Posted: 6/10/03

IMB cuts 61 home office jobs
in response to $10 million shortfall

By Robert Dilday

Associated Baptist Press

RICHMOND, Va. (ABP)–The Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board eliminated 61 home office job June 10, displacing 37 employees in an attempt to address a financial shortfall of at least $10 million in the current fiscal year.

The cuts included 24 vacant positions that will not be filled and impacted both full- and part-time workers. The 61 positions eliminated represent a little more than 10 percent of the board's 500 Richmond, Va., employees.

Within the last month, IMB leaders have moved to resolve a thorny financial situation caused by declining investment income and a $10 million shortfall in the 2002 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering's $125 million goal.

Funding has not kept up with the record numbers of missionaries the board has continued to appoint in recent years. The IMB's missionary count grew 8.7 percent from 2000 to 2002, while combined income from the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Offering increased only 1.5 percent. Overseas personnel now total about 5,000.

Earlier this month, the board announced it would restrict the number of new missionaries for the first time since the 1930s.

An earlier IMB news release quoted Lloyd Atkinson, vice president for missionary personnel, saying new long-term missionary appointments would be limited to 400 this year and 300 in 2004. That compares to 412 new long-term workers appointed in 2002 and 387 appointed in 2001. The board had planned to appointed about 500 new long-term workers this year, meaning 100 candidates have been deferred to next year or put on hold.

IMB officials also said the number of short-term personnel appointed this year will be reduced by 30 percent.

While the Lottie Moon Offering's $10 million shortfall is the only figure so far released by the IMB, the total deficit is almost certain to be considerably larger. Like many Baptist agencies and institutions during the stock market's boom years, the IMB relied heavily on investment income and was hit hard by the downturn in the economy.

"The $10 million figure is the one we're working on because the books are closed on the offering and that's a hard figure," said IMB President Jerry Rankin. "We won't know until the end of the fiscal year how much investments will bring us." The IMB's fiscal year ends Dec. 31.

IMB spokesman Mark Kelly said the IMB will not release the names of the 37 people who lost their jobs "to respect their privacy," although he added the dismissed employees are not prohibited from releasing that information themselves. The employees will receive outplacement assistance and severance packages.

Rankin said the board does not anticipate a second round of layoffs in what he called a "strategic realignment." But he added, "You can never absolutely eliminate that possibility for the future.

"We're doing what we have to do to be fiscally accountable," he said.

"Just as with the Baptist Faith & Message statement we had to be doctrinally accountable to Southern Baptists, so we have to be financially accountable with Southern Baptists," he said.

In April, the IMB fired 13 missionaries who refused to sign the Southern Baptist Convention's revised confession of faith. At least 64 other missionaries are known to have resigned or taken early retirement rather than sign the statement.

The layoffs announced June 10 have no apparent connection to the missionary terminations over the Baptist Faith & Message.

All the employees who lost their jobs in the fiscal cuts were employed in the board's Richmond headquarters, and Rankin said he couldn't imagine a financial crisis of such magnitude that would require eliminating the jobs of overseas personnel.

"I would never anticipate an economic situation that would necessitate reducing the number of missionaries already serving," he said.

However, one casualty of the current financial cuts is the IMB's flagship magazine, "The Commission," which highlights the ministries of overseas personnel. Publication of the award-winning magazine, along with other board products and resources, will be suspended, although an online version of the magazine will continue to be published.

Posted: 5/30/03

Volunteer paints an escape
for children at Baptist shelter

By Miranda Bradley

Texas Baptist Children's Home & Family Services

ROUND ROCK–Clients at a Texas Baptist children's shelter have new visual images to spark their imaginations, thanks to the work of a local artist.

At the STARRY shelter operated by Texas Baptist Children's Home & Family Services, Mary Nicholson has painted a mural depicting fanciful images such as dogs wearing bandanas and shades, a cat grasping a fork and knife, sailboats racing off in the distance.

STARRY stands for Services To At-Risk and Runaway Youth. Through this program, Texas Baptists help provide a safe haven for children who have suffered abuse, neglect or family turmoil.

Nicholson, who has been drawing and painting for 40 years, studied art at the University of Texas at Austin. She eventually earned her degree in business and began working long hours in the corporate world.

“During my employment in the high-tech industry, I attended a seminar on career pathing,” she explained. “At that point, I realized I wanted to try my hand at running my own art business.”

So, after she was laid off a year and a half ago, she turned to her first love, painting murals.

“As long as I can remember, I've always thought bigger was better,” she said.

And that has been the driving force behind her latest creations. From a fake atrium covering a large bedroom ceiling to an intricate painting of a Japanese Garden in another residence, Nicholson has been making a name for herself and her company, Mural Concepts (http://www.muralconcepts.net ).

“People want something unique to add to their home or office environment,” she explained. “And they are willing to pay good money for a polished product.”

The STARRY mural is the first volunteer mural Nicholson has done.

“I walked onto campus and asked if there was a need for anything like this,” she said. “Everyone was so nice and friendly, I felt this was where I was meant to paint.”

Childlike in its design, the painting depicts an outdoor picnic setting with a boy on a swing set with the sea in the distance. It took about 50 hours to complete.

“This is very important, because I want this painting to be the first thing children see when they walk in the door—a little ray of light in their lives,” Nicholson said.

Children at the shelter often come with bruised bodies and even more wounded spirits. Some never have known their biological parents; others are afraid of them.

Nicholson hopes her art will help the children see the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

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Posted: 6/09/03

REVIEW:
'Bruce Almighty' sacrilegious or sacred story?

By Eddie Hilburn

Some of my friends saw the previews of the movie “Bruce Almighty” and immediately said, “Sacrilegious.” I thought it would be interesting to see the movie and find out how popular culture depicts God. Just the idea of God portrayed by a black man—Morgan Freeman—intrigued me.

Before seeing the movie, I did a little research on the people involved in making the movie.

Jim Carrey stars as Bruce Nolan. Carrey appears in most interviews as a shallow, self-centered Hollywood type. When you look a little closer, you see more depth. Carrey has starred in several movies that contain important messages. You may have seen “The Truman Show” or “Liar, Liar” and appreciated more than just the humor.

Carrey's interest in spiritual life began as an elementary school student. In Catholic school, one of the nuns told Carrey she prayed to the Virgin Mary to receive whatever she needed. Taking the cue, Carrey prayed for a particular bicycle, which his family had not been able to afford. In a few weeks, Carrey arrived home from to school to see the exact bike in his living room. A friend had entered Carrey's name in a drawing without telling him.

According to hollywoodjesus.com, producer and director Tom Shadyak professes faith in Christ. Writer Steve Oedekerk is described as a man of faith, prayer and walking with God. Carey and Shaydak worked together on “Liar, Liar.” Carrrey reported working with Shaydak gives him the opportunity to really go crazy and also present an underlying message.

These discoveries excited me about the movie.

The movie opens with what Jim Carrey calls the theme of the show. Bruce asks, “Why is God so mad at me?” After a series of such questions, God confronts Bruce. After receiving God's power, as you know from the previews, Bruce uses the power for his own amusement and personal benefit. Bruce certainly exercises God's power in sacrilegious ways.

But the movie also begs the question, “What would you do?” With a Job-like theme, God demonstrates to Bruce that he isn't capable of playing God. I can identify with Bruce. Even without God's power I find my actions sometimes sacrilegious. No telling what I would do if I had all that power.

Bruce Almighty is a sacrilegious story and a sacred story, not unlike the stories of Noah, Abraham, Moses or Peter. When you see the movie, watch for these clues to the sacred message: Grace (Bruce's girlfirend), the golden calf and the sound track, “God-Shaped Hole.”

The real message comes through Bruce's relationship with God. Bruce journeys from wanting to be God to a completely different place.

I won't tell the end of Bruce's journey. I don't want to spoil the movie for you. I will say that if you have a friend who won't go with you to church, take him or her to a movie this weekend.

Eddie Hilburn is pastor of First Baptist Church in Frankston, Texas.

Posted: 6/06/03

Posted: 6/06/03

BGCT Executive Board gives
green light to HBTS name change

By Mark Wingfield

Managing Editor

DALLAS–A name change for Hispanic Baptist Theological School stands one step away from enactment, with a positive nod received from the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board June 3.

The proposed change to Baptist University of the Americas now goes to messengers to the BGCT's annual session, to be held in Lubbock in November. The charter change already has been approved by the school's board, the Christian Education Coordinating Board and the BGCT Administrative Committee.

Executive Board members also approved allowing the San Antonio school to incur additional debt to purchase 78 acres of land across I-35 from the current campus. The school plans a relocation over the next seven to 10 years, President Albert Reyes explained.

In other business, the Executive Board heard a number of reports on ongoing ministries.

No additional action was taken on a key issue that generated considerable debate at the two previous meeting–a proposed new cooperative agreement between the BGCT and the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board. After the BGCT Executive Board at its March meeting approved negotiated language for the document, trustees of NAMB voted to table the matter and appoint a study committee to review what NAMB President Bob Reccord called “weighty issues.”

E.B. Brooks, coordinator of church missions and evangelism for the BGCT, told Executive Board members the BGCT will wait for further response from NAMB. The issues identified by Reccord, he said, include a demand from NAMB that pastors of any church receiving even partial financial assistance from NAMB must affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message.

Executive Board Vice Chairman John Ogletree of Houston presided at the meeting in the absence of Chairman Brian Harbour of Richardson. Harbour had been called away due to a death in his family.

BGCT President Bob Campbell of Houston reported on the visits he and the two BGCT vice presidents have made this year to BGCT institutions. He was pleasantly surprised, he said, by the presentation they heard at Vanguard Health System in San Antonio, which recently purchased the ailing Baptist Health System.

The new president of the five-hospital system is a devout Christian who wants the hospitals to be “vitally connected to Baptists,” Campbell reported.

Campbell encouraged members of the Executive Board to set an example by leading their churches to choose the Cooperative Program giving plan that directs 79 percent to BGCT ministries. BGCT institutions across the state are suffering from lack of adequate funding, he reported.

To pastors, he said: “I challenge you to quit being the bishop. Let your people choose where they want to send their money.”

BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade reported on the need to start 1,100 churches across Texas in the next five years just to keep pace with population growth. Even so, more than 10 million Texans currently have no relationship with any church, he said.

That challenge met a somber rejoinder, however, in a report from Brooks that after the first five months of this year, the BGCT has allocated all the funds it has budgeted for new churches.

Overall, Cooperative Program giving through the BGCT continues to lag behind last year, reported BGCT Treasurer David Nabors. Total receipts through the end of May were down 2.5 percent from the previous year, which in turn had shown a decrease from the year before that.

One bright spot, he noted, is that gifts to Texas Baptist ministries as of the end of May were holding steady with last year's total giving.

The annual audit of BGCT books, approved by the Executive Board without debate, showed a decline in assets of more than $18 million from 2001 to 2002. The bulk of that decline was due to lower values of investments, the report showed, although the total cash and cash equivalents on hand at year end were more than $1.5 million less than the previous year.

The audit showed realized and unrealized net losses on investments of $17 million for 2002, after similar losses of $13 million in 2001. The declining value of investments and endowment funds has placed Baptist ministries statewide in a pinch for the last two years.

In other business, the Executive Board:

Approved three nominations to replace members of the Executive Board who resigned. Charles Summers of First Baptist Church in Dimmitt will replace Bobby Broyles. Kenneth Taylor of First Baptist Church of Corpus Christi will replace Sharon Willingham. David Harp of First Baptist Church of Stanton will replace Frances Wheat.

Elected Nolan Duck of First Baptist Church of Lufkin to the Administrative Committee to replace Betty McGary, who died.

Named Kevin Hall of First Baptist Church of Haskell and Charles McLaughlin of Western Hills Baptist Church in Fort Worth to the Christian Life Commission to replace Robert Prince, who moved out of state, and Bill Hendricks, who died.

Named Delia Vela of Westway Baptist Church in El Paso to replace Sue McGee on the committee to nominate coordinating boards for institutions.

Elected four trustees of BGCT institutions to replace individuals who resigned. Nell McCallum Morris of Calder Baptist Church in Beaumont will replace Henrietta Woolley on the Memorial Hermann Hospital board. Julia Wade of First Baptist Church of San Augustine will replace Gladys Hudson on the board of East Texas Baptist University. On the board of Valley Baptist Missions/Education Center, Claudio Cruz of First Baptist Church in Harlingen will replace Juan Herrera and Patrick Graham of First Baptist Church of Harlingen will replace Mateo Rendon.

Posted: 6/06/03
LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for June 15

Salvation is the result of God's grace, not works

Galatians 3:1-14

By Jim Perkins

Madison Hills Baptist Church, San Antonio

There is a beautiful spring in Landa Park in New Braunfels that flows with thousands and thousands of gallons of clean, fresh water from the Edwards Aquifer daily. Lest we forget the correct order, though, the water observed flowing down the creek does not produce the spring. Its source of life is the reservoir of water deep within the hills above.

Receiving the Spirit

Paul again addressed the folly of the Galatians accepting a “Jesus plus” gospel–that is, Jesus plus anything else added as a necessity to produce salvation (be it circumcision or any good works). Good works naturally flow from a real relationship with Jesus, as water naturally flows from a spring. That order, however, must not and cannot be reversed!

The Galatians had acted in a “foolish” manner when they allowed someone (probably the Judaizers) to “bewitch” them into accepting a modified gospel (3:1). Paul used strong, vivid language in verse 1 to describe the current situation in Galatia. The apostle who earlier had addressed these Galatian friends as “brothers” (1:11) now was forced to describe them as “foolish.” Some have translated this word as “idiotic,” but perhaps it is more accurately described as “slow of spiritual discernment” (compare Luke 24:25). On the other hand, those who had introduced a perverted gospel to the Galatians were guilty of “bewitching” them, that is, casting a spell over them for evil purposes.

Paul reminded the Galatians, however, of this foundational truth: They had received justification (2:16) and the gift of the Spirit by believing what they had heard (3:2, 5)–that is, by a personal trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Observation of the law or any other legal works would not add to or complete their salvation. The obvious and real presence of the Spirit and the mighty works of God in their midst were already theirs through believing the gospel message (3:5).

Remembering Abraham

In a statement designed to connect the faith of Abraham to the salvation experience of the Galatians, Paul challenged them to “consider” (3:5, literally “just as,” which connects this verse to the preceding passage) the faith experience of the patriarch Abraham. Contrary to the teaching of the time, which most likely was headlined by the Judaizers, Paul insisted Abraham was made righteous before God through faith, not acts of obedience.

Paul traced his salvation history back to Abraham by appealing to a passage in Genesis 15:6: “Abraham believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” This passage predated the obedience displayed by Abraham in circumcision (Genesis 17) and his obedience in testing (Genesis 22). Paul argued persuasively, then, that just as the Galatians believed the gospel message and as a result were justified and given the gift of the Spirit, so also Abraham believed God and was made righteous before him–and that was not through the performance of certain deeds.

This message of salvation has not changed–it was the same for Abraham and the Galatians as it is for each of us. Salvation always has and always will be through a personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior; salvation will never occur because of a “Jesus plus” gospel.

Relying on Jesus

Persuasion was vital here, so Paul continued to present his concise and accurate presentation of the gospel in 3:10-14. Two truths are presented again–not just for emphasis, but because they are central and absolutely necessary.

First, “no one is justified before God by the law” (3:11)–it simply will not happen. Paul had stated this gospel message truth previously in 2:16, and now he repeated it with renewed vigor. His conviction is based on the fact that no one attempting to live according to the law has ever lived in perfect obedience to every requirement. As a natural result, all those who choose and then fail at this legal works method of salvation will experience the curse due “everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law” (3:10; see Deuteronomy 27:26).

The second truth vital to Paul's argument is repeated again at the end of this passage. Its content is the simple affirmation that “by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit” (3:14), which Paul indicated to the Ephesian Christians was the “deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession” (Ephesians 1:14).

Again, this message and method of salvation have not changed through the millennia. The same trust in Christ as personal Savior brings the same promise of eternal life today. The Bible study pages of the Baptist Standard always include an explanation of how any person can become a Christian. Please read it closely and accept it joyfully–this gospel brings life eternal!

Questions for discussion

From this passage provide a summary statement of both Paul's concern for the adulteration or perversion of the gospel, and also the substance behind the phrase, “truth of the gospel.”

Today do we still gravitate toward a “Jesus plus good works” gospel? How is that alteration of the gospel usually phrased? Is it tempting or does it appear logical? How can this perversion of the gospel be avoided?

Posted: 6/06/03
LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for June 22

The law reveals sin, but only Christ redeems

Galatians 3:21-4:7

By Jim Perkins

Madison Hills Baptist Church, San Antonio

It has been said that to appreciate best the place where you are now, you need look no further than the place from which you came. We would be wise and blessed to do just that.

Appreciate the past

Paul reminded his readers in 3:15-18 of the impact of a distant, yet vital event: The promises of God to Abraham–and specifically the coming of the Seed (Christ)–historically preceded the introduction of the law of Moses by 430 years. Much the same as with a legal will, the covenant God established through Abraham remained in effect; its promises were unchanged and still valid even through passing of the centuries.

The apostle, however, does not denigrate the law in this passage. The law was not “opposed to the promises of God” (3:21), but instead served God's predetermined purposes.

Although impotent to save people–salvation is always by faith–the law did function to demonstrate mankind's universal and dangerous plight: Our inevitable propensity to sin. The law illuminated our inability to gain righteousness through ill-fated attempts at justification through obedience to the law, and as a consequence propelled us toward the promise of faith in Christ as Savior.

One other picture of the law is offered in 3:24-25. Paul described the function of the law as a type of stern, disciplinary “babysitter” or “guardian”–a term his Greek audience would have understood very well. The image here was of a very stern disciplinarian who accompanied the young person in his care, and who was not above using the rod to reinforce lessons and ethical mores. As such, the law did not function to wean us from sin, but instead to reveal the depth of our inevitable rebellion and the hopelessness of any self-help program.

Acknowledge

your new family

Such a grand statement in 3:26: “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus”! It serves as a fitting summary of the truth of the gospel: Through faith in Christ we have gone from a minor experiencing the harsh tutelage of the law (3:25), to an adult child of God, with all the rights and privileges of an heir of the promise to Abraham. We join with John as he proclaimed with great joy “that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).

At the same time, to be a son or daughter of God through faith in Christ also means we are joined together with all other believers as members of a new family–the family of God. Because of our relationship to the Father, old classes or distinctions lose their importance; all have equal access to new life in Christ (3:28). Let us not forget Paul's radical (for his time) and joyful proclamation of this truth. Gender, race and social class–they were and are still today meaningless as a basis for relating to God and to one another as the family of God.

Do be faithful, however, to interpret this passage within its context and with due respect for Paul's intentions as inspired by the Spirit of God. We should neither diminish nor improperly expand its intended application to right standing with God and membership in the family of God. Additional arenas of church life are addressed in other Pauline passages; we will look there for biblical guidance.

Accept your new privileges

As becomes obvious to all Christians who spend time in his letters, Paul was a master writer and illustrator. In the current passage, the apostle has employed several analogies to emphasize the rights and freedoms we enjoy as we each become an obedient child of God through faith in Christ. Paul has reminded us that we are no longer under the curse of the law (3:13), nor are we shut up as a prisoner of sin (3:22). We are freed from the necessity of that harsh baby-sitter (3:24), and freed from the tyranny of being judged by race, rank or gender (3:28).

Paul added the analogy of a child who was an heir, but also a minor. Because of his young age, he was subjected to the strict guidance of guardians–which in some ways left the minor heir with rights no different than a slave (4:1). By contrast, however, Christians have received the full rights of an heir through faith in Christ. We are confident of this truth because of the witness of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within the believer. Through the comfort and confidence imparted because “God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,” we naturally call out to our God with the appellation of respect and familial closeness: “Father” (4:6).

One last warning is appropriate: Avoid adherence to enslaving “basic principles of the world,” whether pagan religious practices exclusively, or also certain requirements of Jewish law. In either case, these basic–even evil–principles were made irrelevant because of the perfect Son, who was sent at the perfect time to redeem perfectly (and grant full rights of sonship to) those formerly under the law (4:3-5).

Questions for discussion

What “basic principles” of the world threaten the freedom we enjoy to serve Christ obediently and faithfully?

In what manner have the truths of 3:28 influenced your personal life and the life of your church?

Posted: 6/06/03
LifeWay Family Bible Series for June 15

Ministry is the privilege of every believer

Romans 12:4-8; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:10-11

By Tim Owens

First Baptist Church, Bryan

A wonderful story has been told about Poland's famous concert pianist and prime minister, Ignace Paderewski. It is a true story of a mother who took her child to a concert to expose him to the talent of the great pianist. She hoped to encourage her son in his piano lessons, which he had just begun. They arrived early at the concert and were seated near the front. Standing alone on the stage was a marvelous Steinway grand piano. As they waited for the concert to begin, the mother entered into a conversation with the people beside her.

Eventually, 8 o'clock came, and the lights began to dim. Everyone turned their attention to the stage and the grand piano. The mother looked up and was horrified. Her son was sitting at the piano and playing with one finger, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” “Oh no,” she thought, “How am I going to get him down?”

As she began to make her way to the stage, Ignace Paderewski appeared on stage. He went over and sat down beside the child. He whispered in the child's ear, “Don't quit; keep playing!” As the little boy continued to play, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began to fill in the bass part. Then with his right arm around the little boy, he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice held the crowd mesmerized.

When Christians are playing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and thinking their gifts are too small for God to use, God comes beside them, sits down with them, and whispers in their ear, “Don't quit; keep playing.”

This is the message of three passages of Scripture–Ephesians 4:11-16, Romans 12:4-8 and 1 Peter 4:10-11. Paul concludes the book of Romans by appealing to his readers to live out their faith in practical ways, including exercising their spiritual gifts. In anticipation of the end time, Peter admonished his readers to use their gifts to serve others. The church reveals itself to be a community of grace when all members are ministering with their gifts to meet the needs of others. In mutual ministry, every Christian belongs to Christ and is responsible for building up the church.

Ephesians 4:11-12 says, “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” This passage is the basis for a major shift taking place in the church of the 21st century. The following ways of “doing church” have developed over time, and they represent a subtle drift away from both biblical and effective ministry.

Most pastors and church staff members are thought of as "professionals" who perform the "important" ministries, while the laity performs the "less important" ministries.

Many lead pastors function as a CEO or COO, whose role is more administrative rather than the spiritual development of God's people.

Senior pastors are treated on the part of the church membership as the one who is paid to do the ministry, while the members consume the sermons, visits, calls, etc.

What is beginning to emerge in the church of the 21st century is a return to the biblical model of Christian ministry. More Christians no longer want mediated expressions of faith that come from “professionals,” nor do they want pastors to be merely administrative leaders who manage the church. Instead, they want spiritual leaders who can lead them into personal expressions of faith and ministry. They want a spiritual mentor who will walk with them on their journey of faith.

The churches who are willing to make this shift will experience the removal of the erroneous dichotomy between spiritual experts (clergy) and spiritual amateurs (laity). They will enjoy the liberating grace that the church is not made up of two classes of people, clergy and laity. Rather, every believer is a spiritual priest with a ministry. More Christians are unwilling to follow leaders who are doing the ministry for them. Instead they are looking for team-based leaders who are willing to say, “Come join me in spiritual growth and ministry.”

On the part of pastors and church staff, the shift requires a much more intense commitment to personal, spiritual growth. A leader cannot give what he or she does not have. The priority is to model what it means to be a Christian rather than to be a “professional minister.” To treat every believer as truly a priest in ministry means the role of the church staff shifts from “doers” to “equippers.” It means the goal in ministry shifts from being program-driven to community-driven, where all Christians are encouraged to discover their gifts in ministry, equipped in how to use those gifts and empowered to exercise their gifts for the growth of the church.

On the part of church members, the shift invites God's people to move from being spectators of ministry to being participants in ministry. Ministry leaders who are committed to equipping God's people and believers who are committed to exercising their gifts in the ministry of the church will bring the church to the “whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).

Question for discussion

What has God whispered in your ear that you have been too timid to follow through on?

Posted: 6/06/03
LifeWay Family Bible Series for June 22

The Acts 2 church is a good measuring stick

Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 4:1-6

By Tim Owens

First Baptist Church, Bryan

In American society, individualism is championed. It is true each individual must decide whether he or she will allow Jesus Christ to be Savior and Lord of life. It is true each person must give account of himself to God (Romans 14:12). However, individualism can create loneliness and isolation.

Individualism can result in fractured relationships, broken homes and divided churches. Church members may come and go to worship services while never having experienced significant and meaningful community with other believers. Acts 2:42-27 and Ephesians 4:1-6 help believers to evaluate the quality of the fellowship in their church and to make adjustments so fellowship is strengthened.

In Acts 2:42-47, the church is functioning under the effects of the day of Pentecost. These verses present a beautiful picture of a Spirit-driven church. What does a Spirit-driven church look like? First, the Spirit-driven church is a teaching church. In Acts 2, the members devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching. When the Holy Spirit came upon the church, the members engaged their minds to discover more about their new-found faith in Jesus Christ.

Current churches put much emphasis on corporate worship and rightfully so, but not to the point of diminishing the teaching of Christ and his word. The Spirit-driven church is a church where the Scriptures are taught, heard, learned and practiced.

Second, the Spirit-driven church is a loving church. In Acts 2, the members devoted themselves to fellowship. The word is “koinonia.” It refers to the common life of the church, the experiences believers share together, the common love that binds believers together and the common commitment to submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ. New Testament fellowship is when believers are sharing with each other the person whom they all adore, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Whether believers meet in a large worship setting, in small groups or in ones and twos, the person of Christ is the most dominant topic of conversation. Koinonia is very close to another Greek word, “koinoni-kos,” which is the Greek word for generous. Luke could have had this word in mind when he was talking about koinonia. Believers were sharing life together. They were pooling their material resources together. When there were needs within the fellowship of the church, the members were determined to meet those needs.

Third, the Spirit-driven church is a worshipping church. In Acts 2, the members devoted themselves to the breaking of bread and prayer. Their fellowship culminated in corporate worship. The worship of the New Testament church was both in the temple courts and in their homes. They worshipped in one large gathering, and they worshipped in small groups. Their worship was both joyful and reverent. They worshipped with glad and sincere hearts, and as they worshipped, they were filled with awe.

Fourth, the Spirit-driven church is a witnessing church. The last sentence in Acts 2:47 reads: “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” The early church was not so preoccupied with teaching, loving and worshipping that they failed to witness. Where the Holy Spirit is free to control the church, He will always create a witnessing church.

Believers can evaluate their church by the Acts 2 church. It was a church related to their teachers in submission to the Scripture. It was a church related to one another through loving fellowship. It was a church related to God through joyful, reverent worship. It was a church related to the world through gospel witness.

Ephesians 4:1-6 gives practical instruction as to how the church can guard the unity of its fellowship. While the Holy Spirit creates unity in the church, believers have the responsibility to guard it and strengthen it through humility, gentleness, patience and forgiveness.

In God's sight, everyone who receives Jesus Christ as the Savior and Lord of life is a part of one body. There can be different denominations, different traditions and different churches who align themselves with different church/mission-support systems. However, this passage teaches that people who have embraced by faith the one Spirit, the one Lord Jesus Christ and the one God constitute the one family of God.

The question is: Are believers eager to find a visible expression of Christian unity? It is at this very point that the mission of the church is at stake. Mission and unity hang together. When believers do not demonstrate unity in the person and mission of Jesus Christ, their witness will not be heard, and deservedly so. How can Christians preach a message of reconciliation if they are not willing to be reconciled to each other in Christ?

Unity does not mean unity at any cost. Unity does not mean diluting the essentials of the Christian faith. Unity does not refer to a single church or denominational structure. Unity does not mean we must agree on everything. But unity does mean believers magnify the things they hold in common, that believers value each other and declare a common commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Question for discussion

Looking at these characteristics of the Acts 2 church, what can you do to help your church better exemplify Christ to your community?

Posted: 6/06/03

Veteran Texas pastor Leroy Fenton

to lead Baptist Standard development

Leroy Fenton, a veteran Texas Baptist pastor and denominational leader, has been named development director of the Baptist Standard.

Fenton has been pastor of First Baptist Church in Waxahachie since 1977. He will begin his duties with the Standard in mid-summer.

“Leroy Fenton is the perfect person to guide the Standard's fund-raising efforts,” said the paper's editor, Marv Knox. “Both the board of directors and staff are thrilled that he will join us in this capacity, which is vitally important for the Standard's future.”

Fenton possesses several qualities that suit him well for his new task, Knox said.

“No one understands or believes in the Standard's mission better than Leroy,” he said. “He fully recognizes Texas Baptists need to know about the events, developments and people who are shaping the Kingdom of God in the Lone Star State. He realizes this is important for the spiritual health of the people, the vitality of the churches, the well-being of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the cause of Christ.”

In addition, Fenton's integrity, wisdom and character qualify him to call upon Texas Baptists on behalf of their newspaper, Knox added. “No leader in Texas Baptist life has earned more respect than Leroy Fenton,” he said. “All across the state, he is known as an upright, faithful and insightful Christian statesman.”

Although the Standard is affiliated with the BGCT, it is the only state Baptist paper that does not receive a subsidy from the Cooperative Program budget. The Standard began a development program two years ago to raise operating funds as well as endowment that will secure its financial viability and underwrite new ministries.

Prior to taking the Waxahachie pastorate, Fenton was pastor of Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Adamsville Baptist Church in Lampasas County and Concord Baptist Church in Yazoo County, Miss., and associate pastor of South Avenue Baptist Church in Pasadena.

Fenton has been chairman of the BGCT's Executive Board, Effectiveness/Efficiency Funding Committee, Theological Education Committee and the subcommittee that launched the Lay Theological Education program, as well as chairman of the Baptist Standard's board of directors. He was vice chairman of the BGCT's Effectiveness/Efficiency Committee. He currently is a member of the BGCT Administrative Committee.

He also has served as moderator of Ellis Baptist Association, vice moderator of Tarrant Baptist Association and on various committees in both associations and the BGCT. He has been active in community affairs in both Waxahachie and Fort Worth.

He has traveled globally and participated in missions/ministry/evangelistic trips to Brazil, Switzerland, France, Italy, Russia, Estonia, China and Mexico.

Fenton is a graduate of Mississippi College and earned bachelor's and doctor's degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has taught adjunctively at Southwestern Seminary.

He and his wife, Jan, are the parents of three adult children.