2007 Archives
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Churches see themselves as missions-sending entities
Posted: 7/06/07
Churches see themselves
as missions-sending entitiesBy John Hall
Texas Baptist Communications
NOXVILLE, Tenn.—While Baptist missiologists and prognosticators are declaring church-based missions the future of global outreach, some pastors believe it’s the present, as their congregations serve around the world.
Although the evidence is largely anecdotal, many Baptists believe churches doing mission work overseas without the help of missions boards, agencies or parachurch organizations is on the rise. The trend began with congregations taking short-term mission trips, but it has shifted toward churches that send members to the mission field for longer periods of time.
Greg Adams from Cottonwood Baptist Church in Dublin ministers to a woman who lives in Asia. The church, which directly supports missionaries around the world, has long-term missions commitments to several people groups around the globe. 07/06/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Back to the future, as missionaries raise their own financial support
Posted: 7/06/07
Back to the future, as missionaries
raise their own financial supportBy Jennifer Harris
Missouri Word & Way
Career missionaries may be cutting the middleman from the flow of missions dollars, say experts in the study of mission trends. While denominational agencies and missions partners will not be out of the picture, their roles may change—and perhaps already are.
Larry and Sarah Ballew serve in Macau as affiliates in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship As You Go program. The Ballews raise their own financial support, relying on relationships with churches and individuals in the States to stay in Macau. The Ballews already had been in Macau several years before working with CBF.
07/06/2007 - By John Rutledge
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What is the future of missions?
Posted: 7/06/07
Southern Baptist Missionary Scott Bradford joins a friend for a traditional African tea ceremony known as “warga.” The two-hour ceremony takes places three times a day and consists of three rounds of tea, each progressively sweeter than the last. Short-term volunteer trips cannot take the place of this kind of “incarnational” presence by career missionaries, according to Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research. (IMB Photo) What is the future of missions?
By Ken Camp
Managing Editor
As churches and individual Christians demand more hands-on, practical connection to missions, some Baptists are questioning whether a missions-by-proxy approach—churches supporting professional career missionaries sent by large denominational agencies— has a future.
Count Ken Hall, president of Buckner International, among them.
See Related Articles:
• What is the future of missions?
• Churches see themselves as missions-sending entities
• Back to the future, as missionaries raise their own financial support
• Technology changes the way missionaries work
• Embracing the World: The Church and Global Mission in the 21st Century
07/06/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Texas Tidbits
Posted: 7/06/07
Texas Tidbits
Baylor School of Social Work named partner. For the first time, the Baylor University School of Social Work has been named a partner school by the national Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The School of Social Work offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work. It also participates in a program to offer a master of social work/master of divinity degree with Baylor’s Truett Theological Seminary, which also is a CBF partner school.
Guajardo leads CBF Texas. Alcides Guajardo of Mineral, immediate past president of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, was elected moderator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Texas at the national CBF general assembly June 28. He takes the place of Ronald Edwards of Goliad, who died this spring. Other officers are Jorene Swift of Fort Worth, moderator-elect, and Ken Hugghins of Huntsville, recording secretary. New members of the CBF Texas coordinating council are Burt Burleson, Waco; Robert Cepeda, Los Fresnos; Sandra Cisneros, Victoria; Joe Fields, Lewisville; Charles Higgs, Stephenville; Fred Hobbs, Victoria; Judy Joy, Covington; Ella Prichard, Corpus Christi; Jesse Rincones, Lubbock; Taylor Sandlin, San Angelo; Ross Shelton, Castroville; Carolyn Strickland, Dallas; Andrew Villarreal, San Antonio; and Jorge Zapata, Harlingen. Texans elected to national CBF positions include Rodney McGlothlin of College Station, Janie Sellers of Abilene and Philip Wise of Lubbock, coordinating council; Debbie Ferrier of Houston, nominating committee; Tommy Hiebert of San Angelo, Church Benefits Board; and Patricia Ayres of Austin and Os Chrisman of Dallas, CBF Foundation.
07/06/2007 - By John Rutledge
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TOGETHER: Immigration ministries merit support
Posted: 7/06/07
TOGETHER:
Immigration ministries merit supportTexas has a long history of immigration. U.S. Anglos, led by Stephen F. Austin, entered the northern Mexican province of Texas in 1822. Many settlers came with Mexican authorization, but many more came on their own without legal papers.
Now, we are seeing many from Mexico and other nations come into Texas—both legally and illegally.
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
There is no question the United States must secure its borders, and that is something for which the federal government has responsibility.
Baptist churches, on the other hand, have a responsibility to tell and to show people they are loved by God and he desires a personal relationship with them through his Son, Jesus Christ.
07/06/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Trust level in religion at near-record low
Posted: 7/06/07
Trust level in religion at near-record low
By Michelle Rindels
Religion News Service
WASHINGTON (RNS)—Ameri-cans trust the military and the police significantly more than the church and organized religion, a new Gallup Poll reveals.
Only 46 percent of respondents said they had either a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in the church, compared with 69 percent who said they trusted the military and 54 percent who trust police officers.
07/06/2007 - By John Rutledge
