For the week of January 3, 2002
Religious influence
Although church attendance has returned to levels of last spring, a survey
by The Pew Research Center indicates the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have increased
the prominence of religion in this country to an extraordinary degree. “Fully
78 percent now say religions influence in American life is growing – up
from 37 percent eight months ago and the highest mark on this measure in surveys
dating back four decades,” the Pew Center reported from a November survey.
In a 1957 Gallup survey, 69 percent of those surveyed said the influence of
religion was increasing, but that number has never exceeded 45 percent since
then. Among other findings, 44 percent of survey respondents said they are praying
more. That is down from the 69 percent who said the same immediately after the
terrorist attacks in September. Meanwhile, the number of people who regard religion
as “very important” to them personally was virtually unchanged from
the previous March, standing at 61 percent. Asked whether the terrorist attacks
are a sign that God no longer is protecting the United States as much as in
the past, 73 percent of respondents rejected that possibility.
Childs response
Like many children across the nation, the Castillo brothers heard about President
George Bushs call for every child to contribute $1 to the Americas
Fund for Afghan Children. The Castillos heeded that call in October through
their school, but took it one step further. They also went around the Midwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary campus, knocking on doors and asking for donations.
“We asked if they would give $1 or anything for the children of Afghanistan,
and they gave $1 or change or a check,” said Stephen Castillo, 8, whose
parents are students at the seminary. In all, the Castillo effort collected
$130 to send to the Afghan childrens fund. “It makes me feel good
to do this,” Josh Castillo, 10, said. Brothers Seth, 7, and James, 5, also
aided in the fundraising. For more information on the childrens fund,
persons may visit the Web site at www.whitehouse.gov.
Pilots effort
A Southern Baptist missionary pilot came to the rescue of 16 Christian aid
workers who had fled rioting in a northern Kenya town last month. Violent demonstrations
broke out in Mandera, Kenya, after authorities arrested an outspoken Muslim
religious leader allegedly connected with Osama bin Laden. Local youth responded
by raiding a Catholic church and training center, setting buildings ablaze and
looting property in an effort to get the mam released. Later that morning, hundreds
of rioters encircled the aid workers compound, chanting, throwing rocks
and shooting rifles into the air. A Southern Baptist missionary pilot heard
the distress call and scrambled into action. “We knew that if these people
were calling for help it was really bad,” the pilot said. “Mandera
is like the Wild West.” The missionary pilot landed his plane at a nearby
military base. Sixteen people crammed into the 13-passenger plane and were in
the air before any shots could be fired at them. “I feel fortunate God
allowed me to help,” said the pilot, whose name was withheld. “There
is no denying God was at work today. The airplane was supposed to be in Tanzania
today but that flight was canceled, so the plane was just sitting there ready
to fly when the call came in.”
True Love Waits 2002
Students around the country are being invited to gather in person or by satellite
at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, on Feb. 13, 2002, to celebrate
their commitment to remain sexually pure until marriage. In its latest national
celebration, True Love Waits, the sexual abstinence movement begun by Southern
Baptists is inviting teenagers and college students to join in satellite rallies
across North America. The one-hour televised event will feature Christian artists
and an interactive online commitment form, along with scrolling e-mails. Those
taking part in the event will be able to send and read student online commitments
and testimonies. Churches wanting to tune will need satellite equipment. For
details, visit the Web site at www.truelovewaits.com,
e-mail truelovewaits@lifeway.com
or call (800) LUV-WAIT (588-9248).
White House chorale
Members of a Baptist church chorale who sang at the White House last month
expressed surprise at how their gift of Christmas music would be so deeply appreciated.
The 22-voice chorale from Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, sang carols
in the East Room of the White House in early December. The church had contacted
the White House last summer about the possibility of singing. Then, Sept. 11
came, and the chances looked unsure. However, even though the White House is
closed to the public, the church was granted permission to sing for volunteers,
staff, their families and elected officials. Several hundred persons passed
through the East Room during the two-hour performance. After the concert, members
learned just how meaningful their presence had been to the staff and their families.
Even usually reserved Secret Service agents were outgoing in expressing their
gratitude, church Minister of Music Terry Goolsby said. “An administration
representative who greeted us broke down and cried as she talked about the strain
the staff has felt. She told me, It just didnt seem like Christmas
around here this year. What a difference it made to have you sing for us.”
New York singing
Although the concert tour of the CenturyMen choir had been planned for two
years, leaders said the timing of stops in Washington, D.C. and New York City
was providential in wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. “We sang to
a lot of lost people, and we also sang on the steps of the Capitol to a number
of representatives,” said Lee Hinson, assistant professor of church music
for Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Indeed, the 100-voice, all-male
Southern Baptist choir sang in an off-Broadway gospel show and a couple of minutes
on the CBS “Early Show.” In addition, while traveling through New
York City, choir members sang in subways and witnessed about Jesus Christ. One
night, a few CenturyMen got close to Ground Zero and sang for the rescue workers.
“They were spotted by a news crew and made the local late night New York
City news,” Hinson said. It was a unique time to be in New York, Hinson
said. “People were very open to talk about spiritual things and even open
to hearing the gospel,” he said. “We were constantly having conversations
with people.”
Emergency fund
The Southern Baptist Womans Missionary Union Foundation has established
the HEART Fund to help WMU leaders with emergency ministry needs. The impetus
for the fund was the Sept. 11 events in New York City and Washington, D.C.,
and the many needs that have been identified since then. The fund will allow
Womans Missionary Union to respond to requests from leaders in humanitarian
emergencies. The HEART Fund – which stands for Humanitarian Emergency Aid (for)
Rebuilding Tomorrow – will be managed by the WMU Foundation. Tax-deductible
contributions will be used to make grants. Gifts may be made online at www.wmufoundation.com,
via mail to WMU Foundation, P.O. Box 11346, Birmingham, AL 35282 or by phone
at (877) 482-4483.
Book mailing
Paul Presslers book highlighting the fundamental/conservative side of
the battle for control of the Southern Baptist Convention is being sent to about
42,000 pastors. The book, “A Hill on Which to Die,” was sent to every
pastor in the convention, according to a letter accompanying the book. SBC President
James Merritt and eight former convention presidents signed the letter. Pressler
and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson are
credited as the architects of the fundamental/conservative movement. “It
has become increasingly apparent that many have forgotten the conditions which
necessitated the conservative resurgence, …” the letter accompanying
the book says. “We feel most strongly that A Hill on Which to Die
is must reading for an informed Southern Baptist.” The letter says tax-deductible
contributions to offset the cost of the project may be sent to First Baptist
Church in Houston, where Pressler is a member. Although the books were mailed
with a LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention return
address, a spokesperson said that agency did not spend any money on the mailing.
Robertson departure
Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson resigned Dec. 5 as the groups
president, saying he desires to spend more time in ministry and less in political
action. The coalitions board of directors immediately named Roberta Combs,
the organizations executive vice president, as his successor. Christian
Coalition officials said the organization will continue. However, some observers
said Robertsons resignation may signal the end of the coalition, which
has struggled financially and lost membership in recent years. Robertson founded
the Christian Coalition in 1989 after his failed run for president. The group
is credited with helping to elect the first Republican Congress in decades in
1994 and with mobilizing grassroots volunteers across the nation into local
political action. However, Robertson, 71, said he now wants to devote his remaining
years to religious broadcasting and to promoting the Christian Broadcasting
Network, which he started years ago.
Seminary offerings
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has announced plans to offer three
graduate-level courses on Saturdays in their spring 2002 semester. The courses
represent an effort to make theological education more accessible to students
already involved in ministry. The courses are being offered as a pilot project.
Each course will feature four Saturday sessions and materials for individual
study by students. The three courses are Supervised Ministry 1, History of Christianity
1 and Pastoral Ministries. The courses will be offered on the New Orleans campus
and via Compressed Interactive Video at several extension centers. For details
on schedules and costs, persons may call (800) 514-1175 or e-mail jdukes@nobts.edu.
Did you know?
When asked in a recent Gallup survey, 54 percent of American adults characterized
themselves as “religious,” while another 30 percent described themselves
as “spiritual but not religious.” Women were more likely than men
to see themselves as religious (61 percent to 47 percent). Men were more likely
to choose spiritual but not religious (34 percent to 27 percent).