Posted: 6/11/04

Lora Thomas (left) of Denton Baptist Association and Cindy Webb of Cisco Baptist Association enjoy a time of fellowship at the Texas Baptist Ministry Assistants statewide conference.	“Sister Act”–sometimes known as Valerie Dacus (left) and Donna McClendon of First Baptist Church in Denton, provide entertainment at the conference.

Ministry assistants find support, training at statewide event

By George Henson

Staff Writer

“Other duties as assigned” is the part of the job description many church secretaries know best. They perform a myriad of duties, some of which they may not have been trained to do.

Add to that the compounded complexities that arise when a church's only staff member is the pastor and he moves away, leaving the church secretary with even more to do and–sometimes–more decisions to make.

All those things can make the position stressful and create a feeling of being alone.

Texas Baptist Ministry Assistants is the organization to give church secretaries the training and support network they need. The organization also finds members in associational, convention and Baptist agency offices.

“We're there to help all of those people,” even if their church still titles them “secretaries” and not “ministry assistants,” President Sharon Dill said.

Becky Biser of Tarrant Baptist Association leads a seminar for other associational support staff on "how to stay connected with your church" as part of the Texas Baptist Ministry Assistants statewide conference.

Nearly 300 of the statewide organization's 500 members gathered for the group's meeting in Dallas recently.

The conference included seminars in a variety of areas, such as basic grammar and English skills; help with computer software such as Microsoft Publisher, PowerPoint and membership management tools, financial practices and procedures; and making better use of the Internet.

Other classes offered help in topics such as how to keep people who are emotional due to weddings, anniversaries, funerals or other events calm enough to have as pleasant an experience as possible; how to stay fresh in a job that can sometimes start to feel like the same thing day after day; and how to handle transitions that come up in the life of a church, such as the pastor leaving.

“We realize the importance of the job these women do, and we're trying to give them the tools to do the very best job possible,” said Dill, who is the pastor's assistant and financial secretary at First Baptist Church in Gainesville.

“Our goal is for these ladies to have a network. When they don't have anyone to turn to, they can turn to us. And if they have a question we don't have an answer for, we will hunt it.”

While the biannual meetings offer a great deal of training opportunities, Dill said just as important is the fellowship and spiritual encouragement they women receive. This year's meeting also featured a style show and luau.

Not all of the organization's members are able to attend each meeting–“some just can't get away”–but Dill hopes that becomes less of a problem as the benefits become more obvious.

“My pastor believes everyone needs some kind of refreshment and training each year; that is the premise we work under,” she explained.

For more information, see www.tbma.net.

Posted: 6/11/04

Students follow God's calling to mission fields

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

RICHARDSON–Record numbers of Baptist General Convention of Texas student missionaries are following God's will onto the mission field, where lives are sure to change, a speaker told mission volunteers during their commissioning service.

The BGCT is sponsoring 445 student missionaries who will serve summer, short-term and semester terms in sites around the world–nearly double the number who served last year. Students represent more than 50 campuses and will serve in more than 100 locations worldwide.

David Chan, chairman of the student missions committee, praised the students during a commissioning service at The Heights Baptist Church in Richardson for reflecting the heart of a “missionary God” who wants people to know him.

God sent Jesus, Chan noted. Jesus sent his disciples. The early church sent missionaries. Commissioning workers for the mission field enables “senders” and “goers” to be “intimately involved” in God's work.

“We are simply continuing the pattern of history,” Chan said. “God is a sending God.”

Students filled the choir loft and a significant portion of the altar. The sight emotionally moved Joyce Ashcraft, program coordinator of the BGCT Center for Collegiate Ministry, who called the volunteers an answer to prayer.

“I just stood there and kept thinking, 'Lord, look what you have done,'” Ashcraft said. “It was amazing what he had done. It wasn't anything we did.”

Center staff have emphasized praying for 500 student missionaries since their back-to-school Focus conference last fall. Students prayed for student missions during that time. Texas Baptist Student Ministry held its first week of prayer for student missions in the fall.

Baptist student ministry leaders and church staff members picked up on the goal of 500 volunteers and worked hard in helping students discern whether they are called to be short-term missionaries, said Bruce McGowan, director of the Center for Collegiate Ministries. Texas Baptists have supported the student missions program well.

BGCT student missions staff members also worked to make the mission experiences part of each student's spiritual growth, McGowan noted. Workers try to connect the mission work with the rest of a student's spiritual journey.

The student mission staff members began noticing the impact of prayer and hard work when the number of student missionaries during the Christmas holiday jumped upward, said Brenda Sanders, mission consultant for the Center for Collegiate Ministry. Since then, the number of volunteers has spiked across the board–spring, summer, short-term and semester terms, Sanders said.

“We have just been blown away,” she said. “They have been coming out of the woodwork.”

The impact the students will have is immeasurable, Sanders continued. Not only will hundreds, if not thousands, of people come to know Christ, students' lives will be changed as well, she predicted.

This experience will alter the way many of them serve as church members or church staff, she said. It will change the way they view mission work. Some will be called to be career missionaries.

“It is obvious God is working among college students to call them out,” McGowan said.

Chan urged the students to serve others with the grace and strength of God, bringing glory to his name through all of their actions. These principles will empower the missionaries to impact others, he said.

In many cases, students will minister in unfamiliar circumstances, Chan said. But they should not worry, because God is “going before and after them,” protecting and guiding their lives.

However, God can use these mission experiences to alter one's perspective of the world, Chan continued. When Christ-ians are following God's will, viewpoints can change quickly.

“It (God's will) is the best place,” Chan said. “It is just the most dangerous. It is the most dangerous because it may change things.”

The missionaries accepted the challenge of their appointments by each taking a 50-cent piece, a symbol of their commitment to serve, and moving on to the altar.

Posted: 6/11/04

Student missionaries return from Kenya

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

While most student summer missionaries are traveling to their ministry locations, several groups already have returned and are praising God for the fruit he produced during their trips.

Ten Wayland Baptist University students and the campus' Baptist Student Ministry director, Donnie Brown, used storytelling to share the gospel in Kenya May 2-21. Storytelling is an evangelistic technique for reaching illiterate people.

Groups of about 60 people in Northern Kenya listened to the missionaries tell biblical stories from creation through Christ for more than an hour and a half, Brown said. In all, the missionaries shared the gospel with more than 2,000 people.

And the people responded. Nearly 200 people professed Christ as Lord.

The response was especially unique because most of the new believers were older men who were resistant to earlier evangelism efforts, Brown said. In Kenyan society, men carry a strong influence over their families. To convert the man is to convert his entire family in many instances.

“For the older men to accept Christ is very significant,” he said.

In Costa Rica, eight University of North Texas students distributed more than 1,300 copies of the Gospel of John during a one-week trip in mid-May as part of Operation Go, an effort to saturate Central America with the gospel in hopes that it will spark a church-starting movement.

During their work, 135 people indicated they wanted to participate in a Bible study, and three people made professions of faith for the first time. Two of those were in the first home Amanda Bell, an intern at the UNT Baptist Student Ministry, visited.

Bell and a missionary found an older man, a younger man and his pregnant girlfriend sitting on the porch of a house. While talking to them, the young man indicated he wanted to become a Christian and prayed that Christ take hold of his life.

Shortly after, the girlfriend indicated she wanted to follow Christ as well. As she prayed, her boyfriend put his hand on her stomach and prayed for the child.

“We were just blown away by what God had done,” Bell said.

Posted: 6/11/04

Student missionaries share
stories of their calling from God

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

RICHARDSON–For some Texas Baptist student missionaries, the call to missions was a voice. For others, it was an impression. For still others yet, it was a realization.

But the response was a unanimous, “Yes, Lord, I'll go.”

Each of the record 445 Baptist General Convention of Texas-sponsored student missionaries has a different tale of why he or she volunteered to serve. And each is eager to tell it.

Ryleigh Bozeman, a University of Houston freshman who will serve in Costa Rica, views this summer as the first step in what she hopes will be a pattern of “giving” her summers to God.

The English major hopes to be a teacher after graduation and plans on using her summer vacations for ministry. Serving in missions is a response to God's goodness, she said.

“I've been blessed with a job, income and time,” Bozeman said. “God gives you everything. It's his. You should use it to glorify him.”

Summer mission work is a natural extension of God's call to vocational ministry for Jordan Tardy, a University of Texas at Austin sophomore who will minister to international students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

This summer ministry will help meet his desire to share the gospel with nonbelievers, he said.

“I have a heart for the lost and want to see people come to Christ,” Tardy said.

Anthony Yim, a graduate student at Houston Baptist University, said this summer may be the last opportunity for him to take an extended mission trip. He will have more responsibility after he graduates as he gains a job and more duties that would prevent longer trips.

Yim will minister to international students through an English as a Second Language program in Los Angeles.

“If we can help a couple people feel like they're loved, … I feel like we've done what we're supposed to do,” he said.

The perspective of serving in circumstances that may be drastically different from the students' Texas experiences has created a mixture excitement and nervousness, several missionaries said.

Jaclyn Bertrand, a Midwestern State University student who will serve in Colorado Springs, said anxiety naturally comes from trying new actions and ministry. Missionaries must have faith that God will support, strengthen and comfort them.

“It's such a new experience,” she said. “You have to step out and trust God is going to provide.”

New experiences bring excitement as well, Tardy said. The notion of ministry electrifies some volunteers who look forward to any opportunity to expand God's kingdom.

“I'm really excited,” he said. “I'm ready to be there. I'm ready to start working and not just hearing about it.”

Joseph Osteen, who recently graduated from the University of Texas at Tyler, said he looks forward to sharing Christ through his actions in Southeast Asia. Although it is illegal to evangelize openly where he will serve, he hopes the people “can sense the love of Christ in our hearts.”

Posted: 6/11/04

	Senior Saints Summit More than 240 senior adults gathered on the campus of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton for a recent Senior Saints Summit. Lester Collins, pastor emeritus of Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston, was the guest preacher. Carol Holcomb, assistant professor in the UMHB School of Christian Studies, led the daily Bible studies. (Top Photo) UMHB student Kyle Shipp drives a group of seniors to their next event on campus during the Senior Saints Summit. (Middle Photo) Claude Jacks of Beeville has his blood pressure taken at a health fair. (Bottom Photo) Fred Allen of Heights Baptist Church in Temple plays "Sweet Hour of Prayer" on his musical saw during a talent show.

Posted: 6/11/04

Survey shows Christians more likely
than agnostics to buy lottery tickets

WASHINGTON (RNS)–Christians are more likely to invest in lottery tickets than non-Christians while non-Christians are twice as likely as Christians to fast, a newly released survey shows.

The Barna Group, a Ventura, Calif.-based research and analysis company, looked at the relation between faith and lifestyles in a survey of 1,002 adults.

Researchers found that 15 percent of born-again Christians and 23 percent of notional Christians–people who say they are Christian but haven't made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ–bought lottery tickets in a typical week. That compared to 10 percent of adherents of non-Christian faiths and 12 percent of atheists and agnostics.

Although the Bible and churches encourage fasting for religious reasons, adherents of non-Christian faiths–some of which advocate fasting during particular seasons–were most likely to participate in religious fasts.

While evangelical Christians were most likely to discuss political, spiritual and moral issues with others, they were the least likely group to contact a political official to express their views.

Researchers found that evangelical Christians and nonevangelical, born-again Christians were least likely to recycle. More than six out of 10 nonChristians, notional Christians, atheists and agnostics engaged in recycling. Only half of evangelicals and 47 percent of nonevangelical, born-again Christians recycled.

Researchers considered evangelicals to be those who believe in the accuracy of the Bible, believe they should share their faith with others, reject the notion that Jesus sinned and believe Satan is real. They defined nonevangelical born-again Christians as those who have accepted Christ as their Savior but do not necessarily accept the Bible's teachings as completely accurate.

Evangelicals were most likely to stop watching a television program because of its values or viewpoints and least likely to read their horoscope. Agnostics and atheists were least likely to stop watching a TV program because of its views, and most likely to get legally drunk.

The overall survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.

Posted: 6/11/04

Baptists want churches to help them
with personal needs, survey reveals

By Polly House

LifeWay Christian Resources

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Ask 16,000 Baptists what they need, and their responses will show the real answer is discipleship.

LifeWay Christian Resources surveyed adults and youth attending 29 conferences and events sponsored by the Southern Baptist publishing house last year about what kind of help they need from their churches.

The No. 1 need expressed by both groups was help with personal needs–spiritual, emotional, physical and social.

In a previous survey of 1,500 pastors and ministers of education inquiring about the purposes of their churches' discipleship ministries, the leaders' responses indicated many of the personal needs of their members could be addressed through discipleship studies.

Participants were asked in which three areas they could use help from their churches–church, education and learning, home and family/relationships, personal needs (spiritual, emotional, physical, social), world/culture, and work/school.

Personal needs ranked first with both adults and youth.

The No. 2 area for adults was home and family/relationships; for youth second place went to work/school.

Third for adults was education and learning. Among youth, home and family/relationships ranked third.

Fourth for both adults and youth was world/culture.

Fifth for adults was work/school. Among youth, church ranked fifth.

Sixth for adults was church. For youth, education and learning ranked last.

“Both adults and youth place home and family/relationships as top areas in which they could use some help,” said LifeWay's Scott McConnell, who directed the survey.

“Students place more emphasis on school as an area where they could use help, but, interestingly, adults place work, the response most equivalent to school, as No. 5.”

Discipleship ministries and studies available to churches are designed to address practical needs such as these.

While many churches do not use the term “discipleship,” this area of ministry still exists in many churches.

The latest figures from the Annual Church Profile, compiled by LifeWay from reports routed through local Baptist associations and state conventions, show more than 2 million Southern Baptists are enrolled in some sort of discipleship study.

“A church might call this ministry area discipleship, or they might call it small-group studies, equipping studies, personal growth studies, video studies or any number of names, but it's still about helping individuals grow in their relationship with and knowledge of Christ,” McConnell said.

In the earlier survey of 1,500 Southern Baptist church leaders, 69 percent said a purpose of their discipleship ministry was to inspire and motivate people in their Christian walk.

Sixty-three percent said it was to provide opportunity for discussion.

Sixty-one percent said the purpose of their discipleship program was to encourage personal daily Bible reading/study.

Fifty-seven percent said their purpose for discipleship training was to foster life application (to give members a way to apply biblical principles to their daily lives), and 56 percent said it was to train people to share the gospel.

“It's interesting to note that all five of these discipleship purposes encourage personal growth–from motivation to building daily habits and skills to encouraging other group members,” McConnell said. “When you look at what the people in the pews … say they want their churches' help with, it's clear that these needs can be met through discipleship studies.”

Posted: 6/11/04

Texas Baptist Men offer clean-up
service and meals to flood victims

By Mary Crouch

Texas Baptist Communications

WHITE SETTLEMENT–Texas Baptist Men dispatched three disaster relief units to help victims of flood-ravaged north Fort Worth.

The North Texas counties of Tarrant, Denton, Hood, Wise and Jack received the worst of the rainstorms.

Heavy rains fell during four consecutive days, causing the Clear Fork of the Trinity River to swell and flood the surrounding counties.

TBM sent child care and cleanup units to White Settlement and an emergency food service unit to Weatherford.

The child care unit went unused because the community seemed to want to provide support for its own families, said Keith Mack of TBM.

White Settlement residents gave TBM a warm reception but felt more comfortable working within their own resources, he said, adding: “They wanted to do it on their own.”

The Collin County cleanup team, led by Bobby Bowlen, expected to finish their job in White Settlement by June 12 and then move to Parker County to work with a Salvation Army unit.

The mud-out unit had finished cleaning two homes by June 10 and was expected to clean out at least one more before moving, Bowlen noted.

Captain Mike Morton of the Salvation Army's Parker County unit praised the work done by Texas Baptist Men. “Those guys have just been tremendous,” he said, referring to the Collin County cleanup crew.

The Tarrant Baptist Association feeding unit served at Weatherford College. On the evening of June 9, volunteers fed only 17, but they expected to serve about 50 the next day.

Aubrey Mathis, leader of the Weatherford unit, said his crew planned to serve mostly disaster relief workers on June 10 before moving on to the Parker County Service Center in Weatherford.

TBM ministry to flood victims came just a few days after another volunteer team helped clear damage caused by a tornado.

The Dogwood Trails Baptist Men chainsaw unit worked in Lillian, south of Fort Worth, after a tornado touched down in the community.

The twister ripped a trailer in half, flipped a home upside-down and ripped up trees, said Mike Smith, director of missions for Dogwood Trails Baptist Area, who coordinated the effort.

He said seven men chopped up trees and dragged them off, where other workers shredded them up and removed the debris.

The work allowed Smith to reach out to victims affected by the tornado.

“We ended up getting to witness to some people and give out some Bibles,” he said.

John Hall of Texas Baptist Communications contributed to this report.

Posted: 6/11/04

Texas Tidbits

Retiree retreat set. Retired Pastor Jess Moody will preach and Bill Pinson, executive director emeritus of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, will be the Bible study leader at the annual Retiree Ministries Retreat at Glorieta Conference Center, Sept. 13-17. The retreat is sponsored by the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Glorieta Conference Center. Special-interest seminars will be offered on healthy lifestyles, ministry opportunities, financial planning and other topics. Cost is $319.50 for a couple or $185.25 for singles. This includes four nights' lodging and buffet meals Monday dinner through Friday breakfast, as well as program expenses. A $60 conference fee will be charged for those staying in private residences. RV parking is available. For reservations, call toll-free (800) 797-4222.

BUA issues diplomas, grants degrees. Thirty-one students graduated after the spring semester at the Baptist University of the Americas in San Antonio. They included five Bible college students–two from Texas, two from Colombia and one from Brazil–who received bachelor's degrees in biblical and theological studies. Maria Hernandez Ferrier, principal adviser to the U.S. secretary of education on all matters related to limited English-proficient students, was the commencement speaker.

Committee meeting set. The Committee to Nominate Executive Board members for the Baptist General Convention of Texas will meet at 9:30 a.m., Aug. 19, in the Landes A Conference Room of the Baptist Building, 333 N. Washington in Dallas. Cassandra Northcutt, member of First Baptist Church in Longview, is chairperson of the committee.

Baylor names senior vice provost. Larry Lyon has been appointed senior vice provost at Baylor University in Waco. He will continue to serve as dean of the graduate school. Lyon is a Baylor graduate and earned his doctorate from the University of Texas. He has been on the Baylor faculty since 1975. Lyon and his wife, Carol, are members of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco.

DBU names dean. Dallas Baptist University has named Robert Brooks dean of the College of Fine Arts. Prior to his appointment at DBU, Brooks served as the church music department head at Hardin-Simmons University and associate director of educational outreach at the Juilliard School in New York City. He also served on the music ministry staffs of several Texas churches, including a nine-year tenure with Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas. Brooks is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

ETBU graduates 123 students. East Texas Baptist University awarded degrees to 119 students during regularly scheduled spring commencement ceremonies and four more degrees during a special commencement three days later. A student assistant coach and three players on the ETBU Lady Tigers softball team received their degrees in a special ceremony because they were representing the school at the NCAA Division III west regional tournament in Orange, Calif., when the commencement was held. Jean Wamaitha Githinju of Nairobi, Kenya, received the President's Award.

First Shields Scholarship recipient chosen. Howard Payne University senior Joshua Myers of Austin has been selected as the first recipient of the James and Corrine Shields Scholarship, a fund established for ministry students. The scholarship was named in honor of James Shields, religion professor at Howard Payne for 19 years, and Corrine Shields, former library director at the university.

Gift to Buckner endows scholarship. Dallas philanthropist Nancy Hamon gave $1 million to Buckner Baptist Benevolences to establish a scholarship fund for children living in Buckner residential programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The Hamon Compass Program will provide resources for young men and women leaving Buckner to pursue career paths through universities, colleges, vocational schools or trade schools.

HSU establishes missionary scholarship. The Charles Bryan Missionary Scholarship has been established at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. The scholarship, established by a gift from Bryan's estate, will benefit bilingual students preparing for missionary service. Bryan served as a missionary, area director and eventually senior vice president for overseas operations with the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board.

DBU wins NCCAA national title. Pitching a perfect game, sophomore Stuart Sutherland led the Dallas Baptist University Patriots to a national title in the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association World Series in Celina, Ohio. The DBU baseball team defeated Palm Beach Atlantic 2-0 in the championship game. DBU's Mike Bard was named NCCAA coach of the year for the second year in a row, and Sutherland received the most valuable player award. Patriots making the NCCAA All-Tournament team were third baseman sophomore Cody Montgomery, junior pitcher Jeff Gilmore and sophomore pitcher Lance Broadway.

Howard Payne grants degrees to 287. Howard Payne University awarded baccalaureate degrees to 287 seniors during spring commencement ceremonies. Two seniors, John Mark Boucher and Gina Hochreiter, completed their studies with a 4.0 cumulative grade point average. James McEachern, former chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the Nashville-based Tom James Company, delivered a charge to the graduates. McEachern is a 1962 graduate of Howard Payne and serves as a university trustee.

Shoes for Orphan Souls expands. Buckner Orphan Care International has expanded its Shoes for Orphan Souls trips from three to seven countries in 2004, and the program needs volunteers–particularly in Latvia, China and Kenya. Volunteers travel with Buckner to deliver shoes and meet the children who benefit from Shoes for Orphan Souls. The Bulgaria trip, Oct. 4-16, is closed. Others trips are to China, Oct. 19-30, cost $3,500; Latvia, Nov. 4-14, $3,000; Romania, Nov. 4-14 with the Moody Broadcasting Network, $1,400 plus airfare to Budapest, Hungary; Russia, Nov. 11-21, $3,000; Guatemala, Dec. 2-11, $2,000; and Kenya, Christmas trip in conjunction with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, $2,900. For applications, deadlines and more information, contact Dana Jones at Buckner Orphan Care International at 1-877-7ORPHAN or email dljones@buckner.org.

DBU hosts PaceSetters camp. Dallas Baptist University will host its 9th annual PaceSetters summer camp, July 12-16. The weeklong event is geared toward students who have completed grades 9 through 12. Led by Glowing Heart, DBU's music ministry team, PaceSetters will learn servant leadership through afternoon service projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Glowing Heart members will lead worship and serve as mentors of small groups to encourage students to strengthen their relationships with God. Cost is $150, which includes meals, lodging, T-shirt and camp notebook. To register, call (214) 333-5438 or (800) 460-1DBU or e-mail gloheart@dbu.edu. For more information, visit www.dbu.edu/glowingheart.

HPU concert draws 600-plus senior adults. Howard Payne University's "Singin' with the Saints" southern gospel concert drew more than 600 senior adults from 35 churches to the Brownwood campus. The concert featured the Melody Boys quartet from Little Rock, Ark., as well as two local groups–4xGrace and the Solid Rock Quartet. A similar event has been scheduled for May 19, 2005.

DBU dedicates fountain. Dallas Baptist University recently observed the 40th anniversary of the school's groundbreaking by dedicating a new fountain in front of the Mahler Student Center in honor of Wayne and Buena Stevenson. Buena Stevenson is a DBU trustee and member of the university's Women's Auxiliary Board. The Stevensons are members of First Baptist Church in Plano.

Posted: 6/11/04

TOGETHER:
Thank God for servants who lead

The nation has turned its attention to life and death this past week. Americans bid farewell to Ronald Reagan. Millions of us watched the coverage of his life, politics, and service and gave thanks for him and other presidents who served this nation faithfully and well

And in the midst of this, I attended two funerals of Texas Baptist deacons who were faithful stewards of the trust God and his people placed in them.

One was Noble Hurley, well known for his involvement in the development of Dallas. He was a generous Baptist General Convention of Texas benefactor. When he died, those who knew him best thought of David's lament regarding the death of Abner, “Do you not realize that a prince and a great man has fallen in Israel this day?” (2 Samuel 3:38)

Another great leader among us also died in the last few days. George W. Hawkes took to heart the passionate words of the prophet: “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8)

Many of the best deacons I have known claimed this verse as the guidestone for their lives. He believed in God, treasured and obeyed the Scripture, loved his family and set before them a true and compassionate standard of the Christian walk. He loved First Baptist Church in Arlington and believed the church could do anything God set before it. He moved to Arlington from a childhood in Flatonia, where he began his newspaper career as the 18-year-old editor of the Flatonia Argus. As editor and publisher of the Arlington Citizen-Journal through the formative years of Arlington's growth into a major city, he won more awards for journalism than any other Texan. He was always a friend to the editors of the Baptist Standard and served on the board of directors from 1967 to 1975.

But the most amazing thing about him to me as his pastor was his ability to provide effective leadership in our church without calling attention to himself or building a power base that intimidated and frustrated others. He gave moral, consistent, convictional and compassionate leadership. He was open to change as long as it rose out of biblical principles.

The young deacons in our church looked up to him. He was never jealous of his place and never failed to be where he was needed most. People grew in his presence. He cheered our younger leaders on, believing in them and making room for their contributions to the church and community.

The pastor of our church now, Dennis Wiles, told me: “George Hawkes called me about six months after I came as pastor. He said: 'Dr. Wiles, we have loved Henard East and Charles Wade. They were wonderful pastors and leaders for our church. But now you are our pastor, and we love you, and we want you to take the reins and lead our church where we need to go. I will support you in every way I can. Do you see the city library out your office window? If our church ever needs to buy that library in order for us to have room to grow, I will be at the head of the line to remove the first bricks.'” It is named the George W. Hawkes Library.

In all the years we served together, it was never about him, but always about God's kingdom work and the part FBC Arlington had in it. That is what is meant by Jesus' call to servant leadership.

Give thanks today for all the men and women who serve in your church with that kind of spirit.

We are loved.

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

Posted: 6/11/04

Devotions for unemployed offered

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (RNS)–When Richard Malone lost his job in 2001, he prayed to God. Not once, not twice, not only when he lost himself in despair, but every day. And he took notes.

Malone, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., spent six months mourning his old job and finding a new one. And then he published his notes.

The result is “Devotions for Job Seekers: Daily Encouragement Along the Way.”

This is Malone's second run at a prayer guide. He wrote his first one, published in 1992, before he had lived through unemployment. In this case, there's no substitute for real experience.

Losing a job, whether by layoff, firing or quitting, can transform a person's prayer life, Malone said in an interview. “It's a time that drives you to God. You question everything that you're doing. … So many things–your whole self-worth and who you are as a person–seem to be up for grabs.”

The losses keep mounting the entire time a person is without work, he said. The unemployed lose not only a paycheck but friendships, identity, purpose, direction, self-esteem–“the things at the core of your being,” he said. And the unemployed lose a place to go every day.

Malone kept a prayer journal, matching Scripture passages to his own meditations and his prayers. He shared the results with others in his church and submitted the second version of his book to three publishers. The one publisher who once had been without a job is the one who bought the book.

Malone, 55, divided 120 meditations into three stages he says he lived through in his search for his current job, overseeing the purchase of wholesale religious books and music.

The devotions move from shock over the initial impact of unemployment through a long period of waiting, when anger turns to worry and frustration, and into a time of figuring out what's been learned and what should be done differently in the next job.

Malone was surprised by the comfort the Bible had to offer–psalms that helped him work through extreme emotions and stories of Old Testament heroes such as Abraham, Moses and Joseph, who waited 10, 20 or 30 years for understanding.

In the end, Malone gained a new understanding of what the Bible teaches, he said. “God is more interested in who you are than what you are doing.”

Storylist for 5/31/04 issue

FRONT PAGE ARTICLES
• Flood leaves pastor praising God for volunteers

• Website becomes handiest item in toolbox as as church seeks to attract, contact visitors

• Barna reports increased giving to nonprofit organizations last year

• Flood leaves pastor praising God for volunteers



• Website becomes handiest item in toolbox as as church seeks to attract, contact visitors

• Baylor CFO announces plans to leave university, return to private business

• Gay-rights rally organizer strikes plea bargain with Baylor

• Baylor president keeps post; benefactor may pull out money

• BGCT staffers to resign NAMB appointments

• Tornado rips roof off Conroe church

• Bivocational pastor enjoys coaching Hispanic pastors as BGCT consultant

• Texan Engle's spin on worship That's why we're all created

• ETBU choir bound for Russia

• BGCT board asks Houston Baptist University to sever ties with SBTC

• Southwestern uninvited to BGCT exhibit hall

• Dallas-area Baptist volunteers join in Habitat for Humanity building blitz

• Retired minister becomes pastor to pastors in San Angelo

• Reach Millennials by helping them decode life, futurist says

• Pastor sends potent picture postcards to patrons of 'adult' businesses

• NAMB enters cooperative agreement with Baptist churches in Puerto Rico

• Two Texas churches partner with CBF in mission to Navajos

• Brazilians hear language of love from Singing Men

• Terrorist attacks underscore need to evangelize, Spanish leader says

• State comptroller backpedals on tax exemption decision

• Texas-based missionaries offer ministry of reconciliation in Macedonia

• Church collects letters to Congress opposing legal redefinition of marriage

• On the Move

• Around the State

• Texas Tidbits


• Evangelical general apparently linked to Iraqi prison abuse

• Study shows North Carolina Baptists don't like the SBC but continue financial support

• Competing resolutions on public education confront SBC committee

• Churches finding it hard to leave the SBC–even if they do

• Baptist Briefs


• REBECCA ST. JAMES: Preaching purity

• Pass on wisdom, values, life lessons through spiritual wills


• Barna reports increased giving to nonprofit organizations last year

• Covenant model offers hope for 'getting marriage right,' ethicist insists

• Call for Renewal seeks to make poverty an electoral issue

• Promise Keepers pledge to move from stadium rallies to the marketplace

• Ratings report reveals religious radio stations on the rise

• Save the Children names top 10 best, worst nations to be a mother

• Teens who pray expect answers–at least some of the time, survey reveals

CHURCH & STATE
• Religious freedom in Afghanistan & Iraq endangered, panel says

• When it comes to religious freedom, India's future looks much brighter after election

• Oklahoma Muslim student will be allowed to wear headscarves to school

• Former Soviet republic named a top violator of religious freedom by panels

• Church collects letters to Congress opposing legal redefinition of marriage


• Cartoon

• Classified Ads

• Texas Baptist Forum

• On the Move

• Around the State


• EDITORIAL University should live up to its commitment to BGCT

• DOWN HOME: Countdown clock ticks louder still

• TOGETHER: God offers opportunity, accountability

• ANOTHER VIEW: Watch your step in political march

• Texas Baptist Forum

• Cybercolumn by John Duncan: Dad's old glove

• Cybercolumn by Jeanie Miley: Talk, action & love


• LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for June 6: Most jobs are too big for any individual person

• LifeWay Family Bible Series for June 6: Baptism proclaims an encounter with Christ

• LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for June 13: God continues to use people to meet needs

• LifeWay Family Bible Series for June 13: Lord's Supper symbolizes God's new covenant

See articles from previous issue 5/17/04 here.