Our First Priority

Enough is Enough

2012-01-26T15:01:00.005-06:00

Usury is defined as the practice of charging excessive, unreasonably high, and often illegal interest rates on loans. Originally, when the charging of interest was still banned by Christian churches, usury simply meant the charging of interest at any rate. The book of Exodus says, “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest (22:25).” The writer of Proverbs says, “Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor (28:8).”

A coalition of community and faith groups is currently supporting an initiative petition to be placed on the Missouri November ballot to cap the rate of predatory lending in our state at 36%. Only a few years ago Missouri usury laws capped these loans at an even lower rate; however, driven by the payday loan and related industries these laws have been dramatically relaxed. Now, payday lenders in Missouri are charging an average of 444 percent interest—and can charge as high as 1,950 percent. Some have suggested that this is legalized loan-sharking. These predatory loans carrying triple-digit interest rates create a long-term cycle of debt, exploiting a family’s budget crisis, and driving these families into deeper debt. Even more remarkable they thrive by oppressing the most vulnerable in our communities.

Incredibly, we have more payday lenders than Starbucks, McDonald’s & Walmart’s combined. They saturate our cities, and they can found in almost all of our small towns and many rural areas. These payday, car title, and other high cost lenders drain millions of dollars in predatory fees annually from our communities. Missouri loses $317 million annually in payday loan fees alone taken out of our state. That’s a lot of money that could be spent investing in our neighborhoods and families. Where does all this money go? Most of it goes to out-of-state predatory lenders. Some of it comes back to Missouri legislators who protect these predatory lenders’ ability to charge these high interest rates.

For more than 10 years Missouri’s legislature has failed to take action on numerous bills and countless appeals from faith and community leaders from across our state. I believe it is time for people of faith in Missouri to make our voices and values heard. It is time for us to say, “This is wrong—enough is enough.” It is wrong to take advantage of the working poor. No one in the middle or upper income brackets would stand for these ridiculous interest rates and fees. Many in the payday and related industries will say these loans are needed and we must be able to charge these rates to cover our risk, but studies indicate the repayment rate on these loans (even with current rates) is between 90 and 95 percent. The default rate is much lower than the default on credit card debt. These lenders charge these rates because they can.

Missouri has some of the weakest payday loan laws in the nation and some of the highest rates. I believe this is wrong, and it is contrary to my faith and the teachings of scripture. For me to fail to speak or to act on behalf of the working poor in our state is to betray my faith and my Savior. If you would like more information I encourage you to visit Missourians for Responsible Lending (www.moresponsiblelending.org). This is not a political issue—it is an issue of faith and justice. I hope you will join the effort as we seek to lead our state to greater justice and hope for all Missourians.

This article was written for this week's Churchnet page in Word&Way.

What does God Expect of Me?

2012-01-02T10:40:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year! 2012 is here! Have you made you New Year’s Resolutions? Maybe a better question is have you broken them? For many people New Years Day is a time when we think about the coming year…what we expect or hope for. What does this passage (Matthew 25:31-46) about the sheep and the goats have to say to us? How can it help us to be better prepared to face a new year?

God has expectations for us. He has plans for us. He has expectations for all of his creation, and he will judge us on the basis of his expectations. The passage provides an incredible picture of the final judgment. The one who took the form of a servant will ultimately return in glory to judge. All the nations will be a part of this judgment. What will be the standard for this judgment? What does God expect of me? The good news is this final examination is an “open book examination.” The questions have been announced in advance. God is not trying to trick you. He has laid out his expectations.

His expectations are all about relationships. He will judge on the basis of our relationships. Ultimately, he will judge on the basis of our relationship with God through Christ. But, our relationship with the Son of Man is in separately tied to our relationships with each other, and more specifically, our relationships with “the least of these brothers (or sisters) of mine.” It is no problem to treat our loved ones and friends with love and compassion. We have been doing that for the past couple of weeks as we celebrated the birth of the Savior.

It is easy to be generous to our family; however, the real test of our relationship with God is how his presence impacts our relationships with “the least of these.” Jesus holds the destiny of all people in his hands, and he cares about the hungry, thirsty, sick, naked, strangers, and prisoners. We all have our list of “the least of these.” They are the people who are outside of our circle of compassion and concern. Obviously, it could be some of the same ones Jesus mentioned, but it could be another race, nationality or ethic group. They might be individuals of another social economic group, someone with more or less education, people in another political party, or people from a another culture or lifestyle. We need to throw away all these lists that divide us and acknowledge we are all children of God. An unknown author penned these lines: There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it hardly becomes any of us, to talk about the rest of us!

Those ministering and serving did not realize they were doing so. They did not think about it. Their actions were not religious acts designed to make them look good to God or to gain his favor. They were just spontaneous acts of love and compassion. They were their normal response to another person in need. “Doing good” is not in the deeds themselves. Someone with selfish motives may choose to feed the hungry. It is the motive that reveals who we are.

Compassionate and serving love is the fruit of genuine religion. By this fruit one’s true relationship to God is revealed. God does not judge us on the basis of religious activity or justify us on the basis of theological orthodoxy. Remember the question which confronted Jesus in the tenth chapter of Luke’s Gospel? What must I do to inherit eternal life? It is the same question. What does God expect of me? In response Jesus said, Love God with all you are, and love you neighbor as yourself! The follow-up question was Who is my neighbor? Jesus then told the parable of the Good Samaritan, and he encouraged the inquirer to go and do likewise. Go and live like this man. Live a life characterized by compassionate love!

Those judged and sent away in the parable of the sheet and goats were not condemned for the “big sins.” Their guilt was in what they failed to do. We get to choose how we live, and our choices have eternal consequences. The story is told that just before the death of actor W.C. Fields, a friend visited Fields' hospital room and was surprised to find him thumbing through a Bible. Asked what he was doing with a Bible, Fields replied, "I'm looking for loopholes." There are a lot of people trying to find a way to live the Christian life without investing their lives in service to others, but there is no loophole.

God’s judgment will be surprising. God’s judgment always surprises us. He sees things so differently than we do. One of the characteristics of true saints is that they forget themselves in service to God and man. Ironically, those on the right and the left hand in the parable respond to the king’s statements with the same question. When did we see you hungry, thirsty, sick, naked, a stranger, or a prisoner?

The loving in the parable were so humble that they could not imagine their service could have been a service to the king. They did not anticipate a reward for their actions. A genuine child of God loses himself or herself in loving service.

The unloving were so unobservant, their religion so routine, that they never thought of Jesus as being tied to the least of these. They did not anticipate he would ask from them acts of compassion. Their faith was only a ritual observance or a set of correct beliefs. They had separated Jesus from the routines of their daily lives and their everyday interactions with other people. Their insensitivity is revealed in their question, When did we see you? If you have to ask “who is in need,” then you do not understand the nature of our Savior. Their defense was their condemnation!

Christ goes about everyday among the poor and the imprisoned. He lives among all “those people” we try to avoid. The nature of this oneness of Christ with each person is beyond human expression. All of us have an understanding of the bond between a parent and a child (from one or both perspectives). The pain of one becomes the pain of the other. The bond between Christ and every person in our world is closer than any human tie. It is bound by creation and his eternal Spirit. The pain experienced by the least of these moves the very heart of our Savior.

The Christian life is not primarily a list of things to believe—some type of orthodox theology. It is about a relationship with God through Christ that forever changes us. This relationship changes all of our other relationships. It changes the way we see the world. It actually enables us to begin to see the least of these. Baptists are fond of saying we are “people of the Book.” We believe the Bible is the Word of God. In the fourteenth chapter of John’s Gospel as Jesus tells his disciples “good-bye,” he says: You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.

I have come to believe what Jesus really meant was we were not merely to believe he was the way, but we were to adopt his way of living as our way of living. Jesus said to Thomas, I am the way…I have been showing you the way…My way of living is the way to God. He showed us all we need to know. The Message translation of the prophet Micah’s words (6:8) says it like this:

But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously—take God seriously.

My resolution for this New Year is to see the world through my Savior’s eyes. To ask him to help me see and serve the least of these. My resolution is to live justly, with compassion and humility.

This post is a summary of a message I shared on New Year's Day.

Finding Common Ground

2011-12-31T12:23:00.003-06:00

CBS News Religion & Culture produced a video that looks at the history of the "Finding Common Ground" movement and what interreligious cooperation looks like in Reading, Pennsylvania. I did not see the video when it was first released, but a friend shared it with me. It is a helpful report about interreligious dialogue and cooperation. The Jefferson City religious community is in the early stages for creating a faith-based organization called "Jefferson City Congregations Uniting." I am currently serving as a member of the board for the new "Missouri Faith Voices." This statewide network of religious leaders provides an opportunity for faith leaders and congregations to work together to solve community and statewide problems. Click the link below to watch the CBS News video.

Making the Most of our Moments

2011-08-28T23:54:00.002-05:00

In a just a few days I will be attending my 40^th high school reunion. I know you are surprised that I am old enough to attend a 40^th reunion. I must have started to school early. Maybe not! Events like this sometimes cause us reflect on the pace of our lives and how quickly the years seem to pass. My guess is that most of the people in the room at the reunion (including me) will look old. It will be interesting to catch up with some former classmates and learn about where their life journeys have taken them.

The Apostle Paul wrote the Ephesian Christians (chapter 5:15-17) and urged them to “be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.” He encouraged them not to “be foolish” and to understand “the Lord’s will” for their lives. We spend so much of our lives worrying about the past or getting ready for the future. Sometimes we miss the moments—the present opportunities that are right in front of us. The challenge for us is to be careful how we live. We are most the most of our opportunities. We are to seize the day!

It does not really seem like it has been 40 years since I was finishing high school and making plans for college. I had not yet become aware of God’s call to ministry. I had not yet met my wife, Bettie Jo. I had not begun to think about having a family, and now I am a grandfather. Sometimes we forget that life is made up of individual days and hours and moments. Each of these moments comes with an opportunity. Some of the opportunities turn out to be more important than others. My first day at college I met Bettie Jo who would become my wife and my best friend.

Every day the journey of life brings us in contact with people. Sometimes they change our lives. Sometimes we change their lives. Every day God is working out his plan in our lives. He is leading us, shaping us, and giving us new opportunities. The older I become the more I realize how important these moments and opportunities are.

Over the past few years I have become involved in a number of faith-based organizations which are involved in speaking and acting on behalf of the most vulnerable in our communities. They are the poor and many others we often overlook in the normal activities of life. I volunteer my time and energy because I have come to realize I have a limited number of opportunities to make a difference in the lives of people. What a tragedy it would be for us to live our lives and miss the moments and opportunities God provides. In Matthew’s Gospel (chapter 25:40) Jesus in his parable of “the sheep and the goats” said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Look around. What opportunities is God giving you to make a difference in someone’s life? We are at our best when we make the most of every opportunity.

This article was written for an August issue of Word&Way.

Partners in the Global Baptist Family

2011-08-28T23:51:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of representing Churchnet at the Annual Gathering of the Baptist World Alliance in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. More than 300 Baptists from around the world came together for this meeting of the global Baptist Family on July 4-9. I must admit the trip was a challenge—more than 30 hours traveling each way and a 13 hour time difference. I had just about adjusted to the Malaysian time zone when it was time to come home. But the travel challenges did not diminish the significance of the gathering. These annual gatherings and the Baptist World Congress which meets every five years are unlike any other Baptist gatherings I have ever attended.

The richness of the diversity of the worldwide Baptist family and opportunity to worship, pray, fellowship, work together, and learn from each other is a wonderful experience. I serve on the General Council of the Baptist World Alliance which conducts the business of the Baptist World Alliance during these annual gatherings. I also serve on one of the commissions in the Freedom and Justice Division, and I am a member of the Promotion and Development Committee.

The four Commissions of the Division on Freedom and Justice offer to gifted Baptist Christians opportunity to engage in research and dialogue around assigned areas of concern. Commission members are expected to develop recommendations and resources intended to assist BWA member bodies and churches to live out their calling in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Division comprises the following Commissions: the Commission on Religious Freedom, the Commission on Peace, the Commission on Social and Environmental Justice, and the Commission on Human Rights Advocacy.

I serve on the Commission on Social and Environmental Justice. The Commission on Social and Environmental Justice engages in research and discussion on situations marked by injustice. It suggests ways in which the BWA and its member bodies may bring the values of our faith to bear upon the situations identified. Poverty, creation care and racism are some of the issues of concern to this Commission.

This year our commission heard report on “The Face of the Burmese Refugee Church in Malaysia,” “The Effects of Environmental Injustice in Haiti & Southeast Asia,” and “The Church’s Intervention in Human Trafficking.” The reports were informative and challenging. I also had the privilege of being a part of the first meeting of a BWA Special Commission on Intra-Baptist Relations. This commission will be exploring how the BWA can more effectively engage the worldwide Baptist family in ways that improve our communication, understanding, and collaborative ministry around the world.

One of the highlights of the gathering every year is the opportunity to experience the culture and worship of the global Baptist family. Our Malaysian Baptist friends were wonderful hosts for our gathering, and the worship sessions we shared inspired me to live for Christ and deepened my commitment to being a partner with my brothers and sisters around the world. I am so grateful Churchnet is a part of this wonderful family.

This article was written for a July issue of Word&Way.

Giving Freely to Relieve Suffering

2011-06-05T22:12:00.002-05:00

Sometimes it seems there is a natural disaster or catastrophic event almost every week. We read about these incredible events in our newspapers and watch reports on the news. Many times the reports are from other parts of our nation or on the other side of the world. If you are like me you are often moved to respond, but the needs sometimes seem overwhelming. It is difficult to imagine the trauma experienced by those who are directly impacted the events.

Over the past few weeks we have been stunned by the television images and reports of the tornado in Joplin, Missouri. This time the disaster was close to home for many Missourians. Already many have responded with prayers, financial support, water, and a host of other types of gifts. Thousands have already been volunteers for a day or for many days. It is clear the Joplin community will require months and maybe years of support and help to recover from this tragic storm.

Several congregations which are a part of Churchnet have already had volunteers on site in Joplin assisting the recovery process. Our Disaster Relief Chain Saw crews will be working in Joplin beginning June 13^th. We are currently making plans through our partnership with Texas Baptists to send more than 100 volunteers in mid-July. Several congregations are also sending teams. If you would like to volunteer to assist our Chain Saw crew with debris removal or participate in the July volunteer projects, contact the Churchnet office at (888) 420-2426.

We are receiving financial gifts designated for the Tornado Relief as well. There are many worthwhile organizations raising funds for this effort. We plan to distribute the funds received through Churchnet through local Baptist churches in the Joplin area. We believe this will provide a wonderful way for Baptists to reach out to those who have lost their homes, possessions, or jobs. If you would like to help you may send your gift designated for “Tornado Relief” to Churchnet, P. O. Box 508, Jefferson City, MO 65102, or you may donate on our website at www.thechurchnet.org.

Relief programs often talk about how people respond quickly and generously in the initial days and weeks following a tragedy like the Joplin tornado. However, it is typical for the initial awareness and compassion to fade quickly as they television news moves on to the latest story. Tragedies like the earthquakes in Haiti and Japan will require years and maybe decades before those impacted begin to recover. The families in Joplin will also need help for years to begin to recover and rebuild their lives.

The faith community should be among the most faithful in responding to help with these great needs. When Jesus sent his disciples out he instructed them, As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give (Matthew 10:7-8 NIV). It is a wonderful image. When we go out in the name of Christ, the kingdom of heaven is present. God goes with us and his power is evident in our ministry. God has been incredibly good to me. I have been blessed beyond my dreams. He has given to me freely, and he calls on me to give freely. This terrible tragedy can become an occasion for generosity and compassion. Thanks for being a people who give.

This article was written for this week's issue of Word&Way.

Finding a Way to Share Hope

2011-03-23T10:50:00.003-05:00

It is pretty easy to become cynical in our world. Every day it seems there is a new crisis, a new conflict, or a new calamity. We are confronted with reports from the battle fields and the updates on the terror alerts. People try to cope with rising prices and rising unemployment. Relationship are broken and families face incredible pressures. In the midst of our often troubled world we are call to be people of hope. We have a message of hope. It is a message that has changed us forever. Our generation needs a word of hope. Our world desperately needs the people of God to live out the hope we have found in Christ.

We are fond of quoting the scripture regarding Jesus being “the way, the truth, and the life.” But it is not enough to quote the verse. Jesus called us to live “his way.” The Christian life is essentially a call to live our lives in ways that run counter to culture. As people of faith we believe even when the evidence is lacking, we love even when those we love do not respond, and we live with hope even when the world around us seems dark and discouraged.

Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome to say, May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). It is a wonderful image—overflowing with hope! We need churches and Christians today who are overflowing with hope. I am certainly not suggesting that we need some type of simplistic or naïve faith which responds to life by ignoring the challenges and problems. I am suggesting that mature faith calls for us to learn to face the difficulties of life with the peace and confidence that comes from a relationship with God. Sometimes we grieve with those who grieve, but we do not grieve as those who have no hope.

Maybe we should begin to see these challenging days as days of great opportunity. Everywhere we look we can see people who are searching for hope. Often they seem to be looking in all the wrong places, but still they are searching. As the people of God we have the opportunity engage the world around us with honesty, integrity, love, and hope. My faith brings me new hope each day. On my best days I find a way to share that hope with someone else.

This year’s Annual Gathering will be a Share Hope Summit at Windermere Baptist Conference Center on Friday evening and Saturday morning, April 1-2, 2011. Church leaders will be coming together for worship and fellowship. We will also have the opportunity to explore together how our churches can more effectively share hope. The workshops will include sessions focused on “sharing our faith with friends and neighbors,” “ministering to the needs of individuals and families,” and “speaking and acting on behalf of the poor in our communities.” I believe it will be a great time of sharing and learning.

I hope you will plan to bring a good group from your church. Windermere will be a wonderful place to come together as a network of Baptists. Contact Windermere at 800-346-2215 to make your reservations. Checkout our website for more information—www.thechurchnet.org. Join us as we explore the hope we have in Christ.

This article was written for the Churchnet page in Word&Way.

Finding Ways to Network

2011-01-31T11:37:00.001-06:00

The denominational world is changing. I continue to read articles about the post-denominational era and the changes taking place in both national denominations and state-wide religious judicatories. I do not know (and I really do not think anyone else does either) how our changing world will change our denominational relationships in the coming years. I do believe real change has already started. In many respects the churches already know this (at least the healthiest congregations). Churches are exploring and finding new ways to collaborate for ministry. It is not just individuals who are looking at denominational issues in new ways. It is also local churches.

As the globalization of our communities, societies, and nations continues to take place, churches have new opportunities. The world is getting smaller. Communication and collaboration is getting easier. Churches are no longer as dependent upon the denomination as they once felt they were. They are also no longer in the closed denominational systems they once comfortably operated within. Every church is now being exposed to new resources, new ideas, new strategies and new potential relationships. In some ways congregations are becoming a part of a larger Christian community which is often much more engaged and helpful than denominational organizations have historically been.

Now remember, I am the Executive Director for a state-wide Baptist organization. Churchnet is a Baptist network serving churches. Churchnet is a ministry of the Baptist General Convention of Missouri. “Churchnet” is much more than a new name. It is an acknowledgment that the world has and continues to change. These changes mean we need to adapt how we serve local congregations. Churchnet is really an expression of our desire to create a new paradigm denominational entity which is not focused on the denomination, but on the churches we serve. Our goal is create an environment that allows congregations to collaborate at a level and in ways they have not been able to before.

Most of the dynamic congregations today look for help from other churches. They are not looking to the denomination for the next great resource or innovation. They are watching and sharing with other churches. We believe our mission is to facilitate this process. Our new initiatives (an online Resource Center, an online Training Events, a Relationship Network to facilitate online discussion groups, a Consultant Source which allows local church experts to help each other, etc.) are all designed to allow churches to serve churches. We believe churches can be more effective as we learn from each other, help each other, and collaborate with each other.

I want to encourage you to become a member of Churchnet by registering on our site (www.thechurchnet.org). It is free and open to everyone. Encourage your church member and friends to register. Let’s build a collaborative community as we serve Christ today. Maybe we can help shape the next generation of denominational organizations. Maybe we can build a network that allows churches to serve each other.

This article was written for Churchnet's e-newsletter.

Caring for a Hungry World

2011-01-13T16:37:00.002-06:00

The tenth chapter of Mark’s Gospel tells us the story of a man who asked Jesus an important question—Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? People throughout Christian history have continued to ask this question. What does my faith require of me? How can I live out my faith each day? Jesus points the man to the commandments, specifically the commandments which focus on our relationships with each other. The man’s response indicated that he was a “rule keeper.” He knew how to play the religion game, but his legalistic approach to his faith had never brought him peace.

Jesus would not allow him settle for an attempted short-cut to the Kingdom of God. Jesus lovingly pointed him to heart of the Christian faith. You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me. We have to get our focus off ourselves and off our possessions. Jesus pointed the man to the needs of the poor.

Many churches promote a World Hunger Offering to provide an opportunity for church members to learn about hunger needs and an opportunity give to meet these needs. “Bread for the World” reports the world is facing a hunger crisis unlike anything it has seen in more than 50 years. Every day, almost 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes. That's one child every five seconds. There were 1.4 billion people in extreme poverty in 2005. The World Bank estimates that the spike in global food prices in 2008, followed by the global economic recession in 2009 and 2010 has pushed between 100-150 million people into poverty.

Churchnet is collaborating with Texas Baptists through our partnership to promote our World Hunger Offering. Some churches promote their Hunger Offering in the fall, but many churches are beginning to promote gifts to World Hunger throughout the year. We are beginning to develop World Hunger resources for churches on our new website (www.thechurchnet.org). We are also providing an opportunity for churches to apply for hunger funds for local hunger ministries here in our own state. You can visit our site to download the application form for hunger funds for 2012 or contact our Churchnet office. Applications for 2012 funding must be received in the Churchnet office no later than February 14, 2011.

The World Hunger Offering helps to meet hunger needs here in Missouri, across our nation, and around the world through Baptist World Aid. We would love to hear how you are meeting the needs of the hungry in your community. Check out our website for information about ways your church can promote a World Hunger Offering. Our Savior continues to point us to the needs of the poor and the hungry in our world.

This article was written for the Churchnet page in the next issue of the Word&Way.

Giving Thanks for Family

2010-12-08T16:49:00.001-06:00

Our family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. As the family grows, our adult children and their families have growing commitments and it is more difficult to get together. Sometimes we cannot all be together at the same time, but we did get to spend some time with all three of our sons and their wives and our grandchildren. Like most parents we are incredibly proud of our children and their families. It is always great to spend time with them. It is amazing how quickly the years seem to be passing.

Family is important to Bettie Jo and me. My wife’s parents have been more than my in-laws. Joe and Betty have been our close friends our entire married life. (Yes, I have told them they lacked a little creativity in choosing a name for my wife.) They live a few miles outside Jefferson City. They have spent nearly every major holiday with our family for many, many years. This was true even when we lived in St. Louis and Atlanta. They were a tremendous help us to during the early years of our married life, and we continue to feel very close to them.

Today we have the privilege of helping them. Their health problems sometimes mean they need our help and care. Bettie Jo and I have talked many times about the fact that it is our turn to provide the care and support. We think that is what family means.

We also had the chance to visit my mother a couple days after Thanksgiving. (With eight children and more than fifty grandchildren and great grandchildren, it is really better if we do not all show up at the same time.) We did see one of my brothers and one of my sisters their some of their families. Bettie Jo and my mother share a lot of common interests and perspectives. They regularly share books they are reading.

When we gather for Thanksgiving it is not unusual for us to think of family and friends. When we gather for our traditional dinner we hold hands and invite each person present to share something for which they are thankful. Most of the time the primary thing mentioned is family.

One of the greatest blessings God has given us is each other. Have you ever considered what our lives would be like without our families. These are the people who know us the best—flaws and all—and they still love and care for us. With these blessings comes great responsibility. We not only receive care, but we offer care for each other. The family is the first place we learn about responsibility. I am thankful for my family, and I am glad to accept the responsibility that comes with it.

This article was originally written for our Churchnet page in Word&Way.

Caring for Your Pastor

2010-11-03T10:23:00.002-05:00

I have been serving as an interim pastor for the past few months. The congregation recently extended a call to a new pastor who will be on the field in a few weeks. It is an exciting time for the church family and their new pastor. The church leadership recently distributed some suggestions to the congregation regarding how church members could welcome their new pastor and his family.

The suggestions were grouped in four broad categories—Be Patient, Be Positive, Be Prayerful and Be Proactive. The suggested in the “Be Patient” category reminded church members about the many decisions, transitions, and tasks that have to be completed by their pastor and his family as they make to the move to a new community and church. This includes getting to know the names of the new church family. The suggestions included being patient and giving the new pastor and his family time to settle in.

The suggestions in the “Be Positive” section included not expecting the new pastor to “fix” all the current problems when he arrives. Members were encouraged to express appreciation for their church and its ministries. They were also urged to be considerate of the pastor’s family.

The “Be Prayerful” section reminded members the new pastor cannot do his job on his own. Pray for God’s blessing upon his ministry. Pray for church leaders who will work with the new pastor.

The last section on the list—Be Proactive—encouraged members to write a welcome note to their new pastor. They were urged to volunteer to be helpful in the transition. Once when I arrived at a new pastorate a church staff member volunteered to take me to all the community hospitals showing me their locations, where I could park, and how the hospitals were organized. It was a very helpful introduction.

As I read through the list of suggestions for welcoming a new pastor, I realized that many of the suggestions were be appropriate for any pastor. It is so easy for a congregation to grow to depend upon their pastor and church staff. Sometimes we forget how important it is for us to express appreciation and care for them. Don’t forget to “Care for Your Pastor” whether he is new or a familiar friend.

This article was written for the e-newsletter of Churchnet: e-current.

God Teaches Us to Trust

2010-10-25T14:57:00.004-05:00

The Psalmist wrote, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7 NIV). Psalm 37:5-6 (NIV) urges us to “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” The people of God are to trust God. The command seems simple enough, but in reality it is extremely difficult to do. We are so prone to trust ourselves, and we are so hesitant to trust anyone else.

The writer of Proverbs encourages us to, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV). Several years ago I read a book written by Patrick Lencioni entitled, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Later I read several of his books including one entitled, Death by Meeting. I sometimes tell people it is a “Baptist” book. He is an interesting author of leadership books. He calls them “leadership fables.” I like to think of them as modern day parables. They are stories about people like you and me.

I was particularly intrigued by his book about the dysfunctions of teams. The first dysfunction is the absence of trust. While the author discusses the other “dysfunctions” that make teamwork difficult—fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results—I am convinced he correctly identified trust as the foundation for real teamwork. Without trust it is impossible to form a real team, partnership, or collaborative effort. I believe trust is the foundation for Kingdom work. In the parable of the trustworthy servant in Luke 19:17 (NIV), the master said, 'Well done, my good servant! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.' We are to be worthy of trust. Our relationship with God, who is completely trustworthy, should enable us to become trustworthy as we learn to trust each other.

I have many opportunities to work with churches and church leaders. It amazes me how often I meet with congregations where it is obvious the members do not trust each other. Sometimes members do not trust their pastor or other church staff. Sometimes staff members do not trust church leaders. Sometimes we have misunderstood the meaning of trust or misused the term. It certainly does not mean we always agree with each other. Lencioni’s book says in the context of building a team, trust is confidence among team members that their peers’ intentions are good, and that there is no reason to be protective or careful around the group. This confidence in the intentions of others allows us to be genuine, honest, and transparent in our relationships with each other. It allows us to accept each other with all our flaws and weaknesses as children of God saved by his grace.

I have learned in my own life to trust God more and more as I have come to know him better. The better I get to know God, the more I trust him. One of the tragedies in many of our churches is that we do not “know” each other. Our failure to invest ourselves and genuinely share ourselves with each other has kept us from getting to know each other and that has prevented us from developing relationships of trust within the family of God. Do you really know the people who are a part of your Bible study class? Have you been willing to be vulnerable with those who are a part of your committee assignment? Are you willing to invest the time to get to know those who sit near you in worship services? Real relationships build trust within the body of Christ and enable us to serve together more effectively in Christ’s Kingdom. Building relationships of trust is a Christian discipline. Let’s start building trust.

This article was written for the "Message" page in this week's Word&Way.

Defending Religious Liberty

2010-10-07T19:48:00.004-05:00

I serve on the Board of Directors of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. I participated in our annual Board Meeting earlier this week. The BJC's mission is to defend and extend God-given religious liberty for all, furthering the Baptist heritage that champions the principle that religion must be freely exercised, neither advanced nor inhibited by government.

Primarily an education and advocacy organization, the Baptist Joint Committee is a leading voice in Washington, D.C., fighting to uphold the historic Baptist principle of religious freedom. It stands guard at the intersection of church and state, defending the first freedom of the First Amendment.

Churchnet (or the Baptist General Convention of Missouri) is one of 15 national, state and regional bodies in the United States which are a part of the BJC. Our work is supported by thousands of churches and individuals across the country. The BJC works with a wide range of religious organizations providing education about and advocacy for religious liberty. The BJC is the only religious agency devoted solely to religious liberty and the institutional separation of church and state. While primarily supported by Baptists, the BJC fights for religious liberty for all, including Jewish, Muslim and a host of Christian groups, who count on the BJC for leadership.

A proven bridge-builder, the BJC provides reliable leadership on church-state issues as it leads key coalitions of religious and civil liberties groups striving to protect both the free exercise of religion and to defend against its establishment by government.

On Monday afternoon our board had the privilege to meet with Barry Clayton Black, U.S. Senate Chaplain. Chaplain Black, a retired Rear Admiral, Chief of Navy Chaplains, and twenty-seven year veteran of the U.S. Navy, was elected the 62nd Chaplain of the Senate on June 27, 2003. It was incredibly interesting to hear Chaplain Black describe his work and ministry to a Senate family of approximately 7,000 people including some of the most powerful leaders in our country.

He affirmed his belief in and commitment to defending our religious liberties and the principles of the first amendment--Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Our Religious Liberty requires a delicate balance between these two principles of non-establishment and free exercise. I am grateful for the privilege of serving on the board for the BJC. I encourage you to visit the website to learn more about the work of the Baptist Joint Committee.

Be a Voice for the Poor

2010-10-07T15:38:00.003-05:00

I continue to sense a worsening crisis for the poor in our state. At the very time when the most vulnerable in our state are in need, our budget crisis continues to result in budget cuts which ultimately mean fewer services for those with the greatest need. Our current state tax code was adopted in 1931 and has become one of the most regressive in our nation. When will we begin to live out the meaning of our state motto? Missouri's motto is The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law.

The prophet Isaiah wrote: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” “If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." Isaiah 58:6-7, 10

Martin Luther King, Jr., in his speech Strength to Love in 1963 said, The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority.

How should we respond to World Hunger?

2010-10-01T19:56:00.005-05:00

Our world is filled with hungry people. Hunger is a term which has three meanings (Oxford English Dictionary 1971):

the uneasy or painful sensation caused by want of food; craving appetite. Also the exhausted condition caused by want of food
the want or scarcity of food in a country
a strong desire or craving

World Hunger refers to the second definition, aggregated to the world level. The related technical term is malnutrition. Malnutrition is a general term that indicates a lack of some or all nutritional elements necessary for human health. Estimates indicate there are over one billion hungry people in the world. Most of these people live outside the developed parts of the world.

However, that does not mean there are no hungry people where you live. The following statistics summarize hunger in the United States.

Poverty Statistics in America

In 2009, 43.6 million people (14.3 percent) were in poverty.
In 2009, 8.8 (11.1% percent) million families were in poverty.
In 2009, 24.7 million (12.9 percent) of people aged 18-64 were in poverty.
In 2009, 15.5 million (20.7 percent) children under the age of 18 were in poverty.
In 2009, 3.4 million (8.9 percent) seniors 65 and older were in poverty.

I serve as chairperson for an ecumenical advocacy group called Missouri Christians Against Racism and Poverty. Over the past year our group has repeatedly received information regarding the increasing number of hungry people in our state. The economic downturn has forced many families into poverty. What is our responsibility? How should a Christian respond to the hunger problems around the world?

This year we have begun a new level of partnership with the Christian Life Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. We are collaborating with our brothers and sisters in Texas to promote our World Hunger Offering. Some of the funds we receive will ultimately help to meet hunger needs here in our state of Missouri. They will also help to address needs across our nation, and through the Baptist World Alliance we will also help to meet the global hunger needs.

Traditionally, we have promoted our World Hunger Offering during October; however, beginning next year we will be providing resources to help our churches learn about poverty and hunger needs throughout the year. We cannot meet the challenges of world hunger with an offering we promote only one month a year. As we seek to Share Hope with our state and our world, I want to encourage you to explore new ways to challenging your members to find ways to get involved in eliminating the poverty in our state, our nation and the world. We have to find ways to do as Jesus did—feed the hungry. Watch for information regarding new resources for promoting your World Hunger Offering during the coming year.

This article was written for our month e-newsletter (The E-Message).

Life is a Stewardship!

2010-09-29T09:01:00.001-05:00

When I served as a pastor, most of my preaching plans included series of messages. I looked forward to sharing an Easter series, and I always looked forward to our Advent services. In the fall I always led the congregations I served in a stewardship emphasis. Normally I shared my stewardship series in October or November. Sometimes it coincided with the adoption of our ministry plans and budget for the coming church year. I am serving as an interim pastor this year, and I am preparing to begin another series of stewardship messages this Sunday on The Giving Life.

I have always enjoyed preaching on the great theme of Christian stewardship. I guess I learned this from my father. He also led the churches he served in annual stewardship emphases. I know there are pastors who do not enjoy preaching on stewardship themes, and I also know there are church members who sometimes discourage their pastors from preaching on Christian stewardship. I believe it is sad when this happens. Christian stewardship is at the heart of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. All of life is a stewardship.

It is important to help every believer remember all we are and have is a gift from God. We are responsible to God for how we use everything we possess. While this includes our financial gifts to support the ministries of our churches, it also means much more. I have often encouraged Christians to consider growing beyond the Old Testament principle of giving a tithe of our possessions. If we have been greatly blessed we should learn to give in greater ways. Bettie Jo and I began many years ago seeking to increase our gifts to Kingdom causes on a percentage basis beyond a basic tithe of our income. We have not been able to increase our giving every year, but many years we have been able to make a small percentage increase in our giving. Over the years we have been able to give more than we ever believed we could.

As important as our gifts are, Christian stewardship involves much more than our financial gifts. God is concerned about how we use all our financial resources, not just the amount we give. Are we responsible for how we manage and use all our income? Do we pay our bills on time? Do we spend wisely? Do we prepare for the future appropriately?

God also has a plan for our lives. How we use our time, our talents and our gifts is just as important as how we use our money. Maybe we have no more valuable resource than our time. It represents our lives. Are we making our lives available for Kingdom service? Is God pleased with how we spend our time and our energy? Have we talked with God about his priorities? As a disciple of Jesus Christ we acknowledge all of life is a gift from God. We are responsible for how we use this precious gift. Life is a stewardship! I encourage you to be faithful in your stewardship.

This article was written for this week's Word&Way issue.

Missouri Missions Offering

2010-08-31T13:56:00.003-05:00

I am grateful for the break in the hot, humid days of summer. The fall has always been my favorite time of year with warm days and cool evening. School has started, football games have begun, and everyone seems to be settling back into their routines following a busy summer.

The fall is also the time of year when we promote our Missouri State Missions Offering. September and October are the traditional times when we think and pray about the mission opportunities and needs of Missouri. The 2010 State Missions Offering will provide funding for our Mission Partnerships as we enable local churches to become directly involved in Missouri, national, and international mission partnerships. Our Missions Mobilization Team gives direction to these mission partnerships and volunteers from churches across our state have an opportunity to get involved in hands-on mission projects. The offering will also provide resources for new church starts across the state.

One-third of the Missouri Missions Offering provides support for our benevolent institutions through The Baptist Home, the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, and the Freeway Foundation. Your gifts help to provide care for senior adults and children who need Christian homes and care. The offering will also provide funds for the Freeway Foundation’s drug and alcohol awareness programs across Missouri. Missions is about Believing, Giving, Caring, and Ministering in the name of Christ. Our state-wide goal is $18,000. Your gifts make a difference! I hope you will lead your church to be a part of the Missouri Missions Offering. Resources for the offering are available here.

Who is shaping your life?

2010-08-28T21:31:00.002-05:00

I am sure everyone knows the political season is in full swing. The political ads on television and radio and those annoying automated phone calls are in full operation. I am looking forward to the elections just because I want the campaign season to be over. I know from reading American history that politics has always been a tough game in our country, but sometimes I wonder what all the negative ads say about our society. I am told that the politicians use the negative ads because they work. It seems that it is easier to tear down your opponent than it is to sell your own qualifications or your own ideas for addressing our nation’s problems and challenges.

Even with all the problems and “mud” in our political system, I would not be willing to give up on our first amendment freedoms: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. None of us want to live in a country where we do not have these cherished freedoms, including the freedom of speech. Maybe the political rhetoric says as much about us as it does the politicians. If we demanded more honesty in political ads, more genuine debate on the issues, and more transparency in political campaigns, maybe we would get it. I know you have to be a serious optimist to believe it is possible.

My real concern is not political campaigns, but how we allow them to shape our society and our lives. Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome and said it is God’s plan that we would “be conformed to the likeness of his Son.” He desires to shape our lives. Each day he is seeking to reshape our lives so we might become the persons he created and planned for us to be. Like many of you, I am aware he has a lot of work left to do in my life.

There is a constant struggle going on in our lives. There is a question we must answer for each new day. Who or what will shape our lives today? Will we allow God’s Spirit the freedom he desires to work in our lives? Will we accept his plans, adopt his attitudes, and work on his priorities? It is so easy to allow someone else to shape our lives. It is so easy to be shaped by our society and it values. The call of the Christian faith is to reshape our society rather than being shaped by it.

We cannot allow our society to persuade us that dishonesty is okay when it is for a good cause or destroying or devaluing another person is acceptable behavior for a child of God. We do not have to agree with someone to treat them with respect and to acknowledge they are important to God. It is easy to get caught up in the campaign mindset, but the challenge is to remember who we are as children of God. We need to live our lives (even during the campaign season) acknowledging our Savior and allowing him to continue his work of redemption and sanctification in our lives. Remember the question is who is shaping your life?

Note: This article was written for the September 2 "Message" page in Word&Way.

Religious Liberty—God’s Gift!

2010-07-22T15:54:00.002-05:00

I wrote this article for our "Message" page in Word&Way. This is the time of the year (the celebration of our Independence Day) when Americans celebrate the freedoms our country provides. Obviously, we are grateful for all our freedoms, but I am particularly grateful for the religious freedom we enjoy. You do not need to be a great student of history to know that religious oppression and persecution have been a part of our world for most of our recorded history. Our religious liberty is not something we should take for granted.

I have the wonderful privilege of representing our convention on the board of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. We are one of 15 national, state and regional bodies which are members of the BJC. The BJC's mission is to defend and extend God-given religious liberty for all, furthering the Baptist heritage that champions the principle that religion must be freely exercised, neither advanced nor inhibited by government.

The Baptist Joint Committee is primarily an educational and advocacy organization. It is a leading voice in Washington, D.C., fighting to uphold the historic Baptist principle of religious freedom. It stands guard at the intersection of church and state, defending the first freedom of the First Amendment. The BJC is the only religious agency devoted solely to religious liberty and the institutional separation of church and state. While primarily supported by Baptists, the BJC fights for religious liberty for all, including Jewish, Muslim and a host of Christian groups, who count on the BJC for leadership.

One of the newer brochures available from the BJC web site (www.bjconline.org) is entitled Religious Liberty is a Gift from God. The brochure states, “Religious liberty is a gift from God, not the result of any act of toleration or concession on the part of the state. It has to do with what we Baptists call “soul freedom” — the liberty of conscience that we all receive simply by virtue of how God created us and chose to relate to us.”

The brochure goes on to say, “God has made all of us free — free to say yes, free to say no, and free to make up our own minds about our spiritual destiny. Religious freedom has theological import. It goes to the heart of who God is and who we are. So, the fight for religious liberty for all is to ensure against government doing what even God will not do: to violate consciences or to coerce faith. Baptists became champions of religious liberty and church-state separation in large measure because we are a people of the Book.”

Many people in the world do not enjoy the freedom to worship God as they choose. It is important for us to remember that this precious freedom is fragile and must be defended for all people. Historically, Baptists have been at the forefront of the efforts to ensure religious liberty for all people. I am grateful we continue to be advocates for God’s precious gift.

Understanding Social Jusice

2010-07-22T15:51:00.001-05:00

My son, James, is pastor of Southwest Baptist Church in St. Louis. He recently posted a good article on "social justice". Check it out here.

Caring Ministry

2010-07-03T15:09:00.000-05:00

I love to read the Gospels. They provide the opportunity for us to see glimpses of the life and ministry of our Savior. It is not unusual for me to read a familiar story about Jesus and see some new truth or insight that I had not seen before. It is wonderful how the scripture stays fresh and new even when we read passages we have read many times. I have discovered two wonderful truths about Jesus’ ministry.

Jesus was always teaching. Obviously, there were specific times when he was teaching such as “the Sermon the on Mount.” But, I have noticed that he was always teaching. When he travelled with his disciples he used every circumstance of their lives as an occasion to teach them and others about God, the Kingdom, and how they should live. Jesus packed an enormous amount of teaching and instruction into three short years of public ministry. He could only do this by taking advantage of every opportunity.

The second thing that is obvious about his ministry is that he always started where people were. Jesus accepted people—all people—right where they were. He loved them in spite of their sin. The tax collector in Jericho and the Samaritan women at Jacob’s well are just two examples. His universal acceptance of people formed the foundation of his ministry to them. He always began with their felt needs. No matter whether they were blind, hungry, lonely, thirsty, sick or afraid, he met them where they were and ministered to their need.

Our Share Hope emphasis is designed to help our churches become more effective in developing congregational ministries as they seek to meet the needs of people in their churches and communities. Ministry has the potential to open many doors into the lives of people as we care for them in the name of Christ. Someone once said, People will not care about what we know until they know we care. People were drawn to Jesus by his compassion and ministry. He was often able to not only address their felt needs, but he was also able to lead them into a new relationship with God. I encourage you to read the Gospels again with me and see the fresh and wonderful way Jesus ministered to people. Maybe we should do the same.

Building a Relationship with Your Pastor

2010-06-08T10:18:00.001-05:00

The relationship between a pastor and a church is a very special relationship. It is usually a relationship which is forged through years of ministry. Pastors have the opportunity to minister to their church members in times of joy and in times of grief. Through the years of my ministry I have come to understand that these moments of highs and lows for church members form the foundation for deep relationships. Most of the church members I have served would not be able to recall the details of my sermons (even those I felt were my best), but they often remember times when I was with them during an illness or the death of a family member. They remember the celebrating the birth of their children and the times when they dedicated their children to God and pledged to raise them in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” They remember the times of joy at family weddings or when they received good news from the doctors regarding an illness.

When I was a very young pastor, I was concerned that I was not prepared to minister effectively to families at the time of death. Because I had not experienced the death of a close loved one, I felt I did not know what to say to those who were grieving. My father suggested that I should not be so concerned about what I would say. He said that I should just go and be with the family. He suggested that I should spend more time listening and sharing their grief. Through the years I have found his counsel to be very wise. A significant part of a pastor’s role is to “with” his church family. The most meaningful ministry relationships I have developed through the course of my ministry have been with individuals and families where I shared their grief, trials, joys and celebrations.

Obviously, a pastor does not walk on to a new church field with these relationships. Because the relationship is new there has not been the time for it to grow. The pastor still has a relationship by virtue of the role of the pastor; but it takes time for the relationship to grow. We sometimes refer to the first few months or the first year of a pastor’s tenure with a church as the “honeymoon” stage. The church family is excited to have a new pastor, and the church family and pastor are in the process of getting to know each other and building a new relationship. The investment the pastor makes in building relationships with the congregation during the early months and years of the ministry may have a significant impact on the tenure and success of the pastorate.

Through the years the relationship between a pastor and congregation grows and changes. As the members of the church family get to know and trust their pastor they often have a growing confidence in the pastor’s leadership. In a real sense pastors earn the right to lead their congregations. In one of my earlier pastorates, I was serving a church which needed to have a building program. The church leaders knew they needed to do some work on the building, but they were concerned about starting a building program and then losing their pastor. They had had a history of very short tenure for their pastors. I had to serve the congregation for several years before they were confident that I would stay and see them through the building program. Once they came to trust me they moved forward to address the building expansion.

Relationships between pastor and churches are very special. I hope you will take time to pray for your pastor. I hope you tell your pastor and church staff how grateful you are for their ministry. I hope you will take time to invest in a relationship that can make a difference in your life and in the ministry of your church.

Making the Most of Transition Moments

2010-05-11T14:08:00.000-05:00

Our youngest son graduated from college this past week. It is another step in our master plan. My daughter-in-law will graduate with her masters this week and my middle son will complete his masters later this year. I have attended a number of graduations through the years in addition to my own, and I have had the privilege of speaking at a few of them. This time of the year it seems like graduations are taking place everywhere. Young people are graduating from high school and college. Graduate students are completing advanced degrees.

The dictionary defines graduation as “a ceremony at which degrees or diplomas are conferred” or “a division or interval on a graduated scale” or “a mark indicating the boundary of such an interval.” In a sense graduation does mark an interval or transition point in our lives. For some it is the completion of training for a specific career field or job. For others it is a transition to another advanced course of study. I always liked school. Years ago I thought about becoming a professional student, but I discovered that it did not pay very well.

Transition moments are important in our lives. They are worthy of a pause to celebrate and reflect on our journey. It is also important to consider God’s plan for our lives. I was a college student before I really paused to ask God what he wanted me to do with my life. When I did, I was surprised to discover that he had a plan for me that was different than mine. Through the years I have also come to understand that his plans were best.

It is pretty easy to adopt the values of the world around us, and most of us have been impacted by a culture that tells us that life is about acquiring things. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi and said, I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want (Philippians 4:12).

Sometimes we spend our lives rushing to get ready for the future instead of living in the moment and exploring the opportunities of the present. As I reflect on my own graduations and transition moments I realize that sometimes I was in such a big hurry to complete my education and get ready for the future that I overlooked the opportunities God was placing before me. In spite of the fact that Jesus knew the crisis and task that lay before him, he always managed to live in the moment and notice each person he encountered. Maybe we would be wise to pause at these important transition points. Not just to celebrate, but also to reflect on our lives—how we are living and where our lives are headed. God is always at work “shaping our lives” as he seeks to conform us to the image of his Son. He is still working on me. How about you?

Strategic Opportunities

2010-05-06T09:50:00.000-05:00

This past week I participated in a leadership retreat with approximately 80 leaders of Baptist organizations from across the nation. We met April 27-29 at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga. The retreat was convened by Babs Baugh, president of the Baugh Foundation, and Daniel Vestal, executive coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The group included national and regional CBF leaders, a few state convention executives, and leaders from a variety of educational and ministry organizations and institutions. It was an interesting dialogue as we reflected on the transitions that have taken place in Baptist life over the past twenty plus years and dreamed about what God might have in store for the future of our ministries.

The meeting was particularly timely for me in light of the recent approval of our First Priority 2015 strategic plan during our Annual Meeting a few weeks ago. It was interesting to hear from other Baptist organizations and institutions are dealing with some of the same challenges and opportunities confronting our convention as we seek to serve churches. It was even more significant to learn that some have identified similar strategies for addressing these needs. I visited with leaders from the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Central Baptist Theological Seminary, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship regarding ways we might collaborate to more effectively and efficiently achieve our shared goals. Baptists have always been proud our autonomy, but we should also be committed to move beyond mere cooperation to genuine collaboration for the sake of God’s Kingdom.

Our First Priority 2015 strategic plan includes seven specific initiatives that we believe will enable us to more effectively serve churches. These initiatives will be launched this year under the name of ChurchNet. They focus on helping our churches with Relationships, Training, Resources, Consultations, Missions, Church Starting, and enhanced relationships with our Institutional Partners. The plan also includes a five-year, state-wide emphasis called Share Hope! This emphasis is an effort to assist our churches as they share hope with their communities through relational evangelism, congregational ministry, and community advocacy.

I thought we had a wonderful Annual Meeting; however, I am confident the real impact of this year’s gathering we be felt over the coming years as we begin to implement our in new initiatives and explore together how we can best serve churches as they fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. I look to making the journey with you.

First Priority 2015 Plan Approved

2010-04-01T09:32:00.000-05:00

The theme for our Annual Meeting this past weekend was “God’s Plans: Hope and a Future!” from Jeremiah 29:11. I believe God does have great plans for our cooperative ministry. Eight years ago a courageous and visionary group met at Fee Fee Baptist Church to organize the Baptist General Convention of Missouri. H. K. Neely provided leadership for our convention during the first two formative years. In 2005, the convention adopted its first strategic plan called First Priority. We have made great strides in our ministry over the past five years as we focused on our mission of serving churches. We have sought to lay the foundation for a new paradigm denominational organization.

Over the past 9 months our Strategy Planning Leadership Team has been guiding a process designed to help us think strategically about the next five years of our ministry. At our Annual Meeting we approved First Priority 2015. This plan outlines our strategy as we take the next step in our journey toward this new paradigm state convention. We want to minimize our overhead and bureaucracy. We want to genuinely focus on helping churches become healthy and effective. I believe the initiatives we approved have the potential to help us serve churches more effectively.

We identified seven initiatives—areas where we believe we must take decisive action. Four of these focus specifically on how we serve churches: the development of a resource center, the creation of a web-based training program, the facilitation of relationships through affinity/peer groups, and the expansion of our consulting program. We also approved initiatives in the area of mission partnerships, church starting, and more strategic collaboration with our institutional partners.

The plan includes a five-year emphasis called Share Hope. Our goal is to encourage, equip, and assist churches as they mobilize their members to share the hope they have found in Christ through relational evangelism, congregational ministry, and community advocacy. A task force of local church leaders will lead the process of developing resources and training for the emphasis. While we will continue to be the Baptist General Convention of Missouri, we also approved a simpler “doing business” name—ChurchNet. We want to be a Baptist network serving churches!

I was blessed by the worship and fellowship during our Annual Meeting. The musicians did a wonderful job leading in worship, and our speakers challenged us as they shared God’s Word. It was incredible to see our convention approve what I believe is a very significant strategic step in our ministry as we approved First Priority 2015. I came away from the meeting with a sense of anticipation as we explore the future God has planned for us. I hope you will check our home page for a downloadable copy of the strategy planning brochure, and I want to encourage you to watch for the launch of our expanded ministry during the coming months.

Our Annual Gathering

2010-03-07T16:11:00.006-06:00

The 8th Annual Meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Missouri will be held Friday and Saturday, March 26-27, 2010, at the First Baptist Church in Lee's Summit, Missouri. The theme for this year's Annual Meeting is "God's Plans: Hope and a Future!" from Jeremiah 29:11. This is an appropriate theme for this year’s annual gathering. Last year our Board of Directors voted to begin a Strategy Planning Process designed to allow us to think strategically about the future of our cooperative ministry. This year is the final year of the current strategy which was approved in 2005. I have been working with a Task Force of 25 from across our state for the past eight months as we sought to understand God’s will for the future of our ministry.

This week our Board of Director’s will be receiving a report from the Task Force including recommendations, goals and strategies. I am very grateful for the input and leadership of those who served on our Task Force. I believe God used the process to help us better understand his plans for our ministry. The Task Force will be making some significant recommends which will help to share the nature of our ministry as we seek to “think in new ways” about denominational life and how we serve our churches. We are anticipating the Board will approve these recommendations, and we hope to share them with our churches and church leaders during our Annual Meeting.

The Annual Meeting is a “gathering” of the Baptist family from across our state. It is a time of fellowship, worship and decisions as we make plans for the future. The Friday afternoon session begins at 1:00 p.m., the Friday evening session begins at 6:30 p.m. and the Saturday morning session begins at 8:30 a.m. The Choir and Orchestra from First Baptist Church in Lee’s Summit will be leading our worship on Friday evening. The Concert Choir from William Jewell College will be singing during our Saturday morning session. Randy Buffington, Minister of Music at First Baptist Church in Lee's Summit, will serve as the Music and Worship Coordinator for our Annual Meeting.

Dr. William Shaw, Pastor of the White Rock Baptist Church in Philadelphia and past president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, will be our keynote speaker. Dr. Shaw was a speaker at the New Baptist Covenant Celebration held in Atlanta in 2008. Dr. David M. May, Professor of New Testament at Central Baptist Theological Seminary, will be our Bible Study Teacher. David is a gifted communicator and Biblical scholar. Our President, Dr. Randall Bunch, will deliver the President's Address.

Our Annual Missions Banquet will be held Friday evening at 5:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church. The menu will feature Jack Stack Barbeque and the cost is $10 per person. You may make a reservation by contacting Bettie Jo in our convention office (bettiejo@baptistgcm.org or 888-420-2426 extension 701). We hope to have a guest from Guatemala to share about our Mission Partnership. The Annual Gathering will also include an exhibit area and opportunities for fellowship. More information regarding the gathering is available on our website (www.baptistgcm.org). Everyone is welcome to attend. I hope to see you in Lee’s Summit!

Thanking God’s Servants

2010-03-03T19:32:00.002-06:00

I wrote the following article for the BGCM e-message (our e-mail newsletter). You can sign-up to receive our monthly e-message here.

This past weekend I had the wonderful privilege of sharing a message at the retirement celebration for Dr. Richard Lionberger. Dick has been Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church in Savannah for 22 years. He is concluding 40 years of ministry and service to the congregations he has served and to the Baptists of Missouri. It was obvious that this congregation loves Dick and his wife, Linda. There was laughter and there were tears. The service included many memories and many words of appreciation, but it was also a worship service because that is what Dick wanted it to be. The wonderful music provided by the church choir and other musicians led us to remember we were present to praise the Lord.

Dick was licensed to the Gospel Ministry the same month I was—August 1972. He served congregations in St. Joseph, Stanberry, Salem and Savannah. In addition to providing outstanding pastoral leadership, Dick also served faithfully in his local associations and on a variety of Missouri Baptist agency and institution boards including Grand Oaks Camp, The Baptist Home, and the Executive Board. He also demonstrated courage and provided significant leadership by serving as the first President of the Baptist General Convention of Missouri. It was wonderful to hear about the lives that had been touched through Dick’s ministry at Savannah. He led the church in significant growth including a relocation of their facilities and three building programs. He was faithful pastor and shepherd conducing 263 weddings and 510 funerals during his ministry at Savannah. Most importantly 532 people came to know Christ during his ministry with the church. We praised God for the way he has used the lives of Dick and Linda.

Dick is a humble servant of God, and he was not really comfortable with all the attention he received. He knows, like all of us who serve in vocational Christian service, the praise goes to the Lord. All of us are unlikely candidates for any place in Kingdom service. But, it was certainly appropriate for this wonderful congregation to express their appreciation for his ministry as their pastor. I know God has plans to use these servants even in their retirement. I also know that God has great plans to build upon the foundation of the past 22 years as he continues to bless the First Baptist Church in Savannah.

As I have reflected upon the events of this celebration day, I thought about how wonderful it would be for churches to pause at times in their pilgrimage of faith to express their appreciation for their pastor and others who serve among them. Some churches have staff appreciation days, and others acknowledge special anniversaries. Whatever approach you use, let me encourage you to express your appreciation for those who serve among you. Celebrate what God is doing through their lives.

BGCM Trip to the Baptist World Congress

2010-01-20T19:15:00.002-06:00

The Baptist General Convention of Missouri is planning a very special opportunity for church leaders from across our state to participate in the Baptist World Congress in 2010 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Our trip includes airfare and hotel reservations for 50 people.

Airline Flights
Flights on Continental Airlines are available from Kansas City or St. Louis departing on July 27. Both flights will connect in Houston and arrive together in Honolulu 3:05 p.m. on July 27. The return flights will leave Honolulu at 8:45 p.m. on August 2 and connect through Houston to Kansas City and St. Louis. The cost of the flights will be $960.00 + tax and fuel surcharge which is estimated to be $78.95 (subject to change). The flights will be booked through the convention office. A $50.00 deposit per person is required to hold your reservation. The remaining flight payment will be due to the convention by May 28, 2010.

Hotel Reservations
The BGCM has reserved a block of 25 rooms in the Ala Moana Hotel which is located across the street from the Hawai'i Convention Center where the World Congress will be held. The room rate is $179.00 per night double occupancy for six nights. The deadline to reserve your room is April 21, 2010 4:00pm EST; however, we expect the rooms to all be taken well before that date. Once you contact the convention to indicate you desire a room we will provide you with instructions for reserving your room from our BGCM block of rooms online. Each person will be responsible for paying their own hotel bill directly with the hotel. The Ala Moana Hotel adjoins the world-class Ala Moana Shopping Center with over 260 retailers showcasing the finest names in fashion and a delightful array of dining. Hawaii Convention Center is across the street and the 76-acre Ala Moana Beach Park is about two blocks from the hotel.

BWA Registration
In addition to the flights and hotels guests will need to complete a registration for the World Congress directly with the BWA. You may complete your registration at www.bwacongress2010.org. The cost for adults from the USA is $200.00 per person. We are currently negotiating airport transportation to and from the hotel in Hawaii. Each traveler will be responsible for any additional local transportation and all meals. The congress begins officially on the evening of Wednesday, July 28, 2010, and officially concludes noon Sunday, August 1, with bible study and worship. One day before and after the World Congress has been built in for personal sight-seeing and other activities.

Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream Speech"

2010-01-18T15:51:00.002-06:00

I continue to be moved by the words of Dr. King during his address at the "March on Washington" on August 28, 1963. More than 40 years later his words still present a powerful message of hope and a call for justice. The text of his speech is below:

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation. [Applause]

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity.

But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God's children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Haiti Relief through Baptist World Aid

2010-01-18T12:10:00.003-06:00

The Baptist General Convention of Missouri is channeling relief funds through Baptist World Aid, the relief arm of the BWA. The Baptist World Alliance announced a Baptist World Aid (BWAid) Rescue24 team arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Sunday, January 17, and has begun work in a local clinic.

The team, consisting of members from the country of Hungary and the state of North Carolina in the United States, has come up against horrific scenes. "The situation is terrible, I have never seen anything like this," said Bela Szilagyi, head of Hungarian Baptist Aid, who has been working in major disaster zones for more than 10 years. Szilagyi is one of the leaders of the BWAid Rescue24 team in Port-au-Prince.

They came across "immense chaos, confusion, and the terrible smell of dead bodies." Members of the team flew to a location close to the Haiti-Dominican Republic border, and were escorted into Port-au-Prince by "blue helmets," United Nations peacekeeping soldiers. They will remain in Haiti for one week providing emergency medical services.

Our convention is receiving funds for the relief effort. Send you gifts to the convention office at BGCM, P. O. Box 508, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0508 or send your gifts directly to BWAid at www.bwanet.org or to: Baptist World Aid, 405 North Washington Street, Falls Church, VA 22046.

Different Books, Common Word: Baptists and Muslims

2010-01-16T15:19:00.005-06:00

On December 18th I posted an announcement about the new documentary recently released by the Baptist Center for Ethics (www.EthicsDaily.com). I had the opportunity to see it Sunday, January 3rd, on our local ABC station, KMIZ-17. It is an excellent documentary and addresses the ways in which people of differing faiths can have constructive dialogue and positive relationships.

Robert Parham, Executive Director of the Baptist Center for Ethics, has been talking about the fact that a few ABC-TV stations have buried the documentary in the dead zone between 12 midnight and 5:00 a.m., a time when nobody watches television. He indicated that one such station was KABC-TV, the Los Angeles station, which aired the program on Jan. 9 at 2:00 a.m. In spite of the time frame, movie actor Denzel Washington referred positively on Thursday to "Different Books, Common Word: Baptists and Muslims" on "106 and Park," a show on Black Entertainment Television.

Check out Robert's article here. Denzel Washington went on to talk about his faith. His comments were a great, unsolicited endorsement for the documentary. If you have not seen it check with your local ABC affiliate or contact www.EthicsDaily.com for information regarding how you can purchase it to share with your church or community group.

The Christmas Story

2009-12-25T10:27:00.004-06:00

Luke 2:1-20 (New International Version)

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,"Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Where's the line to see Jesus?

2009-12-24T13:33:00.007-06:00

Check out this new Christmas song and video.

My Favorite Christmas Carol

2009-12-22T10:44:00.003-06:00

There are a lot of wonderful Christmas carols and songs, but my favorite is "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. I continue to pray for peace and good will!

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Sharing the Good News at Christmas

2009-12-21T10:15:00.000-06:00

I have always loved the celebration of Christmas. I grew up in a large family and my parents made it a very special time for our family. There were many special activities at school and at church. We drew names and purchased gifts for each other. We worked hard at surprising each other. The gifts were not usually very expensive, but they were special anyway.

Our family loved Charles Dicken's famous tale, A Christmas Carol. I have continued the tradition with my family. I am something of a Dicken's fanatic. The story reminds me that through the ages men and women much like Scrooge have been changed by a new awareness of the meaning of Christ's coming. When I was a boy we had an old album that was a recording of a radio broadcast of the Dicken's story. We literally wore out the album. A number of years ago my brother found a new release of the old recording on CD and gave us each a copy. I have listened to the tale many times since I received it. It is incredible how it brings to my mind Christmas experiences from my childhood.

Christmas is that kind of experience for God's people. The celebration is a reminder of the incredible significance of his coming—his Advent. It is an event that helps us to recall what God has done for us. It is a celebration of the Incarnation of the Eternal Word of God. John's prologue says, "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us!" We could never have found our way to Him, so He came to us. The most important gifts we ever give are the gifts that carry something of ourselves in the gift. God gave us Himself, in the person of His Son. It was this gift that changed everything. In Him is light and life.

I hope you will remember during this Christmas season, with all its activity, to offer a special gift to someone. Share with someone the message of His birth. Maybe their heart is cold or their life is empty like Scrooge. Share with someone who needs a Savior the good tidings of great joy. That is why we celebrate Christmas.

I also want to thank the Baptists of Missouri for keeping Christmas all year long. Your commitment to missions and evangelism demonstrates your belief that the coming of Christ has changed everything. Thank you for your gifts to our mission efforts. We invite you make a gift to our World Missions Offering to help share the message of his coming with people around the world. It is my prayer you will sense God's presence in a special way as you celebrate his birth. May God grant you opportunities to announce his coming to someone who does not know him, and may he bless you as you continue to serve him in the New Year.

Local ABC Station to Air Documentary

2009-12-18T00:58:00.004-06:00

I just received word today from John Baker, Pastor of First Baptist Church in Columbia, that ABC, KMIZ-17 will be airing the documentary "Different Books, Common Word" on Sunday, January 3, at 3:00 P.M. This is an excellent documentary and addresses the ways in which people of differing faiths can have constructive dialogue and positive relationships.

I wrote about the documentary and provided some background links in my November 5th post. I am very grateful to Gene Steinberg, station manager at KMIZ, for agreeing to air the documentary, and for his willingness to give it an excellent time slot for viewing.

“Different Books,Common Word” is created by EthicsDaily.com, a Baptist Christian ethics organization out of Nashville, TN. The documentary focuses mostly on Baptist/Muslim dialogue, but the principles presented can be applied widely.

Please plan to promote this film at your church in your bulletins, newsletters, etc., to help secure viewership for this excellent and inspiring show. For more information you click here.

Christmas Mission Gifts

2009-12-18T00:51:00.000-06:00

I wrote the following article for our e-message newsletter:

I love Christmas. I mean, I really love Christmas. I love the season and the decorations. I love the classic Christmas movies and short stories. I love the Christmas cookies and candies. I love the fellowship with friends and family. I love the music and worship services during Advent. Most of all I love the story of Christmas. Christmas is a love story. It is the greatest of all love stories. It is the story of a loving and long-suffering God who never gives up on his creation. The scripture says at just the right time he sent his son to redeem them. The story makes it clear that God never gives up on his mission.

Christmas is a great time for us to promote World Missions. Missions allows us to join in sharing the Good News with people around the World. It is the Good News first announced to shepherds by the angels. Our World Missions Offering goes to support the work of the Baptist World Alliance. The Baptist World Alliance is a fellowship of 214 Baptist unions and conventions comprising a membership of 36 million baptized believers in a community of 105 million around the world. The BWA unites Baptists worldwide, leads in evangelism, responds to people in need and defends human rights. Neville Callam is the General Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance.

Each year at this time Baptists across our state give to mission causes. We are committed to faithfully channeling those gifts as we are instructed by local congregations. Therefore we send gifts for World Missions to several mission organizations. If you are looking for a place for your mission gifts we invite you to channel them through our convention.

I was visiting with a pastor recently who shared that one Baptist laymen in his church suggested they use “plan C.” He said what is “plan C?” The man said the Missouri Baptist Convention has provided plan A and plan B depending on your desire to support the litigation against our institutions. He said I recommend we use “plan C” and send our mission gifts to the Baptist General Convention of Missouri where we can be confident none of it will go to fund litigation.

I liked his idea. Mission dollars should not be spent on litigation. They should be used to share the greatest love story of all time. They should be used to introduce men, women, boys and girls to our Savior. What better way to celebrate Christmas than to give to missions. We invite you to help us share the message of Christ around the world. I hope you will include World Mission causes on your Christmas gift list.

Thankful He Came

2009-11-24T13:36:00.001-06:00

I wrote the following article for this week's Message page in Word&Way:

My Thanksgiving will probably be very much like many of yours. Our sons and their wives and our grandchildren are coming home and our family will be together. My wife’s parents always spend Thanksgiving with us. We have a great time visiting with each other and catching up. Like many we will have too much good food, but we enjoy the fellowship. We will talk and laugh and watch some football.

We also give thanks. At our Thanksgiving meal time we invite each family member present to share one thing for which they are especially grateful. It is always interesting that no one normally mentions any "things." Most of the family expresses thanks for people, family members, and the blessing of being together. In reality, when we get serious, it is our relationships and the time we have together that we value the most.

This week also leads up to the first Sunday of Advent and the celebration of the coming of our Savior. I am reminded that our most important relationship is Christ. He is the one who enables us to put our lives in perspective. He is the one who forgives our sin and gives us hope for the future. Most of all we are grateful for our Savior.

If your house is like ours, Thanksgiving launches our preparation for Christmas. We normally begin our decorating for Christmas in the days following Thanksgiving. It some ways it is very appropriate to begin our preparation for the celebration of His coming at Thanksgiving. The gift of our Savior is our primary reason for giving thanks.

The Christmas season is hectic for many people. It is important as we move into the season to remind each other about the significance and purpose of Advent. It is a time of preparation. It is a time for reflection as we examine our lives and prepare to allow Him to "re-decorate" our lives according to His plan.

It is a time not to be overcome with the commercial nature of the secular celebration of Christmas, but a time to rediscover the opportunity to give. In a real sense we are never more like God than when we give to those in need. A number of years ago my brothers and sisters decided to end our tradition of drawing names and exchanging gifts. Instead we contribute funds and allow one member of our family to take the lead in providing for a family in need at Christmas. Many families help their churches do similar things each year.

Maybe there is no better way to give thanks for God’s gifts than to share these gifts with someone in need. As we gather to give thanks and move toward the Advent celebration, I am thankful he came! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

"Different Books, Common Word"

2009-11-05T09:48:00.006-06:00

EthicsDaily.com has produced another timely documentary. If ever there was a time when Baptists and Muslims needed to begin genuine relationships and dialogue it is today. In 2007, 138 Muslim scholars and leaders issued an open letter to Christians. The letter was called "A Common Word Between Us and You," and it sought to improve relations between Muslims and Christians in all parts of the world. Click here to read the letter from Muslims. In 2009, the Baptist World Alliance, the largest body of Baptists, wrote a response to the letter. Click here to read the letter from Baptists.

The EthicsDaily.com website says, From Boston to the Bible Belt and from Beaumont to the nation’s beltway, Baptists and Muslims are changing history with the way they change each other. Tired of being defined by extremists, some Baptists and Muslims in the United States have sought and found common ground: the common word in both traditions to love God and love neighbor. The courageous Baptists and Muslims in “Different Books, Common Word” will surprise you.

I am grateful for the leadership of the EthicsDaily.com staff in producing this documentary. I hope you will watch your ABC listings for the times when it will air in your area. The program will be supplied to ABC-TV stations beginning in January 2010 through an arrangement with the Islamic Society of North America, the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission and ABC. You will also be able to order "Different Books, Common Word: Baptists and Muslims" on DVD in January 2010.

A Stewardship of Life

2009-11-01T20:50:00.003-06:00

I wrote the following article for our Message page in the next issue of Word&Way:

I have always loved the fall with its cooler weather and beautiful autumn colors. Every year I wish it would last a little longer. It seems the leaves just reach their peak colors and then they fall and fade away. Bettie Jo and I have been riding bicycles on the Katy Trail this fall and the colors have been wonderful. I guess I also enjoy watching football games in the fall, too. I enjoy all the seasonal changes, but I must admit this is my favorite.

I also enjoy the weeks leading into a season of Thanksgiving. Incredible as it seems, we are only a few weeks from our annual Thanksgiving holiday. I am not sure how much time we spend “giving thanks.” When I was serving as a pastor I almost always shared a series of messages during November on Christian stewardship. Sometimes I even have a chance to preach on stewardship during an interim pastorate. I know it may seem strange, but I have always loved to preach on stewardship.

My father always preached on Christian stewardship. I was in seminary before I discovered that many pastors are hesitant to preach on stewardship. In reality stewardship is an outgrowth of Christian discipleship. To be a Christian means to bring our entire lives under the rule and reign of Jesus Christ. Christian stewardship is a recognition that all of life is a “stewardship” given to us by God. We are accountable to God for how we use our lives—time, talents, energy, gifts, etc. I am pretty sure that includes our finances. I learned at an early age that God was not just interested in what I gave to my church through my tithes and offerings, but he was just as concerned about how I used the rest of my resources.

Each of us is a steward of life and responsible for our choices. Just as we hold the charitable causes we support accountable for how they use our gifts, we are also accountable. Churches are also accountable. Our convention is also accountable. We are accountable to the churches we serve and to all those who support our ministries. Ultimately, we are accountable to God. Maybe the best way to “give thanks” to God is to use wisely the resources he gives us. Given the difficult economic conditions we are confronting this year it is a particularly important time to be good stewards.

I regret that some believe using tithes and offering to fund litigation against faithful Baptist ministries in our state is a wise use of these resources. Our convention leadership has a different perspective. We want to invest our resources in these ministries rather than attempting to control them or harm their ministries. If you are looking for a way to channel your gifts, we are available to serve you. The Baptist General Convention of Missouri forwards all gifts as instructed by churches and donors. None of our resources are used for litigation. Our mission is to serve churches and church leaders as they fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. We would love to partner with your church as you live out your stewardship of life.

Understanding Religious Liberty

2009-10-12T11:17:00.006-05:00

Ethicsdaily.com published an article by Zack Dawes. Zach is a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship ministerial resident at Trinity Baptist Church in Moultrie, Ga. The article was entitled "Christians Support Religious Liberty -- for Themselves." He points out "Christians ought to be the champions of religious Liberty, yet Christians often defend their religious freedom to the exclusion of others."

Dawes correctly says, "The First Amendment is intended to protect the freedom of religion (free exercise clause) and the freedom from religion (establishment clause). Yet one is left to wonder why the concept is so difficult for many Christians to grasp. Even if Christians happen to be the overwhelming majority in a community, this does not abrogate the First Amendment, which protects individuals from having religious beliefs forced upon them." He points out Christians might view things differently if they found themselves in the minority in their community.

Check out his article here.

Religious Liberty is God's Gift

2009-10-08T11:36:00.002-05:00

I attended the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty Board Meeting earlier this week in Washington, D.C. It was a good meeting which concluded with a White House Briefing at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Tuesday afternoon. The briefing focused on areas related to both domestic and international religious liberty issues.

The U.S. Constitution, in the first amendment of the Bill of Rights, contains twin guarantees concerning religion. The first requires that there be no establishment of religion and, second, that the freedom of religious expression is protected. Taken together, and interpreted broadly, these clauses provide strong legal protections for religious freedom. I believe they provide protection for the freedom of conscious God gives to each of us. Religion should never be coerced. Rather it should be a free response to God.

Baptist have historically stood for Religious Liberty, and I am grateful we have the opportunity to support the BJC in it advocacy and educational work on behalf of all Americans. If you are not supporting the work of the BJC personally or through your church, I hope you join me in providing support for this work. Check out the BJC at www.bjconline.org.

Incredible Changes and Opportunities

2009-10-02T09:42:00.003-05:00

Our Board of Directors approved a strategy planning process for our convention in June. A diverse Strategy Planning Leadership Team of 25 people from across our state is giving direction to the process. We are currently completing a data gathering stage which includes congregational listening sessions, an online survey, and leadership interviews with new paradigm ministry organizations. If you have not completed the online survey we encourage you to go to our website (www.baptistgcm.org) and click on the link on our home page. The survey only takes a few minutes, and your input is a valuable part of the process.

Our world is changing at an incredible pace, and our churches are confronted with hundreds of new challenges and incredible opportunities every day. Services and programs once provided by denominational organizations no longer seem relevant to the needs of many of our churches. Church leaders now face problems we could not have imagined only a few years ago. When I was a boy we received reports and updates from missionaries on the field slowly, and they seemed so far away. Today we talk with missionaries almost daily with voice over IP (internet provider) and video conferencing. Churches access training sessions via the internet and network with churches in another state or on another continent. Communication and technology seem to change almost daily. Churches now have Facebook pages and Twitter accounts to keep their members informed and to facilitate small group communication and dialogue.

All of these changes sometimes leave church leaders struggling with problems and concerns we did not have to address only a few years ago. Some churches need help with the transitions. Others need assistance in identifying and engaging the new opportunities they have to minister in their community. As incredible as it seems in the midst of these opportunities the overwhelming majority of Baptist congregations in our state are plateaued or declining in attendance. Some do not know how to adjust to the incredible pace of change in our society.

Our mission is to serve churches and church leaders as they fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. We desire to help churches they seek to lead to their members and others to love God and love each other. We serve them as they seek to make the rule and reign of Christ a reality in their world. One of our great advantages is we are a young and dynamic denominational organization which is not encumbered with large bureaucracies or traditions. We are lean and flexible servant organization. We can change to become more effective. Our current strategy planning process is designed to allow us to re-examine both who we are and how we approach our ministry to local congregations. We want and need your input. Help us know how we could best serve your church. Share your ideas and suggestions. I would love to hear from you at jimhill@baptistgcm.org or (888) 420-2426 extension 705.

While our world is changing the Gospel is not. God still loves every person. We still have the incredible privilege of sharing the Good News with those trying to find their way through this world. We hope our strategy planning process will help us prepare to more effectively serve churches committed to this task. We would love to partner with your church.

BGCM Strategy Planning Survey

2009-09-09T21:52:00.004-05:00

The Baptist General Convention of Missouri stands at a special moment in the organization’s brief history. We are nearing the completion of our first five-year plan. Our convention organization, staff and ministry looks significantly different than when we completed our first planning cycle in 2004. It is important for us to explore ways we can expand the vision which began with First Priority. Our convention has the opportunity to take a fresh look at who we are as a people and what God desires us to be and do in our day. The foundation to making the vision for the Baptist General Convention of Missouri a reality is the updating of our strategy plan. As we begin the process a 25-member Strategy Planning Leadership Team with representatives from across our state is gathering data through congregational listening sessions, leadership interviews and an online survey. You can click the link below and complete a survey. Your answers will be confidential, and we are grateful for your input.

Click Here to Take the Survey

Loving Enemies

2009-08-31T10:40:00.001-05:00

I teach a Bible study class at my church for young professionals. In reality, I moderate a discussion time because the class members are generally very open and the dialogue is good. We have been working our way through the Sermon on the Mount. This past week we made our way to that difficult passage about loving your enemies.

Matthew 5:43-48 (NIV)
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

In Jesus’ day the command to love one’s neighbor would be understood by a Jew to refer to another Jew. It does not really sound that much different from our day. We tend to love our family, our friends, people like us, and those who help us. Jesus response was, “What’s different about you? Everyone does that! Even people who do not believe in God love those groups!”

I don’t know about you, but I think this is one of Jesus’ hard sayings. Love your enemies? That does not seem right at all. I think we sometimes confuse love and like. We really do not have to like someone or agree with them in order to care about them. If we care about them we act in their best interest. Christians are seen to be sons of the Father who is in heaven when we allow his love to be expressed through us. God’s love does not show favoritism. God’s love is shared with friends and enemies alike. God always acts for the good of every person.

Jesus calls us to live in a radical new way. This new way of living is only possible as he possesses more of us and our lives reflect more of his character. In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, "Do not waste your time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbor act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less." May God grant us a the grace to love our enemies.

Faithful Reform in Health Care

2009-08-24T09:06:00.002-05:00

August 20, 2009 - Statement by Faithful Reform in Health Care

140,000 people of faith participate in historic call with faith leaders and President Obama

The following press release was prepared regarding the conference call held with faith leaders from across the country on Wednesday, August 19. I participated in the call. Check out the report of the call below.

Cleveland, OH - An estimated 140,000 people of faith listened to a conference call with faith leaders and President Barack Obama in an historic 40-minute conference call on Wednesday afternoon. Sponsored by the Faithful Reform in Health Care Coalition and more than thirty other religious organizations, the call was part of the continuing massive mobilization of people of faith around the issue of health care reform. The focus was to energize faith advocates around the moral imperative for making REAL reform happen this year.

Faithful Reform in Health Care member organizations were well-represented on the call, including a denominational executive, local clergy, a health care professional and people of faith victimized by our current health system. All who spoke addressed the urgency of moving forward together for a health care future based on our shared faith values. Call participants were urged to encourage truth-telling, to model civil discourse, to maintain a steady moral drumbeat for reform, and to lead in hope.

The Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), emphasized that we have the moral vision and the policy expertise to make reform happen, but not the political will to succeed. She emphasized how important people of faith will be in creating political will by engaging with our members of Congress in the coming days.

Congregational pastors, priests and rabbis reported the work that they are doing to engage their congregants and communities in health care reform and reminded us about how intimately our lives are connected to those who suffer in our current health system. A Muslim physician reminded us how difficult it is for health care providers to do their work in our current system.

President Obama and the White House Domestic Policy Director Melody Barnes addressed concerns, most notably, clarification of the President's priorities, issues around cost, abortion funding, and conscience protections for health care workers. They both emphasized how very important the faith voices will be in making health care reform a reality this year.

President Obama concluded the call with the reminder that "men and women of faith have shown what is possible when we are guided by our hope and note our fear." People of faith have historically been at the forefront of social reform in our nation's history, and that hope-filled leadership will be no less important as we work for health care reform.

Faithful Reform in Health Care coalition members and their congregations will be among the leaders in follow-up activities by raising a moral vision for our health care future the weekend of Aug. 28 - 30 in Health Care Sabbaths, Candlelight Vigils and other public events that will be held across the country.

The link to a recording of the call is available at here.

Contact Rev. Linda Hanna Walling, Faithful Reform in Health Care, 216.325.0010.

Faithful Reform in Health Care is the largest interfaith coalition of national, state and local organizations and individuals working for health care reform in the United States. It is the collective voice of faith communities committed to a vision for a health care future that is grounded in their shared sacred values.

Caring for the Health of Everyone

2009-08-10T13:18:00.001-05:00

Everyone is aware that our nation is in the midst of a great debate regarding the future of health care in our country. I am sure we would not all agree on the appropriate strategies to fix the problem, but I think most of us would agree we have a real problem.

I serve on the board of Missouri Impact, an ecumenical and interfaith legislative advocacy network for social justice. I also serve a chairperson of Missouri Christians Against Racism and Poverty. Both organizations are giving their primary focus to the health care debate. The members of Missouri Impact, out of our various faith traditions, have declared our conviction that health care is basic human right and that it is a moral imperative to advocate for quality, affordable, health care for all with particular concern for the most vulnerable.

The following facts speak to the urgency of this debate:
• almost 50 million Americans are without health coverage
• as 14,000 Americans are losing health care coverage each day
• additional thousands are being denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions
• over 20,000 people die each year for want of health care
• a major cause for bankruptcy is personal and family medical debt

I realize the issues are complex and many of the solutions are costly, but I find it very difficult to believe we cannot find a solution. As a Christian I believe every person should have access to quality, affordable, heath care.

It would be impossible to read the Gospels and not be aware of the compassion and concern Jesus had for all types of illness and health problems. In Matthew 14 the scripture says, And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed. In Matthew 15 it says, Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.

I come to the health care debate seeking to have the same type of compassion and concern that Jesus expressed for all people. I believe God’s people need to be a part of the debate. I believe we should be looking for solutions which are compatible with our beliefs and convictions.

Missouri Impact is urging people of all faiths, and people with no religious affiliation who possess a concern for justice and the common good, to join us in telling our members of Congress to approve legislation which gives all people the opportunity to choose an affordable private or public health insurance plan.

Hill Brothers Plan 2010 Holy Land Trip

2009-07-29T13:41:00.003-05:00

Three Hill brothers: Jim Hill (BGCM Executive Director), Drew Hill (Pastor of FBC, Sedalia) and Pete Hill — and some minister friends will be leading a trip to Israel in 2010. The group will leave on January 12, 2010, for an 11-day trip and return on January 22, 2010.

The trip is truly an investment in your spiritual growth. In Israel the tour will visit Caesarea (by the Sea), Haifa, Megiddo, Nazareth, Cana, Tiberias, take a boat ride to Capernaum, see the Mount of Beatitudes, Church of the five loaves and two fishes, Caesarea Philippi, Jericho, Qumran, the Dead Sea, Masada, Jerusalem, Bethlehem and much more.

The cost of the trip is $2,651 plus fuel surcharges and the cost of a light lunch each day. If you are interested in more information, a trip itinerary, or detailed cost information, contact Jim at jimhill@baptistgcm.org or (573) 659-3838. We hope you can join us for this special trip.

A Heart for the Search

2009-07-29T12:55:00.001-05:00

A few days ago I rented an underwater metal detector (a first for me) from a local scuba diving shop and helped my youngest son with an important search. He was swimming in a lake in a city park in Columbia where he lives and lost his wedding ring. It would have been difficult for anyone, but Josh has only been married for six weeks. Replacing the ring was not an option he wanted to consider. It was not just the replacement cost, but the idea that he would not have the special ring Sabrina had given him.

When we arrived at the city park and I saw the lake, I was not very optimistic. It was a pretty large swimming area filled with lots of children and adults enjoying the sun and water. It had been two days since the ring had slipped off his hand, and while he knew generally where we should begin our search it was clear the activity in the lake could have moved or buried the ring.

We spent almost two hours with the metal detector identifying pieces of ear rings and other metal objects. Sometimes we were never able to find an object even though the detector indicated something was there. The water was so dark that we had to have our snorkeling mask almost on the bottom to see. We took turns holding the detector and diving. We were both getting a little discouraged. I sent Josh down a second time to search a location that “beeped” loudly on the metal detector even though the first effort did not result in a find.

Suddenly, he began kicking and then exploded out of the water. He screamed, “I found it!” He said he was about to surface because he had been down as long as he could hold his breath. He brushed his hand over the area a final time revealing the outline of a ring, and when he grabbed it he knew it was his ring. We had a great celebration.

Our experience reminded me of the Parable of the Lost Coin in Luke 15: "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

We called Josh’s wife and his mother to announce the ring was found. It was a great find and a wonderful celebration. The scripture says there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels over one sinner who repents. The angels are in the presence of God. I am not sure we always remember how important each individual is to our heavenly Father. I am not sure we always put much effort into the search for lost sheep, lost coins, and lost sons and daughters. But, when we lead a lost son or daughter to our Savior, it is a cause for celebration both here and in heaven. May God give us a heart for the search.

Thinking Strategically about the Future

2009-07-11T21:54:00.001-05:00

Our Board of Directors voted to approve a strategy planning proposal during our June Board Meeting. It seems incredible, but we are already in the fifth year of implementation of our First Priority Strategic Plan. Our current 5-year plan was developed during a comprehensive process implemented during the 2004-2005 convention year. Since we are in the final year of the plan, it is again appropriate to begin thinking about the future.

Joel Barker in his video Leadershift says, leaders must focus the majority of their efforts on the future. I don’t know about you, but it seems to me the future usually arrives before I expect it and often before I am ready for it. The Baptist General Convention of Missouri is beginning its eight year. We are a young convention, but God has already blessed our cooperative ministry in a wonderful way. From the very beginning we have sought to be a different type of denominational entity. I have served in a wide variety of denominational roles, and I have come to realize that it is incredibly easy for these organizations to believe the churches exist for their benefit. Nothing could be further from the truth. The denomination exists to serve churches and to facilitate the joint efforts of local congregations.

Our current plan says the Baptist General Convention of Missouri’s mission is to serve churches and church leaders as they fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Our vision has been to be an organization that gives first priority to serving churches. I believe we have taken some significant steps toward realizing this vision. Several years ago our board voted to serve any church desiring our assistance whether the congregation was supporting our ministries or not. Our convention staff is made up of practitioners who are located throughout our state as we seek to be accessible to our churches. Our team leaders include specialists in the areas of leadership development, congregational health, church planting and missions mobilization. We have put in place retirement and health insurance programs for church staff members. We also provide comprehensive search committee resources and services.

Over the last four years we have become members of the North American Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist World Alliance. We have become a part of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, and established partnerships and relationships with Baptist conventions in Texas, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Our have built a missions partnership with the Baptists in Guatemala and China. In addition to supporting all our Missouri Baptist institutions and agencies, our convention also supports the Baptist Center for Ethics, the Associated Baptist Press, and Central Baptist Theological Seminary. I am incredibly proud to be a part of the Baptist General Convention of Missouri.

However, as proud as we are of our early years as a convention, we know God has more in store in the years ahead. We are beginning the planning process for the next five years. A leadership team will begin leading the process in the next couple of months as we begin thinking strategically about the future. We want to “think outside the traditional paradigms.” What is the nature of the world where we serve today? What are the challenges and concerns of the churches we serve? How can we most effectively serve these churches? What new opportunities confront us today? What does God want us to be and to do in the next five years? I am very excited about the opportunity to gather with Baptists from across our state and explore the answers to these and other important questions. We will be providing an invitation to participate in an online survey as a part of our planning process, but I want to invite you to send me your suggestions and thoughts. Let us know how we can better serve your church.

Life Transitions

2009-06-04T10:18:00.004-05:00

The older I get the more I realize that life is about transitions and change. That may be why it seems hard sometimes. None of us really like change. Bettie Jo and I sometimes reflect on how it seems we are becoming our parents. Sometimes it scares us, but not all changes are scary.

Our youngest son is getting married this weekend. I have the wonderful privilege of conducting the ceremony as Joshua David Hill and Sabrina Nicole McKechnie publicly shared their marriage vows. Josh is ten years younger than his brothers, James and Joe. The age difference delayed our official empty nest, but in reality Josh has been on his own for a couple of years. He has 15 hours left to complete a degree in forensic science. He hopes to work in a crime lab when he graduates.

We are excited about officially welcoming Sabrina into our family. Josh and Sabrina began dating while they were in high school. There are few transitions in life that impact us more than the decision to get married. I often share in my pre-marital counseling that marriage is never exactly what we expect. It is always less and always more than we expect, but it is obviously a very important life transition. I hope for Josh and Sabrina that their marriage will offer them the same opportunities to grow, the same joy, and the same adventure that I have found in mine.

Helping the Church Find a Voice

2009-04-29T10:35:00.004-05:00

Baptists always have opinions. We like to say that a group of three Baptists will have at least four opinions on almost any subject. Our commitment to local church autonomy and the priesthood of the believer seems to give us the freedom to express our opinions. I am grateful for our heritage, but sometimes it seems we find it difficult to find our voice. While we love to share our thoughts and viewpoints, seldom do we take a stand on justice issues in our communities. Often there seems to be a disconnect between our faith community and the world around us.

Jesus made it a point to speak on behalf of the poor and the most vulnerable in his world. His calls for justice and compassion sometimes put him at odds with the religious establishment. The economic downturn in the world economy has caused many people and congregations to take note of the needs of those who are losing their homes or their jobs. The truth is thousands of people were struggling to survive in our communities long before the current economic crisis. Maybe the crisis has helped us pause and take note of the needs of those around us.

I believe the church needs to find a fresh voice today. We need to become advocates on behalf of those who seem to have no voice. Estimates indicate 729,000 Missourians have no health insurance. At least 150,000 of these are children. Obviously, the vast majority of these are the lowest income groups in our state. A recent study indicates almost 10 Missourians die each week for want of health care coverage. Church food panties and other social agencies are struggling to find enough food to feed the hungry. Hospitals providing emergency room care for the uninsured are losing millions of dollars every year and driving up costs for everyone. We have a health care and human need crisis.

What would Jesus say and do in response to these needs? I believe he would feed the hungry and care for the sick. I believe he would speak for justice and compassion. I believe he would speak to those in power in both the religious and political arenas. Our state legislature has voted down what would be a very modest allocation to provide health care to the most vulnerable children in our state. With what would be only a token amount in our state budget we could have responded to children in need and taken a step toward providing quality, affordable health care for all Missourians. This is not a Republican or a Democratic issue—it is a moral issue and an issue the church should address.

If the church does not stand up for those in need, who will? If the church does not call for compassion and justice, who will? I have visited with my legislators, and I have written to them encouraging them to find a way to work together to care for those in need. Our state seal says “let the welfare of the people be the supreme law.” The health care needs in our state are just one of many issues the church should speak to today. I hope you will help your church find a voice to speak for justice in your community.

(This article was written for the BGCM e-message. You may sign-up for the e-message here.)

A New Beginning for Baptists

2009-04-17T10:11:00.003-05:00

The North American Baptist Fellowship began discussions with former President Jimmy Carter in 2007 regarding a gathering of the Baptist family from across North America. The New Baptist Covenant Celebration last year in Atlanta was the culmination of these discussions as thousands of Baptists from across denominational, racial, national and geographical boundaries came together for worship and dialogue. It was one of the best Baptist meetings I had ever attended. It was out of that experience that several of us began discussions about the possibility of a similar regional gathering for the Baptists of the Midwest. The result of these discussions that began almost a year ago was the Baptist Border Crossing.

I had the privilege of serving as co-chair for this historic gathering with Dr. Wallace S. Hartsfield, II, the pastor of Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church in Kansas City. His father, Dr. Wallace S. Hartsfield, Sr., Pastor Emeritus of Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, was one of the driving forces behind the Summit. Estimates indicated that somewhere between 900 and 1,000 people participated in the Baptist Border Crossing Summit. The worship, preaching and breakout sessions were a wonderful beginning.

The Baptist Border Crossing was all about “beginnings.” It was about an opportunity for Baptists to begin to get to know each other. It was about individuals, churches, and denominations forging new relationships. It was about overcoming racial and social barriers to explore new partnerships with brothers and sisters in Christ. It was about Baptists discovering opportunities to collaborate for the sake of the Kingdom. One participant wrote me after the event to say, “As one who attended the new Baptist Covenant event in Atlanta, I had no expectation that we could do a Regional event that would match the Atlanta event in spirit and in quality; yet you accomplished it.”

As wonderful as the Summit was, I have much higher hopes for the follow-up on this historic gathering. What if during this year when we are celebrating the 400th anniversary of the beginning of Baptist work, the Baptists of the Midwest made a commitment to a “new beginning?” What if we decided to cross all the borders that have historically kept Baptists apart—racial, denominational, geographical, social, economic, and cultural? What if we accepted the fact that everyone who claims our Savior as Lord is our brother and sister? What if we intentionally began building relationships across these borders and boundaries? What if churches made a commitment to partner with other churches to learn from each other and to more effectively impact their communities for Christ? What if we humbled ourselves to acknowledge that we need each other?

One of best parts of being involved in the planning for the Baptist Border Crossing was the opportunity to meet and work with Baptist brothers and sisters I would not otherwise have known. The process of planning the event allowed me to make some new friends and deepen my understanding of God’s Kingdom. It is my hope and prayer that the Baptist Border Crossing will be a new beginning for Baptists across Missouri and the Midwest.

Baptist Border Crossing Photos

2009-04-10T16:01:00.005-05:00

Click the link below to check out the photos from the Baptist Border Crossing Summit.

Photos

Reflections on the Last Week

2009-04-10T10:46:00.005-05:00

I am so grateful that many Baptists have begun to place more emphasis on Holy Week. There is so much to learn from the last week. The last week in the life of our Savior, Jesus Christ, traditionally begins with his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This is the celebration of Palm Sunday. When the people heard that Jesus was making his way from Bethany to Jerusalem they went out to meet him. They spread their garments and palm branches in the road. They shouted and cried out, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest! (Mark 11:9-10)

Actually, it was not the last week of his life--he is alive today. But, it was the final week prior to his death on the cross and his resurrection. It was certainly the climactic week of his earthly life. So much happened during these brief days. So many important events. So many special moments. So many lessons still to be learned by his followers. Have you ever thought about how important that week was in the lives of the disciples? Some time after the death and resurrection of our Savior. Some time after the emotional highs and lows. Some time after they had had the opportunity to reflect upon everything that had happened. Some time later the gospel writers were led by the Spirit of God to begin to record the events of his life. There was so much to be written.

How do you capture his life on paper? What do you include? How do you decide what to leave out? Everything seemed so important now. Brief encounters that seemed unimportant at the time are so clear and vivid now. Late night meetings between the two of us when he answered my questions. John struggled with this difficulty. He says there were many other things that Jesus did--besides those he wrote about. He felt so over whelmed with the magnitude of the writing task. If everything were included the world would not be able to contain the books that would be written (John 21:25).

I believe that God led them in their writing and in their choosing. I also believe that God led them in a personal way. Each writer reflected from his own perspective as he recorded life changing words. Maybe God led them like he leads us. Maybe they wrote what they remembered most. Maybe they wrote about the things that impacted their lives most. Whatever the method of inspiration they wrote about the last week. Jesus lived approximately thirty-three years. That is more that 1700 weeks. The writers of the four gospels dedicated a great deal of their accounts to only one of those weeks. It was the last one.

By the present chapter and verse divisions the four gospels include 3779 verses comprising 89 chapters. The first thirty years of his life are recorded for us in only 208 verses. The background, announcements, and record of his birth are parts of only five chapters including John's unique approach to the beginning of his gospel. In addition to his birth these verses contain glimpses from his childhood and youth. Undoubtedly, Mary's memories furnished these sketchy outlines. The visits of the shepherds, the magi from the east, his circumcision, and the visit to Jerusalem at age twelve are briefly outlined.

The balance of the gospels is dedicated to the three years of his ministry. This is more than 3500 verses to record the significant events in the life and ministry of the Son of God. Only 3500 verses for more than 150 weeks. The amazing thing is that 1258 of these verses are dedicated to only one week. The last week.

More than one-third of the verses in all four gospels are committed to this week. Thirty-eight per cent of both Matthew's and John's gospels record the events of the last week. What an impact that week made upon their lives. What vivid and penetrating memories they must have had of the events of the last week.

The Christian church for centuries has celebrated the birth of our Savior. Advent celebrations have a significant and rightfully central place in the church calendar. However, there is no doubt that Easter is the crucial holiday in the Christian church. It is the event at the center of human history. It is the moment when sin and death were overwhelmed by redemption and life. When the gospel writers made their notes they wanted us to see Jesus as he approached the climactic events of his life. They wanted us to see him as he dealt with their unbelief, confusion and selfishness. (The gospels writers are so honest in dealing with their own sinful lives.) They wanted us to see how he struggled and found victory. They could not help but tell about this week--the last week--when their lives were transformed and redemption was born. They could not help but write about the events that formed the lessons of life. They learned so much about life and death during the last week. I hope we can, too.

Faith & Family Summit

2009-04-10T10:37:00.003-05:00

Wallace S. Hartsfield, Sr. challenged those who attended the Baptist Border Crossing to attend the Faith & Family Summit which will be held at the State Capitol in Jefferson City on April 16th. I have met with the group planning this special event over the past few days. CCO clergy and congregations in Kansas City, led by Rev. Rayfield Burns, were compelled to act on the need to further fund children's health care through the federal and state match for CHIP (child health insurance program) expansion and to support coverage for low income working adults. The group has been working to Cover All Children with health insurance for two years now. At this point while it looks like adults will be covered, children have been cut out. A decision recently by the Senate appropriations committee closed out any new funding for children's health insurance.

As people of faith, we believe that looking out for the most vulnerable among us is a moral imperative. Children and low-income adults, as well as people with disabilities and seniors deserve our protection. As people of faith, we believe that budgets are moral documents that reflect our priorities and best intentions.

On April 16th, faith leaders from across the state are gathering at the state capitol in Jefferson City to address the legislature with our concerns, our experiences and our hope.

This day will consist of three parts. First, upon arrival at the capitol we will convene an Inter-religious Healthcare Roundtable Discussion from 10:30-Noon. Here religious leaders will discuss the future of healthcare for Missourians and how the faith community can be involved in shaping that future. Second, those who have traveled to Jefferson City will meet with legislators from 12:00pm to 1:00pm to share their healthcare concerns, as well as other social determinants of health care that are impacting the members of their community such as predatory lending, lack of health related transportation and keeping families together through stopping preventable foreclosures.

The day will be centered upon the last event of the day, which is the Faith and Families Rally in the 3rd Floor Rotunda beginning at 1pm to 2pm. We will hear reflections of faith and powerful testimonies of those dealing with healthcare situations. We will also provide an opportunity for elected officials to address the religious leaders and families present regarding how they will respond to the pressures affecting our children and low-income families.

I hope you will join me and others at the Faith & Family Summit on April 16th!

Baptist Border Crossing

2009-04-10T09:57:00.007-05:00

I have not posted to my blog for several weeks because I was so involved in the final preparations for the Baptist Border Crossing Summit. The Summit was held April 2-4 at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Liberty. The Summit was a grand experiment as we attempted to bring the Baptist family from the Midwest together for worship and dialogue. The impetus for the gathering was the New Baptist Covenant Celebration in Atlanta last year. The Baptist Border Crossing Task Force has been working for about 10 months in preparation for the gathering. Rev. Dr. Wallace S. Hartsfield, II served with me as co-chair of our task force. His father, Rev. Wallace S. Hartsfield, Sr., was a driving force behind the event.

The Baptist Border Crossing event was a wonderful blending of Baptist traditions. We should have been working on this type of event years ago. The process of working with the Border Crossing Task Force provided opportunities for me to build relationships with brothers and sisters I would not have known without this effort. Many of us are not going back to the way things were. I look forward to a new day in Baptist life, when all Baptists stand together on issues of justice and when we work together to share the message of Christ with our world. It was exciting to see American Baptists, General Baptists, National Baptists, Cooperative Baptists, and Southern Baptists coming together with those from the Baptist General Convention of Missouri to worship and to explore ways to extend Christ’s Kingdom. If you were not able to attend you may contact our convention office for a copy of the program (bettiejo@baptistgcm.org or (888) 420-2426 ext. 701). You may also want to watch the archived video of the worship sessions at the website.

I have been receiving e-mails from many people who attended the event. I have included some of their responses below:

I was privileged to attend all of the plenary sessions for the Baptist Border Crossing, and I was impressed with the fine planning, the high caliber speakers and the worship leaders, the smooth flow of the program, and the thoughtful presentation of the key themes of the weekend. As one who attended the New Baptist Covenant event in Atlanta, I had no expectation that we could do a Regional event that would match the Atlanta event in spirit and in quality; yet you accomplished it. Thank you. I commend the work of the planning committee. Job well done!

We...had a wonderful time at the BGCM Meeting, the Banquet and the Baptist Border Crossing. We greatly appreciate all the hard work...

I thought the Baptist Border Crossing event was outstanding. Thanks for all of your hard work making it happen.

GREAT job! It was good to be there and see so many friends.

Thank you for your leadership in making Baptist Border Crossing happen. It was the best meeting I have attended in years. We had 18 from our church in attendance and they all were very excited about they experienced.

I want to express my appreciation to you and all the others who worked so diligently and sacrificially to make the Baptist Border Crossing Summit such a wonderful experience.

I hope you are feeling good about the time and energy you put into the recent Border Crossing event. ...We had 18-20 people attend. Most of them also came to the BGCM meeting before and the banquet, too. ...Many of them were talking last night at church about how great the meeting was. It had a tremendous impact on folks and will lead to increased cross-lines cooperation in Springfield.

I am so grateful for all those who worked to make the Baptist Border Crossing Summit possible. It is my hope and prayer that God will take this beginning and use it to bring the our Baptist family together in a way we have never experienced.

Reflecting on Our Priorities

2009-03-05T22:30:00.002-06:00

I wrote the following article for our BGCM Message in the next issue of Word&Way.

I have been away from my home church for several months while I have been filling the pulpit for one of our churches which is without a pastor. While I have enjoyed the opportunity to preach, I was also grateful for the privilege of worshipping with my church family on Ash Wednesday. The service was the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent is the period of the liturgical year (forty days) leading up to Easter. Our pastor, Dr. Doyle Sager, and the other worship leaders helped us consider the significance of this special period in the church year. In a sense, Lent is a time of reflection as we reconsider and reorder the priorities of our lives. Because some Baptists do not follow the traditional Christian church calendar, they have missed out on the significance of this important season through the years. I believe it is important to pause of reflection, especially since many of us live very hectic lives.

A few days ago I was listening to a news broadcast concerning the condition of our nation’s economy and all the factors contributing to our current recession. The commentator mentioned the downturn in our economy had forced many people to reconsider their spending priorities. I thought about the fact that many non-profit organizations, institutions, churches and Christian ministries have been forced to deal with a loss of revenue. Obviously, some people have lost their jobs and had other economic setbacks that have made it difficult for them to continue supporting their church and other charitable causes at the same level as their past support. While this is understandable, I wonder if some of the lost revenue may be more a reflection of new priorities. Stressful times cause some people to be more selfish and others to be even more generous in their giving.

Jesus often talked with his disciples about their priorities. In Matthew 6:24 he said, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” In chapter 16, verse 24, says, Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” The Christian life is about a new set of priorities. It is about what we give up, who we serve, and what is really important.

Life experiences sometimes cause us to reflect. The death of a loved one may cause us to remember what really matters. Economic stresses caused by a recession, a job loss, or poor choices may lead us to re-evaluate our personal spending priorities. No one would desire a recession, a personal financial setback or other crisis, but sometimes God uses difficult times in our lives to help us pause for reflection. What is really important? Do we really need all the “stuff” we think we need? What is the best use of our time and energy? How can we become the person God created us to be? What is the purpose of life? Maybe this Lenten season offers us a special time for reflecting about our lives. I think it would be a great time for us to allow God to help us see ourselves. May God guide us as we reflect on our priorities.

Why Baptist Border Crossing?

2009-02-28T15:05:00.005-06:00

Some people have asked me, Why Baptist Border Crossing? I want to share my thoughts about this historic effort. John’s Gospel says Jesus prayed for his disciples and for all believers in the moments just prior to his arrest. He prayed for the realization of his redemptive work in their lives. He prayed they would be one.
John 17:20-23 (NIV)
20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

I do not think it was an idol wish on the part of Jesus. I believe the scripture teaches the “body of Christ is one.” Paul certainly understood the church was one body.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NIV)
12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

The oneness of the body of Christ is a theological reality which church is seeking to live out each day. It seems incredible that Baptists, who profess to be a people of the Book, could so easily ignore its teachings. The Christian church is one under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Yet, our experience of the church is so fragmented and divided. I am not naïve about the difficulties of bringing the modern-day body of Christ together. In many respects we more closely resemble the warring religious parties of the New Testament era than we do the church Jesus Christ died to establish. However, surely a first step is to seek to build relationships within the “Baptist” portion of the Christian church.

This commitment is why our convention is a part of the North American Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist World Alliance. But it is not enough to be brothers and sisters in name only. We must genuinely become one. We must love each other, serve each other, and serve our Lord together. We cannot possibly do that unless we know each other and begin to build genuine friendships and relationships. The Baptist Border Crossing is a call to the Baptist family across the Midwest to come together crossing all the borders and barriers which traditionally keep us apart—geographical, racial, denominational, economic, political, etc.

I believe the Baptist family and the larger Christian community is stronger when we collaborate and partner for the sake of the Kingdom. We miss a great deal when we isolate ourselves from our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is not a simple thing to bring a diverse group of Baptists together for worship and discussion, and it is even more challenging to explore a meaningful ongoing relationships. I can appreciate the incredible challenge before us as we seek to explore what God is doing in this Baptist Movement in a way that engages and involves our denominations and organizations and yet avoids the dangers of attempting to institutionalize a movement.

Baptists need each other. We need to get over our biases and work through the racial and cultural differences that have often kept us apart. This does not mean we have to merge into a single body; however, it might mean that we eventually have fewer Baptist bodies. Most importantly, it means we find a way to work together for the sake of our churches and Christ’s kingdom. It means we humble ourselves enough to admit that we can learn from each other. I serve an organization made up of predominantly Anglo congregations. We could profit a great deal by a greater sense of collaboration and partnership with our African-American brothers and sisters. Black congregations often do a much better job of identifying with and engaging their communities. Many times they do a better job of empowering leaders for service, and many of us have come to understand the vitality and power in their worship is much more than can merely be attributed to the cultural differences expressed in worship styles. We have much to learn from our Black brothers and sisters. Our first step is to get to know each other.

It is tragic that some Baptists want to isolate themselves from those who may not have the same traditions or identical interpretations of God’s Word. Baptist Border Crossing is an opportunity for us to say “we are one.” In spite of all our differences, we are one and we need each other. It is my hope that we will find a way to come together in a fresh way as we consider a new level of relationship. I hope all the Baptists across our region will be interested in being a part of this effort. Check out Baptist Border Crossing and join the effort.

North American Missions and The Baptist Family

2009-02-26T21:16:00.001-06:00

The Baptist General Convention of Missouri is receiving an offering this spring for the North American Baptist Fellowship. Missouri Baptists historically have received an Easter Offering for national missions. We believe there is no better way to collaborate for missions than to join with the Baptists of North America in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our convention became a member of the North American Baptist Fellowship a few years ago. The following year we became a part of the Baptist World Alliance. The North American Baptist Fellowship is one of six regional fellowships that make up the Baptist World Alliance. Alan Stanford recently resigned as our General Secretary. A search process is underway to secure a new General Secretary. Dr. David Goatley, General Secretary of the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention, is President of the North American Baptist Fellowship. David will be one of the keynote speakers at the Baptist Border Crossing event April 2-4, 2009, immediately following our Annual Meeting.

The North American Baptist Fellowship is the way we join hands with Baptists from across our nation and Canada as we seek to reach our world for Christ. Your gifts to our North American Baptist Missions Offering will help to underwrite the collaborative work of this organization. If you have mission offering for other causes we will be happy to forward them on your behalf.

Our Annual Meeting will be held Thursday, April 2, from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Lee’s Summit. We our abbreviating our Annual Meeting to allow our messengers and guests to attend the historic gathering of Midwest Baptists—the Baptist Border Crossing at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Liberty. Our Annual Missions Banquet will be held Friday evening during the Baptist Border Crossing at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. The cost is $12.00 and you may pay at the door, but you need to contact our convention office to make reservations (bettiejo@baptistgcm.org or 888-420-2426 ext. 701).

Check out the event website (http://www.baptistbordercrossing.org/) for more information, to register, or to secure hotel information. The President of the Baptist World Alliance and the President of the North American Baptist Fellowship are both keynote speakers for this event. Other speakers include Carolyn Ann Knight, Tony Campolo, and President Jimmy Carter. The breakout session will allow you to get acquainted with our brothers and sisters from other Baptist conventions. I hope you will make plans to join us for both of these important meetings.

Lincoln's Birthday

2009-02-12T22:01:00.007-06:00

I must confess that I have been a fan of Abraham Lincoln since I was a kid. I am not sure whether it was the pennies I began collecting at about 7 or 8 years of age, or my first visit to Washington, D. C., at about the same time. (I still collect pennies, and my collection is much more impressive than when I was a child.) I was captivated by much of what I saw in our nation's capitol city, but I was particularly fascinated by the Lincoln Memorial.

As I grew up and began to learn more about our former presidents, I became a great admirer of Lincoln. His words, memorialized in his speeches, were often profound and challenging. Even in his brief addresses he insightfully confronted his hearers with their current realities and called upon them live up to their ideals and values. I guess my greatest appreciation for him lies in his courage and leadership.

Few leaders have confronted challenges more weighty than he did. I believe he sought to speak the truth and do what was right. I am not sure we can ask anything more of our leaders. This is true whether we are talking about political leaders or church leaders. We desperately need leaders today who have integrity and courage. I sometimes wonder what might have become of our nation if Abraham Lincoln had not been elected president. Leaders can and do make a difference. We need church leaders who will call God's people to live out their faith. It is easier to go along and get along, but how the church of the 21st century needs leaders. I wonder how many of our messages will still be quoted 150 years from now.

The Gettysburg Address
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
November 19, 1863

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Why Not Lead?

2009-02-11T23:15:00.005-06:00

I wrote a series of six articles for my blog last year about Leadership. The thrust of the articles was to share my thoughts regarding Joel Barker's Leadershift--Five Lessons for Leaders in the 21st Century. In reality it was a kind of running dialogue between me and Barker's video presentation, his leadership principles and their application to local church ministry. If you would like to review them the links are below.

Like everyone else I have been watching and reading the reports regarding the recovery and stimulus plan that is working its way through congress. I listened to several commentators on the radio today as I traveled. Some complained that our new president had not provided more leadership in solving our nations current problems. (That sounded a little strange to me when you consider the complexity of the problems and the fact that he has only been in office about three weeks.) Other reporters were frustrated at the Washington politics and lack of leadership in the House and Senate. While I certainly hope those who are much smarter than I am will find ways to help our country work through the multiple challenges we face, the discussions on the news programs prompted me to think about "leadership" again.

Solving a problem is really a leadership issue. We need information, background data, and a critical examination of the problem, but ultimately problem-solving is a leadership issue. Someone has to identify the problem, pull together the resources (people, information, etc.), and develop a process or strategy to solve the problem. The more complex the problem the more information and input on the process may be needed. Unfortunately, most problems do not "go away" on their own. I am convinced our current economic and housing crisis will not. I am praying for those who are working on the solution.

As I consider church life, I realize that many churches have been living with difficult problems that negatively impact their ministries for years. A great many churches and pastors want to avoid conflict and disagreement at any cost. In reality conflict is a natural (and even healthy) part of every organization made up of people including the church. Many church leaders do not understand how to work through problems and conflicts in a healthy, productive way. Sometimes a small problem has grown into a major crisis just because no one provided leadership to find a solution.

I realize that change and growth are never easy. I also know they never happen without some conflict and frequently they create problems. However, these problems are why we need leaders. Leaders who are courageous enough to take on the serious challenges before them. Leaders who are not afraid to help a church move to healthy ministry even when it means helping people work through problems. So my question is, Why not lead? I believe it is a part of our calling as ministers and church leaders. Those with leadership gifts should use them for the benefit of the Kingdom. Maybe there has never been a time when we needed leaders more--in our government and in our churches.

Leadership Articles:
Leadership 1 - Definition & Roles
Leadership 2 - Focus on the Future
Leadership 3 - Understanding Change
Leadership 4 - Complex Systems
Leadership 5 - Leadership Styles
Leadership 6 - Shared Vision

Everyone Needs a Hug!

2009-02-10T12:41:00.005-06:00

Some friends invited Bettie Jo and I to go the Missouri-Kansas Game last night at Mizzou Arena. I had not been to a game in the new arena. More than 15,000 people packed the arena to watch this episode of the Border War. Missouri had a very difficult first half shooting only 24 percent and turning the ball over frequently, but the second half was different story. Missouri kept trying to climb back into the game--edging closer and closer. A young man sitting in front of us was almost beside himself--jumping and cheering. He gave me a couple of "high fives" at keys moments. When Missouri scored the go-ahead basket with 1.3 seconds remaining and then held on to win, he went crazy (along with the rest of the crowd). He hugged me and everyone else he could reach. It was a great game (if you cheer for Mizzou).

The experience reminded me of a report I heard during the inauguration of President Obama. The news reporter talked about being in the crowd on the national mall during the inauguration. She said she had never worked a crowed where everyone was willing to be interviewed. She went on to say that each time she finished an interview the person hugged her.

Special moments sometimes cause us to form an immediate emotional bond with people. Several years ago I was leading a group on a trip to Israel with my brothers. My older brother and I were talking about how our family has always been "huggers." He suggested that I should hug the people in the church where I was serving as pastor. He said you should particularly hug your widow ladies. Everyone needs a hug.

I must admit I came home a little skeptical. Not because I disliked hugging (I grew up in a family of huggers). I was not sure how people would react. I remember asking some of widow ladies as they greeted me following our worship services if they would like a hug. You cannot imagine the overwhelming response I received. Their responses ranged from "Oh, yes" to "Please!" to "I would love to have a hug." One lady whispered to me as I hugged her, "I cannot remember the last time someone hugged me." Before long I was hugging almost everyone, including big, burley men. People would come up and say, "Can I have a hug, too?"

I hate to admit it, but my big brother was right. People (even shy and reserved people) long for a sense of connection. There is something about a hug that causes us to feel we are not alone. Christianity is about reaching out to people. It is about touching their lives and ministering to their needs. It is about inviting them into the family. I don't think we have to wait for special moments to reach out in love and compassion. Everyone needs a hug!

Celebrating Baptist Freedom

2009-02-05T15:40:00.004-06:00

The following article was written for the next issue of Word&Way.

Baptists around the world are celebrating the 400th anniversary of the founding of the first Baptist church. Church historians tell us that English Christians living in Amsterdam, Holland, gathered for worship and began practicing believer’s baptism. They had all been baptized as infants in the Church of England, and no one in their fellowship had experienced baptism as a believer. They were committed to the belief that church membership should be based on a personal confession of faith followed by believer’s baptism. Their conviction brought them into direct conflict with the Church of England when the group, led by John Smyth and Thomas Helwys, returned to England and started a new church. The group openly asserted every person must have complete spiritual freedom.

I was a student of church history in college and seminary. I believe religious liberty, believer’s baptism, the priesthood of the believer, and the autonomy of the local church may be some of the most significant contributions of Baptists to the life of the Christian church. In a real sense they all speak of freedom, liberty and responsibility.

It seems a little incredible to me that during a year when Baptists are celebrating 400 years of freedom the Missouri Baptist Convention leadership is still committed to making everyone do things their way. After nearly seven years of litigation and rulings by the local and appellate courts that went against them, these leaders are still committed to spend millions of dollars attempting to get control of institutions and ministries that are faithfully carrying out their God-given ministries. Never have they said these institutions and ministries have strayed away from or failed in fulfillment of their mission. They just want to be “in control.” That does not sound like Baptist freedom to me.

The Missouri Baptist Convention also voted over the past few years to require churches to be singly aligned with the MBC. They redefined that to mean several things. First, you have to affiliate with the SBC and only the SBC including financial support of their work. Secondly, your doctrinal statement must meet their standards, which essentially means it is in agreement with the SBC statement. Finally, your church cannot financially support or send representatives to any other national and/or state convention or organization which serves and/or acts as a national and/or state convention. That does not sound like Baptist freedom to me.

The Baptist General Convention of Missouri approaches things in a different way. We have no desire to control institutions or dictate to churches their doctrinal statements, how they relate to other churches, or how they channel their mission gifts. Our first priority is serving churches. While we welcome and encourage churches to support our ministries, our Board of Directors voted several years ago that we would serve any church desiring our help, whether they were supporting our ministries or not. We contribute to all the Missouri Baptist institutions without a desire to control them. We have joined forces with the larger Baptist family through partnerships, collaborative efforts, and memberships in the North American Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist World Alliance. If you are tired of the litigation and denomination organizations that dictate to churches, we invite you to explore a new relationship with our convention. Let’s celebrate the 400th Anniversary of Baptist work by discovering religious liberty again. Please call on us if we can be of help to your church.

New Relationships and New Opportunities

2009-02-04T22:41:00.006-06:00

I am serving as a co-chairperson for the Baptist Border Crossing Task Force. The Task Force is providing leadership for the planning of a regional gathering of Baptists from across the Midwest. The event will be one of several regional events that are being planned as a follow-up to the New Baptist Covenant Celebration held in Atlanta last year. Our Task Force includes representatives from Kansas City area Baptist groups, including the National Baptist Convention USA, the National Baptist Convention of America, the Progressive National Baptist Convention, American Baptist Churches USA, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Southern Baptist Convention, the Baptist General Convention of Missouri, and the General Association of General Baptists. Dr. Wallace S. Hartsfield, II, Senior Pastor of Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church in Kansas City, is serving as the other co-chairperson for the Task Force.

The Baptist Border Crossing event will be April 2-4, 2009, at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri. Participants from all Baptist groups in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Arkansas, and Nebraska are invited to participate in this historic event. Plenary speakers for the event include Tony Campolo, David Coffey, David Goatley, Carolyn Ann Knight and President Jimmy Carter. Breakout sessions will be led by facilitators from the various Baptist groups and will deal with issues such as poverty, peacemaking, religious liberty, and diversity.

The 7th Annual Meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Missouri is scheduled prior to this special event on Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2009, at First Baptist Church in Lee’s Summit. This year’s Annual Meeting will be abbreviated to one session to allow all our messengers and guests to attend the Baptist Border Crossing event. Our president, Dr. Randall Bunch, will be speaking during our Annual Meeting on Thursday afternoon. I am very excited about the potential this process and the event have for laying the groundwork for a new level of relationship and collaboration among the Baptist family in the Midwest. I am delighted to have the opportunity build new friendships with my Baptist brothers and sisters. I would encourage you to check out our website (http://www.baptistgcm.org/) and the event website (http://www.baptistbordercrossing.org/) for more information. Click here to view or download the Baptist Border Crossing flyer. I hope you will make plans to be a part of our Annual Meeting and this special Baptist gathering.

Windermere Board of Director's Action Legal

2009-02-03T21:54:00.004-06:00

The Court of Appeals ruled today that the lower court's decision to dismiss the Missouri Baptist Convention case against Windermere was proper. In the ruling the court indicated that the Windermere Board of Directors acted legally when they changed their charter several years ago. I have no desire to rehash the litigation process that has been going on for more than six years. I just want to express my grief at the year's of litigation that have diminished our Baptist witness and the millions of dollars that have been wasted on depositions, legal fees, and court costs. A major portion of Windermere's debt could have been paid off by now if these funds had been redirected to the conference center's ministry. What a waste. I believe those leading the charge for litigation were more interested in control than in Windermere's ministry. Unfortunately, it appears the MBC will continue to enrich the attorneys and force Baptist institutions to spend needed resources on litigation rather than ministry.

Incredible as it seems Windermere has continued to grow and expand its ministry even during some very difficult years when they lost convention funding and a major portion of their revenue when the MBC quit utilizing the conference center for convention activites. This past year was one of the best years in Windermere's 50 years of ministry. The BGCM is committed to supporting this vital ministry with our gifts and our presence. Bettie Jo and I made a personal commitment to Windermere's Building Lives Campaign. Hopefully, many Missouri Baptists will choose to move beyond the years of litigation and begin supporting Windermere again.

Legislative Breakfast Forum

2009-02-02T21:05:00.006-06:00

MOCARP
This past year I have had the privilege of serving as chairperson for an ecumenical group called Missouri Christians Against Racism and Poverty. Each year we sponsor a Legislative Breakfast Forum that provides an opportunity for faith leaders from across our state to meet with state legislators to discuss issues confronting our state. The forum provides a context for the faith community to become advocates for the most vulnerable in our state. This year the Legislative Breakfast Forum was held on Wednesday, January 28, at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City.

Last year our forum subject was "tax justice." This year our topic was "Moving toward Quality, Accessible Health Care for All Missouri." Our MOCARP Plan Team has said, "As citizens of a democracy, American Christians have both an opportunity and obligation to help give voice to those who are poor and disenfranchised. Our churches have made an intentional commitment to oppose all marginalization in our society. Deep care and concern for our state encourages us to press our government to be the best, most honorable, and most fair that it can in all matters, but particularly those related to opportunity for health care and healing for all our citizens."

The winter weather diminished our crowd a little, but I felt our breakfast forum was a success, and I was grateful for those who participated. Rabbi Susan Talve, Chairperson for Missouri Health Care for All, spoke to the needs in Missouri. Bishop Barry Howe, Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri, provided a theological response and helped to set our discussions within the context of our Christian faith.

The Legislative Panelists included Senator Rita Heard Days, Democrat, 14th District; Representative J. C. Kuessner, Democrat, 152nd District; and Cynthia Davis, Republican, 19th District. One additional Republican Senator was unable to attend. Rev. John Bennett, Outreach Coordinator for Missouri IMPACT and retired minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), served as moderator for the event.

MOCARP includes representatives of the following churches: African Methodist Episcopal Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Baptist General Convention of Missouri, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, The Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church USA, United Church of Christ, and The United Methodist Church. I am grateful for the opportunity to join with other Christian voices as we seek to become advocates for justice for all people.

I Love the Church

2009-02-01T19:19:00.003-06:00

Today, I want to admit something very personal. I have an ongoing love affair. The one I love is beautiful, talented, gracious and generous. She is giving, loving, and precious to me. She is bold, exciting and challenging. We have had a lifelong romance. Of course those adjectives describe my wife, Bettie Jo, but I have another love besides my wife. These same characteristics describe the church. I love the church!

The church of the Lord Jesus Christ has been my life. I went to church with my mother prior to my birth. Shortly after my birth, I found myself enrolled in the cradle roll of the nursery. In the church I learned the great stories of the Bible and the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. In the church I found the solid foundation for my life. I have made life-long friends. I discovered my spiritual gifts, and I sensed my call to ministry. In the church I married my wife, my life partner. I first began to preach and teach. In the church I have raised my children, and in the church I hope to raise my grandchildren. In the church, serving my Savior, I have found meaning and purpose. The church has been my life. I love the church!

Maybe most of all I love the church because I love my Savior and the scriptures tell us that he loved the church and gave himself for the church! The first priority of the Baptist General Convention is serving churches. If we can help your church, give our staff a call.

Building Partnerships for World Missions

2008-12-08T13:08:00.001-06:00

Christmas time has historically been the time of the year when Baptists emphasized World Missions. We traditionally had a Week of Prayer, sometimes a mission study, and we received our World Missions Offering. I remember that sometimes we had a “foreign missionary” as a guest speaker. When I was growing up it seemed like international missions was a long way from where I lived.

In recent years our world has become much smaller. Technology, communications, and international travel have brought the world to our door step. Today, local congregations have incredible opportunities for direct partnerships with missionaries and mission fields that were once thought impossible. Communication that once took weeks or months is now instantaneous. Many churches are involved in multiple international mission efforts every year. Church members not only give and pray for missions—they are missionaries.

The Baptist General Convention of Missouri has been forging relationships and partnerships designed to assist churches as they seek to become involved in the global mission enterprise. Our convention established a relationship with WorldconneX. This organization helps churches discover their strategic uniqueness for the Kingdom, establish effective connections for strategic impact, and send their people long term anywhere in the world.

We are also a part of the North American Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist World Alliance. The Baptist World Alliance is a fellowship of 214 Baptist conventions and unions comprising a membership of more than 37 million baptized believers and a community of 105 million. Its mission is networking the Baptist family to impact the world for Christ.

Our mission partnership with the Guatemalan Baptist Convention continues to expand and new congregations continue to build church to church partnerships. If your church is interested in becoming involved in missions anywhere in the world we want to be a resource to you. We want to help you get connected wherever you believe God is urging you to become involved. We want to provide training for your volunteers and resources to assist your church.

Many of our churches are receiving an offering this month for World Missions. We hope you will consider including the BGCM World Missions Offering in your plans. This offering provides an opportunity for you to partner with your Baptist brothers and sisters around the World in sharing Christ and ministering in his name. The Baptist World Alliance is a global movement of Baptists sharing a common confession of faith in Jesus Christ, bonded together by God’s love to support, encourage and strengthen one another, while proclaiming and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to a lost world. Downloadable posters and bulletin inserts are available on the BGCM website. Join us in building partnerships for world missions.

Promoting & Defending Religious Liberty

2008-10-09T11:08:00.010-05:00

On Monday and Tuesday of this week I had the privilege of representing the Baptist General Convention of Missouri at the Board Meeting of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. Our convention became a member of the BJC last year, and I was elected the serve on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.

The BJC serves 14 Baptist denominations and conferences. They also receive support from local churches and individuals, foundations and endowment funds. If you believe that separation of church and state is the best way to protect and extend religious liberty in the new millennium, the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty is your voice in Washington. Serving fourteen Baptist bodies, the Baptist Joint Committee is a non-profit 501(c)(3) education and advocacy organization that has worked for nearly seventy years promoting religious liberty for all and upholding the principle of church-state separation. Baptists have always understood that the two must go together.

The mission of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty is to defend and extend God-given religious liberty for all, furthering the Baptist heritage that champions the principle that religion must be freely exercised, neither advanced nor inhibited by government. The work of the Baptist Joint Committee has been somewhat handicapped through the years, because we did have our own facilities. Over the pass few years the BJC has been conducting a Capital Campaign to provide the resources needed for a Center for Religious Liberty. Momentum has been building for the Center for Religious Liberty on Capitol Hill and many have made gifts and commitments toward the effort. This summer a generous donor issued a challenge and offered to match up to $300,000 in gifts and pledges received by October 31, 2008. That means if you make a gift or a pledge to the BJC campaign this month it will be matched. You can fulfill you pledge over then next three years. Bettie Jo and I are making a pledge to take advantage of this generous offer and because we believe in Religious Liberty. You can learn more about the Baptist Joint Committee at their website. You can download the Baptist Joint Committee campaign pledge form here. I hope you will consider making a commitment to this important. I also want to encourage you to invite your church to make a commitment. Remember all pledges received by the end of October will be matched.

Leadership (6)

2008-09-30T20:10:00.000-05:00

This is the sixth in my series of articles on leadership. We have been exploring the application of five lessons for leaders in the 21st century. They were developed by Joel Barker in a video called Leadershift. This series of articles provides my perspective on the lessons and their application to the local church setting. In the last lesson (in mid July) we explored the impact of our leadership style and how it affects our productivity as a leader. The last of Barker’s lessons is we must create shared vision to build bridges to the future.

I have worked with a number of churches, denominational organizations and Christian ministries as they sought to think strategically about the future and their ministries. I believe the heart of the strategy planning process is the development or refinement of the church’s mission and vision statements. Not everyone defines “mission” and “vision” in the same ways. I define a “mission” statement as a statement of identity or purpose. It is a statement that defines who we are and why we exist. I believe a “vision” statement is a statement of direction or destination. It is a statement that describes where we are going or the direction of our journey.

The mission statement should be brief, clear, and powerful. The vision statement should be concise and motivating. However, no matter how clear and powerful your statements are or how comprehensive your plan is, unless your congregation and church leaders come to share the vision it is unlikely any real change will take place.

Remember the definition of a leader. A leader is someone you choose to follow to a place you wouldn’t go by yourself. People have to choose to follow you. If no one is following, then you are not leading. We are leading the people of God on a journey of faith. We are attempting to move from where we are to where we believe God desires us to be. Leaders build bridges that enable people to make the trip.

There are many pastors who have given up on the journey because they have been unable to lead their congregations to share the vision. I understand their frustrations. It is so much easier to settle into a maintenance situation than to explore a fresh vision for the future. In reality “maintenance” is what makes many congregations comfortable, but leadership is not about comfort.

My experience is that it is much more than “approving a plan” or passing a recommendation at the business meeting. It is real ownership of the vision. I have rarely seen this happen unless the church leadership is personally and vitally involved in the process developing or discovering the vision. The church must come to adopt or own the vision. They must believe the bridges proposed will make the journey possible. They must be convinced the vision represents God’s will. They must see the ministry potential the vision creates, and they must be led by a leader whom they trust because he or she has “shared” the discovery process with them. I want to encourage pastors not to give up. The congregation does not have to get to their destination today or even tomorrow. They just need to be moving toward a shared vision of God’s plan for their ministry. Don’t stop building bridges to the future.

Missouri Baptist University Lecture Series

2008-09-30T19:25:00.004-05:00

I attended the fall lecture series today at Missouri Baptist University at the invitation of their president, Alton Lacey. Their guest this year is Dr. William Willimon, Bishop of the United Methodist Church Conference in North Alabama. For twenty years he was Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University. Dr. Willimon has authored more than sixty books and his Worship as Pastoral Care was selected as one of the ten most useful books for pastors by the Academy of Parish Clergy.

In 1996, an international survey conducted by Baylor University named him one of the Twelve Most Effective Preachers in the English-speaking world. Bishop Willimon, orginially from South Carolina and raised at Buncombe Street UMC in Greenville, SC, received a B.A. from Wofford College in 1968, an M. Div. from Yale Divinity School in 1971, and an S.T.D. from Emory University in 1973. He has also received several honorary doctorates. He married Patricia Parker on June 7, 1969. They have two children: Harriet and William.

I participated in a pastor's retreat with Dr. Willimon a few years ago. He is a gifted speaker and skilled church leader. I am sure serving with university students for twenty years helped to refine his gifts. A university or college setting is a tough audience.

Following his message I participated in the clergy luncheon and informal discussion with Dr. Willimon. The group had a good discussion on a range of subjects including worship styles, reaching the younger generations, and the lack of "church growth" in North American. I appreciated his insights and perspectives. You can follow his blog at http://willimon.blogspot.com/.

Windermere: 50 Incredible Years

2008-09-29T10:29:00.004-05:00

I wrote the following article for our Message page in the next issue of Word&Way.

A couple weeks ago I had the privilege of joining approximately 500 Baptists from across our state in celebrating 50 years of ministry at Windermere Baptist Conference Center. It was a wonderful time to renew friendships, remember special moments and give thanks to God for a very special place. When the Baptists of Missouri purchased Windermere 50 years ago, no one could have imagined how God was going to use this very special place to change the lives of so many.

I began attending events at Windermere when I was just a boy. Our family went to a conference and stayed in one of the old Spring Valley family cabins. It was long before many of Windermere’s older facilities were even built. Through the years I have attended many events, conferences, and workshops at Windermere. In fact, a few years ago I attempted to add up the nights I had spent on the campus of Windermere and discovered that I had spent almost three years of my life at Windermere. That is pretty good for someone who was never on their staff. The events included Royal Ambassador Camps, youth camps, retreats, training conferences, Big Mac conferences, Bible Preaching Weeks, Mission Conferences, BSU retreats, Deacon retreats, Director of Missions events, Music conferences, and many others. I began as a child and then progressed to youth and student events. I brought groups from the churches and associations I served. Later I came to Windermere as a conference leader for the Home Mission Board and the State Convention.

I saw my first copperhead snake at Windermere, and I learned to ski at Windermere. I grew and learned more about my commitment to Christ at Windermere. It would be impossible to recount all the times God’s Spirit has touched my life through the ministry of this special place and those who served there. Windermere really is a place where God is Building Lives!

During the weekend celebration the Windermere Board of Directors announced the naming of the Lakeview Lodge for Don and Marion Wideman. More than 10 years ago I had the privilege of following Don Wideman as executive director. Don’s leadership was instrumental in the development of the Windermere Board of Advisors and the redevelopment of the Windermere Campus. By the time Don came to serve Missouri Baptists many of Windermere’s older facilities needed to be updated. The campus had a lot of deferred maintenance. In addition Windermere needed new facilities to meet the changing conference needs of groups from across the Midwest. Don’s vision and leadership began a process that the Board of Directors has continued. I am grateful Windermere has named the beautiful Lakeview Lodge for the Widemans.

I have visited many Baptist conference centers across the nation, and Windermere is one of the finest conference centers anywhere. If you have not been to Windermere recently, you need to bring a group from your church soon. It truly is one of God’s masterpieces.

Over the past several years some in our state have sought to undermine and destroy Windermere’s ministry. I am proud the Baptist General Convention of Missouri continues to provide financial support for this ministry, and we are thrilled it is available for our conferences and events. Windermere still needs our support and help. In addition to the gifts of our convention, Bettie Jo and I give to support Windermere’s ministry every month. We want this conference center to continue their important ministry for the next 50 years. This anniversary year would be a great time to make a special gift to Windermere. Let’s celebrate by helping to ensure the future of Windermere’s ministry.

Beneath the Skin: Baptists and Racism

2008-09-03T13:43:00.014-05:00

The Baptist Center for Ethics will release their new video “Beneath the Skin: Baptists and Racism” on October 1. The Baptist General Convention of Missouri will be sponsoring a couple of screenings of the DVD in October or November in our state. We will also be making copies available to our churches. I am very grateful for the work of the Baptist Center for Ethics.

I am serving this year as chairperson of an ecumenical organization called Missouri Christians Against Racism and Poverty. We are committed to helping people of faith become more effective advocates for justice. I hope your church will want to share this important video with your congregation. We will provide information regarding how to order a copy from our convention office as soon as they are available.

The DVD will come with a 35-minute short-version for community screening which might be followed by a panel discussion and a 47-minute long-term version for use in church educational experiences (Bible study or discipleship training). The longer version is designed to use over a four-week period. The DVD will have an accompanying online discussion guide for the long version and a secondary Web page with a large volume of articles. The DVD will also have extras for those who want a longer discussion experience. The link below is a video clip excerpt from the soon to be released video which highlights the Repentance and Reconciliation Service held at the Ghana slave castle in 2007.

Except from New Ethicsdaily Video

Make a Difference through State Missions!

2008-08-31T23:35:00.003-05:00

This month marks the launch of our State Missions Emphasis. Each September and October we encourage churches across our state to be in prayer for state missions. Missouri not only a state with a great heritage for mission involvement, but it is also a great mission field. There has never been a time when there were more people in our state who needed to hear the message of Christ than there are today.

The Baptist General Convention of Missouri is committed to the Biblical mandate to share the Gospel with the whole world. Our involvement in the North American Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist World Alliance allows us to partner with our Baptist brothers and sisters around the world to share the Gospel and minister to human needs. But, it is important for us to remember that we live in the midst of mission field right here in Missouri. Sometimes, it is easier to enlist volunteers for a national or international mission trip than it is to involve church members in mission opportunities where they live. State Missions is a way to remind your church family that mission begins at home.

Our State Missions theme for 2008 is Make a Difference! We believe your prayers, gifts and personal involvement will make a difference in the lives of people across our state. Our 2008 BGCM State Missions Offering goal is $30,000. Your Gifts to the Missouri Missions Offering Make a Difference! Gifts to the Missouri Missions Offering will help to provide care for children and for senior adults in our state through the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home and The Baptist Home. Missouri Mission Offering gifts will also provide resources for church planting, mission partnerships, and the drug and alcohol awareness work of the Freeway Foundation. Missions is about Believing, Giving, Caring, and Ministering in the name of Christ.

I hope you will lead your church to promote State Missions this year. Encourage your members to pray for our state and to explore ways they can get involved in missions where they live. I also hope you will promote our Missions Missions Offering. State Missions offering envelopes are available from the convention office by contacting Bettie Jo at bettiejo@baptistgcm.org or 888-420-2426 extension 701. Downloadable posters and bulletin inserts are available on our web site at http://www.baptistgcm.org/. If you need printed copies for your church or would like to a State Missions speaker for your emphasis contact our convention office. Together we can make a difference!

2009 Holy Land Trip to Israel & Jordan

2008-08-30T16:22:00.000-05:00

Three Hill brothers—Jim Hill (BGCM Executive Director), Drew Hill (Pastor of FBC, Sedalia) and Pete Hill (Pastor of FBC, Smithville)—will be leading a trip to Israel and Jordan in 2009. The group will leave on February 14, 2007, for a 11-day trip and return on February 24, 2009. In Israel the tour will visit Caesarea (by the Sea), Haifa, Megiddo, Nazareth, Cana, Tiberias, take a boat ride to Capernaum, see the Mount of Beatitudes, Church of the five loaves and two fishes, Caesarea Philippi, Jericho, Qumran, the Dead Sea, Masada, Jerusalem, Bethlehem and much more. In Jordan the group will visit Petra, Madaba, Mt. Nebo and Jerash. The tour will be a spiritual pilgrimage and a great time of fellowship. If you are interested in more information visit www.hillbrotherstours.com or contact Jim at jimhill@baptistgcm.org or (573) 659-3838.

Bible Preaching Week at Windermere

2008-08-15T21:59:00.003-05:00

We just finished a great Bible Preaching Week at Windermere. BPW has always been a time of preaching, Bible teaching, inspiration, and fellowship. We did not have a large group this year, but the week went very well. Our leadership for the week included Charles Wade (former Executive Director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas), David May (professor from Central Baptist Theological Seminary), Rod Maples (Associate Pastor of Worship at First Baptist Church in Jefferson City), and Kristy McGonegal (a member of First Baptist Church in Jefferson and completing her Master of Divinity degree).

We also had a great group of breakout leaders for the small group conferences. Our theme was Worship: An Encounter with God. The theme for the Bible studies will be Upside Down: Experiencing the Parables of Jesus. It was a good week. I am grateful to be a part of an organization committed to serving pastors and church leaders.