April 30, 2013 - Issue #8

May 1, 2013 • ISSUE 8

Cultural norms aside, some Texas women say they are fulfilling a God-ordained calling, career and ministry in motherhood.

Boston: Church planter caught in crossfire

New Bush library features influence of faith

Contents 2 6

My successful women The thing we often neglect is to learn from the successful women in our past. Our gratitude implies that there is value in her example.

Southern Baptist DR does ‘our thing’ in hardest-hit area of West Southern Baptist DR volunteers, the Salvation Army and the Red Cross were the three relief groups allowed unlimited access to what was deemed “Zone 3”—the most devastated area of West, Texas.

12

Homemaking—through the generations

championed in film 3 Life on Beethoven’s mother Imagine millions of people watching a powerful 15-minute pro-life short film, free on YouTube, that recounts the true story of how one of the most famous people in history nearly was aborted.

9

COVER STORY The roles mothers play are numerous, but for some Texas women, those roles fulfill a God-ordained calling, career and ministry.

I am many things—child of God, wife, mother, writer, and blogger. My role as a homemaker facilitates all of these priorities.

16

Bush library features influence of faith Just a few feet into the exhibit area is the testimony to the 43rd U.S. president’s faith in God that turned his life around in 1986.

TEXAN Digital 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 Jerry Pierce, Managing Editor Tammi Ledbetter, News Editor Russell Lightner, Design & Layout Stephanie Barksdale, Subscriptions Contributing Writers Jane Rodgers, Melissa Deming, Stephanie Heading, Merri Brown, Keith Collier To contact the TEXAN office, visit texanonline.net/contact or call toll free 877.953.7282 (SBTC)

Gary Ledbetter

My successful women

T

he women in my life have, or have had, “it all.” Most of them were running their homes before the term “homemaker” was coined. My greatgrandmothers and their daughters would have simply considered themselves wives and mothers. Those ladies finished their races surrounded by those they had so well loved for decades—honor to whom honor is due. My mother and mother-in-law are both women who continue to add love, meaning, and order to the lives of their children, grandchildren, and great grandchild. Refrigerators covered with photos are like trophy cases of champions who sacrificed for the prizes they now enjoy.

My own wife basks in influence, affection, and deep respect that she has earned from her family by the love and time she has given for nearly 37 years. My daughter and daughtersin-law follow the paths of their own mothers as they seek God’s guidance for their own homes, as they seek God’s call for the families they build. The differences between these generations touch nearly every aspect of life, but none of them were or are demeaned by making their families first among their earthly priorities.

None of these ladies can be called victims of a lesser calling.

I’m probably not arguing with anyone who’s likely reading this column. I am heartened by a kind of family reformation among Christians in the generations behind me. These happy few have seen through the melancholy tragedy of women who have “won” the battle of the sexes.

Our culture still trumpets this accomplishment but it’s a pyrrhic victory as our society unravels and our birthrate drops as families are set free from coherent definition—set free from honor and protection deemed merely decent for thousands of years. But the joy and significance of fathers and mothers and children is still sweet 2 TEXANONLINE.NET MAY 1, 2013

for those who will jump in feet first.

Christians have something important to share, I think. My wife was the “Kool-Aid mom” of at least one neighborhood where we lived. You may recall the TV commercial of the lady whose home was overrun with neighborhood kids because she served a sugary drink, the Kool-Aid mom. Tammi ran the neighborhood fun house because she was there on summer afternoons and because she threw herself into mom-ness.

Our yard was often full of wading pools, homemade cookies, and dirty kids of unknown (to me) lineage. She could have been elsewhere but she didn’t want to be. That sort of memory is not less precious than more common professional acclaim to her because it was the expression of her calling to her home. She was also the home-schooling mom, the field trip volunteer mom, the VBS director mom, and the public school classroom-volunteer mom. How many families with different priorities have been blessed by those she followed?

Christian families get this more than do other families.

This notion of family as a calling flows naturally out of our understanding of the gospel. As a beneficiary of generations of godly women I’ve come to see the role as similar to the humility modeled by Jesus. A successful homebuilder is one who must “count others as more significant than [herself].”

So I guess we can say that a successful homemaker is so because she is like a maturing Christian. That would likely be the testimony of generations of sons, daughters, husbands and grandchildren.

How can men encourage women in the priority of family? One important way is praise. Clearly expressed rewards and gratitude are built into other careers. Moms don’t get the same immediate, institutional payoff—as nice as a little tyke’s hug might be. Gratitude and attention from a fellow grown-up is understandably encouraging.

There’s an aspect of sacrifice in the follow of any call— you follow it to the exclusion of most others. Men, I say this gently as I can, but what sacrifice do you offer to the calling of family—career affirmation, hobbies, downtime in front of the TV? Some husbands may discourage their wives from the priority of home so the family’s finances will work out more easily. It is our responsibility first to provide for our families; our wives’ participation in that is a fallback we should use more judiciously than I commonly see in our society.

This Mothers’ Day consider your mother’s example more carefully. What did she do, what did she give up, what did she commit to in order to be all she is to you? The thing we often neglect is to learn from the example of the godly women in our past. Our gratitude implies that there is value in her example. Wise people never outgrow what they learned from their mothers.

Briefly

NORTH AMERICA

Life championed in film on Beethoven’s mother

Lawyer: German homeschool family deserves asylum

Imagine millions of people

A German family should be granted asylum in the U.S. because their native government is denying a fundamental human right by preventing them from homeschooling their children, attorney Michael Farris told a three-judge panel of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals on April 23 in Cincinnati.

But the judges suggested that they may not grant asylum, arguing that mistreatment by the German government is not tantamount to persecution and not necessarily a ground for allowing the family to remain in America.

The family, devout Christians Uwe and Hannelore Romeike and their five children, fled Germany in 2008 after facing heavy fines and the threat of losing custody of the children unless they attended school. The Romeikes have since had a sixth child and expect a seventh in June. They were granted asylum by an immigration judge in 2010, but the Obama administration appealed the decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals and won.

Farris, chairman of the Virginia-based Home School Legal Defense Association, told Baptist Press after the arguments that it is illogical for the administration to oppose the Romeikes’ request for asylum.

“It makes no sense to me why the Obama administration wants to send a German homeschool family home while they are so lenient to so many others,” Farris said in an interview. “There is no rational explanation in my judgment. Forget the legal arguments. Legal arguments are debatable, but the political assessment just makes no sense at all.”

makes films with the goal of

watching a powerful 15-min-

changing the culture. “The

ute pro-life short film, free on

long-lasting impact is going to

YouTube, that recounts the

be providing this to the world

true story of how one of the

for free.”

most famous people in history nearly was aborted.

Now, imagine many of those

Jones has another goal: seeing more churches partner with crisis pregnancy centers.

viewers re-thinking their pre-

Movie to Movement will do-

vious pro-choice views.

nate half of the screening fee

That’s the goal behind a new short film, “Crescendo,” that has received 11 interna-

to a crisis pregnancy center of the church’s choosing.

“We would like to see great-

tional film festival honors.

er involvement by churches

The film has not been posted

with crisis pregnancy cen-

yet on YouTube, but will be

ters,” Jones said. “We find that

when around $10 million has

in most communities, there’s

been raised for crisis preg-

only one or two churches that

nancy centers via screenings

carry the whole load for a

by churches and pregnancy

pregnancy center.”

centers. Churches can screen it for $1,000.

The film was made by the

The film recounts the struggles of Maria Magdalena Beethoven, the mother of

same producers who filmed

19th-century composer Lud-

“Bella,” the 2007 pro-life film

wig van Beethoven.

that was a surprise hit in

Crescendo has received

theaters and was credited for

more attention than most

leading an untold number of

short films because its execu-

women to choose life.

tive producer is Pattie Mal-

“We made this film for

lette, Justin Bieber’s mom.

YouTube, we made this film

Mallette became pregnant as

for Twitter and Facebook,”

a teenager and gave birth to

Crescendo producer Jason

Justin at 18 despite her friends

Jones told Baptist Press. Jones’

urging her to get an abortion.

company, Movie to Movement, MAY 1, 2013 TEXANONLINE.NET 3

Boston: Church planter caught in crossfire A Southern Baptist church plant- Dzhokhar, evaded police for another ing resident at a Boston-area church 15 hours. found himself, along with his wife, in “The gunshots were continuing. We the crossfire of a police shootout ear- heard glass break. We started crawlly on April 19 with the two suspects ing into the kitchen of our home—me, in the Boston Marathon Emily and our dog,” bombings.

McAlpin recounted to Stephen McAlpin, NBC’s Brian Williams who is nearing the end Friday afternoon. “As I haven’t been able of a one-year North we were crawling, we American Mission to go to sleep. We’re saw a large flash like Board church planting exhausted. But we’ve an explosion. We got internship with Hope underneath our kitchjust been trying to Fellowship Church in en table and continshare about what Cambridge, Mass., ued to hear gunshots. happened and even had just gone to bed just tell people about They were much loudaround 12:40 a.m. er and felt closer.” the kind of hope that when he and his wife McAlpin told Wilwe’ve found in God heard something that liams via telephone during this really sounded like fireworks. that he and his wife dark time.”

By then officials had are Christians and identified two brothers they prayed in those —Stephen McAlpin believed to be responmost dangerous mosible for the double ments that God would bombings that killed three keep them safe. and injured more than 170 people “We prayed for God’s grace to April 15, and April 18 the suspects hi- protect us and protect our neighbors jacked a car in Cambridge and drove and just sat there,” he said. to Watertown, where McAlpin lives, McAlpin also told Williams, “We’re while being pursued by police. in shock. I haven’t been able to go to A dramatic shootout commenced sleep. We’re exhausted. But we’ve outside McAlpin’s home, resulting just been trying to share about what in the death of one of the suspects, happened and even just tell people Tamerlan Tsarnaev. His brother, about the kind of hope that we’ve

“We’re in shock.

A bullet lodged in church planter Stephen McAlpin’s TV, likely preventing it from entering the bedroom on the other side of the wall.

McAlpin and his wife Emily huddled in the bathroom of their Watertown, Mass., home while, outside, police engaged in a shoot-out with one of the suspects in April 15’s bombing at the Boston Marathon. BP photo

found in God during this really dark time.”

McAlpin told Williams he has been working at a church called Hope Fellowship to learn church planting with hopes of starting a congregation in the Los Angeles area.

As he closed the interview, Williams told McAlpin, “My hat’s off to you for the generosity of spirit that I’m hearing in your reaction after what you’ve been through last night.”

Boston bombers used al Qaeda online bomb recipe Authorities said Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and older brother Tamerlan were inspired by anti-American Islamist rhetoric online and used a bomb-making recipe from al Qaeda’s online magazine to make the deadly bombs used during the Boston Marathon.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the two used materials purchased at a New Hampshire fireworks company as part of their bomb making. The same company unwittingly sold ma-

4 TEXANONLINE.NET MAY 1, 2013

terials used in a failed Times Square bombing plot in 2010, the newspaper reported.

On April 23, FBI officials briefed U.S. lawmakers. Sen. Richard Burr (R.-N.C.) said it was his clear understanding that the older brother was the driving force for the plot.

Writing in World magazine, syndicated columnist Cal Thomas reminded readers: “Osama bin Laden’s announced intention was to conduct

a ‘war of a thousand cuts’ against America to harm our economy and permanently change our way of life.

If he can see from hell, he must be pleased about the way things are going.”

Thomas said more must be done, modern sensibilities aside, to curtail the admission of radical imams and the construction of Muslim schools and mosques where Islamist ideas are taught.

INTERNATIONAL

Iranian pastor told to recant his faith or else remain in prison

By Erin Roach

ternal bleeding caused by repeated abuse, TEHRAN Abedini, a naturalized (BP) Iranian officials have pressured imU.S. citizen, finally prisoned pastor Saeed Abedini to renounce was granted a hospital his faith in Jesus even as they have stepped visit but then was taken up their physical abuse and psychological away without receiving torture of him, including taking him to a treatment, being told hospital but denying him medical treatSaeed Abedini the specialist he was to ment, according to recent reports. see was not available.

In a letter obtained by the American “These beatings and the internal injuries Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), Abedini— are causing Pastor Saeed frequent fainting a U.S. citizen of Iranian descent—wrote spells,” Sekulow wrote. “Iranian officials that he was told by Iranian prison officials, are telling Pastor Saeed it could be an ad“Deny your faith in Jesus ditional two months before he Christ and return to Islam or “The reality of will receive medical treatment. else you will not be released Christian living is that Such a delay is inhumane and from prison. We will make difficulties or problems a gross violation of Iran’s insure you are kept here even do arise in our lives,” ternational obligations.” after your 8 year sentence is Abedini wrote. “PerseAdditionally, Abedini told his finished.” cution and difficulties family that cellmates recently Abedini’s response, he are not new occurrencthreatened to suffocate him in wrote, is Romans 8:35-39, es, but are seen often his sleep and make his death which says persecution and in the Christian life. It look like an accident, a risk death cannot separate a beis through the sufferthat weighs heavily on him. liever from Christ. ing and tribulations “I cannot express in words “The reality of Christian that we are to enter the how concerned I am about Kingdom of God.” living is that difficulties or Saeed’s physical and mental problems do arise in our health,” his wife, Naghmeh —Saeed Abedini lives,” Abedini wrote. “PerseAbedini, said. “He is now cution and difficulties are not continually attacked and threatnew occurrences, but are seen ened.

The Iranian government should know often in the Christian life. It is through the that we are watching and aware of what suffering and tribulations that we are to they are doing to Saeed inside Evin prison. enter the Kingdom of God.” We need to speak louder until Saeed is home The pastor closed the letter, ACLJ said in safely on U.S. soil.” a news release April 10, by writing, “PasIn an effort to bolster the pastor’s morale, tor Saeed Abedini, the servant and slave of Jesus Christ in chains, with a lot of joy to see ACLJ, which is representing his wife and two children in the United States, launched you soon. Evin Prison 9th March 2013.”

Jordan Sekulow, ACLJ’s executive director, a letter writing campaign to send as many said it’s clear that Abedini’s faith is sustain- encouraging notes as possible to Abedini for his 33rd birthday May 7. ing him even as he suffers from increased “We want Pastor Saeed to know that he brutality at the hands of prison guards. is not forgotten and thousands upon thouSekulow reported April 15 that Abedini’s sands of people are fighting for his freeIranian family visited him in prison that dom,” Sekulow said. day and saw firsthand the marks and sympThe effort quickly became one of the largtoms left by a severe beating he received est letter writing campaigns in history, with when officials took him to a hospital the more than 33,000 people sending letters of previous week. support as of April 15. Letters can be written After being promised medical care for inat SaveSaeed.org.

Panelists: White House failing on China human rights The White House has failed to respond properly to human rights abuses in China, said experts at a recent Capitol Hill hearing.

Chen Guangcheng and Geng He gave testimonies illustrating the brutality of the Chinese regime before a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee April 9. Although the hearing focused on their treatment, it also highlighted what the current administration should do to demand human rights protection in China.

“We requested that President Obama personally meet with Geng He and Chen Guangcheng during their visit to Washington,” said Jared Genser, founder of Freedom Now, which seeks the release of prisoners of conscience.

“In my view, such a meeting would send a clear, unequivocal message that the continued targeting of rights lawyers and their families by Chinese authorities would no longer be tolerated by the international community.”

The meeting never took place, which disappointed Genser. As a “superpower” country, America must fight for the human rights of all people, especially in countries like China that claim to be lawabiding and are not, he said.

“We cannot continue to tolerate the Chinese Communist authorities continuing to go back on their words and deceiving the international community at will,” Chen said.

The United States must “increase the pressure” on the Chinese government, Genser told members of the House subcommittee that addresses global human rights.

MAY 1, 2013 TEXANONLINE.NET 5

Southern Baptist DR does ‘our thing’ in hardest-hit area of West

By Jane Rodgers WEST

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief workers, including SBTC volunteers and chaplains, were among those allowed to accompany residents returning to their homes Saturday (April 27) into the area of the town of West most heavily devastated by the deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant on April 17.

These Southern Baptist volunteers are known as the men and women in the yellow hats.

“Yellow caps, yellow hats, yellow shirts, that’s us,” said Darryl Cason of the characteristic garb of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief workers. Cason has served as SBTC incident commander since April 18, rotating that duty with others, including Mike Jansen and Scottie Stice.

The yellow hats, the Salvation Army and the Red Cross were the only three relief groups allowed unlimited access to what was deemed “Zone 3”—the most devastated area—over the weekend, Cason said.

“On Saturday morning we arrived at Zone 3 at 6 a.m.

Authorities were supposed to escort us in. Instead, when we arrived, officials told us to go on in and do our thing. So we did our thing,” Cason said.

Southern Baptist volunteers and chaplains walked through Zone 3, checked with homeowners, checked on the status of work orders and helped people retrieve things from their homes.

A group from West Side Baptist Church of Atlanta, Texas, led by Pastor Jim Howard, cleared out a woman’s home where sheetrock was crumbling. They also helped her get her car out of the garage.

Meanwhile, SBTC chaplains and workers ministered in practical and spiritual ways.

“Many of the folks, when we start talking to them, start crying,” Cason said. “Then you pray with them and try to console them.”

“One lady, who was French and who had married and come to West, did arts and crafts. When workers brought out some of her crafts, she broke down. I 6 TEXANONLINE.NET MAY 1, 2013

SBTC DR chaplain Gordon Knight counsels a person in the aftermath of the deadly explosion in West, Texas. photos by Brent burden/texan digital

“On Saturday morning we arrived at Zone 3 at 6 a.m.

Authorities were supposed to escort us in. Instead, when we arrived, officials told us to go on in and do our thing.

So we did our thing.”

—Daryl Cason

The devastating blast damaged homes six blocks away and registered a 2.1 on the Richter scale.

The SBTC laundry unit has washed and dried over 150 loads of laundry for emergency workers.

comforted her and prayed with her. We helped her husband get his car out of the garage too,” said Cason, describing a typical encounter.

Other residents were simply prayed for, Cason said.

Much of the work in Zone 3 has involved helping retrieve homeowners’ prized possessions.

Cason said SBTC chaplains and other Southern Baptist volunteers have also had long conversations with police and emergency workers. “They need comforting too,” Cason said.

The fatality count for the West disaster remains at 15, most of whom were first responders.

The total could have been much higher. The fact that so many people had gone outside to watch the fire may have spared many lives, Cason said.

“When the roofs fell in, the people were outside. We have talked to a number of people who were outside.

They were glad they were when they saw the inside of their homes,” he added.

One example of the devastation: “You can stand in front of the apartment complex [adjacent to the blast site] and see through to the back of almost every apartment,” Cason said.

First Baptist Church of Gholson was continuing to house SBTC chaplains and volunteers, generously providing meals and places to sleep after long days.

Southern Baptist volunteers joined in worship Sunday (April 28) at First Baptist Church of West, whose pastor, John Crowder, lost his home in the explosion. Last Sunday, the congregation worshiped in a hayfield.

“The church was full,” Cason said. “Several yellow

shirts were there. The Texas Baptist Men [of the Baptist General Convention of Texas] cooked a meal and served the church members and others, probably 200300, including several commanding officers from the Texas Department of Public Safety.”

Among those served was Captain Jim Smith, the DPS officer in charge of operations in West. Motorcycle policemen and game wardens stopped to eat also.

“We’ve had a good relationship with the authorities here,” said Cason, who noted that SBTC volunteers had moved the shower unit from the fairgrounds to the emergency operations center now located at West High School at the request of state emergency management.

The shower unit will be used by forest service workers and other emergency workers. The SBTC cleans and maintains it.

Also, the SBTC laundry unit continues to do service for displaced families at the Best Western hotel.

“The laundry unit has washed and dried over 150 loads of laundry,” said Jim Richardson, SBTC Disaster Relief director. Richardson also noted that churches across the convention provided vans and buses to transport the families of fallen firefighters to the memorial service at Baylor University’s Ferrell Center.

The SBTC feeding unit from Pflugerville was brought to the Baylor campus where volunteers, including Red Cross volunteers, local citizens and Baylor students, prepared and served thousands of breakfasts and snack lunches to those attending the memorial, Richardson said.

Field ministry strategist Ted Elmore represented the SBTC at Thursday’s three-hour memorial service, with Elmore calling it “impressive” and “emotional.”

President Obama and Gov. Rick Perry spoke, with the president speaking from Psalm 66:10-12.

Each family provided video recorded comments and photos of their deceased loved ones. “The Scripture on the screen was John 15:13, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends,’” Elmore said.

The SBTC will continue to deploy disaster relief workers, chaplains, the shower unit and laundry unit as long as necessary, Richardson said.

“The West community leadership has requested no further donations of water and clothes. If churches want to help, financial contributions are encouraged,” Richardson said.

MAY 1, 2013 TEXANONLINE.NET 7

SWBTS prof introduces President Obama to grieving families

By Keith Collier WACO

Less than 24 hours after a fertilizer plant exploded in the central Texas town of West, Fire Chaplain John Babler arrived on the scene and helped emergency crews remove the remains of fallen first responders from the blast zone.

A week later, as Co-Incident Commander for the Texas Line of Duty Death (LODD) Task Force, Babler introduced President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama to the families of the 12 fallen firefighters and EMS workers following the April 25 memorial service at Baylor University’s Ferrell Center.

“When the president arrived, there were three of us who met him and welcomed him on behalf of the task force,” said Babler, who serves as associate professor of

Chaplain John Babler (far right) pictured during the memorial service at Baylor University on April 25.

8 TEXANONLINE.NET MAY 1, 2013

counseling at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.

“He and Mrs. Obama were very compassionate and thankful for what we had done.”

Following the memorial service, the president and first lady spent an additional President Obama address the memorial service of the fallen hour meeting with each victims of the West explosion on April 25. photos by Adam Covington family individually.

“Both he and Mrs. Obama included planning the joint went group to group introducing memorial service, providing honor themselves, talking with each guard and chaplaincy support for person,” Babler said. “I had the the families as well as firefighters opportunity to walk through with and EMS workers, and providing them. In addition to his remarks support for the individual funerals. during the program being very “Since we found out that appropriate and very helpful and President Obama would be encouraging to the families, that attending the service,” Babler said, time with them alone after, I know, “much of my time was spent in was very encouraging to them.” planning meetings with White In the wake of the April 17 House staff, Secret Service, Baylor tragedy that made national University, and others as we news, Babler experienced long developed and coordinated the hours, little sleep, and emotional memorial service.” exhaustion. Still, Babler and his Babler said his goal was to “honor colleagues embraced the difficult the fallen while making sure that assignment in front of them. the fallen were the focus of and “My primary role the night [after were truly honored by the service the blast] was to go into the hot and that the families, firefighters zone and represent the families and EMS workers were the VIPs of as a chaplain and make sure that the service.” Thousands of friends, their loved ones were handled with family and community members dignity as they were placed in the attended the memorial service, funeral home van and honor guard which featured remarks from members draped them with a U.S. President Obama, Texas Gov. Rick flag,” Babler recalls.

Perry, Baylor President Ken Starr, Babler’s responsibilities in the and others. week following the explosion

Prayer-warrior.

Home manager.

Teacher.

Evangelist.

Giver.

MOM.

The roles mothers play are numerous, but for some Texas women, those roles fulfill a God-ordained calling, career and ministry.

By Melissa Deming

s stay-at-home mothers increasingly become the exception, some women are interpreting Paul’s Titus 2:5 prescription for women to serve as homemakers as a call to ministry. In honor of Mother’s Day, the TEXAN asked several Texas women to weigh in on the role of motherhood as a calling, career or ministry.

Jenna Lorick said she believes motherhood is all three. Lorick is the mother of four children, ages 16 months to 8 years, the youngest of which joined their family through adoption.

“Just the other day I was talking with my boys about going to college someday,” said Lorick, wife of SBTC Evangelism Director Nathan Lorick. “They asked why college was important, and I told them that it is hard to get a job without going to college. They all wanted to know if I had been.

When I told them ‘yes,’ they were quick to ask why I didn’t have a job!”

“With a smile I reminded them that I do have a job. My job for now is to take care of them and our home. I did spend a few years working outside of the home when we only had two children, and let me just say, it was like having two careers.”

But Lorick said that motherhood is also a calling, otherwise she’d be tempted to give up on difficult days.

“Motherhood is full of some wonderful moments, but it is also full of a lot of mundane moments … never-ending laundry, disciplining and redirection over the same offense countless times in a single day ... It

“Motherhood is full of some wonderful moments, but it is also full of a lot of mundane moments … never-ending laundry, disciplining and redirection over the same offense countless times in a single day ... It is easy to get discouraged without the reminder that God has called me to be the mother of these four little ones.”

—Jenna Lorick

MAY 1, 2013 TEXANONLINE.NET 9

is easy to get discouraged without the reminder that God has called me to be the mother of these four little ones. He has entrusted them to me for a short time and on the days when I don’t feel up to that calling, he reminds me that he is the God who equips those he calls.”

in. I didn’t want to give up my career so easily,” she said, noting that her perspective changed at the birth of her daughter.

“Being a mother is a beautiful blessing,” Burris said, adding that before she came to Christ the hardships of Indian women often veiled the significance of motherhood for her.

A ministry of prayer “After reading the stories of Sarah, Rebekah, Above all, Lorick views motherhood as a ministry. Hannah and Elizabeth in the Bible, I realized that “I see my sweet little crew as my Jerusalem. The first all these women were grieving for the lack of and foremost place that I am to be a witness for my offspring. Having a child was not only a blessing Savior is in my own home with my family.” to them but it brought a blessing to the world,” Lorick said one of her favorite ministries as a she explained. “Ruth’s obedience changed the mother is the ministry of prayer. world; she continues to inspire me. I believe that “I have the privilege of lifting up my little crew motherhood … can be the conduit to bless many to the Father at any time for any reason,” she said, beyond yourself.” adding that she loves to pray Psalm 86:11-12 for Burris said she hopes that her main ministry of them. “It is my prayer that my children will serve motherhood is to teach her children to bless others— him and praise him with hearts that are not divided, primarily by instilling in them obedience to the hearts that are totally his.”

Great Commission.

A few summers ago, Lorick said she began praying for her oldest son’s salvation. A few weeks after she A ministry of preparation began intentionally praying, he made a profession When her husband died at of faith. the age of 42, Karen Collett “I know that the majority of the prayers I pray for discovered nothing can prepare a my children will not be answered this quickly and mother for losing a husband and there will be some that I may never see answered parenting partner. As a widowed in my lifetime, but I do know that I serve a God who mother of three, Collett was forced to hears the prayers of his people.” step into new and unfamiliar roles.

“Losing a spouse did hit hard, and I felt it A ministry of impacted my ministry. Maybe the right word is it teaching & evangelism changed my ministry as a mother,” said Collett, Eleven years ago, Nivedita who serves as women’s auxiliary coordinator at Burris left India to move to the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. “When United States. Educated as a civil Dana died, I felt the weight alone of what I used to engineer and pursuing a career in share with my hubby.” information technology, Burris never “Having family time and prayer time went straight imagined herself as a homemaker. Today, to the forefront. My ministry during this time was to she is a stay-at-home mother of two (ages 6 and 4) make sure the girls knew the Lord was in charge. He by day, and international food blogger by night. had a plan—we needed to follow.”

“I view motherhood primarily as ministry which Above all, Collett believes motherhood is a blossomed from a calling,” said Burris, a member of ministry of preparing children for kingdom work. a church plant in Boerne called Currey Creek Baptist “I believe God’s purpose for our lives is to bring Church. others to him. Our lives, our actions, our thoughts, “Before I became a mother, I was very careerour hearts—all need to point to Jesus,” she said, focused. I had worked hard to go from a small-town reflecting on her now-grown children and her five Indian girl to stand independent, doing a job that I grandchildren. “I felt my role was to develop my wanted, in the country I’d always dreamed of living girls for kingdom work. My hope is that we gave 10 TEXANONLINE.NET MAY 1, 2013

them consistent love and values that shared how important they were to us—true gifts from the Lord.”

“Our goal was to teach them to relate to others, to love others, to respect others, to love Jesus—all with love and strength given to them by the Lord.”

Today, Collett said the blessings of preparing her children for kingdom work include watching her daughters manage their own homes and raise her grandchildren.

“All three daughters have warm homes, and they love opening their homes to others. I love seeing their gifts of hospitality. Watching my daughters’ families develop and grow makes me realize how important my role is to pray for them, to encourage them. It makes a difference.”

A ministry of sacrifice Jessalyn Hutto, writer and mother of three boys ages 4 months to 4 years, believes motherhood is both a ministry and a calling.

“I view motherhood primarily as a calling in that it is the Lord who blesses the womb and gives the gift of children to those he chooses. This doesn’t mean I am naturally gifted with the character qualities necessary for effective mothering, or that I have the abundance of resources needed for the task but rather that the Lord, through his infinite wisdom, has called me to care for the children he has entrusted to my husband and me,” said Hutto, who founded the website DesiringVirtue.com to help women apply Scripture to everyday life.

As a contributor to Karis, the newly formed women’s channel of the Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood website Hutto said motherhood is above all a ministry of sacrifice.

“I see my calling as a mother to be a ministry in two different ways. First, it is a ministry in the sense that it demands self-sacrifice. Every mother feels the weight of this ministry as she experiences countless sleepless nights caring for a fussy, nursing baby or as she sacrificially shuttles children around to various activities,” she said.

While her husband attends Southwestern Seminary, Hutto manages their home, cares for their three children, and is beginning to homeschool

their eldest.

“Having children and being a full-time homemaker has meant tremendous financial sacrifices on my husband’s and my part. We live in a small home, only have one family vehicle, and spend very little money on non-essentials,” she said. “For my husband, it has meant taking seminary much slower and watching many of his contemporaries graduate and go on to pastoral ministry sooner than he is able to. Though difficult, these are sacrifices we have been happy to make knowing that the eternal rewards far outweigh the temporal sacrifices.”

Hutto, a member of MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church in Irving, said she also believes motherhood is a Great Commission ministry.

“As mothers, our primary mission field is our children. We have a responsibility to raise our children in the knowledge and discipline of the Lord which requires time, creativity, effort, and commitment,” she said. “As in all things we are called to bring glory to our heavenly father, and the most important way we can do this with our children is through sharing the gospel with them and purposefully discipling them in the ways of the Lord.”

For Hutto and many others, the sacrifice of motherhood is worth it.

“As a stay-at-home mother, I have the opportunity and privilege to be the single greatest influence on my little children’s lives. This reality is both exciting and terrifying because I can either take advantage of the abundance of time we have together or waste it,” she said. “I am not responsible for saving them, only the Holy Spirit can awaken their hearts to new life, but God has given me the incredible responsibility of sharing the good news of the gospel with them and of training them in the ways of righteousness.”

“As a stay-at-home mother, I have the opportunity and privilege to be the single greatest influence on my little children’s lives. This reality is both exciting and terrifying because I can either take advantage of the abundance of time we have together or waste it.”

—Jessalyn Hutto

MAY 1, 2013 TEXANONLINE.NET 11

Homemaking – through the generations

By Melissa Deming I am many things—child of God, wife, mother, writer, and blogger. My role as a homemaker facilitates all of these priorities.

In fact, I come from a long line of homemakers. For generations, the women in my family have chosen to arrange their priorities around their families and their homes. It is a role of which I am very proud and grateful to those who preceded me for the sacrifice the homemaking priority required.

My great-grandmother’s introduction to homemaking began at the age of 9 when she willingly shouldered the responsibilities of caring for three siblings after the death of her mother. Standing as the true Proverbs 31 woman, my great-grandmother picked the cotton fields of Blossom, Texas, to buy a winter coat for her daughter. It was only after her daughter’s marriage that she took a dry cleaning job on Haskell Avenue in downtown Dallas.

My grandmother was a homemaker too. Before marrying, she worked in Dallas at the Murray Gin Company making bombs for World War II. When my mother entered college, my grandmother took a job outside the home, filling catalog orders for another Dallas-based company.

My mother graduated with a bachelor’s degree in library science at the height of the feminist movement in America. But when my oldest sister was born, Mom made the unpopular choice to quit her job as the general librarian at the Mesquite Public Library. At the time she earned more than my father, who was employed at a bank.

From our earliest memories, it is our mothers who teach us what ministry looks like—how to serve and orient our lives around others, and the painful sacrifices that are sometimes required.

Paul describes one ministry of motherhood in Titus 2:5 when he admonishes wives to be homemakers. Paul uses the Greek word oikourgos, which means “working at home” or “caring for the house.”

My own mother taught me what the ministry of working at home meant—cheerfully putting another’s interests before her own. Sadly, fewer mothers are passing along that generational vision to their daughters and those who do often pass down the logistics of home management without the keen eye 12 TEXANONLINE.NET MAY 1, 2013

for finding joy in everyday activities.

The late Edith Schaeffer believed homemaking was a hidden art—an art form that satisfied and fulfilled oneself and others. Facebook’s female Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg believes homemaking is drudgery. One woman saw the miraculous in the mundane, the other inequality in the minutia.

In her recent book “Lean-in: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead,” Sandberg urges women to “lean-in” to their careers for the betterment of all women.

Like feminists before her, Sandberg believes homemaking lowers the “expectations of what women can achieve.” And by choosing to focus on their families, women are not “demonstrating courage to reach for more opportunities, sit at more tables, and believe more in themselves.”

Not surprisingly, modern homemakers are being relieved of their duty, the cost of which is revealed in the meaning of the word itself.

In the Byzantine text, Titus 2:5’s rendering of homemaker is oikouros from the root “keeping watch.” The Alexandrian/Western text uses the aforementioned form oikourgos (“home worker” or “caring for the house.”)

The main difference between these two words is the absence of a gamma (the letter g), a variance that Southeastern Seminary’s Maurice Robinson, senior professor of New Testament, said offers no real theological differences. “…Even if some people might want to draw a fine line between ‘staying at home’ and ‘working at home’; I think both seem to indicate ‘managing the affairs of the home,’” said Robinson, a co-editor of the 2005 Byzantine Text, in an interview with the TEXAN. Taken together, both oikouros and oikourgos demonstrate the importance of the homemaking task—one as an industrious worker, the other as a

guardian. Neither nuance sounds inconsequential to me.

Last month, feminists around the world were sent aflutter when Susan Patton (a feminist pioneer at Princeton) advised female students at the historic institution to get married young.

Keli Goff, among other likeminded feminists, responded to Patton in an op-ed piece for The Guardian titled “Female Ivy League graduates have a duty to stay in the workforce.” It ran with the subtitle: “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be a full-time mother, but you don’t need an elite degree to do it.” Goff points an angry finger at educated women who choose to stay at home, calling their degrees a “wasted opportunity.”

“That degree could have gone to a woman who does want to spend her entire life using it to advance the cause of women—or others in need of advancement—not simply advancing the lives of her own family at home, which is a noble cause, but not one requiring an elite degree,” she writes.

If Goff had her way the “next frontier of the admissions should revolve around asking people to declare what they actually plan to do with their degrees.” Her suggested admissions policy would bar some women from higher education—an odd move considering women like Susan Patton fought hard for admission to Ivy League schools not too long ago.

My mother wasn’t educated at an Ivy League school, but she poured her education into mothering her daughters nonetheless.

Before the dawn of Pinterest, my mother created her own card catalog out of a shoebox. Inside were hundreds of hand-written index cards bearing a variety

of children’s book titles, their Dewey decimal numbers, and book summaries—organized by book genre. The shoebox, which was pulled out every summer to formulate reading lists for my two sisters and me, became a running joke in our family. Today, however, it is a family heirloom.

That shoebox represents to me a mother who put her classical education to creative use by educating her children on worldviews, cultures, and great literature long before the classical model of education ever became popular.

For my mother it would have been absurd for her to set about “advancing the cause of women” without first advancing the cause of the women living under her own roof.

In fact, most feminists would be surprised to discover that my mother opted out of the professional life not once but twice in her lifetime. When I was in high school, my father was laid off after a company merger. Because of the commitment my parents made to honor God’s prescription for wives to “guard their homes,” my mother chose not to pursue full-time work.

When I think of this sacrifice, the implications of which were financially serious, I get a painful lump in my throat. At the risk of her reputation as a “sensible” woman, she chose to cling fiercely to God’s promise of provision for our family.

While researching this piece, I asked my mother if she encountered any pushback over her decision to stay at home while my father looked for a new job. Yes, she said, but only from people in the church.

It is a sad day indeed when our nation’s guardians are being

pushed from their watch posts on a regular basis. But it’s a catastrophic event when the family of God tears down those remaining women who are brave enough to run counter to the world for the sake of their families. There are, after all, very few left.

I pray that our churches find intentional ways to build up all mothers who are making tough sacrifices for their children— whether it’s the stay-at-home mom who puts her career on hold or the single/divorced mother who sacrifices luxuries the modern world declares as must-haves.

My great-grandmother was one such woman. When she found herself divorced at the end of the Great Depression, she made ends meet by watching children after school as well as keeping house and cooking for a family friend. My pride in my homemaking heritage is derived in part from my greatgrandmother’s heroic response to difficult circumstances, but it also stems from the gracious posture she took against those who looked down their noses at her during a time when divorce carried a terrible stigma—inside the church and out.

When I see my greatgrandmother, I do not see a woman who viewed her life situation as drudgery from which she needed emancipation. I see a woman who resolutely set her face toward the future by giving her heart to fully minister to loved ones in the present.

Last week my great-grandmother would have been 114 years old.

Since her death, she has passed her post of “home guardian” to many mothers in my family. And while I often struggle to keep in step with her sacrificial spirit, I am forever grateful for the trenches she dug in preparation for my service.

MAY 1, 2013 TEXANONLINE.NET 13

BOOK REVIEW

‘The Christian Homemaker’s Handbook’

By Merri Brown What influences have helped define the 21st-century woman? Does a handbook, designed to equip women for the responsibilities of motherhood and managing a home, have a place in today’s society?

In 2009, the Perceptions of Homemaking Study was distributed internationally as a survey in electronic and paper format. Over a five-month period, 2,179 women responded to the survey designed to gauge the 21stcentury woman’s knowledge and ability to successfully manage the home. While the survey was met with an enthusiastic response, the results also revealed a concern from women 35 years and older that women younger than themselves were not receiving the knowledge and skills needed for managing a home that they had acquired.

According to Titus 2:3-5, older women play a critical role in passing down these practical skills of homemaking to the next generation of women through their example and personal instruction. Pat Ennis, co-editor with Dorothy Patterson of “The Christian Homemaker’s Handbook,” states, “Only when the younger and older women partner together to fulfill this biblical mandate will the Christian home be recovered.”

In addition to the practical skills of home management, the scriptural basis for God’s distinct design for women is not being effectively communicated in Christian homes and churches.

Ennis, distinguished professor and director of the homemaking program at Southwestern Seminary, writes that in teaching a character-based home economics class, she has found new students to be “increasingly unaware of God’s special instructions to women.”

Likewise, Patterson, professor of theology in women’s studies, laments that “society has suffered some serious

“society has suffered some serious blows from the advancement of feminism into the heart of the family.”

14 TEXANONLINE.NET MAY 1, 2013

blows from the advancement of feminism into the heart of the family.”

While the feminist movement in its onset observed true injustices against women, Candi Finch, also of Southwestern, writes that “its interpretation of how to solve these problems is incorrect because feminists abandon God and his plan for humanity.”

The book is a collaborative effort featuring 22 authors providing biblical foundations and practical instruction for managing the home.

The book’s 40 chapters cover teaching children, adoption, home decorating, biblical hospitality, family mealtimes, and modesty. Patterson writes, “Rearing the next generation is an awesome task … motherhood should encompass a lifetime investment.”

Additional topics addressed in this section reinforce the great value God places on every human life.

Those who recognize the value of investing their time and resources in the pursuit of homemaking still struggle to practically live out this role. Personality traits, lack of positive role models, challenging parenting issues, and lack of instruction and guidance can result in feelings of frustration and inadequacy. But “The Christian Homemaker’s Handbook,” provides ideas, insights and practical tips in areas where you may not be naturally strong.

As a resource for ministry leaders, “The Christian Homemakers Handbook” will encourage and equip women to live out their God-designed purpose. In a discipleship context, this resource in an excellent tool for equipping more mature women in their mentorship of younger women. However it is used, this book will serve as a treasured guide for women of all ages for years to come.

BOOK REVIEW

HBU prof says women’s ministry must not neglect the ‘life of the mind’

By Melissa Deming In her book “Defending the Faith: Apologetics in Women’s Ministry,” Mary Jo Sharp, assistant professor of apologetics at Houston Baptist University, seeks to aid the church in forming effective ministries that train women in confident, reasoned faith that results in transformed lives.

Sharp, who also serves on the SBTC women’s ministry team, said churches are missing out on a great opportunity in women’s ministry if they neglect theological and intellectual rigor.

“Women can only live according to what they truly believe, so to experience transformation we must attend to the life of the mind with renewed passion,” Sharp said.

Because many evangelical Christian women are living as “practical atheists”—confessing a faith they don’t really live—Sharp outlines several reasons why women’s ministries should incorporate apologetics into their goals, chief of which is the need for honest living. She writes: A woman who confidently understands her faith will be a woman transformed with a changed heart and life.

A woman who confidently understands her faith will be a proper evangelist.

A woman who confidently understands her faith will impact future generations and engage her community in “the cultural battle for truth.”

Pastors reading the book will be interested in the personal examples Sharp includes from Texas churches and women’s groups already incorporating apologetics through mentoring and Bible study.

Women’s ministry leaders will find Sharp’s four goals for implementing apologetics into women’s ministries instructive, especially the recommended resources and study material.

“We need to take an honest look at women’s ministries and ask how—or if—they are effectively making disciples of all nations,” Sharp writes in her conclusion.

“The ministry of women in the New Testament keenly focuses on mission work in the surrounding community as well as around the world. Currently, we see a great emphasis on encouraging one another through fellowship, which is important but is not the end in itself.

“We strengthen each other within our fellowship so that we can move beyond our comfort zones and be blessings in our communities. I suggest a revival of evangelistic emphasis within women’s ministries, a revival that includes both apologetics as discipleship and includes mission work that permeates our immediate surroundings, in addition to overseas.”

MAY 1, 2013 TEXANONLINE.NET 15

Newly dedicated presidential library features influence of faith in Bush administration

By Tammi Reed Ledbetter DALLAS

Faith and family are foundational elements guiding a visitor through the newly dedicated George W. Bush Presidential Center. Just a few feet into the exhibit area is the testimony to the 43rd U.S. president’s faith in God that turned his life around in 1986.

“At age forty, I finally found the strength to [quit drinking], a strength that came from love I had felt from my earliest days, and from faith that I didn’t fully discover for many years,” Bush wrote. “Faith changes lives,” he said. “I know because faith changed mine.”

The excerpt appears in a series of biographical panels portraying the strength of family, power of faith, call to service and a campaign of character.

Located at the entry to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, the 226,000-square-foot facility houses the

16 TEXANONLINE.NET MAY 1, 2013

library and museum, as well as the George W. Bush Institute.

The surrounding grounds are a 15-acre urban park that recreates a historic native prairie landscape, former first lady Laura Bush told reporters the Texas rose garden outside the museum provides “a chance to refresh” after walking through the 9/11 portion of the museum.

Not one to shy away from controversy, President Bush encouraged museum planners to give the public a look into key decisions during his two terms between 2001 and 2009, including the War on Terror, the response to Hurricane Katrina, the surge in military troops in Iraq to combat the insurgency and management of the financial crisis.

“One of the things George really wanted was for people to realize and know how many decisions come to the desk of the president,” explained Laura Bush during a news conference with media previewing the museum April 24. “Nearly every world problem comes to the desk of the president of the United States,” she said, crediting Bush Foundation President Mark Langdale, former ambassador to Costa Rica, with recreation of an interactive “decision points theater” where visitors consider options based on facts and advice offered.

“The idea was to show people what it’s like to have to make decisions quickly with the press hounding you on when you’re

going to decide and what you’re going to do and rely on information given from every source, from his own advisors and many other sources as well.”

Brendan Miniter, Bush Center senior editorial director, told the TEXAN, “President Bush provided guidance for us in developing this, of course.

The museum is constructed not necessarily as a tribute to him, but to the principles that guided him in public President George W. Bush flashes a “thumbs up” to a member of his administration at the opening of the life and from that you tell the stories,” George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. In attendance were all five living U.S. presidents and their wives—the honoree and his wife Laura, President and Mrs. Obama, George H.W. and Barbara Bush, Bill he explained. and Hillary Clinton and Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.

“So he set the final goal and guiding Photos by Charlene Ensley/Southern Baptist TEXAN principles, and the rest of it we built around that,” Miniter said.

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

That goal was pursued from the opening biographiPermanent exhibits in the entry feature just a few cal orientation, he noted. “If you know anything about of the gifts to the president from every continent, as the Bush family you know that family is very imporwell as a handful given to him by U.S. citizens. Those tant to them and how important faith was in President artifacts are as diverse as a steel dog bowl with pawBush answering the call to service to run for office.” shaped feet to an eagle sculpture to an artillery shell The next section features the faith-based commucasing passed along by an Air Force lieutenant general nity initiative, a theme woven through the introduccommemorating a successful operation. tory film as well. “One of the things he wanted to do Hands-on displays are geared to every age with a in his presidency was to help shape the culture in a kid-friendly finale that draws upon the worldwide apway to lead people to engage their community. His peal of the Bush family dogs, Scottish Terriers Barney faith helped guide him in public life to policies that and Mizz Beasley, as well as Millie, the English Springwere characterized as compassionate conservatism,” er Spaniel of Barbara and George H.W. Bush when they Miniter said. resided in the White House.

Winding down the exhibit area, visitors see the priPresident Bush’s conviction that “each individual is orities Bush intended to be the hallmarks of his presiequal and equally important” is communicated in disdency, including education reform, tax relief, an enplays honoring volunteerism and neighborly concern. hanced relationship with neighboring Mexico and care “We followed a principle rooted both in our Constitufor AIDS victims around the world. As the chronology tion and the best traditions of our nation,” he declared is told, the upsetting events of 9/11 arose on the heels at a 2008 conference recalled in one panel. “Governof a state dinner with the president of Mexico and the ment should never fund the teaching of faith, but it first lady’s bright red ball gown is overshadowed by a should support the good works of the faithful,” Bush towering beam from the ruins at Ground Zero in New reminded.

York City.

Describing his West Texas roots, Bush wrote, “My The 13th presidential library administered by the background leaves more than an accent. It leaves an National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) outlook—optimism—impatient with pretense, confiwas signed over on April 24. The extensive collection dent that people can chart their own course.” of 43,000 artifacts include a full-sized Oval office, He noted, “Laura and I share the same basic values. the bullhorn President Bush used to encourage first We share a West Texas upbringing that taught us that responders working in the rubble of the Twin Towers each individual is equal and equally important, but on Sept. 14, 2001, and a custom-designed dress worn also that each individual has a responsibility to be a

by Mrs. Bush for a state dinner honoring Her Majesty good neighbor and a good citizen.”

MAY 1, 2013 TEXANONLINE.NET 17

Prayers, presidential speeches at Bush dedication add biblical tone to event

By Jerry Pierce DALLAS

An affair that drew all five living American presidents to Dallas on April 25 opened and closed in prayers that referenced the prophet Micah’s call “to do justice and love kindness and walk humbly with our God” and success that “yet ultimately rests in your providential care.”

And as an estimated 10,000 people waited for George W. Bush to speak during the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center on the Southern Methodist University campus, a choir sang the words “as He died to make men holy let us die to make men free” in a rendition of “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

Such spiritual language accented the dedication of the library named for a president who counted himself

A reporter describes a series of biographical panels in the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. The panels portray strength of family, power of faith, call to service and a campaign of character. Photo by Tammi Ledbetter/Southern Baptist TEXAN

18 TEXANONLINE.NET MAY 1, 2013

among the Christian evangelicals who so strongly supported him.

A host of dignitaries—world leaders, senators and congressmen among them—and a large media contingent attended the invitation-only, outdoor event on a still, sunny day with temperatures in the 60s.

The 43rd president was honored in word by the former presidents, including his father, and by President Obama, who echoed President Bill Clinton in stating that despite political differences “to know the man is to like the man because he is comfortable in his own skin.”

Obama recalled that one of the first things he did the day he took office was read a handwritten note from Bush that he had left for Obama in an Oval Office desk. Obama said the note demonstrated Bush’s “compassion and his generosity. For he knew that I would come to learn what he had learned: Being president above all is a humbling job.”

Obama also spoke of the weight of the presidency, lauding Bush for his resolve and leadership after 9/11 and recalling Bush’s speaking through a bullhorn to hurting New Yorkers, “promising justice to those who sought to destroy our way of life.”

The president used the occasion to press for immigration reform as he praised Bush’s efforts on the issue while in office. Obama told the crowd that “if we [pass a reform bill] it will be in large part to the hard work of President George W. Bush.”

Obama mentioned a note President Kennedy’s secretary found that JFK had written after negotiating with Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev.

It stated, “I know there is a God and I see a storm coming. If he has a place for me I believe I am ready.”

“No one can be completely ready for this office,” Obama said, “but America needs leaders who are willing to face the storm head-on even as they pray to God for strength and wisdom so they can do what they believe is right. That’s what leaders with whom I share this stage have all done. That’s what President George W. Bush chose to do.”

Bronze statues outside the George W. Bush Presidential Center depict Bush and his father George H.W. Bush, who served as the 41st U.S. president. Bush has said he would never have succeeded without his father’s unconditional love.

Photo by Tammi Ledbetter/Southern Baptist TEXAN

former presidents as advisers when major decisions were faced. During Bush’s second term, Clinton said the two talked politics on numerous occasions.

Clinton said the two men “do a lot of speeches together” and Clinton said he finds it enjoyable to debate his successor, largely because Bush

hold. My deepest conviction—the guiding principle of the administration—is that the United States of America must strive to expand the reach of freedom,” he said to applause.

“I believe that freedom is a gift from God and the hope of every human heart. Freedom inspired our founders and preserved our union through civil war and the secured promise of civil rights,” Bush continued. “Freedom sustains dissidents bound by chains, believers huddled in underground churches

“I believe that freedom is a gift from God and the hope of every human heart. Freedom inspired our founders and preserved our

union through civil war and the secured promise of civil rights. Freedom sustains dissidents bound by chains, believers huddled in underground churches and voters who risk their lives to cast ballots. Freedom unleashes creativity, replaces poverty with prosperity. And ultimately, freedom lights the path to peace.” —George W. Bush Former President Jimmy Carter praised Bush’s commitment to development and peace in Africa.

Carter told the crowd how that early in Bush’s presidency, Bush had promised him he would help a peace effort in the bloody, war-torn Sudan.

“President Bush kept his promise,” Carter recalled, noting how he was called back to the White House three weeks later to discuss a strategy.

In 2005, thanks to Bush’s efforts, the 21-year civil war ended with a peace treaty, Carter said. He also praised Bush for increasing development aid to Africa to combat AIDS and other problems.

Bill Clinton, whom Bush succeeded, praised Bush’s inclusion of the

is likeable. Being able to debate differences “is an important part of a free society,” Clinton said.

To loud applause, the elder Bush, sitting in a wheelchair, spoke only briefly, noting the “beautiful day in Dallas” to honor his oldest son.

“Glad to be here. God bless America and thank you very much.”

In addressing the crowd, the younger Bush thanked his peers and especially President Obama for attending. “Unlike the other presidents here, he actually has a job,” Bush quipped.

Reflecting on his political career, Bush said the job of a public servant is “not to fulfill personal ambition” despite poll numbers or trends. “But in the end, leaders are defined by the convictions they

and voters who risk their lives to cast ballots. Freedom unleashes creativity, replaces poverty with prosperity. And ultimately, freedom lights the path to peace.”

Such freedom “brings responsibility” and thrives “when neighbors help neighbors and when the strong protect the weak,” Bush said.

Bush said visitors to the library “will find that we stayed true to our convictions.”

In closing, Bush said he has an “unshakable faith in our country.”

Whatever the challenge, said Bush, his voice cracking and his eyes tearing up, “I will always believe our nation’s best days lie ahead.

God bless.”

MAY 1, 2013 TEXANONLINE.NET 19

‘Crossover Houston’: Block parties, door-todoor offer platforms for gospel witness

By Stephanie Heading HOUSTON

“It’s always effective when Southern Baptists at every level cooperate to reach people for Christ,” said Darrell Robinson, a former pastor and longtime evangelist from Texas.

Continuing the tradition of cooperation in reaching out to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting host city, the pre-convention “Crossover Houston” effort is offering opportunities for intentionally sharing the gospel through block parties and door-to-door evangelism.

“The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention is working with the North American Mission Board to provide a more traditional Crossover experience,” said Nathan Lorick, SBTC evangelism director. “This includes working with seminary students Monday through Friday, June 3-7, on going doorto-door with the gospel. On Saturday (June 8), churches will be hosting block parties across Houston.”

Also, NAMB is working with Union Baptist Association in Houston to help kick off “Loving Houston,” a three-year program featuring projects such as home renovation, clean-up, demolition, outreach and prayer walking.

“The SBTC and NAMB wanted to make sure that there were opportunities for people across the SBC to do intentional and direct evangelism that is traditional to Crossover. We felt that door-to-door evangelism and block parties were a great way to be active in sharing the gospel.”

Crossover has been a staple of SBC evangelism efforts in host cities since its inauguration at the 1989 Las Vegas convention. The effort began in the heart of Robinson when he was pastor at Dauphin Way Baptist Church in Mobile, Ala., and a member of the SBC Executive Committee.

“I suggested that for many years I had the conviction that when we do the SBC in a major city, we should also plan to try to do a major evangelistic effort in the city,” Robinson said. “I suggested that we work with local churches in the area and messengers should come in early to do evangelis20 TEXANONLINE.NET MAY 1, 2013

Criswell College evangelism professor Bobby Worthington prays with a man during the San Antonio Crossover in 2008. Crossover will be back in Texas in June as Houston hosts the Southern Baptist Convention.

tic projects, including door-to-door witnessing representing the local church in the area, block parties, evangelistic harvest meetings led by evangelists, etc.”

The Las Vegas event, originally called “Saturation Evangelism Project,” had a great impact, according to Robinson. “It got the attention of all of Las Vegas. The people were responsive. It was a huge success. My recall is that around 1,800 professed faith in Christ. Churches were impacted. Ultimately, new churches were started.”

The success of the Las Vegas outreach led the SBC to decide to sponsor evangelism events every year during the SBC annual meeting in the host city.

“Morris Chapman at the Executive Committee suggested the name Crossover, which we all liked,” Robinson recalled, noting that the name alludes to SBC messengers crossing over a city to proclaim the hope found in the cross of Christ.

In the same way, “our desire for Crossover is to see people come to faith in Jesus Christ,” Lorick said. “We are excited to see the churches do block parties in their communities while at the same time being intentional about sharing the gospel.”

First Baptist Church of Pearland is one of the churches planning a block party as part of Crossover Houston.

“We have concluded that one large block party could effectively reach several thousand over a three-hour time,” said Pastor Sonny Foraker. The block party is set to include bouncing houses, rock climbing, water slides for older kids, inter-

“Our church is located in the inner city of Houston with a predominately Hispanic community. Gangs, drugs, poverty, and teen pregnancy are big issues. This block party will give our church the opportunity to display our ‘Love God, Love People’ motto.”

—Pastor Jamie Garcia

active games, petting zoo and pony rides, as well as hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy and snow cones. In addition, the church band will perform from a bandstand.

“The Crossover event will allow many people to participate in a fun day when many residents’ normal busy schedules would not otherwise allow them to hear or see that the gospel can impact their lives,” Foraker said.

Lorick said intentional witnessing at all the Crossover Houston events would benefit the sponsoring churches, those hearing the gospel, and those sharing it.

“Our desire is to see people be excited about sharing their faith daily in their communities,” he said. “By doing door-to-door evangelism as well as block parties, we are giving people the training, experience, and opportunities to develop a burden and passion to see people come to faith in Jesus. We believe that these opportunities will help spur people on to be passionate about sharing their faith daily in their respective contexts.”

Bethel Baptist Church is another church planning a Crossover Houston block party and hoping to influence its community for Christ.

“Our church is located in the inner city of Houston with a predominately Hispanic community. Gangs, drugs, poverty, and teen pregnancy are big issues,” said Pastor Jamie Garcia. “This block party will give our church the opportunity to display our ‘Love God, Love People’ motto.”

“Crossover Houston is going to be a great time in which people from all over the SBC join together to knock on doors and host block parties,” Lorick said. “The SBTC is excited to be leading out in the strategy of sharing the gospel with residents of Houston through these avenues of intentional evangelism. We pray that God blesses these efforts and many people will come to faith in Jesus on June 8 through Crossover Houston.”

There are multiple opportunities for those attending the SBC to be a part of Crossover Houston. To see a list of churches hosting block parties, visit www.namb.net/crossover or www.sbtexas.com/crossover or email crossover@sbtexas.com. Information is also available by calling the SBTC evangelism office toll-free at 877-953-7282 (SBTC).

SBTC hires two staffers

By Stephanie Heading The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Executive Board, during their annual spring meeting, hired two new staff ministers.

David Ortega was hired as an SBTC church planting associate. He holds a master of divinity from Southwestern David Ortega Baptist Theological Seminary and has served with the IMB in Indonesia since 1996. He will be responsible for development of a comprehensive church planting strategy for the Rio Grande Valley.

Steve Maltempi was also hired as an SBTC collegiate/student evangelism associate. He Steve Maltempi holds a doctor of philosophy from Oxford Graduate School in Dayton, Tenn., and a master of Christian education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as student pastor in several churches before assuming his current position as the state student ministry strategist for the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia. Maltempi’s duties will include oversight of collegiate/student evangelism and discipleship.

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