The Witness-Winter 2016

W THE WITNESS

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GRACE RACE CENTERING THE GOSPEL ON THE SOUL’S CONDITION, NOT SKIN COLOR

winter 2016 MID-AMERICA BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

CROSSING THE DIVIDE MABTS alumni Dr. Bartholomew Orr and Wade Steelman cross racial boundaries to serve side by side for the sake of the Gospel

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aving established a trusted friendship over the years with Pastor Bartholomew Orr (on left in photo), which began while attending seminary with him at Mid-America, I joined his staff in July of this year as Discipleship Pastor at Brown Baptist Church. Brown is a predominately African-American church which has grown to over 10,000 members.

I HAVE BEEN ASKED, “Why do we need diversity on church staffs, reflecting the community?” My answer is because Jesus offered the Gospel to everyone freely, and because Jesus makes no distinction between light skin and dark skin pigments.

Why do genuinely great churches and leaders thrive in unintentionally segregated settings? There are two primary reasons for division: political identity and cultural uniqueness; neither are necessarily sinful, but both build a wall. Political perspectives can drive a wedge between races, as it can even within a race. Based upon people’s experiences, perceived needs, definition of equity, and the cultural expectations baked into us from childhood, we create a set of emotional values that match closely to planks within a political party. In order to bridge the racial gap, we must respect each other’s legacies in order to have any real credibility.

Church culture is the greatest wall.

Churches generally draw people like themselves. When I came on staff at Brown, the schedules, dress codes, liturgy, baptisms, invitation, Lord’s Supper, structure, titles, polity, expectations,

By Wade Steelman Class of 2001—MDIV

funerals, staff organization, along with a list of other things, were all different. The worship music was drastically different, but not the doctrine. Nothing was wrong, bad, or disorganized. It was just different, extremely different. Having worked with more than 70 churches of the X-tended Missions Network, and serving overseas in many different cultures, I enjoyed great diversity. Nevertheless, this was a call to die.

Regardless of the race, a call to interracial ministry is a call to die—to die at a level which only Christ can empower, a death to preferences, practices, and identity. But if you choose to go there, expect Christ to hold your hand while you experience His power and presence, as He becomes the only One Who can truly understand what you have been called to do.

I would not swap the relationships that I am building and the opportunity to serve at Brown for the comfort and ease of serving within my own race. I have never seen a church so joyful, so sacrificial, so kind, so caring, or so real. I am challenged by my pastor in ways that I did not think possible.

Though the Lord brought me here to deepen Brown’s discipleship, I am learning far more than I am teaching. I am blessed!

TO REACH ACROSS RACIAL LINES, you have to extend trust and respect, love the Lamb more than a donkey or an elephant, and be willing to die, becoming all things to all men, that you might win some. No wonder Paul said that it was not He who lives, but Christ who lives within him. Might you be called to die, to shatter stereotypes and barriers, and loose Christ from within?

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THE EA TONS

KOS SMIL THE

HILDREN, THE EATON C EE WHOM R INCLUDING TH THE IN IS Y THE FAMIL DOPTING A F O S PROCES CURE UST STAY SE (IDENTITIES M ZED) ON IS FINALI TI OP UNTIL AD

God joins two alumni families in a plan to rescue three children through interracial adoption

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s two families moved from different parts of the United States, one from Las Vegas, Nevada, and the other from southwest Missouri, to follow God’s call and to attend Mid-America, they never would have imagined all the Lord had in store for them. After graduation, Josh Eaton and Chris Smilko were excited to go where the Lord was leading their families: to southeast Kansas, to churches only 30 minutes apart. Josh and his family began to revitalize a church in Caney, while Chris planted a church in Sedan. The Lord’s plans are amazing, and the following is a story of how the Lord used these two families to eventually rescue three AfricanAmerican children through adoption. The Gospel is being lived out through these two alumni families. They are not concerned about color, but passionate about the children’s eternal souls.

JOSH EATON WRITES: Last year our friend, Becky Smilko, stopped for a quick visit. She had three young foster children with her. She was telling us about their mother’s rights, which had just been severed. On a whim, Becky blurted out, “You don’t want to adopt them, do you?”

Sherri and I immediately laughed. Later, I asked Sherri, “Do you remember what Becky said?” She knew exactly what I was thinking. Someone had to adopt these children. Even though we have four biological children, we asked, “Why not us?” So we started the process to become foster parents, with the intent of adopting these awesome children. As we prayed

and started the process, God provided and affirmed our plans in many ways.

This adoption process has helped me understand the Gospel even more.

After the children moved into our home, even though they knew of our plans to adopt them, there were many struggles.

They knew we loved them, but they still struggled with the change. This produced unpleasant behaviors and sometimes screaming and crying—a response often seen in new Christians. There’s change, but we struggle with wanting to go back. God is merciful to keep and guard us from our old ways. When they would ask, “Why do you love us,” I would say, “I will never stop loving you. There is nothing you can do to make me not want to adopt you.”

CHRIS SMILKO WRITES: God has given us a passion to tell others about the children we foster. Years ago, Becky and I decided we could not foster children because it was too sad to love a child that would leave. In September 2012, a local family lost custody of their children, and we prayed about being a temporary home for them. They never were placed with us; instead, we have fostered 21 other children.

We would encourage every Christian home to become involved in the local foster care mission. If one cannot foster, there are many ways to help foster families or team up with an agency. We must continue to pray for the children, parents, foster homes, workers, and court systems. In James 1:27, God’s Word tells us to “look after orphans and widows in their distress.”

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CROSSCULTURAL MISSIONS Kim North has served as an IMB missionary in the Philippines for 23 years, a path that began at a Mid-America Missions Day

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o win in life and hear, “Well an amazing plan for your life as well. done, good and faithful IT WAS DURING A MISSIONS servant,” we must lay all DAY AT MABTS that I publicly declared our dreams and plans down my willingness to go anywhere God at our Lord’s feet, after which we must directed in the future. I now know this hear from the Father above. After having should be true of all Christ followers. Of prayed earnestly as to where I should course, when we fully surrender to the get my seminary training, I was leaning Lord, Satan—the great enemy of our toward Mid-America. My dear friend, soul—seeks to derail God’s plan for our Terry Buford, graduated from MABTS in life. By God’s marvelous grace and mercy, 1977, and my faithful pastor, Paul Bryant, Kathy and I have remained true to our had graduated from MABTS only one calling to serve crossyear later. After culturally, even though graduating it has been very difficult from Union at times. God is our University in strength and help, May 1981, I was and we praise Him delighted to serve for His sustaining as Youth Pastor at grace in our family. a small church in After more than 35 Haywood County, years of serving our Y NORTH KIM AND KATH Tennessee. The Lord, we now relate pastor of that church was leaving in August to the Apostle Paul’s struggles as a man on to attend another well-known seminary mission with God; we can identify with and urged me to do likewise. some of his toils, struggles, and fears and Upon my return to my parents’ home, know from life experience that God is I discussed my concern with my mother, “able through His mighty power at work and she suggested that I drive to Memphis within us, to accomplish infinitely more and check it out. Over the years, I have than we might ask or think. Glory to Him questioned some of my decisions, but one in the church and in Christ Jesus through that I never question is God’s design and all generations forever and ever! Amen” plan for me to attend MABTS! I am so (Ephesians 3:20–21). thankful for the prayers of my parents, Kim and Kathy North have served in the pastor, and church family who wanted me Philippines with the International Mission to hear the precious Holy Spirit speak into Board since March 1993. They have a my life as to where He would have me disciple multiplication movement they receive my seminary education. God has call People Of Promise (POP), based on Deuteronomy 26:18.

By Kim A. North

Class of 1984—MDIV

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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

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am so excited about what is happening at Mid-America, I may start shouting! The Miracle of Mid-America continues!

Here are some major and immediate prayer requests.

UNIVERSITY LIBRARY PURCHASE. We have the opportunity to purchase an entire university library, if we can raise $20,000 immediately.

This Baptist school has closed, and through this purchase we can add almost 30,000 books and other materials to our Mid-America library.

Please pray that the Lord will raise up donors to make this time-sensitive purchase possible.

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES PROGRAM. For years Mid-America has trained faculty members from seminaries around the world, and these men have gone back to their countries

as Bible-believing, soul-winning, mission-minded professors. We have named this program the David Skinner International Studies Program in honor of our former Academic Vice President and longtime professor of Old Testament, Dr. David Skinner. It can cost over $18,000 per student per year for tuition and living expenses, and we have more applicants than we can fund. Would you pray that God will provide the finances needed to expand this program?

The Lord did an absolute miracle in providing for His work at Mid-America this last year. A large gift arrived with two weeks to spare in the fiscal year. God is so amazing, and He does this because you are praying. Keep up the good work and pray harder. The Mid-America Miracle marches on!

God is love. Jesus is wonderful.

Michael Spradlin President, MABTS

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FIVE COMPELLING WAYS THAT MABTS MULTIPLIES YOUR MINISTRY ONE-ON-ONE EVANGELISM Witness One:Seven—This evangelism program is a part of each student’s academic training, building confidence and experience in the area of personal witnessing. Churches seeking to grow know when they hire a Mid-America student, they are getting someone equipped to share Christ.

GLOBAL INFLUENCE Missions Training—A love and appreciation for evangelistic missions is threaded through all of our classes. One of MidAmerica’s original visions still holds true today—that all students would be passionate about helping churches and other ministries fulfill the Great Commission locally and around the world.

SHARED VISION Conservative Theology—All MABTS professors teach with a conservative Christian worldview. The result is that churches can feel confident knowing that the men and women they hire are firmly grounded in biblical inerrancy. This helps churches build a scripturally unified vision.

FINANCIAL FREEDOM Affordable Cost—Student debt can quickly squelch the fire in a servant’s heart. At Mid-America, we believe being free to answer God’s call is priceless. We offer world-class scholarship at downto-earth costs. Compare our tuition and you’ll see that our annual cost is about 60% less than most similar institutions.

BIBLICAL LITERACY Expository Preaching—Our men are trained to preach the entire scope of Scripture. This ability alone can enhance any ministry, because expository preaching builds strong, biblically literate congregations that will better understand the Great Commission.

The Gift That Gives Back— and Keeps on Giving

Charitable Gift Annuities

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od uses His saints not only to carry out His will, but also to financially provide for His work. The Apostle Paul displayed humble gratitude to the believers in Philippi for their constant provision, as he stated in Philippians 4:16, “For even in Thessalonica, you sent aid once and again for my necessities.” We would like to thank you for your faithful provision and for your faithful prayers.”

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO DONATE to the seminary, but have you ever considered a charitable gift annuity?

Annuities can be used not only to bless the seminary, but also to provide additional income for you and your family. The Southern Baptist Foundation (SBF) states that when you transfer your cash or appreciated assets, you will earn “income for the rest of your life,” at a rate “based on your age at the time you make the agreement.” The SBF shares that another benefit of making a gift of appreciated assets from a stock or bond can lead to avoiding “paying some of the capital gain tax on the sale of that asset.”

For example, a husband and wife consistently saved and invested their income during 50 plus years of marriage.

When the husband passed away, the widow

wanted to bless the students of the seminary and donated a sizable gift in the form of a charitable gift annuity. By taking this step of faith, she receives regular monthly payments that help her offset any additional expenses she may face, while she invests in training that helps spread the Gospel.

Annuities can be used not only to bless the seminary, but also to provide additional income for you and your family.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, or if you would like more information regarding wills, living wills, living trusts, or charitable gift annuities, please call Duffy Guyton, Chief Development Officer, at 901-4974404 or email me at dguyton@mabts.edu.

Discover more ways to invest in training that helps spread the Gospel:

mabts.edu/support-mid-america

By Duffy Guyton Chief Development Officer MABTS

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P.O. Box 2350 • Cordova, TN 38088-2350