9-10-15 ABN Now

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Telling the story of Arkansas Baptists since 1901

Inside: – Gov. calls faith community to action – Catching fish, changing lives – Hope in a backpack for the hungry – Gray, Hurst receive ABN scholarships – Integrating spiritual truths every day

Dixie Jackson reaches nations Arkansas missions offering reaches outside state borders

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September 10, 2015

Volume 114, Number 18

IMB to eliminate 600-800 positions

Arkansas Baptist pastors, staff and others pray for revival and awakening during a special prayer gathering Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock. Above photo by Caleb Yarbrough, below photo by Jessica Vanderpool

350-plus appeal for great revival LITTLE ROCK – More than 350 Baptists from across Arkansas gathered in the state’s capital Aug. 31-Sept. 1 to pray for revival and spiritual awakening.

The statewide prayer gathering was part of an Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC), and greater Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), prayer initiative. The event was held at Immanuel Baptist Church, Little Rock, hosted by the ABSC and led by Ronnie Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas and president of the SBC. Floyd and a number of other pastors gave the group words of encouragement and led them in praying for God to move in Arkansas and across the country and world. In addition to Ronnie Floyd, speakers included, J.D. “Sonny” Tucker, ABSC executive director; Steve Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in

RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – International Mission Board (IMB) leaders have outlined a plan to address revenue shortfalls at the mission entity and complete a reset of the organization in order to move forward into the future with “innovative vision, wise stewardship and high accountability.”

The plan was presented by senior IMB leadership, including President David Platt, during an Aug. 27 town hall meeting including missionaries and staff, who collectively attended either in person or through digital communication. IMB trustees were informed of the plan during their Aug. 25-26 board meeting in downtown Richmond, Va. The plan will reduce 600800 of its staff and field personnel, which is 15 percent of the IMB’s total employees.

Platt said the urgency of the plan is based in the reality that while Southern Baptist giving through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering has increased in recent years, the IMB projects it will fall $21 million short of its current annual budget, marking several consecutive years of budget shortfalls for the 170-year-old organization. Over the past six years, the organization’s expenditures have totaled $210 million more than has been given to it each year.

To address revenue shortfalls, the IMB enacted a plan to slowly reduce the number of missionaries through normal attrition and limited appointments, while using the IMB’s reserves – including global

See IMB page 8

Ark. WMU now foundation; Parker named exec. director Memphis, Tenn.; Don Moore, former executive director of the ABSC; Nick Floyd, teaching pastor at Cross Church, Fayetteville; Bill Elliff, pastor of The Summit Church, North Little Rock; Manley Beasley Jr., pastor of Hot Springs Baptist Church, Hot Springs, and Archie Mason, pastor of Central Baptist Church, Jonesboro.

Tucker opened the first session of the gathering.

POSTAGE INFORMATION

“We come tonight to pray and ask God to do something real. … I want to walk out of here tomorrow at noon a different person. And we’re too clean; we’re too sterile. We want good, clean, sterile sinners coming to your church.

It’d scare us to death if God broke loose and did something,” he said.

See REVIVAL page 9

LITTLE ROCK – In a stra- vention (ABSC) announced tegic shift for the organiza- it could no longer provide fition, the Arkansas nancial support for Woman’s Missionary an Arkansas WMU Union (WMU) board executive director. of directors recently “ The decision made the decision of the ABSC was to establish itself as purely a fiscal busia private foundation, ness decision, which according to a statein no way reflects a ment adopted by the lack of support for entity’s board and WMU. The same Parker provided to the Arholds true for the kansas Baptist News. decision of the AR WMU The statement noted that to organize as a private the decision came after the Arkansas Baptist State ConSee WMU page 2

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2

September 10, 2015

Digest Stories of interest to Arkansas Baptists

Kentucky clerk loses, faces contempt charges MOREHEAD, Ky. (BP) – A Kentucky county clerk not only lost at the U.S. Supreme Court Aug. 31, but now faces a likely contempt of court ruling for again refusing to grant marriage licenses to samesex couples. Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis and her deputies turned away same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses Sept. 1 at their office in the eastern Kentucky town of Morehead. Their refusal came after the high court denied Davis’ request to block enforcement of a federal judge’s order that she issue licenses for samesex marriages. Lawyers for the same-sex couples subsequently filed a contempt of court motion against Davis, The Louisville Courier-Journal reported. David Bunning, the federal judge who previously ordered Davis to issue licenses, will consider the request she be held in contempt, according to the newspaper.

SBC Exec. Comm. reports increased CP giving NASHVILLE, Tenn.

(BP) – Year-to-date contributions to Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) national and international missions and ministries received by the Southern Baptist Executive Committee are $174,276,734.99, or 1.13 percent above the year-todate budgeted goal, and are 1.42 percent ahead of contributions received during the same time frame last year, SBC Executive Committee President Frank S. Page reported. The total includes receipts from state conventions and fellowships, churches and individuals for distribution, according to the 2014-15 SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget.

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

Hutchinson calls faith community to action Stella Prather ABCHomes LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Baptists were among the nearly 500 people representing Arkansas’ faith community, nonprofit organizations and Arkansas state agencies who took part in the Restore Hope Summit: A Call to Action for Faith Leaders on Foster Care and Prison Re-Entry, which took place at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Little Rock, Aug. 25- 26.

The event was hosted by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson to encourage faith-based organizations to help the state provide better services for foster children and inmates who are re-entering society.

Hutchinson praised churches and faith-based groups for their work ministering to foster care children and providing services for state prisoners.

The need for additional help, he said, is still great.

According to reports, more than 4,000 children were in the Arkansas foster care system in October 2014. Only 1,168 foster homes with 2,768 beds were available in 2014, leaving 1,241 more children than available beds in foster homes.

“Thanks so much for what you do for foster kids,” Hutchinson told David Perry, executive director of the Arkansas Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries (ABCHomes). The first-term governor visited briefly with Perry and other ABCHomes staff members who were manning one of many booths at the summit promoting foster care services.

“We appreciate all that you do,” added Hutchinson.

A BC Ho me s re c e n t l y launched the Connected foster care ministry to provide and/ or mobilize resources needed to make foster care successful in Arkansas, while giving Baptist churches an opportunity to take an active role in ministry to foster care children, families and state foster care workers.

On Tuesday, Aug. 25, the conference focused on the need for volunteers to help meet the needs of the state's parolees through mentoring, job-training and employment services.

Foster home recruitment, challenges in the foster care

David Perry (right), executive director of Arkansas Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries, speaks with Gov. Asa Hutchinson at the Restore Hope Summit held Aug. 25-26 at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Little Rock. Photo by Stella Prather system and the need for more and have grown in my relation- members for the child-welfare faith-based involvement in fos- ship with Him.” division of the Department ter care highlighted day two of Also speaking at the summit of Human Services. Accordthe summit. were longtime foster parents ing to reports, the additional Speaking on Wednesday Dean and Sandy Burbank. money will be used to hire 29 morning was Megan Palmer, a The couple are members of In- caseworkers, seven program asformer foster child and a Bap- dian Springs Baptist Church sistants and four supervisors. tist Collegiate Ministry alumni of Bryant.

Calling the faith-based comat Arkansas State University “Children deserve a good munity to action, Hutchinson (ASU). home, and we can offer that said, “It is our faith that inThe recent ASU graduate home,” said Dean Burbank in spires; it is our faith that mois thankful for her foster care an interview. “Opening our tivates; it is our faith that will experience. home is a way for us to show (call) us to action and that will “It was three placements love to children in need.” help us to reach out to those and one godly family that has Hutchinson announced that say, ‘Can you help?’ and brought me to where I am that he would ask lawmakers the answer is, ‘Yes.’’ today,” she shared. “It was dur- for $1 million in rainy-day Stella Prather is director of ing this time that … I met Jesus money to hire 40 more staff communications for ABCHomes.

WMU

continued from page one

foundation,” the statement reads.

“AR WMU will continue a strong partnership with ABSC relating to them Chaplin in the same way the Arkansas Baptist Children’s Homes and the Arkansas Baptist News does. The purposes and duties of Arkansas WMU do not change. We will continue to promote Missions for Life (TM) equipping, encouraging, and engaging all ages in missions.”

Gayla Parker, a member of Lifeway Baptist Church in Little Rock, was hired by the Ar-

kansas WMU board to begin serving as Arkansas WMU executive director beginning Sept. 1. Shana Chaplin, a member of Immanuel Baptist Church, Little Rock, was recently elected as president of Arkansas WMU. Chaplin said articles of incorporation have already been filed, and the organization is currently in the process of becoming a nonprofit.

Debbie Moore, ABSC missions team member, said that although Arkansas WMU will have a “different” leadership structure, its purpose remains the same as the WMU vision statement says: “WMU challenges Christian believers to understand and be radically involved in the mission of God.” Moore added she, along with Travis McCormick and Charity Gardner, both mem-

bers of the ABSC missions team, “will continue partnering with Arkansas WMU to assist ABSC churches in missions discipleship.”

“The ABSC missions team and Arkansas WMU are partners together in kingdom work,” Moore said.

“Impacting lostness will require all of us to go to our neighbor, nation and around the world with the message of Christ,” Parker said. “It will require all of us to give sacrificially. It will require all of us to be on our knees daily in prayer. And it will require all of us working together in partnership. Arkansas WMU is blessed to be serving alongside ABSC and Arkansas Southern Baptists. I can’t wait to see how God works as together we take the message of hope to a lost world.”

www.arkansasbaptist.org

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Catching fish, men on the Norfork River NORFORK – As the room slowly cleared of nearly 100 men who worshipped, prayed and wept together during the culmination of the twoday Fishers of Men Retreat Aug. 21-22 in Norfork, Jamie McAnelly looked back at what the event has become over the past nine years.

“Next year is the big 10,” McAnelly told the Arkansas Baptist News. “I’m not sure what it’s going to look like yet. If as many come again and bring family and friends that they claim to be bringing, we will be looking at between 100 and 130.”

McAnelly, a member of Central Baptist Church in Bald Knob, has seen God use the retreat to soften and lead men to share the burden of their hearts during the final worship night at Norfork River Resort.

“I love the fact that we can open the floor and allow men a reverent time of sharing,” he explained. “It’s powerful to hear God’s work in these men and also be supporting to any that might be going through a similar storm.”

McAnelly, along with Dennis Pearrow and Pastor Paul Reams, of Central Baptist, organize the trip each year with lots of help from dozens of Central Baptist volunteers.

Speaking at this year’s retreat was J.J. Jasper, of Tupelo, Miss., a Christian comedian and co-host of a national morning radio show on American Family Radio. Chris McDaniel, worship pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Dalton, Ga., led music.

This year was different in a lot of ways, said McAnelly. For one thing, there were nearly twice as many men in attendance. As a result, the retreat took more planning and enlist-

Digest Stories of interest to Arkansas Baptists

‘War Room’ reaches 1st on opening day Aug. 28

Dozens of men prepare to head out for a day of trout fishing during the Fishers of Men Retreat. Photo by Jay Staggs ment of volunteers with duties ranging from cooking and cleaning to the distribution of T-shirts and hats.

“In the past, we just let the guys find an empty bed and claim it. There was a little more preliminary work (this year), but it paid off. I have always been the one running around trying to get everything done,” he said.

Reams applauded the men for their tireless work and “servant heart” during the event.

“There’s a difference between choosing to serve and actually being a servant,” he said.

The pastor added that he continues to be blessed to see

Jamie McAnelly speaks to men gathered at the Fishers of Men Retreat.

God use the event as a “cleansing effect” in men’s lives.

“It’s wonderful to hear how God is working in their lives,” said Reams.

Many decisions were made during the retreat – including two salvations – one being the profession of faith of one of the fishing guides.

Reams explained that as he and his guide headed out Saturday for a day of fishing, he casually asked about his spiritual condition and if he knew Jesus as his Savior. He said the guide told him that, ironically, he had been thinking about just that in recent days and wanted to know more about what it meant.

As Reams fished, hauling in trout after trout, he continued to talk to his guide. “ Then everything got quiet,” said Reams. “He accepted Christ right there on the river.”

McAnelly said he had a pleasant surprise at this year’s retreat when a friend he knew from the Navy came to the re-

treat, accepting Christ on the first night.

“It is always a blessing to see lives changed during the weekend,” he said. “Usually, Saturday night is when most decisions are made, but this year was different.”

McAnelly explained that his friend – who recently suffered a major heart attack – came after having a stint put in and starting a regiment of medication.

“Although he was fatigued, he was still determined to come on the trip. We kicked off the weekend Friday night and as we concluded our services, my friend, Kenneth, came forward and shed tears and accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Wow! What a start to a great weekend,” he said.

“It is always a blessing to see men broken and then filled with the Spirit of God,” he said.

For more information about the Fishers of Men Retreat, visit www.cbcfishersofmen.com.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – The Kendrick Brothers’ “War Room” opened in first place in box office sales on the single night of Aug. 28, but finished second to “Straight Outta Compton” over the entire opening weekend ending Aug. 30, Box Office Mojo reported. “War Room,” promoting the power of a disciplined prayer life, grossed $4.045 million on Aug. 28, averaging $3,564 on each of 1,135 screens.

“Straight Outta Compton,” an R-rated movie about the American hiphop “gangsta rap” group N.W.A., took in $3.85 million that same night, averaging $1,225 on 3,142 screens. While “Straight Outta Compton” took first place for full weekend sales with $13.2 million and maintained the top spot it debuted in three weekends ago, “War Room” did better than industry insiders predicted by grossing $11 million.

“War Room’s” per-screen average for the weekend was described as “robust” at $9,692.

Chick-fil-A blocked at Denver airport DENVER (BP) – A committee of the Denver City Council has stalled what was expected to be routine approval of a Chick-fil-A restaurant at the Denver International Airport after at least four council members expressed disapproval of the company’s alleged opposition to same-sex marriage.

During an Aug. 18 hearing, council member Robin Kniech said she was concerned about a local franchise generating “corporate profits used to fund and fuel discrimination,” The Denver Post reported, calling opposition to the airport restaurant “a moral issue.”

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

Editorial&Opinion 4

September 10, 2015 “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have...”

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

What if we cheered for Jesus like we do the Hogs?

B

y the time you read this, the Arkansas Razorbacks – or your favorite college football team – likely will have played its first game of the 2015 season.

If you’re like me, you watched the game on TV or were at the stadium hanging on every play, rooting for your team to dominate the competition.

While I love to root for my beloved Hogs like the best of them, I found myself pondering the cheering crowd and the team on the field, the dynamics between the two and how it relates to Christian culture.

The aim of Arkansas coach Bret Bielema, since taking over the premier football program in the state, has been to build the Razorbacks into a physical and dominating force that goes against “stylist” spread-out-the-field and finesse football fielded by many

teams today. Bielema’s aim is for the Razorbacks to “wear down” opponents with the ultimate goal of winning the game and bringing victory to the team.

So far Razorback fans seem to love the new approach, as it appears the formula Pressing On will bring Tim Yarbrough consistent Phil. 3:14 victories to the team.

Let’s contrast for a moment the approach of the Razorbacks on the field with the today’s Christian.

There was a time when Christian culture was a “dominating” force in American culture, known for winning over converts by communicating Truth. Jesus was known undisputably as “the Way, the Truth and the Life,” whom all people must know to gain salvation from their wicked lives and assurance of eternal life.

Somewhere along the way Christianity was watered

down, disenfranchised and fragmented to the point of obscurity and irrelevance.

The irony, of course, is that unlike a temporal football team unsure of victory from game to game, Christians know the way the “game” ends and that Christ ultimately wins over darkness.

So why don’t we cheer on God like we do the Razorbacks?

It seems today that sharing one’s faith in Christ has become more of a “process,” rather than spontaneous and natural outgrowth of the Christian experience.

Perhaps the reason is that our lives have become so engrossed by the busyness of the present age that we don’t take time to stop and evaluate our surroundings and the lost people God has placed strategically in our lives that we have the responsibility to reach.

It’s goes without saying that many Christians don’t know

their neighbors – sometimes living right next to them – and are often hesitant to share what Christ has done in their lives with co-workers.

Is this God’s game plan or the plan of Satan who is seeking to destroy and devour?

My goal this season while

rooting for the Razorbacks is to contrast my enthusiastic support of the team with how I can be a better witness for Jesus Christ and cheer on our Savior who has won the victory over the ultimate opponents – death and eternal separation from God. Cartoon by Gary Thomas

The hypocrisy of hating hypocrites I

am not defending or excusing Josh Duggar. My heart hurts for him and his family. He confessed and publicly repented, but whether he did it because he was truly repentant or because he got caught is between him and God. Regardless, his family will be working through the consequences of his sin for years to come.

I do, however, take issue with so many on the left who not only choose not to forgive, but actually rejoice in his failure.

It seems that anyone who

Volume 114, Number 18 USPS08021 Member of the Association of State Baptist Publications and the Arkansas Press Association

stands for right and truth are not only hated for their beliefs, but crucified politically and socially when they fall.

We believe lying is a sin, yet we all lie occasionally. We Viewpoint believe Kim Reeder adultery is a sin, but we all struggle with lustful thoughts. That we fail doesn’t negate the standard, nor does it disqualify us from standing for it.

In a sense, we are all hypocrites because none of us perfectly follows the standards we uphold. If anything, our

failures only validate those beliefs because they reveal that they are more than man-made – they are divinely ordained.

Those who rejoice in the failures of someone else are themselves hypocrites. While claiming to be tolerant of all people and expecting Christians to be loving and forgiving, they refuse to offer the very love and forgiveness they expect to receive.

The troubles with the Duggar family have certainly hurt the testimony of Christian organizations, but do all of our failures not do the same?

The hypocrisy then comes when anti-Christian hate

groups seek to demonize Christians when they fall.

Who of these groups were calling for the resignation of Bill Clinton during the Lewinsky scandal?

Who of the Hillary voters are calling on her to come clean about Benghazi and the leaking of classified documents?

Who of these have criticized her for wiping her computer’s memory when the authorities requested it? Who of them are calling for the resignation and public humiliation of the other millions of Ashley Madison subscribers?

Their silence is deafening.

On the other hand, Christian groups who associate with the Duggars have tried to maintain their dignity while not excusing Josh Duggar’s actions.

See the difference?

Proverbs 28:13 says, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

Duggar has publicly confessed and forsaken his sin as far as we know.

Who are the hypocrites now?

Kim Reeder is pastor of Barton Chapel Baptist Church in Tyronza and a frequent contributor to the Arkansas Baptist News.

Telling the story of Arkansas Baptists since 1901

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Mission engagement.

Check.

Family Matters Ben Phillips

V

an loaded. Check. Did we forget anything? Check.

Bathroom stops. Check. Rain.

Check. Hot weather. Check.

Sweat. Check. Lives changed.

Check. Worth it? Check.

Engaging your family in missions provides opportunities to serve in the name of Christ and a lifetime of memorable stories.

Check. This summer our family engaged in a number of mission endeavors. We participated in a backyard Bible club experience led by a youth group doing missions in the Bryant area for a week. Our entire home group got to experience promoting the backyard Bible club by knocking on doors and inviting families prior to the mission group arriving.

We joined in a family mission trip with our church to provide some basic maintenance and construction work on Haskell Indian Nations University campus in Kansas. Several Arkansas churches have engaged this campus for years in partnership with a local church, planting seeds, which have begun to bear fruit through people trusting in Christ and being baptized.

Check.

Strategically, we moved into our neighborhood nine years ago and have been involved in a variety of missional experiences where we engage children, parents and families. We’ve shared the gospel in a variety of ways with different people. One child, who lived in our neighborhood and played at our home just about every day, recently made a profession of faith, and we enjoyed seeing him baptized in a local church. Check.

One way your family can be engaged in missions is through the Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering. Check. Utilize one of the offering brochures to pray for God to work in our state. Consider how much your family can give.

Consider participating in an Acts 1:8 mission experience around the state. Be careful though. When you begin to serve God through missions, you will be a conduit to change people’s lives and your life will be changed in the process.

Check!

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

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Pure Sex I

was getting coffee the other morning and a person who adults only in the worship center – to address the difficult lives by our Central Baptist Church campus in Jonesissues of the culture. boro said, “Well, Bro. Archie, I guess everybody at Central First, we are looking at what the Bible says about sex in needed the Sex Talk last Wednesday night, because traffic the context of marriage. We are laying the foundation of was backed up and it took me forever to get to my house.” how God created sex and gave it to a man and woman to Over the past few weeks, many people have referred to be enjoyed in marriage. I never heard a message on sex our Wednesday night “Pure Sex” series as growing up as kid or as an adult. I think the “Sex Talk.” In fact, the second WednesI would have remembered that one. SecPresident’s day night of the series, we were at 100 ondly, in an upcoming series, we are going Perspective percent capacity in our worship center. It to address same-sex attraction, homosexuallooked like an 11 a.m. Easter Sunday mornity, homosexual marriage, bi-sexuality and Archie Mason ing service! It was totally crazy organized transgender people. The Bible is very clear chaos with all age-graded programs filled to capacity. regarding these topics, but preaching what the Bible says Did people really come to hear the sex talk? No. Our regarding these subjects is not politically correct or culturCentral family is coming out on Wednesday nights beally palatable. We as the Church can either compromise cause they want biblical answers of how to respond to their our beliefs, skirt the issues, or we can be the salt and light children, family, friends and co-workers at a time when 87 in the midst of dark depravity. percent of the population says it’s OK to have sex before We have to make a choice. I want to encourage you as marriage; when the fastest-growing group of people copastors, deacons and leaders to hit these issues head-on, habituating together are senior adults; when 68 percent of because they are not going away and our people need to adult men and 18 percent of adult women view porn every know how to respond to this culture in love and truth. week; when the Supreme Court has legalized homosexual Feel free to watch our current “Pure Sex” series on Vimeo marriage, and their first-grader is in a class with two other at centralbaptist.com and use the information or outlines first-graders who have two mommies (two women married for your teaching and preaching. May God receive the to one another). glory!

We are in the midst of what I call an “Immoral Sexual Archie Mason is senior pastor of Central Baptist Church in Revolution” – whether we like it or not. So, Central has Jonesboro and president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convendecided to use Wednesday nights at our Central Campus – tion.

Join God’s ‘Unlimited’ work in Arkansas A

s we prepare as a staff to participate in this year’s Acts erous gifts through the Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions 1:8 One Day Mission Trips, I am drawn to the theme Offering. Dixie Jackson gifts help your church members of the 2015 Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering and be better equipped for ministry through missions discipleprayer focus for state missions – Unlimited – and the folship and missions mobilization. Working together as lowing words from the Arkansas Baptist State Convention Arkansas Baptists, we are sharing the gospel and caring missions team: for our neighbors nearby, as well as reaching out to those “As humans, we are limited. Our fears, prejudices, fifrom around the world who are now our neighbors here nances, failures and weaknesses can keep us from doing all at home. God is doing some awesome ‘unlimited’ work God has commanded us to do. With Jesus, among us, and we get to be part of what there are no such limitations. Because of He is doing! What a blessing! What a priviKingdom Jesus, we can reach beyond our limits and lege!”

Foundation accomplish the work He has called us to Wow, what a message! We are truly Bobby Thomas do. Working together under the lordship blessed to participate in what God is doing. of Christ, we can reach the unreached and This message continues what we have been impact lostness in our communities, across the state and discussing with leaders in our state: “How do you define beyond. Because we know and believe in Him, we truly are success in ministry?” This discussion has been rooted in ‘unlimited’ in what we can accomplish. the must-read book “The Choice: The Christ-Centered “The Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering funds Pursuit of Kingdom Outcomes.” Whether or not you have many ministries in Arkansas through partnerships with read the book, we hope you will agree that steward leaders churches and associations. Some examples are community are Christ-followers who depend on a God of abundance missions, pregnancy centers, hunger sites, new church for everything. starts, disaster relief and many more funded by your genBobby Thomas is president of Arkansas Baptist Foundation.

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

Dixie Jackson Offering

September 10, 2015

Dixie Jackson offering helps reach state, nations WHAT WOULD you do if you could go on mission to 10-plus countries for just a few dollars worth of gas? While you might not be able to physically visit these countries for that amount, you can interact with the people from these countries simply by driving to your local college or university campus.

Lynn Loyd, missions consultant for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) college and young leaders team, said about 130 nations are represented on college campuses in Arkansas, and many are from unreached, unengaged countries.

“That’s one of the things that makes international student ministry so strategic. We have students who come to us from nations we can’t go to,” Loyd said.

For this very reason, the college and young leaders team seeks to intercept these students and impact them with the gospel.

Teresa “Bit” Stephens, Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) campus minister at Metro BCM on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has a heart for international ministry. She hosts Conversation Club at Metro BCM each semester,

partnering with International Friendship Outreach to do so.

Students from 12-20 nations attend each meeting to practice their English and develop relationships. In doing so, they learn about the Christian faith.

Yusuf, from Rwanda, and Aditya, from India, are two such students. Yusuf, who just graduated with his associate’s degree, is Muslim and Aditya is Hindu, but both say they enjoy learning about other religions.

“I’m a Muslim, but I’m open to other religions, … so I like to know other religions – what they believe and stuff like that,” Yusuf said.

They also said Conversation Club has helped them meet not only American friends, but friends from all over the world. Aditya said he has friends from about 30 countries.

Stephens said that along with participating in Conversation Club, students receive help acquiring things like furniture, clothing and other necessities through the BCM and partnering churches, such as Baring Cross Baptist Church, Sherwood, and Parkway Place Baptist Church, Little Rock.

Stephens said there is a need

for someone to help coordinate such distribution.

Loyd noted that other BCMs throughout the state also have furniture distributions and Conversation Clubs.

Life would be different without Conversation Club, Aditya and Yusuf said.

“If you come here and you’re on your own, first of all, you don’t get information and you might end up doing something (incorrectly). Here you get a guidance of how you’re supposed to do things in the U.S.,” Yusuf said.

Aditya added he has friends who attend universities that don’t have Conversation Clubs, and those friends have had a different experience.

“Compared to them, we feel very happy, and we’re glad that we are in Little Rock,” he said.

“People who haven’t been here to Conversation Club – Americans – if you just come and check it out, you’ll have some fun with us, and it’s going to be great,” Yusuf said.

Arkansas Baptists play a part in reaching students like Yusuf and Aditya with God’s love and the gospel when they participate in the Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering.

“The Dixie Jackson offering helps provide training and equipping to engage international students in gospel conversations through Conversation Club, furniture distribution and other events,”

Yusuf (left), from Rwanda, and Aditya, from India, attend an event for international students at Metro BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministry) on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Photo by Jessica Vanderpool Stephens said.

Each year in the month of September, Arkansas Baptist churches focus on Arkansas missions by giving to the Dixie Jackson offering, which the ABSC oversees and uses to fund Arkansas missions efforts.

This year’s offering goal is $1.5 million.

The Dixie Jackson offering supports a number of other ministries as well, among them Christian Women’s Job Corps (CWJC) and Christian Men’s Job Corps (CMJC), which help adults develop basic academic and professional skills.

“The true success of CWJC and CMJC programs lies in discipleship,” said Mary Ramsey, Arkansas CWJC/ CMJC consultant for the ABSC. “When someone joins a CWJC or CMJC program,

Letters to the Editor John not Paul I’m sure you have heard at least a dozen times about your article (Pressing On: “Study Revelation, then persevere and be watchful,” Aug. 27) in the Arkansas Baptist News. I was unaware that Paul wrote the Revelation. All these years in a Baptist church I was taught it was the Apostle John exiled on the isle of Patmos. Oh well, we learn something new every day!

Clerry Jones Camden Editor’s Note: Thanks for reading, Clerry. Paul was listed incorrectly in my column due to an editing error. The author of Revelation, John, was listed correctly in

the Scripture passage quoted, Rev. 1:1-3, just not in the text of the column itself. We regret the error and are in no way attempting to change the author of Revelation.

Christians and our place I both appreciate and enjoy the (Arkansas) Baptist News. I am a member of FBC, Kensett.

My pastor is Bro. Joe Clement.

I turned 83 Aug. 3. I am a retired Sunday school teacher, 1970-2004. My husband, who died Feb. 7, 2012, was a deacon and teacher.

I would like to express my thoughts on all Christians and our place in life as I see it!

As a Christian, what are you a part of – family, church, work, community service, neighbor, public servant,

school teacher or leader or some other thing?

Let the Christ in your life speak for you; not offensively (unless the hearer chooses it that way), but firmly stand and encourage unity of Christians in prayer for our nation, in our biblical beliefs and in our wholesome well-being!

In our lifestyle, may we be a witness for our Savior, not a compromise for Satan nor acceptance to get along with opposites! Banding together as Christians to pray for revival, repentance and people to be saved and people listening to God for our own well-being and the preservation of our nation and Israel.

Not just Baptist or any denomination, but all denominations in the name of Christ,

praying to evangelize and renew our faith strong in our God (the only true God) and our Savior Jesus Christ!

God’s Word speaks louder than us!

Psalm 33:22: “Let Thy mercy, Oh Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in Thee.”

Psalm 9:17 says, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Now to the Supreme Court, read this from 2 Samuel 23:3b: “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” To all, read Psalm 33:12a: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”

Imogene Hammond Kensett

they are immediately connected with a mentor who evaluates their spiritual condition and begins one-on-one discipleship. Participants join Bible studies and are bathed in prayer.”

She noted that some of the sites offer educational classes as a well as mentoring.

Ramsey shared the story of Brenda, a CWJC participant who has experienced the impact of the ministry firsthand.

Brenda spent 30 years being homeless. But through CWJC, she was able to receive medical and financial resources, all while learning how to turn her nominal faith into a living faith.

Every year, many students like Brenda go through the CWJC and CMJC programs and receive life-altering help and hope, said Ramsey, adding that some of these students even return to be mentors to others going through the program.

“The Dixie Jackson offering helps provide Arkansas CWJC/CMJC sites with office supplies, Bibles and other resources needed for daily operations,” said Debbie Moore, a member of the ABSC missions team.

This year’s Dixie Jackson theme – Unlimited – comes from John 14:12-14 and encourages Arkansas Baptists to realize Christ gives them unlimited power to reach beyond themselves and impact the world.

The suggested dates for churches to participate in the Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering and Week of Prayer this year are Sept. 13-20.

For more information visit absc.org/dixiejackson.

www.arkansasbaptist.org

7

Hope in a backpack for hungry N.M. children K. Faith Morgan NAMB Editor’s Note: On Global Hunger Sunday, Oct. 11, Southern Baptist congregations will address the hunger crisis across North America and around the world by receiving special offerings. Donations received are channeled through Global Hunger Relief, which uses 100 percent of each gift to meet hunger needs.

MORIARTY, N.M. – For most school-age children, weekends are a highly anticipated time of fun and freedom. But for others, there’s another expectation – hunger. They live in a survival cycle, taking multiple trips through the cafeteria line at school – stocking-up at lunch on Friday and catching up at breakfast on Monday – to compensate for the food that is in short supply, or even unavailable, on the days in between.

Pastor Dennis Garcia of The People Church in Moriarty, N.M., knows what it means to be hungry.

“I grew up in a family that was in poverty. We lived off of WIC (Women, Infants and Children) and food stamps and all of those programs,” he said of his childhood in Albuquerque, N.M. “My parents would sometimes trade their food stamps away to buy drugs, and so we would ultimately go without as kids.”

Garcia sees the same pattern of need in his current community of Moriarty – where an estimated 28 percent of residents live below the

poverty line and a majority of public school students qualify for the free or reduced lunch program. Many children don’t have reliable access to basic nutritional necessities at home.

With a heart for the physical and spiritual needs of underprivileged families in the district, Garcia reached out to Moriarty-Edgewood School District to offer assistance.

Ten miles away in Edgewood, a women’s Bible study from Mountain Valley Church was completing a study on love through actions.

“We’ve written checks for years, but this is really about being Jesus’ hands and feet,” said Bible study member Sheryl Stewart. After learning about the need at Moriarty Elementary School (MES), she started looking for ways her group could help.

Packed with love

Both Garcia and Stewart connected with MES’ parentteacher liaison, Sue Gibson, who shared one of the school’s greatest concerns.

“On Mondays, we would have hungry, sick children,” said Gibson. “They would come to school so hungry that they would overeat for breakfast and then throw up because of it. Some of them were so hungry, they couldn’t eat.”

At the beginning of the 2014 school year, she paired Stewart and Garcia to launch a solution: give students backpacks stocked with food for the weekend – two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners and plenty of between-meal snacks

Instead of having one congregation that is possessive of a backpack food ministry, The People Church and Mountain Valley Church in New Mexico join forces to effect greater change and a broader reach, helped, in part, by donations to Southern Baptist Global Hunger Relief. NAMB photo by Nick Layman – enough to nourish growing bodies and fuel childhood adventures while they’re away from the classroom.

Using funds provided by Global Hunger Relief (GHR) through the Baptist Convention of New Mexico, the state mission offering (Mission New Mexico) and donations from his own congregation, Garcia and his family purchase provisions for the bags.

“My wife claims she has the spiritual gift of shopping,” Garcia joked. “The items vary from week to week depending on what we find on sale.”

Stewart’s group takes the food Garcia provides, purchases additional groceries, packs the bags and delivers them to 30-45 children at the school every Friday.

“We have found that the kids have changed from the time we first began,” said Stewart. “They were very timid of

us, but now they’re warming up. They’re getting used to seeing us on Fridays, and they smile more.”

“The program this year has made a huge difference. Test scores, attendance and grades are up. It has been a wonderful blessing for me to watch the entire community and churches working together for these children,” said Gibson.

Growing relationships

In addition to the weekly meal provisions, Stewart and her group have found themselves becoming more and more involved in the overall well-being of the children they serve.

“We bought coats when it got cold in the fall; we also supply clothing, shoes, supplies and other things that the school needs or the kids need,” Stewart said. “We pray daily for these kids that they’ll

come to know Jesus and that they can break this cycle of poverty that they’re in. We pray for their safety, that they are well-fed and loved, and all the things so many of us take for granted because we grew up in good homes.”

For Garcia and The People Church, the program has opened doors to deeper relationship with the school staff and students. Over the recent months, church members have had occasion to volunteer at events like teacher in-service days and a schoolwide literacy carnival. This spring, around 250 people from local schools came out to The People Church’s Easter egg hunt, too.

“Our people had some great conversations with families from our community, and some seeds were planted,” Garcia said of the event, adding that, “God has used a lot of my background, and my experiences, to align with the community. It gives me an opportunity to speak to them on a level that says, ‘I know what you’re going through; I know what you’ve been through; I know that there’s a way out.’”

This sort of pairing of locally donated resources with GHR funds is exactly how GHR is designed to work, said Jerry Daniel, executive director of the North American Mission Board’s mercy ministry.

K. Faith Morgan writes for the North American Mission Board.

Discover how you and your church can expand efforts to confront hunger at namb.net/loveloud and globalhungerrelief.com.

Gray, Hurst named ABN scholarship recipients ZACKERY GRAY, of BlyGray, who is attending Wiltheville, and Anna Hurst, of liams Baptist College this fall, Little Rock, were rehas been a member cently named recipiof Armorel Baptist ents of the Arkansas Church in Blytheville Baptist News (ABN) for nine years. He gradCommunications uated with a 3.2 GPA, Scholarships for fall attended one year at 2015.

Arkansas Northeastern The ABN scholarCollege in Blytheville ships are designed to with a 4.0 GPA and deGray encourage students sires to pursue a teachto pursue a career in ing degree with an emChristian communications, phasis in communications at said Tim Yarbrough, ABN edi- Williams. His other interest is tor/executive director. in physical education.

Melissa Booker, counselor with the Armorel School District, said Gray is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is a good role model for everyone in the school.

Hurst is a senior at Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) this fall and is pursuing a double major in mass communications and business administration with an emphasis in marketing. She has a 3.6 GPA and is active in International Association of Business Communicators, OBU Women in

Business and OBU News BuGray and Hurst will both reau. Hurst also served as a receive $250 from the ABN, summer intern for the which will be matched ABN this year. She is by their respective a member of Crystal schools.

Hill Baptist Church, “Both of these stuLittle Rock. dents exhibit a passion Deborah Root, for Jesus Christ and professor of commua desire to pursue a nications and chair career in communicaof the department of tions that furthers the Hurst communications at cause of Christ – either Ouachita, said Hurst in a secular marketwas one of her best students in place or a vocational ministry,” media writing and publication said Yarbrough. “The ABN is design. honored to assist them.”

8

IMB

continued from page one

property sales – to keep as many missionaries on the field as possible.

“We praise God for the reserves and property sales that made this possible and for leadership which chose to spend these resources for the spread of the gospel,” Platt said. “But we cannot continue to overspend. For the sake of short-term financial responsibility and long-term organizational stability, we must act.”

Sebastian Traeger, the IMB’s executive vice president, explained that senior leadership considered several options to overcome the revenue shortfall.

“The challenge is that we’re looking at both large revenue shortfalls and low cash reserves – so any action needs to include a plan to address both simultaneously,” Traeger said.

“We considered multiple options – such as further reducing missionary appointments or liquidating additional property – but none of them bring about a balanced budget fast

September 10, 2015 enough, or they are not feasible to implement in the short term. Our goal is to align our cost structure with the amount of money given to us each year.”

Leadership determined the only option that is both feasible and has significant financial impact is to reduce the number of personnel it supports, since the vast majority of the IMB expenses are personnel-related.

“If we are going to balance our budget, we must reduce approximately 600 to 800 of our staff and field personnel,” Platt said, indicating that number represents up to 15 percent of the IMB’s total employees.

IMB leadership has decided the best way to reduce staff is to begin with a voluntary retirement incentive that will be offered to all eligible employees, including both missionaries and staff. While the parameters defining who is eligible are still being finalized, details of the incentive will be announced Sept. 10, 2015, and those eligible will be notified in the days following the announcement.

“Whether to accept the in-

centive is a voluntary decision completely up to the discretion of eligible individuals,” Platt said. “This offers personnel who may already be considering a transition in their lives an opportunity to make that transition.

“We want to be as generous as possible, and we want to honor every brother or sister for his or her service. We know that taking a voluntary retirement incentive does not mean stepping onto the sidelines of mission, but moving into a new phase of involvement in mission.”

The IMB is sending about 300 new missionaries in 2015 and expects to send a comparable number in 2016.

As phase one of the plan – the voluntary retirement incentive – is being implemented, phase two of the plan will focus on concluding a reset of the organization. Platt said that phase would include consolidating support services, recalibrating mobilization, assessing global engagement and re-envisioning training.

He noted the organization must humbly and openly ask God, “What are you leading us

IMB President David Platt addresses staff and global personnel in Richmond, Va. to do?” and individual employees must ask God, “What are you leading me to do?”

“We must get to a healthy place in the present in order to be in a healthy position for the future,” Platt said. “We want to move forward with innovative vision, wise stewardship and high accountability to the churches we serve, the peoples we reach and the God we worship.”

Frank S. Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, responded to the latest news of the budget shortfalls in a statement to Baptist Press: “I received this word from David (Platt) with deep sadness.

Overseas missions is the heart of why the convention exists and receives more than 50 percent of our national CP (Cooperative Program) Allocation Budget.

“This distressing news is the long-term consequence of reductions in Southern Baptist churches’ percentage giving through the Cooperative Program during the 1990s and 2000s,” Page said. “It is imperative that this generation of Southern Baptist pastors and leaders re-energize this timehonored plan of giving that sparked IMB being the premier missions-sending force it was throughout the 20th century.”

www.arkansasbaptist.org

REVIVAL

continued from page one

“We can trust God; we can trust the Spirit if It breaks loose. Learn to live on the edge of risk in your ministry. Ask God to do big stuff – bigger

than He’s ever done in your life and your ministry and in your church. Ask Him – because of your faithfulness and your prayer and the Holy Spirit’s work – to give us a new demonstration of His power, who He is and what He can do. I guarantee you He wants

9 it. We need to want it. So tonight let’s ask God to do some real stuff, some big stuff, that only He can do for His glory,” said Tucker.

Ronnie Floyd said he is praying that God will bring a great spiritual revival to America.

“I want to tell you we can meet until we’re sick and we can worship until we’re dead but if God doesn’t come on us, we don’t have a shot. And I don’t know what you think about doing church in today’s world, but I can tell you this about what I know: It’s a lot easier to do church when the power of God is present than when the power of God is not.

And I think one of the greatest needs in the life of churches … is the power of God,” said Ronnie Floyd.

Steve Gaines encouraged attendees to “get alone with God,” noting that being alone with God leads to encountering God in a unique way, submitting to God and being blessed by God in a unique way.

“When you’re alone with God, you can encounter God in a way you can’t encounter (Him) when you’re around people; and when you’re alone with God, you can submit to Him in a way that you can’t do when you’re around a lot of people,” said Gaines.

He spoke about Jacob’s experience wrestling with God. “You need to wrestle with Jesus. … You need to grab hold of Him and say, ‘Lord, it’s now or never. I’m not letting You go – not this time – not letting You go till You bless me.’ …

Here’s how He’s going to bless you – He’s going to break you, then He’s going to bridle you and then He’s going to bless you by using you. You ready for that? You want that?” said Gaines. “We are beyond a political solution in America. We need God.” Don Moore told those in attendance that they should want their children and grandchildren to see God do something today, not just hear stories about what He has done in the past.

Moore said pastors must understand that leading their churches to pray will never

be easy; and he gave four convictions he believes pastors should have in regard to leading their churches to pray: (1) There is no hope to restore the church or redeem the culture apart from God; (2) Jesus was serious about His house being a house of prayer; (3) God really does hear and answer prayer, and (4) pastors are accountable for what they preach and teach, including what they preach and teach on prayer.

Nick Floyd spoke on Psalm 145 and Judges 2 and said that the Bible is clear that it is the responsibility of each generation to proclaim what God has done to the generation coming behind them.

“If you have a pulse, you are God’s provision for reaching the next generation,” said Nick Floyd. “Right now in your current role, … God has sovereignly placed you in the town you’re in, in the church you are in, to reach the next generation.”

He said pastors are called to put their churches in position to reach the next generation.

“The cost and hurt of losing the next generation is much worse than what we have got to be willing to go through to reach them,” Nick Floyd said.

“You cannot know something that you are not told.”

Quoting James 1:5, Beasley said Christians must ask God for wisdom.

“Have you ever thought about the fact that one of the reasons God has established prayer as the means by which we communicate is because we have to admit we don’t know (in order to) to go to God. … We are scared to let our churches know that we don’t have all the answers. But, folks, we don’t,” said Beasley.

To close the gathering, Ronnie Floyd hosted a panel discussion about how pastors can better facilitate revival and awakening at their home churches.

10

September 10, 2015

Ark. Baptist ministers fellowship through motorcycle ride ARKANSAS BAPTIST State Convention (ABSC) staff, pastors and agency employees from across the state joined together for the Ride ’15, a two-day motorcycle fellowship road trip that covered nearly 500 miles of central and south Arkansas Aug. 27-28.

Participants in the ride represented more than 15 ABSC churches, the state convention office, the Arkansas Baptist News (ABN), Ouachita Baptist University and Arkansas’ F.A.I.T.H. Riders.

Riders met at the Baptist building in Little Rock on the morning of Aug. 27. Following a short time of registration, a light breakfast and a safety meeting, the more than 20-person group departed and headed south.

The first stop of the group was for lunch at Lake DeGray.

Following lunch, the group heard from Travis McCormick, ABSC missions team member, about the upcoming Acts 1:8 One Day Mission Trip projects in the state and the resources that the state convention can provide to local churches.

After an afternoon of riding, the group made another stop in Nashville, where they had supper at Western Sizzlin Steak House. While there,

RIDE ‘15 – J.D. “Sonny” Tucker (right), executive director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, and other minister bikers gather at the Baptist building Aug. 27 prior to the Ride ‘15. Pastors and staff (below left) pray for Bryan Adair, church planter and pastor of Circle Cross Cowboy Church in Glenwood and Waldron. the group heard from Bryan Adair, ABSC church planter and pastor of Circle Cross Cowboy Church in Glenwood and Waldron, who spoke to the riders about what God is doing in Arkansas through cowboy churches.

From Nashville, the group made its way to De Queen, where they lodged for the night. Jeff Hairston, a member of Cross Church, Fayetteville, and leader of the northwest Arkansas chapter of F.A.I.T.H.

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Riders spoke to the group in the motel parking lot. Hairston served as road captain for the event.

Hairston and Bob Bova, a fellow member of Cross Church and their F.A.I.T.H. Riders chapter, spoke about how God has used the Baptist motorcycle club mightily, especially during Bikes, Blues and Barbecue (BBB), the largest annual nonprofit motorcycle rally in the country, which brings hundreds of thousands

of bikers to Fayetteville each year.

The group rode through the mountains near De Queen and Mena before stopping at Queen Wilhelmina State Park for a break and some sightseeing. During the rest stop, Tim Yarbrough, editor and executive director of the ABN, spoke to the group. Yarbrough emphasized that the ABN exists to share the story of what God is doing through Arkansas Baptists and thanked those

in attendance for their continued prayer and support in the future.

The last stop on the journey was at Crystal Springs for lunch. Following a final meal together, Bobby Thomas, president of the Arkansas Baptist Foundation, spoke to the riders about the financial resources that it offers to Arkansas Baptists.

View a photo gallery and video of the motorcycle ride at arkansasbaptist.org/ride15.

www.arkansasbaptist.org

11

Pastor: ‘Things that make me feel most appreciated’ Editor’s Note: October is Pastor Appreciation Month.

I FEEL MOST appreciated when my people acknowledge that I serve them out of love and not just obligation. I feel appreciated when: – Church members note that I’ve worked a long day and still made it to the emergency room when their child was running a high fever.

– I preach from a difficult text and put in a lot of time trying to get my wording palatable and one of my real students of the Word recognizes the labor to make the text make sense to everyone.

– After a fourth Sunday brunch and trail ride a little boy – whose dad isn’t part of

his life – comes and thanks me for saddling his horse and letting him ride beside me.

– An older lady in our church makes me cookies because I brought over a crew to mow her grass, and she hands me those cookies with true love in her eyes.

– The oldest man in the church with the most influence pats me on the back and says, “Son, you’re doing a good job, and I’m praying for you.”

– An 8-year-old girl draws a picture that illustrates a point in my message on a Sunday morning and hands me that picture and asks if I will hang it up in my office, and I do.

– When state convention leaders buy my dinner at the

evangelism conference for no apparent reason except to just be nice and show their appreciation for what I do as a pastor. It was like the leaders of

the Lord’s army saying, “Keep up the good work soldier.” I really felt honored and appreciated and recognized as a fellow comrade by these men who

did not have to do what they did, but who really wanted to.

Written by Donny Hargett, pastor of Calvary Trail Cowboy Church in Louann.

2015 ABSC Pastors’ Conference Transforming our walk, work and world as men of God

Monday, Nov. 2 at Hot Springs Baptist Church

Rainer

Hamm

Morning session

Greg Addison, associate executive director of the ABSC. Sam Rainer, president of Rainer Research and co-founder and co-owner of Rainer Publishing.

Cosby

Litton

Afternoon session Kevin Hamm, pastor of Gardendale First Baptist Church in Gardendale, Ala. Ed Litton, pastor of First Baptist Church, North Mobile in Mobile, Ala.

Charles

Floyd

Evening session

H.B. Charles, pastor of Shiloh Church in Jacksonville, Fla. Ronnie Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas and president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Addison

Arriola

Miller

Worship in music will be led by Julio Arriola, global worship pastor at Cross Church in northwest Arkansas. The theme of the event will be: Transforming our walk, work and world as men of God. For more information contact Tommy Miller, 2015 Pastors’ Conference president, at pastor@unionvalleybaptist.com.

12

Across Arkansas

September 10, 2015

Deer Baptist celebrates 75 years DEER – What do you get when you combine bouncy houses, face painting, pizza and cake with about 150 past and present church members and their families? You get the 75th anniversary celebration of Deer Baptist Church in Deer.

The event, held Aug. 22, also included attractions such as an ambulance and fire trucks, as well as music brought

by Deer Baptist’s choir and several local groups.

“The good Lord was looking out for us on that day because there was a threat of heavy, heavy thunderstorms on that day,” said R.C. Horn, a church member who helped organize the event. “It sprinkled just a little, and then when it (the celebration) was over, down came the rain. So the good Lord looked after us.”

Horn said one of the big hits of the day was the Deer Baptist Wall of Honor. The wall con-

sisted of two pieces of trifold cardboard that included an alphabetized list of 396 names of previous and current members.

Along with the list of names, Horn included interesting facts about the church, such as the fact that the church used to baptize people in the old Hog Patch swimming hole and in Hurricane Creek and the fact that the church voted in 1968 to build two outhouses – one for men and one for women.

He said their longest-attending member, Loretta Collins, who was baptized by the church in the Hog Patch swimming hole in 1944, was able to attend and see her name on the Wall of Honor.

Horn said he discovered many interesting facts as he researched the church’s history.

Following a revival in 1940, the church was organized under the name Missionary Baptist Church Worshipping at Deer,

Arkansas. In 1944, it affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and changed its name to Deer Baptist Church.

In its early years, before having a building, they met in Limestone at the home of deacon Earnest Cheatum, a blind man who taught school using Braille. In 1946, the church bought an acre of land for $25, and they completed their first church building in 1948. Since then, they have built a larger church.

Currently, Horn said the church is without a pastor, but they will be voting to call a pastor soon. He noted the church’s motto is “Serving God and Community” and the church hopes the man they call will lead the congregation in reaching their community.

“We want to get involved in as much community service and work as we can,” Horn said.

See You at the Pole date set S TUDENT S FROM across Arkansas will gather at school flagpoles Sept. 23 for the annual See You at the Pole event.

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.

The event will take place between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Doors open at 8:00 a.m. 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.

Staff Wanted n Houseparents: Baptist Home for Children, Monticello.This full-time position includes salary, housing, medical and life insurance and paid leave.

Contact: Randy Luper at (870) 3675358 or rluper@abchomes.org. n Relief housemother: Paragould Emergency Home.

This part-time position includes salary, medical and life insurance and paid leave. Contact: James Barham at (870) 935-5134 or jbarham@abchomes.org. n Resident manager Little Rock Family Care Home.

This full-time position includes salary, housing, medical and life insurance and paid leave. Contact: Derek Brown at (501) 455-8554 or dbrown@abchomes.org.

abchomes.org

Classifieds PASTOR First Baptist Church of Lockesburg is seeking a full-time pastor. Please send resumes to Pastor Selection Committee, FBC, P.O. Box 53, Lockesburg, AR 71846 or fbsecretary@outlook.com.

First Baptist Church, Gillett, is seeking a bi-vocational or retired pastor. Send resumes to First Baptist Church, Attn. Pastor Search Committee, P.O. Box 117, Gillett, AR 72055. For more information, phone Tricia Hayes: 870-548-2547.

First Baptist Church, Crawfordsville, seeking bi-vocational pastor. Send resume to First Baptist Church Crawfordsville, Attn: Pastor Search Committee, P.O. Box 64, Crawfordsville, AR 72327.

The First Baptist Church of Valley Springs is prayerfully seeking to fill the position of senior pastor. Respond to info@fbcvs. com.

First Baptist Church of Crossroads in Winthrop is seeking a full-time pastor.

Please send resumes to Joyce Edwards, P.O. Box 24, Winthrop, AR 71866.

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.)

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.

Cedar Glades Baptist Church in Mountain Pine is seeking a conservative fulltime 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 Memorial 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 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.

FBC, Woodward, Okla., seeking fulltime minister of education/administrator/children’s minister.

Send resumes to drguy@fbcwoodward. org.

First Baptist Searcy is seeking a fulltime preschool ministry coordinator. Responsibilities include ministries related to children in kindergarten and younger and their families. A bachelor’s degree in a related field is preferred, and candidate must have some experience working with children/young families.

Email resumes by Sept. 30 to linda@ fbcsearcy.org or mail to FBC Searcy, Attn: Linda Stake, 105 S. Spring St., Searcy, AR 72143.

Covenant Baptist Church, Collierville, Tenn., seeks a full-time minister of children and their families to provide leadership in developing and directing ministry to preschoolers and children from birth through 12 years old and their families. Send resumes no later than Oct. 31, 2015, to Personnel Committee, Covenant Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1165, Collierville, TN 38027-1165 or to drsam@ mycbcc.org.

Covenant Baptist Church, Collierville, Tenn., seeks a full-time minister of students, singles and their families to provide leadership in developing

and directing ministry to youth grades seven through 12, college students, singles and their families. Send resumes no later than Oct. 31, 2015, to Personnel Committee, Covenant Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1165, Collierville, TN 38027-1165 or to drsam@ mycbcc.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.

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, seek-

ing bi-vocational minister of music to lead blended worship service.

Email resume to mnbrogers@att.net.

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

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.

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.

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

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Across Arkansas

www.arkansasbaptist.org

13

Williams Baptist College kicks off 2015 fall semester WALNUT RIDGE – Students are back at Williams Baptist College, and the fall semester is underway.

Classes began on Monday, Aug. 31.

While many athletes and student leaders have been on campus for two weeks now, the freshman class arrived at Williams on Aug. 27 and spent the weekend participating in Ascend Orientation activities. Upperclassmen returned to Williams residence halls on Aug. 30, and classes began first-thing Aug. 31.

“Each summer, we eagerly await the students arriving back on campus, both new and returning,” said Tom Jones, Williams president. “They energize the atmosphere on campus and remind us of the privilege we have to impact their lives.”

This year students have a new facility for receiving

Church life Green Meadows Baptist Church, Pine Bluff, will hold revival services at 6 p.m. Sept.

13 and at 7 p.m. Sept. 14-16.

Mike Manning, associational missionary for Harmony Baptist Association, will be the speaker. Danny Holcomb will lead worship.

various academic and educational services. Over the summer, the space previously occupied by the campus bookstore was renovated and turned into the Joy Ring Student Success Center, named for Joy Ring, Williams’ longest serving professor.

“Williams seeks to provide every opportunity for its students to succeed in the classroom and in life. It is certainly appropriate that this new student facility be named for Joy Ring, who has worked diligently toward that goal for the past 50 years,” Jones said.

The college made a transition from an on-campus bookstore to an online bookstore, and they added a campus spirit store with school merchandise and other Professor Heather Parson, business department chair at Williams supplies. The campus store is located in the Eagle Coffeehouse and Grill of the Mabee Student Center.

Baptist College, kicks off her semester on Aug. 31.

Central Baptist Church, White Hall, will hold revival services at 6 p.m. Sept. 20-23, with evangelist Sonny Simpson, pastor of Open Door Baptist Church in Moss Bluff, La. Larry Grayson, Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) evangelism and church health team member, will lead worship.

Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Trumann will celebrate its 75th anniversary at 10:50 a.m. Oct. 4, followed by lunch and a time of singing and sharing.

Morrison Chapel Baptist Church, North Little Rock, will celebrate its 50th anniversary at 10:45 a.m. Sept. 27.

Former Pastor Ray Jackson will

∏a m p Sil oa m

bring the message. Following lunch, Mike Smith, pastor, will lead in a time of looking back and reflecting on the church and its mission. Everyone is invited to attend.

Piney Baptist Church, Hot Springs, will celebrate its 75th anniversary Sept. 27. The worship service will begin at 10:30, followed by a potluck luncheon and special program at 12:30 p.m. There will also be special displays and a video about the church’s history through the years. For more information, call the church at 501-767-3480.

On the move

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Brad Wheeler has been named senior pastor of University Baptist Church in Fayetteville. He is the former associate pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.

Jason Glenn is serving as pastor of First Baptist Church in Osceola, coming from Alabama.

Obituaries William Richard (Rick) Kelley, 63, of J a ck s o nv i l l e , died Aug. 22.

He received his master’s degree in science education from Louisiana Tech UniverKelley sity in Ruston, La. He served in the U.S. Air Force. He was retired from the Arkansas Department of Health.

He was an active member of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville. He is preceded in death by his father. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Jan Kelley, a former employee of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.

He is also survived by a son, his mother and a sister.

A memorial service was held Aug. 26 at First Baptist Church.

Barbara Kaye Kizziar, 76, died Aug. 12 in Paris. She was a retired teacher who served 40 years in Arkansas public schools. She served in many roles in the life of First Baptist Church, RatKizziar cliff, including the music ministry where she began serving at the age of 12.

She is survived by a niece; a nephew; a grandniece, and six grandnephews. Funeral services were held Aug. 14 at First Baptist Church.

14

Faith&Family

September 10, 2015 “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it...”

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)

Media Minds

Excerpts from pluggedin.com

Integrating spiritual truths into everyday life Editor’s Note: A version of this article originally appeared in Arkansas Faith & Family magazine.

Garrick D. Conner Special to ABN

“MISSIONARIES are special people who tell people all over the world about Jesus. I think I might want to do that someday.”

Those were the words of my then 6-year-old daughter, Caroline, as she talked with her mother. Any fear of her actually becoming a missionary in a far-away – and likely dangerous – place is completely erased when I think of how much God loves her. He will protect those He calls to serve – which, of course, doesn’t mean that some of us won’t die. Perhaps the greatest peace I have with God comes from knowing that even when death defeats me in this life, I will still experience eternal life with Him. And as a parent, it is important for us to communicate these spiritual truths to our children.

Parenting is one of life’s greatest joys. It is also one of life’s greatest challenges. Raising a family in today’s fastpaced, egocentric society is not easy. It’s no different with families who attend church. In fact, in some regards it may actually be harder, in that there’s another schedule to be coordinated.

Regardless of the difficulty involved in the biblical training of our children, failure to do so is simply not an available option for a Christian parent.

In his widely acclaimed book, “Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions,” statistician and researcher George

Barna speaks to this fact. He says that the default strategy of most Christian parents is to simply relegate the spiritual training and development of their children to the church.

This is a major problem because, as Barna’s research discovered, a person’s lifelong behaviors and views are generally developed when they are young – particularly before they reach the teenage years.

Michelle and I are very blessed. Our son, Jackson, and daughter, Caroline, have made decisions to follow Christ.

There’s an indescribable joy that comes with the realization that every family member professes loyalty and devotion to Christ. As parents, we believe that the spiritual formation of children should come from a joint partnership between home and church. Indeed, our children have been blessed to have many godly teachers in Sunday school, vacation Bible school, missions groups, etc.

S t i l l , under normal circumstances the church has, at most, 200 hours with each child in a year’s time — as compared to more than 3,000 hours parents have with their children. Think about that for a moment. Parents have at least 15 times the number of hours that the church has – and that’s if the child attends church without missing anything at all. And

‘Inside Out’

how often does that happen?

Unfortunately, given the hectic schedules parents keep, especially in single-parent and dual-income families, many miss out on the important responsibility of discipling their children. Our culture has reduced parenting to providing care, which is essentially defined as food, clothes, a bed and some quality time. Listen to these words from Tedd Tripp in “Shepherding a Child’s Heart”: “In sharp contrast to such a weak view, God has called you to a more profound task than being a care-provider. You shepherd your child in God’s behalf.

The task God has given you is not one that can be conveniently scheduled. It is a pervasive task. Training and shep-

‘Many (parents) miss out on the important responsibility of discipling their children.’

herding are going on whenever you are with your children.

Whether waking, walking, talking, or resting, you must be involved in helping your child to understand life, himself, and his needs from a biblical perspective.”

Some of that should sound vaguely familiar to Christian parents, as it is in many ways a paraphrase of Deuteronomy 6:5-8.

I can’t emphasize enough just how important parental modeling is in the spiritual development of children. Parents, whether you know it or not, your children are watching you. They’re taking notice of whether your faith makes a difference only on Sundays or if you are truly living out your faith all day every day. I’d argue that a Sunday-only faith is worse than no faith at all because it leads children to the unhealthy practice of compartmentalizing their faith, rather than applying it to all of life.

Garrick Conner is discipleship pastor at Park Hill Baptist Church, North Little Rock.

Our age values happiness a great deal. ... If we’re happy, that’s all that matters, we tell ourselves. And if we’re not happy, well, that means something’s wrong. ... There’s nothing evil about happiness, of course. ... But by the time “Inside Out” finishes, we realize that Sadness isn’t the villain. She’s the hero.

She allows Riley to grieve over the losses she’s sustained in her big move/ life change and, eventually, move on and change for the better.

‘Shaun the Sheep Movie’ (Some) passed-gas, sheeppoop and guy-sitting-on-acommode humor ... (get) sprayed from the Hollywood honey wagon. And preposterous pratfalls might split the difference at times.

But there are plenty of solidly silly circumstances and genuinely giggle-worthy gags. ... This pic is as active as it is droll. And it’s just a touch sweet and heartfelt, too.

For full reviews on these and other movies, visit pluggedin.com

Five practical tips for integrating spiritual teachings into life OBVIOUSLY, taking your children to church and having family devotions are important for your child’s spiritual development, but here are a few practical tips on how to integrate these teachings from Scripture into your family life: (1) Pray with your children. When we pray aloud

with our children, they get to see how to approach God. They also come to understand the level of your commitment to God and the depth of your relationship with Him. Prayer is an important part of modeling an essential spiritual discipline. It also affords your child the opportunity to see

God answer prayer!

(2) Encourage spiritual conversations with your children. These spiritual conversations take the lessons of the church classroom and make them relevant to life in the here-and-now.

(3) Talk with your children about what they learned in

Sunday school and worship services.

(4) Serve the Lord with your children. There are many ministry activities you can do with your children. You might help tend to your church’s lawn and weed flower beds.

Or, you may serve the homeless together at a local shelter.

(5) Teach your children how to share their faith. The best way to do this is to let them see you share Christ with others.

This teaches them that your faith is genuine and provides an opportunity for them to hear the gospel. It helps them understand that evangelism is not just for paid church staff.

www.arkansasbaptist.org September 20, 2015 God provided abundance (relation- disease invisibly or visibly like falling ship, home, vocation) for Adam and dominoes in a trick or stunt.

Eve in response to their obedience.

(3) Satan is in the temptation busiThey were blessed with close fellowship ness with age-old tools: half-truths, with God and with each other in the doubt and deceit to attack, attract and richness of the garden. Permission was appeal (Gen. 3:6; 1 John 2:16). granted in all areas God’s response except one; only to sin: The Author Explore the Bible one tree was forbidoffered grace and den (Gen. 3:3). redemptive love.

In re j e c t i n g Hope entered God’s authority and the scene as God Genesis 3:1-7, 14-19 determining their intervened to reown course, they restore the relationbelled against God. ship. God’s resoBy yielding to temptation, lution to our sin problem they exchanged blessings is Jesus (Gen. 3:15; Rom. for disobedience, struggle, 5:17; 6:23). pain, death and alienation.

Jesus has walked this Therefore, all mankind earthly path before us and has inherited a nature inhas defeated sin, Satan clined toward sin (Rom. and death. He has faced 3:23; 5:12). No one has temptations; yet He was to teach a child to rebel; it without sin (Luke 4:1-13; Janice Ramsey comes naturally!

2 Cor. 5:21).

Arkadelphia Here are some things we God has given us His learn about sin: tools for extinguishing (1) Sin is a choice: It inSatan’s fiery darts (1 John volves a voluntary, conscious choice to 4:4b; 1 Cor. 10:13; Eph. 6:10-18). choose our own standards over God’s Our God is in the exchange busistandards. Sin can be either actions or ness! We can exchange our filthy rags heart attitudes. for His robe of righteousness. Just as (2) Sin offends God: Sin is serious; God clothed Adam and Eve in the garGod judges sin. God knows when we den, He offers the free gift of His Son, sin even if others don’t know. Sin mul- our Lord Jesus Christ (Isa. 61:10; Rom. tiplies like contagious germs spreading 3:22; 13:14; Eph. 4:22-24).

Humanity’s fall

Bible Commentary

15

There is an ancient story about a boy and happiness that is based upon named Aladdin who stumbles across our level of wealth or condition of an old oil lamp and discovers that a health. genie lives in that lamp. Through the Paul says he was able to find conhelp of that genie, the boy eventually tentment whether he was hungry or becomes rich, overcomes a villain, wins well-fed, or whether in abundance or the heart of a prinneed (Phil. 4:12). cess and lives hapYet we often think Bible Studies for Life pily ever after. of God as the Unfortunately, genie in the lamp I am afraid too ready to grant our many Christians every wish – and Psalm 34:4-14 have this view of “good” is based who God is and upon our concephow God works tion of the term, today. not God’s.

When David penned Have I been content Psalm 34, his goal was to with God’s provision praise God for all He had even if I have been in done. But it was also to debt? cause people to seek Him. Am I content with Over and over in this God’s provision with Psalm, David encourages cancer or without canthe reader by showing the cer?

Bob Johnson process by which we align Would my concept of Harrison our lives with God the God’s provision for me Provider. This process is to be the same if I lived in a seek Him (Psa. 34:4, 10), Third World country? look to Him (Psa. 34:5), cry to Him God loves and cares for us like a per(Psa. 34:6) and fear Him (Psa. 34:9, fect and holy Father would. He is not 11). our genie, the “holy wish granter.” We Everyone wants to be the person must be careful to align our thoughts in verse 12 who “delights in life” and and minds with Him and His Word “enjoy(s) what is good.” Yet in today’s so that our peace and contentment is Christian world, it is often some sort in God Himself, not in the things He of Americanized view of prosperity provides.

Promise of provision

September 27, 2015 An image comes to mind when the word “covenant.” God made an agreeword “flood” is mentioned due to re- ment with Noah that He would save cent flooding in our state. The devasta- Noah and his family. God also made tion of water is something many have an agreement to never again destroy witnessed and experienced firsthand. the earth by flood in chapter 9.

Just as flood waters destroy, so does sin.

This concept of covenant is an imIn Genesis 6, portant truth to there was a period grasp. Taking into of time when the account the whole Explore the Bible earth was filled with of Scripture, we are corruption and reminded of other wickedness. Man’s promises and covGenesis 6:11-18; 7:11-14 desires, schemes enants made with and intentions were Abraham, Moses out of control, and and David. All of sin was taking mankind on these point to a new and a downward spiral. future Covenant with God was full of sorrow Jesus as Mediator (Luke because man was not ful22:20; Heb. 7:22; 8:6, 10filling his created purpose 11; 9:15). to represent, resemble or God sent His Son bereflect the image of God to cause He loved. That love the world. True to His nahas been described as loyal ture, God would judge sin and faithful, a covenant Janice Ramsey while also extending grace. love – “chesed.” We see He provided a refuge in that love demonstrated Arkadelphia the storm as He protected in saving Noah and manand saved a remnant. kind, giving us not what God noticed Noah, and he found we deserve, but giving us His neverfavor – grace – in the sight of the Lord. ending and never-failing love.

Noah had a right standing with God, and Our God makes promises, and He He did everything that God had com- keeps them! We deserve death, but He manded him (Gen. 6:8-9, 22; Heb. 11:7). gives grace (Lam. 3:22-23; Rom. 5:8; God’s first eternal promise was men- 10:9-10, 13). Thanks be to God! tioned in Genesis 3:15; another prom“Everyone who calls on the name of ise is found in Genesis 6:17-18 in the the Lord will be saved” (Rom. 10:13).

God saves

It’s about 5:30 p.m., and a mother prayer of a “righteous” person and and her young child are checking out how much it can accomplish. Howat the grocery store. The child begs and ever, James puts something of a qualibegs for some candy, but the mother fier on both the person and prayer refuses several times. However, the itself. He implies that the motives of child persists, and eventually the moth- the person praying should be noble er gives in to the and right and pleas and buys the that what is being candy for the child asked is what is Bible Studies for Life just for a moment also “right,” or Promise of answered prayer “good,” or better of peace – even though it is almost yet, “of God.” Luke 11:5-13 time for supper Jesus teaches and candy is probmuch the same ably not the best thing in Luke “food” for a young child’s 11:11-13 when He points teeth. out that a good Father As a follow-up to last will give good gifts/anweek’s lesson on God’s swers to the prayers that provision, Luke 11 enare offered. courages us to be fervent But how do we judge in our prayers of supplicawhat is right, good or tion. of God? We don’t! Too In this passage, Jesus often we pray asking selfBob Johnson gives an example of a ishly for those things that Harrison friend who was in need we want, like candy, when and finally received help we should be persistently due to his persistence. It seeking and searching for appears this is how we should pray, God to reveal His will to us and then right? We should tenaciously search, pray accordingly. ask and seek in prayer and God will Our faith is at its peak when we ungive us anything we want. Well, not derstand that only God knows what is quite. best for us. And we must realize that, There is no doubt God covets our “Yes,” is not the only acceptable anprayers and wants us to petition Him. swer we may receive from our heavenly James 5:16 speaks of the “urgent” Father.

16

Bonus Content

September 10, 2015

Family speaks out about professor’s suicide NEW ORLEANS (BP) – The cret struggles with depression family of Baptist professor and and pornography. Trey acpastor John Gibson is calling knowledged at the time that his death a suicide connected his father had taken his own to the Ashley Madison website life and boldly encouraged hack. the mourners to seek accountBy openly discussing the ability relationships to guard circumstances surrounding his against secret sin. death, including a CNN inter“My dad was a great man. view that aired Tuesday (Sept. He was a great man with strug8), the Gibsons hope to help gles. My dad reached a point of other families find forgiveness such hopelessness and despair and reconciliation. Gibson that he took his own life,” Trey served for 17 years as a profes- said. sor at Leavell College, New While the news jolted the Orleans Baptist Theological campus, the seminary comSeminary’s (NOBTS) under- munity has rallied around the graduate college. At the time Gibson family as they opened of his death, he also served as up about the struggles that led pastor of First Baptist Church to the death of the beloved in Pearlington, Miss. professor and minister. SemiGibson, 56, was discovered nary President Chuck Kelley at his home on the seminary touched on the subject again campus at approximately 5:30 Sept. 8 during the NOBTS p.m. Aug. 24 by his convocation chapel wife Christi when she service. arrived home from “On the first day work. After finding of classes, we had the Gibson unresponsive, unexpected death of a she immediately notimuch loved professor, fied emergency medicolleague and friend cal service. EMS workDr. John Gibson,” Kelers were unable to reley said. “We learned vive him, and Gibson that he made some Gibson was pronounced dead very sad and unforat the scene. See retunate choices in his lated story. life, and his son shared in his Gibson’s son, Trey, spoke of memorial service his death all of his father’s good quali- appeared to come at his own ties – his ability to preach, his hand.” servant heart and his sense The family spoke openly of humor – during a memo- about Gibson’s death during rial service on the seminary a national television interview campus Aug. 28. But Trey on CNN. Appearing in the also spoke of his father’s se- interview with her children,

Gibson’s wife Christi Gibson and his children Callie and Trey discussed his death on CNN Sept. 9.

Trey and Callie, Gibson’s wife Christi confirmed the existence of a suicide note in which her husband confessed to his failures and that his name was released in the Ashley Madison website hack.

Christi noted her husband also expressed great sorrow for his actions.

In the interview, the family acknowledged they would have been willing to forgive Gibson’s failures and work toward restoration if they had been given a chance.

“I still believe it could have been fixed. It could have been healed,” Christi told CNN. “There is brokenness in every single one of us. We all have things that we struggle

with,” she said. “It wasn’t so bad that we wouldn’t have forgiven it, and so many people have said that to us, but for John, it carried with him such shame.”

Christi also expressed her concern for other families grappling with the fallout from the Ashley Madison scandal.

For the millions of families affected, she encouraged love and forgiveness.

“These were real people with real families, real pain and real loss,” Christi said.

“Don’t underestimate the power of love. Nothing is worth the loss of a father and a husband and a friend. It just didn’t merit it.”

Kelley asked for continued

prayer for the Gibson family and the entire NOBTS community as they struggle with this loss and the circumstances behind it.

A group of students responded to the news of Gibson’s suicide and the events that led to it by organizing a prayer initiative on campus.

Beginning Aug. 31, participants in the student-led prayer time met daily on the steps of Leavell Chapel to pray for the faculty and their families. The first week culminated with a joint student-faculty prayer time. After the Labor Day holiday, the student-led prayer meetings moved to a twiceweekly schedule.

‘War Room’ tops Labor Day weekend box office NASHVILLE (BP) – The faithbased film “War Room,” cowritten by brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick, topped the box office over Labor Day weekend, grossing nearly $2.5 million more than the nearest competitor during its second weekend in theaters.

“We thought we had a shot at the top five, but didn’t expect to be near the top,” director Alex Kendrick told The Wrap Sept. 2 after War Room finished second its opening weekend. “The response has been incredible! We’ve been overwhelmed with people who were inspired and moved by the film. Already we’ve gotten more social media messages than we could ever read.”

The latest Kendrick Brothers’ film grossed $13.4 million Sept. 4-7, bringing its total gross earnings to nearly $29 million, according to Box Office Mojo. The PG-rated movie showed in 1,526 theaters over Labor Day weekend, an increase of nearly 400 from its opening weekend.

War Room stars noted Bible teachers Priscilla Shirer in a lead role and Beth Moore in the supporting cast. Shirer is cast as a young wife and mother who heeds the advice of an older, wiser woman to establish a room in her home for prayer – a war room – and to pray earnestly for her husband, marriage, child and home.

Despite a “micro-budget”

of $3.5 million, War Room has received media coverage from the Associated Press, The Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, CBS, Fox News and other media outlets, according to a release from Christian Newswire.

A CNN article called War Room the Kendrick brothers’ “most high-profile project to date.” Their previous films include “Fireproof” (2008) and “Courageous” (2011), each of which made more than $30 million, according to CNN. Tana Evans, an executive at Sony’s Affirm Films, which helped market War Room, said the movie demonstrates “there is obviously a demand

for quality content that resonates with the faith audience.”

Some Southern Baptists took to Twitter over the weekend in response to War Room.

Steve Gaines, pastor of the Memphis-area Bellevue Baptist Church, tweeted, “If you haven’t been to see the movie ‘War Room,’ move heaven & earth if you have to & go see it! Best movie I’ve ever seen.”

Jack Graham, pastor of the Dallas-area Prestonwood Baptist Church, tweeted, “How great coming off a very tough summer in the culture, that God raised up a movie on prayer to be #1 (at the) box office on Labor Day.” Donald Whitney, professor of biblical spirituality at South-

ern Baptist Theological Seminary, encouraged believers to create their own “war rooms” in which to “engage in spiritual warfare” through prayer.

“What does it say when we allocate a large space just for children to play, but none for Christians to pray? What does it say when we design the most spacious area in the home for our entertainment, filling it with a large television, music system, and computer whereby we hear from the world, but make no plans for a place where we meet with God?” Whitney wrote in a blog post.

“It’s not that we can’t use the same desk both for work and prayer,” Whitney said.

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