DECEMBER 2000 VOL. 59 • NO. 15 Worship, business highlight 60th CSBC meeting Messengers defeat name change, affirm BF&M 2000, boost CP, elect new leaders by Mark A. Wyatt RIVERSIDE — The largest evan- gelical denomination in the nation’s most populous state will Convention- continue to be known as Califor- goers help nia Southern Baptist Convention celebrate the after a vote on whether to remove 50th anniversary the word “Southern” failed for of California the second consecutive year. Baptist Messengers also voted over- University. whelmingly to affirm the latest — Page 9 version of “The Baptist Faith and Message” statement of doc- trinal beliefs and to increase Co- PERFORMERS FROM Inland Empire Southern Baptist Association present a massive multi-media operative Program giving to production of “Experiencing God,” a musical inspired by the Henry Blackaby book, during the final Southern Baptist Convention session of the 2000 California Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Riverside Nov. 15. causes during the CSBC’s 60th (CSB photo by Brenda S. Flowers) annual meeting, Nov. 14-15 in Riverside. June 2000” and notify the SBC go on record,” Spradlin insisted. vored the motion to affirm the president of that action. “It is a doctrinal statement and latest version of Southern Bap- BF&M 2000 affirmed “It’s an important time for us doesn’t impede on any church’s tist doctrinal beliefs. “We are a The vote to affirm the newly as a Convention to express our authority.” cooperating entity with the revised Southern Bap- solidarity with the Willie Simmons, pastor of SBC,” Nelson said. “Our (na- tist doctrinal statement Southern Baptist Con- Greater Cornerstone Baptist tional) Convention has spoken. came in response to a vention,” said Sprad- Church in Los Angeles, asked For us not to affirm would indi- motion by Roger Sprad- lin, who served on the whether the statement would cate we are not in cooperation lin, pastor of Valley select committee that be used to bar messengers from and not appreciative of the fund- Baptist Church in drafted the revised churches that ing we receive.” The Temple Bakersfield. Spradlin faith statement adopt- endorse ear- E.W. McCall, Missionary asked CSBC messen- ed in Orlando last sum- lier versions of pastor of St. Baptist Church gers to “affirm The Bap- mer. the Southern Stephen Mis- choir from San tist Faith and Message “I recognize it’s al- Baptist faith sionary Baptist Bernardino sings as adopted by the ready in our constitu- statement. Church in La during the 2000 Southern Baptist Convention, tion, but it is important for us to Spradlin re- Puente, moved Pastor’s sponded that the previous Conference. he was simply question and — Page 10 seeking CSBC messengers “Dispelling the Darkness” affirmation of voted to end de- The Baptist JOHNNY HUNT, pastor of First bate. President Faith and Baptist Church in Woodstock, Larry Dotson, TURKISH BELIEVER Message 2000 GA, preaches during the 2000 pastor of Pana- Hale Gencil makes “as a confes- CSBC annual meeting. ma Baptist candles for a living — sion of faith.” (CSB photo by Mark A. Wyatt) Church in Bak- and is herself a light in He added, ersfield, called the darkness to young “The issue of how that is used in for a show of hands and ruled Turkish friends our Convention is a separate that Spradlin’s motion to affirm searching for truth. issue — an important issue, but The Baptist Faith and Message Southern Baptists’ a separate one.” 2000 had passed “overwhelm- generous gifts to the Dan Nelson, pastor of First ingly.” Lottie Moon Christmas Baptist Church in Camarillo, fa- (continued on page 6) Offering for International Special events Missions play an recognize the important role in taking groundbreaking the good news of God’s ministry of Don love to Turks who have Kim, retired never heard. Southern Baptist (BP photo) Korean pastor, missionary and — See story, back page author. — Page 11 darkness remain where fetishes and witch Within the message of that story is the doctors hold people in bondage to ancient power to dispel the darkness, and because fears and superstitions. Pervasive dark- that story is being told, “the darkness shall by Jerry Rankin ness overwhelms Latin America as empty turn to dawning, and the dawning to noon- religious ritual succumbs to the syncretism day bright.” (ISSN 0008-1558) esus made the contrast clear. There is of spiritists casting demonic spells. The darkness is turning to dawning among is published no equivocation in distinguishing the Continuing devotion to millions of Hindu unreached people groups who are hearing monthly as a Jtruth found in Him alone from that deities, the garlanded Buddhist images in the gospel for the first time. The darkness of Cooperative claimed by all other religious and cultural Asia and ancestral altars in Chinese homes communism cannot repel the power of the Program ministry of traditions. He could not have affirmed it attest to darkness still waiting for the light Light as Jesus is lifted up among the peoples more strongly as His argument with the of China and Eastern Europe. The first glim- California Southern Pharisees reached a peak of confrontation. mering light of dawn is beginning to appear Baptist Convention “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, How can the darkness be as first-generation believers come to faith 678 E. Shaw Ave. ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows among the Azeri, the Kabyle Berbers and Fresno, CA 93710 Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the dispelled? The answer is other unreached people groups. light of life’” (John 8:12, NKJV). found in a hymn not often The dawning is turning to noonday bright He put the global, eternal purpose of His as church-planting movements sweep Cam- Mark A. Wyatt mission to redeem a lost world into perspec- sung these days, “We’ve a bodia and the Maasai of East Africa, and the Editor and tive when He quoted the prophet Isaiah: Story to Tell.” That’s it! The harvest accelerates all over the world. General Manager “The people who sat in darkness have seen God is calling us to dispel the darkness. a great light, And upon those who sat in the simple story of the gospel. That is the reason He has allowed the light Holly Smith region and shadow of death Light has to shine in our hearts, so that we will pray, News Assistant dawned” (Matthew 4:16, NKJV). we will give and we will go to a world in That light began its unquenchable illu- to dawn. Delusions of self-sufficiency have darkness. Second Corinthians 4:6 says, “For mination when the dawning of the resur- swept Europe into the darkness of secular it is the God who commanded light to shine Internet: rection morning overpowered the darkness humanism. And the ultimate embodiment out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts www.csbc.com that had enveloped the cross. As Paul spread of darkness still captures the minds of mil- to give the light of the knowledge of the glory the gospel from Jerusalem as far as Illyricum lions as 20th century communism, with its of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (NKJV). Phone: and to the “regions beyond,” he fulfilled atheistic ideology, denies that the Light Isaiah reminds us of the darkness that 559-229-9533 x 225 God’s calling “as a light to the Gentiles” even exists. covers the Earth but assures us that the Fax: (Acts 13:47, NKJV). How can the darkness be dispelled? The power of light will dispel the darkness. “Arise, 559-229-2824 Generations of missionaries and Chris- answer is found in a hymn not often sung shine; for your light has come! ... For behold, E-mail: tian witnesses have continued to proclaim these days, “We’ve a Story to Tell.” That’s it! the darkness shall cover the Earth, And deep [email protected] the Light of the world. Yet 2,000 years after A simple story, the story of the gospel, a darkness the people; ... The Gentiles shall the Light arrived, the darkness remains. story of truth and mercy, a story of peace come to your light, And kings to the bright- Please submit Across an evangelized Africa, pockets of and light! ness of your rising” (Isaiah 60:1-3, NKJV). church news to the postal address or e-mail address above. im and Bill ap- “I got two of his he birth of a task is to show SUBSCRIPTIONS: Jproached a farm cows. Let’s get out Tbaby is a joy- them the way to Individual: and decided to ask of here!” ous occasion. There the spiritual birth $9.50 per year the farmer for per- Have you ever is nothing like it! that Christ offers. Church plan: mission to hunt on done something Birth truly is mi- I was reminded 66 cents per his land. “You stay that you later re- raculous. recently of this im- address per month here at the gate,” gretted? Most of us Do you remem- portance at the an- Bill told Jim. “I’ll have. It is hard to ber the first time nual meeting of Advertising rates go up to the farm- admit that we have that you saw your California South- are available on house and talk with made a mistake. newborn? Do you ern Baptists in Riv- request. the farmer.” Montia Setzler For some, it is next remember the first Fermín A. Whittaker erside. Before an Acceptance of After Bill ex- to impossible. In time that you held evening session, advertising does plained their desire, the spite of the difficulty, admit- that precious gift from God? I outside the convention center, not constitute an farmer replied, “It’s fine for ting when you are wrong is remember vividly the birth of the CSBC evangelism division endorsement of you to hunt on our land, but I healthy.