Bob Simpson

By Bob Simpson, BCM/D Associate Executive Director, Editor of BaptistLIFE

This past month I have had the opportunity to volunteer a couple of times for a non-profit community development organization that is making a real impact in the inner city of Baltimore.

I’m telling you this because I want you to know what a valuable experience it was for me. Going in I knew that it was the right thing to do. To be able to give back in a tangible way is so rewarding. My wife, Lorraine, and I also help support this organization financially. But giving of one’s money and giving of one’s time and talents is two very different things.

One morning I was able to help some young men develop their resumes. As a trained marketer, this is something that comes second nature to me. But to two young men in the poorest neighborhood in the state of Maryland, it was crisis of great complexity. To even get a chance at the few and low-paying jobs that are out there for them, they needed to at least have a current and organized resume to present to prospective employers.

I realize that this is only a focus group of one. But I suspect that if we all did our part to help the poor, the homeless, the hungry or the disenfranchised, the sum total would be an incredible impact.

I know this is what our Lord was suggesting to us all in Matthew 25 where He said, “When you did it to the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” (Matt. 25:40 NLT)

I’m not sure why churches and individual believers are not more widely known for the high level of volunteerism among those “hungry, thirsty, lonely, naked, sick and imprisoned” that are everywhere around us. There are those, of course, who are doing much.

But I am amazed at how many others within our Christian, and, yes, our Baptist community, who seem to be content to let others do it. There even seems to be a confidence that evangelism always trumps social needs. After all, if we save their soul, isn’t that the most important thing?

Today as I write this, I recall reading in the Washington Post this morning about the death at age 93 of former Defense Secretary, Robert McNamara. He came to public notice when President Kennedy tapped him for service at the Pentagon. He is widely praised for helping the President navigate the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1963.

However, this and all of his other positive contributions were eclipsed by his influencing America’s ramp up of the Vietnam War also as Defense Secretary for President Johnson. In his retirement, he wrote in his memoirs of his regret and shame for the escalation of that war. He was so convinced at the time that he was right. But in later life, he showed a desire to expiate the Vietnam debacle. He admitted he had been wrong on Vietnam.

Back to the question: Evangelism vs. Social Gospel? My experience this month volunteering has made me re-think the answer to that question.

If we meet the basic needs of hurting people, it will increase exponentially the opportunities to share the Gospel. Sometimes when we feel most confident, we should consider the possibility that we could be wrong.

As the singing group ‘Casting Crowns’ so eloquently sings:
“But if we are the body
Why aren’t His arms reaching?
Why aren’t His hands healing?
Why aren’t His words teaching?
Why aren’t His feet going?”

Great questions!

If you are interested in giving of your resources (time/talents/dollars), I urge you to do so.  I further urge you to consider the one I mentioned above by calling Becky at (410) 522-0044.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–With the goal of finding ways Southern Baptists “can work more faithfully and effectively” together in fulfilling the Great Commission, messengers to the convention’s annual meeting June 23-24 gave the green light to a task force to examine the denomination for one year and report back to the 2010 meeting in Orlando Fla.

More than 8,700 messengers attended the 152nd session of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 23-24 at the Kentucky Exhibition Center in Louisville, Ky. Photo by Van Payne.

Debate over the proposed Great Commission Task Force and an Internet document dubbed the “Great Commission Resurgence Declaration” had dominated pre-convention talk, with some Southern Baptist leaders backing it and others expressing concern. In the end, though, the 8,700-plus messengers at the annual meeting overwhelmingly supported the task force via a motion that gave Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt authority to appoint the panel — something he did on the meeting’s final day, naming 19 members. The actual GCR document that had sparked the discussion never was proposed, much less came to a vote.

The denomination was meeting in Louisville, Ky., to help commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In other top annual meeting news, messengers:

– received an update about the GPS (God’s Plan for Sharing) evangelism initiative, which aims to see every SBC church planting other churches by 2020.

– passed a resolution that calls the election of President Obama a step toward nationwide racial reconciliation but that heavily criticizes him for some of his policies.

– passed a resolution encouraging Southern Baptist families to prayerfully consider adopting or fostering children.

– approved an Executive Committee recommendation to cease the “cooperative relationship” with Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, over the issue of homosexuality.

– re-elected Johnny Hunt to a second one-year term as president.

But the Great Commission Task Force was the leading issue, not only in the minds of messengers but also for several of the meeting’s preachers. Evangelist Billy Graham, 90 years old, even sent a personal greeting to messengers in which he said he had read about the “call to a Great Commission resurgence” with much interest.

The task force had the backing of Hunt, who is one of the 19 members and who named Arkansas pastor Ronnie Floyd chairman.

“I feel like the Southern Baptist Convention is in what we call a defining moment,” Hunt said at a press conference following his re-election. “We are defining our priorities and … we’re saying to our 43,000 churches: The Great Commission needs a resurgence. We need to fund our missionaries. We need to have more money for church planting. We need to be more intentional with the GPS.”

Hunt said he has “no desire whatsoever to touch the structure” of the convention. He also said he hopes to see — through the study and the possible implementation of a proposed report — Cooperative Program giving increase and what he called “overlap” within the denomination lessen.

“Sometimes, the overlap has proved to be very healthy,” he said. “But other times, the overlap is maybe taking some dollars  that could be placed somewhere else to cause us to go further in piercing the darkness with the Good News.”

R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, made the task force motion from the floor while speaking as a messenger from Highview Church in Louisville, Ky. Frank Page, pastor of First Church in Taylors, S.C., spoke for and supported the motion.

“This is not an effort to reinvent the Southern Baptist Convention,” Mohler said, adding, “There is a generation ready and waiting to be challenged to do something great for the cause of Christ. I say we take this opportunity.”

In addition to Hunt and Floyd, the task force includes: Page; Mohler; Jim Richards, executive director, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention; David Dockery, president, Union University; Simon Tsoi, first vice chairman, International Mission Board; Donna Gaines, Bellevue Church, Cordova, Tenn.; Al Gilbert, pastor, Calvary Church, Winston-Salem, N.C.; J.D. Greear, pastor, Summit Church, Durham, N.C.; Tom Biles, director of missions, Tampa Bay Association, Executive Committee member; Danny Akin, president, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; John Drummond, St. Andrews Church, Panama City, Fla.; Harry Lewis, North American Mission Board; Mike Orr, pastor, First Church, Chipley, Fla.; Roger Spradlin, pastor, Valley Church, Bakersfield, Calif., Executive Committee member; Robert White, executive director, Georgia Baptist Convention; Ken Whitten, pastor, Idlewild Church, Tampa, Fla.; Ted Traylor, Olive Church, Pensacola, Fla.

RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Resolution No. 1 – The Obama resolution — which passed nearly unanimously — says messengers “share our nation’s pride in our continuing progress toward racial reconciliation signaled” by the president’s election. But the resolution says messengers “decry” Obama’s assistance to “pro-abortion” groups. It also expresses “strong opposition” to Obama declaring June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Month. The resolution also calls on Southern Baptists to pray for Obama — something they did immediately after its passage, with Hunt leading the prayer.

Resolution No. 2 – The pro-adoption resolution notes that the world has upwards of 150 million orphans and it calls “on each Southern Baptist family to pray for guidance as to whether God is calling them to adopt or foster a child or children.” It also encourages “pastors and church leaders to preach and teach on God’s concern for orphans.”

Resolution No. 3 – The Southern Seminary Sesquicentennial Anniversary resolution gives thanks to God for the founding of the seminary, its founding leaders, the faculty and administration, its passion for evangelism and missions and asks for prayer for continued faithfulness and effectiveness in raising up sound and zealous ministry for the churches until the Lord’s glorious return.

Resolution No. 4 – The biblical sexuality and public policy resolution reaffirms our historic and consistent support for of the biblical definition of marriage as the exclusive union of a man and a woman; encourages all Christians to be salt and light; calls on Congress to reject any attempts to appeal the Defense of Marriage Act; opposes the Employment Non-Discrimination Act; urges US Senate not to pass any hate crimes legislation that would criminalize religious beliefs about homosexuality and other unbiblical life styles in hiring practices; supports the military code barring homosexuality in the military and calls on President Obama to honor Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice which precludes homosexual behavior among active service personnel; affirms SBC Task force on Ministry to Homosexuals to encourage churches to engage in loving redemptive ministry to homosexuals; and proclaims that any who practice unbiblical sexual behavior can be forgiven and forever changed.

Resolution No. 5 – On appreciation resolution expresses appreciation to all who made the annual meeting a blessing and to Southern Seminary for allowing us to join them in celebration of their 150th anniversary.

SBC Executive Committee Recommendation Nos. 1 and 2 – 2009-2010 SBC Operating Budget and 2009-2010 SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget were approved.

SBC Executive Committee Recommendation Nos. 3 and 4 – SBC Bylaw 1 and 15(A) Amendments were approved.

SBC Executive Committee Recommendation No. 5 on SBC Convention Site and Housing Guidelines was approved.

SBC Executive Committee Recommendation No. 6 on The SBC Calendar of Activities recommendation for adoption of the 2013-14 Calendar of Activities and amendment to the 2009-2010, 2010-11 and 2011-12 Calendar of Activities was approved.

SBC Executive Committee Recommendation No. 7 - The resolution recommends Broadway Baptist Church’s affiliation with the SBC. Southern Baptists ceased their relationship with Broadway Baptist Church following a year-long study by the Executive Committee that began with a motion from the floor at last year’s meeting. The congregation has at least two same-sex couples in the church and was embroiled in a controversy in early 2008 as to whether the couples should be pictured in a church directory. Supporters of the Executive Committee recommendation said that while the convention fully supports ministering to the homosexual community, the church — by its actions — was in violation of Article III of the SBC Constitution, which states that churches “which act to affirm, approve, or endorse homosexual behavior” are not in friendly cooperation. Some of the church’s openly homosexual members serve on church committees. Executive Committee members had suggested a statement from the church condemning homosexuality would have been beneficial; the church, though, decided not to go that route.

In other convention news:

– Geoff Hammond, president of the North American Mission Board, told messengers that the SBC’s associations and 42 state conventions “have signed up” for the GPS challenge and “joined hands” together with the goal of seeing every SBC church, by 2020, planting other churches. Messengers were given a paperback book by Hammond titled, “God’s Plan for Sharing: North America: Your Mission Field.”

“We are about to embark on the largest, most extended, farthest-reaching national evangelism initiative that we have ever seen,” Hammond said.

– Thanks to a gift from the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and an offering from the SBC Pastors’ Conference, the International Mission Board received more than $100,000 to help fill the gap from its Lottie Moon Christmas Offering shortfall. The Lottie Moon offering fell $29 million short of its goal and $9 million short of its previous year’s total.

During the IMB report, messengers heard from missionaries who serve in closed areas of the world; their identities were masked to protect their safety. IMB President Jerry Rankin said more needs to be done to reach a lost world.

“Are we saying that 5,000 missionaries are enough … to evangelize the rest of the world while we support over 100,000 pastors, church staff and denominational workers in our own country?” he asked.

– Executive Committee President Morris H. Chapman told messengers that a fervor for missions trumps doctrinal divides and that Southern Baptists will unite for the sake of lost souls.

“The victories of faith in the life of the convention did not happen because men and women loved doctrine,” Chapman, president of the Executive Committee, said during the morning report June 23. “They happened because they loved Jesus.”

Chapman mentioned some of the issues that have been debated in recent days, noting first that the convention must “maintain a careful balance between cultural adaptation and Gospel proclamation.”

“Some of the church growth methodologies that masquerade under the guise of Bible exposition are increasingly known for the crude themes and the vulgar language of their strongest advocates. The sacred desk is no place for the carnal, the sensual and the sensational,” he said.

– The annual Crossover evangelism outreach that precedes the annual meeting yielded more than 1,000 decisions for Christ. Approximately 3,000 volunteers from 107 churches participated.

– John Mark Toby, pastor of Beacon Hill Church in Somerset, Ky., was elected first vice president, while Stephen Rummage, pastor of Bell Shoals Church in Brandon, Fla., was elected second vice president. John Yeats, director of communications for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, was re-elected SBC recording secretary, and Jim Wells, director of missions for the Tri-County Association in Nixa, Mo., was re-elected registration secretary. Mac Brunson, pastor of First Church in Jacksonville, Fla., was elected to preach the 2010 convention sermon in Orland, Fla.

– Two representatives from the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware served on the 2009 SBC Committee on Committees: Steffan Carr, Christ Memorial Church, Westernport, Md., and Scott Hook, High Tide, Rozana, Del. Other BCM/D representatives appointed as Trustees are: Southern Seminary – John Manry, North Harford, Jarrettsville, Md. replaces Stephen Hokuf, First, North East, Md.; Southwestern Seminary – Il Hwan Kim, Tyrannus, Clarksville, Md., is elected for a second term; Midwestern Seminary – Judy Crain, First, Easton, Md., is elected for a second term; Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission – Jeffrey Harris, Calvary, Forest Hills, Md., replaces John Ball, South End, Frederick, Md.

– LifeWay Christian Resources presented the inaugural HCSB Award posthumously to Fred Winters, the pastor of First Church in Maryville, Ill., who was shot and killed while preaching. Winters’ widow, Cindy, appeared on stage and received the award. Their two daughters also were present. The award will honor individuals who have shown a high commitment to the preaching or teaching of the God’s Word.

“I am tempted to say I bet Fred wishes he were here to see all of this, but since I know where Fred is, I am certain that he is content to stay put,” Winters said.

– The SBC Pastors’ Conference heard from Charles Colson, Mike Huckabee and David Platt, a 30-year-old pastor who previously was unknown to many attendees but whose passionate sermons were well-received. Platt, lead pastor of the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala., also delivered a theme interpretation during the annual meeting.

Next year’s annual meeting will take place June 15-16 in Orlando, Fla.

Michael Foust is an assistant editor of Baptist Press. With reporting by Erin Roach, Baptist Press staff writer.

By Bob Simpson, BCM/D Assoc. Executive Director, BaptistLIFE Editor

June is a beautiful month in the Mid-Atlantic region. The beauty of spring still remains, although the days are starting to heat up as the summer approaches. The early splendor of spring color (azaleas, Cherry trees, etc.) has now faded into a vibrant green in all the trees.

When I was a child, I was fascinated by the study of how chlorophyll actually makes the leaves of a tree green. Plants can obtain all their energy requirements from the blue and red parts of the light spectrum, however, there is still a large spectral region where very little light is absorbed. This light is in the green region of the spectrum, and since it is reflected, this is the reason plants appear green. Chlorophyll absorbs so strongly that it can mask other less intense colors. Some of these more delicate colors are revealed when the chlorophyll molecules decay in the autumn, and the woodlands turn red, orange, and golden brown.

That’s probably more than you wanted to know. But it does answer the question of why leaves change their color in the fall.

It can be said, then, that their true colors come out. They come out because, at the base of every leaf there is a swelling that occurs. In a sense, this swelling stresses the leaves which produces the color change… perhaps the true colors.

God has seen fit to allow us to go through hard times. But through it He brings out the best in us for others to see and to know that God has been at work in our lives.

My wife Lorraine and I have recently walked through some very hard times. She lost her brother, George, to a sudden heart attack. Even though it is coming up on two months since we lost him, it still hurts a lot. His death at the age of 55 reminded us of how fragile life can be. There are simply no words to explain why it happened. We are just reduced to silence before God’s sovereign purposes.

Grieving is a lot like worship. In worship, we try to get outside of ourselves and concentrate on Him. We recognize that we are needy and fragile and must submit ourselves to His perfect will, even if it makes no human sense.

It’s true…His ways are not our ways and that’s why He is God and we aren’t! Someday He’ll make it plain to us. Right now we just need to let our true colors show as a result of “swelling” that has entered our lives. The end result will be that others will see the beautiful colors of our God reflected through our distress. Are your true colors showing?

Emmanuel Church, Gambrills, will have a kids’ flea market from 8 a.m. to noon on May 2 with gently used toys, games, books and other children’s items.

First Church, Crofton, will have a business luncheon on May 12. The laymen of the church will share testimonies on the topic “How to survive the economic meltdown.” The event is co-sponsored by the Crofton Chamber of Commerce. Those who attend will receive copies of Patrick Morley’s book, “How to Survive the Economic Meltdown,” a faith-based approach to the current economic situation.

The church youth had a pancake breakfast and yard sale last month to raise funds for upcoming youth events.

Cathy Plunkett, a member of First Crofton, is founder of “Good News Bible Recycling.” Plunkett sends used Bibles to local prison ministries. She recently began recycling used reading glasses. At the request of a prison chaplain she needs reading glasses with strengths of +2.0, +2.5 and +2.75.

New Hope Community Church, Curtis Bay, will host an All About Kids Productions on July 5-10 this summer for kids who have completed 1st-6th grade. It only costs $99 ($115 beginning June 1) for a week of performing arts and biblical instruction, including role-playing, theatre games, script learning, vocal music, choreography and creative movement and Bible study. For more information, or to register, see www.LamplightArtists.com.

North Glen Church, Glen Burnie, has a movie night every third Friday. In April the church had an outdoor family movie with free popcorn.

The church has a free coffeehouse on the fourth Friday of each month. Last month the coffeehouse featured the church’s own praise team, “the unnamed band.”

Riva Trace Church, Davidsonville, has several parenting ministries. Parents of teens and tweens can attend classes at 9:15 a.m. on Sundays to share with other parents and learn the Biblical solutions to face today’s challenges and reap the rewards of parenting teens.

“A Biblical Portrait of Parenting” class is held on Wednesdays for parents trying to navigate the pitfalls and perils of raising children.

Weems Creek Church, Annapolis, is kicking off a new women’s mentoring program at a garden party on May 3. The new ministry will partner spiritually mature women with younger believers to form strong, lasting relationships that provide encouragement, growth and strength for both the mentors and mentees.

Baltimore Association

First Church, Dundalk, has a Reformers Unanimous group that meets at 7 p.m. on Fridays. The program is designed to help people struggling with all kinds of addictions including alcohol and drugs, over-eating, smoking, gambling, over spending, gossip, pornography, etc.

Samuel Cho, pastor of Nepal Church, Lutherville, and his wife, Young, seek the prayers of their brothers and sisters in Christ as they visit Nepal and India from April 13-May 5.

The couple is visiting Antioch Church, a plant they established last year during the trip to the area.

Samuel Cho said that within three years, 60,000 Bhutan refugees will arrive in the United States.

The Chos have started a new Bhutan house church in Baltimore. Currently 20 participants meet on Thursday nights.

Twenty-eight BSM college students from South Carolina came to Baltimore last month to work with Reisterstown Church and Crossway Church, Owings Mills. Valley Church, Lutherville, housed the students.

The young adults worked tirelessly, prayer walking, doing surveys, cleaning, painting, repairing homes, helping at homeless and crisis shelters, working at the Curtis Bay feeding ministry and even painting a mural at Crossway Church. Before leaving the students made goodies for a coffeehouse and shared with local students about college life.

Blue Ridge Association

The ladies of First Church, Brunswick, did a special April outreach last month. They made “sunshine baskets” to bring a little encouragement and cheer to the sick and shut-in.

New Life Community Church, Inwood, W.Va., will have a dessert comedy theater featuring Christian comedian Scott Davis. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. For more information about Davis see ttp://hopehilarity.com/sweetlife/media/demo.

Delaware Association

The Delaware Association is participating in a minister of education program with LifeWay. Delaware churches will partner with ministers of education out of the state who will help evaluate and give counsel to the Delaware education ministry leaders.

Three training programs are scheduled to prepare the participating churches. The partnerships will begin in the fall of this year.

Pastors and key lay leaders in the association will be participating in an association retreat on May 3 and 4 at Black Rock Retreat Center in Lancaster, Pa.

Healing Water Bible Church International, Bear, celebrated their seventh year anniversary at Ogletown Church on April 26 with a special worship service followed by a luncheon. Ralph Garay, senior consultant, Church Planting Team, Baptist State Convention of North Carolina was the special speaker. Dianne Berry provided the special music.

Hockessin Church called Terri Foster as associate pastor on April 26. He will work with outreach and missions ministries. Foster and his wife Libby have been members of Hockessin for over 10 years and both have worked in various ministries including youth, pre-school and music.

Eastern Association

Churches in the Eastern Association are sending Life Boxes to men and women in the armed services serving in Iraq. The boxes contain toiletries, homemade goodies, socks, and an assortment of other small gifts for the service men and women. Volunteers also make sure to include Christian reading material. All the boxes are due by May 10.

First Church, Pocomoke City, will have a senior adult luncheon beginning at 11 a.m. on June 9. The fellowship lunch includes fried chicken, sliced ham, sides and desserts and special music. Walter and Bettye Agor will share some funny things they’ve experienced on their way to heaven.

Paul Elligson pastor of First Church prepares a luncheon for about 100 Pocomoke seniors each month.

Mid-Maryland Association

CrossLife Community Church, Elkridge, will have a track and field camp from June 22-26 for children ages 6-13. Activities will include high jump, discus, javelin, shot put, springs, distance running and long jump.

The Mid-Maryland Association will sponsor its annual mission trip to Mississippi July 6-10. Volunteers will do construction work, help with Vacation Bible Schools and do other outreach ministries. Over $100,000 has been donated and 500 people have volunteered since 2005.

Mt. Airy Church will have a special “Celebration of Marriage” Sunday on May 3. The special speaker will be Bruce McCraken, president of House on the Rock Ministries.

The church will have a father/son basketball tournament on June 7.

Montgomery Association

Georgia Avenue Church, Wheaton, had a spring fling fashion show/dinner to raise money for youth ministries. The fashions were a little different. Adults dressed up as youth and the youth as adults.

Kensington Church had a spring fling and flea market last month in an effort to reach their community and to raise money for hunger ministries. In addition to flea market vendors selling their wares, the event featured clowns, a moon bounce, balloons, face painting, magic and puppet shows for the kids. There were also static displays by the police and fire company, pet rescue booths and a variety of entertainment. The church also had a booth about its upcoming VBS and their ESL classes. The Rock of Salvation Korean congregation also participated.

The church just completed its finished its English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for the academic year. They are now offering evening Bible study for English learners during the evenings in May and June.

Potomac Association

First Church, Waldorf, had a walk for life to raise money for a local pregnancy center. About 30 people participated in the two-mile trek inside the church. Debbie Kempson, wife of Pastor Wayne Kempson and the church’s director of music, said members and friends enjoy the fellowship as they stroll through the Christian life center, sanctuary and education building 19 times.

“It’s a fun way to do it and it raises awareness for the pregnancy center,” Kempson said. The church typically raises about $2,000 each year from pledges.

The church supports the center in other ways, through special offerings and their benevolence funds. Some members also volunteer at the center.

First Waldorf is gearing up to host “All About Kids Productions,” a Lamplight Artists performing arts camp, in June. They expect over 70 children to participate.

The church moved into its new sanctuary last November. Kempson said members are happy to have a dedicated sanctuary. They moved from their previous location five years ago and began worshipping in their family life center, then built an education area and a chapel. The sanctuary was the final stage of the building program. It holds 450 people. The church has two Sunday morning services.

Leonardtown Church will host disaster relief training from 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. on May 16. The cost is $20 and includes lunch, t-shirt, hat ad materials. For more information email Emily at Emily@potomacbaptist.net.

Maryland Point Church, Nanjemoy, welcomed music guests “Walls of Jasper” from Leonardtown Church for a special concert.

The Potomac Association (PBA) is kicking off is new pastors/Sunday school directors network on June 9 at the PBA Barkley Center. Dinner is at 6 p.m. followed by a meeting at 7 p.m.

Prince George’s Association

Emmanuel Church, Laurel, is hosting a “Trusting God in your financial life” on May 16. The conference begins at 10 a.m. The cost is $25.

First Church, Upper Marlboro, is hosting a ham radio technician class May 1-3. The class is from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday and 1-6 p.m. on Sunday. The cost is $25.

Forestville New Redeemer Church will host the Prince George’s Association annual meeting starting at 10 a.m. on May 2. Jorge Fonseca is the guest speaker.

Fort Washington Church had a men’s worship and fellowship time called “Manning the Gap.” James Dixon, pastor of El Bethel Church, Fort Washington, was the guest speaker. A fellowship dinner was served.

Kettering Church, Upper Marlboro, had a youth talent night with rap, liturgical dance and free pizza.

Susquehanna Association

First Church, Havre de Grace, celebrated its 100th anniversary with special events on April 17-19 including a special catered anniversary dinner, memorabilia and special speakers. The theme was “First Baptist Church: Past, Present and Future.”

Ministers from years past participated in the celebration. Henry Laube, pastor from 1969-1979, preached the Saturday evening service on April 18. Jim Burchman, pastor from 1979-1993, preached the Friday night service. Executive Director of the Baptist Convention, David Lee, preached the Sunday morning service on April 19 and Dan Sheffield, director of missions for the Susquehanna Association, preached at the 7 p.m. Sunday service.

Professor Robert Eubank laid the first foundations of First Church on April 3, 1887. He was principal of the local high school and started a Sunday school as a fulfillment of his wife’s dying wish and with the encouragement of his daughter Lula. Though the work was stopped in the latter part of 1892, it was picked up ten years later when W. D. Quattlebaum of South Carolina, from began having services in the city park and the Willow Theater on Sundays. Interest grew and the church was officially constituted on April 11, 1909.

First Church, North East, had their annual re-enactment of the last supper on Palm Sunday. One by one each of the costumed 12 actors entered the room and introduced themselves as the disciple they portrayed. They sat on the floor around “Jesus,” played by deacon Phil Meekins. “John” leaned against him. They ate cheese and fruit and drank water. They also acted out the foot washing ceremony. “Judas” stormed out. Music and narration was interspersed through the program. Patricia Culvert was the director.

“It was so moving many in the audience were brought to tears,” FBCNE ministry assistant, Cathy Gray, said. “It was quite impressive. It made you think.”

The Women On Mission at Towne Church, Joppa, hosted a “Focus on WMU” Breakfast for their ladies, Acteens and GA’s on Saturday, March 21. Missionaries Randy and Sandy Moyer shared about their work in France, and encouraged everyone to pray for the lost and hurting people there. The Moyers are presently on furlough, and are living in Carsin Run’s Missionary House in Aberdeen. Their son is Chris Moyer, associate pastor at First Church, Perryville, and their daughter-in-law, Laura, is the daughter of Stephen Hokuf, pastor of First Church, North East.

Western Association

The Western Association will have its annual youth camp July 13- 18 at the 4-H Camp Frame, near Hedgeville, W.Va. This is the 62nd annual camp. It will feaure Bible study, worship missions and lots of outdoors western fun for kids.

Deep Creek Church will have a fellowship supper and silent auction on May 3 from 4:45- 6 p.m.

Obituary

James Lloyd Rousey Jr., 73, of Sykesville, died April 7. Rousey was pastor of Elders Church from 1972-1981 and at First Church, Thurmont in the late 90’s. He served as interim pastor at several BCM/D churches including Greenbriar Church, Boonsboro, Emmanuel Church, Gamber (now Faith Family Church, Finksburg), and First Church, Brunswick. He also helped start a church in Smithburg.

Rousey accepted Christ when he was 10-years-old at Vacation Bible School. He always credited his Sunday school teacher for continuing to give an invitation at the end of each lesson, planting spiritual seeds.

He was called to the ministry when he was in his 30’s and he attended Luther Rice Seminary.

Rousey also worked as deputy director of facilities maintenance for the state prison system and served as chaplain at the central laundry facility in Sykesville.

His wife, Ruth Ann, said her husband always enjoyed riding motorcycles. She said even as a young boy he enjoyed riding and started a club called “The Miracle Club.” He and his young friends met in a trailer of an old semi. Ruth Ann said the club was even chartered by the American Motorcycle Association and the kids had bylaws and paid dues.

“He was always laughing and joking…just a fun guy to be around, Ruth Ann said. “His passion was preaching. He found the call was so strong he said it was ‘like a fire burning in my gut.’ He always said ‘it’s something I cannot not do.’”

Rousey was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He served during the Korean conflict.

In addition to his wife, Ruth Ann, of 51 years, Rousey is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, James W. and Tammy Rousey of Sykesville, John M. Rousey of Sykesville, and Mohy and Sharine Ahmed of Sykesville; former daughter-in-law, Shannon Rousey of Westminster; brothers, Terry Rousey of Floyd’s Knob, Ind., and Steve Rousey of Champaigne, Ill.; and many grandchildren.

By Bob Simpson, BCM/D Assoc. Executive Director and BaptistLIFE Editor

As I write this, I am sitting in an airport waiting to return home from a weekend celebrating the second birthday of one of my granddaughters. Her name is Stella. (Lorraine and I have six grandchildren – three boys and three girls). And, our oldest granddaughter, Brittni also just celebrated her 15th birthday within the past week. (How could she be 15 already? I still remember when she was Stella’s age. Yes, they do grow up so fast).

These two occasions have got me thinking about what’s most important in life. Sometimes when we are in the trenches of everyday living, we lose sight of the things that really matter. The perspective I have gotten this weekend is that there is nothing more important than our relationships. That’s certainly true from the spiritual right through to the familial.

Now having said that, I am certainly not naïve as to how difficult the growing of quality relationships can be. Some relationships just work easily. (Grandchildren are included in this category.) Others take more work and increased effort. Some, for reasons that often escape us, just require lots of work, effort, intentionality and mega doses of grace. And in my life, I have even experienced some relationships that, even with my best intentions, were dead on arrival. They required more than I could give. Any relationship that is only one-sided is certainly doomed from the start.

What I am saying is that through all the intricacies of the relationships of our lives, there is one common denominator: they are all a work in progress. They are all at various stages of maturity. They all require the best that is in us to succeed. Even our most important relationship of all with our Heavenly Father requires us to hang in there during the various stages of our lives. Of course, the only difference with Him is that He is so patient, faithful and forgiving with us. His perspective is perfect.

Every now and then I get a wonderful glimpse of His perspective on how to maintain high quality in our relationships. This past weekend with Stella was one of them.

By Bob Simpson, BCM/D Associate Executive Director, BaptistLIFE Editor

Captain Chesley B. (Sully) Sullenberger and I have something in common.  He is the same age as I am.  After that, the comparison denigrates quickly.  So much has been written about Sully’s cool, calm demeanor in the face of certain disaster.  You will recall that he was the pilot of the ill-fated U.S. Airways flight 1549 that hit a flock of birds shortly after takeoff from New York’s LaGuardia airport on Jan. 15, 2009.  Sully is credited with saving the lives of all 155 souls on board that plane.  It was the first time in 50 years of commercial jet flight that the captain of a major aircraft executed one of the most technically challenging maneuvers, landing a jetliner on water without any fatalities.

How did he do it?  He did it with incredible, laser-like focus. Somehow he was able to overcome the negative thinking that distractions always engender. There were so many things that could have distracted him.  For example, he could have been distracted by the fact that he had no thrust from his silent engines.  Sully was 3,200 feet in the air, without power, quickly falling to Earth. That would have freaked out most of us right from the outset.

He could have been distracted by how to keep the nose of the plane lowered so the plane would glide and not drop quickly.

He could have been distracted by all the choices of where he might possibly be able to put the plane down.  They included going back to LaGuardia or trying to get to an alternative airport in the New York metropolitan area.
He could have been distracted by what he knew to be the fact that no pilot in modern jet aviation had ever pulled off a successful water landing.

He could have been distracted by how to align the plane with the river so as not to hit the George Washington Bridge.

He could have been distracted by how to calculate the projected glide path and then set the plane on water at just the right angle so the nose was up and neither of the wings tipped. If the nose or a wingtip hit the water as he approached, the plane could flip, spin out, or snap in two.

He could have been distracted by the location of the boats in the Hudson River.  He knew he would have to pick a spot on the river that would give his passengers and crew the best advantage to be rescued.

There were these distractions and many more.  But, Captain Sullenberger’s focus never wavered.  He knew what he had to do.  He had trained his entire career for this kind of eventuality.   He did not let any distraction dissuade him from the main thing.

This reminds me of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The Scripture says “he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.” If there ever was a person who embodied the essence of focus, it was Jesus.  Even at the age of 12, he told his parents, “I must be about my Father’s business.”

Focus is always the main issue.  Most of us are too easily distracted.  Even churches can be distracted doing good things instead of the main thing. Our main focus is, and must always be, to do what our Lord has commanded us to do.  His last words to us before he left the planet were to “go and make disciples of all nations.”  That is all we need to stay focused on. We need to simply ask, “What now?” “What next?” and “What not?”

It’s the “What not?” part that is the most critical to developing focus.  We need to jettison anything that distracts us. We need to free up more bandwidth to be able to move forward and do it with maximum focus. Jesus (and Sully) can teach us a lot about how to focus!

By Bob Simpson, BCM/D Associate Executive Director and BaptistLIFE Editor

Bob Simpson

The cycle of nature is such that every Spring a farmer must re-seed the ground in order for there to be a harvest in the Fall. This law holds true in many other areas of life as well. The writer of Ecclesiastes says that “for everything there is a season, a time for every activity under the sun.” It reminds us that the law of sowing and reaping underlies so many human activities. And although we tend to dwell on the positive side of this law, the Bible teaches that there is also a sober down side to it.  In Gal. 6:7 it says, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked, whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap.”

As we move into the Spring of 2009, it occurs to me that there are some life principles worth remembering about the sowing/harvesting cycle:
(1) We must sow before we harvest. It sounds basic enough. But the order is very important. Many times we see folks who are trying to harvest where they have not sown. They assume for little or nothing put in they will be able to glean vast results. The irony in so many cases is that they often keep trying even though it is obvious to those around them that their well is clearly dry. (I think it was Einstein who said that the definition of insanity was to do the same thing over and over again expecting different results).

(2) We harvest more than we sow. It is so like God to build into the nature of sowing and harvesting a result that far exceeds the initial expectation. If one kernel of corn is planted in the dirt, it produces a stalk of corn that contains multiple ears of corn each containing countless more kernels. Little is much when God is in it!

(3) We must never stop sowing. In Mark 4, Jesus tells the story about the farmer who planted the seed and how they fell on various kinds of soils. Some of the seeds fell on hard soil and never had a chance of growing because the birds came and snatched it away. Some seeds fell into shallow soil, took root and began to grow. But the hot sun withered it away because the roots were not deep enough. Other seeds grew but the weeds choked the life out of them. A small percentage of the seeds took root, flourished and produced a crop that Jesus said was “thirty, sixty and even a hundred times” as much as had been planted.

I have listened to many sermons in my life where the soils in Mark 4 were highly analyzed and compared. However, I have come to realize that this might be missing the whole point Jesus was trying to make. I think He was really saying, “Look, you are never going to know what happens to each and every seed that you sow. The important thing is to never stop sowing seeds.” Evangelism experts tells us that, on average, it takes seven “touches” to ultimately get a person to cross the line of faith and become a believer in Christ. Sometimes the Lord lets us plant the first seed in their lives. Later, someone else under the leadership of the Holy Spirit comes along and cultivates the seed. Then, someone else comes along and gets the wonderful privilege of harvesting the ultimate fruit.

Bottom line: Never stop sowing the seed. Just because we don’t perceive that God is at work in someone’s life, it should never stop us from sowing the Gospel seed in the first place. Sow it every day, in season, out of season. Someday we will rejoice in all that God will bring to harvest as a result of our sowing!

By David Lee, BCM/D Executive Director

David Lee

Balance is a good word. Balance is not compromise. Balance is not achieving a “mean or average.” Balance is balance. Something “in balance” tends to work better than something that is “out of balance.” When one thing gets out of balance, other things are affected. When a person while walking loses his balance, he falls. A checkbook out of balance can create an overdraft (and unpleasant letters and phone calls.) When our daily schedule gets out of balance, we can find ourselves focused too much on less important things and not enough on those things that matter the most. Even in our spiritual lives balance is important. There must be balance, for example, between praying and doing. There is a time to ask God to do something for us. And there is a time to stop asking and do what we know we must get up and do for ourselves with His help.

In every aspect of our lives, we must exercise balance. In fact, those who are most productive in life are those who are most balanced. The prime example is Jesus himself. I encourage you to take the time to go back and read the four gospels with a direct emphasis on observing how He lived a balanced life.

Balance is also a key to our success as a convention. Early in our history our primary focus was our cooperative effort in sending and supporting missionaries to share the gospel here and abroad. We soon began to cooperate in providing colleges and seminaries to train our missionary personnel and our church’s ministers. We saw the need to get the gospel to our campuses, so we started cooperating to put campus ministers on our college and university campuses. We learned that we could plant more churches if we did it cooperatively. We did these things and many more based on the premise that churches could do more together than we could do individually. And in many cases, without doing it together, we could never have achieved what we have achieved as Baptists.

Perhaps, the pendulum did swing too far in that direction, because we began to hear calls from local church leaders concerned that “churches were serving the convention, rather than the convention serving the churches.” Rightly so, we all were reminded that Jesus founded the church and that the local church is still the place where the “water hits the wheel.” So we began to adjust and put emphasis on answering the question from our churches, “What is in it for us?” “What can the convention do to help my church?” But now, in my opinion, the pendulum has perhaps swung too far in that direction. Our cooperative missions effort is in danger of becoming secondary to our servicing the local church. Again, in my opinion, we are in danger of becoming “out of balance.”

I believe both are important—cooperative missions and servicing the local church. I believe that your church’s mission is “mission critical.” But I also believe that we will not accomplish the Great Commission unless we do it together. I contend that we work best as Southern Baptists when we achieve balance in those two key areas of our work. Acts 1:8, the missions map given to us by Jesus, is actually a balanced approach. A local church can be actively involved in the cooperative effort with other churches to reach “Judea, Samaria, and uttermost” and still receive help to accomplish their “Jerusalem” vision.

Some may call me old-fashioned. Yet, I still appreciate old words like “cooperative” and “together.” I have even embraced new words like “synergy.” To me, Acts 1:8 is not an “either/or” proposal, but rather an “all of the above.” It calls for “balance.” Would you take a few moments and ponder your own church’s involvement in our cooperative missions effort? Would you evaluate whether or not your involvement is balanced? Balance is a good word. “Balance” is a good and healthy approach to kingdom work. 

By Bob Simpson, BCM/D Associate Executive Director and BaptistLIFE Editor

Bob Simpson

February is our first issue each year. As such, I don’t normally take the opportunity to wish you a Happy New Year. In the past, it just seemed to be old news by this point in time. However, this year I am going to do it. We all need a little encouragement from time to time. And after 2008, I am sure everyone could use some.

I hope each of you got a chance to rest and recharge over the Christmas Holidays. I certainly did. (As I write this I am up in the Shenandoah Mountains at my brother-in-law’s mountain house. Right now my wife, Lorraine, and I are helping her brother put together a Nativity puzzle he got for Christmas. For me that’s about as laid back as it gets. No T.V., no cell phone service available up here, and only some good conversation over a puzzle).

Now, of course, I am back to the reality of 2009. The times we live in are stressful. And they are very challenging. Ministry, while never easy, is probably as hard today as it’s ever been. We will need to stay connected with each other this year. We will need to pray for and encourage each other on a regular basis. We will also need to cut each other a little slack at times. There will be times this year when each of us will face our own set of unique stresses. We will need to understand each other before we seek to be understood. Typically, we usually move too quickly to judging each other without benefit of all the facts that surround those being judged. I am learning that a little encouragement, coupled with finding something to compliment someone about, really goes a long way. You usually get more with honey than you do with vinegar.

Let me urge you to join me in doing the obvious in 2009: Let’s really put the Lord first, each other second and ourselves third. Remember…when you write ‘Christmas,’ you have to put ‘Christ’ first. Let’s do that, of course. But it also honors Him when we prefer each other over our own selves. He gets the glory when we encourage and help each other along the way. So let’s be pleasant travelers on the journey in 2009!