Today’s From the States features items from:
Florida Baptist Convention
Baptist New Mexican
Baptist and Reflector (Tennessee)
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Fla. church celebrates
growth in two locations
By Margaret Colson
TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. (Florida Baptist Convention) — For years his wife had told him, “God is going to do something really important in your life one day, and He’s going to use you in a big way.”
Bob Rayburn listened to his wife, Kelley, and after years of wandering from God, he said, “I figured it was time to be a man and give it all to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.”
Soon after making that decision, Rayburn was baptized by Danny Bennett, campus pastor, Calvary East Lake Baptist Church in Tarpon Springs. The church is the first satellite church campus launched by Calvary Baptist Church, Clearwater, which describes itself as “One church. Two locations.” Today, Rayburn and his wife are active volunteers at Calvary East Lake Church.
Launched on Easter Sunday 2013, Calvary East Lake Church began with 100 people from Calvary’s main campus committing to drive about 13 miles north, on the same road, to begin the satellite campus.
On the Saturday before Easter, congregational volunteers hosted an egg drop for community children. Expecting a crowd in the populous area, leaders printed 1,000 wristbands for children. They quickly ran out. By day’s end, an estimated 3,500 to 4,000 people had participated in the community event.
The next day, as it opened its doors for the first time, Calvary East Lake Church welcomed more than 1,000 people in two services, exceeding expectations.
“People were sitting on the floor. Three people were sitting on two seats,” recalled Bennett.
Since that time, momentum has not waned. Over the past year, worship services averaged 600, and baptisms reached approximately 100.
“The biggest God-blowing-your-mind moment,” said Bennett, is realizing that in its short history, Calvary East Lake Church has averaged one profession of faith per week.
Leaders at Calvary Baptist Church had discussed and prayed about starting a satellite campus north of the main campus for four to five years, Bennett said.
Starting a satellite church is a “great way to advance the kingdom of God,” said Ervin McWilson, associational director, Suncoast Baptist Association.
“The best way to reach people is to bring the gospel to their community. Our county is one of the most densely populated and least churched in our state. There were literally tens of thousands of people within driving distance of our East Lake campus who are far more likely to be reached by a church in their own community than by a church much further away,” said Willy Rice, senior pastor, Calvary Baptist Church.
Also, church members “are far more effective at reaching and inviting their neighbors when the church gathering is actually in their neighborhood,” he continued.
One benefit of launching a satellite campus is that community residents are already familiar with the “brand” of the existing church, said Bennett. Also, the main campus and satellite campus of the church share a vision, mission and resources.
For example, when it was started, Calvary East Lake Church had a “leadership pipeline” from the main Calvary campus, Bennett said, allowing church members the opportunity to serve and be a part of the launch.
Twice each Sunday Rice preaches on the main campus, and his messages are streamed by video to the East Lake campus. Just in case the simulcast goes down, Bennett has Rice’s sermon notes in hand so he is prepared to deliver the message if needed. Then, each Tuesday all staff members from both campuses meet on the main campus for a collaborative meeting.
In leading one church in two locations, “clarity is important so that everyone understands the strategy and works together for the same common goal,” said Rice.
Even with all that the two campuses share in common, there are some subtle differences. Demographics for the East Lake campus tend to run a little younger, reflecting its community. East Lake music features a worship band, rather than a choir and orchestra.
As the first church in Clearwater and the first Baptist church in Pinellas County, Calvary Baptist Church is rich in history. Still, it is positioning itself for the future.
During its 150th anniversary in the spring of 2016, Rice challenged the church to move from “addition” to “multiplication” over the next ten years. He has set goals to plant 100 churches internationally and 25 churches nationally, to help revitalize 20 churches and to launch five additional satellite campuses, with the next satellite campus set for Seminole in 2017.
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This article appeared in the Florida Baptist Witness, newsjournal of the Florida Baptist Convention (flbaptist.org). Margaret Colson is a writer in Marietta, Ga., and executive director of Baptist Communicators Association.
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‘We are praying,’ N.M.
Baptists tell lawmakers
By Kevin Parker
SANTA FE, N.M. (Baptist New Mexican) — One hundred twenty Baptist New Mexicans and New Mexico legislators gathered in Santa Fe to voice this promise to elected officials: “We are praying for you.”
The annual Baptist Convention of New Mexico Legislative Breakfast no doubt signals the presence and interest of New Mexico’s Southern Baptists in the activities of the legislature in session. While not intended to hound legislators about their views and votes, the event does make clear Baptist views on issues before the legislature, like assisted suicide, abortion and gambling, among other issues. The event ended with a public prayer, but also invited legislators to provide written personal requests for later private prayer.
Twenty-nine of those in attendance were elected officials. Others attended to host legislators at the breakfast or to encourage those who came. The free event was hosted by the convention’s Christian Life Committee and funded by BCNM churches through the Cooperative Program.
The BCNM’s executive director offered the keynote address. Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez attended as a guest and spoke briefly. Governor Suzanna Martinez was also invited, but was unable to attend. As part of the program, every legislator and government officer in attendance is individually recognized and introduced.
A group of the New Mexico Singing Churchmen sang before and during the event. The group consists of ministers from across the state who enjoy singing together. The group also sang in the House of Representatives chamber and in the Senate chamber following the breakfast. Jay McCollum, CLC chairman, gave the invocation at the opening of the House of Representatives’ session for the day.
Also during the breakfast, the CLC announced their choice for the individual to receive this year’s New Mexico Statesman of the Year award. The award recognizes a New Mexican who has significantly influenced or served the state in the area of conservative moral and political values. Committee member and former Lieutenant Governor, Walter Bradley, of Clovis, received the award. Though Bradley is a member of the committee, the group had carefully arranged his selection without his knowledge.
A note enclosed with a gift box for every legislator and legislative officer indicated that New Mexico’s Baptists span every district from Rodeo to Clayton and from Shiprock to Jal. The note intended to remind legislators that whether they are Republicans or Democrats, New Mexico Baptists live in their districts. Each elected official received a box containing O.S. Hawkin’s book, The Daniel Code, and a practical solar-powered Luci light. Legislator gifts were provided by the Cooperative Program, as well. All 114 gift boxes were delivered directly to the Roundhouse (the state capitol building) by a team from First Baptist Church, Santa Fe.
The night before the breakfast, the CLC hosted a Legislative Briefing and dinner at First Baptist Church, Santa Fe. The church provided the meal for the meeting that included Guy Clark, speaking on gambling issues facing legislators, and Senator Bill Sharer, speaking on the process through which bills pass to become laws and about prevention of assisted suicide and prevention of late-term and born-alive abortions. Seventy-four people attended the briefing.
The convention’s Information Service Team provides staff support for the event. Team members present were team leader Kevin Parker and team members Joy Pittman and James Trevillian. The elected members of the Christian Life Committee are Jay McCollum, Gallup (chairman); Mark Burton, Albuquerque; Gavin Vaughan, Artesia; Walter Bradley, Clovis; Leon Nall, Portales; and Wanda Hiett, Albuquerque.
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This article appeared in the Baptist New Mexican (bcnm.com/bnm), newsjournal of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico. Kevin Parker is editor of the Baptist New Mexican.
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Tenn. association trains
Hispanic pastors
By Connie Davis Bushey
SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. (Baptist and Reflector) — With only two Hispanic Baptist congregations in this area and about 10,000 Hispanic residents, opportunities abound to reach Hispanics here with the Gospel, said Luis Lopez of the Robertson County Baptist Association (RCBA).
Also the Hispanic population here is expected to grow 30 percent in the next five years — to 13,000, added Lopez, coordinator for Hispanic work of RCBA.
“The harvest is here. We just need to reap it,” he stated.
Baptist Center for Theological Training
“God has already brought the Hispanic population here; they’re hearing the Gospel but we need to raise more leaders” to plant churches “not only here but in other places,” he explained.
To work toward that, Lopez has started a seminary in the Spanish language to develop leaders — the Baptist Center for Theological Training (Centro Bautista de Capacitación Teológica).
The seminary has 14 students currently learning hermeneutics or the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation of the Bible. The personal stories of some of the students are amazing, he added. For instance, two young men who aren’t yet 18 years old so they can’t receive credit, are attending anyway, said Lopez.
After a presentation by one of them who is 17, the class and instructor were moved to tears, he described.
“What that tells you is that God is calling people and we just have to give them an opportunity,” he added.
Baptist Center for Theological Training is sponsored by three Baptist churches, including the two Hispanic Baptist churches in the association — Living Stones Baptist Church (Iglesia Bautista Piedras Vivas), Springfield, and Living Water Baptist Church (Iglesia Bautista Hispana Rios de Agua Viva), Springfield — and the Hispanic congregation of First Baptist Church, Clarksville, though it is in another association.
HiSET classes
Lopez said he was so blessed when he started serving here that RCBA already had a strong ministry for Hispanics and other ethnics — English for Language Learners classes. The ministry draws about 100 ethnics from several countries weekly to Springfield Baptist Church, Springfield. RCBA has offered the ELL ministry for 18 years.
Yet Lopez saw a need and just a few months after he began serving RCBA was able to add HiSET (High School Equivalency Test formerly GED) classes in Spanish for the first time in this area. The HiSET classes are offered with help from a government agency, Workforce Essentials of the Tennessee and United States Department of Labor.
Lopez reported that the HiSET classes at Springfield Baptist are the most successful in the state, according to Workforce Essentials.
Though only offered for one semester, 12 HiSET students have passed at least one of the tests. The HiSET tests are very difficult.
The great success stems from the fact that the teachers show love to the students and the students can study in their native language, he noted. Lopez hopes these graduates will continue on with their education at the Baptist Center for Theological Training.
He is inspired by students like the grandmother who takes a HiSET class to set an example for her grandchildren.
HiSET student Bartolo Eduardo Perez Juarez said the class, which he learned about through a flyer mailed to his home, was an answer to prayer. Because it is offered in Spanish, it is much easier for him than if it were in English, which is his second language, he explained. Juarez added that this class will help him study welding and “have a better life.”
Betsy Swann of Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Cross Plains, is one of the HiSET teachers. She studied Spanish in college and then served overseas as a missionary. She said, God “brought me back home. Then I found Spanish-speaking folks right here in my backyard and I can serve the nations here.”
Spanish classes
A new ministry of Robertson County Baptist Association is a Spanish class for English speakers being held at the city library, said Lopez. It is drawing about 40 business people and others and is held at the library so people who aren’t involved in church will come.
This ministry, like the others, is “an outreach” to the community, he explained.
The five teachers, who are volunteers, “want to be able to share the Gospel,” he added.
Leaders
“I love this state and I’m very grateful for what God has done in my life here,” said Lopez.
He has been a Tennessee Baptist for 33 years. Lopez was born in Venezuela and then came to the U.S. to study at the University of Tennessee, Martin, where he made his profession of faith though he was witnessed to in Venezuela, he said. He was ordained to the ministry while there by Eastside Baptist Church, Martin.
He returned to Venezuela to work and serve as a bivocational minister for 11 years and came back to the U.S. to study again, earning an MBA. Then he was called by the Bledsoe Baptist Association, based in Gallatin, to minister there. He started a Hispanic church and then served for 17 years at LifeWay Christian Resources, Nashville.
Robert Tyson, director of missions of RCBA, said he is grateful that churches are “catching the vision of impacting their communities for Jesus Christ. The churches raising their support to RCBA is making this ministry to Hispanics possible. Brother Lopez is a great help to our churches.” Also assisting the church planting efforts are funds from the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
The current focus of Lopez is to see churches planted and strengthened as they become “a representation of their communities.”
Christians, who are seeing secular groups become more diverse, should lead the way in transforming communities “because we’ve got the Gospel. We’ve got the one thing that connects us more than anyone else,” he proclaimed. “Jesus Christ makes a big difference in us and that changes everything.”
There will continue to be a need for Hispanic and language churches, he added, but they should reach out to English-speakers “because we need to reach more people … whether they are white, black, or yellow.” This approach also helps language churches reach their younger generations who are not so tied to the native culture of their parents, noted Lopez.
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This article appeared in the Baptist and Reflector (http://tnbaptist.org/BRNews.asp), newsjournal of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Connie Davis Bushey is news editor of the Baptist and Reflector.
EDITOR’S NOTE: From the States, published each Tuesday by Baptist Press, relays news and feature stories from state Baptist papers and other publications on initiatives by Baptist churches, associations and state conventions in evangelism, church planting and Great Commission outreach, including partnership missions. Reports about churches, associations and state conventions responding to the International Mission Board’s call to embrace the world’s unengaged, unreached people groups also are included in From the States, along with reports about church, associational and state convention initiatives in conjunction with the North American Mission Board’s call to Southern Baptist churches to broaden their efforts in starting new churches and satellite campuses. The items appear in Baptist Press as originally published.
