2003 august

Campolo used texts in I Timothy to challenge the more than 4,000 Fellowship Baptists to

keep the faith, fight the good fight and do good in a service that followed the theme

“It’s Time … Being the Presence of Christ Congregationally.”

“We must preach Jesus,” Campolo said. “We must

call people to surrender their lives to Jesus.”

The service was preceded by the Jubilate!

youth choir with young people from

Georgia, South Carolina and

Tennessee. Youth ministries from

Pelham Road, Parisview,

Augusta Heights and Sans

Sousi Baptist churches in

Greenville, S.C., per-

formed an opening

celebration

through a

dramatic

presentation

set to music.

Soloist Scott

Beam was followed

by a call to worship

and congregational

singing, and greet-

ings from Assembly

COOPERATIVE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP’S MISSION: SERVING CHRISTIANS AND CHURCHES AS THEY DISCOVER AND FULFILL THEIR GOD-GIVEN MISSION.

Using Creativity to Reach Children

CommissioningGlobal MissionsField Personnel

Launching HistoricHispanic

Partnership

GeneralAssembly

Photo Spread

Chaplain Serving in Afghanistan

War Zone

INSIDE

CBFfellowship!C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P

AUGUST 2003

WWW.CBFONLINE.ORG

[continues p. 2]

Campolo Challenges Assembly to ‘Keep the Faith,Fight the Good Fight, Do Good’

At the 2003 General Assembly, ‘It's Time’ for achallenging message by keynote speaker Tony Campolo,evocative music from Kate Campbell and the obser-vance of the Lord's Supper served by global missionsfield personnel such as Michelle Norman (far right).

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T O N Y C A M P O L O L E F T N O S T O N E unturned in a wide-ranging and challenging

message that highlighted the opening night session of the Cooperative

Baptist Fellowship’s 2003 General Assembly

in Charlotte, N.C.

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Steering Committee Chair Blythe Taylor, associate minister

of St. John’s Baptist Church in Charlotte; CBF Coordinator

Daniel Vestal and Baptist State Convention of North

Carolina Executive Director-Treasurer Jim Royston.

Marjorie Thompson, Companions in Christ

co-author, Soul Feast author, ordained Presbyterian minister

and director of the Pathways Center for Spiritual

Leadership for Upper Room Ministries, led the Assembly in

a time of focused prayer from scripture.

Nashville recording artist Kate Campbell shared two

selections from her collection of spiritually deep, narrative

songs that sparked spiritual reflection and an attitude of

worship. In an on-stage interview, Dallas-based Buckner

Baptist Benevolences President and CEO Ken Hall explained

how Fellowship churches can meet needs in the Rio Grande

Valley of Texas in conjunction with Buckner’s border min-

istries.

“What we need is prayer, and what we need is people to

come and be the presence of Christ in the Valley,” Hall said.

The Fellowship also highlighted its Missional Church

Initiative through a video presentation that told the stories

of churches responding to needs in the communities

around them.

The call to service did not end there. Campolo quickly

shattered the calm in his signature expressive preaching

style, sometimes congratulating the Fellowship for its

stance on women in ministry and sometimes confronting

the Fellowship for not being more racially diverse and

biblically based.

“The way the world is reached for Christ is not any

different now than it was 2,000 years ago,” Campolo said.

“Clergy are

OK, but it’s

laity that do it

– showing

someone you

love them and

reaching out to

them and not

letting go until

they see the

grace of Jesus

Christ.”

He chal-

lenged the

Fellowship to

base its min-

istries on the

Bible, and

back up all

of its social

ministries –

such as

Partners in

Hope, the

Fellowship’s

rural poverty initiative – with scripture.

“As Baptists, we accept no creed but the Bible, but after

we say that, we forget the Bible,” he said. Campolo went on

to rail against the Left Behind book series and dispensational

theology, criticism of peace efforts by the United Nations,

overly-serious and intensively intellectual approaches to

faith and ignoring the plight of the poor.

“You’ve got to have more joy,” Campolo said. “You’ve got

to get enthusiastic. I want a fellowship where there is joy,

where there is laughter, where there is ecstasy.”

He also encouraged

love and acceptance of

homosexuals, regardless

of the scriptural stance

one takes. “Are we going

to take Jesus seriously?”

he said. “Evangelism

isn’t just getting people

ready to die. It’s getting

people ready to change

the world.” f!

Marjorie Thompson provides times of focused prayer throughout the Assembly.

Assembly Coverage

The fellowship! newsletter

expresses appreciation to the

following individuals who con-

tributed to the coverage of the

2003 General Assembly through

articles and photography: Craig

Bird, Amy Cook, Lisa M. Jones,

Ben McDade, Sue H. Poss, Mark

Sandlin, Jo Upton and Lance

Wallace. Audiotapes of the general

sessions and many workshops are

available (see order form, p. 19).

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COOPERAT IVE BAPT IST FELLOWSHIP w w w . c b f o n l i n e . o r g

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The Youth Choir of First Baptist Church of Asheville,N.C., receives standing ovations for selections froman international festival of hymns.

w w w . c b f o n l i n e . o r g AUGUST 2003

PARTNERS IN HOPE , the Cooperative Baptist

Fellowship’s rural poverty initiative, got a financial boost

of $175,210 at this year’s Assembly.

Partners in Hope was the Assembly’s featured ministry

offering. The amount of the offering, significantly more

than the $100,000 goal, means that all operating expenses

for fiscal years 2002-03 and 2003-04 will be fully funded.

The Fellowship’s fiscal year is July 1 through June 30.

Partners in Hope is a 20-year commitment to partner

with 20 of the nation’s poorest counties to work alongside

local residents to improve quality of life. There is current-

ly active work in Perry County, Ala.; the Rio Grande River

Valley of Texas; the Mississippi River Delta in Arkansas

and Mississippi; and Appalachian mountain areas in

Kentucky. Initiatives are being developed for Louisiana

and South Dakota.

“This initiative fits CBF’s commitment to reach the

most neglected,” said Tom Prevost, initiative coordinator.

“And we’re doing that through local assets-based commu-

nity transformation. We’re going to these communities

and asking them what they need, then finding ways to

meet those needs.”

Partners in Hope was launched at the 2001 General

Assembly and has quickly gained momentum, thanks to

the research, grant resources, volunteer support, strategy

consultation

and partner-

ship grants

provided by

state, regional

and national

Fellowship

organizations.

One of the

newest part-

nerships is

with Buckner

Children and

Family

Services in

Dallas that

will provide

expanded

ministries to

at-risk chil-

dren and fam-

ilies in the Rio

Grande Valley.

Mart Gray, coordinator of AlabamaCBF, has been

involved in the Perry County work through Sowing Seeds

of Hope, the Alabama component of the rural poverty

initiative. “We have started by building healthy relation-

ships with the local residents,” he said. “It is a significant

step for us just to be there and be the presence of Christ.”

In addition to the financial boost from the ministry

offering, Partners in Hope also increased its public profile

among Fellowship participants during the Assembly. Two

workshops attracted more than 100 people each.

“By focusing on the assets they already have, this gives

local residents an internal power they didn’t know they

had,” said workshop leader Doris Littrell, a former profes-

sor in community development who now works with

Partners in Hope.

Partners in Hope is also having impact beyond the 20

official counties with which it is associated. “One of the

things we’re beginning to see happen,” Prevost said, “is

that Christians are becoming more aware of poverty right

around them. We see churches that learn about the needs

in these poorest counties also becoming aware of poverty

closer to home, perhaps in their own neighborhoods.”

That awareness, Prevost said, is at the heart of Partners

in Hope. “There are people and groups already at work

among the poor and we simply need to engage with them

and be obedient to the words of Jesus to witness to the

least of these.” f!

For more information, contact Tom Prevost at (662) 871-2444 or

<[email protected]>.

Fellowship Raises Profile of Rural Poverty Initiative with Offering, Workshops

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Fellowship supporters raised $175,210during two offerings to help alleviaterural poverty.

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BRIAN MCLAREN COACHES CHURCHES:Brian McLaren addressed the CongregationalLeadership Institute June 26 prior to the GeneralAssembly. McLaren, pastor of Cedar RidgeCommunity Church in Spencerville, Md.,challenged the 400 plus participants to betterengage ‘postmodern’ culture with the truth andgrace of Jesus Christ.

Cra

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ird p

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GRACE ANN ROBERTS attended her first General

Assembly in Charlotte, and she hopes it won’t be her last.

Grace Ann, age 9, was one of 149 children, birth through

sixth grade, registered for the Children’s Assembly hosted

by the Children’s Ministry Network of the Fellowship.

“I really like being here,” said Grace Ann, a member of

First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, Ky., where her father,

Kevin, is pastor and her mother, Allison, is minister of

youth. Grace Ann’s siblings, Jake, 5, and Ellie, 3, were also

attending their first Assembly.

“I like making crafts best,” Grace Ann said. “We’ve

just finished making rainbows to remind us to pray for

missionaries.”

Cathy Anderson, minister to

children at First Baptist Church in

Asheville, N.C., coordinated this

year’s Children’s Assembly. “Having

this event for children means that

families can come together to the

General Assembly and one parent

doesn’t have to stay home with the

kids,” she said. “But it also gives us a

chance to teach the children. We want

to make sure they get a solid missions

education, not a babysitting service.”

Fellowship missions material was

used in the Children’s Assembly, and

several Fellowship global missions

field personnel met with the children.

“When kids get to talk to and know

missionaries, they get excited about

missions,” Anderson said.

The 2003 Children’s Assembly was staffed by volunteers

from four churches: First Baptist in Statesville, N.C.; First

Baptist, Asheville, N.C.; First Baptist, Gastonia, N.C.; and

St. John’s Baptist in Charlotte. The fees charged for the

Children’s Assembly covered all the cost of materials, and

volunteers bring their own equipment.

For Michka Tosan, son of CBF field personnel Mich and

Pat Tosan, now living in Williamstown, N.J., the Children’s

Assembly gave him an opportunity to meet and talk with

other children his age. “It’s been fun and we’ve also been

learning a lot about God,” said the 12-year-old.

“I like having the missionaries tell us how they work,”

Grace Ann said. “And I like making friends from all over.

I’m glad I came, and I hope I can come back every year.” f!

Nine-year-old Grace AnnRoberts hopes to attendChildren's Assembly again next year.

David Blackmon of North Carolina interacts with Ana Maria Podgaisky (left)and Chloe Spieler during the Children’s Assembly.

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Fellowship Uses Creativity to Minister to Children at General Assembly

A LOT OF PEOPLE are crying,

“Help! Some People in my

Church Say Bad Things about

CBF!”

And more than 100 of them

filled an Assembly workshop on

that topic.

“We can't answer (critics) in

five-second sound bites – the

best way to respond to our

critics is through discussion,”

Marion Aldridge, coordinator for

the South Carolina CBF, told

the gathering.

That discussion must be

compassionate without allowing

untruths to go unchallenged,

added Ben McDade, director of

marketing and communications

for the national Fellowship.

“None of us would choose to

spend time on this subject, but

we don't really have that

option,” he said. “But tension

in churches between CBF and

SBC advocates makes it a

necessity. Name calling – and it

comes from both sides of the

aisle, by the way – needs to

move to respectful conversa-

tions on the issues.”

A key part of that process is

confronting critics about the

accuracy of their charges.

An important resource for

Fellowship Baptists is The

Baptist Identity: Four Fragile

Freedoms by Walter Shurden,

executive director of Mercer

University’s Center for Baptist

Studies, covering the principles

of soul freedom, church

freedom, Bible freedom and

religious freedom, McDade

said. “Share it with your critic

and ask them what part he or

she doesn’t agree with.”

Materials from the workshop

are available at

http://www.truthaboutcbf.

net/newsstand/krs/.

CBF Provides Fellowship Baptists Toolsto Combat Misinformation


BE ING “L IKE JESUS” seems a straight forward goal –

until you try to determine which understanding of Jesus to

model, according to Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Coordinator Daniel Vestal. And therein lies both the

persistent problem and the potential promise for

Christians.

“If someone asks you what kind of people are

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship people, you tell them we

are a Jesus people,” Vestal told the Assembly Friday morn-

ing session. “We live our lives in obedience to Jesus. We

imitate Jesus. We believe Jesus is the Savior of the world.

And with all our hearts, we want to be a continuation of

His life and ministry.

“To be the presence of Christ is not quite as easy as we

might think because Jesus Himself is not quite as simple

or as easy to understand as we have thought Him to be,”

Vestal said. “Perhaps this Jesus of history, this Christ of

faith is far more beautiful and far more radical and far

more profound than we have imagined.”

Vestal’s personal study on how best to be the presence

of Christ brought him to 1 Corinthians 3:9: “We are laborers

together with God” – with the accent on “together.”

“We recognize that none of us is the Body of Christ by

ourselves…,” he continued. “No one of us has a corner on

the truth. No one

of us has a com-

plete under-

standing of the

Gospel.”

His conclu-

sion? “We will be

the presence of

Christ together.”

Three major

challenges lie

before the

Fellowship,

Vestal said. First,

growing mis-

sional congrega-

tions (churches

who seek to min-

ister by being the

presence of

Christ locally and

globally); second,

discovering,

nurturing and

training effective

leaders; and

third, inspiring

members with a

global vision and

passion.

“Can we as a

Fellowship in all our diversity maintain unity around this

vision?” he asked. “Can we embrace the tension that

comes from living in a post-modern, post-denomination-

al world and find our center from being the presence of

Christ in the world?”

He answered: “I believe we can and I believe we will.

And the greatest reason I believe it is because the living

Christ is in us – all of us.”

An edited version of Vestal's message is at

www.cbfonline.org. f!

It’s Time! … an Urgent Call to Christian Mission by Daniel

Vestal elaborates on his Assembly message themes. Books

are available for $9.95 each, plus shipping, from the CBF

Resource Link at (888) 801-4223 or the CBF e-Store at

www.cbfonline.org.

Vestal: ‘Being the Presence of Christ’ More Complicated than Christians Think

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Daniel Vestal tells Assembly participants thatFellowship Baptists are ‘a Jesus people.’

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The following new Coordinating

Council members were elected

during the General Assembly:

Ala.: Gary Furr, clergy,

Birmingham; James Walters,

clergy, Mobile;

Asian-American Network:

Joe Tu, clergy, Gainesville, Ga.;

Ga.: Huey Bridgman, clergy,

Columbus; Ann White Morton,

laity, Cumming; Jim Ross,

clergy, Madison; Henry Tyson,

laity, Fitzgerald;

Mid-Atlantic: Larry Eubanks,

clergy, Frederick, Md.;

N.C.: Gail Coulter, clergy,

Hendersonville; Mary Anne

Croom, laity, Ahoskie; Irma

Duke, laity, Fuquay-Varina;

North Central: Ann Wilson,

laity, Midland, Mich.;

Northeast: Ken Bogan, clergy,

Brooklyn, N.Y.; Phil Ross, laity,

Fairhaven, Mass.;

Okla./Kan.: Rusty Brock,

clergy, Ardmore, Okla.;

S.C.: Ann Strickland, laity,

Pendleton;

Texas: Scott Collins, laity,

Dallas; Stacy Conner, clergy,

Muleshoe; Harriet Harral, laity,

Fort Worth;

West: Mark Goodman, clergy,

Anchorage, Alaska.

New CoordinatingCouncil Members

The Charlotte Convention Center filled with 4,357registered participants at the 2003 GeneralAssembly.

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THE COOPERATIVE BAPT IST FELLOWSHIP commis-

sioned, blessed and laid hands on 18 new global missions

field personnel to serve among the most neglected people

groups in such diverse locations as Southeast Asia and Los

Angeles.

During the Assembly’s evening worship June 27 that

featured the theme “It’s Time … Being the Presence of

Christ Globally,” Phil Hester, Fellowship associate coordi-

nator of church starts, recognized seven Fellowship church

starters. It marked the first time church planters have been

officially recognized during an Assembly.

Those recognized on stage were Bernie Moraga, new

start in Rio Rancho, N.M.; Mary Beth Caffee, Pathways in

Sabatus, Maine; Michael Lewis, new start in Birmingham,

Ala.; David Holland, Tidal Creek Community Church,

Lady’s Island, S.C.; David Reid, Compass Community

Church, Boise, Idaho; Jorge Zaasbazan, Grace Chapel,

Round Lake Beach, Ill.; and Bob Pitts, Harvest Fellowship

Church in Greenville, Miss.

Global Missions Co-

coordinators Barbara

and Gary Baldridge

offered words of

commissioning and

expressions of blessing

to each of the field per-

sonnel teams.

“These go into a

beautiful but troubled

world,” Barbara said.

“This is not an easy nor

comfortable commission. But they have answered ‘yes’ to

God’s call. Their standing here tonight is a visible symbol of

their ‘yes.’”

The field personnel commissioned were Laura Barton,

Envoy to China; Bill and Michelle Cayard, career field per-

sonnel to China; Diana Early, Envoy to China; Jacquelyn

Magness Franklin, Envoy to China; David and Rita

Mashburn, Global Service Corps to China; Bob and Janice

Newell, career field personnel to Albanians in Athens,

Greece; Matthew and Michelle Norman, Global Service

Corps to internationals in Canada; Matt and Katie,* career

field representatives to Southeast Asia; Kristen Smith,

Global Service Corps to internationals in Los Angeles; Lee

and Jane,* career representatives to North Africa;

Katherine Williams, Global Service Corps to urban ministry

in Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Gordon Wood, Envoy to China.

“These are not just CBF’s responsibility,” Barbara told

Assembly participants. “They are yours as well. They are

representing you as they go out to be the presence of Christ

to the most neglected.”

Although there are another approximately 150 in the

process of exploring missionary service with the

Fellowship, there are not currently funds available to

appoint and commission additional field personnel.

“You need to know that these 18 people we are commis-

sioning tonight would not be up here without the anonymous

gift from a single donor,” CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal

said. “We have more who are willing to serve. It is up to us

to give.”

Woman’s Missionary Union of North Carolina Executive

Director Ruby Fulbright brought greetings and offered her

own blessing as well as attaché cases embossed with a spe-

cial insignia.

Barbara Baldridge also announced that 25 of 27

Student.Go summer or semester missionaries were com-

missioned in a special ceremony in Raleigh, N.C., in May.

* Matt’s and Katie’s last name is withheld for security reasons.

* “Lee” and “Jane” are pseudonyms. This couple cannot be

identified for security reasons. f!

For more information about global missions personnel

career opportunities, contact Tom Prevost, (662) 871-2444,

<[email protected]> or Becky Buice Green, (770) 220-1624,

<[email protected]>. For information about Global Service

Corps assignments, contact (877) 856-9288 or <[email protected]>.

Phil Hester introduces Mary Beth Caffee, who isstarting a church in Maine, one of 40 Fellowshipnew church starts.

CBF Global Missions Co-coordinator Barbara Baldridge (left) offers words of blessing to Jacquelyn Magness Franklin, an Envoy to China who wascommissioned during the Assembly.

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Field Personnel Commissioned to ‘Go with Gladness’ to World’s Most Neglected


THE DAY AFTER BEING CHIDED by evangelical social

activist Tony Campolo for being “too white,” the

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship signed onto a far-reaching

partnership to start 400 Hispanic churches.

The Fellowship approved the partnership on the heels

of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, which

approved the agreement at its annual meeting last week.

Other votes at the Assembly’s Friday afternoon busi-

ness session approved a $19.7 million budget for 2003-04

as presented and elected all nominees without opposition.

The $19.7 million budget includes $17.09 million in

projected revenue and $2.6 million from previously

received designated funding to be used primarily in global

missions and leadership development.

“We are amigos in the same boat,” HBCT President

Antonio Estrada told the Assembly before the formal sign-

ing ceremony. “Together we are fulfilling the Great

Commission of Jesus.”

The covenant stipulates that both groups will identify

churches to link in one-to-one partnerships. Additionally,

the HBCT will provide training on Hispanic evangelism at

Fellowship events. The Hispanic ministries department of

the Baptist General Convention of Texas has offered to

provide its staff or training for U.S. Fellowship groups.

Prior to the election, the question was raised from the

floor about the apparent disparity between Fellowship’s

commitment to an even representation by men and

women and by laity and clergy on the Coordinating

Council and the slate of nominees that heavily favored

male clergy.

Nominating committee

chairman Jim Baucom

gave a two-part response.

• Because of the stag-

gered terms, the nominees

of any one year do not

accurately reflect the

composition of the entire

board.

• More importantly,

earlier General

Assemblies had declined to give the national leadership

more input on nominees and left in place the system that

state and regional organizations chose their own nominees

and “we take what you send us.”

Moderator Phill Martin asked the questioner for permission

to refer the question to the state and regional coordinating

committee to fully address the issues raised.

The Assembly elected Bob Setzer, pastor of First Baptist

Church of Christ of Macon, Ga., as moderator-elect, and

Susan Crumpler, an engineer and lay church leader from

Cincinnati, as recorder. Paul Kenley, pastor of Grace

Fellowship in Lampasas, Texas, completed three years as

recorder. Cynthia Holmes, an attorney and lay leader from

St. Louis, rose from moderator-elect to moderator at the

Assembly’s conclusion.

Gary Skeen, president of the Church Benefits Board,

reported that it had received a $500,000 gift for endow-

ment and operational expenses which will allow it to begin

moving toward self-sufficiency. A major benchmark

reached during 2002 included passing $10 million in assets.

Don Durham, president of the CBF Foundation, reported

its assets have passed $25 million. Last year, for the first

time, the Foundation received no funding from the

Fellowship and was fully self-sufficient.

Two Fellowship partners, Baptists Today and Baptist

Women in Ministry, were recognized for celebrating their

20th anniversaries. f!

To reach its financial goals, the Fellowship needs the prayer-

ful support of individuals and churches. An envelope is

provided in this issue for contributions to the Fellowship’s

general missions and ministries budget.

Assembly Approves Historic Partnership with Hispanic Convention, $17 Million Budget

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CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal (right) and Jimmy Garcia, ethnicmissions coordinator for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, signan agreement for the partnership between the Fellowship and theHispanic Baptist Convention of Texas. HBCT President Antonio Estrada(back, left) and CBF Moderator Phill Martin took part in the formalsigning ceremony.

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Officers for 2003-04 are (l-r): SusanCrumpler, recorder; Bob Setzer, mod-erator-elect; Cynthia Holmes, modera-tor; and Phill Martin, past moderator.

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WITH A RENEWED V IS ION for being the presence of

Christ in the world, Fellowship Baptists closed the 2003

General Assembly with the heartfelt singing of “We Are

Called to be God’s People.”

Incoming moderator Cynthia Holmes, an attorney from

St. Louis, delivered a meditation on the theme “It’s Time …

Being the Presence of Christ Personally” offering three

suggestions. First, be the voice of Christ, speaking out for

economic justice. Second, be the checkbook of Christ, con-

tinuing to support the ministries of His kingdom. Third,

take Matthew chapter 5 seriously and be the hands, feet and

heart of Christ.

The service also included selections from a brass quartet,

a dramatic theme interpretation by Owen Robertson, prayer

focus by Marjorie Thompson and hymns by the First

African Baptist Church in Savannah, Ga.

The Assembly came to a close with seven simultaneous

worship services held throughout the Charlotte Convention

Center, which

was followed by

a Communion

service led by

Jack Causey,

retired pastor

of First Baptist

Church,

Statesville,

N.C.

“Come to

this table and

feel the pres-

ence of the

Lord in you so that you may go and be the presence of Christ

in the world,” Causey said.

Following are brief highlights from the seven worship

services:

• African American Baptist Church Worship Experience.

Pastor Thurmond N. Tillman of First African Baptist in

Savannah concluded his sermon to a standing room only

crowd with a description of the ascension – “I believe that

as Jesus was ascending to heaven, the look upon His face

was saying, ‘Can you hear me now?’”

• Children and Youth Leading in Worship. For the first

time at a General Assembly, a children and youth service

was featured, led by Fernwood Baptist Church of

Spartanburg, S.C. The informal service featured unique

musical instruments, scripture reading, hymns and a

contemporary reading of Old Turtle.

• Contemplative Worship. Referencing Mark 5:21-43,

proclaimer Rick Landon, who does spiritual formation in

Lexington, Ky., talked about the importance of learning to

listen and wait. More than 220 worshipers listened as

Landon implored them to journey with him to “be more

sensitive to our divine companion, Jesus.”

• Postmodern Worship Experience. Jonathan Yarboro,

youth pastor at Jonesboro United Methodist Church in

Sanford, N.C., and Giles Blankenship, president of

Different Drummer Ministries in Coats, N.C., led a youth-

targeted service with a contemporary feel.

• Traditional Service of Worship. Wearing the signature

ministerial robe of St. John’s Baptist Church’s worship

service, Wm. Richard Kremer delivered a passionate

sermon on “The Necessity of Compromise” in a traditional

format that featured a Chancel Choir.

• Worship in a Bicultural Setting. Jimmy Garcia had to say

everything twice: once in English and once in Spanish in

order to speak a word to multi-language participants.

Garcia, Hispanic ministries director for the Baptist General

Convention of Texas, took his sermon from the idea of the

Christian holiday All Saints Day.

• Worship with a Contemporary Feel. The 250 people who

attended a contemporary worship service heard Linda

Jones, associate pastor of ministry at Winter Park Baptist

Church in Wilmington, N.C., remind them to slow down

and pay attention to what’s important. f!

Children help lead the African American Baptist Churchworship experience on Saturday morning.

Retired pastor Jack Causey leads the Assembly in taking the cup, repre-senting the blood of Christ, and the bread, representing Christ’s body.

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Assembly Concludes with Diverse Worship, Communion Service


THE COOPERATIVE BAPT IST FELLOWSHIP is

interested in ecumenical, interfaith and inter-religious

dialogue. During the next year and beyond, the Fellowship

will develop more resources for local churches and indivi-

duals to do a better job of “building bridges, not barriers.”

“We want to come up with

tangible resources to help

churches enter into dialogue

with other groups and to help

individuals build relation-

ships,” said Bo Prosser, the

Fellowship’s coordinator for

congregational life.

Prosser is nearly finished

with an introduction to

ecumenism from a Fellowship

perspective. And Jeff Rogers,

pastor of First Baptist Church

in Greenville, S.C., is complet-

ing a study guide to the book,

When Religion Becomes Evil, written by Charles Kimball,

chair of the religion department at Wake Forest University.

About 25 people attended a preliminary task force

meeting held June 25 on the eve of the General Assembly.

The task force reported ecumenical and interfaith priori-

ties, which included developing congregational resources;

being proactive in interfaith issues; developing resources

for prayer and worship

for inter-religious

worship; and discov-

ering opportunities for

interfaith dialogue.

Prosser suggested

that individuals inter-

ested in learning more

about ecumenical or

interfaith relations

begin by studying

various faith traditions

and joining a dialogue

group. f!

Contact Bo Prosser

at (770) 220-1631 or


Ecumenism Task Force Gains Focus, Energy

AUGUST

23 Church Leadership Academy

Ball Camp Baptist Church................. Knoxville, Tenn.

SEPTEMBER

1 Labor Day Holiday......... All Resource Centers Closed

8-9 General Assembly 2004 Steering Committee Meeting

Sheraton Hotel...............................Birmingham, Ala.

26-27 CBF of Mississippi Fall Assembly 2003

First Baptist Church.......................... Meridian, Miss.

OCTOBER

16-18 Coordinating Council Meeting

Holiday Inn Airport................................. Atlanta, Ga.

NOVEMBER

4 CBF of Missouri Fellowship Gathering

TBA................................................... St. Louis, Mo.

9-10 CBF of Georgia Fall Convocation

First Baptist Church........................... Columbus, Ga.

10 Tennessee CBF Fall Meeting

Bethany Christian Church................... Jackson, Tenn.

11 CBF of Florida Luncheon

Bayshore Baptist Church........................ Tampa, Fla.

11 CBF of SC Fall Convocation

St. Andrews Baptist Church............... Columbia, S.C.

11 CBF of Louisiana Luncheon

LaFayette Hilton & Towers................... Lafayette, La.

27-28 Thanksgiving Holidays....All Resource Centers Closed

DECEMBER

8-9 National Leadership Team Meeting

First Baptist Church.............................. Decatur, Ga.

24-25 Christmas Holidays....... All Resource Centers Closed

* Dates and locations are subject to change. Confirm

information with event organizers. An online calendar of

events is available at www.cbfonline.org under Community.

Fellowship Planning CalendarAugust - December 2003

2003 GEN

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Brenda Kneece, executive director of theSouth Carolina Christian Action Council,participates in the preliminary task forcemeeting about ecumenical and interfaithissues.

Sue

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“W E WA N T tocome up withtangible resourcesto help churchesenter into dialoguewith other groupsand to help indi-viduals buildrelationships.”

— B O P R O S S E R ,C O O R D I N AT O R F O R

C O N G R E G AT I O N A L L I F E

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The Assembly approved several items during the Fridaybusiness session. The fiscal year 2003-04 budget, whichtook effect July 1, was approved. Although the Fellowshipwill finish the 2002-03 fiscal year with revenue comingup $654,000 short of expenses, the shortfall will becovered by existing reserves. As the Fellowship preparesto enact several new revenue initiatives, plans are to fullyreimburse the reserves from funds raised during the nextseveral years.

During the Thursday evening worship servicefeaturing Tony Campolo, the Assembly raised $128,210for Partners in Hope, the Fellowship’s rural povertyinitiative. During Friday night’s worship service, anadditional $47,000 was raised, totaling $175,210.

The Fellowship also commissioned 18 new globalmissions field personnel on Friday evening. Phil Hester,Fellowship associate coordinator of church starts, alsorecognized seven Fellowship church starters.

The 2004 General Assembly will be held at theBirmingham-Jefferson Convention Center inBirmingham, Ala.

“The General Assembly is a time for worship, forlearning and for celebrating what God is doing throughthe Fellowship,” CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal said. “It

is also a time for us to recommit ourselvesto the shared vision of being the presenceof Christ in the world, equipping andencouraging one another to become mis-sional. The Assembly approved an ambi-tious budget and set meaningful ministrygoals for the next fiscal year. We eagerlyanticipate God accomplishing these tasksthrough us in the days ahead.” f!


Assembly Characterized by Fellowship, Commitment to Missions

T H E C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P

E X P L O R E D WAY S to be true to the vision of

“being the presence of Christ” congregationally,

globally and personally June 26-28, drawing a

crowd of 4,357 registered participants for the

2003 General Assembly.

“… a time for us to recommit ourselves to the shared vision of being the presence of

1. Elizabeth Vickery and other children make colorful fans during one ofthe Children's Assembly activities.

2. Sales of goods in the Missions Marketplace from unevangelizedpeople groups raise money for global missions.

3. Oti Bunaciu (left) and Albert Reyes discuss partnerships with BaptistVoices moderator Colleen Burroughs.

4. Upbeat music sets the tone for worship in a bicultural setting as partof simultaneous worship services on Saturday morning.

5. Participants surround Diana Early as they pray for newly-commissioned global missions field personnel.

6. Tony Campolo signs copies of his books in the Resource Fair.

7. Youth from four Greenville, S.C., churches perform a dramaticinterpretation using dowel rods during the Assembly's opening session.

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Christ in the world, equipping and encouraging one another to become missional.”— C B F C O O R D I N AT O R D A N I E L V E S TA L

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BAPT IST WOMEN IN MINISTRY celebrated its 20thanniversary with a video of testimonials, recognition of thegroup’s founders and presidents, and the music ofNashville recording artist Kate Campbell.

More than 250 gathered in Charlotte, N.C., for theevent, which allowed the group to reminisce about its earlydays while catching a glimpse of its future by awarding itstwo annual Addie Davis Awards.

“It is a major milestone for this organization to celebrate20 years of serving and supporting women in ministry,”said current BWIM president Karen Massey, faculty mem-ber at Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology inAtlanta. “Tonight is our party, and we’re glad you are here toshare it with us.”

Massey paid tribute to the organizations that helpedBWIM mature from a fledgling support group of 33 women

in Louisville, Ky., into aworldwide network of morethan 1,500.

“First and foremost, I’dlike to thank the Woman’sMissionary Union,” Masseysaid. “Without the vision ofthat organization, BaptistWomen in Ministry would notbe here.”

Massey also read a letter ofcongratulations from currentWMU president Wanda Lee.Other groups Massey thankedincluded the Alliance ofBaptists, Cooperative BaptistFellowship and CentralBaptist Theological Seminaryin Kansas City, Kan.

The video of testimonialscalled “We Have TheseTreasures” was based on apassage from I Corinthians4:7-10, featuring currentwomen ministers, BWIMfounders, women theologystudents and supporters.

Reba Sloan Cobb, AtlantaResource Center coordinator and chief operating officer forCBF, recognized the 33 “founding mothers” who met in herhome at the request of Nancy Sehested for that first meet-ing in 1983. Their goal: to develop a support group to

encouragewomen inministry –somethingrarelyoffered 20years ago.

Morethan 100womenattendedthe group’sfirst formalmeeting afew monthslater. “Itencouragedyoungwomen incollege andhigh schoolwho felt thecall, butdidn’t knowwhat to dowith it,”Cobb recalled.

At the anniversary celebration, Cobb encouraged womento “feel your fear, but then do it anyway,” and claimPhilippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ whostrengthens me.”

BWIM also honored the 2003 recipients of its two AddieDavis awards. Recent Baptist Theological Seminary atRichmond graduate Susan Burnette received the AddieDavis Award for Excellence in Preaching. Shirley RamseyLuckadoo of Gardner-Webb’s M. Christopher White Schoolof Divinity received the Addie Davis Award for PastoralLeadership. Luckadoo pastors First Baptist Church ofWestgate in Spartanburg, S.C.

“We clearly can see the evidence of God’s call,” Masseysaid. “The wind has not stopped blowing. Women are beingcalled and will continue to be called into ministry.”

“We don’t know what the organization will look like fiveyears from now,” Massey said. “We’re open to any and allpossibilities.” f!

For more information about BWIM, contact (913) 321-6864 or


Karen Massey (above) saysBaptist Women in Ministry mustevolve to meet new needs ofwomen.

BWIM ‘FoundingMothers’

The following women are considered

the “founding mothers” of Baptist

Women in Ministry:

Becky Albritton; Patsy Ayres; Pat

Bailey; Linda McKinnish Bridges;

Harriette Clay; Reba S. Cobb; Jeni

Cook; Carolyn Crumpler; Anne

Davis; Pearl DuVall; Velma Ferrell;

Nancy Foil; Jo Heiliger; Lela

Hendrix; Margaret Holcomb; Cindy

Johnson; Molly Marshall; June

McEwen; Betty McGary; Barbara

McNeir; Karen Mitcham; Linda

Stack Morgan; Anne Thomas Neil;

Carol Noffsinger; Brenda Padelford;

Nina T. Pollard; Verna Quirin; Inez

Register; Nancy Hastings

Sehested; Evelyn Stagg; Susan

Taylor; Linda Weaver-Williams; and

Jenny Graves Weisz.

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Baptist Women in Ministry Celebrates 20 Years of Affirming Women who Answer God’s Call


The Christians we met in China agree that today is the best

time in history for the Church. China has a clear policy of

religious freedom, although some local political leaders

have not fully understood this new freedom. Christians are

able to openly express their faith and preach freely in

churches.

The challenge for the Church in China comes in accom-

modating rapid growth and providing ministries to so

many people seeking and following Christ. Six churches

are registered or re-opened every day in China. With only

2,000 pastors in the entire country, churches rely heavily

on laypeople. Women are full equals in every aspect of

church life.

I asked the church elder in Shanghai how such rapid

growth occurs, and he replied, “We live our faith in our

work and families. We tell the truth to our neighbors.

When they hear our witness, many are born again.

Everyone is a personal evangelist.”

Finding New LifeIn Nanjing, we were told that people find Jesus through

their struggles with modernity, the search for economic

justice, and efforts to cope with the dramatic societal

changes taking place. Economic development and religious

freedom have changed China. “The inherited ideas of life

are not enough for modern life,” one scholar said.

“When they encounter a Christian, or visit a church,”

he said, “they (people) find a new life. In church, people

encounter kind and amicable people, Christians who are

ready to help, to answer their questions, and they are

attracted to Christianity and philanthropy.”

Glorifying GodMany new believers are students or college graduates.

One-half of the Church is under the age of 30. One pastor

said the attraction is that “Christians emphasize the love

of Christ and service to other people … and also laughing

is very important!”

He told of a university student who accidentally crashed

his bicycle into a car in Beijing’s heavy traffic, an event

that normally would result in a public dispute. But the car

was driven by a church member who asked about the stu-

dent’s injuries, helped him get medical care and repaired

the bicycle. The student could not understand such kind

treatment, and when he asked, was told that Christians

“glorify God and benefit others.”

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship works through repre-

sentatives and partners in China, Envoys who share their

technical and business acumen, and volunteers who teach

English and work on numerous development projects. Like

those who go, we all can pray and give. f!

For more information on China ministries, go to

www.cbfinchina.org.

Contact Patrick Anderson to speak about Fellowship global

missions at (863) 686-9902, (863) 602-9980 or


The Fellowship’s September 2003 missions education curricu-

lum will highlight work in China. (Annual subscription: adult

and youth, $20; children and preschool, $80. Shipping will be

charged.) To order, contact the CBF Resource Link at (888) 801-

4223.

By Fellowship columnist and missions advocate Patrick R. Anderson

China Churches Attract New BelieversBy Glorifying God and Serving People

“W E T R U S T G O D to give us our land … we must be patient,” an elder in Shanghai’s

Grace Church told a small group of Fellowship Baptists recently. The same sentiment was

expressed by a Beijing pastor who reminded us, “The power comes from God … nothing

can stop God’s power.”

GO

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13

Brenda Lisenby (right) serves as a global missions field personnelteaching English and helping coordinate Fellowship partnerships inChina.

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New Endorsements

BUSINESS/INDUSTRIAL/

UNIVERSITY CHAPLAINS:

Sandra Hale, Part-time

Chaplain, Dartmouth College,

Hanover, N.H.;

HOSPICE CHAPLAINS: Denise

Jacks, New Beacon, Part-time

Samaritan Counseling Center,

Birmingham, Ala.; Terry Jackson,

Angelic Family Hospice, Shawnee,

Okla.; Carolyn Sears, Hospice

of Cleveland County, Shelby, N.C.;

HOSPITAL CHAPLAINS: Joseph

Alexander, Northern Hospital of

Surry County, Mount Airy, N.C.;

Edgar Berryman, Mississippi

Baptist Medical Center, Jackson,

Miss.; Coy Callicott, Spartanburg

Regional Healthcare System,

Spartanburg, S.C.; Larry

Davidson, Baptist Health,

Montgomery, Ala.; Dana Durham,

Baptist Health, Montgomery,

Ala.; Jeff Lancaster, Texoma

Healthcare System, Denison,

Texas; Deena McAfee, Contract

Chaplain, Department of

Veterans Affairs, Canandaigua,

N.Y.; Joseph McAfee,

Department of Veterans Affairs,

Canandaigua, N.Y.; Gregory

McClain, CPE Resident, Wake

Medical Center, Raleigh, N.C.;

Marcia McQueen, Morehead

Memorial Hospital, Eden, N.C.;

Kenneth Pruitt, Part-time

Chaplain, St. Vincent’s Hospital,

Birmingham, Ala.; Harrison

Roper, Providence Health

Center, Waco, Texas; Hazel

Thomas, Part-time Community

Chaplain Services, Inc., Fort

Worth, Texas; Jeff Thompson,

Northeast Georgia Healthcare

System, Gainesville, Ga.;

MILITARY CHAPLAINS: Mickey

Foxworth, U.S. Army, Hunter

Army Airfield, Ga.; Charles

Reynolds, U.S. Army, Ft. Bragg,

N.C.; Jeff Ross, Chaplain Candi-

date, U.S. Navy, Decatur, Ga.;

PRISON CHAPLAINS: Pam

Rains, Federal Bureau of

Prisons, Beaumont, Texas;

PROFESSIONAL CHAPLAINS:

Chris Bowers, Member Certified,

American Association of Pastoral

Counselors, Richmond, Va.

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WHILE THE WORLD’S EYES have been focused on Iraq

in recent months, military operations and the personal

ministry of U.S. Navy Chaplain Lt. Joseph Primeaux contin-

ued in war-torn Afghanistan.

The Mississippi native who now calls Arizona home, recently

returned from a six-month deployment in Afghanistan, his

first wartime deployment since becoming a chaplain in

December 2000. A Cooperative Baptist Fellowship-endorsed

chaplain, Primeaux lived out the Fellowship’s vision of

“being the presence of Christ in the world” by ministering

to local residents as well as military personnel.

Responsible for religious support and morale building,

Primeaux managed a gym, movie theater and cyber café

along with a chapel program. He conducted services in an

air maintenance tent called a “clamshell,” and provided

counseling to personnel coping with a variety of complex

issues including spouses leaving while personnel were

deployed, the realities of war, separation from family, bore-

dom and stress. Primeaux himself had to cope with being

away from his wife, Cheryl, and their daughter, Natalie.

Although he was not allowed to pass out Bibles or witness

to local residents, Primeaux found other ways to minister to

them.

One day when he was walking to the showers, an Afghan

construction foreman asked Primeaux through an interpreter

where he got his bath towel. Primeaux responded that he

would get one for the foreman. The next day, Primeaux

bought a bath towel and washcloth at the military post

exchange and presented it to the foreman.

“He introduced me to his son and offered to give me

lunch,” Primeaux said. “He spoke of our friendship and

asked what gift he could give me. I told him his friendship

was the greatest gift I could ask for. It was a neat moment of

ordinary time made special by the bonds of mutual respect

and filial love that characterized, in my mind, the true

ministry of Christ.”

Primeaux urges Christians to pray fervently for the safety

of the Afghan people, particularly the children.

“They live in a world that is hard for us to fathom,” said

Primeaux, whose new assignment is chaplain of the U.S.S.

Shiloh out of San Diego. “They live in a world where one

wrong step can take a leg, an arm, a life. They play and work

in areas filled with land mines. They are beautiful, friendly,

playful children whose smiles belie a tremendous amount

of hardship.” f!

For more information about Fellowship chaplaincy and

pastoral counseling, contact George Pickle at (770) 220-1617

or <[email protected]>.

By Lance Wallace, CBF Communications

CBF-endorsed Navy Chaplain Lt. Joseph Primeaux (left) receives the NavyAchievement Medal for his service in Afghanistan.

Cou

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Jos

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Navy Chaplain Serves in Forgotten Afghanistan War Zone


The Fellowship received a $1.99 million grant from Lilly

Endowment Inc., to fund the initiative that began in

January 2003 to help sustain healthy ministers.

Peer learning groups, launched in July, will meet

monthly to provide opportunities for worship, spiritual

growth, Bible study, discussion of ministry-related issues

and fellowship. These groups will target ministers in their

first seven years of ministry, ministers in rural settings

and ministers in multi-staff congregations.

Initiative organizers plan for no more than a dozen

members in each group, with the greatest number of

groups focusing on new ministers.

The Fellowship anticipates having more than 60 peer

learning groups across three geographic regions. Regional

coordinators include Mike Harton for the Richmond, Va.,

region; Valerie Burton for the Birmingham, Ala., region;

Bill Bruster for the Dallas region; and Terry Hamrick for

regions as needed.

A group convener and group members will determine

the focus of each month’s gathering. The Fellowship will

provide the groups with suggested resources related to

pastoral excellence and congregational health.

The Fellowship’s future initiative plans include begin-

ning two pilot projects: a sabbatical leave program and a

ministry residency program.

Beginning in 2004, the initiative will provide up to

$2,500 each along with planning assistance for 100 ministers

to have a four-week study leave.

The Fellowship’s initiative partners include Baptist

Theological Seminary at Richmond, Baylor University’s

Truett Theological Seminary, Campbell University Divinity

School, Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology,

Logsdon School of Theology at Hardin-Simmons University

and the Center for Congregational Health. These partners

will provide resources to sabbatical participants.

During the last two years of the four-year initiative, the

ministry residency program will create 10 positions pro-

viding two graduates from each of the initiative partner

schools with a two-year appointment to a teaching

congregation. The Fellowship will help select the congre-

gations and develop program guidelines. f!

For more information on the Initiative for Ministerial

Excellence, contact Terry Hamrick at (770) 220-1600 or


Initiative for Ministerial Excellence Responds to Challenges Facing Ministers

C O O P E R AT I V E B A P T I S T F E L L O W S H I P A I M S T O D E L I V E R practical help to congregational

leaders through the Initiative for Ministerial Excellence. The initiative consists of peer learning

groups, a sabbatical leave program and a ministry residency program.

LEADERSH

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15

BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT RICHMOND.

The seminary recently named a faculty office in honor of Jack

R. Noffsinger, pastor emeritus of Knollwood Baptist Church in

Winston-Salem, N.C. The office belongs to Stephen Brachlow,

professor of spirituality, and was named for Noffsinger in

response to gifts from his family and friends.

CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY DIVINITY SCHOOL.

Daniel Kim is overflowing with ministry

ideas for when he returns to South

Korea. A mechanical engineer by

training, Kim recently completed his

master of divinity degree at Campbell

and is now preparing for further study at

Duke University Divinity School before

returning to South Korea to minister.

CENTRAL BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

Constance McNeill, vice president for development, has been

named chief operations officer. McNeill, who joined the staff in

March 2001, is the current moderator for CBF of Missouri. The

seminary also announced Laura B. Moore will serve as Old

Testament adjunct professor beginning fall 2003.

Recent graduate and associate pastor Kathy Pickett led the

youth at Holmeswood Baptist Church of Kansas City, Mo.,

to serve in Marion, Ala., with Sowing Seeds of Hope – a

component of Partners in Hope, the Fellowship’s rural poverty

initiative.

MCAFEE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY, MERCER UNIVERSITY.

The school has added three new faculty members: Denise

Massey, pastoral care; Tom Slater, biblical studies; and Larry

McSwain, leadership.

Class Notes: News from Partner Schools

Kim

16

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Their passion is not for tradition and the past, not for suc-

cess and the future, not for music and preaching, not for

programs and buildings, and not for denominational affili-

ation. Their passion is for the mission of God reconciling

and re-creating the world through Christ. These churches

have purpose, energy and life. Let me offer a few thoughts

on the missional church.

First, it requires leadership. Although pastors lead in

different ways with different styles, there is no substitute

for pastoral leadership. Modeling his/her leadership after

Christ and in communion with Christ, the pastor must

become incarnate and invest in the life of the people he/she

leads. If the pastor doesn’t genuinely love the people and

their place, little effective leadership will occur, because

mission begins with the people

in the place where they live. In

all honesty, I didn’t learn lead-

ership in seminary. I learned

Greek, and I was given theo-

logical tools that I use to this

day, and I learned to think the-

ologically. But I learned the

leadership tools for ministry

from observation, struggle,

mentors and peers. One of the

great needs in Baptist life is for

pastoral leaders who know how

to lead.

However, as important as

pastoral leadership is, it is not

enough. A pastor must form a

team of leaders who share a

common commitment to mis-

sional church. It is best if that

team is formalized in the

structure of the church: dea-

cons, church council, strategic

planning committee, staff, etc.

This team of congregational

leaders will model missional

living, hold one another accountable and then lead the

church in a process of discovery and fulfillment of vision.

Vision is the ability to

see what God wills for a

particular church. Every

church is unique; there-

fore God’s vision for one

church will not be the

same as for another.

Vision is the capacity to

understand, conceptual-

ize and articulate what

God wants for a particu-

lar people on mission.

The clearer the vision

and the more a vision is

shared, the more effective the church will be. Vision is a gift

that is given by the Spirit to the church that seeks it.

I have observed that missional churches must go through

a deliberate (and sometimes painful) process of evaluation

and searching before they discover God’s vision for them.

That process results in a mission/vision statement with

clear goals and objectives for ministry, a definition of pri-

orities, core values and even specific action plans. All this is

bathed in prayer, and even then a church may need help

(a consultant or convener) from the outside to assist them

in this experience. But once a church discovers its God-

given mission, it is then ready for teamwork.

Teamwork is crucial. Words like commitment, sacrifice,

obedience, and faithfulness are more than words to a

missional people. Pastors and people give of their time,

energy and resources to participate in God’s reconciling

mission. They work. Pastors and other leaders have a strong

work ethic and set an example. There is no place for lazy

and lukewarm leaders. The people are then challenged to

pray, witness and serve.

And all work “together,” each according to their gifts.

All work in humility, encouraging one another and loving

one another. One person’s work is not more important than

another, and all are part of the team. Or, to use a biblical

metaphor, all are part of the body.

God, give us missional churches. f!

By CBF Coordinator Daniel Vestal


Missional Churches:Discovering Their Identity

An increasing number of Baptist churches are discovering their identity in mission. They are

discerning God’s reconciling mission in the world and their unique participation in it.

“E V E R Y C H U R C H is

unique; therefore God’s

vision for one church

will not be the same

as for another.”— C B F

C O O R D I N AT O R

D A N I E L

V E S TA L

Related Resources

The Fellowship has several

resources for churches wanting to

explore the missional journey:

• “The Missional Journey: Being the

Presence of Christ.” Outlines the

characteristics of missional churches

being the presence of Christ and

invites others to join them. Includes

a CD of the “The Missional Journey:

Being the Presence of Christ” video

(free, plus shipping).

• “The Missional Journey Guide.”

Assists churches as they discover,

claim and commit to the mission

God has for them. ($29.95 for

workbook, CD-rom and binder;

$19.95 for workbook only, plus

shipping).

Order from the CBF Resource Link

at (888) 801-4223 or the CBF e-

Store at www.cbfonline.org.

FLORIDAPatrick Anderson, CBF missions

advocate, and Carolyn Anderson,

CBF of Florida coordinator, were

recently inducted into the

Mainstream Baptist Hall of Fame.

MISSOURIWINDERMERE BAPT ISTConference Center will host a

ministers’ retreat Sept. 22-23, led

by Roger Paynter, pastor of First

Baptist Church, Austin, Texas. For

more information, contact Steve

Graham at (816) 781-2824 or Keith

Herron at (816) 942-1729.

NATIONALAlin Pop, long-time associate coor-

dinator for information technology,

has left the Atlanta CBF Resource

Center to accompany his wife,

Aurora, who was awarded a medical

fellowship with Harvard in Boston.

CBF has launched a new Web

site to correct misstatements and

address ongoing attacks by groups

that seek to discredit the Fellowship

and its ministries. The site,

www.truthaboutcbf.net, has updates

correcting misinformation from

Baptist or secular media along with

educational articles on Baptist history.

Members of the CBF Resource

Center team marking employment

anniversaries include: Becky Buice

Green, 10 years (8/93) and Jane

Riley, 5 years (6/98).

The Baptist Communicators

Association recently awarded the CBF

Media Team and Trailblazer Studios

first place for video magazine/news

report for “Hunger No More.” This

free video explains how Fellowship

global missions seeks to alleviate

hunger and outlines steps to help the

hungry. A corresponding curriculum

packet, “Hunger No More: Decisions

2002,” prepares churches to act on

important hunger and poverty issues

and includes a leader’s guide for

youth and adults and children’s

activities ($5). Order from the CBF

Resource Link at (888) 801-4223 or the

CBF e-Store at www.cbfonline.org.

(Shipping will be charged for cost and

free items.)

The CBF Media Team won second

place in the books design division

for It’s Time: An Urgent Call to

Christian Mission by Daniel Vestal.

The “Living the Call ... Among the

Most Neglected” video won honor-

able mention for video feature pro-

duction (more than 15 minutes).

NORTH CAROLINAAFTER AN IN IT IAL V IS IT to CBF

global missions field personnel Ben

and Leonora Newell in Helena, Ark.,

CBF of North Carolina (CBFNC) pur-

chased a 15-foot construction trailer

to deliver tools and toys in support of

the Newells’ work with Partners in

Hope, the Fellowship’s rural poverty

initiative. The trailer was purchased

with contributions given at the CBFNC

General Assembly in the spring.

Franklin Fowler, retired Foreign

Mission Board medical consultant

and father of CBFNC Missions

Coordinator Jim Fowler, arranged

for used tools from the “Sawdust Club”

at the Lakewood Manor retirement

community in Richmond, Va., to be

given to the Arkansas rural poverty

initiative. The Sawdust Club provides

space for residents’ woodworking

projects. Residents donated their

used tools, filling the back of Jim’s

pickup truck, and contributed a new

circular saw out of their club funds.

TENNESSEETENNESSEE CBF is sponsoring a

“Church Starters Workshop,” Oct. 3-4,

at Glenstone Lodge in Gatlinburg.

Featured speakers are Dan Page,

Dynamic Development Design

Network, and Greg Mumpower,

church starter. Cost is $75 for indi-

viduals, $100 for couples. For addi-

tional information or to register,

contact Tennessee CBF at (888)

661-8223 or <[email protected]>.

Baptist Center for Ethics has

hired veteran journalist Bob Allen as

managing editor of EthicsDaily.com,

an Internet service operated by BCE.

Allen most recently worked for nine

years as news editor of Associated

Baptist Press. Allen succeeds Cliff

Vaughn, BCE’s associate director for

EthicsDaily.com, who will work part-

time as a culture editor.

Fellowship Roundup News from CBF’s states, regions and national offices

Coming Attractions

Sept. 16-19

A Celebration of Preaching

Candler School of Theology,

Emory University, Atlanta

Program Leaders: Fred Craddock, Teresa

Fry Brown, Gail O’Day

Contact: (404) 727-0714,

http://candler.emory.edu/ACADEMIC/OCME/

Sept. 28-30

The Center for Baptist Studies/McAfee

School of Theology Preaching Consultation

McAfee School of Theology,

Mercer University, Atlanta

Contact: Truett Gannon, (678) 547-6457

For a complete event schedule, go to

Community/Calendar at www.cbfonline.org.


FELLOW

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TEXASRick McClatchy, coordinator of CBF

of Oklahoma since 1995, has been

named coordinator of CBF Texas. The

native Texan returned to his home

state July 1 to continue the work of

establishing the Fellowship in Texas

that has been so ably performed by

Judy Battles as administrative coor-

dinator since February 2002.

CBF Hispanic Network Coordina-

tor Bernie Moraga of Albuquerque,

N.M., was honored recently with an

honorary degree from Dallas Baptist

University. Moraga, pastor of First

Spanish/Fruit Avenue Baptist Church

in Albuquerque, was awarded an hon-

orary doctor of divinity degree.

Russell Dilday, former president

of Southwestern Baptist Theological

Seminary, recently received the

annual Judson-Rice Award for lead-

ership and integrity from the inde-

pendent news journal Baptists Today

in Dallas.

Fellowship Contributes$40,000 to Iraqi Relief CBF HAS SHIFTED ITS FOCUSfor post-war ministry in Iraq from

refugees to meeting immediate

needs, as well as long-term infra-

structure needs. The Fellowship is

also preparing to restart ministry

among the Kurds in northern Iraq

that had to be suspended because of

the military campaign. Fellowship

workers are positioning themselves

to enter the country once security

and logistical hurdles are handled.

So far, the Fellowship has chan-

neled more than $40,000 from

churches, individuals and existing

CBF relief funds toward relief efforts

in Iraq. About $10,000 has been

spent on medicines, food, shelter

and clothing for those who fled their

homes. An additional $30,000 has

gone to a consortium of relief groups

to distribute food and items such as

school kits, clothes and shoes to an

estimated 20,000 Iraqi families.

Fellowship churches and individ-

uals have also contributed gifts in

kind such as hygiene kits and school

supplies to CBF partner agencies.

State Groups Join NewStewardship ModelCBF OF NORTH CAROLINA(CBFNC) recently announced that it

will shift management of its endow-

ment funds to the Cooperative

Baptist Fellowship Foundation.

The move by CBFNC brings the

number of state and regional organi-

zations with funds under management

by the national CBF Foundation to 10,

or more than half of the 18 state and

regional groups, which are autonomous.

The other state and regional groups

with endowment, scholarship or

operating reserve funds under man-

agement by the CBF Foundation are

Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,

Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma,

Tennessee and the West Region.

Using the CBF Foundation for

endowment or reserve fund manage-

ment benefits the state and regional

groups because the size of the CBF

Foundation’s portfolio, now larger

than $25 million, allows the

Foundation to get better prices for

management services than smaller

portfolios could receive on their own,

as well as access to the best managers

available. As more state networks,

and even churches, partner with the

CBF Foundation, the benefits

increase for everyone.

To better facilitate

this customized level

of service to state and

regional clients, the

Foundation recently

hired Tom Allerton of

Altamonte Springs,

Fla., as an associate to

represent the

Foundation in Florida. Allerton, a

member of College Park Baptist

Church in Orlando, will be responsi-

ble for identifying, cultivating and

soliciting endowment

and major gift prospects for the

Foundation and the Fellowship, as

well as offering the Foundation’s

services in endowment promotion

and fund management to CBF-

related churches and ministry

organizations in Florida. f!

(News articles by Lance Wallace, CBF

Communications)

Vol. 13, No. 5CBF COORDINATORDaniel Vestal

RESOURCE CENTER COORDINATORReba S. Cobb

EDITORBen McDade

MANAGING EDITORLisa M. Jones

PHONE(770) 220-1600

FAX(770) 220-1685

E-MAIL<[email protected]>

WEB SITEwww.cbfonline.org

fellowship! is published 8 timesa year in Jan./Feb., Mar., April/May,June/July, Aug., Sept./Oct., Nov., Dec.by The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship,Inc., 3001 Mercer University Dr.,Atlanta, GA 30341-4115. Periodicals postage paid at Atlanta,GA, and additional mailing offices.USPS #015-625

POSTMASTER:Send address changes to “fellowship!” Newsletter, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, P.O. Box 450329, Atlanta, GA 31145-0329


18

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GENERAL SESSIONS■ General Session I: It's Time…Being the

Presence of Christ Congregationally Tony Campolo

■ General Session II: It's Time…CBF Being thePresence of Christ Daniel Vestal

■ General Session IV: It's Time…Being thePresence of Christ Globally Sarah Jackson Shelton

■ General Session V: It's Time…Being thePresence of Christ Personally Jack Causey

WORKSHOPS■ 105 Harvest Prayer

Rick Davis

■ 108 Spiritual FormationE. Glenn Hinson

■ 109 Dangling Dollars: How Baptists ShouldRespond to the “Faith-Based Initiative” K. Hollyn Hollman

■ 110 FundamentalismFisher Humphreys and Philip Wise

■ 113 A Broken Church in a Hurting WorldBrenda Kneece and Chris Skidmore

■ 119 Healthy CongregationsLes Robinson

■ 120 Can Moderate Baptist Churches Be Evangelistic?Carolyn Shapard and Mark Wingfield

■ 201 Help! Some People in My Church Say Bad Things about CBF! Marion Aldridge and Ben McDade

■ 203 An Introduction to Christian SpiritualFormationStephen D. Bryant

■ 204 Preaching as a Means of LeadershipCharles Bugg

■ 207 Why We Need Women in MinistryHardy Clemons

■ 217 When Religion Becomes EvilCharles Kimball and Jeff Rogers

■ 221 Building Blocks for Sunday SchoolGrowthMichael McCullar and Bo Prosser

■ 310 Who’s Paying? Trends in Church GivingDon Durham

■ 311 Understanding the Hispanic CultureJimmy Garcia

■ 315 Discipleship in an Unchurched CultureEddie Hammett

■ 320 The Plan(s) of Salvation: When Conversion and Pluralism CollideBill Leonard

■ 321 Understanding the African-AmericanCultureEmmanuel McCall

■ 328 CBF 101Daniel Vestal

■ 402 Under Served and Over Looked — Ministry to the DisabledConnie and Sid Carpenter

■ 404 Designing Comprehensive EducationCurriculum Tailored for LocalCongregationsMargaret B. Clary

■ 414 Families on MissionGreg and Priscilla Hunt and Kezia Paul

■ 417 Ministering with Twenty-SomethingsJeff Mathis and Wanda Kidd

■ 421 A Covenant to Serve: How a CBF Church Can Partner with GlobalMissionsTom Ogburn

■ 422 Developing Effective Christian LeadersBruce Powers

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2003 CBF General AssemblyCharlotte, N.C. - June 26-28, 2003

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Companions in Christ Strengthens SpiritualConnections in South Carolina Church

DURING A WORKSHOP at last year’s Cooperative Baptist

Fellowship General Assembly, leaders of Fernwood Baptist

Church in Spartanburg, S.C., discovered Companions in

Christ – a spiritual formation resource made available

through the Fellowship’s partnership with Upper Room

Ministries.

Seeing the resource’s potential for individual and church

growth, Pastor Randy Wright immediately made Companions

in Christ available to the Fernwood congregation. Participants

formed three groups, consisting of six to eight members

each, which took part in the 28-

week, two-hour sessions aimed at

strengthening the Christian walk.

Kelly Belcher, minister of chil-

dren and family life, led one of the

small groups. She describes the

materials as being “wonderfully

written,” with a natural flow for

maximum effectiveness.

“Besides the two-hour sessions

each week,” Belcher explains,

“there is directed Bible study,

journal writing, meditation and

reflection – taking 30 minutes to

an hour each day, depending on

how a person feels led. We come to

the group meeting ready to discuss

and share what the study meant to

each of us personally.”

This spiritual sharing has

developed strong bonds within the

small groups. Belcher sees this as

one of the primary benefits of the

program.

“Major life changes – like loss

of jobs and illnesses – have taken

place within the groups during the course of the study,”

Belcher says. “These events have connected all of us at a

deeper level.”

Belcher notes that Companions in Christ is not a topic or

issues study, but is designed to allow an in-depth reading of

Scripture, delving into its relevance on multiple levels, with

the primary objective being a closer relationship with God

and others.

The success of Companions in Christ has assured its con-

tinuation at Fernwood. “I believe the development of these

close-knit groups is a strengthening thing for any congre-

gation,” Belcher says. “There’s also the positive effect of the

intercessory prayer we are doing for our church, communi-

ty and the world. Just imagine what can happen as more

and more groups do the same thing!” f!

For more information about Companions in Christ, go to

www.companionsinchrist.org, or call Upper Room Ministries

at (800) 972-0433.

By staff writer Jo Upton

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Members of a Companions in Christ group at Fernwood Baptist Churchinclude (l-r): Margaret League, Glenda Bumgardner, Joe Hill Cantrell,Barbara Dalton, Jimmy Wilson, Rosalynn George, Robert Hendrix andJoan Hendrix. Group leader Kelly Belcher is not pictured.

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Related Resources

These Companions resources

are available from the CBF

Resource Link at (888) 801-

4223 or the CBF e-Store at

www.cbfonline.org:

• Sampler. Provides an

overview with sample pages

from various resources.

(free, plus shipping)

• Participant’s Book.

Features 28 weeks of

readings and exercises. ($20)

• Leader’s Guide. Offers

directions for guiding each

session. ($17)

• Journal. Provides space for

participants to record their

thoughts. ($9)

• Church Pack. Offers 10

participant’s books, two

leader’s guides, two Getting

Started guides, two posters

and a $50 coupon good

toward three-day leader

training. ($195)

2003 august

Documents

c o o p e r

e f t n o s t o n e

p t i s t f e

good fight

campolo challenges assembly

o w s h i paugust

confrontingthe fellowship

i v e b