JOURNAL OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION OF MISSISSIPPI

JANUARY 1, 2012 VOL. 66 NO. 1

Special Emphasis Time

AAAAA V V V V Very Happy New ery Happy New ery Happy New ery Happy New ery Happy New YYYYYearearearearearby the editorby the editorby the editorby the editorby the editor

It is now 2012 and another year is before us. In order for thisministry to have a successful year, we must have a good SpecialEmphasis drive in January.

The State Association has set this month aside for us toreceive a special offering to help with our general operation.These funds are not for any 'extras' or 'special projects'. Thefunds given during January will be applied toward our regulargeneral fund operating needs.

Without monthly support from our churches and a goodannual emphasis drive, this ministry would be difficult tosustain. For the past 34 years you have rallied to the needs of thiswork and as editor and manager, I urge you to "keep up the goodwork".

As you give to your local church during January, pleaseconsider giving an extra offering for Publications.

God Uses ‘An Old, Discarded Suitcase’Editor’s Note: Editor’s Note: Editor’s Note: Editor’s Note: Editor’s Note: The followingarticle by Dr. John Ladd re-lates some of the adventureshe and others experienced dur-ing our recent missions trip toHaiti. I know that you willenjoy his report on the tripfrom the physicians viewpoint.

By Dr. John Ladd, MexicoBy Dr. John Ladd, MexicoBy Dr. John Ladd, MexicoBy Dr. John Ladd, MexicoBy Dr. John Ladd, MexicoBMAA Medical MissionaryBMAA Medical MissionaryBMAA Medical MissionaryBMAA Medical MissionaryBMAA Medical Missionary

Christopher Columbus re-ally made some outstandingdiscoveries on his way to In-dia… too bad he never gotthere.

Let’s see how well you knowyour history bytaking this shortquiz. Give your-self 20 points foreach right an-swer and writedown your scorebefore you continue reading:

• Where was his first stop?• What indigenous people

greeted him?• For what country did

Christopher claim this newland?

• Who was ToussaintLouverture?

• What is the first black re-

public in the world?

A History LessonA History LessonA History LessonA History LessonA History LessonIn 1492 while sailing under

the Spanish flag to India, Se-nor Columbus landed on theunknown island of Hispanolawhere he was met by theArawak Indians. He claimedthe land for Spain and the is-land became known as Haiti,the Arawak name for “Lord ofthe Mountains.”

When the French defeatedthe Spanish at the end of the17th century, France began toexploit Haiti’s riches, mining

its gold andshipping itssugarcane andcoffee to Eu-rope. TheArawak Indi-ans were en-

slaved for this purpose and, ina matter of a few years, thisindigenous group became ex-tinct; thus the introduction ofAfrican slaves.

In 1801, ToussaintLouverture led the slaves inrevolt against the French land-owners. After a bloody, three-year war, the slaves declared

their independence and thefirst black republic was formed.It is said that on Jan. 1, 1804,a pig was sacrificed, Haiti wasdedicated to Satan and theVoodoo system of religion wasaccepted.

With a population of ap-proximately 9 million, life ex-pectancy of 47 years for malesand 51 for women, adult illit-eracy about 90% and averageannual income of some $400,Haiti has a right to be knownas one of the poorest countriesin the world. Sadly, all of theabove facts are lived out in thedaily activities of the Haitianpeople.

Recent HistoryRecent HistoryRecent HistoryRecent HistoryRecent HistoryOur recent BMMI team visit

to Haiti was “unusual” fromthe word go. When I checkedin at DFW, I was told that fromsuch-and-such a date in No-vember to mid January, it wasprohibited to check cardboard,plastic and paper containersgoing to Port-Au-Prince. Re-ally?

“You don’t understand,” Isaid, “I have this plastic cratefull of medical supplies for amedical mission to Haiti.” Po-litely, but firmly, the supervi-sor insisted that it would beimpossible to check my trea-sures. “But wait a minute,” she

Dr. John Ladd (left) counseling a patient on the recent BMMI trip to Haiti.Bro. Mike Poirier (right) interprets.

Dr. Ladd ministeringto a Haitian child.

continued on page 4continued on page 4continued on page 4continued on page 4continued on page 4

National MissionsSymposium Set

by Dr. John David Smithby Dr. John David Smithby Dr. John David Smithby Dr. John David Smithby Dr. John David SmithExecutive Director of MissionsExecutive Director of MissionsExecutive Director of MissionsExecutive Director of MissionsExecutive Director of Missions

BMA of AmericaBMA of AmericaBMA of AmericaBMA of AmericaBMA of AmericaThe National Missions Symposium will be held January 17-

18, 2012 at the Central Baptist Church in Conway, Arkansas.The emphasis this year will be placed on the “White Fields of theUnited States” as we think toward church multiplication. Key-note speakers will be J.D. Payne from Southern Seminary inLouisville, Kentucky, and host pastor Don Chandler.

The schedule will include numerous missionaries and churchplanters, as well as time to cast vision and explain systems forchurch multiplication. We pray all of you will attend. Themeeting will begin at 7:00 PM on Tuesday the 17th and concludewith the Wednesday evening service on the 18th.

Lodging Information ForNational Missions Symposium

is located on page 5 of this issue

2 January 1, 2012 • Mississippi Baptist

News articles shouldcontain information that will beof interest to the general public

who are not members of thechurch that is reporting.

CHURCHNEWS

From TheMind of

Chuck Lee

Church making progressChurch making progressChurch making progressChurch making progressChurch making progressGreetings from Rocky

Branch. As most of you knowour church was destroyed as aresult of arson earlier this year.A number of churches haveexpressed interest in our re-building efforts. Constructionhas finally begun. It took sometime to get the plans finalized,with the necessary correctionsbeing made. We will send regu-lar updates as progress contin-ues. Presently, we expect thefoundation to be completed inearly January, weather andholidays permitting. Thank youto all those who have sent of-ferings to assist with construc-tion costs. They are very muchappreciated. I hope all findsyou well.

Until next time.Bro. Chris Gonthier, pastor.

Father and Son HuntAs my oldest son and I were

sitting in the woods the otherday, trying to convince a mon-ster TV type of buck to walkwithin shootingrange, it dawned onme how special ourfather/son time wasto me. He is growingolder and soon willmake a life of hisown, but for rightnow, it is just usspending a momenttogether.

“Did you take abath? I told you notto take a bath! Deercan smell the soap.If I haven’t taught you any-thing else, you should know bynow that taking a bath willscare the deer away. Now, passme some chips and turn thegame up on the transistor ra-dio.” As a father, I feel it is myduty to pass on my knowledgeof the woods and hunting skillsto my children. Taking a bath!At least there are a few moremonths left to train him up inthe way he should go. Rightnow I am kind of scared to lethim out the house on his own.

“Daddy? This moment isspecial to me and … well, wouldyou mind if we took a minute topray?”

Tears misted myeyes when he spokethese words. Per-haps his motherand I have donesomething right.Maybe there ishope after all.“Sure son. You leadus in prayer; justkeep it quiet in casea deer comes by.”

“Lord, thank youfor this special timethat I can spend

with my daddy.” I begin tosniffle.

“Thank you for allowing usthe freedom to enjoy these ac-tivities together and for thelove of my family.” Tears starteasing down the cheeks.

“Please allow us the privi-lege of shooting a ten pointbuck with a nineteen inch in-side spread. He doesn’t have tohave drop tines and he doesn’thave to be very big. Amen.”

The tears dry up as if a desertwind had gusted across my face.

I am not sure what I must havelooked like, but he immediatelyknew something was wrong.It’s possible he may have de-duced my displeasure with hisprayer because of the way Iwas staring at him with mymouth gaped open.

“Um . . . is something wrongdad?”

“Is something wrong? Issomething WRONG!!?? I saythere is something wrong! Whydid you say he didn’t have tohave drop tines? I have alwayswanted to kill a deer with droptines.” I sag back down againstthe tree with a look of despair.Just a few more months and heis out of here!

“I just thought you would behappy with a deer that wasbigger than Brother Joe’s buckthat he killed last year. It wasa nine point with an eighteenand a half inch spread. Re-member?”

I’m going to miss him in afew months when he is gone.He is such a good son, andthoughtful too. Every parentshould have a son like mine.

“Pass me the fried chicken,son, and see if we got any moresoda in the ice chest.”

I don’t know why we neversee any deer.

January 2012 - Special EmphasisJanuary 2012 - Special EmphasisJanuary 2012 - Special EmphasisJanuary 2012 - Special EmphasisJanuary 2012 - Special Emphasis

Our Need - $10,000Our Need - $10,000Our Need - $10,000Our Need - $10,000Our Need - $10,000

Don BrownEditor

Your SupportYour SupportYour SupportYour SupportYour Support

& Gifts Are& Gifts Are& Gifts Are& Gifts Are& Gifts Are

Appreciated!Appreciated!Appreciated!Appreciated!Appreciated!

JOURNAL OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION OF MISSISSIPPI

On The Web at www.msbaptist.org

Addressingabortion inthe churchOneNewsNowOneNewsNowOneNewsNowOneNewsNowOneNewsNow - Operation Res-cue is encouraging pastors topreach life in 2012, as Chris-tian women are failing to seethat abortion "is something thatdefies God's law."

Organization President TroyNewman tells OneNewsNowhe felt led to do so after a groupof pro-lifers encountered aChristian woman who said shewas "quite confident" and"happy" with her decision toabort her unborn child as sheentered the Stockton Preg-nancy Control Medical Clinicin California. An hour and ahalf later, she was loaded intoan ambulance for emergencytransport to a nearby hospital.

"Not only was there a babythat was killed in this situa-tion, but also a young Chris-tian woman suffered at thehands of this abortionist,"Newman laments. "And it's justa tragedy when Christianwomen feel like they have noother alternative but to go toan abortion clinic to solve whatthey consider a problem."

In this case, the youngwoman sported a Christian fishsymbol on her car and espousedChristian beliefs as she walkedinto the facility to kill her un-born baby.

"It's so sad that women ofChristian faith somehow don'thave any moral foundationthat's taught to them from be-hind the pulpit that abortion isreally wrong, that children arecreated in the image and like-ness of God, and to have anabortion is something that de-fies God's law," the OperationRescue president notes.

Newman says it is impera-tive this year and from now onthat "the church of Jesus Christstands up to say that abortionis against God's will." Also, heencourages the church andChristian community to beready and willing to helpwomen through unexpectedpregnancies.

Charter schoolCharter schoolCharter schoolCharter schoolCharter schoolrejected becauserejected becauserejected becauserejected becauserejected becauseof applicant's faithof applicant's faithof applicant's faithof applicant's faithof applicant's faithOneNewsNow OneNewsNow OneNewsNow OneNewsNow OneNewsNow - A Californiaattorney says one city's moveto stop a pastor from starting acharter school is anothermethod to prevent people offaith from getting involved.

School officials in Comptonhave denied two charter schoolapplications filed by PastorCharles Patrick of SunagoChristian Fellowship Church,who wanted to start a school inLos Angeles. However, eventhough he was not applying onbehalf of a religious institu-tion, the Compton Unified

School District declined hisapplications because he is achurch leader.

In response, Frontier LegalFoundation has filed a lawsuitagainst California, chargingThe Golden State with violat-ing Patrick's First Amendmentrights.

"A pastor is entitled to asmuch right under the FirstAmendment as any individualis," contends Robert Tyler ofAdvocates for Faith & Free-dom, "especially when they'regoing to be using the funds, inthis case, for secular purposes."

Pastor Patrick reportedly didnot plan to teach religion in theschool. He only wanted to oper-ate a charter school "in a safelocation." Frontier Legal Foun-dation tells The Orange CountyRegister that constitutionalcase law permits a religiousinstitution to receive fundingwhen the money is used for a"secular purpose" like educa-tion or medical care.

"I think that what we're see-ing here is a move toward try-ing to prevent any person offaith from really being in-volved," Tyler suspects.

The legal group maintainsthat the school group's deci-sion fails the case-law test, andthe lawsuit cites the Establish-ment Clause, which is meant

to protect all citizens againstdiscrimination.

Another schoolAnother schoolAnother schoolAnother schoolAnother schooltaking standtaking standtaking standtaking standtaking standfor religious libertyfor religious libertyfor religious libertyfor religious libertyfor religious libertyOneNewsNowOneNewsNowOneNewsNowOneNewsNowOneNewsNow - A Christiancollege has joined the fight tochallenge the Obamaadministration's healthcaremandate that schools must vio-late church teachings againstcontraception.

Colorado Christian Univer-sity has joined with the monksat Belmont Abbey College tofight against the Patient Pro-tection and Affordable Care Actmandate that abortion-induc-ing drugs be accessible throughall group health insuranceplans.

"Well, we're really gratefulthat Belmont Abbey and Colo-rado Christian have taken thelead on this," shares HannahSmith, senior legal counsel atThe Becket Fund for ReligiousLiberty. "It's very important tohave institutions that are will-ing to put themselves out thereand be the first ones in court,and I think that there will beother universities and otherinstitutions who realize that

More News on Page 3More News on Page 3More News on Page 3More News on Page 3More News on Page 3

3January 1, 2012 • Mississippi Baptist

SoutheasternBaptist College4229 Highway 15 NorthLaurel, Mississippi 39440, (601) 426-6346 Dr. Medrick Savell

President

Serving Christ With a Biblical World View In A Christian Atmosphere

Christmas is a time of reassurance that God is real and is verymuch “with us.” This past Christmas season was no exceptionand was one of the best in assuring us of His presence andexperiencing things that He does for us daily. To me personally,in my family, my church, and in the college, His presence,blessings, and answers to prayer have been very much evident.

Response to Financial Needs of the CollegeResponse to Financial Needs of the CollegeResponse to Financial Needs of the CollegeResponse to Financial Needs of the CollegeResponse to Financial Needs of the CollegeI know that many people have been praying for the college - for

all our needs. The response in December shows the concern ourpeople have for the college. When they learned of the need,individuals and churches responded to the need. That responsewas beyond my expectations and enabled us to pay salaries forthe month of December. That was a great encouragement to meand all the staff and lets us know that God’s hand is upon thecollege. I know He cares and His people care and show it. I willgive more details later, recognizing and thanking those whoresponded. In the 10 x 10 Fund Raising Project, the number of“financial rooms” built is now 119 ($11,900.00). We appreciatethose who are responding to this project.

New SemesterNew SemesterNew SemesterNew SemesterNew SemesterRegistration for the Spring semester is on-going at this time.

Please pray that God will bless our efforts and we will have a goodenrollment. May this new year be a good one for all of us. May weexperience revival in our churches and our nation. May the Lordbless His work everywhere.

Family ArkMinistries

Travis Plumlee

2012 Goal2012 Goal2012 Goal2012 Goal2012 Goal - Grow LargerSurely you didn't think that

I would actually suggest yougain a bunch of weight as a goalfor 2012! I am writing aboutgrowing larger in a spiritualsense. Every Christian shouldhave a burning desire to growlarger, deeper, purer, higherthan ever before in their walkwith the Lord. While the de-sire may be there, the ability tocarry it out is another story.There is this thing called "find-ing the time" that keeps slip-ping away. How fast do yourdays go? Does it seem that theweeks and months just fly by?Yet, we must carve out eachday, some time to spend withGod, our Father, and Jesus,our Savior and the Holy Spirit,our Comforter.

There is another problem togrowing in our faith. It is ourpersonalities. It is who we areas a person. On the one hand,there are a small minority ofpeople who are driven and lazi-ness isn't in their vocabulary.However, this extreme drivecan also be detrimental. Oftentimes these people are perfec-tionists, workaholics, or obses-sive/compulsive people who dothings out of a need to feeladequate and accepted.

This causes you to do yourBible study, not out of a deepabiding love for Christ, but justone more item to check off onyour daily push to do everything just right. Your Biblestudy then becomes a routineand a ritual, rather than life-changing. You find acceptanceof yourself by doing things ontime and just right. This helpsyour self-esteem and makes youfeel better about yourself. Per-forming tasks to make yourselfmore acceptable is impossiblewhen it comes to God. If youhave Christ in your heart, youcannot be anymore acceptablethan you already are. Nocompletion of tasks can changethat fact. God loves and ac-cepts you forever in Christ.

Then there are a majority ofhumans that fall into the lazycategory. None of us like tothink of ourselves as lazy, butit is a rather common humancondition. When you combinethis with a lack of burning pas-sion for the things of Christ,then you get people who don'ttruly grow in their faith. Welike the pleasures of the world.We like to just relax when weare not at work or doing chores.I'm just not motivated like Ishould be. If these people do

grow, it is at a snail's pace.How could you explode in spiri-tual growth in 2012?

1. Repent of your tendencytowards laziness or obsessivedrive. Ask God to give you aburning desire from the Holy

Spirit to "want" to pray andstudy His word. Literally askfor this specifically in prayer.But have the "desire" be fromHim, and not of your flesh.

2. Make it a habit. Once youget into the habit of doing aBible study and personalprayer time, it becomes part ofyour daily routine. A daily rou-tine doesn't have to beuninspiring. It just makes iteasier to accomplish. We hu-mans are creatures of habit.When we get ready in themorning, or at night or duringthe day, if we don't make Godpart of our habit, then the wholeday goes by and you wake upthe next day and say, "Oh man,I didn't do my Bible study."Doing a prolonged time ofprayer, seeking God's face,should be as common as eatingbreakfast, combing your hair,or drinking your favorite bev-erage when you get up. Once itbecomes a habit, it then be-comes strange when you don'tdo it. A huge step towardsgrowing in 2012 is to makeprayer and Bible study a habit.

3. Be realistic. I hear people allthe time tell me they are goingto start setting their alarm anhour earlier, and get up in thewee hours of the morning fortheir personal growth time.99% of the time, this will neverlast. You have to create thishabit of devotion time that isreasonable and realistic withyour life style. There are somepeople who actually wake up at5:00 a.m. and can do a quiettime before anyone else in thehouse gets up. If that is yourpersonality bend, "a morningperson", then go for it. But ifyou like to linger when thealarm goes off, don't attempt todo spiritual growth at an hour

that is not your cup of tea. Youwill only grit your teeth for amonth or two and then get outof the habit. Carve out a timeand place that works for youand stick to it. If you have kids,then they need to be made tounderstand that you are not tobe disturbed during this time.Invariably there may be an in-terruption with small kids, sojust go with it. But it shouldn'tbe that you are always inter-rupted by them, and don't getto do it. It is awesome for themto learn that you respect yourtime alone with God. It teachesthem a valuable lesson for theirown future spiritual growth.

4. Refuse to feel guilty if youmiss a day. It happens. Youdon't skip a day without prayer.I mean you may just miss occa-sionally your private time. It'sokay. Just quickly reestablishthe habit.

5. If you can't do this consis-tently, then check your heart.You may have a heart problem.Our King not only commandsus to do this, but how could youstand in His presence and notwant to do this? If nothing else,let Jesus do heart surgery onyou in 2012. After all, He is thegreat physician.

this is a real threat to them aswell."

She notes the growing, wide-spread response to this situa-tion among the evangelicalChristians, Catholics, and or-thodox Jews, "who consider this[an] imposition of a governmentmandate, requiring them to payfor Plan B and Ella - drugs thatare more commonly referred toas abortion drugs. But that isjust un-American, it's unprec-edented, and it's unconstitu-tional," the attorney argues.

The two lawsuits challengethe mandates as violations ofthe First Amendment, the Re-ligious Freedom RestorationAct, and the AdministrativeProcedures Act.

NewsNewsNewsNewsNewsfrom page 2from page 2from page 2from page 2from page 2

Islamic immigration's effect on nations' lawsOneNewsNow OneNewsNow OneNewsNow OneNewsNow OneNewsNow - In light of the"honor killings" trial that ismaking front-page headlinesin Canada, a pro-family leader

is calling on the government totake a good, hard look at who itallows into the country.

Three Afghan immigrants --a father, a mother, and a son -- are standing trial for the June2009 murder of three daugh-ters and the father's first wife.The suspects claim the deathswere an accident, but authori-ties believe the three daugh-ters were victims of an honorkilling plot because the Islamicfamily disapproved of their con-duct, particularly the datinghabits of the two oldest sisters.

Brian Rushfeldt, executivedirector of Canada Family Ac-tion (CFA), warns that the is-sue could soon become a wide-spread problem.

"What concerns me is we'vegot people immigrating toCanada, but they want to bringtheir own values and their ownbeliefs here and live in a coun-try that promises them a lot,but they don't want to live bythe law nor the values of the

nation that they're coming to,"he notes. "And somehow, ourimmigration department hasto put a stop to that."

Rushfeldt believes the Con-servative government of PrimeMinister Stephen Harper ismore likely to clamp down onimmigration than is the UnitedStates.

"I think we are going to do abetter job because we've got agovernment now and an immi-gration minister who is ex-tremely dedicated to really re-viewing all of the policies thathave been in place under theLiberal government for 40years," the pro-family leadersuggests. "And he's taking someheat for the fact that he wantsthings changed. He wants bet-ter tracking of who actually iscoming."

Like the U.S. and WesternEurope, the CFA executive di-rector laments that Canada'simmigration policy has beengripped by political correctness.

4 January 1, 2012 • Mississippi Baptist

Opinion PageJournal of the Baptist Missionary Association of Mississippi

Don J. Brown, EditorE-Mail - editor@msbaptist.orgWeb site www.msbaptist.org

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Laurel, Mississippi 39441-8000

Phone 601-426-3293Fax 601-763-4430

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Published on the 1st and 15th of each month by the Baptist MissionaryAssociation of Mississippi. Periodical postage paid at Hattiesburg,Mississippi 39402.

Postmaster: Send address changes to the Mississippi Baptist Paper,P.O. Box 8181, Laurel, MS 39441-8000.

Church of the Covered Dish BY THOMAS TAPP

Don BrownEditor

added. “I think there might bean old, discarded suitcase inthe back you can use.”

To make a long story short,she produced a small suitcase,and we (the supervisor, my wifeShirley and I) began consoli-dating supplies and packingthis “carry on” size suitcasewith the contents of my crate.When we finished, Shirley leftwith the prohibited, plasticcrate about half full of small,discarded boxes.

As soon as I met up with theother team members in Miami,I learned that their five crateshad been checked without anyproblem. (Remember that fact.)

After a short two-hour flightwe were in Port-au-Prince In-ternational Airport. The air-port system of claiming bag-gage is “unico” — you locateyour baggage (which might bein a variety of locations), thenhead toward the “exit” wherean official usually wants to

make sure your baggage stubnumbers correspond to yourbags.

You then keep walking, inhopes the custom agent doesn’ttake a liking to you. Everyonewas waltzing out the front doorwith no problems until the“other five plastic crates” werespotted by the customs agent.Nothing was said about my“special suitcase” full of trea-sures.

An even longer story abbre-viated, one of our team mem-bers who had served in Haiti asmissionary for a short time andspoke some Creole spent theentire five days we were in Port-au-Prince trying to get ourmeds and supplies freed. But itnever happened. We made tripsto different government offices,filled out forms, wrote letters,gave explanations and “tips,”but still no medicine. Each day

Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.

Learning To TypeWhen learning to type in my

10th grade typing class, thephrase "Now is the time for allgood men to come to the aid oftheir country" was repeatedlyburn in thebrains ofeach student.I recall beingtold that thisphrase waspopular dur-ing WWII. Ihave re-searched asto whetherthat was thecase or not. Iwas unsuccessful.

I did find the following refer-ence that this phrase was pro-posed as "a typing drill by ateacher named Charles E.Weller. Many typing books usethis phrase because it exactlyfills out a 70-space line if youput a period at the end". I per-sonally found it easy to get "upto speed" in typing class by therepetitive nature of this line.

The source is not important,but the message is. Often weuse the phase "Now is the time...." and then we fill in our ownmessage. From the pulpit weoften hear these words relat-ing to salvation, right livingand Christian service.

Now Seems The Right TimeNow Seems The Right TimeNow Seems The Right TimeNow Seems The Right TimeNow Seems The Right TimeSeveral years ago our Na-

tional Association determinedthat it was time to make somechanges for the purpose ofstreamling our work and mak-ing it more relevant and able toaddress current needs.

We did this by combiningvarious ministries into groupsthat would compliment eachother, thus making them moreefficient and productive.

One of the mainstays of thiseffort resulted in

DiscipleGuide. Our publica-tions department, nationalyouth work, national campministry and Baptist NewsService were combined into oneministry. We call this ministryDiscipleGuide.

This move has proven to bevery successful and I believewe have seen results that wouldnot have occured without thismove.

One of the areas that hasflourished under this new or-ganizational structure has beenDCM (Department of ChurchMinistries).

The "Conferences" divisionof DiscipleGuide is one of thebright spots in the ministry ofthe BMA of America. We thinkof SOAR, Senior Adult Confer-ences, Pastor's Oasis, Pastor's& Layman's Conference,MERGE, The Great Escape andothers. Under the direction ofits leader, this ministry usesthe talents of a wide variety ofindividuals to minister to a widerange of individuals and onmany levels.

VisionVisionVisionVisionVisionThe work of Conference Min-

istries is successful because ourpeople had a vision for a betterway to minister and the fore-sight to implement that vision.

Over the years the BMA ofMississippi has had a very suc-cessful Youth Ministry. Timeschange, people change andmethods change. We no longerminister to the same numberof young people that we did inyears past. The attitudes, de-sires and expectations of youngpeople have evolved over thelast few years. Our society haschanged and different ap-proaches have proven success-ful.

The Senior Adult Commis-sion of Mississippi and the con-

ferences that were imple-mented have proven to be theright move at the right time.Bro. Vern Holifield's vision con-cerning seniors and the seniorministry has been a blessing tomany.

The ground work laid by in-dividuals such as Bro. RayThornton and others concern-ing the camp ministry has paideternal dividends in the livesof young people.

Times change and so dopeople.

New Direction?New Direction?New Direction?New Direction?New Direction?With the passing of Bro. Vern

Holifield and the recent resig-nation of Youth DirectorDwight Lindsey, I feel it is timefor a new direction. The time isright for us to consider a newdirection. Using the nationalConference Ministry as amodel, it would appear to thiswriter that we can move on tomore productive and greaterthings.

Combining these two minis-tries under a new 'Church Min-istry Commission' would helpunite the efforts of reachingout to more individuals andexpanding the efforts to newareas. The prospects are end-less.

Incorporating the annualPastor's Conference and add-ing areas such as staff retreats,women's conferences, coupleretreats, pastor's and wivesretreats . . . . the list and poten-tial is unlimited. Of course, itwill take work and more im-portantly - cooperation.

Before we move on to elect anew Youth Director or a Com-mission on Senior Adult Direc-tor, let us give serious consid-eration to another direction. Iwould suggest that the trusteeboards of the Commission onSenior Adults and the YouthDepartment consider this as apossibility - not for the purposeof eliminating anything, but forthe purpose of moving on togreater works.

Now is the time for all ofGod's people to ..... Well, I willlet you finish that line.

‘An Old, Discarded Suitcase’continued from page 1continued from page 1continued from page 1continued from page 1continued from page 1

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5January 1, 2012 • Mississippi Baptist

Listing of names does notindicate endorsement.

This column is forinformation purposes only.

AVAILABLEFOR SERVICE

we were encouraged that“manana” we would receivethese additional treasures, but“manana” never came.

The first scheduled day ofclinic was in a children’s home,and we were able to work un-der a little handicap using thecontents of the “discarded suit-case.” Since we were so sure wewould receive the meds by noonof the second day, we cancelledthe morning session; but byafternoon our hopes for suc-cess were pretty low, so wefound a medicine distributiondealer and bought meds for “to-morrow.” The team was able toserve about 400 patients be-fore returning to the U.S.

Soon after the 2010 earth-quake that shook Port-Au-Prince and left hundreds deadand thousands homeless, wemade a trip to Haiti. We sawnumerous tent cities of “realtents” and other shelters con-sisting of a few poles with plas-tic stretched between them thatwere placed no more than 18”apart and served as homes forthe homeless. Drinking water,sewer and sanitation were vir-tually non-existent; unemploy-ment and crime reigned su-preme.

With these sights still veryclearly in mind, I was “almost”sure we would find very fewchanges on this trip. Much tomy surprise, I was mistaken.There are still thousands liv-ing in tent cities, but we weretold that is because manypeople from distant mountainvillages (where there was noearthquake damage) learnedthat the people living in thesetemporary quarters are givenhousing. So the population ofthe tent cities continues to re-main high although many ofthe original citizens havemoved into their own small 20’x 30’ plywood house of one room.

Much of the rubble from theearthquake has been removedand the streets are some bet-ter, but the traffic is almostunbelievable — and so are thesanitary conditions. (Speakingof traffic, it would take us 2 ½to 3 hours to travel from ouraccommodations at a Menno-nite compound to the differentclinic locations or church onSunday — a distance of 15 to20 miles!)

More Missionary TravelsMore Missionary TravelsMore Missionary TravelsMore Missionary TravelsMore Missionary TravelsTwo days after returning

from Haiti to Tyler, TX, weflew to Mexico City and thenbussed to Pachuca for a twoday meeting with our LatinAmerican director of missionsand the other three Americanfamilies serving in Mexico. Itwas a great time of fellowshipand sharing.

From Pachuca we rode backto Aquismon, Mexico, withRicky and Priss Williams (ourmissionary coworkers) for thelast week of clinic before theChristmas holiday break andthe annual clinic Christmassupper/gift exchange. (Youdon’t know what a Christmasparty is until you experienceone of those!)

After the church Christmasprogram on Sunday night, earlyMonday morning we caughtanother ride with the Williamsback to Texas, where we willstay until Jan. 7 when we re-turn to Aquismon for about 10days of clinic work and the cel-ebration of one of our Mexicangranddaughter’s 15th birthdaycelebration. Known asquinceanos, it is the biggestand most important event nextto their wedding in the life of aLatin American young lady.

Then on Jan. 20 we are bothoff to El Salvador. Such is thelife of a missionary!

from Baptist Trumpet

‘An Old, Discarded Suitcase’from page 4from page 4from page 4from page 4from page 4

Anders LeeAnders LeeAnders LeeAnders LeeAnders LeeBro. Anders Lee is available

to fill pulpits. He may be con-tacted at 903-393-8456 orleeboy1989@gmail.com Bro.Anders previously served aspastor of Calvary BaptistChurch, Horn Lake, Missis-sippi.

Josh AwtryJosh AwtryJosh AwtryJosh AwtryJosh AwtryBro. Josh Awtrey is avail-

able for preaching appoint-ments, youth pastoral service,and pastoral service as the Lordleads. He is a member ofHopewell Baptist Church inFulton, Mississippi, and is cur-rently serving as a youth leaderand worship leader. He may becontacted atjlawtrey@gmail.com and (662)706-2188.

Greg RenfrowGreg RenfrowGreg RenfrowGreg RenfrowGreg RenfrowBro. Greg Renfrow is avail-

able for service as the Lordleads. He is a member of Min-eral Springs Baptist Church,Taylorsville. He has been inthe ministry since 1983 andhas pastored a number ofchurches. He may be reachedat 601-782-4430, Cell 601-504-4945, or Cell 601-504-4789.

Group of children ministered to by BMMI in Haiti

Lodging Informationfor National Missions Symposium

Listed below are some of the Hotels in Conway, Arkansasthat have agreed to give special rates to those attending the2012 Missions Symposium at Central Baptist Church on Janu-ary 17 & 18. Be sure to identify yourself as with the BaptistMissionary Association of America when making reservations.

Country Inn & Suites$77.00 (includes hot breakfast)501-932-0500 (rooms and suites are the same price)

Comfort Suites$74.99 (includes hot breakfast)501-329-8548 (each room has a sofa that makes a bed)

Hampton Inn$95.00 (includes breakfast)501-329-8999

If anyone has already made reservations at one of these hotelsthey can still tell them that they are with the BMA and they willhonor these rates.

When Sinners Turn To GodA sermon by Bro. Grover LairdA sermon by Bro. Grover LairdA sermon by Bro. Grover LairdA sermon by Bro. Grover LairdA sermon by Bro. Grover Laird

"For they themselves showof us what manner of enteringin we had unto you, and how yeturned to God from idols toserve the living and true God;And to wait for his Son fromheaven, whom he raised fromthe dead, even Jesus, whichdelivered us from the wrath tocome." (I Thessalonians 1: 9,10)

On Paul’s second mission-ary journey, he responded to acall from God and went to thecountry of Macedonia. One ofthe cities that Paul ministeredto while there was the city ofThessalonica. Though the en-emies of the gospel greatlywithstood Paul in this city, yetmany of the Thessalonians "...received the word in much af-fliction, with joy of the HolyGhost:" (I Thessalonians 1:6)

Our text verses tell us thattheir turn to God was a turnfrom idols. It was also a turn to“serve the living and true God;

and to wait for his Son fromheaven.” While they were work-ing for the Lord, they were alsowaiting for His return fromHeaven. Several thoughts cometo mind as we consider the textverses that are before us.

I. A Turn to God Must BeI. A Turn to God Must BeI. A Turn to God Must BeI. A Turn to God Must BeI. A Turn to God Must BeA Turn From SomethingA Turn From SomethingA Turn From SomethingA Turn From SomethingA Turn From Something

The gospel of Jesus Christinvolves a call for repentance.(Matthew 3:1, 2; 4:17; Mark6:12; Acts 3:19; 17:30; II Peter3:9) A call for repentance in-volves a call for a change. Whenthe Thessalonians respondedto the gospel of Christ, theyturned from idols. They made achange. A sinner who is notready for a different life is notready to be born into the familyof God.

At Philippi a Jailer “thrust”Paul and Silas into an innerprison and “made their feet fastin the stocks.” (Acts 16:24)When he got saved, he washedtheir stripes, carried them intohis house, and set meat beforethem. (Acts 16:33, 34) Gettingsaved brought a change. WhenPaul got saved, he began topreach “the faith which oncehe destroyed.” (Galatians 1:23)He was different then. TheBible says, "Therefore if anyman be in Christ, he is a newcreature: old things are passedaway; behold, all things arebecome new." (2 Corinthians5:17) True repentance involvesa change.

God doesn’t just suggest thatsinners repent, He commands

it. He doesn’t just commandcertain people to repent, He"...commandeth all men everywhere to repent:" (Acts 17:30)And when sinners truly repent,they turn from something. Thisis what happened atThessalonica.

II. We See The PowerII. We See The PowerII. We See The PowerII. We See The PowerII. We See The PowerOf The Gospel Of ChristOf The Gospel Of ChristOf The Gospel Of ChristOf The Gospel Of ChristOf The Gospel Of Christ

Before Paul preached to theThessalonians the gospel ofChrist, they worshiped idols.This was doubtless all theyknew and all their forefathersknew. There had to be somesupernatural power presentwhen these people gave up theirreligion and embraced the reli-gion of Jesus Christ. Thatpower was surely the power ofthe gospel of Jesus Christ.

We have no reason to everback off from sharing the gos-pel of Christ, even from peoplewho seem to be so permanentlyfixed in their false religion. Ifwe do, it is doubtless becausewe are overlooking the powerof the gospel. The gospel ofChrist is stronger than anystronghold of Satan. The manwho had seen it work so manytimes said, "For I am notashamed of the gospel of Christ:for it is the power of God untosalvation to every one thatbelieveth; to the Jew first, andalso to the Greek." (Romans1:16) Then in I Corinthians 1:18we read, "For the preaching ofthe cross is to them that perish

continued on page 7continued on page 7continued on page 7continued on page 7continued on page 7

6 January 1, 2012 • Mississippi Baptist

Mississippi W.M.A.Blinda Lee, President

77 Morrow Rd., Purvis,MS 39475601-596-3417

blinda.lee@lamarcountyschools.org

Corresponding SecretaryMrs. Shirlene Smith

730 Hwy 533, Laurel, MS 39443601-729-5638

WMA Ladies - Project Funds Needed Soon!On the first Easter morning the angel told a group of women,

“…Go quickly and tell his disciples that He is risen from thedead…” (Matthew 28:7) You may think it a coincidence that theones who received this message were women. I think it was adivine calling that women received that morning and we at thistime, also have important work to do.

Our WMA has been given the vital task of telling the worldabout our Risen Savior and producing disciples who can keep themessage going until the whole world hears. In the past TheNational Women’s Missionary Auxiliary has been a vital part ofspreading the word by our endeavors in the field of missions.

Please remember the combined National WMA projects. TheHattie Relief fund will help many families get their lives backtogether in that area after the earthquake and the IsHelpEnglish Language program will reach so many more people.Please prayerfully consider supporting this projectIn order for your gifts to be on the official project money record,it should be received by the end of February. The address forsending project money is:

Pat Duncan, PO Box 30, Hardy, AR 72542-0030Our work continues until He comes!National Project Promotion CommitteeRuby Poteet, Renna Hight and Linda Thomas,National Project Promotion Committee8303 Middle Warren Road, Pine Bluff, AR 71603870-879-1378 rwp8303@aol.comApproved by Valarie Fish, National WMA PresidentPO Box 66, Emerson, AR 71740, 980-547-2998,dvfish@swat.coop

WOMEN’S MISSIONARYAUXILIARY

BMA OF AMERICA2011 - 2012 PROJECT

40% INTERACTIVE SELF-HELPENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM (ISHELP)

40% HAITI RELIEF FUND

15% YOUTH FUND

5% GENERAL FUND

SEND OFFERINGS FOR “PROJECT” TO:

NATIONAL WMANATIONAL WMANATIONAL WMANATIONAL WMANATIONAL WMA% PAT DUNCAN% PAT DUNCAN% PAT DUNCAN% PAT DUNCAN% PAT DUNCAN

PO BOX 30 PO BOX 30 PO BOX 30 PO BOX 30 PO BOX 30 HARDY, AR 72120 HARDY, AR 72120 HARDY, AR 72120 HARDY, AR 72120 HARDY, AR 72120

Doug and Diane Leeon Deputation

Doug and Diane Lee have been elected as self-supportinginternational missionaries to the Philippines to work as instruc-tors at the Bible College in Bacolod in the music dept. Doug hasbeen minister of music at MillCreel Baptist Church in Pica-yune for the past 5 years andwas formerly minister of musicat Lee's Chapel #2 BaptistChurch in Picayune for 26 years.

The Lee's have been makingmission trips to the Philippinesfor 23 years, teaching and build-ing an accredited music depart-ment there. Plans are to be onthe field in June. They are ex-cited about what God is doing onthis journey of faith and are anx-ious to share it with you andyour church. You may reachthem at 601-337-4196 or 601-347-4195.

Their address is 28 R T Lee Rd., Carriere, MS 39426. For moreinformation about their ministry, visit their website atmusicservicesinc.com.

Some Things Are Worth Repeating

Walk/Run for the World Winners Announcedby Diane Ward

Lifeword’s National Walk/Run Coordinator

For the fourth year in a row,congratulations are in order forSpringhill Baptist Church,Springhill, Arkansas, for rais-ing the most money for theWalk/Run for the World. Theyexceeded their own previousrecord with an offering of$37,917.50, which is $1,212.50more than they raised in 2010.Hall Summit Baptist Church,Hall Summit, Louisiana, wasthe leading per capita contribu-tor again for the third straightyear with an offering of $25,000,which exceeded their previousoffering by $2,192. With anaverage worship attendance of30, the church’s offerings aver-aged $833.33 per person.Springhill and Hall Summitmay once again select twopeople to take an all expensespaid overseas mission trip in2012.

Lifeword also wants to rec-ognize Kewanee BaptistChurch, Kewanee, Missouri,who came in second overall withtheir contribution of$28,268.43, and Sunset Bap-tist Church, Lamesa, Texas,was the second highest percapita contributor, giving anaverage of $300 per person($7,500 divided by their aver-age worship attendance of 25).

The 2011 Walk/Run for theWorld offerings officially closeon June 30, 2012, so that givesyour church plenty of time tomake a contribution. We ap-

preciate the faithful participa-tion and support of ourchurches each year.

Walk/Run for the World of-ferings are used to fundLifeword broadcasts that arecurrently in 35 languages and49 formats, and the offeringsgo to developing programs inadditional languages as Godopens doors. In 2011, Lifewordadded broadcasts in theDangme (Ghana, West Africa),Burmese (Myanmar), and Bra-zilian Portuguese languages.Broadcast training was alsoprovided for new producers in

Africa, Thailand, and Bolivia,resulting in at least four newlanguages being added in 2012.The people who can finally hearthe Good News in their ownheart language are the realwinners! Thanks to all whohelped make that possible.Top contributors in each Walk/Run region receive an awardfrom Lifeword. This year’sMississippi winners are Sky-way Hills, Pearl, Mississippi(North Mississippi winner)$2,262.12 and Evergreen,Seminary, Mississippi (SouthMississippi winner) $5,000.00.

Lifeword Gives Sight to the BlindRick Russell, Lifeword’s

Chief Programming Officer, re-ceived the following note thefirst week of January. It is agreat reminder of our missionand calling. To read more sto-ries of changed lives, visitwww.lifeword.org.

“Last month we had a veryinteresting visitor who trav-eled for twenty hours to comeand meet us. He is a listener ofthe Kannada Lifeword pro-gram. It was interesting toknow that he came to knowChrist as his personal saviorthrough the broadcast. Thisman traveled all the way byhimself and was completelyblind. He came wanting to meetus just to let us know howthankful he was for the pro-gram. He only spent a coupleof hours with us and then

headed straight back to wherehe was from. It was a verytouching time for all of us whomet him. In a country likeIndia where our system ne-glects the physically chal-lenged, it was such a joy to seethis man come all the way onhis own just to come and thankthe ministry.”Let us all con-tinue to work together so thatwe can reach out to many morelike this young man who neededa savior.”

-Prashant Prakash,Lifeword producer for the

Kannada broadcast in India

Addressing abortionin the churchOneNewsNow OneNewsNow OneNewsNow OneNewsNow OneNewsNow - Operation Res-cue is encouraging pastors topreach life in 2012, as Christianwomen are failing to see that abor-tion "is something that defiesGod's law."

Organization President TroyNewman tells OneNewsNow hefelt led to do so after a group ofpro-lifers encountered a Chris-tian woman who said she was"quite confident" and "happy"with her decision to abort herunborn child as she entered theStockton Pregnancy ControlMedical Clinic in California. Anhour and a half later, she wasloaded into an ambulance foremergency transport to a nearbyhospital.

"Not only was there a babythat was killed in this situation,but also a young Christian womansuffered at the hands of this abor-tionist," Newman laments. "Andit's just a tragedy when Christianwomen feel like they have no otheralternative but to go to an abor-tion clinic to solve what they con-sider a problem."

In this case, the young womansported a Christian fish symbolon her car and espoused Chris-tian beliefs as she walked into

the facility to kill her unborn baby."It's so sad that women of

Christian faith somehow don'thave any moral foundation that'staught to them from behind thepulpit that abortion is reallywrong, that children are createdin the image and likeness of God,and to have an abortion is some-thing that defies God's law," the

Operation Rescue presidentnotes.

Newman says it is imperativethis year and from now on that"the church of Jesus Christ standsup to say that abortion is againstGod's will." Also, he encouragesthe church to be ready and will-ing to help women through unex-pected pregnancies.

7January 1, 2012 • Mississippi Baptist

January 2012 - Special EmphasisJanuary 2012 - Special EmphasisJanuary 2012 - Special EmphasisJanuary 2012 - Special EmphasisJanuary 2012 - Special Emphasis

Our Need - $10,000Our Need - $10,000Our Need - $10,000Our Need - $10,000Our Need - $10,000

Don BrownEditor

Your SupportYour SupportYour SupportYour SupportYour Support

& Gifts Are& Gifts Are& Gifts Are& Gifts Are& Gifts Are

Appreciated!Appreciated!Appreciated!Appreciated!Appreciated!

JOURNAL OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION OF MISSISSIPPI

On The Web at www.msbaptist.org

foolishness; but unto us whichare saved it is the power ofGod." See also Hebrews 4:12.

III. A Turn to God ShouldIII. A Turn to God ShouldIII. A Turn to God ShouldIII. A Turn to God ShouldIII. A Turn to God ShouldBe a Turn to ServeBe a Turn to ServeBe a Turn to ServeBe a Turn to ServeBe a Turn to Serve

Our text says that theThessalonians “turned to Godfrom idols to serve the livingand true God.” A turn to Jesusfor salvation should always bea turn to God to serve.Ephesians 2:10 teaches us thatwhen one is saved he is created“in Christ Jesus unto goodworks,” and that God has “or-dained that we should walk inthem." If the Lord’s will is ac-complished in one who getssaved, he will be ".. a vesselunto honour, sanctified, and

When Sinners Turn To Godfrom page 5from page 5from page 5from page 5from page 5

meet for the master's use, andprepared unto every goodwork." (2 Timothy 2:21) It can-not be denied, we were saved toserve.

The fact that every child ofGod is saved to serve shows upagain in a sermon our Lordpreached on the end-time. No-tice: "For the Son of man is as aman taking a far journey, wholeft his house, and gave au-thority to his servants, and toevery man his work, and com-manded the porter to watch."(Mark 13:34) The fact that theLord “gave to every man hiswork” sounds like every childof God has a work to do.In com-paring the church to our physi-cal body, Paul also taught that

all saved are to serve when hewrote, "But now hath God setthe members every one of themin the body, as it hath pleasedhim." (I Corinthians 12:18)

The fact that each of God’schildren has a work to do forthe Lord shows up again inEphesians 4:7. Here the Biblesays, "But unto every one of usis given grace according to themeasure of the gift of Christ."Surely we all need God’s gracein order to serve Him, and thisverse says that He gives graceto do a certain work to all of Hischildren. Therefore, each of ushas a place to fill in our Lord’svineyard. And Jesus has prom-ised peace to each of us whowill yoke up with Him in ser-vice. Here are His words, "Takemy yoke upon you, and learn ofme; for I am meek and lowly inheart: and ye shall find rest

unto your souls." (Matthew11:29)

I really feel that many ofGod’s children do not knowmuch about God’s peace andjoy in their life because theyhave never found their place inGod’s service and are seekingto faithfully fill it.

III. This Change Should In-III. This Change Should In-III. This Change Should In-III. This Change Should In-III. This Change Should In-volve Waiting for Jesus tovolve Waiting for Jesus tovolve Waiting for Jesus tovolve Waiting for Jesus tovolve Waiting for Jesus toComeComeComeComeCome

It seems that in Old Testa-ment days, God’s people faith-fully looked for the first comingof Jesus to earth. Speaking ofGod’s promise to send them aMessiah Paul said, "Unto whichpromise our twelve tribes, in-stantly serving God day andnight, hope to come...." (Acts26:7) One generation came asanother generation passed,with all expecting the comingof the Messiah in their day.When He finally came, somewere still faithfully waiting forHis coming. (Luke 2:25, 26) Thiswas surely the way God in-tended it to be. However, nowwe are looking for His secondcoming. And as theThessalonians who turned toGod began to wait for His Sonfrom Heaven, so should every-one else who has turned to God

in salvation.Really, it is wrong for a child

of God to be indifferent towardthe return of Jesus. The returnof Jesus to this earth, alongwith all that goes with it, is theChristian hope. And the Bibleteaches us to be excited aboutthe Christian hope. We aretaught to look diligently forJesus to return for us, with fullassurance that He will-- "Andwe desire that every one of youdo show the same diligence tothe full assurance of hope untothe end:" (Hebrews 6:11)

The Christian Hope involvesan inheritance which is “incor-ruptible, and undefiled, andthat fadeth not away.” Thisshould cause us to “greatly re-joice.” (I Peter 1:4-6) This Hopewill also give us stability in thestorms of life, (Hebrews 6:19)and cause us to live a clean,upright Christian life. (I John3:3)

One of the most importantthings that the Christian Hopewill do in our lives is, It willencourage us to be faithful inGod’s service. If we felt thatthe bridegroom’s coming wasalmost here, we would surelybe trimming our lamps and

Poll: Churchgoers asdigitally engaged as U.S.WASHINGTON (BP) WASHINGTON (BP) WASHINGTON (BP) WASHINGTON (BP) WASHINGTON (BP) -- Ameri-can churchgoers are just aslikely to use Twitter, Facebookand the Internet as non-church-goers, according to a new studythat shows the impact thattechnology can have on spread-ing a church's message.

The landline and cell phonesurvey of 2,303 adults by thePew Research Center'sInternet & American LifeProject showed that:

9 percent of those activelyinvolved in religious groups useTwitter, the same percentageas the general population.

46 percent of those in reli-gious groups use social net-working sites -- almost identi-cal to the 47 percent of alladults.

60 percent of both groupsuse text messaging.

79 percent of those activelyinvolved in religious groups usethe Internet while 76 percentof all adults do so.

Attendance, though, was afactor in determining the per-centage of churchgoers in-volved in social media and elec-tronic communication. For in-stance, 54 percent of weekly

churchgoers use Facebook,MySpace or LinkedIn -- a muchsmaller percentage than the71 percent of monthly church-goers and 65 percent of lessfrequent churchgoers who doso. Pew said the average age ofweekly churchgoers could ex-plain the disparity

Also:9 percent of weekly church-

goers use Twitter (15 percentof monthly churchgoers and 14percent of less frequent church-goers do so).

26 percent of weekly church-goers make donations online(35 percent of monthly church-goers; 27 percent of less fre-quent churchgoers).

70 percent of weekly church-goers who have a cell phonesend or receive text messages(80 percent of monthly church-goers; 77 percent of less fre-quent churchgoers).

36 percent of weekly church-goers use their cell phone toaccess the Internet (51 percentof monthly churchgoers; 45 per-cent of less frequent churchgo-ers).

continued on page 8continued on page 8continued on page 8continued on page 8continued on page 8

8 January 1, 2012 • Mississippi Baptist

WOMEN’S MISSIONARY AUXILIARYBMA OF AMERICA

2011 - 2012 PROJECT40% INTERACTIVE SELF-HELP

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM (ISHELP)

40% HAITI RELIEF FUND

15% YOUTH FUND

5% GENERAL FUNDSEND OFFERINGS FOR “PROJECT” TO:SEND OFFERINGS FOR “PROJECT” TO:SEND OFFERINGS FOR “PROJECT” TO:SEND OFFERINGS FOR “PROJECT” TO:SEND OFFERINGS FOR “PROJECT” TO:

NATIONAL WMANATIONAL WMANATIONAL WMANATIONAL WMANATIONAL WMA% PAT DUNCAN% PAT DUNCAN% PAT DUNCAN% PAT DUNCAN% PAT DUNCAN

PO BOX 30 PO BOX 30 PO BOX 30 PO BOX 30 PO BOX 30 HARDY, AR 72120 HARDY, AR 72120 HARDY, AR 72120 HARDY, AR 72120 HARDY, AR 72120

Joseph Harris

miniedition

www.miniedition.net

Jesus, Tebow, andSaturday Night Live

Just when I thought the excuse fora comedy show, SNL, couldn’t sinkany lower, it has. Their feeble attemptat humor through the Tim Tebow bash-ing sketch effectively places the showin the trash can as never before. Whenword leaked out ahead of time of thesketch, the first thought that came tomind for sane thinking people is thatthey would not be able to do thesketch…..because it would take a manto play the part of Tim Tebow and thecomedy troupe of SNLis lacking when it comesto real men.

Then, there is theblasphemy issue. Jesuswas mocked and ridi-culed. There was noth-ing funny about the por-trayal. I use the wordblasphemy because Jesus is God in theflesh, not just a prophet or representa-tive of God. Therefore it was not funny,but extremely offensive. Even non-Christians should be offended by thisunfunny skit, out of respect for Chris-tianity. If nothing else, it validatesChristianity, as one more attempt in along series of attacks by Hollyweirdand the world on Christ, Christians,and Christianity. Remember the wordsof Jesus in John 15:18 “If the world

hate you, ye know that it hated mebefore it hated you.”

Also, notice the positive validationof Mormonism given by the actor in hisattempt to play the part of Jesus. Hesaid, and I paraphrase, “All that stuffabout Mormonism; it’s true.” Theirpromotion of Mormonism is consistentwith their hatred of Jesus and Chris-tianity. Mormonism denies the deityof Jesus and eternal salvation by graceexclusively through faith in the fin-

ished work Jesus on thecross and His resurrec-tion. It is not surpris-ing SNL would promoteMormonism, aftertrashing Christianity.Now I am waiting. I

am waiting for the SNLepisode where they

mock Islam and Mohammed. Yeah,right! SNL doesn’t have the guts, northe desire to make fun of that darlingreligion which is protected by theirsiblings in the news media. And evenif some of the cast and writers were tobegin such an undertaking, the plugwould be pulled because you don’ttouch Mohammed, but it’s open sea-son on Christ every day. So go aheadSNL. I double dog dare you. I’ll beholding my breath.

rescuing the perishing. Even Jesusseemed to feel a strong need to serve asHe realized that His time was short--"I must work the works of him thatsent me, while it is day: the nightcometh, when no man can work." (John9:4) Expecting Jesus to come at anytime will surely encourage faithful-ness. (Matthew 24:42-51)

IV. Turning to JesusIV. Turning to JesusIV. Turning to JesusIV. Turning to JesusIV. Turning to JesusSaves Us from God’s WrathSaves Us from God’s WrathSaves Us from God’s WrathSaves Us from God’s WrathSaves Us from God’s Wrath

Paul surely encouraged theThessalonians when he told them thattheir turn to Jesus had saved them“from the wrath to come,” and there isa wrath to come. Psalm 7:11 says that“God is angry with the wicked everyday," and Nahum 1:2 tells us that He“reserveth wrath for his enemies. Andthis “wrath to come” could come tosome.

In Romans chapter five, Paul gave alist of blessings that come to those whoare justified by faith in Christ. One ofthem was, we will be saved from wrath--"Much more then, being now justifiedby his blood, we shall be saved fromwrath through him." (Romans 5:9) Hementioned in I Thessalonians 5:9 thatGod had not “appointed us to wrath.”

When Sinners Turn To Godfrom page 7from page 7from page 7from page 7from page 7

Yet the lost world needs to realize thatthere is definitely a day coming whenthe Lord will fully express Himselfagainst the wickedness of this sinful,Christ-rejecting world.

Revelation 6:15-17 gives us somedescription of that day of God’s wrath.Here it is: "And the kings of the earth,and the great men, and the rich men,and the chief captains, and the mightymen, and every bondman, and everyfree man, hid themselves in the densand in the rocks of the mountains; Andsaid to the mountains and rocks, Fallon us, and hide us from the face of himthat sitteth on the throne, and fromthe wrath of the Lamb: For the greatday of his wrath is come; and who shallbe able to stand?"(See also Revelation19:15)

But there is good news for all whoare interested. All sinners who believein Jesus to be their Savior will come inpossession of eternal life, and this willdeliver them from God’s wrath. Yet,all who reject Jesus will continue to belost in sin and remain under the wrathof Almighty God--"He that believethon the Son hath everlasting life: andhe that believeth not the Son shall notsee life; but the wrath of God abideth

on him." (John 3:36)I have seen many people who seem

to be disinterested in God’s gift ofeverlasting life and an escape fromHis wrath. But I have never seen evenone who accepted Jesus as their Sav-ior who felt that they had made amistake. This means that Satan ismeeting with much success as he seeksto blind people’s minds in an effort tokeep them from being saved. (2Corinthians 4:3, 4) Oh, that sinnerseverywhere would brake loose fromSatan’s blinding power and flee toJesus for refuge from the wrath tocome! “Believe on the Lord JesusChrist, and thou shalt be saved.”

Being saved is a turn from an oldsinner life to a new life in Christ-- anew life that is made rich by servingthe Lord and waiting for His Son fromHeaven

ATLANTA (BPATLANTA (BPATLANTA (BPATLANTA (BPATLANTA (BP) -- Counseling studentJennifer Keeton will not be returningto Augusta State University while shefights against the school’s attempt tomake her complete a remediation plandesigned to change her views on ho-mosexuality.

In early December, the 11th U.S.Circuit Court of Appeals deniedKeeton’s request for a preliminary in-junction, which would have forced theschool to allow her to complete herstudies while the case works its waythrough the courts.

The Alliance Defense Fund, repre-senting Keeton, filed suit against theeast Georgia school in July 2010 after

administrators put her on academicprobation for acknowledging in pri-vate conversations and during classthat she disagreed with homosexual-ity. School administrators claimedKeeton said it would be hard for her tocounsel gay clients, a stance they saidviolated ethical standards for licensedcounselors, as put forth by the Ameri-can Counseling Association.

After putting her on probation,school administrators required Keetonto complete a remediation plan thatincluded going to gay pride events,attending sensitivity training and writ-ing monthly reflection papers.

In arguments before a three-judge11th Circuit panel, ADF attorney JeffShafer said Keeton’s First Amendmentrights were violated because the schooltargeted her for her expressed view-points. He compared the school’s at-tempt to alter Keeton’s beliefs in orderto remain in the counseling programto a business school that required stu-dents to affirm capitalism or disavowsocialism in order to graduate.

Attorneys on both sides have de-clined to comment outside the court-room, after a judge prohibited publicstatements about the case.

Keeton has requested a jury trial inthe Augusta Division of the U.S. Dis-trict Court. A trial date has not beenset.

Student in gaycounseling case loses in court