
The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-11/01/2012

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Baptist post-Sandy commitment to reach 400,000 meals per day
by Joe Conway
Date: November 01, 2012 - Thursday

HARRISBURG, Pa. (BP) -- In an unprecedented move for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, all large capacity mobile kitchens in the fleet east of the Rocky Mountains have been asked to mobilize in response to Hurricane Sandy. The goal is to begin preparing a minimum of 400,000 meals a day by Monday, Nov. 5.

"As we worked through the planning and continued to receive reports about the need, the conviction came on me that Southern Baptists need to step out in faith and mobilize now," said North American Mission Board Disaster Relief executive director Fritz Wilson. "I contacted &#91;NAMB&#93; president Kevin Ezell and shared the conviction of our area command team and he agreed."

<div style="float:left;margin:0 10px 5px 0;"><div style="float:left;margin:0 10px 5px 0;"><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/52498925?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="300" height="200" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></object></div></object></div>On Thursday NAMB trustees authorized the entity to cover the travel expense for state conventions that needed the assistance in mobilizing their DR teams to the region. During the height of SBDR response to Hurricane Katrina, volunteers prepared 425,000 meals per day.

On Thursday SBDR volunteers from Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina and South Carolina were serving in New York and New Jersey, along with volunteers from the affected states. SBDR volunteers from those states and the Baptist General Convention of Virginia, Maryland-Delaware, New England, Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia and West Virginia were preparing up to 150,000 meals and were working with chainsaw and recovery units.

The New York Baptist convention's kitchen was on its way to Staten Island where volunteers will begin serving meals Friday. "Staten Island is a high priority," said NAMB DR response coordinator Eddie Blackmon, who is stationed at national American Red Cross headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Area response commander Mark Gauthier, mobilization director for the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia, said the feeding response is in waves. "We currently have units engaged in the response," Gauthier said. "When you consider we are only 72 hours into the response there is a lot of ministry taking place.

"The next wave is the units on the road now from Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and South Carolina. They will be serving meals on Saturday. Then units will arrive ready to cook on Sunday. Another group will be ready to serve on Monday," Gauthier said.

"I was highly convicted that we needed to be there," Oklahoma DR director Sam Porter said. "We must be there. This can have an impact on church planting throughout the Northeast."

New video of a North Carolina feeding unit at Rutgers University is available for download at namb.net/sandy_rutgers_video. Kevin Ezell released a video on the SBDR response to Sandy this week. The video may be downloaded at namb.net/sandy_video.

From its disaster operations center in Alpharetta, Ga., NAMB coordinates Southern Baptist responses to major disasters through a partnership between NAMB and the SBC's 42 state conventions, most of which have their own state disaster relief programs.

SBDR assets include 82,000 trained volunteers, including chaplains, and some 1,550 mobile units for feeding, chainsaw, mud-out, command, communication, childcare, shower, laundry, water purification, repair/rebuild and power generation. SBDR is one of the three largest mobilizers of trained disaster relief volunteers in the United States, along with the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army.

Southern Baptists and others who want to donate to the disaster relief operations can contact their state conventions or go to NAMB's disaster relief fund website, namb.net/disaster-relief-donations. Other ways to donate are to call 1-866-407-NAMB (6262) or mail checks to NAMB, P.O. Box 116543, Atlanta, GA 30368-6543. Designate checks for "Disaster Relief."
--30—
Joe Conway writes for the North American Mission Board.


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Sandy's storm devastation 'unprecedented,' leader says in mobilizing Baptist volunteers
by Staff
Date: November 01, 2012 - Thursday

NEW YORK CITY (BP) -- Nearly 90 people have been confirmed dead in the United States in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and the number of people who remain unaccounted for is unknown, officials said Nov. 1.

Tensions were rising as electricity remained off for nearly 5 million customers in the Northeast and access to basic necessities grew more difficult. 

State troopers were deployed at gas stations in New Jersey where desperate customers resorted to fighting over the opportunity to fill gas cans for generators, according to FoxNews.com. More than 80 percent of stations in New Jersey were unable to sell gasoline Wednesday because of a fuel shortage and a lack of electricity to operate the pumps.

D batteries for flashlights were extremely hard to find in the region, and at some grocery stores, only customers who could provide exact change were able to purchase items they needed.

"You see the worst in people at a time like this," the manager of a Lowe's store in New York told FoxNews.com. "... People are hurting."

Disaster relief requests were growing in New York and New Jersey as slowly recovering communication lines among Southern Baptist pastors revealed the extent of suffering.

Responding to rising requests from the American Red Cross, the Baptist Convention of New York was setting up four feeding stations supported by 120 volunteers and capable of preparing around 105,000 meals a day.

Two feeding units from the Georgia Baptist Convention and others from the North American Mission Board, Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia and the BCNY were to begin serving meals as early as lunch on Friday (Nov. 2), said Beverly Flannery, a BCNY disaster relief assistant.

In addition, the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma Thursday morning deployed to Middleton, N.Y., 21 volunteers and a feeding unit capable of preparing 18,000 meals a day, according to Sam Porter, Oklahoma's disaster relief director, who has another large unit on standby. 

"Whatever you need Oklahoma is committed to respond no matter what the cost," Porter wrote in an email to disaster relief leaders. "We know this event is unprecedented."

Only two churches had been located with electrical power to house volunteers in New York, specifically Crossroads Church in Staten Island and North Shore (Presbyterian) Community Church in Oyster Bay, Flannery said.

"Most of the places do not have power," she said, emphasizing the difficulty of finding housing for volunteers. "Long Island we know has a lot of devastation."

Feeding stations will be located in Long Island, Queens, Staten Island and in Riis Park near the site of a massive fire that destroyed more than 100 homes after Sandy made landfall.

David Perrson, director of NJNet, a Southern Baptist association of churches in the northern half of New Jersey, said volunteers need to be aware of the lack of resources there. Perrson waited in line two hours for gas on Wednesday. 

Food stores were bare of staple items such as bread, milk and water before the storm and, without power, have had to dispose of perishables. Many trees are down, others are still falling, Perrson said, and it might be two weeks before power is restored in some areas.

"The DR workers who are coming need to be self-contained because many of the churches and places that could house them have no &#91;electricity&#93; and sometimes no water or sanitation because of that," Perrson said. "Whoever comes to help, my encouragement is they can't expect to have anything here for them. They have to come self-contained, especially in these first couple of weeks."

Many churches can offer volunteers little more than a hug, Perrson said.

"This is worse for us than Irene last year. The Jersey Shore, the coastline is devastated. It's like a war zone. I don't have power at my home, or Internet, so I'm isolated. And you're hesitant to go too far driving because you want to maintain some gas in your cars," Perrson said. "I'm reaching out, but I'm not able to connect with the pastors. I can call and leave a message on their cell phone or a text, but there is actually no guarantee that they're getting that."

North Carolina's Steve Reavis, overseeing Southern Baptist feeding operations in New Jersey, had scheduled the start of serving meals Thursday (Nov. 1) at Rutgers University and has mobilized another feeding site in Hammonton.

A North Carolina feeding unit was en route to Toms River, N.J., to work alongside Georgia Baptist volunteers there, and another unit is on its way to Lumberton, N.J., to assist in New Jersey or New York as needed, said Gaylon Moss, North Carolina's disaster relief director.

Volunteers from the Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania/South Jersey, led by disaster relief director Karlene Campbell, are assisting with feeding operations in southern New Jersey.

In West Virginia, heavy snowfall knocked out power and is hindering relief crews from reaching some residents. As of Wednesday, according to state director of missions Delton Beall, more than 100,000 residents still lacked electricity and five people had died. 

Kitchen units were to be deployed at Wayside Southern Baptist Church in Buckhannon and Restoration Church in Mt. Nebo, W.Va. 

"&#91;O&#93;ur biggest challenge right now is just trying to get food and water to people and getting hot meals, so with our kitchen units being engaged, we'll be able to do that and work with our Red Cross partners," Beall said.

Wayside's pastor, Don Knotts, said wet, heavy snowfall brought down trees and power lines in the area, and flooding will be a concern as temperatures rise and the snow melts. He commended the church for helping with disaster relief efforts. 

"We're always wanting to reach out to the community to share the love of Christ in whatever way that we can," Knotts said. "I just find that people are more open to receiving the Gospel whenever you come to their aid in a disaster situation." 
--30--
Compiled by Erin Roach and Diana Chandler of Baptist Press and John Evans, a writer in Houston. To contribute to the relief efforts, contact state Baptist convention offices or, for the North American Mission Board's disaster relief effort, visit namb.net/disaster-relief-donations. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp).

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Poll: 29% of pastors discuss candidates in pulpit
by Michael Foust
Date: November 01, 2012 - Thursday

WASHINGTON (BP) -- A majority of regular churchgoers say their pastor has discussed the importance of voting, while 29 percent say their pastor has taken sides, in sermons, in the presidential race, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center.

The Oct. 24-28 poll shows that among all churchgoers -- Protestants and Catholics who attend church at least monthly -- 15 percent say their pastor's message has been more supportive of President Obama while 14 percent say the pastor's sermon has been more supportive of Mitt Romney. But what "people are hearing" from their pastor "varies greatly by race," the survey shows. For instance:

-- Among black Protestants, 45 percent say the pastor has supported Obama, with none in the sample saying the pastor backed Romney.

-- Among white evangelicals, 26 percent say their pastor has been more supportive in the pulpit of Romney but only 5 percent say the pastor has been more supportive of Obama.

-- Among white Catholics, 21 percent say the pastor has supported Romney, while 4 percent say the pastor has backed Obama. White mainline churchgoers say the pastor also was more likely to support Romney (13 percent to Obama's 7 percent). 

Still, though, "most regular churchgoers say the messages they are hearing at church are neutral when it comes to the 2012 election" -- whether or not the pastor mentions the candidates directly.

Meanwhile, 52 percent of regular churchgoers say their pastor has discussed the importance of voting. Black Protestant pastors (79 percent) are the most likely to mention it, followed by white evangelical pastors (52 percent), white Catholic clergy (46 percent) and white mainline pastors (32 percent).

Pew also examined what issues pastors discuss and found, according to churchgoers:

-- Hunger/poverty has been discussed in recent months by 83 percent of white Catholic clergy, 74 percent of black Protestant pastors, 73 percent of white mainline pastors and 69 percent of white evangelical pastors.

-- Abortion has been spoken about by 58 percent of white Catholic clergy, 36 percent of white evangelical pastors, 29 percent of black Protestant pastors and 19 percent of white mainline pastors.

-- Homosexuality has been discussed by 40 percent of white evangelical pastors, 37 percent of black Protestant pastors, 24 percent of white mainline pastors and 20 percent of white Catholic clergy.
--30--
Michael Foust is associate editor of Baptist Press. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp).



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October CP gifts 6.72% below 2011
by Staff
Date: November 01, 2012 - Thursday

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Contributions to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries received by the SBC Executive Committee in October were 6.72 percent below the same month last year, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President Frank Page. The total includes receipts from state conventions and fellowships, churches and individuals for distribution according to the 2012-13 SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget.

As of Oct. 31, gifts received by the Executive Committee for distribution through the Cooperative Program Allocation Budget totaled $13,602,300.64, or $979,228.28 below the $14,581,528.92 received in October 2011.

"This shortfall in the opening month of the fiscal year follows a historical pattern when both August and October are four-Sunday months," Page said. State conventions typically receive their August church contributions in early September and forward their September gifts to the SBC in early October. 

"This is the fifth time in the past nine years that the opening month of the new fiscal year followed this pattern," Page said. "When we compare these October-to-October giving patterns from other four-Sunday years, the decline averaged 8.8 percent, so this is a slight improvement. Thankfully, in each instance, we have also seen a significant rebound through the first quarter of the fiscal year. We anticipate we will see the same thing this year."

Meanwhile, designated giving of $3,057,007.79 during October was 21.45 percent, or $834,657.37, below gifts of $3,891,665.16 received last October. This total includes only those gifts received and distributed by the Executive Committee and does not reflect designated gifts contributed directly to SBC entities.

The end-of-month total represents money received by the Executive Committee by the close of the last business day of each month. Month-to-month swings reflect a number of factors, including the number of Sundays in a given month, the day of the month churches forward their CP contributions to their state conventions and the timing of when state conventions forward the national portion of their CP contributions to the Executive Committee.

For the SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget, the October total of $13,602,300.64 is 86.82 percent of the $15,666,666.67 monthly budget to support Southern Baptist ministries globally and across North America.

During the last fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2011 - Sept. 30, 2012), Cooperative Program receipts for the year ended 3 percent over budget and at 99.41 percent of the previous year's contributions. Page noted at that time that "those who research these things tell us that church giving usually lags one to two years behind the general economy." 

"The Executive Committee has sought to achieve a balance between faith and realism when setting its budget projections for the year just ended and the one just beginning," Page added. "Given the sacrificial spirit of Southern Baptists, I fully anticipate they will continue to give of their substance to support the vital missions and ministries of their state conventions and the Southern Baptist Convention."

The Cooperative Program is Southern Baptists' method of supporting missions and ministry efforts of state and regional conventions and the Southern Baptist Convention.

The Cooperative Program total includes receipts from individuals, churches, state conventions and fellowships for distribution according to the 2012-13 Cooperative Program Allocation Budget.

Designated contributions include the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions, Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund and other special gifts.

State and regional conventions retain a portion of church contributions to the Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program to support work in their respective areas and forward a percentage to Southern Baptist national and international causes. The percentage of distribution is at the discretion of each state or regional convention.
--30--



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CP is 'core piece' of church's identity
by Karen L. Willoughby
Date: November 01, 2012 - Thursday

MULVANE, Kan. (BP) -- Connections and cooperation go hand in hand at First Baptist Church of Mulvane.

The Kansas church cooperates with Southern Baptists worldwide as well as those involved in specific ministries through connections that have been made over the years, starting with the connection to the Cooperative Program. CP is the channel by which Southern Baptist churches support missions and ministries through their state conventions and around the world.

"Our church supports the Cooperative Program because we believe in the way the funds are used," said Cody Busby, pastor since 2006 of the church where about 275 people worship on Sunday mornings. "We love to support our missionaries and Southern Baptist entities. ...

"For us, CP giving means that we are partners in the work with them," Busby continued. "We love the idea of uniting with other churches in the spread of the Gospel. We feel we have an identity in that work, and it's a core piece of our identity."

First Baptist members felt the economic pinch just like everyone across America, but the church kept its CP giving at 10 percent of undesignated receipts "because we believe even in difficult times we want our money to matter for Kingdom work," Busby said. 

In addition to its giving through the Cooperative Program, First Baptist also has specific interests in "Libraries of Love," a ministry that builds and stocks libraries overseas, and "Mercy for Mamas," a Southern Baptist-led outreach that provides birthing kits with a spiritual component to pregnant women overseas. Both are a result of church connections that stem from cooperation.

First Baptist also makes ministry connections locally in Mulvane, about 20 miles south of downtown Wichita. "In the middle of a difficult economy we have encouraged our people to pray for new and creative ways to do ministry," Busby said. "We have been able to add multiple local ministry projects." 

A food pantry stocked with items purchased by church members is available to anyone in need -- in the church or in the community.

"It's not large-scale; it's a couple of closets," Busby said. "But our people are always looking for good prices on food so the pantry stays well stocked." 

The church also provided home food packs this summer to a number of local families. "During the school year our district provides food packs every Friday for students in need. That program ceases when school is out," Busby said. "We went to the schools and said we would fill the gap.

"Our people provided all the inventory, and every Sunday evening this summer we loaded up the food packs and delivered them to those families who opted into the program. That for us was a major ministry point for nearly five months."

But not the only ministry point. First Baptist offered its Vacation Bible School again this year strategically timed to fit in the community's calendar, so as many youngsters as possible -- about 260 this year -- could be reached. 

"Our VBS has a good reputation in the town," Busby said. "We used LifeWay's curriculum again. The kids loved it! ... We do our VBS in the daytime because it connects well with our community and it works well for our volunteers."

At this season of the year, First Baptist members are gathering coats, jackets and other winter clothing for those in need and the community's first responders will be honored by the church with a meal and recognition service. Both initiatives came from the church's small groups, which are encouraged to find a local outreach project. 

Beyond Mulvane, First Baptist is active in ministry in Wichita, participating every year in the "Christmas Store" ministry of the inner-city South City Southern Baptist Church. 

"We needed a way to funnel our resources to a place of great need," Busby said. "Mulvane is not a wealthy town, and we're not a wealthy church, but we do want to be a part of what God can do through us."

First Baptist members purchase gifts for children, take them to South City and help as needed at the store. After gifts are sorted by age and gender, parents submit the names of their youngsters and receive age-appropriate gifts.

Glenn Davis, director of missions for the Heart of Kansas Southern Baptist Association, said the Mulvane church "is rarely recognized but often involved in giving and serving beyond themselves to minister in Jesus' name."

"Many examples can be cited of pastor Cody Busby leading his church to give and serve beyond themselves" Davis added. "Their generosity includes new church plants, other churches and ministries in their community and throughout the world."

Most of its missions and ministry ventures are not budgeted items, Busby said. "This is our church, blessing others -- sometimes sacrificially -- as we have been blessed," he said. "It's really an identity marker for our people. ... Our people love to see the Gospel go to other places."

This involves going as much as giving. Church members have been on mission to several locations in Kansas in recent years, plus Minot, N.D., Bartlesville, Okla., Denver, Colo., Houston, Texas, and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. 

Internationally, members have gone on mission to Uganda, Albania, Peru, Portugal, Niger, Japan, Haiti, China, Ecuador and Greece in recent years.

"I'm amazed at the amount of international missions activity our people are able to be part of," Busby said. "Everyone would point to the Lord for all the credit and glory. People are willing to give because we talk about it in positive ways, and we practice it in positive ways.

"Just like we expect our families to care for their needs and be Kingdom-minded in their tithing, our church needs to be Kingdom-minded with our resources," Busby said. "Mulvane is Kingdom, Wichita is Kingdom, and the whole world is Kingdom, and we want to be part of reaching that whole world."
--30--
Karen L. Willoughby is managing editor of the Louisiana Baptist Message.


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N.M. Baptists celebrate 100th anniversary
by John Loudat
Date: November 01, 2012 - Thursday

CLOVIS, N.M. (BP) -- One hundred years after messengers from Baptist churches across New Mexico gathered at First Baptist Church in Clovis to organize a new state convention, their spiritual descendents returned there for the Baptist Convention of New Mexico's centennial celebration.

It was in Clovis on June 19, 1912, that messengers from two state conventions -- the New Mexico Baptist Convention, organized in 1900 and affiliated with Northern Baptists, and the Baptist General Convention of New Mexico, formed in 1910 and affiliated with Southern Baptists -- voted to dissolve and unite in a new convention that would partner with the Southern Baptist Convention.

The historic action was recommended by a committee of Southern and Northern Baptist leaders that had met in Hot Springs, Ark., on Jan. 24-25, 1912, less than three weeks after New Mexico became the nation's 47th state.

The centennial celebration began Monday afternoon, Oct. 22, with a ladies' tea at Highland Baptist Church in Clovis followed by the centennial banquet that evening at Central Baptist Church that evening. The next morning, the WMU Centennial Missions Celebration was held at Highland and a pastors' and laymen's conference at Parkland Baptist Church.

The celebration concluded on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 24, about 20 miles to the south at the BCNM's oldest entity, the New Mexico Baptist Children's Home in Portales, with a barbecue lunch.

The centennial drew 369 registered messengers -- from 119 of the BCNM's 345 churches encompassing 82,000 members -- and more than 200 guests. Messengers from four churches that had never sent messengers to a BCNM annual meeting were seated at this year's sessions.

"Staying on Course With God" was the theme of the overall celebration, with session themes "Celebrating Yesterday" on Tuesday afternoon, "Capturing Today" that night and "Considering the Future" on Wednesday morning.

Presiding during the celebration were BCNM president R. Maurice Hollingsworth, pastor of First Baptist Church in Las Cruces; first vice president Gary Wolfe, pastor of First Baptist Church in Otis; and second vice president Kevin Parker, pastor of First Baptist Church in Aztec.

CELEBRATING YESTERDAY

Bringing the celebration's first two messages from behind the pulpit –- which the church has used since 1909, so it was there when the convention was organized in 1912 -- were the BCNM's two executive director emeriti, Chester O'Brien and Claude Cone.

O'Brien, who now lives in Amarillo, Texas, led the convention from 1975-85; Cone, from 1985-2005.

The entire Christian life is one "of grace, of godliness and glory," O'Brien said in the celebration's opening message.

O'Brien reminisced about "The Way It Was" in the years he served in New Mexico, first as pastor of First Baptist Church in Tucumcari and later as the state convention's leader.

While a roster of state convention workers at the time O'Brien retired from the BCNM post was being distributed, he said his staff's commitments were to reach the state for Christ, increase the Cooperative Program every year and increase cooperation with the Southern Baptist Home (now North American) Mission Board. While the convention was able to do the latter two while he was at the convention's helm, he said the first one is ongoing.

Cone, now pastor of Monterey Baptist Church in Albuquerque, brought the convention's annual sermon. He began by noting the enormity of the task before them.

While New Mexico Baptists have always been "missionary, evangelistic," there is a need to "put it in overdrive," Cone said. "The hunger of every human heart is for God," he continued, noting, "We're beggars who have found where the bread is" who should take it to others.

Cone closed by expressing his desire that the state's Baptists "turn up the throttle" in supporting missions and evangelism through the Cooperative Program and "sharing the Gospel, sharing the Gospel."

Among those who came to express gratitude for New Mexico Baptists' past were the executive directors of two sister state conventions, Mark Edlund of the Colorado Baptist General Convention and Veryl Henderson of the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention.

Edlund thanked New Mexico Baptists for starting the first churches in one of the areas of his state, and Henderson said he was saved in one of those churches and is thankful for New Mexico Baptists' help in reaching the huge area for which the convention he leads is responsible.

CAPTURING TODAY

SBC leaders O.S. Hawkins, Clyde Meador and Frank Page also were featured during the celebration.

Hawkins, president of GuideStone Financial Resources, encouraged pastors in their ministry challenges and underscored the relevance of the Gospel during his two messages.

Hawkins urged the leaders to remember the "privilege," "place," "predicament" and "perspective" of their calling as they experience challenges in their ministries.

In his second message, Hawkins said the Gospel that New Mexico Baptists are charged to communicate with everyone everywhere is the same message their predecessors proclaimed a century ago, but the methods they must employ today are vastly different.

While people in today's culture want "meaningful relationships," "immediate gratification," "something for nothing," "guilt-free living" and "prosperity," Hawkins said Christians are "the only ones that have the answer."

Meador, a fellow New Mexico Baptists, noted in his message that no blessing New Mexico Baptists have received over the 100-year history of the convention compares with the grace they have received from God.

That grace is to be shared with others, Meador, executive vice president of the International Mission Board said, expressing his appreciation for New Mexico Baptists' recent mission partnerships, which includes those with the predominantly Buddhist area of Southeast Asia and, now, Kenya.

Today is the day of salvation in places around the world, and for New Mexico and America as well, Meador emphasized, reminding New Mexico Baptists, "It means praying.... It means giving.... It also means personal involvement."

Page, president of the SBC Executive Committee, noted in his first message, "We've got a great message but we've not shared it in relevant ways."

The apostle Paul was determined that Christ be exalted in his life wherever he was and whatever he was experiencing, Page said in his message based on Philippians 1:12-20.

Paul was grateful for the opportunities he had to share Christ during his imprisonment in Rome, Page recounted, urging New Mexico Baptists to examine their mindset, to not complain and to consider what God wants to do in the situations in which they find themselves.

"Let us pray that in life or death, Christ be exalted," Page said, assuring New Mexico Baptists that he was praying that their next 100 years as a state convention would be even greater than their first.

The following morning, Page reminded messengers that they have a "marvelous heritage" but also a "marked responsibility," "a mission" and "a master."

"I believe God has a plan for New Mexico," Page said of the BCNM's second century, warning, "Satan has a plan for this convention also."

Using the admonition in Hebrews 12:1-2 as his text, Page emphasized the words "Let us," explaining that Southern Baptists do best what they do together.

CONSIDERING THE FUTURE

Current BCNM Executive Director Joseph Bunce spoke about going where New Mexico Baptists have never gone before in his annual report during the celebration's closing session.

"We have to realize God is giving us this land," Bunce said, emphasizing the necessity of spiritual preparation, following the Lord and avoiding sin.

Bunce listed seven steps the convention will take as it begins its second century:

1. "We will commit ourselves to be a people of unity."

2. "We will seek to become a convention that is financially independent and less financially dependent on outside partners." After North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell thanked New Mexico Baptists in a video for their partnership in reaching North America for Christ and explained NAMB's commitment to plant churches in places where they are most needed, Bunce said that, alongside the need for planting churches in New Mexico, there are a significant number of existing churches that need to be helped. "We cannot let the lights go out at home!" Bunce exclaimed.

3. "We understand our objective is Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth," as stated in Bunce's PowerPoint presentation.

4. "We will continue to cultivate mission partnerships to reaching the nations," he said, noting, a significant number of New Mexico churches have the world on their hearts.

5. "We will continue to leverage technology as much as possible in the work of our convention.

6. "We are working to expand the equipping of disciples for the purpose of evangelism, focusing on how to share Christ with friends and families who have a differing faith.

7. "We will have a three-prong focus on revitalizing existing churches, planting new churches and developing leaders."

"New Mexico Baptists are making a difference in this world," Bunce declared, urging, "Don't quit!"

The person who traveled the greatest distance from his home to attend the celebration was Jared Okello, volunteer mission coordinator for the Kenya Baptist Convention, with which the BCNM began a mission partnership this year in building "Houses of Hope." Also present for the BCNM sessions was Wanda Lee, executive director of national Woman's Missionary Union.

BUSINESS

Messengers moved quickly through each of the convention's business sessions, passing each of the various recommendations without any opposition.

The convention's Resolutions Committee proposed only two resolutions:

-- one that recognized and expressed appreciation for the "kindness and hospitality of the people of Clovis ... &#91;and&#93; the diligent work and hospitality of the local churches of Clovis ... that have done so much to bring about a convention characterized by grace, worship, unity."

-- one that encouraged "all Christians to fulfill their God-given responsibility to engage in the public life of the nation ... to become educated about the issues in the upcoming election and vote as God leads them ... &#91;and to&#93; commit to pray for our elected leaders."

Tar Henderson, pastor of Gila Valley Baptist Church in Gila, was elected to a one-year term as BCNM president, with George Riley, a member of First Baptist Church in Bloomfield, and Jonathan Richard, pastor of First Baptist Church in Estancia, elected first and second vice president, respectively.

There were no other nominations, so the men were elected by acclamation, succeeding the outgoing officers who had completed the limit of two one-year terms in office.

While the 2013 budget approved by messengers will require 0.38 percent less from New Mexico Baptist churches than is needed to meet the convention's 2012 budget, receipts for the first 10 months of 2012 were trailing the budget requirement by 8 percent.

Next year's budget will require $3,948,175 in Cooperative Program receipts from the churches, a reduction of $14,868 from the amount called for in the current budget. The budget includes a 1.5 percent increase in salaries for BCNM employees.

After an estimated $913,967, or 23.1 percent, is deducted for shared ministries from CP contributions, 35 percent of the remaining CP receipts, an estimated $1,061,973, will be forwarded to the SBC for national and international missions and ministry. No increase in the percentage was proposed for next year.

The remaining 65 percent, $1,972,235, along with the amount that had been deducted for shared ministries and additional income of $1,965,597 from various sources -- including BCNM camps and children and student conferences, the Baptist New Mexican and the SBC's North American Mission Board and LifeWay Christian Resources -- will be used to support a total operating budget of $4,851,799, 7.78 percent more than this year's budget, for mission work in New Mexico.

Leading worship during the centennial celebration were Southern Praise, a praise group from Rio Rancho; a Centennial Mass Choir of members of churches in eastern New Mexico and members of the New Mexico Singing Churchmen; and a Centennial Praise Team of four New Mexico Baptist music ministers.

The BCNM's 2013 annual meeting is schedule for Oct. 22-23 at Sandia Baptist Church in Albuquerque.
--30--
John Loudat is editor of the Baptist New Mexican, newsjournal of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico.

The full text of the BCNM resolution on voting follows:

Whereas, government is ordained by God to reward those who do good and punish those who do evil (Romans 13:3-5), and
Whereas, God holds all societies accountable to His standard of righteousness (Genesis 6:5-11, 19:12-13; Jonah 1:1-2) and
Whereas, Jesus Christ taught that His disciples are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16), and
Whereas, many Christians that are eligible to vote do not vote regularly, and
Whereas, the United States Constitution has placed our nation's leadership in the hands of democratically elected officials, be it
Resolved, that the messengers to the Baptist Convention of New Mexico, meeting October 23-24, 2012, in Clovis, New Mexico, encourage all Christians to fulfill their God-given responsibility to engage in the public life of the nation, and be it further
Resolved, that we encourage Christians to become educated about the issues in the upcoming election and vote as God leads them, and be it further
Resolved, that we commit to pray for our elected leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2).


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Steven Tyler's ex-girlfriend defends the unborn
by Staff
Date: November 01, 2012 - Thursday

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (BP) -- The mother of rock star Steven Tyler's aborted baby continues to advocate for unborn children after writing a 5,000-word account of her experience last year in LifeSite News.

Among the upcoming speaking engagements for Julia Holcomb, now a mother of seven, is a Life Legal Defense Foundation dinner event Nov. 17 in Santa Clara, Calif. 

More than 35 years after her abortion, Holcomb recounted the story of her relationship with Tyler, lead singer of the rock band Aerosmith and a former "American Idol" judge, in the 5,000-word account.

She became Tyler's girlfriend in 1973 when she was only 16. Her mother gave guardianship of Holcomb to Tyler, enabling her to travel with him across state lines on the band's tours. He requested she have his child and proposed marriage to her after she became pregnant in 1975.

Tyler changed his mind, according to Holcomb, and pressured Holcomb to abort their child, who turned out to be a boy. In recalling the abortion, Holcomb wrote, "My baby had one defender in life; me, and I caved in to pressure because of fear of rejection and the unknown future. I wish I could go back and be given that chance again, to say no to the abortion one last time. I wish with all my heart I could have watched that baby live his life and grow to be a man."

Holcomb said, "Nothing was ever the same between us after that day, though I did not return home for over a year.... I was grieving the loss of my baby and I could never look at Steven again without remembering what he had done to our son and me."

In his autobiography, Tyler acknowledged the abortion's impact, saying, according to LifeSite News, "You go to the doctor and they put the needle in her belly and they squeeze the stuff in and you watch. And it comes out dead. I was pretty devastated." He asked himself, "&#91;W&#93;hat have I done?"

After Holcomb returned home, she began attending a United Methodist church with her family. She "found forgiveness in Jesus," Holcomb said. She met her future husband during her first year in college, and they have been married for more than 30 years. They converted to Roman Catholicism in 1992.

Of her burden to share the pro-life message, Holcomb wrote, "I pray that all those who have had abortions, or have participated in any way in an abortion procedure, may find in my story, not judgment or condemnation, but a renewed hope in God's steadfast love, forgiveness and peace."

Holcomb's account can be accessed at www.lifesitenews.com/news/the-light-of-the-world-the-steve-tyler-and-julia-holcomb-story.
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Compiled by Baptist Press Washington bureau chief Tom Strode.

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FIRST-PERSON: Vote -- it matters
by Barrett Duke
Date: November 01, 2012 - Thursday

WASHINGTON (BP) -- Will Rogers once said, "Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for." How right he was. We all complain about government. Often for good reason. Government tends to restrict us, tax us, penalize us, and generally often makes a nuisance of itself. At times, governments have become so burdensome, overbearing and intrusive that men have risen up against them, overthrown them and established new ones. 

That, in fact, is our nation's story. Our founders and many of our nation's church leaders argued that the King of England had lost his right to govern them because he was abusing his power. This was a crucial issue to our forefathers. They accepted the teaching of the Apostle Paul that government is a "minister of God ... for good." Its purpose is to punish evil and to reward good. So they created a new government to fulfill this God-given purpose, but they dispensed with the idea of divine right to rule and invested in the governed the right to choose their government.

Their idea was radical for its day. They even wondered if it would actually work. But they trusted God to guide in the affairs of men, and they trusted the people to choose well. Today our nation is a testament to their trust in God and the people. The United States of America has become the envy of most of the world, and the democratic form of government is now the most popular form of government in the world.

But democracies are only as good as the people who are chosen to govern. If the wrong people gain the power of the civil authority, great damage can be done. What happens when the governing authority begins to reward evil and to punish good? It subjects itself to the judgment of God. History is filled with the evidence of God's judgment on nations for their failure to honor Him with their laws. When nations begin to reward evil and punish good, watch out.

But who ultimately is responsible when the governing authorities no longer honor God through their administration? In a democracy, the people are responsible. After all, the governing authorities serve by their permission. This is why it is so important for everyone to make sure to vote on Nov. 6. I know there are no perfect candidates. There never have been and never will be. You know that, too. But we don't have the luxury to sit it out. We have a responsibility to help our government fulfill its God-given task. Whether or not it achieves that task is ultimately not the responsibility of those who are chosen, but of those who do the choosing.

Do you want God's favor on our nation? Does the future of our nation matter to you? What do you want this nation to be like for your children and grandchildren? I think these questions all matter to you. Then, do something about it. Vote. And don't vote for personalities, parties or even personal benefit. Vote to help our government fulfill its God-ordained function -- to reward good and to punish evil. Vote your biblical values. It's not all you can do, but surely it's the least you can do. I'll see you at the voting booth. May God continue to bless the United States of America.
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Barrett Duke is vice president for public policy and research of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp).


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BIBLE STUDY: Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012
by Staff/LifeWay Christian Resources
Date: November 01, 2012 - Thursday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curriculum and additional resources for all age groups.

This week's Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum.

Bible Passage: 1 Peter 5:1-9

Discussion Questions:

Who has provided you a model of humility?

Why might it be difficult to express humility as a leader?

Food for Thought:

In just a few days, our country will elect local, state and national government officials. The campaigning will be over and the only thing left to discuss will be what went right or wrong with each campaign. In preparation for Election Day, some counties provide handouts that are compilations of questions asked to each local candidate. Some of the questions are predictable and have little to do with the actual qualifications (where did you attend high school, what is your favorite place to eat in our city).

One of the more interesting questions sometimes asks the candidates why they are running for that specific office. Love for a city or area, a desire to change something or keep it the same, and expressions of wanting to make a difference are among the more common responses. One has to wonder what would happen if one of the candidates stated he was running because the sought-after office would serve as a great steppingstone to a more significant office.

The apostle Peter reminded church leaders (and all leaders for that matter) that leadership is an act of humble service (see 1 Peter 5:1-5). As he wrote these words, certainly the words of Jesus had to be playing in Peter's mind. When James and John had asked for two places of influence, Jesus called the disciples together to explain that greatness comes through service. Jesus declared that He did not come to be served, but to serve (see Mark 10:35-45).

Peter knew that if anyone had the right to be served, it was Jesus. This same Jesus had washed Peter's feet and died on a cross as Peter denied knowing Him. Peter was serving because he had been served, both physically and through the redemptive sacrifice of Christ. How else could Peter respond but through humble service? How else can we respond to what Christ did and does for us?

EXPLORE THE BIBLE

Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book, while keeping the group on pace to study through the entire Bible in eight years. The eight-year plan and more information can be found on the Internet at LifeWay.com/ExploreTheBible.

Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool.
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