The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-09/16/2015 DISCLAIMER: Baptist Press should be credited for any reprinted stories that originate with BP. Suggested credit line: Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. Please note that Baptist Press periodically carries stories from other sources by permission. Individuals interested in reprinting non-BP stories should contact the entity where the story originated to seek reprint permission. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Prayer wave' stirring for Rugby World Cup by Samantha Conners Date: September 16, 2015 - Wednesday LONDON (BP) -- The roar of the crowd, the sound of men crashing into one another as they fight for the ball, the cheers and jeers of fans as teams score -- it's time for Rugby World Cup 2015. And churches in England are asking for prayer as they prepare to share the Gospel with hundreds of thousands of rugby spectators. From Sept. 18 to Oct. 31, 11 cities across England and Wales will host 48 tournament matches played by 20 teams from around the world. Team USA opposes Samoa in their first match on Sept. 20, followed by matches against Scotland on Sept. 27, South Africa on Oct. 7, and Japan on Oct. 11. In 1845, three students at Rugby School in England published the rules for what is now known as rugby. Little did they know their schoolyard game would someday become the third most watched sporting event in the world: the Rugby World Cup (RWC). For David Chawner, a retired Baptist pastor and rugby chaplain for 15 years, RWC is more than an exciting time to watch rugby. He sees it as an opportunity. "Here's a chance for us to find something which a large percentage of the population [is] interested in," he said. "Around that, [we] can engage with them, get to know them, and also let them know there are Christians involved in the sport and it's relevant to faith. Faith is relevant to the whole of life." That's why Chawner helped pioneer Engage 2015, an initiative with a mission of "equipping churches to engage with Rugby World Cup 2015." "It's important in an event like this, to try to get the message over to churches that we can meet people where they are rather than expecting them to meet us where we are," Chawner said. Engage 2015 offers resources to assist churches with outreach during RWC. "What we've specifically done is try to come up with a range of ideas, and resources to back them up, that fit into a local church's outreach program," Chawner said. He said Engage 2015 can provide videos of Christian rugby players, a sweepstakes app to encourage friendly competition, a rugby quiz, a sports-themed book of Luke's Gospel and Acts, and prayer and events resources for any church to use. While Engage 2015 has appeared to build a team spirit among churches in England, those helping with the effort hope to involve others throughout the world in praying for the tournament. On Sept. 17, the day before the tournament begins, Christians from every nation are encouraged to pray for the players, fans and churches in England at 8 p.m. their local time and then tweet using the hashtag #RWCPrayerWave. The prayer wave will be tracked online and can be seen at www.engage2015.co.uk. -------------------------------------------------------------------- MOVIES: I almost didn't see these films by Phil Boatwright Date: September 16, 2015 - Wednesday KANSAS CITY, Kan. (BP) -- For whatever reason, certain films don't appeal to moviegoers at first. Perhaps it's the title, the subject matter or the botched trailer we saw at the theater. Some won't see a film because they've heard it's in black-and-white. Or worse, they have no interest in a movie made before they were born, as if all art began with the emergence of Taylor Swift and Seth Rogen. Whatever our reason for not wanting to see a movie, sometimes -- I said sometimes -- we're missing a joyous experience. Occasionally secular filmmakers convey insights that can give us a fresh perspective concerning biblical teachings. The more we study Scripture, the clearer it becomes that we are to avoid much of what the world considers acceptable, yet movies are modern man's medium for relating parables to the masses. Certainly, there is a plethora of films containing little or no redeeming value, but let's not discount the cinematic treasures that overflow with spiritually rewarding messages. The key is to be discerning. Below are a few examples of movies I wasn't inclined to see. But I'm so glad I did. All are available on DVD. "America's Heart and Soul." Filmmaker Louis Schwartzberg packed up his camera and hit the road with a goal of capturing both the unparalleled beauty of the U.S. and the incomparable spirit of its people. Here we had the chance to meet ordinary Americans with extraordinary stories. It is a celebration of a nation told through the voices of its people. And while I was not looking forward to this documentary, I remember saying to a friend at some point, "I don't want this to end." PG "The Tree of Life." After viewing it, the first thing you'll say is, "What was that?" Director Terrence Malick offers up a thought-provoking hymn to life. It's an impressionistic story of a Midwestern family coping with a death, embittered relationships and haunting questions concerning God and the afterlife. Mr. Malick has used a free-form art house style to suggest the omniscient stature of God. And I just about passed on seeing it. PG-13 "Babette's Feast." This foreign film, with subtitles, was the 1987 Foreign Film Oscar winner. Two devout sisters in a remote Norwegian village show kindness to a homeless woman, and when she wins a lottery, the woman shares her good fortune in a most lavish manner. Based on a short story by Isak Dinessen, it is a beautiful tale of devotion and sacrifice, as well as a healing parable where quarreling friends and acquaintances are brought together once they shed their pious austerity. The film urges us not to hide behind our religion, but to put it into action. As to the subtitles: about 10 minutes in, you forget all about them as you get caught up in the story. G "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." It was a silent movie, starring Rudolph Valentino in this 1921 epic spectacle about cousins on either side of World War I. I knew of Valentino, the matinee idol, of course, but had never seen one of his movies. A few minutes in and I was hooked. Everyone should see a silent film at least once. The trick is finding one that will hold your attention. This is a winner, with its impressive imagery and mesmerizing storytelling. Not rated. "Steep." Mountaineering doesn't interest me in the slightest. On the other hand, a well-made picture about anything does. It's an intense documentary about extreme mountain skiers who attempt to conquer the highest and most inaccessible adversary. Featuring terrific cinematography and moving stories of fallen comrades, the film expertly reveals the character of these sportsmen. Best moment: three skiers are photographed from a helicopter while getting caught in an avalanche. Not only a thrilling, armrest-grabber of a moment, the aftermath also shows a camaraderie known only to those who risk their lives together. PG "Belle" is inspired by the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle (Gugu Mabatha-Raw), the illegitimate mixed-race daughter of a Royal Navy admiral. To be honest, I've seen many films that depicted the evil done to the black race. But Belle is a film of depth and strong performances (especially from Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Tom Wilkinson). It goes further than examining the abuse of blacks by whites by exposing the different kinds of slavery and the prejudices that abound in our world. The film documents how good men, having examined the evil of slavery, put their reputations on the line in order to stand against such wrongdoings. Topnotch cinematography, production design and writing of substance help make this endeavor a most engaging movie. PG -------------------------------------------------------------------- Church revitalization, change addressed at conf. by Lonnie Wilkey and Connie Bushey/Baptist & Reflector Date: September 16, 2015 - Wednesday HERMITAGE, Tenn. (BP) -- Church revitalization requires change. Though it was said in different ways, that was the general theme echoed several times during the Church Revitalization Conference: Giving Hope for Change, held at Hermitage Hills Baptist Church in Hermitage, Tenn. The conference, which included messages and breakout sessions on different aspects of church revitalization was sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Convention in partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources and Nashville Baptist Association. Church revitalization is on everybody's mind, observed Bob Brown, church revitalization specialist for the TBC. "It's a hot topic but it's not new at all," he said about the focus of the Aug. 31-Sept.1 event, referring conference participants to the New Testament. "Our desire is to fan the flame of revitalization and revival across the state to see a movement begin," he said. TBC Executive Director Randy C. Davis recalled that after he assumed that role five years ago he did some research. "I came to the conclusion that 450-550 churches in our convention within 10 years would be dead or at death's door if they continued in the same direction they were going," he said. Davis noted that all across New England there are antique malls and other stores in former church buildings. What happened in New England 100 years ago is happening in the South today, he said. "We need to be broken-hearted about our lostness and our sister churches," he said. Davis acknowledged that revitalizing churches is not easy. "It's like nailing Jell-O to a tree," he noted. "It's hard to define revitalization and what it looks like," he said. But for revitalization to occur, he noted, there needs to be a change or rebirth of the heart resulting in a passion to see churches revitalized. Church revitalization is one of the five objectives adopted by Tennessee Baptist messengers to their annual meeting last year at Brentwood Baptist Church. "If you look at all of these dramatic goals (to be achieved by 2024) the motivation must be to see lives transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ," Davis said. "We must become brokenhearted and passionate about winning the lost. When a church is committed to that, you will see revitalization," he said. Davis said he does not want to see any church in Tennessee die. "Our God is a specialist in raising the dead. There are churches all over our state that can have new life and an impact in our convention." Mark Dance, vice president for pastoral resources at LifeWay, reminded conference participants that healthy churches must have healthy pastors. Dance, a former Tennessee Baptist pastor at Ridgeview Baptist Church in Church Hill, stressed the need for an intimate walk with God. "Your ministry is going nowhere until you understand that all your relationships must fall in line behind God," he said. Hope for Communities Poly Rouse, pastor of Hermitage Hills Baptist Church, led an afternoon session on "Hope for Communities." Eight years ago Hermitage Hills Baptist was contacted by Rayon City Baptist Church in Old Hickory, an older congregation with then a membership of about 20 people, Rouse said, adding that they "were thinking about locking the doors and walking away." Leaders of both churches agreed to a three-month trial period after which Rayon City merged with Hermitage Hills and their facilities became another campus of Hermitage Hills. Mark Smith, campus pastor at Rayon City, joined Rouse for their presentation and shared the journey of the Rayon City campus. Today the church draws about 175-200 people and "is meeting needs and loving people in the community," Rouse said. He admitted the journey was not easy. "It took three years to change the mindset of the community that we were there because we really loved them," he said. Rouse encouraged pastors to go into church revitalization "with your eyes open. You won't turn something around in a few months," he cautioned. Church revitalization requires a lot of work, love and patience. "It takes a number of years to do that," he said. Smith said it "takes intentionality" to become a part of the community. "The goal of revitalization is to claim the land around the dead and dying church for Christ," he said. Rouse also discussed the revitalization that has been occurring at Hermitage Hills. The church had gotten to the point where 60 percent of the church was age 50 or older, he said. In recent months the church has undergone a "generational shift" in order to reach young families with children and students, he said. "We have gone through a revitalization of who we are here so we can reach the next generation," he said. Not everyone at the church supported the change in direction, Smith acknowledged. "We lost about 300 people. When you move forward, hopefully everyone will go with you but it probably won't be the case," he cautioned. Hope for the Church Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, Nashville, spoke during a main session of the conference. In his message entitled, "Hope for the Church," he referenced the early church described in Acts 2:41-47, his experiences as pastor of a struggling church in Florida, and LifeWay Research studies. One overarching theme from his study is that churches that are revitalizing are "acting like a newly started church." Every church should be either "vitalizing," which is beginning, or revitalizing, Rainer said. Referencing Acts 2:42, Rainer noted the early church devoted itself to the apostles' teaching which became the Bible, to fellowship, and to prayer. From this Scripture, Rainer suggested three steps for church revitalization -- leadership moving from distraction to devotion to God's Word, redirection from being inward-focused to outward-focused, and development of a group of church members who practice powerful prayer rather than perfunctory prayer. On the first suggestion, Rainer said he has not heard of a long-term revitalization or mid-term revitalization occurring "where the leadership have not been revitalized." So often church leadership is caught up in "playing church games" and "needless and silly battles on things that don't matter." These things can be good things, but the wrong things, he observed. "It's a sin to be good when God has called us to be great," he said, referring to his book, "Breakout Churches." Of course, churches go through "blah times," he described, or experience "slumps" in numbers or unity. Also pastors and ministers have many demands on their time and energy. One step toward recovery, he said, is for members and at least leaders to try to "absorb" and "devour" the Word of God which will lead to "becoming consumed" with the Word so we can "hear from Him personally." On the second suggestion, becoming outward-focused rather than inward-focused, Rainer said the church described in Acts 2 not only cared for its own but cared for others. Serious prayer is needed to revitalize a church. Rainer said that while he was pastor of a struggling church he was challenged by a member about his prayer life and then he learned how to pray "with boldness, pray seriously for the first time." One result was that God "broke open the gates of revival." That revival was not a planned series of meetings, he added. To the ministers in the crowd, he said, "You have been placed by God in the ministry for a reason." Consider God's promises rather than critics, he added. "Don't you think that God is through with you or your church," he stated, acknowledging that "the best years of your ministry and life can be ahead of you." Hope for Transformation Bill Henard, pastor of Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington, Ky., and author of "Can These Bones Live? A Practical Guide to Church Revitalization," spoke on "Hope for Transformation." He cited numerous statistics which reveal churches and church membership are declining not just among Southern Baptists but other evangelical congregations as well. While the number of people who do not attend church has doubled in the last 10 years, there is hope, Henard said. Referring to Matthew 16, Henard said there is "hope for the church because it is Christ's church." Henard, who teaches church revitalization at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, said he often hears from pastors in some churches that "there is nothing they can do to bring about revitalization." That's not true, said Henard, who served as pastor of three churches in Tennessee. He challenged pastors to preach the Word, practice personal evangelism, pastor the people, and prioritize congregational prayer. "There is hope for the church. Pray," Henard said. "Realize that God has not given up on you as pastor and He has not given up on your church. Let's get out there and do what God has called us to do in revitalization," Henard said. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Pope's abortion absolution 'disconnected' from Gospel by Erin Roach Date: September 16, 2015 - Wednesday NASHVILLE (BP) -- Pope Francis has extended to priests worldwide the authority to offer absolution for the sin of abortion during the Catholic Church's "Holy Year of Mercy," which begins Dec. 8 and runs through Nov. 20 of next year. Most priests in the United States already have such authority, but in other nations they must seek permission from bishops, a formal process that has led to frustration among those seeking absolution. Under Roman Catholic canon law, abortion brings automatic excommunication unless the person who has had an abortion or performed an abortion confesses and receives absolution. Southern Baptist women's ministry leaders Kathy Ferguson Litton, Dorothy Patterson and Rhonda Kelley, in comments to Baptist Press, however, lamented the misguided nature of the pope's decree that forgiveness must be sought from anyone but Christ. The New York Times noted that Pope John Paul II enabled priests to offer the same absolution during the last Holy Year, in 2000. "Yet it shows [Pope Francis'] broader push to make Catholicism more merciful and welcoming," The Times noted. Vatican officials said it's possible the pope will allow the abortion absolution practice to continue indefinitely. "I have met so many women who bear in their heart the scar of this agonizing and painful decision," the pope said of abortion in a statement issued by the Vatican. This is one of two social initiatives by the pope in recent days, with the other being a fast-tracking of marriage annulments, streamlining the process to make it more accessible to those who otherwise might have drifted from the church after a divorce rather than seek an annulment. Litton, a North American Mission Board national consultant for ministry to pastor's wives, told BP, "As much as I admire the Catholic Church's vigorous pro-life teaching, this move by Pope Francis is disconnected from a biblical Gospel. … The Bible never teaches us to look to man or any officer of the church to dispense grace. We are reconciled to God by grace through Jesus Christ when He became sin for us." Many women of Litton's Baby Boomer generation, Litton said, have had an abortion -- given that abortion rates were highest in the 1970s through the early '80s. "The emotional and spiritual fallout of those choices often came later," she said. "I have watched treasured friends unpack this painful choice in a variety of ways. Some began to uncover their often deeply held story. When they sought spiritual and emotional healing, they often emerged to help others. "The grace of the Gospel freed them to dip out of this past choice and allow God to redeem their sin," Litton said. "They moved forward dispensing grace, truth and love. Many became notable leaders in creating abortion ministries. Most became vibrant portals of grace to abortive women and girls. Ironically, God has powerfully used these women to impact the abortive practices in the U.S." contributing to a decline in the number of abortions in recent years. Patterson, professor of theology in women's studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, said any action that puts a man or a woman above God is distressing and unacceptable. "God is aware of the pain and difficulty for a woman and her family in light of an unplanned pregnancy, but God protects and cherishes the life of the unborn child as well as extending His mercies and love to the hurting mother," said Patterson, whose husband Paige Patterson is president of the Texas seminary. God's care and compassion reach to every life He creates, Patterson said, "not just to a mother bearing the scars of a tragic rape or facing the burden of care for a baby with special needs but also to the new life, which in God's eyes does not receive value based on the person's functional ability or even the baby's independent viability." The image of God is firmly stamped on every life He creates, Patterson said, while "hope achieved by murdering a baby in the womb is weak and meaningless because it is driven by convenience and quality of life as determined by the potential human caretaker." In counseling a woman who has had an abortion and wants to repent, Patterson would remind her that the Lord does not direct evil against her. "He may lift His hand and allow you to go through difficulty or some trial coming out of your own sinful choice or even as a result of the sinful world in which you live," Patterson said. "But you can never free yourself from God's love, which is at the center of His forgiveness (Romans 8:28, 38-39). "Forgiveness opens a new way to healing and joy in your journey. You have again opened the door for God to work in your life. Nothing frees from guilt and restores to joy like seeking God's forgiveness," Patterson said. "With God, forgiveness is as if it never happened." Patterson pointed to her friend Iris Blue, who "has a fantastic testimony of coming out of a life of profligate behavior and rejecting everything good and godly, even breaking the law and serving time in prison." But when Blue accepted God's message of forgiveness, in Blue's words, "I knelt down as a tramp, but I got up as a lady." She testified to the complete cleansing she felt as God forgave her sin and gave her new life and purpose. Kelley, an adjunct professor of women's ministry at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, told Baptist Press the Bible does not assign different levels of severity to different sins, as the Catholic Church's treatment of abortion would indicate. "It is very clear that all sin is level at the cross of Jesus, who died to forgive anyone of all sin. Psalm 103:3 says, '[God] forgives all your sin; He heals all your diseases. He redeems your life from the pit,'" said Kelley, whose husband Chuck Kelley is president of New Orleans Seminary. "This truth continues in the New Testament: 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,'" Kelley said, referring to 1 John 1:9. "What a promise to know that the Lord sees sin as sin and promises forgiveness of all sin when we confess it to Him and accept His forgiveness." Women who have had abortions can seek complete forgiveness and total healing from Jesus Christ, Kelley said. "The healing process begins with repentance from sin and acceptance of God's forgiveness, then redemption occurs in the believer's life and ministry," she said. "God can use what was intended for evil as good to minister to others and give glory to His name." Kelley pointed to some Bible studies for post-abortion recovery, including "Surrendering the Secret" by Pat Layton, published by LifeWay Christian Resources. "Several years ago, a women's ministry director of a mega-church learned of several ladies in the church struggling with the pain of abortions," Kelley said. "They began a post-abortion support group and were surprised when 32 ladies attended the first meeting. "Together, the group found healing in the Lord and support from each other," Kelley said. "Churches need to reach out to women struggling with abortion in their pasts with the truth from His Word." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Revitalization effort transforms dying Tenn. church by Connie Davis Bushey/Baptist & Reflector Date: September 16, 2015 - Wednesday HERMITAGE, Tenn. (BP) -- "This is a story of coming from dying to being healthy again," said Bill Blair at the Church Revitalization Conference: Giving Hope for Change of his journey. Blair was referring to his experience with revitalization as pastor of Mill Creek Baptist Church, Nashville, Tenn. The conference was held Aug. 31-Sept.1 at Hermitage Hills Baptist Church by the Tennessee Baptist Convention in partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources and Nashville Baptist Association. Blair told folks attending a breakout session at the conference that though the historic church had started other churches including First Baptist Church of Nashville, it was down to about 40 people on Sunday mornings two years ago when he "took on the call as pastor." Blair also was accepting his first pastorate and is bivocational. Since then, 16 people have made professions of faith at Mill Creek Baptist, 11 have been baptized, the children and youth group has grown to about 20, and a singles ministry which has drawn as many as 40 has been started. Attendance has increased to about 65 on Sunday mornings, but more importantly the church is becoming healthy, Blair said. God has answered so many prayers to lead to these early steps toward revitalization, he noted. Sometimes it just took fresh eyes on the situation, he said. For instance, to protect the parking lot which had been damaged by big vehicles using it to turn around, the church had installed a gate. But that kept parents from parking at the church as they waited for a school bus. By recognizing necessary adjustments and opportunities to be more accessible to the community, the church has developed many ministries while forming relationships, he said. "We've seen amazing answers to prayer of God doing things even before we've taken action steps," he said. The three steps toward revitalization that the church took were prayer, partnerships and perseverance, he noted. Strategic, specific prayer is needed by a church seeking revitalization, Blair said. That may be for a teacher for a certain class, $200 for a need in the church, or a speaker. He referred to John 14:12-14 in which Jesus asked for specific requests and then promised to meet those needs. Blair said he involved the congregation in supporting these prayer needs by adapting the Wednesday night printed prayer guide. The list of those who were ill was updated which pared it down substantially. Then the prayer guide was broadened to include other prayer needs such as North America and international needs. Needs are also shared throughout the week. Blair said he decided to pray about worship time at the church rather than try to change it in order to attract people. Since then, a group of people have stepped forward to lead a style of worship that has drawn a positive response from the congregation, he said. On the partnerships needed for revitalization, Blair said a partnership with First Baptist Church of Nashville helped in several ways including financially. A partnership with the TBC provided resources and funds from the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. The church also asked the Nashville Baptist Association for help and has received guidance from it. Blair said a struggling church should ask for help. The church also has received assistance from Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, which sent its medical/dental mobile clinic two times to the Mill Creek community. As a result, 74 people were treated and seven people made professions of faith. A church undergoing a revitalization must persevere, Blair said. You must have a "radical faith with realistic expectations." In small churches, which are the majority of Southern Baptist churches, one or two people can make a huge difference, he noted. He advised that church leaders "look for changes that don't show up in the numbers." What people are talking about at church is a measure of their attitudes, he said. Is there joy in the church? Do people pray and then act like they believe their prayer will be answered? Pastors should "equip the people you have rather than wish for the people you don't," he said, noting that Jesus didn't have a "dream team" in his disciples. Pastors should consider their church members as those that God has sent to the church. He said they should trust that God can work through anyone. A pastor should lead the congregation to accomplish the revitalization in small steps, drop hints as to the progress being accomplished, and regularly celebrate accomplishments, he said. "Walk with them from step to step," he said. "You are going from a near-death experience to life." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Baptists among 'top 75 religion bloggers' by David Roach Date: September 16, 2015 - Wednesday NASHVILLE (BP) -- At least 10 Southern Baptists are included on Newsmax's list of the "top 75 religion bloggers" in America, with five appearing among the top 20. "The Southern Baptist leaders who blog regularly have built influence, specifically in the niches they address," social media expert Marty Duren told Baptist Press in written comments. "When compared to peers ... I think our leaders who have engaged are doing very well." Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. ranked second while Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission President Russell Moore came in fourth on the Newsmax list. The top five Southern Baptist bloggers were: -- Mohler (2), who writes at albertmohler.com and publishes two to five blog posts per month on theological and cultural events that are part of the news cycle. -- Moore (4), whose russellmoore.com blog addresses cultural, ethical and theological issues and publishes multiple times each week. -- Thom Rainer (16), president of LifeWay Christian Resources, whose thomrainer.com blog publishes daily and addresses issues pertaining to church life and leadership. -- Ron Edmondson (17), pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, Ky., who blogs daily at ronedmondson.com on leadership, family and the Christian life. -- Denny Burk (18), professor of biblical studies at Boyce College, whose dennyburk.com blog addresses cultural, political and biblical issues multiple times per week. Other Southern Baptists in the top 75 included Roger Olson (41), professor of theology at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary; Trevin Wax (43), managing editor of The Gospel Project curriculum at LifeWay; James MacDonald (61), pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel in the Chicago area; Beth Moore (62), women's author and speaker; and Ed Stetzer (68), executive director of LifeWay Research. Newsmax said "each blogger was considered through a variety of general factors including reach, popularity, and cultural significance, as well as through more specific factors such as RSS membership, readership statistics, Twitter followers, and Facebook likes. Entries were filtered in order to ensure that multiple religions were represented and included, as well as various subsets of mainline denominations and sects." The rankings are "somewhat significant" and carry "a lot of weight with a certain range of news consumers," said Duren, LifeWay's manager of social media strategy. But he called the conservative news outlet's selection criteria "subjective." The order of Newsmax's list does not correspond to rankings from the analytics website Alexa.com, Duren said, and the purposeful inclusion of bloggers from multiple religions likely resulted in some more popular blogs' not making the list. "Newsmax did not hide this, to their credit," Duren said, "and there's nothing at all wrong with it, but it can explain why more popular blogs (even those with higher measurable rankings) did not make this particular list." Whether or not a Christian leader's blog makes a rankings list, blogging is a valuable enterprise, Duren said. "The advantages of blogging as a Christian leader are numerous," he said. "Theology can be worked out in a public forum, devotionals can be published as frequently as desired, the cost of entry is low to nothing, and meaningful discussions about life can be hosted. "Blogging is a viable tool to be used for discipleship, writing, apologetics, and things I haven't thought of yet. I don't know if there are any metrics for 'number of people saved through reading a blog,' but it isn't outside possibility," Duren said. He concluded, "Not having a blog will not kill a person's ministry or influence, but having a blog can greatly expand both." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Abedini prayer vigils set globally 9/26 by Diana Chandler Date: September 16, 2015 - Wednesday NASHVILLE (BP) -- The wife of imprisoned American pastor Saeed Abedini is on a 21-day "Daniel" fast and is organizing prayer vigils internationally Sept. 26, the third anniversary of her husband's imprisonment in Iran for his Christian faith. Naghmeh Abedini, in asking Christians to pray for her husband and the persecuted church, also is promoting a letter-writing campaign to ask United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to advocate for Abedini's release when Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks Sept. 28 at the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Naghmeh Abedini will attend a prayer rally for her husband and other persecuted Christians at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 at Calvary Chapel in Old Bridge, N.J. In advance of the U.N. sessions that began Sept. 15, she addressed over 100 members of parliaments from 50 nations who held a meeting on international religious freedom in New York, urging the lawmakers to take action in their home countries to encourage her husband's release. Imprisonment is taking its toll on the 35-year-old pastor, his wife said on Facebook today (Sept. 16), but he was encouraged to learn of the prayer vigils today from a family member, the first visitor Iran has allowed him in two months. "His face lit up and he was encouraged to hear that so many are praying for him. He was encouraged to know that a date that brought so much pain had become a day when Christians united together to pray for him and the persecuted church," Naghmeh Abedini wrote. "I made sure that he was told that I had not given up the fight … for his release. That despite government shortcomings, none of us were giving up. That we were getting on our knees and praying and fasting for him each day leading up to the prayer vigil. I knew that during the short prison visits he needed to know that he was not forgotten." Abedini is suffering both physically and emotionally, lamenting the death of his grandmother whose funeral he could not attend, the death of a cellmate due to lack of medical treatment and the absence from his family. "The beatings and attacks have taken their toll on Saeed and he is in constant pain every day," his wife wrote on Facebook. "Knowing his kids are growing up without him has made the journey that much more emotional for him. He always wanted to be the dad that poured into his kids every single day of them growing up. He was the more nurturing one of the two of us and cared about each and every milestone. "Saeed realizes that he has had to give up those things that were so dear to him for the sake of the Gospel and that is the one thing that brings him comfort," she said of her husband. "Saeed is holding onto hope that one day he will reunite with us again." Naghmeh Abedini continues to live in their home in Boise, Idaho, with their two children, 9-year-old Rebekka and 7-year-old Jacob. Prayer vigils are scheduled in all 50 states and nearly 30 foreign countries to date, according to the registration page at The Be Heard Project of the American Center for Law and Justice (beheardproject.com/prayer-vigil/saeed). In addition to individual vigils, four opportunities are available nationwide through Facebook and teleconferencing, including a 24-hour prayer conference call at 712-775-7035, through access code 281207, from 9 p.m. Sept. 26 – 8 p.m. Sept. 27, Eastern Time, according to Be Heard. "I feel led by the Lord to start another 21 days of prayer and fasting," Naghmeh Abedini said in announcing the prayer vigil on Facebook. "The prayer and fasting will start from September 6 to September 26," the day of the prayer vigils and the date when Saeed was imprisoned in Iran. She has held annual prayer vigils for her husband since his arrest in 2012 while visiting family in Tehran. He was sentenced Jan. 27, 2013, to eight years in prison on charges he threatened national security by planting house churches in Iran years earlier, and had been under house arrest since July 2012. "I will be fasting from pleasant food (Daniel 10:3 'I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled')," Naghmeh Abedini said. "I plan to abstain from coffee and chocolate. You are free to abstain from food, social media, TV or skip a meal or two…. [T]he point is to spend that time in prayer." She is using Hebrews 12:1-2 as a scriptural anchor for the fast. "The Lord is showing me that as we pray for Saeed and the persecuted Church and remember the 'witnesses,'" she said, "revival can be brought into our own life and in our country."