Point - Fall 2012 by Converge

fall 2012

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president from the

Three friends and a global conversation

VOLUME 4 n NUMBER 4 EDITOR Bob Putman

DESIGNER, PRODUCTION MANAGER Pam Nelsen

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Fran Anderson Point (issn/1546-3257, usps#517-620) is published quarterly (with a special edition in December) by the Baptist General Conference, 2002 S. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60005. Printed in U.S.A. Periodical postage paid at Arlington Heights, Ill., and at additional mailing offices. © Baptist General Conference 2012.

POSTMASTER:

tion with a Converge missionary and the missions pastor of his primary sending church. The three of us have been good friends for more than 20 years. It was fun to catch up on each other’s lives and ministries. So much has happened in the past two decades — not just in our personal experiences but also in the progress of missions around the world. One of the trends we discussed was the increasing number of American churches that are not only supporting missionary efforts but engaging in the work of missions through hands-on projects. At the same time, the work of missions globally is increasingly being driven by non-Western nations. It is an exciting time for Christ’s church as the Lord of the harvest is accelerating the fulfillment of the Great Commission in ways we could barely imagine 20 years ago. As the three of us talked, we shared stories of how the gospel is breaking through among groups of people in some of the most surprising ways and places. Our conversations turned to Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” We shared a common sense of urgency and hopeful anticipation about these days that are moving quickly toward Christ’s return. Later, I thought about the three of us and the robust nature of our partnership. Converge has always been about global ministries that begin and end with churches working in partnership. Together we reach out and plant churches in other nations so that they might reproduce these efforts among other people groups. Now is a time for all of us as missionaries, church leaders and international partners to listen well to each other and to the voice of God’s Spirit. It’s a new day with new Spirit-given opportunities bursting out of old wineskins. This issue of Point will provide glimpses into the nature of our global partnership. It will introduce you to the concept of a “church-driven missions movement.” I hope it prompts you to think about your part in our global partnership.

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Jerry Sheveland President Converge Worldwide (BGC)

MATT STEPHENS

Recently I had a fascinating conversa-

inside features

4 Joining the fight in Nigeria 16 A cloudburst of baptisms hen churches do missions 18 Wtogether

BY DAN AND TINA GIBBS, WITH BOB PUTMAN

BY JERRY SHEVELAND

BY SCOTT ANDERSON AND JEFF ASHLOCK

extras

12 Well said — Biennial Meeting 2012

14 Just the facts — Biennial Meeting 2012

22 Connection

n New National Ministries leader n Sandusky trial impacts church n Tina Fey student to plant church n Converge celebrates aog founding

on the cover The church in Africa is growing much faster than in the West, in spite of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. These women are attending an AIDS awareness presentation in Gembu.

n Who leads Converge Southeast? n New books

How to reach us n T o add/remove your name from our mailing list, call 800.323.4215, M-F, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST n E mail us at point@convergeww.org @convergeww Converge Worldwide convergeworldwide.org

fall 2012

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March 13

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Woke at 5 a.m. when the Muslim prayers started. Then there were the roosters, sounds of children walking to school and people busily going about their day. After devotions and trips to the embassy and police to report our arrival, Dan, Pete and Jim ran wire for Internet access. Dan worked on some computer stuff and file cabinets, while Pete and Jim worked with some guys roofing the storage building. We had a lunch of fufu with the gechaan directors and some staff. (Fufu is a sticky ball of corn, rice or wheat flour hand-dipped into soup or stew.)

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he fight in Nigeria BY DAN AND TINA GIBBS, WITH BOB PUTMAN fall 2012

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So begins the third entry in Tina’s journal from our Edinbrook Church team’s

two-week trip to Gembu, Nigeria, March 19-23, 2012. We went to serve the gechaan mission and for us (Dan and Tina) to investigate the Converge hiv/aids prevention and care ministry in Taraba State. We wanted to evaluate it and determine whether this is God’s call for our next ministry involvement. Why leave the comfort of secure jobs and a nice home in suburban Minneapolis to consider ministry in a place of poverty, malnutrition, pervasive corruption and hiv/aids infection? For two reasons: What God was doing in our hearts, and the remarkable work he is accomplishing through the Helwigs and the gechaan ministry they lead.

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March 15

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Yesterday Dorothy and I encouraged a Muslim mom, who had given birth on the way to the clinic. She brought the baby wrapped in a towel. Today we went to three schools to present awards to the winners in the hiv/ aids awareness competitions. Pete and Jim worked on some more soffits and fascia and started putting on the zinc roof today. Dan has been following Art around, working on assorted projects. Please pray that God makes things clear to us, if this is where we should be. It is an amazing, multifaceted place in the midst of such extreme poverty of spirit and mind.

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(above) Travel in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s countryside is rough and sometimes dangerous but opens vistas to the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural beauty. (far left) During the food distribution, this young boy wanted a closer look at Dan. (left) Tina on her way to Sunday services at a local church. fall 2012

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(above, l.) A former missionary in Africa, Art Helwig’s love for people, and a compulsion to do something about the HIV/AIDS pandemic at an age when most Americans retire led to a profound reduction in the disease and to compassionate care for the children it affects. (above, r.) Dorothy Helwig provides a blanket and clothing for a baby born on the way to the GECHAAN clinic. The mother had no clothing for the child. (next page, l.) The Edinbrook Church team at the hospital in Makurdi (l. to r. ): Makurdi Hospital’s Dr. Steve, who treated driver Peter, Tina and Jim; Dan Gibbs, secular business manager and part-time facility manager at Edinbrook Church; his wife Tina, Edinbrook’s full-time director of preschool ministries; Pete Thiel, graphics/publications manager; and Jim McKinney, retired food broker. (next page, r.) This blind grandmother cared for several foster children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Because parents have died, unrelated grandmothers often serve as foster parents.

For at least a year we felt we were in the right place, but God had something else coming for us. We didn’t know what or where. We were watching postings from churches and ministries around the country. In August 2011 we attended the Willow Creek Leadership Summit with then Edinbrook lead pastor Ivan Veldhuizen (now International Ministries executive director). One presentation required us to write on a piece of clay pottery the kind of commitment we were willing to make to God. Dan wrote the date and “I am willing.” Tina wrote “I’m willing to stay or go.” It was our commitment point of saying, “God, if you want us here, this is where we want to be. We feel you’ve got something else for us. We just don’t know what it is. When you’re ready to show us, we’re willing to go. But we’re going to do everything we can here until you present something else to us.” We felt that over the next year we probably would be called someplace else.

‘Pure and genuine religion

God orphans widows

in the sight of

the Father

means caring for and distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you’

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in their

—James 1:27, nlt

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March 16 We left at 7 this morning to drive to a very remote village to check

on malnourished children receiving meals and to deliver more meals. We drove up, up, up. Saw hills, lots of eucalyptus trees, cows, sheep and goats. We finally arrived and met with the village leaders. We attracted quite a crowd. We were the only white people there. Most of the children had seen few whites before. Parents pushed their crying children forward, wanting the best for their child. Art told us some parents have to choose which child to feed and which to let starve. My mother’s heart was crushed. We saw some children who had been on the feeding program, and they looked so much better than their counterparts.

Ivan and I (Dan) have a tradition of going out to lunch together to celebrate our birthdays. We did that on November 6, and talked about a lot of things. At the end, Ivan asked, “Would you ever consider going to Nigeria and partnering with Art and Dorothy Helwig in the ministry they have started? You’re a good fit.” It had never entered my (Dan’s) mind. Tina, who had read in the Helwigs’ prayer letter that they were looking for someone to assist them, thought it would be a cool ministry. But she didn’t think it would fit my gifts and skills, and we weren’t missionaries. So when Ivan asked Dan if we would consider assisting at gechaan, at that moment Dan felt he knew we were supposed to do this. We said we’ll consider it and pray about it. About a week later we told Ivan, “We really want to pursue this.”

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He got us in touch with Steve Valentine, the Converge missionary recruitment director, who put us on the fast track to participate in a Missionary Assessment Center. January 19-21, 2012, we spent three great days going through the assessment with three couples and two singles at the mac, held at the Converge Collaboration Center in Orlando, Fla.

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March 18 We drove for about an hour to Kakara Baptist Church, one of the most supportive for village meetings on hiv/aids testing and information. They were singing when we arrived. It was wonderful, worshipful, loud and joyous. The pastor gave a wonderful sermon on “For such a time as this,” relating it to Nigerian Christians being in place right now for the challenges the country faces. We got back about 1, had lunch at 2 and then a Sunday nap. Lying on the bed, a cool breeze blowing over me, hearing bleating sheep, a little laugh in the distance and the sounds of Gembu.

We landed in Abuja and then drove several hours to Gembu. What impressed us most about gechaan was the quality of the mission and the way they approach things. Eight years ago the mission didn’t exist, and now it’s touching thousands of lives. Art and Dorothy Helwig, prompted by the developing hiv/aids pandemic in Africa, had postponed their retirement in 2004 to focus on the issue — one village at a time. They had no medical training, but they gained influence by teaching that the issue was not medical but moral. They began their work in Taraba State, Nigeria, with a simple, practical plan to increase awareness and prevention in rural areas. Their first initiative was the Every Village Visitation Campaign, in which they and trained Nigerian teachers shared vital information in literally every village market square on the Mambilla Plateau. They welcomed people of all faiths and positions and found the villagers very eager to learn what preventative measures they could take.

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March 19

Today Dan taught the carpenter here how to wire feed weld. They are working on solar panels for the solar fridge. Jim and Pete worked on that and putting a zinc roof on the storage shed. Dan and I walked the whole compound, taking pictures and investigating everything. We had a nice long discussion on the future plans and dreams here at gechaan and the future prospects of each ministry with or without grants.

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The gechaan factor n 1 5,000 AIDS orphans currently receiving foster care

n 7000 visitors to the clinic each month

n 2000 patients currently receiving antiretroviral drug therapy

n Well-baby feeding and care n Quiz-offs, debates and skits in 14 schools to increase hiv/aids knowledge

n Jesus film showings n 20 churches planted in the past 15 months in a multiorganization effort to reach the under-reached Ndolo people

n More than 500 recorded baptisms among the Ndolo

n “Be Faithful” education and support groups for married couples

n An Internet café and computer training

n Foster care placement of hiv/aids orphans

n Care for local widows, orphans and vulnerable children

n Village food distribution n Community-based organizations established for education and widow/orphan care

n Mini-libraries provided to local pastors

n School and church abstinence clubs

Another early awareness and prevention strategy was the radio program Voices of Hope, which continues to air today. The Helwigs also plugged into campaigns in local secondary schools, where teachers shared information to help students avoid hiv infection. gechaan is a very diverse ministry, making a huge impact (see The gechaan factor, at r.). When the Helwigs began their work, doctors estimated that 12 to 15 percent of people in the Sardauna local government were infected. By the end of 2011, the Taraba State Medical Board reported the percentage had dropped to 4.8. fall 2012

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At this food distribution, leaders instruct people on how to prepare and serve the nutritional food GECHAAN provides for malnourished children.

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March 20

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At the dinner table we all commented on how much was accomplished today, our last of this visit. Jim and John finished the roof and soffits of the new storage building. Dan and Pete mounted the new solar panels on the roof and moved the solar fridge. Dorothy showed me a place she thinks would make a great preschool/after-school program on Fridays. As we leave gechaan tomorrow morning, I feel so humbled and honored to have given some time and sweat to a place that has done such a great work but still has such great need. Tomorrow we drive 10 hours, stop, sleep and go on to Abuja and the airport for our trip home. Please pray we get through Abuja safely.

After a phenomenal two weeks, it was time to head home. We started on a 10-hour drive to Makurdi. Travelers in Nigeria are stopped at many military or local government checkpoints. Normally, the military or police would see the name gechaan on our vehicle, give us a big smile and wave us through. That day, however, as we approached what we thought was a checkpoint, a military-looking guy with an AK-47 motioned us to stop. Our driver began to slow down but discerned it was not a legitimate checkpoint. He accelerated, and as we passed, the man with the rifle got off four shots at our van. The first came through the grill and cut Jim’s leg. The second sprayed shattered glass and bullet fragments into his forehead. A third glanced off the driver’s hand and the fourth passed through Tina’s leg. We raced on down the road, Jim and the driver bleeding profusely. No one panicked; everybody clicked

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into decision mode about what to do next. We stopped in a small village to assess everyone’s injuries. We wrapped Jim’s head in a T-shirt and used another to wrap the driver’s hand. Tina’s injury wasn’t life-threatening. We decided we had better get Jim to a hospital. As we drove on, the engine overheated. We flagged down a minivan and sent Jim and the driver on ahead with them to a first-aid station in Bali. Dan repaired the damaged radiator hose with a granola bar wrapper and tape. After the attack, our church and the Converge staff were very helpful in getting us home and processing the event. We both felt even more strongly about our call to serve in Nigeria. On April 19, 2012, we met with the Converge board of overseers and received their unanimous approval to become missionary appointees. The core philosophy of gechaan is to be “faith-based, community-driven.” The Helwigs’ purpose is to help the community and to teach the community to help itself. They have done a great job involving Nigerians in the day-to-day operations. A board of directors comprised of six Nigerians and Art and Dorothy run the ministry, each with a specific area of expertise. Art and Dorothy believe Tina and I can strengthen the administrative focus of gechaan’s diverse ministry, providing training and checks and balances and reviewing each current method, person and facility to be sure it’s sustainable into the future. Personally, we see ourselves investing our lives in mentoring young moms, ministering to couples and training children and teachers. We are privileged and humbled to be given the opportunity to serve alongside such remarkable people. n

It takes a team of missions Battling hiv/aids and starting churches takes collaboration between many groups and individuals. Read Art Helwig’s summary of how God is using multiple organizations to orchestrate great results. Go to cvrg.us/fall2012-2.

Dan and Tina Gibbs are Converge missionary appointees raising support to work with the gechaan hiv/aids prevention and care ministry in Nigeria. Listen to our interview with the Gibbs at cvrg.us/fall2012-1. You can reach them at www.StandingBeside.com or 763.691.9185. fall 2012

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Well said Delegates and attendees of the Converge and Bethel University Biennial Meetings (June 27-29 at First Baptist Church

Stand in Awe speaker: Jay Barnes, president, Bethel University

Our meeting’s theme comes from Habakkuk 3:2, “I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.” I’m guessing Habakkuk is not anybody’s favorite book, but it reads like this morning’s headlines. Evil seems to abound. God’s people are not attentive until trouble comes at them with ferocity. The prophet’s message is centered on two complaints, followed by a deeper revelation of God’s work and character that left him in awe. Complaint one: Why do you [God] tolerate wrongdoing? The law is paralyzed. The wicked hem in the righteous so that justice is perverted. Complaint two: Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those who are righteous? The prophet rose from despair to a sense of awe. He was looking at four things: First, he saw that God works in unexpected ways. There were times when God worked through an evil people to bring about a righteous end. Second, God revealed his judgment on those who are evil. In the end, injustice did not reign. God did. Third, God revealed his character to Habakkuk. The more we know God, the more we think about him, the more we see him revealed in Scripture, the more we see him revealed in his creation — the more it should drive us to our knees. Finally, God was Habakkuk’s refuge in a perilous time. Do you know the reality that God is your refuge and strength?

Jay Barnes

The Spirit is hovering, God will speak speaker: John van Dinther, pastor of New Life churches in Stockholm and Gothenburg, Sweden, and

partner of Converge Nordic-Baltic

No matter how dark, how void, how empty our lives and ministries and nations and cities seem to be, God is at work. For those who see, they see the Spirit of God hovering over what seems to be impossible, void and dark. When the time comes, God will speak. And he will say, “Let there be light,” as he has done throughout the history of humankind. Again and again he will ignite the peoples on this earth.

John van Dinther

He sees you speaker: Priscilla Shirer, Bible teacher, speaker and author

In Luke 5:1-7 (nas) Jesus is teaching a multitude who were “pressing in around him.” These were people who had heard about this Jesus. They knew that when this guy showed up, blind people could see, deaf ears could hear, the lame could walk, the dead were being raised. Stuff happened. They wanted to get as close as they possibly could. They brought him their emotional needs, their financial concerns, their physical tragedies. In the midst of this massive crowd, Jesus saw one fisherman who had had a bad night of fishing — who had abandoned his boat of frustration and irritation and was tending and washing his nets on the shoreline. This is good news for us. It means that if your life’s fishing expedition has gone bad — a journey in your marriage has cost you more than you ever thought you would have to pay or a season in your ministry has been more difficult than you ever thought you would be able to manage — no matter how big the crowd of difficulty that gathers around Jesus, he sees you. He notices you. He cares about you. He sits high, and he chooses to look low and meet us where we are.

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Priscilla Shirer

of Glenarden, Landover, Md.) enjoyed a wealth of engaging and convicting messages. Here are some choice excerpts.

Filled with the fullness of God speaker: John Jenkins Sr., Biennial Meeting host pastor, First Baptist Church of Glenarden, Landover, Md.

John Jenkins Sr.

In Ephesians 3:14-21 (nkjv) Paul says, “I’m praying for you, that you would be strengthened with might by the Spirit of God in the inner man.” I’ve come to understand that if I want to be everything God wants me to be, it’s got to start with changing from the inside and working its way out. Paul says, if you do that, Christ will dwell in your heart through faith. What moves God is not your activities. What moves him is your faith. Then in verses 17-18 Paul says, “I’m praying that you would understand the power of Christ’s love” (paraphrase). Our ultimate responsibility is to make people understand how much God loves them. I never could get victory in my life in the areas I needed it until I understood how much Jesus loved me, as raggedy as I was. Knowing he loved me as I was drew me to him and caused stuff to drop off. In verse 19 Paul says, “I’m praying that you would be filled with all the fullness of God.” The question is not how much of God you have, but how much of you does God have. He has permission to go into every relationship, phone call, how you spend every dime, every minute of your day. He gets control of everything. Paul says, “I’m praying that the awesomeness of our God would fill you in every capacity.”

Lifelong leaders speaker: Gordon MacDonald, author, speaker, chancellor of Denver Seminary

It took 80+ years for Moses to become a person that God would label with the word “faithful.” How well is the contemporary North American church doing in producing faithful people? I would argue that this ought to be at the core of the ministry strategy of every pastor and every woman or man who is a lay leader in a church. We are in the business of producing faithful people.

Bending the curve of our trajectory Gordon MacDonald

speaker: Jerry Sheveland, president, Converge Worldwide

We have set a trajectory for 2015. We want to see at least 351 congregations started. But I have a sense of holy longing that the Lord would do something in us to bend the curve of our spiritual influence in this nation and in communities all over the world. Our kingdom business is the church. We long to be part of starting and strengthening congregations in which the gospel is so powerfully present and saturating the lives of people and ministries that it goes out into lives and communities in words, in works and in wonders. The result is transformation, life by life and systemically across families and community structures. Doesn’t the Holy Spirit want to awaken in us something that bends the curve in the days ahead? If the curve is going to be bent, it’s because the Spirit of God bends something in us. n Photos by Matt Stephens

Jerry Sheveland

You can download, watch or listen to these messages at convergeworldwide.org/resources/ 2012-biennial.

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Just the facts

Some key highlights and fun facts from the Converge and Bethel University Biennial Meetings, June 27-29, in Landover, Md.

Churches

Church Planting goal update

n 48 churches, already received into their districts as members, were added to Converge membership. n 25 churches were removed from membership and two church mergers were recognized.

n Director Tom Nebel reported 154 church plants started toward the faith goal of at least 351 new congregations between January 2010 and June 2015.

Elections and appointments Six retiring missionaries were recognized: (l. to r.) Gary and Doris Reynolds (Mexico, 14 years; missions staff, 21 years), Mark and Helen Downing (Brazil, 26 years) and Gary and Ruth Stephens (Cameroon, 17 years).

On Friday night, 12 new missionary appointees were presented (l. to r.): Mao and Phoenix (name and destination withheld for security), Ian Smith (Japan), Jon and Sue Wiziarde (Panama), Dan and Tina Gibbs (Nigeria), Lydia Shadeed (U.S. people group ministry), Drew and Sarah Robertson (Middle East) and Kyle and Matilda Tromanhauser (Germany).

n President Jerry Sheveland was elected to a third term (four years). n Michael Henderson (r.) was elected executive director of National Ministries. n Ivan Veldhuizen (below) was elected executive director of International Ministries. n Charles Whitaker (pastor, River of Life Church, Marlow Heights, Md.) was elected vice moderator, to serve as Biennial Meeting moderator in 2016. n 5 new overseers and 8 reelected overseers were approved. n Retired Navy Captain George Paul was presented as the new Converge chaplain endorser.

Recognitions n John Jenkins Sr. was presented the Doulos (bond servant) Award for two years as executive director of National Ministries.

Other business n Delegates reaffirmed previously adopted statements on Marriage and Family and on Beliefs about Homosexual Behavior and Ministering to Homosexual Persons. n Delegates approved bylaws revisions to update nomenclature, revise overseer and committee procedures and limit elected staff positions. n The proposed 2012-2013 Converge budget of approximately $15.47 million was approved.

Fun fact n The oldest attendee was 101-year-old Myrtle E. Berglund from Arnold, Md.

Cool God stories Watch videos of powerful works of God: n Pastor Dan Nold tells how his church ministered to the Penn State community during the Jerry Sandusky trial. n Pastor Mike Evans describes the commissioning of his church’s seventh church plant. n Pastor Mullery Jean Pierre tells about remarkable ministry progress in Leogane, Haiti, epicenter of the January 2012 earthquake. n Missionary John Mehn tells how Japan earthquake/tsunami relief has “revolutionized the ways churches do ministry in Japan.” Watch or download at convergeworldwide.org/ resources/2012-biennial. Photos by Matt Stephens

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A cloudburst of baptisms God is doing something unusual among us, with Converge churches and missions reporting large numbers of spontaneous baptisms. BY JERRY SHEVELAND

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Doctor Luke was a wonderful historian of the

early church. Yet there was so much more he could have told us than what we find in the Book of Acts. I wonder, for example, what the baptism services were like for the 3000 on Pentecost who responded to Christ in repentance and faith. I would have loved to have been there to see it all happen. Fortunately, baptizing scores of new believers is still taking place across our movement. We are seeing the Lord work through evangelistically effective churches and ministries in astounding ways. The implications are encouraging. It means: 1) God is showing his favor on our prayers and efforts to point people to Jesus; 2) Churches of all kinds and sizes are becoming more intentional about multiplying new disciples; 3) Starting greater numbers of new congregations multiplies centers of gospel influence; 4) And in a day that is labeled post-Christian, lost people are still receptive to the gospel.

Baptism: the flower of God’s artistry

Here are a few reports that came across my desk recently:

n A three-year-old church plant, Life Pointe Church, East Olympia, Wash., heard the story of what God did at Bethany. Pastor Jim Hays decided to follow the example the next week. Five people were scheduled for baptism. When he gave the invitation, seven more from the congregation came to be baptized.

with the hairdresser, Jill. Some time later, Dave’s wife Becky had her hair cut by Jill so that she would have an opportunity to build on what Dave had started. Jill began attending Ezra Church and trusted in Christ. On the day of her baptism, a close friend was along and heard the story of God’s grace. She too accepted Christ and was baptized that day. n Sun Valley Community Church, Gilbert, Ariz., baptized 268 people on its three campuses March 3-4. n From the Helwigs in Nigeria: “Twenty churches have been planted among the underreached Ndolo people. One pastor recently went

PHOTO COURTESY EAGLE BROOK CHURCH

PHOTO COURTESY CROSSPOINTE CHURCH, WINTER PARK

n On Easter Sunday, pastor George Bedlion of Bethany Baptist Church, Puyallup, Wash., had a dozen people ready for baptism. He then invited anyone in the congregation who was ready to be baptized to come forward in their street clothes. And people did. More than 50 were baptized that day.

n The churches of the Minnesota Iowa district have set a goal to see 10,000 converts baptized in 2012 — and encouraging results are being celebrated across the district. n Mike Broyles, a Converge prison ministry leader, reported that 130 new believers were baptized in Los Angeles jails in the past 17 months. n In February, Eagle Brook Church, Centerville, Minn., baptized 590 people in one weekend (four services at all five campuses). Since July 1, 2011, baptisms on EBC campuses totaled 1470. n From the Philippines: Hope network churches baptized a total of 77 new disciples of Jesus Christ from January to May 2012. Four of the churches were started through the Converge “Decade of Change” initiative. n Church planter Dave Tilma of Ezra Church, Madison, Wis., was getting his hair cut. He struck up a redemptive conversation

into a new community and preached the gospel, and about 40 people responded and accepted Jesus as their Savior. After teaching for a month or so, he baptized 36 people, who had already constructed a small open-air chapel to begin meeting together for worship.” n From TJ, a Converge U.S.-based worker: A Muslim-background believer was recently baptized at a conference. When asked if he would be faithful to Jesus Christ, he answered, “To the death!” Attendees responded with cheers and praises to God as he made a stand for Jesus. Churches are setting prayer goals and then striving hard to be a part of the Holy Spirit’s work to produce a spiritual harvest. You may not be into “numbers,” but stop and reflect for a moment on the value of being more intentional in your ministry efforts and then measuring the right things — such as baptisms. n Jerry Sheveland is president of Converge Worldwide.

One of my best friends is Dan Nelson. In my opinion he is one of the finest artists in America. Many times I’ve been part of a group of fans, all of whom marveled as he created spectacular scenes. It is always difficult to walk away. You just want to stand and stare. I urge you to do the same when you look at baptism. The more you gaze at it, the more you will treasure it. That’s because it’s a picture of the greatest experience known to humanity — the saving work of Jesus Christ. And catch this: baptism is a picture of salvation as a whole and in its individual parts. Last year, on a missions trip to Nepal, I spoke at a baptismal service in a beautiful nature park. More than 100 of us were gathered at a river to watch the baptism of about 15 new Christians. But before they entered the water, I described many of the aspects of salvation and how baptism typified them. I held up a flower and asked, “How many flowers am I holding?” “One,” said the crowd. “How many petals does it have? “Five,” they shouted. “Well, in the same way, our salvation is one in essence, but it has several dimensions that are illustrated by baptism. The flower represents: “Petal 1: The believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection” (Rom. 6). “Petal 2: The believer’s own spiritual death, burial and resurrection” (Rom. 6; Col. 2:11-12). “Petal 3: The believer’s allegiance to Christ” (Matt. 28:19). “Petal 4: The cleansing of sin believers experience at salvation” (Acts 2:38). “Petal 5: The Holy Spirit immersing believers into the body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:40-42, 10:47-48). The next time you watch or participate in a baptism, praise the Savior for paying for this gift on the cross and giving it to you. And the next time you examine a flower’s petals, don’t say, “He loves me. He loves me not….” Instead say, “He loves me. He loves me. He loves me. He loves me. He loves me!” Your salvation proves it, and your baptism shows it. Excerpted from Baptism & Communion: Appreciating God’s Artistry, by Ron Sheveland. Director of I-Training Ministries and an interim pastor, Ron is a former Converge pastor and executive minister.

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When churches do missions together For U.S. churches, hands-on involvement in overseas missions is at an all-time high. Churches are banding together to meet mutual missions goals. And Converge International Ministries is crafting a strategy to support this phenomenon, which has profound potential for reaching the lost. The following are recent examples of Converge church-driven missions.

From hindsight to foresight in Addis Ababa BY SCOTT ANDERSON

More than six decades ago, when bgc (now Converge) missionaries began work-

ing in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the early pioneers — passionate about reaching lost people — knew they were called and that God would do something. But they didn’t know what it would look like, how it would happen or how long it would take. With hindsight, we have the benefit of seeing and celebrating all God has done as a result of obedience to the call. What a gift. What makes this story uncommon is that in 1995 bgc World Missions leaders determined that what had begun so many years ago as the dream of a few courageous Americans was ready to be turned over to Ethiopians — people who knew better than anyone how to reach their country for Christ. Indigenous leaders and administrators had been raised up, and a strong network of churches and leadership training was in place. It was a bittersweet day when the paperwork was filed and the end of bgc’s legal involvement became official. This new approach would sink or swim on its own.

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Fast forward another 15 years, and today one finds a healthy, strong and vital group of churches. More than 15,000 men, women and children make up the Berhane Wongel Baptist Church, rivaling the growth and expansion of all but the fastest-growing churches in the United States. Today bwbc is conducting its own missions work among the Borana people in southern Ethiopia. And God continues to do amazing things through the fine men and women who now lead this association of churches. Though they have achieved all this with minimal ongoing support from American churches, the need for training and development of future leaders and pastors has become a daunting task. For the past 10 years pastoral and leadership training has taken place in substandard facilities. These have made it very hard to equip the ever-growing numbers of people God is calling to plant churches, evangelize and become pastors. With foresight, we have the opportunity once again to engage with this amazing group of people and churches by helping to construct the Berhane Wongel Theological College facility in downtown Addis Ababa. The property and all legal requirements for construction have been met. Some lower-level construction has already begun. The pastors and leaders of tomorrow’s Berhane Wongel Church will thank you for your prayers and any financial support God might lead you to provide for this important and critical need. Of the roughly $400,000 from the U.S. it will take to finish the college, one church (Eagle Brook, Centerville, Minn.) has pledged $135,000 over the next three years, and other churches and individuals are beginning to participate. Together we can impact the eternities of countless Ethiopian people who so desperately need to know Christ. Now that’s a gift. n

You can make an impact in Ethiopia To contribute, make your check payable to: Eagle Brook Church — BWTC Fund 7015 20th Avenue Centerville, MN 55038 Attn: Theological College

Scott Anderson is executive pastor of Eagle Brook Church, Centerville, Minn.

Water for all of Maissade

W BY JEFF ASHLOCK

PHOTO COURTESY EAGLE BROOK CHURCH

Working together, teams from Minnesota and California planned to provide potable drinking

water to all Maissade, Haiti, children served by Converge Worldwide. This includes the Melchizedek Baptist School, Boaz home for boys, Ruth home for girls and the Jehovah Jire Feeding Center — in all, more than 1000 children. Team One from Epiphany Station, Thief River Falls, Minn., arrived February 2 and installed a water filter on the well that serves Melchizedek Baptist School. The school kitchen now has safe drinking water for its 860 students. The team also installed a water filter on the new 400-gallon tank at the Boaz home. Now its dozen boys have a dining room spigot that supplies clean drinking water. They previously dipped water from a 50-gallon barrel in the shower. Team Two arrived February 10. It included a dozen volunteers from New Covenant Community Church, Fresno, Calif.; Steve Swihart and three others from Connections Church, Meridian, Idaho; and Tim Augustine from Golden Hills Community Church, Fresno, Calif. They finished strapping down pipes and repairing all the shower and toilet valves. The filters are fine enough to remove 99.9 percent of bacterial pathogens such as cholera, E-coli, giardia and many others. Most deadly diseases in Haiti result from water-borne bacteria. The team ran pipes from the backyard well to the water tank at Ruth home. The 11 girls now can use their bathroom. They previously had to go to another home to bathe. The team also ran an underground line from the well to the new kitchen so that workers have well water for cleaning, cooking and doing laundry. At the feeding center, the cook previously tossed a rope bucket into a cistern, usually infested with mosquitos and the occasional rotting mango. The work team dug a 100-foot trench from the feeding center’s well to the building and placed a 200-gallon tank on the roof. They installed a filter system in the central storeroom and a faucet that protrudes through the kitchen wall. The Jehovah Jire Feeding Center provides a hot meal and vitamin drink daily for 150 to 200 children, most of whom would otherwise go hungry. In addition, the team held meetings with pastor Lunique Yoyo (Converge’s Maissade partner), the town mayor and a few city administrators. They agreed to collaborate to construct a community well in the corner of the new public market. The city followed up by also building a cement enclosure with a platform for three 800-gallon tanks. On June 28 the California team returned to fall 2012

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Partnering to reach Estonia Ten people from Whittier (Calif.) Area Community Church traveled to Estonia in 1999. We instantly fell in love with the people, the country and their few, but strong, churches. A partnership began. Part of our work with the Estonians is to hold summits — gatherings of leaders — in the Nordic-Baltic area. Out of these summits a partnership has formed with pastor Jan Van Oosten and New Covenant Church, Fresno, Calif. It is a beautiful thing to see the Lord connect people with similar hearts. Last year the Estonian government asked the Union of Evangelical and Baptist Churches of Estonia to help with a major societal problem: alcohol abuse. In 12 years Estonia had lost 45,700 people between the ages of 15 and 49 to alcoholism. The government was ready to take help from anywhere. Because of our previously formed relationship, Jan Van Oosten and ncc were prepared to join wacc in bringing the Celebrate Recovery program to Estonia to help address alcoholism and substance abuse. Pastor Jan, with ncc Celebrate Recovery leaders Rob and Karen Smith, traveled to Estonia to introduce the curriculum to local churches. They were received with open arms, and they, too, fell in love with the country and the Estonian people. This summer our Nordic-Baltic Regional Partnership brought from Estonia to California pastor Erki Tamm, Kalju Baptist Church, and his team to attend Celebrate Recovery training. Never before has the Estonian government turned to the church for help. We have the opportunity to work with Estonia to change the course of their country through the power of Christ. Great things happen when the body of Christ works together. By Bill Ankerberg, Nordic-Baltic Region director and senior pastor, Whittier (Calif.) Area Community Church.

(right) Estonia’s ancient cities have many beautiful church buildings, often nearly empty.

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install the tanks, a generator and plumbing. The well allows Maissade citizens to get safe, potable water each day, rather than fetching it from the nearby river. Team Two also constructed a new kitchen for the Ruth and Boaz homes, replacing the concrete slab on which the caretakers had prepared meals. And they completed a chicken barn and delivered many gifts to sponsored children and food to many families. They newly sponsored several children in the One by One Haiti program, demonstrated love and touched hearts. God was glorified in so many ways. n Jeff Ashlock is a member of New Covenant Community Church, Fresno, Calif.

Why church-driven missions? The top-down model doesn’t work well anymore. Fewer churches are looking to support missions projects the national office originates or promotes. The passion of the local church can rarely be produced through a top-down structure. This passion is one of the most valuable contributors to the development of an authentic movement. Good stewardship of our mutual energies and resources is possible through a churchdriven missions model. Networking and cooperation enable us to accomplish more together than on our own. International Ministries has a choice. We can embrace and support this phenomenon and see many church-driven missions efforts develop into significant collaborative movements. Or we can keep doing things as we have in the past. Our choice is obvious.

As you journey through life, bless others

Investment Options Fixed-Rate Certificates MINIMUM TERM RATE INVESTMENT

6-month 1.500% $100 1.625% $100,000 1.750% $250,000 1-year 1.625% $100 1.750% $100,000 1.875% $250,000 2-year 1.750% $100 1.875% $100,000 2.000% $250,000 3-year 1.875% $100 2.000% $100,000 2.125% $250,000 4-year 2.125% $100 2.250% $100,000 2.375% $250,000 5-year 2.375% $100 2.500% $30,000 2.625% $100,000 2.750% $250,000

Demand Certificates MINIMUM RATE INVESTMENT

1.500% $100

Church Savings Certificates MINIMUM RATE INVESTMENT

1.625% $5,000

IRAs MINIMUM RATE INVESTMENT

2.875% $10 3.000% $100,000+

Rates subject to change without notice.

Your investment in Converge Cornerstone Fund helps us offer competitive construction financing to our churches so that they can bring more people into God’s kingdom. And you join with 2100+ investors who are already earning a competitive rate of return on their investment. Plus there are no fees to invest with Cornerstone. The Cornerstone Fund offers a Demand Investment as well as Term Investments ranging from 6 months to 5 years. We also offer Traditional and Roth IRAs and accept transfers and rollovers from other qualified plans.

2002 S. ARLINGTON HEIGHTS RD. ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005-4193

To learn more about the Cornerstone Fund, visit www.cornerstonetoday.org, email us at csfund@convergeww.org or call us at 877.228.8810.

The offer and sale of certificates is limited to persons who are, prior to receipt of the Offering Circular, members of, contributors to, participants in or affiliates of Converge Worldwide (BGC) including any program, activity or organization which constitutes a part of Converge Worldwide (BGC), its district conferences, or its member churches or other persons who are beneficiaries or successors in interest to such persons (“Investors”). n This shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such an offer, solicitation or sale is not authorized. The offering is made solely by the OFFERING CIRCULAR. The offering involves certain risks, which are more fully disclosed in the Offering Circular under the heading “Risk Factors.” These investments are not FDIC or SIPC insured. n In the event the Fund exercises its right to redeem a Certificate prior to maturity and upon 60 days notice to the holder thereof, payment of the outstanding principal and interest will be made to the holder to the date of redemption, rather than to the Certificate’s maturity date. fall 2012 point n

connection converge

NUMBERS

120 $ 175 million

Number of old, well-worn Bibles replaced with free special-edition leatherbound preaching Bibles, given last month to every pastor attending the Summer Days Conference of the Union of Free Evangelical and Baptist Churches of Estonia. The Estonian Bible Society printed them. Converge Nordic-Baltic underwrote the cost of $125 per Bible. Thank you for your support.

Assets of Converge Cornerstone Fund, which currently manages facility loans to 129 Converge churches. See ad on page 21.

154 New Converge congregations started in the U.S. since January 2010, toward the December 2015 goal of at least 351. A new church plant or multisite is started about every five days.

Number of states in which there are Converge congregations. Districts are working to extend to all 50 states.

MORE ONLINE... New books from Converge authors

Read summaries of Diary of an Unworthy Servant (2nd edition), by Wayne Detzler, and How to Build a Meaningful Career, by Robert Lawrenz, online at cvrg.us.us/summer2012.

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Tina Fey student to plant Converge church Jonathan Herron and his wife Amber will soon begin planting Life Church in Saginaw, Mich., a Converge MidAmerica church start. Jon studied comedy at Chicago’s Second City under Tina Fey, holds a master’s degree from Ashland Theological Seminary and has ministered to orphans in thirdworld countries, assessed church planters and currently speaks to crowds as part of The Source for Youth Ministry’s national speaking team.

MATT STEPHENS

Shevelands lead group to celebrate Brazilian aog founding Converge President Jerry Sheveland, International Ministries director Ivan Veldhuizen and their wives led a group of 10 to Brazil to participate in the 100th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Brazilian Assembly of God, June 15-20. At the Gunnar Vingren Memorial Museum they presented a handwritten document by Vingren on loan from Bethel University Archives. In 1911 Vingren and Daniel Berg (former bgc church members) left Chicago to share the gospel and start a church, which grew into the Brazilian aog — now a movement of thousands of churches and 10 million believers. The delegation went on to Rio de Janeiro to meet with Converge missionaries Lynda Oatley, Greg and Rebecca Parker, Steve and Debra Rowe and Rick and Carol Stark.

Introducing Mike Henderson Michael Henderson, pastor of New Beginnings Community Church, Matthews, N.C., is the new executive director of Converge National Ministries. He continues in his pastorate while serving part-time on Converge staff, where he oversees Network Gatherings, the Converge School of Church Leadership, church-strengthening resources, 2nd Half Ministries, chaplaincy and leadnet. President Jerry Sheveland wrote of Henderson’s predecessor: “It’s impossible for me to overstate the impact pastor John Jenkins has had on our movement during the past two years. His powerful preaching and spiritual influence have created forward momentum. My vision for servant leadership has been elevated by pastor Jenkins’ wisdom, generosity and godly integrity.”

Dan Nold, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, State College, Pa., described cbc’s response to the Jerry Sandusky child abuse scandal and trial. The church led a 40-day period of fasting and prayer-walking the Penn State campus, conducted a conference on child sexual abuse, prayed with dozens of individuals and participated in numerous conversations with psu students about sexuality, morality and Christ. Hear Nold’s moving story at www.convergeworldwide.org/resources/ 2012-biennial.

MATT STEPHENS

Church helps community during Sandusky Trial

Who leads Converge Southeast?

Steve and Shirley Smith were raised by Christian parents and as children came to faith in Christ. They attended Liberty University, where they met when undergraduate students. About age 30 each entered into a personal process of transformation with God. This season of growth marked their spiritual lives individually and together as a couple. Steve serves as executive minister of the Converge Southeast district, which has expanded from Florida and the Caribbean Islands to include Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Louisiana. Steve came to Converge Worldwide with other church affiliations. Raised in the South, he attended Southern Baptist and Independent Baptist churches. He had never heard of the bgc until he met Shirley. Steve commented, “I was not at all interested in being a part of the bgc. I planned to go to a Southern Baptist seminary in Texas, except Shirley told me she would never want to live there. We compromised, and I enrolled in Denver Seminary. “Upon expecting our second child, I dropped out of seminary, with an eye to reapply when we were more financially stable. I took a job managing Burger King restaurants. After two years, I reapplied to Denver Seminary but could not get housing on campus. To make our finances work, we waited another year.” God had other plans for Steve and Shirley. Read the rest of their story at cvrg.us/summer2012.

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NEW CONVERGE VIDEO NOW AVAILABLE

Watch online, download and share at cvrg.us/video

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