Iraqis cheered as a volunteer team moved through their neighborhood to give out cartons of food sent by Southern Baptists across America. Children ran up to the Southern Baptist men from North Carolina, like they were uncles, giggling and jostling to get close. Mothers handed over babies to be held, and the few men around extended greetings. Iraqis cheered as a volunteer team moved through their neighborhood to give out cartons of food sent by Southern Baptists across America. Children ran up to the Southern Baptist men from North Carolina, like they were uncles, giggling and jostling to get close. Mothers handed over babies to be held, and the few men around extended greetings. "It reminded me of kids coming up to Jesus," says Jim Walker, a digital press artist from East Bend, N.C. The 10-day project in late October and early November was just a small part of a massive, months-long Southern Baptist effort to help the Iraqi people by providing 45,000 boxes of food. Many thousands of Southern Baptists in America had stuffed each carton with about 70 pounds of basic foodstuffs, enough to feed a family of four for several weeks. If all the cartons could be … [Read more...]
IMB trustees learn of missions progress, respond to criticism
A 1997 shift in missions strategy has more than doubled the number of people groups hearing the gospel and jump-started explosive church growth around the world, Southern Baptist International Mission Board leaders reported recently. A 1997 shift in missions strategy has more than doubled the number of people groups hearing the gospel and jump-started explosive church growth around the world, Southern Baptist International Mission Board leaders reported recently. Leaders offered the report to board trustees during their recent meeting. During the meeting, trustees also responded to recent criticism of board leadership and strategy and adopted a trimmed-back $258.9 million budget for 2004. The meeting also included the appointment of 67 new missionaries headed for overseas service in 29 countries. The key report offered a five-year evaluation of the "New Directions" emphasis that shifted the boards missions focus from geographical countries to ethno-linguistic people groups. The emphasis organized missionaries into teams with a goal of reaching previously-neglected people groups and sparking rapid church-planting movements. Among the key findings of the survey: The number of people groups engaged by Southern … [Read more...]
Always remember – gratitude makes us better persons
"What do you say?" For children whose parents want them to be polite, the answer may be, "Excuse me," but more likely, "Thank you." As a loving father, God has implored his children to express thanks. From the early Jewish days of thanksgiving sacrifices to the Epistles command to "Give thanks in all things," God wants his children to be thankful and express that thanksgiving. "What do you say?" For children whose parents want them to be polite, the answer may be, "Excuse me," but more likely, "Thank you." As a loving father, God has implored his children to express thanks. From the early Jewish days of thanksgiving sacrifices to the Epistles command to "Give thanks in all things," God wants his children to be thankful and express that thanksgiving. Jesus himself set the example as he prayed, over what we assume were, his meager meals. His thanksgiving at meals was so significant that later his followers recognized him after his resurrection by the depth of his thanksgiving. Why? Certainly, not because God has some kind of frail ego that requires constant appreciation. Certainly, not because he will whimper in some dark corner if his children are not … [Read more...]
‘That all people may know him – the missions task
Calvin Walters (not his real name) arrived in Southeast Asia with a vision for reaching Muslims for Christ. The question was - where to start? Indonesias nearly 220 million people make up the largest Muslim nation in the world. They inhabit 4,000 of the 17,000 islands of the Indonesian archipelago - stretching 4000 miles across the Indian Ocean. Calvin Walters (not his real name) arrived in Southeast Asia with a vision for reaching Muslims for Christ. The question was - where to start? Indonesias nearly 220 million people make up the largest Muslim nation in the world. They inhabit 4,000 of the 17,000 islands of the Indonesian archipelago - stretching 4000 miles across the Indian Ocean. "There are only so many things you can get your mind around," Walters says. "I thought Indonesia was made up of (only) Indonesians. (But) Trying to think of evangelizing 220 million people - thats overwhelming. ... "There are different people groups with different values and beliefs. You cant learn about Indonesian culture. What slice do you want to look at? As we learned and became more aware of unreached people groups, we knew we had to be among a group," Walters … [Read more...]
Weekly Briefs
For the week of October 2, 2003 Correction In the September 25, 2003, issue of the Baptist Message, a typographical error appeared in the letter Louisiana College trustees approved to be sent to all prospective faculty members. As printed in the newspaper, the letter contained a sentence that read, "Over the years our denomination has adopted a statement of faith that reflects our disbelief system based upon the Bible and this document is called the Baptist Faith and Message." Obviously, the sentence should indicate that Southern Baptists have adopted a statement of faith that reflects their "belief" system, which is how the letter was approved by Louisiana College trustees. Appeal for unity The president of the Baptist World Alliance appealed to Southern Baptist leaders to stay with the global organization last week. Speaking to the SBC Executive Committee, Billy Kim of Korea urged: "Stay with us. Pray with us. Evangelize with us." Convention leaders currently are evaluating the denominations relationship to the alliance, especially since the world group granted membership to the moderate Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. In June, convention messengers also reduced the … [Read more...]
… but that requires an ongoing process of renewal and change
Why is it that 95 percent of all churches in the world never grow past 300? I believe it is because their structure keeps them from growing beyond that point. Why is it that 95 percent of all churches in the world never grow past 300? I believe it is because their structure keeps them from growing beyond that point. Hebrews 8:13 warns that when a thing grows weak and out-of-date, it soon disappears. That also is true of churches. If a church cannot change, it eventually will die. Signs your structure needs to change How do you know when you have an inadequate structure in your church? There are three symptoms of an inadequate organizational structure. Plateaued growth You are not growing anymore. You just stay the same year after year after year. You are going nowhere. That is a clear indication that you have the wrong structure in your church. Now, understand, structure does not cause the growth in your church. But it does control two things - the rate of growth and the size of growth. Plateaued growth says something is wrong with the organization. Internal conflict Internal conflict in your church almost always is a … [Read more...]
God wants his church to grow and not stop growing …
How do you structure a church so it just keeps on growing and does not plateau? I believe there are 10 essentials you must focus on as you structure your church. 1. You must develop an unshakable conviction about growth. First and foremost, you need to settle on the idea that God wants his church to grow. How do you structure a church so it just keeps on growing and does not plateau? I believe there are 10 essentials you must focus on as you structure your church. 1. You must develop an unshakable conviction about growth. First and foremost, you need to settle on the idea that God wants his church to grow. And he does not want it to stop growing! You do not ever need to apologize for wanting your church to grow. God wants his church to grow; it is his will and command. The reason churches must grow is because people are going to hell without Jesus. As long as there is one person within driving distance of your church who does not know Jesus Christ, you must keep growing. 2. You must change the primary role of the pastor from minister to leader. You can grow a church to 300 with pastoral skills or ministry skills, but for it to grow beyond 300 will … [Read more...]
Brooke Martin was only 4 years old – but she knew something had to be done
It is not unusual for children to come forward to pray at the altar in the West Main Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn. So, when 4-year old Brooke Martin joined the throng of children on their knees during the invitation at the end of one church service in the spring of 2001, few people probably thought anything about it. Steven Nelson SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission It is not unusual for children to come forward to pray at the altar in the West Main Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn. So, when 4-year old Brooke Martin joined the throng of children on their knees during the invitation at the end of one church service in the spring of 2001, few people probably thought anything about it. No doubt, most adults assumed Martin was following her older sister and her friends to the front of the church. They could not have been more wrong. Indeed, after several weeks of the repeated occurrence, the church was told why the little girl was coming to the front. As it turned out, Brooke was coming to pray for hungry children she had seen in an advertisement on television. "I knew we had to do something," pastor … [Read more...]
Giving life purpose – it is all about family and love
As unlikely as it may seem, Rick Warren insists it is true - God wants persons to become like Christ. "You were created to become like Christ," Warren insists in "The Purpose-Driven Life," his best-selling study book. "From the very beginning, God’s plan has been to make you like his son, Jesus. Note: The Louisiana Baptist Convention currently is engaged in a pilot program to use "The Purpose-Driven Life" study by Rick Warren in several churches. Plans call for use of the study to be expanded statewide next year. As part of that effort, the Baptist Message is presenting a series of articles based on Warren’s book. This week looks at the third of five life purposes in the book. C. Lacy Thompson, LBM Associate Editor As unlikely as it may seem, Rick Warren insists it is true - God wants persons to become like Christ. "You were created to become like Christ," Warren insists in "The Purpose-Driven Life," his best-selling study book. "From the very beginning, God’s plan has been to make you like his son, Jesus. "This is your destiny." It also is one of the five purposes of life, says Warren, pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, a … [Read more...]
It is official – church sales tax exemptions back in place
Official word has come that Louisiana Baptist churches no longer have to pay sales tax on purchase of Bibles and other religious materials - at least for now. Official word has come that Louisiana Baptist churches no longer have to pay sales tax on purchase of Bibles and other religious materials - at least for now. Earlier this year, the Louisiana Department of Revenue issued a bulletin that a trio of tax exemptions had been revoked as a result of a suit won by the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU had challenged the exemptions - and a federal court had sided with the organization. As a result, churches were informed they would have to start paying sales tax on the purchase of Bibles, song books and materials used for religious instruction. In addition, sales tax would have to be collected for the use of religious camp and retreat facilities, such as Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth. The cost could have been significant. However, religious leaders protested - and the state attorney generals office decided to appeal the ruling in the case. This summer, a federal appeals court reversed the lower court ruling. Essentially, the court said it lacked jurisdiction in the case, … [Read more...]
