Volume 69, Number 3
Campus Newspaper of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary • Fort Worth, Texas
Thursday, September 26, 2013
A LOOK INSIDE »
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Chocolate Connection Photos pg 4 »
Seminary team trains Florida church in evangelism By Keith Collier | SWBTS In the span of three hours, more than 100 middle school, high school, and college students from Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Fla., brought the gospel to nearly 2,300 homes in a nearby Tampa neighborhood, Sept. 14. The door-to-door blitz was the culmination of an evangelism training weekend led by faculty and students from Southwestern Seminary. In sum, teams visited 2,292 homes, which yielded approximately 230 conversations and 120 complete presentations of the gospel. As a result, six people prayed to receive Christ on their doorstep. “We wanted to do everything we could to go into our community and reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we really wanted to do something in partnership with Southwestern Seminary,” said Stephen Rummage, pastor of Bell Shoals Baptist Church. The team from Southwestern consisted of two evangelism professors—Matt Queen and Dean Sieberhagen—along with 18 students from the seminary. They trained Bell Shoals students on Saturday morning and led teams out in door-to-door evangelism in the afternoon as a lead up to National Back to Church Sunday on Sept. 15. “We chose Southwestern because we know that Southwestern has a hot heart to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with people,” Rummage said. “We know what they’re doing in their community around Southwestern Seminary to reach people with the gospel, so we wanted a little bit of that spirit here in our community as we seek to reach the people around us with the gospel. “I’ve known Matt Queen for a long time. He was one of my students when I was a seminary professor. I know about his commitment to evangelism and to personal
By Sharayah Colter | SWBTS
soul-winning, so I really wanted our students here to have an opportunity up close to find out what it’s like to be around people like Matt and like the students who are studying with him at Southwestern, who are sharing the gospel diligently, boldly
and through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Rummage was initially amazed at the size of team that was coming from Southwestern and the students’ willingness to pay their own way to fly to Florida and train members at Bell Shoals. Evangelism pg 2 »
International Church Planting Week focuses on Central Asia
Dean Sieberhagen grew up in a nominally Christian home and accepted Christ at age 11. When it came time to go to college, he followed the lead of his father and studied business and commerce at Rhodes University, later going on to join the accounting faculty as a professor. Not long after he married his wife Sandra, however, the couple became impressed that the Lord had other plans—plans that involved work of a quite different and difficult sort. “God began to burden our hearts for those who have never heard about Jesus,” Sieberhagen says. “We reached a point where we just couldn’t accept anymore that there were people who had not yet heard. So, God’s call on our life became to those who have never heard.” For the past 13 years, the Sieberhagens served with their four sons as missionaries in an undisclosed location in Asia, working to share the Gospel with an unreached people group who had never heard of Jesus Christ or His free gift of salvation. “[The Lord] opened the door to do the 2+2 church planting program at Southeastern Seminary and as part of that program to go with the IMB (International Mission Board) to an unreached people group in Central Asia,” Sieberhagen says. Sieberhagen pg 2 »
NEW D.MIN. DEGREE TRAINS MINISTERS TO ENGAGE CULTURE By Benjamin Hawkins | SWBTS
By Keith Collier | SWBTS Tents lined the seminary lawn Sept. 6 as the International Church Planting Week kicked off with a campout for world missions. During the evening, students and faculty heard from three College at Southwestern students who spent the spring semester overseas with the International Mission Board (IMB) and earned course credit as part of the seminary’s Hands-On project. The campout also included a focused time of prayer and praise. International Church Planting Week is an annual emphasis week coordinated by Southwestern’s World Missions Center designed to encourage students to consider the call to international missions and to provide information on how they can be
GET TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSORS: DEAN SIEBERHAGEN
involved. This year’s focus was on people groups in Central Asia. Missions professor Dean Sieberhagen picked up the week’s focus on Central Asia during a chapel sermon, Sept. 10. Sieberhagen and his family served for more than a decade as missionaries to the region with IMB. “I feel especially blessed,” Sieberhagen said during his sermon introduction. “I think you can argue with me as much as you’d like, but I’ve [been able] to do the two greatest jobs in the world—I’ve served as a missionary in central Asia, and now I get to teach missions and see young people go out and serve all over the world. I don’t know that there’s any better profession than that.”
Sieberhagen preached from Luke 19 on Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus. “Zacchaeus was trying to see who Jesus was,” Sieberhagen said. “And that is the question for every person alive today because we can easily talk with Muslims, or Buddhists, or Hindus about God—there’s all these generic words for ‘God.’ But it comes down to ‘Who is Jesus?’ And you have not done mission work until you have confronted people with ‘Who is Jesus?’” Sieberhagen explained that he has met many “Zacchaeuses” during his missionary work who have sought the Lord and been radically changed by God. “If any of you have ever met a Muslim who has come Central Asia pg 3 »
A new Doctor of Ministry degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary will train ministers to engage the culture and reflect the light of Christ in a dark society. “This is a time of real darkness in our country, and you have a lot of people who are arguing against God, who are arguing against morality,” Craig Mitchell, associate professor of cultural studies and director of the Richard Land Center for Cultural Engagement, says. “With this program, what we have in mind is to develop leaders who can speak not only to theological issues but also to political and economic issues.” “The Christian worldview relates to far more than arguments for D.Min. pg 4 »
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Evangelism » Continued from page 1
However, the church wanted to pay for the team’s airfare and to provide host homes for the weekend. “We believe it’s a great investment in Southwestern students because there are going to be things they experience here that will make a difference in their ministry and their life,” Rummage said. “But it’s also a great investment in our church, in our community and in our students right here because as they go out and share the gospel, God is going to change their lives and the lives of those they’re going to share with.” During the evangelism weekend, Southwestern students and faculty led teams of three as they walked the streets, knocked on doors, engaged residents with the gospel and invited them to church. Each team used a short spiritual interest questionnaire to open conversations and transition to gospel presentations. They
Siberhagen »
also prayed with residents and left a gift bag at every home. While some say door-to-door evangelism is dead, Rummage disagreed, saying it continues to be a viable method for reaching the community with the gospel. In addition to the immediate results, he said believers grow in their walk with the Lord through the experience. “As we go out, it teaches us to be bold in sharing our faith so that whether we’re in school, at the workplace, or with our family, we have a greater boldness and courage to share the gospel with the people around us in more natural settings because we’ve done the work going out door to door.” Professor Matt Queen agreed: “God still uses door-to-door evangelism; I’ve got the stories to prove it. “God not only uses door-to-door evangelism to see people come to faith in Christ. God uses door-to-door evangelism
to help hone our obedience and to help use us in those situations to be confident and bold in the power of his spirit.” As teams returned to the church for a recap and time of sharing, Queen told them, “I have a Ph.D., and I’m a professor in evangelism, and I hereby give everybody an A in evangelism for the day! “ “Here’s what I mean by that,” Queen added. “I don’t want anyone discouraged if you were on a team that didn’t get to go through a full gospel presentation. Can I tell you something? You succeeded. You really did get an A. You would have gotten an F if you had not gone out at all.” Queen encouraged everyone that God simply requires obedience and that He gets credit for gospel conversations and changed lives. “What you can take credit for,” Queen said, “is the fact that you were obedient.” Victor Flores, student ministry pastor at Bell Shoals and a Southwestern Seminary
graduate, challenged students to take what they learned over the weekend and carry it over into their schools. Each student was handed a gospel tract, and Flores asked students to commit to share with their friends. “If it just stays here, I’m not sure we’ve done all that God desires for us to do,” Flores told students. “So, let’s take it beyond here. How cool would it be if next Wednesday we’re hearing stories not just of what happened here but what happened after the fact as you took that one tract and shared it with a friend at school? That’s what we want to see—lifestyle evangelism as you are going.” As the weekend wound down, two middle schoolers approached Queen and asked him to pray for them to remain bold in their witness at school and with their friends. Queen encouraged and prayed with them, recognizing the ongoing ripples the weekend will make in eternity. •
who do not know about Jesus in terms of knowledge, in terms of passion for them and in terms of what the Bible has to say. Participation will be key as well, he said. “My classes are not just for information, but I expect [students] to interact with both me and the material,” Sieberhagen says. Additionally, Sieberhagen believes the Holy Spirit will move in and convict the hearts of students as they learn about the need for messengers to tell people about Christ so that they might believe on His name and find eternal salvation.
Sieberhagen says if he could encourage students in one thing, he would urge them to start going until God stops them. “What I mean by that is most students keep waiting for God to open a door, whereas I would say to them, ‘Don’t do that. Start going through doors. Try a door. If it’s not meant to be, then God will close it,’” Sieberhagen says. “‘But instead of passively waiting, actively walk through a door unless God closes it.’” •
Continued from page 1
“So from 1999 through 2012, we lived and did church planting among an unreached people group.” During the 13 years they spent in Asia, Dean earned his Ph.D., and later both he and Sandra began to sense that the Lord was redirecting their calling to the unreached people groups into the form of training others to go. Not long afterward, the Lord led them to Southwestern Seminary, where Sieberhagen now serves as assistant professor of missions and Islamic studies. Sieberhagen takes his role as professor and his job of preparing students for the
mission field every bit as seriously as his role among the unreached people groups. He says he looks forward to watching hearts turn toward those people who have never heard, much like his heart was turned toward them as a business professor some years ago. “I love it here, but if my teaching does not result in more people going to the unreached, then I have not been successful,” Sieberhagen says. In discussing what students can expect from his classes, Sieberhagen named exposure, participation and conviction. He said students will be exposed to people
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Central Asia » Continued from page 1 to Christ and truly been saved,” Sieberhagen said, “you’ll see that they get on fire, they’re excited. So, let’s go find them. Let’s go to the places where they’re waiting to hear. … The Zacchaeuses of the world are waiting; they and their families are waiting for us.” Other activities during the week included a missions information night, where career missionaries serving in Central Asia shared about their work and answered questions. Students also received information on Southwestern’s international church planting 2+2 degree program, Jump Start 2+2 program, and
Patterson speaks at Korean Student Fellowship meeting By Keith Collier Students and their families gathered for the first Korean Student Fellowship meeting of the semester, Sept. 12. During their time together, they fellowshipped over free Chick-fil-A sandwiches, worshipped in song and listened to a message by Southwestern President Paige Patterson. Patterson encouraged students in their studies and praised them for adding cultural diversity to the campus. •
the Hands-On missions concentration in the College at Southwestern. During a Central Asian cultural night, students drank tea and participated in an interactive learning experience that introduced them to customs surrounding weddings in Central Asia. A college night on Thursday offered additional opportunities for students to explore a call to international missions. Appropriately, International Church Planting Week ended right where it began, with a focused evening of prayer and praise for the nations and people groups in Central Asia. •
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D.Min. » Continued from page 1 the existence of God,” Mitchell adds. “It also relates to how we live. It relates to marriage and family. It relates to the state, the church, and economics.” According to Evan Lenow, Christians cannot ignore the prominent ethical and public policy issues of the day, such as homosexuality, abortion, euthanasia and socialism. “As we have found in the news events of the last six months, we don’t live in a vacuum,” Lenow, assistant professor of ethics, says. “We don’t live in a Christian bubble, where we can do our own thing and the world does its thing and it doesn’t affect us. We have a role to play, where Christ has told us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.” In order for ministers to prepare their “congregations for life in the real world, in the business world, in the corporate world, the political process,” Lenow says, “we have to be able to evaluate the culture, discern what is going on, and to a certain degree maybe even be prophetic of what is coming down the road, so that our people are not caught off guard.” Lenow says the D.Min. in Cultural Engagement will help ministers and other
Christian leaders train their people “to be prepared for what impacts them on a daily basis in the culture.” Made possible by a partnership between Southwestern’s School of Theology and the Richard Land Center for Cultural Engagement, this D.Min. degree will allow ministers and Christian leaders to receive their training without requiring them to relocate to Fort Worth. The program consists of two seminars, each a year in length, which include two-week classroom sessions in the summer and two, three-day conferences each fall and spring. During the final year of study, students will complete their dissertation. In the D.Min. in Cultural Engagement, students will have opportunities to learn about public policy at key governmental sites in Texas, as well as at Washington, D.C. The first year of this program will emphasize cultural engagement and the Christian worldview, while the second year will emphasize stewardship and political economy. To learn more about the D.Min. in Cultural Engagement, send an email to admissions@ swbts.edu or call 1.800.792.8701. •
Chocolate Connection
Ladies at Southwestern gathered at the Horner Homemaking House, Sept. 19, for the Chocolate Connection, a time of fellowship to kick off the new semester.
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Teenagers and Market-Driven Ministry By Richard Ross He summarized by saying, “Only about 10% remain what we called ‘committed traditionalists.’” To use the vocabulary of evangelicals, that means about 10% can express their core beliefs, can lead someone else to saving faith, and embrace Christ’s mission for their lives. Ten percent!
SECOND
Three documents have crashed into each other on my computer. Their composite message is both troubling and hopeful.
FIRST Christian Smith is the researcher who coined the phrase “moralistic therapeutic deism” (MTD) to describe the “faith” of most church teenagers. His seminal National Study of Youth and Religion research sent shock waves through the youth ministry world. A church teenager might express MTD this way: “God exists. He is nice and wants us to be nice. He doesn’t bother me about my life. But since I’m very special, He’ll show up whenever I call. But as soon as He does something to make my life happier and easier, He goes away again—so I can live my life my way.” Smith and his team of researchers have continued to research the students who made up the original sample. They have just completed Wave Four interviews with those subjects, who now are ages 20-24. Last week Christian Smith emailed me with the initial results. Even with their church backgrounds, Smith found that about 90%: 1.
“Know absolutely nothing about what the [churches] they grew up in believe theologically, 2. Have no understanding whatsoever of the ways that faith is not just an instrumental help but is something that might drive and transform one’s life, and 3. Think religion is totally about the basic moral orientation it gives (most of which they agree with but say they are not living by).”
Blogger Matt Marino has generated lots of conversation with his post, What’s So Uncool about Cool Churches? Marino wrote, “What is the ‘pill’ we have overdosed on? I believe it is ‘preference.’ We have embraced the idea of market-driven youth ministry. Unfortunately, giving people what they ‘prefer’ is a road that, once you go down it, has no end. ... In an effort to give people something ‘attractive’ and ‘relevant’ we embraced novel new methods in youth ministry, that 20 years later are having a powerful shaping effect on the entire church.” Near the end of that post, Marino says, “In summary, ‘market driven’ youth ministry gave students a youth group that looks like them, does activities they prefer, sings songs they like, and preaches on subjects they are interested in. It is a ministry of preference. And, with their feet, young adults are saying ‘Bye-bye.’ What might we do instead? The opposite of giving people what they want is to give them what they need.”
THIRD Writing in The Atlantic Monthly, Larry Alex Taunton summarizes a study performed by his Fixed Point Foundation. They conducted extensive interviews with collegiate members of atheist organizations that Taunton calls “the atheistic equivalent of Campus Crusade.” He found that almost all the young atheists had backgrounds in the church and in youth groups. Here are some of the conclusions of the study: 1.
The mission and message of their churches was vague. 2. They felt their churches offered superficial answers to life’s difficult questions. 3. They expressed their respect for those ministers who took the Bible seriously. 4. Ages 14-17 were decisive. For most, the high school years were the time
when they embraced unbelief. Taunton wrote, “Without fail, our former church-attending students expressed [much respect] for those Christians who unashamedly embraced biblical teaching. Michael, a political science major at Dartmouth, told us that he is drawn to Christians like that, adding: ‘I really can’t consider a Christian a good, moral person if he isn’t trying to convert me.’” Eric Metaxas adds, “Much of what passes for youth ministry these days is driven by a morbid fear of boring our young charges. As a result, a lot of time is spent trying to devise ways to entertain them. The rest of the time is spent worrying about whether the Christian message will turn kids off. But ... young people, like the not-so-young, respect people with conviction—provided they know what they’re talking about.” In the last two years I have read 60 books from the clearest thinkers in youth ministry. I have studied summaries of 14 research projects related to youth ministry. The major themes that emerge are these: 1.
Teenagers are transformed primarily through their relationships with adults who themselves are deeply transformed. Teenagers begin to live for the glory of Christ as they walk beside others who live for the glory of Christ. Baptist Press editor and youth volunteer Art Toalston recently tweeted, “Even middle school boys drop their silliness and tune in when Scripture flows from our souls.” 2. Teenagers are transformed through heart connections. The stronger the relationship is between a teenager and an adult, the stronger will be the transmission of transformation. 3. Teenagers are transformed by the Spirit through the truth and power of God’s Word. Teenagers respect and are drawn toward adults who joyfully proclaim with full conviction, “Thus saith the Lord.” The youth leader who spends 15 minutes preparing his Bible talk and two hours on a creative video might actually increase attendance
by reversing those time allotments. I celebrate any church willing to spend a million dollars on a youth building. It can be a useful tool. But no one should assume that’s the key to getting teenagers willing to live or die for the cause of Christ for a lifetime. The key is: 1.
Leading parents, youth ministers, and disciplers to fall more deeply in love with Christ and to transparently exude their passionate desire for His glory and the coming of His kingdom on earth. Who in your church is gathering parents and youth leaders with the specific goal of leading them into a deeper relationship and walk with King Jesus? How often do they meet? 2. To equip parents, youth ministers, and disciplers to know how to build deeper heart connections with teenagers. Busy adults can have life-on-life discipling relationships with about three teenagers. What is the adult-student ratio in your church’s Bible teaching groups? Who is regularly challenging adults to put down their lattes, leave their comfortable adult groups, and invest in the next generation? 3. To equip parents, youth ministers, and disciplers to know Scripture, assimilate Scripture, and confidently proclaim Scripture to teenagers. When your average dad pictures himself with his family and Bibles open, does he feel competent to share the Word? Who is taking the lead in equipping him for this role? When do they meet and how often? Churches that have depressing answers to the questions above—BUT have some great facilities, programs, and trips for teenagers—should NOT expect most of their teenagers to walk in faith for a lifetime. Facilities, programs, and trips have a role and they are a helpful supplement to ministry, but they are not the core issues. If we do not shift much more of our focus to the core issues, we will continue to lose most of a generation after high school. •
The Art of
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NAMB guidelines for military chaplains updated to address same-sex unions By Mike Ebert | NAMB The North American Mission Board has issued new guidelines for Southern Baptist military chaplains in light of the U.S. military's recognition of same-sex marriage. The guidelines reiterate Southern Baptist doctrine and the expectation that SBC chaplains will not participate in or attend wedding ceremonies for gay members of the military. “Our chaplains want to uphold the authority and relevancy of Scripture while continuing to serve in a very diverse setting,” said Doug Carver, the retired Army major general who leads NAMB's chaplaincy efforts. “We believe these updated guidelines will help them do that while still sharing the love and the hope of Christ with everyone.” The updated guidelines are being issued in response to the military's repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” and the U.S. Supreme Court's abolishment of the Defense of Marriage Act. The U.S. military requires all chaplains to be endorsed by a recognized denomination.
NAMB serves as the endorsing entity on behalf of Southern Baptists. The updated guidelines address four specific areas: Doctrine: Chaplains will be expected to conduct their ministry in harmony with Article XVIII of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000: “All ministries regarding human sexuality will reflect the historic, natural and biblical view of marriage as God's lifelong gift of 'the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime.'“ Pastoral care: The guidelines remind chaplains that Southern Baptists view all sexual immorality as sin that violates God's biblical standards for purity and that “Responsible pastoral care will seek to offer repentance and forgiveness, help and healing, and restoration through the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ's sacrificial gift of love on the cross,” the document states. Restrictions: The guidelines state that “NAMB-endorsed chaplains will not conduct or attend a wedding ceremony
for any same-sex couple, bless such a union or perform counseling in support of such a union, assist or support paid contractors or volunteers leading samesex relational events, nor offer any kind of relationship training or retreat, on or off of a military installation, that would give the appearance of accepting the homosexual lifestyle or sexual wrongdoing. This biblical prohibition remains in effect irrespective of any civil law authorizing same-sex marriage or benefits to the contrary.” Chaplains also are prohibited from participating in jointly-led worship services “with a chaplain, contractor or volunteer who personally practices a homosexual lifestyle or affirms a homosexual lifestyle or such conduct.” Pluralism: The guidelines acknowledge that SBC chaplains serve in a pluralistic setting but expect, under U.S. Department of Defense guidelines, that the rights and freedoms of chaplains will be protected so they may “preach, teach and counsel in accordance with the tenets of their
denominational faith group and their own religious conscience.” In addition, chaplains are expected to: “Treat all service members, regardless of rank or behavior, with Christ-centered dignity, honor and respect while assisting the institutional leadership in its religious mission requirements and responsibilities as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.” NAMB President Kevin Ezell expressed support for SBC military chaplains and emphasized the need for Southern Baptists to remember them in prayer. “For many members of our military— especially those deployed around the globe—our chaplains are the only pastors they have. That's why it is so important that they uphold sound doctrine while showing everyone the love and forgiveness Jesus offers. We all need to be committed to praying for them in these challenging days.” •
IMB’s Elliff laments Christians' callousness By Kate Gregory | International Mission Board IMB President Tom Elliff is concerned that Christians have become desensitized to everyone's need for a Savior. Christians pray for others' hearts to be stirred toward Christ, but they also need to pray that their own hearts are continually stirred by a deep burden for the spiritually lost, Elliff told International Mission Board trustees during their Aug. 27-28 meeting at the IMB International Learning Center in Rockville, Va. Elliff said he has a hard time sleeping after watching the evening news, not just because of wars, disasters and other tragedies, but because “every one of us has learned how to look at the most horrific things you can imagine and be unmoved by them.” “We've learned how to be aware of lostness but not be moved by lostness,” Elliff said. “We have a tendency when speaking of lostness to speak of it statistically.” But statistical overload, he said, doesn't equate those numbers with individuals in dire need of Jesus. Southern Baptist churches need to be
focused together in one sacred effort of pulling people back from lostness and an eternity separated from God, he said. “Missions is the stack pole of the Southern Baptist Convention,” he stated. “Missions is all about lostness.” When Southern Baptists give to the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, it isn't to meet a need the IMB has, Elliff stressed. It's to meet the need the world has for the gospel. Lottie Offering has fallen short Every penny of the $175 million LMCO goal is absolutely needed, David Steverson, IMB vice president of finance and treasurer, told trustees during his report. Southern Baptists' international missionary count remains under 5,000, a limit necessitated by the economic downturn of the past few years. The LMCO goal since 2009 of receiving $175 million within one year has not been reached. The closest the offering has come to $175 million was slightly more than $150 million in 2006 and 2007 and nearly
$150 million in 2012. “People ask, 'Why not lower the goal?'“ Elliff told trustees. “The problem is not the goal; it's not high enough. “We need to reach that goal just as a testimony of our awareness of the lostness of the world,” he continued. “I am grateful for every coin that has come, for every person that has sacrificed, but now is not the time to retrench.... There has never been a greater time for missions than this.” Hispanics engaging lostness Underlining that point, trustees approved IMB's launching of a new initiative called the Kairos Project to mobilize Hispanic Southern Baptists to serve as cross-cultural missionaries. They will serve in strategic roles around the world where their language skills and cultural affinities will provide greater access to reach others with the gospel. Kairos is a Greek word that means “at the opportune moment.” Hispanics are one of the fastestgrowing segments of the U.S. evangelical community, including Southern Baptists.
It is estimated that the number of Hispanic Baptist churches will double to 7,000 by 2020. IMB is seeking qualified applicants for the Kairos Project within the International Service Corps (ISC) category of missionary service. ISC terms are typically two to three years. It is anticipated they will serve in Europe, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia and Latin America. Applications to serve in the Kairos Project currently are being accepted at the imb.org website. Within the online application form, type “Kairos Project” in the box titled, “Type of Job Assignment Preferred.” Hispanics who want to be considered for Kairos Project missionary deployment to the field by the end of 2014 should initiate the ISC application process this fall. More information on the project is available from IMB initial contacts at 888-422-6461; email, initial.contacts@imb.org.•
GuideStone to add court battle against contraceptive mandate in health care law by Roy Hayhurst | GuideStone GuideStone Financial Resources has renewed its vow to fight the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive/abortifacient mandate, now looking to court action alongside efforts in Congress and before federal agencies. The need to fight arises from the Obama Administration's requirement that all employers who provide health benefits also must cover contraceptives. The mandate covers all FDA-approved contraceptives, including those that cause early abortions. “Our plans have strict prohibitions against the coverage of any of these
abortifacients that are out there,” GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins told members of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee Sept. 16. “And yet, [the Obama Administration] wants to tell us that we not only have to provide [abortifacients], but without cost to anybody that wants them. “But the truth is, we're not going to do it. We're in a fight.” Hawkins told Executive Committee members that litigation is the latest front in GuideStone's three-pronged fight to protect church health plans. More than 1 million pastors and church workers
depend on church plans for their health benefits. GuideStone also has been working with a broad coalition of religious denominations on both the regulatory and legislative fronts. Advocacy on the regulatory front yielded the exemption to the contraceptive mandate for churches and church auxiliaries but it did not go far enough, Hawkins said. The contraceptive mandate offers a narrow exemption to churches and church auxiliaries—including most Southern Baptist boards and seminaries— but not other ministries such as colleges and charities.
On the legislative front, Sen. Mark Pryor, D.-Ark., introduced the Church Health Plan Act of 2013, which would help church health plans regain some protections lost under the health care reform law. Republicans, however, have expressed reluctance to pass legislation that would offer technical fixes to the health care reform law as they say they are working to repeal it, Hawkins said. “We have a huge challenge preserving church health plans as we have known them for over 100 years,” he told the Executive Committee. •
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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 8, 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.
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.
ONLINE EXTRA» Scan this QR Code with your smartphone or visit swbts.edu/cmr.
*All services are closed during chapel, Tues., Wed. and Thurs.
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OCT 20
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. FALL
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).
NOV 7
DEC 7
Homeschool Classes NCC Sewing
Applied Ministry Division Internships
SPRING 2014
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 5
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 9, 2013
Dr. Jason Lisle Director of Research Institute for Creation Research Dallas, Texas October 10, 2013
Dr. David Allen Dean of the School of Theology Southwestern Seminary
Dr. Paige Patterson
3:30-5:00p.m., Mondays or Wednesdays | NCC. Contact: Shelly Ward at ext. 2970 or sward@swbts.edu. FALL
President Southwestern Seminary
October 15, 2013
ANNOUNCEMENTS FALL
Dr. Paige Patterson
SPRING 2014
One Magnificent Obsession 6 p.m. | WMC. Evenings of prayer and praise for the nations. Sept. 27: South Africa; Oct. 11: Cambodia; Oct. 18: India; Oct. 25: Korea; Nov. 1: Vietnam; Nov. 8: Venezuela; Nov. 15: Kyrgyzstan.
Land Center Luncheon 11:30 a.m. | SBR. Speaker: Dr. Dean Sieberhagen
Hymnfestival with the Southwestern Singers
Robert Smith and Lynda Poston-Smith Guest/Faculty Concert
RAC
OCT 28
Women-Only Grindstone 7–9 p.m. | RC 150. Guest speaker: Elizabeth George
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.
*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.
Land Center Luncheon
President Southwestern Seminary October 16, 2013
11:30 a.m. | SBR. Speaker: Dr. Berry Driver
Rev. Steven James
Southwestern Holiday Bazaar
Senior Pastor Trinity Baptist Church Lake Charles, La.
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
October 17, 2013
Dr. John Yeo Asst. Prof. of Old Testament Southwestern Seminary
View Chapel Archives online: swbts.edu/chapelarchives
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 The RAC Party Packages The RAC now offers additional party packages with discounts to seminary students:
7:30 p.m. | RA OCT 24
7:30 p.m. | TA
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 OCT 22
G. F. Handel’s Messiah
*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.
PA I D C L A S S I F I E D S Paid classifieds can be placed at 25 cents per word. Contact Keith Collier at x4816 or Scroll@swbts.edu for more information.
B
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The Scroll is a bi-weekly publication of the Communications Group at Southwestern Seminary.
2001 W. Seminary Drive Fort Worth, TX, 76122 1-800-SWBTS-01 (toll free) (817) 923-1921 | swbts.edu
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Thursday, September 26, 2013
CAMPUS NEWS »
Denominational Diversity in North America: Why Are There So Many Denominations? Robert Caldwell | Assistant Professor of Church History
Two hundred years ago frontier revivalist Barton Stone was fed up with Presbyterianism. He found the denomination too theological, too elitist, and out of touch with the common frontier folk he ministered to in southern Kentucky. His biggest problem was that he believed Presbyterianism was not biblical. To Stone, pure Christianity must be built solely upon a plain reading of Scripture, and as he surveyed the Protestant denominations of his day he concluded that they all were contaminated with human traditions. He thus founded a new group that would not be another denomination but merely an organization of biblical believers bound together to worship God according to scriptural guidelines. To capture their antidenominational spirit, they simply called themselves “Christians.”
Stone was not alone. Other groups in America’s early decades embraced similar ideals. Alexander Campbell, for instance, founded a movement known as “Disciples.” In New England, Abner Jones and Elias Smith formed a group of “Christians” from former Baptists. And in Virginia, James O’Kelly’s Republican Methodists sought a non-hierarchical, more biblical version of Methodism. In time, the two largest of these new groups—Stone’s Christians and Campbell’s Disciples—merged in 1831 to form what would become the Disciples of Christ, a movement known for its commitment to baptismal regeneration and weekly celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Ironically, what was intended to be a denomination-less movement of “mere Christians” wound up forming another denomination in the eyes of most onlookers. Why do denominations form? Why are there so many of them? These are complex questions with even more complex answers. Every denomination has its own unique mix of factors that influenced its origins. At the risk of over-simplifying, we can identify several of these factors that led to many denominations: • Fresh Biblical Insight: A denomination will form when a group of Christians discerns a teaching in Scripture that other Christians had previously overlooked. The new group will find the scriptural teaching so compelling that they find it necessary to form a new group of Christians. In time this group forms a new denomination.
During the Reformation, Protestants found justification by faith so central to apostolic Christianity that they could not remain in fellowship with the broader Roman Catholic Church. • Biblical Primitivism: This is a subset of the last point. When a group consciously attempts to reduplicate certain features of the primitive, New Testament church, then historians sometimes call that group “primitivist.” Over the centuries different denominations emerged as they sought to reduplicate an aspect of New Testament Christianity which they considered to be central for the church. • Baptists sought to reduplicate the pattern of believer’s baptism found in the New Testament. • Congregationalists sought to reduplicate the New Testament pattern of autonomous churches operating directly under the apostolic authority of the Word. • Early Pentecostals sought to reduplicate the New Testament practice of speaking in tongues. • Political Changes: Sometimes denominations form because of changes related to the political climate of the host nation. • To a significant degree, Anglicanism arose when Henry VIII found it expedient for the English church to break ties with the Roman Catholic Church. • In contrast, the absence of an official state church in early America
allowed for the rise to numerous denominations, some orthodox, others heretical. These are just some of the reasons that denominations have emerged throughout in the history of the church. With these observations we begin a new series on “Denominational Diversity in North America.” Over the next year we will be taking brief tours of the prominent denominations that appear in our North American context. Our goal is to take one denomination a month and explore its origins, distinctive views, history, and main leaders. Due to constraints of space, the entries will be limited to description only; we will not be offering a detailed response to these groups from a Baptist perspective. First, we will examine denominations that formed in England prior to the founding of America: Anglicanism, Presbyterianism, Quakers, and Methodism. Next, we will turn our attention to those denominations that emerged directly on American soil: the Disciples of Christ, Seventh Day Adventism, Mormonism, and Pentecostalism. As this list indicates, some of these groups are far more orthodox than others; Mormonism, for instance, is outright heretical. It is our hope that these brief tours will help us understand the diverse religious landscape around us so that we can be better witnesses in our complex world. •