The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-01/02/2020 DISCLAIMER: Baptist Press should be credited for any reprinted stories that originate with BP. Suggested credit line: Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. Please note that Baptist Press periodically carries stories from other sources by permission. Individuals interested in reprinting non-BP stories should contact the entity where the story originated to seek reprint permission. -------------------------------------------------------------------- SBC DIGEST: LifeWay Global trains 1000s of Spanish-speaking church leaders; Baptist hospital exec Baker dies at 84 by Art Toalston and Tess Schoonhoven Date: January 02, 2020 - Thursday Today's SBC DIGEST: LifeWay Global trains thousands of Spanish-speaking church leaders through digital platform, live events; and Charles Baker former BMHH executive vice president dies. LifeWay Global trains thousands of Spanish-speaking church leaders through digital platform, live events By Art Toalston MEXICO CITY (BP) -- It wasn't that long ago the LifeWay Global team dreamed about ways to resource pastors and other church leaders around the world -- those with extremely limited or no access to formal theological training. The vision of Ariel Irizarry, the leader of LifeWay Global's training, became a reality when LifeWay Equipa (pronounced aye-KEEP-ah) -- a Spanish-language training platform --launched in May 2019 at lifewayequipa.com. The digital platform stems from the desire to respond to the needs of pastors and lay leaders around the world, said Craig Featherstone, senior director for LifeWay Global. "We're hearing the heartbeat of the church and the nations toward understanding how to contextualize solutions for the local church," Featherstone said of the international outreach of LifeWay Christian Resources, which is now distributing resources in 164 countries. Latin America is at the forefront of an emerging LifeWay Global strategy extending beyond LifeWay's longstanding publishing and distribution of Spanish-language Bibles and translations of books, Sunday School curriculum and other resources. Authors, conferences, digital training A major shift several years ago was LifeWay Español's enlistment of Hispanic pastors and authors -- now numbering more than 40 -- to produce books and resources within their cultural context. Mexico was the site of two large-scale conferences: Crece ("Growth") in 2018, a gathering in Merida that drew 1,700 pastors and church leaders and Equipa ("Equip"), a 2019 conference in Querétaro attended by more than 3,000 in November. Equipa conference registrants came from 60 denominations and church networks, 20 Mexican states, five U.S. states, and five other Latin American countries. The 2019 conference served as a catalyst for the Equipa online training platform. The LifeWay Mexico team, led by Eva Uria, voiced the idea of linking the Equipa name to the conference and pointing attendees -- and the many believers they influence -- to the platform's resources. Uria said some of the participants already have their own content in printed publications, "but they are really excited about the online platform. They believe it is a great tool. And they trust our biblical content." Uria also noted a hunger for unity at the two-day conference. "Everybody is saying how amazing it is that LifeWay made it possible -- God made it possible -- to unite all these people with the gospel and the sense of unity that Christ put in the Church." The reach of the digital platform The Equipa digital platform now has 7,250 members who have earned 2,500 certifications for completing Equipa courses, which include interactive quizzes interspersed within a teacher's video instruction typically spanning an hour. To use Equipa, a pastor or church member creates an account at lifewayequipa.com, explores the descriptions of potential courses of interest and their teachers, and then enrolls to begin his or her interactive study. Encompassing 35 courses in leadership, groups, women's and children's ministry, the interactive video courses are taught by LifeWay Español authors and other experts with an evangelical view reflecting Southern Baptists' 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. "The opportunity to train leaders and equip them well has been limited for the Spanish-speaking church … especially in Latin America," said author and women's speaker Wendy Bello. "One of the main reasons has been a lack of resources produced originally in Spanish and by people that can truly identify with the culture, the needs and historical background of this area of the world." Equipa, Irizarry said, provides basic-level instruction to serve as a map any believer can use for their own development. Equipa's interactive nature reflects what he describes as "the double side of the coin of equipping. On one side, the pastor or church wishes to have mature leaders to serve effectively in the different areas of ministry, and on the other side, the members want to serve and be an active part of the church." Irizarry added that when people aren't equipped, "churches decline, leadership burns out, and church members stay passive or immature." Equipa's next steps will include courses on ministry to youth and an extended program of 12-15 courses including New and Old Testament, preaching and church administration. Featherstone noted Equipa will be alert to pastors and future leaders who could be ready to study in one of the Southern Baptist seminaries in the U.S. "But the overwhelming majority of pastors around the world have neither the time nor the financial resources to do that," he said. "Most of them are bivocational or tri-vocational. They have families, and they just don't have the margin time-wise or financially." Key Partnerships LifeWay Global has a nine-member advisory board of Hispanic ministry leaders. "LifeWay isn't developing this content in a vacuum," Featherstone said. "We have key people from our seminaries and from state conventions serving as advisers for how we build out our entire strategy, whether it's publishing or training or social media or events." Daniel Sanchez, distinguished professor of missions at Southwestern Seminary, teaches two Equipa courses: --"Realidades Hispanas Transformando a Norteamérica" (Hispanic Realities Transforming North America): Surveys trends in the Hispanic American community, pointing out implications for evangelism, discipling new believers and starting churches in that context. --"Cosmovisión: Implicaciones para la Obra Misionera" (Worldview: Implications for missionary work): Explores the worldview of non-believers as the gospel is shared with them, dealing specifically with Animistic, Syncretistic, Monotheistic (Christian, Muslim) and postmodern worldviews. "[Hispanics] are showing more receptivity to the gospel message than at any other time in American history," Sanchez said. "LifeWay has established more contacts in countries around the world that enable church leaders to obtain training that previously was not available to them." Other notable Equipa instructors include: --Luis Ángel Diaz-Pabón, general editor of the "Fisher of Men Bible" (B&H Español). --Miguel Nuñez, pastor of Iglesia Bautista International in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and author of nine B&H Español books. --Juan Sanchez, senior pastor of High Pointe Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, author of two B&H Español books and past president of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. Within the U.S., Equipa can be an aid to Southern Baptist churches with Hispanic congregations or ministries, as well as those who have contact with Hispanic pastors in their communities, Featherstone said. Featherstone, Irizarry, and the rest of the LifeWay Global team share a heart for the nations that informs a vision to develop strategies for China and India, as well as Latin America. "I'd like to tell you we had this grand vision for how this whole thing would work," Featherstone said, "but in some regards, the Lord has just said, 'Be obedient to the next thing I'm calling you to do.'" *********** Baptist hospital executive Charles Baker dies at 84 MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP) -- Charles Baker, 84, died Dec. 21, 2019 at Baptist Reynolds Hospice House in Collierville, Tenn. Baker served for more than 40-years at Baptist Memorial Healthcare Hospital in Memphis rising to Executive Vice President of the hospital. Baker supervised the hospital's first progressive computer program. Under his direction, Baptist Hospital also merged all of its investments and endowments. In addition to his roles with hospital he worked with the International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation, serving as a commissioned Officer during the Korean conflict, according to a family obituary at www.memorialparkfuneralandcemetery.com/obituaries/Charles-Baker-35/#!/Obituary. Baker attended Ouachita Baptist University Baker and earned a Bachelor of the Arts degree. He was a member of the ROTC and was commissioned by the university in 1956. Baker received his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago. For more than 40 years, Baker was a member of Memphis-area church Germantown Baptist. At Germantown, he served on various committees and as a deacon and teacher. Later in life, he was a member of Covenant Baptist Church in Collierville, Tenn. Baker is survived by: his wife Joan, the two were married for 64 years; his son Bryan and wife Cynthia residing in Seattle; Stephanie, his granddaughter, in Austin, Texas; and many nieces and nephews. A private graveside funeral service was held Monday Dec. 23, 2019 at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery in Memphis, Tenn. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Bible Study: Obadiah's good news by By staff/LifeWay Christian Resources Date: January 02, 2020 - Thursday NASHVILLE (BP) -- This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups. This week's Bible study is adapted from The Gospel Project curriculum. Bible Passage: Obadiah Discussion Questions: -- Think about a time when you saw someone you viewed as an opponent or enemy fall (e.g., a coworker, celebrity, or politician). How did you feel when you heard what happened, and why? -- What books of the Bible do you struggle to read? Why? Food for Thought: Read Obadiah 1:1-21. Obadiah delivered his message during a dark time in Israel's history, most likely after the Babylonian exile. Jerusalem was in ruins, and only a handful of people remained. But the Edomites felt no remorse over the fall of Judah. The Edomites, descendants of Esau -- Jacob's older brother -- rejoiced in Judah's downfall. The Edomites had a perverse delight in Judah and Israel getting what was deserved. God directly confronted Edom's arrogance, which was at the heart of Edom's response to Judah's situation. The Edomites believed they were untouchable, like a soaring eagle, but their arrogance deceived them. Rather than letting the Edomites' arrogance stand, God was personally active in cutting them down to size, causing nations to rise up and war against Edom. God was going to bring them down, and nothing could stop the downfall. It's hard to imagine that there's much good news for us in an obscure book of the Bible like Obadiah. Tucked away in the Minor Prophets, it is the least read book of the Bible. But through its warnings against the arrogance of Edom and the hope of restoration present in its pages, Obadiah reminds us of an important truth: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God inspired every page of the Bible, and every word is meant for our good and growth in godliness. That includes Obadiah, which powerfully points us to God's compassion and mercy even as it condemns the sinful deeds of the arrogant. Every word of Scripture points us to the Good News -- the Gospel -- showing us the reason for the hope we have in Christ. May it never be said of us that we left a page of Scripture unturned and missed an opportunity to glory in Christ. Instead, let us rejoice in every word, and feast on every page as we see Jesus on every page -- even the obscure ones like the Book of Obadiah. The Gospel Project The Gospel Project is a chronological, Christ-centered study for kids, students and adults. The Bible is not a collection of stories. It is one story of God's plan to rescue His people from sin and death. It is the story of redemption, the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. More information can be found at LifeWay.com/gospelproject . Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool or ordered at LifeWay Christian Stores. --30-- -------------------------------------------------------------------- ERLC: U.S. takes 'critical' steps on religious liberty by Tom Strode Date: January 02, 2020 - Thursday WASHINGTON (BP) -- Two federal government actions shortly before Christmas are vital to protecting international religious liberty, a Southern Baptist public-policy leader said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Dec. 20 the re-designation of Burma (Myanmar), China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan as "countries of particular concern" (CPCs), a category reserved under federal law for governments that have committed or tolerated "systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom." On the same day as Pompeo's announcement, President Trump signed into law a bill that reauthorized the U.S. Commission on International Freedom (USCIRF), a bipartisan panel that researches and makes recommendations on religious liberty conditions overseas. The measure -- part of a spending bill approved by Congress -- reauthorizes the commission through Sept. 30. 2022. "The State Department's CPC announcement and Congress' bipartisan reauthorization of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom are critical first steps for the defense of this fundamental human right," said Travis Wussow, vice president for public policy with the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). "The world is a safer and better place when the freedom to live according to one's faith is protected," Wussow told Baptist Press in written comments. "It's now time for the State Department to use the tools created by the International Religious Freedom Act and apply real sanctions to those around the world who abuse their authority by violating the consciences of vulnerable people." Under U.S. law, the president has various means for penalizing countries on the CPC list. However, no new sanctions were announced against the countries on the list. Existing trade restrictions will be maintained against Burma, China, Eritrea and North Korea, according to the State Department. Travel limitations already in effect for serious human rights abuses will be continued against Iran. Waivers from penalties were again granted to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in the "important national interest" of the U.S., the State Department reported. The CPC list did not include Sudan, marking the first time the east African country has been absent since the State Department began making the designations in 1999. The department re-designated the same non-state organizations as "entities of particular concern" (EPCs). The EPCs, all Islamic terrorist groups, are: al-Nusra Front in Syria; al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula; al-Qaeda; al-Shabab in East Africa; Boko Haram in West Africa; the Houthis in Yemen; Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS); ISIS-Khorasan in Afghanistan and Pakistan; and the Taliban. Sudan was placed on a "special watch list" (SWL) for countries that have engaged in or permitted "severe violations" of religious freedom. Re-designated to the SWL list were Comoros, a group of islands off the east coast of Africa; Russia; and Uzbekistan. New additions to the list were Cuba, Nicaragua and Nigeria. The State Department moved Sudan to the SWL because of "significant steps taken by the civilian-led transitional government to address" the religious liberty violations by Omar al-Bashir's regime, Pompeo said. The military removed al-Bashir from office in April. "We believe that everyone, everywhere, at all times, should have the right to live according to the dictates of their conscience," Pompeo said in a written statement. "We will continue to challenge state and non-state entities that seek to infringe upon those fundamental rights and to ensure they are held to account for their actions." USCIRF Chairman Tony Perkins said the State Department's designations "send a strong signal that the U.S. government will not stand for these abuses." The commission is "particularly gratified" the State Department acknowledged how severe the violations are in Nigeria and Cuba by placing both countries on the SWL, said Perkins, president of the Family Research Council. In its April annual report, USCIRF had recommended Sudan stay on the CPC list and six other countries be added to the ones already designated: Central African Republic; Nigeria; Russia; Syria; Uzbekistan; and Vietnam. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., a leading religious freedom advocate in Congress, said, "[T]he jury is still out as to whether Sudan deserves its upgrade from CPC status." Smith also questioned why India and Turkey were not placed on the SWL. India -- with a population that is about 80 percent Hindu -- "has become especially intolerant toward religious minorities," and Turkey's violations include its limitations on the internal workings of the Greek Orthodox Church, he said. USCIRF -- which is made up of nine commissioners selected by the president and congressional leaders -- tracks the status of religious liberty worldwide and issues reports to Congress, the president and the State Department. -------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S., E.U. urge release of jailed Chinese pastor by Diana Chandler Date: January 02, 2020 - Thursday SICHUAN, China (BP) -- The United States and the European Union are urging China to free pastor Wang Yi, sentenced to nine years in prison in what religious liberty advocates call Christian persecution. China pronounced Wang guilty Dec. 30 of "illegal business operations" and "inciting subversion of state power," convictions religious liberty advocates say stem solely from his leadership as founding pastor of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, Sichuan. U.S. Sec. of State Mike Pompeo expressed alarm at Wang's sentence on charges that Pompeo said were "trumped up" and issued with no defense lawyer present. "We call for his immediate and unconditional release," Pompeo said in a statement Dec. 31. "This is yet another example of Beijing’s intensification of repression of Chinese Christians and members of other religious groups. We continue to call on Beijing to uphold its international commitments and promises made in its own constitution to promote religious freedom for all individuals, including members of ethnic and religious minorities, and those who worship outside of official state-sanctioned institutions." E.U. spokesman Peter Stano issued a similar appeal on New Year's Day. "The E.U. is concerned about restrictions on freedom of religion and belief in China," Stano tweeted, "and calls for immediate release of Pastor Wang Yi, who was tried in secret and sentenced to nine years in prison in connection to his peaceful advocacy of freedom of religion." Wang responded to his sentence in a message Early Rain church posted on Facebook, religious liberty advocate Open Doors USA reported Dec. 30. “I hope God uses me, by means of first losing my personal freedom, to tell those who have deprived me of my personal freedom that there is an authority higher than their authority," the church quoted Wang, "and that there is a freedom that they cannot restrain, a freedom that fills the church of the crucified and risen Jesus Christ. “Jesus is the Christ, son of the eternal, living God. He died for sinners and rose to life for us. He is my king and the king of the whole earth yesterday, today, and forever," Wang said on Facebook. "I am his servant, and I am imprisoned because of this. I will resist in meekness those who resist God, and I will joyfully violate all laws that violate God’s laws.” China also stripped Wang of his political rights for three years and will seize nearly $7,200 (50,000 renminbi) of his assets, the New York Times reported. Religious liberty advocate Bob Fu, founder and president of ChinaAid, called Wang's imprisonment "a pure case of unjust religious persecution against a peaceful preacher of a Chinese reformed church. “This grave sentence demonstrates [Chinese President Xi Jingping’s] regime is determined to be the enemy of universal values and religious freedom," Fu said Dec. 30. "We call upon the international community to stand up to the Chinese Communist Party and hold this evil regime accountable.” Open Doors CEO David Curry said China is trying to turn both state and underground churches into “a Chinese church, not a church of Jesus. “There will be even more pressure on the Body of Christ in China,” Curry said in a press release.” The government is trying to force out unregistered churches.” Wang's sentence is one of the latest moves in China's systemic persecution of Christians, Muslims and other religious minorities there. Wang had been imprisoned nearly a full year before the Dec. 26 trial, detained after officials raided the church in late 2018. See BP's report today on the U.S. State Department's efforts to protect international religious liberty. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Lois Evans, wife to pastor Tony Evans, dies at age 70 by Jon D. Wilke Date: January 02, 2020 - Thursday DALLAS (BP) -- Lois Irene Evans, beloved wife of Tony Evans for 49 years and founder of Pastors' Wives Ministry, passed away Dec. 30, 2019 of biliary cancer. She was 70. Tony, senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, shared the news on Facebook. "Just before the sun came up this morning," he wrote, "the love of my life transitioned from earth and watched her first sunrise from heaven." Lois was with her husband and the couple's four children when she died Monday (Dec. 30). "As she slipped away, we told her how much we love her, how proud we are of her, and how thankful we are for the life she has lived," pastor Evans wrote. "We are what we are because of her." Priscilla Shirer, best-selling author, actress and the Evanses' daughter, tweeted, "Goodnight my beautiful, beloved Mommy. I'll see you in the morning." The Evanses' son, Christian music artist Anthony Evans, Jr., posted, "I love you forever, Mommy." Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear also expressed his condolences on Twitter. "Grieving with you and your family, Dr. Evans," Greear tweeted. "Your and Mrs. Lois' life and ministry have been an almost incalculable blessing to many of us." Marshal Ausberry, president of the National African American Fellowship of the SBC and pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Fairfax Station, Va., shared with condolences with Baptist Press. "Lois Evans has been a picture of a loving wife, mother, and Christian woman," Ausberry told BP Thursday (Jan. 2.) "Lois Evans' strong support of her husband enabled him to do all he did. They truly served well as a team. The Evans family has touched countless lives around the world." A 9 a.m. viewing and an 11 a.m. funeral are scheduled Monday (Jan. 6) at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church. "We are grateful for your thoughts and prayers," pastor Evans wrote. "Many have asked how to help during this time. In honor of Lois, I would also love for you to consider sending flowers this week to your pastor's wife. Lois loved receiving flowers but she also loved giving them. Because her passion was ministering to pastors' wives and making sure they felt loved and cared for, your gift of flowers in her memory would be a gift to us as well." In lieu of flowers, he suggested "continuing the ministry to pastors' wives that was dear to Lois' heart" by contributing to The Urban Alternative's Pastors' Wives Ministry.