The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-11/10/2014 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: The wedding & the marriage by Catherine Parks Date: November 10, 2014 - Monday NASHVILLE (BP) -- When we talk about marriage, whether it be "marriage equality" or "traditional marriage," it's easy to overlook a key component in the discussion: the wedding. I am convinced that the current state of weddings in the Western world has been instrumental in leading us to where we find ourselves today -- with a high divorce rate and an unending argument about the meaning of marriage. Weddings are far from the only factor, but they contribute nonetheless, and I think we should take a closer look. For centuries in Western countries, weddings, and therefore marriages, were the domain of the church -- be it Catholic or Protestant. In the Protestant church, wedding vows were universal, taken from the Book of Common Prayer and determined by the diligent study and arguments of many over the years. There was a commonality to marriage. If everyone said the same vows, then marriage meant the same thing universally. Fast-forward to the present day. Just about anyone can become licensed to perform a wedding, no vows even have to be made, and the meaning of marriage is up to each individual couple (or person) to determine. In a society that places a premium on individuality, marriage can mean one of a thousand different things. Somehow we have to justify our decision to get married, so we determine why marriage is important to us and go for it. It is worthwhile to ask why getting married is important to people who don't see any inherent universal value or meaning within the institution. Maybe we see the wedding industry and want the thrill of a wedding. Maybe it's the rights and value assigned to being married, rather than living together. Perhaps we want what our grandparents or parents had or like the legitimacy of being married. So we work through these questions, create a wedding around our answers and present to our guests our own unique version of "marriage." If marriage is merely a construct of society, then each society, and each member therein, can determine why it is important and what it will look like in his or her own context. Where this doesn't make sense is in the church. When we talk about the future of marriage in the church, we cannot make the mistake of overlooking our weddings. The Bible begins and ends with a wedding. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments we see that God's creation and institution of marriage was for a greater purpose. The one-flesh union of Adam and Eve in Genesis points all the way to the culmination of the church's union with Christ in Revelation 19. Marriage was created so we might understand how dearly God loves us. Marriage matters. And if the wedding is day one of the marriage, then it matters too. When we -- a man and a woman -- choose to vow our love and devotion to one another with words that reflect God's design for marriage, we are starting our lives together on a firm foundation. When we proclaim that our ability to keep our vows is dependent on the grace of God, we are setting up a cornerstone that we can look back on when difficult days and years come. Though we will fail to be like Christ in all things, the grace of God will point us to the constant need to extend and receive forgiveness with our spouses. When we gather with friends and family in corporate worship in our wedding ceremony, we are demonstrating the reality that our particular marriage is not just about us. We are saying it is about the glory of God, and it is dependent upon the encouragement and support of the church. My prayer is that the church might come alongside engaged couples and encourage them in the freedom of how truly meaningful a wedding can be. I believe Christian weddings can be the most joyful, reverent and celebratory events we have the privilege of witnessing. And perhaps as we embrace and proclaim the meaning of marriage in our weddings, we will build a firm foundation for marriages that, by His grace, point to Christ, build strong families and transform the world. To read the Baptist Press story about their book, click here. This column first appeared at the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission's www.erlc.com website. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 'My heart continues to ache,' Bae says by Staff Date: November 10, 2014 - Monday TACOMA, Wash. (BP) -- Stepping onto American soil Nov. 8 for the first time in two years, Korean American missionary Kenneth Bae thanked supporters for their prayers during his two years' of imprisonment in North Korea because of his faith in Jesus. "Thank you for supporting me, lifting me up," Bae said, according to the Seattle Times. "Thank you for all your support and prayer and love. It's really been encouraging for me and for others." Bae stepped from a military plane at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Army installation near Tacoma, Wash., and walked into the embracing arms of his mother. "I'm happy to be home but my heart continues to ache for the people of North Korea," Bae said moments later, according to Eugene Cho, pastor of The Quest Church in Seattle where Bae's sister Terri Chung is a member. In a press release today (Nov. 10), Chung expressed concern for Bae's health, and said she doesn't know when her brother will be ready to further discuss his ordeal. "Kenneth's lengthy imprisonment has exacted a physical and emotional toll on Kenneth and the rest of the family, and we cannot begin to predict the extent of the aftermath at this point," Chung said in a press release today (Nov. 10). "We need time to recover privately. We sincerely thank those who have made Kenneth's release possible, and thank the news media for its interest." The family has no plans to grant press interviews at this time, Chung said in the press release. Earlier, she expressed deep concern for Bae. "I am worried about him. I know that he's changed," she told the Seattle Times. "Because he had recovered some, he was in better shape than we expected. … As you know, he had gone back and forth between the labor camp and hospital." Bae has not spoken with reporters since the Nov. 8 press conference. The 46-year-old suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure and other medical problems, and had spent six weeks in a North Korean hospital shortly before his release. Bae has said he is recovering. "It's been an amazing two years. I learned a lot. I grew a lot. I lost a lot of weight," he said at the military base. "I'm recovering at this time." Prayer has been crucial to Bae's survival, Chung's pastor wrote on Facebook. "Prayer sustained Kenneth Bae in a North Korean labor camp for 765 days. After he came home, we prayed," Cho wrote. "I want to sincerely thank all of you -- near and far -- for praying for his freedom. Let's remember to lift up the 24.5 million North Koreans that are living under the captivity of a brutal regime. Lord, let your light shine forth in North Korea." Bae still has not seen his wife, who lives in China, nor his children, who live elsewhere in the U.S., but the family is planning a Thanksgiving reunion, Chung said. Bae was serving a 15-year prison term of hard labor, accused of "hostile acts to bring down" the North Korean government. He had been arrested in 2012 as he led a tour group in one of North Korea's special economic zones for foreign investors. The North Korean government released Bae and prisoner Matthew Todd Miller, who was serving a six-year sentence on charges of espionage after he reportedly shred his tourist visa at Pyongyang's airport in April and demanded asylum. In October, North Korea released Jeffrey Fowle of Miamisburg, Ohio, who had been held for six months. Fowle had left a Bible in a nightclub with the hope that it would reach the underground Christian community there, according to news reports. North Korea has given no reason for the prisoners' release. Meanwhile, other Christians remain imprisoned for their faith. In Iran, American pastor Saeed Abedini is serving an eight-year sentence imposed Jan. 27, 2013, on charges he threatened national security by planting house churches in Iran years earlier. He had been under house arrest since July, 2012, and imprisoned since Sept. 26, 2012. He has faced death threats and beatings in prison and has received inadequate medical care. His wife Naghmeh, in Boise, Idaho with their two children, has advocated extensively for his release. "Praise God for the two Americans who have been released from North Korean prison!" she wrote on Facebook Nov. 8. "Praying that Saeed is next!" Abedini's mother and two of his siblings have fled death threats in Iran and are planning to travel to the U.S., Naghmeh wrote on Facebook. "Saeed's mum has been under constant threat and intimidation by the Iranian government as she has been following up on Saeed's case … and now she is forced to leave Iran because of it and threat of being arrest," Naghmeh posted. "The government (magistrate) has now said that clemency is no longer an option and they will not allow Saeed to be treated at the hospital." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Iraq war vet to plant church in Washington state by Tobin Perry Date: November 10, 2014 - Monday YAKIMA, Wash. (BP) -- Michael Johnson learned a million little things in the U.S. Army. He learned to make his bed Army-style. He learned to march in the Army band. He learned to shoot an M-16 rifle and throw a grenade. But maybe the most important lessons he learned during close to a decade as a soldier had nothing to do with combat. He learned how to be a leader and how to look at everyday life as a mission field. Those lessons continue to serve him well as a church planter in Moxee, Wash. "The Army -- really any military service -- it is a huge mission field," Johnson said. "The values that the Army espouses -- loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, integrity -- are completely things that a Christian would affirm, that the church would affirm. But when you get into the military culture itself, you realize that most of the people are lost." Johnson, who had been a music major in college, first considered the Army in 2004 after struggling through a couple of unfulfilling customer service jobs and a part-time worship ministry position that was fulfilling but didn't provide enough pay to support his family. Married with three children at the time, he not only longed to serve his country but also provide his growing young family a little more stability. "The Army has a pretty strong music program -- the Army band," Johnson said. "When I looked into it, it made a lot of sense. God opened up doors. He used my time in the Army to develop me as a leader and incidentally to help me really understand God's calling on my life, as far as pastoral ministry." After basic training and training in the Army's music program, Johnson's work revolved around playing for public relations events and entertaining troops. He marks 2006 as the highlight of his Army enlistment. He served for seven months in Iraq, entertaining troops and giving them a little break from their stressful, dangerous work. "I had a band that I led," Johnson said. "We played modern rock music and '90s alternative music. We toured around Baghdad, playing for soldiers. It was a great opportunity. We were proud of what we did. It was the best job in the Army." Playing in an Army band wasn't without danger, though. Because he spent much of his time traveling between bases, he had to be prepared for potential enemy attacks. "There were a couple of times when we were in convoys, traveling from one small base to another," Johnson said. "We'd get reports that there was an IED on the route or we would stop and inspect a road between us if something looked suspicious. There were a few times like that when you get a little on edge." Johnson thought he would retire in the Army. He loved what he did and he loved why he did it. But God had other plans for him. In 2008, while serving at Ft. Lewis in western Washington state, his pastor asked him to teach a young adult Sunday School class. Johnson had taught previously in church situations, and the opportunity awoke something in him. "I discovered or re-discovered my passion for teaching the Bible -- like never before," Johnson, a Washington state native, said. "I felt so compelled to study and teach God's Word that my military ambitions started to pale in comparison." At times, Johnson said, he thought about serving as a chaplain or pastoring an established church, but he kept coming back to the realization that God was calling him to start a new church and watch the Gospel take root in a community. "Almost overnight we got this opportunity to get our feet in the door to go through assessments and find a way to get connected to funding through the North American Mission Board," Johnson said. "All of that came from an opportunity I was given -- really an invitation -- 'Hey, we want you to be a part of this church planting residency.'" The residency came about through Hillcrest Baptist Church in Enterprise, Ala., near where he finished up his final assignment in the Army. Because he started the residency about five months before his Army enlistment was completed, he didn't get a chance to finish the entire 10-month program. But he says the opportunities to lead a mission trip and help start a new worship service at the church, among others, helped him significantly in his preparation to plant a congregation. In January of 2014, the family moved to Moxee, a small, unincorporated community outside of Yakima. Yakima sits in the middle of a large desert in South Central Washington with the Yakima River running through it. "As we really started to pray about coming here we were burdened by a city that has a lot of spiritual darkness, a lot of gang problems, a lot of struggling, desperate churches that need new life and need revitalization," said Johnson, who has been supported by NAMB and the Northwest Baptist Convention. "We grabbed a hold of that image of the river giving life to everything around it. That gave us the name to our church -- The River Church." Though the church has yet to officially launch, it's core group has been meeting together at a local community center on Sundays. They've reached out together through a community block party. And, before they've had an official worship service, they've already started contributing to the Cooperative Program. "I wouldn't be a part of the Southern Baptist Convention if I didn't believe in what we're doing through the Cooperative Program, what we can do as individual local autonomous churches cooperating together for the sake of the Gospel and the Great Commission," Johnson said. "We're excited to -- from the very get-go -- have a healthy pattern of giving to the Cooperative Program, giving to missions." The North American Mission Board has resources and ideas to help churches celebrate Veteran's Day at www.namb.net/Honoring-Military-Service_Members-and-Chaplains. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Bible translation highlighted at NOBTS by Staff Date: November 10, 2014 - Monday NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- In the world today, billions of people have a written text of Scripture in their language, but cannot read, while 180 million people have no Scripture in their language. Not the New Testament. Not one of the Gospels. Not one word. All of those people need the Bible translated, whether into a written text or into stories which can be transmitted orally. With that global need in view, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary hosted a "Bible Translation as Missions" colloquium featuring presentations and question-and-answer sessions with eight scholars representing organizations engaged in Bible translation for the sake of Christian missions. "One goal of the colloquium was to educate people about the nature and status of Bible translation work globally," said Adam Harwood, professor of theology at NOBTS and director of the school's Baptist Center for Theological and Mission, which co-sponsored the Oct. 20 event. "We also wanted to connect individuals interested in translating the Bible for the purpose of Christian missions with experts in the field." Speakers included Bill Warren, a former professor and missionary to Colombia who is now professor of New Testament and Greek at NOBTS and director of the seminary's H. Milton Haggard Center for New Testament Textual Studies; Michael Walrod, founder and past president of The Canada Institute of Linguistics; Dave Brunn, international translation consultant for New Tribes Mission; Grant Lovejoy, director of orality strategies for the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board; Bryan Harmelink, international translation coordinator for Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) International; Perry Oakes, Bible translator for Wycliffe Associates; Larry Jones, senior vice president of Bible translation for The Seed Company; and Charles White, professor of Christian thought and history at Spring Arbor University. In his presentation, Bill Warren surveyed the history of the texts and translations. Drawing on his expertise in textual criticism, he highlighted some of the latest developments among the Hebrew and Greek critical editions and how they relate to Bible translation. Michael Walrod, drawing examples from his time on the mission field serving the Ga'dang people in the Philippines, addressed discourse analysis and its value for translating and interpreting the Bible. Dave Brunn served as a missionary-translator in Papua New Guinea for 21 years. During that time, he facilitated the translation of the New Testament into the Lamogai language. In his presentation, Brunn drew from his work in the book "One Bible, Many Versions: Are All Translations Created Equal?" to demonstrate that presumably literal translations (such as the ESV and NASB) sometimes employ the same dynamic equivalence standards as translations like the NIV and NLT. Conversely, dynamic equivalence translations at times employ literal translation standards. Grant Lovejoy reported that the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board is engaged with the 175 people groups that have no Scripture in their language, with 90 to 95 percent of those languages also having no alphabet. Thus, missionaries must use non-print (oral, audio and video) resources to communicate the message of the Bible. In his presentation, Lovejoy focused on sound methods for Bible storytelling in these cultures. Bryan Harmelink addressed the historical, cultural and hermeneutical issues of transmitting a message through a text. In 1997, Harmelink worked with a team of translators in Chile who published the Mapuche New Testament. Some in the field of Bible translation are working on an "open source" model to help spur translation and Bible storying development, with Perry Oakes profiling Open Bible Stories, a free collection of 50 Bible stories in five major languages, online at unfoldingword.org. This new strategy is designed empower church networks worldwide to create free, unrestricted biblical content, translation training and translation tools available in additional languages. Open Bible Stories goes through a three-step process of authentication to ensure that the content is biblical and linguistically sound. Oakes said the goal is to have "adequate biblical content" in every language and for every people group within 10 years. Larry Jones, who served 27 years in Asia both in Bible translation ministry to the Yawa people of Indonesia and in missionary leadership, described the changing relationship between Bible societies and the church. That relationship, he said, is shifting from vendor-customer to Bible societies assisting the church in its mission to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Jones also profiled the Guest Bible Scholar Program, which involves theologically and exegetically competent, non-linguist volunteers in the Bible translation process. Charles White, an exegetical consultant in the Guest Bible Scholar Program on translations of the New Testament in four African languages, led colloquium attendees in an exercise in checking an English back-translation. White also challenged participants to consider the fact that abundant biblical knowledge and resources entails great responsibility to serve those who do not have the Bible in their language. The colloquium, the first of its kind at NOBTS, was sponsored by three of the seminary's research centers: the Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry, the Global Missions Center, and the Center for New Testament Textual Studies. Video recordings of the event will be available online. Those who are interested in viewing the recording should request the link to Bible Translation as Missions via email at publications@nobts.edu. Harwood said he hopes NOBTS will host another similar event during the fall of 2016. -------------------------------------------------------------------- TRUSTEES: IMB's Platt unfolds five-point strategy by Tess Rivers Date: November 10, 2014 - Monday OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. (BP) -- IMB President David Platt outlined his five-point strategic plan while presiding over his first trustee meeting as head of the mission agency. In a plan based on five biblical goals which have led to four practical steps and three initial recommendations, Platt offered two important reminders to reach one all-consuming goal: glorifying God. Platt's five biblically based goals for IMB are: exalting Christ, mobilizing Christians, equipping the church, facilitating church planting and "playing our part in completing the Great Commission," he explained to trustees during Nov. 6-7 meetings in Olive Branch, Mississippi. "Missions is not our life. Christ is our life," Platt said. "I want to lead us to love Him, to enjoy Him … and to exalt Him among all peoples." These desires led Platt to identify four practical steps to lead the organization, including shaping culture, streamlining strategy, simplifying structure and solidifying leadership. "We're working and pleading for God to raise up multitudes of workers," Platt said. "And when He does -- and I believe He's doing it now -- we don't want to have a small funnel that people have to squeeze through to be involved with IMB in getting the Gospel to the nations." Instead, Platt said, "we want to simplify our structure to set the sails for the wind of God to blow His people to the world." As a result, Platt brought three personnel recommendations to IMB trustees -- two requiring a vote -- describing the moves as "high-level, 40,000-foot decisions" designed to "set the stage" for subsequent decisions in the days to come. First, IMB trustees approved Sebastian Traeger, an innovator and entrepreneur based in Washington, D.C., to serve as the agency's executive vice president. Traeger, 40, is an elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., and author of the book, "The Gospel at Work." He will replace Clyde Meador, 69, who has served in the role since July 2003. Meador will continue to serve on the IMB leadership team as executive advisor to the president. Trustees also voted to approve Zane Pratt, 57, as vice president for global training. Pratt, who currently serves with IMB as theological education strategist for Asia, has 21 years of IMB missions' experience. From 2011-13, Pratt also served as dean and associate professor of Christian missions at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. Proven leaders Traeger, who earned a bachelor's degree in politics from Princeton University, brings a wide variety of skills and experience to the position of executive vice president, including ministry awareness, proven leadership ability, organizational acumen, financial competence and strategic experience, Platt told trustees. As an entrepreneur, business professional and management consultant, Traeger has co-founded, built and sold several companies, including Village Phone, which launched mobile services in rural developing communities in El Salvador; Christianity.com, a self-publishing platform for Christian organizations; Razoo.com, a crowd-funding site that leverages small acts of charity to support a variety of causes; and Five Street, Inc., which provides lead management software to the residential real estate industry. In addition, Platt said, Traeger "stands on strong biblical, theological foundations that inform a healthy understanding of the local church, global mission and every Christian's involvement in both." Traeger, who accepted Christ as his personal Savior as a 6-year-old boy, also credits his Princeton involvement in Campus Crusade for Christ and Athletes in Action as significant milestones in his spiritual development. Since 1996, he has been a member of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., where he currently serves as a Sunday School teacher and elder. He and his wife Nikki have three children, ages 6, 5 and 3. "I am honored and privileged to be asked to serve in this role," Traeger said. "It's amazing how God has providentially given me the capabilities and the experiences to do this work." Specifically, Traeger said he believes his experience with leading innovation and his focus on "doing all things with excellence as unto the Lord" will prove helpful as Platt seeks to bring new models to the 169-year-old organization. "As David starts to lead the organization with a vision for raising up more missionaries, forming more teams and incorporating more professionals, I can see how my experiences as an innovator will be helpful," Traeger said. "All my work is for the King, and I'm humbled and excited by my assignment with IMB, where I can put my hand to the plow in serving David, our staff and our workers on the field." As Traeger steps into the role of executive vice president, Meador will move into a new position as executive advisor to the president. Meador had discussed transitioning away from IMB to a new area of ministry upon the arrival of a new president, but Platt asked him to wait. "I want and need the kind of biblical, missiological, experiential and personal wisdom that exists in Clyde Meador," Platt said, acknowledging that he expects Meador to speak into "every decision that is made, every change that is considered, and every step that is taken." Focus on training Platt recommended creating the new position of vice president of global training to oversee IMB training efforts. Platt endorsed Pratt to fill the role based on "a unique combination of extensive missions experience alongside deep theological acumen." "I want to make sure that everything we are and everything we do is grounded in the rock solid foundations of God's Word," Platt said. "I want God's Word to drive what we believe and how we operate, the message we proclaim and the methods we use to proclaim it." Other business In other business, IMB trustees: -- Welcomed 63 new missionaries, who were recognized in a special appointment service Sunday, Nov. 9, at First Baptist Church Olive Branch. -- Approved the 2015 Fiscal Resources Strategy Plan at a budget of $301,100,000 as presented by David Steverson, IMB treasurer and vice president of finance. -- Received the 2013 Annual Personnel Report from Dickie Nelson, associate vice president of global personnel, who noted that at 3.8 percent, missionary attrition reached its lowest level in 15 years. The average 15-year attrition rate for IMB is 4.8 percent. The national average for non-profit agencies is about 16 percent. -- Received the 2014 Annual Statistical Report, which summarizes the work of Southern Baptist missionaries and their overseas ministry partners in 2013. More than 1.7 million people heard a Gospel witness in 2013. Of those, more than 274,000 became believers and more than 190,000 were baptized. Missionaries and local believers with whom they partner started more than 13,000 new churches. -- Heard specific reports from strategy leaders serving around the world about the progress of the Gospel in their areas. The next trustee meeting will be Feb. 24-25, 2015, in Houston, Texas. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Platt: 'God saved you to send you' by Tess Rivers Date: November 10, 2014 - Monday OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. (BP) -- The reality of more than 2 billion unreached people living in more than 6,000 people groups is "totally intolerable," IMB President David Platt told an overflow crowd during an appointment service for 63 new IMB missionaries. Abha Perdew*, who was born in the United States and raised by Hindu parents, agreed with Platt's assessment during the service Nov. 9 at First Baptist Church Olive Branch in Mississippi. "I grew up believing most of what my parents taught me and what I learned at the Hindu Center I attended with my family," Perdew said. "No one ever told me about Jesus." Then, through relationships with Christians in graduate school, Perdew found Christ and chose to follow Him. Now, she and her husband Kenneth* -- one of the Christians who initially told her about Christ -- are preparing to move to southern Asia with their children to share the Gospel with others who have yet to hear the name of Jesus. "My call to international missions started with my own testimony," Perdew said. "One of the questions I had when I was a seeker was, 'What will happen to the millions of people in [southern Asia] who have never heard of Jesus?'" Platt, preaching from the book of Romans, explained that "unreached" people have knowledge of God but live in rebellion against Him. As a result, they stand condemned. "All people have knowledge of God," Platt said. But for the unreached, "their knowledge of God is only enough to damn them to hell." Unreached people -- in contrast to those who have access to the Gospel -- have never heard the Good News that through Jesus' death and resurrection sin is conquered and death is defeated, Platt said. "Unreached people don't even know the Gospel exists," he said. "There are no churches, and they have never even met anyone who is a Christian. Unreached people are born, live and die without ever hearing the Gospel." While this reality is "totally intolerable," no person or people group "on the face of the planet is beyond the reach of this Gospel," Platt said. But how will the Good News get to people who have never heard? "The plan of God warrants your involvement," Platt told the missionary appointment service crowd. "God has not saved you to sideline you. He has saved you to send you. Will you place a 'blank check' before God?" As Platt's challenge echoed across the auditorium, men, women and children streamed forward to lay response cards at the front of the auditorium. Some committed to pray for unreached people and for genuine revival that produces workers who will go to the nations. Others committed to engage in global missions through their local church, including participating in at least one global mission project every year. Platt's challenge also resonated with the 63 new missionaries, including Carson West*, who will serve in Sub-Saharan Africa. West, who felt God's call to ministry in 2012, described his call to missions as a tension "that would not go away." As he studied the Scriptures, he found himself wanting to live among the nations "to tell them about Jesus … and to walk with them as they grow." "I [can] no longer ignore the fact that millions of people have never heard about Jesus," West said. "I [cannot] ignore that fact that God is calling me to preach His name to those who have never heard it." *Names changed. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Pro-gay ad blitz aimed at Miss. Baptists by David Roach Date: November 10, 2014 - Monday JACKSON, Miss. (BP) -- A public relations blitz by the pro-gay Human Rights Campaign aimed at convincing Mississippians that homosexuality is not inconsistent with Christianity has been deemed inaccurate and dangerous by Baptist leaders in the state. "There is an inherent rejection of the Gospel when we do not affirm [the] biblical [vision of] human sexuality, especially as it's portrayed in marriage because marriage is the greatest illustration that God has given us of Himself and how He loves the church," Chas Rowland, pastor of Bovina Baptist Church in Vicksburg, Miss., told Baptist Press. Starting today (Nov. 10) HRC's "All God's Children" campaign will air television ads in Jackson featuring Mississippians who endorse so-called "equal rights" for homosexuals. Among those featured are two Mississippi Baptists: Stan Wilson, pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Clinton, and Mary Jane Kennedy, whom the Jackson Clarion-Ledger referred to as "a Southern Baptist Sunday School teacher ... from Florence." Northside is listed as a cooperating church on the website of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, a group that formed in the early 1990s in opposition to the Southern Baptist Convention's theologically conservative direction. Northside contributed just $250 through Southern Baptists' Cooperative Program between Oct. 1, 2013, and Sept. 30, 2014, according to the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board. The Rankin Baptist Association in Pearl, Miss., confirmed to BP that Kennedy lives in the area, but a church where she is believed to attend did not respond to BP's request for information before deadline. The HRC ad campaign launched just two days before a federal judge in Jackson is scheduled to hold a hearing on the constitutionality of Mississippi's ban on same-sex marriage. Some observers expect a ruling as early as this week. HRC cited the large number of Baptists in Mississippi as a reason for focusing on faith during its $310,000 statewide campaign, which will also include billboards, online advertisements and person-to-person engagement, the Clarion-Ledger reported. The effort is part of a larger $8.5 million, three-year campaign to increase acceptance of homosexuality in Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas, the Hattiesburg American reported. HRC spokesman Brad Clark told the Clarion-Ledger that one of the campaign's messages "is that we're all God's children, and it's up to God to judge, not us." Rowland, a board member of Mississippi Baptists' Christian Action Commission, said HRC's attempt to normalize homosexuality does not align with the views of most Mississippi Baptists -- despite the identification of some ad personalities as Southern Baptists. "There is no doubt where Mississippi Baptists stand," Rowland said. "[We] affirm biblical marriage." At its annual meeting in October, the Mississippi Baptist Convention adopted two resolutions defending the traditional Christian views of marriage, gender and sexuality. A resolution "on the family" declared that "the family is rooted in God's gift of marriage, which the Creator defines as the lifelong union of one man and one woman." Messengers reaffirmed "their commitment to biblical marriage," according to the resolution. A separate resolution opposed "steadfastly all efforts by any governing official or body to validate transgender identity as morally praiseworthy" and invited "all who consider themselves transgender persons and who struggle with gender identity to trust in Christ and to experience renewal in the Gospel." The resolution welcomed transgender persons to attend Mississippi Baptist churches and said they can be received into church membership if they repent of their sins and believe the Gospel. In addition to passing resolutions, Rowland believes the Mississippi convention must amend its governing documents to declare -- like the SBC has done -- that churches which affirm, approve or endorse homosexual behavior are not in friendly cooperation. "The rejection of confessional, baptistic cooperation leads to arguments over majority opinion rather than clearly articulating Gospel truth in Christian unity," Rowland said. A failure to stand firm against homosexuality will result in loss of the culture wars and eternal destruction of souls who need to hear the message of grace and repentance, he said. "People's souls are more important than political correctness," Rowland said. "We've just got to have some courage and stand up and speak the truth." William Perkins, editor of Mississippi's Baptist Record newsjournal and a spokesman for the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, told BP he attempted to contact HRC four times and never received a phone call in return. HRC seems not to "want to develop any sort of contacts within the religious community" despite its use of faith-based language in videos and ads. In a statement to the Clarion-Ledger, Perkins said, "On [homosexuality], the vast majority of the 2,149 member churches of the Mississippi Baptist Convention would fall within the parameters of The Baptist Faith and Message of the Southern Baptist Convention which states, 'In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose ... all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography' (Article XV). The Baptist Faith and Message also states, 'Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime' (Article XVIII). "It is difficult to misinterpret those passages to represent that most Mississippi Baptists would be anything but fully opposed to the Human Rights Campaign's efforts in this state. $300,000 is a lot of money to spend on a program that is doomed to fail," Perkins said. Russell D. Moore, president of the SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, told BP in written comments that Christians should prepare for additional efforts in the Bible Belt to position homosexual behavior as normal. "This sort of campaign will only continue. Red states and Bible Belts do not provide adequate protection from these cultural trends. The response must be churches preaching and articulating a Christian vision of sexuality as rightly expressed in the one-flesh union of a man and a woman," Moore, a Mississippi native, said. "Our [preaching] must not stop at morals but go on to show how marriage is rooted in the Gospel, as a picture of Christ and the church. And our churches must be, like Jesus and His apostles, those who call for repentance of sin and those who offer mercy to all who come to Christ in repentance and faith," he said. -------------------------------------------------------------------- BP Ledger, Nov. 10, 2014 by Staff Date: November 10, 2014 - Monday EDITOR'S NOTE: BP Ledger carries items for reader information each week from various Southern Baptist-related entities, and news releases of interest from other sources. The items are published as received. Today's BP Ledger contains items from: Florida Baptist Witness Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Christian Newswire Enough is Enough World News Service Florida Baptist Witness launches new print and online versions By FBW Staff JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida Baptist Witness) -- The Florida Baptist Witness launched new print and online versions on Nov. 6, a little more than 10 months after Kevin Bumgarner was named executive editor. In the time leading up to the re-launch, Bumgarner added full-time reporters based out of Jacksonville and Miami, and hired Associate Editor Michael Smith to oversee the print-edition redesign. "My goal throughout this process has been to find a group of talented reporters and designers who would do their very best to put together content that will bring glory and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ," Bumgarner said. "I have been blessed by God as he has shown me the right people for the right time to move the Witness in a new direction." Reporters Nicole Kalil and Keila Diaz have been focusing on stories that have the broadest possible appeal to Florida Baptists. New features include "A Closer Look," which is a question and answer with a Florida Baptist who is leading in the areas of business, education, arts, entertainment, nonprofits or parenting. The "Florida Focus" feature, which used to be defined by Baptist Associations, has been broken into the state's five well-known regions, so people who are not familiar with association work can more easily find the stories of interest to them. The Witness will continue to have a close relationship with the Florida Baptist Convention, with Barbara Denman and her team supplying regular content designed to keep readers informed and encouraged about what is going on within the denomination statewide. Each print edition will be anchored by a cover story with the broadest possible interest to Florida Baptists, Bumgarner said, adding that the goal with everything is to create content that readers will be able to use and apply to their daily lives. To that end, the new Witness has added seven columns that are being written by leading pastors and laypeople throughout the state. Topics are mental health, personal finances, leadership, politics, parenting, women-to-women and Millennial-focused content. "It is extremely important that we include insightful commentary on the issues that affect our readers and potential readers," Bumgarner said. "That is one of the primary reasons we added columns written by women, Millennials and minorities. While never doing anything to dilute the Gospel-centered message, we need voices that reflect the increasingly diverse state we are trying to serve." To increase the Witness' emphasis on the Gospel, each issue will now contain someone's personal testimony and, separately, a story about why someone likes the church they are attending. Anyone has the opportunity to share their testimony or brag on their church by contacting Bumgarner. Two popular Bible studies are a few of the only things that have been carried over from the previous version. Online readers will see big improvements as well. For the first time, the Witness will have a daily poll question, and those who respond will be able to see what other Florida Baptists are thinking on a variety of topics. Readers also will find easy access to the five social media platforms the Witness is now engaged in: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and LinkedIn. There also will be dedicated spots for blogs and breaking news, videos and channels that help readers find the content they want by subject. "We know that users will come to our website for the opportunity to connect and interact with us—not just read stories," Bumgarner said. "We are committed to giving them a robust experience while staying focused on the truth of God's Word." Website users also will notice that access to the content that also appears in print is now behind a paywall. If you would prefer to get the Witness online, you may now do so for $20 a year. Bumgarner said that, as good stewards of its share of Cooperative Program dollars, subscriptions and advertising revenue, the time was right for website users to pay their share when it comes to consuming high-quality content that costs ever-more to produce. For those who have questions or comments, feel free to contact Bumgarner at kbumgarner@goFBW.com or by phone at 904-596-3171. ********** Wells calls for biblical vision of God's 'holy-love' in Southern Seminary's Gheens Lectures By Andrew J.W. Smith LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) -- A holistic vision of God forms the center of Christian life, freeing believers to be "God-centered in our thoughts, God-fearing in our hearts and God-honoring in our work," said David F. Wells in the Gheens Lectures at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Sept. 24-25. Wells, distinguished research professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and author of numerous books on evangelicalism and culture, lectured on the "holy-love" of God, which is the central idea in his most recent work, God in the Whirlwind. In the first lecture, Wells presented his vision of a fully Godward identity, centered on the union of his holiness and his love. While God's love cannot be fully comprehended without his wrath and judgment, Wells said, his holiness similarly is not completed without his love. Therefore, the holy-love of God brings together both fundamental aspects of his character. Western culture, however, is dominated by a "centerless vision" and prisoner to a postmodern ideology without objective truth, which has resulted in staggeringly high rates of depression in spite of prosperity, he noted. "Never have we had so much; never have we had so little," Wells said. The second lecture, delivered the following morning, focused on the holy-love of God expressed in the revelation of the crucified Jesus Christ. In the person of Christ, Wells said, "God's love provides what God's holiness requires." Wells sketched out a Protestant understanding of substitution, propitiation and imputed righteousness, demonstrating how each theological category functions throughout the New Testament.  "Jesus never said he was dying as a martyr for a cause, but as a propitiation for people," he said, demonstrating that Jesus' death was always meant to be substitutionary. Wells also pointed out the weaknesses of liberal revisions of orthodox Christian theology. Liberalism, he argued, in omitting God's holiness also misses the profundity of his love. "We see the depth of God's love when Jesus enters into our judgment," Wells said. Wells concluded his second lecture by identifying the best way to commend the gospel to a culture with both spiritual and physical needs. While it is increasingly common for evangelicals to argue that evangelism must be combined with social action to be effective, Wells posited that social action is not the best way to minister to people in the Western world. Human needs in the West, he said, are experienced psychologically, and there are thousands of other ways besides social action in which Christians can express God's holy-love. His third lecture explored the relationship between God's holy-love and the workplace. Instead of seeing work as a necessary evil in a fallen world, Wells showed that work was in place before the Fall but became difficult and burdensome because of sin. Wells highlighted three aspects of work that relate to the Christian life: instrumental, work requires effort; relational, work involves social interaction; and ontological, meaning that motivates our work. Regarding the relational aspect, Wells pointed out that the modern workplace often exists in anonymity — people barely know their co-workers. This often leads them to do and say things they never would in their family contexts. The solution for anonymity, according to Wells, is the holy-love of God: before him, no one is alone. "We are always before God," Wells said, "Before whom all things are laid bare." Wells also demonstrated how Christianity informs the ontological aspect of work, saturating it with deeper meaning. "The holy-love of God gives our work a future hope, making it more likely to work with joy and satisfaction," Wells said. Invoking Luther's robust theology of vocation, Wells argued that Christians are not meant to retreat from daily life into monasticism, but are called to work out their faith in their workplace contexts. Ultimately, he argued, a love of neighbor that is rooted in the holy-love of God offers true meaning to our work lives. "Whatever your calling, give yourself to people," Wells said. "If you do this, you'll find that work is not an interference with your spiritual life." Audio and video from the Gheens Lectures are available at sbts.edu/resources. ********** SEBTS professors lead student missions teams to South Asia and Taiwan WAKE FOREST, N.C. (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) -- Three Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) professors recently led student missions teams to South Asia and Taiwan to partner with International Mission Board workers in the field. George Robinson, SEBTS associate professor of missions and evangelism, led a team of 15 students and spouses to South Asia in May. In addition, Walter Strickland, special advisor to the SEBTS president for diversity and instructor of theology, and Benjamin Quinn, SEBTS instructor of theology and history of ideas, recently led five students on a weeklong mission trip to Taipei, Taiwan. Five couples and five individuals from SEBTS divided into three teams of five working with local partners in a mountainous region of South Asia. They engaged in church planting strategies and shared the Gospel among unreached Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu people groups. The team saw five people come to faith in Christ through outreach efforts. Team participants in South Asia also conducted training sessions for indigenous pastors and lay leaders. These times of informal theological education focused on Old and New Testament surveys, Ecclesiology and Sanctity of Life training. This region is also known for sex trafficking, political instability and opposition to the Gospel. Robinson planned the trip logistics and functioned in a shepherding role before and during the mission. He also taught the connected storyline of the Scripture in local house churches that had requested informal theological education, and he hosted a nightly "ask anything" session for pastors and lay-leaders where they could ask biblical and theological questions. Robinson said one of his favorite memories from the mission was "Seeing the incredible team unity that the Lord formed between our SEBTS students, residential missionaries and national workers." Matthew and Heather Hirts, the team hosts, are both full-time workers in South Asia. Matthew has a Master of Divinity in International Church Planting , and Heather has a diploma in Women's Studies with a missions emphasis from SEBTS. SEBTS student Paige Westberg helped document the South Asia mission through photography. She said that God taught her humility throughout the mission, as she had to realize that she was, "not the mover and the shaker. He is the One changing the world." One of the SEBTS professors who led a student missions team to Taiwan, Strickland saw the trip as a way to fulfill the Great Commission. "As an individual it shapes me to be a person who is Great Commission oriented," he said. The other SEBTS professor Quinn said, "Much of Taiwan has never heard the story of Jesus. It is a place where we can go and share the Gospel without having to look over our shoulder." In addition, Taipei is a large city in Taiwan, but is not large compared to other major Eastern cities such as Beijing or Hong Kong. With a population of approximately eight million people, the city has about 800,000 college and university students. "In Taiwan, only two percent of the population is Christian but the people are very open to the Gospel," Quinn said. The missions team visited with Rob Riley, a 2003 graduate from Southeastern with a Master of Divinity in International Church Planting, his wife Pam and their three children, who are a dedicated IMB missionary family serving the Taiwan student population. Riley has served in Taiwan for five years, for a total of seven years in East Asia. He is one of the College at Southeastern's partners for the Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies degree program where students spend a semester abroad in a strategic ministry location. Jenny Citarelli, a College at Southeastern student, said, "Out of the three missionary families I met in Taiwan, all three of them worked for the IMB and two of them studied at SEBTS. For one of the first times I witnessed the real people and places (where) much of our focus and money is directed towards." As part of his ministry, Riley teaches classes on college campuses including English as a Second Language (ESL), a life skills class, an American civilization class and a "The Cosby Show" class. "The Cosby Show" class has seen the most "conversion fruit." The SEBTS team visited Taiwan classrooms and performed a formal, dramatized presentation of the Gospel to 350 students. Ninety percent of the viewers had never heard the full story of Jesus. Then they would break up into small groups to discuss the story of creation, fall, redemption and restoration in Christ Jesus Strickland shared that he would highly recommend going on an international mission trip because it will help someone to fully understand the heart of SEBTS as a Great Commission seminary. "The trip made me into a more mature and missional disciple of Christ by reaffirming my desire to serve overseas one day," Citarelli said. "It gave me a better understanding and passion for the current ministry work I do in North Carolina." ********** Missouri Baptist Convention honors BRN founder Dick Bott with Outstanding Christian Service Award   OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (Christian Newswire) -- The Missouri Baptist Convention's Christian Life Commission presented Bott Radio Network (BRN) Founder and Chairman Dick Bott its Outstanding Christian Service Award today during the MBC's annual state convention held at the Tan-Tar-A Resort at the Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Mo. Since its founding in 1962 with one radio station (KCCV - Kansas City's Christian Voice), BRN has grown to become a world leader in quality Christian Talk Radio with 97 radio stations reaching into 15 states and a combined coverage of 51 million people. BRN also has expanded worldwide via the Internet and other digital media. "I am both honored and humbled to receive this recognition," said BRN Founder and Chairman Dick Bott. "BRN shares the vision of the Missouri Baptist Convention's Christian Life Commission to address the social, moral and ethical concerns of our times from a Christian worldview, and to do so with the Word of God." "We are delighted to recognize the outstanding contributions Dick Bott has made to Christian broadcasting and the advancement of God's kingdom," said Don Hinkle, director of public policy for the Missouri Baptist Convention. "Bott Radio Network has enriched the lives of millions of listeners and it is fitting that we pause to thank Dick Bott, the driving force behind BRN's success." Mr. Bott was joined on stage by Missouri Liberty Project founder Joshua Hawley, who also received the Outstanding Christian Service Award for his work defending religious liberties, including his representation of Hobby Lobby before the U.S. Supreme Court. The case, Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, concerned the Obama Administration's rules that would have forced business owners to fund abortion-inducing drugs in violation of their Christian conscience. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Hobby Lobby upholding the religious liberties of business people to practice their faith at work. The Outstanding Christian Service Award is inspired by a quote from Daniel Webster, who represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate during the first half of the 19th century, argued 223 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, and served as Secretary of State in the administration of three Presidents. Webster, who is considered to be among the five greatest senators in our nation's history, once said, "Whatever makes men good Christians makes them good citizens." About Bott Radio Network Since its founding in 1962, Bott Radio Network (BRN) has grown from one radio station to become a world leader in quality Christian Talk Radio with 97 radio stations reaching into 15 states and a combined coverage of 51 million people. BRN can be heard 24/7 worldwide at BottRadioNetwork.com and on mobile devices with BRN apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. Additionally, BRN can be heard on iHeart Radio, iTunes and TuneIn Radio. Bott Radio Network also connects with listeners on Facebook and Twitter. About Christian Life Commission The Missouri Baptist Convention's Christian Life Commission is the public policy arm of the state's largest evangelical denomination. Its members are composed of both laity and ministers from across the state whose primary task is to educate and advise Missouri Southern Baptists about public policy issues of concern from a Christian Worldview. The Missouri Baptist Convention comprises approximately 2,000 churches with total membership of about 650,000. ********** Newly published academic article compiles latest peer- reviewed research on internet pornography pandemic   GREAT FALLS, Va. (Enough is Enough) -- To explore what has been called "the largest unregulated social experiment in human history," Donna Rice Hughes, CEO and president of Enough Is Enough®, has authored a research article entitled "The Internet Pornography Pandemic" (http://bit.ly/1rA0erQ).   Published in the 2014 edition of The Christian Apologetics Journal, the article details the current state of Internet pornography, its real world consequences as it relates to children and adolescents, and the routes to resolution.   "The eye-opening escalating statistics concerning the saturation of extreme online pornography into cultures worldwide and the harmful impact on the emotional, mental and sexual health of young children, tweens and teens continue to worsen," said Hughes. "This extensive paper lays out the most information to serve as a clearinghouse for anyone needing additional education on the subject."   In "The Internet Pornography Pandemic," Hughes lays out the current reliable research from trusted institutions and medical and sociological professionals on the topic, including:   -- A brief history and legal background of federal pornography laws including indecency, obscenity and child pornography, Supreme Court decisions, and First Amendment issues.   -- The current state of Internet pornography and youth, citing specific statistics regarding both.    -- The deceptive marketing techniques used by the Internet pornographers' industry, such as free teaser images and videos; innocent word searches; cartoon characters; and free flash games to lure children into pornography sites.    -- Addiction and compulsive habituation, porn-induced erectile dysfunction (PIED), and breakthrough brain science are explored along with the public health impact of pornography, on the attitude, values, behavior and relationships of youth.   -- The real-world consequences of extreme pornography such as sexting, sex-trafficking and kids acting out aggressively against other youth.    -- Routes to resolution, including the roles and responsibilities of parents and caring adults, the Internet industry, corporate America, law enforcement, government, and faith-based communities.    -- The necessity to create a cultural shift, or "Tipping Point," in attitudes regarding the unrelenting social costs of pornography and to elevate the harms of pornography from not only a moral issue but also to a rapidly growing public health pandemic with the goal of creating a movement, much like the stop smoking campaign. "Nations like the United Kingdom under the leadership of Prime Minister Cameron are implementing holistic and effective solutions through which government and industry are proactively doing their part to protect children from Internet pornography and child pornography," said Hughes.   "However, in America significant gaps continue to exist between the Internet's dangers to children and the level of enforcement and industry-driven action dedicated to protecting children online." Hughes continued, "As a result, the buck is passed to parents, who are usually uninformed, overwhelmed or ill-equipped to shoulder the entire burden to protect their children and families from the onslaught."   According to Hughes, Internet-initiated crimes, and dangers directed at young people have continued to grow exponentially, threatening the safety, security and quality of life for children and families globally.   Ending with a clarion call to the Church to wake up and get involved, Hughes distinguishes between her organization's secular focus and her own perspective as a Christian.   "Sadly, many of today's cultural problems are the consequences of the failure of the church. America has abandoned its spiritual roots and the vision of our nation's founding fathers. As a result, America is in a moral free fall," said Hughes. "After having sacrificed almost two generations of children to the destructive influence of Internet pornography much of which is prosecutable under current U.S. law, it is long past time to say 'enough is enough.'  A spectrum of prevention starts with one person, one family, one community and one nation at a time to bring about widespread cultural change." To view the full article visit: http://bit.ly/1rA0erQ . About Enough Is Enough Enough Is Enough® (EIE) is a national non-profit organization, the mission for which is to make the Internet safer for children and families. Since 1994, EIE has been a national leader in the efforts to combat Internet p*rnography, child p*rnography, and sexual predation,incorporating a three-pronged approach. First, educating the public about Internet dangers and equipping them with safety solutions. Secondly, partnering within the technology industry to develop and implement viable, family-friendly technological safety solutions and best practices. And thirdly, promoting legal solutions that call for aggressive enforcement of existing laws and enactment of new laws to prevent the online exploitation and victimization of children EIEis dedicated to advancing awareness and solutions to these problems that promote equality, fairness and respect for human dignity with shared responsibilities between the public, the technology industry, and the legal community.EIE stands for freedom of speech as defined by the Constitution of the United States; for a culture where all people are respected and valued; for a childhood with a protected period of innocence; for healthy sexuality; and for a society free from sexual exploitation. www.enough.org; www.internetsafety101.org; www.friendlywifi.org   About Donna Rice Hughes Donna Rice Hughes, CEO and President of Enough Is Enough®, is an Internet safety advocate, author and speaker.  She is frequently sought out for her expertise by national media outlets, including (NBC) The Today Show, CNN and Fox News. She served as a Child Online Protection Commissioner, the U.S. Attorneys General's Internet Safety Technical Task Force and won the 2013 Women in Technology Leadership Award for "Social Impact". She is the Executive Producer and host of EIE's Emmy and Telly award-winning Internet Safety 101® multi-media program. The adult curriculum was developed in partnership with the Department of Justice to prevent Internet-initiated crimes against children by educating, equipping and empowering parents, educators and caring adults with the knowledge and resources needed to protect children from online p*rnography, child p*rnography, sexual predators and cyberbullies, as well as cyber security risks and dangers related to social networking, online gaming and mobile devices. ********** Concerned Women and Cultural Shifts Penny Young Nance, president of Concerned Women for America, talks about the ways our nation is changing, for better and for worse By Warren Cole Smith WASHINGTON (World News Service) -- Penny Young Nance is president of Concerned Women for America (CWA), described on the group's website as "the nation's largest public policy women's organization." CWA has been around for 35 years, articulating conservativeviews on what are often called "women's issues" as well on as other political issues. Nance has served as the CEO of Concerned Women for American since 2010. She was named the group's president last year. This is your 35th anniversary. What's the genesis of your organization, and what have you done over those years? Concerned Women for America began in 1979 when our founder, Beverly LaHaye was sitting in her living room in Southern California. She was a pastor's wife and had never been involved in public policy. One day she was watching Betty Friedan talk about what women want, talking about the ERA. Betty Friedan decided she wanted to speak on behalf of all women. She pretended that women were monolithic. And Mrs. LaHaye literally jumped off her sofa, stood up and said, "She doesn't represent me. The things she's asking for, I don't support." And that was, of course, abortion on demand and passage of the ERA. So she got busy and she met with some women and they ended up doing a rally in Southern California and one thing led to another. Now we have seven core issues. Those issues are: life; marriage; education; national sovereignty; … religious freedom, which is a huge issue right now for Americans; sexual exploitation of women and children; … and support for the nation of Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East. How are we doing on those issues? It's a mixed bag on many of those issues. For instance, on the life issue, the Allan Guttmacher institute numbers just came out, and abortions are down. They're the lowest they've been since Roe v. Wade. However, even one's too many. I would say we have come so far, though, because we were getting close to 2 million a year at one point. What's changed is the country has become more pro-life. Even Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who is not a conservative, admits that the courts jumped into something and created problems instead of letting the states work out this issue, … but now the states are pushing back. We've had abortion clinics shutting down all over the country because of two things. Demand has decreased, and also [there are] better state laws. … We're seeing real traction in the debate … because now we're making the country talk about what is actually in the womb. It's not just about a woman's right to choose. It's about what she's choosing. And when we talk about the fetal pain bill, which is the 20-week ban on abortions, suddenly we have to explain, this is why this should be illegal. This is part of our human family. So, abortion? Progress. Same-sex marriage? Not so much. Not so much. That's a very difficult issue. Now, I say, remain calm. There was a time when conservatives were told, you're just going to have to get over abortion. It is settled law, and you are never going to gain traction. … But guess what? Something changed. Public opinion changed, and there's a pendulum. Now, the pendulum, admittedly, right now is not swinging in our favor. People don't understand why it is essential that traditional marriage is honored. That it's a privileged institution. I would suggest that it will swing back because now you're seeing the consequences. In general, what do you see for the future? Are you hopeful, or are you discouraged? Are we really getting better, or are we just maybe slowing slightly the decline. The founders of this nation knew what they were doing. It makes it difficult for one person, one administration, to completely destroy the country, although they can put policies in place that really hurt us. … I would suggest, really, at the heart of decline is our walking away as a country from faith and becoming much more secular. So as long as that trend continues, we're going to have a problem. But, while that's happening, I see a shift in our young people coming. … I see that starting to happen right now. Concerned Women for America's Young Women for America chapters on college campuses just started two years ago and we have 21 now founded, up and going. Our latest was at Princeton University. We have about 35 in the works. I believe that we are on the cutting edge of offering not only a place of community for young, conservative woman on campus who really believe in our founding principles—free-market principles and biblical worldview—to come together and to be a force and to be salt and light on campus, but also to be winsome. --30--