Posted: 2/22/08

New Baptist Covenant criticism
continues to come from both left & right

By Hannah Elliott

Associated Baptist Press

NEW YORK (ABP)—Although organizers hailed a recent Baptist gathering as a success, some critics have leveled a wide array of charges against the celebration of a New Baptist Covenant.

Critics of the event, held in Atlanta in late January and early February, include conservatives who continue to accuse it of having a thinly veiled liberal political agenda. But they also include moderates and liberals who say the gathering was not inclusive enough of ethnic and sexual minorities.

The Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant drew an estimated 15,000 Baptists to discuss working together despite denominational, ethnic, political and economic differences. Its headline organizers were the two living Baptists who have held the presidency—Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Many observers praised the event as a momentous occasion that generated new unity, energy and focus for Baptists across North America.

But Carter’s and Clinton’s involvement in the event and the lack of official participation by the Southern Baptist Convention on a denominational level led many conservatives to criticize the celebration soon after it was announced in 2007. Although organizers made an effort to include prominent Baptist Republicans in the program, some conservatives have continued to criticize it.

Paul Proctor, in a column for the Nashville Tennessean, said the celebration achieved only an “image of unity,” which validated conservatives’ critique that liberals tend to promote “symbolism over substance.”

“As far as I’m concerned, outgoing SBC president Frank Page, who incidentally declined the invitation to attend, was right on calling the meeting a ‘smoke-screen left-wing liberal agenda,’” Proctor wrote.

“Carter can preach Christian unity all he wants, but he was the one who spurned the Southern Baptist Convention back in 2000. If anyone is guilty of promoting division among Baptists, it is the presidential peanut farmer from Georgia.”

More progressive Baptists also criticized the event for insufficiently displaying unity amid diversity.

Laura Cadena, a graduate of Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary and a member of Peachtree Baptist Church in Atlanta, said the meeting’s rhetoric of Baptist unity appealed to her, and she attended to observe it as well as see friends from her Texas seminary days. But, she added in an opinion column for EthicsDaily.com, the meeting proved to be a letdown when it came to representing all Baptist groups.

“I think that we could have done better, but it’s a beginning,” Cadena, 33, said. “I think that if the planning committee could have been more diverse—and by that I mean including more women, more young people, more Asian Baptists, maybe more Ghanaian Baptists—that would have been good.”

Cadena—a fifth-generation Texan of Hispanic background—also wondered why participants from her ethnic group were not better represented at the meeting. She asked whether there is “room in the family photo for Latino Baptists?”

“Where do we fit? Here in the South, Latinos are relatively new … there are not enough people that speak Spanish, there are not enough doctors that speak Spanish, there are not enough teachers that speak Spanish,” she said. “So what does a Hispanic church look like? I don’t know.”

Cadena said the meeting should have included specified time for networking between people from the same region or affinity group so that Latinos and other Baptists could have gotten to know each other better and exchange ideas about meeting needs in their community.

Todd Thomason, pastor of Baptist Temple Church in Alexandria, Va., wrote in a column submitted to Associated Baptist Press that he’s not convinced there is much new about the covenant celebrated at the meeting, especially when it comes to the issue of homosexuality.

Organizers decided not to allow the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists or the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America—two pro-gay groups—to participate in the event in an official manner, although they shared a booth in the exhibit hall.

The decision to exclude them, Thomason said, smacks of the “top-down exclusionary action” used by Southern Baptist leaders during the narrowing of the group’s policies in the last 20 years.

Champions of the New Baptist Covenant “cried foul when the leaders of the so-called ‘conservative resurgence’ seized the reins of power within the SBC and then circled the wagons, forcing out all who wouldn’t accept their narrow ideology or who dared to ask questions,” he wrote. “For these same Baptists to turn around now and disenfranchise other Baptists in much the same way (if not on the same scale) is the height of biblical hypocrisy.”

Covenant leaders like Leo Thorne, associate general secretary of American Baptist Churches USA, said the diversity of political opinion actually adds quality to the discussion.

“It doesn’t make any difference what decision you make or action you take, there are always people who use their freedoms to express disagreement,” Thorne said. “That’s rich. That’s energizing. That’s wonderful that we can have a diversity of opinions of issues. … If there are those who disagree, that is OK with me.”

Posted: 2/22/08

Endorsement prompts IRS
to investigate California pastor

By Robert Marus

Associated Baptist Press

WASHINGTON (ABP)—Outspoken California pastor and former Southern Baptist Convention officer Wiley Drake is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service.

The candidate for the SBC presidency this year is under scrutiny for using his church letterhead and church-sponsored radio show last year to endorse Mike Huckabee.

Drake confirmed he recently received an IRS letter noting he was under investigation for using church resources to endorse Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, Southern Baptist minister and Republican presidential candidate. Federal tax law prevents churches and similarly organized non-profit groups from endorsing candidates or political parties.

Drake, pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park, Calif., made the endorsement last August. Americans United for Separation of Church & State filed a complaint with the IRS.

Drake referred reporters’ questions regarding the investigation to his attorney. Attorney Erik Stanley did not return a phone call for this story, but he told the Associated Press Drake did not violate federal tax law by endorsing Huckabee because it was a personal endorsement, not done on behalf of the church.

“Our position on this is that … churches and pastors have First Amendment rights just like anybody else, and that includes the right to speak out,” he said. “They can feel free to personally endorse candidates. It was not a church endorsement, and he made that very clear.”

Stanley is representing Drake on behalf of the Alliance Defense Fund. The group is a national network of attorneys who often offer legal defense of individuals and causes supported by the Religious Right.

In August, after Americans United announced their complaint, Drake told the Los Angeles Times that he wasn’t worried about federal tax regulators.

“They don't scare me,” he said. “I don't give a rip about the IRS. I don't believe in the separation of church and state, and I believe the IRS should stay out of church business.”

Posted: 2/22/08

San Antonio parenting education
program seeks to break cycle of abuse

By Haley Smith

Baptist Child & Family Services

SAN ANTONIO—Through its Precious Minds, New Connections program, Baptist Child & Family Services is trying to break the cycle of child abuse by offering specialized parent-training courses.

According to the Center for Public Policy Priorities, the number of confirmed victims of child abuse in Bexar County was 5,755 in 2006—and most abusers reportedly were parents or caregivers.

The Precious Minds, New Connections program is an annual $3.6 million initiative funded by the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation. It is carried out through annual grants to 26 organizations in the foundation’s four-county service area, which includes Bandera, Bexar, Comal and Kendall counties. The Baptist Child & Family Services program is the largest in both size and reach.

Fili Garcia

“Parenting education enables parents to understand early childhood development and develop realistic expectations for child behavior,” according to the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation. “All of this knowledge is known to lead to less likelihood that a child will be abused and his or her development neglected.”

A small number of participants are mandated to attend the classes by Child Protective Services. But most enter the classes due to Baptist Child & Family Services’ community outreach, said Megan Kromer, who directs the parenting education program for the foundation.

Baptist Child & Family Services provides eight-week parenting training classes with 17 sessions offered at any given time at select locations across Bexar County. Locations include churches, schools, Volunteers of America offices, closed emergency shelters for women and children and the Bexar County Detention Center. The courses include instruction about respecting the child, child development and the difference between punishment and discipline.

In cases where the classes are mandated by Child Protective Services, only well-behaved, non-violent offenders are permitted to attend.

“These classes are some of the hardest and most telling classes, because we can’t use props or offer any sort of incentive for attendance,” program director Ivette Martinez explained. “The material and the facilitator speak for themselves in that situation.”

Reaching more 800 parents in 2007, Baptist Child & Family surpassed its contracted expectation by 163. The agency expects to serve more than 1,000 parents in 2008. While the program specifically targets parents with children age 4 and younger, all parents are welcome to attend.

“We often have parents of teenagers attend, and they tell us that the material is just as relevant and beneficial to their family even then,” Martinez said.

Martinez credits the success of the program to the passion of the Baptist Child & Family Services staff—and to their incorporation of spiritual concepts into the curriculum.

Parent education facilitator Fili Garcia and her husband took the class on a voluntary basis more than a year ago. That led to her position as a contractor and now a part-time facilitator.

“Fili has a beautiful smile, which makes it easy to see her sincerity and genuine spirit right off the bat,” noted Martinez. “Her success in the job can be accredited to her personal experience and passion for the program.”

Garcia’s story of student-turned-teacher does not end with her. Many former graduates of the program, including class child care workers, express an interest in serving on the program’s staff due to their previous experience with the program. An initiative to incorporate volunteers as parent education facilitators is on the horizon.

“Not only does our staff work to make the program successful, but I believe our clients respond and appreciate the spiritual aspect we introduce into the class which contributes to our high level of graduates,” Martinez said. “We simply share with them God’s word in regards to raising a family.”

The staff wraps up the year with two events. An appreciation banquet recognizes the contributions of coordinators, teachers, directors and all who open their doors for the program. And an annual family event honors graduates with perfect attendance.

Posted: 2/22/08

Craig Turner to step down
as Hardin-Simmons president

ABILENE—Craig Turner, Hardin-Simmons University’s 14th president, will resign effective May 31, 2008, to become president of Catawba College, a private liberal arts school in Salisbury, N.C.

“The two most important words in this transition are the names Payton and Madeline—the names of my granddaughters,” Turner said. “This position is an opportunity to be near family, and that’s been the critical factor in this decision.”

Turner was inaugurated Sept. 11, 2001, during the attack on the World Trade Towers and Pentagon, and said he wanted the university to become “the best small Christian university in the Southwest.”

During his tenure, Hardin-Simmons exceeded or met his goals to increase endowment, establish an honors program, dedicate resources to community outreach, and improve spirit, pride and ownership of the University by all its constituents. Turner moved HSU into the Top Tier of peer universities.

Looking over his administration, Turner said working with the university family has been his most satisfying accomplishment.

“Just having the opportunity to work with people like the vice presidents, deans, directors, faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors—it’s been phenomenal,” he said. “That, by far, tops the chart in terms of accomplishments. We’re very proud of the endowment, and I was privileged to be a part of the beginning of the physical therapy program, the honors program, the leadership program—all great additions to the institution. But the things I’ll take away from Hardin-Simmons will be the relationships with the people.”

During almost seven years at the university’s helm, Turner’s achievements included:

• Endowment and similar funds grew from $72 million to $125 million. Only Baylor University among Texas Baptist schools has a larger endowment.

• Total enrollment reached record levels—2,435 this year—necessitating a move to managed growth as the university nears its enrollment cap and becomes more exclusive. Only 26% percent of students who apply to HSU were admitted this year versus 54 percent in 2004.

• Establishing the Honors Program and the Leland Honors Scholarships, fostering competition among the region’s top academic performers for admission to HSU.

• The Securing the Future development campaign reached its goal a year early—more than doubling previous efforts, with a total of $49.7 million in funds raised.

• The Skiles Building, Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing Building, the Alumni Wall, the Holland Health Sciences Building (a historic collaboration between a university and public school district to build a magnet school on a university campus), Linebery Boulevard, and the Linebery Clock Tower were completed. The Grape Street Athletic Complex is in the advanced phase of construction. As executive vice president, he was instrumental in the design and construction of the Connally Missions Center.

• Major renovations were completed to Caldwell Hall, Hunter Hall (converting the former lobby into the Dyess Welcome Center), Cowden-Paxton, Richardson Library, Sandefer Building, and the university heating and air conditioning plant. Other refinements include relighting the campus and the effluent water project.

• Established endowments for the Kelley College of Business, the Cynthia Ann Parker College of Liberal Arts, the Shelton-Lacewell Endowed Chair in Physical Therapy, the Dodge Jones Chair in Reading Disabilities and other endowed scholarships.

• Established Logsdon Seminary, including an extension campus at Wayland Baptist University; partnered with the Acton School of Business in Austin, a master of business administration program; secured reaccreditation for the university through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; and accreditation for Logsdon Seminary through the Association of Theological Schools. Initiated quality enhancement initiative in ethics education for pre-professional degree programs, and laid the groundwork for doctor of ministry and a bachelor of fine arts degree programs.

Turner said he expects HSU trustees to move quickly to form a search committee to select his successor, and he be believes the university is well positioned for the next step in its history.

He lauded the university’s advancement under the tenures of his two predecessors, Jesse Fletcher and Lanny Hall.

“Dr. Hall built on what Dr. Fletcher did, I’ve had an opportunity to build on what Dr. Hall did, and that’s been a great stair-step progression to watch as the institution continues to grow and advance,” he said. “There are some opportunities to grow some doctoral programs, for example in the School of Theology and perhaps a Doctor of Psychology, plus there are opportunities to work with health care—the sciences are looking for an undergraduate degree in health sciences that would help prepare people for a number of health sciences careers.

“I think the addition of the track and field program will bring some new students in and I think the oil boom will make our endowment grow, so the opportunities are very real and significant for the next step.”

Turner noted he sees significant challenges at Catawba, “Their endowment is in need of strengthening, and that’s something I know something about,” he explained. “I also think they need to look at some new programs. They are in the heart of the financial center of that part of the country, and they don’t have a finance major at the college. That’s something I can look at from the outside and say ‘gee whiz’ with all the opportunities, this is something you need to look at.”

Turner joined Hardin-Simmons’ administration and faculty in 1992 and served as vice president for academic affairs from 1992 to 1996. He then became executive vice president and chief academic officer until becoming chief operating officer in June 2000. Turner served as executive vice president and chief operating officer at HSU for a year before becoming the 14th president.

Turner predicted the presidential succession will be virtually transparent to the Hardin-Simmons family.

“HSU has a great board of trustees,” he said. “They will be concerned that the institution continues moving in the direction it has been moving, and I’m sure they will look for a president who wants to continue the same kinds of growth, programs and successes that we’ve had—probably a different vision, but the same general directions.

“The administrative council (the vice presidents) are all veterans committed to what they are doing. They love Hardin-Simmons, and they work extremely well together, so the day-to-day operations of the university are not going to change a bit—not even a small speed bump of change.

“One thing the HSU family has to look forward to is that rejuvenation process that happens when new blood comes in. Someone else may bring in a little more energy and some fresh ideas, and we should welcome that. I know the HSU family will be supportive of the next person because they’ve been tremendously supportive of me—and I can’t thank them enough.”

Looking to the future, Turner said: “I can offer nothing but thanks and best wishes, and I can promise that my prayers and support will continue here. Annette (his wife) and I are leaving behind three endowed scholarships that we will continue to contribute to, because we very much believe in Hardin-Simmons and what it stands for. My time here has been so pleasant because of the support and encouragement the HSU family has given me, and I can only hope that I get a percentage of that at Catawba.”

Posted: 2/21/08

Scam callers preying on churches’ compassion

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO—Scam artists are preying on churches’ generosity to extort money from them by describing tense situations in which purported members of the congregations need funds.

Neil Bennett, pastor of Churchill Baptist Church in San Antonio, received a phone call just before a recent Sunday morning service from a man who identified himself as a deputy sheriff in rural West Virginia. The man indicated he was with an African-American family who needed money to repair their car.

Another man then got on the phone and identified himself with a common name. He told Bennett he had been to Churchill Baptist Church twice, but his wife—who also had a common name—regularly attends the church.

The man said that he and his wife were returning home from a funeral when their car broke down. He indicated he had $600 to pay for the towing and repairs, but needed an additional $140 to pay the bill.

The man also said he was being mistreated in the town. He was roughed up and people hurled racial insults at him.

“I was totally convinced as I talked to this guy,” Bennett said.

The person who identified himself as a deputy sheriff corroborated the story, indicating the town was run by the Klu Klux Klan. He told Bennett he simply wanted to get the man and woman out of the county, but their repair bill needed to be settled.

Bennett worked out a way to wire $140 to a number the deputy sheriff provided. The pastor asked the husband to call him once he and his wife were out of the state. The man never called Bennett.

A member of the church looked into the matter more deeply later, calling West Virginia law officials. They indicated at least six other churches had fallen for a similar story.

The scam artists appear to be surfing church websites looking for congregations likely to have some African-American members and large enough so pastors may not know every member.

Bennett said he think the criminals purposely called on Sunday morning, when staff members are most rushed.

“It’s pretty convincing to me. If it hadn’t been a Sunday and right before church, I might have asked more questions and found the fraudulent nature,” he said.

Posted: 2/21/08

CLC files ethics complaint against gambling PAC

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

AUSTIN—Texas Baptists’ public policy agency has filed a complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission against a political action committee of horserace track owners and supporters of video slot machines.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas Christian Life Commission filed the complaint against Texans for Economic Development, alleging the group could be using corporate funds inappropriately to try to influence legislative races.

In its last regular sworn report filed with the Texas Ethics Commission, the political action committee Texans for Economic Development reported receiving political contributions from two corporations—Retama Development Corp., Texas group, and Call Now, Inc., a Nevada corporation.

Reports filed with the commission show, on their face, that the corporate contributions were accepted by the PAC for political purposes.

In Texas elections, use of corporate money for political purposes, to advocate the election or defeat of a candidate, is a third degree felony under state law. 

Had Texans for Economic Development intended to use the corporate funds for non-political purposes, such as administration of the political action committee, they would have reported the corporate contributions on Schedule C-2 of its sworn report. Instead, the group reported the contributions under Schedule A, which is for political contributions intended to be used for political expenditures.

"We have watched this PAC over the years, and been dismayed at the handful of individuals and entities that continue to push the slots or nothing agenda at racetracks in our state," said CLC Director Suzii Paynter, filed the complaint. "This filing brings to light the gravity of the misuse of corporate funds in our political process."

Other than one fee paid to the state, all expenditures of Texans for Economic Development previously reported to the Texas Ethics Commission have been used to support the election or defeat of candidates, Paynter said. No administrative costs for the PAC have been filed.

"We hope that the Ethics Commission's staff will aggressively and thoroughly investigate this complaint to insure the laws of our state are protected and respected by the gambling industry." said Weston Ware of Texans Against Gambling

"The public has the right to know how the gamblers are using the corporate money they have received. At the very least, Texans for Economic Development seems to have filed grossly inaccurate reports, which deceive the public as to the intended use of corporate funds. More urgently, the Texas Ethics Commission must determine with all due haste whether corporate money has been used against certain House incumbents, who TED has openly bragged about targeting for defeat."

In media reports, Texans for Economic Development Treasurer Tommy Azopardi admitted the group budgeted $1 million to impact about a 25 House races during this election cycle. Their advertisements running in some of these districts attempt to influence voters through the use of thinly veiled "issue" ads.

Based on activity across the state, Texans for Economic Development clearly targeted three state representatives—Phil King (R-Weatherford), Betty Brown (R-Terrell) and Nathan Macias (R-Bulverde), who are all opposed to the expansion of gambling in Texas, the CLC noted.

Posted: 2/15/08

At Northeast Texas therapeutic ranch,
‘We see a miracle just about every day’

By George Henson

Staff Writer

TEXARKANA—It’s easy to lift the spirits of a special-needs child, Sam Clem insists. Just put the child on the back of a horse ready to do his bidding.

Clem directs the Runnin’ WJ Ranch outside Texarkana, a therapeutic riding ranch that draws more than 90 special-needs children a week from Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. Six schools bring children to participate in the program, which draws support from churches throughout the area.

Horseback riding works a variety of upper- and lower-body muscles and joints. In addition, spastic patterns in the muscles are decreased, balance and coordination are challenged, range of motion is enhanced, and strength and endurance gradually improve, according to the Runnin’ WJ’s website, www.runninwjranch.org.

Gracie is helped by three volunteers on her ride.

The ranch has 17 horses for the children to ride. Students enrolled in the equine program of Texas A&M University train the horses.

While the exercise is important and not to be discounted, Clem said, often the intangible benefits are what stir him the most.

“Beyond the exercise, it’s that they’re in control,” Clem said. “When they get on one of these horses, for the first time in their lives, they’re the boss.

“There is one young man whose body has about give out on him, but put him on that horse, and he sticks his chest out, and he thinks he’s John Wayne.”

In addition to working muscles, the children also work on concepts like numbers, letters, colors and right and left. Sometimes obstacles courses are set up, and children follow directions to take their horse from one goal to the next. Each child always has at least one volunteer to offer help and encouragement as they ride.

The ranch’s arena is not enclosed, but it is covered, so children can ride on days when it may be raining a little. They look forward to riding so much, Clem doesn’t like to disappoint them. Some days, however, it is too cold.

“A lot of them have problems with blood circulating real well in their extremities, and their hands get cold so easily,” Clem explained.

Other times, they will ride the trail on the property and get more sensory stimulus from nature as all five of their senses are engaged in different parts of the trail.

“These kids don’t get to get outside a lot and just be a part of nature,” Clem explained. “When they do, they just light up.”

There’s no doubt that the No. 1 draw for the children are the horses themselves. “We have a number of children who are essentially nonverbal—they just do not speak. But a few of those children, on horse-riding day, they may say ‘horse’ or ‘ride.’ This is a pretty amazing place,” Clem said. “We see a miracle just about every day.”

Clem dreams of expanding the ranch’s ministry to the children. Already there are plans to move the ranch’s offices to make room for a expanded therapy center.

But Clem really looks forward to the day when there will be funds to clear some of the timber on the property so weeklong summer camps can be held for special-needs children on the property. He pictures it as combining a Vacation Bible School with the therapeutic benefits a week at the ranch can offer special-needs children. One week might be for blind children, while another for autistic children or other groups of children with special needs, he said.

“We will need to keep it small, because for every child, we will have to have at least one volunteer to help them, if not more,” Clem said.

Maddison saddles up.

The camp receives donations from several area churches, and is affirmed by Bowie Baptist Association, but does not receive funds from the association. Several community organizations also support the ranch, but not to the degree needed for the camps to become a reality.

Toward that end, Clem has mailed letters to churches encouraging them to adopt the ranch as the recipient of their VBS offering as a means of letting children help children. He thinks it particularly would be a good fit for cowboy churches across the state.

Clem, who teaches a Sunday school class for special-needs children at First Baptist Church-Moores Lane in Texarkana, also wants to build a chapel on the property.

“This place is founded on Christ, but we don’t have a place to share Christ,” he said.

But then he recounted a conversation with a pastor a few weeks ago. “One pastor asked us the other day, ‘How do you share Christ?’ Before I could answer, the pastor who was with him said, ‘They live it.’”

Posted: 2/20/08

Rural poverty initiative takes Dallas
church to five areas in five years

By Carla Wynn Davis

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

DALLAS—The more than 1,200 backpacks stuffed with school supplies that Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas gave away last summer wasn’t the only impressive statistic about its mission trip to Perry County, Ala.  

The Alabama trip capped a five-year tour of all five regions focused on by Together for Hope, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s rural poverty initiative.

“One summer our youth minister had us go to Arkansas,” said church member Joey Belgard. “The next summer we went to the (Rio Grande) Valley.”

Those summer mission trips led to ongoing involvement in addressing rural poverty issues through Together for Hope.

In the church’s fifth consecutive summer mission trip to a rural county, members at Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas prepared 1,200 backpacks for the poor students in Alabama.

Together for Hope focuses on alleviating poverty and building community in 20 poor U.S. counties, which happen to be located in five regions of the country. And since 2003, members of Royal Lane have visited a county in each of the five regions.  They took 30 members to Arkansas and Texas. Nearly 40 went to Kentucky, 42 to South Dakota and nearly 50 to Alabama. 

“We learned about all the regions, and it was something we wanted to experience,” said Garland Hamic, who has been on all five trips. “Mission trips give us a chance to take our youth places they typically never visit. We wanted them to know that poverty looks different in different places and wanted them to experience that.” 

But youth aren’t the only participants. In recent years, the annual mission trip has become multigenerational and even more of a churchwide effort.

“All of the missions of Royal Lane are lay-driven,” said Jason WalkerCraig, the church’s associate minister. “There’s almost full congregational participation in the preparation. It is impressive to participate in and watch.”

For a church that averages less than 200 in Sunday worship, taking 50 people on a mission trip to deliver 1,200 backpacks stuffed with supplies is even more than church members thought they could do, WalkerCraig said.  Mission trip participants handed out the backpacks to children during a family festival on the Marion, Ala., town square.

“We didn’t know if we’d be able to (distribute) everything,” Hamic said. “But you could barely see a blade of grass on that courthouse lawn there were so many people.”

Like most summers, church members purchased as many supplies in the county as possible, trying to boost the local economy. While in Alabama, church members did what local residents told them the community needed, including construction projects, health screenings, nursing home visits and activities with children and teenagers.

“We always end up doing something different,” Belgard said. “We don’t go with our pre-packaged plan. We don’t pretend like we can alleviate poverty. We just intend on showing people that somebody loves them.”

Emphasis is placed on incarnational witness rather than overt, confrontational evangelism, Hamic explained. “When we can worship with (local people) and work alongside them, to me that is being the presence of Christ in a community.”

And being the presence of Christ has often extended beyond the week the team was in the county.  While in Alabama, church members discovered one elementary school was in need of some extra resources.  Upon returning to Dallas, the church gathered what the school needed and sent resources to Perry County with a church member already traveling to the East Coast. 

“Even when we leave a place, we stay connected,” Belgard said.

Church members say they’ve learned a lot about poverty in their five Together for Hope mission trips—namely that poverty looks similar despite regional differences.

“One of the things I’ve heard from members who have gone on all the trips is that poverty—no matter where they go—always looks the same, just a different face,” said WalkerCraig.

Posted: 2/20/07

BaptistWay Bible Series for March 2

Unveiling the weakness of a king

• 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:1-15

By Kenneth Jordan

First Baptist Church, Alpine

I long have been a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s mystical Middle Earth. In his book titled The Hobbit, there is a scene considered by many to be the climax of the story: The reluctant hero-Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, has stolen into the lair of the dreadful dragon, Smaug. In a conversation with the dragon, a hidden Bilbo uses flattery regarding the dragon’s scaly skin to obtain a closer look at the monster’s hide.

“Dazzlingly marvelous! Perfect! Flawless! Staggering!” exclaimed Bilbo aloud, but what he thought inside was: “Old fool! Why there is a large patch in the hollow of his left breast as bare as a snail out of its shell!” (The Hobbit, chapter XII).

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It was the discovery of this soft spot that eventually led to the death of the dragon. The seemingly indestructible foe brought down with a final arrow fired toward that unprotected place.

In this week’s passage, we find the transferring of power and authority from father to son. David is nearing his death. After a lengthy battle with those who would be king, Solomon is given the throne. Solomon is described with glowing terms. Perhaps best known for his prayer for a discerning heart (1 Kings 3:9), there is a soft spot.

We see it appear in 1 Kings 3:3, “Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.” The phrase at that begins with except is the unveiling of the weakness of this great king.

Commentators are divided as to the true nature of the exception clause. Many quickly dismiss it and say it was only natural Solomon would sacrifice in those places because the temple had not yet been built.

I think that is part of the explanation. However, we cannot too quickly dismiss the exception clause. When you trace the path of Solomon’s life, you find a life incredibly blessed by God. You also see a life that had such great potential taking a tragic turn at the end.

1 Kings 11:4 states “As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God.” This was not an abrupt change of heart. It was the natural progression of a weak spot left unattended.

With that said, I believe we must be mindful not to rush too quickly into judgment of the long-dead king. It would be easy to sit back and say, “What a shame he didn’t guard his heart!” A few years ago, a credit card commercial showed a quarterback walking through his day commenting on what he would have done—culminating in him watching a full grocery sack bust and musing, “I would have double-bagged it.”

Their point was simple: It’s easy to look at things in hindsight and determine what you would have done. It’s not different with Solomon’s life. It is incredibly easy to point out his weakness and bemoan his ultimate downfall. What is not so easy is examining our own lives to find our weaknesses and shore them up.

Smaug, the dragon from Tolkien’s world, would not believe he was vulnerable. In the end, an arrow found his soft spot and brought his reign to an end. Solomon had the world handed to him on a platter. Yet for all of his discernment, he did not see his weak spot that would lead him away from the God he loved. If we were to look at your life in retrospect, would we see your glaring weaknesses left unaddressed?

Posted: 2/20/08

Explore the Bible Series for March 2

Responding to God in faith

• Genesis 28:1-5, 11-22

By Donald Raney

First Baptist Church, Petersburg

We see them everywhere and if we are honest, we would have to admit we have been one of them at times. They are individuals who claim to be believers but show little evidence outside the walls of the church.

They are faithful to attend church and participate in the rituals of the church whenever it fits their schedule. They are quick to affirm that “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” while assuming God’s plan for their life corresponds to their own plan. They have their life neatly compartmentalized with one of the boxes labeled “God.” They say they are a person of faith, but when life takes an unexpected turn or God calls them to do something outside their plan, they quickly revert to acting in their own strength and according to their own designs.

The Christian life is not always easy. Walking by faith instead of sight is not natural. Most often we prefer to have our hands on the wheel directing our life, but often our own actions can create situations beyond our control and without a genuine and strong faith, we can find ourselves drifting.

The story of Jacob provides us with a clear picture of someone who found himself in such a situation. His own selfish treatment of his brother had forced him to leave home. In his encounters with God as he wandered, Jacob learned a number of important lessons, and as we study his story, we can learn what it takes to respond to God in faith and obedience regardless of the circumstances.

Tackling transitions (Genesis 28:1-5)

It often correctly has been said that the only constant in life is change. There are many times in life when we find ourselves in times of transition during which we are seeking to adjust to a new set of circumstances. Perhaps it is due to a new job or a move to a new home. With each transition, we are presented with a new opportunity to demonstrate the faith we profess. The temptation, however, is to give into the stress of the change and try to work through the situation on our own rather than exercise our faith and trust God to lead us through.

Jacob later referred to this time when he left home as a time of great distress (Genesis 35:3). It was the first time he was away from the familiarity and security of home, and he did not know if he would ever see home again. Yet this man who always had used his own cunning to get what he wanted followed his father’s advice and went to his ancestral home.

Times of transition often are difficult and frightening, but they can also be times of spiritual growth if we choose to walk by faith and trust God’s direction.

Taking in God’s message (Genesis 28:11-15)

Prayer is a vital part of the Christian life. It is our primary means of communicating with God. Yet so often that communication seems to flow in only one direction. Nearly all believers regularly voice their requests and concerns to God. Many ask God to speak to them and direct their path.

Yet most often we fail to take time to listen for God to answer. God wants to communicate with us and will use many different means to convey his message including circumstances and even non-believers if we will listen. Perhaps we occasionally are afraid of what God might say. Yet we cannot respond in faith until we take time to listen.

All his life Jacob had been doing things his way. He apparently never had taken time to pray or seek God. Yet God still was working behind the scenes and wanted to speak to Jacob. Finally, after Jacob had left home and was wandering alone, God spoke through a dream as he slept.

In the dream, God assured Jacob he had great plans for his descendents. He told him it was not based on Jacob’s ability to manipulate people or circumstances. It was God who would give Jacob’s descendents the land in fulfillment of the promised God made to his grandfather Abraham.

In the midst of struggles to live our lives, we must learn to listen to the voice of God. Often we find the words we hear remove our need to struggle if we simply will respond in faith to the message.

Taking steps of faith (Genesis 28:16-22)

Having received God’s message, Jacob awoke and immediately acknowledged its significance by erecting a memorial to the God who had affirmed his covenant with Jacob. Jacob now understood all he had and all he would ever accomplish was due to God, and he committed to following God’s lead.

Some may read the condition Jacob placed on God as a sign of a lack of faith. If Jacob truly believed, he would simply follow God regardless of the circumstances. Yet Jacob’s statement affirms it is God who is in control as well as his intent to trust God until God proves untrustworthy. This is indeed a statement of faith, especially for someone who had always lived life on his own terms. Jacob knew his actions had led him to be an exile from his home and that only God could remedy the situation and enable him to return home safely.

Living the Christian life often can be difficult, and we may not always understand the way God leads, but God has promised to bless those who hear his voice and obediently respond to him in faith.

Posted: 2/18/08

Persistence pays off for ETBU graduate

By Mike Midkiff

East Texas Baptist University

MARSHALL—For June Jones, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” is more than an old adage. The saying has been a guiding light to her.

More than three decades after her high school graduation, Jones finally reached her goal of earning a bachelor’s degree. And she did it in style. After nearly 10 years attending classes, she graduated with honors in the top 20 percent of her class at East Texas Baptist University.

Jones went to work as a switchboard operator at ETBU more than 11 years ago. Since June 2002, she has worked as administrative secretary in the university’s Fred M. Hale School of Business.

Jones gives the invocation at fall commencement.

“I graduated from Marshall High School in 1975,” she recalled. “I finished 31st in my class of 432. However, continuing my education was not an option for me because of the cost. When I went to work for ETBU in 1996, attending classes was not even on my radar! I had been out of school too long and had five kids.”

Since the switchboard was located in ETBU’s institutional technology department, Jones found herself surrounded by computers. So, she began her college studies taking a beginning computer class offered during her lunch hour.

Her first major was computer science, but she changed after realizing computer technology was advancing much faster than the one class per semester she could take.

So, she decided to take organ lessons. Realizing she found her niche, she decided to major in music.

“Music is my passion,” said Jones. “During my time as a student, God has taught me patience and the love of learning. Learning about the intricate details of music has been really fascinating to me.”       

Jones has played the piano since she was 7 years old.  Through the years, she has served in churches as a nursery worker, Mother’s Day Out director and Sunday school teacher.

In fact, some of her former Mother’s Day Out students became her classmates at ETBU, she noted.

But music has remained her true love, and she has served as a children’s choir director and teacher, as well as an instrumentalist.

“It seems today that finding musicians to play in the local church is difficult,” said Jones. “I would encourage young people to try to learn how to play an instrument. The time you spend learning how to play— whatever instrument it may be—is well worth it.”

Although she remains a member of Crossroads Baptist Church of Marshall, she currently serves as organist for Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Jefferson.

“As I prepare music for each Sunday, I am always amazed how the Lord works in this process,” she said. “I cannot tell you how many times I have chosen an offertory piece, only to have the preacher’s sermon be on the very subject. As I play each Sunday, it gives me great joy to know that I’m giving back to the Lord.”

When Jones finally earned her degree, ETBU faculty and staff who have known her more than a decade joined in celebrating the fulfillment of her longtime goal.

“If you ever needed a story about someone who could inspire anyone to complete what they started, regardless of age or circumstances, June is your example,” said Charles Williams, dean of the School of Business.

Jones insists she did not reach her goal by herself.

“My mother, who passed away this past summer, was a big encouragement who helped me stay on task,” she said. “My family was very supportive, sacrificing a lot. The folks I work with at ETBU also provided support.

“I have always liked what Dear Abby says when people write her asking if they should get a degree at such a late age. She always asks: ‘How old will you be if you don’t get the degree?’”

Posted: 2/15/08

RIGHT or WRONG?
Preventing scandal

So many current and former pastors and other church staff people have been in the news lately involved in sexual and financial scandals. What kind of background checks can a search committee legitimately implement to attempt to keep these kinds of scandals at a minimum?

Ministry is a calling of trust, and the public’s expectations of ministers are high. Moral lapses are violations of trust. They damage churches and undermine the witness of a community set apart for holiness (1 Peter 2:9-10).

Scandals involving clergy happen because ministers are human beings, with all of the flaws and temptations associated with humanity, and because churches are naïve. Search committees tend to believe everything ministers say about themselves. This is nice, but not very smart. Ministers hide past mistakes, especially when they are under pressure to find a new place of employment. Wise search committees verify the candidate’s credentials are authentic and he or she is not hiding information that could embarrass a future employer.

At a minimum, search committees should take three steps.

First, contact references. Every candidate should be willing to supply references from prior places of employment. Call every reference. Keep a written record of what they say. Inquire about any time gaps in the candidate’s employment history. A word of caution: Any candidate would be a fool to supply a reference who would speak of him in less than glowing terms. Committees need to contact other sources who might know the candidate or details of the candidate’s ministry. The most revealing references come from people not listed by the candidate.

Second, do a criminal-records check. This will reveal any criminal activity in the candidate’s past for which there is any public legal record. An attorney or law-enforcement official can advise search committees about ways to accomplish this.

Third, conduct a financial-background check. This will reveal a candidate’s personal financial activity and whether he or she has a poor credit history.

None of this should be done without the candidate’s knowledge and consent. If prospective staff members will not consent to such scrutiny, eliminate them from consideration. They probably are hiding something.

Will these steps guarantee moral integrity on the part of your minister? No. Some moral failures by ministers go unreported by churches that want to avoid public embarrassment for themselves and their offending staff member. The minister surfaces later in a different place, only to perpetuate the immoral behavior there. Baptist polity has no provision to prevent this. No church is immune from scandal, but your chances of avoiding problems are increased if you follow one rule—trust, but verify.

Mike Clingenpeel, pastor

River Road Church, Baptist

Richmond, Va.

Right or Wrong? is sponsored by the T.B. Maston Chair of Christian Ethics at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology. Send your questions about how to apply your faith to btillman@hsutx.edu.