Good News for Today

As wildfires are sweeping across portions of New Mexico, first responders are working to get control of the fires and care for residents in affected regions.

Disaster relief workers are keeping a close watch on the fires and are preparing to help those affected as they recover. 

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Church leaders across have worked together to develop a new curriculum to help churches prevent sexual abuse and care for those who have been affected by it.

A new resource called Essentials: Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response is now available at sbcabusepreventions.com.

The resource focuses on five areas – training, screening, protecting, reporting and caring.

The curriculum developers recommend a church enlisting five key leaders and work through the five chapters of the curriculum.

Each chapter has a list of a tasks to accomplish before moving to the next chapter. They say it should take about a month to complete.

They recommend group take a 5-5-5 approach: five leaders through five chapters in about five months.

Learn more about the resource at sbcabuseprevention.com.

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Speaking on the necessity of prayer and fasting to help usher in revival, Kie Bowman says, “John Wesley took a dim view of pre-revival America, but he had a plan to change it. Wesley spent time in the colonies and reported, “I desired as many as could to join together in fasting and prayer, that God would restore the spirit of love and of a sound mind to the poor deluded rebels in America.” Even a side glance at the current cultural moment demonstrates that prayer and fasting are just as urgently needed for the “poor deluded rebels in America” today as they were when the nation was new.

Prayer is mentioned hundreds of times in Scripture, and fasting is mentioned about 70 times. Prayer can obviously be practiced without fasting, but fasting, as Scripture describes it, is impossible without prayer. Even when fasting is discussed in passages where prayer is not explicitly mentioned, prayer is obviously implied. 

Refugees are those driven from their homeland because of war, or threat of violence or persecution.

At a Send Relief meeting in Indianapolis last week, Bryant Wright, president of Send Relief, told of time in 2014 when he and his wife sat in the tent home of a Syrian refugee family on the border of Lebanon and Syria. The father, blinded by the ravages of warfare, listened intently as Bryant shared the gospel. “Even though the man was blind, I could see in his eyes a sense of hope. And that day, that man trusted Christ as his Lord and Savior,” Wright said.

Wright acknowledged there are differing opinions when it comes to refugees and migration. 

He said while the government is called on to enforce the law, “the church has a call to love our neighbor.” 

“We are to respond in the same way as Christ, caring for those in need,” he said.

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Public policy leaders are watching the U.S. Senate where Oklahoma Senator James Lankford and New York Senator Charles Schumer are schedule to bring abortion-related legislation to the floor.

Lankford’s’ pro-life legislation is scheduled for midweek while Schumer’s pro-abortion bill is slated for Thursday.

Baptist Press will be following the bills and have details at Baptist Press.com.

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South Carolina pastor RaShan Frost says, “Every father needs to understand that if our children are a gift from God – and they are, based on Psalm 127:3 – then we have a responsibility to teach them that their authentic selves can only be found in Christ. When we understand that to be our responsibility, then how we model Christ to our children will either draw them to or repel them from the Lord. It starts when they are born and it will continue the rest of our lives.

Capturing the hearts of our children is a two-part work according to Ephesians 6:4 – we are to “not stir up anger in our children” and to “bring them up in training and instruction in the Lord.” In other words, fathers should both nurture and admonish our children. Nurturing is cultivating, encouraging, comforting, training, and instructing our children. It is the positive activity of raising our children in Christ.

As fathers, we have to correct our children when correction is necessary. But it is important to remember that our motivation for nurturing and admonishing our children is love. Our children will accept our correction when they know it comes from a heart of love.”

Chaplains from the US military and civilian chaplains where honored last week in Indianpolis.

During a luncheon, Chaplain Major General Doug Carver (U.S. Army retired) told the group, ““You are sent outside of your church to some tough places where the church can’t go,” Carver said, emphasizing the unique and vital role chaplains play in prisons, hospitals, the Armed Services, and other challenging settings where credentials and endorsements are essential.

Carver challenged them to be lifelong learners.

The luncheon also included a special recognition for United States Navy Chaplain (LCDR) Scott Callahan, who was commissioned during the event. Callahan, a 1993 graduate of the Naval Academy, served as a chaplain until 2011 and later as a missionary in China and Singapore before returning to the Navy as a chaplain.

Carver, who is also serving as an interim pastor, then delivered a message from the book of Malachi. He underscored the importance of sincere and wholehearted dedication to ministry, urging chaplains to offer their best to God, not merely what is convenient.

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Hannah Daniel of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission knows election discussion and debate can be challenging. But believers want to stand on their convictions.

She writes, “We believe that the family is the foundational institution of our society and that God has ordained the family order for our flourishing (BF&M 2000).1 We hold that marriage is between one man and one woman for life, and that children are a blessing to those parents. Parents, then, have been endowed with special rights and responsibilities in the upbringing of their children and are the primary instructors and educators of their children in matters of faith, morality, and virtue.”

As Christians consider their vote this November, it is vital that we examine how our candidates for elected office view these truths about God’s good design for marriage and families. In evaluating our options, we should ask ourselves whether a candidate will push forward policies that: 

• strengthen families, 
• bolster parental rights, 
• safeguard the vulnerable, 
• and protect the consciences of Americans who object to the falsehoods of the sexual revolution 

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A good team needs leaders and team members. Solid members serve in many way, but Jacki C. King says they must be teachable and aware of weaknesses.

Teachable

“Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.” Prov. 9:9 (NLT)

A good team member is always open to learning. Being teachable means recognizing that there is always room for growth and improvement. It involves listening to feedback, seeking out new knowledge and skills, and being willing to adapt and change when necessary. A great supervisor or pastor will help point you in directions for growth both spiritually and professionally, but it is solely your responsibility to own your own leadership development. Find new books to read, listen to podcasts from other thought leaders, and get certified in a new area. A nice byproduct of being busy learning is that you don’t have time to be cynical and complaining. Stay curious and hungry. 

Aware of Weaknesses

“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” 2 Cor. 12:9 (NLT)

Understanding and acknowledging our own weaknesses is a sign of humility and self-awareness. When we know where our weaknesses lie, we can seek help and support from others. This awareness allows us to build on our strengths and collaborate more effectively with team members who can complement our skill sets. It’s also a needed reminder that we have limits and we aren’t the sole focus of our work and ministry. We can’t do it all, and that’s a good thing.

Communicating with the Deaf community in its heart language is a key concept of Jesus: A Deaf Missions Film portraying the story of Jesus entirely in American Sign Language (ASL), billed by Deaf Missions as the first-ever ASL adaptation for the silver screen.

The film removes all barriers Deaf people face when viewing spoken-language films with subtitles, a standard that Josselyn says makes it difficult for Deaf viewers to experience the emotions critical to any given story.

“Having an experience where Jesus is Deaf, is signing, and a Deaf cast where they’re all signing, so they could see all the emotion, they could see what was happening,” is what Joseph Josselyn sees as critical to the production. “There wasn’t anything they had to detach from. There were no barriers. They didn’t have to go through an interpreter … or a second party to get that information. To me, that’s why this is so important.”

Showings are scheduled in at least 275 theaters in the U.S. June 20 and 23. Deaf Missions recommends early ticket purchases and group attendance to encourage theaters to expand the schedule.

Deaf Missions made the film primarily for Deaf audiences, but included elements such as English subtitles and a soundtrack to accommodate a hearing audience. Also, Deaf people can experience music by feeling the bass.

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The rise of the nones may be declines. The nones are those who claim no religious affiliation. They are mostly younger people in their late teens and 20s.

Trevin Wax, vice president of research and development at NAMB, observed that the “strangeness” of church has become its appeal for Gen Z, given that fewer of them have any family background in church.

“When young people accept the invitation to visit a church, they’ve already committed to experiencing something unusual,” Wax wrote for The Gospel Coalition in April. “Attempts at being overly accommodating or making the church seem ‘cool’ come off as desperate and insecure.”

Young people, Wax wrote, want to be “courted by the church, welcomed into fellowship, entrusted with responsibility and shown they matter.”

“But more than anything, they want to be ushered into splendor, not superficiality. They’re looking for an antidote to the shallow life of swiping and scrolling through endless entertainment.”

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How can you be a valuable team member? Jacki C. King encourages you to be teachable.

Drawing from Prov. 9:9, she writes, “A good team member is always open to learning. Being teachable means recognizing that there is always room for growth and improvement. It involves listening to feedback, seeking out new knowledge and skills, and being willing to adapt and change when necessary. A great supervisor or pastor will help point you in directions for growth both spiritually and professionally, but it is solely your responsibility to own your own leadership development. Find new books to read, listen to podcasts from other thought leaders, and get certified in a new area. A nice byproduct of being busy learning is that you don’t have time to be cynical and complaining. Stay curious and hungry.

Today is Flag Day, though not celebrated as a national holiday, it’s been a recongnized day since 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation establishing a national Flag Day on June 14, according to the Library of Congress.

To date, there have been twenty-seven official versions of the flag, but the arrangement of the stars varied according to the flag-makers’ preferences until 1912, when President Taft standardized the then-new flag’s forty-eight stars into six rows of eight. The forty-nine-star flag (1959-60), as well as the fifty-star flag, also have standardized star patterns. The current version of the flag dates to July 4, 1960, after Hawaii became the fiftieth state on August 21, 1959.

The day was set aside by Congress as a day for patriotism – to give thanks for the freedoms Americans share.

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Father’s Day is coming this Sunday. In days past, children would try to outdo one another in supplying dad with another tie. Today, not so much, but fathers still long for appreciation and respect.

The Christian Standard Bible says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, 3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land. 4 Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” -- Ephesians 6:1-4 (CSB)

We’ll have a thought on this passage when we come back.

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Children can honor their parents – no matter how old they are even if they’re parents aren’t that honorable.

Honoring one’s parents means finding value in one’s parent and being grateful for them. Some have parents who are honorable and worthy of praise. Others have parents who did played very little role in their lives. Still, there is a reason to be grateful for fathers.

Perhaps we could all step back to think about the value of fatherhood and motherhood on society – it’s a role that is often taken for granted, minimalized and marginalized.

Children may be thankful for what their father does, but take for granted who he is.

Adults can look on the character of their father, reflect and say thanks.

This Father’s Day take a few moments to thank your father for what he did in your life – whether it is little or much. There will be a day when you can’t. Don’t miss the opportunity you have today.

The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is asking believers to think about their opinion on in vitro fertilization to make sure it aligns with their theological convictions. They write, “While many claim that IVF is simply a treatment for infertility, there are a range of ethical considerations with the process. Many individuals feel and even have been told by doctors that IVF is their only hope for biological children, and thus, these conversations must be conducted, and policy crafted, with the utmost care and wisdom.”

Some of their concerns include, “At a very basic level, the way IVF is routinely conducted now, which includes over fertilization of eggs without a clear plan for implantation, freezing of leftover embryos, and even the destruction of these human embryos once a couple has succeeded in getting pregnant or no longer desires to keep them, is extremely problematic. It is within the jurisdiction of the state to promote the good of families and restrain the evil of treating these human beings as disposable or simply a means to an end.”

God design and desire for procreation should be considered, says the ERLC. “Christians should also weigh whether the practice itself violates certain theological principles. Namely, the question of severing procreation from the sexual union, and the anthropological question of “making” children as commodities rather than “begetting” them as gifts from God.

Christians must take seriously the teleological and biological orientation of sexuality and reproduction.”

The group has compassion for those who are struggling to bear a child. “We also recognize that IVF may meet a very real need in the life of couples. The desire for children is a moral good and Godly desire. As rates of infertility rise and couples find pregnancy difficult, it is natural to seek medical help so as to restore, where possible, the capacity for children.”

Read the full piece on the important issue at BaptistPress.com.

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In the Baptist Press Toolbox, Daniel Bouchoc writes, “So, if pastors or volunteers or parents want to effectively engage and disciple young adults, they must equip themselves in knowing, presenting, and defending “what accords with sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1, Cf. Titus 1:9; 1 Timothy 1:10). And we will become so by not only going deep in our Bibles, but going wide in our familiarity with solid Christian theology and growing in our ability to wield it for the good of those young people we long to reach and disciple.

So, as one step toward this, what should one be reading/doing to prepare for ministering to college agers?

Young adults don’t need new answers. They need age-old answers applied to contemporary phrasing of age-old questions. And thankfully for us, the Christian tradition is in no small part the history of answering the most foundational questions humans have ever wondered about.”

The two-day meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention wraps up today in Indianapolis. Messengers to the meeting make financial and governing decisions for the world’s largest group of Protestant believers.

Central to the work of the meeting is the commissioning of new missionaries to take the Gospel to the nations. This year, the IMB put forward more than 80 missionaries to be sent through the cooperative work of Southern Baptists.

These missionaries will go to the field, fully-funded, because of the giving of the more than 47,000 churches partnering together across the US and Puerto Rico.

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While Southern Baptists are meeting in Indianapolis, in nearby South Bend, Indiana, Pastor Stephen Love is working with a group of believers to help plant Redemption City Church.

While the city is primarily known as the home of the University of Notre Dame, Love knows of the great need it has for Jesus.

He asks you to join him to, “Pray for boldness to share the gospel and open hearts among the people to whom the church planting team speaks. Pray that through this ministry, more people would come to saving faith and live on mission. Pray for stamina and longevity for ministry amidst attacks from the enemy.”

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What if you spent just 15 minutes more in pray every day?

1.    Chuck Lawless writes, “You will release some of your burdens. Fifteen minutes may not be long, but it’s time with God. He’s in control of how much He will change and encourage us in those minutes.

2.    You will express your love for somebody. Few things are as loving as interceding for others and taking them to God’s throne – even if you do it in the quiet of your prayer closet for just a few minutes. 

3.    You’ll be more prepared to stand before God’s people this weekend. It’s amazing how our church leadership roles change when we pray more.

4.    You will want to pray even more. Nobody ever prayed more than 15 minutes without praying the first 15 minutes. Spend a few more minutes with God, and you’ll begin wanting more.

The Southern Baptist Convention begins its 2024 Annual Meeting today in Indianapolis. More than 10,000 messengers are gathering to hear reports related to missions, church planting, and the work of the convention.

Messengers are considering recommendations on sexual abuse response and reform as well as ways to improve cooperation among the convention’s 47,000 churches.

The meeting represents the gathering of the largest deliberative body in the world and spans two full days.

An amendment that seeks to further clarify the convention’s understanding of who may fill the office of pastor is also on the agenda.

Members from churches in almost every state and Puerto Rico will be in attendance for the meeting.

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The International Mission Board is encouraging believers to pray for the Baloch people of Central Asia.

It is unknown if there has ever been a healthy, authentic Baloch church worshipping in the Balochi language. Baloch believers face great risk if they meet together as Christians. Pray God will gather Baloch together to form a church despite the danger.

You can learn more about how you can pray for and get involved with getting the Gospel to those who’ve never heard at IMB.org.

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Midwestern Seminary professor Joe Allen writes about the way New Testament writer Paul prayed for those who didn’t know Jesus. 

His desire was not a shallow, fleeting desire, but a core longing that sprang from the center of his being. If you do not feel deep compassion for the lost, go back and review the gospel. Think about the sacrifice of Jesus and the depth of the love that bought your salvation. 

Paul prayed fervently. The people of Israel had rejected Jesus as their Messiah, but Paul remained hopeful that they might be saved. Paul did not give up on them, and he did not leave his heart’s desire unexpressed; he acted. 

Third, Paul prayed specifically. He did not pray ambiguous prayers for some amorphous spiritual blessing. Instead, he prayed for their salvation. Elsewhere, Paul prayed for boldness (Eph. 6:18–20), for opportunity (Col. 4:2–4), and that the Word of the Lord would spread rapidly and be glorified (2 Thess. 3:1). 

When Eric Costanzo became pastor at South Tulsa Baptist Church in 2016, his congregation began supporting local refugees. They discovered a nearby Syrian family, which led to connections with numerous international families. The church's involvement expanded, helping English Language Learners and starting an International and Refugee Ministry, now serving people from over 30 countries. With ERLC support, they navigated political and community challenges, providing practical aid and advocating for refugee policies. Their ministry grew significantly, especially aiding Afghan refugees post-2021, embodying Christ's love in their community.

By offering English classes and practical support, the church has become a crucial resource for newcomers, facilitating their integration into American society. The say partnership with ERLC has been instrumental in overcoming obstacles and enhancing advocacy efforts. Their commitment to serve those in need, especially during critical times like the Afghan refugee crisis, demonstrates the powerful impact of faith-driven community engagement. This ministry stands as a testament to living out the gospel through action and compassion.

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Asa and Vanessa Watson, former NFL player and NASCAR employee respectively, serve with the International Mission Board (IMB) in Germany. They build genuine friendships through hosting Bible studies, leading church services in a boxing gym, and providing hospitality. Their openness and willingness to discuss faith have deeply impacted their German community. Despite initial curiosity about their move from the U.S., the Watsons' commitment to their calling and consistent, transparent interactions have fostered meaningful relationships. They are set to become fully funded IMB workers, participating in the SBC annual meeting in June.

The Watsons' ministry also includes running a church service in the same boxing gym where they build friendships, offering a unique environment for worship and community. They have embraced their new culture and lifestyle, demonstrating that genuine relationships and consistent, transparent faith can transcend cultural barriers. Their story exemplifies how diverse backgrounds can be leveraged for impactful ministry, drawing on their experiences from NFL and NASCAR to connect with people in Germany.

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Jacki C. King says so much is said in modern culture about being a good leader that people often undervalue the role of the follower.

Based on 1 Cor. 1:10, she writes, “A divided team can’t gain much ground if there are divisions and conflicting end goals. Sabotage happens in small ways—side meetings after the meeting, comments on other staff members’ remarks, and oversharing details with people outside the organization are all examples of well-meaning conversations gone rogue. As staff members, it’s important to ensure that when input is asked for and decisions are made, everyone leaves the room on the same page and with the same voice. Unity is essential; differing opinions and discussions should be encouraged in the decision-making process, but once a decision is reached, it is vital that the team moves forward together. This does not mean that differences of opinion aren’t expressed or that there is a blind eye to sin and lack of integrity.”

Following the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade, the issue of abortion rights has taken center stage in state-level politics. This has resulted in numerous state ballot initiatives being decided by voters this fall, many of which relate to abortion and either seek to protect or harm preborn children. As the legal landscape has shifted, both pro-life and pro-abortion advocates have increasingly turned to these initiatives to advance their policy objectives.

A ballot initiative is a mechanism by which constituents can directly propose laws and constitutional amendments for a local or state government. Typically, this process is voted on by including it on the November ballot. Many states are now making progress either to include pro-life protections in state law or to oppose such pro-life measures, including amendments to codify pro-abortion laws into the state constitution.

There are abortion-related ballot initiatives in 13 states.

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The sky grew dark with threatening clouds shortly before 6 p.m. May 22, but the eight people gathered for the midweek service at Dyess Grove Baptist Church, southeast of Temple, decided to go ahead as planned.

“All of a sudden those warnings on our phones went off” at about 6:20, said Pastor Steve Goode.

“We said, ‘Let’s cut this short.’”

Members fled the church building. Moments later, a tornado ripped off the wall that formed one side of the church worship space.

The end of the building remained open to the elements until a Texans on Mission temporary roof team arrived to close off the structure as much as possible.

The church’s insurance company is working on a solution. In a meantime, the disaster relief team continues to assist.

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Midwestern Seminary professor Joe Allen writes, “Prayer and evangelism go together like chocolate and peanut butter. The two practices mutually reinforce one another and enhance the other spiritual disciplines. The dynamic happens like this: the more you pray, the more you attune your heart to God’s heart, and specifically, God’s heart for the lost. The more you seek to evangelize, the more you sense your need for the Holy Spirit’s divine enablement and long for his intervention. Prayer should lead to gospel proclamation, and gospel proclamation should intensify your prayers.

The irony is that prayer is often a solitary activity that appeals to introverts, while evangelism is a social activity that appeals to extroverts. Regardless of your personality, maintaining a close interrelationship between prayer and evangelism will push you out of your comfort zone and force you to grow. When you join prayer and evangelism, watch out! Something special is about to happen.”