#BXNHFRX *~***~CAR-Ri LOT **C-044 #01499102# REG S205P3 UNION-UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 1060 UNION UNlYERSlTY OR JACKSON 'TN ~-sso.s--S-&~7-

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Watauga assoc1at1on meets to-com.at lottery ly John Thompson

ELIZABEJHTON - A r ·•:r-.·nnp of leaders of Watauga

aptist Association has begun aUJ . .c.u.,,6 agaip.st a state lot-

•! n.~ .... in Tennessee. One of their 'll ... <>f" stepS. WaS_ a,~ .information­

met}tirig-~~.¥.eb. 5 at Doe '""""'"Baptis'f::§lllln-ch here. "Gambrrtig'is wrong," said Webb, leader of the associa-

n's Anti-Lottery Strategy ............. , which is working to or­anize opposition in Carter and ohnson counties. "Gambling pens the door to other prob­rnis. People have the choice to amble or not gamble, but hen the government sanctions

· and promotes it . . . . We are a art of the government and we eed to take a stand."

Webb, w:Po is_ a family coun­selor for the association and interim pastor, Watauga Bap­tist Church, Watauga, also spoke Feb. 7 at a similar meet­ing at First Baptist Church, Mountain City. _ He told the group at Doe

River Church if the churches of the state were organized they could defeat the lottery refer­endum. He said a good model is the opposition effort used re­cently in Alabama, where the voters turned down a lottery.

Webb s-aid the first step is to get churches to make a formal statement of opposition to the lottery and to pray for its de­feat.

The next step is. to identify church members who are not registered to vote and get them

hurch dravvs about 1 ,000 anj1ual vvild game event

Connie Davis ;FtJ;Itist and Reflector

YAlK.ll:::i :..__About 1,000 people tttended the annual Wild Game )inner of New Harmony Hap­

Church Feb. 9 here. In fact, tro1:ne people had to be turned

ay because of the turn out. It was unfortunate, but it is

l good problem to have, said· feff Hardy, pastor, because the

"reaches people with the tosnel that would never set foot

the church door." And that must be true be­use 20 people made profes­

, .. u .... ., of faith and 25 additional Deoole made other spiritual de-

The dinner, which has been ld by the church for five

'"'"'"'""', drew people from West ~ellll~e:s:st:t:, Kentucky, Missouri,

d North Mississippi. Last the event only attracted

out 600, said Hardy. The draws about 500 to Sun-

morning worship service. One reason for the turnout

have been the variety of plays set up in the church

· by companies and e associated with outdoor

said Hardy. For instance, a local taxider-

mist brought his art. The Ten­nessee Wildlife Ag~ncy provided information about its work. Al­so contests and games were pro­vided for children and youth.

Another draw may have been the speaker, Harold Knight, of the nationally known Knight and Hale Game Calls Company in Cadiz, Ky., who gave his testimony after the dinner.

Another reason for the huge crowd may nave been the min­istry of three of the 9hurch's members who are sportsmen, explained Hardy. They have de­veloped Harvest Outdoor Min­istries. The men, Brodie Swish­er, Rusty Farmer, and Jon Paul Moody, speak at events present­ing their Christian testimonies and lead hunter safety courses.

Of course, the unusual food tantalizes many people. The fact that the food and the rest of the event is free also is attrac­tive. This year church members roasted an entire pig, which they began cooking at 1 a.m.

Members also provided fish, both fresh water and ocean; and game such as ducks, geese, dove, beaver, squirrel, rabbit, quail, pheasant, elk, and oppo­- See Church draws, page 3

registered. Then it is impor­tant to get out the vote.

"We can preach all the anti­gambling sermons we want and write all sorts of letters to the editor, but if we don't get our people to the~ poll.s it doesn't matter," Webb told the group.

"We know the lottery is go­ing to be on the ballot on Nov. 5. The pro-lottery people are way ahead of us right now, but we are the underdogs and just like what happened in the Su­per Bow 1 we are going to keep working and win this thing," Webb said after the meeting.

He said a statewide anti-lot­tery organization is already in place. The Ga~bling Free Ten­nessee Alliance is headed by · Joe M. Rodgers, a former am-

bass·ador to France. It has started an effort to raise mon­ey to purchase advertising dur­ing September and October.

Ray Sorrells , director of missions, Watauga Baptist As­

sociation, said, "We would like to see the. state constitu­tion stay the way it is and keep out gam­bling. It is like we have a

SORRELLS fence to keep people from

falling off the cliff. We want to keep the fence in place instead of taking it down and putting an ambulance at the bottom to rescue those who fall off."

Webb said the lottery tar-

get s four vulnerable groups : the poor, racial minorities, the elderl~, and compulsive gam­blers. He also said the lot tery will damage families and chil­dren. "We don't need another · plague on our children," Webb said.

"The bad thing is the state has to keep enticing these peo­ple to gamble," said Sorrells . "The state should be protecting these people and inst ead it is becoming the predator."

He said the association i s using the established network of the state's 67 associations to get the opposition started, but he hopes Christians of all de­nominations will join the effort. • - Thompson is a reporter for the Johnson City Press. The arti- ­cle is used with permission.

Warm hands, warm words Amid Utah.'s winter chill, Olympic missions volunteer Connie Seibert, right, chats with Christa

Heumann, left, and Tara Wellman of Pwk City, Utah. Seibert was one of several volunteers

who served at hand-warming stations set up on Main Street in Park City. She attends Salmon

Baptist Church in Salmon Valley, Idaho. See pages 3-4 for stories. of Baptist ministries at the

Olympics.

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77,000 teens • comm1tto

sexual purity Baptist Press

FORT WORTH, Texas· -More than 77,000 teens around the nation made online commit­ments to reinain sexually absti­nent until marriage as part of "True Love Waits: Seize the Net Goes Live," a nationally tele­vised celebration of purity.

More than 1,000 youth gath­ered at · Wedgwood Baptist Church here Feb. 13 and thou­sands more joined the event via satellite and a live broadcast on FamilyNet. Many responded to the invitation to sign commit­ments to purity by visiting the www.truelovewaits.com web site.

The rally, hosted by brother­sister singing duo Phillip and Natalie LaRue, also featured music from Phat Chance and Joy Williams, all artists who have taken a stand for sexual purity.

Richard Ross, one of the ' founders of True Love Waits and

a professor of youth ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theologi­cal Seminary here, delivered a challenge to young people partic­ipating in the rally. He com­pared each youth to a rosebud, demonstrating that when a rose­bud is forced to open before the · proper time, it is torn.

~'If you already have had sex before marriage, which are you?" he asked. "Are you my hands do­ing the tearing or are you the petals that have been torn? Ac­tually, you're both . . . in sex be­fore marriage you are being torn

Proposed bill could aHect loHery vote For Baptist and Reflector

NASHVILLE - A Senate bill that could have influenced the vote on behalf of pro-lot­tery proponents in November failed by a 15-15 vote on Feb. l4.

the referendum to the top of the ballot if it would not be an advantage for his efforts," Pa­tray observed.

"All we are asking for is a level playing field," Patray added.

.The bill still has opportunity for passage. A House subcommittee is slated to look at a com­panion bill this week (HB 2664).

But because the bill did not receive the 18 votes needed to "kill" it, it can be brought up again, cautioned Bobbie Patray of Tennessee Eagle Forum .

In addition, Cohen can bring up his bill again as soon as Feb. 25. Patray encourages Te~es$eana to contact the senators who voted against Cohell's bill and thank them and to also ~1 those who voted for it and ask them to ch'ange their vote should the bill come back for another vote.

Th~bill (SB 2141), introduced by Sen. Steve Cohen ofM~mphis, would move the Constitu­tional teferenduni question from a position down the ballot t;o a position at the top of the ballot. Both traditionally, and by law, bailot initiatives and constitutional questions follow statewjde races on the ballot.

Cohen, who chaired the Senate State and Local Governrilent Committee that brought the bill to the Senate floorJ also is chairman of the Tennessee Student Scholarship Lottery Coalition, a group organizing support for the Gons~tution~l referendum to allow a state lot­

The senators can be reached by calling toll­free l -800-449-8366 and the extension number list:ed. by each senator.

Voting no to Cohen's bill were:

tery. -.. ~ ... ae1~to:n · z.-aises questions as to

nave, used his position to un-

Marsha Blackburn (12495), Bobby ~~ (12-676), Rusty Crowe (12468), Gene Elsea (12525), David Fowler {11764), ~lma Harper (12453), Douglas Henry Jr., (13291) Roy Her­ron (14576) Rosalind Kurita (12374), Jeff ...... ol..lii,I,P~ (18794), Doug Jackson (14499), Mark

Curtis Person Jr., (12419), Ron ·~..Y'WJ(l4524), and Michael William '''"'' ~·~ referendum, ~e-

• .....

~S5f(.t' the bill we:re: ~y::lg~tblillg rorceS' (13791), Tim Burchett (11766),

i':Qt:agE~r Gilstrap said. "Fier:e (12427), Steve Cohen (14108}, state senator boldly ~.. er· (16694), Ward Crutchfield

~¥tl~i;on ofpu.blic trust to create_ an · , Lincoln Davis (11449), Roscoe Dixon un1tait Et4Yaiitage for his pet project." .. (1(158), J'Ohn Ford (13304), Jo Ann Graves

'at.r-a:vj.: ::H . that. the placement of the ref- · (ii<t54), Tommy Haun (13851), Joe Haynes eTendUJ% at the top of the ballot could be an (16fif.9), Randy MeN ally (:16806), Bob Rochelle advan~ge to .pro-lottery supporters. The lot- (l41Q9), and LarrY Trail (11066). _ tery VQ~>m.ust have 50 percent plus one of the .. Not voting were Lt:. Gov. John Wilder votes ·· the governor's race for passage. ·-. (~23!)8), Charlotte Burks (13978), and James:

. . Cohen would not attempt to move· Kyle 67). • .. . . .. .

but you're also tearing another." Even so, there is forgiveness

for those who already have made mistakes, Ross said. "God HiiP­self welcomes you with open arms." •

Bible. smuggler · relea$ed in China Baptist Press

WASHINGTON - Chinese authorities have freed a man

jailed for smuggling Bib.les into mainland China in tlie latest of several positive gestures taken by Beijing prior to President" Bush's visit this menth, CNS­News.com reported Feb. 11.

Although Hong Kong busi­nessman Li Guangqiang was re­leased Feb. 9 on medical . .

grounds, his two co-accused -both mainland Chinese citizens and members of the unautho­rized church that had ordered

' the Bibles - remain in prison. Li told a news conference on

his return to Hong Kong that he hoped Lin Xifu and Yu Zhudi also would be freed. The two were sentenced to three years each for their roles in helping Li smuggle more than 30,000 Bibles into mainland China last April a~d May. •

Bible written in 24 more languages Religion News Service

. .

during the year in· the libraries of the American Bible Society and the British an4 Foreign Bible Society. ..

The complete Bible has been published in 392 languages, with eight languages reported for the first ti~e in the last year. Four of the eight are African lan­guages, two are Asian languages, and two are languages spoken in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific islands. •

Effort raises $2.6 million for world hunger Religion News Service

WASHINGTON - The annu­al "Souper Bowl of Caring'' fund­raiser on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 3) raised $2.6 million in 6,350 congregations across the United States, and that number will probably exceed $3 million when all the reports are in, orga­nizers said.

Knoxville trustee honored •

WASHINGTON - An inter­national fellowship of Bible societies has registered the translation of the Bible into 24 additional languages in 2001.

That money will be given by the churches to local soup kitchens, food banks, and other charities, said Brad Smith, the campaign's director. President James T. Draper Jr., left, of LifeWay Christian Re­

sources, congratulates Bruce Robinson, center, pastor of West Lonsdale Baptist Church, Knoxville, for 10 years of ser­vice as a LifeWay trustee, including the last two as chairman. Robinson and his wife, Jeanette, were presented a. plaque recognizing his achievement during Life Way's semi-annual meeting Feb. 11 -12 in Nashville. - Photo by Morris Aber­nathy

The total number of lan­guages in which books of the Bible are available now stands at 2,287, according to the annual tally by the United Bible Soci­eties.

The 2001 edition of the "Scripture Language Report" is based on Scriptures received

Since the program went na­tional in 1993 - ra1s1ng $144,000 the first year - youth groups have collected $13.6 mil­lion. The vast majority of the money- $12 million -has been raised in the last four years. •

To Christianity

Former Muslim tells of his conversion 3y Connie Davis Baptist and Reflector

NASHVILLE - · What vid Nasser saw in his na­

~ive country of Iran as a child -a civil war which resulted .n the deaths of V36th of Ira­ians -"was because of reli­

,ion. What you saw Sept. 11 NaS because of religion," he . un.& the crowd attending the State Evangelism Conference ran. 29 here.

Nasser described being threatened at gun point at age ~ while at school and being aved by a school official. His ather, a high-ranking political igure, became a target of rev­

during a civil war His family escaped from

he couBtry secretly, buying "'"'-way airline tickets and re­luesting school assignments br the period they would be .v ... ''"' to divert enemies.

f1:rjnft~nie4 again · · ~·:.::-=bjt_~"gion

· So-:_lil!. 18 when Nasser as confronted by r e ligion

he wasn't very open to t, he said. His family, who tad settled in Birmingham,

a., had adapted well to their ew life, described Nasser. · 'hey could even fly . to Paris,

France, to buy clothes and he drove a Porsche.

He had started attending a Baptist church and realized some people there loved him differently than he had ever been loved by anyone other than his family. He also real­ized he was afraid again, this time of God.

So one night, he prayed to God and experi­ence~ Him for the first time and His love, said Nasser.

He was in his bedroom,

NASSER

tearful and proclaiming his love for "Him" outloud when his parents discovered him. His father's r esponse was Nasser must be gay.

When his father, whom he · treated with utmost respect because of their culture, un­derstood his commitment to God, he dismissed it until Nasser decided to be bap­tized. Partly because the fam­ily was part of a small Iran­ian community, Nasser spec­ulated, his father demanded he sto being a Christian, ac­cusing him of accepting an

American religion. When Nasser returned

home after being baptized, one bag of his belongings was packed and his father told him h~ was no longer his son and would never be allowed back in the_house.

His new Christian friends provided for him, Nasser re­ported.

Changes in family Five months later Nasser

got a call from his sister. She told him she had become a

' Christian. In another five months his brother called him and said he had become · a Chris-tian. And in five more months his mother let Nasser know she had made the same commitment.

He began to feel better , said Nasser, and expected to hear from his father, but he didn't.

Then two years after he left home, he learned his mother was scheduled for heart surgery. He joined his family at the hospital.

His mother's heart stopped during a test. Nasser and his sister prayed aloud for their mother. Then their father joined them in their prayers to God.

"There were two hearts that

were healed that day," said Nasser. Although his father "had seen r eligion destroy his family, his life, and his posi­tion," he described, . he turn~d to God.

The family's prayers were answered as Nasser's mother recovered. Then his sister asked her. father to make a commitment to God and Jesus Christ.

Nasser said he wishes he could report he asked his fa­ther to make that decision. Nasser was becoming very in­volved in Christian ministry. But he is glad his sister asked their father to make the com­mitment. He did, reported Nasser.

Impact on others Nasser, now 31 and an

evangelist based in Birming­ham, noted his father accepted J esus Christ as his Savior without being approached in the new postmodern ways to reach people with the gospel or having access to the "hip build­ings" of churches or to large meetings. His dad made the decision as a result of another person's witness.

And, Nasser continued, his father made the decision in a traditional church after hear-

ing a preacher who "didn't have t h e cool youth mes­sage."

Nasser said many of the students he met at church were the same students he had "partied" with before becoming a Christian. He was encour­aged to return by one young man and by the church mem­bers who visited him in his home weekly.

"We're from Ir~an but they were terrorizing us," he joked.

When the members of his family accepted Christianity it was a hard decision because of their Muslim faith and differ­ent culture, he explained. "It was very black and white for us," he said.

For those in the American church the commitment is harder. "It's a little like Michael Jackson- right in be-

. tween," he noted, with humor. Finally, Nasser asked any­

one in attendance who didn't have a commitment to God and Jesus to do that by stand­ing. •

C:hurch ministers duri~g Oly111pics Church dravvs abo~t_ 1 ,000 ... -

(y James Dotson ~ aptist Press

. SALT LAKE CITY- It's no secret t there's something about a cup of

ood coffee that helps people connect -rhether on Sunday morning at church, ~uftd-a -neighbor's kitchen table, or vera mocha latte at the nearest Seat-...,_ Le-Joa~>eu coffee emporium.

A new church in downtown Salt !~"'~ Cicy has taken the concept one

furt.her. Realizing relational-based · try cari't be confined to a tradi­

onal church schedule, the fledgling 1ummit Church set up the full-service fain Street Coffee House offering vari­ties of fresh coffee drinks as an avenue ?r touching lives throughout the week.

The church and the business are ~chnically separate nonprofit arms of he umbrella Summit Ministries, but

idea is to lower some of the barriers hat often keep Bon-Christians from .nding their way into church.

"I thought, 'What is the kind of place our day and age where people like to

out.and can sort of build relation­' or sit and stay for a while -

'""',""' people feel comfortable in getting know each other?' " said Clint

ooe~rts pastor of the new church and a outne1:n Baptist North American Mis­on Board missionary. "It>s all about

and the coffeehouse is that especially for Generation X people.

where they hang out." The ministry has become a central mp~one1nt of the Global Outreach 2002 Ltrelach to fans of the Feb. 8-24 Winter .ympics. It serves not only as a home

for volunteers sharing Christ on streets but also as an attraction for

"w'·'"' with great coffee drinks, enter-

tainment, and big-screen.television cov­erage of the Winter Games.

Summit actually grew out of a Bible study for students at the University of Utah called the Salt Company, started by Roberts a few years ago. The group was meeting on Sunday evenings on university property, but Roberts knew an actual church would need something more stable.

"Most of the city of Salt Lake is the suburbs down to the south, so nobody plants churches around here," Roberts said. "And we thought, 'How can we plant a church to reach these people here?' And the vision we had was for a coffeehouse, wher.e the church could meet and the coffeehouse would be open all the time."

Roberts soon found a building that had great possibilities about a block and a half south of Temple Square in the heart of the business district. But it l).eeded a lot of work.

That's when Roberts l earned of Chauncey Webb, a young man from his home church , First Southern Baptist of Del City, Okla. Webb was an accom­plished remodeler with a heart for min­istry. He took on the project, and re­cently became an appointed US/C-2 missionary serving as manager of the coffee shop and associate minister for the church.

The church meets for worship and Bible study upstairs in a room that dou­bles as a small concert venue, complete with a picture window overlooking the street.

Employees of the shop are members or friends of the church, and in the first

. month they worked as volunteers. Some are expected to continue. • - See more stories on Olympic ministries on page 4

'

- Continued from page 1 sum. Hardy quickly added he may be leaving something out .

Members who are hunters are able to bring game they have hunted be­cause the dinner is scheduled at the end of the Tennessee hunting season, said Hardy.

"We don't do it for the church," he said, exp]aining people who make spiritual de­cisions are referred to churches in their area. The purpose i s to show people Christians can have fun and to tell others about God and Jesus.

"God's blessed the ministry; there's no doubt about it," he added. •

RUSTY FARMER, second from left, of Harvest Outdoor Ministries and Scott Eastep, right, of the church man the ministry's booth while Brodie Swisher, center, of the ministry prepares materials.

THE CROWD listens to the speaker after dinner in the church's gym.

Group dubbed ·Baptist Bobsled Team for work Baptist Press

SALT LAKE CITY - Just moments after stepping off their plane in Salt Lake City, volunteers from the Atla n ta­area Hebron First B a p tist Church in Dacuala were wit­nessing to a young woman.

Their schedule at the Winter Olympics was hectic from that moment forward, including prayerwalks, witnessing in lo­cal malls, and assisting in min­istry activities at the Ma in Street Coffee House in down­town Salt Lake.

"We quickly learned we had to make ourselves available," said team capta in Libby Bridger. "Then, t he Lord sim~ ply put people in front of us."

With 11 team m embers working for seven days, Bridge r estimated that her team easily interacted with 1,000 or more people.

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"In one case, several of u s shared the gospel with as many as 30 people each during the span of two hours, n she re­counted.

Olympic visitors are inter­ested in Winter Olympics items, of course, and the wit­ness-oriented More Than Gold lapel pin distributed for free at­tracts attention with its five­color snowflake. "People notice the pin, and our face-painting of the logo draws people's at­tention," Bridger said.

''We made so much commo­tion that we took on the nick­name 'The Baptist Bobs led Team,' " Bridger said.

"This has ~hanged my life forever," Shellee Kyker said. "I hate to go home, but God will continue to touch lives, includ­ing my own h eart. This h as been an incredible experience."

Man adopts faith because of Olympics Baptist Press

SALT LAKE CITY -''You just never know what God has planned for you unt il it hap- · pens," recounted Phil Harris,

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one of numerous volunteers in Salt Lake City witnessing to their faith in Christ at the Winter Olympics in connection with Action Ministries Inter ­national based in West Point, Ga.

Harris, a member of Second Baptis t Church, Springfield, Mo., recounted on the min­istry's web site, www.action­ministries.org, an encounter with a man named Tony while sitting in a public bus on the way to the Olympic Center.

"He was simply on his way to work. God h ad a seat re­served for me right n ext to him," Harris said. "After some general conversation and intro-

duction, I began to share the pin [a multi-colored evangelis­tic resource used in presenting t he plan of salvation) with him. He quietly listened and focused on me as I spoke. Every now and t hen, he would glance down at the pin. After explain­ing the need to receive Christ, Tony simply replied, 'How do I do this?'

"After hea ring this, I was elated for I knew that no one asks that question unless God's Spirit is moving on them in a mighty way," Harris continued.

"Tony received Christ as . Lord and Savior, but upon re­

ceiving the pin, he told IJle, 'I never knew it was this simple.

f :'~ -·- · \ .~- --~-;_ ._;·_- , . - . ·cLASSIFIED MINISTRIES- OTHER

Houseparents. Immediate need for full-time relief houseparents at the Tennessee Baptist C hildren's Home in Chattanooga and Cleve­land. Married couples only. Call Bob Segrest or Lynn Jordan at (423} 892-2722. ............. • • • • The Marshall Baptist Association is accepting resumes for director of missions. Send res ume to Search Committee, Marshall Bap­tist Association, 3555 AL Hwy 69 W, Guntersville, AL 35976. Dead­line is March 1 , 2002.

MINISTRIES- PASTOR Westwood Baptis t Church have our hearts set on seeking God to send us a full-time senior pastor. We will prayerfully consider your resume. Audios welcomed. WBC, Pastor Search Committee, 1320 Brinkley Rd ., Murfreesboro, TN 37128.

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MINISTRIES - MUSIC South Cl inton Baptist Church is now accepting resumes for a bivo­cational minister of music/worship leader. Video/audio tapes accept­ed. Deadline is April .1, 2002. Send resume to Music Search Team, 1000 Clinch Ave., Clinton, TN 37716. .............. • • • • First Baptist Chu,rch, Elizabethton, . Tenn., is seeking a full-time minis­ter of music. If interested please send res ume to Search Commit­tee, First Baptist Church, 212 E F St. , Elizabethton, TN 37643.

•••••••••••• • • • •• Seeking part-time minister of mu­sic. Please send resume to Search Committee, First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 277, ~uthertord, TN 38369-0277.

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• Master of Arts in Christian Education • Master of Divinity in Christian Education • Certificate in Women's Ministry

fve had a half-dozen Mormons at my door at different times and I've always taken their material but I just never felt a desire to do anything about it. But now I know why; fve wait­ed all my life to hear this.' ..

For further Olympic cover­age, see the Baptist Press sto­ry, "Volunteers tap creativity to relay 'Mor e Than Gold' at Salt Lake Olympics," posted Feb. 11, and BPSports' colum­nist Tim Ellsworth's take on snowboarding at www .bp­sports.net.

An explanation of the pin u sed in Ha rris' witness to Tony is at www .actionministries.­org/gift.html. •

.Capacity is 47 passengers with re­clining seats, excellent AC, re­stroom, and large luggage bays. The coach has been ve ry well maintained, has new paint, is ser-

' viced, and ready to drive any­where. GMC coaches are very re­liable, comfortable, and inexpen­sive to operate. Price is only $22,500. The coach can be seen at Gardenside Baptist in Lexing­ton, KY. Call (859) 278-7224 and ask for David.

•••••••••••• • • • • For sale: Timpani - used Ludwig fiberglass, 26" and 29", $1,500.00 for both . Call G reg at Bayside Baptist Church, (423) 344-8327.

MINISTRIES - EDUCATION ~

First Baptis t Church~ Dand~idge, Tenn., is seeking to fl1f a new minis­terial position of minister of educa­tion and outreach, If you are ·-inter­ested, please send a resume to P .0. Box 246, Dandridge} TN 37725.

· You have a heart for other women. You want to reach the world for Christ. You need a program that's designed specifically for you. Southern Seminary has three.

Offering three specialized degrees, Southern Seminary provides a unique learning experience for students who have been called to women's ministry. Built upon the same foundational classes as our other graduate-level degrees,

these programs combine classical theological education with the special needs of this invaluable ministry. In addition to a variety of women-only courses, there is a dedicated faculty member who serves exclusively as the programs' advisor. If you've been called by God to work with other women,

Southern Seminary is the place for you. To find out more, call 1-800-626-5525

or visit us on the Internet: www.sbts.edu.

;uest editorial •

1MB president provides rationale for leHer· ditor's note: The following editor­! was written in response to re­:tions concerning the recent let­r sent out by 1MB president Jerry ankin (See Feb. 6 issue). In the terest of fairness, I am sharing r. Rankin's rationale. I stand by e editorial written in the Feb. 6 sue. - Lonnie Wilkey

v Jerry Rankin, president International Mission Board

Does it matter what mission­believe? Should missionar­

s sent out by a denominational ~ency have any accountability

the churches that support

Since the New Hampshire nh•~t- Confession of 18:53, Bap­

have drafted documents of ~lief that distinguis h them

other Christians. The Bap­;t Faith and Message, like oth­

cenfessioQs ~f faith, imposes theglogi~l Cf.eed on iridividu­and oouitiies. it does repre-

-~ · ~ .... -·--the· Gopundtt frul;h shared by

uth~· ~tfSts who choose to · L~ ... "" in associations and con­ntions. Some people are predisposed ainst the Southern Baptist ~nvention's adherence to his­ric fundamental s of faith tsed on the authority of God's fallible Word. They have criti-

flifferences -read With -interest your edito-1 about t he SBC Executive

>mmittee not accepting CP nds from the proposed new con­

tion in Missouri. You made valid points, but I am

nking tha t we are missing ·me major differences between e folks in Missouri and those in rginia and Texas. In both Vir­nia and Texas there was never move to try to take over the

and institutions of the SVEletiVe state convention before illOunlt:Ing a new convention. As I recall from all the news \n~'q from the Missouri Baptist

vention, the moderates or­a move to pull most of

institutions, including the Baptist Foundation with

multi-rni11ion dollars in assets convention control before

such an announcement. In both Virginia and Texas

people simply got tired of ard drift" and formed a

Nmllte state convention which more closely line up to

111• 1""<> ve Southern Baptist IOIOJn'. I truly do not believe

cized the International Mission · Board for asking missionarie~ to r eassure Southem Baptists that they a ffir m the Ba ptist F aith and Message. They seem to view the request as something un­precedented in Southern Baptist missions history.

Even in the 19th century, be­fore the BF&M was written, trustees of the Foreign Mission Board required missionary can­dfda tes to affirm a doctrinal statement to assure Southern Baptists their beliefs were con­sistent with the generally held doctrines that distinguished the convention. Since 1970, under the leadership of Dr. Baker James Cauthen, and·later under Dr. Keith Parks, every Southern Baptist missionary appointed by what was then the Foreign Mis­sion Board s~gned a statement that he or she had read and was in agreement with the Baptist Faith and Message. Since the 2000 BF &M was adopted, more than 1,500 new missionaries h ave been approved and sent out. These missionaries have gone to the utt ermost parts of the world without expressing problems with the appropriate­ness of this requirement or stat­ing that signing this statement of affirmation was imposing a creed.

the situations are the sa.rn,e. What really bothers m e is

that we as Southern Baptists are getting all the notoriety be­cause of a group of peop~e who seem intent on wrecking either a state convention or the Southern Baptist Convention if they can­not get their way. The move by those who "stole" t he Missouri Baptist institutions has all th e indications of being pre-planned as a prerequisite to beginning a new convention.

When all of these stories make the secular press t he entire Southern Baptist body gets a black eye. But then, maybe those who would stoop to such prac­tices really are not concerned about the damage their actions do to the rest of us. I have seen too much underhanded, unChris­tian activity by people at both ex­tremes of the spectrum.

It is time for people to start acting like true Christians, and stop using devious tactics to get their way. We are killing our in­fluence, we are surely breaking the heart of God, and we are cer­tainly pleasing the devil by all the shenanigans.

Again, I do feel that the Mis­souri situation is not the same as in Virginia and Texas.

Donald L . Cobb, pastor First Baptist Church

Livingston 38570

Thanks for insight Your Feb. 6 editorial·is an ex­

cellent analysis of the two letters

Crit ics are implying that mis­sionaries are being coerced into doctrinal conformity and that cr eedal beliefs are being im­posed. On the contrary, mission­aries are being asked to sign a statement that their own beliefs are consistent with the current BF&M and that they will carry out their work in accordance with it.

Some overseas personnel may not fully a gree with or under­stand the need for the revisions to the BF&M m ade in 2000 or for the faPlilY article in 1998. The fact that they have the free­dom to state their .disagreements creates an opportunity to discuss the cultural and societal changes in American churches that made those changes appropriate.

IMB administration and trustees have the utmost confi­dence in Southern Baptists' overseas missionaries. We know their passion for reaching· a lost world and their willingness to sacrifice and devote their lives to God's call. That passi on and willingness doesn 't come from theological relativism, but out of a conviction based on the au­thority of God's Word and obedi­ence to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

All Southern Baptist mission­aries on the field have already

you discussed. I appreciate your insight a nd willingness to ex­press the viewpoint of many Southern Baptists.

Though not politically correct, that view needs to be heard. The opposite is expressed constantly by oth ers, including SBC lead­er s.

In both letters, there seems to be efforts to mold Southern Bap­tists much like clones or robots with no heart, no mind, unable to reason or feel.

It is one thing to strongly de­fend beliefs and actions, it is an­other thing to penalize thgse who differ. This is especially true for Christians in our rela­tionship with God.

I disagree with wording that calls the Baptist Faith and Mes­sage 2000 "an instrument of doc­trinal accounta bility. " That sounds like a creedal definition.

Fletcher Allen Franklin 37064

Clarifying perfection? A while back many people

would say the infallible, inerrant Word of God when referring to the Bible. I had no problem with that -as I knew it meant perfect. Then a committee was formed to clarify verses in the Bible about the role of women in the home and church. The 2000 Baptist F a ith and Message contains those clarifications.

I have not been able to under­stand the need to clarify perfec­

. tion!

affirmed t heir agreem ent with the Baptist Faith and Message that was current when they were appointed. T~ r eason I have asked them to reaffirm their be­liefs in regard to the 2000 BF&M is to remove suspicions that their beliefs and practices could be in­consistent with our common con­fession of faith and move us for­ward in reaching a lost world. Southern Baptists rightly expect the missionaries they send out and support to r epresent the con­fession of faith our church es have· adopted. The a dministra­t ion of our miss ion entities should provide that assurance.

Some h ave charged that the Southern B a pt ist Convention has changed to the point that the highest priority is not mis-

. sions but doctrinal conformity. We have not changed our priori­ty. During the last five years we have seen record missionary ap­pointments. In 1997, 628 new missionaries were sent overseas. Last year our Southern Baptist churches commissioned and ap­pointed 1,150 new missionaries. The number of baptisms .per year overseas has grown 40 per­cent. More t han a thousand new believers a day are being bap­tized. In that same five years the number of new churches started has increased 250 percent, with

I have just read about the In­ternational Mission Board ask­ing our missionaries to sign a document affirming the current Baptist Faith and Message. I am grieving over this .

Erline Burchyett Nashville 37211

Church turned around I would like to express how

much I enjoy reading ~he article printed in the Jan. 23 B&R e~­t ion titled: "Declining churches can be turned around."

As a pastor that articl e touched my heart. One and a half years ago God led me to Calvary Baptist Church as their pastor. There were six individuals at­tending there regularly. Howev­er, the church wanted to grow.

We let God work through us and His b lessings continue to come in. Last year alone we had 35 new members (19 by letter, and Hi by baptism). Our Sunday worship services attendance are in the 50s. We have a van min­istry. This is just the beginning of what God is doing for us. The worship services are spiritual and uplifting. I do not take any credit for this, all the credit belongs ·to God. I just try to present my body a living sacrifice which is my rea­sonable service. It is an exciting time at Calvary Baptist Church. Pray for us ·that we will always be in the center of God's will.

Rick Cox, pastor Calvary Missionary Baptist

Churcp., Pioneer 37847

nearly 6,000 new churches start­ed last year alone. The number of unreached people groups be­ing touched with the gospel by your missionaries h as nearly doubled in the last five years.

' Reaching a lost world is what missions i s a ll about. This is what Southern Baptists want their missionaries to be doing -witnessing to the lost, starting new church es, spreading t h e­gospel to the Last Frontier of the Great Com mission. That isn't done by those who water down the authority of God's Word, be­lieve whatever they choose, and are batted about by every wind of doctrine.

The almost 5,200 South ern Ba ptist mission aries who have been approved for appointment by the International Mission Board and dispersed to the utter­most ends of the earth are solid in their faith, thoroughly South­ern Baptist and doctrinally sound. These are missionaries God will u se to win the world, and they are worthy of your sup­port. I am confident they will welcome the opportunity to af­firm that to Southern BaptistE?. •

Personal tribute Please accept this personal

tribute of gratitude t o God for the life and ministry of R oy Gilleland J r., who went to be with his beloved Savior last month.

I knew Bro. Roy in three stages of my Christian life, and at each time, he was an encour­agement and a blessing. As an RA boy at Camp Linden and oth­er state RA events, I could tell, even as a boy, that Roy Gilleland was a holy man of God who was full of Christ's love.

Then the Lord led m e as a freshman ministerial student at Belmont University where I joined Belmont Heights Baptist Church where Bro. Roy was a member. He was an encourage­m ent to this young ministeria l student and made me appreciate his stewardship of life in a local Baptist church .

Then I knew him as a pastor in the TBC. I noticed he was ai­ways reading a new book and that challenged me to keep learning.

When our dean of students at Belmont (W.W. Phelps) died in 1969, someone said, "Dr. Phelps was as close as a Christian could be t o being exactly what God wanted." I now say t he same of Roy Gilleland Jr. He did the will of God with his life all the way into the Father's House.

Roger P. Freeman, pastor First Baptist Church

Clarksville 37040

-

I I

NAMB, BP to ·produce TV show Baptist Press

NASHVILLE -A new real­ity-based television show will follow the adventures of 12 Southern Baptist teenagers as they travel through California reporting on and participating in cutting-edge missionary work.

"TruthQuest: California" will introduce t h e concept of reality television to Fami­lyNet, a 24-hour family values network run by the North American Mission Board's Broadcast Communications Group.

Baptist Press will send and FamilyNet camer a crews will follow the 12 evangelical Christian teens on a 16-day quest to discover missions and ministry in California.

T h e 12-member team i n -

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Martha @ (205) 554-1524 or

Don @ (251) 968-3222

Pews, pulpits, baptistries, steeples, sta ined glass, carpet

VAN WINKLE CHURCH FURNISHINGS

& PEW UPHOLSTERY

PO Box 651, Antioch, TN 37011 -0651 (615) 366-9910 TOLL FREE 1-800-821-7263 ·

Alaska Cruise Adults from your church are in­vited to join .a g roup of Ten­nessee Baptists on an Alaska Cruise. The cruise is on the beautiful new ship , STAR PRINCESS, and is scheduled for June 8-15, with an optional land tour. Escorted by a Senior Adult Minister, the group is also taking reservations for a Caribbean cruise , a motor coach tour of the West Coast, and a tour to Branson, Missouri. You'll have an unforgettable fun time with a group of Christian friends. For more information or a brochure, call (877) 557-0073 (toll free) and ask for David. If necessary, please leave mes­sage.

eludes Southern B aptist teenagers from New York City, Ohio, Tennessee , Georgia, North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Colorado. Ten­nesseans are Andy Botts, David Hicks, and Cara Yates of First Baptist Church, Cleveland, anti Richard Sparkman and Tim Harms of First Baptist Church, Frank1in.

Their stories will appear daily in Baptist Press and their adventures will be chron­icled in 13 half-hour episodes of a reality-based television se­ries on FamilyNet.

The TruthQuest team will surf with an evangelical surf­ing ministry in San Diego, visit with a church that worships once a month on the beach, meet Christian stars in Holly­wood, scale the mountains in

CLASSIFIED MINISTRIES - YOUTH

First Baptist Church , Tomp­kinsville, Ky., is seeking a full-time youth minister. Average Sunday morning attendance, 175. Send resume to 302 North Magnolia St., Tompkinsville, KY 42167. ·

•••••••••••• • • • • Beacon Hill Baptist Church, Som­erset, Ky., is accepting resumes for the position of fu ll-time youth pastor and activities. Beacon Hill is a purpose-driven church that is located in one of the fastest grow­ing communities in Kentucky. with an average weekly worship atten­dance of 550. Responsibilities will include middle and high school youth, college, a nd recreation ministry including oversight of ac­tivity center and supervising youth and activity center interns. Please send resume to Personnel Com­mittee, Beacon Hil l Ba ptist Church, 274 Old Monticello Road, Somerset, KY 42503.

•••••••••••• • • • • The Pleasant Hill Baptist Church near Union City, Tenn., ·is looking for a youth minister. Anyone inter­ested should send a resume to Mike Scott, 1251 Forrester Rd., Union City, TN 38261 .

••• ••• ••• ••• • • • • We are seeking God's candidate for our g rowi ng youth ministry (currently 20 youth). Eaglevi ll e Baptist is located 35 miles south of Nashville, Tenn. A complete job description and expectations is available upon request. Salary is $125-200/week (depends upon e d ucation a nd experience) . Please send resume with current photo to Eagleville Baptist Church, P.O. Box 28, Eagleville, TN 37060, Attn. Youth Ministry Search Committee. ............. • • • • First B~ptist Church of Monterey, Tenn. , is seeking a full-time minis­ter of youth. The successful candi­date will have a close walk with the Lord, a love for young people, a solid educational background, and positive past experience. If you feel God may be leading you to join our team, we would love t<3 hear from you. Please respond to First Baptist Church , 106 N. Chestnut St., Monterey, TN 38574. Resumes must be post­marked by Friday, March 1 , 2002 .

..:.=~;;;;::siiiiiLB&~B...:/F:.:ebruary 2-0 2002

Yosemite National Park with NAMB missionaries, minister to teenagers at a coffeehouse in San Francisco, and more.

TruthQuest: California de­rived its name from the TruthQuest Study Bible, a new student study Bible published by Broadman & Holman of Life Way Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Con­vention. Each participant will

receive a full line of Truth­Quest products.

The TruthQuest:California team will be featured on an in­teractive web site, complete with fun bios, TruthQuest triv­ia, Bible study helps, and the plan of salvation. The web site will be operation al in the spring. However, a splash page with photographs of team members appears at http: //

truthquest.sbc.net . "'This is one of the most ex­

citing series we've developed in many years,'' said Martin Cole­man, vice president of pro­gramming for F~milyNet. "Lots of shows depict the dark side of teenage life. Truth­Qu est will reveal the bright side and show tbat young peo­ple who seek the truth live lives full of wonder." •

"" -

June Cleaver. Barbie. Magazines and media. From the time we were little girls, messages hove bombarded us about what the ideal woman should be like. Yet the worla's ideo of the

ideo I woman and God's view of the woman of worth and wisdom ore two very different things. And that's what Bellevue's Virtuous Woman Conference, Aprill 9-20, is all about. Wnether you're a

teen or o senior or anywhere in between, join us for a refreshing, uplifting weekend that just may redefine your ideo of the ideal woman-at Bellevue's Virtuous Woman Conference.

. .

Vntuous Woman Conference Bellewe Bopffst Church • April19-20, 2002

Memphis, Tennessee Friday, April19, 6:30-9:00 p.m.

· Saturday, April 20, 8:30 o.m. -3:30 p.m.

Vicki Courtney Feotured guest speaker Author of Virtuous Reality ... Becoming the Ideal Woman and The Virtuous Woman ... Shattering the Superwoman Myth

Cheri Ke~ Musk:ol ol1ist

Dove-oword winning contemponfl}{ Christian

singer/songwriter

For all women-teens through seniors Also includes special seminars

For more infoonotion or r8fllsbution, roll the Bellewe Women's Minishy ot (901) 347-5730. Or register on-line ot www.bellewe.om Bellawa BopHst Owrch • 2000 Appling Rood • Cordovo, TN 38016 • Dr. Adrian Rogers, Pastor

America a Christia n nation? But, of course! America was found­ed a Christian na­tion not because every "founding fa­

ter" was a proclaimed "born-again" believer in Christ, " because Christianity was the "state-sponsored reli-

on" (forced faith was the problem with Europe), nor tat the majority of her citizens subscribed to the hristian faith. America was founded as a Christian nation because

Le moral and ethical precepts, the legal system, even le very character of the people was irounded in the hristiaa Bible. One has only to read the documents om America's early years to see the overwhelming in­.1ence of the Bible in her settlement and founding as.

Look to the "founding fathers" and you hear prayers t only to God, but supplication to and witness of

:rrist, not to mention the repeated reference to God's ord, the Christian Bible. Christopher Columbus

,c:u.lo::;u the ocean blue" to spread Christianity (check it Lt), the Pilgrims (Christians) came to establish a

fil.rtStllan nation where people of all religious convic­were welcome.

Look at a few quotes from some of America's unders. Ge~ Wa~on (the first U.S. president)- "Di­

et Jl!Y,_~u~~~ds, and work, wash away my sins the,.in)tna.c\Ilat-e Blood of the Lamb, and purge my

:art "by thy Holy Spirit. . .. Daily frame me more and I

ore in.to the likeness of thy Son, Jesus Christ." Abraham Linc<;>ln (the 16th U.S. president) -

Vhen I left Springfield I asked the people to pray for e. I was not a Christian. When I buried my son, the

erest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But 1en I went to Gettysburg and saw the graves of tho~­nds of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated my e to Christ. Yes, I do love Jesus." Patrick Henry (U.S. statesman and orator)- "It ·

nnot be emphasized too strongly or too often that is great nation was foundeti, not by religionists, but ; Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Je-s Christ." ' The fact that America was fowided as a Christian

f\tlOin is an offense to those of a different faith. How­' the very essence of America is that of liberty. Re­$~].ibe:cty js the cornerstone of that liberty and our Ligious freedom results from our nation's Christian

tion. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the · and the people whom He path chosen for His inheritance" (Psalm 33:12). ~ eyident that our Christian foundation, our re­

.nce :bil the Uod of the Bible, is the vehicle through 1ich God's blessings have come to our nation. Let us 1t fail to look to the Lord as America's God once a1n. I pray that "history will indeed repeat itself' in this

stance. • - Seiber is pastor of First Baptist Church,

Start With a Smile: College freshman to moth­er: "Guess what? I've just enrolled and I'm taking a course in psycholo-

" Mother: "I guess no~ you'll be analyzing your .Jl.ners and sisters in a few weeks when you visit

College freshman: "No, Mom. I don't take abnor­psychology until next semester."

,Taite this Truth: Here lies the tragedy of this age WUlt. people know so little about other people. - W.E.

this Scripture: "First, take the plank of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to :re­

the speck from your brother's eye." - Matthew NlV . .._ ... this Prayer: Lerd, help me to realize the fust

I need to solve in life is to work on my own prob-

Stockpiling to sharing By Jamison Work

Focal Passage: Luke 12:13-21; 21:1-4

The average American today spends approximately $1.17 for every $1.00 he or she earns. This simply means that ~ericans are fully en­gaged in a lifestyle that demands spending all they mak~ plus another 17 percent on credit. So many Ameri­cans are living on credit now that "two billion credit card applications, or approximately 17 for each adult, are mailed to individuals each year'' ("Facts & Trends," April , 2000). The typical college graduate today begins his or her career with credit card debt and student loan debt, often numbering in the

·tens of thousands of dollars. Approximately half of all mar­

riages fail, with almost 90 percent of divorcees saying that financial prob­lems were the number one cause of marital problems. About two-thirds of the 1.4 million bankruptcies each year are the result of misusing credit cards. The effort to stockpile the things money can' buy is destroying many homes in America today. Far too many people think h aving a:nd getting more money, so that they can have and get more things, is the ~ey to happiness. Nothing could be fur­ther from the truth.

Jesus was pointed in addressing a question about a family inheritance

in Luke 12. In essence, J esus was telling the listening crowd, "Don't be too anxious about getting your family inheritance. No matter what it is, it will not redefine who you really are. A person's life never consists ofhis or her possessions. Life is deeper than what you possess." A person can ei­ther spend his life on things, or invest his life into the Kingdom of God. A life spent, is a life lost. The barns of the rich man will fall down, blow over, or burn up. A soul surrendered to Christ will live forever.

Jesus advised people not to lay up treasure here on earth. Earth's treasures will rust, be eaten by moths, or stolen by thieves (Mat-

thew 6:19). Treasures laid up in heaven will never perish . What are those treasures? The lives of people into whom the gospel of the Lord Je-

. sus Christ has been invested. The rich man in Jesus' parable in Luke 12 had taken care of meeting his fami­ly's every need. Yet he had neglected the most important issue- where would he spend eternity? The poor widow in Luke 21, on t4e other hand, had no assurance of tomorrow's breakfast, yet she willingly invested her last two copper coins in the King-· dom of God. She neglected her break­fast because she had made prepara­tions for eternity.

Possessions have a tendency to produce a false sense of security. The rich man said, "Eat , drink, a:nd be

Face transitions with faith By Ray Jones

Focal Passages: Deuteronomy 31:1-2, 7-11; 34:5-9

Over a hundred years ago, in a Scottisp seaside inn, a group of fishermen was relaxing after a long day at sea. As a .

know who that man was?" he asked in amazement. The signature reads 'E.H. Landseer!' " Indeed the well­known painter of wild life, Sir Ed­win Landseer, had visited them. God wants to take the stains, dis­appointments, and transitions of

. our lives a:nd not

serving maid ~xpl~j~, ....... ,~ Wa$ walking Lesson~

s,~ ,t merely ~rase ' ~>t;: ·~ them, _but ~ather

past the fisher-4

: ~ men's table with """'" A4

11 I

a pot of tea, one of the men made a sweeping ges­ture to describe the size of the fish he claimed to h ave caught. His hand collided with the teapot and sent it crashing against the white­washed wall, where its contents left

. an irregular, brown splotch. Standing nearby, the innkeeper

surveyed the damage. "That stain will never come out," he said in dis­may. "The whole wall will h ave to be repainted." "Perh~ps not." All eyes turned to the stranger who had just spoken. "What do you mean?" asked the innkeeper. "Let me work with the stain," said the stranger, getting up from his table in the corner. "If my work meets your approval, you won't need to re­paint the wall."

The stranger picked up a box and went to the wall. Opening the box he removed his artist pencils and brushes. He soon finished the mural, signed his name, and left . The innkeeper was stunned when he examined the wall. "Do you

. .. /~ .; turn them mto a w i"'~ / 6

_.., thing of beauty. I t. . tQ "'f

The nation of Israel was approaching a major transition. The people would soon cross over into the Promised Land. They would no longer live a no­madic existence but would build, own property, and start a new way of life. Moses their leader would die before this happened. A new leader was· needed. Moses instructs them how to best deal with the changes they are going to experienc.e.

Moses' instruction to the people is good instruction for us also. He said, "Be alert to God's leadership." One of the difficulties in coping with changes in our lives is that we do not see the dynamic leadership of God. Peggy Noonan, is a secular journalist, but is said to have one of the brightest journalistic minds. She wrote an article in Forbes mag­aziDe entitled, "You'd Cry Too If It Happened To You."

The question, "Why are we so unhappy?" was asked of 11 men and women. They all agreed we are unhappy because we have lost our

merry" (Luke 12:19). Everything looked good from his possession-per­spective. He was "set for life." The only problem was, just when he was "set for life," life was over. The same problem exists today for people with their eyes on accumulation . They have spent their $1.17 for every $1.00 they earned - two vacation condo­miniums, one at the beach, one in the mountains; the latest model car; the finest clothes; the largest house in the nicest neighborhood; t he trips; the shows; the life- and just when everything is "set," life ·is over.

They paid for the Igds college edu­cation, maximized their retirement account, invested for 30 ye_ars in a blue chip mutual fund, paid off the mortgage, paid cash for the RV, and now th ey can "Eat ,, drink, and be merry." Just one problem - life is over and no preparation was made for eternity.

Go~'s resources were not meant to be spent on man's self-centered pur­suits, like the rich man did. Instead, God's resources should be invested in the work of God's Kingdom, like the poor widow did. It's not about ~tock­piling, it's about sharing.- Work is pastor, Candies Creek Baptist Church, Charleston.

moral ~nd spiritual center. Listen to Noonan's reply. "Poet W. H . Aden called his era 'the age of anxi­ety.' I think what was at the heart of the dread in those days was that · we could tell we were beginning to lose God - banishing Him from the scene and from our own conscious­ness . . . . It is a terrible thing when people lose God. Life is difficult, and people are afraid, and to be without God is to lose man's great­est source of consolation, coherence, and guidance." Moses said, "God is leading; follow Him in this time of transition."

Moses recognized that th e people would experience grief in the midst of the changes . He was the only leader they had known for 40 years. Without his leadership they would not know wh at to do and they would miss him personally. Moses informed· the people that God was prepared. He had already prepared their next leader- Joshua. When Moses died the people wept for 30 days ·and then began following the new leader and claimed the land God had prepared for them.

Just as the famous painter cre­ated a beautiful mural, so our Mas­ter Painter, God, ca:n and Will take the stains, disappointments, and transitions that come into our lives · a:nd transform them into a wonder­ful life. His desire for us is a full a:nd meaningful life. - Jones is di­rector of missions, Big Hatchie Bap­tist ·Association.

..

c ...

• Tony Evans, founder of the Urban Alternative min­istry and radio program and a

Dallas, Texas, pastor, will speak in Cen­t ral Baptist Association, based 1n McMinnville. He will speak at the conclud-

EVANS ing service of

March 7-10 associational si-multaneous revivals at the McMinnville Civic Center in McMinnville at 6:30 p.m. And Evans will lead a pastors' con­ference March 11 at Northside Baptist Church, McMinnville. The confer ence will begin at 8 a.m. For more information, call the association at (931) 668-3690.

• Riverdale Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, will hold revival Mar ch 10-13. Ricky Sego, a minister in Dothan, Ala. , will speak and Mark Henry, of Life Way Chris-, tian Resources, Nashville, will lead the music. For more infor­mation, call (615) 895-3295.

• New Salem Baptist Church, Soddy-Daisy, will hold a youth revival March 3-7 at 7 p.m. Andy Wood, pastor of First Baptist Church, Engle­wood, will speak. For more in­formation, call the church at (423) 842-3078.

• Brook Hollow Baptist Church , Nashville, will hold revival Feb. 24-27. Phil Glis­son, evangelist of Memphis, will speak.

• Gates Baptist Church, Gates, will hold revival March 3-6. John Yates of Enterprise, Ala. , who is a speaker and ven­triloquist, will speak. For more information, call (731 ) 836-9887.

• Wayne Maddox, 76, of J efferson City, an emeritus Sou thern Baptist missionary to J apan, died Jan. 18. He served from 1969-91. His Ten­nessee ties include being a graduate of Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Baptist Student Union director at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, and on the staff of churches in Tennessee. He also served churches in Florida and Georgia. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, two children and six grandchildren.

• Erba Butler, r etired su­perintendent of the Tennessee Baptist Children's· H ome in Bartlett and h is wife, Sue, ob­served their 60th wedding an­niversary recently. The couple lives in Memphis. Erba Butler served TBCH from 1956-77 and Sue Butler in many roles from 1957-84. At one time, 134 children were residents on the campus and many more were ·in foster boarding homes and

KEN BAGWELL, second from left, of Bagwell Office Systems of Middle Tennessee and a member of Shelbyville Mills Baptist Church, Shelbyville, presents a copier to Connie Davis, right, of Christian Women 's Job Corps - Nashville. Mark LeMay, left, of the Tennessee Baptist Convention staff told ·Bagwell about the need. Jamie Potter of Nashville works for the company. C_WJC -Nashville is based.at Locke/and Baptist Church, Nashville

prospective adoptive homes. The adopt ion program that is still in o.peration was begun during Erba Butler's service. The Butlers still return to re­unions at the home every sum­mer to see those they served.

• First Baptist Church, McMinnville, called Fred

BUETO

Bueto Sr., of Albertville, Ala., a s pas­tor, effective Feb. 3. He for­merly was di­rector of mis­sions of an as­soci ation in Alabama and

has served as pastor of church­es in Alabama and Mississippi. Bueto is a gra~uate of William Carey College, H~ttiesburg, Miss., and New Orleans (La.) Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Doris, are parents of two grown children.

Church, Nashville, has called Gary W. Morgan· of Franklin a s pastor, effective March 3. Robert Sheffield is interim pastor. Morgan has been with Centrifuge of Life Way Christ­ian Resources, Nashville, since 1997. H e is a grady.ate of Union University, Jackson, and New Orleans (La.) Baptist Theological Seminary. Morgan and his· wife, Johni, have one

( daughter.

• Lonnie Wilkey, editor, B aptist and R eflector, was elected president-elect of th~ State Baptist Newspaper Edi­tors Association, Feb. 14 at its annual m eeting in. Albu­querque, N.M.

• Roger Cowen h as been called as interim minister of music, Eastview Baptist Church, Huntingdon.

• New Providence Baptist Church, Clarksville, has elect­ed E.S. "Red" Weatherford

• Edgefield B a ptist as a deacon.

- .

Mike Thrower named DOM of Beech River For Baptist and Reflector

LEXINGTON - Beec River Baptist Associatio based here has named Mik Thrower, pastor, Brunswic Baptist Church, Brunswicl as director of missions, effe­tive March 11. Doyle Nea DOM for the ass ociation. for 16 years, retired Dec. 31, 200L

Thrower has served the Bruns-

. wick Church for 20 years. He also was pastor of Su: flower Baptist Church, . S flower, Miss., and Thoma

. town Bapt ist Church, Th mastown, Miss. _ .

·He is a graduate of Missi sippi College, Clinton; a• New Orlea_ns·:-1La.) B_apti Theological Seminary. '

He i'B a-member a:f the TEl nessee Baptist Conv"inti• Executive B-oard, and h served on the· TBC Com mitt on the' Journal,. as modera of SP,elby Baptist Associati and as a member of seve1 assoeiation.al coinmii:ttees.

He and his wife, Fran~ have two grown children.

Cleveland area vvoman plays church's piano, ·organ for 60 yea By Gwin Swiger

GEORGETOWN -- When the adult choir files into the ~anctuary on Sunday mornings at Georgetown Baptist Church here, Hazel Bacon takes her usual place at the grand piano. For 60 years, she has been at ei­ther the church's piano or organ on Sundays.

She says, "I feel so blessed to have been chosen to serve the Lord in this way. He first gave me the ability and the talent, then the good health I needed to serve constantly over these 60 years. I know I have followed the Lord's will for my life."

Her musical talents emerged at age 3. "I began picking out one-finger melodies on the fami­ly piano," she says.

By the time she was 5, she was using both hands on t he keyboard. "I loved having an audience," she says.

"Music is in me. I pl~yed by

ear unt il I was in eighth grade. When my sister, Effie, started teaching school, she paid for my music lessons. It was not hard for me. I had already taught myself to read notes."

Bacon spent her childhood on a farm in Charleston. During Christmas week of 1942, the family moved to a farm her fa­ther had purcha'Sed in George­town. The family joined George­town Church. The second Sun­day s h e attended , she was asked to be the pianist. Shortly thereafter ·she met and married her husband, Conner Bacon.

Whe11 she first served as pi­anist, "it was a very small church," she says. "Lots of time, there were only 25 people there. They wer e glad to have some­one who was a memb'er of the church as pianist.

"I love hymns," Bacon says. "Gospel music is the love of my lif " e.

She served as pianist for

about 20 years. Then she went to the organ, where she served until about three year s ago, when she again became pianist.

She describes her styles as "plain. I don't put in a lot of em­bellishments," she says, ''but I play very expressively. I put feeling into it. Peop'le feel that. I think that people get more from the emotions they feel."

Her musical talents were not restricted to Sundays. She also taught piano at the church. She notes "many of the area churches have my students at keyboard." .

'She enjoys playing both pi­ano 'and organ. However, she says the organ is easier to play. "You can play really simply on the organ and it sou?ds good. You can combine so many voic­es," Bacon explains.

In 1967, she went into retail sales at a Cleveland store which sold pianos and organs. She sold mostly pianos for about 20

years - until the store closed. _She then joined another store. The owner died about a year ago and his chil­dren are selling the store, she says.

Bacon notes, "I love it (re-tail sales). It i s ~al challenge and sat­i sfaction to match the right instru­ment with the cus­tomer 's needs. I shall surely miss it."

HAZEL BACON has played the piano o1 gf!ln for Georgetown Baptist Church, Gee town, for 60 years.

She especially enjoys helping church committees buy instru­ments, adding many times they want to get by with something

· that is not adequate. Mter a stroke in 1998, she

has only been working part­time. But she has retumed to teaching piano.

On Jan. 27 the church recog­nized Bacon. She played a con-

cert during the worship se1 which was followed by a tin fellowship.

Bacon says she would r if a replacement were fo· "My plan for living has al, been 'in all thy ways ackl: edge Him and He will direc paths.' That still holds. Wh: er is in God's plan, I will c just as I h ave for the paE years." •