Posted: 1/06/06

Pins mark 55 years perfect attendance

By Charles Richardson

Howard Payne University

BROWNWOOD–Bob Sartain has 55 consecutive years perfect attendance in Sunday school classes at the churches where he has been a member, and he's on his way toward 56.

Sartain, chair of the mathematics department at Howard Payne University, also serves as minister of music at First Baptist Church in May.

He has held similar music responsibilities in other Texas Baptist congregations, including Woodland Heights Baptist Church in Brownwood, Bethel Baptist Church in Plainview and the First Baptist churches of Santa Anna and Coleman.

He was interim music director at First Baptist Church in Levelland, and he has been with the May church more than two years.

At age 11, while his father was pastor of First Baptist Church in Clarendon, Sartain made “a commitment to the Lord and told him that as long as he kept me healthy enough to be in Sunday school on Sunday morning, I would not miss.”

His example has inspired family members to emulate him. The May congregation recently honored him for the achievement, along with his wife, Jan, pianist and part-time Howard Payne staff member, who achieved 25 years of perfect attendance.

The Sartain's oldest son, Tim, had 23 years before he missed. Younger son Dave achieved 30 years, and daughter Melissa marked 13 years before missing a Sunday school class.

The Sartain family to date has more than 146 years of perfect attendance to their credit.

“There have been times when I wasn't sure we'd make it,” Sartain acknowledged.

On one occasion, Dave became ill and it was necessary to take him to the hospital. But Sartain managed to attend Sunday school in spite of the unexpected visit with a physician.

Mrs. Sartain's record was curtailed when sickness occurred in the family.

“I stayed home with the kids when they were sick,” she says.

On several Sundays, the Sartains have been out of state. On one occasion while traveling in Colorado, the family drove 40 miles to attend Sunday school.

Sartain's perfect attendance is marked with pins presented by his church for each year–even though in recent years, the church has had difficulty finding a supplier that makes pins marking such longevity.

While he enjoys receiving the pins and recognition at the congregations that he and his wife are a part of, neither is important in itself, he says.

“What really is important is that I keep my commitment to the Lord,” he said.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 1/06/06

TEACHING THEM:
Educators seek to blend
something old, something new

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

Religious education in most Baptist churches used to be a closed shop–one preferred publishing house, one standard approach to age-graded Bible study and one time and place for classes.

Not any more. Churches face choices, from small-group, weeknight home Bible studies for seekers to affinity-group classes built around the perceived needs of potential participants.

Dennis Parrott, a consultant with the Baptist General Convention of Texas and former minister of education at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, estimates 90 percent of Texas Baptist churches follow a traditional approach of Sunday morning Bible study at the church facility.

“About 10 percent experiment with other formats, either in addition to Sunday morning Bible study at the church or–in a few cases–doing it alone. I do think it will increase. For instance, some are offering home Bible studies rather than building additional educational space at the church facility. It's not a large number, but it's increasing,” he said.

“Some churches are trying to remodel traditional Sunday school into something similar to the small-group concept, and it's working–change the name, change curriculum, make it more topical and issues-related.”

The challenge is to blend the best of old and new approaches, religious educators insist, particularly in areas such as choice of curriculum.

“There's no loyalty to one publisher. It's a big open market,” Parrott said. “Some churches want seeker-friendly material that's not as much Bible-intensive as it is needs-intensive. The idea is that they go to have their needs met.”

But many ministers of education fear an exclusively needs-centered approach can lead to an unbalanced diet in Bible study.

“The problem with offering options is that people may choose only to study their favorite topics and never get exposed to other biblical content,” said David Adams, minister of education at Williams Trace Baptist Church in Sugar Land. “It's important for there to be a curriculum track of some kind. … People need to be exposed to all of the Bible and not just their favorite parts.”

Even so, Williams Trace is considering classes built around special interests–not as a substitute for ongoing curriculum, but as a supplemental option.

“We're looking at some non-age-graded, hot-topic classes. But as long as I'm here, we'll never get away from focusing on the Bible as the basic text,” Adams said. “That's non-negotiable for me.”

Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston allows Sunday school departments to select ongoing Bible study from among three curriculum lines produced by LifeWay–the Southern Baptist Convention publishing house–as well as the BaptistWay material published by the Baptist General Convention of Texas. But departments can select a different study for up to one quarter each year.

“That helps satisfy interests,” said Minister of Education Larry Heslip, who noted the studies may focus on a topic or a book by a popular Christian author such as Rick Warren, as long as it is biblically based. “As long as it has doctrinal integrity, I'm OK with it.”

But for at least three quarters of every year, Heslip believes it's important for church members to be involved in an ongoing program of comprehensive Bible study.

“My fear is that otherwise it will become too attractive to stay in popular books and never get back into systematic Bible study,” he said.

Allowing options, rather than insisting on a standardized curriculum for every adult Sunday school class in a church, presents its own set of challenges, ministers of education noted.

“In our teacher-and-workers preparation time, those who use a different curriculum miss some of its benefits because I can't do a preview lesson for them,” said David Strawn, minister of education at First Baptist Church in College Station.

“It's a little bit of a challenge when we offer any kind of leadership training. It has to be more generic. Whoever is leading the training has to understand it's not geared to a particular line of curriculum.”

A growing number of churches are choosing to produce their own curriculum or use Bible study materials created by other congregations rather than a publishing house. More than 250 churches use the Internet-based curriculum produced by Carter Shotwell, minister of education and executive pastor for ministries at Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall.

“It all started because some other churches saw what we produced in-house and asked, 'Is that available for us?'” Shotwell said.

For a subscription fee, churches can download resources from www.ministrypoint.org, including teachers' materials, study helps, visual aids such as PowerPoint presentations and a videotaped lesson preview by Timothy Warren, a Dallas Theological Seminary professor who develops the biblical background portion of each week's lesson.

“I like to say it's current, creative and cost-effective,” Shotwell said. Illustrations in the teaching material are drawn from current events and popular culture.

The online curriculum is organized into three semesters each year. Two semesters offer a verse-by-verse Bible study, providing a balance between Old and New Testament texts.

“The summer semester is more a straight topical approach because people are in and out so much,” Shotwell said. “But it's all Bible-based. Next summer, we're looking at a study in (the Old Testament book of) Nehemiah, but it will be organized around themes rather than going verse-by-verse.”

Online resources–particularly the aids for visual learners–make the approach attractive to churches like Williams Trace in Sugar Land, Adams noted.

“We're looking at Carter's model because of what it offers in terms of PowerPoint and other things we don't have the time to produce,” he said.

Regardless of the curriculum congregations select, religious educators believe small-group Bible study remains an essential element for a vibrant church.

“Involvement in small groups is critical in order for a church to be healthy,” Adams said. “That's where relationships and friendships are built. Take it away, and you've lost a lot of what church is all about. There are things offered in small groups that you don't get in worship alone.”

Systematic Bible study, spiritual edification and a sense of community develop in small Bible study groups in ways they never can in large worship experiences, Strawn added.

Apart from involvement in a small-group Bible study, “people are not likely to plug into the life of a church,” he said. “In times of crisis, people in the church minister to each other, and that's not as likely to happen if they're not in a small group. People who are not plugged in to a small group usually are not receiving or giving ministry.”

Ongoing Bible study in a Sunday school provides a venue for creating caring fellowships in a way short-term small-group studies cannot, Parrott observed. As churches seek to wed the best of old and new approaches to religious education, the traditional Sunday school organization is hard to beat when it comes to establishing meaningful relationships, he noted.

“The problem with many small groups is that they are not designed to continue beyond six months or a year,” he said. “You lose accountability when you start over every time with a new group. There's a more permanent situation with Sunday school. You don't want a closed clique, but you do want a caring fellowship.”

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 1/06/06

Texas Tidbits

Baylor professors return from Iraq. Four Baylor University professors returned to Texas after helping their colleagues at Dohuk University in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq establish and dedicate Dohuk's Center for Democracy and Diplomacy. William Mitchell, director of Baylor's Center for International Education; William Hair, associate dean and director of the University Libraries; Larry Lehr, senior lecturer in environmental studies; and Brad Owens, associate professor of journalism, visited Dohuk in early December on the eve of Iraq's national elections. They presented seminars and workshops for Dohuk faculty and other higher education leaders on curriculum development, the role of higher education in civil society, web-based and distance learning, teaching and research in comparative politics, and the role of the news media in civil society. It marked the third trip by Baylor representatives to the region since 2003.

Bellinger named Baylor religion department chair. William Bellinger has been appointed chair of the Baylor University religion department, effective June 1. Bellinger, an Old Testament professor and director of graduate studies in the religion department, has served as acting department chair since June, when he took over from Interim Provost Randall O'Brien. Religion professor Naymond Keathley will serve as acting chair during the spring 2006 semester while Bellinger is on a research sabbatical. Bellinger graduated magna cum laude from Furman University with a bachelor's degree in philosophy. He earned his master of divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and his doctorate from the University of Cambridge.

Bequest will endow Hardin-Simmons honors program. Trustees from Hardin-Simmons University voted to use about $7.2 million from the June Frost Leland bequest to endow the HSU honors program beginning with the 2006-2007 academic year. Through the honors program, students who meet the university's highest entrance requirements could qualify for up to $13,000 per year in scholarships. Total value of the Leland gift is estimated at $10 million. Of the remainder of the remaining bequest, $500,000 will go into the general scholarship fund over the next two years, and the balance will fund capitol improvements in the university's Securing the Future campaign.

Texas churches named "points of light." The Points of Light Foundation recently recognized two Texas Baptist churches for their contributions to the Kids Hope USA mentoring program. The Points of Light Foundation–an organization that encourages and recognizes volunteer community service–recognized University Baptist Church in Arlington and First Baptist Church in Richardson. Kids Hope USA trains local churches to work with at-risk children in their local public schools through a one-hour-a-week mentoring relationship. Kids Hope USA works in partnership with Buckner Baptist Benevolences, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Dallas Baptist Association and Tarrant Baptist Association.

UMHB receives $500,000 gift. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor received a $500,000 gift for an endowed scholarship from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. "This generous gift will provide for many student scholarships for many years to come," said President Jerry Bawcom. "It is a significant contribution, and we sincerely appreciate the donor's generosity."

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 1/06/06

TOGETHER:
Texans react to tragedy, opportunity

The beginning of 2006 has presented us with another painful start to a New Year. At the beginning of 2005, the world was fixed on the tsunami disaster in southern Asia. This year, our attention has been riveted on the fires in West Texas. People have died. Houses and barns have disappeared in the flames. Families are dealing with loss, grief and the emotional trauma that comes when we realize how little control we really have over some things in our lives.

Reports coming to my office make me so very proud of Texas Baptists. You are among the very first in every community to step forward and offer all the resources at your disposal to minister to and comfort everyone you can reach in your towns and neighborhoods. You, and the people you serve, are in my prayers.

Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

Representatives from the Baptist General Convention of Texas have been in most afflicted communities, seeking to provide encouragement and resources to assist the pastors, directors of missions, churches and associations in their ministries to the people.

There will be needs in these communities for a long time. Our Texas Baptist Men and Baptist Builders will be involved in the rebuilding process. Your contributions to help in relieving need and building a new future can be channeled through the BGCT Disaster Relief fund. You can donate online at www.bgct.org (click the Disaster Relief link) or mail to BGCT, 333 N. Washington, Dallas 75246-1798.

Another sadness that has caught the attention of America is the loss of the coal miners in West Virginia. Our hearts go out to these dear people who are struggling with their loss and anger. We sing along with them the songs of faith and join them in their prayers. There is deep Christian faith in the hearts of many of those families, and we thank God for the comfort he brings, the salvation he secures and the witness they have been faithful to give.

Pray for the work of your convention and for me as I work on your behalf to “advance all the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom.” The BGCT exists to encourage, facilitate and connect the churches in their work to fulfill the mission of God in reconciling the world to himself. We have achieved some very important structural changes in how we govern ourselves and how we are organized to deliver meaningful services to the local churches. These will be fleshed out this year as our new Executive Board organizes itself and begins to serve you. Two laymen, Bob Fowler of South Main Baptist Church in Houston and Jim Nelson of Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin, will give leadership to the new board, and they deserve and need your prayers.

Our staff reorganization continues. Our new approach to providing congregational strategists who will relate to associations and churches takes the next step this month as training begins for these assignments. Pray for Ron Gunter, David Nabors and me as we give leadership to our highly dedicated and gifted staff as they prepare for these changes.

The BGCT has had, and continues to have, a wonderful reputation of being focused on the most important issues of church starting, church development, evangelism, missions, ministries, education that prepares strong ministers and lay leaders, and a positive, biblically faithful and consistent Christian witness to the world.

As this new year begins, we say to God, “Thanks” for all that has been and “Yes” to all that will be.

We are loved.

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

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 1/06/06

Sloan	Underwood	Lilley

Baylor leadership transition
the top Texas story in 2005

By Marv Knox

Editor

Transition of leadership at Baylor University–the Baptist General Convention of Texas' oldest and most well-known institution–headed the Baptist Standard's list of top 10 Texas stories for 2005.

The Baylor presidency captured Texas Baptists' attention for most of the year.

In January, embattled President Robert Sloan told Baylor regents he had agreed to retire from the presidency and become the university's chancellor, effective June 1.

See Related Story: 'Acts of God' considered top national/global story

Sloan's future had been a topic of debate–plus at least three votes of the regents and “no confidence” votes of the faculty–in the previous two years. Sloan's leadership and vision for Baylor had become a point of contention, not only among regents and faculty, but also among alumni.

In the spring, regents chose Bill Underwood, a Baylor law professor and former university general counsel, as interim president. On June 1, his first day on the job, Underwood removed Provost David Lyle Jeffrey–with whom Underwood publicly debated academic freedom and who had joined Sloan at the center of Baylor's leadership conflict.

Through the summer, Underwood became one of two primary candidates for the presidency, along with Linda Livingstone, a former Baylor faculty member and current business dean at Pepperdine University. But by September, when the regents seemed stalemated between the two, Underwood removed himself from contention, and the regents backed away from Livingstone.

That cleared a path for a darkhorse candidate. John Lilley, a three-time Baylor graduate and distinguished alumnus who had spent the past quarter-century serving as president of two state universities far from the “Baylor bubble,” emerged as a choice on which both sides of the Baylor divide could agree.

On Nov. 4, regents unanimously elected Lilley, president of the University of Nevada at Reno, as Baylor's 13th president. Known as a consensus builder, Lilley impressed the regents with his collaborative approach to leadership and his love for Baylor, regents Chairman Will Davis said. Lilley began his tenure Jan. 2.

In a parallel move, trustees of Mercer University voted Dec. 2 to elect Underwood as president. He begins his tenure with the Baptist school in Macon, Ga., next summer.

Rounding out Texas Baptists' top 10 stories were:

2. BGCT ethnic diversity.

The Texas convention displayed its racial and ethnic diversity in 2005. Albert Reyes, president of the Baptist University of the Americas in San Antonio, presided as the first Hispanic president in BGCT history. Michael Bell, pastor of Greater St. Stephen First Baptist Church in Fort Worth, succeeded him and became the convention's first African-American president. On top of that, messengers to the BGCT annual meeting approved new bylaws that mandate at least 30 percent of the Executive Board–the convention's primary governing body–be non-Anglo.

3. Reorganization.

In 2005, the BGCT embraced its most vigorous reorganization in almost a half-century. Governance changes streamlined the convention's decision-making processes, eliminating a slate of committees and commissions and vesting authority in the Executive Board. That board was restructured–pared down from about 230 members to 90, mathematically distributed across the state–and mandated to ensure a voice for minorities. Along the way, convention administrators engaged an equally vigorous reorganization of the Executive Board staff, designed to make the convention more responsive to churches. The staff realignment is to be completed in 2006.

4. Baptist World Alliance membership.

A large contingent of Texans traveled to Birmingham, England, last summer to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Baptist World Alliance, a network of more than 200 Baptist conventions from around the globe.

The celebration was especially sweet to Texas Baptists, because the BWA granted full membership to their convention in Birmingham. History had come full circle: George W. Truett, longtime pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas and Texas Baptists' pre-eminent statesman in the first half of the 20th century, played a key role in organizing the BWA in 1905. Ninety-nine years later, the Southern Baptist Convention, Texas Baptists' national home since 1845, pulled out of the BWA. But a year after that, Texas Baptists restored their relationship with Baptist sisters and brothers worldwide.

5. Gulf Coast calamity.

Hurricanes Katrina and then Rita ravaged the Gulf Coast from Mobile almost to Houston. Texas Baptists responded with love and compassion. Thousands contributed funds and volunteered time and labor to help relocate storm evacuees. Texas Baptist Men volunteers traveled throughout the decimated region, preparing meals and providing myriad relief services. Scores of churches opened their doors to offer temporary shelter. BGCT agencies supplied staffing and expertise. And the BGCT itself provided $1 million to Baptists in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to help their churches respond to acute need.

6. Legislative success and failure.

On the up side, the Texas Legislature worked to reform the state's Child Protective Services last spring. A significant result was new budget funding that increased the number of state workers who look after the welfare of children. On the down side, the Legislature failed once again to reform Texas' school-financing system. The result of that failure is the education of Texas children–and the welfare of the state itself–remains precarious.

7. Tsunami relief.

A historic tsunami rocked South Asia islands and coastal regions on Dec. 26, 2004, but the reverberations rolled across Texas throughout 2005. Texas Baptist Men responded immediately, and the organization has sent numerous teams to affected areas, particularly Sri Lanka, to secure clean drinking water, provide other relief and share the gospel. Texas Baptist Child & Family Services and Buckner Baptist Benevolences have provided professional insight and loving care to families and child advocates whose worlds were turned upside down by the waves. WorldconneX, the BGCT's missions network, has applied its expertise to alleviate suffering. And churches and individuals have provided hands-on ministry and more than $1 million to devastated flood victims.

8. Immigration issues.

In 2005, Texas learned it does not have a majority population. Anglos no longer comprise more than 50 percent of the state's residents, and their share of the population will continue to decline. Before long, Hispanics will be Texas' largest ethnic group. And not long after that, they will constitute a majority of all residents. While the Anglo percentage declines, African-Americans are expected to increase at about the same rate as population growth, with Asian-Americans growing just a little faster. The changing demographics–particularly fueled by immigration from Mexico and Central America–will continue to change innumerable state variables and characteristics, from language to education to economics to, you guessed it, church life.

9. Bear champions.

Championship Lady Bears team meets with President George Bush.

One night in April, just about every Texas Baptist felt part of the “Baylor Family.” The Lady Bears defeated Michigan State 84-62 to claim the NCAA Division I national championship in women's basketball. The win by Kim Mulkey-Robertson's talented and big-hearted cagers helped ease the wound of the tragic 2003 death of men's basketball player Patrick Dennehy and the ensuing coaching scandal that very nearly cost the men's basketball team the “death penalty.” The Lady Bears gave Baylor's alumni and friends something they could agree on–finally.

10. Lake electrocution.

University Baptist Church in Waco was packed out Oct. 30, filled with members as well as former members who had come to town for Baylor's homecoming. Kyle Lake, the church's 33-year-old pastor, stepped into the baptistry and reached for a microphone when an electrical charge surged through his body, fatally wounding him. Lake was a leader in the “emerging church” movement and was well-known for making the gospel relevant to young adults.

The conclusion of the sermon Lake planned to deliver that morning stated: “If you've recently experienced loss, then grieve. And grieve well. At the table with friends and family, laugh. If you're eating and laughing at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke. And if you eat, then smell. The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven. And taste. Taste every ounce of flavor. Taste every ounce of friendship. Taste every ounce of life. Because it is most definitely a gift.”

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 1/06/06

Half in U.S. report spiritual transformation

By Nicole LaRosa

Religion News Service

CHICAGO (RNS)–Half of Americans have had a spiritual transformation experience, and 35 percent of those are not born-again Christians, newly released research from the University of Chicago reveals.

Most “changers” were part of a religious community when they had the experience and reported an increased commitment to God that has lasted many years, the study found. Many transformations occurred early in life and at a turbulent time–during an illness or after an accident or a relationship breakup.

Tom Smith, the study's author, was surprised by the reported endurance of the behavioral changes, which also included becoming more compassionate and quitting bad habits.

“I expected a deterioration,” Smith said, noting that 13 years, on average, have passed since most respondents' experiences. “They're not still tingling from the change.”

The question was posed to 1,328 adults in 2004 as the religion component of the General Social Survey by the university's National Opinion Research Center.

Fundamentalist and evangelical Christians reported the highest percentage of changers–72 percent.

These groups are more poised for a change experience because their language encourages it, Smith said.

But nearly half of Protestants in moderate and liberal denominations and 30 percent of Catholics also reported transformations. Jews, Muslims and other religious groups were omitted from the report because of small sample sizes.

Transformations were least likely in New England–24 percent–and most common in the South–about 60 percent. About 15 percent more African-Americans reported spiritual transformations than those of other racial backgrounds.

The survey marked the first time a quantitative study asked open-ended questions about transformations, Smith said.

“We asked: 'What was it like? How has it changed your life?'” he said.

Language from the answers–for example, how many times Jesus was mentioned–was evaluated mathematically.

Smith expects other researchers will build on the anecdotal answers, examining them in new ways.

He also expects further research based on the finding that changers were more likely than others to describe their lives as “exciting” as opposed to “routine” or “dull” in the General Social Survey.

The Pennsylvania-based John Templeton Foundation, which supports scientific research in religion, funded the study.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 1/06/06

Not easy being a Christian vegetarian

By David Briggs

Religion News Service

CLEVELAND (RNS)–The Old Testament book of Leviticus records that God said to Moses, "You may eat any land animal that has divided hoofs and that also chews the cud." In the Gospel of Luke, the father celebrates the return of the prodigal son by ordering the slaughter of the fatted calf for a feast.

And in the miracle of the loaves and fishes, when Jesus fed thousands gathered to hear him, fish was definitely a big part of the menu.

So it's not easy being a Christian vegetarian, or to seek to convert meat-eaters to a dietary lifestyle that makes fewer demands on the environment and is sensitive to the feelings of other creatures in creation.

For the Cleveland-based international Christian Vegetarian Association, one place to start is in the beginning, in the first chapter of Genesis.

There, God is said to speak of an ideal world where grains and fruits are plentiful, and humans are to care for–rather than eat–animals.

Fast-forward to today, in an era of factory farming that can cause great suffering for animals slaughtered and housed en masse. Some can make a strong case that Jesus would leave meat out of his diet, Christian vegetarians say.

“Christian love should apply to animals as well as humans,” said Stephen Kaufman, a Northeast Ohio ophthalmologist who is co-chairman of the Christian Vegetarian Association. “Whatever 'dominion' means, it's not tyranny. It's not cruelty.”

The association was founded in 1999 to offer a Christian alternative to a movement that has tended to be dominated by secular people and people without much sympathy toward religion.

Unlike more radical groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the Christian association tends to be more low-key and less confrontational, preferring education and persuasion, the group's leaders said.

The association, which features a prominent international board of animal-rights theologians and activists, distributes literature and a video in which people say why vegetarianism is important to their faith and encourages churches to hold discussions on the moral issues involved in deciding which foods to eat.

Christian vegetarianism is not an easy sell.

On the left, secular vegetarians often are distrustful of religion, associating Christianity with the idea that humans have been given dominion over creation to exploit it for their own needs, rather than to care for the environment.

“In fact, Christianity demands such compassion,” said Stephen Webb, co-chairman of the Christian Vegetarian Association and the author of On God and Dogs: A Christian Theology of Compassion for Animals.

Yet among religious folks, the many biblical references to animal sacrifice, the eating of meat and fish, and religious laws regarding the slaughter of animals make vegetarianism seem somewhat foreign to the faith.

Where Christian vegetarians are making headway on the biblical front, however, is in their interpretation of Genesis that God intended a vegetarian diet described in the Garden of Eden.

In the creation account at the end of the first chapter of Genesis, God gives human beings power over the fish, the birds and all animals. But no creatures–neither animals nor humans–need to eat one another's flesh.

“I have provided all kinds of grain and all kinds of fruit for you to eat; but for all the wild animals and for all the birds I have provided grass and leafy plants for food,” God is said to have proclaimed in Genesis 1:29.

Webb, a professor of religion and philosophy at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., said it is a key passage “bringing conservative Christians on board to the vegetarian movement.”

The Christian Vegetarian Association also holds up several biblical passages showing God's concern for all of creation, from feeding the birds of the air to forgetting not one sparrow.

If you take away extremes, Webb said, “There's a broad consensus that the Bible does teach compassion for animals.”

The question is not as much what Jesus did in the culture of his day as what Jesus would do today, proponents say.

In its booklet Honoring God's Creation, the vegetarian association says justice concerns should prompt Christians to consider a change in what they eat.

For example, it says the greater costs and resources associated with raising animals for food decreases the amount of grain available for feeding the hungry and raises the cost of all food.

In terms of the environment, the association says, “The typical meat-eater's diet can easily consume up to 14 times more water and 20 times more energy than that of a vegetarian.”

The association also asks Christians to consider how sausage is made.

Animals raised under factory farming conditions can “suffer greatly” from stressful crowding, barren environments, amputations without anesthesia and painful slaughtering methods, the group says.

“All things being equal, if we can avoid contributing to factory farming, if we can avoid contributing to the cruelties, the Bible would support such a position,” Kaufman said.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 1/06/06

Pastoral residency program receives grant

By Mark Wingfield

Special to the Baptist Standard

DALLAS–The Lilly Endowment has awarded Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas a second round of funding for its pastoral residency program.

The $850,000 grant will fund another five years of the program that brings recent seminary or divinity school graduates to Wilshire for two years of practical training before going to pastorates of their own.

Wilshire began its pastoral residency program in 2002 with an $800,000 Lilly grant and already has produced three graduates–Jay Hogewood, Ann Bell Worley and Jake Hall. Current pastoral residents are Sean Allen, Andrew Daugherty, Amy Grizzle and David King.

Wilshire is among only 10 congregations nationwide to receive renewal grants in late 2005.

Lilly's Transition-into-Ministry programs, from which the Wilshire grant derives, “foster on-the-job training for recent seminary graduates, in order to increase their competence and confidence for pastoral ministry,” explained Pastor George Mason.

Wilshire has adopted the vision of being a teaching church, drawing upon the model of medical training done in hospitals by residency programs.

“Churches want and need pastors with clear ministerial identity who love the church and serve it capably,” Mason said.

“Seminary education provides a necessary foundation of biblical, historical and theological knowledge. But many skills for ministry can only be honed in the practice of ministry. The two-year residency program allows fledgling pastors to practice the craft without fear of failure.”

Wilshire's pastoral residents perform all the functions of the pastorate, and along the way, they reflect upon the work with experienced ministers and encouraging lay members by their side.

The teaching model has been so widely embraced at Wilshire that the congregation has added its own funding for a music ministry residency position, currently held by Brad Jernberg.

This year, the congregation will launch an initiative to secure permanent endowment funding for the Pathways to Ministry program–the umbrella under which the pastoral residency falls at Wilshire.

Other components of Pathways to Ministry at Wilshire include summer internships for college students exploring ministry, scholarships for Wilshire members seeking theological training, and YourCall, a Wilshire-created program to help high school students with vocational discernment. More information about Wilshire's Pathways to Ministry program is available online at www.wilshirebc.org

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 1/06/06

CYBER COLUMN:
Goals 2006

By Berry D. Simpson

Well it’s no secret: I’m a goal-setter, a box-checker and a list-maker. I love making to-do lists and checking them twice, and I make a list of goals every year.

It’s not that I’m the Goal Nazi or anything like that. I’m not really that disciplined a guy. In fact, I am a gentle goal-setter. I tend to set goals I think I have a solid chance to achieve. If I stretch, it is in small moves only. I believe in lifelong incremental improvements. I want to do things that are sustainable and repeatable. Small changes over time add up to new habits and eventually to new ways of living.

Most of my goals are not new; they’re the same ones I’ve had year after year for years. Generally, I like to do whatever it is I’m already doing. Being a creature of momentum, I’ll continue moving in the same direction, doing the same things as long as I can.

So, in the interest of full disclosure, here are a few of my goals for 2006:

• Pre-emptive medical care and intervention. I’ve discovered that the typical male treatment method of “walking it off” no longer works for me. In fact, that’s why I’m limping nowadays. I need to be more grown up about my own medical care.

• Drink more coffee. A recent article in US News & World Report said coffee is much healthier than we’ve been led to believe. I drink a cup or two in the mornings at my office, but I seldom make coffee at home. I just don’t want to go to the trouble to make coffee for only myself (Cyndi isn’t old enough to drink coffee), but I am happier whenever I do. I drink decaf coffee (to protect my blood pressure) with no additives—no sugar, no milk, no cream, no candy, no ice cream.

• Focus my reading. I will read a lot of books as usual, but I’d like to have more focus in what I read. Unfortunately, I don’t have a plan yet.

• Run farther. One of my goals last year was to enter an ultramarathon—a 50-mile race—before I turned 50 years old this June. But my left knee fell apart, putting that particular goal on hold. I hope to resurrect it.

• Backpack. I want to make at least two overnight backpacking trips into the Guadalupes, the first one in February. This is heart medicine for me. I’d like to do more, in new adventurous places, but this is all my imagination can handle so far.

• Weight training. I intend to work out with weights at least twice a week to prevent more goal-crippling injuries.

• Push my body weight down to at least 180 before June. If I can’t do this now, I may never get it done.

• Submit more essays for publication. I’ve given up on this for too long, and it is time to resurrect the dream.

• Buy a bigger TV, maybe even an HDTV, so we won’t have to squint while watching movies. (Cyndi reminded me that we bought our current TV back when our adult children were babies.)

• Government. I hope to have at least one more campaign in my future for local political office.

So you may be asking, “Why is goal-setting important? Why should we care about it?”

I’m not sure goal-setting is so important, but the way in which we live our lives is very important. Ephesians 5:15-16 says: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” In this postmodern 21st century, it matters more than ever that our lives honor God in every way.

So what are your goals for 2006? Here are a few suggestions you might consider:

• Read the Bible through, cover to cover.

• Read at least one book by Phillip Yancey (What’s So Amazing About Grace, The Jesus I Never Knew), C. S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia, Mere Christianity, Surprised By Joy) and John Eldredge (Sacred Romance, Journey of Desire, Wild At Heart, Waking The Dead, Captivating).

• Memorize one Bible verse per month.

• Get a journal and spend ten minutes every day writing your thoughts

• Buy a CD of music that shaped your life when you were a teenager, and listen to it at full volume while driving around town.

Berry Simpson, a Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church in Midland, is a petroleum engineer, writer, runner and member of the city council in Midland. You can contact him through e-mail at berry@stonefoot.org.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 1/03/06

Family Bible Series for Jan. 8

Money has its place, but it’s not first place

• Luke 12:16-28, 31-34

By Donald Raney

Westlake Chapel, Graham

While it is true that the most important things in life are things money cannot buy, it also is true that life in the modern world requires we have the things money can buy. Food, clothing and shelter are necessary to life and only are available at some level of financial cost.

Yet many people today go beyond securing the money to meet their needs and allow the quest for the accumulation of wealth to consume their life. Since some measure of social power, influence and celebrity often accompanies wealth, many see the accumulation of wealth as a means of obtaining security.

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Yet the irony is that rather than providing more security, excess financial gain creates the need for still further security in order to protect that wealth. We spend untold millions on locks and devices designed to secure that which was supposed to provide us with security. This in turn does not provide the sense of peace which the initial temptation had promised, but an increased level of stress as the “need” for still more wealth grows.

As one might expect, the Bible has a great deal to say about money. Yet it does not, as many assume, speak of money or wealth as inherently evil. Many biblical writers and Jesus himself recognized money as necessary for meeting physical needs. The Bible does, however, teach the urgency for maintaining a proper perspective on money so the desire for more does not overtake us. In Luke 12, the writer records some of Jesus’ most significant and direct teachings concerning this proper perspective.

Luke 12:16-21

Apparently following his baptism, Jesus quickly acquired a reputation as a wise and fair teacher. He often was sought out for advice or as a mediator in personal disputes.

One day, two brothers came to him arguing about the rightful division of their father’s estate. One of the brothers was feeling slighted and demanded that Jesus force his brother to give him his fair share. Jesus used the opportunity to warn the crowd around him against the dangers of greed.

After refusing to directly mediate the dispute, he told a parable about a farmer who had an especially good harvest. Seeing that his current barns were not large enough to store the abundance, he decided to tear down the barns and build larger ones which would be sufficient to store the excess. The farmer could then cease the hard work and rest in the knowledge that he had a surplus.

Jesus points out the folly in the story is that no one knows when they will die. If one spends his or her time and resources in accumulating wealth, what good will it do on the day of their death? They will simply leave their accumulation to someone else. God blesses us with financial prosperity to meet our needs and those of others around us. The goal is not to stockpile the money God gives and then sit back, but to use it as it is given in helping others. This is how we can become “rich toward God” and store up our treasures in heaven where we will be able to enjoy them into eternity.

Luke 12:22-28

The avoidance of the folly of accumulating wealth was only part of Jesus’ proper perspective on money. Jesus also knew the danger of accumulating wealth was that we would eventually put our trust in the money. We would see it as the means of security.

Thus the other part of Jesus’ perspective on money was to trust God to provide for the meeting of our needs. In these verses, Jesus points to several examples in nature of ways that God meets needs. He points to the birds and the fact that they do not spend their lives concerned about insuring good crops in order to store up possessions. Yet God feeds them all they need.

He then points to the example of the wildflowers which do not work to produce elaborate wardrobes of clothing, yet God dresses the fields more brilliantly than Solomon in all of his wealth.

The point here is hard to miss. God knows what we need and is in possession of infinite resources with which to meet those needs. We thus do not need to be concerned with accumulating earthly resources to meet possible future needs. We simply need to devote our energies to developing a growing relationship with God by seeking his kingdom above all else.

Luke 12:31-34

Jesus certainly must have anticipated their questions. “How can I do this in the midst of a world which constantly entices me to pursue wealth?” Jesus addresses this question by saying that in order to do this one must make a deliberate decision. One must decide to seek God’s kingdom above the kingdom of the world which is based on placing trust in things. We need not question whether we will be able to find God’s kingdom because God has given it to us.

Through the life and ministry of Jesus, he has placed it in our world here and now. As we actively seek his kingdom, all other things we need also will be given to us without the usual accompanying stress. To seek this kingdom, we simply choose to relinquish all claims to worldly possessions and to use our resources to meet the needs of others around us. Since, as Jesus has already taught us, God created and owns it all anyway, this choice is simply an acknowledgement of the unseen reality concerning all wealth.

Discussion questions

• What are some other biblical teachings concerning wealth?

• Why is the temptation to pursue the accumulation of wealth so strong?

• What are some ways that you are exercising a biblical perspective on money?

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 1/03/06

Explore the Bible Series for Jan. 8

Demonstrate Christ’s love to others with action

• Romans 12:9-21

By Trey Turner

Canyon Creek Baptist Church, Temple

In this unit, we have been talking about being pleasing to God. The Apostle Paul reminds us a pleasing Christian is one who lives practically. She or he lives in real circumstances, has real challenges and still meets real needs. The Christian cannot completely be pleasing to God without getting outside the Sunday School classroom.

There may be a degree in which a person could learn airplane mechanics from the comfort of his or her own home, but would you want to fly in an airplane that was assembled by someone with only that level of education? Much is learned about the Christian faith by walking with Christ in those circumstances where faith happens.

Let love be genuine (Romans 12:9)

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Interestingly, Paul pairs genuine love with truth. When Jesus drove the moneychangers from the temple, he did not compromise his love for God or for people. From love, turning over the moneychangers tables surprised the status quo. If his love had been weaker, emotion-based action, he might have compromised for an easier solution. Jesus acted out of love with conviction. His love is genuine and sincere. How much easier it is to love people with conviction knowing how much God loves people and wants the best for them also. God asks us to do something he is doing already, namely, hate evil and cling to what is good.

Let love be generous (Romans 12:10-13)

The Christian life is one which is offered back to God. The expression of that devoted life is one offered also to community. The person who lives this way is not primarily concerned with his or her rights, but even takes setbacks in stride. Paul reminds the Roman Christians not to let the daily grind of life take away their zeal for Christian living.

The list of traits in verses 12-13 can only be achieved in the believer who is in joyful fellowship with God. A person who is joyful because of hope in God also is encouraged to be patient with the difficult situations he or she finds in life. The Christian gives God time to work and has faith that he is working.

He or she also gives generously to others in need. The life, joy and strength that has been received from the Lord, share with other brothers and sisters. Your service is not to them alone; your service is to the Lord.

Let love express humility (Romans 12:14-16)

Real life tests these Christian ideals about being genuine and generous. Someone said the ones who deserve grace the least are those who need it the most. How does someone deal with persecution, mourning and other hindrances to real living? It is done by forming a soft heart and not a hard one. The disciple lives proactively, deciding how he or she will live in light of Scripture. It must be of some help to say, when my faith is tested I am deciding now that I will respond with Christian grace. The person who lives reactively complains about how some people or circumstances do not allow them to live the Christian life. Paul says, deliberately live with a humble heart toward God and toward others.

Let love promote peace (Romans 12:17-21)

Building on Paul’s encouragement toward humility, he adds, be a peacemaker. This says the disciple does on the outside what he or she believes on the inside. The complete picture of the disciple shows a person who does not react to people or circumstances, but with patience and with an eye to God’s plan lives to make peace. Again, this is not peace at all costs. Jesus hated evil and had conviction which guided his actions. He did so with humility working his redemptive purposes. We do no less.

I went to the memorial service for Don Shannon, a precious man of God who was a member of our church. I have never been to such an uplifting and personal memorial service. Don moved to Highland Lakes Baptist Encampment around the time I came to Canyon Creek. He did so because he knew he could give his carpentry expertise to the Lord, live in a camper on site, and enjoy serving the Lord as a Mission Service Volunteer.

Now, Don never had any formal training in theology or ecclesiology. He would not know what to do with a Hebrew root word unless he could put it on a fishing pole and help boys’ and girls’ camp experiences.

In the last years of Don’s life, his health was bad. When he would come to Temple to see his doctor, I would ask him about some of his projects. I remember how Don would tell me about recent camps and about those who had given their lives to Christ, rededicated their lives or answered God’s call to serve him. Cancer treatments might slow Don down to what only an average person could do.

Don Shannon is for me an enduring image of humbly living before God and men with faith. He will forever be an example of the encourager—even when he himself needed encouraging. I will look at Don on the one hand, and this passage on the other saying the level of service in this passage is difficult. But when you are blessed by your relationship with your Lord, God seems, at least from Don’s life, to make this obedience a pleasure.

Discussion question

• How can you demonstrate the love of Christ to someone in your community?

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 1/04/06

BaptistWay Bible Series for Jan. 15

Stay prepared for Christ’s return; serve daily

• Luke 12:35-48

By Fallon Curry

Logsdon Seminary, Abilene

A world in crisis seems to result in dire predictions of the end times. Some people apparently think Jesus will not come until they are able to accomplish the things on their own “Life’s To-Do List.” Others push thoughts of his coming to the back of their minds and live life as though he is not coming at all—or at least not in their lifetime. They act as though they will have plenty of time to “get things right” before he comes or they die.

On the flip side, there are those who have bookmarked Revelation and are so consumed with what and when might be that the present gets lost.

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How does Jesus want us to be ready for his return while still living in the present? In our lesson today, we will examine what Jesus had to say about our role in being prepared for his return—whenever it may be.

Jesus used a common Jewish custom to instruct his followers to be ready for the day he returns. Jewish weddings took place at night. The custom was that at some point, late in the night or early morning, the groom would return home with his new bride. The servants of that home were to be ready and waiting no matter how early or late the couple arrived. The servants were dressed, the lamps were lit, the table was set. Each servant did his or her assigned duties with joy and anticipation.

In verses 35-36, Jesus told his disciples to be like the servants waiting for the groom to return. This was how they were expected to be living when he makes his return. When the groom comes to the door, he is not to be left standing outside with his new bride on account of the servants growing weary and falling asleep. Nor were the groom and his bride to return home to find the house in shambles and the servants dumbfounded, saying, “You are home early!” No, the servants are to have everything in place. They are to be working hard to please their master.

The twist Jesus adds to this common scene in Jewish life was that, in his version, when the master returns home, he chooses to serve and not be served. This is a repeated theme in Jesus’s teaching on real love. The servant selflessly works hard to prepare for the master’s coming, thinking not of himself. Rather, he seeks only the joy on the master’s face, with everything in the house in its place as it should be. In return, the master rewards the selfless and hard-working servant by waiting on him!

Jesus paints a beautiful picture of how things should be for his return. However, no one can pencil in Jesus’ coming in their day planner. Verses 39–40 explain that he will come when we least expect it— on his time, not ours. We live faithfully and fully day to day by seeking to accomplish his purposes rather than our own.

The Bible teaches that each of us has his or her own purpose and the gifts appropriate to accomplish that purpose. In verses 41-48, Jesus stated that believers should live out those purposes, both big and small, each day as though it would be their last chance to do so. Christian responsibilities can reach to highest offices or to menial tasks. Jesus expects each of us to fulfill the roles he has entrusted to us with honesty and integrity. Each person’s life will be rewarded in accordance with God’s judgment on how well each has worked to fulfill his or her daily purposes in life.

Jesus said both the disadvantages and the advantages each person faces in accomplishing God’s work will be taken into account when they are judged. Advantages such as leadership, wisdom, knowledge and other similar privileges such as wealth and ability are justly held to a higher standard of responsibility. It is for Jesus’ purposes that those gifts and advantages were given to his servants to begin with.

A servant who wasted them for selfish gain would not be rewarded. This is not to say that ignorance is a valid excuse for wrongly using God’s gifts. However, it is worse for someone knowingly to be disobedient than to be disobedient because he did not know any better. Therefore, if anyone should be blessed immensely, it is their responsibility to bless others immensely by using what they have been given to prepare for Jesus’ coming.

Chapter 12 shows Jesus teaching his disciples to beware of and face several challenges, such as hypocrisy, fear, greed and worry. It is fitting that at the close of this particular series of directions, Jesus ended with instructions on how to live life to the fullest—preparing each day for his return.

What better way to overcome hypocrisy, fear, greed and worry than to keep our hearts clean, not fearing anyone, and giving away possessions that we cannot take with us, anyway. And worry only distracts us from preparing for Jesus in the way that would please him most.

This is how we prepare for Jesus’ sure return. Not by trying to decipher its schedule, but by staying alert and serving him and a hurting world with joy and anticipation.

Discussion questions

• How can you and your church best stay alert and prepare for Jesus coming whenever it may be?

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.