Posted: 11/24/03

Nacogdoches church builds interest in missions with house

By George Henson

Staff Writer

NACOGDOCHES–Africa is home to missionary Terry Bell and his family. But now their home church has provided them with a comfortable house for use on stateside leave.

First Baptist Church of Nacogdoches spent more than $160,000 building and furnishing the home the Bells have stayed in since June. It is a missionary residence that will be used continuously by missionaries on leave.

Pastor Allen Reed, missionaries Twila and Terry Bell and Associate Pastor Bobby Smith show off the new missionary residece in Nacogdoches.

That money invested in the home does not reflect its full value, Associate Pastor Bobby Smith said, because so much of the labor and materials were donated.

“On the open market, this home would probably be somewhere around $200,000,” he said. “Our philosophy is that we want the best for missionary families. For the most part, we all live very comfortably, and we want them to live comfortably.”

The church demonstrates a commitment to missions in many ways, Pastor Allen Reed said. It gives 10 percent of undesignated receipts to the Texas Baptist Cooperative Program, about $28,000 to the local association and an additional $130,000 each year to other mission endeavors.

The house first was conceived by the church's long-range planning committee, which thought providing a place for missionaries to stay during furloughs would be a good ministry for the church.

The Bells, who were members of the church for many years prior to their move to Africa about eight years ago, lived in a house rented by the church on their last furlough three years ago. Visualizing them being the first missionary family to live in the new house “really sparked interest in building the house,” Smith said.

One of those who took a keen interest was Kerry Powell, a general contractor and church member.

“He came up after one of our informational meetings and said he wanted to be a part,” Smith recalled. “He also said that if the Lord took care of his business, he would never draw a salary” for his work on the house.

Soon, Powell's business took off to such a degree that he couldn't get to some of it for months. He supervised the entire missionary house project without a paycheck.

Numerous other people also donated labor or sold materials at cost–the front door, mini-blinds and furniture. Some items, like the plumbing fixtures, were donated outright. That enabled the church to provide a 2,300-square-foot home at a reduced cost.

The contractor who painted the house joined the church recently after first visiting when the job began, Reed said. “They wanted to be a part of a missions-minded church.”

One of Smith's favorite parts of the project was that Powell allowed him and a few others to help the framing crew. “I just learned so much cutting wood and just being a 'go-fer,' he said.

Church members also did the roofing and laid the grass. Building the house ignited an interest in missions for many members of the church, Smith said.

While the house has elevated the interest in missions for some, Smith said, it probably would not have been built if so many of the members hadn't already participated in local, national and international missions projects themselves.

Missions involvement is “the overwhelming tidal wave in our church right now,” he said. “When people get personally involved in missions, their lives are changed.”

Posted: 11/24/03

Baylor nursing students care for neglected Texas community

By George Henson

Staff Writer

ITASCA–A short while ago, people in Itasca often drove more than 30 miles for medical care. Soon medical care will be ringing the doorbells of their homes.

Students from Baylor University's School of Nursing family nurse practitioner program will begin providing care at the clinic recently opened in the heart of Itasca, and they will make regular visits to some people in their homes.

Itasca lies in a triangular-shaped point of Hill County, with Johnson and Ellis counties nearby.

Clinic director Lisa Taylor, office manager Darla Fender and registered nurse Gracie Faulkner have opened the Baylor clinic in Itasca to help train family practice nurses and give aid to the neglected community.

Professor Lisa Taylor, who lives in Maypearl, was well aware of the need for a closer health-care provider in the area. The clinic, which opened Oct. 1, is housed in the same building the community's only doctor used before he closed his doors in 1999.

“The people in this area have been just going wherever, or more often than not, they haven't been going anywhere,” Taylor said. A study conducted in preparation for submitting a grant request showed that when residents did seek medical care, they drove an average of 30.1 miles.

Taylor worked almost a year on the project in addition to her teaching duties at the nursing school in Dallas. The grant was awarded in July, but Baylor attorneys investigated the school's liabilities before giving the go-ahead for the Oct. 1 opening.

Currently, the facility is being run by Taylor, registered nurse Gracie Faulkner and office manager Darla Fender. All three women are long-time residents of the area and are thrilled to be meeting their neighbors' needs.

That is reflected in the hours the clinic is open: Monday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, noon to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, 8 a.m. to noon; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“The people around here don't need another 8-to-5. They need someone when they get home from work and find out their child is sick and when they wake up on Saturday morning and their child is running a fever,” Taylor said. “It's really crazy for the people who have to work here, but for the people who need us we're there.”

The looks of the staff will soon be changing, however. A permanent medical provider is scheduled to begin work at the clinic Dec. 17, freeing up Taylor to concentrate on her primary task as far as the clinic is concerned. “My job is to make sure all the grant funds are used the way they are supposed to be used,” she said.

Once the spring semester starts, the eight family nurse practioner students set for spring graduation also will begin providing care while receiving additional training. Each student is required to work 450 volunteer hours during the final semester prior to graduation.

“They basically work four days a week for free,” Taylor explained. About a third of their time will be spent at the Itasca site, with the other hours spent at two other Baylor-sponsored clinics.

The clinic has not yet been approved as a Medicaid or Medicare provider, so when people under those programs come in for treatment, “we treat them and basically just eat the cost,” Taylor said.

They clinic also is awaiting clearance to make claims on insurance providers, so at present the clinic collects only the co-pays and writes off the rest.

Both of those hurdles should be cleared soon, however.

Even then, some people have no insurance and are not under any government assistance program. The clinic will employ a sliding scale fee for those patients, based on federal poverty guidelines and the number of people in the home. A typical fee in such cases could be $10 to $15.

Some people cannot afford even that amount, however, so the clinic is working with the local ministerial alliance to fund charity care through exchange of services.

“That way we can tell them: 'We realize you don't have any money, but we are offering you a service, and we want you to do a service for us. We need you to mow Mrs. Jones' yard,'” Taylor explained. “I just don't believe free is the answer, and I think in this community they would prefer a way to pay for what they receive.”

Taylor believes the clinic will be a good fit for training nurses in the family nurse practitioner program.

“Our program is designed for missionary nurses who are going to serve the underserved, many in rural areas just like this one,” she said. “One of the things they will learn is how to be creative to keep costs low enough for the people to get the treatment they need. Most of them have said this is the kind of nursing they want to do, and we are giving them the opportunity to actually do it.”

The clinic also will further Baylor's Vision 2012 goals to be a university that combines academic excellence with Christian ministry, she said. “This is 2012. You're talking stewardship; you're talking service. We can feel free to pray with our patients and at the same time make sure they are getting excellent medical care, whether they are underinsured or uninsured.”

Posted: 11/24/03

On the Move

Bob Acker to Second Church in Dallas as pastor.

Jeff Bauman to Eaves Tabernacle Church in Leesburg as pastor.

Leamon Blalock to Douglassville Church in Douglassville as pastor.

Terry Bratton has resigned as pastor of Hamby Church in Abilene.

Tommy Brisco to First Church in Corpus Christi as interim pastor.

Jared Brown to First Church in Godley as music director, where he had been interim.

Sonny Buie to Petty's Chapel in Corsicana as pastor.

Joshua Burns has resigned as minister of music at First Church in Joshua.

Eddie Castaneda to Immanuel Church in Abilene as associate pastor.

Clayton Chancy to Twin Cities Church in Sherman as youth and music minister from First Church in Woodrow, where he was youth minister.

J.R. Chaney has completed an interim pastorate at Second Church in Dallas.

Glenn Connell to Calvary Church in Talco as pastor.

Curtis Crofton to Westside Church in Tyler as interim pastor.

Ron Curtis to First Church in Leander as pastor.

Terry Davis to Hainesville Church in Mineola as pastor.

Justin Dunn to Lytle South Church in Abilene as youth pastor.

Chad Frizzell to First Church in Lockney as youth minister.

Phillip Garvin has resigned as pastor of Forreston Church in Forreston.

Scott Garvin to Immanuel Church in Abilene as pastor.

Matthew Gilmore has resigned as pastor of Pleasant Valley Church in Jonesboro.

Antonio Green to Zion Chapel Church in Taylor as pastor.

Leonard Hall to Shiloh Church in Ralls as pastor; he had been associate pastor.

Rob Hatfield has resigned as minister of youth at Sand Flat Church in Cleburne.

Brad Hoffman to Memorial Church in Baytown as pastor from First Church in Wauchula, Fla.

Wade Hopkins has resigned as pastor of Dial Church in Honey Grove.

Mike Kessler to Trinity Church in Mount Pleasant as pastor.

Tara Kumple to Immanuel Church in Abilene as music pastor.

Dawna Land to Trinity Church in Mount Pleasant as children's minister.

Jeff Latham to Westover Church in San Marcos as music minister.

Bob Layman to Merit Church in Merit as pastor.

René Lizcano has resigned as pastor of Trinity North Church in Mission.

Coley Mays to Pioneer Drive Church in Abilene as youth pastor from Central Church in Luling.

Paul Ryan to Trinity Church in Sherman as pastor from First Church in Freeport.

Jay Sloan to Gateway Church in Tuscola as associate pastor and minister to youth.

Jim Stevens has completed an interim pastorate at Memorial Church in Baytown and is available for supply, interim and intentional interims at (936) 447-6473.

H.K. Thomas to New Zion Church in Lubbock as pastor from New Mount Olive Church in Littlefield, where he was associate pastor.

Brian Tullos to Cana Church in Burleson as minister of worship.

Carlos Vela has resigned as pastor of Iglesia Las Palmas in Weslaco.

Bobby Walsh has resigned as minister of music/youth at Henderson Street Church in Cleburne.

Tim Washburn to Living Proof Church in Grandview as minister of music/children.

Brian Whitney to New Hope in Cedar Park as pastor from Central Church in Hillsboro.

Byron Williamson to Wayside Church in Wayside.

Posted: 11/24/03

Rankin, IMB trustees respond to professor's critique

LEXINGTON, Ky.–The president and trustees of the International Mission Board have responded to a critical evaluation circulated by a seminary missions professor.

A paper written by Keith Eitel of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and mailed to IMB trustees by Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, drew a strong response from IMB President Jerry Rankin.

In the paper, Eitel accuses Rankin and other IMB administrators of failing to be doctrinally stringent enough. He specifically cites concerns about partnerships with other Great Commission Christian groups that require lesser doctrinal adherence and the role of women in missions leadership.

During a Nov. 10-12 meeting in Lexington, Ky., IMB trustees adopted two statements in response to the Eitel paper.

The first statement, which was adopted without discussion or dissent, affirmed “the strategies and leadership” of the board and resolved “to review the concerns and the issues raised and take appropriate action to guarantee that the vision to lead Southern Baptists to reach the world for Christ is not compromised.”

The second statement, also adopted unanimously, affirmed an initiative by Rankin to arrange for a meeting of IMB staff and trustees with Eitel and Patterson “to resolve misunderstandings and perceptions communicated in Eitel's assessment of the International Mission Board vision and strategy.”

A letter of reply from Rankin countered the criticisms as “unfounded” and questioned why they were circulated without first coming to board leadership for a response.

Rankin acknowledged in the letter, however, that he was pleased finally to learn “the source of rumors that have plagued the IMB in recent years.”

He said “myths” about the IMB have been perpetuated by the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Mainstream Baptists, Texan David Currie and employees of Southeastern Seminary.

“I had wondered why so much criticism of our program and policies, disrespect of leadership and even threatened litigation was being generated by students from Southeastern,” Rankin told Eitel. Another memo written by Eitel to an IMB staff member “clearly indicates that they were being programmed to hear certain distortions out of context and encouraged to engage in a subversive response.”

Eitel's criticisms have endangered collaborative efforts between Southeastern Seminary and the IMB, Rankin said. “It is hard to see how we can continue such a partnership when disrespect for leadership and policies is being nurtured, non-biblical subversive behavior is encouraged and blatant disregard for truth is propogated.”

Rankin also said he would write Patterson, “to seek an explanation as to why he would cast aspersion on our board relative to the conservative resurgence.”

IMB trustees are “God-fearing, Bible-believing men and women, products of the conservative resurgence within our convention,” Rankin declared. Yet “our staunch embracing of and adherence to the Baptist Faith & Message is not considered adequate from your perspective.”

In the seven-page letter, Rankin countered point-by-point each of Eitel's criticisms.

He denied the IMB is placing less emphasis on theological training for mission workers, as Eitel suggested. He insisted on the importance of using short-term volunteers in contemporary missions work. He defended the training techniques and staff of the Missionary Learning Center. And he defended partnerships with other Great Commission Christians as a paradigm shift “that has been blessed of God to enhance unprecedented impact on a lost world.”

“The reality is that many of these Great Commission Christians are far more conservative in their doctrine than Southern Baptists have been and would not have accepted us into partnership with them until recent years.”

Rankin also defended the role of women in mission leadership.

“We fully recognize the biblical limitation of women holding a church office, such as pastor, that clearly represents spiritual authority in a local congregation,” Rankin said. “However, to extrapolate that limited application to deny women the freedom to practice their giftedness and calling as a part of a team seeking to reach a segment of the lost world goes beyond biblical teaching.”

In other action, IMB trustees adopted a trimmed-back $258.9 million budget for 2004, elected a new executive vice president and appointed 67 new workers for service in 29 countries.

They also heard a five-year evaluation of the “New Directions” emphasis that shifted the board's missions focus from geographical countries to ethno-linguistic people groups. A trustee committee compiled the information from a survey of overseas personnel.

Now called “Strategic Directions for the 21st Century,” or SD-21 for short, the emphasis organized missionaries into teams focused on specific people groups, with a goal of taking the gospel to those previously neglected by Christian missions efforts and sparking church-starting movements.

The survey found:

The number of people groups engaged by IMB personnel has more than doubled to 1,371.

Seven church-starting movements have been confirmed and 42 others reported.

A 29 percent growth in the IMB missionary force over the past five years is the greatest in board history.

The focus on multiplying churches within people groups has resulted in an increase of almost 71 percent in the number of churches worldwide, a 95 percent increase in the number of outreach groups and the baptism of more than 1.8 million believers.

The research also identified concerns about supervision and training of strategy coordinators.

The IMB's 2004 budget cuts almost $20 million in operating expenses from the current year's spending plan. Additional budget funds are allocated to capital needs that will not be spent unless funds are received. The financial plan also sets a Lottie Moon challenge budget of $17 million.

The plan anticipates receiving $96.2 million through the Cooperative Program unified budget, and $133 million through the 2003 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. It also projects $16.4 million from investment income.

To protect missionary outreach from budget cuts, the financial plan reduces stateside spending by 14 percent and overseas spending by 2.12 percent. The budget includes no salary increases for missionary personnel or stateside employees.

Trustees elected veteran missionary and administrator Clyde Meador to fill the executive vice president's position vacated by the resignation of John White in June.

Meador, an Arkansas native who grew up in New Mexico, and his wife, Elaine, were appointed to missionary service in 1974. He served as a general evangelist, theological teacher and mission administrator in Indonesia before accepting leadership of a team of itinerant missionaries that looked for opportunities to share the gospel in countries closed to traditional missionary presence.

Written by Managing Editor Mark Wingfield, with additional reporting by Mark Kelly of the IMB

Posted: 11/24/03

River Ministry honors church

By Teresa Young

Wayland Baptist University

LUBBOCK–Supporters of Texas Baptist River Ministry recognized a mission-minded church and heard a missions testimony during the annual River Ministry luncheon Nov. 10.

Principe de Paz Baptist Church in Juarez, Mexico, received the Elmin Howell Bell Award at the luncheon, held in connection with the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual session.

Organized as a mission of Gethsemani Baptist Church of Juarez 17 years ago, the church has continued the heritage by helping start additional churches in Mexico, including Puerta del Cielo Church in August 2002, Genesis Baptist Church in February 2003, Cristo el Pan de Vida Church in May 2003 and new ministries in two colonias along the border. New congregations are planned in three additional locations in the coming months.

Francisco Notario, who has served as pastor since the church's beginning, accepted the award on behalf of the congregation.

“We are happy as a church to be given account for this award,” Notario said. “We are not doing anything extraordinary, just working for the Lord.”

Guests also heard testimony from Nicole Haynes, a student at West Texas A&M University, who spent her summer in San Benito as a missionary. In work at New Horizon Church, she headed the children's ministry and started a youth group.

“I went there wanting God to bless those people through me, but God used those people to bless me,” Haynes said. “I was humbled by the Lord, and he taught me many things.”

Haynes expressed a common frustration in mission work– seeing so much need and not having resources to help all who have need. She said God taught her at San Benito to be obedient to love others and help those whom she was able to help.

Jorge Zapata, director of the River Ministry partnership with Buckner Baptist Benevolences, spoke about the effort to serve colonias, areas of high poverty on the Texas side of the border. Zapata reported 43 teams had visited the region from Baptist churches around Texas and had helped do home repairs, medical missions and met other physical needs.

River Ministry director Dexton Shores also reported success with the first Congreso de la Frontera, a worship and conference retreat held in Piedras Negras, Mexico, for pastors and their wives. More than 500 participants attended.

Posted: 11/24/03

Souper Bowl of Caring youth volunteers join Brad Smith, Bob McNair, George Bush, Janice McNair and Barbara Bush to kick off the 2004 campaign at a Houston Texans game.

SOUPER BOWL:
Students tackle hunger

By Marv Knox

Editor

HOUSTON–No matter who competes in the next Super Bowl, youth from across the country are drawing up a game plan to make sure hungry people win on Super Sunday.

They're preparing to participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring. On Super Sunday, Feb. 1, they'll stand outside their sanctuaries, collecting money in soup pots. The donations will support food pantries, soup kitchens and other charities in the communities where they live.

The Souper Bowl of Caring started in 1990 as a “grassroots faith-based crusade against hunger,” explained Brad Smith, the organization's founder and executive director.

“The Souper Bowl is the fruit of a single line of a prayer, 'Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat,'” Smith recalled.

The prayer resonated with senior high students at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C., where Smith was youth minister. They decided to collect money for a local hunger-relief ministry, and then they recruited other youth groups to join them.

Last season, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Oakland Raiders, more than 12,000 youth groups–from churches, schools and other organizations in all 50 states and some other countries–raised $3.5 million. Since the Souper Bowl began, youth have raised more than $20 million.

This season, Souper Bowl organizers hope to involve more than 15,000 youth groups.

The Souper Bowl of Caring teams local organization with national communication.

Participating youth groups ask members of their churches to contribute one dollar to the Souper Bowl as they leave church on Super Sunday, Smith explained.

The young people hold soup pots at church exits and receive donations from worshippers. Then they send all the money directly to a local soup kitchen, food pantry or other charity they choose.

Some Texas churches direct their Souper Bowl of Caring donations through the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering administered by the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Souper Bowl leaders tabulate national totals as all the groups report their receipts.

In addition to the collections, many youth groups participate in a “service blitz” by working directly in a local charity the Saturday before the big game, Smith added. Last season, 10,000 young people from 650 groups participated in the service project.

The Souper Bowl of Caring kicked off this season's campaign prior to a Houston Texans home game at Reliant Stadium, site of Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Bob and Janice McNair, owners of the Texans and honorary chairs for the 2004 Souper Bowl, dropped the first dollars into a soup pot to encourage youth throughout the country to join the effort.

Former President George Bush and his wife, Barbara, joined the McNairs on the field for the official kickoff.

Outside the stadium, young people from Southeast Texas collected almost $1,200 for the Houston Food Bank.

For information about the 2004 Souper Bowl of Caring and to report giving totals, go to www.souperbowl.org, or call (800) 358-SOUP.

Posted: 11/24/03

Texas Baptist Men attempts to walk
between two Texas Baptist bodies

By Ken Camp

Texas Baptist Communications

Treading the ground between competing Baptist conventions is no walk in the park, but it's the path Texas Baptist Men has chosen, according to Interim Executive Director Leo Smith.

Texas Baptist Men is a self-governing affiliate of the Baptist General Convention of Texas that depends on the BGCT for most of its operating budget. But last February, the board of directors voted also to have a fraternal relationship with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, a group that broke away from the BGCT in 1998.

“The primary reason for the relationship with SBTC is to maintain a working relationship with people who have been integrally involved in the ministries of Texas Baptist Men since its beginning,” Smith explained.

East Texas and the Dallas-Fort Worth area are regions where Texas Baptist Men has been strongest, and they are also areas where SBTC has made inroads in recruiting churches. More to the point, many of Texas Baptist Men's key lay leaders–particularly in disaster relief ministries–are members of churches now affiliated with SBTC, Smith noted.

Texas Baptist Men crafted the working agreement with SBTC out of a desire to be a place where members of BGCT and SBTC churches could work together, and to avoid the threat of having two competing Baptist men's organizations in the state, Smith said. “My hope is that Texas Baptist Men will be able to walk between the two conventions with integrity and a vision of bridging the gap for the laymen.”

But moving from vision to reality isn't easy, he acknowledged. “It's a work in progress.”

The SBTC view

SBTC Executive Director Jim Richards agreed. In the last nine months, there has been “significant progress” made in developing a working relationship between his group and Texas Baptist Men, he said.

At the same time, he noted questions that remain unanswered and issues that have not yet been finally resolved. “We may be a little over five years old, but we're still a work in progress ourselves.”

Richards said Texas Baptist Men and the SBTC mutually benefit from having the chance to share information about each other with new audiences.

“It's an opportunity for more men to be involved in missions through Texas Baptist Men. There are churches affiliated with us who have never heard of Texas Baptist Men. We have over 200 churches that were not in existence in 1998 affiliated with our convention. As these churches grow up, it gives their men the opportunity to plug into the Texas Baptist Men organization,” he said.

However, at this point, the SBTC website has no link to Texas Baptist Men and does not include any Texas Baptist Men-related events on its calendar.

By the same token, the Texas Baptist Men website does not provide any links to the SBTC. But the Texas Baptist Men annual planbook for leaders includes a page promoting the SBTC state missions offering–from which TBM derives no benefit–and lists some SBTC-related events on the calendar.

Texas Baptist Men receives the bulk of its funding from the BGCT.

The BGCT view

Texas Baptist Men's long-time status as an affiliate of the BGCT has been beneficial both to the convention and the missions organization, according to BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade.

“For more than 35 years, the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Texas Baptist Men have shared a common goal of advancing all the interests of the Redeemer's Kingdom,” Wade said. “People of our state know Texas Baptists as caring Christian people in large part because of the sacrificial service of Texas Baptist Men disaster relief volunteers and retiree builders.

“The BGCT has benefited from the good will produced by these ministries, and Texas Baptist Men could not have performed these ministries without the significant financial support of BGCT-related churches,” Wade added. “My prayer is that this important missions partnership will continue for years to come.”

As the men's group seeks to develop a working relationship with SBTC while trying not to alienate the BGCT, at least five key issues emerge.

Money

The BGCT provides budget money and mission offering funds to Texas Baptist Men. The SBTC doesn't provide any.

And while Texas Baptist Men has its own missions equipping center in east Dallas, the organization's offices are located in the BGCT building, and the organization benefits from BGCT personnel and support services.

If Texas Baptist Men were an “affiliated” organization of the SBTC, like Criswell College, it might be included in that convention's budget. But as a “fraternal” partner, it can expect “no guarantee” of financial support through the SBTC budget or its state missions offering, Richards said.

Achieving status as an “affiliated” organization of the SBTC requires a more stringent doctrinal commitment, including adherence to the controversial 2000 Baptist Faith & Message statement.

In the future, the SBTC might grant funds to specific disaster relief efforts or to a jointly sponsored men's rally, Richards added. But it won't become a line item in the SBTC budget as long as its relationship is strictly “fraternal.”

The SBTC channels some designated money to Texas Baptist Men from its churches. In 2002, the SBTC forwarded $7,093 in designated gifts. Year to date in 2003, designated gifts to Texas Baptist Men funneled through the SBTC total $19,681.

In contrast, Texas Baptist Men received more than $1.27 million through the BGCT last year. In 2002, the BGCT provided $776,888 in budget funds, $60,962 through the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas missions and $100,711 in designated gifts from churches.

Disaster-relief ministries also benefited from $337,528 in BGCT designated gifts during 2002. That amount was unusually high, due primarily to gifts following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

This year, BGCT Chief Financial Officer David Nabors projects Texas Baptist Men will receive $815,661 in BGCT budget funds. In addition, through mid-November, it has received $15,189 through Mary Hill Davis Offering allocations, $51,028 in designated gifts from churches and $49,262 in disaster-relief support.

Disaster relief

The American Red Cross relates to the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board as the coordinating agency for disasters outside of Texas, but it deals directly with Texas Baptist Men for disaster relief within the state. Consequently, it was imperative that questions about this area be resolved quickly.

Richards pointed to this ministry as a “leading area where coordinated efforts have worked to the advancement of both Texas Baptist Men and SBTC in accomplishing kingdom work.”

The SBTC has worked with its affiliated churches and sympathetic associations to identify specific disaster-relief ministry vehicles that could become a part of the Texas Baptist Men fleet, he noted. “We partner with associations and churches. We do not own the units.”

Two or three such SBTC units are up and running.

Those units, and the volunteers who staff them, will operate with the understanding that “if called out, they work under the leadership of Texas Baptist Men and become a part of their team,” Richards added.

Volunteer builders

Texas Baptist Men has a 24-year-old ministry of volunteer construction, including church, camp and special projects builders. The SBTC has developed its own volunteer builders program, Texas Baptist Builders, under the direction of Bill Ibos.

“We do projects as requested by churches. If they want an SBTC team, we service those requests. If they are interested in Texas Baptist Men, we definitely refer them on,” Richards said. “It's an amicable relationship. I don't see it as competition. It's complementary. There's plenty of work to go around.”

Presence

Texas Baptist Men maintained a booth in the exhibit hall at the BGCT annual session in Lubbock this month and at the SBTC meeting in Corpus Christi in October. It sponsored a men's rally in Corpus Christi featuring Gibbie McMillian, missions service associate with the SBTC, as a key speaker. It also submitted an annual summary in the SBTC Book of Reports, and Smith gave a one-minute report to the convention.

The annual Texas Baptist Men Convention and one of its twice-yearly board meetings were held in conjunction with the BGCT in Lubbock. The men's ministry also had an annual summary printed in the BGCT Rook of Reports, its leaders led two breakout conferences at the BGCT, and the ministry occupied a prominent place in the BGCT's Monday night missions rally.

At the recent Texas Baptist Men board meeting, President Andy Andreason of McGregor appointed a committee to study when the group should hold its annual meeting.

Smith said the committee may consider recommending holding the annual meeting at a “neutral site” where men from all Baptist churches in Texas would feel comfortable attending. But if that happens, he said, “We want to maintain a presence at both conventions.”

Missions education

This remains an unresolved issue, Richards admitted. Currently, SBTC refers questions regarding the Royal Ambassadors program for boys and the Challengers program for young men to Texas Baptist Men or the North American Mission Board.

However, it's a “one-sided,” male-only missions education emphasis, because missions programs for preschoolers, girls and young women are led by Woman's Missionary Union of Texas, and Texas WMU does not have a fraternal relationship with SBTC, he noted.

“It leaves us with only a partial working partner in missions education in the state of Texas,” Richards said.

The SBTC might eventually develop its own missions education program, he added. “It may become a necessity to develop a holistic, church-wide approach to missions education, but that's not on the front burner at this point.”

National Woman's Missionary Union recognizes only one WMU organization in each state, and the national group has chosen to maintain its longstanding relationship with Texas WMU.

But as far as Texas WMU's relationship with the SBTC is concerned, “they have never asked us in any formal way to have a relationship with them,” said Executive Director Carolyn Porterfield.

However, women from SBTC-affiliated churches continue to attend the WMU-sponsored Texas Leadership Conference and statewide Acteens events, as well as serve in associational WMU leadership positions, she noted.

“Texas WMU will continue to service all the churches that want to work with us,” Porterfield said.

The organization created a “WMU of Texas Network” as an avenue to keep open lines of communication with women in churches not affiliated with the BGCT but supportive of Texas WMU.

Individuals, WMU groups or churches can enroll in the network either by contributing to the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas missions or by providing annual support to Texas WMU through one of its endowment programs or scholarship funds. Unlike Texas Baptist Men, Texas WMU receives no Cooperative Program dollars from the BGCT. Its operating budget depends on gifts to the Mary Hill Davis Offering.

Smith is reluctant to guess what the future holds for Texas Baptist Men and its relationship with the BGCT and SBTC. But he knows what he hopes will happen.

“My dream is that there will come a day when we know each other well enough that relationships just happen, and we don't have to go through the process of working out cooperative agreements,” Smith said.

He also knows what he hopes never will happen. He doesn't want to see Texas Baptist Men sever its longstanding ties to the BGCT or lose the opportunity to work with valuable lay leaders in SBTC-related churches.

“I don't think that a para-church Baptist men's organization in Texas is the answer,” he said. “The answer is to walk between the two conventions.”

Posted: 11/24/03

Texas Tidbits

HBU offers new major. Houston Baptist University's College of Arts and Humanities now offers a new major in biblical languages. The program within the department of Christianity and philosophy offers an in-depth look at Greek and Hebrew languages of the Old and New Testaments. For additional information, contact Sharon Wiser at (281) 649-3000 ext. 2212.

Hispanic magazine picks Baylor. Baylor University has been chosen as a 2003 "publisher's pick" by Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education as a university that does "a fine job recruiting, enabling and graduating Hispanic students," according to publisher José López-Isa. Selections are based on data collected by the National Center for Education Statistics and on "anecdotal evidence collected from all directions," López-Isa said. Baylor is among 36 Texas universities named to the honor. Hispanic Outlook also ranks Baylor in its list of Top 100 schools graduating Hispanic students. Last year, Baylor's total enrollment of 14,159 students included 1,078 Hispanics, 7.6 percent of Baylor's student population.

UMHB receives additional gift. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor recently received an additional $500,000 gift from the estate of Johnie Punchard, a 1934 graduate. In July, the university received $500,000 as part of the initial distribution of the estate. The total gift of $1 million will establish two endowed scholarships.

Wayland presents awards. Wayland Baptist University presented alumni awards Nov. 21 to Earl Greathouse, Betty Donaldson, Joel Boyd and Caleb Oladipo. The Distinguished Benefactor Award was given to Troy Mays and the Mays Foundation. Greathouse, a retired commander with the U.S. Navy, received the Distinguished Service Alumni Award. Donaldson, vice president of Learning Bridges Educational Company in Arizona, received the Distinguished Leadership Alumni Award. Boyd, professor of chemistry at Wayland, received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award. Oladipo, professor of missions and world Christianity at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Va., received the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Posted: 11/24/03

TOGETHER:
Do not call good what God calls sin

I like the question, “What would Jesus do?” It helps clarify decisions we have to make every day. But many people have not studied the Bible enough to know what Jesus did.

Some who never have looked carefully at the gospels seem to have the idea that following Jesus only means being “really nice.” C.S. Lewis said, “Jesus did not come to make us nice men, but new men.”

CHARLES WADE Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

Recently, some have claimed Jesus would not object to homosexual behavior or ordaining homosexual people to ministry. There is no question Jesus loves everyone and is willing to save those others would condemn. But this sometimes leads people to assume that Jesus blesses sin. In fact, what Jesus does is stand beside sinners to give them a vision and hope for a new way of life. Jesus loves sinners too much to encourage us to go on in our sinful ways.

The Bible gives us the normative standard by which we know Jesus. No other book is definitive about the mind of Christ. We can pray and seek the Holy Spirit's guidance to understand the Scripture and empower us in our personal walk. But our impressions are not on the same level as Scripture. Jesus is the standard or the criterion by which we interpret and understand the Bible. The Living Word of God (Jesus) comes from the same God that has inspired and given to us the written word of God (Scripture). Therefore, our assumptions about what Jesus might think about a matter can never be allowed to supercede the clear teaching of the Bible.

I was asked to comment on recent decisions being made by the Episcopal Church in America. I hesitate to enter into a debate in another Christian communion and would urge us all to pray for our brothers and sisters in the Anglican fold. But it is a very serious matter when any Christian body takes a stand that is in clear contradiction to the doctrines of Scripture and sets aside the wisdom of the church at large for its own ends.

Many are uncomfortable with any judgment against homosexual behavior, fearing it will be heard as unloving and condemning. There is good reason to be concerned when you read and hear some of the things that swirl around us. But now the other side of the matter has been pressed forward in the media and entertainment venues. Homosexual behavior is lauded, normalized and brought into every living room in America by television. A state judiciary has suggested there is no constitutional reason to prohibit the marriage of same-sex partners.

Of course, other sinful behaviors also are often presented in a common, matter-of-fact way, and we must guard against elevating one category of sin above all others. But it is important for Christians to say: “Homosexual behavior is wrong. It is sinful behavior that goes against God's will for the human family.” We can love people and seek their best interests when they are sinners. But we must not sin against them by thinking that loving them means approving sinful behavior. We must not call good what God calls sinful.

All of us need to repent of our sins and receive gratefully the forgiveness and mercy of God. We can expect from God his Spirit's strength to help us fight temptation and to help us live a renewed and growing Christian life.

We are loved.

Posted: 11/24/03

With ETBU headed toward playoffs, player headed to Iraq

By George Henson

Staff Writer

MARSHALL–Greg Washington is prepared.

He's just not sure if his preparation will take him between the lines of the gridiron or to the much more dangerous battleground of Iraq.

Washington, a linebacker for East Texas Baptist University, also is an Army reservist. He hoped to play in ETBU's final regular season game Saturday, Nov. 22, against Mississippi College, where a victory would give his club one-third of the conference championship.

Greg Washington

Although the Marshall team would be tied with Mary Hardin-Baylor and Hardin-Simmons University if all three teams won as expected, tie-breaker rules for the American Southwest Conference would send the Tigers to the playoffs as an automatic qualifier. Mary Hardin-Baylor, highly ranked nationally, is expected to gain one of three at-large bids to the NCAA Division III tournament. Hardin-Simmons most likely would be left on the outside looking in.

Washington last week was told to pack up because he was being deployed. However, when the Army inadvertently issued duplicate orders for his unit, all orders had to be rescinded, and the process began again. His football fate depends on how quickly those new orders come through.

By one possible game plan, he would have to report for duty in Dallas by Saturday and wouldn't get to play in the last regular-season game. But if the orders get delayed, he might make another game or two.

The two-time All-ASC linebacker and ETBU career tackles leader is excited about being a part of the school's first conference championship, even one shared with two other schools. He said he won't be disappointed to help lead the team so far and then not get to finish the task if his orders do come through.

“I won't be disappointed at all, because this is why I wanted to come here, to be a part of a program that hadn't had a lot of success in the past and be a part of turning things around,” he said. “But if I'm not here, they will do just fine. I'm just one piece of the puzzle, and we have other guys who can play.”

As for the uncertainty, Washington said football and family help.

“I'm just taking it one day at a time and trying not to dwell on it,” he said. “Some orders have even been revoked, so I really don't know what is going to happen.”

Washington and his wife, Michelle, have two children–Jaiden, who is 2, and Greg Jr., born Sept. 23.

ETBU Head Coach Ralph Smith said Washington will not be forgotten, wherever he is.

“We all knew this day could come, and Greg is ready to answer the call,” Harris said. “Greg's being called to do something he's prepared himself for since he came here. He will be in our prayers every day, and he will be on our minds every minute. He's part of us. Sometimes we get caught up in wins and losses so much that we forget the aspects of everyday life.”

Posted: 11/24/03

Wingfield leaving Standard
to serve Dallas congregation

By Ken Camp

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS–Baptist Standard Managing Editor Mark Wingfield is leaving denominational journalism after 21 years to join the staff of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas.

At a called church conference Nov. 19, the North Dallas congregation overwhelmingly voted to call Wingfield as associate pastor with specific responsibilities in communications, outreach and stewardship education. He will assume the post Jan. 1.

His hiring is part of a transition plan as Senior Associate Pastor Preston Bright moves toward retirement in two years.

Mark Wingffield

Wingfield has been a member of Wilshire Baptist Church for five years, since he came to the Baptist Standard.

“I am passionate about our church and its vision, mission and ministry,” he said. “To be able to invest my full attention on advancing the work of the church is invigorating and challenging.”

Rather than retreating from action, Wingfield said he sees the move to a church staff as putting him at the heart of Baptist life.

“The reality is that the local church is the center of action for Baptist ministry. And I know of no other church that presents a better place to serve than Wilshire,” he said.

“In some ways, I feel I am becoming part of a national trend that I have written about. More churches are calling out staff leadership from among their members. The proposal put together by our pastor and personnel committee is visionary, and I'm thrilled to be part of Wilshire's long tradition of stepping out on faith to fulfill the church's mission in creative ways.”

Wingfield is vice chairman of deacons, an adult Sunday School teacher and a member of the strategic planning council at Wilshire, a congregation affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

“The opportunity to call Mark to our church staff gives us someone of immense competence and confidence. His admirable courage in speaking for and to Baptists in the wider church assures us of his clarity of vision and conviction,” said Pastor George Mason.

“His commitment to Wilshire's mission has been evident in everything he has done. I can't wait to see what God will do among us with the addition of Mark to our team.”

Wingfield has been recognized by his peers as one of the top investigative, enterprising reporters in denominational journalism. Over the past two decades, he has reported on tumultuous changes at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, conflict at Baylor University, and the often-divergent paths taken by the BGCT and the Southern Baptist Convention.

As managing editor of the Baptist Standard, Wingfield made the paper “sparkle,” according to Editor Marv Knox.

“Mark is one of the most insightful, thorough, fair and committed journalists Baptists ever produced. His insatiable curiosity, tenacity for truth and passion for people have shaped his remarkable ministry for more than two decades. Plus, his impeccable eye for design and ear for the ever-changing conversation of faith have made the Standard fun to read” he said.

Even so, to those who know him best, Wingfield's decision to join the Wilshire Baptist Church staff seemed a logical step, Knox observed.

“He always has been one of the finest, hardest-working church members anywhere. His training in ministry, experience in Baptist life and investment in the ministry of the church have shaped him for this new opportunity at Wilshire. While his departure saddens all of us who work with him, we're also excited for Mark and for his wonderful church,” Knox said.

Before coming to the Baptist Standard, Wingfield was editor of the Kentucky Baptist Western Recorder, where he earlier served as news director.

Previously, he worked as associate director of news and information for the Southern Baptist Convention Home Mission Board and as director of news and information with Southwestern Seminary.

Wingfield has been a prolific contributor to the Associated Baptist Press independent news service, which recently made him the inaugural recipient of its Writer's Award.

“We knew the first award had to go to Mark,” said ABP Editor Greg Warner. “He has epitomized quality, truthful Baptist journalism for so long, and ABP and its readers were most often the beneficiaries of his talent.”

Warner went on to say that Wingfield's move from denominational journalism to a church staff position “testifies to why Christian journalists do what we do–because we believe in God's people as firmly as we believe in God's truth.”

Wingfield is a past president of the Baptist Communicators Association and has been a frequent winner in its Wilmer C. Fields Awards Competition, including the organization's top writing honor, the Frank Burkhalter Award. He also received a Katy Award from the Dallas Press Club.

Wingfield earned an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of New Mexico and attended Southwestern Seminary. He and his wife, Alison, have 11-year-old twin sons, Luke and Garrett.

Concerning the Baptist Standard's future, Knox noted, “Since this move so obviously clarifies God's will for Mark Wingfield and Wilshire Baptist Church, I'm confident it's also God's will for the Standard. We will seek his successor and maintain the paper's commitment to inform, inspire, equip and empower Texas Baptists to follow Jesus Christ and expand God's kingdom.”

Posted 11/21/03

CYBERCOLUMN:
Risky faith

By Berry D. Simpson

What do faith and risk have in common? Are they the same thing?

Do we have to have one to have the other?

There is a Bible story about a young man named Onesimus who became a Christian under the ministry of the Apostle Paul while Paul was being held prisoner in Rome by the Roman government. Onesimus was important to Paul as a minister and comforter, and Paul lovingly referred to this young man as “my son.” The problem was that before he met Paul, Onesimus had been a slave owned by a man named Philemon, who lived in the city of Colossae. Onesimus had run away and escaped from his owner. And in his escape he apparently stole money from Philemon.

Berry D. Simpson

The reason we know about Onesimus is because Paul sent him back to Colossae to his old master, Philemon, carrying a letter in which Paul appealed to Philemon to forgive Onesimus of all he had done. The letter ended up in the New Testament; it tells a story of real people living out real risk and faith.

Asking forgiveness is always risky. Onesimus, because of his escape, was a free man living in Rome and close companion of Paul. Yet Paul told him to go back and risk punishment and return to slavery. I wondered, “Was becoming a Christian a good move for young Onesimus?” Did it set him free?

To follow God, Onesimus faced possible death, probable punishment, separation from Paul (probably the first man in his life to treat him like a valuable son). He hoped Philemon would grant him freedom and send him back to Paul as a free man, yet he had no idea how it would work out. He went back to Philemon knowing it was important to do the right thing regardless of how it would work out.

Philemon faced risk too. If he did what Paul asked—if he forgave Onesimus and granted him freedom—he risked losing Onesimus and whatever service Onesimus had performed for him. Worse, he risked humiliation in front of his fellow slave-owners, who would think he had gone soft and would accuse him of overturning the delicate social balance. (This in not a trivial decision. How many times do we struggle between doing what Jesus wants and doing what peer pressure demands?) Philemon also took the risk that all the rest of his slaves would run away and become Christians and expect similar treatment. Forgiveness is always risky.

Erwin McManus, in his book, “Seizing Your Divine Moment,” wrote about risk: “When we play it safe, we squeeze God out of the formula. If we go only where we know and do what we’re certain will succeed, we remove our need for God.”

The thing is, I am not a natural risk taker. Big surprise, huh? It’s why I became an engineer and not a geologist. My tendency is to pray and pray and pray for God’s will. What I am hoping for is a clean path from God so I can see where I am going, see how I will get along on the journey, see where I will end up. Not being a risk taker makes me nervous because I want to be a man of faith.

Several years ago, I was working as a petroleum engineer in a job that had turned sour. They were ready for me to leave, and I was ready to go. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find another job. I interviewed and worked my network of leads with no success. I felt there was probably some good consulting work available, but I didn’t know how to go looking for consulting work while still employed.

I prayed daily, hourly, for God to open up a path for me, to show me what to do and where to go, but nothing happened. It was frustrating. With kids in college, we were hurting financially. My wife, Cyndi, was working multiple jobs, and she was stressed because I wouldn’t make a change to improve our situation. But I was scared. I was too afraid to quit and just walk out the door without another job, trusting God to find the next opportunity.

Stepping away from a paycheck, as pitiful as it was, and leaving my job, no matter how stressful, seemed irresponsible and childish to me. I thought I was being very grown-up by staying where I was even though I wanted to leave. At least I was earning money and paying our bills.

And so, how do I know when to take the risk and step out in faith? What would I have done if I had been in Onesimus’ or Philemon’s place? If I am not stepping out, am I truly living by faith? I don’t know. I think I have a lot more to learn about faith.

Berry Simpson, a Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church in Midland, is a petroleum engineer, writer, runner and member of the city council in Midland.