Posted: 7/08/05

2nd Opinion:
'Everyone' needs evidence of faith

By Walter Norris

Recognition of secular social service workers–caseworkers, counselors, social workers, etc.–has been almost nonexistent within faith groups. I see people submit stories about faith-based groups doing different types of ministry in the social service area as if no one has been doing this kind of work or ministry. Maybe they have forgotten that good Christians in social service jobs have been doing this ministry for years, and very little recognition is given to them.

There are many good Christian caseworkers, counselors, nurses and doctors who have been working with those who struggle in life near the bottom. No one is coming to them wanting to thank them for doing the Lord's work, even though they all feel called by God to do what they are doing each day. Many of these people live out the incarnation of Jesus Christ day after day, not asking anything in return.

When I first went to work in social service jobs, I was amazed at the number of Christians who were working in this field. I always had heard that most of these people were turning people away from God, but I see these caseworkers, social workers and therapists living out servanthood realities as much as anyone.

I think of the many Child Protective Services caseworkers who are Christians and who work tirelessly trying to help abused and neglected children. They are overworked and underpaid and have to put up with an enormous amount of pressure from the state.

What about the many social workers who have been dealing with poverty for years? The Bible is straightforward about providing for those who are poor, yet we have not been supportive of those who try to make a difference in this arena.

I wonder how many of our churches have had appreciation services for social service workers. These churches have all kinds of special days honoring fire fighters, police officers and popular Christian entertainers, which is fine. However, professionals who deal with the homeless, the poor, the sick and the prisoners need a day of recognition as well.

Most of the people I work with professionally in mental health are faith-oriented. This is why we do what we do. We love our neighbors as ourselves be-cause that is what God has called all of us to do.

God called all Christians to love the poor, the sick, the blind and the prisoners. Even though these people may not be so loveable, that is what the power of the Resurrection empowers us to do–things that we cannot do in our own power.

It is easy to love the person sitting next to us in church who is similar to us, but it is a miracle to love those who seem unlovable. The world is watching what we do and not what we say. The world is looking to see if we measure up to the uncommon characteristics set forth in the Sermon on the Mount.

Actually, I am not for sure what “faith-based” is to signify. For some reason, we seem to think that these faith-based groups are going to change people overnight. However, evidence collected by George Barna and Ron Sider seems to declare that the lives of evangelicals are no different from the rest of our population. We seem to have the same problems at the same percentage as the rest of our population. So, how can we dictate that our methods are going to work better?

Our main focus should be about building relationships with people who struggle, and it can take time to build these relationships. It takes people who will love others unconditionally, just as Jesus Christ did. It takes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control to make a difference. Actually, this is the evidence of our faith, and it needs to be directed toward everyone.

Walter Norris is a caseworker and member of First Baptist Church in Plano.

Posted: 7/08/05

Court offers split decision on
Ten Commandments displays

By Robert Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (ABP)–The U.S. Supreme Court offered split decisions on an issue that often splits Americans–display of the Ten Commandments on government property–ruling one such display on the Texas Capitol grounds was appropriate while two displays in Kentucky courthouses were not.

The court, divided 5-4 on the issue, said whether a governmental display of the Ten Commandments is constitutional depends largely on the purpose of the display.

In the Texas case, Van Orden vs. Perry, the justices ruled 5-4 that the display was constitutional. Thomas Van Orden, a homeless man and former attorney, had sued the state of Texas to have the monument removed from its spot between Texas' Capitol and Supreme Court building. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the display, noting it had secular purposes in teaching about the history of the state's legal system and in honoring the fraternal organization that donated it to the state in 1961.

A majority of the U.S. Supreme Court–Chief Justice William Rehnquist and associate justices Stephen Breyer, Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas–agreed, saying the display does not violate the First Amendment.

Viewed along with other monuments on the Texas Capitol grounds, they said, the monument can be seen as primarily an acknowledgement of the role that religion and morality played in the history of Texas.

Previous Supreme Court decisions require that governmental references to religion have some secular purpose, such as the teaching of history, behind them or be so minimal or generic in their religious content as to be insignificant.

Phil Strickland, director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Christian Life Commission, affirmed the principle of the “secular purpose” concept the court applied. But he disagreed with the way the justices interpreted the facts in the Texas case.

In all cases, a clear secular purpose statement would remove any suggestion of a government endorsement of the Ten Commandments, Strickland said. Public displays of religious language are not illegal by definition.

“We rightly recognize and celebrate the important role that religion has played in the life of our nation and state, but we must be vigilant to protect citizens from government-endorsed religious expression,” he said.

“The monument on the grounds of the capitol may seem harmless enough to the casual observer, but the principle it raises was and is a matter of life and death both for our Baptist forebears and for contemporary Baptists across the globe who live daily under the oppression of state-sponsored religion.”

In the second case, McCreary County, Ky., vs. ACLU, another 5-4 decision said the two courthouse displays were unconstitutional. Justice David Souter–joined by justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sandra Day O'Connor and John Paul Stevens–said the history of the displays revealed they violated the First Amendment.

Officials in Kentucky's McCreary and Pulaski counties initially placed only framed copies of the Protestant King James version of the commandments in their courthouses. Local residents sued the counties, with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, for violating the establishment clause. The displays were then modified to incorporate legal and historical documents other than the commandments.

In response, the county commissions passed resolutions instructing officials to “post the Ten Commandments as the precedent legal code upon which the civil and criminal codes of the Commonwealth of Kentucky are founded.” They then modified the display, adding several other documents–beside and smaller than the framed Decalogue–that purported “to demonstrate America's Christian heritage.”

They included an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence, a proclamation by late President Ronald Reagan declaring 1983 the “Year of the Bible,” and the Mayflower Compact.

A federal court also found the modified displays unconstitutional, and the counties–after getting new attorneys–again altered their displays to include several other documents of patriotic or historic legal nature, including lyrics to the “Star-Spangled Banner” and a picture.

The third version of the displays also included an explanatory text that said, “The Ten Commandments provide the moral background of the Declaration of Independence and the foundation of our legal tradition.”

In late 2003, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the displays were not erected with a sufficiently secular purpose and that they appeared to endorse religion, even after they were modified. The Supreme Court said the original purpose of the displays–before they were modified–made them unconstitutional.

John Hall of Texas Baptist Communications contributed to this report.

Posted: 7/08/05

Supreme Court vacancy
could spark ideological battle

By Robert Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (ABP)–Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who has played a crucial role in many of the Supreme Court's most controversial decisions over the past 24 years, announced her plans to retire from that body.

The surprise announcement means President Bush, who will nominate O'Connor's successor, will have the opportunity to shift the ideological balance of a closely divided court. A strongly conservative justice replacing the famously moderate O'Connor could shift the court's rulings to the right for decades to come.

But Bush will face a strong battle from those who oppose his views on a host of issues, such as the relationship between church and state, abortion rights, affirmative action and gay rights.

O'Connor's announcement came only five days after she delivered a stirring endorsement of religious freedom as the court handed down two decisions on governmental displays of the Ten Commandments. In an opinion concurring with the five-person majority that said Decalogue displays in two Kentucky courthouses violated the First Amendment, O'Connor drew a bright line against government endorsements of religious texts.

“Our Founders conceived of a republic receptive to voluntary religious expression, and provided for the possibility of judicial intervention when government action threatens or impedes such expression. Voluntary religious belief and expression may be as threatened when government takes the mantle of religion upon itself as when government directly interferes with private religious practices,” she wrote in McCreary County, Ky. vs. ACLU. “When the government associates one set of religious beliefs with the state and identifies non-adherents as outsiders, it encroaches upon the individual's decision about whether and how to worship.”

She continued: “It is true that many Americans find the Commandments in accord with their personal beliefs. But we do not count heads before enforcing the First Amendment.”

Posted: 7/08/05

Texas Baptist Forum

Regenerate church

There certainly are legends of Bap-tists on church rolls who have forgotten the church entirely, but we can't write off all missing Baptists as unregenerate (May 16).

The standard joke is that the CIA couldn't find these people. It's much easier than that. Go to the edge of just about any town, and you'll find your missing church members. Many are plugged in to a fast-growing typically nondenominational fellowship that is struggling to find room for everyone. There was enough attractive difference in the worship, Bible study and fellowship to move Baptists away from their roots.

Letters are welcomed. Send them to marvknox@baptiststandard.com; 250 words maximum.

"The opposite of faith is not doubt: It is certainty. It is madness. You can tell you have created God in your own image when it turns out that he or she hates all the same people you do." Anne Lamott Writer and lecturer (Salon.com) "Patriotism can feel pride or shame at the behavior of the nation, depending on how each citizen perceives that behavior. Pride and shame should be in dialogue, for no advance in our common life has come without free and energetic debate. Patriotism rejects any stifling of debate, quashing of dissent or imposition of norms." Tom Ehrich Columnist and author of the forthcoming book, Just Wondering, Jesus: 100 Questions People Want to Ask (RNS) "If you can't tell somebody what you stand for in the space of a napkin, then you don't clearly understand the message you are trying to communicate." Jeff Harris Pastor of Gracepoint Church in San Antonio, speaking at a Southern Baptist rally for "young leaders" (BP)

These churches are filled with Baptists. Thousands of them. Our Vacation Bible Schools and children/youth programs did a marvelous job of bringing them into the kingdom. Eventually our programs (and politics?) bored them, and they went looking.

Are they growing in the Lord? I certainly hope so. Do we have much to learn? Absolutely. A regenerate church would be a great place to start.

Steve Leftwich

Manchaca

Basic principles

Thank you for the very explicit, concise and yet highly informative presentation of Baptist beliefs (on the back page of the Standard each issue this year).

Although I have been a Baptist since the age of 13 and a deacon since my very early 30s, I do not recall seeing such a well-written collection of the beliefs which we hold dear as Baptists, and some most vital to our salvation.

It has been helpful to me to reaffirm those very basic principles which undergird my faith and the way Christ directs my life, though I seem to follow that direction very imperfectly.

Holt Irby

Garland

Treasured letter

In a letter dated July 26, 1923, former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President L.R. Scarborough wrote from Sweden to the seminary's business manager, C.M. King, concerning his feelings at the Baptist World Alliance meeting in Stockholm:

“We have come to the last day of the great Alliance. The attendance has run over 2,500. They have come from every land. The conference has been going off in a splendid way.

“Dr. (E.Y.) Mullins is elected president for the next five years, and the representatives from the South feel greatly honored in it. Dr. (George W.) Truett preached up to his highest mark a very great sermon, which deeply moved those who were able to understand English and evidently affected the others, as the spirit of the hour certainly went into all hearts.

“We are all constantly moved by the demonstration of the fruitage of the gospel as the messengers from every land show themselves in the conference and the speakers tell us of the triumphs of the truth and persecutions, difficulties and overwhelming odds. Around 11 million Baptists are represented here. The Swedish Baptists are a great people.

“There has not been so far any unsound utterance, as far as I have been able to hear, in the conference. There are a few radicals here, but the expressions have all been, as far as I have been able to understand, orthodox.

“I think we are making real progress towards the unification of Baptists on New Testament lines and the inspiration of our people to see the vision of opportunity and to feel the weight of responsibility for carrying the gospel to all peoples of the earth. …”

Bob King

Grand Prairie

Unwanted advice

The Southern Baptist Conven-tion resolution on religious freedom declares that messengers “will vote only for candidates and policies at all levels of government that will protect our religious freedoms and advocate traditional Judeo-Christian values.”

It appears the SBC lost the forced home-school agenda, and Disney thought they were “Goofy.” Now, they're going after the government itself.

They become more laughable with each year. They have demonstrated such an embracement and protection of my religious freedoms, and their total inclusiveness of all Baptists has evidenced such wonderful traditional values!

I do hope everyone uses total discretion in choosing government leaders and policy-makers. However, I don't believe we need the SBC to tell us how to vote.

Sandra Womack

Houston

Posted: 7/08/05

Bombing in England will
not deter Baptist World Congress

By Greg Warner & John Hall

Associated Baptist Press

DIDCOT, England (ABP)–Worldwide Baptists will continue with plans to meet July 27-31 in England, despite horror caused by deadly bombings in London July 7.

British Baptists, hosting the Baptist World Congress in Birmingham, voiced their desire “to stand alongside all those who are the victims of such brutality.”

But the British Baptists and leaders of the Baptist World Alliance confirmed plans for the meeting of Baptists worldwide will go on.

“When we gather in Birmingham as a family of world Baptists, it will give us an opportunity to pray together for our broken world and to show solidarity with all who suffer,” said David Coffey, general secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain.

BWA General Secretary Denton Lotz said meeting organizers have been working closely with British law enforcement officials to make sure the area is secure.

Explosions on three subway trains and one bus in London killed at least 37 people and injured as many as 700 others during their morning commute. The bombings occurred during a half-hour span at rush hour. The “Secret Organization group of al Qaeda Organization in Europe” claimed responsibility on their website.

Between 10,000 and 15,000 Baptists from around the world are expected in Birmingham–105 miles northwest of London–for the Baptist World Congress, marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Baptist World Alliance, a fellowship of 210 Baptist unions.

“The events that took place in London today fill us with horror, and our prayers go out to the bereaved and the injured, together with all those who are seeking to offer help and comfort, including the emergency services, security forces and chaplains,” Coffee said.

“In a world of violence, where there is too little respect for life, we want to stand alongside all those who are the victims of such brutality, sharing their pain and anger, and embracing them with compassion.

“This is a time when we are called to answer the evil of violence with an unswerving commitment to the ways that make for peace and justice,” he continued. “We join our Christian hope with all who seek the common good at this critical time.”

Many Baptists from the United States are expected to attend the meeting, which is held every five years. Leaders from the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Baptist General Association of Virginia, both of which are in the process of becoming BWA members, said they are not modifying plans at this point and have not heard of any participants canceling.

Several Baptist student groups traveling in London at the time of the attack were confirmed to be unhurt, including groups from the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Robert Dilday of the Virginia Religious Herald contributed to this report.

Posted: 7/08/05

On the Move

Justin Bindel to First Church in Wichita Falls as youth ministry assistant.

Nathan Buchanan to First Church in Mineral Wells as minister of students and recreation from Woodward Park Church in Fresno, Calif., where he was pastor of students and missions.

Dudley Callison to Deer Creek Church in Crowley as pastor.

Zach Detweiler to First Church in Paducah as interim youth minister.

Loren Fast to First Church in Pharr as interim pastor.

Andres Felix to Primera Iglesia Sunwest in Alvarado as pastor.

Rusty Fuller to First Church in Mont Belvieu as youth pastor from Northside Church in Baytown.

Riley Hamilton has resigned as pastor of Highland Terrace Church in Greenville.

James Holt to Cisco Association as director of missions from First Church in Carbon, where he was pastor.

Carl Hudson to Meadowbrook Church in Rockdale as pastor, where he had been interim.

Ryan Jennings to Westwood Church in Tyler as pastor.

Jim Looby to First Church in Blanket as pastor.

Ray McLeaird to First Church in Bandera as music/ youth minister from Spring Branch Church in Spring Branch.

Neal Parnell has resigned as youth minister at First Church in Paducah.

Russ Ponder to First Church in Hamlin as associate pastor/student minister from First Church in Farwell.

Baylis Pope to Pleasant Hill Church in Carbon as pastor.

Kurt Powell to First Church in Gordon as pastor from First Church in Mexia.

Terry Simmons to First Church in Rising Star as pastor.

Bill Starr to First Church in Mineral Wells as minister to senior adults.

Marty Strayhorn has resigned as associate pastor/minister of education at Crestmont Church in Burleson.

Brad Taylor to Central Church in Hillsboro as youth minister.

Louis Vannatter to First Church in Bandera as pastor.

G.J. Walton to First Church in Paris as minister to students.

Posted: 7/08/05

Kristina and Dima	Vitaly	Oksana

Four Russian orphans need homes

DALLAS–Following a two-week visit last month in Dallas, 14 Russian orphans participating in Buckner's “Angels from Abroad” host program have returned to St. Petersburg. While most have been matched with Texas families interested in adoption, Buckner International Adoption still seeks families for four remaining children identified as adoptable by Russian authorities.

Mary Ann Hamby, community relations coordinator for Buckner Inter-national Adop-tion, emphasized the emotional need for a quick match for the children. “It's a real disappointment for these children to go back to their orphanage without the hope of a potential match.”

Among children identified as adoptable were siblings Dima and Kristina, as well as individual children Oksana and Vitaly. Profiles of the children from caregivers in Russia include the following characteristics:

Dima (born in 1993) is an outgoing, helpful, organized and communicative boy. He is respectful of adults and protective of his younger sister. He likes to collect things and enjoys spending time with his friends.

Kristina (born in 1994) is a patient girl with a very joyful personality. She is communicative, hardworking and caring. She enjoys attention and being around other children. She had corrective eye surgery this summer and received a preliminary medical evaluation which revealed a vascular disorder in her knee. Though she walks with a slight limp, she enjoys participating in outdoor sports including soccer and swimming. Scottish Rite Hospital of Dallas agreed to provide physical therapy and additional medical services needed by Kristina to any Texas family interested in adopting her.

Oksana (born in 1992) is kind, loving, friendly and helpful. She is adventurous, athletic and enjoys music. She is initially cautious with new people, but is fun-loving and silly when she is comfortable. She is a bit mischievous at times, in a playful manner, and enjoys a lot of interaction with others.

Vitaly (born in 1992) is a quiet, inquisitive boy who likes computers. He is loving, sincere and likes to be hugged. He accepts comfort and guidance from his caregivers and likes to be around other kids.

While these children were identified as candidates for international adoption, there is no guarantee at this time a specific child will remain available to Buckner for adoption. Call (214) 381-1552 for more information.

Buckner International Adoption is offering an adoption workshop to families interested in becoming parents. The workshop will be held July 15 at 1:30 p.m. at the Buckner offices at 4830 Samuell Blvd. in Dallas. There is a $25 materials fee. The workshop program will cover the international adoption process from start to finish, including United States Immigration and Naturalization Service procedures, home study procedures, available children and financial costs. For more information or to reserve a space, call toll-free at (866) 236-7823 or visit www.bucknerinternationaladoption.org.

Dima and Kristina (above), Vitaly (left) and Oksana are candidates for international adoption though Buckner.

Posted: 7/08/05

Paul's pivotal role affirmed
by controversial theologian

By Greg Garrison

Religion News Service

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS)–John Dominic Crossan has a reputation as a liberal theologian for his role in the Jesus Seminar, a group of scholars who have voted on the authenticity of the sayings of Jesus and other portions of the Bible.

But Crossan sometimes sounds like a conservative when talk turns to the Apostle Paul.

“I do not agree that there's a discontinuity between Jesus and Paul, that Paul disagreed with Jesus or that Paul started Christianity,” said Crossan, professor emeritus of biblical studies at DePaul University and author of In Search of Paul: How Jesus' Apostle Opposed Rome's Empire with God's Kingdom.

Paul has been the subject of at least three major new scholarly books in the past year, all of which celebrate him as one of history's most important figures. After Jesus, Christianity and consequently the history of Western civilization were influenced more definitively by Paul than anyone who followed, the scholars seem to agree. Paul set the stage for the spread of faith and the conversion of the pagan Roman empire to Christianity within three centuries after the death of Jesus.

While Jesus is the main subject of the New Testament, Paul's monumental effort to build the foundations for the new world religion is a close second. Thirteen of the 27 books in the New Testament are attributed to Paul, and his story dominates the Acts of the Apostles, Crossan notes.

Paul directly defied Roman imperial theology that Caesar was a god, he said.

“Every coin said Caesar was god, the son of god, the redeemer,” Crossan said. “It was all around people, like advertising is all around today. When Paul is using these terms to refer to Christ, he is committing high treason. He's directly saying Caesar is not the lord and savior; Jesus is.”

Before becoming its most crucial missionary, the former Saul of Tarsus was an enemy of the new religion.

“He was persecuting Christians before he was an apostle,” Crossan said. “He knew all about them, enough to be thoroughly mad at them. What made him so mad was their saying that pagans can now be full members of God.”

It took a dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damas-cus to turn him around.

“I have no doubt whatsoever he had a vision,” Crossan said. “He's not just saying it for dramatic effect. Otherwise, you have no explanation of the change.”

Although Luke refers to it as a blinding light, Crossan believes Paul clearly saw the risen Jesus.

“The vision was much more likely not of a blinding light, but of Christ himself,” he said. “My understanding would be that Paul as a Jew was probably an ecstatic, a mystic, an ascetic. He probably had visions long before he became a Christian.”

Paul then picked up what Jesus had been saying and began to take it to a non-Jewish audience.

“Jesus insisted that the kingdom of God had already begun,” Crossan said. “People were called to participate in it. Paul is saying the same thing. Jesus was preaching among Jews. Paul was out there among the pagans in the Roman empire.”

Crossan, an expert in Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Aramaic, insists that Paul wrote only 7 of the 13 letters attributed to him.

Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians and Philemon are indisputably Paul, he said. Many scholars assert 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus were probably written by one of Paul's followers and attributed to him, Crossan said. Ephesians, Colossians and 2 Thessalonians may also be by someone other than Paul, he said. Some scholars make that judgment based on changes in tone, language and theological emphasis.

“He doesn't use key terms he's used before,” Crossan said.

By disputing Paul's authorship, the scholars sidestep controversial views on the role of women in the church traditionally attributed to Paul. They note he emphasizes gender equality in other passages, including 1 Corinthians 7.

Conservative scholars, like Beeson Divinity School Dean Timothy George of Samford University, questions those assumptions.

“I wouldn't say it's a consensus,” George said. “Among those who question the Pauline authorship, it's a majority. Where the Bible attributes authorship, those who accept the full trustworthiness of the Bible accept that on face value when there's no overwhelming evidence otherwise. When you say it's a different style, tone or mood, we don't always write in the same pitch or tone, so why would the Apostle Paul over a lifetime?”

But there's no question about the importance of Paul's far-flung missionary journeys that began in his 40s and letters written in his 50s, the earliest written testimonies to Jesus.

New scholarly trends give Paul credit for maintaining the theological consistency of Jesus' message, while making it appealing to a new audience and giving it impetus to the reach the world.

“If you ask me what Jesus would have said to Paul,” Crossan said, “I think he would have said, 'Thank you.'”

Posted: 7/08/05

Boxing ministry packs a
punch in reaching young men

By George Henson

Staff Writer

HALE CENTER–Boxing might seem an odd means of demonstrating the love of Christ. But Jericho Fellowship–a Texas Baptist church in Plainview–is finding that for some youngsters, it packs just the right punch.

Louis Melendrez, who heads up the boxing ministry in nearby Hale Center, not only is a licensed minister, but also an accredited boxing coach. He has his own credentials in the ring as a national Golden Gloves champion in 1981 at age 17.

Melendrez acknowledges that while his boxing was something others might emulate, his life at that point was not. He came to know Christ at age 28.

“I got tired of living the way I was living,” he said. “If you're 28 and still doing the same things to mess up your life you've always been doing, you need a change. I realized the thing I needed to do was give my life to Jesus Christ.”

Now, he is trying to communicate those same truths to a group of young people. They come for two hours of training five times a week, four times a week during the summer.

Wednesday nights, training starts earlier so there will be time for a commute to Jericho Fellowship's Wednesday night youth service. One Wednesday night each month, Melendrez and his wife, Renee, lead the Bible study at the training facility in Hale Center.

One of the things boxing offers is discipline, he maintained.

“Discipline is something not a lot of kids have. When they come here, they don't know how to speak to adults, how to say, 'Yes, sir' and 'No, sir,' but we teach them that,” he said. “Sometimes that's hard for them to learn, but they do. And besides the boxing and the discipline, we also get to work on the spiritual parts of their lives.”

For many, it is a steppingstone toward attending church.

“Most of these boys either haven't gone to church, or they stopped going because of the way someone treated them,” Melendrez said. “This is a neutral place for them to meet.”

Fourteen people have made professions of faith since the ministry began in March, the couple said.

They acknowledge that some think the violence of boxing makes it ill-suited for ministry, but they disagree.

“Boxing is a violent sport, but if it wasn't for this ministry, these boys would probably be out on the street getting in some kind of trouble,” Mrs. Melendrez said. “This is a place where they can come to relax, get away from the problems they might be having at home, and a place where they know they can bring their problems and we will pray for them.

“Also, the violent part is in the ring. The rest is discipline. The violence also is very controlled–there are rules, a referee and a time when the action stops, just like football.”

More importantly, the sport offers a way to reach youth.

“This is a group of people that the church might not otherwise reach. If this wasn't here for them, I don't know what would happen to these young men. Would someone knock on their doors–probably not,” Mrs. Melendrez said. “We really are going outside the four walls of the church.”

Pastor Joe Guerrero of Jericho Fellowship agrees.

“This gives us an opportunity to touch a lot of kids we wouldn't otherwise reach. We probably wouldn't get an opportunity to expose them to the gospel, or if we did they might throw it back in our faces. This way we have an avenue to establish trust so that they can grow in their knowledge of Christ until they are ready to accept him as their Savior.”

Guerrero, ranked ninth in the nation in 1984, said he hoped to make the Olympic team. He often uses the discipline, commitment and pride of boxing as illustrations in his sermons. He believes that may have prepared his congregation to see the benefits of the sport that others might not see as readily.

Felipe Guerrero, 26, no relation to the pastor, is the oldest boxer in the club.

Boxing and the Melendrezes entered his life a few months ago when he needed it most, he said. He had gone through a divorce and was in the midst of a custody battle for his son when he began boxing.

“I was feeling lost, but they have kept me on the right path and away from different temptations,” Guerrero said. “You can't have those things in your life and be a good boxer.”

Guerrero made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ through ministry.

“It was a lifeline that was tossed out to me, and I caught it,” he said. Guerrero said he now is determined to teach his infant son the right way to live.

Mark Espinosa, 21, said the boxing club also gave him direction. “It's straightened me out,” he said. “Boxing is something I've always wanted to do, and when Coach came around it was perfect. He's a real good guy and really motivating to do the right things.'”

When Pastor Guerrero looks at these young men, he sees himself and Melendrez as they were in their youth.

“If Louis and I had had the word shared with us at a younger age, our attitudes might have been different,” he said. “You have to see beyond the punches to the ministry.”

Posted: 7/08/05

Paris church uses golf to teach Bible lessons

By George Henson

Staff Writer

PARIS–Churches either can lament the draw of sports and recreation on the people inside and outside their churches, or they can creatively use it as a ministry, Tony Van Der Wilt of First Baptist Church in Paris said.

“This is where many people are,” said Van Der Wilt, director of the family life center and church activities. “We gripe about kids getting too involved and too competitive in sports and not having time for church, but if we're not addressing it, we're just letting these people go.”

One way the church addresses the lure of sports for children is through its Golf Lessons for Life program. Each Thursday morning of the summer, more than 20 children meet to hear Van Der Wilt use golf illustrations to help explain what that week's Bible passage means. A golf lesson tied to that Scripture lesson follows.

For example, Van Der Wilt used the sand trap as his illustration when he

spoke about the shifting sands in Matthew 7.

Youngsters may come to learn how to better pitch the ball on the green but also learn more eternal lessons.

“Anything built on sand fails,” Van Der Wilt said. “You need to build your life on something solid.”

He told the children that while all golfers try to avoid sand traps, they have their purpose. “It makes you a better golfer even though it is not some place you want to be,” he said.

The important thing is to know what to do once you get there, Van Der Wilt told the children.

“Actually, you have a club made specifically to help you get out of the sand–your sand wedge, pitching wedge or whatever–that's what you use to get out of the sand.

“When you have problems in life, whether its school, problems with friends or your parents or whatever, that's like being in a sand trap. It's not where you want to be and sometimes you find it difficult to get out of there,” Van Der Wilt said.

“In life, you need something that can get you out of those problems and circumstances and that's Jesus Christ. But like sand traps make you a better golfer, these circumstances can make you a better person,” he said.

“It's not that you'll never have problems, like you'll never hit into the sand traps, but it's important to know the right person, the right tool, to help you out when that's where you are at.”

And those types of life lessons are just what Van Der Wilt wants to communicate to these sports-minded children–that the Bible and Jesus hold the answers to their problems.

Of the 27 children enrolled in Golf Lessons for Life, one is a member of First Baptist Church. Several others attend other churches, but some do not attend church anywhere.

Also, it takes several instructors each class session, and they minister to the coaches as well, Van Der Wilt said.

In addition to the golf program, First Baptist Church also offers basketball, cheerleading and football under the Upward sports program, and a three-day golf tour and fishing trips for adults.

Posted: 7/08/05

Friendswood friends care for golfer's wife

By George Henson

Staff Writer

FRIENDSWOOD–Ministry has many different appearances, but Everett Williams knows sometimes it comes in the shape of friends allowing you the opportunity to play golf.

First Baptist Church in Friendswood was putting together its teams for an area church golf league that included 14 churches. Steve Brown knew Williams, a friend for many years, would enjoy playing, but also knew that he spent his evenings caring for his wife, Elma.

“I told him, 'I'd like to play with you, but I can't get away,'” the 87-year-old Williams recalled.

Williams has a nurse during the mornings, but evenings he has to stay with his wife, who no longer is able to care for herself.

Brown's wife, Marian, agreed to be the caretaker while Williams played.

“Everett loves to play golf,” Mrs. Brown said. “I initially was going to play, but when I heard he wanted to play, I was glad to help. We've known them since we came to this church 36 years ago, and they are just wonderful people,” she said.

“Everett was really excited he was going to get to play; it meant a lot to him,” her husband said.

Mrs. Brown said she was doing what friends and church members should do for one another.

“Our church has different ministry teams who do a lot of good things, but we're each called to minister in any way we can, and this was something I wanted to do to help Everett out.”

Williams helped his team to a second place finish.

Posted: 7/08/05

Hope Camp leaders model
Christian love for at-risk students

By Jocelyn Delgado

Communications Intern

LUEDERS–Twenty-two years ago, Sharla Milliorn became a volunteer counselor to help jump-start Hope Camp, a weekend designed for at-risk middle-school-aged students to learn about Christian life. Now, she's the director.

“I've always kind of had a heart for the underdog,” Milliorn said. “I went that one time, and I was hooked.”

Camp leaders seek to show students a lifestyle based on self-sacrificing Christian love, said Truman Turk, director of missions for Abilene Baptist Association. Counselors want to show them there are people who genuinely care about them and don't want to hurt them, he said.

Campers spend three days in July at Big Country Baptist Assembly in Lueders, attending Bible study, listening to speakers and having fun.

Hope Camp runs on a tight schedule, with no allowance for free time. The children are kept extremely active, because when they have free time, they can get into trouble, Turk said.

Hope Camp works with school counselors to determine at-risk students. School guidance counselors tell parents about the camp. If parents show interest, the counselors send contact information to Hope Camp. The camp, fully funded by Abilene-area Baptist churches, is free to students.

School counselors approach children with special needs, who live in a tough situation or who already may have gotten in trouble with authorities, Turk said.

“We try to break the cycle of dysfunction,” Milliorn added.

As a result, students aren't always happy campers. Seventy-five percent don't want to be here, but by end, they're crying because they don't want to leave, Milliorn said.

Unlike strict correctional programs, the camp offers a lighter tone. When they arrive, the boys go to a pizza parlor and play arcade games until they're played out, Milliorn said. The girls receive cosmetic makeovers, and a local photographer takes pictures.

“It's amazing, just that small thing, how much it changes their whole demeanor,” Milliorn said.

Counselors work closely with students to connect with them on a personal level.

Pastor Richard Darden of Shining Star Fellowship Church works as a counselor and leads Bible studies. The camp gives him a chance to form one-to-one relationships with the youth, he said.

Most camps require a ratio of 1-to-10 counselors to campers, Turk said. Ideally, this camp needs a ratio of 1-to-2.

Although the camp provides games and fun time, counselors strive to keep the focus on God.

“We have a goal for every one of them; we're going to make sure they're introduced to Jesus Christ,” Turk said.