>> This is the May 2015 issue containing the June Bible Study Lessons POET LAUREATE OF THE PULPIT Remembering Gardner Taylor 32 baptiststoday.org ‘Truly’ Faithful Ruby Brawner strikes up the Gainesville Prayer Band 4 BIBLE STUDIES for adults Q&A with RACHEL HELD EVANS 36 17 FA TH™ PERSPECTIVES John D. Pierce Executive Editor Identity, opportunities found at [email protected] the apex of Baptist life 7 Julie Steele By John Pierce Chief Operations Officer [email protected] Hide it under a bushel? 14 Jackie B. Riley By Peggy Haymes Managing Editor [email protected] Integration, interrogation of faith vital to Christian critical thinking, Tony W. Cartledge Contributing Editor learning and living 28 [email protected] By J. Randall O’Brien Bruce T. Gourley 38 Learning to listen after moving Online Editor/Contributing Writer [email protected] from pulpit to pew 35 David Cassady A task worth pursuing By Ken Massey Church Resources Editor [email protected] A conversation with Randel Everett about Warnings about Myanmar travel Vickie Frayne elevating religious freedom globally sound too alarmist 40 Art Director By Molly T. Marshall Jannie Lister Customer Service Manager Worship leaders know that not [email protected] IN THE NEWS everything goes as planned 42 Kimberly L. Hovis By Naomi King Walker Marketing Associate Future map reveals major shifts for [email protected] Christians, Muslims, Jews 10 Lex Horton Nurturing Faith Resources Manager Early data suggests ‘Francis effect’ may be real 11 [email protected] PIETY POWER Americans not so defined by ‘God, family, country’ 12 Memoir reveals Walker Knight, Publisher Emeritus controlling influence Jack U. Harwell, Editor Emeritus Anti-Semitism in US spikes after of Jewish funda- nearly decade of decline 12 DIRECTORS EMERITI mentalism Thomas E. Boland Americans split on businesses turning away R. Kirby Godsey 30 Mary Etta Sanders gay marriages 13 Winnie V. Williams Mormon leader: Individuals may back BOARD OF DIRECTORS gay marriage on social media 13 Donald L. Brewer, Gainesville, Ga. (chairman) Gifts to Baptists Today Cathy Turner, Clemson, S.C. (vice chair) Edwin Boland, Johns Creek, Ga. Ronnie Brewer, Bristol, Va. IN MEMORY OF TOM BLACK Janie Brown, Elon, N.C. FEATURE Mary Jane Cardwell, Waycross, Ga. From the Tom and Doris Black Bob Cates, Rome, Ga. Football great Jim Kelly, family sustained by faith 29 family Jack Causey, Statesville, N.C. Anthony D. Clevenger, Pensacola, Fla. Kenny Crump, Ruston, La. IN MEMORY OF CAROLYN Doug Dortch, Birmingham, Ala. James M. Dunn, Winston-Salem, N.C. WEATHERFORD CRUMPLER Jack Glasgow, Zebulon, N.C. Frank Granger, Athens, Ga. From an anonymous donor Cynthia Holmes, St. Louis, Mo. David Hull, Watkinsville, Ga. Becky Matheny, Athens, Ga. Tommy McDearis, Blacksburg, Va. Andrew McGill, Chattanooga, Tenn. William T. Neal, Stone Mountain, Ga. Roger Paynter, Austin, Texas Kathy B. Richardson, Rome, Ga. Charles Schaible, Macon, Ga. Charlotte Cook Smith, Winston-Salem, N.C. Sarah Timmerman, Cairo, Ga. David Turner, Richmond, Va. Clem White, St. Petersburg, Fla. Vickie Willis, Murfreesboro, TN Cynthia Wise, Birmingham, Ala. Donna Wood, Macon, Ga. Cover photo by John Pierce: Story on page 4. READERS SERVICES Mission Statement or Baptists Today serves churches by providing a reliable TEACH source of unrestricted news coverage, thoughtful analysis, helpful resources and inspiring features FACILITATE? focusing on issues of importance to Baptist Christians. Advertising GREAT BIBLE STUDY in combination is in YOUR HANDS right now! Individual and Gift Subscriptions Baptists Today, P.O. 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Baptists Today (ISSN 1072-7787) is published monthly by: Baptists Today Periodical postage paid at Macon, Ga. 31208 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to: Baptists TodayAll rights reserved. !"#$% &% '#() *+,$-, ‘Truly’ faithful ‘WITH THE LORD’S HELP’ the prayer band. “When one drops,” she said, “another Ruby took over leadership in 1983 from picks up.” Blanche Alexander, who had founded the small 82-year-old Ruby Brawner pops out of Now she intentionally schedules the but faithful prayer band in 1950. A native of prayer band to help Christians in the commu- Commerce, Ga., Ruby moved to Gainesville in nity to cross lines of ethnicity and tradition. 1955 and joined the prayer band in 1975. she places phone calls over the next “It doesn’t make any difference what Ruby was surprised when the founder, church I go to — black, white, Mexican — hour or so to some other members of then experiencing failing health, said to her: there’s just one God and we are praising the ““I want you to carry the prayer band on.” Lord,” she confessed. “I promised her before she died that, with And Ruby’s presence is often noticed in a the Lord’s help, I’d do my best,” said Ruby. t 6 a.m. — well before any congrega- service — with her familiar refrain of “Truly!” Initially, the prayer band had met in tion’s “early service” — the prayer band giving affirmation to a well-spoken word from homes on the early morning of the first Sunday gathers at one of the varied and many the pulpit and an inspiring song of praise. A of the month. Then they started gathering churches in this northeast Georgia town touted When asked about her signature version at various African-American congregations as the Poultry Capital of the World. (“Truly!”) of the more familiar “Amen,” she around town. Their purpose is simple, yet important: to said: “I just can’t hold it in.” Ruby said she has missed only two of worship God and to pray for their community — the prayer band services over more than three black, white and Hispanic; Protestant, Catholic GOOD TIMING decades — when she had to be in the hospital. and otherwise; people from all walks of life. A member of Gainesville’s Antioch Baptist The prayer band’s early morning experiences Church, Ruby also attends services once a month at various churches around Gainesville are kept with the rural congregation where she was simple, she said. raised. Sundays are full days of worship for her. “We open with a song, then a prayer and And she feels a need for the spiritual nour- then testimonies,” she added. “Then we leave ishment that comes from intentional times of there and people go to different places.” praying alone and with others. Ruby likes to wrap up “no later than “Prayer is like food to me,” said Ruby. 7:20” since some prayer band members attend 8 a.m. services elsewhere. And Ruby has her WIDER REACH own church commitments to fill — on time. “I don’t like to be late for anything — “I don’t see color,” Ruby said reflectively. So especially church.” several years ago she decided to “venture out” However, the very early monthly worship and see what congregations, of any racial experiences in different churches are always makeup, would welcome the prayer band. encouraging, she said. In 1995 she approached then-pastor John “That’s what motivates me: seeing people Lee Taylor of the stately First Baptist Church and not color.” on Green Street and asked about the prayer band paying a visit. “Pick a Sunday,” she recalled as his quick response. DAILY FAITH First Baptist has been on Ruby’s annual Full Sundays are not enough for Ruby. She is schedule ever since. Sleepy-eyed but welcoming involved in weekday church activities and a friends at the church will host the prayer band Saturday prison ministry. again on the first Sunday of this month. Even in casual times she is attuned to the “I thought since I had one white church, needs of others, said several of her friends. I’d find another,” Ruby recalled. “Then I’ll find Ken Reid Sr. said he needed a medical test another.” that he couldn’t afford. When Ruby learned of And so she did. As pastoral leadership this need, she told him: “Let me see what I can changes, so do some of the churches that host do about that.” 4 The needed medical care soon followed, Pastor Kai Horn said the prayer band was he said gratefully. “the true welcoming committee” when she Such wide and deep care is just the way became pastor of Trinity CME Church. Ruby approaches daily living. “It is a group of lay people, not looking “When I get out of bed every morning I for anything but to pray,” said the grateful get on my knees,” she said, “and ask God to young pastor who has now been appointed to help me to help somebody.” a church in Elberton, Ga. “You know there is someone praying for you.” ATTRACTING OTHERS And she was quick to add: “Miss Ruby is If you bump into Ruby at the store or else- the most respected person in this community.” where, expect an invitation. Prayer band member Nathan Ann Neal “Everywhere I go, I say: ‘Come to the often joins Ruby and others on Saturday after- prayer band.’ I don’t stop asking.