
The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-04/13/2007

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Mandisa marvels at cooperative missions
by Art Toalston
Date: April 13, 2007 - Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Mandisa Hundley, one of last year's "American Idol" finalists, doesn't want any regrets.

And that includes missions.

Mandisa (who uses her first name) marvels at how missionaries "work day after day ... that the body of Christ can be built up."

So, she's ready to do "anything that I can do" for missions -– which is why she readily agreed to host the most recent volume of "Missionary Moments Video Vignettes."

The video missions segments, now in their sixth year, highlight the work of six international and six North American missionaries supported by prayers and Southern Baptists' gifts through the Cooperative Program.

Suggested uses of Missionary Moments Video Vignettes -– each hosted by Mandisa and less than three minutes in length –- include highlighting the Cooperative Program in morning, evening or midweek worship services; during offering times or as sermon illustrations; in Sunday School departments or classes; and for church missions emphases.

"I have been hearing about (missions) for years," ever since going to work at LifeWay Christian Resources after graduating from Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., Mandisa said.

Before, however, she hadn't known much about missionaries. But at Lifeway, "that's when I heard about all these people either in short-term missions or giving their entire life going out to win people to the Lord. I have nothing but respect for them."

Her aversion to regrets is reflected in her American Idol venture, with Mandisa recounting, "I went into American Idol thinking I just never wanted to look back and wonder what would have happened if I hadn't tried it.

"At the end of my life, I never want to say, 'I could have worshipped harder' or 'I could have had a bigger effect on people.'"

At LifeWay, Mandisa became a telephone sales representative in the fall of 2000 and later worked briefly for LifeWay's women's enrichment events before joining Bible teacher Beth Moore's worship team as a singer for her Living Proof Live conferences.

Mandisa said Moore "has such a heart for the lost. She always takes a moment to talk about missions in all the conferences I've seen her at. She's always wanted to make sure people know that there are people out there who are doing this fulltime and are really giving their lives to it."

As Mandisa embarks on a singing career in Christian music and in churches across the country, she asks to be remembered in prayer "that every step I take would not be my own but would actually be down the path that He has for me."

After being in the American Idol spotlight, Mandisa said, "I'm the same person. The only difference is that people can pronounce my name now.... I still enjoy worshipping. I still enjoy spending time with my friends and going to church. None of that has changed."

In addition to Missionary Moments Video Vignettes, available for $6 via www.sbc.net/cp, the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee produces a number of resources designed to demonstrate the value and impact of cooperative missions and ministries.

Among these is a print-version "Missionary Moments," a weekly prayer guide resource for a church service or a small group recounting the stories of Southern Baptist missionaries across the globe supported through the Cooperative Program. It's available free online or in print via www.sbc.net/cp.

Other video and print resources include:

-- "The Difference -– A Resource Suite for Southern Baptist Missions and Ministries, Volume 2" ($15). Promoted as "The Ultimate Resource for the Mission-Minded Church," the DVD-ROM features more than 30 video features, most under three minutes in length, including never-before-seen features highlighting various Southern Baptist missions and ministries. Sermons, Sunday School lessons, PowerPoint presentations, posters, bulletin inserts and graphics also are included on the disc.

Potential uses of The Difference include ongoing missions promotion; missions conferences or special emphases; morning, evening or midweek worship services; new member classes; leadership meetings; a church's budget planning team; small-group Bible studies; church newsletters; and missions bulletin boards.

-- "Project M Praise and Worship" and "Project M Classic." These music CDs (sold separately for $8 each) feature praise and worship songs from the artists who made them known as well as beloved hymns of the faith. The CDs are punctuated with stories of how God is using Southern Baptists to impact the world through the Cooperative Program.

Suggested uses for Project M CDs include as gifts for new members or first-time guests; high attendance day incentive; leadership appreciation/recognition; missions conferences; training resource for deacons, Sunday School teachers and other church leaders; special emphases (Mother's Day, Father's Day, Senior Adult Day, etc.)

-- A brief history and overview of the Cooperative Program, available without cost.

-- A free downloadable PowerPoint file titled "CP in a Nutshell," a 12-slide presentation with short descriptions of the national and international ministries supported by the Cooperative Program such as the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board, Southern Baptist seminaries and the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.

-- Free reproducible articles, bulletin inserts, posters and Cooperative Program graphics.

Among other print items available are the "Flip Side Bookmark"; "CP –- Making a Difference"; and "Hi-Definition Missions." Previews are available at www.sbc.net/cp. Suggested uses for these resources include bulletin inserts; new member classes; missions emphases; church tract racks; budget/missions committee meetings; church libraries; and leadership training.

Resources for kids include "Teamwork Works," an eight-session curriculum that can be downloaded free from www.sbc.net/cp. Children in grades 1-5 can discover how they are part of a worldwide missions team as their church participates in the Cooperative Program. Using fun and creative activities, each session highlights a different state or SBC entity supported through CP. Children will learn about the purpose of seminaries, the role of their state convention and the roles of the IMB, NAMB and the ERLC. A parent letter included in each session gives parents ideas for reinforcing and practicing a missional mindset at home.

LifeWay's children's resources containing CP material include:

-- TeamKID, a recreation-based discipleship program. This year's material, "Count on Me," provides opportunities in several meetings to reinforce missions giving and educate children about the Cooperative Program. The third meeting, "God Can Count on Me to Use Money Wisely" covers CP giving. Other lessons throughout the year educate children regarding such topics as world hunger and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions.

-- "I'm a Christian Now!", a four-week curriculum that helps new Christians grasp the basics of living the Christian life. CP missions is covered in the CD-ROM lesson on missions.

-- "Bible Teaching for Kids," Sunday School materials for the elementary grades typically emphasize CP missions in a November lesson.

From the North American Mission Board, "Backpack Missions" is a new free downloadable resource available at sbcmissioneducation.org. Twenty-four "anytime, anywhere" object lessons teach Great Commission principles and Southern Baptist cooperative missions using a world-trekking character, "Backpack Andy," who pulls objects from his backpack to teach about missions. 

Among other enrichment tools, the www.actsone8missiontools.com website offers a large assortment of free downloadable resources categorized according to a church's "Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world."

A second installment in the "Forged by Faith" video series offers a 20-minute overview of the birth and purpose of CP. Titled "The Cooperative Program: One Sacred Effort," churches can use the video for Sunday School classes, new member classes or special programs. For information about the first two installments of the Forged By Faith series and to view a sample excerpt of each film, visit www.sbc.net/forgedbyfaith.

Many state conventions also carry print resources in support of the Cooperative Program (and some of the resources listed above) and make them available to their churches.
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Palau ministry to utilize Holman CSB
by Don Beehler
Date: April 13, 2007 - Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--The Luis Palau Association has selected the Holman Christian Standard Bible's translation of the Gospel of John for its "Growing Faith" study book for new and recommitted Christians. The resource utilizing the Holman CSB will be launched at the Luis Palau Nashville CityFest outreach May 19-20 and be used in other LPA events throughout 2008 and beyond.

The Palau ministry will use more than 170,000 Holman CSB English copies plus 45,000 Spanish copies from La Biblia de las Américas, a contemporary Spanish translation of the Scriptures from the original languages. La Biblia de las Américas New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs will be available this summer through Holman Bible Outreach International.

Established by LifeWay Christian Resources in 2001, Holman Bible Outreach International functions as a Bible society to facilitate the distribution of the Holman CSB and to provide affordable Bibles and Scripture portions for the purpose of evangelism and ministry.

"A contemporary translation like the Holman Christian Standard Bible, which is clear yet totally faithful to the original language, is essential for someone who gives his or her life to Jesus Christ," Luis Palau said. "It is the key to growing and maturing in one's faith."

"What an honor it is for a world-renown evangelist such as Luis Palau to choose the Holman Christian Standard Bible translation for Nashville CityFest follow-up materials," said Phill Burgess, executive director of Holman Bible Outreach International. "Luis is a highly respected man of God who understands the importance of people having a clear and contemporary translation of the Bible that also is biblically accurate."

HBOI recently created a New Testament based on the Holman CSB translation titled "The Gift," which includes a 30-day devotional guide and brief contemporary statements that elaborate on key passages of Scripture. The Luis Palau Association will use The Gift's Gospel of John along with its commentaries.

Twenty years in the making, the Holman CSB is the first major English translation of the Bible in this generation. It was translated directly from the original biblical languages, combining a precise rendering of the biblical text with a reader-friendly style geared to contemporary English usage. Modern studies in linguistics have been incorporated into the Holman CSB, including modern grammar. The new translation also takes advantage of the latest advances in biblical scholarship and computer technology that were not available to previous translators.

The Holman CSB was created by Holman, America's oldest Bible publisher and a division of Nashville, Tenn.-based B&H Publishing Group, which is owned by LifeWay. Since the release of the entire Holman CSB in 2004, it has become one of the best-selling Bible translations on the market.

From his early days sharing the Gospel on the streets of Buenos Aires, Luis Palau has preached the Gospel to more than 1 billion people worldwide through radio, television, print, the Internet and festivals. He has spoken before live audiences to more than 25 million people. Whether on stage, through his radio messages heard daily in more than 40 countries or in counsel and prayer with leaders from the local church to the White House, Palau consistently remains one of the world's most effective spiritual communicators.
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For more information about Holman Bible Outreach International, visit www.holmanbibleoutreach.org. For more information about Luis Palau, go to www.palau.org.


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BGCT exec announces plans to retire
by Will Hall
Date: April 13, 2007 - Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Charles Wade, who has led the Baptist General Convention of Texas since 2000, announced his intention April 11 to retire as executive director Jan. 31, 2008.

Wade's legacy likely will be split, with supporters pointing to his management of an extensive reorganization of the BGCT staff and detractors countering with an emphasis on his role in distancing the state convention from the Southern Baptist Convention and moving the BGCT to align with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The CBF is a breakaway group of self-described moderates that formed in 1991 after SBC messengers, in 12 consecutive years, elected conservatives to replace liberal and moderate leaders, resulting in conservatives leading SBC entities.

In his remarks to the BGCT staff in announcing his retirement, Wade outlined various accomplishments that he intends "to work diligently to imbed in our organizational culture" in the coming months.

According to his comments released through the BGCT's Baptist Standard website, Wade highlighted the ongoing movement of staff into the field for better communication with BGCT churches; breaking down private agendas and narrowly focused goals in the BGCT; connecting BGCT churches and associations to a kingdom-size vision; and working to ensure excellence in the new roles formed by the new governance structures of the BGCT.

In the same release, Bob Fowler, chairman of the BGCT executive board, praised Wade's management of the BGCT staff and his service to BGCT churches.

"Dr. Wade has provided strong and thoughtful leadership as executive director, both to his staff and to the many volunteers who have had the privilege of working with him," Fowler said. "In these times that have often been challenging in Texas Baptist life, Dr. Wade has been a tremendous asset to us, and I am certain that he will continue to be so. Texas Baptists have been fortunate to have had both the mind and the heart of Charles Wade for these years of his service to the kingdom through the BGCT."

Wade's retirement announcement follows an embezzlement scandal acknowledged last October. Three BGCT church-starting pastors allegedly took $1.3 million from the BGCT over six years, claiming to have planted 258 of the BGCT's 357 church starts in the Rio Grande Valley region from 1999-2005. Only five of those 258 "churches," which in actuality were home Bible studies, small groups and children's groups, are still in existence today.

During his tenure, the BGCT also experienced losses, both financial and fellowship, because of his move to align the BGCT with the CBF at the expense of relations with the SBC.

Under Wade, in 2000, the BGCT moved to defund SBC seminaries; in 2001, BGCT messengers adopted a decreased budget for 2002 (nearly 9 percent less than the previous year) and rejected the SBC's statement of faith, the Baptist Faith and Message 2000; in 2002, the BGCT lifted the restriction of funds to SBC seminaries but approved the Texas Adopted Giving Plan, which retains 79 percent of a church's Cooperative Program funds for the BGCT with the remaining 21 percent going to worldwide causes -- the traditional allocation forwards 33 percent to the SBC and retains 67 percent for the BGCT (messengers approved a 7.1 percent budget increase, but during the year, receipts lagged by about 14 percent); in 2003, the BGCT approved another reduced budget (10 percent from the previous year) and launched a new missions network, approved in 2002, that some in the BGCT questioned as duplicating the SBC's International Mission Board; in 2004, 2005 and 2006, the BGCT adopted budget increases of about 3.3 percent, 4.2 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively.

During the same timeframe, combined contributions to SBC national causes from all SBC churches in Texas, including many aligned with the BGCT, grew 8.1 percent (according to information from SBC Annuals), and the conservative Southern Baptists of Texas Convention grew from 400 to 1,820 churches, mostly through churches' departures from the BGCT.

As president of the SBC Executive Committee, Morris H. Chapman is charged with promoting cooperation within the SBC and with increasing awareness about and support through the SBC's Cooperative Program, both tasks made more challenging in Texas by Wade's opposition to the SBC.

Chapman shared with Baptist Press his thoughts on Wade's retirement announcement.

"Although Charles Wade and I have known each other since our seminary days, we have differed on a number of issues in Southern Baptist life due to our contrasting philosophical and theological convictions," Chapman said. "I regret that under his leadership the Baptist General Convention of Texas grew more distant in its relationship to the Southern Baptist Convention than at any time in the history of the SBC.

"Nevertheless," he added, "I appreciate his dedication to the task to which he felt called through the years, first as a pastor, and then as executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

"As Charles and Rosemary transition to a new phase in their lives, I pray for them God's abundant blessings."

BGCT President Steve Vernon released a statement with Fowler's, praising Wade's service to the BGCT.

"Dr. Wade's leadership has been exemplary in leading this convention to continue to be Baptists, to continue to be missional and to be a strong witness for the kingdom of God," Vernon said. "Charles has truly been a pastor of all BGCT churches in Texas -- a pastor to the churches, to the ministers and to the people."

Wade graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University and earned master's and doctorate degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. In addition to serving as BGCT president from 1995-97, his denominational roles included membership on the first CBF Coordinating Council, 1991-94, and co-chair of the CBF General Assembly Steering Committee in 1992.

He and his wife, Rosemary, have four adult children -- Mark, Roshelle, Karee and Mary Robin.

"It has been an honor to serve Texas Baptists these past seven years. I felt the calling of God in the invitation by the Executive Board in 1999 to serve our convention in this role, and across the years of my service I have had the deep and abiding sense that God and his people have walked alongside me in this journey of leadership and faith," Wade said. "Now, I have that same gracious sense from God that this is the time for me to begin the next phase of my obedience to his call issued 55 years ago."
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Will Hall is executive editor of Baptist Press and vice president of news services with the SBC Executive Committee.


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CP achieves 'high impact'
by Kristie Randolph/Kentucky Baptist Convention
Date: April 13, 2007 - Friday

<i>EDITORS' NOTE: April 15 is Cooperative Program Sunday in the Southern Baptist Convention.</i>


LEXINGTON, Ky. (BP)--Master's Church has been "working hard to build trust," its pastor says, "and tell people what we're about."

It was the first of 10 "High Impact" churches launched in Kentucky since 2004 -– church plants placed strategically in growing areas and aimed at reaching non-believers and those who have dropped out of church.

Each High Impact plant receives $100,000 from the Kentucky Baptist Convention over a three-year start-up period, with a five-year attendance goal of 250. The convention's funding originates with Cooperative Program gifts from churches across the state and includes a goal of launching 25 High Impact churches by 2010.

Master's Church used the first installment to secure a meeting facility in Lexington and hire Alex Kinchen as its fulltime pastor so that outreach efforts could begin immediately. The church has grown to 160 members and continues to experience growth in worship and Sunday School attendance.

The second installment enabled the church to add Marc McLean as a fulltime youth minister. Since then, the church's youth ministry has flourished and several students have professed faith in Christ.

The remaining funds now are being used for community outreach and promotion. In addition to yard signs and newspaper advertisements, the church regularly sends event invitations, welcome packets and e-mails to nearby residents.

Kinchen, a lifelong Southern Baptist, has personally felt the effects of the Cooperative Program during his seminary training and now as a church planter.

"We have a true partnership with the convention," Kinchen said. "Our people know the KBC has faith in the work God is doing here, and that gives us confidence that we aren't in it alone."

Located in office space about a mile south of a rapidly growing residential development named Masterston's Station, the church has drawn many visitors from its targeted area. Nearly 65 percent of those currently attending the church previously had not attended church for six months or more, Kinchen reported.

"When you talk to people here, over and over again you'll hear incredible testimonies of how God brought them here," the pastor said. "There are so many stories of what God has done and is doing in their lives."

What wasn't expected was the financial return on Kentucky Baptists' investment. Less than three years old, Master's Church has already given more than $105,000 back through special offerings and Cooperative Program giving.

"This shows they already see the importance of giving to worldwide missions," said Larry Baker, director of new work and associational missions for the KBC.

As membership expands, Kinchen continues to emphasize support for the Cooperative Program. New members are introduced to CP during a "Membership Matters" class, and Kinchen incorporates Cooperative Program education into occasions such as special offerings and budget planning sessions.

"I can confidently say we would not be here without the Cooperative Program," Kinchen said. "Along with the funding, we've received an incredible amount of prayer, encouragement and training support from the KBC."

Supporting church plants like Master's Church is just one way the Gospel is spreading through the Cooperative Program in Kentucky. On April 15 -- Cooperative Program Sunday -- churches across the Southern Baptist Convention will celebrate 82 years of combined missions and evangelism efforts.
--30--
Kristie Randolph is a writer for the Kentucky Baptist Convention, on the Web at www.kybaptist.org.


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Big church boosts cooperation
by Ken Walker
Date: April 13, 2007 - Friday

LEXINGTON, Ky. (BP)--The world's spiritual condition is the most pressing reason for Porter Memorial Baptist Church's commitment to reaching people through Southern Baptists' Cooperative Program.

Pointing to the 2 billion people in the world's "10-40 Window" who have little access to the Gospel, senior pastor William Henard said the CP channel for supporting national and international missions and ministry "helps us to see beyond ourselves, to recognize the mission of the church is to reach people."

"Ultimately our mission in life is to glorify God, but we glorify God by fulfilling the Great Commission," the pastor said. "The Cooperative Program helps us to stay focused on looking beyond our four walls."

Henard said his CP commitment started long before he arrived at the Lexington, Ky., congregation seven years ago. When he was at a small church early in his ministry, that congregation could support only a few missionaries on a limited basis, Henard said. The Cooperative Program allowed that church to participate in worldwide missions alongside churches like Porter Memorial, one of the five largest congregations in the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

By giving through the Cooperative Program, Porter Memorial can join 43,000 other Southern Baptist churches to support more than 10,000 missionaries at home and abroad, Henard noted.

"We want to see as many missionaries as possible get out on the field and to see as many people as possible come to Christ," the pastor said.

With 15 percent of the church's undesignated receipts channeled through the Cooperative Program, Henard said that commitment was established under the previous pastor, and members have maintained it even amid an ambitious relocation project to accommodate ever-increasing numbers, moving to a 70-acre parcel about 1.5 miles south of its current property.

The land cost $7 million and Henard said buildings there could eventually encompass 200,000 square feet at a cost of another $20 million. But the pastor doesn't believe construction expenses should replace missions or ministries.

"I don't think that's a legitimate reason," Henard said. "I'm not saying every church should be giving 15 percent. I think 10 percent is an excellent goal for every church. I know some that are giving 25 to 30 percent and it kind of blows me away that they're able to do that."

Porter Memorial's visibility in the state, Henard said, includes a responsibility to set an example for other churches and encourage them to join in giving generously.

That vision must include the "going" part of missions, Henard added, because churches shouldn't think that giving to the Cooperative Program precludes them from direct involvement.

The church's drive to fulfill the Great Commission encompasses several hundred members who have gone on mission trips to various locations across the United States and the world.

Minister of missions Larry Canfield thinks the church's longtime Cooperative Program support plays a key role in encouraging members to be on mission. He noted that many members pay anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500 for the privilege of spreading the Gospel overseas.

"We think one helps the other," Canfield said. "If we weren't doing Cooperative Program giving like we are, I think people would be less favorably inclined to give their own money and time. It sets a standard."
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Staffer attracted to Baptist cooperation
by Ken Walker
Date: April 13, 2007 - Friday

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (BP)--Jason Pettus knew there was something special about Living Hope Baptist Church. As an associate pastor in an interdenominational church that didn't give to missions, one of the reasons he accepted the call to Living Hope was its Cooperative Program emphasis.

Southern Baptist churches have "an extraordinary opportunity to be a blessing," Pettus said, through Southern Baptists' support of missions and ministry efforts of state conventions and the Southern Baptist Convention.

"Because we give to the Cooperative Program, we have seminaries training men and women to share the Gospel and to see missionaries going around the world," Pettus said.

Executive Pastor Scott Kilgore believes the vision that inspires the Bowling Green, Ky., church to support the Cooperative Program is the same one that drives its growth in adding dozens of new members over the course of the year.

"Living Hope has got a vision and it's a vision that's not myopic," Kilgore said. "It's not just about work right here, but one that stretches beyond our boundaries. We recognize ours is a mandate to the world.

"I think people gravitate to a grand vision when they know the only way it can be attempted is through a vision from God, because people want to see God at work. When a church exists for someone outside the four walls, some miraculous things happen."

With a former staff member now serving in Africa, Kilgore expects the Cooperative Program to take on a more personal dimension at Living Hope.

"What is going to be a plus is now the Cooperative Program will have a face and a heart because of one of our own," Kilgore said. "Someone we know and love is being supported by our Cooperative Program dollars."

Mark Phillips and his wife, Parker, headed to Niger, Africa, in 2005 to work among one of the world's most unreached people groups. Before his departure, Phillips was intent on educating high school students about the Cooperative Program's history and purpose.

"I asked students and none of them knew what the Cooperative Program was," Phillips said before leaving. "I grew up in RAs (Royal Ambassadors) and learned about missions at a young age. We've missed a generation. We've got to teach them."

Pettus calls the Phillips' journey a prime example of the Cooperative Program's value. Living Hope took advantage of the Southern Baptist Convention's expertise to send the couple overseas, the pastor said.

"None of this would have been possible without the International Mission Board and our Cooperative Program dollars," Pettus said. "Who knows who's going to be saved through their ministry? I believe there will be a day when we gather around God's throne and there will be nations and people there because of Cooperative Program dollars."

Throughout its 30-year history, Living Hope Baptist Church has consistently given 10 to 12 percent of its undesignated offerings through the Cooperative Program.

Last fall, the Kentucky Baptist Convention honored Living Hope for leading the convention in total dollars given in 2005 -– well beyond $400,000.

Living Hope's generosity also extends beyond the Cooperative Program, giving another 7 percent to associational and other missions causes.

While they give a lot of money to missions, it's a hands-on endeavor as well. Last year hundreds of members were involved at the local, state, national or international level.

Locally, twice a year the church sponsors "One Great Day." The citywide campaign assists numerous agencies, single mothers and elderly residents with home repairs and other needs handled by more than 1,000 volunteers, Pettus said.

Outside Bowling Green, the church has sent teams to such places as eastern Kentucky, Montana, New Orleans and Oklahoma. In recent years, international mission teams have been to the Ukraine, China, South Africa, India and Japan.

Trips to far-away places demonstrate how the Cooperative Program allows Living Hope to join with other likeminded believers to help spread the Good News of Christ, Kilgore said.

"So much structure is there and we can take advantage of the expertise of people," Kilgore said. "We leverage their knowledge and dollars to do Kingdom work."

Kilgore believes cooperative missions deserves more support among Southern Baptists, noting that it needs continual emphasis because of newcomers from other churches or from no spiritual background who aren't aware of it.

"No manmade system is perfect, but I think the Cooperative Program is an inspired idea which has as its thrust the evangelization and discipling of the world," Kilgore said. "Because of this lofty goal, it compels me to support it in some way."
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This story initially was published by the Kentucky Baptist Convention, on the Web at www.kybaptist.org.


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MARRIAGE DIGEST: Mass. may allow 'gay marriages' for out-of-state couples
by Michael Foust
Date: April 13, 2007 - Friday

BOSTON (BP)--If Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and the two top leaders in the state legislature have their way, state law soon will be changed to allow out-of-state homosexual couples to "marry."

Such a change could have national ramifications, allowing couples to obtain a license and return home to sue for recognition.

Ever since Massachusetts became the first state to legalize "gay marriage" in 2004, state officials -- led by then-Republican Gov. Mitt Romney -- have used a 1913 law to prevent out-of-staters from getting "married" if the license wouldn't be recognized in the couple's home state. Because the other 49 states don't recognize "gay marriage," residency in Massachusetts has been a requirement. (A Massachusetts judge ruled last September that Rhode Island homosexual couples could "marry," but the Rhode Island attorney general subsequently said his state would not recognize any such licenses.)

"I know that the 1913 law has sort of smelly origins," Patrick, a Democrat, was quoted as saying in The Boston Globe. "I think it's outdated. If (a bill overturning it) passes the legislature and comes to my desk, I'll sign it."

New Senate President Therese Murray supports overturning the law, as does House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi. Both are Democrats. Bills already are pending in both chambers.

Conservative leaders say a law change could have a dramatic impact on the other states.

"Massachusetts should not become the Mecca for gay marriage. We should not interfere with the sovereignty of other states," Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, told The Boston Globe. "It's really a bad decision to open these floodgates."

In a statement, Mineau said the move to overturn the law "is a clear example why we need a Federal Marriage Amendment."

The movement to change the law comes as state legislators are preparing to vote once more on a proposed constitutional marriage amendment. If it receives the approval of one-fourth of the body at a constitutional convention, it will go to voters in 2008.

GENE ROBINSON BACKS BILL -- V. Gene Robinson, the Episcopal Church's first openly homosexual bishop, spoke at a New Hampshire state Senate hearing April 10 to support a same-sex civil unions bill. The legislation, which would grant homosexual couples all the state legal benefits of marriage, already has passed the state House.

"What we seek in the civil realm is the equal treatment by the state government in supporting this development of our relationship with the legal, financial and societal underpinnings which are afforded married couples at the very moment they say 'I do,'" he was quoted as saying in the Associated Press.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester, though, spoke out against the bill.

"No other form of relationship between persons can be considered equivalent to a natural relationship between a man and a woman out of whose love it is possible for children to be born," said Diane Murphy Quinlan, chancellor of the diocese, according to AP. "Marriage is not simply a matter of emotion between two people or a lifestyle choice."

The bill is H.B. 437.

BILLS ADVANCE IN WASH., ORE. -- A bill that would legalize same-sex domestic partnerships in Washington state passed the state House April 10 by a vote of 63-35. Meanwhile, an Oregon House committee passed a domestic partnerships bill the same day, 5-2. The Washington bill would grant same-sex couples many of the state legal benefits of marriage, while the Oregon bill would grant all of them. The Oregon committee changed the term in the bill from "civil unions" to domestic partnerships. 

In both states, opponents say the proposals are a natural step toward the legalization of full-blown "gay marriage." In fact, Washington state Rep. Jamie Pedersen, a Democrat who backed the bill, said it was a "first step in providing some first protections for same-sex couples and their families." 

But Washington state Rep. Jay Rodne, a Republican who opposed the bill, said supporters should have simply introduced a "gay marriage" bill, since that is their ultimate intention.

"I think this body ought to have that debate," Rodney said, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. "Let's bring forth a marriage bill, have that debate, make those votes, and vote our conscience. What we do today really clouds the issue. It really undermines the incentive for individuals to get married. It further erodes and weakens an already beleaguered institution to our detriment."

The Washington bill is S.B. 5336. The Oregon bill is H.B. 2007.

'GAY MARRIAGE' AGAIN IN CALIF. -- A bill that would legalize "gay marriage" in California passed an Assembly committee April 10 and now moves on to another Assembly committee, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. It passed on a party-line vote of 7-3, with Democrats supporting it and Republicans opposing it.

Conservatives say the bill is unconstitutional because it would overturn Proposition 22, a voter-approved initiative that limits marriage to one man, one woman. Article II, Section 10 of the California constitution says that the legislature "may amend or repeal an initiative statute ... only when approved by the electors."

The bill is A.B. 43. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, vetoed such a bill in 2005.
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Conn. committee passes 'gay marriage' bill
by Staff
Date: April 13, 2007 - Friday

HARTFORD, Conn. (BP)--A Connecticut legislative committee approved a bill April 12 that would legalize "gay marriage," putting the state on an uncertain path that could make it the second in the nation to grant marriage licenses to homosexuals.

Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell, though, has said she would veto it.

The bill passed the Judiciary Committee by a vote of 26-15 and now goes to the House of Representatives where its prospects are uncertain, the Associated Press reported. The committee is made up of members of the House and Senate, both of which are controlled by Democrats.  

Just two years ago, Rell signed into law a civil unions bill granting homosexual couples all the state legal benefits of marriage. But homosexual activists said that wasn't enough.

"This bill would not give a couple any rights that they do not already have under the civil union legislation we passed two years ago," said Republican state Rep. T.R. Rowe, who opposed the bill, the AP reported. "The federal government and states that do not recognize civil unions will not recognize ... same-sex marriages performed in Connecticut."

It was only the second time that a legislative committee in America had passed a "gay marriage" bill. California was the first. Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill in 2005.
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Compiled by Michael Foust


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Ind. amendment supporters not quitting
by Michael Foust
Date: April 13, 2007 - Friday

INDIANAPOLIS (BP)--Supporters of a proposed constitutional marriage amendment in Indiana may have lost a key committee vote March 3, but they're not giving up in their quest to see it placed on the ballot in 2008.

Passage would have sent it to the House, where it almost certainly would have passed, therefore putting it before voters. Instead, it was blocked on a 5-5 vote. The Senate had already OK'd it.

Indiana Family Action -- one of the amendment's top backers -- is embarking on what is calls an "eight-month plan" to keep the issue before the public and pressure the House to pass the amendment when members reconvene in January. If it doesn't pass the House before the House ends the session around March of next year, it will die. 

Every House member is up for re-election in November 2008 -- something amendment supporters plan on taking advantage of.

"... (We want) to keep citizens active and involved and aware and to keep the pressure on their elected officials," Sue Swayze, executive director of Indiana Family Action, told Baptist Press. "... We want to keep the spotlight on them, so that they don't believe we're going away."

Amendment supporters have a sense of urgency because the amending process in Indiana is quite lengthy, requiring passage in two consecutive sessions and approval by voters. The amendment passed both chambers easily in 2005. If it doesn't pass the House next year -- during the final days of this session -- then the process will have to be restarted, and it wouldn't appear on the ballot until 2010 at the earliest.

"We'll have a consistent and a persistent strategy to keep the issue alive and go into next session with an expectation," Swayze said. 

Twenty-seven states already have adopted marriage amendments, and Indiana appeared ready to join that group until Democrats won control of the House in November, allowing new Speaker Patrick Bauer -- who opposes the amendment -- to have a hand in the matter, amendment supporters say. Swayze and others say Bauer, during the fall campaign, promised a floor vote. That was significant because in 2004, Bauer and the Democrats lost the House, in part because they had blocked a marriage amendment.

"We have a quote (from Bauer last fall) where he promised a floor vote," Swayze said. "He did break a promise."

The first sentence of the amendment is designed to prohibit "gay marriage" while the second sentence is written to prevent state courts from legalizing Vermont-style civil unions. It is that second sentence that opponents targeted, saying it could threaten domestic partner benefits at colleges and private businesses and jeopardize domestic violence laws.

"It was much ado about nothing," Swayze said. "... They hid behind the second sentence."

By doing that "they could still go on record" as saying they "support a marriage between a man and a woman."

The text of the second sentence of the amendment prevents "marital status or the legal incidents of marriage" from being conferred upon "unmarried couples or groups." Other states have nearly identical language in their amendments. Swayze said the amendment would not have had the negative impact opponents claimed it would. 

"(Under the amendment) an activist judge could not require a company to provide benefits," she said. "... It did not mean that the legislature could not someday create civil unions or other kinds of things like that. The theory of this particular amendment was that if there's going to be stuff like that, we want our legislature to make those decisions -- we don't want an activist judge doing it."

Within days of the vote in the House Rules Committee, Indiana Family Action ran a newspaper advertisement in the district of state Rep. Terri J. Austin, an Anderson, Ind., Democrat, who amendment supporters say backed the proposal during the campaign. The ad, Swayze said, reminded "her voters, her constituents, that she broke her promise." The organization also has aired some radio ads throughout the state.

The amendment passed the Senate 39-10 this year and 42-8 in that body the first time in 2005. It passed the House 76-23 in '05. Swayze said the votes are there to pass it in the House this time -- if it gets to the floor.

"There is no doubt in my mind that it does (have the votes) and that is why it didn't get out of committee," she said.

Four Republicans and one Democrat supported the amendment. Opposing it were the following Democrats: Terri J. Austin, Anderson, Ind.; Earl Harris, East Chicago; Bob Kuzman, Crown Point; Scott Pelath, Michigan City; and Russ Stilwell, Boonville.

Indiana state representatives can be reached through traditional mail at: Indiana House of Representatives; 200 W. Washington St.; Indianapolis, IN 46204. Indiana residents can call them through the switchboard at 1-800-382-9842. They can be e-mailed through the Indiana House Democrats webpage at www.ai.org/legislative/house_democrats/members.html (by clicking on the representative's name and then "contact me").
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Is Don Imus in your mirror?
by Kelly Boggs
Date: April 13, 2007 - Friday

ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP)--The sun no longer will rise on Don Imus and his morning radio program. The shock-jock, long known for crude humor and insensitive commentary, was fired April 11 by MSNBC. CBS Radio followed suit just one day later. Imus' dismissal came in response to outrage over disparaging remarks he made about the Rutgers University women's basketball team.

Commenting on the recently played NCAA championship game, Imus called the ladies from Rutgers "nappy-headed hos." And, while the I-man's comments were racist, sexist and downright vulgar, they were not new. Imus had been spewing similar offensive comments for years.

I tried to listen to Imus a couple of times, but I could never last more than five minutes. I found his show to be inane, humorless and offensive. However, there were plenty of people who found the I-man's shtick entertaining. According to USA Today, he had 2.5 million listeners and generated approximately $15 million in ad revenue yearly.

Imus is only one example of just how coarse and crass American culture has become. There are dozens of rappers, hip hop artists, comedians and shock-jock wannabes who regularly say things much worse than "nappy-headed hos."

It is difficult to watch television without encountering crude language and sexual innuendo. Even if you are able to find a decent program to watch, you are likely to encounter a bevy of boorish and sexually charged advertising.

Movies are rife with tasteless, sophomoric humor and foul language. Much like television, when a decent film does come along, theater patrons must endure coming attractions that many times are not suitable for all ages.

Much of the to-do over Imus' recent remarks smacks of hypocrisy. The moral outrage over the I-man's disgusting diatribe is warranted, but missing is a similar indignation over the fact that the same rhetoric saturates much of popular music.

Why is OK for a rapper like 50-Cent to derogatorily rhyme about females as hos -– and even worse, but it is not OK for Imus to do the same? In my opinion, they are nothing more than two disgusting peas situated in the same offensive pod.

Some talking heads and radio personalities are speculating that the Imus situation might lead to a new sensitivity in America. Meanwhile, Google is selling "Nappy Headed Ho" merchandise. A variety of T-shirts and teddy bears can be had for between $17.99 and $24.99 a piece.

When Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction occurred during halftime at the 2004 Super Bowl, there was outrage similar to the Imus situation. As a result, many thought American entertainment would take a turn for the better. We are three years removed from the event and, if anything, things have gotten worse.

Pardon me if I am not overly impressed with the selected outrage over Imus' recent racist and sexist comments. The I-man is only a symptom of a much larger problem. The real issue is a culture that views coarse humor, vulgar language and crass sexuality as entertaining.

Don Imus is nothing more than a mirror of American popular culture. His recent tirade caused many to take a peek at the reflection. Most have not liked what they have seen. However, real change is possible only if we are willing to take a long look in that mirror and accept what we have become. If all we are able to see is the face of Don Imus, and then turn away, our culture will continue to be racist, sexist, and vulgar.
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Kelly Boggs is editor of the Louisiana Baptist Message. His column appears each week in Baptist Press.


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COMPENDIO INTERNACIONAL: Israel dice que Pelosi dio el mensaje equivocado a Siria; clérigo radical exige despido por dar un abrazo; EEUU duda de Irán sobre expansión de su habilidad nuclear
by Por Mark Kelly
Date: April 13, 2007 - Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Nancy Pelosi, Vocera de la Cámara de Representantes de EEUU, no dio el mensaje exacto que Israel había pensado cuando ella visitó al presidente de Siria Bashar Assad el 4 de abril, según las oficinas del Primer Ministro israelí Ehud Olmert.

Pelosi, quien lideraba el tour bipartita para "encontrar los hechos" en el Medio Oriente, anunció en una conferencia de prensa en Damasco que los líderes tanto de Israel como de Siria le habían dicho que estaban dispuestos a tener conversaciones de paz, las cuales se habían congelado desde el 2000, según CNSNews.com. Rápidamente, la oficina de Olmert protestó tal anuncio, diciendo que Olmert no le había pedido a ella que diera tal mensaje.

"Para poder conducir negociaciones de paz serias y genuinas, Siria debe detener su apoyo al terror, parar su patrocinio de las organizaciones islámicas Hamas y Jihad, abstenerse de proveer armas a Hizballah y provocar la desestabilización del Líbano, dejar de apoyar al terror en Irak y renunciar a las relaciones estratégicas que está construyendo con el régimen extremista en Irán," decía una declaración publicada por la oficina de Olmert.

Mientras que los legisladores de ambas partes ocasionalmente visitan países con quienes los Estados Unidos tienen relaciones tensas, Pelosi fue criticada por inmiscuirse en discusiones de política exterior sin la autorización del Departamento de Estado. Pelosi ha dicho que el Congreso, que ahora está controlado por los demócratas, ejercerá más liderazgo en la política exterior y añadió que ella también está dispuesta a tener una junta con el presidente de Irán Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

CLÉRIGO RADICAL EXIGE DESPIDO POR DAR UN ABRAZO -- El líder de una mezquita pro talibán ha exigido al Presidente de Pakistán Pervez Musharraf que despida a una de los miembros de su administración luego que los periódicos publicaron una fotografía donde ella está abrazando a un hombre no pakistaní identificado como su instructor de paracaidismo.

Según Reuters, a inicios de abril, la Ministra de Turismo Nilofar Bakhtiar estaba en Francia debido a una campaña de recaudación de fondos para las víctimas de un terremoto que mató a 73,000 personas en Pakistán en octubre del 2005. Ella le dio un abrazo a su instructor después de haber completado un salto en paracaídas.

Abdul Aziz, líder de la Mezquita Roja de Islamabad, dijo "Su acto fue algo no islámico y en contra de nuestras normas sociales. Ella manchó la reputación del islam. Debe ser castigada." Aziz también anunció que una corte vigía estilo talibán se establecería para aplicar la ley musulmana y advirtió que los esfuerzos por tomar duras medidas contra sus seguidores serán enfrentados con ataques de bombarderos suicidas.

En febrero, un musulmán radical asesinó a una oficial de gobierno en la provincia de Punjab porque él creía que las mujeres no deben tener cargos políticos. El gobierno de Musharraf no ha reaccionado en contra de Aziz, lo que ha despertado temores de que su gobierno moderado y a favor del occidente no pueda regir sobre los extremistas.

EEUU DUDA DE LA AFIRMACIÓN DE IRÁN SOBRE LA EXPANSIÓN DE SU HABILIDAD NUCLEAR -- El gobierno del intransigente Presidente de Irán Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ha anunciado una expansión dramática de su habilidad para producir combustible nuclear -- potencialmente suficiente para fabricar una bomba nuclear -- pero los expertos en los Estados Unidos se muestran escépticos acerca de tal declaración.

El 9 de abril Irán anunció que había comenzado a operar 3,000 centrífugas -- casi 10 veces más que la cantidad conocida anteriormente -- retando las peticiones de la ONU de detener su programa nuclear, según reporte de Associated Press. Sin embargo, los observadores expresaron sus dudas de que Irán de hecho pudiera operar tantas máquinas y dijeron que el anuncio pudiera tener la intención de apuntalar el apoyo del pueblo iraní para Ahmadinejad.

"Desde el punto de vista político, es más importante tener (3,000 centrífugas) en su sitio que tenerlas funcionado apropiadamente," dijo el experto en la no proliferación Michael Levi a AP. El Concilio de Seguridad de las Naciones Unidas ha establecido una fecha límite a finales de mayo para que Irán detenga su programa nuclear.

TALIBÁN VUELVE A TRAER AMAPOLAS DE HEROÍNA -- Los musulmanes radicales que hace menos de diez años exterminaron las amapolas del opio en Afganistán ahora forzan a los campesinos a que las vuelvan a plantar –y extorsionar millones de dólares en "impuestos" para financiar su insurgencia en contra del gobierno a favor del occidente en ese país y de las tropas extranjeras que le apoyan.

"Las drogas son malas. El Corán es muy claro al respecto," dijo Gafus Scheltem, el consejero político de NATO, a Associated Press. Pero para pelear contra el enemigo, "todo se vale. Ellos necesitan dinero y la única manera de obtenerlo es con los árabes que les apoyan en el Golfo (Pérsico) o con las amapolas."

Los corruptos oficiales de gobierno, líderes militares, terratenientes y campesinos se benefician del cultivo de las amapolas en Afganistán, el cual provee el 90 por ciento de la producción de heroína en el mundo. Cuando el talibán estaba en el poder, al inicio prohibieron las amapolas por ir "en contra del islam," pero más tarde decidieron que era aceptable producir la droga siempre y cuando no se consumiera localmente.

Las Naciones Unidas calculan que el valor en la calle de la producción de opio de Afganistán es de unos $3.5 mil millones de dólares.

MONOPOLIO DE APUESTAS ‘SE ENFOCA EN LOS POBRES’ -- Una compañía estatal de máquinas para apostar sueca está enfocándose deliberadamente en la gente pobre al poner sus máquinas en las áreas con más problemas sociales y bajos ingresos, según un sondeo dirigido por el parlamento de ese país. En Estocolmo, un suburbio de bajos ingresos tenía 52 máquinas de apostar "Jack Vegas" mientras que uno de los suburbios más ricos no tenía ninguna.

El legislador sueco Tomas Tobé criticó al gobierno por aumentar el acceso de las apuestas en las comunidades pobres a la vez que provee prácticamente cero ayuda a los adictos a las apuestas en esas áreas, según el diario sueco The Local.

Jesper Kärrbrink, presidente ejecutivo de la compañía estatal de apuestas, defendió las acciones diciendo, "Nuestro trabajo es proveer opciones seguras y responsables en las áreas donde se encuentren los jugadores. Es muy posible que haya más personas interesadas en jugar en este tipo de máquinas en Botkyrka que en Danderyd. Por tanto es muy natural que nuestras máquinas deban ser colocadas allí."

Tobé lanzó un llamado para la privatización de las apuestas -- poniendo fin a su "papel en el mercado" -- y estableciendo una regulación más fuerte de esta industria. Dijo que presentaría la propuesta de ley en octubre para así abolir el monopolio del estado en los juegos de apuestas.

SONDEO DICE QUE LOS HOMOSEXUALES SON MENOS DEL 2 POR CIENTO -- El más amplio sondeo aleatorio sobre el sexo que jamás se haya hecho en Canadá ha revelado que no más del 2 por ciento de los adultos participan en el comportamiento homosexual. En sondeo del 2003 que 121,300 adultos contentaron, reveló que el 2 por ciento de quienes tienen entre 18 y 44 años de edad, el 1 por ciento de quienes tienen 50 y sólo un 0.3 por ciento de los mayores de 60 se consideran a sí mismos homosexuales.

El investigador Paul Cameron preguntó, "¿Qué pasó con los homosexuales mayores en edad? Algunos pudieran haber dejado de ser sexualmente activos o pudieron haber muerto. Los reportes más recientes provenientes de la península escandinava indican que la expectativa de vida de los homosexuales es 20+ años menor que la de los heterosexuales."

Mientras que los activistas en los Estados Unidos dicen que un 6-10 por ciento de la población es homosexual, Cameron dice que un sondeo hecho por el gobierno en 1996 reportó que sólo el 1.3 por ciento de los hombres y el 1.1 por ciento de las mujeres menores de 60 años dijeron que habían tenido sexo homosexual en los últimos 12 meses. También reveló que el hombre de más edad que había tenido relaciones homosexuales tenía 54 años y la mujer 49. Así que parece que la homosexualidad es una actividad de personas jóvenes –una que pudiera contribuir a una muerte temprana."

Los hallazgos se dieron a conocer el 23 de marzo durante una reunión de la Convención de la Asociación Psicológica del Este en Philadelphia como parte de un reporte titulado "Distorsión Federal de la Huella Homosexual." 

COREA DEL NORTE ADVIERTE NO CUMPLIRÍAN CON LA FECHA LÍMITE -- Con la fecha límite encima, los oficiales de Corea del Norte han advertido que es posible que no puedan cumplir con los términos del acuerdo sobre desarmamiento nuclear producido en febrero a través de las pláticas que seis países tuvieron con esta recluida nación comunista. El acuerdo con Corea del Sur, los Estados Unidos, Japón, China y Rusia dio un plazo de 60 días a Pyongyang para detener sus instalaciones nucleares a cambio de ayuda energética.

Los delegados de Corea del Norte partieron de las pláticas en marzo exigiendo la liberación de $25 millones congelados en un banco en Macau. El Departamento de Estado de EEUU dijo que habían encontrado una manera de transferir los fondos pero los observadores no estaban seguros que esto resolvería la disputa. Corea del Norte tiene un historial de añadir demandas continuamente antes que cumplir con los acuerdos que ya ha firmado.

Uno de los principales voceros de Japón dijo que los fondos en disputa no deben retardar la implementación del acuerdo, según un reporte de Reuters. "El asunto de BDA está fuera del marco de las pláticas entre estos seis países," dijo Yasuhisa Shiozaki. "No pueden convertirlo en una excusa para no cumplir con la fecha límite de 30– o 60-días. Necesitamos seguir con el proceso entre los seis países."
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COMPENDIO CULTURA: Desde el aire, pilotos oran por su estado; afecta su comportamiento a largo plazo el poner a los niños en guarderías estando muy pequeños, dice estudio
by Por Erin Roach
Date: April 13, 2007 - Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Algunos pilotos se tomaron el mandamiento de orar por la salvación de su prójimo tan en serio que el Viernes Santo diez aeroplanos monomotores volaron sobre Ohio, llevando a personas para que oraran por los 11 millones de residentes en los 88 condados de ese estado.

"Un aeroplano es una buena manera de cubrir mucho terreno," dijo el piloto de Lima, Ohio Kenneth Wortman, de 73 años, al diario The Cincinnati Enquirer. "En la Biblia, Dios nos dice que la mies está lista para la cosecha. Desde el aire, uno puede ver muchos campos."

Wortman obtuvo la idea para PrayerFlight el año pasado mientras hablaba con un amigo acerca de orar por los perdidos. Su amor por el vuelo le ayudó a visualizar el campo misionero, dijo The Enquirer, y pronto consiguió otras personas para que lo acompañaran en dos vuelos regionales de oración antes del esfuerzo que cubrió al estado el 6 de abril.

"Ves filas y filas de casas, y sabes que están llenas de gente por quienes tú estás orando," declaró para el mismo diario Samantha Ciminillo, de 18 años, una de los miembros de Adolescentes para Cristo. Ciminillo fue una de los seis jóvenes de tal organización que se unió a los pilotos en su excursión de oración en diciembre.

Los pilotos de varias denominaciones donaron su tiempo y el costo del combustible. Los grupos oraron en silencio y en voz alta mientras volaban y oraron por los líderes del estado, por la gente en las escuelas y los hospitales y por la salvación de la gente que no conoce a Jesús.

Pilotos de California, Alaska, Indiana y Michigan que se detuvieron en el aeropuerto de Bluffton, Ohio -- donde Wortman trabaja como supervisor de mantenimiento -- decidieron unirse al esfuerzo al volar en sus estados con el propósito específico de orar, dijo The Enquirer. Wortman espera que muy pronto el esfuerzo se propague por todo el país.

"Cuando tienes a Dios de tu lado, piensa en grande," dijo Wortman. "Por eso lo estamos haciendo."

PONER A NIÑOS MUY PEQUEÑOS EN LA GUARDERÍA AFECTA SU COMPORTAMIENTO A LARGO PLAZO -- Los niños que recibieron cuidado de alta calidad en la guardería antes de entrar al kindergarten tuvieron mejores puntuaciones en el área de vocabulario y tuvieron menos probabilidades de tener problemas de conducta en el sexto grado, según un estudio hecho por el Instituto Nacional de la Salud.

El estudio, el cual aparece en la edición de marzo-abril de la revista especializada Child Development, investigó a 1,364 niños desde su nacimiento y descubrió que entre más tiempo el niño pase en guarderías antes de ir al kindergarten, es más probable que su maestro reporte que tiene problemas como peleas, sea desobediente en la escuela y argumente demasiado. 

"Estos descubrimientos se añaden al creciente conjunto de investigación que demuestra que la calidad y tipo de cuidado infantil que un niño experimenta en sus primeros años de vida puede tener un impacto duradero en su desarrollo," dijo James Griffin, el oficial de ciencia para dicho estudio.

Los investigadores enfatizaron, sin embargo, que los problemas de conducta que observaron en los niños que participaron en el estudio estuvieron en el rango de lo normal y no se les llegó a considerar clínicamente trastornados.

Los niños que estuvieron expuestos al lenguaje adulto a más temprana edad fueron quienes sacaron puntajes más altos en desarrollo del lenguaje, dijo el estudio, y los niños con más experiencia en guarderías continuaron mostrando una mayor frecuencia de lo que los investigadores llamaron problema de conducta externalizado reportado por el maestro, incluso hasta en el sexto grado.

En relación con esta noticia, la experta en niñez temprana, Gigi Schweikert, ha escrito un libro aconsejando a los voluntarios que laboran en los preescolares de las iglesias acerca de cómo aprovechar las oportunidades con los niños que están bajo su cuidado. "Church Nanny SOS: Teaching Ministry Essentials for Preschool Ministry Volunteers" fue publicado por New Hope Publishers, un ministerio de la Unión Femenil Misionera de la Convención Bautista del Sur. 

El libro es una guía de referencia para los voluntarios quienes a menudo se frustran por los problemas de conducta que encuentran entre los preescolares en la iglesia. Entre los temas se incluye el hacer y enseñar reglas, trabajar con un niño exigente, comunicándose con otros voluntarios y orando por el ministerio.

OTRA IGLESIA EPISCOPAL GRANDE LES ABANDONA -- Esta vez la Iglesia Gracia en Colorado Springs, una de las congregaciones episcopales más grandes de Colorado,  ha decidido romper relaciones con la Iglesia Episcopal debido a razones morales, reportó el 26 de marzo el diario The Gazette en Colorado.

La sacristía de la iglesia de 2,000 miembros y una asistencia promedio de 800, votó a favor de que la iglesia se uniera a la conservadora Convocatoria de Anglicanos de América del Norte, la cual es una diócesis misionera de la Iglesia de Nigeria, liderada por el Arzobispo Peter Akinola. 

Dicha iglesia de Colorado es una de las 45, por lo menos, que recientemente han roto relaciones con la Iglesia Episcopal en los Estados Unidos, más que nada por el asunto de la homosexualidad ramificado por la ordenación en el 2003 de un obispo abiertamente homosexual.

"No abandonamos nuestra fe. La Iglesia Episcopal fue quien la abandonó," dijo Teri LaTulippe, una miembro de la Iglesia Gracia, para The Gazette. "No estamos dispuestos a abandonar la fe de nuestros padres."

En respuesta a la decisión de la sacristía, un vocero de la Iglesia Episcopal reiteró la apertura que esa iglesia tiene para cambiar doctrinas.

"El entendimiento humano está constantemente en aumento," dijo a The Gazette Robert Williams. "Lo que se sabe acerca de la medicina en el presente es mucho más de lo que los médicos sabían hace 50 años. Pensar que el entendimiento de la Biblia y de la experiencia humana no van en aumento es inconsistente con el constante despliegue de la creación de Dios. 

"… Hay muchos episcopales lesbianas y gays quienes viven vidas de gran fidelidad y santidad," añadió Williams, "y seguro les damos la bienvenida y les valoramos como miembros de la Iglesia Episcopal."

Los líderes de la Iglesia Anglicana a nivel mundial han pedido a los obispos episcopales que den marcha atrás a su posición sobre la homosexualidad, pero los obispos se han negado a hacerlo, conllevando a que algunos predigan una división entre los dos grupos.

DECLARACIÓN DE LA UNIÓN EUROPEA IGNORA AL CRISTIANISMO -- El Papa Benedicto criticó agudamente a la Unión Europea por no mencionar a Dios y las raíces cristianas de Europa cuando la alianza multinacional marcó el 50 aniversario de su fundación el 25 de marzo.

El papa dijo que el excluir los valores que ayudaron a formar su existencia significa que Europa está cometiendo cierta forma de apostasía y arriesgándose a un fracaso final, reportó Reuters.

"Una sociedad en la cual la conciencia cristiana ya no vive más pierde dirección, ya no sabe a dónde ir, termina vacía y en bancarrota," declaró el papa.

La Declaración de Berlín se enfocó más en los derechos individuales, la cooperación, la diversidad de culturas, la lucha contra la pobreza y la prevención de cambios climáticos. El Primer Ministro italiano Romano Prodi ha luchado para que se incluyan las raíces cristianas en la declaración, pero enfrentó la oposición de Francia y otras naciones, según reportó Reuters.

En su libro "El cubo y la catedral: Europa, América y política sin Dios," George Weigel, un teólogo católico y experto en orden público, escribió acerca de los peligros de que Europa tire por la borda sus raíces cristianas.

"El hombre europeo se ha convencido a sí mismo de que para ser moderno y libre, debe ser radicalmente secular," escribe Weigel. "Tal convicción tiene consecuencias cruciales, de hecho letales, para la vida pública europea y la cultura europea. De hecho, esta convicción y sus consecuencias públicas están en la raíz de la crisis contemporánea europea de moral civil. Tal crisis de moral civil, a su vez, ayuda a explicar por qué el hombre europeo está deliberadamente olvidando su historia."
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COMPENDIO VIDA: Cardenal y vocero de la asamblea en disputa sobre propuesta de ley de suicidio asistido en California; Idaho, más reciente estado en aceptar ultrasonidos
by Por Tom Strode
Date: April 13, 2007 - Friday

WASHINGTON (BP)--Dos prominentes católicos romanos en California están chocando acerca de la legislación que un especialista en bioética dice prohibiría que se eviten los suicidios asistidos en las instalaciones de las residencias para personas de la tercera edad.

Durante una misa del 2 de abril el Cardenal Roger Mahony, líder de la diócesis más grande del país en Los Ángeles, reprochó al Vocero de la Asamblea  de California Fabián Núñez por su apoyo a la propuesta de ley. La medida, llamada Propuesta de la Asamblea 374, es similar a una ley de Oregon que permite que los doctores receten dosis letales de drogas a pacientes que son enfermos terminales.

"Lo que de verdad, de verdad me entristece, me preocupa y me confunde es por qué el Vocero de la Asamblea Fabián Núñez ha añadido su nombre como patrocinador de esta legislación," dijo Mahony en la Catedral de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles en la ciudad de Los Ángeles, según el diario The Sacramento Bee.

"Debemos de preocuparnos de que Fabián Nuñez, quien ha alabado aquí en esta catedral como un católico, de alguna manera no ha entendido y comprendido la cultura de la vida, sino que se ha permitido ser llevado en esta otra dirección, la cultura de la muerte."

Un vocero de Núñez, un demócrata de Los Angeles, dijo que el Vocero de la Asamblea respetaba la postura de Mahony pero que no está de acuerdo con ella. "Este es otros asunto de decisión individual donde la abrumadora mayoría de los católicos tienen otra perspectiva diferente a la postura oficial de la iglesia," dijo Steve Maviglio, subjefe de personal, a través de una declaración por escrito, según reporte de The Bee.

Mahony instó a los católicos a pedirle a sus legisladores que se opongan a tal medida, la cual fue aprobada por el Comité Judicial de la Asamblea a finales de marzo.

A diferencia de la ley de Oregon, la propuesta de ley de California no permitiría que las residencias para ancianos o para enfermos terminales u otras instituciones detengan que ocurran suicidios asistidos en sus instalaciones, incluso si tienen objeciones como organizaciones religiosas, dijo el especialista en bioética Wesley Smith. Únicamente los hospitales de cuidado agudo podrían evitar el procedimiento, añadió.

"No nos debería de sorprender," escribió Smith el 26 de febrero en la edición por internet de la revista especializada First Things. "Los partidarios del suicidio asistido son un grupo voraz. Claman que sus metas políticas son modestas, un pequeño ajuste, si así le podemos decir, de ética médica y protocolos. Siendo celosos, sin embargo, a menudo intentan infiltrar provisiones coercitivas en sus varias propuestas de ley. La P.A. 374… es un intento por forzar a la mayoría de las instalaciones médicas y para la tercera edad a cooperar con el régimen del suicidio asistido."

Si se promulga la propuesta de ley, "las residencias para la tercera edad católicas y de otras orientaciones religiosas se verán obligadas a escoger entre cerrar &#91;sus puertas&#93;, vender &#91;sus instalaciones&#93; o cooperar con el suicidio asistido," dijo Smith, un socio veterano de Discovery Institute y un consultor especial de Center for Bioethics and Culture. "No les importa nada a sus autores que esto pudiera causar miseria indecible a miles de personas ancianas y enfermos desahuciados. La cultura de la muerte no tolera oposición."

El Gobernador de California Arnold Schwarzenegger, republicano, ha dicho que cree que los electores deberían tomar la decisión sobre el suicidio asistido, pero un reporte noticioso indicó que no ha descartado firmar la medida.

Al igual que la ley de Oregon, la propuesta de ley de California permite a los pacientes que se considera están en sus últimos seis meses de vida el pedir una receta médica para obtener drogas que les permitirían quitarse la vida.

Oregon, el único estado que ha legalizado el suicidio asistido; ha recibido reportes de 292 personas que han muerto bajo la Ley de la Muerte Con Dignidad, la cual entró en vigor en 1997.

NUEVA LEY DE ULTRASONIDOS -- Va en aumento el número de estados que permite a las mujeres que están considerando un aborto ver imágenes de ultrasonido de su bebé nonato. 

El 27 de marzo el Gobernador de Idaho Butch Utter, republicano, firmó para convertir en ley una propuesta que exige a los doctores ofrecer  a la mujer  hacerse un ultrasonido antes de tener el aborto. Idaho se convirtió en el noveno estado que promulga tal legislación. Los otros estados son Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah y Wisconsin, según National Right to Life Committee.

Además, la Cámara de Representantes de Georgia aprobó una legislación similar en marzo, mientras de la Cámara de Carolina del Norte también aprobó el mes pasado una propuesta de ley que exige que la mujer vea el ultrasonido de su bebé antes de tener el aborto.

En los Estados Unidos, está aumentando el número de centros para mujeres en crisis por embarazo que añaden máquinas de ultrasonido para servir a las mujeres que consideran un aborto.

"Las mujeres merecen &#91;enterarse de&#93; todos los hechos sobre el aborto, incluyendo sus efectos en sus hijos nonatos en desarrollo," dijo Mary Spaulding Balch, directora legisladora estatal de NRLC, a través de una declaración escrita.

"Si en verdad se les da a las mujeres todos los hechos acerca de los efectos de aborto y el desarrollo de su bebé nonato, sería menos probable que abortaran. La tecnología del ultrasonido, la cual provee una increíble ventana al vientre, es una herramienta maravillosa que permite a las mujeres ver a su bebé nonato en tiempo real."

ATAQUE CONTRA BEBÉ NONATO QUEDA BLOQUEADO -- Un adolescente del estado de Washington ha sido sentenciado a seis años de cárcel luego de confesar que intentó encontrar un asesino a sueldo para matar a su bebé nonato al golpear a su ex novia embarazada.

Charles Young, de 18 años, oriundo de Suncrest, Wash., se declaró culpable el 3 de abril por solicitar cometer asesinato de primer grado, según el diario The Spokane Spokesman-Review.

Actuando en base a una idea provista por un amigo de Young, un detective del condado Stevens se hizo pasar por un asesino a sueldo, reportó el diario antes mencionado. Young conoció al detective encubierto en octubre y dijo que quería que él golpeara a su ex novia para así matar al bebé que estaba en su vientre. Dijo que no le importaba si la madre del bebé vivía o moría. Young fue arrestado cuando proveyó la mitad de los $3,250 del acuerdo para el asesinato.

Después de la sentencia, John Troberg, el fiscal general del condado, dijo al periódico que Young "pidió disculpas a la chica, a la familia de ella y a la suya por todo lo que los hizo pasar."

Bevan Maxey, el abogado de Young, dijo, según el mismo periódico, "ambas familias parecen ser buenas personas que desafortunadamente quedaron atrapadas en medio de este evento horrendo. Ahora, (Young) aprecia lo que está perdiendo en esa maravillosa oportunidad en su vida: disfrutar este hijo."
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COMPENDIO MATRIMONIO: Mass. permitiría ‘matrimonios de homosexuales’ para parejas foráneas
by Por Michael Foust
Date: April 13, 2007 - Friday

BOSTON (BP)--Si el Gobernador de Massachusetts Deval Patrick y los dos líderes principales en la legislatura estatal se salen con la suya, muy pronto la ley del estado para así permitir que las parejas homosexuales provenientes de otros estados puedan "casarse."

Tal cambio pudiera tener ramificaciones nacionales, permitiendo que dichas parejas obtengan un acta y regresen a su estado para presentar una demanda para &#91;obtener&#93; su reconocimiento.

Desde que Massachusetts se convirtió en el 2004 en el primer estado que legalizó el "matrimonio de homosexuales," los oficiales estatales -- entonces bajo el liderazgo del republicano Mitt Romney como su gobernador -- habían usado una ley de 1913 para evitar que parejas de otros estados se "casaran" si es que el acta obtenida ahí no sería reconocida en su estado de residencia. Ya que los otros 49 estados no reconocen el "matrimonio de homosexuales," uno de los requisitos es ser residente de Massachusetts. (Un juez de Massachusetts falló en septiembre pasado que las parejas homosexuales de Rhode Island se podían "casar," pero subsecuentemente el ministro de justicia dijo que su estado no reconocería tales actas.)

"Sé que la ley de 1913 tiene orígenes  malolientes," dijo Patrick, un demócrata, según una cita en el diario The Boston Globe. "Creo que es anticuada. Si &#91;una propuesta de ley la revoca y&#93; es aprobada por la legislatura y llega hasta mi escritorio, la firmaré."

La nueva Presidenta del Senado Therese Murray apoya la revocación de la ley, junto con el Vocero de la Cámara Salvatore DiMasi. Ambos son demócratas. Las propuestas de ley están pendientes en ambas cámaras.

Los líderes conservadores dicen que un cambio de ley podría tener un impacto dramático en los demás estados. "Massachusetts no debería convertirse en la Meca para el matrimonio de homosexuales. No deberíamos interferir en la soberanía de otros estados," dijo a The Boston Globe Kris Mineau, presidente del Instituto Familiar de Massachusetts. "Realmente es una mala decisión el abrir esas compuertas." 

En una declaración, Mineau dijo que el intento de volcar la ley "es un ejemplo claro de por qué necesitamos una Enmienda Federal del Matrimonio."

El movimiento para cambiar la ley arriba justo cuando los legisladores estatales se están preparando para votar una vez más sobre una propuesta de enmienda constitucional al matrimonio. Si recibe la aprobación de un cuarto del grupo presente en una convención constitucional, entonces llegaría a las boletas de votación para los electores en el 2008. 

GENE ROBINSON APOYA PROPUESTA DE LEY -- V. Gene Robinson, el primer obispo de la Iglesia Episcopal que se declara abiertamente homosexual, habló en una audiencia del Senado estatal de New Hampshire el 10 de abril para apoyar la propuesta de ley de uniones civiles de parejas del mismo sexo. La legislación, la cual pudiera otorgar a las parejas homosexuales todos los beneficios legales del matrimonio, ya fue aprobada por la Cámara estatal.

"Lo que buscamos en el ámbito civil es que el gobierno estatal dé un tratamiento igual al apoyar este desarrollo de nuestra relación con las mismas bases legales, financieras y sociales que se les dan a las parejas casadas en el instante mismo que dicen "acepto," son las palabras de Robinson según una cita provista por Associated Press.

La Diócesis Católica Romana de Manchester, sin embargo, habló en contra de la propuesta de ley. "Ninguna otra forma de relación entre personas puede ser considerada como equivalente a la relación natural entre un hombre y una mujer cuyo amor les da la posibilidad de tener hijos," dijo Diane Murphy Quinlan, canciller de la diócesis, según AP. "El matrimonio no es simplemente un asunto de emoción entre dos personas o una elección de estilo de vida."

El nombre de la propuesta de ley es H.B. 437.

AVANZAN PROPUESTAS EN WASHINGTON Y OREGON -- Una propuesta de ley que legalizaría las uniones domésticas de parejas del mismo sexo en el estado de Washington fue aprobada por la Cámara estatal el 10 de abril con una votación de 63 a favor y 35 en contra. Mientras tanto, ese mismo día un comité de la Cámara de Oregon aprobó una propuesta de ley sobre uniones domésticas, con una votación de 5 contra 2. La propuesta de Washington pudiera otorgar a las parejas del mismo sexo muchos de los beneficios estatales legales del matrimonio, mientras que la propuesta de Oregon se los otorgaría todos. El comité de Oregon cambió el término "uniones civiles" por el de uniones domésticas en la propuesta. 

En ambos estados, los opositores dicen que las propuestas son un paso natural hacia la legalización del "matrimonio de homosexuales" en todo su apogeo. De hecho, el Rep. estatal de Washington, Jamie Pedersen, un demócrata que apoyó la propuesta, dijo que este era "un primer paso para proveer algunas protecciones para las parejas del mismo sexo y sus familias."

Pero el Rep. estatal de Washington, Jay Rodne, un republicano en contra de la propuesta, dijo que los partidarios &#91;de la propuesta&#93; deberían simplemente haber presentado una propuesta de ley para el "matrimonio de homosexuales", ya que esa es su intención final.

"Creo que esta entidad debe tener ese debate," dijo Romney, según el diario Seattle Post-Intelligencer. "Traigamos al frente una propuesta de ley sobre el matrimonio, tengamos ese debate, votemos, y votemos concientemente. Lo que hagamos hoy nubla el asunto. Realmente mina el incentivo para que los individuos se casen. Erosiona aún más y debilita una institución que ya está asediada para nuestro propio perjuicio." 

El nombre de la propuesta de Washington es S.B. 5336. El de la de Oregon es H.B. 2007.

EL ‘MATRIMONIO DE HOMOSEXUALES’ REGRESA A CALIFORNIA -- Una propuesta de ley que legalizaría el "matrimonio de homosexuales" en California fue aprobada por un comité de la Asamblea el 10 de abril y ahora se mueve hacia otro comité de Asamblea, según reporta el diario San Francisco Chronicle. Fue aprobada en una votación por partidos, con 7 votos a favor por parte de los demócratas y 3 votos en contra por parte de los republicanos.

Los conservadores dicen que la propuesta es anticonstitucional ya que revocaría la Proposición 22, una iniciativa aprobada por los electores la cual limita el matrimonio a &#91;la unión de&#93; un hombre y una mujer. El Artículo II, Sección 10 de la Constitución de California dice que la legislatura "puede enmendar o revocar un estatuto por iniciativa… sólo si ha sido aprobado por los electores."

La propuesta se llama A.B. 43. El Gobernador de California Arnold Schwarzenegger, del partido republicano, vetó tal propuesta en el 2005.
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EDITORIAL: Algunas Maneras de Ayudar a Mí Iglesia
by Por Gustavo Suárez
Date: April 13, 2007 - Friday

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP)--Una de las primeras cosas que mi familia hace cuando nos mudamos a una nueva ciudad es buscar una iglesia donde podemos servir. El tener una iglesia es tan importante para mí como tener una casa. Mí iglesia no es perfecta, en parte, porque yo soy parte de ella. Pero yo tengo un gran amor por mí iglesia y por mí pastor. Yo quiero hacer todo lo posible para trabajar con otros de mí iglesia para alcanzar a un mundo perdido. Permíteme compartir algunas maneras que podemos ayudar a nuestra iglesia.

-- Se fiel en tu participación y asistencia. Los líderes han tomado tiempo durante la semana para prepararse para ministrar a ti y otros que asisten a la iglesia. Ellos necesitan saber que pueden contar con tu respaldo semanal. Ven al servicio de adoración y se parte de esa experiencia. Ven esperando grandes cosas de Dios. Recuerda que servimos a un Dios vivo. Tú puedes traer una actitud positiva a la iglesia. 

-- Respalda a tu pastor y líderes. Mí iglesia se preocupa por respaldar al pastor económicamente. Sin embargo, el no es un sirviente a mí disposición sino uno que fielmente le sirve a Dios. Yo necesito ser parte del ministerio completo de la iglesia y de esa manera permitir que el pastor tenga más tiempo para estudiar la Palabra de Dios. Sé que mí pastor tiene una pasión para evangelizar. Pero, yo también tengo que tomar en serio esa responsabilidad.

-- Ora por el liderazgo de la iglesia. Necesito ser fiel en no solo orar por el pastor pero también por todo el liderato pastoral. Un buen comienzo es el establecer una relación con cada líder pastoral de la iglesia. ¡OH! Pero eso toma tiempo. Absolutamente. Eso es una excelente inversión de mí tiempo. Mientras mas conozco a los líderes de la iglesia más será la confianza que tengo en ellos.

-- Usa tus dones espirituales. El Señor me ha dotado con ciertos dones espirituales. No puedo hacerlo todo en la iglesia. Es mas, Dios no quiere que yo lo haga todo en la iglesia. Debo de usar mis dones para edificar a mí iglesia.

-- Practica Mayordomía. Amigo, esta es una palabra que muchos ya no quieren usar en nuestras iglesias. Necesitamos cambiar nuestra actitud de "Necesito darle a la iglesia" a "Qué privilegio es el darle a Dios." Estoy participando en el respaldo mundial de misiones a través de mí iglesia local. ¡Qué privilegio! También es un mandato de Dios a Su pueblo. Hasta el día de hoy no he podido dar más de lo que yo he recibido de Dios. Se fiel en dar, como un comienzo, el 10 por ciento de tu salario a Dios a través de la iglesia local. Mí familia y yo respaldamos varios ministerio pero la décima parte le pertenece al Señor.

-- Se parte de la solución. No hay ninguna iglesia que sea perfecta. Por lo tanto, yo necesito ser parte de la solución y no amplificar los problemas.

Aunque yo visito una iglesia todos los domingos como parte de mí ministerio raramente falto al estudio bíblico en mí casa semanalmente. No necesito estar allí pero es un gran privilegio ser parte del compañerismo, regocijo, y el estudio de la Palabra de Dios junto con otros miembros de la iglesia.
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Gustavo Suarez es profesor de Iglecrecimiento y Director del Centro Nehemias en el seminario Bautista Teologico de Midwestern.



