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Mother’s Day Sri Lanka Offering multiplies Christian massacre church’s ministry ‘shocking in its page 9 cruelty’ Page 7 page 56 MAY 4, 2019 • News Journal of North Carolina Baptists • VOLUME 185 NO. 9 • BRnow.org Biweekly prayer calls bolster ‘Who’s Your One?’ By DAVID ROACH | Baptist Press very other Tuesday afternoon for 15 minutes, leaders across the Southern Baptist Conven- Etion (SBC) pause for a conference call to pray for their “one” – the person they’re seeking to share the gospel with as part of the “Who’s Your One?” evangelis- tic initiative. The initiative is a joint effort between SBC Presi- dent J.D. Greear and the North American Mission Board (NAMB). The calls, each led by a different Southern Baptist leader, began Feb. 5 and have grown largely by word-of- mouth and social media promotion. Everyone is invited to join the calls, including the next one May 14, which will be led by NAMB Presi- dent Kevin Ezell. “Fervent prayer is the foundation of ‘Who’s Your One?’ because salvation belongs to God – not to us,” BSC annual meeting features said Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area. church planting commissioning “We’re asking that God would make us sensitive to the Spirit’s leading so He can use us as His instruments. BSC Communications elected president of the SBC’s executive The call is an opportunity for us as leaders to model the committee, will preach during Tuesday prayer that continues in homes and churches through- ith a focus on the Great Com- evening’s service. out the week.” mission and the Great Com- BSC President Steve Scoggins, pastor Hunt noted, “We absolutely must not underestimate W mandment, “God’s Great of First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, the power and importance of prayer in this. Work” is the theme for the 2019 Baptist will highlight the signifi cance of the con- “It has to be the foundation we build all of our efforts State Convention of North Carolina’s nection between the Great Commission on when we share the gospel,” he said. (BSC) annual meeting, which is sched- “I have been so encouraged to know that people are and the Great Commandment during his uled for Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 11-12, president’s address on Monday evening praying for this effort around the world. It reminds me at the Joseph H. Koury Convention Cen- that the outcomes are not dependent on me or any hu- in conjunction with the church planting ter in Greensboro. man effort. commissioning service. Scoggins plans to This year’s meeting will feature a See One page 15 preach from Nehemiah 6:3. special church planting commissioning The focus on “God’s Great Work” will WHAT’S INSIDE service on Monday evening, as well as an continue throughout the annual meeting evangelistic emphasis during a Tuesday with worship, special presentations and evening worship service Milton Hollifi eld: Mothers, be a godly ministry reports. infl uence on your children ........................................ 3 related to the “Who’s Your The meeting will also include business Al Mohler: Discovering authentic Christianity ................ 3 One?” initiative within the sessions, offi cer elections, breakout ses- Churches eager to evangelize, Southern Baptist Convention sions, exhibits, resources for churches, but distractions abound ............................................ 4 (SBC). pastors and church members, and more. Supreme Court to rule on LGBT rights ........................... 5 Ronnie Floyd, newly See Meeting page 11 ERLC’S AI statement voices hope, concern ................... 6 Southern, New Orleans seminary updates ..................... 7 Crowder devotes talent to ‘Jesus’ bride’ ....................... 8 Sunday School lessons ................................................. 14 2 Opinion/News MAY 4, 2019 • BIBLICAL RECORDER • News Journal of North Carolina Baptists Churches & seminaries: Training students to be ‘non-spectators’ he apostle Peter explains in 1 If that is the end goal for churches, Peter 4:7 that “the end of all things then such should also be the singular T is at hand” and by that he means shared desire of the seminaries who exist he and his readers were living in the last to train men and women for service in days before the return of Jesus. those churches. Since that time until our very own, In much of what is classified as humanity has been living at the theological education in this verge of the end of the world, country, the six Southern but that is not a cause for de- Baptist seminaries stand apart, spair or hand-wringing. for many schools are content to Peter’s point was focused sit in ivory towers and see the rather on how one is to live at churches as resource providers the end of all things, and he and tangential dependents. spends the next few verses The task of theology for underscoring this for believers. these schools is to observe, Top row, from left: Gateway Seminary in Ontario, Calif., Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Peter explains that while a comment, criticize, but not Kansas City, Mo., and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; bottom row, from left: Southeastern Christian should have his eyes JASON DUESING actually implement or trust Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louis- fixed and his hope set on the Guest Column at all the biblical end goal of ville, Ky., and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. soon and certain return of Je- churches. sus, he should be using his spiritual gifts, Spectator sports are where those inaries exist to prepare God-called men every event and every square inch of whether they be serving or speaking, all watching can speculate, cheer, criticize and women for vocational service in the campuses are relentlessly claimed for the glory of God. or enjoy all that is done by the coaches Baptist churches and in other Christian for the purpose of directing students to What, then, is the source of our hope, and players on the field. ministries throughout the world through the churches to aid in carrying out the and on what task are we to have our But being a spectator, while feeling the programs of spiritual development, churches’ end goal. minds and hearts set? hurt of loss and the joy of winning, does theological studies, and practical prepa- The six seminaries take this assign- Until the end, whether one eats, not compare to the experience of those ration in ministry” (SBC Organizational ment given by cooperating Southern drinks, preaches, trains, waters, reaps, who actually play the game. Manual). Baptist churches as a matter of significant types, writes, shares or disciples, he Such it is also with the task of study- Each seminary carries out this man- stewardship and eternal seriousness. should be doing these things as the bibli- ing theology and theological education. date in their own region and context, For, as we live and serve at the end cally prescribed means for carrying out By contrast, the six SBC seminaries, and with their own unique leadership of the world, the six seminaries count the Great Commission to the glory of held accountable by the churches of the and identity, but for all six seminaries, it: it a joy to do whatever it takes to serve God. SBC and the confessional parameters 1) Starts with faculty members who, cooperating churches as they carry out Such it is, too, with the work of mandated by the churches, are training while qualified and exceptional scholars, their biblically designed task of seeing cooperating churches – to the end that students to be non-spectators for God- are not mere theorists, but also practi- God’s great name proclaimed to the ends churches are to cooperate for the sake glorifying, Great Commission service in tioners – professors engaged in applying of the earth. of global evangelism and to see the and through the churches. theology to life and ministry just as much (EDITOR’S NOTE – Jason G. Duesing is knowledge of the glory of God among This is a part of the seminaries’ shared as they are teaching and writing theology. provost at Midwestern Baptist Theological Semi- all peoples as the waters cover the sea ministry assignment: 2) Continues throughout the cur- nary and Spurgeon College and author of Mere (Habakkuk 2:14). “Southern Baptist Theological sem- riculum where every degree program, Hope: Life in an Age of Cynicism.) (ISSN 0279-8182) Volume 185 No. 9 News Journal of the Baptist State Convention (919) 847-2127 of North Carolina Fax (919) 467-6180 Founded 1833 by Thomas Meredith now.org K. Allan Blume, Editor/President Board of Directors: Nate Jones, chair; Tony Honey- [email protected] cutt, vice chair; Meredith Snoddy, secretary; David Clary, Seth Brown, Content Editor treasurer; Kevin Atchley; Kelly Bullard; Frankie Gordon; (919) 459-5697; [email protected] Lisa Harris; Chris Hefner, Lesley Hildreth, Todd Houston; Cindy D. Jennings; Dan Meyer; Frank Norwood; Jim Dianna L. Cagle, Production Editor Pennington Jr.; Donna Robinson; Donnie Seagle; Marilyn (919) 459-5698; [email protected] Thurman; Larry Whichard; and Bartley Wooten Alison McKinney Liz Tablazon Subscriptions Business and Circulation Manager • Individual subscriptions, $15.99 (one year); $27.99 (two Advertising Manager (919) 459-5693 years); $39.99 (three years) • Bulk Plan, $11.50 • Club Plan, $13.50 (919) 459-5691 [email protected] Woman’s Missionary Union Missions Extravaganza • Family Plan, $12.50 • Single copies, $.60 cents each [email protected] Rosalie Hunt, an author and former missionary, leads a breakout session April 27 on Fannie Heck Payable in advance. N.C. sales tax is included. Dee Dee Vogt Digital rates: $5.99 (one year); $10.99 (two years); $15.99 for the Woman’s Missionary Union of North Carolina’s Missions Extravaganza April 26-27.

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