By Susie Rain, Baptist Press NEPAL (BP) -- The Nepali man pulled brick after brick off a pile of rubble that was once his home. He passed along anything that was salvageable to his children to set aside. Finally, down in a hole, he found what he was looking for -- their food storage. The splintered, dusty woven basket held their entire harvest of rice. Before the April 25 earthquake in Nepal, this basket brimmed with white grains. Today, he pulled out one handful of red-stained rice. "It might taste like dirt now, but we can still eat it," he said. "It will fill our stomachs." He excitedly instructed the children to help sift through the rubble to find more food -- garlic, onions, peppers and rice -- in the remains of their home. Their tedious labor stopped abruptly when they heard shouting up the hill. A neighbor yelled down for everyone to come quick. Someone had brought food! For days on end, the villagers took turns sitting on the edge of the main road trying to get help. From the road, you couldn't even see their collapsed village up on the mountainside. They watched as big trucks of relief supplies passed them by, headed to larger towns down the road. Hope of receiving any kind of help began to die little by little -- … [Read more...]
‘Tidal wave’ of Chinese believers encouraged to persevere
By Caroline Anderson, Baptist Press EAST ASIA (BP) -- Chinese believers could be the next missions sending force, following the Western and Korean Christians who've gone before them. They pray, give and go, sacrificing everything to bring the message of Jesus Christ to the nations. But sacrifices come with costs. Chinese cross-cultural Christian workers say they struggle with discouragement and loneliness. Those in Southeast Asia welcomed encouragement and counsel from Southern Baptist workers Phil and Ruth Wardell,* who have provided training for believers. Zhao Chang Pu,* Zhao Hui Fang* and their two daughters moved from China to minister in Southeast Asia. They say it's the hardest thing they've ever done. Just like Westerners, Chinese workers experience culture shock and struggle to adapt to a new environment. The Zhaos have shared cultural stresses with the Wardells, who once served in Southeast Asia. The Wardells now serve in a different area of Asia and have led ministry training for Southeast Asian believers who partner with the Zhaos. The Zhaos told the Wardells they are adjusting to being away from family. But their parents don't understand why they took their granddaughters away. "Why did you choose this silly … [Read more...]
Ireland will not force churches to wed gays
DUBLIN, Ireland (BP) -- Ireland on May 22 became the first country to hold a public vote amending its constitution to allow gay marriage, but the change will not force houses of worship to perform the unions. Instead, gay couples will be able to enter in "civil marriage," a separate institution from but affording all the legal benefits of "religious marriage," according to the Yes Equality civil group that spearheaded the drive for the constitutional change. "No religious institution can be forced to marry a lesbian or gay couple against their beliefs," the group's website reads. "Churches will be able to continue with religious ceremonies and will not be required to conduct wedding ceremonies for same-sex couples." Ireland's Justice Department plans to draft a marriage bill this week that will permit those taking vows in civil ceremonies to choose either to be "husband and wife" or "spouses of each other," satisfying the demands of religious groups including Catholics, Protestants and Muslims that no church will be required to perform gay marriage in the country, the Associated Press reported. With 62.1 percent of the vote, Ireland approved a referendum to the nation's 1937 constitution stating, "Marriage may be contracted in … [Read more...]
Procter retiring from Alaska convention
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (BP) -- Michael Procter is retiring effective May 2016 after more than five years as executive director/treasurer of the Alaska Baptist Convention and as executive director of the Alaska Baptist Foundation, he announced May 4. He has held the posts since January 2011 and has served in Southern Baptist ministry for 45 years, 30 of them in Alaska. "Over the 45 years the Lord has allowed me to serve Him in ministry, there have been so many blessings that they are innumerable but one that rises to the top is His blessing me with the privilege of serving Him in Alaska," Procter said in his resignation letter. "… Over the years, there have been challenges and disagreements however there has also been victories and blessings as we witnessed God working in our midst." Among the former posts Procter referenced in his letter are his "pastorate at Glacier Valley Baptist Church in Juneau and the church planting 'circuit riding' in Southeast Alaska, to moving to Anchorage to become the Director of Missions for the Chugach Baptist Association, to becoming a part of our State staff, first as the Director of Missions and Church Planting and, for the past 5 plus years, as your Executive Director-Treasurer." Procter will turn … [Read more...]
Boy Scouts should allow gay leaders, BSA president says
By David Roach, Baptist Press ATLANTA (BP) -- The Boy Scouts of America should end its ban on gay adult leaders, BSA President Robert Gates said today (May 21), lending credence to the concern expressed in a 2013 Southern Baptist Convention resolution that opening the group's membership to homosexual youth was "merely the first step toward future approval of homosexual adult leaders in the Scouts." A policy allowing gay Scout leaders "was a matter of time," said Ernest Easley, who was chairman of the SBC Executive Committee in 2013. "Back when they changed their thinking regarding the boys themselves, I knew that within a year or so they would reverse their stand with the leadership. And frankly, I think it was the plan to begin with: Start with the kids. We get that done. Then we come back later with the adults." Gates, a former C.I.A. director and U.S. secretary of defense, told attendees of the BSA annual meeting in Atlanta he is not asking the national board to change the leadership policy immediately. But he said the Scouts must voluntarily accept gay leaders before a court forces them to do so. "Between internal challenges and potential legal conflicts, the BSA finds itself in an unsustainable position," Gates said … [Read more...]
Page: Obama’s comments on poverty disappointing
By David Roach, Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) -- President Obama's suggestion that evangelicals often devote more resources to fighting abortion than caring for the poor reflects ignorance concerning denominations like the Southern Baptist Convention, Frank S. Page said on a national radio broadcast. "We are involved" in fighting poverty, Page, president of the SBC Executive Committee said May 16 on the "Washington Watch" radio program's weekend edition hosted by Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council. "So there was both arrogance and ignorance involved in his comments. It bothered me deeply. We care about people." Page was referencing comments made by Obama at a May 12 panel discussion on poverty hosted by Georgetown University. The president acknowledged that some conservatives "deeply care" about the poor and "exhibit that through their churches." But later, he said poverty relief "is oftentimes viewed" by churches "as 'nice to have' relative to an issue like abortion" in discussions of "the thing that is really going to capture the essence of who we are as Christians." Obama specifically referenced "the evangelical community" among the referents of his comments. Page said he has "met with President Obama … [Read more...]
Louisiana College’s Rick Brewer to grads: ‘Do hard work … and then some’
By Al Quartemont, Special to the Message PINEVILLE – The message Dr. Rick Brewer gave at the 158th commencement of the college he only recently became president of could not have been clearer. “Rebel against society’s low expectations,” Brewer told the 147 graduates of Louisiana College on Saturday, May 16. “Do hard work.” In that commencement address, Brewer not only gave the 123 undergraduates and 24 masters students a life-long charge, he may have set a tone for the future of LC, itself. “The prevalent philosophy of our culture today is, ‘I am going to do what is the least that is expected of me and try to get the most payment for it,’” Brewer said. “In other words, minimum effort for maximum return. Shoddiness and lack of extra effort should never take place in the mind of a Christ follower.” Brewer called on the students to live their lives under what he termed “The Rebekah Principle.” He used the example of Isaac’s future wife (Genesis 24), who not only served water for Abraham’s servants, but put in the extra effort to water the group’s camels, too. “After you’ve done what’s asked of you, you do a bit extra, you do even more,” Brewer said. “I’m here to tell you, we not only would see excellence in the market place, … [Read more...]
Father and son earn their U.S. citizenship
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer FLORIEN – Arturo Us Sr. is proud to be an American. He’s reminded of that every day as he ministers to Hispanics throughout a three-parish area, preaching from the pulpit on Sundays at his church and, also, when he thinks about the United States citizenship he earned on Nov. 6. “I’m thankful to God I’m a US citizen,” Us said. “I’m blessed. I think it’s the will of God that he brought me here to this place.” Us is not the only person in his family who is an American citizen. His son, Arturo Jr., and his daughter both received their citizenship. His daughter is his organist and his son is pastor of El Alfa Y La Spanish in Leesville. Both Us and his son participated in a citizenship ceremony on May 13 in Alexandria. “I’m blessed to be an American,” said Arturo Jr. “It’s not easy to get citizenship and this is a big blessing in our lives. God brings blessings and this is part of it.” Others in his family are either nearing their citizenship or just beginning the process of learning English so one day they can apply to be a citizen. His son, Rueben, is pastor of Emmanuel Hispanic Baptist Church in DeRidder and is applying to become a citizen in November. Us’ wife, Isabel, … [Read more...]
Gov. Jindal signs executive order to protect religious liberty in Louisiana
By Philip Timothy & Brian Blackwell BATON ROUGE – Hours after a religious freedom bill was struck down in committee May 20, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal moved quickly to sign an executive order that afternoon which captured both the intent and much of the language of the Louisiana Marriage and Conscience Act. “In Louisiana, the state should not be able to take adverse action against a person for their belief in traditional marriage,” read a statement issued from the governor’s office. “That’s why I’m issuing an Executive Order this evening to prevent the state from discriminating against people, charities and family-owned businesses with deeply held religious beliefs that marriage is between one man and one woman,” said Jindal. “We don’t support discrimination in Louisiana and we do support religious liberty. These two values can be upheld at the same time. “Indeed, we celebrate diversity of belief in Louisiana. Diversity of belief and religious liberty are the foundation of our law and Constitution and they should be protected. As long as I’m Governor, we will fight to protect religious liberty and not apologize for it,” said Jindal. The executive order means the 20 agencies that fall under the executive branch, including … [Read more...]
