FBC Galveston predates statehood 7
100-year old teaches Sunday School
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WITH SBC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES J. D. GREEAR AND KENNETH HEMPHILL JUNE 2018
Newsjournal of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention N MORE NEWS AT TEXANONLINE.NET
BOARD MOVES PATTERSON TO EMERITUS STATUS
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SUTHERLAND SPRINGS GROUNDBREAKING STARTS WITH PRAYER By Jane Rodgers TEXAN Correspondent
5 Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary trustee chairman Kevin Ueckert, left, addresses trustees at an emergency meeting at the Fort Worth, Texas, campus May 22. The board met to discuss the recent controversy surrounding seminary President Paige Patterson, right. PHOTO BY ADAM COVINGTON/SWBTS
By Tammi Reed Ledbetter Associate Editor FORT WORTH Trustees of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary named Paige Patterson president emeritus with compensation after spending 13 hours behind closed doors discussing “challenges facing the institution,
See PATTERSON, 3
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arla Holcombe, one of 26 victims to die in the Nov. 5, 2017, shootings at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, walked the lot adjacent to the church often, praying for God to provide a place for expansion. Members said the two-acre tract was too expensive. See SUTHERLAND, 2
5 A groundbreaking service for the new First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs started with a prayer walk on May 5, 2018. The group prayed around the property where a $3 million facility will be constructed. NAMB PHOTO BY ANDREW PEARLE
JUNE 8-10 • DALLAS/FORT WORTH METROPLEX
Crossover to bring an ‘army of reinforcements’ to area churches By Michael Foust TEXAN Correspondent
It’s been said that “everyone loves evangelism as long as someone else is doing it.” Shane Pruitt of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention has heard that adage, too, and he believes churches are ready to prove it wrong. On June 8-10, Southern Baptists from across Texas and the U.S. will descend on the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex for Crossover, the annual evangelistic outreach initiative that takes the gospel to the local community and precedes the Southern Baptist Convention meeting. It is the 30th year for the event, which began in Las Vegas in 1989. See CROSSOVER, 16
Crossover organizers have divided the Dallas-Fort Worth area into nine regions, with “launch” churches in each region taking the lead and serving as launch sites for activities.
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“You’re not going to have to buy a church. God is going to give it to us,” Karla replied. “God gave it to us,” Mark Collins said, recalling Karla’s story before some 350-400 gathered May 5, 2018, for groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Sutherland Springs facility. Collins, pastor of Yorktown Baptist Church, served on staff at Sutherland Springs for two decades. Holcombe was a family friend, his children’s youth leader, a good-humored prayer warrior. The day of groundbreaking started with a prayer walk around the property where a $3 million facility will be constructed with funds from the North American Mission Board (NAMB), other financial gifts and in-kind donations. A GoFundMe account established by San Antonio contractor Brad Beldon provided cash to purchase the lot for which Holcombe had prayed. NAMB chose Myrick, Gurosky and Associates (MG&A), a Birmingham, Ala., firm, to oversee the project. Ted Elmore, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention point person to the church, coordinated the prayer walk at the request of Pastor Frank Pomeroy. About 50 gathered on the sunny morning as the church praise band practiced nearby. The prayer walk started at the construction site, then proceeded to the former sanctuary, now a memorial. Pomeroy scattered unleavened bread representing the body of Christ, poured juice symbolizing the blood of Christ and poured oil representing the Holy Spirit at both spots. Prayer followed. The prayer event was an act of asking the Lord to cleanse and consecrate the land where violence had occurred, Elmore explained. Participants proceeded to the property’s chain link fence boundaries to pray individually. Fresh from a trip to Washington, D.C., and a tour of the White House with Vice President Pence, the Pomeroys said they were glad to be home for the groundbreaking and prayer walk. “We purposely picked this date so we could put something
good on this anniversary,” exactly six months after the tragedy, Sherri Pomeroy told reporters. Attendees filled a large open air tent to sit on white wooden chairs facing a raised stage featuring a trough of dirt behind a row of shovels and hard hats. “We have prayed this morning,” Sherri opened. “That is what this thing is all about.” Frank Pomeroy followed his wife, issuing a welcome before introducing NAMB’s Mike Ebert, who prayed and emceed the program. Ebert expressed NAMB’s excitement regarding the rebuild, stressing, as Pomeroy had, that no victims’ or survivors’ funds were being used for the new buildings. “Today, everything you see was either paid for or donated
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Gurosky said 30 companies had committed to donations and in-kind services for the project but admitted that construction would take longer than Ebert had suggested. “So it takes more than a few months to build a church?” Ebert asked as laughter erupted. In separate comments to the TEXAN, Ebert confirmed MG&A had done 200 church project and recently helped NAMB “transition some space.” Gurosky confirmed local subcontracters would be used and that Boerne, Texas, resident Gary Nazaruk had been coaxed out of retirement to become project manager. Ebert recognized dignitaries, including Wilson County D.A. Audrey Lewis, Sheriff Joe Tackitt, and representatives of Congressman Cuellar and Senator Cornyn, before introducing Wilson County Judge Richard Jackson, who praised the perseverance of the community and church. Senator Ted Cruz spoke next, proclaiming, “Glory to God,” reminding all that “181 days ago, this community saw the evil” but also saw strength, sacrifice, courage, passion and love. “The entire world saw the gospel,” Cruz added to resounding applause. Mark Collins, pastor of Yorktown Baptist Church, followed the senator, describing his long association with Sutherland Springs and Pomeroy. Collins discussed remembrance, emphasizing from Ephesians that the church must “stand and withstand” adversity “in remembrance of the promises of God.” Mentioning that Pomeroy’s last sermon before the shootings concerned Proverbs 3:5-6, Collins produced a sign salvaged from the sanctuary, one of 18 framed Bible verses and the only one damaged in the attack. The verse was Proverbs 3:5-6. Collins returned the sign, with new glass, to Pomeroy. FBC Karnes City pastor Kevin Cornelius spoke on the life of Joseph before Frank Pomeroy brought a message from Ezekiel 11. “We are not the first to experience horrific loss,” Pomeroy said, emphasizing that we must know the “victory is ours” and that “true sanctuary” comes
from a relationship with God. Expressing gratitude to NAMB and MG&A plus all who donated, Pomeroy said that his vision of Sutherland Springs as a lighthouse prompted a request to MG&A for a bell tower. He got not one tower, but two. “One is a bell for the memorial; the other is a light for what God is going to do,” Pomeroy said Gurosky told him. After prayer by Paul Buford, pastor of River Oaks Baptist Church, Ebert called up groups to wield shovels, don hard hats and ceremonially turn over the ground. The first group consisted of survivors and family members
of victims. During worship and baptisms following a barbecue lunch, Kris Workman played guitar in the praise band. Workman, shot point-blank in the spine last November, is wheelchair-bound with a “nearly complete” severing of his L2 vertebrae. “My condition is not a surprise to God,” Workman told reporters. “This groundbreaking is a pretty incredible thing. It means God is still big. Still in charge. A benevolent God has taken something meant for evil and turned it for his glory. This building is going to be for his glory.”
Watkins said. In a statement released on the church’s website, deacon Doug McDowell said many students from the church attend Santa Fe High, including one of the 13 wounded in the attack. “We will stand ready to provide counseling and comfort for our families in the coming days,” he pledged, noting that the church hosted members of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott arrived in time to greet members
and offer words of comfort before the start of the service. Afterward, Abbott left flowers at a memorial site outside the school and prayed for families. As prayer strategist for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, Ted Elmore told members, “The hurt goes deep. It stays around a long time, but there’s help.” He offered resources to assist with counseling and other needs the church might have. Graduating seniors who attend the church were recognized
that morning and a baccalaureate service scheduled to be held at the high school was moved to the church’s worship center. “Changing laws is not what’s going to be what changes hearts,” stated Stephen Wilhite, associate pastor of worship. “What changes hearts is us getting out of these walls and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. When people repent of their sins and put their faith in Jesus, that’s when we will see change in this world.”
“A benevolent God has taken something meant for evil and turned it for his glory. This building is going to be for his glory.”
Santa Fe church pledges support after shooting
—KRIS WORKMAN by others,” Ebert said, praising the “ripple effect through eternity” of the church’s testimony. Ebert mentioned he looked forward to worshiping with the congregation in a “few months” in the new building, a statement prompting a rise from MG&A president Scott Gurosky. Elmore ascended the dais next, bringing greetings from SBTC executive director Jim Richards and introducing Juan Sanchez, convention president, and other SBTC representatives. Sutherland Springs encountered circumstances similar to those facing the first-century church, Elmore said. “The blood of the martyrs was shed in that room over there where they were worshiping Jesus,” he continued, reminding all that the “church of the Lord Jesus” was built on such blood. Gurosky followed Elmore, calling his company’s association with Sutherland Springs inspirational. “We saw resolute souls and hearts ready to move forward, not back,” Gurosky said, expressing amazement at the project’s rapid progress from “concept to design” in 90 days.
By Tammi Reed Ledbetter Associate Editor
After a mass shooting claimed the lives of eight students and two teachers May 18 at Santa Fe High School, Arcadia First Baptist Church in Santa Fe gathered for worship. Interim pastor Jerl Watkins asked the capacity crowd to come together as a community to pray and support one another. “This is not a time for anything except to love our neighbors,”
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5 A time of worship and baptism were part of the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Sutherland Springs facility. NAMB PHOTO BY ANDREW PEARLE
5 Kris Workman rejoins the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs praise band following the groundbreaking ceremony for a time of worship and baptisms. NAMB PHOTO BY ANDREW PEARLE
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including those of enrollment, financial, leadership and institutional identity,” according to a statement issued May 23. Patterson had requested the meeting after a 2000 audio clip circulated online launched a firestorm of criticism over his view of domestic abuse and avoidance of divorce. (See background below.) The board expressed gratitude “for the contributions Dr. and Mrs. Paige Patterson have made since his presidency began in 2003,” the statement read. “Further, we honor his longstanding dedication and commitment to serving the Southern Baptist Convention in its mission to present the gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and to make disciples of all the nations by leading the way for the conservative resurgence.” Trustees heard an update on executive committee meetings held during that month, a report of a special trustee review committee, and considered the president’s performance and the situation currently facing the seminary in light of the social media frenzy. After the doors were opened at 3 a.m., chairman Kevin Ueckert of Georgetown announced Patterson’s acceptance of the
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new role. With the vote taken behind closed doors, no tally was given as to the number of trustees supporting the action to change Patterson’s title, though a follow-up statement characterized it as a majority. Thirtyfive trustees of the 40-member board were present for the meeting in Southwestern’s Riley Center, while one participated via video conferencing. Ueckert also reported the board’s affirmation of a motion stating that “evidence exists that the president has complied with laws concerning assault and abuse.” He added, “The seminary stands against all forms of abuse.” Furthermore, the chairman reported that the board found no evidence of misconduct in the personnel file of Nathan Montgomery, a student who was fired from seminary employment after he tweeted an article by Wheaton College professor Ed Stetzer that criticized Patterson’s leadership. Another motion affirmed the board’s offer last September for the Pattersons to live on campus as the first theologians-in-residence at the Baptist Heritage Center to be completed in July. Trustees named theology dean Jeffrey Bingham to serve as interim president, pending his acceptance. Bingham gained administrative and teaching experience at Dallas Theological Seminary, Criswell College and Wheaton College
before being named to lead the School of Theology in 2016. A committee that includes four trustees will assist in the transition from Patterson’s leadership to Bingham’s interim role. “As we begin the process of ushering in a new season of leadership, SWBTS remains steadfast in its calling to assist the churches of the SBC by biblically educating God-called men and women for ministries that fulfill the Great Commission and glorify God,” the official news release stated. Only one trustee supported a failed effort by board member Wayne Dickard of Easley, S.C., who objected to the Executive Committee having held “multiple meetings” instead of waiting for the full board to convene. Within 15 minutes after convening at 1:30 p.m., the board went into executive session, hearing a presentation from Patterson with cabinet members and a few selected staff and faculty who were allowed to remain in the room. About 4 p.m. he was called back with his cabinet for another hour and a half, and appeared once more late in the evening, amounting to nearly three hours in discussion with trustees. Patterson’s 15-year tenure at Southwestern Seminary prioritized archaeology, missions, women’s studies and evangelism. Key accomplishments include:
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5 Media representatives fill up a corner of the meeting room where Southwestern Seminary trustees held an emergency meeting May 22. PHOTO BY ADAM COVINGTON/SWBTS
u a focus on academics paired with evangelism and missions known as “scholarship on fire”; u expansion of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs for women with Terri Stovall named as the first dean of women’s programs in a Southern Baptist seminary, Dorothy Patterson as professor of theology in women’s studies, Candi Finch as assistant professor of theology in women’s studies and Hongyi Yang as assistant professor of systematic theology in women’s studies; u launched undergraduate degrees in humanities, biblical studies and music through what came to be known as Scarborough College; u bolstered the School of
Church Music and gained funding to become an allSteinway school; u completed MacGorman Chapel, the 3,500-seat auditorium and performance venue; Mathena Hall which houses the Roy Fish School of Missions and Evangelism along with the College; u created the School of Preaching; u launched the Richard Land Center for Cultural Engagement, Center for Expository Preaching, and Center for Early Christian Studies; u added the M.A. in archaeology and biblical studies along with the Tandy Institute for Archaeology; and u significantly increased the school’s endowment.
Social media stirs criticism of Patterson’s leadership By Baptist Press FORT WORTH An 18-year old audio
clip in which Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson discussed his views on domestic violence was posted online April 28 by a blogger and widely circulated online, leading to online petitions and other comments calling for his resignation. In answering a question asked at a conference, Patterson said the proper response of a wife to domestic abuse “depends on the level of abuse to some degree.” In the audio clip at issue, Patterson was asked his counsel to women “who are undergoing genuine physical abuse from their husbands.” Patterson replied, “It depends on the level of abuse to some degree. I have never in my ministry counseled that anybody seek a divorce, and I do think that’s always wrong counsel. There have been, however, an occasion or two when the level of the abuse was serious enough, dangerous enough, immoral enough that I have counseled temporary separation and the seeking of help. I would urge you to understand that that should happen only in the most serious of cases.” Moments later, Patterson is
heard telling about a woman at one of his pastorates who “was being subject to some abuse and I told her ... ‘Every evening I want you to get down by your bed. Just as he goes to sleep, get down by the bed and when you think he’s just about asleep, you just pray and ask God to intervene—not out loud, quietly.’ But I said, ‘You just pray there.’ “And I said, ‘Get ready because he may get a little more violent, you know, when he discovers this,’” Patterson said. “And sure enough, he did. She came to church one morning with both eyes black. And she was angry at me, and at God and the world for that matter. And she said, ‘I hope you’re happy.’ And I said, ‘Yes ma’am I am.’” Patterson went on to explain his happiness stemmed not from the abuse, but from the man’s presence at church that day for the first time, his brokenness over the abuse and his decision to trust Christ as Lord and Savior. The abuse stopped, Patterson said in the audio clip, and “he’s a great husband today.” “Remember,” Patterson added in the audio clip, “when nobody else can help, God can. And in the meantime, you have to do what you can at home to be submissive in every way that you can.”
Patterson clarified to BP he did not suspect any physical abuse in the relationship prior to the episode he recounted. Any hint in the audio clip that he did suspect prior physical abuse was an error in the recounting, he said, adding, “I’m sure I didn’t tell it as well as I should have.” “For sharing this illustration,” Patterson said in his statement, “especially in the climate of this culture, I was probably unwise. However, my suggestion was never that women should stay in the midst of abuse, hoping their husbands would eventually come to Christ. Rather, I was making the application that God often uses difficult things that happen to us to produce ultimate good. And I will preach that truth until I die.” A statement issued May 1 by Patterson and the executive committee of the seminary trustees included three main affirmations: u It affirmed “that law enforcement officials and civil authorities have a vital and God-ordained role in addressing abusive relationships.” u It affirmed “the importance of protecting victims of abuse.” In conjunction with that affirmation, Patterson and the trustee executive committee endorsed a
March 2018 “statement on abuse” by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW). “We affirm that statement in its entirety,” Patterson and the trustee leaders noted, “and draw particular attention to the affirmation that ‘the local church and Christian ministries have a responsibility to establish safe environments; to execute policies and practices that protect against any form of abuse; to confront abusers and to protect the abused, which includes the responsibility to report abuse to the civil authorities.’” u It affirmed “that the gospel of Jesus Christ has led us to believe that there is no person in this world who is beyond redemption.” Critics then pointed to a video of a 2014 sermon in which Patterson illustrated the Hebrew word used to describe Eve as being “built” from Adam’s rib by quoting a teenager boy’s assessment that a teen girl was “built.” Patterson added that the girl’s appearance was “nice.” In an open letter to SWBTS trustees, a group of Southern Baptist women objected to Patterson’s continued leadership, describing “unwise counsel” to women in abusive situations and “inappropriate comments
regarding a teenage girl.” By the time trustees met May 22, over 3,200 signatures were listed as affirming the concerns. A May 5 open letter of support for Patterson listed 595 signatories by May 22, in which writer Samuel Schmidt argued, “This isn’t about divorce at all with many individuals, but about forcibly removing Dr. Patterson from his role, due to decades old vendettas and other personal reasons.” On May 10, Patterson released another statement to apologize for harm caused by his illustration. “Pastoral ministry that occurred 54 years ago, repeated as an illustration [of domestic violence] in sermons on more than one occasion, as well as another sermon illustration used to try to explain a Hebrew word (Heb. banah ‘build or construct,’ Gen. 2:22) have obviously been hurtful to women in several possible ways. I wish to apologize to every woman who has been wounded by anything I have said that was inappropriate or lacked clarity. We live in a world of hurt and sorrow, and the last thing that I need to do is add to anyone’s heartache.” Please forgive the failure to be as thoughtful and careful in my extemporaneous expression as I should have been.”
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SPLITTING THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION Gary Ledbetter Editor
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riving in New England last month, I passed a car with an obnoxious bumper sticker. I was shocked at how rapidly I judged everything about the driver; his views, his choice of auto—even his character was summed up in that one errant political view. The response immediately tasted bad in my mouth and gave me an insight for the Southern Baptist Convention. Maybe we aren’t disagreeing about issues so much as just being disagreeable. Between Woodstock, N.H., and Woodstock, Vt., I wrote this column in my mind. I’d read that morning a column about comments Paige Patterson made 18 years ago on divorce and incidentally related to spousal abuse. The writer suggested, hopefully I think, that the SBC could split over this disagreement, or over the person of Paige Patterson. It will not. In his antipathy for Patterson, the writer was distracted by symptoms and not causes. Neither will we split over Calvinism. One group speaks as if every Calvinist in the SBC is
an existential threat to our mission. Another group talks down to the majority of “less theologically minded” (less-Calvinistic) Southern Baptists as if they don’t know how to read the Bible properly. This centuries-old discussion gets ungentlemanly in a hurry, but it is not the division in the SBC. We will not split over the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission or the International Mission Board or the election of Donald Trump or the role of women in our churches. These subjects have resulted in personal divisions and sharp exchanges but none of them is the reason our fellowship is wounded. These issues, some of them noteworthy in themselves, have become flashpoints because we have absorbed the toxic tribalism of our culture. Too many disagreements have become ultimate. SBTC President Juan Sanchez is right to point out the imperative of love between the brethren from 1 Corinthians 13 (see below). Also consider chapter 1, verses 10-17, of that same book. In Paul’s discussion of divisive quarrelling in the Corinthian church he notes Apollos, Peter, Jesus and himself as the invoked rabbis of the church’s sects. I’m struck by the real distinctions between those four. Apollos was a well-spoken African Jew
who came later to the Lord than did Paul and Peter. Paul describes himself as the least of the apostles, born out of time, because he learned the gospel from Jesus after the Ascension. Paul’s ministry was heavily among the Gentiles. Peter had been with Jesus from the beginning and saw everything as it happened; he was the leader of the 12 by nature and experience. These three were not enemies but they had reasons to approach their ministries from different perspectives. It makes sense that different churches or individuals might like the style of one more than the others. Perhaps the most divisive people in the church were those who were above it all: “We follow Jesus,” they archly boast. In this way they praise themselves by praising their rabbi, and thus scorn those of other tribes. Neither Paul nor Peter, nor Apollos nor Jesus were at fault for these divisions; they were simply labels for the foolishness of men— those who boast in themselves (1 Corinthians 1:18-31). Is it mere coincidence that this period of sharp and unyielding disagreements in our convention follows a contentious political decade—one marked by the rise of social media, by which millions can say immediately every silly thing that crosses their minds?
It is not coincidence and it is not in our best interest that we absorb this cultural habit. Consider a few contrary ideas. Love: The greatest Christian virtue submits our own interests to the kingdom of God and to the best interests of God’s children, our brothers and sisters (Romans 12:10). Genuine love will make it difficult to see our brethren as mere adversaries. Beware of those who benefit in some way by making it harder for you to love Christians who see things differently than you do—especially over issues or emphases that will pass away. Humility: This is the second of the Christian virtues (Philippians 2:3), and no more easily displayed in our lives than the first. The world teaches us to promote ourselves, brand ourselves, brag, humble-brag, and then score points off others to exalt ourselves. It is difficult to use the tools of the secular hype industry without falling into sin. Forgiveness: We too easily say we forgive others when we continue to the think less of them afterward (Matthew 6:14). We may forgive others for something they did to us, but what about the offense we take when someone is “wrong”? My response to the bumper sticker in New Hampshire was arro-
gant, but mostly unforgiving. Can Calvinists, anti-Calvinists, never-Trumpers, unenthusiastic-Trumpers, all-in-Trumpers, J.D. Greear partisans and Ken Hemphill partisans forgive each other for being wrong? Here’s where we split—the unloving, arrogant and unforgiving attitude we have toward brothers who believe the Bible and love the Southern Baptist Convention, but who say some things differently than we do. While some things are worth parting over, that list should be shorter than we often make it. The number of things we call “heresy” or “basic to the gospel” should be few. Loss of focus is the temptation of a diverse denomination and the tendency of a generational changeover. This “everything is worth killing or dying for” message is the clamor of an unhappy society. Our SBC culture should not be like that. That’s the question. Are we willing to continue in fellowship for and around the gospel? As we speak to one another, or about each other, think of that question. If the Southern Baptist Convention fragments, it won’t be over the nature of the gospel or the results of a presidential election. If we split anytime soon it will be because too many of us stopped loving one another.
A Call to 2018 SBC Messengers Juan Sanchez
SBTC President Pastor, High Pointe Baptist Church, Austin
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f Southern Baptists have the best preachers in the world but don’t have love, we are nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If Southern Baptists have the strongest institutions and believe we can accomplish all we’ve set out to do but don’t have love, we are nothing. If Southern Baptists give all our money to missions and evangelism and send all our children to the mission field but don’t have love, we gain nothing. Clearly, I borrowed the preceding lines from 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. The Corinthian church,
while extremely gifted, was thoroughly divided. As the apostle Paul exposes their divisions, he climaxes his letter in chapter 13 with his strongest rebuke yet—lovelessness nullifies any good that the church may claim for itself. Lovelessness is blasphemous. When we’re not loving we lie to the world about who God is and what he has done for us in Christ. As we gather in Dallas for the Southern Baptist Convention, then, let me call us to love one another (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). It is by this love that the world will know we belong to Jesus (John 13:35) and believe that the Father has sent Jesus to save (John 17:21). What does Christian love look like? Love is patient and kind. We can express love in the simplest
Jim Richards, Executive Director Gary K. Ledbetter, Editor Tammi Ledbetter, Associate Editor Gayla Sullivan, Circulation Manager Russell Lightner, Layout and design
of ways, patience and kindness. When we’re patient and kind, we display God’s character to our spouse, our children, our church, our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers and one another. So let’s begin the 2018 SBC with a commitment to these simple expressions of love—patience and kindness—not just with one another, but with all who will serve us during our stay in Dallas—waiters and waitresses, hotel housekeeping staff, Uber, Lyft, and taxi drivers, and convention center personnel. Love does not envy or boast. Southern Baptists like to boast. Admit it. We have a reputation for boasting about numbers— attendance, offering, baptism numbers and so on. Actually,
Correspondents: Bonnie Pritchett Jane Rodgers Kay Adkins Erin Roach Karen L. Willoughby
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So let’s begin the 2018 SBC with a commitment to these simple expressions of love—patience and kindness. if it can be counted, we boast about it. Of course, those whose numbers are down may envy those whose numbers are up. And the pressure to report high numbers may lead others to inflate their own numbers. I get it! Numbers represent people. But love demands that we walk in humility. That doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the work the Lord is doing among us and through us. It means, though, that when
we celebrate God’s blessings, we give God the glory and recognize that anything good that happens in our churches and in our convention is all by the grace and mercy of God. It also means that we humbly admit our weaknesses, errors and sins. Love is not arrogant or rude. Arrogance and rudeness are rooted in the lie that “I am better and/or more important than See MESSENGERS, 5
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A PLEA TO SOUTHERN BAPTISTS Jim Richards Executive Director
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elcome to Texas! If you are attending the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas, we are delighted you are here. There are many things to see and do in the Metroplex. Most importantly, we need your witness as we seek to share Jesus in our area. For those who are not attending, please pray. We need your participation too. This year will mark my 37th consecutive Southern Baptist Convention to attend. I was born into a Southern Baptist family. I grew up in a Southern Baptist church. I was saved at home but baptized in a Southern Baptist church. I made public my call to preach in that same church. I went to a state convention school. It was there I first was confronted with theological liberalism. I had professors that denied the virgin birth, bodily resurrection and exclusivity of salvation in Christ. When I protested in class and on campus, I eventually was asked to leave the school. This experience burned within me a conviction about the inerrancy of the Word of God and the doctrines that flow
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others.” When we believe this lie, we will be rude. But, we equally bear God’s image. By faith in Christ, we’re all sons and daughters of our heavenly Father. By God’s Spirit, we’re all brothers and sisters in Christ. Therefore, in Dallas, let’s consider others better than ourselves—as Scripture commands—and instead of tearing one another down, let’s build one another up. Love does not insist on its own way. Too often, we insist on our own way—with the TV remote in hand, behind the wheel of a car, even at church. And yet, the Christian life is one of sacrifice. As we gather in Dallas, let’s defer to one another. Let’s inconvenience ourselves for one another. Let’s serve one another. Love is not irritable or resentful. When things don’t go our way, we get irritated. When people don’t do what we want, we resent them. If we’re not careful, our children will irritate us; we’ll resent our spouse; we’ll get frustrated with our pastor(s) or other church members. But because love is patient and kind, love is not irritable or resentful.
from that belief. This gave me a few years head start on the Conservative Resurgence. I love Southern Baptists. I love the Southern Baptist Convention. Sure, we have a few crazy uncles. At times I’m sure some consider me one. We are like a family. The most important part of our family is what we do to further the gospel. There is no other vehicle in evangelical Christianity that has the potential to impact the world with the gospel like the SBC. Our missionary force, seminaries and other ministries are poised for action. We simply need a refocus and revival of the Spirit. Over the past few months I have refrained from public remarks about the numerous opportunities and challenges we are facing. My heart is burdened. What a tragedy it would be to see the gains of the Conservative Resurgence be lost by being distracted from our main calling. The Southern Baptist Convention is at a pivotal point, yet I am optimistic because God is able. One of the greatest opportunities we have is to find God’s leader for the International Mission Board. In no way minimizing the importance of other ministries, the IMB is the 900-pound gorilla in SBC life. The president of the IMB can encourage churches to
When we meet in Dallas, let’s not get irritated with one another. Let’s not resent individuals who step up to the microphone to offer a nomination or motion or resolution. Instead, let’s be patient and kind; let’s think the best of one another. Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. The call to love is not a call to abandon truth. Love does not rejoice in sinfulness or worldliness, error or false teaching. Love rejoices with the truth God has revealed to us in Scripture. And, ultimately, that revealed truth is a person—Jesus. Jesus not only lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father, he also went to the cross and received God’s justice for human sin. You see, the very gospel we preach is a gospel of truth and love, of justice and mercy. As Southern Baptists, we affirm the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as sufficient for our cooperative efforts to advance the gospel. Love demands that we not fight with one another over non-essential doctrines or differing theological convictions that are not contrary to the BF&M 2000. Instead, let’s rejoice over what we affirm together and let’s join together
give through the Cooperative Program like no one else. This will enable all SBC ministries to move forward. Our Southern Baptist culture is complicated but the leader at IMB can pull us all together for our common passion which is reaching the nations. The CEO/President of the Executive Committee provides another opportunity to reset the SBC. As with the IMB president, the EC needs an involved Southern Baptist who can rally the churches. Administrative acumen coupled with a hot heart for souls requires a person with unique gifting. With the ethnic and theological diversity of our convention we need a man who can exhibit convictional compassion. It is a tall order but God has just the one we need. This brings me to the challenges we face. The first is a lack of identification with the SBC. We have been living in the post-denominational era for more than two decades. Some pastors distance them-
selves from the SBC because they are embarrassed by the few who misrepresent Southern Baptists. Others think being a “Baptist” hinders their ability to reach people with the gospel. Either has the unintended consequence of minimizing the collective work of the churches. With people coming into our churches by conversion from the pagan pool or from other denominations, there is a need to teach them who Southern Baptists are and why they should be one. With fewer churches using “Baptist” in their name people uniting with those congregations have little idea they are Southern Baptists. Southern Baptists have been replaced with leaders from other traditions as models for our ministry. An amorphous approach to Southern Baptist church life has blurred the lines of some baptistic doctrinal distinctives. We are becoming the North American Evangelical Fellowship instead of the Southern Baptist Convention. This will
change the nature and character of the SBC. Another challenge is the pressure of cultural trends as they relate to the SBC. We like to think of the church being a thermostat on culture but instead the church is a thermometer reflecting the culture. The crude, caustic atmosphere of the nation’s political scene has bled over into our churches. Unless we begin to act like the people of God instead of police for political correctness, we will continue to rip one another apart. When the trendy cause celebre takes the place of presenting the gospel to those in need of Christ, we have lost our way. Galatians 5:14b, 15, 25, says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!” “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” The SBC Constitution Preamble says that the Southern Baptist Convention exists “for eliciting, combining, and directing the energies of the denomination for the propagation of the gospel.” The Baptist Faith and Message Statement 2000 provides a consensus document for our ministries. Working together as Southern Baptists to expand the kingdom of God is a unique privilege God has given us. Let’s stay on task.
to take the gospel to all peoples everywhere, beginning where God has placed us and our churches. Paul summarizes what love looks like. “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7).
So, here’s my call to us: Whether we gather in a major city as a convention or in a small town as a local church, let’s love one another in both word and deed, in speech and action. Let’s bear one another’s burdens; let’s believe the best of one another; let’s hope for the
best in one another’s ministries. Let’s endure in love, displaying the glory of our God who demonstrated his love for us in that while we were still sinners he sent his own beloved Son to die as a propitiation for our sins. This is love! Let’s, therefore, walk in it.
Unless we begin to act like the people of God instead of police for political correctness, we will continue to rip one another apart.
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BROWNSVILLE CHURCH PLANT FOCUSES OUTWARD TO FILL HEAVEN By Jane Rodgers TEXAN Correspondent BROWNSVILLE Normally, Moises Molina—bivocational pastor of Brownsville’s Iglesia Bautista Jericó—would have paused at the chain link gate before entering the yard of the modest home, but the gate was open and Molina and team proceeded to a side door under the carport. Molina knocked, swallowing his surprise as the door swung open, revealing a man behind a table stacked with guns, cash and packages. “I am Moises, a church planter in the neighborhood,” Molina explained, focusing on the man, not the contraband. “We are letting people know we are here for you guys. We would love to pray for you, if there are needs. We think God can be a blessing in your life. I also have a message of love for you about how Jesus Christ is changing lives all over the world.” “I have faith. I have my Jesus here with me,” the man replied, indicating a large sacred heart medallion on his chest. “I appreciate what you are doing and what you do around the community, but don’t come here again.” “No problem. We’ll see you around the area,” Molina answered as the man shut the door. No opportunity opened that day for Jericó’s team to share the gospel with the likely drug dealer, but they did share it with a couple who was leaving the house at about the same time. “We preached to them,” Molina recalled. “Now, I see them at the temple. They congregate with us. We didn’t impact the gentleman who was making the sales, but Jesus did save the couple and their kids.” Walking the block to tell neighbors about Jesus is commonplace for members of the new church, which was incorporated officially in early 2018. They have contacted 5,000 homes at least three times since 2013 when the outreach began as Molina’s sending church, West Brownsville Baptist, launched plans for a new church on the other side of town. As people responded to congregants knocking on doors, sharing at parks and
sponsoring community events, Iglesia Bautista Jericó grew from a monthly Bible study to a weekly meeting. Sunday services began Christmas 2016. The church meets at the Genesis Learning Center, made available by the owner after hours in what Molina calls a “winwin” arrangement whereby Jericó assists in the upkeep of the donated space. “It is such a blessing,” said Molina, who uses his experience as a building designer to suggest improvements to the property. “The community knows that is where the church meets,” Molina said. “We are the church in the daycare.” Today, Jericó features a full schedule of weekly programs, emphasizing inhome discipleship. Sustained community outreach sets the pace. “Everything happens when we are out there,” Molina said. “Every day a different ministry is out on the streets reaching the lost.” Among the outreaches is something called ‘Park Church,’ where members hold short outdoor services for visitors at local parks. An annual Christmas Bash hosted 100 community kids last year for snacks, gifts and a play. Jericó also trains youth and college groups in door-to-door evangelism using SBTC curricula. Molina focuses on building the congregation from new converts. In fact, people who are already Christians are encouraged to return to their former churches. “Our growth may be a bit slower because of that policy,” Molina admitted, noting that the congregation has grown from “zero” to 40, with a core group of around 10 assisting in evangelism. “We are looking to fill heaven, not chairs in the temple.” The commitment to Jericó has proved challenging but worthwhile to Molina and his wife, Beatris, a paralegal in the Cameron County District Attorney’s office. Molina’s story mirrors the traditional American dream. His parents left Mexico a quarter century ago as violence began, walking across the border bridge to a McDonald’s where Molina’s father phoned a friend, who took the family to church at West Brownsville.
An evangelism team from Iglesia Bautista Jericó prays with neighborhood residents and folks they met during park outreach. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MOISES MOLINA.
Molina’s parents recommitted their lives to Jesus; Moises and his sister trusted Christ at West Brownsville, and there the family stayed. While the senior Molinas became permanent residents and took lowpaying jobs, their children finished college. Molina’s sister, Maricruz, works in economic development for the State of Texas in Austin. Molina earned degrees in building design and business as a DACA student and became a regional director of Texans for Greg Abbott before entering full-time ministry. A recent outreach saw Jericó members dispensing sno-cones and sharing Jesus at Cabler Park. Among those who responded that day was Diana, a Christian who had drifted into the practice of Santa Muerte, a Mexican cult that seeks favor from the so-called patron saint of death. “She didn’t know how she had spiraled from knowing the Lord to worshiping death,” Molina said. “She was still wondering if God was willing to
forgive her for turning her back on him to go after idols.” Not long ago, Diana gave her testimony in Sunday School. “How blessed we have been,” Molina said. Jericó is the 13th of 17 West Brownsville church plants to date, Molina said, expressing gratitude for the financial support and encouragement of the SBTC. As for the future, Molina envisions shelters for orphans, pregnant women at risk for abortion and recovering prostitutes. “The Lord has allowed a big dream,” he added.
SBTC ministries grow along Texas-Mexico border By Jane Rodgers TEXAN Correspondent
Nearly a decade ago, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention launched Borderlands Reach to saturate the most under-evangelized and under-churched region of Texas with the gospel of Jesus Christ. El Paso, Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley are the key areas in a church planting strategy that trains local leaders and utilizes volunteers from across Texas. Far to the west, El Paso was named among the top 100 best places to live in the United States for 2017. The city also retained its ranking as one the safest cit-
ies in the U.S. It’s a “wide field for mission,” a multicultural community that is home to the U.S. Army’s Fort Bliss and a host of ethnic people groups, says Chuy Avila, a Southern Baptists of Texas Convention church planting missionary based there. These factors make it an attractive place for churches to do evangelism work, Avila added. U.S. News and World Report ranked El Paso 76th of 100 metro areas studied, according to “quality of life, job market, value of living and people’s desire to live there,” the El Paso Times reported. And while violence across the border in Juarez, Mexico, remains
problematic, El Paso is a contrast: it is second in the nation’s 2017 safest cities rankings released by SafeWise, a home security and safety awareness company that uses FBI crime data to support its findings. Avila stressed the need for bicultural churches to serve Korean, Japanese, Hindi, Spanish and English-speaking groups, plus millennials of all ethnicities. Since Avila’s arrival six years ago in El Paso, the number of SBTC churches has grown from six to 22. Also promising has been the start in May 2013 of the El Paso Bible Institute housed at La Verdad Community Church. To date, 23 students in
two graduating classes have completed the program designed to train pastors and church leaders, Avila said. After completing a curriculum similar to that of the Laredo Bible Institute, some El Paso students have already begun graduate work through Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Avila said. Farther east along the border, the Laredo Bible Institute, headquartered at that city’s Trinidad Baptist Church, is situated in a region where numerous churches are thriving. It recently graduated its first class of 20. Among See BORDER, 7
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GALVESTON CHURCH HAS STORIED PAST AND BRIGHT FUTURE
First Galveston pastor John Turner, R, shows a photo of the Shades Mountain congregation praying for him to his mentor and former pastor, John Morgan of Houston’s Sagemont Church. PHOTO BY JANE RODGERS
By Jane Rodgers TEXAN Correspondent GALVESTON Historic First Baptist Church of Galveston is cultivating a climate of giving and growth, continuing a work begun before Texas became a state. Elkie and family—who run a janitorial service—epitomize the spirit, insisting on donating extra hours of cleaning to First Baptist. “We want to do this for my church,” explained Elkie, who discovered the church after meeting Beth Turner, wife of FBC Pastor John Turner, at the dance class their daughters attend. Elkie’s family moved from maintenance to membership, swelling the number of new believers (mostly adults) baptized to nearly 50 since Turner arrived in October 2016. “Elkie understands the concept of giving and serving the church,” said Larry Gore, church administrator and historian. Gore understands that concept also: the retired hospital administrator who founded Galveston’s Lone Star motorcycle rally, donates his time—50 to 60 hours per week—to what he jokingly calls “the best job I never had. “I get up every day thankful I get to come up here and work … because the leadership is so incredible,” Gore added, referring to Turner.
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the churches planted with SBTC support that continue to thrive in that area are San Ignacio Baptist Church and Nuevo Pacto (New Covenant) Church, the latter described by Avila as “among the fastest-growing churches in Laredo.” Prior to relocating to El Paso, Avila served in Laredo, utiliz-
First Galveston administrator Larry Gore indicates the name of Sam Houston’s wife and mother-in-law in the historic church register. PHOTO BY JANE RODGERS
Raju Samuel, associate pastor, also donates his time. FBC Galveston looms over its street corner: a red brick, white-columned, steeplecrowned edifice with outbuildings covering a quarter of a downtown block. This building is the fourth occupied by the 178-year-old church that, despite its rich history, is a revitalization effort today. “Call it a resuscitation,” Gore quipped, displaying the historic church register, its yellowing parchment chronicling the founding members, including Sam Houston’s wife and mother-in-law, and Gail Borden Jr., Texas revolutionary and inventor of sweetened condensed milk. The record reveals First Galveston accepted black members starting in the 1840s. The church closed during the Civil War, then reopened. The 1930s and ’40s saw its heyday, when legendary pastor Harold Fickett Sr. drew weekly crowds of 1,200 to 1,600 (and as many as 2,600 on Easter). Fickett’s live Sunday radio broadcasts were so popular that the station manager gave strict orders not to cut away when the sermons ran long. Fickett’s son, Harold Jr., became a California pastor known for originating the Living Christmas Tree. Before there were mega-
churches, there was First Galveston. Attendance had dwindled before Turner’s arrival. Since then, 147 people have joined. The addition of a new members’ class—Discover First—has contributed to the growth. In a jam-packed 90 minutes, Turner shares the gospel, his testimony and doctrinal basics to attendees paired with “encouragers” from the congregation. Turner, who pastored a church near Wharton, Texas, and later served three years as administrative pastor at Shades Mountain Baptist in Birmingham, Ala., said he borrowed the concept of a single-session new members’ class from Shades Mountain. Turner taught the content to the whole Galveston congregation one Sunday. During Hurricane Harvey, NAMB used FBC Galveston as a distribution center, housing disaster relief workers. Harvey volunteers swelled midweek services then, but Wednesday nights remain popular, with about 100 coming for dinner, prayer and Bible study, children’s and youth activities. “Prior to John, if we had 25 people total, it was a good night,” Gore said. The church has expanded its visibility in the community. An egg hunt once held for church
families after Easter services has changed locations and dates, to Lindale Park the Saturday before Easter. In 2017, the event attracted 550 for hot dogs, Easter eggs and games while church members gave out Gideon Bibles and shared the gospel. Other city outreaches include a fall festival with a “How Can We Pray for You?” booth. Turner’s road to FBC Galveston was unlikely. A native of Friendswood, near Houston, he earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in accounting from Baylor. He learned he had passed the CPA exam shortly after finishing his master’s. “I will never have to study again,” he told his wife, a statement soon to prove ironic. After starting a career in corporate and public accounting, SEC auditing and consulting, Turner “surrendered to the ministry” at 28, eventually earning master’s degrees in Christian education and divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he recently completed his final doctoral seminar. “Everything we do is with a purpose,” Turner said of First Galveston. Even the introduction of new members occurs on special Sundays when new families are called up one-by-
one, followed by the congregation. “We lay hands on them and pray for them as the early church did for Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13:2-3. We commission them as missionaries into the church and outside the walls of the church,” Turner said, crediting the example of Danny Wood, pastor of Shades Mountain, where new members are similarly welcomed. Turner understands the significance of the laying on of hands. He was scheduled to preach at Shades Mountain the week he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Wood called forward members to surround him in prayer then and again later, when Turner preached the Sunday before surgery. First Galveston affiliated with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention shortly after Turner’s arrival. “We affirm the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, and we appreciate the 55 percent of donations the SBTC sends to the national Cooperative Program,” Turner explained, later pausing before a wall of portraits of past FBC Galveston ministers, a lineup of photographs dating from the 19th century to the 21st, the present acknowledging the past, the future in view.
ing service projects in schools and other community institutions in order to build good relationships with school officials and start Bible studies in school facilities. Through their partnership in Laredo, the SBTC and North American Mission Board sponsored spring break missions opportunities in 2011. During four weeks of door-to-door witnessing and various evangelistic events, 727 professions of faith
were recorded after the effort. After volunteers visited 39,000 homes and the convention hosted school assemblies, one evangelistic event drew 4,800 people to the city’s Energy Arena. Four new church planters were introduced to the crowd that gathered, tasked with starting churches in nearby Rio Bravo. In the Rio Grande Valley, some 30 SBTC-affiliated churches serve communities in and
around McAllen, Harlingen and Brownsville. Five new SBTC churches have launched in the past four years, David Loyola, SBTC field ministry strategist for the region, said. Spring break mission trips to McAllen in 2012 paved the way for volunteers to knock on 108,000 doors to leave invitations to an evangelism rally. Churches from across the state teamed up with McAllen-area churches and saw 403 people
profess Christ as Savior. To better serve the Valley, an SBTC Rio Grande pastors’ network launched in February 2018 with a prayer vigil and meeting at a Raymondville ranch. Loyola and SBTC church planting missionary David Ortega led the meeting attended by pastors from Edinburg, Mission and McAllen. “The network will help strengthen pastors’ lives and ministries,” Loyola added.
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HARVEY DONATIONS SURPASS $2.6 MILLION; DR REPORTS 86,120 VOLUNTEER HOURS By Tammi Reed Ledbetter Associate Editor
When Hurricane Harvey unleashed 132-mileper-hour wind gusts and record-setting levels of rain in late August of last year, Southern Baptists and other organizations opened their pocketbooks by giving $2.6 million to help the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention minister to churches and individuals in the flooded region of the Texas Gulf Coast. A report released by the SBTC on April 24 summarizes donations that include $500,000 from the North American Mission Board, $1,260,518 from state Baptist conventions, $368,723 from Texas churches, $153,598 from individuals and organizations within Texas, $239,288 from out-of-state churches and associations, and $167,881 from individuals and organizations beyond the state. Nearly all the funds have been disbursed, providing $2,082,300 for grants to churches and pastors, and another $496,307 to meet other needs. Trinity Baptist Church of Vidor is typical of those receiving grants, having sustained three and one-half feet of water throughout its facilities. “The sanctuary is completely restored and we are now back in our offices,” reported Debbie Ortego, financial secretary. Focus has now turned to the back half of the building to complete repair of kitchen and classroom spaces. GRAPEVINE
“God has blessed us greatly and immensely,” added Pastor Marvin Fuller. “We’re progressing, but patience is a virtue and we’ve got a long way to go.” Trinity Baptist is in the early stage of the SBTC church revitalization program. Houston Northwest Baptist experienced extensive flooding with three to five feet of water throughout all of its buildings except for the worship center. The children’s building was damaged so badly that it was demolished. The student building has been remodeled to house nursery, special needs and elementary students while teenagers utilize a tent. “The SBTC grant dollars are greatly appreciated and used for our ministry and rebuilding of our facilities,” stated Alan Bugg, executive pastor. “HNW is currently in the beginning stages of the remodel of the administration building and construction of a new children’s building.” The SBTC grant also helped the church recoup the cost of the only drive-thru supply center in Houston. “Families literally drove onto our campus where we had various tents with supplies. They would tell us their need and we would load their vehicles,” Bugg said. The church got involved in mud-out for hundreds of homes, provided short-term living expenses for many families and sent crews to help in the rebuilding process. Over 1,000 bags of clothes were
laundered for flood victims. Churches of all sizes were blessed by the outpouring of support through the SBTC. From First Baptist Church in Katy to the Cambodian congregation of Metrey Phea Baptist in Houston, funds helped churches purchase supplies to rebuild damaged facilities. SBTC Executive Director Jim Richards expressed gratitude for the generosity of Southern Baptists. “Southern Baptist state conventions received funds from their churches to be sent for Harvey Relief,” adding that many state conventions chose to disburse those funds through the SBTC. “We are grateful for our partnership in the gospel with our sister state conventions. They made it possible along with the generous gifts of others to help rebuild churches and get pastors back into their homes.” Disaster relief volunteers from Texas were deployed 8,612 volunteer days and clocked 86,120 volunteer hours. During that time they served 298,431 meals to first responders and victims of the hurricane. the SBTC operated 762 clean-up and recovery sites, provided care for 22 children, facilitated 9,600 showers and 6,760 loads of laundry, distributed 445 Bibles and 526 tracts, as well as presenting the gospel 494 times, making 1,667 spiritual contacts and recording 135 professions of faith. Volunteers from 30 state conventions working in the
State conventions donate to SBTC DR relief
Many state convention partners contributed to SBTC Disaster Relief Ministry in the region affected by Hurricane Harvey. Included are states that collected gift cards with that value shown. Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions $ 317,333.76 Arkansas Baptist State Convention
$ 100,000.00
Georgia Baptist Mission Board
$ 150,000.00
Hawaii-Pacific Baptist Convention
$ 9,320.63
State Convention of Baptists in Indiana
$ 2,895.00
Kentucky Baptist Convention
$ 62,450.00
Louisiana Baptist Convention
$ 50,000.00
Mississippi Baptist Convention
$ 61,345.00
Missouri Baptist Convention
$ 275,000.00
Baptist Convention of New Mexico
$ 27,435.45
Baptist Convention of New York
$ 15,158.49
State Convention of Baptists in Ohio
$ 750.00
South Carolina Baptist Convention
$ 125,000.00
Tennessee Baptist Mission Board
$ 26,949.13
Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia $ 35,355.00 Thailand Baptist Convention
area affected by the hurricane served 2.1 million meals to first responders and evacuees, facilitated 41,000 showers, managed 26,000 loads of laundry and completed 1,942 mud-out work orders. The 529,000 volunteer hours of service by DR teams from across the country is valued at $12.1 million. The newly developed Texas Relief ministry that provided
$ 1,525.32
online training deployed 1,352 volunteers with another 86 to be deployed later. A total of 91 unique groups or projects were scheduled with 16 churches engaged in Texas Relief assistance. As a follow-up to longterm needs of the facilities of churches and homes of pastors, Texas Rebuild completed 77 assessments and released 55 grants.
Executive Board approves new affiliated churches, hears Harvey update By Tammi Reed Ledbetter Associate Editor WESTLAKE The Executive Board of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention met April 24 to approve 41 newly affiliated churches and hear reports of ministry throughout southeast Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Credentials Committee chairman Jordan Rogers of Nederland received approval for affiliation requests from 41 churches spread across Texas. The board also removed 19 churches from affiliation, 16 having disbanded or merged with another congregation, and three that no longer wished to be involved. The current number of affiliated churches stands at 2,672. Board members responded
with gratitude for the work of SBTC Disaster Relief teams that logged 86,120 volunteer hours and reported 135 professions of faith. “When Harvey hit our state, our DR teams were in Houston very quickly as we responded with shower, laundry, feeding and mud-out units,” SBTC Disaster Relief Director Scottie Stice told the board. A newly created Texas Relief model allowed for broader volunteer participation by using online video training in disaster relief and safety practices. Another 1,352 volunteers took advantage of that avenue for quick deployment. With the creation of Texas Rebuild, the SBTC offers a ministry to meet long-term recovery needs in areas affected by disasters across Texas. After the assessment of 77 sites, funds were granted to
help churches restore worship centers and pastors’ homes damaged by the hurricane. As the board looked ahead to the 2019 budget, members agreed to suspend the stipulation that limits the in-state Cooperative Program budget to the amount of CP receipts in the previous year. The administrative committee reported that receipts for 2017 were unusually low, with the impact of Hurricane Harvey seen as a contributing factor. Six of the top 10 giving churches are in the impacted area. Applying the restriction to the 2019 budget would require an in-state reduction of more than $1 million and force unprecedented reductions across the convention’s ministries. By using consultants and specialists instead
of replacing ministry staff vacancies, reallocating ministry priorities on a limited basis, and using state missions funds, the SBTC anticipates a budget reduction in the range of $450,000 to $500,000. At the end of March this year, Cooperative Program receipts were 5 percent ahead of budget, reporting nearly half a million dollars above the same first quarter period in 2017, according to Chief Financial Officer Joe Davis. He also reported a net operating income of $493,294 in 2017 with net assets of $18.4 million. Giving to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions by SBTC churches is $20,238 lower at $888,881 for the first six months of the reporting year, when compared to the previ-
ous year. Giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions lags just over $1 million behind at $6,731,369 for the comparable six-month time frame of the previous year. Gifts to the Reach Texas Offering for State Missions of $1,044,390 are down this year with seven months reported. The board received a clean audit report for both the SBTC and the Southern Baptists of Texas Foundation and approved meeting dates for the coming year. In other business, the board voted to eliminate standing committees relating to missions, evangelism, church ministries and minister/church relations, preferring instead to enlist volunteers in advisory roles.
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GRACE IN THE MIDST OF #METOO By Rob Collingsworth Criswell College
Bill Cosby. Harvey Weinstein. Matt Lauer. Kevin Spacey. These men—a comedian, a film producer, a news anchor and an actor—once dominated their respective fields, yet have retreated from the public eye (and in Cosby’s case, been convicted of a crime) as their reputations have been reduced to rubble in the wake of a movement defined by two words: #MeToo. Understanding and talking about sexual harassment or abuse can be difficult, especially for Christians. Many in the church desire to empathize with and seek justice for victims, yet they struggle with the responsibility to extend grace toward repentant abusers. “Part of the reason it’s so difficult is because there are a lot of land mines,” Barry Creamer, president of Criswell College, said. “It’s easy to step on a topic or say a phrase or express something sincerely that would not be in the best interest of what I want to communicate, so I’m reluctant to wade into a topic like this by myself.” Creamer and his chief of staff, Daisy Reynolds, addressed the topic earlier this year for the radio broadcast “Coffee with Creamer,” aired on KCBI-FM, exploring underlying causes of abuse and harassment as well as
the role of social media in helping victims tell their stories. “You can’t talk about this without discussing the objectification of women, which is a phrase that gets used a lot to talk about the use of female imagery on billboards or to sell cars,” Creamer said. “But in another context it means something deeper, specifically where men see women and think of them first as objects.” Reynolds said the objectification extends directly into relationships. “It’s not just that they think of them as a literal object,” she said, “but they see them as something to be used relationally.” “It’s appropriate for us to back up at an occasion like this where there’s been this watershed in public opinion, as a church and as believers, and ask what things we may need to reconsider,” Creamer said. “Do you really have the right attitude toward your wife, for instance, when rattling the tea glass at her is the standard for respect?” Objectification is not the only problem, Creamer said. “Subjugation also plays a role. Putting women in power relationships where the presumption is that they are in a weaker position is a dangerous starting point,” he said. “Being Baptist, I believe in specific, defined roles for men and women in the church that are [restricted]—like the senior pastor role. “But that’s the only place,” he continued. “If it’s not de-
“The case against our culture and community has already been proven, and we are all guilty. The case against individual perpetrators should be weighed on the merits one at a time.” —BARRY CREAMER, PRESIDENT OF CRISWELL COLLEGE
fined in Scripture, then I’m not for extending that into other instances. And I’m not at all for extending it into the workplace.” Creamer and Reynolds agree that respecting the scriptural restriction on the office of senior pastor should not mean that we limit the ability of women to exert any spiritual leadership elsewhere in the church. “A lot of times it’s like a pendulum swing,” Reynolds said. “In many churches women can’t be pastors—something I agree with—but then we all of the sudden think there is something dangerous about any kind of spiritual leadership from a woman, or we think that maybe we should just minimize their role altogether.” Creamer added: “The offices that are defined ought to be used as they are defined in Scripture. But that has no limitation at all on the amount of influence or leadership a woman could provide in other roles.” While objectification and subjugation have served as underlying factors, it seems impossible to imagine the #MeToo movement gaining the same momen-
tum without outlets like Twitter to serve as a forum for victims. “Because so many of these accusations and revelations have happened as a result of social media, it’s not necessarily filtered,” Creamer said. “But they don’t necessarily need to be. And that’s the question. How do you approach that responsibly? “In a society where you’re finally addressing a topic that has been swept under the rug, it seems healthy that you’re able to reveal this information publicly and have everyone at least take it seriously,” he said. Reynolds said the public nature of the recent movement has allowed victims who have kept quiet to finally feel the confidence to open up. “For some people, it’s their first time to really share their story,” Reynolds said. “And frankly, it’s a story they may have hidden for years because of shame or fear. For them, it’s the first time to say in public, ‘This happened to me,’ and claim it as their own story. Before social media, we never really encountered anything like this.”
Creamer also pointed out the difference between the shame society at large should feel versus the judgment that should be laid at the feet of individuals who are guilty of harassment or abuse. “There is a guilt rightly borne by the whole of a society where the most powerful people in the country have been protected while objectifying and abusing women,” he said. “For that reason, every accusation ought to be heard with respect and an inclination toward credulity. “The case against our culture and community has already been proven, and we are all guilty. The case against individual perpetrators should be weighed on the merits one at a time,” Creamer said. “Otherwise, we will follow one of the central storylines of history, that the oppressed will simply become the next set of oppressors.” Equally as important, the church must be prepared to respond with true grace. “Christians must recognize the real value of genuine repentance with contrition and the real prospect of authentic conversion with transformation. Even the worst perpetrators of these abuses can be redeemed,” he said. “They may or may not be free of prison. They may or may not be restored to a position of leadership. But they are all in need of the same mercy we obtained when we sought forgiveness from God.”
G O D I S N OT S I L E N T: What the Bible teaches about sexual assault Katie McCoy SWBTS
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he Bible neither covers up nor ignores sexual assault. In fact, biblical law shows how the Lord takes up the cause of the victim and the vulnerable. Deuteronomy 22:25-27 safeguarded the survivor of sexual assault from being unjustly blamed or ignored. In ancient Israel, this law established a pattern, an ethical framework by which God’s people could discern specific situations that it didn’t specifically address. And, like all of God’s laws, it reveals his character. Isolated and overpowered Deuteronomy 22:25-27 presumed the innocence of the unbetrothed woman who was sexually assaulted. This law notes that she was found in a field, a
contrast to the previous law in vv. 23-24, which occurred in a (presumably) populated city. The scenario describes a woman who was isolated from help. Along with the location described in this law, the language is also significant. Unlike either of its two surrounding laws—both of which address the category of a woman’s guilt or innocence in sexual integrity (vv. 23-24; 28-29)—Deut 22:25-27 includes the Hebrew verb chazaq, which, in this form, implies violence. Chazaq can refer to the violent overpowering of another person, and, in the context of this text, describes coercive force, i.e. rape. The two accounts of rape in the Bible that occurred after the Law was given—the unnamed concubine in Judges 19, and Tamar in 2 Samuel 13—both include this word, chazaq. Biblical law was revolutionary for the dignity of women. Scripture recognized rape as a violent crime. In fact, biblical law
considers rape on par with murder. She was the non-consenting victim of premeditated violence. The attacker alone is held guilty. Because she was overpowered and did not consent, the victim is considered blameless. Consent is the key factor here. Many women who have been assaulted share how they froze during the attack. They couldn’t move. They couldn’t even scream. And they didn’t even understand why. In the aftermath, they wonder if they did something wrong. I believe this passage of Scripture comes to their defense. The issue was not how the woman expressed her lack of consent. The issue was that she did not consent. She was overpowered, exploited, and unwilling. And, according to the principle expressed in this law, she was innocent. Another aspect of this law rivals our modern western culture: The woman was believed on the basis of her testimony.
Biblical law sides with and defends her, despite the lack of witnesses. This law not only found her blameless, but also allowed no inference that she was at fault for the attack. In other words, the problem was not that she had done something to be assaulted; the problem was that someone assaulted her. Our responsibility For the Israelite woman who was raped, this text ensured that she was heard. She was believed. These laws created an environment in which a survivor of assault already knew that she would be safe and protected by the community. In our own communities, this should reinforce our responsibility to treat accusations of rape as credible. After analyzing reported cases of sexual assault over a 10-year period, a 2010 study found that between 2 and 10 percent of accusations were false. Yet, even this fails to represent the rarity
of false accusations, since it only includes reported cases. This same study also found that many victims of sexual violence did not report the crime because they “did not think anything would be done about it.” Biblical law sets a different precedent. When the survivor of assault revealed what happened to her, she would be believed. The people of God came to her defense. The severity of sexual assault in biblical law compels us to hear, protect, and defend the dignity of every woman, especially the one who breaks her silence about rape. God was not silent about rape. He defended the woman who had been sexually assaulted. He believed and protected her. And so must we. —Katie McCoy serves as assistant professor of theology in women’s studies at Scarborough College in Fort Worth and editor of the online resource Biblical Woman. This article originally appeared at erlc.com.
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S E X UA L H A RA S S M E N T R E S O LU T I O N AU T H O R :
CHURCHES MUST BE ‘SAFE PLACES’ By J.C. Davies TEXAN Correspondent
With a unanimous vote, messengers to the 2017 SBTC Annual Meeting approved a resolution denouncing acts of sexual harassment. Resolutions Committee member Jeanetta West brought the resolution at a time when high profile cases of sexual misconduct dominated the news media, and with an awareness that the subject has seldom been defined clearly in church settings. “It’s a sad time we’re coming to where this is becoming so prevalent,” West said. “This is an issue that’s going on all around us, and it’s something that needed to be addressed. As much as I could, I tried within the resolution to put some definition, both biblically and legally, to what it’s all about and to address what is our responsibility as Christians, related to this.” After having worked for the Xerox Corporation for more than three decades, West re-
tired last year as the company’s vice president of technical solutions and services. She said the company had good policies and practices in place regarding the issue, but some workplaces, including some churches, aren’t similarly prepared. In drafting the resolution, she drew on her corporate background to offer guidance to the SBTC as to how the issue of sexual harassment should be approached in congregations. West said sexual harassment often occurs in the workplace or in churches because of a lack of understanding and education on the issue. “Sexual harassment is very broad, and it’s not just a sexual act. It could be lewd comments and jokes that a church member is saying to another church member. You have to make sure you’re educated on what it is so you can make sure it’s not happening in your church body.” The resolution urges churches to “implement personnel policies” related to sexual harass-
ment, a step West said should begin with pastors, elders and other staff members. “With Xerox, everything started from the top. When you want something to permeate a culture, it has to come from the bottom, and it has to come from the top.” As a jumping off point, West encourages church leadership and staff to gather for a meeting to put a “policy in place that spells out what your practices are” on the subject of sexual harassment and to decide how those policies can best be communicated to the entire church body. Churches should not stop at simply having policies in place but should continually offer opportunities to further education. During her tenure at Xerox, West said training was conducted on an annual basis to refresh and update employees on code of conduct procedures, including those related to sexual harassment. “What that does is increase the knowledge and awareness.
“We live in the world, and we have to exist in the world. We know that this occurs everywhere, but we have to be able to provide a safe place for our people to feel comfortable.” —JEANETTA WEST
That’s something missing a lot in the workplace and in the community,” she said. Although awareness is key in preventing sexual harassment, churches also must be prepared in case an issue does arise. As the resolution states, West urges church leaders to ensure reported instances are “promptly investigated and addressed.” “It should be well known to a staff that if any incidences of sexual harassment are identified, then there should be a process that they can follow and have it investigated. “That’s how it worked in the corporate world, and I believe you can
take some of those same components, and proliferate that in a church staff,” West said. Ultimately, West said, the aim of the resolution is to remind churches that sexual harassment will not be tolerated among Southern Baptists. “We live in the world, and we have to exist in the world. We know that this occurs everywhere, but we have to be able to provide a safe place for our people to feel comfortable,” she said. “You want to have an environment where people feel open to come and pray and worship and fellowship with other members of the body.”
Sex abuse prevention resources available at sbc.net influential positions including pastors and counselors, the SBC said as early as 2002. NASHVILLE The Southern Bap"We call on our churches to tist Convention has long en- discipline those guilty of any couraged churches to be proac- sexual abuse in obedience to tive in preventing abuse, SBC Matthew 18:6-17 as well as to resources show. cooperate with civil authorities Spiritual leaders, churches in the prosecution of those casand seminaries should model, es," the SBC said in its resolution exhort and teach the highest that year On the Sexual Integstandards of moral and minis- rity of Ministers. "We pray for terial integrity, and churches those who have been harmed should use legal resources and as a result of sexual abuse and avenues to exclude sexual urge our churches to offer suppredators from leadership and port, compassion, and biblical by Diana Chandler Baptist Press
counseling to them and their families." In its most recent action, a 2013 resolution On Sexual Abuse of Children, the SBC reiterates the church's "legal and moral responsibility to report any accusations of child abuse to authorities in addition to implementing any appropriate church discipline or internal restoration processes." The resolution encourages the use of background checks, sexual predator databases such as the U.S. Department of Justice sex offender database, the imple-
mentation of church policies and procedures to protect children, and full cooperation with law enforcement officials "in exposing and bringing to justice all perpetrators, sexual or otherwise, who criminally harm children." The SBC posts online resources available to all at s b c . n e t /c h u r c h r e s o u r c e s / sexabuseprevention.asp. In its May 2012 issue, the SBC LIFE journal of the SBC Executive Committee published the special report, "Protecting our children: Accepting the respon-
sibility, embracing the privilege." The publication is among free abuse prevention resources at sbc.net. A link to the National Sex Offender Public Website that offers a free searchable database of offenders, as well as a background checking service provided by LifeWay Christian Resources of the SBC, are among resources at sbc.net. Educational resources from GuideStone Christian Resources and various Southern Baptist state conventions are also available there.
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Q&A with J. D. Greear
Southern Baptist Convention presidential candidate J. D. Greear pastors Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, NC., which is characterized by its “gospel focus and sending culture,” according to the church’s website. The church has grown from a plateaued congregation of 300 to nearly 10,000 people during his 16-year tenure. Greear has challenged the church to plant 1,000 new churches by 2050, having already sent more than 650 people to serve on 40 church planting teams in North Carolina and the United States and another 208 in other countries. Previously, Greear served as a missionary in Southeast Asia with the International Mission Board. A graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Greear received an M.Div. and Ph.D. He has authored eight books, including Gaining by Losing: Why the Future Belongs to Churches That Send, Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary, Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart: How to Know for Sure You Are Saved, and Jesus, Continued … Why the Spirit Inside You Is Better Than Jesus Beside You. Greear was interviewed by the TEXAN and SB Voices two years ago, before he withdrew from the 2016 race. TEXAN reporter Jane Rodgers asked Greear to update his positions for 2018 while in town for the SBTC Empower Conference. The IMB, NAMB & the Great Commission TEXAN: In 2016, you said your priorities as SBC president would focus on fulfilling the Great Commission. As president, will you encourage this through agencies or churches or a combination? GREEAR: It’s got to be a combination of both. The SBC exists to facilitate local churches in the execution of the mission. In church planting, evangelism … the tip of the spear [must] be the local church. As a pastor, I want our pastoral team to get
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ABOUT THE GREAT COMMISSION, DOCTRINAL AGREEMENT AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
behind members in ministry and I think our agencies ought to get behind local churches, enabling them to do ministry. I don’t mean churches need to take over theological education. That’s why we have seminaries. The IMB does a great job equipping and sending people overseas. They can do that in such a way that leads the local church instead of doing it for the local church. I always say good parachurch—that’s what the denomination is—works through the local church; bad parachurch takes ministry from the local church. I’ve been encouraged with the directions the IMB and NAMB are going. It’s been [their] priority to engage local churches. Specifically with the IMB, there are far too many local churches that aren’t engaged [meaningfully] in church planting. The IMB wants to raise the level of church planting engagement in all of the churches, something we should all want. TEXAN: Your church—The Summit—plans to plant 1,000 churches? GREEAR: By 2050. Each of the churches we’ve planted thus far has been Southern Baptist. We have gone through NAMB for domestic church plants in SEND Cities. NAMB [is] our preferred training partner because the training and networks are excellent. Ethnic and Generational Diversity TEXAN: Do you still see a need for ethnic and racial diversity in the SBC and the increased involvement of a “new generation”? GREEAR: Preferably we have leaders who lead everyone and not just part of the convention. Many of my mentors and [staff persons] are from the older generation. I value them. We need to move forward together. We need to see younger people stepping up into leadership, and if I can trigger … those guys getting engaged, that is my desire. Some of this younger generation are involved in the SBC, but too many are sitting on the sidelines. As for ethnic and racial diversity, almost half of the campus pastors and worship leaders at The Summit are nonAnglo: mostly black, also Latino and Asian. There needs to be a sensitivity in tone in the diversity conversation. Sometimes I feel
like a lot of our efforts at diversity are done for minorities rather than with them. God has placed [many] ethnic leaders in our midst …. God has already raised them up. We just need to give them opportunities to lead. The SBC president has the power to make appointments and establish the platform…. Minorities are not represented in leadership the same way they are represented in the [SBC’s] constituency. Rome was not built in a day, but we want to move in that direction because, especially now … we need their wisdom and leadership with the diversification of America. The Wide Tent TEXAN: In 2016, you affirmed the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 while cautioning against in-fighting. About what non-essentials do Baptists argue? GREEAR: For one, the finer points of Calvinism. There are evangelistic, gospel-loving, non-Reformed people in the SBC and they need to feel at home here. There are evangelistic, gospel-loving, Reformed people in the SBC, and they need to feel at home here. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 is broad enough to give us freedom on areas that are nonessential but narrow enough to keep us united on the essentials. I think there’s a lot of wisdom in it. [The “eschatology war”] once separated a lot of people. Fifteen years ago there were worship wars…. All doctrinal discussions are important, but the BF&M 2000 is what we must agree on to go forth in mission. Religious Liberty TEXAN: How do you balance the constitutional right of freedom of religion with the church’s response to LGBTs? GREEAR: At The Summit, we try to be clear. We signed the Nashville Statement [https:// cbmw.org/nashv ille-statement] on what the Bible teaches about gender. If churches are not clear, they’re not doing anyone any favors, but we also know that gender issues aren’t necessarily something you lead with. Let’s deal with the lordship of Christ first. If [certain positions] define us, we’ll never get to have the conversation about Jesus with any of our gay or transgender friends. So it doesn’t mean we deny those ethical issues or put them
away, but we try not to make them the first thing. [Greear offered an example of a gay couple attending The Summit who became Christians: “Bottom line, we told them they could not become members until the marriage was dissolved, but we embraced them as part of the community while they were working through it.”] The LGBT debate is a microcosm of the whole religious liberty issue. CEOs of companies at our church are unsure how to lead. Many have gay [employees] and have no problem with that. There’s a difference between having gay employees and being actively involved in the promotion of that lifestyle. Some threats to religious liberty are governmental, some societal. It is more difficult to live out the Christian confession consistently in the public square today. I don’t want to compare that persecution to what our brothers and sisters are going through around the world because it’s not the same … but Christians are no longer seen in our society as having the moral high ground. Funding the Mission TEXAN: Do you support the Cooperative Program? GREEAR: Absolutely. One of my goals is to increase the Cooperative Program level of giving in the SBC. There are several ways this can happen. First, churches ought to be giving more to the Cooperative Program. Second, we want to encourage our state conventions to give more of the money, to be more efficient with the money to get it overseas [Greear expressed gratitude for state conventions that give large percentages through CP]. A third category we must recognize is that some churches will choose to give coopera-
tively but not through traditional CP structures. We need to give them the freedom to do that and recognize that is their prerogative. It wouldn’t be good to go back to what is called societal giving— which is where everybody picks their favorite entity. We don’t want that. If your church is not involved in a state convention, it may be wisest to give separate from a state convention. Ultimately, I believe a rising tide raises all ships; the more we celebrate all of the Great Commission giving we see in the SBC, the more we’ll see CP giving rise. TEXAN: Are state conventions important? GREEAR: Our church is involved in our state convention. Of the churches we have planted in North Carolina, one of the pastors is on the state board of directors, and yes, such involvement is great. I would encourage it. I also recognize there are some that may choose to get involved in other things. TEXAN: Any comments on the influence of Calvinism? GREEAR: The Bible teaches about God’s priorities in salvation, that he draws people to him. There are also things we do in evangelism that make a real difference. The Bible teaches that, also. These are tensions to be managed, not contradictions to be resolved. Some of these Reformed doctrines are in that category. God is sovereign in the salvation process, but what we do really does make a difference. That’s the tension. TEXAN: Lastly, what is your stance on alcohol use? GREEAR: I choose not to use alcohol. To me, it’s not an issue. I choose not to drink for reasons of wisdom and witness. I have Christian friends who don’t hold that conviction. I consider them full brothers and sisters in Christ.
JUNE 2018
Q&A with Kenneth Hemphill
Southern Baptist Convention presidential candidate Kenneth Hemphill serves as director of the Center for Church Planting and Revitalization at North Greenville University. After teaching at Wingate College in North Carolina, Hemphill pastored First Baptist Church of Galax, Va. Later, as pastor of First Baptist Church of Norfolk, he led the congregation from a membership of less than 1,000 to almost 7,000 in 11 years. Hemphill directed the Southern Baptist Center for Church Growth in Atlanta, a joint venture of the Home Mission Board and the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, and later served as president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He served the SBC as National Strategist for Empowering Kingdom Growth and founded Auxano Press. He also participated in partnership missions to Brazil, Kenya, the former Soviet Union and England. Hemphill earned M.Div. and D.Min. degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in New Testament at Cambridge University. He has authored 40 books, including The Antioch Effect, The Bonsai Theory of Church Growth, and Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Discovering Your True Self Through Spiritual Gifts. TEXAN reporter Jane Rodgers interviewed SBC presidential candidate Kenneth Hemphill by phone in March. Priorities as President: The IMB, NAMB & the Great Commission TEXAN: What will your priorities be as SBC president, including fulfilling the Great Commission? Will you encourage this through agencies, churches or a combination? HEMPHILL: I think it has to be a combination. It always starts at the local church. Revitalization has been the theme of my life. I want to talk about attendance, baptism and Cooperative Program (CP) giving which impacts our missional force as well.
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ON CHURCH REVITALIZATION, DIVERSITY AND THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM
Church revitalization is a spiritual matter before it is a practical one. We must continue the emphasis on prayer and revival that Steve Gaines initiated. It’s important we restore trust and vitality in our partner relationships. The local church, association, state conventions, national convention are strategic partnerships that we need not to ignore, but revitalize. We must renew our commitment to biblical literacy … knowing the Word of God and fulfilling his will. I am going to focus on small group Bible study or Sunday School. [Hemphill cited statistics indicating a decline in church attendance, stating he would produce resources to help churches facilitate small groups]. Our emphasis on church planting must continue. That’s been a real function of NAMB. It’s important that we establish new churches for different ethnic groups, strategic groups in [unreached] communities and new housing developments. I want to focus on the revitalization of existing churches. Churches with a worship attendance of 250 of less give more than 60 percent of our CP resources…. We need to help [legacy churches] in revitalization. They need to know they are important and that we are as committed to helping them as we are to planting new churches. It’s not an either/or strategy; it’s both/and. I have plans for a total revitalization initiative called Together We Can to encourage growth in baptisms, attendance and giving. TEXAN: Do you see a need for ethnic and racial diversity in the SBC and the increased involvement of the next generation? HEMPHILL: This is critical. The value of diversity is spoken of so often in Scripture: 1 Cor. 12, the whole body imagery there … speaks to diversity. We need each other. The denomination must reflect the diversity we see in heaven as every tribe, tongue and nation gather. It would be naïve for me to suggest I know how to resolve this issue. People in our state and national conventions are already working toward this end, and I would cooperate with them, sit down, listen and talk to them. I would listen and pray with those we need to hear from … ask them how we can help. What can we do as a denomination to assist? In my preaching and sharing, I plan to be open as invitations occur.
[Hemphill confirmed he would make minority appointments so that SBC committees will “start looking like heaven.” Regarding the next generation, he said he has contacted young pastors he regularly mentors at North Greenville University for recommendations]. The Wide Tent TEXAN: You affirm the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. About what non-essentials do Baptists disagree? HEMPHILL: We signed the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 at Southwestern when I was president. Non-essentials might include style of worship, how we organize small groups…. We get into too many unnecessary methodological arguments. We’ve got to embrace every style of church and worship, ethnic diversity, all generations…. We need everybody in this thing to work together. Religious Liberty TEXAN: How do you balance the constitutional right of freedom of religion with the church’s response to LGBTs? HEMPHILL: If gender identity and sexual orientation are grouped under the discrimination classes, and the historically Christian university or church is not allowed an exemption [at NGU] that would mean things like allowing the open expression of same sex affection. We would be required to recognize gender dysphoria [affecting] dorms, locker rooms.... If this is already being brought out over the design of wedding cakes, we would be foolish to think that it could not affect churches in their right to practice marriage based on their biblical convictions. We are facing a real issue here…that any religion upholding a traditional definition of human sexuality based on biblical convictions could be boxed out of the system. That could be a violation of our first amendment rights.… [Hemphill recommended vigilance, cautioned against compromise for the “sake of the gospel,” and confirmed he preached the “biblical standard of purity for everyone”]. Funding the Mission TEXAN: Do you support the Cooperative Program? HEMPHILL: The reason I allowed my name to be placed in [nomination] is because I am such a strong advocate of the CP. [Hemphill cited statistics re-
flecting a decline in overall CP giving from over 10 percent in the 1980s to 5.16 percent today]. That is a serious issue…if we don’t address it, we aren’t going to just be bringing hundreds or thousands of missionaries home, we will be addressing the whole missional enterprise of Southern Baptist life. We need to renew our commitment to a cooperative mission strategy and the giving mechanism. I believe CP giving follows a biblical pattern. [Hemphill cited 1 Cor. 16, and 2 Cor. 8-9]. There was a volitional decision against societal giving at a critical moment in our history, when societal giving was found to be inefficient and ineffective…. [Asked about Great Commission Giving, Hemphill cited a 2008-2017 decline from $542 million to $475 million]. Part of GCG is really a neosocietal method of giving. I don’t think we’ve turned back to a societal method, but we have gone to where churches select budget items they like or … go outside the SBC and give to some entities, ignoring others. GCG may have inadvertently inspired that. I do recognize in the autonomy of the local church, that every church has the right and responsibility to make decisions as to how they will give their mission dollars. That is part of SBC life and heritage, but the default method should be the regular CP. TEXAN: Are state conventions important? HEMPHILL: I am an advocate of the strategic partnerships. They all begin at local church, then association level, then the state and SBC. For many smaller churches, the local association is their lifeline. I spend so much time speaking for DOMs at associations to see the value in terms of evangelism and outreach in that local area. The state convention also has an integral relationship with those associations and churches,
forming a bridge to the national convention. Related to church revitalization and church planting, in cooperation with NAMB, a state executive or staff probably has better insights on where to plant churches in their locale than somebody sitting in an office or somewhere in Atlanta. We’ve got to learn to trust the states to make wise decisions concerning needs and budgets…. Rather than attempting to redesign the wheel, we need to affirm our commitment to all of these partnerships and revitalize them for the sake of the kingdom. TEXAN: Any comments on the influence of Calvinism? HEMPHILL: We have always had those whose theology was Reformed or Calvinistic. They have always felt welcomed. It’s not an issue in that way. I am not sure that, at least in our recent history, we have had as many well-placed and visible leaders who endorse that theological position…. There’s always been a healthy tension in our denomination, and it’s been good for us, causing us to consider the incomprehensible mystery of God’s grace. I personally believe his atonement is unlimited. I am eternally grateful that he died for a sinner like me. TEXAN: What is your stance on alcohol use? HEMPHILL: My wife and I practice total abstinence. This has always been our posture from generation to generation. My reasoning is that alcohol is a drug, one of the most abused because of its wide acceptance. My issue has always been my personal testimony and possible impact on a weaker brother. Now that I have 10 grandchildren, it’s even more important to me. I am glad to belong to a denomination that has stood steadfastly against alcohol use. I agree with the many resolutions the SBC has passed concerning the use of alcohol.
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GARRISON CHURCH GROWS IN FAITH DESPITE TRAGEDY “It’s been real joyful to see how they have honored God in the midst of the tragedy, and he’s been faithful to them.”
By Erin Roach TEXAN Correspondent GARRISON Holly Springs Baptist Church is “out in the middle of nowhere” between Nacogdoches and Garrison. Nearly two years ago, they walked through a period of corporate grief after a beloved associate pastor died in a tragic accident. Despite its rural location and sense of loss, the church has pressed on, growing in faith and gospel service. Along the way, they also became a Southern Baptist congregation. Bobby Smith, now pastor of Holly Springs, was on staff at First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches for 33 years when God led him to transition to another place of ministry. Ryan King was an associate pastor at Holly Springs who had once been part of Smith’s university ministry while at Stephen F. Austin State University. When the pastor whom King served under left Holly Springs, King asked Smith to help the church prepare for a new pastor. Smith spent several months caring for the people and leading the church’s elders in a monthly Bible study on service. Then in August 2016, Smith got a latenight phone call: King and his brotherin-law had been killed in an ATV accident while the family was vacationing in Colorado. The brakes had failed and the men rolled down a steep 75-foot embankment. King, 33, left behind his wife and two young children. The church was devastated. Smith helped preach King’s funeral and then began leading the church to take the next steps. It helped that Smith’s wife, Laura, had been a licensed, biblically-based counselor in the Nacog-
—BOBBY SMITH, PASTOR OF HOLLY SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH
Bobby Smith is pastor of Holly Springs Baptist Church in Garrison, and he has helped lead the church through the tragic loss of their associate pastor. His wife, Laura, has been a licensed, biblically-based counselor in the community for more than 20 years.
doches area for more than 20 years. Smith continued his ministry to Holly Springs in the interim. Then in March 2017, Holly Springs called Smith as pastor. He credited his wife’s counseling background—though her policy is no formal counseling of fellow church members—as a welcomed resource during the congregation’s journey through the grief process. “Obviously her training and her counseling skills lend a great comfort to me and help our people,” Smith told the TEXAN. “When there are tragedies like what happened with Ryan or something else, she doesn’t put on her counselor’s hat but she puts on the hat that she always wears anyhow, which is a hat of compassion and tenderness and incredibly good advice.” One of Smith’s first objectives as pastor of Holly Springs was to lead the congregation to affiliate with the Southern
Donor-Advised Fund directs charitable giving Jeffrey Steed Director of Planned Giving SBT Foundation
The new tax law changes approved in 2018 impact many Americans including those who usually benefit from the charitable income tax deduction when they give tithes and offerings to their church as well as contributions to other ministries. The standard deduction has doubled for the 2018 tax year to $12,000 (single), $18,000 (head of household) and $24,000 (married filing jointly). This increase in the standard deduction amounts will likely prevent many individuals from itemizing on their income taxes and benefiting from the charitable income tax deduction when they give to ministries. If you will likely not be able to itemize in the 2018 tax year, you may want to consider establishing a Donor-Advised
Fund at the Southern Baptists of Texas Foundation this year and fund it with your total planned charitable gifts for the next two to three years that includes your tithes and other contributions. Requests can then be given to the Southern Baptists of Texas Foundation to send distributions periodically (such as monthly or quarterly) over the planned two to three-year time period for your tithes/ offerings to your church and potentially amounts to other ministries. A larger charitable contribution to a Donor-Advised Fund this year may help you itemize even with the new higher standard deduction amounts. The end result may be an effective method to save on income taxes while already providing tithes/offerings and other charitable distributions as usual. A Donor-Advised Fund may be a helpful way to give now and tithe later on a regular basis. —Jeffrey Steed is the director of planned giving for the Southern Baptists of Texas Foundation.
Baptist Convention. The church is about 15 years old and was founded by Baptists from other churches, but it had not officially partnered with any groups. It turned out that Holly Springs had already started the process of affiliating with the Shelby-Doches Baptist Association when Smith arrived, so they actually were on the same page, he said. Smith graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and “most of our membership has some kind of an understanding or background with Southern Baptists,” he said. For those who were new and were unsure about affiliating, “we taught about the complete autonomy of the church. “We are thankful, and we believe when we partner together we can do great things for the kingdom,” Smith said. “That’s the joy of partnership. We’re becoming a missions-minded church. We’re trying to look across the street and around the world.” Recently, Holly Springs had about 50 people participate in “Secret Church”—a multi-hour Bible study simulcast usually on a Friday night that aims to replicate the secret worship gatherings of believers in oppressive countries. More people have been going on mission trips. Smith’s college roommate is a missionary in Jamaica, and he has been leading trips at Christmas since his time at First Baptist Nacogdoches. Last December, more than 20 people went with him. “We’re also partnered with IMB in Ecuador, and we do a medical mission trip there,” Smith said. “We did that last year in May. We took four people from Holly Springs and some people from First Baptist. Now the two churches partner in that one trip. This year we’re taking 15
to Ecuador. We’re partnered with IMB missionaries in Southeast Asia too.” Holly Springs has an average Sunday attendance of 300, Smith said, despite being “out in the middle of nowhere. “There’s no neighborhoods. There’s no town,” he said, “but people drive from all over to come here. There was a tendency for many years for this church to believe they couldn’t go around the world, so I grabbed hands and showed them they could do it. “Every time we come back, people are just exploded with their faith and excitement. These people have always had a heart of service; they just needed someone to say, ‘Come on.’ Smith said whether the opportunity is local or across the world, the congregation has figured out that their church can have an impact from rural East Texas. “It’s been real joyful to see how they have honored God in the midst of the tragedy, and he’s been faithful to them.”
Holly Springs Baptist Church in Garrison has had a heart of service for years, pastor Bobby Smith said, but they recently have expanded their mission field to countries such as Ecuador and Jamaica, where they visited with and prayed with some people at a nursing home on a recent trip.
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PRINCIPLES OF GRACE GIVING FOUND IN 2 COR. 8-9 u Giving is driven by grace not circumstances (8:1-6). Using the impoverished Macedonian church as an example Paul challenged the Corinthians to give. They had little but they gave what they had and the result was abounding joy. We should not allow how much or little is in our bank account to control whether we give. Poor or rich, we are to be givers. This type of generosity displays God’s grace in our lives. u The greatest example of giving is Jesus (8:9). As we flip through the pages of the Bible we find that God is the supreme giver and the greatest gift was his Son. Jesus voluntarily left his pre-incarnate estate of glory and became one of us. He lacked nothing. He was completely satisfied living in perfect communion with his Father. Then came a day he be-
Shawn Paschal Guest Columnist
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group of men make their way down the church aisles passing plates in a well-rehearsed manner. It is time to collect the offerings. It is a familiar part of a church service that has often become something less than worshipful. It is easy to see how “taking an offering” could be seen as merely a means to pay the bills, or enrich a preacher, rather than a recognition of God’s gracious provision in our lives. The result is a church full of members with little motivation to give. Here are seven principles from 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 help us refocus our giving on Christ:
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came like us (yet without sin.) Born to a poor family in an insignificant place, he experienced the contrasting realities of abandonment, betrayal, poverty, thirst, hatred and death. His motivation was that “we might be rich.” He gave so that we could experience the glory that he knew. u Give willingly from what God has given you (8:11-12). Willingly means we do not give out of coercion. The pastor’s job is to teach and model giving, not to manipulate people. Giving is a responsive act of worship to our benevolent King. The Lord knows what you have because he gave it you. He also knows your heart. If you give all you can and wish you could give more, the Lord takes note of that. If you hold back, like Ananias and Sapphira, he knows as well. u God uses our giving to meet all kinds of needs (8:14-15). The almighty God of the universe does not need us or anything we possess. But he has chosen to use us and that is a great privilege! We have a description of “equality” in God’s economy. The Jerusalem church, as the founding church, ministered spiritually to the Gentile churches. Now Gentile churches are ministering materially to the Jerusalem church. Give sacrificially and watch God provide for all kinds of needs. The person you buy groceries for today might be the person helping you with your electric bill a year from now. Spiritually and materially God causes all things to work out. u Be good managers of what you collect (8:16-24). Giving to a local church is a priority. The church ministers in many ways including taking care of leaders, helping the poor, sending missionaries and equipping saints. So those
who handle funds should have high integrity and accountability. People handling money should never be alone. Let the budget process be as transparent as possible. Financial mismanagement will badly damage your testimony inside and outside your church. u Sow then reap (9:6-7). The concept of sowing and reaping is true both of the natural and spiritual realms. If the farmer plants beans, he never reaps watermelons. In the spiritual realm, motive matters. Gracious giving reaps beautiful fruit. While it will not always be dollars, it will always be good. As already noted, a gracious giver will experience abundant joy. A gracious giver has the blessing of knowing that God can greatly multiply his gift and use it so that many people hear and respond to the gospel. Be careful though that you do not give for the wrong reason. If you give to be seen of men, that is your reward. If you give to control church leaders, then your motive is self not God. The best reason to give is because Jesus has given to us. This is his grace towards us. This is why we give cheerfully not begrudgingly. Keep sowing for Jesus! As my pastor friend used to say, “You can’t out-give God.” u Giving produces thankful people (9:11-15). When impossible needs are met, people rightfully thank God. It is always God’s will that we are thankful. So let’s start thanking God for his unspeakable gift in Christ. Let’s start graciously giving through our church. Let’s thank God for using the resources he has given us for his kingdom. —Shawn Paschal pastors Inglewood Baptist Church in Grand Prairie.
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The Friday-Sunday event will conclude with a Harvest America rally at AT&T Stadium featuring musical acts and an evangelistic message by Greg Laurie. Pruitt, the SBTC’s director of evangelism, said Crossover is a unique opportunity for churches. It will be the first Crossover and SBC meeting in the DallasFort Worth area since 1997. “We bring thousands of people together for a convention,” Pruitt said, “so why not come together as the church to really
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impact the city with the gospel? What I love about Crossover is it’s not just saying that we love the gospel, but we’re actually sharing the gospel and doing it by practice.” Crossover organizers have divided the Dallas-Fort Worth area into nine regions, with “launch” churches in each region taking the lead and serving as launch sites for activities. For example, Tate Springs Baptist Church in Arlington will use the “Can We Talk?” evangelism model for door-to-door witnessing. Baptists from within and without each region can sign up online—HarvestAmerica.
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com/crossover—to volunteer and serve at a specific launch church. Churches will promote two types of outreach: compassion ministries and direct evangelism. “When we talk about direct evangelism, we mean things like door-to-door sharing of the gospel,” Pruitt said. “Compassion projects would be things like building houses, painting fences and other hands-on projects—and then hopefully through that there are some opportunities for people to share the gospel.” Crossover will conclude Sunday night with Laurie’s Harvest America and musicians
Tedashii, Trip Lee, KB, Phil Wickham, Switchfoot, David Crowder and Chris Tomlin. Crossover volunteers on Friday and Saturday will invite unbelievers and new believers to the Laurie event, Pruitt said. “Maybe during door-to-door evangelism the person says, ‘Hey, you know, that’s not for me right now.’ [The Crossover volunteer could respond] ‘Well, would you come join us at this crusade?’ But we’re also using it as a celebration. Maybe the person, right there on their porch, surrenders and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior. We’re saying, ‘Come celebrate that with us at the rally.’”
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Local churches, Pruitt added, are the heart of Crossover. “Those local churches know how to reach their neighborhood,” he said. “Those local churches will be there for follow-up. And so basically, we’ve asked the local churches, ‘Hey, come up with evangelism efforts to reach your surrounding neighborhoods for Christ and mobilize your people to do it, and then let an army of reinforcements come in from across the state, across the nation, to help you do it.’” For more information or to sign up, visit HarvestAmerica. com/crossover.
GOV. ABBOTT FIELDS CONCERNS FROM N. TEXAS PASTORS Texas Governor Greg Abbott met with close to 40 African American and Hispanic pastors from North Texas May 10 at a Pastors Roundtable at Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church, answering questions from faith leaders about the challenges facing their congregations and communities. Host pastor Terry Turner told Abbott, “Each of these men who surround you today are men who love the Lord and are leaders in our communities from Fort Worth to Mesquite.” Abbott told the group, “It is time for all of us to come together to unite and support each other and live up to God’s commandments and make Texas the best state it can possibly be. We as a community have to come together and find ways we can build stronger values.” PHOTO BY GARY LEDBETTER
2018 Children's Bible Drill State Winner Perfect Riley Arnett, Prestonwood Baptist in Plano; Eliana Benson, First Baptist Church in Odessa; Noah Bickham, First Baptist Church in Sinton; Claudia Crye and McKenzie Graves, both from Lake Athens Baptist in Athens; Blaine Hamilton, Fannin Terrace Baptist Church in Midland; Rachel Jones and Audrey Letcher, both from Prestonwood; Finley Limer, First Baptist Church in Euless; Makenzie Litchford, First Baptist
Church in Odessa; Maci McCall, Naomi McDermett, Rachel McDermett, Lianna Pfrimmer, and Toby Pike, all from First Baptist Church in Keller; William Pulley, First Baptist Church in Dallas; Maggie Quine, Forest Home Baptist Church in Kilgore; Paige Stephens, Prestonwood; Rebecca Villalobos, First Euless; and Benjamin Vinson, Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston.
Participants in this year’s Speaker’s Tournament (left to right) include Lydia Burge of Tate Springs Baptist in Arlington, Timera West of Cornerstone Baptist in Arlington, Brian Beto of Esperanza Del Rio Community Church, Terrence West, Brandon Crocker, Alvin Runnels, Melanie Hollis (third place) and Love Dixon, all of Cornerstone, Gwen Stacks and Jacob Stacks, both of Tate Springs, Kailyn Newsom of Cornerstone (first place advancing to nationals) and Jared Jeffries of Tate Springs (second place).
Youth Bible Drill participants (left to right) include Sarah Grace Becker of LaJunta Baptist in Springtown, Obed Walls of Fannin Terrace Baptist in Midland, Stephen Hemsworth of First Baptist in Euless, Rylee Johnson of The Well Community Church in Argyle, Colin Hautmann of Lake O’the Pines Baptist in Avinger (third place), Andrew Horton of First Baptist in Dallas (first place advancing to nationals) and Nathan Thompson of Tate Springs Baptist in Arlington (second place). Not pictured are Kyndall Jourdain of Cornerstone Baptist in Arlington and David Ostrom, Joshua Ostrom, Hillary Thomas and Jeremiah Kim, all from Prestonwood Baptist in Plano.
High School Drill participants (left to right) include Andrew Hunger of First Baptist in Buna, Hannah Roe of Prestonwood Baptist in Plano, Jesse Becker of LaJunta Baptist in Springtown, Andres Mena of Esperanza Del Rio Community Church, Abigail Luce of Prestonwood, Seth Becker of LaJunta (third place), Janice Beto of Esperanza, Lauren Horton (second place) and William Horton (first place advancing to nationals), both of First Baptist in Dallas, Pablo Mena of Esperanza and Katia Quintanilla of First Baptist in Dallas (third place). Not pictured is Macie Frederick of Grace Temple Baptist Church in Henrietta.
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he Bible commands every believer to be an Ambassador for Christ. But let’s face it, in reality, the vast majority of people are too shy or hesitant to fulfill this command.
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Presented in bite-size chunks, every compelling page is jam-packed with reliable nuggets of truth that go right to the heart of Christianity. Timeless truths are presented with colorful charts, illustrations Working together we can and infographics that make learning and fulfill Jesus’ exhortation to applying God’s Word in daily life simple yet “teach them everything I remarkable meaningful. have commanded you.”
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100-YEAR OLD SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER BEGAN MINISTERING AT 60
By Tammi Reed Ledbetter Associate Editor MOUNT PLEASANT J.P. Lowery never imagined being able to teach Sunday School. “Growing up in my younger years I was pretty backward and I didn’t think I could do anything worthwhile like that.” Now at the age of 100, Lowery has been teaching the Bible to young people and adults for more than 40 years. His pastor at Highland Park Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant knows the importance of recruiting solid teachers. “If you don’t have good Bible teachers you don’t have a good Sunday School,” Gary Richardson explained. “And if you don’t have a good Sunday School you’re not going to reach people.” Born in Mississippi in 1917, Lowery was just 5 years old when his father died. His mother provided for the family by
sharecropping until he was 14, then an uncle in Texas moved them to a farm in Lamesa. “We didn’t have a church very close out there in the country, but I went to school in a two-room schoolhouse and that’s where we had Sunday School,” he said. Those lessons presented to the half dozen or so youngsters stuck with him, but he had yet to accept Christ as Savior. Lowery served in the Army in 1947 and ’48 as a part of the Allied Occupation of Japan, then returned to West Texas where he got a job on the local police force. On the side, he began repairing radios and televisions, which led to a new career servicing electronics. “I made a living at it but I never did get rich,” he remarked. After he and his wife visited his sister in East Texas, Lowery and his family decided to move
to Mount Pleasant in 1958. “I was living a pretty good life but I needed to become a Christian.” It wasn’t until he had a talk with the pastor of First Baptist Church of Cookville that he realized he was lost. “I had lived all those 41 years and thought I was a pretty good guy. The Holy Spirit got ahold of me and made me realize I was going to hell if I didn’t change my ways.” At age 60, Lowery began teaching Sunday School, first at Cookville, and later at a church that has since closed. It didn’t take long after joining Highland Park Baptist Church in 2003 for Lowery to be asked to teach again, this time for a men’s class known as “The Good Old Boys.” When that class joined up with a couples class, Lowery began taking his turn as one of three teachers.
(At left) Buddy Blue listens as J.P. Lowery shares his testimony. Pastor Gary Richardson appreciates the dedication Lowery demonstrates in preparing Sunday School lessons at Highland Park Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant.
“Having him teach has been one of the biggest joys our class has had,” said co-teacher Buddy Blue, who serves as senior adult minister. “If someone makes a comment that’s not quite scriptural, J.P. will say, ‘Wait a minute, let’s look at that,’ and we go back and he is right every time.” Blue said Lowery incorporates the gospel into every lesson. “At some point he mentions that you have to ask Jesus into your heart for the remission of sins and turn. He never wavers.” Asked about his study habits, Lowery said he starts by reading the Sunday School curriculum, then studies the passage in the Bible. “I have a commentary that I go through
and study, and sometimes I don’t agree with what all he says. I depend on God to help me do the teaching because if it wasn’t for the Lord, I wouldn’t be able to teach.” He remembers first being recruited to serve as an assistant Sunday School director back at Cookville. “I wasn’t doing anything but going to church.” When the newly enlisted director left the church, Lowery recalled that the pastor looked at him and said, “‘It’s up to you.’” With another birthday coming up on July 3, Lowery still plans to teach Sunday School at the age of 101. “You know, if God wants you to do something, he’ll manage for you to do it and that’s the way it happened for me.”
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First Baptist of DeKalb transformed by revival By Karen L. Willoughby TEXAN Correspondent
DEKALB The worship center at First Baptist Church in this small town near Texarkana seats perhaps 400 people, but by the last night of the church’s first revival in years last October, at least 600 people were crowded inside in pews, standing against the walls and overflowing outside. More than 150 people made professions of faith and 30 were baptized the last night. Almost all were students; many were athletes. “I have not done a revival many times in my ministry,” said James Sparks, pastor of First DeKalb since 2013 and in ministry 20 years. “After praying about it and feeling led by the Lord, I said we’d do it. … It became so much bigger than I’d anticipated. “Our young people were the catalyst that brought the most amount of change,” Sparks continued. “They brought friends and then [those friends] brought their friends. It changed so
much of the culture of our community as kids were embracing Christ and publicly stating they were ambassadors for Christ.” The culture of America is something the pastor has watched change over the decades. America was much different in the 1990s than it was in the 1950s, and it’s much different today than it was in the ‘90s, Sparks told the TEXAN. About the same time God led him to plan for a revival, God directed him to develop a discipleship ministry for teens that would involve adult members as mentors. It starts in June and will pick up on the change the pastor has seen in the church since the revival, and the culture he’s been watching for years. “Our teenagers were ‘religious’ but struggled with spirituality a little bit,” Sparks said. “Since the revival, the kids who previously just came, now have become a lot more passionate about it. It began to change
First Baptist Church in this small town near Texarkana seats perhaps 400 people, but by the last night of the church’s first revival in years last October, at least 600 people were crowded inside in pews, standing against the walls and overflowing outside. More than 150 people made professions of faith and 30 were baptized the last night. Almost all were students; many were athletes.
“It was a true revival. It was a revival like my grandmother talked about that she’d seen a hundred years ago.
It totally changed our town.” —JAMES SPARKS, PASTOR OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF DEKALB
the dynamic of our church. Kids began to take leadership in worship and mentoring and encouraging each other. “It was a true revival,” the pastor continued. “It was a revival like my grandmother talked about that she’d seen a hundred years ago. It totally changed our town.” It also changed First DeKalb. Adults who had been attenders now are more willing to serve. In a church where members faced the usual trials of life— sickness, deaths, births—“this revival has strengthened their trust in the Lord,” Sparks said. “It’s definitely noticeable.” The heart of the church has always been in serving as Jesus’ hands and feet, the pastor said. First DeKalb was one of the charter churches when the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention was established in 1998. Longstanding ministries include supporting a local pregnancy center, homeless and prison ministries. A three-year partnership with the Dakota Baptist Convention included church planting and support for existing churches in the Black Hills area of western South Dakota. An open-ended partnership with churches in the Texas Panhandle has a similar focus on church planting and strengthening. “We’ve always wanted to reach out in areas of the nation that are left to the margins, in ‘frontier’ places,” Sparks said. “So much of our [the SBC’s] resources are spent in urban areas.” Internationally, First DeKalb helped in disaster recovery in Haiti, and has set its focus more recently on Guatemala, where it ministers through construction, medical aid and children’s outreach.
Globally the church gives 10 percent of its undesignated income to missions through the Cooperative Program, the way Southern Baptist churches work together to spread the gospel worldwide. “I believe that’s just being a good steward of our resources,” Sparks said. “We’ve found we can operate and do all the ministry we want locally, nationally and internationally, and at the same time give 10 percent through CP. We’ve just prayed about it and feel that’s the right thing to do.” Sparks also has prayed about the culture in America today, and believes the right thing to do right now is to focus on preparing the next generation of Christian men and women. “Today’s culture has blurred the lines of gender,” Sparks said. “We’ve started to work with men and boys and what their roles are spiritually.” It’s a discipleship ministry in its fledgling stage that will roll out churchwide in June. “What we want to do is to help them understand who they are as boys, and understand God made them this way, how these masculine traits can better express God and Christ in the community,” the pastor continued. “We want to dig that out and show them how they can express these Godgiven traits and display Christ to their peers, family and in the community.” Women in the church are developing a similar ministry to young girls. “I’ve been noticing for seven to eight years a problem with our culture, how men have been put in a situation in which they weren’t able to be men,” Sparks said, adding that his
conviction about the need to address this grew through his prayer time and “several Godled conversations.” “It’s been confirmed around every corner,” the pastor continued. “The goal is to affirm these young men.” The discipleship study for teen boys in June will start with the story of the Old Testament leader Jacob, who wrestled with God. Men in the church will lead in teaching the boys various wrestling holds. “The goal is to affirm these men,” the pastor said, referring both to the teen boys and to the men leading and mentoring them. “One of the questions men ask is, ‘Do I have what it takes? In my profession, in competition, to be a husband?’ The problem is, no one can answer that question for themselves. “We’re creating opportunities for our adult men to say nobody has that answer down pat, but yes, you do have what it takes,” Sparks continued. “If you reflect Christ on a gender level, you don’t have to feel insecure.” As the church’s young people become confident in themselves, as they continue their confidence in the Lord and reach out with their story of God’s love for them, others in DeKalb and northeast Texas will be drawn to God, the pastor said. “When I look around my community, I see people hungry for a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ,” Sparks said. “We want to create new ways to present Christ so they can see there is a place at the table for them to find forgiveness and to connect with Christ in salvation.”
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‘ R E TU R N TO S E ND E R ’ :
CASKET PROCLAIMS LIFE JOURNEY
Retired Southern Baptist missionary Patricia Stooksbury commissioned a casket that told of her eternal home. STEVENS MORTUARY PHOTO
By Diana Chandler Baptist Press KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Retired Southern Baptist missionary Patricia Stooksbury wanted everyone to know her life’s journey. She had it printed plainly on her pine shipping-crate-modeled casket. “Return to Sender.” “To: Heaven thru Jesus Christ.” “This end up.” “Fragile.” John Green, pastor of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tenn., described the casket as unlike anything he’d ever seen. “I was so impressed because it was such an interesting way to share about her faith,” Green told Baptist Press. “Everyone recognizes a shipping crate is sending you to another destination. That’s the story she was telling, even in her death—the story she was telling all throughout her life, which is that through faith in Christ we can have another home where we’ll spend eternity.” Stooksbury, of Powell, Tenn., returned to her eternal home April 29 at age 70. Her journey was recounted and celebrated May 3 at Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, named in 1953 for Bill Wallace, a medical missionary to China for 17 years until his death at the hands
of the communists in 1951. At her funeral, the custom-built casket was front and center. By then, many friends and family members had signed the casket with well wishes. “God speed.” “See you on the other side.” “Thank God for missionaries.” The International Mission Board commissioned Stooksbury for the mission field in 1976. She spent more than 36 years spreading the gospel, first as a jourPatricia Stooksbury neyman in Ecuador, then as a missionary to Costa Rica and Bolivia. She took medical leave in 2010, returning to the U.S. with pulmonary hypertension and stage 3 kidney failure. She commissioned her casket in 2014 from Stevens Mortuary in Knoxville, the Knoxville News Sentinel wrote at the time. “I think it’s appropriate for the occasion,” the News Sentinel quoted her as saying. “I want those at my funeral to notice my witness. I am going back to God, so I had them put ‘return to sender’ on top.
Survivors wrote messages on the casket of retired Southern Baptist missionary Patricia Stooksbury, who died April 29th in Knoxville, Tenn. STEVENS MORTUARY PHOTO
“‘A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.’ That’s the way Patricia viewed death, something to behold and celebrate. Patricia, we love you and we miss you. We return you to sender.” —CARTER DAVIS, RETIRED SOUTHERN BAPTIST MISSIONARY
“On the sides, in English and Spanish, it says ‘To Heaven [thru] Jesus Christ,’ because it is because of him and what he did that I can get there.” Friends who spoke at her funeral, including her Knoxville pastor Mark Sasser, said she relished heaven. “Here’s what I learned about Pat over the years that I’ve known her—she was ready to go,” said Sasser, pastor of Callahan Baptist Church. “She was ready to go. She had made her preparation.” Stooksbury accepted her call to missions while a teenage member of Wallace Memorial Baptist, under the tutelage of former and longtime pastor Jim McCluskey. She joined Callahan Baptist after retiring from the mission field. Retired Southern Baptist missionar-
ies Carter and Charlotte Davis, longtime friends of Stooksbury, also noted her eagerness for heaven. “Why isn’t the Lord calling me home?” she asked Carter Davis two months before her death, Davis said at the funeral. Davis didn’t know what to tell her, he said, other than God still had use for her on earth. Bringing greetings from the IMB to Stooksbury’s survivors, Davis read from Ecclesiastes 7:1. “A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth,” Davis said. “That’s the way Patricia viewed death, something to behold and celebrate. Patricia, we love you and we miss you. We return you to sender.”
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Beleaguered church buoyed by water from ‘cursed’ land By Casey Watson Baptist Press WEST AFRICA In the Bible, God demonstrates his power through water. Jesus turned water into wine and then walked on top of waves. He even compares himself to water. God still uses water as a conduit for miracles. Last year, he blessed a small well in the desert of West Africa. Shadrach Black, West Africa project coordinator for the Baptist Global Response humanitarian aid organization, recounted the miracle a beleaguered church experienced when it partnered with BGR to provide its village with a fresh water source. At the time, the pastor and congregation craved hope. “It’s difficult to endure in an area where you are not wanted and where you are mocked and scoffed,” Black said in a phone interview. The small band of believers had suffered persecution from their surrounding community. Locals responded to the church’s message with scorn. Husbands mocked Christian wives for their faith. Black said the pastor, Adama Diallo*, did his best to encourage his congregation amid the oppression. They believed a new well could make a difference in their bleak circumstances by improving life in the community and demonstrating the ability of the Christian God to meet needs. The church had placed so much faith in the BGR project that its members felt overjoyed as soon as they saw the drilling equipment arrive. “The women of the church are coming and greeting us,” Black recalled. “The pastor has tears in his eyes as we just
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bring in rigs ... because of the hope that brought in.” And the area desperately needed fresh water. Black described the ground in the region as sandy and insufficient for farming. There’s so little moisture that people slave to coax any vegetation from the soil. They mostly grow millet because it requires small amounts of water. People barely survive, living in mud-brick homes with thatch or tin roofing. The only significant income for villages often comes from young residents who find jobs in cities and send money back to help their communities. Although the church was seeking to improve life for their neighbors, prejudice seemed stronger than thirst. Instead of supporting the project, the community had given the congregation a “cursed” tract of land for the new well. Black said locals believed multiple spirits fought over that patch of dusty soil, and the supernatural struggle prevented anything from growing. But the church decided to proceed anyway. Supported by BGR funds, the drill team set up its equipment and began to work. Team members drilled 10 meters, then 20, and then 30. They found only dust. Finally, workers drilled 40 meters and still the well was dry. The team began the laborious task of packing up the equipment and moving it to another spot on the tract of land to try again. The congregation began to despair, Black learned after his visit to the village. Christian women had to return home where unbelieving husbands mocked the failure. As a result, the project’s success became even more important.
“It was an amazing fountain of testimony to God’s power in this place. And the celebration ... of God’s provision wasn’t just one of physical relief, it was one of justification in the midst of persecution and of trial.” —SHADRACH BLACK, WEST AFRICA PROJECT COORDINATOR FOR THE BAPTIST GLOBAL RESPONSE HUMANITARIAN AID ORGANIZATION
“And so, the women are coming to the pastor as we’re trying to pull up the rig [and] giving these testimonies of what they’re enduring in their homes,” Black said. “And [they’re] just saying, ‘Pastor, we need this. We can’t endure without this.’” The pastor responded by gathering these women together to pray. With renewed hope, workers began the drilling process again. They saw signs of water before the end of the first day. On the second day, mud and water shot high in the air. God had provided! “It was an amazing fountain of testimony to God’s power in this place,” he said. “And the celebration ... of God’s provision wasn’t just one of physical relief, it was one of justification in the midst of persecution and of trial.” While the miracle filled Diallo and the church with joy, it horrified some in the village. Their hate ran too deep. Black said one witch doctor began spreading
the rumor that the well was “poisoned,” and its clear, clean water would turn anyone who drank it into a Christian. Yet, the church didn’t mind the gossip. Their God had shown his might, and his love had flowed over them like the water from their well. Baptist Global Response hopes to see more stories like this happen in the coming year as a result of its second annual Well Dig Dare, a six-week initiative challenging donors to raise the $1,000 needed to fund one well. Although the Well Dig Dare was slated to conclude at the end of April, BGR still encourages individuals and churches to support clean water efforts by gifts and/or prayer. Online gifts can be made at gobgr.org/welldigdare. Pray, meanwhile, that more drill teams will find fresh supplies of water for thirsty communities, demonstrating Christ’s love for those who have yet to experience it. *Name changed for security reasons.
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5This scene is repeated each time drinking water bursts forth from wells drilled through projects coordinated by Baptist Global Response for villages suffering from unsafe water. BP FILE PHOTO
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BRIEFS
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Boy Scouts dropping ‘Boys’ title from youth program The Boy Scouts of America is changing the name of its iconic “Boy Scouts” older youth program to “Scouts BSA.” The name of the organization will remain the same. Trail Life USA (TLUSA), a Christian
alternative to Scouting birthed in 2013, described BSA’s transformation as a “lost journey into the woods of co-ed political correctness.” In 2017, TLUSA had 30,000 members in 750 troops spread across 48 states, but membership has “rapidly grown” in response to BSA’s changes, TLUSA said in a press release. The loss of such gender-specific environments leaves boys “losing out and not developing as strong, capable men because we are not letting them be
Megachurch pastor Andy Stanley created controversy when he delivered a sermon saying Christians should “unhitch” the Old Testament. He preached the sermon in late April, although the debate over it didn’t begin until The Christian Post ran a story in May. “[First-century] church leaders unhitched the church from the worldview, value system, and regulations of the Jewish scriptures,” said Stanley, senior pastor of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Ga. “Peter, James, Paul elected to unhitch the Christian faith from their Jewish scriptures, and my friends, we must as well.” He added: “Jesus’ new covenant, his covenant with the nations, his covenant with you, his covenant with us, can stand on its own two nail-scarred resurrection feet. It does not need propping up by the Jewish scriptures. The Bible did not create Christianity. The resurrection of Jesus created and launched Christianity. Your whole house of Old Testament cards can come tumbling down. The question is: Did Jesus rise from the dead? And the eyewitnesses said he did.” Stanley said his sermon was aimed at those who struggle with Old Testament teachings. “It’s liberating for people who need and understand grace, who need and understand forgiveness,” he said. “And it’s liberating for people who find it virtually impossible to embrace the dynamic, the worldview, and the values system depicted in the story of ancient Israel.” Wesley Hill, associate professor of biblical studies at Trinity School for Ministry, said Stanley’s teachings are nothing new. “He wants to convince those who have lost or are
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fully boys,” Hancock said. “Weakened expectations and participation trophies have led to our culture producing unproductive narcissists.” It is but the organization’s latest move to open its programming to girls as announced in October 2017. BSA began an evolution in 2013 that extended Scouting to homosexuals, and in 2015 opened leadership and employment to gays and bisexuals. —Baptist Press
in the process of losing their faith that the difficulties they may have with the perceived violence and legalism of the Old Testament need not prevent them from coming to Jesus,” Hill wrote at FirstThings.org. “Alas, most of the 39-minute talk can really only be described as an elaborate and educated flirtation with the old Christian heresy of Marcionism—the belief that the Old Testament is not authoritative in matters of Christian doctrine and morals.”
encountered me and told me how much God would change me if I stopped doing it on my own strength. If I fall in love with Christ, he would do everything else,” he explained. Colon, in his Facebook interview, said he prayed for forgiveness as Mateen was standing behind him preparing to shoot. Struggling to walk again in an Orlando hospital, Colon said he also struggled through Satan’s attempts to keep him in sin. “It was still a battle at that moment, because now the enemy is putting everything in your head. The enemy was way harder [after] I decided to change my life. It’s a big process,” Colon told Jeffrey Mccall, founder of For Such a Time Ministry. “People always ask that question, ‘Well, are you straight now, because you go to church, because you’re so close to God,’ [What] I tell them is I’m not gay, I’m not straight, I’m a son of God. And the only lifestyle I promote is faith, nothing else.”
—The Christian Post, FirstThings.org
—Baptist Press, CBN
Pulse survivors say they’ve accepted Christ, no longer gay
Tenn. evangelist Jerry Drace to be 2nd VP nominee
Two survivors of a 2016 gay nightclub massacre who say they are no longer gay celebrated at an ex-LGBT event May 5 in Washington. Luis Javier Ruiz and Angel Colon participated in Freedom March, a worship service and public march including men and women who claim Jesus as their deliverer from homosexual and transgender lifestyles. Both men, who say they accepted Christ as youth before straying into homosexuality, proclaimed their faith on Facebook, Ruiz in written posts and Colon in a Facebook Live interview. “Going through old pictures of the night of Pulse, I remember my struggles of perversion, heavy drinking to drown out everything and having promiscuous sex that led to HIV. My struggles were real!” Ruiz said. “The enemy had its grip, and now God has taken me from that moment and has given me Christ Jesus. I’ve grown to know his love in a deeper level. “I know who I am and I am not defined with who the enemy says I used to be,” Ruiz wrote, “but who Christ Jesus says I am.” Ruiz told CBN that it was the Holy Spirt – and not conversion therapy – that saved him. “It wasn’t a gay-to-straight thing. It was a lost-to-a-saved thing,” he said. “Someone
Tennessee evangelist and pastor Jerry Drace will be nominated for second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Union University professor Ernest Easley announced May 16. A vocational evangelist for more than 40 years, Drace has preached in approximately 1,000 Southern Baptist churches and conducted 300 of his signature Hope of the Home conferences in the U.S. and Great Britain. For the past eight years, he has served as bivocational pastor at Friendship (Tenn.) Baptist Church, the west Tennessee congregation his father once pastored and where Drace came to faith in Christ. Drace is a former president of the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists. “Electing a longtime vocational evangelist/bivocational pastor as an officer of our convention will be another step toward getting our focus back on reaching the lost for Christ,” said Easley, professor of evangelism at Union. He added that Drace “has led his church to have a focus on getting the gospel to the world.” Easley, a former chairman of the SBC Executive Committee, said Drace’s nomination is timely, given the “renewed emphasis on evangelism across the Southern Baptist Convention.” In March, the Jerry Drace
BRIEFS Andy Stanley’s Old Testament comments stir controversy
B A P T I S T
Evangelistic Association— which Drace founded in 1975— sponsored the Evangelists’ Summit ‘18 in Jackson, Tenn., according to SBC LIFE, the journal of the SBC Executive Committee. At the summit, 15 evangelists gathered to discuss how they can continue to help pastors amid declining use of vocational evangelists by churches. Friendship told Baptist Press it gave 18 percent of its undesignated receipts last year in Great Commission Giving, including 9 percent through the Cooperative Program. Friendship baptized approximately a dozen people last year, with an average worship attendance of 85-100, the church told BP. Drace, the author of two books, has conducted numerous international crusades and preached at the 1984 SBC Pastors’ Conference. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Union, a master of divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctor of ministry from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (now Gateway Seminary of the SBC). —Baptist Press
Robert Dixon, disaster relief pioneer, dies at 90 Robert E. Dixon (Bob), a veteran of World War II who went on to serve 28 years as executive director of Texas Baptist Men and two years as director of Royal Ambassadors for Texas Baptists, died May 10. He was 90. Dixon was known for telling others, “You’ll be amazed at what God can do with one small bit of obedience.” Dixon started what is now the standard for disaster relief feeding. In 1967, while responding to Hurricane Beulah’s damage along the Texas coast, Dixon used a buddy burner and created a one-pot meal. He is survived by his wife Jean, two adult daughters and sons-in law, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. —Texas Baptists Men, Restland Funeral Home
Survey: Churchgoers say the tithe doesn’t have to go to church Most churchgoers say the Bible commands them to give. But their tithes don’t always go in the offering plate. Half of Protestant churchgoers say their tithes can go to a Christian ministry rather than a church. A third say tithes can go to help an individual in need. And more than a few (18 percent) say tithes even can go to a secular charity, according to a new study by LifeWay Research. Among pastors who say tithing is still a biblical command, 73 percent define tithing as giving 10 percent of a person’s income. More than half (56 percent) say it should be 10 percent of a person’s gross income. Seventeen percent say it should be 10 percent of a person’s net income. Eleven percent say a tithe is whatever a person sets aside to give, while 7 percent say it is whatever the person actually gives. LifeWay Research surveyed 1,010 Americans who attend services at a Protestant or nondenominational church at least once a month—as well as 1,000 Protestant pastors. It was conducted Aug. 22–30, 2017. —LifeWay Research
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TEXAN places first in BCA publication award WASHINGTON, D.C.—The staff of the Southern Baptist TEXAN was awarded first place in the overall publication di-
CHURCH POSITIONS PASTOR u McNeil BC is seeking a FT pastor for a rural church, located 6 miles northeast of Luling. Worship attendance runs 70-80. Send resume to Milton Shaw at McNeil Baptist Church, 14304 FM 1322, Luling, TX 78648 or miltonshaw40@ yahoo.com. u Calvary Hills BC, San Antonio, seeks a FT pastor. Our pastor recently retired after 19 years of ministry at CHBC. Send resume to CHBC, Pastor Search Committee, 910 W Loop 1604 N, San Antonio, TX 78251. u FBC Van is prayerfully seeking a FT pastor with a heart for Christ and people. Van is a rural east Texas town with a thriving school district and community. Send resume to FBC Van, c/o Pastor Search Committee, PO Box 1050, Van, TX 75790 or fbcvanpastorsearch@ gmail.com. u Crescent Valley BC is seeking FT or bivocational pastor for a small community church. Please send resume to cvbcpastorsearch@ gmail.com or CVBC Pastor Search Committee, 6679 ST HWY 185, Victoria, TX 77905. u Avondale BC in Sweetwater is seeking a bi-vocational pastor. We are affiliated with the SBTC and committed to the BF&M 2000. Send resume to
[email protected]. Cell: 325-242-6657. MUSIC u Northview BC in Bryan is seeking a FT worship pastor. Submit resume to barbsiegert@ yahoo.com or Worship Pastor Search Team, 1809 Tabor Rd, Bryan, TX 77803. u Hillcrest BC of Jasper is seeking a FT music minister. Salary beginning at $60,000, depending on experience/education. If interested, send resume to Hillcrest Baptist Church, 3196 US Hwy 190 W, Jasper, TX 75951 or to
[email protected]. u Lake Athens BC in Athens is seeking a FT music minister to lead blended worship and choirs. Submit resume, references and website address of you leading music, if available, to Lake Athens Baptist Church Personnel Committee, 5151 FM 2495, Athens, TX 75752 or email to
[email protected]. u Anderson Mill BC in NW Austin is seeking a college student or graduate to serve as an interim PT student ministry leader. Contact Rod Minor at
[email protected].
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vision of state Baptist newspapers at the 54th Annual Wilmer C. Fields Awards Competition held April 21 as part of the Baptist Communicators Association (BCA) Workshop. TEXAN designer Russell Lightner received two awards in the design division for publication, taking first place in the state Baptist newspaper category newspaper and first place in newspaper front page.
Jane Rodgers placed second in the photography division news series for coverage of ministry following Hurricane Harvey. Bonnie Pritchett received second place for “God Loves a Cheerful Giver” in feature writing for a single article of more than 1,500 words. Designer Allen Sutton also received two second place awards for material produced for the Southern Baptists of
Texas Convention, including “The True Path” booklet and “SBTC Reaching TEXAS” brochure in the print collateral design division. More than 500 entries were submitted and judged against other state conventions, colleges and universities, state newspapers, children’s homes and national and international missions’ agencies.
u Indian Creek BC in Mineral Wells seeks a PT minister of worship who will be responsible for the life of music within the church and should be sensitive to the worship needs of the congregation. He will plan, evaluate, and conduct a comprehensive music ministry. Send resume to
[email protected]. u FBC Van Alstyne is searching for a PT (15-20 hours/week) worship pastor. Salary is negotiable. Send resume to resumes@ Fbcva.com. u Friendship BC in Weatherford is seeking a PT music minister to lead a blended worship in a rural church averaging 100 people. Please send resume to
[email protected] or Pastor Kevin Welborn, 801 Friendship Rd, Weatherford, TX 76085. Church: 817-594-5940. u Redbud BC in Lubbock is seeking a PT music minister. Go to redbudbaptist.org/2018/02/ music-minister-opening/ to see full job description. Send cover letter and resume to
[email protected]. u FBC Lillian (close to Mansfield) is seeking a PT minister of music. Average worship attendance is 100. Blended worship style. Please send resume to
[email protected]. u Shenandoah BC in Cedar Park is currently looking for a PT/bi-vocational worship leader to lead a blended worship service on Sunday mornings and to lead a few songs before Bible study on Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings. If you’re interested in this position, please contact Senior Pastor Jeff Moore at
[email protected].
STUDENTS u Hyde Park BC in Austin is seeking a FT student pastor to provide leadership to both the main and satellite campuses. Send resume to Frank Hixon at
[email protected]. u Kentuckytown Baptist in Whitewright is seeking a FT youth minister. Please send resume to Kentuckytown Baptist, c/o Personnel Committee, PO Box 723, Whitewright, TX 75491 or
[email protected]. u South Side BC in Abilene is seeking a college pastor to assist the lead pastor by leading the college ministry, but will have additional associate responsibilities. Please contact
[email protected] for more information. u Southside BC in Bowie is seeking a FT youth minister. Within commuting distance to DFW and Wichita Falls. Established youth program and very supportive congregation. Send resume to
[email protected]. u FBC of McAllen is seeking a FT minister of students for grades 7-12. Salary is between $35,000-45,000 based on education and experience. Resumes and/or questions may be sent to
[email protected]. u FBC of Dripping Springs is seeking a PT male student minister to work cooperatively with our female student minister by teaching, mentoring, attending summer camp and mission trips. Minimum age 21, hold a valid driver’s license, drive church activity bus. Please send resume to
[email protected] or mail to Corinne Geary, 203 W Hwy 290, Dripping Springs, TX 78620. u Community BC in Dublin (close to Stephenville) is seeking a PT youth director with experience to lead children on Wednesday nights and teach Sunday school. Please request an application by calling 254-445-4479. For more information, email
[email protected].
u FBC of Gholson in Waco seeks a PT youth minister to direct and evaluate a comprehensive ministry within the church directed toward youth and families. Please send your resume to James Stevens at
[email protected] or call/text questions to 254-709-7273.
COMBINATION u FBC Leonard is seeking a FT associate pastor/minister of students. Please email resume to
[email protected] or mail to First Baptist, PO Box 1146, Leonard, TX 75452. u Good Shepherd BC in Silsbee is seeking a bi-vocational youth and music minister to organize and lead music during the worship services, organize a choir if possible, and teach and lead the youth. Send resume to lisagsbc@ gmail.com. u Southside BC in Henderson is accepting resumes for a FT youth/children’s pastor. Send resume to Brodrick Burks, 794 CR 342, Henderson, TX 75654 or skrub0683@yahoo. com. u FBC Woodsboro is looking for a FT youth/ associate pastor. Interested candidates can send their resume to Jordan.newberry22@ gmail.com.
CHILDREN u Hyde Park BC in Austin is seeking a FT children’s minister to oversee both the main and satellite campuses. Send resume to Frank Hixon at
[email protected]. u FBC Henderson is seeking to fill the position of minister to children and young families. This is a FT staff position with full benefits. Send resume to
[email protected]. u Harmony BC in Weatherford is seeking paid interns to serve in nursery and children’s classes on Sundays and Wednesdays. For more information please contact Lynn Crosslin at
[email protected]. OTHER u Nehemiah’s Vision, Inc. is seeking a FT assistant executive director for operations in the Disaster Recovery Rebuild Ministry, at the home office in Vidor, TX. Please call 409617-1038 and/or send resume to Julie Reid at
[email protected]. u A 10-15 hours per week pastoral intern position is being offered by Good Shepherd Community Church, located in the center of Dallas. Receive training in worship service construction, theology and preaching with hands-on practice in evangelism, visitation and teaching. Call Jeff Gregory with any questions at 214-324-9915. Send resume to
[email protected].
ANNOUNCEMENTS Michael D. Hardaway assumes the role of senior pastor at Glenview Church located at 4805 NE Loop 820 in Fort Worth, 76137, on Sunday, June 3, 2018, during the 10:30 am worship service. On serving the community, Pastor Michael says, “We are not in competition with other churches. Being the best for our community honors God because it recognizes that our community needs to know the urgent message of the gospel.” For more information about Glenview Church, visit glenviewchurch.org.
CLASSIFIEDS u Messiah’s Ranch Christian Camp, near Bryan/College Station, invites you to check us out at messiahsranch.org. It is a great camp!! u Capitol Hill BC, Oklahoma City, OK, is seeking a FT associate pastor/director of music programs. Will oversee worship services, choirs, instrumentalists, media/technology, Fine Arts Academy. Send resume to Search Committee, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, 304 SW 134th St, OKC, OK 73170, or email to
[email protected].
celebration Day June 9th 11 AM -2 PM FOOD TRUCKS WATER SLIDES LIVE MUSIC
629 Farley St Waxahachie, TX www.tbhc.org
u FBC Pineville, LA seeks a minister of music with a passion for leading congregational worship, overseeing an age-graded choir ministry and a growing comprehensive music ministry. We (fbcpineville.net) have a blended service utilizing choir, praise team and an instrumental ensemble. Submit resumes to
[email protected]. u Valley View Southern BC in Snowflake, AZ is receiving resumes for a bi-vocational pastor until June 30, 2018. The candidate must be a Southern Baptist pastor in full support of the Cooperative Program and our mission opportunities and must agree to the BF&M 2000. Valley View SBC is located in a small town of about 2500 residents in northeastern Arizona. The church runs 25 in Bible study and 40 in morning worship. Submit a resume to Pastor Search Team, Valley View Southern Baptist Church, 1212 South Main Street, Snowflake, AZ 85937 or email to JoAnn Calvin at
[email protected]. u Believers Southern BC in in suburban Wichita, KS is seeking a FT minister of music to lead our growing congregation of approximately 300 in blended worship. Please email resumes or recommendations to
[email protected]. u Taylor Memorial BC seeks a Hispanic (bi-lingual) church planter targeting 2nd and 3rd generation Hispanics in Lea County New Mexico. For more information or to submit your resume please contact pastor Zach Souter at
[email protected].
Join us for a celebration on
SUNDAY, JUNE 10 at First Baptist Church in downtown Dallas! Services at 9:15 & 10:50 a.m.
Celebrating 100 years of service
Celebrating 150 years of ministry
to Southern Baptist churches and ministries.
to the Dallas community and beyond.
Dr. O.S. Hawkins, GuideStone President and former First Baptist Dallas Pastor
Dr. Robert Jeffress, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Dallas
O.S. Hawkins will preach in both morning worship services. First Baptist Dallas is located at 1707 San Jacinto Street, one mile from the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. © 2018 GuideStone®
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