The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-08/26/2013 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------- NOBTS team digs for date of Canaanite water system by Gary D. Myers Date: August 26, 2013 - Monday JERUSALEM (BP) -- R.A.S. Macalister faced a crucial decision in late 1907 when he reached the bottom of the ancient Gezer Water System in Israel -- drain and excavate the pool at the bottom step or explore the cavern beyond the pool. He chose to bypass the pool and excavate the cavern. Macalister had no way of knowing the implications his decision would have on establishing a date for the system. Now, more than a hundred years after Macalister's dig, a reexcavation of the water system by a team of archaeologists from the Moskau Institute of Archaeology at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) is bringing the implications of Macalister's choice into clear focus. Leaders of the NOBTS/INPA dig believe Macalister's choice preserved valuable data that will help establish a date for the tunnel's construction. This summer, the team began excavating the pool area searching for datable material and the water's source. The Old Testament mentions Gezer 14 times. One of the more important biblical entries reports that an Egyptian pharaoh, who is not named, conquered Canaanite Gezer and gave it to Solomon as a dowry (1 Kings 9:16). The account records that Solomon rebuilt and fortified Gezer along with the cities of Hazor and Megiddo. Archaeologists have identified a common city gate type which certainly could be attributed to Solomon at these three sites. In 2005, Steve Ortiz renewed the excavations at Gezer to study the area near the Solomonic gate with a consortium of schools that included both NOBTS and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The NOBTS/INPA water system reexcavation, led by NOBTS professors Dan Warner, Dennis Cole and Jim Parker and INPA chief archaeologist Tsvika Tsuk, flowed out of the main Gezer dig, currently sponsored by Southwestern. The Pool and the Cavern In Macalister's early 1908 quarterly excavation report, he presented a detailed explanation of the water system and explained his decision to move on to the cavern, calling the excavation of the pool "a difficult, expensive and (from the archaeological point of view) profitless task." To facilitate the crossing of the pool area, Macalister laid a "causeway" of stones, effectively sealing the ancient content below. Late in the 2012 dig season the NOBTS/INPA team discovered a layer of white chalky stones which had blended together and covered most of the pool surface. Archaeologists are certain the layer is Macalister's causeway. "For us this was a gold mine," said Dan Warner, associate professor of Old Testament and archaeology at NOBTS. "When Macalister laid the causeway over the water pool, he preserved for us everything underneath from further contamination and other intrusions from his excavation." When NOBTS and INPA began reexcavating the water system in 2010, establishing a date for the system's construction was the foremost goal. Several dates for construction have been proposed over the years. Macalister believed that the water system is a product of the Middle Bronze IIB period during the height of Gezer's influence as a Canaanite city-state. Others attribute construction of the system to Late Bronze Age Canaanites. Another prevalent view attributes construction to the Israelites during the time of Ahab. The difference between the earliest and latest dates for construction is around 800-900 years. Late or early, dating of the system offers insights into the peoples of the Bible and their understanding of engineering and hydrology. Proving one of the earlier dates, for instance, would help one better understand the development of the engineering skills the Canaanites possessed and contribute to a better understanding of the geopolitical situation. The 2013 Expedition The team went into the three-week dig season in May and June determined to find the bottom step of the water shaft and systematically excavate the area under the causeway. Most of the first two weeks of the dig were spent searching for the bottom step and cleaning Macalister's causeway. Tons of debris and rocks were removed in the process. When the bottom step was located and the causeway area clear, the team excavated three probes in the pool area. Each of the pool probes reached a depth of more than six feet before the end of the season and the bottom of the pool was discovered in only the Eastern probe, located just below the bottom step of the water shaft. The material encountered below the causeway was bagged and pulled from the water system by a crane. Once on the surface, volunteers sifted the wet silty mud using wire mesh screens and water. The probes yielded large amounts of broken pottery shards, charcoal samples and other ancient material. The dig's directors are confident pottery from the water pool will yield an approximate date for the construction of the water system. After preliminary reading of the pottery in the field, the shards and others items were transported to pottery experts for further analysis. A separate lab will examine and establish the age of the charcoal samples. Completing the research in the Gezer water system will require a fifth dig season in the tunnel. NOBTS and INPA will return to the site in May and June of 2014 to complete the systematic excavation of the water pool. Once the water pool is completely cleared, excavators expect to have a better understanding of the source of the water and a solid dating of the system. All of the material removed from the pool will be wet sifted and the items discovered in this sifting process will be analyzed in the lab. After the 2014 dig season and subsequent analysis, the NOBTS/INPA team will publish its findings. Completing Unfinished Work Macalister's discovery of the water system was an important step in understanding the ancient city of Gezer and its inhabitants. He produced detailed descriptions, drawings and measurements of the system, offering the NOBTS/INPA team valuable data for planning their dig. But in many ways, Macalister's excavation work in the cavern was ultimately a disappointment, according to archaeologists. The cavern probes yielded little ancient material and shortly after Macalister completed his cavern probes, torrential rains sent all the rocks, dirt and debris his team had removed back down into the water system, archaeologists said. With the system backfilled, Macalister moved on to excavate other areas at Gezer. The water system was left untouched for more than 100 years. By the time the NOBTS/INPA team began excavating the water system in 2010, more than two thirds of the rock-hewn shaft was filled with debris. Dating the material Macalister left below the causeway, and ultimately establishing a date for construction, is expected to help complete the unfinished work in the water system. --30-- Gary Myers is director of public relations at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. For information about the 2014 Gezer Water System dig, contact Dan Warner (dwarner@nobts.edu) or Dennis Cole (rdcole@nobts.edu) at NOBTS. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- NOBTS helps preserve Canaanite city by Gary D. Myers Date: August 26, 2013 - Monday JERUSALEM (BP) -- When Moses sent 12 spies into Canaan to explore the land, the men's sighting of large, fortified cities created fear among the Israelites and led to rebellion. Instead of conquering the land, God's people wandered in the wilderness 40 years. The account in Numbers 13 does not specify which cities were observed, but fits well with the archaeological record of the Canaanite culture from the Bronze Age. Many of the Canaanite cities at that time were equipped with massive, imposing walls and well-defended gates. A team composed of members of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary's Moskau Institute of Archaeology and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) got a first-hand look at the Bronze Age walls and gate systems this summer, while working in Gezer, Israel. In addition to the continuing excavation of the ancient water system, the team assisted with conservation efforts on the wall and gate. The NOBTS/INPA excavation is led by NOBTS professors Dan Warner, Dennis Cole and Jim Parker and INPA chief archaeologist Tsvika Tsuk. Gezer was a part of the ancient Canaanite city-state society which reached its height of importance in the Middle and Late Bronze ages. Much of Gezer's importance came from its location on the crossroads of the Via Maris and the Aijalon Valley, both important trade routes. The Old Testament mentions the city 14 times. "Preserving the structures of the ancient world conserves the treasures of the world for all to see," said Daniel Warner, associate professor of Old Testament and archaeology at NOBTS. "It attaches to the culture reality and a real sense of history." "They give one an image of the culture and a glimpse of what it was like to live in the past," Warner continued. "In Israel especially, more times than not, we rarely get a complete picture of structures beyond just foundational walls. Here at Gezer, almost the total height and dimensions of these storage rooms associated with the Canaanite period are preserved well enough to actually visualize what it was like to live here over 3500 years ago." Years before the Israelite Conquest, a wave of urbanization swept through Canaan. A Canaanite city, Gezer emerged during this time and grew into a large urban center. During the Middle Bronze Age, these city-states began constructing massive double walls and multi-chambered gates to defend against aggressors. In the Bronze Age, defensive structures were built at Gezer between 1800 and 1600 B.C. The stone defensive walls (both outer and inner) at Gezer were reinforced with external, sloping ramparts known as glacis. The steep glacis at Gezer were made of alternating layers of packed stones and dirt and were covered with a thick layer of limestone plaster, protecting the wall from undermining. The slope made it difficult for invaders to attack. Store rooms and living quarters were built in the interior of the wall. This type of construction is mentioned in Joshua 2, which describes Rahab's house as "part of the city wall." The Bronze Age gate was made of mud bricks on a foundation of massive stones. The gate likely included an arched opening and covering constructed on mud brick. Two well preserved examples of this construction type have been found in Ashkelon on Israel's coast and at Dan in northern Israel. The gate design is also well-attested in ancient relief carvings. The Bronze Age wall and gate, along with a massive guard tower, were first excavated by R.A.S. Macalister in the early 1900s. The Bronze Age defenses were excavated again beginning in the 1970s by Hebrew Union College. Over the years occasional conservation efforts by the Israel Antiquities Authority have helped to preserve these structures. The NOBTS/INPA team, working in rooms that were built into the wall, replaced fallen stones and used lime and mud mortar to stabilize and preserve the remaining structures. The team also cleared weeds and removed many years' worth of accumulated dirt and debris from the gate area, exposing the cobblestone floor near the front of the gate. The work resulted in much improved aesthetics and stabilized the delicate ancient structures. The conservation work was well underway when Shaul Goldstein, general director of the INPA, visited Gezer June 4. Goldstein toured the entire site including areas currently under excavation by NOBTS and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Today, Gezer is an undeveloped national park and not a frequent stop for tour groups. The visit by Goldstein represents an increased interest by the INPA in the future development of the site. Focused conservation is expected to go a long way in assisting with future development at Gezer. --30-- Gary Myers is director of public relations at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. For information about the 2014 Gezer Water System dig, contact Dan Warner (dwarner@nobts.edu) or Dennis Cole (rdcole@nobts.edu) at NOBTS. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- N.M. court reflects culture's 'seismic shift' to sexuality-based 'state-established religion' by Gregory Tomlin Date: August 26, 2013 - Monday ALBUQUERQUE (BP) -- An attack on religious liberty is evident in the New Mexico Supreme Court's ruling that two Christian photographers violated the state's Human Rights Act by refusing to photograph a same-sex "commitment ceremony," according to several Southern Baptist commentators. "Anyone who still doubts that the normalization of homosexuality and the legalization of same-sex marriage will represent a seismic shift in the culture at large needs only to look to New Mexico to see that nothing less than religious liberty is now under threat -- and in a big way," R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote in an online column Aug. 26. Russell D. Moore, president of the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said the Aug. 22 ruling "demonstrates, once again, that where we are headed is the state-established religion of sexual liberation, with the law used to steamroll every conscience in the way." Elaine and Jonathan Huguenin, owners of Elane Photography, were asked in 2006 by Vanessa Willock to photograph her same-sex "commitment ceremony" in the town of Taos. The Huguenins, citing their Christian belief that marriage should be only between a man and woman, declined the request along with a subsequent request by Willock's partner. Mohler described the Huguenins as Christians "who believe that marriage is exclusively the union of a man and a woman. They further believe that they are responsible and faithful only if they avoid any explicit or implied endorsement of same-sex marriage." Willock found another photographer at a lower price but filed a complaint with the New Mexico Human Rights Commission, accusing Elane Photography of discrimination based on her sexual orientation. The Huguenins were found guilty and ordered to pay hefty fines. According to state Supreme Court Justice Richard Boson, the Constitution protects the rights of the Christian photographers to pray to the God of their choice and follow religious teachings, but he noted that belief and practice are not the same things. Religious liberty, Boson wrote, must be subordinated to the state's anti-discrimination laws, and that the photographers -- and by extension others -- are "compelled by law to compromise the very religious beliefs that inspire their lives." "The Huguenins today can no more turn away customers on the basis of their sexual orientation -- photographing a same-sex marriage ceremony -- than they could refuse to photograph African-Americans or Muslims," Bosson wrote. "The Huguenins have to channel their conduct, not their beliefs, so as to leave space for other Americans who believe something different. That compromise is part of the glue that holds us together as a nation, the tolerance that lubricates the varied moving parts of us as a people." Compromising religious beliefs is "a price ... we all have to pay somewhere in our civic life," Boson wrote. Mohler described Bosson's legal opinion as a blatant error in the traditional understanding of religious liberty, upheld in other cases before other state courts and the U.S. Supreme Court. Instead, the ruling "points to the comprehensive scope of the moral and legal realignment required by same-sex marriage -- and eagerly demanded by its proponents. The addition of sexual orientation as a denominator of a protected class was sufficient to drag the Huguenins before a court in a state that itself does not legally recognize same-sex marriage," Mohler noted. "The New Mexico Supreme Court has now made clear that the price to be paid by many is the forfeiture of their religious liberty," Mohler wrote. Kelly Boggs, director of public affairs for the Louisiana Baptist Convention and editor of the Baptist Message, wrote in his weekly column on Baptist Press Aug. 23 that the ruling is evidence that the push "to have homosexuality accepted as natural, normal and healthy in the United States knows no compromise. The movement to have homosexuality celebrated in America will not stop, nor will it be satisfied, until all voices that would even whisper it is sinful are squelched." Homosexual activists "have long used their free speech right to publicly advocate for their aberrant lifestyle. Many of these same activists now use almost any means possible to restrict the freedom of speech of those who believe their lifestyle is wrong." Boggs wrote. The "moment of truth is rapidly approaching" for Christians who believe homosexuality is "an immoral, aberrant behavior," he wrote. "The choice will be whether to capitulate to a culture that asserts, without evidence, homosexuality is natural, normal and healthy, or to insist it is sinful and suffer consequences." Moore said the church's appropriate response should not be venting outrage at the decision but rekindling "in our own churches why religious liberty and freedom of conscience are essential for a free church and a free state. We've been here before, and we'll be here again." That sentiment was echoed by Andrew Walker, director of policy studies for the ERLC and former policy analyst with the Heritage Foundation. The New Mexico court, he said, has decided that "religious liberty is to be subordinated, or made inferior, to the sexual orientation." "Christians are entering a new era in America. The moral revolution is more past tense than present tense," Walker wrote. "But our knees shouldn't be buckling or our fists clenched. "Christians should advocate for their rights on the basis of their earthly citizenship, but they shouldn't be surprised when culture rejects them," Walker wrote. The New Mexico Supreme Court decision also shocked secular policy organizations. In a statement on National Review Online, Ryan Anderson, the William E. Simon Fellow for Religion and a Free Society at the Heritage Foundation, said "the decision highlights the increasing concern many have that anti-discrimination laws and the pressure for same-sex marriage will run roughshod over the rights of conscience and religious liberty." Other groups, such as the Cato Institute, The Becket Fund and the Alliance Defending Freedom wrote amicus briefs on behalf of Elane Photography, saying that the First Amendment protected the photographers' free speech rights, while the State of New Mexico's own Religious Freedom Restoration Act protected the photographers' free exercise of religion. The court rejected both arguments. --30-- Gregory Tomlin is a writer in Fort Worth, Texas. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. pastor in Iran loses court appeal by Staff Date: August 26, 2013 - Monday TEHRAN (BP) -- An appeals court in Tehran has rejected an appeal by Iranian American pastor Saeed Abedini, whose eight-year prison sentence has garnered widespread international attention. The appeals court decision "signals a new level of concern for Pastor Saeed's safety," Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, said in a written statement Aug. 26. "By keeping the 8-year prison sentence in place, Pastor Saeed now potentially faces additional beatings and abuse inside Evin Prison -- treatment that has significantly weakened him during his first year in prison," Sekulow said. Naghmeh Abedini, the pastor's wife, said the news is devastating to her family. She and the couple's two young children reside in Idaho, where Saeed Abedini, 33, also lived before being arrested on a trip to Iran nearly a year ago. Naghmeh Abedini said her family will be consulting with legal counsel in Iran to determine the next course of action, possibly appealing the case to the Supreme Court in Tehran or pleading for the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, to intervene and pardon Pastor Saeed. "From past cases, we know that the decision to release my husband lies solely at the mercy of the supreme leader," Naghmeh Abedini said. "It is imperative in the coming days, weeks and months that we remain vigilant" to call for her husband's release. Sekulow said the outcome of the appeal shows Iran again "has demonstrated an utter disregard for the fundamentals of human rights," and ACLJ, which represents Abedini's wife and has worked consistently for his release, is exploring all options for increasing international pressure on Iran. Naghmeh Abedini, in the ACLJ news release about the rejected appeal, expressed disappointment in the U.S. government, saying "our government has been awkwardly silent as an American citizen is wasting away in an Iranian prison because he chose to practice his God-given right to choose his religion." President Obama has not spoken a word about Saeed Abedini publicly, the pastor's wife noted. "I do hope and pray that as a nation we realize that if we do not speak out against injustice, it is only matter of time before all our children will have to face what my children are facing today," Naghmeh Abedini said. "As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.'" ACLJ reported that the appeals decision came Aug. 25 from Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals and was handed down by a two-judge panel that would not provide Abedini's attorney with a copy. One of the judges who issued the decision was sanctioned by the European Union for issuing long-term and death sentences for peaceful protestors, ACLJ said. Abedini was sentenced in January for threatening "national security," which is a catch-all phrase often used by Iranian courts to imprison converts from Islam for various sorts of evangelistic activities. He was arrested last September and taken to Evin Prison in Tehran, known for its particularly harsh treatment of prisoners. During his months in prison, the pastor has been placed in solitary confinement at least twice and has endured repeated beatings by prison officials who have attempted to force him to recant his faith in Jesus. For months he was denied medical treatment for internal bleeding caused by the beatings. Abedini's response, he wrote in an earlier letter, is Romans 8:35-39, which says persecution and death cannot separate a believer from Christ. "The reality of Christian living is that difficulties or problems do arise in our lives," Abedini wrote. "Persecution and difficulties are not new occurrences, but are seen often in the Christian life. It is through the suffering and tribulations that we are to enter the Kingdom of God." Prayer vigils for the pastor are being planned worldwide for Sept. 26 to mark one year since his arrest, to call attention to his plight and to intercede on his behalf. More information about the vigils can be found at SaveSaeed.org, where more than 600,000 people have signed a petition for his release. --30-- Compiled by Baptist Press assistant editor Erin Roach. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Mistrust on border security 'biggest hurdle' by Tom Strode Date: August 26, 2013 - Monday WASHINGTON (BP) -- A lack of trust in the Obama administration on border security is preventing most evangelical Christians from embracing legislative reform that aids undocumented immigrants, a Southern Baptist public policy expert said. "If they feel the border can be secured, and they're confident that it has been, they're prepared to do something for the 11 million folks who are here. They want to make sure that we don't do this again. And they don't trust the administration to do it," Barrett Duke told a Washington, D.C., audience regarding the viewpoint of Southern Baptists and other evangelicals on immigration reform. Duke offered his analysis in the midst of an August congressional recess that divides Senate passage of reform legislation from possible House of Representatives action this fall. Senators approved a comprehensive bill in June, but House leaders have said their chamber will consider its own legislation. The Senate-passed measure grants the verification of border security requirements -- and the authority to waive the requirements in some cases -- to the secretary of Homeland Security. That is a problem for many evangelicals and other concerned citizens. The House has "to figure out a way to get it out of the hands" of the administration, Duke said at an Aug. 12 panel discussion at the Microsoft Innovation and Policy Center. He recommended Congress "set up a quasi-federal corporation whose job is to build the infrastructure" at the border. Congress, not the administration, would sign off on its implementation, he said. "Somehow they have to create a break between where the administration is and getting that done," said Duke, vice president for public policy at the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. "[T]hat's the biggest hurdle right now." The ERLC is focusing on congressional districts in its efforts on behalf of legislation that includes security at the border and in the workplace, as well as a path toward citizenship for those who qualify and are willing to pay fines and to meet other requirements. "[W]hether or not we're going to get the votes in the House really depends on the local activity, not so much the activity" in Washington, Duke said. The ERLC will concentrate on "helping congressmen hear from their districts, churches, people in their districts, so that they understand there is a group of people within their own districts who care about" the issue, he said. In addition to its own efforts, the ERLC works for broad immigration reform as part of the Evangelical Immigration Table, a coalition of evangelical leaders. EIT announced Aug. 20 its latest radio efforts to influence members of Congress. The coalition launched more than $400,000 in ad buys in 56 congressional districts across 14 states. In a phone conference call, Duke told reporters, "The rule of law and love of neighbor are both necessary values for any civilized people. They don't have to be competing values." Other Southern Baptists speaking on the conference call were Felix Cabrera, Hispanic pastor of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City; Stan Coffey, pastor of The Church at Quail Creek in Amarillo, Texas; and Bob Lowman, executive director of Metrolina Baptist Association in Charlotte, N.C. The ERLC and EIT have promoted principles for immigration reform, but neither has endorsed any specific legislation. The "active engagement of the evangelical community" has been "the main game-changer" between this year's stronger immigration reform effort and the most recent serious attempt in 2006, Duke told the audience at the Aug. 12 panel discussion. Though the ERLC backed immigration reform in 2006, Duke said, "Most Southern Baptists at that point really hadn't thought very much about the issue of immigration reform. In fact, most of what they thought about it was negative.... The biggest difference then between 2006 and now is about seven years of reflection and the opportunity then for Southern Baptists and most evangelicals to begin to think about the issue of immigration reform, not only through the lens of the rule of law but also through a biblical lens and a humanitarian lens." Immigration reform also has become a personal matter as Southern Baptists and other evangelicals have evangelized immigrants in their communities, Duke said. "More and more of them are in our churches, and our pastors and our congregants are getting to know them," he said. "Once you begin to get to know a people, you no longer think of them as the other, those people out there. You have a more personal understanding of them, and it becomes personal for you. And as they've begun to reflect on these immigrants as people ..., they've begun to change their understanding of this issue to the point where it's no longer just a rule of law question. It's also a biblical, humanitarian question." In 2011, messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix approved a resolution on immigration reform that called for the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus while pursuing justice and compassion. The measure urged the government to make a priority of border security and holding businesses accountable in their hiring. It also requested public officials establish after securing the borders "a just and compassionate path to legal status, with appropriate restitutionary measures, for those undocumented immigrants already living in our country." It specified the resolution was not to be interpreted as supporting amnesty. --30-- Tom Strode is Washington bureau chief for Baptist Press. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2nd VIEW: SBC ministry of reconciliation fertile since 1963 D.C. march by Diana Chandler Date: August 26, 2013 - Monday 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 Aug. 23, 2013 WASHINGTON (BP) -- A dichotomy existed within the Southern Baptist Convention when 250,000 blacks and others, including those from a range of faith traditions, converged for the 1963 March on Washington championing civil rights and equitable economic opportunity. While doors of many Southern Baptist churches and schools were closed to African Americans, all SBC seminaries supported by Cooperative Program dollars were racially integrated, according to 1963 SBC statistics housed in the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives. In all, 22 of the SBC's 70 seminaries, universities, junior colleges, academies and Bible schools were integrated. In spite of many Southern Baptist pastors supporting racial segregation, some Southern Baptists were just as resolved in championing racial inclusion, though they were in the minority. As Americans mark the 50th anniversary of the 1963 march with a week of special events in the nation's capital and other activities in select cities, the SBC has long led a ministry of reconciliation and made significant strides in modeling love across racial lines, but it still has much work to do, current African American Southern Baptist leaders told Baptist Press. "There are more cultures worshipping together in our SBC churches than ever before. And to that I say, Praise the Lord!" said SBC President Fred Luter, the first African American president of the body, now in his second one-year term. "Yes, we have come a long way since 1963, but as the saying goes we still have a long way to go. Therefore the pastors, leaders and members of SBC churches need to continue to be intentional in our efforts to reach people regardless of their skin color. "It was Dr. [Martin Luther] King's dream, but it is also the heart of God," said Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans. "Red, yellow, black and white, we are ALL precious in His sight!" K. Marshall Williams, chairman of the SBC's African American Advisory Council and pastor of Nazarene Baptist Church in Philadelphia, echoed that past progress must be followed by continued growth. "For a convention that has a history of being on the wrong side of slavery, to a 1995 resolution renouncing and repenting of its racist roots of defending slavery, segregation and white supremacy, to in 2013 seeing the second-term election of Dr. Fred Luter as the first African American president of the Southern Baptist Convention," Williams said, "I believe that [the] SBC has made progress in modeling the love of the Lord by becoming more inclusive of ALL blood-bought believers who have been [birthed] into the body of Christ. "However, in the words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 'We have some difficult days ahead,'" Williams said. "Racial injustice, employment, economic and educational inequalities as well as a culture that is in moral decay is the day in which we live. Many in the church have left their first love and need to repent (Revelation 2:4-5)." Long before the SBC's 1995 resolution denouncing racism and seeking forgiveness from African Americans for slavery and racial injustice, the SBC Christian Life Commission authored "Race Relations: A Charter of Principles" promoting racial equality. The SBC adopted at its 1947 annual meeting and reaffirmed the following year the report which stated, in part, "We shall think of the Negro as a person and treat him accordingly" and "We shall be willing for the Negro to enjoy the rights granted to him under the Constitution of the United States, including the right to vote, to serve on juries, to receive justice in the courts, to be free from mob violence, to secure a just share of the benefits of educational and other funds, and to receive equal service for equal payment on public carriers and conveniences." Yet the charter fell short of embracing integration, speaking instead to equality. Its last principle stated, "We shall actively cooperate with Negro Baptists in the building up of their churches, the education of their ministers and the promotion of their missions and evangelistic programs." In 1961, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary blazed a trail by hosting King as a chapel speaker in the Julius Brown Gay Lecture series. The world had become geographically one with the invention of air travel, but the church was challenged to make the world spiritually one, King told the audience in his speech, "The Church on the Frontier of Racial Tension," archived in audio and text on the SBTS website. "It is urgently true that now we are challenged through our spiritual and moral commitments to make of this world a brotherhood. In a real sense we must all live together as brothers or we will all perish together as fools," King said. "We must see this sense of dependence, this sense of interdependence. No individual can live alone, no nation can live alone; we are made to live together." And the church "must make it palatably clear that segregation is a moral evil which no Christian can accept," said King, who would deliver his "I Have a Dream" speech more than two years later at the Washington march. "The church must make it clear that if we are to be true witnesses of Jesus Christ, we can no longer give our allegiance to a system of segregation.... The church also has the responsibility of getting to the ideational roots of racial prejudice." Today, the SBC has heeded much of King's call, but must stand firm against a world dying in sin, Williams told Baptist Press. "We now have over 10,000 growing African American and ethnic churches in our convention. The recent appointments of Dr. Ken Weathersby and Dr. Gary Frost as vice presidents of the Executive Committee of [the] SBC and the North American Mission Board (Midwest Region), respectively, have been significant," Williams said. "We have had over 22 African American and ethnic former presidents of state conventions. The formation of the [SBC] Asian, African American and Hispanic advisory councils ... by Dr. Frank Page, Executive Committee president, will continue to enhance transparent dialogue and deliberate execution of biblical mandates that will promote unity in the body of Christ and building of the Kingdom of God." Williams encourages the church to set an example of godly love while fulfilling the Great Commission. "The church needs to stand up with a prophetic voice and saturate our nation with a passionate pursuit of our God in prayer [and] personal holiness with practical application, which will precipitate radical heart changes and bring healing in the land," Williams said. "Let us by the power of the Holy Ghost, love God first, then we can do justice, love others with mercy and without partiality and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8; Matthew 22:37-40)." --30-- Diana Chandler is Baptist Press' staff writer. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: New Jersey & the Imago Dei by Andrew T. Walker Date: August 26, 2013 - Monday NASHVILLE (BP) -- The practice of reparative therapy, or what's also called "gay conversion therapy," has long stirred conflicting viewpoints about whether changing one's sexual desire is possible or whether such attempts are in the best interest of same-sex-attracted individuals. Differences aside, there are legitimate concerns about the bill Gov. Christie now has signed to ban reparative therapy in New Jersey. The implications for religious liberty are sufficiently problematic on their own to warrant Christian concern. The bill states that licensed mental health professionals "shall not engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a person under 18 years of age." It defines sexual orientation change efforts as "the practice of seeking to change a person's sexual persuasion, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions, or to reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward a person of the same gender." Gov. Christie's signing of the bill Aug. 19 follows an equivalent bill passed in California in 2012 that is now stalled in the courts. Consider these scenarios: -- If a licensed social worker in New Jersey is a Christian, does his or her personal belief that homosexuality is sinful (apart from whether she engages in reparative therapy) put his or her licensure and accreditation in jeopardy? -- If a licensed psychologist is a Christian and offers free counseling services within the context of his or her church, can he or she counsel a Christian teen with unwanted same-sex attraction? Can the psychologist insist that, while altering one's orientation is uncertain, that the appropriate Christian response for unwanted or wanted same-sex attraction is sexual chastity? Is the psychologist free to do so, or does his or her state licensure prevent him or her from exercising a sincerely held religious belief? -- Can a 14-year-old boy with unwanted same-sex attraction seek assistance on how to quell sexual temptation or can he only be told by professionals to embrace his same-sex attraction? As written, the bill's text poses several uncertainties like these. What's for certain is that a child, Christian or non-Christian, with unwanted same-sex attraction is forbidden from receiving help from licensed professionals. Additionally, children with confused gender identities are prohibited from receiving attention. Concerned parents and confused children are left powerless before a law that elevates desire above conscience. Even beyond the religious liberty concerns, there are reasons for concern about the state entering the sphere of desire and attraction. In this instance, the state is speaking authoritatively over human biology and making it subordinate to human ideology. This ought to cause Christians to pause and reflect. When the state can speak authoritatively on whether a person's desires are to be kept, shunned or celebrated, the state is speaking with an authority it does not possess. It is neither the job nor the role of the state to speak to the entirety of the human self -- an action in this particular circumstance that enfeebles the capacity for self-determination. The law's power grab is purposed under the pretense of compassion and child protection. But it is a power that is not legitimate when the state gives tacit blessing to any imaginable desire that is advanced by whatever lobby supports it. What the bill counsels is that behavior and desire are beyond the pale of question and reconsideration. In the Scriptures, we are told to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and we do so happily and dutifully with our taxes, driver's license fees and even our draft cards. But the responsibility to render what is rightly Caesar's also requires us not to render unto Caesar what belongs to God -- the Imago Dei. --30-- Andrew T. Walker is director of policy studies for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (www.erlc.com) of the Southern Baptist Convention. -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: Digital footprints & online landmines by Candi Finch Date: August 26, 2013 - Monday FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) -- Disgraced ex-congressman Anthony Weiner is ever in the news. After departing Congress in 2011 because he was caught sending lewd texts to several women, the married politician took some time away from the public eye to work on his marriage. However, after he announced his plans to enter the New York mayoral race, it came to light that he has engaged in sexually explicit communication via text messages and Facebook with at least three more women in the last year. Anthony Weiner is not the only person to get caught up using technology to indulge in the flesh (Romans 13:14). While sites like Twitter and Facebook can be used as effective tools for good purposes, like spreading the Good News about Christ, they can also end up being stumbling blocks if a person is not careful. Because of cell phones, TV, the Internet, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, blogs, vlogs, Tumblr, Facetime, Snapchat, etc., many people spend more time each day engaged in some sort of media than they do sleeping. Whether you spend six minutes or six hours (the average for many teenagers) each day using some form of technology, we all should ask, "Am I honoring God in social networking? Does my tweet, post, text or comment demonstrate that I love God and have a relationship with Him?" The truth of the matter is that, while your character is built over a lifetime, it can be compromised in a second with a careless click. Hebrews 12:1 tells us to throw off the sin that easily entangles us, and this truth definitely applies to any use of technology that leads to sin. So, what are some technology landmines that can blow up your testimony? Tech time all the time Isn't it weird how easy it can be to spend hours on Facebook, watching TV or browsing the Internet but then struggle to carve out just a few minutes each day to spend time with God? A common struggle with many believers is not spending consistent time with God even though spending time with Him can give us strength to resist temptation (Psalm 119:11). If you struggle with this, consider enlisting someone to hold you accountable about your time with God and about how much time you spend using any media form that easily distracts you. Careless clicks What does your browser history reveal about your walk with God? With one click of the mouse, you can expose yourself to tempting images. Proverbs 6:27 asks, "Can a man scoop fire in his lap and his clothes not be burned?" Don't think that you can view such images and not be tempted. A study by the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation in 2006 revealed that 7 out of 10 youth have accidently come across pornography. Revealing pop-up ads, mistyped words in search engines and spam emails are just some of the ways that children and adults stumble across sexually explicit material on the Internet. Protect yourself by adding software to your computer that will block pornographic material and consider giving someone else access to your computer to periodically check what you view online. Peer pressure photos This landmine is something I have observed in a lot of teenage young ladies, though they are certainly not the only group struggling with posting inappropriate pictures online. "Selfies" at angles that highlight certain parts of your body have become popular, but just because "everyone is doing it" doesn't make it OK. Ladies, don't post revealing pics of yourselves online. I hate to say it, but if the immoral woman of Proverbs 7 lived in the digital age, I think she would have been leading the charge of the seductive "selfie" pic now crowding the Internet. Sarcasm, snarkiness and sass I have jokingly said that my love language is sarcasm, but the truth is that my words intended in fun sometimes really hurt people, and I have to really guard what I say and how I say things. In the same vein, I think a lot of Christians weaken their testimony when they let a snarky tweet fly or post angry comments on blogs or Facebook pages -- this includes things posted under the supposed cloak of anonymity. Jesus in Matthew 12:35-37 says that a tree is known by its fruit and that we will one day be held accountable for every careless word. Just as James 1:19 encourages believers to be slow to speak, we should be slow to tweet, post or comment until we are sure what we are putting up honors God. 'In the heat of the moment' moments I think there should be a warning sign on email accounts and cell phones that says, "Beware of use when angry or low on sleep." I cringe at the memories of emails I have sent in anger; I have ALWAYS regretted them! Proverbs 14:17 warns that a quick-tempered person acts foolishly. Sometimes it is better to wait to respond to an email when you are not in the heat of the moment. Angry emails or texts seldom accomplish any good. It is wise to step away and cool down before you type something you will regret. If you are not sure about how your tone is coming across, consider asking an impartial friend to read the email before you send it. 'For your eyes only' traps Is there any part of your digital footprint you want to keep from prying eyes? When I was teaching high school girls at church, just to see how they would react, I would occasionally ask them if they would be willing for their parents to read through their text messages. The look of sheer panic on some of their faces was pretty telling. The Bible says that God knows the secrets of our hearts (Psalm 44:21) and that nothing is hidden from Him (Luke 8:17). If you are sending texts or engaging in some type of online correspondence through email, Facebook or some other medium that you wouldn't want your parents, your spouse or a trusted advisor to know about, then that is a pretty good indicator that something is amiss. The best way to guard against this landmine is to have total transparency with someone whom you let have access to your phone and computer. If you are married, letting your spouse have your Facebook and email passwords or just having joint accounts can help guard against this landmine. We all have to guard against these online landmines. In recent years, there have been a lot of stories warning people about the impact their digital footprint can have. Today employers "Google" prospective employees and even some colleges view Facebook profiles of hopeful applicants. I know of students who have lost out on scholarships and jobs because they have been tripped up by some of the landmines described above. For believers, technology can be a great tool, but we must use it responsibly. Just as Jesus cautioned His disciples that people would know whether they were truly His disciples by the way they loved each other (John 13:35), 21st century Christians can demonstrate a walk with God by the way they text or post comments online. --30-- Candi Finch serves as assistant professor of theology in women's studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and is nearing the end of her Ph.D. studying systematic theology. This column first appeared at BiblicalWoman.org, a blog of Southwestern Seminary. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -------------------------------------------------------------------- BP Ledger, August 26 edition by Staff Date: August 26, 2013 - Monday EDITOR'S NOTE: BP Ledger carries items for reader information each week from various Southern Baptist-related entities, and news releases of interest from other sources. The items are published as received. Today's BP Ledger contains items from: Ouachita Baptist University WORLD News Service Campbellsville University Florida Baptist Witness Tom Auffenberg remembered for 40 years of service to Ouachita By Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications ARKADELPHIA, Ark. (Ouachita Baptist University) -- Dr. Thomas Lynn "Tom" Auffenberg, a longtime professor of history at Ouachita Baptist University, passed away Aug. 21 at age 65, one day before he was to be honored for 40 years of service at Ouachita. Dr. Auffenberg, the R. Voyt Hill Professor of History and chair of the history department, began teaching at Ouachita in 1973. It was his first and only teaching position throughout his distinguished career. He was one of three Ouachita professors scheduled to be recognized for their 40-year service milestones during the university's Aug. 22 Faculty/Staff Banquet. "Tom Auffenberg literally invested his adult life in his students and colleagues at Ouachita," said Ouachita President Rex M. Horne, Jr. "For 40 years we benefitted from his love of teaching. "While he spoke with me about how Ouachita had blessed him, we have always known of our debt to Tom," Dr. Horne added. "I, like hundreds of others, have been encouraged by his kindness, a timely word, his smile and sense of humor. Tom will be deeply missed but not forgotten." Dr. Randall Wight, dean of the Sutton School of Social Sciences, was among Dr. Auffenberg's longtime friends and colleagues. Describing Dr. Auffenberg as "a teacher extraordinaire, mentor and friend," he added, "He's been a Ouachita institution for 40 years. In many ways he was the social center and beating heart of the Sutton School." Noting that Dr. Auffenberg was "someone I bounced ideas off of for over a quarter of a century," Dr. Wight said, "I've always trusted his perspective. No one could say it like Tom. He had an extraordinary way of coming to the heart of an idea. He made everyone else feel at home no matter where you were." Born in Missouri in 1947 as the only son of Thomas and LaVelle Auffenberg, his family moved to Fort Worth, Texas, when he was an infant. He lived in Fort Worth until age 21, graduating summa cum laude from Texas Christian University with majors in history and political science. Dr. Auffenberg held Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Vanderbilt University, with a specialization in British history. He was awarded the Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Fellowship to complete his doctoral studies in England, studying at the Institute of Historical Research in London. During his four decades at Ouachita, he was honored by the Student Senate as Outstanding Faculty Member and served as a sponsor of the Phi Alpha Theta history honor society. He was a contributor to Ouachita Voices, the university's 125th anniversary history, and also had articles published in several publications including Great Lives from History: British and Commonwealth, the Journal of Church and State and the Red River Valley Journal of History. He was a member of Phi Alpha Theta, Pi Sigma Alpha and Kappa Delta Pi and served as a director for the Southern Conference of British Studies. He also was a member of the American Historical Association and the Arkansas Association of College History Teachers. Continually reinvesting his learning opportunities in his students, Dr. Auffenberg frequently studied in England and other parts of Europe during sabbatical leaves. In preparation for one such trip, he said, "The opportunity to immerse myself in medieval studies would naturally broaden my intellectual horizons in an important area related to many of the classes I teach." According to Dr. Raouf Halaby, professor of visual arts and English, "Tom was, without a doubt, one of the gentlest, kindest and most loving human beings I have had the privilege of meeting 40 years ago this week. He was an intellectual powerhouse; he was an outstanding teacher loved and admired by his students and colleagues. He was a scholar par excellence, and he never allowed his scholarly accomplishments to go to his head." Describing Dr. Auffenberg as "a Renaissance man whose interests reached across all disciplines," Dr. Halaby said, "He was a citizen of the world in the best definition of the word. He was a strong advocate for justice, fairness and equality for all. "I can honestly say that his students and his colleagues are better people because of the example set by him," Dr. Halaby reflected. "Even though Tom has physically departed from our midst, his legacy will live on in the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of students, colleagues and friends across the globe." As word of Dr. Auffenberg's death spread across campus, students and alumni began posting words of sympathy and reflection on Twitter and other social media, including: --"I truly hate that no other Ouachita students will be enlightened by Dr. Auffenberg's wonderful teachings and personality." --"Ouachita lost someone fantastic today. Dr. Auffenberg will be greatly missed." --"Don't know what else to say about Dr. Auffenberg's passing except that I was so very honored to study history at Ouachita under his tutelage." --"Sad to hear of Dr. Auffenberg's passing. Ouachita lost someone truly devoted to his field, who strove to make you love it just as much." --"Heartbroken over the news of Dr. Auffenberg – one of my favorite professors. Prayers lifted for my home away from home at Ouachita." A memorial service was held on the Ouachita campus on Saturday, Aug. 24, at 2 p.m. in McBeth Recital Hall of Mabee Fine Arts Center. Memorial gifts to Ouachita Baptist University may be designated for the European Study Tour or scholarships to benefit history majors. ********** Does poverty make kids mentally ill? By Staff ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WORLD News Service) -- Federal health regulators are investigating why so many doctors are prescribing antipsychotic drugs to Medicaid-eligible children. The number of poor kids on the powerful medication tripled between 1999 and 2008, and the program now spends more money on antipsychotics than any other drugs. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been investigating the phenomenon for several months, according to a Monday story in The Wall Street Journal. The study focuses on drugs like Abilify, part of the newest class of antipsychotics called "atypicals." Though Abilify is the no. 1 drug in the country, drugs like it are prescribed to the poor in highly disproportionate numbers. Stephen Crystal, a health policy professor at Rutgers University, found that children on Medicaid are four times more likely to be on antipsychotics than privately insured children. And while 1.4 percent of Medicaid-eligible children are prescribed the drugs, doctors order them for 12.4 percent of foster children. Dr. Stephen Cha, a chief medical officer at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said doctors should consider other options, including therapy for psychological baggage that ultimately may be at the root of misbehavior. The government, he told the WSJ, wants to reduce "the unnecessarily high utilization of antipsychotics." It's true that foster children, often subjected to some form of abuse, can have emotional impairments. Mistreatment by caregivers in the earliest years can damage emotional development. With Reactive Attachment Disorder, for example, disastrous, often violent tendencies can emerge and progress even after a child moves to a loving home. The sheer number of kids on medication, though, casts doubt on whether they're being treated for genuine mental issues. Some doctors say medication is too often the first resort. But for Dr. Fernando Siles in Dallas, it isn't that simple. Medicating a child with serious behavioral problems is preferable to seeing him kicked out of another foster home, making the situation worse, he told the WSJ. The problem isn't isolated to children, though, or even the United States. HHS Inspector General Daniel Levinson conducted a similar investigation two years ago into nursing homes and Medicare. That study found 22 percent of claims for these same drugs violated current standards regarding unnecessary drug use in nursing homes. Canada has seen its number of children on antipsychotics nearly quadruple. For now, all we know is that the pharmaceutical industry is raking in money, at taxpayers' expense. Whether the inspector general will find a problem with that -- and effectively do something about it -- remains to be seen. ********** Belize Baptist Association president visits Campbellsville By Joan C. McKinney CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (Campbellsville University) -- Pastor Ruperto Vincente, president of the Belize Baptist Association and the Belize Football Association, visited Campbellsville University recently to discuss various items including theology training for Belizeans pastors, visiting soccer exhibitions and working with athletic teams, opportunities for missions, and further partnership to send Belizean students to CU. He also saw his son, R Lee Martin Vincente, the first Belizean student to receive a degree at CU, graduate. R Lee Vincente obtained his bachelor of science in business administration degree in marketing. "As the president of the Baptist Association and parent of the first Belizean student to graduate from Campbellsville University, I was very impressed with what I experienced at this university community," he said. "I must say that the atmosphere is one that must be envied." Vincente, who said "the future of the nation is in the hands of our youth," was working with CU to create a partnership between CU and the Baptist Association of Belize. "I am convinced that a divinely planed partnership between Campbellsville University and the Baptist Association of Belize can be of great benefit to both parties," he said. "There would be more Belizean students going to the university to be prepared for leadership in Belize not only for the secular world but also for our churches." He said Campbellsville University will benefit from graduating students promoting CU in Belize. "Pastors will now have an opportunity to take advantage of the theological training opportunities offered by the university. I am very excited about this new development," he said. Dr. Shane Garrison, assistant professor of educational ministries, was one of the theology professors who met with Vincente. "Meeting with Pastor Ruperto was a thrill," he said. "His vision and passion for ministry in his country is challenging and inspiring. I firmly believe Pastor Ruperto has God-sized dreams for the pastors and churches in the Belizean Baptist Convention and for their impact on the kingdom of God in their country and around the world." Dr. DeWayne Frazier, dean of graduate and professional studies, associate vice president for academic affairs and associate professor of political science, was host to Vincente during his visit. "I have personally been blessed from my relationship with the Vicente family and feel honored to call them friends," Frazier said. "I know that Pastor Ruperto has a heart for the Lord and wants to see the spread of gospel in his home country of Belize. I look forward to future partnerships and ways that Campbellsville can assist our Belizean brothers and sisters in meeting the Great Commission." Frazier said Vincente has a strong influence across the country of Belize as evident in the positions he has held over the past decade including serving as a school teacher. "I am eager to discover more ways Campbellsville can be involved in his ministries that have spanned over the past several decades." Frazier said there are many opportunities for synergy for CU and the Baptist Association of Belize. He said there are opportunities for teaching positions at the Baptist High School in Belmopan, Belize as well as various mission opportunities for university students and local churches. He said CU is "uniquely situated" to offer online and face-to-face theological training for local pastors throughout the country. "Belize provides an unique opportunity for Campbellsville University faculty, staff and students in that the location is not only set in a beautiful tropical region of Central America, but it is also a English speaking country," he said. Vincente said Frazier made him "feel at home and part of the university family" during his visit. He said Elaine Tan, international activities assistant, made them feel "extra special," and the staff at the university displayed their "love and appreciation for cultural diversity – something a university should always embrace." He said CU's professors are humble and "willing to meet with a leader from another country to share their experience and desires to serve the less fortunate. "The churches' participation in the life and activities of the university is one that is unmatched." Campellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu. ********** Pastor's wife pens autobiography of 'Green Acres' life By Carolyn Nichols/Florida Baptist Witness DESTIN, Fla. (Florida Baptist Witness) -- Sally Rideout Smith, a pastor's wife who lived in Florida 16 years, recently penned her autobiography, My Green Acres. The title of the work is a nod to the 1960's TV show that Smith says resembles her life story. In the sitcom that ran on CBS 1965-1971, Oliver and Lisa Douglas, played by Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor, move from New York City to a country farm in the south. Oliver, an attorney, had longed dreamed of being a country farmer, but his farming skills were lacking. He relied on his farm hand, Eb Dawson, played by Tom Lester, who referred to the Douglases as "Mom and Dad." Tom Lester joined Sally Smith for a book signing in Laurel, Miss. in April, after the release of My Green Acres. Sharber Smith served as pastor of nearby Shady Grove Baptist Church in Heidelberg, Miss., for 10 years. Smith, Mrs. Vermont in the Mrs. America Pageant in 1978, has worked as a ventriloquist since 1972. Her husband, Sharber, is a Southern-born rodeo clown and ventriloquist. The two met at a convention for Gospel magicians in the Midwest, and they have spent most of their 35 years of marriage in the rural South. In her autobiography Sally Smith writes of her experiences as a northerner learning Southern ways. "I introduced them to escargot, and they introduced me to catfish," she wrote. The book also contains anecdotes of the couple's ministry in Gospel illusions, chalk talks, character portrayals and ventriloquism. They have travelled the nation as "Creative Ministries Visual Evangelism," and in countless performances Smith has used her doll, Speckles, to tell audiences about the Body of Christ, and how using Body parts properly is essential to the Church. Sharber Smith was pastor of Rosemont Baptist Church in Niceville 1994-2010, and Sally Smith taught Adult Sunday School and Discipleship Training, and sang in the choir. She and her daughter, Ginger, owned and operated Slendersmith Day Spa in Destin, which her daughter still manages. The Smiths frequently performed in churches and other venues in the Panhandle. The couple has three children and eight grandchildren. The Smiths live now in Theodore, Ala., where he is pastor of San Souci Baptist Church in Bayou La Batre. They remain active in their creative ministries. For more information on My Green Acres, go to www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com. --30--