Hammond presents need for missionaries in North America

by Lauren Crane

Though the United States is often considered a “Christian nation,” Geoff Hammond said there is still plenty of work to do in making believers and disciples of all people, especially those residing in North America.

The president of the North American Mission Board, Hammond has a passion for reaching people living in the United States, Canada and the territories, those areas that are the focus of NAMB’s work. He said people often forget there is a very ripe mission field within the United States, and it is one that is growing and constantly changing. While speaking to the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary family during chapel on April 29, Hammond challenged students to see the world they live in as a mission. After presenting a NAMB video on the status of North America and the work of Southern Baptists here, he challenged students to hear the call of God and allow themselves to be sent by God, wherever that may be.

“There is still work left to do,” Hammond said, after showing the great need for missionaries in this region. Although there are approximately 150,000 NAMB missionaries, volunteers and chaplains working within North America, Hammond said there are still 250 million people to be reached.

Hunt challenges Southeastern family, future missionaries to obey the call

by Lauren Crane

The greatest call of God on your life is not the call to an opportunity, but first to Christ and then to a place of service.

In a message entitled “The Call,” Johnny Hunt challenged the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary family to examine how and to where they have been called, and think about what the call of God has meant for their lives. Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Ga., spoke during Southeastern’s chapel service on April 15. The service, which is known as the commissioning service, also was a special time to pray over the many students and families about to enter service on the mission field.

“Over and over again I have heard God saying, ‘Preach on the call. Preach on the call.’ Then, when I come in here and hear all the news on the call – and I wish I could say this every time I preach – I thought, ‘Jesus, we got it right,’” Hunt said. “Oh, if we only knew the difference God’s call makes.”

Lennox delivers call to use minds to engage culture, shows compatibility between science and faith

by Lauren Crane

The distance between science and faith is not as great as some atheists would have people believe, according to mathematician and philosopher John Lennox.

Speaking on the topic of “the new atheism,” Lennox, who is a world-renowned mathematician, scientist and philosopher, delivered an argument for compatibility between the existence of God, faith and science during Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Carver-Barnes Lecture Series, sponsored by the school’s L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture.

His addresses on the topics of science, philosophy and religion were held on March 11 and 12.

The so-called “new atheism,” Lennox said, is virtually the same as the old in content, albeit with a different tone and aggressiveness. The change in tone has come about recently, he said, in response to the events of September 11, 2001.

God’s will is found in ‘little jewel’ of Philemon

by Lauren Crane

Knowing the will of God is not entirely impossible.

There are four principles, all part of God’s will for his people, to be gleaned from the “little jewel” of Philemon, said Thom Rainer. Rainer, who is president of LifeWay Christian Resources, addressed Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary during chapel on March 4, 2008.

Rainer began by challenging students, staff and faculty to think about their lives, and whether or not they are living them well.

Teaching from the text of Philemon, beginning in verse eight, Rainer said, “I don’t want to look at my life and say, ‘Was it lived well, or was it mostly wasted?’

Whether it has been in pastoral ministry or whether it has been in any other position I have held, a common question that comes to me is, ‘I want to live my life well.’ That’s the statement, and the question is, ‘How can I know the will of God for my life?’”

Paul’s prayer models how pastors should pray for congregations

By Lauren Crane

To have a healthy, God-proclaiming church, Mark Dever said it is important for the leadership to pray for its people as the Apostle Paul did.

Dever, who is the author of Nine Marks of a Healthy Church and the pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., spoke especially to those who currently pastor congregations, no matter the size. His fear, he said, is that 30-40 years from now, the church will see a majority of those who are just entering the ministry no longer active in it.

Speaking from the text of 1 Thessalonians 3:10-13, Dever said it is important to study the words of Paul and see what he desired for the early church in Thessalonica. He outlines three prayers Paul had for the early church and uses them as an example of how modern church leaders ought to encourage and pray for their own congregations.

Crucified sinners represent all people, Gray said

by Lauren Crane

All of humanity is represented by one of two thieves who were crucified alongside Jesus, Buddy Gray said.

The pastor of Hunter Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., Gray spoke to the Southeastern family during chapel on February 19. Speaking out of Luke 23:32-43, Gray discussed the relevancy of the two criminals, who were crucified alongside of Jesus, and related them to people today.“I want us to look at those three crosses. I want us to look at those two criminals. The Bible says they are criminals. They were on “Jerusalem’s Most Wanted List,” Gray said. “Both of them were heaping insults on Jesus. They have a great deal in common. One on the right, and one on the left. There is something very different about them, though. That is how they come to view Jesus Christ.”

SBC President issues call to unity at Southeastern

by Lauren Crane

Frank Page has a vision for the future of the Southern Baptist Convention, and it does not include bickering, placidity or boredom.

Page, who is the pastor of Taylors First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C., as well as president of the SBC, spoke about the divisiveness that Satan brings to the people of God during Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s chapel service on February 12. His address came out of John 10:10, which teaches that the devil comes to kill, steal and destroy.

Drawing from the example of General Edward Braddock, an officer of the British Army during the beginning of the French and Indian War, Page said Christians must never underestimate the enemy. Despite repeated warnings about the tactics and competency of the French and Indians, Braddock believed his British troops were safe from the threats, Page said. Despite his confidence, the British army was severely ambushed, mortally wounding Braddock in the battle.

“You know the moral of that story, don’t you?” Page asked. “Never underestimate the enemy. To underestimate the enemy is to invite dire consequences upon ourselves and upon those with whom we have influence.”

Greear challenges unbelief among Christians, advises people to take dare on God

by Lauren Crane

When the lost world remains in darkness, Christians need to question whether it is their own unbelief in the power of God which is keeping the Gospel from reaching all people.

The challenge to address unbelief in the lives of Christians came from J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Durham, N.C., when he spoke to the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary family during chapel on February 7. Greear said his role as a pastor is to help people believe. In other words, he said, his role is to help with vision.

“When the vision is correct, you have the motivation,” Greear said. “When you don’t have vision, there is no motivation.” He said vision is seeing something, not as it is, but as it would be. In this respect, Greear said vision is the topic of Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church, in which he prays the believers “will grasp the breadth, depth and height of God’s love for them.”

Akin says God’s work is done in weakness, not stardom

“Christian rock star syndrome” is a serious sickness infiltrating the church and gutting the body of Christ, Daniel Akin said.

Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, delivered the school’s convocation address January 29 in Binkley Chapel. In his opening message, he noted the Apostle Paul’s example from 2 Corinthians 12 of not boasting in one’s own “superstardom” but rather learning from the weakness of “thorns in the flesh.”

Chapel highlights for Spring ‘08 include Page, Hunt

Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, will lead the list of prominent speakers to address the Southeastern family during chapel at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary this spring.

Chapel services at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary begin on January 29, with seminary president Daniel Akin speaking. The schedule continues with other notable leaders, including Page, pastors of First Baptist Church of Taylors, S.C., who is currently serving in his second term as SBC president.