8-13-15 ABN Now

EWS

Telling the story of Arkansas Baptists since 1901

Inside: – Fight to defund PPFA ‘far from over’ – From Satan follower to Jesus’ disciple – Building effective church teams – Seabaugh to be honored at parade – Wellspring: ‘Surrender, Sacrifice, Serve’

Cooperative Program Section discusses importance of cooperative missions page 9-20

August 13, 2015

Volume 114, Number 16

13,500 embrace mission cause at Send NA Tim Yarbrough Arkansas Baptist News

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In an event larger than recent Southern Baptist national gatherings, more than 13,500 people converged on Nashville, Tenn., for the 2015 Send North America Conference Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 3-4, to hear inspiring messages, attend instructional breakouts and respond to the mission calling.

“Jesus can change your life,” Ronnie Floyd, president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), told participants at the opening session of the twoday sold-out conference held at the downtown Bridgestone Arena. Floyd emphasized that Send North America is about making plans and designing strategies.

“This is a Jesus conference,” Floyd proclaimed to the roar of thousands.

He joined David Platt,

See SEND page 6

Attendees worship at the 2015 Send North America Conference held Aug. 3-4 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. More than 13,500 from 50 states and four Canadian provinces attended the conference, making it one of the largest Southern Baptist-sponsored national events in recent years. Photo by the North American Mission Board

Churches urged to ‘be proactive’ Cross Church NWA gives Caleb Yarbrough Arkansas Baptist News THE LEGAL structure surrounding the Supreme Court’s decision legalizing same-sex marriage has yet to be sorted out. However, many Christians are already wondering how its enforcement will affect their religious liberty.

Larry Page, executive director of the Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council (AFEC), said the court’s decision redefined same-sex marriage as a civil right, which could affect the religious liberty of those who consider homosexuality a sin.

“In a real sense, the marriage issue and matters relating to sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) will serve as a stalking horse in the pitched battle over religious liberties,” said Page.

According to Page, churches and religious organizations need to be proactive in openly and legally presenting their Bible-based standards and beliefs in order to protect themselves from possible legal issues.

“There is a consensus among experts in this area that churches and religious institutions need to make certain that their governing docu-

ments, policies and procedures adequately set forth standards regarding biblical marriage, qualifications for membership and requirements regarding permissible use of the church’s or organization’s facilities,” he said.

Page said there are a number of ways the ruling may impact Christians, including the government attempting to force ministers to conduct same-sex marriages or churches to host them; however, there are no precedents for such actions and they are only

See PROACTIVE page 8

$1 million to CP in 2015 SPRINGDALE – Cross Church in northwest Arkansas has given $1 million through the Cooperative Program in 2015 – and plans to do the same in 2016.

Ronnie Floyd, Cross Church senior pastor and president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), said the church increased its previous pledge of $900,000 to $1 million and is setting its sights to do the same in 2016.

The ABN classifieds have a new, more readable design!

Read them on Page 26.

The ABN classifieds are a great way to advertise for your church or business.

You can now submit a classified ad via the ABN website at

arkansasbaptist.org/ad

Floyd, in an Aug. 2 email to J.D. “Sonny” Tucker, executive director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, said the increase in CP giving is “where I have wanted us to work toward for the past 3-4 years as a matter of stewardship of our church.”

“Due to us having some monies left from our Greater Things Campaign designated for global missions and

See $1 MILLION page 2

2

August 13, 2015

Digest Stories of interest to Arkansas Baptists

Houston to vote on equal rights ordinance HOUSTON (BP) – Houston’s City Council voted Aug. 5 to put the controversial equal rights ordinance – known as HERO – on the Nov. 3 ballot after a vote to repeal the law failed but not before debate arose over the ballot language. Council members opposed to the ballot language cautioned Mayor Annise Parker the city could find itself again on the losing end of a legal battle over how the city chooses to parse its words for the voters. The vote marked a “dubious” anniversary for HERO opponents. It was one year ago – Aug. 4, 2014 – that Parker and then-City Attorney David Feldman called a press conference to declare “invalid” a referendum to repeal the equal rights ordinance, which gives protected class status to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. On Aug. 5, 2014, petitioners filed a lawsuit claiming Parker, Feldman, City Secretary Anna Russell and the City of Houston overstepped their authority in dismissing the referendum.

Baptist churches sue city over land grab HOUSTON (BP) – Two African-American churches in Houston have filed a lawsuit after what they say is an illegal city attempt to seize their property for an urban renewal project. “When we moved into this area, it was considered the highest crimerate area in the city of Houston,” Latter Day Deliverance Revival Church Pastor Roy Lee Kossie said. “People shot first and asked questions later.

But we love this community. This is where the Lord called us, and this is where we want to stay.”

For more ABN Digest, go to arkansasbaptist.org/abn-digest

Fight to defund PPFA ‘far from over’ WASHINGTON (BP) – While the legislative effort to defund Planned Parenthood failed Aug. 3 in the U.S. Senate, prolife advocates said the fight is far from over.

The Senate voted 53-46 to bring to the floor a bill to eliminate federal funds for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and its affiliates. While a majority of senators favored consideration of the proposal, the attempt to invoke cloture, as it is known, fell short of the 60 votes needed to begin debate on the legislation and establish a path to its passage.

The failure to move the bill, SB 1881, to the floor came in spite of the release during the previous three weeks of videos revealing Planned Parenthood's trade in baby body parts. The four undercover videos show PPFA officials discussing the sale of organs from aborted children for research.

A fifth video was released Aug. 4.

Pro-life leaders expressed their dismay, as well as their devotion to continuing the defunding campaign.

Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics

and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), said he is disappointed the Senate "did not show the moral leadership to stop funding this violence.”

“Now Senators are on record as for or against, and the debate goes on,” he said.

"We will not rest until the fundamental protections of right to life and liberty apply to all, regardless of age, income, or stage of development," said Moore, who endorsed the Senate bill in a July 30 letter to leaders of both houses.

Rep. Diane Black, R.-Tenn., who has introduced a defunding bill in the House of Representatives, said the Senate vote "was a triumph of politics over principle and deceit over truth."

"The fight to defund Planned Parenthood is far from over," said Black, whose legislation would place a oneyear moratorium on funds for PPFA while Congress investigates the organization. "We will not give up, and we will not stand down."

Sen. Joni Ernst, R.-Iowa, sponsor of the rejected Senate defunding bill, said she will continue to urge the Department of Health and Human

Services to cooperate with investigations of Planned Parenthood. "I remain committed to getting these answers because protecting our most vulnerable is an important measure of any society," she said.

The roll-call vote demonstrated the Democratic Party's continued commitment to Planned Parenthood and other abortion rights organizations.

Only two Democrats – Sens.

Joe Donnelly, of Indiana, and Joe Manchin, of West Virginia – voted to bring the bill to the floor.

Sen. Mark Kirk, of Illinois, was the lone Republican to oppose advancing the legislation. Senate Majority Leader

Mitch McConnell also voted, "Nay," but only in order to be able to bring the bill up again as required by Senate rules. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R.-S.C., would have added another vote for cloture, but he missed the roll call to be in New Hampshire for a Grand Old Party presidential candidate forum.

A Planned Parenthood executive criticized the defunding attempts as "political games" Aug. 4. In its latest financial report (2013-14), PPFA said it received more than $528 million in government grants, contracts and reimbursements. It performed 327,653 abortions during 2013.

$1 million

proud of them,” said Floyd, adding, “While this is not ultimately important in eternity, we know it is reality simply due to what is a matter of record. What we are doing this year with this other gift (will) expedite us giving $1 million this year through CP, and from here on if we adopt our new budget, our budget itself will allocate $1 million. We give God praise.

“We believe in the importance of not only reaching our region, but our state, nation and world. Cross Church has the missional vision: Reaching Northwest Arkansas, America, and the World for Jesus Christ.

We are grateful to God for you and for our partnership with our Southern Baptist Convention. Please pray God blesses our church financially.”

Tucker, in a statement provided to the Arkansas Baptist News, applauded Floyd and Cross Church. “(It) is $100,000 more than they had originally planned to give, and an increase of almost $300,000 over

last year,” he said.

“Many SBC churches of all sizes across Arkansas maintain a strong commitment to missions through Southern Baptists’ unified missions giving strategy called (the) Cooperative Program, and I am tremendously thankful for their sacrificial giving,” he said.

“I do not want to minimize those churches and neither does Pastor Floyd. However, I believe it is important to recognize the commitment of Cross Church and SBC President Ronnie Floyd to missions through the Cooperative Program.”

Tucker said Frank Page, president of the SBC Executive Committee, told him that only a few churches historically have given this much through the CP. “This is a huge financial commitment by Cross Church, enabled initially by ending their national television ministry and other church ministries. Dr. Floyd is committed to a balanced approach in fulfilling the Great Commission

regionally, statewide, nationally and globally,” he said.

“This commitment to missions through the Cooperative Program means that Cross Church is impacting national and global ministries as well as Arkansas ministries such as church planting, church revitalization, reaching students, disaster relief and the ministries of Arkansas Baptists’ agencies and institutions.

Cross Church’s commitment to Cooperative Program missions is also accompanied by a fierce commitment to their own mission endeavors, such as community missions, national and international mission trips, church planting and giving generously to other missions offerings.”

Tucker concluded, “I want to celebrate this milestone in the ministry of Cross Church and my friend, Ronnie Floyd.

Cooperative missions in Arkansas are stronger than ever as churches like Cross Church and others sacrifice together to reach the world for Jesus Christ.”

continued from page one relief, we were going to take $100,000 from this account and forward to the Arkansas Baptist Convention this week, along with our final two monthly payments of our budget this year ... August and September ... resulting in our church reaching this goal of $1 million in this budget year,” said Floyd in the email.

“The check containing the church’s August and September CP gifts, plus the additional money, was sent to the Arkansas Baptist Convention on Monday, August 3, bringing the church’s CP gifts to $1 million a full 55 days before … its fiscal year ended.”

The $1 million given by Cross Church means it joins only a few Southern Baptist churches in history to give at least $1 million through the Cooperative Program.

“This is a huge advance for our church, and I am really

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., co-sponsored a bill in the U.S. Senate that would defund Planned Parenthood. Screen capture from CNN.com via Baptist Press

www.arkansasbaptist.org

3

From Satan follower to disciple of Jesus Jessica Vanderpool Arkansas Baptist News OMAHA – Fifty-four-year-old Stephanie Jean Bolls just went back to prison – but this time through the front door. Bolls, who used to be an inmate, returned to serve as master of ceremonies at a retreat for those who have been involved in a Christian program for inmates called Principles and Applications for Life (PAL).

Eventually, she wants to be a chaplain’s assistant for the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

“Who I was yesterday is not who I am today, and who I am today cannot be compared to who I am in God’s eyes,” said Bolls, who is now a member of Lake Land Baptist Church, Omaha.

A native Arkansan from the Ozarks, Bolls said she had chosen to follow a path of paganism and witchcraft as an adult.

She said she cast her first spell at age 11.

“I refer to myself as having been a full-time missionary for Satan – never believing that was who I was serving,” she said. “If you’ve ever known anyone who started someone drinking, using drugs or committing fornication, you’ve known one of the adversary’s missionaries.”

For more than 16 years, she worked as a licensed practical nurse in long-term care – until she hurt her back in 2006 and went on disability. This shift in life “devastated” Bolls, whose identity was wrapped up in her job as a nurse. She became addicted to morphine, and in 2011, she stabbed a man who had stolen liquid morphine from her.

“It is only by the grace of God that he survived the attack,” said Bolls.

She later confessed to the crime, turned herself in and was incarcerated at age 49 in the Carroll County Detention Center for a little more than a year. During that time, she chose to stop taking morphine and detoxed alone in a holding cell for more than five months.

She eventually pled guilty to first-degree battery and was sentenced to the Arkansas Department of Corrections. She arrived at the McPherson Unit in Newport in May 2012.

And it was in the McPher-

Digest Stories of interest to Arkansas Baptists

Satanist statue prompts Mich. Baptist response

Stephanie Jean Bolls returns to prison “through the front door” to serve as master of ceremonies at a Christian retreat for inmates. son Unit that her life took a into Tetelestai House, a Christian transitional living facil180-degree turn.

“I walked into prison only ity for women. She said “teteknowing two things: I didn’t lestai” is the Greek word for “it want any part of my old life, is finished,” which were Jesus’ and I wanted to be around last words on the cross.

“My debt has been paid on godly people,” she said.

So she applied for the PAL the cross!” Bolls said.

Her former self was a program, through which she woman who did whatever she finally understood the gospel.

“It was on that concrete wanted without caring who knew it. f loor in To d a y , prison that she is a I knelt w o m a n down a involved witch but in minisI stood up try and a a child of woman who God – a is earning Christian – a business my eternal administradestination tion degree forever from North changed!”

Arkansas said Bolls.

College in “My very Harrison. thinking “When began to people ask change! I me what no longer I’m going saw the to (do) with concrete Stephanie Jean Bolls with her pastor, Carl the degree, walls or the Garvin, of Lake Land Baptist Church.

I usually razor wire laugh and over the fences. I saw prison as a mis- tell them that I want to grow sion field where new creatures up and be a secretary. The – like me – were being birthed truth is that my heart’s desire is to become a missionary,” into the kingdom of God.” After a total of 21 months she said. “And I also desire to in the McPherson Unit, dur- return to the mission field of ing which she worked in the prison – this time as a chapChristian barracks, she was re- lain’s assistant for the Arkansas leased on parole. She moved Department of Corrections.”

She is also involved in the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) at North Arkansas College in Harrison.

“At North Arkansas College, the BCM has been an oasis I can go to in the middle of the week, hear the Word of God and fellowship with believers,” she said.

She also serves as assistant to the director, living on site at Tetelestai House.

“Jean has played a key role in the success of Tetelestai House,” said Tracy Lindsey, director at Tetelestai House.

“She continues to be a powerful witness to all who come through our doors. I was overjoyed when Jean accepted our offer to stay on as staff at Tetelestai House. She has dedicated her life to serving God, and I enjoy watching the Lord work in and through her life. Jean is a great example of God’s mercy and grace. She loves the Lord with all her heart, and she is a joy to be around.”

Carl Garvin, pastor of Lake Land Baptist Church, said it is a joy to be her pastor.

“I have delighted in watching Jean grow in the Lord,” he said. “I’ve watched as the Lord has opened doors of ministry for Jean, and although some doors have been challenging and presented some uncertainties, she has never

See BOLLS page 16

DETROIT, Mich. (BP) – Michigan Baptists will not waver in their efforts to spread the gospel throughout their state, even after The Satanic Temple (TST) has unveiled a bronze, 9-foottall statue of Baphomet in Detroit, says Tim Patterson, a Baptist leader in the state. “People have been worshipping Satan since Satan fell from heaven,” said Patterson, executive director for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan said. “That is nothing new at all. I think what is new about it is the public way it is being portrayed in the media. I’m not up in arms about it,” he noted. “Our concern is what we’ve been called to do, and we’ve been called to proclaim the gospel, to plant churches, and to make a difference for the kingdom.” Nearly 700 people gathered July 25 in a Detroit warehouse around midnight for the unveiling of the Baphomet monument, which TST unsuccessfully tried to erect beside a 10 Commandments monument in Oklahoma two years ago.

Gospel, politics topic at Aug. 5 ERLC event NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Political engagement by evangelical Christians calls for a witness shaped by the gospel of Jesus, Southern Baptists were told at a conference Aug. 5 in Nashville. Speakers at The Gospel and Politics – the second national conference sponsored by the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission – sought to help the more than 630 registrants think about how to approach politics in a changing culture a year before the next presidential election.

For more ABN Digest, go to arkansasbaptist.org/abn-digest

Editorial&Opinion 4

August 13, 2015 “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have...”

It’s time to make eye contact

F

or a number of years as mission strategist and leader of the church relations department at the North American Mission Board, I had the privilege of traveling throughout the Southern Baptist Convention helping dozens of local churches, associations and state conventions to more fully implement an Acts 1:8 strategy.

As a result, I was both humbled and amazed by the passion God had created in His people for His mission.

One of the “hot spots” for Acts 1:8 mission involvement was among the churches that make up the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. Subsequently, a number of Arkansas churches were included in stories and reports of a high level of mission engagement.

Since returning to Arkansas in 2011, my understanding of

the commitment and passion Arkansas Baptists have for the mission of Jesus Christ on earth has only grown as I have served as state Baptist editor.

No matter where one goes in the state, churches can be found reaching out to their communities (Jersusalem), their region Pressing On (Judea), Tim Yarbrough their nation (SaPhil. 3:14 maria) and their world (the “ends of the earth”).

While not all churches can have a comprehensive mission strategy that includes sending members to the four fields of Acts 1:8, all can contribute to the work of Southern Baptists through the denomination’s unified mission budget, the Cooperative Program.

While the Cooperative Program continues to get

maligned by some as being bureaucratic, faceless and not as effective as local churches and their own mission causes, I believe the Cooperative Program still stands, undoubtedly, as perhaps the greatest accomplishment of the Southern Baptist Convention.

A pamphlet, “Southern Baptists in World Service,” written by E.P. Alldredge for the Sunday School Board in 1936, aptly captured the essence of the Cooperative Program started by Southern Baptists in 1925.

It stated simply, “(It’s) the beginning of a new day in Southern Baptist life and work.”

I do not claim to be an expert on the subject, but having served in the denomination for 25-plus years, I can testify to hundreds of ministries that have been made possible by support provided by the Cooperative Program.

For one, the Arkansas Baptist News is dependent on the vital funds coming through the Cooperative Program – which constitutes about 45 percent of our operating budget.

Finally, have you noticed in recent years the habit of people who live in your town of not making eye contact?

There was a time when it was seen as extremely impo-

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

Cartoon by Gary Thomas

lite not to acknowledge someone whom you passed along a sidewalk. Today, that sense of civility seems to have been lost.

Mission work can be like that sometimes. It might be easier to glance away, not include it in our budget and just pretend it doesn’t exist.

In 2015, it’s time for all of us to make “eye contact” for the mission cause of Christ.

Why don’t we go?

A

s a pastor, I often hear excuses. In fact, almost every time I invite someone to church I hear an excuse.

“I know I haven’t been to church lately, but I’m just so busy.”

“Sunday is my only day to sleep in.”

“I can worship anywhere. I don’t need to be in church.”

“Sunday is my family day.”

Christians rightly accuse unchurched people of using “every excuse in the book” to stay away. However, we Christians use our own excuses to stay in the church.

I say “excuses” because if we would stop for a moment and

Volume 114, Number 16 USPS08021 Member of the Association of State Baptist Publications and the Arkansas Press Association

analyze what we are actually saying, we would notice that these so-called “reasons” for neglecting missions reflect either a misunderstanding of biblical teaching, a lack of genuine faith or Viewpoint simply an outKim Reeder right refusal to be obedient.

“I prayed about it, and I just don’t feel led.”

“It’s too expensive.”

“We need to stay in our own field.”

“We can’t give away all our money.”

These are just a few of the excuses Christians use. Why

do we believe that the only people who should go to the world are the career missionaries? If the only people who are passionate for missions are the “missionaries,” what does that say about our own willingness to obey the Great Commission? Even if we are not called to be career missionaries, we can certainly participate in short-term opportunities. Yet many people even shy away from these.

Churches often experience a sort of “redemption and lift” when it comes to missions. A young man, woman or family will experience a drastic move of God and be drawn toward the mission field. Their spiritual fire is

attractive to those around them. It seems everything they touch is filled with the life and vigor of Jesus Christ.

Then, they surrender to the call to go to an international area, and take that passion with them. This happens so often that when a person in a church feels a strong desire to see the world won for Christ, people around them automatically conclude they are called to lifelong missions.

Sometimes people around them insist they are called to missions. It seems we have created a culture that says Christians who are not called to career missions do not have to concern themselves with the world. That is the job of

missionaries. If they do want to show that they care, they can ease their conscience by simply writing a check to help those who are going. The missionaries go and plant churches, and the rest of us stay and work our “field.” If we are really going to be obedient to Christ, we must be committed not only to our local community, but to those who have never seen or heard the gospel! We may not be called to international missions, but for every missionary on the field, we need dozens at home with a fire in their hearts to see the gospel proclaimed.

Kim Reeder is pastor of Barton Chapel Baptist Church in Tyronza.

Telling the story of Arkansas Baptists since 1901

Arkansas Baptist News (ISSN 1040-6056) is published bi-weekly except the last issue of the year (25 issues) by the Arkansas Baptist Newsmagazine, Inc., 10 Remington Drive, Little Rock, AR 72204.

SUBSCRIPTION rates are $7.75 per year (Every Resident Family Plan), $8.75 per year (Group Plan), $15 per year (Individual). Arkansas Baptist News, P.O. Box 552, Little Rock, AR 72203; phone 501-376-4791; toll-free 800838-2272; email: abn@arkansasbaptist.org.

Periodical Postage paid at Little Rock, AR. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Send Letters to the Editor to tim@arkansasbaptist. org or to our mailing address. Letters must be typed, doublespaced and 300 words or less (fewer words the better). Letters must be signed and marked “for publication” and may be edited to fit space requirements.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Arkansas Baptist News, P.O. Box 552, Little Rock, AR 72203.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Lyndon Finney, Little Rock, president; Jeff Thompson, Fort Smith, vice president; Mary Kisor, Pottsville, secretary; Bob Beach, Little Rock; James Bryant, Harrison; Jennifer Bryant, New Edinburg; Stephanie Copes, Crossett; Carl A. Garvin, Omaha; Jennifer Booth, Little Rock; Rickey Rogers, Arkadelphia; Troy Sharp, Desha; Doug Hibbard, Almyra; Mike Sheets, Texarkana; Mike Vinson, Corning; Juel Zeiser, Hot Springs Village.

Tim Yarbrough, editor/exec. director Jessica Vanderpool, senior assist. editor Caleb Yarbrough, assistant editor Jeanie Weber, administrative assistant Becky Hardwick, business manager Advertising: ads@arkansasbaptist.org Phone 501-376-4791, ext. 5161 Toll-free 800-838-2272, ext. 5161

www.arkansasbaptist.org

Teaching through the Baptist Faith & Message Family Matters Ben Phillips

I

n 1988, when I expressed a call to ministry at my home church in Herrin, Ill., the pastor at the time, Charles Dampeer, gave me a copy of the Baptist Faith and Message and encouraged me to read it and become familiar with what Southern Baptists believe. I read that for the first time as a sophomore in college.

Ronnie Floyd, Southern Baptist Convention president and pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, has been preaching a series through the Baptist Faith and Message this summer and suggested that pastors teach through a series to help church members better understand what Southern Baptists believe.

Although I have read through the Baptist Faith and Message, I have not walked and taught my children through it. There are 18 articles, which can easily be read through as a family in one month.

You can download a copy of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message here: sbc.net/bfm2000/bfm2000. asp.

Here is a suggested strategy.

Read through each article out loud together and then read at least one verse of Scripture or more if time allows and then take some time to discuss.

Divde the reading up by articles and cover one per day, Monday through Friday, for four weeks (on the first week, break article 2 into its three sections and cover one per day). Following this plan, you will cover articles 1-3 the first week, articles 4-8 the second week, articles 9-13 the third week and articles 14-18 the fourth week.

Could it be that one of the reasons many young adults abandon church in college and beyond is that they never really had anyone seriously disciple them in what they believed and why? Does your child know what they believe and why? Do you? Take the initiative this fall to grow in your understanding of what Southern Baptists believe and help disciple the next generation by taking a one-month journey to read the Baptist Faith and Message together as a family.

Ben Phillips serves on the Arkansas Baptist State Convention evangelsim and church health team.

5

Cooperative Program: fuel for the mission F

or we do not want you to be ignorant, breathren.” measure. They need us!

That is one of my favorite phrases in Scripture. MyriPaul testified that God was faithful on the field and ad preacher jokes have been told using this turn of phrase. thanked those who were faithful prayer warriors. He But every time Paul uses this statement it has credited their spiritual work as part of the far deeper significance than as a whimsical victory. He later challenged them to give introduction to a point. In 2 Corinthians sacrificially to the ongoing mission work Viewpoint 1:8, Paul is pointedly calling the church’s atto which they had committed themselves.

Greg Addison tention to information that he considers vital That formula has not changed. for them to know. He wants them to know We must be aware so we know how vital that their mission work abroad was it is that we give and pray. Your so difficult that they were “burdened Cooperative Program giving is the beyond measure.” fuel for their work. Without it, Mission work is just as burdenthey labor without the resources some and dangerous today as it was necessary to impact the areas in in Paul’s day. Our missionaries are which they serve. Your committed in constant danger in many places and passionate prayer covers them around the world. They are daily batin the battle. It fuels their hearts tling real spiritual warfare most of us the way our giving fuels their rewill never face. We are sending them sources. into places where no one has ever heard the name of Jesus.

The Arkansas Baptist State Convention is here to conThey are trying to break ground that has never even been nect you. We can help you learn all of the incredible things plowed, much less seen the sowing of gospel seeds.

God is doing through the incredible force of Cooperative Program missionaries whom He has called. Let us help Unfortunately, we are every bit as unaware as the you. Give sacrificially. Become a prayer warrior. We can Corinthian church. We need to become informed. We share their burdens and help them share the gospel. must educate ourselves as to the work of our missionaries Greg Addison is associate executive director of the Arkansas abroad. While too many of us go about our daily lives, Baptist State Convention. our brothers and sisters in Christ are burdened beyond

The Cooperative Program and your Foundation T

bution, the Foundation is able to provide the following hanks to the Cooperative Program, the Arkansas services for ministries and individuals through CooperaBaptist Foundation has had the privilege of serving tive Program support.

Arkansas Baptists since 1949. Being the trust agency for – Services for churches, agencies and institutions: the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, the Foundation institutional consulting and guidance, gift management manages funds for God’s work in Arkansas and around the and administration, development officers open forum and world. As a result, the Foundation is involved with almost church administrators open forum. every Baptist ministry.

– Services for individuals: free wills, It is encouraging to note that during the Kingdom trusts, powers of attorney and living wills Foundation’s history, more than $300 milFoundation for ordained ministers or missionaries servlion has been distributed to these ministries Bobby Thomas ing Arkansas Baptists. and individuals. These distributions are rep– Free estate and charitable planning resentative of the 1,200-plus gift agreements assistance for all Arkansas Baptists, including drafts for the Foundation administers. Behind each of these distributhose looking to make a gift of kingdom impact. tions there are at least two incredible stories: God continues to bless the work of the Foundation – The individuals. These are the generous men and through the Cooperative Program, and for that we are forwomen who have given, therefore leaving a lasting legacy of ever thankful. We have come a long way since the Execusupport to God’s work. There is a wonderful story behind tive Board’s report to the 1953 convention described the each of these individuals.

Foundation as “a department financed by the Executive – The ministries. These distributions represent CoopBoard through the Cooperative Program” (1953 ABSC erative Program support, help for families and children, Annual, Page 59). scholarships for students, support for missionaries, fundThank you, Arkansas Baptists, for allowing us to serve ing for church ministries and almost every other ministry through your Cooperative Program giving. that Southern Baptists utilize.

Bobby Thomas is president of Arkansas Baptist Foundation.

In addition to managing charitable resources for distri-

Support the Arkansas Baptist News!

A fund for the Arkansas Baptist News (ABN) has been established at the Arkansas Baptist Foundation. Consider helping the official news journal of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention for years to come by including the ABN in your will or by making a contribution to the ABN. Contact the Foundation at 501-376-0732 for more information.

6

SEND

continued from page one president of the International Mission Board (IMB); Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board (NAMB), and Randy Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, on stage. IMB and NAMB jointly sponsored the event.

“We are a Jesus people, and this is Jesus’ hope. Jesus can change your life; that is the very heart of who we are,” said Floyd during a time of focused prayer. “When no one believes in us, He believes in us.”

Floyd added, “We are here to celebrate Jesus. This is about being available to Him.” Conference organizers said the event included church members and leaders from 50 states and four Canadian provinces, making it one of the largest Southern Baptistsponsored events in years.

As a sign of unity and cooperation, Platt and Ezell took the stage together to welcome attendees and lead in prayer.

Platt read from Scripture, asking everyone across the arena to kneel together and pray.

“We all exist for global missions,” he said, noting the vast and expansive Southern Baptist missions enterprise needs men, women, college students, churches, pastors – everyone working together through the local church.

“We exist to serve and to come up under the Church,” Platt said, urging participants to be open to where God might call them to

August 13, 2015 serve as missionaries.

Ezell noted that 300 pastors were in attendance, with one pastor bringing 150 of his members.

“We are so humbled you would trust us enough to bring your people to be here,” he said.

Louie Giglio, the pastor of Passion City Church located in metro Atlanta, spoke during the evening session Aug. 3, declaring that since Jesus is the only way to salvation, all believers should share their testimony about the resurrected Christ.

“The plan is that we will be His witnesses (and) tell people about the One who is no longer dead,” he said.

“It is all about the Name of Jesus,” Giglio said. “We have all been given the privilege to carry the Name.”

“I like that this conference is called ‘send’ and not ‘sit,’” he said.

In addition to Giglio and Platt, general session speakers included J.D. Greear, pastor of Summit Church in Raleigh, N.C.; Vance Pitman, senior pastor of Hope Church in Las Vegas, and city catalyst for Send Las Vegas, and Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC).

One session featured an interview with Tony Dungy, former NFL coach.

Worship was led by The Passion Band from Passion City Church in Atlanta, Ga., Shane and Shane and David Crowder. The event wrapped up the evening of Aug. 4 with a concert by Casting Crowns.

More than 30 individual

Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board (left), and David Platt, president of the International Mission Board, jointly kick off the Send North America event in Nashville, Tenn. Attendees (below left) pray at Bridgestone Arena. breakout sessions were held between plenary sessions and – due to the size of the crowd – occupied various locations in downtown Nashville, including large meeting rooms at nearby hotels and the Music City Center.

Breakout session topics ranged from Stepping into Mission in Everyday Life, Mission that Leads to Planting Churches, Christianity in the City and Millennials on Mission in the Local Church, to Foundations for Evangelism and Mission, Empowering Musicians to Lead the Church and Releasing Small Groups to Engage Mission.

Floyd served as moderator of a Sending Church panel breakout Aug. 4 that included Greear; Pitman; Alex Himaya, senior pastor of theChurch.at in Illinois, and Bryant Wright,

senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga. Panel participants were asked to cite examples of churches that do missions well. Floyd offered his own example, recounting a trip to Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Vestavia Hills, Ala. Floyd said it impressed him how well the church’s senior pastor, Danny Wood, and his staff prepared their people to respond to the call to mission and engage in it – so much so that just a few weeks after being in the church, Floyd was stopped by someone while traveling in Israel who asked if he was on his way to Jordan.

Floyd responded, “Yes,” and the Shades Mountain member prayed for him and gave him travel advice for entering the country.

The event at the conference that garnered perhaps the most media attention was the appearance of U.S. presidential candidates Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 4. The candidates were interviewed by ERLC’s Moore, who posed a number of questions on a variety of topics, including those about Planned Parenthood and religious freedom. Ironically, Southern Baptists in the race for the White House did not appear. Bush and Rubio are both Catholic. Southern Baptists running for president are South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a member of Corinth Baptist Church in Seneca, S.C.; Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a member of First Baptist Church in Houston, and

Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor and former president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.

“Abortion should not be funded by the government – any government,” Bush told Moore in response to a campaign to defund Planned Parenthood after the organization was secretly videoed offering to sell the body parts of unborn babies.

“Religious liberty is not just being able to believe what you want. It’s about being able to live out that faith,” Rubio told Moore in response to a question about the assault on religious freedom in the U.S. The appearance of Bush and Rubio seemed unusual to some conference attendees, who took to social media to voice their concerns.

“I came here to learn about how to be missional in daily life, but instead I got a political forum!” wrote Jake Bradley of Knoxville, Tenn., on Twitter.

Mark Lindsey of Big Spring, Texas, added, “Giving political platforms for Rubio and Bush.

Jesus conference? #disappointed.”

But the overwhelming response of attendees to the Send North America event was positive, with comments being made throughout the event that it was “outstanding” and “life-changing.”

This story was compiled from reporting by the Arkansas Baptist News, various media sources and the North American Mission Board.

Contact Tim Yarbrough at tim@arkansasbaptist.org.

www.arkansasbaptist.org

7

‘Surrender, Sacrifice, Serve’ at Wellspring Jessica Vanderpool Arkansas Baptist News SEARCY – “Find out what He (God) wants you to do, and then do it,” exhorted Barbara Schleiff, a retired International Mission Board (IMB) missionary and member at Park Hill Baptist Church in Arkadelphia.

She was one of the speakers at the annual Wellspring event held July 24-25 at First Baptist Church, Searcy. About 200 people attended this year’s event.

Addressing the conference theme “All for YOU …

Surrender. Sacrifice. Serve,” Schleiff reminded attendees that Jesus surrendered to His Father’s will before He sacrificed His life. Likewise, Christians must also surrender to God’s will before sacrificing and serving.

“Look at your hands – Do they belong to Jesus? Look at your feet – Do they belong to Jesus? What about your mouth?” Schleiff asked, adding, “It’s about giving your whole life – every minute every day. ... He wants every bit of us.”

Wellspring, which is a women’s missions celebration hosted by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) missions team and Arkansas

Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU), included worship, fellowship, speakers, celebrations of God’s work, hands-on missions opportunities and breakout conferences.

A report was brought by Claudia Mendoza, of Union Femenil Misionera, the Hispanic WMU, about their service project through which they made nearly 200 dresses for girls in Honduras.

Special guests included Schleiff and Jennifer Brungardt, a current IMB missionary. Music was provided

by One Accord, of Park Hill Baptist Church, North Little Rock.

Breakout sessions focused on topics such as mentoring, pregnancy care centers, yielding fruit in old age, praying for the nations and more.

Linda Ellison, of Family Fellowship Baptist Church, Jonesboro, said she particularly enjoyed the breakout session on Bible storying, which taught attendees how to connect Bible stories to people’s personal stories.

“It was a wonderful session,” she said.

She added that the part of the event she enjoyed the most was the missions project. She said her group visited a nursing home.

Other groups prayer walked

Susan Yates, of Moffett Baptist Church, Moffett, was one of about 200 people who attended the 2015 Wellspring event July 24-25 at First Baptist Church, Searcy. Wellspring is a women’s missions celebration hosted by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention missions team and the Arkansas Woman’s Missionary Union. Photo by Jessica Vanderpool the community, worked at two resale shops helping sort and stock items and served at several ministries.

Also during the event, attendees took an offering that will be used to send two women to Oasis 2015, an IMB retreat for single career missionaries in the Asia Affinities. Participants also held a basket silent auction, the proceeds of which went to the Mary Eagle Fund at the WMU Foundation. They raised $3,247 through the offering and $1,198 through the silent auction.

Arkansas WMU’s annual meeting was also held in

conjunction with the event.

Shana Chaplin, of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, was elected as president of Arkansas WMU. Gayla Parker, of Lifeway Baptist Church in Little Rock, will serve as Arkansas WMU executive director beginning Sept.

1.

Other program personnel included Parker; Janet Erwin, editor of Missions Mosaic magazine for national WMU; Laura Macfarlan, of First Baptist Church, Siloam Springs; Ann Rice, of First Baptist Church, Little Rock; Teresa “Bit” Stephens, of the ABSC college and young leaders team;

Dianne Swaim, of Second Baptist Church, Little Rock; Laura Wells, WMU executive director consultant at the Missouri Baptist Convention; Jana McKnight, of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, and Vickey Lloyd, of University Baptist Church in Fayetteville.

“For me the spirit of the meeting was wonderful. I mean, it’s the best that we’ve had in a long time in the state. (It was) a really good, sweet spirit,” said Debbie Moore, Arkansas Baptist State Convention mission team member.

Contact Jessica Vanderpool at jessica@arkansasbaptist.org.

8

PROACTIVE continued from page one

Addison echoed Page and said that the “most important thing” for churches to do right now is to “put into their substantive documents that define speculative at this time.

He said that his organiza- how they function as a church tion, the AFEC, as well as the and who they are as a church, a Arkansas Baptist State Con- clear statement of faith that is vention (ABSC), Alliance De- founded on Scripture.”

“The protections fending Freedom and that we have as relithe Christian Legal gious organizations in Society are all good the Constitution, both resources for churches in the state of Arkanand Christian organisas and in the United zations to contact for States, are based on information on what the fact that we have legal steps they should this freedom of relitake regarding the region and that we are cent court ruling.

Page exercising our religious Additionally, the rights,” said Addison.

Southern Baptist Eth“And so because of ics and Religious Libthat, it is important erty Commission has to say we are Biblepublished the downbelieving Christians, loadable free resource and this is what the Protecting Your MinisBible says about those try From Sexual Orienthings. That is what tation Gender Identity puts us in the category Lawsuits. It is available Addison of being protected and at erlc.com/store/ exercising protected rights,” he product_detail/18876.

Greg Addison, associate ex- said.

Page said that while Chrisecutive director of the ABSC, was an attorney prior to sur- tians may be tempted to see rendering to vocational min- the court’s ruling as a deathistry. He now serves as one blow to the institution of of the point men leading the marriage, they should always remember that God ABSC’s response to is in control and that legal issues, such as His Law cannot be althe recent court decitered by men. sion.

“Arkansas Baptists Addison said the need to know that no ABSC is working courts, presidents or closely with godly congresses, nor any attorneys, some of other earthly or dewhom are members Listen to a podcast of Arkansas Baptist about reaction to the monic powers, can change God’s Truth. churches, in order to same-sex marriage He ordained mar“stay on top of the is- ruling and how it riage and prescribed sues as they unfold,” impacts churches at its parameters – one and come up with arkansasbaptist.org/ man and one woman strategies the state abn-podcast – nothing more and convention’s more than 1,500 affiliated churches nothing less,” he said.

“The world deserves the and missions can use to legally truth. It should be couched protect themselves.

“We are almost daily review- in love without rancor, hosing the newest things that are tility or militancy. But even happening; we are consulting when it is unwelcomed, the with our legal minds in our world needs to hear the truth. churches and that we are con- … God is still on His throne, nected with so that as things He’s still in charge and His unfold and as the newest Son’s mandate to us to be ‘salt’ things come out, we are on top and ‘light’ has no expiration of all of those,” said Addison. date,” said Page.

Contact Caleb Yarbrough at “It is new ground, and it is also caleb@arkansasbaptist.org. shifting ground.”

Subscribe to the Arkansas Baptist News ! arkansasbaptist.org/ subscribe

August 13, 2015

ABSC motorcycle ride rescheduled for Aug. 27-28 LITTLE ROCK – The third Arkansas Baptist pastor/ staff motorcycle ride has been rescheduled for Aug. 27-28.

The ride was previously

scheduled for May 28-29 but was canceled due to rain.

Registration for the ride is required. To register, visit arkansasbaptist.org/ride15.

More details about the ride

are available at absc.org/ bikeride.

For more information, contact Marcus Brown at 501-376-4791, ext. 5128, or email mbrown@absc.org.

Cooperative Program

www.arkansasbaptist.org

9

Arkansas Baptists share Christ through Cooperative Program re-energized student worship band. Spontaneous baptisms on Father’s Day. An elderly A couple’s answered prayers. Skeptical collegians

drawn to Christ.

God is working in mighty ways in Arkansas, and He is using Arkansas Baptists to do it.

As Arkansas Baptists give to missions through the Cooperative Program, they make it possible for the four teams of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) to assist churches in discipling the next generation of Arkansas Baptists to be on mission for Jesus.

Church Planting

The ABSC church planting team assists and coaches church planters across the state. The Lord

is opening many opportunities throughout the state, but especially in the Delta, for church planting and pastor training. The Cooperative Program dollars that are used to start new churches across Arkansas are reaping a harvest of souls.

Church planter Chanson Newborn shared about a series of baptisms that took place on Father’s Day at Fellowship Community Church, which was planted in Forrest City in 2013.

“Not only did we celebrate Father’s Day with Donuts and Devotionals for Dads, but we celebrated lives that are being changed by Jesus,” said Newborn. “We had scheduled one baptism for the morning service, but God touched the hearts of many and seven people trusted in Christ for their salvation. What was so special and unique about

this service was people began to take the next step in their journey by being baptized immediately.

People didn’t care about their clothes, their makeup or hairdo, but simply wanted to follow the commands of Jesus and be baptized. Mothers baptized daughters, husbands baptized wives and fathers baptized their sons.”

In total, 10 people were baptized on Father’s Day. “It was the best Father’s Day gift for me because God allowed me to share in my son’s experience of salvation and baptize him,” Newborn said. “What a wonderful day for me and glorious day for the kingdom of God!”

See COOPERATIVE page 10

10

Cooperative Program

August 13, 2015

Because you gave last year...

The process of the

You

Your church

ABSC

Southern Baptist Convention

Making a world of difference!

ABSC Disaster Relief deployed 842 volunteers during 9 disaster responses, totaling 70 days of deployment.

We responded in Arkansas and Michigan. Volunteers produced 21,250 meals, 306 chain saw jobs, 30 tarp jobs, 29 mud outs, 61 showers and 55 loads of laundry. Volunteers made 1,160 ministry contacts and 66 evangelistic contacts and were blessed with 4 professions of faith of which we know.

Community Missions: 64 professions of faith were reported as a result of last year’s Acts 1:8 One Day Mission Trip in the El Dorado area. 291 professions of faith were reported by Pregnancy Care Centers, and 691 babies were not aborted due to that ministry. 82 professions of faith were reported during block parties hosted in various locations, and 136 were reported as a direct result of hunger ministries in Arkansas.

ABCHomes: A new Family Care Home opened in Jonesboro last year, 9 mothers and 13 children were cared for during the last 6 months of 2014.

Camp Siloam: In 2014, 333 campers made professions of faith while 214 made recommitments and 33 expressed a call to missions or full-time ministry.

Students: 687 collegians were mobilized to do missions in 45 countries and 27 states.

More than 1,500 secondary school students and leaders attended the Youth Evangelism Conference last year with 63 decisions made. Super Summer 2014 counted 619 decisions made by the 2,650 who were enrolled.

Church Planting: 135 churches have been started in Arkansas in the past 4 years; 27 of those were started in 2014. 50 people were baptized last year by those 27 churches.

COOPERATIVE continued from page 9

Church planter Neal Scoggins shared how those at City of Refuge Community Church in Little Rock are being obedient through giving.

Scoggins said there are at least five homeless people who regularly attend worship service on any given Sunday.

But that’s not all they do.

“Not only Scoggins do they attend service, they are regular contributors to the church in service and financial giving,” he said. “We discovered this while checking our mailbox.

As we check our mailbox right outside the front door, we regularly find nickels, dimes and quarters in the mailbox. While we thought this was strange, we just figured someone was playing a joke – until one day one of the homeless guys came

Cooperative Program

www.arkansasbaptist.org by as we were walking in service and asked, ‘Did you get my tithe money? I put it in the mailbox when you are not here.’ This not only shocked us, it humbled us. This, for us, was a real-life example of the widow’s mite in Luke 21.”

Hispanic planting/outreach

Francisco Gomez, ABSC Hispanic church planting strategist, gave a report of a recent outreach sponsored by three churches.

He explained that “Oikos” is a Greek word that means

“house.” It is also the name of a new church start in Rogers – “Iglesia Oikos.”

The new church recently joined Gomez efforts with Open Door Baptist Church and a Korean new church start to host a block party to reach out to local families.

The churches distributed more than 400 invitations in their neighborhood. Union Baptist Church, Harrison, brought the block party supplies and provided volunteers to help with this event.

“During the event, the message of salvation was presented both in English and in Spanish on two occasions using the ‘Slip Discs’ (flying discs) that have the gospel presentation on them,” Gomez said. “As a result, nine adults and 14 children received Jesus as Lord and Savior. Praise the Lord!”

The evangelism and church health team hosts events that impact the next generation and is the driving force behind the Church Revitalization movement across the state. The team annually hosts

11

Arkansas disaster relief volunteers (above) pray in front of their trailer before traveling to Texas to aid storm and flood victims. A young man (left) plays an instrument during PraiseWorks held July 13-17 at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia.

PraiseWorks, a student worship arts camp for students who have completed grades seven through 12. The goal of PraiseWorks is to equip students with hands-on experiences and to give them a place to discover and develop their passion and God-given abilities while gaining skills for leading worship.

Craig Mahoney, of First Baptist Church, Royal, shared from a church staff member’s point of view.

“As a youth pastor, it can be very challenging to grow a praise band,” he reported.

“Student interest and dedication to learning their instrument waxes and wanes through the process until the

big ‘aha!’ moment when the band unifies and is excited about leading worship.”

He said that in the midst of “spring fever” and “summer downtime,” it was the chance to attend PraiseWorks Mahoney that kept his group “focused and excited.”

“And now, after PraiseWorks, I feel like we made it to that moment where we are confident and excited about serving Christ in this

See COOPERATIVE page 12

12

Cooperative Program

COOPERATIVE continued from page 11

ministry,” he said. “Worship, along with spiritual focus, has been increasing in our youth group as our band finds greater success. It has also flowed over

into our church as a whole. I think the adults are even more excited than the kids! I know God has used PraiseWorks to bless our church.”

He added that he was personally blessed as he was able to incorporate ideas from PraiseWorks into the music

August 13, 2015 class he taught at an associational camp.

“It was a huge success and music class was an inspiration to many of the campers that week,” he said. “Thank you for what you do for Christ and His kingdom!”

Student evaluation forms

offered space for comments.

One student wrote, “This week, God has shown me so much from this camp. I have not been in God’s Word for a long time … just sitting down and reading His Word. I am blessed with a very good youth group. God has put very special people in my life, and I feel like I have turned them away. God showed me this week that I cannot turn away from people, but instead can have Campers participate in activities while at Super Summer a great time with Arkansas held in June at Ouachita Baptist University. people loving the students from across the state.

Lord. This week God has opened my eyes to Christian Women’s Job Corps stay true to His Word and to (CWJC) and Christian Men’s Job Corps (CMJC) seek to never lose hope in Him.” Another student com- equip women and men, in a mented, “I would just like to Christian context, for life and thank this camp! This camp in employment by offering life years past has been my refuge skills, job skills, mentoring through pretty tough times. and Bible study.

Travis McCormick, member I’ve learned so much from you guys, it’s unreal. It’s been of the missions team, shared an awesome experience. I’m the story of how God used going to miss this place and all students to answer a couple’s the leaders, so thank you! You prayer.

“A husband and wife living guys have been a blessing and in Pleasant Plains experienced a beacon of light in my life. I the impact of Cooperative Prohope to return soon with more gram giving in a unique and friends.” powerful way,” he said.

He said their house had recently been renovated, and the siding removed and reThe ABSC missions team placed. The old siding was sponsors a wide range of left scattered around the ministries that offer oppor- yard. Physically unable to retunities for volunteers to im- move the debris themselves, pact the underserved within the couple began looking for Arkansas. Connect weekend help. After several months, mission trips are attended by the situation was getting

Francisco Gomez, member of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention church planting team, serves in Hispanic ministry.

Cooperative Program

www.arkansasbaptist.org desperate as the grass became overgrown and the yard became a safety hazard.

The couple had just about given up hope of ever getting help until finally one Saturday morning in April, they found themselves in their kitchen crying out to God to do what

only He could do, McCormick said.

“As they finished praying, the wife looked out the kitchen window, not knowing what she would see,” he said. “To her surprise, she saw a group of strangers gathered in her yard. She and her husband

moved quickly outside to find out what was going on. Who was this group, and what were they doing here?”

The strangers turned out to be a group of Arkansas Baptist students serving in Pleasant Plains as part of the student Connect weekend, McCor-

Thank you, Arkansas Baptists, for your faithful support of the Cooperative Program and Ouachita Baptist University.

WWW.OBU.EDU 1.800.DIAL.OBU

13

mick said. The students had come to work with Pleasant Plains Baptist Church and Pastor Paul Jackson to do some minor construction work and host a block party for the community. The students and their leaders recognized a need and asked if they could help. The pastor shared the story, and a team immediately went across the street to begin working, moments after the man had finished praying. “ The couple Bob Fielding (above), member of the Arkansas was amazed at the Baptist State Convention (ABSC) missions team, volway God answered unteer police officer and chaplain, speaks to children their prayers,” Mc- while wearing his police uniform during a Families Cormick said, not- on Mission event held at the Little Rock Zoo March ing they had been 14. A man (below) reads his Bible during the ABSC out of church for evangelism conference held at First Baptist Church, a while but prom- Sherwood, Jan. 26-27. ised the pastor mentors and their participants that they would visit soon. “The students left in once a month to do a study with a better understanding of together, so they could discuss what it means to be available and learn with each other,” and to look for opportunities she explained. “We felt led to to be the hands and feet of the study ‘Twelve Women of Jesus. Because you give, others the Bible,’ and it was a huge were able to go, and God used success. The ladies looked them to answer prayers even as forward to meeting together, having brunch, then watching they were being spoken.”

Debbie Moore, ABSC mis- the DVD and discussing aftersions team member, said God ward.”

She said they kept inviting a has been at work through Christian Womens Job Corps woman named Charity to join them for the Bible study, but (CWJC), as well.

The CWJC Charleston site she always had something she has one-on-one mentoring, had to do with her son.

“She was under conviction and each mentoring team does a weekly Bible study with their since meeting with her mentor weekly,” Moore said. “We kept participant she said.

“We wanted to bring the Charity in our prayers, and she came one month; then came again the next month.

While doing the study on Gomer, the Holy Spirit began to speak to her. She began to relate to Gomer’s running away and saw herself running away from God. She decided to run no more, and gave her life to Jesus in my office right after the study. Charity went home and posted this on her Facebook account: ‘I went to

See CP page 14

14

Cooperative Program

CP

continued from page 13

Bible study this morning. I’m so glad I did. I was saved after Bible study … feeling blessed.’

Charity went to church on a Sunday morning and shared her decision. She plans to be baptized.”

Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) exists on 35 college campuses in Arkansas and is a part of the college and young leaders team. The nations are being reached by this ministry.

Phillip Slaughter, campus minister at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM), said, “I met a young

lady at the beginning of this Jesus. She has since been semester who experienced baptized and is making the several tragic events in her life most of her time by following as the year progressed. Two Jesus. of her young friends died unTeresa “Bit” Stephens, camexpectedly, and this helped pus minister at Metro BCM at her realize the brevity of life. the University of Arkansas at The final event that Little Rock, described pushed her to desperhow she watched a ately seek after God ocgroup of friends find curred when a house, hope in Christ. which belonged to “Lydia began exthe family of a friend, ploring Christ because burned to the ground. another female friend, She was sleeping in Nancy, who was new the house that night to Christ, invited her along with the famto study with us,” Slaughter ily. Everyone escaped Stephens said. “Lydia unharmed, but it spurred struggled through her doubts her to ask deeper questions as a scientist, and her faith about preparing for eternity. conquered her doubts, which She decided to go on a spring led her to being born again break mission trip with the as a follower of Christ. Once UAM BCM, and after the Lydia began her love relationfirst night’s Bible study, ship with Christ, she invited she placed her faith in her roommate Dani (also fe-

August 13, 2015 male) and her physics lab part- faith with their families and ner Mary to discover the reality other friends.”

“Nancy has already gone of God. Neither had hope that God existed. God engineered back to East Asia and has left life circumstances for both of her mark on the U.S.,” Stethem to go through difficulties phens added. “Since this time, individually. They both began Lydia has come to me and asked if I would take praying and pursuing them on a mission trip God through study inside the state and and asking others to then outside the state. pray for them.”

I took two of them to All three accepted Columbus, Ohio, on Christ and were bapa mission trip where tized together. they also participated “Lydia had reached in evening sessions of her Jerusalem – while the Southern Baptist residing in the U.S. Stephens Convention Annual She reached the two Meeting. I know once people she was with most of her time,” Stephens they arrive back home in East said, noting that since that Asia, God willing, I will also time, Mary’s husband, Justin, have the privilege to take them has accepted Christ and he to some unreached people was baptized on Easter. “All groups in their own countries. four are each growing and The joy of ministering to interlearning how to share their nationals is life-giving.”

The Arkansas Baptist News thanks Arkansas Baptist churches and their members for their loyal support of the Cooperative Program.

Cooperative Program

www.arkansasbaptist.org

15

The persecuted: ‘Our pain is nothing compared to Jesus’ Susie Rain International Mission Board SOUTH ASIA (BP) – They each had a choice – renounce their belief in Jesus or sign a paper relinquishing their house, property and burial rights in the community cemetery.

The Arkansas pastor looked around the small, mud room in disbelief. Persecution was not something he knew firsthand, yet the South Asian unreached people group his church had adopted did.

Believer after believer stood up to share with the mission team. With each story, the momentum grew and soon 10 people shared together: Villagers marched the church members to the center of town. When they refused to renounce their faith or sign

the document, three were stripped naked and paraded through the village. Then, the attackers beat three men and two women with sticks.

The pastor asked what they were thinking at the time and if they had thought about denying Jesus.

“NO!” the believers said in unison. An older woman continued for the group. “We kept reminding each other that our pain was nothing compared to the pain our Savior went through on the cross.”

Tears filled the eyes of everyone in the room. Even though the Arkansas team visits only once a year, the bond is tight.

These are the faces posted on the main wall of the Arkansas church. Their shared story was featured in the 2013 Week of Prayer for Global Missions.

Thousands have prayed for

their perseverance.

“What helps me is to know that we serve the same God,” a woman said to the Arkansans. “You live in America, and we live here. He gave

the same sacrifice for you and for me. I know we are not alone.”

The Arkansas team asks for prayer for South Asian believers as persecution is at its high-

est in years. Pray that they will be the light in their communities and feel God’s presence.

Susie Rain is a writer for the International Mission Board based in Asia.

Invest in Cooperative Program, see more people saved Greg Addison ABSC IN COUNTING most things, 3,189 is a large number. It is an especially large number when you realize that is how many people groups are un-

engaged with the gospel and have no meaningful access to even hear the name of Jesus.

An even larger number are the billions of people who are living in countries considered unreached.

Identifying them is not just

an academic exercise. It is the first step in reaching them with the gospel. While Arkansas Baptists have always been mission-minded, we are beginning to turn our eyes and our hearts more than ever before to bringing Jesus to these peoples. This

is a work of God because it will missionaries to create church take all of us to impact such partnerships for every type of lostness. A few missionaries church. Strategies provide the in foreign outposts simply will road map, but they will not not be enough. It will take all engage people. Part of your of us cooperating together to Cooperative Program missionbring the gospel to so many ary force, the Arkansas Baptist people in so many languages State Convention missions team, has a plan to connect and in so many places.

Giving to missions through your church to an unreached the Cooperative Program is people group. Whether you the fuel that will drive this begin as a prayer force or adopt a people group mission. Your giving to whom you can send funds the personnel missions teams, we that research and strathave created a path for egize how to proceed your church to join us. in moving forward.

This is what giving and They are the vanguard serving cooperatively in developing our means. knowledge base. They There are several develop strategies to numbers we can focus create access for the Addison on increasing that can gospel, which includes crossing language barriers change the number of 3,189 and reaching into dangerous Unreached, Unengaged Peoor closed areas. This work is ple Groups. We can give more necessary. Without it, they will through the Cooperative Pronever hear the name of Jesus. gram to step up the process Your Cooperative Program and place more missionaries to pave the way. We can endollars make this happen.

Arkansas Baptists then step gage more churches in workin at another level. We are de- ing alongside those missionarveloping new strategies to con- ies. We can send more teams nect Arkansas Baptist church- from Arkansas. We can engage es to our missionaries in the more people with the gosfield. The numbers tell us we pel. The best number will be need more than just our mis- when we see more people sionaries. There simply are not saved.

Greg Addison is associate exenough. We need every church to carry some of the load. We ecutive director of the Arkansas are currently working with Baptist State Convention.

16

Cooperative Program

August 13, 2015

Survey: Cooperative Program draws pastors’ confidence NASHVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) pastors are strongly supportive of the Cooperative Program, according to a study commis-

sioned by the SBC Executive Committee and published in SBC LIFE. The survey shows a continuing increase in confidence

among pastors that the Cooperative Program supports ministries and missions valued by their churches – moving up to 81 percent from 73 percent in

a 2012 survey that asked the same questions of pastors and 71 percent in a 2008 survey that included pastors, laypersons and other church staff.

The study also indicates that pastors’ support for the Cooperative Program does have its limits. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) agree that the strategies of SBC entities receiving Cooperative Program dollars are moving in an appropriate direction, though one in eight pastors (13 percent) say they are not. Asked whether the entities are using their Cooperative Program support effectively, more than six in 10 pastors (63 percent) say they are and 13 percent say they are not.

“This is encouraging news,” Ashley Clayton, Executive

Committee vice president for Cooperative Program, said of the survey conducted by mail and online during the spring of 2014. “A few years ago, a Florida pastor told me the Cooperative Program would have to compete for his church’s missions dollars. More recently, he told me, ‘Count me in,’ in support of the CP.” The pastor’s confidence in the CP increased as he watched what he called a “renewed focus” by SBC entities responding to “the values his church embraces,” Clayton said. “I believe this report shows that he is not alone.

“However, the survey also shows we still have a way to go

BOLLS

And she gives all the credit to God. “The grace and mercy of my Lord has shaped my life in so many ways, and I am so very grateful to Him for who I am today,” she said.

She emphasized that this is not her story.

“I get to live it, and that’s the most amazing part, but the truth is it’s God’s story. It’s just a picture of His grace in my life.”

Boles added, smiling, “That’s all it is.”

“So who am I in God’s eyes?” she asked. “I am redeemed (Gal. 3:13). I’m accepted into the Beloved (Eph. 1:6). I am holy, blameless and above reproach in His sight – not by anything that I have ever done or could ever do, but by what Jesus has done for all mankind (Col. 1:21-23). Praise His holy Name!”

Bolls has two sons and three grandsons.

Contact Jessica Vanderpool at jessica@arkansasbaptist.org.

continued from page 3

A Call to Pray for Revival & Awakening: A Gathering for Pastors and All Ministers Monday, August 31 – Tuesday, September 1 A Two-Day Intensive Prayer Gathering

Location: Immanuel Baptist Church, Little Rock Register at prayarkansas.com, call 501-376-4791, Ext. 5103, or email gmccallister@absc.org There is NO cost for the gathering.

You are responsible for your travel and hotel room.

A ministry of the Cooperative Program, hosted by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention Prayer, Revival & Spiritual Awakening Task Force, Cross Church and Immanuel Baptist Church, Little Rock.

refused to enter. … The Lord’s amazing grace on one whose life was totally devoted to Satan at one time continues to amaze Jean. Her new experiences of His grace brings a smile to her face and laughter to her voice. She often comes to church, or calls me on the phone, bubbling over with joy when the Lord opens a new door of opportunity for her.”

Bolls said she does jail ministry in Boone County and serves as a team leader for jail ministry in Oklahoma. She serves with Children’s Charity Ministry food backpack program and has attended national and state Christian conferences. She works at the college library during school months and previously worked at Boone County Library. She shares her testimony and tells about Tetelestai House whenever she can.

See CONFIDENCE page 19

Cooperative Program

www.arkansasbaptist.org

17

6 ways the Cooperative Program impacts your church THE COOPERATIVE program (CP) is the plan Southern Baptists use to fund missions causes.

The Cooperative Program helps support international and North American missionaries, state convention mission work, Baptist organizations and more!

Because of the gifts of Arkansas Baptists, numerous decisions have been made for Christ, women have chosen

life over abortion and collegians have served on mission around the world.

And that is just the beginning of how Arkansas Baptists have made an impact on the kingdom of God through the Cooperative Program When we think of the Cooperative Program, our focus is usually on the impact we can have upon the world.

While we rightfully place the vision on the lost, the real-

ity is the CP can have a lasting impact upon each individual and each local church that participates.

Following are six ways the CP makes an “impact” on your church.

The Cooperative Program: – Increases awareness of what God is doing in our world. Through the Cooperative Program, we are seeing hundreds of thousands come to Christ each year, and it re-

minds us God is still moving among us.

– Motivates personal commitment to evangelism.

When we make missions a priority and begin to catch a vision for what God can do, we become more and more motivated to share the gospel.

– Prepares churches to reach the lost around them.

The CP is continually strengthening churches to be better prepared to reach the lost.

– Allows for practical involvement in missions. With more than 12,000 missionaries in North America and around

Read Cooperative Program survey beginning on Page 16

the world, we have the unique chance to get personally involved through prayer, by sending resources and materials or by going to lend a hand.

– Connects churches together for maximum potential. Regardless of size, the CP takes churches to places they might never go and helps them share with people they might never meet face to face.

– Ties each individual and every church to fulfilling the Great Commission. When a church is committed to the CP, they are a part of a comprehensive strategy.

18

Cooperative Program

August 13, 2015

We’re online all the time! arkansasbaptist.org facebook.com/arkbaptnews twitter.com/arkbaptnews

The Memphis and Shelby County Auditorium was the site of the 1925 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting when the Cooperative Program was approved; 5,600 messengers were in attendance.

CP founded 90 years ago, looks to future Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in Baptist Press on April 12, 2013.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP) – M.O. Owens Jr. was still in knickers on May 13, 1925, the day his parents took him to a pivotal session of the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) annual meeting. That was the day the Cooperative Program was born.

Owens recalls the vote that ushered in the CP as a system of financial support for the missions and ministries of Southern Baptists within state conventions and throughout the nation and world.

“I was there but I was only 11,” Owens told Baptist Press.

“I don’t have a keen memory of specifics. There wasn’t any great opposition, but it was a new idea to the pastors.

“I remember very vividly how excited my dad was, how delighted he was, and I do remember so well he was concerned about enlisting the other pastors,” Owens said of his father, the late Milum Oswell Owens Sr., who pastored two churches. “He was the only pastor from that association (Orangeburg County, S.C.) who attended that convention.”

His parents must have realized the historical significance of the vote because Owens was allowed to stay with relatives during the other sessions of the five-day event, which took place in a brand-new convention hall in Memphis.

It was hot that day, Owens

recalled; other reports say air was “oppressively muggy” in the convention center with about 5,600 people in their Sunday best. Owens recalls his father wore a suit and his mother, her best dress plus hat and gloves.

The SBC had space enough, with an 11,000-seating capacity, in what was known as the Memphis and Shelby County Auditorium and Market House, opened in 1924. For “air-conditioning,” it had just seven large fans to cool the entire auditorium, along with heat-escaping ceiling vents, said Eric Elam, director of operations for the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce.

Owens’ father apparently had planned for months to attend the SBC Annual Meeting, because he had purchased a brand-new 1925 black Plymouth that spring, replacing his 1916 black T-Model Ford.

“Before that day (of the CP vote) there were very few Sundays there wouldn’t be someone appealing for an offering,” Owens said. “I remember my parents talking about it, Dad saying we needed to figure out a way to lump some of these appeals together – foreign missions, home missions, Indian missions, orphanages and more. And then he heard about (what is known today as the Cooperative Program) and he was tickled pink when it happened.”

Owens said he has watched for years the strength of the CP his father was so pleased to help pass.

Cooperative Program

www.arkansasbaptist.org

CONFIDENCE continued from page 16 to earn the trust of all our pastors,” Clayton said.

CP allocations

Southern Baptist pastors also indicated they generally agree with the current allocation of national Cooperative Program funds for the entities that receive CP funding – the International Mission Board (IMB), North American Mission Board (NAMB), six SBC seminaries, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and SBC operating budget. The median responses were all within 1.2 percent of current allocations, which the pastors were shown as they answered.

While 15 percent selected the current distribution percentages as their preference, just over half listed higher percentages for NAMB, ERLC and the SBC operating budget, while nearly half listed slightly lower percentages for IMB and the six SBC seminaries.

“This is the third survey of pastors the Executive Committee has commissioned since 2007,” Clayton said. “We continue to see strong pastor support for the current allocation of the SBC portion of CP funds. In all three surveys, pastors indicated their agreement that IMB should receive about 50 percent of the SBC CP allocation budget, our seminaries should receive slightly less, with the difference distributed to small increases for NAMB and ERLC,” Clayton said.

A large majority of pastors have affirmed the statement “the Cooperative Program supports missions and ministries that my church values” in all three surveys, he said.

More than three-fourths (77 percent) agreed with the statement, “The SBC allocation budget places a high priority on penetrating lostness both locally and worldwide.”

Ministry priorities

Pastors also were asked to indicate the priority their churches place on 12 missions and ministry efforts funded by the Cooperative Program.

“Sending and supporting overseas missionaries to reach unreached people groups around the world” continues to be their highest priority. It is the

only ministry selected by more than 70 percent of pastors as “essential” or a “high priority” (71 percent), up 3 percentage points from the 2012 survey.

And it is the only ministry effort that fewer than 10 percent of pastors rated a “low priority” (6 percent) or “not a priority” (2 percent).

The most notable change was reflected in pastors’ desire for the SBC to provide “a Christian perspective and response about social, ethical, and public policy issues” (54 percent selecting it as “essential” or “high priority,” up from only 37 percent in 2012).

Statistical differences

Significant statistical differences emerged among pastors based on location, age and church size.

Pastors in the Northeast are more likely to select “reaching ethnically and culturally diverse people in large cities across North America” as “essential” (27 percent) compared to churches in the South (17 percent) and the Midwest (11 percent).

Younger pastors, age 18–44, are more likely to view “sending and supporting overseas missionaries to reach unreached people groups” as “essential” (38 percent) than pastors 65 and older (29 percent).

Pastors in the West (24 percent) and Northeast (28 percent) are more likely to view “intentional church planting in cities and towns across North America” as “essential” than pastors in the South (15 percent) and Midwest (11 percent).

Pastors of churches running 0–49 and 100–249 are more likely to select “improving the health and vitality of existing churches” as “essential” (32 percent and 30 percent respectively) than churches running 250 or more (19 percent).

Older pastors, 65 and up, view this as a “high priority” (37 percent) or “essential” (24 percent).

Younger pastors (age 18– 44) and older pastors (age 65 and older) are more likely to “strongly agree” that “the SBC entities supported by the Cooperative Program are moving in the appropriate direction with the strategies they have in place” (30 percent and 31 percent respectively) than pastors age 45–54 (20 percent).

In regard to educating and training future pastors, mis-

sionaries, church planters and SBC leaders, younger pastors, age 18–44, are more likely to say it is “essential” (33 percent) compared to pastors age 55–64 (25 percent) and age 65 and up (23 percent).

When asked about engaging in direct international

missions projects, differences mainly emerged according to church size. Churches with 250 or more in attendance are the most likely to say it is “essential” (31 percent), while churches running 50–99 and 100–249 are more likely to select “medium priority”

19

(24 percent and 33 percent respectively).

In perhaps the most telling generational difference, only 1 percent of younger pastors “strongly agree” that the “Cooperative Program supports SBC ministries and missions that my church values.”

20

August 13, 2015

www.arkansasbaptist.org

21

Churches should be purposeful in building teams Jessica Vanderpool Arkansas Baptist News

think the things that make an effective church team are, for the most part, the same things CONWAY – Oftentimes, that make an effective team in the word “team” is associated the corporate world.”

She said there are certain with sports teams or even corporate teams. But for Wendy “givens” regarding building Nelson, a member of Wood- a church team – things like a land Heights Baptist Church person’s calling. But beyond in Conway, it also applies to those aspects, one of the key characteristics of a strong church “teams.”

“When we talk about team is a common purpose that is understood by church ‘staffs,’ we all team members. For talk in more church churches, this includes language. So we don’t not only the purpose talk a lot in terms of of sharing the gospel, team building. But but also the specific they (church staffs) purpose a church has are a team,” said Nelwithin its spheres of son, who founded The influence.

Edify Group LLC as a Nelson Another key to havmeans of helping coming an effective team panies with things like employee training, education, is to have clearly defined roles leadership development and for members, Nelson said.

This goes beyond job titles and team building.

She said a lot of what she descriptions and takes into acdoes for corporate teams can count a person’s gift, skills, personalities and passions. be applied to church staffs.

“For instance – Who might “I think, first of all, the key is that effective teams – wheth- coordinate hospital visits (and) er in the church or in the cor- is best equipped to do that?” porate world – don’t just hap- she asked. “Maybe it’s the secpen. … They have to be built. retary. But maybe you have a They have to be deliberate. church member who has a pasThey have to be continuously sion for that and so you tap fed and watered, so to speak,” into that – and that may be the Nelson said. “And really I music guy.”

It’s about leveraging people’s different skills, passions and strengths for the betterment of the team, she said, adding she thinks this starts with self-awareness and identifying one’s own strengths and passions.

She also emphasized the need for open communication, which results from trust among team members.

Nelson said employing all these elements requires being deliberate and purposeful and setting aside time for team building – whether it takes the form of a social event or a team meeting to discuss individuals’ needs and desires.

Jimmie Sheffield, executive administrator for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, voiced several similar suggestions. Along with needing a clear purpose, clear communication and a clear understanding of how the team will function, he said the “church should establish guidelines that give directions to teams.”

He said some helpful guidelines include having a church-elected leader, having a purpose statement and job description for each team, ensuring that teams are compatible with the church’s mission

and vision statements and core by spending time together, by values, ensuring teams follow working together, by talking it the church’s financial policies out, by being honest with each and procedures and recruiting other and taking down those barriers to a good conversation a staff advisor for each team.

Sheffield also noted the and a good resolution to the importance of enhancing re- issue,” she said.

Nelson also pointed out the lationships among team memimportance of self-awareness bers.

“In order for team members in building an effective team. to be effective, there must by She likened this to “sweeping solid relationships established off our own front porch before we start on someone with other members else’s.” of the team,” Shef“I think before we field said. “Effective can start to leverage relationships involve a the strengths and the high level of trust beskills of our teamtween team members. mates, we have to Trust is developed over understand our own. time as each member We have to know how does his (or) her part Sheffield we best contribute effectively.” to the team and how Nelson said teams may run into problems such as we best feel that the day has misunderstandings that lead been a success, feel that we’ve to a shutdown in communi- accomplished something, feel cation and egos that prevent that we’ve contributed to the people from having open, hon- group. And so we have to know sort of how to scratch est communication.

The key to dealing with that itch for ourselves before these situations goes back to we can help others to do that.”

For more information on “an awareness and a willingness to work through it and a building church teams, visit trust that each person on the edifygroupllc.com or call Shefteam is dealing in good faith.” field at 501-376-4791, ext.

“So if you have some dis- 5103.

Contact Jessica Vanderpool at trust of each other, then you have to work to overcome that jessica@arkansasbaptist.org.

Associational annual meetings schedule* Association

Date

Place/Time

Association

Date

Place/Time

Arkansas River Valley Arkansas Valley Ashley County Bartholomew Big Creek Black River

Oct. 13 Oct. 19 Oct. 20 Oct. 19 Oct. 16 Oct. 13

Buckner

Oct. 13

Buckville Caddo River Calvary Carey Caroline Centennial Central Clear Creek Concord Conway-Perry

Oct. 11 TBA Oct. 20 Oct. 19 Oct. 06 Oct. 12 Oct. 22 Oct. 13 Aug. 30 Oct. 20

Current-Gaines Delta Faulkner

Oct. 20 Oct. 11 Oct. 22

First Baptist, London, TBA First Baptist, Brinkley, TBA South Main Baptist, Crossett, TBA Immanuel Baptist, Warren, TBA Spring River Baptist, Hardy, 5:30 p.m.

First Baptist, Newport, 6:45 p.m. (meal at 6 p.m.)

Pleasant Grove No. 2 Baptist, Mansfield, 7:00 p.m.

Mt. Tabor Baptist, Jessieville, 1:30 p.m.

First Baptist, Norman, TBA First Baptist, Kensett, TBA First Baptist, Fordyce, TBA Steel Bridge Baptist, Lonoke, 3 p.m.

First Baptist, Stuttgart, TBA First Baptist, Benton, 12:30 p.m.

First Baptist, Mulberry, TBA First Baptist, Lavaca, TBA (tentative) Bigelow Baptist, Bigelow, 6 p.m. (meal at 5 p.m.)

First Baptist, Corning, TBA Dermott Baptist, Dermott, TBA Cold Springs Retreat, Conway, 6 p.m.

Garland County Greene County Harmony Independence Liberty Little Red River Little River Mississippi County Mt. Zion North Arkansas North Central North Pulaski Northwest Arkansas Ouachita Pulaski Red River Rocky Bayou Rocky Bayou Southwest Arkansas Tri-County Trinity Wash. Madison White River

Oct. 13 Oct. 13 Oct. 19 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Oct. 19 Oct. 12 Oct. 20 Oct. 19 Oct. 27 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Oct. 19 Oct. 12 Oct. 13 Oct. 18 Oct. 15 Oct. 16 TBA Oct. 19 Oct. 19 Oct. 19 Oct. 19

Mill Creek Baptist, Hot Springs, 6 p.m.

First Baptist, Paragould, TBA First Baptist, Pine Bluff, TBA First Baptist, Mountain View, TBA TBA West Side Baptist, Greers Ferry, TBA Oak Grove Baptist, Ashdown, 4 p.m.

First Baptist, Keiser, 6 p.m.

South Caraway Baptist, Jonesboro, TBA Eagle Heights Baptist, Harrison, TBA TBA First Baptist, Sylvan Hills, TBA First Baptist, Highfill, 6:30 p.m.

First Baptist, De Queen, TBA Markham Street Baptist, Little Rock, TBA Third Street Baptist, Arkadelphia, TBA Oxford Baptist, Oxford, 6:30 p.m.

First Baptist, Cherokee Village, 6:30 p.m.

Cornerstone Baptist, West Memphis, TBA First Baptist, Lepanto, TBA Calvary Baptist, Huntsville, 5:30 p.m.

First Baptist, Mountain Home, 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (break 5:30 p.m.)

*Information provided by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention The staff of the Arkansas Baptist News is available to attend your association’s annual meeting. Contact us at jeanie@arkansasbaptist.org.

22

August 13, 2015

Hobbs reflects on seeing God restore broken people BRANCH – “The face peered to Memphis, Tenn. He said out at me. It seemed to be try- during the course of the trip, ing to speak. Yet the silence of he saw the teddy bear tied to a faded and tattered stuffed a dead tree overrun by poison ivy; and he compares animal was a quiet rethis picture to the lost minder of something souls of those who that happened years don’t know Christ, ago. A life was lost whom he describes as here. Someone was “caught up in death killed right here. The and in bondage to bear was tied to a tree sin.” to memorialize a life But his reflections that ended too soon.

Hobbs don’t end in despair.

Yet time has not been In stark contrast to kind to the bear or to the memories of that loved the lost life represented by the teddy bear, hundreds of lives one who was killed.”

These were the reflections were saved for eternity through that Tim Hobbs, pastor of faith in Christ during the misFirst Baptist Church, Branch, sion trip.

The church served July penned as he pondered his church’s recent mission trip 6-11 alongside Victory Baptist

Church, which is located near Dumas, and local volunteers.

They worked with the Ronnie Tullos Evangelistic Association and the Inner-City Outreach Center during Crusade Week.

Hobbs said Crusade Week is an annual event following the Fourth of July that involves street evangelism and the showing of a film about the gospel. Nearly 500 people accepted Christ during the week.

One such man was Terry. In fact, Hobbs said they were just a few feet away from the old teddy bear when he shared the gospel with the man.

“He was a young man, around 20 years old, with two little children,” Hobbs said of Terry. “He had just gotten out of jail for selling dope. I shared the gospel of Jesus with him, and there just a few feet from where death had taken its victim, Terry found eternal life in Jesus. I shared with him and prayed for him and encouraged him. There is so much hope when you have new life in Jesus!”

Standing on the same cracked sidewalk – which Hobbs considers a metaphor

for the broken road on which so many people find themselves – Hobbs also spoke to mother-daughter duo Umek and Deandrea. Deandrea was carrying her baby, Benjamin, and as Hobbs shared about God’s love, he reached out to

pat the baby’s back.

“There isn’t any love that is quite like a mother’s love – except God’s love, which is even greater and stronger and purer.

That’s how God loves you,” Hobbs told the women.

Both mother and daughter accepted Christ.

“The moment is past now, but I still carry the joy of that moment when they opened their hearts to Jesus,” Hobbs said.

He reflected on the numerous salvations throughout the week, saying, “Only heaven will reveal the true impact, but if even one person found new life in Jesus, then it was worth every moment.”

Chris Russell, pastor of Victory Baptist, called the mission trip an “incredible opportunity to see God work in so many lives.”

“We prayed daily for God to lead us to people who were hurting and in need,” he said. “We asked Him to lead us to people who He had already been drawing to Himself. He heard our prayers. We witnessed to people all week who had either prayed for God to send someone or who ran us down wanting to hear what we had to say. Anytime God saves someone it is a miracle, but it feels extra special when you get to see firsthand a special move of God like this."

www.arkansasbaptist.org

23

Former student shares faith with dying coach Jessica Vanderpool Arkansas Baptist News JUNCTION CITY – Jacob Pumphrey knows what conviction is – the kind of conviction that won’t go away, that gnaws at you until you obey what God is calling you to do.

And Pumphrey knows how it feels to obey and to be blessed.

“Oftentimes in life, we have feelings of concern, worry or fear. For those of the Christian faith, the Holy Spirit convicts us when we are doing wrong, or when there is an opportunity to do right. As I sit at this computer typing, I am living proof that you should never look away from the convictions that God places upon your heart,” Pumphrey wrote in a Facebook post in midJune.

When Pumphrey found out that his former high school teacher and assistant football coach, who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, had taken a turn for the worse, he couldn’t shake the feeling that God was calling him to have a faith conversation with Michael Barrett, more commonly known to players as “Coach B.” “The conviction that was laid upon my heart was tremendous,” said Pumphrey, a member of Three Creeks Baptist Church in Junction City

and now a graduate student at Southern Arkansas University.

“I didn’t want a man that I admired and a man that loved me to perish from this earth without knowing about the love and redeeming grace of Jesus Christ. … I never thought I would have or experience a conviction like that. I’ve had times where I did something wrong and needed to apologize, but this was so much greater.”

Pumphrey gathered his courage and drove to the hospital in Camden. Several of Barrett’s relatives were there as well.

“The medicine and sickness had taken its toll on him physically, but I believe his spirit was still as vibrant as it was when I was in his 10th grade geometry class or on the football field,” Pumphrey said.

When the time came for Pumphrey to talk about faith, he was nervous.

“I was nervous because I had never really discussed faith with anyone in this setting. But I knew of my conviction, and I also knew of my love for Coach Barrett,” Pumphrey wrote in the Facebook post. “I simply told him that I couldn’t leave this hospital room without knowing if he was a Christian. And as firmly as he had said anything all day, He looked at me and said, ‘I’m saved.’”

Float to honor Seabaugh at 2016 Rose Parade SHELBY SEABAUGH, a for- ber before being shipped back mer Ouachita Baptist Univer- to Pasadena for the Rose Pasity student who died in 2014, rade.

The Rose Parade is held will be honored as part of a each year on New float in the 2016 DoYears Day and is seen nate Life Rose Parade by millions of people in Pasadena, Calif. from across the UnitSeabaugh's image ed States and around will be featured with 59 the world. other memorial floraSeabaugh, a junior graphs – portraits made at Ouachita, was at of flowers – during the visiting home during parade. Each memoSeabaugh spring break when rial portrait will honor she died unexpectedly an individual who donated organs and tissues. The on March 27, 2014.

Seabaugh is the daughter float's theme will be Treasure of Mike and Laurie Seabaugh.

Life's Journey.

Seabaugh's portrait will be Mike Seabaugh is the pastor of completed by her friends and Central Baptist Church, Magfamily in Arkansas in Decem- nolia.

Pumphrey said his “heart lifted up” at the news.

Barrett explained he was saved at an early age but had experienced doubts. Eventually, after hearing an evangelist speak, he “took care of business.”

“I told him if he can’t be healed on earth, then he would be healed for heaven,” said Pumphrey. “He said, ‘That’s the better place to be anyway.’ I’ll never be able to describe the feelings I got when I heard that. I was thankful, joyful and just so many different things. I started to tell him something and began to cry. I tried to hold it in, but I couldn’t. I’ll never forget what he said: ‘It’s alright; that’s life.’

The man I’m trying to encourage and lift up is encouraging me! I’ll never forget that as long as I live.”

Pumphrey prayed for Barrett and thanked him for loving him. He reminded his coach to “keep fighting” because that was the only way they knew to do things.

Then Pumphrey walked out to his truck in tears.

Brandon Gurley, associate pastor at Three Creeks Baptist, said he has seen Pumphrey’s heart for people, noting, “He’s all about making sure

Jacob Pumphrey (right), member of Three Creeks Baptist Church in Junction City, pictured with “Coach B.” (Michael Barrett) at a 2010 high school football game. people know Jesus.”

“A lot of people are walking away from their faith, but he is walking away from a lot of other things to seek the Lord,” Gurley said, noting Pumphrey helps in the area of student ministry at the church.

“He’s just getting his priorities straight. He is a fine young man, and he does a fine job with our students.”

Pumphrey concluded his Facebook post with a note to readers: “My advice to anyone reading this is to never turn away from the convictions of the Holy Spirit of Christ. I know I’ve failed and I’ll continue to fail, but God never leaves us and He never stops loving us.

My mom told me when I got

home that God already knew Coach B. was saved, and she is so right. As much as it was for Coach B. to see me, the Lord wanted me to see Coach B. Coach is going to fight. That is just who he is, and I am more than honored and blessed to know Mike Barrett. Regardless of the outcome of his sickness, I have peace that I will see him again someday.”

Barrett died on July 1. He is survived by his wife, Donna Barrett; two daughters, Michelle Barrett and E. J. Barrett; brother, Mark Barrett, and four grandchildren, Skyler Green, Madison Baker, Aubrey Nowlin and Braden Roberson.

Contact Jessica Vanderpool at jessica@arkansasbaptist.org.

24

Across Arkansas

August 13, 2015

Sunny Gap encourages youth leadership on mission trip Anna Hurst

Arkansas Baptist News CONWAY – In an ongoing effort to encourage youth involvement in missions, Sunny Gap Baptist Church, Conway, took a mission trip to the Shining Light Outreach Center in Charleston, Mo., June 30- July 3.

It is the second time Sunny Gap Baptist has made the journey to minister to the community surrounding the outreach center. This year the group consisted of 22 people, 13 of whom were youth.

The Shining Light Outreach Center is a safe haven of sorts for the low-income families in the surrounding area, particularly the children. They have a food pantry that provides fresh produce to families in need and provide a place for children to come during the day or after school to play and participate in various activities in a safe environment.

“It’s just a really neat place.

It’s a great ministry because there’s just such a need right there in that community for that kind of a ministry. And the children are coming from homes that are broken, that their families are not always involved in their lives, and

Arkansas youth connect with Missouri youth during Sunny Gap Baptist Church, Conway’s mission trip to Charleston, Mo., June 30-July 3. so they just need love and attention more than anything.

And our kids, our kids are awesome at doing that,” said Kim Stubbs, who assisted in planning the trip along with her husband, Bob, who is the youth pastor at Sunny Side.

While at the center, the mission team put on a vacation Bible school (VBS) each night that focused on the armor of God. Sunny Gap youth took leadership roles in teaching lessons and put on skits that revolved around the various pieces of armor discussed each

evening. During the day, the group made many much-needed repairs to the outreach facility, fixing leaks and plumbing issues, organizing and building storage and putting electricity in an existing outdoor pavilion so it could function as a classroom area if needed.

The team also had a crew that cooked every night for the children who came to the center. The first night, 40-50 children showed up.

On the final night, the group fed about 100 students.

Throughout the week, two

students accepted Christ.

“It just kept growing and growing,” said Stubbs. “I was just in amazement of how many kids showed up. Last year we had quite a few kids show up too, but I think especially by the last night, … we were like, ‘Oh my gosh! Where did all these kids come from?’”

Stubbs emphasized that teaching students in youth groups to serve others is particularly important in their own spiritual development.

“I know from experience that when we can teach our youth missions and they can start being kingdom minded then it’s just only going to make them a better person, a better Christian. Their maturity level is going to be stronger; they’re going to be closer to God because they’re giving back. And that’s what we’ve tried to teach them.”

Stubbs stumbled across the Shining Light Outreach Center on the North American Mission Board website while searching online for potential student mission opportunities. After their first trip, the many Sunny Side youth kept in touch with the outreach students via social media.

“Our kids, they begged us to go back. They had built re-

lationships with some of the kids and kept up with some of the kids over the year,” she explained, adding that she has tried to teach her group the value of building relationships when doing ministry.

“Just to walk in and start trying to tell them that if they’re not saved, they’re not going to go to heaven is a great thing, but if you haven’t built a relationship with that person, you know, it may go in one ear and out the other until you really build a relationship with that person and they really realize that you care about them.”

While building relationships was not the easiest thing to do on the trip, John Harrington, pastor at Sunny Gap, commends his students for putting forth their best effort in showing the love of Christ.

“It was a great trip. Our kids got a lot out of it because they all realized how blessed they are and how tough some kids have it,” he said. “For young people, it’s hard sometimes, but they were extremely patient and flexible. It was a real, true mission trip, a real hard effort that they gave, and I was proud of every one of them.”

Contact Anna Hurst at anna@arkansasbaptist.org.

Missouri church members show love to Arkansas children MONTICELLO – Sharing God’s love can be difficult for teens under normal circumstances; but take them 300 miles from home, cross a state line and put them in southeast Arkansas in the brutal July heat, and it becomes their mission.

Thirty-seven children and youth and 15 adults from First Baptist Church in Rogersville, Mo., made their second mission trip to the Arkansas Baptist Home for Children in Monticello the week of July 20.

“This is a great ministry team to work with,” said D.J. Chambers, sponsorship director for the Arkansas Baptist Home for Children, about the Missouri team. “They have skilled men and women that completed many complex projects for us – and show our children and staff love and attention.”

She noted that when a mission team returns to the Baptist Home multiple times, they have a better understanding of

how things work and it helps them plan their trip. In addition, they know the needs of the Baptist Home better.

Curtis Chesick, youth director at First Baptist Church, noted his appreciation for Chambers, her help with their trip and “all she does for the Baptist Home.”

He said his team’s goal for the trip was to share God’s love through building relationships with the residents, love on house parents and complete building projects.

Mission team members focused on building relationships by spending one-on-one time with residents throughout the day, Chesick said. Personal attention was given to Baptist Home families by playing games, making crafts, giving pedicures and simply spending time with them. The team also led larger group activates like water sports and rounds of “GaGa ball,” which created op-

portunities for even timid youth focus on the residents and on to interact with others in a new building projects. way. The week finished off with The team also replaced wina birthday party celebration and dows on the back of the main dinner for everyfacility, a continuation of one. Chesick a project they explained they st ar ted on celebrated birththeir previous days by month mission trip; so that everyone painted the was included. main doors Chesick said to the gym; youth and leadreplaced a ers from the kitchen sink Rogersville team and counters; were intentional painted winabout showing dows and walls love to housein the main parents. They building, and gave them gifts, spent time pam- Hallie Braun, member of First Baptist replaced rotten pering them in Church, Rogersville, Mo., helps tear ceiling tiles.

“Probably the evenings, out an old ceiling during the church’s the most notaprayed over mission trip to Monticello in July. ble change was them and treated them to a steak dinner in the addition of vinyl siding to appreciation for all they do. He the pool house, “ said Chesick. noted that houseparents often “The pool house went through get overlooked as mission teams an amazing transformation

and now matches the rest of the well-cared-for grounds of the children’s home.”

He said he believes his team went through a similar spiritual transformation on the inside.

“I hope that this transformation will evolve into a physical makeover visible to all they come in contact with,” Chesick said.

“The work this group has completed for us is amazing and are things we couldn’t hire someone else to do,” said Chambers. “Their generosity is beyond measure.”

Before leaving, members took measurements for the next set of windows they intend to replace and began making plans for their next visit, Chesick said.

He said it was a “great trip,” adding, “Our kids went through a lot of growth in the process. … They are already excited about returning in two years.”

Across Arkansas

www.arkansasbaptist.org

25

Susan Atkinson named Ouachita registrar, director of admissions ARKADELPHIA – Susan Atkinson, a Ouachita Baptist University alumna and longtime staff member, was named Ouachita’s registrar and director of admissions effective Aug. 1. She succeeds Judy Jones, who is retiring after 20 years in that role.

“Judy Jones is highly respected both on campus and throughout the state for her work over the last 20 years as Ouachita’s registrar and director of admissions,” said Stan Poole, vice president for academic affairs. “We deeply appreciate the outstanding service she has given to Ouachita faculty, staff and students over these years. We

wish her the very best as she School of Humanities. She was named Ouachita’s 2012 transitions to retirement.

“We are fortunate to have Support Staff Member of the Susan Atkinson stepping into Year. Atkinson holds two degrees from Ouachita, this important role,” a Bachelor of Music Poole added. “Susan Education degree and brings to the position a Master of Music Edlong-term experience ucation degree. Her in working with stuhusband, Chuck; son, dents and faculty in Richard, and daughthe School of Humanter, Rebecca, also are ities. Her skills and Ouachita alumni. abilities, as well as her “Susan Atkinson integrity and commitAtkinson has been a tremenment to service, will dous asset to the make for a smooth transition in the registrar’s of- School of Humanities for more than a decade,” said Jeff Root, fice.”

Atkinson has served for the dean of the School of Humanipast 11 years as administrative ties. “I will always be grateful assistant to the dean of the for the outstanding work she

Church life

ence will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at First Baptist Church, White Hall.

Keynote speaker will be Gina Moore from Immanuel Baptist Church, El Dorado. To register, call the association as soon as possible at 870-534-1021.

Piney Baptist Church, Hot Springs, will celebrate its 75th anniversary Sept. 27. Worship service begins at 10:30 a.m. and will be followed by a potluck and special program at

Calvary Baptist Association and Hermitage Baptist Church in Hermitage will host the Soles 4 Souls shoe giveaway and block party from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 29 at Hermitage Baptist Church.

For more information, call the association office at 501-7293101.

Harmony Baptist Association’s women’s confer-

Living Proof Live Join us on Sept. 12, 2015, at Unity Baptist Church in Hope, with Beth Moore and worship leader Travis Cottrell streaming live from Wichita, KS. Tickets are $25 through Sept. 12th. Lunch will be provided for tickets purchased on or before Sept. 11th.

Advertise in the Arkansas Baptist News! arkansasbaptist.org/advertise

The event will take place between 9:30am and 4:30p.m. Doors open at 8:00am for early worship with local singers. For more information, or to purchase tickets, contact: Unity Baptist Church, 402 S. Hervey Street Hope, AR 870-777-4078 or online at: eventbrite.com.

12:30 p.m. There will also be special displays and a video, “From then (1940) till now (2015).” For more information, call 501-767-3480.

On the move Casey Fairfield is serving on the staff of First Baptist Church, Pine Bluff, as minister of youth and outreach.

Phillip Miller is serving as pastor of East Side

did here, but I’m also pleased that her new role will allow her to impact the campus as a whole on a daily basis. She will be an outstanding registrar.”

“I have enjoyed working and serving in the School of Humanities,” Atkinson noted.

“I look forward to serving the broader Ouachita community in my new role.”

Jones, who has served at Ouachita since 1990, recently was named registrar and director of admissions emerita by the Ouachita board of trustees in honor of her 25 years of service. Jones holds a master’s degree in secondary education from Ouachita and a bachelor’s degree in English from

Henderson State University.

She and her husband, Bobby, vice president for finance and administration at Henderson, have two sons, both of whom are Ouachita graduates, and eight grandchildren.

“I have been blessed to serve as registrar and director of admissions at Ouachita for more than 20 years,” Jones said.

“While I am looking forward to retirement and spending more time with my grandchildren, I will certainly miss the students, faculty and staff here at Ouachita.

“I am excited for Susan Atkinson,” she added. “She was a perfect choice for the position, and she will do a great job.”

Baptist Church, Paragould.

churches in Illinois before becoming pastor of First Baptist Church in Gillette.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother.

He is survived by his wife, Diana Ninness Stanford, of Gillett; a daughter; six sons; two brothers; three sisters; 23 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held Aug. 1 at First Baptist Church.

Obituaries Betty Lou Cullins Ray, 83, of Jonesboro, died Aug. 4. She was a librarian and public school teacher in the Nettleton school system. Her husband, Harold Ray, previously served as associational missionary for Mt. Zion Baptist Association. She was preceded in death by a sister. Survivors include her husband of 63 years, a daughter, two sons, a sister, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Aug. 6 at Nettleton Baptist Church, Jonesboro. A committal service was held Aug. 7 at Oaklawn Cemetery in Jonesboro.

John Clinton Stanford, 70, of Gillett, died July 22. He was a graduate of Boice Bible College, and served in the U.S. Navy. He served as pastor of six

Student resources directory Aug. 27 THE AUG. 27 issue of the Arkansas Baptist News (ABN) will feature a special directory of student ministry resources.

Ads will be sold at a discounted rate.

To schedule an ad, contact jessica@arkansasbaptist.org

by Aug. 17.

∏a m p Sil oa m P sal ms 34:5

GIRLS RETREAT October 16-18, 2015 • $95 Visit the Arkansas Baptist News online at arkansasbaptist.org

26

Across Arkansas

August 13, 2015

Camp Siloam to host ‘Radiant’ girls retreat in October SILOAM SPRINGS – Camp Siloam is hosting their fourth annual retreat for young women in grades seven through 12. The retreat’s theme is Radiant, based out of Psalm 34:5-7, and will be held Oct. 16-18. Special guest Patience Beard, a cheerleader for the University of Arkansas, will be the main speaker. Musical guest Kerrie Roberts will be leading the girls in worship.

While general church camps allow youth groups to grow closer as a whole, Robert Coppedge, program director at

Camp Siloam, said that gender- he explained. “But with the specific retreats are guys not here, there’s a great way to hone a lot more focus, and in on the specific we can pour into the needs of students. girls and (in) a way designed just for “There’s not the them instead of just distraction. Like durbeing a broad specing summer camp, … we’ll have 900 kids trum over all the here, and we’ll have groups.” the guys and the During the regirls. And the girls treat, not only will are distracted by the Cheerleader Patience they grow in their guys, and the guys Beard will speak at Camp faith, but also in are distracted by the Siloam’s Radiant retreat. their relationships girls, even though with one another. Atthey get those teaching times,” tendees will have the opportuni-

ty to participate in activities like paintball and a pajama party.

Group time and breakout sessions will also allow the girls to experience the gospel presented in unique, yet relatable, ways.

“We’ve built it up, and we’ve given it a whole lot more quality over the past few years, and (we’ve) been getting speakers, better artists, things like that, for the girls to want to come and experience that, but also just give them that much more of a quality experience,” said Coppedge. “We decorate the tables, and it doesn’t look like

camp once they get here. We put a lot more attention – all the tables have placemats and the silverware, and (we) kind of dress up the camp to give those girls what they deserve.”

He goes on to add that, because the girls’ retreat method has been so effective, a new guys’ retreat, called “Advance,” has been added to the 2016 Camp Siloam itinerary.

For more general information about Radiant and registration guidelines, visit campsiloam.com/Retreats-Events/ Radiant.

Classifieds PASTOR Leonard Street Baptist Church is seeking a part-time bi-vocational pastor.

Please mail resumes to Search Committee, Leonard Street Baptist Church, 625 Leonard St., Hot Springs, AR 71913. (No phone calls please.)

Holland Baptist Church, Faulkner County, is seeking a full-time or bi-vocational pastor. Please email resumes to holland@ baptistpulpit.com.

Toltec Baptist, a small rural church in Scott, is seeking a full-time or bi-vocational pastor. Please send resume to Pastor Search Committee, 1139 Toltec Road, Scott, AR 72142. Or email resume to dmjluebke@gmail.com.

Galilee Baptist Church, El Dorado, is in search of a bi-vocational pastor. Mail inquiries, resumes to Pastor Search Committee ,117 Galilee Road, El Dorado, AR 71730.

Trinity Baptist Church, Fort Smith, is seeking a bi-vocational pastor. Please send resume to Trinity Baptist Pastor Search Committee, 3619 N. 6th, Fort Smith, AR 72904 or email mackjoretta@gmail.com.

Cocklebur Baptist Church, Ward, seeking bi-vocational pastor. Parsonage provided. Email resumes to blakeduvall2000@ yahoo.com.

Cedar Glades Baptist Church in Mountain Pine is seeking a conservative full-time pastor. Please send resume to Cedar Glades Baptist Church, Pastor Search Committee, 303 Gum Springs Road, Mountain Pine, AR 71956.

Armorel Baptist Church is renewing search for full-time pastor. Please submit resumes, CDs or websites for review.

Pastor Search Committee, linda@Armorelbc. com.

First Baptist Church, El Dorado, is prayerfully seeking to fill the position of senior pastor. Email resumes to fbceldorado201@gmail.com or mail to Pastor Search Committee, 100 E. Peach St., Suite 350, El Dorado, AR 71730.

Reynolds Baptist Church, Little Rock, is a small church in search of a bi-vocational

pastor. Mail inquiries to Reynolds Baptist Church, 7111 Fourche Dam Pike, Little Rock, AR 72206, Attn: Pastor Search Committee.

OTHER STAFF POSITIONS FBC, Woodward, Okla., seeking fulltime minister of education/administrator. Send resumes to drguy@ fbcwoodward.org.

Calvary Baptist is looking for a fulltime worship pastor. We are looking for a man of God who is called to lead our congregation in worship. We do not believe worship only happens on stage on Sunday morning. We believe worship is a lifestyle that is lived out all day every day.

We feel God is calling us to understand this concept in a more complete way, and we are seeking a pastor who understands the gravity and importance of worship and who can communicate this important element of our faith in multiple ways including, but not limited to, the musical aspect that happens during weekly services.

Calvary Baptist Church, 2650 Oakridge Ext., Neosho, MO 64850, 417-451-4763 or email austinwylly@me.com.

SBC, Monticello, is seeking a fulltime youth pastor/associate pastor and part-time bi-vocational music minister. Send resumes to Second Baptist Church, 1032 Old Warren Road, Monticello, AR 71655. For questions: 870-723-3392, 870-367-2459 or kathesmith@att.net.

FBCM is seeking a full-time worship pastor. Send resumes to grenwald@sbcglobal.net or hard copy to FBCM, Attn: Gail James, 100 Valencia Drive, Maumelle, AR 72113.

First Baptist Church of Mayfield, Ky., is currently seeking a full-time minister of music/worship leader. Candidates should be able to lead in both modern and traditional styles of worship, have previous ministry experience and be passionate about leading others in musical worship.

First Baptist Church, Mayfield, is located in western Kentucky and averages 350

in Sunday morning attendance. Please submit resumes to First Baptist Church, Attn: Search Committee, 118 W. South St., Mayfield, KY 42066 or by email to office@ firstmayfield.com.

Monte Ne Baptist Church, Rogers, seeking bi-vocational minister of music to lead blended worship service.

Email resume to mnbrogers@att.net.

Central Baptist College, Conway, is seeking a director of admissions.

This position reports to the vice president for enrollment management and is responsible for, but not limited, to the following: manage traditional student admissions operations and best practices to strengthen enrollment; provide recruitment and customer service training for paid and volunteer staff; produce weekly enrollment reports; chair the admissions committee; serve on the registration committee; participate in annual professional development opportunities. Master’s preferred; bachelor’s required. Must support the Christian identity of the college and demonstrate mature faith, Christian lifestyle and a strong belief in Baptist doctrine. Detail- and team-oriented. Strong communication and organizational skills.

Minimum five years of college admissions experience preferred. Send statement of faith and resume to Ryan Johnson, rjohnson@cbc.edu. Resumes accepted until position is filled.

Southern Heights Baptist Church is currently seeking a full-time worship leader. Resumes may be sent to shbc@ windstream.net or to 279 Hwy 221 S., Berryville, AR 72616.

Bayou Meto Baptist Church seeking a paid part-time children’s minister.

Great for a college student. Must be 21 years of age. No particular education requirements but preference given to those seeking an occupation working with children. School year hours would consist of a 2-hour Sunday evening class, a possible Wednesday evening class, Bible Drill competition and social events. Summer hours and events include 20-hour week to in-

clude a Sunday evening class and Wednesday evening class. Two 40-hour weeks each summer for vacation Bible school and camp. Additional summer activities as needed. Please contact the church office at 501-988-1966 for additional information or send resume to Bayou Meto Baptist Church, 26200 Highway 107, Jacksonville, AR 72076.

Calvary Baptist Church is seeking an energetic, creative college minister and media specialist. This individual needs to have a committed, growing relationship with Jesus Christ, an interest in serving college-age individuals in the unique transition from high school to adulthood and a working knowledge of church-related technology needs, such as sound setup, projection and other computer needs. Other duties and responsibilities include working closely with other members of the staff and community in order to support the total church ministry of lifting up Jesus. A college degree is preferred and other experience will be considered. Full benefits included.

Mail resumes to Paula Word, Calvary Baptist Church, 319 Highway 278 E., Camden, AR 71701 or email paula@calvaryofcamden. org.

Illinois Baptist Children’s Home seeks an executive director to replace current director’s retirement the end of 2016.

Applications are to be received by January 2016 to fill the position by October 2016.

Go to www.bchfs.com/employment.html for details.

Music/education: Aspen Park Baptist Church, Broken Arrow, Okla., is seeking God’s man to lead our worship arts ministry/education ministry. Located in suburban southeast Tulsa area and poised for growth. Resumes may be emailed to dcrump@aspenpark.net.

Atkins First Baptist Church is seeking a part-time worship leader. Send resumes to 201 N. Church St., Atkins, AR 72823 or atkinsfbc@gmail.com.

Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Sardis seeking part-time minister of music.

Please send resumes to PHBC, Attn: Re-

sumes, 24310 N. Sardis Road, Bauxite, AR 72011 or phbc.music@gmail.com.

First Baptist Church, White Hall, is seeking a full-time minister to children and preschool. Send resumes to paul@fbcwhitehall.com or Children Search Team, P.O. Box 20307, White Hall, AR 71612-0307.

First Baptist Church of DeWitt is searching for a bi-vocational music minister. Responsibilities include leading worship and choir. Please submit resumes for FBC-DeWitt, 322 W. First St., DeWitt, AR 72042 or brojimmyalbrecht@ yahoo.com.

Union Valley Baptist Church of Beebe is seeking a full-time minister of music to lead our blended worship services.

Located in central Arkansas, Union Valley has an average worship attendance of 500. This individual will be responsible for directing adult and youth choirs, as well as the praise band. Send resume to timsparks@centurytel.net.

MISCELLANEOUS Two condos for rent in Destin, Fla. Book now for August through December: lew.brammer@gmail.com, 423-3094422.

Two buses, 25-passenger. Call George Foshee: 501-767-6020. American Bus Sales.

For sale – 25-passenger church bus: automatic, gas, 67,612 miles. Good shape. Call Steve –501-773-7331.

Davis Church Pew Upholstery, 30-plus years experience. Melton and Sandra Davis, Quitman, Miss., 601-7766617.

Place your classified in the Arkansas Baptist News! arkansasbaptist.org/ad

Bible Commentary

www.arkansasbaptist.org

27

August 23, 2015 My novelist friend Michael lives in takes on God and Christ and fails.

California and writes thriller and sus- Now, he attempts to attack God’s peopense novels. I have the privilege of ple. In three brief scenes, John presents being one of his beta readers. I look for a panoramic view of the entire story things like holes in the plot, character of creation, salvation and restoration. development and believability of the Three brief scenes present an overview of the story (Rev. story; and I identify 12:1-6). Those any problems with Explore the Bible scenes are folthe flow of the stolowed by a descripryline. The things I tion of a war in focus on are those heaven (Rev. 12:7slight nuances that Revelation 12:1-17 9). Then there is a precede and set up description of the the dramatic twists war on earth (Rev. and turns in the 12:13-17). story. You don’t want your Inserted between the reader to be disappointed descriptions of the war at the end of the book with in heaven and the war on a shallow, disconnected earth is a proclamation of twist. praise (Rev. 12:10-12). It is Revelation 12 is a fasa proclamation of victory. cinating read. It has charThe war has been decidacters that almost defy ed. God’s enemy has been imagination. The plot Gerald Nash conquered. It didn’t come takes twists and turns, but Conway by cunning, strength, the outcome is not in the clever plots or historical author’s imagination, writnarrative. Victory came ing or control. It is in the hand of God. This is not John’s story. because Jesus died on the cross and rose again so that we could have eterIt is God’s.

In Revelation 12:1, we read, “A great nal life.

Satan has declared war on us, but sign appeared in heaven.”

The phrase “a great sign” was an in- we share in that victory by our faith in dicator that the images he was about Jesus Christ, our confession in Jesus as Lord, resisting the devil and our obedito see pointed to a deeper divine story.

Satan is pictured as a dragon who ence to God’s commands.

Jesus defeats Satan

Great names have been entered on set apart and called to perform a task. the rolls of many churches; but very At the close of our text, it says in few, if any, could compare with the list verse 49, “The word of the Lord spread that included the names of Barnabas through the whole region.” and Saul, as well as Manaen and LuAs it applies to us today, we are to cius of Cyrene (Acts 13:1). A church also be a part of that work of spreading is influential. Our the gospel. A work churches can train is appointed for Bible Studies for Life and send forth the every believer in most useful minisChrist. Each perter or missionary. son is brought into The church being at a particuActs 13:1-3, 44-52 at Antioch had lar time and given “prophets and precise abilities to teachers” (Acts carry out God’s 13:1). This statement implans. Not only does God plies that there were those have a variety of forms of among them who received tasks to be accomplished such a divine impulse that for His glory, He has the they spoke under the Spirperfect ability of knowing it of God and the church exactly who can complete even set apart two of these the works ahead. prophets for very special Just as Paul and Barnwork. abas experienced persecuCindy James The work of evangeliztion (Acts 13:50), we too Camden ing went on actively at may experience the same Antioch. We may gather as we labor for the Lord. In from our text in verse 2, “while they verse 51, it states that Paul and Barnabas were worshipping the Lord and fast- “shook the dust off their feet.” Figuraing,” that the church was diligent in its tively speaking for us, if we get discourdevotions. Twice in two verses, we read aged and knocked down – we must get of the members fasting (Acts 13:2-3). up, shake the dust from our feet and The chosen men went forth to preach complete the task God has lined out just a doctrine with the confidence of the for us and be filled with joy. We may be church behind them (Acts 13:3) and the quite sure that we can do whatever God hand of the Lord on them. They were requires us to do.

Return to the task

August 30, 2015 I have heard people say, “What goes This New Jerusalem is the Tabernacle around comes around. There is noth- of God. It is where God lives. We are ing new.” going to live where God lives. God’s That’s a sad commentary on life, but people will finally experience ultimate for some it will be true. For those who and everlasting fellowship with God don’t accept Christ, it means the same (Rev. 21:7). old sins for all eterThere is going nity (Rev. 21:8, 27; to be a new way of 22:11, 15). Howliving.

Explore the Bible ever, for those who Revelation 21:4 believe in Jesus says, “And God Christ as Lord, the will wipe away Revelation 21:1-7 future means “all every tear from things new” (Rev. their eyes; there 21:5). shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor There is going to be a crying. There shall be no new creation. The entire more pain, for the former old universe as we now things have passed away.” know it will be destroyed In our human experiand replaced by a new ence, we hardly can image creation (2 Pet. 3:10–13; such a place. There is so Rev. 21:1–2). There is a much crying, sorrow, pain New Jerusalem coming and death in this world. down from the heaven As a pastor, chaplain and of God. It will serve as Gerald Nash therapist, I am constantly the city for all the believConway surrounded by it. In the ers throughout eternity.

New Jerusalem, God is This whole city is like a “bride adorned for her husband” (Rev. going to wipe it all away. Everything 21:2). The word “bride” is a metaphor that God purposed in redemptive hisfor the Church (Matt. 25:1–13; Eph. tory is done (Rev. 21:4).

John is told to write these things 5:25–27). The Church, the Bride, will be united with the Bridegroom, down (Rev. 21:5). People need to know, if they accept Christ, they will inherit Christ.

There will be a new way of experi- all things and become God’s children encing the presence of God (Rev. 21:3). (Rev. 21:7).

The final act

In Luke 14, Jesus has been invited for to invite the lower classes. The list of Sabbath dinner to the home of a promi- guests to be invited is identical to the nent Pharisee. The house is filled with list Jesus had suggested to his Pharisee the Pharisees’ socially prominent guests host in verse 13: those who could not who are all experts in the Law. While repay him by inviting him in return – there, Jesus heals a man, then comments “the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame” (Luke on the selfish be14:21). The host havior of the guests would not take no who took the best Bible Studies for Life for an answer from seats to advance Hospitality: living on mission them. their social status.

Invite those who Jesus closes the Luke 14:12-24 can’t repay you, parable in a curious Jesus tells his host, way, almost as if He for then you have is voicing the words an opportunity to receive of the host Himself. Verse a blessing from God (Luke 24 is a sentence filled with 14:12-15). Two elements are hurt and anger at rejection. noted in verse 16: This was We feel badly when we are to be a “great” banquet and rejected, but what about many guests were invited.

God when we reject Him? In the story Jesus tells, Think of His grief and the invitees begin to make broken heart. Think of excuses and decline their His anger and mercy (John Cindy James invitations. For one not to 1:11-13; 15:18-21).

Camden come to a banquet where This parable is a bitterone had previously indicatsweet reminder of rejeced acceptance was a grave tion, but also of mercy. breach of social etiquette. The rejection Those who are not worthy to come to was unanimous, and the excuses of non- the host’s table – the poor, lame, cripattendance were lame (Luke 14:18-20). pled and blind – are now invited. That It was an insult to the host. The excuses is you and me. We are unworthy to eat at included buying a field and inspecting our Host’s table, but we have been invitit, buying oxen and needing to try them ed and cleansed. How true it is: “Blessed out and one guest had just been married! is the one who will eat at the feast in the The host is angry and tells his servant kingdom of God” (Luke 14:15).

28

Bonus Content

August 13, 2015

GOP debate: social, religious issues prominent CLEVELAND (BP) – Abor- try to do.”

Social issues were the focus tion, gay marriage and God were among the topics ad- of one segment of the debate, dressed Aug. 6 at a Republican with some discussion of them presidential debate in Cleve- at other moments too. Among land involving the top 10 can- the views expressed on abordidates in polls as determined tion: – Walker said he “defunded

by Fox News.

While no candidate ex- Planned Parenthood (of Wispressed support for abortion consin state funding) more rights, one – Ohio Gov. John than four years ago, long beKasich – said the country fore any of these videos came should not divide over gay mar- out,” a reference to undercover riage. Former Arkansas Gov. videos released by the Center Mike Huckabee criticized the for Medical Progress showing Iran nuclear deal negotiated Planned Parenthood execuby the Obama administration tives discussing the sale of baby last month for not securing parts.

– Huckabee said the next the release of four American political prisoners including president should “invoke the Pastor Saeed Abedini, though Fifth and Fourteenth Amendhe did not mention Abedini ments to the Constitution” by name. Neurosurgeon Ben to protect unborn life, citing Carson invoked the biblical the rights to “due process and concept of a tithe to illustrate equal protection under the law.” a fair system of taxation.

– Former Florida Gov. Jeb Among the reactions of Southern Baptist commenta- Bush said he didn’t know that tors was approval of at least a charity on whose board he two explicit mentions of Jesus served until late 2014 gave Christ as Lord and Savior, tens of millions of dollars to Planned Parenthood. prompting SouthwestBush said he is “comern Baptist Theologipletely pro-life” and cal Seminary Presiadvocated the protecdent Paige Patterson tion of unborn life and to tweet, “Heard more of people nearing the Gospel content in Reend of life. publican debate than – Florida Sen. one often hears in Marco Rubio denied some churches.”

Huckabee the assertion of modWhen candidates were asked whether they had erator Megyn Kelly that he has received a “word from God” in the past supported abortion related to their candidacy, in cases of rape and incest.

“Future generations,” Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Rubio said, “will look a Southern Baptist, back at this history of responded, “I am our country and call us blessed to receive a barbarians for murderword from God every ing millions of babies day in receiving the who we never gave ... a Scriptures and reading chance to live.” the Scriptures.” Cruz – Businessman went on to explain Cruz Donald Trump said how his father “gave he is pro-life, having his heart to Jesus” at a Baptist church, resulting in de- “evolved” on the issue of aborliverance from alcoholism and tion. One factor in his becoming pro-life, he said, was witrestoration of his marriage.

In response to the same nessing the life of a child who question, Wisconsin Gov. was nearly aborted and later Scott Walker replied, “I’m cer- became “a total superstar.” tainly an imperfect man, and it’s only by the blood of Jesus Same-sex marriage Christ that I’ve been redeemed Among the views expressed from my sins. ... God hasn’t on same-sex marriage: given me a list, a Ten Com– Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul mandments, if you will, of said, “I don’t want my marthings to happen on the first riage or my guns registered in day (of a presidential adminis- Washington. And if people tration). What God calls us to have an opinion that is heartly do is follow His will, and ulti- (sic) felt, obviously they should mately that’s what I’m going to be allowed to practice that and

Republican candidates for president appear at the Aug. 6 debate that was viewed by more people in the U.S. than other primary presidential debate in history. no government should interfere with them.”

– Kasich said he believes in traditional marriage because he is “an old-fashioned person.” He added that he accepts the Supreme Court’s legalization of same-sex marriage and told of attending a homosexual wedding. “Issues like (samesex marriage) are planted to divide us,” Kasich said.

Race relations

Among the views expressed on race relations in America: – Carson, an African American, said, “We take every single incident between people of two races and try to make a race war out of it and drive wedges into people. And this does not need to be done.”

Skin color does not make a person “who they are, and it’s time for us to look beyond that because our strength as a nation comes in our unity.”

– Walker said police targeting of blacks should be combatted through improved training of law enforcement officials and “consequences” for the “very few” law enforcement personnel who behave inappropriately.

During a discussion of support for Israel, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said, “I absolutely believe that Israel is a priority to be able to fund and keep them strong and safe.” Paul expressed support for Israel but said no country should receive U.S. funding if the money has to be borrowed from China.

Several Baptist leaders tweeted that Rubio did well in the two-hour debate. Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) tweeted, “Marco Rubio is really strong tonight.” Ed Stetzer, executive director of LifeWay Research, tweeted that Rubio “won the night,” a sentiment echoed in a tweet by Jimmy Scroggins, pastor of Family Church in West Palm Beach, Fla. The Associated Press declared Trump the “unquestioned star of the show,” with the New York Times calculating that Trump spoke more than two minutes longer than any other candidate. Trump refused to take a pledge not to run in the general election as an Independent or third-party candidate if he fails to win the Republican nomination.

When asked about disparag-

ing comments he has made about women, Trump said his statements often are “fun” or “kidding” and added, “I don’t frankly have time for total political correctness.”

Andrew Walker, ERLC director of policy studies, tweeted that Trump “exists to be an agent of chaos. It’s political and philosophical nihilism built on implosion.”

An earlier 90-minute debate featured the remaining seven GOP presidential candidates. Denny Burk, a Boyce College professor and cultural commentator, was among the many analysts who noted the impressive performance of former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. Burk tweeted, “Even @CarlyFiorina’s postdebate was impressive. She stumped Chris Matthews” of MSNBC.

Bush, Rubio defend tax exemption, religious liberty NASHVILLE (BP) – The tax-exempt status of churches and faith-based institutions will be safeguarded if they are elected president, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Marco Rubio said during a Q-and-A session Aug. 4 before more than 13,500 people gathered for the Send North America Conference sponsored by the North American Mission Board and International Mission Board in Nashville.

At the conference organizers' invitation, Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and

Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), interviewed Bush in person at the Bridgestone Arena and Rubio in a prerecorded video.

Tax exemption for churches and religious institutions “recognizes the fact that these are not money-making ventures that should be paying taxes on the tithes and contributions,” Rubio said. “These are organizations that are using the money they raise to carry out a social good. .... and they deserve to be treated that way by the tax code.”

29

August 13, 2015