2/10 New Flyer: Haiti Earthquake Crisis American Baptist Report for Early February (English) —Spanish Version

1/28 Update: International Ministries Missionaries Provide Emergency Medical Care

1/20 Aftershock Update: A 6.1-magnitude aftershock hit Haiti at 6:03 AM today. The U.S. Geological Survey reports that the epicenter was about 35 miles west-southwest of Port-au-Prince and about 6.2 miles below the surface of the earth. American Baptist missionaries working with victims of last week’s quake all report being safe. Dr. Steve James is at Christianville about 25 miles from the epicenter of this morning’s aftershock. Nancy James, some 100 miles north in Haut Limbe, also felt the shaking. Kristy Engel, Ketley and Vitale Pierre are in Port-au-Prince. Madeline Flores is in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Reid S. Trulson
Executive Director
American Baptist International Ministries

Emergency donations can be made online at
http://www.internationalministries.org/items/80

American Baptist International Ministries
Haiti Response Summary
1/19/2010 [11:30 AM]

Lisa Rothenberger, ABC/USA World Relief Officer, answers questions about giving to the Haiti Relief effort through One Great Hour of Sharing
1//19/2010

A flyer and bulletin inserts for churches can be found here, along with journal updates as they are received.

I feel that you pastors I talked to on Tuesday (LLC) and others that want updates on what is going on can benefit from this update.  Some of the details are not pleasant but there is progress being made and the start of a vision of what teams might be doing.   If someone is interested in going with a team from the Northwest feel free to contact me either by phone 509-276-6561 or e-mail at gentrydp@wildblue.net or mail at 27302 N. Spotted Rd., Deer Park, WA  99006.

I talked to Herb Rogers, a close friend and former missionary to Haiti, last night (February 24).  Herb has been in Haiti for two weeks and will be there for another 8 weeks doing what needs to be done in preparation for people /teams coming for reconstruction.  Before continuing I will quote Angela Sudermann (read below), who is responsible for volunteers through International Ministries.  She sent this to people considering going to Haiti.

Blessings,
Gene Gentry

Hi everyone,
I wanted to keep you up to date on the rebuilding phase for Haiti.  As you know, International Ministries is committed to work with our partners in Haiti to fulfill their long term strategy.  Rebuilding Haiti won’t be just buildings, and it won’t be just sending money.  Your talents, resources, and passion for people are needed!  Herb Rogers, retired missionary in Haiti, and Special Assistant for Haiti now, is in Haiti now to assess the situation, talk to the Baptist Convention leaders, and check the situation out for himself.  We will have a much better idea for what is needed, when, and where as he works with the leaders in Haiti.
While you are waiting, do some “friend raising” – gathering prayer, financial, and moral support.  Email me dates you are available.  The initial groups will likely be digging latrines, moving rubble, and building water supply systems.  The conditions will be rainy.  The earth is still unstable, and Herb reports that they are still reviewing how soon they should rebuild permanent structures. We received a report of a kidnapping of aid workers this morning, so security is an issue. This information is not to scare you, but to let you know what is ahead, remembering rebuilding Haiti is not about putting up structures, but about rebuilding lives.    So if God is calling you to Haiti, we will help you get there !!
Blessings,
Angela
Angela Sudermann
Coordinator, Volunteers in Global Mission
PO Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482
1-800-ABC-3USA (222-3872) ext. 2164
610-768-2164
fax 610-768-2088

Back to information I gleaned from Herb, some in response to questions.

Regarding Medical people.  — They need to have a current certificate. Kristy Engel coordinates medical people.  Also would be useful right now are trained trama phycologists.  Medical interns might have a possibility of working along side of Dr. Steve James.

When rebuilding starts permits will be granted.  The government is not yet granting permits partly due to continuing tremors.  In the last two days there have been two # 4 tremors a day.

Cleaning up is not for the weak in spirit.  They are still finding arms and legs in the rubble.

On a very positive note: there is a medical clinic in Upper Limbe, near the Northern Haiti Christian University.  It is full these days.  It is fulfilling an important need.  For the moment they are treating earthquake victims free of charge.  Many people have come from the south (Port-au-Prince) to be with family.  American Baptists are also helping people /families with an overflow of family coming from the south with food and shelter.  Students are also being transferred from schools in the south to schools further north so that they can continue their education.

American Baptist International Ministries (IM) missionaries have responded to the immediate medical needs resulting from the January 12 Haiti earthquake.  Dr. Steve James, IM missionary in Haiti, and Kristy Engel, IM missionary in the Dominican Republic, have created response teams and ministered to earthquake victims in Christianville and Port-au-Prince.

James’ work has been at the Haiti Health Ministries Christianville Clinic, approximately five miles from the earthquake epicenter. Although their homes and the clinic were destroyed, the Christianville medical staff worked 30 hours non-stop through the night of the earthquake, giving primary medical care to hundreds of injured people that appeared in the front yard. On January 14, James and his team of four took over care of the wounded that continued to come every day, freeing the local staff to organize, salvage and move medical supplies and equipment out of the damaged clinic and set up a makeshift clinic in a nearby undamaged school building.  James reports, “We were so inspired to see so many Haitian people sacrificially helping their brothers and sisters with so little resources available.”

Engel, a pediatric nurse practitioner, returned to La Romana, Dominican Republic (DR) on January 22, having taken her first primary care medical team into Port-au-Prince six days earlier. Ketly and Vital Pierre, who serve as IM missionaries in Nicaragua, were among that group.  Engel is coordinating medical teams from La Romana to Haiti each week, including a team that went to Port-au-Prince on January 26.  Volunteer doctors and nurse practitioners are needed for these teams. The volunteers arrive in La Romana on Sundays, travel into Haiti on Mondays, work for the week and return on Saturdays. Medical volunteers are asked to email BIMvolunteers@abc-usa.org to register.  Engel reports, “There is still a critical need for medical response in this area.  We are finding open fractures and wounds as well as many untreated injuries related to the earthquake.  I have found most functioning hospitals unable to accept further patients due to lack of medical supplies and personnel to treat them.”

IM missionary Madeline Flores-López has remained in the DR.  She and her Dominican partners are continuing to provide shelter and medical care to quake victims being brought to the Contreras Hospital in Santo Domingo.

International Ministries is closely coordinating earthquake response activities with the Haitian Baptist Convention and the Christian University of Northern Haiti.  IM partners in the north of Haiti are providing medical care and relief supplies at the partially finished hospital at Quartier Morin as Haitians leave Port-au-Prince for safer locations.  The United Nations estimates 235,000 people have departed from the Haitian capital using the free transportation being provided by the government.  The additional number of people leaving Port-au-Prince by private means cannot be determined.

To date IM has released a total of $65,000 of One Great Hour of Sharing funds in response to the needs in Haiti. Emergency donations are desperately needed and can be made on the IM website:  www.internationalministries.org/items/80.  Donors can also write a check made payable to “One Great Hour of Sharing – Haiti Earthquake Relief” and mail to: International Ministries, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482, or make a check payable to their American Baptist church and write “Haiti Earthquake Relief” in the memo section.

A new tax relief law allows people who contribute to Haiti earthquake relief by March 1, 2010 to take a tax deduction for the contribution on their 2009 tax return. This means donors can receive an immediate tax benefit, rather than having to wait until they file next year’s return. Donors may deduct these contributions on either their 2009 or 2010 returns, but not both. See: www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=218645,00.html?portlet=7

Learn more about or contribute to this ministry

American Baptist International Ministries, organized in 1814, is the oldest Baptist mission agency formed in North America. We serve more than 2,500 short-term and long-term missionaries annually, bringing U.S. and Puerto Rico churches together with partners in 76 countries in cutting-edge ministries that tell the good news of Jesus Christ while meeting human needs.

1.800.222.3872
www.internationalministries.org
1-800-222-3872
P.O. Box 851
Valley Forge, PA 19482

During the last six years, or more, I’ve urged pastors and leaders to move their churches in an externally focused direction. Our pastors have read books that describe what this looks like. These have included: The Externally Focused Church by Rusaw, Breaking the Missional Code by Stetzer & Putman, and The Present Future by McNeill…just to name a few. We’ve had some of these same leaders speak at our leadership training events. Many churches have started new ministries composed of loving acts of service to their immediate community. A simple desire to do good for others is the motivation, with the hope that in some small way God will receive credit for the blessings that invariably come through such ministry.

It is also hoped that through such self-less ministry that some will recognize that Jesus followers really are people who love others, radically. And, perhaps, this will jump-start spiritual conversations. Rick Rusaw explains it like this, “We decided long ago that we aren’t going to serve to get noticed. We serve for two reasons: to meet basic needs and to create positive relationships.” In other words, good deeds create good will so that people may be open to hearing the good news. All of this is in line with our current, and historic, theme as American Baptists, “Serving as the hands and feet of Christ.”

I rejoice that many of our churches are riding the wave of externally focused ministries. The instances of churches engaged in community-based ministries have multiplied in recent years.

As our churches continue to transition from inward focus to outward focus it’s important that we not jettison sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, with WORDS. Good deeds alone are insufficient to lead a person into a saving knowledge of Jesus. People must hear the truth in order to believe. And, it is the believing, in a faith and trusting sense, that saves. (Romans 1:16 & 10:17)

So, I’m advocating here for doing the hard work of evangelism, that is, talking to people about Jesus, in addition to engaging in outward focused ministries. I was reminded of this as I was reading some words penned by Dick Ottoson, the highly esteemed Minister of Seniors at FBC Anacortes (WA). He expressed his desire to see his golfing buddies come to know Jesus, and admitted, quite honestly, how hard it is at times to have them consider the person of Jesus.

Dick writes: “But I find one essential ingredient [in my discussions about Jesus with my golfing friends]. These affirm and deepen my own certainty of faith in Jesus Christ my Lord. And I believe that it has the potential to profoundly affect my friends’ conclusions about the Son of God….For my friends, there are several things I need to do to influence them toward Christ. First, I need to love them, to be there as a trusted friend. Secondly, I feel called to pray for them regularly, for all the parts of their lives, including knowing Christ. I also want to gently ask probing questions about eternal issues. And as I can, I wish to encourage and assist them in looking at the New Testament accounts of the One called Jesus. In many cases, these friends have chosen to walk away from sterile or rigid forms of traditional Christianity. I don’t blame them for rejecting a caricature and distortion of Jesus Christ. But how I long to help them find the real thing. Or should I say, the real person?”

Personal evangelism. I know it’s challenging. I know it makes us uncomfortable. I know we can feel guilty about our lack of doing it. And, we can feel very inadequate as we attempt it. But, we have a Savior who promised that with God nothing is impossible. And, that includes talking to others about Jesus. I believe that externally focused ministries will place many opportunities before us for engaging in such conversations. So, let’s open our mouths, and talk! About, Jesus, that is!

2010 © Dr. Charles Revis, ABC Northwest
[This article is from Dr. Revis’ blog, www.missionnorthwest.blogspot.com]

He was sent from God. He was not sent to shed new light on the human condition. He was not sent to be the greatest of all moral examples. He was not sent to point us towards some inner spark of divinity already residing within us. He was sent to redeem! ~ Galatians 4:3-5 NIV

When it comes to the Christmas season I find myself pulled between two poles: The “Splendor of the Season Pole” and the “Bah! Humbug Pole”. When I wrestle with a tangled cord of Christmas lights, half of which are not working, I am pulled towards the “Bah! Humbug Pole.” On the other hand, when I am celebrating communion in the midst of flickering candles reflecting on the mystery of the Incarnation I am pulled towards the “Splendor of the Season Pole.”

Christmas is a study in contrasts. There is the contrast between cheap tinsel on a tree and the “gold” of wrapped presents underneath. There is the contrast between the crass commercialization of the season and the greater meaning of gift-giving that is the season’s very foundation. There is the contrast between the announcement of peace unto all the world and the ugly reality of war’s constant presence. It’s a season of contrast; a season of dark and light.

Before the first Christmas the world was cloaked in darkness. Evil, death, bondage and decay reigned supreme. But, then light entered the world. Eternal light. That light was not a new philosophy, or self-help program, or even the birth of a new religion. That light was the pre-existent Word, the second person of the Trinity, who donned human flesh and became one of us.

He was sent from God. He was not sent to shed new light on the human condition. He was not sent to be the greatest of all moral examples. He was not sent to point us towards some inner spark of divinity already residing within us. He was sent to redeem!

Redemption language finds its true context in the realm of slavery. In the ancient world slavery was a fact of life for a great number of people. A slave could be freed if someone paid the owner the value of his property. Once the price was paid, the slave could be released into a new life of freedom. Some slaves were set free in this way. Another path to freedom transpired when a wealthy, childless man would adopt a young slave. Then the owner would trade the young man’s slavery for sonship. This resulted in special dignity and family membership to someone who would otherwise be a slave.

God sent Jesus to redeem. He paid the price that releases us from bondage (the condemning law, sin, death, addictions…the list is long). In doing so He made it possible for us to become sons of God. Through Jesus’ redemption we move from slavery into sonship, from bondage to release, from captivity to freedom. Now, that’s a study in contrast! And, it’s exactly what God set in motion when He sent His Son into the world at that first Christmas.

What God did in sending His Son to redeem us should be at the heart of a church’s motivation for ministry. Just as the Son was sent, so too, is the church sent. God sends His sons and daughters into the world proclaiming the Good News of redemption. He sends us into a dark world, just as He sent His Son, to be light and hope and blessing… that eventually the world will be turned from darkness into light, from bondage to freedom. This is our mission. A mission that was first launched in the heart of God and is now working out its full effects until that day when the world is completely and wholly made.

2009 © Dr. Charles Revis, ABC Northwest
[This article is from Dr. Revis’ blog, www.missionnorthwest.blogspot.com]

Although Thanksgiving has passed, the practice of thanksgiving continues. Scripture encourages us be thankful in all things. The national emphasis spotlights a normative spiritual discipline, reminding us to be people who are grateful every day.

As I read comments posted on Facebook on Thanksgiving I was pleased to see that most people expressed gratitude for their family and friends. Some mentioned physical blessings, but few made this the big emphasis. And, several mentioned their church friends.

I wonder how often we give thanks for the community of faith? Being a church leader can lead to concentrating on church problems to the exclusion of the positives. Perhaps, part of our own spiritual discipline as church leaders should include taking some time to list all the people who give of themselves to the church–those who help the Body function in a Christ-honoring way. Then give thanks for each one, and ask God’s special blessing and empowerment on them as they continue to give of themselves to the Body.

It seems that the Apostle Paul was in the habit of doing this very thing. In Ephesians 1 he writes, “For this reason ever since I first heard of your faith in Jesus Christ and your love for all the saints I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (verses 15-17)

I wonder what would happen within our churches if we prayed in such a way for those who serve, lead, encourage, witness, pray, visit, and give of themselves to strengthen the community of faith?

2009 © Dr. Charles Revis, ABC Northwest
[This article is from Dr. Revis’ blog, www.missionnorthwest.blogspot.com]

I was made aware this week that Granger Community Church is holding it’s annual training conference, Innovate 09. Without a doubt, this is one of the most creative churches in America. And, they multiply new followers of Jesus like crazy. God bless them for their efforts. One of the staff pastors is blogging the conference. It’s worth following at Entermission by Rob Wagner.

Senior Pastor, Mark Beeson, kicked off the first session. In the middle of his talk he made the following comments:

“Part of what holds your team together is you. Please know…it IS personal. When many people say NO to your church, they are saying NO because of you.”

Many people who are saying Yes are saying Yes because they want to pursue the mission and vision with YOU.

Honestly, I do not want to think about the implications of this. If true, and I know it is, then we need to seriously evaluate how we are doing with our own spiritual health, our passion for Christ, our love for people and the clarity of the vision we are casting. If we’re sputtering along in these areas people will not be compelled to follow us. If we’re making progress in these areas more and more people will desire to be a part of our team. It’s that simple, and that hard.

2009 © Dr. Charles Revis, ABC Northwest
[This article is from Dr. Revis’ blog, www.missionnorthwest.blogspot.com]

I think engaging, life-transforming, biblical preaching is huge. Same thing goes for teaching. Pastors are under tremendous pressure to be at everyone’s beck and call. As a result it’s easy to cave to the pressure, attend to all the needs, and fail to give sufficient time for sermon preparation. Shoddy, shallow sermons can be found at the top of the list for reasons for failure in the church.

One of these days I plan to do a blog series on preaching. Until then I cam across this simple four point message from Josh Hunt about good Sunday School teaching. I thought every point was equally applicable to preaching, including the fourth one about “involvement.” A preacher may not involve the congregation with the message the same as in a Sunday School class, but there should be the intention that the people will engage at some level. Excellent preachers monitor the involvement of the people during the delivery. Changing the pace, asking a rhetorical question, walking out into the crowd, using a prop…these are ways to keep people involved in the message.

Anyway, check out these four points from Josh Hunt. Good stuff:

Solid Biblical Content/Depth
The number one complaint I hear about lessons is “lack of depth”. People want to learn something. They want to hear something they have not heard before. In my lessons, I try to include quotes from some of the greatest Bible scholars around. Great teachers are always investing in great books, scanning the Internet and doing whatever they can to bring some depth to the table. Crummy teachers give Sunday School answers.

Humor
I love to laugh. In a healthy group, the group will provide the humor. It is not such a bad idea to try to find some funny stories in every lesson. Obviously, we want the story to relate to the text and the point of today’s lesson. One of the many reasons I like John Ortberg is he nearly always sprinkles a little humor into his messages. Just a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down, and just a bit of humor makes every group better.

Lots of participation
In an ideal class, everyone participates–more or less evenly. No one is completely silent, and no one dominates the conversation. I am working an experiment in my own group where I pass out the lessons to each participant and have them take turns asking the questions. They can answer or not. It is going pretty well.

Josh Hunt offers excellent teacher training materials and ideas on his web site: www.joshhunt.com (most of it is free). If you are running a Sunday School program I would suggest signing all of your S.S. teachers up for a weekly email message from Josh. Very good stuff here.

2009 © Dr. Charles Revis, ABC Northwest
[This article is from Dr. Revis’ blog, www.missionnorthwest.blogspot.com]

I came to the ABC of the Northwest six years ago today. I’m taking just a few moments to say thank you to all the pastors, churches, lay-leaders and the Region Board for the opportunity to serve in this capacity. And, most importantly I thank my God for bringing me to this particular duty station. It is a privilege and an honor to serve the pastors and churches of this great Region.

I was asked today what my vision is for the coming years. My answer was quick in coming, and simple. I believe that God wants our association and work together to yield more and more churches that are healthy, mission-focused and increasing in their ability to multiply disciples of Jesus Christ. I hope that sounds familiar to your ears. We have made significant progress in reaching our vision, but we have many more miles to go. This is not a time to switch visions. Rather, it is a time to increase our intensity in pursuing this vision.

At the same time, as we pursue this vision, I believe that God is calling us to a renewed emphasis on Word and Spirit. The Word is both the Living Word, Jesus Christ, and the inscripturated word of the Bible. The Spirit is the living breath of God that causes the Word to come alive in our hearts. When we study the Word, proclaim the Word, and apply the Word through the Spirit’s power, lives are transformed.

Word without Spirit leads to aridity; a mechanical, functional form of Christianity. Spirit without Word results in a chaos of mysticism, individualism, and wide-eyed fanaticism. Spirit and Word are needed in equal measure. Both are found together in Scripture. Jesus preached the Word and ministered through the power of the Spirit. Both are inseparable for effective, life-transforming dynamic ministry.

Paul wrote, “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.” (1 Thess 1:3,4)

Baptists, who hold to a high view of Scripture, are more comfortable with a Word-centered ministry. We would be wise to balance that important emphasis with an equal appreciation for the work of the Holy Spirit. We need the renewing, empowering movement of the Spirit in equal proportion to our knowledge, understanding and application of Scripture. Would it not be a great thing to redouble our study and application of Scripture? And, simultaneously invite the Holy Spirit to use the Word powerfully in our lives to transform us, to renew us, to empower us. Not so that we would be puffed up with right knowledge, but that we would become more like Jesus. And, that we would be more effective in serving and blessing a lost world with the love and grace of our God.

What would happen if we diligently prayed for a fresh moving of the Holy Spirit in our churches? What would happen if in these same churches there transpired a great devotion to the preaching, teaching and application of God’s Word? Picture the result of that wedding for a few moments, and pray that it would become a major part of our future together. What an exciting future that would be!

2009 © Dr. Charles Revis, ABC Northwest
[This article is from Dr. Revis’ blog, www.missionnorthwest.blogspot.com]

One of our solid pastors has been criticized for making this public statement, “We want to make Jesus famous in our city.”

Should we attempt to make Jesus famous? My response would be, “Can you imagine doing the opposite? Hiding Jesus from a lost world?” Of course we are to make Jesus famous. We are to publish His name in all the earth. The Bible expects this to be our number one job. We are to proclaim from the rooftops, “Jesus is the Lord, the Savior of humankind.” We are to lift Him up so that all will know his wonderful grace and love.

Habakkuk prayed, “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.” (3:2).

Paul, in his incarnational hymn of praise writes, “Therefore God exalted Jesus to the highest place…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” (Phil 2:9-11) That’s just a little bit famous.

Our culture is obsessed with worshipping the “famous ones” of Hollywood and pop music stardom. Many, at this very moment, are grieving the death of one who proclaimed himself the “King of Pop.”

In the midst of this misdirected obsession is it not right and proper to lift up the name of the True King? And, make Him more widely known than any of the pretenders who display only a fading glory. His is the glory that will shine for ever. Why not get a head start on worshipping the One who has everlasting glory? Why not make Him the truly “Famous One” in all the earth?

Of course, we want people to move beyond knowing about Jesus to personally encountering Him as God, and as Savior, and as Lord. That goes without saying. But for some people you have to fill in the lines so they can see the full picture, which is impossible to do when the real issue is not the presenting issue.

Perhaps the objection is rooted in a misunderstanding, that we are to avoid recasting Scriptural principles in the vernacular of our culture. No doubt there is always a danger of miscommunication when we attempt to employ contemporary cultural idioms. Yet, there is a greater danger if we do not. And that is to fail to communicate to this generation at all. It seems to me it’s well worth the risk to employ popular language and concepts to convey biblical truth, which is exactly what the pastor was attempting to do. The beloved paraphrase of the Scriptures, The Message by Eugene Peterson, attempts this very thing, and in spades! And, I would add, with great success.

This is a lengthy way to say that I agree with the pastor. Let’s make Jesus famous! In all the Northwest! In all the world! I can’t think of a greater calling than this one thing!

I’ll close this long posting with words from a “famous” modern hymn:

You are the Lord
The famous one, famous one
Great is Your name in all the earth
The heavens declare
You’re glorious, glorious
Great is Your fame beyond the earth
For all You’ve done and yet to do
With every breath I’m praising You
Desire of the nations and every heart
You alone are God
(Chris Thomlin)

2009 © Dr. Charles Revis, ABC Northwest
[This article is from Dr. Revis’ blog, www.missionnorthwest.blogspot.com]