2022/February/10

Informing and Inspiring Oklahoma Baptists Since 1912

BAPTISTMESSENGER.COM • FEBRUARY 10, 2022

/// SEE PAGE 6

CO N T E N T S : Page 2 | News & Trends McLaurin named SBC Executive Committee interim president/CEO >> BRANDON PORTER

Connect: The journey of your dollar >> TODD FISHER

I remember a day, several months ago, when I had the opportunity to talk about the Cooperative Program (CP)—a lot!

That morning in the Baptist History and Theology class I was teaching at Oklahoma Baptist University, the CP was the topic of discussion.

The students had very little knowledge of the actual history and details of the CP and, consequently, had many questions.

It was a great class. /// SEE PAGE 3

Evangelism coaching mobile phone app offers training, accountability >> CHRIS FORBES

MOORE—Oklahoma Baptists have created a new mobile phone app that is designed to help disciples make disciples through evangelism. The GoodNews Coach app was revealed during the Advance Conference at Moore, First, Jan. 24-25.

“Living life in a whirlwind is a reality for most people, and priorities can shift in moments,” said Brian Baldwin, who led in the development of the app. /// SEE PAGE 5

OBU launches Tom Elliff Center for Missions >> KENNY DAY

SHAWNEE— O k lahoma Baptist University (OBU) announced the launch of the Tom Elliff Center for Missions Jan. 24.

OBU likewise announced the appointment of Elbert Smith as director of the center and assistant professor of missions; Mike Hand as special assistant to the president for great commission initiatives; and Tom Elliff as lecturer, mentor and facilitator in missions. /// SEE PAGE 7

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To comment on articles, visit www.baptistmessenger.com

Page 3 | Voices Sword & Trowel: Funhouse follies >> BRIAN HOBBS

Page 4 | Gospel Ministry Rite of Passage: Young and old alike >> WALKER MOORE

Page 7 | Features Transformed by God: Advance Conference testimonies inspire attendees >> STAFF

Page 10 | Church Toolbox 4 helpful church website changes for 2022 >> MARK MACDONALD

I N I S T RY GOSPEL M

ENDS NEWS & TR

McLaurin named SBC Executive Committee & SPORTS & T MISSIONS MEN M I N I S T RY interim president/CEO E N T E R TA I N >> by Brandon Porter

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR CONVENTION NEWS, SBC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Willie McLaurin will be the interim president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee (SBC EC). The EC officers made the announcement Tuesday, Feb. 1. Since 2020, McLaurin has served as the vice president for Great Commission relations and mobilization at the EC. “We hope that he will help us to reset the tone by which the EC serves Southern Baptists,” said Rolland Slade, EC chairman.

McLaurin served for 15 years at the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board before joining the EC staff in January 2020.

“Our EC staff is committed to serving our Convention well. Jesus’ last words to us in Acts 1:8 should be our first priority as a network of churches. My prayer is that we will continue to put a laser-sharp focus on cooperation and collaboration,” McLaurin told Baptist Press.

He said he is grateful for the opportunity to lead during this season.

“I want to express deep appreciation to Chairman Rolland Slade and the Executive Committee officers for entrusting me with the opportunity to serve. It is an honor to partner with Southern BapN L I NtheEworld tists in advancing theNmission E W ofOwinning E CONTENT to Jesus,” McLaurin said.

EB-EXCLUSIV W Prior to serving at the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, McLaurin was executive pastor at Clarksville, Tenn., Greater Missionary, and senior pastor at Union City, Tenn., Greater Hope. He has also served as an interim pastor for numerous Southern Baptist churches.

It was McLaurin’s pastoral experience, Slade said, O N IN that made it clear to the IC EC A officers he F should TIOthat L B U P be their choice. “The messengers and churches of

all sizes throughout the SBC need to know that they are seen, heard and appreciated,” he said.

OX C Hoffi-T O O L B EC bylaws give Rthe HU C cers authority to name a vice president to the interim role.

McLaurin takes over the role after a challenging season for the EC. The process of waiving attorney-client IEDS F I S S A L C privilege related to the ongoing investigation over allegations of mishandling reports of sexual abuse in the Convention took a heavy toll on EC members and the way they are viewed by the SBC. McLaurin said he hopes to begin restoring trust S in the EC during the interim O I C Eperiod.

V “No network of churches is without challenges.

My prayer is that this season will bring healing and unity to our Convention,” McLaurin said. “When we love each other the way Jesus loves people then we create the atmosphere for cooperation.”

Slade believes this should be McLaurin’s central focus. “Immediately before us is the challenge to regain the sense of trust of Southern Baptists,” Slade said. “Regaining that trust includes focusing on relationships within and well as outside of the Southern Baptist Convention. That has been the assignment (McLaurin) has carried (during his time) at the EC. It is also an assignment he carried for more than 15 years on behalf of the Tennessee Mission Board while serving as their associate executive director.”

SBC EC bylaws mandate the interim president and CEO be chosen by the EC officers from the current EC vice presidents.

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LT U R E NE WS & CU

>> PHOTO: KENTUCKY TODAY/ROBIN CORNETET Willie McLaurin will serve as the interim president/CEO of the SBC Executive Committee.

Jeff Pearson is the chief financial officer and JonaL than Howe serves as the vice A president N N UforAcommunications. Pearson recently announced hisIresignaG NFO ET tion from the EC, effective 15.I N M EFeb. McLaurin previously served on the SBC Resolutions Committee in 2018 and as president of the Black Southern Baptist Denominational Servants Network in 2011-2012. He also was on the Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention from 2003-2005 and was the inaugural president of the African American Fellowship of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

McLaurin is a member of Antioch, Tenn., Simeon.

He and his wife Antonia have two daughters, Sienna and SiChanna.

He is the first African American to lead an SBC entity and follows Ronnie Floyd, who resigned as EC president and CEO last October. Floyd served in the role for less than 30 months before leaving the post.

The EC is scheduled to meet in Nashville Feb. 21-22.

Slade said that while this is an important E step for ONLIN E Winformation Nmore the EC, there will be regarding adT CON ENT ditional leadership -EXCLUSIVatE a later date.

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Women in Youth Ministry Training Event 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $15, OKC, Southern Hills skopos.org/girlsministry

2022 SBC Annual Meeting messenger pre-registration, childcare registration opened Feb. 1 DIANA CHANDLER | FEB 1

PUBLICATIO

N INFO

Messenger pre-registration and childcare registration opened Tuesday, Feb. 1 at sbcannualmeeting. net for the 2022 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting June 14-15 in Anaheim, Calif. June will mark the first time in more than 40 years the meeting will be held in California. The last time was 1981 in Los Angeles.

EVENTS

Behind the lens: Jesus Film showing in Zambia LUKE IN | FEB 2

IMB photographer Luke In shares his journey to Zambia through pictures and tells about showing the Jesus Film in remote villages, where some walked seven hours to watch the Gospel presentation.

PUBLICATIO

N INFO

The Baptist Messenger (ISSN 07449518) 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: 40,010. 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. February 10, 2022 • Volume 111, Number 3.

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EVENTS

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FOR MORE INFO ON OKLAHOMA BAPTISTS’ EVENTS, VISIT WWW.OKLAHOMABAPTISTS.ORG/EVENTS FIND ALL THESE STORIES AND MORE ONLINE AT WWW.BAPTISTMESSENGER.COM

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February 10, 2022 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com | News & Trends

>> Chris Forbes | Staff Writer cforbes@oklahomabaptists.org >> Tori Hamilton | Art Director thamilton@baptistmessenger.com

VOICES

A N N UA L NFO MEETING I

Connect: The journey of your dollar /// PREVIEWED ON COVER

Todd Fisher Oklahoma Baptists’ Executive Director-Treasurer @eToddFisher

I remember a day, several months ago, when I had the opportunity to talk about the Cooperative Program (CP)—a lot! That morning in the Baptist History and Theology class I was teaching at Oklahoma Baptist University, the CP was the topic of discussion.

The students had very little knowledge of the actual history and details of the CP and, consequently, had many questions. It was a great class. That afternoon, I visited with a pastor who was contemplating leading his church to join the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). He, too, had many questions about the CP along with other Baptist distinctives.

These events prompted me to make a post on social media about the CP that resulted in a number of messages I received, asking questions and wanting more detail. By the end of the day, I had virtually done nothing but talk about the CP! However, that day reminded me that the CP is worth talking

about and, more than that, worth participating in.

So, what is the CP, and how does it work?

In the days before the CP, SBC entities raised their own support entirely through direct appeals to the churches (known by some as a “societal” method of raising support). This method caused competition, overlap and disorganization. In 1919, leaders in the SBC sought a better approach to fund missions and ministries. They launched what was called the $75 Million Campaign (over five years) where churches made pledges to corporately fund the entities and state conventions.

Springing from this idea rose the Cooperative Program, established in 1925, where churches agreed to give certain percentages of undesignated receipts to fund the missions and ministries of the SBC. The CP resulted in providing stability and stronger support for SBC missions/ministries.

How does the CP work today and, more specifically, how does it work among our SBC churches in Oklahoma? Let’s say for ease of illustration that a church gives 10 percent of its undesignated receipts to the CP. If a person in that church gives $10 in the offering, then $1 is sent to our Oklahoma Baptists state convention. Here’s the amazing journey of that dollar bill:

Oklahoma Baptists keep 42 cents of that dollar for its ministries (Falls Creek/CrossTimbers, Disaster Relief, training events, church planting, Baptist Collegiate Ministries etc.), and 15 cents is distributed to our state affiliates (Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children, Baptist Community Villages, and WatersEdge). Oklahoma Baptists then send the remaining 43 cents to the SBC (other SBC state conventions have similar allocations).

The SBC sends 22 cents of that 43 cents to the International Mission Board, and about 10 cents to the North American Mission Board. About 9 cents are divided out to our six SBC seminaries and the remaining few cents are allocated to other SBC ministries, including the SBC Annual Meeting.

It’s amazing that a $10 bill in the offering plate not only supports the local church, but so many other ministries! To me, the CP is one of the greatest reasons to be involved in and support the SBC. It gives every SBC church of every size the opportunity to collectively fund a variety of global missions and ministries.

I am grateful for the Cooperative Program and grateful for the many churches in Oklahoma that, through their support of the CP, make a difference in advancing the Gospel throughout the world.

Sword & trowel: Funhouse follies Brian Hobbs Editor of the Baptist Messenger @BrianGHobbs

Years ago, a study showed that people who watch too much television had a skewed view of how many friends in life they have. Something about watching TV made people mistakenly believe they had more real-life friends than they actually did.

These days, there’s another type of media skewing people’s perceptions. I’m talking about social media.

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and others beckon for our attention span daily, each offering a glimpse into other people’s lives and the world around us.

A clinical psychologist named Ali Jazayeri made several observations about the impact of social media. “The world that we see on Facebook and other social media sites is not a true and real world,” Jazayeri explains. “It’s a creation of people.

“Among other dangers that Facebook might possibly pose in our lives, such as lack of privacy, is this hab-

it of always comparing ourselves to others,” he continued. “People, when they are happy, post a lot of happy things. But when I’m not happy I will consciously, or unconsciously, compare myself to others. As a result, I create a world that is not a true world because I imagine that everybody is happy in that world, except me.”

Social media, in many ways, can be compared to stepping into a funhouse at the state fair to look at the mirrors. Some of the stretched and skewed images in the mirrors make us laugh, cry or cringe. Yet none of them offers a true picture of reality.

Social media and other modern media have fractured the way we see others and see ourselves. Instead of hearing a full telling of a news event, we get only a snippet. Instead of hearing a pastor’s whole sermon, we get a soundbite, often pulled out of context. Rather than seeing a person at their best and worst moments, we only see the happy, healthy posts and moments.

This fractured, disintegrated phenomenon is doing grave damage to people and relationships. Unfortunately, pastors and people in the church are not immune to this. Too often our daily lives are filled with images and posts about people living their best life, leaving us disheartened.

What is the cure? The Apostle Paul, whose life was far from “Instagram perfect,” has some helpful words for us.

In Col. 2:3-5, Paul wrote, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”

The next time you are on social media and feeling discouraged, remember you are seeing only a partial view of life, a distorted picture of reality.

When you do remember that, use it as an occasion not to look down on others, but rather to look up and look around, with the eyes of Jesus.

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Heb. 12:2-3).

Seeing with the eyes of Jesus will help each of us avoid the follies of the social-media funhouse.

Voices | February 10, 2022 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

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ENDS NEWS & TR

I N I S T RY GOSPEL M

Rite of passage:SYoung and old alike & S T R PO

& MISSIONS Moore Y M I N I S T RWalker

Author & Messenger Columnist Email | walker@back40.org @WalkerDeanMoore

O L B OX Sometimes theOlittle things make the biggest imRCH T U C Hpact.

I grew up in a generation that respected senior

adults. Whether it was a grandparent in our church, a schoolteacher or a police officer, we were taught to use the language of respect. We said, “Thank you,” “Please,” “Excuse me,” “Yes, ma’am” or “No, sir” and used “Mr.,” “Mrs.” or another appropriate title.

S my jobs was to teach life As a youth pastor, D of I Eone F I S S A L C skills. I taught Bible truths and knowledge, but we also had classes on etiquette. Each year, we had a special night where the youth would dress up; men wore dress slacks, shirts and ties, and women wore dresses. We taught the young men how to seat a woman properly at a table and taught all the students what each fork meant and how to have an adult conversation—skills I have seen play out in OICES V their adult lives.

But the thing I am most proud of is that I also taught these young people how to respect, honor and engage with the senior adults in our church. I taught them the principle of identification as Jesus taught, expanded on by the apostle Paul. “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them” (1 Cor. 19:9, ESV).

I did all this through “Becoming AESenior N T Adult AfINM TAthem ternoon,”EinN which physically into senior T EIRturned adults. They each drew from a bucket that contained different senior adult experiences: poor vision, difficulty walking, wheelchair use and arthritic hands. Then we allowed them to sample the experience they had chosen.

The poor vision group taped a double layer of gauze L Ebut&things were fuzzy, O P see, over their eyes. They P Ecould S Bibles. and they had to lean inC close to E Wtheir Nread H R U H C I had some other students tie a rope between their ankles, so they could only take about a sixinch step. While the other students were hurrying off to the next activity, the group of slow walkers came shuffling down the hallway. Other students had to use wheelchairs.

E To simulate arthritis and loss of R dexterity, we LT U U C & S W E N taped plastic bags over some students’ hands, extending about four inches past their fingertips. Trying to turn the pages in their Bible for a Bible drill quickly became cumbersome and frustrating.

One male student asked to be dismissed to go to the bathroom. As he came out, he seemed agitated.

A L“I almost didn’t get He looked at the crowd andUsaid, NN A my zipper down in time!” Another F O who was G I Nstudent ETIN Eyelled, quick on hisM feet “Did you wash your bag before you came out?” The room erupted in laughter.

No matter which experiences they chose, the students had to stay like this for four hours. At first it was fun, but the fun ran out quickly, and they begged me to remove the restrictions that had been placed on them. By the end of the night, all the students felt compassion for the plight of the aged.

We always did this the Sunday before Valentine’s Day. Then our students would divide up and visit with our senior adults and put into practice what they had learned. Armed with carnations and new skills, these young people would visit our senior adults at home. They were to respect, listen and ask questions. The students were to visit each senior adult for 30 minutes. An hour later, the students were often still visiting the same senior adult.

One group of young and old was laughing and praying together. “What’s so funny?” I asked.

“We asked this senior adult man what it was about his wife when he first saw her that made him want to pursue her. He leaned into our group and whispered, ‘Her ankles. She had the most attractive ankles I had ever seen. In those days, the girls wore long skirts. All I could see were her ankles, and that was enough for me!’”

What happened that day became a bond between these two groups. The senior adults would come to me and say, “If that student ever has a need, let me know. If they want to go to camp or a mission trip, let me know.” Senior adults and students became a blessing to each other.

I have told every youth pastor that the secret to ministry is two things: 1) Get the parents on your side, and you can do anything you want. 2) Get the senior adults on your side, and you can afford anything you want.

Now that I’m a senior adult myself, I still believe in connecting these two groups. But I don’t have to draw my restrictions from a bucket; I am experiencing more of them every day!

Just Joe: Lessons from CPR training Joe Ligon Senior Associate Executive Director for Oklahoma Baptists @marlowpreacher

It happened during my previous life. Don’t take that to mean I believe in reincarnation—I don’t. After all, if I did, surely I would have come back tremendously better than I am. When I speak of my previous life, I am usually talking about the years I spent in public education.

When this happened, I was a school administrator. One year it was decided that when the faculty and staff returned in August, everybody would go through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. So, we arranged for the local Red Cross group to provide the lifesaving training that we hoped we would never have to use.

Because of the number of faculty and staff members, we made the decision not to send everyone to the CPR training at the same time. Instead, we would divide the group into manageable numbers.

By manageable, I am not referring to manageability. For example, the group I was assigned to consisted of some elementary teachers and a group of high school coaches. If you know anything about elementary teachers, you know they are the rowdiest folks on campus and usually the least manageable.

It came time for my group to report to the CPR training. Most of us got there on time. A couple of coaches and a grouchy elementary teacher wandered in a bit late. If there had been bacon available, everyone would have arrived early. Just sayin…

The Red Cross lady did a great job of teaching us everything we needed to know. And then it came time for us to put into practice what we had just been taught. The Red Cross lady brought out a dummy (no, not another coach) that she referred to as Resusci (as in resuscitate) Annie.

This dummy was placed on the floor, and everyone in the group was to take their turn practicing their CPR skills. This was long enough ago that CPR still included putting your mouth on the other per-

4

son’s mouth, blowing air into the other person, and then doing chest compressions.

I was always a little hesitant about putting my mouth on some stranger’s mouth to blow in some air. It wasn’t about the air. Most people would say I have plenty of that, and most of what I have is at a higher temperature. But I wouldn’t have known where the person had had his/her mouth prior to my attempt of resuscitation. That was a bit troublesome for me. In fact, when the Red Cross lady put Resusci Annie out on the floor, I was quick to volunteer to go first. The last thing I wanted to do was put my mouth on something that a bunch of coaches had had their mouths on.

Everything went well with Resusci Annie until the time came for elementary teacher Mrs. Donaldson’s turn. Mrs. Donaldson did the mouth-onmouth thing well. She moved to the chest compressions, which she did well. The Red Cross lady actually bragged on her, which made those of us who had already had our time feel a wee bit neglected. Then it happened.

As Mrs. Donaldson started to get up from the floor, she got a little over balanced and fell. She stiffened her arms to brace for impact. Her left hand struck the dummy squarely in the chest with such force that it blew the head off of Resusci Annie. It began to roll across the floor like an out of round bowling ball. It continued its awkward rolling until it hit the wall.

There was a moment of just weird silence. We were all staring at that dummy’s head lodged against the wall. Mrs. Donaldson had not moved. Her left hand still pressing down on that dummy’s chest.

Finally, one of the coaches said in a quiet, uncoach-like voice, “Mrs. Donaldson?”

She replied with a rather stern, “What?” The coach continued, “If you should ever see me laying on the ground somewhere on campus, would you not give me CPR?” That did it. As we were all laughing, one of the other coaches went over, picked up the head, tossed it to another coach and said, “Next time you lose your head at a ballgame, try using this one.”

The poor Red Cross lady simply stood there staring at us with a “these folks are responsible for educating children” look on her face. But she took the high road and gave us all our Red Cross CPR certification cards—even those in the group who hadn’t had their turn yet.

There may be a couple of lessons here for us. First, next time you try to help someone make sure you don’t do damage. Second, next time you do something ridiculous expect folks to laugh at you. If they don’t, you should be concerned. Third, know your limits. Sometimes the best thing to do is call in the professionals. Remember 9-1-1 is the number for 911. Finally, life is short. Laugh—a lot.

Good News Whole World

February 10, 2022 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com | Gospel Ministry

FOR THE

The Cooperative Program allows churches everywhere to work together through generosity, so that every church can support local missions while also having a global reach. Through the Cooperative Program, your church funds and sends missionaries around the world, trains pastors and ministry leaders, plants churches, and changes lives for eternity.

& MISSIONS M I N I S T RY

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

Evangelism mobile phone app offers training, accountability OPLE & E X P O B L O O CH T WS R CH ///U PREVIEWED ON COVER

>> by Chris Forbes STAFF WRITER

MOORE—Oklahoma Baptists have created a new mobile phone app that is designed to help disciples make disciples through evangelism. The GoodNews Coach app was revealed during the Advance Conference at Moore, First, Jan. 24-25.

“Living life in a whirlwind is a reality for most people, and priorities can shift in moments,” said Brian Baldwin, who led in the development of the app.

“Evangelism is one of those priorities that must not be set aside or forgotten!”

Baldwin, who serves as youth evangelism ministry partner for Oklahoma Baptists, believes the new app will help pastors and ministry leaders keep the command for evangelism on the front burner for themselves and those they lead. The app trains, reminds, tracks and inspires evangelistic action while connecting users to a trusted evangelism coach of their choice.

The app allows users to set goals and reminders to pray for and share the Good News with those the Lord puts in their circle of influence. It features encouraging training videos to help users become more proficient in expressing the Gospel, sharing a testimony, as well as developing other witnessing and discipleship skills.

Each lesson has a follow-up quiz to help aid in the retention of the lessons. The app also allows users to keep track of their progress and to invite a trusted person to be their coach and accountability partner.

Baldwin explained that coaching is central to the purpose of the app because it adds the needed el-

ement of accountability.

“Setting a personal expectation to share the Good News of Jesus is only the first step in evangelism,” Baldwin said. D S TURE SIFIE “The next phase C L AisSpersonal E WS & CUL N inspection. The very reason we allow teachers in school to grade our work and supervisors to check our progress is because we typically don’t do what is expected, but usu>> PHOTOS: GOODNEWSCOACH.COM The GoodNews Coach app provides AL N NforU A ally do what is inspected.

The a means for accountability, coaching and mentoring helping S E O VOIC Christians advance the Gospel. same is true for evangelism.

ETING INF E M “The GoodNews Coach app is also a training tool to help you have effective Gospel ‘conapp weekly. Each missionary will complete the vidversations’—not just ‘presentations,’” Baldwin con- eo training and will have the opportunity to practinued. “Users will find it helpful in making sharing tice and present the Gospel as they prepare for the the Gospel regularly a reality instead of an unmet mission field. They will need to check in each week expectation.” and show how they are making progress. If they are Since the app provides a means for accountabil- not sharing the Gospel in their own community, ity, coaching and mentoring, it is ideal for pastors, how can they expect to do it on the mission field?” ministry leaders, Sunday school teachers, and varLalli explained the church will also offer the same ious discipleship groups who want to encourage training and coaching as an option to students in their members to advance the Gospel. the youth group in the fall. He expects to offer mulBret Lalli, student and recreation pastor at McAl- tiple opportunities for students who have been ester, First, agrees that the app can be a useful min- equipped through the app to share the Gospel in istry tool and expects the accountability aspect of McAlester. the app to bear fruit in his ministry.

“The app will become a part of our discipleship “We plan to use the GoodNews Coach app to strategy,” he said. equip our students for our GoStudents mission trip The GoodNews Coach app is available for free for to Lawton in June,” Lalli said. ”We will require stu- both iOS and Android. Visit GoodNewsCoach.com to dents who sign up for the mission trip to use the learn more.

MISSIONS VOLUNTEER TIES

O

Sam’s Best Buys variety store

PPORTUNI

OKLAHOMA

These ministries have various on-going opportunities for volunteers: Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, OKC and Community Food Bank of Eastern OK, Tulsa—both locations, call 405/972-1111 (Not an Oklahoma Baptist ministry, but many churches receive food from them for local food pantries.)

Arms Around Broken Arrow—food pantry, clothes closet—918/258-7714 or bryan@armsaroundba.org Lake Texoma Baptist Resort Ministry, 2034 Max Rd, Mead 73449—Monty & Tammy Wood, directors, 580/916-2181 or thehelm2034@gmail.com Cherokee Baptist Assembly, Cherokee – 918/506-5482 email: cba_tahlequah@yahoo.com

DISASTER RELIEF

Training:

Feb. 19—First Aid/CPR Class— 9 a.m.-3 p.m.—$20 DR Team Center, 7180 NW Expressway, Okarche To register, please email Darrell Knapp, dknapp711@gmail.com Feb. 28-March 4—Sphere Training—8:30a.m.-5 p.m.— $35 Baptist Building March 10—Chaplain Manual and Operational Stress First Aid—$50 Baptist Building To register, please email pjones@oklahomabaptists.org

Pray for Oklahoma Missionary Gary Dempsey

Pray for Oklahoma Missionary C.J. Boone

Gary is director of missions in Johnston Marshall Association, who leads cooperative ministry among 31 churches. Pray for these churches to faithfully share the Gospel outside the church buildings.

C.J. is freshman recruitment coordinator with Oklahoma State University Baptist Collegiate Ministries.

Pray that current students would continue to connect with new students, helping them follow to Jesus.

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

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Missions & ministry | February 10, 2022 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

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Gospel Advance: Oklahoma Baptists gather at 2022 Advance Conference, focus on sharing the Gospel /// PREVIEWED ON COVER >> by Chris Doyle

MANAGING EDITOR

MOORE—The Advance Conference proved to be a success, as many across Oklahoma attended the event, Jan. 24-25 at Moore, First.

Four main sessions featured 11 speakers consisting of Oklahoma Baptist pastors and ministry partners and one national evangelist.

The Advance Conference also offered a time for attendees to attend breakout sessions on Tuesday morning. From an offering of 20 breakout subjects, attendees could attended two of these sessions that covered topics such as leading a small church to be a Great Commission church, “Do’s and Don’ts of Child Evangelism,” “How to Make Disciples in 2022,” evangelism among Spanish speakers, rural areas, Native Americans and with African American churches.

Here is a summary of what the main speakers addressed at the Advance Conference.

Todd Sanders Todd Sanders, Falls Creek program director and Oklahoma Baptists’ ministry partner for student ministry, gave an example in his own walk with the Lord of what it looks like Todd Sanders to disciple believers who are young in their Christian faith. He pointed out that it did not involve only in-depth study of books of the Bible or deep theology “This was prayer and time with the Lord and Bible study and Bible memory and what it meant to be a church member,” Sanders said, recalling his time as a young member of Davis, First. “(It included) what stewardship looked like and Christian living and holy life and all of those things that are foundational and basic—witnessing and service in life and commitment to the body, what it meant to be a believer. This what they poured into us… Leaders pouring into young believers, so they can grow into their faith.”

Rusty McMullen Rusty McMullen, pastor of McAlester, First, spoke on Acts 2:14-41, sharing about Peter preaching on Pentecost and challenging conference attendees to speak the Gospel.

Rusty McMullen “Understand this, if you are a believer of Jesus Christ— man or woman—you are an ambassador for Christ,” McMullen said. “An ambassador is someone who speaks with the authority of someone else. This morning, brothers and sisters, all across this room, wherever you are, whether you are taking pictures or running sound, you’re singing on the stage, you’re the executive director of our convention, you’re the pastor. . . it doesn’t matter. If you’re a lay person, if you’re a deacon, it doesn’t matter if you work in the secular world or work in the religious world. You are called to be an ambassador, and Jesus will give you the power of the Holy Spirit in order for you to accomplish and fulfill that ambassadorship.”

Brock Hardin Brock Hardin, pastor of Heavener, First, followed up McMullen’s sermon speaking from I Pet. 1:3-9. He said Peter is writing in his first epistle to people who are hurting and offering them Brock Hardin hope.

“The church is continuing on,” Hardin said. “Never forgetting, always sharing a living hope. What is a living hope? A hope that is real, a hope that is true, a hope that actually exists. A living hope is an active and functioning hope… It’s hope for eternal life.

Your hope for eternal life is living and active and working within you right this moment. We advance the Gospel because we have a living hope.”

Rickey Thomas Rickey Thomas, community ministry evangelism ministry partner for Oklahoma Baptists, opened the

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Monday afternoon session with a sermon on Luke 4:18, claiming all Christians are on assignment.

“Share your life story and how Jesus made a difference in your life and get involved in community ministry,” Thomas Rickey Thomas said. “Leave your beautiful church buildings and hit the streets serving those in need.

“Just like Jesus, you were placed on this earth with a divine assignment,” he continued. “You are assigned to love those that society hates and even those that the Christian church has unduly condemned. You are on assignment. Share your story that Jesus has made a difference. Then, you will have changed a life here in the present and in eternity.”

Todd Fisher Todd Fisher, executive director-treasurer for Oklahoma Baptists, spoke on overcoming obstacles in sharing the Gospel, addressing how it is not popular to give a clear Todd Fisher Christian witness in today’s society.

“Let’s be real honest,” he said. “The Gospel that we are called to proclaim is not popular with the world today. And it wasn’t popular in Paul’s day.”

Fisher talked about how religious people in New Testament times wanted to “accommodate cultural hot topics of Greek philosophy” and blend it with Christian beliefs, making it more palatable for society.

Fisher then shared the problem with this view. “If you water down the Gospel, it’s not the Gospel anymore,” he said. “If I truncate the Gospel, if I change it or modify it from what the Scripture teaches, that’s not a Gospel that is going to save anybody. God gave us the Gospel in wholeness and completeness, and that’s what we’re called to carry out.”

Rusty Gunn Rusty Gunn, pastor of Sand Springs, Church That Matters, opened the Monday evening session with a message titled “Go and Tell” and compared conditions the Israelites were experiencing in 2 Kings 6-7 to the reRusty Gunn cent pandemic the world has been experiencing.

Gunn compared to the challenges of struggling to find resources for today to the severe famine mentioned in 2 Kings 6:25, when people were desperate to buy a donkey’s head for food.

He then spoke of the four lepers in 2 Kings 7 who found an abundance of food and supplies and realized that hoarding the goods for themselves was not right. “’Today is a day of Good News,’” Gunn said quoting 2 Kings 7:9. “These four lepers are saying ‘Today is a Gospel day.’ We’re not doing the right thing by keeping it to ourselves. I hope you understand that you and I were never meant to be receptacles of God’s great mercy and love; (instead) we are to be channels. We’re not the destination of it; we’re the place that passes through. God saved you with someone else in mind.”

Jeremy Freeman Jeremy Freeman, pastor of Newcastle, First, concluded the Monday evening session speaking from 1 Corinthians 9 and emphasizing “For the sake of the Gospel.”

Jeremy Freeman Freeman spoke on Christians needing to stay burdened, keep perspective and run focused. And he talked about how experiencing suffering benefits Christians.

“Suffering softens you to what doesn’t matter and strengthens you for what does matter,” he said. “When you suffer, all of a sudden, things kind of fade away that don’t really matter. When someone is on their deathbed, they’re not worried about things that don’t matter. They are focused on

February 10, 2022 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com | Features

what does. In suffering, God has a way to keep us focused… suffering has altered us in a good way to help us run with eternal focus. We’ve tried not to waste our suffering. We’ve tried to use it for the sake of the Gospel.”

Bertholomew “Prophet” Bailey “Prophet” Bailey, young adult discipleship ministry partner for Oklahoma Baptists, started the Tuesday afternoon session preaching a sermon titled “The Servant’s Role in God’s Garden,” Prophet Bailey based on 1 Cor. 3:5-9.

“Paul wants this church (the church in Corinth) to have an accurate assessment of God’s role and the servant’s role,” Bailey said. “There are three things we need to know about this ‘garden,’ in a sense that it is not ours.

Bailey’s three points were 1. You are God’s field; 2. Growth belongs to God; 3. The Lord rewards our works.

Bill Britt National evangelist Bill Britt preached from John 21:15-17 and talked about what preachers and church leaders should do when facing discouragement.

“I want to encourage the Bill Britt sowers to sow the seed,” said Britt, who serves with Compel Outreach International. “The greatest tool of the devil is to discourage the sower from sowing the seed.”

Britt talked about Peter denying Jesus three times and then appearing to give up and go back to fishing, his previous livelihood. But Jesus spoke to Peter, Britt said, and encouraged him to serve God by serving others. This led to Peter preaching at Pentecost when 3,000 people became followers of Christ.

“Sometimes we quit right before the greatest victory,” Britt said. “Sometimes we give up when God’s really moving. We don’t feel like it; we don’t see it, but God is moving and always has a plan.”

Brian Mills Brian Mills, pastor of Yukon, Trinity, also spoke to attendees about dealing with discouragement and spent time at the beginning of his sermon Brian Mills praying for pastors and church leaders who were discouraged.

He also gave a challenge to pray for every church that is meeting.

“Every time you pass somebody’s church pray that it gets filled by the Holy Spirit this weekend and that it gets filled with people,” Mills said. “Pray for every single church. Why? Because we can’t reach everybody in Oklahoma City. We can’t reach everybody in Oklahoma. We can’t reach everybody around the world. It takes every church to reach every person.”

Matt Brooks Matt Brooks, pastor of Broken Arrow, First, offered a “model of BLESS” when he concluded the Advance Conference. This is what pastors and churchMatt Brooks es should model, Brooks preached, as an example of how to reach communities.

Brooks said churches should 1. Build relationships by prayer; 2. Listen and respond; 3. Eat with others and talk about Jesus; 4. Serve others for Jesus; 5.

Share His story through your story.

“God is already working among the people He places you to work,” Brooks said. “If we are going to empower our people to do what God has commissioned us to do, what Christ has commanded us to do, (this) involves Jesus’ life becoming their own.”

All messages delivered during the Advance Conference will be available in coming weeks for viewing online. Visit oklahomabaptists.org/advance for more information and to view the sermons.

OBU launches Tom Elliff Center for Missions /// PREVIEWED ON COVER >> by Kenny Day

OBU MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

SHAWNEE—Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) announced the launch of the Tom Elliff Center for Missions Jan. 24. OBU likewise announced the appointment of Elbert Smith as director of the center and assistant professor of missions; Mike Hand as special assistant to the president for great commission initiatives; and Tom Elliff as lecturer, mentor and facilitator in missions. Hand assumed his role effective Jan. 1, while Smith will assume his role effective Feb. 1. Elliff will begin working with students on campus during the spring semester.

“It brings me no greater joy than to announce the creation of the Tom Elliff Center for Missions,” OBU President Heath A. Thomas said. “This center will enhance our missions education at OBU through forums and mentorship, facilitate growth through scholarships, recruit students and partners and connect churches to OBU and the world. Tom is a passionate advocate for advancing the Gospel and this center, in his name, carries that same passion for Gospel advance in our day.”

Thomas is excited about the team who will direct the activities of the center, as each of the new appointments has significant experience in missions, equipping and training others and in building relationships around the globe.

“The Tom Elliff Center for Missions is positioned to help OBU be the global leader in missions education in the world,” Thomas said. “Elbert Smith, who has trained more missionaries than anyone, Mike Hand, who will connect churches to OBU and the world, and Tom Elliff, who will be mentoring students and pouring his wisdom into their lives, all three complement a world-class faculty and enhance OBU missions education. If anyone desires to be equipped to serve Christ among the nations, OBU is the place to do it.”

Thomas expounded on the significance not only of naming the center for Tom Elliff but also of having him present mentoring, lecturing and equipping OBU students.

“Dr. Elliff has spent his life reaching others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a pastor, a denomination-

al leader and a mission1 2 3 ary. OBU shares his desire to impact and equip the next generations of ministry leaders and missionaries for the call for the Gospel to go to all the nations as we are told in Matthew 28:18-20.”

The Elliff Center equips >> PHOTO: PROVIDED 1) Tom Elliff will serve as lecturer, mentor and students for their callings facilitator in missions for the Tom Elliff Center for Missions; 2) Elbert as missionaries through Smith will serve as director of the Tom Elliff Center for Missions and one of two OBU programs, the Bachelor of Arts assistant professor of missions; 3) Mike Hand was appointed as in global marketplace engagement and the special assistant to the president for great commission initiatives.

Bachelor of Arts in cross-cultural ministry. The center will enhance the education experience by introducing OBU students to key mission leaders from Ouachita Baptist University, a Master of Divinon the field through missions forums and additional ity from Southwestern Seminary and a Doctor of events to be held regularly on campus.

Ministry from Southern Seminary.

Local churches will connect through the center as Smith began as a church planter in Mexico, bethey send students to OBU and support their efforts fore overseeing more than 150 missionaries from to go into the world to advance the Gospel. A gener- Mexico to Panama. As director of field personnel ous ministry partner has funded the work of the cen- orientation with the IMB, he oversaw the orientater and provided resources to achieve its purpose. tion of more than 7,600 IMB workers from 2004 to “A unique feature of the partnership between lo- 2019. He currently serves as an international trainer cal churches, OBU and the mission field is that lo- at the Global Training Centre in Redhill, United Kingcal churches have the opportunity to invest in the dom. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in religion from mission experience of students from their home OBU, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist churches,” Thomas said. “Local partner churches Theological Seminary, a Doctor of Ministry in church will help support their students at OBU through and mission from Southwestern Baptist Theological scholarships, prayer and encouragement as stu- Seminary and a Ph.D. in applied theology: missions dents are equipped to go on mission to the world.” from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The Elliff Center will also partner with OBU’s AvHand served as a pastor for 35 years before going ery T. Willis Center for Global Outreach to equip OBU to work for the IMB, where he served as special asstudents for missions through global outreach train- sistant to the president and church missional strateing and hands-on experience on the mission field. gist. In 2016, he went to work for Oklahoma Baptists After pastoring for 42 years, Elliff served as the as the partnership mission strategist. He currently International Mission Board’s (IMB) president from focuses on consulting. He earned a Bachelor of Arts 2011–2014, as senior vice president for spiritual nur- in music from Tennessee Temple College, a Masture and church relations from 2005–2009, and ter of Ministry from Tennessee Baptist Theological as a missionary in Zimbabwe from 1981–1983. He Seminary and a Ph.D. in leadership from Tenneshas pastored churches in Arkansas, Texas, Colora- see Temple University. He also received an honordo and Oklahoma including his service as pastor ary Doctor of Divinity from the Southern Baptist of Del City, First Southern, from 1985 to 2005. He School for Biblical Studies. served as president of the Southern Baptist ConFor more information about the Tom Elliff Center vention Pastors Conference and two terms as pres- for Missions, contact michael.hand@okbu.edu.For ident of the SBC. Elliff earned a bachelor’s degree more information about OBU, visit okbu.edu.

Transformed by God: Advance Conference testimonies inspire attendees >> by Staff On Monday, Jan. 24, at Oklahoma Baptists’ Advance Conference, attendees were blessed and inspired to hear two individuals give personal testimonies of how the Lord saved them and transformed their lives.

Laura Perry: From transgender to transformed Sharing at the Advance Conference, Laura Perry shared how, for nearly 10 years of her life, she lived as a transgender man.

Perry’s story has been told previously in the Baptist Messenger, but this was the first time many heard Laura share about growing up in a Christian home, attending Bartlesville, First but not understanding the Gospel “The reality is, I didn’t know what Jesus was offering,” Perry said. “All I understood was the rules and trying to please God by our own works by our own flesh.

“I remember consciously thinking at one point, I want to be opposite of a Christian,” she added. “I want to sin in every way possible, and I just hated God and I hated my parents. I hated everyone in my life. I was angry. I kept going deeper and deeper in sexual sin.”

After embracing the transgender life, Laura, who went by the name “Jake,” had become estranged from family members and the church and was living with a partner who also identified as transgender.

Perry shared that beyond altering her name and outside appearance, she even took hormonal and surgical steps that she believed would make her a man, including a mastectomy surgery.

“The truth was that my surgery hadn’t made me a man,” she said. “There was hardly a day that went by that I wasn’t aware of the truth. I’ve talked to so many who have lived that lifestyle and they say, ‘Oh yeah, I knew the truth the whole time.’

Yet God was at work in the 1 2 lives of Laura and her parents. A video was shown featuring Laura’s mother, Francine, who herself experienced a change of heart. Francine said, “It was as if God said to me, ‘If you keep trying to fix Laura yourself, I will not.

If you just sit down and leave >> PHOTOS: 1)TORI HAMILTON; 2) CHRIS DOYLE 1)Laura Perry shares her testimony at the Advance Conference, telling how God transformed her life; 2) Adam Mask gives Laura to me, I will work.’” testimony of being free from drug addiction and now serving as a pastor.

Laura’s transformation, resulted in her repentance and All throughout his prison sentence, Mask longed to faith in Christ. She also was led by the Lord to embrace her God-given sexuality be free. That moment finally came.

“In 2010, I was broken and suicidal,” he said. “I had as a woman.

“God didn’t make me clean myself up for Him; He res- (been) paroled up to Broken Arrow to live with my cued me right where I was,” Perry said. “God had been parents in 2007 after spending a year and a half in a pursuing me the whole time. God had been answering Texas prison for possession of controlled substancmy parents’ prayer. They didn’t know it for years, but He es with the intent to distribute.” was answering (my parents’) prayers.”

Amid that time of despair Mask called out to the Perry is currently involved in ministry work helping Lord. What happened next surprised Mask. God families impacted by LGBT, sharing the hope and love impressed upon him the idea to “go to church.” A of Jesus. She announced at the Conference that she is quick internet search led him to Broken Arrow, First. now engaged to be married to a Christian man.

“On May 2, (2010) I went to Broken Arrow, First and Perry’s testimony speaks to the redeeming power heard the Gospel preached,” he said. “I came back the of God in a world awash in LGBT ideologies. It also next two weeks, and on May 16, I surrendered comgives hope to any family facing a prodigal situation. pletely to Jesus Christ. I was baptized on May 23.”

Adam Mask: Former drug addict set free Since that year, Mask went on to serve the church in Christ to minister, serve in volunteer roles and ultimately as church plantAdam Mask serves as church planting pastor of ing pastor. He has served at Coweta, Community Coweta, Community. There was a time in his life since 2015. He and his wife Grace have children and when his current role would be unthinkable. a thriving ministry in Coweta.

In a testimony he shared at the Advance Confer“I am a testament to the fact that no one is beence, Mask shared that he was a drug addict who yond God’s reach,” he added.

The testimonies of Perry and Mask will be made availhad been arrested and sentenced to prison for able online at oklahombaptists.org in coming weeks. drug-related crimes.

Features | February 10, 2022 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

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O O L B OX CHURCH T

PEOPLE & EWS CHURCH N

Gathering togetherNEat the UAdvance Conference RE DS W S & C U LT

CLASSIFIE

>> PHOTO: CHRIS DOYLE

Members of Oklahoma Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists fellowship together during a lunch meeting at the Advance Conference.

VOICES

>> PHOTO: CHRIS FORBES

‘Prophet’ Bailey leads a breakout session on ‘Reaching Young Adults in Your Context.’

>> PHOTO: CHRIS FORBES

Brian Baldwin leads a breakout titled ‘Be About it: How to Move from Talking about Sharing Your Faith to Doing it.’

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>> PHOTO: BRIAN HOBBS

Geron Davis and Kindred Souls led times of worship through music throughout the Advance Conference.

>> PHOTO: TORI HAMILTON

The exhibit hall at the Advance Conference was an attractive hangout for attendees.

>> PHOTO: CHRIS DOYLE

Walter Wilson talks about ‘Together for the Gospel’ at his breakout session.

February 10, 2022 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com | People & Church News

>> PHOTO: TORI HAMILTON

Ministry Wives enjoy a time of fellowship during a luncheon at the Advance Conference

>> PHOTO: BRIAN HOBBS

The Oklahoma Young Pastors Partnership met for a lunch program at the Advance Conference.

>> PHOTO: TORI HAMILTON

Oklahoma Baptists convention leaders and ministry partners connect with conference attendees in the exhibit hall.

O L B OX O T H C R U CH

PEOPLE & EWS CHURCH N

Stamps to join OBU as chair of S & C U LT U R E S LASSIFIED W CSchool E N of Theology and Ministry

EWS CHURCH N PEOPLE IN THE NEWS CRAWFORD DEATH. James Crawford, 86, died Jan. 21. A memoriO M29Aat Oklahoma H al O service was Jan. A L K E H T City, Iglesia Bautista V E The son, R C H ICentral.

TIST A and great-grandson of BapB A Pgrandson tist preachers, he served as pastor in Oklahoma, Illinois and Texas before his calling to the international mission field in 1968.

He and his family served as missionaries in Venezuela, where he pastored churches and served as president and Old Testament professor for the Venezuelan Theological Baptist Seminary. As a church planter, he started several churches in the mountains above Caracas and along the coast. After 30 years of ministry in Venezuela, he retired and moved to Oklahoma City, where he taught seminary extension classes and pastored Hispanic churches in central Oklahoma. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sammye; his son, Jim; his daughters, Joyce McCartney and Janet Austin; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

KNOX DEATH. Marvin Knox, 88, died Jan. 16. Funeral services were Jan. 21 at Duncan, Liberty. He accepted his first pastorate in 1957 and followed that calling until he retired in 2019. Among the churches he served were Gage, First; Phillips, Texas, First; Borger, Texas, Keeler; Dalhart, Texas, Lincoln Street; Perryton, Texas, Key Heights; Wichita Falls, Texas, Southside; Marlow, Central; Stratford, First; and Duncan, Liberty. He served as a board member of the Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma (currently WatersEdge) and was known as a church leader committed to strong Sunday Schools. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Margaret; his sons, Marv and Martin; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

RETIREMENT. Tony Hooper has retired as music director at Duncan, Western Heights. He plans to do mission work, travel and spend time with his family.

ORDINATION. Brock Woolf was ordained to the Gospel ministry at Coalgate, First.

CHURCH STAFF CHANGES TIM MARTIN has resigned as minister to youth at Lawton, First East.

K U is minister to youth at Lawton, Cameron O U DMORALES SSEAN KENNY MOSSMAN is pastor of Carnegie, First.

earned a Master of Divinity degree with an emphasis in Christian ministry from Southern Seminary. He then earned a Ph.D. in SHAWNEE—R. Lucas Stamps systematic theology, L U A also NSeminary.

N A will join the Oklahoma Bapfrom Southern S E C I V O (OBU) faculty as INFO tist University He is theEauthor G co-auI N or T E M chair of the Herschel H. Hobbs thor of numerous books, School of Theology and Minisbook contributions, jourtry effective July 1. He will likenal articles, magazine artiwise serve as the Dickinson cles, and more.

Chair of Religion, professor of OBU Provost Susan Debiblical and theological studWoody looks forward to ies, and director of the Master Stamps joining the faculty of Arts program. and leading the Hobbs Stamps currently serves as School of Theology and >> PHOTO: PROVIDED R. Lucas Stamps will join the associate professor of ChrisMinistry.

OBU faculty as chair of the tian studies at Anderson Uni“We are thrilled that versity and Clamp Divinity School Hobbs School of Theology and an excellent scholar Ministry effective July 1. in South Carolina, where he has such as Dr. Stamps has worked since 2017. He previousagreed to join the facly served as faculty lead in Chrisulty at OBU,” DeWoody tian ministries at California Baptist Univer- said. “I believe Dr. Stamps is a great match sity (CBU), online and professional studies, for the Hobbs School of Theology and Minfrom 2015 to 2017. He also served as assis- istry, bringing depth of experience in biblical tant professor of Christian studies for CBU, scholarship and teaching, paired with a desire online and professional studies, from 2012 to engage students in community together.” to 2017.

For more information about the Herschel He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in H. Hobbs School of Theology and Ministry, history from Auburn University. He later visit okbu.edu/theology. >> by Kenny Day

OBU MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Coming Events Tulsa Unity Day Service, Feb. 20

On Sunday, Feb. 20, Skiatook, First, will host a Unity Day church service, presented by Rev. W.R. Casey, Jr. and the Christian Minister Alliance. The service, which will feature a choir and a sermon from Stephen Rummage, pastor of Oklahoma City, Quail Springs, begins at 6 p.m. and is open to the public. Small groups will meet prior to the service at 5 p.m.

For more information email cmatulsa.casey@gmail.com or call 918/902-1374.

Oklahoma Baptists host ESL workshop, March 4-5

Cheryl Wilkinson, literacy missions coordinator for Oklahoma Baptists will lead an English as a Second Language (ESL) workshop that will equip local church volunteers to intentionally share the Gospel with new English speakers. The workshop will be 5:30-9 p.m. on Friday, March 4 and 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, March 5 and will cover topics such as English classes as an international missions outreach, dealing with cultural misunderstanding, techniques for teaching English, planning class sessions and sharing the Gospel and the Bible with students. Registration fee is $35. To register, visit oklahomabaptists.org/literacy.

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

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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.

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People & Church News | February 10, 2022 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

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4 helpful church website S LASSIFIED C changes for 2022 >> by Mark MacDonald

CHURCH BRANDING STRATEGIST AND CONSULTANT

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article was previously featured on thealabamabaptist.org.

for assistance. Then make sure your main menu has “Give” or “Donate” clearly available, under “About” or as its own menu option. On the giving page, talk about security, use your church name, logo, fonts and colors OICES Vlegitimate). (you want them to know it’s Keep it simple, without long paragraphs.

Explain how you’ll use the funds. Link to ministry success stories. It may also be a great place to post a one-minute video from your pastor, thanking them for their generosity.

3. Make the calendar dynamic. Your congregation is the primary audience for your church website. They visit to discover what’s for them. So events and a calendar are critical.

One of your main menu items should clearly say “Events” or “Calendar,” where there is information about what was discussed on Sunday or in the bulletin, and links to other events (on a calendar grid or in a list). Bonus points if someone can filter for ministries or demographics (men, women, kids, students, etc.). This simplifies the results to only those that interest them.

4. Update your copyright code. Everyone visiting your website needs to understand it is current. That is why your Christmas announcements should be removed on Dec. 26, and also why your copyright date (often in the footer at the bottom of each page) needs to be changed manually each Jan. 1. Or even better? Talk to the person who built your site, so the coding automatically changes your date with the calendar year. It is usually easy.

There are four helpful church website changes/updates to prepare the church digitally at the beginning of the year. In this complex church communication world, many pastors and church leaders are not sure where to start with the plethora of channels and tools: social media, website, email campaign, bulletin, etc.

So why should you start with the website?

We know the world relies heavily on a digital hub—where most communication points to a website—so improving your website is critical. This can especially be helpful to a potential guest when they look at your site before deciding to attend, or to members looking for details when they forget an announcement or to anyone who wants to give a gift.

Here are four suggested changes to consider: 1. Update your staff/team page with pertinent information. Your two audiences (congregation and community) both seek information on those pages, but for different reasons. Internally, members want to identify who’s in charge of specific ministries and how to contact them directly.

Be simple and clear about job titles and contact information. Externally, when someone living nearby decides they may visit, interestingly, they often go to this same page.

Their reason? To see if leadership looks like Mark MacDonald is a communication pastor, they do and if they will fit in. This is why staff E H T M O R F pictures matter. Ensure they are current— speaker, consultant, bestselling author, church LO G for BeKnownforSomething.

E R S Bstrategist everyone is dressed like you’d expect L I N Gbranding R D SpeoO W ple to dress each Sunday. The friendly pic- com and executive director of the Center for tures are similarly cropped, and each staff Church Communication, empowering 10,000plus churches to become known for something person is wearing current fashion.

2. Ensure online giving is set up prop- relevant (a communication thread) throughout erly. Anyone wanting to give should be able their ministries, websites and social media. His to do so online. This functionality exists for book, “Be Known for Something,” is available at most content management systems. Check S AY S E BeKnownBook.com.

V A D with yours or with your Baptist association

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

VAC AT I O N B I B LE S C H O O L T R AI N I N G

PR IO R IT Y O F PR E ACH ING CO N FE R E NCE

Oklahoma Baptists are helping churches prepare for VBS this summer. Visit the following website for information about the State VBS Clinic.

Register now for the annual Priority of Preaching Conference, March 28. Visit the following website to register and for more information.

oklahomabaptists.org/childhood

oklahomabaptists.org/pop

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

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February 10, 2022 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com | Church Toolbox

PEOPLE & EWS CHURCH N F RO M T H E G E R S B LO G URE WO R D S L I N E W S & C U LT

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JOYOUSLY BUSY >> LORI COATS

It’s a curious thing of how I A never of gardening, Y Stire N UA L S N E A V A D herbalism and food preservation. Each of these disci- O INF plines take a considerable amount preparaETING MofE learning, tion and work, and one would think that after doing this for more than 25 years that I would get over it and move on to something else.

However, just the opposite is true! The longer S I do these P T I S Tbut A B A M things the more that I love them!

It’s strange, I even love O H OKLA T H G I L H all of the tools and elements that are involved with my work.

URC E H IG O S E R I’ve always heard it said that, “If you love your work then it never seems like work to you.” Oh, there are times that my work does seem like work, but my heart is joyously busy. Throughout the Bible, work is a God-honoring behavior. Being able to work, and work hard, is actually a gift from God. Have you ever been around someone who is passionate about their work? It’s contagious! Years ago, I was working for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture in the Agritourism program, and I had the opportunity to visit a very strange and somewhat quirky farm. The owners were quite eccentric, and their undertaking was most unusual. Despite that, these people were highly motivated and extremely passionate about their project.

To read the rest of Lori’s blog visit, baptistmessenger.com/blog-joyously-busy

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 HOW MUCH DIRT, AND HOW MUCH HOUSE? Dear Dave, A PT ISTS Bbusiness.

A M My wife and I own a small catering O H A L OK IGH We have a few big corporations as IG clients, ourT H Land EH C R U O S E R company has been very successful over the last two or three years.

Now, we are planning to build a house. I was wondering what you think about how much should be spent on the land itself versus the construction of the actual house.

—Lee Dear Lee, When the whole thing is done, the payment you end up with shouldn’t be more than 25 percent of your take-home pay on a 15-year, fixed-rate loan. The ratio of land to house can vary, and that part’s up to you. If you’re buying a big piece of land, you’re probably going to have a higher ratio of land cost to home cost than if you bought a simple lot and put a really nice home there.

Generally, a standard subdivision lot is going to be around 20 percent of the total price. If you spend $100,000 on the lot, you’ll end up with a total project cost of about a half-million. Now, keep in mind that’s just a fairly standard ratio. It’s not a rule.

The only rule here is my rule about mortgage payments. Again, no more than 25 percent of your take-home pay on a fixed-rate, 15-year note. Otherwise, you can end up house poor. And when you’re house poor, it takes away your ability to save, build wealth and give.

Having a big house and a lot of land is cool if you can afford it, Lee. But it’s not worth it if it’s financially stressful and prevents you from living your best life!

—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: $25.00 flat rate per ad • Deadline: Two weeks prior to publication. Submit a classified ad at www.baptistmessenger.com/advertise on the Classifieds Form

VOICES

>>P/T YOUTH MINISTER: Please submit resume to: Calvary Baptist Church, 715 SW H Avenue, Lawton, OK 73501 or email to: personnel@calvarybaptistlawton.org.

CLASSIFIEDS COLOR KEY: PA S TOR YOUTH MUS I C

J OB L ISTIN G V EH IC L E M ISC.

>>SENIOR PASTOR: Senior Pastor needed, retiring pastor of 30 years. Experience required, adherence to BFM 2000. Send resumes, recommendations to Pastor Search Committee, First Baptist Church, 125 S Delos, Haysville, KS 67060 or pastorsearch@fbchaysville.org.

>>BI/VO OR P/T WORSHIP MINISTER: Seeking God’s candidate for our next blended service Worship Minister. Please submit resume & cover letter to: cbcbamusic@gmail.com or Clearview Baptist Church, P.O. Box 140892, Broken Arrow, OK 74014.

>>F/T ASSOCIATE & YOUTH MINISTER: Calvary Baptist Church Inola, OK is seeking a F/T Associate Pastor & Youth Minister. Interested candidates may submit resumes with references to: calvaryinola@gmail.com.

>>F/T YOUTH MINISTER: College Heights Baptist of Chickasha, is prayerfully seeking a F/T Youth Minister. Resumes may be sent to: College Heights Baptist Church, P.O. Box 357, Chickasha, OK 73023 or by email to: chbcsearchcmte@gmail.com >>F/T STUDENT PASTOR: FBC Heavener is seeking a F/T Student Pastor. Please send a resume to: hardinbrock@yahoo.com.

>>BI/VO WORSHIP MINISTER: FBC of Elmore City is prayerfully seeking God’s candidate for a BI/VO Worship Minister to lead us in a blended service.

Please submit your resume to: fbc@fbcelmorecity. com or mail to: P.O.Box 247, Elmore City, OK 73433.

>>BI/VO WORSHIP LEADER: The Church at Norman is prayerfully seeking a BI/VO Worship Leader for our Sunday morning services. Send resume to: P.O. Box 818, Norman, OK 73070 or email to: thechurchatnorman@yahoo.com.

>>CHILDREN’S PASTOR: Marlow FBC is looking for a Children’s Pastor to shepherd our kids nursery through 5th grade. Submit resumes to: office@marlowfirst.org. >>F/T OR BI/VO PASTOR: Sobol, OK. Sobol Baptist Church is a small rural church seeking a Pastor with a heart for God & families as we seek to grow our church for the next generation.

Contact: debbanwhite@gmail.com.

>>P/T PASTORAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS: Chisholm Heights Baptist Church in Mustang, OK, has two openings for P/T Pastoral Administrative Assistants. 28 hours a week. Microsoft Office & general computer skills a plus. If interested submit resume to: office@chbcmustang.org.

>>BI/VO PASTOR: New Bethel Baptist Church is prayerfully seeking a Pastor. Mail resume to: New Bethel Baptist Church, P.O. Box 945, Ada, OK 74821.

>>BI/VO or P/T CHILDREN’S MINISTER: FBC Elmore City is prayerfully seeking God’s candidate to be our P/T or BI/VO Children’s Minister. Please submit resume to: fbceckids@gmail.com or mail to: FBC Elmore City, P.O. Box 247, Elmore City, OK 73433.

>>F/T or P/T YOUTH PASTOR: FSBC Guthrie is prayerfully searching for our next Youth Pastor. Position is F/T or P/T for the right candidate. Resumes can be mail to: 202 E Noble, Guthrie, OK 73044 or email to: fsbc.youthpastorsearch@gmail.com.

>>P/T YOUTH MINISTER: Looking for P/T Youth Minister to disciple & lead our youth.

Please send resume with letter of recommendation to: Main Street Baptist Church, C/O Youth Search Committee, P.O. Box 668, Stigler, OK 74462. Or email to: jeffkberger@gmail.com.

>>BI/VO YOUTH MINISTER: Highland Park Baptist Church seeks an enthusiastic & hard-working leader to grow our youth ministry. We are a friendly & culturally diverse congregation near UCO. Resume: Search Team, 400 N. Blackwelder, Edmond, 73034. (405) 341-1119.

>>F/T STUDENT PASTOR: Pawhuska’s FBC is a growing & enthusiastic church seeking a F/T Student Pastor to join our ministry team & lead our growing & diverse student ministry. Send inquiries and/or resumes to: church@pawhuskafbc.org.

>> P/T WORSHIP LEADER: Ridge Crest Baptist Tulsa, OK, seeking P/T Worship Leader to lead Praise Team in blended worship. Small Weekly Stipend. www.ridgecresttulsa.org. Email resume: RCBCtulsa@gmail.com or mail resume: 304 S 161st E Ave, Tulsa, OK 74108.

>>F/T PASTOR: FBC Rosedale, OK is prayerfully seeking a F/T Pastor. Resumes can be sent to: 37740 Arkansas Ave., Byars, OK 74831.

Email: tracy100@windstream.net.

>>F/T YOUTH PASTOR: FBC Buffalo, OK. FBC is prayerfully seeking a Youth Minister. Housing provided. Please send resume to: FBC Buffalo, P.O. Box 415, Buffalo, OK 73834 or email to: Fbcbuffalo@pldi.net. Phone: (806) 930-8374.

>> F/T PASTOR: FBC Davis, OK is prayerfully seeking a F/T Pastor. Interested candidates should mail a cover letter & resume to: First Baptist Church, Attn: Pastor Search Committee, P.O. Box 297, Davis, OK 73030.

>>BI/VO or F/T PASTOR: Asher FBC seeking a BI/VO or F/T Pastor. Parsonage is avail-

able. Interested candidates should email or mail their resume to: FBCAsher@windstream. net or FBC Asher, P.O. Box 166, Asher, OK 74826. >>P/T YOUTH MINISTER: First Southern Baptist Church, Arcadia OK is seeking a mature & committed servant of the Lord.

Send resume to: fsbcarcadia@yahoo.com. >>F/T PASTOR OF STUDENT LIFE: Northside Baptist Church of Neosho, Missouri, is prayerfully seeking a F/T Pastor of Student Life to lead our student ministries. If interested, please send resumes to: brad@northsideneosho.com. >>F/T WORSHIP/STUDENT PASTOR: South Seminole Baptist Seminole, TX is seeking F/T Worship/Student Pastor. Church is looking for a pastoral leader with heart of shepherding people to know & love Christ. Please submit cover letter, resume & references to: buck@southseminole.net. >>P/T MUSIC MINISTER: Seeking a vocalist & musician who understands a blend of contemporary & traditional worship music styles, capable of leading multiple generations. Please send letters of interest & resumes to: southparkokcmusic@gmail.com. >>P/T YOUTH PASTOR: FBC Hydro is prayerfully searching for a P/T Youth Pastor. Please send resumes to: jbsanders59@hotmail.com. >>P/T YOUTH MINISTER: Duke FBC is prayerfully seeking a P/T Youth Minister who is passionate about God & serving youth. Please send resume or inquiries to: fbcduke@swoi.net. >>F/T MINISTER OF YOUTH: Lawton, First East is prayerfully seeking a Youth Minister with a heart for students Grades 6-12. Check www.firstbaptisteast.com for more information. Send resume electronically to: trey@firstbaptisteast.com. >>P/T STUDENT PASTOR: FBC Glenpool is seeking a P/T Student Pastor to lead & disciple our 7th -12th grade student ministry. Send resume & letter by February 18th to: FBC Glenpool, Attn. Admin Team, 52 E. 145th St, Glenpool, OK 74033 or email to: students@fbcglenpool.com. >>BI/VO or P/T PASTOR: Sunset Baptist Church of Ponca City, OK is prayerfully seeking a BI/VO Pastor. Please send resume with references to: Pastor Search Committee, 915 Greenwood Ave., Ponca City, OK 74601. >>F/T FINANCIAL SECRETARY/CHURCH CLERK: New Hope Baptist Church Duncan, OK is searching for a F/T Financial Secretary/Church Clerk. Job description is available by contacting the church office at (580) 252-3899. Questions concerning this position contact Johnny Cooksey at (580) 483-4239. >>F/T YOUTH/STUDENT PASTOR: Needed at Spiro FBC in Spiro, OK. Good salary + house. Contact: jamestsmith@live.com.

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30 “The ___ of the covenant of the 4716Drills “Woman’s child ___ in the night” (1 Kings ACROSS LORD” (1 were Kingsnot3:15) “___ me, and know my 1 “Priests. . .which of the sons of ___”483:19) 31 Tests, as God does our hearts (Ps.to139:23) 17thoughts” “___ my heart fear thy name” (Ps. 86:11) (1 Kings 12:31) Chron.

29:17) 4918“Queen of ___ heard of___” the (Titus 3:14) “Good works for necessary 5 “The(1___ thereof shall be as the wine of 32 Solomon wanted to “discern fame” (1 Kings 10:1) 19 “King David was ___ and stricken in years” Lebanon” (Hos. 14:7) between good and ___” 50 Recorded (1 Kings 1:1) 10 Eighth month (1 Kings 6:38) (1 Kings 3:9) 54 Compared to Sinai (Gal. 4:25) 21 Tackle 13 Glided 35 “No God like thee, in heaven 55 Island nation Before (abbr.)

14 Jewish scripture above, or on ___ beneath” 5623Captains were told to fight only 26with Liquid___ Zadok anoint Solomon (1 15 Pop (1 Kings 8:23) (1 used Kingsto22:31) 37 Clip 58 “Handful of ___ in a barrel” 38 Note of debt (1 Kings 17:12) 39 Vow (1 Kings 2:43) 61 “Hiram came out from Tyre to 40 Cedar or hyssop (1 Kings 4:33) ___ the cities” (1 Kings 9:12) 41 Society (abbr.)

63 “___ they not written in the 42 “The earth ___ with the sound” book?” (1 Kings 11:41) (1 Kings 1:40) 64 Church leader (abbr.)

A N N UA L NFO MEETING I

>>P/T CHILDREN’S PASTOR: FBC Preston is currently looking for a P/T Children’s Pastor to lead our FBC Kids team. Please send resume to: firstbaptistchurchpreston@gmail.com. See full job description on our Facebook page: @fbcpreston.

>>F/T PASTOR: First Baptist Church of Strafford, Missouri is prayerfully seeking a F/T Pastor. For contact information & more details visit: fbcstrafford.org/pastorsearch. >>F/T YOUTH MINISTER: Sharon Baptist Church Shawnee, OK is prayerfully seeking a Youth Minister with the heart to love/shepherd/serve the youth & community of the church. Visit sbctecumseh.com for info. Resumes can be sent: suzi.sharontecumseh@gmail. >>P/T WORSHIP LEADER: FBC, Newalla seeks a P/T Worship Leader to help plan & conduct Sunday services (morning & evening).

Contact: Pastor David Nolen (405) 391-6266. >>P/T WORSHIP LEADER: IBC Perkins is seeking a P/T Worship Leader to lead a weekly blended service. Perkins is a growing community with tons of potential. Interested candidates can send cover letter & resume to: Robert.k.bernhardt@gmail.com. >>BI/VO OR P/T WORSHIP MINISTER: Seeking God’s candidate for our next blended service Worship Minister. Please submit resume & cover letter to: cbcbamusic@gmail.com or Clearview Baptist Church, P.O. Box 140892, Broken Arrow, OK 74014. >>F/T EXECUTIVE PASTOR: Sunnylane Baptist Church, Del City, OK is searching for someone with the gift of administration who will serve as the Director of Operations for our church.

Please email resume to: danny@thelane.tv. >>BI/VO PASTOR: Liberty Hill Baptist Church in Cameron, OK is prayerfully seeking God’s candidate for a BI/VO Pastor. Housing is available. Please submit resumes to Danny Rogers at: RogersDanny1959@gmail.com. >>BI/VO PASTOR: Beautiful rural church in Hastings, OK is prayerfully seeking a BI/VO Pastor. Please submit resume to: Hastings Baptist Church, P.O. Box 205, Hastings, OK 73548.

MIS CEL L A NEO US >>DO YOU NEED A CHURCH PIANIST? Try piano accompaniment CDs from Worship Service Resources! Each song has an introduction & is easy to follow. Hymns, DVDs, Hundreds of Songs! Get your FREE DEMO & try before you buy! wsrpianocds.com or 1-877-977-6800.

RD

Kings 1:39) 28 Gives, as sinner does to sinner (Luke 6:34) 29 Relax, as Abner did around Saul (1 Sam. 26:7) (2 wds.)

32 Brasen rods which protected great cities (1 Kings 4:13) 33 Solomon was made ruler ___ Israel and Judah (1 Kings 1:35) 34 Squeak 36 Office furniture 37 Water nymph 38 Small particle 42 Bleacher 43 Paddles made from oaks of Bashan (Ezek.

27:6) 44 “___ the charge of the LORD” (1 Kings 2:3) 46 “Walking in the ___ of David” (1 Kings 3:3) 49 “To ___ the pride of all glory” (Isa. 23:9) 51 Son of ___, Solomon’s officer (1 Kings 4:8) 52 Biddy 53 Cracker 57 Workout place 59 Dueling sword 60 Appearance 62 Take in 66 Where Jotham fled (Judg. 9:21) 67 One captain of Israel’s hosts (1 Kings 2:5) 68 Location 69 Fleet’s supreme commander (abbr.)

70 Angers 71 “Solomon raised a ___” (1 Kings 5:13)

DOWN 1 Least significant digit (abbr.)

2 Shiloh’s priest (1 Kings 2:27) 3 Rival 4 Ahinadab’s father (1 Kings 4:14) 5 Artist’s workplace 6 Swindle 7 Little Mermaid’s love 8 Treaty organization (abbr.)

9 “___ sat Solomon upon the throne” (1 Kings 2:12) 10 Brass vessels Hiram made (1 Kings 7:45) 11 Turn over 12 Keeps 15 “Art of ___ eyes” (Hab. 1:13) 20 Throw 22 Harsh criticism 23 Slog 24 Jabber 25 “Thine ___ may be open” (1 Kings 8:29) 27 Fellow laborer (Philem. 1:24) 30 “The ___ of the covenant of the LORD” (1 Kings 3:15) 31 Tests, as God does our hearts (1 Chron. 29:17) 32 Solomon wanted to “discern between good and ___” (1 Kings 3:9) 35 “No God like thee, in heaven above, or on ___ beneath” (1 Kings 8:23) 37 Clip 38 Note of debt 39 Vow (1 Kings 2:43)

40 Cedar or hyssop (1 Kings 4:33) 41 Society (abbr.)

42 “The earth ___ with the sound” (1 Kings 1:40) 44 BB player ___ Abdul-Jabbar 45 ___ duck 47 Drills 48 “___ me, and know my thoughts” (Ps. 139:23) 49 “Queen of ___ heard of the fame” (1 Kings 10:1) 50 Recorded 54 Compared to Sinai (Gal. 4:25) 55 Island nation 56 Captains were told to fight only with ___ (1 Kings 22:31) 58 “Handful of ___ in a barrel” (1 Kings 17:12) 61 “Hiram came out from Tyre to ___ the cities” (1 Kings 9:12) 63 “___ they not written in the book?” (1 Kings 11:41) 64 Church leader (abbr.)

65 Negative answer (1 Kings 2:20) M A D A M

A L I B I

D A V I D

O M A H A

F O R U M

T O T E M

R A P O P E D R A

E R A S H Y G M E N T F I I E C L I D N S G

S T R A I T B E L L E

T O W R U E D A I N A I T E N N S C B A T E T R I E D E A N S A S T H L S S A A L I G C O R A V OW T I R E H A N D

E A R T H

V I L I R Y I S E

E S T B E O R W S N E O A P L E S

M O W E D

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S L E V I S L I D T U D I E D O L D P R E O I L A Y A B O O V E R D E S K N R I K E E P S T A I N H A R D T A G E P E E B E E R A R A D M

Puzzle 19: 2 Samuel JAN. 27 ANSWERS S H I P S

C U R I A

A L O T H

R A N

M O N T A N A

A M O S

T R E E

T I L L F A P A S D A B E N D

W A S P S H O R W I D O A S S S H O A C W A L L L E A

Classifieds | February 10, 2022 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com I A R M A A B I N W H Y S

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SPRING 2022

Preview Day A PRIL 8

At Southwestern Seminary, we combine the highest standards of research and scholarship with vigorous training for real-world ministry — missions, evangelism, discipleship, preaching, and worship.

Whether you’re just beginning your journey or have decades of experience, we’re committed to help you live your calling.

Come and explore all that Southwestern Seminary has to offer during Preview Day on April 8, 2022 Learn more at SWBTS.EDU/PREVIEW

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February 10, 2022 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com | News & Culture