Texan Magazine • March 31, 2015 • Issue #46

March 31, 2015 • ISSUE 46

TV REVIEW: NBC’S ‘A.D.: THE BIBLE CONTINUES’

TEXAS LEGISLATURE WEIGHS BILLS RELATED TO RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Gary Ledbetter

The legacy of the gospel f you want to see how leftist someone is, use the term “American exceptionalism” in his presence and see how red his face becomes. The term refers to unique aspects of our nation that cause us to be successful and often laudable when compared to other countries. Sure, there’s a bit of bluster in the way the term is used—the United States is beneficiary to great ideas from many sources. I do think we can see places and events where the particular mix of ideas and application in our country is notable in the flow of human history.

I had this sense last week as I walked the halls of the Texas capitol and met and prayed with several lawmakers. It’s a dynamic place, full of activists, lobbyists, reporters and a few befuddled Baptist preachers. The days that our Texas Ethics and Religious Liberty Committee was there, we saw groups of school children, 4-H clubbers, scores if not hundreds of Catholics gathered for their own lobby day and a large number of pro-family activists who came for a marriage rally on Monday.

There were areas of agreement with those diverse groups, but they certainly represented different agendas. None of those groups heckled one another, shoved or threw things at one another. No one was afraid to tout his own cause, regardless of who sits in the governor’s office. Some of the leaders we met were forward with their Christian faith and knew more than just a little of God’s Word.

They weren’t even mildly concerned about who might hear them quoting Scripture.

Many of you know countries where this isn’t true. I’ve worshipped with believers who snuck into their meeting places and have myself walked for blocks so my informer cab driver wouldn’t know where Christians were gathering. You know there are places like that, but you should also know that some Western countries, those that contributed much to our

own culture, restrict religious and political speech in a way not constitutional in the U.S. Some of what I heard and saw in Austin would have been illegal in even some “civilized” countries.

The liberty I saw being exercised at our state capitol is repeated in 50 states as well as in our nation’s capitol. As I said in our April TEXAN, religious liberty—specifically that growing out of the Christian view of man and God— is foundational to other liberties. A personal relationship between an individual and God is the basic story in the Christian Bible. Yes, God dealt with nations and churches and families, but in the midst of that it was kings and priests and pastors and soldiers and shepherds God judged as individually obedient or disobedient servants.

Individuals stand before God to answer for their deeds, not communities or political parties. In this life that means that an individual believer communes with God without a human priest or magistrate as intermediary.

The most significant threat to our liberty is not a political party or another theistic religion; it is a growing antipathy for the exercise of any nonNaturalist religion. Many consider the idea that a person owes his first allegiance to God to be against the common good. The threat to those who crowd the halls of our state house in support of a conviction, and to the diversity of our lawmakers, comes from the same mind that persecutes Navy chaplains and Christian florists.

If our cultural majority attempts to compel by force the religious consciences of chaplains and business owners, why would anyone think that his opinion about gambling, farm subsidies or pre-K education will remain sacrosanct?

Our freedom to petition our leaders and to rally on the capitol steps is then a legacy of the Christian faith that influenced our founders, and our founding documents.

The residue of that gospel legacy is stronger in some places than others. But we must struggle to avoid being cynical, even as it fades. The influence of Christians is still present, even in the lives of those who are not believers.

Everywhere there are leaders who are genuinely trying to do the right things as they represent us at various levels of government. Some are believers and some are not; some are sincerely wrong and some are right more often than not. Don’t let the most outrageous examples of corruption and mediocrity make you despair. Some of our leaders are believers who themselves seek God’s will. And of course the Lord is not powerless before those even who care nothing for his will. Pray for our Texas leadership as they move into the last weeks of their biennial session. It’s godly to do so, and many are people for whom the gospel is more than a memory.

CONTENTS

ISSUE

#46

NBC’s ‘A.D.’ is (mostly) biblical … and also well done The new NBC series A.D.: The Bible Continues airs on 12 consecutive Sundays beginning Easter weekend and is made by the same executive producers (Roma Downey and Mark Burnett) who brought us the 2013 TV hit The Bible. After previewing the first episode, Michael Foust gives it a thumbs up, saying the episode uses some artistic license in areas where the Bible is silent but still closely follows the biblical narrative.

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COVER STORY

TELL ME THE OLD, OLD 08 How The Austin Stone uses honest, gospel-infused stories to encourage & challenge their church Capitalizing on the God-given creative talents of their church members, The Austin Stone Community Church’s Story Team uses storytelling through written, photo, video and audio media to tell stories of faith in the church. With the launch of their new website, they are now training other churches how to do the same.

TEXAN Magazine is e-published twice monthly by the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, 4500 State Highway 360, Grapevine, TX 76099-1988.

Jim Richards, Executive Director Gary Ledbetter, Editor Keith Collier, Managing Editor Sharayah Colter, Staff Writer Russell Lightner, Design & Layout Gayla Sullivan, Subscriptions

Contributing Writers Michael Foust, Bonnie Pritchett, David Platt, The Austin Stone Story Team, Erin Roach

To contact the TEXAN, visit texanonline.net/contact or call toll free 877.953.7282 (SBTC).

sbtexan

texanonline.net

Judge Not Lest Thou Be Fined

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Claiming “discrimination is not a Texas value,” a recently launched pro-LGBT campaign presents itself as a pro-business alliance fighting state legislation it says would codify discrimination and run businesses from the Lone Star State. The group, known as Texas Wins, characterizes Christians and religious liberty advocates as bogeymen in an appeal that plays well to sympathetic ears but offers no evidence for its indictments.

Stand Firm online course

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An online, video-driven apologetics course is available to churches to equip believers in sharing and defending the Christian faith at an increasingly crucial time. The Stand Firm Online Apologetics Course is a 16-lesson introductory apologetics course launched by the SBTC that can be used for group or individual study.

C O L U M N : Church planting

to reach the nations

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IMB President David Platt explains that God’s primary instrument for the spread of the gospel here and around the world is the local church, encouraging Southern Baptists to support the work of the missionaries in North America and beyond.

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YEMEN’S TUMULT PROMPTS PRAYER FOR PEACE, COMFORT

CHRIST THE ANSWER FOR MIDDLE EAST, EVANGELISTS SAY Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reelection is good for Israel, but the only hope for reconciliation in the Middle East is the acceptance of Jesus Christ by Jews and Arabs alike, evangelists to Jews told Baptist Press.

Netanyahu’s victory gained his Likud Party 29 seats in the country’s one-chamber parliament but does not guarantee his success in building a coalition of partners in the 120-seat body, analysts say. The left-leaning Zionist Union gained 24 seats.

Jim Sibley, a lecturer in biblical studies at the Israel College of the Bible, called Netanyahu’s reelection remarkable, as it overcame “significant foreign investment in his opposition” and contradicted opinion polls against him.

Read the story here.

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As political upheaval dating back to the Arab Spring continues in Yemen, United Nations special adviser Jamal Benomar expressed concern that the nation is moving toward civil war. The U.N. Security Council met on March 22 to discuss the mounting crisis in the Mideast nation.

“Peaceful dialogue is the only way forward,” Benomar told the council. In assessing the situation, he said the country is in a “rapid

downward spiral” and at “the edge of civil war.”

Greg Voss*, a Christian worker in the Middle East, observed, “Honestly, most Yemenis would rather go back to the days before the Arab Spring.”

As violence escalated between the country’s ruling Sunni Muslims and rebel Houthi Shiite Muslims, both the United States and the United Kingdom withdrew security forces. In February

the U.S. closed its embassy in Yemen.

During Friday prayers, March 20, suicide bombers attacked two mosques linked to the Houthis, killing at least 125 people and wounding hundreds in the nation’s capital, Sanaa. A Sunni group claiming to be a branch of ISIS claimed responsibility for the bombings. *name changed Read the story here.

E D U C AT I O N

PANNELL TO HEAD NGU AS INTERIM PRESIDENT North Greenville University’s board of trustees has named Randall Pannell as interim president.

The decision is in response to Jimmy Epting’s announcement of his sabbatical and retirement effective June 1.

Pannell came to the institution in 2011 when he was hired as vice president for academics.

“We want to continue offering quality education as well as protect the culture here during this interim period,” said Bill Tyler, a member of the interim leadership search committee. “We feel we can accomplish this with Dr. Pannell.”

Read the story here.

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LANGUAGE PROFESSOR ROBERT BERNARD DIES AT AGE 69 Robert Bernard, professor of modern languages at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, whom Southwestern President Paige Patterson identified as a “spark plug” of the campus with regard to prayer, died in the early hours of March 19 after a multiyear battle with cancer.

He was 69 years old.

Read the story here.

UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE LAUNCHES MARKETPLACE MINISTRY DEGREE The University of Mobile is enrolling adult students for a new fully online degree program, the Bachelor of Science in Marketplace Ministry.

Applications are being accepted now for classes beginning June 1. The marketplace ministry degree is the first fully online college degree offered by the University of Mobile, a Baptist university founded in 1961 in Mobile, Ala. More majors will be added beginning fall 2015.

The Bachelor of Science in Marketplace Ministry includes courses in ministry, leadership and counseling. The degree prepares graduates for Christian leadership in ministry, social and secular work, faith-based and non-profit organizations, and careers as a pastor, urban ministry leader and corporate or industry chaplain, according to Danny Chancey, director of adult and professional studies.

Read the story here.

—Briefly section compiled from Baptist Press, other news sources and staff reports

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LEGISLATION

IND. BILL AFFIRMS ‘INCLUSION’ OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS Indiana’s leading Republican lawmakers pledged March 30 to introduce language to the state’s new religious freedom bill to clarify it does not allow discrimination against homosexuals, but seeks inclusion of religious diversity.

Read the story here.

ABORTION ADVOCATES STYMIE ANTI-TRAFFICKING PROPOSAL Legislation to bolster efforts to combat human trafficking has fallen victim to abortion rights advocates in the U.S. Senate. The Democratic minority defeated an effort to bring an anti-trafficking bill to the Senate floor March 17 because of its opposition to language barring federal funds for abortion.

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GAY MARRIAGE DEBATES FESTERING IN CA, AL, PCUSA

SEN. TED CRUZ ANNOUNCES PRESIDENTIAL BID

From churches in California and Alabama to the largest Presbyterian denomination in America, gay marriage continues to prompt concern in the larger evangelical community.

City Church in San Francisco has drawn criticism from evangelicals for lifting its requirement that members with same-sex attraction not engage in homosexual behavior. The church has about 1,000 attendees at two locations and is part of the Reformed Church in America. Meanwhile, Weatherly Heights Baptist Church in Huntsville, Ala., has been disfellowshipped from its local Baptist association after its pastor and an unpaid minister to the community expressed their support for same-sex marriage and the volunteer minister performed at least one same-sex wedding.

In a late night Tweet followed by a 30-minute speech without notes at Virginia’s Liberty University, Sen. Ted Cruz announced that he is running for president of the United States of America. In describing the country as it might be under his leadership, Cruz urged the crowd to imagine the nation without Obamacare, the IRS or abortion rights. He also pointed to goals of securing the borders in discussing his presidential aspirations.

Read the story here.

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Legislation introduced in Congress earlier this month would prohibit government discrimination against faithbased adoption and foster care organizations that are not willing to place children with same-sex couples.

The Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act would ensure state-licensed child welfare providers are allowed to operate while also holding to religious and moral convictions on homosexuality and family structure.

Read the story here.

Read the story here.

M O N E Y

FAMILY CHRISTIAN STORES DROPS PROPOSED BANKRUPTCY PLAN

Read the story here.

NEW BILL DEFENDS FAITH-BASED ADOPTION AGENCIES

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MARCH MADNESS WAGERS, CRITICS SAY, NOT HARMLESS Putting $10 in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament office pool may seem harmless, but some contend it violates federal and state laws as well as biblical principles.

The FBI estimates that more than $2.5 billion is wagered on March Madness each year, exceeding the amount bet on the Super Bowl, according to the NCAA website. The American Gaming Association estimated that Americans have filled out 70 million brackets this year with the average bet per bracket coming in at $29. The total number of brackets filled out exceeds the number of votes cast in the last presidential election for either President Obama or Mitt Romney.

The Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and the NCAA both oppose gambling on the games.

Read the story here.

Family Christian Stores has withdrawn a proposal for a controversial bankruptcy plan criticized by debtors for ties between the seller and buyer that were too close for comfort.

The company gave no reason for the move, but it seems likely the Christian retailer will pursue another form of Chapter 11 restructuring. According to documents filed with a Michigan bankruptcy court in February, Family Christian Stores (FCS) owes $57 million to banks and another $40 million to publishers and vendors for inventory it bought on credit.

Add in miscellaneous debts, including unpaid taxes and utility bills, and it has a total of about $107 million in liabilities.

Its suppliers, mostly Christian publishers, want the company to survive, but along with the company’s creditors, they raised concerns about how it planned to do so.

Under the original proposal, FCS wanted to pay about $28 million of the $57 million it owes to banks, with the rest of its debts, including those owed to publishers, remaining unsettled. It promised to keep all of its stores open and all of its workers employed. A spokesperson for FCS said the company would not comment on the bankruptcy while it was in progress.

Read the story here.

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S O U T H E R N

B A P T I S T

PAGE OFFERS MENTAL HEALTH HOPE AT GARDNER-WEBB After Gardner-Webb University alumnus Frank S. Page lost his daughter to suicide, he discovered a calling to help others battling mental health illnesses.

Page, now president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, visited GWU March 17 to encourage students, local ministers and community members who are dealing with their own mental health challenges and the trials of others.

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H E A LT H

CASTING CROWNS’ SINGER UNDERGOES CANCER SURGERY

Read the story here.

KEY BAPT. LEADERS TO SPEAK AT MBTS SYMPOSIUM A collection of key Southern Baptist leaders that includes Frank S. Page, Ronnie Floyd, Paige Patterson, Thom S. Rainer, R. Albert Mohler Jr. and David Dockery is slated to speak at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Sept. 28-29 symposium, “The SBC and the 21st Century: Reflection, Renewal & Recommitment.”

Midwestern Seminary President Jason Allen, who will also present a keynote address, announced March 18 the symposium will be the first edition of a triennial symposium held on the Kansas City, Mo., campus.

He said the symposium is designed to address the Southern Baptist Convention, its heritage, identity and future.

Read the story here.

Mark Hall, lead singer of contemporary Christian band Casting Crowns, underwent surgery to remove a kidney March 11. Doctors found a solid mass in the kidney earlier this month and were 90 percent certain it was cancer, according to a post on the band’s website March 5.

After removing the kidney, doctors determined that the mass was indeed cancer and that it had been fully encased in the kidney.

Hall’s wife Melanie, who often blogs at the band’s website, called the pathology report a miracle, noting the encased mass had not spread inside the kidney or anywhere else.

Read the story here.

WARRENS MARK 35 YEARS AT SADDLEBACK Pastor Rick and wife Kay Warren marked 35 years in ministry at Saddleback Church on March 22 in Anaheim, Calif., celebrating its growth from a seven-member Bible study at the Warrens’ home to more than 27,000 weekly worshippers at 10 U.S. campuses.

More than 20,000 worshippers gathered for the celebration held at Angel Stadium to accommodate the crowd.

“Kay and I, when I was finishing up seminary in Texas, got out a map of the world and we said, ‘God we’ll go anywhere in the world if you’ll let us spend our entire life in one location. We don’t care where you put us,’” Warren said during the 35th anniversary sermon posted on the church website. “And God gave me a vision, and God gave me a dream, and God gave me a calling specifically to Southern California and specifically to Orange County.”

Read the story here.

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MARIJUANA DANGERS CAN’T BE IGNORED, CRITICS SAY The growing support for legalizing marijuana among Americans and their lawmakers remains unwise but not unexpected, Southern Baptist ethicists say.

Marijuana’s inroads have been demonstrated already in March by a new public opinion poll that shows for the first time a majority in the United States favors legalization of the drug.

In addition, Democratic and Republican senators introduced this month for the first time a bill to lift the federal ban on medicinal use of marijuana.

Read the story here.

AUSTIN STONE TO HOST EVENT ON ‘THE GOSPEL AND SAME-SEX MARRIAGE’ Speakers include Russell Moore, Matt Carter, Rosaria Butterfield, Jim Richards, others

By Keith Collier AUSTIN The Supreme Court of the United States is expected to render its judgment regarding same-sex marriage sometime in June. In anticipation of that verdict, which many believe will legalize same-sex

marriage nationwide, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention are co-sponsoring an event in the capital of Texas to discuss how churches can address the decision.

The Austin Stone Community Church will host the event, titled “The Gospel and Same-sex Marriage: Equipping the Church for a PostMarriage Culture,” at their St. John campus (500 E. St. Johns Ave., Austin, TX 78752) on July 29 from 6:00-9:30 p.m. Speakers for the

evening include Austin Stone pastor Matt Carter, ERLC President Russell Moore, SBTC President Jim Richards and former tenured Professor of English at Syracuse University Rosaria Butterfield. More speakers are expected to be announced soon.

“This is a critical issue facing the church, and it’s not going away anytime soon,” Carter told the TEXAN. “I couldn’t be more excited to host the ERLC at the Austin Stone and learn from such an informed and passionate group of people.”

The event will be live-streamed online at live.erlc.com.

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R E V I E W

By Michael Foust

NBC’S ‘A.D.’ IS (MOSTLY) BIBLICAL … AND ALSO WELL DONE A few years ago, the Discovery Channel aired a fascinating series called Dirty Jobs that followed host Mike Rowe across the country as he performed difficult, nerve-wracking and even stomach-churning jobs that someone in America performs each day—for example, sewage collection, road-kill cleanup and rattlesnake catching.

All of the jobs were challenging— and all of them underappreciated.

Which brings me to the new NBC series, A.D.: The Bible Continues, which airs on 12 consecutive Sundays beginning Easter weekend and is made by the same executive producers (Roma Downey and Mark Burnett) who brought us the 2013 TV hit The Bible (which was seen by 13.1 million on the History Channel in the first week). While The Bible included only one episode that followed the work of the apostles after Jesus’ resurrection, A.D. spotlights the disciples exclusively, examining their reaction to his death and resurrection and then their work in spreading the gospel after his ascension.

Perhaps “making Bible movies” deserves its own episode on Dirty Jobs. Of course, some criticism of Hollywood is deserved (see: Noah the movie), but there’s no doubt that making Bible movies often is a difficult—and underappreciated—job.

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I watched the first episode of A.D. and a week later, watched it again.

The verdict? It’s very good, and for the most part, follows the biblical narrative. The acting is stellar, with several standout performances, including Adam Levy as Peter and Juan Pablo Di Pace as Jesus.

And it has some gap-filling. The Bible tells us very little about the days between Jesus’ burial and resurrection, but A.D. offers a fascinating and thought-provoking exchange. A handful of the disciples are huddled up in a room, contemplating what happened.

“The last three years of our lives, for nothing!” Peter says.

Peter is then told: “His mother believes he will rise.”

Later, another disciple says, referencing Jesus’ opponents, “We need to leave before they find us.”

Is that the way it happened?

I don’t know. Di Pace told the TEXAN it’s like being a “fly on the wall” as we examine “what those people were dealing with in terms of, ‘How do we get out of this; how do we continue?’”

There are other intriguing exchanges, such as between the high priest Caiaphas and his wife (who agree that Jesus should have been crucified) and Pilate and his wife (who disagree about the crucifixion, with the latter saying Jesus was no threat). When Caiaphas learns that Joseph of Arimathea donated his tomb to house Jesus’ body, Caiaphas becomes angry, telling Joseph that Jesus’ followers will say the action fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 53:9).

“People who are not familiar with this story, the book of Acts,

will get a really great point of view of what was going on, the politics of the time, the persecution of the apostles, and how they built the church from nothing,” Di Pace said.

A.D. also succeeds in delivering an entertaining civics lesson on the politics of the day. We’ve all read about Pilate, the Sanhedrin and Caiaphas, but oftentimes studying the political divisions seems academic, even dull. A.D. brings the politics to life, helping us better understand the 1st-century governing structure.

The first episode of A.D. does fall flat during a couple of special effects scenes, including the depiction of Christ’s resurrection, which ends up looking, well, odd. Additionally, subtle scriptural variances exist, including Judas hanging himself after the crucifixion, contrary to the account in the Gospel of Matthew.

But overall, the first episode is a good start, and with it airing on broadcast TV instead of cable, it will have a far wider audience than did The Bible. So far, I’m thankful for that.

R E V I E W

By Phil Boatwright | Baptist Press

‘KILLING JESUS’ POORLY DEPICTS OUR LIVING LORD Killing Jesus, the New York Times best-seller by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard, does a reliable job of proving Jesus lived on earth, had a following and was crucified—stopping short, though, of affirming his deity.

You’d think that the producers of a National Geographic Channel film by the same name would have tracked with the book by using a documentary format, but instead, they opted to make their tele-movie one more dramatic interpretation of Christ’s time on earth. This may have been an ill-conceived direction, as that tactic has been done numerous times and done better.

There’s one other small problem.

The first time we see Jesus as a man, he walks up to his cousin, John the Baptist, who immediately identifies him as the Savior of the world. But throughout the scene, Jesus has this quizzical look, as if not truly understanding who he is or his purpose.

I understand a filmmaker’s dilemma when recounting a historical figure.

You can’t just show Abraham Lincoln or John F. Kennedy as flawless paragons.

To give a character dimension, you must include indecision, angst and flaws to offset attributes. This helps all us mere mortals connect with the George Washingtons, the Winston Churchills and others who had greatness thrust upon them. It is a reality, they were men, and therefore, not perfect.

The only figure a filmmaker can’t show shortcoming in is Jesus Christ. He was unique, all man and all God. If the Gospels are actually read and adhered to by those attempting to flesh them out in cinematic form, it’s impossible to come to the conclusion that Jesus didn’t know who he was. Among notable Scriptures: John 10:30; John 14:6 -7; John 8:14.

Jesus did things and said things in order to fulfill prophecy, but through it all, he knew his purpose. He didn’t need clarification from his cousin.

In Luke 2:49, a 12-year-old Jesus answered his parents’ query when they couldn’t find him, “Why were you searching for me? ... Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

The film aired March 29, featuring Haaz Sleiman as the Christ. My take on the film should not be misinterpreted as a suggestion to avoid the presentation.

It does have decent production values despite its apparent low budget; there were solid performances from the leads, and it may leave some wanting to discover the whole story.

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How The Austin Stone uses honest, gospel-infused storytelling to encourage & challenge their church S T O RY B Y K E I T H C O L L I E R P H O T O S B Y A U S T I N S T O N E S T O RY T E A M 8 TEXANONLINE.NET MARCH 31, 2015

eading others in worship with the artistic talents God gave him has always been a passion for Steven Bush.

For more than a decade, that included playing bass alongside Aaron Ivey and other members in the band Spur58, but shortly after moving to Austin in 2008, God gave him a new vision for leading others in worship through honest, creative storytelling.

Bush and his family moved to the Texas capital to serve with Ivey and others in the worship ministry at The Austin Stone Community Church. The church already had a filmmaker on staff producing missions videos, but Bush, who had taken up photography a year before, saw a great opportunity to empower volunteers in the church to tell written and photographic stories, which could be produced in a shorter timeframe than most film projects.

“I pitched the vision to (our pastors),” Bush recalls, “and they took a risk.”

Initially starting under the church’s missions department, Bush started the Story Team with a few volunteers. One of their first major projects was telling the stories of individuals in the church who responded to a challenge to go as missionaries to unreached people groups

The Austin Stone Story Team is a community of artists who use creative storytelling to glorify the name and purpose of Jesus Christ, encourage the saints, and compel all people to gospel action.

around the world. In time, the scope of their work quickly expanded to telling testimonies of church members and how the gospel intersected their lives.

Over the past five years, Story Team has produced more than 200 stories and expanded its volunteer base to more than 50 writers, photographers, editors and filmmakers who commit four to six hours per month to “tell honest and encouraging stories of gospel transformation.” These testimonies are told through a variety of media, including written stories, photo essays, audio stories, spoken word and films. Outlets for their stories have included Sunday morning bulletins, the church website, social media and their Story Team Weekly newsletter.

Brian Lundin, an IT strategist for Dell Computers, has been one of those volunteers for the past four years. Having briefly studied jour-

nalism in college before finishing with a computer degree, Lundin joined the Story Team after taking a writing class in the church’s “Get Trained” ministry.

“It was an outlet for me as a volunteer who was doing something else for a living but able to use my talent to serve the Lord,” Lundin says.

“The best part about it wasn’t just the fact that I got to write, but it was the fact that I got to meet all of these people throughout the church who God was doing amazing things in their lives. To hear their stories firsthand and to be moved by them and then have a chance to try to write something that would relay that to the rest of the body was fun, challenging and an honor.”

Lundin served as the writing team leader for two years and recently left his IT job to join the Story Team full-time.

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MODERN-DAY EBENEZERS Driving every story at The Austin Stone is a desire to “inspire our people and the church at large to worship Jesus for who he is and to help us to remember what he’s done,” Bush says.

“Storytelling is a form of worship leading; it helps move our congregation, it helps move the hearts of people all over the world who are encouraged and engaged by the stories to worship God.” Recalling the Lord’s command in the Old Testament for Israel to erect Ebenezer stones so they would not forget what he had done for them, Bush says stories are “modern-day Ebenezers done through a creative art form.”

The guiding Scripture for their ministry is Psalm 102:18—“ Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.”

“The Psalmist has just been brought through this really difficult time, and one of the first things the Lord tells him to do is: ‘Write this down; I don’t want you to forget. And people not yet born are going to worship me because you wrote this down and because of what I’ve done,’” Bush says.

“When people’s lives are changed by the gospel, that’s a story worth telling. The church should never run out of stories to tell; if it does, we’re in the wrong ministry.”

So, the Story Team focuses on telling the stories of The Austin Stone’s members. This includes the raw, gut-wrenching aspects of pain and difficulty associated with a sinful, fallen world as well

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as the redemption and hope of the gospel found in Jesus Christ.

“You cannot tell the light side of the story without the dark,” Lundin says.

As they’ve told stories with honesty and excellence, they’ve noticed a culture of storytelling develop in the church, where people are actively sharing their struggles and redemption. While they initially gathered story leads from church staff and small group leaders, they now receive a bulk of their leads from the story submission page on their website.

“It’s fostered a culture that is more open and more vulnerable than even we were before,” Lundin says.

Bush believes church members trust the team with their stories “because they see the kind of work that we’ve produced; they hear how people have interacted with our artists—we really train our artists to pastor and gospelcounsel people during interviews,” which has allowed them to tell difficult stories on serious topics such as depression, mental illness, abortion and struggles with homosexuality.

“Basically, interviewing in a gospel storytelling sense is gospel counseling,” Bush says.

“You’re taking people on this journey to get to where their life was changed and how the gospel changed them. So once you take them to this really dark spot, you’ve got to help bring them back out. You can’t just leave them there.”

As a result, they have witnessed storytelling as a powerful tool in the church to build community, encourage believers and challenge members to engage in the Great Commission locally and around the world.

Many of those now engaging in missions and ministry have told the Story Team that God used others’ stories to inspire their own obedience.

“They saw the stories of goers, and that was the first thing that made them think that they could do it themselves,” Lundin says.

STORYTELLING IN THE CHURCH Although The Austin Stone is a large church in a city well known as a magnet for musicians and artists, Bush and Lundin believe churches of any size, anywhere

STORYTEAM.ORG A CHURCH RESOURCE

The Austin Stone recently launched StoryTeam.org, a website dedicated to helping churches tell honest, gospelcentered stories.

WHEN PEOPLE’S LIVES ARE

CHANGED BY THE GOSPEL, THAT’S A STORY WORTH TELLING.

THE CHURCH SHOULD NEVER RUN OUT OF STORIES TO TELL; IF IT DOES, WE’RE IN THE WRONG MINISTRY.”

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“I WOULD ENCOURAGE CHURCHES THAT VIDEO IS NOT THE MAGIC BULLET. STORY TEAM’S PLATFORM HAS BEEN BUILT ON THE WRITTEN WORD BECAUSE WE’VE CONSISTENTLY BEEN ABLE TO PUT OUT WRITTEN STORIES WITH PHOTOGRAPHS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS OR SO, AND THAT HAS HELPED SHAPE THE CULTURE OF WHO WE ARE.” STEVEN BUSH

can use storytelling to encourage and equip believers. To this end, they have led sessions on storytelling at the church’s annual worship conference and recently launched StoryTeam.org, a website dedicated to helping churches tell honest, gospel-centered stories.

During an interview with the TEXAN, Bush and Lundin shared advice from their own experience for starting a story team in your church.

For Bush and Lundin, it all starts with support and buy-in from leadership. Artists must earn the trust of leadership, and leaders must empower and trust artists.

Additionally, pastors must believe that stories should inspire worship rather than just serve as a

commercial for particular ministries within the church.

“The first thing would be to have church leadership really consider whether or not they value story and why they do it,” Bush says.

“Is it a marketing tool, or are they actually wanting to tell stories because it’s out of a heart of inspiring people to worship God for what he’s done?”

Second, they say churches should not feel intimidated if they do not have members with skills in video. Too often, Bush says, churches think they need outstanding videos to communicate good stories.

“I would encourage churches that video is not the magic bullet,” Bush says. “Story Team’s platform

“IF A CHURCH HAS A WRITER AND A PHOTOGRAPHER, THEY’VE GOT A STORY TEAM. EVEN IF YOU DO ONE STORY A MONTH OR ONE EVERY TWO MONTHS, YOU’RE STILL CREATING THESE EBENEZERS THAT YOUR CHURCH IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO RALLY AROUND AND CELEBRATE.”

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has been built on the written word because we’ve consistently been able to put out written stories with photographs for the last three years or so, and that has helped shape the culture of who we are.”

While he agrees that films are powerful, Bush says Story Team can only make a few over the course of the year because of the time, energy and money needed to produce quality films.

“Not every church is going to have a filmmaker sitting in the pews, but I’m pretty sure every church in America does have someone that has a gift of writing or photography,” Bush says.

“If a church has a writer and a photographer, they’ve got a story team. Even if you do one story a month or one every two months, you’re still creating these Ebenezers that your church is going to be able to rally around and celebrate.”

Lundin agrees, noting that only two of their volunteers write for a living. The rest are teachers, stayat-home moms, college students, etc. Team leaders should identify people who may not think they’re

artists and “fan the flame” of these giftings.

“If you find the talented junior in high school who loves his English class or the English teacher who loves grammar and to edit, that’s the bones of your story team whether they see themselves as artists or not,” Lundin says.

In this same vein, Bush and Lundin say churches must glorify God by striving for excellence in every story, which requires budgeting for storytelling and giving time to develop stories.

For example, every written story has about a six-week life cycle, which includes interviews, story submissions and several rounds of edits and revisions. Films have a longer cycle, often following a story for three to nine months, treating it like a short documentary.

Additionally, leaders must see their role as pastoring and shepherding the volunteer artists.

“We want to steward well what God has given our church when it comes to artists,” Bush says. “We’ve created a way, an avenue, for artists that aren’t necessarily musicians—photographers, filmmakers, editors, writers—who are serving God with their God-given gifts.”

This stewardship involves ongoing training and feedback, building community among team members and encouraging collaboration between artists.

For example, they encourage the writer and photographer to work together on the story, which produces a better story and opportunities for discipleship.

“When we talk about our team internally, we emphasize investing in our artists as priority 1a,

right behind the work,” Lundin says. “In encouraging collaboration, you start to build friendships and relationships and community within the team, which is really important for artists.”

Finally, Bush and Lundin reiterate the need to tell raw, honest stories that are creative and theologically rich.

“We’re going to fight to creatively tell the dark side of the story because when you do it makes Jesus look that much more beautiful when he steps into any story,” Bush says.

“In the story arc for a believer,” Lundin adds, “all of our stories, all of our struggles are their own gospel storylines.”

And telling these stories serves to build up the local church so that future generations may praise the Lord.

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B Y A U S T I N S T O N E S T O RY T E A M

“I DON’T WANT TO DO THIS, I CHANGE MY MIND.” The words fell out of Daphne’s quivering mouth as nurses ushered her into the dimly lit room and onto the blanketed bed.

“No, no, no. I don’t want to do this anymore!”

“You can no longer make that decision,” the doctor responded.

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aphne lay on that blanketed bed on May 10, 2007. Only months before, she received the news and quickly began planning for her new life as a mom. She loved kids— even worked with them daily— and now she was having her own. But it wasn’t long until her entire life crumbled at her feet, leaving her seemingly alone, fighting for the life that was now inside of her. She eventually caved and agreed to the wishes of her parents and the father for her to get rid of the baby.

After the procedure, Daphne had difficulty finding the will to live. She often fell asleep on the cold floor of her bathroom, crying in regret, with white tissues all around her. She felt robbed— as though she made the right decision at the last moment, and no one even cared. “I was so mad at this God I didn’t even know… that he could do this and let this happen to me.”

Then, two of Daphne’s coworkers began reaching out to her, encouraging her to wake up each day, and sharing about the freedom and forgiveness found in Jesus. Through many honest conversations about her issues with God, they persevered and continued showing her God’s love through their actions and words. On the baby’s presumed due date, Daphne’s coworkers had flowers and a card waiting

on her desk as she came into work. On the card was a verse from the Bible: And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:10-11

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“I read that verse and my soul knew that it was true. And I, by God’s grace and the Spirit, believed that things couldn’t get any worse, and that God was going to restore me.” On that day, Daphne started walking with Jesus.

A few months later, Daphne was living with her cousin in Cedar Park, working at a hospital, and attending The Austin Stone Community Church.

Although God continued working things out for her good, Daphne battled with what she thought of as a tainted testimony of how God brought her to himself. She struggled with guilt, shame, and even feeling like she deserved the bad things that happened to her. Before long, God brought Daphne the 16 TEXANONLINE.NET MARCH 31, 2015

man who would be her husband, a man who understood the depth of grace and the way it covers all sin.

They were married, and God blessed Daphne and her husband with a baby. The pregnancy was a difficult one, high risk with regular appointments every few days, but on the last appointment before the baby’s delivery date, the unexpected happened.

“You have to deliver today.

Your fluid is low and your placenta is dying. Baby’s got to come out. Today,” the doctor said. It was May 10, 2013—one month before the original due date, and exactly six years from the date of her abortion.

“I was a little overwhelmed with it at first, but I realized

how much God wanted to own the full redemption. I felt like God was telling me, ‘I take what was a horrible day every year and I claim it for my glory, and I give you a reason to celebrate it with life.’ And I couldn’t believe God was so gracious even in the details,” Daphne remembers.

“I think the constant battle is doubt. … [I] doubt God’s goodness, doubt God’s wisdom.

But God constantly reminds me that I am fully purchased.

Jesus’ blood is fully redemptive.

There’s no condemnation, nothing left to pour out on me. Staring at a baby everyday is like a direct reminder, but it gives me joy for what is now and what isn’t anymore. It’s done. I am fully redeemed.”

“I THINK THE CONSTANT BATTLE IS DOUBT. …

[I] DOUBT GOD’S GOODNESS, DOUBT GOD’S WISDOM. BUT GOD CONSTANTLY REMINDS ME THAT I AM FULLY PURCHASED.

JESUS’ BLOOD IS FULLY REDEMPTIVE. THERE’S NO CONDEMNATION, NOTHING LEFT TO POUR OUT ON ME. STARING AT A BABY EVERYDAY IS LIKE A DIRECT REMINDER, BUT IT GIVES ME JOY FOR WHAT IS NOW AND WHAT ISN’T ANYMORE. IT’S DONE.

I am fully redeemed.”

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OTHER STORIES

The Austin Stone Story Team uses storytelling through written, photo, video and audio media to tell stories of faith in the church. Below are examples of an audio story, film, spoken word and photo essay.

BEING DIFFERENT Born with albinism and legally blind, Jimmie found himself growing up in a small Oklahoma town where people constantly ridiculed him for the way he looked. This led him to despise God and search for his identity in music and drugs. However, by the grace of God and through a discipleship relationship with an ex-drug dealer, Jimmie experienced the love and forgiveness of Jesus, and his life is forever changed.

Hear his story: soundcloud.com/storyteam/being-different.

JACOB CHEN: AN ADOPTION STORY Drawing on gospel parallels and the extent of God’s pursuit, this film follows one couple as they meet their newly adopted son for the first time.

In two years, this story has gone viral twice and now has more than 6 million views. Watch: vimeo.com/36862661.

JESUS, THE TRUE AND BETTER ADAM Spoken word is a poetic genre that has grown in popularity in recent years. Watch this spoken word presentation used at The Austin Stone during Advent: vimeo.com/113745885.

LIVING WITH CEREBRAL PALSY “The hardest thing is loneliness. I am my own greatest enemy when I am left to my loneliness.”

Watch a brief photo essay about how Roger found hope in the midst of living with cerebral palsy: vimeo.com/29529450.

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FREE APOLOGETICS COURSE EQUIPS CHRISTIANS, CHURCHES ‘FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS’

By Erin Roach GRAPEVINE An online, video-driven apologetics course is available to churches to equip believers in sharing and defending the Christian faith at an increasingly crucial time.

The Stand Firm Online Apologetics Course is a 16-lesson introductory apologetics course launched by the SBTC that can be used for group or individual study. The course is available at sbtexas.com/standfirm.

Each video is about 30 minutes long and should be viewed prior to answering discussion questions in the study guide. Discussion leaders and individual students may research the topics by reading recommended books and visiting recommended websites.

“Thanks to Cooperative Program giving, both the videos and the study guide are downloadable for free,” Bruno Molina, a language evangelism associate at the SBTC, told the TEXAN. “I’d like to encourage all of our pastors, discipleship leaders and church members to take advantage of this vital resource made available for such a time as this.”

Stand Firm is designed to strengthen Christians’ faith by presenting compelling evidence for the truths of Christianity and to equip Christians to share and defend the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“We really are living in a time when, as 2 Peter points out, false prophets rise among us who ‘introduce destructive heresies’ and ‘exploit you with false words,’” Molina said.

“Unfortunately, both Christians and non-Christians seem to know less and less about what the Bible actually teaches and, therefore, end up being deceived.

“Nevertheless, as followers of Christ we are commanded to be faithful ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20) who love God with all our mind (Matthew 22:37), ‘contend earnestly for the faith’ (Jude 1:3) and ‘stand firm against the schemes of the devil’ (Ephesians 6:11),” Molina said.

In “Lesson 1: A Rational Romantic Approach to Apologetics,” Paul Gould, assistant professor of philosophy and Christian apologetics at Southwestern Baptist

Theological Seminary, talks about “pursuing and representing God with our hearts and our minds.”

Gould explains how Christianity is a perfect blend of reason and romance, and he helps churches think through how they can incorporate apologetics into their ministries.

Subsequent lesson topics include “Does Science Disprove Miracles?”

“Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering?” and individual lessons on reaching out to Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses and other religions.

Other contributors to the course include Molina; Travis Dickinson, assistant professor of philosophy and Christian apologetics at Southwestern; Keith Loftin, assistant professor of humanities at Southwestern; and Rudy Gonzalez, professor of New Testament at Southwestern.

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Judge Not Lest Thou Be Fined ABSENT NEW LAWS, CLERGY AND BUSINESS OWNERS COULD FACE LAWSUITS, PENALTIES

By Bonnie Pritchett Claiming “discrimination is not a Texas value,” a recently launched pro-LGBT campaign presents itself as a pro-business alliance fighting state legislation it says would codify discrimination and run businesses from the Lone Star State. The group, known as Texas Wins, characterizes Christians and religious liberty advocates as bogeymen in an appeal that plays well to sympathetic ears but offers no evidence for its indictments.

Touting endorsements from celebrity businessman and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and the Texas Association of Business (TAB), Texas Wins seeks to defeat bills that would shore up enforcement of the Texas marriage amendment, protect clergy and businesses from existing and future LGBT non-discrimination ordinances, and counter the potential imposition of same-sex 20 TEXANONLINE.NET MARCH 31, 2015

marriage law following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on that issue in June. The campaign uses hyperbolic slogans to imply gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Texans will be fired—or not hired— if the these bills become law. But legislators defend them, saying the bills simply keep in place the status quo while protecting from litigation those who express religious objection to same-sex marriage and transgender identity.

“Look, we all know the freedom of religion is a fundamental right protected in our Constitution—as it should be. But this is a can of worms we don’t want to open,” Texas Wins campaign director Christina Canales Gorczynski wrote in an op-ed for the Houston Chronicle, March 5.

State Rep. Scott Sanford, R-McKinney, a former business owner and now state representative and church minister, told the TEXAN that

the legislation is a preemptive bulwark against a rapidly shifting tide of advocacy-propelled legal action against businesses (and eventually clergy) endorsed by LGBT organizations like Texas Wins.

The legislation seeks to stymie government overreach, which would compel people of deeply held religious faith to violate their convictions by affirming LGBT lifestyles and same-sex marriage or face prosecution.

“This general climate is moving toward a government that will require clergy to marry anyone who requests it,” said Sanford, executive pastor of stewardship and operations at Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church in Allen.

In Colorado, Oregon, Washington, New York and Arizona a growing number of small business owners have run afoul of similar nondiscrimination and state same-sex marriage laws. They have been sued by homosexual couples and

Pastor David Wilson of Southcrest Baptist Church in Lubbock was asked by his church member State Senator Chales Perry, R-Lubbock, to speak on the issue of God’s design for marriage during the Defense of the Texas Marriage Amendment Rally sponsored by Conservative Republicans for Texas. PHOTO BY BONNIE PRITCHETT

state attorney generals for refusing, on religious grounds, to provide services for same-sex weddings.

Those cases have not been dropped, and some shop owners have lost their businesses while others face a similar fate.

TAB president Chris Wallace told The TEXAN his organization opposes House and Senate joint resolutions calling for a Religious Freedom and Restoration Act (RFRA) constitutional amendment because it would hurt economic development in the state.

“We’re hoping our leadership will see we don’t want this kind of discussion because it says some people aren’t welcome [in Texas],” Wallace said.

Rep. Cecil Bell, R-Magnolia, said as a businessman he requires no sexual litmus test for qualified job candidates. But, once hired, employees are expected to act appropriately, and a person’s sexual proclivities should not become an issue in the workplace. For example, he said, any employee guilty of sexual harassment on the job will be fired whether that person is homosexual or heterosexual.

The heterosexual person has no grounds for suing the employer,

but in some Texas cities with LGBT non-discrimination ordinances and states with legally recognized samesex marriage, an LGBT person could sue for discrimination.

“Our employers shouldn’t be put in the position of being sued,” said Bell, who authored HB 1745 regarding the issuance of marriage licenses.

Sanford’s legislation, HB 3567, would override local laws like Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance that enables lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders to file a complaint with the city against an individual or business they believe has discriminated against them in areas of employment, housing and

public accommodation. If found in violation of the ordinance, pastors and business owners could be cited and fined. Although the Houston ordinance is not yet implemented due to legal challenges, similar laws in Austin, Plano and San Antonio are in effect.

One of the constitutional amendments opposed by Texas Wins, House Joint Resolution 55, was dropped by its author Rep. Jason Viallabla, R-Dallas, days before the filing deadline of March 13. Texas Wins touted Viallabla’s action as a bold move and a win for Texans. But no such public proclamation was made when Rep. Matt Krause, R-Ft. Worth, picked up the mantle and refiled the measure as House Joint Resolution 125.

Krause, an attorney, said he sees a pattern of religious liberty infringements perpetuated in the name of LGBT civil rights. Without protection at the state level, local laws pit religious freedom against sexual orientation and gender identity, with the latter often prevailing.

Senator Donna Campbell introduced Senate Joint Resolution 10, a redo of a bill filed in 2013 and similar to Krause’s. In an email statement to the TEXAN, Campbell wrote: “SJR 10 is about stopping

Rep. Cecil Bell (left) and Rev. William Owens (right) shared the podium during a question and answer by the media following their comments supporting the Texas marriage amendment, current pro-traditional marriage legislation, and the significant distinction between the U.S. Civil Rights movement and socalled gay rights.

PHOTO BY BONNIE PRITCHETT

MARCH 31, 2015 TEXANONLINE.NET 21

overreaching governments at the local level from forcing Texans to run their businesses in opposition to their values and principles.”

Proponents of the religious liberty bills reminded their detractors that Christian business owners let their faith inform all of their business practices and the conflict with affirming LGBT lifestyles is only a small fraction of their work—if it ever becomes an issue at all. And bills like Sanford’s HB 3567 are not a license to discriminate. They ensure business owners and

About 300 people gathered at the State Capitol March 23 for the Defense of the Texas Marriage Amendment Rally. The rally featured state legislators, national religious liberty advocates and outspoken Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore. PHOTO BY BONNIE PRITCHETT

clergy can continue to operate, by faith, in the way they always have

without fear of being sued for acting honestly within their faith.

TEXAS LEGISLATURE DEBATING BILLS ON RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE Legislators in the 84th session of the Texas Legislature have drafted bills to shore up existing law, hold to account any rogue county clerks issuing marriage licenses, and protect individuals who choose to live by their religious convictions rather acquiesce to secular morals.

Texas has a Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) statute, but two joint resolutions—HJR 125 authored by Matt Krause, R-Ft. Worth, and SJR 10 authored

by Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels—would, if passed, put the measure to a vote by Texans for the establishment of a constitutional amendment.

Supporters argue the Restoring Religious Freedom Amendment, much like the 1993 federal RFRA, which Congress passed unanimously and President Bill Clinton signed into law, is needed to ensure the staying 22 TEXANONLINE.NET MARCH 31, 2015

power of the act.

Rep. Cecil Bell, R-Magnolia, has introduced HB 3602 and HB 1745. HB 3602, called the Marriage and Religious Rights Ensured Act, affords Texans the ability to “freely act or refuse to act in accordance with a sincerely held religious belief” and limits reprisals against the person for his action. HB 1745, known as the Preservation of Sovereignty and Marriage Act, seeks to “clarify that no state or local governmental employee may be compelled to recognize a marriage or grant or enforce a marriage license that violates a personal religious belief.”

In an attempt to deter county clerks from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in violation of Texas law and make the Secretary of State the sole issuer of marriage licenses, Bell and Senator Charles Perry,

R-Lubbock, authored identical bills, HB 623 and SB 673.

County clerks would continue to issue the licenses, but making the Secretary of State solely responsible expedites any legal action regarding marriage licenses. The bill also prohibits the use of state or local funds for the licensing of any marriage not in accordance with Texas law.

Scott Sanford, R-McKinney, authored HB 3567, which would protect clergy against civil and criminal prosecution for refusing to solemnize or provide any accommodations for same-sex marriages. Sanford, a minister at Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church in Allen, told the TEXAN he sees the day coming, if samesex marriage upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, when clergy will be required to perform same-sex weddings.

David Platt

Church planting to reach the nations

W

ith over 80 percent of people on our continent now living in metropolitan areas, the need for more biblically faithful churches in key urban centers is critical.

Over the last year, I have had the privilege of visiting and preaching in many of the “Send” cities designated by the North American Mission Board. As I have interacted with church planting and revitalization teams, I have been deeply encouraged to see and hear about all the avenues God is blessing for the spread of the gospel in North America.

The rapidly shifting moral landscape of our culture, combined with the sobering reality that many of the most influential cities in North America are filled with lost people—yet are home to very few churches—beckons us to do more together to reach these cities.

God’s primary instrument for the spread of the gospel here and around the world is the local church. We know from the New

Testament that Christ is building his church and that the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).

Consequently, I praise God for the laser-focused vision of the North American Mission Board to plant and revitalize churches in these cities for the spread of the gospel in this nation and to all nations. It is from these churches that men and women, filled by the Spirit of God, equipped with the Word of God and compelled by the grace of God, will serve as ambassadors of Christ and agents of reconciliation in these cities. May it be that through the church planting efforts of NAMB and other cooperating partners that God will use us to “turn the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) as we co-labor on mission together.

As we prepare to enter this Easter season and celebrate the resurrection of our conquering king, I want to encourage churches to give to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. This offering helps fuel church planting and church revitalization efforts across North America. The purpose of this offering rightly reflects the personal conviction of Annie Armstrong that more can, and should, be done in our missions efforts right here at home.

God, in his sovereignty, has uniquely positioned Southern Baptists to play a vital part in the Great Commission. By the grace of God, we have been equipped to intentionally and relentlessly engage our cities, our nation and the world with the lifechanging message of the gospel. I am grateful for NAMB and the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention, and I pray that God will do exceedingly more than we can ask or imagine through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering in 2015.

—David Platt is president of the International Mission Board. The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions provides support for missionaries who serve on behalf of Southern Baptists across the continent. This year’s theme is “Send North America,” with a goal of $60 million. For more information, visit AnnieArmstrong.com.

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