500125Postmaster: send change of address to:Baptist Progress, P.O. Box 2085, Waxahachie, Texas 75168

Official Publication of the Baptist Missionar y Association of Texas | May 15, 2013 | Vol. 100 | No. 10

O

BMA Seminary

Page 3

BMA S i Jacksonville College

Page 6 & 7

Camp jobs and needs

Page 12

(Evangelistic International Ministries) WARREN, Ark.—May 1 was a rainy and cold day, but following much hard work and trying to keep the boxes dry, the Evangelist ic International Ministries (EIM) team loaded a container destined for the Philippines with Shepherds Bags. The number of bags sent to the Philippines totaled 17,023. An earlier shipment was sent to Honduras Jan. 23, 2013. The timeframe between shipments was the closest ever in the history of the Shepherds Bags Ministry.

EIM is currently working on a shipment for Ghana, West Africa. Thus far, 12,000 bags are ready for shipment. The ministry has 4,500 Gospel Story coloring books that are in the language spoken in Ghana are ready to put into bags to finish the shipment. They are designed specifically for our EIM Shepherds Bags. Remaining supplies are needed to finish the bags. The ministry is praying for the Lord to provide those supplies through His people. The shipment will leave for Ghana on or about July 1, 2013.

Following the July 1 shipment, EIM will begin their Honduras schools campaign. The ministry has 33,000 Spanish Gospel coloring books due to arrive soon to be on hand when the team begins making bags designed for Spanish speaking children.

EIM is thankful for all that is done to help preach Jesus to children and adults around the world. For information about the Shepherds Bags Ministry and volunteer opportunities, visit www.eimworldwide.org or call 870-226-3626.

Thousands of Sheperds Bags headed to the Philippines

▲ Shepherds Bag loading crew

▲ Loading in the rain

2 | May 15, 2013

(DiscipleGuide)—DiscipleGuide is blessed to have Cindy Williams as a partner in a new effort to empower parents, the new DisciplePoints website and DiscipleKids curriculum, arriving this fall.

Born into a BMA preacher/missionary’s family, Cindy accepted Christ as her Savior on her seventh birthday. She first taught Sunday school as a teen on the mission fi eld with her family.

She said of her time overseas, “I consider it one of the greatest adventures and privileges of my life. It was great training for later life because I was responsible for teaching a Sunday school class from the time I was 13 and have been teaching for the past 47 years.”

After many adventures in discipling others in Sunday school, Cindy has joined with DiscipleGuide in its newest effort to help churches make disciples. A parent herself, Cindy understands the importance of introducing her children to the Word of God, and also how daunting that task can be to parents. Her training and life experience have uniquely gifted her to minister to parents seeking tools for discipling their children.

DiscipleGuide welcomes Cindy as coordinator of the new DisciplePoints website at www.disciplepoints.com. DisciplePoints is an online community empowering parents with talking points, discussion starters and creative ideas to get the discipleship process started. The church provides support with the DiscipleKids curriculum. Parents

can preview their ch i ld ’s l esson each week and take the lead by introducing it . Ideas for object lessons, activities and more will be easily available via smart phone alerts.

Cindy and her husband, Dan, have six children. She has earned a BSE in early childhood education, an MSE in reading with an additional certifi cation in gifted education and hours in special education. She has been a kindergarten and preschool teacher and now works as a trainer and coach for preschool teachers.

She said, “As I had children of my own before fi nishing my degree, I learned to love early childhood and to appreciate how much of a child’s foundational values are laid during that period. My goal for my (Sunday school) students was twofold: to have solid biblical knowledge and to know the plan of salvation so as to be ready when the Holy Spirit calls them.”

P a r e n t s w h o t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f disciplepoints.com will be blessed by Cindy’s ministry.

“I pray that our journey together will be a blessing to our students and their families as well as an honor to God,” Cindy concluded.

DiscipleGuide to empower parents

▲Cindy Williams

(Baptist Trumpet)—Sunday, April 28, marked a special day in the life of Antioch Baptist Church in Conway. It was the day they held their fi rst services in the newly expanded worship center, and it was a time of great celebration.

The congregation held a Prayer Week vigil beginning at 9 p.m., Sunday evening, April 21. Taking 30-minute shifts, the people prayed around the clock throughout the week. The last shift fi nished just as the 9:30 a.m. service began. Cards were left in each chair as the different individuals prayed over each seat.

On April 28, there were over 1,300 in attendance in the two morning services. That, along with their Span ish service attendance, gave a total of over 1,400. God capped off the day by adding nine people to their church family!

The original building was com pleted in 1997 and was designed as a temporary facility until such time as a new worship center could be built. Shortly after moving into the building, the church started having two services each Sunday morning to accommodate the attendance.

In 2009, that grew to three services each Sunday morning. God continued to bless to the point that more space was needed, especially in the last two services each Sunday. After consider ing the cost of building a completely new facility, the church decided to expand the existing structure.

Work began in December 2012. On the fi rst

Sunday of March 2013, the church began to have worship services in their activity center/gym. On April 28, the church moved back into the worship center for services. There are now two services each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. There are also three Bible Study/Sunday school hours: at 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

The expansion increases the seat ing capacity to 820 and also includes a larger stage and backstage area as well as a new baptistery area. The expansion also included a new south entrance as well as a gathering area and additional restrooms. The church is also now livestreaming their morn ing service. The livestream can be ac cessed through the church’s website which is www.antiochconway.com.

Editor's note: Dr. Jason Aultman, pastor of Antioch, Conway, is the son of Buddy and Jeanette Aultman of Jacksonville. Bro. Buddy serves on staff at Eighth Avenue, Teague and at Jacksonville College.

Antioch holds ‘first’ services

Having served numerous BMA churches as pastor and wife and both foreign and state mission fi elds; having earned degrees and written books; and having welcomed two children and four grandchildren, Bill and Carolyn Sheffi eld will celebrate a half-century of marital bliss June 7, 2013.

The Sheffi eld’s children are hosting a memory shower for their parents. They would sincerely appreciate all who know the couple to share thoughts and memories of them. It can be something as simple as a quick note to say hello, a long letter or something as elaborate as copies of old photos or a video. Whatever you bring or send, be sure to include information about you and your family, perhaps even a photo.

The family will have an informal get-together in honor of the Sheffi elds near Siloam Springs, Ark. Saturday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come and stay, or to drop in as they are able. This will be a private rural pavilion on Flint Creek, so feel free to dress casually and comfortably. Those who attend may wade and play in the creek. There will be plenty of seating, food and fellowship.

Because Northwest Arkansas is a long way for some, those unable to attend are asked to send any correspondence for the Sheffi elds to the following address:

Bill and Carolyn Sheffi eldc/o Kristie ShookP.O. Box 31Gentry, AR 72734

Sheffields to celebrate 50 years of marriage

▲ Bill and Carolyn Sheffi eld

The Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary will hold its 2013 commencement exercises on Saturday, May 18, 2013 at 2 p.m. in the seminary’s Dorman Memorial Chapel. BMA Seminary is located at 1530 East Pine Street in Jacksonville.

The event is open to the public.This year’s graduating class will be the

seminary’s fifty-sixth. Graduates will receive Associate, Bachelor and Master’s degrees during the ceremony.

Dr. John David Smith, executive director of Missions for the Baptist Missionary Association of America, will deliver the commencement address. Smith surrendered to ministry in 1987 while attending Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, Miss. He earned a B.S. in Bible from Southeastern Baptist College; an M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, Lynchburg, Virginia; and a D.Min. in Missiology from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, Cordova, Tennessee. His doctoral project was entitled, “Developing a Model

for Prefield Preparation and Orientation of International Missionaries for the BMA of America.”

Following time as a missionary in the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of West Africa, Smith became an international assistant for BMAA missions in 2007. That same year he took on the responsibility of heading up the missions degree program at Central Baptist College, Conway, Ark. where he currently serves as an associate professor of missions. In 2010, the BMAA elected him to serve as the executive director of BMAA missions. He and his wife, Kim, have been married for 20 years, and they have two sons.

BMA Seminary provides accredited theological education to qualified individuals by seeking to equip them for Christian service and leadership roles. The seminary supports the educational needs of the Baptist Missionary Association of America and other groups who share a like commitment to the authority of Scripture.

BMA Seminary’s fifty-sixth Commencement

May 15, 2013 | 3

(BMALife.com)—After 33 years as director of the camp ministry at Daniel Springs, Bro. James Speer is planning his retirement on Dec. 31, 2014. He began his ministry as a music and youth pastor at Temple Baptist Church in Little Rock, followed by First Baptist in Springhill, La., and Berean Baptist in Memphis, Tenn. Next he was pastor at churches in Houston, Texas and Baton Rouge, La., before taking the position at the camp in September 1979.

“We have between 3,500 and 4,000 kids each year,” he said. “We average about 175 professions of faith each summer. Since 1965 (when the camp was founded) we’ve had over 13,000 kids saved at camp.”

In his three decades at the camp, he said, he has seen it grow and change. The most signifi cant change for the kids, perhaps, has been the addition of air conditioning in 1991. In the past 10 years or so, churches that attend camp have been remodeling the cabins, remodeling the bathrooms, replacing mattresses and building new beds. Several new dorms have been built thanks to donations.

As for the future of the camp, Speer said, “I hope we’ll have a new director who’ll give us new direction and new vision.”

He said the next director should be someone who can determine what kinds of programs can take the camp to a new level and appeal to

a broader segment of churches, such as Southern Baptists, I n d e p e n d e n t B a p t i s t s a n d nondenominational churches. He noted the new director should know his way around a tool shed as well.

“A lot of people have said I’d like to be camp director, but they see me playing with the kids. They don’t see the other stuff that has to be done, like plunging toilets and digging sewer lines. Sometimes there’s a lot more physical and material activity going on than spiritual.”

Speer’s wife of 48 years, Barbara, works at the camp as his secretary. Speer said that he does not have specifi c plans for retirement, although he may fi nd a part time job and enjoy the occasional game of golf. He looks forward to spending time with his four grandchildren, ages 20, 16, 14 and 12.

He concluded, “It’s been a rewarding 33 years. I’ve enjoyed being around the kids. It’s given me an opportunity to impact a lot of kids, especially the kids who have worked for us.”

(BMALife.com)—Merritt Youngdeer, l o n g t i m e p r o d u c e r o f S p i r i t w o r d , Lifeword’s evangelistic broadcast for native peoples, reports that 19 people came to Christ as a result of conversations begun at Gathering of Nations booth that was sponsored by Spiritword and the All Nations Indian Baptist Church in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

“This year we used the EvangeCube to help us present the gospel and it really struck a chord with many of the native

people,” says Youngdeer, himself a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

This was the 9th year that Youngdeer and the people of All Nations Indian Baptist Church have sponsored and manned a booth at the event. CD copies of the Spiritword radio broadcast are given as a way of starting evangelistic conversations among the attendees.

This was the 30th annual Gathering of Nations, the largest PowWow held in North America.

(BMALife.com)—Pastors Oasis 2013 will focus on raising up new leaders for the Kingdom. Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church will be the featured speaker. Andrew Peterson, the Annie Moses Band, and Joe Castillo will also be appearing.

This year, every BMA church planter will be in attendance making the conference an exciting time to invest in the future! The Pastors Oasis makes a wonderful gift during Pastor Appreciation Month. To register your church staff, go to discipleguide.org and click on “conferences.”

Finishing Well 19 Native Americans Accept Christ at Albuquerque PowWow

Pastor’s Oasis Invests in Future

▲ Dr. Jack Graham

▲ Jerry Fulton

4 | May 15, 2013

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▲ Jerry Fulton

A few days ago, Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, posted on Facebook, “When pastors do for people what God has called the people to do, everyone gets hurt and the mission of God is hindered.” I agree!

Stetzer also wrote in a recent blog, “Millions of Americans live in the shadow of churches that have become consumer Christian centers, but pastors are ruined and the mission of God is cheated when consumers enjoy goods and services from their local church.”

He went on to say, “Believers who think like customers contribute to the underachieving church in America. The damages move far beyond ineptness at engaging the mission of God. The incessant demands of a consumer congregation cause irreparable damage to those who lead such congregations. Some of the consumer demands are based on pastoral perception too. Pastors often experience chronic anxiety because they fear their fl ock.”

“I believe the mentality in the pew (or cushioned chair) may have another contributing factor: pastoral codependency,” Stetzer wrote. “What is a codependent? It’s loosely defi ned as someone who exhibits too much, and often inappropriate, caring for persons who depend on him or her.”

“A codependent pastor,” according to Stetzer, “needs a needy congregation.” His belief is that we have too many of both. He said, “…relishing the applause that comes from being the local church superstar often results in performance anxiety and utter disappointment in an underachieving church. It is a vicious cycle where everyone ends up disappointed.”

Stetzer said, “The pastor who insists on being the focus of local ministry trains the body of Christ to sin; believers who demand all ministry to be done by ‘professionals’ lead the pastor to sin. So who started all of this dysfunction? Was it the needy, consumer-driven congregation? Or was it the pastor, hungry for signifi cance? It’s hard to tell. But to break the cycle, the enablers must stop enabling. God cannot receive glory in the church when pastors are always up front receiving the credit and doing the things that their consumerist congregants should be doing.”

In his blog, Stetzer painted a picture of how the church should look. Quoting 1 Peter 4:10 and 1 Corinthians 12:7, he wrote, “The church is most alive when every believer serves in God’s mission where assigned by the Spirit.”

Some pastors believe it is their job to do all the ministry of the church, however, such a belief is unscriptural. The apostle Paul says clearly in Ephesians 4:11-12, “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the

church, the body of Christ” (NLT). When a pastor who has built the ministry

of the church around his personality and does all the ministry work instead of equipping the church to do it leaves, so might his followers. Sometimes, when he dies, so does the church. God forbid! Micromanaging is insanity!

The apostles serving in pastoral roles in the church at Jerusalem said, according to Acts 6:4, “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude…”

I have always refused unbiblical expectations to be placed upon me in my role as a pastor. My motto is, “It’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s all about Him (Jesus)!” At Anthony Drive, Ennis, we have formed ministry teams that are capable and quite frankly better at performing the various ministries of the church than I could ever be. Such a setup ensures a continuation of ministry, whether or not the pastor is present.

Unfortunately, I have learned the hard way. I once built the ministries of a church I pastored around my personality. I did the ministry instead of equipping the church members to do the work. When I left, so did most of those I left behind. At another church, in an attempt to remedy what I had done incorrectly at the previous church, I went to the other end of the spectrum, expecting the church to do it all, without properly equipping them.

Finally, I discovered there is a happy medium. What I found is that a pastor should equip God’s people to do the work of ministry, be willing to lead and work alongside them, but refuse to do for them what the Lord has called them to do. The members of Anthony Drive, Ennis know that I am just a phone call away. But they also know that I desire that each of them be involved in the ministry of the church.

Ed Stetzer is absolutely correct in asserting, “When pastors do for people what God has called the people to do, everyone gets hurt and the mission of God is hindered.”

Let’s remember pastors, we are called to make disciples, not consumer-driven church members. And church members, remember that your pastor, according to scripture, is a gift from God to teach you how to live for His glory by ministering to others.

I agree

As vital as formal education and “how to” books are to a minister, they must be supplemented by mentoring and on-the-job training.

During my high school days in Midland, I served (voluntarily) under my dad when he was pastor of Dellwood Church. He was probably the most effective model, because he taught me what the pastorate was like, not only in visitation, day-to-day administrative duties, and how to deal with people—but his mentoring extended to the home—I observed the pastor as a husband and father. I also saw him grapple with his own humanity, and he taught me about the necessity—and the blessing of “owning up to” short comings.

In addition to Dad, I had the privilege of serving as a staff member under four great pastors--Bro. Harry Tapp, at First, Orange Grove, Gulfport, Miss., Bro. Norman Burks at Calvary, Fairfi eld, and Bro. A.C. Corley, pastor of Mt. Calvary, Dallas. Like a sponge, I absorbed everything I could about the lives and lifestyles of these men. I followed them closely, and learned some of the nuts and bolts of ministry. They all modeled to me how to approach people, what to say, how to say it, and when the best time was to say it. They did it with more than just heart-to-heart talks but by demonstration. I watched their preaching styles—their schedules, their reading habits,

There’s no substitute for on-the-job trainingBy PAUL GAUNTT

Paul Gauntt continued on p. 12

May 15, 2013 | 5

By JERRY BURNAMANState Missions Executive Director

“You don’t have a second chance for a good fi rst impression.” When it comes to fi rst-time visitors at your church, the statement is especially true. And it’s the fi rst impression guests leave with that determines whether they will be back. So, what makes a good fi rst impression or a bad one?

Recently a number of people who visited a church for the fi rst time were asked what made the biggest impression on them, and what infl uence it had on their decision to go back the follow week. Can you guess the No. 1 (by far) issue that impressed visitors? It was…”The friendliness of the people.”

Regardless of denominational affi liation, attractiveness of the facilities, eloquence of the preacher, breadth of the program or quality of the music…visitors seem to be most impressed with friendliness.

So, how do visitors determine the “friendliness” of a church? The answer is simple, yet insightful. The determine friendliness by the number of people who talk with them! That’s it. Simple, but signifi cant! Here are two visitor formulas you will want to remember:

Many conversations=friendly church. Few or no conversations = unfriendly church.

When did guests conclude the church they visited was, or was not, a friendly church? The answer may surprise you.

More than any other time, the critical time for making a “friendly impression” is the 10 minutes right after the last prayer is prayed and he last song is sung. It’s when “the game is over and

the rules are off” (as one young man put it). What he meant was that people don’t have to do anything after the service except be themselves. Some talk to their friends. Others hurry out to pick up their children or get to a nearby restaurant. And a few, apparently, stop to talk with the guests. THAT makes a big impression when it happens.

Perhaps this is why, in the average church in North America, just 9 percent of fi rst time guests become active in the church they visit.

What can be done about it? The first time in being more intentional about the 10-minutes following your service is to encourage members to take the initiative and greet anyone they do not recognize, or anyone who appears to be alone. Almost everyone can introduce themselves and carry on a conversation as they walk out of the worship Center.

Many pastors go to the back of the building following the service to meet and greet. While that is nice, it does not address the issue of “friendliness,” which is so important from the visitor’s perspective. A better way to respond to guests following worship is to have four or fi ve people (for a congregation of about 200) assigned to function as after service hosts.

Here’s how the idea works…Members elected for this task have good hospitality and interpersonal skills. Some writers in the fi eld of spiritual gifts suggest that “hospitality” is a spiritual gift (see 1 Peter 4:9-10, Romans 12:9-13; Acts 16:14-15; Luke 10:38; Hebrews 13:1-2). With enough “recruits,” two or three

teams of four to six people are formed, with on team assigned to each service. Their job is to mingle and look for visitors or people who seem to be ignored by others. They may function both before and after worship although, the latter is more important. These “mingles” simply go out of their way to welcome guests and engage in conversation with them. In the overall visitor strategy, they perform a vital function.

Here are a few other ideas on how churches create an environment where guests feel welcome…

Try the 3-minute rule. The pastor concludes the service with a reminder to the congregation of the “three-minute rule.” For newcomers, the pastor reviews the rules: “No one is allowed to speak to anyone they know for the fi rst three minutes at the conclusion of the service.

Have the Greeting Time at the end of the service. Some creative churches have moved the greeting time to the last event of the service. After the fi nal prayer, people are encouraged to greet their neighbor. This makes it easier to continue a conversation that is not abruptly cut short by the next event in the service. Some churches give even more encouragement in the post-service conversation by suggesting a discussion question to ask the person next to them, like “What your favorite fl ower…or favorite food?” “Where were you born?” Or ask some other question that facilitates a more extended conversation after the service.

Adapted from What Every Pastor Should KnowGary McIntosh and Charles Arn

The last ten minutes

6 | May 15, 2013

An Expression of Everlasting LoveMany of our friends choose to honor or remember a family member, a friend or an associate with a gift for the children of the Baptist Home. Texas Baptist Home, in turn, notifi es the appropriate person. Listed in capital letters are those honored or remembered from April 1, 2013 to April 30, 2013. ENDOWMENTSE. ANN PACE: Mr. & Mrs. Karl Pace, Mr. & Mrs. R. T. WillisMYRA STOKES: Bill Stokes HONORARIUMSALEX & ANDI: Danny & Diane YountALL TBH STAFF: Mrs. B. H. ConnJIMMY HYMER’S RETIREMENT: Bro. & Mrs. Charles M. JohnsonJAY & BABS MARTIN: Earlene CrenshawEDDIE & REBECCA MARTINEZ: D. P. & Ada JamesPASTORS EVERYWHERE: Mr. & Mrs. Roy TalbotMARGARET TANKERSLY: Mr. & Mrs. Rayburn McCownMRS. BILL “ROBERTA” THOMMAN: Tom & Dianne Bridges, Mrs. Kay Armes

MEMORIALSAGNES ALEXANDER: Roderick & Patsy McAlpine, Scott & Michelle Mathews, Mr. & Mrs. James Jones, Richard & Theresa RawlsJ. S. BASS: Charlotte MorganBILL BELL: Sand Springs, AthensRON BENNETT: Randy & Gloria ParksM. G. BOBBITT: Nelma BobbittBARBARA BUSH: Temple, MexiaIWANA CARNEY: New Hope, MineolaFRANCES CARROLL: Capt. Hilbert & Sandra Dean, Mr. & Mrs. Andy McCuistion, Mrs. Jane Carroll, Debra Carroll Foster, Robert O. Treese, Helen Scott, Billy Oglesby, Winifred Palmer, Tom & Marilyn RethemeyerBARBARA CASON: Mr. & Mrs. Andy McCuistionRAY CUTLER: Mrs. Eugenia N. BoleyBERTHA DAWSON: Billy & Betty GunnelsANN DUKE: Temple, MexiaOTTICE ELMS: Jed & Glenice WhitakerRAYMOND HANSON: E. K. & Peggy SandiferMARGARET HENRY: Mrs. Eugenia N. BoleyCRAIG HILLHOUSE: Larry & Marilyn McClintockANITA HUFF: Bill MinatreaSANDRA IVES: Mr. & Mrs. Andy McCuistionBRO. MORREL KEY: New Hope, MineolaJACLYN LANDRUM: Gary LandrumPAUL LICHT: Glee HutsonMAC LIVELY: Mike & Carroll BakerCLAUDELLE MCCLENNY: Bill MinatreaNORMA LEE MCDANIEL: Butch & Linda Nelson, Barbara & Dick SiskMARY RUTH MCGILL: Westside, NacogdochesCOMER & MARIE MCKINNON: Jean MenoughRICKY MOSES: New Hope, MineolaMARGIE NELL MULLEN: Frankston, FrankstonJAMES PARKMAN: Jerry & Melinda ArmitageRUBY JUANELL PARKS: Randy & Gloria ParksRUSSELL POLSON, SR: Bro. & Mrs. Charles M. JohnsonMATTIE POWELL: Linda LewisFREDDIE PRICKETT: Harmony, NacogdochesDOUG RATCLIFF: Fifth Street, Levelland, Willing Workers Sunday School ClassCYNDI RICE: Larry & Pat KearbyEMMA JEAN SANDERS: Glenna Lucas, Paul & June Layton, Paula Layton, & Brett, David, Carrie, & Reid Layton, Hugh & Charlotte Lenox, Mrs. Kim Patterson, Nelson Head, Elaine AdamsSALORA SMITH: Juanita RobertsJ. D. & ZILLAH STEWART: Robert & Dorothy SwiftGLEN STOVALL: Don & Mary Ann VaughnJIMMY TANKERSLEY: Margaret Tankersley, Mr. & Mrs. Rayburn McCownHUGO TORRENS, JR: Mike & Carroll BakerMR. & MRS. CLARENCE VAUGHN: Don & Mary Ann VaughnWOUNDED WARRIORS: James D. MurphyDOROTHY WHITAKER: Bro. & Mrs. Charles M. JohnsonGABRIEL WITTNER: Mr. & Mrs. Edwin LittlerJ. D/ WOOLVERTON: Fendley & Lois Tucker

Billy Graham is one of the most influential Christians to ever live. Born November 7, 1918, he has conducted more than 400 crusades in 185 countries on six continents.

One day while speaking to a local group, Graham told a story of the genius Albert Einstein. Einstein was traveling on a train. When the conductor asked for his ticket, the absent- minded professor could not fi nd it. The conductor informed him that the situation was okay because everyone knew who he was. Later, the conductor came back by and found Einstein on his hands and knees, still looking for the ticket. Once again, the conductor reminded the professor not to worry about the ticket because everyone knew who he was. Einstein replied, “I know that, but I need my ticket to tell me where I’m going.”

Billy Graham then told the group that he was wearing a new suit. It was also to be the suit in which he would be buried. He then added, “When you hear I'm dead, I don't want you to immediately remember the suit I'm wearing. I want you to remember this: 'I not only know who I am... I also know where I’m going.”

At Jacksonville College our foundation is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We know who we are in Christ, and in Him we are assured of a glorious forever with Him. Our mission, values, vision, and goals refl ect our understanding that it is only through Jesus that we can know where we are going.

Mission StatementJacksonville College exists to provide a quality

education from a Biblical worldview that challenges minds, transforms lives, and equips students for servant leadership and lifelong learning.

Core ValuesTo be Biblically basedTo be quality enhancedTo be service minded

Vision StatementThe Jacksonville College vision is to pray for a

movement of God, to provide more room for growth, to prepare students for a global tomorrow.

Goals1. Provide a Christ-Centered quality education

that prepares students for further educational endeavors. Colossians 3:23

2. Prepare our students to demonstrate their Christian faith in every dimension of their lives. II Timothy 2:2

3. Promote lifelong learning for students, faculty, staff, and the community. II Timothy 2:15

4. Pursue our vision for growth in operations, endowments, and capital improvements. II Corinthians 8:21

5. Produce students who are equipped for Christian servant leadership in the global community. Matthew 5:13-16 and Matthew 28:19-20

If you or someone you know wants to enroll in college courses this summer or fall, remember that Jacksonville College offers an affordable education in a distinctly Christian environment.

Registration InformationRegistration for Summer and Fall 2013 begins

again on May 20.Placement testing: May 31 at 8:30 a.m., and July 5

at 8:30 a.m.Class schedule:

May-mester 2013: May 15 - May 31Summer I: June 3 - July 5Summer II: July 8 - August 8Fall: August 22 - December 12

Full course schedules are available on our website at www.jacksonville-college.edu.

For more information, contact Admissions at 903-586-7110, admissions@jacksonville-college.edu.

Knowing who you are.Knowing where you're going.

Jacksonville College 2013 Summer Mini Tennis Camps

This summer take advantage of Jacksonville College’s Summer Mini Tennis Camps. Train with the NJCAA Div. I National Men’s and Women’s Tennis Team, and Head Coach and Certifi ed Tennis Pro Mark Robbins. Camps will be offered June 3-6, June 10-13, June 17-20, June 24-27, July

8-11, July 15-18, and July 22-25. Each camp will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information, contact Coach Mark Robbins at 903-258-3981 or mrobbins@jacksonville-college.edu; or visit our website at www.jacksonville-college.edu/TENNISCAMPS.htm.

May 15, 2013 | 7

▲ Favorite Jacksonville College Teachers: Marolyn Welch and Tom Vandegriff

Jacksonville College Favorites 2013Awards were presented to Jacksonville College favorite students and teachers at the Spring

Banquet on April 25 at The Legacy in Jacksonville.

▲ Mr. and Miss Jacksonville College: Dezzarrick Hamilton and Tamara Clements▲ For the final exam for Theater Appreciation, students had to perform Biblical skits.

In the above picture, students present the story of Abraham and Isaac.

▲ Students can now apply to Jacksonville College through the home page of the JC website

Pictured above, María Hernández fills out an online application.

8 | May 15, 2013

By SHARON COLETexas WMA Editor

National WMA highlights

Everyone is rejoicing because prayers were answered in reaching and even exceeding the National WMA Project goal. The WMA raised $40,364.21 for Camp Christa, a vision that has come to reality for Jason Walters, missionary on the Navajo Reservation in the “Four Corners” area of the United States. Now, many of their needs can be met because the ladies of the Baptist Missionary Association of America care about missions.

Many of us cannot go to an International Missions field or even a North American Missions fi eld to work for the Lord, but we can pray, and we can send our offerings and donations so that others whom the Lord has called can go. This camp is just one avenue of reaching children and their families for Christ. The Lord will richly bless all who gave and all who made this a matter of prayer.

The President’s Award, an award given to the church that raises the most money for the project, was given to First, Springhill, La. The new project for 2013-2014 is 85 percent “IAW”—(I Am Woman) Center in Lebanon; 10 percent Youth Auxiliaries; 5 percent General Fund.

Based on the story of Queen Esther, National WMA President Carolyn Colvert, challenged each person to accept deliverance by faith when “facing the storms of life,” the theme for this year’s program. God delivered the Jews from annihilation and He continues to deliver His people today. Storms will come our way. They will seem intense but teach us to trust more deeply and worship God more sincerely.

Jerene Reddin, 2nd vice president, introduced Joanna Allen, missionary to the Philippines. She shared some of the storms the Allen family has faced while serving as missionaries.They experienced the eruption of an active volcano, a category 5 typhoon, mudslides that buried whole communities of people, a tsunami that threatened to wipe out a city, but by prayer and faith the tsunami never arrived.

Jerene interviewed Joanna giving insight into the life of a missionary, asking questions about the aspects of missionary life and their blessings. They, along with Joanna’s daughter, Carly, sang “Still.” Joanna shared highlights of the Asia Pacific Women’s Conference then concluded by singing “God Leads His Dear Children Along.”

National Miss GMA Katy Hicks presented a devotional on “Living a Life of Love,”

from 1 John 4:7-18. Offi cers for the year are: President-Carolyn Colvert; 1st Vice-Janet Widger; 2nd Vice-Jerene Reddin; 3rd Vice-Ruby Poteet; Corresponding Secretary-Pat Duncan; Asst. Corresponding Secretary-Glenda Tipton; Recording Secretary-Jessica Haden; Asst. Recording Secretary-Ann Pugh; Editor-Jackie Ricks; Reporter-Jean Swineheart; Historian-Bonnie Brown; Director of Youth Auxilaries-Robin Clark; Asst. Director of Youth Auxiliaries-Mandi Townsend; GMA/YLA Promoter-Jayna Williams; Asst. GMA/YLA Promoter-Beth Caldwell; Sunbeam Promoter-Sherry Laminack; Asst. Sunbeam Promoter-Linda Dertinger; Song Leader-Lisa Hudson; Pianist-Anita Akers; Project Promotion Committee-Ann Raines-2014; Valerie Fish-2015; Alice Smith-2016; Salary & Expense Committee-Nell Smith-2014; Be4linda Lee-2015; Bea Evans-2016; Study Book Committee-Linda Allen-2014; Val Blackmore-2015; Charlotte Johnson-2016; Advisory Committee-George Reddin, Dale E. Fish, Rick Smith.

The new study book: “People Are People,” written by Jackie Ricks and Shirley Ladd, was introduced and available. They can be purchased from DiscipleGuide.org for $12.95 plus tax and shipping.

WMA Plan of WorkThe Women’s Missionary Auxiliary is

a group of women authorized by Baptist Missionary Association of America churches on the local, district, state and national levels, banded together to encourage each other in their Christian growth and to aid in the ministries of their church and her associations through personal ministry and youth auxiliaries. She seeks to actively help her church carry the gospel to every corner of the world through being involved in Missions, Bible Study, Evangelism, Benevolence, Youth Auxiliaries and Christian Education.

Since “Missionary” is our middle name, we place high value on missions and will emphasize that portion here. Jesus placed a great value on missions when he was on earth by sending his disciples out two by two to preach and teach. His commission to them was “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” Matthew 28:19, 20.

The Great Commission still stands today for all who believe in Jesus. It is our responsibility to go and tell the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When we hear the word,

missions, we think of a far away land across the ocean. But “missions” is more than that.

Jesus emphasized the importance of missions beginning at home when He gave them instruction in Acts 1:8, “…and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Jerusalem represented home. All of us cannot or do not receive a special calling of God to go to a foreign land to be a missionary. But our own home and family can be, and is, a mission fi eld. There is no greater joy than leading one of your children to know Christ. We must live in a way that others see Christ in us.

Our missions work is divided into many different areas. Each state or area has a mission’s director who oversees state missions. Our national missions department is divided into North American Missions and International Missions. The missions magazine, Mission: World, (formerly the Gleaner) has a new look as well as a new name. The objective in changing the name as well as the format is about a desire to have a God-centered approach to everything connected to our global missions program.

Therefore, it is our mission to reach the world with the message of Christ as well as give information and inspiration to readers to pray, give and go. Missions needs to be the central theme of our WMA in planning our programs and activities. Have you ever had a “missions fair?” It can include having

a missionary come to speak to your group or church, dressing in the foreign missions native costumes, preparing different foods from that area, making posters, decorating with items that are distinctive from that area, show videos that can be obtained from the National Missions Office, and many more things to make it interesting and informative.

There are so many more things that you can do to make missions come alive. Send them and their children birthday cards, write letters to missionaries regularly and get to know them personally, collect medicines, clothing, school supplies, personal grooming articles, etc. Have fund-raising events for a particular missionary’s work fund. Some missionaries now have to raise 65 percent of their salary on their own.

Being missions-minded can be as simple as sending a gospel tract with your bill payments each month. Those with musical talent can play gospel songs at a nursing home for an hour a week. Each of us who are saved is called to be witnesses and missionaries to the whole world. He has a divine plan and purpose for each of us and we must seek God’s will and fi nd a place of service. He promises to bless us when we do.

Sharon Cole is the editor for the Texas WMA. Contact her at S9Co@aol.com. For more information on the Texas WMA, visit www.texaswma.com.

May 15, 2013 | 9

CONWAY, Ark.—DiscipleGuide Church Resources welcomed six new members to its board of trustees at the recent BMAA National Meeting in Norman, Okla. The new members will join nine previously seated members to continue DiscipleGuide’s ongoing work to help churches fulfi ll the Great Commission. The new board members are:

Sam Hodges, member of Springhill, La., owned and operated Sam’s Menswear for 24 years with his wife, Cathy, before retiring. He formerly served on the board of trustees at Central Baptist College in Conway, Ark., and as deacon and treasurer at his home church, First Baptist in Springhill, La.

Jesslynn Spence of Benton, Ark., is the founder of an environmental consulting fi rm, Hanner, Spence and Green Environmental Consultants in Bryant, Ark. She is a 1996 graduate of the University of Arkansas with a BS in chemical engineering. Before attending the University of Arkansas, she also attended Central Baptist College for two years. She is a member of Oak Park, Little Rock, Ark., where she actively serves in the women’s ministry, youth ministry

and in discipling young girls through the Girls Missionary Auxiliary program. She has led seven Volunteer Student Mission teams to Ukraine, Romania and Guatemala. This summer she will lead a group of GMA girls to Ukraine.

Keith Head of Conway, Ark., is a nursing home owner and manager. He attended Central Baptist College and State College of Arkansas (now the University of Central Arkansas). He and his wife Wilda are members at Antioch, Conway. He is a member of the Arkansas Health Care Association and serves on the Building Needs Committee at Antioch.

Lamar Lee, a member of College View, Magnolia, Ark., has been a business owner for 25 years. He and two partners started Liberty Supply Inc. in 1987, and he still manages the business as a semi-retired employee. A native of Magnolia, Lamar and his wife, Peggy, joined College View Baptist in 1974. They have been married 50 years.

Andy Comer, pastor of Davis Street, Sulphur Springs, has been married to Erin Comer for seven years. They have two daughters, ages 4 and 6 months. He has served at Davis

Street his entire married life and loves the community there. Their hobbies include working on their house, playing with the kids and traveling.

Mark Livingston, pastor of Keltys First, Lufkin, has served as senior pastor since 2006. He and his wife Amanda have four children. Mark teaches at the BMA Theological Seminary as adjunct professor of church ministries. He has an earned a doctorate of ministry, master of divinity, and bachelors degree. His personal interests include reading and spending time with his family.

The new board members join the following: Carey Crawford, Hospice chaplain, Carrolton; Mike Jenkins, member at Lindsay Lane, Florissant, Mo.; Greg Medenald, pastor of Magnolia, Hattiesburg, Miss.; Zane Clark, pastor of Village Creek, Mabelvale, Ark.; David Norvell, BMAA Chaplaincy Director, Alexander, Ark.; Aaron Middleton, youth and education minister at College View, Magnolia, Ark.; Shelby Race, music minister at Calvary, Fairfield; Randy Crudgington, pastor of Oak Grove, Canton; Donny Woods, CPA with Woods and Woods in Nashville, Ark.

DiscipleGuide Church Resources welcomes new trustees

National news stories, in the last few days, have talked about military chaplains los ing the i r f reedom of speech and evangelism being illegal in the military. Don’t believe everything you hear or read.

Chaplains still have freedom to share their faith and preach the gospel according to their endorsing churches’ guidelines. Soldiers, airman, seaman, marines and coastguardsman still have the right to share their faith with others.

Chaplains conducting worship services in the field or in a chapel operate much like he would if he were a pastor in the civilian world. He may choose to preach an evangelistic sermon or a disciple building message according to his audience. In his counseling he would be expected to do the same thing.

Where issues could arise is if he is praying or speaking before a captive audience. For example, if a Battalion Commander stands before his soldiers, in a mandatory formation, and shares his faith he could be open to complaints from troops who are of other faiths or

of no faith. Chaplains also have to be respectful of everyone when speaking in front of “required attendance” formations and training events. Operating in today’s world and governmental systems requires skill and wisdom.

Thank God, the Constitution does work both ways and for everyone. It protects my rights as well as everyone else’s freedoms. Because we live in a diverse nation and the military is a diverse organization, trust and respect are vital. Chaplains would not be in the military uniform at all if it were not for the constitutional right of every service member to worship as he/she sees fit.

After reading the latest news stories your BMAA Chaplains said, “Business as usual, I have not personally experienced any problems with any of the issues mentioned in the news.” “Evangelize, preach the word, and love your service members and their families (while taking care of your own family).”

Pray for the military, the chaplains, the families, the leadership and our nation and its leadership. Lead from where you are!

Yes, the miltary chaplaincy is still a valid calling and vital mission fieldBy DAVID NORVELL BMAA Chaplaincy

10 | May 15, 2013

Church SS Worship AdditionsAnthony Drive, Ennis 65 87Cedar Creek, Teague 13 20Davis Street, Sulphur Springs 118 213Elwood, Wills Point 34 42Farley Street, Waxahachie 386 606 1 by statementFirst, Blooming Grove 197 2 by baptismFirst, New Summerfi eld 33 52First, Palmer 52 67Glade Creek, Gilmer 14 40Harvest, Lufkin 29 33Jackson, Joaquin 84 112Little Mound, Big Sandy 71Long Creek, Sunnyvale 68 77New Harmony, Tyler 266 325New Haven, Dallas 23 41New Hope, Mineola 70 119Pine Brook, Tyler 30 100 1 by baptismRosewood, Gilmer 87 145Sand Flat, Grand Saline 83 106Suburban Wood, Humble 30 46Temple, Mexia 34 43Tundra, Canton 97 110Walnut Street, Winnsboro 137 185

Church SS Worship AdditionsAnthony Drive, Ennis 63 96Cedar Creek, Teague 14 18Ebenezer Friendship, Pittsburg 31 47Elwood, Wills Point 24 41First, Blooming Grove 228First, New Summerfi eld 35 50First, Palmer 55 85Glade Creek, Gilmer 14 32Jackson, Joaquin 70 94Lake Highlands, Sulphur Springs 84 109 1 by statementLighthouse, Rowlett 32 66Little Flock, Jewett 10 30Merriman Hills, Sherman 18 18New Harmony, Tyler 289 340 3 by baptismNew Hope, Mineola 55 123Pilgrim Rest #2, Golden 59 69Pine Brook, Tyler 28 74Rosewood, Gilmer 109 193 2 by baptism

Sand Flat, Grand Saline 78 90 2 by baptism, 5 by letter

Suburban Wood, Humble 38 52Temple, Mexia 41 56Tundra, Canton 102 125Woodland, Splendora 52 72

EVENTS PERSONNEL & POSITIONS CHURCHES IN REVIEW

APRIL 28, 2013

MAY 5, 2013

HALL FURNITURE LTD.

Fine Church Furniture since 1939

P.O. Box 157(1321 Industrial Dr.)Henderson, TX 75653

903-657-4501

For publication, statistics for Churches in Review must be received by Monday at 5 p.m.

ATTENTION CHURCHES!!!The names of high school

graduates will be published in the June 5 issue of Baptist Progress. Please send us the

names of your graduates by no later than May 27.

AVAILABLE POSITIONS

Youth—First, Crandall is seeking a bi-vocational youth pastor. Salary negotiable with parsonage included. Call 214-697-7998 for more details.

Pastor—South Park, Fort Worth is seeking a pastor. Visit fortworthbaptistchurch.org/PastorSearch/ for more information about the church or to submit a resume.

Pastor—Elwood, Wills Point is seeking a bi-vocational pastor. Elwood is a smaller congregation with a rich 115 year history. Send resume to Larry Black, 3922 VZCR 3504, Wills Point, Texas 75169, lblacksr47@yahoo.com or call 903-873-8184.

New Salem, Henderson wishes to purchase a late model used 15 passenger low mileage van to further our Children’s Ministry. Contact julianna@alfordinvestments.com.

VAN NEEDED

DEATHMargie Nell Davis Mullen, 85, of Frankston, passed away April 25, 2013 in Tyler. Funeral services were held at Calvary, Fairfield April 29 with Bro. Gaylan Henry officiating. Mrs. Mullen Margie Nell was born Dec. 31, 1927, to William Eugene and Evalena Cannon Davis of Fairfi eld. She graduated from Fairfi eld High School. Mrs. Mullen married Deward Mullen, also of Fairfi eld, in 1953. Over the years, the Mullens served together pastoring churches in Nacogdoches, Crockett, Arlington and Frankston.

JUNE 11-14, 2013

National Galilean Camp @ Daniel Springs, Gary

AUGUST 15, 2013

Lifeword Media Ministries Rally @ Rosewood, Gilmer

SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2013

BMAA Missions Symposium @ Central Baptist College, Conway, Arkansas

OCTOBER 14-15, 2013

Liberty Association Annual Meeting @ Cross Roads, Pittsburg

NOVEMBER 5-6, 2013

BMA of Texas Annual Meeting @ Calvary, Fairfi eld

APRIL 28-30, 2014

Annual Meeting of the BMAA @ Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock, Arkansas

May 15, 2013 | 11

By GARY HOUSE

Walk a Mile In My ShoesBy GARY HOUSE

Gary House is the writer of the Sunday school lessons for Baptist Progress. He serves as pastor of Tundra Baptist Church in Canton. Contact him at Tundraparson@aol.com.

Never Quit DATE: May 19, 2012TEXT: Acts 17:16-34LESSON IN BRIEF: An effect ive wi tness considers other people’s backgrounds when presen t ing the gospe l . F ind connec t ing points for explaining the gospel to people of other world views, as Paul demonstrated in today’s text.

Having been chased from Berea, Paul sailed to Athens to await the arrival of his coworkers. But when he saw that the city was given over to idols and he was compelled to preach the gospel immediately. When Paul toured Athens, he was only depressed by the magnitude of the idolatry he saw all around. Paul saw the beauty of Athens, having the best that Greek sculptors and archi tects could offer, but all that beauty did not honor God, so it did not impress him at all.

“Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue…and in the marketp lace dai ly.” As Paul waited for them he began to share his faith. Paul ’s prac t ice was to preach wherever he could ge t an audience . Paul faced a challenging audience in Athens. It was a cultured, educated city that was proud of its history. It was an intellectual center. Paul spoke to a city perhaps different than any other city to which he had preached.

In verse 18 they call Paul a “babbler,” meaning a b i rd tha t p icks up seeds , an empty talker, beggarly, getting a living by flattery. Clearly, the comparison was far f rom f lat ter ing. I t appears that the only reason they gave him a hearing was because he was new and different and they enjoyed hearing new ideas and teachings. The ancient Greeks loved a constant and always changing stream of news and information.

H e e n c o u n t e r e d t w o g r o u p s o f philosophers. Even though we don’t have these groups today, we have some of their philosophy in our society. The two groups are the Epicureans and the Stoics.

Epicureans were all about indulgence. Their chief goal in life was pleasure. They believed man was just another animal that returns to dust, so he should eat, drink and be merry. The chief aim of life was to get what pleasure out of it one could. In their minds, any happiness was to be had on earth, as there was no afterlife.

Stoics maintained an opposite line of thinking. Stoics were all about indifference. Their chief goal was to not care, not to believe anything and to be dead to feelings and emotions, even in the event of the death of a family member, a major illness or a catastrophe. They believed that everything had the spirit God within it. The belief of the Stoic was similar to the modern New Age Movement. They thought that everything that happened was God’s will.

The two philosophies are at opposite ends of the spectrum. One said “enjoy life.” The other said “endure life.” Both philosophies denied the immortality of the soul. One thing they had in common was hatred for Paul and his preaching

Paul ’s Sermon (verses 22-31) . Paul preached one of the most memorable sermons recorded in the Bible. It was the novelty of Paul’s message that earned him the invitation to the Areopagus. Paul preached to them Jesus and the resurrect ion. Though Paul spoke in a different place to a different kind of audience, his message did not change

in Athens. He focused on Jesus and the resurrection.

Paul addressed them by saying:God is both creator and provider 1. of all (verses 24-25, 28). God is not in a tree, but He made the trees. He is not unconcerned about what we are going through, but gives us all good gifts. Paul said He is our provider of everything. To them he stressed that God transcends the creation and isn’t in need of anything. He also stressed that he is not limited to a particular place or temple. He said, “In him we live and move and have our being” (verse 28).God desires for us to seek and know 2. Him. To both groups he declared that God “…determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that man would see him and perhaps reach out for him and find him” (verses 26-27). He presented Him not as something unknown, but Someone Who could be known.God has appointed a day of judgment 3. for those who don’t fo l low Him (verse 31). The one who judged would be the Christ. The evidence that this is true is that God raised Jesus from the dead.

Both groups failed to consider that God would personally hold them to account for their lives one day. Paul said that proof Jesus has been appointed as the one through whom God judges is the resurrection. By this is evidence that Jesus has the ultimate authority of all things and has the right to judge. Paul seemed unable to preach a sermon without focusing on the resurrection of Jesus. For him, none of the Christian life made sense without the triumph of Jesus.

Paul’s sermon was eminently biblical . “Like the b ib l ica l reve la t ion i t se l f , h i s argument begins with God the creator of all and ends with God the judge of all…The speech as it stands admirably summarizes an introductory lesson in Christianity for cultured pagans.” (Bruce)

T h e R e s p o n s e . P a u l r e c e i v e d t h r e e different responses to his message. The largest group sneered at him. They considered him foolish for speaking about the resurrection (verse 32) . 1 Corinthians 1:23 says that Christ crucified is to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness. The second response was some desired to hear him again. The smallest group was those who accepted the gospel. Of those we know only two names (verse 34). It is dangerous to judge the content of the message by the magnitude of the response. The reason the gospel did not take root there probably lay more in the attitude of the Athenians themselves than in Paul’s approach or in what he said.

There is indeed a God, and some day we must give account of our lives to him.

What is your response? Will you mock? Will you delay? Or will you believe and follow?

DATE: May 26, 2013TEXT: Acts 18:1-13LESSON IN BRIEF: Even the Apostle Paul needed to know that he was not alone. As great a man as he was, he still needed other people. He needed to know that he was not in the fi ght alone. In the future you may need the encouragement of other believers or you may be a position to be an encouragement to someone who needs it.

If there is one constant in serving Christ, it is that we all are subject to discouragement.There are three things I think that contributed to Paul’s despair in Corinth.

1. The Large Strain of the Work. Paul came to the largest and wickedest city in Greece. Sitting high above the city of Corinth was the temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. In those days those that were wicked in sexual immorality were called Corinthians. There was so much work to be done and the largeness of the work was discouraging. When confronted with the depravity of this city, he must have felt almost overwhelmed

2. The Little Success of the Work. Now we can say that it is required of us to be faithful and the success is up to God and that is true, but we all like to see growth and success in the work of the Lord. And while Paul saw some success, he had been basically run out of every place he has been. While he has seen some come to the Lord he still sees the masses of people rejecting the truth and that is discouraging.

3. The Lonely Service of the Work. He had to do a lot of the work alone or with just one or two at his side. You would think more would get involved, be excited and re-prioritize their lives but sadly, much of the time when you travel God’s path, it is lonely and discouraging. Not only was Paul overwhelmed with the immorality of Corinth; he was very much alone. Paul had left his coworkers, Silas and Timothy behind. In Corinth he faced the challenge of presenting the gospel to an entire city with a population of around 250,000 people. He was justifi ably overwhelmed.

While the devil is active in discouraging us, God is at work to encourage us. While the devil is trying to drag us down, God is working to lift us up. While the devil aims at getting us to quit, God is working to encourage us to keep up the good fi ght. Just when Paul was the most discouraged, God intervened in several ways to encourage him.

Note three encouragements: 1. The Partnership of Friends (verses 1-5a).

Paul arrived at Corinth with no funds, so he teamed up with Aquila and Priscilla, in their tent making business in order to support himself. This gave him the funds for his support so that he could go into the synagogue every Sabbath and reason with the Jews and Greeks for Jesus Christ. What a blessing Aquila and Priscilla were to Paul. They became his best and closest friends. Then God sent Silas and Timothy from Macedonia to Corinth to reunite with Paul. So God has not only blessed Paul with two new friends but brought back to him two familiar friends, who also bought Paul fi nancial support from Macedonia. Their return must have greatly encouraged Paul for the scriptures say that Paul was pressed in his spirit to testify to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. One of the greatest God given encouragements are friends. It is always tougher if you have to bear it alone. Thank God for friends who God

puts in your life who will encourage you in the work of the Lord.

2. The Positive Results (verses 5-8. Although he may have had little initial success in the synagogue at Corinth, God began to give Paul fruit for his efforts. It must have been a record day when Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue came to faith in Christ. It had been a slow start. But now the word of God was beginning to take effect. People were beginning to place their faith in Christ, not large numbers but a few at a time. We can either dwell on the negative and be discouraged or we can encourage ourselves on the positive results. Look and see even though many don’t grow an inch, some have grown. Many visitors did not come back, but some did. Many lost people still remain lost, but some trusted in Jesus as their Savior. The church may remain basically the same but then again it may take off like wildfi re. Don’t look at what God has not done but dwell on all that God has done.

3. The Promises of God (verses 9-11). The greatest encouragement of all is the Lord Himself. The Lord had three things that he wanted to establish in the heart of Paul:

God will be present. • Paul was fearful of two things: His message being rejected and the possibility of further physical harm. God says, “Speak, and hold not thy peace.” Don’t stop, don’t quit, don’t let up, but speak. Then the promise, “I am with thee” Aquilla and Priscilla may not have been there. Silas and Timothy may not be there. Oh what encouragement it is to have God on your side. This is the same thing that God told Joshua in Deuteronomy 31:6,“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” We need to be reminded from time to time to keep our eyes riveted on the Lord and not on the perplexities of life. We cannot accurately analysis our problems without a sense of His presence. God will protect. • “…no man shall set on thee to hurt thee,” and there is divine protection. In verses 12-17 they tried to come against Paul. But it all came to naught as the matter was dismissed.God will supply His power.• “…for I have much people in this city.” What did that mean? It meant simply that there were those who were lost who under the power of the Holy Spirit through the preaching of Paul would come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. There were those who were to be saved by the power of God.

Friends are great encouragers and results are encouraging but when God comes to you and promises his presence, protection, and power, you have every reason to keep on going forward.

Paul would later write to the same group that he is ministering to in this chapter, in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Somehow it helps me to know that a great apostle like the Apostle Paul could be discouraged and even afraid. Even the Apostle Paul needed to be reassured that he was in the protective grace of God. But whatever this world may do to us, there is nothing that can change our eternal destiny.

12 | May 15, 2013

Every summer we hire fi ve girls and three boys to work at Daniel Springs for two months. It is a job that has many rewards for the young people who have tackled this tough job. We still have a few openings for girls and boys and we have applications on our web site at www.discipleguide.org/camps. This is both a job and a ministry and gives the workers a broad range of experiences that will help equip them for life in the job market.

The Master’s Builders built us 60 new bunk beds a few weeks ago and now we need 120 mattresses for them. The mattresses cost us $60.00 each and this would be a good project for small groups or a church.

We are in the process of enlarging our canteen (snack bar) area with more fans and lights that will also enable those waiting in line for the cafeteria to wait in a shaded area with fans for

cooling. New metal roofs are being put on two more

cabins in the next two weeks and other cabins have been remodeled. We now have almost all the cabins on the girl’s side of the camp either totally or partially remodeled with better beds and mattresses. In the last fi ve years we have bought over 500 new mattresses and built that many new beds to make our campers more comfortable at night.

We have one large project that will be coming up in August. We will be resurfacing all of the roads on the campgrounds at a cost of around $50,000. We have a construction company that has agreed to do this for us by supplying the machinery and manpower at a price far below the market. We have to wait until August since it needs to be very warm for the materials to bond correctly. Can you help us replace these roads?

By JAMES SPEERDiscipleGuide Camps Ministries Director

Camp jobs and camp needs

Need a project for VBS?How about allowing your students to take

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Bibles, Books, Music & Gifts

and their past times activities, in which each one never forgot to included me. With Bro. Tapp, it was coon hunting—with Bro. Burks, it was crappie fi shing on Lake Fairfi eld, and if anyone knew Bro. Corley, they knew the past time was golf.

Reaching back to my Navy experience, my ship was stationed at Mayport, Fla. about a 30 minute drive to Jacksonville. Bro. Carl Seal was pastor at Parkview Baptist Church, and he, his wife Wilma, and their two young sons Jimmy and Wilton, extended me a standing invitation to ride the transit bus into Jacksonville and spend all my off-weekends with them. Bro. Seal gave me opportunities to preach, and his family treated me like family. Late one night after I had gone to bed, I found Bro. Seal’s copy of “The Steps of a Good Man,” the biography of the beloved BMA leader and pastor, Bro. C.R. Meadows.

Bro. Meadows, a diminutive man (only 5 feet 2 inches tall) was known for his big heart. He did virtually everything there was to do in the BMA of Texas—he was president of Jacksonville College during depression days, a job for which he received no salary; he was editor of the Baptist Progress, director of State

Missions, and manager of the Baptist Book Center in Dallas. Sometimes he held more than one position at a time.

For 21 years, he led First, Jacksonville as pastor. He baptized 2410 people during his 56 year ministry; married 1200 couples and preached 2400 funerals. Bro. Meadows truly endeared himself to the community of Jacksonville and BMA work. In his sunset years, he penned a column in the Baptist Progress “Thoughts along the way,” recapping experiences in his ministry.

I stayed up most of the night reading the book, and look back on that experience at the Seal’s home as life-changing for me as far as ministry was concerned.

Yes, you can learn by reading and through lecture, but it’s all for naught without on-the-job training, and great mentors to model ministry.

Paul Gauntt is the former BMA of Texas Department of Church Ministries director. He has served several churches as pastor, and is a correspondent and featured article writer for Baptist Progress. Contact him at paul.gauntt@att.net.

There’s no substitute for on-the-job training Cont.