The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-11/11/2014 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------- VETERANS DAY: Meditation at a flagpole by David E. Crosby Date: November 11, 2014 - Tuesday NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- We have two American flags folded and stored in a closet at the farmhouse in Texas, the kind of flags presented to surviving family members on behalf of the president of the United States at the memorial service for a veteran of military service. The flags have small paper tags wired into the top grommet with the name of the soldier for whom it was presented. I checked the tag as I unfolded the flag a month ago and saw the name of Fred Conradt. I thought about Uncle Fred -- his nephews and nieces called him Uncle Dub -- as I clipped the flag to the rope on the flagpole in the middle of the front yard. The flagpole, maybe 20 feet high, is a 2-inch metal pipe set up by my father-in-law Jack Hamilton, another veteran of World War II. He welded loops on the pipe, the very top and three feet off the ground, equipped with small pulleys. He threaded white cotton rope through the pulleys and fitted it with spring-loaded clips. American flags have flapped in the breeze in front of the farmhouse off and on for 30 years. The farmhouse itself was built by Alvin McNeal and Cordie Francis Benningfield Rose in 1954. Some 12 years earlier they sent their son Alton off to war. He fought and died in the Pacific Theater, a young man with a new wife and a bright future. Alton gave on our behalf, as Abraham Lincoln famously said in his Gettysburg Address, "the last full measure of devotion." I picked a stubborn spider from the bottom sprocket, unhooked the rope and pulled the flag, hand over hand, to the top of the pole. Uncle Dub would have been proud to see his flag unfurled in that seasonal breeze from the southwest. We shared an emotional moment once. I cannot remember what prompted it. Uncle Dub began to talk about his military service. At first he was composed and reflective. But then I saw a thought, a memory from the war, enter his mind and cloud his vision. It pulled him down inside himself, that picture, that sound -- whatever it was. It clamped his throat and throttled him like a giant invisible hand. I heard him say -- he could barely get it out -- "Oh, David, the children, the children" -- and that was all. He could not speak of the horror that visited him then. But I knew that the faces and figures of children were passing through his mind. Little hands were reaching out to him from some dusty village in another time and place. He grieved for them still, decades later, these children trapped in the fury of war. Fred and Monnie Conradt never had children of their own, adopted or biological. But they devoted their lives to the care of children. For years Fred was chief administrator of the West Texas State Children's Home in Pyote. Abandoned, neglected and abused children became his sons and daughters. I saw that powerful memory of children in crisis bring him to silent tears, and I wonder if maybe he found his calling and his life's work on the battlefield. Soldiers lay down their lives sometimes. But more often the battlefield claims their peace of mind, their inner tranquility and their sense of hope and a future. More than 200 veterans are among the homeless here in New Orleans. They are disproportionately represented among the population on the fringes of our society. In part it is the battlefield, the PTSD, the things they cannot articulate, that drive them to the shadows. We who have not experienced the battlefield cannot really understand this blanket of pain that sometimes falls upon our veterans. It can be disorienting, debilitating, this experience of armed conflict. We who have been spared the horrors of war stand in great debt to the soldiers we honor today. Brave and free, they were willing to go and face our enemy. Some of them bear this mantle of sorrow as the legacy of war, the price they paid to protect us all and preserve our liberty. I saw Old Glory flying high and proud, the breeze tapping those clips against the pipe. I dropped my head in a surge of gratitude for the God who made us free and the soldiers who do their duty daily to keep our star-spangled banner lifted above the fray. -------------------------------------------------------------------- VETERANS DAY: The 'war to end all wars' by Jason K. Allen Date: November 11, 2014 - Tuesday KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP) -- As home to the nation's World War I Museum, Kansas City is ablaze with the centennial commemoration of the "war to end all wars." The world-class museum, prominently located in the heart of the city, is a constant reminder of the carnage of armed conflict, the heroism of American soldiers, and the triumph of American engagement. Among my favorite World War I histories are Martin Gilbert's "The Somme" and Philip Jenkins' "The Great and Holy War," but topping my list may well be Barbara Tuchman's "The Guns of August." In The Guns of August, Tuchman chronicles, blow-by-blow, the early weeks of "The Great War." She unpacks how avoidable the conflict was, but how, once the gears of war began to turn, impossible it was to stop. Tuchman begins with the funeral of Edward VII, which in spite of all its royal splendor, presaged a European system about to be shattered: "So gorgeous was the spectacle on the May morning of 1910 when nine kings rode in the funeral of Edward VII of England that the crowd, waiting in hushed and black-clad awe, could not keep back gasps of admiration. ... The muffled tongue of Big Ben tolled nine by the clock as the cortege left the palace, but on history's clock it was sunset, and the sun of the old world was setting in a dying blaze of splendor never to be seen again" (p. 1). Throughout Tuchman's narrative, she interweaves a factual accounting of the conflict with sage observations about warfare. She reflects: -- "War is the unfolding of miscalculations." -- "Human beings, like plans, prove fallible in the presence of those ingredients that are missing in maneuvers -- danger, death, and live ammunition." -- "Arguments can always be found to turn desire into policy." The war not only brought conflict, but it also prompted cultural and religious realism. After all, nothing dispenses with the shallow expectations of the Pollyannish like the horrors of trench warfare. The high tides of Edwardian-Era optimism -- witnessed in the church in the form of postmillennialism -- began to subside the moment the assassin's bullet struck Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The carnage of World War I was proof positive that the world was not on its way to ushering in the Kingdom. Throughout The Guns of August, one feels an eerie similarity between the global moment of the First World War and that of our own. Then, as now, free trade, human advance and the collective awareness of the human toll of armed conflict were to dissuade reasonable people from resorting to warfare. Then, it proved an illusive and insufficient deterrent; now, it appears to be the same. Shortly after its release in early 1962, President John F. Kennedy read The Guns of August, and he instructed his cabinet members to do the same. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October of the same year, he reflected on Tuchman's cautionary tale about the unpredictable dynamics of war and the need for measured, calculated restraint in the Cuban showdown with the Soviet Union. Tuchman's prequel to The Guns of August, "The Proud Tower," is also worth mentioning. The Proud Tower is a collection of essays that surveys different nations and themes, from 1890–1915, that created the nest in which World War I hatched. The interconnectedness of relationships and politics, treaties and trade of the European nations should have precluded the conflict, but actually brought it to pass. The Guns of August and The Proud Tower have since been packaged together, in one volume. Tuchman portrays World War I as it was, a tragedy in most every way that ended in a pyrrhic victory for the Allies. By any estimation, so much more was lost than gained, even for the victors. Europe was left bludgeoned, shattered, fatigued and largely bankrupt. With over 16 million deaths and another 20 million wounded, World War I ranks as one of the bloodiest affairs in human history. And, sadly, the war's end resulted in only a fragile armistice, which would be ruptured two decades later with another World War, birthed in Europe's bowels. In celebrating Veterans Day, we honor the many who have served our armed forces with valor. It is also fitting to reflect again on World War I and the devastation it wrought. World War I reminds Christians of the fallenness of man, the necessity of confronting evil, and our collective desire for the day when, "He will judge between nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war" (Isaiah 2:4). -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hardened marine 'rocked' by loss, surrenders to Christ by Paul F. South/The TEXAN Date: November 11, 2014 - Tuesday FLOWER MOUND, Texas (BP) -- As a drill instructor, Brandon Graham barked orders, broke recruits and turned out battle-ready Marines. He was fierce, tough and fearless, with crass language and harsh treatment all part of the package. That all began to change, though, when driving to work one day Graham had what he calls a "Damascus Road experience" that left him weeping on the side of the highway. The journey there, however, began long before he got in the car that morning. Graham, a 34-year-old Oklahoma native who now serves as assistant pastor at RockPointe Church in Flower Mound, said news that he and his wife would become parents is what first pointed their lives in a new direction. "My wife and I began going to church before our first child was born in an effort to 'clean ourselves up,' as if going to church would make us better parents," Graham said. "It was while attending church in San Diego that God began to work on me. ... The Scripture was coming alive for the first time in my life." Shortly after their return to church, the Grahams received devastating news. Brandon's close friend, Marine Sgt. Mark Adams, had been killed in action in Fallujah, Iraq. "His death rocked me to the core," Graham said. "For the first time in my 25 years of existence, I realized I was mortal. The Marines train the fear of death out of you. A Marine infantryman is taught, 'We don't die; we just go to hell to regroup for a counter-attack.' Death was never an option." God used Adams' death as well as the unshakable faith of Adams' parents in the wake of the tragedy to get Graham's attention. "I began to wonder what else there was in this life, other than doing 20 years, getting out and getting another job somewhere. I really started to search. There had to be more out there than just this." For Graham -- the man accustomed to harsh language, loud orders and the thunder of a .50-caliber machine gun -- a still, small voice deep in his spirit on his daily commute provided the answer to his search and a new mission. "I was driving to work on California State Highway 163 in San Diego," Graham said. "I heard God speak to me in a way I'd never heard before. I won't use the word 'audible.' I didn't hear it out loud but in my spirit. It was one of those things that was not of me. 'It's time,' it said. "I just broke down. It was such a humbling experience because I knew what 'It's time' meant. God broke my spirit right there and called me to salvation. I prayed to receive Christ right there. I just said, 'I don't know what you have for me. I don't know what you want me to do, but I'm going to follow you.'" Graham initially argued with God. With a young family, this was not the best time to leave the Marine Corps. And for a few moments, he resisted. "I was overwhelmed, but I couldn't not follow him," Graham said. "I said, 'God, whatever you call me to do, I'll do it. I'm yours. I surrender my life to you, and whatever you say, I'll do.' That's what I consider my moment of conversion." That evening, some six hours after his roadside encounter, Graham received a tearful phone call from his wife Crystal, who had just completed a devotional. "We need to talk," Crystal said. Brandon imagined the worst: a divorce, trouble with one of their kids, something dire. But the Graham family had new orders. "I just finished a Bible study, and the Holy Spirit clearly told me you're supposed to go into the ministry," Crystal said, with no idea of what had happened six hours earlier. For all she knew, Brandon said, he was still a "reprobate." He recounted the roadside testimony, and together they wept. Real change Graham completed his military commitment but not before his fellow Marines noticed a transformation. "All of a sudden I started carrying my Bible. I was reading it in my duty hut. Other [drill instructors] were going out to party, but my desire was to be home with my family," Graham said. "I really started to transform from the inside out. The old was truly dying away. I'd like to say my language got perfect overnight. It didn't. But people could see a distinct difference right away." That change led Graham to help a backslidden fellow drill instructor return to faith. Graham was also able to come alongside another believer in Company E as a source of encouragement. The change was obvious not only to new drill instructors and recruits but to a Marine in combat half a world away. "I made sure I treated my guys with the utmost respect. I made sure they got plenty to eat, plenty of sleep. It's very rare. But part of it was because of the mercy and grace extended to me by Christ," Graham said. When dealing with new recruits, Graham would share Heb. 12:11: "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (NIV) Graham had signed a recruit's Bible and included that verse. Later, he received an email from the recruit, now home from battle. "While he was at war, when things got tough, he kept going back to that verse. And he knew he was going to be OK," Graham said. Years removed from Graham's roadside conversion, when he argued with God about the cost of discipleship, he's OK, too. According to senior pastor Ron Holton, Graham, who is also studying for an advanced master of divinity degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, fills a utility role at RockPointe. Graham's tireless work ethic and sterling integrity have made an impression on the pastor. "There's not a specific thing that he does," Holton said. "But he is just so talented. He has the confidence that if you were looking for an example of a person that said, 'God, just use me, and I'll do whatever' -- that's Brandon. Brandon's not afraid to try." These days, Graham's mission is simple. "The older I get and as each day goes by, I really focus on making each day count and making each day purposeful, so at the end of 70, 80 years or however many God has for me, I'm not looking back and wishing I'd done something different." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Family with 5 'heroes' reaches out to veterans by Jane Rodgers/Southern Baptist TEXAN Date: November 11, 2014 - Tuesday CEDAR PARK, Texas (BP) -- For Wes and Judy Pierce, founders of a veterans resource organization called Heroes Night Out, a large family and service to the country go hand in hand. Of the Pierces' 12 children -- eight of whom are adopted -- five sons have served in the United States military. In 2007, sons Brian, Tim and Jeremy served in Iraq at the same time. Both Tim and Jeremy's Army deployments stretched from nine to 15 months in Iraq. "That was a bad year for Mama," said Judy, laughing. Both she and Wes are members of Twins Lakes Fellowship in Cedar Park, Texas. Their son Brian is an officer in the United States Air Force; he's the only one of the Pierce sons to make a career of the military. "The last boy came home in 2008 except for Brian. He just keeps going," Wes said. Brian has been deployed to Iraq more than six times. Son Troy was stationed at Fort Drum in New York State for the four years of his service in the Army. James, the youngest of the Pierce sons, is a nurse in California who currently serves in the Army reserves. "We are all blessed they came back home and whole," Wes said. "We never had to answer the phone call at night or the knock at the door that so many dread." Still, there were occasions of great emotion. After Tim had been home on leave from Germany for a few weeks, Wes drove him to the airport for deployment to Iraq. "At the airport, Tim and I had coffee and his plane was called. Right then you realize you are sending your kid to war. I gave him a hug and turned around and walked away. I could not look at him. It was the toughest day of my life," Pierce recalled. When asked what advice he would offer parents whose children are in harm's way in the military, Wes said, "Keep the faith." "Remind them that they are involved in something bigger than themselves. We tell people, you can hate the war but do not hate the warrior." Serving the warrior came naturally to Wes and Judy. The beginnings of Heroes Night Out stem back to the Pierces' visit to a wounded soldier at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio in 2008. "The recruiter who had promised he would do everything in his power to keep our sons safe, and did, got blown up in Iraq and ended up an amputee. We visited him at BAMC where he had 20-plus surgeries," Wes said. During that visit, Judy met a young mother whose soldier husband was a double amputee. The wife's children were staying with grandparents who could not keep them anymore. "She did not know what she was going to do," Wes said. Judy convinced Wes to buy a $50 gift card to Chuck E. Cheese for the young mother. "We drove back to Austin, got a gift card not knowing if we'd ever see her again," Wes said. "We went down the next Sunday after church, and lo and behold, here was the girl again." Judy gave her the gift card, quickly realizing how inadequate one $50 pizza gift card could be. "Some of the families staying at the Fisher House (housing for service families near military hospitals) are there for six months to two years, depending upon the injuries," Judy said. "We ended up scraping together money from our own pockets and putting together wallets filled with six $50 gift cards and handing out the wallets to different families." Families began nominating other families to receive the wallets, and the Pierces began tailoring the gift cards to suit each family's needs. Then came barbecues, starting with a November 2008 event at BAMC for 275, including Fisher house residents, their families, and active duty personnel who could not get home for Thanksgiving. "From there, things just fanned out," Judy said. Heroes Night Out received 501(C)(3) status in 2008 and soon outgrew the Pierces' home office. Four years ago, they contacted Nathan Hoeft, pastor of Twin Lakes Fellowship, about office space. Hoeft offered the 6,000-square-foot former youth building. Within a year, the building had been refurbished. Again, the Pierces drew upon their family's experiences to determine the direction of the organization. "When our kids came back from Iraq, they had to go to different places to get their paperwork put together, to file different claims for funds for school, and so forth. That's when we decided to bring the services to our veterans instead of having our veterans running around looking for services. That's how we ended up with the resource center," Judy said. "All we wanted was an office, and we ended up with a 6,000-square-foot building. We had to figure out what we were going to do with a really big office," said Wes, laughing. Pastor Hoeft joked, "Our campus has a population of soldiers who hang out; they are loved and helped. It's fun to see 'good Baptists' mingling with bearded guys who look like bass players for ZZ Top and ride Harley Davidsons." Heroes Night Out assists about 1,000 people per month, and opportunities for sharing the Gospel come easily. "Ours is a peaceful property, allowing us to share where peace comes from, the Prince of Peace," Hoeft said. In the words of a Veterans Affairs loan officer who works at Heroes Night Out, "All we can do is to keep saying yes to God and then trust Him to lead us." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Kelly Boggs accepts post at alma mater by Staff Date: November 11, 2014 - Tuesday LAFAYETTE, La. (BP) -- Kelly Boggs, editor of the Louisiana Baptist Message, announced Nov. 11 he has accepted a position as a development director at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, his alma mater in Belton, Texas. Boggs made the announcement during the annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Nov. 10-11 in Lafayette. Boggs also told Baptist Press that, in conjunction with his move, he will end his 14-year relationship with the Southern Baptist Convention's news service. His weekly First-Person column, which has addressed a cultural issue in the weekly news cycle, has appeared in BP on Fridays since November 2000. Boggs has been editor of the Baptist Message, the Louisiana Baptist Convention's newsjournal, since January 2006. He also has served as director of the office of public affairs for the Louisiana convention the past two years. Earlier, Boggs was pastor of churches in McMinnville, Ore., and in Leander, Copperas Cove and Burnet, Texas. He is a 1985 graduate of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and a native of Georgetown, Texas. "It's been an honor to write for Baptist Press," said Boggs, who plans to continue submitting columns periodically. "For 14 years, I've tried to write something that would cause people to think biblically about the controversial issues of the day. "In our own spheres of influence, it's important for each of us to be able to communicate, with grace, where we stand," Boggs said. Roger S. (Sing) Oldham, longtime pastor of First Baptist Church in Martin, Tenn., and current vice president for convention communications and relations with the SBC Executive Committee, said, "As a pastor, I looked forward to reading Kelly's articles each week in Baptist Press. I routinely found something timely that I could use as a sermon illustration or in witnessing conversations with people in the community. He has a keen intellect and is an effective communicator. "It was special privilege to get to know Kelly when I came to my role with the Executive Committee," Oldham added. "Many Baptist Press readers look forward to his weekly columns and, along with us at Baptist Press, will greatly miss him." -------------------------------------------------------------------- ETS meeting to feature Southern Baptists by David Roach Date: November 11, 2014 - Tuesday SAN DIEGO (BP) -- Some 90 representatives of Southern Baptist Convention seminaries will make presentations this month to the Evangelical Theological Society, the world's largest society of evangelical scholars. ETS will meet in San Diego under the theme "Ecclesiology," a term referencing the study of the church. Presentations during the Nov. 19-21 sessions will cover a broad array of topics, including biblical studies, systematic theology, ethics and church history. "Southern Baptists are vitally involved in ETS," society president Tom Schreiner, a New Testament professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, told Baptist Press in written comments. "I remember in my early years at ETS that ... Southern Baptists were virtually absent. Thankfully, that has changed, and I hope that our presence edifies other evangelicals present, and that their presence with us strengthens us as well." ETS has 4,400 members, all of whom pledge their agreement with the statement, "The Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is the Word of God written and is therefore inerrant in the autographs. God is a Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each an uncreated person, one in essence, equal in power and glory." Though the society includes associate and student members without voting privileges, full members typically are seminary and college professors and pastors who hold an advanced theological degree beyond the master of divinity. At least 64 of the presenters from Southern Baptist seminaries are professors. With 612 total presentations to be delivered, SBC seminary representatives constitute about 15 percent of the program. Among other presenters are representatives of the International Mission Board and the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission as well as professors from colleges and universities affiliated with state Baptist conventions. Southern Baptists scheduled to highlight the program include Schreiner, who will chair the society's business meeting and center his presidential address around reflections on the Reformation doctrine of sola fide, Latin for "by faith alone," a reference to the belief that salvation comes by trusting only in Christ; and Gregg Allison, ETS secretary/treasurer and professor of Christian theology at Southern, who will be one of three plenary session speakers. Allison will address the Holy Spirit's role in a biblical doctrine of the church. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson and Southern Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. will participate in a panel discussion of "God, the future, and the contemporary" moderated by Southwestern provost Craig Blaising. Schreiner underscored the importance of this year's church theme. "Our theology of the church is important because the church is one vital place where our theology is lived out," Schreiner said. "Our study of what it means to be the people of God isn't just an abstraction. The way we order our life together and the way we relate to one another in the body of Christ shows the world what we truly believe. As evangelicals we believe that Scripture teaches us what it means to be a church, and we study together so we can live out joyfully what God has called us to be." Among the papers to be presented by Southern Baptist seminary professors are "'Big-Tent' Calvinism: Embracive of Evangelicalism?" by Christian George of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; "Persecution and Martyrdom Yesterday and Today" by Rex Butler of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; "Is Same-Sex Orientation Sinful?" by Denny Burk of Southern Seminary; and "Practicing Church Discipline" by Rick Durst of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. Midwestern provost Jason Duesing expressed enthusiasm at his seminary's strong presence on the ETS program. "The mutual scholastic sharpening that takes place among evangelicals at this meeting is something I am glad we support and from which we as a faculty benefit a great deal," Duesing, who is among Midwestern's ETS presenters, said. A list of Southern Baptist seminary professors making presentations at ETS follows. ************ ETS papers to be presented by Southern Baptist seminary professors: Golden Gate Rick Durst, professor of historical theology: "Practicing Church Discipline: Why Deconstructive Criticism Works Better than Constructive Criticism." Paul Wegner, professor of Old Testament studies: chairing the "Old Testament Prophets and Apocalyptic Literature" session. Earl Waggoner, associate professor of theology and church history: member of the "Christianity and Culture" consultation. Midwestern Jason G. Duesing, provost and associate professor of historical theology: "A Roman Catholic Cousin: An Evaluation of Anglican Episcopal Ecclesiology." John Mark Yeats, undergraduate dean and associate professor of church history: "A Part of Which Church?: Jewish Converts, the London Society for the Promotion of Christianity Amongst the Jews and Evangelical Cooperation," panel discussion of "Membership Has Its Privileges." J. Alan Branch, professor of Christian ethics: "Pro-Homosexual Arguments Regarding Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome and Homosexuality as an Immutable Trait: A Brief Christian Ethical Analysis." Christian George, assistant professor of historical theology and curator of the Spurgeon Library: "'Big-Tent' Calvinism: Embracive of Evangelicalism?" and panel discussion. Thomas P. Johnston, professor of evangelism: "Multiform Itinerant Ministry for a Healthy Local Church." John Lee, assistant professor of New Testament: "Compatibility of High Christology and the Uniqueness of God in Mark's Gospel." Sung Jin Park, dean of Korean Studies and assistant professor of biblical studies: "The Prosodic Characteristics of the Divisions by the Tiberian Accentuation System." Rustin J. Umstattd, assistant professor of theology: "The Lord's Supper: A Case for Reclaiming the Symbolic Meal from a Symbol of a Meal." New Orleans Rex D. Butler, professor of church history and patristics and John T. Westbrook Chair of Church History: "Persecution and Martyrdom Yesterday and Today: Christian Suffering in the Early Church and the Contemporary World." Daniel A. Warner, associate professor of Old Testament and archaeology; Don & Helen Bryant Chair of Old Testament and Archaeology; co-director of the Mike and Sara Moskau Institute of Archaeology: "Amplification of Canaanite Cult based upon Refined Archaeological Methodologies," panel discussion. Adam Harwood, associate professor of theology; McFarland Chair of Theology; director of the Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry; editor, Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry: "Did Millard Erickson Revise His View of General Revelation and Human Responsibility in Christian Theology, Third Edition (2013)?" Rhyne Putman, assistant professor of theology and culture and associate director of the Institute for Christian Apologetics: moderator for presentations on "Systematic Theology: Scripture and Hermeneutics." Robert Stewart, professor of philosophy and theology; Greer-Heard Chair of Faith and Culture; director of the Institute for Christian Apologetics: panelist for "A Conversation on Origins: BioLogos, Reasons to Believe, and Southern Baptists." Southeastern Charles Quarles, professor of New Testament and biblical theology: "Matthew 27:52-53 as a Scribal Interpolation." John Hammett, senior professor of systematic theology; associate dean of theological studies; John Leadley Dagg Chair of Systematic Theology: "Believer Baptism: Human Act of Obedience and Divine Means of Grace." Daniel Heimbach, senior professor of Christian ethics: Christian ethics moderator. Steve McKinion, associate professor of theology and patristic studies: "Can War Be Just? The Ancient Church and Pacifism." Ken Keathley, professor of theology and director of the L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture: Molinism moderator. James Dew Jr., associate professor of history of ideas and philosophy; dean of the College at Southeastern; vice president for undergraduate studies and academic support: panelist. David Jones, associate professor of Christian ethics; associate dean for graduate program administration; director of the Th.M. program: "Rescuing Rahab: The Evangelical Discussion on Conflicting Moral Absolutes." Nathan Finn, associate professor of historical theology and Baptist studies and director of the Center for Spiritual Formation and Evangelical Spirituality: evangelical ecumenism moderator. Mark Rooker, professor of Old Testament and Hebrew: "Are There Signs of Late Biblical Hebrew in Isaiah 40-66?" Southern Owen Strachan, assistant professor of Christian theology and church history: "The City on a Hill: Park Street Church and its Influence on New England Christianity." Oren Martin, assistant professor of Christian theology: "The Land Promise in New Testament Theology: Absent, Postponed, or Fulfilled?" Mark Coppenger, professor of Christian apologetics: "Spiritual Skepticism Over Art in the Local Church." Bruce Ware, T. Rupert and Lucille Coleman Professor of Christian Theology: "Presentation of a Festschrift in Honor of John Feinberg." Stephen Wellum, professor of Christian theology: "Presentation of a Festschrift in Honor of John Feinberg," "Rejoinder: A Review of Kingdom Through Covenant," panel discussion. Gregg Allison, professor of Christian theology: "Presentation of a Festschrift in Honor of John Feinberg," "Plenary Session 1: Holy God and Holy People: Pneumatology and Ecclesiology in Intersection," "Grenz & Tradition." R. Albert Mohler Jr., president: "Contemporary Challenges and the Doctrine of the Future," panel discussion. Thomas Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and professor of biblical theology: "Some Reflections on Sola Fide," "Response: Paul and the Law," two panel discussions. Eugene Merrill, distinguished professor of Old Testament interpretation: "The Theology of the 'Chronicler': What Difference Does It Make?" Donald Whitney, professor of biblical spirituality: "'True and Gracious Longings': Jonathan Edwards & the Personal Spiritual Disciplines." Denny Burk, professor of biblical studies: "Is Same-Sex Orientation Sinful?" and panel discussion. Eric Johnson, Lawrence and Charlotte Hoover Professor of Pastoral Care: "Old Self, New Self, False Self, True Self: The Complexity of the Christian Self." Ken Magnuson, professor of Christian ethics: "Irreversible Error: The Constitution Project Report on Capital Punishment Considered." Jonathan Pennington, associate professor of New Testament interpretation: "Responding to a 'Review of Reading The Gospels Wisely.'" James Hamilton, professor of biblical theology: "Reflections on What Is Biblical Theology? A Guide to the Bible's Story, Symbolism, and Patterns," panel discussion. Peter Gentry, Donald L. Williams Professor of Old Testament Interpretation: "Rejoinder: A Review of Kingdom Through Covenant," "Parameters for Correct Interpretation of Daniel 9:24-27," panel discussion. Shawn Wright, associate professor of church history: "Baptists and a Plurality of Elders: An Historical, Biblical, and Practical Apology." Michael Haykin, professor of church history and biblical spirituality: "Writing the Life of Samuel Pearce: Andrew Fuller's Edwardsean Biography," "Inerrancy and Inspiration in the Fathers." Mitch Chase, adjunct professor of Old Testament interpretation: "Literary Design in Hebrews 11: Possible Inclusios and the Theme of Death and Deliverance." Robert Plummer, professor of New Testament interpretation: "'Normal' Greek Word Order: Caveats and Nuances." William Henard, assistant professor of evangelism and church growth: "Ecclesiae Renovations: Church Revitalization as an Ecclesiological Necessity." Southwestern Paige Patterson, president: "God, Salvation, and the Future in John's Revelation," panel discussion on "God, the Future, and the Contemporary," "Church Discipline: Why Baptism and the Supper are Essential to an Effective Program of Pastoral Oversight." Dorothy Kelley Patterson, professor of theology in women's studies: "Women and the Church: Does the Bible Speak Clearly on How a Woman Serves the Church?" Craig Blaising, executive vice president and provost and Jesse Hendley Chair of Biblical Theology: "Typology and the Nature of the Church," "Grenz & ETS," "Overview of the Book + Theological-Hermeneutical Response (Book- Kingdom Through Covenant)," moderator of "God and God Incarnate: God and the Future." Robert Caldwell, assistant professor of church history: "'What is Christ to Me, if He is Not Mine?': Andrew Croswell, Antinomianism, and the Gospel of Free Grace in the First Great Awakening," respondent to "The Dark Side of Evangelical Ecumenism: Downplaying Ecclesiology, Destabilizing Orthodoxy, and Downgrading Denominations," moderator of "American Christianity: American Evangelical Ecclesiology and Soteriology.” Candi Finch, assistant professor of theology in women's studies: "Patriarchy, Design of God or Tool for Oppression? Examining Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza's Critique of Patriarchy/Kyriarchy and Traditional Ecclesiology." Tamra J. Hernandez, research assistant to Dorothy Patterso: "Implications of Believers' Church Ecclesiology for Practicing Theological Interpretation of Scripture." T. Dale Johnson, instructor of biblical counseling: "Hubmaier and Conversion Therapy: A Case for Religious Liberty in Counseling." John D. Laing, associate professor of systematic theology: "On Parsing the Knowledge & Will of God, or Calvinism & Middle Knowledge in Conversation," moderator of "Systematic Theology: Soteriology and Hamartiology." Stefana Dan Laing, assistant librarian at the Havard School for Theological Studies: "Causation and Theology in Patristic Historiography: The Church Histories of Eusebius and Theodoret." Evan Lenow, assistant professor of ethics; Bobby L. and Janis Eklund Chair of Stewardship; director of the Center for Biblical Stewardship; director of the Richard Land Center for Cultural Engagement; chair of the ethics department: "Abortion and Self-Ownership." Miles S. Mullin II, associate professor of church history: "Evangelicalism as Trojan Horse: The Failure of Neo-evangelical Social Theology and the Decline of Denominationalism." Stephen O. Presley, assistant professor of biblical interpretation: "A Loftier Doctrine: The Use of Scripture in Justin's Second Apology," moderator of "Ecclesiology: Theologians 2." Gregory Smith, associate vice president for academic administration and associate professor of Bible: moderator of "Ecclesiology: General Studies 1." Steven W. Smith, vice president for student services and communications and professor of communication: "Recapturing the Voice of God: Sermons Shaped by Reanimation of the Genre of the Text." Harvey Solganick, professor of humanities: moderator of "Systematic Theology: Ethics 2." S. Aaron Son, professor of New Testament: "One Flesh and the Unity with Christ: Ecclesiological Implications of Paul's 'One Flesh' Concept." Ryan E. Stokes, assistant professor of Old Testament: moderator of "Old Testament: General Studies 2." John W. Taylor, associate professor of New Testament and chair of the New Testament department: "Follow the Money: The Church as a Community of Obligation in Paul." Terry Wilder, professor of New Testament; Wesley Harrison Chair of New Testament; editor of Southwestern Journal of Theology: moderator of "New Testament Backgrounds: Introduction to Messianic Judaism." Jim R. Sibley, adjunct professor : "Has the Church put Israel on the Shelf? The Evidence from Romans 11:15." -------------------------------------------------------------------- FROM THE STATES: Okla., S.C., Mich. evangelism/missions news; '... desperate prayer and a crying out to God' by Staff Date: November 11, 2014 - Tuesday Today's From the States features items from: The Baptist Messenger (Oklahoma) The Courier (South Carolina) Baptist Beacon (Michigan) Okla. pastors, staff cry out to God at 'Day to Pray' event By Brian Hobbs MOORE, Okla. (The Baptist Messenger) -- Repentance, reformation, revival. These were among the themes prayed about and spoken of at the inaugural Day to Pray event on Mon., Oct. 20, at First Baptist Church in Moore, Okla. The all-day prayer event, which attracted more than 250 pastors and church staff members from across the state, was hosted by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma and led by BGCO Executive Director-Treasurer Anthony L. Jordan and BGCO President Nick Garland, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Broken Arrow. "I was so encouraged and blessed by the turnout, as well as the intensity of participation," Garland said at the conclusion of the day. "It was a great day of worship, indeed!" Quoting Nehemiah, Jordan began the meeting by saying "these are not days for business as usual." "When Nehemiah saw the dark times and learned of the broken down walls in Jerusalem, the Bible says he mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of Heaven," said Jordan. "Today, we are here to fast and pray, because we serve a mighty God." The day included Scripture readings, times for worship through music and large portions of time to pray individually and in small groups. Participants were asked to fast throughout the event and no food was served. One attendee, Benny Layton, associate pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Morris, said, "I'm praising God and thanking Him for this event." Layton has seen fruit from similar prayer events held at his local church. "Prayer time is where accountability happens. Prayer is where we come in contact with God and our lives with each other." Among those offering brief devotionals during the event was BGCO Prayer and Spiritual Awakening Specialist Gregory Frizzell. "The secret to revival is not merely prayer, but desperate prayer and a crying out to God," said Frizzell, who encouraged the pastors and staff to "go deep" in their prayers, repenting of sin, shallow praying, broken relationships, time wasted and a spirit of doubt, all in hopes of God bringing awakening in this land. Prayer times focused on various topics, including adoring God, repenting of sin and interceding for leaders and others in need, as well as petitioning God to send revival and awakening to Oklahoma, starting in the churches. Brief presentations on prayer were made by pastors from around the state, including Blake Gideon, pastor of First Baptist Church in Edmond. Gideon underscored the famous revival that took place in Wales, in which 100,000 came to Christ. "To look at the moral conditions of the times leading up to that revival, we see many similarities," he said. "What we are doing today through this event is asking God to use us. But our prayers cannot stop here." Other presenters included Oklahoma City, Quail Springs Pastor Hance Dilbeck, who spoke on the infilling of the Holy Spirit, and retired International Mission Board President and Oklahoma pastor Tom Elliff, who spoke on what revival could mean for global missions and reaching the lost. Garland led various times of prayer, offering prayer prompts. Garland also challenged pastors to bring prayer meetings to their local congregations. "I don't just mean Wednesday evening Bible study time that we call prayer meetings," he said. "We need an outbreak of prayer meetings across the state, if we are truly going to see a move of God." For more information on the Day to Pray, or materials related to prayer, contact the BGCO executive office and BGCO prayer office at 405/942-3800. --30-- This article appeared in The Baptist Messenger (baptistmessenger.com), newsjournal of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Brian Hobbs is editor of The Baptist Messenger. ********** Boston church plant to be 'catalyst for encounters with Christ' By Butch Blume BOSTON (The Courier) -- When Chris Causey and Jason Hodges were friends and classmates at Columbia International University, they talked of someday working together in ministry. They even dreamed about planting a church together. A few years later, they began serving on staff together in the student and adult ministries at Taylors First Baptist Church near Greenville, S.C. The church was thriving, and the work was fulfilling and exciting. Under the leadership of then-senior pastor Frank Page and, later, interim pastor Steve Cloud, Causey and Hodges were challenged to "dream bold and big for Taylors" and never to stop growing as leaders. That personal and professional growth always accommodated a "stirring desire for church planting," Causey said. During the interim period before Paul Jimenez was called as senior pastor at Taylors, Causey was asked to preach on three consecutive Sunday evenings. As he thought about what he might say in the messages (he was studying the Book of Acts), he lay in bed one night and imagined what would happen if Jesus invited him to meet at Starbucks for coffee and conversation. "What would he say? What would the Creator God of the Universe want to talk about?" Causey said. "I imagined he would want to talk about the church." Causey said he saw a vision of the church "shining as a bride with beauty and righteousness" in communities all over the world, the tangible presence of Christ. "God has entrusted the church with the gospel, and there is no plan B," he said. During that period when he preached three straight Sunday nights, "God grabbed my heart, and the church became more than an organization" for Causey. Preaching from Acts, he began to see Paul's letter as a "plan book, not just a devotional." He saw Paul's strategy of targeting cities of cultural influence and major population centers as the model for church planting. Causey and Hodges continued to "dream and pray" and visit different cities. Two years later, Taylors First Baptist endorsed and pledged to support the men's vision of planting a church near Boston, one of the most influential cities in America. Boston has produced presidents and other world leaders. One in five world leaders who were educated in America attended a university in Boston. "It is probably the most potent city in America," said Causey. "It had a profound spiritual influence on our nation in the past, but it is no longer the spiritual hub of what God is doing in America." Today, less than 2 percent of the people who live in the county where Causey and Hodges are establishing Encounter Church are evangelical Christians. One in 12 Bostonians consider themselves atheists. Nearly 5 million people live in the Greater Boston area, and 350,000 live within driving distance of Encounter's target community. Seven families from Taylors Church sold out and moved with Causey and Hodges, both 33, and their families to begin the work of establishing Encounter Church. They are "investing in relationships" and meeting people and holding public events. In October, they took part in a community event, and 70 families expressed interest in learning more about their church. The plan for Encounter Church, which is part of the North America Mission Board "Send" strategy, is to have preview worship services in the spring of next year and to begin weekly services in September 2015. Causey is senior pastor, and Hodges is executive pastor. In September, five Upstate churches came together to pledge financial support for Encounter Church. They also agreed to send mission teams over the next year to support the new church plant. "It was a very powerful service and a moving experience to see these pastors, who often are pictured as competitors, joining together to do something great," said Al Phillips, associate pastor at First Baptist North Spartanburg, which hosted the Global Impact Celebration on Sept. 4, at which the five churches presented $75,000 to help launch the church. With the encouragement and support of Upstate churches and the engagement of his fellow church planters in the Boston area, Causey sees evidence of "God doing incredible work." "We're not going to damage the church by planting another church," he said. "In the past, God's spirit has moved in Boston. Lives were transformed." Causey believes the people of Boston can encounter God once again and that the church can "shine as a bride" in one of the world's most important cities. For more information about Encounter Church, visit Boston339.com. --30-- This article appeared in The Courier (baptistcourier.com), newsjournal of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Butch Blume is managing editor of The Courier. ********** New Ypsilanti, Mich., church aims to reach motorcyclists By Jonathan Guenther YPSILANITI, Mich. (Baptist Beacon) -- Biker culture — with its tattoos and leather — often finds its place on the fringes of society. One new church, however, seeks to place this unique and diverse community at the center of its outreach efforts. "Bikers are not accepted widely in society, let alone churches," said Kevin Bruinsma, founder of Narrow Path Christian Biker Church in Ypsilanti. "I wanted to have a Christian Church where bikers can not only feel welcome but accepted in a safe place of worship." Described as a tattoo-loving, welcoming church, Narrow Path held its launch service on Aug. 3. The launch service saw a standing room only crowd. "It was awesome; God's awesome," Bruinsma said. "People keep continuing to come, including people who have sworn off church years ago." Bruinsma also leads a Christian motorcycle ministry known as the Army of Christ. A rider himself, he desires to reach anyone with Christ's love but has a special heart for the biker community. "[At] most churches, when you show up wearing leathers, people look down on you," Bruinsma said. I don't care what you look like or how you dress, just please come dressed!" In addition to the Army of Christ, the location of the church in Ypsilanti is also helpful for attracting bikers to the church. "Where God put the church is right smack in the middle of the biker community," Bruinsma said. "We've had people come from twenty miles away on a weekly basis." Bruinsma felt God leading him to Ypsilanti as the perfect place to start the church. He also followed God's timing to ensure the church not only had the right place but was also started at the right time. "It was always my plan to have a biker church in a couple of years, but God was saying now," Bruinsma said. "When God speaks I listen, and that's how Narrow Path came to exist." --30-- This article appeared in the Baptist Beacon (baptistbeacon.net), newsjournal of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Jonathan Guenther is managing editor of the Baptist Beacon. ********** EDITOR'S NOTE: From the States, published each Tuesday by Baptist Press, relays news and feature stories from state Baptist papers and other publications on initiatives by Baptist churches, associations and state conventions in evangelism, church planting and Great Commission outreach, including partnership missions. Reports about churches, associations and state conventions responding to the International Mission Board's call to embrace the world's 3,800 unengaged, unreached people groups also are included in From the States, along with reports about church, associational and state convention initiatives in conjunction with the North American Mission Board's call to Southern Baptist churches to broaden their efforts in starting new churches and satellite campuses. The items appear in Baptist Press as originally published. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern Baptists in Congress now 37 by Staff Date: November 11, 2014 - Tuesday This story was updated Nov. 20, 2014. WASHINGTON (BP) -- Southern Baptist representation in Congress dropped as a result of the Nov. 4 election. The House of Representatives will include 31 Southern Baptists when the next Congress convenes in January. That will be three fewer than in the current House. The Senate will remain the same at six Southern Baptists, with one Southern Baptist replacing another. Rep. James Lankford, who has served four years in the House, easily gained election to the Senate seat from Oklahoma vacated by a fellow Southern Baptist, Sen. Tom Coburn. Coburn announced in January he would step down at the end of the year, leaving two years remaining in his term. Lankford, a Republican, outpolled Democrat Connie Johnson in the special election with 556,382 to 237,531 votes or 68 to 29 percent. Lankford, the GOP Policy Committee chairman in the House, was the director of the Falls Creek Youth Camp for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma for 13 years before his 2010 election to Congress. He is a member of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. In the House, Southern Baptist Rep. Steve Southerland of Florida lost in his re-election bid Nov. 4. Two others -- Reps. Paul Broun of Georgia and Steve Stockman of Texas -- failed in GOP primaries for the Senate earlier this year. Rep. Tim Griffin of Arkansas left his seat to run for lieutenant governor, a race he won. Rep. Spencer Bachus of Alabama retired, effective the end of this term. Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana left his membership in Community Baptist Church in South Bend, Ind., earlier this year. Southern Baptists held 40 seats in Congress after the 2012 election, reaching what appears to have been the largest Southern Baptist contingent ever on Capitol Hill. Baptist Press has learned of the following Southern Baptists, all Republicans, who won first-time election to the House: -- Mark Walker won in North Carolina's 6th District, defeating Laura Fjeld, a Democrat, with 146,329 to 103,085 votes or 59 to 41 percent. Walker served for about 15 years in a variety of pastoral roles. Most recently, he was associate pastor of music and worship at Greensboro's Lawndale Baptist Church, where he is still a member. -- Jody Hice took Georgia's 10th District seat, winning against Democrat Ken Dious with 130,572 to 65,676 votes or 67 to 33 percent. Hice served churches in Georgia for nearly 25 years, most recently as pastor of The Summit Church in Loganville. Hice remains a member of the church. -- Steve Russell replaced Lankford in Oklahoma's 5th District by defeating Al McAffrey, a Democrat, with 95,557 to 57,721 votes or 60 to 36 percent. Russell is a member of First Southern Baptist Church in Del City. -- Bruce Westerman defeated Democrat James Lee Witt to win the Fourth District race in Arkansas. Westerman gained 54 percent of the vote to Witt’s 42 percent with 110,163 votes to 87,335. Westerman is a member and deacon at Walnut Valley Baptist Church in Hot Springs. Following is a list, as compiled by BP, of the ballot results for members of Southern Baptist churches who sought re-election to Congress. (The vote totals are from CNN's website. Some races had more than two candidates on the ballot, but only the top two finishers are included.) Senate South Carolina: Lindsey Graham, Republican, seeking third term, Corinth Baptist Church, Seneca, defeated Brad Hutto, Democrat, 665,605-475,532, 54-39 percent. House of Representatives Arizona: Rep. Trent Franks, R., 2nd District, seeking seventh term, North Phoenix BC, Phoenix, defeated Stephen Dolgos, Americans Elect., 123,141-39,180, 76-24 percent. Arkansas: Rep. Rick Crawford, R., 1st District, seeking third term, Nettleton BC, Jonesboro, defeated Jackie McPherson, D., 122,722-62,902, 63-32 percent. Rep. Steve Womack, R., 3rd District, seeking third term, Cross Church, Pinnacle Hills, defeated Grant Brand, Libertarian, 151,093-39,143, 79-21 percent. Florida: Steve Southerland, R., 2nd District, seeking third term, Northstar Church, Panama City, lost to Gwen Graham, D., 122,939-125,132, 50-50 percent. Rep. Daniel Webster, R., 10th District, seeking third term, First BC of Central Florida, defeated Michael McKenna, D., 142,967-89,267, 62-38 percent. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R., 16th District, seeking sixth term, First BC, Sarasota, defeated Henry Lawrence, D., 168,990-105,357, 62-38 percent. Georgia: Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R., 3rd District, seeking sixth term, Orchard Hills Baptist Church, Newnan, won without any major party opposition, according to CNN. Rep. Austin Scott, R., 8th District, seeking third term, First BC, Tifton, won without any major party opposition, according to CNN. Rep. Doug Collins, R., 9th District, seeking second term, Lakewood BC, Lakewood, defeated David Vogel, D., 145,856-34,866, 81-19 percent. Rep. Tom Graves, R., 14th District, seeking second term, Belmont BC, Calhoun, won without any major party opposition, according to CNN. Kentucky: Rep. Harold Rogers, R., 5th District, seeking 18th term, First BC, Somerset, defeated Kenneth Stepp, D., 171,080-47,617, 78-22 percent. Louisiana: Rep. John Fleming, R., 4th District, seeking fourth term, First BC, Minden, defeated Randall Lord, L., 152,670-55,224, 73-27 percent. Mississippi: Rep. Alan Nunnelee, R., 1st District, seeking third term, Calvary BC, Tupelo, defeated Ron Dickey, D., 101,451-43,039, 68-29 percent. Rep. Gregg Harper, R., 3rd District, seeking fourth term, Crossgates BC, Brandon, defeated Douglas Magee, D., 115,396-46,506, 69-28 percent. Missouri: Rep. Sam Graves, R., 6th District, seeking eighth term, First BC, Tarkio, defeated Bill Hedge, D., 124,547-55,132, 67-29 percent. New Mexico: Rep. Steve Pearce, R., 2nd District, seeking sixth term, Taylor Memorial BC, Hobbs, defeated Rocky Lara, D., 94,607-51,976, 65-35 percent. North Carolina: Rep. George Holding, R., 13th District, seeking second term, Christ BC, Raleigh, defeated Brenda Cleary, D., 152,430-113,481, 57-43 percent. Oklahoma: Rep. Jim Bridenstine, R., 1st District, seeking second term, South Tulsa BC, Tulsa, won without any major party opposition, according to CNN. Rep. Frank Lucas, R., 3rd District, seeking 12th term, First BC, Cheyenne, defeated Frankie Robbins, D., 133,070-36,112, 79-21 percent. South Carolina: Rep. Jeff Duncan, R., 3rd District, seeking third term, First BC, Clinton, defeated Barbara Mullis, D., 116,021-46,556, 71-29 percent. Rep. Trey Gowdy, 4th District, seeking second term, First BC, Spartanburg, defeated Curtis McLaughlin, L., 125,930-21,849, 85-15 percent. Texas: Rep. Louie Gohmert, R., 1st District, seeking sixth term, Green Acres BC, Tyler, defeated Shirley McKellar, D., 114,925-33,409, 77-23 percent. Rep. Al Green, D., 9th District, seeking sixth term, Cullen Missionary BC, Houston, defeated Johnny Johnson, L., 77,979-7,886, 91-9 percent. Rep. Mike Conaway, R., 11th District, seeking sixth term, First BC, Midland, defeated Ryan Lange, L., 107,752-11,607, 90-10 percent. Rep. Randy Weber, R., 14th District, seeking second term, Sagemont BC, Houston, defeated Don Brown, D., 89,876-52,420, 62-36 percent. Rep. Bill Flores, R., 17th District, seeking third term, Central BC, Bryan, defeated Nick Haynes, D., 85,085-42,696, 65-32 percent. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R., 19th District, seeking sixth term, First BC, Lubbock, defeated Neal Marchbanks, D., 89,701-21,350, 77-18 percent. Virginia: Rep. Randy Forbes, R., 4th District, seeking seventh term, Great Bridge BC, Chesapeake, defeated Elliott Fausz, D., 121,134-75,214, 60-37 percent. If you know of other incoming Senate or House members who are members of Southern Baptist churches, please e-mail bpress@sbc.net.