Barnabas File

One of the best messages at the recent Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly was delivered by Global Missions Coordinator Rob Nash on Thursday night as part of the commissioning of missionary personnel.   His primary focus was on the value of cooperative networks or “herds” in carrying out the Great Commission in the 21 st century.   He said, It is clear to me that the right approach for global mission in the 21 st century is this network or herd approach, joining together in communities of engagement that emerge out of our God-given passions and that aren’t owned by any of us.   If we tru ly believe that networks of churches and individuals are the future of global missions, then we ought to embrace such a way fully, boldly, and courageously . . . It is my conviction that the global mission engagement of the twenty-first century is going to be about the blessing and sending of networks of us, herds of us into the world, driven by our passions to tru...

How much can a person endure physically, emotionally, and spiritually without being broken?   Perhaps the answer can be found in Laura Hillenbrand’s book Unbroken:  A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption.   This is the story of Louis Zamperini, a delinquent who grew up to be a gifted Olympic runner, Army Air Force bombardier, Japanese prisoner of war, and a broken man seeking redemption. Hillenbrand tells Zamperini’s story in remarkable and sometimes excruciatingly painful detail.   Having found his purpose in life through running, Zamperini entered the Army Air Force when the war began, survived 47 days on a raft in the Pacific with his friend and pilot Russel Phillips, was captured by the Japanese, and spent over two years in harsh captivity.   After the war, he tried to compete again, but his body could no longer respond as he wanted.   He sank into despondency and alcoholism brought on by post traumatic stress disorder. ...

At the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly in Tampa, we unveiled a new banner and introduced a new name:   “Central Baptist Theological Seminary Tennessee.”   What exactly does that mean? In the fall of 2005, a unique experiment began in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, when Central Baptist Theological Seminary began offering graduate theological education at First Baptist Church.   Michael Smith, pastor of the church, taught Christian Heritage and Laura Moore came from the Shawnee campus to teach Hebrew Bible.   The following six years have been both challenging and rewarding with well over 30 students enrolled in classes and six students receiving the Master of Divinity degree through transfer of their credits to the main campus.   Thirty-two classes have been offered.   Students have included women and men, African-Americans and Anglos, degree students and lifelong learners, and persons from at least six different denominations. After a g...

While attending the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly last week, I found myself talking to a former campus ministry colleague.   He commented, “When are these folks going to realize that old campus ministers run this group?” I think we can agree that no one “runs” a group of Baptists, but he reminded me of how influential campus ministry (or “Baptist Student Union” or “Baptist Student Ministries” or “Baptist Collegiate Ministries”) has been in Baptist life in the south in the last (almost) 100 years and its contribution to progressive Baptist life today.   One of the strongest influences of “student work” has been in the realm of missions.   The student missionary movement of the last 1940s and early 1950s not only expanded the number of field personnel sent out by Baptist entities, but it also planted the seeds for short-term and volunteer mission activities that are so central in the ministry of churches today. Baptist campus ministry also h...

One of the key things I have learned as a life coach is that coaching is not counseling.  Counseling (or therapy) helps us to deal with the past. In therapy, we examine our hurts, grief experiences, and even traumas in order to learn from them and then to construct a life that works for us.  Therapy is long, hard work, but we can never move forward as healthy human beings until we do it. Once we have dealt with our past, we can begin to pursue the path to a productive future.  Every five years, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship seems to need a therapy session to deal with its past.  This usually happens as part of a dinner meeting on Wednesday night prior to a General Assembly.   We pull out our hurts, make fun of “those other Baptists” and (I suppose) come away feeling better about ourselves.     There are a lot of things about my childhood that were unpleasant, but I have moved past them and rarely think about them. Sometimes I even smile...

In recent days, some commentators have criticized President Barack Obama for his “lack of passion.”   One even cited the President’s response to an interview question about whether he might be a one term President.   The President answered that if the voters chose to turn him out of office, he would still have his family and a good life.   To the person citing this statement, the response showed his lack of passion for the office and the upcoming campaign. I often encourage people to discover and follow their passion—the thing that gives them energy and makes them want to get up in the morning.   At the same time, we cannot live by our passion alone or give in to uncontrolled passions or desires.   We must also take into account our values and beliefs. Unbridled passion leads to error, moral failure, and destruction. The Message translates Matthew 5:5 in this way:   "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That'...

On Pentecost Sunday, our pastor preached on Acts 2 and challenged us to think of the world as a “God-filled place.”   Wherever we are, he reminded us, God is at work through God’s Spirit.   I was impressed by the message but also reminded that we seem to have a healthier regard for the Holy Spirit now than we did in the recent past.   I may be wrong, but my impression is that during much of my life, Baptists were reluctant to deal with the work of the Holy Spirit.   When the Spirit was mentioned from the pulpit, the point was to tell us what the Spirit did not do—lead us to speak in tongues, provide miraculous healing, etc.   Perhaps I have just become more teachable when it comes to the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church and the believer as I have seen the work of the Spirit in unexpected ways. Without an appreciation for the work of the Holy Spirit, we would have a hard time explaining the power and influence of scripture let alone it...

Once upon a time, there was a rather comfortable Baptist consensus in the South.   There were variations in worship and architectural style, but most white Baptist churches used the same hymnals, Sunday school materials, and supported the same mission causes.   Whether you attended a church in Virginia or Alabama or Texas on a given Sunday morning, you would probably be using Baptist Sunday School Board curriculum, singing from the Baptist Hymnal, and giving to the Cooperative Program as well as Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong. If young persons left the local church and “went away to college” (most of us did in those days), they could attend a Baptist college supported by their state convention or, if they chose to attend a state university, they would find the fellowship of the Baptist Student Union (also supported to some extent by the state Baptist convention). If the student felt the call to ministry, he or she could attend one of the six Baptist seminaries generous...

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will meet for its 20 th annual meeting in Tampa this month.   Many of us have been part of the CBF initiative from the beginning, even though our employers at the time may have frowned upon it (but that is a story for another time).   A 14 member task force is in the process of gathering input on the future of CBF.   They are attempting to address these questions: What is the best model of community that fosters missional collaboration rather than competition for resources? How can we refocus and streamline organizational structures in order to provide leadership and resources for churches and other ministries to respond more effectively to global challenges? How do we help Baptist churches and organizations embrace their identity as partners with this community?   This is not an easy task, especially since some have tried to hold onto the “movement” language perhaps in an effort to avoid the fact that CBF has bec...

“God expects nothing more from you than to live that life for which you were created.   He [sic] wants you to be yourself.”    This is the simple but profound message of Living Your Strengths , a book based on the Clifton StrengthsFinder ® and the research of the Gallup Organization. I was first introduced to the idea of Strengths Psychology through First, Break All the Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman and Now, Discover Your Strengths by Buckingham and Donald Clifton (the designer of the inventory).     My attention was focused on the concept once more when I heard Marcus Buckingham speak at the Willow Creek Leadership Summit several years ago and began thinking about this in relation to the church.   Living Your Strengths by Albert Winseman, Donald Clifton, and Curt Liesveld makes the application of the idea directly to the believer and the   life of the church. The approach is summarized in this way: “God has created the one...

Pictured above (L to R): TCBF Coordinators Ircel Harrison, Jr., September 1998-2008;  C. William Junker, January - April 1996; Lila Anderson Boyd, January 1997-August 1998; and Lloyd T. Householder, Jr. November 1994-1995.  Writing is both a discipline and an outlet for me.   I learned this by having opportunities to write!   When I was a young campus minister, I was surprised and a little proud when Bill Junker asked me to write my first article for THE STUDENT magazine.   His recognition and encouragement meant a lot to me. I had first met Bill at Ridgecrest when I was a student and came to admire his measured yet prophetic work with the publications of the Student Department of the Baptist Sunday School Board in the late 60’s and early 70’s.   When I became campus minister at Middle Tennessee State University in 1970, I had the chance to “hang around” some of the staff at the Sunday School Board.   I learned a lot about Bill including ...

In Genesis 14, there is an interesting story about first impressions and acceptance.   It involves Abram (Abraham), the emerging father of the nation of Israel, and Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a “priest of God Most High.”   As Abraham returned victorious from a battle, Melchizedek brought out bread and wine and blessed Abraham.   In response to this show of hospitality, Abraham gave him a tenth of the spoils of the victory. The story’s impact comes not only from the act of hospitality on the part of Melchizedek, but the response of Abraham.   The king of Salem was “the other.”   He was neither part of Abraham’s family nor one of his friends.   He was, however, a holy man and a”priest of God Most High.”   He welcomed Abraham, cared for him, and blessed him.   Abraham responded with openness and gratitude.   Subsequently, this type of hospitality was expected among the Hebrew people.   In the Old Testament, they are repea...

We talk a great deal about vision in Christian circles.   Many hours are spent on developing vision statements, buying books on vision-casting, and attending conferences on identifying and communicating our vision.     In practice, however, we tend to lose sight of the vision that makes the church not only great but essential.   In our efforts to be exceptional, we just become more mundane. The terminology we use has a lot to do with this.   In talking about “church,” we too often limit it to a building, a set of persons (members), or sometimes to clergy leaders (especially in sacramental traditions).   We tend to want to domesticate or narrow the understanding of the church so that we can deal with it more effectively or force it into submission.   In so doing, we lower our sight from the horizon   and look down to the cracks in the sidewalk, fearing that we will stumble. Those who have had a greater vision of the church down through...

One of the things we were supposed to learn in kindergarten was how to play well together.   This meant learning how to share, not throwing tantrums, and talking in a kind voice even when we were upset.   Of course, most of us don’t learn these lessons until our hair either starts turning gray or turning loose. The abilities to discuss things honestly, maintain our composure, and respect others are important in any setting but especially in a leadership team.   Whether the team is in a church, a parachurch ministry, a not-for-profit, or a business, there are certain skills we can learn to not only work effectively together but help each other grow personally and professionally. At the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly in Tampa this month, Molly Marshall, Anita Flowers, and I will be leading a conference on “Essentials for Developing an Effective Leadership Team.”   Without giving too much away, we will talk about some of the barriers to healt...

We need to make one thing clear.   The church is not a business.   Denominational publishing houses are businesses.   Many faith-based organizations including the church often have to do some of the things that a business does like pay FICA taxes for its non-ordained employees or undergo fire inspections.   But . . . this does not make the church a business. Please understand that I think that there is much that we can learn from business practices and organizational development that will help us to more effective as a church.   I participate in the Willow Creek Association’s Leadership  Summit (usually by teleconference) each year because I think we can learn some things from business gurus and corporate leaders like Patrick Lencioni, Blake Mycoskie , Jim Collins, Daniel Pink, Terri Kelly, Howard Schulz, and Seth Godin as well as from church leaders.   They have insights we need to hear and apply. Most of our churches are fortunate to have...