Volume 69, Number 4
Campus Newspaper of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary • Fort Worth, Texas
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
A LOOK INSIDE »
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Pitfalls to Avoid: Financial Advice for the Current or Future Pitfalls pg 4 » Minister
Preaching workshop untangles book of Revelation By Keith Collier | SWBTS
GET TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSORS: TERRY WILDER By Alex Sibley | SWBTS
Nearly 200 local church pastors and seminary students were challenged to overcome their fears of preaching through the book of Revelation during Southwestern’s Advanced Expository Preaching Workshop, Oct. 7. Professors at the seminary provided insight and tools into the apocalyptic conclusion of the New Testament and exhorted workshop participants to preach from the only biblical book that promises a blessing for those who read, hear and keep what is written in it. Southwestern Seminary President Paige Patterson, who wrote the commentary on Revelation in the New American Commentary series, spoke
during two sessions of the workshop. He noted that Revelation can be a great source of encouragement to churches during difficult days. “I know of no book in the Bible, maybe other than Job, that will assure the average parishioner more of the prospects for God owning the future and the present and nothing being out of His control,” Patterson said of Revelation. “The book of Revelation focuses on how bad the world is. You can’t imagine anything as bad as the world of Revelation. But not only does it tell how bad the world is, it also tells how great the Savior is and how His providence extends to all portions of our world.”
During his first session, Patterson addressed the genre of the book, which has been debated but, if understood correctly, sheds light on interpretation. He recognized that the book actually contains multiple genres, including letters, prophecy and apocalyptic tones. “It is a prophetic letter written at the end of the apocalyptic period by a fisherman who had acquainted himself extensively with Jewish literature and consequently knew about apocalyptic literature and borrowed some of the devices of apocalyptic literature because he knew that people living in his day would understand and comprehend it,” Patterson Revelation pg 2 » concluded.
Patterson answers rapid-fire questions during live Twitter Q&A By Keith Collier | SWBTS Southwestern Seminary President Paige Patterson answered nearly 60 questions related to theology, pastoral ministry, personal interests, and his views on the future of the Southern Baptist Convention during a live question-andanswer session via his Twitter account, Sept. 27. Patterson called the hour-long social media session the “Lion’s Den” after a similar ask-anything format he uses in chapel services on campus from time to time. Questions poured in from all over the country as people tweeted to @_PPatterson_ and used the hashtag #AskDrP to track the discussion. A
complete account of the Twitter session can be found at www.swbts.edu/AskDrP. Responding to the question of how he would redo the Conservative Resurgence differently if he had the chance, Patterson answered, “1. Pray more. 2. Much more diligently try not to see people hurt.” Patterson also answered questions related to difficult interpretations of biblical passages. One Twitter user asked, “If the temple in Ezek. 40-48 is a future physical reality, why does God put an altar in it when we are already atoned for?” “The problem is not just altar, but sacrifices. The nature of it all seems to
be memorial and significance,” Patterson replied. The Twitter Lion’s Den also exposed Patterson’s lighter side as he answered questions about his first date with his wife, his thoughts on Christian hip-hop music and his favorite weapon. When asked about his favorite dish made by his wife, he replied, “Prepare to be hungry: sweet potato biscuits. They are probably the original manna.” Patterson also gave pastoral advice. When asked what is most important in the first year of a new pastorate, he replied, “Preach hard, pray much, get acquainted with Patterson pg 2 »
Terry Wilder was called to ministry almost immediately after being saved at age 23. Although initially resistant, Wilder could not avoid God’s call. God even used power lines to get Wilder’s attention. “I couldn’t go down the street,” Wilder says, “and look at...power lines, with the pole and then the cross part -- it just haunted me. I couldn’t help but think of the cross.” Born in Dayton, Ohio, Wilder grew up in a non-Christian home, but even before his salvation experience, God’s influence was evident in Wilder’s life. “I had a godly grandmother I’m sure was praying for me,” Wilder says. “Just about every time I’d get a Christmas present or birthday present [from her], it was a Bible. Dropping a hint, I guess.” Wilder got involved and was even confirmed in a church down the street from his childhood home, though in truth he attended only because membership in the church’s little league baseball program required it. Though Wilder admits the Scripture he encountered at this church affected him, he eventually dropped out. As a junior in high school, a desire to be popular led Wilder, who had previously been a model student, to drugs, alcohol, and ‘other questionable activities.’ “I grew up in an inner city environment,” Wilder says, “so the opportunity for those Wilder pg 3 »
13 NEW MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS MAKE KINGDOM IMPACT By Keith Collier | SWBTS Administrators at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary have approved 13 new merit-based “Impact Scholarships” designed to assist students with specific backgrounds or areas of ministry. These new scholarships will be available for the spring 2014 semester. “For years, Southwestern has offered affordable tuition and will continue to do so. Now, we can also advantage the hardest working students in a way that communicates their efforts will be rewarded.” said Steven Smith, vice president for student services and communications at the seminary. “This sends a huge message to incoming students that we are serious about attracting the brightest students.” Ministry-specific scholarships include studies in preaching Impact pg 3 »
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Opportunities, resources abound for church planting
Patterson » Continued from page 1
By Josh Owens | SWBTS
the sheep, and meet their needs. No new programs.” As the Lion’s Den session ended, dozens of questions remained, but Patterson remarked that he would enjoy doing it again sometime. Reaction on Twitter to the ask-anything digital forum was positive. Southwestern student Phillip Box tweeted, “Pretty cool that our president @_PPatterson_ of @swbts took time to answer any question on twitter. #hipster #AskDrP
#lionsden.” Likewise, another student, Maggie Ledbetter, tweeted, “Loved the #lionsden with @_PPatterson_. Really appreciate going to a school where our president enjoys interacting with us so much #AskDrP.” •
B
FOLLOW DR. PATTERSON ON TWITTER @_PPatterson_
What is the state of the church planting movement in North America? Where are we, and where are we going? Nearly 100 current and future church planters met for dinner and networking at the fall kickoff banquet of the Fellowship of North American Church Planters, where these and other questions were answered, Sept. 20. Steve Lee, professor of church planting, and Clarity Thoreson, president of the fellowship, organized the evening focused on the church planting movement in North America. After enjoying a complimentary barbeque dinner, students from numerous degree programs heard of how God is working through church planting everywhere, from Texas to Vancouver, Canada. Lee noted the threefold mission of the fellowship: to promote church planting and raise awareness, to encourage current and future planters along their journey, and to pray for planters and revival in their cities. With this in mind, speakers involved in church planting spoke of the ministry opportunities throughout many different contexts. Richard Taylor, who serves as church planting associate with the Southern
Revelation » Continued from page 1
David Allen, dean of the School of Theology at Southwestern, discussed the seven letters to the churches in Revelation 2–3, which he said offer counsel and encouragement to churches today. “Though these are clearly seven local churches,” Allen said, “there is universal application to all churches everywhere.” Allen noted that if churches in Revelation are representative of all churches, then at least five out of seven have problems that need to be addressed. Often, he said, the solution is repentance. “Chronologically,” Allen said, “the last word of Jesus to His church is not the Great Commission, ‘Go ye …’ The last word is Revelation 2–3, and it’s ‘Repent ye …’” Steven Smith, vice president for student services and communications, addressed
Baptists of Texas Convention, told students of the network available through the SBTC. Afterward, Tarrant Baptist Association Executive Director David Bowman revealed the explosive population growth of Tarrant County and discussed the need for planting both at home in Texas and in metropolitan and international cities such as Vancouver, Canada. Ryan Ross, missions minister at Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church, explained the need in another strategic city, Baltimore, Maryland. Finishing up, Robert Webb, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Kaufman, Texas, encouraged the fellowship with details of a church plant project in Troy, New York. Southwestern is active and engaged in the church planting endeavor. Through strategic networks at multiple levels, church planting students can gain both classroom and hands-on learning; not just the theory, but also the practice. Current church planters represent the activity of the movement today, and future planters, like those in the fellowship, represent the church planters of tomorrow. •
the overwhelming Christology within the book of Revelation. “The book of Revelation is not explicitly a book about prophecy; it’s not a book about figuring out the end times; it is a book about Jesus,” Smith said. Smith shattered several common misperceptions of Jesus, saying that too often Christians focus solely on Jesus during His earthly ministry and neglect who He is today. “Jesus Christ is not a baby. Jesus Christ is not a hippie wandering a hillside. Jesus Christ is not a 33-year-old Jew dying between two thieves,” Smith said. “That’s who He was. Revelation teaches us who He is. The truth of the matter is that if we don’t preach the book of Revelation, people don’t have an accurate view of who Jesus is.” Smith explained that Revelation presents Jesus in his present, exalted state. The book reveals “how Jesus wants us to think about Jesus”—a glorious judge, a warrior Messiah, and a reigning King. Executive Vice President Craig Blaising, a noted scholar in the field of eschatology, presented an outline of the book of Revelation and identified the central, recurring theme as “Jesus is coming.” “No matter how dreary things are, no matter how bad they become, no matter who rises up, and no matter how deeply entrenched evil is,” Blaising said, “He is coming, and He is going to change everything.” Patterson concluded the oneday workshop with an exposition of Revelation 17. While 16th-century
Reformers like Luther, Calvin and the Anabaptists identified the woman in the chapter as the Roman Catholic Church, Patterson takes a different approach. “I’m going to argue that he was talking about Southern Baptists … and Presbyterians and Episcopalians and anybody else who has the doctrine of Babylonia,” Patterson said. “Babylonianism is present in churches of all kinds and denominations.” In defining what he means by Babylonianism, Patterson pointed to Genesis 11 and the account of the tower of Babel. “Babylonian religion replaces Christocentric faith with anthropocentric faith,” Patterson said. “It replaces salvation by grace with salvation by human works.” “Anywhere you find a works-based salvation, you have found Babylonianism, and there’s a lot of it in the average Baptist church, where it is still believed that somehow what I do is going to make me acceptable to God.” As churches battle against this spirit of false faith, Patterson said, they must not lose hope. Summarizing the book of Revelation, Patterson said, “Don’t you dare give up. Our God wins this battle in the end.” In conjunction with the preaching workshop, Patterson’s sessions also doubled as lectures in the seminary’s annual Northcutt Lectures on Preaching. He concluded the lecture series during a chapel sermon on Oct. 8, where he preached on Revelation 12. Audio from the workshop can be accessed at www.swbts.edu/AEPW13. •
Southwestern experiences highest enrollment in five years By Keith Collier | SWBTS Southwestern Seminary is reporting the largest student body enrollment in the past five years, with a total enrollment of 3,259 for the 2012–13 academic year. In addition, the fall 2013 enrollment represents an increase of 5.8 percent over last fall. “Dr. Patterson’s vision to have a robust student life, high academic standards, plus some of the most innovative online offerings for theological education available, is paying off, ” said Steven Smith, vice president for student services and communications at the seminary. “We are thrilled by the number of incoming students, and also for the retention of existing students. The electric atmosphere of evangelism is so encouraging. We are excited to welcome these students who will be deployed to churches and mission fields to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” One area where Southwestern has experienced significant growth is with its innovative 36-hour, fully online Master of Theological Studies degree, which launched this past summer. In only its first semester, the program already has more than 170 students enrolled. Notable growth also came from the Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions as well as the College at Southwestern. •
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Wilder » Continued from page 1 sorts of things [was] there. So after high school, I kind of wandered around aimlessly without a real purpose in life…I was a hoodlum.” After this stormy period in which he alienated his friends and family, Wilder felt strongly drawn to the Lord, so he attended a service on Easter Sunday in 1980 and gave his life to Christ that night. Then came the call to ministry. “I heard a few sermons and there was this inner compulsion that God wanted me in ministry,” Wilder says. “I fought that for some time.” Eventually submitting to God’s call, Wilder obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Dallas Baptist University, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and ultimately a Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. “When I first got involved in ministry,” Wilder says, “I thought maybe God called me to be a vocational evangelist, [but] after learning more and discovering further my giftedness, I realized God had gifted me as a teacher. That’s the ministry that I felt drawn toward particularly because, the more I learned, I was burdened for pastors and their training, particularly in the area
of biblical languages and hermeneutics and interpretation.” Wilder boasts a lengthy resume, but most prominent on the list are his 13-year teaching position at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, followed by his three-year position as academic acquisitions editor for B&H Academic Publishing, a tenure ending in 2010. Most recently, Wilder joined Southwestern as professor of New Testament, and also became editor for the Southwestern Theological Journal. Stemming from his interest in New Testament, Wilder specializes in Greek. Regarding what students can expect from his classes, Wilder says “Students can expect from me the passionate conviction - and it comes across in my teaching - that the New Testament was written in Greek. God, in his providence and in his wisdom, chose that language to communicate his New Testament; and that being the case, we need to know that language well. “One of the most discouraging things I find is for students to just give up. A part of my job, frankly, is, when it comes to languages, to be a cheerleader - ‘Hang in there. You can do it’ - this kind of thing.”
Impact» Continued from page 1 and pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, chaplaincy, Christian education, and ethics. Additionally, scholarship categories include aid for females, the disabled, ethnic minorities, and international students, as well as specific aid for college students, campus employees, and students from particular states. One of the most unique scholarship opportunities is the Ministry Team Scholarship, which is designated for families in which both the husband and wife have chosen to study at Southwestern in preparation for ministry. Previously, Southwestern only offered the General Scholarship, a need-based scholarship available to all students with minimal criteria. The financial aid office has restructured scholarship offerings to now include merit-based and general scholarships. Merit-based scholarships are considered on a competitive basis, which means a scholarship committee will select recipients based on the quality of
applications, scholarship parameters, and other factors, such as GPA. Adam Mallette, director of financial aid at Southwestern, believes these new scholarship opportunities fulfill the intentions of the ministry partners who funded the scholarships and remove the burden of debt for students, which often impairs future ministry. “Southwestern’s Ministry Partners have been faithful throughout the years to assist students in their preparation for ministry,” said Mallette. “Oftentimes this assistance takes the form of scholarships that seek to encourage students within a particular area of study, background or ability group. It is our prayer that the new Impact Scholarships will provide a new platform to meet the growing financial need of our students and the vision of our supporters.” For more information, visit swbts.edu/ ImpactScholarships. •
Considering where his life began, Wilder says he is deeply grateful to the Savior for his wife and their two sons, his vocation, and the opportunities God has provided.
“Christ has really taken a mess of a life,” Wilder says, “and done something good with it.” •
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Pitfalls to Avoid: Financial Advice for the Current or Future Minister Tommy Kiker | Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology not been explicitly authorized to do so. And even when authorized, keep detailed records. I suggest you make copies of the receipts that you turn in and keep an electronic copy as well. Strive to make it obvious that you are above reproach with church finances. In my opinion, you are absolutely crazy if you or anyone in your family agrees to serve as church treasurer. There are just too many opportunities for issues and accusations when a pastor or family member serves in this type of leadership. We should cast vision for the use of church finances but not be in charge of the record-keeping.
Every semester when I talk to my students about the many pitfalls that ministers need to avoid, I ask them to name the most dangerous areas where a minister could make a catastrophic mistake. Inevitably the number one answer is some sort of sexual sin. As we continue the conversation, especially if I ask them to give examples of reasons why someone could be fired or asked to resign from a ministry position, the next common answer is mishandling of money. “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, … not a lover of money.” 1 Timothy 3:2-3. There are certain principles that ministers should follow when it comes to church and personal finances. The following are a few every pastor should understand. • Be above reproach in personal finances: The biblical qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 require pastors to be above reproach. How can you be above reproach in your finances? The main way is to pay your bills on time. Have integrity to meet the financial promises that you have made to those with whom you do business. • Be wise in handling church money: Never spend money where you have
• Avoid debt: Too many pastors are so swallowed up in personal debt that they are more concerned with their finances than with the ministry to which God has called them. I encourage every pastor to avoid any debt except for a house. Why do I do this? I have learned the hard way how credit card debt, as well as student and auto loans, can enslave the pastor and rob him of peace and power. I strongly recommend the resources at crown.org and daveramsey.com to those who need help in this area. • Don’t live above the average level of your congregation: We must avoid legalism in this area, but we must also stay above reproach and avoid even the appearance of evil (avoiding looking like we are greedy for money, or my favorite translation, “filthy lucre”). I think it wise for the pastor to maintain a lifestyle that falls close to the median income of his congregation. You do not need to live like the poorest but probably should not have a lifestyle equivalent to the richest member either. Ultimately, we must seek God’s discernment in this area. • Be careful when leading a church into substantial debt: “God has called us to build a new building, and we need
to step out on faith.” “We NEED more space, and God is leading us to build.” We must be careful when we claim God’s leading in any area. Many times, God gets blamed for building projects that He had nothing to do with. Here are a few specific rules that I embrace in this area: • Building debt should never be at a level where it hinders ministry. • As a pastor, if you feel led of God to take a church into substantial debt, then have the integrity to lead them out of it. I am amazed how many times I hear that a pastor has led a church into substantial debt, claiming God’s will in the matter, just to turn around and feel “led” to a larger church across the state. I would contend that they quite possibly missed the will of God in one or both matters. • If you inherit debt as a pastor, passionately lead them to get out of debt quicker than scheduled. • Wait to build until you have a substantial amount of the money on hand, preferably half or more
of the total projected cost. Do not give up on the fact that building projects can be paid for without any debt whatsoever. I can share with you numerous stories of how churches have been incredibly blessed to build as they go and learn to trust God in the process. • If you do borrow money, strive to borrow with the goal of being out of debt in three years or less. I have been amazed how quickly churches can pay off substantial debt in a quick period of time when they are challenged to do so! Remember, money is amoral—it is neither good nor evil—but how we use it can either glorify God and advance His kingdom or cause us and those around us to stumble. May we be good stewards of all that God has entrusted to us in our personal lives and in the ministries where we give oversight. •
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New book aims to help teenagers grow up By Alex Sibley | SWBTS Student ministry professor Richard Ross’ new book, Accelerate: Parenting Teenagers Toward Adulthood, teaches parents how to keep their 25-year-olds from aimlessly living in their basement. Below is an interview with the author on his motivation and hopes for the book.
Q: What motivated you to write this book? A: Three issues came together to create the motivation for this book. First, and most importantly, I want to see those leaving youth ministries walk in faith all their lives. At present, over half don’t. There are things the church can do to address that issue, but the much more powerful variable is the home. Second, every person arrives on earth with a unique mission, crafted in the mind of God before Creation. Lots of things are amiss when a 25-yearold is coasting and just hanging out in Mom’s basement, but the most important issue is this: he or she likely is not fulfilling that unique plan and purpose. That plan and purpose is the very reason for that person’s existence. Third, I value believers living in moral purity. All through the biblical period and the centuries that followed, the great majority of people married within three to seven years after puberty. The fact that adults who now fear commitment are waiting fifteen or more years is one of the major factors in spiraling rates of sexual immorality.
Q: Why should people read this book? A: If you just go back 150 years, parents mostly used approaches that resulted in young adults with a vocational focus, strong work ethic, and confidence
regarding marriage and child rearing. Over time, parents shifted their parenting approaches, and now we have young adults who are stuck and not moving forward in their lives. This book brings parents back to those principles that we know are related to moving teenagers to adulthood and related to giving teenagers a lifetime faith.
Q: Who do you hope will read this book? A: I hope parents of teenagers and preteens will read this book. I also hope church leaders, who want to champion parents moving in new directions, will read it as well.
Q: How long was the writing process from conception of the idea to finished product? A: Last February, I felt bombarded by bad news related to those leaving high school. There was more news about the “friends with benefits,” “hook-up,” and “oral sex is the new handshake” culture on college campuses. At the same time, I was reading that employers were having trouble finding young adults with a strong work ethic and the ability to work hard without stopping, even if the work is mundane and repetitive. But even more troubling was the discovery that only 10 percent of church parents are having conversations about faith with their children. All of this moved me to action. The book was released, in record time, in August.
Q: How can churches use this book to equip parents? A: Parents who read and reflect on the book will think new thoughts. But I see even greater impact when groups
of parents move through the book together. They can reinforce new thinking about parenting, and they can support each other as they make changes at home. I would love to see churches bring parents together to spend about five weeks going through the book this winter.
Q: Is there anything else you would like us to know? A: If you ask 25-year-olds if they are adults, over half [will] answer that they are not. They’re not teenagers, and they do not see themselves as adults. Instead, they are living in a Never-Never Land without an identity and without a purpose that moves them forward. Just over 40 percent of college graduates move back home with their parents. Economic reasons are not the central issue. Many recent graduates say they are not ready for independent, adult living. What if families that began earlier led to more children? What if two parents multiplied the coming of Christ’s Kingdom by having three, four, or five spiritually-alive children? Worldwide, those who walk in the light are not even reproducing themselves while those who walk in darkness are multiplying rapidly. Some who say, “I cannot afford more than one or two children” need to finish the sentence, “… and also have the best house, cars, and vacations.” It’s all relative. The book challenges families to invest around 30 minutes, twice a week, preparing teenagers for adulthood. In addition to family worship and prayer, we challenge parents to cover topics as diverse as creating and living within
a family budget, civic responsibilities, understanding insurance, biblical principles of marriage, biblical principles of parenting, the care of babies, car maintenance, etc. The newest brain research demonstrates that real-world, adult-like experiences accelerate the development of the prefrontal cortex—the thinking and controlling center of the teenage mind. Without those experiences, the mind still works in “adolescent” ways through the mid-20s. What if teenagers spent 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday at work or in apprenticeship or mentoring activities? What if some teenagers explored vocations by working for entities that reflected their interests? What if some were rewarded with modest pay and some were only rewarded by the experience gained? •
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CAMPUS NEWS NEWS »» BAPTIST
Rural churches still ripe for fulfilling Great Commission by Keith Collier | SWBTS Located at the junction of Farm Road 2229 and State Highway 6, the rural West Texas town of O’Brien would likely be missed by passersby if they blinked. The population sign reads 106, and the closest city, Abilene, is 70 miles away. Lance Rogers, pastor of First Baptist Church of O’Brien, grew up in Dallas and jokes that he initially considered the town “40 miles on the other side of the Great Commission.” But after a year and a half at the church, Rogers said the Lord is doing amazing things in this farming community. Prior to Rogers’ arrival in 2012, the church had not baptized anyone in three years and had withered away to around 20 people. In less than 18 months, they have witnessed an incredible movement of God, baptizing more than 40 and seeing more than 100 in attendance on a weekly basis. “It’s completely out of my comfort zone because it’s not what I’m used to,” Rogers said, “but I’ve never experienced what God is doing out here ever before in my life, anywhere. There are times when we have more in church than the city population. The baptistry is constantly being used.” This spiritual outpouring, however, has not come without challenges, the least of which is the adjustment Rogers has made from city life to a rural atmosphere. “Everything I’ve learned all my life in the metroplex has been a different way of thinking,” Rogers said. “Then I moved out here, and it’s a completely different world.” “If you come out to a small community with the mentality of ministering in the metroplex, it’s going to be a rough start. Even though I’ve been here over a year, we are still not part of the community.” Rogers noted that the majority of the families in O’Brien have lived there for generations. Soon after his family arrived, a 90-year-old, lifelong resident joked with Rogers at the local coffee shop that he was happy their family had moved to O’Brien so he would “no longer be the new guy in town.” Some in the church expressed concern that Rogers, like other rural church pastors,
would only be at the church a few months before leaving for something bigger. “I’m here as long as God keeps me here,” Rogers told them. Reaching People Through Relationships The longer Rogers has stayed the more he has fallen in love with the people and the community. When he arrived, he fully immersed himself in every possible activity, event and meeting in the community, including attending pep rallies and football games as well as serving on the school’s PTA and frequenting local restaurants. “I would just go out and build friendships with people,” Rogers said. “I started developing relationships without cramming church and the Bible down their throats. They know who I am and where I stand, and we talk about it, but we also developed a connection on a personal level. When God started allowing us to do that, we started seeing people coming to the church.” “I’ve learned more about people out here in a year and a half than I ever experienced in 40 years of my life.” Fields Ripe for Harvest First Baptist O’Brien is but one of many churches in rural communities and county seat towns that dot the American landscape. Despite population shifts over the past century from rural settings to large cities, great potential still exists for these churches to spread the gospel in their communities. “We have a tremendous opportunity to reach people because there’s not many out there doing it,” T.C. Melton said, who grew up in a farming community and has more than 60 years of ministry under his belt. Melton served in pastorates across Texas, including 30 years at Elmcrest Baptist Church in Abilene. He has spent the past decade serving in various capacities with the SBTC, primarily as an area ministry coordinator for churches in
West Texas. Additionally, he has served as interim pastor of more than 15 churches, many of them in rural communities. Although Melton said much has changed in the world since he began in ministry, much is the same. “A guy’s got to love the pastorate wherever he’s at,” Melton said. “People are about the same wherever you go.” Whether in rural or urban settings, Melton said, “If a guy will go to a (church) and plant his life there, the people will love you and support you. Wherever a guy is at, if the Lord put him there, he ought to enjoy it.” However, Melton acknowledges that unique challenges as well as blessings exist for pastors in rural communities and small towns. Echoing Rogers’ experience in O’Brien, Melton encourages and coaches these pastors to “adapt to a rural mentality,” including a strong work ethic and a commitment to developing relationships over time. “You’re the preacher for about the first four or five years, and then you become their pastor. But you can speed that up a little bit if they trust you,” Melton said. “In rural areas, you’ve got to build relationships. You can’t do much in a rural community if all you have is a pewto-pulpit relationship. You’ve got to enjoy riding in a tractor and going out and getting manure on your shoes and going to basketball games and senior citizen centers.” “I don’t care what kind of electronic communication you have, you still have to go where people are. This is especially true in rural areas.” Melton said one of the challenges in smaller towns is declining and changing populations. Many rural churches experienced booming growth in the 1950s and 1960s and built facilities to accommodate this growth. But with dwindling populations, these buildings can become financial burdens, making it more difficult to support pastors and their families. Thus, he sees a growing need
and opportunity for bi-vocational pastors in many of these areas. In addition to financial challenges, Rogers admits that ministry in a rural setting can feel lonely at times. Isolation leads to discouragement. For this reason, Rogers recommends pastors maintain connections with godly friends and mentors whom they can call to receive encouragement on difficult days. Rogers said his professors at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth have been a tremendous source of encouragement during his time in O’Brien. In spite of the difficulties, Rogers and Melton agree that the blessings of pastoring churches in rural communities and county seat towns far outweigh the challenges. Both see rural churches as fertile ground for the Great Commission. Melton said this often-overlooked mission field needs men and churches willing to trust the Lord and meet these challenges head on. “I can’t think of anything more exciting,” Melton said, “than going to a rural church and spending the rest of your life there.” Rogers, too, sees the fields ripe for harvest. He has witnessed a spiritual hunger in his community and appreciates the seriousness with which people treat their commitment to the church. “When they join the church, they don’t join to warm a pew,” Rogers said. “They join, and they get involved.” Having served in churches in the Dallas area all his life, Rogers said First Baptist O’Brien is the best church in which he has ever ministered. “I’m out of place and out of my comfort zone, but as long as I’m here, I’m going to make the most of it. I’ve met people out here and built relationships that will last a lifetime.” “It gets tough, but first and foremost, God is moving. God has been doing some incredible things. I think every pastor should pastor a church like mine.” •
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HOURS OF OPER ATION A. WEBB ROBERTS LIBRARY
SOUTHWESTERN OUTFITTERS
Mon., Tues., Thurs., 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Wed., Fri., 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Sat., 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Closed on Sundays.
Mon.– Fri., 7:45 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed on weekends.
BOWLD MUSIC LIBRARY Mon., 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. Tues., Thurs., 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Wed., 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Fri., 8 a.m. – 5p.m. Sat., 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Closed on Sundays.
SOUTHWESTERN GRILL Breakfast (Mon.– Fri.): 6:45 a.m. – 10 a.m. Lunch (Mon.– Fri.): 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Closed on weekends.
THE CAFÉ Mon.– Fri., 6:45 a.m. – 11 p.m. Sat., 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Closed on Sundays.
RAC Mon.– Fri., 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sat., 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. RAC pool closes one hour early. Call for lifeguard hours. Closed on Sundays.
CAMPUS CLINIC
CHURCH - MINIS TER REL ATIONS
CHAPEL SCHEDULE
God has called you to local church ministry, and Southwestern’s Office of ChurchMinister Relations exists to connect you with the churches where God may lead you.
October 22, 2013
On the Church-Minister Relations website, you can post your resume or apply for ministry positions at Southern Baptist churches through the SBC Church Connection. Through the Non-SBC Job Board, you can also look for non-church employment that will provide for you and your family while attending seminary.
ONLINE EXTRA» Scan this QR Code with your smartphone or visit swbts.edu/cmr.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Afterschool Fun
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Southwestern Music Academy
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Southwestern Music Academy
Mother’s Day Out program
OCT 18
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OCT 20
RAC Programming Swim Lessons for children 4 and older (Contact Tyler Durham for more details) | Personal Training by Landon Norton | CrossTraining- Fitness Times: M/W/F 7 a.m.; T/TH 5:10 p.m. Instructor: Jared Howard. Price: $20 for 2x/ wk. (evenings); $30 for 3x/wk. (mornings); or $50 for both. The price is for the month. | Swim Team WorkoutsInstructor: Julie Belflower. Times: M/T/ TH 3:45 – 4:30 p.m. Price: $40/month for one child (prices for more than one child can be discussed).
Homeschool Classes NCC Sewing
SPRING 2014
Applied Ministry Division Internships
SPRING 2014
OCT 22
One Magnificent Obsession 6 p.m. | WMC. Evenings of prayer and praise for the nations. Oct. 18: India; Oct. 25: Korea; Nov. 1: Vietnam; Nov. 8: Venezuela; Nov. 15: Kyrgyzstan.
Hymnfestival with the Southwestern Singers Robert Smith and Lynda Poston-Smith Guest/Faculty Concert
RAC
OCT 28
NOV 5
Women-Only Grindstone 7–9 p.m. | RC 150. Guest speaker: Elizabeth George
G. F. Handel’s Messiah
Southwestern Holiday Bazaar 9 a.m.—2 p.m. | RC. Sponsored by Southwestern’s Women's Programs and Metochai. Exhibotors must have a Southwestern connection (student, student spouse, staff, faculty). Examples of booths: Mary Kay, Premier Design Jewelry, homemade Christmas ornaments, handmade scarves, etc. Booth space is $15, and deadline to reserve space is Nov. 1. Contact: Women's Programs Office (P101 or ext. 3600).
Chapel Choir The chapel choir is a new offering for the Spring 2014 semester at either 0 or 1 hours of credit and is open to all Southwestern students. Contact: Dr. Leo Day,
Pauline Turkey and Seven Churches of Revelation Tour
RAC Party Packages
*Three Hour Birthday party package: $125 for 1 hour bounce house usage, 2 hours private back room rental w/ access to RAC facilities (pool, courts, etc.). $100 for SWBTS Students.
*Bounce Only: $75 for 1.5 hours of bouncing. $63.75 for SWBTS Students.
*Room Only: $75 for 2 hours of private back room rental w/ access to RAC facilities. $63.75 for SWBTS Students.
*Possible Extras: Extra bounce house: $35. Extra 30 min. bounce time: $20 per bounce house. After 25 children, additional $5 per child.
Metochai 6:30–8:30 p.m. | SBR. Metochai is an organization for student wives. Guest speaker for Oct. 28: Liz Traylor. Free childcare available for children 6 months through 6th grade. Childcare reservations must be made by noon Monday, Oct. 28. Contact women’s programs with questions or to make childcare reservations at x3600 or mbullens@swbts.edu.
11:30 a.m. | SBR. Speaker: Dr. Berry Driver
The RAC Party Packages The RAC now offers additional party packages with discounts to seminary students:
7:30 p.m. | RA OCT 24
Land Center Luncheon
March 7-16, 2014. Join Dr. Aaron Son, professor of New Testament on a 10-day trip visiting Pauline sites such as Ephesus, Laodicea, Colossae, Hieropolis, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe, as well as cities of the seven churches of Revelation. The group will also visit Istanbul (Constantinople) and Cappadocia. Students can earn 3-credit hours during the trip. Estimated cost: $2,699 per person, including airfare. If interested, contact Dr. Son at ason@swbts.edu, or attend tour information meeting on Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. in S-118.
6 p.m. | Gambrell Street Baptist Church
Riley Center Student Discount Students, their parents, grandparents and siblings can use the student discount for 20% off of guest rooms at the Riley Center. For guest room reservations, contact 817.923.1921, ext. 8800.
DEC 7
Paid and unpaid internships are available in churches and parachurch organizations. Applied Ministry offers elective hours of credit with these positions. Internships are combined with reading assignments and mentoring to earn up to three hours of elective credit. Contact: Stephanie Andrews, x4765 or sandrews@swbts.edu.
8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Tuesdays & Thursdays | NCC. Now enrolling for fall semester. One- and two-day programs available as well as drop-ins on a first-come, first-serve basis. New extended hours: 1-4 p.m. Information on prices and days at www. swbts.edu/childrenscenter. Contact: Shelly Ward at ext. 2970 or sward@ swbts.edu. FALL
NOV 7
Tuesdays, 8:30-10 a.m. You do not need a sewing machine to take the class. Art: Wednesdays and Fridays, 1:30-3 p.m. Art history and application daily. Cost: $35/month. Register by emailing Shelly Ward at sward@swbts. edu or by calling x2970.
Laugh & Learn (2-4 yrs.), Move & Groove (4-6 yrs.), Family Time (0-7). For more information contact Dr. Jill Sprenger at x3241 or musicacademy@swbts.edu www.swbts.edu/ musicacademy. FALL
RAC Childcare T/Th 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. | NCC. The RAC now offers childcare at the NCC for parents wishing to workout Tuesdays and Thursdays. Rates for 1.5 hour sessions: Walk-in: $3.50/child. Monthly: $16/child with $40/month cap per family. Contact the NCC at x2970 for more information.
Quality education in a Christian setting. Lessons begin Aug. 26. Private lessons for ages 5-adult in piano, voice, strings, organ, flute and guitar. Reduced rate introductory lessons for beginning piano and string students through age 12. Registration is open to voice, piano, organ and violin students. Ten percent discount for siblings and seminary spouses. For more information, visit swbts. edu/musicacademy, email musicademy@swbts.edu or call x.3241. FALL
October 23, 2013
Pastor Blake Gideon Senior Pastor First Baptist Church Edmond, Okla.
Mr. Jim Bob Duggar Commercial Real Estate Investor Arkansas
October 29, 2013
3:30-5:00p.m., Mondays or Wednesdays | NCC. Contact: Shelly Ward at ext. 2970 or sward@swbts.edu. FALL
Pastor First Baptist Church Nacogdoches, Texas
October 24, 2013
Call x8880 to schedule appointment. Weekdays: First appointment at 8:30 a.m. Last appointment at 4:30 p.m. Closed during lunch. Closed on weekends.
*All services are closed during chapel, Tues., Wed. and Thurs.
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Dr. Allen Reed
Dr. Waylan Owens Dean Terry School of Church & Family Ministries Southwestern Seminary October 30, 2013
Dr. Craig Blaising Exec. Vice President & Provost Southwestern Seminary October 31, 2013
Dr. Thomas White President Cedarville University Cedarville, Ohio
View Chapel Archives online: swbts.edu/chapelarchives
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7:30 p.m. | TA
*For all phone extensions, call the main line at 817-923-1921.
Key: : BH-Barnard Hall, CH-Cowden Hall, CMR-Church Minister Relations, F-Fleming Hall, FW-Fort Worth Hall, HHH –Horner Homemaking House, MC-MacGorman Chapel, NSC-Naylor Student Center, NCC-Naylor Children’s Center, PH-Price Hall, RA-Reynolds Auditorium, RAC-Recreation/Aerobics Center, RC-Riley Center, RL-Roberts Library, SBR-Seelig Banquet Room in NSC, SCM-School of Church Music, S-Scarborough Hall, TA-Truett Auditorium, TCR-Truett Conference Room, WBR-Williamsburg Banquet Room in NSC, WMC-World Missions Center.
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Wednesday, October 16, 2013
CAMPUS NEWS »
Wholly Bible: Why Genre Matters in Preaching By Steven Smith | Vice President for Student Services and Communications and Professor of Communication
Riding on the City of New Orleans, Illinois Central Monday morning rail Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders, Three conductors and twenty-five sacks of mail. All along the southbound odyssey The train pulls out at Kankakee Rolls along past houses, farms and fields. Passin’ trains that have no names, Freight yards full of old black men And the graveyards of the rusted automobiles. Preaching a sermon demands a lot of thought. There is the exegesis of the text, which demands quite a bit of time and energy. Then there is the exegesis of the audience. How will the listener receive what God has said? In all of this, who has time to consider the genre in which the text was written? This is where Willie Nelson helps us. The above lyrics are a simple demonstration of why genre matters. The lyrics of the song
paint a picture, and they tell a story. The picture they paint is of a train moving from the North down to Mississippi. As the song progresses, the listener feels the song. This is an obvious function of the genre of music as the musicians use the instrumentation of the song to help us understand the words. Now, you might think this is incredibly obvious, but think over that statement again, slowly. They used the instrumentation to help us understand. So, there is meaning in the genre of the music. As the lyrics talk about “fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders” and later “the rhythm of the rails is all they feel,” the percussionist includes beats that help you feel the words. Now think also about that phrase, “feel the words.” We know this intuitively. What we say is the message, but how we say it is also a message. When we read something, we practice oral interpretation. This, in essence, allows the tone of our words to demonstrate the content of what is being said. And this is the issue: the tone. To put these thoughts together: to make one feel the message is to help him understand the message. Therefore the tone of how we say something must be consistent with the content of the message. There is a difference in tone between the songs “Rock-a-bye Baby,” sung to the baby Saturday night, and “We Will Rock You,” sung Saturday afternoon at the football game. And this is the way it is with Scripture. When Scripture wants to rock us in the arms of grace, we have the affirmation of Psalm
23. The Lord is in fact our Shepherd. He is leading us. We know this from the lyrics of the song, but think about the genre. The genre of Hebrew poetry gives us a clue as to its content. Poetry is a wonderful medium to communicate the gracious way of the Shepherd with the sheep. Now think about Galatians 1:6-24. Paul is trying to rock the listeners out of their complacency to see the danger of a false Gospel. So he tells them that he is shocked that they are leaving the Gospel, and further, that anyone who leads others astray should be damned. Strong words indeed. The genre is epistolary, a letter. And the genre helps. The biting tone of the letter allows Paul to speak directly to the needs of the listener with no fluff or interruption. He just lays it out there for them. The bottom line is that there is meaning in the genre. There is not a new meaning or a hidden meaning. Not at all. However, there is a subtlety to the genre that reinforces the content of the words. In other words, the genre of the text aids in communicating the message of the text. There is meaning in what God says, and there is meaning in how God delivered his words. You can understand all the exegetical nuances of a text, and you can understand all the theological nuances of a text, and still miss part of the meaning if you don’t understand the genre. However, there is, I believe, a more important issue related to genre than tone. • This is the first in a series on preaching genre. Read more at theologicalmatters.com