Posted: 2/21/08

Scam callers preying on churches’ compassion

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO—Scam artists are preying on churches’ generosity to extort money from them by describing tense situations in which purported members of the congregations need funds.

Neil Bennett, pastor of Churchill Baptist Church in San Antonio, received a phone call just before a recent Sunday morning service from a man who identified himself as a deputy sheriff in rural West Virginia. The man indicated he was with an African-American family who needed money to repair their car.

Another man then got on the phone and identified himself with a common name. He told Bennett he had been to Churchill Baptist Church twice, but his wife—who also had a common name—regularly attends the church.

The man said that he and his wife were returning home from a funeral when their car broke down. He indicated he had $600 to pay for the towing and repairs, but needed an additional $140 to pay the bill.

The man also said he was being mistreated in the town. He was roughed up and people hurled racial insults at him.

“I was totally convinced as I talked to this guy,” Bennett said.

The person who identified himself as a deputy sheriff corroborated the story, indicating the town was run by the Klu Klux Klan. He told Bennett he simply wanted to get the man and woman out of the county, but their repair bill needed to be settled.

Bennett worked out a way to wire $140 to a number the deputy sheriff provided. The pastor asked the husband to call him once he and his wife were out of the state. The man never called Bennett.

A member of the church looked into the matter more deeply later, calling West Virginia law officials. They indicated at least six other churches had fallen for a similar story.

The scam artists appear to be surfing church websites looking for congregations likely to have some African-American members and large enough so pastors may not know every member.

Bennett said he think the criminals purposely called on Sunday morning, when staff members are most rushed.

“It’s pretty convincing to me. If it hadn’t been a Sunday and right before church, I might have asked more questions and found the fraudulent nature,” he said.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 2/21/08

CLC files ethics complaint against gambling PAC

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

AUSTIN—Texas Baptists’ public policy agency has filed a complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission against a political action committee of horserace track owners and supporters of video slot machines.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas Christian Life Commission filed the complaint against Texans for Economic Development, alleging the group could be using corporate funds inappropriately to try to influence legislative races.

In its last regular sworn report filed with the Texas Ethics Commission, the political action committee Texans for Economic Development reported receiving political contributions from two corporations—Retama Development Corp., Texas group, and Call Now, Inc., a Nevada corporation.

Reports filed with the commission show, on their face, that the corporate contributions were accepted by the PAC for political purposes.

In Texas elections, use of corporate money for political purposes, to advocate the election or defeat of a candidate, is a third degree felony under state law. 

Had Texans for Economic Development intended to use the corporate funds for non-political purposes, such as administration of the political action committee, they would have reported the corporate contributions on Schedule C-2 of its sworn report. Instead, the group reported the contributions under Schedule A, which is for political contributions intended to be used for political expenditures.

"We have watched this PAC over the years, and been dismayed at the handful of individuals and entities that continue to push the slots or nothing agenda at racetracks in our state," said CLC Director Suzii Paynter, filed the complaint. "This filing brings to light the gravity of the misuse of corporate funds in our political process."

Other than one fee paid to the state, all expenditures of Texans for Economic Development previously reported to the Texas Ethics Commission have been used to support the election or defeat of candidates, Paynter said. No administrative costs for the PAC have been filed.

"We hope that the Ethics Commission's staff will aggressively and thoroughly investigate this complaint to insure the laws of our state are protected and respected by the gambling industry." said Weston Ware of Texans Against Gambling

"The public has the right to know how the gamblers are using the corporate money they have received. At the very least, Texans for Economic Development seems to have filed grossly inaccurate reports, which deceive the public as to the intended use of corporate funds. More urgently, the Texas Ethics Commission must determine with all due haste whether corporate money has been used against certain House incumbents, who TED has openly bragged about targeting for defeat."

In media reports, Texans for Economic Development Treasurer Tommy Azopardi admitted the group budgeted $1 million to impact about a 25 House races during this election cycle. Their advertisements running in some of these districts attempt to influence voters through the use of thinly veiled "issue" ads.

Based on activity across the state, Texans for Economic Development clearly targeted three state representatives—Phil King (R-Weatherford), Betty Brown (R-Terrell) and Nathan Macias (R-Bulverde), who are all opposed to the expansion of gambling in Texas, the CLC noted.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 2/15/08

Runnin’ WJ Ranch horses seem to imbue their riders with their strength. The special-needs children seem to find a reservoir of strength and confidence within themselves when they mount up.

At Northeast Texas therapeutic ranch,
‘We see a miracle just about every day’

By George Henson

Staff Writer

TEXARKANA—It’s easy to lift the spirits of a special-needs child, Sam Clem insists. Just put the child on the back of a horse ready to do his bidding.

Clem directs the Runnin’ WJ Ranch outside Texarkana, a therapeutic riding ranch that draws more than 90 special-needs children a week from Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. Six schools bring children to participate in the program, which draws support from churches throughout the area.

Horseback riding works a variety of upper- and lower-body muscles and joints. In addition, spastic patterns in the muscles are decreased, balance and coordination are challenged, range of motion is enhanced, and strength and endurance gradually improve, according to the Runnin’ WJ’s website, www.runninwjranch.org.

Gracie is helped by three volunteers on her ride.

The ranch has 17 horses for the children to ride. Students enrolled in the equine program of Texas A&M University train the horses.

While the exercise is important and not to be discounted, Clem said, often the intangible benefits are what stir him the most.

“Beyond the exercise, it’s that they’re in control,” Clem said. “When they get on one of these horses, for the first time in their lives, they’re the boss.

“There is one young man whose body has about give out on him, but put him on that horse, and he sticks his chest out, and he thinks he’s John Wayne.”

In addition to working muscles, the children also work on concepts like numbers, letters, colors and right and left. Sometimes obstacles courses are set up, and children follow directions to take their horse from one goal to the next. Each child always has at least one volunteer to offer help and encouragement as they ride.

The ranch’s arena is not enclosed, but it is covered, so children can ride on days when it may be raining a little. They look forward to riding so much, Clem doesn’t like to disappoint them. Some days, however, it is too cold.

“A lot of them have problems with blood circulating real well in their extremities, and their hands get cold so easily,” Clem explained.

Other times, they will ride the trail on the property and get more sensory stimulus from nature as all five of their senses are engaged in different parts of the trail.

“These kids don’t get to get outside a lot and just be a part of nature,” Clem explained. “When they do, they just light up.”

There’s no doubt that the No. 1 draw for the children are the horses themselves. “We have a number of children who are essentially nonverbal—they just do not speak. But a few of those children, on horse-riding day, they may say ‘horse’ or ‘ride.’ This is a pretty amazing place,” Clem said. “We see a miracle just about every day.”

Clem dreams of expanding the ranch’s ministry to the children. Already there are plans to move the ranch’s offices to make room for a expanded therapy center.

But Clem really looks forward to the day when there will be funds to clear some of the timber on the property so weeklong summer camps can be held for special-needs children on the property. He pictures it as combining a Vacation Bible School with the therapeutic benefits a week at the ranch can offer special-needs children. One week might be for blind children, while another for autistic children or other groups of children with special needs, he said.

“We will need to keep it small, because for every child, we will have to have at least one volunteer to help them, if not more,” Clem said.

Maddison saddles up.

The camp receives donations from several area churches, and is affirmed by Bowie Baptist Association, but does not receive funds from the association. Several community organizations also support the ranch, but not to the degree needed for the camps to become a reality.

Toward that end, Clem has mailed letters to churches encouraging them to adopt the ranch as the recipient of their VBS offering as a means of letting children help children. He thinks it particularly would be a good fit for cowboy churches across the state.

Clem, who teaches a Sunday school class for special-needs children at First Baptist Church-Moores Lane in Texarkana, also wants to build a chapel on the property.

“This place is founded on Christ, but we don’t have a place to share Christ,” he said.

But then he recounted a conversation with a pastor a few weeks ago. “One pastor asked us the other day, ‘How do you share Christ?’ Before I could answer, the pastor who was with him said, ‘They live it.’”

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 2/20/08

Perry County, Ala., families picked up backpacks for their children at a family festival sponsored by Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas. (Photos courtesy Jason WalkerCraig)

Rural poverty initiative takes Dallas
church to five areas in five years

By Carla Wynn Davis

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

DALLAS—The more than 1,200 backpacks stuffed with school supplies that Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas gave away last summer wasn’t the only impressive statistic about its mission trip to Perry County, Ala.  

The Alabama trip capped a five-year tour of all five regions focused on by Together for Hope, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s rural poverty initiative.

“One summer our youth minister had us go to Arkansas,” said church member Joey Belgard. “The next summer we went to the (Rio Grande) Valley.”

Those summer mission trips led to ongoing involvement in addressing rural poverty issues through Together for Hope.

In the church’s fifth consecutive summer mission trip to a rural county, members at Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas prepared 1,200 backpacks for the poor students in Alabama.

Together for Hope focuses on alleviating poverty and building community in 20 poor U.S. counties, which happen to be located in five regions of the country. And since 2003, members of Royal Lane have visited a county in each of the five regions.  They took 30 members to Arkansas and Texas. Nearly 40 went to Kentucky, 42 to South Dakota and nearly 50 to Alabama. 

“We learned about all the regions, and it was something we wanted to experience,” said Garland Hamic, who has been on all five trips. “Mission trips give us a chance to take our youth places they typically never visit. We wanted them to know that poverty looks different in different places and wanted them to experience that.” 

But youth aren’t the only participants. In recent years, the annual mission trip has become multigenerational and even more of a churchwide effort.

“All of the missions of Royal Lane are lay-driven,” said Jason WalkerCraig, the church’s associate minister. “There’s almost full congregational participation in the preparation. It is impressive to participate in and watch.”

For a church that averages less than 200 in Sunday worship, taking 50 people on a mission trip to deliver 1,200 backpacks stuffed with supplies is even more than church members thought they could do, WalkerCraig said.  Mission trip participants handed out the backpacks to children during a family festival on the Marion, Ala., town square.

“We didn’t know if we’d be able to (distribute) everything,” Hamic said. “But you could barely see a blade of grass on that courthouse lawn there were so many people.”

Like most summers, church members purchased as many supplies in the county as possible, trying to boost the local economy. While in Alabama, church members did what local residents told them the community needed, including construction projects, health screenings, nursing home visits and activities with children and teenagers.

“We always end up doing something different,” Belgard said. “We don’t go with our pre-packaged plan. We don’t pretend like we can alleviate poverty. We just intend on showing people that somebody loves them.”

Emphasis is placed on incarnational witness rather than overt, confrontational evangelism, Hamic explained. “When we can worship with (local people) and work alongside them, to me that is being the presence of Christ in a community.”

And being the presence of Christ has often extended beyond the week the team was in the county.  While in Alabama, church members discovered one elementary school was in need of some extra resources.  Upon returning to Dallas, the church gathered what the school needed and sent resources to Perry County with a church member already traveling to the East Coast. 

“Even when we leave a place, we stay connected,” Belgard said.

Church members say they’ve learned a lot about poverty in their five Together for Hope mission trips—namely that poverty looks similar despite regional differences.

“One of the things I’ve heard from members who have gone on all the trips is that poverty—no matter where they go—always looks the same, just a different face,” said WalkerCraig.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 2/20/07

BaptistWay Bible Series for March 2

Unveiling the weakness of a king

• 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:1-15

By Kenneth Jordan

First Baptist Church, Alpine

I long have been a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s mystical Middle Earth. In his book titled The Hobbit, there is a scene considered by many to be the climax of the story: The reluctant hero-Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, has stolen into the lair of the dreadful dragon, Smaug. In a conversation with the dragon, a hidden Bilbo uses flattery regarding the dragon’s scaly skin to obtain a closer look at the monster’s hide.

“Dazzlingly marvelous! Perfect! Flawless! Staggering!” exclaimed Bilbo aloud, but what he thought inside was: “Old fool! Why there is a large patch in the hollow of his left breast as bare as a snail out of its shell!” (The Hobbit, chapter XII).

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It was the discovery of this soft spot that eventually led to the death of the dragon. The seemingly indestructible foe brought down with a final arrow fired toward that unprotected place.

In this week’s passage, we find the transferring of power and authority from father to son. David is nearing his death. After a lengthy battle with those who would be king, Solomon is given the throne. Solomon is described with glowing terms. Perhaps best known for his prayer for a discerning heart (1 Kings 3:9), there is a soft spot.

We see it appear in 1 Kings 3:3, “Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.” The phrase at that begins with except is the unveiling of the weakness of this great king.

Commentators are divided as to the true nature of the exception clause. Many quickly dismiss it and say it was only natural Solomon would sacrifice in those places because the temple had not yet been built.

I think that is part of the explanation. However, we cannot too quickly dismiss the exception clause. When you trace the path of Solomon’s life, you find a life incredibly blessed by God. You also see a life that had such great potential taking a tragic turn at the end.

1 Kings 11:4 states “As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God.” This was not an abrupt change of heart. It was the natural progression of a weak spot left unattended.

With that said, I believe we must be mindful not to rush too quickly into judgment of the long-dead king. It would be easy to sit back and say, “What a shame he didn’t guard his heart!” A few years ago, a credit card commercial showed a quarterback walking through his day commenting on what he would have done—culminating in him watching a full grocery sack bust and musing, “I would have double-bagged it.”

Their point was simple: It’s easy to look at things in hindsight and determine what you would have done. It’s not different with Solomon’s life. It is incredibly easy to point out his weakness and bemoan his ultimate downfall. What is not so easy is examining our own lives to find our weaknesses and shore them up.

Smaug, the dragon from Tolkien’s world, would not believe he was vulnerable. In the end, an arrow found his soft spot and brought his reign to an end. Solomon had the world handed to him on a platter. Yet for all of his discernment, he did not see his weak spot that would lead him away from the God he loved. If we were to look at your life in retrospect, would we see your glaring weaknesses left unaddressed?

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 2/20/08

Explore the Bible Series for March 2

Responding to God in faith

• Genesis 28:1-5, 11-22

By Donald Raney

First Baptist Church, Petersburg

We see them everywhere and if we are honest, we would have to admit we have been one of them at times. They are individuals who claim to be believers but show little evidence outside the walls of the church.

They are faithful to attend church and participate in the rituals of the church whenever it fits their schedule. They are quick to affirm that “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” while assuming God’s plan for their life corresponds to their own plan. They have their life neatly compartmentalized with one of the boxes labeled “God.” They say they are a person of faith, but when life takes an unexpected turn or God calls them to do something outside their plan, they quickly revert to acting in their own strength and according to their own designs.

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The Christian life is not always easy. Walking by faith instead of sight is not natural. Most often we prefer to have our hands on the wheel directing our life, but often our own actions can create situations beyond our control and without a genuine and strong faith, we can find ourselves drifting.

The story of Jacob provides us with a clear picture of someone who found himself in such a situation. His own selfish treatment of his brother had forced him to leave home. In his encounters with God as he wandered, Jacob learned a number of important lessons, and as we study his story, we can learn what it takes to respond to God in faith and obedience regardless of the circumstances.

Tackling transitions (Genesis 28:1-5)

It often correctly has been said that the only constant in life is change. There are many times in life when we find ourselves in times of transition during which we are seeking to adjust to a new set of circumstances. Perhaps it is due to a new job or a move to a new home. With each transition, we are presented with a new opportunity to demonstrate the faith we profess. The temptation, however, is to give into the stress of the change and try to work through the situation on our own rather than exercise our faith and trust God to lead us through.

Jacob later referred to this time when he left home as a time of great distress (Genesis 35:3). It was the first time he was away from the familiarity and security of home, and he did not know if he would ever see home again. Yet this man who always had used his own cunning to get what he wanted followed his father’s advice and went to his ancestral home.

Times of transition often are difficult and frightening, but they can also be times of spiritual growth if we choose to walk by faith and trust God’s direction.

Taking in God’s message (Genesis 28:11-15)

Prayer is a vital part of the Christian life. It is our primary means of communicating with God. Yet so often that communication seems to flow in only one direction. Nearly all believers regularly voice their requests and concerns to God. Many ask God to speak to them and direct their path.

Yet most often we fail to take time to listen for God to answer. God wants to communicate with us and will use many different means to convey his message including circumstances and even non-believers if we will listen. Perhaps we occasionally are afraid of what God might say. Yet we cannot respond in faith until we take time to listen.

All his life Jacob had been doing things his way. He apparently never had taken time to pray or seek God. Yet God still was working behind the scenes and wanted to speak to Jacob. Finally, after Jacob had left home and was wandering alone, God spoke through a dream as he slept.

In the dream, God assured Jacob he had great plans for his descendents. He told him it was not based on Jacob’s ability to manipulate people or circumstances. It was God who would give Jacob’s descendents the land in fulfillment of the promised God made to his grandfather Abraham.

In the midst of struggles to live our lives, we must learn to listen to the voice of God. Often we find the words we hear remove our need to struggle if we simply will respond in faith to the message.

Taking steps of faith (Genesis 28:16-22)

Having received God’s message, Jacob awoke and immediately acknowledged its significance by erecting a memorial to the God who had affirmed his covenant with Jacob. Jacob now understood all he had and all he would ever accomplish was due to God, and he committed to following God’s lead.

Some may read the condition Jacob placed on God as a sign of a lack of faith. If Jacob truly believed, he would simply follow God regardless of the circumstances. Yet Jacob’s statement affirms it is God who is in control as well as his intent to trust God until God proves untrustworthy. This is indeed a statement of faith, especially for someone who had always lived life on his own terms. Jacob knew his actions had led him to be an exile from his home and that only God could remedy the situation and enable him to return home safely.

Living the Christian life often can be difficult, and we may not always understand the way God leads, but God has promised to bless those who hear his voice and obediently respond to him in faith.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 2/18/08

Tyler television reporter Clay Falls interviews East Texas Baptist University graduate Junes Jones after fall commencement. Jones, who has been at ETBU as an employee 11 years and as a student nearly 10 years, graduated with a bachelor of music degree. (ETBU/Mike Midkiff photos)

Persistence pays off for ETBU graduate

By Mike Midkiff

East Texas Baptist University

MARSHALL—For June Jones, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” is more than an old adage. The saying has been a guiding light to her.

More than three decades after her high school graduation, Jones finally reached her goal of earning a bachelor’s degree. And she did it in style. After nearly 10 years attending classes, she graduated with honors in the top 20 percent of her class at East Texas Baptist University.

Jones went to work as a switchboard operator at ETBU more than 11 years ago. Since June 2002, she has worked as administrative secretary in the university’s Fred M. Hale School of Business.

Jones gives the invocation at fall commencement.

“I graduated from Marshall High School in 1975,” she recalled. “I finished 31st in my class of 432. However, continuing my education was not an option for me because of the cost. When I went to work for ETBU in 1996, attending classes was not even on my radar! I had been out of school too long and had five kids.”

Since the switchboard was located in ETBU’s institutional technology department, Jones found herself surrounded by computers. So, she began her college studies taking a beginning computer class offered during her lunch hour.

Her first major was computer science, but she changed after realizing computer technology was advancing much faster than the one class per semester she could take.

So, she decided to take organ lessons. Realizing she found her niche, she decided to major in music.

“Music is my passion,” said Jones. “During my time as a student, God has taught me patience and the love of learning. Learning about the intricate details of music has been really fascinating to me.”       

Jones has played the piano since she was 7 years old.  Through the years, she has served in churches as a nursery worker, Mother’s Day Out director and Sunday school teacher.

In fact, some of her former Mother’s Day Out students became her classmates at ETBU, she noted.

But music has remained her true love, and she has served as a children’s choir director and teacher, as well as an instrumentalist.

“It seems today that finding musicians to play in the local church is difficult,” said Jones. “I would encourage young people to try to learn how to play an instrument. The time you spend learning how to play— whatever instrument it may be—is well worth it.”

Although she remains a member of Crossroads Baptist Church of Marshall, she currently serves as organist for Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Jefferson.

“As I prepare music for each Sunday, I am always amazed how the Lord works in this process,” she said. “I cannot tell you how many times I have chosen an offertory piece, only to have the preacher’s sermon be on the very subject. As I play each Sunday, it gives me great joy to know that I’m giving back to the Lord.”

When Jones finally earned her degree, ETBU faculty and staff who have known her more than a decade joined in celebrating the fulfillment of her longtime goal.

“If you ever needed a story about someone who could inspire anyone to complete what they started, regardless of age or circumstances, June is your example,” said Charles Williams, dean of the School of Business.

Jones insists she did not reach her goal by herself.

“My mother, who passed away this past summer, was a big encouragement who helped me stay on task,” she said. “My family was very supportive, sacrificing a lot. The folks I work with at ETBU also provided support.

“I have always liked what Dear Abby says when people write her asking if they should get a degree at such a late age. She always asks: ‘How old will you be if you don’t get the degree?’”

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 2/15/08

RIGHT or WRONG?
Preventing scandal

So many current and former pastors and other church staff people have been in the news lately involved in sexual and financial scandals. What kind of background checks can a search committee legitimately implement to attempt to keep these kinds of scandals at a minimum?

Ministry is a calling of trust, and the public’s expectations of ministers are high. Moral lapses are violations of trust. They damage churches and undermine the witness of a community set apart for holiness (1 Peter 2:9-10).

Scandals involving clergy happen because ministers are human beings, with all of the flaws and temptations associated with humanity, and because churches are naïve. Search committees tend to believe everything ministers say about themselves. This is nice, but not very smart. Ministers hide past mistakes, especially when they are under pressure to find a new place of employment. Wise search committees verify the candidate’s credentials are authentic and he or she is not hiding information that could embarrass a future employer.

At a minimum, search committees should take three steps.

First, contact references. Every candidate should be willing to supply references from prior places of employment. Call every reference. Keep a written record of what they say. Inquire about any time gaps in the candidate’s employment history. A word of caution: Any candidate would be a fool to supply a reference who would speak of him in less than glowing terms. Committees need to contact other sources who might know the candidate or details of the candidate’s ministry. The most revealing references come from people not listed by the candidate.

Second, do a criminal-records check. This will reveal any criminal activity in the candidate’s past for which there is any public legal record. An attorney or law-enforcement official can advise search committees about ways to accomplish this.

Third, conduct a financial-background check. This will reveal a candidate’s personal financial activity and whether he or she has a poor credit history.

None of this should be done without the candidate’s knowledge and consent. If prospective staff members will not consent to such scrutiny, eliminate them from consideration. They probably are hiding something.

Will these steps guarantee moral integrity on the part of your minister? No. Some moral failures by ministers go unreported by churches that want to avoid public embarrassment for themselves and their offending staff member. The minister surfaces later in a different place, only to perpetuate the immoral behavior there. Baptist polity has no provision to prevent this. No church is immune from scandal, but your chances of avoiding problems are increased if you follow one rule—trust, but verify.

Mike Clingenpeel, pastor

River Road Church, Baptist

Richmond, Va.

Right or Wrong? is sponsored by the T.B. Maston Chair of Christian Ethics at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology. Send your questions about how to apply your faith to btillman@hsutx.edu.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 1/28/08

Everett hopes to unify BGCT
around ‘mission passion’

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

Missions, Christian education and advocacy are three primary “kingdom tasks” the nominee for executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas believes can unite Texas Baptists.

Randel Everett, pastor of First Baptist Church in Newport News, Va., hopes to unify the BGCT around “not just a mission statement, but a mission passion.”

Randel Everett

Everett, 58, will be nominated for executive director at the Feb. 25-26 meeting of the BGCT Executive Board in Dallas. Charles Wade, who served eight years as executive director, retired Jan. 31. Jan Daehnert is serving as interim executive director.

If elected executive director, Everett will lead an organization still feeling the lingering effects of a financial scandal that involved church-starting funds in the Rio Grande Valley, and he will direct a staff that has experienced layoffs in recent months.

In a phone interview, Everett acknowledged he would be returning to Texas at “a challenging time,” but he also characterized it as “a time of great opportunity” for Texas Baptists. The increasing ethnic diversity of Texas and the need to engage young leaders age 35 and younger in denominational life rank among key challenges he noted.

“I would like to help the BGCT discern, ‘Where is our unique kingdom assignment?” he said.

Everett highlighted three tasks he believes could bring Texas Baptists together:

• Missions. “Texas Baptists should make sure every person in Texas has the opportunity to respond to the good news of Christ within his or her own language and context,” he said.

• Christian education. From religious education in local congregations to high education in universities and seminaries, Texas Baptists should “make sure we are providing the resources to ensure that people grow in Christ’s likeness,” he said.

• Advocacy. Texas Baptists should become advocates for the separation of church and state to ensure religious liberty for all people, and they should be advocates for the poor, he said. “There is no reason any child in Texas should go to bed hungry.”

Although he has served outside of Texas the last 15 years, Everett said he believes the experience has given him “a broader perspective of what is going on in Baptist life.”

Everett is the kind of leader Texas Baptists need, according to Ken Hugghins, chairman of the executive director search committee.

“As the committee listened to Texas Baptists and talked with excellent leaders and candidates across our state, a description of the kind of leader Texas needs emerged. Randel Everett matches that description and more,” said Hugghins, pastor of Elkins Lake Baptist Church in Huntsville.

“He will communicate across the spectrum of Texas Baptists, the generations of Texas Baptists, the many affinity groups of Texas Baptists and focus the kingdom commitment of Texas Baptist churches, institutions and convention servants.”

Everett served nine years as president of the John Leland Center for Theological Studies in Arlington, Va. While he was at the helm, the center received accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools.

His last three years at the Leland Center overlapped the beginning of his four-year pastorate in Newport News.

Everett served five years at Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, Va., a 3,000-member congregation in suburban Washington, D.C.

He served from 1992 to 1996 at First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla., after a pastorate at University Baptist Church in Fort Worth.

Other pastorates were First Baptist Church in Benton, Ark.; Inglewood Baptist Church in Grand Prairie; and First Baptist Church in Gonzales. He also was assistant minister of missions at First Baptist Church in Dallas.

Everett was chairman of the Baptist World Alliance’s education and evangelism commission from 2000 to 2005 and has held other positions with the BWA.

He served on the BGCT Executive Board from 1978 to 1979. Other denominational leadership posts included president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention Executive Board, moderator of Peninsula Baptist Association, trustee of Florida Baptist College, and a member of the national ministry partners study committee and the budget committee for the Baptist General Association of Virginia.

Everett has been a guest chaplain for the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, and he has been a teacher at the Pentagon Bible study.

Everett earned his doctorate and master’s degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and his bachelor’s degree from Ouachita Baptist University. He also holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Richmond.

He and his wife, the former Sheila King, have been married 35 years. They have two children—Jeremy, 32, who works as a community ministries director with Baptist Child & Family Services in San Antonio; and Rachel Froom, 28, of Ramrod Key, Fla. They have two grandsons.

Everett was born in Arkansas, but his family moved to Fort Worth when he was in the third grade so his father could attend seminary. His father, Kenneth, went on to serve as a Baptist pastor and director of missions.

Two of his three brothers—Tim of Central Baptist Church in Spring Hill, La., and Neil of First Baptist Church of Calhoun, La.—also became pastors. His other brother, Tommy, is a pharmacist in Hope, Ark., and their sister, Janie Schroeder, lives in McKinney.

With additional reporting by John Hall of BGCT Communications

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Storylist for week of 2/04/08

TAKE ME TO: Top Story |  Texas |  Opinion |  Baptists |  Faith & Culture |  Book Reviews |  Classifieds  |  Departments  |  Bible Study





• The security of the believer: Protecting churches from attack


• Youth speaker wants to point students to real catalyst for change

• Providential communication failure led student to DBU and faith in Christ

• Evangelism requires commitment–even if it means holding church under a tree

• On the Move

• Around the State

Security of Believers: Is your congregation safe from attack?
• The security of the believer: Protecting churches from attack

• Church security demands all hands on deck–but maybe not with arms

• What should worshippers do if their church is attacked?



The New Baptist Covenant meeting in Atlanta, Ga.:
• Love leaves no room for ‘us and them,' Dallas pastor says

• Sexual exploitation alive in America; churches can end it

• New Baptist Covenant: Unity. Harmony. Now, what comes next?

• Covenant participants close gathering with determination but few specifics

• Biblical witness commands God's people to ‘welcome the stranger'

• Program enables watershed experience for seminary students

• Time in God's presence primary requirement for spiritual discipline

• Medical professionals urge congregational health advocacy

• Panelists urge New Covenant Baptists to fight institutional racism

• Separation of church & state can be complex, but it's worth the effort, speakers insist

• Prophetic preaching breaks down barriers, builds up God's kingdom

• Relationships needed to break poverty cycle

• Baptists wrestle with ways to find common ground with other faiths

• Public servants & preachers challenge Baptists to welcome ‘the stranger'

• Panelists offer practical suggestions for peacemaking

• Need for church response grows as HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to spread

• Baptists challenged to advocate for reform of a broken criminal justice system

• Pastors: World waits for authentic messengers

• Any church can participate in disaster relief, Baptists are told

• Sexual exploitation alive in America; churches can end it

• Rogers challenges churches to engage in justice issues

• Mainstream Baptists hear Shurden, honor Lolley

• College students unite to serve Atlanta following Baptist celebration

• Gregory admonishes Baptists to show concrete concern for ‘the stranger'

• Silence, shame and stigma—the unholy trinity of AIDS

• Baptists called to combat ignorance about religious liberty

• North American Baptist plan to work together on disaster relief

• Baptists urged to reach out to victims of sexual exploitation

• Gore Urges New Covenant Baptists to Take Up Mantle of Creation Care

• Churches can provide significant response to health care needs

• Seminary president suggests practices to nurture ‘capacity for the sacred'

• Panelists, participants explore interfaith relationships

• Workshop challenges New Covenant Baptists to seek peace

• Prophetic preachers take varied approaches

• Ethnically diverse churches look like God's kingdom, speakers insist

• Christians called to ‘welcome the stranger'

• Global ills take center stage at Baptist convocation

• Novelist Grisham calls fellow Baptists to respect diversity

• Give students a cause worthy of their devotion, panelists urge

• ‘Incarnation' is key for Baptists engaging policy, speakers stress

• Individual, church response crucial to alleviating poverty

• Christians called to tear down walls, not build them, South Texas pastor says

• Campolo asks Baptists, “Which Jesus should we preach?”

• Baptist unity takes center stage as New Covenant meeting opens

• Unity the focus of New Baptist Covenant gathering, organizers insist

• Atlanta meeting may prompt real change, some Baptists insist


• VeggieTales creator's self-image: More Mr. Rogers than van Gogh

• For Casting Crowns, performing and recording music is just a side job

• Islam not source of Middle Eastern conflicts, former CIA official insists

• Holy Land church leaders appeal for Gaza

• Some worry Habitat dispute might stall Katrina recovery

• Faith Digest


• New book examines life and contributions of ‘Daddy King'


• Classified Ads

• On the Move

• Around the State

• Texas Baptist Forum


• EDITORIAL: The BGCT's opportunity for success

• DOWN HOME: Talk about your gridiron miracle

• 2nd Opinion: Political truth: Rhetoric or conduct?

• RIGHT or WRONG? Win or reconcile?

• TOGETHER: Thanks to God; prayer for blessing

• Texas Baptist Forum



• BaptistWay Bible Series for February 3: Disciple=servant

• Explore the Bible Series for February 3: Do you care about others?

• Bible Studies for Life Series for February 3: The motive

• Bible Studies for Life Series for February 10: The message

• Explore the Bible Series for February 10: Do you obey in faith?


Previously Posted
• Blogger Burleson resigns from International Mission Board

• Evangelism requires commitment–even if it means holding church under a tree

• Teenager at South Texas Children's Home dies

• Everett hopes to unify BGCT around ‘mission passion'

• Buckner explores needs in Mexico

• Friends of Jesus share good news with their parents

• On 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, both sides celebrate decline of abortion

• Christian voters broadening political agenda, evangelical panelists say

• CERI launches child-sponsorship program in Sri Lanka

• Everett to be nominated as BGCT executive director

• Obama again refutes Muslim rumors; Jewish leaders denounce e-mails

• Huckabee's role in SBC conflict presaged political balancing act

• Satanists arrested on suspicion of arson in Ala. church burnings

• Attempt at dialogue with Muslims sparks criticism of NAE

• Ministries continue in Kenya as violence subsides somewhat, but tension remains


• See articles from the previous 1/21/08 issue here.

Posted: 2/15/08

BCFS given lead role in emergency
care for medical special needs

By Haley Smith

Baptist Child & Family Services

The Texas Governor’s Division of Emergency Management has given Baptist Child & Family Services the lead role in care for medical special needs disaster evacuees.

The San Antonio-based agency will provide medical special needs shelter training sessions for cities and counties statewide in the next year.

Medical special needs shelters temporarily house people who do not fit in the massive general population shelters because they need basic medical attention, a caregiver, medical support or monitoring, or they possess extensive equipment needs. They may also be individuals with an acute illness or who are considered mentally fragile.

Marla Rushing, Baptist Child & Family Services director of corporate training, counsels a new arrival from New Orleans as the first wave of Hurricane Katrina evacuees arrived in San Antonio. Rushing will be heavily involved in the agency's new work with the state training communities how to establish and staff medical special need shelters. (Photo by Craig Bird/BCFS)

Baptist Child & Family Services already has responsibility for manning and managing medical special needs shelters anytime there is a mass evacuation to San Antonio—an automatic event when a major hurricane hits the Texas coast. When Hurricane Dean threatened last Fall, the agency and its partner churches prepared to care for up to 5,000 people.

“One of the greatest weaknesses exposed by the largest disaster to ever strike American soil was the lack of planning and preparedness to care for the very people who are most vulnerable,” said BCFS president Kevin Dinnin, reflecting back on Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. “Yet most organizations have been afraid to care for medical special needs evacuees and turned them away, either out of fear or lack of knowledge. BCFS was chosen to take on this task due to our past experience in caring for people considered society’s most vulnerable.

“We learned from our experience that there was a great need for comprehensive medical special needs policies, procedures and training , considering no one can predict a catastrophe whether a natural disaster or man made threat,” said Marla Rushing, director of corporate training at Baptist Child & Family Services.

“The principal objective for the medical special needs training will be to educate jurisdictions and health care professionals on staffing, equipment needs, and procedures to run such a medical special needs shelter. It is critical for Texas to develop and increase medical special needs shelter capacity We must never again be as ill-prepared as we were for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,” Dinnin added.

The new contract with the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management calls for Baptist Child & Family Services to provide training about the comprehensive requirements to operate a medical special needs shelter, including the unique dietary requirements of people with special needs, the identification and selection of personnel and staffing requirements and typical chronic and health issues that must be addressed during shelter operations.

“The overarching goal of the medical special needs shelter training is to make sure that cities and jurisdictions are equipped with proper expectations of the unique needs of persons with special needs,” said Rushing. “We want the training to promote awareness of the needs of the vulnerable within our society and to motivate preparedness.”

Baptist Child & Family Services plans to expand medical special needs shelter preparedness across the country. The agency recently committed to help Nevada with shelter preparedness, and Rushing speak at the Nevada State Emergency Management conference in April.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.

Posted: 2/15/08

Around the State

• “Awake 2008: A Call to Spiritual Awakening” is being sponsored by Tryon-Evergreen Baptist Association. The March 29 rally at the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center in Conroe will feature T.W. Hunt. The event will begin at 6 p.m. Call (936) 856-2001 for more information.

• The Conference of Texas Baptist Evangelists has named its officers for the year. Elected were Paul Cherry, president; Todd Keller, vice president; Gary Newman, secretary/treasurer; Sam Craig, music director; and Ricky Davis, assistant music director.

• Former Baylor University First Lady Mary McCall has been presented the Founders Medallion for 2008. The medallion is reserved for people whose service and contributions have been unusually significant to the life and future of the university. McCall served the school as a student, professor’s wife, parent, president’s wife and alumna. She has been a member of numerous Baylor organizations and in 1982 was awarded the W.R. White Meritorious Service Award. For many years, she was a Sunday school teacher and trustee at First Church in Waco. She now is a member of Park Cities Church in Dallas.

Mary Russell McCall was presented the 2008 Founders Medallion by Dennis Prescott, vice president for development, and Baylor President John M. Lilley.

• Gabriel Cortes has been named director of church and alumni relations at Baptist University for the Americas. He and his wife, Maria, have two children, Esteban and Andres.

• Trudy Mohre has been named director of admissions at Howard Payne University.

• Howard Payne University awarded James Guenther, general counsel for the Southern Baptist Convention for more than 30 years, an honorary doctor of humanities degree at winter commencement ceremonies.

• The Houston Baptist University mock trial team competed in the Loras College National Invitational Tournament, the oldest and largest tournament in the United States. The team recorded two wins and six losses, and sophomore Laurianne Balkum received a best attorney award, scoring 19 of 20 possible points.

Anniversaries

• Greg Traylor, fifth, as pastor of First Church in Beeville, Jan. 5.

• Herb Pedersen, 15th, as pastor of Longbranch Community Church in Midlothian, Feb. 1.

• Tim Rowell, fifth as pastor of Flatonia Church in Flatonia, Feb. 3.

• Jake Vaughn, 10th, as pastor of East Delta Church in Lake Creek, Feb. 8.

• Joe Traweek, 10th, as minister of music and education at West Sherman Church in Sherman, Feb. 8.

• Jeremy Marr, fifth, as minister of youth at Calvary Church in Denison, Feb. 15.

• David Rogers, 10th, as associate pastor of corporate worship and global missions strategist at The Heights Church in Richardson, Feb. 15.

• David Warren, 10th, as executive director of missions for Bowie Association, March 1.

• Ven a El Church in San Antonio, 50th, March 9. Robert Garcia Jr. is pastor.

• New Home Church in New Home, 100th, March 30. Lunch will follow in the school cafeteria. Gene Hawkins is interim pastor.

Retiring

• Lee Walker, after more than 30 years with San Jacinto Association, the last 18 of those as director of missions. He also served several churches in music, education and administration capacities. Churches he served include First Church in Commerce, Magnolia Park Church in Houston, Wooster Church in Baytown, First Church in Galena Park, First Church in Spring Branch and First Church in Bellaire. He has been in ministry 58 years.

Deaths

• Jan Sanders, 74, Jan. 11 in Westminster, Colo. She and her husband, Raymond, served a number of churches including First Church in Fort Hancock and First Church in Van Horn. They were involved in River Ministry and started 16 churches along the Rio Grande. Her husband also served as director of missions for Big Bend Association 23 years. She is survived by her husband of 55 years; daughters Brenda Sanders and Kathy Beach; sons, Kenneth and Larry; and seven grandchildren.

• Ted Holland, 81, Jan. 16 in Victoria. Among the churches he served as pastor were First Church in Arcadia and Baptist Temple in Edna. He served many churches in Guadalupe Association as interim pastor. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor. He is survived by his daughters, Rebecca Graham and Catherine Hayman; sisters, Marie Whitney and Nina Mae Rasberry; brother, Jackson; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

• Ed Savage, 82, Jan. 26 in Port Neches. He served churches throughout Texas, and the last 22 years of his ministry, he was director of church services for Golden Triangle Association. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joyce; daughter, Laura Savage-Rains; and two step-grandchildren.

• Cathy Conner, 73, Jan. 28 in Marfa. She and her husband, Lloyd, served Texas churches 52 years—he as pastor and she as Sunday school teacher and nursery worker. They served at First Church in Clint, First Church in Marfa, Lindell Avenue Church in San Angelo and First Church in Albany. They returned to First Church in Marfa in 1993, where her husband still serves. She is survived by her husband; daughters, Karen Mills and Eileen Conner; sister, Margaret Wallace; and two grandchildren.

• E.C. Chron, 80, Jan. 30 in Carrollton. He was a minister and evangelist more than 50 years. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Melba Jo; son, Clint; daughters, Josa Perry, Deanna Sauerzopf and Tami Jones; brothers, Virgil, Bob and Allen; sister, Minnie Nell Orm; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Events

• Airway Church in Houston will hold its annual chili cook-off and gospel concert Feb. 23. The meal will be at 5:30 p.m., and the concert will begin at 7 p.m. For more information, call (713) 991-7677. Ed Parker is pastor.

• The India Children’s Choir will present a musical at Parkdale Church in Corpus Christi Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m., and at Waldron Road Church in Corpus Christi Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. For more information about this free event, call (361) 937-3772.

• “World Vision Experience: AIDS,” a nationally touring interactive exhibit, will be open to the public at The Heights Church in Richardson from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 29 and March 1, and from noon to 8:30 p.m. March 2. Visitors to the 2,340-square-foot exhibit will walk through a replica of an African village while listening on headsets to a story of a child whose life has been affected by AIDS. For more information, call (972) 238-7243.

• First Church in Plano hold a parenting seminar March 28-29. Sessions will feature how children learn and how to persuade children to do the things they need to do. Author and lecturer Cynthia Tobias will be the speaker. The cost is $20 per adult until March 15 and $25 after that date. The cost includes childcare for children through fifth grade and lunch on Saturday. For more information, call (972) 424-8551.

• Bob Pinder marked 61 years in ministry Feb. 5. He was a pastor in Florida, Southern Baptist missionary in Argentina, and instructor in marriage and family therapy at Texas Tech University 23 years.

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Baptist churches, in Texas, the BGCT, the nation and around the world.