Ouachita Baptist University Scholarly Commons @ Ouachita
Arkansas Baptist Newsmagazine, 1980-1984 Arkansas Baptist Newsmagazine
1-12-1984
January 12, 1984
Arkansas Baptist State Convention
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Part of the Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, and the Mass Communication Commons /) 1 .:; u·,lt·, lad, /,,, ,,. _)/nlr ( 001 ,1, •.,,{1' Co iiWO I( S,n~lfO ' On the cover Task force plan addresses disaster relief needs When natu ral o r man-made di sasters In the even t of a disaster-weather, fire, strike, those who want to minister to victi ms wreck or other-the mobile unit will be in Jesus' name must be prepared or the op ready to roll fro.m North little Rock. A train portunity will be losl. ed crew will be readY to set up emergency Arkansas Baptists have been respondi ng communications from the vehicle's base. to disasters-tornadoes in little Rock , floods Within lY: hours from the time of arrival, at Jacksonport and a hurrica ne in Texas. They they will be ready to serve meals to vidims have been prepared. but now they are \YOrk and \YOrkers at the scene. ing toward being even more ready to Coordinating mobilization is the key to the respond . new plan. Ideally, state personnel would be Baptist Men, through the Arkansas contacted by a designated person in the Brotherhood Department, have served local Baptist association. Such a person th ousa nds of mea ls, helped clean water would be knowledgeable about the extent soa ked houses and provided emergency of the needs and would also be aware of communications, using their " Disaster Relief loca l resources to be mobilized. Unit, Mobile." And, the State Missions The state task force has produced a Department has provided financial hel p for manual for associational personnel and needs like temporary housing, food and already has held a training session to in clothing until agencies such as the Red Cross troduce the coordination plan. The manual ca n step in. contains forms for keeping on file the names • A recently unve iled disaster relief strategy of persons with relief skills, materials combines the manpower, the money and the ava ilable and church facilites to be used in ABSC stlff members Pete Pelly, Con mobility of both Baptist Men and the State an emergency. way Sa~ and Neal Guthrie recently Missions Oepa(lment. Disaster relief also might be instituted as un\.1?iled a nev.- state-wide disaster relief Arkansas' Disaster Task Force now func local law enforcement or relief agencies con strategy which will provide greater tio ns under the state convention's executi ve tad task force coordinators, or state conven coordination and mobilization for board and executive director and is headed tion personnel might learn of a need through areas struck by disaster · by Conway Sawyers. Sawyers, director of the weather alert or news reports. Missio ns Department, works w ith one on " The rieed for coordination became ve ry site. coordinator and one off-site. obvious in the tornado and flood relief la st Brotherhood Director Neal Guthrie w ill yea r;' Sawyers explains. So the task force continue to supervise the mobile unit, as he plan has been worked out and training for has since it was purchased with donations local coordinators planned. The first of the In this issue in 1981. Pete Petty, director for missions workshops was held on a rain-soaked day ministries in Sawyers' department, will in little Rock. It was Dec. 2, exactly one year supervise the off-site procedures of emergen after a major disaster-tornadoes-sparked 7 a proper role cy fin ancial ai d. relief concern.-Betty J. Kennedy A delicate relationship exists between an in stitution's trustees and the messengers to a state convention. Former sac president john CCF seeks 'educators' for anti-drug campaign L. Sullivan helped new ABSC trustees com- The Christian Civic Foundation of Arkan other students" to live drug-free lives. -prehend their roles. · sas needs 12 per5ons in different parts of the Christian persons who abstain from the state to serve as "drug educators" in its use of tobacco and dru gs and are able to planned " Freeway" anti-drug campaign, ac give a minimum of four days each month to 10 is our ordination biblical? cording to foundation director John Finn . speaking engagements are being sought. Southern Baptists must rethink their entire Those persons will present programs on Some college training is preferred. They will concept of ordination in light of the scriptures alcohol and other drugs in schools, chur be trained in the use of Freeway materials. and elevate the laity in the ministry of the ches, and youth camps, encouragi ng Additional information and application church if Bold Mission Thrust ever is to students " to make on·the-spot commitment s fo rms are ava ilable from Finn at the Chris become a realit y. to live d ru g-free, to take the ' Freeway', free tian Civic Foundation, 410 Medical Arts from alcohol and d rugs;· Finn sa id. Students Bldg ., 11 20 Marshall, Lillie Rock, AR 72202 ; are further asked " to exert peer pressu re on telephone 372-03 t8. Monroes appointed OBU Missionaries-in-Residence John and Mary Monroe of Zimbabwe, January, according to linda Gray, interim Africa have been appointed as Ouachita Baptist Student Union director and director Baptist University's Missionaries-i n-Residence of the Missionary-in-Residence program at for the 1984 spring semester. Ouachita . Dr. Monroe is a Southern Bapti st mis Monroe is a native of Texa rkana, Texas and sionary dentist at the Sanyati Baptist H ospital is a graduate of Baylor University and the in Zimbabvve, where he also serves as University of Texas Dental School. ' hospital administrator, pharmacist, purchas· Mrs. Monroe is a native of Marietta, Texas ing agent, business manage r and and a graduate of East Texa s Baptist College maintenance supervisor. Mrs. Monroe is a in M ars hall. dental assistant, elementary school teacher, and a Bible teacher. The Monroes have been on the mission The M onroes will be in the United States field for 11 years. They are the parents of one fo r a six- month furlough beginning in daughter, Susan Beth, age 21.
Page 2 ARKANSAS BAPTIST NEWSMAGAZINE Stop the lottery The editor's page J. Everett Sneed
Currently, there is an effort by a State Representative, Doug gambling debts. Compulsive ga mblers may resort to stealing, pro Wood of Sherwood, to legalize the lottery in Arkansas. He is mak· stituti on or even murder as a means of gaining more gambling ing every effort to get 79,000 signatures to place the issue on the money. When the state owns and operates the industry, the state ' 84 election ballot. We believe that the overwhelming majority must bear some responsibility for the breakdown of the morals of Arkansans are firmly opposed to our state being directly in the of its citizens. gambling business. The best way, at present, to show our opposi The lottery, like other forms of gambling. contradicts clear prin ti on is to refuse to sign the petition. ciples set forth in the Bible. Whereas the scripture does not con The argument that the proponents of the lottery will use to tain any direct command not to gamble, the principle set forth attempt to get it on the ballot is, "let's give the people a chance shows beyond doubt that gambling is wrong. First, the Word of to decide whether they want it:' One could just as well argu e, God teaches that we are to love God and our netghbor as ourselves "let's give the people a chance to decide if they wa nt prostitu {Matt. 22:37-40). The gambler covets his neighbor's property. tion, murder and larceny legalized." Actually, the lottery is a form Second, the Bible teaches that we are to give an honest day's of larceny since it takes people's money and except for a very few work for the wages we receive (Ex. 20:9; ·11 Thess. 3:10-l 2). The winners, gives nothing in return. major premise which underlies gambling is the desire to get As bad as parimutuel betting on horses and dog races is, th e something for nothing. lottery is worse. It is worse, first, because it places the state direct Finally, the scripture teaches that an ungodly love of money ly in the gambling business. In order for the state to make money will produce all kinds of evil (II Tim . &:6-ll). Th e gambler is from the lottery, it must go all out to promote it. Thus, the same dominated by his desi re for materi al gai n. Thi s often is acCom State Regulatory Commission which is supposed to regulate the panied by every type of sinful activity. gambling industry becomes the public relations and promotion agency which will be making every effort to get people to The proponents of the state lottery present it as a ','c ure-all" participate. for the tax problems of our·state. Sam Rosen, economist with the University of New Hampshire, observes that the expenses of Second, the lottery is probably the worse form of legalized gambling because it is a regressive tax (this means that the lower operating a lotte'ry are huge. The average state pays 30 cents to one's income, the higher the tax). Proponents of the lottery argue obtain one dollar in lottery revenues. This compares with t'NO cents that it is not a tax at al l. However, the tax on tobacco and liquor to gai n one dollar in traditional tax revenue. is considered a ta x, even though it is paid only by those who buy In Maine the people were told that a state lottery would bring the products, and no one is forced to make the purchase. in $10 million per year. The greatest yield it ever produced was As a state tax, the lottery functions regressively, because those $2.6 million for the 12 months e nding jun'e 3, 1976. The revenue who can least afford to be taxed are the major purchasers of lot from the lottery dropped steadily until1979, when it netted only tery ti ckets. Arnold Wexler, vice president of the nation's Counsel $896,000. When the officials discontinued it, they saved $150,000 on Compulsory Gambling, says investigations prove that the poor in operating expenses. people, who can least afford the loss, are the primary purchasers Th e Commission on the National Policy Toward Gambling in of lottery tickets. Th e reason is obvious. The inexpensive, easily its final report, said, " It would be futile for state policy makers to accessible tickets promise instant wealth. look to lottery as a substitute for traditional forms of taxation." The like other forms of ga mbling, the lottery attracts criminal ac report went on to warn against any attempt to earmark lottery tivity. This occurs in at leaSt two ways. First, illegal numbers revenues for specific state programs. This "warps the budgetary operators wi ll enter our state to compete with a state-run lottery. process" and leaves officials unable to exercise needed flexibility They promise better odds, tax-free winnings, and they even ex (Business Week, Aug. 4, 1975). te nd credit . We have a moral, socia l and economic responsibility for op Second, when individuals get into debt from gambling (legal posing a state lottery. let's stop thi s evil before it is started. let's or illegal), they frequently turn to crime in an effort to pay off keep it off the bailor!
Lett.f11 to the editor npreaslng opinions ere lnvtted. Letters should be l)'ped doublespace and must be signed. l..8tte!w musr not contain more than 350 wonts and mull not defWN thl ~ ol ~They must be marked "!of publladlon." Pl\otolaubrnltted !of publication will be returned only when accompanied by a stam.ped, Mlf. tidd~ued el1'o'elope. Oflly blac:lii and white photos can be used.
~bymaii50Cfiltaeaeh . Arkansas' third largest publication, o..tha ol membef"l of Arlwlsu chu!Ches will be reponed In briel lorm when lnlorm•b1 It meeting the Information needs of Arkansas Baptists ~not later than 14 day~aller the d&le ol dNih. VOLUME 83 NUMBER 2 AdwrtltJng rates on request. 09JnloM axprened In algnecl articles are thole ol the ~. J. Evemt Sneed, Ph.D.•..... •...... • • ...... •••••• •. Editor a.tty Kennedy •. . •...... •.•...... Monoging Editor Member ol the Soulhern 8apdst Press AQoclalb1. Erwin L. McDonald, Lltt D•••....• ...... Editor Emerttua The Mtan... &.ptlat ~na (USPS 031·290) II publlsh.cl WN!dy, ~ thllhlrd WHklnAprll,alJuly January 12, 1984 Page 3 Letters to the editor Re: a Baptist creed? strength was found in the rural areas. Today, help us perpetuate it to his eternal glory. Denominationally, we have a name (Bap· it is a revered and honored name in all of But, please God, may the day never come tist). It was originally given by others in deri· our cities. Some of Arkansas' greatest institu when we demand of anyone to subscribe to sian and opposition, many times in persecu· tions have worn and continue to wear it. a prescribed and categorized system of belief tion. With our name others have sought to From territorial days to the present time before he can wear this blessed name. stigmatize us. But our forebears have made many of our famous sons and daughters -Don Hook, Little Rock. it a Vr'Onderfully good name. It smacks of the have worn it. fore-runner of our blessed lord. It wears an It is a distinctive name made so by a aura of lonely islands, dismal dungeons, tenacious faith in the Bible as the inerrant Who goofed? whipping posts and burning stakes. It smacks Word of God, the autonomy and sovereigni One of us goofed. Probably me in my let of each individual's competency and right ty of each local church in spiritual and ec ter to the editor titled " Inventing heresies." to make his own religious decisions and clesiastical matters, and the administration 1 referred to the word "world" in john 3:16. choices. Among the trophies connected with of baptism and the lord's Supper as the sym It was mis-read as Gen. 3:16. The way I made this name is America's religious freedom. bolic declaratio n of God's redemptive plan. my J was mistaken for a cursive G. I wi ll pro In Arkansas our name denotes a people It is a good name. l et's wear it with hum bably be taken to task more on this than the who would not default in bankruptcy. Until ble dignity and pride, quit "poor mouthing" gist of the letter . .. -Clarence Edwards, just recently much of its sweetness and it by either word or deed, and ask God to Rogers. T-he Southern accent Church fire damage set near $100,000 by H. E. Williams Fire damage to the auditorium of Jonesboro's North Main Church has been estimated at $80,000 to $100,000, according to the pastor, Ron Griffin. Th e Dec. 20 blaze Elitism and Christianity ruined the church's piano and organ, and smoke and water damaged the carpet and Where, what, or who is the best? Thi s from American schools and turns out top pev-15, Griffin said. seems to be the primary question of modern rated graduates. Practically any college or The pastor was notified of the fire at 11:15 materialistic mankind. The sales world seeks universi ty could do that. p.m. by a passing motorist who stopped at to sell the best. Each political party claims The best institution in the world is the one the pastor's house, next door to the church to have the best remedy for the ills of a con which takes a less promising student and building. . fused society. Each college or university turns out a superior graduate. That institu Fire officials concluded that the fire began seeks to convey the idea that its program is tio n likely cannot be identified, since in a 'NOmen's baptistry dressing room. Accor the best. Even churches are obsessed with modern educational measurements are sti ll ding to Griffin, the church had been broken the concept that they must appear to be the basically id entifi ed wi th quantitative con into that night for the second time in 36 best as the world measures quali ty. cepts rather than qualitative. It would really hours. Often, the standards men use as be interesting to see the accreditating North Main members did not meet measurements of quality are according to associi!tions fina ll y achieve what they have Wednesday night, Dec. 2t, but they borrow their own concepts and fall far short of the been toying wi th for years-evaluation of ed musical instruments and held their standards u'sed by God. higher educati on o n the basis of true Christmas Sunday services in their small In American education, there is a widely achievement based on the service rende red gym . They plan to hold worship services accepted aura about the position Harvard to the students. Such a step might truly there until probably early spring, when they University occupies in the edl!cational revolutionize education in our day. expect damage to be repaired, the pastor world. Harvard has been able to fashion a Jesus said, " He that would be greatest reported. place in higher education which is the envy among you, let hi m be servant of all ". Sure of all the educational world. Every insti tu ly he was intimating that greatness would be tion occasionally dreams of being a "little in proportion to the depth and width of ser Harvard", and some even boast of such' in vice. The person or institution that reaches missionary notes their public relations mate rial s. the deepest, lifts the highest, and inOuences So vaunted was the position Harvard felt the most broadly is sure ly the greatest in his Mr. and Mrs. Russell D. Fox, missionary she occupied that her faculty refused for mind . If one could serve the whole world associates to Honduras, have completed years to become accredited because they felt of mankind with such quality service, he language study and may be addressed at she was so superior that other institutions would be great. Apartado 100, San Pedro Sula, Honduras. He should not be permitted to send examiners The modern public relations syndrome co n sid~rs Little Rock hi s hometown. She is to examine Harvard. Finally, she agreed to concerning greatness is false elitism. It the former Victoria Hagan of Stuttgart. They ask for accreditation, provided her own sounds good, looks good, and fools the ....-ere employed by the Foreign Mission Board faculty and administ ration did th~ self-study frivolous, but it does not please God. It is in 1982. and review of the institution. betterto build a church or institution on the Is Harvard the best institution of higher service sy ndrome-that is the way Jesus did Ruih Vanderburg, missionary to Indonesia, education in America, or the worldl By jt. The Pharisees were elitist; Jesus was the has arrived in the States for furlough. Her ad human standards, maybe. By the standards Servant-King. dress is 2923 Charter Oak Rd., Little Rock, of Christian ethics the answer is not so cer Ark. 72207. A native of Lillie Rock, she was tain. Harvard has proven one thing-.!'output Or. Williams is president emeritus at appointed by the Foreign Mission Board in equals Input". She gets the top students Southern Baptist College. t956. Page 4 ARKANSAS BAPTIST NEWSMAGAZINE You'll · be glad Food and fellowship to know... Virginia Kirk and Jane Purtle by Don Moore ...We are about to enter our 102nd Saving money in the kitchen country. Would you When people got hungry, Jesus fed them. The menus were simple-bread and fish believe it is Nepali A but there was plenty to eat and plehty left over. Everyone had all he wanted, but recent couple ap nothing went to wast!!, It was a good example of " more with less". In the experience pointed by our For· of feeding the multitudes Jesus taught that we can live abundantly and still conserve, eign Mission Board is that we can eat well and save money. · presently preparing to living abunda ntly, yet conservatively, is a daily program that a family or community begin work there. A commits itself to. It's built on a few simple principles: no waste, si mplicity, and know high, cold territory, how in buying and preparing food. bordered on the south Nothing usable should be thrown away. Left-over meat and vegetables can be kept by India and on the Moore in a soup pot in the freezer. Fruit juices from canned fruit, mixed with a drink base, north by China, this is make a good alternative to carbonated beverages. left-over breai:t can be recycled a critical move for the kingdom. Aren't you into dressing, bread pudding, c routons, or crumb cake. With some cre(ltivity, ev ry thankful for those willing to go to areas in last scrap of bread and fish can be used. which they hazard their lives for the gospel I Serving simpler meals saves money a nd energy that can be invested in improving Aren't you thankful for the privilege of sup the quality of home and church life. Soup and crackers or stew and cornbread may porting them in their heroic commitments? be a welcome change from more elaborate menus. Prayer and finarices remain crucial needs It's im portant to keep the pantry st·ocked with staple items and know how to make for our mission enterprise. I do hope, when substitutions. A li st of common substitutions (e.g. cocoa for chocolate squares) is a ll the reports are in, that we have 100 per included in most cookbooks. Choosing recipes that use staple ingredients is also im· cent of our churches going past their lottie portant. Nowadays, buying special ingredients for several recipes can Oouble a week's Moon offering goal. I'll be anxious to hear grocery bill. from you . The most important money saving tip for the kitchen is cooking from scratch. . . . Membership gain anticipated. Based on Homemade syru ps, salad dressings, jellies, pickles, sauces, baking mixes, etc. are as the reports already received, it appears good or better than store--bought and save a lot. Some convenience items (e.g. cake Southern Baptists will show an increase of mixes) are often a good buy, however. Economical housekeepers find a good balance 1.5 percent in me mbership over the past for themselves between expending money and time. twelve months. The total is estimated to Some months ago we printed a recipe for Master Mix (a baking mix for biscuits, come to 14,208,226 from the previous muffins, pancakes, etc.) that was so popular we're including it again. This Russian 13,998,252 in 1982. Every organization in dressing is a good substitute for a commercial one. Use less sugar and catsup, and our churches is showing an increase with it will taste like French. Brotherhood, Church Training and W M U showing the heaviest gains. Master Mix There is one negative indicator. While it 9 cups a ll-purpose flour 1 tsp. c ream of tartar (optional) is just one, it is the crucial one. Baptisms may YJ cup baking p January 12, 1984 Page 5 Arkansas all over people by Milie Gil/ ABN stall writer J. Leo Georze to adults at the First Church of Garland. He has resigned as minister of education/ad and his wife, lynn, a Blytheville native, have ministration at Central Church in Jonesboro a son, Chris. to accept a call to a similar position with the Fir>t Chun::h ol Saginaw, Texas. George. who had served lhe Jonesboro chun::h for 10 John Welch years. had held positions of leadership with has joined the staff of Mena First Church as Mount Zion Association and served as a minister of music and youth, going there writer for lhe Sunday School Board. He from the Trinity Church in Fort Smith. He is recently was certified by the National a graduate of Arkansas Tech University in Association of Church Business Ad Russellville and has served on the staff of the ministrators as a Fellow in Church Busi ness Firs1 Church of Muldrow, Okla. Welch and Administration. He is married to the former Shell Green his wife, Brenda, have a daughter, Toni. Linda L fo51er of Jonesboro. They have lwo Center, a position to which he was elected children, Joey and Carole. by lhe messenge" attending lhe 1983 Arkan· Virgie Horn sas Baptist State Convention .. resigned Dec. 31 as yo uth d irector at Mar au.. Shell tindale Church in little Rock, following two received her 20 year perfecl attendance Sun Lois Hader years of service. day School pin Jan. I from the Owensville of the Northvale Church in Harrison was Church where she has served as Sunday recently in Nashville, Tenn., to receive train School5een!lary for 20 years. She also serves ing as a 1985-86 unit writer for the Sunday Tony Rose as a choir member and assistant pianist. School Board. has resigned as mini ster of youth at West Memphis First Church to join the staff of Johnny Green John Hough Porter Memorial Church in lexi ngton, Ky. has resigned from five years of service as will joi n the staff of Beech Street First Church pastor of Parkin First Church to enter full in Texarkana, effective Jan. 23 . He will serve Dean Collins time evangelism, effective Feb. 5. He will there as associate pastor of education. A began serving Jan. 1 as pastor of the Gould reside in Wynne. native of Florida, Hough serv~ in the U. 5. First Church. A native of Mercer County, Air Force for nine years and is a graduate of Mo., he is a graduate of Hannibal laGrange Krn Lilly both the University of Arkansas and College in Hannibal, Mo. He received his of Fort Smith was recently in Memphis to at Southwestern Baptist Theqlogical Seminary. master of divinity degree in December from tend an orientation for trustees of the Mem He will come to Texa rkana from Garland, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. phis Baptist Memoria l Hospital-Medical Texas. where he has been serving as minister He has served churches in Missouri and has also served in the staff development division of DePa ul Hospital in New Orleans. Collins and his wife, Cheryl lynn, have a daughter, Chantay, age 11 , and a son, lynn, age eight. Evening course When the Spring Semester of Seminary Studies Program opens Feb. 27, one course offerin g w ill be Church Music Administration, taught by Peter Butler of Mid western Baptist Theological Semi nary. His class will meet each Monday from 5-8 p.m. at Im manue l Church. A morning class in Old Testament, taught by Harry Hunt of South· Butler western meets at 9 a.m. Mark Short of OBU offers compute.r major New Orleans Seminary directs an after noon class in Sunday School leadership ~Stanford {leh), a Ouachita Baptist. University senior from Memphis, ponders the at 1 p.m. solution to a class problem as part of the instruction centered around OBU's new com For further information, cont act puter science major. T~nry-rwo students are majoring in the course of st udy, which Lehman F. Webb, Baptist Bu ilding, w.u opened officially last fall. Gifts from Arkansas Baprisu, alumni, former srudenlS, 376-4791. and friends of the school made the new department possible. ARKANSAS BAPTIST NEWSMAGAZINE Sullivan discusses SBC trustee role at new trustee orientation by ). Everett Sneed An orientation was held Dec. 15 at the as a trustee for an agency or institution:· He wisdom to see what can be done out in the Baptist Building for the new trustees of agen said that he had learned a great deal about future, and it requires faith to get it done. cies and institutions of the Arkansas Baptist the personal skills of the individuals with Trustees, your job is not just to be a keeper State Convention. During th e meeting. atten whom he served, as well as the overall YIOrk of the stat us quo". tion was given to the role of trustees in of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. W. 0 . Vaught, former pastor of Immanuel Southern Baptist life,- the joy of being a Executive Director Don Moore introduc Church, Little Rock, spoke on the subject " I trustee and the relationship of the various ed the various individuals who head the Believe in the System". Dr. Vaught said, "I agencies and institutions to the ABSC. The agencies and institutions of the Arkansas belive that Southern Baptists are the major speaker for the endeavor, held in con Baptist State Convention. Each one told how strongest evangelical denomination on the jundion with the December Executive Board th eir particular agen Cy or institution ties in earth. You, as a trustee, will be bombarded meeting, was John l. Sullivan, former ex with the overall wmk oi the Arkansa s Bap· to become involved in all kinds of things. ecutive director of the Sunday School Board tist State Convention. The Cooperative Program is the greatest pro and former president of the SBC. Johnny Jackson, former president of the gram on earth because it has as its purpose In discussing "The Role of Trustees in sta te convention, and present chairman of reaching people around the \VO rld. As a Southern Baptist life", Dr. Sullivan listed the the ABSC Constitution and Bylaws Commit trustee your main desire should be to serve six types of denominational stuctures: (I) the te'e spoke on, "What It Takes To Be a Good your denomination". informal unstructured type of administration, Trustee". He said that it takes time, where little or no attention is given to knowledge and understanding, as well as J. Everett Sneed is editor of the Arkansas · organization; (2) the independent church, wisdom and faith. He said, " It requires Baptist Newsmagazine. administration where everything centers around one super church; (3) th e heirar chical administration, where total authority rests in one individual (example, the Roman Catholic Church); (4) the delegated ad ministration, where the authority is passed on to a small group of individuals (the Presbyterian Church); (5) the re lated ad ministration, which uses the society system to carry on mission endeavors (the old British Baptist and the American Baptist system ); and {6) the Southern Baptist administration system, where the church is at the top and makes all of th e~ecisio ns . Sullivan said that, in Sou thern Baptist life, the local church has the option of sending messengers to the local district association, the state convention and the Southern Bap tist Convention. " The messengers", he sa id, "make decisions on policies governing all matters. In Southern Baptist organizational structure, it is improper to speak of levels of work. Properly understood, we speak of areas of \VOrk. Each area of YIOrk is autonomous and has responsibility for ca r rying on its activities", Sullivan continued. Sullivan emphasized that trustees are responsible for operating the institution or agency that they serve. The actions of the trustees, however, must be in keeping with the framework of the charter of the conven tion, the charter of the institution set by the messengers of the convention, and general guidelines given by the convention, "While a flow of information from the agency to the people and from th e people to the agency is absolutely essential", Sullivan said, "there is absolutely no way that an agency or institution can be operated from the floor of the convention. This means that the messengers of the convention should never attempt to act as a committee of the whole in doing th e \VOrk of the trustees for an agency or institution". Bill, Goodrich, a layman who is chairman of the Arkansas Baptist Foundation, spoke John L. Suflivan, former Sunday School Board executive direcror and past SBC pre;i on, "The Joy of Being a Trustee". Goodrich dem, helped newly-a ppointed ABSC trustees get a handle on their roles during a new said, " It Is a tremendous education to serve trustee orientation Dec. 15 in Little Rock January 12, 1984 Page 7 Arkansas couples appointed to foreign mission service Three Arkansas-related couples were ap Baptist Home for Children in Monticello. Mrs. Cornelius, born and reared in pointed to foreign mission service by the Born in Baton Rouge, Ll., Mrs. Greenwich, Palestine, Texas, is a graduate of Jarvis Chris Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board Dec. the former Alana lchter, is the daughter of tian College, Hawkins, Texas. 13 at Culpeper, Va. Mr. and Mrs. William lchter, Southern Bap· Mark and Cynthia Morris will work in Ronald and Alana Greenwich will work in ti st missionaries in South Brazil. She is a South Africa, where he will be a general South Brazil, where he will be a social graduate of Ouachita Baptist University a nd evangelist and she will be a church and worker and she will be a church and home recently a teacher with Community Educa home 'NOrker. worker. Currently he is program supervisor tion in Monticello. Th e Morrises, both born in Memphis, a re at Southeast Arkansas Human Development David and Elwanda Cornelius will work graduates of the University of Arkansas and Center, Warren. They are members of First in Nigeria, where he will be a .general Golde n Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. Church, Monticello. evangeli st a nd she will be a c hurch a nd He has worked as a heahh educator fo r a Born in Memphis, Greenwich is the son home worker. Fayetteville corporation and served as of Mrs. Mae Halbe n of little Rock. He is a Born in Texa rkana, Cornelius is the son of minister to university students at Rolling Hill s graduate of Ouachila Bapti st University, David l. Cornelius Sr. and the late Georgia Churc h, Fayetteville. So uthwestern Baptist Theological Se minary Mae Corn eliu s. He is a graduate of Texas The three couples will undergo a n eight and the University of Housto n. He was Christian University and Southwestern Bap \veek orientation before leavin g for the mis· formerly a social worker at the Arkansas ti st Theological Se minary. sian field. Ronald and Alana Greenwich David and Elwanda Co rnelius Mark and Cynthia Morris Sixteen Arkansans graduate from Southe·rn Baptist Seminaries Sixteen students with Arkansas ties were and son-in-law of Mr. a nd Mrs. Ed Pinkston, Thomas Mewborn, Fort Smith. Graduating in the graduating classes of three Southern all of Little Rock. with the doctor of ministry degree was Ba ptist seminaries in December. Receiving the master of divi nity degree Ro~ald Ford , North linle Rock. Receiving the Eleven Arkansans were among 305 who were: Kenneth E. Barnard Jr., son of Mr. and doctor of philosophy degree was l ee graduated from Southwestern Baptist Mrs. Kenneth E. Barna rd and son-in·law of McGlone, Prescott. Theological Seminary in Fort Worth Dec. 16. Mr. and Mrs. Marvin E. Ba ldwin, all of Fort One Arkansan was among 140 December Gerhard Claas, general secretary of the Smi th; Claude Gregory Freeze, son of Greg graduates of Southeastern Bapti st Baptist World Alliance, addressed the Freeze, Higden, a nd Maurine Freeze, little Th eological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. graduates. Rock; George H. Full er Jr. of Gurdon received the Graduating with a master of arts in com· larry John Murphy, son-in-law of Thurman master of divinity degree. munication was Sherryl lynn Robinson, D. Harris, little Rock; l. Elwin Ollar, son· of daughter of Opal Robinson of Fon Smi th. Mrs. lloyd Ollar; Timothy lee Tucker, son Graduating with the master of arts degree in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Cox, in religious education were: Milton Eugene Jonesboro. Futch, son of Mrs. Elizabeth Toler; James Four st udents (rom Arkansas were aWard Truette Herrington Jr., former staff member ed degrees (rom The Southern Baptist of First Church, Fayetteville; Theological Seminary in louisville, Ky. , Dec. Tabbie Sue Johnson, da ughter of Mr. and 16. W. Henry Crouch, pastor of Providence Mrs. Kelmer johnson; Roge r lee Kern, son Church, Charlotte, N.C. , delivered the com of Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Kern, Little Rock; and mencement address. Donald Hugh Redmon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Receivi ng the master o( divinity degree Don Redmon, missionaries to Costa Rica, were Phillip Baldwin, little Roc k; and Robinson Fut ch Page 8 ARKANSAS BAPTIST NEWSMAGAZINE Missionaries to enter Nepal, Sierra Leone RICHMOND, Va. (BP)-Nepal has become the 102nd country or territory where Southern Baptists have mi ssionaries. Sierra Leone will become the 103rd. Bru ce and Pa t Thorpe, appointed mis sionaries in October, were assigned to Nepal effective Dec. 13 . veteran missionaries Bert and Ruth Dyson w ill transfe r to Sierra leone effectiVe Feb. 1. Neither couple, howeve r, will assu me their new assignment until April. The Thorpes will Y{()rk under the direction of the United Mission to Nepal, a cooper ative of 37 mi ssions and churches with 335 missionaries from 18 countries. He will work as a physicia n a nd she as a social worker, though their precise assignments will be determined by the mission. Nepal lies on India's northeast border, next to China. The Dyso ns, now on furlough, have been missionaries to Nigeria since 1955 . Dyson has become known throughout West Africa for literacy work and will continue some work in that ministry, though his primary assignment will be general evangelism. The Dysons' work in Freetown w ill be in cooperation with European and Nigerian Baptists. The European Baptist Mission Socie ty, w hich inherited the country's earliest Bap ti st work from British Baptists, also has mis sionaries in Freetown. Sierra leone is located along the Atlantic coast north of Liberia and south of Guinea. Fewer than 10 percent of its 3.5 million peo ple claim to be Christians. The Sierra Leone Baptist Convention and Nigerian Baptists report more than 1,600 members in Sierra l eone. Sierra l eone is the only English-speaking country in West Afri ca without Southern Baptist missionaries. \ ~ 1 Kern Redmon Murphy Ollar McGlone Fuller January 12, 1984 Page 9 Elevate laity, study ordination, New Orleans speakers urge NEW ORLEAN S (BP)-Ringi ng declara va lidate my call to serve where I am, and to fo r rejoicing; but it is a ca ll fraught with tions fo r Southern Baptists to elevate the challenge me to th e same degree of com responsibility and accountability." place of the laity in church and denomina mitment fo r Christian ministries as the per Edge recently ret ired as religious education tional life, and to study the enti re question so n w ho is ordained. professo r at So uthern Se minary. He lives of o rdinatio n, were made during a Convoca " It is rare to fi nd an unordained person now in Winter Pa rk, Fla. tion on the laity. w ho believes they are performing a ministry. Dorothy Sample, national president of SBC The convocation, held at New Orleans Th ey have seldom been told this, they are Woman's Missiona ry Union, was the only Bapti st Theo logical Seminary, was conven ca lled laymen or amateurs, and they are not woman speaker on the program. She said, ed by an ad hoc comm inee chaired by aware of a theology w hich ackn owledges " Women do have a part ln the Great Com Owe n Cooper of Yazoo City, Miss., last that they, too, are ministers:· mission. They played a vital role in the ear laype rson to serve as president of th e Speakers repeatedly referred to the fourth ly Christian churches; th ey still do. we Southern Baptist Convention. About 200 chapt er of the book of Ephesian s w hich need to relax in our uniqueness and stop persons attended. refers to the different gifts of Christian s. comparing ou rse lves to someone else." Gerhard Claas, executive director of the Hershel H. Hobbs told conferees: " If you Bill Clemmons told conferees " the world Baptist World Alliance, sa id, " Eighty percent are a Christian, you are pan of the laos, the of religion on Sunday cannot be divorced people of God. You have entered into a of ministers in eastern Europe are lay from the world of business on Monday sacred covenant w ith God. This la os is not ministers, w ith no college or seminary train without doing serious damage to the spiritual restri cted to a certain group or class of ing. Th ey have onl y the Bible. _ it is only and emotional health of Christians. Christians:· w ith the laity that we can win eastern Europe Hobbs is pastor emeritus of Fi rst Church to Christ. That is w hy churches are grow ing " Many denominations are making brand in Oklahoma City, w hich has recently been in Communist countries, in Korea and in new statements about the work of the laity in controversy w ith its local association Africa . " in the world . many lay people in their because it ordained women deacons. He is Fred Roach, president of Centen nial marketplace ministry are keeping the world also a form er SB C president. Homes, Inc. in Dallas, testified " my involve from falling apart." Clemmons, professor of " We ought to study the entire issue of or ment as a Christia n layman has to center on religious education at Southeastern Baptist dinat ion itself," Hobbs said. " We inherited my own uniqueness. I can't do anyt hing like Theologica l Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., our current concept of ordination from someone else. I can just be myself under led participants in a response litany entitl Roman Catholics. You won't fi nd this con God's leadership .... My involvement tells ed, " Thank God It's M onday: • cept in the sc riptures." me there is no distinction between the William Pinson, executive director of Bap Landrum P. Leavell Ill, presi dent of New sac red and the secular:' tist General Convention of Texas, sa id, " Bold O rlea ns se m i nary, agreed, " This is • lewis Drummond, Billy Graham professor Mission Thrust is an empty sloga n without something Southern Baptists ought to study of eva ngelism at Th e Southern Baptist involvement of all of God's people . . . . We and make some determination about." He Th·eological Sem inary, Louisville, Ky., spoke must minister ac ross racial, cultura l, JXllitical, made some of the most direct statements of about gifts. " Th e kingdom of God provides ethnic and sexual barri ers." 18 program spea kers w hen he said: " Our lai gifts to eq uip every beli eve r w ith ability to SBC Brotherhood Commission President ty must rise up and countera ct the do the work of kingdom progress in th e james Smith pointed out, " The Bible clear hierachical and authoritative trend in our world," he sa id . The churches ought to be ly states we need Word ministers and table conve ntion today. It is coming from our in designed to aid and enhance all of the peo ministers. the only way Bold Mission dependent Baptist brethren. It manifests itself ple in their part icular gifts." Thrust is to become a rea lity is to mobilize in extreme localism." Leavell dre'\Y ' 'amens'' w hen he declared, "We ought to study the entire issue of ordination itself. We inherited " We are moving back toward the dark ages, our concept of ordination from Roman Catholics. You won't find this con w hen the clerics ruled w ith total authority cept in scripture. " and the laypersons were kept in the dark . Hershel! Hobbs By neglect or design we have wasted the most precious reso urce we've got, the laity " Bold Mission Thrust is an empty slogan without the involvement of in the pews. all God's people .... We must mmister across racial, cultural, political, " It's nothing sho rt of the si n against heaven ethnic and sexual barriers." .. that our convention has not had a layman Bill Pinson as president since Owen Cooper ... most of the problems in the SBC today could be solv Reid Hard in, who directs lay renewa l and the laity." ed by allowing more laypersons to be involv eva ngelism support at the SBC Home M is According to Richard Broholm, the-object ed at every leve l." sion Boa rd in Atlanta, said he has, " found of lay ministry must be "out-house" not " in· He urged churches set up ''equa lization" tremendous hostility and fea r and susp icion house." Th e church must do a better job of budgets to pay expenses for as many layper ac ross the SBC about the lay renewa l move equipping laypersons for that ministry, rather so ns to attend Southern Baptist Convention ment. I experienced great pa in as_ a than making them feel guilty about not spen meetings as do ord ained staff members. layman . ding more time at church," sa id Broholm, Th e theme of lay involvement was ham "layman are coming alive by the executive director of the Center for the mered over and over aga in by 18 speakers thousands. The convention is scared . The Ministry of the laity at Andover Newton at the three-d ay session. Cooper said pro leadership is sca red. Th e challenge for the Theologica l Sc hool, Newton Centre, M ass. ceed ings of the New O rlea ns meeting will next ten years is to start renewa l among the The executive director of louisia na Bap be publis hed in book form . Messages are pastors:· tist Convention, Robert L lee, sa id, " It is in also available on audio and video tapes from Findley Edge sa id, "God not onl y ca lls the dispensibly required lay ministers be involv the New Orleans seminary library. Other laity to m inistry in ge neral, but to specific ed in our state conventions . . . in louisiana such meetings will be scheduled later. ministry for certain periods in our lives ... we don' t consider sex or ordination w hen Cooper stated the overall purpose of the ministry cannot be performed by proxy; it looking for people to serve ... we look for convocation: " We need to develop a must be perform ed in person .. . the those who are committed to Christ and to theology which w ill help me as a layperson recovery of God's ca ll to the laity is a ca use his children .... Page 10 ARKANSAS BAPTIST NEWSMAGAZINE Mandatory Social Secu rity examined by Senate pan el WASHINGTON (BPI-Independent Another witness, Edgar D. Whitcomb, ex Myers charged " the vast majority of pastors and representati ves of private Chris ecutive assistant to the president of Ac· religious organizations are in favor of the tian schools urged the Senate Finance Com celerated Christian Education, Lewisville, principle their employees should have the mittee to reexam in e a 1983 law making Texas, charged mandatory coverage for chur rights to the basic floor of economic securi Social Security participation mandatory for ches would jeopardize the continuation of ty protection provided by the Social Securi non-profit organizations and their employees their sc hools. ty program, and , at the same time, bear beginning )an . 1, 1984. After the hearing, Dole met with several responsibility for financing this program. The change from optional to mandatory witnesses and agreed to establish a task William Billings, president of the National Social Security coverage for non-profit force, including a representative of groups Christian Action Coalition representing m'ore organizations-including religious ones-was opposed to the change, to try to find a com· than 12,000 Christian schools, wa rned at the part of the large reform package Congress promise. One possibility, a Finance Commit press conference President Reagan may be enacted in March to bolster the nation's tee aide told Baptist Press, would allow non blamed for the change. fi nancially-troubled retirement system. profit church groups to treat employees as " Ronald Reagan promised us tuition tax Several witnesses at the hearing told self-employed for Social Security pu rposes, credits and instead gave us a tax ," Bil lings Fi nance Committee Chairman Robert ). avoiding the necessity of churches' paY,ng declared. " We hope Pres ident Reagan will Dole, R-Kan ., mandatory Social Secu rity the employer's share of Social ~ Dunn: Social Security changes do not violat·e First Amendment WAS HINGTON (BP)-A Baptist church "All not-for-profit orga nizati ons have an tists in recent days seeking basic information state specialist has told a U.S. Senate com obligation to look after the welfa re of their about the Social Security changes and mittee th at mere in cl usion of church employees," the statement concl uded. "We cla rifica ti on of the confusion generated by employees and those of other non-profit see no constitut iqnal impedi ment to requi r claims that the change represe nts a tax on orga ni zati ons in manda tory Socia l Security ing that churches pay their portion of this chu rches. coverage does not violate th e First Amend in surance so long as ministers and religious "The fac t is," Dunn said, "as a conscien ment's reli gious li bert y guara ntees. orders retain the right_r,q opt out of the pro tious commitment by chu rc hes to ca re for At issue is a section of the 1983 Socia l gram on the bas is of r ~gto u s beliefs." their own people, the vast majority of church Security reform package sc hed uled to take The 1983 Social Security changes left in employees are alrea dy covered by Social effect Jan. 1 w hi ch requires participation in place optional participation for mini sters and Sec uri ty. If Bapti sts saw Social Sec urity pa r the nation's retirement syste m by non-profit members of re ligious orders. tic ipation as a government intrus ion, this employees. Previously, coverage for non A BJCPA spo~es m a n said th e Washington would not be tru e." pro fi t employees had been optional, based age ncy has assisted a number of Bap- although a congressional report indicated 85 percent elected to pa rt icipate. In a w ritt en statement to the Se nate Fin ance Committee, Baptist Joint Commit tee on Pu blic Affairs Exec utive Director )ames M. Dunn sa id Social Security funds "cannot logica'l(y be conce ived as a tax either on the employer or the employee:· So me perso ns, mostl y independ.ent pastors and offi cials of Christi an sc hools-claim mandatory Soci al Sec urity partici pation amounts to a direc t tax o n churches. Unlike taxes w hich go fo r the support of governm ent, the B)CPA statement sai d Social Security funds "go int o a sepa rate fund for the exclusive purpose of prov iding socia l protection for the elderl y, the disa bled and surv ivors. We do not see the Social Security Amendments of 1983 as a tax on churches per se:· H owever, Dunn's statement ex pressed conce rn that mandatory part icipation of non-min isterial employees of churches in First Baptist Church Eastside Baptist Church Social Security could be viewed as a " poten Fort Smith tia l precedent which later lawmakers will use Pine Bluff as a stepping-stone to tax churches:' He urg· March 30-31 April 27-28 ed the Fin ance Committee to make cl ear in For more information contact WMU, .P.O. Box 552, Little Rock, AR 722fJl or 376-4791 its report on the issue the intent of the 1983 Social Security reform package " is not to establish such a precedent. January 12, 1984 Page 11 CLC's Lockard urges support for human needs bill NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)-A Southern Bap children and the world's most needy people. on wea pons. These peo1>le may be better tist hunger specialist is urging support for a "As responsible Ch ristians, Baptists should armed," he aid, " but they will also have newly introduced House bill which would voice their concerns to those who represent more poverty, sickness and hunger." place a one-year moratorium on increases us in Washington," Lockard urged. "Arm s Lockard sai d concern ed an d informed in U.S. military aid to foreign governments manufacturers constantly lobby for ac Southern Bapti sts can play a major role in and would increase development programs celerated arm s trade with other nat ions. It helping to re-direct our national priorities to provide food, jobs and health assistance is time for Congressmen to hea r from their and in seeking to offer desperately needed to the world's needy. constituents on this important bill:' he said. aid for human needs rather than military W. David Lockard, director of world "Every minute, 24 hours a day, children \Yea pons. hunger education and action programs for die for lack of food and inexpensive " love and justice ch <~ll enge us to work on the Southern Baptist Christian life Commis medicines, and every minute the world's behalf of this legislation which can represent sion, said the Human Needs and World military budget absorbs S1.3 million of the a significant step tow<~rd peace with justice:· Security Biii(H . ~. 4440) is a good bill which public treasury," he added. he said. deserves the strong support of Southern Lockard said Southern Baptists and other Lockard urged So uthern Baptists to write Baptists. concern ed Christians should support the letters, telephone and make personal visits "The bill, introduced by a bipartisan group human needs bill for three main reaso ns. to the U.S. Representative from their congres of United States Representatives, will " First," he sa id, "our nation is obligated sional district. establish priorities and moral values which to extend the kind of aid which meets press seek to reverse the unparalleled world-wiQe ing human needs and furthers the ca use of arms buildup which robs the hungry and justice and human rights. needy and works against justice and stabili "Military governmen ts which employ ty in the world," he said. military so lutions to complex socio "Military and military-related aid has been economic problems have frequently repress the fastest growing item on the national ed human ri ghts. Almost one-half of th e budget for the past three years," Lockard governments in · developing countries are said. " Military ai d ha s increased from $5.3 under military control, and many are using billion in 1981to $9.2 billion in 1984, while military arms against thei r own citizens. Such aid to meet human needs has increased a repressio n leads to growing unrest and in mere 10 percent, which is less th an the rate stability," Lockard warned. of inflation." Second, the international arms trade tends Lockard said H.R. 4440 would put a ceil to work against peace and stability, he said. ing on military and military-rela ted aid with " Instead of buyi ng sec urity, arm s transfers an expected savings of nearly S1 billion in have aggravated economic and social in U.S. budget fu nds. secu rity in the Third World by draining " Under provisions of the bill, $220 million precious foreign exchange, natural resources would be channeled to foreign development and human talent from basic human needs. and programs that directly benefit the " Third," Lockard continued, " until the world's poorest people," he explained. mushrooming arms sales are brought under Funds redirected by the bill would be us control, Third World citizens will continue ed for health programs, U.S. emergency food to suffer from the excessive burden of spen aid programs and programs designed to help ding multiplied millions of dollars each year Foreign Board opposes ambassador to Vatican RICHMOND, Va. (BP)-Southern Bapt ists' areas " that may be non-Catholic in Foreign Mission Board Dec. 13 urged Presi orientation.'' dent Reagan not to appoint an ambassador Board members took the action after nev-~S to the Vatican. reports said President Reagan plans to name A resolution approved by the board op William A. Wilson as U.S. ambassador to the poses " such a dangerous precedent that in Vatican. Earlier, Congress repealed a tertwines American self-interest and the 115-year-old ban against funding for a higher priorities of the Kingdom of God:' Vatican diplomatic mission . It calls on Reaga n and the U.S. Congress The resol utipn said appointment of an am to reappraise the reported decision to bassador would be a flagrant violation of the upgrade diplomatic relationships with the principle of separation of church and state, headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. a "cherished concept based on biblica l Establishing full diplomatic relations with precept and refined in the fires of religious the Vatican could blur O!.. co mpromise Bap.. p!:!rsecution:· Baptists and other Ch ristians, tist missionary witness in Roman Catholic it noted, have historically opposed anything countries, the resolution said, and potentially that would threaten or jeopardize this cause animosity or feelings o( betrayal in principle. Brymer elected Florida Witness editor JACKSONVILLE, Fla . !BPl-Jack E. Brymer, Brymer succeeds Edgar R. Cooper March managing editor of the Alabama Baptist since 1, 1984, as editor of the 97,000-circulation 1967, has been elected editor of the Florida weekly publication. Cooper, editor si nce Baptist Witness , newsjournal of the Florida January 1971 , will retire at the end of Baptist Convention. February. Page 12 ARKANSAS BAPTIST NEWSMAGAZINE ...... :~. The Church Insurance Program is administered by the Annuity Board of the Somhern Baptist Convention and is underwritten by Aetna Life and Casualty. The Church Insurance Program offers: Term Life Plan . . . protects you up !0 $ /00,000. The premium is waived while the coverage remains inracr if you become disabled. Accidenca/ death bene/irs provide double the face value of )'Our coverage. Comprehensive Medical Plan ... provides major medical protection for you and your famil y ar the lowest possible cos r. Disability Plan ... replaces church income lost due !0 weal disability occurring while acrively serving a Southern Baptise church. A ll solaried personnel employed by a Southern Baptist church for at least 20 hours p~r week arc eli gible ro apply for protection. Coverage will begin on the date of approval by Acrna. Yo u may obrain a brochure and applica ti on from yo ur state annuity secretary or rhc Annuity Board. Marketing Division Annuity Board of the Sou thern Baptist Convention 511 North Akard • Dallas, Texas 75201 Ill ca ll our ne10o• 101l free number 1·800·262-05 11 January 12, 1984 Page 13 Lessons for living January 15, 1984 International Life and Work Bible Book Study Vision and mission Teaching through parables Elisha and the Syrian wars by Wm. M. Burnett, Beebe by Joe A. ThompSon, pastor, Calvary by H. E. Williams, president emeritus, Basic passage: Isaiah 6 Church, Blytheville Southern Baptist College, Walnut Ridge Focal passage: Isa iah 6:1-8 Basic passage: Mark 4:10-1~ , 26-34 Background passage: 2 Kings 6:8 to 8:1 5 Cenlral truth: God prepares those he Focal passage: Mark 4:26-34 Focal passage: 2 Kings 6:11-12, 14-1Ba, 19-22 commissions. Ce ntral truth: Fortunate indeed are those Central truth: God's unseen armies spell the difference between victory and defeat. The Prophet's vision was the key to his who hea r the truth with discernment. preparation for service. God had a difficult Teachers before a nd after jesus Christ us Eli sha was by no means a pacifist. He task for his prophet, for which he needed ed the parable as a basic method of became a holy spy for the armies of Israel, the kind of spiritual stamina that would keep disseminating truth to their students. reportirig to the King every move con him from becoming despondent when his templated by the Syrians against Israel. So message was rejected. There was neve r a teacher who perfected accurate were his predictions that Ben Kipling's " If," which describes th e this method of teaching until Jesus Christ. No hadad thought he had many spies in his character of a true man, says "1f you ca n teacher shOuld ever apologize' fo r using Syrian army. Hi s men reported that Eli sha meet with triumph and disaster and treat parables or stories to get truth to hi s students. could discern what the Syri a n ki ng said in th ese two imposters just the same. "God's the privacy of his bed chamber. Jesus Christ was the master teacher; preachers and God's people are not respon Ben-hadad decided to send a la rge army therefore he was a master storyteller. He us sible for results, nor are they to be controll to capture Elisha at Dothan, his usual ed the parable as his prim ary method of ed by the restless rise and fall of cir residence. Arriving in th e night, this host sur teaching. The secret of teaching is the abili cumsta nces. They are required to be faithful. rounded the walled city to lay seige. Ea rl y The vision of the Holy God illumined the ty to say the sa me thing over and over the next morning Eli sha's serva nt report ed awful cont rast which drew the cry of anguish without seeming to repeat oneself. the hopelessness of their plight. from the prophet, ··woe is mel for I am un The parable has many positive th ings to Elisha responded by sayi ng, "We have done; because I am a man of unclean lips, commend it as a conductor of truth. By way more on our side than they have on thei rs." and I dwell in the midst of a people of of the parable jesus was able to knock on The servant must have thought that in cedi unclean lips" (lsa.6:5). The true picture of the door of his hearer's understanding and ble. Dotha n was not one of Israel's military himself and the nation came into focus, and the n screen out hi s truth. strongholds, and he saw suc h little evidence he fou nd that he needed repentance as of military might. Elisha prayed the lord much as the people did. In Ma rk 4:20-34, Jesus wanted to teach his would open his servant's eyes to the hills The truth revealed here is of infinite im followers about " the kingdom of God". covered with fla mi ng c hariots and soldiers. portance. The only way a Christian can get When he searched for a method of In all hi story, God's forces have been out· a true picture of himself is to make a com disseminating this truth, he came up with numbered in their own strength, but the un parison between himself and Jesus. When two parables: the parabl e of the seed and seen armies of the lord always encamp he does, a ll pride a nd va nity go from his the parable of the musta rd plant. These two round about those who fear the lord. They heart a nd in humble contrition he will con· parables, like a ll jesus used, made a tremen· make the difference between bein g crush fess his sin and failure. The result of confes dous impression on his disc iples. ed or being vic torious. sion and repentance is forgiveness and In Mark 4:26-29, Jesus teaches that the The Syrians attacked, unable to see the cleansing. " If we confess our sins he is kingdom is the reign of God. When we turn vast "army of the lord" sent to protect the faithful and just to forgive us our si ns and our lives over to God, he sets up his kingdom prophet. Elisha prayed they would be stric to cleanse us from a ll unrighteousness". in our hearts and begins to reign in our lives. ken bl ind. In the ir blinded condition, he led The next thing that happens in God's them into the capital city of Israel, Samaria, preparation process is that the servant of If indeed we have died to self and have and asked th e lord to restore th e ir sight. God can now hear what God is saying to been made alive in Chri st jesus, the n we They found themselves at the mercy of the him. Spiritual deafness is caused by unclean have no more control over our lives than a King of Israel, but Elisha forbade him to kill lives. So long as people hear the clap-trap sower has over the sprouting a nd growing the Syrians. Eli sha admonished him to give discordant tune of ttii s world and dance to of seed. The so il causes the seed to sprout them food and drink, then retw.n them to it, they cannot hear the music. of heaven nor and to grow just as the Word of God takes thei r king Ben-hadad. FoiiO\ving this gracious can they walk with God. Isaiah heard God root in our hearts and grows. treatme nt , the Sy rians refrained from inc ur say, "Whom sha ll I send, and who will go sions into Israel for several years. In Mark 4:30-33, Jesus teaches that the for usl" Having heard, his response was im Many years la te r, Ben-hadad did lead the smallest amount of faith is capable of pro mediate, " Hear am I send me". entire Syrian army agai nst Samaria. The seige ducing giant Christian me n and women. The was long, resulting in severe scarci ty of food. lhit kotton trutm"'l iJ twwd on th~ ln l~rn•tlon.lli Jiblt Lt1ton conversion of the smallest c~ild can have a In the midst of this calam ily, Elisha predicted for C hrf ~l.a n lt~hln11- Uniform ~riH. Copyrl&h t lnltrn•tion•l profound imp ct upon the World. Council of Ed\IC.Itlon. Uwd by ptrmi1~on. that food would become boundlessly plen The c hurch is the family of God. Within tiful the following day. This came to pass Qu,. LITY the church, the subjects of God's reign dwell. when the Syrians, scared by mighty sounds V.M.N SALES The church may be as small as a grain of in the ai r ned their camp, leaving it filled with Used 12 and IS-passenger vans, special mustard seed-but in it there is room for all. food and other amenities. prices to churches, (SOl) 268-4490, ISOO Th l1 ktton II twtcd on tht lilt .tnd Wort Currlc:ulum lor Thl• IH.on lrulmtnt l1 lwwd on tht liblt look Study for E. Race, Searcy, Ark. 72143. Larry Car SovtMm liplltt Churthn. coll'(rl&tll by lht Sund.t!y Sdw»>lolrd Sou!Mrn llptl- churthn, copyrlJht ~ tht Sund.t!y Schoollolrd son, Butch Copeland. ol tht Southtrn llptl1t CorNtntlon. All ' IJhh ITWf"td. Uwd by of tht Sou!htrn llptllt Convmtlon. A. II 'l&hh -rw:d. Uttd ~ ptrmh~n . ptrrnlulon. Page 14 ARKANSAS BAPTIST NEWSMAGAZINE Your state convention at work Baptist Student Union my Draper will give a testimony on why he Above all, don't forget, "There Is a way Million dollar bond uses full·time evangelists. which seems right ... but Its end Is the way Another special emphasis this yEMr will of death" (Prov. 14:12 NASB) - Bob It happened so fl'!st I didn't realize what be on Women In Witnessing. Laure Fry Parker, director was happening. Allen, consultant with women, Home Mis Recently a generous couple, who wish to sion Board, will be sharing with us. Leura remain anonymous, placed In my hands o will speak one time to the total group and Cooperative Program million dollar bond will IEMd special conferences for warne~ What will a nickel buy? for Baptist Student during the Monday afternoon end Tuesday work In Arkansas. afternoon sessions. Th1s will be a great op· A nick.el won't buy much. The deposit on Soon I realized we portunlty for our women In Arkcnst!s. - a coke bottle is 10 cents. It cost 20 cents to had a problem - a Clarence Shell, di rector mail a letter. A cup of coffee will probably very nice problem to cost over 35 cents. A have, however. So· Christian Life Council nick.el, even a dime, meone had to decide About stinking beauties Is almost nothing. whether to aJsh the However, that was bond now and to use Veterans of World War II and the Korean the average daily gift the money to share War may remember an anti-venereal of an Arkansas Bap the gospel now, or to disease poster entitled "She May Look tist toward the total Logue walt for 40 years and .-"'""""""__ _ Nice .. . But". lt pic· work of the Coopera to then decide how to use $1 million in Bap· lured a ne.5t, well tive Program. The list Student work. dressed, attractive datly contribution The amoUnt the bond Is worth today, young woman. The based on total mem while not.a mtllion dollars, Is still a very poster was a si mple bership was 5.4 cents substantial amount and Is the largest single warning of what is Collins for the year 1982 (the gift Arkansas' Student Department has ever now an even more last complete report available). Based on received. serious threat. resident membership It was only 7.9 cents . Thank you, dear friends, for giving us the A recent Parade per day . problem and for seeing that todoy's college Magazine article tells ... If every one of us gave 35 cents, the prtoe campus Is one of the neediest. and ri pest, of some unusual of a cup of coffee, each day for the work. mission fields in the world today. - Tom flowers. The Amor· of the Cooperative Program the total Loque, director. Porker phophallus tltanum amount would be $19,626,389. This Is about and the Rafflesla arnoldii are beautiful giant four times what we are doing. Evangelism flowers of Sumatra. The former grows to as To be more realistic, let's talk about In Special emphasis in much as four feet In diameter; the latter, crease. Would 1t be too much to ask. Arkan three feet. Bestdes being beautUuland big, sas &tptists to Increase their giving b y an Evangelism Conference they have nauseating stenches. The larger average of one cent per day per member? gives off an overpowering odor like d~y A penny a. day lncre.5se for every resident It Is our desire to help the full -time ing !tsh. member of our churches would result In a evangelists In our state. The apostle Paul Lottery gambling may look nice and net increase of $1, 132,183. I don't think. we sold In Ephesians 4:11 that "He gave some seem like a beautiful way to raise big dare to do less.Do we really have the world evangelists . . . " revenue, but like other unnecessary risks on our hearts? These are people who gambling would breed serious problems. What wtlla nickel buy?Today,li Is mak have a special calling Promoters of state lottery gambling do a ing possible the work. of Southern Baptists from God to do grave disservice In failing to encourage around the world. What will a. penny buy? evangelistic preach· Arkansans to sinell the blossom, not just the · We could lose one and never miss It , yet lng or evangelistic bud. The antlcipoted hurts and h~rtaches one penny from every Ark.anst!s Baptist singing. of many losers and their most·often poor every day would Increase our gifts about The first session of families should be publicized as are 11 percent. I am convinced we will! our Evongelism Con· screams of delight by the miniscule group -L. L. Coll.ina, Jr., a.saociate ezeculive ference Jon . 30-32 of winners. The Irony of the state educating secretary · wlll give special em· young people to gamble In order to fund phasls to full · time education Is yet another stinking aspect Shell evangelists. Paul needing publicity. Jackson will open the conference by speok CUSTOM lng on "The Call to Evangelism". Rex Eo sterling will speck on "Commissioned to WORLD SLARGtST MANUFACTURER IMPRINTED Evangelism". OF FfBEROL.ASS CHUPCH PRODUCTS T-SHIRTS Jack. Hazlewood will speak. on "Committed OR JERSEYS to Evangelism". Dr. Vance Havner, who Is FOR YOUR perhaps the dean of living evangelists, con cludes the session on "Courage to do CHURCH - YOUTH CROUP - CAMP Evangelism". Top Qulllty: 50\ cotton/50\ polyester We will have a special luncheon for the full-time evanqelists end chairmen of SPORTS WAREHOUSE (SOT) 261- UU evangeliem at noon on Tuesday. This par 109 E. Rece - Searcy, AR 7lUJ ticular luncheon Is by Invitation only. Jirn· January 12, 1984 Page 15 'Concerned Baptists' form non-geographic association Subscriber services LYNCHBURG , Va. (B PI-Ninety-five per· adopted. Resolutions passed favoring prayer The Arkansas Baptist Newsmagazine of sons· from ten churches met at lynchburg's in public schools, support of the 1983 SBC fe rs subscription plans at three different O ld Fo rest Road Churc h and formed the resolution on nuclear disarm ament and rates: Concerned Baptist Association of Vi rgi nia. negative designation of funds to selected Every resident family plan giues Fifty-seven of those attending were pa rts of the Southern Baptist Cooperative churches a premium rote when they send members of Old Forest Road a nd 29 others Program. the Newsmagazine to all their resident were members of Je rico Missionary Chapel, Ballard told the group Old Forest Road households. Resident families are calcu· a black mission of O ld Forest Road. " has spent $15,000 in our effort in the con fated to be at least one fourth of the The re were two representatives each from servative move in the state of Virginia, $1,800 church 's Sunday School enrollment. Worsham a nd Sycamore Road churches, of this was for the speakers (Paige Patterson Churches who send only to members who Southside Associatio n, a nd Hore b Church, of Da llas and Robert Witty of Jacksonsville, reQuest a subscription do not qualify for Natural Bridge Associatio n. Fla.) for the last meeting." this lower rate of $5.40 per year for each Fo ur churc hes had one representative The neYt group pla ns to publish it s own subscriptio n. each. They wee Highl and-Lync hburg; level newspaper, the Concerned Baptist A group plan (formerly co/fed the Club G reen-Norfo lk; Shenandoah Churc h, Messenger, and seek representation on the Plan) allows church members to get a bet· She nandoah Association; a nd C. Street, a Virginia Baptist General Board. They say they .ter than indiVIdual rate when 10 or more black independent c hurc h in lynchburg. will maintain current ties with distric t of them send their subscriptions together: · Arthur B. Ballard, pastor of Old Forest associations w he re they exist and have dual thro~gh thefr church. Subscribers through · Road, was elected moderato r a nd Don affil iatio n w ith the new state-wide Gillette, pastor of Timber Ridge, St rawberry association. r------, Associati on, was elected treasure r. Gillette Speaker fo r the meeting was Stanley Frye I I I I aparently was not present since his church who was pastor of leedsvill e Road Baptist I I was not li sted as having a- representative at Church, lynchburg Association, when the I I the meeting. c hurc h voted to withdraw and become in· Are you 1 Robert Powers, pastor of level Green, was dependent. He declared he now has resign· elected vice moderator and Ron Hunt of Old ed and become a Southern Baptist aga in and Z-l-DO ·moving? : Forest Road was elected clerk. is moving to North Carol ina where he wi ll l>0":0 - "'0 ... Please give us two I A constitution and resolutions opposing be a full-time evangeli st. ::r: ::r:U~ weeks advance abortio n, pornography, a nd ordination of Th e next meeting of the association wi ll Page 16 ARKANSAS BAPTIST NEWSMAGAZINE