2007 Archives
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For 10 years, Christian Women’s Job Corps has been changing lives
Posted: 8/31/07
For 10 years, Christian Women’s
Job Corps has been changing livesBy Jessica Dooley
Communications Intern
Supporting a family can be hard when a person is unemployed, but it can be even harder to find the skills necessary for a decent-paying job. And without money to receive higher education or specialized training, learning those skills becomes almost impossible.
But Christian Women’s Job Corps and Christian Men’s Job Corps, make the process easier—teaching not only job skills, but also life skills in a Christian context.
08/31/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Baptists active on both sides in the Little Rock integration battle
Posted: 8/31/07
Elizabeth Eckford, one of the Little Rock Nine, is pursued by a mob outside Little Rock’s Central High School. (UPI Photo/Library of Congress) Baptists active on both sides in
the Little Rock integration battleBy Robert Marus
Associated Baptist Press
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (ABP)—The story of Lakeshore Drive Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark., encapsulates the little-recounted role that white Baptists played during the Civil Rights Movement—on both sides.
The church owes its existence to the 1957-59 struggle to integrate Little Rock Central High School, when pro-integration members were kicked out of another congregation pastored by an outspoken segregationist. Dignitaries will gather in Little Rock Sept. 25 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Central High’s desegregation.
08/31/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Aging minister recalls price paid for recognizing God’s image in all people
Posted: 8/31/07
Aging minister recalls price paid for
recognizing God’s image in all peopleBy Bill Webb
Word & Way
CHILLICOTHE, Mo.—When Norman Shands made a vow to God 65 years ago, he couldn’t have imagined that it would thrust him into the center of the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta.
The vow—that he would view and treat every person as someone created in the image of God—contradicted the south Georgia native’s upbringing.
Bob Shands wrote a book in 2006 titled In My Father’s House: Lessons Learned in the Home of a Civil Rights Volunteer. It chronicles his father’s contributions bridging racial barriers and the impact those times had on him as a youngster. 08/31/2007 - By John Rutledge
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TOGETHER: Relevant denominations have a future
Posted: 8/31/07
TOGETHER:
Relevant denominations have a futureMany observers today raise serious questions about the future of denominations. Years ago, Baptists themselves were critical of denominations because they were so focused on autonomy of the local church that the idea of anything more than an association of churches seemed too cumbersome and restrictive. We began to work together, slowly and painfully, because of the birth of the modern missionary movement. William Carey went from England to India in 1793 under the conviction that God had called him to go preach and teach the gospel of Christ, and he depended on the churches for support. In the early 19th century, Luther Rice traveled on horseback up and down the Atlantic coast to raise support for missionaries Adoniram and Ann Judson. This awakened Baptists to the cause of missions. They began to see the need for cooperation in supporting the Judsons and calling out more missionaries.
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
The Triennial Baptist Convention was the earliest attempt to bring Baptists together in a national body. But by 1845, this fragile cooperation ended when the Southern Baptist Convention was formed in Augusta, Ga. State conventions of Baptists began to develop to support missionaries, colleges, church planting, ministry to orphan children and other needs. And, in 1848, the first Texas state convention of Baptist churches was formed.
Through the years, denominations have provided an identity around valued biblical principles, common history and the opportunity for involvement in a network of sister congregations. They also encourage the flow of influence. The churches influence one another and the denomination, and the denomination influences the local churches and helps the influence of the local church to have broader impact.
The idea that we are moving into a “post-denominational” age is not so frightening to Texas Baptists as it might be to others. Lyle Schaller, who has worked with churches of all denominations as a pioneer church consultant, said only the denominations that figure out how to start new churches, train and equip effective leaders, and work together to meet human needs are going to survive. That, of course, is what the BGCT has been about since the beginning. But we do face enormous challenges because many of our churches have neglected to keep fully informed about the missions, evangelism, education and benevolent ministries of the BGCT. You can go to our website— www.bgct.org—and see for yourself the ways you are making a difference in people’s lives for Christ every week with the offerings you give through the BGCT Cooperative Program.
08/31/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Cybercolumn by Berry D. Simpson: Playing along
osted: 8/31/07
CYBER COLUMN:
Playing alongMy young friend Jonathan started kindergarten this year. He was so excited; he wore his new backpack around the house, with his new lunchbox and school supplies inside, for days and days. And he wore his new school shoes, which he wasn’t allowed to wear outside the house but could wear inside, even with his pajamas. The young man had no idea what school would be like, but he was ready to get started. He didn’t know what it was, but he was ready.
When I heard this story about Jonathan, I wondered if his sense of anticipation and joy is what Jesus meant when he said we should love him like a child. Matthew 18:4 says: “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Most of us grownups are too proud and, well, grown up, to show the excitement and anticipation of a young boy looking forward to kindergarten.
Berry D. Simpson Maybe it’s because we’ve looked forward to too many things that eventually turned out not as much fun as we thought. Is it inevitable that we’ll lose the wonder and imagination and trust that comes with childhood?
During our recent weekend in California, I was fortunate to run (walk) along the oceanfront every morning for an hour and a half. My route took me past a crowd of middle-aged surfers, all clad in well-worn black wetsuits. They didn’t seem like hippies, or Beach Boys, but appeared instead to be professionals of some sort. And they were all having a great time, cheering each other on, riding the waves, hanging ten, and all that.
08/31/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Around the State
Posted: 8/31/07
Around the State
• Donald Forrester has been named vice president for programs and services for Children at Heart Ministries, an agency of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He previously was executive director of STARRY, Children at Heart’s foster care, counseling and emergency shelter ministry, based in Round Rock. He also has been pastor of Henly Church in Henly 27 years.
• Dallas Baptist University has announced the creation of the Piper Endowed Chair of Missions. The chair is made possible by a challenge grant from Paul and Shirley Piper through the Piper family’s Christ is Our Salvation Foundation. The foundation has pledged $100,000 per year for the next five years if the university raises $500,000 over the next five years for this endowed chair. In addition, the foundation has given a $200,000 grant for ministerial student scholarships in the Cook Graduate School of Leadership.
Daniel Sanchez, professor of missions at Southwestern Seminary and director of the seminary’s Scarborough Institute of Church Planting and Growth, was presented with the North American Mission Board’s distinguished service award for church planting. A Howard Payne University graduate, he and his wife, Carmen, are parents of three children. The award was presented by NAMB President Geoff Hammond. • Wayland University presented degrees to 24 students in its first group to graduate from the master of arts in counseling program started two years ago. The program now boasts 150 students.
• Buckner Children and Family Services has announced changes to its executive leadership team. Victor Upton has been named vice president of missions resource. Randy Daniels has been promoted to vice president of global initiatives. Felipe Garza has been tapped as vice president for ministry and missions. Melissa Opheim now is director of strategic planning.
08/30/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Book Reviews
Posted: 8/31/07
Book Reviews
How Do You Know He’s Real? by Amy Hammond Hagberg (Destiny Image Publishers)
Unable to escape the haunting question asked her daughter by another teenager, Amy Hagberg has written a very interesting book that responds to this universal question. Instead of theological arguments and apologetics, the book is filled with 34 celebrity testimonies regarding personal life experiences with God. The list of witnesses includes actors, actresses, a beauty queen, music stars of every category and athletes. An additional bonus is the author’s testimony at the beginning of the book. It alone makes the book worth reading.
What are you reading that other Texas Baptists would find helpful? Send suggestions and reviews to books@baptiststandard.com. An interesting feature found in the book is a list of 82 topics and issues we face in life. The author then lists the celebrities whose testimonies relate to that topic, such as grace: Charlie Daniels, Gloria Gaynor, Ken Hensley, Heather Powers, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Stevens and Zoro. The testimonies reveal how God’s reality was experienced in the midst of their lives while struggling with that particular battle and/or dilemma.
How Do You Know He Is Real? is an easy book to read, a book of inspiration and encouragement, a book worth giving to another, and one you are glad to own.
08/30/2007 - By John Rutledge
