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Arkansas Baptist Newsmagazine, 1985-1989 Arkansas Baptist Newsmagazine
6-19-1986
June 19, 1986
Arkansas Baptist State Convention
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Messengers converge on Atlanta for 129th
by Mark Kelly Tuesday morning, June 10 ..... ,.,..., .... GI. ATLANTA-As early as 5:00 a.m .. they began to gather, messengers from Southern Baptist churches acr0$5 ttie U.nited States awaiting the mad scramble for seats in the Georgia World Congress Center during the ti9th session of the Southern Baptist co'nvention. When the · doors finally opened at 6:45 -an hour and forty-five minutes before the first session convened-streams of peo ple rushed' toward the 27,000-seat main floor. Messengers·darted for the escalatOrs, hoping to stake out a front rryw or aisle seat. They arriVed to find several persons had beaten them by entering through unlocked service doors Defore the building was official- ly opened. · -The rush for seats reflected a height of interest in the annual meeting comparable the results of messenger ballotmg fo}..,the SBC only to last ye.ar'$ mee.ting in Dallas, Texas, 1 pres1dency dunng the anniiif ~...... ~" ' \ vy · - ~ ' ration record was set. Atfan ta june 10-12. EleCted to o ' ·: F ration at the Atlanta Adrian Rogers, President; Jack StaritOn,. : •.)l ni'e""eti ng P,3.'C~ umbers almost one- vice-preSident; and Ray ROberts, second - for-one. At 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, shortly ;. vice-pfesident. after Convention President Charles Stanley gaveled the meeting to order, registration stood at 37,603, just 499 short of the registra tion in Dallas at the same time last year. , After voting to constitute the convention, messengers heard a motion from Fred Wolfe, In this ·issue chairman of the Committee on Order of Messengers to the 129th SBC annual meeting Business, to adopt the printed order of maSsed in front of th e Georgia World Con business. Immediately, David White, a gress Center in anticipation of con trov.ersial . 10 'to restore peace' ·messenger frc~.rn Upper'cove, Md., moved to · business items filling the first day 's agenda. ABN Editor}. Everett·Sneed offers a perspec amend the order of business to provide 10 tive on the denomination 's annuaf·meeting Olinutes for each presidential candidate to ($2.78 million), granting statu s to the in At.lanta1une 10-12. He fists several elements address messengers before they cast their organization of Southern Baptists in West necessary for ·continued progress toward ballots. Vir8inia., the final reading of a constitutional peace in the convention. SBC President Stanley ruled the motion amendment limiting terins of service on con- out of orde'r on the grounds one "cannot vention boards or the Executive Committee compel another man to speak." White to two consecutive full terms, and a IAIOrding 13 good news, bad news. replied he had 'riot intended requiring a can- change regarding sse agency officials. Ouachita Baptist Unive rsity President Daniel 'didate to speak, but Stanl~ ruled the point Executive Board Recommendation Six , R. Grant shares some interesting news about of order was "not We ll taken," · and howeve r, drew expected debate. The pro- the "new freedom' ' in China. messengers proceeded to adopt the order of posal, a revision of controversial Bylaw 16, busin~s. . · ' attempted to resolve disagreements over Georgia Governor Joe Frank Harris amendments to nominations brought to the welcomed messengers to his state, and john convention floor by the Committee on Allen, executive director of the Alaska Sap- Committees. tist Convention, responded on their behalf. The . Committee on Committees, Stanley then called messengers to prayer, appointed each year by the SBC president, . observing a·practice he ins~ituted in Dallas nominates to the annual meeting members last year. Messengers paired off and a hu sh of the Committees on Boards, Commissions fell over the immense hall as they carried the and Standing Committees. Th at body, in concerns of th ~ converition to God in p~ayer. turn, nominates trustees for SBC agencies At 9:40 a.m., Harold Benn ett, pres1dent and institutions. ; 1 and treasurer of the SBC Executive Coni mit- In 1979, " fundamental-conservatives" in tee, came to the platform to begin th e th e sse announced their . intention to presentation of the Executive Committee's redirect the convention by a systematic annual report. replacement of SBC tru stees and committee Messengers adopted without debate the members with persons committed to their SBC ATLANTA first five of 11 Executive Committee recom- particular theological agenda. Much of th e mendatiOn s. The proposals dealt with a controversy in the denomination has revo lv 1 9 8 6 Cooperative Program allocation budget of ed around the annual election of th e presi· $136 million, the SBC operating budget dent and the subseq uent appointments and Pege2 ARKANSAS BAPTIST NEWSMAGAZINE SBC annual meeting, elect Adrian Rogers
nominations to committee and trustee to amend the bylaws on the final day of the positions. convention brought an " out-of-order'' rul At the 1985 annual meeting in Dallas, an ing from Stanley, however. A second attempt was made to amend the slate of su.bstitute motion liberalizing the number of nominees presented by the Committee on alternate nominations each messenger could Committees by offering a substitute slate. A bring failed on a standing vote. ruling by SBC President Charles Stanley, on The proposed bylaw revision passed on a advice of his parliamentarians, that such an standing vote, and messengers went on to attempt was out of order was based on an adopt two more Executive Committee SBC ATLANTA interpretation of SBC Bylaw 1'6, which deals recommendations: one opening annual with that committee's report. meeting committee service to persons who 1 9 8 6 The controversy surrounding that ihter would be eligible to serve as messengers but pretation, which held only the committee ·living in states not qualified for conyention may offer nominations for the Committee on representation, and the other lowering the sessio n with the an nual president's address. Boards, spawned two lawsuits and un membership requirements for representation Foreshadowing the political siiJnifiCance of counted opinions from divergent on the SBC Executive Committee, boards, the approaching presidential electio11, perspectives. commissions, and standing and special Stanley sounded a warning that Southern In February, a subcommittee of the SBC committees. Baptists not make serious mistakes at thiS Executive Committee ...... called the Bylaws The balance of the Executi ve Committee · critical poinf in their history. · Workgroup-announced the proposal it report was left for the afternoon session, and Comparing the Southern Baptist Conven Stanley oPened the floor for introduction of tion to Israel questioning whether to take the \ :e~~a~:e~:~~n~~~~~n!~7~ c~nt~~~ business and resolutions. land of Promise or turn back to the wilder from the floor, but only on a position-by Twenty-three resolutions were read into ness, Stanley declared the denomination is position, one-at-a-time basis. the record on topics ranging from gambling poised on " the brink of blessing." Not unexpectedly, the more than 40,000 and alcohol to child pornography and pro· Like Israel, the SBC faces a need to bridge messengers to th e annual meeting had a lot stitution to human rights and South Africa. its disunity and select proven leadership to say about the proposed revision. In a similar deluge, messengers offered 20 capable of bringing the people to reach thei r The first messenger to gain the floor sug motions. The proposed items of business potential, Stanley said . Furthermore, the gested postponing a vote on the proposal touched on limitations on children as denomination faces the challenges of mobil until Thursday morning. Since President messengers, SBC withdrawal from the Bap izing its tremendous resources and refocus Charles Stanley had indicated prior to the tist Joint Committee on Public Affairs, ing on missions and evangelism, its " reason annual meeting that he would operate on requirements to hire professsional for existence," he said. the principle of that proposed revision, the parliamentarians for each sac, limiting new But Israel made· three mistakes, Stanley reasoning ran that messengers had a unique appointees and nominees to one per church, obsetved. First, they rejected God's promise opportunity to experiment with the proposal realigning the basis for messenger represen they would possess a new, rich land. Second, before voting it into the bylaws. tation, and a host of other subjects. they listened to the negative doubtings of the A reminder that Bylaw 36 prohibits votes SBC President Stanley closed out the first 10 spies. Third, they chose to change their philosophy of leade,.hip at a critical point A8N photo I Millie Gin in their history. Stanley drew a direct parallel for the SBC. Under recent leadership, the denomination had developed "the capacity to be on the cutting edge of every area of American socie ty and influence th e nation for the glory of God;' Stanley declared. Standing on the brink of such blessing, messengers must "choose to keep going in the direction God has set us:' Stanley said . 'We have no need to turn back to anything, but must go on to what God has promised:' Israel " chose barrenness over blessing," Stanley declared, and the result was that they were .denied for a generation the privilege of enjoying their inheritance. Southern Bap tists, he remonstrated, must seize their opportunities and the blessings of God or face the possibility of a generation of barren ness " because we didn't have the cou:z to move on :' After Andy Stanley, youth minister at Atla • ta First Church, pronounced a benediction, messengers closed the morning session by SBC messengers required three other meeting halls in addition to the 27,000-seat main singing ''There Is A Name I Love to Hear: • floor for their first day of business Tuesday, June 10. When ballots were cast for the Even as they sang, however, few did more convention's presidency Tuesday afternoon, 39,099 votes were tallied. Messengers than rise and stand by their chairs, unwill in the remote locations and in the 't'(ings of the main hall kept in touch with pro ing to chance'fosing their seats for the after ceedings through closed circuit TV and a sophisticated microphone system . noon (ace-off for the convention presidency. June 19, 1986 P~~ge 3 Tuesday aft~rnoon For m05t messengers, the one-hour lunch period constituted little more than a standing break. At one o'clock, the tedium of waiting for the presidential balloting was broken with a (ull hour of gospel mus!c provided by . evangelistic singers from across the Southern ~ Baptist Convention. . •· By .\he ti!"!' the moment had arrived for •presidential nol'l)lnatlons, tHe already· cro'Mlea main hall was jammed to caP,.city. With television cameras packed In front of the podium and print reporters wedged into . the press area, Charles Stanley op'ened the floor for nominations. "ielsdn Price of Georgia wos the first to be · recognized, bri'nging,with him.the expeqed name of Adrian ~rs , , pastpr of Bellevue Ch4rch, Memp~is, Tenn. Calling Rogers "a president who will qring us all together in mi~ons and evangelism," Price identified him as·"a canPidate (or peaCe and truth:' •Although the second nomination·brought With thousands standing around them, fear of losing their seats kept most.messengers -that of w,Jnfred Moore of Amarillo, Texas firmly planted during the lunch hour Tuesday. Above, the Tommy Robertson family was no surprise, the man bringing the nomi of El Dorado makes the best of the situation. nation raised eyebrows across.the hall. · Richard Jackson, pastor of North Phoenix nary professors to sign a similar statement. ·approach to amending the report. Four .Chuich,, RhoeniX, ~riz., rose to nominate All seven motions were referred to the Com amendments were offered to tt}e report, and Moore as a man who "knows the truth, be mittee on Order of Business for disposition. each time the Committee on Boards respon lieves the truth, preaches the truth, lives the At 2:40p.m., Stanley prepared messengers ded to ihe alternate nominatioQ with a state truth, and above all tells the truth:' A nomi· for the report of the Committee on Bo.ards, ment in beh31f of their rominee. Messengers nation,from Jacl$son( a pastor knOW"n for his Commissions and Standing Committees. He then Voted on each amendment. "fundamentakonservative" views, belied cautioned persons offering alternate nomina As mess'e~gers str!Jggled through each charges Moore was a ''liberal" candidate. tions to avoid attacking the personal qualifi attempt to amend, it became clear the one With an almost palpable sense of tension cations of persons whose nominations they by-one approach made amending the report in the air, messengers th.en cast their ballots were ·cHallenging. a prktical impossibility. Each amend.ment for .. the denomination's much-contested Committee on Boards Chairman lee failed by a bigger margin than the one before presidency. A.low b~zz of conversation rose Roberts of Marietta, Ga., then took the floor it, and impatienc.e with the would-be to a dull roar. as ushers. moved among the to present his committee's report .. Before ad amenders mounted with each motion. messengers to cq,llect the ballots. dressing the nominations, however, Roberts Finally, the chair announced the time for The floor was opened for more resolutions took a moment to offer an apology to dealing with the report had expired. A and motions. Seven items of business were messengers for "intemperate" remarks he motion to extend time five minutes passed, added. t.en.. to the editor upreulng op1nlonl .;. lnYtted. Lenertlhould be typed doiJblnpace ='==~=:'=: -~taa:,~ end muatnotdefam.lhe .Arduuc6M 'BfliJwl PhotoiiiObmftt«t folo publk:Cion wtll be rw'!UJMd only when Q:On'lpatllod by a lta/nped, Mil· . . Newsmagazine ~envelope. Only bl.ck end white phot~ can .~ u.ed. cop. by mall 50 oent:l MCh. largeat Arl ARKANSAS BAPTIST NEWSMAGAZINE President Stanley apologized for the action stopped that motion in its tracks, ru li ng it out and promised an effort to re frain from such of order, as he had the previous motion. unconscious Signals in the future. On a show At 4:00 p.m., SBC Registration Secretary of ballots, messengers approved the report lee Porter took the noor to report 39,099 of the Committee on Boards at 3:14 p.m. messengers had elected Adrian Rogers as the After a time of prayer and _congregational next president of the convention. Porter si nging, the SBC Exec utive Committee noted Rogers received a decisive 54.22 per brought its final three recommendations to cent of the ballots cast (21 ,201) to Moore's the body. Messengers apprQVed without 4S.76 percent (17,696). Stanley declared debate a three-year Bold Mission Thrust Rogers the winner of the eleCtion, and sup repOrt, a revision of Foreign Misson Board porters of the new president rose for a sus program' statements, and a new level for the tained ovation . . SBC Foundatlon's contingency reserye fund. After the applau se had died down, Stanley In closing, Bennett told messengers the produced a letter from U.S. President Ronald 1 Exec utive Committee had just approved up Reagan to the messengers of the annual 9 6 to $300,000 to pay legal fees arising out of meeting. The letter praised the Southern the lawsuits filed agai nst the convention dur Baptist Convention for its role in the " great John Sullivan responded that no bylaw pro ing the previous' yea r. As of May 31, Bennett and welcome" change in throwing liberalism hibits a person's serving on a committee and said $176,996.31 had been spent on legal "on the defensive" nationally. Reagan said board simultaneously. ' fees for the lawsuit whiCh challenged the the convention could take a share of the A string of challenges to that ruling prov 1985 interpretation of Bylaw 16. Th at sui t, cred it for raising the consciousness of the ed unsuccessful, and at S:OO p.m. Fred Wolfe decided in favor of the SBC by a federal American peoP.Ie on issues like abortion and took the floor to report on the1disposition judge in Georgia, is being appealed . school prayer. · ·of motions made earlier in the day. He read That annou ncement drew two moti ons Sta nley opened the floor for nominations to messengers a lengthy list of motions which from the floor. One messenger drew a stan for first vice-president and received two had been referred. to the SBC Executive ding ovation when he moved the conven nominati ons. C.B. Hogue of California Committee or appropriate agencies and tion ask no Southern Baptist "ever involve nominated Jack Stanton of Bolivar, Mo. T.l. institutiOns. After a brief Challenge, us agai n in wasting hundreds of thousands McSwain of Georgia nominated Henry Huff messengers were notified time had eXpired for discussion and a show of ballots apProv of dollars in the courts of our land." of louisville, Ky. Nominations v-~ere closed, A second messenger rose to move the con and ba llots were cast at 4:13 p.m. ed the referral. vention ''withdraw fellowship'' from Robert Ten more resolutions were read into the At 5:10 p.m., Registratiori Secretary lee and julia Crowder, w ho initiated the lawsuit record by Committee on Order of Bu sin ess Porter announced the results of balloting for over Bylaw 16 last yea r. President Stanley Chairman Fred Wolfe. Severa l repeated con first vice-president. By a margin of nearly S,SOO votes, messengers had elected Jack ABN phoCo I M ill~ Gill cerns expresssed by earl ier resolutions: abor tion, pornography and child abu se. Others Stanton over Henry Huff. Stanton polled focused on aid to Nica rauguan contras, 19,416 (S6.19 percent) of the 33,639 votes apartheid and religious liberty. cast, Porter said. Huff garnered 13,951 votes (41 .61 percent). Wolfe then brought to the floor a motion made earlier by Darrell Robinson of Alabama SBC President Charles Stanley declared to limit alternate nominations to the Com Stanton the winner and Sandy Sand lin, mittee on Committees report to simply listing pastor of Faith Church, Wichita Falls, Texas, the name, state and vocation of the alternate delivered a benediction. nominee and the nominator. On a show of ball ots, however, Stanley rul· Tuesday evening ed the motion failed .to receive the necessai'y The Tuesday evening session opened with two-thirds vote, and messengers moved on music presented by the Singing Men and to what was e)(pected to be another extend Women of the Florida Baptist Convention. ed battle over one-by-one amendments to The congregation then rose to sing " Have a committee's nominations. Faith in God" and " Speak to My Heart:' O ne amendment was offered and President Charles Stanley res;:ognized defeated before a question was raised about Charles Fuller, chairman of th e SBC Peace w hether a Dan Collins of South Carolina Committee for that body's interim report. nominated to the 1987 Committee on Reading selected passages from the com Boards was the same Dan Collins of Sout h mittee's printed report, w hich was released Carolina ej:i rlier nominated by the 1986 several -.veeks prior to the convention, Fuller Committee on BOards as a trustee of the Sun - reviewed the committee's purposes and day School B9ard . . outlined its findings and recommenpatipns. The chair confirmed it was the sa me per 'The committee recommended: :. · · son. A ballot was taken on the Committee (1) 1966-67 be observed a.·· a Year of on Comittees report when the previous ques Intercession on behalf of the·SBC; tion was called. The report was adopted on (2) a one-year moratorium ~ on theo a show of ballots. logical/political rallies and a dismantling of After the vote, a messenger voiced his con political poWer structures; ... t \ cern that electing one man to a board posi (3) a cessation of "intemperate, inflam tion and appointing him concurrently to a matory and un8uarded'' language; standing committee demonstrated the (4) Baptist Press, state Baptist newspapers, reve~ of the " fundamental-conservatives' " and autonomous independent journals take SBC volunteer ushers had to work quickly to stated concern for wider representation of care to report events fairly and accurately collect the nearly 40,000 ballots cast in Tues· the Southern Baptist constituency on SBC and refrain from "labeling and attributing day's presidential election. board s and committees. Parliamentarian improper motives;'' June .19, 1986 Page 5 (5) the new SBC president and committees dent Lloyd Elder told messenger>. He said be mindful of fairness in representation as more than ISO employees produce 700 appointments and nominations are made; issues of 175 periodicals each year and noted (6) a retreat for Peace Committee members BSSB literature reaches all 50 states and SO and SBC agency executives and seminary foreign countries. Elder said the board ser· presidents; viced ·460,263 order> for 151.4 million pieces en a one-year extension of the committee's of-literature in 1985-86. authority. William G. Tanner presented his final After Fuller's report, a messenger rose to annual report on behalf of the SBC Home amend it, adding a statement that focused Mission Board. In July, Tanner will begin new on avoiding tHe use of public prayer times, responsibilities as executive director of the report periods, convention sermons and the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. ATLANTA presidenrs address for political purposes. • Tan.ner told messengers the United States Immediately, another messenger challeng· has 16 million more lost .per>ons than 10 1 ed the amendment, declaring; "Baptist peo years ago, when Southern Baptists adopted 9 • :g 6 ple believe in liberty. We do npt have the their Bold Mission Thrust goal 'of sharing the rightto tell anothe( per>on how to pray or gospel with every peoon in the U.S. by•1990. Wednesday morning, June 11 wllat to say in a sermon:• · While Southern Baptists do not have the Messengers returned in great nulnbers The amendment failed on a show of responsibility of converting the United States, though not in the full force of Tuesday-for balrots, and, after' a vote to exte.id time for they do have the responsibility of evangeliz the second day of their annual meeting. five minutes, the' report was .a~opted with ing the· land, he said . Frank Ingraham of Tennessee rose to only spotty opposition. Home Mission Board Chairman Travis nominate Martin Bradley for the position of At 7:43 p.m., Committee on Order of Wiginton of Norman, Okla., reported to recording secretary. In the absence of other Business Chairman Fred Wolfe read another messen gers that Home Mission Board per nominations, Registration Secretary lee 18 resolutions into the record . Resolutions sonnel had led 656,117 peoons to faith in Porter cast the ballot on behalf of the Jesus Ch.rist during Tanner's 10-year tenure. dealt with the need for more ethnic assembly, and Pres id ent Stanley declared denominationallead~rsh i p, prayer in public. Foll June 19, 1986 Page 7 Wednesday evening In response to another motion made After an afternoon of seminary luncheons earli~r, Wolfe then moved a world hunger relaxing, shopping, and sightseeing, messen: offenng be taken during the evening service, gers returned refreshed' for an evening pro and messengers approved that proposal. gram virtually devoid of business and high A whole spate of new motions followed. lighted by the report of the SBC Foreign Mis One messenger moved that Dan Collins from sion Board. South Carolina, who had been elected to _ A half-hour of mu;ic by the Georgia Bap both the Sunday School Board and the 1987 tiSt Sons of jubal and Jubalheirs opened the Committee o.n. Bo?rds, be a.sked to resign evening's activities. from one posttton tn1he "sptrit of fairness" Registration Secretary lee Porter announc which President Stanley had made such a ed messengers had voted_12,001 to 9,S56 to prominent feature .of his presiding. 'r refer to the Executive Committee the motion Other motions dealt with the election of on the Baptist Joint Committee on Public a Christian life Commission executive direc· Affairs. Porter noted the 21,5S7 ballots cast tor committed to the "sanctity of human rep!esented 52.58 percent of the' 40,806 life;~ a feasibility study on~ a New England reg1stered at the time they were cast. semtnary, and a request.Historical Commis· sian trustees examine iheir chairman's earlier Th~ <:ommittee on Boards brought a nom1nat1on of William Michael Wilson of statements for consistency with the 1963 Auro!a, C_olo., to fill a vacancy created by Baptist Faith and Message. a res1gnat1on . The nomination passed on a Still more motions included an SBC show of ballots. en~orset_ne;,i; of President Ronald Reagan's Messengers routinely elected Jerry Vines des1gnat1on of 1987 as a National Year of Thanksgiving, a motion to schedule mission of Ja~ksonville , Fla .. to bring the 1987 con ventiOn sermon . Roy Fish of Southwestern board reports prior to presidential elections, Semina'"'( was elected alternate preacher, ? req~ es t that Southern Seminary trustees and mus1c evangelist John McKay was nam mvesttgate charges of universalism against a ed musician for the St. Louis meeting. . faculty member, a motion· organizers of the Fred Wolfe, chairman of the Committee Pastors' Conference and Forum pre-conven· on Order of Business, moved the referral of tion meet~ngs be asked to merge the two, ?nd a mouon no person be aiiO\-\'ed to serve seven motions brought to the floor earlier. SBC President Charles' Stanley and Parliamen· Russell.Benn,ett of Kentucky rose once again ~~ more than one committe or board posi· t1on at any one time. tarians C. Barry McCarty (left) and john Sullivan to a pomt of order, insisting motions which (~e nter) confer on one of many difficult deci· do not relate to agencies cannot be referred Messengers heard reports from two pro· gram heads before the Foreign Mission s1ons they were called upon to make during the without setting a time for action. SBC annual meeting. After a prolonged conference· with his Board brought its annual report . parliamentarians, President Stanley acquiesc· SBC Executive Committee president Baptist Th eologica l Seminary, Wake Forest, Harold Bennett · told messengers the ed, to Bennett's in~e!pretation of Bylaw ~3 N.C., tolq messe ngers the 36·year-old denomin.ation's membership has grown 12 seminary now counts 6,112 alumni. During percent s1nce the SBC launched its Bold Mis· the 1985-86 academic yea r, Southeastern sian Thrust emphasis in 1976. He noted enrolled more than 1,400 students in its 3.4 millio~ people have been baptized and ~even degree programs, he sa id . Approx· Cooperative Program giving has risen 150 1mately 68 percent of the seminary's percent during that same period. $5.9 million budget comes from Cooperative Cecil Ray, national director of Planned Program receipts. Growth in Giving, reported churches across James Dunn, executive director of th e ~he nation have reported stewardship Washington, D.C.- based Baptist Joint Com· mcreases of 15 to 24 percent because of the mittee on Public Affairs, declared to PGG emphasis. messengers, " There is a difference betwee n The Foreign Mission Board report featured Ceasar's things and God's things." Th e task a documentary on the Christian church in ~f the Joint Committee, he explained, is to China. FMB President Keith Parks reminded SBC ATLANTA seek to disce rn the difference." the assembly no missionary had witnessed Dunn enumerated a lOng li st of areas in ,the dramatic events detailed by the film they w hich the Joint Committee had defended 1 9 8 6 w~re ~bout to VIew. " What you see tonight Baptist. interesfs in Washington during th e w1ll st1r your soul to the bright future of that prece~m~ yea r. He noted his organization and announced times would be scheduled vast mission field," he promised. was f1ghtmg th e elimination of charitable Parks received a standing ovation when he for the consideration of two motions: one deductions for non-itemizers and a proposa l told messengers the " needs to be so calling for the presidential election to be the sse to tax church pension funds, two tax reform very first agenda item on the first day of each preoccupied with winning the world that we items which would have a deva stating effect don't have time to fight among ourselves:' convention and the other calling for a female on Southern Baptist finances. parliamentarian. A benediction by N.N. Antonson, pastor Th e Joint Committee's involvem'en t in the \;Volfe, hO'Never, stepped to a miCrophone of Tyler Road Church, Wichita, Kan ., clos battle over the tax status of church and moved the referral of those two items, ed the evening session. " integrated auxiliaries" had finally forced the the first to the Committee on Order of Thursday :nor~ing, June 12 Internal Reve nue Service to " admit it ca n' t Bu si ness and the second to SBC President· d~fine what is and isn't 'ch urch,' " Dunn elect Adrian Rogers. On a show of ballots M~~enge~s hea rd eight reports Thursday s.a '.d. l_"ie ?lso noted joint Committee par· Stanley judged the motion carried. M essen: mormng pnor to the final report of the t~c1pat1on m the fight for equal access legisla· gers also approved the referral of the remain· Resolutions Committee. t1on and opposition to diplomatic relations ing motions. Randall Lolley, president of Southeastern between th e United States and the Vatica n. Page 8 ARKANSAS BAPTIST NEWSMAGAZINE Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary also approved without debate a resolution S110 ,000 operating expense for the school President Milton Ferguson declared to· urging prayer for persons affected by the in 19B5-86: The school enrolled 779 students messengers,_" The only way to destroy an farm crisis and sensitivity to needs and in campus and extension programs last year. enemy is to tum him into a -friend:' He opportunities for ministry associated with it. After a final 10-minute prayer time anp noted, "God is in the business of turning A resolution on the First Amendment to reports from the Denominational Calendar enemies-disobedient, wayward children the U.S. Constitution and religious liberty Comminee and the Denominational Press, into friends:• Ferguson said Midwestern passed with minor rewording from the floor. messengers concluded final business. Seminary seeks to "equip young men and The resolution decried the denial ofthe right Messengers were told they had balloted in women for the ministry of reconciliation, to voluntary prayer and Bible reading in the favor of amending Resolution Eight, "On bringing lost men and women to God:' public schools and urged school officials not Strengthening Missions;• io urge churches to Southern Baptist Foundation President to discourage such expressions. tithe on their undesignated receipts. Voting Hollis Johnson ['!ported his organization's A seventh resolution condemning ext in favor of the amendment were 5,129 growth in assets duri ng 1985-86 was largely books which fail to note the importance messengers (54.9 percent); opposed were due to an increase in the number of persons the Judea-Christia n tradition in U.S. history 4,184 (44.1 percent.) served. The fo undation added assets of $2 .4 was passed without debate. It called upon Registration Secretary Lee 'Porter told million, bringing total assets to more than· Southern Baptists to "encourage textbook messe ngers registration had reached 40,891 $3.8 million . selection .committees . .. not to accept text A .~. Fagan, president of the SBC Steward books that ' have~sored the )udeo-Chris §biJI'tommission, pointed to a growth in giv tian heritage." ( ing which surpassed the inflation rate as Resolution Eight , entitled "On Strengthen· proof of the effectiveness of the commis· ing Missions," was amended twice before sion's program. He also noted the Together adopt:on. The resolution in general exhorted We Build program continues to be more effi· Southern Baptists to pray and work for cient and productive and'less costly than any spiritual awakening and the work of home other fundraising approach in SBC churches. and foreign missionaries. Foy Valentine, executive director of the An amendment was offered and adopted Christian life Commission, outlined the wide on a show of ballots which urged messengers variety of channels through which the com to the annual meeting to attend reports of mission helped indi Viduals, families and the two mission boards. The messenger mov SBC ATLANTA churches to deal with moral issues in the past ing the amendment called "disgraceful" th e year. He particularly emphasized the CLC's flood of messengers leaving the hall after development of resource and promotional business items and ignoring mission agency 1 9 8 6 materials for the co nvention's first Sanctity reports. of Human Life Sunday in January. A second amendment, urging Southern At 10:15 a.m. , President Charles Stanley Baptist churches to contribute a tithe on all at 3:18p.m. 'Thursday. That represented near· asked messengers to use the scheduled their und esignated offering receipts, went ly 5,900 fewer messengers than the previous 10-minute prayer time to intercede on behalf through two votes by a show of ballots record-setting year in Dallas. of Rheubin South, executive director of before Stanley called for ballots to be cast. Three motions remained for action. A pro Missouri Baptists, who was critically ill in his Messengers then adopted without amend posal to place a mission board report bout with luekemia. ment resolutions urging the involvement of immediately prior to the annual election of Baptist World Alliance General Secretary more blacks and minorities in denomina· the president was referred to the Commit· Gerhard Claas and SBC Canada Planning tional leadership positions, calling upon tee on Order of Business. Group member Gerald Palmer delivered churches and families to educate children The motion to recognize 1987 as a reports to messengers before the, Resolutions · with a Christian perspective on sexuality, and National Year of Thanksgiving passed over· Committee brought the remainder of its expressing appreciation to those who 'had whelmingly, and the motion urging Forum report to the floor. contributed to the success of the annual and Pastors' Conference to attempt to merge When President Stanley opened the floor meeting. similarly failed . for the business session, however, Dan Col With all items of business completed, the lins of South Carolina asked to be recogniz Thursday afternoon 1986 Southern Baptist Conventi on an nu al ed. He told messengers he counted it a meeting adjourned with a benediction " high personal privilege" to be asked to Music for inspiration from jack Price, offered by Richard Lee, pastor of Rehoboth music eva ngeli st from Garland, Texas, open serve in two positions for the denomination, Church, Tucker, Ga: but noted that at times "personal privilege ed the final session of the 1986 Southern must yield to a higher purpose:• In the in Baptist annual meeting. tenl!its of "promoting love, unity, and under With attendance now only a shadow off standing." therefore, Collins offered his resig Tuesday morning's throng, fratetna nation from the 1987 Committee on Boards. representatives present for the proceedings The Committee on Committees followed were introduced to the messengers and Collins with a nomination of Glen lister, a Euge_ne Nida of the American Bible Society • SBC pre-convention layman from MI. Pleasant, S.C., to replace brought a report. meetings him . Messengers approved the nomination. Arthur Walker, secretary-treasurer of the Nine other motions were introduced and American Baptist Theological .Seminary passed along to the Committee on Order of Commission, told messengers the SBC pro • news of A.rkansans Business for disposition, vided 140 scholarships of $1,100 each to elected to offices Messengers approved a resolution on por ABTS students in 1985-86. The American nography which urged churches to Baptist Theological Seminary is a black Bible strengthen their educational efforts and school co-sponsored by the Southern Bap • more SBC photos actively participate in " legally permissible tist Convention and th e National Baptist ,. means of protest ,to dissuade retail outlets Convention, .U.S.A., In c. from selling pornographic materials:• They Walke,r also said the SBC provided June 19; 1986 Page 9 The editor's page To restore peace J , Everett Sneed -.r This year's convention was, in many respects, a replay of last seven seminary teachers accuSed of teaching outside the bounOs yeaf'.;s,.corlvenfion at Dallas. It ~as si'milar in that the fundamen of Southern Baptist theology. If there are . t~ose that deny tHe tal conservatiyes cOntiriued to win and'the attendance was large mii'acles of the Bible, tAe·Virgih Birth, the historical bodily resur1 (appro~imately 40,891-about 4,000 less tban.fasfY.,ar). There was, recti on of Christ, or Christ!s grace as the only way""'of salvation, in general, a better spirit at this year's convention ttian there was we must deal with them. However, such investigations must be at Dallas. We attribute this to 'the ~ a'Ssista nce rendered President done ii'l a fair and Christ·like·ma'nner by qualifieO individuals ." The Stanley by the.:.paid ai:creOited parliainentarian, who was constant use of limited quotations from an individual'S 'b6ok, lectures, ly by OJ. Stanley's side to give advice. We com men~ Dr: Stanley writing or sermon, can totally distort the author's me'an ing of for the good job of presiding. intent. • This year's convention revealed more than ev'er that Southern In the event that we do have those proclaiming lilj ~ralism in Baptists~ust find a way. to settle the controversy. Failure to do the employ of Southern. Baptists, they s~quld he deal/ with per so c~n • only disrup~ our great emphasis 01;) missions ·and . sonally. If he or she has been falSely accused: a' p~dlll ic apology ev~ngelism. Harm will be brought to every area of the conven should be made by those who bro~ght the charges, I( it lSJ01.-!n~ tion:s ..wo rk. that the accuser has attempted to mislead Southern Bapti~fs, He" • Adrian Rogers' convention ser:mon contained good advice for should be personally reprimanded . It is, hoY,~eve r , essenti'al that all Sputhern Bap,tists, as he retninded us that if an adversary is truly every cloud of suspicion be eliminated, if at all possible, frdm our a~hrist ian , 'he i~ a brother in .the Lord with whom we will spend agfncies and institutions. ' ·· . · : · · eternity. , This year, President Stanley applied the one-by-one messenger Th.e meSsengers are generally to be cOmmended for unusual challen8e approq.ch to the Corhmittee on Co'rrimittees arld Com· ly fine • be~avior. Large crowds, strained facilities, and emotional mittee on Boards, Commissions and Standing ConimiUees,.ls fair issues tend to make people irritable. But, with only a few excep· as it is possible to do so. There were no changes made to eithe'r tions the messengers conducted themselves in a Christian man· of these reports and the messeng'ers soqn became weary of the ner. One messenger, however, said that he had been "raped" attempt. Perhaps no changes were necessary or advisable., But is by What had occu.rred at the convention. later he apologi~ed for is apparent that the one by one challenge method is unworkable. his statement, but made another statement which was derogatory. There siniply is not enough time or energy for such an approach It is essential that we as Christians learn to behave iri a proper to function with the number of people we'have at the Southern manner whether we agree or disa&ree is what is occurring. Baptist Convention's annual meeting. T)1e residents of are to be coni mended for an unusually ~tlanta · A deterrent to the,peace process was the effort to remove the fine job in hosting the 'corivention. Cab drivers, waitresses, and Southern Baptist Conventien from participating in the Baptist joint the residents of Atlanta' in general were extremely helpful and CoJTlmittee on Public Affairs. Fortunately, it was not acterJ on at cOUrteous to the iilessengers: This assists 'greatly in providing a this year's convention but was referred to the Executive Commit· atfnosphere for COf!Vention. pro~r a tee for study. lt w ill be brought back to the 1987 convention with We commend the Peace Corrimittee for its recommendations a recommendation. which are our be"st hope for settling the controversy. The first Hopefully, in the environment of the SBC Executive. Commit· recdmmeridation was, "to make.1986-87 a year of intercession wi'th periods of prayer ... " lfSouther'n B'aptists )Viii 'truly seek tee, the work of the Baptist joint Committee on Public Affairs can God's will, reconciliation and resi:ora'tiOn will come to our be examined more objectively. Surely, the Executive Committee will take note of the expertise of the joint Committee assisting Bap denomination. Seeking GOO's will must always be the first step tist entities. For example, the Baptist Joint Committee has rendered in· reconciling differences. The cOmmittee's second, third and fourth recommendations invaluable aid to the Annuity Board in its pursuit to protect th e retirement interests of ministers. It is entirely possible that without called for a moratorium On the theological-political meetings and inflammatory language· and for the press to be fair and accurate. the help of the joint Committee our,pensions would have been significantly reduced. In the spirit of the moratorium, we; the staff of the Arkansas Bap· tist Newsmagazine, pledge to do our best to be 100 percent Th e Baptist Joint Committee, more than any other group, is accurate. We further ass ure our readers that, if an inaccuracy is responsible for the Equ al Access legislation. This legislation pro· discovered, we will priht a correction. · vides for Christian clubs in high schools where other clubs, such letters to the editor are the most difficulrarea for an editor as the Young Democrats and the Young Republican Clubs, meet. since free expression is a part of our Baptist heritage. V.Je do, There are some restrictions, but most authorities believe the Equal however, call on those writing "letters to th.e Editor," to use Access legislation to be constitutional. This allows prayer and Bible restraint which is appropriate / or several reasons: (1) restraint is reading, without any violation of separation of church and state. usually the most Christ·lik~ approach for a person to use; (2) · The Baptist joint Committee has been the best and most ef. restrainttis usually, best for our convention; (3) the use of inflam· fective deterrent to the appointment of an Ambassador to the matory statements Is almost certain to result in a similar f-esponse; Vatican by the United· States. It is likely that, had it not been for and (4) failure to u~ restraint could compel the Newsmagazine th e effort of the joint Committee, an Ambassador to the Vatican fo eliminate all fetters to the editor on the SBC controversy. would have. been in place much sooner. The Baptist Joint Com· The Peace Committee has appointed five subcommittees to mittee is our best hope for eliminating an AmbasSador to the visit 11 agencies and institutions of the Southern Baptist Conven· Vatican. tion. The Peace Committee feels that no concerns remain with If we are to restore peace in the Southern Baptist Conven ~ the Home Mission Board, the Historical Commission, the Sunday ·, tion; everyone mu st seek it. Prayer, rest raint and reliance on the Sc hool Board, the New Orleans Seminary, the Southwestern lead ership of th e Holy Spirit are essential. If, however, the con· Seminary or the Golden Gate Seminary. trO ';.'e rsy continues, we ca n be assu red that SoUthern Ba Pt ists will As re~rted previously, there have never been more th an not do the work God has in store for us to do. Page 10 ARKANSAS BAPTIST NEWSMAGAZI!'IE Former managing editor receives award Betty Kennedy, former managing editor of the February 28, 1965 issue of the the ~rkansa.s Baptist Newsmagazine, receiv- newsmagazine prom'oting the State Youih You'll be glad ed a first place award in print advertising Convention. The design depicted a pencil to know ... · from the National Federation for Press eight inches tall and one column wide with Women on June 14. the phrase "Make a note to attend the State The award was for the design of an ad in Youth Convention:' ...What your foreign mission involve-. ment ao;ompllshes! Your involvement may ·missionary notes be through the Cooperative Program, ,t..ottie Moon offering, volun Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Crockett, mis to Tanzania, have arrived in • Kenya for teer missions, prayer, sionaries to Argentia, have completed language study (address: Box 52, limuru, mission education or furlough and returned to the field (address: KJ?nya). He was born in DeQueen and con through a 'relative or R.E. de San Martin 3340, 1407 Buenos Aires, siders West Monroe, La., his hometown. She friend who .serves Argentina). He grew up in Cross County; she is the former lisa Steele of Monroe, L:l. They oversea's. In 1985 our is the former'Annette Perkins also of Cross were appointed by the Foreign Mission foreign mission ·force County. They were appointed by the Foreign Board in 1965. · reached 3,597 mis Mission Board1in 1972. sionaries who are ser Mr. and Mrs. David ]. Speisel,. mis Mr. and Mrs. Dennis A. Derby, mis sionaries to Brazil, 'have arrived in the States vi,ng in 106 countries. This is the largest . sionaries to Mauritius, have arriVed in the fo,.furlough (address: 211 E. "B" Ave., North Catholic missionary States for furlough (address: 26096 Bran Little Rock, ~ R 72216). They are children of force in the world! Moore dywine Dr.; Slln 'City, CA 92361). Re is a missionaries to Brazil. He was born in native .of South Gate, Calif. The former A record 429 new missionaries were Elmhurst, Ill., lived in several states; Cam· appointed last year. Susanne Dacus, she was born in jonesboro. pinas and · Teresin, Piaui, Brazil; and con They were appointed the Foreign ·Mission siders Sidney, Ohio, his hometwon. The Our overseas mission force baptized 435 by persons per day on an average. That is Board in 1962 . former laura Berry, she was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but also lived in Brasilia, 158,775 for the year. Tha:f is an average of more than 16 per llour fo·r 365 days. Isn't that Mr. and Mrs. Darrel E. Garner, mis Brazil; and louisville, Ky. They were ap fantastid sionaries to Malawi, have arrived in the pointed by the Foreign Mission Board in Membership in the churches our mis States for furlough (address: 111 N. Oak, 1979. Searcy, AR.72143) .. Hewas bor.n in Seminole, sionaries have been working with, most of Dr. and Mrs. William R. Swan, mis which they· have started, topped 2 miUion Okla.; and-lived in Colorado and Huntsville for the first time. Student enlistment in while growing up. The former judy Brown, sionaries to Hong Kong-Macao, have arriv she was born in lndepedence County and theological education overseas jumped by ed in the States for furlough (address: 11611 10 percen't last year. The nationals will one li ved in Walnut Ridge and Fayetteville. They E. 15th St., Tulsa, OK 74120). Born in Fort were appointed the Foreign , Mission Smith, he grew up in Pryor, Okla. She is the day carry the leadership where God is rais- by ing up· leaders. · Board in 1969. forniei ]annei Morgan of Oklahoma. They were appointed the Foreign' MisSion You ~ have supported the treatment of bY Mr. and Mrs. jon M. Lord, missionaries 1.5 million_ pe_ople in our hospitals and Board in 1975. '-· ·' clinics. Mofe.. than 100 million saw gospel presentations in their own 13nguages over seas: Another 133 million heard ra·dio broad casts heaviiy laced with the gospel of salva tion. The pr.inted page continues to be a major means of evangelizing. More than 20 million pieces of literature were produc ed for distribution. Friends, no marl or ministry on the earth comes close to this report. lf We .flaurlted on a national TV program, I am sure the public wOUld be impressed. We choose not to do that. Most of our churches never even hear the report. Consequently, history's best story of concerted missionary action goes un known to those who help make it happen. There may be some sad stories to tell about a three-day meeting in Atalanta. The whole truth includes what happens the other 362 days of the year ove,..as. Why don't you tell that, tool · I haven't even mentioned home missions and the many things accomplished in our churches through ministries and materials Consultants-New work consuiU~nis for new mission sites for the Arkansas Baptist State provided or produced by dUr denomination. Convention recently met at Camp Paron for a trairying seminar directed by Floyd Tidsworth (back to camera), ABSC Church Extension director. ConsuiUints present were Don Moore is executive director of the (/eft lo righU Elvis Smith, Andy Kerr, Harrison Johns, Hilton Lane and Neal Sreven~ l,.rbnAs Baptist State Convention. Those not pictured are Troy Prince, S.D. Hacker, Robert Stagg. Glenn Hickey, James Browne, Pete Church, RDy Nix, Allen Thrasher, Jack Ramsey and Paul William~ June 111, 11188 Pege11 Mi~e,d emqtioRS about China's new freedom · Su;..ly one of the very~ good-news hap- has been opened, "a glittery, Western-style proven to'be a tyranny in its own insidioUs peningslin the last decade, ~ nd possibly in bar serving Manhattans, Tom Collinses and way. Each comes wrapped· in a glittering' the last half of the twentieth century, has . homegrown favorites like the ''Golden cover-with an attractive sales pitch. Each been the new freedom for the people of Dream: " Called "The New Times Bar;• the lea~ ' to j1 tragic loss of precious freedom . mainland Ghina -foliOWing the overthrow of first one available to the 9 million residents 1$ ·tt unrealistic to wish that China could the·· notorioUs " Gang of Four' ~ . and the of Peking since the 1949 communist revolu rl,Q~ tbward Western-style freedom, dow.ngrading Of the sayings of Chairman tion, it is reported to have become "a hot · indudipg freedOm for evan8ellcal Christiani Mao. In the largest nation in the world, still spot among young people:• ty, without moving toward Western-style apparently under the control of a communist In spite of all of Dr. R.C. Daily's history lec· alcohoJism (to name Only one resUlt of the govem'ment, itistrulyremarkablejoseethe tures during my Ouachita days, and even abuse of fr Emphasis: drama Junior High: Theresa Trull, Little Rock Senior High/adult: Charles Wright, Ouachita Pastor: Ev Robertson, BSSB . Band: Craig Hamilton, Ouachita Registration dead.llrie July 14 ABSC Music Dept. Box 552, · Little Rock, Ar 722~3, 3!16-4791 Page 12 ARKANSAS BAPTIST NEWSMAGAZINE Living victoriously As Christians, we knCMI y.oe are living in an only be recognized and ·enjoyed by those What does Christ's death do for those who ev il world. Yet this was not always so. who have God wit~in them. These are the are still in this world? It saves us from sin in' Througho'ut the creation narrative, we read blessed who will inherit the earth and will thisplttce ~nd age. H ~s love for us who were.. that what God created was good. Even the appreciate its original purpose. uni GYable was so great that he voluntarily man and wonian were innocent. It was . This evil world in which we are living will suh$.thuted his life for ours. Thus through his. through man's disobedience to God that the continue until jesus comes again in his glory. OINn death and resurrection, he took awaY~ World was made evil. Since the fall of man, He fir.;t came as the lamb of God to take our sin and endowed us with his si nless life. th'e goodness and beauty of this world .can away the sin of this WorkL •In · this age, he Yet it is only as we recognize our sinful i .. saves people, but he does not take them ·out nature that we are able to come into . this~ of· tljfs World .· Though he · preserves the salvation. When Christ stands with the 1 redeemed of this .w June 18, 1888 Page 13 first .ch,oice in retire and residents are now enjoy quickly become friends. Best of Trail Village is on the concept of !lfe Care:: This age 62 •ilnd' over provides residents with nwnerous ' and the proteqjOn of unliniited nursing center care, if increase to the nionthiy service{fee . . ' · f • 1c;Alll)e H~ 'fo Friends! ------, I ' . BUtterfi, eld w Village I 0 Please contact me about a personal tour I 1 of the community. 1 me •------I 0 aPlease day'' contactprogram. · about the "resident foriI Visit Butterfield Trail Village Today! I0 Please send more infonnation. I . 1Name . The apartment of yolir choice is now I Address. ______--1 available for Immediate occupancy! Simply I City State __j <;all (501)~~0, mail ,this coupon or visit IZip . Phone I , ., , at your convenience - !rut act now! Reserva- 1 . 1 tiQns ~ pruig made quickly! • I Bu_t:te.rli~ Trail Village I : AaiC arqjt~ for details aboU\' I Information <;enter I · -.,. our spedaf~- I 1923 ·East Joyce Street .,•. ,., l , fl!' a day" ~ ~ I .c Fayetteville,.,AR 72703 I . , . · · . 1 Open weekdays 9 to 5, and e\;'I!IY weekend 1 • I . for an Open House from 1 to 5 . 1 - .. . L------~ ARKANSAS BAPTIST NEWSMAGAZINE I iLessons·for living ·.. · June 22·, 1986 ;i 1nternational · , life and-Work, Bible Book 1 Pe-rsistent witness . Living while we ~ait,. Esther saves her people by S. (.ljkael Carrier, NeHieton Church, ·by Bert Thomas, Valley Church, Searcy ~o~a~ :"~";' First Church, (~ Jonesboro Basic pas~ge: - 1 Theisl.Jonlans 5:12-,28 _ Basic passage: J~remiah 36 , . Basic passage: Esther 3:1 to 7:10 • • ' ,·, I ~ lOCal passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-25 focal passage: Jeremiah 36:4-8,2!-31 Central truth: Christians should be good ex Foal passage: Esther 3:2,5,6; 4:13-16; 7:3-6b Central t"'th: Although the obstacles may amples while they wait for JHus' return. Q!ntral truth: Esther's acceptance of her be great, Christians can fiild waYs to share The resurrection of believers and Jesus' responsibility to act in a dangerous situct God's message with others through God's Second Coniing are tremendous ~ru ths con lion ~ighlights the Christian's responsibili help. i • 1 t tained in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11. This !Y to stand firm even In the times of stress. The passage of Scripture with wttich we lesson Will identify some examples for . Th ~ kin; gave his si8net ring to Hama ~ deal today · reveals to us the creati~ity and believers to follow while we wait for Jesus's whom he' promoted to be above all his sel. persistence of a · cliild o( dod 1 in ~ cOm return. vants. Haman was the rnan of authority but municating the message GOd haS given to Respect for our leaders {vv. 12-13) : The the enemy'of the Jews. He was an Agagite that individ ual. jeremiah .was 'forbiCJd~n to death of some"belieyers before the expected (3:1). Agag was king of the Amalekites. ; pr~.lch in public. But Jeremiah deter~lr1ed, . return of Jesus caused discontentment in the Amalek .was~ Esau's grandson. Malachi 1:4 · l despite the obstacles, to share God's chu'rch. An" eaSy scaPegoat for some was tells us that the descendants of Esau were a message. · t~eir church leaders. Paul instructed them " people ·: clga in~t whom the lord hath Jeremiah's persistency is seen in his call to continue to resPes:t those over them fn the indignat\qri ~or eyer:· Therefore, the enemy ing for the scribe Baruch' to write his Lorp. Ther~ is a sweet spirit when all of the Jews is the enemy of God. Haman was messages because the prophet 'waS not per ~ believers respect each other and labor determined to destroy all the jews because mitted to preacb in public (~. 6). Then, on together. ·· Mordecai, God's faithful servant, refused to . a certi:liri feast day when the Temple was Serve effective\',( while we wait {w. 14-18): bow down \O the enemy. crowded with worshippers, Baruch, was sent One way to serve effectively is to warn those The plan Of death for the Jevvs was com by the prophet to'read from the scroll of pro who have biOken ranks with the church. It plete arid approved by the king (3:8-11) . The phecies which ha'd been recorded. is the duty of each faithful b'eliever to call wrong m'a n was iO charge. To save the jews, After li Ster1i ng with contempt Y(hi le three the idle member back to service for the the right man must. be put in hi s place. God . or four columns were read, Jehoiakim.then Master. Serving effectively is goi(lg t6 the side initiated hls plan to save his people before took a knife and cut off ~he columns just read of a believer w hen he has lost hean and en Haman ever thought about his plan to and threw them into the fire. He repeated couraging him. Another example is giving destroy them. · the action until the entire scroll was moral suppon to weak Christians when they i.Jpon learning of Haman's death decree, consumed. are tempted to sin. Believers should not Mordecai began to pray in sackcloth and jeremiah was not responsible for the out- retaliate evil for evil w hen we are wronged ashes .. tie courageously prayed at the front , come of his message. He was only respon but should seek ways to do good for one of the 'king's gate (4:1). His example was sible for '-sharing the message and the peo another and for all men (v. 15). In every situa follqwed by the Jews in every province (4:3). ple were once again able to hear ·cod's tion we .should be- a radiant example of He sent word to Esther of Haman's decree word. Christian joy. and asked that she go into the king to make The hean of God is clearly seen in the Submit tp the Holy Spirit (w. 19-22): We supplication for her people. When Esther instruction to write the message (v. 3). The are to be sensitive to the leadership of the refused Mordecai's request, he reminded her motive behind the w riting was that the Holy Sp_irit. His guidance is needed to she had been placed there and that if she nation might truly heart God and that they correctly interpret the preaching and refused to obey that she would die with the might repent and turn from their wicked teaching of God's Word and to apply it to 1 rest of the Jews. He also pointed out that if ways so that God could heal their land (see our lives. she wasn't ready to be used that God could 2 Chronicles 7:14). Look to the God of peace (w. 23-24): raise up another deliverer. In Jeremiah's persistence in delivering Paul's benediction in verse 23 is a didactic With the issues so dearly defined, Est her prayer about sanctification. Paul instructs us God's message, we see encouragement and courageously decided to comply w ith to look to the God of peace to continue the a challenge for us to be more persistent and Mordecai's request. She demanded a ll Jev.ts act of sanctification that started at our con creative in sharing the message of God's love enter into a three day period of fasti ng and and concern. Th e Scriptures say the judge version. God will complete the process of prayer. After this she would go to the king ment of God is upon people unless they sa nctification at the coming of our lord Jesus even at the risk of her life {4:1S-16). On the repent. The consequences to people in re Christ. third day, Esther went before the ki ng and jecting God are as serious today as they were Pray for each other (v. 25): "Brethren, pray found favor in his sight {5:1-2). She requested then. for us" {1 Thess. 5:25). This was not flippant the king's and Haman's presence at the ban God has commissioned all Christians to request that Paul made just to conclude his quet she had prepared. Esther revealed to : li ve and to speak the message of his love and letter. He li ved almost every day wit h the the king the death sentence pronounced concern for all people. He gives us assurance threat of physical danger as well as the stress 1 upon her and her people. The ki ng had frqm the life of )eremi'ah that he will help us from th'e churches. Haman hanged on the very gallows that when we are truly persistent in our effons Won't you pause now to pray for Haman had prepared for Mordecai. to share his~ love. someone? They need the strength. TNtllllon !Mt-.111 t.lldon ttw ... loolr:ltudy lor SouiMm l*llllon...... ellllllldon11'11...... ,...... ~1Dra.t. TNIIIIMW!IIIIIIIdonttltlllllld'MIIti:QJnbUIIIor...... ,.llllptllll ..... ~~bJ1tll ...... ldloolloMiof1tlllouthlm ...Ou'ttiM.CIOPY'IIhtll¥1t11""*rkhoolloftol .,._..._ .... .,_ ... loutMn'l\ ...... ~ .. ,.,...... UMdliJ ...... t =-=~.... COprngtlt~twdof~ .. __ June, 19, 1986 ; · ., Page 15 Former SB<;: Presi~ent Louie 0; Newto~ dies Subs&tiber S.ervic~s AT.LANTA (BP)-I:D~uie D. NI!)Yton, p[esi- presid~nts . This year, folla,ving a unanimous The Arkan$m &pllif."Newsmbgazlne olfin dent of the Soutl;e{n Baptist· Conventioq vote of the Georgia General Assembly, his subscription plans at three different rates: from '1946 to 1948, died June 3 of pc)rtrait was hung in the state capitol. He was Every Resident FamUy Plan glues pneumoliia at Georgia Baptist Medical orily the third minister so honored. churches 0 premium rote when thejJ send Center in Atlanta. He was 94. Newton was chairman of the SBC's the Newsmaga%1ne to all their resident Newton, who. was pastor of Druid Hills finance committee for 25 years and vice- households. Resident families are Church in Atlanta for 40 years, was the president of the Baptist World Alliance. He calculated to be at least one-fourth of tbe oldest-living" former sSe president. also was a co-founder of AmericanS United church's Sunday.School enrotlment. Chur· Born in Screven County, Ga., in 189~ , he for Separation of Church and State. ches who send only to members who re· . was a graduate of M~rcer University in He once led a nationwide campaign to quest 0 subscription do not qualify /or thl~ ~ MaCon and COlUmbia University, New York . collect kits of clothing for orphans in war- lower rate of $5.40 .per year for eaph AS a young reporter for the New York torn Russia and a Bible and a pipe for Joseph subscription. . World·, he refined his writing skills through Stalin. The campaign immediately drew fire A Group P!Jin (formerly called the : interviews with John D. Rockefeller, Thomas from the Baptist right led by Fort Worth; Club, Plan) afiOwS ci'Jurch members to get A. EdiSOfl, Charles , Evans Hughes and Texas, pastor J, Frank Norris, who branded ' a b~tter than lndivfdual'rate when 10 Oi- , RudyarcfKipling:Those skills later aided him Ne\vton a communist sympathizer. Norris m ~re of th.ein send their subscrlpUons ·as publicity director for the SBC's "75 harassed Newton with telegrams each Sun- together through their church. Subscribers Million" campaign to pay debts owed by day for mont~s . When eventually presented hospitals, schools and agencies. The same with the Bible, Stalin bowed and said in Rus ,_------, year, 1919, Georgia Baptists purchased the .· sian, ''Thank you.'' % -o:r: 0 Christian Index fro.m privclte interests and NeA~ton ' s ..veekly radio program, on which :;:. 0,... ~ (/'1 ~ Vl"' named him editor. he and his wife interviewed notables, ran "' _, .., Following the death of his pastor at Druid every Sunday for 57 years until his death. c::nOV1 Hills, Newton, whO was chairman 'of the The louie D. Newton 'Center for Extend ~o x ....., Are you r:z,... deacons, was offered the ministerial post. He ed Care,' adjoining Georgia Ba'ptist Medical 13:nn moving?_ bfka me pastor on April 1, 19i9. Ceilter where he died, is named for him , as rnmz:.o ,.,r :>: Hi s reputation spread as he hammered on is a cottaSe cit the Georgia Baptist Children's r. ""0 ~=:~ ~~:~:e·two the familiar Baptist themes of the day...!..anti· Home in Palmetto. The Baptist church on the rnr> liquo'r, anti-pornography, anii ~ slot Mercer campus was renamed Newton Hall 0 notice. Clip this. V>:Z portion with your machines-and by pr9testitlg to every presi· in his honor. -i-12 old address label, dent from Franklin Ro6sevt,Ht to Richard Nix· His wife, the former Julia Carstarphen of 2 ~ supPly new addre;s · onforsfmdingelivoystotheVatican. He was Macon whom he married in 1915, died-in ~ ~c.n""'"' rv belOw' and send 'to a founder of the Georgia Temperance 1969. Survivors include two daughters, Eden -...~o .... v. Nooo Arkansas Baptist League. ' Elizabeth Gurein and Sarah Catherine 0 z Newsm'agazlne. NeWton became a frequent vi,sitor to the Robertson, both of Atlanta; four grand ..... P. 0 . Box 55;!, corridors of power and counseled with children and five g ! eat~grandchildren . Little Rock. AR 72203 Missionary dies unexpectedly in-· Brazil ,.1 VllDRIA, Brazil-George Bagby Cowsert, Santo State Baptist·Convention since 1977. 61 , a Southern Baptist missionary to Brazil Previously he was a general evangelist and ·l for 34 years, died une:icpe<;tedly June 6 in executive se<'~etary of the Rio Grande do Sui I Vitoria' while exercising in his .home. State Convention, 1953-65. He was a general I Name I Missionaries report Cowsert returned evangelist in the state of Goias, 1965-77. ., home from joSging and was rid ing ·an exer He started churches and was pastor of Street I cise bicycle when he died. An autopsy show ed the cause of death was a•liemorrhage in several during his missionary career. He was I born in Rio de Janero, Brazil, to j.j. and City I ,his pancreas. . I Cowsert's wife, Hilda, w.ls in the north-Nest Grace Bagby Cowsert, missionaries to Brazil for 40 years. His grandfather, B.Y. Bagby, was State Zip ___ I part of Espirito Santo state, speaki ng at an a pastor and cousi n of William "Buck" I I associational meeting, at the time. A Bagby, first Southern Baptist missionary to household helper found him. L------~ Brazil. through the group plan pay $6 per year. : A memorial service was co riU ucted June I Individual subscriptions may be pUr 8 in Vitoria, with 45 pastors an9" 600 people Besides his wife, survivors include four chased by anyone at the rote of $6.36 per children, Naomi Grace Key, Fort Worth, Tex .; year. These subscriptions ore more costly ~~~~~"s~~;r!~ir~:otl,":r t~~~~ZJns!~~~: Norma Anderson,· Jacksonville, Fla., Elen a because they require Individual attenUon /or and burial in Wingate, N.C. . Catherine Kay, a Southern Baptist missionary address changes and· renewal notices. Cowsert has been director of religious serving in Santos, Brazil; and jack Cowsert, Changes of address by Individuals education and stewa rdship for the Espirito Raleigh, N.C. may be made using the form above, which appears regularly In thLs space. When Inquiring about vour subscrip· tlon byJmall, please include the address label. Or call us at (501) 376-4791, ext. 5 156. Be prepared to· give us your code line lnformaHon. I Page 16 1 ARKANSAS BAPTIST NEWSMAGAZINE