Author: Jayson Larson

El rector del Seminario Bautista de la Habana defiende la fe en Cubavisión

El Rector del Seminario Bautista de la Habana y presidente de la Convención Bautista de Cuba Occidental, Dr. Bárbaro Abel Marrero Castellanos, fue invitado a participar en un panel de discusión sobre la consulta popular acerca del nuevo Código de las Familias cubano, en el programa Palabra Precisa (PP) en Cubavisión.

El programa fue televisado el 1^ro de abril y estuvo accesible a cristianos en todo el mundo por medio del internet y las redes sociales. “No puedo dejar de decir que percibí la presencia de Dios guiándome y el respaldo en oración de numerosos hermanos de diferentes denominaciones y lugares de nuestro país. Somos un gran pueblo, unidos en un mismo sentir,” compartió Marrero.

El Dr. Marrero, agradeciendo haber tenido la oportunidad de dirigirse al pueblo cubano dijo que, “en primer lugar, quiero agradecer al Señor y a las autoridades del país por conceder a la iglesia evangélica conservadora esta oportunidad que por mucho tiempo hemos anhelado y pedido.” También añadió que es bueno “reconocer el respeto, profesionalidad y cordialidad con los que nos trataron la periodista Bárbara Betancourt, el conductor Alienn Fernández y el productor Pablo Santos, así como la directora del programa y el resto del equipo involucrado en la grabación.”

En la entrevista también se incluyó a la Secretaria Ejecutiva de la iglesia Presbiteriana Reformada de Cuba, la pastora Dora E. Arce Valentín. El Dr. Marrero, quien tiene un Ph.D. en Estudios Cristianos Mundiales del Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) ubicado en Texas, explicó, “considero que nunca deberíamos atacar a las personas, sino al argumento.” También añadió, que “con la pastora Dora Arce pude conversar amablemente antes y después de la entrevista. Aunque tengamos posiciones éticas y teológicas diferentes, no somos enemigos. “Porque no tenemos lucha contra sangre y carne, sino contra principados, contra potestades, contra los gobernadores de las tinieblas de este siglo, contra huestes espirituales de maldad en las regiones celestes” Efesios 6:12—RV1960.

El Código de las familias incluye formas para disciplinar a los niños en Cuba que dice que “cualquier tipo de castigo corporal está prohibido” dijo Marrero. Expresando su desacuerdo al abuso físico hacia los niños, y añadió que el código “limita los derechos de los padres hacia los hijos.”

El Dr. Marrero recomendó que, si se aprueba el Código de las Familias tal y como está, dónde se expresa la aprobación del matrimonio igualitario y se limita la disciplina a los padres, él pide que “se cree una cláusula de excepción para personas con motivo de conciencia y que se cree la posibilidad de que los padres tengan otras opciones de educar a sus hijos.”

Durante la entrevista Marrero compartió el evangelio y usó a Romanos 5:8, “Mas Dios muestra su amor para con nosotros, en que siendo aún pecadores, Cristo murió por nosotros,” para explicar el amor que tiene Dios hacia el hombre. El públicamente defendió su fe, defendió el matrimonio bíblico como una institución creada por Dios entre un hombre y una mujer y no igualitario, y dijo que, “el amor de Dios no es solamente palabras pero es demostrado en hechos.”

Durante la entrevista, el Dr. Marrero también pudo expresar su opinión acerca de la iglesia y la sociedad. “Yo considero que la iglesia no está llamada a emperrarse a los tiempos como se habla mucho hoy, si no que la iglesia está llamada a ser una luz para la sociedad. De hecho el mismo Jesucristo nos llamó a los cristianos y nos dijo que nosotros éramos la sal de la tierra y la luz del mundo. Y una de las cosas que hace la sal es precisamente evitar que una sociedad se corrompa y la luz lo que hace que las tinieblas no llenen un lugar, una sociedad, si no que pueda dar una esperanza. En ese sentido yo creo que la iglesia tiene una voz, tiene un llamado, no está llamada a adaptarse a la sociedad sino más bien, a procurar transformar esa sociedad positivamente.”

Marrero continuó, “de alguna forma la iglesia debe de tener un rol de conciencia de la sociedad. El apóstol Pablo cuando habló a los cristianos les dijo, ‘No os conforméis a este siglo sino transformaos por medio de la renovación de vuestro entendimiento.’ Así que la iglesia entendemos que no debe adaptarse si no que debe de ser un estímulo para que la sociedad cambie. Podemos poner la ilustración de que, la iglesia no es un termómetro que simplemente se adapta al clima que le rodea. La iglesia es un termostato que está llamada a establecer un clima saludable para que la sociedad no se corrompa.”

La oportunidad de estar en el programa de Cubavisión ha animado al Dr. Marrero a decir que a través de la entrevista, “creo que mostramos fehacientemente que es posible disentir desde el respeto mutuo y sería apropiado que, en base a esta experiencia, la población cubana pudiera disfrutar de programas de opinión con este formato, incluyendo otros sectores y temáticas relevantes a nuestra sociedad. Estos diálogos nos enriquecen a todos de disímiles maneras.”

Como resultado de la entrevista, Marrero añadió, “Esto ha sido una oportunidad de unidad con un pensamiento común y la mayoría de los evangélicos en Cuba se sienten apoyados y animados a defender su fe.”

El Dr. Marrero, quien comenzó como Rector en el Seminario Bautista de la Habana, sirviendo las iglesias afiliadas con la convención bautista occidental de Cuba desde en el 2014, dice que ha visto crecer el seminario. “Actualmente el seminario tiene 400 estudiantes y ofrece una maestría en Ministerio Cristiano y Educación Teológica, al igual que un ministerio para la esposa del pastor, varios certificados, y seis diferentes licenciaturas,” añadió Marrero

“Oren por la iglesia en Cuba, por los ataques, amenazas y rectos que ellos enfrentan diariamente y para que el Señor ayude a los cristianos a mantenerse fieles en un contexto hostil,” pidió Marrero.

Johnston joins Prestonwood in dual role with staff, school

PLANO—Prestonwood Baptist Church and Prestonwood Christian Academy announced on April 24 that Jeremiah Johnston has joined their staff in a dual role with a goal to undergird a biblical worldview in all aspects of the church and school.

Johnston, one of the most recognized and brightest scholars in the church today, will serve as associate pastor of apologetics and cultural engagement at Prestonwood Baptist Church and dean of spiritual development at Prestonwood Christian Academy. He is president and founder of Christian Thinkers Society, whose mission is to train and equip Christians to defend the core truth at the heart of the Christian faith.

“For over three years, my wife and I have prayed over how the Lord would lead our family and our ministry to be part of a local church, serve on the pastoral staff team and fully utilize our gifts, scholarship and the ministries of Christian Thinkers Society to enhance a school and local church collaboratively,” Johnston said. “We have sensed a very clear call to Prestonwood Church and Prestonwood Christian Academy System of Schools. We desire to add value to the culture of excellence and join the mission of Prestonwood church and schools, which is ‘excellence in all things and all things to the glory of God.’

“Audrey and I, along with our five children—including our triplet cowboys—are elated to be joining the Prestonwood family and community.”

Johnston is a New Testament scholar called to equip Christians to love God with all their hearts and minds. Author and co-author of 11 books and Bible studies, Johnston is passionate about resourcing believers to give intellectually informed accounts for what they believe. As a theologian and culture expert, he has the unique ability to connect with people of all ages, making him an ideal fit for both Prestonwood Baptist Church and Prestonwood Christian Academy.

“We live in an ever-changing world and a culture that is constantly shifting—and not for the best, to be honest—and as believers we need to be firm in our foundation so that we may stand strong for truth in all areas of life,” said Jack Graham, senior pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church. “The addition of Dr. Johnston and his expertise and spiritual gifting will help undergird what we instill at both the church and school.

“I truly believe this partnership will become a model for churches and schools as we seek to engage with our biblical worldview in an increasingly hostile and secular culture.”

Johnston will also provide professional development training for Prestonwood ministers, staff and key leaders—focusing on trending questions, best practices in communicating faith in a post-Christian world, including the development of certificate programs and further education for pastors. He will work in tandem with the PCA team in creating events, training sessions, teaching series and conferences specific to cultural engagement and effectively communicating a Christian worldview.

Mike Goddard, superintendent of Prestonwood Christian Academy School System, said the school seeks to equip students in their Christian worldview and to model Christ-like leadership.

“We look forward to Dr. Johnston’s role at PCA in expanding the equipping of our biblical worldview curriculum and integration at the local, national and international level.”

IMB’s Pratt calls on next generation to pray, reach Muslims for Christ

BROWNWOOD—Zane Pratt, vice president for global training for the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, called for the next generation to touch the Muslim world for Christ. Pratt spoke in both Sunday morning Palm Sunday services at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church in Brownwood on April 10 and offered an afternoon workshop attended by 75-100 members.

Pratt, who spent much of his overseas career in Central Asia working among Muslims, started the afternoon session by disavowing misconceptions about followers of that religion. Most Muslims are not Arab, Pratt noted; however, the vast majority of Arabs follow Islam. Non-Arabic predominantly Muslim countries include Iran, Indonesia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Bangladesh. Though heavily Hindu, India has a large Muslim population also. Large parts of Africa follow Islam as well.

After giving a brief history of Islam and Mohammed’s significance, Pratt discussed similarities and the far more pervasive differences between that religion and Christianity. Muslims, Pratt explained, do not accept that humans are born in original sin or have a sin nature. Humans are morally “neutral,” capable of doing good and evil. God is, to Muslims, “the most important principle in the universe,” a unitary deity rather than a triune God, vast and aloof to humankind.

Muslims acknowledge the Judeo-Christian Scriptures, albeit claiming that when the Bible conflicts with the teachings of Islam, it is because the original meaning has been corrupted. Muslims accept that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and will come again, but Islam denies the divinity of Christ and regards Him as just a prophet rather than a savior.

While Jesus is a prophet, Muslims believe Mohammed is the greatest of the prophets. Islam is, Pratt noted, a religion of absolute “fatalism,” where the saying Inshallah or “if God wills,” expresses resignation to an arbitrary deity rather than trust in a personal God.

Pratt gave several recommendations for reaching Muslims for Jesus, an apt message in the middle of 2022’s observation of Ramadan (April 2-May 1) in the Muslim world. Pratt spoke from his experiences living in Central Asia and in his IMB leadership role.

Start with Scripture, but ease into doctrine

Muslims, Pratt said, will not immediately understand the Trinity. The notion of a three-in-one God suggests, to Muslims, that God had a child through physical relations with the virgin Mary and Jesus was born.

Pratt said he has often used the Gospel of Matthew to evangelize Muslims. One Central Asian teenager who wished to better his English came to Pratt for tutoring. The two went through Matthew together and after many questions, the young man said he wanted to trust Christ as Savior.

“The Sermon on the Mount wrecked him,” Pratt said. “The Beatitudes overwhelmed him. He realized he could not be righteous enough for God.”

In a sobering reminder, Pratt said he counseled the teenager about the consequences of becoming a Christ-follower.

“I don’t think my father will kill me. Our neighbors certainly will. But this is worth more than my life,” the teenager replied.

Pratt later explained that the teen eventually migrated to the U.S., where he works with refugees today. His family, except for his father, became Christians.

Appreciate their morality

Muslims have a strong sense of morality, Pratt said, although notions of fidelity in marriage do not always apply. Still, most Muslims have a strong sense of right and wrong. They appreciate honesty.

Pratt recalled a conversation with a Muslim taxi driver in Central Asia. The driver said, “Everybody in this town knows you. You guys are real Christians. You are always honest, and you help people.”

Reputation is important. So are relationships.

Develop relationships

Pratt recommended befriending Muslims, something increasingly easy to do in an ever more multicultural U.S.

Do not confuse the religion, a false and difficult taskmaster, with those who follow it, Pratt said, noting he has many Muslim friends.

“Be a real friend but be visibly different,” he advised. “Don’t be afraid of Muslims. Invite them into your home,” he encouraged, praising the beauty of the genuine hospitality practiced by Muslims.

One must be culturally sensitive…in fact, even kosher.

“Don’t serve pork,” Pratt said, for Muslims consider it unclean. He also advised never touching or serving anything to a Muslim with the left hand. The left hand is considered unclean, he explained, briefly discussing typical Muslim sanitary practices with their left hands. He also advised taking note of whether those entering a home remove their shoes and doing the same.

In short, when in a Muslim home, do as the Muslims do. Mostly.

Understand the spiritual culture

Pratt cautioned that belief in evil spirits is widespread among Muslims. Understanding this can lead to gospel conversations.

For example, in Central Asia, where Pratt and his wife welcomed their first child, a Muslim friend urged him to place a loaf of bread upon his daughter as he carried her home, then to feed the bread, which supposedly would have absorbed any curses, to a dog.

Pratt used that encounter to discuss Jesus, the “bread of life,” who absorbed humanity’s curse of sin, turning the moment toward the gospel.

The importance of women

Islam’s version of heaven is not a “woman-friendly” place, Pratt said, describing an old Islamic saying that “9 out of every 10 men” will attain paradise, while only “1 out of 10” women will achieve the same.

In the Muslim world, the saying that “a woman’s wedding day is the saddest day of her life” rings true in many places. Still, it is imperative to include women in the gospel conversation, for the women teach the children and propagate the faith.

“If you don’t get to mama, you’re not going to see any sort of generational fruit,” Pratt said, adding that married missionaries sent by the IMB must both be involved in the work wholeheartedly.

Evangelism also takes time. Pratt said he has never known a Muslim to come to faith after only one gospel conversation. Coming to faith is a process best cultivated through relationship.

Muslims coming to Jesus

Today, Muslims are coming to faith in Christ in ways and numbers never before seen. “We are literally seeing more response to the gospel than we have in the history of Islam from the early 600s,” Pratt said. Explosions of the gospel are occurring in many Central Asian countries.

During this month of Ramadan especially, pray for “God to open the eyes of Muslims,” Pratt urged. “Pray that God would reveal … to them that they have been lied to about God,” that they would realize they cannot save themselves or earn salvation.

“Pray that this month would give them dreams and visions to point them to Christ,” Pratt said, emphasizing the importance of these to Muslims.

An IMB Ramadan prayer guide is available at https://www.imb.org/south-asia/ramadan/.

Highland Lakes to honor Dawdy, new director Flowers takes reins

After 23 years of serving as executive director at Highland Lakes Camp and Conference Center, Danny Dawdy retired in early March.

He served local Texas churches in Huntsville, Morton, Port Lavaca, Eastland, Palestine, and LaGrange, as well as Baker, La., before beginning his leadership of two Texas Baptist encampments. Dawdy served from 1995-1998 as executive director at Camp Chaparral and 1998-2022 at Highland Lakes. It has been estimated that at least 1.5 million students have come through the gates at Highland Lakes since he began his ministry on Lake Travis 23 years ago.

Dawdy’s footprint on the camping ministry both in Texas and nationwide has been felt for many years and will continue to be felt for years to come. There will be a celebration of he and his wife Terry’s ministry at HLCCC on April 23 at Highland Lakes Camp. The public is invited to attend. There will be reception in honor of the Dawdys from 1:30-2:45 p.m. followed at 3 p.m. with a time of celebration featuring Billy Beachum, the Skit Guys, and other special guests in the Miles Auditorium. A basket will be available for notes of appreciation and love offerings.

A new era began under the leadership of Norman Flowers following Dawdy’s retirement. Flowers most recently served at First Baptist Church of Marble Falls as the missions and discipleship pastor. He and his wife, Lori, felt called to lead Highland Lakes into a bright future and began leading the camp on March 7, 2022.

Flowers brings 40 years of ministry experience to a strong staff and one of the most beautiful camps the state of Texas has to offer. There have been difficult days in recent years for camps but the leadership at Highland Lakes Camp believes the best days are still to come.

Visit www.hlccc.org for more information and dates of camps and events coming soon.

New generation of evangelists responding to God’s call in Texas, beyond

At least 15 Southern Baptist evangelists have died within the last 10 years.

The list, according to the Southern Baptist Evangelists fellowship group, includes Roy Fish in 2012; Freddie Gage and Larry Walker in 2014; Rick Ingle, 2015; Gene Williams, Sam Cathey, and Vernon Stephenson, 2016; Billy Graham, Leon Westerhouse, Tom Cox and Ron Herrod, 2018; Bailey Smith, 2019; Joe Allbright and Joe Murray, 2020; and Eddie Middleton, 2021.

The remaining 62 members of Southern Baptist Evangelists actively look for the next generation of evangelists “through personal contact, mentorship, one-on-one relationships and encouragement,” Amy Stockwell told the Texan recently. The high-soprano vocalist and her preaching husband, David, from Katy both are long-time members of Southern Baptist Evangelists and members of Second Baptist Church in Houston.

“The worth and work of the evangelist—a unique and specific calling in the body of Christ—is rarely taught, encouraged, or presented in our churches, colleges, and seminaries as a calling to ministry that has validity, priority, or importance,” Stockwell said. “It is vital that we as Southern Baptists decide that God’s priorities in this area should also be our own. It is our responsibility to win people to Christ, but also to train them to reach others with the gospel, and to teach, train, encourage, equip, support, and send out the next generation of God-called evangelists.”

Preston Nix, professor of evangelism and evangelistic preaching at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, said that while pastors are shepherds of one flock, evangelists “have a passion for souls but also a passion to train others how to ‘draw the net’ or lead people to faith in Christ. Also, as recorded in the book of Acts and throughout Christian history, evangelists tend to want to go where people have not heard the gospel message. They want to give everyone an opportunity to be saved.”

While pastors receive income from the church and perhaps one or more other sources, “evangelists have to build a base of support and become ‘experts’ at all aspects of ministry and business, build a board, and put together functioning ministry offices,” Stockwell said. “This takes a great deal of money, for staff, travel expenses, living expenses, health insurance and more.”

International evangelist and Southern Baptist Sammy Tippit of San Antonio agreed.

“In many ways it’s harder to be an evangelist than a pastor,” said Tippit, now in his 51^st year in vocational evangelism. “It requires solid faith, trust that God will provide everything, from finances to speaking engagements to effectiveness in ministry, and to a spiritually, mentally and physically healthy family.”

Tippit suggests the new evangelists he mentors first set up as a 501c3 non-profit, with a board of directors for ideas and accountability. His core group has been with him for at least 30 years.

“Combining the board’s and Sammy’s ideas has been very helpful,” Tippit said. “We have the kind of relationship that enables me to receive them when they speak into my life honestly and truthfully.”

Who are some of those God has called out more recently in this field?

Ryan Fontenot, 45, a member at BT Church in McAllen, started RAGE Ministries in 2003, an acronym for Reaching a Generation Endangered. Reared in church and a Christ-follower since age 18, Fontenot was 27 when he responded to a call to vocational evangelism during Amsterdam 2000, a nine-day conference for preaching evangelists he’d unexpectedly been invited to.

“We go after the next generation, Gen Z,” said Fontenot, who serves as personal and event evangelism consultant for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. “We preach the gospel and we prepare the next generation to do the same.”

Gen Z refers to middle school and high school students. Fontenot leads weekend conferences, camps, and ministers online, as well.

“We partner with churches, associations, camps, conferences. Sometimes I’m there to give the gospel; other times it’s how to share their faith.,” he said. Fontenot usually is invited to nine camps during the summer and about 25 other engagements throughout the year.

“It’s a passion of ours,” Fontenot said of his family, which including his wife Heather and their three children. “If we don’t tell the generations after us about Jesus, well, they’re the real endangered species in the world.”

Garrett Wagoner has served in ministry 18 years, the last two as discipleship pastor at Fivestone Community Church in Garland. Last year, Wagoner responded to a call to full-time vocational evangelism despite the fact he and his wife Rachel are parents to 1-year-old twins and a 4-year-old, all boys.

“I had a good friend, a vocational evangelist, who died of COVID,” Wagoner said. “We’d have conversations years before about my passion, my desire, for telling people about Jesus. The day he died God started stirring my heart. The Lord made it very clear: ‘The time is now.’

“When I preach I see people respond, a physical response,” Wagoner said. “Over time I realized I always wanted to be intentional in sharing the gospel, giving an invitation when I preach.”

His pastor, Jerry Zucha, and Fivestone’s leadership team recognized his evangelistic giftedness, encouraged him to pursue vocational evangelism, and gave him a launch plan.

“The Lord has blessed,” Wagoner said. “We’re living on faith and we haven’t missed a meal. He’s given us a full schedule through spring.”

Wagoner is setting up a donor/partner team, he’s in the process of legalizing his 501c3 non-profit status, and he’s “learning how to run the non-profit with integrity, in a way to honor God.”

“And, as evangelists, we’re there to encourage leaders, so I’m learning the ins and outs of that, too,” he added. “God has brought the right people around us to help us.”

Wagoner preaches in churches, at camps, and at youth events. With 57 million teens who don’t have a relationship with Jesus, there is a great need for people to respond to God’s evangelistic call on their life by walking faithfully with Jesus, serving in their local church, and in God’s timing, surrendering to full-time ministry, Wagoner said.

“If you think about lost people all the time, think about how you can get them to respond to the gospel, and want to train others to share their faith, to mobilize believers to articulate the gospel to people in their lives, then God is probably calling you into full-time evangelism,” Wagoner said. “Pray about it. Read John 15, Ephesians 4. Find mentors.

“What we’re seeing is a hunger for God’s word,” the evangelist continued. “They respond to authenticity. They’re hungry for the truth. Engage them with stories of your life that connect with Scriptures and they respond.”

Pastor who helped at school during tornado: I just did ‘what needed to be done’

March winds turned destructive so far this year, spawning tornadoes and spreading wildfires in rural cities such as Jacksboro, Gatesville, and Carbon. Residents, disaster relief volunteers, first responders, churches, and pastors met the challenges of what was a stormy, dangerous spring.

Jacksboro: ‘God saved us’

“Is that normal?” Adam Lazarine’s teenage daughter, Keslie, asked her dad as the pair sat in the carpool line at Jacksboro Elementary at 3:40 p.m. on March 21. Amid tornado warnings, Lazarine, pastor of Live Oak Baptist Church in Jacksboro, had picked up Keslie at the middle school and was now waiting for fourth-grader Kale.

“You could hear it … a constant roll of thunder. The sky was dark, almost black. A wall of cloud filled the horizon as high as you could see,” Lazarine said.

Things were by no means normal.

His pickup sandwiched within a line of cars, Lazarine saw the school principal, Michael Qualls, urging everyone inside. Lazarine started Keslie toward the building and rushed to vehicles behind his to spread the warning. Eventually, he followed the group inside as Qualls notified the cars in front of Lazarine’s and hurried to pull down metal storm doors on one side of the school building.

A harrowing video from school security cameras shows Qualls scrambling to reach another interior hallway and shut storm doors as lights flicker and debris flies, milliseconds before the tornado hits, shearing off the roof of the adjacent gym.

“Why God chose me to be in that situation at that time, I don’t know,” Qualls told Dallas-based KDFW television.

As the doors descended, Lazarine found himself inside a long hallway with students, teachers, and Qualls. Ceiling tiles fell, and the pastor recalled glimpsing the gym ceiling torn away. Huddled inside along the interior walls, the students and adults stayed safe. Lazarine’s background in sports medicine had prepared him to stay calm in emergencies, but his emotions broke as he found his son uninjured in
another hallway after emergency crews arrived.

“God saved us,” Kale told him.

“Yes, he did,” Lazarine replied.

Even weeks later, the pastor’s voice cracks in the retelling. He praised both school and city officials for their rapid responses, maintaining he did nothing heroic but “just what needed to be done.”

Jacksboro is a small community, emphasis on community … where everybody knows everyone’s name. The principal thanked Lazarine for his help, and days later, Sunday, on the courthouse lawn, even grabbed him in an embrace. Qualls had seen the video of his narrow escape.

“If you hadn’t done what you did, I wouldn’t have been able to be where I was,” Qualls said.

Lazarine noted many Jacksboro residents who have said their routines inexplicably varied on that day.

“That’s God’s sovereignty, Lazarine said. “He took care of everybody. But even if God had allowed something catastrophic, He would still be sovereign. He is still on His throne.”

Things could have been much different, Lazarine admitted. Throughout the community and even at the church, folks are doing clean up and restoration, but, thankfully, “we did not have to do any funerals,” he said. Shortly after the tornado, Live Oak church members started preparing food for first responders, coordinating with city officials. They served many at the church and transported food to the downtown fire department, the staging area for emergency management teams.

A Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Disaster Relief quick response kitchen quickly deployed to the church to assist, as did chainsaw crews from SBTC and Arkansas Baptist DR, who completed several jobs. An SBTC DR laundry and shower unit, with staff, deployed to Live Oak, too. Jacksboro citizens also actively engaged in recovery efforts, clearing roads with their tractors and heavy equipment common to a farming community.

Nine people were hurt and 90 homes destroyed in Jacksboro by the tornado, officials said. No students in school that day were injured. The March 21 storm system spawned more than 25 tornadoes in Texas, damaging 1,000 homes before moving eastward into neighboring states, according to news reports.

SBTC DR crews also deployed to the Gilmer area to assist feeding and tornado recovery efforts there.

Wildfires sweep Central Texas

Wildfires fanned by damaging winds tore through the dry Central Texas region in mid-March, igniting and re-igniting in sections of Eastland County. Much of the town of Carbon was destroyed. Jody Forbus, who pastors Carbon Community Church, serves as volunteer fire chief, and is the owner/operator of the Carbon Ag & Outdoors store, helped lead local first responders. The business and church became centers for recovery efforts.

Ron Lowe, pastor of First Baptist Church of Flat, near Gatesville, helped transport a trailer and van full of supplies to Carbon, where he spoke with Forbus. Little did Lowe know that very soon, he, too, would be fighting fires. The next Sunday, March 27, Lowe projected slides of the Carbon damage in church and the congregation prayed for both town and congregation.

Church let out at noon, but by 2 p.m., Flat itself was being evacuated, Lowe recalled. Fires raged within a few hundred yards of many church members’ homes. Lowe assisted two elderly couples whose homes were near the flames before returning home to gather documents and take his wife to her mother’s home in Hamilton.

Lowe returned with bottled water and supplies for firefighters. He found Harrold Baustian, a deacon in his 70s who serves as volunteer fire chief, in the field manning a fire truck. The pastor offered to help; Baustian directed him to extinguish flare-ups, pockets of fire springing up and threatening homes even as airplanes dropped water and fire retardant on the main blaze. Lowe spent a day-and-a-half putting out flares. He has since officially joined the local VFD.

FBC Flat also opened its doors to emergency responders, who staged at the church. Members cooked for firefighters, and neighboring churches generously sent food and supplies. Unity Church of Copperas Cove was among these, as were congregations from Gholson and Belton.

“We were overwhelmed by [help from] all the churches and community,” Lowe said. “Firefighters came from California to Florida to help. … The least we could do was feed and nurture them.”

It took a village. Or a Central Texas community, Lowe mused. Referencing the Golden Rule, the pastor added, “All the glory goes to God. … He brought us together in unity to be the example of love.”

Administrative professionals are worthy of honor!

Administrative Professionals Day is Wednesday, April 27. The term “administrative professionals” is an overarching term that includes secretaries, ministry assistants, receptionists, bookkeepers, office managers and much more. In years past, this was called Secretaries Day.

Many churches have persons in one or more of these positions; therefore, it is appropriate to set aside a day to honor those who are responsible for administrative tasks, coordinate information in order to support a good office environment, and who are dedicated to furthering their growth in their chosen professions.

In my 65 years of ministry, I have worked with many administrative professionals. Most of these professionals were hard-working and dedicated individuals. I want to share what I have learned about these helpers through the years.

Most of these professionals were dedicated to their jobs. They served in these positions because they believed they were called by God to their work. They loved the church and wanted to do an excellent job. They often worked overtime to get the job done. In several of the churches where I served, the professionals were members of the church, also. They loved the people and went the second mile to serve the Lord and the church members.

Many of these professionals saw themselves as servants. They served with a spirit of humility. As servants, they tried their best to meet every need they faced. Often, they had to deal with people who came to the church asking for financial or food assistance. They had a heart for helping these who were in need.

As servants, these professionals saw their work as ministry. It was not just a job. These wonderful servants felt they were called to their positions to serve God; thus, their job was a ministry not just work to be done.

Without a doubt, many of the professionals with whom I worked were continual learners. They wanted to be the best. They read books. They attended conferences and workshops. In one church where I served, we began using computers. The professionals and pastoral staff soon learned this was a life-long learning process. At first, it was extremely hard; but the professionals stayed with it until they could master the use of the computer to help in their work.

Almost all of these professionals were submissive to their supervisor. They knew their work was a ministry to God; but they also recognized that they were responsible to someone for getting their work done. In most cases, these professionals wanted to please their supervisor. I think they saw this as part of ministry.

As I think about the administrative professionals with whom I worked, I believe that I could sum up my experience by saying these professionals just loved Jesus and wanted to serve Him. Many of these professionals could have worked at secular jobs and earned much more money than they were paid as a church or denominational worker. They preferred to work for God by serving Him in a church or denominational position. I thank God for every one of these professionals with whom I worked.

Perhaps you might be a pastoral staff member reading this article. If so, you might consider honoring your administrative professional(s) on this special day. The following suggestions may be helpful:

Take the professional(s) to lunch. Invite someone to go with you if you are the only pastor and the professional is a lady. Or you may wish to have lunch delivered.
Give a gift of flowers, candy or fruit, candle, etc.
Recognize the professional(s) in a worship service.
Recognize these servants for special days (work anniversary, marriage anniversary, special achievements, etc.)
Always give the professional(s) praise for a job well-done.

Administrative Professionals Day can be a highlight for your staff members in this category.

Workers always appreciate recognition. This will motivate them to do a better job. They deserve recognition. They are the face of your congregation in many instances. Recognition helps them to know and understand their role better. Have a great Administrative Professionals Day!

Congregational worship is theological formation

“Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:16)

What are we doing when we sing together? Certainly, we are exalting Christ together. We are uniting our voices in expression of the oneness of our confession. We are reminding ourselves and each other of the majesty and grace of God. Congregational singing is not less than this, but it is more than this.

Paul’s apostolic instruction to the Colossian church characterizes congregational singing as theological formation. In corporate worship we are creating space for Christ’s Word to “dwell richly among us.” We are “teaching and admonishing one another.” We are packaging the “wisdom” of God in rhythms of grace and reciting biblical doctrines back “to God” with “gratitude in our hearts.”

For Paul, corporate worship invited congregational participation in theological formation.

Congregational worship is always theologically formational. It’s not merely that worship should be theologically formational. It always is. The songs we sing are shaping us and forming us. They are teaching us things about ecclesiology, hamartiology, theology proper, Christology, angelology, eschatology, anthropology, teleology, ontology, and more. These theological truths are being reinforced through the voice of the church as we recite them week after week.

Your worship songs are forming your congregation. The question is what, exactly, is being formed in your congregation through the songs they sing?

Some songs form a congregation into theologically weak perpetual infancy. Congregational singing should be rich with the deep doctrines of the faith. We should hunger for songs that feed us the meat of biblical truth. If the songs we sing do not move past comforting and coddling, they will never get to “teaching and admonishing.”

Some songs form a congregation into introspective isolates. Our voices should be lifted together in congregational singing. In song selection, the “We’s” should ring louder than the “I’s.” Some songs overemphasize spiritual introspection to the degree that the church’s corporate voice is drowned out by the noise of individualized experience.

Some songs form a congregation into accidental heretics. Let’s be honest: just because a Christian song is loved does not mean it is biblical. Some of the cherished songs of our faith tradition are doctrinally unsound. So are some of the cherished songs of our faith in vogue. If the congregation sings them regularly then their faith is being formed heretically, even if accidentally.

The apostle’s words caution the congregational worship leader to give reflective pause to song selection. This is, for the worship leader, a matter of dutiful urgency. Your congregation’s theology is being formed by their own corporate voice. The question is: is their faith being formed biblically by the songs they sing?

Congregational worship is theological formation.

Along the border: Southern Baptist DR joins Romanian Baptists to help Ukrainian refugees

SUCEAVA, Romania—The flood of thousands of Ukrainian refugees that began pouring over the Romanian border at Siret on Feb. 24 has diminished to a daily trickle of a few hundred, said SBTC DR associate Wally Leyerle. But the heart-wrenching stories of the survivors remain, while the possibility of another tidal wave of refugees looms.

In addition to physical assistance provided by Baptists, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the Romanian government at the Ukrainian border, a digital engagement tool launched by Send Relief and IMB missionaries is offering spiritual hope to those fleeing the Russian invasion.

The task

“Their stories are horrific,” Leyerle said, recalling things he heard from Ukrainian refugees during his March 21– April 2 trip to Romania, where he served as part of a team of six Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders representing SBDR teams from California, Missouri, and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.

“Our job was to determine what was going on at the border and how Southern Baptists can help partner with Romanian Baptist associations and IMB missionaries … to figure out what future teams would do,” Leyerle said, adding that his team was aided by an IMB missionary and Catalin Croitor, pastor of Betleem Baptist Church in Suceava, whose congregation is part of the Suceava Regional Romanian Baptist Association which he also directs.

The situation at the border at Siret, near Suceava, was orderly when the SBDR team arrived, Leyerle said. The Romanian government responded quickly in the early days of the crisis. Soon, NGOs assisting refugees with everything from documentation to supplies to baby and pet needs to healthcare sprouted up along the border.

Government-provided tents stocked with cots, heaters, and supplies offer overnight respite for travelers. Inside a World Vision tent, handicapped refugees find practical assistance. Red Cross Europe and Red Crescent Turkey maintain service sites, too.

The SBDR team and Romanian Baptist churches established a border station to provide tea, coffee, charging stations, assistance directing refugees to the proper resources, and spiritual comfort.

It helped that the first Romanian volunteer at the border, according to national news reports, was Pastor Cornelush Miron, whose nearby church in Calfindesti was part of the regional Baptist association. Even before the government acted, Miron had launched a grassroots campaign on social media to assist the refugees, Leyerle said. Churches responded generously.

Miron introduced the SBDR team to the Romanian border guards, who are also firefighters.

“We had an ‘in’ with Pastor Cornelush,” Leyerle said. The DR team soon got to work, helping those crossing the border. Leyerle said 30 stuffed teddy bears handmade by seniors at his home church, First Baptist Church of The Colony, were quickly given to kids.

They talked to the survivors, praying with them, distributing Bibles, information, and hope.

The stories

The refugees’ stories were heartbreaking, Leyerle said, adding he had heard accounts of sexual violence and mass killings. One survivor showed him a photo of an unexploded Russian missile lodged in an apartment. Many cried openly, often saying had lost everything: their homes bombed, their bank accounts inaccessible, their businesses destroyed.

Some sank to their knees in gratitude and relief at finally finding safety. One explained she had survived the infamous explosion at a Mariupol theater which killed 300. She tearfully related accounts of unthinkable abuse of civilians by Russian troops.

Five adults and two children squeezed into a small car and traveled more than 900 miles to safety, dodging roaming gangs and Russian snipers, taking a week to accomplish a trip that should have been completed in two days.

“They came to us with horrendous, brutal stories … things we had not heard, things you cannot print,” Leyerle said.

Buses brought other refugees to the border, too.

Yet not everyone wants to leave Ukraine, Leyerle said, noting reports of some 50,000-100,000 displaced Ukrainians remaining just north of the border, still inside Ukraine, lodged in parks and empty buildings.

Romanian Baptist churches are sending supplies to these survivors as well, Leyerle said. The SBDR team loaded materials and mattresses onto trucks for these displaced peoples to be conveyed north by Ukrainian refugee volunteers.

Leyerle added that the situation could “turn on a dime” with a Russian offensive in that region, sending thousands once more across the border. Thus, a continued relief presence at the border is warranted since another massive influx of the displaced may well occur.

The region’s complex geopolitical situation is made even more challenging by the fact that the Ukrainians and Romanians, despite a shared border, do not share a common language.

The gospel

Romanian Baptist alliance churches, despite their own financial challenges, have generously embraced their Ukrainian neighbors.

“Many churches across the 105 kilometers of the Suceava association quickly created shelters in their facilities to temporarily house refugees, who would spend a few nights before proceeding to destinations in western Europe,” Leyerle said.

Since the crisis began, Betleem Church has opened its basement, filled with partitioned rooms containing bedding and necessities, to refugees.

“We try to offer to them intimacy, quietness, hope, and practical love,” Pastor Croitor wrote in a recent communication. Betleem Church, with others in the Suceava association and broader Romanian Baptist Alliance, is involved in the supply chain conveying necessities to the displaced within Ukraine.

The groups, with IMB personnel and SBDR volunteers, also staff the border site they established with the help of Leyerle’s team.

Prominent at that border tent is a large blue and yellow banner produced by Leyerle’s team and featuring a QR code that links to a website in the Ukrainian language called “Hope for Ukraine.” The website contains a clear presentation of the gospel.

IMB President Paul Chitwood, who again visited the Romania-Ukraine border in early April, noted that the QR code had been made available to 5 million Ukrainians and that thousands of gospel conversations had ensued.

Betleem displays a similar banner, which, translated from Ukrainian, means: “Hope for Ukraine. How can we help you? The Romanian Baptist Church.” Betleem and other churches in the Suceava association are offering Bible studies to the refugees and providing children’s activities, in addition to lodging, Croitor said.

A second multistate SBDR team, including SBTC DR volunteer Terry James, left for Romania on March 30. SBTC DR Director Scottie Stice deployed to Romania April 7-14.

Donations toward the ongoing crisis response can be given here.