The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-05/23/2014 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2nd VIEW: Violence, unrest continue in Venezuela; Gospel spreading by Emily Pearson Date: May 23, 2014 - Friday EDITOR'S NOTE: 2nd VIEW is a key Baptist Press story that has been posted within the past several days. For a listing of additional key stories in Baptist Press in recent days, always take a look at the daily RECENT NEWS listing. Originally posted May 19, 2014 CARACAS, Venezuela (BP) -- In recent years, IMB missionaries in Venezuela have struggled to spread the Gospel amid ever-increasing difficulties. In the capital of Caracas, rampant poverty, random violence and food shortages are a part of everyday life, and simply walking down the wrong street at the wrong time can be a fatal mistake. Despite political unrest, escalating violence and economic disparity in Venezuela over the past few months, IMB missionaries and Venezuelan believers are working to spread the love of Christ in an increasingly dangerous place. Matthew and Monica Starr*, IMB missionaries in Caracas, said conditions since February have gone from bad to worse. The situation is "extremely volatile," Monica said. Anti-government demonstrators have staged ongoing street protests and erected barriers blocking traffic. The Venezuelan National Guard has counterattacked with tear gas, rubber bullets and alleged human rights abuses, according to news reports. About 3,000 protesters have been arrested, and 200 of those are still in jail. In addition, members of colectivos -- motorized gangs supporting the government -- allegedly have threatened, assaulted and even killed some demonstrators, news reports said. Meanwhile, in violence attributed to both sides of the conflict, at least 42 people have died and about 800 have been injured during more than three months of turmoil across Venezuela, according to news reports. The unrest began in February when a group of frustrated students spoke out against the nation's rising inflation, food shortages and ever-increasing crime. But what started as a student demonstration quickly became a violent uprising, when Venezuelan authorities reportedly shot three anti-government protestors during a peaceful protest in Caracas. By mid-May, the violence had garnered worldwide attention as it played out on a global stage. One ABC report detailed a scene of "broken bones, denial of medical treatment and threats of rape or death" by the government against thousands of protestors. At least 10 of the 42 reported deaths have been classified as torture by the Human Rights Watch, the article stated. No one thought the problems would last as long as they have, Matthew said. "One of the things a lot of folks thought with the protests [was] it's a flare up, and pretty soon everybody will go back to their normal lives," he said. For some International Mission Board missionaries, including the Starrs, the protests and violent outbursts have limited their normal mission activities. Police barricades and checkpoints often make it difficult for them to leave their neighborhood -- and nearly impossible for Matthew to get to training events he leads for Venezuelan believers. Other missionaries who live in Caracas but work outside the city have been unable to travel for weeks, Matthew added. But in some ways, being homebound has opened doors and created relationship opportunities that weren't there before, the Starrs said. Forced to stay closed up in their apartment buildings and unable to go about life as usual, missionaries have been able to spend more time with their neighbors, and have found avenues to share the Gospel. "We've always had a great many people in our home; we've had even more so [since the unrest began in February]," Monica said. "We've had people that, from the minute they got to the door and I opened it and hugged them, have cried from that moment until they leave two or three hours later. "There are people going through horrible, life-changing circumstances where their lives will never be the same again, so a lot of our ministering is just right there in the home -- having people in, getting people to eat who haven't eaten for days because they're so stressed, saying 'you're safe here, lie down and take a nap, we'll watch the kids.'" While close quarters bring missionaries closer to the lost, it also brings believers closer to God, Matthew added. "One of the things that's happening I think that's very positive is it's driving our churches to a much deeper level of prayer -- prayer for Venezuela, prayer for families that are going through very tough situations," he said. "It's allowing people to have more time with non-Christians to pray for them and with them and just show them about relating to the Lord." Matthew spoke with one pastor who, several hours before a planned march, prayerwalks with other church members throughout areas used for protests. The church members continue to pray as protesters arrive and stay to pray with those who want to join them. Another Baptist pastor goes to the Venezuelan National Guard headquarters and prays with soldiers, Matthew said. "The churches are trying to find ways in which they can minister to people on both sides," he said. But even as national believers work to reach those in their own backyards, Venezuela's continuing political problems aren't just affecting the churches at home. Juan Moreno*, pastor of a Venezuelan Baptist church, said the uprisings are the culmination of the nation's long history with political frustration and economic decline. A continual decline in funds and personal prosperity has resulted in many Venezuelan churches being unable to support their own overseas missionaries, he said. "There is a Venezuelan expression that says, 'no one knows what they have until they don't have it any more,'" Moreno explained. "We have now lost this opportunity to support missionaries outside of Venezuela while we have more people with the desire to go into missions, but we don't have what it takes to sustain them." "We need to organize ourselves, and the National Baptist Convention of Venezuela is working on this to be able to help in these other areas," he continued. "Some big churches could have done something in the past, now aren't doing anything. There could be a big church working with a small church to do something to be able to do more." On top of increased risks of violence, the unrest has also ramped up problems like food shortages and a lack of basic supplies for daily life. While shortages of things like milk and coffee are not uncommon in Venezuela, people wait hours in grocery store lines for items that won't really meet their needs. "We're talking places where the lines wrap around the block where people will be waiting four hours in order to get their four rolls of toilet paper they're allowed to take, or their one box of milk that they can take home to their family of five," Monica said. For many, the protests simply added more fuel to a fire of violence and crime that has been burning for the better part of two decades, Monica said. Whereas daily life in Venezuela was already difficult at best, the rise in anti-socialist ideals has now given angered Venezuelans a purpose. It also has made the government supporters ready to defend their hold on power. "You can get shot dead just going to class or going to get groceries for no reason other than somebody wanting your cell phone or your hand bag," Monica said. "I think people are realizing, 'if I'm going to be losing my life anyway, I want to lose it for a cause and something that can make a change in my country and perhaps provide a better country for my children and my grandchildren.'" In the midst of ongoing unrest, peace talks began in mid-April between Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leaders. But on May 13 the opposition suspended talks, claiming they were going nowhere and criticizing the government for cracking down on protesters, news reports said. According to one BBC report, students gathered in camps in Caracas had become raiding spots for the Venezuelan National Guard. One such raid in early May led to the shooting death of a soldier and the arrest of 243 protesters, whom the government labeled "fascist protesters." But peering through the thick, smoky haze of a nation smoldering with rage and violence is the hope that God will work through missionaries and Venezuelan Baptists to reach the lost during a time of terror and tragedy. "The Venezuelan Baptist Church isn't going to fall," pastor Moreno said. "It's going to be strengthened and [it will] grow. In fact, in spite of the crisis, the National Baptist Convention of Venezuela is not apathetic or falling. It is a convention that's learning to be more dynamic. There are regions that are doing far more than we might have expected ... than we might have dreamed." IMB missionaries like the Starrs share the same hope that God will work through Venezuelan believers to reach the lost throughout their own country and the world. "One thing that encourages me is that in no other time in history has so much praying been done for Venezuela," Matthew said. "God's going to be doing something I think will be amazing." --30-- *Name changed. Emily Pearson served as an IMB writer in the Americas. Thiago Molina, an IMB journalist in the Americas, contributed to this story. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- 'God's still working in the military,' Navy chaplain says by Keith Collier Date: May 23, 2014 - Friday FORT WORTH (BP) -- After 40 days and 40 nights in the Kuwaiti desert, the First Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment crossed the line of departure into harm's way in Iraq on March 20, 2003 -- the start of what would become known as Operation Iraqi Freedom. "We had the first man killed in action in the whole war in our unit and fought what many believe is the most decisive battle in the fall of Baghdad," said Carey Cash, a Navy chaplain assigned to the regiment. Yet in the midst of physical war, a spiritual battle for the lives of these Marines was already underway as God brought revival to the unit. In the battalion of 1,000 men, Cash said, "about one out of four had a profound spiritual awakening." At the beginning of the deployment, Cash asked the men, "Who's thinking about baptism and would like to explore what it means to follow Christ? Join me for a 12-week study." Six of the 12 weeks took place in the Kuwaiti desert. During those 40 days and nights, Cash conducted classes and counseled daily with Marines as they wrestled with the claims of Christ on their lives. Just before crossing into combat, 60 Marines were baptized as new Christians. Several others were baptized while in combat, including one inside Saddam Hussein's palace on Palm Sunday. In all, more than 250 men either made professions of faith or rededicated their lives to Christ. In addition to those baptized during the deployment, many more were baptized in their churches upon returning to the U.S. The experience served as one of many points along the way where Cash felt an affirmation of God's calling on His life. His 2003 book "A Table in the Presence" chronicles the story of these spiritual victories. Call to ministry However, a medical crisis nearly prevented him from serving in the military. Cash grew up in a military family, his father a career Naval officer and fighter pilot who served as a commanding officer at the prestigious "Top Gun" flight school. Military blood always coursed through Cash's veins, but football was his passion early on. Cash received a football scholarship as an offensive lineman to The Citadel, a military college in South Carolina, but during his final season, doctors found an inoperable tumor at the base of his brain stem. "The rug was completely ripped out from under my wife and me," Cash recalled. "I'd always identified myself physically, and the very thing where I'd always found my identity was gone. But it was during that season of incredible struggle that I began to hear God's call to ministry. "All this is happening at the same time. I've got this issue going on with my head, this deep sense of calling to ministry that I'm feeling certain about, and out of left field comes this love for the military that's never really left me as well." Unsure how this all fit together, Cash sought the wise counsel of his father-in-law, who served as Chaplain of the Marine Corps. As soon as his father-in-law mentioned chaplaincy, Cash said, "It was like the light bulb went on." "It was absolutely crystal clear this is where God wanted me, but the only mitigating problem was that I had a tumor," he said. "It's hard to get a commission when you potentially have a catastrophic illness." As expected, the Navy denied Cash's application for active duty chaplaincy due to the tumor. By this time, however, Cash had already enrolled in classes at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Despite having symptoms related to the tumor for more than a year and a half, Cash said, "The week I entered seminary, August of 1994, the symptoms stopped forever. I've never had another symptom." Cash loved seminary and credits Southwestern with giving him a love for the Bible and the ability to combine a biblical worldview with a missionary heart. "Southwestern is the convergence of God's truth and a desire to share that with others," Cash said. "I like ethics, and I love evangelism, but if you don't have the Bible at the bottom of that, infusing that, you're a do-gooder but people aren't coming to the Lord. Southwestern was such a special, sweet time in my life and my wife's life of spiritual growth, our understanding of God's Word and a love for evangelism." Still convinced of God's call to chaplaincy, Cash sought a medical waiver from one of the top neurosurgeons in the country. Providentially, the doctor was a Christian, and after a year of monitoring the tumor with no significant growth or changes, he signed Cash's medical waiver. A few months later, Cash received an approval letter from the Navy. "I still have the tumor," Cash said. "I really do believe God allowed that just so He could say, 'Let Me show you who I am and what I can do.'" Changed by 9/11 Cash graduated from Southwestern in 1998, served a few years as a pastor and started Navy chaplain training in August 2001, one month before two planes struck the World Trade Center in New York City. As he watched the towers fall on television, he knew he would be deployed. He was eventually assigned to the First Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment and began training. During training, Cash learned the essence of a being a good chaplain. "The bottom line is that you don't have to be a great preacher, you don't have to be a skilled counselor," Cash said, "but if you will love the men and spend time with them, you're in." Every Friday before the unit deployed to Iraq, Cash would go on a hike with a company even though he was not required to do so. "There's nowhere in the world that I know of where you just have such an opportunity to carry out a ministry of presence," Cash said. "Love the men and suffer with them, and you're in. The many months of time in the states before we deployed to war was a time of preparation, building and seasoning these relationships, so when we got into combat all these things bore fruit." Following his deployment to Iraq, Cash served on a guided missile cruiser in the Arabian Gulf and then conducted retreats and taught ethics at a base in Italy. Near the end of his assignment in Italy, his superiors encouraged him to submit an application for the chaplaincy post at Camp David, a facility that serves as the President's retreat center. Chaplain to the President Cash received the appointment and arrived at Camp David in December 2008, one month before President Obama was sworn into office. He served at the post for two and a half years, ministering to the needs of the Camp David staff as well as the President and visitors. "It was an absolute privilege to serve the people that worked there and the administration," Cash said. "It's one of those rare opportunities where you feel like God's placed you there, so I wanted to be a good steward. It was a great opportunity in a very small but maybe significant way to be a voice. "Take away all the veneer and the trappings, we are all people who need the Lord. So, in some ways, it helped humanize for me the political side of life. A lot of times, we see people on the news or CNN. Whoever they are, they're so ensconced in the political identity that we just sort of see them as an object and not as a person. Being at Camp David helped me realize that no matter who a person is, whether they occupy 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or Bakersfield, Calif., there's a spiritual need there, there's a need for there to be a loving voice in those people's lives. It doesn't mean that the prophetic side isn't important; it is, but you walk that edge prayerfully and thoughtfully." Following his time at Camp David, Cash was deployed to Afghanistan for nine months before receiving his current assignment as Deputy Command Chaplain of the U.S. Naval Academy (or "The Yard," as it is sometimes called), where he serves alongside and supervises other chaplains. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Cash counsels students, faculty and staff; performs weddings and funerals; preaches regularly in the main Protestant service and the Sunday night contemporary service; teaches discipleship and seeker classes; and teaches on the academy's ethics faculty. "What's such an honor here is that you get to preach to the soul of the Navy," Cash said. "As the military changes its culture, I think chaplains have the opportunity to be prophetic voices to the institution. Here is a great opportunity for that because if there's anywhere in the Navy that's a symbol of the institution, it's the Naval Academy. This is the training ground for our future leaders." One of Cash's favorite times of ministry at the academy rolls around every June -- Plebe Summer. "Plebe Summer is the first six weeks for all the new freshman class. It's very tough for them -- physically arduous, mentally arduous. They're 18- or 19-year-olds arriving on campus, heads are shaved, everything's taken away from you. You're basically not a person like you were in civilian life; you're a number, you're a Plebe," Cash said. "As a chaplain, you have a very important role to play. [Most] Plebes have never met a chaplain. It's really an incredible window of opportunity over those six weeks to build relationships with them and in many ways open the door to the Gospel. There will be Plebes who come to church who have never darkened the door of a church until that summer." During Plebe Summer, chaplains jump into the fray, arriving at the athletic fields every morning to participate in physical fitness alongside the freshmen. "We're all wearing red shirts with 'Chaplain' on the back, so it's a great hands-on ministry," Cash said. "We're sweating with them, singing with them when they run. We do a lot of counseling with kids whose lives are being ripped out from under them because their grades are low or they've never failed before. It's a great opportunity for many to meet Jesus." After more than a decade in the military, with many significant places of service, Cash remains optimistic about the future of military chaplaincy. "The reason I think chaplaincy is so exciting is because we're still in that wonderful tension where we have an answer and there is a need," Cash said, adding with a smile, "God's still working in the military." --30-- Keith Collier is director of news and information for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas (www.swbts.edu/campusnews). Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- 9/11 museum moves disaster relief leader by Bob Nigh Date: May 23, 2014 - Friday NEW YORK (BP) -- Oklahoma's disaster relief director Sam Porter spent an emotional day at the National September 11 Memorial Museum during a special preview of the facility in New York City. National disaster relief leaders with the North American Mission Board asked Porter to represent the Southern Baptist Convention at the by-invitation-only event on May 19. The museum officially opened May 21 to the public. The preview days were open to first responders, rescue and recovery workers and survivors and relatives of those who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center in 1993 and 2001, the Pentagon in Washington, and those who were on United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to overtake the hijackers. Porter spent a total of 39 days in Lower Manhattan providing relief in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks nearly 13 years ago. The attacks came in the days when disaster relief chaplaincy was in its infancy and had not yet been organized nationally. Mickey Caison, then NAMB's disaster relief director, called Porter after American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 hit the Twin Towers. Caison asked Porter to collect a team of chaplains and get to "Ground Zero" as soon as possible. The Oklahoma team carried with them the experiences of ministering to people impacted by the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. Since Oklahoma Baptists' response to the September 11 attacks in 2001, they now have nearly 290 endorsed disaster relief chaplains; nationally, there are believed to be about 700, according to NAMB statistics. Porter's group of five chaplains arrived in New York three days after the towers fell and manned the temporary morgue at Ground Zero for about two weeks. His reflections of the memorial plaza and museum stem mainly from those first few days of ministry. "I think the biggest thing about the museum is that it truly tells the whole story of what happened at 9-11," Porter said. "I believe my grandkids can go there 10 years from now and if they don't know anything about it, they can walk through that museum and know everything that took place from the actions of national leaders to seeing everything that I experienced and knew first hand. They can catch it second hand, and it's all very correct. It's all done very well; [it's] a ... class act. I think it's one of the best memorials I have ever seen, it's so complete." Porter's voice cracked with emotion as he described walking with other visitors in the museum. "We walked through with fire fighters who were there, and I saw people who worked in the towers and got out alive," he said. "I heard a guy describing to his wife about where he was (in the building) and where he parked that day. I saw lots of family members sitting in the video rooms. Even some watch[ed] the videos of people jumping from the buildings. "That probably got me more than anything, family members who lost a loved one who died in the towers. Thirteen years later, I'm still pretty tender on that because we worked the morgue and they brought the bodies out and we saw hundreds of body bags come through ... and my heart just really breaks for that. "And, seeing some of these firemen -- who lost 343 brothers -- that's still pretty emotional for me." Porter sees his cumulative month of service in New York as a milepost in his life. "That has been a major part of my life and ministry, and so I feel honored to get to go on behalf of the Southern Baptist Convention," he said. "I was thrilled that they asked us to go, because our leadership called us to be the first to respond to coordinate the chaplaincy, not knowing what that would be. But when we got there, God knew what we needed to do." The museum includes a total of 100,000 square feet of exhibition space and is located near Ground Zero, where the World Trade Center Towers stood. The original World Trade Center complex consisted of seven buildings, spanning 16 acres. It housed office space, an observation deck, the "Windows on the World" restaurant, and an underground shopping mall. It served as a transit hub for commuter trains and subway riders. About 50,000 people worked at the complex, with another 40,000 passing through daily. Porter said he learned a lot about the World Trade Center from the exhibits in the museum. "I learned more about some of the flights, even down to the terrorists," he said. "It had a display about the radical Muslim agenda, and I was pleased to see that they did not shy away from that, trying to be politically correct. They showed exactly how Al Qaeda expanded and what they're doing. They were very fair about that." The 9/11 memorial plaza also is impressive, he said. "The architecture of the whole things is beautiful. The memorial pools are the exact dimensions of the buildings -- exactly where they stood -- and like an eternal fountain of flowing water, instead of an eternal flame. They had the names of everyone who died etched in the borders of the pools and that was very well done, too. It is beautiful, and will be there until time is over. It's just a place of comfort with hundreds of trees." Porter was disappointed with only one aspect of the memorial and museum. "They never said anything about our (SBC) part in the whole event," he said. "We helped prepare 1.29 million meals from the first week of October with the Salvation Army until the landfill closed in July 2002. "We had a Southern Baptist team there every single day from the first week in October to the end of July. And every state got to send teams." Volunteers from 32 SBC state conventions participated, contributing 20,842 "volunteer days" -- defined as one volunteer working one day. SBC disaster relief volunteers served 842 children in childcare centers, and cleaned 643 apartments during the 319-day response. "But, the museum was well done; I think any family member who lost a loved one who goes will be impressed, just like we are at the National Memorial in Oklahoma City at the site of the Murrah Building. That is a very well done memorial and class act with reverence and honor to those who died, too." --30-- Bob Nigh is managing editor of the Baptist Messenger, the newspaper of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. This article was first published in the Messenger. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- As election looms, seminary students pray by Ava Thomas Date: May 23, 2014 - Friday KIEV, Ukraine (BP) -- As Sasha gets his cap and gown ready, he remains uncertain about his country's future. The young Baptist student, set to graduate from Kiev Theological Seminary on May 24, will turn his tassel on the eve of a turning point for Ukraine -- a presidential election in the midst of a countrywide crisis. Then Sasha will head back to the church he's helped plant, a fledging congregation in the unstable eastern region of Donetsk. Through a vote two weeks ago, the region declared independence from Ukraine and is now pushing to join the Russian Federation. It's a lot for the new church planter to process. "Many people are desiring to find hope and the real sense of life in the midst of all this hardship and the risk for their lives," Sasha said. But at the same time, challenges abound. "There is a panic and fear that comes to us as a new church plant, and there is a desire in some team members to cancel the Sunday services here and there, but we still continue," he said. It's a big task to try to unite people in Jesus Christ in a land now filled with divisions, Sasha said. "Some people are complaining and blame everyone around because of the crisis situation. Others are looking for answers by coming to the Lord." And people are squaring off politically, making serving the church tricky, said Joel Ragains, co-director of a church-planting faculty at Kiev Theological Seminary that he began eight years ago. "Some friends and families are on opposite sides or opinions, so they (church planters) have to steer their ministry through this mine field, finding ways to be engaged in ministry without being too political," Ragains said. It's an issue facing all 40 of Saturday's graduates, who will leave the seminary with degrees in church planting, Christian education, counseling, youth ministry and pastoral ministry. Their biggest challenge is "to continue to minister with all the problems that are going on where they are," Ragains said. But the opportunity is great too, he said, to share Christ and do servant evangelism. "Pray for wisdom for them on how to continue planting their church in the middle of this crisis," Ragains said. Sasha also asked for Christians in the West to remember him and his fellow students and ministers. "I hope that nothing worse will happen to our country," he said. "Please pray for Ukraine." Pray: -- For wisdom for church planters to know how to continue planting their church in the middle of this crisis. -- For resources, encouragement, accountability and mentoring after leaving Kiev Theological Seminary's church-planting program. --30-- Ava Thomas is a writer/editor for the International Mission Board based in Europe. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Cooperative Program to anchor SBC exhibits by Staff Date: May 23, 2014 - Friday BALTIMORE (BP) -- The Cooperative Program exhibit at the SBC annual meeting in Baltimore will feature a diversity of speakers reflecting the multifaceted ministries the CP funds, said Ashley Clayton, SBC vice president for the Cooperative Program and stewardship development. TED-like talks will be among the newest features of the CP exhibit and will cover such key issues as sex trafficking and ministry outside the Bible Belt. "Daily personalities who will appear in these interviews on the CP stage will include pastors, denominational leaders and other voices from across the convention who are knowledgeable and passionate about the Cooperative Program," Clayton said. "Messengers should find the schedule of programming at this display and visit as often as possible throughout their convention experience while in Baltimore." Speakers will reflect a wide range of SBC leaders, including elected leaders, entity heads, seminary presidents and pastors, focusing on such topics as church revitalization, pastoring in urban settings, church planting, ethnic diversity, theological challenges, the Great Commission Resurgence and state conventions as well as issues affecting pastors' wives. "The CP platform and stage display in the Exhibit Hall is an attempt to elevate, above the floor noise all around us, the long-held SBC values of international missions, theological education, church planting, evangelism, collegiate ministry, disaster relief, church revitalization, moral advocacy and so much more," Clayton said. The CP booth reflects a partnership with and is positioned in the Exhibit Hall alongside the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board. The SBC's ethnic diversity also will be emphasized in the CP booth and in the nearby Many Faces exhibit, said Ken Weathersby, SBC vice president for convention advancement. "The Many Faces exhibit at the annual meeting is a strategic forum to highlight the diversity in the SBC," Weathersby said. "It is our hope and desire that the messengers would visit with the African American and ethnic leaders as they collaborate and network together to expand the Kingdom of God." A Many Faces reception will follow the Tuesday evening session of the annual meeting. The gathering will be held in Room 345 of the Baltimore Convention Center. Reports of other entities' and ministries' plans for the Exhibit hall during the SBC's June 10-11 annual meeting follow: INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD -- Recognizing the Great Commission was given to each believer in Christ through the church, the IMB exhibit will help visitors find what part they and their churches can play in "One Sacred Effort" to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The exhibit will feature take-away cards and stickers identifying specific people groups and ministry projects that an individual or church can pray for, partner to reach and engage with the Gospel. Each take-away card will be grouped into providing Scripture resources, meeting human needs and sharing the Gospel in the global marketplace through various careers. The exhibit also contains sections for global affinity groups, so if God is leading an individual or church to a specific area of the world, they can talk with people working in that area, find out about its people groups and explore how to commit to a particular ministry project. In addition to the printed cards and stickers, IMB representatives will show visitors the imb.org/one website, which is going live for the SBC meeting featuring the identified people groups and ministry needs. The website can be shared with fellow church members to help them find their place in God's eternal story of bringing people to Him. NORTH AMERICAN MISSION BOARD -- Visitors to NAMB'S exhibit will meet some of the 32 Send North America city coordinators and regional mobilizers. NAMB representatives will help connect SBC attendees with resources to help them engage their entire church families in the Send North America strategy. Attendees will learn more about the 2015 Send North American Conference and the Send North America Experience Tour. The conference and tour will provide pastors with venues in which they can help their congregations better understand how God is moving in North America and how they can join what He is doing through Send North America. NAMB leaders also will participate in a variety of question-and-answer sessions sponsored by the SBC Executive Committee at the Cooperative Program exhibit. LIFEWAY CHRISTIAN RESOURCES -- LifeWay's popular 8,000-square-foot Christian store will offer a wide selection of books, Bibles and other Christian products. Other LifeWay areas will present interactive displays highlighting research initiatives, church resources, conference centers and direct sales as well as the B&H Publishing Group. Among the features at the LifeWay exhibit: -- LifeWay Research's interactive 9-foot robot, popular at last year's SBC, will focus on the theme "Transformation," drawing attention to its Transformational Discipleship research. -- Ministry experts from the church resources division will introduce the expanded Explore the Bible small group curriculum, the only book-by-book curriculum for all ages. -- A special story time for kids will be held daily at 2 p.m. in the B&H Publishing Group area featuring noted children's authors reading their books. Veggie Tales characters Bob and Larry will appear each afternoon at 2:15 in the LifeWay store. -- Book signings are scheduled in the LifeWay store throughout the convention by numerous authors such as Ben Carson, David Platt, Gary Chapman, Tom Elliff and Jerry Vines. -- Exhibits featuring LifeWay "OneSource" endorsed products and providers will inform individuals and churches of discount purchasing options for items such as church buses and furniture, copiers, office supplies and background checks. GUIDESTONE FINANCIAL RESOURCES — GuideStone's Wellness Center once again will offer free health checks valued at $150, allowing messengers and family members to have their blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose measured. In the main booth, GuideStone representatives will offer reviews of participants' retirement accounts and answer questions about GuideStone's life and health plans, property and casualty coverage, and other GuideStone services. Churches will be able to order materials for Mission:Dignity Sunday, highlighting GuideStone's ministry to needy retired ministers and their widows. GuideStone will offer several breakout sessions, including "Doctrines of Faith: Taking a proactive approach to our changing culture," in which a panel will discuss real-life situations churches need to know about for managing possible liability and risks. A free breakfast is included in this session at 8 a.m. Tuesday and 7:30 a.m. Wednesday; advanced registration is required at www.GuideStone.org/SBC14. GuideStone's Compensation Planning course will be offered at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and its Retirement Income Solutions seminar at 1 p.m. on Monday and 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Advanced registration is recommended for the compensation and retirement income meetings, also at www.GuideStone.org/SBC14. GuideStone also will make available a free copy of Nelson's Annual Preacher's Sourcebook (Volume 2), edited by GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins, to pastors/preachers. Quantities are limited. ETHICS & RELIGIOUS LIBERTY COMMISSION -- "Questions and Ethics," a free book by ERLC President Russell D. Moore, will be distributed at the entity's booth in the Exhibit Hall. Just days before the Supreme Court rules on the historic religious liberty case involving Hobby Lobby, join the ERLC for "Hobby Lobby and the Future of Religious Liberty," a panel discussion featuring Moore, Rick Warren, David Platt and Sam Rodriguez, at 9 p.m. Monday, June 9, in the Baltimore Hilton's Holiday Ballroom 4/5 & Corridor on Level 2. Slated Tuesday: "Questions & Ethics Live" with Moore and Matt Chandler at 5 p.m. fielding key theology, ministry and cultural questions in the Baltimore Hilton in the Holiday Ballroom 1/2/3 on Level 2. Space is limited for both events; go to erlc.com/sbc to register. WMU -- "Missions for Life," WMU's tag line, will be the backdrop for learning about missions involvement opportunities for preschoolers, children, youth and adults at their exhibit. A special focus for Woman's Missionary Union in Baltimore is the conclusion of a yearlong celebration of its 125th anniversary. Churches are being encouraged to start new organizations through the 1–2–5 Challenge (begin one new organization, with two new leaders and five new members). Adjoining the WMU booth will be New Hope Publishers and WorldCrafts; all three divisions will conduct daily giveaways from their booths. New Hope Publishers is partnering with WMU to tell the story of radical commitment to God's mission and will feature the new 2014–15 WMU emphasis book by national WMU President Debby Akerman, "Secrets to Surrender: Living Wholeheartedly." New Hope also is featuring the work of several SBC leaders including Taylor Field of Graffiti Ministries in New York City. Taylor will sign his books at the LifeWay store in the Exhibit Hall. WorldCrafts, a fair-trade division of WMU, develops sustainable businesses among impoverished people around the world. A member of the Fair Trade Federation, WorldCrafts partners with dozens of artisan groups to import and sell hundreds of handcrafted items from more than 25 countries. Many of the artisan groups WorldCrafts partners with are working to free women from human exploitation and sex trafficking. BAPTIST GLOBAL RESPONSE -- "Immersed in their stories" will be the focus of the Baptist Global Response exhibit at this year's annual meeting. Visitors to the booth will get involved in the stories of five people who have been helped by Southern Baptist human needs work through BGR. The stories will focus on projects related to disaster relief/food distribution, rescue of young girls from trafficking, micro enterprise for refugees, livestock, and clean water. "BGR is all about connecting people in need with people who care. BGR helps bring hope both physically and spiritually to those who are hurting, homeless and hopeless," said Jeff Palmer, BGR executive director. "BGR has almost 400 projects in over 50 countries each year that help people with the basics of life such as food, water and shelter. Come and discover ways you can get involved in these stories and hundreds of others just like them." The exhibit's theme coordinates with BGR's current annual report and prayer guide, both of which focus on stories of real people helped by Southern Baptist human needs work. Both are available at www.gobgr.org. SOUTHERN BAPTIST FOUNDATION -- Planning for eternity will be the focus of the Southern Baptist Foundation's booth showcasing resources and services to facilitate giving, glorifying God and advancing His Kingdom. The foundation assists assist believers in quality estate planning as an act of stewardship and generosity. The foundation also provides prudent, socially screened investment services to churches and entities. SOUTHERN BAPTIST HISTORICAL LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES -- Governed by the Council of Seminary Presidents, the SBHLA is the largest and most accessible collection of Baptist material in the world. The SBHLA exhibit will feature historic photographs of Baptist life, events, churches, ministries and missions. In addition to information on the library and archives, the booth also will have brochures on church archives and information on a new website, baptistheritage.com. SEMINARY EXTENSION -- Seminary Extension has been training volunteers, leaders, teachers and pastors for Southern Baptist churches since 1951. Following its original mandate from the Southern Baptist Convention, Seminary Extension continues to offer opportunities for theological education and ministry training through independent study as well as group studies sponsored by churches, associations and state conventions. Individuals interested in this kind of training where they live and serve are invited to stop by Seminary Extension's booth in the Exhibit Hall for information. The director Randal Williams and student services associate Carmen Ferreira will field questions about promoting Seminary Extension in your area. They also look forward to visiting with alumni, current and former instructors. GLOBAL HUNGER RELIEF -- A new campaign in the battle against hunger across North America and overseas will launch in the Exhibit Hall in Baltimore. The Global Hunger Relief (GHR) booth will be staffed in part by Southern Baptist missionaries who work hands-on with hunger relief efforts. The booth will focus particularly on relief efforts in Appalachia and among Syrian refugees. Also included in the GHR promotion will be two new music videos from Drew Cline, former lead singer for NewSong and current worship pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, Ark. More than 1 billion people around the world are hungry more often than not, and about 24,000 people -- over half of them young children -- die every day from various conditions that could have been alleviated by basic nutrition. Global Hunger Relief seeks to challenge a new generation of believers to personally take Jesus' love to starving souls in both word and deed. GHR is a collaborative effort of the World Hunger Fund partners: Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, NAMB, IMB, Baptist Global Response, WMU, LifeWay Christian Resources and the SBC Executive Committee. GOLDEN GATE BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY -- This year, Golden Gate will highlight its fully accredited and fully online master of divinity degree as well as the pending sale and relocation of its campus in Mill Valley, Calif. Themed "Biblical, Missional, Global," Golden Gate's booth will tell the benefits of Gospel-centered education offered at the seminary's five urban campuses in northern and southern California, Arizona, the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest. MIDWESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY -- A display of selected books from the Charles Spurgeon Library will be featured at Midwestern's booth. Visitors can receive a free copy of "The Church Planting Survival Guide," a new resource on church planting from the seminary. And they can enter to win an iPad Mini loaded with books by Spurgeon. Numerous other materials will be available, including the latest copy of the Midwestern Magazine focusing on the theme of the relationship between the seminary and the local church. Both faculty and staff will be available to meet with alumni, friends and prospective students during the convention. NEW ORLEANS BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY -- NOBTS will highlight its main campus programs, extension centers and fully online master's degrees. Faculty members will discuss degree programs and current campus news with alumni and potential students. In keeping with tradition, NOBTS will give away small bottles of Louisiana hot sauce. SOUTHEASTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY -– Visitors to Southeastern's exhibit will have the opportunity to interact with SEBTS leaders, faculty and alumni about innovative seminary and college degree programs and strategic initiatives that aim to fulfill the Great Commission. Admissions staff will be present to provide information and answer questions as well as distribute the most recent issue of Southeastern's magazine honoring Daniel Akin's 10 years as SEBTS president. Convention attendees also will have the opportunity to win books by SEBTS faculty members in the areas of biblical studies, theology, philosophy, cultural engagement and missions. SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY -- Alumni of Southern Seminary's Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry are invited to the seminary's exhibit to receive a gift in celebration of the school's 20th anniversary. Details about the anniversary celebration plans for the fall also will be available. Throughout the annual meeting, the Southern Seminary exhibit will have a variety of giveaways providing resources for pastors. Along with promotions and interaction opportunities with seminary personalities, the seminary also will distribute the latest issue of Southern Seminary Magazine. Themed around church revitalization, the magazine features articles by President R. Albert Mohler Jr., North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell, Billy Graham School dean Adam Greenway and former Billy Graham School dean Thom Rainer, now president of the LifeWay Christian Resources. Convention attendees can connect with alumni, professors, friends and prospective students at the exhibit's seating area as well as purchase tickets for the annual alumni luncheon on Wednesday, June 11. For more information, go to www.sbts.edu/alumni-and-friends/sbc-luncheon. SOUTHWESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY -- Southwestern's exhibit will reflect the seminary's ongoing passion for preaching the Word and reaching the world. The booth will feature several seminary-produced videos highlighting successful students and Southwestern's global impact. Free books and resources will be distributed, and SWBTS representatives and faculty will be available to discuss the seminary's programs and answer questions. Information also will be available about Southwestern's "LAUNCH" evangelism event at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Baltimore Convention Center (www.swbts.edu/launch). --30-- Compiled by Baptist Press general assignment writer/editor Diana Chandler and BP editor Art Toalston. Baptist Press is the news service of the Southern Baptist Convention, reporting on missions, ministry and witness advanced through the Cooperative Program and on news related to Southern Baptists' concerns nationally and globally. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Compensation survey deadline approaching by Roy Hayhurst Date: May 23, 2014 - Friday DALLAS (BP) -- Time is running out for ministers and other church employees to participate in the bi-annual SBC Church Compensation Survey. Responses should be received by May 31. The survey's responses are used by churches of all sizes to determine fair wages and benefits. Participants will be entered for a chance to win an iPad. The survey and complete contest rules are available at www.GuideStone.org/CompensationSurvey. The survey is a joint effort of Baptist state conventions, LifeWay Research and GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. As of May 19, more than 10,500 individuals had participated. Survey results are not reported individually. Compensation and benefit information can be contributed anonymously. Responses to the survey constitute one of the largest databases of church compensation information in the United States. Among the information generated from survey results is average compensation for specific positions among similar-sized churches within each state convention. A higher number of participants leads to more accurate compensation data. Survey results will be released this summer. Survey participants will receive advance notification of the results and be given access to the data. The winner of the iPad will be notified via email. Contact GuideStone Financial Resources with any questions. Call toll free 1-888-98-GUIDE (1-888-984-8433) Monday–Friday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST to speak with a customer relations specialist, or send an email to info@GuideStone.org --30-- Roy Hayhurst is department head of denominational and public relations services at GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- CALL TO PRAYER: Praying for unity in the church by Elaine Helms Date: May 23, 2014 - Friday EDITOR'S NOTE: This column is part of the call to prayer issued by Frank S. Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, to pray for revival and spiritual awakening for our churches, our nation and our world. NASHVILLE (BP) -- Prompted by an inter-cultural prayer meeting hosted by the North American Mission Board in November 2013, Southern Baptist leaders from around the country have called for a seven-day prayer emphasis to begin on Father's Day, June 15. Called "One in Christ," the prayer focus includes daily Scripture readings and prayer encouragements that will be sent to the smartphones of all who register at OneFather.org. Scripture readings include the six chapters of Ephesians and Jesus' letter to the church of Ephesus recorded in Revelation 2. Father's Day week was chosen for the prayer emphasis since all believers have one Father and are, therefore, one family in Christ. The book of Ephesians, with its emphasis on unity, has particular relevance for the struggles experienced by the 21st-century church and was selected as the scriptural focus for the week. The call to pray for unity in the church is not new. Jesus prayed for us, present-day Christians, in John 17:20 when He said, "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world will believe that You sent Me." The end result of our oneness or unity is that people will believe in Jesus. That alone makes it a worthy goal. Praying in one accord was the hallmark of the early church and they turned their world upside down spreading the gospel, because of their love for Jesus and each other. It is possible for us to see the revival and spiritual awakening we long for, and that God wants to pour out, if we simply love one another. That is easy to say, but often hard to do. The following are a few biblical prayers we can pray in agreement asking God to equip, empower and enable us to be one with Him and one with each other. May He grant our requests. -- From Ephesians 4:2-4: Father, please help us to walk in a manner worthy of You and Your call to us. Give us a spirit of humility, gentleness and patience that we may show tolerance for one another in love. Help us to be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. -- From Jeremiah 32:39: O Lord, we long for You to give us one heart and one way that we may fear You always for our own good and for the good of our children after us. -- From Psalm 86:11-12: Merciful God, we are prone to wander, so please teach us Your way, O Lord; we will walk in Your truth; unite our hearts to fear Your name and to follow You closely. We will give thanks to You, O Lord our God, with all our hearts, and will glorify Your name forever. -- From Colossians 3:13-15: Father, please give us a forgiving spirit to quickly forgive offenses, so that we can put on love which is the perfect bond of unity. Please let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts knowing we are called in one body. Make us thankful to You, dear Lord. -- From Malachi 2:10: Father God, You are the Father of us all. You are the One who has created us and yet we often deal treacherously with each other bringing shame on the Name above all names. Forgive us Lord for our blindness and bring us to the end of ourselves, so that we focus on You and Your glory in the bond of peace. For Your name's sake bring a spirit of unity to the Southern Baptist Convention that will draw people to Jesus. -- From John 17:22-23: Thank You, Jesus, for praying for us to receive the glory that Your and our Father gave to you to make us one; that we may be perfected in unity, so that the whole world may know that God, the Father sent the Son, Jesus to demonstrate the depth of love You have for each other and for us. Your generous love is appealing; may we allow Your perfect love to flow freely through us to each other and to the world. In celebration of the fact that we have one Father, you as an individual, your small group or your congregation are encouraged to join thousands of Christ followers across North America on a seven-day Scripture and prayer journey through Paul's letter to the Ephesian believers beginning on Father's Day, Sunday, June 15, 2014. Visit http://OneFather.org to learn more. --30-- All Scripture quotations are NASB, unless otherwise noted. Elaine Helms, who served as the Southern Baptist Convention prayer coordinator at the North American Mission Board from 2000-2010, is a member of the One Father Prayer Fellowship; director of ChurchPrayerMinistries.org; and was the prayer coordinator for My Hope America with Billy Graham 2012-2013. She is the author of "Prayer 101, What Every Intercessor Needs to Know." -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: Critics slam a clean movie by Kelly Boggs Date: May 23, 2014 - Friday ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP) -- "Mom's Night Out," a movie currently in theaters, is being ravaged by film critics. On the popular Internet site Rotten Tomatoes, which aggregates movie reviews, only 14 percent of reviews were positive. The film features three mothers who seek to have a night out away from their families, especially their children. Predictably -- it is a comedic movie after all -- everything goes wrong and an evening of humorous chaos ensues. The acting performances in the film are fine. Anchoring the cast are Sarah Drew of the hit TV show "Grey's Anatomy," Patricia Heaton of television's "The Middle" and "Everyone Loves Raymond," and Sean Astin who was in the "Lord of the Rings" films and starred in the movie "Rudy." So what is the problem critics have with the movie? Why did 86 percent dismiss the film? Here's a sampling of critic complaints: "There's nothing inherently wrong with faith-based entertainment. The problem comes when, as with any heavily slanted perspective, the faith takes precedent over the entertainment." – Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News. "Depressingly regressive and borderline dangerous, 'Mom's Night Out' peddles archaic notions of gender roles in the name of wacky laughs... Why must faith-based offerings be so lame -- worst of all -- so out of touch with reality?" -– Marc Snetiker, Entertainment Weekly. "Outrageously enough, the moral of 'Mom's Night Out,' seems to be that moms should never get a night out. This Mother's Day weekend release is pretty much a PG-rated 'The Hangover,' but with an ill-fitting God angle that slowly wedges into the movie -- an agenda that, in retrospect, explains the conspicuous lack of booze, drugs, and sex." – Heather Baysa, Village Voice. I could go on presenting slams from supposedly "open minded" critics, but I will spare you. It is clear that the reviewers could not stomach a movie that is clean, free from gratuitous nudity, promiscuous sex, foul-language and alcohol and drug consumption. In essence "Mom's Night Out" is a clean movie. The families portrayed in the film all attend the same church. One member of the mom trio is the pastor's wife. There are a few positive references to God sprinkled throughout the movie. Nary a swear word is uttered. There is no drug use, no one gets drunk and everyone remains clothed. While the critics might think a movie with a few positive references to God constitutes a "faith-based" film, I do not. However, to hear God's name used as anything other than a reference point for curse words in a movie is likely received as refreshing by people who see faith as integral to their lives. Again, "Mom's Night Out" is nothing more than a fun film free from content that a significant segment of American society still finds offensive. One critic said that "faith-based" films were out of touch with reality and, in this instance, missed the mark by portraying mothers who stay at home to care for their children. The stay at home mom angle was slammed by more than one critic. Perhaps the critics of "Mom's Night Out" should add reading of news to their film watching. USA Today reported the following last month: "Nearly three in 10 American mothers are now stay-at-home moms who don't hold a job outside the home, reversing a long-term decline that hit its low point in 1999, a new survey finds." Research by the Pew Research Center shows "that the percentage of mothers of children under 18 who don't work outside the home has risen over the past decade to 29% in 2012, up from 23% in 1999. Two-thirds of them are 'traditional' married stay-at-home mothers with working husbands," USA Today reported. It seems stay-at-home moms are a growing reality and, perhaps, many of them identify with the premise of "Mom's Night Out." The film, only showing on 1,046 screens, is doing well at the box office. What I find most interesting is the wailing, weeping and gnashing of teeth by critics over a clean movie supposedly being unrealistic and out of touch with reality. Really? Anytime a movie is criticized as containing too much sex, violence, alcohol, drug use or profanity by Christian or conservative groups, the film critics are quick to retort, "It's just a movie. It is just entertainment. It isn't supposed be confused with reality." Let me respond to the movie critics' laments of "Mom's Night Out" in kind. It is just a movie. It is just entertainment. Clean entertainment I might add. The two top grossing movies (no pun intended) for the weekend of May 16-18 were "Godzilla" and "Neighbors" -- two films that are far removed from reality. "Godzilla" is a remake about a dinosaur-like monster who wreaks havoc on humans. "Neighbors" is about a couple with a new baby living in suburbia who have a college fraternity move in next door; debauched chaos ensues. In-touch and realistic? Hardly. Seventy-three percent of reviewers per Rotten Tomatoes gave "Godzilla" a positive review and 75 percent liked "Neighbors." However, 86 percent ripped "Mom's Night Out." There is one consolation, one that really counts, and that is according to Rotten Tomatoes, 86 percent of movie-goers who have watched "Mom's Night Out" liked it. Movie reviewers who dismiss the clean nature of "Mom's Night Out" as well as its positive references to God should take the advice of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, "Don't criticize what you don't understand." --30-- Kelly Boggs is a weekly columnist for Baptist Press, director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention's office of public affairs, and editor of the Baptist Message (www.baptistmessage.com), newsjournal of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- EDITORIAL: La historia de Dios by Óscar J. Fernández Date: May 23, 2014 - Friday NOTA DEL EDITOR: La columna First-Person (De primera mano) es parte de la edición de hoy de BP en español. Para ver historias adicionales, vaya a http://www.bpnews.net/espanol NASHVILLE (BP) -- Desde hace mucho tiempo, cada año leo la Biblia completa. Es una especie de ejercicio espiritual que me reporta grandes beneficios y satisfacción, al punto de que me he convertido en un apasionado promotor de la lectura completa de la biblia. Cuando trabajaba como editor para una de las Agencias de nuestra Convención, asigné dos páginas al final de una de las revistas para dar una guía de lecturas, de manera que los que siguieran esas lecturas diarias pudieran al final del año haber leído la Biblia completa. En nuestra iglesia hacemos un énfasis especial para que todos lean la Biblia completa en el año. Publicamos y entregamos cada trimestre el plan de lectura entre otras muchas cosas para estimular a las personas. Ahora, tristemente, al igual que las resoluciones de principios del año, mi experiencia es que son muchos los que comienzan, pero muy pocos los que terminan. En octubre del año pasado tuvimos la idea de iniciar un nuevo grupo de estudios bíblicos los domingos en la manan que llamamos "Mi Andar Diario" y que cada semana estudiaría lo que se había leído durante la semana en el Plan Anual de Lectura de la Biblia. Las primeras semanas tuvimos dos o tres personas, pero luego se convirtió en un poderoso grupo de mujeres. Al mismo tiempo, dedicamos nuestra página de FB para cada día señalar la lectura correspondiente a ese día y poner dos o tres versículos de esa lectura, al igual que dedicar un blog a publicar comentarios relacionados con las lecturas que se estaban realizando en esa semana. Esto ha permitido que una gran cantidad de personas se hayan unido este año en la lectura de la Biblia, incluyendo a personas que viven a muchos miles de millas de nosotros. Algunos me han confesado que nunca antes habían leído ciertos libros de la Biblia que no sabían que existían. A un hermano que quiero mucho se le perdió su Biblia y vino muy desconsolado a contarme lo que le había sucedido. Usando el pretexto de su cumpleaños fui hasta su casa y le llevé una Biblia de estudio de regalo. Su rostro ese día me recordó el rostro de mis hijos cuando eran pequeños en el Día de Reyes al recibir sus regalos, y me dijo, ahora voy a comenzar a leer de nuevo la Biblia completa. Y para mí, ese fue el mejor premio que yo pudiera recibir ¿A dónde voy con todo esto? Bueno, hace muy poco una persona que asiste a nuestra iglesia me preguntó: ¿Y en definitiva qué es la Biblia? La respuesta que solemos dar es simple: es la Palabra de Dios. Y eso es verdad, pero para una persona no creyente, a lo mejor eso no tiene mucho sentido, porque en primer lugar, no sabemos que concepto tiene esa persona del mismo Dios. En mis años en el pastorado en Albuquerque en New Mexico, en el cual teníamos un poderoso ministerio carcelario adopté la costumbre de responder a esa pregunta diciendo que la "Biblia es la Historia de Dios". Y en verdad, eso es lo que es la Biblia. Es como un gran rompecabezas en el cual cada pieza encaja de una manera admirable mostrando una faceta diferente de la historia de Dios. Cada pieza es diferente, con distintos colores y matices con un contorno que encaja en otra pieza, y cuyo significado solo se puede descubrir completamente cuando se vincula con las otras piezas para entonces darnos una especie de cuadro de Dios, que nos revela Su historia. Algunas personas consideran a la historia como algo irreal, como una ficción que puede ser manipulada o arreglada al antojo para acomodarse a los intereses de alguien. Pero la Historia de Dios no es ficción, es en sí misma una prueba de autenticidad, ya que hay piezas del rompecabezas que están separadas por cientos de años y sin embargo encajan a la perfección. Son relatos confiables y muy precisos de acontecimientos históricos reales. En mis años de "Embajador del Rey" asistí a un campamento que existe en un valle en el país donde nací y escuché un estudio sobre un libro que se llamaba: "La Biblia tenía razón". Quedé fascinado y al regresar a mi iglesia, mi entusiasmo era tal que al presentar el informe que se acostumbraba que los "campamentistas" presentaran el domingo en la mañana, solo hablé del estudio de ese libro. Mi emoción fue tal que movió a un hermano de la iglesia a buscar el libro, comprarlo y regalármelo. Este libro hizo nacer en mí dos pasiones: La lectura de la Biblia y la arqueología. Durante muchos años he practicado las dos, pero la más fascínate y apasionante es la lectura de la Biblia, la cual sigo practicando. En el próximo mes de junio el material para el estudio bíblico que publica LifeWay hará un estudio panorámico de la "Historia de Dios", tocando trece temas que como piezas de un enorme rompecabezas encajan en esta historia que no tiene paralelos ni comparación. Esta es una buena manera de preparase para en octubre iniciar un viaje que le lleve a leer la Biblia completa y descubrir la Historia de Dios. Quiero recomendarle que si nunca lo ha hecho, o si hace tiempo que no lo hace, que inicie en octubre conmigo un viaje a través de toda la Biblia, será una experiencia transformadora, se lo puedo asegurar. --30-- Óscar J. Fernández es miembro de Brentwood Baptist Church en Brentwood, Tenn., y es escritor, editor y consultor de publicaciones independiente. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Protestas y violencia continúan en Venezuela; los creyentes se aferran a la fe by Por Emily Pearson Date: May 23, 2014 - Friday CARACAS, Venezuela (BP) -- En años recientes, los misioneros de la IMB en Venezuela han luchado para esparcir el evangelio en medio de dificultades en continuo aumento. En la capital Caracas, la rampante pobreza, la violencia incidental y la escasez de alimento son una parte de la vida diaria, y simplemente caminar en la calle equivocada y a la hora equivocada puede ser un error fatal. A pesar del desasosiego político, el aumento en la violencia y la disparidad económica en Venezuela durante los pasados pocos meses, los misioneros de IMB y los creyentes venezolanos están trabajando para esparcir el amor de Cristo en un lugar cada vez más peligroso. Matthew y Mónica Starr*, misioneros de IMB en Caracas, dijeron que las condiciones desde febrero han pasado de malas a peores; la situación es "extremadamente volátil," dijo Mónica. Los manifestantes antigubernamentales han escenificado continuas protestas callejeras y han erigido barreras que bloquean el tráfico. La guardia nacional venezolana ha contraatacado con gas lacrimógeno, balas de goma y alegados abusos a los derechos humanos, de acuerdo a los reportes de noticias. Cerca de 3.000 manifestantes han sido arrestados, y 200 de ellos todavía están en la cárcel. Además, miembros de los colectivos -- brigadas motorizadas que apoyan al gobierno -- presuntamente han amenazado, asaltado e inclusive asesinado a algunos manifestantes, dijeron los reportes de noticias. Mientras tanto, en violencia atribuida a ambos lados del conflicto, por lo menos 42 personas han muerto y cerca de 800 han sido heridas durante los más de tres meses de disturbios en toda Venezuela, de acuerdo a los reportes de noticias. El descontento comenzó en febrero cuando un grupo de frustrados estudiantes se expresó en contra de la ascendente inflación, la escasez de alimentos y el cada vez más aumento del crimen. Pero lo que comenzó como una demostración estudiantil se volvió un levantamiento violento, cuando según se dice las autoridades venezolanas les dispararon a tres manifestantes antigubernamentales durante una protesta pacífica en Caracas. Para mediados de mayo, la violencia ha recibido atención mundial como si se representara en un escenario mundial. Un reporte de ABC detalló una escena de "huesos quebrados, negación de tratamiento médico y amenazas de saqueo o muerte" por el gobierno en contra de miles de manifestantes. Por lo menos 10 de las 42 muertes reportadas han sido clasificadas como tortura por los Observadores de los Derechos Humanos, declaró el artículo. Nadie pensó que los problemas se prolongaran tanto como lo han hecho, dijo Matthew. "Una de las cosas que muchos creyeron de las protestas fue que eran una llamarada, y que muy pronto todo el mundo volvería a su vida normal," dijo. Para algunos misioneros de la Junta de Misiones Internacionales, incluyendo a los Starr, las protestas y los violentos exabruptos han limitado sus actividades misioneras normales. Las barricadas de la policía y los retenes frecuentemente les hacen difícil dejar su vecindario -- y casi imposible para Matthew llegar a los eventos de entrenamiento que él dirige para los creyentes venezolanos. Otros misioneros que viven en Caracas pero que trabajan afuera de la ciudad no han podido viajar durante semanas, añadió Matthew. Pero de algunas maneras, estar confinados en las casas ha abierto puertas y creado oportunidades de relaciones que no estaban allí antes, dijeron los Starr. Forzados a quedarse encerrados en sus edificios de apartamentos e incapacitados para llevar su vida usual, los misioneros han podido pasar tiempo con sus vecinos, y han encontrado maneras para compartir el evangelio. "Siempre hemos tenido a muchísimas personas en nuestro hogar; hemos tenido inclusive más así [desde que comenzaron los disturbios en febrero]," dijo Mónica. "Hemos tenido gente que, desde el momento que llegan a la puerta y yo la abro y los abrazo, han llorado hasta que se van dos o tres horas después. "Hay personas que están pasando circunstancias horribles y cambia vidas en las que su vida nunca será la misma de nuevo, así que mucho de nuestro ministerio está justo allí en la casa -- teniendo gente que llega, teniendo gente para comer quienes no han comido durante días porque están muy estresados, diciéndoles 'ustedes están seguros aquí, acuéstense y tomen una siesta, nosotros cuidaremos a los niños.'" Aunque la proximidad acerca a los misioneros a los perdidos, también lleva a los creyentes más cerca de Dios, añadió Matthew. "Una de las cosas que están sucediendo que creo que es muy positiva es que esto está llevando a nuestras iglesias a un nivel mucho más profundo de oración -- oración por Venezuela, oración por las familias que están pasando por situaciones muy duras," dijo. "Esto les está permitiendo a las personas tener más tiempo con no cristianos para orar por ellos y con ellos y solamente para mostrarles cómo relacionarse con el Señor." Matthew habló con un pastor que, varias horas antes de una marcha planeada, hizo una caminata de oración con otros miembros de la iglesia a través de áreas usadas para manifestaciones. Los miembros de la iglesia continuaron orando mientras los manifestantes llegaban y se quedaron para orar con aquellos que quisieron unirse a ellos. Otro pastor bautista va a la sede de la Guardia Nacional venezolana y ora con los soldados, dijo Matthew. "Las iglesias están tratando de encontrar maneras en las cuales poder ministrar a la gente de ambos lados," dijo. Pero aunque los creyentes nacionales trabajan para alcanzar a aquellos en su propio terreno, los continuos problemas políticos de Venezuela no están afectando solamente a las iglesias locales. Juan Moreno*, pastor de una iglesia bautista venezolana, dijo que las revueltas son la culminación de la larga historia de la nación de frustración política y declive económico. El continuo declive en las finanzas y la prosperidad personal ha resultado en que muchas iglesias venezolanas han sido incapaces de sostener a sus propios misioneros en el extranjero, dijo. "Hay una expresión venezolana que dice: 'nadie sabe lo que tiene hasta que no lo tiene más,'" explicó Moreno. "Hemos perdido ahora esta oportunidad de sostener misioneros afuera de Venezuela a pesar de que tenemos más gente con el deseo de ir a las misiones, pero no tenemos lo que se requiere para sostenerlos." "Necesitamos organizarnos, y la Convención Nacional Bautista de Venezuela está trabajando en esto para poder ayudar en estas otras áreas," continuó. "Algunas iglesias grandes que pudieron haber hecho algo en el pasado, ahora no están haciendo nada. Podría haber una iglesia grande trabajando con una iglesia pequeña para hacer algo para poder hacer más." Encima de los incrementados riesgos de la violencia, la agitación también ha aumentado problemas como la escasez de alimentos y la carencia de artículos básicos para la vida diaria. Como la escasez de cosas como leche y café no son raros en Venezuela, la gente espera horas haciendo fila en las tiendas de comestibles para adquirir artículos que realmente no llenarán sus necesidades. "Estamos hablando de lugares donde las filas dan la vuelta a la esquina y la gente espera horas para obtener los cuatro rollos de papel higiénico que se les permiten, o una caja de leche que pueden llevar a la casa para su familia de cinco," dijo Mónica. Para muchos, las manifestaciones simplemente añadieron más combustible a un fuego de violencia y crimen que ha estado ardiendo durante casi dos décadas, dijo Mónica. En tanto que la vida diaria en Venezuela era ya difícil en el mejor de los casos, el aumento en los ideales antisocialistas les ha dado ahora a los enojados venezolanos un propósito. También ha puesto a los defensores del gobierno listos para defender su continuidad en el poder. "Usted puede recibir un tiro mortal solamente al ir a clases o al ir por comestibles por ninguna otra razón más que alguien quiere su celular o su cartera de mano," dijo Mónica. "Creo que la gente se está dando cuenta de que 'si de todas maneras voy a perder la vida, quiero perderla por una causa y por algo que pueda hacer un cambio en mi país y quizá provea un mejor país para mis hijos y mis nietos.'" En medio de los continuos disturbios, conversaciones sobre la paz comenzaron a mediados de abril entre el presidente venezolano Nicolás Maduro y los líderes opositores. Sin embargo, el 13 de mayo la oposición suspendió las conversaciones diciendo que no iban para ninguna parte y criticando al gobierno por reprimir a los manifestantes, dijeron los reportes de noticias. De acuerdo a un reporte de la BBC, estudiantes reunidos en un campus en Caracas se habían convertido en foco de saqueo para la Guardia Nacional venezolana. Uno de tales saqueos a principios de mayo llevó a la muerte a tiros de un soldado y al arresto de 243 manifestantes, a quienes el gobierno etiquetó de "manifestantes fascistas." Sin embargo, dando una mirada a través de la gruesa y humeante neblina de una nación abrasada por la ira y la violencia existe la esperanza de que Dios trabaje a través de los misioneros y bautistas venezolanos para alcanzar a los perdidos durante un tiempo de terror y tragedia. "La iglesia bautista venezolana no va a caer," dijo el pastor Moreno. "Va a ser fortalecida y crecerá. De hecho, a pesar de la crisis, la Convención Nacional Bautista de Venezuela no está apática o cayendo. Es una convención que está aprendiendo a ser más dinámica. Hay regiones que están haciendo mucho más de lo que hubiéramos esperado…de lo que hubiéramos soñado." Misioneros de la IMB como los Starr comparten el mismo evangelio que Dios usará a través de los creyentes venezolanos para alcanzar a los perdidos a lo largo y ancho de su propio país y el mundo. "Una cosa que me anima es que en ningún otro tiempo en la historia ha habido tanta oración por Venezuela," dijo Matthew. "Dios va a hacer algo que creo que será maravilloso." --30-- *Nombre cambiado. Emily Pearson funge como escritora de IMB en América Latina. Thiago Molina, periodista de IMB en América Latina, contribuyó a esta historia. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Una pareja es impulsada instantáneamente a la plantación de iglesias by Por Joe Conway Date: May 23, 2014 - Friday MIAMI (BP) -- Dios puede cambiar corazones en un momento. En un instante la realidad de una persona es alterada—su determinación, su deseo, su visión. Cuando Derek y Lindsay Allen sintieron el llamado a mudarse a Miami, su familia dejó atrás todo lo que había sido su vida anteriormente. Esto sucedió en una conferencia sobre plantación de iglesias a la que asistió la pareja. "Fuimos con mentes abiertas pero pensamos que íbamos a obtener información para ayudar a capacitar a otros," dijo Derek Allen, quien en ese entonces servía como pastor ejecutivo de Smoke Rise Baptist Church, en Warrior, Alabama. "Mientras estaba sentado, escuchando una de las sesiones, tuve un llamado instantáneo a la plantación de iglesias. Fue como si un segundo yo era administrador de la iglesia, y en el siguiente segundo fuera plantador de iglesias. Me di cuenta que ya no podría hacer nada distinto." Pero sólo había un problema: ¿Cómo se lo iba a decir a Lindsay? Durante el almuerzo ella sentó en una mesa llena de esposas de plantadores de iglesias. Ella era la única esposa que no tenía un esposo plantador de iglesias. Después de escuchar sus historias, Lindsay sintió que Dios le confirmó que eso era lo que necesitaban hacer. ¿Pero cómo se lo iba a decir a Derek? Esta pareja se reunió después del almuerzo para ir juntos a la siguiente sesión. Cada uno tenía algo que quería comunicarle al otro. "Mientras oraba, preguntándole a Dios cómo decirle a mi esposa que ahora soy un plantador de iglesias, ella me dio un notita de papel," recuerda Allen. "Decía 'Estoy convencida.' Esta fue una de las mil confirmaciones." Mientras la pareja comenzaba a explorar ciudades donde pudieran plantar una iglesia, Miami dentro de los primeros lugares en su lista. "Contactamos a la Junta de Misiones Norteamericanas (NAMB) sobre la plantación de iglesias y la estrategia Send North America," dijo Allen. "Me conectaron con un movilizador, Tim Wolfe. Le pregunté cómo era la plantación de iglesias en las ciudades; me dijo que era muy diferente en cada una. Me preguntó, '¿Qué te parece ir a Miami?' Aunque Miami ha sido descrita por algunos como un lugar donde mueren los plantadores de iglesias, esto no intimidó a la familia Allen. "Eso es lo que queríamos," dijo. "Queríamos un lugar difícil. Nuestra actitud era entregarlo todo ahí. Viajamos a Miami para hacer un tour de visión y nos dimos cuenta que ahí era donde Dios nos quería." Al mudarse a Miami sin conocer a nadie, los Allen trabajaron rápidamente para presentarse ante 75,714 personas. Por lo menos fueron las que ellos contactaron antes del domingo del lanzamiento de la iglesia. "Nos asistieron voluntarios y equipos misioneros," dijo Allen. "Fueron maravillosos. Nos ayudaron a colgar 10,000 invitaciones en las puertas. Por correo, enviamos otras a 60,000 personas. Imprimimos tarjetas de presentación con la fecha de inauguración y las distribuimos por todos lados." Christ Centered Church – conocida también con la abreviatura C2 —fue inaugurada el 9 de febrero con la asistencia de 170 personas y dos bautizos ya registrados en sus libros. C2 se reúne en el campus norte de Florida International University. La iglesia ha experimento por lo menos dos profesiones de fe cada semana desde su inauguración, y ha comenzado reuniones de grupos pequeños. C2 cuenta con una amplia red de apoyo, incluyendo a Christ Fellowship en Miami y aquellos conectados con el esfuerzo Send North America de la JMN. C2 ya ha recibido a siete equipos misioneros. "Nuestra primera meta es convertirnos en una iglesia autosuficiente," dijo Allen. "Queremos alcanzar las áreas con menos recursos y con menos servicios. Queremos estar involucrados en la capacitación de plantadores de iglesias y apoyarles financieramente. Ya estamos orando por un área específica y por la persona que va a plantar la iglesia. Esperamos plantarla dentro de un año." Joey Wood es un pastor multiplicador bivocacional de C2. Wood y Allen sirvieron juntos en Alabama. Wood y su esposa Brooke habían servido en Gran Bretaña, pero recientemente regresaron a los EE UU y estaban explorando su próximo paso ministerial cuando se reconectaron con Allen. "Joey y Brooke son maravillosos," dijo Allen. "Ellos se sacrifican sin quejarse. Son una enorme parte de nuestro equipo. Joey vive para discipular a la gente. Se mudó aquí específicamente para trabajar con nosotros, sabiendo que tendría que ser bivocacional. Aceptó un trabajo en un taller de lavado de autos justo después de mudarse a la ciudad." Uno de los primeros creyentes bautizados en C2 fue Daniel, un joven que se había convertido hace tiempo pero que nunca había decidido bautizarse. La conexión con Daniel sucedió a través de Wood quien le conoció el primer día del trabajo de ambos. Wood comenzó a discipularlo. "Daniel estaba tan contento cuando lo bautizaron," dijo Allen. "Fue grandioso. Él fue nuestro primer bautizo en la bahía." Conéctese con Send North America Miami a través del enlace siguiente: www.namb.net/Miami. Si desea más información sobre Christ Centered Church, vaya a: www.christcenteredchurch.net. --30-- Joe Conway escribe para la Junta de Misiones Norteamericanas, NAMB. -------------------------------------------------------------------- David Platt en Cena de Pastores y Líderes de Avance Hispano by Por el personal Date: May 23, 2014 - Friday BALTIMORE (BP) -- El reconocido pastor David Platt, autor de los Estudios bíblicos Radical y Síganme, estará hablando durante la Cena de Avance Hispano Baltimore 2014 el domingo, 8 de junio a las 5:00pm en los salones 337-338 del centro de convenciones ubicado en One West Pratt St, Baltimore, MD 21201. Esto actividad forma parte de la celebración de la reunión anual de la Convención Bautista del Sur. El Dr. Platt, pastor de The Church at Brook Hills, está profundamente comprometido con Cristo y Su Palabra. El primer amor de David en el ministerio es hacer discípulos: el sencillo modelo bíblico de enseñar la palabra de Dios, capacitar a otros y trasmitir la fe. Está casado con Heather y tiene cuatro hijos: Caleb, Joshua, Mara Ruth e Isaiah. Esta actividad totalmente gratis para pastores, plantadores y líderes incluirá también la participación especial del Dr. Frank Page, Presidente del Comité Ejecutivo de SBC. Para asistir a esta actividad deberá hacer su reservación e imprimir su boleto de entrada haciendo click en el siguiente enlace: : http://www.eventbrite.com/e/avance-hispano-cena-para-pastores-tickets-11498072043. Dicha actividad promete ser un tiempo de estímulo, compañerismo y desafío para todos los asistentes. La cena será seguida a las 6:30 pm con diferentes talleres auspiciados por LifeWay Español, Guidestone, IMB y NAMB. Estos talleres están abiertos a todos los participantes y miembros de las iglesias. LifeWay Español estará presentando un taller titulado "Los Grupos Pequeños Como Una Estrategia de Crecimiento Para la Iglesia". El taller tendrá lugar en el salón 345 de las instalaciones del centro de convenciones. Un estudio reciente llevado a cabo por LifeWay revela las 5 razones más fuertes que las personas dan de cómo los grupos pequeños le ayudan: 1) Entender la Biblia mejor 2) Sentirse más cerca de Dios 3) Entender mejor a Dios 4) Desarrollar una mayor confianza en Dios en sus vidas, y 5) Tomar mejores decisiones. El tema será presentado por el Dr. Víctor Ríos quien actualmente se desempeña como Consultor de LifeWay Español para el área de NY y NJ. El Dr. Ríos es además pastor de una iglesia local, plantador de iglesia para la North American Mission Board, Presidente de la Asociación Bautista Hispana de NY/NJ y Profesor adjunto del seminario Davis College en NY. El taller cubrirá la base bíblica sobre los grupos pequeños o celulares, además de elementos de implementación práctica. Los talleres serán seguidos de una gran Celebración Hispana a partir de las 8:00 pm en los salones 339-341 con la participación especial del reconocido. --30-- -------------------------------------------------------------------- Matrimonio gay ahora reclama el noreste by Por Tom Strode Date: May 23, 2014 - Friday WASHINGTON (BP) -- Un juez federal ha legalizado el matrimonio del mismo sexo en Pennsylvania y le entregó a la creciente exitosa campaña para redefinir la más antigua institución de la humanidad un cambio radical del noreste de EE.UU. El juez John Jones echó abajo las leyes de 1996 de la legislatura de Pennsylvania que rehusaban reconocer el matrimonio del mismo sexo. Jones, quien fue nominado por el presidente George W. Bush, declinó bloquear la suspensión de su ejecución el martes (20 de mayo), permitiendo que las parejas del mismo sexo comiencen a solicitar licencias de matrimonio inmediatamente. El gobernador Tom Corbett, republicano oponente al matrimonio del mismo sexo, todavía tiene que anunciar si va a apelar el veredicto. El fallo de Jones siguió por un día un fallo similar en Oregon, donde un juez federal echó abajo una enmienda del 2004 aprobada por los votantes que limitaba el matrimonio a un hombre y una mujer. El juez Michael McShane también rehusó suspender la ejecución de su decisión. Oregon y Pennsylvania se convirtieron en los estados 18º y 19º en poner el efecto el matrimonio del mismo sexo legalizado. Los jueces han invalidado las prohibiciones del matrimonio gay en otros ocho estados -- Arkansas, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah y Virginia -- desde los veredictos de la Corte Suprema en junio del año pasado, como lo reportó el Washington Post. Jueces federales también han declarado que los matrimonios del mismo sexo realizados en otros estados deben ser reconocidos en Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky y Tennessee, reportó el Post. Las decisiones de Pennsylvania y Oregon significan que todos los estados en el noreste, además de los de la costa oeste, han legalizado el matrimonio del mismo sexo. El principal ético bautista del sur Russell D. Moore dijo el 20 de mayo: "Esta es una historia que vemos, parece, cada semana estos días. Otra corte impone el matrimonio del mismo sexo en otro estado. Debemos continuar persuasivamente exponiendo el caso de por qué creemos que el matrimonio no es una creación del estado, para ser redefinido a voluntad, sino que es una ordenanza de Dios." Moore, presidente de la Comisión de Libertad Religiosa y Ética, también dijo para Baptist Press: "Sobre todo, recordemos que la revolución sexual no puede cumplir sus promesas. Estemos listos para ofrecer un evangelio de poder a aquellos que se sentirán desilusionados por estas vacías pretensiones de liberación." El presidente del Seminario Teológico Bautista Southern, R. Albert Mohler Jr. en su transmisión vía pod del 21 de mayo "El resumen," dijo que la adición de Pennsylvania a la columna del matrimonio gay también significa "que una mayoría de estadounidenses ahora viven en esos estados que tienen el matrimonio gay legal." Con el sistema legal que rápidamente apoya el matrimonio gay, Mohler también le prestó atención al lugar de trabajo diciendo: "Necesitamos enfrentar el hecho de que los cristianos más jóvenes en EE.UU. van a enfrentar un mundo que la mayoría de nosotros como adultos mayores simplemente nunca hemos tenido que enfrentar. Ellos van a tener que rutinariamente enfrentar -- durante la totalidad de su vida de trabajo -- la realidad de que fácilmente pueden estar en el lado equivocado de una controversia cultural que les puede costar sus trabajos y dañarlos en términos de sus prospectos profesionales. ... "Esa es la nueva cosa en esa sociedad, y no debemos dejar que pase sin un discernimiento sobrio," dijo Mohler. Al echar abajo las leyes del matrimonio de Pennsylvania, Jones citó la violación de los principios de "igualdad de protección." Él escribió en su veredicto: "Somos mejores personas de lo que esas leyes representan, y es tiempo de descartarlas en el basurero de la historia." Además de Pennsylvania, los estados del noreste que han legalizado el matrimonio del mismo sexo son: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island y Vermont. Delaware y Maryland, los cuales son considerados por algunos como parte del noreste, también han legalizado el matrimonio para las parejas del mismo sexo. Además de Oregon, los estados de la costa oeste que tienen el matrimonio del mismo sexo son California y Washington. Los otros estados con matrimonio gay legal son Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota y New Mexico. El Distrito de Columbia también ha aprobado el matrimonio del mismo sexo. En una decisión de junio de 2013 que pareció ayudar a abrir el camino para la legalización del matrimonio gay en los estados, la Corte Suprema dijo que la ley federal de Defensa del Matrimonio (DOMA por sus siglas en inglés) violaba "la igualdad de protección" bajo la Constitución al rehusar reconocer los matrimonios gay. El veredicto significó que las parejas del mismo sexo obtuvieron acceso al impuesto al empleado, al Seguro Social y a otros beneficios previamente limitados a las parejas heterosexuales. En otro veredicto de junio pasado, los jueces fallaron sobre una pregunta procesal que tuvo el efecto de permitir estar a favor de la invalidación de un juez federal de una enmienda de California que prohibía el matrimonio del mismo sexo. La corte, sin embargo, rehusó decir que los estados no pueden limitar el matrimonio a un hombre y una mujer. --30-- Tom Strode es el jefe de la oficina de Baptist Press en Washington. -------------------------------------------------------------------- EDITORIAL: La historia de Dios by Por Óscar J. Fernández Date: May 23, 2014 - Friday NASHVILLE (BP) -- Desde hace mucho tiempo, cada año leo la Biblia completa. Es una especie de ejercicio espiritual que me reporta grandes beneficios y satisfacción, al punto de que me he convertido en un apasionado promotor de la lectura completa de la biblia. Cuando trabajaba como editor para una de las Agencias de nuestra Convención, asigné dos páginas al final de una de las revistas para dar una guía de lecturas, de manera que los que siguieran esas lecturas diarias pudieran al final del año haber leído la Biblia completa. En nuestra iglesia hacemos un énfasis especial para que todos lean la Biblia completa en el año. Publicamos y entregamos cada trimestre el plan de lectura entre otras muchas cosas para estimular a las personas. Ahora, tristemente, al igual que las resoluciones de principios del año, mi experiencia es que son muchos los que comienzan, pero muy pocos los que terminan. En octubre del año pasado tuvimos la idea de iniciar un nuevo grupo de estudios bíblicos los domingos en la manan que llamamos "Mi Andar Diario" y que cada semana estudiaría lo que se había leído durante la semana en el Plan Anual de Lectura de la Biblia. Las primeras semanas tuvimos dos o tres personas, pero luego se convirtió en un poderoso grupo de mujeres. Al mismo tiempo, dedicamos nuestra página de FB para cada día señalar la lectura correspondiente a ese día y poner dos o tres versículos de esa lectura, al igual que dedicar un blog a publicar comentarios relacionados con las lecturas que se estaban realizando en esa semana. Esto ha permitido que una gran cantidad de personas se hayan unido este año en la lectura de la Biblia, incluyendo a personas que viven a muchos miles de millas de nosotros. Algunos me han confesado que nunca antes habían leído ciertos libros de la Biblia que no sabían que existían. A un hermano que quiero mucho se le perdió su Biblia y vino muy desconsolado a contarme lo que le había sucedido. Usando el pretexto de su cumpleaños fui hasta su casa y le llevé una Biblia de estudio de regalo. Su rostro ese día me recordó el rostro de mis hijos cuando eran pequeños en el Día de Reyes al recibir sus regalos, y me dijo, ahora voy a comenzar a leer de nuevo la Biblia completa. Y para mí, ese fue el mejor premio que yo pudiera recibir ¿A dónde voy con todo esto? Bueno, hace muy poco una persona que asiste a nuestra iglesia me preguntó: ¿Y en definitiva qué es la Biblia? La respuesta que solemos dar es simple: es la Palabra de Dios. Y eso es verdad, pero para una persona no creyente, a lo mejor eso no tiene mucho sentido, porque en primer lugar, no sabemos que concepto tiene esa persona del mismo Dios. En mis años en el pastorado en Albuquerque en New Mexico, en el cual teníamos un poderoso ministerio carcelario adopté la costumbre de responder a esa pregunta diciendo que la "Biblia es la Historia de Dios". Y en verdad, eso es lo que es la Biblia. Es como un gran rompecabezas en el cual cada pieza encaja de una manera admirable mostrando una faceta diferente de la historia de Dios. Cada pieza es diferente, con distintos colores y matices con un contorno que encaja en otra pieza, y cuyo significado solo se puede descubrir completamente cuando se vincula con las otras piezas para entonces darnos una especie de cuadro de Dios, que nos revela Su historia. Algunas personas consideran a la historia como algo irreal, como una ficción que puede ser manipulada o arreglada al antojo para acomodarse a los intereses de alguien. Pero la Historia de Dios no es ficción, es en sí misma una prueba de autenticidad, ya que hay piezas del rompecabezas que están separadas por cientos de años y sin embargo encajan a la perfección. Son relatos confiables y muy precisos de acontecimientos históricos reales. En mis años de "Embajador del Rey" asistí a un campamento que existe en un valle en el país donde nací y escuché un estudio sobre un libro que se llamaba: "La Biblia tenía razón". Quedé fascinado y al regresar a mi iglesia, mi entusiasmo era tal que al presentar el informe que se acostumbraba que los "campamentistas" presentaran el domingo en la mañana, solo hablé del estudio de ese libro. Mi emoción fue tal que movió a un hermano de la iglesia a buscar el libro, comprarlo y regalármelo. Este libro hizo nacer en mí dos pasiones: La lectura de la Biblia y la arqueología. Durante muchos años he practicado las dos, pero la más fascínate y apasionante es la lectura de la Biblia, la cual sigo practicando. En el próximo mes de junio el material para el estudio bíblico que publica LifeWay hará un estudio panorámico de la "Historia de Dios", tocando trece temas que como piezas de un enorme rompecabezas encajan en esta historia que no tiene paralelos ni comparación. Esta es una buena manera de preparase para en octubre iniciar un viaje que le lleve a leer la Biblia completa y descubrir la Historia de Dios. Quiero recomendarle que si nunca lo ha hecho, o si hace tiempo que no lo hace, que inicie en octubre conmigo un viaje a través de toda la Biblia, será una experiencia transformadora, se lo puedo asegurar. --30-- Óscar J. Fernández es miembro de Brentwood Baptist Church en Brentwood, Tenn., y es escritor, editor y consultor de publicaciones independiente.