June 11, 2001
Draper spotlights VBS, Braille
hymnal, Ridgecrest revitalization
___By Todd Deaton
___South Carolina Baptist Courier
___NEW ORLEANS--Donning safari helmets and tan T-shirts imprinted with the "Truth Trackers" logo, about 25 children from six New Orleans churches performed the theme song for the 2001 Vacation Bible School to begin the annual report of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
___In his report to messengers during the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans June 12, LifeWay President Jimmy Draper spotlighted some of the various ways in which the Nashville-based agency is striving to meet the spiritual needs of churches and individuals.
___"Vacation Bible School is still the No. 1 evangelistic outreach in our churches," Draper said, noting that 91,000 children made professions of faith and 530,000 prospects were discovered through VBS last year.
___Responding to a messenger from northern Alabama who was having trouble obtaining VBS materials, Draper said: "We've had more growth in the VBS material area than ever before. Rather than--like we have done sometimes in the past--having several million dollars (worth of materials) to get rid of after the fact, we ran out some this year."
___Gene Mims, vice president of the church resources division, explained the three goals of his unit's on-going reorganization--to assist churches to carry out the Great Commission by making, maturing and multiplying disciples; to build relationships with churches to discover wants and needs; and to provide biblical solutions.
___"The urgency to help churches is really the driving force," Mims said. "We want to stand by our churches as champions and partners in building healthy, growing, transformed churches filled with transformed people, doing the Great Commission, reaching the lost people and multiplying themselves in ministry across the world. We want to work with you, side by side, to help you reach your communities for Christ."
___Leigh Scott, a visually impaired member of Fairfield Highlands Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., told SBC messengers about a new Braille hymnal available through LifeWay. Scott called LifeWay to request a Braille hymnal, only to learn that there wasn't one. After speaking with Dan Johnson in LifeWay's music division, Scott was invited to help produce the hymnal.
___"I'm only an instrument. I have to give all the honor and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ," Scott said, in thanking LifeWay and Southern Baptists for the hymnal on behalf of visually impaired people throughout the nation.
___Noting that LifeWay Christian Stores are celebrating their 75th anniversary, Draper added that LifeWay is opening its 100th store this July in Knoxville, Tenn.
___Through a multi-media presentation, messengers viewed the progress of revitalization efforts underway at the two LifeWay Conference Centers, in Ridgecrest, N.C., and Glorieta, N.M. Construction has begun on a new 300-seat worship facility, Rutland Chapel, and a 120-room hotel at Ridgecrest. Draper thanked Campers on Mission members who will be partnering with LifeWay this fall to provide volunteer labor in remodeling projects at the conference centers.
___Via video, Steve Gaines, pastor of First Baptist Church of Gardendale, Ala., urged churches to take advantage of free websites offered through LifeWayLink. The Gardendale congregation is one of more than 800 SBC churches using LifeWayLink to reach lost people around the world through the Internet, Gaines said.
___Concern for students affected by school violence, Draper said, led LifeWay staff to work with youth minister Randy Fields to provide 1,900 CDs of "The 24-hour Counselor" for distribution after a shooting at Santana High School in Santee, Calif., a San Diego suburb.
___"I don't know any more than you do how to explain the tragic shootings that take place at our high schools, but I am very thankful to our friends at LifeWay for providing a way to minister to students in these very awkward times," Fields said.
___"Fulfilling the Great Commission is going to take all of us working together under the leadership of the Holy Spirit," Draper concluded. "Southern Baptists, LifeWay wants to join you in being about our Father's business.
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