The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-09/07/2017 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Baptist camp welcomes treatment facilities' residents by Jane Rodgers & JC Davies/Southern Baptist TEXAN Date: September 07, 2017 - Thursday LATHAM SPRINGS, Texas (BP) -- When Hurricane Harvey forced two residential treatment facilities for adolescents and young adults to flee the Houston area, a Baptist camp became their temporary home. Pam Reed, executive director of nonprofit Devereux Texas, called Latham Springs Camp and Conference Center, located 25 miles northwest of Waco, since, after all, it had twice provided shelter during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Ike in 2008. "In 2005, preparing for the evacuation [for Katrina], we reached out to camps all around Texas, and Latham Springs said, 'We're here for you.' We made contact with them and immediately became fast friends," Reed said. As Harvey threatened, Reed again turned to Latham Springs for help. "This is a camp we are very familiar with. We love the people. We love the environment," Reed said. "The kids are really having a good time. It's very peaceful, and there are lots of fun activities: nature walks, 'human foosball.' It feels like camp," she said. "And when you are in a crisis or disaster mode and you can come to a place like this, you get relaxed very quickly and the kids calm down. They get their basic needs met and they start to feel like kids, and they have fun." Reed and the Devereux Texas staff brought more than 200 children and intellectually and developmentally delayed (IDD) adults from facilities in League City and Victoria, accompanied by more than 125 staff members, including teachers and medical personnel. Once they arrived on site, various needs quickly became apparent. "Mike [Wilson], the camp director said, 'What do you need? How can we help? He put people in action, contacted the sheriff and reached out to [Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Disaster Relief]," Reed recounted. Reed also praised the surrounding community's generosity for providing donations, describing the circumstances as a valuable "life lesson" for the children and youth to look beyond themselves. "It's a wonderful experience for our kids to see all these people whom they have no connection to coming here to help," Reed said, calling the "concept of volunteering" a bit confusing for some kids who wondered why strangers would offer assistance. "Maybe someday they'll have the chance to do what's being done for them today," she said. Reed said their date of departure from Latham Springs is "a bit of a question" while repairs are being made to their Houston-area facilities. Wilson took note of disaster relief volunteers from the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention on site and their selfless efforts. "Watching the way God's folks step up, what a testimony it's been to these people," Wilson said. "They will come to the office and ask for this or that, and often while they are still in the office, the need is met as someone drives through the gate." Meanwhile, an SBTC DR laundry trailer from Lake Athens Baptist Church began operating over the Labor Day weekend in the recreational vehicle section of the 400-acre camp, apart from the main cabins, lodges and dining facilities. Inside the trailer, with dryers humming, DR volunteers Danny Partridge and Jerry Hamilton from the church said they expected to continue washing, drying, folding and bagging nearly 50 loads of laundry each day. Lake Athens pastor Mike Curry and his wife Pam staffed the unit during the first part of the weekend. The trailer shell was made available to Lake Athens by the North American Mission Board and the SBTC, Partridge said, explaining that church members wired and finished the inside, adding four stackable washing machine/dryer units and otherwise outfitting it, paying for the improvements with donations. The trailer also features three showers, including one that is ADA compliant. Lake Athens' deployment marks the "maiden voyage" of the church's laundry trailer, SBTC DR director Scottie Stice said. The work continues Throughout southeast Texas, disaster relief operations continue in numerous locations throughout the hard-hit region. In Rockport, where Harvey's onslaught crippled electricity and water services, SBTC DR teams moved into the parking lots of Coastal Oaks Baptist Church, with its facilities being used for distributing food, water, clothing, baby items and pet supplies to those in need. "We served 75 families yesterday [Aug. 31] and three times that many before lunch today [Sept. 1]," said Andrew Barlow, Coastal Oaks associate minister, whose own home suffered extensive damage from uprooted trees. "As the need became evident for a distribution center here in Rockport, we had to make the call. You either use it or you don't. We decided to use it. We are staying at capacity. As donations are going out, more are coming in," Barlow said. Coastal Oaks escaped severe structural damage from the storm. Brick facades on the church gym were shorn off the building and trees were uprooted by violent winds that made the region resemble one ravaged by a tornado. Mike Phillips, fresh from a DR mud-out deployment to Illinois, brought a chainsaw team from First Baptist Church in Bellville and was joined by volunteers from Del Rio, Borger, Pflugerville and Wimberley. "We had a week and one day [between disasters]," Phillips said, his voice raised over the buzz of chainsaws as his 12-man crew sliced through trees threatening a home, the first of three work orders scheduled on the block. Assembling a chainsaw crew for Rockport was easy because many people were "ready to come down," Phillips said. "Our focus is to help families where there is what we call a priority one situation, where we need to get trees off the house and the situation is dangerous," he explained, gesturing to uprooted trees in the home's side yard that would be left alone because they posed no threat. Around the corner, Sharon Sanders, who attends Coastal Oaks, surveyed the ruins of her trailer and waited for an adjuster. "I'm tough," Sanders said. "I have ridden them all out except one in the 1960s when I got stuck on the highway." Although she sheltered from the storm nearby, she was back to pick up the pieces. Back at Coastal Oaks, DR volunteer Debby Nichols said she had committed to a month-long deployment and was in charge of a unit from Texarkana tasked with feeding the 35 SBTC DR volunteers on site. "This is my first deployment without electricity and water, which makes it a bit difficult to cook," Nichols said as generators hummed behind her. "It's hard to stay cool at night, too. But it's all right. I have a home to go home to [in Texarkana]," she said. George Yarger, SBTC DR logistics officer and head of communications, arrived in Rockport with men from his home near Mabank, bringing the SBTC's DR communications trailer, equipped with ham radio equipment, satellite potential and computers. This deployment, Yarger said, is different in terms of communications, with unreliable internet and no power. "Whatever we can get on our cell phones," he said, "is the only data we have. "One of our main jobs is to make sure each crew on the field has a clear line of communication in case emergency services are necessary," Yarger said. "Mosquitos became a problem today. The hurricane seemed to have blown them away," he added. "Unbelievable bugs" have returned, but: "We found if we turned the lights off, it was not a problem. I was having to type around the bugs." Chainsaw crews also mentioned swatting mosquitoes. Yarger said the deployment had been smooth so far in terms of logistics and the moving of equipment, despite the lack of electricity. "I'm responsible for basically anything that doesn't have a soul," he said of his role as logistics officer. "Equipment makes the work happen, but ... we are here because the work allows us to share the love of Jesus Christ with people." Yarger said he loves it when people ask, "You mean there's no charge for this?" He said he answers, "Of course there's a charge for this, but it was paid for with the blood of Jesus Christ. We have come here to share that." "There's always someone who needs the touch of Christ," Yarger said. Chaplains Brenda and John Fuller of Grand Saline had such an appointment on Aug. 31 when a middle-aged man named Carter prayed to receive Christ when the Fullers were assessing his house for damages. "As far as the work in the Texas Gulf Coast goes, Yarger said, DR crews are "going to do big jobs for a long, long time." In Houston, on the future site of Bayou City Fellowship's new sanctuary, a metal building has been turned into a makeshift headquarters for disaster relief. Cases of water, cleaning supplies and food sit stacked several feet high as volunteers scurry to organize donations that keep pouring in. Across the room, church members work long hours in dispatching demolition crews to homes where floodwater from Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc. "The great thing about Houston is Houston is a working people, and our church is a working church," said Curtis Jones, Bayou City's pastor. Even while the storm was dumping heavy rains on huge swaths of Houston, Jones said the church rallied to meet needs. Men from the congregation went out in boats to rescue individuals and families trapped in their houses, and the church set up a disaster relief page on its website to start accepting donations and mobilizing volunteers. "I think this moment is the point of all those sermons for all these years. When our neighbor needed us most, we showed up and turned up in Jesus' name," Jones said. Like Bayou City, Champion Forest Baptist Church has utilized its facilities to collect supplies and, as of Sept. 2, the church had sent more than 1,000 volunteers out into the city for cleanup. "This is an opportunity to be the Gospel, to offer something with no expectation of anything in return, just truly giving and loving," said Jeff Skipper, Champion Forest's mobilization pastor. Outside of Houston, churches from throughout the state and nation have also extended a helping hand. Regardless of church size, Bayou City's Jones said there is plenty of opportunity for everyone to take part in relief efforts. "Every church, no matter what the size has men and women who can do sheetrock and who can do plumbing, and we're going to need all those things," the pastor said. "We're going to need all those little churches who can send us teams of 10 and 20 people for the next six months, at least." Although the process of restoring the city is likely to take years, Jones is hopeful that it will lead to a transformed Houston, and most importantly, to transformed lives. "Houston has been plunged beneath the waters, and I'm hoping that God will raise it up to newness of life. That's only something He can do. We can rip out sheetrock, but only God can transform a life, and definitely only God can transform a city." Get up-to-date information, find opportunities to volunteer, and give online at sbtexas.com/harvey. -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: Flood relief in Jesus' name by Diana Davis Date: September 07, 2017 - Thursday PENSACOLA, Fla. (BP) -- We all watched on television and social media, aghast, as Hurricane Harvey and its floods devastated much of south Texas and adjacent parts of Louisiana. Praise God that His people and His churches have shown His love in amazing ways -- heroic rescues; provision of food, water, shelter and clothing; helping and hugging; and compassionate chaplaincy. Enormous help with recovery, however, will continue long-term, especially in view of Hurricane Irma's potential devastation as it barrels toward the southeast U.S. Here's an important question: As you send, pray, give or go to help, how can you assure that victims know you represent the Lord Jesus Himself? As Colossians 3:17 instructs, "Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus...." Here are five ideas for getting involved along with simple tips for doing them in Jesus' name accompanied by a word from Scripture. Make a donation. Be certain your financial contribution is given in Jesus' name. Our Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is the nation's third-largest disaster relief organization. Our Cooperative Program funds it, and in elevated crisis situations additional funding is desperately needed. Be sure that it underwrites more than good deeds but, rather, hands-on Christian witness in Jesus' name. You can donate through your church, state convention or the North American Mission Board. 1 Timothy 6:18: "Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others." Pray continuously. Pray for grieving, injured, homeless, weary survivors. Pray for government officials and policemen, firemen and city workers, for teachers, for the elderly and children. Pray they'll know God's love. Pray for pastors and churches and for disaster relief teams and volunteers as they represent our Lord. Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." Go and send others. Thousands more Southern Baptists will be needed for disaster relief and recovery in the coming months and years. They will go in the name of Jesus. Whom will your church send? Sign up individuals or teams to volunteer and train through the SBC's www.NAMB.net or your state Baptist convention. The work is hard; the needs are overwhelming. Crews will feed people, chainsaw downed trees, do mud-outs, tarp roofs. DR volunteers will do cleanup, administrative tasks, temporary childcare and chaplaincy. They will show God's love to a crying child, a discouraged stranger, a hurting church. They'll freely share a smile, a hug, a listening ear, a prayer. Often they will say, "God loves you" and "I'm praying for you" as they engage in Gospel conversations in Jesus' name. Before volunteers leave your church, offer a special commissioning prayer. Hebrews 13:16: "And don't forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God." Send additional resources. If your church, Baptist association or state convention is shipping needed items, add a witness. For example, write "Jesus loves me" on a shovel handle that may be used by a flood survivor. Put a Christian sticker on every peanut butter jar or a Scripture in each box of diapers. Texas churches and others can consider preparing relief buckets (visit sbtexas.com/harvey and click on "Buckets for Harvey") and add a personal note inside each bucket. Isaiah 58:10: "Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon." Help another congregation. A church or small group could select a specific church in one of the affected areas to help directly. Contact your state Baptist convention for a recommendation or contact a pastor directly, then sacrificially assist with their needs. Galatians 6:10: "Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone -- especially to those in the family of faith." What a historic opportunity to minister to others in the name of Jesus. Good deeds are good; but good deeds done in His name can truly impact eternity. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Man finds renewal after prison for church burnings by Grace Thornton/The Alabama Baptist Date: September 07, 2017 - Thursday BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) -- Ben Moseley is a little older, the creases in his face a little deeper since he and two of his buddies set fire to some Baptist churches in Alabama on a night of binge drinking 11 years ago. He watched 10 birthdays pass while he was behind bars. He woke up every morning of his 20s shaking off the emotions of dreams where everything was normal -- life before the day he flicked that lighter. The things he'd done, the things he'd lost and the things he'd taken from others were always in the back of his mind. "I was told that my life was over, that I had no hope, no dreams or ambitions," he said. "My slow death had begun." And from the outside looking in, that might've looked pretty true. Spinning out of control Moseley was a freshman at Birmingham-Southern College majoring in music and theater the night that police rushed into his dorm room and ended his youth with some very adult consequences. "Music was my dream," he said. "I loved it." But that dream would be put on hold down a country road in Bibb County in the early morning hours of Feb. 3, 2006, drunk and spotlighting deer with two friends. "It was at the end of our winter term at school and we had free time on our hands," Moseley said. "We were hunting, ran out of bullets and were just looking for the next thing to do." That next thing, he said, was stupid and thoughtless and haunted him for every single day of the nine years, two months and two weeks he sat in prison. He and his friends set fire to five churches -- Rehobeth Baptist Church, Lawley; Ashby Baptist Church, Brierfield; and Pleasant Sabine Baptist Church, Centreville, which were all destroyed; and Antioch Baptist Church, Centreville, and Old Union Baptist Church, Randolph, which suffered damage. A few days later, when the reality of what they'd done set in, Moseley and one of his friends set fire to four more churches in west Alabama in "an exceedingly foolish double dare." Things had spun out of control. Officials traced tire tracks at the churches back to the SUV they were driving, and the next thing Moseley knew, police officers were in his dorm room. "What we did was horrible. It's always in the back of my mind," Moseley said. "We had no hatred at all in what we did -- it was thoughtless and stupid. And I always had the questions in my mind -- how many people were victimized? How would I feel if I were in their place, or if someone else had come through town and done something like that on a whim? I was in and out in a night, and I never saw the aftermath. I never saw the people I'd hurt." But pastor Jeff Greer did. He saw those people. Greer, who was on staff at Mountain Brook Baptist Church, Birmingham, in 2006, reached out to First Baptist Church, Dancy, in Aliceville, one of the churches with fire damage from the second round of burnings. "We wanted to help them, to bring a team to repaint, rebuild, do whatever we could to help," Greer said. So Mountain Brook Baptist brought those teams. They picked up the congregation's mortgage for the rest of the year. They took a piano to the church and celebrated with them when they reopened their renovated building. And they watched them start to heal. "We were just like everybody else helping those churches at the time -- we didn't know who did it or the circumstances behind it," Greer said. "We simply wanted to help out a fellow church that needed help from some folks." So they helped the church get back on its feet, and then they moved on. A second chance That was where Greer's story with Moseley started, even though neither of them knew it -- it was just that the next chapter took a decade to happen. "Several years after serving with Mountain Brook Baptist, I moved over to become pastor of Riverchase Baptist Church," Greer said. "And last year, when Ben got out of prison, one of his friends asked me if it would be OK if he came to our church." Greer said of course it would. And in his heart, he wondered what God was up to. "I couldn't believe it, that 10 years later I might get the opportunity to be a part of this young man's life," Greer said. "I knew it was something God was doing." So he told Moseley's friend to tell him he'd be welcome, with open arms and with no judgment. "I told him I'm glad that Ben wants to continue to invest in his spiritual life and walk with the Lord," Greer said. "He needed a second chance." When Moseley was sentenced in April 2007, U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor told him and his two friends that they had harmed a lot of people. But, he said, with God's grace, they had the "opportunity to do good still." Moseley took that idea to heart. When he got to prison, "there was that anxious well of emotion that resulted from reliving the disappointment in myself, the gut-wrenching extraction that was done from a life of seeming luxury, from college to having nothing," he said. But Moseley didn't want to handle it by sinking lower in his pain. "I chose to spend my time doing things that would prepare me for when I got out," he said. He built some positive relationships. While in federal prison in California, he taught himself Spanish and practiced it with his cellmates and an older man he played Scrabble with. "I was the weird guy who daydreamed about having a mortgage, who stayed in my cell and away from trouble, who wondered if I'd ever have a wife or children," Moseley said. "I gave my energy to those positive things, to trying to learn and live God's standard for my life, to get ready for the person I might become one day." With his love of music, he set out to learn what he called "The Prison 500," a list of 500 songs he wanted to be able to play by memory on the guitar. He learned 326. A voracious reader, he devoured books on all kinds of topics -- history, linguistics and "anything biblical," he said. But that didn't stop him from thinking about what he'd lost. "For almost a decade, I sat hopelessly waiting," Moseley said. "I watched the world rush headlong into the future without me. I cringed knowing my past had led me straight down the road to ruin, where concrete and razor wire undoubtedly haunted my dreams." But when he walked out of prison May 20, 2015, he was offered a fresh start, full of grace. "Just to get to have another day, or to be at home for Thanksgiving or Christmas -- you can imagine the emotions," Moseley said. "There's progress. My family is there to support me." He's got a job with good benefits -- he said he sees that as a gift. He started a band. He also married his childhood friend Heather and they welcomed their first child Aug. 8 -- a baby boy. Desire to grow After welcoming Mosely into Riverchase Baptist Church in Birmingham, Greer noted he is "impressed with Ben's faith and his walk and his desire to continue to grow as a Christian." "We've been able to reach out to him and offer him a church home and offer him the pastoral care and leadership that he was kind of wondering about as he came out of prison," Greer said. Moseley said he knows people know his backstory -- he just assumes everyone does. "But I'm here just to say you can be redeemed. I feel like I am on that road to redemption," he said. "It happens in the trenches from the bottom up. I'm not on any kind of pedestal to go and tell people to do the right thing. But I hope that people one day can look at me and say, 'That guy, he got it wrong, and now he's got it right.'" -------------------------------------------------------------------- Conflicting rulings on prayer may open door to SCOTUS by Diana Chandler Date: September 07, 2017 - Thursday CINCINNATI, Ohio (BP) -- Two conflicting 2017 court rulings in cases challenging public prayer at government meetings increase the chance of a U.S. Supreme Court hearing on the issue, religious liberty advocate Ken Klukowski said today (Sept. 7). The Board of Commissioners in Jackson County, Mich., may legally open its meetings with sectarian prayers, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit said Sept. 6. The decision is contrary to a July 14 ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which said the Rowan County (North Carolina) Board of Commissioners' similar practice was "unconstitutionally coercive." Klukowski, senior counsel at First Liberty Institute representing both boards, said the split creates the precise climate to encourage the Supreme Court to hear an appeal of the ruling in the Fourth Circuit against Rowan County. "The Fourth Circuit decision was 10-to-5 against prayer, and the Sixth Circuit decision was 9-to-6 in favor of prayer," Klukowski told Baptist Press today (Sept. 7). "So that makes (14) federal appeals judges who say this is permitted by the establishment clause of the Constitution, and (16) federal appeals judges who say no it's not. That is the perfect example of the type of case where the justices of the Supreme Court say we really need to take this and establish a nationwide rule of law on the issue." Rowan County plans to decide in late September whether to appeal the decision, Klukowski said. "If Rowan County chooses to seek review, that really makes this a top-tier candidate for the Supreme Court to take to make a national decision," he said. "Regardless of which way that goes, we're grateful for the victory in the Sixth Circuit, and believe that we would have a good chance, or that we would be optimistic of our chances of a victory for Rowan County, if the Supreme Court were to take the case." First Liberty President and CEO Kelly Shackelford also expressed optimism after the favorable ruling for Jackson County, Mich. "Now we have two ... courts -- which covers numerous states across the United States -- disagreeing about this important tradition really that goes back hundreds of years in our country," Shackelford said in a video First Liberty released Sept. 6. "The experts say that the odds are very, very high that this case is now going to be on its way to the Supreme Court, and this is great momentum to get there." In Jackson County, individual commissioners offer invocations on a rotating basis and are free to act according to their own consciences by delivering either an invocation or offering a moment of silence, First Liberty said. In 2013 a plaintiff sued, alleging that the invocations violated the U.S. Constitution's Establishment Clause. Jackson County won the case at its first hearing, but lost on the plaintiff's appeal, according to a case summary at firstliberty.org. The county won its subsequent appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court, which heard the case June 14. Regarding Rowan County, the question before the court was whether the commissioners' practice of inviting the audience to join them in sectarian prayer was coercive. The American Civil Liberties Union challenged the practice in court and won. Previous courts have found such prayers to be constitutional, First Liberty said. In the 1983 case of Marsh vs. Chambers, and Town of Greece vs. Galloway in 2014, "the Supreme Court found invocations before government meetings to be fully consistent with the Constitution and an important part of America's history and heritage," First Liberty said in its release. -------------------------------------------------------------------- GOP urged to keep promise to defund PPFA by Tom Strode Date: September 07, 2017 - Thursday WASHINGTON (BP) -- Southern Baptist ethicist Russell Moore has joined other pro-life leaders in telling congressional Republicans it is "well past time to deliver" on their promise to defund Planned Parenthood. The Sept. 5 letter -- sent to all the GOP members of Congress -- urges them to adopt legislation that would remove most of the federal funding received by Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its affiliates, which perform more than one-third of the abortions in the United States. The country's leading abortion provider has received more than $550 million annually in government grants and reimbursements in recent years. “Planned Parenthood is not and has never been a ‘health-care’ organization,” said Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), adding it is “a storefront that preys upon women in crisis, exploits families and devalues human life. “It is well past time for Congress to hold Planned Parenthood accountable,” Moore told Baptist Press in written comments, “and to care for women and children by directing taxpayer dollars toward community health centers that protect women and children, not prey upon them.” Mallory Quigley -- communications director for the Susan B. Anthony (SBA) List, which organized the effort -- told BP in a written statement, "Defunding Planned Parenthood is a unifying issue for Republicans; meanwhile, Democrats are in the midst of an internal debate after their pro-abortion extremism cost them during the last two election cycles. Now is not the time for pro-life Republicans to give up. They must deliver. "Taxpayers should have no part in the abortion business, and women and families would be better served by the holistic primary and preventative health-care centers that already outnumber Planned Parenthood by more than 20 to 1 nationwide," Quigley said. In the letter, SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser, Moore and others remind Republicans of their promise to Americans to defund Planned Parenthood and of President Trump's commitment to sign such a proposal. Eight months after Trump's inauguration, the GOP-controlled Congress still has failed to do so, they say. "The pro-life majority that now controls both chambers of Congress and the White House must pass a reconciliation bill stopping the vast majority of federal funding for Planned Parenthood," the letter says. "Doing anything less brings into question whether this Congress can truly be called the Pro-life Congress. Rhetoric must be translated into law." The reconciliation process enables the Senate to approve a budget-related measure with a simple majority rather than the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster. In the last congressional session, both the Senate and House approved legislation to cut funding for Planned Parenthood by about 90 percent and direct it to federally qualified health centers that do not perform abortions. President Obama vetoed the measure, however. The Senate fell short of even a simple majority in a July vote seeking what became known as a "skinny repeal" of the 2010 health-care law. The failed Senate proposal would have cut funding for Planned Parenthood for a year. In their letter, Dannenfelser, Moore and the other signers say it is up to Congress to decide whether the reconciliation bill is a broad package or a narrow measure, "but giving up is not why the voters sent pro-life Republicans to Congress." In addition to Dannenfelser and Moore, others signing the letter were Tony Perkins, president, Family Research Council; Catherine Glenn Foster, president, Americans United for Life; Penny Young Nance, president, Concerned Women for America; Jeanne Mancini, president, March for Life Education and Defense Fund; Kristan Hawkins, president, Students for Life; Lila Rose, president, Live Action; Gary Bauer, president, American Values; and Paul Weber, president, Family Policy Alliance. Planned Parenthood's 2015-16 annual report, released this May, showed its affiliates performed 328,348 abortions for the year, an increase of about 4,300 of the lethal procedures from the previous year. While its number of abortions increased, Planned Parenthood reported a sizable decline in such services as prenatal care and breast exams. The non-profit continued to prosper financially, reaching $1.4 billion in total revenue. During the year ending June 30, 2016, PPFA and its affiliates received $554.6 million in grants and reimbursements from the federal and other levels of government. That was an increase of about $900,000 from the previous year. The ERLC is conducting an online advertising campaign to rally support for federal defunding of the organization. Messengers to June's SBC meeting in Phoenix adopted a resolution calling for defunding of Planned Parenthood at all levels of government and denouncing the organization's "immoral agenda and practices." Backing for the defunding effort in Congress has grown in response to the latest scandal to mar Planned Parenthood's reputation. A series of undercover videos first released in 2015 appeared to provide evidence Planned Parenthood was trading in body parts from aborted babies. Other undercover investigations by pro-life organizations in the last several years have shown Planned Parenthood employees allegedly demonstrating a willingness to aid self-professed sex traffickers whose prostitutes supposedly were in their early teens, seeking to conceal alleged child sex abuse and agreeing to receive donations designated for abortions of African-American babies. Planned Parenthood, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, came into existence when eugenicist Margaret Sanger opened a Brooklyn birth control clinic in 1916. It took the lead in the abortion business in this country when a New York affiliate began performing the procedures in 1970. New York legalized abortion that year, three years before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all state bans on the procedure. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Bible Study: Sept. 10, 2017 by Staff/LifeWay Christian Resources Date: September 07, 2017 - Thursday NASHVILLE (BP) -- This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups. This week's Bible study is adapted from the Bible Studies For Life curriculum. Bible Passage: Mark 9:17-29 Discussion Questions: What do you typically do when you feel afraid? What have you been taught about demons and demon possession? What evidence do you see of demonic activity in today's world? Food for Thought: Author and professor Jeremiah Johnston's father, an evangelist, was interrupted one night during his preaching by a couple, all dressed in black, praying out loud to Satan. They were reciting the Lord's Prayer -- backwards. It didn't stop there. Johnston learned Satanists had been sending letters decorated with pentagrams to churches where his dad was preaching. His father also learned the Satanists were putting hexes on his family. Johnston was afraid -- but his dad wasn't. When asked about it, his father said, "Son, truthfully I was afraid at first. But Jesus is greater than any spiritual power, and He said He has given us all authority in Him to defeat the enemy." That answer brought Johnston peace because it proved to be true. When Jesus and the three disciples who were Jesus' inner circle (Peter, James and John) came down from the mountain after the transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13), and rejoined the other disciples, a crowd had gathered because a father had brought his son to them. An evil spirit clearly had control of the boy. The terrified father described how the spirit often would seize his son, make him unable to speak, throw him into fire and water, make him foam at the mouth and grind his teeth, and cause convulsions and seizures. It was obvious an evil spirit was at work to cause such physical maladies and self-destructive behavior. Jesus had other encounters with people controlled by demons. Surprisingly, the Gospel accounts do not separate the actions of the person from those of the demons. To be sure, we see in Scripture that demons are real and cunning, and can cause confusion and bring physical and emotional harm. It's easy for many of us to relate to the father in this encounter since we also have felt defeated by the enemy and bewildered about what to do. In the quicksand of our experiences, we turn to Jesus. That's what this father did. His faith may have been pretty wimpy, but at least he was looking in the right direction. "If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." Perhaps Jesus smiled as He repeated that phrase back to the father: "If you can"? Think about what you just said. Of course I can! Jesus didn't criticize the man, but he did want the father to realize he had no reason for weak faith. Then the Lord uttered one of the most powerful sentences in the New Testament: "Everything is possible for the one who believes." Our only escape from spiritual attack is through faith in a God who can do everything possible to come to our aid. Bible Studies for Life Bible Studies for Life connects the Bible to life for adults, students, and kids. Bible Studies for Life helps individuals and groups know God's Word through trustworthy content, creates biblical community through engaging and conversational group studies, and helps people engage the culture missionally by unpacking what the Bible says about real-life issues. More information can be found on the Internet at www.biblestudiesforlife.com. Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool or ordered at LifeWay Christian Stores. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Seminary Reformation tours leave pastors inspired by David Roach Date: September 07, 2017 - Thursday EDITOR'S NOTE: This year, Baptist Press is publishing a series of stories leading up to the 500th anniversary of when Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses to the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany, Oct. 31, 1517. WITTENBERG, Germany (BP) -- Renewed commitments to expository preaching and teaching theology were among pastors' takeaways this summer from Reformation tours of Europe led by Southern Baptist Convention seminaries. "After going and seeing the tour of Martin Luther [sites] -- all that went into his life, the risks he took -- why would you ever do anything other than preach the Bible?" said Clint Pressley, a North Carolina pastor who participated in Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's Land of Luther Study Tour in Germany Aug. 14-21. Fellow North Carolina pastor Marty Jacumin said his excitement was stoked to train younger ministers when he visited Luther's study in Wittenberg, Germany, during Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary's June 16-26 Reformation Study Tour. "In the study of [Luther's chief assistant Philip] Melanchthon and the study of Luther, you see their desks," Jacumin, pastor of Bay Leaf Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., told Baptist Press. "And you see the chairs around the room where students would have sat ... That just fires me up to think about the conversations that would have gone on in those rooms." New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary each will lead Reformation study tours in the spring. Southern's study tour, co-led by Florida-based Ligonier Ministries, took participants to such Reformation sites as Wittenberg (where Luther posted his 95 Theses), Eisenach (where Luther took refuge in the Wartburg Castle as he fled from the pope) and Worms (where Luther replied when asked to recant his writings, "Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me"). Among the trip's featured speakers was Southern Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. Pressley, pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C., and a Southern Seminary trustee, told BP he was inspired to see Wittenberg's City Church, where Luther preached "thousands of times ... with remarkable faithfulness." "Over the course of time, God used that," Pressley said. "We can only pray that the Lord would use that in our own churches because that's what has the impact -- God's Word speaking through someone who is faithful." Jacumin, chair of Southeastern's board of trustees and an adjunct professor, helped lead the June Reformation tour along with Southeastern President Daniel Akin and Southeastern professors Stephen Eccher, Scott Hildreth and Dwayne Milioni. Wittenberg, Worms and Zurich, Switzerland -- where Anabaptists were drowned for their faith -- were among the tour's highlights, Jacumin said. "The takeaway was the amazing history," Jacumin said. Yet he also appreciated the tour's inclusion of a concentration camp, where 20th-century Nazis drew inspiration from some of Luther's anti-Semitic writings, and mention of Luther's tendency as an older man not to let other believers "speak into his life anymore." "Luther was used in an incredible way," Jacumin said. "But with all our heroes, we've got to understand they were men of flesh, and there are things in their lives that reveal that." New Orleans Seminary church history professor Lloyd Harsch, who will lead the seminary's May 23-June 2 Reformation tour, told BP that Reformation tours help believers understand "the context in which" their faith "developed." "Seeing that Martin Luther shook Western Christianity from the tiny village of Wittenberg gives hope to pastors serving in small towns that their ministry can have an impact far beyond the borders of the town," Harsch said in written comments. "Standing in the room where John Calvin and John Knox taught the next generation of church leaders reminds us of the importance and value of discipleship and theological education. "The simple plaque along the Limmat River in Zurich marking the location of the first executions of Anabaptists and worshiping in the remote cave where they later met in secret makes vivid the price those who have gone before us paid for following their understanding of Scripture," he said. "Just under 500 years ago, revival fires were kindled that would sweep across Europe, and beyond," Harsch noted. "Reformation tours allow participants to see where the tinder was gathered, why the match was lit and how the fire spread." -------------------------------------------------------------------- La Petición 9/11 desea que haya anualmente oración, ayuno, arrepentimiento by Por Diana Chandler Date: September 07, 2017 - Thursday PITTSBURG, Penn. (BP) -- El grupo cristiano interdenominacional "In God We Trust" ha recaudado más de 97,000 firmas para pedir al presidente Donald Trump que declare el 11 de septiembre como un día nacional de oración, ayuno y arrepentimiento. Con base el II de Crónicas 7:14, la iniciativa desea "redimir el día" del 11 de septiembre del 2001 de la maldad que cobró la vida de casi 3,000 personas, y reenfocarlo en la confianza en Dios, dijo Don Black, fundador del ministerio "In God We Trust," -- que cumple dos años -- y es el líder de la iniciativa. "Con la creciente amenaza del terror a nivel nacional y por todo el mundo, este es el tiempo para que los cristianos actúen," dijo Black, quien también es el presidente y director ejecutivo de Cornerstone Television Network (CTVN). "Debemos reclamar nuestra nación y regresar a su intención original. Si perdemos esta oportunidad, quizás se irá para siempre." Los bautistas del sur que apoyan este esfuerzo incluyen al ex gobernador de Arkansas Mike Huckabee; Richard Lee, presidente de There's Hope America y el uno de los presidentes anteriores de la Conferencia para Pastores de la Convención Bautista del Sur; Robert Jeffress, pastor de First Baptist Church en Dallas; David Jeremiah, pastor de Shadow Mountain Community Church en El Cajón, Calif.; y Kay Arthur, fundadora y presidenta de Precept Ministries International. La petición vía internet propuesta por este grupo recibió 97,000 firmas hasta el 30 de agosto, dijo Black. Un grupo pequeño está trabajando para que la petición llegue hasta el escritorio de Trump, señaló. Huckabee, en un video promocional que aparece en la página de Facebook de In God We Trust, anima a los cristianos a apoyar el esfuerzo y firmar la petición, disponible en InGodWeTrust.tv. "Espero que se unan a mí en oración para que el 11 de septiembre, toda nuestra nación se una pidiendo a Dios Su intervención en este país," dijo Huckabee. "Y oremos que el presidente, el Presidente Trump, se nos una en ese esfuerzo." Huckabee y Arthur conversan sobre la iniciativa en un video de 30 minutos que está disponible en InGodWeTrust.tv/watch, y en varios horarios en más de 10 estaciones de televisión que apoyan el esfuerzo, dijo Black. La cantante y actriz Jaci Velasquez es la anfitriona. In God We Trust marcará el 11 de septiembre con cuatro programas transmitidos en vivo vía internet, enfocados en la oración y la alabanza, y que estarán al aire en CTVN, CTVN.org, InGodWeTrust.tv, y Facebook Live. También habrá una línea pública nacional de teléfono, dijo Black. La inclusión del ayuno es lo que hace diferente este esfuerzo comparado con las iniciativas previas relacionadas con el 11 de septiembre y con el Día Nacional de Oración que se celebra anualmente en mayo, dijo Black. Describió el ayuno como el combustible que "turbo carga la oración," haciendo referencia a la declaración de Jesús en Marcos 9:29 "Este género con nada puede salir, sino con oración y ayuno." Black expresó tener confianza en que todos los llamados a la oración dirigidos a los cristianos pueden funcionar juntos, por el bien del país. "Este no es un esfuerzo preventivo dirigido a cualquier otro esfuerzo de oración," dijo. "Lo que estamos haciendo es reunir a un grupo para tener oración unida y enfocada. Y otros también pueden estar haciéndolo, y eso me anima." "Vamos a hacerlo todos," dijo Black. "Que cada una de las iglesias, cada una de las denominaciones, cada una de las organizaciones de apoyo a la iglesia, cada uno de los cristianos individuales se postren de rodillas en 11 de septiembre y le pidamos al Señor Dios que sane nuestra tierra." Ningún presidente de los Estados Unidos ha lanzado un llamado a la oración, el ayuno y el arrepentimiento para toda la nación desde que Woodrow Wilson lo hiciera durante la Primera Guerra Mundial en 1918. "Él no era conocido por ser el hombre más espiritual del mundo, Woodrow Wilson," dijo Black. "pero vio la necesidad e hizo la proclamación." La petición para Trump declara, "Con su liderazgo, nos uniremos y nos humillaremos ante la Benevolente Mano de Dios, y pediremos que mantenga a salvo a nuestra nación, los Estados Unidos de América, a sus líderes, ciudadanos, fuerzas armadas y servicios de emergencia, de los ataques de los enemigos radicales en el extranjero, así como de las ideologías domésticas que están dedicadas a nuestra destrucción." Aunque la petición específicamente pide que se observe nacionalmente en el 2017, Black dijo a BP que su deseo es que se observe anualmente. "Le he pedido que puede proclamarlo como un día anual de oración, ayuno y arrepentimiento, pero eso sería … la decisión del presidente," dijo Black. "Si no lo hace, estamos agradecidos con que [casi] 100,000 personas han levantado su mano diciendo que están de acuerdo." Además de CTVN, otras 11 redes emisoras cristianas y una multitud de líderes denominacionales están apoyando la petición, dijo Black, incluyendo a Daystar, WBPI-TV 49, CTN, SON, LFTV y TCT. Entre sus partidarios están Samuel Rodríguez, presidente de National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference; Perry Stone, líder de Voice of Evangelism Ministries; y Alveda King, directora de Civil Rights for the Unborn en Priests for Life. También apoyan la propuesta el Rabí Daniel Lapin, un rabí judío ortodoxo conocido por apoyar las causas judeo-cristianas. -------------------------------------------------------------------- PC Nacional 4.2% arriba de proyección HLF by Por el personal Date: September 07, 2017 - Thursday NASHVILLE (BP) -- Las contribuciones hasta la fecha a las misiones y ministerios nacionales e internacionales de la Convención Bautista del Sur recibidos por el Comité Ejecutivo de la CBS durante los 11 meses del año fiscal actual están 4.20 por ciento por arriba de la proyección del Presupuesto de Asignaciones del Programa Cooperativo de la CBS hasta la fecha, y están 0.77 por ciento por debajo de las contribuciones recibidas durante el mismo período del año pasado, de acuerdo con el comunicado de prensa del presidente y director ejecutivo del Comité Ejecutivo de la CBS, Frank S. Page. El total hasta la fecha representa el dinero recibido por el Comité Ejecutivo para el cierre del último día hábil de agosto e incluye los ingresos de las convenciones estatales, iglesias e individuos para ser distribuidos de acuerdo con el Presupuesto de Asignaciones del Programa Cooperativo de la CBS 2016-17. A partir del 31 de agosto, las ofrendas recibidas por el CE para su distribución a través del Presupuesto de Asignaciones del Programa Cooperativo de la CBS durante los primero once meses del año fiscal de la convención (octubre a septiembre) totalizaron $180,533,934.62. Este total está $7,283,934.62 por encima de la proyección presupuestada a la fecha de $173,250,000 para sostener los ministerios bautistas del sur globalmente y en Norteamérica, y es $1,372,17.27 más de los $179,161,017.35 recibidos para fines de agosto del 2016. Las ofrendas designadas de $186,843,284.86 para el mismo período a la fecha están 6.57 por ciento, o $13,146,533.06, por debajo de los $199,989,817.92 recibidos a este punto del año pasado. Este total incluye solamente aquellas ofrendas recibidas y distribuidas por el CE y no refleja las ofrendas designadas contribuidas directamente a las entidades de la CBS. Las contribuciones designadas incluyen la Ofrenda de Navidad Lottie Moon para las Misiones Internacionales, la Ofrenda del Domingo de Resurrección Annie Armstrong para las Misiones Norteamericanas, Alivio Bautista del Sur al Hambre Mundial y otras ofrendas especiales. La distribución de los ingresos al PC de agosto para la obra de la CBS totalizó $15,030,281.75. Las ofrendas designadas recibidas el último mes sumaron $5,560,936.66. El presupuesto de asignaciones del PC adoptado por la convención está distribuido 50.41 por ciento para las misiones internacionales a través de la Junta de Misiones Internacionales, 22.79 por ciento para las misiones norteamericanas a través de la Junta de Misiones Norteamericanas, 22.16 por ciento para la educación teológica a través de los seis seminarios de la convención, 2.99 por ciento para el presupuesto de operaciones de la CBS, y 1.65 por ciento para la Comisión de Libertad Religiosa y Ética. Recursos Financieros GuideStone y Recursos Cristianos LifeWay se sostienen a sí mismos y no reciben financiamiento del PC. De acuerdo con el presupuesto 2016-2017 adoptado por la CBS, si la convención excede su meta de presupuesto anual de $189 millones de dólares, la parte de IMB pasará a 51 por ciento de cualquier excedente de los ingresos del Presupuesto de Asignaciones del Programa Cooperativo. Otras entidades ministeriales de la CBS recibirán las cantidades del porcentaje adoptado de cualquier excedente y la porción del presupuesto de operaciones de la CBS se reducirá a 2.4 por ciento de cualquier excedente. El Programa Cooperativo es el canal de dar de los bautistas del sur a través del cual una iglesia local puede contribuir a los ministerios de su convención estatal y a las misiones y ministerios de la CBS con una única contribución al Programa Cooperativo para sostener la obra en sus respectivos estados, y enviar un porcentaje a las causas bautistas del sur nacionales e internacionales. El porcentaje de distribución de los estados queda a discreción de los mensajeros de cada convención estatal a través de la adopción del presupuesto anual de cada convención estatal. Los totales en este reporte reflejan solamente la porción de la CBS de los ingresos del PC. Las fluctuaciones mes a mes reflejan un número de factores, incluyendo el número de domingos en un mes dados, el día del mes en el que las iglesias envían sus contribuciones al Programa Cooperativo a sus convenciones estatales, el porcentaje de las contribuciones del PC enviado a la CBS por las convenciones estatales después de que los gastos ministeriales compartidos son deducidos y el tiempo en el que las convenciones estatales envían la porción nacional de las contribuciones al PC al CE. Los ingresos del Presupuesto de Asignaciones del Programa Cooperativo recibidos por el Comité Ejecutivo son reportados mensualmente a los ejecutivos de las entidades de la convención, a las oficinas de la convención estatal, a los periódicos bautistas estatales y son publicados en línea en http://www.sbc.net/cp/. -------------------------------------------------------------------- EDITORIAL: El Día de la Reforma by Peter Citelli Date: September 07, 2017 - Thursday HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (BP) -- Hace ya 500 años en 1517, Martín Lutero clavó sus 95 tesis en la puerta de la iglesia del palacio en Wittenberg, Alemania, dando lugar al inicio de la Reforma Protestante. Este monje agustino quien era un profesor de teología de la Universidad cuestionó la praxis de la Iglesia Católico-Romana de sus días. Muchos el día de hoy conocen el resultado del accionar de Lutero, lo cual fue la Reforma protestante.  Sin embargo, desconocen varios elementos importantes de las razones que llevaron a Lutero a reaccionar de tal manera. Sucedió que Alberto de Brandeburgo, quien fuera un jovencito, tenía la aspiración de ser obispo de 3 ciudades. El quería ocupar el cargo de arzobispo de Maguncia, una ciudad situada suroeste de Alemania, a orillas del río Rin. Esta era una ciudad destacada en tiempos medievales y relevante por ser un puerto prominente. Alberto ya ejercía el obispado sobre 2 ciudades, no obstante deseaba fervientemente el arzobispado. Es importante resaltar que era prohibido por el derecho canónico de la Iglesia Católico-Romana que un joven ejerciera el cargo de obispo y mucho menos de arzobispo. Debido a esto, Alberto necesito el apelar al papa para que le diera una excepción de la prohibición que estipulaban las leyes de la Iglesia. El papa en mención era Leo X quien por la cantidad de diez mil ducats (i.e. monedas de oro o plata, usada para los negocios en la Europa de aquellos días), accedió a concederle al joven Alberto la dispensa papal, para que obtuviera sus tres obispados. No obstante, siendo que él no poseía esa cantidad de dinero en efectivo, el estaba en la necesidad apremiante de levantar dichos fondos. Para esto el se va a valer de la habilidad de persuasión del fraile Juan Tetzel para vender indulgencias a los feligreses. Dichas indulgencias eran una mediación de la Iglesia Romana con la autorización del Papa para perdonar las penas temporales por los pecados que los feligreses debían purgar por sí mismos. Adicionalmente, estas concedían la remisión de las penas para sus familiares que se encontraran en el purgatorio de las almas. Haciendo uso de sus capacidades de oratoria el fraile Tetzel comenzó a vender estas indulgencias, usando un cliché, que decía: "Tan pronto como una moneda suena en el cofre, el alma sale del purgatorio." Esto inquietó profundamente a Lutero, quien pudo observar cómo las personas se volcaron a comprar las quimeras que vendía Tetzel, las indulgencias por los pecados pasados, presentes y futuros. Así que Martín Lutero, puso sus pensamientos en papel, escribiendo 95 tesis con las cuales pretendía hacer razonar a muchos (entre esos al mismo papa) y llamarlos al arrepentimiento. Lutero movido por el obrar de Dios (Filipenses 2:13), publica su invitación al debate justo la noche del 31 de octubre de 1517, en la víspera de la celebración católico-romana del "Día de todos los Santos". En 1518, Lutero en su "Tratado sobre la indulgencia y la gracia" expresó: "Se dice que el pecador, con lo que aún le queda por penar, tiene que ir al purgatorio o acudir a las indulgencias, pero ¡se dicen tantas cosas sin razón ni prueba de ninguna clase! … Es un error mayúsculo querer satisfacer uno por sus pecados, cuando Dios los perdona sin cesar gratuitamente por su inestimable gracia y sin ninguna exigencia a cambio". Lutero estaba en lo correcto porque la Escritura afirma que somos "Justificados gratuitamente por su gracia por medio de la redención que es en Cristo Jesús" (Romanos 3:24b LBLA). Su descubrimiento y valentía fue el acto providencial de Dios con el cual la luz del evangelio resplandeció en medio de las tinieblas. Algunos han argumentado diciendo que inicialmente Lutero quería reformar la Iglesia Católica Romana, no obstante en el verano de 1520 el papa le dio 60 días para arrepentirse de sus ataques contra la Iglesia Católica Romana. A lo cual el respondió quemando la bula papal en público. En 1521, El emperador del Santo Imperio Romano, Carlos V convocó a Lutero a renunciar oficialmente sus escritos. Al siguiente día es que el dijo las famosas palabras "A menos que se me persuada por testimonios de las Escrituras o por razonamientos evidentes, porque no me bastan únicamente las afirmaciones de los papas y de los concilios, puesto que han errado y se han contradicho a menudo, estoy sujeto a los textos de la Escritura que he citado y mi conciencia continúa cautiva a las Palabras de Dios. Ni puedo ni quiero retractarme de nada, porque no es ni seguro ni honrado actuar en contra de la propia conciencia". Como consecuencia Carlos V, condenó a Lutero como hereje y puso un precio sobre su cabeza. A partir de esto Lutero comenzó su traducción de las Sagradas Escrituras al Alemán, lo cual sirvió de guía para las traducciones de la Biblia al Inglés y luego al Español. Al hacer accesible la Palabra De Dios para el pueblo común y corriente, las llamas de la Reforma protestante comenzaron a esparcirse rápidamente. Sin Lutero no tendríamos acceso a la Biblia y al entendimiento de que la justificación es solamente por gracia por medio de la fe. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Irma pone en alerta a AD de los bautistas en medio de ayuda por Harvey by Por Brandon Elrod y Diana Chandler Date: September 07, 2017 - Thursday NASHVILLE (BP) -- El segundo mayor huracán que amenaza EE.UU. en dos semanas tiene a los bautistas del sur y a sus compañeros activamente preparándose para responder al huracán Irma, incluso cuando lo esfuerzos para la recuperación de Harvey va para largo tiempo. Con las inundaciones todavía en algunas partes de Texas, e Irma de categoría 5 agitándose, el presidente Trump ha declarado estado de emergencia en Florida, Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes Estadounidenses. Los equipos de alivio en desastre de los bautistas del sur se preparan para hacerle frente al reto de responder a ambas tormentas. "Todo el mundo está siendo llevado al límite en esto," le dijo a Baptist Press David Melber, vicepresidente de la Junta de Misiones Norteamericanas (NAMB por sus siglas en inglés) de Envía Alivio. "Pero esto ha hecho que nos unamos y funcionemos a más alto nivel debido a la magnitud de lo que está sucediendo en Texas y lo que está surgiendo en el Caribe." Los vientos de 300 kph pueden amenazar vidas y causar daños catastróficos en la península de la Florida y los Cayos de la Florida tan pronto como este fin de semana, dijo hoy (6 de septiembre) el Centro Nacional de Huracanes (NHC por sus siglas en inglés). Un miembro del equipo de NAMB ya está representando a Ayuda en Desastres de los Bautistas del Sur en el Centro de Coordinación de Respuesta Nacional de la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de emergencias (FEMA por sus siglas en inglés) en Washington. NAMB está trabajando junto con FEMA, la Cruz Roja Americana y el Ejército de Salvación para delinear las necesidades inminentes. NAMB tiene un representante coordinando esfuerzos en Florida junto con la Convención Bautista de Florida (FBC por sus siglas en inglés). El director ejecutivo de FBC, Tommy Green le aseguró al público la buena disposición de la convención y animó a los miembros a orar. "Nuestros equipos de alivio en desastres ya están preparados y organizados para llenar las necesidades del desastre rápida y expeditamente en el momento en el que el huracán Irma toque tierra," dijo Green en un mensaje por video en flbaptist.org. "Estamos agradecidos con nuestros compañeros de la Junta de Misiones Norteamericanas y otras convenciones estatales que ya están organizándose para unirse a nosotros en el evento de esa necesidad." Mientras se preparan activamente para Irma, los bautistas de Florida oran y agradecen a los voluntarios que participan en los esfuerzos de recuperación de Harvey, dijo Green. "Continuamos orando, continuamos dando, continuamos siendo fieles en el ministerio del evangelio que Dios nos ha dado en Florida," dijo. "Continuamos orando por aquellos que han sido impactados por el huracán Harvey y por aquellos que responden a sus necesidades." NAMB continuará trabajando junto con los líderes estatales al tiempo que los bautistas del sur cooperan para enviar recursos de Alivio en Desastres donde sean más necesitados, dijo Melber. El gobernador de Florida, Rick Scott y el gobernador de South Carolina, Henry McMaster han declarado el estado de emergencia en ambos estados. Irma impactó poderosamente las islas en el mar Caribe hoy temprano, y golpeó primero Barbuda, San Bartolomé y San Martin antes de llegar a las Islas Vírgenes británicas y estadounidenses, dijo NHC. Los vientos sobrepasaron los 300 kph mientras NHH decretó advertencia de huracán para las costas norteñas de República Dominicana, el sureste de las Bahamas, Turcos y Caicos, y porciones de Haití. El curso podría cambiar, pero los modelos predicen que la tormenta golpea Puerto Rico esta noche, y alcanza Haití y la República Dominicana el jueves en la noche (7 de septiembre), y llega a tierra en Cuba el viernes en la noche (8 de septiembre) y atraviesa Cuba el sábado (9 de septiembre). Si el huracán Irma embate EE.UU., probablemente golpee el sur de la Florida cerca de Miami el domingo (10 de septiembre) en la tarde o la noche. Todavía es muy temprano para decir precisamente dónde y cuándo la tormenta azotará. En el condado de Miami-Dade y en otras áreas los gobiernos están estableciendo albergues y planeando evacuaciones. Alivio en Desastre y el grupo de desarrollo comunitario Respuesta Global Bautista (BGR por sus siglas en inglés), asociado bautista del sur, se enfocan principalmente en esfuerzos de alivio fuera de EE.UU. le dijo Jeff Palmer, director ejecutivo de BGR a BP. "Estamos en conversaciones iniciales con NAMB y la Convención Bautista de Florida (representantes) que han tenido asignaciones de trabajo/ministerio en Puerto Rico, La Española, etc.," le dijo Palmer a BP. "Estamos tratando de encontrar las mejores maneras de trabajar para maximizar los recursos para la respuesta caribeña que se necesita." En Puerto Rico, la pérdida de energía eléctrica es uno de los mayores temores. Si Irma destruye la electricidad de la isla, las autoridades esperan que tomaría semanas o meses para restaurarla, lo cual haría los esfuerzos de recuperación extremadamente difíciles. El gobernador de Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosselló dijo a través de WAPA, afiliada de CNN: "La magnitud de esta tormenta … nunca ha sido vista en Puerto Rico." NAMB y varios equipos de convenciones estatales ya están activos en esfuerzos consistentes para ayudar a las áreas impactadas por el huracán Harvey en Texas y en Louisiana que se proyectan a un largo plazo extendido. Harvey primero golpeó Corpus Christi, Texas, el 25 de agosto como huracán categoría 4. Debilitado por la tierra firme, la masiva tormenta reingresó al golfo, se fortaleció y tocó tierra de nuevo. Harvey vertió lluvia sin precedentes sobre Houston e inundó grandes porciones de la ciudad antes de trasladarse al este y hacer lo mismo en su camino a través de la parte este de Texas y partes occidentales de Louisiana. El número de víctimas de Harvey fue últimamente calculado en 63, pero podría aumentar conforme los esfuerzos de recuperación continúen.