The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-10/19/2015 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Rugby opens doors for churches in the U.K. by Samantha Conners Date: October 19, 2015 - Monday LONDON (BP) -- As rugby attracts attention around the globe during the sport's 2015 World Cup, churches in the United Kingdom are using the event to draw people together, build relationships, and reach their communities for Christ. "The reason why we've thrown [this rugby party] is largely just to create a presence in the community," said Rev. Ross Gunderson of St. Barnabas Church of England in Dulwich, London. "I think quite often churches can be a lot of things, but yet, they're not always a voice for just the community-building event." Building community around rugby is what Engage 2015 had in mind when they created a website along with outreach and evangelism resources for churches to use during the Rugby World Cup, which began Sept. 18 and will end Oct. 31. A variety of churches have contributed to the events calendar on the Engage 2015 website, including Church of England, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterian and more -- all joining together with one goal: sharing the love of Christ. Engage 2015 has collected and shared the testimonies of popular rugby players to draw a direct link between faith and sports. David Chawner, U.K. coordinator for Engage 2015, noted, "I've been involved in professional sport for 15 years now, and when you get out there you find that many people are actually quite interested in spiritual things and want to know more, but they very rarely step over the doorstep of a church. But when we go to them, they're interested and they're open." The Rugby World Cup party held at St. Barnabas was an open door for the community to watch the match, enjoy food, and get to know the church. Gunderson estimated the crowd was made up of 60 percent churchgoers and 40 percent people new to the church. A local resident who attended the party said, "Yeah, first time to come to the church. Really lovely event that they're putting on at the church. It's totally welcoming and a really nice event -- the sort of thing I love to see a church do because it makes you feel part of the church." The hope is that, as people come together to cheer for their team, relationships will be formed and people will find community in the church and faith in Christ. A International Mission Board worker who serves in Wales as a journeyman recently joined a rugby club to help him meet new people. "The rugby community is huge, and it's opened up a really big door [for] relationships," the worker said. "Out of the time that I have been playing rugby, I've had the opportunity to have a couple conversations about God. God is definitely doing something [here]." Gunderson noted, "Christ always was extending the hand of hospitality to everybody He met, and therefore, we're trying to do much the same within our local area. Sports is really a great way of extending a hand of friendship towards another person, no matter who they are." -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: A conversation on racial unity by Ronnie Floyd Date: October 19, 2015 - Monday EDITOR'S NOTE: Ronnie Floyd is president of the Southern Baptist Convention and senior pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas. SPRINGDALE, Ark. (BP) -- Jerry Young, president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, and I will lead "A National Conversation on Racial Unity in America" in Jackson, Miss., on Wednesday, Nov. 4. Dr. Young and I spoke at a rally recently called "Stronger Together," held at the First Baptist Church in Jackson, Miss. It was an incredible night, one of my most memorable as president of the Southern Baptist Convention. 22 pastors will participate in this conversation Dr. Young leads the largest predominantly African-American Christian denomination in the United States. This denomination is comprised of 31,000 congregations and 7.5 million members. Dr. Young and I are each asking 10 local church pastors from across America in our respective conventions to join us in this national conversation on racial unity. We are thankful for every leader or group who is attempting to address this national crisis. Yet, we believe local church pastors and churches can bring a unique perspective on the racial crisis; and in reality, we need to lead the way toward addressing and resolving this crisis. The 10 pastors representing the Southern Baptist Convention who will join me include the following: -- K. Marshall Williams, president, National African American Fellowship of the SBC, senior pastor, Nazarene Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Pa. -- Steve Gaines, senior pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, Tenn. -- A.B. Vines, former president, National African American Fellowship of the SBC, senior pastor, New Seasons Church, Spring Valley, Calif. -- Ted Traylor, senior pastor, Olive Baptist Church, Pensacola, Fla. -- Marshall Blalock, senior pastor, First Baptist Church Charleston, Charleston, S.C. -- Ed Litton, Redemption Church, North Mobile, Ala. -- Timmy Chavis, chairman, Multi-Ethnic Advisory Council of the SBC, senior pastor, Bear Swamp Baptist Church, Pembroke, N.C. -- Paul Kim, Asian American relations consultant for the SBC, pastor emeritus, Antioch Baptist Church, Cambridge, Mass. -- Felix Cabrera, director of Red 1:8 Church Planting Network, lead pastor, Iglesia Bautista Central, Oklahoma City, Okla. -- Gene Henderson, Mississippi Baptist pastor and leader, Pinelake Church, Brandon, Miss. Please pray for each of these men and their role on Nov. 4. Also pray for the 10 pastors from the National Baptist Convention who will join Dr. Young. Others can attend this conversation The event will take place Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 8:30 a.m. The location will be in section A and B of the ballroom of the Jackson Convention Complex, Jackson, Miss. This event is open to everyone, so if you have an interest, I hope you will join us. More information is available here. Join us for Mission Mississippi's Racial Reconciliation Luncheon in Jackson Neddie Winters is the president of Mission Mississippi. Their mission is to encourage and demonstrate grace in the body of Christ across racial lines, so that communities throughout Mississippi can see practical evidence of the Gospel message. Mission Mississippi believes that through Christ, we can find common ground to build strong relationships and communities for the betterment of all Mississippians, regardless of race. Their vision is, "To be the leading resource and catalyst for Christian racial reconciliation and healing for Mississippi and the world." The luncheon will take place in sections C, D, and E of the ballroom of the Jackson Convention Complex. If you would like to join us for this luncheon, please go here to learn more. Dr. Young, Dr. Winters, and I would love to meet you. God is moving among His people In December 2013, I was in a meeting in Atlanta for prayer and spiritual awakening. We were discussing the need for growing and strengthening relationships between all races and ethnicities. Dr. K. Marshall Williams, a dear friend and now president of the National African American Fellowship of our Southern Baptist Convention, stated to us, "Southern Baptists must reach out and begin having conversations with our brothers with the National Baptist Convention." I never forgot what he said with great passion and conviction. When I was elected president, I began praying for open doors. Through prayer gatherings, I began to see God bring down the walls that divide races and ethnicities. Then, sadly through the tragedies of Ferguson and other cities in our nation, the burden and conviction became overwhelming. In the final half of 2014 when racial tension and violence was increasing exponentially, I released an article entitled, "The wounds run deep: Racism and injustice must end and let grace and love begin." This article opened doors into several conversations and experiences. God used this article to open doors that lead us to these two experiences on Nov. 4 in Jackson, Miss. Our own national prayer meeting at the 2015 Southern Baptist Convention highlighted the need for racial unity and was a catalyst to this opportunity in Jackson. May God use it to His glory. Pray for us. Join us. -------------------------------------------------------------------- IMB grateful for help from Southern Baptists by Tess Rivers Date: October 19, 2015 - Monday RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- International Mission Board missionaries and staff are expressing thanks for the way Southern Baptists have stepped up to provide offers of housing, vehicles and job opportunities to missionaries who have accepted IMB's voluntary retirement incentive. "Southern Baptists are not only catching the ball, they are running 99-yard touchdowns," said one missionary serving in Asia. " … I am praying that people will see what Southern Baptists are doing and will see His glory." Offers of practical support have come from a variety of individuals, churches, associations, state conventions and seminaries, said Clyde Meador, who leads IMB's transition team. This practical support will help returning missionaries who are discerning their "next step." See related story on IMB's budget shortfall. "The majority [of missionaries accepting the retirement incentive] are seeking God's leadership for what, where and when," said Meador, whose team is personally speaking with each missionary accepting the incentive. "They are living firmly in the confidence that God led them to take a step, but they don't know what's next." To help returning missionaries determine their next steps, IMB's transition team recently created a database to manage the list of housing, employment and other offers sent by state conventions, local churches, Southern Baptist Convention entities and other sources. Woman's Missionary Union -- which maintains a database of missionary housing that covers 27 states -- also is extending a push to make churches aware of the needs of returning missionaries. The entity is offering to counsel individuals, churches and associations who want to learn more about starting a missionary house ministry. WMU has also posted a number of job opportunities at its home office in Birmingham, Ala., for returning missionaries. "This is a very kind and gracious gesture to our returning missionary personnel," said Terri Willis, director of national relations for IMB and a member of the transition team. The North American Mission Board trustees also voted Oct. 7 to reduce NAMB's budget by $4 million and transfer the money to IMB. While the SBC Executive Committee must approve the proposal before funds are transferred to IMB, NAMB trustee chairman Chuck Herring called the unanimous decision by NAMB trustees a "Kingdom vote." IMB President David Platt expressed appreciation for NAMB's gesture of support. "Needless to say, I was overwhelmed when I heard that the trustees of the North American Mission Board approved a $4 million budget reduction in order to send those funds to the International Mission Board," he said. "This extremely generous gift will go a long way in helping IMB get to a healthy financial place in the present so that we can move forward into a future marked by more missionaries sent, more disciples made and more churches planted among unreached peoples than ever before." Platt announced the voluntary retirement incentive Aug. 27 as part of a plan to balance IMB's budget. See related story. The incentive is the first of two phases to reduce IMB field missionaries and staff by 600 to 800 people in response to revenue shortfalls. The incentive has been offered to missionaries and home office staff who are at least 50 years old with five years of service. A second phase focuses on concluding a reset of the organization and includes consolidating support services, recalibrating mobilization, assessing global engagement and re-envisioning training. Although the outpouring of support for returning missionaries is significant, additional help is welcome and appreciated. If anyone would like to provide housing, vehicles, jobs or other means of support to help returning missionaries, please email transitionteam@imb.org. -------------------------------------------------------------------- New Orleans & Mid-America offer missionary housing by New Orleans Seminary & BP Staff Date: October 19, 2015 - Monday EDITOR’S NOTE: Two Baptist seminaries -- New Orleans and Mid-America -- are among numerous organizations relaying housing offers to the International Mission Board for missionaries returning stateside as part of the IMB budget drawdown. NOBTS opens campus housing to returning IMB personnel By Marilyn Stewart NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- In a show of support for International Mission Board missionaries returning home as part of the IMB’s plans to address revenue shortfalls, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has announced that 10 campus housing units will be available to returning missionaries rent-free. The seminary also announced a campus-wide special IMB offering set for Nov. 3 during the annual Global Missions Week at NOBTS. David Platt, IMB president and an NOBTS alumnus, will speak in chapel that day. "We have been saddened to hear of the financial crisis at the IMB and have been praying daily for the IMB and our missionaries who are faced with difficult decisions,” NOBTS Provost Steve Lemke said. “But we wanted also to do something tangible to be of help, and taking this offering and providing this housing are some things we can add to our prayers to help our missionaries in this time of transition." Platt announced on Aug. 27 that a reduction of 600-800 IMB staff and field personnel is necessary to reach a balanced budget. The mission board projects a $21 million shortfall this year, adding to several consecutive years of shortfalls totaling $210 million. Details of a voluntary retirement incentive were announced in September for eligible IMB staff and active career missionaries age 50 and older with five or more years of service. "The fiscal challenge facing the IMB is a challenge for every Southern Baptist,” NOBTS President Chuck Kelley said. “Each of us must examine our lifestyles and ask if our giving to our churches and SBC ministries truly reflects Great Commission priorities. The missionaries being affected are our students, our alumni, our colleagues and our friends, and therefore as a seminary family we must participate in responding to the needs of those who have sacrificed so much." Mike Edens, NOBTS dean of graduate studies and a 26-year IMB veteran, said the offer of temporary housing will benefit the missionary families. “They’re asked to make a decision by the first of November taking effect the first of December that relocates their family in obedience to the Lord,” Edens said. “This gives them a place to land.” The temporary NOBTS housing will be in addition to the Grey Missionary Housing complex, a residence long used for furloughing missionaries. Returning missionaries who accept the rent-free temporary housing offer will only be responsible for utility costs. Returning IMB missionaries will be afforded the same status as traditional missionaries in residence at NOBTS. This includes eligibility for educational scholarships and opportunities to speak in NOBTS classes and meet with student mission volunteers as well as access to all campus facilities. Edens said the missionaries will be welcomed into the NOBTS family. “We benefit in that we have people joining us on campus who are obeying Christ’s command at significant cost, even if that command is a return to the States,” Edens said. “We get to be a part of their lives at this crucial time.” Also, Edens said, walking alongside the missionary families as they discern God’s will for the future benefits the NOBTS community. “We get to be with them as they’re making decisions about how to be obedient in an ongoing way,” he said. “Some will go back to the field without IMB support; some will be going to churches and to other ministries in the United States.” Platt emphasized Aug. 27 that the retirement incentive offer is strictly voluntary and for those who feel God’s leading to a new avenue of service, Baptist Press reported. “We must get to a healthy place in the present in order to be in a healthy position for the future,” Platt told personnel in a town hall-type meeting. Returning missionaries interested in coming to NOBTS may contact the seminary’s financial aid office at 504-282-4455, ext. 3348, or financialaiddirector@nobts.edu. MABTS ready to partner in IMB missionary relocation By BP Staff CORDOVA, Tenn. (BP) -- Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary has set forth its readiness “to partner with the International Mission Board … in providing relocation assistance” for missionaries who are returning to the States as part of the mission board’s reset of its finances. In a faculty meeting, MABTS professor of missions Mark Terry had remarked about the need many returning missionaries will have for housing and jobs. Michael Spradlin, the seminary’s president, immediately proposed that seminary apartments be offered to help with this need. The seminary faculty and administration enthusiastically embraced the idea. Spradlin then relayed Mid-America’s offer to provide missionary housing to Clyde Meador, who leads the IMB transition team. Mid-America has been an influential training ground for Southern Baptist pastors, missionaries and convention staff since its founding in 1971. The seminary, which operates without Cooperative Program funding but which promotes and supports the CP channel of missions and ministry, is located in Cordova, Tenn. “Our proposal would be to provide housing in our Mid-America Student Housing Apartments for personnel returning stateside,” Spradlin noted to Meadow in a September communique. “We would provide a one, two, or three bedroom apartment for a period of one year from the date of move in. Utilities would also be provided at no cost to the missionary. The missionaries would be chosen by the IMB and we would then move them into our Student Housing complex. Our apartments are commercial grade and are all less than nine years old. “We will commit 30 apartments to this program effective immediately and await your instruction on how best to proceed,” Spradlin continued. “There is no time limit on this offer and we stand ready to serve our Southern Baptist missionaries with dignity, respect, and honor as they move to the next stage of ministry.” In a recent address at the seminary, Spradlin expressed how the Mid-America family is "excited about the prospect of hosting the missionaries at MABTS. We pray that not only can the MABTS family minister to the missionaries and their families, but that the missionaries will have ample opportunities to partner with us in reaching many of the unreached ethnic people groups in the Mid-South while they are here.” -------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Woodlawn' opens in top 10 at box office by Diana Chandler Date: October 19, 2015 - Monday NASHVILLE (BP) -- The faith-based drama "Woodlawn," promoted as a potential catalyst for revival and spiritual awakening, opened in the top 10 at theaters Oct. 16-18, Box Office Mojo reported. Woodlawn opened in the eighth spot Oct. 16, earning $1.485 million in 1,553 theaters, and finished the weekend at number nine, earning a total of $4.1 million, Box Office Mojo said. Based on the true story of a high school football team in the midst of racial integration 40 years ago in Birmingham, Ala., the film follows the journey of African American Tony Nathan as a star running back for the Woodlawn High School Colonels in 1973 after court-ordered desegregation. Amid racial hatred, cross burnings and riots, spiritual revival transforms the team so profoundly that it affects the team's coach, school and community. Jon and Andy Erwin, known for "October Baby" and "Mom's Night Out," wrote, directed and produced the film, along with producer Kevin Downes and executive producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett. "It's a special film that's really going to touch the lives of many people across the country and around the world," Downes said. "I think it transcends different backgrounds in such a way that it can bring healing. People have separation and brokenness in their lives -- and this film can really help people in ways that are unexpected." Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd has promoted the film as a tool for revival. "I want to encourage each pastor and Christian leader to rent theaters and fill them with people of all ages to watch this movie," Floyd said before the film's release. "Encourage them to bring friends who are regular church attenders and those who have never attended a church before. Once the movie concludes, offer an opportunity for people to follow Jesus Christ." Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in northwest Ark., promoted the film in the Oct. 15 LifeWay Films simulcast Unify, broadcast from Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. "Tonight is more than just simply about a movie," Floyd said at Unify. "Tonight is about a movement. A movement toward us seeing the next spiritual awakening in the United States. "That movement began years ago in what was called the Jesus Movement, which literally became the Jesus Revolution," he said. "We pray that tonight will become the catalyst over the next several weeks to the next great Jesus Revolution in America." Hosted by Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, Unify also featured pastors Greg Laurie, Jack Graham and Tony Evans, the filmmakers and movie cast. Three books accompanied the movie's release, namely "Woodlawn: Dare to Believe," and "Touchdown Tony: Running With a Purpose," both available from Howard Books, and the devotional "When God Shows Up," available from Broadstreet Publishing. Woodlawn was released seven weeks after the Kendrick Brothers' "War Room," which grossed $65.4 million through Oct. 18 on a budget of only $3 million, Box Office Mojo said. Featuring Bible teachers Priscilla Shirer and Beth Moore in a story illustrating the power of a disciplined and focused prayer life, War Room continues in hundreds of theaters across the country, according the movie's website. "Captive," the faith-based story of Atlanta hostage Ashley Smith who read from Rick Warren's bestseller "A Purpose Driven Life" and convinced her captor to surrender, grossed $2.6 million in a three-week run which ended Oct. 8, according to Box Office Mojo figures. Woodlawn was a distant fourth among new releases, trailing the secular movies "Goosebumps," which earned $7.4 million; "Bridge of Spies," $5.4 million, and "Crimson Peak," $5.3 million, Box Office Mojo reported.