Hawaii Pacific Baptist May 2015 Issue

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Churches in the Pacific impacting the world

May 2015

Vol. 45, No. 3

BAPTIST ‘Sinicization’ of Christianity China’s aim

in this issue Greeting and Usher ministry Tips on how to better train greeters and ushers. Page 3 Boko Haram Nearly 300 women and girls rescued. Page 5 SBC Annual Meeting See articles with further details about the upcoming meeting. Page 6

Tak and Lana Oue (back left and back right) celebrate their 46 years of missionary service in Japan following an IMB recognition service for new emeriti, May 2. “Joy and excitement fill our hearts as we now see the Japanese experiencing the joy of their salvation in Christ and becoming multiplying disciples, taking the gospel to their own people!” Lana said. Photo by Lexie Bennett/IMB

Nashville, Tenn.—Persecution of Christians and other religion groups in China has increased in scope, depth and intensity in the past year, according to the latest annual reports from religious persecution watch groups. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and the international non-profit China Aid Association USA both report high increases in abuses against Christians and other religious groups in the 12 months of 2014. Religious persecution in China rose more than 152 percent comprising six categories of persecution, China Aid reported in its 2014 Annual Report of Religious and Human Rights Persecution in China, The Year of “Persecution and Endurance.” The largest increase was noted in the number of persons sentenced for religious and human rights violations, which rose more than 10,516 percent, from 12 arrests in 2013, to 1,274 arrests in 2014. In other categories tracked by China Aid, the number of severe abuse cases rose nearly  See CHINA...Page 4

Missionary retirees embark Seafarer’s Church on new phase of service baptizes many Richmond, Va.—Most of By Kate Gregory

Moving? See page 2 (0401)

the 56 missionaries the International Mission Board honored May 2 upon their retirement from fulltime overseas service to emeritus status in the U.S. didn’t start out as pastors or ministers on church staffs. Most were church members from diverse career fields who felt called to spread the Gospel around the world: an accounting clerk, advertising manager, attorney, beef producer, carpenters, critical care nurse, environmental control chemist, funeral home chaplain, house parents in a children’s home, insurance agents, librarian, maintenance workers, physician, psychologist, radio announcer, rehabilitation counselor, teachers, truck driver and social workers. IMB President David Platt told the new emeriti that retirement isn’t meant to mark the end of missions service but rather the beginning of a new phase of it in their home churches. “God, in His grace, has used the witness and testimony of these choice

servants in a powerful way across the globe,” Platt said Preparing the way of the emeriti. After 20 years of teach“Now, we eagerly anticiing music and theology in pate how Abidjan, Ivory God is going “We know that our Coast, Jerry and to continue mission does not Carol Robertson, to use them from Kentucky cease because of a for His purand Louisiana, poses as they change in position embarked on a or location.” transition new mission to back to life reach a people David Platt, in the United with a different International Mission States. We language than Board president know that what they had our mission learned. does not “Our greatest cease because of a change struggle became our greatin position or location.” est joy as we were able to translate and tell Bible stoGuiding churches ries to people who had Previously with the U.S. never heard about Jesus in Department of Agriculture, their own language,” Jack Hamptin* from Tennes- including a 125-year-old see became an agriculture village chief, Jerry recalled evangelist in West Africa. at the recognition service. “We found our rural Jerry said he felt led by background allowed us to God that he and Carol relate well to subsistence should walk, instead of farmers and Muslim herdsdrive, the five miles to the men in ways that opened chief’s village. The chief their ears to hear the Good later told them he had a News of Jesus,” said Jack of dream that one day two his and his wife Lynn’s* 25 people would come walking years of missionary service. into his village with a mes“Guiding volunteers sage from God for him. from various occupations At age 125, the chief to use their gifts and accepted Christ. He helped knowledge for God’s glory open the way for the Robamong unreached peoples ertsons to share 130 Bible ... led to some of our most  See RETIREES...Page 5 rewarding experiences.”

Since January, The Crossroads Seafarer’s Church at Honolulu Harbor has baptized more than 50 who prayed to receive Christ,12 Filipino fishermen seafarers have recommitted their lives to Christ and two Filipino fishermen seafarers have been commissioned as spiritual leaders on their boats. The teams that have sponsored about 20 boats provide a meal and a Bible study is held afterwards. Churches have donated toiletry items, beanie hats, t-shirts, phone cards and pillows for the seafarers. Seafarer’s Ministry director, Chris Evans, said, “We pray for more sponsors as there are many more boats that need this care and service.” This recent photo shows Kim Noble, pastor of FBC Nanakuli, baptizing “Aga” in a donated “baptismal” that followed a Spirit-led Bible study and Communion. You can contact Dr Christopher Evans, NAMB/HPBC Church Planter “At the Crossroads” Seafarers’ Church, 808-772-1423.


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