State news briefs

• Edhube Baptist Church in Bonham, Texas, was the 1,000th church to uniquely affiliate with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. Edhube

Baptist Church, pastored by James O. Henry, affiliated on July 7, 2003. Currently, over 76 percent of the 1,330 churches affiliated with the SBTC are uniquely affiliated.

• Houston G. Prewitt has been called as Youth Minister at Northside Baptist Church in Highlands, Texas.

IRVING, Texas — With 236 professions of faith at youth ministry events of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention during the summer of 2003, Student Evangelism Associate Tom Cottar can finally take a deep breath. After organizing two youth events targeting lost students and one student leadership camp, all of which occurred in the first two months of the summer, the SBTC staffer has now set his sights on an October event to train youth pastors.

“We are lookingto start a revolution,” said Cottar, explaining that modern youth are “extremely savvy,” but have bought into a non-Christian worldview.

Although youth are often “anti-church,” Cottar said students are still interested in spiritual things. “They are finding out that life, real life, is only found in the truth ofGod’sWord. Not in Allah, Justin Timberlake or even themselves. We can criticize Britney Spears all day long; she may be the sum of all our fears. But get ready, Britney has built an army.”

Cottar said the vision of the SBTC for reaching youth is to “expose students to the power of the truth of God, to let them experience real life (through worship, missions, teaching, etc.), and then togive them the tools to live a Christ-centered life, making a difference for the kingdom in their home, school and church.”

About 260 students seeking to make a difference in their communities attended the first annual Outbreak Leadership Camp, June 2-6. Outbreak, designed to equip and teach youth leaders, also aspires to give students hands-on ministry skills through classroom teaching, student involvement modules and intense Bible study.

“The purpose of Outbreak is to teach the youth apologetics, leadership skills and a ‘Jesus-style’ of living that attracts unbelievers and strengthens the local church body,” said Cottar.

At the end of the day, students gathered for corporate worship to hear main speaker Aubrey Spears and praise by the John Sherrill Band. Texas Baptists offered interaction with the youth in small group sessions on the Christian worldview including: Bil Cornelius, pastor of Bay Area Fellowship in Corpus Christi; Chandra Peele of Godly and Beautiful Ministries; and Randy Haney, pastor of Faith Harbor in Baytown.

June 9-13, the SBTC hosted its annual youth camp in Columbus, Texas with Dare 2 Run Ministries. About 1,100 students from 150 churches attended the camp, purposed to bring the gospel to lost youth, while encouraging and strengthening the walk of existing Christians. From youth camp, Cottar reported 150 professions of faith, 77 calls to full-time Christian service and 18 recommitments to living in Christ-likeness.

Main events and speakers included Jeff Mangum and The Smith Band leading in worship.

Approximately 2,000 students from 115 different churches attended the Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC), July 11-12 at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas. This year’s conference was centered on the theme of the connectwithgod.com web site, which encourages youth to first connect with God in a personal and intimate relationship, connect with a friend who does not know Christ and, finally, connect that friend with Christ.

“If those students will catch a vision of what they can do, not just in their school campus, but in their church, they can go back and actually be the light that sparks something in their church, in their youth group, in their family,” Cottar said.

Conference speaker Dave Edwards told students that no matter how many “religious motions” they go through, it won’t matter until they “really, genuinely connect with the life of Christ.”

Edwards, citing Ezekiel 36:25-27, outlined three things that only God can do: make believers complete, change them and make them clean.

“If we’re going to connect with God, we’re going to have to allow him to do something in us that we could never do on our own,” he said.

Youth were encouraged throughout the weekend not only to seek to draw nearer to Christ themselves, but to encourage others as well. Computers were set up to allow students to log on to the connectwithgod.com site establishing screen names and email accounts.

“[Students] can meet each other online, encourage each other and ultimately reach out to their lost friends, lost students and peers,” Cottar said.

One 18-year-old student already connecting with God, others and his community volunteered to act as a deejay, performing between guest speakers and musicians during YEC. Noel Montemayor of Rowlett said he has always been a big music fan, but in recent years God has shown him that music can be one of the central ways he can connect with other students in order to share the love of Christ.

“How awesome is it just to deejay and… [bring] people to know Christ,” he said, looking out over his peers at the conference. “How awesome is that? When you’re deejaying, you can change a life. One deejay can affect over a thousand people.”

Cottar said he watched in amazement as Montemayor sought to focus the attention of his peers on Christ through his energetic performances.

“After each session, there were 20 to 30 kids standing around him asking questions.  He probably shared his faith with 100 kids that weekend, because they were so interested,” Cottar recounted.  “His whole message was ‘If you’ll give every area of your life over to God, there’s no limit to what he will do with it.  Look at me.  I’m just a high-school kid from Rowlett; I’m just up here spinning records and loving God with my life.'”

Other YEC speakers and event leaders during the weekend included Chandra Peele; the John Sherrill Band and Big Daddy Weave; drama ministry Skitzo; and speaker Bill Gravell.  Broken Ground, a choir of 7th-12th grade students from First Baptist Church Euless also performed.

The purpose of cramming three major youth ministry events into the first six weeks of the summer was not a moment of insanity, Cottar assured, but to demonstrate that all students have a place of service in the kingdom of God.

“I want to send a message that says, ‘regardless of what part you play in the body of Christ, we need you,” Cottar said.  “Students have to realize that they are not the church of tomorrow, but the church of ‘right now’.”

Rev. Nehemiah Tsai, general secretary of the Taiwan Baptist Convention has invited up to 50 U.S. churches to come to Taiwan July 14 ? 27, 2004 for a partnership campaign in all of the Baptist churches in Taiwan. I cannot remember ever receiving such a request for every church in a convention.

When we think of the tension between Taiwan and Mainland China and the fact that it might be possible for the freedom in Taiwan churches to be quickly taken away, it causes us to pray and determine that we will not lose this great opportunity. If Taiwan holds to this invitation, it will be one of the most difficult enlistment tasks we have ever been given. If they hold to the invitation and we can have a miraculous enlistment that would give us all 50 U.S. teams, we will without a doubt, have opened one of the greatest and most productive partnerships ever!

Will you pray and ask the Lord if he wants you to go? If he leads you to be apart of this challenge, you can be a part of one of the most meaningful evangelistic efforts ever experienced in Taiwan. You could be a part of making sure that every person in Taiwan has the plan of salvation given to them in 2004.

Partnership cannot be done without people like you! Keep in mind that he can use any Christian with a warm heart and a real desire to share, regardless of experience. Do you want to be a part and would you pray and ask the Lord to let you be a part? May God bless and guide you as you pray. Let us know how he has led you as soon as you can. Contact evangelism@t1:PersonName>sbtexas.com for more information

Justin Micah Joiner from Austin, Texas, received the master of divinity degree in Christian education on May 17 at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Joiner is the son of Jerry and Kathleen Joiner of Austin, Texas. His home church is Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. Joiner holds the bachelor of business administration degree in management from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

John D. Pemberton from Kingwood, Texas, received the master of divinity degree in Christian thought on May 17 at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Pemberton, the son of James and Barbara Pemberton of Ouachita, Ark, is married to the former Amanda Wright of Kingwood, Texas. Pemberton’s home church is First Baptist Church in Kingwood, Texas. He holds the bachelor of arts degree in religion from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Paige Cristin Schultz from Corpus Christi, Texas, received the master of arts in marriage and family counseling degree on May 17 at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Schultz is the daughter of Charles and Beverly Schultz of Corpus Christi, Texas. Schultz’s home church is First Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, Texas. She holds the bachelor of arts degree in religion from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

The following graduates from Texas were conferred degrees by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary or Southeastern College at Wake Forest, Wake Forest, N.C., on May 24, 2003: John A. Voholetz of Houston received an associates of divinity degree. Brian Alan Tadlock Wells of Dallas received a bachelor of arts in biblical studies degree.

Mark Anthony Bolt of Port Arthur received a bachelor or arts in biblical studies with a minor in history of ideas.

Kelly Ann Davis of Lufkin and Camille Renee Townsend of Beaumont received master of arts in intercultural studies degrees and Ralph Wilfred Green, III of McAllen received a master of divinity with North American church planting degree.

GRAND SALINE, Texas ? Ten students of Main Street Baptist Church in Grand Saline, participated in the evangelistic Crossover Arizona event, June 11 ? 14, learning how to share their testimonies and reaching out to Phoenix-area residents.

The week-long evangelistic outreach effort, held prior to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, resulted in more than 1,100 professions of faith and 8,500 prospects for local churches. This year, weekend events were added to the schedule with 43 events offered June 13-14 in metropolitan Phoenix and 13 events held June 21.

Main Street Baptist Church was one of nearly 3,000 Southern Baptist volunteers from across the country that participated in the event jointly sponsored by Arizona Southern Baptists and the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Main Street students worked with First Southern Baptist Church of Wellton, a congregation responsible for six different cities within an 85-mile radius of the church.

Abby Hamessley, 19, Main Street summer youth intern, said the students set up for Vacation Bible School, prepared for a block party event and handed out fliers door-to-door inviting communities to attend the church’s summer activities.

Driving into Wellton, Hamessley said students were given gospel tracts distributed by Crossover Arizona organizers.

“We gave them their tracts, and we encouraged them to look up the scripture verses and be familiar with them so that if [they] got in a situation [they’d] know what to do,” Hamessley recounted. “I told them, ‘At the end of the next 30 minutes I want each of you to ask me a question,’ and within 15 minutes hands started to pop up. God started to move through the bus, and we were able to get to know each other and ask questions.”

“Although they didn’t use the tracts very much, a lot of them are very excited about sharing their faith and they were willing to do what they had to do, whether it was painting London Bridge [for VBS], or hanging fliers.”

Along with preparing for church activities, the Crossover event also organized volunteers into teams called Ice Breakers designed to “break the ice” in communities introducing the church and the gospel of Jesus Christ to Arizona communities.

Walking door-to-door in 115-degree heat, Hamessley and another team member shared the gospel with anyone who would listen.

“We had knocked on a lot of doors and had doors slammed in our faces. Unlike Texas, it’s a whole different situation,” she said. “We’ve grown up in the Bible Belt and know the name of Jesus Christ.”

Although faced with rejection from many residents, the team led a teenage boy to the saving knowledge of Jesus.

“We knocked on the door, and a boy that looked to be 16 or 17 was talking on the phone. The guy I was with, Doug Shepherd, asked him ‘If you died today where were you go?'”

When the boy replied, “All over the place,” Hamessley felt compelled to inquire a little more. ” I said, ‘why do you say that?’ He explained that he was Catholic and I could see his doctrine was thrown off. Doug proceeded to tell him Christ died for him. Through it all I was able to come in every once in while and insert input where Doug left out.”

At the end of the conversation, Hamessley asked the boy “if he would like to know who Christ was,” and the group knelt in the doorway as the boy prayed to give his life to Christ.

Moving onto a trailer park, the team was confronted with the great needs that existed in the community.

“We were at this one house. There was no air, the front door was open, there was no electricity. We invited [the family] to Wellton to the Vacation Bible School, and two boys barefoot ran out begging their mom to let them go,” she said, adding that the mother had no way to get the children to the church. “It broke my heart, because they were so poor. But we were able to provide them a way to get there.”

In learning to minister to the local residents as best they could, Hamessley believes the youth of Main

Thumbs Up

• Thumbs up to American troops in Iraq for continuing the mission in the face of a difficult situation and declining awareness back home. They can’t just leave and peace is not easy. First person accounts say that most Iraqis cheer our people but most press coverage is of the difficulties they face in their peace mission. Keep praying, friends. Keep up the good work, guys.

Thumbs DOWN

• Thumbs down to the Dallas Morning News and its parent company, Belo Broadcasting. This once-conservative daily has again taken the wrong side in the culture war. They announced July 6 that they would include homosexual unions on the same page with wedding announcements. This issue of the News included two “commitment” photos of female couples. This “me-too” political correctness was justified by noting that the New York Times does it, several other large dailies do it, and, indirectly, because the Lawrence decision by the Supreme Court signals a new attitude toward homosexual behavior in the culture.

• Thumbs down to Wal-Mart for elevating homosexual behavior to the same level with race and gender in their corporate anti-discrimination policy. According to a news report, of the top ten Fortune 500 companies, only Irving-based Exxon considers a simple anti-discrimination policy adequate affirmation of homosexual behavior. I don’t think Sam Walton would be proud.

“When sexuality finds overt expression in intimate conduct with another person, the conduct can be but one element in a personal bond that is more enduring. The liberty protected by the Constitution allows homosexual persons the right to make this choice.”

? From Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion in the Supreme Court’s Lawrence v. Texas decision. Justices, Souter, Ginsburg, Stevens, and Breyer joined the opinion.

“Persons in a homosexual relationship may seek autonomy for these purposes, just as heterosexual persons do.”

? From the Lawrence majority opinion in reference to a diverse list of constitutionally-protected rights. The list includes decisions relating to marriage, procreation, and family relations, among others.

“It is clear from this that the Court has taken sides in the culture war, departing from its role of assuring, as a neutral observer, that the democratic rules of engagement are observed.”

? From Justice Scalia’s dissent on the U.S. Supreme Court’s Lawrence v. Texas decision. Justices Renquist and Thomas joined the dissent.

“The sour puritanism of Justice Scalia’s latest tirade has gotten most of the ink, but it is the flagrant politicization of his response that is most worthy of censure. A states’ rights guy, he should know that if he wants to give a stump speech for ultra conservative values, he should run for the Senate.”

? Radical columnist Anna Quindlen, in Newsweek, responding to Justice Scalia’s dissent in the Lawrence v. Texas decision.

As a director of missions, a former IMB missionary to Chile and now a trustee of the SBC’s International Mission Board, I am compelled to write to all the churches of Texas. At the SBC meeting inCity Phoenix it was reported that the IMB is experiencing a 10 million dollar shortfall. I was in the Framingham meeting of the IMB. We were in a committee meeting discussing how to address this ten million dollar dilemma. Visiting our meeting was a missionary stateside recuperating from injuries his family sustained on the field by a terrorist attack. In the midst of our discussions this missionary demonstrated true Christian values when he observed that we have about 5,000 missionaries on the field. (He missed the number of 5,545 missionaries on the field.) However, he went on to say that if we as a board would cut the salaries of the missionaries by $2,000 per year we would make up the shortfall in one year. While our board would never entertain such asuggestion, our committee noted his commitment and dedicationto the Lord’s work. As I left the meeting it occurred to me that in Texas we have about as many churches as we have missionaries on the field. If a missionary would be willing to make such a sacrifice how much more should we who enjoy churches like “Ivory Palaces” be willing to sacrifice. Just think if each church in Texas gave $2,000 more to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering how in one offering the short fall would be covered. What a tragedy it is to turn away or delay the people God is calling because we who hold the ropes must build a bigger better building or remodel our place instead of take care of God’s called. I challenge every church to increase their offering this year. Knowing small churches cannot the larger churches might need to do more than the minimum. Thank you for letting me share this with Texas Baptists who have in the past been such pace setters for the cause of Christ. May we do it again.