The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-03/16/2015 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: All we need by David Jeremiah Date: March 16, 2015 - Monday EL CAJON, Calif. (BP) -- Perhaps you know the hymn, "The Solid Rock," which begins with these words of testimony: "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness." The Solid Rock emphasizes one of the foundational truths of the Christian faith: Our salvation is based on Christ alone. The Bible says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5). This is the great legacy of the New Testament theologians. When the Gospel of Christ leaped over the boundaries of Israel and Judaism, key questions arose. Is salvation for the Gentiles too? And, if so, do these Gentiles need to become Jewish proselytes? Do they need to conform to Jewish law? Do they need to be circumcised? Do they need to adopt the Jewish calendar of Feast Days? Must they acquiesce to Jewish dietary requirements? Acts 15 recounts that a great counsel was convened to discuss these matters. The central question was: "What must a person do to be saved?" The apostles and church leaders defied efforts to impose legalism and ritualism on new believers, affirming for all time that salvation is totally by grace through faith in Christ alone. The apostle Paul became the great champion of justification by grace through faith, stating his case in plain English -- well, Greek -- in Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." When Judaizing false teachers followed behind him, threatening to muddle the message and disrupt the churches he nurtured, Paul responded with holy vehemence. Writing to the Galatians, he declared: "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:6-8). Paul charged the Galatians to return wholeheartedly to the truth "that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ … by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified" (Galatians 2:16). To the Romans, he wrote, "We conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law" (Romans 3:28). During subsequent centuries of the church, some again fell away from the simple teaching of justification by grace. Then the reformers, men like John Wycliffe, John Huss and Martin Luther, rediscovered the timeless truth of Scripture Alone, Grace Alone, and Faith Alone, the preaching of which brought about a revival of evangelism in the church. The world is filled with religions that want to add or take away from the simple plan of salvation. How easy to add works, to add rules, to add fear. How dangerous to subtract repentance, to subtract judgment, to subtract the all-sufficient blood of Christ. Perhaps you don't think this is an issue for you or in your church. Even churchgoing people often think they are saved by being baptized, attending services, volunteering, partaking of the Lord's Supper or engaging in some religious ritual or another. But as the old-time preachers used to say, "Being in church doesn't save you any more than being in a garage makes you a car." Our testimony, as The Solid Rock puts it, is: "I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' Name." We do good works not in order to be saved but because we are saved. We add our love and service to Him because of what He has done for us, not because of what we hope He will do for us. He is all we need. "On Christ the Solid Rock I stand," we sing, "all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Floyd names Committee on Committees by Staff Date: March 16, 2015 - Monday EDITOR'S NOTE: Please note that Mark Ford, First Baptist Church, Longview, Wash., has been added to the list of Committee on Committees for the Northwest. He replaces Matthew Bond, Ekklesia, Sidney (B.C., Canada), who will be unable to serve. Edited March 18. COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) -- Appointments to the Southern Baptist Convention's Committee on Committees have been announced by SBC President Ronnie Floyd, pastor of Cross Church, in Springdale, Ark. Floyd announced the appointments in accordance with SBC Bylaw 19, which calls for providing notice to Southern Baptists of the appointees no later than 45 days in advance of each year's Convention. The Committee on Committees will assemble in Columbus just prior to the SBC's June 16-17 annual meeting to nominate members of the Committee on Nominations who, in turn, nominate trustees for the boards of SBC entities. SBC Bylaw 19 also provides that the Committee on Committees "shall nominate all special committees authorized during the sessions of the Convention not otherwise provided for." The Committee on Committees has 68 members, two from each of the 34 states and regions qualified for representation on boards of SBC entities. The president named Bryan Smith, pastor of First Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va., to serve as chairman of this year's Committee on Committees. See Floyd's blog for more information about the Committee on Committees' selection process. Committee members are: ALABAMA -- Marilyn Foley, Spring Hill Baptist Church, Mobile; Buddy Champion, First Baptist Church, Trussville ALASKA -- Todd Burgess, First Baptist Church, Eagle River; Brent Williams, True North Church, Anchorage ARIZONA -- Scott Gourley, The Way Fellowship Church, Peoria; Brett Carlson, Mountain Ridge Church, Glendale ARKANSAS -- Tom Hatley, Immanuel Baptist Church, Rogers; Bill Elliff, The Summit Church, North Little Rock CALIFORNIA -- Ryan Blackwell, First Baptist Church, San Francisco; Anthony Dockery, St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church, La Puente COLORADO -- Bryan Barley, The Summit Church, Denver; Missy Kintzel, Applewood Baptist Church, Wheat Ridge FLORIDA -- Matt Crawford, First Baptist Church, Sebring; Trey Brunson, First Baptist Church, Jacksonville GEORGIA -- Fred Evers, Northside Baptist Church, Tifton; Jeremy Morton, First Baptist Church, Cartersville HAWAII -- Maria Ogle, Ocean View Baptist Church, Ocean View; Steve Gray, First Baptist Church, Wahiawa ILLINOIS - Adron Robinson, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Country Club Hills; Patrick Pajak, Tabernacle, Decatur INDIANA -- Nathan Millican, Oak Park Baptist Church, Jeffersonville; Autumn Wall, Living Faith Church, Indianapolis KANSAS-NEBRASKA -- Derrick Lynch, Blue Valley Baptist Church, Overland Park, Kan.; Faith McDonald, Lenexa Baptist Church, Lenexa, Kan. KENTUCKY -- Garnetta Smith, Highview Baptist Church, Louisville; John Mark Toby, Hillvue Heights Church, Bowling Green LOUISIANA -- Stewart Holloway, First Baptist Church, Pineville; Diane Nix, First Baptist Church, Covington MARYLAND-DELAWARE-DC -- Bucas Sterling III, Kettering Baptist Church, Upper Marlboro, Md.; Zach Schlegel, Capital Hill Baptist Church, Washington, D.C. MICHIGAN -- Nathaniel Bishop, Eastside Community Church, Harper Woods; Wayne Parker, Merriman Road Baptist Church, Garden City MISSISSIPPI -- Eric Hankins, First Baptist Church, Oxford; Chip Henderson, Pinelake Church, Brandon MISSOURI -- Malachi O'Brien, The Church at Pleasant Ridge, Harrisonville; Brad Graves, Calvary Baptist Church, Joplin NEVADA -- Greg Fields, Nellis Baptist Church, Las Vegas; Kristie Pitman, Hope Baptist Church, Las Vegas NEW ENGLAND -- Matt Chewning, Netcast Church, Beverly, Mass.; David Um, Antioch Baptist Church, Cambridge, Mass. NEW MEXICO -- Alan Stoddard, First Baptist Church, Ruidoso; Elio Barrios, Taylor Memorial Baptist Church, Hobbs NEW YORK -- George Russ, Ebenezer Mission Church, Oakland Gardens; Salomón Orellana, Iglesia Bautista El Buen Pastor, Hempstead NORTH CAROLINA -- Mike Daniels, Hickory Grove Baptist Church, Charlotte; Brundi Crawford, Biltmore Baptist Church, Arden NORTHWEST -- Brian Smith, Calvary Baptist Church, Burlington, Wash.; Mark Ford, First Baptist Church, Longview, Wash. OHIO -- Travis Smalley, Lakota Hills Baptist Church, West Chester Township; Rich Halcombe, Jersey Baptist Church, Pataskala OKLAHOMA -- Félix Cabrera, Iglesia Bautista Central, Oklahoma City; Alex Himaya, TheChurch.at, Tulsa PENNSYLVANIA/SOUTH JERSEY -- K. Marshall Williams, Nazarene Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Pa.; John Cope, Keystone Fellowship, North Wales, Pa. SOUTH CAROLINA -- Paul Jimenez, First Baptist Church, Taylors; Karyn Wilton, First Baptist Church, Spartanburg TENNESSEE -- Kim Tucker, Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova; Jon Akin, Fairview Church, Lebanon TEXAS -- Chuy Avila, El Encuentro Baptist Church, El Paso; Glynn Stone, Mobberly Baptist Church, Longview UTAH-IDAHO -- Paul Thompson, Eastside Baptist Church, Twin Falls, Idaho; Ray Sparkman, Central Valley Baptist Church, Meridian, Idaho VIRGINIA -- Bryan Smith, First Baptist Church, Roanoke; Tammy Ethridge, Liberty Baptist Church, Hampton WEST VIRGINIA -- John Freeman, Calvary Baptist Church, Chapmanville; Will Basham, New Heights Church, Milton WYOMING -- Mark Porter, Happy Jack Country Church, Cheyenne; Zachary Edwards, Life Point Church, Cheyenne -------------------------------------------------------------------- Evolutionists kill academic freedom bills by Dick Peterson Date: March 16, 2015 - Monday ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BP) -- Lawmakers in four states tried this year to introduce academic freedom bills to protect teachers for questioning theories like Darwinism, shielding them from discipline, demotion or termination. But opponents killed the bills before they could get a fair hearing, raising concerns among educators who might not fully embrace the theory of evolution. "There are a number of incidents around the country where teachers have been threatened or fired," said Casey Luskin, research coordinator for the Discovery Institute's Center for Science & Culture. "They simply cited some of the problems with Darwinism." Most, if not all, of the bills were modeled after an academic freedom statute drafted by the Discovery Institute, which advocates for intelligent design as a better scientific explanation for driving the mechanism of life. Critics claim the proposed legislation is a way to introduce intelligent design and creationism in the classroom. But in two states that already have academic freedom laws, that hasn't happened. As the first to pass an Academic Freedom bill into law in 2008, Louisiana has had enough time for any unintended consequences to surface. None have. In 2012, Tennessee became the second state to protect teachers who challenge students to think critically by discussing opposing sides of controversial topics. The Louisiana Science Education Act "wasn't limited to the evolutionary science question," said Gene Mills, president of the Louisiana Family Forum, a driving force for academic freedom legislation in Louisiana. "It was one of four controversial subject matters that were listed to include the origin of life, global warming, and human cloning," he said. The forum argued that declaring a position "settled science" doesn't dismiss opposing arguments and clear the way for any public policy based on it -- not in the media, the state legislatures, or the schools.  "If we can discuss it in the media or at the legislature, then a child or a student may ask a question or a teacher may propose an alternative theory on any of these controversial subject matters and discuss it freely as part of an academic freedom effort," Mills said.  Opponents to the Louisiana and Tennessee laws, and the bills that failed in South Dakota, Montana, Indiana, and Oklahoma, say academic freedom measures are a backdoor attempt to introduce intelligent design and creationism into the classroom. But Mills noted provisions written into the laws make that impossible. The legislation prohibits promoting religion, which would block creationism, and it prohibits teaching subjects outside of an approved course of study. To his knowledge, intelligent design is not a part of any curriculum in any public educational institution in the country. Still, opponents continue their attempts to overturn existing academic freedom laws and block the passage of new legislation, claiming science shouldn't be questioned. But science is never settled. Discoveries beget questions that research and more discoveries answer in a continuing quest for knowledge. Luskin and Mills say that cycle can only survive where scientists are free to pursue it and teachers are free to debate and teach it. -------------------------------------------------------------------- BP Ledger, March 16, 2015 by Staff Date: March 16, 2015 - Monday EDITOR'S NOTE: BP Ledger carries items for reader information each week from various Southern Baptist-related entities, and news releases of interest from other sources. The items are published as received. Today's BP Ledger contains items from: Home School Legal Defense Association Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Oklahoma Baptist University Christian Newswire (two items) Movieguide.org University of Mobile Proposed bill offers asylum to homeschoolers PURCELLVILLE, Va. (Home School Legal Defense Association) -- Amid the immigration debate in Washington, D.C., a new bill would make it possible for families who are persecuted for homeschooling to find refuge in the United States. This legislation -- introduced as H.R. 1153, the Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act of 2015 -- was developed by the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) along with supportive members of Congress in the wake of the Romeike family's 2013 asylum case after they fled their home country of Germany under the threat of fines and imprisonment for homeschooling their children. "We did not want to have to leave our home in Germany in order to homeschool," Uwe Romeike explained. "But when we were harshly treated, America opened its doors to us. America has become our new home. We want to be citizens of this great country, and we are so grateful to the congressmen for writing this bill." Michael Farris, HSLDA's chairman, who argued before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of the Romeike family, was pleased with the congressional action. "No one should be forced to flee their homeland in order to homeschool," Farris said. "But that is what the Romeikes and scores of other families have had to do in order to escape crushing fines, criminal penalties and even the seizure of their children in countries like Germany and Sweden. Homeschooling is no threat to free societies, and I applaud the Congress for taking action so that families like the Romeikes and others who experience ill treatment may find refuge and legal status in the land of the free." H.R. 1153 sponsor Rep. Jason Chaffetz (UT), original cosponsors Daniel Webster (FL) and Rep. Robert Goodlatte (VA), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, have included specific language that would allow up to 500 grants of asylum per year to family members fleeing homeschool persecution. The Romeike family would be able to reopen their case under the proposed law. Among the measure's changes to the Immigration and Nationality Act, it would also require the U.S. attorney general to hire at least 50 more immigration judges, making it easier for families who come to the U.S. because of homeschooling to be granted asylum. The bill explicitly refers to homeschooling as a particular social group and specifies that a person is deemed to be eligible for asylum if he or she is persecuted for homeschooling or if the person resists anti-homeschooling laws in his country of origin. Home School Legal Defense Association is a nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms. Visit us online at www.HSLDA.org Daniel Block: a fresh perspective on the theology of worship WAKE FOREST, N.C. (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) -- Daniel Block lectured on at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) on Feb. 10-11 as a part of the Adams lecture series. Block is a professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College. He is also the author and editor of several books and publications, including "For the Glory of God: Recovering a Biblical Theology of Worship." Block's first lecture was on the theology of worship and focused on the Christian's object of worship: God. He reflected on worship trends in the past half-century and raised the question "what is worship?" Block thinks that people often "equate worship with a type of music," but biblically, "music is rarely associated with worship." He believes true worship involves all of life, action, reverence and awe of God. "The reward of true and authentic worship is the divine gift of rest," he said. Block said that to worship is to ascribe worth to someone or something, but it is different than praise. "Worship is far bigger than praise," he said. "Everyone worships, but not everyone worships rightly." Block stated that, "the Scriptures call for worship that is true rather than false." He challenged the audience to be consistent in worship by confession and practice. "True worship comes from hearts totally devoted to God and determined to please him." Block reminded the audience that only God is worthy of worship as "the source and sustainer of all things." He highlighted Psalm 95 and 23, exploring God's terms for worship and why God is worthy of all worship. "If that's true, how can worship be casual?" he said. "A covenant relationship is not a call to casualness." Block noted that "the more we talk about worship, the less we do it," and there is often a lack of reverence and submission before God. Pleasing worship is joyful obedience motivated by the glory of God's gracious actions and awe "why me?" According to Block, Christians should respond to God's invitation to worship with unrestrained celebration, gestures of humiliation and submission and open ears and tender hearts. Block's Wednesday lecture was titled, "Fire on the Mountain: A Call for True and Transforming Worship." He challenged the audience to refine their worship practices in light of the God they worship. "There is a vast difference between the One who calls for the audience and the audience," he said. He reminded listeners that, "the gospel always precedes commands" which should lead one to worship God. Block taught from Exodus 19 and highlighted the external and formal prerequisites to acceptable worship by recognizing God's holiness and consecrating oneself. He believes that it is sinful to be trivial in the worship of God. He encouraged listeners to take a fresh look at the "awesome and glorious God we serve" by focusing on genuine worship. "We don't have to [worship]; we get to by his grace," Block said. The dimensions of covenant relationship found in Deuteronomy 10:12-13 include fearing God, walking in all his ways, serving wholeheartedly and keeping God's commands. "What the Lord says to the worshipper is more important than what we say to him," he added. Moral prerequisites to acceptable worship involve a clean heart and uncompromising devotion. "If anything other than God is the object of my allegiance, my worship will not be accepted," Block said. To view photos from these lectures, please go to https://www.flickr.com/photos/southeastern/sets/72157648069791903. To watch these messages online, go to http://multimedia.sebts.edu. Doug Tolin retires from OBU SHAWNEE, Okla. (Oklahoma Baptist University) -- The Doug Tolin era ended at Oklahoma Baptist March 12 when the longtime basketball coach announced his retirement. Tolin, who enters the NAIA Hall of Fame March 17 in Kansas City, retires as the all-time leader in OBU men's basketball wins with 402. OBU inducted Tolin into its Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011. The Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame did the same last summer. "Doug has represented this university incredibly well over his 15 seasons," said OBU Director of Athletics Robert Davenport. "His players, colleagues in the profession and everyone in the OBU community has the highest respect for his integrity and what he has achieved here." Tolin, coach at OBU since 2000-01, led the Bison to 14 consecutive NAIA tournaments, including the national championship in 2010. His teams have reached at least the quarterfinal round seven times. He has led the Bison to the NAIA championship game three times. Voted SAC Coach of the Year in 2002, 2003 and 2012, Tolin was NAIA Coach of the Year in 2010. Tolin led his Bison to three consecutive regular season conference titles from 2002-04 and another three in a row from 2010-12. He put together six 30-or-more-win teams, with his lowest win total being a pair of 19-win campaigns. Tolin has coached nine All-NAIA Tournament picks; nine first-team All-Americans; three NAIA Players of the Year; and 11 NAIA All-America Scholar Athletes. A 1975 graduate of East Central University, Tolin holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and a master's degree in secondary education, also from ECU. He attended high school at Bartlesville Sooner High School, graduating in 1971. Tolin and his wife Susan have three grown children, Christy, Kyle and Keely. Sentenced to die for being a Christian GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Christian Newswire) -- Christian Lives Matter, LLC, a faith/family film company, is in pre-production for the feature film "I Am a Christian" -- the true story of Meriam Ibrahim and the people who here in America who worked tirelessly to rescue her from the Sudan. In May 2014 Meriam was sentenced to death under Sharia law for the "crime" of being a Christian. Although Meriam was born to a Muslim father, she was a lifelong Christian. She was turned in by one of her own Muslim family members to Sudanese authorities for the alleged crime of apostasy. Apostasy is the crime of leaving the religion of Islam and is punishable by death. Pregnant, frightened and alone, Meriam was chained to the floor in a filthy prison, according to the Christian Lives Matter film company. Meriam was forced to give birth while still chained to the prison's floor. She was denied any medical care. Muslim clerics would visit her during the course of her captivity, giving her a chance to renounce Christ and convert to Islam. She refused, stating repeatedly, "I am a Christian." Despite the knowledge that she, and quite possibly her children, would be put to death, she held true to her faith in Jesus. Christian Lives Matter has assembled a seasoned Christian cast for the film: Stacey Dash - actress and Fox News contributor Kevin Sorbo - star of "God's Not Dead" Rachel Hendrix - star of "October Baby" Ben Davies - star of "Courageous" For further information, go to www.YesIAmAChristian.com. Disney filmmaker producing new audio drama THOMSON, Ill. (Christian Newswire) -- Bob Garner, a well-known Disney producer and director who has worked with Star Wars creator George Lucas and actress Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music), is producing a "behind the scenes" mini-documentary for "With Lee In Virginia," a family-friendly Christian audio drama CD set during the Civil War and will be released this summer. The project has been recorded in Hollywood and is the third audio theater CD from executive producer Bill Heid and Heirloom Audio Productions. "Having been in and around the Hollywood industry for many years, writing, producing and directing for major TV networks and film studios, I have come to appreciate true quality and utmost professionalism ... exemplified in the people on a given team," Garner said. "This fascinating and intriguing audio drama, With Lee In Virginia, is a superb example of all those disciplines mentioned and more." With Lee In Virginia is based on a novel by G.A. Henty and features Academy Award nominee Sean Astin (Rudy, The Lord Of The Rings, The Goonies), Kirk Cameron (Monumental, Fireproof), Chris Anthony (Adventures In Odyssey) and Kelsey Landsdowne (Curious George film). With Lee In Virginia is the third project from Heirloom Audio Productions, which released "In Freedom's Cause" in 2014 and "Under Drake's Flag" in 2013. Under Drake's Flag was nominated for two Audie awards for best audio drama and best package design. Heid founded Heirloom Audio in a desire to give families positive, Christ-centered entertainment that not only engages the mind but also educates and inspires. "What we're trying to do is put Christian faith back into history," Heid said. "History in our culture has been sterilized and secularized, with the faith of great men and women completely removed from textbooks. These projects are all about putting Christ back into history in a meaningful and exciting way." All of Heirloom Audio's projects are based on real historical events. In Freedom's Cause told the story of 14th-century Scottish hero William Wallace and his fight for independence from England, while Under Drake's Flag recounted the adventures of 16th-century sailor Sir Francis Drake, the first Englishman to circle the globe. The projects have been especially popular among homeschooling families, who view them as a way of making history fun. The productions are now gaining wider audiences as a result of their pure entertainment value and all-star casts. Movieguide Awards celebrate inspiring entertainment CAMARILLO, Calif. (Movieguide.org) -- More than 490 celebrities, filmmakers, Hollywood executives, TV artists and supporters celebrated faith-and-values movies and television programs Feb. 6 at the 23rd Annual Movieguide Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry held in Los Angeles. "It was our biggest event yet," said Dr. Ted Baehr, publisher and founder of Movieguide: The Family Guide to Movies and Entertainment, now celebrating its 30th year of "redeeming the values of the mass media of entertainment." At the Awards, music legend Stevie Wonder joined fellow Grammy winners and nominees Take 6, Donnie McClurkin, Ledisi and Jonathan Butler to pay tribute to the late Andraé Crouch, the Grammy-winning artist who transformed contemporary Gospel music. Popular rapper Lecrae also performed. Comedian Bill Engvall hosted the awards show, which also was attended by Korie and Sadie Robertson of TV's "Duck Dynasty": Corbin Bernsen of "Psych": and legendary entertainer Pat Boone. Pure Flix's "God's Not Dead" and UP TV's "Love Finds You in Sugarcreek" won the two $100,000 Epiphany Prizes for Inspiring Movies & TV. Supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation, the Epiphany Prizes honor the best, most inspiring movie and TV program of the previous year that "greatly increases man's love or understanding of God." "Heaven Is for Real" was named the Best Movie for Families and "Unbroken" was named the Best Movie for Mature Audiences. Also, Lifetime and A&E's "The Gabby Douglas Story" received two awards, one for the Faith & Freedom Award for Promoting Positive American Values in Television and a Grace Award for star Imani Hakim for the Most Inspiring Performance in Television. "The Giver" received the Faith & Freedom Award for Promoting Positive American Values in Movies, and Diogo Morgado, who played Jesus in "Son of God," won the Grace Award for the Most Inspiring Performance in Movies. Dave Alan Johnson, Gary R. Johnson and Joan Considine Johnson won the 2nd Annual $50,000 Chronos Prize for Inspiring Screenplays by Established Filmmakers for their script "The Star of Bethlehem" about an 11-year-old girl and her father who go up against a politically correct school system to prove the science behind the Star of Bethlehem. Jeff Peabody of Federal Way, Wash., took home the $25,000 Grand Prize in the Kairos Prizes competition for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays by First-Time or Beginning Screenwriters" with his script "When Mountains Moved," which is about an investigation by author Charles Dickens into the incredible tales he has heard of George Muller, a dirt-poor preacher from Victorian England saving thousands of poor orphans from the streets. At the gala following the awards ceremony, Baehr presented highlights from Movieguide's 2015 Report to the Entertainment Industry, an analysis of the major movies released by Hollywood and the entertainment industry in 2014 that showed family-friendly movies and movies with strong Christian, biblical, redemptive and moral content and values made far more money at the box office here and overseas, and on home video, than movies with strong non-Christian or anti-biblical, immoral content and values. For example, movies with very strong Christian, redemptive, biblical or moral worldviews averaged $75.39 million per movie at the domestic box office in 2014 versus only $20.13 million for movies with very strong Non-Christian or anti-biblical, immoral or deceitful worldviews. Movies with very strong humanist/atheist movies fared even worse, averaging only $4.39 million per movie. Also, movies having no foul language, no sexual content, no nudity and no alcohol or tobacco/drug use or abuse earned much more money than movies with such use or abuse. Named at the 10 best movies for families: 1 – HEAVEN IS FOR REAL – Winner of Best Movie for Families 2 – SON OF GOD 3 – GOD'S NOT DEAD 4 – BIG HERO 6 5 – MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN 6 – DOLPHIN TALE 2 7 – PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR 8 – BEARS 9 – MUPPETS MOST WANTED 10 – PLANES: FIRE AND RESCUE 10 best movies for mature audiences: 1 – UNBROKEN – Winner of Best Movie for Mature Audiences 2 – CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER 3 – THE GIVER 4 – THE GOOD LIE 5 – TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (2014) 6 – THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 7 – THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 1 8 – DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES 9 – DIVERGENT 10 – THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 UMobile earns marketing awards MOBILE, Ala. (University of Mobile) -- The University of Mobile earned nine national awards, including a "Best of Show," in the 30th Annual Educational Advertising Awards, the largest educational advertising awards competition in the United States. UMobile was among 14 institutions recognized by the judges as a "Best of Show" winner in the competition sponsored by Higher Education Marketing Report. This year, over 2,000 entries were received from over 1,000 colleges, universities and secondary schools from all 50 states and several foreign countries. The university's "Belief in U" total advertising campaign, created with Hummingbird Ideas in Mobile, Ala., was named a Best of Show. The campaign focuses on belief as the foundation of the Christian university, and the university's belief that a higher education that focuses on academics and spiritual growth prepares graduates to make a real difference in the world. "Our 'Belief in U' message captures so well what is unique about the University of Mobile experience," said Lesa Moore, executive director of marketing and public relations. The university's marketing department worked with Hummingbird Ideas founding partner and creative director Johnny Gwin to produce the award-winning advertising materials, from brochures and billboards to television ads and social media. "Creating effective advertising and design is so much easier when you get to work with a client that knows their product," said Johnny Gwin, partner and creative director at Hummingbird Ideas. "The University of Mobile Marketing Department guided and challenged us to create work that would stand out in a crowded category, but still ring true to the uniqueness of their university. The 'Belief in U' campaign inspiration came directly from President Mark Foley's published essays and new student visitation presentations. Our team just helped them uncover what they were already preaching." The university also worked with Jay Adcock of JWA Creative in Atlanta to design award-winning materials including the University of Mobile Magazine (umobilemagazine.com), newsletters and the annual Leadership Banquet banners and advertising. To see UMobile's winning materials, go to umobile.edu/news. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 80,000-plus Bibles shipped to Cuba for churches by Barbara Denman/Florida Baptist convention Date: March 16, 2015 - Monday EDITOR'S NOTE: The sixth and seventh paragraphs have been edited since the story was posted earlier today. MIAMI (BP) -- Three 40-foot containers packed with 83,723 Spanish-speaking Bibles to be distributed among Baptist churches in both Western and Eastern Cuba are expected to arrive in Havana March 25. The shipment, slated to leave South Florida during the week of March 15, is the third Southern Baptists have sent to the island nation since 1999. This latest effort brings the total number of Bibles sent to nearly half a million, said Kurt Urbanek, IMB strategy leader for Cuba since 1997. However, this represents the first time Bibles were shipped directly from the United States. The extensive process of seeking permission from the Cuban government to ship Bibles required a great deal of negotiation with government officials and the Cuban Bible Society, Urbanek explained. Clearance for this effort was given late 2014. "We are grateful the Cuban government opened the doors for the Bibles," Urbanek said. In 1992 the Cuban government officially changed its status from an atheistic to a secular society, helping pave the way for the Bible distribution. The shipment of the Bibles and Bible resources, coordinated by IMB, represents a collaborative partnership between IMB, LifeWay Christian Stores, Florida Baptist Convention, Church by the Glades in Coral Springs, Fla., and other individuals and groups. Last year, LifeWay customers across the country donated funds to purchase 144,000 Bibles for distribution in several Central American and Caribbean countries. Of those Bibles, 60,000 were designated for Cuba. IMB provided $100,000 for the project. Florida Baptists contributed $2,000 from the Maguire State Mission Offering to purchase 600 leather-bound Bibles. Others provided funding for additional Bibles and resources, as well as the cost of shipment. In the past, the Cuban government required Bibles to be distributed to all evangelical denominations in the country. But this time 75 percent -- or 64,000 -- of the Bibles will be allocated to the Havana-based Western Cuba Baptist Convention and the Santiago-based Eastern Cuba Baptist Convention, resulting in each group receiving 32,000 Bibles. With the Eastern Convention reporting 29,063 professions of faith in 2014, Urbanek said the Bibles potentially will cover the new Christians and only a few more. The eastern churches also will endure a logistical challenge getting the books across the rough Cuban terrain to Santiago, about an 18-hour drive from Havana. Urbanek reported the Eastern Convention added 1,300 new house churches and missions in recent years. "The growth is so incredible, that's why Bibles are so important," he said, noting Western Cuba churches have expanded likewise. The shipment also includes Bible commentaries, study Bibles and giant-print Bibles for the visually impaired. Florida Baptists, who have an 18-year partnership with Cuba Baptists, have participated in other shipments of Bibles to Cuba, said John Holloway, team strategist with the Convention's Partnership Missions. He asked Southern Baptists to pray for "unhindered delivery; no problems at customs in Cuba; immediate distribution; and the salvation of many." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Lesbian speaker at Bapt. college prompts protest by David Roach Date: March 16, 2015 - Monday NASHVILLE (BP) -- A historically black college that used to have ties with the Southern Baptist Convention has drawn criticism for inviting three gay marriage proponents to address students. Forrest Harris, president of American Baptist College in Nashville, specifically defended his decision to invite a lesbian bishop to speak by denouncing those who use "idolatry of the Bible" to discriminate against homosexuals. Harris defined idolatry of the Bible as "when people say [the Bible] is synonymous with God and the truth." He added, "We can't be guided and dictated by a first century worldview," the Tennessean reported. Among the critics of Harris and the college is a coalition of pastors who minister at congregations in cooperation with the National Baptist Convention USA Inc., America's largest predominantly African American Baptist denomination. Known as the National Baptist Fellowship of Concerned Pastors, the coalition objects to American Baptist College's speaking invitation to Yvette Flunder, an open lesbian and United Church of Christ bishop, Delman Coates, a pastor who led a campaign in Maryland to legalize gay marriage, and Allan Boesak, a South African minister and politician who urged the South African Dutch Reformed Church to affirm same-sex marriage. The 150 members of the National Baptist Fellowship of Concerned Pastors asked in a news release that Harris rescind Flunder's invitation, that NBC USA Inc. President Jerry Young release a statement expressing his position on Flunder's invitation and that Flunder's addresses be moved from the American Baptist College's facilities. Dwight McKissic, a co-coordinator of the conservative pastors group whose church cooperates with both the NBC USA Inc. and the SBC, told Baptist Press that Harris, who teaches at Vanderbilt Divinity School, is taking American Baptist College "down a liberal Vanderbilt trail." "The issue with the college is, how did the board of trustees allow this to happen?" McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, said. "That's the focus of what we've been looking at. The board of trustees has allowed Forrest Harris to take the school down a liberal Vanderbilt trail against the theological beliefs of the pastors of" the NBC USA Inc. Randy Vaughn, pastor of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Port Arthur, Texas, and the other co-coordinator of the National Baptist Fellowship of Concerned Pastors, told BP, "As a Baptist body believing that the Scripture really governs and dictates to us what our convictions are about God and our Christ, the very fact of Yvette Flunder's being in a lesbian same-sex marriage is a violation of what we believe. And certainly her preaching in our sacred sanctuary is much of an abomination for us. And as a result, that requires an objection." In a March 15 worship service at the college, those in attendance participated in a responsive reading that affirmed, "We are committed to a love and justice ministry that shuns all forms of oppression and hates based on race, class, gender and sexual orientation. We are committed to fostering leaders who uphold cultural and racial diversity, gender justice and developing effective leadership for a more inclusive church and society," according to a copy of the reading provided by McKissic. The NBC USA Inc.'s website describes American Baptist College as "an independent college for the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc." But Monchiere Holmes-Jones, a spokeswoman for the college, told BP that it "is not directly correlated" with the convention. She did not know whether the NBC USA Inc. contributes any money to the college. Harris did not respond to Baptist Press's request for comment by press time. American Baptist College's governance has long been "shrouded in mystery," McKissic said. Though National Baptists have been told the school is "owned and operated" by the NBC USA Inc., it is unclear who appoints trustees or whether the convention funds the college. McKissic believes Young, who was elected as NBC USA Inc. president last year and opposes same-sex marriage, will help clarify questions about American Baptist College's governance. Young was not available to comment by press time but may provide comments for a follow-up article in BP, his assistant said. Harris has not responded to emails or phone calls from McKissic and other concerned pastors, McKissic said. The college's spokeswoman said Harris has decided not to respond but to let his supporters respond on his behalf. Open letters from supporters are posted on the American Baptist College website. The controversy over Flunder and other gay-affirming speakers at American Baptist College may help generate discussion about a larger "tension" within the NBC USA Inc. regarding same-sex marriage, McKissic said. The NBC USA Inc. has not taken a position on same-sex marriage as a convention, but Young announced in January that he would appoint a resolutions committee to develop a position statement on same-sex marriage for National Baptists to vote on later this year, according to McKissic's blog. Last year, the NBC USA Inc.'s Home Mission Board released a statement instructing board-endorsed military chaplains "not to participate in any activity that implies or condones same sex marriage or same sex union." Founded in 1924 as the American Baptist Theological Seminary, American Baptist College was organized "for the training of Negro ministers and religious workers" and was jointly owned by the NBC USA Inc. and SBC. The SBC financially supported the college until 1995, when as a part of the Covenant for a New Century the SBC decided that the school was a "legacy of an age of racial discrimination, when African-American students were not allowed to enroll in the convention-supported seminaries." The SBC moved further toward racial inclusion by granting sole responsibility for the institution to the NBC USA Inc., noting that Southern Baptists "are convinced that this is no longer the appropriate structure for Southern Baptist support of African-American Baptist leadership." Deeds for the college's property drafted in 1977 and 1982 specified that the school "may not use or allow the use of the property other than exclusively for the purpose of training persons in Christian theology as interpreted by Baptist doctrine." A violation of that condition would have resulted in the property being transferred back to the SBC. In 2011, the SBC's Executive Committee waived the convention's rights to 55 acres on which American Baptist College sits, property appraised at $1.7 million at the time.