The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-05/27/2014 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Church reaches out to South Sudanese fleeing violence by JoAnn Bradberry Date: May 27, 2014 - Tuesday NIMULE, South Sudan (BP) -- As a third of South Sudan's population faces starvation, International Mission Board personnel and Baptist Global Response are partnering with a local church to care for those fleeing ethnic violence. Nearly four million people may starve to death as a result of the country's now five-month-old civil war, the United Nations reports. On the first day of 2014, Mary Loso was cooking dinner for her children when the trucks arrived carrying those trying to escape the ongoing fighting. One by one -- a total of seven trucks, 150 people -- they pulled into the Faith Baptist Church compound where the women's leader lives with her husband and 11 children. Loso panicked. "I was afraid at first," Loso said. "I was afraid there wasn't enough food." But they were her people, and she couldn't turn them away. They were among the hundreds of thousands fleeing their homes in South Sudan because of the violence that began when ethnic fighting broke out in the capital city of Juba. Nimule is a border town -- a natural stopping point for refugees on their way out of South Sudan, fleeing to Uganda. As the town flooded with those fleeing, word began to spread about Loso's hospitality. That first day, Loso gathered the displaced people together with her family, and called the church elders. Church members soon arrived at the compound to pray. Three times a day, they stopped their work to pray together. They prayed for peace in the country, for their lost husbands and brothers, for enough food for the day. The church took up an offering to buy some food. Eventually, some of the families moved onto the church compound, into an open-air sanctuary and into the homes of the pastors. "All-in-all, God stood strong," Loso said. On the church compound there is a small office, the size of a pantry or a walk-in closet. Thin foam mattresses are stacked against a wall. Five pastors have been living in the office together. The pastors gave up their own homes on the church compound for the displaced families. "We took their burdens to be ours -- we are crying with them," pastor Tolbert Alochi said. "These people, they looked desperate," he said. "No food, no water. Things were very hard." In the first days of the crisis, Alochi called the elders of the church together, and they decided to welcome those in need. "We told them that if anybody feels that he wants to stay, we can stay with them here. Most of them are not ready to go [across the border to Uganda]. They have lost husbands, they have lost children, and they are waiting for them here." A team of IMB missionaries assessing the situation in South Sudan was moved by the ministry of Faith Baptist Church and called on BGR to help. Through BGR funding, missionaries helped Faith Baptist complete housing for the displaced families. "This is an instance of a church wanting to reach out to an IDP [internally displaced persons] crisis situation and help the community around them," Mark Hatfield, BGR area director for sub-Saharan Africa, said. "We are thankful to be able to encourage the church to follow their biblical mandate of being a church and in being significant in their community for the Kingdom of God." Despite the fragile ceasefire signed earlier this month, many are afraid to return home. With the help of BGR, more than 10 families have been able to remain under the care of the church, while the church continues reaching out to those who are fleeing the violence. "We are encouraging them and comforting them with the Word of God," pastor Alochi said. "They never believed they would make it up to this far." On a much larger scale, BGR is working to drill four boreholes in refugee camps, as well as provide jerry cans, metal containers typically used for transporting and storing water, for 12,000 families living in the camps. To learn more about how you can help, go to gobgr.org/projects/project_detail/south-sudan-crisis. Pray: -- Pray for Faith Baptist Church as they continue showing the love of Christ to IDPs in their midst. -- Pray for IMB missionaries and national pastors working together in the refugee camps for South Sudanese. --30-- JoAnn Bradberry is an IMB writer and photographer based in Nairobi. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Thailand coup sparks call for prayer by Paige Turner Date: May 27, 2014 - Tuesday BANGKOK, Thailand (BP) -- In a country that has already endured months of political unrest, International Mission Board leaders are calling believers to fervent prayer for Thailand after the Royal Thai Army declared martial law last week and gained control of the government in a coup two days later. "We pray for a resolution that is best for the Thai people," Peter Hillen,* an IMB worker in Thailand, said. "Pray for people to be patient as this resolves. Please pray for our personnel to take opportunities to share about where their eternal security comes from; we can't trust in man for our security." Following the May 22 coup, IMB leadership continues to monitor the situation and has advised personnel to exercise caution and avoid areas where protests have been held. "Business as usual is pretty much the order of the day," Hillen said. "Our personnel are doing today what they were doing before the coup." Hillen, who has lived in Thailand about 24 years, said the country has the "culture of a coup." "This is not uncommon in Thai history," Hillen said. "There have been a number [of coups] throughout the years. In most cases, they have been very peaceful." However, the two factions -- pro-government (known as Red Shirts) and anti-government (Yellow Shirts) -- have never been this polarized. The most recent wave of unrest began in November 2013, with anti-government protestors calling for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down. On May 7, Shinawatra and nine cabinet members were dismissed and charged with abuse of power. J.B. Wingfield,* an IMB worker in Bangkok, said volunteer and mission teams are not being told to cancel plans to serve among the Thai people. "One of our primary duties is to advise our guests of places to stay away from and where it is a little more dangerous. We have been very fortunate to not be involved in the protest activity," he said. Wingfield said both sides are committed to not disrupting travel. "As long as you know which places to stay away from, you shouldn't have any problems," he said. Barry Kelm,* who has served in Bangkok for 24 years, said he feels completely safe and ministry is "absolutely continuing." "Sunday coming home from church there was a small protest in front of one of the small plazas," Kelm said. "The sky train [shut down] for two stops, which was unusual, but they did that to keep people from coming to the protest." Kelm said Thailand, Bangkok in particular, has experienced tense situations in the past -- more so than the current unrest. "In 2010 the Red Shirts had places occupied for two months. Shops were closed. You couldn't get anywhere and people didn't know what was going on," he recalled. Should it escalate, IMB personnel will be advised on how best to move forward, Kelm said. Thai culture shaken IMB worker James White* said to "be Thai" means to have your identity wrapped around three things -- the king, the nation and the nation's religion, Buddhism. About 95 percent of Thailand's population is Buddhist. "When mankind is humbled, it is in the middle of that when peoples' hearts are often open to God," White said. White asked Southern Baptists to pray that the Thai people would be willing to let go of old traditions and powers they have always leaned on, being willing to look at new ideas and open up to the Gospel. "Christianity can thrive very well in harsh circumstances," White said. "What is occurring now is not new to the Christian church. In New Testament times, the Gospel lived and thrived in that." Kelm asked for prayer that Christians in Thailand would continue to demonstrate love toward one other. "Our prayer is always that God would use things like this to help people realize that peace really only comes from Jesus," he said. Thongchai Pradabchananurat, president of the Thailand Baptist Convention, said the situation has potential to create division among Christians -- between those who agree with the coup and those who do not. He asked people to pray for unity among believers. "If Christians are united, we will be stronger than before, and we can reach more people for Christ if we have unity among us," he said. "During this situation many people will seek the way out and the way of hope. "We will proclaim Good News and give them the answers. We pray God leads us, to help us lead souls to be saved." --30-- *Name changed. Paige Turner is an IMB writer working in Southeast Asia. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: Soul-winning comes full circle by Paige Patterson Date: May 27, 2014 - Tuesday FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) -- At 11 o'clock today (Saturday morning, May 24) our Lord made a visit to Cincinnati to ferry the precious soul of Larry Howell to his heavenly home. His son Mark, pastor of First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Fla., was by his side together with Larry's wife of many years, Donna. Mark's wife Carmen was standing by also along with their girls Abi and Beka. That is about all who were there. Most of Larry's friends were gone already, and since he was a commoner from Pennsylvania, this will not make anyone's headlines. But before you write this off as just another obituary, please know that this is a story that happened the way it should. Larry Howell moved to Orlando, Fla., where he and Donna were employed. Their son Mark grew up there and while in high school was taken to First Baptist Church where soul-winner Jim Henry was pastor. Friends patiently worked with Mark until one wonderful day he received Christ as his Savior and Lord. After attending Carson-Newman University and playing on an NAIA championship football team, Mark sensed the call of God to the ministry. Mark came to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary to study. While pursuing his degree he met Carmen Patterson, my daughter. Everyone said, "Do not date her; she is the child of Paige Patterson." Mark said, "Who on earth is Paige Patterson?" And he continued dating Carmen and married her. One day Mark said to me, "My dad does not know the Lord, though he thinks he does. Could we take him hunting in west Texas?" That is where I first had the opportunity to share Christ with Larry. While my son Armour and son-in-law Mark were chasing a deer, the two of us sat on Jerry Davenport's ranch and talked for two hours. Larry listened thoughtfully but was not yet ready to make a decision. Some months later in a sunrise service in the hill country of Texas, Larry listened as his son Mark proclaimed the glories of the resurrection of Christ. When the now-addressed Dr. Mark Howell extended the appeal to come to Christ, he looked up and there stood his father Larry committing his life to Christ. Mark also baptized his own mother, Donna. Today, I write in praise of First Baptist Church of Orlando, Fla. Not only did you precious saints of God give me one of the finest son-in-laws in history, but also what you set in motion through faithfulness to Christ's command came full circle today when Jesus called Larry home. You led a boy to Christ. That boy became a preacher and led his mother to Christ and was preaching when his dad was saved. Rejoice! Nothing we ever do is as important as sharing Christ with a high school boy. Only eternity will reveal what you set in motion, First Baptist Orlando, through your obedience. Few will note Larry's exodus. But that is not important anyway. Can you imagine his surprise and joy upon waking up in heaven? As Don Wyrtzen wrote, "… of touching a hand and finding it God." And there will be hundreds more also. Can we all this day take a page from First Baptist Orlando and just take the time to lead a high school boy to faith in Jesus? All else pales before this assignment from God. This is the hope of the future, and it is how it is supposed to be. --30-- Paige Patterson is president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Dennis Manpoong Kim Q&A for SBC president by Staff Date: May 27, 2014 - Tuesday BALTIMORE (BP) -- Maryland pastor Dennis Manpoong Kim, one of three people to be nominated for SBC president in June, responded to six questions Baptist Press posed to each candidate. Kim's nomination was announced May 20 by Dwight McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. Kim has led Global Mission Church of Greater Washington in Silver Spring, Md., for 23 years. The congregation, which has a predominantly Korean membership, is the largest church in the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. Global Mission Church has produced more than 50 International Mission Board career missionaries and has planted churches in four U.S. states and South Korea. Among Kim's leadership roles in the SBC, he is a member of the Pastors' Task Force on Evangelistic Impact and Declining Baptisms, a national task force convened by the North American Mission Board to address the continued decrease in baptisms among Southern Baptist churches. He also served on the SBC Resolutions Committee in 2012 and 2013 and has taught courses at Southern, New Orleans and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminaries. He is the author of "Pulpit Counseling," "Answer with the Bible!" and other books. He has translated more than 60 books from English to Korean. Kim holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Korean institutions; a master of arts in theological studies with a concentration in pastoral counseling from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, Mass.; a master of divinity from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Ky.; and a doctor of theology in pastoral psychology from Boston University in Boston, Mass. The new SBC president will succeed New Orleans pastor Fred Luter of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, who became the first-ever African American to lead the SBC when he was elected in 2012. Q&As with the other two nominees, Arkansas pastor Ronnie Floyd and Kentucky pastor Jared Moore, appeared in the May 22 edition of Baptist Press. To access Floyd's Q&A, click here; for Moore's click here. Dennis Manpoong Kim's answers to BP questions BP: What influence on the Southern Baptist Convention do you pray to have during the two consecutive one-year terms that an SBC president typically serves? KIM: If God gives me the opportunity to serve as the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, I will endeavor to accomplish the following for the glory of God: 1) To promote fellowship among all Southern Baptists of different nationalities and ethnicities so that we may show the world true unity within diversity. 2) To accomplish the Great Commission by mobilizing the whole church to take the whole Gospel to the whole world. 3) To empower the church to prepare the way for the second coming of the Lord by equipping believers with practical and effective tools of evangelism and discipleship. BP: If elected as SBC president, in what ways do you envision calling Southern Baptists forward in seeking to fulfill the Great Commission? KIM: I will humbly remind all Southern Baptists the vision that our predecessors proclaimed in First Baptist Church of Augusta, Ga., on May 10, 1845: "Men who see the invisible, hear the inaudible, believe the incredible, and think the unthinkable." In a time when about 1,000 churches close their doors every year, I believe that the need of the hour is an evangelistic tool that is simple enough to train all church members, effective enough to ignite believers' passion for evangelism and engaging enough to captivate the hearts of the present generation. I will partner with all leaders of NAMB, IMB, Lifeway Christian Resources, WMU, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and all Baptist seminaries to equip Christians with an evangelistic training that is simple, effective and engaging to reach this generation for Christ. BP: Describe ways you have led your church to be involved in Great Commission outreach through Southern Baptist cooperative missions and the Cooperative Program. KIM: I believe in the power of collaboration. That is the reason why I have always led the Global Mission Church to be faithful in its participation in Cooperative Program. In the year 2013, the Global Mission Church gave $93,600 to the Cooperative Program and $16,900 to the Montgomery Baptist Association. In addition, it has given $13,061 for Lottie Moon and $11,396 for Annie Armstrong. The Global Mission Church is also active in its involvement with the Council of Korean Southern Baptist Churches. Last year, it contributed $3,900 for international missions, $2,600 for North American missions, $3,900 for the Cooperative Program among Korean Southern Baptist Churches and $20,000 for Nicaraguan missions. Our church invested $25,520 last year to send our short-term mission teams around the world including Mexico, Thailand, Philippines, Peru, Nicaragua and Kyrgyzstan. With a steadfast commitment to world missions, our church is training and sending more than 10 short-term mission teams every year and it has produced more than 50 career missionaries working for the International Mission Board. The Global Mission Church has also planted five churches in various locations: Baltimore (Md.), Fairfax (Va.), Seattle (Wash.), Cary (N.C.), and Bun-dang (South Korea). BP: In what ways do you see the SBC president coming alongside leaders of the International Mission Board, North American Mission Board, LifeWay Christian Resources, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, GuideStone Financial Resources and the convention's six seminaries to undergird and encourage their respective ministries? KIM: First of all, I would like to seek opportunities to (1) meet personally the leaders of the International Mission Board, North American Mission Board, LifeWay Christian Resources, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, GuideStone Financial Resources and the convention's six seminaries, (2) listen to them, (3) learn from them, (4) understand each others' roles and (5) endeavor to positively undergird and encourage their respective ministries as one great team for the Kingdom of God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I will not play a lone ranger in this matter. BP: If elected as SBC president, how do you foresee speaking to the next generation of Southern Baptist leaders to be involved in expanding the convention's Great Commission work? KIM: My vision is to challenge and train the next generation of Southern Baptist leaders so that they can truly mobilize the whole church for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Whereas Christians generally agree that it is imperative for all believers to share the Gospel, only few Christians actually evangelize in their daily lives. The glaring question is "how can we mobilize the whole church to witness Christ?" For the purpose of equipping my whole congregation to fulfill the Great Commission, I have devised a tool of evangelism and discipleship called Anothen Training. As a result of this training, the church has witnessed amazing results in evangelism. From May 2013 to March of this year, church members have presented the Gospel to 3,125 people through personal evangelism. Among the people who heard the Gospel, 1,078 people accepted Christ and 802 others received the assurance of salvation. This year's vision is to produce four generations of disciples (G1 -- Senior Pastor, G2 -- Associate Pastors and Key Leaders, G3 -- Lay Members, G4 -- New Believers). The Global Mission Church is pressing on towards the goal of turning this vision into a reality by the end of this year. I am currently using Anothen Training to equip the next generation of Christian leaders around the world so that they may also mobilize their whole congregations to fulfill the Great Commission. I have challenged and trained Christian leaders in more than 10 cities across the United States and other countries including Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and South Korea. I pray that God may continue to use me to challenge the next generation of Southern Baptist leaders to mobilize their local congregations to win souls for Christ. BP: What do you see as the key moral issues of our day and how the SBC president can represent Southern Baptists as America increasingly moves away from Judeo-Christian values? KIM: Religious pluralism is one of the greatest epidemics of our day that erodes Judeo-Christian values in America. A practical indication of such erosion can be easily detected in the prevalence of the bumper sticker that says "COEXIST" with pluralistic connotations. I take an active stance against the views and values of religious pluralism. I give my wholehearted consent to the Baptist Faith and Message that acknowledges the Bible as the infallible and inerrant Word of God. I indeed believe that only the Word of God provides the ultimate standard and guideline for our lives. I recognize the dignity of human life that starts from the very moment of its conception (Ps.139:13-16). I believe in the biblical view of marriage of one man and one woman (Gen.2:24; Matt.19:4-6). The values of this world pertaining to various moral issues may change in the passage of time. But I will always remain steadfast in supporting the biblical values regarding our spirituality and morality. As a Southern Baptist, my allegiance to the biblical standard will always remain the same. --30-- Compiled by Baptist Press chief national correspondent David Roach. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nigerian girls' location learned, military says by Staff Date: May 27, 2014 - Tuesday NIGERIA (BP) -- The Nigerian military has learned the location of more than 200 kidnapped Nigerian Christian girls but has not managed to free the captives, Reuters News reported, while Boko Haram continues to slaughter Christians. Nigerian Air Marshal Alex Badeh cautioned Monday (May 26) that using military force might further endanger the teenagers, Reuters said, while Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has refused Boko Haram's offer to free the girls in exchange for Nigeria's release of imprisoned Boko Haram terrorists numbering about 4,000. Since Boko Haram kidnapped about 275 girls April 14, the terrorists have taken another 10 or so Christian girls and killed at least 470 civilians including Christians, Reuters reported. "The good news for the parents of the girls is that we know where they are, but we cannot tell you," Reuters, the Associated Press and other news outlets quoted Badeh. "But where they are held, can we go there with force? We can't kill our girls in the name of trying to get them back." About 223 Christian girls are believed still held captive, many of them reportedly featured in a video Boko Haram released of about 130 girls dressed in hijabs and chanting scriptures from the Quran. The girls are feared to have been sold into slavery as the wives of Muslim men, perhaps in Nigeria and bordering Cameroon and Chad. About 53 of the girls somehow managed to escape their captors days after the attack, according to news reports. President Obama deployed 80 U.S. troops to Chad Wednesday (May 21) to aid in the search by maintaining aircraft and analyzing data, but the troops are not armed, according to the Pentagon. Britain, Israel, China and France are also aiding in the search. Since the kidnapping, Boko Haram has raided villages almost daily. Bombings in northern and central Nigeria have killed hundreds, including attacks in the capital city Abuja and Jos. In the latest attacks, Boko Haram killed at least 28 people and burned homes May 22 in three northern Nigeria villages, Reuters reported. Days earlier, Boko Haram killed more than 100 when it set off bombs near shops owned by Christians in the central market district of Jos, Morning Star News reported, quoting a Christian shop owner who barely evaded the blasts. "I had left my shop and went out and was just returning when the bombs exploded," Morning Star quoted a woman who requested anonymity. "I put through a phone call to some of my colleagues, and they confirmed that three Christian brethren, a man named Dauda, and two other Christian women, have died from the blast." Jonathan has been slow and ineffective in stopping Boko Haram, the international community has complained, and a partial state of emergency Jonathan declared last year in northern Nigerian states has not deterred the terrorists. Boko Haram, which Jonathan has described as the Al-Qaeda of West Africa, began killing Christians and Muslims around 2002, but has killed thousands of Christians in intensified attacks since 2009 in an effort to establish sharia law. --30-- Compiled by Diana Chandler, general assignment writer/editor for Baptist Press, the Southern Baptist Convention's news service. BP reports 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). -------------------------------------------------------------------- FROM THE STATES: La., Okla., Va. evangelism/missions news; La. families learning to care for orphans by Staff Date: May 27, 2014 - Tuesday Today's From the States features items from: Baptist Message (Louisiana) The Baptist Messenger (Oklahoma) Proclaimer (Virginia) 25 La. families begin process to adopt children from state foster care at adoption conference By Mark H. Hunter BATON ROUGE, La. (Baptist Message) -- More than 300 children in Louisiana state foster care are waiting for adoption and almost that many people attended a "Wait No More" conference to do something about it. Dewayne and Sharon Smith of Slidell want to foster and/or adopt a little girl while Billy and Tessie Grigg of Gonzales want a baby. Buford and Lisa Quick, also of Gonzales, are praying about an older child or a teenager. The Smiths and Griggs and Quicks were just three of more than 100 families and couples who attended the "Wait No More: Finding Families for Louisiana's Waiting Kids," conference, sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home and Family Ministries, Focus on the Family, the Louisiana Family Forum and the state Department of Children and Family Services and hosted May 10 by Istrouma Baptist Church. Testimonies from two women who grew up in foster care, a man who has adopted several children and a woman who grew up in a family who fostered other children moved the audience to both applause and tears. Reports from several officials detailed the long and complicated processes while encouraging the potential parents to not get discouraged with the wait. "We had 25 families start the process of adoption from foster care on Saturday," reported Katie Overstreet, program director of Focus on the Family's Adoption and Orphan Care. "Our biggest prayer is that families will continue to pray about what role God may have for them in caring for vulnerable children in the community." Approximately 4,000 children are in foster care at any one time and more than 300 of them are available for adoption, according to Kaaren Hebert, a policy advisor from the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. "During the course of a year we serve over 7,000 children," Hebert said. "We work very hard to find the children a safe home in a safe and timely manner." Istrouma's Senior Pastor Jeff Ginn reminded the audience, "Psalm 68:6 says 'The Lord sets the lonely in families -– God places the lonely in families -– and, of course, He did that with us -– He took us as sinners and adopted us into his family. We're thrilled to host a conference here to help the lonely find families." Dewayne Smith, 51, a retired US Army Sergeant First Class, said since three of their four children are now grown, "we have some empty rooms and are looking at adopting a little girl. We've been blessed our entire lives with our children and we want to share that with some more kids coming up." Billy and Tessie Grigg have three children of their own, ages 12, 10 and 7, and are praying about an infant. "God has been putting it on our hearts for about eight months or so and now it's time to step forward and trust God and believe in Him," he said. Buford and Lisa Quick have six children and are praying about more. "My heart was really moved toward the older children today," Lisa Quick said. "I've never really looked at that standpoint -- we always looked at adopting babies." Speaker Shannon Vander Ark, now a worship pastor's wife with two children, described how she was abused by her mother's boyfriend and was removed from her home at the age of seven. "I went from foster home to foster home with all my belongings in a black garbage bag." At the age of 10 she was taken in by a Christian foster family, "who cared about me, prayed for me and took me to church. I had no concept of who God was. Slowly, very slowly, love joy and peace began to overcome the bitterness and anger that I held onto for so many years," and at 13 years old she became a Christian. Speaker Tiffany Jorgenson, told how her young life was filled with physical and sexual abuse, drugs, alcohol, and the senseless death of her baby sister. The state removed her and her siblings and fostered them separately. "I had lost everything I had known -- but fear. My perspective on life was shattered," she said, daubing away tears. She and her siblings were eventually adopted together. "I personally do not believe that adoption is an accident or a way to fix a system that God did not plan for," she said. "I believe He uses our brokenness to show the world how he brings us into his own family. The love an adoptive family shows to a child is the same love He shows to us." John Moore told how he and his wife have adopted seven children through Los Angeles County foster care, and Amy Perry, a member of the Selah singing group, told how her parents fostered more than 100 children as she was growing up. Sharon Ford, of Focus on the Family and retired manager of Permanency Services for the Colorado Department of Human Services, explained government workers "work on behalf of the citizens of the state and the children. It is our job to protect them." "Government was never meant to parent," Ford said several times, and explained that while the paperwork seems endless, "We need that information. We want to let go -- we want to find them a forever family." Ford reminded the audience that while we get impatient waiting for the traffic light or the line at the grocery store to move faster, "some of these children are waiting for years. Our kids don't deserve to wait." During the conference, the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home unveiled Connect 1:27, which offers individuals and churches a toolkit to be a "helper to the orphan." The toolkit includes an orphan ministry guide, the theology of adoption, an orphan care sermon, Bible study and prayer guides, adoption options, a foster care and adoption parent guide and "Fields of the Fatherless" by Tom Davis. Churches will have access to online resources available only to Connect 1:27 Network members and will receive a monthly Connect 1:27 e-newsletter. Connect 1:27 is based on God's command of James 1:27. Rev. Gene Mills, president of the Louisiana Family Forum, said, "We're excited we have parents and organizations from all over the state cooperating in a common goal to connect children who are currently in the foster care system with permanent families. Having made the connections -- I believe a lot of these families will be connected." This is the second year of an ambitious program kicked off last year with the Over the Edge event and repeated this year. The initial goal was to connect 100 families in 100 churches with foster care children and so far, Mills said, 92 churches have gotten involved. "The process of adopting a child through foster care is a steeper climb than we understood initially -- and that's the reason we came back for the second year," Mills said. "I know dozens and dozens of families have been connected and are either fostering now with the hopes of adoption or who have completed their adoption." The day before, Mills said, at the Over the Edge rappel event downtown Baton Rouge, he met a young lady who although she had "timed out" of the foster care system, was still following through the adoption process with a North Shore family to make their relationship permanent. "Now she will have a family to fill that hole in her heart," Mills said. "She will have someone she can call on -- it IS working." --30-- This article appeared in the Baptist Message (baptistmessage.com), newsjournal of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Mark H. Hunter is a regional reporter for the Baptist Message. ********** Small Okla. church is going & growing By Staff PONCA CITY, Okla. (The Baptist Messenger) -- Donnie Hazlewood grew up in Ponca City. His early impression of Longwood Baptist Church there: "It was the church that was a little outside of town I thought nobody went to." Now he has a different perspective. "God is doing something remarkable through Longwood Church in Ponca City," Hazlewood said. This is something that has been repeated over and over again by members of the Oklahoma church. Founded in 1896, it is considered to be the oldest church in Kay County, but this body of believers is having an impact on its community today. More than 30 people have joined the church since September 2012 (15 since October 2013). That might not sound like a large number, but for the people of the church, it's nothing short of miraculous. In September 2012, Longwood called Hazlewood as its pastor. God is using him and the people of this church to be a light in Ponca City. With the new members and those who are visiting each week, the church has more than doubled in size. The church has hired two part-time staff members, and has seen the youth ministry grow from an average of 3-4 students to nearly 20. They even had to knock out a wall between two Sunday School classrooms to make a youth room large enough to hold the students. The church also has found creative ways to minister and take the Gospel to Ponca City. One of these ways was an answer to a problem. "Last spring, we faced the fact that we didn't have the number of children to justify having a Vacation Bible School (VBS) on the church campus. God provided a solution that has led to an amazing ministry to the community," Hazlewood said. The decision was made to have a "backyard Bible club" or "backyard VBS" in a neighborhood in the town. Almost 30 children attended the three-day event. Church leaders led the children in games, fed the children lunch and shared the Gospel through the willingness of its members to be used by God. "This ministry was a resounding success, but no one could have imagined what would happen next," the pastor said. As the summer came to a close, the church decided to canvass the same area of town where the VBS took place. This time they had a back-to-school block party, where they served the community hot dogs, played games with the children, passed out school supplies and shared the Gospel. "We sacked up 25 bags of school supplies, thinking that would be enough," said deacon Butch Hiatt. "We had no idea God was going to answer our prayers to reach our city like He did." Before the evening was finished Longwood had almost 200 people in the neighborhood playing games, eating food, and hearing the Gospel preached. "It was an amazing evening, but once again the church had a really good problem," Hazlewood said. "We had prepared 25 bags of school supplies for children, but that need had swelled to more than 75." The next day at church, a special offering was taken to offset the cost of purchasing the remaining school supplies for 50 children. The money given was almost exactly the cost needed to purchase the remaining supplies. "We had $2.18 left after buying the all the supplies," Hazlewood marveled. "As we look forward to what God is going to do next, we can all safely say, 'God really is doing something remarkable through Longwood Church.'" --30-- This article appeared in The Baptist Messenger (baptistmessenger.com), newsjournal of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. ********** Va. pastor must 'plow' before planting church By Walt Davis CROZET, Va. (Proclaimer) -- Walt Davis (SBCV church planter) and Richard Boyce (SBCV church planter apprentice) have seen the benefits of "church plowing" as they've planted Life Journey Church in Crozet, Va. Davis shares their story in his own words: In March of 2011, we sat in the SBCV office in Glen Allen, Va., at Basic Training (now PLANT), trying to soak up as much wisdom as possible before moving to Crozet, Va., a suburb of Charlottesville. God was calling us there to plant Life Journey Church. One of the golden nuggets of wisdom that we'll never forget is fellow planter Chris Dowd's explanation of "church plowing." He said that before a church can be planted in the soil of a community, the soil, very likely, will need to be plowed. As any farmer will prepare the soil for planting, the communities in which we plant churches in Virginia may also have hard soil. Western Albemarle County is no different than most counties in our state! In order to gain trust, rapport, and build key relationships with "people of peace," we knew that we needed to invest all of our efforts in a variety of "church plowing" initiatives. Richard and I led our church to plow by the usual servant-focus events like block parties and helping local businesses connect with newer residents. However, one of the church plowing efforts that has yielded exceptional results is our partnership with the boosters program at the local high school. Just a month or so after we moved to Crozet, we shared the idea of raising money from local businesses and organizations to print 1,000 "spirit shirts" for the biggest home football game of the season and then pass them out at the gate free of charge. Understandably, those in leadership at the school were not as excited as we were—they were somewhat guarded and cautious. In order to try to further plow, we volunteered to paint one of the concession stands at the football stadium (which sort of stuck out like a sore thumb with its brown paint) in a sea of blue and gold. They permitted us to paint the concession stand and, with some limitations, agreed for us to give away the shirts. Once they saw the success and effect of the event with 1,000 students and fans in the same yellow shirt that was promoting the school and supporting businesses, they were eager to have us repeat it a second year! We have since done it a third year, and it's now an annual event on the school calendar known as the "Free WAHS Spirit Shirt Giveaway Day." Because of the tedious plowing those first years, the school requested to become a part of the event this year. Therefore, we partnered with a division of the Guidance Department, using the t-shirts to focus on the theme of "Students Making Wise Choices as It Relates to Alcohol." Further, seeing a need for concession stand volunteers at the game, we coordinated with Liberty University, and they sent 13 of their students to serve concessions during the game, all while wearing Life Journey Church shirts! As if it couldn't get any better, two of the administrators at our last "plowing game" went out of their way to find us and thank us for the t-shirts and the concession volunteers. One of them even invited me to their home. There's much plowing yet to do, but as we stood there watching Life Journey Church serving from the inside of the concession stands (whereas just two years ago we were only serving on the outside as we painted the stand), we were overwhelmed with emotion seeing how God had done a work of plowing soil. Now, we are in and a part of the community, serving it from the inside out rather than being outsiders trying to get in. There are now several families associated with the football program who call Life Journey Church their home! We know that God is the one who does the plowing of the heart, but He certainly uses us in the process to prepare the way for His Spirit to bring forth life. --30-- This article appeared in the Proclaimer (sbcv.org/articles/category/proclaimer), newsjournal of the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia. Walt Davis is church planter of Life Journey Church. ********** EDITOR'S NOTE: From the States, published each Tuesday by Baptist Press, relays news and feature stories from state Baptist papers and other publications on initiatives by Baptist churches, associations and state conventions in evangelism, church planting and Great Commission outreach, including partnership missions. Reports about churches, associations and state conventions responding to the International Mission Board's call to embrace the world's 3,800 unengaged, unreached people groups also are included in From the States, along with reports about church, associational and state convention initiatives in conjunction with the North American Mission Board's call to Southern Baptist churches to broaden their efforts in starting new churches and satellite campuses. The items appear in Baptist Press as originally published. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2nd VIEW: Cooperative Program to anchor SBC exhibits by Staff Date: May 27, 2014 - Tuesday 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 23,2014. 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).