The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-04/25/2018 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: A normal Baptist church by Randy C. Davis Date: April 25, 2018 - Wednesday FRANKLIN, Tenn. (BP) -- I recently found normal about an hour and 15 minutes south of Nashville. The weather was nearly perfect for an early morning drive with my bride Jeanne as we wound our way along country roads through the beautiful rolling hills of Middle Tennessee. Howell is a small community located between Lewisburg and Fayetteville. We pulled into the parking lot of First Baptist Church Howell and the thought came to mind: First Baptist Church and the town of Howell are, well, normal. According to the last census, if you draw a ring around Howell about eight miles from the center of town, the population of Howell is about 8,800. That's not many folks, but it's normal. And the church -- First Baptist Howell -- has between 75 to 100 people of all ages in worship, but that's normal. And Brian Gass, pastor of FBC, is bivocational. And that's normal. You see, scattered across our country are thousands of communities just like Howell, and thousands of churches just like First Baptist, and thousands of pastors just like Brian. Tennessee, for example, is comprised of small towns where Tennessee Baptist Convention churches average about 120 members and where more than 60 percent of all our TBC pastors are bivocational. We call these bivocational brothers the "Iron Men" of the Southern Baptist Convention. Preaching at First Baptist Church of Howell was a special experience. The choir sang a call to worship and special music preceded the message. There was a warm welcome that included hand-shaking and extending genuine hospitality. Birthdays and wedding anniversaries were recognized with participants placing dollars for benevolence in a little church on the Lord's Supper Table and singing "Happy Birthday" and "Happy Anniversary" songs. Announcements were made. Hymns were sung from a hymn book. A good children's Bible story, complete with flannel graph illustration, was presented. Children (and adults) listened intently. An offering was received. The invitation was given. A man in his 50s came to Christ for whom many in the church had been praying. Afterwards, we gathered in the fellowship hall for a "dinner on the grounds" covered dish lunch. The church does this once a month. I suspect if you live in a town like Howell and go to a church like FBC, you'd probably say, "Well, that's normal." But just because a church is normal doesn't mean it can't also be exceptional because exceptional is how I'd describe FBC Howell. People are being saved and the church is financially generous. The congregation has increased its Cooperative Program giving to 10 percent. It gives through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions as well as the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. The church is actively involved in the local association. And for nine faithful years, Pastor Brian and his wife Lisa have loved serving this church. The affection of the people for their pastor is obvious. There is a healthy spirit in the church and the environment is full of joy, unity and peace. These are godly people simply loving the Lord, loving each other and loving their community. I believe FBC Howell is the picture the apostle Paul had in mind when he painted "normal" for the church in Ephesians 4:2-3: "Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace." Personally, I can't wait to return, and I am so thankful for the countless "normal" churches across our state and nation that are having an eternal impact like FBC Howell led by pastors like Brian. They're all pretty exceptional in my book. -------------------------------------------------------------------- FUGE celebrates 40 years of ministry to students by LifeWay staff Date: April 25, 2018 - Wednesday NASHVILLE (BP) -- Randy Parks remembers the music, the games, and the wacky events from the first summer he attended Centrifuge in 1979. But most of all, he remembers the clear message of the Gospel and the strong conviction that a life following Christ was exciting and worth living. That summer at Glorieta, N.M., when Parks was only a high school junior, laid the foundation for his future as a hospital chaplain. "Centrifuge changed the direction of my life," said Parks, now a chaplain at Newton Medical Center in Newton, N.J. "It was there I answered what I believed to be a call to follow God in the path of Christian ministry. "Since that time, I have lived out that calling through the local church, in university chaplaincy and for many years now as a health care chaplain." Parks credits his summers at Centrifuge for helping him develop a regular quiet time and sparking a passion for evangelism. "It changed my life forever." Parks is not alone. Since 1979, LifeWay's FUGE Camps have seen God work in the lives of more than 1.7 million students and adults across the nation. This summer more than 55,000 students and adults will attend a FUGE Camp. What began as Centrifuge -- with a full-time staff that plans and leads Bible study, recreation, worship and other camp elements -- has grown to include four types of camps in multiple locations across the country and overseas. "We are thankful for all of the ways God has and continues to use this ministry in the lives of students," said Ben Trueblood, director of student ministry at LifeWay Christian Resources. "The spiritual needs of students have not changed over the last 40 years," Trueblood noted. "They still need the convicting, healing, redeeming love of Christ." A ministry of LifeWay Christian Resources, FUGE Camps are designed to take students out of their normal routine and place them into an environment focused on life change through a relationship with Christ. FUGE Camps are for students having completed 6th grade through 12th grade. Youth pastors can choose from one of four programs at FUGE -- Centrifuge, MFuge, XFuge, and XFuge on Mission. Students can participate in either recreation or missions with everyone at camp, or churches can stay together and choose their own customizable experience. "This summer's theme is 'The Mission,'" said Joe Hicks, LifeWay's lead coordinator for FUGE Camps. Students will study the life of Paul and discover how to live a life on mission for Christ. "Sharing the Gospel to further God's kingdom is the ultimate reason He left the church on earth," Hicks said. "Jesus' followers have been carrying on this mission for almost 2,000 years, but it's not yet accomplished, since nearly 2 billion people still have not heard the story of Jesus." FUGE has had an emphasis on missions since its early years and in 1998 hosted its first international MFuge camp in Quito, Ecuador. Since 1984, FUGE campers have given more than $12 million to the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board through an annual summer missions offering. Olivia Clapp Baumann, of Raleigh, N.C., remembers being introduced to the Roma people group through the FUGE missions offering when she was in seventh grade. "When I saw the faces of the Roma people for the first time, my heart broke," Baumann recently wrote on the FUGE Camps blog. "I remember thinking I have to do something for these people, not just give money at camp but more." Her love for the Roma people has only grown during the last several years. This fall she is leading a group from her church on her sixth mission trip to Romania to work with the Roma people. "Through FUGE Camps, God started me on this crazy journey," Baumann wrote. "Camp is where I fell in love with the Roma, with missions and with God. I can't imagine my life without attending FUGE." This summer, FUGE Camps are located in 21 locations. For more information on locations or to register your student or group, visit fugecamps.com or call 1-877-CAMP-123. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Q&A: Greear responds to Bapt. editors' questions by Staff Date: April 25, 2018 - Wednesday DALLAS (BP) -- North Carolina pastor J.D. Greear, one of two candidates to be nominated for Southern Baptist Convention president in June, responded to six questions from Baptist Press and Baptist state editors. Florida pastor Ken Whitten announced Greear's nomination for SBC president Jan. 29. During the 16 years Greear has pastored The Summit, worship attendance has grown from 610 in 2002 to just under 10,000, according to statistics available through the SBC's Annual Church Profile. Total baptisms increased from 19 in 2002 to 631 in 2017 at the church's nine campuses. The Summit has planted 248 churches to date, including 208 outside the U.S., with a goal of starting 1,000 churches in 50 years, according to North Carolina's Biblical Recorder newsjournal. See related Baptist Press report. The new SBC president will succeed Memphis-area pastor Steve Gaines, who was elected to the first of two one-year presidential terms in 2016. A separate question-and-answer session with the other candidate -- Ken Hemphill -- also appears today in Baptist Press. BP requested each candidate to respond within 150 words to questions submitted by Baptist state editors and BP. See J.D. Greear's answers below. What are some specific ways you would like to help bridge possible theological and generational differences in the SBC that Southern Baptists have expressed concerns about in recent years? Greear: The basis of our unity in the SBC has always been the Gospel and beyond that, the Baptist Faith and Message. It's what the messengers have seen fit, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, to establish as the parameters of our cooperation. Every word taught in Scripture is important, but we have set the BFM 2000 as the basis of our unity and I believe that should be our guide. Whenever we let secondary or tertiary doctrines, cultural customs, or worship preferences distract or divide us, the devil wins and evangelism loses. Please describe why you believe support for the Cooperative Program, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is vital to Southern Baptists' mission and vision." Greear: Cooperation between churches for the sake of mission is why the convention exists, and that cooperation has enabled Southern Baptists to produce more church planters, more missionaries, and more seminary graduates than any other group in America. Cooperative giving through the CP, Annie Armstrong and Lottie Moon Offerings is a powerful and proven method for supporting Great Commission work. As a former IMB missionary and a two-time seminary graduate, I have been the beneficiary of the CP in multiple ways. In recent years our church has increasingly gotten involved in giving, and we only plan for that to continue. We want to call a new generation of Southern Baptist churches, similarly, to rise up and engage in cooperative mission and giving. Institutions like the CP and the entities they support enable our mission efforts to have staying power, and they should be important to all Southern Baptists. What are some lessons Southern Baptist churches in the South can learn -- and possibly apply to their ministries -- from congregations outside of that region in more pioneer or unreached areas of the country? Greear: Baptisms are down in the SBC, especially in the Southeast, where the population is growing the fastest! The answer isn't to be found in circling the wagons. It's to remember that God founded every church with sending in mind. Many churches in the SBC have devolved from mission outposts to maintenance facilities, and as such they have lost the presence and power of Jesus. Jesus said, "If any serves me, where I am, there he will be also" (paraphrase of John 12:26). Jesus is seeking and saving the lost. Churches in frontier regions naturally live there; all churches should return to that. This is also where the distinction between smaller and larger churches becomes insignificant. Smaller churches often reach people in frontier areas more effectively than big ones. Most of the churches in the New Testament, for instance, were smaller, but the impact they made for the Great Commission was nothing short of miraculous. What would you suggest should be changed across the convention within the next two to three years to ensure growth? Greear: We need (1) to focus again on the priority of the Gospel as the basis of our unity and evangelism as our mission; (2) to make way for ethnic leaders to lead us in reaching a changing demographic; (3) to make it easy for churches to get involved in church planting, here and abroad; (4) to mobilize a generation of college students to live on mission, and (5) to increase involvement in the CP. We can increase CP involvement in three ways. First, call for churches to give more to the CP. (Obvious, but bears repeating.) Second, celebrate state conventions getting money to the field. (Southern Baptists have many desires in their giving, but I believe this is dearest to their hearts.) Third, encourage all forms of Great Commission giving. We do not, of course, want to foster a societal approach, but we need to allow churches freedom in engaging. What are some ways relationships between SBC entities can be improved or strengthened? Greear: All backbiting and cynicism has to stop. We are one people with a Gospel too great and a mission too urgent to focus on petty differences or territorialism between ourselves. Each entity should look at itself as the servant of the others, and most of all of as servant of the mission. Practically, this means we give each other the benefit of the doubt, assume the best in one another, and extend grace just as Christ did with us. Trustee boards should allow appointed leaders the freedom to lead, but those leaders should lead transparently and in submission to the oversight of those boards. Our trustee boards are there to offer counsel, to manage crises, and at times, to put on the brakes or re-direct the focus. In other words, boards should hold the entity heads accountable, but let them lead the charge in mission. In the wake of the #Metoo movement and numerous sex-related scandals that have impacted our nation, including Southern Baptist churches and leaders, what are some ways congregations can better respond to these issues and minister to those affected? Greear: First, we must understand that some actions are not only immoral, but also illegal. In such cases, rebuking the immorality is not enough; we need to involve law enforcement. Our government structures, Paul says, are appointed by God to keep the peace and we should submit to them. Second, we need to become as skilled in applying the Gospel to suffering as we are to sin. We must learn to listen, to seek counsel, and to fight to protect the vulnerable in our flocks. Third, we should mention the experience of abuse in our teaching. When we don't mention experiences like sexual abuse, we indirectly communicate, "The Gospel doesn't apply here." Fourth, we must insist on the highest standards of transparency and accountability. Things that grow in a secret garden always grow mutant! Pastors must be wise in not putting themselves in tempting or compromising situations. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Q&A: Hemphill responds to Bapt. editors' questions by Staff Date: April 25, 2018 - Wednesday DALLAS (BP) -- University administrator and former seminary president Ken Hemphill, one of two candidates to be nominated for Southern Baptist Convention president in June, responded to six questions from Baptist Press and Baptist state editors. A coalition of Southern Baptists announced the nomination Feb. 1 via a Baptist state paper. See related Baptist Press report. Hemphill was president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1994-2003 and national strategist from 2003-11 for the SBC's Empowering Kingdom Growth (EKG) emphasis, an initiative launched in 2002 calling Southern Baptists to renewed passion for God's Kingdom. Hemphill now serves as special assistant to the president for denominational relations at North Greenville University. Hemphill has also pastored churches in Kentucky and Virginia and led the Home Mission Board's (now the North American Mission Board) Southern Baptist Center for Church Growth in the early 1990s. The new SBC president will succeed Memphis-area pastor Steve Gaines, who was elected to the first of two one-year presidential terms in 2016. A separate question-and-answer session with the other candidate -- J.D. Greear -- also appears today in Baptist Press. BP requested each candidate to respond within 150 words to questions submitted by Baptist state editors and BP. See Ken Hemphill's answers to questions below. What are some specific ways you would like to help bridge possible theological and generational differences in the SBC that Southern Baptists have expressed concerns about in recent years? In order to bridge any "potential" barriers to fellowship and mutual cooperation, we must restore trust and civility in our conversations about each other. Social media gives everyone instant access to unfettered means of sharing opinions on everything. The internet is an effective tool of communications, but it must be self-monitored by Biblical standards such as "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) and avoiding unwholesome words and speaking for edification (Ephesians 4:29). Second, we must provide opportunities for listening and discussing theological, racial, or generational differences. Local associations and state conventions can play a vital role in bringing together diverse groups of people for fellowship, respectful discussion, and prayer. We must avoid labeling faithful Southern Baptists. Third, our structure at every level of our convention must reflect and celebrate our racial and generational diversity while maintaining our core spiritual and theological convictions. Please describe why you believe support for the Cooperative Program, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is vital to Southern Baptists' mission and vision. This is a key issue that motivated me to become a candidate. First, establishing the budget requires cooperation at every level of SBC life. It is fine-tuned by the Executive Committee and approved by messengers at the annual convention. A church's non-restricted gift through CP should be the norm for the sake of budgeting and planning. Second, cooperative giving is a biblical approach to funding missions by churches who work together for kingdom-sized goals. As a funding mechanism for supporting missions, it has absolutely no peer in Christian history. Third, CP giving and our mission offerings allow every church of every size to be an equal partner in the ministries of the state and national convention. Percentage giving is not measured by the size of the gift but the size of the sacrifice. We must celebrate percentage giving rather than actual dollars given by a particular church. What are some lessons Southern Baptist churches in the South can learn -- and possibly apply to their ministries -- from congregations outside of that region in more pioneer or unreached areas of the country? I have been privileged to speak in many new-work areas and have learned far more than I have ever imparted. First, we can learn the importance of working together on those things that facilitate gospel encounters. In this same vein, they teach us how to build relationships and share the story of Jesus with persons with little exposure to the Gospel or Southern Baptists. Also, we can learn from them how to do much with so little. Few of these churches have full-time or multiple staff members and many of our smaller state conventions no longer have the equipping resources they once had, therefore they teach us to rely upon the Lord and to work with others. Because they understand the crucial nature of working together, these new-work churches are often very generous in their cooperative giving. They teach us percentage giving has greater value than flat-lined dollar amounts. What would you suggest should be changed across the convention within the next two to three years to ensure growth? Let's be clear! The Lord builds His church (Matthew 16:18). He uses human instruments and expects all of us to engage in the singular mandate of the Great Commission -- to make disciples. This requires going (evangelizing), baptizing (congregationalizing), and teaching (disciple-making). History shows that when our convention loses its laser-like focus on the Great Commission, we lose ground. We must regain our kingdom focus. We are called to be a royal priesthood (Exodus 19:4-6), representing the King and advancing His kingdom to all peoples before His triumphal return. Our goal is far larger than growing our church or even our convention. We must regain the high ground of being a people on mission with God. That means that some of our personal preferences must be put aside as we renew our minds -- a kingdom mindset through churches, associations, state conventions, and SBC missions and ministries. We need to revitalize the role of state convention evangelism director, invest more in campus ministries, utilize gifted evangelists, and restore a passion for soul-winning. What are some ways relationships between SBC entities can be improved or strengthened? There is a "hermeneutic of suspicion" in our culture today and it impacts the Christian community and our ability to cooperate. We must repent of critical attitudes and rhetoric that damage our ability to work together for the Kingdom. We must learn again to operate based on the principle of love which chooses to believe the best and refuses to judge motives. When you have a valid criticism, express it with kindness with a view to finding helpful solutions. We must restore "trust," because cooperation is impossible without trust. Trust and mutual care can only happen when we sit down together, discuss issues, pray, and work for a solution. We must relearn the art of "pulling for each other." We need to work to establish situations that produce "win/win" outcomes. As Scripture indicates, when one member suffers, we all suffer together and when one succeeds we all succeed. SBC entities must be transparent and responsive to its constituents. In the wake of the #Metoo movement and numerous sex-related scandals that have impacted our nation, including Southern Baptist churches and leaders, what are some ways congregations can better respond to these issues and minister to those affected? We must first teach biblical holiness as a positive alternative to the world's obsession with sexual permissiveness. We must provide biblical teaching that the body belongs to the Lord and is a Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20). We must train church leaders concerning the importance of safety and security. Such measures include adopting strong policies, properly reporting, and taking seriously the claims of those indicating abuse. Churches should create accountability groups where a mentor or a mature friend has permission to ask the hard questions about what we are listening to, reading and watching. The sexual abuse of women and children should never be tolerated or left unpunished. When church leaders/members are guilty, action needs to be swift and decisive. If someone experiences moral failure, the church must respond with biblical discipline that has as its ultimate goal the restoration to fellowship of the repentant offender (2 Corinthians 2:7-8). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Calif. bill could bar Bible's teaching on sexuality by Tom Strode Date: April 25, 2018 - Wednesday WASHINGTON (BP) -- Southern Baptists and other religious conservatives are warning a bill making its way through the California legislature would violate free speech and religious freedom protections by prohibiting biblical teaching on sexuality. The California Assembly passed in a 50-18 vote April 19 an amendment that adds "sexual orientation change efforts" to the categories of activities barred by the state's consumer protection law. The proposal, Assembly Bill (AB) 2943, still needs to gain approval in the Senate before it goes to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature. While the bill's supporters contend it targets "conversion therapy," critics say the measure would affect much more than that controversial technique. They maintain it would, in essence, make illegal any transaction involving a book, conference or counseling that might help a person overcome undesired same-sex attraction or gender confusion. Southern Baptist ethicist Russell Moore said the proposal "goes to the very foundations of free speech and religious liberty and is both reckless and harmful." AB 2943 "essentially outlaws views of sexual ethics held by most Christians, Orthodox Jews, Muslims and many others, all over the world and throughout history," the president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission said in a written release. "If passed, it would have a chilling effect on religious institutions teaching their own beliefs, and would be a harm to all citizens, religious or not, by eroding basic First Amendment protections." In a letter Tuesday (April 24), Moore urged Brown to oppose and, if necessary, veto the bill. Despite their differences on many moral issues, Moore said he hoped Brown and he "could agree on our constitutional heritage of freedom of speech and of religion." R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, sounded an alarm in the April 20 edition of his podcast The Briefing. "What we are facing here is the effort by the state ... to make it virtually illegal for anyone to represent Orthodox Christian teaching on issues of gender and sex and sexual morality," Mohler told listeners, according to a podcast transcript. The California Family Council (CFC) -- a partner organization of the California Southern Baptist Convention -- decried the Assembly's passage of the legislation. California "has no right to deny its residents the resources to help them find happiness or to shut down counselors, schools, and religious organizations that provide those services," said CFC Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Keller in a written statement. "Every person experiencing unwanted same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria must be allowed to pursue help in achieving their desired goals and outcomes." The bill defines "sexual orientation change efforts" as "any practices that seek to change an individual's sexual orientation. This includes efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same sex." Such efforts do not include psychotherapies that offer "acceptance, support, and understanding of clients" and "do not seek to change sexual orientation." In a March 8 legal analysis of AB 2943, Alliance Defending Freedom said, "In other words, helping a person address unwanted attractions is banned, while helping someone embrace such attractions is permitted." ADF, a legal organization that defends religious liberty, provided examples of the extent of the censorship if the proposal is enacted: -- "A licensed counselor could not help a married mother of three who is experiencing unwanted sexual attraction to a close female friend or confusion over her gender identity overcome those feelings; -- "A religious ministry could not hold a conference on maintaining sexual purity if the conference encourages attendees to avoid homosexual behavior; -- "A bookstore (including online bookstores like Amazon) could not sell many recently published books challenging gender identity ideology and advocating that these beliefs should be rejected by society; and -- "A pastor paid to speak at an event addressing current social topics could not encourage attendees that they can prevail over same-sex desires or feelings that they were born the wrong sex." Financial transactions -- such as conference registration fees or payment for a book -- would trigger AB 2943 in all these cases, according to ADF. The measure likely is unconstitutional not only because it discriminates based on viewpoint and impermissibly hinders free speech and religious exercise, ADF reported, it also infringes the First Amendment right to receive information, according to the analysis. The Human Rights Campaign -- the country's largest political organization advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights -- and Equality California -- a statewide LGBT group -- applauded the Assembly's passage of AB 2943. "So-called conversion therapy is a dangerous, ineffective solution in search of a nonexistent problem, and there's no place for it in the State of California," said Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur in a written release. "Once again, California legislators sent a clear, bipartisan message to the [LGBT] community across our state and around the world: 'You belong.'" Conversion therapy is a method designed to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity that has lost support among evangelicals in recent years. Instead, many churches and pastors seek to help people dealing with same-sex desires and gender confusion by teaching the Gospel of Jesus and its sufficiency. In his letter to Brown, Moore commended the governor for his veto of a bill last year that would have prohibited religious organizations from disciplining employees who had abortions or participated in extra-marital sex. "You have spoken in the past of your deep commitment to the First Amendment, and to freedom of speech, even for those views with which you disagree," Moore wrote Brown. "I was, and am, grateful for your constitutional consistency on that matter." -------------------------------------------------------------------- USCIRF: Persecution grows despite elevated awareness by Diana Chandler Date: April 25, 2018 - Wednesday WASHINGTON (BP) -- While egregious acts of religious persecution are more likely to cause global protest 20 years after the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, many countries are increasingly denying such freedoms, a federal watchdog commission reported today (April 25). The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) noted the dichotomy in releasing its 2018 Annual Report on 2017 religious freedom violations in 28 countries. "Sadly, religious freedom conditions deteriorated in many countries in 2017, often due to increasing authoritarianism or under the guise of countering terrorism," USCIRF Chairman Daniel Mark said in releasing the report. "Yet there is also reason for optimism 20 years after the passage of the International Religious Freedom Act," Mark said. "The importance of this foundational right is appreciated more now than ever, and egregious violations are less likely to go unnoticed." October will mark the 20th anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) which has never been fully implemented, USCIRF said, but was strengthened in 2016 by the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act (Frank Wolf Act) to address implementation concerns. USCIRF's report encouraged the Trump administration to fully implement IRFA and related laws to speed and protect international religious freedom. "In its second year, the Trump Administration should build on stated commitments to elevate religious freedom as a priority in our foreign policy and national security strategy by vigorously implementing IRFA, the Frank Wolf Act, and the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act [of 2016] to pressure egregious violators," Mark said. "USCIRF also urges the administration to prioritize seeking the release of religious prisoners of conscience abroad, and to work closely with international partners in efforts to promote freedom of religion or belief for all." USCIRF annually recommends countries of particular concern (CPCs), or Tier 1 countries, based on "systemic, ongoing, egregious" violations, as well as a Tier 2 "watch list" of countries that meet one or two of the criteria for CPCs. Since the Frank Wolf Act, Congress also has recommended entities of particular concern, EPCs, for non-state violators such as terrorist groups. Genocide, killings, slavery, rape, imprisonment, forced displacement and forced conversions were among the most severe abuses reported in addition to childhood religious education bans, female marginalization, intimidation, harassment and property destruction. "In addition to endangering individuals and communities, severe violations of religious freedom threaten the stability and security of nations and regions," USCIRF said. "The freedom to follow one's conscience in matters of religion or belief is essential to human dignity and human flourishing." The list of CPCs recommendations in 2018 are the Central African Republic (CAR), Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Syria and Vietnam, in addition to 10 countries the U.S. Congress so designated in December 2017: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. USCIRF recommends 12 countries for a U.S. 2018 watch list: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia and Turkey. The Islamic State (also known as ISIS) in Iraq and Syria, the Taliban in Afghanistan and al-Shabaab in Somalia are listed as EPCs. Acts of persecution noted in the USCIRF report include the unjust imprisonment of American pastor Andrew Brunson in Turkey; a genocidal campaign waged by ISIS against Christians, Yazidis and Shi'a Muslims in Iraq and Syria; in Nigeria, the government's failure to prevent or punish religion-based violence involving Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen; in Pakistan, blasphemy laws and increased extremist activity against minority religious communities including Christians and others; and in Russia, banning Jehovah's Witnesses and accusing peaceful religious groups of extremism. The full report is accessible at uscirf.gov/reports-briefs/annual-report/2018-annual-report. -------------------------------------------------------------------- SBC Executive Committee, boards, commission, seminaries, committee nominees announced by Staff Date: April 25, 2018 - Wednesday NASHVILLE (BP) -- Nominees to serve on the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, the four denominational boards -- International Mission Board, North American Mission Board, LifeWay Christian Resources and GuideStone Financial Resources -- the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the six seminaries and the Committee on Order of Business have been selected by the 2018 SBC Committee on Nominations. Nominees will serve if elected by the messengers to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, June 12-13 in Dallas. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (86 members): 24 nominations considered: 10 new members; 14 renominations. Nominees with terms to expire in 2022 replacing members ineligible for re-election include Phyllis S. Ingram, layperson and member of First Baptist Church, Montgomery, Ala., replacing D. Wayne Myrick, Hoover, Ala.; Neal Hughes, director of missions and member of Heritage Baptist Church, Montgomery, Ala., replacing R. Ron Madison, Huntsville, Ala.; John A. Lucas, pastor, First Baptist Church, Pikeville, Ky., replacing Robert D. (Dan) Summerlin, Paducah, Ky.; Daniel L. (Dan) Lanier, pastor, Northcrest Baptist Church, Meridian, Miss., replacing David E. Hamilton, Pontotoc, Miss.; James D. (Jim) Green, layperson and member of Sagemont Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, replacing Becky S. Illingworth, Royse City, Texas. Also nominated for terms to expire in 2022 are David Becker, pastor, First Baptist Church, Delta Junction, Alaska, replacing Charles S. Worthy Sr., Willow, Alaska, who declined to serve a second term; Christopher N. (Chris) Dickerson, dean of online studies and professor at Carolina College of Biblical Studies and member of Arran Lake Baptist Church, Fayetteville, N.C., replacing Terry H. Montgomery, Charlotte, N.C., who declined to serve a second term. Nominated for a term to expire in 2021 is Chuck T. Williams, pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington, Tenn., replacing James E. (Jim) Collier, Germantown, Tenn., who resigned. Nominated for a term to expire in 2020 is Alton Fannin, pastor, First Baptist Church, Ardmore, Okla., replacing Shane B. Hall, Del City, Okla., who is deceased. Nominated for a term to expire in 2019 is Phillip J. Robertson, pastor, Philadelphia Baptist Church, Pineville, La., replacing Aaron Burgner, Shreveport, La., who resigned. Nominated for second terms are Stephen L. Goss, Bentonville, Ark.; Paul E. (Gene) McPherson, Benton, Ark.; Rolland E. Slade, El Cajon, Calif.; Stephen N. Rummage, Brandon, Fla.; Cheryl S. Samples, Woodstock, Ga.; Michael R. (Mike) Stone, Blackshear, Ga.; Todd Stiles, Ankeny, Iowa; Mike Holloway, West Monroe, La.; D. Paul Jones, Billings, Mont.; Robert W. (Bob) Neely, Spartanburg, S.C.; Ron F. Hale, Jackson, Tenn.; Stephen Swofford, Rockwall, Texas; James W. Gregory, Mountain Home, Idaho; Timothy Hight, Christiansburg, Va. GUIDESTONE FINANCIAL RESOURCES (44 trustees): 9 nominations considered: 6 new trustees; 3 renominations. Nominees with terms to expire in 2022 replacing trustees ineligible for re-election include Deana F. Hames, layperson and member of First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Ga., replacing James N. (Jim) Law, Woodstock, Ga.; Timothy R. (Tim) Huddleston, vice president, Missouri Baptist Foundation and member of First Baptist Church, Clever, Mo., replacing Peter G. (Pete) Livingston, Jefferson City, Mo.; Damian Cirincione, pastor, Shadow Hills Church, Las Vegas, Nev., replacing Michael L. Rochelle, Las Vegas, Nev.; James R. (Jim) Scrivner, layperson and member of First Baptist Church, Ada, Okla., replacing Thomas G. (Tom) Evans, Cherokee, Okla.; Gary L. Stooksbury, layperson and member of Millbrook Baptist Church, Aiken, S.C., replacing M. O’Neal Miller Jr., Conway, S.C.; Christopher L. Kelly, layperson and member of Third Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, Tenn., replacing David B. McMillan, Kingsport, Tenn. Nominated for second terms are David S. Puckett, Birmingham, Ala.; David M. Rainwater, Little Rock, Ark.; Renee A. Trewick, Yonkers, N.Y. INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD (77 trustees): 22 nominations considered: 8 new trustees; 14 renominations. Nominees with terms to expire in 2022 replacing trustees ineligible for re-election include Joyce A. Chambers, layperson and member of Grace Baptist Church, Monroe, Ga., replacing June M. Coleman, Decatur, Ga.; Chris B. Wall, pastor, First Baptist Church, Owasso, Okla., replacing Andrew D. Finch, Choctaw, Okla.; John B. McCullough, pastor, Berea Baptist Church, Big Spring, Texas, replacing John B. Ross, Longview, Texas. Also nominated for a term to expire in 2022 is Alan M. Brumback, pastor, Central Baptist Church, Sanford, Fla., new member from Fla. Nominated for a term to expire in 2021 is Douglas O. (Doug) Melton, pastor, Southern Hills Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Okla., replacing Hance Dilbeck, Oklahoma City, Okla., who resigned. Nominated for terms to expire in 2020 are Gary R. (Rick) Hedger, multiplying churches catalyst, Missouri Baptist Convention and member of Freshwater Church, Jefferson City, replacing Spencer F. Plumlee, Osage Beach, Mo., who resigned; Trudy H. Crittendon, layperson and member of Townville Baptist Church, Townville, S.C., replacing Tracy Mackall McAbee, Enoree, S.C., who resigned; Carolina V. Pfeiffer, layperson and member of Southview Baptist Church, Rosharon, Texas, replacing Jaye Martin, Houston, Texas. Nominated for second terms are Cecil M. Sanders Jr., Headland, Ala.; William H. (Bill) Ricketts, Bogart, Ga.; William H. (Opie) Hurst, Tupelo, Miss.; DeeEdrah White, Reno, Nev.; Samuel S. (Sam) Taylor, Boston, Mass.; Barbara Carlson, Ruidosa, N.M.; Michael Cloer, Rocky Mount, N.C.; Lawrence (Larry) Lambes, Carlisle, Ohio; Joseph B. (Jody) Ratcliff, West Columbia, S.C.; Phillip D. Mitchell, Greenfield, Tenn.; James C. (Cliff) Mayton, Spring, Texas; Thom Polvogt, Katy, Texas; Robert M. (Mike) Simmons, Cedar Hill, Texas; Robert Welch Jr., Brownsboro, Texas. NORTH AMERICAN MISSION BOARD (52 trustees): 15 nominations considered: 8 new trustees; 7 renominations. Nominees with terms to expire in 2022 replacing trustees ineligible for re-election include Brian E. Nall, director of missions, Pensacola Bay Baptist Association and member of Olive Baptist Church, Pensacola, Fla., replacing Stephen E. (Spike) Hogan, Jacksonville, Fla.; Gevan L. Spinney, pastor, First Baptist Church, Haughton, La., replacing Lane R. Moore, Shreveport, La.; Tommy Mitchell, pastor, Agricola Baptist Church, Lucedale, Miss., replacing Rebecca L. Williams, Madison, Miss.; Bill H. Wright, pastor, First Baptist Church, Purvis, Miss., replacing Keith D. Warden, Picayune, Miss. Also nominated for terms to expire in 2022 are William E. (Willy) Rice, pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Clearwater, Fla., new member from Florida; Bill L. Coffey, pastor, Pinecrest Baptist Church, Silsbee, Texas, replacing Manuel A. Martinez, Irving, Texas, who declined to serve a second term. Nominated for a term to expire in 2021 is Joe T. Youngblood, church health group director, South Carolina Baptist Convention and member of Millbrook Baptist Church, Aiken, S.C., replacing B.J. Bateman, Taylors, S.C., who resigned. Nominated for a term to expire in 2020 is Jonathan W. Jarboe, pastor, Pathway Church, Redlands, Calif., replacing Martin A. (Marty) Hoffman, Oakland, Calif., who resigned. Nominated for second terms are Charles M. (Danny) Wood, Birmingham, Ala.; David Saylor, Manchester, Ct.; Cynthia E. (Cindy) Bush, Raleigh, N.C.; Robert J. (Bob) Lowe, Yelm, Wash.; Denny J. Gorena, Fort Worth, Texas; Zoila Lopez, Forney, Texas; Jarrett L. Stephens, Plano, Texas. LIFEWAY CHRISTIAN RESOURCES (52 trustees): 16 nominations considered: 7 new trustees; 9 renominations. Nominees with terms to expire in 2022 replacing trustees ineligible for re-election include Benjamin D. Posey, pastor, First Baptist Church, Kinston, Ala., replacing N. Bruce Moseley, Mobile, Ala.; M. Dean Register, pastor, Crosspoint Community Church, Hattiesburg, Miss., replacing Gary A. Richardson, Oxford, Miss.; Chad Keck, pastor, First Baptist Church Kettering, Dayton, Ohio, replacing Greg F. Jackson, Camden, Ohio; Cynthia M. Cook, layperson and member of South Main Street Baptist Church, Greenwood, S.C., replacing George E. Goudelock, Hartsville, S.C.; Jacob M. Fitzgerald, pastor, Denman Avenue Baptist Church, Lufkin, Texas, replacing Kennith D. Carter, Lubbock, Texas. Also nominated for a term to expire in 2022 is Curtis D. Clark, pastor, Thomasville Road Baptist Church, Tallahassee, Fla., new member from Florida. Nominated for a term to expire in 2021 is Randall P. (Randy) Smith, layperson and member of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Ga., replacing Wayne C. Morgan, Covington, Ga., who resigned. Nominated for second terms are James H. (Jimmy) Scroggins, West Palm Beach, Fla.; J.D. Perry, Baton Rouge, La.; Linda K. Dean, Farmington, N.M.; Christopher (Todd) Fannin, Pryor, Okla.; Madeline Harris, Philadelphia, Pa.; Burt D. Landers, Shelbyville, Tenn.; Brad H. McLean, New Braunfels, Texas; Brice D. Mandaville, Sequin, Texas; Roger A. Yancey, Conroe, Texas. ETHICS & RELIGIOUS LIBERTY COMMISSION (34 trustees): 8 nominations considered: 4 new trustees; 4 renominations. Nominees with term to expire in 2022 replacing trustees ineligible for re-election include D. Scott Foshie, pastor, Steeleville Baptist Church, Steeleville, Ill., replacing Curtis R. Starner, Streator, Ill.; Christine Hoover, layperson and member of Charlottesville Community Church, Charlottesville, Va., replacing Bernard J. Snowden, Fairfax Station, Va. Also nominated for terms to expire in 2022 are Richard P. (Rich) Bott II, layperson and member of Lenexa Baptist Church, Lenexa, Kan., replacing Dan R. Anderson, Augusta, Kan., who declined to serve a second term; Kevin L. Smith, executive director, Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware and member of Weems Creek Baptist Church, Annapolis, Md., replacing Kenneth Barbic, Washington, D.C., who resigned. Nominated for second terms are Lynn O. Traylor, Glasgow, Ky.; Billy M. (Mike) Aultman, Sumrall, Miss.; Robert Dean, Bascom, N.Y.; David E. Prince, Lexington, Ky. SOUTHERN SEMINARY (42 trustees): 2 nominations considered: 1 new trustee; 1 renomination. Nominee with a term to expire in 2023 replacing trustee ineligible for re-election is Bradley M. Rushing, pastor, Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, Dothan, Ala., replacing John C. Thweatt, Pell City, Ala. Nominated for a second term is Phillip A. (Phil) Bray, Macon, Mo. SOUTHWESTERN SEMINARY (40 trustees): 8 nominations considered: 1 new trustee; 7 renominations. Nominated for a term to expire in 2023 is Don W. Reeves, pastor, Grant Avenue Baptist Church, Corvallis, Ore., replacing Ronny L. Cooksey, McMinnville, Ore. who resigned. Nominated for second terms are Mark S. Mucklow, Glendale, Ariz.; Calvin R. Wittman, Wheat Ridge, Colo.; Herb M. Reavis Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.; David F. Maron, Jackson, Miss.; Michael W. (Mike) Mings, Valliant, Okla.; Thomas H. Pulley, Dallas, Texas; Jamie R. Green, Houston, Texas. NEW ORLEANS SEMINARY (40 trustees): 11 nominations considered: 7 new trustees; 4 renominations. Nominees with terms to expire in 2023 replacing trustees ineligible for re-election are Braden W. Mims, layperson and member of Thomasville Baptist Church, Thomasville, Ala., replacing Donald E. (Don) Setser, Mobile, Ala.; Samuel J. (Sam) Crouch, pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Elko, Nev., replacing Rob Boyd, Henderson, Nev.; Steven W. Schenewerk, pastor, Community Baptist Church, Winston, Ore., replacing Steven A. Meek, Spokane Valley, Wash.; Eddie Wren, pastor, First Baptist Church, Rayville, La., replacing David E. Cranford, Ponchatoula, La.; Stephen N. Horn, pastor, First Baptist Church, Lafayette, La., replacing Marsha H. Dyess, Baton Rouge, La.; Waylon Bailey, pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington, La., replacing Thomas F. (Tom) Harrison, Shreveport, La. Nominated for a term to expire in 2022 is Joshua A. Carter, pastor, Clough Pike Baptist Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, replacing George B. Bannister Sr., Niles, Ohio, who resigned. Nominated for second terms are Tony Lambert, Denver, Colo.; John C. Greenbank, Evansville, Ind.; Jackie A. Myers, Sicily Island, La.; Gary W. Fordham, Petal, Miss. SOUTHEASTERN SEMINARY (30 trustees): 5 nominations considered: 1 new trustee; 4 renominations. Nominee with a term to expire in 2023 replacing trustee ineligible for re-election is Zack W. Little, pastor, South Side Baptist Church, Abbeville, S.C., replacing Daniel G. Godfrey, Chesnee, S.C. Nominated for second terms are Israel Kim, Irvine, Calif.; Joe Forrester, Hoschton, Ga.; Albert E. (Earle) Finley, Raleigh, N.C.; Melinda W. Delahoyde, Raleigh, N.C. MIDWESTERN SEMINARY (35 trustees): 8 nominations considered: 5 new trustees; 3 renominations. Nominees with terms to expire in 2023 replacing trustees ineligible for re-election are Courtney E. (Gene) Dempsey, retired pastor and member of Hope Fellowship Church, Maple Valley, Wash., replacing Dan T. McDonald, Woodstock, Ga.; Michael J. (Mike) Jefferies, layperson and member of Blue Valley Baptist Church, Overland Park, Kan., replacing Sanford W. Peterson, Overland Park, Kan.; Larry L. Lewis, director of missions, Mid Missouri Baptist Association and member of Calvary Baptist Church, Columbia, Mo., replacing Kenneth J. (Ken) Parker, Kearney, Mo. Also nominated for a term to expire in 2023 is Edward J. Mattox, pastor, Forest Park Baptist Church, Farmington Hills, Mich., replacing Wayne H. Parker, Garden City, Mich., who resigned. Nominated with a term to expire in 2019 is William J. (Billy) Van Devender, layperson and member of First Baptist Church, Jackson, Miss., replacing Kima J. Jude, Beavercreek, Ohio, who resigned. Nominated for second terms are C. Rex Smith, Paducah, Ky.; M. Lee Roberson, Hobbs, N.M.; Frankie J. Melton Jr., Heath Springs, S.C. GATEWAY SEMINARY (39 trustees): 12 nominations considered: 10 new trustees; 2 renominations. Nominees with terms to expire in 2023 replacing trustees ineligible for re-election include Wallace E. (Wally) DeShon, layperson and member of Hiway Baptist Church, Mesa, Ariz., replacing Joseph C. Chan, Tucson, Ariz.; James R. (Jim) Futral, executive director, Mississippi Baptist Convention Board and member of Broadmoor Baptist Church, Madison, Miss., replacing Michael C. Routon, Petal, Miss.; David G. Hill, pastor, Northside Baptist Church, Springfield, Ohio, replacing Dennis Humphreys, Wilmington, Ohio; Marsha Gray, layperson and member of The Gathering Place, Vancouver, Wash., replacing William C. (Bill) Moffitt, Richland, Wash.; Myron W. Person, retired pastor and member of North Addison Baptist Church, Spokane, Wash., replacing Rickey P. Scott, Eugene, Ore. Also nominated for terms to expire in 2023 are Bob Bender, pastor, First Baptist Church Black Forest, Colorado Springs, Colo., replacing Janet Y. Springer, Thornton, Colo., who resigned; Lance A. Rogers, teaching assistant and member of Birchman Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, replacing Timothy J. (Tim) Rose, Church at the Cross, Grapevine, Texas, who resigned. Nominated for terms to expire in 2020 are Kevin T. Scott, pastor, Church at the Well, Boston, Mass., replacing Tony Peffer, Castleton, Vt., who resigned; Carol Xiaomiao Geng, layperson and member of Chinese Fellowship Bible Church, Niskayuna, N.Y., replacing Paul Shepherd, Whitehall, N.Y., who resigned. Nominated for a term to expire in 2019 is Barbara E. Smith, layperson and member of Immanuel Baptist Church, Highland, Calif., replacing Cathy Bates, Beaumont, Calif., who resigned. Nominated for second terms are R. Rex (Peck) Lindsay, Topeka, Kans.; Gayle A. Fee, Las Vegas, Nev. COMMITTEE ON ORDER OF BUSINESS (7 members): 1 nomination considered: 1 new member. Nominee with a term to expire in 2021, replacing member ineligible for re-election is Adam W. Greenway, dean and professor, Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and member of First Baptist Church, Mount Washington, Ky., replacing Grant C. Ethridge, Hampton, Va. -------------------------------------------------------------------- IMB Facebook Live event confronts missions barriers by David Roach Date: April 25, 2018 - Wednesday RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- Church size, budget limitations and fear should not prevent local congregations from engaging in global missions, said panelists at a Facebook Live event today (April 25) hosted by the International Mission Board. Pastors "are not just called to tend sheep," said Cliff Jordan, pastor of Movement Church in Richmond, Va. "We're called to send them" to the nations. "It's just part of the job." The event featured IMB President David Platt interviewing Richmond-area pastors from churches of various sizes about "major barriers to engaging a church in missions." Jordan said a top barrier to missions involvement for some churches is relegating "missions to activity only" and not regarding it first as part of every Christian's identity. "Our mission identity has to be the core," he said. Missions activity should "flow out of that." Movement, which averages about 240 people in worship, recently sent multiple couples to serve as missionaries in Central Asia through IMB, Platt said. Derek Futrell, pastor of Parkway Baptist Church in Moseley, Va., cited as another top barrier to missions "prayerlessness and a lack of awareness" about lostness in the world. Parkway "didn't really see God begin to do work in us until we began to pray specifically and intentionally: 'God, You use us in the part of the world You want us,'" Futrell said. "Through that prayer, God began to bring us significant partnerships -- not just with missionaries, but with peoples and having a heart for specific people groups." Parkway, with an average worship attendance of about 500, has done mission work in the Philippines, Peru, South Asia and Romania. Pete Hypes, pastor of Mission Community Church in Chester, Va., said the congregation's modest worship attendance of 50-60 "could have held me back" from missions involvement. However, the church serves regularly among a people group in South Africa. "I don't think about the size of our church," Hypes said. "I think about God, and I think about what God is able to do with us." Platt echoed the encouragement for small churches to play an active role in international missions. "May you not underestimate what God will do in and through your church," Platt said, noting Hypes not only leads members of Mission Community to do overseas evangelism but also mobilizes other churches in Virginia for missions. Fear is another barrier to missions, panelists said. Pastors may fear the congregation won't follow their lead if they jump into world evangelization. Some people may fear for their safety on mission trips, and others may fear people of different cultural and ethnic groups. "Shepherding people on missions," Platt said, "just uncovers all kinds of discipleship issues in the heart that wouldn't be uncovered if we weren't shepherding people on global mission." Taking a step of faith and going on a mission trip, Futrell said, can help believers overcome their fears. Platt said "barriers in pastors' own hearts to leading on missions" are "oftentimes overcome by being overseas. If you're not overseas, if you're not in some of these contexts among unreached people or amidst massive, urgent physical and spiritual need in the world, it's going to show in your preaching and pastoral ministry." When a church's budget seems to leave little room for missions, Futrell said, the members should prioritize their spending, pray and increase missions expenditures gradually. Hypes said "the costs are so minimal" compared to "the blessing" that results from reaching unreached men and women globally. Meanwhile, Platt hosted a "Secret Church" gathering in Hendersonville, Tenn., April 20. Secret Church is an annual event put on by Platt's personal ministry, Radical. The event mimics the format in which persecuted believers in other parts of the world gather to pray and receive Bible teaching. This year's event ran from 5:30 p.m. to midnight and focused on "cults and counterfeit gospels," according to Radical's website. Some 1,800 attended the live event at Long Hollow Baptist Church, Radical told Baptist Press, with more than 53,000 others joining via simulcast. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Bible Study: April 29, 2018 by Staff/LifeWay Christian Resources Date: April 25, 2018 - Wednesday NASHVILLE (BP) -- This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups. This week's Bible study is adapted from the YOU curriculum. Bible Passages: John 21:4-6, 15-19 Discussion Questions: -- When have you seen other believers endure great hardship as a result of choosing to follow Jesus? -- How could God be using the difficulties He has allowed in your life to draw you closer to Him? Food for Thought: We have all heard it: "There are only two certainties in life -- death and taxes." It's a trite saying, but it is true. Death will come to all, and often before we are ready. Taxes on the other hand come exactly when we expect them. Still we are rarely ready for them (and are often unhappy). We can add one more certainty to the list for followers of Christ: trouble. Jesus promised we would have trouble in this world. The question isn't if trouble will come but when. Will you follow Jesus faithfully -- even to the end? In John 21, after His resurrection Jesus appeared to seven disciples at the Sea of Tiberias (more commonly known as the Sea of Galilee). These disciples were Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James, John and two unnamed disciples (v. 2). They had spent the entire night fishing but caught nothing. In the early morning Jesus appeared on the shore. Although the disciples did not immediately recognize Him, surprisingly they followed His instructions to cast their fishing net on the right side of the boat. The catch was so great they could not haul the net into the boat. They knew it was Jesus. Peter's elation in v. 7 revealed his love for Jesus, his repentant heart and his confidence in who Jesus was. Peter had failed miserably and wasn't sure what the next step was. But he knew Jesus had not given up on him. Good news: He hasn't given up on you and me, either! Peter denied Jesus three times, and three times Jesus asked Peter to publicly confess his love for the Lord. Each time Peter did so, and each time Jesus assured him and informed the other disciples that Peter had not lost his usefulness in kingdom service. This is a reminder for believers today, that all service done for Christ on behalf of His people is to be performed out of love for Him. Failures are serious, but they are not always final. Peter experienced restoration to Christian service, and restoration means being trusted by God in the very places we fail Him. Following Jesus always comes at a cost. Jesus promised we would have trouble in this world. Again, the question isn't if trouble will come but when. This personal cost is part of the "suffering" Jesus spoke of in John 16:32-33. Whatever cost we pay for following Jesus does not compare to the price He paid on the cross for us. Still, no matter the obstacle -- even in death -- He will provide the power for us to remain faithful to Him. When hope is fleeting, when faithfulness is questioned, even when death is near -- follow faithfully! YOU Intentionally focused on urban and multicultural believers, YOU is biblically based with culturally relevant and affirming lessons to help people connect, grow, serve, and ultimately be engaged in impacting the world for Christ. This flexible, non-dated all-in-one quarterly resource offers weekly Bible study for leaders and learners, devotionals, and teaching plans, as well as articles on hot topics and missions. For additional online downloadable teaching resources, visit LifeWay.com/YOU. Other ongoing Bible study options offered by LifeWay for all ages can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool or ordered at LifeWay Christian Stores.