The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-12/20/2016 DISCLAIMER: Baptist Press should be credited for any reprinted stories that originate with BP. Suggested credit line: Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. Please note that Baptist Press periodically carries stories from other sources by permission. Individuals interested in reprinting non-BP stories should contact the entity where the story originated to seek reprint permission. -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST-PERSON: What Child is this? by David Jeremiah Date: December 20, 2016 - Tuesday EL CAJON, Calif. (BP) -- There is only one baby who was born to be the Savior of the world. This Child was sent from heaven on a divine search-and-rescue mission -- and meeting Him must be our ultimate goal in life. Who is this Child? His name, Jesus, comes from the Greek words for Jehovah Saves; and that's why the angels hovering above sleepy little Bethlehem sang: "For there is born to you this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). In John 4:42, Jesus is called "the Savior of the world," and the apostle Paul called Him, "God our Savior" (1 Timothy 1:1 and 2:3). Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah predicted: -- He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them (Isaiah 19:20). -- I, even I, am the Lord, and besides me there is no Savior (Isaiah 43:11). -- He became their Savior. In all their affliction He was afflicted (Isaiah 63:8-9). -- He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities.... His soul (was) an offering for sin (Isaiah 53:5, 10). This One of whom the prophets foretold was born to die. He overcame death and He rose again to save us from sin, guilt, shame, despair and hell. His purpose in coming was to seek and to save the lost. When the Bible uses the words salvation, Savior and save, it's speaking of the total work of God in bringing people from a state of death -- hopeless separation from God -- to a state of everlasting life through the forgiveness of sin. This is not based on any works that of our own, but rests solely on the redeeming grace of Christ Jesus. Saving us is the greatest and most concrete demonstration of God's love for us, the definitive display of His grace throughout time and eternity. The Bible says, "God our Savior ... saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did. He declared us not guilty because of His great kindness. And now we know that we will inherit eternal life" (Titus 3:4-7, NLT). Some years ago as our home was being constructed, I noticed a bird trapped inside the house trying to get out of the skylight. I cajoled, tossed things up to scare it, and even got on the roof, only to discover the skylight was nailed shut. I tried everything, but I couldn't reach the bird to set it free. I wanted so badly to save that pitiful creature, but I was unable to communicate with it to explain what I was trying to do. If only I could have become a bird for a few minutes, I could have made it understand that I was there to rescue it. That's what Jesus did. The gulf between God and human beings is far greater than the distance between humans and birds, yet His grace spanned the great divide. As sinners, we are trapped in the plexiglas of guilt, caught in the snare of our own making, separated from God, lost and alone in the world. But Jesus, who was God Himself, became a man to communicate with us, to die for our liberation, and to rise again for our salvation. As Alister McGrath put it, "God did not send a subordinate to redeem us. He chose to do it Himself." Feel trapped today? Caught in a closet of crooked habits or corrupt relationships? Perhaps you're able to see the blue sky, but the glass ceiling of sin keeps you down and holds you in. You long to soar on wings of the wind, but you're exhausted. Jesus became mortal to give you immortality; and today, through Him, you can be free. This is the Child who was born to become our Savior. So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, Come, peasant, king, to own Him. The King of kings salvation brings, Let loving hearts enthrone Him. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Diversity, smaller churches in Pastors' Conf. line-up by Diana Chandler Date: December 20, 2016 - Tuesday PHOENIX (BP) -- On Sunday mornings in the ballroom of a New Orleans country club, Ryan Rice Sr. preaches to about 55 worshippers at the Southern Baptist church he founded in 2015. The full-time pastor seeking his first seminary degree is among 12 leaders chosen to preach at the 2017 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors' Conference June 11-12 in Phoenix. "I was humbled and surprised at being selected as a speaker for the pastors' conference," Rice, pastor of Life Church, told Baptist Press. "This is such a great honor to be on stage with other great men of God who have a desire to see Christ exalted." Rice, an African American, is among a culturally diverse line-up of pastors including six Anglo, three African Americans, one Jamaican American, a Cuban American and an Asian American. And nearly all pastor churches that average well under 500 in Sunday morning worship attendance, said Pastors' Conference President Dave Miller. Their selection to preach at the event was the result of an intentional attempt to choose ethnically diverse leaders of what Miller describes as the "average-size" Southern Baptist church. "I'm hoping to demonstrate that the Southern Baptist Convention has some great resources in churches of 150 and 200 and 250 people," Miller told Baptist Press. "The smaller churches have some really high-quality leadership." The conference speaker selection team is not opposed to mega church pastors, Miller said, but simply chose to showcase the resources available in the average-size church. He also hopes the change will encourage the majority of Southern Baptist pastors. "Just because a church is small doesn't mean that the leadership is bad or that it's defective," Miller said. "There are some great guys out there laboring in [average-size] churches that because of the community, or because of some reason, the church stays a certain size." But Miller noted, "The star of the Pastors' Conference is going to be the book of Philippians, and our men are going to preach through the text, and I believe that will be encouraging. It's a great book and it's about a message we need to hear." In addition to Rice, who leads a multiethnic congregation of black, white and Hispanic members, other speakers -- with ethnicity and SBC Annual Church Profile average attendance as available -- are Jose Abella, Providence Road Baptist Church, Miami, Cuban American, 217; Michael Allen, Uptown Baptist Church, Chicago, Jamaican American, 164; Jamar Andrews, Word Baptist Church, Jonesboro, Ark., African American; Bart Barber, First Baptist Church, Farmersville, Texas, Anglo, 375; David Choi, Church of the Beloved in Chicago, Asian American, 400; Chris Davis, Groveton Baptist Church, Alexandria, Va., Anglo; Shane Hall, First Southern Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Okla., Anglo, 687; Jimmy Meek, Immanuel Baptist Church, El Dorado, Ark., Anglo, 390; John Onwuchekwa, Cornerstone Church in Atlanta, African American; Spencer Plumlee, Riverview Baptist Church, Osage Beach, Mo., Anglo, 300; and Nathan Rose, Liberty Baptist Church, Liberty, Mo., Anglo, 171. Attendance numbers were not available for newest church plants. There are many quality Southern Baptist expository preachers, Miller said. "We just felt like it was time for the churches that comprise the Southern Baptist Convention to take a shot at this," said Miller, who pastors Southern Hills Baptist Church in Sioux City, Iowa, with an average Sunday attendance of 140. "My experience has all been in these [average-size] churches and I happen to know that there are some really good preaching and some really good people and some quality leadership in these churches." A total of 150 preachers were nominated as speakers, according to Pastors' Conference statistics. Adam Blosser, a member of the selection team, blogged about the selection process Dec. 15 on SBC Voices. "We began by making sure that every preacher was listened to by at least two members of our team. From there we were able to narrow the list of approximately 150 preachers down to about 40 preachers," Blosser wrote. "These 40 preachers received additional consideration from some of the members of our team. We then gathered together in a hotel conference room in St. Louis, listened to sermons, discussed what we heard, and put together a list of 12 speakers for the conference." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Bobby Bowden documentary in theaters Jan. 8 by Staff Date: December 20, 2016 - Tuesday NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Legendary college football coach Bobby Bowden and his family will kick-off the NCAA Football National Championship weekend next month with the release of the true story, "The Bowden Dynasty: A Story of Faith, Family and Football." The film explores the life and career of Bowden, the winningest coach in college football. "There is no question Coach Bobby Bowden is a legend on the grid-iron, but he also is a man that has 'run the race' in order to live a life that honors God in all he does," said Trey Reynolds, director of LifeWay Films, which is partnering with the film's promotion. "We encourage churches, small groups, and families to go to theaters Jan. 8 and experience The Bowden Dynasty on the big screen." Coach Bowden noted, "The most amazing thing about our dynasty years is how consistent we were. But what makes those dynasty years so ridiculously satisfying is that we ended each season ranked no lower than number four in the polls, won two national championships, played for three others and won 11 bowl games, including nine in a row." "None of us thought about these things at the time," he said. "Nor did we plan for them. In hindsight, I realize we accomplished something unique in college football history." From 1987 to 2000, the Florida State Seminoles thrilled their fans with 14 consecutive top-four seasons with 10 or more wins. Beginning with a come-from-behind victory in the 1988 Fiesta Bowl, Bobby Bowden's teams began a flirtation with perfection. In seven of those seasons they lost only one game. More often than not, the players' quest for a perfect season came down to one play where mere inches or seconds determined the outcome. The feature documentary's all-star cast includes: Fred Biletnikoff, the Bowden family, Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Johnson, Jim Kelly, Burt Reynolds, Nick Saban, Deion Sanders, Charlie Ward, Peter Warrick, and more. The film was produced by John Corry, along with Rob Harvell and Brian Goodwin (ESPN Films' "The Book of Manning"). The Bowden Dynasty will be shown in U.S. theaters for a one-night premiere on Sunday, Jan. 8 live at 6 p.m. Eastern/5 p.m. Central and tape-delayed to 6 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT. The event will be broadcast live from the Mahaffey Theater in downtown St. Petersburg, Fla., on the eve of the NCAA Football National Championship happening across the bay in Tampa. Following the feature presentation will be an exclusive question-and-answer session and presentation with Coach Bowden and special guests. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices which are available on the site. More information about the film is available at www.BowdenDynasty.com -------------------------------------------------------------------- Incoming N.C. gov. negotiates restroom law repeal by Evan Wilt, WORLD News Service Date: December 20, 2016 - Tuesday RALEIGH, N.C. (BP) -- After months of angry debate over North Carolina's restroom law, state lawmakers are planning to repeal it. North Carolina Republicans passed HB2 in response to a Charlotte ordinance that forced city businesses to open their restrooms based on gender identity. Signed in March, HB2 superseded the ordinance before it took effect. The state law requires persons to use restrooms and locker rooms according to the sex listed on their birth certificates and applies to government buildings, schools and universities. It blocks municipalities, such as Charlotte, from adopting their own restroom rules. The Charlotte City Council voted Monday (Dec. 19) to repeal its original ordinance with the goal of taking down HB2 with it. Gov.-elect Roy Cooper, a Democrat, announced within minutes of the vote that the North Carolina General Assembly will meet today to repeal HB2. "Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore assured me that as a result of Charlotte's vote, a special session will be called for Tuesday to repeal HB2 in full," Cooper said in a statement. "I hope they will keep their word to me and with the help of Democrats in the legislature, HB2 will be repealed in full. Full repeal will help to bring jobs, sports, and entertainment events back and will provide the opportunity for strong LGBT protections in our state." Vitriol over HB2 emboldened several businesses to boycott North Carolina, costing the economy potential revenue streams and jobs. Liberal states such as New York and Washington issued travel bans to the Tar Heel state and musicians such as Bruce Springsteen canceled scheduled concerts. The sports world weighed in as well, with the NBA moving its 2017 All-Star weekend from Charlotte to New Orleans and the NCAA and the Atlantic Coast Conference both canceling championship contests at North Carolina venues. On the campaign trail, Cooper frequently attacked Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, for signing HB2 and sticking by it amid constant pressure. North Carolina voters were almost evenly split between the two candidates. The election was so close McCrory called for a recount and didn't formally concede defeat until nearly a month after Election Day. The Charlotte City Council said it repealed its ordinance based on the agreement statewide lawmakers will repeal HB2. McCrory said the agreement proved Democrats never really cared about protecting transgender persons but merely wanted to get him out of the governor's mansion. "This sudden reversal with little notice after the gubernatorial election sadly proved this entire issue originated by the political left was all about politics and winning the governor's race at the expense of Charlotte and our entire state," said Graham Wilson, a McCrory spokesman. McCrory often said HB2 was necessary to protect people from Charlotte's problematic ordinance, which would have allowed men to enter women's restrooms and locker rooms legally. According to The Charlotte Observer, McCrory attempted months ago to negotiate a deal similar to what the city council agreed on Monday. But Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts, a Democrat, and city council members rejected it. Now that the city ordinance is gone, the previous expectations of privacy in showers, restrooms, and locker rooms will continue to be protected under existing state law, Wilson noted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Personal revitalization focus of Colo. Baptists by BP staff Date: December 20, 2016 - Tuesday VAIL, Colo. (BP) -- Colorado Baptists focused on "The Revitalized Christian" at their 2016 annual meeting, a theme drawn from Isaiah 6:1-8 that continued a focus on church revitalization begun last year. "Every Christian needs to be revitalized," said Mike Routt, Colorado Baptist General Convention (CBGC) president. "If every Christian was revitalized, we would have church revitalization." Individual revitalization "begins with brokenness and repentance, continues with revival and extraordinary prayer and fasting," he said, "and climaxes with spiritual awakening that brings a renewed passion to take the Gospel to the nations." The 61st annual meeting was held at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort in Vail, Colo. Trinity Church of Vail Valley, the pastorate of Ethan Moore, served as host church. Messengers approved the 2017 budget, elected officers and heard updates on CBGC work. The 2017 budget of $3,422,134 is slightly less than the 2016 allocation of 3,434,183, and anticipates Cooperative Program receipts of $1,990,034 from Colorado churches. Messengers voted to send 32.5 percent of CP receipts, $646,000, to the Southern Baptist Convention for national and international causes, a 2.5 percent increase over the 2016 allocation. The state is continuing its effort to split CP receipts equally between the state and the SBC. Routt, pastor of Circle Drive Baptist Church in Colorado Springs, was re-elected president. Completing the slate of officers are first vice president Matt Crow, youth leader of First Baptist Church in Black Forest; second vice president Jeff Rogers, associate pastor of Applewood Baptist Church in Wheat Ridge; and recording secretary Ginger LeBlanc, a CBGC ministry assistant. Mark Edlund, retiring in July 2017 as CBGC executive director, announced staffing changes. Ron Clement was called in January 2016 to serve as executive director of the Salt Lake Baptist Association in Draper, Utah, after 35 years of ministry and denominational service in Colorado. CBGC state director of missions Jim Misloski has accepted a position as leadership development catalyst with the Missouri Baptist Convention in Jefferson City, Mo. Guest speakers were immediate past SBC President Ronnie Floyd, senior pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, and K. Marshall Williams, pastor of Nazarene Baptist Church in Philadelphia. The 155 messengers who attended the Oct. 10-11 meeting were drawn from 67 of the CBGC's approximately 368 churches and missions. More than 100 guests attended the event. The 2017 meeting is set for Oct. 9-10 at the Mississippi Avenue Baptist Church in Aurora. -------------------------------------------------------------------- FROM THE STATES: N.C., Colo., Okla. evangelism/missions news; Prayer tour covers students, refugees, mosques, declining churches by Staff Date: December 20, 2016 - Tuesday Today's From the States features items from: Biblical Recorder (North Carolina) Rocky Mountain Baptist (Colorado) The Baptist Messenger (Oklahoma) ********** Praying for revival on a N.C. bus tour By Emily Rojas GREENSBORO, N.C. (Biblical Recorder) -- Among Christians, prayer walking around towns and neighborhoods is a common practice -- it's a way to see an area's particular needs and cover them in prayer. But when a group at the Annual Meeting of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina decided to prayer walk around the city of Greensboro in under two hours, they decided it would be easier to take a bus. On Tuesday, Nov. 15, two buses full of Annual Meeting attendees embarked on a guided prayer tour around Greensboro to pray for needs in the areas of church planting, church revitalization, church bodies, unreached peoples and college campuses. Each bus drove through a separate "pocket of lostness" as identified by the convention's Strategic Focus Team. Four of the top 30 pockets of lostness in North Carolina are located in Greensboro, so the buses traveled through areas inhabited by some of the largest populations of lost people in the state. This "Pray Greensboro" prayer vision bus tour was organized and planned through the cooperative efforts of the Piedmont Baptist Association and the Baptist State Convention's Strategic Focus Team and Office of Prayer for Evangelization and Spiritual Awakening. Brad Roderick, director of missions of the Piedmont Baptist Association, was the guide for one of the buses, giving passengers information about the sites they passed so they could better pray for the area. Roderick's bus passed by five main areas that needed prayer: North Carolina A&T State University, 16th Street Mosque, apartments that are home to many refugees, Northside Baptist Church and Magnolia Street Church. These landmarks were areas of prominence -- North Carolina A&T State University has been named the best of the Historically Black Universities in America; 16th Street Mosque is the largest of the six mosques in Guilford County. As the buses passed these landmarks, passengers offered up prayers for the needs of students, for the mosque's 450 members and for God's Spirit to fall on both areas. "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world," Roderick said, quoting 1 John 4:4. "I pray that Christians would have the confidence of the Lord to share (the Gospel) with them." The churches that the groups visited were also places in significant need of prayer -- Northside Baptist Church is a church in desperate need of revitalization. J.S. "Bud" Parrish, the church's interim pastor, has helped the church grow in outreach to its neighborhood over the past two years. He's expanded Northside's homeless outreach, feeding about 170 homeless people each week. But still, the need for revitalization at Northside is great. "There are 19 churches on the north side of (Greensboro); now 17 are in decline," Parrish said. "That's why we're not reaching this community. So pray for revitalization." Passengers also prayed for revitalization at Magnolia Street Church. The church has a rich history but in more recent years has seen a transition in its community's demographics. Attendees prayed not only for those who are new to the city, but also for those who have remained in the area as it's changed. "It was very evident the Spirit was working in individuals and in the group, just bringing our hearts together," said Gretchen Roderick, who is married to Brad Roderick and was a contributor in orchestrating the prayer tour. "I am anxious to see how (God) is going to respond to all the prayers we've lifted up." --30-- This article appeared in the Biblical Recorder (brnow.org), newsjournal of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Emily Rojas is a communications assistant for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. ********** Colo. food pantry celebrates 10 years By Nancy H. Babcox GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (Rocky Mountain Baptist) -- In 2006, members of Trinity Baptist Church in Grand Junction Colo., responded to a need in the community by opening the Trinity Baptist Church Food Pantry. Economic issues which resulted in a large loss of jobs on the western slope created the need for the most basic of items for many families. The food pantry, initially open every Friday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. immediately became a central meeting place for families in the small community in search of not just a bag of groceries for the coming week but for spiritual guidance as well. Now open two Fridays a month from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. the food pantry is run totally by church volunteers and is financially self-supporting through private donations, grants and annual funding from the local Grand Valley Baptist Association and the Colorado Baptist General Convention. The majority of the food items the pantry provides to the community are purchased from the Rocky Mountain Food Bank, collected throughout the year or during annual food drives such as a Chili Supper hosted by the church every October or during Vacation Bible School every summer. Two local grocery stores provide bread and pastry items for the food pantry four days a week. In addition, local farmers donate fresh seasonal produce during the growing season and several families & other local churches provide ongoing support by donating money or collected canned food and boxed items monthly. Several times a year, an individual or family who themselves have benefited from the food bank drop by the church and leave a collection of canned food or a monetary offering to be used to pay it forward. "God provides" is the central theme voiced by the food pantry volunteers. Director Don Huddleston echoed this sentiment: "There is a lot of need in our area. No matter how short we think we are on donations God always makes it last for those who come in for help." Over the past several years the Trinity Baptist Church Food Pantry has also been able to distribute groceries for a traditional Christmas meal all due to the kindness of others in the community. One recipient of a Christmas meal box several years ago was a single mother of triplets born months before at a local hospital. In 2015 one local Orchard Mesa restaurant owner donated 44 turkeys to the food pantry along with collected boxes of stuffing mix, gravy, canned vegetables and cranberries, potatoes, fresh bread and pies. Families, including some receiving care at the Grand Junction VA hospital, were able to take home brightly colored boxes filled with Christmas dinner groceries. In addition to storage for the food itself, the pantry volunteers allocated a small Sunday school room as a clothing closet which allows for the free distribution of gently used seasonal clothing items. Shoes, coats and children's clothing are always popular items offered free of charge to those visiting the food pantry. During the first year of operation 6,300 people were served in the Grand Junction area through the food pantry. These annual numbers over the past 10 years have waxed & waned in response to the needs of the local community. In 2010, 3,100 people were served and most recently in 2015 close to 8,000 people were served. A total of 53,900 people have been blessed by this humble ministry since its initiation in 2006. The food pantry and the church, now known as Orchard Mesa Baptist Church and under new leadership, continue to thrive and serve the community. Senior pastor Robert Babcox said, "Obviously God wants this food pantry and clothing closet to continue to serve the Grand Junction area because He continues to bless this ministry, not just through donations of money, food and clothing but through willing volunteers who dedicate their time & energy to seeing it succeed." Located on a small table inside the food pantry are bibles, booklets and local resource materials free for the taking. Prayers cards and a prayer station are available for those requesting prayer for a specific need. Individual prayer and counseling is offered by the multiple volunteers who are present the days the food pantry is open. The mission statement of the food bank: "This Ministry is an outreach of Orchard Mesa Baptist Church to our community and our church family who need just a little extra help. We strive to provide not only food and gently used clothing but also to share and demonstrate Jesus' love in accordance with the Scripture John 3:17". Demonstrating God's unending love these past 10 years through their food pantry has proven to be a blessing not just to those who benefit but also to those who serve at Orchard Mesa Baptist Church. --30-- This article appeared in the Rocky Mountain Baptist, newsjournal of the Colorado Baptist General Convention (coloradobaptists.org). Nancy H. Babcox writes for the Rocky Mountain Baptist. ********** Oklahomans have choice of missions partnerships By Chris Doyle OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (The Baptist Messenger) -- The annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO), Nov. 14-15, provided multiple opportunities for Oklahoma Baptists to connect with each other, but the event also offered pastors and other church leaders to connect with three key mission leaders of mission partnerships with the BGCO. Calet Basurto is the director of missions in Guerrero, Mexico. Bob Shelton is a missionary for Edmonton in Canada. Peteris Sprogis is the bishop of Union of Baptist Churches of Latvia. All three attended the BGCO Annual Meeting and gave reports about the mission work happening in their respective countries. "I'm really encouraged by where we are," said Mike Hand, BGCO partnership missions strategist, about all three partnerships. Hand has been serving with the BGCO since March 1 and made vision trips to both Edmonton and Latvia soon after he came on board. "Both of these vision trips were already in place before I came," he said, "and I really felt like on both of those visits we made some good headway." Both Edmonton and Latvia are newer partnerships, while BGCO has been partnering in Guerrero for 12 years. Hand said 16 Oklahoma Baptist churches have ongoing partnerships in Guerrero, while nine churches are committed to serve in Edmonton, and eight churches have committed to partner in Latvia. "They have agreed to partner; they're putting their strategies together," Hand said about the 33 combined church partnerships involved in Guerrero, Edmonton and Latvia. "They are looking down the road on when they are going to send their first team. Some of them are further in the partnership than others, but all at least have made the commitment and are looking to the future as what they are going to do. Guerrero Partnering with Basurto and Guerrero Baptists for 12 years, the BGCO will conclude its partnership in 2017, but Hand is encouraged about future work in Guerrero. "While we're going to end the partnership, there's not one single partnering church that their partnership is based on BGCO's involvement," Hand said. "Those 16 churches will continue on as they have done." Basurto shared during the annual meeting that Guerrero has seen 78 new churches planted, and almost 1,700 people have made professions of faith during BGCO's partnership in Guerrero. Edmonton The BGCO is working with 12 different church planters in Edmonton, a city of 1.2 million people. "These are not just English-speaking congregations," said Hand about the Edmonton churches. "They are different ethnic congregations, but the lostness is the same." Shelton shared during the annual meeting that a recent survey concerning religion among Edmonton citizens revealed the box checked the most was "no religion." "There's a great amount of work to do, and I believe Oklahoma Baptists will be a great source of encouragement to these young church planters and the work they are doing," said Hand. "We are not sending our churches up there to tell them how to do it. We're sending our churches up there to say, 'Hey, how can we come alongside you and partner with you and be more effective?'" Hand mentioned Brian Garcia who planted a church in an Edmonton apartment complex of 4,700 residents. "He has planted a church in an apartment complex that is basically larger than many towns in Oklahoma," Hand said. Many Oklahoma directors of missions were excited about the Edmonton partnership, and they plan to be a part of a vision trip to Edmonton this spring. "It is a trip of 12-16 directors of mission who will be going April 2-5 to catch a vision and inspire their churches in their associations to go on a bigger mission trip in October with a goal of 30 pastors and other church leaders participating," Hand said. Latvia "Latvia is really an inspiration to me," said Hand about the work of the 88 churches within the Union of Baptist Church in Latvia. "Their attitude is, 'We've got a big job to do and hope that Oklahoma Baptists will come alongside us, but we're not sitting back and waiting for Oklahoma Baptists.' They are going to do the job whether we come along or not." Latvian Baptists are dedicated, but Hand said pastors and other church leaders desire more training. "They are sharp, but I believe Oklahoma Baptists can be a real encouragement to the pastors in Latvia, providing them training that will help reach their communities," Hand said. Hand encourages Oklahoma Baptist churches to pray and consider being a part of these three mission partnerships. He said all churches, regardless of size, can be involved. "It's not the size of your church that determines whether or not you can make a difference on the other side of the world," he said. "It is the size of the heart of the church. The heart of Oklahoma Baptists is sharing the Gospel." Those interested in any of the three BGCO mission partnerships may contact Hand at 405/942-3000 Ext. 4370. To comment on this article, visit baptistmessenger.com. --30-- Chris Doyle is associate editor of The Baptist Messenger (www.baptistmessenger.com), newsjournal of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. ********** 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 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Gatlinburg man grieves loss, forgives suspects by David Roach Date: December 20, 2016 - Tuesday GATLINBURG, Tenn. (BP) -- A Gatlinburg, Tenn., man who lost his wife and two daughters in the wildfires that swept through the area has extended forgiveness publicly to two juveniles suspected of starting the blaze. Michael Reed -- whose wife Constance, 34, and daughters Chloe, 12, and Lily, 9, died at their home Nov. 28 -- wrote about the tragedy in a Facebook post reported by various media outlets. "I forgive you," he wrote. "My son forgives you ... We know you didn't mean for this to happen. We know you would take it all back if you could. "We will pray for you. Every day. We will pray for your parents and your family members," Reed stated in a Dec. 15 open letter to the suspects. "Every day. We will pray for your peace. We will show you grace. Why? Because that's what Jesus would do. Faith ... Hope ... Love ... The greatest of these is love." The suspects' arrests were announced Dec. 7. Their names and genders have not been released. According to Knoxville's WBIR television, Reed and his son Nicholas went for a drive Nov. 28 and didn't realize how close the fire was to their house until Constance Reed called to report flames across the street. The couple expressed their love for one another on the phone, and Michael told Constance to call 911. They never spoke again. The three deaths were announced at a press conference Dec. 3. WBIR reported Dec. 4 that the entire family attended Parkway Church of God in Sevierville, Tenn., and "all accepted Christ into their lives this past month." Parkway Pastor Philip Morris declined to be quoted for this story, but he confirmed that all five Reeds joined Parkway Oct. 30. He also noted that a requirement for church membership is a credible profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Reed told the Knoxville News-Sentinel he believes his wife and daughters would want him to forgive the two suspects. "If you live your whole life holding a grudge against everybody who has ever hurt you, then you will be lonely the rest of your life," Reed said. "The true definition of a Christian is doing the right thing when nobody is looking. I hurt and can be angry with them. This is not how our life was supposed to be. But if Jesus has forgiven me and my neighbors for our sins, I have to follow in His footsteps." Reed's open letter is posted on the "Gatlinburg Fire Missing or Found" Facebook page. It apparently also appeared on his personal Facebook page, but the News-Sentinel told BP Reed's page currently is offline. "As I learned of your arrests last week I sat in silence for a long time," Reed wrote. "You may be too young to understand this, but even through this tragedy I can feel God with me and my son. "... As humans, it is sometimes hard to show grace. We hold grudges. We stay angry. We point the finger and feel we have to lay the blame somewhere. It's human nature and completely understandable. But I did not raise my children to live with hate. I did not teach my girls or my son to point the finger at others. John 8:7 says 'Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone.' "Forgiveness isn't for you," Reed stated. "It's for me. It's for my son. It's for Constance, Chloe, and Lily. It is for this community who lost so much in this tragedy." According to media reports, the fire started Nov. 23, killing at least 14 people and destroying more than 2,400 homes and businesses. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Mich. Baptists increase CP allocation to SBC by Staff Date: December 20, 2016 - Tuesday BURTON, Mich. (BP) -- Michigan Baptists will forward a larger percentage of Cooperative Program receipts to the Southern Baptist Convention this year, despite an anticipated decrease in CP receipts from the state's 262 churches. The $1,292,886 in CP funds the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) anticipates receiving from its cooperating churches in 2017 is 8.6 percent less than this year's receipts of $1,415,291, the BSCM reported. Yet, the state will forward $351,256 of 2016 CP receipts, 32.5 percent of the total, to the SBC for national and international causes. In 2016, the state forwarded 31.5 percent of CP receipts to the SBC. The state's total 2017 budget is also down from the 2016, with the new budget of $2,057,873 totaling 6.5 percent less than the 2016 budget of $2,201,778. The 2017 budget allocates 20 percent, or $212,098, to cover expenses shared by the BSCM and the SBC. "Celebrating Missions" was the theme as 167 messengers and 14 guests gathered Nov. 4-5 at Eastgate Baptist Church in Burton. Those in attendance represented 68 of the state's 262 churches and all 14 of its associations. North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell was the keynote speaker during the meeting. At the preceding pastors' conference Nov. 3 at Eastgate Baptist Church, former SBC President Fred Luter was the keynote speaker. In other annual meeting business, messengers elected 2017 officers. They are president Jerome Taylor, host pastor; first vice president Nathaniel Bishop Sr., pastor of Middlebelt Baptist Church, Inkster; second vice president Scott Blanchard, pastor of Lakepointe Church, Macomb; recording secretary Roy Henry, pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Battle Creek; and assistant recording Secretary Jeff Buchholz, pastor of Merriman Road Baptist Church, Garden City. The 2017 annual meeting is set for Nov. 7-8 at the Bambi Lake Baptist Retreat and Conference Center in Roscommon.