Posted: 2/18/05

New positions to propel BGCT reorganization

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS–The Baptist General Convention of Texas took the first steps in reorganizing its staff when its Administrative Committee approved job descriptions for two new positions–associate executive director/ chief operating officer and special assistant to the executive director

“We have begun the process of reorganization, and we started in my office,” Executive Director Charles Wade said. “This will help me to help the rest of it come into being.”

Last year, the BGCT launched a process of revisioning and restructuring that resulted in new strategic plan statements and a proposed new constitution. Reorganization of the Executive Board staff, which includes 204 regular employees, is under way to reflect the convention's new strategy.

If approved by the BGCT Executive Board March 1, the chief operating officer will join Wade, who is chief executive officer, and David Nabors, treasurer/chief financial officer, in the lead roles.

The chief operating officer will plan, direct and administer the BGCT's operations “in accordance with direction, strategy, priorities and policies developed by the executive director and Executive Board,” the job description states.

“This person will help our staff to be more effective in the delivering of services to churches,” Wade said. “This will help our staff to work more quickly to resolve issues.”

The committee also approved a position description for special assistant to the executive director and unanimously approved long-time BGCT staff member Chris Liebrum to fill the role.

His responsibilities include helping Wade work more effectively with external audiences–churches, church leaders, and convention boards and committees.

“The focus is on building relationships with stakeholders outside of the convention staff and convention administration,” the job description states.

Liebrum began in the special assistant role Feb. 15 after six years as the BGCT's director of human resources. Prior to that, he was the convention's youth consultant from 1984 to 1999 and a youth minister from 1969 to 1984.

“Chris has served the BGCT for 20 years in very creative and effective ways as he gave leadership to our youth ministry with churches and as our human resources director,” Wade said. “He was a significant leader in helping youth ministers coordinate our work with churches in starting the True Love Waits initiative.”

Then, in human resources, he has brought a positive and professional approach to the BGCT's relationship with its staff, Wade said.

A member of Casa View Baptist Church in Dallas, Liebrum holds a bachelor's degree from Howard Payne University in Brownwood and a master's degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.

In other action, the Administrative Committee voted to:

Outsource the convention's human resources functions by contracting with HRHouston Group of Dallas.

The firm will place two or three staff in the Baptist Building in Dallas to guide the convention in its relationship with employees.

Spend $5.5 million to start new churches.

The funds will come from various sources, including the general budget, the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions and New Church Fund interest.

Redistribute Missionary Trans-ition Fund resources “upon completion of current commitments.” Most of the fund's commitments were completed in 2004, Nabors said in his recommendation to the committee.

Leftover funds will be used for international mission efforts such as Texas Partnerships Resource Center, WorldconneX and other efforts that “will be in keeping with the donor's general intent.”

The fund was established to help former Southern Baptist International Mission Board missionaries who resigned or were dismissed after the IMB required them to sign the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message statement.

Elect John Owens of Lubbock to the Baptist Foundation of Texas board of directors. Owens is vice chairman of PlainsCapital and chairman of its West Texas region. He also is vice chairman of both the Texas Tech University Foundation & Lubbock Power and Light Utility Board. He fills the unexpired term of George Cowden, who resigned from the board.

Posted 2/18/05

At-large group to advise Baylor presidential search

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

WACO–Baylor University regents have approved President Robert Sloan's transition to chancellor beginning in June and authorized their top officers to appoint both an all-regent presidential search committee and a broader-based advisory committee to help find his replacement.

Sloan announced Jan. 21 that he and the board had agreed to the transition, which the regents formally approved Feb. 4 on a voice vote without opposition, said Chairman Will Davis.

The board authorized Davis, in consultation with Vice Chairman Jim Turner, to name an unspecified number of regents to the presidential search committee.

The regents also authorized Davis and Turner to appoint a presidential search advisory committee that would represent “the broad spectrum of Baylor constituents,” including faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Recognized groups such as the Baylor Faculty Senate, the university's alumni association and the BGCT will be invited to name their own representatives to the advisory committee, Davis noted.

Davis said he and Turner will determine the size of each committee, adding he hopes they will be “representative but not unwieldy.” He said he expects to have both committees named in less than a month, and he anticipates regents will name an interim president at their April 28-29 meeting.

Once named, the presidential search committee will conduct a nationwide search for Sloan's successor, Davis said. While declining to set a timetable for the committee, he noted comparable searches at other institutions typically have taken from nine to 18 months.

Davis would not divulge details of Sloan's contract as chancellor, other than to say it is “a real job doing real work” and the duration of his term as chancellor is “in the hands of the regents.”

As chancellor, Sloan will focus on fund-raising, student recruitment and representing Baylor to groups outside the university.

In other business, the regents:

* Authorized a five-year, $90-million development campaign for the Baylor athletic department. Current athletic endowment is about $17 million.

* Approved an international master's degree in environmental studies, to be offered through Baylor's Institute for Air Science. Baylor students and faculty will participate in an exchange program with a six-school consortium of universities in the United States and Europe.

Posted: 2/18/05

For-profit condos planned at Glorieta, Ridgecrest

By Brooklyn Noel

Baptist Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–LifeWay Christian Resources trustees have approved a resolution to establish four for-profit corporations that will develop and manage condominiums and townhouses at conference centers near Glorieta, N.M., and Ridgecrest, N.C.

Vice President Mike Arrington told trustees Ridgecrest and Glorieta both have excess land unnecessary for current and future ministries.

The new corporations will be responsible for developing and managing the condos and townhouses at the conference centers. After development is complete, the development corporations–one each for Glorieta and Ridgecrest–will be dissolved, and Glorieta Condominium Management and Ridgecrest Condominium Manage-ment will oversee operations of the new housing units.

Trustees also approved selling 12.5 acres of land for the project to Glorieta Condominium Develop-ment. Condominiums will be pre-sold before construction will begin on each phase. The land will feature three phases of construction, with the first to begin in October.

The projected pre-tax profit of $1.32 million earned through this project will support LifeWay's $27 million revitalization of Glorieta and Ridgecrest that trustees approved during their meeting last September.

Once construction is completed, management corporations will enable LifeWay not only to oversee the condos and/or townhouses, but also to sublease unoccupied units to conference center guests.

Arrington assured trustees the new housing would meet the moral and quality standards of the conference centers' core campuses.

“We'll place every covenant we possibly can to ensure there is a protection of the spiritual environment we have on our conference center campuses,” he said.

The Southern Baptist Conven-tion Executive Committee must approve the establishment of the for-profit subsidiaries before plans may proceed. The issue is on the agenda for the committee's Feb. 22 meeting.

Posted: 2/18/05

God is calling Hispanic Baptists
to conquer 'giants,' speaker says

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

HOUSTON–God is calling Hispanic Texas Baptists to overcome their fears and have a great impact in his name, the director of Hispanic church studies at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., told the Texas Baptist Hispanic Evangelism Conference.

Juan Martinez of Fuller said many Hispanic Baptists feel like the Israelites did just before they entered Canaan. The Israelites saw many challenges to conquer the land and were scared to invade it. Israelites saw the Canaanites as “giants,” while they viewed themselves as “grasshoppers,” Martinez said.

Similarly, contemporary Hispanic Baptists view many “giants” facing their churches and begin doubting they can have a large effect on their communities, he said.

Hispanics see a lack of education, funds and leadership as challenges that prevent growth of ministries.

But like God did with the Israelites, he can deliver Hispanic Baptists through their challenges, Martinez said.

God is calling Hispanic Texas Baptists to “go forward without looking back,” trusting God to lead them to glorify him in mighty ways, he said.

“I believe right now there are people here that will lead big ministries because they followed God,” Martinez told more than 2,500 people during the Baptist General Convention of Texas Hisp-anic Evangelism Conference.

Going “forward” means growing large churches, having trained ministers and sending missionaries around the world, Martinez continued.

He pointed to churches throughout Central and South America with extensive ministries that are reaching their communities and the world as examples of what God would like to see in Texas.

Hamid Zamora, a member of First Baptist Church in Pasadena, plays his alto saxophone during a Hispanic Evangelism Conference concert.

Gus Reyes, consultant in the BGCT Center for Strategic Evangelism, said he already sees Hispanics responding to that call. They are seeing the need for more Hispanic churches in the state and filling that void. Eighty-five of the 176 congregations started through the BGCT Church Multiplication Center in 2004 were Hispanic, he noted.

Young Hispanics are taking an increased interest in leading churches, Reyes added.

Two years ago, a large group attending the Hispanic Youth and Singles Congreso committed to lead congregations and pledged to serve wherever God calls them.

“Our youth are very desirous,” Reyes said. “They're very much like other youth. They want to go.”

This can have a global effect, Reyes continued. Hispanics have much in common with those living in the “10-40 window” along the equator where the least number of evangelical Christian reside.

Hispanics share with them a similar culture, appearance and family values, and they could successfully evangelize the region if mobilized.

“Missiologists tell us the people who are going to reach into that window are Hispanics,” he said.

To continue following this movement, Martinez said Hispanics must look past the challenges and lean on God.

Then ministries will develop, large Hispanic churches will form, communities will be transformed and believers will spread the gospel around the world.

“How much money do we need to send a missionary?” Martinez asked rhetorically. “Don't ask the wrong question. What we need is vision.”

Posted: 2/18/05

For foul weather turn on your MTV

By Michael Foust

Baptist Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–For years, parents have complained about the sexually explicit and vulgar content of programs on broadcast television. As it turns out, a cable channel marketed to their teenaged children–MTV–may be even worse.

A study released by the Parents Television Council found MTV has considerably more sexual content and foul language than its counterparts on primetime broadcast television (ABC, CBS, NBC, etc).

The study–which surveyed 171 hours of MTV programming–found that the cable channel has an average of nine sexual scenes per hour and 8.9 “un-bleeped” uses of foul language per hour.

By comparison, the 9 o'clock hour on the broadcast networks has 5.8 sexual scenes per hour and 6.5 uses of foul language per hour. That hour, the final one of the primetime lineup, usually has more adult-themed programming–meaning that round-the-clock MTV programming is more offensive than broadcast TV's “adult hour.”

According to Nielsen Media Research, MTV is watched by 73 percent of boys and 78 percent of girls ages 12 to 19, the study said.

MTV's reality programs contained the most sexual content, according to the study. Its music videos had the most foul language and violence.

In fact, the study showed that MTV's depictions of violence were higher than that of broadcast TV. There were six incidences of violence per hour on MTV, compared to broadcast TV's 5.8 incidences per hour during the 9 o'clock time slot.

In addition to the 8.9 “un-bleeped” foul words per hour, MTV programming also had 18.3 bleeped profanities an hour, the study found.

“This should be a wakeup call for parents everywhere to take drastic action to protect their children's eyes and ears from this immoral indoctrination,” said Randy Thomasson, president of the Campaign for Children and Families.

Thomasson suggested that parents either severely restrict TV-viewing, purchase equipment to lock certain channels or get rid of the television altogether.

“What I'm suggesting can be very good for families,” he said. “When your children are raised on TV, they're not your children anymore. They belong to MTV, they belong to anti-family forces.”

The Parents Television Council's study was based on MTV programming between March 20 and March 27, 2004. Much of it included MTV's spring break coverage.

The study is dubbed: MTV Smut Peddlers: Targeting Kids with Sex, Drugs and Alcohol.

In the entire 171-hour study, the Parents Television Council documented 1,548 sexual scenes, containing 3,056 depictions of sex or forms of nudity and 2,881 verbal sexual references. They found 1,518 uses of unedited foul language and 3,127 bleeped profanities, and 1,068 violent incidents.

Posted: 2/18/05

NAMB cuts medical benefits for future retirees

By Greg Warner

Associated Baptist Press

ATLANTA (ABP)–The North American Mission Board has eliminated some benefits for retiring employees in order to cut costs, prompting some of the Southern Baptist convention agency's 1,100 insured employees and missionaries to retire sooner than planned rather than lose the benefits they expected.

A similar move by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina has prompted several retirements in that organization. Cutting benefits has become an increasingly common way for denominational entities–typically generous with benefits but less so with salaries–to deal with slumping budgets.

The mission board rules affect all employees and missionaries who will retire from the agency.

The changes will not affect the mission board's 1,000 current retirees.

New board retirees, who previously were covered by the agency's self-funded medical insurance, will now receive only Medicare benefits and a Medicare supplement. The retirees will pay a slightly larger share of the premiums for the supplement.

Most affected by the changes are board employees who retire early. The agency now requires 15 years of service, instead of 10, to retire early, and the minimum age was raised from 50 to 55.

Early retirees will no longer qualify for any board-provided medical insurance. They would qualify for Medicare and a supplement when they reach normal retirement age.

The agency reports healthcare expenses for board missionaries, staff and retirees have increased by double-digit percentages each of the last three years.

“A review of the agency's health benefits last year revealed that one area where changes could be made without affecting current staff, missionaries and retirees was in health benefits for future retirees, primarily those who decide to retire early,” said a statement from the agency.

Mission board officials said 360 employees and missionaries eligible for early retirement were notified of the changes late last year.

Fourteen employees opted to retire under the old benefit system, which was available until Dec. 31. Missionaries have until March 31 to decide if they want to retire under the old benefits.

“NAMB's health and retirement benefits remain, in many respects, the most generous in the Southern Baptist Convention, and are more than competitive with other ministries as well as secular businesses,” said Joseph Outlaw, director of human resources.

The Atlanta-based mission board has 425 employees on its staff. Of its 5,126 missionaries, about a third are career employees (including positions jointly funded with state Baptist conventions or local associations), a third are partially funded by the agency, and a third are self-funded missionaries, like Mission Service Corps workers. Not all take part in board-provided medical insurance.

In the North Carolina convention, administrators recently instituted changes in medical coverage–like the mission board, eliminating convention-paid medical insurance for employees who retire after Jan. 31. Additionally, future retirees will pay a larger portion of insurance costs.

The move prompted the resignations of four long-time convention employees, including Bob Phillips, campus minister at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill for 40 years.

Posted: 2/18/05

Polish Baptist leader surprised by SBC meeting

By Robert Marus

Associated Baptist Press

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP)–The leader of Polish Baptists is expressing his “regret and sorrow” about a meeting, planned for Warsaw this summer, that at least one Southern Baptist Convention leader has described as an organizational gathering for “an alternative to the Baptist World Alliance.”

“With great surprise and sorrow rumors have reached us telling us that the Southern Baptist Convention is making plans to meet in Poland the same week of the Baptist World Alliance Centenary Congress in Birmingham, England, to organize a new alternative to the Baptist World Alliance,” said Leszek Wakula, the Polish Baptist Union's general secretary.

“We would like to officially acknowledge that neither the Executive Board of the union nor its members are aware of such a meeting in Warsaw or even of any plans for such. We express our regret and sorrow that if such a project is going to take place in Poland, then it takes place behind our back.”

On Jan. 18, during an appearance in Washington on an unrelated subject, SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission President Richard Land mentioned the meeting in response to a question about the SBC's decision last year to withdraw from the BWA, a worldwide umbrella group for national and regional Baptist denominations.

At the time, SBC leaders cited a perceived “liberal” shift in some BWA member denominations among their reasons for leaving–an allegation denied by BWA leaders. They also hinted they might spearhead the formation of an alternative global Baptist network with other “like-minded” Baptist bodies. But Land's comments were the first public notification about the formation of such a group.

Morris Chapman, the SBC's chief executive, confirmed the meeting, but also said Land had overstated its nature. “To call the meeting with some of the European Baptist leaders an 'organizational' meeting would be a mischaracterization,” he said. “Over the next several years, we hope to travel to several continents meeting with like-minded Baptist leaders with the thought of developing a network or fellowship.”

A global convocation to mark BWA's 100th anniversary is scheduled for July 27-31 in Birmingham, England.

Posted: 2/18/05

'Common sense' should guide border volunteers

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

Echoing much of what the U.S. State De-partment said in a travel alert, Baptist General Convention of Texas River Mini-stry leaders said the Texas-Mexico border remains safe as long as church groups exercise “common sense.”

The State Department's announcement notes an increase in “violent criminal activity, including murder and kidnapping,” from drug traffickers in Mexico's northernmost provinces.

But the alert goes on to say, “The majority of the thousands of U.S. citizens who cross the border each day do so safely, exercising common-sense precautions.”

For Texas Baptist groups, “common-sense precautions” mean staying close to the Mexico church being served, said Loren Fast, BGCT River Ministry consultant. Volunteers should steer clear of bars and be careful around ATM machines.

Dexton Shores, director of BGCT River Ministry, said the situation along the border is no worse than any of the larger cities in Texas.

“I'm still going weekly to Mexico and feel safer there than here in San Antonio where there is homicide, random assaults and home invasions almost daily,” he said.

“I am not aware of anything bad happening to any church groups or tourists. There are always places and areas of town to avoid, so it is extremely important that church groups listen to the counsel of the Mexico leaders they work with as to which routes to travel and which areas to avoid.”

The Mexican government recently sent more than 700 troops to Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros and Reynosa, where some of the violence has occurred.

Mexico President Vicente Fox also has declared war against the drug cartels.

The stepped-up federal presence has made the border safer, said Fast, who also has traversed the region several times recently with his wife.

A United States travel alert should not preclude churches from ministering where God is leading them.

“Our Mexico counterparts are saying: 'We need you. God is calling you,'” Fast said.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

Posted: 2/18/05

Around the State

Two couples with Texas ties were among missionaries recently appointed by the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. Trey and Denise Shaw will serve in central and eastern Europe in evangelism efforts. A Waco native and pastor of White Rock Church in Celeste, Shaw will serve as a strategy coordinator. The Shaws have three children: Bryan, 7; Alexander, 4; and Lily, 2. Mark and Olga Gilbert also will work in central and eastern Europe, where he will be a church starter. He is a Dallas native, and she was born in Latvia. They have two children: John, 2; and Michael, 1.

Williamson Association will hold a training event detailing the life of Christ. The deadline to sign up is Feb. 24. The cost is $72. Classes will be held March 3, 10 and 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. David Edwards, pastor of Main Street Church in Georgetown, will be the instructor.

The Abilene Tri-College Choir and Collegiate Orch-estra, comprised of musicians from Hardin-Simmons Univer-sity, Abilene Christian Univer-sity and McMurray University, was selected to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association conference Feb. 10. Only six of 150 applicants were chosen to perform. This is the first time a choir and orchestra from multiple universities has been invited to perform.

Anderson Church in Anderson celebrated its 160th anniversary with the theme “A Past to Remember, A Future to Mold.” Ron Gunter, Baptist General Convention of Texas regional consultant, presented a charge to the church in the morning service. A barbecue dinner under a tent followed the service. Dwain Steinkuehler is pastor.

Houston Baptist Univer-sity will host the Prince-Chavanne Distinguished Lec-ture Series March 10 at 6 p.m. The lectures deal with Christian ethics in business. Murphy Smith, professor of accounting at Texas A&M University, will be the guest lecturer. Admission is free.

Gerald Mann, pastor of Riverbend Church in Austin, has been named to the board of directors of the Strategic Dialogue Center at Netanya Academic College in Israel. Other board members include Mikhail Gorbachev, Prince Hassan of Jordan and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. The board has worked to establish solutions for peace throughout the region and world. It has been asked to facilitate negotiations between the Turks and Greeks in Cyprus.

Dallas Baptist University will open an academic satellite center in Colleyville in April. The 3,300-square-foot facility will be situated in the heart of Town Center, a new retail development. It will house two classrooms with “smart media” technology, a computer laboratory, a reception lounge and staff offices. For more information, call (800) 460-1DBU.

Jim Wesson has been named chief executive officer at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville. Leslie Bingham has been named chief operating officer of the medical center.

Carol Green, dean and associate professor of history at Wayland Baptist University-Clovis, has published a historical narrative, Chimborazo: The Confederacy's Largest Hospital.

Howard Payne University students, faculty and alumni are making travel plans to explore Turkey and Greece for a study about the life of biblical apostles Paul and John. The trip, scheduled for May 11-22, will feature a Mediterranean cruise and visits to biblical sites in Troas, Smyrna, Pergamum, Ephesus, Crete, Rhodes, Athens and Corinth. The expedition is offered for course credit or as a personal travel experience. Cost for the tour package is $2,800. For more information, call (325) 649-8408.

Anniversaries

Lucas Prado, fifth, as pastor of Mount Sinai Mission in Gunter, Feb. 1.

Morse Street Church in Denton, 20th, Feb. 13. Founding Pastor Don Hayes preached in the morning service. A.R. Stokes is pastor.

David Harp, 10th, as pastor of First Church in Stanton, Feb. 13.

Roland Ouellette, fifth, as pastor of East Sherman Church in Sherman, Feb. 20.

Song Kang, fifth, as pastor of Lubbock Korean Church in Lubbock, Feb. 24.

Jennifer Burnam, fifth, as youth minister at First Church in Bellville.

Doyle Davis, fifth, as pastor of Abundant Grace Church in Missouri City.

Mack Mathis, fifth, as pastor of First Church in Wharton.

First Church in Jefferson, 150th, March 20. Bill and Catherine Cox will lead the church in its celebration. A fellowship and luncheon will follow the morning service. Charles Moore is pastor.

Deaths

Chester Davidson, 77, Feb. 1 in Huntsville. He was minister of music and education at several churches, including First Church in Cleveland, Immanuel Church in Corpus Christi and First Church in Deer Park, where he served 16 years. He then began a project with nine associations in the Houston area, using demographic information to assist associations and churches in ministry and church starts. He took that endeavor statewide when he began using demographic data as a ministry resource for the Baptist General Convention of Texas in Dallas. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Anna; daughter, Mary Kathryn; sons, John Mark and Chester; 8 grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

L.B. Moss, 87, Feb. 6 in Stephenville. Moss was founding pastor of North Side Church in Mineral Wells. During more than 50 years of ministry, he also served at First Church in Lipan, Allison Church in Lipan, Dobbs Valley Church in Santo, First Church in Junction, First Church in Crystal City, Highland Hills

Church in San Antonio and Southside Church in Granbury. He was a member of Patillo Church in Patillo. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Leslie and Lloyd; and a son, J.B. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Hazel; sons, Jacky and Freddy; brother, Billy; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Events

Wilshire Church in Dallas will dedicate its new Schantz pipe organ with a hymn festival Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. Wilshire's custom-made organ features 4,587 pipes. The program will include organ solos but will focus on congregational singing accompanied by the organ. George Mason is pastor.

Tom Ehrich, author of the daily On The Journey meditations, will be at First Church in Austin March 5 from 9 a.m. until noon. He will speak on the Listening Church. A reception will follow. Roger Paynter is pastor.

First Church in Ken-nedale will hold Speed Sunday March 13. NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch cars, IMCA Modifieds and other dirt track cars, nostalgic dragsters, junior dragsters and more will be on display. Many drivers will be present with their cars. A Texas Alliance of Raceway Ministries representative will speak. For more information, call (817) 536-3355. Bryan Eason is pastor.

Al Fike, Christian musician and comedian, will be one of the featured acts at The Heights Church in Richardson's homecoming festivities March 13 at 6:30 p.m. Also appearing will be the church's orchestra and 100-voice choir, The Heightsmen Quartet, The Dudds, Faithful-men Quartet, One Voice and The Senior Moments Quartet. Gary Singleton is pastor.

Ordained

Jon Thompson to the ministry at First Church of Oak Hill in Austin.

Keith Blanton to the ministry at First Church in Clifton.

Woody Butler and Jay Ray as deacons at First Church of Oak Hill in Austin.

Revival

First Church, Devers; Feb. 27-March 3; evangelists, The Northams; pastor, Harry McDaniel.

Posted: 2/18/05

Book Reviews

The Intentional Family: Simple Rituals to Strengthen Family Ties
by William J. Doherty (Perennial Currents)

The definition of traditional family seems to take on new meaning daily. William Doherty's delightful book The Intentional Family is a great resource for helping us with efforts to create strong, healthy families. Drawing on experience with his own family and the families he works with, Doherty believes that everyday family rituals, seasonal celebrations, special occasions and community involvement keep today's family connected.

Twenty-first century families are assaulted on every front. Divorce, dual-career households, technological advances, children's school, and social and sporting activities leave us screaming for more family time. Families are being pulled apart, and it is increasingly difficult to connect meaningfully. Doherty states, “Only the intentional family has a fighting chance to maintain and increase its sense of connection, meaning and community over the years. An intentional family is one whose members create a working plan for maintaining and building family ties and then implement the plan as best they can. An intentional family rows and steers its boat rather than being moved only by the winds and current.”

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

The Intentional Family offers proven and practical strategies for creating family rituals that promote open communication and understanding. No matter what your family structure, married or single, this book is a guide that will help you make the most of family relationships.

Gloria Martin

Licensed marriage and family therapist,

licensed professional counselor

Dallas

Why Religion Matters
by Huston Smith (HarperSanFrancisco)

Says Huston Smith, missionary kid from China and longtime world religions professor in various high-end academic institutions: Imagine a four-story house built of glass. On the ground level lives an atheist. In the room are all sorts of physical things –furniture, magazines, bric-a-brac–and himself. The glass ceiling to his room is silvered; it is a one-way mirror. He can see nothing above him. When he talks to his friends who live on the other levels and hears them talk about things “above” him, he looks up and sees only reflections of the world he already knows, the world of physical things and selves who can process physical data through their senses. He is not a scientist, but he trusts what they say, because all they talk about is the world he knows.

Just above the atheist lives a polytheist. Her glass floor is the back of the atheist's mirror; she can look down and see everything in the atheist's world just fine. But the polytheist's world includes souls and ancestors and spirits, which the atheist thinks are just projections of selves and natural objects and forces, because he can't see them.

On the third story lives a monotheist. He talks about the one god to the polytheist, who can sort of imagine such a thing but assumes it is a distant abstraction; her room has many spirits. The monotheist knows these to be angels and demons, decidedly subordinate to God. Of course, the monotheist can look right through his clear glass floor and see the polytheist's spirits and the atheist's things, but he sees them from a God-oriented perspective.

On the top floor lives a mystic. She's never been to ground level and sees everything below her as part of the floor of her own room.

The atheist's world only has things; the polytheist's has spirits, too. The monotheist's puts all that under one god. The mystic's world only has god in it.

Smith is no evangelical, but you will find very few more humorous, engaging, personable and pithy explanations of worldviews, postmodernism, and the problem of science “versus” religion than in this quick-read book. No reliable guide to doctrine, Smith is nevertheless very quotable and helpful for organizing one's thoughts on these subjects.

Mark Thames, pastor

Lower Greenville Community Church

Dallas

The One Year Devos 4 Sports Fans
by John Hillman and Kathy Hillman (Tyndale House)

“I learned all I know about ethics in sports,” Albert Camus wrote in Existence, Rebellion, and Death. One cannot separate the sacred from the secular. That is why some of the greatest sports moments in history help us see God in fresh new ways. John and Kathy Hillman have done exactly that in their new book The One Year Devos 4 Sports Fans.

The Hillmans' 365 “training sessions” prepare readers to win the game of life. From my experience as sports chaplain coordinator for Baylor University, the book works as a great tool for athletes. Biblical principles come alive through short vignettes of victory and defeat. As the father of sports-minded teenagers, I appreciate the cutting-edge approach that includes extreme sports like snowboarding, Gravity Games and mountain biking. Last, as a minister, I need perspective. These devotions challenge and motivate me to “run with perseverance the race marked out” as I reminisce about a sweet victory. After all, that is what it's all about–reminiscing about the victory we find in Jesus!

Byron Weathersbee, executive director

Legacy Family Ministries

Waco

A Fish Out of Water
by George Barna

The title of the book caught my eye, but the content captured my interest. This is not a book of standard leadership principles but rather focuses on what God has done in each of our lives that he will use to lead others to where he is at work. The book centers on a plaque given to a leader by Mother Teresa. It reads, “Obedience, Not Success.” I asked myself, “Am I obedient to the Father?”

Leo Smith, executive director

Texas Baptist Men

Dallas

Epic: The Story God is Telling and the Role That is Yours to Play
by John Eldredge

A church member/friend gave me a copy of this little book, and I was immediately captivated by the writing style of John Eldredge. He believes life is a story–a majestic, continuous story. We are plunged into the drama of life, which is obviously larger than our own life. He assumes we have tumbled into it and are being swept along by it. The question answered by this book is “What role do we play in this grand epic?” He answers that by employing many illustrations from familiar stories such as The Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, Macbeth and others. However, his greatest illustration comes from the Bible–a truly grand epic, through which our role is revealed.

Bob Campbell, pastor

Westbury Baptist Church

Houston

Confronting Reality: Doing What Matters to Get Things Right
by Larry Bossidy & Ram Charan

This book instructs managers of companies to look at their business in a holistic manner. The authors give examples of how to be effective by not taking subtle things for granted. The application for the church and faith ministries is evident. Our ministries must always look at ways to know the truth about our efforts and organizations. Unless we are doing what really matters to touch more lives for Jesus, we are really failing those he called us to serve. The book doesn't give answers to our questions, but it does help us know what questions we should ask.

Ken Hall, president

Buckner Baptist Benevolences

Dallas

Posted: 2/18/05

Baptist Briefs

Baptists make Time's list. At least seven Baptists are among Time magazine's list of the 25 most influential evangelicals in America. The magazine devoted the cover of a recent issue to the subject of evangelical Protestants in America and their influence over politics and culture. The list details evangelicals "whose influence is on the rise or who have carved out a singular role" in those arenas. Joining famed evangelist Billy Graham and his son, Franklin, on the list were Richard Land, head of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission; Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Community Church in Southern California and author of The Purpose-Driven Life; Tim LaHaye, co-author of the popular Left Behind series of apocalyptic novels and his wife, Beverly, founder of the conservative political-action group Concerned Women for America; reformed Watergate convict and Prison Fellowship founder Chuck Colson; and Hispanic Baptist community activist Luis Cortes.

Gregory named to college post. Joel Gregory, former pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, has been named a distinguished fellow at Georgetown College. In that part-time consulting role, Gregory will visit the campus several times a year and serve as an ambassador-at-large for the Kentucky Baptist-related school. Among his major responsibilities will be leading Proclaimers Place, a small-group preaching seminar; coordinating alumni and friends' travel such as a 10-day study tour on "Great Preachers of Great Britain"; and serving as a liaison to the African-American church community, including work with the school's Underground Railroad Research Institute. He will continue to live in Fort Worth and will continue his preaching and teaching ministry through Joel Gregory Ministries. A graduate of Baylor University in Waco and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Gregory also is a former pastor of Travis Avenue and Gambrell Street Baptist churches in Fort Worth, a former preaching professor at Southwestern and a two-term president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

GuideStone assets hit high. GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention reached an all-time high of $8.3 billion in assets at the close of 2004–12.05 percent increase over the 2003 closing numbers of $7.3 billion. In addition, the 13 AB Funds Trust mutual funds available to Southern Baptist participants turned in a positive performance for 2004 as well as continuing to post positive returns since their inception on Aug. 27, 2001, said officials with the agency, formerly known as the Southern Baptist Annuity Board.

LifeWay president announces retirement. Making good on a promise made a year ago, Jimmy Draper, president of LifeWay Christian Resources for 14 years, announced his retirement Feb. 7, to take effect next February. Trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's publishing house immediately named a search committee. Draper, 69, said he hopes the trustees elect his successor at their next meeting, Sept. 12-13. He plans to work with the president-elect until Feb. 1, 2006, when he will retire. Trustees named to the search committee are Rick Evans of Alabama (chair), Phil Neighbors of California, Ken Jones of Tennessee, Mark Anderson of Mississippi, Bill Henard of Kentucky, Melvin Pugh of Pennsylvania, Roger Willmore of Alabama and Tom Woodson of Oklahoma. Ex officio members are trustee Chair Wayne Hamrick, trustee Vice Chair Ed Ethridge and SBC President Bobby Welch.

Posted: 2/18/05