When churches have big emphases sometimes the follow-up gets lost. We had a big emphasis on missions at FBC, Nevada, MO, February 29 through March 4 called "Global Mission Celebration." Pastor John Duncan coordinated the event and we had nine missionary units (some single and some families) here to share their stories. Dr. Gordon Fort, Vice President of the International Mission Board, was the featured speaker on Sunday, March 4.
The purpose of the GMC was to increase our commitment in mission giving and personal involvement locally and around the world. In commitment to missions, we had three goals and FBCers surpassed the second goal of $80,150. This is beyond our budget giving. I want to follow up by telling you after the first quarter of giving we have been able to support missions around the world.
In VERNON COUNTY checks were written to Habitat for Humanity, Neighbors Center, Vernon Co. Ministerial Alliance Relief Fund, and the Youth Task Force.
In MISSOURI chcks wee written to Windermere Assembly, Baptist Student Center in Cape Girardeau, Camp Kiersey, and the Missouri Baptist Children's Home.
In NORTH AMERICA checks were written to the Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions, Diaster Relief, Adopt a Church Partnership, Amy Martindale, Iowa Missions, Teen Challenge USA, and All Nations Ministries.
Around the WORLD checks were written to the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions, African Inland Mission, Baptist World Alliance, Thailand Baptist Seminary, Gideons International, Compassion International, World Hunger, Wycliffe Bible Translators, New Tribes Missions, Gary and Carolyn Miller (Hungary), Alan Locke (South Africa), and Joel and Charlotte Brandhorst (Brazil).
In terms of mission involvement we had a team return recently from ministry on an Indian Reservation in Macy, Nebraska, and another team return from Canada. On August 2 a team of four will leave for Haiti where they will be serving in an orphanage. Locally a ministery to people at local laundrymats called "Got Quarters?" has started. I know the Bible warns about pride. But in a healthy sense I am proud of you FBCers who have given your financial resources and time to make a difference in the Kingdom of God.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
IMMIGRATION REFORM POSSIBLE?
One of the matters before the United Stas has been the issue of immigration reform. It concerns me because all of us or our ancestors were at one time immigrants. On the other hand, realism suggests there needs to be processes in regard to protecting borders and providing pathways to citizenship. And nothing is getting done. Gridlock has become the key word in describing what goes on in Washington. It seems like politics throws a wrench in the gears for any possible reform.
Recently one possibility is emerging. A biparisam ecumemical group calling itself Evangelical Immigration Table has drafted the Evangelical Statement of Principles for Immigration Reform. It has been signed by several leaders across a broad spevctrum. Richard Land, who heads up our SBC Ethics Commission signed it as well as LifeWay Research, Focus on the Family, and the past SBC president.
Here is the statement: "Our national immigration laws have created a moral, economic, and political crisis in America. Initiatives to remedy this crisis have led to polarization and name calling in which opponents have misrperesented each other's positions as open borders and amnesty versus deportation of millions. This false choice has led to an unacceptable stalemate at the federal level at a tragic human cost. As evangelical leaders, we call for a bipartisan solution on immigration that:
RESPECTS the God-given dignity of every person.
PROTECTS the unity of the immediate family.
RESPECTS the rule of law.
GUARANTEES secure national borders.
ENSURES fairness to taxpayers.
ESTABLISHES a path toward legal status and/or citizenship for those who qualify and who wish to become permanent residents.
We urge our nation's leaders to work together with the American people to pass immigration reform that embodies these key principles and that will make our nation proud."
The breadth of support among religious leaders is rather amazing. Convincing Washington politicians would be even more amazing!
Recently one possibility is emerging. A biparisam ecumemical group calling itself Evangelical Immigration Table has drafted the Evangelical Statement of Principles for Immigration Reform. It has been signed by several leaders across a broad spevctrum. Richard Land, who heads up our SBC Ethics Commission signed it as well as LifeWay Research, Focus on the Family, and the past SBC president.
Here is the statement: "Our national immigration laws have created a moral, economic, and political crisis in America. Initiatives to remedy this crisis have led to polarization and name calling in which opponents have misrperesented each other's positions as open borders and amnesty versus deportation of millions. This false choice has led to an unacceptable stalemate at the federal level at a tragic human cost. As evangelical leaders, we call for a bipartisan solution on immigration that:
RESPECTS the God-given dignity of every person.
PROTECTS the unity of the immediate family.
RESPECTS the rule of law.
GUARANTEES secure national borders.
ENSURES fairness to taxpayers.
ESTABLISHES a path toward legal status and/or citizenship for those who qualify and who wish to become permanent residents.
We urge our nation's leaders to work together with the American people to pass immigration reform that embodies these key principles and that will make our nation proud."
The breadth of support among religious leaders is rather amazing. Convincing Washington politicians would be even more amazing!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS?
Did you hear the news? Southern Baptists took an historic step in June at the Southern Baptist annual convention held in New Orleans, Louisiana. For the first time in our history, messengers elected a black convention president. Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, ran unopposed at the SBC annual meeting. Luter, a former street preacher, brought his mostly black New Orleans congregation back from near annihilation after Hurricane Kutrina in 2005. About 7,000 messengers stood to their feet, cheered, and shouted, "Halelujah," after he was elected.
Racism is something Southern Baptists have tried to live down for a long time. Baptists were split during the Civil War era between the Northern (now American) Baptists and Southern Baptists. Southern Baptists represented the culture and mores of the South. In our early days we Nevadans were known as "Southern" sympathizers because we were always "bushwhacking" the federal (Union) troops. That's why the troops from Ft. Scott burned our town and our church! That is why we have the annual Bushwhacker Days.
Several years ago Southern Baptists passed a resolution sent to the National Baptist Convention (Blacks) to apologize for the racism in our history. The President of the National Baptist Convention basically said, "Thanks, but no thanks!" Too little; too late. There were suspicions among those in the black Baptist Convention that the SBC has been trying to reach upward mobile black families in the cities. For the past five years, the SBC has seen a decline in membership.
And then there is the name-- Southern. I mean-- the Methodists dealt with the name change years ago. They converted from "Southern" Methodists to "United" Methodists. Northern and Southern Baptists could never get together. But can we at least change our name? Well, this year the messengers approved an "alternate" name. Our alternate name is now Great Commission Baptists.
Of course a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Or a Baptist by any other name can be just as racist. Or not.
Racism is something Southern Baptists have tried to live down for a long time. Baptists were split during the Civil War era between the Northern (now American) Baptists and Southern Baptists. Southern Baptists represented the culture and mores of the South. In our early days we Nevadans were known as "Southern" sympathizers because we were always "bushwhacking" the federal (Union) troops. That's why the troops from Ft. Scott burned our town and our church! That is why we have the annual Bushwhacker Days.
Several years ago Southern Baptists passed a resolution sent to the National Baptist Convention (Blacks) to apologize for the racism in our history. The President of the National Baptist Convention basically said, "Thanks, but no thanks!" Too little; too late. There were suspicions among those in the black Baptist Convention that the SBC has been trying to reach upward mobile black families in the cities. For the past five years, the SBC has seen a decline in membership.
And then there is the name-- Southern. I mean-- the Methodists dealt with the name change years ago. They converted from "Southern" Methodists to "United" Methodists. Northern and Southern Baptists could never get together. But can we at least change our name? Well, this year the messengers approved an "alternate" name. Our alternate name is now Great Commission Baptists.
Of course a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Or a Baptist by any other name can be just as racist. Or not.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
THE HANGING OF JUDGE SMITH
Last Thursday I attended the "unveiling of the portrait" for Federal Judge Ortrie Dale Smith in the Federal Court House in Kansas City. After serving several years on the bench, judges are promoted to senior status and get their mug shots hung in the court house. In typical humorous fashion, he referred to it as the "hanging of Ortrie Smith."
Pastoral care memories emerge. I was with Ortrie when B. J. (Brittany Jane) was born and he almost lost Kris in child birth. I experienced the anxiety with Dr. Greenlund, Dr. Thompson, and Ortrie. Thankfully, Kris lived and B. J. joined the other three, Mikki, Casey, and Angie. Casey is also an attorney and B. J. is in her third year of law school.
Fun memories emerge. Ortrie was the one who got me into jogging in the early 80s. We jogged with guys who were called the "Southside Jogging and Debate Society": Chris Hoberock, Fred Seewoester, Jerry McBeth, and Howard Carter. The initial jogging was in preparation for snow skiing. Neither of us had done it but Marie and I and Ortrie and Kris (and later our families) took several Colorado trips together.
Encouragement memories emerge. Once during a sermon, I mentioned I was empty. I felt like a milk shake and everyone had a straw in me. While I was greeting people as they left, Ortrie handed me a giant milk shake. He had sneaked out early!
Leadership memories emerge. Ortrie touched about everything in the community that needed leadership. At a time of inertia at FBC, he became chair of a feasibility committee to determine how to proceed. The proposal to re-locate had been defeated by a narrow margin. He came into my office and asked, "So what do you want to do?" I replied, "We need to stay together as much as possible and move forward!" Both of us were propoents of re-location but he surmised, "You may not like how it turns out." I answered, "I know." But here we are today.
People who know him will smile. People who did not know him will ask, "Why would anyone ever name a baby Ortrie?"
Pastoral care memories emerge. I was with Ortrie when B. J. (Brittany Jane) was born and he almost lost Kris in child birth. I experienced the anxiety with Dr. Greenlund, Dr. Thompson, and Ortrie. Thankfully, Kris lived and B. J. joined the other three, Mikki, Casey, and Angie. Casey is also an attorney and B. J. is in her third year of law school.
Fun memories emerge. Ortrie was the one who got me into jogging in the early 80s. We jogged with guys who were called the "Southside Jogging and Debate Society": Chris Hoberock, Fred Seewoester, Jerry McBeth, and Howard Carter. The initial jogging was in preparation for snow skiing. Neither of us had done it but Marie and I and Ortrie and Kris (and later our families) took several Colorado trips together.
Encouragement memories emerge. Once during a sermon, I mentioned I was empty. I felt like a milk shake and everyone had a straw in me. While I was greeting people as they left, Ortrie handed me a giant milk shake. He had sneaked out early!
Leadership memories emerge. Ortrie touched about everything in the community that needed leadership. At a time of inertia at FBC, he became chair of a feasibility committee to determine how to proceed. The proposal to re-locate had been defeated by a narrow margin. He came into my office and asked, "So what do you want to do?" I replied, "We need to stay together as much as possible and move forward!" Both of us were propoents of re-location but he surmised, "You may not like how it turns out." I answered, "I know." But here we are today.
People who know him will smile. People who did not know him will ask, "Why would anyone ever name a baby Ortrie?"
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