The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-10/14/2016 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Women's Ministry Advisory Council conducts survey by SBC LIFE & BP Staff Date: October 14, 2016 - Friday ATLANTA (BP) -- Fourteen women met for two days in Atlanta to continue their discussion about increasing the participation of women in the Southern Baptist Convention. Frank S. Page, president of the SBC Executive Committee, appointed the Women's Ministry Advisory Council to gather information concerning the involvement of women's ministry leaders and ministry wives in their Southern Baptist churches. With the purpose of involving Southern Baptist women in all areas of convention life, the task force has been at work since January conducting a survey and researching resources specifically for women. Encouraging results were shared with Page and with Ken Weathersby, EC vice president for convention advancement, and Roger S. (Sing) Oldham, vice president for convention communications and relations, during the Aug. 11-12 meeting in Atlanta. More than 3,300 women have responded to the survey being conducted through SurveyMonkey. Most women were ages 25–64 who expressed interest in more training and involvement at the local church, associational, state and denominational levels. The majority were lay leaders who serve through women's ministry, Woman's Missionary Union or other church programs specifically for women. About one-fourth of the respondents were ministry wives, serving churches alongside their husbands. The task force would like to hear from additional women in the Southern Baptist Convention who reflect a diversity of ages and stages of life as well as different ethnic, cultural and educational backgrounds. While the majority of respondents to date have been from strong Baptist states such as Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas, surveys have been completed by women in all 50 states. The task force wants to hear from more Southern Baptist women in the Northeast, Midwest and West as well as Hawaii. The task force also wants to hear from more Southern Baptist women who are under 25 or above 64 years of age. Information gleaned from the survey and the research of the task force members will be presented to the SBC Executive Committee in February 2017 and to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Phoenix next June. Recommendations will be made to all SBC entities to increase the involvement of women in biblically appropriate ways in local churches and beyond. To access the Women's Ministry Advisory Council's online survey, go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/SouthernBaptistWomen. In addition, comments may be emailed to sbwomen@sbc.net. Rhonda Kelley, a leader in women's ministry, serves as chairwoman of the advisory council. A member of First Baptist Church in New Orleans, she is the wife of NOBTS President Chuck Kelley and an adjunct professor of women's ministry at the seminary. Also on the council are: Chris Adams, senior lead women's ministry specialist with LifeWay Christian Resources and a member of Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, Tenn. Jacqueline "Jacki" Anderson, pastor's wife, Women in Ministry director and executive assistant at Colonial Baptist Church, Randallstown, Md. Tabitha Barnette, pastor's wife and speaker, Peace Baptist Church, Decatur, Ga. Brandi Biesiadecki, pastor's wife, writer, speaker and women's minister, First Baptist Church, Bartlesville, Okla. Linda Cooper, Woman's Missionary Union president and member of Forest Park Baptist Church, Bowling Green, Ky. Lourdes Fernandez, an attorney and member of Riverside Baptist Church, Miami. Candi Finch, professor of theology in women's studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and member of Hope Church, Fort Worth, Texas. Ann Iorg, wife of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary President Jeff Iorg and member of First Baptist Church, San Francisco. Elizabeth Luter, wife of former Southern Baptist Convention president Fred Luter and women's ministries director of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans. Davee Ly, pastor's wife, school teacher, speaker and Sunday School director at First Hmong Baptist Church, Morganton, N.C. Ana Melendez, Hispanic State Women's consultant and member of Iglesia Cristo Es Rey, Bolingbrook, Ill. Mary Mohler, wife of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. and a member of Third Avenue Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. Trillia Newbell, director of community outreach for the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and member of Redemption City Church, Franklin, Tenn. Rhonda Rhea, pastor's wife, columnist and speaker, and member of First Baptist Church, Troy, Mo. Myra Sermon, registered nurse and nursing consultant, and a Sunday School teacher at Grace Filipino Church, Woodbridge, Va. Ashley Unzicker, church history songwriter, rapper, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary student and member of The Summit Church, Durham, N.C. Angela Um, founder and CEO of Boston Academic Consulting Group and wife of the pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, Cambridge, Mass. -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: It's a girl! by Rhonda Harrington Kelley Date: October 14, 2016 - Friday ATLANTA (BP) -- What seemed like a typical gathering of women at an Atlanta hotel one Friday morning took a delightful twist. Fourteen ladies representing women in the Southern Baptist Convention were meeting to discuss how to involve women in more ministries at all levels of denominational life. However, something else of historic proportion was happening. We were having a baby! As the meeting began, one member of the Women's Ministry Advisory Council announced that her water broke. Huh? Well, not her water, but the water of her expectant daughter who would be giving birth any minute now. Cellphone updates buzzed in throughout the meeting: On the way to the hospital. In the delivery room. Six inches dilated. Amidst the business agenda, we all celebrated when our friend's baby girl gave birth to a baby girl! Men are definitely different than women. Only a gathering of women would share the details of childbirth while conducting serious business and not feel at all uncomfortable. Men typically don't talk about personal things that openly. When God created human beings, He created male and female in His image with different roles and personalities. He gave women childbearing responsibility as well as relational natures and emotional feelings. God also gave to those women who choose to follow Jesus the gift of salvation and the ability to share the Gospel with those in need of redemption. So, Christian women can be a part of the physical and spiritual birth of others. Old Testament scriptures proclaim the sanctity of life, as the psalmist sings of the miracle of physical birth in Psalm 139:13–16. God forms the inward parts of a baby in the womb of its mother and sees the substance of its being before the baby is born. God fashions the days of the baby and writes them all down in His book. Praise the Lord God for His mighty works of human creation! You are fearfully and wonderfully made. A newborn baby is a perfect reminder of the awesome creative power of God Almighty. Our women's team received an email photo of our friend's granddaughter who was pronounced "the most beautiful baby in the world." Cherub cheeks. Tiny nose. Ten fingers and ten toes. A dark brown head of hair. All parts of that perfectly created human life which enters the world from the womb of a mother are a testimony of the physical life given only by God. The New Testament introduces spiritual rebirth through the Messiah Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself shares the truth of the Gospel that "unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3, NKJV). How can one be born again? Believers speak about their faith to unbelievers who hear and receive the Good News. Jesus explained the Gospel clearly and simply in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (NKJV). New birth takes place in a human life when one accepts Jesus as personal Savior and follows Him as Lord. Physical life is created by God through woman, while spiritual life is given by God through the power of the Holy Spirit. A new believer is a "babe in Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:1–3). A spiritual babe in Christ must mature spiritually in the same way that a newborn baby must mature physically. A baby cannot eat meat until she has been fed milk. She cannot walk until she has learned to crawl. All babies must grow and develop physically. In a similar way, all Christians must grow and develop spiritually. Baby Christians begin to grow as they develop spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, service and witnessing. Women who give physical life care for their children and help them grow physically into healthy human beings. Christian women who share the Gospel with others have the responsibility to encourage their spiritual growth. It was a blessing to share the joy of our friend at the physical birth of her granddaughter. We rejoiced together and spread the news of God's miracle of life. Her family grew as another person was added to the population. Let this spontaneous celebration of physical birth remind us of the joy we should experience with the spiritual birth of anyone who trusts Jesus as personal Savior. When someone is saved, another member is added to God's family for all eternity. Every Christian should speak the Gospel to lost family members and friends. Let's have a baby! -------------------------------------------------------------------- Continued SEBTS enrollment gain reported to trustees by Harper McKay Date: October 14, 2016 - Friday WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP) -- Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary's trustees, along with individuals who support the seminary through the Southeastern Society, held their biannual meetings Oct. 9-11 at the Wake Forest, N.C., campus, receiving updates about the seminary, worshipping together in chapel and fellowshipping with faculty and students. Danny Akin, in his presidential address to each group, reported that Southeastern Seminary is in its seventh year of record enrollment with 3,550 total students. The current fall semester is the second largest spring enrollment in SEBTS history. SEBTS faculty also taught nearly 11,000 hours of distance learning courses, Akin reported, while diversity on campus rose from 8 percent in 2010 to 14.61 percent in 2016, with the seminary looking to increase that percentage every year. Southeastern also saw a record year for the Southeastern Fund, raising $1.8 million during the past academic year. More than 650 new donors gave to the Southeastern Fund this year and, overall, more than 900 donors joined the SEBTS family. During their meetings, the SEBTS trustees: -- gave authorization for SEBTS to enter into a feasibility study to determine the viability of a proposed $26.5 million capital campaign to build a new student center, increase academic endowments and provide additional student aid. -- named Thabiti Anyabwile, senior pastor of Anacostia River Church in Washington, D.C., as an interim board member to replace Todd Jones who resigned from the board due to relocation for his job. -- approved several curriculum revisions and course creations for both the seminary and The College at Southeastern. Trustees concluded their visit in a special chapel service with Southeastern Society members and students. Akin spoke from Matthew 5 about the power and purpose of Christian witness. "You are the only authentic salt this world will ever taste and you are the only authentic light this world will ever see," he said. "We are to stand in radical contrast to those who are opposing the work of God in this world because we are fundamentally different." Akin also told the chapel attendees that God saved them for a purpose. "God did not redeem us and call us into His Kingdom to hide us and He did not save us … to be silent saints," he said. "He called us to be the light of the world … a light put on display by our Savior to the nations." Southeastern Society members had the opportunity to learn about current happenings at the seminary and attend sessions on missions in Nepal with SEBTS alumni, the history of SEBTS with senior professor of Baptist studies Keith Harper and the Reformation with assistant professor of church history and Reformation studies Stephen Eccher. The society is a group of men and women who partner with SEBTS in training students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. Members give $1,000 or more annually to SEBTS. To learn more about the society, visit www.sebts.edu/giving. SEBTS trustees and SES members will hold their spring meetings on April 16-18, 2017. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Portraits of a Pastor' fill MBTS conference by T. Patrick Hudson Date: October 14, 2016 - Friday KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP) -- With a focus on commending the honor of the pastoral office and fueling worship within the pastoral heart, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary hosted the third For the Church Conference at its Kansas City campus. More than 1,000 pastors, students and ministry leaders from across the Midwest and beyond heard keynote speakers Jason Allen, Danny Akin, Owen Strachan, Ronnie Floyd and Jared Wilson preach messages revolving around the conference theme "Portraits of a Pastor." "This is a conference specifically designed to encourage pastors and ministry leaders from across the country as they serve the local church," said Allen, Midwestern Seminary's president. "Our goal is to provide messages from Scripture, provide resources and offer genuine fellowship which will strengthen the resolve, cheer the spirits and stir the affections toward Christ of these who have accepted His call to ministry. "For the Church -- these three words, for us on this campus, are much bigger than a website, Twitter handle, publishing imprint and even this conference or this seminary," Allen said. "Our prayer is that through this time together God would be pleased to grant us a movement -- not of man, but of God -- to strengthen and renew His church." The Pastor as Preacher Allen led the conference's first session, "The Pastor as Preacher," drawing his message from Romans 10. "Preaching is the ultimate, non-delegable responsibility and the most urgent and consequential point on the pastor's job description," he said. "For the pastor, preaching is priority one." Allen cited three key reasons why preaching should be a pastor's top priority: the depravity of man, the simplicity of the message and the necessity of the messenger. Many pastors are taking away from the simplicity of their message by adding unnecessary and distracting props or illustrations," Allen noted as part of his message. Referring to Luke 16:29-31, he exhorted, "Let me ask you something, preacher. If one rising from the dead will not do what the Word of God cannot do, then what in the world will your prop do? Nothing. The sooner you come to understand that it is not about the props or the personality, and it is not about swift speech, rather it is about preaching the Gospel, then the sooner your pulpit ministry will be strengthened and the sooner your ministry will be authenticated." Allen ended by challenging pastors in attendance, "You are called to preach and to teach the Word. Wherever you go, however tremendously your church plant grows, however dramatically your revitalization story is, whatever ministerial fruit God gives you along the way, never let any of that eclipse your primary calling…." The Man of God and his Family Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., next preached on "The Man of God and his Family," how the leader of a local church must interact with his family. In his message from Ephesians 5:18-6:4, Akin noted that two overarching principles from the text: the man of God will love his wife and the man of God will train up his children. Of these passages, Akin noted, "Ephesians 5:25-33 and 6:1-4 are for every man; but if it is for every man, it is specifically, particularly and essentially necessary for those who would lead and shepherd the flock of the Lord Jesus Christ." In loving one's wife, Akin said it is a good exercise to regularly ask this question, "Is the way I am loving my wife enabling her and encouraging her to grow and be more like Jesus or is she going to be like Christ in spite of me?" He added, "Brothers, if you only disciple one person in your entire life, I pray that one person is your wife. If you are given the privilege of God to disciple a few more than that, it is my prayer that it will begin with your children. And if you are to disciple no one but your mate and your children, I think you will probably still have lived a fairly successful life." The Pastor as Theologian Strachan, associate professor of Christian theology and director of the Center for Public Theology at Midwestern, in a message on "The Pastor as Theologian" noted that this concept is derived from 2 Timothy 1:5-14. Citing three points to keep in mind, Strachan said the pastor must possess spiritual ambition; the Gospel powers the pastorate; and the pastorate summons pastors to play theological offense and defense. Encouraging pastors to overcome the fear they may experience in proclaiming the Gospel in today's culture, Strachan reminded that their calling is directly from God, grounded in the Gospel, and drawn from a spirit of power, love and self-control from God. Strachan cited two major avenues of attack planned by Satan against pastors: softening of doctrine and softening of personal morality. To confront this offensively, he said a pastor must offer his congregants a strategy to hunt down sin and rid themselves of it. Then defensively, the pastor is to guard the truth he has been given to defend. "By the Spirit we do this," Strachan said. "It is not of our own strength, but it is also not a degree, a writing ministry or a fancy pedigree that equips you to ward off the lion who would devour you and your people. It is the Holy Spirit." Additionally, he noted, "We regularly hear today that the Word is not enough…. But here is the thing, my friends, Jesus is enough. The Word is enough. There is nothing else we need for ministry." The Pastor as Leader Floyd, immediate past president of the SBC and senior pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, preached on "The Pastor as Leader," drawing from Galatians 6 to discuss what makes a pastor unique and set apart in his leadership. Just as the apostle Paul was opposed by Judaizers on the topic of salvation and Jewish customs, Floyd noted that today's pastors will be accosted by those in the culture who disagree with them. The world will try to "brand" a pastor in a certain way, but the pastor would do well to remember who called him and to whom he belongs, Floyd said, adding that a pastor also must be careful how he brands himself as well. "You see, the apostle Paul was even branded outwardly for Jesus Christ…. We must be the same. "Also, sometimes we think that we are somebody that we are not," Floyd said. "If you let a degree define you, then you are one of many. If you let your charisma, your look or your dress define you, then you are one of many…. We do not become defined by a degree, a group of friends, our denomination or even our church. We are defined by one person alone, and it is inconceivable that we could ever celebrate ourselves or anyone other than Jesus Christ." Floyd noted seven applications for pastors to become distinct leaders like the apostle Paul: giving your mornings to God; letting God promote you; refusing to sacrifice your family on the altar of ministry success; not "dying on every hill"; never letting anyone be outside of your circle of love; always being willing to go anywhere at any time to do anything for God; and understanding that God can do more in a moment than you can do in a lifetime. The Pastor as Shepherd Wilson, director of content strategy and managing editor of Midwestern's For the Church website, addressed "The Pastor as Shepherd," suggesting three takeaways from the restoration of the apostle Peter in John 21 that can be applied to pastoring and help the attendees "re-grasp the pastoral vocation." Wilson noted that God's shepherds feed the sheep; love the Lamb; and trust the Good Shepherd. In his counsel to "feed the sheep the Gospel," Wilson noted that it is the only power of salvation. It is the only power of sanctification, and the only reason you would not feed them the Gospel … is if you think the Gospel is not good enough…. Let's commit together to send our people home fat with the Gospel!" In loving the Lamb, Wilson cautioned, "I have failed the greatest of failures if I can turn a good phrase, preach a good sermon, explain good theology, give out good advice, even articulate the Good News, but people cannot generally say about me, 'More than anything Jared loves Jesus.' Brothers, do you love the Lamb?" Wilson encouraged pastors to trust the Good Shepherd even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice. "Even if the call of the pastor is to die, we trust the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep. You have no other foundation than this. There is nothing left to trust in." Tuesday afternoon breakout sessions were held on "Expository Preaching from Start to Finish" led by Allen; "Pastor as Missionary" led by Jason Duesing, Midwestern's provost; "Pastor as Church Historian," led by Christian George, MBTS assistant professor of historical theology; "Pastor as Theologian," led by Strachan; "Pastor as Evangelist" led by John Mark Yeats, Midwestern College dean; "Portraits of a Woman in Ministry," led by Susie Hawkins and Karen Allen; "The Pastor and Social Justice," led by Ryan West, team leader of mercy ministry and community development at the North American Mission Board; "Pastor as Worship Leader," led by Aaron Ivey, pastor of worship at Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, Texas; and "Gospel-Centered Leadership," led by Charles Smith, MBTS vice president of institutional relations. Worship during the Sept. 26-27 conference was led by Ivey and the worship team from Austin Stone Community Church. To view the For the Church Conference, click here. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Evangelical divide seen in LifeWay Research survey by Bob Smietana Date: October 14, 2016 - Friday NASHVILLE (BP) -- Americans with evangelical beliefs share a great deal in common. They trust in Jesus alone, evangelize their neighbors and believe the Bible is the final authority in their lives. But when it comes to voting, race and political affiliation still divide evangelicals, according to a survey from Nashville-based LifeWay Research taken from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1, before the second presidential debate. Overall, fewer than half (45 percent) of those with evangelical beliefs planned to vote for Donald Trump, according to the survey. A third (31 percent) said they would vote for Hillary Clinton. Fifteen percent were undecided. One in 10 (9 percent) supported a third-party candidate. White Americans with evangelical beliefs favored Trump (65 percent) over Clinton (10 percent). Sixteen percent were undecided. Eight percent planned to vote for Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party candidate. African-Americans, Hispanic Americans and Asian-Americans with evangelical beliefs supported Clinton (62 percent) over Trump (15 percent). Thirteen percent were undecided. Seven percent supported Gary Johnson. LifeWay Research also found that party affiliation is a much stronger predictor of voting preferences than faith. Three-quarters of Republicans with evangelical beliefs planned to vote for Trump. Though a smaller sample, 75 percent of Democrats with evangelical beliefs planned to vote for Clinton. Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research, said the divides among evangelicals will remain regardless of twists and turns in the election season. "This group of Christians shares the same core beliefs -- but they don't vote the same way," McConnell said. "There are significant cultural and political divides among evangelicals that will remain long after the election is over." Politics more unifying than faith The online survey asked 1,000 representative Americans four questions about core evangelical beliefs -- the Bible, the crucifixion of Jesus, salvation and evangelism. Those who strongly agreed with all four (17 percent) qualified as having evangelical beliefs. The idea is to define evangelicals by belief rather than self-identified religious affiliation, McConnell said. "The evangelical label has picked up political and social overtones that mask any patterns that are actually tied to evangelical religious beliefs," he said. For example, many political surveys look only at self-identified white evangelicals who have tended to support Republican presidential candidates, including Trump. The pool of Americans with evangelical beliefs, however, is more diverse. Four in 10 Americans with evangelical beliefs are African-American, Hispanic American, Asian-American or other ethnic minority. Six in 10 are white. Those with evangelical beliefs also have more diverse political views, according to LifeWay Research. As part of the survey, researchers looked at how people with evangelical beliefs and churchgoers see the issues at play in the 2016 election. Topics like personal character, abortion and religious liberty -- often identified as key evangelical issues -- matter less in this election. Other pragmatic concerns like the economy and national security are more influential. For Americans with evangelical beliefs, a candidate's ability to improve the economy mattered most (26 percent), followed by national security (22 percent) and personal character (15 percent). Few emphasized Supreme Court nominees (10 percent), religious freedom (7 percent), immigration (5 percent) or abortion (4 percent). For self-identified Christians who go to church at least once a month, the economy (30 percent), national security (23 percent) and personal character (15 percent) topped their concerns. Likewise, few prioritized Supreme Court nominees (10 percent), religious freedom (6 percent), immigration (4 percent) or abortion (3 percent). Overall, the economy (30 percent) was the top concern for Americans regardless of religious affiliation in the LifeWay Research survey. National security (17 percent) and personal character (17 percent) also were significant. Supreme Court nominees (10 percent), immigration (5 percent), religious freedom (2 percent) and abortion (1 percent) were less important. "For churchgoers and those with evangelical beliefs, their pocketbook and personal safety are paramount," McConnell said. "Moral issues aren't a priority for many of them." Religion plays a role Still, religion does seem to affect voting patterns. Self-identified Christians who go to church at least once a month favored Trump (41 percent). A third (34 percent) planned to vote for Clinton. Eighteen percent were undecided. Six percent supported a third-party candidate. Americans who skip church were more likely to support Clinton (46 percent). A third (31 percent) planned to vote for Trump. Fifteen percent were undecided. Eight percent favored a third-party candidate. Those without evangelical beliefs also favored Clinton (45 percent). Thirty-two percent planned to vote for Trump. Sixteen percent were undecided. Eight percent planned to vote for a third-party candidate. A previous LifeWay Research poll of Protestant pastors found that most clergy don't expect Christians to vote the same way. Two-thirds (65 percent) disagreed with the statement, "Christians who truly vote their conscience will vote for the same candidate." Less than a third (29 percent) agreed. Six percent were not sure. McConnell said neither major party in the United States has a monopoly on biblical values. So it's no surprise, he said, that evangelicals who value the Bible will vote differently. "Until one party or one candidate embodies everything that evangelicals believe, there is no reason to expect them to vote the same way," he said. Still, McConnell worries that the polarizing rhetoric of the 2016 election will spill over into churches. The Christian faith is supposed to unite people "from every nation, tribe, people, and language around Jesus Christ, not a politician," said McConnell, citing the New Testament book of Revelation. "Christianity includes peoples from different political parties as well," he said. "Sometimes I think evangelicals forget that." Methodology: LifeWay Research conducted the study Sept. 27 to Oct. 1, 2016. The survey was conducted using the web-enabled KnowledgePanel, a probability-based panel designed to be representative of the U.S. population. Initially, participants are chosen scientifically by a random selection of telephone numbers and residential addresses. Persons in selected households are then invited by telephone or by mail to participate in the web-enabled KnowledgePanel. For those who agree to participate, but do not already have Internet access, GfK provides at no cost a laptop and ISP connection. Sample stratification and weights were used for gender by age, race/ethnicity, region, metro/non-metro, education and income to reflect the most recent U.S. Census data. The completed sample is 1,000 surveys. The sample provides 95 percent confidence that the sampling error does not exceed plus or minus 3.1 percent. Margins of error are higher in subgroups. Evangelical beliefs are defined using the NAE LifeWay Research Evangelical Beliefs Research Definition based on respondent beliefs. Respondents are asked their level of agreement with four separate statements using a four-point, forced-choice scale (strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree). Respondents are categorized as having evangelical beliefs if they strongly agree with all four statements: -- The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe. -- It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior. -- Jesus Christ's death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin. -- Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God's free gift of eternal salvation. -------------------------------------------------------------------- EDITORIAL:  Dios obra siempre by Por Oscar J. Fernandez Date: October 14, 2016 - Friday NOTA DEL EDITOR: La columna First-Person (De primera mano) es parte de la edición de hoy de BP en español. Para ver historias adicionales, vaya a http://www.bpnews.net/espanol. BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP) -- En la actualidad, los cristianos son perseguidos en muchas partes del mundo. Hace un tiempo, un grupo norteamericanos fueron en un viaje misionero a Afganistán para ayudar a la población civil. Estaban haciendo análisis clínicos para detectar y tratar enfermedades, y estaban enseñando a las mujeres y a los niños. Una noche un grupo de talibanes irrumpió en la aldea situada en una región apartada en las montañas de ese país. Los insurgentes dieron muerte a todos los miembros del grupo. Los pobladores de la aldea relataron, que los obligaron a presenciar la masacre. El jefe de los talibanes dijo que los mataban porque todos ellos tenían Biblias. ¿No le parece como si se tratara de una novela de ficción? Por muchos años hemos vivido confortablemente en este país. En muchas épocas hasta ha sido conveniente ser cristiano. Me llama la atención como algunos políticos que con sus actos muestras ser soldados de las huestes de Satanás, pero hasta se atreven a "bendecir". Hay muchas personas que están confundidas y algunas están muy temerosas cuando miran al futuro. Y esto no es más que el producto de habernos acostumbrado y haber dado por sentado que por ser cristianos la gente, nos aprecia y respeta. La Biblia está llena de ejemplos que nos muestran que aún en las peores situaciones que podamos estar atravesando, Dios siempre está obrando en nuestro favor. El libro de Éxodo siempre me ha fascinado. Hoy día me parece aún más importante, porque hay un tema que surge y se repite una y otra vez: El pueblo de Dios salió victorioso a pesar de todo. No por su fortaleza, sino por su debilidad. ¿Le parece que esto pudiera aplicarse a nosotros hoy? ¿Hay alguna situación de la que deba salir y no cree que tiene suficiente fuerza para ello? Al comienzo del libro de Éxodo aparecen dos mujeres hebreas que se llamaban Sifra y Fúa (Éxodo 1:15). Ellas jugaron un papel esencial para la preservación de la vida de los niños hebreos. Su rol fue tan importante que sus nombres aparecen en la Biblia. Sin embargo no sabemos el nombre de la madre y la hermana de Moisés ni incluso el de la princesa que lo adoptó. Estas dos mujeres jugaron un papel muy importante en la preservación de la vida del futuro líder del pueblo de Israel, protegiendo a los niños hebreos a pesar de las órdenes del faraón. Yo pienso que muchos israelitas pensaron que había llegado el fin, cuando oyeron que faraón había ordenado matar a todos los niños, para de esta manera frenar el crecimiento del pueblo de Israel. Las situación puede ser mala, y el futuro parecer todavía peor. Pero cuando solo vemos oscuridad a nuestro alrededor, podemos confiar serenos. La Biblia nos enseña que Dios desea que la gente reconozca que las cosas que han sido hechas se deben a Él. La gente que ha triunfado y ha vencido, ha sido con la ayuda de Él y no por su fortaleza, sabiduría o destreza. Cuando Dios decide usar a alguna persona, la mayor parte de las veces, Él usa a gente que nosotros nunca pudimos imaginar que pudieran ser usadas por Dios. En el caso de Moisés, Dios usó a su hermana que era poco más que una niña, y a la princesa que era gentil y formaba parte de la familia que estaba oprimiendo al pueblo de Dios. ¿Se fija que nuestro Dios es creativo y hace cosas que nosotros nunca pudiéramos, ni si siquiera imaginar? La madre de Moisés lo ocultó por tres meses. Después lo colocó en una cesta y lo puso en el río Nilo. Su hermanita a escondidas estaba observando para ver qué pasaba. La hija de Faraón vio al niño en el río y tuvo compasión de él. Siempre me ha llamado la atención la manera en la que la Biblia describe este hecho. La princesa se dejó llevar por sus sentimientos. No hay otra información acerca de las razones que la princesa pudo tener para quedarse con Moisés, desobedeciendo la orden de faraón de sumergir y ahogar en el río a todo niño hebreo. Y la hermanita de Moisés se las arregló para que la propia madre de Moisés fuera contratada como niñera. De la misma manera, Dios pone personas en nuestro camino que van a hacer que los planes de Dios para nuestra vida se cumplan por medio de ellas. En ocasiones se trata de personas de las que podemos esperar que nos hagan bien, pero en otros casos puede ser alguien de quien nosotros nunca hubiéramos podido pensar o esperar que algo bueno pudiera venir de ellas. No debe sorprendernos si Dios utiliza a personas que no son cristianas para hacer que Sus planes se cumplan en nuestras vidas. Yo pudiera escribir un libro, solo con algunos de los ejemplos de la manera maravillosa en la que Dios ha obrado en mi vida, usando a cristianos, a no creyentes, a ateos y hasta a enemigos del cristianismo para mostrarme Su gracia. Una parte de nuestra confianza en Dios es la seguridad de que Él continuará ayudándonos por medio de las personas que Él pondrá en nuestras vidas. Pero esto no quiere decir que debemos asumir que Dios nos librará siempre de los problemas. Sin embargo, Él siempre estará obrando en nuestras circunstancias y Su propósito siempre es darnos lo mejor. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Amid fallen trees & debris, Baptist teams carry hope by Josie Rabbit Date: October 14, 2016 - Friday PALM COAST, Fla. (BP) -- Though tragedy has been a recurrent theme in Holocaust survivor Margaret Oettinger's life, so has hope. When a large tree fell on her property during Hurricane Matthew's destruction, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers, including Florida Baptist chainsaw teams, were there to provide help and hope. As volunteers cut away the tree, Oettinger became one of many helped by SBDR teams in recent days. And the teams didn't just come bearing chainsaws. They came with prayer as well. "We worked in teams and often visited folks in groups of two or three," Alabama Baptist chaplain Sara Witherington said. "We had a lot of great visits.... Just to be able to pray over others and comfort their overwhelmed senses was a blessing, and we saw real fruit from that." Witherington was paired with fellow Alabama chaplain Dan Wiggins during an emotional and life-changing visit to the home of Floridian Cheryl Briggs. "It was amazing how things worked out in this situation," Witherington said. "Dan was across the street praying with another family when he saw what looked like a huge pile of debris outside Cheryl's home. He went over there and began praying with her." Briggs, along with her husband Tony Benvienuto had extensive damage to both the outside and inside of their home. Fully grown trees littered their yard, their branches crushing the inside of the home, knocking out windows and splintering furniture. "We didn't know it at the time, but Tony had just about given up on the church," Witherington said. "After our first visit, we decided to come back. The mud-out crews had followed Dan across the street the first time to begin tearing out sheetrock and fixing the inside of the home. Chainsaw crews were also working on the outside. But there was a lot to be done." When the chaplains came back to continue praying and the crews to finish the job, Briggs and Benvienuto wept. "Tony grabbed his chest and told Dan that we'd 'given him more than we'd ever know,'" Witherington recounted. "He said we'd given him his heart back." Briggs explained to Witherington that her husband hadn't been to church in years because he had "lost faith in people helping and caring about others." "Cheryl told me on our second visit that her husband's faith was restored," Witherington said. "Tony had told his wife that SBDR and all our work had showed him people do care and that the church is full of caring people too." More than 1,550 SBDR teams are active in Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina hurricane relief efforts. With approximately 127 Bibles distributed to the four affected states and 61 Gospel presentations made, SBDR teams are using the storm's tragic aftermath as a means of reaching North America with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Twenty-one states already have teams on the ground or in the process of sending teams this weekend. According to Baptist disaster relief director Mark Gauthier in Virginia, Hurricane Matthew left most of its most significant damage up and down the coast of North and South Carolina. SBDR laundry units from across North America are being called to the Carolinas as well as feeding units and chainsaw crews. North Carolina disaster relief coordinator Gaylon Moss believes "there are many more weeks of hard work to go" before anyone on the state's Atlantic coast will be back to their previous daily routines. Moss, though, does see promise in the work that SBDR and various state disaster relief teams have accomplished thus far. "Though some towns in the Carolinas are completely cut off and under water, we've got adoption plans in place for state disaster relief crews to come in here and do all they can," Moss said. "Many units and crews are headed here, or are already here, to help. So, we're very blessed in that." Those wishing to donate to SBDR relief can contact the Baptist convention in their state or donations.namb.net/dr-donations. For phone donations, call 1-866-407-NAMB (6262) or mail checks to NAMB, P.O. Box 116543, Atlanta, GA 30368-6543. Designate checks for "Disaster Relief." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Campaign furor prompts advice from pastors, leaders by Tom Strode Date: October 14, 2016 - Friday WASHINGTON (BP) -- Southern Baptist pastors and leaders are weighing in with advice on the divisive presidential election in the wake of the latest disturbing revelations about the major parties' candidates. Columns and posts received by Baptist Press reflect what has been true for months among evangelical Christians -- a division between those who have grave reservations about voting for either major party candidate and those who have determined they cannot do so. Many Southern Baptists and other evangelicals oppose Hillary Clinton not only because of her ethical problems but her policy positions, particularly her advocacy for unfettered abortion rights. Others refuse to support Donald Trump because of what they describe as his autocratic inclinations, abusive rhetoric, immoral lifestyle and untrustworthiness on moral and religious liberty issues. The opinion pieces by Southern Baptists followed the Oct. 7 release of a 2005 video in which Trump described in objectifying and lewd terms women other than his wife and his efforts to make sexual advances toward them. On the same day, WikiLeaks dumped more emails that showed Clinton and her staff in a poor light during her time as secretary of state. More revelations have followed in both stories. In a column published Thursday (Oct. 13) in Baptist Press, Mark Ballard, president of Northeastern Baptist College in Bennington, Vt., encouraged Christians to approach the election in light of their citizenship in both earthly and heavenly kingdoms. Ballard, a member of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee, proposed 10 principles for fulfilling "dual citizenship responsibilities," including recognizing "the only hope for America is Jesus" and refraining from defending sin. Here are summaries of various columns submitted by Southern Baptists to BP: -- John Yeats, executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention and recording secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention, called for Christians not to be "naïve with our duty to vote" but to recognize the 2016 election is "about which ideology will govern our nation." In a column published by The Pathway, the Missouri convention's newsjournal, Yeats urged voters to remember the 5 million unborn children who will be aborted in the next four years. "One candidate represents an ideology exalting a woman's right to choose and, if elected, is on record to appoint justices and staff administrators/regulators to perpetuate the slaughter of little children all the way through the third trimester of a pregnancy," he said of Clinton. While Trump's "style and life history create heightened levels of insecurity," the hope exists he "will somewhat adhere to his own party's [pro-life] platform with his appointments," Yeats wrote. -- Robin Hadaway, professor of missions and dean of students at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., said in an election with "no good candidates" voters have basically five choices -- not voting, Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party, Jill Stein of the Green Party, Clinton or Trump. Regarding the major-party candidates, Hadaway said in a column published by the Christian Index, the Georgia Baptist Convention's newspaper, "Evangelicals are in the unenviable position of either supporting a candidate whose views they despise but whose demeanor they like (or can tolerate) or supporting a candidate whose conduct they abhor but whose political and social views they basically share." Hadaway, in voting on Nov. 8, wrote that he would decide: "[W]hich candidate supports my pro-life, pro-marriage and fiscally conservative values? Therefore, in this year's election I will reluctantly choose, not the 'lesser of two evils,' but the best of the five available choices." -- Barry Fields, pastor of Hawesville (Ky.) Baptist Church, indicated he could not support Trump or Clinton. "I've never voted for someone who supports abortion in my life and never will as long as God gives me breath," Fields wrote, "but if I'm truly going to be pro-life in every area of life, neither can I endorse someone who condones sexual assault, who openly boasts of his sexual conquests and rates women on scales of 1-10, who consistently makes racist, homophobic, and misogynistic remarks...." Those who say, "'[W]e cannot afford to sit this election out,' had better be prepared to consider just how many principles they are willing to sacrifice in order to 'win,' principles for which our forefathers died," Fields wrote. "There are some things worse than losing an election, and that is sinning against one's conscience. My ultimate referendum is not standing before an independent ballot box, but standing before the judgment seat of Christ." -- Nathan Finn, dean of the school of theology and missions and professor of Christian thought and tradition at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., encouraged Southern Baptists "to show neighbor love to those with whom you disagree. God forbid that any of us see our favored candidates elected but also see our testimony compromised along the way because of our failure to love those with whom we disagree." "We cannot allow our political passions to cause us to demonize others, even as we make thoughtful (and hopefully winsome) arguments for our views," he wrote. Finn offered seven principles to guide Southern Baptists' political discourse, including remembering those with whom they disagree are image bearers of God "whose opinions are worthy of respect" and: "At the end of the day, regardless of which candidate is elected, our confession as Christians will still be the same: 'Jesus Christ is Lord.'" -- Doug Mize, interim pastor of Greer (S.C.) First Baptist Church, also urged Christians to display grace during the election season. Christians "now have a unique opportunity to display grace for one another, seasoning our speech with salt, in a manner attracting others to the Gospel," Mize wrote. "One commonality on both of the extreme sides of the Trump issue is that both camps say, 'Look at what is at stake,'" Mize wrote. "When it comes to the everyday world we live in, what is vitally at stake is the witness we are living in front of others. "For those of you who have settled this voting issue, now is the time to show graceful empathy to those undecided. It is especially needed as you encounter others who also love Jesus but are voting different than you. I know that is hard but please don't vilify them, especially in a public forum like social media. It hurts our collective witness," Mize wrote. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Ofrenda Annie Armstrong 2016 la segunda más alta registrada by Por Diana Chandler Date: October 14, 2016 - Friday ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) -- Los casi $59 millones dados a la Ofrenda de Resurrección Annie Armstrong 2016 se clasifican en el segundo lugar más alto en la historia de la ofrenda, anunció hoy (12 de octubre) la Junta de Misiones Norteamericanas. Los bautistas del sur dieron $58,860,553 en el año fiscal que terminó el 30 de septiembre a la ofrenda nombrada por la destacada misionera Annie Armstrong, superada solamente por los $59,463,281 dados en 2007, dijo NAMB. "Esto es extraordinario en un año en el que muchas de nuestras iglesias dieron mucho más en respuesta al llamado especial de la Junta de Misiones Internacionales," escribió el presidente de NAMB, Kevin Ezell en una columna de agradecimiento a los bautistas del sur. "Con humildad vemos cómo Dios se ha movido de nuevo a través de los bautistas del sur y nos sentimos emocionados por lo que esto significa para nuestros misioneros que sirven en los Estados Unidos y Canadá." Los bautistas de Carolina del Norte y Alabama dieron la cantidad más grande este año, con $6,058,574 y $5,878,970, respectivamente, dijo NAMB. "Estamos muy agradecidos por los pastores, líderes estatales y todos los bautistas del sur que dieron tan generosamente en esos estados," dijo Ezell. La Convención Bautista de Tennessee notablemente hizo el incremento más grande en la ofrenda de este año, dijo NAMB, con un total de $4,561,392 lo que constituyó $376,878 más que en el 2015. Las convenciones de otros estados destacadas por su incremento en el dar son, alfabéticamente: Arizona, Arkansas, los Bautistas del Sur de Texas, los Bautistas del Sur Conservadores de Virginia, California, Carolina del Norte, Carolina del Sur, la Convención del Noroeste, las Dakotas, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota-Wisconsin, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Virginia del Oeste y Wyoming. Aunque las iglesias bautistas del sur en el sur están más cerca de la congregación efectiva por el índice de población, con Mississippi al tope de la lista con una iglesia por cada 1,395, Ezell dijo que las contribuciones son aun más cruciales para alcanzar al perdido en estados como New Jersey y New York. En estos estados de Nueva Inglaterra, dijo, solo hay una iglesia bautista del sur por cada 75,124 y 57,900 personas, respectivamente. En la provincia de Quebec, Canadá, el índice es una iglesia por cada 185,349 personas. "NAMB está enviando recursos a áreas no sureñas," dijo. Vean la columna de Kevin Ezell en totalidad a continuación de este reporte. ********* Ofrenda Annie: Gracias bautistas del sur Por Kevin Ezell ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) -- Los bautistas del sur son conocidos por su generosidad hacia las misiones y el 2016 no fue una excepción. Estoy feliz de reportar que el dar a la Ofrenda de Resurrección Annie Armstrong de este año totalizó $58,860,553 -- ¡la segunda ofrenda Annie más grande nunca antes dada! Esto es extraordinario en un año en el que muchas de nuestras iglesias dieron mucho más en respuesta al llamado especial de la Junta de Misiones Internacionales," escribió el presidente de NAMB, Kevin Ezell en una columna de agradecimiento a los bautistas del sur. "Con humildad vemos cómo Dios se ha movido de nuevo a través de los bautistas del sur y nos sentimos emocionados por lo que esto significa para nuestros misioneros que sirven en los Estados Unidos y Canadá. La necesidad en Norteamérica es grande. Hemos hecho un gran trabajo alcanzando el sur. En Mississippi hay una iglesia bautista del sur por cada 1,395 personas. En Alabama hay una por cada 1,451. Estamos agradecidos por tantos bautistas del sur en el sur -- ellos dan el 87 por ciento de todas las donaciones al Programa Cooperativo. Aunque estas iglesias ayudan a alcanzar a sus prójimos para Cristo, NAMB está enviando recursos a áreas no bautistas del sur. Estados como New York solamente tienen una iglesia bautista del sur por cada 57,900 personas. O New Jersey donde hay una iglesia por cada 75,124. Y Canadá donde solamente hay una iglesia bautista en la provincia de Quebec por cada 185,349 personas. Estos números son asombrosos cuando se considera cuánto más acceso al evangelio tienen algunas personas que otras. La ofrenda Annie le da a NAMB la mitad de su ingreso anual. Todo lo que se da a Annie va directamente al campo -- a los misioneros, a las iglesias plantas, a recursos de evangelismo a entrenar y equipar a la siguiente generación de misioneros. Un agradecimiento especial para los bautistas de Carolina del Norte y de Alabama. Una vez más estas convenciones estatales están a la cabeza en las ofrendas a Annie. Carolina del Norte es número uno con $6,058,574 y Alabama fue una segunda muy fuerte con $5,878,970. Estamos muy agradecidos por los pastores, líderes y todos los bautistas del sur que dieron tan generosamente en esos estados. También me siento grandemente animado por el incremento en la ofrenda Annie que vimos de tantas convenciones estatales compañeras. Aquellas que marcaron incrementos este año incluyen Arizona, Arkansas, los Bautistas del Sur de Texas, los Bautistas del Sur Conservadores de Virginia, California, Carolina del Norte, Carolina del Sur, la Convención del Noroeste, las Dakotas, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota -- Wisconsin, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Virginia del Oeste y Wyoming. La convención estatal con el mayor incremento a Annie fue Tennessee con $376,878 más que el año pasado. Su total fue de $4,561,392. Gracias pastores por guiar a su iglesia a priorizar las misiones y a dar sacrificialmente a esta ofrenda. Gracias Unión Femenil Misionera por todo lo que hacen para promover la ofrenda Annie y por propugnar las misiones en nuestras iglesias. Sus ofrendas significan mucho para nuestros misioneros, muchos de los cuales han hecho grandes sacrificios y han dejado atrás seres amados para servir en algunos lugares muy peligrosos. Y está haciendo una diferencia eternal a los miles de personas a las que nuestros misioneros les están presentando a Jesús cada año. Esto es finalmente por lo que damos y estamos humildemente agradecidos de ver a Dios trabajando tan poderosamente a través de los bautistas del sur. --30-- Kevin Ezell es el presidente de la Junta de Misiones Norteamericanas. -------------------------------------------------------------------- El huracán Matthew: BGR se enfoca en Cuba by Por David Roach Date: October 14, 2016 - Friday BARACOA, Cuba (BP) -- Aunque los reportajes en los medios de comunicación masiva sobre la devastación causada por el huracán Matthew en el Caribe se han centrado en Haití, la organización bautista del sur de ayuda humanitaria Baptist Global Response planifica enfocar sus esfuerzos de ayuda en Cuba, donde se han reportado daños "masivos" y la ayuda humanitaria es más escasa. El oriente de Cuba parece haber "recibido mucho más daño en la infraestructura" que en Haití, dijo Jeff Palmer, director ejecutivo de BGR, a Baptist Press. "Los golpeó un poco más fuerte … No sabemos exactamente cuántas vidas se han perdido. Hemos tenido algunos reportes de colaboradores en esta área de Cuba diciendo que el daño es masivo." Matthew tocó tierra en Haití y Cuba el 4 de octubre como un huracán de categoría 4. En Haití, se han reportado por lo menos 478 personas muertas, según Reuters. El periódico The Miami Herald dijo que hasta el 6 de octubre no se han reportado muertes en Cuba, aunque Palmer dijo "lo que esperamos de una tormenta de esta magnitud es que sí habrá" fatalidades. En Haití, BGR "estará haciendo proyectos pequeños con personal local," dijo Patrick Melancon, director de capacitación y respuestas ante desastres en BGR, según su correo electrónico del 7 de octubre. Mientras tanto, la Convención Bautista de Florida en conjunto con la Confraternidad Misionera de Haití ya han provisto arroz y agua para las áreas más afectadas en el país. Las convenciones de Florida y Haití han tenido una relación de cooperación durante las últimas dos décadas. "Las organizaciones fuera de Haití que estén intentando ir a la isla en este momento, van a estar muy frustradas," dijo Melancon, "por la cantidad de organizaciones no gubernamentales que ya están trabajando ahí. Habrá competencia por los recursos en los mercados locales e incluso competencia por un espacio en las rampas del aeropuerto." La página de internet de la Administración de las Naciones Unidas para el Socorro y la Rehabilitación señaló el 7 de octubre que se habían otorgado 221 reportes y apelaciones de financiamiento para Haití al inicio de Matthew. En contraste, parece que sólo se otorgaron 20 reportes y apelaciones para Cuba. Esta es una de las razones por las cuales BGR concentrará sus esfuerzos en Cuba en conjunto con la Convención Bautista de Cuba Oriental y las iglesias locales, dijo Melancon. BGR conducirá "inspecciones de campo en los próximos días para ayudar a tener una idea más clara de lo que está pasando realmente" en Cuba, dijo Palmer. Entre los efectos de Matthew en Cuba reportados por el diario Herald hubo casas "reducidas a yescas," severas interrupciones de energía eléctrica, caminos destruidos y daños a más de 448,000 plantaciones de plátanos y 8 millones de sembradíos de tomates. Aproximadamente el 80 por ciento de las casas en la ciudad de Baracoa sufrieron daños en los techos. La respuesta de BGR, según el mensaje por correo electrónico de Melancon, tendrá el objetivo de proveer agua potable, alimentos, refugios y asistencia médica. Palmer dijo que los aliados locales bautistas llevarán la batuta en compartir el Evangelio en conjunción con los esfuerzos de rehabilitación. Frank S. Page, presidente del Comité Ejecutivo de la Convención Bautista del Sur, dijo que él ha estado en contacto con BGR así como los oficiales de Ayuda en Desastres de los Bautistas del Sur a nivel estatal. Instó a los creyentes a orar por los afectados y donar dinero para los esfuerzos de ayuda. "Como muchos de ustedes, mi reacción inicial es apresurarme a ofrecer una mano de ayuda en vista de semejante nivel de devastación," dijo Page a BP en unos comentarios por escrito. "Vamos a confiar en que nos guíen aquellos que ya tienen los pies sobre esa área. Me han dicho que su mayor necesidad ahora mismo es la de fondos que permitan que BGR y Ayuda en Desastres a nivel estatal puedan abordar la situación a través de sus colaboradores en el ministerio que ya están ahí presentes." "Se necesitarán voluntarios; pero por ahora, la manera más efectiva de abordar la situación es a través de las personas capacitadas localmente que conocen el idioma, la cultura y la ubicación de los recursos. Considere hacer una donación a los fondos que se usarán para los viajes que BGR y Ayuda en Desastres harán en tu nombre," dijo Page. Pidió oración por Haití, Cuba y las Bahamas y las costas este de los Estados Unidos, solicitando una intercesión específica por: --"Que nuestro Dios proteja a su pueblo viviendo en estas áreas con una protección divina, librándolos para que en nombre de Jesús puedan ofrecer asistencia para sus vecinos heridos, dando no sólo ayuda humanitaria, si no la esperanza que tenemos en Jesucristo." --"Que el Señor dirija a los miles que han de hacer donaciones generosas para ayudar a aquellas vidas volcadas por esta tormenta masiva"; y --"Que no nos distraigamos de orar con valentía que el Nombre del Señor sea glorificado mientras Él se muestra fuertemente de múltiples maneras en estas áreas afectadas por la tormenta." Si deseas hacer una donación para ayudar a los afectados por el huracán en la zona Caribe, puedes hacerlo a través de BGR yendo a goBGR.org. Para hacer una donación para socorrer a los afectados por el huracán en los Estados Unidos, donde se espera que Matthew cause daños este fin de semana, puedes hacerla a través de las convenciones bautistas en los estados afectados y la Junta de Misiones Norteamericanas yendo a NAMB.net. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Iglesia Celebration hace una diferencia en New Orleans by Por Brian Blackwell/Baptist Message Date: October 14, 2016 - Friday METAIRIE, La. (BP) -- El joven anglo, oriundo de New Orleans, admite que es la persona con menos probabilidades para dirigir una congregación hispana de 200 personas en su ciudad natal. Sin embargo, cuando David Speed sirve como pastor de la Iglesia Celebration en Metairie y entrena líderes para llevar a cabo la Gran Comisión en New Orleans y más allá, se da cuenta que eso no sería posible sin la ayuda de la Ofrenda para las Misiones Estatales Georgia Barnette. "Ha habido tiempos en los que mi esposa y yo hemos hablado y parece que Dios nos ha escogido para estar en este puesto porque eso personifica que él es grande en nuestra debilidad," dijo Speed. "Por fuera, soy un joven blanco estadounidense y mi esposa es de la cultura guatemalteca. "Pero Dios es fiel y estamos viendo a gente bautizarse y dándole su vida al Señor," dijo Speed. "Dios continúa confirmando que estamos exactamente donde él quiere que estemos. No hay mejor lugar para estar." Llamado improbable Dios sembró un deseo dentro de Speed de ministrar a los hispanos cuando vivía en New Orleans poco después de que el huracán Katrina devastó la ciudad. Una tarde que Speed iba manejando, al pasar por un almacén de materiales de construcción notó a 300 hispanos sentados en el estacionamiento esperando que alguien llegara y los recogiera para ir a trabajar. Él deseaba comunicarse con ellos, pero no podía porque no hablaba su lenguaje. Entonces, un amigo que vivía en México convenció a Speed de trasladarse allá en mayo de 2007. Durante dos años, Speed aprendió el idioma español y ayudó a plantar iglesias en áreas rurales en las afueras de Acapulco. Regresó a EE.UU. en julio de 2009, con planes de asistir al Seminario Teológico Bautista New Orleans. Pero un mes después, Speed supo que su corazón estaba en un país cuya gente hablara español y dejó EE.UU. de nuevo, esta vez para Guatemala. Mientras trabajaba en un orfanatorio allá, conoció a su esposa. Sirvieron juntos hasta que él sintió que Dios los estaba guiando de vuelta a EE.UU. en 2012. Mientras buscaban la siguiente misión de Dios, la pareja terminó asistiendo a Celebration Church en Metairie. Speed le traducía los servicios a su esposa que hablaba un inglés limitado para ese entonces. El pastor Dennis Watson supo de la habilidad de Speed para traducir y concretó una reunión con él. Esto preparó el terreno para la Iglesia Celebration, parte de las siete instalaciones de Celebration Church. "Me preguntó si tenía alguna pregunta para él, y le pregunté que si Celebration tenía un ministerio tan influyente en New Orleans, por qué no tenía un ministerio en español," dijo Speed. "Él dijo que esa era una buena pregunta y que orara si sería algo bueno que yo considerara servir acá. Y eso se volvió en lo que tenemos hoy, con muchos que asisten durante la semana para los Grupos de Vida y hasta 200 personas los domingos en la mañana para adorar juntos en español." La Iglesia Celebration comenzó en febrero de 2014 cuando Speed celebró un Grupo de Vida en el hogar de una familia hispana en Metairie con ocho personas. Dos meses después, la asistencia había crecido a 20 y entonces comenzaron a reunirse en las instalaciones de Celebration Church en Metairie. Para finales del año, la congregación había crecido a 45 sin mostrar señales de reducir la velocidad, y pasaron los servicios del sábado en la noche al domingo en la mañana. Hoy en día, la congregación también tiene un programa de discipulado los miércoles en la noche y seis Grupos de Vida que se reúnen durante la semana, y llegaron a su máxima asistencia el Domingo de Resurrección de este año, con 260 presentes. Al crecimiento numérico de esta congregación ha contribuido el bautismo de 31 en dos años. "He visto a Dios trayendo personas a nuestro ministerio que nunca antes habían estado en una iglesia o que habían estado expuestos a ella, pero no tenía un verdadero conocimiento de Jesús," dijo Speed. "Hemos visto a personas llegar, experimentar el evangelio y aplicarlo a sus vidas. Esto solamente confirma que mi esposa y yo estamos justo donde se supone que estemos en este momento de nuestras vidas y nos emociona el futuro del ministerio hispano en New Orleans." Con más de 100,000 hispanos en el área de New Orleans, él espera un día ayudar a comenzar más iglesias hispanas en el área. Pero para hacerlo se requiere que Dios levante más líderes varones. "Nuestra meta es duplicar lo hecho acá en Metairie y poner una iglesia hispana en todas nuestras siete instalaciones del área," dijo Speed. "Por favor, oren para que tengamos más varones que se ofrezcan y vengan, preparados no solamente para compartir la visión que tenemos sino también para desempeñar el papel vital que necesitamos de ellos." -------------------------------------------------------------------- La Conferencia Estatal Hispana de Evangelismo de Oklahoma anima by Por Brian Hobbs/The Baptist Messenger Date: October 14, 2016 - Friday OKLAHOMA CITY (BP) -- Más de 350 pastores y miembros de iglesias hispanas de Oklahoma se reunieron en Capitol Hill en Oklahoma City, para la Conferencia Estatal Hispana de Evangelismo de la Convención General Bautista de Oklahoma el 26 y 27 de agosto. Hubo 25 iglesias bautistas hispanas representadas, incluyendo iglesias de Guymon, Ponca City, Duncan, Durant, Poteau, Ardmore y otras ciudades. El evento consistió de predicación, adoración a través de la música, lectura de las Escrituras y talleres de trabajo. El tema de la Conferencia fue "Cuenten la Gran Historia." Lucas 16:19-31 fue el pasaje tema de la conferencia y los participantes desde niños a adultos fueron entrenados en cómo contar esa historia en forma evangelizadora. Los talleres de entrenamiento fueron conducidos por hombres, mujeres, jóvenes y niños de cada edad. Otros talleres incluyeron el Conecte>1 Estrategia de evangelismo para la Escuela Dominical y Evangelismo en la iglesia del siglo XXI, presentados por el orador principal de la conferencia Johnny Sangoquiza, pastor/evangelista, autor, y profesor, quien predicó el viernes en la noche sobre el endemoniado gadareno, el poder transformador de Dios, contarles a otros, comenzar con su familia, las grandes cosas que Dios ha hecho, y contar la gran historia del evangelio. El sábado, predicó sobre el texto tema de Lázaro y el hombre rico y llamó a todos a un profundo compromiso a evangelizar al perdido. Este año, el orador especial para la conferencia de jóvenes, Jorge Mendoza, pastor de enseñanza de la Iglesia Blueprint, una iglesia multiétnica en Atlanta, Ga., le proveyó un excelente entrenamiento a la juventud. La adoración fue dirigida por Jaime Espinoza y el grupo de adoración de Oklahoma City, Ríos de Agua Viva. Fueron presentados certificados a los pastores de las 10 iglesias hispanas líderes en bautismos este año pasado. Fueron en orden de número de uno a 10, iglesia y pastor: OKC, Northwest en Español, Mauricio Mejía; OKC, Ríos de Agua Viva, Cesar García; Poteau, hispana, Carlos Aguilar; OKC, Southern Hills Hispana, Jesús Villa; OKC, Capitol Hill Hispana, Isaías Vargas; OKC, Emmanuel, Juan Luna; OKC, Nueva Vida, José Cifuentes; Edmond Hispana, Alfaro Orozco; Beaver Hispana, Miguel Facio; y OKC, Iglesia Bautista Central, Félix Cabrera. Mark McClellan, decano de Ministerios Cristianos de la Escuela Robert Haskins y especialista en evangelismo étnico, fue alentado por el espíritu de unidad y renovada pasión por el evangelismo y por alcanzar el estado para Cristo. "Esta fue una conferencia maravillosa y todos salimos desafiados y muchos estuvieron mejor equipados para llevar a cabo la Gran Comisión," dijo. "El orador principal fue excepcional, y los líderes de los talleres hicieron un trabajo excelente." Ever Borunda, quien sirve como decano asociado de la Escuela Haskins y pastor de la congregación hispana Rancho Village, cree que Dios va a levantar una nueva generación de pastores hispanos y líderes de ministerio en el estado. Alan Quigley presentó saludos de parte de Anthony Jordan y de la Convención General Bautista de Oklahoma (BGCO por sus siglas en inglés). Quigley se sumó al tema y propósito de la conferencia exhortando a aquellos que asistieron a evangelizar su mundo. Les dijo a los participantes que las iglesias de la BGCO apoyaban su ministerio. La conferencia fue provista por las generosas ofrendas de los bautistas de Oklahoma a través del Programa Cooperativo. -------------------------------------------------------------------- EDITORIAL:  Dios obra siempre by Por Oscar J. Fernandez Date: October 14, 2016 - Friday BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP) -- En la actualidad, los cristianos son perseguidos en muchas partes del mundo. Hace un tiempo, un grupo norteamericanos fueron en un viaje misionero a Afganistán para ayudar a la población civil. Estaban haciendo análisis clínicos para detectar y tratar enfermedades, y estaban enseñando a las mujeres y a los niños. Una noche un grupo de talibanes irrumpió en la aldea situada en una región apartada en las montañas de ese país. Los insurgentes dieron muerte a todos los miembros del grupo. Los pobladores de la aldea relataron, que los obligaron a presenciar la masacre. El jefe de los talibanes dijo que los mataban porque todos ellos tenían Biblias. ¿No le parece como si se tratara de una novela de ficción? Por muchos años hemos vivido confortablemente en este país. En muchas épocas hasta ha sido conveniente ser cristiano. Me llama la atención como algunos políticos que con sus actos muestras ser soldados de las huestes de Satanás, pero hasta se atreven a "bendecir". Hay muchas personas que están confundidas y algunas están muy temerosas cuando miran al futuro. Y esto no es más que el producto de habernos acostumbrado y haber dado por sentado que por ser cristianos la gente, nos aprecia y respeta. La Biblia está llena de ejemplos que nos muestran que aún en las peores situaciones que podamos estar atravesando, Dios siempre está obrando en nuestro favor. El libro de Éxodo siempre me ha fascinado. Hoy día me parece aún más importante, porque hay un tema que surge y se repite una y otra vez: El pueblo de Dios salió victorioso a pesar de todo. No por su fortaleza, sino por su debilidad. ¿Le parece que esto pudiera aplicarse a nosotros hoy? ¿Hay alguna situación de la que deba salir y no cree que tiene suficiente fuerza para ello? Al comienzo del libro de Éxodo aparecen dos mujeres hebreas que se llamaban Sifra y Fúa (Éxodo 1:15). Ellas jugaron un papel esencial para la preservación de la vida de los niños hebreos. Su rol fue tan importante que sus nombres aparecen en la Biblia. Sin embargo no sabemos el nombre de la madre y la hermana de Moisés ni incluso el de la princesa que lo adoptó. Estas dos mujeres jugaron un papel muy importante en la preservación de la vida del futuro líder del pueblo de Israel, protegiendo a los niños hebreos a pesar de las órdenes del faraón. Yo pienso que muchos israelitas pensaron que había llegado el fin, cuando oyeron que faraón había ordenado matar a todos los niños, para de esta manera frenar el crecimiento del pueblo de Israel. Las situación puede ser mala, y el futuro parecer todavía peor. Pero cuando solo vemos oscuridad a nuestro alrededor, podemos confiar serenos. La Biblia nos enseña que Dios desea que la gente reconozca que las cosas que han sido hechas se deben a Él. La gente que ha triunfado y ha vencido, ha sido con la ayuda de Él y no por su fortaleza, sabiduría o destreza. Cuando Dios decide usar a alguna persona, la mayor parte de las veces, Él usa a gente que nosotros nunca pudimos imaginar que pudieran ser usadas por Dios. En el caso de Moisés, Dios usó a su hermana que era poco más que una niña, y a la princesa que era gentil y formaba parte de la familia que estaba oprimiendo al pueblo de Dios. ¿Se fija que nuestro Dios es creativo y hace cosas que nosotros nunca pudiéramos, ni si siquiera imaginar? La madre de Moisés lo ocultó por tres meses. Después lo colocó en una cesta y lo puso en el río Nilo. Su hermanita a escondidas estaba observando para ver qué pasaba. La hija de Faraón vio al niño en el río y tuvo compasión de él. Siempre me ha llamado la atención la manera en la que la Biblia describe este hecho. La princesa se dejó llevar por sus sentimientos. No hay otra información acerca de las razones que la princesa pudo tener para quedarse con Moisés, desobedeciendo la orden de faraón de sumergir y ahogar en el río a todo niño hebreo. Y la hermanita de Moisés se las arregló para que la propia madre de Moisés fuera contratada como niñera. De la misma manera, Dios pone personas en nuestro camino que van a hacer que los planes de Dios para nuestra vida se cumplan por medio de ellas. En ocasiones se trata de personas de las que podemos esperar que nos hagan bien, pero en otros casos puede ser alguien de quien nosotros nunca hubiéramos podido pensar o esperar que algo bueno pudiera venir de ellas. No debe sorprendernos si Dios utiliza a personas que no son cristianas para hacer que Sus planes se cumplan en nuestras vidas. Yo pudiera escribir un libro, solo con algunos de los ejemplos de la manera maravillosa en la que Dios ha obrado en mi vida, usando a cristianos, a no creyentes, a ateos y hasta a enemigos del cristianismo para mostrarme Su gracia. Una parte de nuestra confianza en Dios es la seguridad de que Él continuará ayudándonos por medio de las personas que Él pondrá en nuestras vidas. Pero esto no quiere decir que debemos asumir que Dios nos librará siempre de los problemas. Sin embargo, Él siempre estará obrando en nuestras circunstancias y Su propósito siempre es darnos lo mejor.