Nov/December 2005 fellowship!

fellowship!

CBF

COOPERATIVE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP | WWW.THEFELLOWSHIP.INFO

November/December 2005

Diverse Baptist partnership aims to fight poverty new partnership to fight poverty is arising among five Baptist bodies. help in ministering to the volume of people and needs. The Baptist leaders hope to come alongside the churches, providing support and resources that will enable continued ministry, Vestal said.

The partnership is also a step toward racial reconciliation. H.B. Williams, who has served as pastor of New Light Missionary Baptist Church for more than 40 years, said the partnership is a continuation of the unfinished Poor People’s Campaign, launched by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.

“This is going to bring us together and make us strong,” Williams said. “God used Katrina to open up the doors and open up our eyes.”

Council approves new constitutional preamble for a preamble to be added to guage omitted specific referTHE CBF Coordinating Counthe constitution and bylaws. ences to Jesus Christ and the cil unanimously approved a new The wording is as follows: Great Commission. preamble for its constitution and “As a fellowship of Baptist In response, newly-elected bylaws at its fall meeting Oct. Christians and churches, we Moderator Joy Yee, senior pas13-14, sending the amendment celebrate our faith in the One tor of Nineteenth Avenue Bapto the General Assembly, which Triune God. will meet in We gladly Atlanta June declare our 22-23, 2006. allegiance to During Jesus Christ the most reas Lord cent General and to His Assembly, gospel as we June 30seek to be July 1, in the continuGrapevine, ing presence Texas, the of Christ in participants this world. approved Coordinating Council members Sandee Elizondo, left, of San Antonio, Texas; Jim Ross, center, of Madison, Ga.; and Alton Taylor of Marietta, Ga., discuss Council Our passion an amended business during the Oct. 13-14 meeting in Atlanta. is to obey constitution the Great Commandment tist Church in San Francisco, and bylaws, which included a (Matthew 22:34-40) and the Calif., appointed a special task new purpose statement that Great Commission (Matthew force in July to address the reflected the wording of the 28:19-20) of our Lord in the changes in wording.

Fellowship’s mission statepower of the Holy Spirit, and Headed by Council memment. However, during the to uphold Baptist principles ber Jack Glasgow, pastor of Assembly and the weeks folof faith and practice as we Zebulon Baptist Church in lowing, Fellowship churches partner with one another and Zebulon, N.C., the task force and individual CBF members other Christians.” presented a recommendation raised concerns that the lanLance Wallace photo

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has committed to work with the Progressive National Baptist Convention, American Baptist Churches USA, District of Columbia Baptist Convention and Alliance of Baptists in long-term anti-poverty efforts, namely working to prevent racial and class discrimination in delivery of hurricane relief and recovery.

“No one church, organization, business or government can resolve poverty. It will take all of us working together. Partnership across denominational, racial and geographical lines is not an option or luxury.

It is a necessity,” said CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal.

Vestal and leaders from the other Baptist bodies met for the first time Sept. 30-Oct. 1 at Baton Rouge’s New Light Missionary Baptist Church, where they spoke with elected officials. East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Melvin “Kip” Holden and Louisiana State Sen. Sharon Weston Broome applauded the relief efforts of churches during a meeting Sept. 30.

Hurricane Katrina exposed widespread poverty. Some people didn’t have financial resources to evacuate prior to Katrina’s landfall. Because the poverty revealed wears primarily a face of color, Vestal said it’s vital that the Baptist partnership cross racial and geographic lines.

Baptist leaders heard from several African-American pastors whose churches have been active in hurricane relief. Some told stories of how their church served as an evacuee shelter, found and are paying for longer-term housing for evacuees, provided transportation or helped them find jobs. But the pastors said their churches need

Convention. “We are going gained greater understanding Baptist leaders also visited to come together to do someon how to help,” he said. area shelters, including the city’s thing remarkable.” f!

The Baptist leaders will largest, River Center, which was meet again to further solidify a temporary home to 932 evacuLEARN – “Lessons in a course of action. ees on Oct. 1, nearly five weeks Racism and Poverty,” a new “We have an opportunity to after Hurricane Katrina hit. At curriculum, is available for free transform the face of poverty that shelter and others, leaders at www.thefellowship.info. in this country,” said Tyrone heard stories of survival. One Pitts, general secretary of the 70-year-old woman was carried

By Carla Wynn, CBF Progressive National Baptist by her son through chest-deep Communications water that Katrina caused in New Orleans. Another woman and her two 10-monthold children were rescued by two strangers who floated the family to safety on air mattresses. Hearing these stories engaged the leaders in a ministry of presence, Vestal said.

“It was both humbling and inCBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal talks with Margaret Edwards, a Hurricane Katrina evacuee who spiring. I hope we spent her 71st birthday at the New Light Missionary Baptist Church shelter in Baton Rouge, La. Carla Wynn photo

I

n the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a

By adopting the preamble, the Council in effect recommended adoption of the proposed amendment to the full General Assembly.

Glasgow said the Fellowship had three main audiences respond to the wording changes made this summer — individuals and churches affiliated with the Fellowship, the general public and “unrelenting and unloving critics.”

“I believe there is nothing we can do to make them stand up and applaud us,” Glasgow said. “But I care very deeply about those within the Fellowship and those in the general public who want to know who we are and what we’re about.”

The Council also gave an evening of discussion to the issue of broadening the inclusiveness of the Fellowship for a greater diversity of race and ethnicity. A panel discussion led by Networking Coordinator Bill Bruster and — Continued on page 10

CONGREGATIONAL LIFE

2

“FOLLOWING THE STAR,” an online Advent devotional produced in partnership with CBF, will start on the first Sunday in Advent, Nov. 27. To access the devotional, visit www.followingthestar.org.

Following the Star seeks to provide a quiet place for reflection in the middle of the busyness that often surrounds the holidays.

Passport, Inc., the producers of Following the Star and Journey to the Cross Lenten devotional, recently launched an online daily devotional geared to students called “d365.” The site, www.d365.org, will run year-long. d365 will include Scripture and prayer. Students will also be able to submit prayers and poetry for use in future online devotionals. “d365 will provide a virtual sanctuary where students and others might pause to pay attention to the presence of God in their daily lives. In light of Passport’s previous devotional offerings, this one is not to be missed,” said Rick Bennett, the Fellowship’s associate coordinator for faith formation.

More than 150,000 readers from 91 countries visited the seasonal Advent and Lenten devotional sites, which will continue to be published as a part of d365, said Melissa Browning, d365 editor.

“We hope to tackle issues that are important to students and that will give them guidance in their journeys,” Browning said. “Students long to be serious about their faith, and they just need a little direction to get them there.”

The devotional series is funded in part by a Lilly Endowment grant to the Samuel Project, a partnership between Passport and Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond to help students discern a calling to vocational ministry.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications, with contributions from Passport, Inc.

Vol. 15, No. 7 COORDINATOR • Daniel Vestal COORDINATOR, COMMUNICATIONS & RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT • Ben McDade EDITOR • Lance Wallace MANAGING EDITOR • Lisa M. Jones PHONE • (770) 220-1600 FAX • (770) 220-1685 E-MAIL • fellowship@thefellowship.info WEB SITE • www.thefellowship.info

fellowship! is published 7 times a year in Sept./ Oct., Special I (Oct.), Nov./Dec., Jan./Feb., Mar./Apr., May/June, Special II (Aug.) by The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Inc., 3001 Mercer University Dr., Atlanta, GA 30341-4115. Periodicals postage paid at Atlanta, GA, and additional mailing offices. USPS #015-625 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to “fellowship!” Newsletter, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, P.O. Box 450329, Atlanta, GA 31145-0329

C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P

Baptists celebrate BWA’s 100th year with diversity, togetherness

A

bout 13,000 Baptist Christians from around the world celebrated a century of togetherness this summer in Birmingham,

England, as part of the Baptist World Centenary Congress. is against than what it is for, and this is Returning to the land where it was no strategy for winning lost people to formed in 1905, the BWA, now an international fellowship of 32 million believers from 200-plus unions, set about the hard work of building unity.

The BWA also clarified its theological identity, discussed ways to combat global ills and recognized a shift of Christianity’s center of gravity to Africa, Asia and South America.

California pastor Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” called for “a new reformation” to adapt to the 21st-century world. He said the deeds of a new reformation will require mobilizing Christians, multiplying churches, evangelizing the world and eradicating global problems.

“Unity, unity, unity” was the recurrent theme of the five-day meeting, said Denton Lotz, BWA general secretary.

Baptists from around the world celebrate a century of BWA in “Too often, the world is Birmingham, England, under the theme “Jesus Christ, Living more aware of what the church Water.”

Associated Baptist Press photo

Online devotionals

Jesus Christ,” said David Coffey, general secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, who was elected BWA president.

In a Bible study for all delegates, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said division is like a cancer that is metastasizing within the body of Christ, presenting a negative image of Christians to the world that is “directly opposite the gentle aspect of the One we have chosen to worship.”

To mark their 100th anniversary, BWA adopted a new identity statement titled “Message from the Centenary Congress.”

“We, recognizing that this is a partial and incomplete confession of faith, boldly declare that we believe the truth is found in Jesus Christ as revealed in the Holy Scriptures,” the statement says in part.

The Scriptures “have supreme authority as the written Word of God and are fully trustworthy for faith and conduct.”

Representatives approved BWA membership for three new unions — one from Africa, the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Baptist General Association of Virginia.

BWA also introduced a five-year emphasis on evangelism, “Jesus Christ, Living Water.” f!

LEARN – For more information about BWA, visit www.bwanet.org.

By Greg Warner, Associated Baptist Press

CBF partners celebrate 15 years of service ASSOCIATED Baptist Press, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University and Smyth & Helwys Publishing share a common purpose of serving churches and Christians.

The three CBF partners are each marking their 15-year anniversaries with continued and expanding ministries.

Associated Baptist Press As “the first and only independent news service created by and for Baptists,” Associated Baptist Press seeks “to provide credible, compelling information about matters of faith,” said ABP Executive Editor Greg Warner.

Since its beginnings in 1990, the Jacksonville, Fla.-based organization has been a “wholesale service” offering news and feature articles to other publications, Warner said. But ABP has increasingly evolved as a news “retailer” by providing news and feature content directly to readers through its Web site and “ABP Headlines,” a free, monthly, reproducible e-mail newsletter.

ABP has also broadened its content, Warner said. While it originally focused on

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

covering Baptist denominational news, it now also covers a broad range of topics that impact the lives of its readers.

The Center for Christian Ethics The mission of The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, is to “create innovative, rich materials for the church related to Christian ethics and the development of moral character,” said Robert Kruschwitz, the center’s director.

Among those materials are “Christian Reflection: A Series in Faith and Ethics,” a free, quarterly publication covering various ethical topics, and “BOUND!,” a customized journal for short-term missions experiences. The center also offers a free, online ethics library and opportunities to participate in ethics-related conferences.

Smyth & Helwys Publishing Smyth & Helwys began in 1990 in Macon, Ga., with the publication of “Studies in Acts” by theologian T.C. Smith. Today, the

B W A’ s 1 0 0 t h

|

publishing house offers a range of Christian education materials — books, including a well-regarded commentary series; Sunday school curriculum; smallgroup studies; an annual study on a book of the Bible; and online resources such as “Learning Matters” and “NextSunday.com,” an online Christian education resource collection, said David Cassady, Smyth & Helwys’ executive vice president and publisher.

New initiatives include “Operation Antioch: Outreach for the Real World,” a church-wide outreach/evangelism emphasis kit; a youth ministry resource collection; and “Caleb’s Café,” a Web-based, small-group ministry resource. f!

LEARN – To contact ABP, call (800) 3406626 or visit www.abpnews.com. To contact The Center for Christian Ethics, call (866) 298-2325 or visit www.ChristianEthics.ws. To contact Smyth & Helwys, call (800) 747-3016 or visit www.helwys.com.

By contributing writer Melanie Kieve, Alabaster, Ala.

C B F P a r t n e r s C e l e b r a t e 1 5 Ye a r s

|

Online Devotionals

CONGREGATIONAL LIFE

3

Fellowship taps Moraga to lead Hispanic Initiative

C

BF continues to develop networks in African-American, Asian and Hispanic communities and has named New Mexico pastor

Bernie Moraga as a field consultant to help grow the Fellowship Hispanic Initiative.

“We are trying to start 400 Hispanic churches nationwide, because the Hispanic population has just exploded,” said Bo Prosser, CBF coordinator for congregational life. The Hispanic Initiative aims to have these churches started by 2011.

The Hispanic Initiative, African-American Network and Asian Network were inspired by CBF’s desire to be “more of a reflection of our culture and our society, and we have a desire to be more reflective of the kingdom,” said CBF Networking Coordinator Bill Bruster.

The Fellowship entered into a formal partnership in 2003 with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Moraga serves as pastor of First Spanish Fruit Avenue Baptist Church in Albuquerque, N.M., and has

served as the Hispanic Network coordinator on a volunteer basis. Now he will serve as a field consultant for the Hispanic Initiative.

“Bernie has been in charge of the Hispanic Network, which is a loose gathering of all the Hispanic leaders in CBF, and with the Bernie Moraga magnitude of this work we needed someone to come in and take charge of it,” Prosser said.

Moraga’s involvement began many years ago.

“I went to the early meetings in CBF. I realized I was a Baptist because of convic-

Fellowship to offer regional spiritual formation retreats for pastors

tion not convention, and I felt this was the main draw of CBF,” Moraga said. “The primary objective of CBF is to embrace people, not because we are ethnic, but because we are Baptist.”

The Hispanic Initiative is in initial stages and leaders are assessing where CBF is needed. According to Prosser. CBF can have a bigger impact if efforts are unique and directed toward areas where little ministry is currently being done.

To accomplish this goal, the Fellowship will be working with churches.

“We need sponsor churches, and my job is going to be to try and create the awareness in CBF churches nationwide,” Moraga said. f!

LEARN – For more about the Hispanic Initiative, contact Bernie Moraga at bmoraga@thefellowship.info. For more about CBF’s ministerial networks, visit www.thefel lowship.info/CL/BC/MinisterialNetworks.icm.

By Courtney Hodges, CBF Communications

CBF-endorsed chaplain pastors chaplains in Afghanistan

Courtesy Chaplain Mike Langston

ical advice to the command in Afghanistan.

IN THE MIDST of war, everyone needs In addition, he is responsible for strategipastoral care — even chaplains. cally evaluating the religious and spiritual Navy chaplain Mike Langston, who is needs of all the units endorsed by the Feland ensuring that these lowship, serves in needs are being met.

Afghanistan, where “I’ll be on the forpart of his responsiward edge of the battle bilities include proarea,” Langston said. viding pastoral care “I’ll be traveling to the to military chaplains. military camps in the Langston serves thick of the war zone. as the Joint Task I’ll be ministering to Force chaplain for our men and women the Combined Forces in uniform right when Command, workChaplain Mike Langston assists the command in Afghanistan in dealing with religious issues. they are in the thick ing with members of of battle.” the Army, Navy, Air Langston began his career as an officer Force, Marines and coalition forces. in the Marines, and after 11 years left to “One of the most important jobs I have attend seminary. Later, he became a Navy is to take care of chaplains, being the pastor Reserve chaplain and was called to active to the pastors,” Langston said. “The chapduty in 1998. Langston served during the lains are out there doing hard work, and Gulf War aboard the USS Guam. He has they need a pastor as well. They are helping also served at Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Norpeople deal with the trauma and horror folk, Va.; the Naval Air Station in Keflavik, of war, and they need help processing the Iceland; and at the Naval War College and horror they are exposed to.”

Navy Chaplain School in Newport, R.I. f!

A week before he left for Afghanistan, Langston was promoted to captain. As captain and the Joint Task Force chaplain, By contributing writer Patricia Heys, Langston is asked to provide moral and ethAtlanta

How to Respond SERVE – For more information about CBF chaplaincy and pastoral counseling, contact George Pickle at (770) 220-1617 or gpickle@thefellowship.info or visit www.thefellow ship.info/Church Life/Chaplains PC/Endorsees.icm.

Hispanic Initiative

|

PRAY – To view a guide for praying for chaplains, pastoral counselors and other ministers in specialized settings on their birthdays, visit www. thefellowship.info/church life/chaplains pc/prayer calendar.icm.

Afghanistan Chaplain

|

Spiritual Formation Retreats

New endorsees CBF RECENTLY ENDORSED 15 chaplains and pastoral counselors, for a total of 493.

The following individuals were endorsed: ■ Hospice

• John Henson, chaplain, Southerncare Hospice, Fort Worth, Texas • Beth Ogburn, chaplain, Valir Health, Oklahoma City, Okla.

• Kimberly Sheehan, chaplain/spiritual care coordinator, Odyssey Hospice, Nashville, Tenn.

■ Hospital

• Rebecca Brannon, part-time, Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Gainesville, Ga. • Gail Davidson, chaplain, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women, Orlando, Fla. • Scott Landes, CPE resident, South Texas Veterans Healthcare System, San Antonio, Texas • Wesley Monfalcone, Director of CPE and Research, Florida Hospital, Orlando, Fla. • Twyla Nelson, CPE resident, Anderson Area Medical Center, Anderson, S.C. • Willie Smith, chaplain, Mary Washington Hospital, Fredericksburg, Va. • James Williams, chaplain, Baptist Health, Montgomery, Ala. ■ Learning Disability Schools

• Billy Dunn, chaplain, Lufkin State School, Lufkin, Texas ■ Pastoral Counselors

• Robert Byrd II, minister of counseling and pastoral care, Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, Fayetteville, N.C. • Hobart Grooms, pastoral counselor, Samaritan Counseling Center, Birmingham, Ala. ■ Professional Organization

• Richard Foster Jr., Association of Professional Chaplains board certified chaplain, Lynchburg, Va.

CBF WILL SPONSOR four spiritual formation regional retreats in 2006 for pastors of the Fellowship’s partner churches.

Over the next year, pastors will have the opportunity to attend a two-night, three-day retreat in their region. The retreat is open to senior pastors, including pastors who serve as lone ministerial staff in smaller congregations.

The first retreat is Jan. 23-25, 2006, at the Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, N.C. Other retreat locations are Texas, April 3-5; Kentucky, Sept. 11-13; and Atlanta at a date to be determined, said Rick Bennett, the Fellowship’s Rick Bennett associate coordinator for congregational life. Each retreat can accommodate up to 20 pastors, with preference that pastors attend a retreat in their region.

Led by CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal and Bo Prosser, the Fellowship’s congregational life coordinator, each retreat will feature a third guest leader who varies according to location. At the retreat, pastors will explore spiritual practices and Bo Prosser experience a time of spiritual nourishment, Prosser said.

“But this is not just about content and information. We want participants to leave enriched and refreshed in the spirit of God,” Prosser said.

Pastors will benefit from this retreat because it’s an opportunity to spend some time in silence and prayer.

“We want to provide pastors with a place of retreat to allow their souls time to rest and rejuvenate,” Prosser said.

The retreat is a gift, according to Bennett, with pastors only financially responsible for transportation to the event and the purchase of books that will enhance the retreat experience.

Registration is available on a first-come basis. To register online, visit www.thefellowship.info/CL/FF/ TrainingEvents/Registration.icm.

LEARN – For more information, contact Rick Bennett at (770) 220-1605 or rbennett@thefellowship.info.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

4

Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University — Scott Davis Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond — Josh Baumgardner, Laurie Baumgardner, Casey Callahan, Sam Duenckel, Amanda Hambrick, Renee Kenley, Elizabeth Lott, Susan Reed, Kim Siegenthaler Campbell University Divinity School — Joel Baucom, Mary Hollings, Brian Johnson, Emily Johnson, Kelly Rhodes, Laura Roach, Christina Suggs, Charles Walker, Al Whitehouse Jr. Candler School of Theology, Emory University — Sarah Doeppner, Michael Goodman, Erin Hall, Chad McGinnis Central Baptist Theological Seminary — Patrick Hill, Tammy Jackson, Dawna Payne-Watkins Duke Divinity School — Ben Boswell, Adrienne Denson, Brian Edmonds, Brian Harrington, John Thompson M. Christopher White School of Divinity, Gardner-Webb University — Josh Apple, Cecelia Beck, Jamye Duncan, Terry Honeycutt, Martha Kearse, Lamont Littlejohn, Brandon Moore, Kathy Naish, Janie Toy Logsdon School of Theology, Hardin-Simmons University — Dan Bullock, Robert Manley III, Josh Reglin, Alex Riggs, Meredith Stone McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University — Patrick DeVane, Rebekah Duke, Ron Handlon, Jeff Howard, Gigi Kerr, Jennifer McClung, Cody Sanders, Eric Wickman, Angela Yarber George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University — Kelly Bain, Josh Brewer, Casondra Brown, Graham Cook, Katie Homiak, Jaime McGlothlin, Jon Polk, Jon Mark Shillington, Emily Womack Wake Forest Divinity School — Sarah Carver, Chad Crawford, Gil Gulick, Seth Hickman, Garrett Vickery

How to Respond LEARN – For more information about CBF partner schools, visit Leadership Development at www. thefellowship.info.

SERVE – For more information about leadership scholarships, visit www.thefellowship.info/Church Life/ Leadership Development/Theological Education/Scholarships.icm.

C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P

B

alancing classes and homework, a job, and personal

such amazing potential that excites me,” DeVane said. relationships can lead to a hectic schedule for today’s students.

Rhodes’ love for serving in the church With this type of juggling act, scholarship money for theology school and working with youth comes, not only from her sense of call, but from a long becomes a prized resource. history of Sunday school, youth services ambitions of earning a master’s degree in “By knowing that the financial burden and mission trips at her home church, First business administration, while completof schooling was taken care of, I knew I Baptist Church of Southern Pines, N.C. ing her M.Div. with a concentration in could have the freedom to pick the minBut Rhodes’ role in the church has Christian education. Along with her school istry opportunity that was right for me,” changed. She fills the role of minister when said CBF leadership scholarship recipient she has time to volunteer. DurPatrick DeVane. ing school semesters, Rhodes DeVane is finishing a M.Div. degree has little time for anything but at Mercer University’s McAfee School school work. However, she was of Theology in Atlanta this semester, able to squeeze in an interim and pastoring a church. DeVane started youth minister position from serving as pastor full time at Pine Grove January to May at First Baptist Baptist Church in June and his wife, Church of Raleigh, N.C. Megan, was hired as the youth minister Rhodes and DeVane are shortly after. thankful for the CBF scholarship.

“We actually didn’t look for a place “Through a continuing partnerCBF leadership scholar Kelly Rhodes, right, interacts with Camp where we could both minister together,” ship with CBF, I will have resources Mundo Vista staffers Esther Shin, left, and Robyn Van Den Berg at the DeVane said. “It was totally a God thing. and a network of people that I will North Carolina Baptist Student Union Fall Conference in Charlotte, N.C. As the pastor search committee was talking meet that will allow me to have a work, she is fostering a passion for youth to me, the youth minister resigned.” more effective ministry,” Rhodes said. ministry.

This year, the Fellowship provided a “CBF is committed to developing lead“I hope that when I have a youth group $5,000 scholarship to 71 students at partner ers for congregations,” said the Fellowship’s of my own, full time, I can begin to move schools. The scholarship includes $2,000 coordinator for leadership development in that direction of really making and for each semester’s school expenses, and Terry Hamrick. “Our scholarship program equipping disciples,” Rhodes said. $1,000 to attend the General Assembly. is investing in the persons who are called to Both DeVane and Rhodes share a pasLeadership scholar Kelly Rhodes is a be those leaders.” f! sion for the church. second-year student at Campbell Univer“Church and community in church hold sity Divinity School in North Carolina with

By Courtney Hodges, CBF Communications Courtesy of Kelly Rhodes

Baptist Seminary of Kentucky — Jeremy Colliver, Bert Montgomery, Crystal Shepherd

CBF leadership scholarships help ease burden of school life

Vestal challenges students at Campbell’s 10th The 10th year will mark additional miledivinity school received full accreditation CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY Divinity stones for the school. The school has more from the largest accrediting body in the School celebrated its 10th anniversary with than 300 scholarships and an endowment world after only six years. a review of its heritage and a challenge for of $14.2 million. In addithe future in the fall 2005 tion, another $2 million Covenant and Commishas been given toward a sioning Service. university chapel which will Daniel Vestal, keynote be built next door to Taylor speaker and CBF coordinaHall of Religion where the tor, commended the school Divinity School is housed. on its vitality and vibrance “The school opened a and reminded the students year earlier than planned, that the growing disparity in 1996, and has been setbetween the “haves” and ting records ever since,” the “have-nots” is “our said Michael G. Cogdill, problem.” founding dean of the school.

He told the 45 new stu“The founding vision to be dents and the 600 other Christ-centered, Bible-based students and guests that Campbell University Divinity School CBF leadership scholars, students and faculty meet with CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal, center back row. From left: (back row) Brian Johnson, Matt and ministry-focused is still “God is in Christ reconcilSuggs, Dean Michael G. Cogdill, Daniel Vestal, Eric Freeman, Charles Walker, Joel Baucom; the guiding principle of the ing the world to Himself. (front row) Laura Roach, Emily Johnson, Christina Suggs, Kelly Rhodes and Cokie Westfall. divinity school. Jesus Christ God is on a mission. is what brings us together, what keeps us Enrollment exceeded 200 in the fall of “God invites us to participate in His together and will help us continue.” f!

2004, including 13 students in the charter mission,” Vestal added. “He is a missional class of the doctor of ministry program. In God who enables us to be a missional LEARN – For more information about May 2005, the number of graduates surpeople.”

Campbell University Divinity School, visit passed 200. The school graduated its first In addition to the challenge from Vestal, www.campbell.edu/divinity/. class in 1998 with two. Graduates are servthe new students heard about the growth ing in 15 states and seven countries around that the school has experienced in its first

By Irma Duke, Campbell University Divinity the world. nine years. Opening its doors in 1996, the School Communications Courtesy of Campbell Divinity School

CBF leadership scholars

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

CBF Leadership Scholarships

|

Ve s t a l C h a l l e n g e s S t u d e n t s

|

Leadership Scholars

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

5

Volunteers commemorate Sept. 11 with service projects

I

n Georgia, volunteers cleaned a homeless shelter. In Oklahoma, they prepared a meal at the Salvation Army. In North Carolina, they

helped with Habitat for Humanity projects.

Courtesy Bryn Bagby

two Habitat for Humanity houses outside Across the nation Sept. 10, hundreds of Siler City. They placed siding, primed walls CBF young leaders and friends participated and did construction cleanup. in the 11-on-11 day of service sponsored The work day illustrated how, in the

by Current, the Fellowship’s young leaders aftermath of a destructive act like Sept. network. The event honors Sept. 11 victims 11, Christians have opportunities to be through missions projects held in at least 11 locations. This year, 14 projects took place.

Thirteen people volunteered at The Shepherd’s Center, the Atlanta Union Mission’s homeless shelter for men.

The group cleaned bathrooms and sleeping rooms, organized the library and picked up trash from the grounds.

Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond students Bryan Maupin, left, and In Shawnee, Joshua Bair spruce up the landscaping in front of Synergeo, Inc., a non-profit Okla., approxiorganization located in the Richmond area inner city. mately 15 youth “instruments of God’s grace, peace and and adults from First Baptist Church of building up,” said project coordinator Tyler Shawnee served a meal to 60 people at a Gillespie, a Duke Divinity School student. local Salvation Army.

Other 11-on-11 projects included …

In North Carolina, 15 Raleigh-Durham • Alabama: work in Perry County, a rural area Baptists — divinity school students poverty initiative ministry site, at a from Duke and Campbell universities and Hurricane Katrina evacuee shelter area ministers and laypeople — worked on

Class Notes: News from partner schools ■ Baptist Theological Seminary

• Florida: work with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando; building wheelchair ramps for a Tallahassee independent living center • Kentucky: joint service projects alongside Lexington-area Muslims • Missouri: providing a meal and doing lawn work at a Kansas City-area battered women’s shelter • North Carolina: 11 church-wide service projects in Salisbury by First Baptist Church • Tennessee: apartment cleaning for a Knoxville HIV/AIDS patient and yard cleanup for an elderly woman by West Hills Baptist Church; sorting clothes for Hurricane Katrina evacuees by First Baptist Church of Knoxville; yard work for a local elderly mother and daughter; and loading Hurricane Katrina relief supplies by Signal Mountain Baptist Church • Texas: house painting in Waco • Virginia: yard and building projects at Synergeo, a Richmond nonprofit organization; clothes closet work at Tabernacle Baptist Church, Richmond.

11-on-11 was sponsored by several CBF state and regional organizations, CBF partner theology schools and the Church Benefits Board. f!

LEARN – For more about Current, visit www.thefellowship.info/current.

By contributing Melanie Kieve, Alabaster, Ala.

at Richmond The seminary held its 15th annual convocation and accepted 40 new students, as well as returning faculty and staff. BTSR also began renovations on Virginia Hall and Kraemer Dormitory. Renovations will include state-of-the-art instructional facilities, improved workspace, office space, handicap accessibility and living space for married couples.

■ Campbell University Divinity

School Steve Harmon, associate professor of Christian theology, was elected vice chair of the Doctrine and Interchurch Cooperation Commission for the Baptist World Alliance. His term will last from 2005-2010.

■ International Baptist

Theological Seminary IBTS hosted the annual meeting of the European Baptist Federation Council recently. Baptist churches from Iraq and Kosovo were welcomed as new members of the EBF. ■ Truett Theological Seminary,

Baylor University The seminary hosted the second annual Black Preachers’ Conference in September with the theme “Celebrating the Art of Black Preaching.” The Parchman Endowed Lectures in October featured Eugene Peterson, author of 27 books on various aspects of spiritual theology including “The Message.”

Cooperative Student Fellowship groups expand in South Carolina

Vo l u n t e e r s C o m m e m o r a t e 9 / 1 1

|

of Jesus,” Farry said.

In Rock Hill, Oakland Baptist Church hired David Brown as associate minister to students early in 2005 and he has just begun CSF at Winthrop University.

“We began this semester with weeknight meals and Bible study, and will grow into more of a creative worship format,” he said.

“I hope that the group will Cooperative Student Fellowship participants, l-r, Casey Munn, Laura Tyner, Janet Ownley and Phillip Reynolds gather during a CSF retreat at a become strongly studentcamp in the northern part of Greenville County, S.C. led, both discipleship and an intern with Clemson CSF this year. mission-focused, and open “One of our main goals from the very to all sorts of students — women and beginning was to make people feel men, Baptist and otherwise.” welcome and accepted, and I think we “I finally feel like I have found an do that.” organization that doesn’t force things “Timing is everything,” said Tim on me as a student or make me feel Willis, who became minister to students uncomfortable,” said Calloway, a at First Baptist Clemson a year ago after member of Fernwood Baptist Church working for many years as the Baptist in Spartanburg, S.C., who will work as

Student Fellowships in S.C.

Courtesy David Brown

IF YOU’VE RUN OUT of food, you’ve had a good night at the Cooperative Student Fellowship meeting. That’s just one way graduate student John Calloway measures the success of CSF as it moves into its second full year at First Baptist Church in Clemson, S.C. “We always buy more than enough food so when it runs out, something is going right,” said Calloway, a member of the planning team for CSF since it was organized as an alternative to traditional Baptist campus ministry at Clemson University more than a year ago. It is one of three CSF groups in the state.

At Furman University in Greenville, a group of students successfully got a charter for CSF even before a director was hired. Given that enthusiasm, CBF of South Carolina hired former pastor Joe Farry to direct the program beginning in August.

“I see my role as a facilitator as students explore their roles in life and their identities as children of God and followers

|

Class Notes

campus minister at Clemson University.

“Now is the time for CBF churches near a college campus to provide students with a Baptist perspective and option that has open arms of grace and mercy with an attitude that is inclusive, understanding and passionate about peace and justice.

CBF churches can be agents of change for college students searching for their spiritual identity.

“CBF will benefit from CSF groups because they can help students find multiple avenues for ministry, which in turn strengthens the foundation and image of CBF,” Willis said. “College students are searching for those paths of authenticity that will help them be the messengers of mercy for the next generation.” f!

LEARN – For more about this approach to campus ministry, contact Tim Willis at (864) 654-2347.

By contributing writer Sue H. Poss, Greenville, S.C.

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005

CBF DISASTER RESPONSE

6

CBF provides relief to those in need

A sign welcomes hurricane evacuees to South Main Baptist Church in Houston, Texas.

THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS with organizations around the world, the Fellowship helps meet the spiritual, emotional, medical, educational and economic needs of individuals experiencing personal tragedy and of the most neglected, those with the greatest needs and the fewest resources.

Debris and remains of homes tell the story of destruction in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in Gulfport, Miss.

Sue H. Poss photo

The Fellowship’s efforts to bring care to disaster victims is highlighted as part of CBF’s 2005-2006 Offering for Global Missions emphasis. Contributions to the Offering make it possible for the Fellowship to have CBF Global Missions field personnel respond immediately to tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes and other catastrophic events.

Based on John 6:35, this year’s Offering theme is “Famished Lands … The Bread of Life.” The Offering goal is $6.32 million.

Carla Wynn photo

• Pakistan: at press time, CBF had sent $10,000 to support a search and rescue operation that is underway after an earthquake struck in October. The funds for earthquake relief have been sent to Baptist World Aid, the relief and development arm of the Baptist World Alliance.

Carla Wynn photo

Some of the areas of the world where the Fellowship has responded include:

Left to right, Phillip Reynolds, pastor of University Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, Miss.; Steve Street, CBF of Mississippi coordinator; and David Harding, the Fellowship’s international coordinator for disaster response, discuss possible long-term relief sites in Mississippi.

• Guatemala: CBF provided $5,000 to help local Baptists in working with people whose homes were lost as a result of mudslides caused by Hurricane Stan.

Stacy Ahua, a University Baptist Church member, helps distribute relief items to the Hattiesburg, Miss., community.

• Cambodia: CBF provided drought relief by giving $6,000 from its hunger relief funds through Baptist World Aid for construction of 50 wells for domestic and agricultural use in Baptist communities.

• the Middle East: CBF sent $4,000 to help eight families of Gypsies who were recently forced from their homes because of an accidental fire.

• Haiti: CBF has sent $5,000 to World Hunger Relief, Inc., a Texasbased partner with a unit in Haiti, in an effort to help alleviate poverty.

• Mexico: CBF contributed $5,000 to rebuild four houses and make repairs to a local church that lost its roof when Hurricane Emily swept across northern Mexico in July, leaving thousands of families displaced when their homes were destroyed.

GIVE – Financial contributions to the Offering for Global Missions can be made online at www.thefellow ship.info/landing/giving.icm or by using the contribution envelope in this issue.

C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P

Carla Wynn photo

Compiled from reports by contributing writer Sue H. Poss, Greenville, S.C.

Roy Peterson, a member of Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark., saws a fallen tree in Hattiesburg, Miss., as a part of the Fellowship’s relief effort.

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

CBF Disaster Response

|

Offering for Global Missions

CBF DISASTER RESPONSE

7

Perry McCain, associate minister of music at Johns Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Ga., and church member Cliff Cordell load relief supplies into the storage compartment of a motor home bound for Mississippi.

Lisa Tran of Bayou La Batre, Ala., finds shoes at a local Volunteers of America distribution site at which AlabamaCBF has partnered.

Carla Wynn photo

John Evans Hudson photo

Campus ministry leader leaves bequest to CBF Global Missions THE LATE HOWARD BRAMLETTE left an indelible mark on the lives of hundreds of college students and campus ministers. He continues to leave a legacy of changed lives thanks to a $35,000 bequest from his estate to CBF Global Missions.

“He had long been a supporter of missions, and CBF became his favorite missions-minded place to make contributions,” said his niece Lynn Buchanan.

Bramlette, 81, died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease Dec. 30, 2004, in Tyler, Texas.

Ordained to ministry in 1951, his career was devoted to college ministry — first as a Bible teacher and Baptist Student Secretary at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos. He began working as a consultant in the student department of the Baptist Sunday School Board in 1956. After working as the director of placement and promotion for the Southern Baptist Convention’s Education Commission, Bramlette returned to the Sunday School Board as editor of “The Student,” an award-winning collegiate magazine.

“He was formative in shaping campus ministers and campus ministries,” said Connie McNeill, the Fellowship’s coordinator of administration.

In addition to being a popular speaker among college students, Bramlette was on the development council for Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. A noted writer and missions educator, he was in the first edition of “Who’s Who in Religion” in the United States.

“Howard Bramlette was God’s gift to the student movement among Baptists for many years.

Only God knows the number of lives he touched and helped shape.

Now, in his death, his generous gift to Global Missions will continue to touch lives,” said Jack Snell, the interim coordinator for CBF Global Missions.

Carla Wynn photo

GIVE – For information about making a bequest to benefit CBF Global Missions, contact Don Durham, CBF Foundation president, at (800) 352-8741 or ddurham@thefellowship.info.

Hurricane Katrina evacuee La’Kiya, 4, gets her hair styled by her mother Amber Royal in the shelter at Houston’s South Main Baptist Church. “She hasn’t stopped playing since she got here,” her mother said.

CBF Disaster Response

|

Bramlette Bequest

Sue H. Poss photo

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005

GLOBAL MISSIONS & MINISTRIES

8

“This has been one of the most exciting partnerships for CBF in Asia,” said Jack Snell, interim coordinator of CBF Global Missions formerly based in Singapore.

The ABGTS is composed of the Baptist Theological Seminary of Indonesia; Baptist Theological Seminary, Singapore; Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary; Korea Baptist Theological Seminary; Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary & Bible School Inc.; Seinan Gakuin University, Department of Theology, Japan; Taiwan Baptist Theological Seminary; and Thailand Baptist Theological Seminary.

In other action, for the first time in ABGTS’ history, the board voted to extend membership in the consortium to an additional school – Japan Baptist Theological Seminary in Yokohama.

By Lance Wallace, CBF Communications

C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P

A

CBF church start in Ohio is using culture to reach a new generation of unchurched people.

offers her skills as a pastoral counselor.

Meeting in a local movie theater and The church’s name came from the church’s utilizing creative media in worship, Catalyst desire to be a catalyst for change in people’s lives.

Church in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, aims to help Led by a team of core members called the people find and fulfill their God-given misadvisory council, the sion, particularly church has benefited people who have from the energy not traditionally and skills of its core gone to church. group. Within that “Catalyst fills a group are people need for a church with a passion that uses the for mission, outculture to reach reach and creative people within ministries, Thoms the culture. We explained. Creating speak a language a community of carpeople can ing people where understand. We Youth from Catalyst Church gather in front of the movie theater where the congregation meets. they can grow teach practical together in Christ messages that is central to Catalyst’s mission, she added. affect people where they live,” said April The church also hosts the Catalyst CabaThoms, the church’s senior pastor. Her ret, a musical and theater performance “dehusband, Christopher, also serves as a signed to draw people to the church who pastor at the church. Susan Driskell has couldn’t imagine attending church in their recently joined the leadership team as the wildest dreams,” Thoms said. director of young adult ministries. She also

The church’s energy comes from its core members.

“God has sent us a small group of people who are really committed to making a difference in people’s lives,” Thoms said. “What we have is a core of dynamic people who have a deep passion for reaching others for Christ.”

One of the church’s other features is specialized care groups that offer care and spiritual support in a small group atmosphere.

“They have been a very innovative church start. They’re reaching the not churched and that’s certainly non-traditional. It’s a very effective experiment,” said Phil Hester, the Fellowship’s associate coordinator for new church starts.

And the experiment is working, according to church members.

“They are truly interested in me and love me back,” said church member Diane Anelli. “We have become good friends, and they are my family.” f!

LEARN -- For more information on the Fellowship’s new church starts ministry, contact Phil Hester at (770) 220-1651 or phester@thefellowship.info or visit www. churchstarts.net.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

Field personnel reach out to Banjara in India, internationals in Brussels share their pain and relive those horrible THE FELLOWSHIP’S missions education curmoments of disaster. As time goes by, riculum for November and December 2005 tells many more of the victims are emerging the story of CBF Global Missions field personnel from their state of shock, and our team is who are working alongside the most neglected in India and Brussels, Belgium.

In India, CBF Global Missions field personnel Eddie and Macarena Aldape and James and Robbi Francovich bring living water to Banjara Gypsies as members of the CBF Banjara Gypsy team.

The Francoviches’ focus has been on Bible translation, media and training of leaders for an indigenous church planting movement among the Banjara.

Eddie Aldape, one of CBF’s field personnel, tells students at Baptist The Aldapes impact the University of the Américas about his ministry among the Banjara.

Banjara community through there to demonstrate God’s love to them.” providing literacy training, English classes, Through their work with internationals nutrition and health programs, along with in Brussels, Belgium, Butch and Nell Green starting new work among Banjara. Eddie seek to share God’s love in a predominately has also been involved with CBF’s disaster Muslim, immigrant neighborhood. The relief response following the tsunamis that Centre Oasis offers English classes and hit Southeast Asia in December 2004. social service projects. The Greens also Following is a short account from Eddie partner with the Arab Evangelical Church. soon after the tsunamis: On Christmas day, youth and a few adults at “We have been averaging 120 patients Arab Evangelical Church will perform a musiper day, and the genuine care being given cal that shares the significance of Christmas. by the medical team is impacting lives.

“We hope to be an encouragement to the While not treating wounds and illnesses, church and a witness to those visiting who they work hard under difficult conditions want to discover why we celebrate this seajust to touch and hug the people as they Craig Bird photo

Lilian Lim of Singapore was elected president and a Japanese seminary was invited to join the Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary in a historic meeting of the consortium’s board of trustees this summer in Bangkok, Thailand.

Lim, the first woman to be elected president of the 46-year-old seminary consortium, succeeds Chow Lien-Hwa, who has served as president since 1994. Lim had been serving as the chair of the ABGTS board, a position that will now be held by Chaiwat Chawmuangman of Thailand.

“We all look up to Dr. Chow,” said Lim, who was elected to a six-year term.

“He is the father of Asian Baptists.”

The former chaplain to Taiwan’s president Chiang Kai-shek, Chow was the first Asian to serve as president of the board.

“The philosophy of the seminary has always been ‘by Asians, for Asians,’” Chow said. “I am glad that this will continue under Dr. Lim’s leadership.”

The seminary consortium was founded in 1959 as part of the mission work of the then-Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Mercer University in Macon, Ga., stepped in with supplemental funding to keep the seminary functioning in September 1999 when the International Mission Board of the SBC pulled out.

CBF has provided support through scholarships and the work of CBF Global Missions Envoy Rita Mashburn, who has served from the ABGTS main office in Hong Kong.

Anita and Jack Snell, who have served as CBF Global Missions associate coordinators for mission teams for Asia for the past five years, have developed strong relationships with the leadership of ABGTS. For the past year, Jack Snell has served as a consultant for ABGTS and has supervised doctoral students in Singapore for the consortium.

Catalyst Church strives to reach unchurched generation

Photo courtesy of Catalyst Church

Asian Baptist seminary consortium names Lim president

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

Catalyst Church

|

son of Jesus’ birth. We want to tell the story so people have the opportunity to hear and believe,” said the church’s youth music director, Janée Angel, one of CBF’s Global Service Corps field personnel serving in Belgium.

This is Angel’s second year of involvement with the program. The multilingual musical includes singing in French and scripture readings in Arab and Farsi, which is essential to this multinational church, primarily with members from the Middle East or North Africa. f!

By CBF Communications

How to Respond SERVE – For information about supporting Banjara ministry projects or student missions opportunities, visit http://banjara. gypsyministries.com/. For more about ministry in Brussels, visit www.thefellowship. info/Global Missions/fieldteams/Intercluster/ IChome.icm. For volunteer opportunities, visit www.thefellowship.info/Global Missions/ Volunteer Missions/.

LEARN – Yearly subscriptions are $80 for the preschool and children’s curriculum (13 weekly sessions per quarter), and $20 for the youth and adult curriculum (one session per month). To preview a sample or order the curriculum, contact The CBF Store at (888) 801-4223.

Curriculum Connection

|

Asian Seminary

GLOBAL MISSIONS & MINISTRIES

9

Florida church embraces local missions vision

L

ast Christmas, Sarah Johnson drove along Parker Street in Lakeland, Fla., and saw the fruits of volunteer labor. A community

effort through the Parker Street Redevelopment Ministry resulted in area children receiving more than 4,670 toys, bikes and other Christmas gifts purchased by local churches and sold at discount rates to parents.

Worship service recordings sought for video library

50 people in attendance — sent more than 40 supply-filled backpacks to the ministry.

“Everybody really participates. They are very missions-minded people,” said Tom Cleary, who shares the church’s ministerial leadership with his wife, Joyce.

Lakeland Fellowship participates in other local missions projects. Church members raised $2,000 through CROP Walk, where participants get monetary pledges per mile they walk with proceeds going to local hunger-fighting organizations. Last year when three hurricanes swept through Polk County where the church is located, members helped with the Fellowship’s disaster relief efforts in addition to helping their neighbors.

“This is their heart. They are a missional church for sure,” Cleary said. f!

Photo courtesy Lakeland Fellowship

“Otherwise, there would be no Christity for Lakeland Fellowship since the church mas in a lot of these homes,” Johnson said. was formed in spring 2004. The church This Christmas store is just one way Lakeland Fellowship, a CBF partner church, has been involved in the Parker Street ministry. Last November, church members participated in an ecumenical cleanup effort that included painting houses and other beautification projects.

Parker Street is an approximately six-square-mile area of downtown that has deteriorated into one of the poorest areas in Lakeland, said Johnson, who is on the board of the Members of Lakeland Fellowship volunteer for the Christmas Store of LEARN – For more information Parker Street Redevelopment Ministry.

8-year-old ministry. Some church on the Fellowship’s new church members also volunteer once a week starts ministry, contact Phil Hester for an after-school tutoring program. has also been involved with two southern at (770) 220-1651 or phester@thefellowship.

“The school personnel tell us the chilFlorida ministries, Touching Miami With info or visit www.churchstarts.net. For more Love and Open House Ministries. Each July, about Lakeland Fellowship, visit www.lakedren seem to be taking more of an interest church members have purchased backpacks in school, and behavioral problems are getlandfellowship.org. and school supplies for children at OHM. ting better,” Johnson said.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications This year, the church — which averages 40Parker Street has been a ministry prior-

Global Missions matches grant for mentoring effort welcome them into the congregation,” said SOME ELEMENTARY school children in Virgil Gulker, KIDS HOPE USA founder. the United States had new friends this fall CBF’s involvement in the program stems as a part of the national KIDS HOPE USA from a partnership with Buckner Baptist program, which pairs church members and Benevolences signed last October at the We at-risk children in a one-year, one-hour-aLove Missions conference in San Antonio. week mentoring relationship.

Other partners in the proCBF Global Missions “Church members who matched a $7,000 grant gram include the Baptist possess the love and from Fort Worth’s J.E.S. General Convention of Edwards Foundation to life-changing message Texas, Dallas Baptist Assoprovide scholarships for ciation and Tarrant Baptist of Jesus Christ are being CBF partner churches Association. wishing to participate in asked to drive around the The Fellowship will help the KIDS HOPE USA corner, into the schools, match seven churches with program. Churches and the lives of children seven elementary schools in must pay a one-time the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and families.” affiliate fee, which covers where more than 179,000 — Virgil Gulker, program development, children come from ecotraining courses and nomically-disadvantaged KIDS HOPE USA founder support. Churches can families, according to receive up to 50 percent, but no more school district reports. Although the J.E.S. than $1,000 toward the fee, which varies Edwards Foundation grant must be used in according to a church’s adult membership. the Dallas/Fort Worth area, the Fellowship “Church members who possess the love has $13,000 available for churches in other and life-changing message of Jesus Christ areas of the United States. About $3,000 has are being asked to drive around the corner, already been disbursed to churches. into the schools, and the lives of children “This is a partnership the local church and families. This is a low-risk, high impact can be involved in, and CBF Global Misway for ordinary Christians to go into the sions strongly believes in empowering the neighborhood for Christ – to form relalocal church and reaching out to the comtionships with their neighbors and then munity,” said Laura Cadena, CBF Global

C hurch Embra c e s Vi si on

|

Global Missions Matches Grant

|

Missions partnership relationship manager.

The program targets at-risk children, who often struggle with reading or academic skills, concentrating, making friends and self-esteem, said Carrie Tracy, an educator and director of the mentoring program at First Baptist Church of Richardson, Texas.

“That’s where we help,” she said. “KIDS HOPE USA mentors can meet the needs of children through a faithful, caring relationship.”

First Baptist Richardson signed up for the program in January, seeing it as an effective opportunity to meet at-risk children’s needs, Tracy said. Even church members who can’t mentor can be involved through prayer. Each mentoring relationship has the prayer support of a church member committed to pray daily for the child.

Other Fellowship partner churches that have recently committed to the program include University Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, and First Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tenn. f!

LEARN – For more information, contact Laura Cadena at (800) 3528741, lcadena@thefellowship.info or visit www.thefellowship.info/Global Missions/ gmpartnerships/buckner.icm.

CBF PARTNER churches will soon be able to share their worship services with CBF Global Missions field personnel around the world.

CBF Global Missions is starting a video library of recordings from worship services at partner churches. Field personnel will be able to select recordings and participate in worship in their own language, which is the spiritual component some field personnel miss most during overseas assignments, according to Milton Womack, the Fellowship’s associate coordinator for member care/wellness.

Many field personnel go to small, non-English services, if they exist.

Home services are the only option for some.

“Imagine going three years without participating in congregational worship. The DVDs are a way they can just put them in their computers or DVD player and participate in a worship service,” Womack said.

While some partner churches offer Web casts of their worship services, DVDs are best because field personnel might not have a reliable or fast enough Internet connection.

Submissions of thematic worship series are also encouraged, Womack said.

In addition to supporting field personnel, participating churches will also make a long-term impact, Womack said. “We will build a history of CBF church services that will be available to students of worship and preaching for generations to come,” he said.

The recordings, which can be submitted on VHS tape or DVD, must include the whole worship service.

LEARN – For more information or to submit a recording, contact Jeremy Lewis at (770) 220-1651 or jlewis@thefellowship.info.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

CBF Global Missions online catalog FOR ANNIVERSARY, birthday or holiday gifts that make a lasting impact, there’s a CBF Global Missions gift catalog that offers designated giving options in every price range.

The online catalog contains descriptions of the latest needs from CBF Global Missions field personnel. CBF sends a card notifying a person that a gift was purchased on his or her behalf. Honorary and memorial gifts can also be made.

The gift catalog is available at www.thefellowship.info/Global Missions/giftcatalog/giftcatalog.icm.

You may also call (800) 352-8741 to request a catalog.

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

Wo r s h i p R e c o r d i n g s S o u g h t

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005

INSIDE CBF

10

THE 16TH ANNUAL CBF General Assembly will return to the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, June 21-24.

Trevor Hudson, who serves on the pastoral team at Northfield Methodist Church in Benoni, South Africa, will be the keynote speaker during the Assembly’s opening night. Hudson has been in the Methodist ministry for more than 30 years, serving in and around Johannesburg. He has written seven books, including “Journey of the Spirit,” “One Day At A Time” and “A Mile In My Shoes.”

C. Michael Hawn, professor of church music and director of the master of sacred music program at Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology, will be the Assembly’s “Artist in Residence.”

A member of the Perkins faculty since 1992, Hawn was previously a professor of church music at two Baptist seminaries for 15 years.

Friday evening’s concluding session will include the commissioning of new CBF Global Missions field personnel.

Auxiliary events will be held June 21 and June 24, while the main General Assembly meeting will be held June 22-23.

LEARN – Online registration and hotel reservations can be made at the Fellowship’s Web site, www.thefellowship.info. A hotel reservation form is also available in the September/October issue of the “fellowship!” newsletter.

Council approves new constitution preamble — Continued from page 1

the coordinators of the three ethnic networks — Edgar Berryman of Jackson, Miss., African-American Network; Bernie Moraga of Albuquerque, N.M., Hispanic Network; and Yoo Jong Yoon of Dallas, Texas, Asian Network.

In his report, National Coordinator Daniel Vestal reiterated the theme of this summer’s General Assembly address focusing on global poverty.

Other items addressed during Council business included a report on the Fellowship’s finances. The Fellowship finished the 2004-2005 fiscal year with $24.6 million in revenues and an additional $1.2 million in contributions that were passed through to partners and related organizations. Total expenditures were a little more than $21 million.

For the first three months of fiscal year 2005-2006, the Fellowship’s undesignated receipts total $3.2 million compared to the budget projection of $2.9 million, nine percent ahead of the budget. f!

By Lance Wallace, CBF Communications

C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P

journey As We

By CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal

Katrina and CBF

SOMETIMES IT TAKES a catastrophe of biblical proportions to awaken our conscience to the importance of biblical values: justice, mercy, humility. Hurricane Katrina has exposed what we so easily forget. There is a great divide in this country and around the world between rich and poor. Hurricane Katrina has also reminded us that the face of poverty is all too often a face of color.

In late September, my wife, Earlene, and I traveled to Baton Rouge, La., where we spent three days listening and learning about the impact of the hurricane and various responses in the region. We went in a delegation of Baptist leaders: Roy Medley, General Secretary of the American Baptist Churches USA; Cheryl Dudley, Associate Executive Director of National Ministries, ABC; Tyrone Pitts, General Secretary of the National Progressive Baptist Convention and Jeffrey Haggray, Executive Minister of the District of Columbia Baptist Convention.

We were hosted by Dr. H.B. Williams, long time pastor of the New Light Missionary Baptist Church.

The trip was a memorable experience as we listened to African-AmeriElmo Winters, left, a Louisiana church planter who is program coordinator for Baton Rouge, talks with CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal. can pastors chronsaid to me, “I’ve been waiting all my life for Council about the work of “The ONE icle how their churches, most of them small, this moment.” As I hung up the phone, I Campaign.” I am hoping that the Baton were feeding, sheltering and caring for evacthought to myself, “So have I.” f!

Rouge trip will result in new synergy uees. We heard from elected and appointed and energy with other Baptist bodies to government officials, and we observed numobilize all of us in the struggle against merous ministries that were involved in impoverty. I am also hoping that Christian mediate and long term solutions. I left with Churches Together in the USA will several impressions about CBF. LEARN – To access Daniel Vestal’s serlaunch next year with a focus on poverty Our Fellowship is already engaged in mon from the 2005 General Assembly, “Being the Presence of Christ in All the World,” as a major emphasis. I have asked our ministering to “the least of these.” Indeed visit www.thefellowship.info/News/050711 Global Missions office to plan a “Baptist our commitment to the most neglected Vestal.icm.

Summit on HIV/AIDS” before the General is integral to who we are. CBF Global GIVE – Financial gifts for hurricane relief Assembly. But most of all, I am praying Missions field personnel serve in holistic can be made online at www.thefellowship.info/ that each of us, and all of us, would do ministries around the world using their Landing/Giving.icm, or mailed to CBF, P.O. Box honest soul searching and ask the question, entrepreneurial gifts to serve and empower 101699, Atlanta, GA 30392. Make checks pay“Lord, what would you have me do?” the poor. The Rural Poverty Initiative has able to CBF and write ‘’Hurricane Relief Fund Let me be so bold to say that the first captured the imagination and heart of #17004’’ in the memo line. thing I believe the Lord would have us do is CBF in ways few initiatives have. CBF has Carla Wynn photo

General Assembly planned for Atlanta

to repent. We have sinned by making poor people invisible and participating in systems that favor the rich and hurt the poor.

Let us ask God for “the gift of tears” and for hearts that are tender and teachable. Then let us learn. Why is it that more Americans now live in poverty than ever before? Why is it that in spite of growing global economies people die of starvation? These questions demand open minds that will search entered into a partnership with Buckner and struggle for real answers. Then let us Baptist Benevolences and the All Africa commit to community and collaboration.

Baptist Fellowship to help children in No one church, organization, business or Africa. State and regional organizations, government can resolve global poverty. It as well as hundreds of individuals will take all of us working and churches, are giving, praying and “Let us ask God for ‘the together. Partnership is not an option or luxury. It is a ministering with the gift of tears’ and for necessity. specific purpose of At a Saturday morning being the presence hearts that are tender prayer breakfast, our host of Christ among and teachable ... let us pastor offered an eloquent poor people. More than a year ago our commit to community and fervent prayer that touched me deeply. He conCoordinating Council fessed his belief that now was voted for CBF to and collaboration.” the time to fulfill the poor partner with “Call people’s campaign of Dr. Martin Luther to Renewal” to be more intentional in King Jr. He had been a colleague and friend advocating with elected officials on issues of Dr. King and was reflecting on the dream related to poverty. We are already engaged. of racial reconciliation and economic jusHowever, our Fellowship needs to be tice. As I was driving out of Baton Rouge, more engaged in ministering “to the least I called Dr. Williams on the phone and he of these.” I reported to the Coordinating

How to Respond

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

‘A s W e J o u r n e y ’

|

General Assembly Information

INSIDE CBF

11

Fellowship Roundup: News from CBF’s states, regions and national offices The CBF/GA church leadership academy was held Oct. 15 at Royston Baptist Church for participants in the Northeast Georgia area.

• Baptist Women in Ministry of Georgia held their fall retreat Oct. 28 – 29 at the Calvin Center in Hampton.

Alica Kirkpatrick-Bremer was the guest speaker.

• Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology and CBF/GA are teaming up to sponsor a one-day collegiate mission event: Now Serving: Atlanta 2006. The event is scheduled for Feb. 4 from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Mercer University campus in Atlanta. Registration deadline is Jan. 18. Cost of $5 includes meals and a T-shirt. E-mail Ryan Clark at clark_ ra@mercer.edu or Devita Parnell at dparnell@cbfga.org for more information.

• In response to hurricane relief efforts, CBF/GA Coordinator Frank Broome announced that CBF/GA has a volunteer housing coordinator, Carolyn Hale Cubbedge. She is focusing her efforts on pairing evacuees with Georgia churches and residents who are interested in providing housing. CBF/GA also has a partnership with Morningstar Baptist Treatment Services located in Darien. The facility was a retirement facility, but is now offering housing to orphans and mothers with children.

CBF/GA is also working to compile a list of licensed pastoral counselors and chaplains to make available to shelters who will be housing survivors in Georgia.

■ Louisiana John Daugherty of Louisburg, N.C., became the first full-time coordinator for CBF of Louisiana.

Daugherty, former pastor of Maple Springs Baptist Church in Louisburg, began his new duties Oct. 1.

John Daugherty “I am excited to have the opportunity to provide leadership among the CBF folks,” he said. The position, a consolidation of the part-time coordinator and missions coordinator roles, called for a person with a unique skill set. In addition to more than 20 years experience as

congregational staff, Daugherty has eight years of social work experience with children in foster and group care.

Daugherty and his wife, Phyllis, will reside in the Alexandria area.

■ North Carolina Nearly 350 youth attended the September Fall Retreat at Myrtle Beach, S.C. This year’s theme was “Who Am I?” with a goal of helping youth define their identity as Christians and as Christian leaders. Besides participating in worship services and building sand sculptures, the youth ministered for half a day in nursing homes, thrift shops and among the beach combers. Upcoming youth events include a January ski retreat in Boone, N.C., a children’s choir festival, two youth retreats in March and a youth choir festival. Youth ministers are invited to attend the Youth Minister’s Retreat February 20-23. John D. Hendrix, retired professor of Christian education at Southern Seminary, will be the worship leader. Breakouts relevant to youth ministry will include “Protecting our Children and our Church,” “When Is It Time to Move?,” “Developing a Team,” and “Nothing Never Happens” among others.

See the CBFNC Web site for more information at www.cbfnc.org.

■ Mid-Atlantic The Mid-Atlantic CBF has called L.W. “Dub” Pool to serve as its new, full-time coordinator. Pool started in his new post in July 2005, following the retirement of Ron Mallow.

Prior to coming to this position, Pool Dub Pool served as minister of education at Heritage Baptist Church in Annapolis, Md. He also served as Baptist Student Ministries director for 11 years at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas. He is married to Donna Dillard Pool, and has two daughters, Becky and Jackie.

The Mid-Atlantic CBF has begun planning for a missions trip in the summer of 2006 to assist in hurricane recovery along the Gulf coast. This trip reflects a commitment by MACBF churches and individuals to the long-range needs of this storm-ravaged area. For more information, please contact Dub Pool at dpool@hotmail.com.

■ National • CBF Networking Coordinator Bill Bruster has announced his retirement effective Dec. 31, 2005. On board with the Fellowship from its inception, Bruster has coordinated state and regional networks, interim Bill Bruster pastors networks and most recently the ethnic networks.

“You’ve enriched my life in wonderful ways, and I can’t end this without saying thanks to (former coordinator) Cecil (Sherman) and Daniel for giving me this opportunity,” Bruster told the CBF Coordinating Council during its recent meeting.

• CBF employees marking 5-year employment anniversaries include Charlotte Taylor and Lisa Jones.

• Is your church listed on the online CBF Church Locator? If not, send us

Coming Attractions MARCH 6-8 True Survivor VI Providence Baptist Church, Daniel Island (Charleston), S.C. Gathering for Christian educators Cost: $50 Contact: Toni Draper, (800) 352-8741, tdraper@thefellowship.info Info: www.thefellowship.info/CL/FF/TrainingEvents/TrueSurvivor.icm LEARN – For a complete schedule of events, go to www.thefellowship. info/Inside CBF/Calendar.

Fellowship Roundup

a message to request your church be included at contact@thefellowship.info.

Becky Holladay photo

■ Georgia

following up on the work of this team by helping in pastor support in at least one affected church. This meeting provided an opportunity for a general update on CBF disaster relief by Bill Bruster, CBF networking coordinator, and an introduction to Perspectives on the World Christian Movement by Deborah Cassel.

• “Journey to Peace” is the theme of the Oklahoma Women in Baptist Life Retreat, which will be held Feb. 24-25 at First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. Program personalities will include Kate Campbell and Grace Powell Freeman.

■ Tennessee

Beth Duke is a student in the first seminary class offered by Central Baptist Theological Seminary at First Baptist Church of Murfreesboro.

Duke, from Smithville, is a nurse, wife, mother of two grown children, and an active member of First Baptist Church of Smithville. Like many of the other students in the Murfreesboro program, she has a strong desire to seek a seminary education but is deeply involved in her community. Relocating to pursue a seminary degree would not be practical.

■ Oklahoma To meet the needs of students From Sept. 8-14, a team of CBF like Duke, Central Seminary has volunteers from Oklahoma and Kansas implemented a new paradigm for traveled to Gulfport, Miss., to assist in seminary education — bringing classes to students rather than bringing students to the Kansas City campus. The program began in four locations this fall.

In addition to the Murfreesboro site, courses are being offered in Omaha, Neb., Oklahoma City, Okla., and Milwaukee, Wis. Steve Guinn, associate coordinator for enrollment services at the seminary, came to Murfreesboro in August for an orientation and information meeting for prospective students.

In September, the seminary began offering two Master of Divinity courses at the host church.

The initial student body includes eight degree students and five continuing education students.

Volunteers Bryan Royse, front, and Chad Class members will be involved Fetzer from Northwest Baptist Church in online communication with the remove debris as part of Hurricane Katrina instructor between class meetings. relief efforts.

The Tennessee CBF facilitated Katrina relief efforts. The team included the partnership with First Baptist Chad Fetzer, Glenn Smith Sr. and Murfreesboro. TCBF coordinator Ircel Bryan Royse from Northwest Baptist Harrison serves as volunteer site Church in Ardmore; Gary Royse from coordinator.

Central Christian Church in Wichita, • Michael McCullar challenged Kan.; T Thomas, CBFO coordinator participants at the Church Leadership and member of NorthHaven Church Academy held at First Baptist Church in Norman; and Becky Holladay, of Knoxville on Aug. 20. “The church of whose parents are at NorthHaven. They the future will be inclusive, relevant, not worked primarily in debris removal and clannish, and eclectic. Most important, assisting two local churches to recover it will exist for those outside the church,” and minister to their community. said McCullar, executive pastor of Johns As a result, at the Sept. 24 CBFO Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Ga., Coordinating Council meeting, action to the assembly of laity and clergy. was taken to formalize CBFO disaster McCullar was one of eight program preparedness efforts with equipment personnel for the meeting that drew and training. CBFO will also be about 60 people from ten east

Tennessee churches. Other presenters were Mary Jayne Allen, Tammy Abee Blom, Connie Campbell, Devita B. Parnell, Bill Shiell, Frank Smith and Gene Wilder.

Fourteen workshops were offered for both lay leadership and church staff members. First Baptist Knoxville and Tennessee CBF sponsored the training conference.

• The director of Samaritan Ministry, a CBF Global Missions partner, was recently honored with a national award for his work in HIV/AIDS education. Wayne Smith, a member of Central Baptist Church of Bearden and director of the church’s Samaritan Ministry to HIV/AIDS patients in Knoxville, Tenn., received the National Ryan White Memorial HIV Education Award from the National Education Association. The award, given annually by the NEA Health Information Network, is presented to an NEA member who helps prevent future cases of HIV/AIDS and creates a safe and supportive school environment for students with the disease.

■ South Carolina Beverly Greer of Belton has been named coordinator of missions for CBF of South Carolina.

She most recently was chair of the missions committee for SC/CBF, and was minister of education for Clearview Beverly Greer Baptist Church in Anderson. She has resigned both positions to begin this new work. Greer also previously served on the national CBF Coordinating Council for several years, including a term as chair of the Global Missions committee. She will work for SC/CBF as a volunteer.

• Joe Farry of Greenville has been named director of the Cooperative Student Fellowship at Furman University, a new campus organization. Farry was formerly pastor of Parisview Baptist Church in Greenville. There are now three CSF groups in South Carolina at Clemson University, Winthrop University in Rock Hill, and Furman (see article, p. 5 for more details).

• Marion Aldridge, coordinator of SC/CBF, took a three-month sabbatical leave from August through October. The sabbatical was made possible through a grant from the Lilly Endowment. He spent one month in Belgium, where SC/CBF, has a partnership, immersing himself in learning French. He spent one month at a halfway house in Allendale; and spent the third month traveling to places and meeting with people he ordinarily would not encounter. Ginger Barfield, director of the Baptist Studies Program at Lutheran Seminary in Columbia, served as interim coordinator.

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005

Courtesy First Baptist Church of Tallahassee

C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P

w w w. t h e f e l l o w s h i p. i n f o

0510P009

could do it,” Perrin said.

TWO YEARS AGO, First Baptist Church Nearly 75 percent of the church’s Sunin Tallahassee, Fla., established a fall tradiday morning Bible study members particition that keeps growing. pate in the project, Wofford said, and parIn 2003, the church held its inaugural ticipation has led some to join the church.

“First Love” Day, a one-day mobilization The project has strengthened the church of church members for community service and “has been a real compelling factor in projects throughout Tallahassee. On Nov. what we are and who we are,” Perrin said.

19, the church will be in the community “It changed many of our members’ apagain. proach to missions from paying for it to Service projects accommodate every doing it.” age and ability level, from demolition and other construction projects to sending letters of encouragement to those in the church’s prison ministry.

“We get a great blend of people serving together and getting to know each other,” said Steve Wofford, the church’s administrator.

In its first year, the project exceeded expectations, involving nearly First Baptist Church of Tallahassee members work on a construction project during ‘First Love’ Day. 500 people in about 35 projects. Last year, 835 In some instances, the “First Love” people volunteered to complete 58 local service projects have lasted longer than projects. one day. At one federally-funded day care “We have a loving, loving congregation, center members worked at last year, the and when you give loving people an opproject needs were more than what could portunity to express their love, it becomes be done in a day. community service in Jesus’ name,” Wof“They all decided to come back on two ford said. different days to finish up and do different The project originated under the leaderprojects,” Perrin said. f! ship of Tom Perrin, who was then serving as chairman of deacons. Perrin modeled LEARN – For more about First Baptist “First Love” after Operation Inasmuch, Tallahassee, visit www.fbctlh.org. The book which he learned about during a workshop “Operation Inasmuch” by founder David at the CBF General Assembly in 2003.

Crocker can be ordered from The CBF Store Operation Inasmuch, a focused one-day for $18.99 plus shipping at (888) 801-4223 service project designed to involve every or www.thefellowship.info. A CD and tape of member of a congregation, publishes a Crocker’s Operation Inasmuch workshop can handbook, which Perrin purchased and also be ordered from The CBF Store. adapted to fit his church.

“Every Baptist church in the country

By Carla Wynn, CBF Communications

Florida church makes community impact through service day

Carla Wynn photo

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED (800) 352-8741

www.thefellowship.info

P.O. Box 450329 • Atlanta, Georgia 31145-0329

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Council revisits Constitution & Bylaws

1

Hurricane Katrina swept part of the roof from Grace Temple Baptist Church in Gulfport, Miss., scattering insulation and debris throughout the sanctuary.

|

Fellowship partners celebrate anniversaries

Story on page 1

2|

CBF scholarships help ease financial burdens

4|

Images of Hurricane Katrina response

6|

New church spreads Christmas cheer

Serving Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission

Fellowship Baptists respond to hurricanes

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005

COOPERATIVE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP | WWW.THEFELLOWSHIP.INFO

9|

f fellowship!

CBF