Church Planting, Strengthening Churches FOREFRONT of RESTRUCTURING PLAN
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Mother’s Day Missions conf. Offering focuses on ‘Relief brings relief and Release’ to families. Page 2 Page 7 APRIL 27, 2013 • News Journal of North Carolina Baptists • VOLUME 179 NO. 9 • BRnow.org Church planting, strengthening churches FOREFRONT OF RESTRUCTURING PLAN Impacting Lostness THROUGH DISCIPLE-MAKING By SHAWN HENDRICKS BR Managing Editor | One of the new tactics from the he Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s (BSC) Executive Committee Baptist State Convention of North Carolina will be to assign strategy approved a plan April 11 to “tear down silos,” streamline the organization and coordinators to eight key “population cen- Tbetter assist churches in making disciples, evangelism and church planting among ters” in order to get the gospel to unreached people groups of every ethnicity and cultural context. people groups. (BSC graphic) The plan includes equipping churches to take ownership of collegiate ministries, and also sending strategy coordinators to work with churches and associations to penetrate “concentrated areas of lostness” through eight “population centers” around the state. See Impacting page 6 N.C. businessman takes risks for the gospel in Central Asia passed safely in and out of the restricted area. By TESS RIVERS | Baptist Press The two men risked entering to check the o foreigners beyond this status of a well Paul’s team recently installed point,” reads the sign in a and to visit new friends in a nearby village. Paul Hart,* a business Hart’s wife, Amanda,* is glad she didn’t owner, learned “Nremote area of a Central Asian about the spiritual country. know about this little adventure. “He doesn’t needs of an unreached Paul Hart* notices it just as the motorcycle tell me the scary stuff,” she says. people group he is riding blows past. But how did this marathon runner and thousands of miles “They knew I was a foreigner,” the 48-year- seller of high-end Amish furniture from the away through his old entrepreneur recalls. Appalachian Mountains wind up in a war-torn, church “Foreigners are the only ones who wear flood-ravaged region of the world? in Hendersonville. helmets.” It all began with a challenge in a typical *Name changed (IMB Fortunately for Hart, the police were not Wednesday night prayer service at First Baptist photo by working the checkpoint that day, and he and Church, Hendersonville, N.C. Paul W. Lee) his friend – the one driving the motorcycle – See Gospel page 8 2 APRIL 27, 2013 • BIBLICAL RECORDER • News Journal of North Carolina Baptists Couple finds hope through Mother’s Day Offering North Carolina Baptist Hospital nity Relations at the hospital. rad and Sarah St. Clair of Tay- “After Rev. Yount lorsville, N.C., know what it’s called, I asked the Blike to see many of the things Mother’s Day Of- that were comfortable and familiar be fering committee taken away in an instant. to carefully and The normal life they had known was prayerfully review suddenly torn apart by illness and near Brad and Sarah’s tragedy. needs,” Mullen Sarah had surgery at N.C. Baptist said. “I was privi- Hospital (Wake Forest Baptist Medical leged to call them EDDIE YOUNT Center) to remove painful and dangerous with wonderful tumors. A few months later a terrible car news and say, ‘Sarah’s hospital bill has accident left her with broken bones and been paid by compassionate and mission- a head injury. She was unable to work for minded North Carolina Baptists in the a year. With only Brad working, financial name of Jesus Christ and His love.’” pressures quickly overwhelmed them as Tears streamed down Sarah’s face. waves of medical expenses piled on top “The Mother’s Day Offering was a gift of other bills. A difficult road to recovery from the hand of God,” she said. “After became nearly unbearable. this past year it would have been easy for “It was so frightening with all those us to give up. Then this beautiful thing bills weighing happened. They down,” Sarah said. “They lifted a huge bur- lifted a huge burden “I felt like we were off our shoulders Brad and Sarah St. Clair are thankful for the help received through the Mother’s Day Offering. (NCBH losing hope.” den off our shoulders ...” and we thank them photo) Like many cou- with all our hearts!” to see their needs met in a way that we ‘Touching Lives ples who work hard – Sarah St. Clair “This gift was couldn’t do by ourselves.” With Hope’ to make a living, God coming to us Mullen added, “We are very grate- the St. Clairs fell between the cracks of through North Carolina Baptists and ful to North Carolina Baptists on behalf N.C. Baptist Hospital assistance. They had too much to qualify saying, ‘I still love you and you’re going of the St. Clairs and hundreds of other Mother’s Day Offering for Medicaid or charity care programs, to make it,’” Brad added. “They saved hurting patients and families. “Our gifts Week of Prayer: May 5-12 but not enough to pay the balance of her us financially and gave us hope. What a really are the hands of God’s love, giving Goal: $650,000 hospital bills. way to tell others about Jesus and change people hope and leading them closer to In the midst of their fears, a miracle their lives like they did ours.” Jesus Christ in heartfelt gratitude. Please www.mothersdayoffering.org. Mother’s Day of God’s grace began to unfold. Brad Pastor Yount confirmed, “This was an join me in praying for God’s love to be at Offering materials were mailed to Baptist reached out to Eddie Yount, their pas- incredible blessing for Brad and Sarah, work through the Mother’s Day Offer- churches across the state. tor at Mount Hebron Baptist Church and for all of us. ing. Please give generously and allow His They can be obtained by calling (336) in Taylorsville. Yount contacted Paul By teaming up with Baptists and the grace to reach out through you.” 716-3027 or email Mullen at pmmullen@ Mullen, director of Church and Commu- Mother’s Day Offering, we were able The St. Clair’s story can be seen at wakehealth.edu. Pat Summerall remembered for Christian faith By TIM ELLSWORTH | Baptist Press Graham said with all the accolades and and drinking buddies. Much of Summer- replaced by a thirst for knowledge about applause that Summerall received for his all’s life was characterized by alcoholism faith and God,” Summerall wrote. He at Summerall stood in the front sports broadcasting work, his walk with and abandonment of his family. was later baptized at First Baptist Church row at Prestonwood Baptist Christ is what mattered the most to him. In 1992, Summerall’s friends and fam- in Euless, Texas. Summerall described PChurch in Plano, Texas, on Eas- “He finished well,” Graham said. “His ily staged an intervention on his behalf, emerging from the water and said he ter Sunday, next to his wife Cheri, as the faith was strong in Christ and he was encouraging him to get professional help had surfaced to a new world: “[F]or the congregation sang “The Old prepared for eternity. His com- for his alcohol problems. He chafed at first time in my life, I knew what people Rugged Cross.” mitment was stronger than the idea and burned with anger through- meant about being ‘born again.’” “I looked over there at Pat, ever. Even though he was bat- out the intervention. Finally, Brookshier “I had already accepted that Jesus and big tears were streaming tling illness and the personal read a letter from Summerall’s daughter Christ was the Son of God who died for down his face,” Prestonwood challenges of aging, he was Susan. “I hadn’t been there much for my our sins. Now, I felt I was truly part of his Pastor Jack Graham said. “Of joyful and constantly engag- kids, but Susan’s letter made it clear that family. I felt ecstatic, invigorated, hap- all the times I’ve watched ing people with his life and his I’d hurt them even in my absence,” Sum- pier, and freer. It felt as though my soul him on television, of all the testimony.” merall wrote in his autobiography, Sum- had been washed clean.” times I’ve heard his voice, my After 10 years in the NFL merall: On and Off the Air. “I was numb to greatest memory is going to as a kicker, Summerall spent most of it, sad to say. Yet, her final words Kivett’s - Your Source for Renewal Kivett’s - Your Source for Renewal be remembering Pat with his PAT SUMMERALL more than 40 years calling made my knees buckle: ‘Dad, the few eyes lifted up to heaven, tears NFL games, most notably with times we’ve been out in public together Complete Renovations • Refinish Complete Renovations • Refinish soaking his face, singing ‘The Old Rugged analyst John Madden. Prior to Madden, recently, I’ve been ashamed we shared New Pews • Steeples • Stained Glass New Pews • Steeples • Stained Glass Steeple Cleaning • Baptistries Steeple Cleaning • Baptistries Cross.’” Summerall teamed with analyst Tom the same last name... .’” Summerall, the famed NFL broadcast- Brookshier. Summerall accepted Christ Summerall began weeping tears of www.kivetts.com www.kivetts.com KIVETT’S INC. KIVETT’S INC. er, died April 16 in Dallas of cardiac arrest later in life. His partnership with Brook- regret and reluctantly agreed to enter The Largest Family Owned The Largest Family Owned at age 82. He had been in Zale Lipshy shier extended beyond the broadcast rehab.