2023/December

DECEMBER 2023 • VOL. 112 | NO. 12

Oklahoma IMB missionaries reaching people for Christ in Sub-Saharan Africa

Connect Page 2

Bible Q&A: Unto us a Child is born Page 10

Oklahoma IMB Missions Infographic Page 19

INSIDE THIS ISSUE December 2023 • VOL. 112 | NO. 12

11 | Baptist Village Communities

MESSENGER STAFF

It all started with chickens and a feather bed

>> Brian Hobbs | Editor bhobbs@oklahomabaptists.org

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Christmas: The Good News of what God has done

by Todd Fisher

4 | Sword & Trowel: Fear not

7 | Just Joe

The age of old

by Joe Ligon

by Brian Hobbs

15 | Pastor’s Page:

5 | Upcoming Events

by Dr. Bobby Kelly

Unto us a Child is born

6 | Rite of Passage:

16 | Crossword & Wordsearch

by Walker Moore

17 | Church News

Christmas wisdom

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18 | People in Focus: 8 | Hearts for Africa:

Orden Hartley

by Baptist Messenger Staff

Missions Infographic

Oklahoma IMB missionaries by Bob Nigh reaching people for Christ in Sub-Saharan Africa 19 | Oklahoma IMB

Annual Meeting Recap

Page 10

Connect:

Christmas: The Good News of what God has done!

One of the things I find most interesting (and important) in Matthew and Luke’s accounts of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus is that both of them include genealogies. Many see genealogies in the Bible as something tedious or “boring” that should be skipped over.

However, they are important for a number of reasons.

Genealogies point to the fact that God had planned for the incarnation of Jesus since before creation (Rev. 13:8) and to how He is fulfilling the promises connected to the Messiah, such as being a part of the lineage of David (2 Sam. 7:12-16; Rev. 22:16). Both genealogies demonstrate that Jesus is a descendant of David—by adoption through his legal father Joseph (Matthew’s genealogy) and by blood through his mother Mary (Luke’s genealogy).

One of the most striking things to me, however, about the significance of the genealogies is that they demonstrate who Jesus is and what He did as historical fact. The narrative of Jesus’ birth, and subsequently his life, death and resurrection, is not metaphorical. It really happened.

This is important because the Gospel writers, in recording the nature and events of Jesus’ birth, are not giving us some allegorical fable advising us to live out some moral truth. Rather, they are telling us, as the angel in Luke 2:10 phrased it, “Good News” of what God has done.

Tim Keller insightfully speaks to this in his book “Hidden Christmas.”

“Advice is counsel about what you must do,” Keller wrote. “News is a report about what has already been done. Advice urges you to make something happen.

News urges you to recognize something that has already happened and to respond to it. Advice says it is all up to you to act. News says someone else has acted.”

A helpful illustration from Keller is to think of a town that has an invading army coming toward it. That town needs advice from experts— where to build fortifications, trenches and placement of weapons.

However, if a great king has intercepted and defeated the invading army, what does the town need then? It doesn’t need military advisers; it needs messengers (incidentally the Greek word for messengers is “angelos”). The messengers do not say, “Here is what you need to do.” Instead, they say, “I bring you glad tidings of great joy.” In other words, “Stop fleeing. Stop building fortifications.

Stop trying to save yourselves. The King has saved you.”

Something has been done, and it changes everything.

Indeed, the birth of Jesus changes everything. Other religions frame salvation in terms of advice—these are the things you must do to find salvation. But Christianity views salvation as news— God has sent Jesus to do for you what you could not do for yourself. I am so grateful for the genealogies of Jesus which remind us of that historical event long ago when Jesus came to earth to do on our behalf what we could never do for ourselves.

I pray you and your family have a wonderful and blessed Christmas focused on Jesus Christ, the “founder and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2)!

Serving Jesus with You,

Todd Fisher Oklahoma Baptists Executive Director-Treasurer

December 2023 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

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Sword & Trowel Fear not

If you look at different surveys about people’s greatest fears, you see some common responses.

People are afraid of public speaking. They are afraid of snakes, spiders, sharks. They fear the dark and fear death. Surveys also show that people are sometimes afraid of the future.

A new Lifeway Research poll indicated that a majority of pastors have “a growing sense of fear within their congregations about the future of the nation and world.” In fact, one survey indicated nearly three out of every four church members have this form of fear.

While these fears may not necessarily be unfounded, they do indicate that people—even believers—are prone toward worry and fear.

How can we face our fears better?

One popular claim says that the phrase “Fear Not” appears 365 times in the Bible—one for every day of the year. While that calculation does not appear to be true, the sentiment behind it is comforting.

One of the most famous utterances of the phrase “fear not” in the Bible took place during the first Christmas, near Bethlehem.

Luke 2:8-11 says: “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.’”

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The appearance of angels has led others to tremble (e.g., Daniel, Zecheriah), and these shepherds were no different. Yet the angel had “good news of great joy” to cast out their fear.

God does not want His people to be marked by fear, and Jesus Himself is the antidote to fear. The Apostle Paul said, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7).

Is there something today that’s making you afraid?

Perhaps you have fear over a broken relationship, a health issue, finances, current events around the world or even just a general worry about the future.

The late pastor Adrian Rogers said, “Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell the storm how big your God is.”

Rogers added, “Worry looks at God through circumstances. Peace looks at circumstances through God.” When we are afraid, we must recall God’s love and recall what we know to be true. Christmas is a fitting time to reflect on God’s goodness to us in the Lord Jesus, a time to redirect our heart’s focus toward Him. The Bible says, “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5).

This Christmas, let’s each embrace Jesus more fully and embrace the truth behind these two powerful words: “Fear not.”

Brian Hobbs Editor of the Baptist Messenger

www.baptistmessenger.com | The Baptist Messenger | December 2023

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December 2023 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

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Rite of Passage Christmas wisdom

EDITOR’S NOTE: Walker Moore passed away June 26, but the Baptist Messenger has continued to publish his cherished previous columns this year. The following was first published December 2010.

Christmas is an ever-changing holiday. In my early years, we always went to my grandparents’ farm, where we opened presents, enjoyed family and ate some incredible food.

After I got married, Christmas took a different twist as we learned to juggle Christmas between my wife’s family and mine. Once we had children, Christmas went down one more bend in the road. We worked hard to keep the holiday balanced between our own family and our parents. Our children got married next. Today, my wife and I are the parents the children are trying to work around.

Even our Christmas tree has changed. In the beginning, we couldn’t afford much. Our tree was a little anemic-looking thing that could scarcely hold up its own scraggly branches, let alone any kind of decoration.

One strand of lights, a couple of ornaments, a white sheet around the bottom and there you have it: our Christmas tree. When you’re young and in love, even the lowliest of Christmas trees has romantic value.

Before long, the kids came along. The tree got bigger, and the boys made ornaments in Sunday School and at home. We added more lights and hung stockings. In those days we couldn’t put the children’s presents under the tree. If you think curiosity killed the cat, you’ve never seen a 5-year-old boy trying to figure out what he got for Christmas.

Each year, it is my job to put up the tree. I used to see how fast I could do it, but now I am in no hurry. I look at each ornament made by our boys. One prized possession consists of a clothespin with a single strand of yarn glued to one end. It doesn’t have anything else drawn on or stuck to it. It’s just a clothespin. But one of our sons made it and, every year since its creation, it hangs proudly on our tree.

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When discovering what gives something or someone value, I realize part of this question must be answered by the one who owns it. An outsider who examined our homemade ornaments might consider them junk. But I value them . . . because I value the ones who made them.

When a house catches on fire, we learn what has true value. I can replace a television set or a couch, but those things made by our young sons can never be replaced.

I heard a sermon in which the pastor referenced an old story. A famous painter had died, so all his masterpieces were going up for auction. The crowd came from around the world to bid on these wonderful paintings.

The auctioneer approached the podium, and a hush fell over the crowd. He announced the painting that would go on the auction block first. It was not the work of the famous painter but of his small son instead.

The auctioneer held up the childlike picture and asked what someone would give for it. The crowd was silent. Finally, one man bid $100, and the auctioneer asked why he wanted the painting. The buyer said, “I knew his son. We were friends.”

The auctioneer turned to the crowd and announced that the auction was over. Shocked, the crowd asked about the reason for the change. The auctioneer explained that the master painter had given instructions before he died: Whoever received the son’s paintings would also receive the father’s.

“No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also” (1 John 2:23).

At this time of year, we remember the wise men who came to see the Son of God wrapped in swaddling clothes. Wise men still seek the Son. They understand: the one who has the Son also has . . . the Father.

Walker Moore Author & Messenger Columnist from 1998-2023

www.baptistmessenger.com | The Baptist Messenger | December 2023

Just Joe The age of old

For some reason, I have recently had several people ask me about how old I am. Every time I try to answer that question, I find myself wondering how I got this old this fast. And then I find myself wondering about how old is old. So, I have spent some time thinking through this and have come up with a couple of items that might help all of us come to grips with just how old we really are.

My first example, has to do with being offered the senior citizen discount at a fast food place. The first time that happened to me, both of my sons were with me. For some reason, they thought that was the funniest thing they have ever heard. But when I reminded them that they were broke and I was buying lunch they settled down a bit. And, no, I didn’t accept the senior citizen discount.

But here’s what I came up with. If you are offended when someone offers you a senior citizen discount, you probably haven’t reached the age of old. If you are a tad bit ashamed but accept the senior citizen discount, you are at least on the verge of old. If you ask the person to repeat what he said and then yell, “Yes and so is my wife,” you may have past old several years ago.

My second example of knowing when you are old has to do with stairs. Every age group seems to approach maneuvering stairs a little differently. A baby, for example, will do his best to crawl up one stair at a time until some distracted adult realizes what is happening, screams and makes a mad dash to rescue the baby from the perils of stair climbing. Of course, a startled baby makes a poor stair climber. So, this seldom works out well.

Older children, on the other hand, will often try to run up the stairs. Teenagers, typically try to see how many stairs they can cover in one gigantic step. This works particularly well if the person is headed down the stairs. Young adults usually take the stairs at a pretty fast pace.

But somewhere along the line, those young adults become older, and older adults find themselves holding on to the rail not because they need to but because they just want to. Before long, however, they are hanging on tightly, somewhat desperately, trying to find the strength to take one more step.

At some point all of that changes. Now the senior adult either buckles into a stair master and glides effortlessly to either the bottom or the top. If no stair master is available, it is not uncommon to see a senior adult staring at an elevator trying to decide if the contraption can be trusted. And, sooner or later, you will see a senior adult staring at the stairs trying to decide if he was going to go get something or drop something off and then turn and shuffle off to the television to watch another episode of Gunsmoke on INSP. So, where am I on this spectrum? Well, I seldom jump the stairs unless there is a snake involved. I seldom run the stairs unless there is bacon involved.

I seldom use the rail unless the stairs are slippery. I don’t use the stair master, but I think it would be cool to use one if you could control the speed. I have, once or twice, started off somewhere only to forget what I was going for. And I always enjoy a good episode of Gunsmoke, especially if it is in black and white, which is the way God always intended for it to be.

I guess the truth is I am getting older. If you are reading this, you are too. Maybe the point is not how old I am but how I am using the time the Lord has given me. There will always be obstacles and increasing moments of forgetfulness, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use the time you have to make a positive difference in the lives of those around you.

Joe Ligon Senior Associate Executive Director Oklahoma Baptists

December 2023 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

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Hearts for Africa

By Baptist Messenger Staff

Shawna and Daren Davis have served as missionaries with the International Mission Board (IMB) in Africa for more than 25 years.

From their first mission assignment to today, the couple remains as energetic and optimistic as ever, about the Gospel work God is doing in that region of the world.

The Davises serve as Sub-Saharan Africa global engagement leaders, providing leadership to IMB missionaries and ministries in the 43 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The couple is among the 272 individual missionaries who claim Oklahoma as one of their home or sending states.

As of October, there are now 3,526 total IMB field personnel. They are people just like the Davises who are reaching unengaged and unreached people groups with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

At an earlier age in life, both Shawna and Daren felt the call to international missions. Shawna, a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, grew up as a missionary kid. Daren, who hails from Virginia, felt called to missions as a Baptist Collegiate Ministry student.

Their mission work started in 1997 as church planters among the Lozi people in Zambia, where they raised their family. Through the years, they saw much Gospel fruit.

They now live in a bustling city in Kenya. They train IMB missionaries and partner in sharing the Gospel, discipling individuals and starting churches. They identify strategic initiatives like urban and refugee engagement, theological education and engaging unreached peoples.

Daren sees their work as part of the larger Southern Baptist Convention mission work in Africa.

Photos provided by IMB staff

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“IMB sent missionaries to Nigeria more than 150 years ago and has had a rich history of mission work in this country,” he said. “Today, the Nigerian Baptist Convention claims 3

www.baptistmessenger.com | The Baptist Messenger | December 2023

Oklahoma IMB missionaries seeing Gospel advance in Sub-Saharan Africa

million baptized believers worshiping in more than 10,000 churches. They have a strong, vibrant convention that is engaged in church planting, theological education and so much more. God is doing a great work through them.”

As Christianity is seeing a sharp decline in Europe and North America, the Davises believe God is moving in fresh ways in Africa.

“In 2018, the epicenter of Christianity shifted to sub-Saharan Africa,” Daren said. “What that means is, that there are more professing Christians in sub-Saharan Africa than anywhere else in the world. That doesn’t mean that they are all born-again believers necessarily, but it does indicate God is especially at work in this area of the world.”

Shawna and Daren believe it’s vital to prepare the African church to be the future of Christianity.

“If it’s where more professing Christians are, what kind of Gospel are they going to take when they go as missionaries?”

Daren said. “Even with the epicenter of Christianity being in sub-Saharan Africa, there are more than 400 people groups who have zero access, zero churches, no Gospel presence at all. What we would call a ‘UUPG’ – unreached, unengaged people group. They have distinct languages and distinct cultures and do not have a witness.”

Working in the mission field can be a challenging task. Shawna knows how important it is to stay connected to Jesus.

“I love teaching about prayer and abiding, not because I have it figured out— far from it,” she said. “I know I would not be serving on the mission field if not for God’s steadfastness and faithfulness.”

When the Davises lived in rural Zambia, the greatest challenge to people accepting the Gospel was fear of evil spirits. But where they live now, the greatest hindrance is the false doctrine of a works-based salvation.

“People think they are saved because they went to church once,” Shawna said, “because they have given a financial gift to an apostle’s ministry, or because they are ‘doing the right things.’ Instead of fearing evil spirits, they fear not being good enough.”

Recently, Shawna was able to present the Gospel to a refugee camp. Thirteen women from a Muslim background made the decision to follow Jesus Christ.

She attributes Gospel fruit to prayer.

“Several years ago, we identified that there were 55 people groups that had a population of more than 100,000,” Shawna said, speaking of the ’55 in 5’ initiative to pray for unengaged people groups. Today, the Project 3000 Initiative is underway, which calls to mind the 3,000 unreached, unengaged people groups across the globe.

“I know that a lot of Oklahoma Baptist churches have been praying for the ‘55 in 5,’” Shawna added. She hopes

others will look into the Project 3000 and join the prayer efforts.

The Davises recently appeared on the program of the 2023 Oklahoma Baptists Annual Meeting at Del City, First Southern. They asked Oklahoma Baptists to pray that God would call more missionaries to Sub-Saharan Africa, to evangelize the lost among unreached, unengaged people groups and to disciple believers. Pray the Holy Spirit would refresh the hearts of missionaries and African believers and work in the hearts of the lost. They also are praying that some Oklahomans would be willing to go and help with this work.

Because of the generous giving of Oklahoma Baptists through the Cooperative Program, as well as through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, the IMB has personnel and teams engaging more than 950 unique people groups or places, representing more than half of the world’s total population.

The Davises have hearts for the Gospel and hearts for Africa. By God’s grace, Sub-Saharan Africa will be a Gospel outpost for the world and will see thousands more come to a saving faith in Jesus because of the continued work of the IMB and Oklahoma Baptists.

Unity & focus on display at 2023 Oklahoma Baptists Annual Meeting Del City, First Southern was the place to be for Oklahoma Baptists, Nov. 13-14, as the well-known church hosted the state convention’s 117th Annual Meeting. With 826 registered messengers, representing 369 churches, the Annual Meeting attendance exceeded last year’s count of 700 messengers who represented 308 churches.

The opening session featured a display of the various ministries that Oklahoma Baptists support through the Cooperative Program. People walked across the platform with signs showcasing 27 different ministries, and these people are involved or have been affected by these ministries they represented.

“As Oklahoma Baptists, this is where our focus should be,” said Todd Fisher, executive director-treasurer of Oklahoma Baptists, pointing to the signs on the platform, “and this is why we support the Cooperative Program (CP).”

Reports and addresses were given that reflected the Annual Meeting’s theme, “Focused,” which was based on Phil. 4:8. The focus of Oklahoma Baptists continues to be on uniting to advance the Gospel and strengthen churches.

Chris Wall, Oklahoma Baptists president and pastor of Owasso, First, oversaw the business sessions during the Annual Meeting, which included the election of officers for 2024. Michael Butler, pastor of Chickasha, First, was elected president; Manny Parker, pastor of Mannford, New Hope, will serve as first vice president, and Duncan Blackwell, pastor of Elk City, First, will serve as second vice president.

Luke Holmes, pastor of Duncan, Immanuel, served as chairman of the Constitution and Bylaws Task Force, and reported on their work, which reviews the Constitution and Bylaws of Oklahoma Baptists for relevant and current language. The amendments were approved.

Fisher presented the Board of Directors report, announcing the CP 2024 Budget Objective is set at $24.5 million, with 43 percent allocated to the Southern Baptist Convention, 42 percent to Oklahoma Baptists and 15 percent to Oklahoma Baptist affiliates.

The next Annual Meeting for Oklahoma Baptists will meet Nov. 11-12, 2024, at Moore, First.

Pastor’s Page

Theology, ministry leadership & more

Bible Q&A: Unto us a Child is born It is easy to rebuke others for making Christmas about all the wrong things. Santa Claus, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, catchy tunes like Elmo and Patsy’s “Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer,” a stirring rendition of “Twas the Night before Christmas,” or fruitcake and figgy pudding, just to name a few.

More importantly, however, God’s people must focus on THE glorious truth of Christmas, the incarnation. John’s Gospel offers the most explicit statement, insisting that the Word that was God also became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1, 14). The angelic declaration to the shepherds in Luke 2:11 that “To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord,” speaks to the same reality, that Jesus was God in the flesh, that is, incarnate.

The early church’s reflection on this reality resulted in the Council of Chalcedon’s statement in A.D. 451 that Jesus was not two persons but rather a single person, yet existing in two natures, supremely human and fully divine.

In addition to the incarnation itself, we must also reflect on the manner in which God brought about Jesus’ incarnation during the Christmas season. Although God could have done it any way God wanted, He chose to do it through a virginal conception.

Both Matt. 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38 leave no doubt that Jesus was conceived not via sexual union between a man and a woman, Mary, but rather by the power of the Holy Spirit. Matthew saw this event as a fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14, “See, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which means God is with us.”

It is remarkable that Matthew, Luke and the early Christians embraced such a story, knowing that it would inevitably lead to charges by opponents that Jesus was illegitimate, a charge we find in the third-century debate between Celsus the Jew and Origen the early Christian theologian. That early Christians told this story consistently and without shame is a strong witness to truth of their claims.

Finally, in reflecting on the concrete reality of the incarnation, it is another Messianic passage from Isaiah that reveals more startling truth. Isaiah 9:2-6 begins, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light... on those living in the land of darkness.”

Isaiah continues, “You have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor... For every trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders.”

With the threat of bloody warfare in the images of warrior’s boots and bloodied garments, we would expect a warrior messiah more like Achilles or Ben Hur, at least a roaring lion. But no. These horrific images are followed by the words “unto us a child is born.”

This infant was born in a feeding trough for animals in a backwater village called Bethlehem to a peasant mother with a few lowly shepherds as guests of honor in a land occupied by the world’s great military superpower, Rome. And yet, the soft cries of this child are more deafening than any bomb and will eventually triumph over all God’s enemies, whether flesh and blood or spiritual, whether on earth or in the heavenlies.

May we ponder this sacred mystery this Christmas in a world filled with war and rumors of war that true power is displayed not in weapons of war but belongs to the vulnerability of a newborn baby. Two thousand years later, no one bows to Caesar Augustus, Quirinius of Syria, Herod the Great, or any politician or president who think themselves worthy of worship. This Christmas, however, untold millions will bow before Jesus as Lord and Savior. Hallelujah what a Savior!

Bobby Kelly Ruth Dickinson Professor of Religion at Oklahoma Baptist University

December 2023 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

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Crossword/Word Search 43 Manage (2 wds.)

28 Live-in babysitter 44 Annoy 30 “The ___ of hell gat hold upon me” 45 Hagar does this for Sarah, at first (Ps. 116:3) 46 “The Lord shall hiss for the fly. . .

32 Something very small and for the ___” (Isa. 7:18) 47 Ezekiel did this to water before drinking (Ezek. 33 Love intensely 34 Russian drink 4:11) 49 God brought Ezekiel here via vision (Ezek. 41:1) 38 “I spread my ___ over thee” (Ezek.

16:8) 52 Fall mo.

39 Aaron is one to Moses 53 Jews had this against Samaritans 40 “___ me as the apple of the eye” (Ps. 54 Laid to tree roots in Luke 3:9 56 “He was a murderer from the beginning, and 17:8) 42 Disks ___ not in the truth” (John 8:44) 43 The king of Tyrus was covered in 59 German wife these (Ezek. 28:13) 60 Tax 61 The sky was the ___ of terrible crystal in Ezek. 46 “Full of wisdom, and perfect in ___” (Ezek. 28:12) 1:22 (var.)

62 “He shall make a ___ against thee” (Ezek. 26:8) 48 Jerusalem’s “younger sister” (Ezek.

16:46) 63 Giant 49 Jeweled headdress 64 Psalms 50 “A time to weep, and a time to ___” 65 “The spirit lifted me up, and took me ___” (Eccl. 3:4) (Ezek. 3:14) 51 Spare 66 African nation 53 “Thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy DOWN ___ brass” (Isa. 48:4) 1 Ezekiel’s gender 55 “Leah was tender ___” (Gen. 29:17) 2 “Him that cometh according 56 College for doctors to the multitude of his ___” (Ezek. 14:4) 57 Disapproval shout 3 ___ con carne 58 Bullfight cheer 4 Promos 59 Kids’ farming organization 5 North of downtown 60 Luke was this (abbr.)

6 “Living creatures. . .appearance was like burning 22 This symbolized an iron wall (Ezek. 4:3) ___ of fire” (Ezek. 1:13) ACROSS 23 First covered dry bones 1 Soft mineral 7 I Love ___ (Ezek. 37:8) 5 Coastal university 8 “Behold, thou ___ wiser than Daniel” (Ezek. 28:3) 25 “This city is the ___” (Ezek. 11:3) 9 “Ye shall have the passover, 9 ___ wounded 29 “I have gathered them unto their ___ 10 Make corrections to a ___ of seven days” land” (Ezek.

39:28) (Ezek. 45:21) 11 Muscle group (abbr.)

30 Satiate 14 Attention disorder 12 “___ thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee” 31 Epoch 15 “I will ___ out my fury upon them” (Ezek. 40:4) 32 Expert (Ezek. 20:8) 13 “Fire shall ___ every man’s work” (1 Cor. 3:13) 35 Dry bones become this (Ezek.

37:10) 16 Color of fire in Ezekiel’s 1st vision 21 “The four tables were of ___ stone” (Ezek.

36 God calls Ezekiel “Son of ___” (Ezek. 1:27) 40:42) 37 Anything worshipped falsely 17 Superman’s Ms. Lane 22 “Graven thee upon the ___ of my hands” (Isa. 38 Sailboat needs 18 Thoughtfulness 49:16) 40 Oven 19 Feisty 24 Christmas carol 41 Cain’s home (Gen. 4:16) 20 Wing 25 ___ Sagan, astronomer 21 “Thou has despised mine ___ things” 42 Covered sinew on dry bones (Ezek. 26 Pardon November Answers 37:8) (Ezek. 22:8) 27 Toothbrush brand

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Languages Lottie Lozi Mission Nigeria Oklahoma People Prayer Program Shawna Teaching Virginia Zambia

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

Church News

RON FANNIN RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Ron Fannin, longtime servant for Oklahoma Baptists, makes comments after he was presented with the 2023 Distinguished Service Award at the Oklahoma Baptist Historical Commission luncheon during the Annual Meeting at Del City, First Southern.

NEW OKLAHOMA BAPTISTS OFFICERS

Oklahoma Baptists elected new officers for 2024 during the Annual Meeting, Nov. 14. Michael Butler, left, will serve as the convention’s president. Butler, who serves as the pastor of Chickasha, First, previously served as first vice president of Oklahoma Baptists in 2022. Manny Parker, center, pastor of Mannford, New Hope, was elected to serve as first vice president.

Duncan Blackwell, right, pastor of Elk City, First will serve as second vice president. This is the first time both Parker and Blackwell have served as officers for Oklahoma Baptists.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS NEW AFFILIATE. Oklahoma City, Emmanuel is now affiliated with Oklahoma Baptists. Terry Buxton is pastor.

Falls, Harrison honored at Annual Meeting Emerson Falls, Native American ministry partner for Oklahoma Baptists, and Andy Harrison, director of conference centers for Oklahoma Baptists, recently announced their Todd Fisher, left, recognizes Andy Harrison, center, and Emerson Falls for their retirements after both men contributions to Oklahoma Baptists. served the convention for many years. Falls has been involved in ministry work for 47 years, working full-time with Oklahoma Baptists for the last 10 years. He will continue to serve with Native American ministries in a part-time role. Harrison retires after serving Oklahoma Baptists for more than 23 years, most recently as the overseer of the Falls Creek and CrossTimbers campgrounds. Most of his years of service involved working as a student ministry partner and being program director of the summer youth weeks at Falls Creek. Harrison is now serving as pastor of Pauls Valley, Trinity. Both men were recognized for their contributions to Oklahoma Baptists by Todd Fisher, executive director-treasurer of Oklahoma Baptists, during a session at the recent Annual Meeting.

Everardo Borunda Hispanic Ministry Partner Oklahoma Baptists

This year, Oklahoma Baptists Hispanic Ministries have been diligently working to strengthen the efforts of Spanish-speaking pastors and leaders throughout the state. We have organized a series of conferences and training events focused on evangelism, discipleship and pastoral ministry. Additionally, two retreats were specifically designed for pastors and their wives, providing them with a much-needed respite and rejuvenation.

Around the State

Oklahoma Baptists Hispanic Ministries hosted two retreats this year, specifically designed for Spanish-speaking pastors and their wives, providing them with a much-needed respite and rejuvenation.

The primary objective of these activities was to equip church leaders with practical tools for evangelism, discipleship and leadership development. Oklahoma Baptists understand the pressing need for more pastors, church planters and leaders to start and serve more Hispanic churches in the state. As such, the Office of Hispanic Ministries aims to be an effective partner by offering training, resources and fostering connections between pastors and churches.

Looking forward to 2024, the office of Hispanic Ministries hopes that next year will be even more fruitful, as we encourage more pastors and churches to join the efforts taking place among Oklahoma Baptists. We want to express our gratitude to every church

in Oklahoma for their unwavering support and collaboration in advancing the Gospel through the Cooperative Program.

As you finish reading this, I would like to invite you to take a moment to pray for the Latino population in Oklahoma. Pray that our Hispanic Baptist churches can devise effective strategies to reach more people in their communities and make more disciples for the glory of Jesus. Your prayers and support are invaluable in this mission. Let us continue to work together in spreading the Gospel of Christ and making Him known in every corner of our state.

December 2023 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

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Pray for Oklahoma Missionaries: Ronnie Payne He is the director of missions in Sans Bois Association.

Mark and Aimee Phillips They are serving in Madagascar.

Daren and Shawna Davis They serve in SubSaharan Africa.

Asian-Pacific Peoples Pray for Oklahoma Baptists serving to bring the Gospel to the AsianPacific people.

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In Focus: Orden Hartley

Orden Hartley is the pastor of Felt, First, which is located near the western end of the Panhandle in Cimarron County.

Like most pastors of single-staff churches, he wears many hats, helping with Bible Club on Wednesdays and maintaining the church’s web page, Instagram site, and Facebook page. He helps put together the slides and music for the morning worship time, drives a van for Wednesday programs and prepares sermons for Sunday mornings and Sunday night Bible Study.

He is thankful, of course, for many volunteers who help carry part of the load of the ministry.

Ministry in a rural area is sometimes challenging. “There are fewer and fewer people in the community each year,” he said.

“Thus, we do not have many younger people and couples coming to church. One blessing, however, is that almost all the elementary children in the area come to our Bible Club—as many as 40 sometimes. It is the same for our Wednesday night youth ministry; we have students who might not attend church anywhere coming and hearing the Good News of Christ.”

Pastor Hartley recognizes the importance of Felt, First supporting the Cooperative Program (CP).

“CP allows us to do ministry beyond our little town,” Hartley said. “It helps us have places like Gibson Baptist Camp for our kids and Falls Creek for our students. It helps all those men and women in yellow shirts and hats respond to disasters in our state and in other states. It helps Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children minister to and take care of all those children they serve. We support the Cooperative Program because, in a small way, it allows us here at Felt, First be the hands and feet of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.”

www.baptistmessenger.com | The Baptist Messenger | December 2023

Advancing the Gospel Together There are 272 individual missionaries that claim Oklahoma as one of their home or sending states.

As of Oct. 31, 2023, there are 3,526 total field personnel.

IMB has personnel and teams engaging over 950 unique people groups or places representing over half of the world’s total population (4.5 billion people). IMB is working in more than 110 countries.

Facts provided by IMB and Oklahoma Baptist Staff

Additional highlighted stats can be found at www.imb.org/fast-facts.

CHRISTIAN CLINIC

COUNSELING Edmond First Baptist Church LIFE CONCERNS: Child/Family, Marriage,

Stress, Depression, Anxiety, Anger, Grief/Loss, Aging, Relationships

SPIRITUALITY Dr. Ron Cruse, Ph.D. Psychology Dr. Craig Robison, EdD LMFT/LPC Laura Piatt, MA Counselor LPC Aimee Walker, MS Counselor LPC Insurance Accepted: BCBS, Medicare, Tricare, Aetna, United, HealthChoice, Humana, Military

1300 East 33rd, B-I, Edmond, Ok 73013 Call 405-942-8888

CHURCHES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FACING LEGAL ISSUES. IS YOUR CHURCH LEGALLY PREPARED?

JOIN TODAY:

WHAT MEMBERS RECEIVE: ✔ Religious liberty document review ✔ Direct access to attorneys

✔ Pro bono legal representation ✔ Legal Resources

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