Baptist Press Stories for Aug. 3 2012 --------------------------------------- 2,000+ attend NAMB's 'Send' church planting conference http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38418 Black church leaders explore missions http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38419 Luter exhorts leaders to commitment & renewal http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38420 Olympic high jumper sees God in opportunity http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38421 Katrina evacuee is street pastor at Olympics http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38422 Miami supt. backs down; church can meet http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38423 ADF warns colleges: Don't boot Chick-fil-A http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38428 Chick-fil-A gained from critics' PR backfire http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38424 CULTURE DIGEST: VeggieTales sold to DreamWorks Animation http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38425 FIRST-PERSON: Make election season a season of prayer http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38426 FIRST-PERSON: Sin's role in Aurora http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38427 FIRST-PERSON: Escucha Antes de Responder http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38417 --------------------------------------- 2,000+ attend NAMB's 'Send' church planting conference By Mickey Noah Aug. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38418 WOODSTOCK, Ga. (BP) -- More than 2,000 church planters, pastors and other Southern Baptist leaders -- triple the number originally predicted -- attended the North American Mission Board's Send North America Conference at First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga. "It's a brand new day for the North American Mission Board," NAMB President Kevin Ezell said as he welcomed the attendees. "Our national strategy is Send North America, which is not only about church planting but also evangelism and church revitalization." A key intent of the conference was to help mobilize churches to the North American mission field so they can have a more personal connection to and involvement with church planters. Those attending included more than 300 pastors and more than 600 church planters. NAMB originally planned for 800 at the July 30-31 event, but registration eventually topped 2,200. The meeting drew attendees from all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. NAMB's Aaron Coe, vice president for mobilization and equipping, told an enthusiastic audience that the conference was about only one thing: Jesus. "This is a historic night as we kick off this conference," Coe said. "It's been in the making for nine months. There are people in this room from many tribes across the Southern Baptist Convention -- denominational representatives, state convention partners, church planters and churches. But this conference isn't really about church planting. It's about Jesus." Coe shared NAMB's goal: the net gain of 5,000 new SBC congregations across North America by 2022, while seeing the church "death" rate -- on average about 890 churches a year -- reduced through aggressive church revitalization. "Send North America is not just a big church strategy, it's an every church strategy," Coe said. Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, kicked off Monday night's program as the conference's first guest speaker. "In the last 10 years, the number of self-proclaiming Christians has declined by 10 percent," Stetzer said. "I don't have to tell you that the world is growing more hostile to the message we bring." Stetzer quoted Christian author Phil Yancey, who claims in principle it's already "Saturday" on planet earth. But Stetzer told the church planters, pastors and others that "we are not sharing Christ and planting churches like we need to do if it is indeed Saturday." Louie Giglio, founding pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta, asked attendees, "Has the resurrection worn off in me and you? Are you still flipping out that Christ is alive? Because if you're not, don't plant a church." Workshops throughout Tuesday covered topics such as "Reaching the Nations in North America," "Knowing Your Mission Context," "How to be an Effective Sending Church" and "Rural Church Planting." Other topics covered evangelism, bivocational pastoring and planting. A separate track featured content for minister's wives. In his message during a general session, Johnny Hunt, pastor of the Atlanta-area First Baptist Woodstock, reminded those in attendance that "oftentimes, we don't need more instruction. We just need more encouragement in what we've already learned." Hunt, a former SBC president, said church revitalization is his personal passion, along with church planting. "As D.L. Moody said, unless we stab American cities in the heart with the Gospel, we will lose this country," Hunt said. "In addition to planting new churches, sometimes we need to revitalize existing churches." Representing NAMB, Hunt soon will lead revitalization conferences in eight states. Vance Pitman, one of many pastors who have learned from Hunt, challenged those at the conference to see God's bigger story at play in the world. Pitman launched Hope Church in Las Vegas just two weeks after 9/11. The church was a plant of First Baptist Woodstock. "Why aren't Baptists planting churches like they should?" Pitman asked. "We need to get so broken over this world and get on our faces on the floor before God. We don't need to come up with a plan and take it to Him. His plan is better than ours." Pitman told the audience that God always has something bigger in mind when He plants a new church. "The church being born is not the finish line, it's the starting line," he said. "Too many times today we think the goal is the church. The goal is not the church plant. It's just the beginning." David Platt, author and pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala., said successful church planting is about making disciples. "We come up with all kinds of methods for multiplying churches," Platt said. "We give money, we start campuses, we use technologies like DVDs and satellites. What if we had only what a lot of our brothers and sisters around the world have -- only the spirit of God, the Word of God and the people of God? "That would still be sufficient to see the Gospel spread like wildfire across North America," Platt said. "Do we really believe that, or have we become so dependent on our money, technology, creativity and ingenuity that we have missed how the church is multiplied through making disciples?" J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Durham, N.C., told conference participants that a "proper vision of the majesty of Jesus will help sustain church planters as they face difficulties. Effective sending is the result of seeing Jesus properly," Greear said. "When we see the Gospel properly, church planting will take care of itself." While the conference speakers and crowd largely reflected a younger generation of Southern Baptists, it was the oldest -- John Bisagno, a pastor for 60 years -- who received the longest, loudest standing ovation. Bisagno retired five years ago from First Baptist Church in Houston. He spent an hour counseling young church planters on the importance of hard work and prayer, balance across ministry and family, keeping dreams in line with reality, how leadership is earned and how methods of ministry can change but not the Gospel. The second night of the conference was highlighted with the commissioning of 23 new NAMB missionaries. Next year's Send North America Conference will be at the Dallas-area Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, with dates to be announced. --30-- Mickey Noah writes for the North American Mission Board. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- Black church leaders explore missions By Jane Middleton & Don Graham Aug. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38419 RIDGECREST, N.C. (BP) -- Standing before a room of African American church leaders in Ridgecrest, N.C., Jonathan Marshall* cleared his throat and began his pitch: "My topic is 'Young Black Men in Missions,'" the 26-year-old IMB missionary said with a grin, "but I'm the only one, so I'm going to talk about myself." Marshall isn't kidding. Of the nearly 5,000 Southern Baptist missionaries serving around the world through the International Mission Board, only 27 are black. Of that number, Marshall is the lone single male currently on the field, working to share the Gospel in North Africa and the Middle East. And he was one of five active African American IMB missionaries who spoke at the conference, also known as Black Church Week, July 23-27 at the LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina. Some 1,200 people from predominantly black Southern Baptist churches traveled from across the country to hear from speakers like Marshall. The theme for this year's conference was "Here am I, send me," a reference to Isaiah 6:8. "Do you really mean that?" asked Fred Luter, Southern Baptist Convention president, as he addressed the conference Tuesday evening. "Do you really mean it when you say, 'Here am I, Lord, send me?'" Marshall meant it. What's more, he believes many more young black men like himself are willing to make Jesus' name known among the nations. Clinton Kilonzo, 22, listened intently as Marshall laid out Southern Baptists' need for greater numbers of African American missionaries. Kilonzo, a native of Kenya, had flown to the United States only a few days before to begin pursuing an M.B.A. at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. After hearing how Marshall was able to use his own financial expertise to do missions, Kilonzo said he wants to do something similar with his degree. "I know God opened the door for me to go to school, so now I'm so sure that's what He wants me to do," Kilonzo said. "When Americans go [overseas], it's OK, but their story is different. But when someone from [a national's] own country comes, they say, 'This person was like me, but they transformed.'" Keith Jefferson, IMB's African-American missional church strategist, said black Southern Baptists are passionate about missions but many lack an outlet for that passion. International missions can sometimes be an especially hard sell, he said. Between the distance, language barrier, expense of travel and often overwhelming needs at home, the idea of traveling halfway around the world to tell someone about Jesus seems impossible. IMB's goal as part of the LifeWay-sponsored conference, Jefferson said, was to educate black church leaders about the need for international missionaries and help them discover opportunities to get involved. Missions-focused breakout sessions led by African American missionaries like Marshall helped showcase such opportunities. "People don't go if they don't know," Ken Foy, pastor of New Life Ministry Baptist Church in New Orleans, said. Foy explained that he made sure to bring some of his church members to the conference this year. "I want them to go back and testify what their experience was like, just to create some encouragement for others to come next year.... Part of that will be missions as it relates to taking the Gospel outside our immediate area." IMB worker Marie Edwards* encouraged others in her breakout session to go by sharing about her own experiences serving in North Africa and the Middle East. "If I think about what I've been doing the past seven years [overseas] and I think about what I could have been doing in America, there's no competition," Edwards said. "If you feel like God's calling you to go or to send someone from your church ... it can happen. We can send you overseas. We can help you mobilize your church to get a trip together, and we would welcome all of you." Students were encouraged to answer God's Great Commission call as well. Maina Mwaura, youth minister at Greenforest Community Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga., spoke to the conference's youth about "being called" to ministry. "The question is this, students: Are you ready to see God do something in your life that's bigger than you?" Mwaura asked. During an invitation at the end of Mwaura's challenge, 14 high school students walked to the front of the auditorium to answer a call to ministry. Mwaura was not always so adamant about missions. "I never thought I would really do foreign missions," he said. "I just never really had a heart for it." But his interest was sparked in 2011 when Jefferson spoke at his church. Five minutes into the presentation, Mwaura said he felt the Holy Spirit say, "What about you?" Now, in addition to speaking to youth groups, Mwaura is preparing to join a short-term missions team in South Africa this summer, an exploratory trip that will lay the foundation for a second trip accompanied by 30-40 youth. "When God gives you a burden for the whole world, you just go," Mwaura said. "Knowledge gets you out of the door to go do it." Jefferson led an IMB presentation during the conference's Wednesday evening worship service that included a Skype conversation with IMB missionaries George and Geraldine Smith who have served in sub-Saharan Africa for more than 12 years. "We wanted to show the congregation just how easy it is to have a conversation with any missionary throughout the world," Jefferson said. "To know that our church can sponsor somebody and to be able to have that relationship on a Sunday morning where we can take a morning to talk to the person that we sponsor -- that was cool," Foy said. A.B. Vines, pastor of New Seasons Church in Spring Valley, Calif., and president of the SBC's National African American Fellowship, said awareness is key. "I believe that the more we put missions out there, the more people will realize that missions is not a scary thing, and that once we embrace it, we can do the Great Commission." --30-- *Name changed. Jane Middleton is an intern with the International Mission Board and Don Graham is an IMB senior writer. To learn more about how a church can be involved in international missions, visit imb.org or call 800-999-3113. -- End of story -- Luter exhorts leaders to commitment & renewal By Russ Rankin Aug. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38420 RIDGECREST, N.C. (BP) -- Southern Baptist Convention President Fred Luter exhorted African American believers to heighten their denominational involvement while also seeking spiritual renewal as he addressed the Black Church Leadership and Family Conference at the LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center. "They [many SBC leaders] fully expect me to nominate more African Americans to serve on SBC boards and committees," Luter said in voicing his commitment to Southern Baptist diversity. "Brothers and sisters, I'm excited about that," he said. "But let me be clear. You and your churches must be involved in the Cooperative Program and your local associations for me to do that. It's the way the SBC operates." Luter, pastor of New Orleans' Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, told the 1,200 attendees at the conference, also known as Black Church Week, they must first be fully renewed by God before they can expect to be fully utilized by God. "There are things the Lord requires of you and expects of you if you say 'Here am I, Lord; send me,'" said Luter, who preached twice during the July 23-27 gathering at the North Carolina conference center. "There's not a day that goes by when we are not sifted and tried by our tormenter," Luter said. "None of us are exempt from attacks of the enemy. You can be single, saved and satisfied. You can be widowed and wonderful. You can be an upstanding usher or a devoted deacon. No one is exempt. There is no education or vocation which exempts you. The enemy will do all he can to attack the minds of the sons and daughters of God. "If you are going to be victorious, faithful to God and go where God sends you, you must have a renewed mind," Luter said, drawing from Philippians 2 to describe how a renewed mind prepares a believer for a life of victory and obedience: -- A renewed mind should help you think about your Christ (Phil. 2:5). "In other words," Luter said, "when I think about the goodness of Jesus and all He did for me, my soul shouts." -- A renewed mind should help you think about your choices (Phil. 2:7). "Jesus didn't allow His heavenly position and reputation to affect His earthy responsibilities," Luter said. "If you want God to send you, you need to have your decisions and choices pleasing to your heavenly Father." -- A renewed mind should help you think about the cross (Phil. 2:8). "Every time we take the Lord's Supper at Franklin Avenue, it is an opportunity to turn our attention and remind us about the cross and the anguish He went through for us," Luter said. Among the highlights of the Week were 40 professions of faith made during the CentriFuge camp held concurrently for children and youth. Black Church Week has been held for nearly 20 years and is the foremost opportunity for leaders and laypeople from predominantly African American congregations to join together for fellowship, study and worship. Individuals from 27 states attended the conference with breakout training sessions led by nearly 70 leaders from LifeWay Christian Resources, Southern Baptist churches, the International and North American mission boards, state conventions and SBC seminaries. Jeffrey Curtis, LifeWay's program director for the week, said the annual gathering serves as a vital connection and often a starting point between African American congregations and the SBC. "Black Church Week is such an important event because it helps create an awareness of who LifeWay is and the many biblical solutions and services we have for urban and black congregations," he said. "Also, the week creates a better understanding of who Southern Baptists are and the scope of the Southern Baptist Convention." Each year approximately half of the attendees are first-timers, Curtis said. "We hear it repeatedly each year that they weren't aware there are African Americans serving with the International Mission Board. They didn't know the work of NAMB or SBC disaster relief. They didn't know about the six SBC seminaries and how the Cooperative Program works [for supporting national and international missions and ministries]," Curtis said. "Awareness is huge, not just for LifeWay but for the SBC." NAMB President Kevin Ezell greeted the attendees via video and expressed his excitement at the increase in ethnic church plants. More than half of the SBC churches planted in North America last year were ethnic congregations, he said. --30-- Russ Rankin is a writer for LifeWay Christian Resources. For information on the 2013 Black Church Leadership and Family Conference, July 22-26 at Ridgecrest, go to www.lifeway.com/africanamerican. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- Olympic high jumper sees God in opportunity By Tim Ellsworth Aug. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38421 EDITOR'S NOTE: Tim Ellsworth, editor of BP Sports and director of news and media relations at Union University, is in London to cover the 2012 Olympics in tandem with Baptist Press' London bureau. Baptist Press will publish features about Christian athletes in the Olympics, recap results of their competition and cover Baptist initiatives to share the Gospel during the Summer Games and in London's rich cultural milieu. LONDON (BP) -- The fact that Jesse Williams is even on the U.S. Olympic team may seem like a fluke to some. The U.S. high jumper finished fourth in the Olympic trials earlier this summer, and only the top three qualify for the Olympics. But third-place finisher Nick Ross didn't have the Olympic 'A' standard necessary, 7'7", so Williams squeaked in. "For me, I feel like this is my opportunity that God has given me to get things done," Williams said of the Olympics. "But at the same time, I know that God has a plan for me. And I know that whatever happens is God's plan." In order to advance to the Olympics, competitors must have jumped the "A" standard at some point in the season. While Williams finished fourth in the Olympic trials, he, and not Ross, had met the "A" standard earlier in the season. Williams attributed his poor showing in the Olympic trials to an ankle injury he suffered the week before while playing basketball. Though the ankle was fine while he was jumping, he said the incident affected his mental preparation. "I'm motivated more than ever to show that that performance is not the typical Jesse Williams jumping," he said. "I'm motivated to go out there and show everybody that I can do much better." Williams certainly has done better in the past. Though he didn't medal in Beijing in 2008, he won gold at the 2011 World Outdoor Championships. He is considered one of the favorites to win the competition in London. Jumping was an activity that always came easy for Williams, even as a child in North Carolina. "No matter what sport I did, I could always out-leap anybody on whatever team it was," Williams said. "Any game that I played with other kids around the block growing up, I always tried to change it into a jumping game, because I knew I could win." He set up obstacles to jump over to challenge himself and see what he could do. Sometimes he was successful. Sometimes he hurt himself with crazy stunts. Inspired by the athletes he saw as his family regularly watched the Olympics in his childhood, Williams knew he wanted to be an Olympian himself. Jumping wasn't the only thing that has been with Williams since childhood. His faith in the Lord also blossomed at an early age. He grew up in a home with Christian parents, attended church regularly and listened every night at bedtime as his mother read him a Bible story. Williams began asking his mother questions, and she told him how he could have eternity with Christ in heaven. He made a profession of faith as a young boy. "It may be, in a sense -- compared to some people's stories about how they met Christ -– kind of boring, but I find it as a complete blessing to be in that situation," Williams said. That trust in the Lord that Williams developed early has helped him throughout his life. As an athlete, especially an Olympian, that trust gives him a peace and a confidence. That's important for Williams, because the Games come only once every four years and bring with them tremendous pressure to succeed. "I kind of look at that pressure and see it, but at the same time, I know in the back of my head that it doesn't matter," Williams said. "I'm going out there and competing for the Lord. No matter what happens, I'm not going to get flustered. I'm going to go out and have a good time and just represent Him." He also learned another lesson along the way that he's brought with him to London. "I'm not going to play basketball before," Williams said. "That's going to be a big help." --30-- Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- Katrina evacuee is street pastor at Olympics By Ava Thomas Aug. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38422 EDITOR'S NOTE: Baptist Press' London bureau, in tandem with Tim Ellsworth, editor of BP Sports and director of news and media relations at Union University, will be providing coverage of London Olympics. Baptist Press will publish features about Christian athletes in the Olympics, recap results of their competition and cover initiatives to share the Gospel during the Summer Games and within the U.K.'s cultural milieu. LONDON (BP) -- Bernard McGraw paused when he saw the man at the pump stacking pennies on the hood of his car. "Hey, man -- do you have a quarter? I'm trying to buy a gallon of gas." McGraw had one. He tucked it in the man's hand, along with a business card for his Creole restaurant. "If you're hungry, please come, and I'll feed you because of the love Jesus has for me and for you.'" A few days later, the man came. "I told him I've been where he is -- I'm still stacking pennies on my car sometimes," McGraw said. "But now I have a relationship with Christ that gets me through the hard times." It's a relationship that kept McGraw from committing suicide in the darkest hours of Hurricane Katrina. It's one that guided him to open a restaurant in San Antonio, and one that's now brought him to London as a street pastor for the Summer Olympics. "At the end of the day, I want to reach that one person who can't go anymore. Because I was there," he said. McGraw, his wife Charlene and six sons lived in New Orleans until Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Four days after the storm hit, the family waited on the corner of St. Charles and Napoleon avenues for a bus to evacuate them. "When the bus came, they said, 'Women and children first.' I never thought I'd hear anything like that in my life. I let my wife and kids go," he said. Their bus headed for the Superdome. The next bus, which McGraw got on, headed to the airport instead. And McGraw said he was headed for a meeting with the Lord. "There was no way for me to communicate with my family. I had no idea where they were or what was going to happen, and I began to hear nightmare stories of what was happening in the Superdome. There was no law and order, and people were being raped," McGraw said. "I had never contemplated suicide before, but I did then. I had no hope, no light and no help. I said, 'Lord, if you are who you say you are, I'm not worthy, but I need you.'" And God showed up, he said. "I was filled with the Holy Spirit. My whole attitude changed," McGraw said. A few days later, after a flight to Houston and what he said was a God-ordained phone call, McGraw found his family. They were in Houston, too. "They never got to the Superdome. God protected them, and they spent the night in an alleyway and ended up getting picked up by a bus headed to Houston," McGraw said. "I went down to the Astrodome and started looking for them." He found them, and they began to make a new life in Texas. And he found a new life with Christ, he said. "God laid it on my heart to start a Creole restaurant on the south side of town," McGraw said. "I'd never cooked like that before. I mean, I cooked, but so did everyone in New Orleans. I didn't cook any better than my neighbor." But God made the way clear, he said, and a providential string of events and people kept Bernard's Creole Kitchen open for business, he said. Monday paid for Tuesday, Tuesday paid for Wednesday and so on. God paid the bills, he said. For four and a half years, McGraw fried fish and fed San Antonio's crack heads, heroin addicts and the hungry. "They would come to the side door, and I'd say, 'I'll feed you, but you have to come in and sit at the table,'" he said. "It was important that they be fed but also that they see and know love." McGraw saw the same look -- physical and spiritual hunger -- in the eyes of a man he met in a fast food restaurant in London this week. "He asked me for money, and I offered to buy him a meal. He took me up on it and said he would eat with us if we would have him. He's homeless, and his wife left him," said McGraw, who is serving as a street pastor in London this week with a team from Baptist University of the Americas in San Antonio. McGraw asked the man how he was with Jesus. "I've lost my way, but I've always loved God," the man said. McGraw said he thought the man would leave after he ate, but he stayed. "It was like God told me, 'This is the one you came to help -- the one you've been praying for,'" he said. So McGraw told him as much. "This is your moment -- God has carved this out for you," he said to the man. McGraw and the team helped him find a place to sleep and got him connected with More Than Gold, the ministry umbrella for evangelical Christians during the Olympics. "We planted seeds, and we have to pray and trust that God is taking the seeds we're planting and will use them for His glory," McGraw said. He's seen it happen before. He was doing it himself at his restaurant. He told his pastor at True Vine Baptist Church that he felt God calling him to ministry work. Then McGraw got an invitation to reopen his restaurant at Baptist University of the Americas in 2010 and run their food program, and suddenly people were asking him about doing global missions, too. "I thought I'd never go anywhere globally, and if I did, it would be on vacation to Jamaica," he said with a laugh. It wasn't long after that he found himself in Haiti, and then in London. In addition to spending his evenings serving as a street pastor at Kings Cross Station in London, he's spending his mornings playing with children in a predominantly Muslim community. The children are waiting for his team when the doors open in the mornings at Bow Baptist Church near Olympic Park. "It's my prayer that they will remember us," McGraw said. "But not just that -- I hope that they will wonder, 'Who were those people? Why did they come here to love us?'" He prays God will make the seeds take root in years to come. That's actually his prayer for everyone he meets in London. "I can sympathize with the people who have no hope, and I want to tell them where they can find it," he said. "People don't need you to tell them they're hopeless -- they already know that. They need to be told where they can find the light." --30-- Ava Thomas is a writer/editor for the International Mission Board based in Europe. For more information about ministry going on during the Olympic Games in London, visit morethangold.org.uk. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- Miami supt. backs down; church can meet By Staff Aug. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38423 MIAMI (BP) -- The superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools has backed down in his threats to evict a Southern Baptist church because of the pastor's views on homosexuality and now says the congregation has a constitutional right to express its beliefs. In a July 30 memo, Supt. Alberto Carvalho told the school board "there will be no action" to terminate the contract of Impact Miami, a Southern Baptist church that rents space inside North Miami High School. In July Carvalho had told a local TV station, WPLG Channel 10, that pastor Jack Hakimian's sermons on homosexuality "appear to be contrary to school board policy as well as the basic principles of humanity." At the time Carvalho "asked for immediate legal review to seek the termination of the contract." Hakimian had preached that, though Christ, people could overcome homosexuality. After the legal review, it was determined the church was within its rights Carvalho said. "The school district acknowledges the constitutional right of all persons to express themselves freely," the memo stated. "Our firm belief is that, under the law, constitutionally protected freedom of speech for all, including those who lease our facilities, must be observed even when it may be perceived as offensive to some. It is this obligation to protect those freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution which forms the basis of our decision." Liberty Counsel, a legal group that defends religious liberty, had sent a letter dated July 24 to Carvalho saying the church and pastor "have violated no law or policy." The letter also noted the pastor believes "no one should be bullied, and that all people should be treated with dignity and respect." "The District cannot discriminate against anyone on the basis of viewpoint," the letter, signed by Liberty Counsel's Mathew Staver and Richard Mast Jr., stated. "Any attempt to modify, change or revoke the lease agreement would therefore be unconstitutional. ... The District must respect the First Amendment rights of Pastor Hakimian and the Church. We will be prepared to take whatever legal action is necessary to protect these rights." The controversy, the letter said, involves nothing more than the "Church's Biblical position on homosexuality" -- a position the letter said is protected by the U.S. Constitution. The church released a statement thanking its "friends all over the world who have been praying, contacting us with encouragements and helping us in the fight for freedom." --30-- Compiled by Michael Foust, associate editor of Baptist Press. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- ADF warns colleges: Don't boot Chick-fil-A By Michael Foust Aug. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38428 LAWRENCE, Kan. (BP) -- Previewing what could be the next front in the public debate over Chick-fil-A, a religious liberty organization has sent letters to five universities urging them to reject demands to boot the restaurant from campus and warning them that any such move would be unconstitutional. [IMGONLY=33204@right@150]The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) sent the letters to the five universities, making clear it was not representing Chick-fil-A. All five universities have seen calls or movements to remove the restaurant from campus in light of Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy's [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38271]affirmation[/URL] of the biblical definition of marriage. Chick-fil-A opponents also have cited the company's financial support of groups that support the traditional definition of marriage. "Not only would discriminating against Chick-fil-A be a clear violation of the First Amendment and expose the University to legal liability, but it would undermine the very lessons of free speech and tolerance that the University seeks to teach to its student body," the letters read. It was signed by attorneys David A. Cortman and J. Matthew Sharp. "Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys are available to discuss any questions you have and to provide assistance to the University in complying with its legal obligations under the Constitution." The University of Kansas, the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Louisville all have seen student and/or faculty-led efforts to remove Chick-fil-A restaurants from campus. At West Virginia University, a state gay group is urging school officials to remove the restaurant. At New York University, it is New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn who is urging the removal of the restaurant. ADF sent officials at all five universities the letters, each of which number five pages in length. "Mr. Cathy's statement -- which is an opinion shared by the majority of Americans -- is no less protected than those made by business leaders from other companies who have expressed a different opinion upon the issue of same-sex 'marriage,'" the letters read. "For example, Sergey Brin, President of Google, posted that Google would 'publicly oppose' Proposition 8. There is no question that companies like Chick-fil-A and Google have the First Amendment right to publicly speak on important social issues, including same-sex 'marriage.'" The letters add, "Chick-fil-A has a First Amendment right to express its opinion on the important issue of marriage. And the University is prohibited from taking any action against Chick-fil-A, including banning the company from campus, based upon its speech and its financial support for the biblical definition of marriage." The ADF letters note that there is no "evidence that Chick-fil-A engages in any discrimination against employees or customers based upon their sexual orientation." "Chick-fil-A publicly notes on its website that 'The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our Restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect -- regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender,'" the letters say. ADF said it sent the letters "on behalf of students, faculty, and organizations who share the same religious beliefs as Chick-fil-A and who often face similar threats of religious discrimination." --30-- Michael Foust is associate editor of Baptist Press. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- Chick-fil-A gained from critics' PR backfire By Don Beehler Aug. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38424 [IMGONLY=33203@left@100]FRANKLIN, Tenn. (BP) -- By now the story is well-known: Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy, who is a Christian, expressed personal support for traditional marriage in an interview posted by Baptist Press from North Carolina Baptists' Biblical Recorder newsjournal. Cathy's statements unleashed charges of Chick-fil-A being "anti-gay" amid a torrent of vitriol toward a company that by every measure has been a model corporate citizen. Among those with ruffled feathers were mayors in several cities who threatened to block the openings of Chick-fil-A restaurants simply because they don't agree with Cathy's personal views. Others made extraordinarily hateful comments and threatened to boycott the restaurant chain or take other action. On Wednesday (Aug. 1), we saw the results: A classic PR backfire that scorched the critics and gave Chick-fil-A a media bonanza. While the controversy is far from over, at least four PR lessons can be learned from the events of recent days. First, be very careful with boycotts because they can do more harm than good, especially in terms of perceptions. The millions and millions of people who saw pictures on the evening news and Internet of long lines streaming into Chick-fil-A restaurants around the country will long remember those images, as will the protestors who took a PR shellacking by this massive rebuke. There are companies whose policies I don't like, but rather than calling them names and trying to organize boycotts against them, I simply shop elsewhere. People who don't agree with Mr. Cathy's values ought to consider just eating elsewhere. Second, this episode is instructive in reinforcing how quickly a crisis can strike. The president of a company that has rarely if ever seen much in the way of controversy made remarks some found offensive and wham -- the entire restaurant chain is suddenly in the crosshairs of a national firestorm. Third, the value of having third-party influencers come to your organization's defense cannot be overstated. Gov. Mike Huckabee, Billy Graham and Rick Warren are among scores of leaders who defended Chick-fil-A. Ted Cruz, who just won the Republican nomination in the Texas Senate run-off race, served Chick-fil-A at his victory party. A major Wendy's franchise owner put "We stand with Chick-fil-A" on his restaurants' signs. Chick-fil-A didn't have to lift a finger to defend itself; instead, a panoply of supporters did that for the chain. Fourth, the incredible speed at which social media can spread the word is a game-changer. Huckabee conceived the idea of an appreciation day, and word zipped across the Internet through a special Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day Facebook page, Twitter and other channels. This was the grapevine in action exponentially. Regardless of what one believes about how marriage should be defined, the attacks struck a nerve among fair-minded, freedom-loving people who turned out in droves to participate in Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day. Here was a positive, tangible way for them to express their support for a company they admire while at the same time defend values to which they adhere. For untold thousands, showing up and buying a meal during Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day was a way to register their protests against what they saw as hypocrisy on the part of many of the same people who routinely lecture others about the need for tolerance and diversity. The majority spoke peacefully yet decisively. They clearly demonstrated that they are tired of being bullied by elements in our politically correct society that seek to control what they say, think and do. The majority voted with their pocketbooks, and the result was a record-setting day for Chick-fil-A. --30-- Don Beehler is a public relations consultant and writer in Franklin, Tennessee. This article is adapted from his blog at http://donbeehler.wordpress.com. -- End of story -- CULTURE DIGEST: VeggieTales sold to DreamWorks Animation By Staff Aug. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38425 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Fans can expect new VeggieTales adventures, as animation giant DreamWorks has purchased the parent company of Big Idea Entertainment, the faith-based cartoon's owner. DreamWorks Animation will pay Boomerang Media Holdings $155 million to buy Classic Media and the Nashville-based Big Idea, which launched VeggieTales in 1993. Classic Media in 2003 rescued Big Idea from bankruptcy, buying the company and retaining the name. VeggieTales has thrilled parents and preschoolers with a top-rated television series on NBC Saturday morning, Telemundo and ION TV, and faith-based releases such as "Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie" and "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie." Big Idea expressed optimism at the transition. "As we approach celebrating Big Idea's 20th anniversary [in 2013], we couldn't be more pleased to join the DreamWorks Animation team," Big Idea general manager Leslie Ferrell told media representatives. "DreamWorks Animation respects and supports Big Idea's successful history in producing faith-based, family friendly entertainment and is committed to supporting our growth. We expect many wonderful things to come of this partnership." DreamWorks Animation SKG is known for such favorites as "Shrek" and "Madagascar," and also gains via the acquisition Classic Media sensations "Lassie," "The Lone Ranger" and "Rocky & Bullwinkle," among others. Classic Media "brings a large and diverse collection of characters and branded assets that is extremely complementary to DreamWorks Animation's franchise business," DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg said after the deal. "We plan to leverage it across our motion picture, television, home entertainment, consumer products, digital, theme park and live entertainment channels." MO. TO VOTE ON PRAYER AMENDMENT -- Voters in Missouri will consider Aug. 7 an amendment to the state constitution aimed at protecting the right to pray in public. Supporters say it better defines First Amendment rights, but opponents say it will lead to all sorts of taxpayer-funded lawsuits. About 80 percent of Missouri's population identifies as Christian, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said July 30, and when the newspaper polled 625 registered voters, 82 percent said they would vote in favor of Amendment 2. Terry Hodges, pastor of First Baptist Church in Odessa, Mo., and a member of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Executive Board, said, "For the first 150 years in this country, Christianity enjoyed home-field advantage. That's changed and now there's a hostility toward Christians." Rep. Mike McGhee, R.-Odessa, is a member of FBC Odessa, a Southern Baptist congregation, and he sponsored the legislation that led to Amendment 2. He said the amendment would send a message that it's OK to read a Bible in study hall or to pray briefly before a city council meeting. A section of the amendment says students will not be compelled to perform or participate in academic assignments or educational presentations that violate their religious beliefs. Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State are concerned that one person's right to pray could intrude on another's right to abstain from prayer, the Post-Dispatch said. Opponents say the amendment is redundant because the First Amendment guarantees religious freedom. An editorial by John Yeats, executive director of the MBC, was quoted in the Post-Dispatch. "The courts have muddied the water; therefore, the state legislature believed that a state Constitutional amendment was the best way to clear things," Yeats wrote in The Pathway, the state convention's newsjournal. "In this great state of Missouri with this Constitutional amendment, people will have the freedom to pray or express their faith, and the government or its agents are obliged to not interfere or restrain by decree or coercion," Yeats wrote. APPEALS COURT APPROVES S.D. INFORMED CONSENT LAW -- South Dakota's 2005 pro-life informed consent law has gained its final victory at the federal appeals court level. The full Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis ruled July 24 the state could require abortion doctors to tell pregnant women the procedure might increase their risk of suicide. The 7-4 decision means the Eighth Circuit has upheld all portions of the law after four separate considerations of the measure, according to the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Argus Leader. The appeals court previously affirmed provisions requiring doctors to: -- Tell women of the health risks of abortion. -- Inform them the procedure will end a human life. -- Tell them their relationship with their unborn child is legally protected. Leslee Unruh, president of a pregnancy help center in Sioux Falls, applauded the ruling. "Any decision that a pregnant mother makes in the context of her considering an abortion that will deprive her of the joy and fulfillment of a lifelong relationship with her child must be totally voluntary and well-informed," said Unruh, president of the Alpha Center, before adding that the opinion "is a step towards achieving that goal for the women of South Dakota." Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota had challenged the law. The case is Planned Parenthood v. Rounds. "A woman's right to make a fully informed choice is more important than Planned Parenthood's bottom line," said Steven Aden, senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of some pro-life organizations. FIRST BOY TO RECEIVE STEM CELL TRACHEA MAKING PROGRESS -- A British boy has made great advances since receiving a trachea produced by his own stem cells two years ago, establishing a record for such a transplant. Ciaran Finn-Lynch, now 13, became the first child to undergo a stem cell trachea transplant in March 2010 after a normal transplant procedure failed, ABC News said in a report based on a paper published July 25 in the journal The Lancet. He is breathing normally and is no longer taking anti-rejection drugs. The trachea has grown 11 centimeters since the transplant, researchers said. At birth, Finn-Lynch had a rare condition -- Long Segment Tracheal Stenosis -- that consists of a small windpipe that does not grow. Researchers took cells from a donor trachea and used Finn-Lynch's bone marrow stem cells to reconstruct the airway, according to ABC News. While this technique has worked with a few people, it remains to be seen if it will have wider success, experts said. "You never know what to do or how to interpret a success when it's one success," said Larry Goldstein, director of the University of California-San Diego's stem cell program, ABC reported. "The question you grapple with is whether this treatment is going to be good with a larger number of people with this disease." The news appears to be another gain for stem cell treatments that are not ethically flawed. While many scientists have touted embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) for more than a decade, it has failed to produce the therapeutic results of non-embryonic stem cells -- as in this case -- or induced pluripotent stem cells. ESCR is extremely controversial, primarily because extraction of such cells results in the destruction of days-old human embryos. BODIES OF NEARLY 250 UNBORN BABIES DISCOVERED IN RUSSIA -- The bodies of nearly 250 unborn children have been found in Russia with no explanation for their origin. The discovery of 248 dead babies at 12 to 16 weeks' gestation prompted officials to guess they may have resulted from illegal abortions or illegal stem cell research, according to a July 24 report on the website of RT, an English-language news channel that reports on Russia. The bodies were discovered near Nevyansk, a town in the Ural Mountains of western Russia. The babies appear to be from at least four medical institutions, officials say. A company that disposes of biological waste may be at fault, police reported, according to RT. A nearby hospital is doing forensic tests on the bodies, which might include some that are more than 10 years old. Medical and government authorities have proposed different ideas about the discovery. Elena Mizulina, head of the State Duma committee on Family, Women and Children, said pharmacologists and cosmetologists highly value the stem cells from unborn babies at 12 to 16 weeks. "It's possible there was some kind of medical or law enforcement inspection coming up, so someone wanted to get rid of incriminating evidence," she told the newspaper Izvestia, according to RT. "The demand for such 'material' is huge." --30-- Compiled by Tom Strode, Erin Roach and Diana Chandler of Baptist Press. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- FIRST-PERSON: Make election season a season of prayer By Kevin Ezell Aug. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38426 EDITOR'S NOTE: This first-person is part of a series of first-persons Baptist Press will publish in anticipation of the 40/40 Prayer Vigil for Spiritual Revival and National Renewal. The 40/40 Prayer Vigil is an initiative of the North American Mission Board and Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission to encourage Southern Baptists and other evangelicals to pray for 40 days from Sept. 26 to Nov. 4. To learn more, visit [URL=http://www.4040prayer.com]www.4040prayer.com[/URL]. ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) -- If you are like me, sometimes it is a little difficult to keep a good attitude during presidential election season. I know I have a duty as a citizen and as a believer to participate in the process by exercising my right to vote. And I know I need to educate myself about the positions each candidate holds and vote for the one who will best reflect godly values once in office. But at the same time, my attitude can't help but be clouded by past disappointments and the reality that it seems like even the best leaders let us down. And doesn't it also seem that just when we take a step forward in the public square, something else happens that sets us back two steps? But then I realize that all the shortcomings of our leaders and our political process are exactly why Christians need to be engaged and involved. Our anchor holds to something much more solid than a candidate or a party platform or a president. As with all of our institutions, we shouldn't be surprised when people fail us or outcomes disappoint. But we should always hold these to a higher standard. Democracy is not perfect, but I believe it is the best way God has given man to govern on earth. The failures of our process and our leaders should only remind us that we cannot put our ultimate faith in that process. The North American Mission Board is privileged once again to partner with our friends at the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention to promote the 40/40 Prayer Vigil. I hope you and your church will take this challenge to heart and commit to praying for our nation, our leaders and for our own personal revival and renewal. Most of all, I believe as Southern Baptists that we need to humbly ask God to break our hearts for those in North America and throughout the world who do not know Him. We know that Jesus is in the business of changing lives and bringing hope to hopeless situations. Are you seeing some situations in our nation today that look hopeless? Let's introduce more of our neighbors and friends to the One who will bring hope. When hearts are changed, the direction of our cities and states and our nation will change. I am moved and inspired by those pastors and evangelists from our nation's early years who faced great odds and confronted rampant immorality, yet saw God work in remarkable ways. Jonathan Edwards, describing the impact of Jesus in the lives of people in one New England town, said there was such a transformation that the entire town "seemed to be full of the presence of God." Imagine if a similar trend swept our nation today. Let's make that our prayer. --30-- Kevin Ezell is president of the North American Mission Board. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- FIRST-PERSON: Sin's role in Aurora By Kelly Boggs Aug. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38427 ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP) -- In the media hoopla over Chick-fil-A in the last week, the fact that 12 people were shot dead and 58 others were wounded in an Aurora, Colo., movie only two weeks ago has been all but forgotten. The incident in the Rocky Mountain State is a clear illustration of the inherent sinfulness of mankind. Those who reject the biblical tenet that teaches humans are born with a sin nature, i.e., hardwired with a desire for unfettered selfishness and rebellion against authority from birth, are left trying to explain all behavior -- from altruism to evil -- by solely cultural or environmental influences. For those who reject the biblical understanding that human nature is inherently selfish, human nature is essentially good. And if an individual is given a good home and a good education, he or she will turn out to be a good, altruistic person. In the instance of the Colorado shooting, those who reject the idea of a sin nature want to know all they can about the perpetrator. What was his childhood like? With what groups did he associate? Was he bullied growing up? All efforts seek to look outside the shooter to see what influences caused his murderous rampage. When a person who has every advantage in life commits evil, immoral and illegal acts, those who believe human nature is essentially good are left scratching their heads, wondering what must have caused the behavior. Such seems to be the case with regard to the Colorado shooter. Of course, one motive for trying to understand what influenced a perpetrator is the hope that similar events in the future can be thwarted. But that effort is futile. In a fallen world populated by sinful people, evil is an ever-present reality. Those who accept the biblical tenet that humans are born with a sin nature understand that the cause flows from within. Every person is born broken, with a genetic predisposition to do whatever is in his or her heart, regardless of who is hurt in the process. Accepting the biblical premise that humans are by nature selfish means understanding they will act upon those self-centered urges. Some will act out violently and others only selfishly. Some even will act in ways that appear to be altruistic, but deep inside it is rooted in selfishness. Those who doubt the inherent selfishness of human beings need only to observe a 2-year-old. At about the age of 18 months to two years of age children in every culture start to exhibit the most selfish of tendencies. A 2-year-old does not have to be taught to be selfish or bad. No, a child must be taught and trained to share and to be good. A child has to be taught how to treat others properly and to respect their property. This is the sin nature on display. Of course, a variety of environmental causes may or may not contribute to how a person chooses to behave with regard to his or her sin nature. That said, an outside force can only influence how a person will act with regard to his or her sin nature -- not if they will act on it. In the novel "Silence of the Lambs," by Thomas Harris, FBI Agent Clarice Starling recoils at the horrific nature of serial killer Hannibal Lecter's crimes and says to him, "What did they do to you?" Lecter replies, "Nothing happened to me, Officer Starling. I happened. You can't reduce me to a set of influences. You've given up good and evil for behaviorism ... nothing is ever anybody's fault. Look at me Officer Starling. Can you stand to say I'm evil?" How do you begin to understand someone who seems to derive pleasure from killing people? How do you begin to understand someone who is willing to commit mass murder for political purposes? You can't. Evil is a reality that defies understanding. And some sinful evil actions simply cannot be blamed on outside influences. The Bible does offer a solution to the selfishness that resides in every human being. Jesus Christ sacrificed His life on the cross to once and for all provide a remedy to the problem of the sin nature. In Him there is the capacity to overcome the sinful self-interest that plagues every person on the planet. I do not know what outside influences, if any, helped to motivate the Colorado shooter to methodically plot to murder innocent people. What I do know is that he was hardwired with a sin nature that was going to express itself in some shape or fashion. Tragically, he chose to express it in a very destructive way. He and he alone is to blame for the evil he has wrought. --30-- Kelly Boggs is a weekly columnist for Baptist Press, director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention's office of public affairs, and editor of the Baptist Message [URL=http://baptistmessage.com]www.baptistmessage.com [/URL], newsjournal of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- FIRST-PERSON: Escucha Antes de Responder By Gustavo Suárez Aug. 3 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38417 NOTA DEL EDITOR: La columna First-Person (De primera mano) es parte de la edición de hoy de BP en español. Para ver historias adicionales, vaya a [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/espanol]http://www.bpnews.net/espanol[/URL] KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP) -- Porque no me avergüenzo del evangelio, porque es poder de Dios para salvación a todo aquel que cree; al judío primeramente, y también al griego (Romanos 1:16). Cuando yo era un niño, mi padre acostumbraba a decirme, “Gustavo, fíjate que Dios nos ha dado dos oídos y una boca para que oigamos el doble de lo que hablamos.” Aprendí a una edad temprana que uno “responde” después de haber escuchado mientras que una “reacciona” como resultado de no haber escuchado. Recientemente, el presidente de Chic-Fi-A, Dan Cathy afirmó la posición bíblica de matrimonio. Cathy dijo, “yo pienso que invitamos el juicio de Dios a nuestra nación cuando movemos nuestro puño a Él y le decimos, sabemos mejor que tú lo que constituye un matrimonio.” Este comentario provocó inmediatamente una reacción parlante de parte de la organización de homosexual y lesbiana. Otra reaccion a los comentarios de Cathy vinieron de los alcaldes de Boston y Chicago. Tomas Menino, alcalde de Boston prometió frustrar los esfuerzos de Chic-Fil-A construyera una nueva tienda en la ciudad. Menino dijo que “Chic-Fil-A no pertenece en Boston. No podemos tener un negocio en la ciudad de Boston que discrimina contra su población.” También, el primer alcalde Judío de Chicago, Rahm Emmanuel condeno a la organización de Chic-Fil-A diciendo que sus “valores no son los valores de Chicago.” El concejal Joe Moreno menciono que el bloquearía los esfuerzos de la organización de comenzar un nuevo restaurante en el área de Chicago que el representa. Sin embargo, estos comentario de Emmanuel recibieron una pronta respuesta de un pastor Bautista prominente, Charles Lyons y del Cardenal Francis George. Defendiendo la libertad de expresión, George pregunto que si cada persona cuyos valores personales no están de acuerdo con las del gobierno necesitan mudarse de la ciudad. George añadió, ¿se formara un concilio para que aquellos que difieren en los valores personales comparezcan para defenderse? Algo interesante en medio de estos eventos reaccionarios es que el mismo Presidente Barack Obama afirmó la posición bíblica y solo recientemente cambio su posición para afirmar su respaldo del matrimonio entre miembros del mismo sexo. Las lecciones prácticas para cada uno de nosotros que conocemos a Cristo como Salvador personal son estas: Primero, tenemos que vivir y comunicar los valores y enseñanzas bíblicas. Nosotros somos “Embajadores” del Rey de reyes y Señor de señores. Segundo, reconoce que estamos en una guerra de valores. Aquellos que revelan "toda impiedad e injusticia (Romanos 1:18)” levantan una guerra de valores contra las enseñanzas bíblicas. Tercero, cuando personas con corazones entenebrecidos se proponen a ser sabios y sustituir la gloria de Dios el resultado, dice la Palabra, es que “Dios los entregó. . .” (Romanos 1:21-24). Cuarto, tenemos una necesidad presente de proclamar las “Buenas Nuevas” a toda persona. Quinto, Dan Cathy no dijo que el aborrece a los homosexuales y lesbianas. El si estableció su posición de creer en la enseñanza bíblica que el matrimonio es entre un hombre y una mujer. Sexto, La primera enmienda de la constitución da la libertad de expresión. Es más, la Corte Suprema dijo que esta libertad de expresión es “la matriz, la condición indispensable de todo tipo de libertad.” Sin ello todo tipo de libertad como el derecho a votar moriría. Séptimo, las declaraciones de los alcalde Menino, Emmanuel, y el concejal Moreno de no permitir nuevas tiendas de Chic-Fil-A no es constitucional. Esto es una reaccion por no haber oído y por cierto una reacción de tipo socialista. Octavo, Iglesia de Cristo es tiempo de levantarnos y proclamar libremente lo que creemos de la Palabra de Dios. Romanos 1: 16 nos recuerda que “no me avergüenzo del evangelio, porque es poder de Dios para salvación a todo aquel que cree; al judío primeramente, y también al griego.” --30— Gustavo Suárez es profesor de iniciación de iglesias y director del centro Nehemías para Iniciación de Iglesias en Norte América en el Seminario Bautista Teológic de Midwestern. -- End of story -- Copyright (c) 2013 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press 901 Commerce Street Nashville, TN 37203 Tel: 615.244.2355 Fax: 615.782.8736 email: bpress@sbc.net