Posted: 1/06/06

2nd Opinion:
'We are partners in shaping … lives'

By John Lilley

The Baylor University board of regents, in electing me as the university's 13th president, has given me a great opportunity to come back and lead an institution that had a transforming effect on my life.

Arriving on campus in the late 1950s, fresh from Louisiana, Baylor opened a whole new world to me. I not only received outstanding instruction and mentoring from Baylor professors who cared deeply about me and my calling, I was taken in by the wonderful Baylor families who worshipped at First Baptist Church in Waco. First Baptist became my home away from home. Two days after my election as Baylor's president, my wife, Gerrie, and I united with this church. It was a true homecoming for me.

Also during my student days, I had the opportunity to serve as music director at three Texas Baptist churches–Mountain Baptist Church in Gatesville, Eastside Baptist Church in Killeen and Alice Avenue Baptist Church (now Park Lake Drive Baptist Church) in Waco.

The good people of these churches encouraged me and allowed me to grow spiritually and professionally, while providing me a source of financial support. My two summers of youth-led revivals, sponsored by the Baptist General Convention of Texas, similarly contributed to my spiritual and professional development.

Of course, I would have had none of these life-changing opportunities were it not for the vision of Texas Baptists, who founded this great university in 1845. Of the 15 colleges and universities chartered by the Republic of Texas, only Baylor survives. To this day, more than 160 years later, the motto Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana–for Church, for State–has held true. Baylor exists to serve the church and society.

I believe Baylor has long been the crown jewel of Texas Baptists. Over the years, through many ups and downs in its relationship with the Baptists of this state, Baylor has never wavered it its commitment to serve those who gave birth to this institution. Because I have such a great belief in, and respect for, this relationship, it will be my intention as president of Baylor to ensure that those bonds are strengthened. Texas Baptists need the support of Baylor, and Baylor needs the support of Texas Baptists. We are partners in shaping the lives of young people who will go out into this world to serve and to lead.

Over the next few months, I will be visiting Baptist churches across this state. I look forward to making many new friends and connecting with the thousands of Baylor graduates who serve these churches as staff members and lay leaders.

Baylor is special to Texas Baptists. I have known that for a long time because I am a beneficiary of the partnership. I now consider myself to be a steward of that relationship. Baylor must, and will, continue to serve Texas Baptists.

Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana.

John Lilley began his tenure as president of Baylor University this month.

Posted: 1/06/06

DOWN HOME:
Two memories to last a lifetime

For a few minutes, I felt like the most handsome guy on the planet.

Call it good-looks-by-association. I was still the same me, just dressed up in a tuxedo. But I had the most beautiful bride–our oldest daughter, Lindsay–on my left arm.

We stood at the back of our church, waiting for her wedding to begin. Those were golden moments–the serene calm in the middle of an enormously hectic day.

Lindsay and I had time to talk. I won't tell you exactly what we said. That's daughter-daddy confidential information. But I will tell you I'll hold that conversation in my heart all the days of my life.

Then, the music started, and I walked Lindsay down the aisle to take the arm of Aaron Kahler, the love of her life.

Almost any father of the bride will acknowledge an open secret: No guy in the world is worthy of his daughter. But I was compelled to make an exception for Aaron.

When I asked Lindsay why she wanted to marry him, she said he loves God more than anything. He's her best friend. He accepts her as she is, takes care of her, tells her he loves her and thinks she's beautiful. And he makes her laugh–a trait her mama, Joanna, and I always advised her to seek in a mate.

So, I walked Lindsay down the aisle with clear-eyed confidence. And with gratitude to God–for a darling daughter and for the man whose life God had braided with hers.

While I doubt any money actually changed hands, my friends who would have bet I'd cry all the way through the marriage ceremony looked shocked afterward.

Lindsay and Aaron asked me to perform the wedding. And since my friends know I can cry over a good commercial, they just knew I'd blubber through this wedding.

Truth is, Lindsay, Joanna and I did our crying a few nights earlier. The wedding was on Saturday, and on Wednesday, Jo, Lindsay, her sister, Molly, and I had time alone together.

We ate a home-cooked meal around our dinner table, just as we had done countless evenings before. Dinner at home always has been my favorite parenting time. Just the four of us, enjoying good food, each other's company, and laughter and stories from our day. So, naturally, I cried as I tried to say the blessing. They gave me a hard time, but we all felt the sense of the occasion–our last dinner at home, just the four of us.

Then, as Lindsay and I had promised for years, we drove to the video store to rent Father of the Bride. “You know you need to cry it out,” Lindsay told me. “So, Father of the Bride is just what you need.” She was right. Lindsay, Jo and I laughed and cried our way through the movie.

The best part of the evening happened when Lindsay gave us a handwritten book of her favorite memories–132 experiences of her growing-up years that shaped her life and brought her joy. Jo, Lindsay and I sat on our bed reading and laughing and crying.

That evening and at her wedding, we made two more memories I'll always treasure. One stained with tears; one–contrary to popular expectation–not.

–Marv Knox

Posted: 1/06/06

EDITORIAL:
Lessons from an exploded mineshaft

Gladness and relief melted into sadness and grief last Wednesday morning. Like millions of Americans, I scoured the newspaper as I poured my first cup of coffee. The most important headline reported encouraging news: “12 of 13 trapped miners survive.” I prayed as I poured milk over my cereal, thanking God for the safety of a dozen West Virginia coal miners I never would know.

A short while later, my wife, Joanna, walked in from the bedroom, where she had been watching TV. “What an awful tragedy; 12 of those 13 miners died,” she said. I showed her the newspaper article, confident–or maybe simply hoping–the happier report was true.

She called me as I drove to work. Unfortunately, the TV report she heard had been based on the latest information: Miscom-munication at the mine led to an incorrect early report. Instead of 12 survivors, the Sago Mine explosion claimed their lives, leaving only one survivor.

When I got to work, I read an e-mail from a friend, who wrote late the night before: “I realize that many in the media will not recognize why those 12 miners in West Virginia were found alive. They live because Christ lives, and when he is with you–regardless of where you find yourself or what conditions you find around you–he is the Breath of Life, and you can live.”

I wondered about my friend's faith. Would it shrink in the harsh glare of reality? The Breath of Life did not sustain those coal miners when carbon monoxide filled their lungs. If faith is built on a belief that Christ can make a person invulnerable to danger or immune to disease, what happens to faith when calamity knocks people to their knees and disease rusts their armor?

Later that day, I read a news article that illustrates a tragic shortcoming of such theology. CNN quoted John and Ann Casto, who lost her cousin in the mine. Casto heard both reports–first, that 12 miners survived, and then, that 12 died–with the miners' families, friends and neighbors at Sago Baptist Church. When the erroneous good news arrived, “they were praising God,” Casto said. But when they finally heard the truth, “they were cursing.” Mrs. Casto described the miners' loved ones' feelings graphically: “We have got some of us … saying… that we don't even know if there is a Lord anymore. We had a miracle, and it was taken away from us.”

Of course, it's not fair to assess survivors' theology based solely on what they say or do in the aftermath of catastrophe. They speak from raw emotion, not reason. If God is willing to accept their curses, and the Holy Spirit intercedes for them “with groans that words cannot express,” who are we to judge? Still, we would be foolish not to learn from the Sago Mine disaster and ponder implications of the contrasting responses to the erroneous and accurate reports of what happened down there.

Of course, Christians understand that “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights” (James 1:17). But we back ourselves into a theological corner when we build a case for God's love and Christ's presence based on positive outcomes to calamitous circumstances. Think of the inverse logic: If we claim miners survived because the Breath of Life was present to draw life-giving oxygen out of death-dealing carbon monoxide, then what are we left to say when miners die? Is God absent? That's the line taken by scoffers and atheists; Christians should take care lest we give them theological cover.

The testimony of Scripture affirms two vital truths regarding tragedy and suffering.

First, a relationship with God and belief in Christ do not exempt us from horrible events. Throughout the Bible–Jacob, Job, Jeremiah, Jesus and Paul, to name just a few–the faithful suffered as much (and in many cases, more than) the ungodly.

Second, God is present in the midst of suffering, feeling all our pain more acutely than we feel it. Psalm 46 and Romans 8 state this truth magnificently. As God told Joshua, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5), Jesus said to his followers, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Jim Bennett died in Sago Mine. He was a vibrant Christian, said his son-in-law, Daniel Meredith, who predicted Bennett spent his final hours “witnessing to people … organizing and praying.” Although God didn't bring Bennett out of that mine, God was down there with him, comforting him and welcoming any of Bennett's friends he led to faith in Christ just before they departed this broken earth.

Marv Knox is editor of the Baptist Standard.

Posted: 1/06/06

From the fanciful science fiction themes of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (above) and Star Wars (below) to the classic Åmerican Western Shane (right), Hollywood has presented its share of on-screen Christ figures. (Photos courtesy of Lucas Films, Universal Pictures, Paramount)

Hollywood makes peace with God–when it pays

By Joanna Connors

Religion News Service

HOLLYWOOD (RNS)–A mysterious visitor arrives from the heavens to walk among us. At first, hardly anyone believes in his existence. Gradually, though, more and more people come to know and follow him, as he teaches lessons of love to the meek and powerless.

The powerful consider him a threat, however, and when they capture him, he dies. Then, a miracle: He comes to life again through the force of love, and he leaves the world of humans to rise back to the heavens. The people who love him will wait for him to return, forever.

Recognize the story? Of course, it is one of the central stories of Western culture. Most American children know it well before they go to school, absorbing its lessons through repetition.

It is E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.

It also is, with some variations, the story of The Matrix, Shane, Star Wars, Superman and countless other movies made by that “godless” cabal, Holly-wood–including the latest, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

As the culture wars roil over marketing Narnia directly to church groups–not to mention over teaching of evolution, the separation of church and state, and the supposed war on Christmas–now might be a good time to pause, take a deep breath and reflect.

Contrary to popular belief, Hollywood not only believes in God–Hollywood loves God.

Its reasons for loving God might not be pure. In fact, the reasons might be mostly crass and commercial, especially now, after Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ made $604 million worldwide. But if you're looking for true, come-to-Jesus awe, you don't have to look much farther than the executive suites of the industry the Monday after The Passion had an $83.3 million opening weekend.

Gibson's triumph inspired renewed professions of faith in Hollywood–faith in the profit, if not the prophet. But whatever the reason, God is one of the great stars of the movies. He always has been, along with Moses, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and a wide assortment of angels.

Movies have embraced religion and the stories of both the Old and New Testaments from their very beginnings, more than 100 years ago. Among the first movies, both made in 1898, we can find the Passion play of Oberammergau and the temptation of St. Anthony. In 1912, the director of From the Manger to the Cross actually filmed on location in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and other sites in the Holy Land.

Cecil B. DeMille and D.W. Griffith mined the Bible for many of their films, starting a tradition of retelling Bible stories that stretches from The Greatest Story Ever Told all the way to The Passion of the Christ.

But the explicit retelling of Bible stories does not begin to cover the presence of Christ-figures, biblical allegories and plain old expressions of religious faith buried in movies that appear to be straightforward entertainment.

E.T. happens to be one of the more interesting cases in this category.

Its marked similarities to the story of Jesus make it seem almost as blatant an allegory as the lion's death and resurrection in Narnia.

E.T. has the power to heal with just a touch. He reveals a glowing heart. He sacrifices himself for Elliott, the lonely, melancholy boy searching for a father figure in the wilderness. When E.T. ascends to the heavens, he tells Elliott he always will be with him.

Yet Melissa Matheson, who wrote the E.T. screenplay, has been quoted saying she recognized the connections only after seeing the movie, and director Steven Spielberg, who is Jewish, considered it a sci-fi movie about American suburban dreams.

That makes the connections all the more uncanny. It suggests just how deeply rooted these stories are in Western culture. It also makes one last observation worth a doctoral thesis: The ones who almost kill E.T. are scientists who have been questioning his existence and searching for hard proof.

Spielberg shot E.T. from a low, almost knee-height perspective. He wanted the movie and E.T. himself to be seen from a child's point of view.

Deliberate or not, children, the innocents, usually are the first to “see” the Christ figure in movies. They are the first to believe in him and worship him, echoing “and a little child shall lead them” from the Bible.

A child leads the way in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, in which author C.S. Lewis made the youngest child–Lucy, the most innocent–the initial believer. She continues to believe even when her brothers and sister mock her, eventually bringing the “sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve” into the fold.

We see Shane, directed by George Stevens and released in 1953, through the eyes of a child, too. Joey Starrett, the son of homesteading farmers in the valley beneath the Grand Tetons, is the first to see the enigmatic stranger, Shane (“Someone's comin', Pa!”) and the first to worship him. (“I just love Shane!”)

Shane (played by Alan Ladd) is one of many “saviors” in American Westerns, which often play out as religious allegories. Clint Eastwood, for instance, paid direct homage to Shane in Pale Rider in 1985 and returned to the same themes in Unforgiven.

Shane's resemblance to Jesus is hard to miss. He stands up for the meek and the oppressed in an epic battle between good and evil. He turns the other cheek several times, when the bad guys antagonize him.

You even could argue that he performs a “miracle” when he helps bring down the big stump on Joe Starrett's property.

It cannot be a coincidence that after he has “sacrificed” himself (and his hopes for a peaceful life among the ordinary people in the valley), the last line of the movie is: “Shane! Come back!”

Both The Matrix and the Star Wars series set the Christ allegory in science-fiction. Neo (Keanu Reeves), the hero of The Matrix, has a dual identity, a life in two worlds, and is identified as “The Chosen One” (Neo is an anagram of “one”). He comes to save the oppressed “real” humans in Zion; he fights a dark evil; he dies; and he comes back to life. He is “baptized” (with the choice of pills) by a John the Baptist figure, played by Laurence Fishburne, who announces his coming.

Star Wars features both the Fallen Angel, Darth Vader, and the Chosen One, Luke Skywalker, who fights for the oppressed in the epic battle between light and dark, good and evil. Luke must retreat to a wilderness, of sorts, to find the Force within. The Force makes him invincible.

Likewise, Superman has dual identities in two worlds, comes to save the oppressed, fights evil, and so on.

Some movies are less comprehensive than E.T and The Matrix. But the more you look for God, Jesus and religious themes in movies, the more you find.

They turn up in every genre, from comedy (Monty Python's The Life of Brian, George Burns in Oh, God!) to horror (The Exorcist).

So, it turns out C.S. Lewis' lion, Aslan, is in good company. He can join a divine club that includes not just Ladd, Reeves (both Keanu and George) and Mark Hamill, but also Morgan Freeman (Bruce Almighty), Michael Clark Duncan (The Green Mile) and Jack Nicholson (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest).

If God is everywhere, as Christians believe, then evidently “everywhere” includes the red carpet and the multiplex.

It even includes the one place many evangelical Christians believe harbors Satan himself–Hollywood.

Posted: 1/06/06

Kokomo Baptist Church near Gorman is pictured before and after the fire that destroyed its facility. For information on Baptist General Convention of Texas relief efforts for victims of the wildfires, call (888) 311-3900.

Wildfires destroy Kokomo church,
prompt outpouring of ministry

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

GORMAN–Wildfires that swept across thousands of acres in North Texas burned down Kokomo Baptist Church, near Gorman.

While members of the church were preventing wildfires from destroying homes in their community, a fire turned their church into a “pile of rubble” Dec. 31, Deacon Woodrow Browning said.

Church members remained upbeat despite losing their facilities, Browning said. The church has successfully overcome this situation before. The most recent fire happened 37 years ago after an apparent electrical fire burned down the church.

The facilities were rebuilt then and can be rebuilt again, he noted.

“God is already working in it,” Browning said. “We've got to stick together. We're a close-knit group.”

First Baptist Church in Gorman, First Baptist Church in Cross Plains and Huckabay Baptist Church in Stephenville were among congregations that provided shelter or supplies to families impacted by the wildfires.

At least 50 people received clothes, food or other supplies from First Baptist Church in Gorman, said Interim Pastor Barry Schahn, and the church made a commitment to meet any needs brought to its attention.

If needy families “don't see (what they need), they write it on a piece of paper, and we make some calls and get it,” he said, adding other congregations helped keep supplies stocked at his church.

“We've been trained to give and not expect anything back. We're God's people set at the gate to help those without clothes, without food,” Schahn said.

Posted: 1/06/06

Texas Baptist Forum

Frog in the kettle

Your editorial chiding Christians for “angry, militant proclamations of 'Merry Christmas'” (Dec. 19) reminded me of a recent experience I had at lunch with my wife and another couple.

• Jump to online-only letters below

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

"Lost: 29 trees. Gained: More light." Calder Baptist Church A sign on the Beaumont church's property during cleanup from Hurricane Rita. Jim Fuller is the pastor. "Anti-Christian persecution and discrimination around the world … is ugly, it's growing, and … the mass media seem to generally ignore or downplay its gravity." Charles Chaput Catholic archbishop of Denver, speaking at a panel discussion on religious freedom on Capitol Hill. (The Washington Times/RNS) "I want to give all of my body to my husband." Katie McMunn A 17-year old who promised abstinence until marriage when she slipped on a "chastity ring" at a pro-abstinence event in Pittsburgh. (The New York Times/RNS) "Hip-hop has what all corporate America wants–18-35-year-old employed adults with growing families. That's why you see Russell Simmons producing clothes, Snoop Dogg hawking Chrysler. Everyone wants us. Why not the church?" Tommy Kyllonen Senior pastor of hip-hip Crossover Community Church in Tampa, Fla. (USA Today/RNS)

As we prepared to partake, we held hands and said a blessing. A nearby diner rose and complained to the manager that our public display had offended him and his companion, who were atheists. The manager told him he would in the future seat the man in a prayer-free section.

Witnessing, I had always thought, was an essential part of Christian living. If we surrender to atheists on issues such as “Merry Christmas” or public creches or elimination of any mention of Christ in public school, will we be like that frog that starts out in the pan of tepid water and, as the heat is gradually raised, accommodates himself to the condition until he finally is boiled and dies?

In your last paragraph, you quote John 3:16, and you italicize “whosoever.” Perhaps you should have italicized the next and clarifying phrase, which is: “believes in him.”

Bill Bruce

Houston

Support for missionaries

I am concerned for the financial support of Southern Baptist missionaries around the world. As far as I know, international missions are primarily supported by the Southern Baptist Convention through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Offering.

However, Baptist churches are leaving the ultra-conservative SBC and joining one of the moderate state or national conventions/fellowships. How does the money get collected and distributed to the international missionaries?

Van Penrod

Houston

Editor's note: The Baptist General Convention of Texas collects and distributes special offerings according to the churches' wishes. Those include the Lottie Moon Offering for the SBC International Mission Board and the Global Missions Offering for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, as well as the BGCT's own Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions and its World Hunger Offering, plus the Annie Armstrong Offering for the SBC North American Mission Board.

Appeal for reconsideration

I was grieved to learn of the recent decision by our International Mission Board trustees to exclude those who speak in tongues from missionary service.

Rather than allow the spectrum of Southern Baptist life to be represented by our missionary personnel, recent decisions have excluded a significant number of faithful Baptists. There is a silent but important minority of Baptists who use the gift of tongues in doctrinally sound and nondivisive ways.

These faithful Christians should not be disqualified over a gift of the Spirit that Scripture clearly teaches should not be forbidden (1 Corinthians 14:39). Even the Apostle Paul would be disqualified for missionary service through the IMB under this new policy (1 Corinthians 14:18).

I appeal to IMB trustees to reconsider. One can understand when missionary personnel are disqualified for immorality or immaturity, but how can we justify disqualifying missionary candidates over a gift from God?

Heath Powers

Runge

Time to reach

As the former gang member Stanley “Tookie” Williams was executed in California and the talk shows were filled with discussions about it, I heard one comment that Scripture upholds capital punishment. I agree that it does, but we must also consider that although it upholds capital punishment when necessary, it does not teach that it is in God's will for us to rejoice over taking a man's life.

Instead, we (as Christians) should feel sorrow over Williams taking innocent lives and his apparent lack of repentance and making his peace with God before having to face judgment of where he will spend eternity. Every soul is precious!

Scripture teaches us there is time for us to obey, but also there comes a time when no one can work. I wonder how many tried to reach him with the gospel while he was alive on this earth? And how many wasted their time complaining about the material side?

Daniel Younger

Itasca

More on Crimm

Unbeknownst to me, some very kind Texan, whose identity I now know, submitted a Texas Tidbit on my behalf concerning my interest in evangelist B.B. Crimm–“Cowboy Crimm” (Dec. 2). As a result, three people have contacted me; and not only have I heard some new tales, but I have made three fine new friends.

If anyone knows Raymond Goforth from Lancaster, I would appreciate hearing from him again. He left a call on my recorder but was cut off before he was able to leave his telephone number. My numbers are (336) 454-0828, home; (336) 686-2043, mobile; and (919) 761-2249, office. My e-mail address is jlutzweiler@sebts.edu.

James Lutzweiler, archivist

Southeastern Seminary

Wake Forest, N.C.

SBC hypocrisy

I am constantly amazed at the blatant hypocrisy of the Southern Baptist Convention. 
First, we are told that we ought to boycott Disney because of “gay days” at their theme parks.  Second, many fundamentalists within the convention warned parents about Harry Potter because of its fascination with witchcraft and wizardry, although, I dare say, most of those criticizing the books have never read them.

 Then, as soon as the SBC’s LifeWay Christian Resources finds an opportunity to use a Disney movie about a lion, a witch and a wardrobe to make a fast buck, they get in bed with Disney, advertising LifeWay stores as “your Narnia headquarters.”  

Go figure.

Mark Johnson

Macon, Ga.

Posted: 1/06/06

On the Move

Vernon Andrews to Choate Church in Kenedy as pastor.

Jeff Ashley to Tolar Church in Tolar as music minister.

Glynn Beaty has resigned as pastor of Old Time Church in Riesel.

Wayne Blackshear has completed an interim pastorate at Adamsville Church in Lampasas and is available for interims, intentional interims, revivals or supply at (254) 709-5888.

Jim Bradberry to Shady Shores Church in Denton as associate pastor.

Randy Brown to Calvary Church in Lufkin as pastor from Mooringsport Church in Mooringsport, La.

Tim Brown to Countryside Church in Clearwater, Fla., as pastor from First Church in Maud.

Andrew Cantrell to Open Door Church in Queen City as minister of youth.

Johnathan Cantu to Great Oaks Church in Richmond as youth minister.

Charles Collett to First Church in Kopperl as pastor, where he had been interim.

Matt Cook to Second Church in Little Rock, Ark., as pastor from First Church in Rosebud.

Bruce Cox to White Mound Church in Mound and Cowboy Church in Coryell County as pastor. He was interim pastor of White Mound.

Russell David to Calvary Church in Lipan as music minister.

Carey Dyer to Lakeside Church in Granbury as minister of music and worship.

Ed Eaton has resigned as pastor of First Church in Nash.

Bob Elliott has completed an interim pastorate at Calvary Church in Lufkin.

Keith Ferguson has resigned as minister of youth/family at First Church in Ovilla.

Mike Golden to Fairview Church in Granbury as associate pastor.

Douglas Hallam has resigned as minister of worship at First Church in Ovilla.

H.A. Hanks has completed an interim pastorate at South Seminole Church in Seminole.

Mikel Hatfield to First Church in Lewisville as student minister.

James Hoskins has resigned as minister of youth at First Church in Moody.

Drew Howard to First Church in Lipan as interim youth minister.

Aaron Johnson to First Church in Lometa as minister of youth.

Tut Jones to Indian Gap Church in Hamilton as pastor.

Jimmy Law to Mustang Church in Denton as pastor.

Ben Mullen to First Church in Hebron as pastor.

Bryan Price to First Church in Winnsboro as interim pastor.

J.R. Raley has resigned as pastor of Calvary Church in Quinlan.

Kenny Rawls to First Church in Nixon as pastor from Baptist Temple Church in San Benito.

Danny Rogers has resigned as pastor of First Church in Cranfills Gap.

Tom Ruane to Rockett Church in Rockett as interim pastor.

Julio Samayoa to First Church in Amarillo as minister to children.

Chad Shanks to Eastwood Church in Gatesville as youth minister.

James Shugart has resigned as pastor of First Church in Mount Calm to begin a ministry called “Pursuing Your Dreams.” He is available for interims, supply and revivals at (254) 749-2926.

Ryan Smithee to Lakeside Church in Granbury as associate minister to students.

Jackie Stanfield to First Church in Linden as pastor.

Rick Sydnor has resigned as pastor of New Hope Church in Lone Oak.

Isaac Torres to Iglesia El Buen Pastor in Beeville as pastor.

Eric Walsh to South Seminole Church in Seminole as pastor.

Suan Watson has resigned as children's minister at Highland Church in Denton.

Michael Weaver has resigned as pastor of Lakeway Church in The Colony.

Marv Whittenburg to Levita Church in Gatesville as interim pastor.

John Woods to First Church in Hamilton as minister of music.

Posted: 1/06/06

Samford faculty oppose planned
intelligent design lecture

By Thomas Spencer

Religion News Service

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS)–A planned lecture by a proponent of intelligent design has upset Samford University faculty who don't want the Baptist-affiliated school to be perceived as endorsing alternatives to evolution.

A resolution introduced in the College of Arts and Sciences' faculty senate describes intelligent design as a political movement, not science.

The resolution, by Samford geography professor Max Baber, questions whether Samford should involve itself in a movement that seeks to inject religion into science education in the public schools.

“In accordance with the spirit and letter of Samford's foundation statements, we affirm that church and state should remain separate,” Baber's resolution reads. “We therefore protest the president's decision to involve Samford in a political movement that stands in direct opposition to that principle.”

The senate has formed a committee to examine the issue. The Feb. 23 speaker is John Lennox, a research fellow in mathematics at Oxford University's Green College in England. He is one of a comparatively small band of academics who argue that the complexity of biological life suggests a designer guides the process.

Samford President Tom Corts cooperated with a local Christian ministry group, the Fixed Point Foundation, on plans to bring Lennox to the university.

Corts maintained he doesn't understand the controversy surrounding the visit.

Intelligent design is an issue in the news, and while the school's science department teaches evolution, that doesn't rule out the involvement of an intelligent designer, Corts said.

“This is a university, and you are supposed to talk about ideas,” he said.

Posted: 1/06/06

Pins mark 55 years perfect attendance

By Charles Richardson

Howard Payne University

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted: 1/06/06

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

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted: 1/06/06

Texas Tidbits

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

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

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

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

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

Posted: 1/06/06

TOGETHER:
Texans react to tragedy, opportunity

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

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

Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We are loved.

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