The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-02/17/2016 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Fatal shooting & murder charge turned him to Christ by Jessica Vanderpool/Arkansas Baptist News Date: February 17, 2016 - Wednesday NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (BP) -- When John Eric Schmidt was charged with second-degree murder, no one could have known that within a year, not only would the charge be dropped but Schmidt would be celebrating his salvation in Christ. Schmidt, 53, of North Little Rock, Ark., was charged after shooting 32-year-old Chad Johnson during what Pulaski County sheriff's deputies said was a property dispute, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The incident took place in Graves Memorial Baptist Church's parking lot in North Little Rock around 6:25 a.m. on July 7 of last year. Schmidt, who has emergency medical training, tried to administer first aid to Johnson, but Johnson died en route to the hospital. Schmidt required medical attention for his injuries in the incident. Authorities dropped the murder charge on Jan. 8, according to the Democrat-Gazette. Schmidt's lawyer, David Cannon, said the charge was dropped after it was determined that Schmidt acted in self-defense, the Democrat-Gazette reported. Cannon said Johnson had choked Schmidt, which had forced Schmidt to act. In an interview with the Arkansas Baptist News, Graves Memorial pastor Travis Matthews explained that although the event occurred on church property, it did not involve the church. Matthews also confirmed that Schmidt and his wife Amber had been attending Graves Memorial, though they were not members at the time -- a fact that changed over the course of several months. The tragedy turned into a ministry opportunity for Graves Memorial. Matthews recounted that Schmidt's daughter Felicity had been baptized and was involved in the student ministry and praise team at the time of the shooting, so Schmidt and his wife had visited the church several times to support her. Because of this, the groundwork had been laid for ministry to the family following the shooting. Matthews said he met regularly with Schmidt, who had become very depressed in the weeks after the incident. "The shooting really became an opportunity to build a deep relationship with the family," Matthews said. "[It was] a painful journey but a way God used to bring healing in their lives overall." Eventually, both Schmidt and his wife accepted Christ as Lord and Savior and were baptized at the church in September and are now active in ministry. "I believe God takes the hard things in life, and when we surrender to God and let God do a work, you can see the fruit of God doing great things in those circumstances," Matthews said. "You don't want to make light of a horrible situation, but it definitely brings joy to see God bring beauty from ashes." The church "has learned to love in a different way and have a compassionate spirit," the pastor added. As for Schmidt, he said his prayer has been that the ordeal would be "used for good and as example of the power of God and of love between Christians." -------------------------------------------------------------------- MOVIES: The Holy Spirit at work by Phil Boatwright Date: February 17, 2016 - Wednesday KANSAS CITY, Kan. (BP) -- Most of us have seen films made in Hollywoodland or by faith-based production companies that caused us to draw closer to our Creator. What was the factor in those movies that gave us a sense of spiritual awareness? Was it due to a big budget? Great acting? A formidable director with a thought-provoking script? Generally, movies with a spiritual punch share all of those elements. There is, however, one other component to be considered when examining a successful faith-based film: subtlety or, if you will, that gentle suggestion. Lasting impressions stem from imagery and dialogue that respectfully suggest the need for and the existence of spirituality. Although Hollywood films seem nearly bereft of Christian symbolism nowadays, Christian imagery has played an enormous role in entertainment. Most notably, such imagery was seen in Hollywood's Golden Age, the 1930s to the 1950s, with many religious epics also produced in the early and mid-1960s. One such example is found in 20th Century Fox's "The Robe." The epic religious drama has a Roman centurion played by Richard Burton haunted by his participation in the execution of Christ. A significant scene has the Roman giving a donkey to a Hebrew boy. It is probably the finest gift, if not the only one, the child has ever received; yet, the next day the child has given the animal to another peasant boy. With little dialogue, the visual signifies, "It is better to give than to receive," startling the soldier into an awareness that there is something to this "new" religion. Such a lasting tableau suggests rather than sermonizes. What does it suggest? That man is more than a physical and mental being. A soul affects the whole man. If his soul is fed, he will find peace, contentment and purpose. And by suggesting these truths, the power of an image often lasts far longer than a thousand words. But there is another element as important as theatrical suggestion that can only be described as the influence of the Holy Spirit. Alex and Stephen Kendrick, who got their moviemaking start at Sherwood Baptist Church in Georgia, are open to the Holy Spirit. While the two have learned the importance of the rules of filmmaking, it is obvious in their work that the message of the need for Christ is paramount (no pun intended) in their screen efforts. Years ago I was sent a screener of one of the Kendricks' films, "Facing the Giants." Financed on a shoestring budget, the brothers acted as an artistic and technical two-man army, the issues of faith and fear being addressed in their heartfelt sports drama. There were the usual filmic shortcomings associated with well-meaning religious storytelling, but within minutes something special began to happen. The involving narrative kicked in, providing positive answers to nagging spiritual questions. Then, I suddenly felt the Holy Spirit's presence. It was as if He were showering spiritual knowledge and blessing upon the project, and upon this viewer. The film took on a sincere life, one that seemed to comfort while extolling biblical principles. The Gospel, as it deals with the ethereal "things not seen," may be the most difficult subject to bring to the screen. But spiritual matters generally ring true when included in realistic, believable storylines germane to everyday life. And if openness to the Holy Spirit's leading has been sought, the project will point to the Way. On Easter Sunday in the year 2000, ABC presented a family-aimed, animated retelling of the story of Christ. As a sick little girl encounters Jesus through different stages of His life, a remarkably accurate retelling of Christ's ministry unfolds through Claymation and graphically striking two-dimensional animation. For some inexplicable reason, an executive at ABC in charge of the production asked me to see a prescreening, and miracles began to unfold. First miracle, she was a Christian. Second miracle, I was the only one sitting in the screening room watching this upcoming Christ-themed TV event. Why me? Third miracle, when the centurion acknowledges who Jesus is as He died on the cross, it's not quite right. The centurion says, "Truly this was a son of God." While I'm no theologian, I caught the subtle change in the line found in Matthew 27:54, which reads: "Truly this was the son of God." There's a huge suggested difference between the grammatical articles used. Fourth miracle, the executive took time to hear my opinion. I brought the a versus the contrast to her attention, though I couldn't imagine how it could be fixed. The production was completed and I was all but sure that those in charge of budget at the TV network weren't going to rehire an actor to re-voice one brief line. I didn't think for a minute that my observation would make a difference. But the Holy Spirit knew better. In the editing room, the infraction was easily changed. The video editor copied a "the" the actor had previously spoken and dubbed it over the "a," allowing for the line to have its correct meaning. And that's how it aired that Easter Sunday. I was proud to have been involved, but you miss the point if you think I was the one at work that day. For those of us who don't make movies, this is still a reminder to do whatever you do for the Lord, and with the Lord. Our work is better when He's involved. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Trafficking hotline calls up 24% in 2015 by Gaye Clark/WORLD News Service Date: February 17, 2016 - Wednesday NEW YORK CITY (BP) -- Human trafficking victims are reaching out for help in increasing numbers, according to an advocacy group that operates a national text and phone call center. More than 1,600 survivors of human trafficking reached out for help in 2015 -- a 24 percent increase over 2014, according to the nonprofit anti-trafficking organization Polaris. The hotline also takes calls from concerned friends, family and bystanders who witness suspected human trafficking incidents. "From the domestic servant forced to work for little pay who required emergency shelter to the young girl made to sell sex online against her will who texted us for crisis support, survivors of human trafficking are reaching out to the national hotline more than ever," Polaris CEO Bradley Myles said. Contact with the national hotline can be made by SMS to 233733, texting "help" or "info," or by phone to 1-888-373-7888. The website for the Polaris-operated National Human Trafficking Resource Center is www.traffickingresourcecenter.org. Polaris' 2015 annual report offers insight into a problem that is hard to quantify. The disparity between estimates of trafficking victims and the number of confirmed cases has fueled a debate about whether the problem had been exaggerated. The agencies most likely to encounter higher numbers of victims -- local law enforcement and social services -- are not uniform in their data collection and reporting. And the anonymity of the Internet shields pimps from prosecution while it broadens their reach to buyers. The Internet also makes victims invisible to everyone except their pimps and johns -- until they make a call or send a message asking for help. "Given the fact that victims of human trafficking don't normally self-identity, it's likely there will always be a marked difference between the estimates and the number of confirmed cases," anti-trafficking advocate Raleigh Sadler said in comments to Baptist Press. "However, through providing the tools whereby anyone can learn how to identify and respond to potential victims of human trafficking, Polaris hopes to lessen this disparity. Their website and national hotline number have been invaluable in empowering everyday people to actually contribute towards the end of human trafficking," said Sadler, director of justice ministries for the Metropolitan New York Baptist Association and leader of the Let My People Go movement to assist churches in NYC and beyond to combat human trafficking. In 2015, Polaris' National Human Trafficking Resource Center received 21,947 calls, 1,535 online requests, 1,275 emails and 1,472 SMS messages on its BeFree Textline. Human trafficking took place in all 50 states. The top venue for sex trafficking was commercial front brothels while the top industry for labor trafficking was domestic work. In total since 2007, 25,696 trafficking cases have been reported through the hotline. Greater publicity accounts in part for the increase in calls. Thirty states now require business such as strip clubs, motels and truck stops to display national human trafficking hotline numbers in prominent places. In a number of states, failure to do so can lead to fines as high as $5,000. Researchers at Texas Christian University, Northeastern University and Colorado College published a report in January that found requiring the NHTRC number to be posted in public areas was the most effective way to increase arrests related to human trafficking. The researchers also found that nearly every aspect of state investment in human trafficking -- from training law enforcement to forming a task force -- had a significant impact on increasing state arrests for the crime. Anti-trafficking organizations have tried to make the hotline number more visible for years. One effort has focused on putting bars of soap in motels and strip clubs. The soap's wrapper asks: "Are you being forced to do anything you do not want to do?" and includes the trafficking hotline. Theresa Flores, 49, a sex trafficking survivor, came up with the soap idea. Flores was drugged and raped in high school by a fellow classmate and his older cousins. They trafficked her for more than two years, threatening to reveal humiliating photos of her rape if she told her parents or called the police. The abuse ended only after Flores' family relocated to another state. Like many sex trafficking victims, Flores didn't know where to turn or who to call. While experts are closer to understanding both the scope of human trafficking as well as what works in combatting it, public opinion remains conflicted. "Human trafficking feels overwhelming to people, but the level of concern among people is not equal," Amy Farrell of the Northeastern University said. "On the whole, they think it's a terrible thing, but they don't know how to fix it and think it should be someone else's problem." For information about identifying and responding to potential human trafficking abuses, see the "Recognize the Signs" resource by Polaris at https://polarisproject.org/recognize-signs. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Study Bible scholar Charles Ryrie dies by Art Toalston Date: February 17, 2016 - Wednesday DALLAS (BP) -- Charles C. Ryrie, a scholar whose name abounds on Ryrie Study Bible editions with more than 2.6 million in print in multiple languages, died Feb. 16 in Dallas at age 90. Known for his end-times theology of dispensationalism, Ryrie was a longtime systematic theology professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Dallas. At FBC Dallas, Ryrie became close friends with the current pastor, Robert Jeffress, and his predecessors at First Baptist, O.S. Hawkins and Mac Brunson. Hawkins, now president of the SBC's GuideStone Financial Resources who served at First Baptist from 1993-97, said in comments to Baptist Press: "If ever there lived a man whose life was immersed in the Bible it was Charles Ryrie. This is evident not only in the legacy he left in the Ryrie Study Bible, his amazing collection of rare and antique Bibles and books, but his passion to never stop studying even into his ninth decade of life. "What many do not know," Hawkins noted, "is that he was a great churchman" who attended regularly. "He was a mentor and compassionate counselor to me personally," Hawkins said, "and I already miss our frequent visits and fellowship. I can still hear him say, 'The Bible is the greatest of all books, to study it is the noblest of all pursuits, to understand it, the highest of all goals.'" Brunson, pastor of First Baptist Dallas from 1999-2006 and now pastor of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., said Ryrie "will be remembered as one of the great theologians of the 20th century. He was a tremendous synthesizer of text and theology, making it so plain anyone could understand. His study Bible stands alongside the work of Scofield and Dabney. "The older he grew, the more he attracted younger men who were eager to sit at his feet," Brunson said. "He was brilliant, sharp-witted and genuinely humble, and a dear friend to those who knew him." Jeffress was unavailable for comment Feb. 17. Ryrie joined First Baptist when he was a student at Dallas Theological Seminary from the mid- to late 1940s and the late W.A. Criswell was the church's new pastor, ultimately serving there 50-plus years. A seminary tribute to Ryrie stated that the professor and Criswell became friends and that Ryrie "regularly taught a Sunday School class there and enjoyed a long-term relationship with the church." The Ryrie Study Bible, with the DTS professor's 10,000–plus explanatory notes, used the King James Version when it was first published in 1978. It is now also available in New American Standard Bible and English Standard Version translations. The DTS tribute to Ryrie quoted the Bible scholar's reflections on his way of writing: "When I was working on the study Bible, I thought of people in home Bible classes, and I would sometimes ask, 'Would they want a note on this verse or an explanation of this doctrine? Simply?' These people were my make-believe audience. "Actually, they weren't make-believe, they were real people," Ryrie continued. "On the human side, I think [the ability to be concise] is because off and on through the years, I've taught children. If you want to advise your writers to write more clearly, tell them to go host a Good News Club somewhere, and teach it." In addition to the study Bible, Ryrie wrote more than 50 books. During his time at Dallas Theological Seminary, he also served as dean of doctoral students for more than 20 years before retiring in 1983. Craig Blaising, executive vice president and provost at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and coauthor of the 2000 book "Progressive Dispensationalism" with DTS New Testament professor Darrell Bock, noted in written comments to Baptist Press that Ryrie, in his book "Dispensationalism Today," released in 1965, "defined dispensationalism for the generations of dispensational scholars who took their training in the '60s through the '80s, and it is still quite influential today.... Most importantly, it provided a clear, concise definition of dispensationalism that focused upon the essence of the system as he saw it." Ryrie's view of dispensationalism, Blaising said, "was built around three core affirmations that he labeled as its sine qua non: (1) the distinction between Israel and the church, (2) consistently literal hermeneutics, and (3) the glory of God as the unifying purpose in all His works. The features of the system, its way of reading the biblical narrative and its eschatology, are all to be related to these core principles. "Practically all the distinct features of dispensational eschatology were affirmed by Ryrie and related to the definition he provided," Blaising said. "This includes the pretribulational rapture, the future seven-year tribulation, and the millennial kingdom. "However, he offered some modifications on how dispensationalists thought about the number of dispensations, how the biblical covenants were related to the dispensations, and how the Kingdom of God was to be understood in the New Testament," Blaising said. "Most important was his modification of what earlier dispensationalists called the eternal distinction between heavenly and earthly peoples and programs in the plan and purpose of God. "Because of these modifications or revisions of the classical system (from John Nelson Darby to Lewis Chafer), I have referred to Ryrie's system as Revised Dispensationalism. Many, however, refer to it as Traditional Dispensationalism, since it was the form of dispensationalism that was widely taught and promoted in the latter half of the 20th century." Blaising added that Ryrie's influence extended beyond eschatology. "He wrote widely, with books on the Holy Spirit, the Christian life, grace and the doctrines of salvation. He was one of the earliest to address the growing question concerning the role of women in the church.... In all that he wrote, he was a masterful theologian, concise, readable, and understandable to the average layman as well as to the scholar. He made a profound impact on my life, and I am grateful to God for him," said Blaising, who also holds the Jesse Hendley Chair of Biblical Theology at Southwestern. "For all of his giftedness, he was a humble man who loved the Lord and had a heart for the Gospel." Ryrie was a native of Alton, Ill., who attended First Baptist Church, "the fifth generation of his family" at the American Baptist congregation that became River of Life Community Church in Godfrey, Ill., in 2002. Ryrie held a Ph.D. degree from the University of Edinburgh; Th.D. and Th.M. degrees from DTS; and an undergraduate degree from Haverford College in Pennsylvania. He is survived by three children and three grandchildren. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Freed Boko Haram captives shunned, study shows by Diana Chandler Date: February 17, 2016 - Wednesday NASHVILLE (BP) -- Women and girls kidnapped and raped by Boko Haram jihadists are often rejected and ostracized in refugee camps and upon return to their communities and families, a new report released by UNICEF and International Alert reveals. Hundreds of an estimated 2,000 residents kidnapped in northeast Nigeria since 2012 have been freed as military forces have retaken land captured by Boko Haram, the study said. Returning to their communities and families, often with children born of rape in captivity and forced marriages, the women face unique discrimination, the report found. "As they return, many face marginalization, discrimination and rejection by family and community members due to social and cultural norms related to sexual violence," according to the report's executive summary. "There is also growing fear that some of these girls and women were radicalized in captivity. The children who have been born of sexual violence are at an even greater risk of rejection, abandonment and violence." While the exact number of those kidnapped is not certain, still missing are more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in 2014 in Chibok and the subject of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. The Feb. 16 report "Bad Blood: Perceptions of children born of conflict-related sexual violence and women and girls associated with Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria," was conducted through 19 focus group discussions and key interviews at four camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno state's capital. The camps are among 17 officially registered camps in the capital, each with populations ranging from 3,000 to 18,000, and together comprising 95 percent of IDPs from Boko Haram violence. Those interviewed included religious leaders, survivors, male and female community leaders, government representatives and service providers. While all victims of sexual violence during the Boko Haram conflict are stigmatized, those perceived to have lived in Boko Haram strongholds, or to have been Boko Haram brides either by force or personal will, face more intense persecution upon their release, interviews revealed. Communities fear the women may have been radicalized to perpetuate Boko Haram violence, and that their children fathered by the jihadists will naturally become jihadists themselves. "Many perceive these victims of conflict as being partly responsible for the violence and losses suffered by entire communities during the insurgency," report authors wrote. "As a result, children and newborns as well as their mothers are being increasingly ostracized and are at risk of further violence." Faith-based groups can help mitigate the risk of violence to freed victims through local and international education campaigns on the vulnerabilities and risks the victims face, by partnering with local groups who can advocate for the women in their communities, giving the victims platforms to share their stories, and providing medical care and legal assistance. Despite Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari's proclamation at the end of 2015 of a "technical defeat" of Boko Haram, the jihadists have continued to attack villages and markets in northeast Nigeria and Cameroon in particular, sometimes killing more than 100 at a time through suicide bombings, firebombs and shootings. Among Boko Haram's latest attacks, 58 people were killed in twin bombings in mid-February at a small, informal IDP camp about 55 miles outside Maiduguri, Bloomberg News reported today (Feb. 17). In late January, Boko Haram killed more than 100 people in firebombs, shootings and suicide bombings in northeast Nigeria, the most deadly attacks near the IDP camps in Maiduguri. Charred and bullet-ridden corpses littered the streets, survivors and soldiers told the AP. Boko Haram, which has claimed allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), has exceeded ISIS as the deadliest terrorist group in the world, according to the 2015 Global Terrorism Index. The GTI attributed more than 6,644 deaths to Boko Haram in 2014, with most attacks occurring in northeastern Nigeria. ISIS killed 6,073 in terrorist attacks in the same year, according to the report. Boko Haram originally targeted Christians but has also killed moderate Muslims, government officials and civilians, killing as many as 20,000 people and displacing 2.6 million others since 2009, according to estimates. In 2014 alone, 42 percent of all attacks by Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria were on Christian communities, while 35.4 percent targeted random civilians, according to the Jubilee Campaign 2015 Report on Nigeria. Other attacks in 2014 targeted Muslim communities (6.8 percent), the government (10.9 percent), schools (4.1 percent) and media and medical personnel (0.5 percent), the Jubilee Campaign reported. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Platt asks state papers to encourage unity by David Roach Date: February 17, 2016 - Wednesday PONCE, Puerto Rico (BP) -- International Mission Board President David Platt has asked Baptist state papers to encourage unity among Southern Baptists following the announcement next week of how many IMB personnel have left the board through a series of voluntary resignation programs. Addressing a gathering of Baptist state paper leaders Feb. 16 in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Platt also detailed what he deemed some of the most exciting work God is doing through IMB missionaries across the globe. "As we announce a number next week" at a Feb. 23-24 IMB trustee meeting in Richmond, Va., Platt said, "I know that the reality of so many IMB missionaries making transitions will set in in a fresh way across the SBC. And I know there's an adversary who would love to use that to breed discouragement and division and disunity. And I just want to ask you brothers and sisters for your help in encouraging the churches." In response to a $210 million difference between gifts from churches and expenditures since 2010, the IMB launched a two-phase "organizational reset" in August, which included a voluntary retirement incentive (VRI) for personnel 50 and older with five or more years of service and a "hand raising opportunity" (HRO) for all remaining staff and missionaries to voluntarily resign and receive a benefits package. Platt had previously said a combined total of at least 600-800 missionaries and stateside personnel would need to accept the offers. He told the state paper leaders no involuntary reductions of overseas missionaries have been necessary as part of the reset and none are anticipated, though some overseas missionaries may have their duties adjusted. "For all our missionaries overseas, every step of this process has been voluntary," he said. The "one area of our staff in Richmond that has been affected in a more involuntary way," Platt said, is the communications center, which is slated to close April 29. Of the 40 Richmond communications employees, 10 were offered positions on the newly formed mobilization team. The remaining 30 were eligible to apply for other IMB positions or accept the HRO. "This decision to remove various positions in Richmond was not driven by a financial need as much as it was driven by stewardship of responsibility," Platt said. "We have a responsibility to Southern Baptists to [ensure] that every position we have is a position we need. We have a responsibility to use the resources entrusted to us in the wisest way possible for the spread of the Gospel to the nations." He added, "At the same time, we obviously want to honor these brothers and sisters whose positions were eliminated, through generosity, through expressions of gratitude for the pivotal role many of them have played for decades in service to the IMB.... These are some of the kindest servants and leaders in the Richmond office." The decision to close the Richmond Communications Center was made following internal and external audits of the IMB's communications effectiveness and extensive meetings with stateside and overseas communications staff, Platt said. The closure stemmed from the fact that "our mobilization efforts" -- presumably including the communications strategy -- "have not kept up with our times," Platt said. "We are way behind in the development of a digital mindset that builds on customization and flexibility rather than predictability and uniformity. Our field and stateside communicators struggle with employing new methods for reaching a changing audience. "In all of this, our home office mobilization efforts have often been disconnected from our field strategy. And as a result, looking across the IMB after months and months, it's clear we're sorely missing a culture of growth in which silos are broken down, mobilization needs are adequately addressed and mobilization goals are actually accomplished," he said. Platt invited Baptist journalists to participate in an overseas trip later this year to visit the IMB's global communications teams, which will assume some duties formerly performed by the Richmond communications office, and learn about the new communications strategy. The board's two overseas communications teams are based in Eurasia and Asia, with the Eurasia team primarily relaying news from IMB personnel in Europe and Africa and the Asia team reporting primarily on personnel in Asia. Some communications functions likely will be outsourced in keeping with a longstanding IMB practice, Platt said. In response to a question about encouraging work occurring among IMB missionaries, Platt referenced "multiplication of churches" in South Asia, "miraculous things happening through the spread of the Gospel in Southeast Asia" and "unprecedented opportunity" for evangelism associated with the Mideast refugee crisis. Platt referenced "people being martyred" among IMB national partners in Southeast Asia and said "the Lord [is] blessing even that ... in an Acts 7 kind of way for the spread of the Gospel." One IMB partner was stabbed, Platt said, and the alleged assailants were saved in prison through the witness of the victim's wife, as were police officers investigating the incident. "It's awesome," Platt said. "That's happening all around the world every day." Among other points noted by Platt: -- The team of advisers helping Platt make major decisions includes John Brady, vice president of global engagement; Zane Pratt, vice president of training; Rodney Freeman, treasurer and vice president of support services; Sebastian Traeger, executive vice president; and Clyde Meador, executive adviser to the president. -- The IMB's GC2 initiative, which allows congregations to fund missionaries directly, currently has 14 participating churches. "In order for a church to do this," Platt said, "they are required to keep their giving through the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon [Christmas Offering for International Missions] both strong." On average, churches participating in GC2 have increased their CP giving by 6 percent and their Lottie Moon giving by more than 20 percent since entering the program, Platt said. -- Reports that the IMB actually has a budget surplus are inaccurate, Platt said. "I, our treasurer and our financial team are totally confident in the numbers we have used/are using. In addition, we have communicated fully with our auditors. We have received from them consistently ... the highest ratings." -- Platt asked Southern Baptists to pray for the ministries of IMB missionaries whenever they hear about international crises in the news.