Posted: 3/16/07

Around the State

• Houston Baptist University will be the site of a performance by the Southwestern Singers from Southwestern Seminary March 20 at 10:10 a.m.

• The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor will hold its eighth annual health fair, Health Quest 2007, March 23 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The communitywide event will showcase more than 50 exhibitors from a variety of health- and wellness-related businesses.

• Matt Chandler, pastor of The Village Church in Highland Village, will be the guest preacher at the spring revival of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. The old-fashioned tent revival will be at 7 p.m. each evening, March 26-28.

Anniversaries

• Herman Martinez, fifth, as pastor of Templo Alpha and Omega in Waxahachie, March 9.

• Chuck Vance, 40th in ministry, March 18. He has been pastor of Calvary Church in Anna the past two years. The date also marks the church’s 33rd anniversary.

• George Nelson, 10th, as pastor of Grace Fellowship in Brenham, March 18.

• Gerald Spriggs, 10th, as minister of education at Eastridge Church in Red Oak, March 23.

• Curtis Jefferson Jr., 20th, as pastor of New Hope Church in Weatherford, March 25. A pre-anniversary service will be held March 23 at 7 p.m. with Joel Gregory as the guest speaker. A celebration service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

• Tracy Watson, fifth, as pastor of Padre Island Church in Corpus Christi, March 25.

• James Pool, 10th, as pastor of Tabernacle Church in Ennis, March 30.

• Oak Street Church in Graham, 75th, April 21-22. On Saturday, an ice cream social will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday’s worship service will be at 10 a.m. and will be followed by a catered meal and afternoon festivities. For more information, call (940) 549-3313. Joe Finfrock is pastor.

• Bacon Heights Church in Lubbock, 40th, April 22. The 10 a.m. worship service will be held at the Trinity School Great Room and will be followed by a catered meal. Author Stephen Mansfield will be the guest speaker. The meal will be $5, and tickets must be reserved by April 15. To make meal reservations or for other information, call (806) 795-5261. Jerry Joplin is pastor.

• Memorial Church in Pasadena, 70th, April 29. Festivities will include a reunion choir performance and a catered meal. For more information and meal tickets, call (281) 998-9051. Blake Lander is pastor.

Retiring

• Billy Dunn, after 52 years of chaplaincy ministry, Dec. 31. Dunn spent 35 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, with three tours of active duty that included a 16-month tour in Korea, a 30-month tour in Germany and a 19-month tour in Vietnam. He was chaplain of the Lufkin State School, Texas Department of Aging and Disabilities Services more than 34 years prior to his retirement at the end of the year.

• Mack Caffey, as pastor of First Church in Zapata, Jan. 28. He was pastor of the church more than five years and was in ministry 55 years. Among his other pastorates was Northwest Church in Corpus Christi, where he served 15 years. He is available for supply preaching and can be reached at (361) 241-6885.

• Brian Harbour, as pastor of First Church in Richardson, April 30. He has served the church the past 17 years of his 41 years of ministry. The church will hold a reception in his honor April 29 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. He served churches in Texas, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida and Arkansas before coming to Richardson in 1990. He was chairman of the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas in 2002 and 2003. He also served on the board of the Baylor Alumni Association from 1991 to 1993 and from 2005 to 2006. He was on the board of advisers that recommended establishing Truett Seminary and served on the seminary’s board of advisers the first five years of its existence. He was an adjunct professor at the school until 2005. He also served on the Baylor board of regents from 1995 until 2005, and he has been a member of the board of Baylor Health Care System in Dallas since 1995. During his retirement, he will be available for supply and interim work and will teach classes at Dallas Baptist University. He also has established a nonprofit organization named Seminary-Plus that will provide coaching and continuing education to pastors.

Deaths

• Lonzell Payton Jr., 61, Jan. 26 in Bryan. He had been in ministry more than 22 years, serving as pastor of Morning Star and New Birth Temple churches in Bryan. He spearheaded merging two racially segregated churches into one, now known as North Bryan New Birth Church. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Shirley; sons, Lonzell III and Justin; brother, Jesse; sisters, Gladys Arcement, Vanessa Conners and Marilyn Payton; parents, Lonzell and Ollie Payton; and one grandchild.

• C.O. Moore, 87, March 4 in Bruceville. He was president of the Waco Baptist Senior Council. At Bruceville Church, he had been head deacon and Sunday school superintendent. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Geneva; daughter, Charlene Pamplin; three granddaughters; and two great-grandsons.

Events

• First Church in Rio Vista will hold a ministers’ wives’ tea April 21 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Rhonda Rhea, humorist, author and pastor’s wife, will be the guest speaker. Cost is $10 and due by April 14. To make reservations or for more information, call (817) 240-5464.

Ordained

• Chantz Cutts to the ministry at First Church in Lexington.

• Mark Lewis to the ministry at Dixie Frontier Church in Whitesboro.

• David Cornelius, Bill Evans, John Goodell, Trent Phillips, Charles Steed, Shane Tyree, H.D. White and Jack Young as deacons at First Church in Amarillo.

Revivals

• First Church, Goldthwaite; March 25-28; evangelist, Craig Curry; music, Dan Turner; pastor, Doug Holtzclaw.

• First Church, Slaton; March 30-April 1; evangelist, Joel Gregory; pastor, Cleve Kerby.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 3/16/07

Balmorhea’s Kids in the
Kitchen dish up doses of love

By George Henson

Staff Writer

BALMORHEA—While some people might think First Baptist Church in Balmorhea should consider closing its doors, the congregation is too busy cooking up ways to minister to children and their families to give that idea much thought.

The little church sits in the shadow of the Davis Mountains. It usually counts less than 10 people in Sunday school and, on a good Sunday, 25 in worship services. The majority are over 60 years old, and there are no children.

For the last couple of years, the church has had no official pastor, but retired Presbyterian minister Roy Byrd brings the messages each Sunday.

Still, the congregation has stoked its ministerial fires by serving the children who attend school next door. On Thursdays and Sundays, children crowd into what once was the church’s parsonage for cooking lessons.

The church started concocting the recipe for its Kids in the Kitchen ministry as it prepared for the 2005 Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions.

“One of the things we read about in those materials were children eating out of the garbage,” Mary Barfield explained. “You look around here, and you realize immediately this is not a wealthy community.”

She checked with the school district and learned 100 percent of the students received free lunches.

“They told me that if a school has more than 90 percent who qualify, they just make it across the board, and we exceed that 90 percent,” the retired educator explained. “And if they are struggling economically, they are also struggling in other ways.”

Those facts whetted Barfield’s appetite to minister to Balmorhea’s children, but since none attend church, she began to think of ways to get them there.

Children carefully prepare their ironing board grilled-cheese sandwiches.

Her thoughts turned to the enjoyable times she spent cooking with her children and grandchildren.

“In my experience, I’ve never known a child who didn’t love to cook. When they get older, it’s work, but when they’re young, it’s play,” she said.

So, flyers went up on the school bulletin board and in the post office, and the children came. Four-year-olds through second graders attend on Thursday afternoons after school, and third grade and older children participate on Sunday afternoons. The cooking classes run from October through December and February through May.

“We started out thinking we would have mostly girls, but we were wrong. We had boys. Now it’s more of a mix, but that first year, it was 10 boys and three girls,” Barfield said.

In its second year, the program averages seven to nine children on Thursdays and more than 10 each Sunday. The Sunday they made apple pies, 17 children participated.

The children learn a variety of skills, including liquid and dry measurements. They also practice their reading skills as they read their recipe. As they eat their snacks, Barfield reads a book to them.

The children also expand their eating habits, not only eating American foods they might not have tried, but international foods as well.

All of the children who attend Kids in the Kitchen are Hispanic, so the Iraqi dinner they prepared was a change for them—and their teachers too.

“When we prepared the Iraqi dinner, this gave us a chance to talk to them about how hard it is to grow up in a country where a war is going on,” Barfield explained. It also was an interesting experience for the children to eat the Chinese noodles and stir-fry vegetables with peanuts they prepared with chopsticks.

The children also are challenged to try new American foods, such as the eggplant dish they prepared.

“There were a lot of ‘yewwws’ while we are mixing things up, but no matter what we have made, the children not only try what they prepare, they eat it up. And if there are any leftovers, they take them home to their families,” Barfield said.

“I try not to cook things that I (usually) cook,” Barfield said. “I want it to be as fresh for me as it is for them.”

The children also have learned many inexpensive practical ideas that allow them to help prepare meals for their families. They have learned to prepare omelets in a plastic bag and to cook grilled-cheese sandwiches on an ironing board. The children always are excited when they report that they prepared their family’s meal.

Barfield and Katie Byrd are two of the primary volunteers, but it’s a ministry the entire church has supported, they said.

“From the very beginning, the church has been very supportive,” Barfield said. “When we grew to the point that we needed to move to the parsonage, there was never a question. Anytime we say we need something, the church is very forthcoming.”

While none of the children attends church services, the women remain confident God is blessing their efforts. One boy’s grandmother began attending, and all the families came to see the gingerbread houses the children made at Christmas.

Those successes encourage the women. And one girl who had been attending Kids in the Kitchen made a profession of faith in Christ during Vacation Bible School last summer.

“We believe it was the combination of her being exposed to a positive, caring attitude for months as well as what she learned that week at Vacation Bible School,” Barfield said.

The proof’s in the pudding.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 3/16/07

Book Reviews

Where Was God? Answers to Tough Questions about God and Natural Disasters by Erwin W. Lutzer (Tyndale House)

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Asian tsunami, Erwin Lutzer, senior pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago, thoughtfully offers a short, biblically informed view of natural disasters and the questions disasters raise about the character of God and the potential response of believers.

In the end, we must be present with, grieve with and help victims of disaster rather than spend our time debating and trying to interpret for others why God allowed such things to happen. As Lutzer puts it, “Many of us are better at trying to explain natural disasters than we are at weeping over them!”

What are you reading that other Texas Baptists would find helpful? Send suggestions and reviews to books@baptiststandard.com.

He also writes, “Disasters remind the living that tomorrow is uncertain; so we must prepare for eternity today.” Even observing news of catastrophic events should remind us all that our lives are fragile and we must eventually face judgment. So, we should follow Christ and be prepared for any eventuality.

How we live each day and how we respond to suffering say something of Who we worship. “When disasters come, God is not on trial, we are.”

Greg Bowman, minister to students

First Baptist Church

Duncanville

Evangelism for the Rest of Us: Sharing Christ Within Your Personality Style by Mike Bechtle (Baker Books)

The Apostle Paul’s charge to his timid understudy Timothy, “Do the work of an evangelist” has sent chills up the spine of every believer with an introverted personality. In a society that favors and rewards extroverts, it’s unfortunate that most approaches to evangelism training are designed with the presumptive expectation that the learner will have an outgoing and engaging disposition.

One of the most valuable contributions of this book is to help the reader to understand his/her “spiritual type.” I expect few in the community of faith give any consideration to the fact each of us has a spiritual type that parallels our personality type. Some are expressive, demonstrative and outgoing, while others are quiet, reserved and reflective. We should not suppose that any one type is more or less “spiritual” than any other type but should, instead, recognize that each one plays a significant role in the rich diversity that is the body of Christ.

The author, Mike Bechtle, does a masterful job in helping every kind of spiritual/personality type in the family of faith discover how they can most effectively do the work of an evangelist.

Bobby Dagnel, pastor

First Baptist Church

Lubbock

Mysteries of the Southern Baptist Beliefs Revealed by Joseph Miller (AuthorHouse)

A distinguished naval surgeon and longtime Baptist layman drops anchor to discuss the 18 articles of the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message, or what he calls the Southern Baptist “mysteries.”

The work provides a polemic for the King James Version of the Bible and sutures discussions of nearly every theological and moral issue imaginable into a commentary of the Southern Baptist Convention’s most controversial statement of faith.

The 2000 Baptist Faith & Message’s greatest controversy is seen in its treatment of women.

The Baptist Faith & Message receives a fatiguing “physical” through examinations of the King James Version rendering of every Scripture passage it cites. The treatment is exhausting, though not-so-thorough. The scuttling of the Jesus criterion from Article 1 is ignored in favor of a defense of the King James Version. The 2000 BF&M preface is completely unnoticed—jettisoning any discussion of credalism.

This volume shares many valuable insights, but its absence of anchor amid biblical languages, manuscripts, hermeneutics and English biblical translation leaves this remedy without harbor.

Miller’s main salvo is that the 2000 BF&M does not concisely teach the plan of salvation. Yet his volume remains at sea, not delivering the decisive corrective to a meritorious observation.

Mark Dunn, pastor

Rosemont Baptist Church

Montrose, Colo.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 3/16/07

Baptist Briefs

Agee announces retirement from college association. Bob Agee has announced his retirement as executive director of the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities, effective at the association’s June 2007 annual meeting or “as soon thereafter as a new executive director can be named.” Agee, 68, was president of Oklahoma Baptist University and also served as executive director of the Consortium for Global Education, a sister organization that promotes partnerships between association members and more than 80 colleges and universities worldwide.

History/heritage society moving to Mercer. Headquarters of the Baptist History and Heritage Society will relocate to Mercer University’s Atlanta campus in July. The move comes on the heels of the American Baptist Historical Society’s decision last September to consolidate and relocate its archival collections to Mercer’s Atlanta campus. Both relocations are major steps in Mercer’s aspiration to become a national center for Baptist scholarship.

LifeWay names Waggoner VP. Brad Waggoner has been elected to the new position of vice president for research and ministry development at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville. Tenn. Waggoner has taught at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Wayland Baptist University in Plainview and East Texas Baptist University in Marshall. He also was minister of education and college pastor at Elmcrest Baptist Church in Abilene.

Crawford to lead Richmond seminary. Florida pastor Ron Crawford will be nominated as president of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Va. The pastor of College Park Baptist Church in Orlando will be presented for election by the board of trustees of BTSR, an 18-year-old moderate Baptist seminary with more than 300 students. A native of Virginia and former trustee of the seminary, Crawford will succeed Tom Graves, who last fall announced he is retiring for health reasons. Graves, 58, has battled multiple sclerosis for several years. Crawford, 55, holds master of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University, and a master of public administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He previously served as pastor of Lakeside Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., and was president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 3/16/07

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 3/16/07

Casino proposal predicted to roll
slack promises, not big jackpots

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

AUSTIN—A plan to fund college scholarships with as many as 12 casinos throughout Texas is another in a series of promises that won’t pan out, said Suzii Paynter, director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission.

Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, and Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, are sponsoring legislation that would put casinos in as many as 12 locations across the state. The senators’ effort also would legalize video slot machines at horse and dog tracks.

A portion of gambled Texas funds would be used to support eligible Texans to attend a community college or public university.

The move would require a constitutional amendment, which would need to be put before voters.

Paynter noted the proposed plan isn’t as efficient as a state lottery that also hasn’t produced the revenue that originally was projected. The state would get two cents of every dollar put into a slot machine. By contrast, the state receives 28 cents per dollar played in the lottery.

“It’s a bad plan for Texas,” Paynter said. “It’s just another in a series of broken promises.”

On top of an income shortfall, Texans also would pay for care for an increased number of gambling addicts, she insisted. A large percentage of casino gamblers come from within 50 miles of the business.

“Question is how much money has to go into the machines and how much bankruptcy and crime are going to come out,” Paynter said.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 3/16/07

DOWN HOME:
Why a true Baptist loved folks so well

The kingdom of God on earth changed March 5, when one of Baptists’ strongest hearts stopped beating. John Baugh died.

The business world knew him as the founder and longtime chairman of the Sysco Corporation. If you ever went out to eat, practically anywhere, Mr. Baugh provided all or most of your meal.

Universities and children’s homes and churches and countless other ministries knew him as a generous benefactor.

Baptists far and wide—whether they agreed with him or not—knew him as a tenacious champion of soul freedom, the priesthood of the believer and religious liberty.

Fortunately, I joined the ranks of countless folks who knew him in all those roles but also knew him as a friend.

At first, Mr. Baugh intimidated the fire out of me.

He lived larger-than-life in Houston, world-renowned as an entrepreneurial businessman, and I grew up in a pastor’s home in a small town in the Texas Panhandle. He was enormously wealthy, almost beyond the comprehension of a preacher’s kid who grew up in a small town in the Texas Panhandle. He was tall, and I’m normal-to-short. He had a commanding presence and a formal, elegant manner, and I tilt toward casual and informal.

So, the first time I was around Mr. Baugh, he made me nervous. I stumbled and stammered and felt awkward. Until he won me over—with kindness.

Here was this world-famous businessman/philanthropist sitting with a young Baptist newspaper editor. And he wanted to talk about personal things. Not intrusive things, but important personal things. Like my wife and daughters, and our church, and his family and church, and mutual friends, and things we both cared deeply about.

This wasn’t just small talk, either. Mr. Baugh paid attention and remembered. When we talked later, he asked follow-up questions. And we became friends.

In time, I realized he was so friendly (you don’t expect a big-shot like him to be that genuinely friendly) because he cared deeply about people. And at root, he cared about people so much because he saw them all as created in God’s image. He loved God with a passion, so he loved the people God created.

Mr. Baugh gained his fame among Baptists for championing religious liberty and for supporting so-called moderates in their battle against fundamentalism. Some would say he was a fire-breathing fundamentalism fighter.

As we talked through the years, I came to realize his public image among Baptists was only half right. He did indeed hate fundamentalism. But it wasn’t because he was an ideologue. It was because he loved people so much, and he hated anything that denigrated the divine image imprinted on every person. That’s why he was such a great Baptist. He believed God created people to be free, so they can reciprocate God’s love. And it’s a sin to enslave those whom Christ has set free.

—Marv Knox

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 3/16/07

EDITORIAL:
Starter kit for a new kind of convention

If the Baptist General Convention of Texas hopes to survive in a postdenominational world, it must conclude the process of reinventing itself. And sooner rather than later.

Down through the years, the BGCT—as with most other denominational organizations—has bought into a false notion that seduces precisely because it sounds so true: The convention exists for the churches.

Who can argue with logic like that? We are proud of saying the churches, not the convention, are king of the Baptist hill. So, it stands to reason, the BGCT should orient itself to meet all the churches’ needs. The churches are the clients, and the convention is the full-service provider.

Theologians have a term for a notion like that: Baloney.

Blame the Baby Boomers, who think they’re the center of the universe and everything revolves around them. Now that most of our pastors and key lay leaders are Boomers, our churches mirror Boomer culture. They say: “It’s all about us. What have you done for us lately? Why should I stick with you if I can get what I want somewhere else.”

This fallacy turns things upside down. In truth, conventions exist on behalf of churches. The BGCT exists to help churches do what they can’t do by themselves. Great things. Huge things. Missions-and-education things.

Of course, the convention serves the churches—so they can serve their communities and world. Not so they can consume more denominational stuff. If the BGCT is to be relevant and vital, it must resist the temptation to see churches as consumers and the convention as a service provider. It must orient everything toward calling and enabling churches to do more together than they can do alone.

What does this mean? A full answer is far too complex for an editorial, but here are some ideas to consider:

• Keep going with a great thing.

In a brilliant move, the recent BGCT Executive Board staff reorganization located congregational strategists all across the state. These experienced church leaders are well-equipped to help churches. They should be able to sharpen their focus on providing diagnostic help, not providing resources. Problem is, nine regional strategists and a handful of affinity strategists aren’t enough. Their caseloads are too huge. We should double their number, at the very least.

• Re-think resourcing.

Strategists reportedly are frustrated, because they can diagnose their churches’ needs, but the BGCT doesn’t have all the resources to help them. We must drop the idea that the Executive Board has to provide those resources and broaden our notion of how to get resources to churches. Three ideas: First, establish peer-to-peer training, where expert volunteers from our churches train staff and members of other churches. Think it’ll never work? Think Internet and e-mail. Second, provide incentives for our institutions to equip churches. Programming and training are their forte. Give them incentives to equip churches as well as they equip their own staffs or students. Third, generate bulk-purchasing power to lower the costs of resources provided by others, so even small churches can afford them.

• De-balkanize missions.

Missions provides one illustration of how the convention has run to fragmentation instead of effectiveness. We had two leading missions programs, River Ministry and Texas Partnerships, and several institutions were doing missions. Instead of combining forces, we created another missions network, WorldconneX, with an as-yet-unclear assignment. Why not streamline and consolidate our missions ventures, bringing Border/ Mexico Missions, Texas Partnerships and WorldconneX into one unit and correlate closely with the institutions, all for the purpose of enabling the churches to do missions? (Pray this will be a result of the Missions Exchange summit at Truett Seminary in April.)

• Feed strength.

Our institutions are the envy of the Baptist world. We ought to provide extra support for their programs that are geared to team with local-church ministries and missions.

• Fill niches.

Some programs, like missions support and Bible study curriculum, represent needs far beyond Texas. We must think how our resources can jump beyond the state, but also generate revenue for our ministries.

• Pony up.

Present these opportunities compellingly and allocate the Cooperative Program and offerings to support them.

Marv Knox is editor of the Baptist Standard.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 3/16/07

Faith Digest

Beliefnet recognizes movies Oscar neglected. The Beliefnet Film Awards are in, and the winners didn’t necessarily coincide with the Oscar list. The Beliefnet awards select the best spiritual film, performance and documentary of 2006. Each category had two winners, one named by a panel of judges and the other chosen by visitors to Beliefnet.com. The judges chose Children of Men—the story of a young woman in an infertile world—as the year’s best spiritual film, although the movie didn’t even get an Academy Award nomination for best motion picture Beliefnet.com visitors chose The Pursuit of Happyness, the story of a homeless man and his son trying to get off the streets of San Francisco, as their favorite spiritual film and selected the film’s star, Will Smith, as the year’s best spiritual performance. But the judges sided with the Academy in the best-performance category, naming Jennifer Hudson, of Dreamgirls. Hudson won a supporting actress Oscar for her role as Effie White. The panel’s choice for best spiritual documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, also coincided with the Academy’s selection. The documentary featuring former Vice President Al Gore is a cautionary tale about the burgeoning problem of global warming. But the People’s Award for documentary went to Shakespeare Behind Bars, about the unique gifts and talents of prisoners in a Kentucky correctional facility.

Biblical translator Metzger dies. Bruce Metzger, a revered biblical scholar who was both respected and sometimes criticized for championing the use of modern language in translating the Bible, died Feb. 13. Metzger, 93, was a long-time professor at Princeton Theological Seminary and a towering figure for students who used to joke that he had actually written the Bible himself. Metzger is likely to be best remembered as the editor of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, a work introduced in 1989 that eliminated many, though not all, of the Bible’s masculine pronouns. It became the standard text used in many colleges, seminaries and divinity schools. That work was an extension of the Revised Standard Version, which was released in its full version almost 40 years earlier and eschewed much of the archaic language of the King James Bible. Metzger served on the translation team for the Revised Standard Version, which was the first to use material from the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Catholics, Assemblies report rapid growth. The Roman Catholic Church grew to 69.1 million members in 2005, making it the fastest-growing church in the country, followed closely by the Assemblies of God and the Mormons. Catholics grew 1.94 percent in 2005, Assemblies of God grew 1.86 percent and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints grew 1.63 percent, according to the 2007 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, produced by the National Council of Churches. It is widely considered the most authoritative source on church membership statistics. The 2007 Yearbook contains data from 2005 that were reported in 2006. Rankings of the top 10 largest U.S. churches did not change from last year. Catholics remain the largest group, followed by the Southern Baptist Convention, the United Methodist Church, Mormons and the Church of God in Christ.

Facing the Giants big on video. In its first two weeks on the market, the Christian movie Facing the Giants was among the 20 best-selling videos and DVDs, according to the trade publication Video Business. The movie, created by Baptist pastors in Georgia for $100,000, is about a high school football team and coach who overcome numerous challenges—their giants—with divine assistance. It was released in theaters Sept. 29 and reportedly is among the top 10 all-time highest-grossing evangelical movies, earning $10 million at the box office.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 3/16/07

Faith and Values Awards’ star shines
brightest on Nativity, Commandments

By Melissa Stee

Religion News Service

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (RNS)—The Nativity Story was honored with two awards at the 15th annual Movieguide Faith and Values Awards gala.

The movie, which re-tells the accounts of Joseph and Mary and the birth of Jesus, won the John Templeton Foundation $50,000 Epiphany Prize for Film, which goes to a movie that creates a “deeper spiritual awareness in mankind and increases man’s understanding of God.”

Actor Oscar Issac, who portrayed Joseph, received the Grace Award for Film, an honor for actors who exemplify “God’s grace towards human beings.”

The foundation’s $50,000 Epiphany Prize for Most Inspirational Television program went to The Ten Commandments, a mini-series depicting Moses and the Exodus to free the Hebrews from slavery.

Actress Shirley Jones won the Grace Award for Television for her role in Hidden Places, a television program, which also was awarded the Libertas Award for Television.

The Libertas Awards for Film was awarded to Will Smith’s movie, The Pursuit of Happyness, which is given to a film or television program that promotes positive American values.

The Queen received Top Film for Mature Audiences, and Charlotte’s Web was named Top Family Film of the Year. Both films were honored for their portrayal of moral and spiritual principles.

The annual Movieguide event honors films and television programs of the previous year considered “family friendly” and “spiritually uplifiting.”

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 3/16/07

Texas Baptist Forum

God & Allah

Allah may be the same as Charles Kimball’s God (March 5), but not mine.

My God is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

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

“One of the great doctrines of the Christian faith is unity. Therefore, I would pray with you and plead with you to work for the unity of Baptists. Jesus prayed that we might be one, and this was an evangelistic prayer. Why should we be one? That the world might believe! Our lack of unity means that the world cannot believe.” Denton Lotz Baptist World Alliance general secretary (ABP) “To those in the church who still sit in judgment on the AIDS emergency, let me climb into the pulpit for just one moment, because whatever thoughts we have about God, who he is or even if God exists, most will agree that God has a special place for the poor.” Bono U2 lead singer and AIDS activist (RNS) “This latest case is a real breakthrough. It’s not Christian medical professionals refusing to provide treatment they don’t approve of. It’s Christian medical professionals refusing to provide treatment to people they don’t approve of.” Stephen Colbert Comedian host of of The Colbert Report, discussing a California doctor who refuses to treat patients who don’t adhere to his Christian values (RNS)

Only because of the redeeming grace of Jesus can I approach God the Father.

Melba Wilkerson

Henderson

I am increasingly concerned about statements by some of our Baptist leaders that the Christian God and Muslim god are one and the same.

I agree Muslims, like Christians and Jews, trace at least part of their spiritual roots back to Abraham. I also understand Muslims believe they call on the God of Abraham when they call on Allah, But Allah and Yahweh are not the same. Yahweh is the one, eternal, true and indivisible God, who exists in three personalities—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Allah, according to Islam, is not Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore, Allah must be something other than Yahweh.

This is much more than simply a different way of understanding God. It is a fundamentally different understanding about the essential nature of God.

To give a simple analogy: I own a car. It is a car because it has, among other things, a body, engine, wheels and seats. All of those items are an integral part of what a car is. If you take out the engine and remove the wheels, it might still look a lot like a car, but it becomes something that is fundamentally different from a car.

In a similar way, our God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Take out the Son and the Holy Spirit, what is left might look a lot like God, but it is not God. And like a car without wheels or engine, Allah will not take you where you want to go!

Tim Ahlen

Dallas

Support WMU

Thank you for the recent story about Woman’s Missionary Union and funding missions education (Feb. 5). As chair of the WMU Foundation board of trustees, I understand the financial challenges WMU is facing.

But I also understand the value of missions education and the importance of looking to the future to ensure its growth. The Bible warns us that where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18). The Great Commission assures us there is a future, and we must have the vision to prepare for it by making disciples of all nations.

That can be done two ways.

First, through prayer. This is what the WMU faithful are known for as they pray for missionaries to make disciples.

The second way to renew our commitment to missions is giving. No missions endeavor can get off the ground without financial support. One of the best ways we can support the work of missions—and of WMU—is by making a gift to the Joy Fund, which is managed by the WMU Foundation.

The purpose of the Joy Fund is to help WMU prepare for the future by meeting its operational needs. By supporting WMU’s operations, we support its mission and ministries. If you would like to support WMU and the future of missions education, gifts to the Joy Fund may be sent to the WMU Foundation, Joy Fund, 100 Missionary Ridge, Birmingham, Ala. 35242.

J. Howard Cobble

Carrollton, Ga.

Church-starting scandal

“The few will succeed in serving the Lord.”

I have started as a mission pastor. I am grieved by the church-planting misuse of money in the Rio Grande Valley. I believe in a good stewardship. I am saddened to hear this scandal continuously for several months in the paper.

We needed to solve this problem within ourselves because it has happened among ourselves in Christ. It is time to move forward, since we have learned a costly lesson and there is no future without a vision.

The five remaining churches will pave the way for the future.

Our mission pastors will never forget our mother-like Baptist General Convention of Texas, and  we will never make you disappointed.

Yoo J. Yoon

Dallas

In response to E.B. Brooks (Feb. 19): Isn’t it amazing that whenever someone has no defense or no remorse for their actions, they always come up with the “race” or “ethnic” issue.  

I suppose they think their critics will be too afraid to pursue an appropriate response when that issue is brought up.  

Mick Tahaney

Port Arthur

I have some issues with E.B. Brooks’ version of the church-starting scandal in the Rio Grande Valley.

I completely reject and denounce the idea this investigation was racially motivated. Its purpose is to find out where $1.3 million, part of which I gave through the Cooperative Program, was spent and on what.

Brooks said: “Since many of the house-church pastors were undocumented, they feared losing their jobs, their homes and the ability of their children to attend public school in the United States. These are real fears and greatly affected the ability of sponsor churches to continue their mission activities and protect their people.”

It is not the job of the Baptist General Convention to subvert U.S. immigration laws. If they are here illegally, we have a moral responsibility to render basic humanitarian aid and to turn them over to the authorities.

I support Charles Wade and the Executive Board in their most recent handling of the investigation. I, like many other hard-working Baptists, want all our Cooperative Program money spent wisely and properly accounted for.

Texas Baptists deserve to know the truth.

Michael Simons

Cleburne

Parliamentary procedure

Concerning the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board’s ruling on the past convention’s parliamentary ruling, all I can say is “what a slap on the face” to all messengers.

They knew exactly what they were doing at the moment the motion was made, or even before, since they had everything scripted out.

And to top it off, they pass a motion of support and commendation for the presiding president. He is as much guilty as all the others on staff of BGCT for allowing this to take place.

I believe, then, “un-Christian” is OK as long as I do it to others, but don’t do it to me.

Jonathan Hernandez Sr.

Arlington

Christian nation

America, regardless of what we have been, is certainly not a Christian nation in 2007.

We have Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews and all kinds of each of these, plus a whole host of off-brands.

When it comes to religion and faith, we are a very pluralistic society. We are not all of the same covey, swarm, herd or flock.

In The Audacity of Hope, Barack Obama writes: “Let’s assume that we only had Christians within our borders. Whose Christianity would we teach in the schools? James Dobson’s or Al Sharpton’s?

Which passages of Scripture should guide our public policy? Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests that slavery is all right and eating shellfish is an abomination? How about Deuteron-omy, which suggests stoning your child if he strays from the faith? Or should we just stick to the Sermon on the Mount—a passage so radical that it’s doubtful that our Defense Department would survive its application?”

Britt Towery

San Angelo

‘Pro-life’ donation

As the 2008 election campaign heats up, we are hearing some presidential candidates trying to be “more pro-life than thou.”

Most folks are programmed to think of abortion when we hear “pro-life.”

Is there more to the term?

What about lives that are shortened or terminated by unnecessary slaughter on the highways, war, pollution, lack of food, too much food, smoking, use of drugs and alcohol, or pollution?

What about lives that could be saved if there were enough organ donors or blood donors? We hear that less than 5 percent of Americans who are qualified to be blood donors actually give.

Donating blood really makes a difference and costs the donor very little. It’s too inconvenient? What if you or a loved one were waiting for an emergency operation but couldn’t get it done because of a lack of blood?

This is a case where it is really better to give than receive. Young people who are 17 can participate, and there is no upper age limit. Some teenagers have celebrated their 17th birthday by visiting the blood bank. What a difference from those who want to spend thousands of dollars for their “coming out” celebration!

Be pro-life. Give blood. and do it regularly.

Carl L. Hess

Ozark, Ala.

What do you think? The Baptist Standard values letters to the editor, for they reflect Baptists’ traditional affirmation of the priesthood of believers. Send letters to Editor Marv Knox by mail: P.O. Box 660267, Dallas 75266-0267; or by e-mail: marvknox@baptiststandard.com. Due to space availability, letters are limited to 250 words. And only one letter per writer per quarter will be published.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 3/16/07

On the Move

• Keith Beck to First Church in Blanco as youth pastor.

• Charlie Bruner to First Church in Lake Dallas as youth minister.

• Allen Cearley has completed an interim pastorate at Parkdale Church in Corpus Christi and is available for interim or supply work at (210) 256-9544.

• Ron Etheridge to Ricardo Church in Kingsville as pastor.

• Bill Fabriguze to Trinity River Association as director of missions from First Church in Sour Lake, where he was pastor.

• Michael Godfrey has completed an interim pastorate at Meadowbrook Church in Robinson.

• Mike Green to Northside Church in Corsicana as minister of education/administration.

• Ihab Griess to First Church in Evant as minister of missions.

• Trent Henderson to Heritage Park Church in Webster as pastor from Highland Church in Waco, where he was discipleship pastor.

• David Humphrey to Gateway Community Church in Granbury as pastor of worship and ministries.

• Brad Kenney to Wichita Creek Church in Flower Mound as pastor, where he was interim.

• Cary Killough to Meadowbrook Church in Robinson as pastor.

• Kevin McCallon to First Church in Kingwood as pastor from First Church in Paducah, Ky.

• Mark Mohler has resigned as pastor of First Church in Slidell.

• Jorge Muñoz to Primera Iglesia in Luling as pastor.

• Lindsey Nimmons Jr. to Apple Springs Church in Apple Springs as interim pastor.

• James Sain to First Church in Paducah as interim pastor.

• Brian Smith to Hampton Road Church in DeSoto as minister to students.

• Sonny Steed to Shadycrest Church in Pearland as administrator from Istrouma Church in Baton Rouge, La.

• Paul Stripling to West Robinson Church in Waco as interim pastor.

• Domingo Villarreal has resigned as pastor of Miori Lane Church in Victoria.

• Carl Willis to Parkdale Church in Corpus Christi as pastor from Christian House Chapel in Aliquippa, Pa.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.