• Dallas Baptist University will hold a preview day Feb. 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Prospective students will eat breakfast with current students, tour the campus and hear from several faculty members. DBU will waive the application fee for students who apply that day. Parents will participate in information seminars on financial aid, campus life, parent services and the application process. For more information, call (214) 333-5360.

• Bell Association and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor church relations department are sponsoring a seminar related to the 2011 Winter Bible Study, “A Study in Galatians: Truth and Grace” Feb. 15. The seminar will be repeated Feb. 19 so bivocational pastors may attend. UMHB Christian studies professor Tony Martin will offer a study of Galatians from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. John Witte, retired pastor and professor at UMHB, will explain how to preach and teach Galatians from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Both sessions will be in the Bell Association office on the UMHB campus. Lunch will be served on Tuesday and breakfast on Saturday for $5 per meal. Books will be available for purchase. Make reservations at bba9129@ sbcglobal.net or (254) 939-0761.

• The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor will feature Joshilyn Jackson during the annual Writers’ Festival set for Feb. 17-19 in the Brindley Auditorium of the York Science Center. The literary festival is open to the public. Registration and admission fees are based on events attended. Jackson will present the George Nixon Memorial Lecture Feb. 17 in Brindley Auditorium at 7 p.m. Jackson is a novelist who has been on the New York Times Best Seller list. To register, request information or apply for the master classes, contact Jessica Hooten by e-mail at jhooten@umhb.edu or call (254) 295-4692.

• Carol Nave, Houston Baptist University organ performance alumna and Indiana University doctoral candidate, will be the featured organist at a March 4 organ recital at HBU. The 30-minute recital will begin at noon.

• Alto Frio Encampment’s spring senior adult camp will be held April 18-21. James Semple will be the preacher, D.L. Lowrie the Bible study leader, and Dale Durham and Ginger McKay will lead the music. For information on cost and lodging options, call (830) 232-5271.

• Jesse Burleson has been named head football coach at Hardin-Simmons University. He has been offensive line coach at HSU the last five seasons and assistant head coach since 2008.

The San Marcos Baptist Academy barn, an 80-year-old campus landmark, will be restored through a grant from the Texas Pioneer Foundation. The barn houses animals used in the school’s 4-H program and the school’s equestrian program. Fred Markham (right), president of the Texas Pioneer Foundation, joined 4-H/Equestrian Director Tricia Raimondi and SMBA students.

• The Howard Payne University Model United Nations team participated in the National Model U.N. Europe 2010 Conference in Olomouc, Czech Republic. The 12 HPU students represented Austria and The Netherlands during the simulation of the United Nations. Students participating in the conference included Josh Rice, Joshua Muse, Shawn Hodge, Kathryn Burns, Kathryn Barrackman, Scott Perkins, Matt Peisker, Liz Rodgers, Callie Ellis, Zachariah Lundy, Brittany Luns-ford and Nick Rayburn. Sponsors of trip included HPU faculty members Justin Murphy, dean of the School of Humanities, professor of history and director of the Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom; Matthew McNiece, chair of the department of history and associate professor of political science; and Jennifer McNiece, assistant professor of political science.

Anniversaries

• Russell Polson Jr., fifth, as pastor of Rayburn Park-way Church in Bronson, Jan. 1.

• C.P. Floyd, 10th, as pastor of East Cisco Church in Cisco, Jan. 2.

• Second Church in La Grange, 25th, Jan. 16. Ellis McKinzie is pastor.

• Keith Brister, 15th, as pastor of First Church in Duncanville, Feb. 1.

• Stan Ortner, 30th, as pastor of First Church in Bremond.

Deaths

• Billy Chambers, 77, Oct. 27 in Fort Worth. He was a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was pastor of Oran Church in Graford and First Church in Ranger, as well as churches in California, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Louise; sons, Joseph and Mark; daughter, Carol Black; and six grandchildren.

• Troy Martin, 83, Jan. 12 in Gholson. He retired from the Owen-Illinois Glass Plant after 42 years. He was a charter member and past chief of the Gholson Volunteer Fire Department. He was a deacon and longtime member of First Church in Gholson. His particular passion was Royal Ambassadors. He began the program at Gholson and attended every local RA meet and state congress from 1975 until 1999. He also was instrumental in building the church’s parsonage and sanctuary. He served as Training Union and Sunday school director. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Gwen; and brother, Travis. He is survived by his sons, Jeffrey and Russell; sister, Dardanilla Gummelt; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

• Don Zackary, 66, Jan. 15 in Dallas. He worked at Dallas Baptist University as director of financial aid since 2002. He was a member of First Church in Keller. He was preceded in death by his son, Jeffrey. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Lynda; daughter, Christy Storska; and three grandchildren.

• Roy Lee Williams Jr., 90, Jan. 17 in Abilene. A Hardin-Simmons University graduate, during World War II, he was a chaplain’s assistant. After the war’s end, he enrolled at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and served as minister of education, music and youth at Diamond Hill Church in Fort Worth. He was minister of education and music at First Church in Arlington from 1949 to 1953 before becoming minister of education at First Church in Wichita Falls and then First Church in Houston, where he served until 1964. From 1964 until 1988, he was director of church services for Union Association, and served the association as interim executive director in 1989. In retirement, he preached and ministered in several Houston-area churches and was a volunteer chaplain at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. In 1998, he moved back to Abilene, where he was a member of First Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mary Lou; sons, Marvin and Hollis; brother, Stanley; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

• Jeff Matthies, 38, Jan. 22 in Fredericksburg. He was featured in a 2006 Baptist Standard story concerning his need for a double lung transplant due to cystic fibrosis. His father, Alan, is a chaplain at Hill Country Memorial Hospital in Fred-ericksburg and formerly was a chaplain at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. He is survived by his wife, Kari; son, Andrew; parents, Alan and Pam; grandfather, Herschell Matthies; and brother, Jimmy.

• Bob Jenkins, 83, Jan. 23 in Dallas. A graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he was pastor of Whitehall Church in Gatesville, Arcadia Park Church in Dallas, First Church in Cooper, Temple Church in Amarillo, First Church in Levelland and Hampton Place Church in Dallas. He was director of missions for Smith Association from 1982 to 1995. While serving in that capacity, he led volunteers on mission trips to Brazil, Mexico, Kenya, Tanzania, Australia, Estonia, Czech Republic and Georgia Republic. He also was active in prison ministry. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Florine; sons Byron and Glenn; daughters, Vivian Powell and Robin Mojica; and six grandchildren.

• Earl Johnston, 95, Jan. 24 in San Antonio. He was pastor of Alamo Heights Church in San Antonio, Palm Heights Church in San Antonio and First Church in Los Fresnos. He also was associate pastor at Baptist Temple in San Antonio and minister of pastoral care of First Church in San Antonio. His wife, Mauriece, was Texas Woman’s Missionary Union President from 1972 to 1976 and from 1980 to 1984. He is survived by his wife of 72 years; son, James; two granddaughters; and four great-grandsons.

Events

• First Church in Blanco held a reception marking the 100th birthday of H.B. Ramsour, second president of what now is Baptist University of the Americas, Jan. 11. Ramsour assumed leadership of the school in 1960 and led the conversion of ownership to the Baptist General Convention of Texas from San Antonio Assoc-iation in 1962. He also helped the school acquire additional land and erect several buildings before his retirement in 1976.

Licensed

• Clayton Rogers to the ministry at Union Valley Church in Nixon.

Ordained

• Dave Stone to the ministry at Central Church in Luling.

• Rickey Loyd, Scott Sarine and Chip Vaughn as deacons at First Church in Sulphur Springs.

• Gary Knight as a deacon at First Church in Belton.

FORT WORTH—If Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary wants to buy a disputed piece of property from Tarrant Baptist Association for fair market value, the association may consider selling, according to a motion the association’s executive board unanimously approved Jan. 24. Otherwise, the matter will need to be submitted to a three-member arbitration panel.

Southwestern Seminary notified Tarrant Baptist Association before Christmas it had six months to vacate its offices on the edge of the seminary campus. The seminary asserted the association was in violation of its affiliation agreement—in part because of perceived toleration of homosexuality by some member church or churches.

But while Tarrant Association Moderator Al Meredith contends the seminary lacks authority to take unilateral action, he expressed hope the situation can be resolved—either by the seminary purchasing the property from the association or by submitting the dispute to an arbitration panel.

Meredith, pastor of Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, repeatedly underscored his desire that the association’s longtime fraternal relationship with the seminary be maintained.

Southwestern Seminary officials did not respond to e-mail or phone calls requesting a response for this article.

The association office received a registered letter from Southwestern Seminary Dec. 10. The letter stated the association was in violation of its 1997 affiliation agreement, and it directed the association to vacate its property on James Avenue within six months. It also stated title on the property should revert back to the seminary.

In 1982, the seminary provided Tarrant Baptist Association land and the funds to build its office building, granting a 99-year lease on the property, Meredith explained. At that time, the seminary and association entered into an affiliation agreement stipulating the property would not be used for commercial activity, and the association and seminary would commit to remaining in theological harmony, he said.

In 1997, the property agreement was renegotiated, and Tarrant Baptist Association received the deed to the property, he said. “The affiliation agreement remained intact,” Meredith added.

According to the agreement, if any disagreement should arise between the association and the seminary, the matter should be resolved a three-member arbitration panel with one seminary representative, one associational representative and one party mutually agreed upon by both parties, he noted.

On Dec. 20, three associational representatives—Moderator-elect Meredith, Moderator Bobby Bridges and Leadership Development Director Becky Biser—met with Seminary President Paige Patterson and some of his staff to discuss the situation.

“We had a lengthy and amicable discussion,” Meredith said in an interview.

He noted during the discussion, Patterson commented that had learned information he did not have when the original Dec. 10 letter was delivered. He agreed to consider the matter further and discuss it with the seminary’s attorneys.

However, a letter from Southwestern Seminary he received Jan. 18 indicated the seminary planned to pursue its claim on the property.

Tarrant Baptist Association’s executive board subsequently met a few days later and unanimously approved a motion authorizing the board’s executive committee to consider selling if the seminary wants to purchase the property from the association for fair market value and if the committee considers a sale in the association’s best interests. If not, the issue should be submitted to a three-person arbitration panel.

In a Dec. 21 letter to pastors in the association, Meredith noted specific areas in which the seminary claimed the association was not in compliance with its affiliation agreement:

• Toleration of homosexuality. While the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message takes a clear position against homosexual behavior, the seminary contends the association has a church or churches that do not comply with the statement of faith on that matter. “They feel this places them in a contradictory situation,” Meredith’s letter stated.

The Southern Baptist Convention cuts its historic ties with Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth in 2009 over its perceived acceptance of homosexual members. Last year, Broadway also withdrew its affiliation from the Baptist General Convention of Texas rather than face a challenge

• Placement. The seminary asserted it had asked for—and had not received—assistance from the association office in helping students and faculty gain access to empty pulpits in the association.

Meredith also noted the seminary expressed the need for additional office space or a welcome center that could be housed in the offices Tarrant Association occupies.

“We hold the deed. We believe the property to be ours,” Meredith said in an interview. “If the seminary needs the building, … we would be willing to talk about selling it to them for a fair market value.”

Meredith acknowledged he was disappointed by the seminary’s response. Even so, he insisted he and other associational leaders would continue praying for a win/win situation.

“If Tarrant Baptist Association wins and Southwestern Seminary loses, the kingdom of God loses. If Southwestern wins and the association loses, the kingdom loses. The matters of the kingdom are greater than either the seminary or the association. My prayer is that we do nothing to bring reproach on the name of Christ,” he said.

“Tarrant Baptist Association has enjoyed a longstanding fraternal relationship with Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and we want that to continue.”

Editor’s note:
This article has been revised based on additional information.
The headline and first paragraph previously read:

–This article is a revision of an earlier story posted here .

Wayland research receives first patent. Wayland Baptist University’s School of Math and Sciences received final patent approval just before the end of 2010 for research in photo-catalytic water purification—the first patent for the university. The process to remove pollutants from water resulted from student summer research projects in the Wayland chemistry department, originally submitted for patent consideration in 2008. While the original researchers have moved on to advanced study and other positions, the research and future applications remain with Wayland.

Baylor Nursing School receives grant for scholarships. Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing has been selected for a grant from the Helene Fuld Health Trust that will provide scholarship funds for undergraduate nursing students. The grant—$600,000 over three years—will establish and maintain an endowed scholarship fund for current and future students enrolled in the program.

CLC chief honored. Capitol Inside named Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission Director Suzii Paynter Austin’s top lobbyist for causes. Paynter, who finished second in the rankings two years ago, leads the commission’s advocacy efforts in Austin. The commission has taken the lead for decades in fighting the expansion of gambling across the state. Despite the repeated efforts of throngs of pro-gambling lobbyists, the CLC and its coalition partners continue pointing to the economic and moral shortfall of expanding gambling across the state. Working with other groups, the CLC also is fighting to close a loophole that prevents payday lenders from charging exorbitantly high interest rates. The CLC also has pushed for efforts to care for children, especially hungry children across the state.

Scholarship endowed at UMHB. Members of the John Harold Shannon family dedicated an endowed scholarship in his memory at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.  Shannon was a member of First Baptist Church in Killeen, where he was a Bible study teacher, Sunday school superintendent and chairman of the deacons. His widow, Pat Shannon, is a 1953 UMHB graduate and trustee of the university.

Southeast Texas strategist named. The Baptist General Convention of Texas has enlisted Bruce Peterson to serve as congregational strategist in Southeast Texas. Peterson served as pastor of South Park Baptist Church in Alvin from 1991 to 2009. Prior to that, he served as associate pastor at First Baptist Church in Corpus Christi from 1983 to 1991. He served as interim pastor of First Baptist Church in Dickinson from Nov. 2009 to June 2010. Peterson has served in numerous roles for the Gulf Coast Baptist Association and ministered in a variety of ways through chaplaincy, including with the Alvin Police Department and following the 2005 Texas City BP explosion. 

Editor's Note: This story has been updated and revised here.

FORT WORTH—Tarrant Baptist Association’s executive board met Jan. 24 and unanimously approved a motion asking Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary either to purchase a disputed piece property from the association at fair market value or submit the matter to a three-person arbitration panel.

Southwestern Seminary notified Tarrant Baptist Association before Christmas it had six months to vacate its offices on the edge of the seminary campus. The seminary asserted the association was in violation of its affiliation agreement—in part because of perceived toleration of homosexuality by some member church or churches.

But while Tarrant Association Moderator Al Meredith contends the seminary lacks authority to take unilateral action, he expressed hope the situation can be resolved—either by the seminary purchasing the property from the association or by submitting the dispute to an arbitration panel.

Meredith, pastor of Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, repeatedly underscored his desire that the association’s longtime fraternal relationship with the seminary be maintained.

Southwestern Seminary officials did not respond to e-mail or phone calls requesting a response for this article.

The association office received a registered letter from Southwestern Seminary Dec. 10. The letter stated the association was in violation of its 1997 affiliation agreement, and it directed the association to vacate its property on James Avenue within six months. It also stated title on the property should revert back to the seminary.

In 1982, the seminary provided Tarrant Baptist Association land and the funds to build its office building, granting a 99-year lease on the property, Meredith explained. At that time, the seminary and association entered into an affiliation agreement stipulating the property would not be used for commercial activity, and the association and seminary would commit to remaining in theological harmony, he said.

In 1997, the property agreement was renegotiated, and Tarrant Baptist Association received the deed to the property, he said. “The affiliation agreement remained intact,” Meredith added.

According to the agreement, if any disagreement should arise between the association and the seminary, the matter should be resolved a three-member arbitration panel with one seminary representative, one associational representative and one party mutually agreed upon by both parties, he noted.

On Dec. 20, three associational representatives—Moderator-elect Meredith, Moderator Bobby Bridges and Leadership Development Director Becky Biser—met with Seminary President Paige Patterson and some of his staff to discuss the situation.

“We had a lengthy and amicable discussion,” Meredith said in an interview.

He noted during the discussion, Patterson commented that had learned information he did not have when the original Dec. 10 letter was delivered. He agreed to consider the matter further and discuss it with the seminary’s attorneys.

However, a letter from Southwestern Seminary he received Jan. 18 indicated the seminary planned to pursue its claim on the property.

Tarrant Baptist Association’s executive board subsequently met a few days later and unanimously approved a motion asking the seminary either to purchase the property from the association at fair market value or submit the matter to a three-person arbitration panel.

In a Dec. 21 letter to pastors in the association, Meredith noted specific areas in which the seminary claimed the association was not in compliance with its affiliation agreement:

• Toleration of homosexuality. While the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message takes a clear position against homosexual behavior, the seminary contends the association has a church or churches that do not comply with the statement of faith on that matter. “They feel this places them in a contradictory situation,” Meredith’s letter stated.

The Southern Baptist Convention cuts its historic ties with Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth in 2009 over its perceived acceptance of homosexual members. Last year, Broadway also withdrew its affiliation from the Baptist General Convention of Texas rather than face a challenge

• Placement. The seminary asserted it had asked for—and had not received—assistance from the association office in helping students and faculty gain access to empty pulpits in the association.

Meredith also noted the seminary expressed the need for additional office space or a welcome center that could be housed in the offices Tarrant Association occupies.

“We hold the deed. We believe the property to be ours,” Meredith said in an interview. “If the seminary needs the building, … we would be willing to talk about selling it to them for a fair market value.”

Meredith acknowledged he was disappointed by the seminary’s response. Even so, he insisted he and other associational leaders would continue praying for a win/win situation.

“If Tarrant Baptist Association wins and Southwestern Seminary loses, the kingdom of God loses. If Southwestern wins and the association loses, the kingdom loses. The matters of the kingdom are greater than either the seminary or the association. My prayer is that we do nothing to bring reproach on the name of Christ,” he said.

“Tarrant Baptist Association has enjoyed a longstanding fraternal relationship with Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and we want that to continue.”

DALLAS—About 20 Dallas-area pastors used the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to minister to an inner-city neighborhood.

Michelle Woody, a parent of a child in the Jack and Jill program which also provided volunteers, gives direction to Tammy Disch, Dallas Baptist Association accountant, and Wanda Hall, DBA executive assistant, as they prepare to hand out hats and gloves. They participated in a day of community service on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. (PHOTOS/Courtesy of Dallas Baptist Association)

“They came out to serve hot chili to neighbors in the community around Cornerstone Baptist Church,” said Jana Jackson, director of family and community services for Dallas Baptist Association.

Several volunteer groups worked with Cornerstone Baptist in the neighborhood near Fair Park, southeast of downtown Dallas.

Pastors from throughout the association played an important part in distributing more than 2,000 bowls of chili, as well as hats and gloves, Jackson reported.

“We wanted to give our pastors a chance to serve in something that relatively easy. They didn’t have to do a lot a preparation—just show up ready to work,” Jackson said.

The event also offered pastors the opportunity to serve without bearing the responsibility of leadership, she continued.

“A lot of times at their churches, they have to be in charge. But here, they could bring their families if they wanted and just relax and enjoy serving,” Jackson explained.

The event marked the second year for the pastors to serve the community near Cornerstone and to watch the Dallas parade commemorating King’s birthday.

Pastors helped distribute 2,000 bowls of chili during a Martin Luther King holiday mission emphasis in inner-city Dallas. (PHOTOS/Courtesy of Dallas Baptist Association)

Pastor Sammy Tabufor at Agape Baptist Christian Fellowship in Garland helped serve during a Martin Luther King Jr. day of service involving Dallas-area pastors. (PHOTOS/Courtesy of Dallas Baptist Association)

HOUSTON—When members of The Walk Church in Houston set up the baptistery for an outdoor service, they were excited by the prospect of celebrating what God had done in changing the lives of three people.

It turns out they were setting up to celebrate much more. Those three people were simply where God started.

Following the baptism of the three people who were scheduled to go through the ordinance, Pastor Jesse Shelton shared the gospel with the crowd who had gathered to see what was happening. A person came forward asking to be baptized as well. Then another. And another. And another.

Some came alone—others, in groups of two and three. But they kept coming. Each confessed Christ as Lord. And each was baptized in his name.  

“It just kept going and going and going,” Shelton said.

The procession of people seeking Christ simply continued, Shelton said. People wanted a relationship with God. In the end, so many people were baptized that the church ran out of the 40 certificates it brought to give to those who were baptized.

“People just started coming,” Shelton said. “And they wouldn’t stop coming. We were out there until 11 p.m.”

The outpouring of people dedicating themselves to following Christ is the result of God moving in one of Houston’s toughest neighborhoods, Shelton said. Known as “The Hole” because “when you go in you never leave,” the area leads the city in violent crime rate, high school drop-out rate and teen pregnancy rate.

Christians began trying to start The Walk Church about one year ago, going door-to-door sharing the gospel, Shelton said. It was tough work, as many people were not initially open to the gospel, but Shelton and other Christians continued trying to minister in the area.

Residents became used to their presence and began opening up to them. In the process, Shelton built relationships and shared the gospel.

A small core group started The Walk Church with the aid of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Texas Baptists facilitate church starts with the help of funding through the Cooperative Program and gifts through the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions.

Lives were changing, Shelton said. Drug dealers quit selling. They committed themselves to Christ.

When their neighbors saw the changes, they became interested in hearing the gospel. Those living testimonies carried the hope of Christ throughout the neighborhood.

“That’s the biggest sermon,” Shelton said. “That’s more powerful than any words we can share.”

When Shelton stood next to the baptistery and gave people an opportunity to be baptized, individuals were overjoyed to take advantage of the opportunity. So, they came forward—all 40-something of them.

“It’s really been beautiful,” Shelton said. “People are being changed through repentance.”

ATHENS—One year after Lake Athens Baptist Church lost its building to arson—and the same week two young men received life sentences for burning a string of East Texas churches—more than 30 Texas Baptist Men Retiree Builders started work rebuilding the church’s facility.

Bill Campbell, a member of Lake Athens Baptist Church and a volunteer with Texas Baptist Men Retiree builders for 20 years, operates a saw on the construction site at his home church. (PHOTO/Ken Camp)

Lake Athens Baptist Church, near Athens, was one of 10 churches in three counties burned during a five-week period in early 2010. Jason Robert Borque, 22, and Daniel George McAllister, 20, confessed to five fires in the Tyler area and were considered suspects in the remaining arsons—including the burning of Lake Athens Baptist Church.

“I’ll never forget that night,” Pastor John Green said. “There were eight fire departments working on it. One truck had a spotlight on the church, shining on the steeple. Sometimes, it was almost blocked out by the smoke, but it always came back into sight. And I knew our church would come back.”

While the memory of the fire remains, members of the church likewise never will forget the day one year later when a team of volunteers in 32 RVs rolled into the church’s parking lot to help rebuild the facility.

With a nailgun in hand, Marshall Rathbun, a volunteer from First Baptist Church in Center, works on the interior walls of Lake Athens Baptist Church. (PHOTO/Ken Camp)

“We had insurance, but thanks to these folks, we’re able to build a 16,000-square-foot building for the cost of a 10,500-square-foot building,” said R.B. Richardson, a charter member of Lake Athens Baptist Church.

With the foundation, steel frame, exterior walls and roof already in place, the TBM Retiree Builders focused on the building’s interior.

While the men worked on the construction project, their wives held a morning Bible study open to anyone in the community, and each afternoon, they worked on a craft project that will benefit children in remote mountain villages in Mexico.

“These volunteers are a breath of fresh air,” Green said. “Without their help, we would have had to go into debt to build that kind of facility. As it is, our new sanctuary will seat 100 more than before.”

Steve Jackson (standing) from Calvary Baptist Church in Midlothian and Charles Tompkins (kneeling) from First Baptist Church in Hallettsville work on framing out a room inside the new facility of Lake Athens Baptist Church. (PHOTO/Ken Camp)

Members of Lake Athens Baptist Church already knew firsthand about the TBM Retiree Builders’ capabilities. The group had worked on the church’s previous facility, and one of its members, Bill Campbell, has served with the builders about 20 years.

After the Retiree Builders complete two weeks in Athens, a volunteer building team from Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler will complete any necessary interior finishing work.

Texas Baptist Men launched the Retiree Builders program in mid-1979. In addition to the church builders, other TBM construction groups specialize in cabinet building or projects at Baptist encampments. One Spanish-speaking team works with Hispanic churches, and TBM plans to launch a crew specializing in construction for cowboy churches.

Volunteers travel at their own expense and are housed in their own recreational vehicles. Retiree Builders complete 10 to 12 projects a year.

Average age of the volunteers on the Athens project is about 73—the youngest is about 60, and the oldest is 90, said Ron Beard, state project coordinator for the Retiree Builders.

Bill Pigott, state director of TBM Retiree Builders, notes economic downturns have taken a toll on the missions action program. About 200 couples are considered active with the group, and another 100 serve on occasional projects—down considerably from a high of about 400 couples 20 years ago.

“There’s no question we’re getting hit by the economy and delayed retirement,” Pigott said. “It also seems like there’s a different mindset among some people who reach retirement age now. So many feel like they’ve already done their part.”

Charles Tompkins from First Baptist Church in Hallettsville works on framing out a room inside the new facility of Lake Athens Baptist Church. (PHOTO/Ken Camp)

If fuel costs continue to escalate, that could force some retirees on fixed incomes to limit their travel, as well, he added.

“Some of these folks spend everything they make from their Social Security check doing what we do,” Pigott said.

Even so, the group remains committed to its mission. After two weeks in Athens, some of the volunteers will begin work on a project at Mount Lebanon Retreat Center near Dallas, and others will travel to Camp Zephyr in South Texas.

Steve Jackson from Calvary Baptist Church in Midlothian drives nails on a TBM Retiree Builders project at Lake Athens Baptist Church. (PHOTO/Ken Camp)

“Our motive always is to share Christ with people. If all we have done is build, we’ve fallen short. We are called to be a witness,” Pigott said.

The witness of the volunteer builders—serving joyfully at personal sacrifice—left its mark on Lake Athens Baptist Church, as did the challenge of the last year, the church’s pastor noted.

“We are a stronger church because of it,” Green said. “Our people have responded in a very positive manner. And people in the community have taken notice of what’s going on here, asking us, ‘How is your church coming along?’

“I believe that up from the ashes, God is going to raise a mighty force of giving people, loving people to be his witnesses.”

Go here for more information on Texas Baptist Men Retiree Builders, or call Bill Pigott at (214) 707-4379.

FORT WORTH—Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary notified Tarrant Baptist Association before Christmas it had six months to vacate its offices on the edge of the seminary campus. The seminary asserted the association was in violation of its affiliation agreement—in part because of perceived toleration of homosexuality by a member church or churches.

Tarrant Association Moderator Al Meredith contends the seminary lacks authority to take unilateral action, but he expressed hope the situation can be resolved and the association’s longtime fraternal relationship with the seminary be maintained.

However, a letter from Southwestern Seminary he received Jan. 18 indicated the seminary planned to pursue its claim on the property. Directors of the Tarrant Baptist Association executive board will discuss their response as part of a regularly scheduled Jan. 24 meeting, Meredith said.

The association office received an initial  registered letter from Southwestern Seminary Dec. 10. The letter stated the association was in violation of its 1997 affiliation agreement, and it directed the association to vacate its property on James Avenue within six months. It also stated title on the property should revert back to the seminary.

In 1982, the seminary provided Tarrant Baptist Association land and the funds to build its office building, granting a 99-year lease on the property, Meredith explained. At that time, the seminary and association entered into an affiliation agreement stipulating the property would not be used for commercial activity, and the association and seminary would commit to remaining in theological harmony, he said.

In 1997, the property agreement was renegotiated, and Tarrant Baptist Association received the deed to the property, he said. “The affiliation agreement remained intact,” Meredith added.

According to the agreement, if any disagreement should arise between the association and the seminary, the matter should be resolved a three-member arbitration panel with one seminary representative, one associational representative and one party mutually agreed upon by both parties, he noted.

On Dec. 20, three associational representatives—Moderator-elect Meredith, Moderator Bobby Bridges and Leadership Development Director Becky Biser—met with Seminary President Paige Patterson and some of his staff to discuss the situation.

“We had a lengthy and amicable discussion,” Meredith said in an interview.

He noted during the discussion, Patterson commented that had learned information he did not have when the original Dec. 10 letter was delivered. He agreed to consider the matter further and discuss it with the seminary’s attorneys. However, the letter Meredith received Jan. 18 indicated the seminary would continue its original plan.

Patterson was not available for comment for this article.

In a Dec. 21 letter to pastors in the association, Meredith noted specific areas in which the seminary claimed the association was not in compliance with its affiliation agreement:

• Toleration of homosexuality. While the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message takes a clear position against homosexual behavior, the seminary contends the association has a church or churches that do not comply with the statement of faith on that matter. “They feel this places them in a contradictory situation,” Meredith’s letter stated.

The Southern Baptist Convention cuts its historic ties with Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth in 2009 over its perceived acceptance of homosexual members. Last year, Broadway also withdrew its affiliation from the Baptist General Convention of Texas rather than face a challenge

• Placement. The seminary asserted it had asked for—and had not received—assistance from the association office in helping students and faculty gain access to empty pulpits in the association.

Meredith’s letter also noted the seminary expressed the need for additional office space or a welcome center that could be housed in the offices Tarrant Association occupies.

"We hold the deed. We believe the property to be ours," Meredith said in an interview. "If the seminary needs the building, I'm sure we would be willing to talk about selling it to them for a fair market value."

Meredith acknowledged he was disappointed by the seminary's response. Even so, he insisted he and other associational leaders would continue praying for a win/win situation.

“If Tarrant Baptist Association wins and Southwestern Seminary loses, the kingdom of God loses. If Southwestern wins and the association loses, the kingdom loses. The matters of the kingdom are greater than either the seminary or the association. My prayer is that we do nothing to bring reproach on the name of Christ,” he said.  

“Tarrant Baptist Association has enjoyed a longstanding fraternal relationship with Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and we want that to continue.”

BEAUMONT—More than 1,000 people made first-time decisions to follow Christ during Golden Triangle Baptist Association’s second Champions For Life week.

Last year, Champions for Life—a ministry of evangelist and former professional athlete Bill Glass—focused on area high schools and prisons. This year, the program included 26 middle schools, along with eight high schools and 12 prisons.

Clarence Lee, a former Washington Redskin, spoke to students at Henderson Middle School in Sour Lake as part of Champions for Life.

More than six months of planning went into making the events a success, said Cal Smith, a layman from First Baptist Church in Beaumont who headed the event.

Smith appreciated the great number of volunteers who worked hard on the program, including a teacher-appreciation team who provided 1,550 “blessing bags” to teachers.

“We also formed a new team this year, which consisted of former school counselors, principals and teachers who read the response cards from all the students and forwarded those of a serious nature to the counselors at each school,” Smith said.

Those 432 cards dealt with issues such as thoughts of suicide, problems with family and friends, cutting, physical abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, depression and bullying.

Art Perez, a layman from First Baptist Church in Beaumont, found going to the schools enlightening.

“It’s been an eye-opening experience. It’s amazing what these kids are going through. We have them fill out these cards about the issues they are dealing with, and it’s heart-breaking,” he said. “You hear about a lot of these things on the news, but these kids are living it.”

Six teams prepared meals for correctional officers and staff at 12 prisons. Each person received brisket or chicken with baked beans and potato salad.

Teachers also were invited to a comedy night held at one of the local schools.

Five former National Football League players and a world champion power lifter visited schools and prisons as they headlined the events of the Champions for Life week. In addition to feats of strength, they also offered insights into making good choices.

At youth rallies outside of the school day, the athletes shared about the difference Jesus Christ makes in a life.

The former NFL players also traveled to Lamar University in Beaumont and shared their faith in Christ.

Youth rallies in Beaumont, Nederland, Silsbee and Orange—along with the 12 prison events—yielded 1,044 first-time professions of faith in Christ and 1,394 commitments to rededication.

Clarence Lee, a former Washington Redskin, said those decisions are why he has gone to schools and prisons more than a dozen years.

“I have to be obedient to God. He always puts kids around me, and they’re attracted to what I do. If he’s going to bring kids to you, I think it’s important to use the gifts you have to point them in the right direction—to point them to him,” Lee said.

ARLINGTON – On Feb. 6, two teams will fight for professional football’s highest honor when they meet in Arlington for the 45th annual Super Bowl. Leading up to the event, a diverse group of Christians will try to point people to an even higher calling.

Dubbed Reach 45, evangelical Christian groups—including the Baptist General Convention of Texas, I am Second, Dallas Baptist Association, Tarrant Baptist Association, Texas Baptist Men and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention—have come together to seek to share the hope of Christ with the more than 200,000 people who come to the area to experience Super Bowl week.

“We’re just trying to reach as many people as we can,” said Jana Jackson, director of Dallas Baptist Association family and community ministries.

Christians will use a variety of methods to reach people who descend upon the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex for the game. They hope to distribute 1 million tracts directing people to testimonies of National Football League players filmed and posted online by I am Second.

In addition to using tracts, Christians will attempt to couple ministry with evangelism. In a community service blitz the day before the Super Bowl, volunteers will serve through Cornerstone Baptist Church in Dallas and Mission Arlington. First Baptist Church in Arlington will sponsor a community-wide watch party in the park near the church’s facilities, aimed primarily at serving the economically disadvantaged. Churches also are participating in Souper Bowl of Caring, an annual emphasis on donating food to local hunger ministries.

A group of churches and organizations also has come together to focus on fighting human trafficking. Large events typically also are accompanied with increased prostitution, which also means an increase in trafficked girls—many of them children.

Led by Traffick911 out of Southside City Church in Fort Worth, volunteers will work in cooperation with authorities to combat trafficking through its “I’m not buying it” campaign.

The group will sponsor an anti-trafficking tailgate party in Mansfield Feb. 5 that will feature Jay Ratliff of the Dallas Cowboys as program personality, several Christian bands and personal testimonies by survivors of trafficking.

For information about how to be involved in Reach 45, visit www.reach45.com. 

ARLINGTON—For Texas Baptist college students serving on mission trips between semesters, sharing the gospel happened well beyond their destinations.

Katie Walker, a student at Howard Payne University, served over Christmas break with a Go Now Missions team in Moldova. The team brought new winter boots and warm socks to orphans in facilities supported by Children’s Emergency Relief International.

Students found opportunities to share the hope of Christ where they were serving, with people they met while traveling and with those they encountered during mission initiatives through Go Now Missions, the student missions arm of the Baptist General Con-vention of Texas.

Student teams spread the gospel by giving new boots to orphans in Moldova, engaging African immigrants in New York City, encountering college students in East and South Asia, helping rebuild a Haitian village and building a home in Jamaica.

Hector Briceño, a Texas A&M University at Kingsville student who went on a trip to share the gospel with Africans in New York City, found an opportunity to share the hope of Christ with Japanese-speaking man from New Zealand who stayed at the same hostel as the team. After the man asked to join the mission team, Briceño and his colleagues were able to minister to him for the duration of the trip.

John Williams from East Texas Baptist University and Azri Flores from Texas A&M University in Kingsville share the gospel in Harlem during a Go Now Missions winter break trip.

“He barely knew about Jesus Christ,” Briceño wrote. “He only knew that (Jesus) was a man that had died. It took a long time, but God gave me the opportunity to minister to him one on one. He understood everything. The team was able to get him a Japanese Bible, and he was very impressed when he started reading the Scriptures in his mother language. I believe reading Scripture in your first language is very powerful.”

Opportunities to expand God’s kingdom continued as the students began their specific projects. A 10-member student team delivered new boots to more than 2,000 Moldovan orphans who are cared for by orphanages supported by Children’s Emergency Relief International, the international arm of Baptist Child and Family Services. The Texas students attempted to shine a ray of hope into the orphans’ lives.

Dani Clark (center) from Howard Payne University and Melissa Bulman (right) of Tarleton State University, members of a Go Now Missions team from Texas, work on a construction project in Jamaica.

“I pray they forever remember that it was Christ who gave them their shoes,” wrote Howard Payne University student Carlee Ammons. “‘Cadou de la Isuis’—these shoes are a gift from Jesus—is what we told each child as we handed them their shoes. I pray they take hold of that promise and never forget the love of Christ. I pray we don’t forget it either.”

Hector Castelltort, a Texas A&M University at Kingsville student who served in Haiti, saw opportunities to minister while painting a school. There he befriended a young man with whom he sought to share the hope of Christ. The interaction between the two nearly moved Castelltort to tears.

“We didn’t only paint a school in four days but also painted the dreams of a better future for the kids who go to that school,” he wrote.

A 10-member student team delivered new boots to more than 2,000 Moldovan orphans who are cared for by orphanages supported by Children’s Emergency Relief International, the international arm of Baptist Child and Family Services.

Brenda Sanders, who leads Go Now Missions, praised Texas Baptist college students for wanting to serve God between semesters. In the past two years, interest in winter mission trips has increased significantly, she noted, as students view their break from school as an opportunity to share the gospel outside where they live.

“More and more students are seeing the holidays as a good time to invest in missions,” she said.

“Not only do they have the time, but they see the opportunities for open doors to share about the meaning of Christmas. I also think that the types of mission trips we had for students really resonated with them. This generation loves to be involved in meeting needs and building relationships. They had the opportunity to build a house, work with orphans or build relationships with immigrants or college students.”

For more information about Go Now Missions, visit www.gonowmissions.com.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas ended 2010 nearly 13 percent below budget requirements and 7.65 percent behind the previous year’s receipts, the BGCT treasurer’s office reported.

Texas Baptists gave $32,644,317 to the BGCT Cooperative Program, 87.37 percent of the $37,365,000 budget. In 2009, churches gave $35,347,969.

“While we’re disappointed with Cooperative Program receipts this year, we feel that the reduction from 2009 is due in large measure to the economy and high unemployment,” BCCT Treasurer Jill Larsen said. “We hear anecdotally from some of our churches that they are suffering from the recession still.”

However, she noted optimistic signs in terms of giving in November and December. Larsen characterized Cooperative Program forecasts for 2011 as “fairly conservative.”

While the detailed budget calls for $35,850,000 in 2011, she pointed out that includes $1 million from reserves and $2 million in projected revenue from special fund-raising initiatives.

“That means the actual 2011 Cooperative Program budget (from church receipts) is $32,850,000—only $200,000 more than we received in 2010,” Larsen said.