BAPTIST NEW MEXICAN 5/19/2012

Transcription

1 BAPTIST NEW MEXICAN 5/19/2012 The Baptist New Mexican is published weekly by the Baptist Convention of New Mexico. To receive the complete paper each week for one year, send $5.50 to the Baptist New Mexican, P.O. Box 94485, Albuquerque, NM The editor's address is The views and opinions expressed by writers of letters and articles appearing in this paper are not necessarily those of the editor. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Bible Work Leads to Scholarships MY TURN: The Editor s Perspective New Mexico Baptists Receive Great Commission Training Youth Speakers Tournament Sullivan and Torrison Appointed to SBC Committee on Committees 3 From N.M. Nominated for SBC Boards Oklahoma Church Helping To hajiilee With Vacation Bible School, Revival Central Seniors Meet Quarterly THESE ROADS WITH DR. B Inlow Blesses Another Generation N.M. Baptist History Clips BCNM CENTENNIAL MINISTERIAL MOVES Milan s Garland Moore Expects Confirmation at NAAF Meeting NEW BOOKS HEART MEDICINE Bible Work Leads to Scholarships The 2012 New Mexico Children and Youth Bible Drills and the Youth Speakers Tournament, which were held May 4 and 5 at Del Norte Baptist Church in Albuquerque, turned out to be an exciting weekend for children and youths from across New Mexico. The weekend was the culmination of a great deal of study and learning, as the young people had to do well enough in their own church drill and their associational drill to compete at the state level. This year s group did exceptionally well at Bible Drill, reported Krista Peterson, who directs children s and women s ministries for the Baptist Convention of New Mexico, which sponsors the annual competitions. They were

2 all very well prepared and, most importantly, have planted God s Word in their hearts. The hard work they are doing now will reap a lifetime of benefits for these children. Participants in the Youth Speakers Tournament, for grades 10-12, were required to present a four-to-six minute speech. The first-place winner was Taylor Wapaha of First, Ruidoso; and second place went to Michael Napier of Paragon Church in Rio Rancho. Both students presented speeches with Wapaha speaking on Finding Direction in Your Life and Napier speaking on Salvation Is Just the Beginning, Peterson said. The Youth Speakers winners won impressive scholarships to either Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, or Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Each of these schools provides a $1,000-per-semester scholarship to the winners. The Youth Bible Drill, for grades 7-9, required the students to quote verses, look up Scripture passages in eight seconds, recite doctrine and answer Bible questions. The first place winner was Taia Yankee from First, Ruidoso. The second-place winner was Margaret Wells from First, Bloomfield; and third place went to Danielle Pierce from Del Norte, Albuquerque. Each of the winners received a full scholarship to any BCNM camp. The Children s Bible Drill, for grades 4-6, took place on Saturday morning. Children had 10 seconds to find Bible books and Scripture passages. They also needed to recite correctly verses they had learned. There were three children who received perfect scores on the Children s Bible Drill, Peterson said. They were Matthew Ramsey of First, Bloomfield; Colby Holder of First, Artesia; and Cody Smith of First, Artesia. Special thanks go to the team of people that helped to judge, score, keep time, watch children and call the drills, Peterson said. They were Garry and Peggy Schwalk, Lillian Moon, Hannah Bergstrasser, Carol Gentry, Randi and Jamie Grimmis, Shirley Peterson, Kim Treece and Kristi Ricketts. A special thanks to Del Norte Baptist Church for being a gracious host, Peterson said. Each church that participated also should be honored for their investment in leading youths and children to study and know God s Word, Peterson added. Many church leaders and parents spent numerous hours helping these youths and children succeed, she said. The churches that participated were Bethel, Alamogordo; Del Norte, Albuquerque; First, Artesia; West Main, Artesia; First, Bloomfield; Paragon, Rio Rancho; Adventure Bible, Roswell; Bethel, Roswell; and First, Ruidoso. Those who are interested in participating in next year s competitions and would like their names added to the mailing list should Peterson at kpeterson@bcnm.com or call her office at (Albuquerque), or ext. 333.

3 Photo cutline: Children from across the state gathered at Del Norte Baptist Church in Albuquerque for the state 2012 Children s Bible Drill May 4-5. Also held that weekend was the Youth Bible Drill and the Youth Speakers Tournament. (Photos by Krista Peterson/BCNM) Photo cutline: Three received perfect scores in the Children s Bible Drill (from left) Cody Smith, Colby Holder and Matthew Ramsey. Photo cutline: Winners of the Youth Bible Drill were (from left) Taia Yankee, first place; Margaret Wells, second place; and Danielle Pierce, third place. MY TURN: The Editor s Perspective N.M. Baptists Have Habit of Meeting By John Loudat, Editor In about a month, on June 19 to be precise, Baptists across our state can celebrate the 100th birthday of their state convention, the Baptist Convention of New Mexico. As the BCNM s historical archivist, Dale Bryan, reminded us in our May 5 edition of the paper, we had two STATE conventions prior to that the Northern Baptist-affiliated New Mexico Baptist Convention, which had been organized in 1900, and its Southern Baptist-affiliated rival, the Baptist General Convention of New Mexico, which had been organized in The two STATE conventions had been preceded by a couple of TERRITORIAL conventions, the Baptist Missionary Convention of New Mexico (1854) and the Rocky Mountain Baptist Union/Colorado Baptist State Convention (1883). None of the BCNM s predecessors lasted anywhere close to a century, which is why I believe we should not take for granted the fact that God has blessed and used the convention for a full 100 years. The decision to organize the BCNM had taken place in Hot Springs, Ark., Jan , 1912, when a committee representing both Northern and Southern Baptists met and recommended that New Mexico Baptists two feuding conventions meet in Clovis June 19 to dissolve themselves and to organize a new convention. At that time, the American Baptist Home Mission Society would pull out of the state, and all work would become affiliated with the SBC. That s exactly what happened on June 19, and messengers to that organizational meeting decided that the new convention would begin operating on Aug. 12. Three months earlier, though, in March 1912, a search committee for a state secretary of missions of the still-future convention had been named; and on July 30, even before the convention began operating, its state mission board elected Elmer B. Atwood to the position. He began serving that September, and his

4 election was confirmed by messengers that fall in Alamogordo at the BCNM s first annual meeting, which has since been followed by another 99 kinda. There was one fall when the state was afflicted with a vicious influenza epidemic, in That year it appears only those Baptists who had been elected to the convention s board gathered to take care of the convention s necessary business. That was the only year churches were NOT encouraged to send their allotted number of messengers, but the convention DID meet, stresses Bryan. This fall, for the 101st time, New Mexico Baptists are being encouraged to come to an annual meeting as never before, to celebrate the convention s centennial at the place where it came into existence 100 years ago next month. To borrow the words of President Abraham Lincoln, It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this, because God has done so very much among us and through us as TOGETHER we have sought to carry out our Lord s Great Commission here and everywhere. Mark the dates Oct , block them off and plan to join us at the BCNM s Centennial Celebration! New Mexico Baptists Receive Great Commission Training By John Loudat To the Edge was the title of the Great Commission Initiative Training that was held at the Baptist Convention of New Mexico s building in Albuquerque April The GCI concept was introduced during the state convention s Missions Leadership Conference in March 2011 that was led by GCI s executive director, Tim Ahlen; board chairman Tom Billings; and board member Margaret Slusher. Billings, who leads Southern Baptists largest association, in Houston, said last year that American Christians need to think like missionaries, because America is a mission field, and so is New Mexico. The GCI process, he and his colleagues said, is necessary because of the growing number of people in America, just under 50 percent, who are functionally illiterate. Billings returned last month to lead the first of GCI s three phases with another board member, Jim Slack, a missiologist with the International Mission Board. The two had met 10 years ago in England, Billings said during the training, when Billings had met with Slack and others to learn how to reach people with the gospel message like missionaries were doing so effectively around the world. Out of that meeting, Billings said, GCI was developed. Acts Chapter 2 is a picture of what God has in mind, Billings said in the training s opening session, explaining that God intends everyone to hear the gospel in their own heart language as Christians share it boldly and without hindrance.

5 The Great Commission, Slack said in that same session, was given to each and every believer, and it is for every believer an everyday responsibility. Tragically, he added, of the world s 11,000 people groups, 6,000 are unreached, and many of them are in America. During the training, the two shared some shocking statistics related to the lostness of New Mexico, said Cricket Pairett of the BCNM s missions mobilization team, sponsor of the training. Astonishing to Pairett were Slack s observations that another 1,458 churches would be needed in the state (in addition to the state s 2,000-plus congregations) to accommodate all who currently claim no religion; and the average start-up cost for a new evangelical church is $2 million. The New Mexico Baptists who accepted the BCNM s invitation to be trained are determined to make more of an impact on that lostness, Pairett reported. Close to three dozen people took advantage of the opportunity that provided more than 16 hours of instruction from Thursday evening through noon on Friday. Invited were all of the state s directors of missions/regional associational missionaries, church planters, those who receive church-planting funding from the North American Mission Board and other key leaders. The objective of the training, according to a brochure about the initiative, was to help participants gain: A deeper understanding of and commitment to the completion of the Great Commission. An understanding of the missiology, anthropology and theology involved in church planting movements. Practical skills for discovering where the unreached people groups are in your church/ministry field. How to do the basic worldview research needed in order to make disciples of them. Billings said that the training that the New Mexicans received was an abbreviated form of a more extended conference. That s probably why one participant shared, when everyone was asked to write down their thoughts about the training, It was a large amount of information to take in during a short period. Another participant wrote, Best conference I ve been to in a really long time ; and someone else said, I will use this information until Jesus comes. Photo cutline: Missiologist Jim Slack shared several shocking statistics during the GCI Training about the state of the Great Commission in New Mexico. (Loudat/BNM) Photo cutline: Tom Billings overviewed the entire Bible in the first 15 minutes of his opening presentation at the GCI Training April 26, while Dianne Dressor provides interpretation for the deaf. (Loudat/BNM)

6 Youth Speakers Tournament Winners of this year s Youth Speakers Tournament were (from left) Taylor Wapaha, first place; and Mich (Michael) Napier, second place. Sullivan and Torrison Appointed to SBC Committee on Committees NEW ORLEANS (BNM/BP) New Mexicans Rick Sullivan and John Torrison have been appointed by Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright to the SBC s Committee on Committees. Appointments to the key committee, which will assemble in New Orleans just prior to the June annual meeting of the SBC, were announced by Wright, pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga. Sullivan is pastor of First Baptist Church, Artesia; and Torrison is a member of Passage Community Church, Albuquerque, and director of missions for Central Baptist Association. The Committee on Committees has 70 members, two from each of the 35 states and regions with state or regional conventions. The Committee on Committees will nominate members of the Committee on Nominations, who, in turn, nominate trustees to serve on boards of the various entities of the SBC. SBC Bylaw 19 also provides that the Committee on Committees shall nominate all special committees authorized during the sessions of the Convention not otherwise provided for. 3 From N.M. Nominated for SBC Boards NEW ORLEANS (BNM/BP) Nominees to serve on the boards of Southern Baptist Convention entities have been selected by the 2012 SBC Committee on Nominations. They will serve if elected by the messengers to the SBC annual meeting June in New Orleans. Douglas H. McKinnon, a member of Sandia Baptist Church in Albuquerque, will be nominated to serve a second full term to expire in 2017 on the board of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Alan W. McAlister, pastor of Central Baptist Church, Clovis, will be nominated for a term to expire in 2017 on the board of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, replacing Paul S. Tankersley, a member of First Baptist Church, Clovis, who is ineligible to serve another term.

7 Walter D. Bradley, a member of Central Baptist Church, Clovis, will be nominated for a second term to expire in 2016 on the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Members of this year s SBC Committee on Nominations from New Mexico are Hilcias Barrios, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Betania, Albuquerque, and Phil Downs, a member of First Baptist Church, Roswell. Oklahoma Church Helping To hajiilee With Vacation Bible School, Revival To hajiilee Baptist Mission and Memorial Indian Baptist Church of Lawton, Okla., will partner in Vacation Bible School and revival services June 4-8. To hajiilee s pastor, Jerry Johns, and the congregation he leads have been holding their own VBS for the last three years. This year the Indian congregation from Oklahoma has offered to help with the VBS, which will start daily at 10 a.m. Johns has pastored the mission for 28 years. Although he is a bivocational pastor, he has made time to be a part of and has been instrumental in the Native American Pastors Network that was formed years ago by Ken Goode when Goode was director of missions for Central Baptist Association. The community of To hajiilee is better because the mission is there, says Willie Doyeto, who pastors the church in Oklahoma and is a former pastor of Indian Nations Baptist Church in Albuquerque. Although Memorial Indian members have gone on mission trips in the past, they have never ventured outside the state of Oklahoma. The church is looking forward to having the opportunity to move out of its comfort zone and take the gospel to others, Doyeto said. Theirs is a passion for Christ that motivates them to invest in others lives. Coming to New Mexico for the effort will be 20 from the Oklahoma area. Presenting special music during the revival services will be members of Albuquerque Indian Baptist Mission, Albuquerque; Indian Nations, Albuquerque; and other Indian congregations. There will be tribal singing nightly, and children and students will present skits during the evening services. The song leader will be Curtis Wilson, of Muskogee, Okla., who is former minister of music at Indian Nations. Doyeto will be the evangelist. Services will start at 7 p.m. each evening, and everyone is invited. Central Seniors Meet Quarterly By Karen Pilgreen Central Association Senior Adults hosted a St. Patrick s Day event at First Baptist Church, Bosque Farms, on March 17.

8 Central Baptist Association s director of missions, John Torrison, made announcements and took a roll call of churches present; and Mike Fiddler, worship pastor at Bosque Farms First Baptist Church, led in a devotional and prayer. About 75 people were in attendance to enjoy the program that was presented by Clark Henderson, minister of worship arts at Sandia Baptist Church, Albuquerque. He was accompanied by Pat Jones on the viola, singer and drummer Shay Meagle and Nancy Vice at the piano. Using an Irish brogue, Henderson sang some familiar Irish songs and proved to be a unique storyteller as he told some not-so-familiar Irish stories. To close the program, which was warmly received, Henderson led the group in singing a few hymns. Fellowship, with finger foods and drinks, followed. CASA hosts an associational event each quarter, the next being a picnic at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Albuquerque, June 12, beginning at 10 a.m. For more information, call Bill Bankey at (505) , or check out the association s website, Photo cutline: Pat Jones (left), Shay Meagle and Clark Henderson present the program at the St. Patrick s Day event. Not pictured is Nancy Vice. (Karen Pilgreen/CASA) THESE ROADS WITH DR. B Looking for Jesus or What You Can Get? By Joseph Bunce, BCNM Executive Director Are you looking for Jesus or are you looking for what you can get from Him? Have you ever heard the terms jailhouse religion or foxhole faith? These are terms that often receive poor reviews from most critics. Do not judge too quickly, as there certainly are powerful testimonies about these types of conversions. Sure, we have all heard of folks who have claimed faith in hope that they might better their chances before a judge. When I consider my own faith, I have to admit that the reason I turned to Christ was my own fear of hell. Honesty demands that I, with all transparency, must confess that I was looking for what I could get out of Jesus more than I was looking for Jesus. Before we jump into the deep end of the judgment pool on anyone else s motives, perhaps we would do well to consider our own faith. I have been spending a great deal of time studying the heart of man as recorded in the Scripture. Some 805 times the word heart is mentioned, beginning as early as Genesis 6:5. Jesus talked about the blessings of a pure heart in the Sermon on the Mount. Proverbs talks about trusting God with all your heart in chapter 3 verse 5.

9 Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? There is something wonderful about reaching the midway point in life and beyond. Your faith becomes much more honest. I found myself pondering the question last night, Do I really want Jesus or do I want the things that Jesus can give me? There is one miracle mentioned in every Gospel account. It is the miracle of Jesus feeding the multitude. John gives us some insights to our motives in John 6. Jesus took a little boy s lunch and fed the thousands. It is amazing that five barley loaves and two small fish could be multiplied to provide an all-youcan-eat buffet for thousands. Jesus commanded His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee and withdrew Himself after the banquet. The people who had been blessed with a feast wanted to make Jesus king, not because they wanted to love and serve Jesus, but they wanted a Jesus who could whip up a miracle meal faster than a microwave oven and even have leftovers for a midnight snack. John records that the crowd later caught up with Jesus, and He told them, I assure you: You are looking for Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled (verse 26 HCSB). To put it bluntly, Jesus said, You really don t want Me; you want what you can get out of Me. You are after a mess tent, not a Messiah. He followed up by saying they were looking for and desiring the wrong bread. He was the Bread of Life and not merely the town baker. With full disclosure, I have the same wicked heart. I wish that I could say my motives are always pure and what I want is Jesus, not what I can get out of Him, but I would be lying. Yes, I want to go to heaven. Yes, I want my sin forgiven. I want a church family. I want peace with God. I want a life that has meaning. I want a Christian home. Yes, I want all the things that Jesus offers, but do I really want Him or what I can get out of Him? You decide for yourself. My prayer: God, I know that I do not love You the way that I should love You. I also know that there are times when I do not want to love You the way that I should. So with that said, God, please help me to want to love You for You; not for what I want to receive from You. I admit, I am a selfish person and my words speak praises, but my heart is sometimes far from you. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing Lord to You! Amen Thank you, New Mexico Baptists, for allowing me to share my heart. I still have so very far to go in my faith journey. Your prayer is much desired and appreciated. Love, Dr. B Need a smile?

10 Unable to attend the funeral after his father died, a son who lived far away called his brother and told him, I cannot come to Dad s funeral; do something nice for Dad and send me the bill. Later, he got a bill for $200, which he paid. The next month, he got another bill for $200, which he also paid, figuring it was some incidental expense. Bills for $200 kept arriving every month, and finally the man called his brother again to find out what was going on. Well, said the other brother, you said to do something nice for Dad. So I rented him a tuxedo. THANK YOU for your giving to the Cooperative Program and Mission New Mexico! These are mission offerings you can support year-round. Given this year through May 14: Cooperative Program $1,439,690 Mission New Mexico $56,378 Executive Director Bunce has set up a blog (an online Weblog) at or connect with Joseph Bunce on Facebook. He says, I want to use this avenue as a means for you to share some of the great things taking place in your ministries across New Mexico. Check it out and post your comments each week. Inlow Blesses Another Generation By John Loudat New Mexico Baptists two encampments Inlow Baptist Camp and Conference Center in the Manzano Mountains in the middle of the state near Tajique, and Sivells Baptist Retreat and Conference Center in the Sacramento Mountains of southern New Mexico near Cloudcroft are just about ready for the upcoming camping season, thanks to help their staffs have received from a number of eager volunteers since last year s season. One of those volunteers returned to the place where he surrendered to God s call to the ministry, and he brought his family to experience the camp that is still very dear to his heart. Perry Edwards brought his wife, Kelley, and four of their five children to spend their spring break at Inlow in mid-march. Accompanying their parents were sons Joel, 18, Jon, 16, and Jesse, 15; and daughter Jaydee, 13. The couple s oldest son, Jordan, was unable to come, since he was busy preparing to graduate college this month and to get married next month. Perry Edwards attended camp at Inlow at least once every summer while growing up, his mother, Judith Edwards, told the Baptist New Mexican.

11 It was at Inlow that he surrendered to the ministry, during Indian camp, recalled the retired director of the New Mexico WMU and leader of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico s missions mobilization team. Standing under those pine trees and a sky full of stars, he said, But Mama, I just don t know WHAT God wants me to do, said his mom. I told him it was like driving a car at night; our headlights show us just as far as we need to see. As we move forward, God sheds more light on us, she remembers telling him. He always shows us just far enough ahead, but we only see more as we keep moving. The boy surrendered to God s call and has been involved in ministry ever since, while a student at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas; as a US- 2 missionary in New York City; as a student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; and as a hospital chaplain in Nebraska and, now, at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler, Texas. During their week in the Land of Enchantment, the family was successful in getting Inlow s zip line ready for inspection, thanks to help they received on one day when Sandia Baptist Church, Albuquerque s minister to families, Andy Donalson, showed up with another group of volunteers. They cut down trees, drug logs, got muddy, played in the snow and left exhausted but exhilarated by knowing their work had made a difference, Judith Edwards said. N.M. Baptist History Clips There are 10 churches included in the Baptist Convention of New Mexico named Calvary Baptist Albuquerque First Indian Church and Hermosa Church merged, forming what is now Carlisle Community Baptist Church Sivells Baptist Camp opened in BCNM CENTENNIAL Atwood Was BCNM s First Exec (Photo) By Dale and Betty Danielson

12 The Baptist Convention of New Mexico s first executive director (known at the time as state secretary of missions), after the convention wars ended and New Mexico Baptists changed their affiliation from the Northern Baptist Convention to the Southern Baptist Convention in 1912, was a long-suffering, patient healer. Elmer Bugg Atwood was born in Clinton, Ky. There he grew up before graduating from Georgetown College and earning a doctor s degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. Ill health forced him to give up going as a missionary to China. When the doctors told him to go West, the 33- year-old Atwood attended, in 1905, the SBC annual meeting at Kansas City. There he conferred with the New Mexico Baptist Convention s first corresponding secretary, George H. Brewer, although Brewer was a Northern Baptist and the convention he led was affiliated with the Northern Baptist Convention. Soon Atwood was called to Yoakum, Texas, likely on Brewer s recommendation. After two years there, his ill health again demanded a move still farther west, to Alpine, Texas. During his four-year pastorate there, Atwood and his wife mastered Spanish and organized a Spanish church. At age 39, Atwood accepted the call of Highland Park Baptist Church in El Paso. Early in 1912, H.F. Vermillion, the territorial evangelist for the Baptist General Convention of New Mexico, which was aligned with the SBC, led a revival there. This led on July 30, 1912, to the newly organized board of directors of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico calling him as the new convention s first state secretary of missions. Atwood arrived at the BCNM s offices in Clovis on Sept. 1, He turned 40 two weeks later. After trying to visit all the convention s churches before its first annual meeting in November, he decided to rent a five-room brick house on South Edith in Albuquerque for himself, his wife and their two boys. In 1913, the BCNM s board agreed to the move. There were no automobiles and no paved highways in the state at that time, wrote Atwood. It was necessary to go by rail. It took four days to make the journey from Albuquerque to Farmington via Alamosa and Durango. On one occasion, both Atwood and Vermillion had been scheduled to stay in the hotel at Columbus. That was the night of Pancho Villa s raid, when all the hotel s guests were killed. Atwood was blocked from going by an eye inflammation, and Vermillion was held up by a mountain snowstorm. Atwood also wrote of the flood of tuberculars coming to the Rio Grande valley only to die as homeless, friendless strangers in a strange land. Atwood led in the founding of First Baptist Church, Santa Fe, on Aug. 20, The next year, Satan attacked the state with Drouth, removal from the State of some of our best pastors, influenza which closed all churches for the month of October, and war conditions (World War I). When the BCNM asked the Southern Baptist Education Commission about our starting a college, a committee visited New Mexico. Atwood wrote that they recommended no school be undertaken until $100,000 could be raised. To this was added $100,000 as a gift from the

13 Southern Baptist Convention. This plan was adopted and in process of execution when I resigned and left the state. In 1919, Atwood went to be president of Wayland Baptist College, Plainview, Texas. After five years there at age 51 he accepted a professorship in religious education at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, where he spent the remainder of his working life. Dale and Betty Danielson, longtime New Mexico Baptist historians, are members of First Baptist Church, Albuquerque. MINISTERIAL MOVES Dryden to Estancia Immanuel On April 16 the membership of Immanuel Southern Baptist Church in Estancia voted to extend a call to Cory Dryden to be their pastor. He accepted their call and will assume the pulpit on June 17. Dryden has been pastor of First Baptist Church in Chama for the past six years. He and his family are originally from Montana. The church in Estancia lost their previous pastor, Albert L. Hagan, on Feb. 19, 2011, following a long battle with cancer. While still in treatment, Hagan arranged to have Bernie Moraga fill the pulpit during his absence. Moraga agreed to continue as interim pastor until the search process for a permanent pastor was completed. The members are grateful for Moraga s care and friendship. The 14-member pastor search committee studied God s Word regarding the biblical standards for pastor and prayed for months before the first résumé was read. On March 25 the committee voted unanimously to recommend Dryden to the congregation. Dryden and his wife, Brenda, will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary this summer. They have three sons: Lucas, Levi and Logan. Churches that wish to announce their new pastor or ministerial staff member are encouraged to send biographical information, picture and the date he or she will begin their new ministry, to the Baptist New Mexican. Milan s Garland Moore Expects Confirmation at NAAF Meeting NEW ORLEANS (BP) Attendance at the National African American Fellowship s annual meeting will break records as the Southern Baptist Convention seems poised to elect its first black president, NAAF President James Dixon Jr. predicts.

14 Up to 1,000 messengers may be in attendance for NAAF s various sessions June in conjunction with the SBC annual meeting June 19-20, said Dixon. Dixon expects the organization to confirm Garland Moore, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Milan, as leader for its Mountain region. Joining expected SBC presidential nominee Fred Luter at the annual banquet will be leaders of several SBC entities and its one auxiliary, including presidents of the SBC Executive Committee, Frank Page; LifeWay Christian Resources, Thom Rainer; GuideStone Financial Resources, O.S. Hawkins; and the North American Mission Board, Kevin Ezell; Ken Winter, an International Mission Board vice president; and Wanda Lee, executive director and treasurer of Woman s Missionary Union. NAAF, at its annual meeting, will present its new strategic plan, Dixon said, as well as affirm new officers and regional directors and adopt changes to the NAAF constitution and policies. Photo cutline: Garland Moore of Milan, shown here at last year s SBC, expects to be confirmed as a regional leader of NAAF next month in New Orleans. NEW BOOKS These are announcements, not advertisements of new books. Listings are not to be construed as endorsements of the books. LIFESOURCE, LifeWay Christian Resources. Sunday school groups are an extremely effective step in the disciple-making process in a local church and for connecting people to the local church over the long run. This 13-week, video-driven Bible study resource helps churches start new groups, while helping a future leader get on-the-job training. The learner guide will help every member prepare for the Bible study times while providing a class plan for the group leader to follow. MINISTRY KILLERS AND HOW TO DEFEAT THEM, by Charles Stone. Bethany House Publishers. Deftly analyzing and applying the latest previously unpublished research, Charles Stone has identified major causes of frustration and burnout among pastors and church leaders. By learning to open up with vulnerability, own up with humility, show up with integrity, and speak up with courage, you can experience healing and renewed joy in service to Christ, your family and your church. FLOURISH, by Catherine Hart Weber, Ph.D. Bethany House Publishers. Are you languishing rather than flourishing? You were designed for more than just struggling to survive. Weber integrates the best in faith-based positive

15 psychology with biblical wisdom to show you how to thrive. She provides practical ways to cultivate positive emotions, leading to well-being, spiritual growth, strong relationships and a deeper intimacy with God. Discover how to have more love, joy, gratitude, peace and hope and less disconnection, stress and worry. Learn to flourish to be the person God created you to be. HEART MEDICINE A certain bathroom scale manufacturer was very proud of the new model being introduced at the trade fair: It s calibrated to one one-hundredth of a pound; it can measure your height in feet or meters; it gives you a readout via an LED or human voice simulator; and that s not all... Very impressive, interrupted a not-too-slender home-furnishings sales rep, but before I place an order I ll have to try it out. No sooner had the sales rep stepped on the scale than a loud, very humansounding voice issued forth: One at a time, please, one at a time. Judge: Have you ever held up a train? Outlaw: Now and then. Judge: Where have you held up trains? Outlaw: Here and there. Judge: What things have you taken from passengers? Outlaw: This and that. Judge: Sheriff, lock this man up! Outlaw: Hey! When do I get out of jail? Judge: Oh, sooner or later. (From The 365-Day Clean Joke Book, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.)