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Churches in the Pacific impacting the world

December 2013

Vol. 43, No. 6

in this issue Aloha Veryl Henderson bids farewell to his Hawaii Baptist family after 42 years as HPBC’s executive director.

Page 2.

DR update Darrell McCain encourages churches to participate in Ready Church, a disaster assistance ministry created by the International Mission Board.

Page 3 ‘Like family’ Church planter John Endriss writes about what God is doing at Engage Church in Hilo.

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Baptist

Hawaii Baptists celebrate 71st annual meeting More than 1,400 ‘Witness’ meeting in person, online Honolulu—Hawaii Pacific Baptists celebrated their 71st annual meeting at the Hawaii Baptist Academy in Honolulu, Nov. 7-8.

The theme was “Cloud of Witness” based on Hebrews 12:1-2. The HBA band performed the theme interpretation in song and Bible readings.

There were 251 registered messengers from 73 churches and 227 guests at the twoday meeting. The proceedings of the annual meeting were broadcast live via the Internet.

About 961 people had viewed the proceedings during the annual meeting. Comments ranged from, “Enjoying watching the meeting online” to “thank you for putting this online.”

Comments came as far away as England and New Jersey to friends from the U.S. mainland. Videos from the annual meeting can still be viewed by going to ustream.tv/ channel/hpbc-hawaii.

Two new congregations requesting affiliation and were approved by the messengers— Hawaii Sinai Korean Baptist Church, Oahu and Ocean View Baptist Church, Big Island.

Messengers to the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention approved an overall budget of $3,168,898 million for 2014 reflecting a small

Frank Page, president of th Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, presents a plaque with a resolution from the Executive Committee on Veryl’s retirement as HPBC executive director.

increase. Giving to world missions through the Cooperative Program increased slightly from the previous year with an anticipated offering of $1,213,000. Funding from the North American Mission Board and LifeWay

Christian Resources remains the same. The convention will continue to allocate 31.5 percent of Cooperative Program receipts to national and international missions and  See Annual meeting ... Page 4

Missionaries offer hope to Burmese immigrants Lottie Moon Offering helps support Southern Baptist missionaries overseas

Scott Branding (name changed), an IMB missionary, teaches scripture at a Burmese believer’s home on a rubber tree plantation. The group of Burmese workers, who gather from various isolated farms in the area, has formed churches from Branding’s efforts. (IMB)

By Susan O’Hara and Evelyn Adamson

Moving? See page 2 (1203)

Ranong, Thailand—It rains eight months out of the year in the Thai province Scott and Alyssa Branding* call home.

For many of the country’s 2.5 million Burmese living in the southern part of Thailand, monsoon rain is their only dependable water source. But drinking the rainwater can make them sick.

So, the Brandings give them small clay water pots lined with rice husks to filter impurities from the rainwater.

Then, they tell them about Jesus, the source of “living water:” “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14).

The Brandings, from Calvary Baptist Church in Maysville, Ky., have been sharing the gospel with Burmese migrant workers for more than 10 years.

Many of these migrant workers live in remote areas without electricity or

 See Burmese ... Page 5

2013 LMCO goal: $175 million

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HAWAII PACIFIC

HAWAII PACIFIC BAPTIST 2042 Vancouver Drive Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 (USPS 237-540) Veryl Henderson Editor FAITH McFATRIDGE Associate Editor The Hawaii Pacific Baptist is published bi-monthly by the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention. For general information, call (808) 946-9581.

Periodicals postage paid at Honolulu, Hawaii, and additional mailing office.

To subscribe: Send request to the Hawaii Pacific Baptist at the above address.

Subscriptions for nonresident members of the HPBC are $12 annually.

To register a change of address: Send the mailing label from page 1, along with your new address, to The Hawaii Pacific Baptist at the above address.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to HAWAII Pacific BAPTIST, 2042 Vancouver Dr., Honolulu, HI 96822-2491 To give news tips: Call the editor at (808) 9469581.

To submit a letter: Letters on any subject will be considered for publication if sent to the above address, provided they do not make a personal attack on anyone. Letters are limited to 250 words and may be edited for length.

Publishing services provided by Western Recorder Inc., Box 43969, Louisville, KY 40253.

Robin Bass, partnership editions director.

Join us on Facebook Be part of the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention via Facebook. Already have an account? Simply type “Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention” in the search box.

Then click the “Like” box on the right side of the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention header. It’s that easy. Followers of HPBC will receive all the updates and be current with the events and activities as they are posted. Let’s keep connected. For more information, contact Faith McFatridge at faith@hpbaptist.net.

DECEMBER 2013

Goodbye & thank you, Baptist family This is my final editorial in the Hawaii Pacific Baptist as the executive director-treasurer of the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention. I want to express my gratitude to the readers of this article for allowing me the privilege of sharing with you my thoughts and impressions from my readings of the word Veryl Henderson of God. The joy of the Lord Jesus has accompanied all of us along our journey of faith.

My word for the day is gratitude. Gratitude for the ways you have given encouragement and affirmations along the way. Cheryl and I were called into ministry when we were very young, at different times and in different places. Somehow God arranged for us to discover each other. He allowed us to be on mission together. After we both graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, He introduced us to a ministry in Hawaii, then to Colorado and back to Hawaii. The journey is not yet complete because He may have plans that we know not of. But in the meantime, we FROM THE WORD

will enjoy the fellowship of His people.

By way of articulating our gratitude, Cheryl and I want you to know we were and are overwhelmed with the expressions of love extended to us. We are appreciative of the affirmations you have voiced and the words you have written. We thank you for sharing how God has blessed your lives through us as our lives intersected with yours through the years.

Thank you for the retirement celebration at the Hale Koa Hotel on Nov. 9. Thank you who were able to share the day with us. The gifts of music, video, hula, plaques, clock, art work and cards in abundance were received with deep gratitude. Our emotions keep bubbling up from within us every time we revisit the experience. We are overwhelmed with the time and energy that went into making this a very special day. The words “thank you” are inadequate to express our gratitude for all that was done for us. Our family wants everyone to know, we are grateful for the privilege of serving among you in the Pacific Islands.

I want to express gratitude to the planning team for their efforts in planning and implementing the retirement celebration. The team

Christ is worthy of your all Guest column by Tom Elliff

Years ago, a pastor received an unusual call on Sunday afternoon from the chairman of the church’s finance committee. That morning, the church had begun collecting its annual Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions. As they were tallying the results, the committee found an interesting response in one envelope. The envelope had been turned inside out, and the names of a couple from the congregation were printed inside.

Thinking that an offering had fallen out, the chairman asked the pastor to phone the givers.

“Yes, that was our offering,” said the husband when the pastor called, “and we meant it.”

When asked by the pastor what they meant, the husband responded, “We couldn’t think of anything better to give the Lord than ourselves.

Tom Elliff This is our decision to surrender everything to the Lord.”

“Totally His!” Now that is the kind of commitment Christ expects, honors and blesses! Once it is settled that we are His … heart, hands, voice … the Lord then moves us into places of incredible effectiveness.

Paul commended the churches of Macedonia by saying that, in spite of their affliction and deep poverty, they were noted for their generosity. “For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,” he wrote.

How were these churches able to give so generously? “They first gave themselves to the Lord,” Paul said. In other words, their remarkable generosity sprung from hearts that were totally His! During this year’s Lottie Moon Offering, you will have the opportunity to hear about individuals from around the globe who have determined that Christ is worthy of their all. They are working together with Southern Baptist churches. God is using their efforts in some of the darkest corners. Together they are touching others with the gospel in remarkable ways.

IMB’s role is to assist you and your church in the fulfillment of the Great Commission. When you give to Lottie Moon, you are ensuring that you have people “on the ground” in some of the most broken and lost communities of the world. These are missionary personnel placed to assist your church in fulfilling its mission.

Please join in praying that this year’s emphasis will be, first and foremost, about offering ourselves to the Lord. And once that is in place, the stage is set for an offering that reflects the kind of generosity only God inspires.

Totally His! That should be our goal at any season of the year!

Give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions through your local Southern Baptist church or online at imb.org/offering, where there are resources for church leaders to promote the offering.

Tom Elliff is president of the International Mission Board.

deserving recognition are: Alice Newman, Deanna Aoki, Faith McFatridge, Walt and Kay Agena. I was impressed they kept the program a secret from me through all the preparations.

For those not able to attend the celebration event, but have expressed words of affirmations, we want you to know of our deep gratitude for you, too. We are blessed to be linked with caring disciples of the Lord Jesus who share the passion of expanding the kingdom of God. I am aware that we serve the Lord Jesus, because He is Lord. That has been our desire all along. We needed encouragement along the way and we needed affirmations that what we were doing was leading others in the right direction. So, having the public display celebrating our ministry in the islands has been an emotional experience. We thank the Baptist family for the tribute of our ministry. But we want you to know that we are still lifelong students of Jesus seeking to know more about Him everyday.

Veryl Henderson is the executive director of Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention. Email: veryl@hpbaptist.net.

Worldview: Unconditional Christian. That involves sending multiple teams each year, learning Contracts these days are shortthe Malagasy sign language and term, with plenty of qualifiers and making a major financial investescape clauses. Jobs are temporary. ment. But the church has vowed it Relationships are the same. “Till won’t cut its giving to the Lottie death do us part” sounds Moon Christmas Offering. quaint. If it doesn’t work The offering supports out, move on. Keep your Southern Baptist workers options open. like Matt Spann, who leads But God doesn’t play IMB’s Madagascar team and that half-hearted game. It’s helps Warren Baptist in its all or nothing with Him. work there.

He gives all, even His own That’s the kind of love Son, to those who come to lived daily by IMB missionErich Bridges Him. In return, He expects ary Gena Wilson, who has all. spent years walking the They asked Jesus, “Teacher, gritty streets of Glasgow, Scotland, which command in the law is the to befriend students skipping greatest? He said to him, ‘Love the school, drug addicts, young people Lord your God with all your heart, searching for a reason to live. with all your soul, and with all “God calls us as believers to get your mind. This is the greatest and alongside folks who don’t know most important command. The Him ... so that we show them Jesus, second is like it: Love your neighbor so that we can show them the cross as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-39). is enough,” says Gena.

Loving Him, unconditionally, She’s determined to continue comes first. Then He gives us His her work, even as she struggles to unconditional love for our neighsurvive the cancer that has ravaged bors—and even people we have her own body. Gifts to the Lottie never seen.

Moon Offering make Gena’s minisThat’s the kind of love demontry possible, as well as the ministry strated by folks at First Baptist Cen- of another missionary couple that terton, Ark. They committed to has joined her team in Glasgow. reach a people group in need of the Frances J. Roberts, author of gospel in a Hindu area overseas, “Come Away My Beloved” and other but could make no contact with devotional works, imagined what them when persecution in the area the Lord might say to us about stopped missions work. But they being totally His: kept praying for the people—for five “Be done with petty things. Be years. When a team from First Bap- done with small dreams. Give Me tist finally was able to visit their all that you have and are; and I will people group, meet the first bapshare with you abundantly all that tized believer and worship with the I have and all that I am.” first infant church, they wept tears When we love God with our of joy. whole hearts—and without condiThat’s the kind of love shown by tions—He will do wonderful things Warren Baptist Church in Augusta, through us.

Ga. They committed to share the Be done with small dreams and Gospel with the Deaf in Madagasconditional commitment. Be car, where less than 1 percent of totally His. the nation’s 110,000 Deaf are Erich Bridges is IMB’s global correspondent.

Guest column by Erich Bridges

HAWAII PACIFIC

DECEMBER 2013

Disasters happen, are churches ready?

By Darrell McCain

Honolulu—Hawaii has been very blessed in the past several years in relation to disasters. Unlike the mainland that has been hit hard with hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, fires, and man-made disasters, like mass shootings.

However, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands do have their share of small and large disasters. There was the American Samoa Tsunami in 2009, and the Big Island earthquake in 2006, just to name a few.

We, as Southern Baptist Convention of churches and Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention of churches, need to have our churches ready. North American Mission Board Disaster Relief has put together a Ready Church manual to help churches get ready to help survivors. Church resources can be found at namb.net.

One of our churches, Mililani Baptist Church, has moved toward being a Ready Church. Mililani participated in a church wide disaster relief training in February that included Southern Baptist Convention basic training, mass feeding and mudout training. Mililani Baptist Church also is now an American Red Cross shelter after training from ARC. University Avenue Baptist Church also has trained and is an ARC-approved shelter.

We need more of our churches to be a Ready Church and open their doors for our disaster relief volunteers and possibly for survivors in a time of need.

In the event of a disaster, SBC disaster relief volunteers will come in and set up feeding units and start helping families clean up their homes.

To train with us you must be a SBC church member, 18 years old or older, and pass a background check.

HPBC Disaster Relief Coordinator Darrell McCain has set up DR training dates for 2014, Oahu on March 1, Maui, April 5, and Big Island,April 12. If your church would like to offer church training, contact Darrell McCain at 356-8343, or email him at darrell@hpbaptist.net.

To find out more about Ready Church go to namb.net/readychurch.

Hawaii disaster relief leaders give an orientation and shared testimony with Saipan Good Baptist Church in Saipan.

Darrell McCain leads a disaster relief training, Evangelism Block Party training, and spoke in three churches and gave greetings to the Guam Baptist Association Annual Meeting.

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Hawaii Baptists give $3,000 to Philippines Honolulu—The Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention received an offering of $3,017.84 toward relief efforts in the Philippians after a devastating typhoon obliterated entire towns Nov. 8.

The official death toll of Typhoon Haiyan stands at 5,240, reported the Wall Street Journal Nov. 26, and is expected to rise. The typhoon— known locally as Yolanda—is the deadliest storm in Southeast Asia’s modern history, cites the New York newspaper.

HPBC has forwarded the offering to Global Baptist Response, the Southern Baptist agency coordinating Baptist relief efforts in the Philippines. More information about relief efforts can be found at hpbaptist.net/dr.

“The devastation in the Philippines is huge,” said Darrell McCain, HPBC disaster response coordinator.

“BGR along with the IMB (International Mission Board) is working to get the foundation set for the long term response. We will form teams as soon as BGR is ready for us.”

McCain said that Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is expected to assist in the region for six months or longer.

“We need to be patient and give monetary offerings to this response,” McCain said. He encouraged Hawaii Baptist to give to their local church signifying their intent of the offering.

Churches receiving donations for the disaster relief effort in the Philippians can send offerings to the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention at 2042 Vancouver Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822.

HPBC will forward the offering directly to Baptist Global Response.

“Above all, please pray for the people and the disaster relief volunteers,” McCain said.

Restructuring at HPBC Honolulu—The Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention has restructured ministry responsibilities in response to recent downsizing of staff positions.

The following is a list to help churches find the proper staff member to offer assistance.

Teresa McCain trains OSFA in chaplain training.

Church Growth and Leadership Development Clyde Kakiuchi will lead all aspects of family ministry, including the care of pastors’ families, the “Wives in Ministry Retreat,” and ministry for children and senior adults.

Ministry Evangelism and Missions Education Faith McFatridge will lead Ministry Evangelism and Missions Education, a newly-created position combined from two former positions.

McFatridge will oversee the North American Mission Board LoveLoud position, which is designed to help churches reach out to their community. She also will serve as the Woman’s Missionary Union leader by providing opportunities for mission’s education for all age levels and encouraging churches to be involved in their community. Other responsibilities include oversight of ministries related to seafarers, multi-housing, community block parties, resort activities and all things that impact communities. She will remain associate editor of the convention newspaper.

Prayer, Evangelism and Worship Michael “Bong” Abagon will oversee website management, Internet communication, evangelism training and equipping churches. The community outreach aspects of evangelism has been shifted to the Ministry Evangelism position.

The Executive Director-Treasurer In addition to the executive director-treasurer’s current list of responsibilities, he now will be responsible for oversight of partnerships and volunteer mobilization.

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HAWAII PACIFIC

Annual meeting Continued from page 1

ministries. Messengers also approved the calendar of activities for 2014 and reports of the executive director-treasurer and the Executive Board containing information on administrative services and division programs.

Elected to serve on the Executive Board were: Blane DeLoach (Palisades), Mike Inouye (Kaunakakai), Annie Lam (Hawaii Chinese), Andrew Large (Waikiki), Beverly Nagano (Lihue), and Martin Zialcita (Olivet). Elected to serve on the Convention Committees were: Arrangements, Gary Appel (Eleele), Lanny Green (Ocean View), and Shirley Matsumura (Pearl City); Credentials, Hazel Capinpin (Filipino International), Mike Landry (Ocean View), and Michelle Metcalf (Lihue); Historical, June Duffer (Cornerstone Fellowship).

Ten HPBC churches were recognized

by Henderson for Excellence in Ministry and Cooperative Program giving: Olivet Baptist Church, Oahu; Mililani Baptist Church, Oahu; Nuuanu Baptist Church, Oahu; Hawaii Kai Church, Oahu; First Baptist Church, Pearl City, Oahu; Cornerstone Fellowship of Mililani Mauka; University Avenue Baptist Church, Oahu; Waialae Baptist Church, Oahu; First Baptist Church, Wahiawa Oahu, and Valley Isle Fellowship, Maui.

Henderson also recognized 10 churches for increasing their CP giving in 2012-2013: Olivet Baptist Church, Oahu; Hawaii Kai Church, Oahu; Hilo Baptist Church, Hawaii; Palisades Baptist Church, Oahu; First Southern Baptist Church, Pearl Harbor, Oahu; Puna Baptist Church, Hawaii; Cornerstone Fellowship in Mililani Mauka; First Baptist Church, Pearl Ciy; Waiakea Uka Bible Church, Hawaii; Eleele Baptist Church, Kauai.

Steven Kang awarded certificates for the churches participating in the Acts 1:8 Challenge: All four quadrants: Hawaii Kai Church, Waikiki Baptist Church, Pawa’a Community Church, Kaunakakai Baptist Church, Pukalani Baptist Church, Mililani Baptist Church; three quadrants: Filipino International Baptist Church, Yokohama International Baptist Church, Lihue Baptist Church, Waikoloa Baptist Church, one to two quadrants: New Covenant Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Wahiawa, Waipahu Community Church and Village Park Baptist Church.

Michael Abagon presented certificates to the top churches in baptism: Membership of 150+: Koza Baptist Church (129), Cornerstone Fellowship at Mililani Mauka (33), and Valley Isle Fellowship (28); membership of 101-150: Maui Philippine Baptist Church (25), Waikoloa Baptist Church (15), and Waikiki Baptist Church (14); membership of 51-100: Waianae Baptist Church (56), Ocean View Baptist Church (27), and Kona Baptist church (18); membership of 50 and under: Chinese First Baptist Church (13), All Nations Fellowship (12), and All Peoples Mission Church (10).

Clyde Kakiuchi, presented Certificates of Excellence in Vacation Bible School to: Lihue Baptist Church for five weeks of VBS and 62 salvation decisions, Sonshine Ministry with Darla Richardson for eight weeks of VBS, Fellowship Baptist Church for 110 total enrollment and 16 salvation dedications, Kaunakakai Baptist Church for total enrollment of 94, Aloha Community Church for total enrollment of

DECEMBER 2013

Officers elected at the HPBC 71st annual meeting were (from left) Connie Landry, recording secretary; Alberto Camacho, 2nd vice president, Denver Copeland, 1st vice president and Chris Martin, president. With the officers is outgoing president, Steve Irvin.

The Disaster Relief Team provided about 350 lunches to the messengers and guests on Friday at the HPBC annual meeting. It was an opportunity to provide hands-on training for the volunteers and to provide a lunch for the annual meeting participants.

Ken and Alice Newman were presented with the “Pono” Award from Paul Oyer, president of the Hawaii Baptist Foundation for excellence in ministry. The Newmans are the fifth recipients of the the Pono Award which was started in 2009.

Veryl and Cheryl Henderson were showered with many lei in honor of his retirement.

HPBC annual meeting participants heard The Soldiers of Light under the direction of Todd Yokotake with hula from the school’s hula team.

65 and six salvation decisions, and Songtan Central Baptist Church for total enrollment of 110 and 30 Sunday School prospects.

Chris Martin, pastor of Lahaina Baptist Church in Lahaina, Maui, was elected president. Denver Copeland, pastor for Waikoloa Baptist Church, was elected first vice president. Alberto Camacho, pastor of Filipino International Baptist Church, was elected second vice president. Connie Landry, a member of Ocean View Baptist Church on Hawaii, was re-elected as recording secretary.

A resolution was approved thanking the volunteer leadership of those ending

their terms of service to the Executive Board and Convention Committees. A resolution recognizing the SBC agencies was approved.

A resolution on “marriage equality” was approved by the messengers. The resolution called for messengers at the 2013 annual meeting to “stand against same-sex marriage or ‘marriage equality’ as defined by the Hawaii State Legislature. The resolution also urged HPBC members to stand and do all that is possible to uphold biblical marriage in their private and public lives, and to commit to pray for all people “to know God’s will and grace through the person of His Son, Jesus Christ.”

A resolution was approved affirming Henderson’s leadership in light of his retirement on Dec.31 as Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention’s executive director.

It extended to Henderson “their warmest aloha and deepest appreciation for his service to the convention and for his invaluable contribution to the kingdom work of the convention and church spanning over 42 years of ministry.”

Frant Page, SBC Executive Committee CEO, preached the annual sermon on the final night of the annual meeting.

Next year’s annual meeting will be held at the Kihei Baptist Church, Maui, Nov. 6-7, 2014.

HAWAII PACIFIC

DECEMBER 2013

‘Aloha’

news briefs IMB mission study

Henderson honored at retirement breakfast Honolulu—Veryl and Cheryl Henderson were honored at a retirement breakfast at the Hale Koa Hotel on Nov. 9. More than 300 people gathered to say “mahalo and aloha” to the Hendersons.

The program included remembrances for the Lahaina Years, Resort Ministries, HPBC Missions and as executive director.

A painting of the Koolau Mountains by Lance Fairly was given to the Hendersons from those who came to the breakfast and other donors.

Entertainment included Masters Touch hula ministry from Olivet Baptist Church and a musical parody by John Hom. Henderson notes in his Enews, “Cheryl and I say thank you for every kindness expressed to us. We are blessed to have so many friends in so many places.

“Thank you for allowing us to serve our Lord Jesus in your midst. We are grateful to you and to the Southern

The International Mission Board’s mission study emphasis is focused on Peru this year.

Churches may purchase study materials online at wmustore. com, or at (800) 968-7301. The materials are prepared for each age group: preschool, children, youth and adults. It is possible to get a complete set of all the materials for each age group in one bundle. For more information, call Faith McFatridge at (808) 946-9581, ext. 326.

Veryl and Cheryl Henderson (at left) are presented a gift by Alice Newman, chair of the planning committee, at Veryl’s retirement breakfast. Also pictured is Lance Fairly (second from the right), artist of the painting.

Baptist family for teaching us the way of Jesus from the beginning until now.

“God called us to serve Him,” continues Veryl Henderson Southern Baptists provided the education, the resources, the

partnerships, and the encouragement to expand the mission whenever possible.

The Pacific Islands provided the venue to live out that calling.

“We thank you for your support.”

Burmese

Scott Branding (name changed) prefers to work behind the scenes, teaching nationals to take the gospel to their own people. Branding and his wife, Alyssa, serve as International Mission Board missionaries to the Burmese people of Thailand. The couple also have started Bible study classes for factory workers in the fishing industry. (IMB)

Continued from page 1

running water. They work on rubber and palm oil plantations or are undocumented immigrants living in the jungle to avoid detection by local immigration police.

Living in fear Families there build spirit houses in their yards, setting out food every day to appease spirits — even when there is not enough food left to feed their families.

Fear of angering spirits is so deepseated that new Christians often do not immediately throw out their idols.

“When we go into a home and we see their altar being totally clean, we just praise God because we know they’ve made that final step, they have totally committed their whole selves to the Lord,” Alyssa said.

When a small group of believers formed among the plantation workers, one of the first things they prayed for was time each week to meet together, said the congregation’s pastor Ye Htoelt. With no means of transportation, walking six miles or more to another plantation can take more than an hour each way.

Htoelt’s hands are cracked and calloused from years of working on palm oil plantations. On the first plantation Htoelt worked in Thailand, there had been running water and electricity, but the landowner was “wicked” and overworked his employees, Htoelt recalls.

He and his wife eventually found work at a different plantation. It didn’t have running water or electricity, but the landowner was a believer. Not only did he give the couple Sundays off from work, he sent Htoelt home every Saturday afternoon so he could prepare to teach his small congregation the following day.

Htoelt was unsure he had the ability to lead the congregation, so Scott trained him in discipleship for two years. “(It is) such a joy now to see him be able to share the gospel and have confidence,” Scott said. “When he starts speaking about the Bible, it’s just like he comes alive because the power of Jesus Christ (is) in him.”

Living in joy The Brandings also have helped start Bible studies among factory workers.

For WinWin Ma, a young woman who works in a squid processing plant, times of worship allow her to claim joy in life through Christ. She is the only Christian in her workroom of 30 laborers.

“I work 10 hours a day and sometimes face problems at work,” she said, “but when I worship, the worry and stress fall away. I feel joy.”

She also has learned the joy of giving what she can to help others in need. For the past two years, the small migrant congregation has hosted a Christmas program for AIDS patients in the community, said its pastor Simon David, a Burmese immigrant Scott has mentored.

“We go and distribute everything from food, medicine and clothes. We also pray and have fellowship with them,” David said. “I love that whenever there is someone in need of counseling or money, they want to give. They don’t have much, but they love to give.”

Migrant work by its nature is transitory. David tries to stay in contact with relocated workers, telling them, “Do not be afraid. Trust God all the time.” He often calls ahead to help the family locate a new congregation. If there isn’t one, he stresses the importance of the believers staying grounded in God’s Word and sharing it with others.

Living by faith But it can be especially difficult when

family members don’t share their faith.

Alyssa tells about a pregnant woman whose husband wouldn’t allow her to pray to God when she was sick. “When my husband saw me reading the Bible, it didn’t please him at all,” the woman told Alyssa.

“He kicked me …, and then took and burned my Bible. … Yet I decide to cling to God.” Others are eager to hear God’s Word.

One day while walking along the docks to distribute rice and share the gospel, Alyssa was invited into a small home.

There, she was shown a newborn baby.

“Will you name the baby?” the strangers asked—much to Alyssa’s surprise.

Alyssa prayed for wisdom, looked at the infant and named him after the Bible’s Joshua—a great warrior for the Lord. She prayed that this child, too, would be strong and courageous.

The family began attending church.

This year, 7-year-old Joshua sang a Bible verse to the congregation.

The Brandings are serving in Thailand through Southern Baptists’ gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Cooperative Program, which fund the presence and missions outreach of nearly 5,000 Southern Baptist missionaries internationally.

“The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering helps us stay here, helps us be face-to-face, helps us to show compassion to people when they’re hurting, helps us to be hands and feet when they need specific mentoring, when they need someone to pray for them,” Scott said. (BP) *Name changed

OBN open position

The Oahu Baptist Network, a voluntary association of Baptist churches on the island of Oahu, announces an opening for the position of facilitator (administrative leader of the organization). As the title implies, this leader will facilitate ministry among and between Baptist churches with attention given to three specific areas: improving church health, developing effective leadership, and facilitating the development of ministry partnerships. The full-time position will provide salary, housing allowance, medical and retirement benefits, and vehicle.

Because the 82 Baptist churches and missions on Oahu comprise a variety of cultural, language, and ethnic constituents, the best qualified candidate will have had experience in cross-cultural ministry and will have considerable administrative experience.

Since developing effective church and ministry leadership is a significant aspect of this position, pastoral and/or mentoring experience is desirable. Familiarity with Baptist processes is required.

Email resumes to the Oahu Baptist Network Search Team at oahubaptists@gmail.com.

The ideal timing for starting in the position is the beginning of March 2014.

National Adoption Month

News via Brad McDaniel; Harvest Family Ministries is hosting a celebration event on the occasion of November being National Adoption Month. The celebration will feature “When Love Takes You In” and it will be on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. A dinner is scheduled at 5:30.

The greater Baptist family is invited to both. The location is Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor, 94-1044 Waipio Uka Street, Waipahu, Hawaii. A love offering will be received for Harvest Family Life Ministries. For more information contact, Brad McDaniel at hflmhawaii@hawaiiantel.net.

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HAWAII PACIFIC

DECEMBER 2013

Engage Church: Where new members, visitors feel like ‘family’

By John Endriss

Hilo —If you had come to me a year or two ago and said that God was going to start a new church in Hilo reaching college students and young families that would start in 2013, launch a second service after meeting regularly for four weeks, and continue to grow to 80 regular attendees each week ... I might have agreed in the need and possibility, but not that it would be me leading it.

It has been great to see not only my faith grow during this journey, but also the faith of those involved in this work as well. When asking my launch team members for their thoughts they shared the following.

“God has placed the pieces together on his time.”

“It is for each of us to do the small detail that God has called us to do and slowly, but surely the big plan comes into focus.”

Other comments were about how “God provided” at every turn and “how a seed, once planted in the right soil, being fed and watered by the Spirit of God, has now sprouted, is growing, and even though young, has already borne fruit.”

There is no doubt in their minds who has done the work at Engage and I am so excited that God is at work and getting the glory.

On a typical Sunday night, people are excited to be at Engage. Many had given up on church, but they now are coming and joining as members. Members and visitors alike are warmly greeted.

I asked one student why he came and he said, “it just felt like family.”

After a short video, we enter into worship. And it is loud! We have been unashamed of this, since we are trying to reach young people.

This past week an older man came to our service for a second time bringing ear plugs. I’m glad he gave us a second chance.

Twice we’ve had people compare us with a club. I love it. Come to “Club” Engage and hear about and worship Jesus!

The music is done and now we pray.

Everyone prays in small groups. Why? Because we believe prayer is for everyone.

Then we take a break to get a snack, a drink and connect with more people. We come back and do announcements. It’s generally quick and painless. Then the message. We laugh. We cry. Some sleep.

Some respond. God’s word is read and applied and lives are being changed. We have baptized seven people in the last six months and others are interested.

We close with a response song. People write what step God is calling them to take on their connection card. While the tithes and offerings are collected (along with the cards), a final song is played. Its loud again. We celebrate our giving. We celebrate what God has done tonight. We celebrate and leave knowing God is good and will take care of us this week. We leave knowing our call is to engage others with the good news of Christ.

This season of ministry has been a favorite of mine. I have been able to try some different things that maybe I wouldn’t do normally. Here’s a few that are working. We have used a lot of Facebook advertising. It is not that expensive and it has attracted new people.

I have fun in my message by picking

In this photo is most of our launch team of whom 16 adults have joined as members in the last two months.

On Oct. 6, Engage Church launched a new service at 4:30 p.m. to go with their original service at 6:30 p.m. That Sunday they saw 90 people attend! God is continually surpassing their expectations and we are merely trying to keep up.

random people to draw cards from the Apples to Apples game. My challenge is to use the word they draw in my message.

We use connection cards, or response cards, every week and encourage everyone to fill one out. Our churches mission statement is “Moving People Towards Jesus” and we believe God is calling everyone to take a new steps—non-believers, believers and the pastor, too.

Sister churches of Hawaii, we are blessed to have your support and prayers.

We wouldn’t be here without you. Many lives would still be disconnected from the body of Christ. Many students would be wandering in their faith on an often dark campus. Many would not have the opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and feel it through the

In the last six months, the church has baptized seven people. Pastor John Endriss of Engage Church is second from the left.

community He meant to communicate it, the church. Thank You. Engage prayer requests n Pray that our team and I are always listening carefully to God’s leading in this process, ready for whatever season (2 Timothy 4:2) and not overwhelmed by the details. n Pray that we will be effective in engaging the lost, sharing the gospel, connecting people to the body, and discipling believers in Hilo, especially with college students and young families. n Pray that God would provide for our growing need of space. We have two services now, but believe we may still need more space sometime next year. Join us in praying for God’s leading in this, and

how you might be able to help. n Pray that God will lead churches and individuals to come along side the vision of reaching college students, young adults and young families by supporting Engage in prayer, acts of service and financially. God has entrusted us with a kingdom-vision and we need the cooperation of many parts of the body to fulfill it.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and giving. For those wanting to offer their support, please send checks to: Engage Church, 811 Laukapu St. Bay #5 Hilo, HI 96720.

We are excited for where God is taking us.

John Endriss is pastor at Engage

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The Duggars & their ‘Exciting adventure’

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, along with 18 of their 19 children, spread across the stage in Southwestern Seminary’s MacGorman Chapel to share Scripture, play instruments and sing hymns.

Jim Bob, Michelle Duggar & their kids featured speakers

By Keith Collier

Fort Worth, Texas—A seminary chapel service turned into a family affair as Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and 18 of their 19 children spread across the stage to share Scripture, play instruments and sing hymns.

In addition to the musical performances, Jim Bob and Michelle recounted their life stories and how their family was selected for the hit cable television show “19 Kids & Counting.” which airs on TLC. Jim Bob and Michelle, speaking in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s MacGorman Chapel on Oct. 24, began their story by recounting how they came to faith in Jesus Christ. Jim Bob grew up attending church and became a Christian at an early age.

Michelle, however, never attended church as a child, but became a Christian in high school after a friend shared with her how she could have a right relationship with the Lord.

Shortly after Michelle became a Christian, Jim Bob and a friend were making neighborhood visits to people from church. As they considered where to visit next, his friend said, “Hey, I know this girl who just became a Christian and she’s a cheerleader.” Jim Bob promptly replied, “Well, let’s go see her!”

“It was love at first sight,” Jim Bob told the chapel audience.

A year later, Jim Bob and Michelle went on their first date to a high school banquet. Afterward, they talked for

hours about spiritual matters, and according to the couple it was the night that God knit their hearts together.

The two married after high school and, like most couples, they were unsure if they wanted to have children right away, so Michelle took birth control pills.

Three and a half years later, Michelle stopped birth control, became pregnant and gave birth to their first son, Josh.

Members of the Duggar family sign books and speak with families following a chapel service at Southwestern Seminary Oct. 24.

“Then, we didn’t want to have them too close together, so she went back on the pill,” Jim Bob said.

“But we did not realize—and this is not something that is really well known —but sometimes the pill can allow you to get pregnant, but can then be abortive.

And that’s what happened in our situation. Michelle was on the pill, got pregnant, and then the pill caused a miscarriage, and we lost our second child.”

“We were devastated,” Michelle said.

“Here we were, Christians, loving being parents, holding this one baby in our arms and then realizing that with our own hands, our own lack of knowledge, we held out our baby to be destroyed.

“We got on our faces before the Lord,

and we cried out, ‘Father, forgive us and give us a love for children like You love children.’”

Jim Bob and Michelle committed to receive whatever gifts—that is, children— God would give them. Soon thereafter, Michelle gave birth to twins, and the Lord continued to bless them with one child after another.

“Before you know it, we had so many kids running around, we thought, ‘What have we done?!’” Jim Bob joked.

“It was a busy time,” he said, “and we were so overwhelmed that we thought, ‘We don’t know if we can handle it anymore.’”

Providentially, the couple said, the Lord brought encouragers and helpers into their lives as they learned to trust in His strength. One lady they knew, for example, offered to help Michelle with laundry each week, and did so faithfully for 13 years.

Jim Bob admitted they are not a perfect family nor are he and Michelle perfect parents.

“I really never had an anger problem until we had started having children,” Jim Bob said. “I realized that when we started having these kids and I started blowing up in anger to correct them, it was building a wall between me and my children.”

Jim Bob said he asked his family to forgive him and requested that they keep him accountable when they noticed him reacting in anger. He encouraged the chapel audience to consider doing likewise.

“You can take your children to church Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night,” Jim Bob said, “but if you’re blowing up at home, it will undermine your whole ministry.”

Additionally, Jim Bob challenged fathers to “be the spiritual leaders of

your family.”

“Read the Bible to your children, explain what the Scriptures mean, give illustrations and make it practical for them.”

The Duggars’ love for children not only extends to their own children and grandchildren, but they also have a passion to support the rights of unborn children in America. Inspired by a pro-life rally at the Arkansas state capitol, Jim Bob ran for and was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives, where he served from 1999–2003.

During a bid for Congress in 2002, an Associated Press photographer took an image of him and his large family on Election Day. Though he lost the race, the photo appeared the next day in The New York Times, which sparked interest from a writer for a parenting magazine.

A few months later, an executive with Discovery Health Channel saw the parenting magazine story and contacted them about filming a documentary on their family.

“I really believed that this was an opportunity to share with the world that children are a blessing from the Lord,” Jim Bob said. Eventually, the documentary became one of the top shows on cable television.

Jim Bob and Michelle concluded their time in Southwestern’s chapel service with a challenge to seminary students.

“Our challenge to you,” Jim Bob said, “is to follow the Lord wherever He leads you, to do whatever He puts on your heart—maybe to be a missionary overseas or to be a pastor or maybe getting involved in politics.

“Following the Lord is an exciting adventure, and I pray that each one of us will follow that still, small voice of the Lord and watch Him work in our lives in a miraculous way.” (SWBTS/BP)

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DECEMBER 2013

Irrecoverable moments of

JFK & Graham A missed opportunity to meet with John F. Kennedy before the president’s tragic death in 1963 left famed evangelist Billy Graham wondering what might have been if the two had met one last time.

Kennedy was so intrigued with their What was on his mind? Should I have discussion that he requested to meet gone with him? It was an irrecoverable Taylors, S.C.—It has been 50 years since again with Graham concerning Christ. moment.” that tragic day in Dallas when bullets They continued to stay in touch Today, Billy Graham is still making from an assassin ended the life of our through Kennedy’s presidency and were his life count for the gospel of King Jesus. nation’s 35th President John F. Kennedy. together in February 1963 at the Earlier this month on the occasion of his His death remains one of the National Day of Prayer Break- 95th birthday he released maybe his darkest moments in our FIRST PERSON fast. In Billy Graham’s autobi- final message for the world, titled, “The nation’s history. ography, “Just As I Am,” he Cross.”

All who were old enough at the time shares his memory of the morning’s It is the central part of his campaign still remember where they were when events. called “My Hope America with Billy Grathey heard the news in 1963. But as we After the gathering, Kennedy and Gra- ham.” This month thousands, and pospass the 50-year mark of this tragedy, we ham walked out together toward the sibly millions, of people will see his final also recognize another famous figure of presidential motorcade on this particumessage on televisions, computers and the 20th century. Recently, Billy Graham larly cold and snowy day. Suddenly the handheld devices. Billy Graham knows celebrated his 95th birthday. You already president stopped in his tracks, turned the value of taking advantage of every know these two men among the biggest and invited Graham back to the White single moment. It is remarkable that a historical figures of recent times, but House so he could discuss something man so well loved, who dedicated his what you may not know is their close with him. But Graham was battling the entire life to spreading the gospel, still association and a certain “irrecoverable flu. Fearing he’d make the president sick, remembers this one missed opportunity moment” they shared before Kennedy’s he declined and asked if they could meet to discuss Christ. death. another time.

Fifty years ago the assassination of JFK In the early ‘60s most of our country The president agreed it could wait for reminded our nation that evil never had a fondness for JFK. He still remains a more convenient occasion. But that takes a sabbatical and time is fleeting. one of the most popular presidents ever. moment never came. For Graham, this The apostle Paul believed in “making the He averaged a 70 percent approval rating moment will forever stay with him. In most of the time, because the days are during his time in office. These were the his book he wrote, “His hesitation at the evil” (Ephesians 5:16 HCSB). What a chaldays of “Camelot,” and despite some car door, and his request, haunt me still. lenge this is for all of us. As followers of pressing world issues that included the beginning of the conflict in Vietnam, the early ‘60s were viewed as a grand age.

This all changed on Nov. 22, 1963. In fact, this horrific day served as a marker of a much more depressing age in our country with more terrible assassinations to come, escalating violence in Vietnam, the crime rate doubling and the drug age around the corner.

Billy Graham had known JFK before he won the presidency in 1960. After Kennedy’s victory, Graham made it clear that he would do anything to help the new president unify the nation under his leadership. Only a few days before the inauguration, Graham was invited to play golf with the president-elect. The two men enjoyed a conversation about world events and politics, but Graham was most passionate about their discussion of Jesus Christ and His pending return to earth for those who follow Billy Graham with President John F. Kennedy at the National Prayer Breakfast. (Photo courtesy of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association archives) Him.

By Douglas W. Mize

Christ we dare not be satisfied until we take every opportunity to share the love of Christ. So who are the family members, friends or acquaintances in each of our lives who seem open to discuss Christ? For indeed today is an irrecoverable moment for all of us. (BP) Douglas W. Mize is minister of evangelism and discipleship at Taylors (S.C.) First Baptist Church.

Pastor to presidents “Every U.S. President since World War II has met with Billy Graham,” states the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website. “Both Johnson and Nixon, the two who probably sought him the most, offered him high positions in government— which he quickly and politely refused.”

Below are what some of what Commander-in-Chiefs had to say about Graham.

“Billy Graham is one of the best ambassadors our country has but he told me, ‘I am an ambassador of heaven.’” —Dwight D. Eisenhower “My mind went back to those lonely occasions at the White House when your friendship helped to sustain a President in an hour of trial.” —Lyndon Johnson in a letter to Billy Graham.

“It was through Billy Graham that I found myself praying even more than on a daily basis ... and that in the position I held, that my prayers more and more were to give me the wisdom to make decisions that would serve God and be pleasing to Him.” —Ronald Reagan “Billy and Ruth Graham have practiced the ministry of ... being friends with Presidents of both parties ... always completely private, always completely genuine.”

—Bill Clinton (Source: billygraham.org)

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Georgia church

Embracing a colorful community

By Karen Willoughby

Lilburn, Ga.—Locals say the once-cozy country town of Lilburn, Ga., began to attract immigrants and experience “white flight” after the 1996 Olympics.

The majority of Lilburn’s First Baptist Church members—despite being faced with a drastically changing community and the decision of other local churches to relocate—chose to stand firm where God had planted them in 1840.

By the time Ken Hall was called as pastor in 2003, the congregation had determined its God-given responsibility for reaching whomever God brought to their community northeast of Atlanta’s I-285 beltway.

Many congregations, one church First Baptist Church has become a microcosm of the multicultural SBC, with 15 distinct congregations, three of which worship in English. Together, the various congregations reported 1,091 in Sunday morning worship, 94 baptisms and a bit more than 10 percent of undesignated receipts given through Southern Baptists’ Cooperative Program in the SBC’s 2012 Annual Church Profile.

Through the church’s ethnic congregations, it is able to reach the world God has sent to its town. Between 1990 and 2010, Lilburn’s Anglo population declined from 95.2 percent in 1990 to 69.1 percent in 2000, to only 52.7 percent in 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Today First Lilburn’s congregations include Hispanic and Asian Indian, both with services in the “heart language” (for first- and second-generation immigrants) and English (to reach the younger generations). Other ethnic congregations are Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese, Vietnamese, Hmong, Haitian, Ethiopian, Bhutanese, Arabic and Persian (Farsi-speaking) as well as English.

Children sing during the Festival of Nations celebration held at First Baptist Church in Lilburn, Ga., each April. First Baptist has become a microcosm of the multicultural Southern Baptist Convention, with 15 distinct congregations, only three of which worship in English. (Photos courtesy of First Baptist Church, Lilburn.)

“I’m from this area so I knew the changes,” Hall said. “Gwinnett County was a white, middle- to upper-middleclass area. The world came to Atlanta for the Olympics, liked what they saw, and came back. Now Lilburn has a larger majority of ethnics than Caucasians....

We just began to pray and God began to systematically open doors to reach different groups.”

Initially, Lilburn tried to become a truly international congregation.

“It totally flopped,” Hall said. “We were quite puzzled about that because we felt it was a great need. But we came to realize every group wants to worship in their own heart language and culture.

“If we were going to reach them, we would have to focus on language-specific groups,” the pastor said. “When we first began the process, we were focusing on first- and second-generation, so we needed someone who could speak the language. For that reason, we decided to not start a congregation if we don’t have

An Ethiopian believer is baptized at First Baptist Church in Lilburn, Ga. An Ethiopian congregation is one of 15 distinct congregations at First Baptist, only three of which worship in English.

leadership for it.”

Hall said he and the ethnic pastors have learned that most first- and secondgeneration immigrants want to worship in their own language. On the other hand, many third- and fourth-generation Americans want to worship in English, but in their parents’ cultural context.

Fifth- and sixth-generation immigrants are usually fully “Americanized” and often are more comfortable in an English-speaking congregation.

How First Baptist works Hosting so many groups is not without challenges. Refrigerator storage space is one example. Just as many Americans keep ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise and a variety of pickles on hand, every culture has its favorite “keepers.”

Sharing the space for this is manageable; the amount of forgotten leftovers isn’t.

“We sometimes have to remind the congregations to keep refrigerators cleaned out,” said Elaine Brown, missions coordinator.

Children’s behavior also can be a challenge, when standards vary among different cultures. Like the refrigerator, that issue too was addressed and resolved during a regular Tuesday morning staff meeting of all the vocational staff.

“We deal with issues straightforwardly,” Hall said. “We try to be understanding; we also understand everybody has to be considerate of everybody.”

Twice each year the church gathers for worship as one body: the last Sunday in April for the Festival of Nations and a Lord’s Supper service in September. Also, the ethnic congregations often baptize during the Anglo service.

A respect by everyone involved for people individually, for cultures and for the facilities enables First Baptist to handle the logistical challenges of meeting the needs of the various congregations.

“We do have a large facility and we do have a number of places that can accommodate larger groups, up to 50, 60 or 70,” Hall said. “We do not charge rent; we do

not see these as outside groups. We consider each language pastor an associate pastor of Lilburn First in addition to being senior pastor of their respective congregations. With every congregation that comes in, we sit down and explain our philosophy, both what we do and how they relate to the church as a whole.

“They come in as a ministry to the church, just like youth or music,” Hall added. “They have full access to the facilities, go through the same process to reserve the facilities, and it is first-come, first-served. If the youth want the gym and another group has reserved it, the youth just find someplace else.

“I’ve seen afresh and anew that when we look at the Scriptures, God has a heart for the nations,” Hall reflected.

“God loves all people—not just us white bubbas. I’ve seen God’s love for all people, regardless of who they are.”

Committed to cooperation While primarily focused on reaching its community, the church has maintained an aggressive vision of funding missions through the Cooperative Program to share in Southern Baptists’ part of the Great Commission.

“I’ve been a Southern Baptist all my life—saved and called to ministry as a Southern Baptist—and I have come to a deeper and deeper appreciation of the fact we can do more together than we can separately,” Hall said. “One of the greatest—if not the greatest—things about the Cooperative Program is that we work together to be able to accomplish more than we are able to accomplish just by ourselves.

“I think the greatest benefit to what we’re doing—what God is doing through us—is that we’re able to reach people here who come to America for school, work and freedom,” Hall said. “They come for that, and find Christ. ... We’re reaching people we’d never be reaching otherwise if we didn’t have the language congregations. As God leads, more ethnic congregations could be in the church’s future.” (BP)

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Debating football’s virtues & violence

Bloggers weigh in on the topic

By Tim Tune

Nashville, Tenn.—Football has become one of the Baptist blogosphere’s dividing lines this fall with the debate focusing on football’s aggressive nature and Christians’ response to its frequent violent hits and its effect on players.

A bit of common ground, however, emerges regarding football’s appeal and its character-building qualities.

Football’s “grace, precision and the crushing of bone,” as Owen Strachan puts it, make the game appealing.

“There is nothing quite like a hit over the middle. A ballet-graceful wide receiver at full extension grabs a tightly thrown pass only to be smacked down like a rag doll by a heat-seeking safety,” Strachan, assistant professor of church history and Christian theology at Boyce College in Louisville wrote in a post titled “Our Shaken Faith in Football” at ChristianityToday.com in early September.

Two other Baptists in the blogosphere, David Prince and Jimmy Scroggins, also noted football’s appeal in a joint post titled “Is football too violent for Christians?” at the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission’s website.

“No other game combines brute force and elegant choreography the way football does,” Prince and Scroggins wrote in late September.

Prince is pastor of preaching and vision at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church in Lexington, and an assistant professor of Christian preaching at Southern Seminary. Scroggins is senior pastor of First Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, Fla. Strachan, Prince and Scroggins noted football’s appeal of providing “a place for people of wildly different backgrounds to come together,” Strachan wrote, and serves “a profound communal and civic function.” As Prince and Scroggins put it, “the atmosphere and pageantry of football attracts countless people who are fans of the spectacle more than” the actual game.

Among numerous character-building qualities of the sport, the trio agreed it calls for discipline, determination, courage, teamwork and self-sacrifice.

“Many of these virtues,” Strachan

noted, “line up nicely with biblical character (1 Cor. 9:27, for example),” while Prince and Scroggins suggested that the Bible “draws a relationship between sport and war” and that “the lessons learned from agonizing and struggling in one can readily prove instructive for the other (Heb. 12:1-4, 1 Cor. 9:24-27, Eph. 6:12, Phil. 3:13-14).”

Risks & downsides Then, however, comes the debate over how Christians should respond to the game’s inherent risks as well as its potential cultural downsides.

For Strachan, the harmful physical effects that full-contact football has on players and its brutal nature raise “concerns for Christians, who of all people have the most stake in human flourishing based on the imago dei, the likeness of man to God (Gen. 1:26-27).”

Referring to the National Football League’s deliberations over players with concussion-related injuries, Strachan asked, “Does it behoove Christians to reconsider the game’s violence? I think it does.”

“Concussions are the scariest part of the game” and “are under-reported and under-diagnosed in youth sports,” Strachan wrote. Despite millions of children playing football nationwide, he pointed out that, “there are almost no studies of the effects of youth football on the human brain.”

Also, the “culture of football should concern Christians,” Strachan wrote, and “football-related arrests, assaults on women and tiny children, murders, drug charges, and more should not glance off the evangelical conscience.

“Christians should think hard about involving their children in such a violent game,” he wrote, acknowledging that “I would have a hard time sending my son into a sport that is leaving 40-year-old men with dementia.”

Safer than the playground “Nevertheless it is wrongheaded to use data from NFL football players who have made the game their career at the highest level and attribute it to everyone who plays football,” wrote Prince and Scroggins.

According to Price and Scroggins,

many American parents are keeping their children out of youth football.

They cite a survey that 25,000 fewer kids played football in the U.S. in 2012 than only four years before. From a news article they quote a pediatric surgeon who said, “I tell parents that it’s safer to send their children to Pop Warner (football) than to the playground.”

“As Christians,” Prince and Scroggins wrote, “we believe that it is our responsibility to take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). This means that followers of Jesus are right to question their participation in any activity, including football.”

They lauded attempts to reform corruption and cheating in the game and “are saddened every time a player gets injured on the football field, but no more so than when one is injured in a cycling or skateboarding accident.”

Why my sons aren’t in football (this year)

By Jason Allen

Kansas City—I grew up in a family with all boys, that fostered competition, and valued athletic achievement. Athletic participation was presumed, FIRST PERSON and sports came as natural as life itself.

This year, though, a funny thing happened—I chose for my sons not to play football, and it wasn’t because the sport is too violent. Three reasons in particular persuaded me to take a pass on football —this year.

Time commitments First, the time commitment was simply too much. Combined, my sons (ages 6 and 8)—and me or my wife—would have been out of the house nearly seven nights a week for more than three months.

Some may protest that not committing the time means I’m not a good father. I say, given the ages of my three daughters and two sons (ages 10 through 5), to be a good father necessitates I not yield our family structure to a peewee football league. Unapologetically, I hoard our family time like a miser, gripping it tightly and intuitively swatting away opportunities and expectations that would compromise it. This fall, football was poised to do just that.

Corrupting influence Second, the corrupting influence seemed too intense. The words and actions of the team leaders and the general tenor of the league itself, troubled me. Daily subjecting two young boys to full-throttled immorality seemed unwise.

I am not willing to permit such an unhealthy influence over my sons at such an impressionable age. Priority one is to shepherd my children’s hearts. I can live without hearing my 6-year-old son’s name called on the loudspeaker, but I can’t live with myself if I lose his heart along the way.

Boys tackling girls Finally, any remaining indecision evaporated when I realized my sons’ league—for tackle football— was coed.

Though I’m concerned for the girls, I’m more concerned about what tackling girls might do to my sons. The boy who learns it is appropriate to pulverize the girl on the field might well become the man Photo by Jordan Thompson who’s OK with degrading women in other contexts.

Nevertheless, Prince and Scoggins This is more than an appeal to chivwrote, the “rugged, physically demandalry. It is a reminder that God created us ing, purposeful aggression of football is male and female—boy and girl—and to an asset, not a liability” on the gridiron, undermine or confuse those distinctions providing “a consistent and valuable is wrong. Our children are confronted metaphor for contemporary churches with enough gender confusion without that need to remember that the Great it being introduced on the gridiron.

Commission is not a public relations I love sports, but like other life utilicampaign, but rather a war cry that ties, sports are only as good as our stewdemands self-sacrifice.” ardship thereof. As a Christian father, I Sacrifice and calculated risk “are want to redeem the sport and channel it good things that ought to be cultivated to cultivate maturity, self-discipline and on a pathway from boyhood to Chrisvirtue. I want to be judged not by my tian manhood,” Prince and Scroggins sons’ batting averages or varsity letters, wrote. but by whether I shepherded their hearts “Sadly,” they noted, “evangelicals toward Christ. (BP) seem to be leading the movement to Jason Allen is president of Midwestern Baptist train bravery and adventure out of our Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo. children in favor of a cult of safety.” (BP)

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Seminary grad, senior saints birth a church plant

By Tobin Perry

New Orleans—The 16 or so remaining lay members of Lakeview Baptist Church in New Orleans didn’t fit the bill of a church planting core team. All senior saints, none younger than 70, they lacked youthful energy, but compensated with experience and vision.

When they met church planter James Welch in 2008, they were still grieving Hurricane Katrina and the loss of their homes, community and what had been their church. The congregation dreamed of one last selfless act that would continue the church’s rich legacy long into the future.

“If we want to reach the world, we have to be willing to change,” said Phyllis Dixon, a member of Lakeview Baptist since 1960, when she joined with her husband Ed. “Those who aren’t willing to change won’t go anywhere.”

Greiving a dying church In the coming months these Lakeview members offered Welch—a graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville—their church building and merged with the young church he had been forming. To help Lakeview with this grieving process, Welch brought in a grief counselor to walk them through the next stages. Though merging a young church plant with an aging congregation wasn’t always easy, Welch said they’ve tried to do it in a healthy way.

“We gave (the grieving process) about a year just to help Lakeview through it,” Welch said. “It’s been cool because it gave them a group of young people who love them. Many of them have gone home to be with Jesus, so we got to celebrate with them at their funerals. Some of them, once it was all complete, decided to be a part of churches like they were a part of in the ‘70s and ‘80s. And there are four of them who have remained a part of our church and have gotten connected with community groups.”

Welch and a core team of leaders launched a new congregation, Harbor Community Church, in 2011. The new church has grown to more than 200 in attendance, most of whom have come to faith in Christ there, Welch said.

Help from churches James and Amy Welch’s hearts broke, as did those of many Southern Baptists, as they learned about Hurricane Katrina’s damage to New Orleans in August of 2005. After they expressed their intense call by God to help the James and Amy Welch moved to New Orleans to help with Hurricane Katrina recovery and cleanup and stayed to start a church. The couple considered planting a church in Vancouver, Wash., but after Katrina, they felt the Big Easy would afford gospel renewal in an urban environment. They planted Harbor Community Church in 2010.

Church planter James Welch teaches during a worship service at Harbor Community Church in New Orleans. The graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, started the church in 2010 with a strong desire to share the gospel with people who would likely not visit a traditional church. (Photos courtesy of James Welch)

beleaguered city, Sojourn Community Church and Crossings Community Church, both in Louisville, sent the couple to New Orleans in March 2006.

“We wanted to put our faith in action,” Welch said. “We really wanted to be a part of gospel renewal in an area, and New Orleans just seemed like a place where we could practically live out our faith.”

For the first few years, Welch simply focused on helping the city get back on its feet, doing everything from cleaning up damaged houses to rebuilding new ones. As the rebuilding work became more specialized, the couple switched gears and started an arts center in the community in partnership with some friends.

Through the arts center Welch continued building relationships with the diverse lot of artists who were returning to the city. As people came to faith in Christ, he formed small groups to help disciple them and continued to dream about starting a church once the city was back on its feet.

About three and a half years after Katrina, Welch realized he needed a physical building to begin consistent

Harbor Community Church volunteers Aaron and Jessica Vicknair and Mandi Wallis (left to far right in “verb” T-shirts), assist at the Duck Derby, an event sponsored by the Second Harvest Food Bank to fight hunger in New Orleans.

worship services. That’s when the New Orleans Baptist Association connected Welch with Lakeview. The partnership helped both churches. Lakeview members were able to once again invest their resources into a growing church. Welch and his team received a building and a team of New Orleans tutors.

Churches do more together “God gave them to us,” Welch said.

“They coached us a lot in terms of what it means to live in New Orleans. Mr. Wheeler (one of the Lakeview members) knew how every neighborhood had changed in the city, literally, over 85 years—what the demographics were and what the psychographics were.”

The Dixons have remained an active part of Harbor throughout the changes.

Dixon says she and her husband appreciate that Harbor’s younger people have treated them like family and have welcomed and appreciated their involvement. The Dixons have even been “standin” grandparents for the Welches children during “Grandparents Day” at school.

“It has been a thrill for my husband and I to see the church grow,” Dixon said. “All the young people and the children are there. It has been a great blessing to have joined with them and have them working with us now.”

As Harbor Community Church looks toward the future, Welch says the church plans to launch new church plants throughout New Orleans and North America. Giving to missions through the Cooperative Program and being a part of a Southern Baptist network of churches remains an important part of that future.

“I would say one reason we’re a part of the (Southern Baptist Convention) is because we can do more together than we can alone,” Welch said. “By uniting a portion of our individual resources, it allows us to make a big impact. From education to disaster relief, we are able to do things no one congregation could do. At Harbor our mission is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Partnership with others across the convention allows us to do this around the globe.” (NAMB/BP)

12

AROUND THESE ISLANDS

HAWAII PACIFIC

n Paul Orman resigned as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Nanakuli Sept. 1.

Orman has been serving as a bi-vocational pastor at the church since June 2012. He is on the wait list for his next duty station with the U.S. Military.

Remember Paul and Lyn Orman as they make plans for their next assignment. He can be reached at peorman@hawaiiantel.net. n Ua Taunuu Baptist Church in Fagaima, American Samoa, was received into the fellowship of the South Pacific Baptist

Association at their annual meeting on Oct. 27. Roliko Galuvao is pastor. n Kim Noble accepted the call to pastor First Baptist Church of Nanakuli Sept. 15, where he has previously served as pastor.

Noble and his wife, Elma, moved to Pittsburgh, Penn., in 2010 to assist with the care of their grandchildren while both parents were deployed. Please keep the Nobles on your prayer encourager list as they re-enter pastoral care in Hawaii. They can be reached at knoble10@ juno.com.

hpbc calendar HPBC sponsored events in bold DECEMBER 1-8 SBC - Week of Prayer for

International Missions & the

Lottie Moon Christmas

Offering 25 Christmas Holiday JANUARY 1 1-31 1-31 4

18 19

New Year’s Day January Bible Study Call to Prayer Month Convention Committees Orientation Executive Board Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

20 27-30

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Continuing Education Conference-Kauai

FEBRUARY 1-28 “True Love Waits” Emphasis

Month 7-8 WMU Annual Meeting 9 Racial Reconciliation Sunday 10-16 Focus on WMU 15 Chaplains & Church Planters

Family Picnic 15 Children’s Ministry Day 17 President’s Day 21-23 The Gathering 23 Connect

prayer calendar December 1 Caroline Kitagawa - Chaplaincy 1 Khristine Pratt - Cornerstone, Big Island 3 Paula Vincent - Puu Kahea, Oahu 4 Tony Vincent - Puu Kahea, Oahu 5 Dan Van Alstine - Retired, Oahu 6 Guy Lashlee - Kohala, Big Island 6 Michelle Metcalf - Lihue, Kauai 7 Sarah Young - Retired, Kauai 8 Dlorah Puckett - Calvary, Guam 10 Joyce Wheeler - Retired, Oahu 13 Catherine Inouye - Kaunakakai, Molokai 13 Ramona Stevens - Puu Kahea, Oahu 16 Mi Ok Chang - Emmanuel, Oahu 16 Karen Hazlett - HPBC, Oahu 17 Yumi Hedlund - Kohala, Big Island 18 Kristen Kawachi - University Ave., Oahu 18 Chang Sik Lee - Samoa Korean, Samoa 18 Ju Seong Suh - Retired, Maui 19 Tara Gruspe - Pawa’a Community, Oahu 19 Pia Pak - Bethel Korean 20 Emory Gaskins - University Ave., Oahu 20 Chris Martin - Lahaina, Maui 21 Carl Kinoshita - Retired, Oahu 22 Mark Haley - Chaplaincy, Oahu 23 Lola Irvin - Pali View, Oahu 24 Vera Tong - Hawaii Chinese, Oahu 25 Muoi Nguyen Bui - Dong Tam, Oahu 27 Trisha Lashlee - Kohala, Big Island 28 Jung Ku Suh - Retired, Maui 29 Pong Suk Beaucond - Pearl Harbor, Oahu 30 Brad Barshaw - Faith BC, Oahu 31 Ian Sakai - Waiakea Uka, Big Island January 1 Christina Abagon - HPBC, Oahu 1 Debbie Copeland - Waikoloa, Big Island 1 Hong Ly Khuy - Khemaras, Oahu 2 Gary Yafuso - Aina Haina, Oahu 4 Robert Gross - Mountain View Com, Oahu 5 Kyung Won Lee - Agape, Oahu 5 James Merritt - Waimea, Kauai 7 Mori Hiratani - Retired, Oahu 8 Phillip Kim - Guam FBC, Guam 8 Soon Gap Kim - Guam FBC, Guam

9 10 10 11 12 13 13 14 14 14 14 15 15 16 22 22 23 24 25 30 31

Ken Brooks (left) is presented the Kokua Award by the Oahu Baptist Network. Brooks was honored with a plaque and koa paddle by Steve Grey, a member of the OBN Executive Board. Shirley Brooks (right) was also recognized. Ken Brooks will retire as OBN Facilitator of Missions in March. n Randy Pauley accepted the call to pastor Kahului Baptist Church on Maui Nov. 1. Pauley was ordained and installed as pastor on Oct. 27. Please add Pauley and his wife, Brittney, to your prayer encourager list as they begin their new ministry.

The couple have been members of the Kahului Baptist Church for more than three years. Pauley can be reached at RandyPauley@yahoo.com. n Shawn Peoples, pastor of Church at Kapolei, announced that after much prayer, counsel and seeking the mind of God, the church has merged with Aloha Community Church in

Ewa Town. Peoples and his family have returned to Ohio.

Please keep Peoples and his wife, Michelle, on your prayer encourager list during this transition. He may be reached at Keonepeoples@gmail.com. n Joo Yong Jang has accepted the call to pastor Korean Baptist Church of Waikiki. Jang is joined in this ministry with his wife, Aelee. Please add the couple to your prayer encourager list. Jang may be reached at jyjang2061@hotmail.com. n Joyful Korean Baptist Church in Honolulu, was launched in October. Church planter Nam Soo Lee is pastor.

DECEMBER 2013 The church is located at 1130 North Nimitz Highway, C-100.

Please keep Lee and his wife, Kyung Won, on your prayer encourager list. He may be reached at hichristian9@gmail.com. n Bethel Korean Baptist Church in Hololulu is looking for new home. Beginning Jan. 1, the space they have been utilizing will be used to start an Episcopal Korean Church. Pastor David Pak is interested in visiting with any church in the Honolulu area open to sharing their facilities with his growing Korean congregation. Pak may be reached at (808) 234-9134, or by email at pakdavid@hotmail. com. n Mount Kaala Baptist Church’s phone number is listed incorrectly in the directory. The correct number is (808) 6955725. Bill Duncan is interim pastor. He may be reached at Cynthia.duncan119@gmail.com.

sympathy HPBC extends sympathy to the family of Aiko Taira, retired Minister of Education for the First Baptist Church of Pearl City and long time encourager for the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention. She died Nov. 2.

Visitation will be held at the Mililani Cemetery on Dec. 14, 9 a.m., with a memorial service at 10 a.m. Taira was a faithful servant and supporter of missions.

George Watanabe - Retired, Oahu George Maeda - Retired, Kauai Hannah Nam - Saipan Good, Saipan Laura Itokazu - Retired, Oahu Jate Bennet - BCM Hilo, Big Island Veryl Henderson - Retired, Oahu Nam Soo Lee - Korean Waikiki, Oahu Paula Martinez - Iglesia Bautista, Big Island Faith McFatridge - HPBC, Oahu Stella Saludez - Waipio Community, Mobilizing Trained Leaders Oahu to Transform Community Sherry Reimer - Koza BC, Okinawa, Japan Samuel Choi - Hawaii Bhansok, Oahu Bo Russell - Retired, Okinawa Speaker: Brad Barshaw Darren Sarmiento - Valley Isle, Maui Young Chan Bong - All Nations, Oahu Barbara Gross - Mountain View Com, Oahu Tullos Jones - Kona, Big Island Cost: Sungho “Steven” Kang - HPBC, Oahu Yong Kang - Retired, Oahu $400 Lodging for 3 nights, 4 meals, conference fee, and workbook Amy Watanabe - Retired, Oahu $250 (dbl occupancy) Lodging for 3 nights, 4 meals, conference fee, and Raye Bosi - Lighthouse, Guam

February 1 Helen Taura - Retired, Oahu 2 Betty Russell - Retired, Okinawa 3 David Whitehead - Assoc., Big Island 7 Jerrell Tate - Abundant Life, Oahu 8 Sunny Chung - Chaplaincy, Oahu 8 Doug Phillips - Chaplaincy, Oahu 10 Vailua Simi - Fagalii, Samoa 12 Jay Armstrong - Kihei, Maui 12 Amy Kaneshiro - Valley Isle, Maui 14 Todd Morikawa - Kailua, Oahu 14 Danielle Reagan - Waipahu, Oahu 14 Emiko Takaki - FBC Haleiwa, Oahu 15 Vhee Bosi - Lighthouse, Guam 15 Tim Morita - Olivet, Oahu 16 Jon Elliff - Makakilo, Oahu 16 Chris Metcalf - Lihue, Kauai 17 Somporn Kool - Laotian, Oahu 21 Joo Huyn Son Lee - Olive, Oahu 23 David Park - New Community, Oahu 23 Masue Uejo - Retired, Big Island 24 Joanne Moses - Chaplaincy, Oahu 27 Yun Seok Jeong - Global Revival, Oahu 27 Andrew Tong - Hawaii Chinese, Oahu 27 Diana Ventura - Waikiki, Oahu

January 27-30, 2014 Lihue Baptist Church, Kauai Lodging at Aloha Beach Resort Monday 2:30pm; ends Thursday 12:30pm

workbook $85 Commuter Plus Meals - Conference fee, workbook, and 4 meals $35 Commuter per day - Conf fee ONLY (No lodging, no meals, no workbook)

Brad (otherwise known as B-Rad) was raised in Southern California and blessed with godly parents. He attended California State University at Northridge and earned his Master's of Divinity at Talbot Theological Seminary. He has served four churches as Senior Pastor, including Faith from 1981-1995. In 1995, Brad accepted a position on the National Ministry Team for the Evangelical Free Church of America as the Pacific Northwest District Superintendent (Western Washington, Oregon, and Alaska). There he served as a "pastor to pastors," providing church health and mediation services. In 2001, he returned to Hawaii to pastor a church planted by Faith in the early 90's. In 2004, Brad was asked to return to Faith as Senior Pastor.

Register by December 27, 2013  Questions? Contact Clyde at 356-8331 or clyde@hpbaptist.net