4/13/1994

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NATIONAL OFFICE .,. . SBC Executrve Comm~ttee

#, b . d * . J . 4 - G - - 901 Commerce +750 - - BAPTIST PRESS Nashville, Tennessee 37203 (615) 244-2355

News Service of the Southern Baptist Convention Herb Hollinger, Vlce Prss~dent Fax (615) 742-8919

CompuServe ID# 70420,17

BUREAUS ATLANTA Martin Klrrg, Chief. 1350 Spring St, N. W , Atlanta, Ga. 30367, Telephone (404) 898-7522 DALLAS Thomas J Brannon, Chief. 333 N. Washington, Dallas, Texas 75246-1798, Telephone (214) 828-5232 NASHVILLE 127 Nirrth Ave., N., Nashville, Tenn. 37234, Telephone (615) 251-2300 RICHMOND Robed L. Stanley, Chief, 3806 Monument Ave., Richmond, Va., 23230, Telephone (804) 353-0151 WASHINGTON Tom Strode, Chief, 400 North Capitol St., #594, Washington, 13C. 20001, Telephone (202) 638-3223

April 13, 1994 94-Special

NASHVILLE - - Editors' Note. FLORIDA - - SBC's 137th session to elect president, conduct business. FMRIDA - - Southern Baptist Convention program. FLORIDA - - Orlando SBC June meeting forecast: 23,000-25,000; photo, logo. FLORIDA - - Pastors' Conference to feature 'A Heart for Godt and the SBC. FLORIDA - - Pastors' Conference program. FMRIDA - - WMU annual meeting to host missions fair, missionaries. FLORIDA - - WMU Annual Meeting program. FLORIDA - - Religious educators to hear Tony Cornpolo, Kenneth Cooper. FLORIDA - - Musicians to be 'together' at '94 Orlando meeting. FMRIDA - - DOM program theme to explore 'Minister, Manager, Missionary.' FLORIDA - - Issues workshops, music festival slated during Hispanic meeting. FMRIDA - - Worship service to begin African American Fellowship. FWRIDA - - Southwestern Seminary to honor 3 Distinguished Alumni at SBC. FLORIDA - - New Orleans Seminary slates Alumni & Friends breakfast. FLORIDA - - Southeastern alumni luncheon slated for noon, June 15. FLORIDA - - Golden Gate to honor alumnus Henry Blackaby. FLORIDA - - Southern Seminary to honor 4 as distinguished alumni. FLORIDA - - Midwestern to honor 2 grads as '94 Alumni of the Year. FLORIDA - - Ethnic Baptist fellowships to meet in tandem with SBC. FLORIDA - - Researchers to review geo-demographic aid. FLORIDA - - Richard Ross to address Baptist campus ministers. FLORIDA - - Evangelists to hear messages focused on spiritual warfare. FLORIDA - - Baptist chaplains to discuss work in 'post-Christian' era. FLORIDA - - Banquet to honor church starters.

EDITORSt NOTE: This posting of Baptist Press contains stories about the 1994 Southern Baptist Convention, June 14-16 in Orlando, Fla., and other groups which meet in conjunction with the SBC. For (BP) news stories today, 4/13/94, see the other posting of Baptist Press.

SBCVs 137th session to elect president, conduct business By Herb Hollinger

Baptist Press 4/13/94

ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)--Southern Baptists will gather for their annual national meeting June 14-16 at Orlando's Orange County Convention/Civic Center to elect a new president, approve reports, conduct business and hear testimonies on the theme: "For I know - - He is able."

The 137th session of the Southern Baptist Convention, which is in its 148th year, may not have the volatile issues of some previous years but the election of a president always creates interest. This year two conservative pastors have announced they will be nominated: Fred Wolfe, pastor of Cottage Hill Baptist Church in Mobile, Ala. and Jim Henry, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Orlando, Fla.

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4 / 1 3 / 9 4 Baptist PreSs

Current president H. Edwin Young, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Houston, will step down after two one-year terms as president.

As has become the tradition at these large once-a-year meetings, an evangelistic campaign, "Cross Over Orlando," will precede the convention meeting as will a host of smaller meetings such as the Pastor's Conference and the Woman's Missionary Union annual meeting.

Convention organizers have planned a full schedule with the first election of officers scheduled for 2:30 Tuesday afternoon. The Baptist Sunday School Board's report will conclude the Tuesday night session while the Wednesday night session will again be a combined presentation by the Foreign and Home Mission boards.

The convention sermon will be given by Bobby N. Boyles, pastor of Eagle Heights Church in Oklahoma City, to conclude the Wednesday morning session.

Although there have been some predictions of 27,000 messengers at the Orlando meeting, Lee Porter, SBC registration secretary, said he forecasts about 23,000 to 25,000. Still, that would be a large increase over the 18,000 which registered last year in Houston. How much Orlando's many visitor spots, such as Disney World, will add to the SBC numbers no one knows but convention officials expect many will use the time for vacations as well.

Orlando organizers are excited about the theme testimonies which will draw on personal experiences of a number of people who have walked through difficult times but who testify "I know He is able," taken from 2 Timothy 1:12.

The facility - - Orange County Convention/Civic Center - - is being enlarged and could cause some congestion. One entrance will be closed and there will be only one entrance and one exit available for all traffic, according to convention officials.

Seating will be limited, especially for the business sessions, and overflow areas are being planned. There are parking lots adjacent to the center with about 3,500 spaces at $3 per day. The parking at the center itself will accommodate 1,700 vehicles at $4 per day.

A limited shuttle service from hotels along the busy ~nternaiional Drive will run from Monday morning through Thursday at $1 per trip. A new "I-Ride" bus service is, tentatively, scheduled to begin June 5 along International Boulevard as well.

According to Jack Wilkerson, convention manager, there are still hotel rooms available but to guarantee reservations the SBC housing form needs to be returned. He said there are many restaurants along International Boulevard and within a couple of miles of the convention center. However, he cautioned, the time required for going in and out of the center with the congestion may limit dining possibilities.

Food service is planned in the center for lunches and dinners at reasonable prices, Wilkerson said. - -30- - (BP) photo of the Orange County Convention/Civic center and 1994 SBC logo are available upon request from the Baptist Press central office in Nashville.

SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION June 14-16. 1994

Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Florida

Theme: "... For I know - - He is able ..." Scripture: I1 Timothy 1.12

Tuesdav Morning. June 14 8:15 Music for Inspiration - - Southern Baptist Convention Stud nt

Choir, Byron Cutrer, director, First Baptist Church, Orlando, Fla. - -more- -

4/13/94 - Baptist Press

Call to Order Congregational Singing - - Ragan M. Vandergriff 111. minister of music,

First Baptist Church, Orlando, Fla. Prayer - - Lewis E. Adkinson, pastor, Circle Drive Eaptisz Church, Colorado

Springs, Colo. Registration Report and Constitution of Convention - - k e Porter, SBC

registration secretary, associate pastor, St. Andrew ijaptist Church, Panama City, Fla.

Committee on Order of Business (First Report) - - Fred Powell, chairman, senior associate and interim pastor, First Baptist Chmch, Moore, Okla.

Welcome - - Pat Williams, general manager, Orlando Hagic basketball team, Orlando

Response - - James L. Sullivan, retired president, Sunday School Board, Nashville

Announcement of Committee on Committees, Credentials, B~z.olutions, and Tellers

Crossover Orlando - - Jay Strack, SBC first vice presihnz, evangelist, Dallas

Commission on the American Baptist Seminary Report - - St.ephen P. Carleton, secretary-treasurer, Nashville

Southern Baptist Convention Canada Planning Group Reporc - - Larry L. Lewis, president, SBC Home Mission Board, Atlanta

Theme Testimony - - Bo Mitchell, Mission Service Corps volunteer, Winter Haven, Fla.

Denominational Press Report - - Herbert V. Hollinger, vice president for Convention News, SBC Executive Committee, Nashville

Introduction of Business and Resolutions Executive Committee Report (Part 1) - - Morris H. Chap-, president and

chief executive officer, SBC Executive Committee, Nashville Congregational Singing - - Gary Moore, convention music director, minister

of music, Second Baptist Church, Houston Music - - Caedmon's Call, Second Baptist Church, Howton President's Address - - H. Edwin Young, SBC president, pzstor, Second

Baptist Church, Houston Benediction - - James DeLoach, retired associate pastor, Tairhope, Ala.

Tuesday Afternoon. June 14 1:00 Music for Inspiration - - Babbie Mason, Christian artist. Eastside Baptist

Church, Marietta, Ga. 1:30 Congregational Singing - - Ken Harley, minister of music. First Baptist

Church, Leesburg, Va. Prayer - - Joseph W. Atchison, director of missions, Nor+Awest Association,

Rogers, Ark. 1:35 Business

Committee on Order of Business (Second Report) - - Fred Powell Introduction of Business and Resolutions

1 : 4 5 Theme Testimony - - Beverly Terrell, Christian vocalist, Houston 1:55 Congregational Singing - - Steve White, minister of music, First Baptist

Church, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 2:00 Baptist World Alliance Report: - - Denton Lotz, general secretary, McLean,

Va . 2:10 Annuity Board Report - - Paul W. Powell, president, Dallas 2:20 Education Commission Report - - Stephen P. Carleton, executive director,

Nashville 2:30 El ction of Officers (First) 2:45 Committee on Nominations Report - - William E. Bell Jr., chairman,

department of religion, Dallas Baptist University, Dallas 3:00 Executive Committee Report: (Part 2) - - ,Morris H. Chapman

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3:50 Theme Testimony - - Pam Veteto, homemaker, Batesville, Ark. 4:00 Messenger Information Survey - - David W. Atchison, SBC recording secretary,

Brentwood, Tenn, 4:05 Music 4:10 Committee on Committees Report 4:20 Introduction of Business and Resolutions 4:40 Election of Officers (Second) 4:50 Benediction - - David Purichia, pastor, Emmanuel Southern Baptist Church,

Rockville, Ind.

Tuesday Eveninn. June 14 6:10 Music for Inspiration - - Chanoel Choir and Orchestra, Bob Reeder, director,

minister of music, First Baptist Church, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 6 :25 Congregational Singing - - Bob Reeder

Prayer - - David Butler, pastor, Springdale Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. 6:30 Theme Testimony - - Rachel Hood-Phillps, corporate vice president, Miami 6:40 Committee on Order of Business (Third Report) - - Fred Powell 6:45 Congregational Singing - - Steve Skinner, minister of music, First Baptist

Church, Spartanburg, S.C. 6:50 ~lectkn of Officers (Third) 7:00 Brotherhood Commission Report - - James D. Williams, president, Memphis,

Tenn. 7:10 Christian Life Commission Report - - Richard D. Land, executive director,

Nashville 7:20 Christian Life Commission and Brotherhood Commission Presentation 7:40 Congregational Singing - - Steve Phillips, minister of music, First Baptist

Church, Columbia, S.C. 7:45 Sunday School Board Report - - James T. Draper Jr., president, Nashville 7:55 Sunday School Board Presentation 8:50 Benediction - - Gene Mims, executive vice president, Sunday School Board,

Nashville

Wednesdav Morning. June 15 8:30 Music for Inspiration - - Michael Sandifer, Christian artist, Belmont

Church, Nashville 8:40 Pat Butler, Soloist Sanctuary Choir, Second Baptist Church, Houston 8:50 Congregational Singing - - Gary Moore

Prayer - - Terry Little, pastor, Pines Baptist Church, Spokane, Wash. 8:55 Denominational Calendar Report - - Jerry R. Cooper, chairman, Harvey's

Chapel Baptist Church, Hot Springs, Ark. 9:00 Introduction of Local Arrangements Committee - - John R. "Jack" Wilkerson 9:05 Theme Testimony - - Jack R. Smith, personal evangelism consultant, Atlanta 9:15 Congregational Singing - - Randy Elrod, minister of music, First Baptist

Church of Indian Rock, Largo, Fla. 9:20 Bold Mission Thrust Report - - Morris H. Chapman 9:30 Election of Officers (Fourth) 9:35 Introduction of Past President 9:45 Seminary Reports - - William 0. Crews, president, Golden Gate Seininary, Mill

Valley, Calif; Milton Ferguson, president, Midwestern Seminary, Kansas City, Mo.; Landrum P. Leave11 11, president, New Orleans Seminary, New Orleans; L. Paige Patterson, president, Southeastern Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C.; R. Albert Mohler, president, Southern Seminary, Louisville, Ky.; William B. Tolar, interim president, Southwestern Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas

9 : 5 5 Seminary Presentation 10:45 Theme Testimony - - Cecil Sims, executive director-treasurer, Northwest

Baptist Convention, Portland, Ore. a --more--

4/13/94 ,- Baptist Press

10: 55 Business Committee on Order of Business (Fourth Report) - - Fred Powell Introduction of Business and Resolutions (Last Time)

11:OO Previously Scheduled Business 11:15 Committee on Resolutions (First Report) 11:25 Election of Officers (Fifth) 11:30 Music - - Sherry Orr Ministries, Killarney Street Baptist Church, Winter

Park, Fla. 11:40 Convention Sermon - - Bobby N. ~ o ~ l e s , pastor, Eagle Heights Church,

Oklahoma City 12:15 Benediction - - Robert Jeffress, pastor, First Baptist Church, Wichita

Falls, Texas

NO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION

Wednesdav Evening. June 15 6:00 Music for Inspiration - - Music Ministry, First Baptist Church, Orlando 6:25 Congregational Singing - - Ragan M. Vandergriff I11

Prayer - - Paul S. James, executive director emeritus, Baptist Convention of New York, Deltona, Fla.

6:30 Business Committee on Order of Business (Fifth Report) - - Fred Powell Election oE Convention Sermon Preacher, Alternate, and Music Director 1995

6:40 Congregational Singing - - Gary Middleton, minister of music, Olive Baptist Church, Pensacola, Fla.

6:45 Theme Testimony - - Thomas Smith, foreign missionary, Sierra Leone 6:55 Woman's Missionary Union Report - - Dellanna W. OIBrien, executive director,

Birmingham, Ala. 7:05 Foreign Mission Board Report - - Jerry A. Rankin, president, Richmond, Va. 7:15 Home Mission Board Report - - Larry L. Lewis, president, Atlanta 7:25 Foreign and Home Mission Board Presentation 8:50 Commitment Invitation 8:55 Benediction - - ,Rick Butler, student minister, Purdue University, W.

Lafayette, Ind.

Thursdav morn in^. June 16 8:30 Music for Inspiration - - Steve Sweet, Christian artist, First Baptist

Church, Orlando 8:50 Congregational Singing - - Gary Moore

Prayer - - John L. Yeats, pastor, South Park Baptist Church, Grand Prairie, Texas

8 : 5 5 Stewardship Commission Report - - A.R. "Rudy" Fagan, president, Nashville 9:05 American Bible Society Report - - Eugene B. Habecker, president and chief

executive officer, American Bible Society, New York 9:15 Memorial Service 9:20 Radio and Television Commission Report - - Jack B. Johnson, president, Fort

W&th, Texas 9:30 Introduction of Fraternal Representatives 9:40 Theme Testimony - - Arturo Cobo, Cuban Refugee Center coordinator, Key West,

Fla ; 9 : 50 Historical Commission ~eport - - Lynn E. May Jr. , executive director,

Nashville 10:OO Southern Baptist Foundation Report - - Hollis E. Johnson, 111, president,

Nashville 10:lO Presentation of Outgoing SBC Officers - - Morris H. Chapman 10:15 Introduction of Newly Elected SBC Officers - - H. Edwin Young 10:20 Theme Testimony - - Karen Thomas, crisis pregnancy counselor, Paducah, Ky. 10:30 Congregational Singing - - Gary Moore ,

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4/13/94 Baptist Press

10:35 Previously Scheduled Business 10:45 Committee on Resolutions (Final Report) 11:15 Music - - Dick and Me1 Tunney, Christian artists, Christ Community Church,

Franklin, Tenn. 11:25 Message - - Frederick Sampson, pastor, Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church,

Detroit 12 : 00 en edict ion - - Jim Richards, pastor, Southminister Baptist Church, Baton

Rouge, La. - -30- -

CONVENTION OFFICERS President: H. Edwin Young, pastor, Second Baptist Church, Houston First Vice President: Jay Strack, evangelist, Dallas Second Vice President: Bobby H. Welch, pastor, First Baptist Church, Daytona

Beach, Fla. Recording Secretary: David W. Atchison, director, Turning Point Ministries,

Brentwood, Tenn. Registration Secretary: Lee Porter, associate pastor, St. Andrew Baptist Church,

Panama City, Fla. Treasurer: Morris H. Chapman, president and chief executive officer, Executive

Committee, Nashville

COMMITTEE ON ORDER OF BUSINES$ H. Edwin Young, Houston Sandra Butler Hodge, Princeton, Ky. Steve Cookingham, Wichita Falls, Texas Roy Belcher, Corvallis, Ore. Gary Ledbetter, Brownsburg, Ind. Fred Powell, chairman, Moore, Okla. L. Bert Miller, Springdale, Ark.

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Orlando SBC June meeting forecast: 23,000-25,000 By Herb Hollinger


ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)--Southern Baptists will return to Florida for the ninth time,for a national convention meeting, the first time in Orlando, with as many as 25,000 messengers expected June 14-16 at the Orange County Convention/Civic Center.

The last time the SBC annual meeting was held in the Sunshine State was in 1975 at Miami Beach, also the site in 1967 and 1960. The city of Miami was the host in 1952 and 1946 while St. Petersburg was the host in 1932 and Jacksonville in 1922 and 1911.

The largest attendance for a meeting in Florida was the 1975 Miami Beach SBC which registered 16,421.

But Lee Porter, SBC registration secretary, told Baptist Press he thinks the Orlando messenger count will be about 23,000, but not over 25,000 in any circumstance, for the 137th session. One unknown: how many families will come to spend most of their time at Orlando's many recreational and amusement areas like Disney World.

Porter has had an impressive record in predicting messenger registration since 1978, although he says he missed last year's Houston prediction "badly." Porter had predicted 23,500 to 25,000 at the 1993 meeting in Houston but only 17,768 registered.

The largest attendance figure of 45,519 in Dallas in 1985 apparently will be unchallenged in Orlando.

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Although many observers of SBC activity feel the Orlando meeting will be relatively quiet, an election of a new president between two strong conservative pastors may provide an impetus for "get out the vote" campaigns for the election.

Fred Wolfe, a Mobile, Ala., pastor, and Jim Henry, an Orlando pastor, are the two announced candidates for SBC president.

Porter said registration will open at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 12 and 8 a.m. Monday and Tuesday, June 13-14. Registration will close sometime after 9 p.m. each night, Porter said.

Those needing messengers cards can get them from state convention offices, Porter said. Churches must elect their messengers and the cards must be filled out ahead of time. With a properly filled out card, Porter said a messenger can expect to register in five minutes.

"If he doesn't have a card and needs to go before the credentials committee, it will take some time," Porter, associate pastor of St. Andrew Baptist Church in Panama City, Fla., said.

Also, a church which sends messengers must, in the previous SBC year (Sept. 30, 1992, to Oct. 1, 1993), have been a bona fide contributor to the work of the SBC, Porter said. New church and new missions organized after Oct. 1, 1993, will have to wait until next year, he said.

In addition, Porter said any person who has a reason to challenge a church's messengers should check, in advance, with the credentials committee or the registration secretary.

For-more information about the registration procedure, Porter can be reached at (904) 785-8596. - -30- -

Pastors' Conference to feature 'A Heart for God* and the SBC By Art Toalston

Baptist Press 4 / 1 3 / 9 4

ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)--The 1994 Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference will focus on aspects of having "a heart for God as a demonination," according to conference president Dwight "Iken Reighard.

Reighard, pastor of suburban Atlanta's New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville, said the conference theme, "A Heart for God," will touch on the Southern Baptist Convention's heart for evangelism, the family and leadership, the church, America and the world.

The June 12-13 Pastors' Conference will be held at the Orange County Convention/Civic Center on International Drive in Orlando, Fla., site of the Southern Baptist Convention's June 14-16 annual meeting.

Included in the emphasis, for example, will be a commissioning service for new missionaries appointed by the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board.

The commissioning,service, slated during the "Heart for the World" session at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 12, will include a message by F'MB President Jerry A. Rankin. Other speakers will be Adrian Rogers, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in suburban Memphis, Tenn., whose son and daughter-in-law, David and Kelly Rogers, were appointed earlier this year as FMB missionaries to Spain; Dallas evangelist Jay Strack, the SBC's first vice president who has been active in evangelistic and religious liberty efforts in the former Soviet bloc; and Tom Eliff, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Del City, Okla., and a former SBC missionary in Africa.

Reighard said he hopes such features will help build a stronger tie between the Pastors' Conference and the SBC.

Other features during the conference will be a 50-year recognition of W.A. Criswell as pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, slated during the "Heart for the Churchw session at 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 13, and a presentation that evening at 6:30 during the "Heart for America" session on the 1995 "Here's Hope America" evangelistic campaigns planned by the Home Mission Board.

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Among the nationally known personalities slated to appear on the program (followed by session times) are Bobby Bowden, head coach of national collegiate football champion Florida State University and, with his wife Ann, co-chair of Florida Baptist Family Ministries' Touching the Future fund-raising campaign, during the 8:30 a.m. June 13 "Heart for the Family & Leadership" session; TV preacher Jerry Falwell, pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va., during the church-oriented June 13 session; and Jack Kemp, secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Bush, during the closing "Heart for America" session.

Speakers for the opening "Heart for Evangelism" session at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 12, will be Ronnie Floyd, pastor of First Baptist Church in Springdale, Ark.; Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga.; Calvin Miller, professor of communication and ministry studies at Southwestern Baptist ~heolo~icai Seminary in Fort Worth; evangelist Rick Stanley of Fayetteville, Ga. ; and Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla.

In addition to Bowden, speakers at the 8:30 a.m. session June 13 on family and leadership will be Tony Evans, pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas; John Maxwell, pastor of Skyline Wesleyan Church in Lemon Grove, Calif.; and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar of Dallas.

In addition to Falwell, speakers at the 1:30 p.m. session June 13 on the church will be James Merritt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Snellville, Ga.; Jerry Vines, co-pastor of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla.; and Larry Wynn, pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, Ga.

In addition to Kemp, speakers at the closing session, 6:30 p.m. June 13, on reaching America will be Fred Wolfe, pastor of Cottage Hill Baptist Church in Mobile, Ala., .and one of two announced candidates for the SBC presidency (the other being Jim Henry, pastor of First Baptist Church in Orlando); Charles Stanley, pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta; and evangelist and Vietnam veteran Clebe McClary of Pawley's 'Island,'S.C.

Music highlights will include performances by 4 Him during the 1:30 p.m. June 13 session; Truth during the closing session; and combined choirs and orchestras of several churches during the FMB commissioning service.

Reighard said the Pastors' Conference "Heart for God" theme evolved from a 12- week series on the same theme he felt led to preach at his church exploring "if you really were going to have a heart for,God, what: would the attributes be?"

As he planned the sermons last summer, he said, it clicked that the theme could be a productive theme for the pastors - - and the SBC.

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SOUTHERN BAPTIST PASTORS' CONFERENCE June 12-13, 1994

Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Florida

Theme: "A Heart for Evangelismtt

Wndav Afternoon. June 12 1:50 Pre-Session Choral Praise - - New Hope Baptist Church Choir & Orchestra, Joe

Estes, director, Fayetteville, Ga. 2:00 Welcome - - Dwight "Ike" Reighard, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church,

Pastors' Conference president, Fayetteville, Ga. 2:03 Scripture and Prayer - - John Sullivan, executive director, Florida Baptist

Convention, Jacksonville, Fla. 2:08 Musical Praise - - Point of Grace, Christian concert artist, Nashville 2:15 Message - - Ted Traylor, pastor, Olive Baptist Church, Pensacola, Fla. 2:40 Praise and Worship - - Michael Wells, minister of worship and the creative

arts, Braelinn Baptist Church, Peachtree City, Ga. - -more - -

4/13/94 - Baptist Pres

Greetings and Welcome - - James T. Draper Jr., president, Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville

Message - - Ronnie Floyd, pastor, First Baptist Church, Springdale, Ark. Prayer and Offering - - Charles Roesel, pastor, First Baptist Church,

Leesburg , Fla. Choral Praise - - New Hope Baptist Church Choir & Orchestra Message - - Calvin Miller, professor of communications and ministry studies,

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas Musical Praise - - Point of Grace Testimonial Message - - Rick Stanley, evangelist, Fayetteville, Ga. Musical Praise - - Jack Price, music evangelist, Garland, Texas Message - - Johnny Hunt, pastor, First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Ga. Benediction - - Mark Matheson, pastor, First Baptist Church, Windemere, Fla.

Sunday Evening. June 12 6:25 Pre-Session Choral Praise - - New Hope Baptist Church Choir & Orchestra;

Brushy Creek Baptist Church Choir & Orchestra, Tony Lollis, director, Easley, S.C.

6:30 Praise & Worship - - Roger Christian, minister of music, Roswell Street Baptist Church, Marietta, Ga.

6:35 Scripture & Prayer - - John Yarbrough, pastor, First Baptist Church, Perry, Ga .

6:40 Musical Praise - - Newsong, Christian concert artist, Atlanta 6:50 Message - - Tom Eliff, pastor, First Southern Baptist Church, Del City,

Okla. 7:20 Praise & Worship - - Roger Christian 7:25 Welcome - - Morris Chapman, president, Southern Baptist Executive Committee,

Nashville 7:30 Message - - Jay Strack, evangelist, Dallas 7:50 Prayer & Offering - - Fred Lowery, pastor, First Baptist Church, Bossier

City, La. 7:55 Musical Praise - - Newsong 8:00 Message - - Adrian Rogers, pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, Tenn. 8:30 Foreign Mission Board Commissioning Service - - Jerry Rankin, president,

Foreign Mission Board, Richmond, Va. 9:30 Benediction - - Ken Whitten, pastor, Idlewild Baptist Church, Tampa, Fla.

Monday Morning. June 13 8:30 Choral Praise - - First Baptist Church Choir & Orchestra, Steve White,

director, Merritt Island, Fla. 8:40 Praise & Worship - - Denny Dawson, minister of music, First Baptist Church,

Franklin, Tenn. 8:45 Scripture & Prayer - - Robert McGee, president, Rapha Inc. 8:50 Musical Praise - - A1 Holley, music evangelist, Atlanta 9:00 Message - - Tony Evans, pastor Oakcliff Bible Fellowship, Dallas 9:30 Musical Praise - - SpiritBound, Christian concert artist, Nashville 9:40 Message - - Zig Ziglar, president, Zig Ziglar Corporation, Dallas 10:lO Praise & Worship - - Denny Dawson 10:15 Prayer & Offering - - Jerry Sutton, pastor, Two Rivers Baptist Church,

Nashville 10:20 Choral Praise 10:30 Testimonial Message - - Bobby Bowden, head football coach, Florida State

University, Tallahassee, Fla. 10:SO Musical Praise - - SpiritBound 10:55 Message - - John Maxwell, chairman of the board, Injoy Ministries, El Cajon,

C a l i f . 11:25 Benediction - - Lee Mabry, pastor, Fortified Hills Baptist Church, Symnra,

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Mondav afternoon. June 13 1:20 Choral Praise - - Choirs and Orchestras from First Baptist Church,

Snellville, Ga., Rick Forbus, director; and First Baptist Church, Franklin, Tenn., Denny Dawson, director

1:30 Scripture & Prayer - - Timothy George, dean, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, A l a .

1:35 Message - - Larry Wynn, pastor, Hebron Baptist Church, Dacula, Ga. 2:00 Choral Praise - - Sessions Choirs 2:10 Message - - James Merritt, pastor, First Baptist Church, Snellville, Ga. 2:35 Musical Praise - - 4 Him, Christian concert artist, Nashville 2:40 Election of Officers - - "Ike" Reighard 3:00 Message - - Jerry Vines, pastor, First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla. 3:30 Prayer & Offering - - Jack Graham, pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church,

Dallas 3 :35 Praise & Worship - - Kim Noblitt, minister of music, Dauphin Way Baptist

Church, Mobile, Ala. 3:40 Special 50 Year Recognition of W.A. Criswell - - presentation by O.S.

Hawkins, pastor, First Baptist Church, Dallas, and "Ike" Reighard 3:50 Musical Praise - - 4 Him 4:00 Message - - - Jerry Falwell, president, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va. 4:30 Benediction - - Mike Hamlet, pastor, First Baptist Church, North

Spartanburg, S.C.

Mondav evening. June 13 6:30 Patriotic Opener - - Truth, Christian concert artist, Mobile, Ala., Roger

Breland, director 6:35 Welcome - - Ed Young, president, Southern Baptist Convention, pastor, Second

Baptist Church, Houston 6:40 Scripture & Prayer - - Paige Patterson, president, Southeastern Baptist

Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C. 6:45 Introduction of 1995 Pastors' Conference Officers - - "Ike" Reighard 6:50 Home Mission Board's Here's Hope America - - Thad Hamilton, director of

personal evangelism, Home Mission Board, Atlanta 7:10 Musical Praise - - Truth 7:15 Message - - Fred Wolfe, pastor, Cottage Hill Baptist Church, Mobile, Ala. 7:45 Prayer 6 Offering - - Richard Lee, pastor, Rehoboth Baptist Church, Tucker,

Ga . 7:50 Musical Praise - - Larry Brubaker, minister of instrumental music, Roswell

Street Baptist Church, Tucker, Ga. 7:55 Message - - Jack Kemp, co-director, Empower America, Washington 8:25 Praise & Worship - - Mass Choir (Combination of all Sessions 1-4 Choirs) 8:30 Testimonial Message - - Clebe McClary, director, Clebe McClary Ministries,

Pawley's Island, S.C. 8:50 Musical Praise - - Truth 9:00 Message - - Charles Stanley, pastor, First Baptist Church, Atlanta 9:30 Grand Finale Celebration - - The Church Triumphant, featuring video

presentation, Truth, Mass Choir and Orchestra 9 : 4 0 Benediction - - Jack Millwood, pastor, First Baptist Church at Westin, Fort

Lauderdale, Fla. - -30- -

GtMU annual meeting to host missions fair, missionaries By Susan Doyle


ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)--Southern Baptist Woman's Missionary Union's June 12-13 annual meeting will include an international missions fair and home and foreign missionary speakers.

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4/13/44 ' ' Baptist Press

Four of the five sessions will be at Orlantlols First Baptist Church beginning Sunday afternoon, June 12, at 2:30. The international missions fair will be Sunday evening, 5:30-8, at the Clarion Hotel. The fair will end in time for participants to attend the foreign missionary commissioning service scheduled during the 6:30 p.m. session of the Southern Baptist Pastors1 Conference in the Orange County Convention/Civic Center.

WMU Monday sessions will be at First Baptist beginning at 9 : 3 0 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The theme of the meeting is "Growing in Love."

Preceding the annual meeting, WMU is sponsoring missions projects in the Orlando area. Volunteers will work with US2 missionaries assigned to the Orlando area by the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board. Volunteers will be involved in hosting activities for children in area hotels, campground ministries and Backyard Bible Clubs in apartment complexes.

The theme of the free Sunday evening international missions fair to be held at the hotel is "It's a Big, Big World." Dozens of booths featuring missions will be set up in the Clarion Hotel ballroom and surrounding area. Special activities will be provided for children. Puppets, choirs, dramas, flags and local ministries will be featured during the evening.

Two meal functions have been planned for participants in the annual meeting. Lunch will be available on Monday, June 13, at the church. The cost is $6 and tickets must be purchased in advance.

An international meal will be available during the Sunday evening missions fair. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children.

All meal function tickets must be ordered by May 20 by writing: WMU Annual Meeting 1994, P.O. Box 830010, Birmingham, AL 35283-0010.

A shuttle service will be provided from the Clarion Hotel to First Baptist Church. Passes may be purchased on Sunday, June 12, at the hotel. The pass covers eight one-way trips between the hotel and church and will sell for $10.

Home missionaries slated for the annual meeting program include: Susan Broadwell, ~arn~a, Fla. ; Robert and Debbie Cochran, West Palm Beach, Fla. ; Diana Lewis, Benton, Ark.; Herberto Becerra, Manhattan, N.Y.; Kay Richardson, Annandale, Va.; and Michael Williams, New York City.

Foreign missionaries include: Charlotte Cearley, Zimbabwe; William Harrington, Tanzania; John and Rhonda Wright, Japan; Patricia Stooksbury, Bolivia; Ken and Beth Perkins, Kenya; and Bill Cashion, Venezuela.

Testimonies will be given by Rachelle Hood-Phillips of Miami; Idessia Rutman, Frostproof, Fla.; Heather Barron, Lexington, Ky.; Martha Robison, Shelby, N.C.; Patti Seal, Smithville, Tenn.; Barbara Jean Davis, Wachula, Fla.; and Susan Smith, Cayce, S.C.

Theme interpretations will be led by noted author and speaker Barbara Joiner of Columbiana, Ala.

Dellanna O'Brien, national WMU executive director, will present the WMU executive board report during the Monday morning session. National WMU President Carolyn Miller will preside at each session.

Anna Keith of West Palm Beach, Fla., will direct the congregational singing. The First Baptist Church choir, under the direction of Ragan Vandegriff, will provide special music.

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WOMAN'S HISSIONARY UNION ANNUAL MEETING June 12-13, 1994

First Baptist Church Orlando, Florida

Sunday Afternoon. June 12 Theme: Growing in Love 2:15 Pre-session Music - - First Baptist Church, Orlando; Ragan Vandegriff,

Minister of Music

4/13/94 Baptist .Prerss

2:30 Call to Order - - Carolyn D. Miller, WMU president, Huntsville, Ala. Hymns : "There ' s a Glad New Song, " "0 God of Love, Enable Me, " - - Anna

Keith, West Palm Beach, Fla., directing Invocation - - Nancy Sullivan, wife of state executive director,

Jacksonville, Fla. Theme Interpretation - - Barbara,Joiner, author and speaker, Columbiana,

Ala. Greetings - - Jim Henry, pastor, First Baptist Church, Orlando Announcements Message: See How Love Works - - Susan Broadwell, home missionary, Tampa,

Fla. Testimony: When Work and Ministry Mix - - Rachelle Hood-Phillips, mission

action participant, Miami Hymns - - "Oh How I Love Jesus," "More Love to Thee" Special Music - - First Baptist Church Choir, Orlando Dialogue: Growing Churches - - John Wright, foreign missionary, Japan;

Robert Cochran, home missionary, West Palm Beach, Fls. Testimony: A Witness That is Consistent - - Idessia Ru-, mission action

participant, Frostproof, Fla. Prayer Calendar - - Rhonda Wright, Japan; Debbie Cochran, West Palm Beach,

Fla . 4:30 Musical Benediction - - Anna Keith Sundav Evenina, June 12 5:30-8:OO

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS FAIR

It's a Big, Big, World is the theme of the International Missions Fair at the Clarion Hotel, 9700 International Drive, Orlando.

Fair will include dozens of missions booths with home and foreign missionaries to interpret their work. Puppets, choirs, dramas, flags, local ministries and many other things will be featured during the evening.

The fair is FREE; however tickets must be purchased in advance for the meal. Adults, $12.00; Children, $6.00. (Order tickets with payment enclosed by May 20. WMU Annual Meeting 1994, P.O. Box 830010, Birmingham, AL 35283-0010.)

vondav morn in^. June 13 Theme: Ministering in Lave 9:20 Music for Meditation - - Organist and Pianist, First Bapzist Church, Orlando 9:30 Call to Order - - Carolyn D. Miller

Hymns - - "Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life," "Let Your Heart Be Broken" Invocation - - Ellen Tanner, wife of state executive director, Edmond, Okla. Theme Interpretation - - Barbara Joiner Announcements Message: God's Unique Way of Loving - - ~iana Lewis, home missionary,

Benton, Ark. Testimony: God's Love Calls Forth My Love - - Heather Bsrron, mission action

participant, Lexington, Ky. Hymn - - "Break Out, 0 Church of God" Executive Board Report - - Dellanna O'Brien, WMU executi-~e director,

~irmin~hani, Ala. Presentation of National Acteens Panelists - - Sharon Vincent, Birmingham,

A1.a.; Jennie Kaye Bell,.Murray, Ky.; Kayla Katherine Giska, Wisner, La.; Sornalay Rasavong , Amarilio , Texas ; Cynthia A. Segura, Waco, Texas

Message: Ministering Through Second Century Fund - - Patricia Stooksbury, foreign missionary, Knoxville, Tenn.

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Solo: "1'11 Tell It Now" - - Anna Keith '

Hunger Presentation Hymn: "Because I Have Been Given Much" Message: Love Has a Way - - Kenneth and Beth Perkins, Cooperative Services 'International, Kenya

Testimony: We Offer Outstretched Hands - - Martha Robison, mission action participant, Shelby, N.C.

Prayer Calendar - - Rhonda Wright, Debbie Cochran 12:00 Musical Benediction - - Anna Keith Monday Afternoon. June 13 Theme: Witnessing in Love 1:50 Music for Meditation - - Organist and Pianist, First Baptist Church 2:00 Call to Order - - Carolyn D. Miller

Hymns: "Christ for the World We Sing!" "God, Our Author and Creator" Invocation - - Judy Lyle, wife of state executive director, Cockeysville,

Md . Theme Interpretation - - Barbara Joiner Announcements Introduction of Local Committee Growing Through Prayer - - Mary Helen Dixon, WMU development specialist,

Birmingham, Ala. Message: Love Speaks - - Herberto Becerra, home missionary, Fairview, N.J. Testimony: Chosen by God to Bear Fruit - - Patti Seal, mission action

participant, Smithville, ,Tenn. Hymn: "Freely, Freely" Introduction of National Acteens Panelists - - Sylvia DeLoach, Birmingham,

Ala.; Melissa Kay Bryant, Shelbyville, Ky.; Megan Johnston, Springfield, Mo.; Carrie-Ann Segraves, Huntingdon, Tenn.; Ashley Marie Ward, Florence, S.C.

Special Music - - First Baptist Church, Orlando Message: Love Shows the Way - - William Cashion, foreign missionary,

Venezuela Testimony: Sharing Your Faith Through Bible Study - - Barbara Jean Davis,

mission action participant, Wachula, Fla. Prayer Calendar - - Kay-Richardson, home missionary, Annandale, Va.;

Charlotte Cearley, foreign missionary, Zimbabwe 4:15 Musical Benediction - - Anna Keith Monday Evening. June 13 Theme: Risking in Love

6 : 5 0 Pre-session Music - - First Baptist Church, Orlando 7 : 00 call' to Order - - Carolyn D. Miller

Hymns: "Lord, Thy Church on Earth is Seeking," "Who Is on the Lord's Side?" Invocation - - Alice Marshall, , w i f e of state executive director, Louisville,

KY . Theme Interpretation - - Barbara Jotner Announcements Message: Love Works in Difficult ,Places - - William Harrington, foreign

missionary, Tanzania Testimony Hymn: "In Christ, Our Liberty" Special Music - - First Baptist Church Choir, Orlando Message: Love Sticks Its Neck Out - - Michael Williams, home missionary,

Orange, N.J. Testimony: Love Never Ends - - Susan Smith, Cayce, S.C. Prayer Calendar - - Kay Richardson, Charlotte Cearley

8 : 4 0 Musical en edict ion - - Anna Keith - -30- - ,

4/13/94 Baptist Treks

Religious educators to hear Tony Compolo, Kenneth Cooper

ORLANDO, Fla. (BPI--Tony Compolo and Kenneth Cooper will be among the featured speakers during the June 11-13 "CEO: Claiming Education Opportunities" meeting of the Southern Baptist Religious Education Association.

The three-day SBREA meeting at the Hyatt Orlando precedes the June 14-17 meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando, Fla.

Compolo, a popular Christian speaker and author, is sociology department chairman at Eastern College in St. Davids, Pa. Cooper, who sparked the international aerobics movement, is the founder of the Cooper Clinic in Dallas and author of numerous books.

Compolo will speak at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 11; Cooper will speak at 7 p.m. the following day.

Three two-hour sessions during the program will be devoted to concerns facing ministers in specific areas or age groups. Ministers of education, for example, will meet three times to discuss issues affecting their work.

The sessions will focus on "the hard issues facing each of these groups," said Bill Taylor, minister of education at North Phoenix (Ariz.) Baptist Church and president of the association.

The SBREA meeting will emphasize the ministers' role as educators, akin to Jesus as the master teacher, not: just simply beyond being promoters and special event organizers, Taylor added. "Our responsibility is to equip the body of Christ," he said.

Other speakers on the SBREA program will be Dan Yeary, pastor of North Phoenix Baptist Church; Don Newbury, president of Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas; and Carol Childress, research specialist with Leadership Network in Tyler, Texas.

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Musicians to be 'together' at '94 Orlando meeting


ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)--The 1994 Southern Baptist Church Music Conference will be June 12-13 at College Park Baptist Church in Orlando, Fla., preceding the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.

"Together in Jesus" will be the conference theme. It will be "an emphasis celebrating the common threads of SBC music ministers and musicians," said conference president Mark Blankenship, director of the Baptist Sunday School Board's Genevox Music Group.

The "together" theme, Blankenship said, will focus on "together in purpose . . . in vision ... in common mission of reaching the world . . . in mutual respect and support of our differences and . . . in fellowship."

Program features include worship services at 6:45 p.m. Sunday and Monday, June 12-13, with preaching by Dan Yeary, pastor of North Phoenix (Ariz.) Baptist Church; an orchestra concert and demonstration by Florida Baptist church instrumentalists at 3:30 p.m. June 12; a panel discussion on "Innovative Music Ministry" at 9 a.m. June 13. Various music ensembles, such as the Baylor 21 from Baylor University in Texas, will be featured throughout the conference .

Small-group sessions, on such topics as "The College/Seminary Music Department:: PR or Academics?" and "Music Ministry Needs of Ethnic Churches," will be at 2 p.m. June 13. - -30- -

4/13/9& 4b L- Baptist Press

DOM program theme to explore 'Minister, Manager, Missionary'

ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)--"Minister, Manager, Missionary" will be the theme of the 33rd annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Conference of Associatianal Directors of Missions.

The June 12-13 meeting will be held at the Orlando Marriott prior to the Southern Baptist Convention's June 14-16 annual meeting in Orlando.

Six associational directors of missions will address the theme. During the 1 p.m.. session Sunday, June 12, Ed Gilman of the Suncoast Baptist

Association in Florida will speak on "The Director of Missions as Minister;" John McBride of the Shelby Baptist Association in Tennessee will'speak on ,*The Director of Missions as Manager;" and Paul Lewis of the Frontier Baptist Association in Wyoming will speak on "The Director of Missions as Missionary."

Handling the same themes during the 8 a.m. session Monday, June 13, respectively, will be Russell Barker of the Atlanta Baptist Association; Bob Perry of the Mount Vernon Baptist Association in Virginia; and "Doc" Lindsey, missions director for the Minnesota-Wisconsin Southern Baptist Convention and former director of missions for the Greater Detroit Baptist Association.

R. Albert Mahler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., will lead Bible studies during both sessions.

Frank Boyd, an association secretary of Baptist work in Southampton, England, will speak on associational leadership from the European perspective during the Sunday afternoon session.

Larry Lewis, president of the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board, will be among the speakers during a 7 p.m. banquet June 12 sponsored by the HMB, while Paul Powell, president of the Annuity Board, will address a 12:30 pm. luncheon June 13 sponsored by the SBC agency.

The conference theme, l'Minister, Manager, Missionary,'' is drawn from the organization's logo which lists those roles of DOMs, said A. Kenneth Chadwick, director of missions for the Salt Lake and Rainbow Canyon Baptist associations in Utah. '

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Issues workshops, &sic festival slated during Hispanic meeting By Art Toalston


ORLANDO, Fla. (BP) - -Seminars on key issues facing Hispanic ~a~tists and a celebration of Hispanic music talent will be among the features of the 1994 National Hispanic Fellowship Meeting.

"Celebrando a1 Rey" ("Celebrating the Kingv) will be the theme of the June 11- 12 sessions in the First Baptist Church of Pine Hills gymnasium in Orlando, Fla., host city of the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting June 14-16.

As an added component of the Hispanic meeting, organizers have set aside time for Hispanic participation in "Crass Over Orlando," a Home Mission Board-sponsored multi-event evangelistic outreach in Orlando. The Cross Over Hispanic time bloc will be from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 11.

The issues-focused seminars, offered for the first time since the Hispanic meeting began in 1987, are slated from 2:45 to 4.55 p.m. June 11. Workshop titles and leaders are:

- - "Hispanics Sponsoring New Works," Daniel Sanchez, director of the Scarbor,ough Institute for Effective Church Leadership at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

- - "Hispanics United in the United States," David DtAmico, Billy Graham professor of evangelism at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY .

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4/13/94 Baptist .,Press

* - "The Hispanic Family and the ~odern Crisis, " Margarita Travino , president of Christian Education and Research Agency in Keller, Texas.

- - "Hispanic Youth in Transition," Natanael Vicens, Home Mission Board catalytic missionary in Florida.

- - "The Hispanic Woman Confronts the Challenge of Service," Rosa Zamora, ethnic specialist with Woman's Missionary Union in Birmingham, Ala.

- - "Hispanic Baptists Reach Out to Their Community," Herman Rios, ethnic evangelism consultant for the Florida Baptist Convention.

- - "The Hispanic Baptist Community Reaches Out to the World," Geriel De Oliveira, personnel consultant at the Foreign Mission Board in Richmond, Va.

The meeting's music festival highlighting musical talent in Hispanic churches will begin at 7 p.m. June 11. A 150-voice choir, orchestra and musical ensembles Erom Florida Hispanic churches will be featured.

Other events on the program include: - - The fellowship's annual rally at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 12, with messages by

international evangelist Jose Borras, a former Catholic priest and former president of the Spanish Baptist Union, speaking on "The Message of Baptists to the World," and Bob Sena, assistanti director, Hispanic church growth, in the HMB language church extension division, on "The Message of the King to Southern Baptist Hispanics." A testimony will be given by Arturo Cobo, an HMB volunteer who heads up the Cuban Refugee Center in Key West, Fla.

During the rally, the Distinguished Minister of the Year Award will be presented to Sanchez. Also honored will be Domingo Fernandez, a retired Cuban pastor who is the "Hora Bautista" ("Baptist Hour") radio broadcast preacher, and Paul Powell, president of the SBC Annuity Board.

- - A "Pastor's and Wives Appreciation Mealn at 5 p.m. June 11 for Hispanic Baptist leaders across the country, sponsored by the HMB. J.V. Thomas, national consultant for the HMBts key church strategy, will be the featured speaker. Presiding will be the fellowship's president, Rudy Hernandez, an evangelist based in Grand Prairie, Texas.

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Worship service to begin African American Fellowship


ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)--A 5 p.m. worship service on Sunday, June 12, will begin the National African American Fellowship's annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.

The worship will be held at Tangelo Park Baptist Church, 7001 Ravenna Ave., in Orlando. Clifford Marity is pastor of the congregation.

Fred Luther, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, will bring the message. After the worship, the fellowship will participate in the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board commissioning sewice at 6:30 p.m. in the Orlando's Orange County Convention/Civic Center.

The fellowship meeting will continue June 13 at the Orlando Marriott, b ginning with an orientation session for pastors and others interested in starting state fellowships of the organization, from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Leaders of the session will be E.W. McCall, pastor of St. Stephens Baptist Church in La Puente, Calif., and Eugene Gibson, pastor of Mission of Faith Baptist Church in Chicago.

A business session will be held Erom 11 a.m. to noon for members who will be attending the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 14-16.

The fellowship's annual luncheon will be from noon to 2 p.m. Included in the program will be various,award presentations to churches and individuals from several SBC agencies. Cost of the luncheon will b $20, and tickets will be available during the Sunday worship service and at the door.

Joe Ratliff, pastor of Houston's Brentwood Baptist Church, is the fellowship's president.

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For further information about the ~ro~ram,' contact Dennis Mitchell, the organization's secretary and pastor of Central Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala., (205) 284-4548.

The fellowship was constituted last year in Houston followings its organizational meeting the previous year in Indianapolis.

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Southwestern Seminary to honor 3 Distinguished Alumni at SBC


FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)--Three people have been chosen to receive the 1994 Distinguished Alumni Award from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and will be recognized by the school during a luncheon June 15 in Orlando, Fla.

Receiving the award will be Rebekah Naylor, William 0. Crews and Walter Reid. The three will be honored at a luncheon scheduled for 12:30 p.m. following the

Wednesday morning session of the Southern Baptist Convention. The luncheon is being held at the Clarion Hotel directly across from the Orlando Convention Center.

~ a ~ l o r has served as a Southern Baptist missionary surgeon in India for more than 20 years. The daughter of former Southwestern President Robert Naylor, she helped establish the Bangalore Baptist ~ o s ~ i t a l and senred as its chief administrator. The 143-bed facility treats nearly 80,000 patients each year, including performing 1,800 operations and delivering 1,200 babies. The hospital is credited with helping to start 75 to 100 new churches in and around Bangalore.

Crews is president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, Calif. He has led the Southern Baptist seminary since 1986. Crews previously was pastor of the 2,300-member Magnolia Avenue ~ a ~ t i s t Church in Riverside, Calif. He also served churches in Texas and the Northwest, where he was president of the Northwest Baptist Convention. He also is a past president of the California Southern Baptist Convention.

Reid retired Jan. 2 after nearly 39 years as pastor of South Hills Baptist Church in Fort Worth, where the seminary is located. A native of Port Arthur, Texas, Reid was called to South Hills in 1954 when the church had 26 members. The church is located near Southwestern's campus. During his tenure at the church, South Hills grew to a weekly average of more than 650 in Sunday school. Reid continues to serve as an adjunct instructor at Southwestern.

Tickets for the alumni luncheon may be purchased by sending $13 to the Office of Institutional Advancement, P.O. Box 22000, Fort Worth, TX 76122.

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New Orleans * Seminary slates Alumni & Friends breakfast


NEW ORLEANS (BP) --New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary's annual Alumni & Friends Reunion will be a breakfast meeting on Wednesday, June 15, during the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando.

The full-course, country-style breakfast will begin at 7:15 a.m. and will be held in the fellowship hall of Orlando's First Baptist Church, 3701 L.B. McLeod Road.

Tickets are on sale now by mail. Tickets ordered before June 1 will cost $6 each; tickets ordered after June 1 and those purchased at the NOBTS exhibit booth at the convention will cost $7.50 each. Ticket sales at the SBC will end at noon Tuesday, June 14.

The meeting will include a report from the seminary president, Landrum P. Leave11 11, and the faculty's annual pr sentation of the distinguished alumnus award. ,

4/13/94 Baptist .Pr&ss

The 1994 distinguished alumnus award recipient is Charles R. Barnes, executive director-treasurer of the Baptist Convention of Maryland-Delaware. He is being recognized for outstanding leadership and service in the area of denominational ministries.

Barnes received the bachelor of divinity degree from New Orleans Seminary in 1961 and the master of divinity degree in 1974. On Nov. 11, 1993; he became the ninth executive to lead the Maryland-Delaware convention. He came to Maryland from Mississippi in 1961 to serve the newly formed Severna Park (Md.) Baptist Church. In 1970 he began his work with the state convention, serving first as director of the Sunday school and church building department. He became director of church development in 1973 and then director of church programs and services in 1987.

Claude L. Howe, author of the seminary's new history book, "Seventy-Five Years of Providence and Prayer," will be present to autograph books, which will be on sale at the breakfast and at the NOBTS exhibit.

Purchase breakfast tickets from the Alumni Office, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 3939 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70126. Tickets ordered from the office after June 1 may be picked up at the seminary's booth at the Southern Baptist Convention.

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Southeastern alumni luncheon slated for noon, June 15


WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP)--Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary will host a luncheon for all alumni and friends at noon Wednesday, June 15, during the Southern Baptist' Convention in Orlando, Fla.

The luncheon will be in Florida Rooms I1 and I11 of the Peabody Hotel, directly across from the Orange County Convention/Civic Center.

Southeastern alumni president Charles Page, pastor of First Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C., will preside, and Southeastern President Paige Patterson will be the keynote speaker.

A surprise guest will be in attendance and an Outstanding Alumnus Award will be presented, seminary officials said.

Cost of the luncheon is $12 per adult. There is a special children's menu available for $6 per child. Reservations can be made through the Southeastern Alumni Office at (919) 556-3101.

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Golden Gate to honor alumnus Henry Blackaby


MILL VALLEY, Calif. (BP)--The alumni association of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary will honor Henry T. Blackaby with the 1994 Alumni Achievement Award at a luncheon June 15 in Orlando, Fla.

The alumni and friends luncheon starts at 12:15 p.m. after the morning session of the Southern Baptist Convention. It will be held in Room 8A/B at the Orange County Convention/Civic Center, 9800 International Drive.

Blackaby oversees prayer and spiritual awakening efforts for the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board, Foreign Mission Board and Sunday School Board. He is co-author of "Experiencing Godn and "Fresh Encounter," resources churches across the Southern Baptist Convention are using to help bring renewal and revival.

Tickets for the seminary event may be purchased by sending $14 to the Office of Alumni Relations, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Strawberry Point, Mill Valley, CA 94941.

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Baptist Press

Southern Seminary to honor 4 as distinguished alumni

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has named four graduates, representing the pastorate, missions, campus ministry and denominational service, as its 1994 Distinguished Alumni.

Those honored by the Louisville, Ky,, seminary are Harold C. Bennett, retired president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee; Winston Crawley, a retired vice president of the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board; Verlene Farmer, ~aptist Student Union director at Langston (Okla. ) University; and David A. Nelson, retired pastor of First Baptist Church in Owensboro, Ky.

The four will be recognized during the seminary's Alumni and Friends Reunion Breakfast Wednesday, June 15, at 7:30 a.m. at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, Fla. Tickets for the alumni gathering, which is held each year in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, are $8.50 each in advance and $10.50 at the convention. Tickets can be ordered from the Office of Alumni Services and Giving, 2825 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY 40280.

Bennett was president of the Executive Committee for 13 years prior to his retirement in 1992. Previously, he had served as executive director of the Florida Baptist Convention, director of the missions division of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and pastor of Southern Baptist churches in North Carolina, Kentucky, Louisiana and Arkansas. Bennett earned the bachelor of divinity degree from Southern Seminary in 1953.

Crawley retired in 1987 as the Foreign Mission Board's vice president for planning. His 40-year career with the board also included service as a missionary to the Philippines, secretary for the Orient and director of the overseas division. Crawley received the master of theology degree from Southern Seminary in 1944 and the doctor of theology degree in 1947.

Farmer has been director of the Baptist Student Union at Langston since 1971. Earlier, she was a missionary to Liberia and director of religious education at Palestine Missionary Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo. Farmer graduated from Carver School of Missions and Social Work (now merged with Southern Seminary) with a bachelor of religious education degree in 1956. She also holds the master of religious education degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Nelson was pastor of First Baptist Church of Owensboro for 31 years before his retirement in 1992. He has served on numerous boards and committees in Southern Baptist life and is a former president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Nelson earned the bachelor of divinity and doctor of theology degrees from Southern in 1951 and 1956, respectively. --3O--

Midwestern to honor 2 grads as '94 Alumni of the Year

Baptist Press 4 / 1 3 / 9 4

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP)--Two graduates of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary have been selected as 1994 Alumni of the Year. They will be recognized during the school's annual alumni luncheon, June 15, in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.

Receiving the MJ3TS alumni association award this year are Gary E. Farley and J. Paul Swadley for their contributions to Christian ministry.

Farley is director of the office for town and country missions at the Home Mission Board in Atlanta, where he has been a member of the staff since 1984. He received the master of divinity degree from Midweatern in 1961.

At the HMB, Farley's responsibility is to assist in the design, implementation, evaluation and administration of the rural-urban missions program He formerly was pastor of churches in Missouri and Tennessee and also taught sociology at Carson-Newman College in J fferson City, Tenn., and Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee.

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4/13/94 ~apti*st"~r&ss

Since 1970, Swadley has been pastor of South Haven Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo. Under his leadership, the congregation has grown from 630 to 2,800 members. He received the master of divinity degree from Midwestern in 1961.

Previously, Swadley served three other Missouri pastorates. He is a former president of the Missouri Baptist Convention and member of the state convention's executive board.

The Alumni of the Year will be honored by Midwestern alumni and friends during the luncheon at the Orange County Convention/Civic Center in Orlando - - site of the SBC meeting. The event will begin immediately after the close of the June 15 morning -session of the convention and will be held in room 6A-B of the convention center.

Advance tickets for the ~idwdstern Seminary luncheon may be purchased for $12 per person from the Alumni Office, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 5001 N. Oak St. Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 64118. Or tickets may be obtained for $15 at the seminary booth in the convention exhibit hall.

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Ethnic Baptist fellowships to meet in tandem with SBC


ORLANDO, Fla. (BP).--Several ethnic Baptist fellowships will meet in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 14-16 at the Orange County ~onvention/~ivic Center in Orlando, Fla.

The Chinese Baptist Fellowship will meet June 11-13 at the Harley Hotel. Among the featured speakers will be Jerry A. Rankin, president of the Home Mission Board; James Williams, president of-the Brotherhood Commission; and Oscar Romo, Home Mission Board director of language missions.

The Filipino Baptist Fellowship will meet from 2 to 9:30 p.m. June 16 at Neptune Road Baptist Church in Kissimmee, Fla.

The Messianic Southern Baptist ~ellowshi~ will meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 13 in the overflow room of the convention center. Among the speakers will be Sam Keller, a staff member of "Focus on the Family."

The Korean Baptist Fellowship will meet in Orlando but the time and place were not available at press time.

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Researchers to review geo-demographic a i d

ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)--The 17th annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Research Fellowship will be from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 11, at the Howard Johnson University Hotel.

The program will include presentations on Scan-US, a geo-demographic planning tool being made available by the Baptist Sunday School Board, and the board's new Annual Church Profile, which is replacing the Uniform Church Letter.

The meeting is open to the public. For more information, contact Clay Price, research information specialist at the Baptist General Convention of Texas, (214) 828 -5138.

--3O-..

Richard Ross to address Baptist campus ministers


ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)--Richard Ross, one of the organizers of the "True Love Waits" campaign, will be among the speakers during the annual meeting of the Association of Southern Baptist Campus Ministers.

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Baptist Press

The June 10-12 sessions will be at Rollins College in Orlando, Fla., preceding the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Ross will speak during the 9:30 a.m. session June 11 on today's youth and how they will affect college ministry in the future.

A youth consultant at the Baptist Sunday School Board in Nashville, Ross has been a spokesman for the teen-oriented True Love Waits campaign for sexual abstinence until marriage, which has generated media coverage nationally and internationally.

George Loutherback, a special consultant with the Baptist General Convention of Texas who is coordinating a study of student work in the state, will speak during the 7 p.m. session June. 11.

Bill Stroup, BSU dlrector at the University of Jacksonville and University of North Florida, is the president of the association, which was founded in 1922.

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Evangelists to hear messages focused on spiritual warfare


ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)--"More than Conquerors: Spiritual Warfare in the Man, the Ministry and the Marketplace" will be the theme of the 1994 Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists meeting.

The session will be Wednesday afternoon, June 15, beginning at 1 p.m. in the Orange County Convention/Civic Center in Orlando, Fla., site of the 1994 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting.

E.V.. Hill, a popular preacher and pastor of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist: Church in Los Angeles, will speak on the "Marketplace" facet of the meeting's theme.

Evangelist Perry Neal of Montgomery, Ala., will speak on the "Man" and music and drama evangelist ~ i m McNiel of St. Louis will focus on the inis is try.^'

Among the featured musicians will be Truth and vocalist Janet Paschal of Nashville.

Evangelist Ron Pledger of Stone Mountain, Ga., is the conference president. --3o- -

Baptist chaplains to discuss work in *post-Christian* era


. ATLANTA (BP)--Southern Baptist chaplains will meet: Monday, June 13, to discuss "Evangelical Chaplaincy in the,Post-Christian Era." The convocation is set for 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Orlando's Navy Training Center.

The topic was addressed during conferences at each of the s i x Southern Baptist seminaries earlier this 'year. Participants in the June meeting will review input from the seminary sessions.

Guest speaker for the luncheon will be Larry Elliott, director of mission ministries for the- Florida Baptist Convention.

For more information or to make a reservation, call the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board chaplaincy division at (404) 898-7445.

- -30- -

Banquet to honor church starters


ATLANTA (BP) - -A new work banquet to honor Southern Baptist church starters will be held Monday, June 13, at the Orlando Marriott Hotel.

More than 600 people have been invited to the Home Mission Board-sponsored banquet. Awards will be given to people serving in language, associational, black and new church extension. Speakers will include Larry Lewis, HMB president, and Charles Chaney, HMB vice president for ~Iprch~extension.

--30-1

BAPTIST PRESS

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BUREAUS ATLANTA Martin Klng, Chief. 1350 Spring St,, N.W. Atlanta. Ga. 30367, Telephma (404) 898-7522 DALLAS Thomgs J. Brannon, Chiel 339 N. Washington, Dallas. Taxas 75246-1798, mkphOn8 (214) 828-5232 NASHVILLE 127 Ninth Ave., N., Nashville, Tenn. 37234, Teephone (615) 251-2300 RICHMOND Robert L. Stan& Chief. 3806 Monument Am., Richmond, Va.. 25230, Wephone (804) 353-0151 WASHINGTON Tom Strode, Chief. a04 North Capltd St., #594, Washington, RC. 20001, -Telephone (202) 638-3223

April 13, 1994 94- 61

NASHVILLE - - Editors' Note. . TFYAS - - Trustees vote change in name to Communications Commission. KENTUCKY - - Ethics profs challenge students to think through their values. KENTUCKY - - Ethics profs: Popularity isn't among their goals. TEXAS - - Professor, student named to SWBTS search committee. ALABAMA - - Chaplain to AIDS patients calls churches to compassion. ALABAMA - - Experts say avenues abound for church AIDS ministries. NEW ORLEANS - - Public housing ministries require long-term commitments. KENTUCKY - - Southern's music drama program foreshadowed national trend; photo.

EDITORS' NOTE: Baptist Press will have a separate posting today, 4/13/94, of stories about the.1994 Southern Baptist Convention, June 14-16 in Orlando, Fla., and.other groups which meet in conjunction with the SBC.

Trustees vote change in name to Communications Commission By C.C. Risenhoover


FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) - -Trustees of ' the Southern Baptist Radio and Television Commission voted to change the agency's name to Communications Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention,'affirmed the president and began the process of developing a revised program statement.

The action was taken at the April 12 trustees meeting at a Dallas-Fort Worth I Airport hotel,

The SBC Executive Committee is being asked to approve revising the RTVC I charter to reflect the name change.

Trustees also passed a resolution that read in part "... the trustees of the Radio and Television Commission strongly affirm the leadership of its president, Dr. Jack Johnson, and look forward to many years of working together with him in communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

The resolution commended Johnson for the progress and fiscal stability of the RTVC under his direction, its increasing worldwide ministry outreach, promising future and for his Christian character and high standards of professionalism.

The program statement that is being revised reflects the guidelines under which the RTVC operates. It states the programs of work assigned to the agency by th SBC and the parameters within which it operates and relates to other SBC ntities.

Johnson told trustees that emerging technology in the communications field is mind-boggling and. costly.

"But we can't wait for prices to go down," he said, "because we are responsible for the souls of people. And information is worth nothing unless it can be communicated."

The RTVC president said with 21st century technology there will be no excuse for anyone being uneducated.

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4/13/94 Page 2 Baptist Pre* - "That's why the future for the gospel is so great," he said. "Through this

emerging technology we can share the gr atest news the world has ever known ... how to bec m a child of G d and how to effectively witness for Jesus.Christ. I can see God's hand using this technology. For us it is opportunity, For God it is a means of reaching all with his eternal plan of redemption."

Johnson said emerging technology is not on the horizon, that it is now. "Still, it's like a rosebud that hasn't opened yet," he said, "What we have

is the future opening up ... providing wonderful opportunities to present the gospel, We are on the leading edge and must take advantage of the opportunity. We are accountable to God if we fail to use what he has provided to take the message of salvation to the world."

The name of the commission was changed previously when television was added to it in 1954. The new name, Communications Commission, trustees said, would better position the agency to take advantage of new technologies in electronic communications as they emerge.

At the meeting trustees re-elected Dallas W. Bumgarner as chairman, C. Wyman Copass as first vice chairman and Omer Ray Finch Jr. as second vice chairman.

Bumgarner is pastor of Elvaton Baptist Church in Millewsville, Md,; Copass is past r of Yellow Creek Baptist Church in Owensboro, Ky.; and Finch is founder and president of Lakeshore Food Systems of Tulsa, Okla.

Trustees elected Nancy Berlin, church hostess/volunteer coordinator/music coordinator of Riverside Baptist Church in Denver, Colo., recording secretary. She replaces Gary Underwood, executive vice president of Beech Street Communications Corp, in Texarkana, Ark. He had served two terms and was not eligible for re-election.

Recognized and honored at the meeting were retiring trustees Mickey Castleberry, pastor of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala.; Steven A. Huffman, managing partner in the accounting firm Huffman and Associates, Papillion, Neb.; and Tommy D. Donham, department manager for Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M.

Trustees also authorized the RTVC's executive committee to establish a maximum annual budget amount for the coming fiscal year and to set any cost of living adjustment to salaries at the agency's June trustees meeting, - -3o--

Ethics profs challenge students to think through their values By Ken Walker

Baptist Press 4 /13 /94

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--Scanning the United States' social scene does not yield a pretty picture. Political scandals roll through the nation's capital. Pornography and gambling magnates oversee multi-billion-dollar industries. Drug, alcohol and other addictions cost employers, health systems and society billions more.

In an age when America seems to have lost its moral compass, Southern Baptist professors say the subject of Christian ethics has applications reaching far beyond the church pew.

"We deal with issues that people will read about in the morning paper over their coffee," said David Gushee, assistant professor of ethics at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. To Gushee, "It's exciting to be affecting people's lives that way."

Said William Tillman, associate professor of ethics at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, "I'm not demeaning the discussion f Scripture, but where students will find themselves drawn into the lives of people is around ethical matters. Things like how they spend their money.

"It's interesting how many questions and conversations you get into that are value questions," Tillman said, "Ethics are an integral part of being able to meet large and small crises in people's lives."'

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4/13/94 Page 3 Baptist Press . - B

While ackn wledging that conditions are bad in m dern America, Tillman added each generation is a "little eg tistical," tending to see its problems as the worst in hist ry.

Ev ry generation has its values crises and a sense of chaos, a fe ling that things are breaking up, Tillman said. But such troubled introspection is an opportunity for Christians, he said.

"This is the very essence of the gospel," he said, "to say, 'Here are some anchor points.'"

Christian ethics covers a wide range of issues: citizenship, politics, economics, abortion, euthanasia, health care, drugs, divorce, sexual ethics, race relations, decision-making and ministerial integrity.

Family and character, however, head the list for Tillman, who worked with Southern Baptist ethics pioneer T.B. Maston. The late ethics professor was an ad- vocate of biblical positions that were not always popular. .

"He spent a lot of time on character study," said Tillman, who co-authored "The Bible and Family Relations" with Maston.

"In one of his later books, 'To Walk as He Walked,' based on 1 John 2:6, he said life in Christ was to exhibit Christlikeness. Character is pretty much in th forefront with Christian ethicists."

Both Gushee and Tillman see an interest among students in following biblical guidelines. Tillman said students are already doing that - - but additional study helps them refine their decision-making.

That in turn affects society, Tillman said, as students later become pastors and teachers and spread messages of Christian living.

"Hopefully, people hear the call to apply their faith to whatever sphere they are living in," Tillman said. "There is some bridge-building going on here, too. We have to think in lay terms and interpret some things to them. And they need to ask questions when they're not getting answers."

On Southern's campus in Louisville, Ky., two ethics-oriented student groups are drawing several dozen to their meetings: - - One is a weekly luncheon featuring guest speakers. It resumed last fall after a one-year sabbatical. - - The second is Humane Ethics for Abundant L i f e (HEAL). The new advocacy group combines pro-life and feeding-the-hungry concerns.

Noting that interest in the latter two issues normally comes from opposit ends of the political spectrum, Gushee called HEAL a healthy sign.

"One of my priorities is that our moral concerns have to be holistic," he said. "A consistent pro-life ethic says if you care about human life as God made it, you have to be concerned with (the practice of) reaching into the womb and ending life - - and with those who are born and starve to death."

In addition, in the spring of '95 Gushee-plans to reintroduce an elective course on ministerial ethics, which had been taught: for many years by Henlee Barnette .

The recent fall of two prominent pastors because of marital problems spurred th S uthern professor's decision. He anticipates widespread interest in the course, based on feedback from a lecture at the introductory level.

"Students need to come out of the seminary forewarned and forearmed about the moral temptations, vices and crises that will come their way as ministers," Gushee said, "Our job is to show the moral seriousness of the calling and what a catastr phe it is for the church when ministers go astray."

Such incidents are a calamity for the minister, family and church, Gushee said. Not only is the fall from grace a disaster for the congregation, wherever the news is repeated it hurts the witness of Christ, the professor pointed out.

Ministers' problems are only one of the current issues Gushee introduces in lectures. Such issues as abortion, business ethics and race relations will all eventually t uch students, he said, and they need to be equipped to deal with them.

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4/13/94 Page 4 Baptist Presb * '

How ver, Gushee and Tillman agr e that concern for current issues must avoid going t o far in the direction of p litical solutions, at the risk of ignoring personal responsibility.

"I think that any attention to Christian ethics shouldn't deteriorate int 'issue-ism,'" Tillman said, "That becomes faddish. Some of the larger areas corn and go. But there are perennial issues, such as how a Christian relates to the material world. We try to keep a balance between 'beingt and 'doing.'"

"Christian people and the church must be what they should be: a model of the quality of life that bears witness to Jesus Christ," Gushee said. "Once you've done that, you have a moral leg to stand on, to talk to government and others about what they should be."

The church's witness to government is a critical issue in modern times, Gushee said. He sees a positive side to the scandals unfolding in Washington, D.C., saying they have increased the awareness that government is not the answer to modern problems.

"Since Watergate, with the exception of Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter's presidency, there have been scandals in every administration and people are tired of it," Gushee commented,

"From a Christian ethicist's point of view, it was always clear that gov rnment can't keep our marriages together, teach our children right from wr ng and have our society be what it should be." - - 3 O - -

Ethics profs: Popularity isn't among their goals By Ken Walker


LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--Opposing the culture. From Old Testament prophets to modern-day messengers, those who stand contrary to the popular positions of the day often draw scorn and hostility.

While he hasn't run into any opposition since coming to Southern Baptist Theol gical Seminary last summer as assistant prbfessor of ethics, David Gushee said he anticipates that at some time his beliefs will irritate others. He compares modern Christian ethicists to Old Testament prophets, controversial figures who usually faced antagonistic societies.

The sad truth is that Christians often don't embrace Jesus, the Bible and the Holy Spirit instead of popular culture, Gushee said. On moral issues people t nd to get very emotional and react whenever "their ox is gored," he said,

"Can there be anything sadder than Christians responding to a clear teaching of Scripture, where it conflicts with their ideology, by attacking the messenger rather than submitting to the Word of God?" he asked. "That's what happens and it's sad."

Yet those who rise up against prevailing customs often emerge as heroes, such as European Christians who ignored prevailing anti-Semitism during World War I1 and protected Jews from Hitler's forces.

Gushee's book on those believers will be published by Fortress Press next October. "The Righteous Gentiles of the Holocaust: A Christian Interpretation" reviews such well-known figures as Corey ten Boom and others out of the public spotlight.

"I wanted to see Christians who were willing to act," he said. "They read about the Good Samaritan and said, 'I have to help this (Jew) on my doorstep or I'm like the priest who passed by on the other side of the road.' If they followed the culture, they never would have done that."

The legendary T.B. Maston, often called the "social conscience" of th Southern Baptist Convention, is another figure who took unpopular stands. Particularly his support of racial equality in the 1950s.

One of those who inherited his mantle, however, said he believes human relations have worsened instead of improved, - -more- -

4/13/94 .. Page 5 Baptist Press

William Tillman, associate professor of ethics at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, said people may have been lulled into a sense of complacency by civil rights legislati n and better access to public acc mmodations and voting.

But he described the situation as not that healthy. Middle-class whites may worship with middle-class blacks, he said, but he hasn't seen reconciliation moving beyond that point.

"Human beings operate out of a deep prejudicial base," he said. "We're sinful creatures and we must have somebody inferior to us, so racism is always going t be with us. If anything, it's worse. It used to be black-white relations, N w w have black-white-Asian-Native American conflicts."

While Tillman disagrees with extremist groups that fan these fires, such as skinheads, he said they are symptoms of a society that desperately needs moral anchors.

That's why a Christian ethicist will never work himself out of a job, Tillman added. "You have to keep it in front of people. Every generation has to be re- educated."

- - 3O- -

Professor, student named to SWBTS search committee


FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)--Curtis Vaughan, distinguished professor of New Testament, and Paul Robertson, a theology student from Georgia, have been named as advisory members of the President's Search Committee for Southwestern Baptist Th ological Seminary.

The announcement of the selections was made by Miles Seaborn, chairman of the search committee. As advisory members, Vaughan and Robertson will represent the faculty and student body, respectively, but will not have voting privileges,

"We are extremely pleased and grateful that Dr. Vaughan is to be the faculty advisor on the President's Search Committee and that Paul Robertson will represent students," Seaborn said. "We look forward to the solid contributions that both will make. Dr. Vaughan's long association with the seminary and our churches make him an excellent part of the process. Paul Robertson adds maturity from the business world and from his two years as a student at the seminary."

Elected to Southwestern's faculty in 1950, Vaughan is a native of Humbolt, Tenn. He holds the bachelor of divinity and doctor of theology degrees from Southwestern. Vaughan has been honored as a distinguished alumnus of Southwestern and has written several books and biblical commentaries. He served on the Executive Review Committee for' the New King James Version translation of the Bible.

Robertson, 32, is a native of Athens, Ga., and a graduate of the University of Georgia. A second-year master of divinity student, Robertson previously was employed in the banking industry. He is a member of Southcliff Baptist Church in Fort Worth.

Seaborn said the search committee was scheduled to hold its first meeting the week of April 11. He said the committee will begin its work by developing its policies and procedures for the selection process. He said members also will build a presidential profile. - -30- -

Chaplain to AIDS patients calls churches to compassion By Beth Heard


BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)--As the AIDS epidemic continues to grow, churches are being forced to respond with compassion or rejection to those afflicted by the disease.

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Page 6 ' Baptist re&

"It's not a matter of if AIDS comes to our church. AIDS has come to our church," said Malcolm Marler, Southern Baptist minister and the first full-time AIDS chaplain at the University of Alabama at Birmingham hospital complex. "It's a matter of us being open enough to receive these people with open arms.

"Many of our churches right now have people sitting in their pews who are HIV po~itive,~ Harler said.

Just a few weeks into his job at UAB, Marlar has already heard many stories of patients who have been accepted or totally rejected from their churches as a result of their illness.

One example is a young man who risked telling his pastor he is HIV positive. The pastor went to the man's home and asked him' to not come back to church.

"When I hear those kinds of stories, I think, what a lost opportunity for ministry," Marler said. But there are also encouraging stories of people reaching out with compassion to those living with AIDS. These are the examples Marler hopes to highlight for churches,

While his job at UAB involves some patient and family counseling, the majority of his time will be spent educating and training churches for effective AIDS ministry. His eventual goal is to start a training center for ministers and lay people to help them learn how to educate and minister through the churches.

Marler, who has master of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., said the first step for any church is to get educated. Then the church can look for ways to reach out in a compassionate and non-judgmental way.

Total acceptance of AIDS patients, regardless of how they contracted the disease, is essentia1;he said,, explaining'that the tendency, however, is to think of some as "innocents," such as hemophiliacs who contracted the disease through a blood transfusion before blood was properly screened.

"But no one deserves AIDS," Marler said. "I believe in a God of cornpassi n and love who is our resource during suffering, not our reason for it. If you look to God as the reason, it puts us in a judging mdde ... and judgment stands as a barrier. "

He added: "Even if sin is responsible for a certain kind of illness, it still doesn't absolve.our responsibility to respond,compassionately,"

Marler is encouraging churches to get to know individuals with HIV or AIDS, realizing that the number affected by the disease is constantly growing. In Alabama last year, for example, AIDS cases increased by nearly 68 percent, with heterosexual women being the fasting-growing segment percentage-wise. .

"This is differentsfrom a lot of our pictures. ... We have to understand that AIDS patients are individuals. They're someone's brother or sister, aunt or uncle, mother or father," Marler said.

Marler is challenging churches to take a public stance of openness, stressing through preaching and other ministries the compassion of a loving God for all people,

"If people hear they're going to be first judged, they probably won't come t you and you won't have an opportunity to minister."

Marler has learned firsthand the impact the church can have on those experiencing tragedy. The son of Alabama pastor Lewis Marler, he was embraced by the members of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Montgomery when his mother died suddenly when -he was 10 years old.

"1 had a dozen mothers over the next 2 or 3 years that played different roles for me," he recounted. "That experience taught me that the church can make a critical difference in a tragedy.

'"I know many other stories of people who had different kinds of tragedies and sometimes the church responded that way and sometimes it didn't and how that has stamped and affect d them - - not only th ir relationship to the church but their relationship to God. And so I see one of the best ways to bring people to Jesus Christ is to care for them in a tragedy and to help their faith to grow by loving them. "

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4(13/94 Page 7 Baptist Press CI h

Already Marler has received calls from pastors who want help with their church's AIDS ministry. He also has a list of another 40 or 50 who c ntacted the clinic before he arrived expressing interest in wanting to start a new work.

"I'm not: worried about churches that are going to reject what I'm saying, becaus I think we're going to have our hands full with those who have already said they want help in training to do better AIDS ministry," he said.

Marler sees AIDS ministry as "the closest thing to doing the ministry of Jesus that I know in this day and time, mainly because Jesus specifically responded to those in society who others were rejecting.

"I just want to encourage churches to biblically look at our calling to ministry and to look at Jesusf ministry and to see that we need to work through whatev'r it is that holds us back from his ministry so that we can carry on what I believe Jesus would be doing if he was here right now,"

--3O-- Heard is a newswriter for The Alabama Baptist.

Experts say avenues abound for church AIDS ministries By Beth Heard


BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)--Opportunities abound for churches willing to reach out to those living with AIDS.

According to Southern Baptist minister Malcolm Marler, new AIDS chaplain at the University of Alabama at: Birmingham hospital complex, forming an AIDS ministry task force is a good first step for churches.

The first goal of the group, he said, should be to educate themselves and the church about the disease and how it is contracted. The second step should be to look at existing support resources for AIDS patients in the community and determine how church members can strengthen those or fill in gaps in care.

Sam Thompson, director of Birmingham AIDS Outreach, an education and sewic organization partially funded through the county health department, also is encouraging churches to consider beginning their own ministries, suggesting the following outreach ideas:

- - Volunteer with a local agency; do office work; help with fund-raisers; answer a hotline; provide transportation; become part of a "buddy" program to provide one-on-one support and friendship to someone living with AIDS.

- - Through a local agency or the church's own ministry, help stock a food pantry and clothes. closet; donate furniture (in reasonable shape); sponsor individuals receiving meals on wheels ($5/meal/person); help them celebrate special occasions.

- - Dedicate one Sunday per year to the discussion of the AIDS issue in church, with special seminars and/or guest speakers.

- - Set aside a Wednesday night service for the purpose of praying for those living with AIDS.

- - Donate money to an AIDS ministry or service organizations. - - Develop a "care team" - - several members working together to help meet the

daily living needs of someone with AIDS. Team members can help with meals, transportation, house cleaning and managing of finances. Or take a person with AIDS shopping, out to eat or to the park. Help himher enjoy a hobby such as gardening.

Unique opportunities exist for helping families and children affected by AIDS. Through the Birmingham AIDS Outreach, couples can volunteer to serve as a "family pair." In this new program, volunteers link up with a parent who has AIDS and make arrangements to care for the child or children after the parent's death.

Also in Alabama, for example, "A Baby's Place" is a statewide ag ncy providing support and foster care to pediatric AIDS patients.

Thompson, a Presbyterian who was raised Southern Baptist, said he believes strongly the greatest need AIDS patients face is a spiritual one,

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4/13/94 Page 8 Baptist Press "" '

"They need desperately to get into church - - not only for salvati n but for the fellowship, friendship and support. But we have to be non-judgmental, wanting to minister. That's the way to the cross and salvation - - not through condemnation."

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Public housing ministrSes require long-term commitment By Sarah Zhmerman


NEW ORLEANS (BP)--Public housing residents "have had their fill of people c ming into the community for a short while to make themselves feel good,n said Marshall Tfuehill. "You have to stay long-term to make a difference." Truehill, a Southern Baptist who was raised in New Orleans public housing, now works with Faith in Action Evangelistic Team and Baptist Mission. The group challenges Christians to minister in public housing projects, which Truehill calls "some of thd nation's most troubled communities."

Single adults at New Orleans' First: Baptist Church accepted Truehill's challenge three years ago by beginning Saturday morning Bible studies and recreational activities at the Florida Housing Project. The sessions have bec m a church-wide project supported by deacons and the church budget.

The first week 110 children attended, and attendance now reaches nearly 300 every week. Classes range from groups of 25 preschoolers to 40 teen-age boys. The program was a model for participants in a Home Mission Board conference on church starting through ministry in March.

V lunteers from First Baptist admit it took several weeks to work out logistics such as scheduling and preparing sack .litnches, It also took a while to establish discipline, but now the children's worst punishment is to be sent home.

Martha James, one of the first volunteers for the program, said behavior problems are usually attempts to get attention. "All they need is love," she said.

Mary Smith, another long-term volunteer, said anyone could be part of such a ministry. "One thing you can do is hug. God can use anyone with a willing heart."

Volunteers who make long-term commitments to public housing ministries n ed a break from the responsibility, Truehill said. -No volunteer works at the New Orleans site every Saturday because they need leisure time for themselves and time with their families, he said.

In addition to Saturday morning activities, a church meets on the Florida housing property every Sunday. One member is the resident council president who became a Christian after observing a volunteer explain the plan of salvation with a bracelet,

The resident council is typically elected by residents to represent their interests to the housing authority and other officials, Establishing a good relationship with the resident council is essential to a successful ministry, Truehill said.

Before starting a ministry at a public housing project, ask council members how the church can serve residents, Truehill suggested. Match their needs with the church's abilities, but do not make any promises to the resident council, he said.

The resident council will probably be the group to determine what facilities the church can use, if any, and what times and days the building is available. At the Florida Housing Project, the church uses a community building centrally located on the property.

Another important contact is the housing authority, Truehill said. The government group responsible for the public housing will be concerned about: liability, he said. - -30- (BP) ph tos (two h rizbntal) mailed t state Baptist newspapers by Atlanta bureau of Baptist Press. Cutlines on SBCNet.

4(13/94 Page 9 Baptist Press a-. *

Ministry objectives outlined as 'ABCD' By Sarah Zhnerman

NEW ORLEANS (BP)--Four objectives of a public housing ministry can be remembered as ABCD, said Marshall Truehill who works for a New Orlean's organization called Faith in Action.

Th four objectives are: I) Affirm residents, Help them understand God loves them, the volunteers love

them and they are worth loving. Foster higher self-esteem and build relationships.

2) Bless residents by providing things such as food and clothing, People in public housing communities "have tremendous needs, and you won't be successful in ministry without meeting the physical needs."

3) Congregationalize residents by involving them in an existing church or starting a church for them. "We are not to become just another social service agency," Truehill said.

4) Develop the community. Acquire and install recreational equipment and clean up the area. ,. -30- - Southern's music drama program foreshadowed national trend By 'Pat Cole


LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--Twenty five years+after Southern Baptist Theological Seminary staged its first church music drama, the art form has moved from a novelty seen in only a few congregations to a trend making inroads across the country, noted the director of the schoolfs Workshop in Church Music Drama.

"We used to say that the wave of the '80s was instrumental music in the church," said Mozelle Clark Sherman, professor of church music at the Louisville, Ky., seminary. "Clearly the wave of the '90s is combining all the arts in worship. "

Music drama is a good way to attract the attention of a generation accustomed to the visual stimuli offered by television, said Sherman. In addition, music drama has'a long history of compelling communication which speaks to a variety f senses and emotions, she said. "The power of music and drama through the centuries has always been their ability to communicate on more than one level."

At Southern, Sherman prepares students for ministry in churches that use the ancient art form to reach today's visually oriented society. Churches utilizing church music drama vary in both size and denomination, she said, adding that Baptist and Assembly of God churches are "leading the way,"

Productions range f rout huge pageants to simple. plays that involve singing. Some churches frequently combine elements of music and drama within regular Sunday worship services.

"It's not uncommon at all to see biblical Joshua come onto the stage to present: a theme that an anthem or solo will follow along with the sermon and hymns," Sherman said.

When the seminary began teaching church music drama during the 1968-69 school year, it was "ahead of the times," said Sherman. She has directed church music drama at the school for a decade.

Over the years, Southern has mounted a wide variety of productions. Students have performed well-known operatic works and Broadway shows as well as dramatic church musicals. Performing in musical drama, Sherman said, is a good way for students to enhance their musicianship and broaden their ministerial competency.

"It gives them a chance to test their limits and to experiment with this type of expression," she said, emphasizing that it also lets students evaluate th types of pr ductions they might want to adapt for church use.

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"I have had a lot of students who have started community theater type groups in cooperation with their churches," said Sherman. Those kinds of ministries, she observed, are often effective ways to reach unchurched people.

For students intensely interested in the field, Southern offers church music drama as a second major for music students. Southern is the only school anywher t offer such an emphasis, Sheman said. Students whose second major is church music drama must stage a production in a church as part of their field education requirements. That assignment involves the coordination of lighting, costumes and various technical elements.

Sherman said she gets much satisfaction challenging students to "discover that the talent they've been given by the Lord is larger than they thought." She also likes leading an effort.that offers the potential for spiritual enrichment for gr at numbers of people.

"It is a great joy at the performances when people say they have never heard th gospel told in such a wonderful way," Sherman said. - -30- - (BE) photo available upon request from Southern Seminary,

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