Posted: 8/12/05

Nairobi street kids find refuge at center

By Amanda Sawyer

Baylor University

Baptist student missions and education team members talked excitedly as they drove out of the heart of Nairobi to the suburbs. Streets became muddy from the new rains and the bus bounced up and down, dodging as many potholes as it could.

But the real excitement came when the bus pulled onto the muddiest street of all. Out from the woods came little boys, chasing and jumping on the back of the bus. The boys’ smiles spread to the travelers in the bus, and laughter was poured out in unison as the doors opened at the final destination—Toni La Maji Street Youth Rehabilitation Center.

Founded and funded by a Catholic priest from Italy, the center is in the Langata-Rongai area of Nairobi. Its mission is to get small boys off the streets and off drugs while getting them back into school. Currently 49 boys, from 9 to 16 years old, stay on-site in dorm-like faculties.

Only open one month, the rehab center has successfully filled its rooms and is near full capacity of 63 boys. Director Richard Ngethe Gitau is in charge of helping create a file on these boys, many of who do not even know their birthday.

All of the boys have different reasons for being on the streets. Most come from Kibera slum, the second largest in Africa, and deal with addictions to glue sniffing and bang—slang for marijuana. When mothers have so many children they cannot support them all; the boys are the first to get pushed out of the home.

Girls still are valued, as they can bring goods to the family during tribal wedding traditions practiced in most of Nairobi. But when the boys are pushed out, they are left to fend for themselves on the rough streets of the city, usually forming large groups of approximately 40 boys.

These groups help rehabilitation center workers to meet many boys because once they make friends with one boy, usually he will invite them to meet the rest. This method of introduction automatically gives the worker credit and an inside help.

The Baylor students sang songs and played games with the children all afternoon, the boys not growing tired one bit. “The best part was talking with the kids and getting to know their stories,” said Crystal Sullivan.

To take a break, the students told the biblical story of Jonah and the whale through illustrations and a translator. As a result of the story, three boys became Christians.

There are two other facilities in the area, one for girls and another for boys, and they try and help as many as they can. But there is more need than capacity.

Boys must meet criteria to be accepted at the center, the most important being that they want to change and go back to school where they could have previously seen the most scorn.

“Schools in Kenya are hard on the children,” said Eric Sundene, a missionary for Spoken For and Irving Bible Church who works with the boys. “And if they are having a hard time at home too, then the boys will become discouraged and not want to go to school.”

After a long day of play, the Baylor students had reason to celebrate. In addition to the three boys who decided to become Christians, so did two social workers at Toni La Maji Center.

When asked what spurred his conversation about Jesus Christ with social worker Patrick, sophomore Joel Mendez said, “ He just looked like he needed to be loved.”

Posted: 8/12/05

Posted: 8/12/05

Baptist World Alliance Identity Statement

This is he complete text of the BWA's Identity Statement:
Message from the Centenary Congress
Baptist World Alliance
Birmingham, United Kingdom
July 2005

To all Baptist believers throughout the world with love and joy from those assembled together in Birmingham, UK, at the Centenary Congress of the BWA.

Together those Assembled:

THE HOPE OF A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH

1. Renew our commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, our guide and friend, in the power of the Holy Spirit and we affirm our life together as a community of faith looking forward in hope to Christ’s return and God’s New Heaven and a New Earth;

OUR TRIUNE GOD

2. Believe in one eternal God who revealed Himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

3. Rejoice that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, revealed in the Scriptures as fully God and fully human, and whose life shows us the way of true discipleship, was crucified for us and was raised from the dead on the third day to save us from our sins;

SCRIPTURE

4. Declare that the divinely inspired Old and New Testament Scriptures have supreme authority as the written Word of God and are fully trustworthy for faith and conduct.

THE CHURCH AND THE KINGDOM

5. Believe the Christian faith is best understood and experienced within the community of God’s people called to be priests to one another, as these Scriptures are read and studied together. We thank God for all those who study God’s word and seek to put its teaching into practice individually and collectively, through congregational polity;

6. Understand our worship, mission, baptism and celebrating of the Lord’s Supper joyously witnesses to God’s great purposes in creation and redemption;

7. Believe our gathering churches, with other true Christian churches are called to be witnesses to the Kingdom of God. To that end we pray, work and hope for God’s Kingdom as we proclaim its present and coming reality;

8. Declare that through the Holy Spirit we experience interdependence with those who share this dynamic discipleship of the church as the people of God. As such, we affirm Christian marriage and family life;

9. Repent for not having prayed and worked hard enough to fulfill the prayer of Christ for the church’s unity. We commit ourselves to pray and work to further the unity of Christian believers;

10. Affirm that Believers’ Baptism by immersion is the biblical way to publicly declare discipleship for those who have repented of sin and come to personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior;

THE WORK OF CHRIST: ATONEMENT AND REDEMPTION

11. Affirm the dignity of all people, male and female, because they are created in God’s image and called to be holy. We acknowledge we are corrupted by sin, which incurs divine wrath and judgement;

12. Confess the atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross, dying in our place, paying the price of sin and defeating evil, who by this love reconciles believers with our loving God;

STEWARDSHIP OF GOD’S CREATION

13. Proclaim our love of God’s created world and affirm our commitment to the stewardship of God’s creation.

OUR MISSION

14. Declare that God gives spiritual gifts to believers who are called to live a life of worship, service and mission. These gifts are discerned and confirmed by the believing community together.

15. Know that in the Great Commission, every believer empowered by God, is called to be a missionary, learning and sharing more of Christ that the world might believe;

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND JUSTICE

16. Confess that faith in Christ entails a passionate commitment to religious liberty, freedom, peace and justice;

17. Affirm that in Jesus Christ all people are equal. We oppose all forms of slavery, racism, apartheid and ethnic cleansing and so will do all in our power to address and confront these sins;

Now, at this centenary gathering these things we declare, affirm and covenant to the Lord Jesus Christ and to each other, believing the truth found in Him and revealed in the Scriptures. We, recognizing that this is a partial and incomplete confusion of faith, boldly declare that we believe the truth is found in Jesus Christ as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. Because we have faith and trust in Him so we resolve to proclaim and demonstrate that faith to all the world.

Amen and Amen. Maranatha, come, Lord Jesus, come.

Posted: 8/12/05

CBF church, Buckner building
neighborhood community center

By Lance Wallace

Buckner Communications

DALLAS – Officials at Buckner Children and Family Services and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship-affiliated Cliff Temple Baptist Church in Oak Cliff announced plans Aug. 9 to build a community center on the church’s property just south of downtown Dallas.

A $1 million gift to Buckner from Dallas resident and Cliff Temple member Jeannette Sadler is being used to launch plans for the center, which will be called the “Cletys and Jeannette Sadler Community Center.”

Cliff Temple Pastor Glen Schmucker, a member of the CBF Coordinating Council, said the community center fulfills the “life-long dream” of Jeannette Sadler.

“Her dream for years has been to help those in our community who are less fortunate by providing both the physical facilities and the programs that help them,” Schmucker said.

Buckner President and CEO Ken Hall said the Sadler gift and the partnership with Cliff Temple Baptist Church are “answers to our prayers to be deeply involved in meeting the needs of hurting people in the Dallas community. Mrs. Sadler’s generosity in making this gift to Buckner exemplifies her commitment to others who are less fortunate.”

Initial plans call for the community center to work with other strategic partners in the community to provide crisis relief and assistance, after-school and youth programs, adult and family education, and programs for senior adults. Possible services may include health and immunization clinics, technology and job training classes, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, food and clothing assistance, and a variety of others.

Buckner President Hall said his organization is in the process of raising additional funds for the construction of the center. According to Hall and Schmucker, specific details about the cost, size, location and programs to be offered will be determined through a community assessment survey being conducted by Buckner and the church.

Posted: 8/10/05

COMMENTARY:
Christian nurses helping people in difficult circumstances

By Sarah Stone, RN

Hendrick Health System, Abilene

My mind is crowded with pictures of nurses caring for people in physical and emotional pain .

I remember the Hospice nurse who sang along with me while I sang hymns to my dear friend, Maryanne, the day before she died.

There was the "gentle giant" male nurse who was especially careful with my father-in-law as he spent his last weeks in the oncology unit. He always took time to make sure things were just right. He was always so considerate of Daddy’s need. He also shared his faith with me when he noticed I was reading the Bible to Daddy.

I recall the nurse who asked me how I was feeling—how I was really feeling. She sat with me and talked and held my hand after I miscarried my twins (at only seventeen weeks). She told me another nurse had rocked my baby girl as she died, while I was in surgery to stop my hemorrhage. Her twin had been stillborn. After twenty-three years, I still recall the kindness of those nurses.

So I suppose I am qualified to tell how nurses give comfort and care to people who are hurting emotionally, spiritually or physically. I have been on the receiving end; I know how experiences like these prepared me to comfort others, every day. This desire to help other people is what motivated me to enter the nursing profession in the first place. Twenty-eight more years of life experiences have complemented that desire as I have grown in with maturity and empathy. Most nurses come to the profession with at least a vague idea of what nurturing and comforting the sick means. Christian nurses understand our profession is in actuality a calling, a mission, and a viable way of living out our commitment to Christ.

In reflecting on the situations when another nurse comforted me, I think of 2 Corinthians 1:3-6, which says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”

As a registered nurse in Day Surgery Recovery, I meet people each day who are in some kind of health crisis. These encounters usually last only a few hours—and not every patient is going through a particularly bad time—but it affords me the opportunity to make an impact on someone else’s life. It may be in word or it may be in deed, but as a nurse, I have this opportunity.

A patient in my recovery room may be in great discomfort, in which case I can offer pain medication early and often, while following doctor’s orders. I can validate his or her pain, because sometimes a person simply needs to hear that someone else believes the pain is real. I try to encourage some of my patients by telling them I can relate to the pain they are experiencing, because I have had a similar experience. I also inform the family about the patient’s condition as soon as possible after surgery, so that they can offer support.

Someone may come out of surgery with a new diagnosis of cancer or other bad news. The best thing I can do for that patient is just listen to him voice his fears or hold his hand for awhile. A gentle touch, hand-to-hand contact, eye-to-eye communication, a soft voice—these are all important tools in sharing the comfort with which I have been comforted. The greatest comfort seems to come from knowing that someone else is sincerely concerned about you when you are hurting.

Sometimes I like to sing quietly as I go about my duties at the bedside. Many patients have commented the hymn I was humming brought them a special peace. Children especially seem comforted by a simple lullaby.

I also pray with my patients. At Hendrick Medical Center we are not only permitted, but encouraged to pray with our patients—if this is acceptable to them. Hearing someone else pray for you is very comforting. It comforts the patient to know his caregiver looks to a higher power as the source of healing, and it comforts the nurse to know that what she does is truly in God’s hands.

Nursing is an art as well as a science. It can also be a ministry. Finesse and intuition are critical elements. But I must remember that every person I encounter in my work is a unique creature of God. Not every patient would appreciate the actions I have described. Some want to keep their guard up, maintaining an emotional distance from other people, especially in areas like mine where stays are very short. Some people are at their absolute worst when sick or in pain; sometimes they are unreasonable or angry. A part of my role is to keep the peace and to determine the best way to relate uniquely to each person.

Teamwork is important! I have heard it said that the best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. Perhaps in a similar way, it may be that one of the best things we nurses can do for our patients is to love and care for each other—or at least have a cooperative attitude. If we support each other and strive to make our workplace atmosphere pleasant, it will be much easier for our patients to get through their hospital ordeal.

It also is important to remember we serve with a team. Even in Day Surgery, chaplains’ visits or social worker interviews assist our efforts. Whenever possible we include the family in this team; keeping them informed when they cannot physically be with the patient.

I must admit that even though I strive to be a wonderful, sweet, kind, caring, nurturing, compassionate, helpful, gentle nurse, I do not always achieve my goal or carry it out flawlessly every day! I am human! I have bad days, but I have learned the importance of courtesy and kindness—even when I do not feel like being courteous or kind. This is the essence of professionalism. Patients should receive kindness even when I am not necessarily feeling kind on the inside.

Philip Yancey says it’s much easier to act your way into feelings than to feel your way into actions. Sometimes nurses have to be actors! I may go home frustrated enough to kick my dog, but while I am on the job, I want my patients to think I had nothing to do but to pamper them. I also want to convey to them my sincerity in my caring for them, regardless of what just happened at our unit staff meeting!

By and large, nurses today have less time for dispensing TLC (tender loving care) than we have had in decades past. The amount of paperwork required today absorbs so much of our time. But if we are going to help people get through their tough times—whatever those times may be for them—then we have to find the time for each patient.

If I am hurried or behind in my paperwork, I try to keep my patients from seeing this in my face or in my actions. A patient is in a vulnerable position. He or she is dependent on me in so many ways. So each one wants my undivided attention, and not hear how busy I am. Every patient has the right to think he is the most important person on my unit. If a patient believes he has my undivided attention and I am truly concerned with every aspect of his care, it will help him get them through his tough time. If I can sit calmly at a patient’s bedside, even for a moment, make eye contact, and be gentle in my touch—even if my mind is on ten other tasks that I have to finish in the next five minutes—the patient will sense I truly care.

One of the best things I can do for any of my patients is listen to them. Listening enables me to understand and validate their feelings. When I listen to my patients I learn from them how best to help.

Christ commands us to live out our faith in daily living. That is true for everyone in every vocation, but nurses have a unique opportunity to serve people who are in some of the most vulnerable or critical moments in their lives.

The Hendrick mission statement says that we will strive “to provide high quality health services, emphasizing excellence and Christian service in all we do”. I have heard many patients say they choose us, because they sense that the people who work here really care. I am sure this is largely because so many of us are professing Christians, and we instinctively try to live out this mission.

Nurses will always be on the frontline in providing compassionate care. It is not easy to do consistently when dealing with the varieties of people we encounter every day, but I believe God uses us and works through us. In the power of his Spirit – the fruits of patience – kindness and gentleness can become expressions of our work, as much as they are descriptions of Christian character. May God grant that it always be this way.

Posted: 8/09/05

BaptistWay Bible Series for August 21

God’s power will be revealed in end-time events

• Revelation 19:11–20:10

By Wayne Smith

First Baptist Church, Lamesa

Last week’s lesson announced the destruction of Rome, the enemy of the church, and prophesied eventual destruction of all those who opposed God.

This week’s lesson studies the climactic events of history. Christ returns and reigns on earth for a thousand years. Satan is defeated and destroyed. Final judgment takes place. History ends.

The wedding of the Lamb (19:6-10)

Heaven rejoices as the church experiences glory with the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers are presented both as the bride (church) and wedding guests. John is warned against idolatry when he is told not to worship the angel who brings the message.

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The return of Christ (19:11-16)

Jesus appears dressed as a conqueror and riding a white horse. He leads the armies of heaven, likely saints and angels. He wears a white robe stained with the blood of his enemies. Jesus uses supernatural power (“a sharp sword issuing from his mouth”) to destroy his enemies.

Destruction of God’s enemies (19:17-21)

Carrion birds arrive as Christ and his army immediately win the battle of Armageddon. The beast, representing Rome and all secular power opposing the church, is captured and thrown into the lake of fire. The false prophet (the second beast, Revelation 13:11), representing false religion which forces people to worship the beast, also is captured and thrown into the lake of fire.

The 1,000-year reign of Christ (20:1-6)

Satan, conquered by a single angel, is thrown into “the abyss,” where he will be imprisoned 1,000 years. Believers who are to reign with Christ are raised in the first resurrection. The “rest of the dead,” probably unbelievers who have died, will remain in the intermediate state until the 1,000 years are over. Then they will be raised to face judgment and the “second death”—eternal separation from God. Believers will reign with Christ on the earth without the deceiving presence of Satan.

Final destruction of Satan (20:7-10)

Satan is released, leaves the abyss and rallies the nations against the Lamb. The forces of Satan are referred to as “Gog” and “Magog” (Ezekiel 38-39, Genesis 10:2). Before the battle begins, fire falls from heaven and consumes Satan’s armies. Satan is thrown into the lake of fire, along with the beast and the false prophet. Unbelievers have been given 1,000 years under the reign of Christ without the influence of Satan. Yet, they refuse to repent. When Satan appears, they rally and follow him.

The great white throne of judgment (20:11-15)

As the great white throne of judgment appears, earth and sky pass away in anticipation of the new heaven and earth. Most interpreters believe this is a general judgment of both believers and unbelievers. Two books are used—the Book of Life and a book containing a record of “what they had done” (20:12). Those who have trusted in Christ as their Savior are listed in the Book of Life. However, everyone stands before God and is judged. The verdict of judgment is either life or death.

The imagery of Christ’s return is overwhelming. Christ returning as a blood-stained conqueror is a picture of destructive force against the enemies of God. But the Christ who returned is more than a conqueror of Satan and his evil cohorts. Revelation is a word picture of God’s redeeming power and his control of history.

Since creation, God has allowed his people to suffer persecution—slavery in Egypt, captivity in Babylon and persecution by the Roman government. In every instance, he has provided a way of deliverance. The last provision for deliverance was through God’s sacrifice of his own Son for atonement.

From creation, God had a plan for protection and eventual redemption of his people. God’s plan was to send a Messiah. The Messiah was not a militant conqueror of those who persecuted God’s people, as the returning Christ is depicted in Revelation.

The incarnate God who appeared on earth as Jesus drew men to him, not by a show of militant power, but by demonstrating God’s love for his people. The faith in God fostered by receiving Jesus forms a bond between man and God that a militant figure could not. The militant returning Christ of Revelation is not the Savior men chose to follow during his earthly ministry.

Revelation presents an awesome picture of the majesty and power of God, contrasted with the total depravity and wickedness of God’s opponents (enemies). God is able to ultimately destroy not only the enemies of the church but also the source of evil itself—Satan.

But the church, sustained by its faith in God, eventually experienced God’s redemption by surrender—not by its own war against God’s enemies. When Christians surrender to the will of God, he protects and delivers them. Christ, leading God’s armies, fights their battles.

Application

The awesome power of God is revealed through end-time events. Christians need to realize the power of God to deliver us daily now from whatever holds us in bondage or persecutes us. God protects us when we surrender to him and place ourselves in his care.

Discussion question

• Do I surrender myself daily to God’s watch care?

• Do I listen for his direction?

• Do I witness to others the evidence of God’s working in my life?

Posted: 8/09/05

Family Bible Series for August 21

Actions always have consequences

• Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; Revelation 20:11-15

By Mitch Randall

First Baptist Church, Bedford

Consequences. It is a difficult concept even for adults to appreciate fully. The task of teaching children this simple concept becomes extraordinarily complicated. Children—and many adults for that matter—struggle with seeing the consequences of the decisions they make. From the everyday mundane to the most life-altering situations, people make choices every day that affect them for the rest of their lives.

A 5-year-old boy was having a difficult time learning that hitting was not a good idea. His parents were perplexed with the situation—hitting him back seemed childish, not to mention a bit hypocritical. The one thing the little boy disliked more than anything, though, was when he was made to feel like a little baby. He was the younger brother, and anything that alluded to the notion of “babyish” was frowned on loudly.

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His mother came up with a brilliant idea—parents cherish these when they happen—she made him put socks on his hands anytime he was caught hitting someone else. He hated the idea of wearing socks like they were mittens. For some reason, he thought this made him look “babyish.”

After about five times of slipping these socks on his hands and watching him crying profusely at the idea, he came to understand that if he did not want to wear sock mittens, then he would have to stop hitting. And guess what—he did. He finally got the idea that there were consequences to his decisions.

If it were only that easy every time, I’m sure God would use this technique on us. For some reason, adults still have yet to grasp the concept of consequences, both earthly and eternal. God loves us indeed, for he sent his only Son to die for our sins. However, the life we lead upon this earth brings about eternal consequences for the life to come. While Christ’s death and resurrection has secured salvation for the believer, eternal consequences remain in peril for the poor choices we make in life.

Romans 14:10-12

In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians, the apostle explains the importance of living well while here on earth. We will all face the judgment seat of God for the choices we have made here on earth. As God’s creation, we are accountable to him. He has entrusted us with the great responsibility of being his representatives upon this planet. As his ambassadors to the world, we have a serious responsibility to our Lord. There is coming a day when we will have to give an account of our mission here on this earth.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Paul continues this idea in 1 Corinthians 3, where he uses the analogy of laying a foundation to be built upon. Paul recognizes the foundation that believers build their lives upon is none other than Christ, but the actual building remains our responsibility. Through our choices and decisions throughout life, we build our personal life building of brick or straw. Paul also knew a day was coming when our workmanship would be tested by the difficulties we face. And ultimately, our life buildings would be judged by the Lord himself as he examines each for their craftsmanship and construction.

Paul knew the importance of teaching believers to come to grips with the decisions they made. Their decisions, and ours, have eternal consequences.

Revelation 20:11-15

In the book of Revelation, John writes of a day when Christ will judge the world. His obedient servants will be separated from those opposing his gracious work in the world. Those choosing the world over obedience to God will face an eternal torture, according to John.

The evangelist paints a bleak picture for those choosing to disobey God. The consequence for those poor choices has an everlasting consequence as far as John saw it. But for those who chose the way of the Lord, they will find their names written in the book of life.

In each of these passages, the message is clear. The way we live today affects tomorrow and eventually the eternal tomorrow. Making certain our names are discovered in the book of life is essential for every believer. By professing Christ as Lord and being obedient to his calling, the holy quill inks the name of another heavenly resident.

Discussion questions

• What is a consequence? Does every action have a consequence?

• Why do we have such a difficult time fully understanding the results of our actions?

• Does the way we live today affect our eternity? How so?

• What are your thoughts about the security of the believer and the idea that our choices affect our eternal dwelling?

Posted: 8/09/05

Explore the Bible Series for August 21

Rejoice in the Lord’s sovereignty

• Daniel 7

By Dennis Tucker

Truett Seminary, Waco

Chapter 7 signals a significant change in the book of Daniel. Although the chapter begins by speaking of King Belshazzar (mentioned in chapter 5), there are obvious differences with chapters 1-6. The earlier chapters were primarily narrative texts meant to relay a message in story form. Chapters 7-12 shift in genre, employing apocalyptic visions as the primary vehicle for conveying theological truth.

A shift in perspective

Beyond a change in literary form, the most significant change may be in the depiction of the kingdoms. Although the king is portrayed as the enemy in chapters 1-6, there remains a distinct hope that the king will change once he is confronted with the reality of Daniel’s God. In each story, the king appears to submit, even confess, his belief in the God of Daniel. The apparent lesson to be learned for Jews living in exile under foreign oppression is that faithful living may, in fact, change a king and his entire kingdom.

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But in chapters 7-12, such hope for a change in foreign rulers has been abandoned. The kingdoms are no longer places where faithful living may, in fact, change a king. The opening lines of chapter 7 hint at such an ominous turn. We are told Daniel saw the four winds of heaven “churning up the sea” and that four beasts came up from the sea.

In the Old Testament, sea and water are frequent metaphors for chaos and disorder. In essence, the kingdoms mentioned in chapters 7-12 are kingdoms derived from chaos and disorder. In short, living in these kingdoms will be a far different task than presented in the first six chapters.

The question in those chapters concerned how one can change the kingdom by faithful living. The question in chapters 7-12 is will one choose faithful living in the midst of unrelenting oppression—in the face of circumstances not soon remedied.

Perilous circumstances

Most readers of Daniel would of course respond to the last question above by asserting they would choose faithful living in the midst of difficult circumstances—some in fact may believe they are doing so even now. But we must be reminded of the circumstances to which Daniel 7-12 refers. Most scholars generally agree that the events described particularly in Daniel 7-8 are referring to events that took place during the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes IV (175-164 B.C.).

The land of Palestine fell into the hands of Alexander the Great some time in 333 B.C. Following his death, the kingdom was divided among his four generals, and through a series of twists and turns, Palestine fell into the lands of the Seleucids. During this time, the Seleucids attempted to impose Hellenism on the Jewish land.

Antiochus Epiphanes IV became king in 175 B.C. and ruthlessly enforced the Hellenistic policies of the empire. Jews were sold into slavery, temple worship was banned and participation in Jewish rites was forbidden (i.e., circumcision, festival activities, etc.). Antiochus challenged the monotheistic claims of the Jews, claiming he in fact was a god—hence his name “Epiphanes,” a Greek word used to refer to the manifestation of a god. This probably explains the frequent mention in chapters 7-8 of the “little horn’s” arrogant and pompous speech (cf. 7:8, 20).

The most devastating act occurred in December 167 B.C. In an attempt to discredit the Jewish temple and squelch any thoughts of Jewish resistance, Antiochus marched into the temple and dedicated it as an altar for Zeus.

We are told elsewhere of the grizzly details of that day: “On the twenty-fifth day of the month they [Antiochus and his forces] offered sacrifice on the altar that was on top of the altar of burnt offering. According to the decree, they put to death the women who had their children circumcised and their families and those who circumcised them and they hung the infants from their mother’s neck” (1 Maccabees 1:59-60).

All of this suggests that faithful living would do nothing to convert the king. Rather, faithful living apparently meant imminent death. If faithful living will not convert the king, and if faithful living could mean one’s life, then is there any hope? This is the existential question that plagued those who lived during the times described in Daniel 7-12. But it is a question answered unequivocally in the book of Daniel.

Certain hope

Although the circumstances of the Jews living under the rule of Antiochus Epiphanes IV appeared most uncertain, the visions of Daniel suggest hope is not lost forever. In 8:26, we are told Antiochus “will be destroyed, but not by human power” (literally, “hands”). Even though events suggest ruthless rulers will go unchecked in their domination, the faithful must remember God remains sovereign.

The book of Daniel offers hope to all who live in the uncertain times of the present day. The book of Daniel does not deny the difficulties of their present experience. Nor does it suggest their present experience has the final word. The book of Daniel does not describe some type of “pie in the sky” theology that dismisses the pain and fear of the present moment. Rather, the book of Daniel suggests that in light of the pain and fear of the present moment, we must choose faithful living and then lean into the presence of a faithful God.

Discussion question

• How do most people respond to the “pain and fear of the present moment” they might be experiencing?

• Why is it difficult to choose faithful living and trust in God in the midst of such difficult circumstances?

Posted: 8/08/05

Rainer picked to lead LifeWay,
anticipates 'big shoes to fill'

By Greg Warner and David Winfrey

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Trustees of LifeWay Christian Resources will vote Sept. 12-13 on the nomination of Thom Rainer to head Southern Baptists' official publishing arm.

The presidential search committee announced its choice Aug. 5 in Nashville, where LifeWay is based. Rainer, 50, is founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.

"I am honored and excited to be the nominee of the search committee," Rainer said in a statement. "I look forward to the vote of the full board of trustees in September."

If elected by the 59-member board, Rainer will succeed Jimmy Draper, 70, who is retiring after 15 years at the helm of LifeWay, one of the largest Christian publishing companies in the world. Rainer is expected to assume his new duties Oct. 17 and work alongside Draper until February.

"I am incredibly excited to have a man of Thom Rainer’s gifts and vision to work alongside in the months ahead," said Draper. "He is a proven leader, a brilliant statesman and a gifted visionary. That’s why I believe LifeWay’s best days are still ahead."

Rainer declined to speculate on how he might lead the agency. “I am not going to be presumptuous until the full board meets,” he said. “Right now I’m just enjoying the great, great honor of the nomination. Jimmy Draper is some pretty big shoes to fill. He’s a legend, not only in the Southern Baptist Convention and LifeWay but in the evangelical world.”

LifeWay, with 124 retail stores, recorded total revenue of more than $428 million in fiscal 2004.
Before pursuing full-time vocational ministry, Rainer studied corporate finance and worked in corporate banking in Atlanta and Anniston, Ala.

Despite that background, he said, “I anticipate that my learning curve’s going to be very steep.”

Rainer is the author of 16 books. His recent "Breakout Churches" examines the characteristics of growing congregations. His research indicated that baptisms in Southern Baptist churches are in decline, even after conservatives took control of the denomination beginning in 1979. Recently Rainer said, however, the statistics would be even worse if moderates had remained in leadership.

At least three of Rainer’s books, including “Breakout Churches,” were published by Zondervan, not LifeWay's Broadman & Holman publishing label.

Rainer said that while he might bring an outsider’s perspective to the post, “There’s so much good going on at LifeWay right now that I don’t even know how my outside perspective is going to compare to what I see on the inside.”

Lawrence Smith, vice president of communications for Southern Seminary, said Rainer will continue to teach and lead Southern’s school of missions, evangelism and church growth through the end of the semester in December.

Rainer was not as specific with his plans. “I have to discuss timetables with the seminary leadership,” he said.

A graduate of the University of Alabama, Rainer earned both the master of divinity and a Ph.D. degrees at Southern Seminary. Prior to joining the Southern faculty, he served as pastor of churches in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and Indiana. He has served as a church consultant and church-growth conference speaker for several years and is president of Rainer Group Church Consulting. He also is president of Church Central, a website he formed with Internet publisher NetWorld Alliance that offers training and other resources for church leaders.

"Dr. Rainer has proven himself to be a successful leader of the local church and at the seminary," said search committee chairman Rick Evans. "He is a gifted man of authority in the areas of trends within the Christian church and in church growth."

Rainer and his wife, Nellie Jo, have three sons — Sam, Art and Jess.

Rob Marus and Lindsay Bergstrom contributed to this story.

Posted: 8/05/05

Praise by 'every tribe, tongue
and nation' ends congress

By Ken Camp

Texas Baptist Standard

BIRMINGHAM, England—In what some participants characterized as “a foretaste of heaven,” about 12,000 Baptists from more than 200 nations joined their voices in worship at the closing session of the Baptist World Congress.

From praise choruses led by British Christian composer Graham Kendrick to a multinational choir singing the majestic strains of the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah,” Baptists from around the world ended their 100th anniversary meeting with the same multi-cultural flair that characterized every assembly during the five-day gathering.

Anthems by the Cambrensis Choir from the United Kingdom, a testimony by Malawian Baptist General Secretary Fletcher Kaiya who has adopted 15 AIDS orphans, an interpretive dance by a Russian Georgian group, the Caribbean rhythms of the Redeemed Messengers from Trinidad and Tobago, and a message from Fausto Vasconcelos of Brazil reflected the multi-ethnic nature of the worship service.

“You are witnesses of the power of the cross and of the empty tomb of our Risen Lord, the Living Water,” said Vasconcelos, president of the Brazilian Baptist Convention. He challenged Baptists to be sensitive, compassionate, powerful and wise witnesses of what they experienced in Christ.

Near the end of the service, newly elected Baptist World Alliance President David Coffey pronounced a benediction on all of the delegates, asking groups such as parents, ministers, students and business people to stand as he offered a word of blessing for each category.

Kendrick asked the assembled delegates to join hands as he and the Baptist World Congress praise band led the assembly in singing “Blessed Be the Tie” and the “Doxology,” while a mass choir comprised of the choral groups that performed during the Congress filed onto the platform

Coffey, who said the choir represented “every tribe and tongue and nation,” sang the “Hallelujah Chorus” before he declared the Baptist World Congress ended.

Posted: 8/05/05

Texas, Virginia approved as
Baptist World Alliance members

By Robert Dilday

Virginia Religious Herald

BIRMINGHAM, England (ABP)—Texas Baptists and Virginia Baptists became full-fledged members of the Baptist World Alliance following election by the BWA’s General Council.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Baptist General Association of Virginia join 211 other conventions and unions affiliated with the BWA, representing 32 million baptized believers around the world.

The General Council, which handles much of the business of BWA, also accepted a new member union from Africa, elected new executive staff members and officers, and welcomed President-elect David Coffey of Great Britain, who succeeds South Korean Billy Kim as leader of the worldwide Baptist organization.

The council met just prior to the BWA’s Congress in Birmingham, England.

Both the Texas and Virginia conventions had been seeking BWA membership—particularly since the Southern Baptist Convention withdrew from the organization last year, charging it with liberal theological and anti-American leanings. Because most churches in the Texas and Virginia conventions also affiliate with the SBC, its withdrawal left those congregations without a “channel of fellowship with Baptists around the world,” said Alistair Brown, who chairs the BWA’s membership committee.

Brown said the membership committee recommended the state conventions’ election only after close scrutiny of their structure and the BWA’s constitution, which stipulates that member bodies be fully autonomous and not an integral part of another convention or union.

Both the BGCT and the BGAV are legally independent of the SBC, said Brown. “Through the years, there has been a strong fellowship (between the SBC and the two state conventions) and a real sense of belonging to the SBC,” he added. “However, that is not the same as being structurally or legally a part of the SBC.”

Both conventions honor the freedom of churches to direct funding to a variety of missions causes, including the SBC and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and both already were admitted into the North American Baptist Fellowship, a regional affiliate of the BWA.

“The (membership) committee is fully satisfied that each is an organized Baptist body of the kind described by the constitution, that each is fully autonomous, that each is seeking to live in peace and harmony with others and that each fully intends to be supportive of the work of the BWA,” said Brown in presenting his committee’s unanimous recommendation.

The General Council approved the election without debate and followed it by sustained applause.

Both conventions’ executive directors—Charles Wade of Texas and John Upton of Virginia—thanked the council following the vote.

“I urged Texas Baptists to come to this meeting so that the world would know we are proud to be part of the world Baptist family,” Wade said. “I wanted Texas Baptists to know how big the Baptist family is.”

Upton said he’s often asked how many churches are affiliated with the BGAV. “I’ve learned to say there is only one church—the church of Jesus Christ,” he said. “We are so excited to be a part of this movement of Baptists around the world and this part of the body of Jesus Christ.”

In withdrawing, the SBC also ended its $425,000 annual contribution to the BWA— overwhelmingly the largest contribution of any member union. But BWA General Secretary Denton Lotz said North American churches—most of them SBC affiliates—had given $500,000 this year, more than enough to replace the loss.

Virginia’s annual contribution of about $150,000 now makes it the largest member giver to the BWA. Texas is a close second with about a $129,000 annual contribution.

Emboldened by the positive financial report, the General Council approved a 2006 budget of $2,345,275, an increase over 2005’s $1,974,773 budget. Member unions are expected to contribute about $557,000 toward the budget goal—most of it coming from unions in North America and Europe.

Also approved was about $2.5 million in disaster-relief and development projects for Baptist World Aid, a ministry of the BWA. The amounts represent goals for which BWAid will seek funding for the projects. They are not promises of funding.

The council also approved a statement of Baptist identity, which the Congress later received.

The statement includes confessions of faith regarding the hope of a new heaven and new earth, belief in the Trinity, Scripture as having “supreme authority as the written word of God and are fully trustworthy for faith and conduct,” the church and the kingdom of God, the atoning and redemptive work of Christ, stewardship of creation, mission, religious freedom and justice.

“This is a strong message to send to our Baptist family in this (centennial) year,” said Keith Jones, who chaired a committee that formulated the statement. “We hope it will be used to declare to the world who we are.”

Jones, who is rector of the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague, Czech Republic, said the statement is Christ-centered and “places the Trinity at its heart.” It also is evangelistic, Baptist in ecclesiology, “puts the accent on mission and the coming reign of God” and stresses the need to be good stewards of creation and to take strong stands for the poor and needy, and for religious liberty.

In other action, the General Council:

—Welcomed British Baptist leader David Coffey, who will assume the BWA’s presidency at the end of the Congress. Outgoing president Billy Kim of South Korea has completed a five-year term.

—Elected two new executive staff members. Fausto Vasconcelos, pastor of First Baptist Church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, succeeds Tony Cupit, who is retiring as director of the evangelism department. Ron Harris, director of advancement for Bethel College in St. Paul, Minn., becomes director of the BWA’s new department of advance, created by the merging of the old communications and development departments. Wendy Ryan, director of communications for 17 years, will retire this year.

—Received a report from its 21st Century Committee, which is evaluating the BWA’s ministry structure. Over the next five years, an implementation task force likely will propose changes, which must be considered by the General Council before going into effect.

Managing Editor Ken Camp contributed to this report.

Posted: 8/05/05

Warren calls SBC withdrawal
from BWA a 'silly' mistake

By Trennis Henderson

Kentucky Western Recorder

BIRMINGHAM, England (ABP)—Affirming that Baptists from around the world can “have unity without uniformity,” Rick Warren told reporters at the Baptist World Alliance’s centenary congress that the withdrawal of Southern Baptists from BWA was a “silly” mistake.

“God has called us to enjoy and fellowship with each other and work together. We’re all in this together,” he said, adding Baptists can “celebrate our diversity and celebrate our unity.”

Warren, a keynote speaker during the July 27-31 Baptist World Centenary Congress in Birmingham, England, is pastor of Saddleback Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif., and author of the international best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Life.

During a July 28 press conference, Warren addressed a question about last year’s decision by the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest BWA member, to withdraw membership and funding from BWA. “I think that was a mistake,” he said flatly. “When the Southern Baptists pulled out funding, my wife and I wrote a check for $25,000 to BWA.

“I see absolutely zero reason in separating my fellowship from anybody,” he declared. Noting he has theological differences with many of the diverse denominations that invite him to speak, Warren added, “That doesn’t stop me from fellowshipping with them.”

When he heard of the SBC’s withdrawal, he added: “I thought, ‘This is silly! Why would we separate ourselves from brothers and sisters in the world?’”

Warning that Baptists often are “known for what we’re against rather than what we’re for,” Warren said, “I am praying for a second reformation of the church” that will focus more on deeds than words.”

“The first Reformation was about beliefs. This one needs to be about behavior. … We’ve had a Reformation; what we need now is a transformation.”

Fielding a question about claims that The Purpose Driven Life comes across as an adulation of men, Warren responded, “I don’t know how it could be an adulation of man when the first sentence of the book is, ‘It’s not about you.’ The whole book is, ‘It is all about God.’“

The biggest surprise about the book is “that I got to write it,” Warren said. “At the right time in the right way, God decided he wanted to bless this book.” It has sold nearly 30 million copies in 50 languages.

The book’s subtitle “is the most fundamental question in life, ‘What on earth am I here for?’” he said. “It’s the universal question, whether you’re old or young, rich or poor, Eastern or Western.”

Describing the book’s content and writing style as simple, Warren added, “I’m a simple person. I’m here to feed sheep, not intellectual giraffes. Simple does not mean it is simplistic. Simple means it is clear. I think it is all about God.”

Warren said his ministry now is focused on helping pastors worldwide, principally through the website pastors.com. Some pastors confuse prominence and significance, Warren cautioned. But prominence has a price, he said. “I think always being in the spotlight blinds you.

“Your ministry is significant whether it is prominent or not.”

Urging pastors to “live for an audience of one,” he said, “Fame is fleeting. What’s more important is your character. God is even more concerned with your character than with your ministry.

“I hate the celebrity culture,” he added, citing his commitment to never broadcast his church’s worship services on television or radio.

“I never wanted to be a celebrity,” he insisted. “Unfortunately, the book kind of blew my cover.”

In response to their newfound fame and fortune, Warren said he and his wife, Kay, set up three foundations, including one to provide ministry to people with AIDS and one to help train pastors. He also stopped taking a salary from Saddleback and returned the salary the church had paid him the past 25 years.

“Every time I give, it breaks the grip of materialism on my life,” he noted.

“The difficult part was: What do you do with the fame, the attention?” Warren told reporters. “God said to me the purpose of influence is to speak up for those who have no influence.” In response, Warren has endorsed the One Campaign to reduce world hunger and has unveiled a “PEACE plan” urging every local church to be involved in planting churches, fighting poverty and AIDS, and promoting education.

“Issues like disease and poverty and education I will work on with anybody,” he said. “Those are not just Baptist issues. Those are human issues.”

As church leaders wrestle with changing trends, Warren said they also “need to focus on what’s not going to change in the next 10 years.”

Human nature, human need and God’s answer to them will never change, he pointed out. “Vision is not the ability to predict the future,” he insisted. “Nobody can predict the future. Vision is the ability to understand the time you’re in right now and to adapt accordingly.”

While “the message never changes,” he added, “If we don’t change the methods, we’re being untrue to the message.”

Urging churches to pursue effective ways to fulfill people’s “longing for belonging,” Warren declared, “I don’t see many people interested in Christendom. But I see a lot of people interested in God.”

Asked for his reaction to Warren’s comments about the SBC withdrawing from BWA, Morris Chapman, president of the SBC Executive Committee praised Warren’s ministry, but suggested he might feel otherwise about the BWA if he had studied it as extensively as Chapman.

“The convention’s vote to withdraw came after the Executive Committee undertook five years of study and an intense effort to find reasons to maintain the relationship with and membership in the BWA,” Chapman wrote, via an e-mail message while on vacation in Montana. “A significant number of Southern Baptist leaders actively engaged in the work of the BWA General Council year after year. Had Rick personally been involved to that degree, he may have come to the same conclusion reached by the SBC.”

Chapman continued: “All Southern Baptists, including me, honor Rick’s right to relate to the BWA as he feels God leading him. His comments about the withdrawal of the SBC shouldn’t be interpreted as a lack of love for the convention of which he has been a part all of his life.”

Greg Warner of Associated Baptist Press contributed to this story.