Posted: 7/23/04

Voices of Praise deliver musical gospel message to Spain

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–More than 100 people made decisions for Christ when pastors put their musical talent to use during a recent mission trip to Spain.

Voices of Praise, a 13-member group made up primarily of pastors, performed in five packed venues in Spain. One of the performances was in front of more than 1,000 people in a civic center where the Christian message previously was not allowed. About 104 individuals made spiritual decisions.

Charlie Singleton, pastor of First Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Worth, said the energy of the people, movement of the Holy Spirit and tremendous fellowship created a “different atmosphere” in the venues where God was allowed to work.

Two women pray during a worship service.

Texans and Spaniards bonded through meals, conversations and hours spent meeting people after concerts.

“They (Spaniards) showed up, but more importantly, God showed up,” said Roy Cotton, consultant for the Baptist General Convention of Texas Church Multiplication Center.

Michael Evans, director of the BGCT African-American ministries office, said God moved in amazing ways because the volunteers allowed God to use their singing talents.

Mission work largely is letting God use a person's gifts, he said.

The trip resulted from two years of planning by the BGCT African-American ministries office, the BGCT Texas Partnerships Resource Center and Jorge Pastor, a Spanish minister who invited the group because he noticed Spaniards are interested in African-American gospel music.

The Texas Baptist group performed classic gospel pieces such as “Oh Happy Day,” “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “Order My Steps” to excited Spanish crowds. Each night, a member of the ensemble also told about the power of God.

Members of the group said they acted like themselves, and God gave their words and actions power to impact lives. In addition to the Spaniards who made decisions, the group also ministered to and among Gypsies, a population commonly looked down upon in Spain.

Mission trips such as this one remind him of God's work around the world, Singleton said.

“I love to see the way the Lord works,” he added. “It gives you a whole different perspective. Sometimes we get so caught up here, we forget he is the same God around the world.”

The trip encouraged the group to become more active in missions through singing, Evans said.

Part of the group performed back in Texas during the African American Fellowship/Church Health and Growth Conference in San Antonio.

Evans hopes the testimonies of participants urge other Texas Baptist African-American churches to get involved in partnership missions, whether in Spain, Nigeria–the site of the African-American ministries office's official partnership–or somewhere else through Texas Partnerships.

The trip “really convinced individuals in our group who never had been involved in missions before to get more involved in mission work,” Evans said.

Posted: 7/23/04

Understanding differences in personality types can help
church staff head off potential conflicts, consultant says

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–Most church staff difficulties have more to do with personalities than with issues, a Baptist General Convention of Texas consultant said.

Each person approaches his or her job differently, creating conflicting work styles that can lead to staff problems, noted Sonny Spurger, consultant for the BGCT Center for Christian Leadership.

“It's not the issues that get us in trouble,” Spurger said in a seminar during the African American Fellowship/Church Health and Growth Conference. “It's how we deal with them. And how we deal with them comes from who we are.”

Spurger used a common personality test to help participants assess their own character type. That information helps them understand what they want from their jobs and supervisors, as well as how they respond to conflict.

Spurger referred to the four character types by the letters–D, I, S and C.

“D” is a vision-caster with strong leadership ability who deals with decisions and conflict swiftly and strongly.

“I” is a person-oriented individual with strong networking skills. He or she also may be disorganized.

“S” is loyal and hard-working but has a tendency to be a people-pleaser and occasionally noncommittal.

“C” is the most likely to be susceptible to depression but is a detail-oriented planner who prefers to work alone.

Spurger, a self-proclaimed “I,” pointed out that every person is a blend of the characteristics and can work to strengthen tendencies.

The ideal church staff, which includes paid and volunteer leaders, consists of all four personality types, because each one has a strength that is needed to lead a church well, Spurger said.

If a staff can recognize which type each member is, the group can understand how to be a more productive and positive unit, he added.

Each person will see how co-workers prefer communication in different situations, Spurger said.

The Center for Christian Leadership can lead church staffs in more detailed testing and assessment of personality types and spiritual gifts.

A consultant will help staff members understand strengths and weaknesses as well as how to improve chemistry.

For more information about the tests, call (214) 828-5278.

Posted: 7/23/04

Fitness means exercising good
stewardship of 'temple,' speaker stresses

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–Being healthy is not just about losing weight and looking good; it's about “physical stewardship” of the body throughout life, fitness trainer Marsha Taplett insisted.

“We are on a Christian journey and a wellness journey,” Tap-lett said during a seminar at the African American Fellowship/ Church Health and Growth Conference.

She called for a holistic approach to wellness that reflects how Jesus told people to love God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength in the Gospel of Mark.

The heart represents emotions; soul, spirituality; mind, thought processes; and strength, the physical, Taplett said.

“Think of our body as the temple of the Holy Spirit,” she said. “Physical stewardship is an act of worship.”

She compared a person's body to a church sanctuary.

“We wouldn't put our trash in the (church) sanctuary, because we give reverence to our sanctuary,” she said.

Christians should treat their bodies with similar reverence, she urged.

“Spirituality will always be before physical, but they're always together,” she added. “If you're emotionally not well, you're not well.”

And the same goes for physical, mental and spiritual health, Taplett added.

“A healthy body enables us to be ready to serve God,” she said. “If we're not at our best physically, we're not at our best in ministry.”

She encouraged participants to “think about physical activity and eating right as an everyday lifestyle.”

In regard to proper nutrition, Taplett said, “My philosophy is, we shouldn't diet.” Sensible eating and balance are best.

“We're supposed to have carbohydrates, protein and fat,” she said, referring to various weight-loss plans that severely restrict consumption of such items.

Taplett encouraged participants to not skip meals, noting, “Every time you skip a meal, you set up your body to retain body fat.”

“We can't get so caught up in looking good,” she said. That's making the body an idol. “That's extreme. That's out of balance.”

Taplett listed several components of a fit body–cardiovascular ability, muscular strength, flexibility, balance and posture–and gave simple suggestions for how to improve in those areas.

Cardiovascular: Walk at least 15 minutes a day to maintain the heart's health. Biking and aerobics also are helpful.

Muscular strength: A person doesn't have to lift weights to strengthen muscles, Taplet said.

She had class members stand in front of their chairs and then move downward halfway toward a sitting position.

That simple exercise increases lower-body strength and is an example of the type of exercise that work muscles without lifting weights.

Flexibility: Bending over and touching toes is an example of stretching that helps a person maintain “range of motion,” she said.

Most people cannot touch their toes at age 40 simply because they don't do it. “It's never too late to get it back,” she added.

Balance: Taplett suggested “something as simple as lifting one foot.” A person can do that while standing in a bank or checkout line, while washing dishes or just waiting for someone.

Posture: How people present themselves is important, she said. It's as simple as standing and sitting with back straight and shoulders back. “If we're not conscious of it, we lose it,” she observed.

“Whatever you have today, you want to try to maintain it,” Taplett said. And “it's OK to add this kind of activity in our churches.”

Posted: 7/23/04

Learning styles of Bible study pupils
require varied teaching approaches

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–The Bible is powerful, but Sunday school teachers need to vary their methods if they are going to make it stick with their students, according to a Baptist General Convention of Texas youth consultant.

Jane Wilson, a youth Bible study consultant with the BGCT, noted eight general ways students learn.

Bible study leaders who intend to engage young people fully must step beyond their own natural tendencies and use techniques that students relate to better, Wilson said.

This may involve hands-on activities, art projects, dramas or varying verbal presentations, she explained.

Teachers do not have to cater to each style every week, but they need to incorporate several teaching techniques in each class, Wilson noted.

“Bible study should be a place where the word of God is heard and lives are changed,” she said in a seminar during the African American Fellowship/Church Health and Growth Conference.

The learning styles include:

The traditional learning style is verbal, where students study through reading, writing and speaking words. Young traditional learners prosper with stories, debates and essays.

Visual learners grasp ideas by creating pictures or visual representations, such as sculptures.

Reflective students like time to themselves to meditate about ideas before returning with a response.

Physical learners gain knowledge through participation. Dramas, field trips and sports help these youth.

Natural learners enjoy being outdoors and relating stories to their knowledge of nature.

Logical thinkers look for patterns and like to reason their way through difficult questions.

Musical learners express themselves and relate well to lyrics and melodies. Music is highly emotional to them and can carry deep meanings.

Relational students learn by interacting with other people. They hear what others have to say and form an opinion as they hear others' viewpoints.

One learning style does not indicate higher intelligence than another, Wilson said.

It simply reflects the gifts God has given that person, she explained.

By varying teaching styles, leaders are enabling different students to use their gifts in church, she added. Teachers also are allowing Scripture to have a better chance of impacting a student's life.

No matter the style a leader uses, he or she must teach the Bible, Wilson stressed.

She encouraged seminar participants to have a short time designed to transition their conversations from their personal lives to the general topic of the Bible study.

Wilson rounds out a lesson by trying to get students to apply the lesson to their lives.

Sometimes she asks them to commit to an action and write that deed on a note card. That helps the Bible take hold in their daily lives, which is the point of study.

Scripture and the Holy Spirit will do the rest, Wilson said, noting: “The word of God is inherently powerful.”

Posted: 7/23/04

Homecoming for children's home
stirs memories, sparks gratitude

By Craig Bird

Baptist Child & Family Services

SAN ANTONIO–A trip to the past nourished the souls of former residents of Baptist Child & Family Services who converged on the San Antonio campus for their first alumni reunion in decades.

“Most of us hadn't seen each other for 30 or 40 years, and that's just too long,” said Adela Esquivez Booth, a prime mover in organizing the event. “It was a long day, and the weather was hot. But when it was time to leave, nobody wanted to go. We stood around hugging and crying–clinging to one more memory, one more conversation.”

Even though they mentally traveled back in time, BCFS alumni also affirmed the present.

They applauded loudly when BCFS President Kevin Dinnin told them: “People who began this place had no way of knowing how God would use their efforts. The name of the agency has changed, and the programs have expanded, but we continue to bring hope to people who are having trouble.

“Each of you who lived here as young people is a part not only of what we were but what we have become and what we will do in the years ahead. You are a part of a ministry that last year helped 23,000 people–all across Texas as well as in Eastern Europe and Mexico. And it all began at Mexican Baptist Orphanage.”

Among those clapping hardest were “the three Hernandez girls” whose plight in 1943 sparked the movement that led to the Mexican Baptist Orphanage and, eventually, to Baptist Child & Family Services.

Lois Hernandez Tanner, Margie Hernandez Yruegas and Gloria Hernandez Padilla were 6, 5 and 4 when their mother died. Denied places in Catholic orphanages because of their religion and in Baptist and other Protestant homes because of their race, they were taken in by Nannie Tynes Bailey.

"Mommy took care of us for 4 1/2 years as well as raising the issue with Texas Baptists. She lost her job because she spent so much time looking after us, but people listened to her," Padilla explained, holding up a copy of the brochure about the need to help children like the Hernandez sisters Bailey wrote and distributed across the state.

“I want to thank the Texas Woman's Missionary Union, the San Antonio Baptist Association and the Baptist General Convention of Texas for responding and creating the Mexican Baptist Orphanage. None of us could have accomplished anything without their help.”

Alumni President Maria Mirales Carrillo, a resident in 1963-68, hailed the turnout as “proof we have a bond with each other and with this place.” She spoke candidly of her own anger at people who attempted to help her.

“I was rebellious when I was here. I brought a lot of baggage with me, and it took me a long time to get over it,” she explained. “All my housemother had to give me was love, and she taught me more by her actions than even by what she said.

“I was still rebelling even after I left. I was saved here when I was 12 years old but never grew in my faith until I was an adult. It was hard trying to raise my kids right when I had not had parents. I had some bad marriages and a bad life until I finally realized that there was no one else to go to for help except Jesus Christ.

“We all need to remember that there are still lots of kids out there who are just like we were, who need our help even if it is just an encouraging smile.”

One popular activity during the weekend was visiting the newest residential cottage and comparing it to their living conditions.

“There aren't enough chairs at the table. Where does everyone sit?” asked Myron Punzo, now the postmaster of Whittier, Calif.

State regulations limit cottage populations to eight children, but most of the alumni lived in cottages with 12 children.

They also remembered former alumni, a feat of mind that prompted the gathering.

“Three of us who are school teachers started playing where-is-so-and-so at an educators' convention last year. We decided to get together in San Antonio in November and invite seven or eight other alumni we were in touch with,” Booth said. “We had such a great time that we decided it was too good not to share and started meeting the first Saturday of every month and contacting as many people as we could about having a reunion.”

When Carrillo told Dinnin about the project, he pledged BCFS to underwrite all the expenses for the 2004 reunion and contribute $1,000 for subsequent gatherings.

Posted: 7/23/04

Former children's home residents fondly recall
tasty Mexican meals as one housemother's labor of love

By Craig Bird

Baptist Child & Family Services

SAN ANTONIO–Whether it was a grateful gasp of recognition (“he still wears the same hat”) that greeted Leslie Pullin or the public appreciation of Beatrice Gasca Atu (“no other housemother cooked us Mexican food”) for her culinary generosity, former staff members were a welcome part of the alumni reunion at Baptist Child & Family Services.

Pullin and his wife, Louise, worked at what originally was called Mexican Baptist Orphanage from 1952 to 1981. Alumni recognized the white straw cowboy hat even before they saw the couple's faces. Later, alumni produced photographic evidence–40- and 50-year-old images of Pullin wearing identical headgear.

The quiet, slim Pullin maintained the grounds and vehicles at the home and spent hours with the kids driving the bus that took them to church and on outings. Mrs. Pullin was in charge of the clothing dispensary–and the star of some photographic memories as well.

“She always had everything so well organized that whenever we needed any clothes, we'd go see her, and she would take care of us immediately,” Adela Esquivez Booth recalled. “But what I liked best was when she would take us shopping in downtown San Antonio for our Easter outfits. That's the pictures I have in my album.”

Atu, the first Hispanic housemother, began a 17-year stint at the home in 1953–two years after placing her own three daughters in the facility because, as a single mother, she could not provide for them.

“So, I raised my girls here along with all the others I got to take care of,” the 77-year-old explained. “I had a great time here. Our cottage usually won most of the trophies in the July 4 competitions.”

Atu began as a relief housemother, rotating among the cottages while the permanent houseparents had time off. That's how she gained universal acclaim for preparing and serving the traditional Mexican food most of the children were used to before coming to the children's home.

Posted: 7/23/04

American confidence in First Amendment up

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP)–Americans' confidence in the First Amendment, which fell after the attacks of 9/11, is up again, according to a new survey.

The First Amendment Center in Nashville, Tenn., has released its 2004 survey results on the “State of the First Amendment,” which suggests Americans' concern for protecting freedoms is at levels not seen since before Sept. 11, 2001.

The survey, conducted in conjunction with the American Journalism Review, showed that when asked whether the First Amendment goes too far in the protections it guarantees, 65 percent said it did not, up from 49 percent in the 2002 poll.

“Despite the ongoing war on terrorism worldwide and regular warnings from authorities about domestic attacks, a significant majority of Americans continue to support a free and open society,” said Gene Policinski, acting director of the First Amendment Center, according to the Associated Press.

A majority of the 1,000 people polled said religiously offensive speech should be allowed, but racially offensive speech and patently offensive music should not be protected.

Paul McMasters, Freedom Forum First Amendment ombudsman, published a commentary on the findings, citing a “troubling disconnect between principle and practice when it comes to First Amendment rights and values. Americans in significant numbers appear willing to regulate the speech of those they don't like, don't agree with or find offensive.”

When asked to list specific rights guaranteed under the First Amendment, only 17 percent of Americans named freedom of religion, a slight decline from previous years. Other freedoms named less frequently were freedom of the press, assembly and petition.

McMasters wrote that one goal when beginning the survey was to see where education on the subject of the First Amendment is needed.

“The educational challenge is great,” he wrote.

Posted: 7/23/04

Hunger Hounds track down donations
to alleviate suffering, fight hunger

By Janelle Bagci

Texas Baptist Communications

KILGORE–A man and woman living in a shack in the poorest area of town know what it's like to go to sleep hungry. But the mentally disabled epileptic couple still set aside $60 from their meager earnings for world hunger.

Their gift went to Hunger Hounds, an informal organization committed to alleviating hunger.

Hunger Hounds was founded in 2003 as the brainchild of businessman Charlie Whiteside. The loose network of laypeople began as a grassroots effort after Whiteside received a “calling in the night.”

Whiteside, a member of First Baptist Church in Kilgore, said, “the calling was almost audible” to raise money for world hunger throughout Texas.

Christians have the opportunity to “save a lot of kids,” he explained. “There's just too many starving to death out there.”

After receiving money from speaking engagements and donations, Whiteside donates all proceeds to the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger, administered by the Baptist General Convention of Texas Christian Life Commission.

Giving to the offering “was up 25 percent in the earlier part of the year as opposed to last year,” Whiteside said. “I don't know how much of that is due to us,” but it is encouraging.

“If we had 20 more people like Charlie, it would make a huge difference in the offering,” said Joe Haag of the CLC.

Whiteside covers essential expenses out of his own pocket and speaks to groups in Texas, requesting money to support the BGCT hunger offering. He hopes to garner more support through churches around the state.

Although he hasn't been able to collect as much money as he expected, he remains hopeful.

When first promoting the idea, Whiteside received close to $4,000 from his home church, and money still is coming in, he said. One woman found the Hunger Hounds web site and donated $5.

“If these people can do it, why can't we?” Whiteside asked.

The potential for the hunger offering would increase if each Sunday school class in each church would pool its money, he observed.

Whiteside “feels committed to doing this for the long haul, not just a couple of months.”

Posted: 7/23/04

Partnership, cooperation fuel churches' missions engine

By Marv Knox

Editor

HOUSTON–Partnership and cooperation are important fuels for missions, leaders of missions groups insisted during the Texas Baptists Committed annual convocation.

Participants explored the theme “Local Churches on Mission.” In addition to learning from congregational missions leaders, they heard from missions strategists who help churches do missions.

Christ's Great Commission applies to all Christians, not just clergy, stressed Joan Parmer Barrett, director of Gloria al Padre Ministries, a “missions broker” that links churches to ministry opportunities in Mexico.

“Every layperson has that responsibility to go and tell. Everybody has a purpose and a mission. It's part of being Christian,” said Barrett, whose late father, Billy Ray Parmer, founded Gloria al Padre more than 40 years ago.

She cited her father's “4F” advice to missions volunteers: Remain faithful to the mission, focused on the mission, friendly to the culture and flexible.

Christians of Latin America are waiting to join Texas Baptists in spreading the gospel, reported Otto Arango, president of the Piper Institute for Church Planting.

The Piper goal is to create 5,000 church-planting institutes in 5,000 Latin American churches so they can train 100,000 church planters and start 50,000 churches.

“In the next 10 years, you're going to see at least 50,000 churches,” predicted Arango, president of the Union of Baptists in Latin America, one of six regions of the Baptist World Alliance. “That means millions of people coming to Jesus.

“The Baptists in Latin America are ready to work with Texas Baptists in doing missions. We're going to do some crazy things for the Lord in starting churches.

“We hope the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be exalted.”

One of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's largest missions projects involves a strong partnership with Texas Baptists, said Gary Baldridge, co-coordinator of CBF Global Missions, and Rick McClatchy, executive director of CBF-Texas.

Partners in Hope is the Fellowship's rural poverty initiative, designed to minister in the name of Christ in the nation's 20 poorest counties, which include seven counties along the Texas-Mexico border.

Rural poverty in the region is “crushing,” McClatchy noted.

In the Rio Grande Valley, Partners in Hope serves children and families through Kids Heart, a joint venture with CBF and Buckner Baptist Benevolences.

Other “partners” working in the ministry include Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association, Texas Baptist Men, Baptist University of the Americas and Baptist churches, he said.

McClatchy called on Texas Baptists to “pray every day for missions,” set aside $1 per day for missions and spend an average of one hour per week in hands-on missions.

The connection between Texas and CBF Global Missions is strong, Baldridge said, noting half the Fellowship's missionaries have Texas connections.

“Our No. 1 mission is to serve you and your church as you discover your mission,” he added.

Compassion is an essential component of missions, stressed Emily Row, Texas Baptists Committed's program coordinator.

She described how Jesus cared for the crowds who followed him and sent his disciples out to serve them because he had compassion on the “lost sheep of Israel.”

In Texas, that's a huge crowd, she added, reporting that 10.5 million residents of the state report no church affiliation.

Missions is built on divine vision, insisted Bill Tinsley, leader of WorldconneX, the Baptist General Convention of Texas' new missions network.

“Something happens when we connect with God's vision,” he said.

Missions has been Texas Baptists' vision since 1880, six years before the BGCT began, when they appointed their first missionary, he said.

Baptists fall into malaise when they lose that commitment to missions and fail to “connect to God's vision,” Tinsley said. “We need to reach back to the past and grab hold of that passion for missions. …

“We have to connect with God's vision and ask: What is God's vision for my life? What is God's vision for my church?”

Christians should look for missions opportunities all around them, urged B.J. Ritchie, site coordinator for Christian Women's Job Corps in Houston.

The ministry helps underprivileged women gain job skills so they can support themselves and their families.

It is sponsored by Woman's Missionary Union and involves not only training, but one-on-one Christian mentoring–“nothing more than just being a friend,” she said.

“We get to see people come to Jesus every day,” Ritchie noted. “We get to say, 'Hallelujah!' every day.”

Posted: 7/23/04

Churches challenged to move outside
four walls, be on mission for Christ

By Marv Knox

Editor

HOUSTON–No matter what others think, God will judge the Baptist General Convention of Texas by one standard, Ed Hogan told participants at the Texas Baptists Committed annual convocation in Houston.

“The BGCT will be judged by whether or not we win this state for Christ,” insisted Hogan, pastor of Jersey Village Baptist Church in northwest Houston. “Regardless of what historians say of us, God will hold us accountable.”

To illustrate, he described the population that lives within a five-mile radius of his church: “That's 630,000 people. Forty-four percent of them–300,000–claim no religious affiliation. God will hold me accountable as pastor for what we accomplish in reaching them. God will hold me accountable for what I do personally to reach people for Jesus Christ.”

“Local Churches on Mission” was the theme for the annual Texas Baptists Committed meeting. A range of speakers from churches described missions tasks and opportunities that confront Texas Baptists:

“Our challenge is to take what God has given us and get it to people in need,” noted Phil Lineberger, pastor of Williams Trace Baptist Church in Sugar Land, a Houston suburb.

Many Texas Baptists–particularly those who live in upscale areas such as Sugar Land–are wealthy by the world's standards and must “resist social pressure to spend more and more on themselves,” he said.

But spending their money to participate in missions is one of the best things Texas Baptists can do, he added. Besides benefiting people in need, missions strengthens churches and their members, Lineberger said.

“The personal touch (of missions) has softened their hearts,” he explained of his church members' involvement.

For example, white-collar volunteers watched as a child “with nothing” gave sacrificially to participate in an offering taken at a church on a mission site.

On another mission field, teens from the church discovered a young mother, who had died alone at home, with her three small children, all abandoned by the husband/father.

“These are life-changing experiences,” Lineberger insisted.

Churches must be near-sighted and far-sighted, advised Michael Bell, pastor of Greater St. Stephen First Baptist Church in Fort Worth.

Near-sighted churches see the needs in their communities, and far-sighted churches focus on needs around the world.

“We need both,” Bell said. “There are hurting people everywhere. There are needs everywhere. …

“Authentic Christianity is a hands-on experience,” he added, noting, “If you're not a missionary, you're a mission field.”

And Texas is a growing mission field, said Rudy Camacho, a founding member of Iglesia Bautista Genesis in Fort Worth and a former president of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas.

Fifteen million Mexicans live along both sides of the Mexico-Texas border, Camacho said. Texas alone is home to 8 million Hispanics, who now comprise 38 percent of the state's population.

“You're becoming the minority in Texas–in about five years,” he told the largely Anglo audience.

Texas Baptists must focus their energy and resources on the missions challenge among them, Camacho said. “It's getting late. We're about 10 years behind, … (but) the field indeed is brown for harvest.”

As they seek to do missions, churches and other groups should not confuse their organization with the kingdom of God, warned Ron Danley, pastor of Lytton Springs Baptist Church near Dale, south of Austin.

When churches become organization builders, they see people as resources needed to build the church, he explained. But when they are kingdom advancers, they recognize people need what the church has–the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

The call to engage in missions means Christians must serve the world, reminded Elmo Johnson, pastor of Rose of Sharon Baptist Church in Houston.

“Jesus expects every church–every church–to get out of their four walls. Get in your community,” Johnson said. “That's missions–to get out of your four walls, get to know the people and the needs in your community.”

Missions also means shaping the culture, emphasized Larry Venable, pastor of Freeman Heights Baptist Church in Garland.

“The people of God are called to challenge and change culture, but the culture will not come to church,” Venable said. “So, the church challenges and changes culture by serving culture.”

That means meeting needs, he explained. In his church's community, that involves operating a pregnancy center and food pantry, setting up a back-to-school nursing program, providing Bible clubs and gang-prevention ministry for children and teens, offering English-as-a-Second-Language classes for adults and tutoring for children, as well as conducting a sewing ministry and also a Bible school that operates alongside a summer food program.

“One of the lessons we've learned is the more you do, the more God gives you to do, and God gives you people to do it,” he said. “We've learned to wait on God for resources. … God brings everything you need.”

Christians can improve their missions effectiveness by listening, suggested Jeff Raines, missions minister at First Baptist Church in Amarillo.

He described the church's three-year partnership with Baptists in Uganda that involved providing discipleship training, church construction and discussions about doctrine.

“A key factor that served us well in that relationship was a willingness to listen,” Raines said. By listening to the knowledge and ideas of their Uganda hosts, the Amarillo Baptists not only affirmed and strengthened the Ugandans but also gained much from the experience.

The Amarillo congregation's goal is to involve at least 10 percent of its average Sunday school attendance in hands-on missions “somewhere in the world” every year, he said.

In following Christ's directive to engage in missions, Christians have a four-fold assignment, said Charlie Johnson, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio.

“We have a Great Commission,” Johnson said, noting Jesus' commandment to take the gospel into the whole world. “We have a great permission–a pass to go into the world, to love people across race, nationality, ethnicity, class and religious barriers.

“We have a great transmission. We've got the right message” of salvation through faith in Christ. “We have a great submission. We are to be submissive to (Jesus') love as we are submissive to each other.”

Texas Baptists need to be involved in missions personally and boldly, concluded Mike Massar, pastor of First Baptist Church in Tyler.

He described the thrill his church has received from two types of local missions challenges–starting a new satellite program in the booming south part of town while branching out into an array of human-needs ministries in the community surrounding its downtown site.

“We needed to have a missions experience that was not vicarious,” he said, affirming hands-on involvement of many church members.

And Baptists shouldn't fear failure, he added. “You can fail as long as you're failing forward.”

Posted: 7/23/04

Around the State

Brian Ward has been hired as the first associate director of Internet development and services for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Ward comes to the newly created position from the Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, where he was information systems security manager.

Paisano Baptist General Encampment's annual family camp opened July 25. Located in the Davis Mountains of West Texas, the camp hosts the family camp each summer during the last full week of July. It has been held since 1915.

Houston Baptist University graduate Stephanie Smith was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army during a special ceremony during the university's graduation exercises. Smith received a bachelor of science degree in psychology and sociology. A second special presentation honored Vice President for Academic Affairs Don Looser for his 40 years of service to the university.

The San Antonio campus of Wayland Baptist University awarded degrees to 292 students during summer graduation ceremonies. Outstanding student awards were presented to Robert Lee Johnson, religion; Richard Morice, business administration; Billy Jack Harlow, management; Daniel Caluya, human services; Robert Eshelman, occupational education; Clark Fooshee, master of Christian ministry; Karen Wilburn, master of business administration; and Jeff Humphrey, master of arts in management.

Leland Harden has been named director of university communications at Hardin-Simmons University. He is a 1984 HSU graduate. In February, he was one of two recipients of the school's first Outstanding Young Alumni Award. He had been vice chancellor for institutional advancement at New Canoe University.

Gabriel Cortés has been named executive assistant to Baptist University of the Americas President Albert Reyes.

Wes Moore has been named associate dean of the College of Fine Arts and chair of the department of music at Dallas Baptist University. Prior to the appointment, he had been assistant professor of music and program head of vocal studies in the department of music. He is a member of Big Springs Church in Garland.

Jonathan Gary has been named directory of conservatory music at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. He has been the assistant director of the conservatory the last four years. He also taught French at the school six years. More than 500 children currently are enrolled in the UMHB Conservatory of Music, which began in 1997 with 88 children. It includes four children's choirs, three youth orchestras, five levels of Kindermusik and private lessons in piano, voice, strings, wind instruments, percussion and guitar. The conservatory will begin its fall semester Aug. 23. For more information, call (254) 295-4868.

Howard Payne University recently launched its online university community. The web site will allow HPU faculty, staff and alumni to search an alumni database, read HPU news, register online for alumni events and post job listings and resumés.

The American Museum Society, which supports the Museum of American Architecture and Decorative Arts on the campus of Houston Baptist University, recently installed new officers. Lois Shanks was elected president; Mattie Stevenson, first vice president; Kristine Soleberg, second vice president; Sharon Corry, third vice president; Morna Wall, fourth vice president; Annette Duggan, recording secretary; Gina Saour, treasurer; Joan Cullinane, parliamentarian; and Margaret Riley, corresponding secretary.

Anniversaries

Joy Church in Gladewater, 100th, Aug. 1. Homecoming activities will include luncheon following the morning service and a performance by the Southern gospel group The Hamptons. Scott Johnson is pastor.

Second Church in Marshall, 100th, Sept. 5. Bobby Hoffpauir is pastor.

Retiring

Larry Embry, as pastor of Calvary Church in Brenham, where he has served 35 years. He also was pastor of First Church in Schulenburg four years to begin his ministry. A reception will be held in his honor from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 1.

Kenneth Coleman, as pastor of Hastings Church in Hastings, Okla., Aug. 8. A native of Mart, he has been in the ministry 45 years. Texas was the site of much of his ministry including serving as pastor at Connally Heights Church in Waco; North Central, Melrose and Saunders Road churches in Houston; First Church in Quemado; and Kirk Church in Mart. A reception will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 8.

Roy Kornegay, as director of missions of Amarillo association, Sept. 1. He has been in the ministry 49 years, serving the association the last 18 years. Prior to that, he was minister of education at First Church in Amarillo 15 years. He also served at North Phoenix Church in Phoenix, Ariz., and First churches in Pampa, Texas City and Dumas.

Deaths

Hal Boone, 80, July 5 in Friendswood. Boone served as a medical missionary in East Africa with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention more than 18 years. He worked in Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya until an automobile accident in 1976 severed his spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. He did not retire from ministry, however, and served Nassau Bay Church in Houston as interim pastor in 1977 and was minister of missions at Sagemont Church in Houston from 1978 until his retirement in 1993. He also served as a member of the boards of trustees at Baylor University, Southeastern Seminary and the Home Mission Board of the SBC. All six of his children returned to Africa as adults to serve stints as missionaries there. He was preceded in death by his brothers, J.B. and Carroll. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Pat; sons, Hal, James, Paul and Daniel; daughters, Cathy Schellenberg and Susie Goodgame; sisters, Agnes Heffington and Jewel Gunter; 27 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

The Backyard Band of (left to right) Danielle Coffe, Jonathon Nicholson, Emily Hoffman, Lindsey Lewis, Josh Stone and Jeremy Stone (not pictured) played for kids during The Heights Church in Richardson's "Son Games 2004" Vacation Bible School. More than 950 children attended the four-day event.

Ray Wilson, 62, July 9, while on a study-abroad program in Rome. Wilson, a professor of biology at Baylor University, was director of the Honors Program and had been denoted a Master Teacher. He had been on the Baylor faculty since 1973. He was known among the student body for mentoring hundreds of students pursuing graduate degrees in the sciences, while also directing countless undergraduate honors theses. Wilson served on the faculty Senate and, at the time of his death, was chair of the faculty advisory committee for student life and was co-director of the summer study abroad program. He was a member of Highland Church in Waco. He was preceded in death by his brother, David. He is survived by his step-mother, Eileen Wilson; sister, De'Andrea Myers; and brother, James.

Barry Beames, 45, July 16 in Pasadena. Beames was pastor of Woodland Trails Church in Pasadena at the time of his death. He also had served at First Church in South Houston; Fianna Hills Church in Fort Smith, Ark.; First Church in Jefferson; First Church in Blue Ridge; Calvary Church in Rotan; and Friendship Church in Abilene. He is survived by his wife, Carla; parents, Mary and Bob Beames; sons, Joshua, Caleb and Jonathan; and sister, Melanie Williams.

Chip Conyers, 60, July 18 in Houston. Conyers, one of Truett Theological Seminary's first faculty members, had been struggling with cancer. Conyers also was an author, speaker and frequent talk-show guest and a columnist in the local and national media. He was a member of Baylor's Faculty Senate. He was a member of First Church in Waco. He is survived by his wife, Debbie; daughter, Emily; and son, A.J; and one grandson.

Ordained

Buddy Burton to the ministry at First Church in Briggs.

Chuck Fountain to the ministry at Oak Island Church in Anahuac.

John Hensley as a deacon at Midway Church in Dayton.

Posted: 7/23/04

Assisted-suicide review requested

WASHINGTON (RNS)–The Bush administration has asked a federal appeals court to reconsider its spring decision to uphold Oregon's assisted-suicide law.

It would like the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to set aside its May ruling that backed the only law in the country that permits doctors to assist patients in hastening their deaths, the Associated Press reported.

The Justice Department said the case, decided 2-1, should be reheard by a panel of 11 judges.

The three-judge panel determined U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft cannot hold Oregon physicians criminally liable for prescribing overdoses under the voter-approved Death with Dignity Act.

The administration believes federal drug laws bar doctors from dispensing medication that would be used to end the life of a patient.

Eli Stutsman, a lawyer who represents a doctor and pharmacist in the case, said the federal government lacks authority over the state assisted-suicide law.

A recent Gallup Poll shows that about two-thirds of adults surveyed agree that doctors should legally be permitted to assist a person with an incurable disease to end his or her life.