Pastor of my dreams - Baptist Bible Tribune

PastorAppreciationpricingThank You Pastors!As a supporting pastor* of BaptistBible College, we want to reward youand your staff with special pricing forGraduate School classes or as part ofthe Finish the Fourth Year Program.$200.00 per course(plus books)For more information, call(800) 228-5754 ext. 6013 oremailinfo@gobbc.edu*There is a minimum support level of $100.00 permonth for each staff member the church enrolls.BAPTIST BIBLE COLLEGEGRADUATE SCHOOL628 E. KearneySpringfield, MO 65803Accredited by The Higher Learning Commissionand a member of the North Central Association(800) 621-7440www.ncahigherlearningcommission.orgONE-WEEK CONCENTRATED MODULESDIRECTED RESEARCHTRADITIONAL COURSE OFFERINGSINTERNET-ENHANCED CLASSESEVENING CLASSESFOUR-WEEK EXTENDED MODULES

Vol. 59 No. 6f e b r u a r y 2 0 0 910America’s SermonA close look at Lincoln’s Second InauguralAddress gives a new perspective on the faith ofone of America’s most esteemed presidents.16Indianapolis ComebackWhat could have been a devestating setbackand total ministry failure, has changed onecongregation’s approach to “doing” church.18Team TanzaniaAssociate Mission Director Jim Smith spendsa little Q&A time covering the effectiveness ofteam missions.The Baptist Bible Tribune (ISSN 0745-5836) ispublished monthly, except for a combined July/August issue, by the BBFI,720 E. Kearney, Springfield, Missouri 65803. Periodicalclass postage paid at Springfield, Missouri,and other mailing offices.Executive Editor: Keith BasshamAssistant Editor: Rob WalkerDirector of Office Services: Karri Joy PerryEmail address: editors@tribune.orgWeb site address: www.tribune.orgSUBSCRIPTION RATES: Individual subscriptionsare $15 per year anywhere inthe U.S.; $20 per year in foreign countries.Postmaster send address changesto: Baptist Bible Tribune, P. O. Box309, Springfield, Missouri 65801,417-831-3996, fax 417-831-1470.By-lined opinions expressed in the BaptistBible Tribune are those of the authorsand not necessarily those of theeditorial staff or the Baptist Bible Fellowship.Also in this issue4 On the Table - And on a soap box5 Presidential Perspective - Pastor of my dreams6 BBFI National Meeting Information8 Digressions - News and views20 Baptist History - Abraham Marshall (1748-1819)21 NCPO - NCPO projects hit 2009 running22 WorldScope - When was the last time?23 Urban Current - Preview of a postmodern church plant24 School News27 Missionary Letters29 Fellowship News38 AfterWords - Remarkable alternative energy source!Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ] 3

from the editorOn the TableBy Keith BasshamAnd on a soap boxYou’ve heard the story, I amcertain, about the man whowas told by his pastor that theanswer to all his financial difficultiescould be found in the Bible.The man was excited the next Sundaywhen he told his pastor that theproblem was solved, and the answer,surely enough, was just where he wastold. When asked just where he hadfound his solution, the man replied,“I didn’t know where to turn, so I justopened my Bible, closed my eyes, andplaced my finger on the page. And rightthere where I put my finger, I read thewords, Chapter 11.”It turns out that churches are notimmune to modern financial struggles.A Wall Street Journal story comingout just before Christmas gave severalexamples, including lenders who specializein church financing now beingforced to foreclose on churches at analarming rate. One pastor of an olderand well-established Baptist churchreported that only about a third of thepledged amount for a new building hadcome in, leaving the church on the hookfor a much larger amount of debt thanplanned for. That led to people leavingthe church in discouragement, and theproblem grew so that the church had tofile for bankruptcy protection.There are lessons for us in the currentcrisis. Someone asked me afterHurricane Katrina if perhaps God hadsomething to say to us. I replied, “Yes.He’s telling us not to live near largebodies of water.” More seriously, Ithink God emphasizes in times of crisesthings He has already told us. There isa law of sowing and reaping. It is truethat a borrower is a servant of a lender.One should not presume upon tomorrow.Do not confuse faith with a foolishjump into the unknown. Keep backenough of what you earn so that youcan help others with needs.And then you have the commonsense arguments. Live within yourmeans. Shop wisely and don’t pay fullprice unless you simply must. Becomean environmentalist and reduce, reuse,and recycle. Don’t fall for the hype thatyou must have the latest whatzit to becool. Avoid consumer debt if at all possible.Find ways to earn income withinyour hobbies and interests. RememberGod and remember others.Now, I’m off the soapbox. Hey, Ithink I can use this box if …Abraham Lincoln was born 200years ago this month. In many wayshe is both the best-known and leastknownof our presidents. I say bestknownfor obvious reasons. I sayleast-known because so many legendsand myths, things we think we knowabout Lincoln, are not true. I pointedout, in a recent article, one of the falsequotes attributed to our 16th presidentregarding common people. Others haveexpressed opinions about his religion(or lack thereof), and all cannot be truesince they are so contradictory. However,one documented speech of his, theSecond Inaugural, has so much theologicalcontent we can at least knowsome of what Lincoln believed near theend of his life. Randy Eggert, a BaptistBible College graduate (1987) nowserving as an assistant US attorney inSpringfield, Missouri, has written ananalysis of that speech for this issueof the magazine. Randy is an activemember of Park Crest Baptist Churchin Springfield, and his career is a goodexample of the value of an education inBible and theology no matter what pathyou are on. Randy told me once thathis BBC training came into play in lawschool because he was taught the principlesof grammatical and historicalinterpretation of the Scriptures. Thosesame principles are applied (or at leastthey should be) to the law.In addition to Randy’s study of theLincoln speech, I have asked ChristopherBeck to give us a little more informationon religious references in otherinaugural addresses. Chris is the chairof the BBC Communication Department.His dissertation (he holds a PhDin communication from Regent University)analyzed presidential inaugurals.We are fortunate to have people in ourFellowship with the qualifications ofEggert and Beck.And just before I let you get intothe magazine, you might recall thatabout this time in 2001, there wassome news coming out of Indianapolis,Indiana, regarding the IndianapolisBaptist Temple and the IRS. In Februarythat year, US marshals seized thechurch property after courts found thechurch guilty of failing to withhold andpay social security and income taxesfor employees of the church. We willnot revisit the merits of the case for oragainst the church, but people haveasked about the church since then.Many thought once the property wasgone, the church would follow suit. Onthe contrary, the church is very muchin existence, and they are making a bigimpact in their city. Read the wholecomeback story in this issue.Finally, this is a big month for theTribune. We are raising our annualFebruary Tribune Offering, and theresults of our efforts will be reportedin the national Fellowship meeting inHouston, Texas, this month. Do whatyou can to be there for a great meetingin the Texas sunshine.4 Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ]

from the bbfi presidentPresidential PerspectiveGary Grey | President | Baptist Bible Fellowship InternationalPastor of my dreams — a good manIwonder what has happened to theword good. I hear God’s servantsdescribed as: clever, brilliant, courageous,or even super, but very seldomas good. However, God referred tothe man called Barnabas as a good manin Acts 11:24. God did not refer to himas Barnabas the genius, or Barnabasthe gifted, or Barnabas the wise. Why?According to God’s Word, Barnabas possessedthe gift of encouragement. Barnabasused the gift God had given himto inspire others with courage, spirit,and hope. That is what encouragementdoes, it motivates others!I think of Barnabas as the BaptistBible Fellowsip pastor of my dreams.This dream pastor specializes in others-directedministries. First, he is aload lifter. He redirects some of histime and energies to focus on the needsof other pastors rather than just hisown needs. He enjoys being a performerand not a pretender who respondswith just an “I’ll pray for you, brother.”He is a giver, not just a receiver. Heis not afraid to get involved with othersserving the same God. He sees thebig picture of a world needing the gospeland realizes that it will take all ofthose who are of the household of faithto reach those without Christ.The Fellowship pastor of mydreams is also a friend finder. I thinkof the Apostle Paul just after his conversion.The disciples were afraid ofhim and didn’t trust him because ofhis past. None wanted anything to dowith him, but Barnabas took him in.He saw potential where his brothersin Christ saw a problem. As pastorsand workers, we need to be friend finders.We need to make room for eachother. What a blessing it is to receivean unexpected phone call or note ofencouragement from another pastor,perhaps someone I have not knownwell, but someone who just wantedto be an encourager and a refresher— it is like a breath of fresh air tome! Someone has said that those whorefresh others many times do so withtheir presence, with their pen (writinga note), or with their purse (monetarygift). How true this is!The BBFI pastor of my dreamsis a bridge builder. In Acts 11:19-24,the Antioch revival caused great concern.There had been no apostolic guidanceor credence, they did not initiateit, and they did not allow it. They sentBarnabas to investigate. Barnabas sawGod moving, he exhorted them to keepgoing, and he encouraged them. As pastors,we need to follow the example ofBarnabas and rejoice with others whopreach the same gospel as we do asthey prosper and accomplish somethingfor God.I believe that the competition thatsometimes happens among churches isa dishonor to the name of Christ. FirstCorinthians 3:3 describes the contentionborn of envy, the desire for prestige,and a place of prominence. We arenot competitors, we are compatriots.Compatriots recognize their identityas members of the same great kingdom,while competitors have eyes anda heart for only their own little kingdoms.Barnabas was a bridge builderbetween old and new. He knew the oldby heart, but he could also see the new.He believed in tradition but he alsobelieved in the frontier. Thank God forpeople who can take the past, link it tothe future, and bring people together tofurther the cause of Christ.The Fellowship pastor of mydreams is a disciple developer. Barnabasleft for Tarsus to seek Saul. Hemust have known that Saul was biggerin talent and in genius as well as biggerin breath of boldness and vision. Foremostin Barnabas’ mind was the growthof these new believers. He wanted themto have the best possible instructor. Asan encourager, Barnabas cared moreabout people than about his own prominence.A dream pastor realizes thatGod never puts personalities ahead ofpurposes!Finally, the BBFI pastor of mydreams is a failure fixer. Acts 15:36-40takes us ahead a few years in time asPaul is planning to embark on a secondmissionary journey with his trustedencourager, Barnabas. Barnabas wantedJohn Mark to go along and Paul saidno. He remembered well that on theirfirst missionary journey, Mark haddropped out, “and the contention wasso sharp between [Barnabas and Paul],that they departed asunder one fromthe other: and so Barnabas took Mark,and sailed to Cyprus.”They must have agreed to disagree,for we are told that Paul took Silas andBarnabas took John Mark. Barnabasmay have said to John Mark, “Come on,son, you’ve got good stuff in you.” Later,this was the same John Mark whowrote the Gospel of Mark and the onePaul asked for when he was in prison(2 Timothy 4:11). The encourager Barnabaswas most certainly a failure fixer.These can be discouraging days,and preachers and people need a Barnabasto come alongside them, andinspire them, and infuse them withcourage, spirit, and hope. If we do thesethings, our Fellowship really can be adream come true.Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ] 5

Spurgeon’s words still true 130 years laterScientific thought is supposed to bethe way for finding out God andthe old Scripture is out of date whichsays,” Incline your ear, and comeunto Me: hear, and your soul shalllive.” Plain truth is, in this wonderfulcentury, of small account — mencrave to be mystified by their owncogitations. Many glory in being toointellectual to receive anything asabsolute certainty — they are not atall inclined to submit to the authorityof a positive Revelation! God’s Wordis not accepted by them as final, butthey judge it and believe what theylike of it.This is madness! I speak tothose who believe in the Scripturesand I say if, indeed, there isa Revelation, it becomes us to besilent before it and accept it withoutdispute! The Lord knows what isbetter than we can ever know and if50 years ago...in the Baptist Bible TribuneHe has been pleased to speak plainlyand solemnly His Word, it is oursto believe what He says because Hesays it! It may be all very well toprove that such-and-such a Revelationof God is consistent with reason,consistent with analogy, consistentwith a thousand things — but theattitude which needs such argumentis a spirit of rebellion against God! Ifthere is a Revelation, every part of itis of authority and must be believed.Human thought is not the arbiter ofTruth, but the Infallible Word is theend of all strife.It is not ours to say what theTruth of God must be, or what wethink it should be, or what we wouldlike it to be — but reverently to sitdown with open ears and willing heartto receive what God has spoken. Ifan astronomer were to refuse to examinethe stars and teach an astronomyinvented inhis own brain,he would bean idiot! Andthose whotreat theologyin thesame fashionarenot muchbetter!“Surely,”says one,“we ought to modifyour beliefs by public opinion andthe current of thought.” I say, “NO,”a thousand times! The IncorruptibleWord of God lives and abides foreverand is incapable of modification! Tomodify is to adulterate, nullify andrender it of no effect, so that itbecomes another gospel and, indeed,no Gospel.The thought of tampering withthe revealed Truth of God is viciousand ought not to be tolerated by anyChristian for a second! The Gospelof Jesus Christ is not a thing whichis to be molded according to thefashion of the period — it is “JesusChrist the same yesterday, today, andforever.” Whether the Greek philosophyrules or is exploded. Whethersome more modern theory blazes upor smolders down is small concernof ours, for we are set to preach theone unvarying Gospel of Jesus Christsent down with the Holy Spirit fromHeaven!Source: Charles Spurgeon, Forts Demolished andPrisoners Taken (Sermon #1473 on the Web atwww.spurgeongems.org)Call me!70% of couples whoboth own a cell phonecontact each otheronce a day or moreto say hello or chat;54% of couples whohave one or no cell phones dothis at least once a day.Source: Pew/Internet and American Life Project, NetworkedFamilies, Oct. 2008.Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ] 9

america’s sermonA profile of Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Addressby Randy EggertShortly after noon on March 4, 1865,Abraham Lincoln, wearing a newsuit of black cloth, took the oath ofoffice for a second time as president ofthe United States. Prior to taking the oath,Lincoln gave his Second Inaugural Address.Lincoln’s Second Inaugural has beencalled America’s Sermon, because thecore of the speech involves a discussionof judgment as a key component of God’swill. Lincoln directly quoted three differentpassages from the Bible, Matthew7:1, Matthew 18:7, and Psalm 19:9, andthese quotations actually are the core ofthe speech. Only one president prior toLincoln, John Quincy Adams, had quotedfrom the Bible, and that was a throwawayline citing Psalm 127:1 at the end of thespeech where Adams said he would relyon divine will to govern the country. Otherpresidents had been content to refer toDivine Providence or the Creator or othereuphemisms to reference God.In this speech, Lincoln used his understandingof the Bible to take the nation bythe hand, lead it before a mirror of God’swill, challenge it to look honestly at the re-flection cast back, and accept in good faithand humility the righteous prerogative of a“just God.” It was an extraordinary statementof government public policy, and itwas even more extraordinary coming fromAbraham Lincoln.Despite the modern hagiographysurrounding Lincoln, the 16th presidentwas not a particularly religious person untilthe end of his life. Lincoln never joined achurch, or, as far as is known, took baptismor communion. Lincoln periodically had torefute allegations that he was a skeptic, oreven worse, an outright heretic, regardingthe Christian faith. Lincoln’s path from possibleskeptic to a believer in God’s sovereigntybegins, in part, with his being theson of an unloved father and the path endswith him being the father of a loved son.Lincoln was our first president tobe nominally raised in the Baptist faith.10 Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ]

Photographer Alexander Gardner capturedthis image of President Lincoln deliveringhis inaugural address on the east portico ofthe U.S. Capitol, March 4, 1865.Lincoln’s father, Thomas Lincoln, was amember of a Primitive Baptist church inKentucky when Lincoln was born, andwhen the Lincoln family moved to Indianain 1816, the family attended the LittlePigeon Baptist Church, another PrimitiveBaptist congregation. Primitive Baptistswere strongly Calvinistic in theology, antislavein political outlook, and because ofthe lack of educated clergy on the frontier,susceptible to emotionalism in preaching.Lincoln recoiled against the emotionalismand uneducated nature of the clergywho apparently graced the pulpit of theLittle Pigeon church. On one occasion,Thomas Lincoln angrily disciplined his sonafter catching him after a Sunday servicebehind the church mocking and mimickingthe preacher’s sermon to the delight ofthe other teenage boys who were Lincoln’saudience. When Lincoln moved with hisfamily to Illinois in 1830, there is no recordof him joining as an adult with the PrimitiveBaptist congregations in New Salem orSpringfield.He had a distant relationship with hisfather. Thomas Lincoln was not a welleducatedman and Lincoln was apparentlyembarrassed by him as he began his ownrise in Illinois politics. He did, however,carry vestiges of his father’s worldview ashe developed in adulthood. Lincoln, as ayoung man, maintained a belief in someunknown power or force that compelleda person to a certain action or result apartfrom free will, which Lincoln labeled “theDoctrine of Necessity.” He credited his upbringingwith instilling within him a strongaversion to slavery. Thomas Lincoln’santi-slavery beliefs, springing from hischurch’s teaching, were one factor in thefamily’s move from Kentucky to Indianain 1816. Lincoln, like most Americans ofhis generation, had a deep knowledgeof the Bible as a book. He memorizedlarge portions of the Bible, along withJohn Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, ParsonWeem’s Life of Washington, and portionsof Aesop’s Fables.Well liked and a good storyteller, theambitious young Lincoln embarked on acareer of politics and the law. He beganhis political rise in New Salem, Illinois, andthen in the state capital, Springfield. Alongthe way, Lincoln dealt with, as he calledit, “this sad world of ours.” His first love,Ann Rutledge, died before they could bemarried. His eventual wife, Mary ToddLincoln, had a temper and haughty disposition,and as the tragedies that envelopedLincoln also affected her, she turned tospiritualism, and eventually became mentallyimbalanced. Lincoln was never closeto his first son, Robert. Their second son,Edward, died at four years of age in 1850.Lincoln was deeply troubled by the loss,but at the time did not attempt to rationalizehis death as part of any divine plan.After Edward’s death, the Lincolns hadtwo more children, William, nicknamedWillie, who Lincoln doted on, and Thomas,named after Abraham’s father.Lincoln also confronted political setbacks.While he served as a successful statelegislator, he only served one lone term inCongress. It was during this race for Congress,in 1846, that Lincoln had to confrontquestions about his faith. Lincoln’s Democraticopponent, the Methodist circuit-ridingpreacher Peter Cartwright, had stirredup ugly rumors about Lincoln’s lack of faith,intimating he was a “scoffer” of Christianity.To confront this potentially ruinouscharge, Lincoln issued an open letter to thevoters of his congressional district statingthat while he was “not a member of anyChristian church” he had “never deniedthe truth of the Scriptures.” In the letter,Lincoln further defined his belief in the“Doctrine of Necessity” as the ideathe “human mind is impelled to action,or held in rest by some power,over which the mind itself has nocontrol,” again a more dressed-upversion of the Calvinism Lincolnhad been exposed to as a child.Lincoln was passed over forthe United States Senatetwice, in 1856, and morefamously, to Steve Douglasin 1858. While he was asuccessful and prosperousattorney, politicalsuccess seemed toelude him. Lincoln became depressed atthe losses and wrote in 1856 that for him“the race of ambition has been a failure —a flat failure.”During these times of growth, trial,and political maturity, apart from his letterdescribing the “Doctrine of Necessity” in1846, Lincoln did not evidence any deepreligious impulse or thought. Lincoln’s lawpartner, William Herndon, openly disgustedwith the post-assassination portrayal ofLincoln as an overtly religious man, statedthat Lincoln had lived and died as “anunbeliever.” Herndon can be somewhatdiscounted as an unreliable witness, himselfbeing an occasional ally of the 19thcentury agnostic Robert Ingersoll in attemptingto turn Lincoln into an AmericanVoltaire rejecting traditional Christianity.President Lincoln sat for this portrait byAlexander Gardner on February 5, 1865.Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ] 11

But both Herndon and Ingersoll are correctinsofar that Lincoln, prior to his electionin 1861, was a man untroubled by a deepreligious conviction that was the hallmarkof the age in which he became president.Lincoln had the misfortune of beingboth the catalyst for and the presidentduring the bloodiest war in the nation’shistory. Southern politicians had promisedthat they would foment rebellion ifLincoln, the “black Republican,” becamepresident, and they kept their word.Eventually, 600,000 Americans, north andsouth, died in the rebellion, and Lincoln,a man averse to cruelty and bloodshed,could not help but wonder what role hehad played in causing it.Also, in February of 1862, at thebeginning of the war, Lincoln’s belovedWillie died. Willie’s death drove Mary ToddLincoln to psychic mediums for comfort. InLincoln’s case, it suffused the remainder ofLincoln’s life with the personal grief fromthe loss. Lincoln never overcame his beliefin the “Doctrine of Necessity” and wasfond of quoting a line from Hamlet:There’s a divinity that shapes our endsRough-hew them how we will.In a letter to a grieving daughter of anold friend from his days as a circuit-ridinglawyer in Illinois, after her father had diedin a battle in Mississippi, Lincoln told her toremember that despite the pain “[y]ou aresure to be happy again” adding that whilein “this sad world of ours, sorrow comesto all,” to the young, it “comes with bitteragony, because it takes them unawares.The older have learned to ever expect it.”But underneath the fatalism, Lincolnbegan to understand that a benevolentGod was ordering his life for a purpose.Lincoln was neither the first nor the lastman to be driven back to the faith of hischildhood by personal tragedy. But thejourney back was more poignant underthe tremendous pressure the prosecutionof the war made on Lincoln. The presidentrented a pew at the New York AvenuePresbyterian Church in Washington, andhad a series of discussions with the pastor,Phineas D. Gurley, about the death ofWillie and the assurance that the child wasin heaven. Lincoln began to pepper hisremarks and speeches with direct referencesto God, something that he had notfrequently done before his election.Lincoln told members of the EvangelicalLutheran Church in May of 1862 thathe placed his “whole dependence uponthe favor of God.” In an interview in Octoberof 1862, Lincoln asserted that he wasa “humble instrument in the hands of ourHeavenly Father” who desired that “all myworks and acts may be according to Hiswill.” Lincoln stated that if he had his way,the war would have never commenced,and would already be over, but he confessedthat through some “wise purposeof his own, mysterious and unknown tous” God allowed the war to continue andthat even though he could not understandwhy, with his “limited understanding”Lincoln was confident that “we cannotbut believe, that He who made the worldLincoln wasneither the firstnor the last manto be driven backto the faith ofhis childhood bypersonal tragedy.still governs it.” In 1863, Lincoln invokedthe “gracious favor” of “Almighty God”in issuing the Emancipation Proclamationand hoped that the nation, “under God,”would have a “new birth of freedom,” inthe Gettysburg Address.Some biographers dismiss thesereferences to God as examples of “civicreligion” designed to play to public opinion.Lincoln’s internal thoughts, however,reveal a man not making allowances forpublic opinion, but instead struggling withhow God might be using him in the nation’sgreat struggle. In a private note thatLincoln wrote in September of 1862, heforeshadowed arguments that he woulduse during the Second Inaugural Address:The will of God prevails. In greatcontests each party claims to act inaccordance with the will of God. Bothmay be, and one must be wrong. Godcannot be for and against the samething at the same time. In the presentcivil war it is quite possible that God’spurpose is something different fromthe purposes of either party — and yetthe human instrumentalities, workingjust as they do are the best adaptationto effect His purposes. I am almostready to say that this is probably true— that God wills this contest, and willsthat it shall not end yet.That Lincoln read the Bible prior to becomingpresident is without question. Asmost Americans of the mid-19th century,it was probably one of the first books thatLincoln read. Prior to his election, Lincolnhad used Jesus’ rebuke to the Phariseesconcerning attributing Christ’s miracles toSatan in his “House Divided” speech in1858. Such biblical references were easilyrecognizable to the Americans of Lincoln’sday who would have known instantly fromwhere the reference came. These referenceswere more than just rhetorical flourisheson Lincoln’s part. In the summer of 1864,Lincoln’s old friend, Joshua Speed, foundLincoln reading his Bible. Speed complimentedLincoln on being so “profitablyengaged” but stated that if Lincoln hadrecovered from his “skepticism,” Speedhad not. Lincoln admonished his old friendhe was wrong, and advised that “take allof this book upon reason that you can,and the balance on faith, and you will live12 Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ]

and die a happier and better man.”When Lincoln received a Bible from adelegation of Baltimore African-Americansin September of 1864, he told them thatthe Bible was “the best gift God has givenman.” Lincoln further stated that “[a]ll thegood the Saviour gave to the world wascommunicated through this book. But forit we could not know right from wrong.All things most desirable for man’s welfare,here and hereafter, are to be foundportrayed in it.” It is hard to believe thatLincoln, with his reputation for honesty,would feel the need to be so lavish in hispraise for the Bible if the sentiment wasnot heartfelt.So, as the time for Lincoln’s SecondInaugural Addressapproached,Lincoln had, ashistorian DavidDonald noted, gonethrough a “processof crystallization”about the role ofGod in his life.God reigned, andLincoln, in faith,trusted that Godwould appropriatelydirect his paths.Lincoln had alreadyexpressed thesethemes in his writingsand speechesto smaller audiences.Now, Lincolnwould express thesethoughts to the restof the nation andthe world.Inauguration Day, 1865, dawnedcold and wet. Rain the previous week hadturned the dirt streets into thick, muddyrivers, and the mud got everywhere, includingthe thick woolen pants of the malespectators and the long dresses of thewomen. Rain continued into the morningof March 4, and the large crowd whichhad come to observe the event was thoroughlysoaked by the time the ceremoniesbegan. Before Lincoln began to speak,after noon, sunlight penetrated the clouds,illuminating the rostrum where Lincoln wasstanding and thrilling the crowd.Lincoln’s speech, at 703 words, isthe third shortest Inaugural Address as ofJanuary of 2009, and 44 of those wordsare direct quotations from the King JamesBible. Lincoln did not use the occasion ofthe speech to boast about the recent warsuccess. It was, in fact, absent the triumphalismso much the hallmark of modernAmerican politics.Instead, Lincoln began the speech bynoting that the“progress ofour arms” waswell known tothe public soLincoln wouldnot give a further report except to notethat “with high hopes for the future, noprediction in regard to it is ventured.”Lincoln then focused on the ultimate causeof the war, the institution of slavery in thesouthern states. Lincoln noted that whileboth sides deplored the bloodshed of thewar, one side “would make war ratherthan let the nation survive; and the otherwould accept war rather than let it perish.And the war came.”Lincoln noted the irony that while thecause of the war was the expansion orlimitation of slavery in the United States,this cause had become overwhelmed bythe “magnitude” and “duration” of thewar. Emancipation had become law, andthe Confederate Congress was discussingarming slaves in order to fight for southernindependence, with the promise thatthey would be freed for their service. Thewar itself had dislocated large numbersof slaves, and it would be impossible toreturn them back to their masters. Some ofthese former slaveswere fighting in theUnion Army. Theprimary cause of thewar then, slavery,had essentiallyceased, yet the warcontinued.Lincoln pivotedin the speech andfocused upon thedilemma of tryingto explain to the nationwhy the war should continue.“Both read the same Bible, andpray to the same God; and eachinvokes His aid against the other”Lincoln said, noting the inconsistencyof men who seek to enlistGod in their cause instead of seekingto enlist in God’s cause. Lincoln,despite his admonition to “judgenot that we be not judged” didimplicitly judge unworthy a causethat asked a “just God’s assistancein wringing bread from the sweatof other men’s faces.”Lincoln invoked the imageryof prayer three times in thespeech, first in noting that bothsides prayed to the same God and askedfor his aid against the other, second, thatprayers of both could not be answered oranswered fully, and third, that the nationfondly hoped and fervently prayed thatthis “mighty scourge of war may speedilypass away.” Lincoln believed in prayer,and was observed praying on numerousoccasions in the White House. Lincoln,however, made clear in his comments herethat sometimes, despite the fervor of theprayer, the answer to that prayer may bethe opposite of the request. Why was thisBaptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ] 13

so? Lincoln’s answer forms the core of thespeech:The prayers of both could not beanswered; that of neither has beenanswered fully. The Almighty has hisown purposes. “Woe unto the worldbecause of offences! For it must needsbe that offences come; but woe to thatman by whom the offense cometh!” Ifwe shall suppose that American slaveryis one of those offences which, in theprovidence of God, must needs come,but which, having continued throughHis appointed time, He now wills toremove, and that He gives to bothNorth and South, this terrible war, asthe woe due to those by whom theoffense came, shall we discern thereinany departure from those divine attributeswhich the believers in a LivingGod always ascribe to Him?Lincoln speculated that if the war wasthe “woe” due for the terrible offense ofslavery, then this fact was evidence of, notevidence against, the “divine attributeswhich the believers of a Living God alwaysascribe to him.” Lincoln said that while“fondly we do hope — fervently do wepray — that this mighty scourge of warmay speedily pass away” it was more likelythat God’s will required a quid pro quopunishment to pay for the offense,“ untilall of the wealth piled by the bondman’stwo hundred and fifty years of unrequitedtoil shall be sunk, and until every drop ofblood drawn with the lash, shall be paidby another drawn by the sword.” Lincoln,quoting Psalm 19:9, concluded whetherGod willed the war to end immediately orto last longer, the nation should trust thatthe “judgments of the Lord, are true andrighteous altogether.”Lincoln urged the nation to seek God’swill in the ordering of its affairs. Lincoln didnot presuppose that his will was automaticallyGod’s will for the nation, and he hadfound that sometimes, in the course oflife, God’s judgments and his will were notreadily comprehended by men. The SecondInaugural Address marked Lincoln’s finalacceptance that it was part of the Christianexperience to stand for righteousnesseven when God’s will hammered away thecommon supports of our lives. Therefore,Lincoln opens his closing paragraph:With malice toward none, with charityfor all, with firmness in the rightas God gives us to see the right, let usstrive on to finish the work we are in…This urge to strive on with “firmnessin the right as God gives us to see theright” should be seen as more proof of theprocess of crystallization in Lincoln’s mindWhen the President Invites God to the InnaugurationBy Christopher L. BeckJanuary 20, 2005, President GeorgeW. Bush closed his Second InauguralAddress with the benediction, “MayGod bless you, and may He watch overthe United States of America.” Bushhad closed his First Inaugural Addressin a similar way. In that speech, he alsoindirectly quoted from Ecclesiastes 9:11.However, Bush was not the first Americanpresident to invoke God’s name in aninaugural address. These speeches aboundwith references to God, the Bible, andeven Christianity.George Washington’s appealto the AlmightyGeorge Washington, on April 30, 1789,said in his first inaugural address:[I]t would be peculiarly improperto omit in this first official act my ferventsupplications to that Almighty Being whorules over the universe, who presides in thecouncils of nations . . . that His benedictionmay consecrate to the liberties and happinessof the people of the United States a Governmentinstituted by themselves for these essentialpurposes. . . . No people can be bound toacknowledge and adore the Invisible Handwhich conducts the affairs of men more thanthose of the United States.Washington concluded by recognizingGod as the “benign Parent of the HumanRace” who had “been pleased to favor theAmerican people” during the process ofestablishing a new form of government. Healso expressed his desire to see God blessAmerica in the future in areas “on whichthe success of this Government mustdepend.”In fact, seven “religious activities”took place at Washington’s first inaugural,according to House Resolution 888(introduced in Congress in 2007 by U.S.Representative Randy Forbes). These were:(1) the use of the Bible to administer theoath;(2) affirming the religious nature of theoath by the adding the prayer `So helpme God!’ to the oath;(3) inaugural prayers offered by thepresident;(4) religious content in the inauguraladdress;(5) civil leaders calling the people to prayeror acknowledgement of God;(6) inaugural worship services attended enmasse by Congress as an official part ofcongressional activities; and(7) clergy-led inaugural prayers, activitieswhich have been replicated in whole orpart by every subsequent president . . .John Adams on ChristianityFollowing Washington, John Adamsbecame the nation’s second Chief Executive.In his March 7, 1797, address, Adamsdescribed qualifications he brought tothe job, including his “veneration for thereligion of a people who profess and callthemselves Christians, and a fixed resolutionto consider a decent respect forChristianity . . .”14 Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ]

toward an acceptance of God’s sovereignty.Lincoln, in his Cooper Union address in1860 had used a similar phrase to encourageRepublicans to stand firm againstattempts by southerners to water downRepublican opposition to slavery expansionin the territories. Then Lincoln said “[l]etus have faith that right makes might, andin that faith, let us, to the end dare to doour duty as we understand it.” In 1860,Lincoln had invoked human understandingto know the duty of the citizen. In 1864, amore reflective Lincoln invoked God to helpthe citizen better see his duty.We 21st century Christians should paythe same compliment to God’s Word thatLincoln did by taking it seriously. It is easyto overlook that the Bible does not promisea life freed from pain or suffering in theperformance of Christian responsibility.What is right, truly right, under the Bible,is not now, and will not be, popular in themodern culture. But it does not make itless right or lessen the responsibility of theChristian to act according to the dictates ofhis conscience as directed by God. How thisresponsibility is borne will tell a watchingworld what kind of people we are.In September of 1901, a group ofmen gathered around a coffin in Springfield,Illinois, to perform an importanttask. A new crypt to contain the coffinof Abraham Lincoln had been prepared.To prevent grave robbers from stealingLincoln’s body and holding it for ransom,as a group had attempted to do in 1876,Lincoln’s coffin was to be placed into acage, lowered into a hole in the crypt, andwas then to be covered with two tons ofcement ten feet thick. Before this occurred,a hole was cut in the coffin over Lincoln’sface and 23 persons were allowed to seeinside to authenticate that Lincoln’s bodywas still in the coffin. What they saw wasthe remarkably well-preserved face of Lincoln’scorpse, wearing the black cloth suithe had worn on March 4, 1865, the day ofhis Second Inaugural.After each man looked inside, the coffinwas sealed, and the body of AbrahamLincoln was lowered into the crypt and coveredwith concrete. Although that face cannow only be seen in faded photographs,the measure of the man can still be takenby the words he left behind to the nationhe served and to the God whose will hesearched for and eventually accepted.Randy Eggert is an assistant U.S. Attorney servingin Springfield, Missouri. He received his biblicaltraining at Baptist Bible College. This articlerepresents the views and opinions of the authorand is for the information and convenience ofthe public. It does not constitute endorsement,recommendation, or favoring by the Departmentof Justice.Adams also prayed for God to “continueHis blessing upon this nation and itsGovernment and give it all possible successand duration consistent with the ends ofHis providence.”Thomas Jefferson praisesAmerican religionAmerica’s incoming third president, ThomasJefferson, in his March 4, 1801, inauguraladdress, commented on the concernexpressed by some that “man can not betrusted to govern himself.” Jefferson, notknown as one of America’s most religiouspresidents, noted among other things thepositive influence of religion upon Americansociety. He said the nation was:. . . enlightened by a benign religion,professed, indeed, and practiced in variousforms, yet all of them inculcating honesty,truth, temperance, gratitude, and the love ofman; acknowledging and adoring an overrulingProvidence, . . . what more is necessaryto make us a happy and a prosperous people?Closing his Second Inaugural (March4, 1805), Jefferson publicly acknowledgedthe need for God’s help.I shall need, too, the favor of that Beingin whose hands we are, who led our fathers,as Israel of old, from their native land andplanted them in a country flowing with allthe necessaries and comforts of life; who hascovered our infancy with His providenceand our riper years with His wisdom andpower, and to whose goodness I ask you tojoin in supplications with me that He will soenlighten the minds of your servants, guidetheir councils, and prosper their measuresthat whatsoever they do shall result in yourgood, and shall secure to you the peace,friendship, and approbation of all nations.Dwight Eisenhower leads in prayerAppeals for God’s blessings and help werenot only made by the Founding Fathers.Dwight Eisenhower’s First InauguralAddress ( January 20, 1953) containsone of the boldest appeals to God. Inhis prayer, Eisenhower asked “AlmightyGod” to “Give us . . . the power to discernclearly right from wrong, and allow all ourwords and actions to be governed thereby,and by the laws of this land.” Eisenhoweralso prayed for cooperation among thoseof differing political persuasions “so thatall those may work for the good of ourbeloved country and Thy glory. Amen.”America’s need for GodReferences to God and prayers for Hisblessings permeate the inaugural addressesof American presidents just as they permeateAmerican history itself. They remindus, as Americans, not only of the personalbeliefs of our presidents, but that we arenot a self-made nation, but rather a nationwhose success and continued existence aredependent upon the grace and the blessingsof God Himself.Chris Beck is Communications DepartmentChair at Baptist Bible College in Springfield,Missouri.Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ] 15

IndianapolisComebackBy Keith BasshamEight years ago this February 13, at8:40 a.m., United States Marshalsentered the property of IndianapolisBaptist Temple in Indianapolis,Indiana, with the intention of seizingthe church property on behalf of the InternalRevenue Service for the allegedfailure to withhold and pay income andsocial security taxes for employees ofthe church. The judgment eventuallycame to something between five millionand six million dollars.The church, pastored at first byGreg J. Dixon and then later by his son,Greg A. Dixon (since 1996), had arguedfor several years that a New Testamentchurch was not subject to federal taxlaws, and it continues to maintain thatposition. In fact, taxes were paid by theindividuals who had received incomefrom the church and school, and thegovernment never disputed that. Thechurch never taught that Christiansshould not pay taxes. The church alsoattempted to change its corporate statusin efforts to satisfy lawful demandswithout compromising church integrity.In short, the arguments failed topersuade the court the church was inthe right, and after all appeals were exhausted,the church’s physical propertywas seized for the debt. That property,including furniture and books, was soldat auction March 23, 2001. Thus endedthe case United States of America vs.Indianapolis Baptist Temple. At least,that ended the court case, and in theeyes of many, it was the end of thechurch. But for Dixon and the Templechurch, it was a new beginning.For example, today, on the formersite of the church stands a charterschool, Christel House Academy. Insidethe school, members of IndianapolisBaptist Temple teach regular Bibleclasses. Not too far away, other IBTmembers are involved in inner-cityministry among children, and a littlefurther down the street, IndianapolisBaptist Temple is helping sponsor aHispanic congregation. On the weekends,the IBT members gather Sundaymornings and evenings at The LifeCenter at Southport for regular worshipservices, and during the week,the Life Center is host for communityevents. That is hardly the stuff of afailed church.On the contrary, in a conversationwith me in late 2008, Dixon said, “If theIRS had nottaken the property,I don’tknow that wewould be thechurch we aretoday.”But that’s running with the storya bit. Ecclesiology 101 for Baptiststeaches that people are the church, andbuildings are not. That said, in manycases, the loss of property would beconsidered a deathblow. Dixon had evidentlyplanned for the eventuality. Serviceswere held the next Sunday, andfor several months after, the churchmet in a local school building, and thenlater a banquet facility in a hotel. Gregpreached in a conference later that yearabout being a church without walls,and he and his congregation were livingout the sermon.Eventually, however, they foundan alternative. Today, they lease (theydo not own) a 76,000-square-foot facilityinto which the congregation pouredtens of thousands of dollars in renovationswith the idea that they would notonly have a home for their church andactivities, but a place for ministering16 Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ]

to the community. The Life Center atSouthport became home for the maincongregation of IBT, but the very largebuilding is at work nearly every dayof the week hosting a 6,000-foot youthcenter with a café and meeting rooms,sports (racquetball, tennis, etc.), acheerleading school, counseling rooms,offices, and events for home schoolgroups. Sunday afternoons, a BurmeseBaptist church meets at the Life Center.Income from these activities makesthe lease payment for the church.The Sunday services at IBT havea contemporary feel in an attractive,modern auditorium. Four hundred tofive hundred people gather for Sundaymorning worship. The people sing.They teach. They support missionaries,and they had just completed a successfulmission conference just daysbefore my visit. Four students from IBTattend Baptist Bible College in Springfield(Dixon and several staff membersare BBC alumni). There is no hintamong them that the church ever hadany struggles — no anti-governmentrhetoric, no trace of bitterness. Andwith a joy that is plainly visible to anyobserver, Indianapolis Baptist Templeand Pastor Dixon are focused uponreaching their city with the gospel.Five ministries are functioningIBT Staff Men and WomenFront RowWanda BrittConsuelo StoferKim DzulaShannon HunsleyAnna Biddinger2nd rowDoug ThompsonCarole SparksDennis StoferGreg DzulaScott HunsleyChad BiddingerBack RowMatt RollerBekah RollerEllery HunsleyJeannie HunsleyKathy DixonGreg DixonToby Digrugilliersnow, and Dixon plans for 20 more in aplan he calls Operation Saturation. Hesays, “What we’re doing in the city ischanging hearts, changing lives, changingdestinies.”Crown of Life Baptist Church, ina high-poverty, high-crime area on theeast side, began with 12 or 13 peoplemeeting. They have reached a highattendance of 158. Ministries under theleadership of Greg Dzula include outreachto children through Bible classesand youth camp.Soon after, IBT began a Hispanicchurch at the Crown of Life propertycalling it Iglesia Bautista BetesdaCorona de la Vida meeting on Sundayevenings. Immigrants from Mexico, ElSalvador, and Colombia make up thecongregation led by Pastor HerminioLopez.West Side Baptist Church began ina converted house. According to leaderToby Digrigulliers, it has a laid-backand casual approach. He said, “We’vehad to become missionaries in our ownland.” Dixon says by beginning withIBT people in these new congregations,the church is doing far more than ifthey had stayed on one property. Hesaid, “We would not have reached thesepeople by simply adding. We had todivide in order to multiply.”The church also has a children’soutreach in a property owned by IndianapolisArea Youth Ministry neardowntown. IBT staff and memberstravel to the area Sunday afternoonsto provide activities and worship forinner-city youth. Noting that mostindependent Baptist churches are notactive in inner-city ministry, Dixonsays, “I think that if murders and othercrimes go down, and there are fewerteens having babies, and fewer drugson the street,that would bea good thing,right?”Plans forthe futureinclude 25churches inthe Indianapolisurban area,100 Bible studies,and more.Dixon says,“The Lordhas blessedus beyond ourexpectations.”Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ] 17

TeamTanzaniaBy Jim Smith | BBFI Associate Mission DirectorRecently, I had the opportunity tointerview Dave Jones, BBFI missionaryto Tanzania, regarding their teamconcept of missions. David and Bonniewere approved as missionaries throughthe Fellowship in 1986. Their successfulteam approach to ministry wasconsidered by some to be revolutionaryback in the 80s. John and Julie Kirklandand David and Bonnie Jones, havingbeen friends for years, wanted to goas a team to Africa. At the beginningthey went to Kenya, and then TeamTanzania took shape in 1990 whenthey moved to Dodoma, Tanzania. Iasked Dave specifically about the ideaof working together in a foreign countryas a team.JS: Thanks for taking time toanswer some questions for ourreaders regarding the concept ofdoing ministry as a team. As fundamentalBaptists, we sometimespride ourselvesin being independentto thepoint of beingmavericks. Whatare the benefitsof the team approach?**: Assurance and strength:Enormous strength and courage infacing a new culture and change isdrawn from another family.Companionship and morale: Not onlydoes the missionary have the partnershipof a coworker, but thewife (often tied to home byyoung children, schooling,and day-to-day chores) hasthe companionship andcamaraderie of anotherwoman in similar ministry.Gifting: Team memberswith varying gifts, abilities,and passions in ministrycan complement eachother and share responsibilitiesin ministry.Work distribution: Usingtheir spiritual gifts andnatural talents together, responsibilitiescan be dividedand shared. Ministries can be expandedand developed without such a strain onone man and his family.Finances: Ministry expenses can oftenbe shared, easing tension on tight missionarybudgets. These are just a few ofthe benefits, but there are dozens more.JS: What would be the dangersin a team approach?**: Major hazards of a team“marriage” go hand in hand with thoseof a normal marriage: communicationfailure, jealousy, conflicting thoughtsand feelings, etc. There are three keysthat we have found to ensure a longlastingbond: 1) spiritual unity, 2)communication, and 3) commitment.JS: Did you get any negative responseto this approach initially?**: We promoted the team idea withsuch naive enthusiasm, we probablymissed a few raised eyebrows orignored some negative responses. I canonly remember one pastor who openlystated “That’s never going to work,and I can’t support it.” Several othersquestioned, “Who is going to be theleader? How is that going to work?”But far outweighing any negativeresponse was the tremendous supportwe received from people in the pew.After our presentation, people wouldcome to us bubbling with enthusiasm,expressing their excitement to hearthat two missionary families, friendsfrom youth, were joining up andheading to Africa with the gospel.18 Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ]

families and one single missionary,all working at different levels withinthe team. Some work side by side inthe same daily ministry. Others workin the same locale but in separateministries, cooperating together.Others are in a location on their own,but teaming together in our nationalBible school and national pastortraining, youth camps, etc.of a united effort in Tanzania. As youalluded earlier, teaming isn’t naturalfor independents. So, it requiresa high level of commitment, goodcommunication, and prayer.JS: How would you advise youngmissionaries just beginning acareer in world evangelization?JS: Have any of those who werenegative at the beginning comearound to support your approachnow that they see it has workedso well?**: The team concept is no longer newin the BBFI. We have been thrilled tosee a whole new generation of teamsforming and heading to the missionfield. I can’t say that specific pastorshave come full circle to support ourteam and ministry here in Tanzania,but I suspect that pastors and churchesas a whole are much more responsive tothe team idea now than 20 years ago.JS: How many are on the teamtoday?**: Team Tanzania consists of nineJS: Where are the team membersgeographically?**: Currently in three locations: Inthe capital, Dar es Salaam, in the citiesof Morogoro and Arusha, and in thedistrict of Hanang.JS: How often and where do youmeet?**: As a nationwide team we meetannually for a week each April. This isone of the highlights of our year, as wecome together for worship, teaching,games and competitions, prayer, andstrategy sessions. Throughout the yearwe meet whenever we can for holidays,Bible school and training events, andvacations. Once each year the men tryto take a motorcycle safari where webike into the bush, camp, cook overan open fire, and chase zebra, giraffe,and wildebeest. The ladies also have aspecial retreat each year.JS: To what do you attribute thesuccess of Team Tanzania?**: The conviction that teamworkis biblical, practical, and worth theeffort. We work hard at buildinga spirit of camaraderie with newmissionary families, a genuine respectfor one another and our ministries,and continually recasting the vision**: Reread the missionary ministry ofthe apostles as recorded in Acts. Studyagain the evangelism ministry of thedisciples of Christ. Be reminded of thewords of the preacher in Ecclesiastes 4“Two are better than one; because theyhave a good reward for their labor....”Then seek out that man or that familythat God has prepared to be the startof your team. You will recognize thembecause their minds and hearts willresonate with yours. Get together andpray. Dream big dreams and follow theadvice of our former mission director,Dr. Carl Boonstra, “Think what we cando together!” Then, as you prepare andgo to the field, be a learner every stepof the way.Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ] 19

Baptist HistoryBy Thomas RAYAbraham MarshallThe Eloquent Baptist PioneerAbraham Marshall was a worthy successor to his illustriousfather, Daniel Marshall. The elder Marshalland Shubal Stearns were the founders of the SeparateBaptist movement in the South.Abraham was born in Windsor, Connecticut, in 1748.He was converted at the age of 19 at Stephen’sCreek Baptist Church in South Carolinaand was baptized by his father in theSavannah River. Immediately after his conversion,Abraham began his preaching ministry.The first 20 years was devoted almostexclusively to itinerant preaching. Upon thedeath of his father in 1784, he assumed thepastorate of the Kiokee Baptist Church, achurch he would serve for the next 35 years.But he would never desert his first love, theitinerate ministry.His extensive “labors were not confinedto a single city or town, to any one county orstate, still less to a single church.” Abrahampossessed a gift not afforded to most of hiscontemporaries — the ability to clothe hismessages in eloquence. A biographer wrote,“His voice was one of great power, melodyand flexibility. In nothing, perhaps was hemore remarkable than the power of description.He would portray the glories of heavenwith such matchless force and breadth, thathis hearers could scarcely remain upon theirseats; and he would depict the miseries of the lost in suchterrible, burning language, as almost to make the hair standerect upon your head.”No man founded more churches in Georgia than AbrahamMarshall. One of the churches he founded was FirstBaptist Church of Augusta, which he organized in 1817 andpastored until May 1819. Marion Symms, historian of theFirst Baptist Church of Augusta, describes “Marshall ridingdown the streets of Augusta on his old white horse, his saddlebags packed with New Testaments and tracts which hefreely distributed, at the same time inviting all to come andhear the Gospel preached at the Court House. Often, merrygroups of young people would go expecting amusement,but they left us their testimony that having heard AbrahamMarshall they stayed to pray.”One of the most remarkable events in Abraham Marshall’sministry began on May 10, 1786, when he left Kiokeeon a trip to Connecticut, which ended six months lateron November 17. He had ridden horseback approximately3000 miles through 11 states preaching a minimum of 197times. Conversions on the tripwere counted in the hundreds.But the numbers who heardhim were astonishing. In NewEngland, he spoke time aftertime to hundreds and on oneoccasion to 3,500 eager listeners.Not since the days of Whitfieldhad such large and enthusiasticcrowds gathered to hearthe gospel preached and neverby a Baptist preacher. Benedict,the historian, states that,“Crowded assemblies followedhim wherever he went.” It is calculatedthat Abraham Marshallpreached to between 40,000 and50,000 on his journey to andfrom New England.One of his greatest personaltriumphs while in New Englandwas the winning of his cousin,Eliakim Marshall, to Baptistprinciples. Eliakim had been amuch respected and highly esteemed pedo-baptist ministerfor 30 years. After several discussions with Abraham, Eliakimbecame convinced that infant baptism was unscriptural,and in spite of family opposition, he and Abraham Marshallwent to a nearby river where Abraham preached a sermonon baptism and immersed Eliakim in the presence ofhundreds who had never witnessed a baptism according tothe biblical pattern. On the following day, Abraham had theprivilege of delivering the sermon at Eliakim’s ordination,who was faithful to his decision and embarked late in life ona new ministry in the Baptist denomination. The next day,Abraham left on his return trip to Georgia.For the next 33 years he labored faithfully and consistentlyuntil his death on the evening of August 15, 1819, atthe age of 71.20 Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ]

NCPO projects hit 2009 runningWayne Guinnncpo directorRiverside Baptist Church, pastoredby Ben Seyden, hosted theIllinois State Fellowship meetingfor December 2008. It was an excitingopportunity for the Illinois pastorsto see the state’s newest church plant.Riverside is a church plant out of SaukTrail Baptist Temple, pastored by BruceHumbert. Members of Sauk Trail BaptistTemple helped to co-host this eventwhich had 75 in attendance on Mondayevening and a total of 27 pastors andstaff in attendance.Riverside is meeting in Bible studygroups during the week. The launchstrategy is: beginning in January, apostcard introducing the new churchwill be personally delivered to everydoor. Continuing in February, a specially-designedtract explaining who theyare and what they believe along with aninvitation to join in the launch serviceon April 5 will be personally deliveredto the same doors. In March, Eastereggs with a prize and another invitationto attend the opening service willbe distributed to the same doors. Whatan opportunity for your church teens oradult classes to assist in a new churchplant! Seyden and the people of Riversideinvite you to help them canvas anddeliver these materials door to door.Those of you who because of distancecan’t help canvas could help with anoffering to cover the cost of the promotionalmaterials.Seyden informs mehe is still in needof personal supportas he only hasabout 70 percentof his family needsunderwritten. Supportcan be sent toRiverside BaptistChurch, 175 S. WallStreet, Kankakee,Illinois 60901.BBF Builders making a differenceWe have three teams involved inthree different projects. Brent Andersonand a team of builders are in theChicago area constructing a new buildingfor Green GardenBaptist Church, pastoredby Jayson Workman.Green Garden isa church plant about ayear and a half old. Godis wonderfully blessingthe young preacher andhis ministry.Ron Trosclair anda team have been workingin Galveston, Texas,at Bible Baptist Church,where Dennis Hankinspastors. The churchwas virtually destroyed by HurricaneIke. Seventy-five percent of the city ofGalveston was under the ocean. Thechurch had seven feet of water insidethe building. Trosclair and his teamhave been busy repairing drywall, andseveral churches have sent teams tohelp in this effort. Many of you havesent funds to help in this effort as well.Over $30,000 came in to assist thechurches in their time of need.Jack Reed and a team have beeninvolved in Bentonville, Arkansas, withchurch planter and Pastor Mike Brinsonand the Lifepointe Baptist Church.They began meeting in June and had ahigh attendance of 38 the first Sundayof January. Because of growth, a newplace to meet had to be found, and a2,500-square-foot storefront fit the bill.Jack and his team have been buildingwalls to ready this new facility for useby the new church.Pray for the BBF Builders as theylabor to make a difference and pray forthe pastors and churches they are helping.Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ] 21

Jon Konnerup | BBFI Mission DirectorWhen Was the Last Time?We would all agree 2008was a very unusual year.Although many were dealingwith repercussions of the financialslide around the world, the BBFI hada high number of 46 individuals beingapproved as missionaries. However,2009 is expected to be even harder withregard to the economy, retirement,and jobs. This may result in less fundsavailable for giving to the work of theLord. We are already experiencing adecline of those coming to be approvedas missionaries. In fact, 2009 could beour lowest year in a long time.According to scripture and ourBBFI philosophy, these laborers shouldcome from our churches and be supportedby our churches. I know thereare many in the training processin their churches, our colleges, andinternship programs, but I constantlythink about what Jesus said in Matthew9:37 and 38:Then saith he unto his disciples,The harvest truly is plenteous, but thelabourers are few; Pray ye therefore theLord of the harvest, that he will sendforth labourers into his harvest.After seeing the multitudes andtheir spiritual condition, Jesus knewthe laborers were few. In response,He told His disciples to pray for morelaborers. I believe this is the key —praying for more laborers. When wespend time on our knees, we are rightwhere God wants us to be — in an attitudeof prayer. I also believe God stillanswers prayer. When we pray formore laborers, several things are possible:God will send the one who is praying,He will send someone else whoseheart is tender, or He might do both.Perhaps the proper question toask then is do we really believe theharvest is plentiful? Do we understandthat laborers are few and that we needmore of them? If we do, when was thelast time we prayed, “Lord of the harvest,send forth laborers?”For our churches to fulfill theGreat Commission, we must be on ourknees praying for more laborers to gofrom our church and other churches.The leaders of these churches must setthe example by providing and encouragingopportunities of prayer oncethe need is strongly expressed. Everychurch member needs to be mobilizedto pray for more missionaries. Sundayschool classes and other small groupsneed to take ownership of this task.Keeping missionaries, unreached peoplegroups, and the lost of the worldbefore the church (from children tosenior saints) is the way to develop anattitude of prayer for more servantsglobally.This means that parents who dedicatedtheir children to the Lord whenthey were young ought to be willingto encourage their children to go tothe regions beyond. Yes, our world isvolatile in many places. But it is betterto be in the center of God’s will ina foreign land than out of His will athome. According to James 4:14, ourlives are but a vapor when comparedto eternity. What we do during thisshort life makes a huge difference foreternity. When our churches are mobilizedto pray, God moves and eternityis impacted.Youth pastors play a key role inour efforts to send more laborers. Theyhave a strong influence with our youthand must encourage missions and theministry as a viable option for theirteens. I have met young people whohave surrendered to serve God fulltime because they were taught andchallenged to pray for the lost worldand for more missionaries. During thetime on their knees, God spoke to themand they accepted the call to be theones to go.Of course, this all starts with thepastor. If the pastor of the church isnot praying for more missionaries andcommunicating this consistently tothe church, few youth pastors, youngpeople, and parents will take this matterseriously. Someone must cast thevision, lead in the task, set the goals,show the way, mobilize their church,and pray.The bottom line is, do we have thesame vision Jesus had of the lost multitudes?If we do not, then we will notbe praying, few will surrender, few willbe approved, and few will be led fromliving in darkness to living in the lightof Jesus Christ.However, we can make an eternaldifference in our world when we seethe world as Jesus saw it, when we seethe multitudes of lost souls, when werealize the need for more missionaries,and when we understand that theaction to be taken is prayer. When wasthe last time you prayed for more servantsto go and tell the good news tothe world? The harvest is plentiful butthe laborers are few.22 Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ]

URBANCURRENTPreview of a Postmodern Church PlantCharles Lyons, PastorArmitage Baptist ChurchChicago, IllinoisBy divine direction, Paul was ledto Philippi. “…We’re forbiddenof the Holy Ghost to preach theword in Asia…” “…They assayed to gointo Bithynia; but the Spirit sufferedthem not…” “…Come over into Macedonia…”Philippi is an expression of thefirst century Roman world. There wasno one true God, the source of absolutetruth. There was no grand metanarrativethat makes sense of reality. Philippiis an artist’s rendering of what apostmodern culture will look like. Lukecalls Philippi “the chief city of that partof Macedonia.” This heathen city witha theater that probably seated 50,000people, this city that virtually straddledthe Egnatian Road, was a godlessmetropolis on an interstate. God hasbeen all about penetrating the darknessever since man’s fall. God doesn’tlead away from the fight but into thefight. In preparing His chosen people totake possession of the Promised Land,He told them He would lead them tothe enemy. Jesus set His face towardJerusalem. Paul does not happen tocome to Philippi, God sends him.No ChurchThere was no church in this city. I don’tmean a church of our breed, brand, orstripe. I mean no church. This wasn’tlike planting a church where therewere alreeady several New Testamentcongregations. Like so manyunchurched and under-churched areastoday, this place had a real need.Apparently, the city could notmeet the minimum requirement often Jewish men to constitute a synagogue.The prevailing worldview waspluralistic. Lacking any knowledgebase of divine revelation, relativismruled. Only a group of women gatheredby the river, outside the city dueto Roman prohibition, were to be found.(Oh, those zoning laws!) So, the upshotis this: Paul saw a man saying, “Comeover to Macedonia…” When he gotto Philippi, he found the man was awoman! Lydia, the travelling businesswoman, and her prayer group birthedthe exemplary Philippian church. Lukesays, “The Lord opened Lydia’s heart.”God was drawing these women to Himself.As we look over the stark, barren,spiritual Sahara that is the postmodernlandscape, let’s remember God is workingin advance of our working. In fact,God’s work holds the promise that ourwork will bear fruit.OppositionGod allows relentless resistance to Hisgospel work. Expect it. Paul was neversurprised at opposition. He never let itstop him. The demonized girl followedPaul and Silas around for what Lukecalls “many days.” Paul finally hadenough and commanded the demon outin Jesus’ name. Historically we knowthat God uses opposition to advanceHis purposes and show His glory. Whydo we think something must be wrongor we must be out of God’s will if we geta little opposition? God uses difficultyall the time. Remember, it’s not justabout overcoming opposition; it’s thatGod uses opposition to get the job done.It’s often a set-up for something supernatural.Riled-up businessmen, the crowd,the magistrates, all formed an oppositioncoalition. It’s noteworthy that theywere not necessarily anti-message.They were stirred up because their lifestyleshad been impacted.Supernatural DisplayArrested, beaten, and jailed, the apostleand his partner should have been filledwith doubt and despair. This churchplantingeffort was a bust! Anybodycould see it. But Paul and Silas saw itas an opportunity to demonstrate truetrust, real faith. Their prayers andsongs ring off the stone prison walls.The earthquake changes everything.One moment they are thinking they’reGod has been all aboutpenetrating the darknessever since man’s fall.powerless and stuck; the next they arewinning the jailer to Jesus and holdinga baptismal service. Do you think Lydia,friends, and an ex-soothsayer areshouting and crying at this point? Let’snever forget that God shows up in Histime and in His way.God SavesThat’s right, God saves all who repentand believe. The jailer and his householdare added to the nucleus of believers.From a disenfranchised, out of thecity limits prayer group to shaking upcity hall, God’s gospel changes lives. It isthe power that changes everything. It isHis power that planted churches in firstcentury heathen urban centers. It’s Hispower that continues planting churchesin 21st century postmodern cities.charles.lyons@armitagechurch.orgBaptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ] 23

view from bbcJim Edge | President | Baptist Bible CollegeBAPTIST BIBLE COLLEGEThe Significance of Baptist Bible CollegeThere has never been a time in mylife when Baptist Bible Collegehas not played a significant role inmy spiritual development. I was bornand raised in Springfield, the homeof BBC. I received my early spiritualtraining at High Street Baptist Churchwhere many of my Sunday schoolteachers were BBC students gainingtheir experience by teaching kids likeme.When I was in the sixth grade,my Sunday school teacher was LeroyEldridge. Leroy is currently pastoringTemple Baptist Church in Titusville,Florida. He and his date (who is nowhis wife) picked me up to take me toour Sunday school Christmas party.On the way to Springfield from ourfarm, Leroy failed to stop at an intersection.The car went over an embankmentand then nose-first into a plowedfield. These were days prior to seatbelts. I took out the windshield of hiscar with my forehead. Never has ateacher taken so literally the need tomake an impact on those he teaches.Just for your information, when I seeLeroy and have a chance to go out anywherewith him, I drive.Listening to testimonies aboutthe significant role that Baptist BibleCollege has played in the lives of formerstudents and current students isone of the most encouraging things Ican think of. Only a couple of weeksago, I attended the funeral of one ofour former employees, Camille May. Isat and listened to her husband, Tim,give a testimony about their meetingeach other at Baptist Bible College.Tim then explained with tears aboutCamille’s love for her alma mater. II am excited that Baptist Bible College hasgiven so many people a place that hasbecome a focal point for their life’s work.was thrilled to understand the importanceof Baptist Bible College and thesignificant role the school played intheir life’s work. I was humbled andalso challenged to show my love forBaptist Bible College vocally and withmy support more that I ever have.Many of our students are currentlyteaching Sunday school and ministeringin children’s programs justas they did when I was a little boy. Isometimes wonder if one of today’s studentsis teaching a little kid that mightbe used of God to affect our nation oreven to have a worldwide ministry. Ibelieve it is possible. It is also importantto know that many of our currentstudents are finding their life’s matesjust as Tim and Camille did 35 yearsago. I am excited that Baptist BibleCollege has given so many people aplace that has become a focal point fortheir life’s work.Those victories do not come withoutcost. Baptist Bible College is not aproblem-free organization. We had difficultiesin our formative years whilewe were achieving wonderful victoriesat the same time. We continued experiencingdifficulties during our entire59-year history while we were also seeinggreat accomplishments. We havechallenges today, but we also observegreat accomplishments from our studentsand staff. I prefer to acknowledgewhat great things the Lord hasdone and is doing as opposed to pointingout and emphasizing the problemsand difficulties.We need wisdom from the Lordto adequately address the challenges.We need the prayers of our friends. Weneed the sacrifice of all of our supporters.But most importantly, we need tosee a continuation of servants who arewilling to give their lives to a causegreater than their selves. Our worldis in greater need today for servantsof the most High God than perhaps atany other time in history. Let us giveour God and our world the best we can.Baptist Bible College President Jim Edge will host an informational meeting for pastors of the BBFI Tuesday,February 17, at 2:00 in the afternoon at Central Baptist Church in Katy (Houston), Texas. Those interestedin the future of BBC should attend.24 Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ]

N E W Sview from bostonDavid Melton | President | Boston Baptist CollegeAnticipationIremember the classic ketchup commercialwith Carly Simon belting outAnticipation while ketchup slowly,tantalizingly, deliciously crept down theneck of its inverted bottle. Nearby, alittle boy watched with wide eyes waitingfor the ketchup to fall down on hishamburger (or whatever). It still makesme hungry!It is a great thing to anticipatesomething good, but when you can justsee it on the horizon, that’s a keeper. AtBoston, even in these economically challengingtimes, we are anticipating moreand more progress. I can already see it.Take this new semester. Our enrollmentactually went UP! In higher education,you build into your annual budgeta five to eight percent tuition declinefor the second semester as a standardpractice. But we don’t fly by those rulesin Boston. Half of the time we grow inthe spring semester, and we did it againthis year! We are anticipating muchgreater news next fall. I know, the economyis in the tank. But hard times nevertouch heaven’s hand. It’s going to beharder (and typically more expensive)than ever to use the overladen state collegesystems this fall. Their budgets aregetting cut as their demands increaseby default. Then, I just met with agroup of college presidents in our city.They were all scared because enrollmentfor the fall of ‘09 looks bad. Thescenario is simple — many parents justcan no longer arrange financing for typicalprivate college tuition. Where do yougo if the college is unaffordable becauseyou can’t take out a home equity loanany longer? I know! Why not BostonBaptist College — where churches arehelping more than ever to keep Christianeducation affordable, quality isnever in question, and fundraising isto help students? Why not go to collegewhere the cost is modest and the valueis eternally incalculable?I do expect more students. I alsoexpect our campus to continue toexpand. I don’t talk about new buildingsmuch until they are done. I’ve learnedthat delays can come in almost anyform, and here in Boston we’ve experiencedjust about every obstacle possible.But I am anticipating more constructionin Boston, and for good reason. Afterour most recent neighborhood meeting,our most verbal opponent sent mean email that was practically cordial!Two men on our team, Randy Ward andJoe Sawyer, have worked tirelessly oncommunity relations for our campus.All across the world God’s people haveprayed. People have told me we wouldnever develop more campus here in Boston.Let me put it this way…the ketchupis moving.Boston is also anticipating its bestyear ever because we have a growingnetwork of churches that believe in usand partner with us. I got to thinking— what a great team of churches wehave…pastors who are leading theirchurches and sharing the vision of BostonBaptist College. I’m grateful thatalmost every pastor who visits hereleaves surprised by our facilities, students,staff, and spirit. Who wouldn’twant to be a part of the energy, the passion,the commitment, the present, andthe future that is Boston Baptist College?It is fun to see the future comingyour way.What we expect in Boston, though,is so much more than headcounts,Let me put it this way…the ketchup is moving.building projects, and an expandingbase. We expect to make a difference.As we say so often, Boston Baptist Collegeis “to think Biblically, to discoverglobally, and to impact eternally.”That’s not just a marketing ploy. It ISus. That’s why we anticipate the progressthat’s coming our way. We havesomething to do — something that mustbe done. We anticipate eternal impact.I got a letter from a recent graduatewho is now a youth pastor. He’s makingan impact. I received a Christmas cardfrom another grad who is getting readyto start a new church — more impact. Ijust saw an update from a graduate often years ago who is leading his churchinto a new building — Long Islandimpact! And I walk down the halls withgraduates-to-be every day, talking,dreaming, planning with them…worksto be done for Jesus — future impact,eternal impact. That kind of stuff willwiden your eyes for sure!Anticipation is more than justwishful thinking. It’s faith, and commonsense, and planning, and observation,and hard work. So to friends like John,and Tim, and Archie, and Tracy, andDan, and Bruce, and Phil, and Ed, andBill (and all the others), I say thanksand let’s hit it even harder. Boston is onthe move. Good stuff is coming — I cansee it for sure! And this is so much betterthan ketchup!Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ] 25

N E W SSchool NewsTechnology broadens classroom experience at BBCSpringfield, MOsonally with him. “One of the greatestchallenges we face as professors is toadequately communicate the diverseworldviews, cultures, and languagesof our world to the students. However,technology is allowing us to linkwith our personnel on the field andeffectively accomplish that goal in theclassroom,” states LingoStan Sherwood, a student in theclass, said, “I really enjoyed the sessionswe had with Scott. Scott’s knowl-During the fall semester at BaptistBible College, Barbara Lingo, Chair ofthe Intercultural Studies Department,connected her studentsto foreign workers on thefield through technologyin her classroom. Byvideo conferencing, ScottHudgins collaborated in acourse entitled “Introductionto Islam.”Scott has his MastersDegree in Islamic Studies,having spent several yearsin the Middle East, and hehas a strong backgroundin Arabic. “It was a greatopportunity for our studentsto learn from Scott’sexperience and knowledge. Who betterto learn from than those who havebeen there,” said Lingo.Hudgins taught a number of classsessions from his home in South America,but with the assistance of the newtechnology, the students were alsoable to ask questions and interact peredgeof Muslims and how they thinkcompared to a Christian…will be verybeneficial for our future ministries.There is no doubt in my mind that wewill encounter Muslims inour ministries either herein the United States oroverseas. This class is agood springboard for continuedstudies to make useffective in our future encounters.”“We at BBC are committedto use this andother means of communicationin the classroom toequip the students to thevery best of our ability,”says Lingo.Record-Breaking Year at LBUShreveport, LABy Neal WeaverThe year 2008 was a record-breakingyear for Louisiana Baptist Universitywith its highest total attendance andbest year for new enrollments. We nowhave students studying in 40 countriesthrough distance education, and theuniversity has also experienced growthin its on-campus program.Last year, the university’s INSTEPProgram was able to expand to 22 BibleInstitutes located in 20 third-worldcountries. All INSTEP Institutes are administratedby BBFI missionaries usingLBU courses.This month, the university addedBrent Shoalmire to its faculty. Brent isa graduate of Louisiana Tech Universityand in May will complete a Master ofArts in Bible from LBU. The universitywill also launch its new Moodle Programthat allows our teachers and studentsto communicate through interactivewebsites in educational ways. It isa state of the art program used by manycolleges and universities including BaptistBible College. The university willinitially only offer approximately 100courses online but will gradually addmost of its 300-plus courses listed in thecatalog.26 Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ]

N E W SSchool Fellowship NewsNewsMissionary lettersgermanyI find it very hard to discuss faith with my elderly neighbor,Frau Kraus, a life-long traditional Catholic. Much of her talkrevolves around the graveyard: deceased acquaintances,watering plants on the family plot, and wondering whetherher daughters will visit her grave. One day, in the middleof all this, she said unexpectedly, “I wonder what it will belike to be dead, if it’s really like they tell us.” I took the rareCarroll & Bonnie JelleyWe had been witnessing to a 28-yearoldman in our village. He constantlyrefused God’s Son. He drank heavily,and in one of his drinking sprees hejumped in front of a speeding trainleaving behind his widow, a three-year-old daughter, and aRenae Thompsonopportunity tell her some verses fromthe Bible about my hope of heaven. Shelistened quietly, and then went on todescribe a flower arrangement for thegrave. Please pray for more opportunitiesfor meaningful conversation with her.indiaone-year-old son. However, out of every tragedy some goodalways comes. His widow started coming to church and shehas accepted the Lord as her Savior. We are confident herchildren will accept Him as they grow up hearing the oldstory of Jesus and His love.Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ] 27

Fellowship NewsFellowship NewsMissionary lettersSpainAbout 20 years ago, a lady named Esperanza was saved andbaptized in our church. She has held to the hope that herhusband, Cecilio, and children would be saved, though theyhad never shown any interest in spiritual things. Recently,Cecilio had to have part of his leg amputated due to diabetes.Some of our members visited him in the hospital,which left a real impression. For the last two Sundays heMarvin & Becky Robertsonhas gone to church with his wife!Because he does not yet have aprosthesis, Esperanza pushes himto church through the streets of ourcity, a distance of almost one mile.Afterwards, one of the men in the church pushes him backhome. Join us in praying for Cecilio’s salvation.Doug & Donna StamperRecently, Pastor Dan Gathu and Ivisited Veronica, one of our memberswho works in the pineappleplantation canning house. Due tothe election violence earlier thisyear, Veronica lost her house and had to leave for a while,but came back when she was given a house in the plantationhousing development. At her house in Angel Estate, shecut a fresh pineapple for us to enjoy while she welcomed akenyafew neighbors to come meet us. We were able to encourageMama Ian in her walk with the Lord through some troublingtimes and lead Atieno to Christ. The pineapple was probablythe best I have ever tasted, but the chance to see a soulcome to Christ from Angel Estate was even sweeter. Pray forAtieno as she begins her walk with the Lord and for Veronicathat she might be able to see many more of her new neighborscome to know Jesus Christ.nicaraguaBrian & Rachael WeedRosa is a single mother who comes to our Managua church.She is very active, helping with the ladies activities and asthe Sunday school superintendent. She has two boys anda hard life as a school teacher only making $130 a month.Her youngest son has a crippling disease which is causinghim to slowly lose the ability to move his legs. At his lastdoctor’s visit, Rosa was told not to return until she boughther son some special braces for his legs because there wasnothing else they could do for him. She didn’t have themoney, and her only alternative, she thought, was to geta second job on the weekends. She met with our pastor’swife, Carla, and told her that she would have to stop helpingin Sunday school and church activities.Carla gave her some advice —seek first the kingdom of God and letHim handle the rest. She chose to keepGod in first place. As she left, she raninto a lady who told her about a foundationthat was helping handicapped children. Rosa quicklysubmitted all her papers requesting help and prayed. Whenthey called her, they told her that not only the leg braceshad been approved but that they were going to give himthe special boots that he also needed. God really does takecare of us when we put Him first!David & Carla RohrOn Tuesday, we met in Barbara’s home.Both she and Anderson gave testimonyof their salvation and they both wantedto be baptized. They were concernedtheir tattoos would exclude them frombeing baptized, and were very relievedto discover that God’s grace is awesomely sufficient. OnSaturday, they called because they were fighting. After twobrazilhours of counseling, they were able to see that Satan wastrying to destroy their relationship because together theywere encouraging each other to love and serve the Lord.On Sunday night, they were baptized. On Wednesday, theywaited for me at the front door of the church. “Pastor, whatdo we have to do to be married in the church?” They scheduledtheir legal ceremony for Friday, November 21; on the22nd they became man and wife before the Lord!28 Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ]

Fellowship NewsMissionary lettersBaptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ] 29

N E W SFellowship NewsHarmons celebrate 25 years at Louisville BaptistLouisville, OHOn the first Sunday of November, a specialservice was held to celebrate Mikeand Kathy Harmon’s 25 years of ministryat Louisville Baptist Temple. To helphonor the Harmons, their children, NateHarmon and Kristy Slayden, as well astheir families, took part in the service.A slide show was played with highlightsof the Harmon’s ministry. After a messageby the Harmon’s son, the congregationcelebrated with a lunch fellowship,followed by Nate and Rochelle Harmonperforming special music and anothersermon by their son-in-law, Jon Slayden.In appreciation for their hard work andfaithful service, the church presentedthe Harmons with a special vacationpackage and showered them with cardsof gratitude and encouragement for theirpast and future ministry.The Harmons went to LouisvilleBaptist Temple in 1983. There were 50present for their first service and $6.72in the bank. Today, Louisville BaptistTemple averages 250-300 people andsupports 105 missionary families andprojects. The church has recently purchasedan 80-acre piece of property onwhich they hope to build new facilities.Harmon and the members of the Louisvillechurch believe strongly in the discipleshipprogram, and because of thisministry and God’s faithfulness, thechurch has seen tremendous spiritualgrowth in the lives of its members.The NewBeautiful Christian, patriotic,military neckties. $15 value - cost $6Stripe neckties - Cost $4.50Humor book 500 Laughter DoethGood Like a Medicine - Cost $6Booklet:Death & How to Prepare - Cost $6Tim L. DownsT.E.A.M. MissionaryNow Also on CD ROMByDr. David H. SorensonWhat others are saying:“New, Fresh, Baptist”Call 218-726-0209 or go tonorthstarministries.com"It only takes a few minutes…to see the passion Timhas for missions. He understands the cost associatedwith his decision and is following God's leading withoutreservation. He has faithfully served…at Overland ParkBaptist Temple and we are excited to see God work ashe partners with our church, TEAM BBFI, and Belgium."Tracy Roby, Sending PastorOverland Park Baptist Temple, KansasTo schedule Tim in your church:Phone: (913) 908-1419E-mail: TimLDowns@gmail.com30 Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ]

Ohio PastorsHost RegionalChurch-PlantingFellowshipat CampChautauquaHillsboro, OHOn November 10 and 11, Ohio StateChairman Dan Lamb and the pastorsof the state hosted their second annualRegional Church-Planting FellowshipMeeting. Pastors from Michigan, Kentucky,West Virginia, Pennsylvania, andIndiana were invited. The meeting washeld at Camp Chautauqua with mealsand lodging provided at no charge.Guest speakers included Jonathan Falwell,pastor of Thomas Road BaptistChurch in Virginia, Duke Hergatt, pastorof Temple Baptist Church in NewYork, and Dennis Nunn with Living TheNew Life Ministries in Georgia. Duringthe preaching, a 16-year-old young mansurrendered to full-time ministry.There were over 225 in attendance.Nine foreign missionaries were presentand each shared their burden to plantchurches around the world. Fourteenchurch planters from six different statesshared their testimonies of people beingsaved and added to New TestamentBible-believing churches.Breakout sessions were held onTuesday with topics such as music,youth, personal and church finances,evangelism ideas, children’s ministries,the multi-cultural church, ideas thatwork, and raising PKs/MKs. A sessionwas also held for the ladies.N E W SFellowship NewsGuest speaker Jonathan Falwell shares a charge at the church-planting meetingI TA LYE s c o r t e d b y t h eA p o s t l e P a u lExcellent value for groups and individualsMonthly tours to Israel, Egypt, Jordan,Steps of Paul in Greece, Turkey, Oberammergau 2010,Custom Planned Groups World-wide.www.pilgrimtours.com 800 322 0788Pilgrim Tours, P O Box 268, Morgantown, PA 19543“Christian Fellowship Tours Since 1987”Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ] 31

N E W SFellowship NewsChurches had great Christmas outreach in 2008December 2008Christmas dinner theaterCrossroads MinistriesFinleyville, PAPastor John ArnoldI woke up on Tuesday singing “FourTickets to Christmas.” Our 2008 editionof the Christmas Dinner Theater wasa blessed outreach opportunity, and1,100 people came to enjoy a cateredmeal and musical drama over thecourse of four evenings.The program was developed overthe course of three and a half months.It is the largest outreach of the year forour church.We asked our people to invite theircoworkers, employees, and neighbors.Sandy and Ron invited their neighborhoodand brought 63 neighbors. Afterthe event, they invited the entire groupto their house.We have been praying for the carcruise community for a few years andinvited 11 couples to be our guests;they all came. From these 11 families,three have recently come to Christ.After Friday’s presentation, Dave,builder of a beautiful 1956 Chevrolet,came to me and threw his arms aroundme, weeping and thanking us for allwe have done to introduce his family toChrist. His family is now working theirway through the Purpose Driven Life.Each family is invited to pose fora Christmas picture in a beautiful fireplacesetting. The picture is then sentto the family and is always a hit. Manywho attend the musical each Christmasare unchurched and at the end of theprogram the gospel is always presented.We also wrote the gospel into thedrama. Our people are strong believersin this yearly outreach because thereare a number of families in our churchwho were reached at a previous Christmasevent.Largest attendance in three yearsGentle Shepherd Baptist ChurchLincoln, NEPastor Gary FullerWe had the largest attendance we’vehad for maybe three years. Almostdouble a normal Sunday. In fact,the past eight weeks have been thebest run in attendance for over threeyears. We had seven saved, six of themadults! Add to that, we had eight adultsprofess Christ earlier in the week as aresult of a funeral.We had a young lady attend yester-32 Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ]

N E W SFellowship Newsday who has been away from the Lordfor quite some time. She rededicatedher life and is on fire again. A tremendousstory of God’s mercy and gracethere.Four services in one weekendCape Cod Baptist ChurchEast Falmouth, MAPastor Ben FeldottAs some of you know, Christmas hasbecome one of our big outreach weekendsof the year. Last weekend, we addeda service for a total of four and had1,289 in attendance, with 15 makingsalvation decisions. I am pretty proudof our people. They pull this off on oneacre of land and in a 7,000-square-footbuilding. Eleven years ago, we movedinto this building with 30 people andnow we are praying about the nextphase in a relocation.The weekend featured over 100of our people in our choir/band/worshipteam and a small kid’s choir. Wecreated a video for our people to sharewith their friends online and it hasbeen viewed more than 1,000 times inthe last 24 hours.Full house for ChristmasGraceway Baptist ChurchSpringfield, MOPastor Bob StephensonOur Christmas musical was this weekend.Full house at all performancesand one person received Christ at each.Tons of visitors. Great weekend. Iknow some people say it’s “old school,”but a 50-voice robed choir still worksfor us. And our Break of Day Players(continued)VBS 2009An extreme adventurewith eternal impact!Polar Extremes transports your students to awild, untamed wilderness. Imagine a world ofexciting adventures!• Rock climb and rappel on a steepsnowcapped mountain.• Swoop down the mountain on a snowboard.• Kayak through white-water rapids.• Climb aboard a giant snowmobile andexplore a glacier.• Watch for polar bears, penguins, mountaingoats, and eagles.But remember: The greatest adventureof all is knowing and loving God!www.rbpVBS.orgRegular Baptist PressBuilding Lives by the BookBaptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ] 33

N E W SFellowship NewsChristmas outreaches(continued)(the Graceway drama ministry) did anoutstanding job. I heard several peopleremark it was the best Christmas musicalthey had seen in a church.Big offering and outreach to homelessMidway Baptist ChurchSan Diego, CAPastor Jim BaizeIt all started last Sunday with a largeoffering to get us into the black financially.It continued with our folks servingbetween 75-100 homeless people asit-down dinner and then putting on aBroadway musical for them. Last, wesent them home with a bag with socks, ahat, a blanket, and non-perishable food.Then we had our musical for ourpeople and had great crowds Saturdayand Sunday night. We had a babydedication this a.m. and handed outnew member certificates. I think we hadaround 30-35 saved this weekend. Godis always good.Showing love to neighborsSmith River Baptist ChurchSmith River, CAPastor Steve AlexanderWe have a large Hispanic population inour area made up of farm workers andlily growers. We wanted to do somethingdifferent this year to show the loveof Christ at Christmas to our Hispanicneighbors. So, instead of an adultChristmas party, we held and sponsoreda Hispanic Christmas dinner. Wedecorated half our gym and made it lookreally nice. We put up our round tablesand had them decorated, served a turkeyand ham dinner with all the fixings,desserts, etc. Then we played MexicanChristmas music while they ate.Our Awana children sang twosongs. Then we gave away stocking giftsfor ages one to Jr. High. Hanging on adecorated wall divider (in the center ofthe gym) were stocking hats. Then inbaskets on the floor were winter gloves,scarves, and more hats. We told thefolks who came if they could use themthey were welcome to them. Everythingwas taken. We had 100 people show up.So many left saying, “Thank you,” andthey so appreciated it. It was a greatway for us to minister and get our footin the door of their livesWe are in 40 Days ExperiencingJesus through the Holidays. Had a bulletininsert with a theme each week, andverses to read each day and thoughts towrite down. Then every day a differentspecial prayer request for missionaries,staff, church ministry, country, andwe did this from Thanksgiving Sundaythrough January 1.Life’s Greatest Discovery“The finest evangelistictool we have ever used.”The Reapers/Thomas RayP.O. Box 796541, Dallas TX 75379Phone 972.509.9240 Fax 972.769.2597Email: tray1701@aol.comwww.thereapers.com34 Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ]

With the LordCamille MayOzark, MOCamille Lynn Sciscoe May, 56, went to be withher Lord on Thursday, December 18, 2008, aftera long battle with cancer. Born in 1952, inBloomington, Indiana, Camille graduated fromBloomington High School in 1970. She graduatedfrom Baptist Bible College in 1974 and 2005 and servedher alma mater as the librarian for 23 years. Camille was amember of Victory Baptist Church in Nixa, Missouri. She wasa loving and gracious wife, mother, grandmother, daughter,sister, and friend. She will be missed by many, but we rejoicein the fact that we will be together in heaven someday.Camille is survived by her husband, Tim May; her daughterAnnette Brummett and husband, Chris; grandchildren,Emileigh and Hailey; her parents, brothers, and sisters. Funeralservices were held in Cherry Street Baptist Church onMonday, December 22.The family suggests memorial donations be made to G. B.Vick Memorial Library at Baptist Bible College, Springfield,Missouri.N E W Swould like to take this opportunity to invite all of theI Tribune readers to come and be a part of this year’s59th Annual Commencement Exercises and FellowshipWeek activities on the campus of Baptist Bible College,May 11-14. The theme for this year’s meeting is Walk InThe Light based upon 1 John 1:7, which states “…if wewalk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowshipone with another…” I strongly encourage everyone toattend what will truly be a magnificent time of reflectionand spiritual rejuvenation. Old friendships will berenewed once again, while new ones are established.This is your chance to encourage and be encouraged allat the same time!As you make plans to attend, I recommend thatyou visit the BBC website at www.baptist.edu often toobtain the latest information regarding featured speakers,ministry break-out sessions, alumni reunions, special BBChotel rates, and much more.I look forward to seeing you in May!Greg CorcoranLead Event Coordinator2009 May Fellowship and HomecomingBaptist Bible CollegeBaptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ] 35

N E W SChurch AdsChurch ads are available to any BBFI church for $10 per issue.To place an ad call (417) 831-3996.ALABAMA• Shelton Beach Road BaptistChurch, 401 Shelton Beach Rd.,Saraland, AL 36571, 205/675-2122 PastorGary W. Shockley• Trinity Baptist Church, 1500 AirportRd., Oxford, AL 36203, 256/831-3333www.trinityoxford.org. Pastor BudGrinstead• Maranatha Baptist Church,2284 Third Ave., Dothan, AL 36301334-794-2536 Pastor Bill SchneiderALASKA• Anchorage Baptist Temple, 6401E. Northern Lights, Anchorage, AK 99504,907/333-6535, www.ancbt.org. PastorJerry PrevoARIZONA• Thomas Road Baptist Church,5735 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85031,623/247-5735. Pastor Ken AdrianCALIFORNIA• Calvary Baptist Church ofOakhurst, At the corner of Highway49 and Redbud (location only),559-641-7984. Pastor Bob Wilson• The Fundamentalist BaptistTabernacle, 1329 South Hope St., LosAngeles, CA 90015, 213/744-9999. PastorDr. R. L. Hymers, Jr. sermon manuscriptsat www.realconversion.com• Midway Baptist Church, 2460 PalmAve., San Diego, CA 92154, 619/424-7870Pastor Jim W. Baize• Tabernacle Baptist Church, 301W. Whyte Ave., Roseville, CA 95678,916/728-5500 Pastor Brad Gunter• Calvary Road Baptist Church, 319West Olive Ave., Monrovia, CA 91016,626/357-2711, www.calvaryroadbaptist.orgDr. John S. WaldripCONNECTICUT• New Testament Baptist Churchand School, 111 Ash St., East Hartford,CT 06108. 860/290-6696 Pastor MichaelStoddardDELAWARE• Southside Baptist Church, 4904S. DuPont Hwy. (US 13 So.), Dover,DE 19901, 302/697-2411 Pastor ChrisKondracki• First Baptist Church, 6062 OldShawnee Rd., Milford, DE 19963,302/422-9795 Pastor David PerdueFLORIDA• Liberty Baptist Church, 2451 DoraAve., Tavares, FL 32778, 352/343-006136 Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ]Pastor Timothy J. Green• Palm Springs Drive BaptistChurch, 601 Palm Springs Dr., AltamonteSprings, FL 32701, 407/831-0950Pastor Scott Carlson• Eastland Baptist Church, 9000Lake Underhill Rd., Orlando, FL 32825,407/277-5858 Pastor Daniel Green• Tabernacle Baptist Church, 6000West Colonial Dr., Orlando, FL 32808,407/295-3086 Pastor Steve Ware• Winter Haven Baptist Church,1500 Dundee Rd., Winter Haven, FL33884, 863/294-6478 Pastor Mark D.Hodges• New Testament Baptist Church,2050 South Belcher Rd., Largo, FL 33771,727/536-0481 Pastor Matt Trill• Trinity Baptist Church, 800 HammondBlvd., Jacksonville, FL 32221,904/786-5320 Pastor Tom Messer• First Coast Baptist Church, 7587Blanding Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32244.904/777-3040 Pastor Richard Edwards• Harbor Baptist Church, 428Tomoka Ave., Ormond Beach, FL 32173,386/677-3116 Pastor Ronald L. Todd• Lighthouse Baptist Church,6815 Markham Rd., Sanford, FL 32771407-829-4400 Pastor J. Dale Hardy• Colonial Baptist Church, 261651st Street West, Bradenton, FL 34209,941-795-3767 Pastor R. C. Landsberger• Sonshine Baptist Church, 23105Veterans Blvd., Port Charlotte, FL 33954,941-625-1273 Pastor William K. Bales• First Baptist Coconut Creek,formerly Calvary Baptist Church, Ft.Lauderdale, FL. 954/422-9611Pastor Jerry Williamson• Victory Bible Baptist Church, 3906Andrew Ave., Pensacola, FL 32505-4107.850/432-6969 Sr. Pastor Robert Reierson,Co-pastor Allen Cotton• Calvary Baptist Church, 123Thunderbird Dr., Sebastian, FL 32958.772/589-5047www.calvary-baptistchurch.comPastor Clifton Cooley• New Life Baptist Church, 35000Radio Rd (at Poe St.), Leesburg, FL 34788352/728-0004newlifebaptistchurch@earthink.net• Bible Baptist Church, 820 South14th Street, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034904/261-5457• Suncoast Baptist Church, 410 WarringtonBlvd., Port Charlotte, FL 33954(941)625-8550, Pastor Chip Kellerwww.suncoastbaptistchurch.com• Grace Bible Baptist Church, 1703Lewis Road, Leesburg, FL 34748.352-326-5738, Pastor George Mulford IIIwww.gbbconline.comGEORGIA• Cornerstone Baptist Church, 1400Grayson Hwy., Lawrenceville, GA 30245.770/338-2677 Pastor Tim Neal• Central Fellowship Baptist Churchand Academy, 8460 Hawkinsville Rd.Hwy 247), 3 miles north of Robins Air ForceBase, Macon GA 31216. 478/781-2981www.centralfellowship.orgPastor Rodney Queen• Trinity Baptist Church, Loganville, GA30052. 770/856-5472Pastor Henry Van WyeHAWAII• Lanakila Baptist Church, 94-1250Waipahu St., Waipahu, HI 96797.808/677-0731 Pastor Steven C. WygleILLINOIS• Sauk Trail Baptist Temple, 4411Sauk Trail, P.O. Box 347, Richton Park,IL 60471. 708/481-1490 Pastor BruceHumbertIOWA• Heartland Baptist Church, 3504North Grand Avenue, Ames, IA 50010.515/268-1721 Pastor Randy AbellKANSAS• Millington Street Baptist Church,1304 Millington St., Winfield, KS 67156.316/221-4700. Pastor K.B. MurrayKENTUCKY• Florence Baptist Temple, 1898Florence Pk., Burlington, KY 41005.859/586-6090 Pastor Wayne G. Cox• Northwest Baptist Church, 2755Princeton Rd., Hopkinsville, KY 42240,270-885-0842, www.nwbapt4u.org, PastorKevin Randolph• Oak Hill Baptist Church, 2135Oak Hill Rd., Somerset, KY 42501,606/679-8496 Pastor Harold BrownMARYLAND• Riverdale Baptist Church, 1177Largo Rd., Upper Marlboro, MD 20774,301/249-7000 Pastor Brian C. Mentzer• Crossroads Baptist Church, 10290Old Columbia Rd., Columbia, MD 21045,410/309-6590 Pastor Robert HaasMASSACHUSETTS• Temple Baptist Church540 Manley St., West Bridgewater, MA02379, 508-583-5190www.templebaptist.info Pastor Bill SmithNEBRASKA• Plains Baptist Church, 2902 RandolphSt., Lincoln, NE 68510, 402/435-4760.Pastor Raymond SmithNEW JERSEY• First Baptist Church of Dover/Rockaway,126 Mount Pleasant Ave, Dover,NJ 07801, 973/361-8870. Pastor JohnHackworth• Open Bible Baptist Church, 2625E. Main St (RT. 49), Millville, NJ 08332.856/863-0226, Email:gardner07@comcast.net Pastor Danny GardnerNEW MEXICO• High Plains Baptist Church, 2800E. 21st Street, Clovis, NM 88101-8620.505/769-1382 Pastor Charles D. MillerNORTH CAROLINA• Northside Baptist Church, 333Jeremiah Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28262,704/596-4856 Pastor Dan Burrell• Mid-Way Baptist Church, 6910Fayetteville Rd., Raleigh, NC 27603.919/772-5864 Pastor James L. Upchurch• Trinity Baptist Church, 216Shelburne Rd., Asheville, NC 28806,704/254-2187 Pastor Ralph Sexton, Jr.• Central Baptist Church, 6050Plain View Hwy., Dunn, NC 28334,910/892-7914 Pastor Tom WagonerOHIO• Bible Baptist Church, 990 W. Main,Mt. Orab, OH 45154. 937/444-2493Pastor Charles Smith• Ashland Ave. Baptist Church, P.O.Box 86, 4255 Ashland Ave., Norwood,OH 45212. 513/531-3626 Pastor JerryE. Jones• First Baptist Church, 1233 US Rt.42, Ashland, OH 44805. 419/289-3636Pastor F. R. “Butch” White• Grace Baptist Church, 3023 N.Union Rd., Middletown, OH 45044,513/423-4658 Pastor Roger D. Green• Calvary Baptist Church, 516W. Sunset Dr., Rittman, OH 44270,330/925-5506 Pastor Jerry BurtonOKLAHOMA• Temple Baptist Church, 2200E. Oklmulgee, Muskogee, OK 74403.918/687-4793 Pastor Alton ChilesOREGON• Tri-City Baptist Temple, 18025 S.E. Webster Rd., Gladstone, OR 97027.503/655-9326 Pastor Ken McCormickRHODE ISLAND• Ocean State Baptist Church, 600Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917,401/231-1980 Pastor Archie EmersonSOUTH CAROLINA• Capital City Baptist Church,2243 Percival Rd., Columbia, SC 29223,803/738-1480 Pastor Paul Monroe• Lighthouse Baptist Church, 104Berkeley Sq. Lane, PMB 250, GooseCreek, SC 29445. 843/824-6002 www.

Church Ads (cont)Evangelist AdsEvangelist ads are available to any evangelist listed in the FellowshipDirectory for $10 per issue. To place an ad call (417) 831-3996.TEXAS• Central Baptist Church, 2855Greenhouse Rd., Houston, TX 77084.281/492-2689 Pastor Larry Maddox• First Baptist Church of Meadowview,4346 N Galloway Ave., Mesquite,TX 75150. 214/391-7176 Pastor R.D. Wade• Liberty Baptist Church, 602 MancoRd., Lewisville, TX 75067. 972/436-3493Pastor Dick Webster• First Baptist Church, Hwy. 64, WrightCity, TX 75750, 903/839-2700 PastorRichard G. Boone• North Park Baptist Church,4401 Theiss Rd., Humble, TX 77338.281/821-2258 Pastor Tim Thompson• Berean Baptist Church, 302 N.Town East Blvd., Mesquite, TX 75182.972/226-7803 Pastor David Mills• Cypress Creek Baptist Church,21870 Northwest Freeway, Houston, TX77429. 281/469-6089 Pastor Bill Campbell• Bedford Baptist Temple, 2403Bedford Road, Bedford, TX 76021.817/267-6239 Pastor E. Nathan Finch• Burleson Boulevard Baptist Church,315 N. Burleson Blvd., Burleson, TX76028-3907. 817/295-4342 Pastor TerryM. Williams• Temple Baptist Church, 4301 ThomasonDr., Midland, TX 79703. 432/694.3634www.tbcmidland.comPastor Stephen WillisVIRGINIA• Community Baptist Church, Chantilly,VA, Washington D.C. area. 703/968-8871.www.cbc4me.org Pastor Mike Aylestock• Faith Baptist Church, 3768 S.Amherst Hwy., Madison Heights, VA 24572,434/929-1430 Pastor Brian HudsonWEST VIRGINIA• Fellowship Baptist Church, U.S. Rt.60 E. at Huntington Mall,Barboursville, WV 25504, 304/736-8006Pastor Jerry WarrenJoe Boyd • Joe Boyd FoundationP.O. Box 177, West Union, WV 26456.Phone: 304.873.2522 60 Years on the Revival TrailDon Brown • Beth-Eden Bible Camp10638 Ottawa Dr., Conway, MO 65632 Springfieldoffice: 417.887.3396 Camp office: 417.589.6485 www.bethedenbiblecamp.comMarc Cheney • Straight to the Heart Ministries318 Stonehenge Road, Winchester, VA 22601. Phone: 540.327.1288www.marccheney.comRandy Carroll • Carroll Evangelistic Ministries5672 Powers St., The Colony, TX 75056. Phone: 469.384.2120 Cell: 469.964.9796Email: EvangelistRC@juno.comThomas Ray • The ReapersP.O. Box 796541, Dallas, TX 75379.Phone: 972.509.9240 www.thereapers.comTracy Dartt • The Dartt QuartetPO Box 422, Greenbrier, TN 37073615-643-0200 darttmusic.comRandy Hogue • Randy Hogue MinistriesPO Box 834 Cullman, AL 35056Phone: 888-464-8338 www.randyhogue.org69¢ per word ($12 minimum). All ads subject to approval of the BaptistBible Tribune. Advertising in the BBT does not necessarily imply theendorsement of the publisher. To place an ad call (417) 831-3996.The Bible Rebinder Don’t Retire Your Bible — RebindIt! Fifteen years’ experience rebinding and repairingBibles. Contact Joe Gleason, 2256 E. Nora, Springfield,Missouri 65803, for prices. (417) 865-3823.Free income tax preparation for clergy and religiousworkers. Federal and state returns prepared and e-filingavailable. Faith-based ministry. www.ClergyTaxes.com orClergy/Taxes@aol.com.Got teeth, wear glasses, back hurt? Ask me howto save money on these services. www.everyonebenefits.com/donsheffield(318) 228-4575.FundraisersRus Need to raise money for anygood cause? We can help and service is FREE! Noselling, no bake sales, no asking for money! WEGET RESULTS $$$$$$$$ See www.fundittraining.com/overview for what we do and how it works.Home page for sign-up: www.funditbenefitbar.comUse consultant #3057 (Larry Shaw)1-888-287-2227or email: llshaw@mchsi.com.Religious books for sale List sent email dudley@dam.net.Evangelist Bill Dudley, 1116 Lacy Dr.,Lebanon, MO 65536, (417) 532-2665.www.dudleyusedbooks.com.Lose up to 30 lbs. in 30 days: Doctor recommended,increase energy and endurance. Defenseagainst disease. Money back guarantee. Toll-free: (972)845-3435.Earn lifetime residual income while helpingothers! Let a fellow pastor show you how. Legitimate,premier company is looking for leaders. www.freedomathometeam.com/don (318) 228-4575.Dr. Robert L. Sumner’s latest book Jewels FromJames, 332-page commentary, 15 chapters. $11.95,postpaid. 5717 Pine Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606Best Home Based Business Ever It's fun,simple and very lucrative. Call 828-685-7552.Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ] 37

N E W SAfterWordsRemarkable Alternative Energy Source Discovery!By Doug KutilekWhile reflecting deeply on the recent coldness ofthe weather outside, the stinging sharpnessof the winter winds, and the constant chorusof media voices singing the praises of alternative energysources, I had a near-epiphanic experience in which I sawwith almost perfect clarity the solution to this continuing“crisis,” especially as it applied to my own circumstances.Though having no training as an engineer or chemist,I quickly devised a means for producing an intense andself-sustaining exothermic reaction in an enclosed metalvessel, through the rapid but controlled oxidation of variousnaturally-occurring, abundant, and fully renewablehydrocarbons, thereby producing heat in sufficient quantitiesto quickly make our middleclass American home comfortablein the midst of winter’s chill. And the beauty of thewhole thing is that this process of energy extraction is notowned or controlled by any government, foreign or domestic,or any corporation, is not patentable, but is free to all,and at potentially no cash expenditure whatsoever!But wait, there’s more!The waste by-products (if we dare speak of them as“waste”) of this most remarkable of cutting-edge energyextractionprocesses are three — 1. water vapor, whichis returned in gaseous form into the earth’s massive hydrologiccycle; 2. a moderate quantity of a solid mineralresidue that is rich in trace elements, and is suitable asa stimulant to plant growth when applied to the soil, butwhich can be effectively employed in some circumstancesfor its insecticidal properties (non-toxic to man or pets, andnot harmful to the environment), and can even be utilizedin the manufacturing of certain kinds of personal hygieneproducts; and 3. carbon dioxide — the very stuff we exhaleas we respire, and which constitutes an absolutelyessential component for all plant growth on earth, whethergrass in lawns, flowers in beds, vegetables in gardens,trees in forests, crops on farms, or seaweed in the oceans;all are utterly dependent on a ready and abundant supplyof carbon dioxide, as much dependent — indeed, evenmore dependent — as they are on the presence of nitrogen,potassium, phosphorus, sulfur, calcium, and dozensof other elements to survive and grow. Without this carbondioxide, it would be the end of life on earth as we know it.Add to all this the highly touted benefits of a closely,but necessarily, connected companion in-home exerciseprogram — requiring no membership fees, and no specialoutfit, shoes, or equipment (okay, maybe a little bit of specialequipment) — that may take inches from your waistand add years to your life span, as the infomercials say.“Surely,” you exclaim, “you are making all this up.Nothing could achieve all of these direct and indirect benefits,with no detrimental consequences. This is simply toogood to be true.” But I solemnly affirm that every word istrue.In short, in my near epiphanic experience, I decided tokindle a wood fire in our Buck stove.The wood, mixed hardwoods with just a touch of conifer,had been previously cut to length by my own two hands (employingsuitable handsaws — rarely a powered one), split tothe proper diameter (as needed) by those same two handsand arms, neatly stacked, naturally air-dried to perfectionwith no additional effort, toted to the wood rack on the backpatio in a wheelbarrow, carried into the house a boxful ata time, and fed into the firebox as needed to continue theall-important exothermic reaction (“stoking the fire” is, Ibelieve, the technical term). The wood, the thinnings andprunings from my own modest stand of trees, supplementedwith waste wood gleaned from a variety of sources throughthe year, cost me nothing but time and energy, and enabledme to productively engage in that much-commended aerobicexercise, performed amidst fresh air and sunshine (ratherthan in some dank and malodorous exercise facility), to saynothing of the side-benefit of time alone for thought and reflection.The water vapor and carbon dioxide — heated far beyondthe ambient external air temperature — naturally riseup and out through the flue, leaving behind a growing quantityof wood ashes, an excellent soil fertilizer, reportedlyalso an effective deterrent of peach-borers and ants, and ina pinch useable as a source (via leaching) for caustic lye, anecessity in the manufacture of lye soap.Through natural regeneration of existing trees, supplementedby my own planting of hundreds of others, thiswisely- and properly-maintained “wood yard,” in the capablehands of a well-informed and far-seeing woodsman — thatwould be me, thank you — can and will yield a never-endingsupply of complex hydrocarbons — firewood — to exercisethe body, warm the house, and with its by-products, promotehealthy plant growth.So, to resolve my own energy crisis — just a bit of achill in my study — I initiated the controlled oxidation ofnatively-grown and harvested hydrocarbons, and was soonbasking in the warmth, with a smile of serene satisfactionon my face that I can stay cozy warm endlessly, withoutmonetary expenditure or dependence on reportedly scarceoutside energy sources under the control of others.I have built me a fire.38 Baptist Bible Tribune [ February 2009 ]

WILL THEY BEREADY TO MEET REAL-LIFEchallenges?RBP’s Faith Builders Bible Studies for Youthseries helps build vibrant faith in your teens.These four-lesson inductive Bible studies provide the toolsyou need to explore Biblical doctrine, topics, and bookswith your teens and help equip them for real-life challenges.www.rbpStudentMinistries.org 800.727.4440 • CANADA 800.366.8004