Baptist Press Stories for May. 1 2012 --------------------------------------- Chen, who exposed China abortion policy, in spotlight http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37736 Report: Half of NC marriage amend. signs stolen http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37737 CP still ahead of budgeted goal for year http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37740 'Multiplication of strength' is reason for CP gifts http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37734 LifeWay launches mobile website http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37730 Anti-bullying speaker bullies Christians http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37728 2012 SBC Annual Meeting Program http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37738 FROM THE STATES: La., Fla., Md. evangelism/missions news http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37739 BP Ledger, May 1 edition http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37731 FIRST-PERSON: CBF -- Yesterday's moderates are today's 'conservatives' http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37735 FIRST-PERSON: The glory of the mundane http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37732 --------------------------------------- Chen, who exposed China abortion policy, in spotlight By Staff May. 1 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37736 WASHINGTON (BP) -- The case of Chinese human rights advocate Chen Guangcheng, who recently escaped house arrest, presents a "pivotal test for freedom in China and for U.S. credibility as a defender of freedom," Bob Fu of the China Aid Association said. [QUOTE@left@180='I always wish U.S. politicians would try to inspire the persecuted instead of sparing the feelings of the persecutors.' -- Bob Fu]President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been careful not to speak in clear support of Chen, who climbed over the back wall of his home April 22 and reportedly sought refuge with the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Chen, a 40-year-old self-trained lawyer who has been blind since childhood, was imprisoned and then placed under house arrest for exposing forced abortions under China's one-child policy. In one of the most tragic examples Chen had helped uncover, the government forced a woman who was seven months pregnant to have an abortion, and then forcibly sterilized her, LifeNews.com reported. "We recognize that President Obama and Secretary Clinton are in a delicate situation and the wrong word may cause problems," Fu said in a statement April 30. "Our first priority is to protect Chen and his family, but it would be inspiring to hear an unqualified and spirited defense of freedom instead of dry diplomatic calculation." Obama "sidestepped" a question about Chen Monday, ABC News said, refusing to confirm reports that the United States is protecting him. "I'm aware of the press reports of the situation in China, but I'm not going to make a statement on the issue," Obama said. "What I would like to emphasize is that every time we meet with China, the issue of human rights comes up. "It is our belief that not only is that the right thing to do because it comports with our principles and our belief in human rights, but also because we actually think China will be stronger as it opens up and liberalizes its own system," the president said. In an opinion piece published by The Washington Post April 29, Fu wrote that Chen's escape had been planned carefully for many months and that he was "awed by the courage" of those who helped Chen escape nearly six years of torture, malnutrition and isolation. Fu was among the first to know of Chen's escape. "The first thing he told me after escaping was that he wanted the outside world to know that he was not going to leave China but to 'fight to the end for the freedom of my family... I want to live a normal life as a Chinese citizen with my family,'" Fu recounted. When Chinese authorities realized four days after his escape that he was gone, they arrested his older brother and his nephew, Fu wrote, and Chen's mother, wife and 6-year-old daughter are being tightly guarded by Chinese security forces. "This is a pivotal moment for U.S. human rights diplomacy," Fu wrote. "The United States must stand firm with this broadly popular individual or risk losing credibility as a defender of freedom and the rule of law." Clinton, who traveled to China Monday for economic talks, was asked about Chen before she left. "A constructive relationship includes talking very frankly about those areas where we do not agree, including human rights," Clinton told a reporter. "That is the spirit that is guiding me as I take off for Beijing tonight, and I can certainly guarantee that we will be discussing every matter, including human rights, that is pending between us." When pressed about Chinese activists who have gone missing over the years, Clinton replied, "I have nothing to add to what I've said at this time. I have a full agenda of many issues of great concern to us, including human rights and the freedom and free movement of people inside China who have a right to exercise those freedoms under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights." Fu, of the Texas-based China Aid Association, said, "I always wish U.S. politicians would try to inspire the persecuted instead of sparing the feelings of the persecutors. We hope that Secretary Clinton will speak as boldly as she has in many other instances before and let Beijing know that Chen Guangcheng's aspirations for China's future are shared by the U.S. and most of the free world." Fu quoted Obama's inaugural address, in which the president said, "To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." Fu called on the Obama administration to "help the dictators of Beijing unclench their fist" by securing the safety of Chen and his family. "China will move toward the 'right side of history' only when it recognizes that people like Chen are its strength, not its enemy," Fu wrote. In an article April 30, The Washington Post referred to China experts who say political asylum in the United States seems a likely outcome for Chen, despite his expressed desire to remain in China. "It's a difficult choice for Chen. Chinese dissidents who have gone into exile in the United States have gained freedom, but most have lost stature," The Post said. The newspaper highlighted several cases in which Chinese citizens have found refuge in the United States but in turn have given up the influence they had in China. Also, when dissidents go into exile, their relatives remain in danger, The Post said. --30-- Compiled by Erin Roach, assistant editor of Baptist Press. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -- End of story -- Report: Half of NC marriage amend. signs stolen By Michael Foust May. 1 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37737 RALEIGH, N.C. (BP) -- Roughly half of the yard signs around North Carolina supporting a proposed constitutional marriage amendment have been stolen or damaged, according to the communications director for the group promoting the amendment. Meanwhile, a new poll shows the amendment maintaining the 14-point lead it enjoyed one week earlier. The amendment would define marriage as being between one man and one woman. There have been reports of vandalism on both sides. Rachel Lee, the communications director for Vote FOR Marriage NC, told Baptist Press that her office gets calls or in-person visits multiple times a day from people requesting new signs, simply because their old ones are gone or destroyed. [IMGONLY=32532@right@300]"We have distributed tens of thousands of yard signs across the state, and about half of them are now gone due to vandalism, destruction and unlawful removal," Lee estimated. The blue rubber signs are attached to a metal frame and say: "On May 8th, Vote FOR the Marriage Amendment." In some instances, Lee said, people vandalize the signs and then post pictures on Facebook or Twitter. "Signs are just disappearing all over the state, while the other side's signs are remaining," Lee said. "It's difficult to say who is taking them. All we know is that they are being removed and destroyed." There also have been instances of billboards being defaced. In one part of the state, someone climbed up a pro-amendment billboard and spray painted the word "against" on the billboard so that it read -- although crudely -- "Vote against the Marriage Amendment." The billboard had been paid for by a Beacon Baptist Church. In another part of the state, someone used spray paint to post the message "only God can judge" on a pro-amendment billboard. In Hickory, N.C., the church marquee of Tabernacle Baptist Church and School was vandalized. The church had used its marquee to promote a "Marriage Sunday" for April 22. The sign said nothing about the marriage amendment, but someone spray painted "Hate Speech" on one side and "Love Not Hate" on the other. The April 27-29 poll, by Public Policy Polling, showed the amendment ahead among likely voters, 55-41 percent. One week earlier, it was up 54-40 percent. The survey used the exact language found on the ballot. If passed, North Carolina would become the 30th state defining marriage in a state constitution as between a man and a woman -- and preventing state courts from legalizing gay "marriage," as happened in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa. North Carolina is the only state in the Southeast without such an amendment. --30-- Michael Foust is associate editor of Baptist Press. For more information, visit VoteForMarriageNC.com. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). Read Glenn Stanton's column, "Why not legalize gay marriage?" at [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37494]http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37494[/URL] -- End of story -- CP still ahead of budgeted goal for year By Staff May. 1 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37740 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Year-to-date contributions to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries received by the SBC Executive Committee are $5,628,995.10, or 5.19 percent above the year-to-date budgeted goal, and are 0.22 percent behind contributions received during the same time frame last year, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Frank S. Page. The total includes receipts from state conventions and fellowships, churches and individuals for distribution according to the 2011-12 SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget. The Cooperative Program is a program of giving through which a local church is able to contribute to the various ministries of its state convention and to the various missions and ministries of the Southern Baptist Convention with a single contribution. "This marks the fifth consecutive month that CP contributions to the missions and ministries of the SBC have shown an increase," Page said. "Given the economic distress faced by so many of our churches and their members during the past four years, it is encouraging to see their continued willingness and the slow but steady improvement in their ability to provide financial support for the convention's ministries. I rejoice in every gift. Each gift is significant, demonstrating once again the sacrificial spirit of Southern Baptists to support Kingdom ministry." As of April 30, gifts received by the Executive Committee for distribution through the Cooperative Program Allocation Budget totaled $114,128,995.10 or 105.19 percent of the $108,500,000 year-to-date budgeted amount to support Southern Baptist ministries globally and across North America. The total is $249,064.39 less than the $114,378,059.49 received through the end of April 2011. The convention-adopted budget is distributed 50.2 percent to international missions through IMB, 22.79 percent to North American missions through NAMB, 22.16 percent to theological education, 3.2 percent to the SBC operating budget, and 1.65 percent to the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. If the convention exceeds its annual budget goal of $186 million dollars, IMB's share will go to 51 percent of any overage in Cooperative Program allocation budget receipts. Other ministry entities of the SBC will receive their adopted percentage amounts and the SBC operating budget's portion will be reduced to 2.4 percent of any overage. Designated giving of $130,851,935.53 for the same year-to-date period is 0.09 percent, or $121,764.37, below gifts of $130,973,699.90 received at this point last year. This total includes only those gifts received and distributed by the Executive Committee and does not reflect designated gifts contributed directly to SBC entities. Traditionally, state and regional conventions have acted as collecting entities for Cooperative Program contributions. They retain a portion of church contributions to the Cooperative Program to support work in their respective areas and forward a percentage to Southern Baptist national and international causes. The percentage of distribution from the states is at the discretion of the messengers of each state convention through the adoption of the state convention's annual budget. CP allocation budget receipts received by the Executive Committee are reported monthly to the executives of the entities of the convention, to the state offices, to the denominational papers and are posted online at www.cpmissions.net/CPReports. April's CP allocation receipts for SBC work totaled $16,364,404.42. Designated gifts received last month amounted to $13,989,216.23. The end-of-month total represents money received by the Executive Committee by the close of the last business day of each month. Month-to-month swings reflect a number of factors, including the number of Sundays in a given month, the day of the month churches forward their CP contributions to their state conventions and the timing of when state conventions forward the national portion of their CP contributions to the Executive Committee. --30-- Compiled by Baptist Press staff. -- End of story -- 'Multiplication of strength' is reason for CP gifts By Karen L. Willoughby May. 1 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37734 GREEN VALLEY, Ariz. (BP) -- So-called snowbirds from the northern United States who seek the sun in winter months help Green Valley Baptist Church minister year-round in this bedroom community 20 miles south of Tucson, Ariz., and 45 miles north of the U.S./Mexico border. [QUOTE@left@180='There's a multiplication of strength, resources and leadership when we partner together.' -- John Guillott]The town in southern Pima County boasts about 350 sunny days a year and temperatures that rarely dip below the low 40s or above the high 90s. Within the last three years Green Valley, Ariz., appeared on a list of the "top 10 places to retire" in the United States. Local challenges include a growing crime rate and declining economic situation, in addition to the spiritual, social and physical needs of area residents. At the same time, says Pastor John Guillott, because of the congregation's commitment to give 15 percent of its undesignated offerings to missions through the Cooperative Program, Green Valley Baptist Church has a global focus. The Cooperative Program is the way Southern Baptist churches support state, national and international missions and ministries. "The Cooperative Program is one of the most efficient ways and strongest partnership ways we can help accomplish the Great Commission," Guillott said. "We can have an impact literally around the world from our church, and around our nation and our state. "Green Valley members certainly know the value of working with our two largest mission-sending agencies, the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board," Guillott said. "At the same time, they know the value of investing in seminary training and leadership development that penetrates lostness here in Arizona and around the world. "They see the value of investing in the collegiate work we have here in the state, and in disaster relief, and they see the value of church planting," the pastor said. "The founding pastor of this church, Jack Miller, just put it into the DNA of the church that they needed to continue to find ways to impact lostness in as many places as they can." Green Valley is for the most part an unincorporated community consisting of about 60 housing associations, most of which are age-restricted. Nonetheless, about 100 youngsters attend a weeklong Vacation Bible School each summer. Other community outreaches include sponsoring a hamburger and hot dog cookout and a golf tournament for the high school football team. "We care about our students," Guillott said. "They're part of our community. They're the future of our community, and we want to invest in our future." About 320 people participate in Sunday morning worship during the winter; about 225 do so in the summer. This Easter, for the second time, Green Valley Baptist presented the Living Lord's Supper, which drew about 800 people in two nights to see a dozen men of the church dressed and bearded similar to the Leonardo Di Vinci painting explain their allegiance to Jesus Christ. The church also does a Christmas tribute for the community that draws a similarly-sized audience. "The challenge is continuing to look beyond our campus in ways we can draw people to Christ," Guillott said. "Though Green Valley is primarily a retirement area, there are more and more families moving in. It's both a challenge and an opportunity for us -- a church made up of many senior adults -- to find ways to reach out to families and to discover additional effective methods to reach the families who live in our community." Several volunteers from the church minister routinely at -- and Green Valley contributes regularly to -- Caring Ministries in Tucson, a food and clothing distribution ministry that last year gave out more than 3.5 million pounds of food at 58 ministry sites across southern Arizona. "What we do is not just about giving out food," said Jerry Gollihue, Caring Ministries director and son-in-law of founder Ross Hanna, who started several churches and reinvigorated others, often by providing them with food they passed on to the needy in their communities. "It is about winning people to the Lord. The food is a way to help us accomplish this goal." In addition to its regular support through the Cooperative Program and Catalina Baptist Association, Green Valley Baptist gives to the Arizona Baptist Children's Services, headquartered in Tucson as a statewide agency of the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention. ABCS helps with pregnancy centers, foster care and adoption, families in crisis and other social services. During its 35-year history, Green Valley has partnered in sponsoring at least seven church plants. Most of them have been in Catalina Baptist Association, though one stretches up to the west side of Phoenix. "Green Valley recognizes we can do more together than we can by ourselves; there's value in partnership," Guillott said. "There's a multiplication of strength, resources and leadership when we partner together. That's another reason the Cooperative Program works so well. It multiplies, not just adds to, that which we do together. God blesses the Cooperative Program." God also blesses churches that do His work locally and globally, said the pastor, who serves bivocationally as director of missions for the Catalina Baptist Association. The association, founded in 1947, includes 65 churches and missions. "I think God is bringing a sense of purpose, of unity and determination for Green Valley Baptist Church to be a Great Commission church," Guillott said. "Estimates done by research through several organizations indicate Pima County is 94 percent unevangelized. "We want people to come to know God because of the opportunity to have hope, have a peace and the assurance of eternity with Him," he said. "You think about living in a community with a high crime rate and the stress of the economy. We have the answer for people who want hope, peace and a future." --30-- Karen L. Willoughby is managing editor of the Louisiana Baptist Message. -- End of story -- LifeWay launches mobile website By Jon D. Wilke May. 1 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37730 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Customers of LifeWay Christian Resources can purchase the latest Christian book or Bible study, learn about upcoming events or read ministry articles on their mobile devices through the new LifeWay.com mobile site. "This mobile-optimized site was designed to help customers find the information they are looking for when, where and how they are looking for it," said Dave Thoma, LifeWay.com's director of eCommerce. Thoma said the mobile experience reflects the full version of the LifeWay.com site specifically built after studying customers' mobile patterns and preferences. "User activity on smartphones differs substantially over PC or tablet usage as a result of the smaller screen size," Thoma said. "We took this feedback and made it very easy for them to find articles and products on the mobile site." To help users find the right resource, a drop-down menu is located at the top of the site. Customers can shop by categories such as "Bible studies" or "camps" or by roles such as "church leadership" or "home and family." The navigation bar also hosts the site's search menu, shopping cart and store locator. If users have their smartphones' "location services" turned on and click on the store locator option, the site will automatically display the closest LifeWay Christian Store. Current customers can log in to their LifeWay accounts at the bottom of the site or a new user can register -- within a few clicks -- for a free account. When people log in using their mobile devices, Thoma said, the site automatically displays the right-sized graphics and text. Noting challenges his team faced due to the diverse backgrounds of LifeWay's customer base, Thoma said, "Some customers know LifeWay only as a bookstore. But many church leaders know LifeWay as more of a church resource provider for Vacation Bible School, Sunday School curriculum and Bible studies, so LifeWay has a chorus of ministry voices and subject matter experts. "We had to balance these two main audiences with the vast number of content articles and media-rich resources available on our full site and deliver a similar, excellent experience," he said. Thoma said his team enjoys service LifeWay's online customers. "They offer helpful feedback on how to make their experience better and are pleasant to work with. We hope we can continue to adapt our mobile experience to match the evolving needs of our customers no matter where they are," he said. To see the new mobile site, visit LifeWay.com on your mobile device. --30-- Jon Wilke is manager of media services for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. -- End of story -- Anti-bullying speaker bullies Christians By Todd Starnes/Fox News & Commentary May. 1 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37728 NEW YORK (BP) -- Parents and conservative leaders are expressing outrage after sex columnist and gay advocate Dan Savage unleashed a profanity-laced tirade against the Bible and Christian teenagers at a national high school journalism conference. "Dan Savage is a bully," said Phillip Naman, the father of two children who attended the journalism conference sponsored by the National Scholastic Press Association and the Journalism Education Association. "When you are attacking somebody for their character, for their beliefs -- that's abuse. Dan Savage was abusing the children in a bullying fashion." Naman's son, Jake, was one of the first students to walk out of auditorium when Savage began berating the Bible. Savage told the students, "We can learn to ignore the [expletive] in the Bible about gay people -- the same way we have learned to ignore the [expletive] in the Bible about shellfish, about slavery, about dinner, about farming, about menstruation, about virginity," Savage told the young students. "We ignore [expletive] in the Bible about all sorts of things." Savage is the founder of the "It Gets Better" anti-bullying program. He's been a guest at the White House, and President Obama even recorded a video segment for the anti-bullying campaign. He later used another expletive to label the students who walked out of the speech. "You can tell the Bible guys in the hall they can come back now because I'm done beating up the Bible," he said. "It's funny as someone who is on the receiving end of beatings that are justified by the Bible how [expletive] people react when you push back." Naman said Savage's behavior was cowardly. "For a 47-year-old full grown man to say the kinds of things he did to that group -- somebody should lose their job," he said. "It was obvious he had an agenda to push. He wasn't there to talk about journalism. He was there with an agenda. That is deceitful, wrong and there was absolutely no way the kids should have been subjected to that." Robert Jeffress, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, was upset by the attack on Christian teenagers. "Inviting Dan Savage to speak to teenagers on 'anti-bullying' is like asking a member of the Ku Klux Klan to speak on racial tolerance," Jeffress told Fox News. "His hostility toward Christians is typical of the hypocritical intolerance of liberals." Conservative columnist Michelle Malkin told Fox News that Savage has a long history of controversial behavior. "He had a few marbles missing," Malkin said. "He is most infamous for breaking into the campaign offices of former GOP president candidate and social conservative Gary Bauer -- and licking the door knobs of the office -- because he happened to be sick and wanted to infect them with his cold virus. "Right there you know this is not someone you should be sending into public schools to talk with children about things like bullying," she said. So who thought it would be a good idea for someone with that background to address high school students? The National Scholastic Press Association and the Journalism Education Association did not return calls seeking comment about why Savage was invited to speak and who was responsible for the invitation. "The anti-Christian bigotry of the activist left has really been exposed," Malkin said. "I can't fathom a group like that -- bringing someone [like Savage] before student journalists." Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, agreed and called Savage a "disciple of division and intolerance." "It's beyond irresponsible," Perkins told Fox News. "This is signing on to a one-sided hate-filled debate that is taking place where Dan Savage is given entrance to schools across America to belittle people who simply disagree with him." Malkin said she was most impressed by how the Christian students conducted themselves during Savage's tirade. "I think what these kids did was rather courageous," she said. "They helped call attention to the incivility and indecency of Dan Savage -- which has gone on too long." She added, "It was a much better decision than we see at your average college campus where the kids who disagree with conservative speakers will not just turn around quietly and leave -- but will stand there and try to obstruct the free speech of conservative speakers either by hurling things at them, shouting them down and acting like a complete lynch mob," Malkin said. Naman said his son was not trying to cause trouble by leaving the speech. "We were attacked," he said. "And when that happens you have to stand up for your faith. As a Christian you have to stand up and say it's important." His wife, Mary, said the attack on her children was sad. "I think that he missed the whole point of Christianity," she told Fox News. "That saddens me. Did he do something wrong, did he hurt people? I think he did. That's just bullying." Savage apologized for using the expletive to describe the Christian students. "It was name-calling and it was wrong," he wrote on his website. "And I apologize for saying it." But he stood by his comments about the Bible. --30-- Todd Starnes is host of Fox News & Commentary, heard daily on Fox News Radio stations around the nation. He is the author of "Dispatches From Bitter America" and "They Popped My Hood and Found Gravy on the Dipstick." This article first appeared at www.toddstarnes.com. Used by permission. -- End of story -- 2012 SBC Annual Meeting Program By Staff May. 1 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37738 2012 SBC ANNUAL MEETING PROGRAM TUESDAY MORNING, JUNE 19, 2012 ANNUAL MEETING THEME: "Jesus: to the Neighborhood and the Nations" 8:00 Worship through Music -- Mark Cottingham, Convention music director, worship pastor, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia, and combined choirs and orchestra, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia; First Baptist Church, Jackson, Mississippi; First Baptist Church, Kenner, Louisiana; First Baptist Church, New Orleans, Louisiana; Williams Boulevard Baptist Church, Kenner, Louisiana; Centreville Baptist Church, Centreville, Alabama 8:10 Call to Order -- Bryant Wright, president, Southern Baptist Convention; senior pastor, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia Registration Report and Constitution of the Convention -- James H. (Jim) Wells, SBC registration secretary; director of missions, Tri County Baptist Association, Nixa, Missouri 8:15 Prayer -- Captain Endel Lee, Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy; NAMB National Missionary for Chaplain Crisis Response Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag 8:20 Committee on Order of Business (First Report) -- Stan Buckley, chair; executive director, But God Ministries, Jackson, Mississippi 8:25 Welcome -- Charles S. (Chuck) Kelley, Jr., president, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, Louisiana 8:30 Announcement of Committee on Committees, Credentials, Resolutions, and Tellers -- Bryant Wright 8:35 Introduction of Motions -- Bryant Wright 9:00 Worship through Music -- Mark Cottingham 9:05 Local Arrangements Committee Presentation -- William E. (Bill) Townes, vice president for Convention Finance, SBC Executive Committee, Nashville, Tennessee 9:10 Crossover Evangelism Report -- Kevin Ezell, president, North American Mission Board, Alpharetta, Georgia 9:15 Woman’s Missionary Union Report -- Wanda S. Lee, executive director, Birmingham, Alabama 9:25 Executive Committee Report (Part 1) -- Frank S. Page, president, Nashville, Tennessee 10:25 Worship through Music -- Mark Cottingham 10:30 LifeWay Christian Resources Report -- Thom S. Rainer, president, Nashville, Tennessee 10:40 LifeWay Christian Resources Presentation -- Thom S. Rainer 11:00 Traditional Worship -- Mark Cottingham 11:15 SBC President’s Address -- Bryant Wright 11:55 Benediction -- John Barnes, pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mize, Mississippi TUESDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE 19, 2012 1:30 Concert of Praise -- Combined choirs and orchestras 1:40 Prayer -- Ron Lentine, pastor, Myrtle Grove Baptist Church, Pensacola, Florida 1:45 SBC Historical Library and Archives Report -- Charles S. (Chuck) Kelley, Jr., chairman, council of seminary presidents; president, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, Louisiana 1:50 Business, Committee on Order of Business (Second Report) -- Stan Buckley, chair; executive director, But God Ministries, Jackson, Mississippi Referrals/Introduction of Motions 2:05 Executive Committee Report (Part 2) -- Frank S. Page, president 2:35 Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary Report -- Jeff Iorg, president, Mill Valley, California 2:50 Election of Officers (First) 3:00 Committee on Nominations Report -- Waylon Bailey, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington, Louisiana 3:10 Worship through Music -- Mark Cottingham 3:15 The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission Report -- Richard D. Land, president, Nashville, Tennessee 3:30 The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission Presentation -- Richard D. Land 3:50 Executive Committee Report (Part 3), SBC Name Change -- Frank S. Page, president 4:20 Election of Officers (Second) 4:30 Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Report -- Paige Patterson, president, Fort Worth, Texas 4:45 Introduction of New Motions (Last Opportunity) -- Bryant Wright, president, Southern Baptist Convention; senior pastor, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia 4:55 International Mission Board Report -- Tom Elliff, president, Richmond, Virginia 5:05 International Mission Board Presentation -- Tom Elliff 5:55 Benediction -- Bruce Chesser, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, Tennessee WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE 20, 2012 8:00 Worship through Music -- Mark Cottingham, Convention music director, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia 8:10 Prayer -- Frankie Clark, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Taylorsville, Mississippi 8:15 Business, Committee on Order of Business (Third Report) -- Stan Buckley, chair; executive director, But God Ministries, Jackson, Mississippi 8:35 Election of Officers (Third) 8:45 Committee on Committees Report -- Buddy Champion, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Trussville, Alabama 8:55 Worship through Music -- Mark Cottingham 9:05 Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Report -- Robin D. Hadaway, interim president, Kansas City, Missouri 9:20 New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Report -- Charles S. (Chuck) Kelley, Jr., president, New Orleans, Louisiana 9:35 Previously Scheduled Business -- Bryant Wright, president, Southern Baptist Convention; senior pastor, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia 9:55 Committee on Resolutions (First Report) -- Jimmy Scroggins, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, West Palm Beach, Florida 10:25 Election of Officers (Fourth) 10:35 Worship through Music -- Mark Cottingham 10:40 GuideStone Financial Resources Report -- O. S. Hawkins, president, Dallas, Texas 10:55 Previously Scheduled Business -- Bryant Wright 11:15 Election of Officers (Fifth) 11:25 Contemporary Worship -- Bobby Smith, John McCullough and the Johnson Ferry Baptist Church worship band 11:40 Convention Message -- David Uth, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Orlando, Florida 12:15 Benediction -- Mark Vincent, pastor, Clarke-Venable Baptist Church, Decatur, Mississippi WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE 20, 2012 3:00 Worship through Music -- Mark Cottingham, Convention music director, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia 3:05 Prayer -- Gil McKee, senior pastor, First Baptist Church Tuscaloosa, Alabama 3:10 Presentation of Outgoing Officers -- Frank S. Page, president, SBC Executive Committee, Nashville, Tennessee 3:15 Presentation of New Officers -- Frank S. Page 3:20 Business, Committee on Order of Business (Fourth Report) -- Stan Buckley, chair; executive director, But God Ministries, Jackson, Mississippi Election of 2013 Convention Sermon Preacher, Alternate Preacher, and Music Director 3:30 Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Report -- Daniel L. (Danny) Akin, president, Wake Forest, North Carolina 3:45 Recognition of Past SBC Presidents -- Bryant Wright 3:50 Previously Scheduled Business -- Bryant Wright 4:05 Committee on Resolutions (Final Report) -- Jimmy Scroggins, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, West Palm Beach, Florida 4:30 The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Report -- R. Albert (Al) Mohler, Jr., president, Louisville, Kentucky 4:45 Worship through Music -- Mark Cottingham 4:55 North American Mission Board Report -- Kevin Ezell, president, Alpharetta, Georgia 5:05 North American Mission Board Presentation -- Kevin Ezell 5:55 Benediction -- Eddie Wren, pastor, First Baptist Church, Rayville, Louisiana -- End of story -- FROM THE STATES: La., Fla., Md. evangelism/missions news By Staff May. 1 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37739 EDITOR'S NOTE: From the States, published each Tuesday by Baptist Press, relays news and feature stories from state Baptist papers and other publications on initiatives by Baptist churches, associations and state conventions in evangelism, church planting and Great Commission outreach, including partnership missions. Reports about churches, associations and state conventions responding to the International Mission Board's call to embrace the world's 3,800 unengaged, unreached people groups also are included in From the States, along with reports about church, associational and state convention initiatives in conjunction with the North American Mission Board's call to Southern Baptist churches to broaden their efforts in starting new churches and satellite campuses. The items appear in Baptist Press as originally published. Today's From the States features items from: Baptist Message (Louisiana) Florida Baptist Witness Baptist Life (Maryland/Delaware) Water flows from teen's heart By Holly Jo Linzay, Special to the Message SULPHUR, La. (Baptist Message) -- A wellspring of compassion flooded Addie Young's heart after hearing her youth pastor tell about how thousands of children worldwide die each year due to drinking tainted water. "I knew then I wanted to make a change, a difference in the world. I did some research on the internet, and decided I wanted to raise money to drill wells for clean water in Haiti," 15-year-old Addie recalled. Her concern about Haiti's need for clean water was the spark that compelled Addie to start fundraisers with her church family at Houston River Baptist Church that garnered more than $15,000. "We just mailed a check this week for the fifth water well," Addie enthused over the amount raised, which was quadruple the amount needed for the initial goal of funding one water well. Last month, Addie, her identical twin, Allie, her father, Steven Young, and her younger sister, Jamie, 13, of Sulphur, all traveled to Haiti on their first mission trip to see first-hand the drilling of a water well. They stayed in a kindergarten classroom at night in the village of Ferrier. "They drill about 100 feet to tap the clean water. I felt pure happiness when I saw the little kids jumping up and down and clapping with joy. I just prayed to God and thanked Him for doing something so amazing," Addie recalled. The decision to become involved with helping to raise money for Haiti initially was made when Addie was 13 years old. Her youth pastor, Blake Forman, who had been on a mission trip to Haiti, was sharing some facts about poverty-stricken areas in preparing the youth for their "30-hour Famine" project. "He was telling us about the world's need for clean water. One of the facts was that it would take about $9 billion to solve the entire world's tainted water problem, and how Americans spend an average of $450 billion a year to buy presents for Christmas. I was mainly concerned about all the kids dying from drinking unclean water. I wanted to do something to help raise money to drill wells," Addie said. She attempted to try to get her youth group to become involved in a program called "Advent Conspiracy," where you give up the money for one Christmas present and donate it to a specific cause, in her case, water wells in Haiti. "We raised around $200, but I knew we needed $3,000 for a well to be dug," Addie said. With young children being especially vulnerable to tainted water, one in every eight kids in Haiti reportedly will not reach his or her fifth birthday. Haiti is still trying to recover from the 2010 earthquake that killed an estimated 315,000. More than a million people were displaced by the earthquake, and many live in camps with limited access to clean water and sanitation. Through Addie's youth pastor, Mission Waco was chosen as the non-profit organization to handle the donated funds to help dig water wells in Haiti. For $3,000, a well can be dug that will serve about 800 people. After her initial attempt to raise funds, Addie posted an online challenge to her youth group on Facebook asking them to help her raise enough money for one well within a year. During spring break, her youth group held a car wash and raised $326. Addie and her youth pastor designed a T-shirt that said, "Where there is a well, there is a way," and sold them for $15 each. Vacation Bible School offerings were designated for the Haitian water wells. "An anonymous donor said they would match any offering brought the second day of VBS, and by the end of the day, we had $6,300. We had enough for two water wells. It was a miracle of God," Addie said. The children of the church kept bringing money, Addie added. "The kids were bringing their piggy banks and their allowances. They saw how they could make a difference in the lives of children who had bigger worries then they did. The church took up a special offering, and by the end of the week, we had $9,000," Addie said. More donations were given, and the youth participated in other efforts until $15,000 was raised. "I feel like God can use one person, even children, to affect one portion of the world. The world is a broken place. God puts us here to glorify Him and to help other people glorify Him. Whenever we help people get clean water and food, that one small portion of people gets to see Christ through the people that helped them. God used me as a spark, but everyone else fanned the flames to help raise the money for the wells," Addie said. --30-- Holly Jo Linzay is a freelance writer for the Louisiana Baptist Message and a member of Pisgah Baptist Church in Forest Hill, La. ********** Florida mission team makes first evangelistic contact with Amazon village By Carolyn Nichols MANAUS, Brazil (FBW) -- A Florida Baptist mission team, including three from First Baptist Church in Arcadia, made possibly the first-ever evangelical contact with a tribe living along the Amazon River system in Brazil. The team visited every stilted home in the village with permission from the tribal chief. After flying into Manaus, Brazil last fall, the Floridians expected to travel west on one of two rivers merging into the Amazon, but dropping river levels—up to four inches per day—forced the group to head into another, less travelled, waterway. The unexpected route gave the team an opportunity to visit the previously unreached village, according to team leader Dennis Wilbanks, Partnership Missions team strategist with the Florida Baptist Convention. The Florida Baptist Convention is partner with Amazon Vision Ministries, based at Baptist College of Florida in Graceville that maintains a continual presence in the Amazon region. According to Wilbanks, the Brazilian government has outlawed contact with indigenous peoples along the Amazon River unless a person or group is invited to make contact by a village resident. Even with an invitation, contact is forbidden if a "No Trespassing" sign is posted on the river bank. One of the AVM staff members had met Paulo, a new Christian, in Peru, and Paulo had invited AVM to visit his home village where his uncle is chief. When the Florida team arrived in the village and asked for Paulo, he was not there, so team leaders debated whether or not to attempt to find the chief. "We had spent a day and half getting to the village, and if we couldn't get in, it would be a day and a half to get back there. We thought the potential was so great, and we felt we should go for it," Wilbanks said. With no sign along the river stopping them, the leaders found the chief, who wore western-style shorts and war paint and feathers in a headband. With apprehension, the chief invited the team to set up a medical clinic in the village. Leah Coulter, a registered nurse from First Baptist Church in Arcadia, and a Brazilian nurse immediately began work in the village where malaria is rampant. The two nurses saw more 70 patients in the tribe. "These nurses provided the open door for contact with this village," Wilbanks said. The mission team included Leah Coulter, RN, Chris Jones, deacon, and Pastor Richard Englert, all from First Baptist Church, Arcadia; Fernando Facioli, Brazilian Baptist Church, Coral Springs; Don Minshew, Wellborn Baptist Church; Eddie Bevill, Parkridge Baptist, Coral Springs; Jeff Stading, Bayless Highway Baptist, Starke; Phil Nason, Causeway Baptist, Tampa; Carlos de Silva, Brazilian Baptist church planter, Orlando; Eliel Santas, New Hope Brazilian Baptist, Tampa; Chad Driggers, First Baptist, Fruitland Park; and Dennis Wilbanks. Coulter, a veteran of mission trips to Honduras, said she was uneasy at first with the evangelism aspect of the trip in which she was the only female team member apart from translators. After initially attempting to stay in the background, the medical personnel became the reason the team was welcomed in the village. Even the chief was treated, and asked for a photo with Coulter and himself. "My anxiousness was not necessary," she said. With the chief's acceptance of the mission team, the villagers became "very open" with the Floridians, who accepted invitations to their homes and to go fishing with the men, according to First Baptist Church, Arcadia Pastor Richard Englert, also a veteran international mission volunteer. Chris Jones, a deacon at First Baptist, Arcadia, sang songs, colored and played games with the children of the village, and the chief invited the Florida pastors to tell the children about Jesus. "This was an exciting, exhilarating, unbelievable opportunity that I will never forget," Englert told the Witness. On the morning of the second and last day with the tribe, the Floridians were reading the Bible and praying before going ashore, when a police boat rounded the river bend and docked near the AVM vessel. The team anxiously waited to see whether they were would be banned from the village. To their relief, the law officers were responding to a complaint from the chief that a barge was stealing sand from a position upstream of the village. The policemen were invited to eat breakfast on the AVM boat, creating another opportunity for witnessing, according to Wilbanks. Englert said he and Jones tried to visit each home in the village. During a visit across the river from the AVM boat, the Arcadia volunteers were praying for a sick child in the family when a violent wind arose on the river, so loud that their voices could not be heard. "The storm was as ferocious as any I've ever seen, and I was looking for shelter. We were on a bluff and there was none," Englert said. When Jones said "amen," however, the wind instantly died down, Englert said. The mother of the family made a profession of faith during their visit. "We believe the Lord stopped that storm from coming and interrupting our witness there. He turned that storm away," Wilbanks said. The Florida group that included nine pastors held a worship service the last evening of their visit. The Gospel was presented through interpreters, and several made professions of faith, including the village chief, his brother and uncle. According to Englert, the chief's "hard" countenance disappeared along with his face paint and feathers. AVM assured the group it would follow up on the Floridians' initial contact with the villagers. Englert said he is confidant of the Holy Spirit's work in the village. "The power of Jesus will always aid in sharing the Good News of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and will give the opportunity to those who hear to react to the Holy Spirit in any environment," he said. --30-- Carolyn Nichols is newswriter for the Florida Baptist Witness. ********** Valley Church members minister to their own people groups By Sharon Mager TOWSON, Md. (Baptist Life) -- Valley Baptist Church is on a mission and each member is working to discover his or her personal mission field. "Missions used to be about going on mission trips and only highly trained specialized people did long-term missions. Now everyone is struggling to see themselves as a missionary and every believer is working to find his or her own people group," Jeff Elkins, associate pastor of Valley Church, said. Elkins said church members are looking at their people groups as neighbors, members of their community associations, parents and friends at local schools and recreation leagues. Some members are working with the homeless community and others are ministering to prostitutes. "It's changed how we view discipleship," Elkins said. As members go out and minister, they learn together. Each quarter they meet to assess how they're doing, what tools they need to develop and how they can improve. "That shift in understanding discipleship has brought radical lifestyle changes. It's brought new energy and life to the congregation. It has excited everyone about chasing Jesus." Church member Adam Hartry leads a group from Valley that ministers alongside Baltimore Street Church, serving breakfasts to the homeless and poverty stricken community. Hartry sometimes preaches at the church. Last summer, members of Valley Church, partnering with Baltimore Street Church, took homeless people to Ocean City—some for the first time. The church is a year into the long-term plan, and they're already seeing growth with over 20 new members and several confessions of faith. Senior Pastor Rick Cash said the church has always taught the idea of every believer is a missionary. "Now we're being intentional. That is the major difference. We're doing rather than saying, combining word and deed as James says." "We get locked into life and routine and think of church as a series of programs. We forget that we're supposed to be living on mission," Elkins said. For more information about Valley Church visit their website, www.valleybaptistchurch.org. --30-- Sharon Mager is a correspondent for the Newsjournal of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. -- End of story -- BP Ledger, May 1 edition By Staff May. 1 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37731 EDITOR'S NOTE: BP Ledger carries items for reader information each week from various Southern Baptist-related entities, and news releases of interest from other sources. The items are published as received. Today's BP Ledger includes items from: University of Mobile World on Campus Bluefield College Campbellsville University Charleston Southern University Compass Direct News 'Pray Gulf Coast' Unites Individuals, Churches, Ministries in Prayer for Community MOBILE, Ala. (University of Mobile)--More than 40 churches and ministries and almost 500 individuals have united to pray daily for Mobile and Baldwin counties through Pray Gulf Coast, a 50-day prayer initiative launched by the University of Mobile Center for Leadership. The initiative, which lasts from Easter to Pentecost, calls for residents of the areas to unite in daily prayer for specific needs in the churches, schools, businesses, families, government, and individuals of the community. Baldwin County Sheriff Huey "Hoss" Mack said, "Pray Gulf Coast provides all of us who are Christians the opportunity to unite in prayer for our area. Every day, we are reminded of God's blessings through the beautiful Gulf Coast that He created. While we are blessed, we still face serious issues in our area. Through prayer, we have hope, encouragement, and guidance in dealing with these issues." The Center for Leadership distributes daily prayer guides via email and a Facebook page. Participating churches have adopted their own day to pray, resulting in 50 days of perpetual prayer for Mobile and Baldwin counties. Prayer topics include reductions in the divorce rate, crime rate, single parent families, and domestic violence, among others. Participants are praying for legislators, education officials, and law enforcement members by name, when possible. Fred Wolfe, pastor of Luke 4:18 Fellowship in Mobile, Ala., said, "There is great power in united prayer. As I read the prayer request each day and join in praying with others all across the GulfCoast there is a confident assurance in my heart that God is moving and will answer our corporate prayer in a powerful way." ********** Continuing the call to do hard things Hannah Taplin/World on Campus PURCELLVILLE, Va. (World on Campus)--When they were just 19, twins Alex and Brett Harris released their bestselling book "Do Hard Things" four years ago. They encouraged teens to rebel against the low expectations of today's culture by stepping out of their comfort zones and taking on such challenges as fighting against abortion, learning an activity like public speaking, refusing to watch bad movies or simply performing unassigned household chores -- all for the glory of God. The Harris twins, now seniors at Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Va., are ready to carry that message into adulthood. As he reflects on his time in school, Alex Harris has one main piece of advice for next year's freshmen -- beware the freedom that college offers and embrace the new responsibilities as challenges and opportunities to shine. When Do Hard Things came out in 2008, the twins became mini-celebrities in the nationwide Christian homeschool community. But before that, they were just normal teenagers -- with a passion for great things. They first got the idea behind the book in 2005 when their dad set a huge stack of books on the kitchen counter and announced that he was putting them on an intense reading program for the summer. With topics spanning history, philosophy, theology, science, business and journalism, the pile looked a bit intimidating. But as they read, they become more and more concerned about their generation and the misconceptions about the challenges teens were capable of taking on. In an effort to share their thoughts, the brothers started a blog, founded The Rebelution, a movement to encourage teens to disprove the world's low expectations for them, and later wrote Do Hard Things. The book's publication brought opportunities for speaking engagements, traveling and more writing. And after all the attention the Harris brothers got while still teenagers, one of the best parts about college was being able to be a normal student, Alex Harris said. The twins came to Patrick Henry College with a desire to build relationships and earn respect based on their actual interaction with other students, and not on things others had heard or read about them. "Thankfully, we were able to come in with a terrific group of classmates who embraced us as 'Alex and Brett, normal guys' and not 'Alex and Brett, authors and speakers' … so that was really good and healthy and what we wanted," Harris said. Frank Guliuzza, a government professor at the college and pre-law adviser for Harris, said the brothers conducted themselves in a way that would never lead anyone to believe they once rode on private jets, spoke on tours with Chuck Norris or were involved in presidential politics. "I think everyone was pretty amazed by how genuine they were in their willingness to blend in with other students," Guliuzza said. Although Harris was an impressive student -- seemingly successful at anything he put his mind to -- he impressed Guliuzza most by the way he handled defeat. Guliuzza recalled one basketball game in which Harris and his team started ahead, but ended up losing by a huge margin. Harris didn't let it discourage him but continued to play with enthusiasm and energy, Guliuzza said, noting, "I got to see this guy when he was supremely successful [and] I also got to see him when he and his team were anything but, and he seemed to carry himself the same way." Graduating in May with a degree in government, Harris plans to attend law school in the fall. He was accepted at the nation's top three -- Harvard, Yale and Stanford -- and has chosen Harvard. "[L]aw intersects with numerous fields, including government," Harris said. "Legislation, regulation and judicial decisions are all about making and interpreting the law -- so there's a very strong connection." While his plans are far from settled, Harris said he believes God is calling him to use his law degree to make a difference in the arenas of public policy and government. "That could include arguing cases in court as an appellate lawyer, ruling on cases as a judge, influencing the public policy conversation at a think tank, or running for political office-or more than one of those!" He still urges his generation, now young adults, to realize the importance of becoming involved politically by being engaged and informed. Although the dismal job market and the rising cost of higher education has caused some to question the value of a college degree, Harris believes the investment was worth it, even for someone who already had accomplished more than the average teenager by the time he started submitting his college applications: "[It was an] opportunity to grow, not just in knowledge, but in maturity and responsibility." College also gave Harris the opportunity to pursue his passion for politics. Unlike many students, who change their major multiple times, Harris planned to major in government from the beginning and stuck with it all the way through. Harris encourages students considering college to embrace their responsibility, as well as their freedom. Next year's freshmen will discover they have a lot more freedom than they've ever had before, as well as a lot more responsibility, Harris said. Those who focus on the freedom will self-destruct, while those who focus on the responsibility will not only excel, but thrive, he said. Even though Harris values the time he spent in college, he cautions others to think through their reasons for going before sending in their applications. Many teens feel pressured to go to college because it's the next step, Harris said. Even though a college degree can be important, going to college aimlessly just wastes time and money, he said: "If you decide to go to college, have a sense of direction, because that will really ground you and make your time more productive." --30-- Reprinted by permission of World on Campus, a website of World magazine. ********** Campbellsville University partners with Kentucky Woman's Missionary Union to host Exalt 2012, a Christian weekend retreat for teen girls By Christina L. Kern CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (Campbellsville University)--Campbellsville University recently converged with the Kentucky Woman's Missionary Union (WMU) to host Exalt 2012, a Christian weekend retreat for teenage girls. Exalt is a described in the program as, "…a fun filled weekend that will challenge you to grow as a Christian." Exalt is sponsored by WMU and made possible by Kentucky Baptists through the Cooperative Program and the Eliza Broadus Offering for State Missions. "I hope that through holding events at our Baptist colleges, that Kentucky WMU can affirm the importance of our Kentucky Baptist colleges and universities," Joy Bolton, executive director of Kentucky WMU, said. "We appreciate the Christian education that our schools provide and recognize the important role of our schools in training the leaders of the future, both for our communities and for our churches, including WMU. "I also hope that by holding events on the campuses, that students who help us will see the work of WMU," Bolton said. The theme "Blank Canvas" was chosen for Exalt 2012 because when a person comes to know Jesus, they become blank, clean and new in Him, according to WMU. "Young women and their leaders from all across our state come together for a celebration, to make friends, renew acquaintances, study God's word, sing praises to His name and hear a gifted and challenging speaker," said WMU President Linda Cooper. "It was a great weekend and our prayer is that young girls' lives were truly changed." The featured speaker over the weekend was Kristi McCartney, a native of Louisville. She used the scripture to show Exalt 2012 attendees how God gives Christians a new Heart, a new Identity and a new Mission (HIM). Exalt 2012 worship over the weekend was led by Bo Warren, of Lexington. Warren travels all over the country leading worship and sharing the message of Jesus Christ. This was his third year leading worship at Exalt. A total of 13 seminars focusing on missions and spreading the Gospel were offered at Exalt 2012 on the campus of Campbellsville University. Exalt is held each year, rotating in different parts of the state. Bolton said, "For events for youth, we feel that it is an advantage for the college or university to host us as we are bringing potential students to the campus. It is our hope that some who attend the event will decide to attend college at the school." Exalt 2012 was held in conjunction with a similar weekend event for teenage boys, "4-Go" at Campbellsville Baptist Church. The young men did construction work building a handicapped ramp for a home in the local Campbellsville community, and served at the local food pantry. Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu. --30-- Christina L. Kern is an office assistant and Matthew Schmuck is a student news writer at Campbellsville University. ********** Bluefield College Dedicates Century-old Easley Quilt BLUEFIELD, Va. (Bluefield College)--While the hand-made quilt was a necessary commodity for warmth in every remote house in Appalachia in the early 1900s, it also served a decorative piece or an expression of love or remembrance of a person, time or place. Bluefield College dedicated a century-old Appalachian quilt during a ceremony on campus, Friday, April 20, that will hang as a decorative piece inside Easley Library and serve as an expression of love and remembrance of the late Eva Vest Easley, who donated the family throw to BC some 44 years ago. Crafted in 1901 by Manerva Boyd Pack Easley, mother to Frank Smoot Easley, one of the founding fathers of Bluefield College, the quilt was a mainstay in the Easley family until 1968. At that time, Eva, one of many in the family who continued to support the college, donated the piece to the school. "This quilt was made as an expression of love by Manerva for her son, Frank, and it was given to Bluefield College as an expression of love by Eva," said BC's Ruth Blankenship, vice president for advancement. "And today, all of you are here as an expression of your love for Eva to help us dedicate the quilt in her memory." More than 50 friends and family members, from as far as North and South Carolina and as near as Bluefield, attended the dedication ceremony, which included a prayer of dedication by Rev. Michael E. Snider of Christ Episcopal Church and remarks by Blankenship and BC President David Olive. "We're so thankful to those of you who have come to join us. This is a great day to see friends of Bluefield College celebrating the Easley legacy," said Dr. Olive. "This college would not be the same without the Easley family and without Eva Easley." Since its founding in 1922, members of the Easley family have played significant roles in the development and growth of Bluefield College. In fact, a member of the Easley family has served on the school's Board of Trustees since its formation, including Eva's husband, trustee emeritus Tyler Easley, and their daughter, Becky Easley Beckett, who serves as a trustee today. Before her death in August 2008, Eva had been a longtime member of the Board, where she served on a variety of committees to further campus facility improvements, fundraising, and student development. Her love for BC students was most evident in her contributions to the areas of athletics, fine arts, scholarships, and the missionary-in-residence program. As a result of her faithful service to the college, she was named an honorary alumna in 1988. She also received the school's Mildred Sullivan Award for service to the community in 1995. "Eva was an amazing lady," said Blankenship. "She impacted so many lives and has been referred to as the 'hostess with the mostest' for the ways in which she entertained a parade of Baptist ministers, missionaries, and denominational leaders who visited Bluefield and Bluefield College." Using gifts to BC in memory of Eva, the college constructed a display case to preserve and permanently exhibit the quilt inside Easley Library. The throw, said Beckett, who spoke on behalf of the family during the dedication ceremony, had survived more than a century "because of the strength of the Appalachian woman who created it." It will continue to survive, she added, and serve as a reminder of the legacy of love and support of the Easley family. The quilt dedication was just one of many activities in Bluefield College's yearlong "Celebration of Appalachia" symposium, featuring lectures, concerts, exhibits, discussions, movies, theatre, tours and other educational and entertaining events designed to honor the Appalachian heritage. ********** Charleston Southern student goes barefoot for slavery CHARLESTON, S.C. (Charleston Southern University)--There's nothing ordinary about Quinn Franco's college experience at Charleston Southern University. In the fall of 2010, Franco enrolled at CSU, declaring biochemistry as his major. Inspired by a chapel performance by the Annie Moses Band, Franco changed his major from biochemistry to music and worship leadership, a radical act of faith, especially since he had no prior music experience. "It was kinda scary actually," he confessed. "I didn't even know what sharps and flats were." In January, as he began adjusting to his new life in the classroom, Franco took another leap of faith after attending Passion 2012, the four-day Christian conference at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. He was one of 45,000 college students from across the country who attended the event that redefined modern-day slavery. Passion officials reported that there are 27 million slaves worldwide -- with sex trafficking and forced labor topping the list. "It was so inspiring," Franco said. "I could feel the Holy Spirit moving there." Before the conference, Franco said he was like the majority of the world, knowing slavery was alive but believing it lacked relevance in today's culture. "I was, admittedly, thinking if I didn't see it then I wouldn't have to deal with it." Passion's presentation of modern slavery helped raise $3.3 million and lit a fire in Franco. With the images seared in his memory, the stories of slavery lingering in his mind, Franco knew he could not just walk away. When Franco returned to Charleston, he began praying daily, asking God for guidance. "What if this were your brother or sister -- or your own child -- that was taken away from you?" he said. "Being sent to a camp to work, feeling completely hopeless. That's when it really hit home for me. All those things I take for granted." Prayer led to action. He decided to go barefoot, adopting the Tom's Shoes campaign concept of "A Day Without Shoes." Franco said living barefoot is about awareness. "I really don't think I am starting a movement," said Franco. "It was just me trying to sense a little bit of the pain they feel. [Slaves] can't afford shoes themselves, so I thought, maybe if I walk in their shoes — or not in their shoes -- for a day, I'd realize how painful it is for them." Franco has walked across campus barefoot in the rain. He's stepped on trash and pebbles, stubbed his big toe on brick walkways and wiped his feet clean in the grass (he carries a pair of flip-flops in his bookbag to wear in the dining hall, where students are required to wear shoes for health and safety reasons). "Every time my feet start to hurt, I am motivated to pray … to pray for the people who don't have shoes; all the people who go without," he said. "I felt that if I suffered with them, I'd feel more of their pain and more motivated to give whatever I have so that they can be blessed. It keeps me in constant awareness of it." Franco lifts his left hand, revealing "gal 5:1" scrawled in black ink on the back of his hand. It's a reminder of the Bible verse Galatians 5:1: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free, so don't take on the yoke of slavery." He points to the index finger on his left hand where another verse is displayed in ink. This one is 1 John 3:17: "If someone has worldly possessions and sees his brother in need, but doesn't help, than how can he have the love of God in him." Besides his feet, his hands and fingers, Franco shared his story on Facebook. Friends and classmates started sending back text messages and comments. "This isn't about me, it's about them [slaves]," Franco replies. "It's not about the cause, it's about the effect. It was really unexpected because I wasn't doing it for anyone to see me doing it, but when they do I am able to tell them more about it." --30-- Christian's 6-Year Sentence Upheld in Egypt Copt wrongly convicted of 'blasphemy,' inciting sectarian strife, lawyer says By Compass Direct News ISTANBUL, April 27 (Compass Direct News)--A judge in Upper Egypt has upheld a six-year prison sentence for a Coptic Christian whose lawyer said he has been wrongly convicted of "blasphemy" against Islam and inciting sectarian strife. The judge in Assuit, Egypt, on April 5 refused to strike down a Feb. 29 sentence delivered to Makarem Diab, 49, of the town of Abnoub in Assuit Province. The charges stem from an argument that Diab had in February with Abd Al Hameed, a fellow employee at Deer Al Gabrawy Prep School. From the start, the charges against Diab were inflated, according to his lawyer, Ahmed Sayed Gebaly. "I know Makarem well, because we grew up together, and I know he wouldn't do that," said Gebaly, a Muslim. "To be honest, he didn't do anything wrong. If he did, I will have told him." Gebaly said he was surprised by how far Al Hameed took the accusations. "The whole thing was just an ordinary discussion," he said. Al Hameed told Diab, an administration worker, that Jesus had sex with at least 10 women who were "Mehram" or forbidden to Him under Islamic law (though Islam appeared more than six centuries after Jesus), according to Gebaly. Mehram status refers to forbidden marriage or sexual relations, such as those between immediate family members. Diab countered Al Hameed's claims -- for which there is no historical record -- by stating that Muhammad, the founder of the Islamic religion, had more than four wives -- a view commonly held by Islamic scholars, though disputes arise over whether he had more than four wives over the course of his life or at one time. For reasons that are not publicly known, Al Hameed waited for 11 days to report his allegations against Diab to a misdemeanor court. Police arrested Diab and held him for four days before he was presented to a judge. On Feb. 29, in a 10-minute court hearing with no defense attorney present, the judge sentenced Diab to six years in prison for "insulting the prophet" and "provoking students." Diab received an appeal hearing on March 16, but Al Hameed instigated a massive riot by a large throng of Muslim attorneys outside the courthouse, according to Gebaly. The lawyers became so enraged that they burst into the courtroom during the hearing and assaulted Diab's attorneys. They also blocked access to the courtroom. The judge upheld the six-year sentence but immediately scheduled an appeal hearing. Gebaly said the judge upheld the sentence out of fear. Gebaly was outside the courthouse getting legal papers for the case when the attack happened. "Soon after that, I was called by these [Diab's] lawyers, and they told me that they were beaten up inside the court and in front of the judge, so I went back to sort out the problem, and I was shocked when the judge kept the six-year sentence," he said. Most of the lawyers defending Diab were Muslims, he added. Gebaly went to the next hearing on April 5; once again, the judge's ruling surprised him. "We were expecting that he would be released with no charges, but the law was used in the wrong way, and now we are trying to appeal again, if his appeal gets accepted," Gebaly said. Diab remained in Assuit General Prison awaiting appeal. Gebaly said that he is being treated as well as one can be while in prison. The action against Diab is yet another example of how members of the Muslim majority in Egypt increasingly are using religious-based laws to persecute Christians or even Muslims who don't conform to a strict interpretation to Sunni Islam. On April 4, a judge sentenced Gamal Abdou Massoud, 17, a Coptic Christian, to three years in prison for allegedly insulting Islam. Massoud denied the charges, but the court claimed that he posted cartoons on his Facebook account that mocked the Islamic religion and Muhammad. The court also claimed that he distributed the pictures to other students. His lawyers plan to appeal the sentence. On March 3, a Cairo court dismissed a case against Naguib Sawaris, a Copt and telecommunications tycoon, who was accused of insulting Islam for placing a cartoon of Minnie Mouse in a veil on his Facebook site as a satirical comment on what Egypt would look like if Islamists gained political power in the country. On Tuesday (April 24), a Cairo court upheld a conviction against actor Adel Imam for blaspheming Islam but later in the week struck down a separate conviction of the same charge. Imam, arguably the best-known actor in the Arabic-speaking world, ran afoul of a lawyer with connections to the Salafi movement for his satirical roles about extremism. The sentence carries three months in jail and a fine or 1,000 Egyptian pounds (US$165). Imam's lawyers plan to appeal the decision. --30-- Compass Direct News (www.compassdirect.org), based in Santa Ana, Calif., focused on Christians worldwide who are persecuted for their faith. Used by permission. -- End of story -- FIRST-PERSON: CBF -- Yesterday's moderates are today's 'conservatives' By Andrew Walker May. 1 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37735 DECATUR, Ga. (BP) -- It's fun being the rebel; that is, until, you become the establishment. As a member of the "Generation Y" population, I never witnessed the scuffle that led to the Southern Baptist Convention's divide between the denomination's moderates and conservatives. As a 20-something seminary graduate, the heritage of the conservative-moderate crisis loomed heavily over my time at ground zero of the crisis: Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The story, controversy and ultimate comeback of Southern Seminary saturate the school to present day. Students are reminded that doctrinal drift is no more than a generation -- or, in some cases, one publishing contract -- away. And before signing the Abstract of Principles, professors are solemnly warned that deviating from the school's confession will result in their termination. Some view an academic culture like that as stifling or given over to hysterics. I call it sober-mindedness. It is also a preventative from conversations that outrightly thwart biblical authority. After attending "A [Baptist] Conference on Sexuality & Covenant," co-sponsored by the moderates disgruntled with the SBC's conservative direction -- the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship -- I have a message to tell my fellow 20-somethings within the Southern Baptist Convention: The Conservative Resurgence was a battle worth having and a hill worthy dying on. Though I don't wish to stoke any remaining fires of the conservative-moderate divide, readers should know what went on at the conference. Positive things were said, especially David Gushee's address on re-emphasizing the idea of "covenant" to our marital and ecclesial ethics. Troubling things -- actually, very troubling things -- were said, too. Like the plenary address by an openly gay divinity student who emphasized that LGBT relationships contribute much to the idea of "covenant," such as obliterating gender norms. The student went on to suggest that "when no predefined gender roles exist to unthinkingly guide how intimate relationships are to be fostered, the potential -- at very least -- is present for covenants forged not according to centuries of gender role residue, but through commitments to mutuality and equality." It would be easy for SBC conservatives to stand askance, waving their finger at the CBF saying, "See, we told you so. We knew this is how you'd all end up." Vindication, however, is a faulty form of justice because it is often self-prescribed. Southern Baptists have no room for grandstanding. We, the inerrantist, the establishment, have our own miscues as far as denominational sexual ethics are concerned. We've been far too complicit in partaking of the American divorce epidemic. Too many have allowed experience to justify divorce. But we can be thankful for the SBC's direction. We're a flawed people, but not defiant. Southern Baptists are debating Calvinism and multi-site churches, which, I believe, are healthy debates measuring high fidelity to the Bible. We squabble over Cooperative Program percentages; not over resolutions on the covenantal merits of same-sex relationships. We don't muddy the waters on abortion, believing the "safe, legal and rare" moniker inferior to simply "illegal." Southern Baptists have not sponsored conferences in which the condemnation of divorce is seeking to be lifted, as the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship accomplished with this conference on the subject of homosexuality. Younger Southern Baptists ought to be thankful for being spared such "conversations" and denominational referendums, one in which youthful angst is catapulting the CBF to embrace LGBT relations as normative. My time at the "Sexuality and Covenant" conference as a reporter was valuable. It allowed me first-hand observation of what happens when Scripture's authority and clarity is subjected to competing authorities. What I witnessed before the altar of "conversation" was a fellowship cementing its sexual ethics away from Scripture and elevating experience in its place. It is hard to be certain what the fallout will be from the conference for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Some attendees believed that a commitment to church autonomy will allow each and every congregation to structure their expectations on sexual behavior. Autonomy and biblical diversity, though, are two separate issues. Diversity that allows for sin undermines what constitutes church autonomy. The voice of the youth at the conference was (almost) unanimously in support of LGBT inclusion in the life of the church. This fact indicates a real divide looming over the CBF's horizon, a divide that church autonomy will not, and cannot, soothe. Church autonomy is an insufficient denominational ethic and authority when other long-held ethics collapse and other authorities emerge. The moderates of yesteryear may have been conservative on sexuality, but their grandchildren certainly aren't. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has a tough future ahead, a future I predict that will reopen the wounds among moderates and become a debate over the trustworthiness and truthfulness of the Scriptures. History, I think, will repeat itself. --30-- Andrew Walker lives in Kentucky and writes for the Institute on Religion & Democracy (theird.org), where a version of this column first appeared. -- End of story -- FIRST-PERSON: The glory of the mundane By Elizabeth Owens May. 1 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37732 "Hear, O Israel. The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates" (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) -- This Old Testament passage, known to those of the Jewish faith as the "Shema," was spoken by Moses to the children of Israel as they were about to enter the Promised Land. It is a great passage for parents and contains some of my favorite verses of instruction for teaching and training my children. But don't stop reading if you are not a mom, because those are not the verses I am focusing on right now, and what I have to say applies to you, too. The last two sentences describe actions that are not familiar to most of us. If you were to visit the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem you would see Jewish men praying, and you might see some of them wearing phylacteries. Phylacteries are strips of leather that are wound around the arm and hand, and around the head. They are attached to small square leather boxes that contain portions of Scripture. One box would be visible on the forehead, the other would be on the upper arm. These are what the verses above are describing. "So what does that have to do with me?" you may be thinking. Moms, I'll start with you. There are days in the life of a mother, especially a mother of preschoolers, that seem filled with tasks that are repeated over and over again. You change diapers, wash dishes, fold laundry, change diapers, wipe runny noses, wash little hands, change diapers, pick up toys, fix meals, clean the bathroom, change diapers, and on and on. You may hear from others that you lead a boring life of an endless repetition of menial tasks. Some days you might even start to believe that. When I have days like that, I try to remember God's directive to the Israelites, to bind His Scriptures to their hands. I may not actually see straps wound around my fingers and hands, but I can imagine them there as I use my hands to care for those I love the most, those whom God has entrusted to me to nurture and raise for His glory. I think of Ecclesiastes 9:10a which tells me, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might;" and I begin to find glory and even joy in the mundane, as I serve God by serving my family, caring for their most basic needs with my hands. The Jewish man who wears the straps on his hands sees them as he prays, just as I "see" the straps as I use my hands to serve God. But he does not see the box of Scriptures bound on his forehead. Instead, it is seen by all who look on his face, and is a testimony to his desire to obey God. In the same way, others may not see a box of verses on my forehead when they look at me, but what do they see? What do my children see? Do they see an angry mom, an impatient mom, a sad and frustrated mom? Or do they see a face that reflects the peace and joy that only Jesus can give? Do they see God's love for them on my face in the midst of a hectic day filled with all the seemingly trivial tasks, endlessly repeated, but so necessary to the care of a family? Now the truth is that while moms are often told that their days contain mindless tasks, the same can be said about almost any job in the world. They all have some element of necessary but mind-numbing requirements. Ask any nurse, teacher, pilot, engineer, bus driver or student. So for those of you reading this who are not moms, here is your challenge: As you go about your work each day and you use your hands for paperwork, or checklists, or whatever it is that you wish you didn't have to do, learn to find the joy of serving God even in the repetitious or mundane tasks. Strive to complete them with excellence, "with your might," for God's glory. And when those with whom you work look on your face, will they see an angry co-worker, an impatient co-worker, a sad and frustrated co-worker, or will they see a face that reflects the love and joy that only Jesus can give, a face filled with God's peace, even in the midst of a hectic day? One final thought. The last verse describes what is known as a mezuzah—a small box or cylinder containing Scripture, which is fastened to the doorposts of a home. All who enter that home see it and know that those who live there value Scripture and seek to obey God's laws. We may not have Scriptures attached to our doorposts, but do all who enter our homes discover that those who live in them love Jesus and are trying to order their lives around his Word? This applies to all of us, married or single, with or without children, living in a mansion or in a tiny apartment. Our homes should be a place of peace and joy, a refuge for our families first of all, and then for all others who walk through our doors. May we allow God to so order our homes, our families, and our lives, that even our dwellings become a testimony to His grace and salvation. --30-- Elizabeth Owens is in her 18th year of homeschooling and is the mother of four. Her husband is Waylan Owens, dean of the school of church and family ministries at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. This column first appeared at BiblicalWoman.org, a blog of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -- End of story -- Copyright (c) 2013 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press 901 Commerce Street Nashville, TN 37203 Tel: 615.244.2355 Fax: 615.782.8736 email: bpress@sbc.net