2020-10-22

Informing and Inspiring Oklahoma Baptists Since 1912

BAPTISTMESSENGER.COM • OCTOBER 22, 2020

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CO N T E N T S : Page 2 | News & Trends IMB celebrates $159.5m Lottie Moon Christmas Offering total, exceeds goal >> LESLIE PEACOCK CALDWELL

Abbreviated 2020 Annual Meeting offers power-packed schedule

Remembering Clyde Cain: Beloved pastor, denominational leader dies in tragic accident

>> STAFF

>> STAFF

The 2020 Annual Meeting of Oklahoma Baptists, which marks the 114th annual meeting of Southern Baptists in Oklahoma, is set for the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Broken Arrow, First, 100 W. Albany Street.

The program will feature times of preaching and essential business, including officer elections.

Clyde Cain, a well-known Oklahoma Baptist pastor and ministry leader, died on Oct. 6.

Cain, 85, was reportedly struck by a motor vehicle in a parking lot following a morning event at Edmond, First, according to news TV reports.

Cain, who served as a pastor, denominational leader and more, retired from Oklahoma Baptists’ state convention in 2002, having served 28 years with Oklahoma Baptists, including in the areas of evangelism and ministry leadership. /// SEE PAGE 7

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How to bring joy to your pastor >> PHILIP JONES

“Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you” (Heb. 13:17).

A pastor’s work is never finished. When he goes to bed Sunday evening, the last thoughts on his mind are the things that he will need to attend to the following week.

Even on his days off, the pastor is never off. A simple trip to the hardware store usually leads to a ministry encounter or two. /// SEE PAGE 10

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To comment on articles, visit www.baptistmessenger.com

Page 3 | Voices Encourage: 3 key moments >> HANCE DILBECK

Page 3 | Voices Sword & Trowel: Politics, religion & Him >> BRIAN HOBBS

Page 4 | Gospel Ministry Rite of Passage: God’s favorite number >> WALKER MOORE

Page 6 | Feature Every possible means: Pastoring by text message during a pandemic >> CHRIS FORBES

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IMB celebrates $159.5m Lottie Moon Christmas & SPORTS & T MISSIONS T RY M I N I Sexceeds Offering total, goal E N T E R TA I N M E N >> by Leslie Peacock Caldwell IMB SENIOR EDITOR

RICHMOND—The International Mission Board (IMB) is reporting a 2019-20 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering total of $159.5 million, the second highest offering in history. This total exceeds by $4.5 million the 175-year-old organization’s budgeted goal of $155 million. IMB also received $97.2 million from the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program for 2019-20.

Oklahoma Baptists gave nearly $4.9 million to the 2019-20 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

“I’m thrilled to report that the Lottie offering is growing again,” IMB President Paul Chitwood said. “A growing Lottie offering means that more lost people, not fewer, will hear the Gospel and be saved. A growing Lottie offering means that more hurting people, not fewer, will be helped and offered hope. A growing Lottie offering means more missionaries, not fewer, will go to the ends of the earth to carry the Good News. Thank you, Southern Baptists, for growing the Lottie offering!”

The offering reflects the commitment of Southern Baptist churches to support international missionaries and reach every language, people, tribe and nation with the Gospel. One hundred percent of gifts given to this offering are used for the support of missionaries.

E L I NcelebratNmore This year’s generous is allOthe EW Ngift NT T CON E ed during a year inBwhich worldUSIVEfamilies E -EXCLmany W wide experienced significant loss of income due to COVID-19.

“Everything we thought COVID-19 would take away from us, God gave back—and more—through the Lottie Moon offering and the generosity of the Southern Baptist family,” said Price Jett, IMB vice presN INFO ident of finance, logistics,IC travel IOtechnology.

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“God has blessed IMB the past year, just as He has for 175 years. I have to believe He has big plans in store for Southern Baptist missions,” Jett said.

Sandy Wisdom-Martin, executive director of national Woman’s Mission C E Salso celebrated the V O IUnion, faithfulness of churches and the way God led people to give sacrificially.

“The sacrificial gifts offered by faithful Southern Baptists this giving cycle are substantial enough to tip the scales of eternity in favor of the Kingdom,” Wisdom-Martin said. “Names will be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life as a result of what was stewarded well. What a privilege to join God in His redemptive work in the world.”

The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering supports more than 3,500 full-time missionaries and their families. These personnel live among the lost in order to reach the nations with the Gospel.

IMB President Paul Chitwood spoke to trustees in the meeting of the board on Sept. 30 about the multitudes who remain unreached.

“As an organization representing Southern Baptists and their calling before God to share Christ

NE N E W O NELCIONTENT

EVENTS

SIV WEB-EXCLU

OCT 23-24

NOV 7

Chaplain Training

Disaster Relief Training

Info: OKC Police Training Center Contact Marianne VanZandt, mvanzandt@oklahomabaptists.org for more information

Info: Madill, First Contact Marianne VanZandt mvanzandt@oklahomabaptists.org for more information

NOV 1

NOV 10

Oklahoma Student Worship Choir Concert Info: 6-8 p.m.

OKC, Brookwood oklahomabaptists.org/ student-worship

Annual Meeting of Oklahoma Baptists Info: 1-6 p.m.

Broken Arrow, First oklahomabaptists.org/ annualmeeting

NOV 5

NOV 29-DEC 6

VBS Jumpstart

Week of Prayer: Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Info: $15, 8:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Del City, First Southern Contact Pat Jones pjones@oklahomabaptists.org for more information

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>> PHOTO: IMB.ORG IMB missionaries Charlie and Shannon Worthy hold evangelistic camps in Italy to build relationships and share the Gospel.

Info: Week to pray for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

FOR MORE INFO ON OKLAHOMA BAPTISTS’ EVENTS, VISIT WWW.OKLAHOMABAPTISTS.ORG/EVENTS

OBU Announces Details, Speakers for Winter Commencement Nov. 21

N IN PUBLICATIO KENNY DAY | OCT 7

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Oklahoma Baptist University will host its Winter Commencement ceremony for fall 2020 graduates Saturday, Nov. 21. The ceremony will be divided into three separate events in order to facilitate social distancing. All ceremonies will be in Raley Chapel. The first service will start at 9:30 a.m.; the second at 11 a.m.; and the third will begin at 2 p.m.

EVENTS

Washington, D.C. Southern Baptist church gains religious liberty win in court TOM STRODE | OCT 12

A federal court ruled late Friday, Oct. 9, the District of Columbia has likely violated the religious freedom of Washington, D.C., Capitol Hill and therefore cannot prevent the Southern Baptist congregation from meeting outdoors with proper safety measures in place.

FIND ALL THESE STORIES AND MORE ONLINE AT WWW.BAPTISTMESSENGER.COM

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among the nations,” Chitwood said, “we have felt a great responsibility during this pandemic to care for the gifts they so graciously entrusted us. To Southern Baptists, E & us again, I want to say, thank O PforLallowing P Eyou to serve you in carrying out the Great WS N E ComH C R U H C mission in partnership with you and your church. Much remains to be accomplished, but together, under the power of Christ, we can continue to welcome the multitudes before His throne (Rev 7:9).”

This year’s Lottie Moon and Week of Prayer stories emphasize God’s goodness of U proRE T L U C & S W E vision, but alsoNthe vast needs that remain.

From a children’s shelter in Kenya, to a fish farm in Peru, to a radio ministry in Europe and a clinic in Thailand, God is at work but also revealing the significant need of the nations to turn to Him. Charlie and Shannon Worthy build strong partnerships with believers in Italy to advance the Gospel. They understand that working alongside local believers to plant churches and disciple believers will produce fruit long past their time there as missionaries. And the support they receive from Southern Baptists makes all the difference.

“The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is critical to what we do,” Charlie said. “We are grateful for Southern Baptists, and we are grateful and honored to be Southern Baptists.”

Chitwood urges churches to remain committed to the task, even take time to celebrate His generous provision.

“Please join us as we step into a new fiscal year, trusting God and calling upon you to be generous in your praying, sending, going and your increased giving through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering,” Chitwood said. “There is no greater work than the one we share in proclaiming ChristL N E groups N toIpeople N EofWHisO who have never heard great name!”

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October 22, 2020 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com | News & Trends

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The Baptist Messenger (ISSN 0744-9518) is published semi-monthly by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, 3800 N. May, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112-6506. Periodicals postage paid at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Circulation last issue: 40,899. Individual subscriptions are available upon request. When writing for a change of address or a subscription renewal, please include a copy of your mailing label. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Baptist Messenger, 3800 N. May, Oklahoma City, OK 73112-6506.

While the Baptist Messenger attempts to provide advertisers of integrity who furnish quality products, it is recommended that buyers be cautious, do research and get references to any advertiser with which they are not familiar. Publication of an advertisement in the Baptist Messenger does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or businesses. October 22, 2020 • Volume 109, Number 20.

Member, Baptist Press News, Christian Newspaper Association, Evangelical Press Association, Oklahoma Press Association.

EVENTS

MESSENGER STAFF >> Brian Hobbs | Editor bhobbs@baptistmessenger.com >> Chris Doyle | Managing Editor cdoyle@baptistmessenger.com >> Hannah Hanzel | Art Projects Leader hhanzel@baptistmessenger.com >> Lori Coats | Subscriptions/Assistant lcoats@baptistmessenger.com >> Chris Forbes | Staff Writer/ Branding & Marketing cforbes@oklahomabaptists.org

VOICES

Encourage: 3 key moments Hance Dilbeck Oklahoma Baptists’ Executive Director-Treasurer @Hance_Dilbeck

Only nine weeks until Christmas. Wow! This year, the one we thought would never pass, will soon be history. Time marches on. In fact, before you read the next edition of the Messenger, three things will have come and gone. I want to touch briefly on each one while we still have time. I will take them in order.

First, October is Pastor Appreciation Month. If you have not done so already, don’t let these last few days of the month pass without showing your appreciation to your pastor. We show our appreciation in a few basic ways: words, gifts and time. Take time to carefully craft a personal note of appreciation. Be specific. Lead your children or grandchildren to write a note. Give your pastor a gift either from you and your family, or from your whole church family. Be generous! Grant your pastor some extra time off.

This has been a difficult year for our shepherds. They could all use some downtime between now and Christmas.

Second, Election Day is Nov. 3. Everyone reading this article needs to vote. Remember that the old preach-

er used to say, “Before you go to the voting booth, make sure you go to the prayer closet!” Ask the Lord to guide you as you exercise this responsibility. One of the ways that we act as salt and light is through our vote. We need men and women of character who will protect life and protect religious liberty.

As author and noted ministry consultant Gregory Frizzell has said, pray for people to seek God and follow His will, and pray for God to have mercy on America. Read Frizzell’s “seven specific prayers for local and national elections” in the box at the end of my column.

Third, Oklahoma Baptists will gather for our Annual Meeting on Tuesday, November 10. The fine folk of Broken Arrow, First will be our gracious hosts. This will be an abbreviated meeting beginning at 1 p.m. and concluding before 6 p.m. We will conduct essential business only—no pastor’s conference, no meals, no ancillary meetings and no exhibits.

Our essential business will include Bible preaching from President Blake Gideon, Andy Taylor and from myself. Our messages will center on the “Unhindered Gospel.” We will also elect new officers and hear reports of our work advancing the Gospel together in 2020. I hope you will make every effort to pre-register as a messenger and participate. We need you this year; we need each other!

I have been praying Col. 2:2 for the Oklahoma Baptists who gather in Broken Arrow on Nov. 10, “…that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love…”

Seven specific prayers for local or national elections Based on principles from 1 Tim. 2:1-4

by Gregory Reed Frizzell

• Pray for people to seriously seek God in how they vote • Pray that people will not put economics or politics above the godly and biblical foundations upon which America was founded • Pray for God’s Spirit to fill the voting booths and guide people as they vote • Pray that huge numbers of godly people will turn out to vote • Pray for people to follow God’s guidance, not just political parties • Pray that God will give us godly leaders of integrity who will govern in wisdom and righteousness • Pray for God to have mercy on America and stay His hand of judgment

Sword & trowel: Politics, religion & Him Brian Hobbs Editor of the Baptist Messenger @BrianGHobbs

If you scroll through your social media posts, what’s the most common topic on which you focus? Perhaps it’s sports, food or movies. If you’re a Christian, hopefully the Bible and Jesus are often discussed.

With the 2020 Election just days away, a quick survey of social media reveals that for most Americans, they are talking all politics, all the time.

A new poll reveals that this all-politics mode is wearing on people. According to the Pew Research Center, “some 55 percent of adult social media users say they feel ‘worn out’ by how many political posts and discussions they see on social media.”

Of course, it’s not just on social media. Many Sunday School classrooms and dinner tables are abuzz with presidential politics talk, night and day, as well.

On the one hand, this should be expected. The 2020 Election is of tremendous consequence. Moreover, Americans live in a democracy, which requires political involvement and awareness. So robust discourse on politics and current events is a good thing.

On the other hand, the political discourse has turned so sour that we seem to be not talking with one another, but past one another. The poll also showed that “seven-in-10 now say they find it ‘stressful and frustrating’ to talk about politics on social media with people they disagree with, up from 59 percent in 2016.”

We are seeing a social phenomenon in which people are no longer going for persuasion but instead are just scoring points for their own political “tribe,” contributing to this air of stress and frustration. To quote Simon and Garfunkel, we have a lot of people “talking without speaking,” people “hearing without listening.”

After the dust settles from this election, I recommend we each reflect back on what we posted and said in 2020. This will help us see the bigger picture and lead toward helpful change in our own lives and relationship circles.

In his book, “Them: Why We Hate Each Other and How to Heal,” U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse says this: “Deep, enduring change does not come through legislation or elections. Meaningful change comes as lots and lots of individual minds are persuaded and hearts changed.

Deep change allows people to change their minds without needing, first, to ‘eat crow.’ It tolerates provisional and partial agreements. It’s the logic of neighbors who live side by side. It’s the logic of the long-term, which respects the dignity and agency of debate partners.”

Sasse is on to something helpful here. Christians, of all people, need to be able to recognize the worth of others, even those with whom we have serious disagreements.

We do need to be thinking about and talking about politics, and of course religion. But we more often need to be heard talking about matters of faith, about Jesus Himself.

For it is only when we go beyond talking exclusively about the political headlines of the day that people will believe Jesus is Who’s most important to us. It’s not about politics or even religion. In the end, it’s all about Him.

Voices | October 22, 2020 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

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I N I S T RY GOSPEL M

Rite of passage: God’s favorite number & & S S N T O R I SPO MISS Moore Y M I N I S T RWalker

President Emeritus of Awe Star Ministries Email | walker@awestar.org @WalkerDeanMoore

B O X He invented them; O OforLnumbers.

T H God has a fondness C R U H C there was a time when numbers didn’t exist.

I can’t tell you exactly what life was like before numbers were invented, but I imagine it was confusing when the hostesses asked, “How many are in your party?” and all you could do was shrug your shoulders and say, “This many,” as you pointed to the people whoFwere going S to sit at your table.

IED S Icreated LAS CWhen God numbers (and He is continuing to create them because only God knows where infinity ends), He became partial to certain ones. He likes the number 40. I am not sure why, but He uses it a lot. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness, and Noah spent 40 days and nights on a boat.

God also likes the number 10. He gave the Ten Commandments, C EHeSpromised not to destroy Sodom V O Iand and Gomorrah if 10 righteous people could be found.

The number three is in second place as God’s favorite. Jesus arose from the grave on the third day.

He manifested himself as three persons in what we call the Trinity.

But His favorite number of all is seven. He created the heavens and earth and rested on the seventh day. The Israelites walked around the wall seven times before they blew their horns. After Jesus fed the multitude, the disciples collected seven baskets of leftovers. There are seven holes in your head and

seven layers of skin on your body. The T has M E Nrainbow TAhasI N seven colors, scale seven notes. And don’t T Ea R Nand E forget the seven deadly sins.

The number seven is used 735 times in the Scriptures. And seven determines the winner. Don’t believe me? How many potential games P L Efor & are there in a playoff P E Oseries the NHL, MLB and NBA?H If you NEWS C R U H C said seven, you are right!

If God had to pick his favorite number out of infinity, my guess is He would pick the number seven. I like the number seven also. If it’s God’s favorite number, I am going to go with Him. But there isUanothC LT U R E S& EW er reasonN I like seven: It is 7-year-old Titus the Honorable’s soccer jersey number.

I don’t know if soccer was even a game when I was growing up. Our school didn’t have a team, and neither did the school in the next county. But now that two of my grandsons play the sport, I love soccer.

Dear Titus the Honorable, I know you are 7 years old, and you wear the number seven on your soccer jersey, but I wanted to introduce you to another number seven, a seven that’s especially important.

One day the disciple they called Peter asked Jesus a very serious question. “’Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times’” (Matt. 18:21-22).

You see, Titus, the number seven has to do with forgiveness. When we mess up and hurt someone, we have to ask them to forgive us. It is hard to do; you must humble yourself and confess that what you did was wrong.

Then you need to ask the other person to forgive you.

But there is something more difficult than asking for forgiveness: forgiving the person who wronged you. It takes a big person to forgive someone who has hurt you. In fact, you can’t do it on your own; you must ask Jesus to help you forgive.

I know what I am talking about. I have asked people to forgive me, and they keep bringing up what God has already forgiven to cause me pain. To forgive means to restore the relationship you had with the person before they sinned and not bring up the sin again, just as God has done for us.

Peter was asking Jesus, “If my brother hurts me again, do I forgive him the second, third or even the seventh time?” Jesus told him that he needed to forgive those who hurt him 77 times (some translations say 70 times seven). If you notice in that passage, Jesus used the word “seven” three times. In the Bible, seven is the perfect number, and true forgiveness is perfect forgiveness. We need people who will demonstrate Jesus’ type of forgiveness to others.

Titus, since you are 7 years old, you wear that number in your body, and you wear it on your soccer jersey.

I pray you will carry the sevens in your heart: the spirit of true forgiveness. If you do, you will be Exhibit A to show people the forgiveness Jesus offers the world.

God loves the number seven, and I love the young man who wears it.

Love, Poppy

‘BSU saved my life’ Cris Lowery Oklahoma Baptists’ State Baptist Collegiate Ministries Director

“BSU (Baptist Student Union) saved my life.” The first time I heard that phrase was in an administrative council meeting where I was serving as the interim pastor. Jim Bellah was the chairman of the council, and I was talking about the fact that I had taken on a new responsibility as the state Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) director and would need to be traveling to visit campuses.

Without a thought, he responded with, “BSU saved my life!” He went on to talk about how being part of that campus ministry helped give him needed direction and encouragement during a critical decision-making period in his life. Since that time I have heard versions of that story over and over.

Another one I’ve heard is, “That’s where I met my husband or wife!” I began to wonder if BSU/BCM was the early version of a Christian dating service until I listened more closely to what was being said. The stories generally had a common theme of a love for God and direction in life that was shared by the other person.

Sometimes, it was their love and devotion to following Christ. Other times, it was centered on a call to ministry or heart for missions. Without exception, it was mentioned that it didn’t hurt anything that the other person was rather attractive.

Other common comments are, “That’s where I learned how to walk closer with God; where I learned how to share the Gospel; where I learned I could be on mission every day of my life or where I met some of the best friends I’ve ever had.”

But of all the stories I’ve heard about the positive impact of the campus ministry Baptists have invested in all these years, the one that excites me most is when I hear someone say, “That’s where I met Jesus! And my life has never been the same since that day.”

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It’s a common theme in BCMs around the state. You don’t have to look very long or far before you run into someone who met Jesus as a result of college ministry.

Sharing the story of how Jesus can change lives was woven into the DNA of BSU/BCM in its inception and continues to be the vision of every BCM leader. It’s important enough that every campus has a strategic and intentional evangelism plan. And it’s working!

It might be tempting to think that the fall semester of 2020 would see fewer students come to know Christ, but we’re learning that isn’t true. It has been said that it’s amazing to see what God will do when there’s no question about Him getting the credit. That’s what we’re seeing on campuses across Oklahoma.

Change of strategy often comes as a result of unexpected challenges. The new strategies for this semester have definitely come as a result of new challenges, but the vision of seeing students come to Christ has remained the same. Rather than focusing on lost opportunities, BCM leaders have looked for new opportunities created by the ongoing pandemic.

In a time where isolation is being encouraged, the number of Gospel conversations BCM leaders and students are having on campus is on the rise. As a result, students are praying to receive Christ and starting their spiritual journeys as new Christians. On the University of Oklahoma campus, 23 students prayed to receive Christ in the first few weeks of school as a result of seizing a unique opportunity. This type of story has been repeated across the state, as BCM leaders have identified new opportunities and taken advantage of them.

At the back-to-school Momentum conference in Sep-

October 22, 2020 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com | Gospel Ministry

tember, church and campus-based ministries came together to challenge students to live on mission as they began their fall semester. As a result of the challenge, students were saved, some expressed a call to full-time vocational ministry and others pledged to live their life on the mission field.

From campus to campus across Oklahoma, this story is being repeated as the Spirit of God moves in ways that can only be credited to His power and direction. I have the ongoing privilege of seeing BCM leaders facilitating opportunities for students to come to Christ and future pastors, staff members, church leaders, bi-vocational leaders, godly mothers and fathers grow in their walk with Christ at a time when critical life decisions are being made.

Oklahoma Baptists everywhere can be proud of the investment being made in the lives of students, administrators, staff and faculty on college and university campuses around our state. In every way, we are still “Saving Lives!”

& MISSIONS M I N I S T RY

SPORTS & T MEN E N T E R TA I N

Abbreviated 2020 Annual Meeting offers power-packed schedule EOPLE & L B OX /// PREVIEWED ONO COVER O T H C R U H C

>> by Staff The 2020 Annual Meeting of Oklahoma Baptists, which marks the 114th annual meeting of Southern Baptists in Oklahoma, is set for the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Broken Arrow, First.

The program will feature times of preaching and essential business, including officer elections. Sermons at the Annual Meeting will be delivered by Hance Dilbeck, executive director-treasurer for Oklahoma Baptists; Blake Gideon, senior pastor of Edmond, First, who is serving his second one-year term as state convention president; and Andy Taylor, pastor of Broken Arrow, Arrow Heights.

Reports will be given from all four affiliates: Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children, the Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma and Baptist Village Communities. In addition, various business and ministry reports will be presented.

Dilbeck said, “The theme for our convention meeting is ‘Unhindered,’ based on the last verse in the Book of Acts.”

Acts 28:31 says, “Preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.”

Dilbeck added, “Paul, in the Book of

P EWS CHURCH N

Acts encountered geographic, political, cultural, ethnic and religious obstacles to his work. Yet, the Truth kept marching on—the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ kept on advancing, unhindered.

LT U R E U C & SSIFIEDS “In this year of obstacles S A adverW C Land E N sity, live with confidence that the GosO K L A H O M A B A P T I S T S ’ 2020 A N N U A L M E E T I N G pel is unhindered, especially if we will share it with openness and with bold114TH ANNUAL MEETING ness like prisoner Paul. I pray that OklaOklahoma Baptists | First Baptist Church, Broken Arrow homa Baptists will plan to join us for this important Annual Meeting.”

November 10, 2020 The Oklahoma Baptists Annual Meet- E S C I O V ing consists of church members who 12:45 | Pre Service Music Ada Student Worship Team/ are elected as messengers to represent Members of OSWC their local church body in business deSCM/SCW Virtual Choir Video cisions during the meeting.

Church members interested in serv1:00 | Call to Order Blake Gideon ing as a messenger can contact their Greetings from Host Pastor Matt Brooks church office for information. Every Scripture Shane Meshaya elected messenger will receive a mesPrayer Jim Reed senger booklet and voting ballots 1:10 | Business Session upon check-in at Annual Meeting.

Blake Gideon Appointment of Committees Messenger pre-registration is open Report of Credentials Committee Heath Tucker for churches to register their elected 1:15 | Music/Worship Amy Frazier messengers prior to the Annual Meet1:30 | President’s Address Blake Gideon ing, allowing for a quick and easy on2:00 | Prayer Time D. Hance Dilbeck, Jr. site check-in process.

2:10 | The Baptist Foundation of To access pre-registration, visit www.

Oklahoma Report Robert Kellogg sbcworkspace.com. For questions contact Kdie Nix at knix@oklahomabaptists.org.

2:20 | Oklahoma Baptist Homes for

MISSIONS VOLUNTEER TIES

OPPORTUN

I

OKLAHOMA

On-going opportunities for volunteers: Baptist Village Communities: Ada—Tracy Scheer, 580/332-6004 Broken Arrow—Monty Baggett, 918/355-0099 Cleveland—Gary Ligon, 918/358-2575 Cordell—Lindsay Altenhofel, 580/832-5831 Elk City—Cathy Henderson, 580/225-5555 Grove (Honey Creek)—Gary Mishler, 918/786-2223 Hugo—Billy Johnson, 580/326-8383 Madill (Lake Texoma)—Matthew Wood, 580/564-3776 Miami—Shane McGhee, 918/542-7124 OKC—Chris Finley, 405/721-2466 Ext. 2115 Okmulgee—Sherri Powell, 918/756-5377 Owasso—Nathan Purifoy, 918/272-2281 Ext. 102 Entrusted Hearts by Baptist Village (home health care)—Shannon Ryan, 405/942-3000 Ext. 4685

DISASTER RELIEF

Training:

Pre-registration is mandatory.

Classes are limited in size.

Masks must be worn, and temperatures will be taken.

Nov. 7—Madill, First, 210 S. First St., 73446 Visit okdisasterhelp.org to register

Campers on Mission: Campers on Mission is a fellowship of Christian campers sharing their faith while doing mission activities. Email mvanzandt@oklahomabaptists. org for more information.

Greg McNeece Children Report 2:30 | Business Session Report of the Board of Directors D. Hance Dilbeck, Jr. Financial Plan Presentation Russell Duck Election of Officers Blake Gideon 2:55 | Music/Worship Randy Lind 3:00 | Executive Director-Treasurer’s D. Hance Dilbeck, Jr. Address 3:30 | Church Relations Group Report James Swain 3:45 | Church Resources Group Report Alan Quigley 4:00 | Baptist Village Communities Report Bill Pierce 4:10 | Oklahoma Baptist University Report Heath Thomas Oklahoma Prison Divinity Program Report 4:30 | Business Session Blake Gideon Election of Officers Nominating Committee Report Mike Scrivani 4:40 | Remembering the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Broken Arrow, First Catalyst Choir 5:00 | Music/Worship and Band, Kevin Price, director

5:10 | Annual Sermon 5:40 | Closing Remarks Closing Prayer

Andy Taylor D. Hance Dilbeck, Jr. David Hooks

Pray for National & International Missionaries:

Drew Cunningham

Jacob Boss

Shannon Ford

Drew is a church planter in Santa Cruz, Calif., where less than 4 percent know Jesus.

Jacob is an affinity leader for European Peoples, leading teams of IMB missionaries.

Shannon and Katie Ford serve IMB as operations directors in the Czech Republic.

For Powerpoint slides of Prayer Guide, visit www.oklahomabaptists.org/cp

Missions & ministry | October 22, 2020 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

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Returning home: Keahbone sees Gospel advancements as pastor of Lawton, First /// PREVIEWED ON COVER >> by Chris Doyle

MANAGING EDITOR

LAWTON—God can overcome the hardest resistance for His purpose of advancing the Gospel. Mike Keahbone did not have any intention of serving as pastor of Lawton, First, but God intervened and made a way for Keahbone to return to his roots in a position to make an impact on southwest Oklahoma.

“When this opportunity first came up, I was like ‘no way,’ I had no desire to come back home,” Keahbone said in a recent Lawton Constitution article. “But man, the Lord really didn’t care what I thought.”

For the past six years, Keahbone served as senior pastor of Oklahoma City, Cherokee Hills, helping that church become more involved in its community. He encouraged church members to invest their lives in high school football players who needed to experience the love of Christ, as well as in the lives of others in the church’s community.

As he met with Lawton, First’s pastor search committee, Keahbone resisted their appeals. There were deep discussions, but Keahbone was not convinced—until after the initial conversations were over. He then realized God wanted him to go back to his hometown area.

“I know after I talked to (the search committee) that God wanted me to go to Lawton,” he said.

On Aug. 9, Keahbone preached his first sermon at Lawton, First. He shared with the Constitution that he talked about “the church’s present, his personal past and their united future.”

“Coming home—there are some places where nothing has changed and some places where everything has changed,” Keahbone said to the Constitution. “This is the most familiar/unfamiliar place I’ve ever been. I’m excited to rediscover Lawton.”

Keahbone grew up in Elgin as the son of a Cherokee father and a Comanche/Kiowa mother. His father was not involved in Keahbone’s life, and his mother battled drugs and alcohol addiction. Needless to say, it can be understandable why Keahbone did not want to return to his home area.

He shared how his mom became homeless, and he

went to live with other family members. Being Native American, he also struggled with racial issues. Lawton is at the center of his early life struggles.

Life moved on, and Keahbone made a profession of faith in Christ when he was a student at Cameron University.

Then he committed his life to full-time ministry. He served in youth ministry for 12 years and became a well-known evangelist and speaker before returning to local church ministry. His first senior pastorate came in 2014 at Cherokee Hills.

Two months on the job at Lawton, First, Keahbone sees how God is working in his life and is using him in a significant way.

“My family told me I am different since I’ve been at Lawton, First,” he said. “God is doing a great work in my life, and it’s way beyond anything I could have expected.”

Keahbone shared about a lady who came to visit Lawton, First one Sunday. She told him that she knew his mother. She said she remembered his mom as a little girl in school who was happy and carefree. This was the first time anybody shared with Keahbone a pleasant memory of his mother, and it both encouraged and challenged him.

“People need to know they are loved,” he said.

“That’s what I want to share with everybody. It doesn’t matter what their background is. God can use us to share His love and His Gospel message to everybody.”

Keahbone is aware his Native American heritage helps cross barriers. Since he has been at Lawton, First several Native American families have been attending. He knows Lawton is a “hot bed for Native American communities,” especially since the city is the headquarters for the Comanche Tribe.

Lawton, First has a long-standing heritage of advancing the Gospel. For more than 118 years, Lawton, First has a history of being a banner church

“God is doing a great work in my life,” says Mike Keahbone, “And it’s way beyond anything I could have expected.”

>> PHOTO AND COVER PHOTO: MIKE MAZZO

for baptisms, leading the state in annual baptisms in past years. Keahbone knows with Fort Sill Army base being located in the Lawton area, opportunities for sharing the Gospel can be plenteous.

“Many soldiers have served at Fort Sill for years,” he said. “Many of them don’t have family nearby.

Lawton, First has a history of connecting with these military men and women, which resulted in eternal rewards. I want to see this continue and grow.”

Just as Keahbone recognized community ministry opportunities in Oklahoma City, he intends to do the same in Lawton. And not only Lawton, among the military and Native Americans, but Keahbone also wants to support other Oklahoma Baptist churches.

“I want Lawton, First to be an ‘outpost’ for Oklahoma Baptist churches in the southwest part of the state,” he said. “If we can provide meeting places for pastors and church leaders, opportunities for workshops and conferences, Lawton, First wants to do it and encourage other Oklahoma Baptists serving in this area.”

Keahbone has returned home, back where he experienced hardships. However, just as God has redeemed all those difficult memories, He is using Keahbone as an example and leader to embrace brokenness for the purpose of advancing the Gospel.

Every possible means: Pastoring by text message during a Pandemic >> by Chris Forbes STAFF WRITER

“I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some” (1 Cor. 19:22 CSB) When the Apostle Paul wrote this verse around 57 A.D., he was using the best communication technology of his day for sending a pastoral message from his location in Ephesus to the believers in Corinth.

Today, Pastor Andy Finch of Choctaw, First and his staff are using every possible means of communication technology to meet the needs of his congregation during these days of social distancing.

Finch and the other ministry leaders on the church staff are reaching out to every member of their church by sending one-to-one personal text messages twice a month. Finch explained how it works.

“We care about our people, like I know all pastors do. We wanted to make sure we are staying engaged with them,” he said. “So we decided we probably couldn’t call everybody because people just don’t answer their phones anymore. So we are texting every adult church family member every other week. We have been doing that for three months now.”

Finch divided up the church rolls into sections.

Each week, he and the other four staff members take a list of church member’s names and cell phone numbers, and they send a personal message to each one. Each week they swap lists, rotating so members

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are getting to interact with a different staff member each time they receive a text message.

“Each text is individualized,” Finch said. “That way people respond very personally. We were saying, ‘We care about you, we miss you. How can we pray for you? Is there anything else our church can be doing to encourage you or help you right now?’

We wanted people to be comfortable enough to share things that were very private, that they would want only us to know about and pray for. The texts are always individual, with personal touches.”

Finch said church members have been responding in surprising ways.

“Early on everybody said, ‘Pray for our health and safety’ because that was what everyone was thinking then,” he said. “People were afraid to leave their homes under any circumstance.”

As the staff continued to communicate through texting, Finch said they noticed a change in the responses. He said church members were asking the staff to pray for their marriages since couples were having to spend even more time together because of requirements to work from home.

“I was really surprised by the number of men who said, ‘Pray for my mental health,’” Finch explained. “I think maybe a year ago that would have been seen as a little out of bounds in our culture. But men were saying, ‘I’m struggling, I’m hurting. I’m afraid.’ They were very open, and it gave us an opportunity to not

October 22, 2020 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com | Features

just read the text, but respond, and I would at that point go ahead and call them and meet with them.”

Finch believes the pastoral outreach has been good for the church members and also for the staff.

“I think it empowered the other staff members,” he said. “People saw that they were sharing in the duty. The ministry that might have seemed more of something the senior pastor would do alone was shared with the other staff. I think it elevates them in the eyes of the people as well. And they have enjoyed that. I have been really proud of them.”

Finch said the texting ministry has been beneficial to the church’s pastoral ministry, and he plans to continue the practice after the COVID crisis has passed.

“I think we are much more aware because the line of communication is so direct,” he said. “People felt much more free to share. It feels like a season where the façade of, ‘everything is fine, and I am okay. And I don’t have any needs’ has exploded right now. People feel safe to be open and honest. (Texting) has proven to be a great tool for ministry.”

Learn more about Choctaw, First using texting technology as a ministry opportunity on the Messenger Insight podcast at baptistmessenger. com/podcast.

Enid, Open Door celebrates second anniversary

>> by Jimmy Kinnaird

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ENID—“…Thus says the Holy One, the True One, the One Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one will close, and Who closes and no one opens: I know your works. Look, I have placed before you an open door that no one can close because you have but little power; yet you have kept My Word and have not denied My name” (Rev. 3:7–8, CSB).

Walking into Oklahoma Bible Academy on anniversary Sunday, wherever one might look, they would see celebration. The place is filled with falling balloons of every color. Background sounds of today’s top Christian music are heard. While maintaining social distancing, the buzz of people greeting one another is observed. This was the preamble to the two-year public launch celebration of Enid, Open Door.

Open Door began when Kevin and Meagan Hisey moved to Enid from Claremore to begin a new church three years ago. However, Sept. 13 was the two-year anniversary launch. The name for the new church came to Kevin from a sermon by his pastor, Keith Wiginton at Claremore, First.

“When Pastor Keith was talking about the kind of church that Jesus was describing in Revelation 3, I thought, ‘That’s the kind of church I want to start,’” Kevin said. This was the beginning of Kevin and Meagan searching for open doors in church planting.

The thing about open doors is when God opens one, His follower still must walk through it. This

walk takes courage and faith. It is something that has characterized the lifestyle of the Hiseys. They moved their family to a new place to start a new church with all new people they have yet to meet.

Kevin saw this as a plus for his ministry. “I think our family moving to a new place and being new is very valuable for starting a church because it made us the new people,” Kevin said. “It helped us to be in the place of a lot of people who are new in a community or new at seeking a place of faith.”

The Hiseys spent a year becoming a part of the community. This has helped Kevin and the church make people feel comfortable and welcomed into the Open Door community. But other doors have also opened up in the last two years.

One door is the opportunity of becoming a foster family. Kevin and Meagan have three adopted children, but when they moved to Enid, they fostered a baby girl. They are now in the process of adopting her as well.

“Being a foster family has really changed our world and we encouraged that in the church,” Kevin said. “We are taking care of those who cannot take care of themselves.”

This is a demonstration of one of the core values of Open Door which is “Neighbors first—whoever is standing in front of you, love them as Jesus loves you.”

With the values Open Door embraces, church members also seek to apply with everyday life. For example, another value is creativity. They encourage everyone to use their talents and gifts in the way God has gifted them and designed them. For

>> PHOTOS: PROVIDED Pictures above highlight the past two years of ministry for Enid, Open Door.

celebration weekend, instead of Kevin preaching, they had four life-change testimonies which reflected the church’s values.

“We want to be creative in a Spirit-led way that will connect with people at this time,” he said.

The vehicle that has been most effective for Open Door’s transmission of their values and for seeing lifechange has been through missional communities.

Kevin said, “What is next for us is a deeper focus on missional community life. This is tricky with the Coronavirus going on, but we are trying to figure out how to do it.”

In the last two years, Open Door has seen 36 people make professions of faith in Christ and have baptized 35. The church averages 250 in Sunday worship. “The best is yet to come,” Kevin said.

The Hiseys and the church body are grateful for the partnership they have with their sending church, Claremore, First, and partner churches as well as Oklahoma Baptists and Cherokee Strip Association. Open Door is a multiplying church plant in that they also have supported Woodward, Ascent and are a partner church with Oklahoma City, Thrive Community, which is planted in the urban corridor of Oklahoma City.

To learn more about Enid, Open Door visit OpenDoorEnid.Church. For those wanting to discover if church planting may be an open door for them, visit oklahomabaptists.org/send-network.

Remembering Clyde Cain: Beloved pastor, denominational leader dies in tragic accident /// PREVIEWED ON COVER >> by Staff EDMOND—Clyde Cain, a well-known Oklahoma Baptist pastor and ministry leader, died on Oct. 6.

Cain, 85, was reportedly struck by a motor vehicle in a parking lot following a morning event at Edmond, First, according to news TV reports.

Cain, who served as a pastor, denominational leader and more, retired from Oklahoma Baptists’ state convention in 2002, having served 28 years with Oklahoma Baptists, including in the areas of evangelism and ministry leadership.

“Bro. Clyde made an immeasurably positive impact on Oklahoma Baptist churches,” said Hance Dilbeck, executive director-treasurer for Oklahoma Baptists. “His passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his love for our pastors and churches showed in all his life.

We are praying for his family at this difficult time.”

Pastor Blake Gideon of Edmond, First said, “Dr. Cain was one of the godliest men I knew.

A godly man to his wife and children, to his grandchildren. He loved the Lord with all of his heart.

He was a teacher of the Bible here at our church.”

Anthony Jordan, retired Oklahoma Baptists executive director-treasurer who worked closely

with Cain, called him “one of the finest Christian gentlemen I’ve ever known.” Jordan added, “He made a tremendous investment in the lives of pastors. The way he poured into their lives is unparalleled.”

Jordan preached a message of hope at Cain’s funeral service, which took place on Oct. 12 at Edmond, First. Also speaking at the funeral were retired Oklahoma City pastor Robert Griffin, Gideon, and numerous members of Cain’s family, including his children and grandchildren.

A native of Canadian, Texas, Cain earned a B.A. degree from Wayland Baptist College; a master of divinity from Southwestern Seminary; and a doctor of theology from Luther Rice Seminary. Prior to serving at the Oklahoma Baptists’ state convention, he was pastor of Guymon, First and had previously pastored churches in Texas. Cain is survived by his wife of 63 years, Kay; his children Craig and Kari, as well as five grandchildren.

Including in Cain’s ministry accomplishments, noted in an obituary, he directed and taught in the Southwestern Seminary Extension Program at Oklahoma Baptist University, a “program he helped estab-

lish and nurture” for more than 30 years. Through that program, he was able to pour into countless young pastors and was lovingly called a “Pastor’s pastor.”

“Additional sources of enjoyment were memories of mission service in India, Hong Kong and Africa. After ‘retirement,’ Clyde continued to follow God’s leading by serving churches across Oklahoma as interim pastor.”

Cain, who had been battling two cancers and the side effects of chemotherapy over the past five years, continued to serve in his home church of Edmond, First.

Cain was celebrating his 85th birthday on the day of his death. According to reports, “police said he was walking to his car (from a church prayer event) just before dawn when the accident occurred”; and “with his Bible still in his hand, Cain died at the scene.”

Gideon added, “(I) opened (the Bible) up and (it) had a list of things he was praying for—two of those things were our church and praying for me as his pastor. That blessed my heart.”

For all who knew Cain, they immediately recognize his life and ministry will have an impact for many years to come; indeed, God made an eternal impact through Cain.

Cain from two seperate 1986 editions of the Baptist Messenger.

>> PHOTOS: BAPTIST MESSENGER ARCHIVE

Features | October 22, 2020 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

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Word of encouragement: Pastor, preach hard

S submitted article was ED I F IThe EDITOR’S following A S SNOTE: L C written by Garrett Napier, a member of an Oklahoma

Baptist church. Others are encouraged to send a word of encouragement about their pastors for possible publication. Email baptistmessenger@okbaptist.net.

The alarm didn’t have to go off. I was in the habit of waking up early every day despite being able to sleep C E S in the kitchen. The shower had VO in. Coffee wasI brewing supplied the first boost to defog my brain. The first cup of coffee would finish the task.

My young son awoke and shuffled himself and Brown Bear in the kitchen, where he sat on my knee, snuggling his head on my chest. Out of nowhere, I had a thought—a thought I hadn’t had in a long time. My son and I were going to go to church this morning.

I didn’t tell my wife what we were doing that Sunday, as she was on a business trip out of the country. I wasn’t sure why I was doing this anyway.

We arrived at church, and everything seemed about the same as it had been the last time I had attended a year and a half ago. The service had the same feel.

There was the same music as before; same welcome time; same smiling faces, but today would be different.

The church had been without a pastor for a while, and there was a visiting preacher this morning. When he began to preach, something in my soul stirred. After the service, I sent a text to my wife and told her what I had done and asked her to call when she was available.

My wife and I were not unchurched people, far from that reality. We both were children of Southern Baptist pastors. We had spent our whole lives in church. We had experienced the good, the bad and the ugly. We had witnessed the difficult side of church life and had grown weary and ready for a change. We had left the local body in search of “real Christian life.”

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T U Rand realized We attended aS small C U Lchurch & home W E N there were issues in that arena, led a small group Bible study with people desiring to be intentional in their faith but were left lacking. We were solid in our faith but had a real struggle loving the church with all its warts and dysfunction.

We were getting our nourishment by listening to a pastor of a large congregation who was in another state. He kept stating in his sermons that Christians should love the church because Christ had died for the church. I kept thinking, “If he only understood the pain the church had caused me, he wouldn’t be so harsh with his words.” My wife and I didn’t want to be absent from a local body of believers, but we didn’t know how we could continue participating in a structure that seemed so broken.

That Sunday, when the Holy Spirit urged me to go back, I told my wife she wouldn’t believe what I heard that day. I had listened to a sermon from a man, very close to my age, preach like I remembered preaching from my youth. It wasn’t a feel-good sermon. It was expository. There was a call to repentance. There was authority in his words. There was in that sermon what I had missed for many years.

That preacher went on to become my pastor. That preacher has, for the past several years, been faithful to proclaim the Word of God, week in and week out.

God has used those sermons to convict of sin, call sinners to repentance, lead parishioners to deeper biblical study and attract younger people who are looking for depth in their faith as I was.

What was so different in the sermon I heard that Sunday? How was that one sermon able to spark in my soul a love for the church I have not had for many years? I don’t even remember what was preached about that day, so how can I say that it had such a sub-

October 22, 2020 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com | People & Church News

stantial impact on my life?

The sermon wasn’t full of grand illustrations or punchy jokes. There weren’t great slides to help the listener follow the outline. Many complained that the preaching of this pastor was “over the head” of many of those in attendance. What that sermon did have was conviction. There was conviction in the need to properly exposit God’s Word. There was conviction in the authority of God’s Word. There was conviction in the understanding that God’s Word would be used by the Holy Spirit to fulfill the purposes of God in the lives of the listener.

Pastor, preach hard. I’m not referencing grand fire and brimstone sermons or knockout sermons every week. I’m not suggesting every sermon you preach should be so exquisite that you’re praised for your oratory greatness. I’m suggesting you preach with conviction faithfully every time you stand behind the pulpit.

The faithful sermons I sit under every week have not fixed all the problems in my life or in the life of my church.

These sermons have sometimes caused people to be offended and turned off. These sermons aren’t flashy and never give me three steps to a better anything.

The sermons do, however, build a foundation of truth for my faith to stand on as I learn to be a better follower of Christ. These sermons draw believers to a deeper affection for God’s Word and give the church a steady diet of doctrine.

Pastor, preach hard. You never know what impact your sermon may have for the Kingdom of God. You never know who may walk through your church doors unexpectedly. Preach hard, for it may be your sermon that God uses to stir the soul of a hurt and wounded sheep in need of an undershepherd.

Preach hard so that God may be glorified in the proclamation of His Word.

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Lillie retires after 30-plus years URE IFIEDS W S & C U LT C L A S S at E N Golden Oaks Village >> by Staff ENID—Gary Lillie retired from his position as general manager of Golden Oaks Village, a senior living community I ChasE S VO in Enid.

Lillie been instrumental in the growth of this community for more than 30 years. He has seen it begin as a small unit of senior apartments on 110 acre property to 176 units with three lakes, townhouses, cottages assisted, residential, short and longterm care health services.

Throughout the years, Lillie has been responsible for successful growth and development which have made Golden Oaks “The Best of the Best” and a leader in the senior living industry. His thoughtful style of leadership has helped to develop and grow Golden Oaks’ entry level employees into supervisory positions. Those who have worked with Lillie acknowledge him as a “man of integrity, commitment and of faith.”

CHURCH STAFF CHANGES STEVE GOODSON resigned as pastor of Fort Cobb, First.

LUKE HARPER is pastor of Cache, First.

MA OCanaan.

H KEITH INGRAM is pastor ofA Minco, L K O E H T DANIEL LITCHFORD resigned C asH pastor I V Eof Lawton, Calvary.

BAPTIST AR JESSICA MARTIN resigned as music director of Lawton, Olivet.

TONY NICKEL resigned as pastor of Lawton, Paradise Valley.

DALE RITTER is interim pastor at Sallisaw, Eastside.

BEN SCATTERGOOD is minister of youth at Mannford, Lakeside.

JON SYVERSON is pastor of Apache, First.

“It has been a great blessing to work with Gary in the management consulting agreement Baptist Village Communities has with Golden Oaks Village,” said Bill Pierce, president of Baptist Village Communities.

We look forward to continuing to assist the new not-for-profit organization in the days ahead.”

Lillie has juggled life in management of Golden Oaks Village with community service and as the pastor of Nash, Bethel Hawley. The church recently celebrated its 125th anniversary, and Lillie has Gary Lillie led this congregation for more than 40 years.

Lillie leads two volunteer fire departments and is certified in emergency management which has assisted Golden Oaks Village on numerous occasions. As a first responder and pastor, Lillie has served many families who have needed both physical and mental care. His pastoral leadership has led many to healing and comfort during tragic times and many to make professions of faith in Christ.

TO SHARE NEWS, PLEASE EMAIL ALL INFO TO BAPTISTMESSENGER@OKBAPTIST.NET

Trained for ESL

>> PHOTO: PROVIDED

Ann Lichti, left, from Edmond, Henderson Hills, and Nita Wood, right, from Mustang, First, are the first in Oklahoma to complete the Hybrid English as a Second Language (ESL) training through Oklahoma Literacy Missions.

They completed most of their training online but finished the course in a fourhour in-person session on Sept. 25, led

by ESL workshop leader Stacy Neuschaefer, center. Visit oklahomabaptists. org/evangelism/literacy for more information on Literacy Missions.

>> PHOTO: PROVIDED

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Cox Building dedicated. On Sept. 29, Hope Pregnancy Ministries dedicated the Jim Cox Building, which was constructed to house Hope’s mobile unit on the Baptist Children’s Home, Oklahoma City campus. This building is donated by the Thompson family and named after Jim Cox, whom the Thompsons said was “a great carpenter and even better man.” The building will serve as the base of operations for the mobile unit as it reaches out to neighborhoods in need of its services. Pictured are Oklahoma Baptist Homes U for Children President Greg McNeece, K S U D ofOthe members Cox family and Thompson family.

RCH WORD SEA

C A R TO O N

Note: The word clues for the Word Search are chosen by the Messenger staff, while the puzzles and letters surrounding the clues are computer-generated at random.

Afraid Become Choctaw Communication Corinth

Elevates Engaged Ephesus Every Finch

Individualized Means Member Message Monthly

Pandemic Pastoring Personally Possible Rotating

Save Staff Technology Text Week

People & Church News | October 22, 2020 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

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How to bring joy to your pastor S >> by Philip Jones

SIFIED S A L C ill. To help your pastors experience joy in

his work, let him know that you are praying for him.

Second, consider blessing the pastor and “Have confidence in your leaders and sub- his family by providing them a celebratory mit to their authority, because they keep dinner. Your church may decide to have a potwatch over you as those who must give an ac- luck or catered dinner brought to the pastor’s S his I C Eand count. Do this so that their work will be a joy, home. This is a great way forV theO pastor not a burden, for that would be of no benefit family to enjoy good food and feel appreciatto you” (Heb. 13:17). ed at the same time.

A pastor’s work is never finWhen the pandemic is over, ished. When he goes to bed invite the pastor and his famSunday evening, the last ily over for dinner or take thoughts on his mind are them to a restaurant.

You might give him a the things that he will gift card to his favorite need to attend to the place to eat and let him following week. Even go at his leisure. on his days off, the pasThird (this is my fator is never off. A simvorite), appreciate ple trip to the hardware them all year long! Ocstore usually leads to a ministry encounter or two. tober is a great time to October has become the show appreciation because month that many congregait has been designated on the tions say thank you to their pastors calendar. However, to really cause for the hard work and dedication they your pastor to feel immense joy in his show their churches throughout the year. work, have the church put together a plan to Does your church have anything planned for show their appreciation for him throughout the year. Afterall, showing support and love to your pastor this year?

Looking closely at the passage in Heb. your pastor every day is the best gift of all. As 13:17 which reads, “Do this so that their work the verse says, “Do this so that their work will be will be a joy, not a burden...” leads me to offer a joy, not a burden . . .”

Do you know what happens when you a few suggestions to help church members show appreciation to your pastor? Your passupport their pastors.

First, pray for your pastor, and let him tor will become a greater blessing to you. know that you are praying for him. Be- Heb. 13:17 implies that if we bring joy to a cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, the past pastor then we will benefit from his minnine months have been incredibly chal- istry. Over the years, I have noticed that lenging for most pastors. They had to find congregations who bless their pastor with new ways to comfort their congregations encouragement and love are immensely work of their pastor. and learn new technologies to bring peo- blessed H E by the F R O M TPerhaps it is God stirring the heart of ple together to worship.

G S B LO E Rpastor, or perhaps the congregation’s Some churches had to suspend L I N Gthe R D SserO W vices, while others have been meeting vir- heart is better prepared to receive the tually. For those that opened, worship ser- Word from their pastor. Maybe it’s both, vices have had limited attendance. Pastors’ but either way, time and time again, I have hearts have been heavy as they see their seen an enriched relationship between the church and the pastor when appreciation churches affected by the pandemic.

One pastor literally wept as he related is demonstrated. Unquestionably, the way S beY personally blessed is to love and enthe story of not being able to visit a church E toS A V A D member at the hospital who was critically courage your pastor.

OKLAHOMA BAPTISTS’ MULTI-VOCATIONAL PASTOR MINISTRY CONSULTANT

BA PT ISTS OKLAHOMA H IG H L I GH T E C R U O S E R

CP MONTH

OKLAHOMA BAPTISTS’ COOPERATIVE PROGRAM

AN N UAL M E E T I N G

OKLAHOMA BAPTISTS’ LEADERSHIP

October is Cooperative Program month!

Encourage your church to continue giving faithfully, because we can do more together. Give online through the link below:

Is your church planning on sending elected Messengers to the Oklahoma Baptists’ Annual Meeting? Online pre-registration is open and available on the SBC Workspace website.

oklahomabaptists.org/give/cp

oklahomabaptists.org/annual-meeting

Check back with the highlight every issue to learn more about the resources available to every SBC church!

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October 22, 2020 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com | Church Toolbox

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RECLAIMING YOUR CHILDLIKE JOY >> CALEB MOORE

AY S

S see Jesus use children AV E we Several times inDScripture as an example to what the Kingdom of heaven is like. I love these examples because it reminds me there are no grown-ups in heaven.

To be fair, I don’t know what age we will be in the next life. We could look 15 or 50, but the point I think Jesus ofS T S trust and A P T Ichildlike ten illustrates K is L that O MisAaBcertain A Hthere O IGHT innocence that are trademarks of His H Lpeople.

H IG E C R U O S E I think thisRmeans that heaven will be more like Peter Pan in Never Never Land than a business person in an office cubical. If heaven is like a playground, then perhaps hell may be more like a tiny cubical with poor lighting, no windows and an annoying co-worker who constantly steals your stapler.

My desire is to figure out how to begin to reclaim the childlike joy that will be ours in the future. There are a few basic biblical principals that I think we can apply to add a little bit more Peter Pan to our lives.

The first thing that we need to deal with in order to be more childlike is learning how to deposit our stress and worries into the right place. You will always carry some amount of stress in your life, but the question should be what do you do with that stress?

To read the rest of Caleb’s blog visit, baptistmessenger.com/childlike-joy

F RO M T H E E R S B LO G G N I L S D R O To read W more blogs with Jesus in mind, visit www.baptistmessenger.com/blog

D AV E S AY S RELATIONSHIPS AND GIVING Dear Dave, T ISTS B A Pwhen A M Do you have guidelines for giving O H A L OK HT I Gwife it comes to helping familyEmembers?

H IG H LMy C R U O S E R and I are both 52, we’re debt-free, and we have savings along with about $750,000 in retirement. We agree with you that it’s a bad idea to loan money to relatives, but we were hoping you could give us a little extra guidance.

—Samuel Dear Samuel, I love that you have a helping and generous heart toward your family. Wanting to help is a noble and caring thing. Wanting to help in the best way possible for all concerned is a sign of maturity and wisdom.

The big thing is to make sure you’re helping someone get back on their feet, and make positive changes in their life. You’re not helping anyone when you give a drunk a drink, so you have to ask yourself if your generosity is really helping them or if you’re just enabling bad behavior. Also, you can’t give to a point where you’re putting your own household at risk. You have to continue to be responsible with your finances where your own family is concerned, as well.

This isn’t about being a control freak, Samuel. It’s about using the resources God has given you in a wise and responsible manner. In human terms, that means helping someone get out of a mess they’re in, while at the same time ensuring they’re working to make sure they never end up there again!

—Dave The views expressed by Dave Ramsey do not necessarily reflect those of the Baptist Messenger and do not constitute legal financial advice.

CLASSIFIE

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Rate: $1.00 per word, $25.00 per issue, minimum • Deadline: Two weeks prior to publication. Submit a classified ad at www.baptistmessenger.com/advertise on the Classifieds Form more info please contact and send resumes to: Blake@wallaceave.com// wallaceave.com//FB & IG: @Wabcshawnee.

PA S TOR YOUTH MUS I C

to: P.O. Box 153, Keyes, OK 73947 or emailed to: fbckeyes@gmail.com.

VOICES

CLASSIFIEDS COLOR KEY: J OB L ISTIN G V EH IC L E M ISC.

EMPLOYM ENT >> CHILDREN’S DIRECTOR: The Village Baptist OKC Personnel Committee is accepting resumes for a Christ honoring, loving individual to join our staff as Children’s Director. If God has called you to Children’s Ministry, email your resume to: vbcokcpersonnelcommittee@yahoo.com. >> PASTOR: Highland Park Baptist Church in Duncan, OK is seeking a high energy, mission-minded pastor to lead our church. We are a mature, traditional congregation with a heart for change. Send resume to: hpbc@cableone.net or 1002 S. 10th St, Duncan, OK 73533. >> F/T ASSOCIATE PASTOR YOUTH, CHILDREN & FAMILY: First Baptist Church Gower, Missouri is searching for an Associate Pastor of Youth, Children & Family Ministries. This is a F/T position. For full description, email: fbgowerpastorsearch@gmail.com. >> F/T ASSOCIATE PASTOR FOR STUDENTS & MUSIC: Warner First Baptist Church, Warner, OK, is prayerfully seeking a F/T Associate Pastor for Students & Music. Please email resumes to: justin@warnerfbc.org. >> F/T PASTOR: FBC Mannsville is seeking a F/T Pastor who preaches the mysteries of God’s Word, boldly proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, lovingly disciple members to maturity. Send resume to: Search Committee, P.O. Box 67, Mannsville, OK, 73447 or mannsvillefbc@gmail.com. >> F/T MINISTER OF STUDENTS: The First Baptist Church of Yukon, Oklahoma is seeking a F/T Minister of Students. We are seeking an experienced candidate, with a college education, & passion for ministry. Send resume to: clark@fbcyukon.com or 15 S. 6th St, Yukon, OK 73099. >> P/T OR BI/VO PASTOR: Please send resume to: Slaughterville Baptist Church, 10101 60th Street, Lexington, OK 73051. >> F/T - P/T ASSOCIATE PASTOR: Wallace Avenue Baptist Church of Shawnee is seeking a F/T & P/T Associate Pastor with an emphasis in either worship or student ministry. For

>> BI/VO PASTOR: Canadian Valley Baptist Church in Yukon, Oklahoma is prayerfully seeking a BI/VO Pastor. Please submit recommendations & resumes by November 20, 2020 to: pastorsearch@canadianvalley.church or mail to: P.O. Box 851944, Yukon, Oklahoma 73085-1944. >> F/T PASTOR: Crestview Baptist Church in Oklahoma City is prayerfully seeking a F/T Pastor. Please send resumes to: office@crestviewokc.org. >> P/T MUSIC MINISTER: Fair Baptist in Empire, OK is in search of P/T Music Minister to lead the body of Christ to the throne of God. If you feel lead to be part of a growing church please, send resumes to: fair@fairbaptist.org. >> F/T DISCIPLESHIP/OUTREACH PASTOR: FBC Sapulpa is seeking a F/T Discipleship & Outreach Pastor. Send resume, cover letter and references to: jamie@fbcsapulpa.com. >> F/T KIDS PASTOR: NewPoint Church in Ponca City, OK is seeking a F/T KIDS Pastor to oversee all aspects of the Birth-5th Grade KIDS Ministry. Email resumes to: kyle@newpoint.church. >> F/T PASTOR: First Baptist Church, Ft. Cobb, Oklahoma is prayerfully seeking a F/T Pastor. Send resume & cover letter to: First Baptist Church, Attn.

Pastor Search Committee Box 87, Ft. Cobb, OK 73038 or email: fbcftcobb@yahoo.com. >> BI/VO PASTOR: Church is seeking BI/VO Pastor. Please email resume to: wagonertwinoaksbc@yahoo.com or mail to: Twin Oaks Baptist, 70076 S. 330 Rd, Wagoner, OK 74467. >> P/T WORSHIP LEADER: Eastern Hills Baptist Church in Claremore, Oklahoma is seeking a P/T Worship Leader who has a heart & passion for leading God’s people in worship. Please send your resume to: kmacken@kamopower.com. >> BI/VO OR F/T PASTOR: Osage Heights Baptist Church is prayerfully seeking a Pastor. Email resume with cover letter to: 1945OHBC@gmail.com or mail to: Attention Pastor Search Committee, 142 Tapp Rd Ponca City, OK 74604. Parsonage onsite. >> F/T OR BI/VO PASTOR: First Baptist Church Keyes, located in the Oklahoma Panhandle, is seeking a F/T or BI/VO Pastor. Resumes may be mailed

>> BI/VO PASTOR: GRAND OPPORTUNITY to reach lost souls for CHRIST in & around Strang, OK. We are currently seeking a MISSION-MINDED BI/VO Pastor at Strang FBC. Send resume or questions to: strangfbc@gmail.com or Strang FBC P.O. Box 165, Strang, OK 74367-0165. >> F/T SENIOR PASTOR: First Baptist Church of Woodward, OK is prayerfully seeking a F/T Senior Pastor. Before Nov. 8th, send resume & cover letter to: First Baptist Church, Attn: Search Committee, jgage@hybriddrilling.com or 202 E. Hanks Trail, Woodward, OK 73801. >> F/T PASTOR: FBC Forgan, OK is prayerfully seeking God’s man. Send resume to: P.O. Box 9 Forgan, OK 73938. More info see: forganfbc.com or call (580) 461-0857. >> F/T PASTOR: Calvary Baptist Lawton, OK is prayerfully seeking a F/T Pastor. Interested candidates should email a cover letter & resume to: personnel@calvarybaptistlawton.org or mail to: Calvary Baptist Church, 715 H Ave, Lawton, OK 7350. >> BI/VO YOUTH MINISTER: 40th Street Baptist is asking God for the right person to be our Youth Minister. Please send resumes to: fortiethbc@yahoo.com, call Pastor Josh at (405) 826-2654 or mail to: 40th Street Baptist Church, 1801 NW 40th, OKC, 73118. >> F/T OR BI/VO PASTOR: First Southern Baptist, Pahrump, NV is prayerfully seeking a F/Tor BI/ VO Pastor. Interested candidates can mail resume to: P.O. Box 399, Pahrump, NV 89041 or email to: 1stsobap@gmail.com. >> F/T STUDENT PASTOR: One Church Elk City is prayerfully seeking someone with prior experience to lead & direct an established youth ministry. Send resume & references to: onechurchelkcity@gmail.com. >> F/T PASTOR: New Hope Baptist Church, Tecumseh, OK is prayerfully seeking a F/T Pastor. Please email resume along with current sermon video or link to sermons to: newhopesecretary@gmail.com or mail to: 37496 New Hope Road, Tecumseh, OK 74873. >> P/T CHILDREN’S MINISTER: First Baptist Church, Tecumseh, OK is accepting applications for a P/T Children’s Minister. Call (405) 598-3778 for an application or send a resume to: 301 S. Broadway,

CROSSWO

ACROSS 1 Gray-haired, maybe 5 Ogle 9 Ukrainian port (var.)

14 Feet after a journey, maybe 15 Red sky in the morning, perhaps 16 Wall hanging

17 Toward 5 Down, a journey of the __ 18 Calendar info 19 “Go...and __ all nations” (Matt. 28:19) 20 Computer code letters 22 Mother __ 24 Investigator (Abbr.)

Tecumseh, OK 74873. >> SONG LEADER: Opportunity to serve the Lord & earn extra money as Song Leader at Willieo Baptist Church located in the Inola area. For more information contact Linda Froman at (918) 341-1605 or send resume to: Willieo Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1304, Inola, OK 74036. >> BI/VO PASTOR: Wilson Community Baptist Church in Henryetta, OK is accepting resumes for a BI/VO Pastor. Mail Resume to: WCBC 8849 Chestnut Rd, Henryetta, OK 74437 or email to: tkuykendall@gmail.com. >> F/T SENIOR PASTOR: Mammoth Baptist Church, Meeker is seeking a F/T Senior Pastor.

Please submit resumes to: P.O. Box 642, Meeker, OK 74855 or email to: mammothchurch@gmail.com.

Deadline to submit resumes is November 20, 2020. >> F/T OR BI/VO PASTOR: Mount Hermon Church, located in Jay, Oklahoma is prayerfully looking for a BI/VO or F/T Senior Pastor who is passionate in sharing the Gospel. For more information or to submit a resume, please email: colewheeler36@gmail.com. >> BI/VO PASTOR: Crown Heights Baptist Church seeking BI/VO Pastor with a desire to reach the lost & disciple the Church family. Located in a challenging area of OKC. Send resumes to: CHBC, 4802 N. Western, OKC 73118. or email: chbc.okc@coxinet.net.

MIS CEL L A NEO US >> CHURCH IN NEED OF DONATED ITEMS: Miracle Baptist Temple Church, a new OKC area church, is in need of donated items including a pulpit, chairs & more. Please contact Pastor Louis Rogers at (405) 371-7179 about donating these items. Thank you and God bless! >> BIBLE REPAIR & RESTORATION: Study & family Bibles. Hand sewn, fine stamped leather. McSpadden Book Bindery, 911 W. Benedict, Shawnee, OK 74801 www.mcspaddenbookbindery.com (405) 275-7788. >> CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONAL: “Gathered Around The Manger” is a 24 day devotional journey for you and your family to celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas. Available on Amazon www.amazon.com/dp/B08JVKFTMB.

RD

25 Some missionaries 27 Press 31 Belle’s partner 32 Desire (with “for”) 34 Korean flute 35 They journeyed from the East 38 “No seats available” (Abbr.)

40 Less unkind 42 Paradises 44 “__ ‘em,” dog’s command 46 Mission field 47 “Even the __ and the sea obey him!”

(Matt. 8:27) 48 Journeyer away from Sodom 50 Story 51 Wide shoe size 52 Bible metal 55 Journeyer’s drink, perhaps 57 Scam 59 Non-eater 61 Company (Fr.) 64 25 Across would preach this 66 Skeins 68 African church locale 71 Samoan capital 73 Clue 74 Unfitting 75 Legal claim 76 Robert __, Confederate Army officer (2 words)

77 “Nor height, nor __” can keep us from His love (Rom. 8:39) 78 See 58 Down 79 Mediterranean and Aegean (Fr.) DOWN 1 Syrian figure 2 Christmas bird 3 Belch 4 Sandwich source 5 17 Across focus 6 Dilettantes 7 Pentecost preacher 8 Spirit-infused power 9 Horse’s breakfast 10 Many a journey’s motivation 11 New Testament, e.g.

12 Joey’s home 13 Brimstone leavings 21 Freezer find 23 “Light of the body is the __” (Matt. 6:22) 26 Melodic syllables 28 Ghana traveler’s destination, maybe 29 Shore souvenir 30 Crowd of people 31 “__ him hand and foot” (Matt. 22:13) 33 Vane dir. (Abbr.)

35 Pussy cat 36 “Bye-bye”

37 DNAs 39 Anointing fluid 41 Itty-bitty bit 43 Speedy travel choice, once 45 More expensive 49 Digit 53 Doubts 54 Incendiary substance 56 “They passed through the Red sea as by __ land” (Heb. 11:29) 58 78 Across destination, once 60 Old photo finish 61 U.S. surgeon George Washington 62 17 Across journey 63 Colorado park 65 Solemn promise 67 “Pssst!”

68 Barnyard baby 69 Hydrocarbon suffix 70 Need after a long journey, maybe 72 “If __ man will come after me” (Matt. 16:24)

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

Classifieds | October 22, 2020 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

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