The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-05/19/2015 DISCLAIMER: Baptist Press should be credited for any reprinted stories that originate with BP. Suggested credit line: Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. Please note that Baptist Press periodically carries stories from other sources by permission. Individuals interested in reprinting non-BP stories should contact the entity where the story originated to seek reprint permission. -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: Forgotten former seminarians by Bryan Cribb Date: May 19, 2015 - Tuesday ANDERSON, S.C. (BP) -- "Don't be a 'dropout.'" As a young aspiring minister-in-training, I remember hearing this caution frequently -- and annoyingly -- as I packed my belongings and headed to seminary. "Many seminarians are not even in full-time ministry anymore after 10 years," I was warned. "Don't be like them." For me, the warning functioned almost as a "Hebrews 6-like" threat: "Once you have tasted of the heavenly gifts of ministerial training and then fall away from the ministry, it is impossible to be restored again." Now, exactly how many former seminarians are out of full-time ministry after 10 years is unclear. But what is indisputable is that, with the number of students obtaining ministry degrees these days -- whether from seminaries or from Christian colleges and divinity schools like Anderson University where I teach -- we undoubtedly have large numbers of "trained up" people who aren't actively participating in full-time vocational ministry, though many serve in a wide range of leadership and service roles in their churches. I can't tell you how many times, though, I meet people in my limited travels, who say, "Oh, I went to seminary as well, but I'm not in ministry anymore." Many reasons exist for such a turn of events in a former seminarian's life -- anything from a change of calling to bad experiences in church, difficult domestic issues or moral missteps. But I fear that the result is that many have experienced discouragement and depression from within and cold shoulders and condescension from without. Indeed, some in this category may be reading this article. What can we say to and do for this neglected, forgotten and often snubbed subcategory of "former seminarians"? First, if you are in this category, I would say to take encouragement. Every situation and story of a former seminarian is different, but just because you are not in active full-time ministry does not mean that you are in disobedience against God. For every one "Jonah," there are many more Jims and Jennys who have honestly been led in different directions by God. For instance, women seminarians who are now "just" stay-at-home mothers have told me they feel a tinge of guilt because people have said they are not "using" their training in a church or ministry-related vocation. False. My wife falls into this category, and I try to encourage her regularly that she is using her ministry gifts in the primary mission field divinely granted to us as parents -- the home. Second, see ministerial training as a stewardship. Receiving specific instruction in Bible, theology, ministry, leadership and counseling is a gift from God. And while you may not be using that gift in the manner that other Christians deem normative, you still have a responsibility and privilege to use it in a manner that glorifies God and serves the church. Lead a small group. Lead your family. Lead a life of evangelism and Gospel fervor. I know as a pastor, I would love to have a congregation full of theologically trained laypeople. So, third, similarly, if you are a pastor and have "former seminarians" in your congregation, seek them out. Encourage rather than exclude. Provide them opportunities to teach and serve. Use their gifts. You have a stewardship as a shepherd of the resources God has provided your church. Finally, for former seminarians, be open to where God may lead in the future. Just because you are not in full-time ministry now does not mean that you are forever banned. Always be prayerful and watchful for new opportunities to use your gifts and training. In the meantime, use those gifts of ministerial training, wherever God places you, as "Soldiers of Christ in truth arrayed." Being a "full-time" disciple of Christ is just as important as being a "full-time" vocational minister. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Looming senior adult revolution to impact nation by Chuck Kelley Date: May 19, 2015 - Tuesday EDITOR'S NOTE: Chuck Kelley is president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- Something is happening that you may not have noticed. If you have noticed it, you may not fully appreciate its significance. It will affect you. It will affect your church. It will affect the whole nation. What's happening is a senior adult revolution. Some call it the graying of America, but that is too gentle a term for what lies ahead. It is more like a '60s remix. The 1960s were the most turbulent, revolutionary years in modern American history. Every aspect of U.S. culture was affected, including the church. Now picture the '60s reimagined and reinvented: profound changes in American life driven by grandparents rather than college students, by retirement living and health care rather than drugs and rock 'n' roll. The unprecedented generation Here is the revolution in a nutshell: According to Ken Dychtwald in the "The Age Wave," "two-thirds of all the men and women who have lived beyond the age of 65 in the entire history of the world are alive today." Ponder that for a few moments. Dychtwald goes on to note that life expectancy for Americans doubled in the relatively brief history of our nation, creating for the first time "a mass society of healthy, active elders." Not since the days of Noah has God given a generation extended life, good health and adequate resources. Today the fastest-growing segment of the senior adult population is the 85-and-up group. The birthdays you celebrate now are practice for the birthdays you will celebrate for many years to come. The ripple effect The simple fact of senior adults living longer sets in motion many ripples. Older adults will be an important influence in our churches for a significantly longer time than was true in the past. They will not only be present, they will be active. They will not only be active, they will be vocal. This is one reason why attitudes toward worship style have become so complex for many congregations. In most congregations, a strategic plan for the future that does not incorporate the needs, values and gifts of senior adults is incomplete. Older adults will make attention to pastoral care essential for healthy churches. A growing number of senior adults will move from independent living to assisted living to life in a skilled nursing unit. How will the church minister to them as they make these very important transitions? How will the church incorporate their presence in a retirement community as a launching pad for evangelism and ministry to other residents of that community? Senior adults will affect the lifestyles and decisions of younger adults. A growing number of church members will have the care of one or more senior parents as a priority. Imagine the questions and issues faced by Baby Boomers who will retire and still have responsibility for the care of aging parents. This will affect how families spend their time, their money and their emotional energy. A church's attitude toward, and provisions for, senior adults will be noticed in a way not unlike how parents look carefully at programs for their children. A Great Commission army This senior adult revolution is more than a medical advance. As the number of unevangelized and unchurched in our nation grows, God is raising up a Great Commission army. He intends for senior adults to form the critical mass necessary for the Gospel to penetrate the world. Their opinions will shape direction. Their willingness to give will affect fiscal stability. Their engagement with the mission will be crucial for mobilizing congregations. God intends for senior adults to step up to missions engagement and not step aside for younger adults to do all the work. The current generation of young adults is often called the Millennials. I call them the Lost Generation. They are the largest generation in American history, bigger even than the Baby Boomers. They are also the most unevangelized generation in American history. So many of them have no religious background; they are also called "nones" for responding to surveys about religious background and beliefs with "none of the above." However, connections with senior adults are possible. Millennials made Tony Bennett, popular in the 1960s, more popular than at any other time of his career. Their interest in the classic hymns of the faith has spurred every major Christian artist today to record at least one album of hymns. They have a deep respect for authenticity and consistency. We are unlikely to reach the Millennials without the witness of the seniors. How can senior adults make a difference? Here are some specific suggestions: -- Write cards and notes to people. Children and their parents are a good place to start. Personal mail is so rare these days that handwritten cards and notes become treasures. -- Be a mentor to younger adults. Get to know the ones around you. Ask about their lives. Listen to them. Pray for them. When they face issues you faced, tell them how you managed. Be a grandparent outside your family. -- Seek Kingdom advance above personal satisfaction. You lived much of your life deferring dreams and desires for the sake of your family. Be willing to do the same when your church wants to try something new. -- Encourage, encourage, encourage. So few people have a constant encourager in their lives. -- Speak as often of Jesus as you do your grandkids. If you will keep Jesus on your mind, He will find a way out of your mouth. -- Give one last gift to Jesus through your estate. Honor Him in your death as you sought to do in your life, making your last act on earth a gift to your church or a Christian ministry. Not since the days of Noah has God done for a generation of people what He is doing for this generation of senior adults. Celebrate your extended life, health and resources as His gift for His purposes. Use these additional years for His glory. -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: Prisoners, yet free by Charles Patrick Date: May 19, 2015 - Tuesday ROSHARON, Texas (BP) -- Clang, clang, clang, clang -- the series of four gates closed, separating me from the free world as I was searched and ushered into the maximum security prison. The contrast was instantly striking. The blue sky and slight breeze outside were replaced with the dark, humid and warm prison. A ringing bell that sounds seven times a day to signal the counting of the inmates replaced chirping birds and the background noise of life. Individualism was immediately replaced by conformity. There I stood on the cold concrete floor, under the ever-watchful eye of guards and the sometimes curious and most of the time stoic eyes of inmates. I was no longer "me"; I was a last name and an eight-digit number. It was palpable that I was no longer in the free world. What was my offense to warrant standing in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) facility? Nothing. I was in prison voluntarily -- there to celebrate the (May 9th) graduation of 33 offenders receiving their bachelor of science in biblical studies through Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's Darrington prison extension campus. The Darrington Unit houses up to 1,600 hardened male offenders. Many of the offenders are "lifers." At the invitation of the state of Texas, Southwestern Seminary created an accredited undergraduate program in the Darrington Unit in an effort to change the culture of the prison, modeling it after a similar program at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola. After four years of completing the 125-credit hour degree, the first class of students was graduating in front of their families, Southwestern Seminary faculty, the freshman through junior class of offenders in the seminary program, and other guests. It was a history-making moment in the state of Texas, for Southwestern Seminary, and in the lives of the graduates. During the two-hour graduation ceremony, I watched the graduates' faces -- young, old, African-American, Caucasian and Hispanic. Caps and gowns covered their white prison uniforms. For a moment, they looked distinct from the conformism of the prison's population of offenders. They intently absorbed the entire ceremony and hung on the words of each speaker. They were proud and joyful, not hopeless and angry. They did not fidget, check their watches, or mentally check out and think about where they were going for lunch following graduation. They do not have the luxury. They are not in the free world. I sat there during the ceremony and pondered the striking dichotomy. Here, sitting in front of me, were offenders, locked in prison, surrounded by guards, and yet they were free. They were free from sin, having experienced forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ. Yes, they had to serve out the consequence of past sin, but they were doing so as free men. In contrast, outside of prison are 7 billion people who are free but are prisoners to sin. Goethe stated, "None are more hopelessly enslaved than these who falsely believe they are free." The world as a whole has not accepted the truths of Romans 6:14 and 1 John 1:8-9. The 33 graduating inmates have. Today I was reminded of the importance of believers sharing the Gospel, to show people enslaved by sin how they can be set free. Clang, clang, clang, clang -- the series of four gates closed separating me from the offenders as I stepped back into the free world. I was "me" again, no longer just Patrick and an identification number. I left the Darrington Unit with a myriad of emotions: -- Joy for the offenders who accepted salvation, became equipped with theological education, and will be transferred as field ministers to other TDCJ correctional facilities to actively become salt and light. -- Proud of the Southwestern faculty, staff and ministry partners who sacrificially invested in these men, embracing Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 4:18 -- "He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives." -- Thankful for my own salvation as I proclaim, "My chains are gone, I've been set free. My God, my Savior has ransomed me. And like a flood His mercy reigns. Unending love, amazing grace." -- Challenged to continue practicing evangelism every day in order to reach the lost, prisoners to sin. As I left the prison, I heard the bell ring again -- it was once more time to count the offenders in the Darrington Unit. I smiled. When God rings His bell, He will be able to count offenders in TDCJ correctional facilities as members of heaven. -------------------------------------------------------------------- FROM THE STATES: Calif., Tenn., Ga. evangelism/missions news; Church aims to 'overwhelm Oakland with love' by Staff Date: May 19, 2015 - Tuesday Today's From the States features items from: California Southern Baptist Baptist & Reflector (Tennessee) The Christian Index (Georgia) The Movement aims to 'overwhelm Oakland' By Amanda Phifer OAKLAND, Calif. (California Southern Baptist) -- There are all kinds of movements afoot -- there always have been. But for a core of people in Oakland these days, the movement uppermost in their minds is their young church: The Movement of Oakland. The unique name is intentional. "We knew it was a buzzword -- everybody wants to be a part of a movement these days," said lead church planter Edward Paz. "But we see what Jesus started 2,000 years ago as a movement based off of the resurrection. And we have a vision of wanting to see a movement of people coming to faith and extending His love." Furthermore, Paz added, "I wanted a name that would hold us accountable. Every time I look at that name I have to ask, 'How are we leading in such a way that results in movement, not just a community that's inward-focused?'" The Movement launched in September 2013, led by Paz, Josh Hoag and a planting team primarily from Crossroads Church in Fremont. Paz had served as youth and young adult minister there for two-and-a-half years, much of it, with the church's and pastor's blessing, simultaneously preparing for a church planting venture. From the beginning, Paz said, he was conflicted about which course of strategy to pursue: the "organic, small, meet-in-homes-and-grow-by-word-of-mouth" approach to church planting, or the "go big and all in from the beginning" approach. "We knew from the beginning we wanted to be a church that planted other churches," the South San Francisco native said. "We didn't want to go down a track that couldn't be replicated. So we went with the more attractional model of church planting. "But what helped clinch the decision was, in February of 2013 I was able to share our vision with 40 mega-church pastors, mostly from the South, as part of (the North American Mission Board's) Send North America emphasis. From that we raised over $200,000 in cash, and another $300,000 in commitments. That was a miracle for us. It really breathed life into our team and was encouraging to what we were doing." He concluded with a dry rhetorical question: "I mean, how easy is it not to raise $200,000?" The Movement has as its mission to "overwhelm Oakland with love." Paz said the church wants to reach what he calls the "unchurched, de-churched and over-churched." Owen Yee, who was baptized at the launch service, fell into the first category -- a young tech professional with no church background other than a nominally Catholic middle school. Invited to a preview service by a friend, Owen heard the gospel and followed up with a meeting with Paz. "We talked, I shared the gospel with him personally, and he said he would give it some thought and he'd text me when he'd come to a decision," Paz recalled. "Well, that was fine but we just kept talking, and 15 minutes later he said he was ready to give his life to Christ. Well, I just lost it, right there at Starbucks, so thrilled just to see God reach down and open his eyes." Yee is now sharing his faith at work, growing in his faith and leading one of The Movement's small groups. To Rich Johnstone, a church member who also is a NAMB Send City missionary, the story of Owen's coming to faith and growing as a Christian is a highlight of the 18-month-old church plant experience. "It was refreshing to see him come to faith, and then to see him grow, to hunger after the Word. It's really encouraging to see his influence at work, at church, even within his family." Paz also shared the story of Clarissa, a single mom who grew up in the faith but fell away after the death of an uncle. One of the pastors' wives met Clarissa, invited her to The Movement, and, after several weeks of attending, "The Lord led her to open up her heart, just a little at first, then she gave her heart to the Lord," as Paz put it. Clarissa, too, now serves and is sharing her faith; an old friend who moved to Oakland has become a believer through her influence. As an example of an "over-churched" person, Paz told of Jake, from North Carolina, who grew up in "a pretty religious household, where it was all about, 'You've got to work and earn it.'" Jake was never baptized because he felt he wasn't "at the right 'level' yet." But after hearing the gospel at The Movement, he recently was baptized. Paz said teaching at The Movement is almost tunnel-vision focused on the specific Good News of the gospel God already provided through Jesus. "Everything we do is about reinforcing something God has already done," Paz said. "It's all about what God did for us through Jesus. It seems obvious, but oftentimes the obvious message of the gospel is not interwoven through all the teaching and activities of the church. And we're finding that as being the thing that draws these three groups in." And it's not just for the unchurched, de-churched or over-churched, to borrow from The Movement's strategy language. Paz said one of the amazing aspects of this journey for him personally is how often he finds himself looking in the mirror while he teaches. "I've been amazed at just how much I've had to preach the very same thing to myself, grow deeper in my understanding, find my identity not in what I do but in what God has done on my behalf. It's a one-to-one ratio so often, what I'm preaching to our folks, and what I'm preaching to myself. "The gospel isn't a growth strategy — it is my lifeline," Paz said, "and then I just preach that. I'm having the same 'a-has!' as the people I'm preaching to, having deeper freedom just like them." "The Movement offers a great combination of two things," Johnstone added. "It's gospel-focused and gospel-centered, but at the same time very accessible, very welcoming; dialogues with people at various stages of their faith. That's been a joy to see." --30-- This article appeared in the California Southern Baptist (csbc.com/csb), newsjournal of the California Southern Baptist Convention. Amanda Phifer is a writer for the California Southern Baptist. ********** Mission Jackson reaches teens, children where they live By Lonnie Wilkey JACKSON, Tenn. (Baptist & Reflector) -- A ministry that started 10 years ago with one site to reach neighborhood children has mushroomed into as many as 11 sites across the city reaching as many as 350 children weekly. Misson Jackson "takes the church" away from its four walls throughout the community, said Robert McBroom, local missions pastor for Englewood Baptist Church here. "We are going into the neighborhoods. Our goal is not to take them out of their context and bring them into Englewood," said McBroom who has been actively involved in the ministry for about three years. He noted, however, that as relationships have developed some families have begun attending Englewood and have been warmly received into the fellowship. Most every Sunday about 100 of the 150 weekly volunteers from Englewood Baptist gather at the church to get their supplies and materials and pray together before heading off to one of the current sites. The number of sites varies. They have had as many as 11 but are currently in nine locations. Due to the transiency of the children some sites close until more children move into the neighborhood, McBroom said. Sites include apartment complexes, housing developments, a mobile home community, and a city park. Because the Sunday ministries are held outside they occasionally miss a few weeks due to weather, but when possible they bring the children to a church facility. "Rarely do we not meet," McBroom said. "In the communities where we minister, consistency is vital," he stressed. "It would be a big mistake to make a short-term commitment," he continued. "When we commit to a community we are there to stay unless the need goes away," McBroom said. Volunteers use a Backyard Kids Club format at each of the sites. There are games and activities followed by Bible study and prayer, and, of course, snacks. McBroom said the goal is to reach as many of the neighborhood kids as possible in order to get to know the children and teenagers. Randy and Dawn Nicholas lead one of the newer sites and they agree that getting to know those who attend is very important. "We have had some good response," Randy Nicholas said. "We are just building relationships." An offshoot of the ministry has been a ministry on Thursdays held on the Englewood campus that focuses more on discipleship, mentoring, and tutoring," McBroom said, noting that the Thursday ministry is not for everyone. "It's for the kids who want to know more about Jesus," he observed. Activities on Thursdays include some fun activities, but an emphasis is placed on tutoring and discipleship. The discipling process includes an in-depth, age-appropriate Bible study, McBroom said. Through the Thursday evening ministry, 12 students accepted Christ last semester and were baptized, he shared. Several more students have made decisions for Christ over the past decade, McBroom continued. He cautioned, however, that churches or those interested in a similar ministry understand that salvation decisions normally are not immediate. "It took seven years before we saw our first baptism," he said. He stressed that "pews won't suddenly be filled up" with urban families but they will come. "It takes time for relationships to be developed and for trust to be earned," he stressed. As families do come into the church, more opportunities arise to minister to them, McBroom continued. "We have seen so many lives changed because of this group of people who take the church to the people." McBroom is appreciative of all the volunteers who are involved with the ministry. He acknowledged that finding enough volunteers is always a challenge. "Volunteers for any ministry can be a struggle," he acknowledged. "The same is true for Mission Jackson. We are in the elements. It can be cold or hot and sometimes it is perceived as dangerous because of the neighborhoods we are in," he explained. "But if I can get somebody to go that first time, they almost always stick," McBroom said. "They see the reality of the lives of these children and they want to make an impact." He is especially grateful for a number of Union University students who participate in Mission Jackson. "The students (and the other volunteers) have a passion to see this city changed," he observed. Joann Pittman is a site leader who has a heart and passion for Mission Jackson. Pittman, who has been to Nicaragua five times, said Mission Jackson is an opportunity to "serve Him when I can't go far away." She recalled that on her last trip to Nicaragua she did not want to return. As she was struggling with her emotions, she said God told her, "You have Nicaragua all around you. Why don't you serve where you are? That's why I'm here," she said. McBroom agreed. "Mission Jackson is definitely our Jerusalem." --30-- This article appeared in the Baptist & Reflector (tnbaptist.org/BRNews.asp), newsjournal of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Lonnie Wilkey is editor of the Baptist & Reflector. ********** Partnerships help to launch Ga.'s newest Arabic church By Jim Burton SUWANEE, Ga. (The Christian Index) -- When up to 20 people gather on Sunday evenings for Christian worship, they are multi-national but able to speak the same language, which binds these immigrant families. The common greeting is salaam, which means peace. Arabic is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world as it serves about 27 nations as the official or co-official spoken language. For 206 million people, Arabic is their native language. Another 24 million people speak it as a second language. Only English, Spanish, Hindi, and Mandarin Chinese have more speakers. These Georgia churchgoers represent a minority back home where their neighbors were predominantly Muslim. When Mokhles Bekhet grew up in a Christian home in Alexandria, Egypt, he was among only 15% of the population there. And living his faith wasn't easy. "Every Christian in Egypt experiences some persecution," Bekhet said. His family nurtured him in the Christian faith until he made a profession of faith at age 11. As an adult, he migrated to California where he lived until a brother moved to Georgia. Bekhet soon learned that there were "too many Arabic-speaking people here but only two Arabic churches in Atlanta," and he moved his young family here. Georgia has the nation's 14th largest Arab-American population, according to the Arab American Institute Foundation. An estimated 27,057 Arab-speaking people live in 89 of Georgia's 159 counties. Egyptians represent 51%, followed by Moroccans at 20%. The majority live in Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, and DeKalb counties. Meeting a church-planting need When Bekhet and his wife, Nivine, moved here with their two sons, he did what came natural. An accomplished worship leader, he invited friends and family to his apartment for worship and Bible study. "I felt when I moved here there was a need for other ministries (churches)," said Bekhet when he learned of only two Arabic-speaking Southern Baptist congregations in the state. He's since learned enough to draw this conclusion, "We need over 50 churches to serve the Arabic community in Atlanta." Bekhet estimates there are about 100 mosques in Atlanta. When Michael O'Neal, the minister of evangelism and missions at First Baptist Church of Cumming, met Bekhet he could see much potential in the young Arab American. "I saw some serious maturity there even at 26 when I met him," O'Neal recalled. "And then I saw his availability to be used by God. "The first thing he said was, 'I just want to serve God.' He said that with humility." Cumming's First Baptist is a Sending Church that cooperates with the North American Mission Board's church-planting initiatives. They currently sponsor three church plants – an Anglo church in Cumming, an Iranian church in Alpharetta, and now this Arabic church in Suwanee. Bekhet was a Send North America intern assigned to O'Neal for mentoring. While Bekhet continued to meet with what would become a core group, he also worked diligently to build relationships at this north metro Atlanta church. Soon, additional assistance emerged from the congregation as many wanted to help and encourage him. Following his internship, the time came to launch. But first, the new church would need a venue. Sugarloaf Korean Baptist Church (SKBC) in Suwanee volunteered and became the host church for the Arabic Baptist Church of Suwanee. "Thank God for SKBC, they opened the door for us," Bekhet said after looking six months for a location. "They are very nice people." The church launched Sept. 27, 2014, with about 25 in attendance. The weekly average attendance is between 15 and 20. Bekhet is grateful for the Cooperative Program and Mission Georgia, which allow the Georgia Baptist Convention (GBC) to provide a monthly stipend for this young church planter. GBC's partnership with First Cumming and NAMB have accounted for additional assistance. While the new Arabic Baptist Church benefits from these sources, O'Neal contends that the relationship is equally beneficial for First Baptist of Cumming. "First Baptist Cumming is located in the suburbs and is predominantly Anglo," O'Neal said. "For us to be involved in an Arabic-speaking church as a sending church is advantageous for us because it teaches us about how to reach cross culturally and connects us with the world right here." --30-- This article appeared in The Christian Index (christianindex.org), newsjournal of the Georgia Baptist Convention. Jim Burton is a photojournalist living in Cumming, Ga. ********** EDITOR'S NOTE: From the States, published each Tuesday by Baptist Press, relays news and feature stories from state Baptist papers and other publications on initiatives by Baptist churches, associations and state conventions in evangelism, church planting and Great Commission outreach, including partnership missions. Reports about churches, associations and state conventions responding to the International Mission Board's call to embrace the world's 3,800 unengaged, unreached people groups also are included in From the States, along with reports about church, associational and state convention initiatives in conjunction with the North American Mission Board's call to Southern Baptist churches to broaden their efforts in starting new churches and satellite campuses. The items appear in Baptist Press as originally published. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nathan Finn joins Union University by Tim Ellsworth Date: May 19, 2015 - Tuesday JACKSON, Tenn. (BP) -- Union University has named Nathan Finn of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary as dean of the university's School of Theology and Missions. Finn, director of the Center for Spiritual Formation and Evangelical Spirituality and associate professor of historical theology and spiritual formation at Southeastern, has taught at the seminary and held a variety of positions there since 2006. "Nathan is a great teacher, an excellent scholar, a strong churchman, a devoted husband and father and a faithful follower of Christ," Union President Samuel W. "Dub" Oliver said. "We are excited that he is joining us at Union and look forward to his leadership and service as we seek to advance our mission and vision." Finn will take over the position previously held by Greg Thornbury, who left Union in 2013 to become president of The King's College in New York. James Patterson has been the school's acting dean since then. Finn said he is thankful for Union's storied history and ongoing influence in Baptist life and the wider evangelical world. "I could not be more excited to be joining the Union family," Finn said. "I was shaped profoundly by my own education at a Baptist liberal arts college. I look forward to being a part of a comprehensive university where every discipline is engaged from the perspective of the Christian worldview." The faculty in Union's School of Theology and Missions is one of the strongest theological faculties in the nation, he added. "I have been friends with many of them for years and have been greatly influenced by their teaching and writing in my own ministry," Finn said. "I love how they wed faithful Christian scholarship with an emphasis on practical ministry and a burden for the salvation of the lost. I'm grateful for the chance to lead the School of Theology and Missions as we educate a rising generation of pastors, church staff, missionaries and other Christian leaders for the glory of God and the advance of his kingdom." Danny Akin, president at Southeastern, called Finn "one of the finest church historians I have ever known" and "a wonderful churchman." "His departure from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a huge loss for us and a tremendous gain for Union University," Akin said. "I can only give my blessing to this move because in my heart I know it is good for the kingdom work of Christ. I believe Nathan will excel at his new assignment, and he goes with my love, prayers and full support." Finn completed his bachelor's degree from Brewton-Parker College and his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy from SEBTS. In addition to his role at SEBTS, Finn serves as an adjunct professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he teaches seminars and supervises doctoral students in biblical spirituality. A prolific writer and editor, Finn is co-author, along with Anthony Chute and Michael Haykin, of "The Baptist Story: From English Sect to Global Movement," which B&H Academic will release in August. This textbook offers a comprehensive narrative introduction to the Baptist tradition. Finn edited "Help to Zion's Travellers" by Robert Hall Sr. and co-edited "Domestic Slavery: The Correspondence of Richard Fuller and Francis Wayland" and "Ministry by His Grace and for His Glory: Essays in Honor of Thomas J. Nettles." He has written dozens of book chapters, scholarly essays, popular articles and book reviews. In addition to his teaching and writing ministry, Finn is an ordained Southern Baptist minister who previously served in ministry positions in several Southern Baptist churches in Georgia and North Carolina. He is an elder and member at First Baptist Church in Durham, N.C. "Nathan Finn is a Bible-man, a gospel-man, and a church-man," Union Provost C. Ben Mitchell said. "His passion for students, for his discipline, for the church and for the worldwide spread of the gospel of the risen Christ will be infectious." George Guthrie, Union's Benjamin W. Perry Professor of Bible, said he is grateful for Finn's appointment. "Nathan loves the church, understands the academic context as a crucible for Christian discipleship and integrates a warm-hearted faith with rigorous scholarship," Guthrie said. "The fact that he is one of our very best Baptist historians in the field today can help keep us rock-solidly grounded in our heritage while giving us crystal-clear perspective on our current challenges in the broader Baptist and evangelical life." Finn and his wife Leah have been married since 2001. They have four children: Georgia, Baxter, Eleanor and Fuller. He will begin at Union July 1. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Ouachita pres. to head Ark. independent colleges by Trennis Henderson/Ouachita Baptist University Date: May 19, 2015 - Tuesday ARKADELPHIA, Ark. (BP) -- Rex Horne Jr., president of Ouachita Baptist University since 2006, has announced his resignation effective this summer in order to serve as president of Arkansas' Independent Colleges & Universities. At AICU, Horne succeeds Ouachita alumnus Rex Nelson, who has been named director of corporate communications for Simmons First National Corp. "My nine-plus years at Ouachita have been very rewarding," Horne said of the Arkadelphia, Ark.-based university. "I have been most impressed by the work performed by our faculty and staff. The sense of calling and commitment to duty has been evident on the campus. Our students are difference makers. I will treasure the time the Lord allowed me to serve here. Our prayers, continued interest and desire to help remain strong." During his tenure as Ouachita's 15th president, Horne has led efforts to strengthen the university's financial standing, including launching the Defining the Difference capital campaign. Other achievements include providing leadership for several improvements to the physical campus, including the Student Village residence halls, dedicated in 2009, and Cliff Harris Stadium, dedicated in 2014. He presided over Ouachita's 125th anniversary celebration in 2011. Horne was known for challenging students, faculty and staff to make an impact in their personal lives, careers and ministry opportunities. "You are difference makers," he reminded Ouachita's 2015 graduating class. "Make this your lifelong passion and pursuit." Concerning his new role, Horne said, "I have known the presidents of our private colleges and universities as friends. I now have the opportunity to assist them personally and represent them corporately before the public and our legislature. The schools share a foundation of faith. I pray this time will prove beneficial for these friends and their institutions." Don Weatherman, chairman of the AICU executive committee and president of Lyon College in Batesville, Ark., noted that as a graduate of Lyon and president of Ouachita, Horne is well qualified to serve Arkansas independent colleges. "There couldn't be a better background for the next president of Arkansas' Independent Colleges & Universities," Weatherman said. "Dr. Horne is respected throughout the state. "I was concerned about the task of replacing Rex Nelson, who served our organization effectively and professionally," Weatherman said. "I'm delighted we were able to find an educator who is also effective, professional and respected in every region of Arkansas." AICU is a consortium of 11 independent institutions of higher education throughout the state. In addition to Ouachita, member institutions include Arkansas Baptist College, Central Baptist College, Crowley's Ridge College, Harding University, Hendrix College, John Brown University, Lyon College, Philander Smith College, University of the Ozarks and Williams Baptist College. The AICU provides support for member colleges and universities in such areas as scholarships, governmental affairs and public affairs. Reflecting on Horne's tenure as president, Jay Heflin, chair of OBU's board of trustees, said, "Dr. Horne has been a beacon of hope and light for Ouachita over the last several years. His leadership and vision have not only transformed the physical appearance of Ouachita's campus, but they have strengthened the Ouachita community in very meaningful ways. He has put us into an enviable position among Christian liberal arts universities for attracting and retaining the best and brightest students. "We are thankful for God's provision in leading Dr. Horne to Ouachita in 2006 and look forward to continuing our relationship with him as he transitions into his new role with Arkansas Independent Colleges & Universities," Heflin added. "While we won't see him on a daily basis, we know that God has called him to a new ministry to be a pillar of support for all independent colleges and universities throughout Arkansas. We prayerfully wish him much continued success." Sonny Tucker, executive director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, called Horne a "great leader and personal friend." "As president of Ouachita, not only was he a great friend to my two children while they were students there, he has been a great friend to the pastors and churches in Arkansas and has led the school to new heights as a national leader among private Christian universities," Tucker said. "As an Arkansas Baptist and as a parent, I deeply appreciate Dr. Rex and Becky Horne." Horne, who attended Ouachita as an undergraduate, earned degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary after graduating from Lyon. The Hornes have four adult children and 11 grandchildren. Prior to becoming president of Ouachita, Horne served 16 years as pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark. He previously was pastor of churches in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. He has served as president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention and chair of the Great American Conference Council of Presidents as well as serving on several corporate and civic boards. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Pro-life groups work to keep millennials involved by Courtney Crandell/WORLD News Service Date: May 19, 2015 - Tuesday ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BP) -- Polls and surveys indicate millennials hold stronger pro-life stances than previous generations at their age. But as these young adults graduate from college, many drift away from pro-life action. It's a trend pro-life groups are attempting to reverse. Students for Life of America (SFLA) started a new initiative called Pro-Life Future that targets young adults post-graduation. "We're bringing young people together who are committed to abolishing abortion in our lifetime," said Pro-Life Future director Brendan O'Morchoe. "We've seen what abortion does ... to our sisters and our friends, and we don't want that part of our world anymore." The first Pro-Life Future chapter began April 25 in Chicago, and the organization is prepared to begin chapters in other cities including Buffalo, N.Y. The program will engage pro-life leaders who are already trained through SFLA student groups and "reinforce the great pro-life work already happening in our cities," O'Morchoe said. Since 2006, SFLA has trained about 20,000 youths to lead the pro-life movement. But once their group affiliations end with college, they've had difficulty connecting with adult pro-life groups, especially if the group is primarily composed of older members. "After college graduation, many of these leaders get lost in the busy-ness of the 'real world,' and they don't know where they fit in, what they should do, or how to organize with other pro-lifers," SFLA president Kristan Hawkins said. "This generation of young pro-lifers needs to feel like they belong, or our movement will lose them." Millennials have played an integral role in the pro-life movement. A 2009 study conducted by political scientists Clyde Wilcox and Patrick Carr shows that adults aged 18 to 29 are more pro-life than adults of the same age were in the 1970s, '80s, and '90s. In 2012, former NARAL Pro-choice America president Nancy Keenan stepped down from her position citing an "intensity gap" between pro-life and pro-abortion millennials. The huge youth participation at a Washington, D.C., March for Life helped initiate Keenan's decision, said Jeanneane Maxon, vice-president of external affairs and corporate counsel for Americans United for Life (AUL). At the last March for Life, AUL distributed about 6,000 signs with the hashtag #teamlife to a crowd comprised primarily of people under age 30, Maxon observed. And, AUL engages law students in the pro-life movement through about a dozen Advocates for Life chapters at law schools across the country. More students are pro-life "than when I was in law school 15 years ago," Maxon said. To help keep lawyers connected to the pro-life movement, AUL also started Lawyers for Life three years ago, a project the organization is still developing. Though the market does not offer young lawyers many jobs directly connected to the pro-life movement, Lawyers for Life encourages them to stay involved through opportunities such as serving on a pregnancy center's board or testifying in favor of a pro-life bill. Engaging people from a young age is key to ensuring their involvement as they grow up, National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) President Carol Tobias said. NRLC has operated Teens for Life for about 30 years and offers oratory and essay contests for students. Local chapters also run groups on college campuses. To keep young adults engaged, NRLC has used several social media outlets including Twitter and Instagram. Tobias has noticed a drop in pro-life involvement after college as young adults' lives change rapidly. "But we find many of them coming back, too, after they get settled," she said. "I think we see a lot of these young people keeping their convictions and taking them where they end up." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Navajo Nation leader's faith 'key' by Diana Chandler Date: May 19, 2015 - Tuesday FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. (BP) -- Former Southern Baptist church planter and missions director Russell Begaye, installed May 12 as president of the Navajo Nation, calls his position a gift from the people and from God. "God gives you that position," Begaye said at his inauguration ceremony in Fort Defiance, Ariz. "When you look back, you never dream that you would be the president of the great Navajo Nation.... It's a gift, a gift first from the people. The people honor you with it. It's also a gift from Almighty God." Begaye entered the political arena in public service to the Navajo Nation in 2011, after serving four years as director of missions for the San Juan Baptist Association in Farmington, N.M. Previously, he retired from a 30-year career as a missionary, church planter and foreign language outreach director with the North American Mission Board, and had served as a preacher while earning a master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. San Juan director of missions Eric Frye, Begaye's associational successor, said the president's faith is well known. "It is generally known throughout the Navajo Nation that he is a Christian, but that never became a serious issue during the campaign. It was his emphasis and appeal for integrity in government that resonated with Navajo voters," Frye told Baptist Press. "But, Mr. Begaye's faith is a key component of who he is and will impact his presidential leadership." Frye also noted Begaye's respect for the Navajo language. "When a language dies, that goes a long way toward pushing a culture off a cliff. A large part of the culture dies as well," Frye said. "Mr. Begaye is a gifted leader who us comfortable in his Christian faith and his Navajo identity. His inauguration event set a very positive tone as he provides leadership as president of the Navajo Nation during the next four years." The Navajo Nation is the largest Native American tribe in the U.S., numbering more than 250,000 members who live on 27,000 square miles in New Mexico, Utah and Arizona, according to statistics on the nation's official website. Begaye respects his cultural heritage, Frye said. "Even though he is a Christian, Mr. Begaye has great respect for Navajo culture; that is who he is. His leadership will be inclusive," Frye said. "His appeal during his inaugural address to keep the Navajo language alive, and to help build a great future 'new dawn' for Navajos demonstrates his leadership direction. He also appealed for Navajo national sovereignty, as a people." Begaye was not available for comment. But his brother Andrew Begaye, who volunteers as a specialist in church revitalization, leadership support, and church planting with the San Juan Association, also affirmed that Christianity is a vital aspect of Russell Begaye's life. Andrew Begaye is helping revitalize the Tooh Worship Center, a Navajo congregation in Shiprock, N.M., that Russell Begaye had joined when it was known as First Baptist Church. "Once we open up membership in Shiprock, I hope and pray that he will come and join our church and be a member there," Andrew Begaye told Baptist Press. "That would be an added plus." Tooh Worship Center honored Begaye upon his presidential election, his brother said, hosting a prayer and worship service for the president and vice president Jonathan Nez that lasted three hours. Both politicians are Christians, Andrew Begaye said. In 1997, there were 37 Navajo pastors in New Mexico, but that number has dwindled to 10, Andrew Begaye said. There are an additional four inactive Southern Baptist church outreaches to the Navajo Nation, he said, but they have been led by volunteers of other ethnicities. Russell Begaye's use of the Navajo language helped him win the election. He placed third in the primary, but second place finisher Chris Deschene was disqualified because he could not meet the requirement of fluency in Navajo. The primary was postponed from January until April, as Deschene appealed his disqualification. Russell Begaye delivered his inaugural address in both the English and Navajo languages. "Our language has great value; our language has great tradition. It has great teaching. It is powerful. It is who we are as Navajo people," Begaye said during the inauguration. "So let's not ever be ashamed of speaking Navajo again as we move forward on this awakening of a new dawn." Begaye pledged to develop the Navajo Nation economically and seek sovereignty over the resources of its land. "It is time that we go back to the things that sustained us for centuries, to the things that made us a great nation, a proud nation, and part of that is producing the food products that we have been blessed with [by] the Almighty," Begaye said at his inauguration. "A new dawn where we no longer just open our doors to any outside interests or mega companies to extract our natural resources with no regards for the sacredness of these minerals, which has led our people to suffer from multiple illnesses. We say to elected leaders in Congress, recognize our rights to these minerals that lay beneath our land by giving us full authority over all our natural resources."