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  • November 30, 1999

Archives For November 30, 1999

Southern Baptist Convention

Calvinism, Beth Moore, and a Transformer

Meredith Flynn —  June 10, 2013

HOUSTON | All three took center stage at different moments today in the Southern Baptist Convention Exhibit Hall.

The Southern Baptist Convention Exhibit Hall opened today, giving messengers a place to catch up with old friends, learn more about SBC agencies and partners, and meet a robot. (Keep scrolling down.)

The Southern Baptist Convention Exhibit Hall opened today, giving messengers a place to catch up with old friends, learn more about SBC agencies and partners, and meet a robot. (Keep scrolling down.)

IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams (center) visited the exhibits at Houston's George R. Brown Convention Center with his sons, Ethan (left) and Noah.

IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams (center) visited the exhibits at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center with his sons, Ethan (left) and Noah.

Illinois Baptist pastor Adam Cruse (center, in red) talked with friends in the exhibit hall, including Illinois' own Sons of the Father gospel group.

Illinois Baptist pastor Adam Cruse (center, in red) talked with friends in the exhibit hall, including Illinois’ own Sons of the Father gospel group.

A walking, talking robot (or Transformer) greeted guests at the LifeWay Christian Resources booth, charming most and befuddling a few born before the 1980s cartoon. LifeWay's "Transformational Church" materials are designed to help strengthen congregations by measuring the signs of a healthy church.

A walking, talking robot (or Transformer) greeted guests at the LifeWay Christian Resources booth, charming most and befuddling a few born before the 1980s cartoon. LifeWay’s “Transformational Church” materials are designed to help strengthen congregations by measuring the signs of a healthy church.

People gathered in the hall to hear from the Calvinism advisory team appointed to study how Southern Baptists can cooperate across theological divides. The team's findings likely will be featured during the SBC Executive Committee's report tomorrow.

People gathered in the hall to hear from the Calvinism advisory team appointed to study how Southern Baptists can cooperate across theological divides. The team’s findings likely will be featured during the SBC Executive Committee’s report tomorrow.

Leo Endel, executive director of the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention and a member of the advisory team, said, "When we talk about the unity, particularly in John 17 that Jesus prayed for, that is not the same thing as uniformity. And in fact, we become richer by the conversation that takes place across the spectrum."

Leo Endel, executive director of the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention and a member of the advisory team, said, “When we talk about the unity, particularly in John 17 that Jesus prayed for, that is not the same thing as uniformity. And in fact, we become richer by the conversation that takes place across the spectrum.”

LifeWay's Ed Stetzer interviewed Bible study author and teacher Beth Moore about how she went from a substitute Sunday School teacher to a world-renowned speaker.

LifeWay’s Ed Stetzer interviewed Bible study author and teacher Beth Moore about how she went from a substitute Sunday School teacher to a world-renowned speaker.

In-depth Bible study "has been life out of the ditch for me," Moore told Stetzer.

In-depth Bible study “has been life out of the ditch for me,” Moore told Stetzer.

 

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Once a preacher feels extremely confident, he needs to be real careful.

Go to sbcannualmeeting.net to watch Pastors’ Conference sessions online.

Ronnie Floyd, in a Pastors’ Conference panel discussion on preaching

Posted on June 10, 2013 In News, SBC
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Luter shares hope in affliction as someone who’s been there

Meredith Flynn —  June 10, 2013
Fred Luter encourages listeners at the SBC Pastors' Conference in Houston.

Fred Luter encourages listeners at the SBC Pastors’ Conference in Houston.

HOUSTON | “Can I just share my testimony for just a minute?”

Southern Baptist Convention President and New Orleans native Fred Luter drew on his experiences  after Hurricane Katrina to encourage listeners at the SBC Pastors’ Conference June 9.

“One day you can be pastoring thousands and thousands of people, and the next day, you can be without a congregation,” Luter said, alluding to the storm that devastated his city and his church, Franklin Avenue Baptist.

“One day, you’re in a city where everybody knows your name…and the next day, you’re in the city where you’re only known by your FEMA number.”

Luter’s message, from Psalm 34, focused on taking heart when you get to “the other side of ministry,” when afflictions and trials of all kinds threaten to discourage and overwhelm the righteous.

“Every child of God sooner or later in life will face the other side of ministry,” he said.

He spoke like a pastor to the crowd assembled at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center, exhorting them to pay special attention to the word “but” in Psalm 34:19. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

‘That word ‘but’ is a sanctified conjunction,” Luter said to laughter from the audience. “It negates everything that was said before.” He told the crowd that just when it feels like everything is about to go under, “God can put a ‘but’ in your situation.”

He ended his message with an illustration from his favorite movie franchise, James Bond. Animatedly, he described how the super spy manages to get himself out of every scrape he ever gets into. While watching a documentary one day about the making of James Bond movies, Luter said he realized how that was possible: The writers write it that way in the script!

Holding up his Bible and smiling joyously at the crowd, Luter said, “You know how I know you’re going to make it?

“It’s in the script!”

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Images from the SBC Pastors’ Conference, Day 1

Meredith Flynn —  June 9, 2013
John Bolin, minister of worship and arts at FBC Houston, leads in worship at the Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference, which began Sunday, June 9.

John Bolin, minister of worship and arts at FBC Houston, leads in worship at the Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference, which began Sunday, June 9.

Greg Matte, pastor of FBC Houston, Texas, moderated a panel discussion on leadership with Rodney Woo (International Baptist Church, Singapore, Jack Graham (Prestonwood Baptist, Plano) and Eric Geiger (LifeWay Christian Resources).

Greg Matte, pastor of FBC Houston, Texas, and president of the SBC Pastors’ Conference, moderated a panel discussion on leadership with Rodney Woo (International Baptist Church, Singapore, Jack Graham (Prestonwood Baptist, Plano) and Eric Geiger (LifeWay Christian Resources).

Children in costumes representing nations around the world join FBC Houston's praise team and choir to sing a moving version of "How Great is Our God".

Children in costumes representing nations around the world join FBC Houston’s praise team and choir to sing a moving version of “How Great is Our God”.

Southern Baptist Convention President Fred Luter closed the Pastors' Conference opening session with a message from Psalm 34.

Southern Baptist Convention President Fred Luter closed the Pastors’ Conference opening session with a message from Psalm 34.

Affliction will come to the righteous, Luter quoted Psalm 34, but, "You know how I know you're going to make it?" he asked pastors. "It's in the script!" he said, holding up his Bible.

Affliction will come to the righteous, Luter quoted Psalm 34, but, “You know how I know you’re going to make it?” he asked pastors, holding up his Bible. “It’s in the script!”

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Chet Cantrell shares Christian Activity Center’s story in Houston

Meredith Flynn —  June 9, 2013
"God is alive and well in the inner city," Chet Cantrell told attenders at the WMU Missions Celebration in Houston.

“God is alive and well in the inner city,” Chet Cantrell told attenders at the WMU Missions Celebration in Houston.

SBC | Chet Cantrell, executive director of Illinois’ Christian Activity Center, spoke about his ministry in East St. Louis this afternoon at the annual Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) Missions Celebration, held in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention.

“God is alive and well in the inner city,” Cantrell told women (and a few men) gathered in the Hilton Americas hotel. At the CAC, Cantrell and his staff partner with an army of volunteers to run a daily tutoring and mentoring program that has resulted in a 95% graduation rate among the kids they serve in poverty-stricken East St. Louis. The center, located next to an infamous housing project, is a haven in the neighborhood.

But it wasn’t always that way. When he arrived in the city and asked parents what he could do to help, their answer was “Keep our kids alive.” Cantrell told his audience the playground that now sits opposite the center was once a weed-plagued field. When he set out to mow down the tall grass, a young child told him he couldn’t do that. When Cantrell asked why not, the reply was, “Because that’s where they throw the dead bodies.”

What child should have to grow up in that environment, Cantrell asked. He shared stories of what God has done in the years since, like transforming that field, and turning a street known for trafficking into a place where kids can feel safe. He thanked WMU for their support of ministry centers like his, and encouraged them from Isaiah 45, where God says:

“I will go before you and level the uneven places; I will shatter the bronze doors and cut the iron bars in two.I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches from secret places, so that you may know that I, Yahweh, the God of Israel call you by your name.” (Isaiah 45:2-3, HCSB)

“I would like to tell you that I’m smart and I’m capable, but sometimes God just asks you to show up,” Cantrell said.

“…God was at work in East St. Louis long before I got there.”

Cantrell ended with a challenge: “You want to find God, you come serve in areas just like mine, because God shows up.

“Will you?”

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Hello, Bayou City!

Meredith Flynn —  June 9, 2013

NEWS | Meredith Flynn

The Southern Baptist Convention will kick off in just a few hours, and the Illinois Baptist will be in Houston all week with live coverage here on ib2news.org, and at Facebook.com/IllinoisBaptist and Twitter.com/IllinoisBaptist.

We’re anticipating the re-election of Fred Luter, currently running unopposed, to a second term as SBC President. And in the wake of a report by the Calvinism advisory team that formed last year, Reformed theology could get a lot of attention from speakers on the platform and in the audience. SBC Executive Committee President Frank Page, who appointed the advisory team to study how Southern Baptists can cooperate despite theological differences, is likely to share the group’s finding during his report Tuesday.

Boy Scouts, marriage, and a continuing discussion of gender-inclusive language in the NIV Bible are other topics that could come up on the convention floor.

You can watch all the action, beginning tonight with the Pastors’ Conference, at sbcannualmeeting.net.

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Week of Prayer for North American Missions: Day 8

Meredith Flynn —  March 10, 2013

Today marks the end of the Week of Prayer for North American Missions. In this post, we go back to Day 1 for a look at Chicago church planters Scott and Ashley Venable.

Scott Venable“It’s the most eclectic place you can imagine,” church planter Scott Venable says of his Chicago neighborhood. “It has drug dealers and businesspeople. When we prayerwalked as we were looking for a place to start the church and we got to Wicker Park, we just knew it was it.”

One of the most famous neighborhoods in the Windy City, Wicker Park is the kind of place where million dollar homes are just a few blocks down from government housing. It’s also a place that needs churches. Scott and his wife Ashley are planting Mosaic Church with a focus on serving the community, and sharing the Gospel in Chicagoland, where only 10 percent of people know Christ.

Pray for Mosaic Church Chicago as they live out  the Great Commandment and carry out the Great Commission – may they see many transformed lives.

Go to www.anniearmstrong.com/scottvenable to watch “Where to Start,” a video about the Venables’ work in Wicker Park.

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Week of Prayer for North American Missions: Day 7

Meredith Flynn —  March 9, 2013

Many Southern Baptist churches will mark the Week of Prayer for North American Missions this week. For more information about the week of prayer or the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, contact IBSA’s Missions team at (217) 391-3138.

PowerPlantDay 7 – Short-Term Missions
Every day of the year, young men and women are working alongside missionaries throughout North America. Through summer and semester opportunities, they are discovering future areas of service as they learn from experienced church planters and missionaries. And they’re also developing their own relationship with God as He uses them to meet the spiritual and physical needs of others, and to experience new cultures and missional living firsthand.

Pray for more young people to answer God’s call to serve in short-term missions experiences. Pray also for summer and semester missionaries to be stretched and challenged during their times of service so they may more easily discern God’s call to missions for the long term.

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Week of Prayer for North American Missions: Day 6

Meredith Flynn —  March 8, 2013

Many Southern Baptist churches will mark the Week of Prayer for North American Missions this week. For more information about the week of prayer or the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, contact IBSA’s Missions team at (217) 391-3138.

Victor Thomas, Simon Fraser University, collegiate ministry, campus ministryDay 6 – Victor and Candice Thomas
Victor and Candice Thomas landed in Vancouver from South Africa promising they’d never stay. They meant to be there for four months, but Victor, a researcher at Simon Fraser University, found a new calling in Burnaby, a quick train ride from the city’s downtown.

Three weeks before they were to go home, Thomas walked the Burnaby campus of Simon Fraser, his eyes seeming to open for the first time. “I saw these students with blank looks on their faces…” he said. “It was as if God was saying, ‘Isn’t this the poverty I’ve called you to?’”

The Thomases now lead The Point, a church they’ve helped grow from a small Bible study to four sites where 90 people gather for weekend worship services.

Pray for more ministry partners to answer God’s call to reach the lost in Vancouver.

Go to www.anniearmstrong.com/victorthomas to watch “We Had to Do Something,” a video about a young couple who heard the Gospel at The Point.

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Week of Prayer for North American Missions: Day 5

Meredith Flynn —  March 7, 2013

Many Southern Baptist churches will mark the Week of Prayer for North American Missions this week. For more information about the week of prayer or the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, contact IBSA’s Missions team at (217) 391-3138.

Ben Pilgreen, Epic Church, church planterDay 5 – Ben and Shauna Pilgreen
There are more affluent places in the United States than San Francisco, but not many. Living in that environment can numb people to need, but church planter Ben Pilgreen knows God is in the perspective-changing business.

Pilgreen launched Epic Church in the fine arts district of San Francisco two years ago. The church is actively engaging its Acts 1:8 mission fields, from a local women’s shelter to Uganda, where Pilgreen led Epic’s first international missions experience last summer. They’re also living out the Great Commission through 13 small groups in the city.

Pray many leaders will make long-term commitments to stay in San Francisco and help Epic Church carry out the mission starting more churches to reach lost people in the city.

Go to www.anniearmstrong.com/benpilgreen to watch “Seeing the Stories,” a video about a spiritual seeker who came to know Christ at Epic.

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