

Groups and politicians that advocated for Schiavo's tube to be reinserted were disappointed in the apparent discrepancy in findings and accused other pollsters and news organizations of distorting the facts to achieve political goals.

“It was disconcerting to see multiple poll questions based on the misstatements of facts and inaccuracies during the Schiavo case,” Rep. Dave Weldon of Florida said.

“Here we finally see a poll that asks an accurate question, and the American public overwhelmingly demonstrates the reason so many diverse individuals fought for the rights of Terri Schiavo.”

“It's awful to watch as your fellow Americans are kept in the dark, asked their opinion, and then that manufactured opinion is used as a political hammer,” said Robert Knight, director of the Culture & Family Institute at Concerned Women for America, a conservative public policy women's organization.

Posted: 5/27/05

Fort Hood-area church ministers
to 'temporarily single' parents

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

BELTON–Family ministry at First Baptist Church in Belton includes helping meet the needs of a special breed of single parents–military spouses from nearby Fort Hood who function in that role temporarily.

When a parent in the armed services is deployed and the rest of the family is left at home, the remaining parent must learn how to fill multiple roles and single-handedly balance competing schedules, ministry leaders at the church noted.

“We offer a parenting class because we see the need to teach them how to be single parents for a time,” said Preschool Minister Tricia Kimbrough.

First Baptist provides a course called Enjoy, Not Destroy for military spouses, teaching them how to discipline their children properly when the nondeployed spouse is pressed into the role of being the only disciplinarian left at home.

While parents are in class, children participate in Kingdom Kids, an age-appropriate Christian education program.

Volunteers in the Kingdom Kids program and in Sunday school classes give special attention to children who may feel short-changed for affection from time-crunched parents.

“When a parent is deployed, that puts a stress on the whole family,” Kimbrough observed. “It puts a stress on the parents and their relationship, and the children pick it up. As a result, the children tend to act out.”

Children express their concern in a variety of ways, ranging from misbehavior to repeatedly asking for prayer for a deployed parent, said Children's Minister Joy Ferrell.

Unlike single-parent families in which one spouse is removed permanently from children's lives, military families live with the knowledge that the single-parent role is temporary. But they also face the reality that with one parent serving in harm's way, it could become permanent.

“We're very sensitive to that, and our teachers provide a lot of one-on-one attention to the children in Sunday school,” Kimbrough said.

At the same time, the church offers discipleship programs to help stateside spouses deal with the on-again, off-again nature of their roles.

“The wife of a deployed soldier learns to become a single parent and head of the household. Then her husband comes back, and she has to relinquish that role,” Kimbrough said.

“It can be hard for her to give it up. It's a big transition, and that puts the marriage on edge.”

Recognizing that financial problems also can strain military marriages, the church offers Financial Peace University, a 13-week course to help families get out of debt, Minister of Business Administration Craig Pearson noted.

In addition to offering prayers, emotional support and discipleship opportunities, the church also offers such practical services to military families as lawn mowing and car maintenance.

Volunteers in the church also have videotaped and mailed personal messages to deployed troops from their stateside families, as well as videos of their children's ballgames and performances in church musicals.

“We love our military personnel and their families. They are incredible men and women,” Pastor Andy Davis said. “They serve their country, often at great cost, but they also serve the Lord so faithfully through the church.

Those connected with the military are, almost without exception, some of our most loyal and faithful servants, assuming significant leadership roles in the church. The small things that we can do for them are a great blessing to us.”

To expand its ministry to military families, First Baptist Church plans to bring a military intern chaplain on staff.

Capt. Will Alley will complete his initial term of military service in July and then begin his studies at Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary in the fall to prepare for military chaplaincy.

His role at First Baptist will be to work in harmony–not in competition– with the chaplain's office at Fort Hood, Pearson emphasized.

Pearson, a retired Army colonel, learned during his 26-year armed forces career the support churches can provide to families of military families.

“There's nothing like having Christian friends to gather around you when challenges arise and when there are times of loneliness,” he said.

Posted: 5/27/05

Texas lawmakers work down to the wire

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

AUSTIN–Several key decisions are coming down to the scheduled end of the legislative session May 30.

Texas lawmakers defeated a school voucher program and put a ban on gay marriage on the Nov. 8 general election ballot, but proposals dealing with imprisonment without parole, increasing gambling venues and school finance remained unresolved at press time.

Gay marriage amendment

Legislators voted to put a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that, if approved, would make same-sex marriages illegal in Texas and prohibit recognition of gay unions from other states.

Though Texas law already outlaws same-sex marriage, proponents of the amendment said groups are gathering to challenge the current situation. An amendment to the constitution would solidify and protect the law, they say. Opponents say this is repetitive legislation that discriminates against homosexual couples.

“We have consistently at the Christian Life Commission held that marriage is for males and females,” said Phil Strickland, director of public policy and moral concerns agency of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. “Forms of marriage outside that are biblically inappropriate. We continue to look at this specific proposal to see if it has some unintended consequences.”

The November vote will follow a wave of gay marriage legislation that has swept across the nation. Thirty-nine states have legal bans in place, but court cases are challenging the laws in at least 13 of those states. Fifteen states have constitutional amendments, while six others like Texas are considering one.

School vouchers

The Texas House of Representatives narrowly defeated a proposal that would have provided vouchers for a select group of students to receive state money to attend a school of their choice. Those young people were to come from low-income and at-risk schools in seven large urban school districts.

Faith-based organizations

Lawmakers also created a Faith Advisory Board for the governor and a liaison position between the state government and faith-based organizations that are improving their respective communities, a notion the CLC supported. This person and organization will help faith-based groups with technical assistance and be a data collection agency.

Gambling

Senators squelched an initial proposal to allow slot-style video lottery machines at horse tracks, dog tracks, Indian reservations and in-county gaming districts approved by voters. Sen. Ken Armbrister, D-Victoria, however, planned to reintroduce the plan May 25 as part of legislation to reauthorize the Texas Lottery Commission.

Suzii Paynter, director of citizenship and public policy for the Christian Life Commission, said expanded gambling appears to be dead for this session. The House would have to approve of any expansion, but it has defeated any such proposal eight straight times.

Criminal justice issues

The House also approved a bill by a 104-37 vote that would give juries the option of sending individuals to prison without the possibility of parole. The legislation now goes to the Senate, which appears poised to approve it and send it to Gov. Rick Perry.

Currently juries do not “have a choice,” Paynter said. “They either had to give them the death sentence or life, expecting them to get out in 40 years. We're not against the death penalty, but for choices” in sentencing.

In other criminal justice issues, legislators passed a bill that would shorten probation periods for some felons and expand supervision and treatment programs. The proposal will go to Perry.

This move should help individuals after they are released from prison, Paynter said. Many churches involved in restorative justice ministry have seen the difficulties former inmates face after their release. Increased support following a person's release should help them reintegrate into society.

For example, former inmates need a picture identification to get a job, but it may take them six weeks to go through that process, Paynter said. The new system would provide an identification card.

Children's issues

The Child Protective Services-related issues remained in a joint committee of the House and the Senate. With CPS still recovering from 2003 budget cuts, lawmakers were trying to decide how to best provide care for children under state care.

Paynter said the committee was trying to figure how much it can do and how much should be privatized. Another issue that may resurface is a ban on gay and bisexual foster parents.

School finance

School finance remains the most unresolved of all the major issues before the legislature this session.

After weeks of no apparent progress, lawmakers appeared to be making slow headway May 24, but faced a tough road to wrap it up before the scheduled end of the session.

Though both sides of the debate indicate they are close to an agreement, they do not agree on several issues, including testing high school students and teacher compensation.

Another obstacle is designing a tax strategy for supporting public schools. The joint House and Senate committee working on the issue was attempting to lower property taxes while increasing sales tax and a business franchise tax. House members want a higher sales tax than senators, but a lower business franchise tax.

The legislative ideas represent an improvement for Texas education, but do not upgrade it dramatically, Strickland said.

The proposed ideas provide “moderate support” for public schools, but do not meet the complete need there.

“The issue is coming down to the last day of the session,” he said. “If they reach an agreement about funding, Texas will have provided moderate support for public education in Texas and will change the funding lines, bring some relief to property taxes.

“If the legislation fails in the session, we will once again go into special session to see if we can get to some sort of agreement.”

Posted: 5/27/05

Texas Baptist Forum

'Living' worship

“Hymns are hot, as Christian artists seek lyrical richness” (May 16) correctly asserts hymns connect us to our theological and cultural roots, and they should always have a welcome place in our worship.

But the article reinforces common misconceptions. For example, “with the worship craze hitting a saturation point and churchgoers desiring more lyrical depth … .” Or “worship trend.”

• Jump to online-only letters below

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

“God did not make a robot world for the same reason that he did not make robot people to inhabit it, namely, because such a world would leave no room for choices, for growth, for the achievement of maturity. Trapped in a world of total predictability, we would be forced to bow to the inevitability of the way things always are. … There is no maturity without freedom and no freedom without risk. That is why God chose to use his power on the hardest task of all: to love us in such a way that we will freely choose to love in a mature fashion.” Bill Hull Retired provost at Samford University in "God and the Tsunami" (Christian Ethics Today) “It's time to quit taking sides. The only side that's here that's worth anything is the side of Jesus.” Jack Sammons Guest pastor at East Waynesville (N.C.) Baptist Church, speaking after the church's former pastor allegedly ousted members who did not vote for President Bush (The New York Times/RNS) “Christ is not speaking to the press … .” A.P. Pishevar Attorney whose client, born Peter Robert Phillips Jr., has had trouble getting a West Virginia driver's license with his new name, Jesus Christ (AP/RNS)

Many still refuse to recognize that changes in the worship landscape for over 20 years have not been just a “craze, trend or fad” but a legitimate chapter in Christian worship history, which is unfolding. The antiquated notions that all modern worship songs are too repetitive, too “mushy” or too lacking in spiritual depth just don't stand up to scrutiny. Likewise, the idea that all hymns are bastions of theological truth is equally unprovable.

Stop lumping every modern worship song into the category of “God is So Good” or “This is the Day.” Let's embrace our rich hymn heritage, for sure. But let's also “step into the water” of modern worship music and technology. May all of us freshly commit to make worship a “living” part of today's Christian walk, not just an endless stroll down memory lane.

Randy Day

Fort Stockton

Purpose in suffering

Much has been said about the horrendous suffering wrought by the tsunami, but I have not heard an adequate explanation of why God allowed it. God did not cause the tsunami directly, but he did cause it indirectly by creating earthquakes and tsunamis as part of the natural function of the earth.

In order to understand why God allowed it, we must understand his purpose for creating people and the earth in which they live. His purpose wasn't to create a world in which people never suffer, but to create beings with whom he could have a loving fellowship as a spiritual family.

The Apostle Paul said, “In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:4b-5a). This truth is supported by Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

“All things” certainly includes suffering. And the “good” that God “works for” is for people “to be conformed to the likeness of his Son that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29).

Suffering is one means of helping people become like Jesus Christ in order to provide many brothers and sisters for Jesus in the family of God.

We may never know how God will use the suffering of the tsunami, but we can be sure why he allowed it. Perhaps God will use the tsunami to bring people in that region to Christian faith.

Al Gammage

Arlington

Satan's term

In regard to “Out-of-date doctrine” by Gilbert Thornton (May 16), “separation of church and state” is used by Satan himself. It is not in the U.S. Constitution. Our constitution reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” In England, they had a state-established religion.

Furthermore, God established government. Man cannot separate God from what God established. Man did separate himself from God. God's desire is that we return.

Ross H. Hardwick

Devine

Historic property

The proposed sale of Southern Baptist Convention property in Nazareth by the International Mission Board should be of serious concern in the convention.

The property is near Nazareth Baptist Church and can be used by the small minority of Christians in Galilee. Nazareth Baptist and its school were founded by Southern Baptist missionaries, the great Leo Eddleman being one of them. The church is pastored by Fuad Sakninni for 45 years. He is a native of Nazareth. The church has founded all the Baptist churches in Galilee–Cana of Galilee, Jaffa (Joppa), Turin, Rama church and school, Acco (Acre), Ailaboun and two other churches in Nazareth. This congregation of 100 members also operates a school with 1,200 students in grades kindergarten through 12.

Immanuel Jesus was conceived there and spent most of his life and most of his ministry in Galilee. These struggling Christians should lack for nothing as they try to present the truth of the gospel. Christianity began in Nazareth, Bethlehem, Galilee and Jerusalem and not in Rome, Nashville, Dallas or Richmond.

A website, www.comeandsee.com, tells what the Christians there are thinking about the IMB's attitude. It is ironic that the Israeli government is offering 35 acres near Capernaum to evangelical Christians to build something on it while Southern Baptists are backing off.

Jewell Barrett

Nashville, Tenn.

Special blessing

As a Baptist minister of 30 years and a former participant in a Walk to Emmaus, I take issue with Robert Taylor's concerns (May 16) that such programs pose a threat to Baptists–or anyone!

These multidenominational retreats that our Methodist brethren originated give men and women from various backgrounds–including the unsaved –the opportunity to hear the gospel message presented in an open, understandable manner that for many is their first offer into the possibility of a deep, personal commitment to the Christ.

Many choose to commit their lives more deeply to Christ and follow that commitment up with weekly small accountability groups and practical outreach ministries through their local churches.

Rather than being “non-Baptist,” a Walk to Emmaus stresses the very doctrines of soul competency and salvation in Christ alone we as Baptists cherish.

Although a Baptist (or even a Presbyterian!) might experience one or two different terms or styles of worship outside their traditions, the retreats grant participants a glimpse of the miraculous character of our faith that knows “neither Jew nor Greek” but where “all are one in Christ.”

Instead of a tool of Satan's curse, a Walk to Emmaus can for anyone become a special blessing of God that builds better Baptists to advance the kingdom.

David Maltsberger

Boerne

Laughing & crying

I find it impossible not to respond to Robert Taylor's letter on ecumenical danger. I am astonished at the short-sighted, narrow-minded view. I laughed when I read the letter, and then found myself wanting to cry!

How would the Father view this opinion? Was Jesus a Baptist? Was Moses or Paul a Baptist? Why should we as Baptists think we “have it all together” just because we are Baptist? On the contrary, we are sinners saved by the grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death on the cross.

Any “interdenominational” group that believes this teaching, practices this teaching and shares it with others is to be commended. I know personally of many lives that have been changed and drawn closer to the Lord through the Emmaus Walk. Isn't heaven going to be “interdenominational”?

Raynell Odom

Floresville

Arrogant belief

The tone of Robert Taylor's letter concerning the Walk to Emmaus ministry concerned me.

He contends Baptists must practice closed communion in order to remain true to Baptist heritage. If that's the case, it confirms what many non-Baptists fear about us–adherence to a “my way or the highway” theology.

I have serious concerns about any person who claims their belief system (political, religious or favorite movie) is the only one worth having.

In my opinion, the danger does not lie in participating in activities that don't have the “Baptist Seal of Approval.” The danger is in accepting the arrogant belief that “I'm right, so everyone else is wrong.”

How is it possible to share the love of Christ with someone if you simultaneously condemn a practice or belief of theirs? Is this what Baptists want? If so, please count me out.

Scott Presnall

Waxahachie

Tune out

Now is the time for Christians to boycott movies and discontinue watching TV trash.

My wife and I haven't been to a movie in years, and there are very few TV programs that are worth watching.

There must be someone who could take this issue to the Christian people. Until we stand up and say, “Enough is enough,” they will continue to corrupt our children and adults with garbage. It has already gone far enough that a lot of Christian adults think nothing about watching it with the attitude of “oh, well, that's just the way things are today.” That is just not good enough.

I am not saying we should tell people what to watch. It should be approached from the standpoint of Christian people and the values they should uphold.

Dick Hagelstein

Midland

Justice Sunday

Baptist participants in the Justice Sunday rally did not turn their backs on our heritage (May 16). Our heritage includes our sacred Judeo-Christian history and our revered American history.

The vast majority of the American Founding Fathers were not just “religious” men but highly devout Christian men, including several leading clergymen of that day. There are numerous references to the divine in both their private and public writings.

Thomas Jefferson, author of much of the Constitution, first used the phrase “separation of church and state” in a letter to a pastor who was concerned about state interference in church affairs. Jefferson clearly stated his intent that the government should not interfere with any church and that all Americans were free to practice their religion as they saw fit.

The Bible clearly and repeatedly condemns murder, yet some within the church support abortion. The Bible clearly and repeatedly condemns homosexuality, yet some within the church support gay rights. The Baptists, and others, who participated in the rally were merely exercising their rights under the Constitution and in obedience to the dictates of their hearts under the lordship of Christ. The rally was in support of our true Baptist heritage.

The Bible tells the story of numerous godly men, such as Moses, Samuel, David and Nehemiah, who led the people in the public arena toward more godly lives. The rally participants were asking God’s help in finding his leaders for America today.

Terry A Gillham

Taylor

Get God's attention?

I am sad that you picked up “get God’s attention” for the title of your report on the special prayer on the steps of the state Capitol. We do not glorify God when we pray with such a motive. God’s people have always thanked him for knowing their situation even before they prayed. God knew all along the plight of Israel’s long years in slavery to Egypt (Exodus 6:5).

Better would be the prayer of Charles Whitmire, who said, “We want desperately, for our state and nation and people to ‘turn their attention to you.’” And when God gets our attention, let us repent in humility and seek his face. 

Jerry Perrill

Irving

Stop bickering

Please tell me Robert Taylor was writing in jest in his letter (May 16⁾. I admit I have no personal knowledge of the Emmaus Walk program, but to claim that “Satan would like nothing better than to bring Baptists into the interdenominational movement” is way over the top.

Does not Christ pray that his followers will be one as he and the Father are one? Does not Paul chastise Christians when they decide to divide among themselves? Does not the Scripture say that we are one in Christ, all having been received in one baptism? In fact, is Christian unity not one of the prime underlying messages of the entire New Testament?

While Taylor may stick with his opinion, Scripture tells us Jesus would like nothing better than for Baptists to enter into the interdenominational movement.

Oh wait, there is one thing he should like better, stop all of our bickering, get out and spread the gospel.

Steven Rindahl

Louise

Appreciative of Walk to Emmaus

Every so many years, it will inevitably rear its ugly head. Yes, I mean that dreaded monster, the “interdenominationalism” argument. We must as Baptists be very afraid of the very idea that there are others in the Christian community who worship the same God and proclaim the same Jesus as Lord and Savior. And God forbid that we might find that we have much in common with these brothers and sisters in Christ.

Are we disciples of Smyth or Helwys or of some other Baptist icon? Or are we not disciples of Jesus Christ, as are any of the body of Christ, regardless of what man-made title we give their denomination.

I have gone on a Walk to Emmaus and quite honestly was a skeptic but came back appreciative of their mission. They seek to build stronger leaders within the Christian community, whether that would be Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian or even (gasp) “nondenominationalists”!

Let us put aside our closed-minded ways in thinking that Baptists are the only way of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and rather share the journey with those of like-minded faithfulness to the one and only Messiah Jesus Christ, regardless of what the sign says outside their church, since we who are truly his are born-again from the inside out anyway by the power of the Holy Spirit, and not by the regeneration of a certain type of baptism ritual.

Jon Thompson

Dripping Springs

Posted: 5/27/05

Ministries offered for
arrivals at service academies

Baptist student ministries at the United States armed service academies want to contact incoming cadets and midshipmen, campus ministry leaders emphasize.

At the United States Air Force Academy, the Baptist campus ministry is willing to provide special services for men and women who arrive early.

“For those arriving June 29, we will meet them at the airport, provide free lodging, meals and transportation and take them to the academy at the appointed time on June 30,” said Mary Kathryn Kelly, associate director of Baptist Collegiate Ministries at the academy.

“For those arriving June 30, the Air Force Academy buses will meet them, but we would like to know of their coming so we can make contact once they have arrived. This is an opportunity to meet smiling faces and make new Christian friends before beginning Basic Cadet Training.

“If pastors, parents, relatives, friends or new cadets will contact us with name, address, telephone and e-mail address, we will contact them to secure flight arrival times and provide further information.”

Cadets arriving at the U.S. Air Force Academy can contact Kelly at (719) 484-0347 or (719) 660-1676 or wwmkk@earthlink.net or Bill Gandy at (719) 635-0026 or bgandy@ppba.org.

Similar ministries are provided for new arrivals at the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

At West Point, contact Dwain Gregory at (719) 963-4477 or e-mail Dwain.Gregory@usma.edu or LeeDGreg@aol.com.

At Annapolis, contact Kirk Ritchey at (443) 994-1938 or director@annapolisbsu.org.

At the Coast Guard Academy, contact Randy Bond at (860) 848-6628 or nlcministry@sbcglobal.net.

Posted: 5/27/05

Nurse goes 'under cover' in South Asia

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

A Texas Baptist nurse went under cover to serve in South Asia.

Jo Nix of First Baptist Church in Corpus Christi recently returned from a medical mission trip to South Asia, where she and some of the other women volunteers chose to cover their heads in an effort to be culturally sensitive in a largely Muslim nation.

Nix covered her head with a summer bonnet and kept most of her body covered with medical scrubs, long sleeves and long pants. The attire helped her connect with people faster, she reported.

“You could just see their faces light up when we would appear with the head coverings,” Nix said. “It was as if they knew we normally would not wear the coverings.”

Nix was on a team of Baptist volunteers who were among the first medical groups to serve following a strong earthquake in the region in late March. A member of the Baptist Nursing Fellowship, Nix was ready to respond when she saw the request come to her through Texas Baptist Men and from the Southern Baptist International Mission Board.

“I really felt like God wanted me to go,” said Nix, an active member of Woman's Missionary Union in her church.

The team conducted clinics in several locations, treating a variety of ailments. People seemed to be concerned about the possibility of more earthquakes and tsunamis, Nix said. Stress-induced indigestion and high blood pressure affected young and old alike, indicating a high degree of anxiety.

Despite what they have been through, the people were welcoming, Nix said. “They were very grateful to us. They were very friendly.”

She hopes the Baptist team “planted seeds” that will grow into Christian faith. “They could see we went out of love and care for them.”

Conditions appear to be improving, Nix said. Several of the team members had been to the same locations just after the December tsunami struck and said much of the debris had been cleared. But much work still is needed, she added. Rubble and fallen trees still sit in many areas.

“It still was amazing to see the devastation,” she said.

Posted: 5/27/05

On the Move

Nick Acker to First Church in Edinburg as associate pastor to students from Baptist Temple in McAllen, where he was youth intern.

Sean Ackerman to First Church in Ralls as minister of music from Southcrest Church in Lubbock, where he was assistant to the pastor of music.

Bruce Anderson has resigned as pastor of Southlake Church in Waxahachie.

Dan Baker to First Church in Saginaw as minister of music.

Paul Billiet to Ranch House Fellowship Cowboy Church in Merkel as pastor.

George Box has resigned as music/student minister at Calvary Church in Mexia.

Kyle Bueermann to First Church in Crosbyton as youth minister.

Jason Cagle to Wildewood Church in Spring as minister of youth.

Jeff Campbell to Faith Church in Corsicana as pastor.

Ricardo Carrizalez to Iglesia Nueva Creacion in Abernathy as pastor from Iglesia Providencia in Lubbock.

Kyle Cavin has resigned as children's minister at First Church in Midlothian.

Don Cook to Friendship Church in Cleburne as interim minister of music.

Mike Cowan to Central Church in Luling as worship leader.

Jeff Cramer has resigned as pastor of Grace Temple Church in Denton.

Ken Dowdy to First Church in Lexington as minister of music and education.

Mike Flanagan to First Church in Whitesboro as pastor from First Church in Pharr.

Bob Gardner has resigned as minister of adult education at First Church in Wimberley.

Charles Gipson to Beall Chapel Church in Jacksonville as minister of youth.

Tracy Holcomb to First Church in Olton as pastor.

Bill Honea to First Church in Purdon as interim pastor.

Marshall Johnston to First Church in Aransas Pass as pastor.

Rick Lamb to Northside Church in Corsicana as pastor from Westhaven Church in Tonganoxie, Kan.

W.G. Libhart to First Church in Richland as pastor.

Chris Marchbanks to Grace Community Church in Corsicana as student/worship pastor.

David Marchbanks has resigned as pastor of New Hope Church in Cleburne.

Henry McBrayer to Friendship Church in Cleburne as interim pastor.

John McGinn to Parkside Church in Denison as student minister.

John McWhorter has resigned as pastor of Mustang Church in Pilot Point.

Lyn Means has resigned as pastor of Unity Church in LaVernia.

Jon Mefford to Friendship Church in Cleburne as interim youth director.

Mark Munson to First Church in Donie as pastor.

Russ Murphy has resigned as university minister at Indiana Avenue Church in Lubbock, effective Aug. 31.

Bob O'Daniel to Westmoreland Church in Lubbock as pastor from First Church in Hale Center.

Chad Ramsey to First Church in Chilton as minister of youth.

Dan Reynolds to First Church in Kress as pastor.

Matthew Raines to First Church in Cisco as minister of music and youth.

Wes Searcy has resigned as associate pastor for adult ministry at Valley Creek Church in Flower Mound to take a position with Global Mission Fellowship.

Bill Tinsley to First Church of Hebron in Carrollton as interim pastor.

Joel Tobey to Elmwood Church in Abilene as pastor.

Roy Walker has resigned as pastor of Ash Street Church in Abilene.

Zak White to The Connection Church in Kyle as assistant pastor from Central Church in Luling, where he was minister of youth.

Posted: 5/27/05

Church sees ministries launched,
sustained by consistent prayer

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–At First Baptist Church of San Antonio, prayer is like making a cake. Each ingredient is critical to the final product.

People bring different perspectives and petitions to the congregation's prayer ministry, said Marte Kellogg, the congregation's prayer coordinator.

“Each person has a shape,” she said. “If everyone doesn't pray, the prayer is incomplete.”

The church is developing a prayer ministry that includes every member and works in conjunction with the congregation's other ministries.

“My vision is that every ministry of the church is birthed out of prayer, but it would also be sustained by prayer,” Kellogg said.

While support groups meet at the church during the week, a prayer team of church members prays for them in another room. Support group leaders report relationships are building faster than before and people are more willing to talk about their issues, Kellogg said. These actions have been keys in making the support groups more effective. Leaders have asked for a larger prayer team to accompany up-coming support groups.

Kellogg also started praying each morning at 9 a.m., and others have joined her. They gather at the church and petition God for the needs around them.

For several years, Pastor Don Guthrie has emphasized a need to pray, and he has led the church to connect with other praying Christians.

The congregation recently launched www.praysa.org, a web site designed to raise awareness of San Antonio-area prayer gatherings and events. First Baptist Church also joined with other Christians through events related to the Global Day of Prayer, when the congregation emphasized prayer in its Sunday morning service and then held a special prayer service that afternoon in its sanctuary.

Kellogg hopes the interest in prayer continues growing. The results al-ready are showing themselves, she said. They can be even greater if more people were to get involved.

“The heart of the church is changing,” she said. “You can see it in their attitudes.”

Posted: 5/27/05

Returning troops need caring touch

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

Ministry to troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan can be as simple as a conversation and a cup of coffee, a Baptist General Convention of Texas-endorsed chaplain insists.

Battle takes a toll on soldiers, said Bob Vickers, former director of military chaplaincy for the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. When they leave a war zone, emotional scars can remain.

“Post-traumatic stress is eating these people alive,” he said.

(Photo by Lance Cpl. Paul Robbins Jr/Baptist Press)

Churches can help healing take place by listening to returning soldiers, Vickers said. The latest generation of soldiers is more likely to be looking for a place to express their emotions.

This is especially important as military reservists return from the battlefield, Vickers continued. Enlisted men have support avenues on their respective bases to help them. Reservists largely have to fend for themselves.

Reservists live in many parts of the country, not only around military bases, said Vickers, associate pastor at First Baptist Church in Roswell, Ga. Churches across the nation can create soldier support groups, and members can be intentional about listening to soldiers they know.

Above all, returning military personnel are looking for people who care about them, Vickers said.

“Those folks really need to hear the word of God and feel a caring touch,” he said.

Posted: 5/27/05

Task force urges Baptists
to respond to Hispanic growth

By Martin King

North American Mission Board

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–A national Hispanic task force created by the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board has submitted a report recommending a wide range of new resources, conferences and training to reach Hispanics in the United States and Canada with the gospel.

“I'm appreciative for the task force members who gave so much time and excellence to this work, and am proud and encouraged by the report we have produced,” said Daniel Sanchez, chairman of the task force and professor of missions at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. “The task force is confident it will help Southern Baptists move forward quickly and in a mighty way to reach even more effectively the millions of Hispanics in the United States and Canada who do not have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.”

NAMB President Bob Reccord announced creation of the 15-member task force last October to help the mission board determine the needs, concerns and dreams of Hispanic Baptist churches.

The task force began its work last November, meeting three times over the winter, and submitted its final 36-page report along with a 22-page report by Sanchez titled, “21st Century Hispanic Realities.” Sanchez's 10 “realities” are based on the most recent governmental and academic studies of the impact of the Hispanic population in North America. Sanchez calls them “realities” rather than trends, because “they are already in progress and not just factors that are projected to take place in the future.”

The realities document the growth of Hispanics nationally and in Canada and analyze various aspects of both first- and second-generation Hispanics, including their use of Spanish and English, receptiveness to the gospel, conservative social values and their diversity.

The task force report provides recommendations for each of four areas of ministry to Hispanics–five recommendations for evangelizing Hispan-ics, nine for starting new Hispanic SBC churches, five for penetrating the Hispanic culture and five related to identifying and training Hispanic church leaders.

The evangelism work group recommended setting a goal of increasing baptisms of Hispanics by 35 percent through a North America-wide Hispanic evangelistic and media effort, a consultation on Hispanic evangelism and production of new culturally relevant personal, public and ministry-based evangelism methods.

The church planting subgroup recommended a goal of starting 250 Hispanic SBC congregations each year through 2010. The report asks NAMB to serve as a catalyst for a North American consultation on Hispanic church planting, as well as help enlist more churches to sponsor Hispanic church starts, and discover and train pastors for the new churches.

The report also recommends enlistment and training of more laypeople, both Hispanic and non-Hispanic, in reaching unchurched Hispanics in their communities and in the marketplace. The penetrating the culture work group also recommended NAMB provide materials in Spanish and build a Spanish website.

Leadership development also was identified as a primary need in Hispanic communities. The report strongly emphasized the urgent need to train more Hispanics in leadership skills that undergird efforts in evangelism and church planting.

Reccord said an internal executive team led by Carlos Ferrer, NAMB's chief financial officer and a native of Cuba, already has begun implementation of several of the recommendations and would provide periodic updates to the task force and the Hispanic constituencies throughout the Southern Baptist Convention.

An executive summary of the task force report and the full text of the Sanchez document are available at www.namb.net.

Posted: 5/27/05

Posted: 5/27/05

Survey shows support for stem cell research

By Kathi Wolfe

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS)–Three out of four Americans say they support or might be able to support embryonic stem cell research, according to a recent survey.

“The issue of stem cell research isn't going to go away,” said Pam Solo, president of the Civil Society Institute, a nonpartisan public policy think tank in Newton, Mass.

“Everyone has someone in their family with a disease who might be helped by stem cell research.”

The survey was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation for the Institute's Results for America Project. The poll found 76 percent of Americans support or might support state initiatives to encourage embryonic stem cell research.

In 2001, President Bush placed restrictions on the funding and number of cell lines that could be used in embryonic stem cell research.

Legislation was introduced recently in Congress that, if passed, would increase the funding for and the number of stem cell lines eligible for federal stem cell research. The legislation is sponsored by Reps. Michael Castle, R-Del., and Diana DeGette, D-Colo., and Sens. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.

Some religious groups are expected to oppose the bill, and one religious leader questioned the validity of the poll.

The poll does not mention that “the embryos killed for this research are alive and developing when they are killed,” said Richard Doerflinger, a spokesman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington.

He said that because embryos for stem cell research are “obtained by killing live human beings,” the Catholic Church objects to this research and will oppose the bill in Congress.