January 20, 1999

Worley: God lives in those around you
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___FORT WORTH--God drives a car pool, shops at K-mart and works in an office, according to author and singer/songwriter Karla Worley of Franklin, Tenn.
___"He is there because you are there," Worley told more than 500 Texas Baptist women at the annual Women Reaching Texas luncheon in Fort Worth last week. Women Reaching Texas is a statewide network of more than 4,000 women committed to personal evangelism, spiritual development and mentoring

JERI SMITH (center) of First Baptist Church in Wylie, new chair of the Women Reaching Texas team, and steering team member Bobbie Pinson of First Baptist Church of Oak Cliff, present a plaque of appreciation to outgoing chair Linda Lummus of Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington. (Photo by Ken Camp)

relationships.
___There should be "a discernible difference" between the everyday life of a Christian and a non-Christian, and that difference is the obvious presence of Jesus in the believer, she said.
___Believers are called to be "little Christs," revealing in part the incarnation of God that Christ revealed fully, she noted.
___"Somehow in the circle of your everyday life, God is going to be incarnate to someone else," Worley said.
___In addition to incarnation, revelation also is an outgrowth of Christ's presence in the Christian's life, she added. Christians have a responsibility not only to show Christ to others through their everyday actions, but also share his truth as revealed in the Bible.
___Because Christ is present and at work in their lives, believers also gain a new perspective on everyone they meet, recognizing the inherent dignity and value of each person.
___"If they are believers, then Christ lives in them. Therefore, they are of infinite worth," she said. "If they are non-believers, then Christ died for them. Therefore, they are of infinite worth."
___

Hope is greatest gift
___FORT WORTH--Hope is the greatest gift a Christian community ministry volunteer can offer to a person in need, according to Karen Gilbert, minister of missions at Wilshire Baptist Church of Dallas.
___"You have the power to minister in Christ's name, no matter where you are," Gilbert said in a seminar titled "Share Christ As You Minister in His Name." The seminar was sponsored by Women Reaching Texas. Women need to become involved in lifestyle witnessing, spontaneously sharing their faith stories in natural, unplanned situations, Gilbert said.
___Community ministries offer many such situations, she said, offering several tips:
___ People like to be treated as individuals and as people of worth.
___ People like to express their feelings.
___ People like a sympathetic response to their problems.
___ People like to make choices.
___ People do not like for others to talk about them.

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