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  • The Christian Index · 2014. 9. 18. · from a World War I vet-eran in his hometown of Waterville,...
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By Scott Barkley Production Editor BUCHANAN — When it comes to reaching salvation, a man’s biggest obstacle is often himself. For his entire life Gerald “Ole Hook” Boutin, 88, had developed a skill that preserved life while bringing death. It helped feed his family when, at a young age, he was put into the role of provider. It defended free- dom and numerous men in battle over the years. It brought an earthly end to the enemy on those same fields, forests, mountain- sides, and rice patties. That last one was why Hook – a nickname given him by a member of his unit in WWII for the shape of his nose and how friends at First Baptist Buchanan know him – had so much trouble accept- ing forgiveness. He’d seen battle in three wars, knew what he’d done, took a trip to peacetime Germany in the late 1950s and got to know those people face- to-face before shipping off to Korea. “They were just like us,” he remembers. That might have been where it start- ed for Hook. There was more fighting, though. He thought the coldest he’d ever be was in a hundred mile move- ment from the Seigfried Line to the Black Forest in World War II. Many of his fellow soldiers lost fingers, toes, and ears due to the extreme cold; some shot themselves instead of suf- fering. But that was before three winters in Korea, which he describes as even colder. “You won’t talk to Hook long before you fig- ure out why he does not ever want to be cold or wet again!” wrote Boutin’s friend Steve Edwards, also a military man, in a short biography he penned about the war veteran from which many of the details in this article are gathered. Building and tearing Hook’s skill with a gun started with a 1903 Springfield rifle borrowed from a World War I vet- eran in his hometown of Waterville, ME. He would save his money to buy a single ‘30-06 cartridge then wait patiently on a bridge for salmon to swim by below. Remember, shooting a fish isn’t like taking a squirrel perched on a tree limb or even a duck in mid-flight. While anticipat- ing when fish would slow down Hook also couldn’t aim directly at them, instead having to account for the natural bending of light in the water. But necessity makes you a quick learner, and soon Hook not only could shoot fish from the bridge September 18, 2014 | Helping Georgia Baptists Share the Good News | www.christianindex.org The Christian Index Military hero fought in three wars, resolves most important conflict Common bonds to a common Savior but learned to wait until two swam close enough together so a single shot in between could stun them both. Two fish could feed his family for a week or so. Hook’s mother was furious when their home- town paper mistakenly said he’d been drafted into WWII, rather than report- ing how her boy entered the Marine National Guard in 1943 before shipping out the following year, arriving on Christmas Day 1944 to begin fight- ing in Metz, France. He hadn’t celebrated his 17th birthday yet upon enlistment, but neverthe- less experienced heavy fighting in the cities of Cologne, Bremen, Hamm, and Dortmund as a mem- ber of E Company, 378th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division. He was also the first American sol- dier to fight his way into one of three prison camps. “Before we crossed the Rhine [River], one of the chaplains came in and talked to us,” he remem- bers. “My squad had to go down and listen for a bit. “The place was full of coffins.” ‘Like a sponge’ Hook doesn’t remem- ber exactly what the chaplain said, but some- thing made an impres- sion. “When I joined First Baptist in Buchanan, I told them it was the first time I’d been to church in 70 years,” he said. First Baptist Buchanan pastor Allen Wilburn didn’t know Hook per- sonally before he began attending last year. There was one thing he did notice, however. “Up on the pulpit you can tell who’s paying attention and who isn’t,” said Wilburn, “and he was a sponge soaking in what I had to say. This gentleman had never been churched and was taking in the truth. “When people get to an advanced age and pray to receive Christ, sometimes you wonder if they’re looking at it as a life pre- server for their soul. They won’t show much change afterwards. That hasn’t been the case with Hook. It took several months for him to step forward but a couple of times before that he came up to me after church and said, ‘That was powerful stuff.’ He wasn’t “Before we crossed the Rhine [River], one of the chaplains came in and talked to us. My squad had to go down and listen for a bit.” Gerald “Hook” Boutin continued on page 8 Gerald “Hook” Boutin, 88, spends much of his time in his shop where he builds and modifies classic rifles. Boutin, who lives in Bremen and is a member of First Baptist Church in Buchanan, served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. At left, as a teen- ager Boutin stands in the German city of Rheinhausen in April 1944. ROD COLLINS AND HOOK BOUTIN/Special

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  • By Scott BarkleyProduction Editor

    BUCHANAN — When it comes to reaching salvation, a man’s biggest obstacle is often himself.

    For his entire life Gerald “Ole Hook” Boutin, 88, had developed a skill that preserved life while bringing death. It helped feed his family when, at a young age, he was put into the role of provider. It defended free-dom and numerous men in battle over the years. It brought an earthly end to the enemy on those same fields, forests, mountain-sides, and rice patties.

    That last one was why Hook – a nickname given him by a member of his unit in WWII for the shape of his nose and how friends at First Baptist Buchanan know him – had so much trouble accept-ing forgiveness. He’d seen battle in three wars, knew what he’d done, took a trip to peacetime Germany in the late 1950s and got

    to know those people face-to-face before shipping off to Korea.

    “They were just like us,” he remembers.

    That might have been where it start-ed for Hook. There was more fighting, though. He thought the coldest he’d ever be was in a hundred mile move-ment from the Seigfried Line to the Black Forest in World War II. Many of his

    fellow soldiers lost fingers, toes, and ears due to the extreme cold; some shot themselves instead of suf-fering. But that was before three winters in Korea, which he describes as even colder.

    “You won’t talk to Hook long before you fig-ure out why he does not ever want to be cold or wet again!” wrote Boutin’s friend Steve Edwards, also a military man, in a short biography he penned about the war veteran from which many of the details in this article are gathered.

    Building and tearingHook’s skill with a

    gun started with a 1903 Springfield rifle borrowed from a World War I vet-eran in his hometown of Waterville, ME. He would save his money to buy a single ‘30-06 cartridge then wait patiently on a bridge for salmon to swim by below.

    Remember, shooting a fish isn’t like taking a squirrel perched on a tree limb or even a duck in mid-flight. While anticipat-ing when fish would slow down Hook also couldn’t aim directly at them, instead having to account for the natural bending of light in the water.

    But necessity makes you a quick learner, and soon Hook not only could shoot fish from the bridge

    September 18, 2014 | Helping Georgia Baptists Share the Good News | www.christianindex.org

    The Christian IndexMilitary hero fought in three wars, resolves most important conflict

    Common bonds to a common Savior

    but learned to wait until two swam close enough together so a single shot in between could stun them both. Two fish could feed his family for a week or so.

    Hook’s mother was furious when their home-town paper mistakenly said he’d been drafted into

    WWII, rather than report-ing how her boy entered the Marine National Guard in 1943 before shipping out the following year, arriving on Christmas Day 1944 to begin fight-ing in Metz, France.

    He hadn’t celebrated his 17th birthday yet upon

    enlistment, but neverthe-less experienced heavy fighting in the cities of Cologne, Bremen, Hamm, and Dortmund as a mem-ber of E Company, 378th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division. He was also the first American sol-dier to fight his way into one of three prison camps.

    “Before we crossed the Rhine [River], one of the chaplains came in and talked to us,” he remem-bers. “My squad had to go down and listen for a bit.

    “The place was full of coffins.”

    ‘Like a sponge’Hook doesn’t remem-

    ber exactly what the chaplain said, but some-thing made an impres-sion. “When I joined First Baptist in Buchanan, I told them it was the first time I’d been to church in 70 years,” he said.

    First Baptist Buchanan

    pastor Allen Wilburn didn’t know Hook per-sonally before he began attending last year. There was one thing he did notice, however.

    “Up on the pulpit you can tell who’s paying attention and who isn’t,” said Wilburn, “and he was a sponge soaking in what I had to say. This gentleman had never been churched and was taking in the truth.

    “When people get to an advanced age and pray to receive Christ, sometimes you wonder if they’re looking at it as a life pre-server for their soul. They won’t show much change afterwards. That hasn’t been the case with Hook. It took several months for him to step forward but a couple of times before that he came up to me after church and said, ‘That was powerful stuff.’ He wasn’t

    “Before we crossed the Rhine [River], one of the chaplains came in and talked to us.

    My squad had to go down and listen for a bit.”

    Gerald “Hook” Boutin

    continued on page 8

    Gerald “Hook” Boutin, 88, spends much of his time in his shop where he builds and modifies classic rifles. Boutin, who lives in Bremen and is a member of First Baptist Church in Buchanan, served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. At left, as a teen-ager Boutin stands in the German city of Rheinhausen in April 1944. ROD COLLINS AND HOOK BOUTIN/Special

  • 2 THE CHRISTIAN INDEX

    By Joe WestburyManaging Editor

    MORELAND — At 35 years of age, First Baptist Church pastor Daniel Ausbun is enjoying his 15 minutes of fame.

    And, of all things, it’s because of a sermon he preached that resulted in his YouTube account being closed and his being banned from the website for four days.

    The experience of his sermons no longer being available to the general public was “traumatiz-ing,” Ausbun says with a hearty laugh.

    The 36-minute sermon, titled “Persecution in the Middle East,” focused on John 15:18-25 and explored radical Islam, ISIS, and how Christians are being treated by such terrorist groups. He explained that typical perse-cution methods included forced

    conversion to Islam, being taxed at nearly a year’s wages, leaving the area, or execution.

    Ausbun believes the sermon must have set off censorship filters and YouTube’s automatic monitoring alarms shut down the account.

    “This was not meant for the general YouTube audience though posting it certainly gives it that platform. I generally just post those sermons for members who missed a service.

    His sermons gain a new audience

    “To show how popular my sermons are, that particular sermon only had four views in the couple of days before it was pulled,” he says with chagrin. “It really was sorta pitiful.”

    Most of his sermons’ views average in the high teens. But at nearly 17,000 in the three days he clearly has a record. Ausbun, who has been at the church for nine years, preached the sermon on Aug. 24 and uploaded it two days later. On Aug. 29 he received a message

    from YouTube informing him his account had been closed. Attempts to contact the online video sharing site were useless, he says.

    That’s when he had the idea to send a tweet to Fox News

    commentator Todd Starnes in New York. After the Labor Day weekend Starnes contacted Ausbun to verifying his legiti-macy and published the story on Sept. 2.

    Related videos receive collateral interest

    “I’m not kidding, within 20 minutes my account was restored and all the videos were available again,” he said.

    A week later at press time for this issue of The Index, the video had been watched 20,701 times.

    In contrast, a deacon ordina-

    tion service on his site had 418 views, the sanctuary choir sing-ing “Amazing Grace” had 301 views, and a video of a church member playing his guitar and singing in a service had 102 views.

    “There was nothing derogato-ry about the Islamic faith outside of the radical fringe groups who are in the media every day. I was simply educating my congrega-tion on how those groups oper-ate and the tremendous amount of persecution that Christians are encountering at their hands,” Ausbun stated.

    Regular YouTube poster“I’ve been posting to

    YouTube for three years and never had anything like this to happen. But I do know that it’s not unusual to be banned and once individuals appeal their case a ‘real human’ gets involved and makes a decision. There is no way they could hire enough people to evaluate a video each time it is uploaded,” he said.

    YouTube’s community guide-lines states it doesn’t allow “hate

    speech” and Ausbun believes some of his content tripped the censor’s alarms, automatically shutting down the account. But there was nothing in the sermon that could be considered in that realm, and upon review that must have been why his account and sermons were reinstated, he said.

    Viral exposure spreads the Gospel

    The good side of the story is Ausbun’s sermon has been viewed by thousands more than who would otherwise have heard his Gospel presentation.

    What’s the takeaway?Ausbun pauses for a minute

    and responds, “I guess the lesson is by speaking up you can make a difference. Don’t accept an injus-tice, not matter how small you make think it is.

    “I really don’t feel this was a malicious act by YouTube and was the result of computer pro-gramming more than anything else, but when something like this occurs, appeal it to have the decision reversed.”

    Daniel Ausbun

    False alarm triggers temporary closure of YouTube account

    Pastor’s sermon goes viral … accidentally

    Pastor denies being persecuted for

    preaching a sermon on persecution

    By Joe WestburyManaging Editor

    JONESBORO — Truett Cathy, the grandfatherly fast food entrepreneur who brought the nation the original Southern fried chicken sandwich – along with a side of Southern Baptist family values – died shortly after midnight on Sept. 8.

    The 93-year-old Cathy, whose boneless fried chicken sandwich catapulted Chick-fil-A beyond Kentucky Fried Chicken as the nation’s favorite chicken meal this year, died at home surrounded by loved ones. The company reported his death as having occurred at 1:35 a.m.

    Cathy’s Christian principles of clos-ing the restau-rants on Sundays will remain in place, a statement on the company’s website noted.

    Born in Eatonton in 1921, Cathy was known as much for his strong work ethic and family values as for his keen business sense. His deep Christian faith permeated the sprawling empire that began with one small diner near the Atlanta airport featuring his experimental sandwich and ended with 1,800 restaurants in 40 states and the District of Columbia.

    A distinctive selling point

    of the sandwich is that it was a skinless chicken breast but was coated in a crispy batter that, when fried, maintained the tradi-tional crunch.

    $5 billion in sales in 2013The chain recently com-

    pleted its 47th consecutive year of annual sales increases, which reached $5 billion in 2013. Its billboards of slightly-less-than-intelligent cows urging the purchase of chicken sandwiches – to their advantage – has won national awards for creativity.

    Cathy’s oldest son, Dan became president in 2001 and chairman and chief executive officer in 2013 while his father

    contin-ued in the role of chair-man emeritus.

    Mel Blackaby, the family pas-tor at First Baptist Church of Jonesboro, described the elder Cathy as “perhaps the most gra-cious Christian man I have ever known …

    “Having taught 8th grade boys Sunday School for 52 years, he chose to invest his life in the next generation of lead-ers,” Blackaby said. “Everywhere I go, I meet leaders with a smile on their face who say, ‘I am one of Truett’s boys!’”

    Georgia Baptist Convention

    Executive Director J. Robert White stated, “Truett will long be remembered for taking strong Christian stands in the marketplace including keep-ing the Lord’s Day as a day of rest for all of his employees and influencing his company’s more recent stand honoring the sanc-tity of marriage between one man and one woman.

    “It would be difficult to measure the positive impact that Truett Cathy has had upon young people through his gener-ous scholarship programs that

    have assisted many in their desire to complete their college educa-tion,” White added.

    Putting people ahead of profitsCathy’s lifelong desire was to

    put principles and people ahead of profits. On several occasions he said he made as much money in six days as his competitors did in seven and he felt it was more honorable to respect the Lord’s Day than the cash regis-ter. His net worth was estimated at $6 billion and he repeatedly appeared on Forbes magazine’s

    list of the most wealthiest Americans.

    He was often quoted as say-ing: “I’d like to be remembered as one who kept my priorities in the right order. We live in a changing world, but we need to be reminded that the important things have not changed.

    “I have always encouraged my restaurant operators and team members to give back to the local community. We should be about more than just sell-ing chicken, we should be a part of our customers’ lives and the communities in which we serve.”

    That business approach was largely driven by personal sat-isfaction and a sense of obliga-tion to the community and its young people. His WinShape Foundation, founded in 1984, grew from his desire to “shape winners” by helping young people succeed in life through scholarships and other youth-support programs. In addi-tion, through its Leadership Scholarship Program, the Chick-fil-A chain has given more than $32 million in financial assistance to Chick-fil-A restau-rant employees since 1973.

    Cathy is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jeannette McNeil Cathy; sons Dan T. and Don “Bubba” Cathy; daughter Trudy Cathy White; 19 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

    “We should be about more than just selling chicken …”

    Truett Cathy

    Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy dies at 93

    Truett Cathy was one of the nation’s most wealthiest men yet never forgot his roots. He believed strongly that tomorrow’s leaders are found in today’s youth, and instilled a hard work ethic and spiritual values in those he encountered. He is known for his college scholarship program for employees, which provided more than $32 million in financial assistance. CHICK-FIL-A/Special

  • 3September 18, 2014WWW.CHRISTIANINDEX.ORG

    By J. Gerald HarrisEditor

    CUMMING — Some mar-riages are made in heaven while others are made in – well, some-where else. It appears that First Redeemer Church in Cumming and new senior pastor Jeff Jackson were made for each other.

    After leading Rehoboth Baptist Church in Tucker to experience some of its greatest days, Richard Lee started First Redeemer Church on Sept. 29, 1996 with a group of 87 attenders. Although the church was started in a renovated ware-house the church has had 17 years of exponential growth and today has 5,000 members on 50

    acres of prime land in facilities worth millions of dollars.

    In a letter to the congregation in July 2013 Lee wrote, “On this coming September 29, 2013, as we celebrate our anniversary, I will be stepping down from my role as the senior pastor of this church.”

    In the same letter Lee expressed “a growing sense of peace and excitement concern-ing the days ahead for First Redeemer under the leader-ship of our new pastor, Jeff Jackson, and his wonderful wife, Catherine.”

    From all appearances the transition could not have been smoother. Jackson was one of the 87 attenders on that first

    Sunday almost 18 years ago and became one of the founding members.

    Passion for servingPrior to entering full-time

    ministry, Jackson enjoyed a suc-cessful career in the telecom-munications industry. Early in 2002, he accepted a call from First Redeemer Church to serve as adult education pastor. In the years that followed, the winsome and affable Jackson enjoyed ministering in various roles to people of all ages. But as senior pastor he currently oversees the multi-faceted ministries of First Redeemer and speaks in the weekly worship services.

    In an interview Jackson

    The 2014 annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention will be held at Ingleside Baptist Church, 834 Wimbish Road, Macon, GA 31210, on Nov. 10-11.

    In the business session of the 1997 Convention, a motion was passed that requested the Committee on Resolutions report be printed for the messengers whenever possible.

    The office of Dr. John Bryan will accept reso-lutions for the 2014 annual convention until Nov. 5. Please mail them to the address below or send via email to [email protected] and copy to [email protected].

    John BryanGeorgia Baptist Convention

    6405 Sugarloaf ParkwayDuluth, GA 30097

    During the meeting of the Convention, all resolutions are to be submitted according to Standing Rule No. 16 (see below) and are due at the Recording Secretary’s desk no later than the conclusion of the Monday evening session. This will allow time for the Committee on Resolutions to consider all proposed resolutions and to have its report printed for distribution on Tuesday.

    Standing Rule No. 16, adopted in the busi-

    ness session of the 1997 Convention, states: A proposed resolution, in order to be consid-

    ered by the Convention, must be signed and per-sonally delivered by its author or his designee to the Recording Secretary, or one of the Assistant Recording Secretaries, by the end of the Monday evening session of the Convention. All proposed resolutions will be automatically referred to the Committee on Resolutions without discussion, except where the President of the Convention rules that a proposed resolution shall be considered at the time offered or referred. The Committee on Resolutions shall review proposed resolutions and shall present appropriate resolutions to the Convention for its consideration. Whenever pos-sible, resolutions presented by the Committee on Resolutions for consideration by the Convention shall be printed and distributed to the Convention. (Adopted 1997)

    Individuals submitting resolutions have the opportunity to address the Committee on Resolutions. Those submitting resolutions must be registered messengers and be avail-able to the Committee on Resolutions should the Committee have questions that need to be answered. The Committee on Resolutions will meet immediately following the close of the Monday evening session of the Convention.

    First Redeemer is ‘Shining Beyond Belief ’

    Resolutions guidelines for the Georgia Baptist Convention annual meeting

    explained, “God is moving in and through the people of First Redeemer Church to reach Forsyth County for Christ. God has given our church a passion for serving in our com-munity and by shining the light of Christ’s love beyond the

    walls of our church, we are attracting hundreds of new attend-ees and members.

    “For example, beginning in April, our church launched a

    community service campaign called, ‘Shine Beyond Belief’ through which we mobilized hundreds from our church fam-ily to serve throughout north Atlanta. Based on its success I believe this sort of servant evan-gelism to be an effective way for the church to fulfill the Great Commission.”

    For example, the church actively supports veterans of our

    armed forces. On June 28 the church hosted a community-wide Veterans Appreciation event, which was attended by over 5,000 people in the area. Almost 100 veterans were rec-ognized by name and were given gifts of appreciation from First Redeemer.

    Redeemer volunteers partnered with the Veterans Empowerment Organization, which provides homeless veterans with food, shelter, clothing, life skills, and job placement.

    Tim Kinnersley, one of the “Beyond Belief” volunteers, commented, “Christ calls us to bring light into this dark world we live in; and the light is Him. Our actions and deeds have opened up a door that permits us to share Christ with others.”

    Compassion invasionFirst Redeemer has also

    invaded six assisted living homes with love and compassion. Praise and Worship Pastor Kevin Richmond asked for volunteers from the choir to go to The Oaks at Post Road to present a

    We believe in the Cooperative Program

    “I believe in the Cooperative Program because we can do more together than we can do alone. It costs on average $52,000 per year to support one missionary on a foreign field. At that rate, most churches could not support even one. But, through the Cooperative Program, our churches support over 4,800 international missionaries, almost 2,500 North American missionaries, six world-class seminaries, and a number of agencies and institutions. Truly, the Cooperative Program empowers us to do more together than we could ever do alone!”

    Garth Forster, pastor First Baptist Church, Barnesville

    “I believe in the CP because it allows our church to be involved in Christian education, training, church planting, missions at home and abroad. It allows each church member to practice the Great Commission. From missionary guest houses in west Africa to inner city ministries in Georgia the CP is the avenue God blesses to reach His world for Jesus.”

    Paul Medley, pastor First Baptist Church, Bainbridge

    “I believe in the Cooperative Program because it allows Toms Creek to do ministry all over the world, and at the same time minister right here in Martin. The Cooperative Program gives Toms Creek the ability to help other churches through-out the state that may not have the resources of a larger church. The Cooperative Program also allows our missionaries to serve in the field without worry or fear of their support being cut due to a pastor leaving an individual church or a single church deciding to cut their budget. It allows our missionaries the stability and focus they need to work in their ministry field with accountability and support from the churches back home. It allows Toms Creek the ability to fulfill our call to carry out the Great Commission.”

    Wayne Marcus, pastor Toms Creek Baptist Church, Martin

    continued on page 11

    walls of our churare attracting hundreds of new attendees and members.

    example, beginning in April, our chur

    Greg and Tracey Kelly, members of First Redeemer Church in Cumming, pause for a moment with their sons Will, left, and Mason as part of a team doing landscape work at a local fire station. REDEEMER CHURCH/Special

  • In the 1960s the Southern Baptist Convention was rife with liberalism. Much of the higher education in our colleges and seminaries was marked by what could be called neo-orthodox theolo-gy. Basically, neo-orthodoxy is an existentialist variety of Christianity that denies the essential objective basis of truth, namely the abso-lute truth and authority of Scripture.

    Neo-orthodoxy was birthed in the thinking and language of Soren Kierkegaard and advanced in the writings of Karl Barth, Emil Brunner, Paul Tillich, and Reinhold Niebuhr.

    Of this neo-orthodox theology John Macarthur explains, “While [these] theologians often sound as if they affirm traditional beliefs, their actual system differs radically from the his-toric understanding of the Christian faith. By denying the objectivity of truth, they relegate all theology to the realm of subjective relativ-ism …. And that is why it is so deadly.”

    In order to resolve this liberal trend in SBC life, Judge Paul Pressler of Houston, TX and New Orleans Seminary doc-toral student Paige Patterson met at Café du Monde in New Orleans to discuss a long-term strategy for a conservative domina-tion of the SBC.

    In 1974 the Baptist Faith and Message Fellowship identified iner-rancy as the issue to be used in their struggle against moderates in the SBC. The conservative strategy was “officially” launched

    in 1979 when Memphis pastor Adrian Rogers was elected president of the Convention. The “Battle for the Bible” had begun.

    Rogers and succeeding SBC presidents used their appoint-ive powers to gain a conservative major-ity on the boards and agencies of the Convention. Conservatives suc-cessfully elected all presidents of the SBC from 1979 to the pres-ent. Avowed Biblical iner-rantists were elected to replace agency leaders who were not in sympathy with the new direction of the Convention.

    By the end of the 20th Century the Conservative Resurgence had changed the tenor and tone of the SBC. The Battle for the Bible had been won.

    Today it appears that a new battle is being waged in the Southern Baptist Convention – the battle for the budget. In June of 2010 the SBC met in Orlando and voted to approve the recommen-dations of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Great Commission Task Force.

    The Task Force stated that our primary goal should be presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and to make disciples of

    all nations and specified that 51% of Cooperative Program gifts go to the International Mission Board. The recommen-dation specified that the

    North American Mission Board be “reinvented and released” by imple-menting a direct strategy for plant-ing churches on this continent “with a priority to reach metropolitan areas

    and under-served people groups.

    The Convention voted to adopt the recommenda-tion’s fol-lowing core values: Christ-likeness, Truth, Unity, Relationships, Trust, Future, Local Church, and Kingdom.

    As I recall, the vision and values of the Task Force were approved by a large majority of the messengers at the annual meeting. Four years later one would have to question if anything has been done on the national level to encourage the implementation of these val-ues. Based on the number of baptisms nationally and internationally there have been no positive signs that we are doing a better job of making disciples.

    The third major recom-mendation of the GCR Task Force pertained to “celebrating and empower-ing Great Commission giv-ing.” While the Task Force affirmed the Cooperative Program as the central means of funding our mis-

    sions and ministries, the term “Great Commission Giving” surfaced in SBC life.

    In commenting on this facet of the recommenda-tion Trevin Wax wrote: “Those who oppose this recommendation believe that the sum total of ‘Great Commission Giving’ will dilute the value of the Cooperative Program by elevating designated gifts for specific ministries. The result will be a return to societal giving, in which various entities will be forced to go from church to church, asking for funds.

    By celebrating designated giving, churches will have less reason to support the program, leading to the dismantling of the current structure and the rise of spe-cial interests.”

    Wax added, “Those who support this recommenda-tion believe that the pro-gram is already weakened and needs to be strength-ened, not by chastising churches for giving desig-nated gifts, but by celebrat-ing all Great Commission giving. Once churches become convinced that the ministries funded by the program are worth their Great Commission dollars, they will rise to the occasion and increase giving in all areas.”

    What has happened to our giving since 2010? When Marietta pastor Bryant Wright was elected president in Orlando he stated that he wanted to see Southern Baptists return to their first love and radically reprioritize their lives, fund-ing and ministries to fulfill the Great Commission. It was at that time that he stated his church, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, had made a decision to reduce CP giving in order to designate more to the International Mission Board.

    David Uth, pastor of First Baptist Church in Orlando, led his church to make a similar decision. Other churches have taken advantage of the oppor-tunity to give designated amounts to certain agen-cies. Early this year, in fact, Uth cut his church’s historic $1 million in giv-ing to the CP through the Florida Baptist Convention to only $83,000 with more than $900,000 channeled to Great Commission (desig-nated) giving.

    As churches give their money directly to Nashville for distribution to the

    agency of their choice, state conven-tions struggle to maintain their missions and ministry objectives. The point is that there are so many wor-thy mission endeavors at

    home and abroad that there are not enough funds to accomplish our objectives. Therein lies the problem and the battle for the bud-get.

    The GCR Task Force rec-ommended that state con-vention leaders would create a consortium that, in coop-eration with the president and CEO of the Executive Committee, would “plan and execute an annual strat-egy that will promote the Cooperative Program to our churches as well as chal-lenge our churches in bibli-cal stewardship” and that the state conventions would reassume that stewardship assignment.

    The questions is: How effectively will state conven-tions be able to promote the Cooperative Program when Great Commission giving opens the door to soci-etal giving and we live in a consumer-driven society that values “choices” more than honored traditions?

    In view of the above what will the SBC look like in 20 years? It may well depend upon whether the pastors and churches of our con-vention have a myopic view or a Kingdom perspective regarding their financial resources.

    4 THE CHRISTIAN INDEX

    Board of Directors: Janet Jones–Chair, Dan Rosser–Vice-Chairman, Kimberley Humphries–Secretary, J. Robert White–Treasurer, Phil Bray, Danny Cochran, Lane Collins, John Darsey, Paul Garrison, Darey Kittle and Richard Walker.

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    The Christian Index

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    J. Gerald HarrisEditor

    The battle for the budget

    Established 1822 | Volume 193, Number 19 | Visit our website at www.christianindex.org

    How effectively will state conventions be able to promote the Cooperative Program

    when Great Commission giving opens the door to societal giving and we live in

    a consumer-driven society that values “choices” more than tradition?

    Today it appears that a new battle is being

    waged in the Southern Baptist Convention …

  • I had just completed a delightful visit with two fine young pastors in our area when I stopped by the Chick-fil-A restaurant to pick up some lunch. I placed my order, “I’ll have a number 1 with waffle fries and a large Coke Zero.”

    The young lady responded, “That’s a number 1 with waffle fries and a large Coke Zero?”

    I said, “Yes. That’s correct, thank you.”

    She replied, “My pleasure.” It was a normal Chick-

    fil-A process with the courte-ous response that we have all come to appreciate. This stop at a Chick-fil-A seemed more appropriate than usual as I was on my way to the worship service at First Baptist Church of Jonesboro where we would celebrate the life of S. Truett Cathy. The news of his home going had reached me on Monday morning and he had been on my mind ever since.

    I have had so much respect and appreciation for Truett and his family. The strong Christian stands that they have taken in the marketplace have been instructive and inspiring to our culture.

    My plan was to get to First Baptist Church of Jonesboro at least an hour-and-a-half before the funeral service because I knew a great crowd of folks would be attending the ser-vice. The sanctuary was already packed when I arrived and I was thankful that some good friends from New Hope Baptist Church and First Jonesboro invited me to come and sit with them.

    Two very dear pastor friends would be responsible for the worship service, Dr. Mel Blackaby, Truett and Jeanette’s pastor at First Baptist Jonesboro, and Dr. Charles Carter, long-time pastor for the Cathy family and Truett’s best friend for forty years. I had

    talked with Charles and prayed with him over the phone the day before and stopped by the church office to pray with Mel before the worship service. Mel predicted an attendance of around 4,000 people, which seemed to be very accurate.

    Both men did an amaz-ing job in not only remem-bering the great life of Truett Cathy, but also pointing people to faith in Jesus Christ. The life experi-ences that Charles Carter shared warmed our hearts and made us laugh. He characterized Truett Cathy as a man bigger than life, and indeed, he was.

    Truett was born on March 14, 1921 in Eatonton, Georgia. I remember on several occasions hearing Truett share about his earliest entrepreneurial experi-ence of selling soft drinks door-to-door at the age of 8. Later he sold magazines and then at the age of 12 had his own daily paper route.

    Truett was a hard worker and attributed that fact to his mother, Lilla Kimbell Cathy. He remembered as a young man learning a lot about running a business and treating people with honor, dignity, and respect by watching his mother operate a boarding house in southwest Atlanta.

    Truett and his precious wife, Jeanette, grew up together and were married on September 19, 1948. Jeanette was Truett’s constant companion and inspi-ration throughout the years. As was said in the funeral service, “There could not have been a Truett Cathy with all of his successes without his dear wife, Jeanette.” In response to that

    statement there was a long, standing ovation in the crowd-ed sanctuary of First Baptist Jonesboro. Truett and Jeanette were blessed with three wonder-ful children, Dan, Bubba, and Trudy.

    Truett’s first restaurant was so small, only 10 stools and 4 tables, that he and his brother decided to call the restaurant the Dwarf Grill, which later was called the Dwarf House. In those earliest years Dan, Bubba and Trudy were common fix-tures at the Dwarf House enter-taining customers and learning the restaurant business from their dad. This beautiful family has grown over the years and now includes 19 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

    Through his keen business sense, a strong work ethic, and a deep Christian faith, Truett took that Dwarf Grill in Hapeville, Georgia and grew it into what is now Chick-fil-A, the nation’s largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain based on annual sales. It was at that first small restaurant that Truett created the Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich. Today there are more than 1,800 restaurants in 39 states and Washington, D.C.

    One of the greatest contribu-tions of Truett Cathy’s life came from the fact that he taught Sunday School to 13-year old boys for more than 50 years. During the service we were all blessed by the testimony of Woody Faulk, one of those fine Sunday School boys, who was deeply impacted by the life and

    work of Truett Cathy. Truett was compelled by his

    faith in the Lord, his belief in the Scriptures, and his devotion to the church to incorporate biblical principles in the work-place. The result of this is prob-

    ably best known as the fact that all Chick-fil-A restaurants, with-out exception, are closed on Sundays.

    Dr. Carter in his remarks remembered

    asking Truett some questions one day. One of the questions was this, “Truett, how much money do you think you left on the table by not being open on Sundays?” Truett responded that it had been estimated to him that the dollar value left on the table by being closed on Sundays was approximately $500 million, but he continued that the value provided to his employees and their families by being closed on Sundays was far greater than any dollars that might have been missed.

    In 1984, Truett began WinShape Foundation because of his desire to “shape winners” by helping young people suc-ceed in life through scholarships and other youth-support pro-grams. An important part of the foundation is WinShape Homes, which provides a long-term home for foster children within a positive family environment.

    Truett’s favorite Bible verse was Proverbs 22:1, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favor than silver and gold.”

    A lovely printed card was provided to those attending the funeral service. On the card was Truett’s photograph, the years of his life, and his favorite verse of Scripture. On the flip side of the card that reflects so beauti-

    fully the life and devotion of Truett Cathy, the Christian layman, were these words:

    Truett Cathy believed that a life well-lived is predicated by selecting the right Master. Truett chose Jesus Christ as his per-sonal Lord and Savior and dedicated his life to serv-ing Him. If you have never made this most important decision, you may do so right now by offering a prayer like this:

    Dear God, I ask you to forgive me for my sin and my desire to be in control of my life. I believe You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die on a cross to pay for my sin and that He is my only hope of eternal salvation. I believe He rose from the grave to give me victory over sin and death. I now invite You to come into my heart to be my personal Lord and Savior. I commit the rest of my life to You and thank You for sav-ing me. Amen.

    The life of S. Truett Cathy truly was well-lived for the Savior who was indeed his Master.

    In the future, I will be eat-ing a lot more Chick-fil-A sandwiches and as I do I will be praying for the Cathy family as they carry forward the rich legacy of a husband, father, and grandfather who carried his wit-ness for Jesus Christ into the marketplace in a remarkable and unforgettable way.

    5September 18, 2014WWW.CHRISTIANINDEX.ORG

    OPE

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    J. Robert WhiteExecutive Director GBC

    Truett was compelled by his faith in the Lord, his belief in the Scriptures,

    and his devotion to the church to incorpo-rate biblical principles in the workplace.

    Guest Commentary

    Recognize Christian Citizenship SundayBy Mike Griffin

    Like you, I am deeply con-cerned about the moral state of our culture. Biblical values are under attack on every front. While our pri-mary goal is always to reach the lost with the Gospel, we must also be vigilant in protect-ing the religious liberty on which our nation was founded. We must be active in educating our congregations on the issues of the day.

    Romans 13 is clear that Christ followers must submit to the authority of government. Unlike most countries around

    the world, we have the privilege of deciding who leads us. If the church is silent on this issue, we will continue to see the moral

    decline that has marked the past 50 years. We may also face new chal-lenges to the public preaching of the Word of God.

    One of the best ways we can protect our-selves from this threat is through the politi-cal process. Let me be

    clear. Neither I, nor the Georgia Baptist Convention, has any interest in partisan politics and we don’t suggest that churches engage there

    either. But there is a difference between promoting political parties and promoting the prin-ciples people of faith hold dear.

    It is important to remem-ber that pastors were deeply involved in the foundation of the United States at every level. A proper understanding of God’s law was considered neces-sary to understand man’s law. America’s moral decline can be traced to the removal of God’s people from the process.

    To that end, I am asking all Georgia Baptist pastors to rec-ognize a Christian Citizenship Sunday on September 21, 2014. While it could be helpful to preach on Christian Citizenship,

    this does not need to affect your preaching schedule and certainly should not take away from your time of corporate worship. It would only take a few minutes at the end of the morning wor-ship service to explain the neces-sity of engaging the culture and then to have people register to vote before they leave the build-ing. With a valid driver’s license, registration can easily be done online or they can complete the paper form. To receive the nec-essary information to conduct a church wide, nonpartisan voter registration, please contact Mike Griffin at [email protected]. Please notify us of your intent to participate as soon as

    possible so that we may provide you with the necessary materials.

    Thank you for your attention to this extremely important mat-ter and thank you for your faith-fulness to the Gospel of Christ. This is a pivotal time in the his-tory of the State of Georgia and the United States of America and I want Georgia Baptists to do our part to protect people of faith in the political process. May God grant us the grace to see a shift in our culture toward Him.

    Mike Griffin serves as the Georgia Baptist Convention’s public affairs representative.

    Mike Griffin

  • J. Gerald HarrisEditor

    POWDER SPRINGS — Glenn Chappelear is a member of Burnt Hickory Baptist Church in Power Springs and part of the North American Mission Board’s Mission Service Corps.

    He is primarily known for his Sportsmen’s Outreach, a ministry which God has used to touch the hearts of countless men with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

    Chappelear is a man’s man. He was a defensive back for the Clemson University football team in 1982-85, is an avid hunter, and a noted angler with the Fishing League Worldwide (FLW Tour) and the Everstart Trail.

    He is also a devoted minister of the Gospel. Chappelear made his public profession of faith in Christ as a 12-year-old boy and was called into the ministry at age 18.

    At Clemson he became the president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and God began to open up doors for him to share his faith. Upon graduat-ing from Clemson he pursued his theological education at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, TX.

    With the teamChappelear continues to

    maintain a busy schedule with his professional fishing tour and speaking engagements. He speaks at about 15 Sportsmen’s Dinners each year, but he also devotes a significant amount of his time as a volunteer chaplain for the Cobb County Police Department.

    Chappelear commented, “I have about 100 officers I work with at the West Cobb station near Lost Mountain Recreational Park. Sometimes I cook them breakfast. We do cookouts together. Not long ago I took them a watermelon and other foods. My wife, Donna, and I lead them in marriage conferenc-es. I try to meet with them every week to pray with them, provide encouragement, and show them Christ’s love.”

    Not all chaplains get involved with the VIPER (Violent Incident Prevention and Early Response) units, Narcotics, and the SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) teams, but Chappelear does.

    In fact, when the SWAT Team was alerted to a problem at the FedEx Building, which is a 450,000 square-foot package and delivery facility in Kennesaw, before sunrise on April 29 Chappelear received the same text message that other members of the Team received.

    “Amidst all the armored per-sonnel carriers and brave public

    servants fully clothed in their SWAT gear with their automatic weap-ons I paused to pray for them,” explains Chappelear. “I always pray especially for the first man who will go through the door, because I know he is the one most vulnerable.”

    Authorities learned that a 19-year-old employee of FedEx went on a shooting rampage, wounding six people before turning the gun on himself and taking his own life.

    There were 140 FedEx workers relegated to a nearby hangar at McCollum Field (air-port) for safety pur-poses. Chappelear went to the hangar to talk to the people there to calm their fears, meet their needs, and provide assurance that they were safe.

    Once law enforce-ment officers had stabilized the situa-tion Chappelear was dispatched along with another chaplain, Scotty Davis, pastor of Piney Grove Baptist Church in Acworth, to go see the shooter’s mother.

    Chappelear stated, “She was by herself and very distraught. We stayed with her for about 90 minutes trying to minister to her and then I prayed with her.”

    As a police chap-lain for Cobb County, Chappelear has gone through training ses-sions with the officers and been on the scene for drug busts and prostitution stings and proclaims, “I love being the chaplain for these guys.”

    Chappelear has a regular Bible study called The Barn for the police officers, stating, “We often have as many as 50 or 60 involved in the Bible study with half of them being police officers. I don’t think there are many preachers who have a congrega-tion with half of the members carrying guns.”

    A need to investCaptain T.R. Alexander,

    who coordinates the chaplaincy program for the Cobb Country Police, commented, “Glenn has been very involved with the police department. He has spent a lot of time with the police personnel and his concern and care has helped them with the struggles they face. His ministry has meant a lot of all of us.”

    Statistics reveal that the U.S. has less than 5% of the world’s population, but almost 25% of the world’s prisoners. Chappelear saw a need to invest some of his time in a ministry to prison-ers and has worked with Prison Fellowship (the organization founded by Chuck Colson) and

    Forgiven Ministry, a unique organization designed to meet the spiritual, physical, and emo-tional needs of the children of inmates, the inmates themselves, ex-inmates, and their families.

    Chappelear exclaimed, “The expected result of this ministry is to heal the wounds inflicted by crime, redirecting lives and help-ing those who have been incar-cerated to once again become productive citizens, parents, and family members.

    “It seems that when I have an opportunity to speak in these prisons the men connect with me, because most of them have fished or hunted in their past. I usually get the biggest inmate in the crowd to come onto the stage with me and I perform my cast-ing tricks on him and that gets everyone’s attention.

    “I am permitted to preach

    the Gospel and I have seen many of the inmates come to faith in Christ. This facet of my ministry is extremely fulfilling.”

    Chappelear has now expanded his ministry into the school sys-tem. He recalled an experience he had speaking to the student body at Durham Middle School

    in Acworth, saying, “There were 1,200 students at the assembly.

    “I took my truck, boat, and the check I had received from my last tournament to the school. I asked the students if they would like to have the things I had brought with me to the school. One got in the truck, another got in the boat, and another one held my check in his hand. Then I reminded them that all those possessions were possible because of my education.”

    Chappelear continued, “I make my living through my fish-ing tournaments and I have to know how much gas my boat will hold and how many miles I get to the gallon and how far I will have to travel in a day’s fish-ing experience. I have to know how to effectively weigh my fish down to the very ounce. I have to carefully navigate with the

    help of my GPS. I had to learn math in school in order to do all that calculating.

    “I also had to do well in English and English Literature, because do you think companies would give me a boat or truck if I couldn’t speak properly and effectively represent their com-pany?”

    Hooking fish and soulsChappelear concluded, “I talk

    about the importance of a good education and the importance of making wise choices – that life has consequences and that I have chosen to have faith in God.”

    Many churches in Georgia know Chappelear as a profession-al fisherman and a goodly num-ber of them have had him speak to their men at a wild game or sportsman dinner.

    He emphasized, “These events are great evangelistic tools for churches; and I am available to coach churches on how to plan these wild game dinners. They are entirely different from church homecomings, because the pur-pose is not to reach those who have a history with the church, but those who have no church identification and no relationship with Christ.”

    Chappelear’s interests are not confined to the spiritual needs in America. There are needs on the Baja Peninsula of Mexico that have captured Chappelear’s heart. He stated, “I believe God has given me the southern Baja Peninsula. I have taken people with me to minister to the people there. We set up eye clinics, host Bible studies, build churches, and conduct Vacation Bible Schools. The people are incredibly recep-tive.

    “One man came to our eye clinic and we gave him a Bible, because we have them read the Bible to determine exactly the pair of glasses that best suits their needs. One man started to read the Bible out loud. When he got his glasses he continued to read the Word of God and left our clinic reading that Bible out loud. It is just an illustration of how hungry the people there are for Holy Scriptures.

    “No one refuses the tracts and the Bibles we distribute in south-ern Baja. We use the weeks of VBS as launching pads to begin new churches. The response there has been marvelous.”

    Glenn Chappelear is a profes-sional angler and knows how to hook both fish and souls. He has a multiplicity of interests, but he has a single-minded passion – to honor Christ with his life and witness.

    For more information about Chappelear go to www.SportsmensOutreach.org.

    6 THE CHRISTIAN INDEX

    Chappelear knows how to hook ‘em

    Glenn Chappelear has transformed his love for the outdoors into a ministry for stu-dents in addition to opportunities to serve as a chaplain and speak to audiences such as those at wild game dinners. A member of Burnt Hickory Baptist Church in Powder Springs, Chappelear is also active in ministry needs to the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. GLENN CHAPPELEAR/Special

    “I am permitted to preach the Gospel and I have seen many of the inmates come to faith in Christ. This facet of my ministry is extremely fulfilling.”

    Glenn ChappelearBurnt Hickory Baptist Church, Powder Springs s

  • By Scott BarkleyProduction Editor

    Recently, members of First Baptist Church in Ty Ty were meeting the new stu-dent minister. During a question-and-answer session, Jim Joy had only one question for the candidate: “Do you babysit?”

    It was meant as a tongue-in-cheek query, though maybe with a grain of earnestness. Jim, 70, and his wife Maggie, 67, pretty much raised their two grand-daughters and now care for three great granddaughters – ages 7, 5, and 3 – around 90% of the time, he estimates.

    The reimagining of the tradi-tional family has been well-doc-umented. At its core is a picture of an ideal – dad, mom, children. From there the image changes and begins to become some-thing different.

    As more of those pic-tures of family appear, they coalesce into becoming a new reality much more common than we think. That reality becomes more apparent as individuals realize they have a friend, cousin, or co-worker a part of this growing new defini-tion of family. This makes the existence of these families impos-sible to ignore, given that we share a pew or even a last name with them.

    Such commentary isn’t unusual to hear today, but it’s typically regarding another redefinition of family. When one topic grabs the major-ity of headlines, though, another goes unnoticed even if it’s the one more people experience personally.

    The growth of ‘grandfamilies’

    In 1970 a campaign began to honor all grandpar-ents. Not until eight years later would it be fulfilled, but at that time President Jimmy Carter signed a fed-eral proclamation that the first Sunday after Labor Day would be National Grandparents Day.

    Four decades later the day has come to recognize more of what grandparents are called on to do. In 1970, 3% of children lived with their grandparents. By 2009 that figure had risen to 9%, and in 2010 the U.S. Census Bureau stated 10% of chil-

    dren in the country lived with a grandparent. The develop-ment has given rise to the term “grandfamily.”

    According to the Georgia Department of Human Services, in 2009 approximately 102,000 grandparents in the state were responsible for rais-ing their grandchildren. The growth of such cases neces-sitated the Department of Family and Children’s Services to offer a Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) support

    payment of $50 per child per month. Other subsidies exist, such as summer job placement for 16-21-year-olds and one-time payments for crisis inter-vention.

    That same year, the AARP reported 5.8 million children living in homes where grand-parents were the householders and another two million children in homes with other relatives

    heading the household. The indication is although a parent may have lived in those homes as well, at least some responsibility

    for childcare went to those grandparents or relatives.

    The roads taken to get here are numerous – addiction, jobless-ness, broken families. Personal sin of some form is almost always

    part of it. For those grandpar-ents raising their grandchildren, though, the hope is such roads aren’t travelled again.

    Family prideThe Joys moved to Ty Ty

    in 1978 from Jacksonville, FL. Maggie’s parents were in bad health and the couple wanted to be nearby. Maggie was a regis-

    tered nurse who ended up being a manager at Tift Regional Medical Center. Jim worked in sales until becoming a policeman in his mid-40s and EMT. He later was employed by a company selling home hospital equipment, retiring just last year.

    They had two sons, one of whom would marry still a teen-ager and soon have two daugh-ters before going through a painful divorce.

    “We pretty much raised our granddaughters,” says Jim. “We were younger then and it didn’t seem to be as hard.”

    As unique as their situation is, the Joys are hesitant to call

    attention to themselves. “Our boys are very good and have never been in trouble with drugs or the law. Our granddaughters were both baptized and accepted Jesus at our church.”

    The fact is, they’re proud of their sons. Proud that after a hard divorce, one of their boys took a construction job to support his girls but it required him to be out of town much of the time. “That was good for him,” remembers Jim. “It was a hard time and it was bet-ter for him to be out of Tifton.”

    Their son’s personal recovery probably doesn’t happen, though, if the Joys don’t step forward to help care for his daughters.

    Those granddaughters grew up and had children of their own (the Joys

    have five great-grandchildren total). Again, divorce brought about a situation for one of the granddaughters, leaving her with three children and a high school education. To care for her girls, she needed to go back to school while working the night shift at

    a Japanese steakhouse. Jim and Maggie volunteered to help. They continue to help as their granddaughter no longer works at the restaurant but is now going to school at night.

    What is leftAs one would expect, there’s

    a bit of personal cost as freedom typically associated to a couple in their 70s becomes limited. “A lot of times on Sunday night friends our age will go out and eat and it’s difficult to have small children there,” Jim admits. “We’d like to go more into Atlanta to IKEA, the DeKalb Farmer’s Market, or just junkin’ at Scott’s Antique Market close to the airport.”

    As the Joys see it, though, the time spent with their great-granddaughters is also an oppor-tunity.

    “We pray with them before every meal and typically have to go through three blessings, since they all want to pray,” says Jim.

    “They pray over their food at school, too. At bedtime we pray again with them before they say their own private prayers. We make sure they’re involved at church in choir, GAs, Mission Friends, and Sunday School.”

    Yes, their personal health and energy level remain a factor – in 2012 Jim had three heart attacks and had to be put on a ventilator – but the effort hasn’t diminished. Maggie has lunch with the girls at school often. Jim isn’t above helping match a little girl’s shoes with her Sunday dress.

    “When we’re dead and gone the only monument we’ll have is our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren,” said Jim.

    7September 18, 2014WWW.CHRISTIANINDEX.ORG

    “We pray with them before every meal and typically have to go through three blessings, since they all want to pray.”

    Jim Joy, memberFirst Baptist Church, Ty Ty

    The redefining of family we’re missing

    Jim and Maggie Joy, members of First Baptist Church in Ty Ty, stand with their great-granddaughters, left to right, Abby, Elizabeth, and Sarah. At right is Sarah’s half-sister Julie, who isn’t a great-grandchild of the Joys. JOY FAMILY/Special

    … in 2010 the U.S. Census Bureau stated 10% of children in the

    country lived with a grandparent.

    … in 2009 approximately 102,000 grandparents in [Georgia] were

    responsible for raising their grandchildren.

    The growing roles of grandparents

    1970 – campaign begins to establish a day to honor grandparents1978 – Grandparents Day established by President Jimmy Carter for the first Sunday after Labor Day, which was Sept. 7 this year. Sept, 9, 1979 – first Grandparents Day

    From 2010 U.S. Census Bureau7 million – number of grandparents whose grandchildren younger than 18 live with them 2.7 million – number of grandparents responsible for the basic needs of one or more grandchildren under 18 1.7 million – grandmothers 1 million – grandfathers580,000 – grandparents responsible for grandchildren under 18 whose income is below the poverty level.$45,000 – median income for families with grandparent householders $33,000 – median income in grandfami-lies where a parent of the grandchildren was not present

  • 8

    Military hero fought in three wars, resolves most important conflict

    Common bonds to a common Savior

    referring to my manner of preaching, but the doctrine.”

    “We talked to him a long time about Romans 3:23 and that salvation was avail-able to all men,” remembers Lyndon Smith, a deacon at First Buchanan and retired Marine after 21 years of active service.

    Last year on Nov. 8 the Message took hold of Ole Hook and he prayed to receive Christ. He was baptized the past spring on May 25.

    Similar shoes to the same destination

    In rising to the rank of Master Sergeant, perhaps Hook’s biggest contribution in the military came toward the end of his career. The MI Garand had become the standard issue rifle for the U.S. Armed Forces in 1936 before being replaced by the M14 in the early 1960s. In 2012 Hook was noted in an article on the United States Army Marksmanship Unit’s 56th reunion as being credited for “early accurizing techniques” of both weapons.

    That notoriety took place during Hook’s two tours in Vietnam. One night while keep-ing watch, Hook met actors John Wayne and David Jansen, who were there to get a feel for Vietnam in anticipation of film-ing The Green Berets.

    Hook’s expertise has been noted in several books, says Edwards, including The Long-Range War: Sniping in Vietnam by Peter R. Senich. A web search among various forums for rifle aficionados proves that Hook’s expertise, even today, is still held in high regard. His story was part of a Georgia Public Broadcasting special on veterans and can be viewed at gpb.org/wwii/Gerald-Boutin.

    Even at 88 years old he continues to build rifles in his

    shop and until recently was still a competitive marksman who could shoot a perfect score on bench rest matches using a .22 long range rifle cartridge.

    Edwards met Hook in 1995, striking up a friendship over their common background in the military but specifically as snipers. Not many people can say they met a close friend and bonded over long-range target rifles.

    “He and his wife, who died in 2009, had moved to Harralson County from Columbus and a friend intro-duced us,” remembers Edwards.

    In the past few years Hook has experienced a number of heart ailments, so Edwards and his wife, Robbie, took Hook in to live with them. On Sundays when the couple isn’t able to make it to church, Hook drives himself and will even take their chil-dren.

    As many veterans, par-ticularly those of his generation, Hook is reticent to talk about his war experienc-es. The only ones who have the collateral to perhaps breach that wall are those like Edwards.

    “He’s seen a lot of death and doesn’t like to talk about it, especially about Korea. He’ll occasionally talk about WWII or Vietnam, but war changes you forever. He was a very rock-hard soldier. His father was a mer-

    chant marine and alcoholic so Hook basically had to raise and feed his family,” says Edwards.

    “He’s lived a vey hard life and hasn’t known anything but handling his own affairs.”

    Edwards, whose father had also served in the military, had a quarter-century’s worth of experience in the Special Forces. He and other believers with military backgrounds began to develop a heart for Hook’s eternity.

    Something out there“We started talking to him

    about it,” Edwards says. “One day he said there was nothing out there but blackness after you die. We told him, ‘Oh yes there is’ and kept talking to him about it.

    “Barry Wood, a juvenile prosecutor in Douglas County, Richard McClarin, a mon-ster of a man who is over the Fulton County SWAT team, and Lyndon Smith, a member of First Baptist Buchanan and retired Marine gunnery ser-geant, were among those who talked to Hook about Christ.

    We were men of a common background and cared for the soul of this man who had served this nation so well.”

    Having a common bond carries a lot of weight, explains Edwards. “You can’t tell the stories of what we’ve done and experienced what we have to someone who hasn’t been in that arena. It was just something

    Hook proudly holds a Springfield Armory M1A 7.62mm SOCCOM (SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND) close quarters battle rifle for Special Operations personnel. ROD COLLINS/Special

    In order to relieve the wood from the barrel channel, Hook Boutin draw files a Winchester Model 70 rifle. This will keep the stock from touching the barrel during the bed-ding process, better known as “free floating the barrel.” Keeping the barrel from touching the stock is very important in keeping the rifle consistent from shot to shot. ROD COLLINS/Special

    continued from page 1

    Hook points at a test target sent to him showing the results of a rifle he personally accurized. At right, he walks near his Bremen workshop. ROD COLLINS/Special

  • 9September 18, 2014

    Military hero fought in three wars, resolves most important conflict

    Common bonds to a common Savior

    he could relate to and trust. He trusted our judgment because of our background.”

    Someone even closer – with-out the direct military back-ground – had Hook’s ear, though.

    “My wife, Robbie, was very instrumental in him coming to Christ,” points out Edwards. “Hook listens to her and absorbed everything she had to say to him.”

    Certainly Hook’s friendship with her husband gave Robbie those inroads, but almost as cer-tain was the fact that Steve’s wife is good with a long-range rifle. “She just made a mile-long shot the other day with a .338 Lapua like I used in Afghanistan,” says Edwards, the pride in his voice apparent even over a telephone.

    Hook’s common bonds have now spread and include those who have prayed for salvation through Christ.

    “I’ve seen a change in the man,” says Wilburn. “He’s truly born again.”

    Like others, Wilburn has learned that Boutin is hesitant to talk about the past, preferring to focus on the present and future.

    “I don’t mean to go back into that time frame,” says Hook of his experiences in war before turning the attention back to the Edwardses and others who shared with him. “They’re Christians, and they adopted me.”

    After being witnessed to several times by friends such as Steve and Robbie Edwards, at left, last year, Hook Boutin prayed for salvation through Christ. Standing alongside them are First Baptist Buchanan pas-tor Allen Wilburn, middle, and the Edwards’ daughter, Casey Carroll. STEVE EDWARDS/Special

    Hook proudly holds a Springfield Armory M1A 7.62mm SOCCOM (SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND) close quarters battle rifle for Special Operations personnel. ROD COLLINS/Special

    During his military service, Master Sergeant Gerald “Ol Hook” Boutin was presented with the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Distinguished Rifleman Badge, Presidents’ Hundred (noting him as one of the top hundred shooters in the country in 1958), Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, and multiple Bronze Stars and meritorious service awards, the exact number of which isn’t known due to Boutin never particularly caring about receiving medals. He was also inducted into the U.S. Army’s Marksmanship Training Unit Hall of Fame. ROD COLLINS/Special

    “He trusted our judgment because of our background.”Steve Edwards

    25-year military veteran

  • People & Places10 THE CHRISTIAN INDEX

    DeathsLongtime pastor Carl

    Jameson died Sept. 7 at the age of 84.

    Growing up in Fulton County, Jameson would lead the churches of Crabapple First Baptist, Waleska First Baptist, Antioch Baptist, Willeo Baptist, Union Hill Baptist, and Atlanta

    Street Baptist. In addition to being a pastor he was a success-ful businessman and avid golfer.

    Jameson is survived by his wife of 64 years, Ruth Chambers Jameson, daughters Debbie Tippens and Connie Woltz, son Rick Jameson, five grandchil-dren, and four great-grandchil-dren.

    Brooks honored for service at Central Baptist

    Central Baptist Church in Waycross recently hosted a farewell luncheon Aug. 17 for Judy Brooks, who is moving to Hartwell to care for her mother. Brooks has served Ware County schools for many years, taught private piano, and for 41 years has taught the children’s choir at Central in addition to directing the adult choir when the church was between music ministers. She also played keyboard and clarinet in the orchestra. Pictured with her are her husband, Billy, and son, Jason. The couple also has another son, Matthew, and a daughter, Katharine, who died in her teens after a bout with cancer.

    Code RED issued by churches to Jenkins County

    In late July several Georgia Baptist pastors spearheaded a local missions effort and, in conjunction with churches across racial and denominational lines, produced Code RED. The purpose of the outreach, said Pastor Kevin Farmer of Elam-Millen Baptist Church, was to show and share the Gospel to the city of Millen and Jenkins County. A community Bible school was held each morning of the three-day missions effort, with visitation teams conducting door-to-door evangelism in the afternoons of the final two days and residents being given a light bulb along with an invitation to participate in the event. The final day of Code RED featured a block party and children’s activities as well as a job fair and Career Clothes Closet for adults. An outdoor service that night featured evange-list Jon Reed and the band Evensong.

    Cartersville First Baptist Church will celebrate its 175th anniversary through three events over a weeklong period. On Sept. 28, a 5 p.m. service will be held at the church’s previ-ous location in downtown Cartersville. The following Wednesday a birthday party with hot dogs and bounce houses will be held at the church’s current location, 241 Douthit Ferry Road. On Sunday, Oct. 5, homecoming services will be fol-lowed at noon by a catered fried chicken dinner. Jeremy Morton is pastor. For more information go to cartersvillefirst.org.

    First Baptist Church of Lakeview will celebrate its 90th anniversary on Sept. 28. With the theme “90 Years of Loving Grace,” Sunday School will be cancelled for the day and the morning service moved from 11 a.m. to 10 a.m. to have an extended service full of praise, worship, testimonies, and a pos-sible slide show. Pastor Patrick Cooper will bring the celebra-tion sermon. A covered dish lunch will begin at 1 p.m., fol-lowed by an informal 3 p.m. – 6

    p.m. Tour through Time, featur-ing a walk-through time line of the church from its founding in 1924. A time capsule will also be sealed during the day, as well as the releasing of 90 biodegrad-able balloons. The day will end with a candlelight Concert of Prayer service at 6 p.m. Earlier that week the congregation will observe 90 hours of prayer beginning Sept. 24, the actual anniversary of the church’s founding. For more information call (706) 861-4262.

    First Baptist Church in Nashville will have homecoming services Oct. 5 with Don Bowick preaching. Lunch will follow morning worship. C. Stanley Luke is pastor. For more infor-mation call (229) 686-2048 or go to firstbaptistnashville.com.

    Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Austell will have homecom-ing services Sept. 21 at 11 a.m. with guest preacher Ernest J. Kelley and music evangelists Stan and Vicki Turner. Michael Crawford is pastor. For more information call (770) 948-5443.

    What’s Happening

    New River Baptist Church in Tifton recently called Gerald Purvis as senior pastor effective Aug. 10.

    Salem Seminole Baptist Church in Bowen Association recently welcomed Rick Smith as pastor.

    Ministerial Moves

    By Scott BarkleyProduction Editor

    When Park Place Baptist Church in Snellville leadership began preparing for Vacation Bible School this year, many challenges became apparent. Complications from surgery kept the VBS director from continu-ing; the budget was limited; and switching the meeting times from night to day would increase the num-ber of children who could be reached, but also limit the number of volunteer staff.

    Park Place’s VBS leader-ship prayed for assistance and soon Jenny Kent, preschool and children’s ministry direc-tor at Summit Baptist Church in Loganville, heard about the church’s needs. In response Summit Church offered all of their VBS materials that would be used two weeks prior to the one offered by Park Place.

    Milton Wood and Deb Sloan, pastor and student ministry director at Friendship

    Baptist in Eatonton, respec-tively, heard about the needs for volunteers. Friendship then sent a team of older high school and college students, led by Sloan, to team up with Park Place students. Volunteers stayed in host homes, minis-tered in VBS every morning, and every afternoon worked in community ministry for Park Place as well as the Walton County Christian Learning centers.

    By the end of the week an average daily attendance of 95

    was maintained with 28 chil-dren and one adult praying to receive Christ by that Friday.

    In addition, an offering of $393.92 was collected with 10% going to the Cooperative Program and the rest used to purchase 32 backpacks school supplies, and Bible for summer camps and discipleship materi-als for those recently-saved. Butch Butcher serves as interim pastor at Park Place Baptist Church.

    Park Place Baptist gets a VBS boost

    Peggy Stouffer, 81, a retired International Mission Board missionary to Brazil with Georgia con-nections, died Aug. 16.

    A native of Collins, Stouffer graduated from Georgia Teachers College (now Georgia Southern University) with a Bachelor of Science degree. She met her husband, Paul, while a summer missionary in Jamaica in 1954. The couple would go on to serve in Brazil from 1960-1992 during their 59-year mar-riage.

    She is survived by her hus-band and three sons – Burt, Andrew, and Carlos – as well as six grandchildren.

    OrdinationsNorth Metro First Baptist

    Church of Lawrenceville ordained Alan Benson and Daniel Salazar as deacons on Aug. 24.

    Fairview Baptist Church in Rossville recently wel-comed Mark Dodd, Dewane Tankersley, Pete Scott, and Bobby Lunsford as new dea-cons.

    Peggy Stouffer

  • concert and 45 choir mem-bers and eight members of the orchestra showed up to bless the residents with their music. Ruth Ebner, a resident at The Oaks, commented, “I loved it. I grew up on those songs. I sat on the porch swing with my grand-mother and sang those songs. We had church today.”

    Additionally, First Redeemer has provided landscaping, plant-ed flowers and tomatoes, and made homemade ice cream for the elderly at The Oaks.

    Resident Minnie Cannon from Yazoo City, MS was refer-ring to First Redeemer’s “Shine Beyond Belief” ministry when

    she exclaimed, “I have never seen a church that does as much as you people have.”

    Jackson also expressed grati-tude for the way First Redeemer members have stepped up to serve public safety workers by preparing multiple, delectable breakfasts for the deputies and dispatchers and dinners to the firefighters.

    The church also assisted with a fire station beautification project. First Redeemer mem-ber Tracy Kelley commented, “Getting out and serving others and loving others and showing others the love of Christ is what it is all about.”

    Firefighter Matt Clark stated,

    “I appreciate what you (First Redeemer) are doing. I am a believer in Christ as well and it is an awesome witness. Not all of us (firefighters) share the same faith so it is a good testimony when you share Christ by dem-onstrating a love for others.”

    Shining beyond beliefSimilarly, First Redeemer’s

    “Shine Beyond Belief” ministry has meaning-fully impacted the public schools in the area. Jackson reported, “We celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week by giv-ing gifts to over 500 elementary school teachers in six different Forsyth County schools. These gifts included a $20 gift card and other items for each teacher.

    “We also hosted Lambert High School’s baccalaureate service and presented about 150 graduates with a special gift from our church.”

    But the comprehensive min-istry of the church also includes single moms. Jackson explained, “Redeemer has a long history of supporting the Whispering Hope Crisis Pregnancy Center in Cumming, but during recent weeks we have been able to pro-vide resources for single moms

    and help renovate Whispering Hope’s thrift store (the Bargain Boutique).”

    Beauty in servant evangelismHolly Mollett, a single mom

    who became pregnant in 2011, stated, “I went to Whispering Hope, because I needed some-one who loved me. I needed counseling and an ultrasound.

    After my daugh-ter, Mackenzie, was born I went to the Bargain Boutique, because they had a baby bath and clothes – everything I needed for my daughter.”

    On April 24, members of

    First Redeemer gathered at the Bargain Boutique to help reno-vate the store. Larry and Anna Wing were a vital part of that refurbishing project. Larry com-mented, “It is a blessing and such a privilege to be able to serve along with First Redeemer and Whispering Hope in this ministry.”

    First Redeemer is discovering the beauty of servant evange-lism. The church is committed to sharing God’s love by simply serving others in practical ways; and God is proving that He honors the ministry of that kind of church.

    11

    Daily DevotionsFriday, Sept. 19Isaiah 30:12-33:9 Galatians 5:1-12 Psalm 63:1-11 Proverbs 23:22

    Saturday, Sept. 20Isaiah 33:10-36:22 Galatians 5:13-26 Psalm 64:1-10 Proverbs 23:23

    Sunday, Sept. 21Isaiah 37:1-38:22 Galatians 6:1-18 Psalm 65:1-13 Proverbs 23:24

    Monday, Sept. 22Isaiah 39:1-41:16 Ephesians 1:1-23 Psalm 66:1-20 Proverbs 23:25-28

    Tuesday, Sept. 23Isaiah 41:17-43:13 Ephesians 2:1-22 Psalm 67:1-7 Proverbs 23:29-35

    Wednesday, Sept. 24Isaiah 43:14-45:10 Ephesians 3:1-21 Psalm 68:1-18 Proverbs 24:1-2

    Thursday, Sept. 25Isaiah 45:11-48:11 Ephesians 4:1-16 Psalm 68:19-35 Proverbs 24:3-4

    Friday, Sept. 26Isaiah 48:12-50:11 Ephesians 4:17-32 Psalm 69:1-18 Proverbs 24:5-6

    Saturday, Sept. 27Isaiah 51:1-53:12 Ephesians 5:1-33 Psalm 69:19-36 Proverbs 24:7

    Sunday, Sept. 28Isaiah 54:1-57:14 Ephesians 6:1-24 Psalm 70:1-5 Proverbs 24:8

    Monday, Sept. 29Isaiah 57:15-59:21 Philippians 1:1-26 Psalm 71:1-24 Proverbs 24:9-10

    Tuesday, Sept. 30Isaiah 60:1-62:5 Philippians 1:27-2:18 Psalm 72:1-20 Proverbs 24:11-12

    Wednesday, Oct. 1Isaiah 62:6-65:25 Philippians 2:19-3:3 Psalm 73:1-28 Proverbs 24:13-14

    Thursday, Oct. 2Isaiah 66:1-24 Philippians 3:4-21 Psalm 74:1-23 Proverbs 24:15-16

    BirthdaysSeptember19 – Dick Ferrell, retiree

    20 – Gordon Pittman, retiree

    21 – Robert Anderson, Church Minister Relations

    22 – Jenny Brannan, retiree; Karen Wheeler, Chief Executive Officer

    25 – Lucille Verner, retiree

    27 – John Carr, retiree

    28 – Harold Hunter, retiree

    29 – Leonard Dupree, retiree; Scott Smith, Evangelism

    30 – Linsey Lee, BCM University of Georgia

    October 1 – Coralia Alba, retiree

    2 – Myrtle Apple, retiree; Steve Brown, Music and Worship; Montaree Hall, retiree

    Becoming a Christian

    n To become a Christian a person must first realize that he or she is “lost” – totally estranged from God, separated from God by a sinful nature. Locate a Bible, the history of God’s relationship with humankind, and read from the chapter titled Romans. Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

    n A person alone cannot reconcile the lost relationship between himself or herself and God. To provide a remedy, God sent his only Son, Jesus, to live the perfect life God demands. Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

    n Although humanity through sin has separated itself from God, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross bridged that gap. Romans 5:8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

    n All that God asks is that a man or woman repent of his or her sins, turn from them and accept the sacrifice Christ made on the cross for those sins. Romans 10:9: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

    n God promises in the Bible that anyone who accepts Jesus as Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

    The way we call upon Him is through prayer.

    “Dear Lord Jesus, I know thatI am a sinner. I also know that

    You died on the cross for my sins and that You were raised up from the dead.

    I turn from self and sin and trust You to be my Savior and Lord. Please forgive me of my sins.

    Take control of my life and help me to be the person that you want me to be.

    Save me now and save me forever. Thank You, Lord,

    for hearing my prayer and saving my soul.

    In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

    n Baptists believe that a person who accepts Christ as Savior will want to follow Him as Lord and be baptized by immersion and join the fellowship of a local church of like-minded believers.

    SalvationPlan of

    Devotionals September 18, 2014

    First Redeemer is ‘Shining Beyond Belief ’continued from page 3

    “I have never seen a church that does

    as much as you people have.”Minnie Cannon, resident

    The Oaks at Post Road

    For new and archived articlesvisit us at our website

    www.christianindex.org

  • Journalists called it the “$70 million word.”

    Willie Ramirez calls it a trag-edy.

    Ramirez was 18 when the pounding headache left him crumpled on the ground. Friends rushed him to the hos-pital, insisting that Willie was “intoxicado” and insisting that the staff hurry. It was Jan. 22, 1980.

    Doctors grabbed someone who knew a little Spanish. The word that was clearest sounded a lot like “intoxicated,” so the initial diagnosis was that Willie had passed out due to a drug overdose.

    But after two days, the young man was still unconscious.

    When a neurologist was finally called in, Willie’s true condition was discovered. He’d been poisoned. He had never been intoxicated. Just as his friends had insisted, the situation was desper-ate and called for imme-diate action. Had there been no language barrier, Ramirez could have been properly diagnosed and treated. Had that been so, he may have walked away from the emergency room that same day.

    Instead, because he wasn’t treated correctly, he became a quadriplegic.

    Trained medical interpret-ers have been using the story ever since, urging hospitals to pay attention to the power of a single word. If the human cost of Willie’s story doesn’t get their attention, the punitive costs always does. The hospital that misunderstood a single word eventually paid Ramirez $71 million.

    Words matter A steady diet of harsh words

    will scar a child’s future for decades to come. On the other hand, a positive word of encour-agement given at just the right moment can inspire greatness in people of all ages.

    Researchers know that all of

    us process negative words and experiences more thoroughly than positive ones, which is why we remember unpleas-ant incidents or conversations in such great detail. Do words matter? One study of the busi-ness world found that the most profitable business teams were ones in which positive comments outweighed negative ones nearly six to one!

    Paul pitched in with his own words of encouragement when he wrote his young church in Ephesus. The “church” there was more like a modern-day small group. Meeting in homes, there were only a dozen believers in the beginning (Acts 19:7). If this group was going to have a major

    impact on its culture, Paul knew the choice of words was going to be extremely important.

    They must “speak truthfully,” avoid “unwholesome talk,” and work hard to build others up through their words of encour-agement (Eph. 4:25, 29).

    If the instructions have a familiar ring to them, they

    should. A quick mining of Proverbs will yield several admo-nitions to use kind words, and clear warnings to avoid the hurt-ful words. An unwise woman can tear down her own house (14:1), but a word aptly spoken

    is likened to the sweetness of honey (16:24) or even a beauti-ful piece of jewelry (25:11).

    Jesus shocked his audience by insisting that we respond kindly to those who would attack us, and led off the Sermon on the Mount with blessings for the gentle, the merciful, and the peacemakers (Matt. 5:3-10).

    Words have a lasting impactThose in the church should

    remember that our words last far longer than we do. Paul con-sidered it quite natural to follow his plainspoken instruction on the use of words (Eph. 4:29) with an urging for us not to “grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (4:30).

    Are words that important? Consider the impact of one of the most familiar verses to those who share their faith with oth-

    ers. “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved!” (Rom. 10:9)

    No wonder we should be careful of the words we use with

    other believers! If God takes our words seri-ously enough to grant salvation to those who claim it with words, will He not also pay close attention to the other things we say?

    If you want to find a connecting point with a group of believers, just pay

    attention to your words. People will be drawn to the positive and repelled by the negative. If you’re seeking to make an impact on the Kingdom of God, create a lifestyle of using encour-aging words. People are likely never to forget what you say.

    Life-saving words of encouragement

    In June 1992, Jim Davidson and Mike Price climbed the towering peaks of Mt. Rainier in Washington State. On the way down, a snow bridge gave way and both climbers fell 80 feet into a massive glacier.

    Mike died. Jim lived through the fall. But as he took stock of his situation, it didn’t look good. His friend was dead. Jim had some injuries of his own. Climbing out of the crevice would be the most challenging climb of his life, and he had no

    experience in ice climbing at that level of difficulty.

    He struggled for five hours to make it to the surface. Every minute was a physical and men-tal battle. But the voice that kept driving him forward was the voice of his dad, his greatest encourager.

    Jim had worked for his father as early as age 12, painting high, steep-pitched roofs and electri-cal towers. The work had terri-fied his mother, but Jim’s dad just kept encouraging his son to accomplish what first appeared to be impossible. He said he believed in his son so much, Jim came to believe it!

    And as Jim made the climb of his life, it was his father’s words that spurred him toward the most important climb of his life. Those constant words of encouragement literally saved his life.

    12 THE CHRISTIAN INDEX

    BIBL

    E S

    TUD

    Y

    Bible Study

    ANSWERSBible CROSSWORD

    from page 13©2010 Barbour Publishing, Inc.

    Connected Through WordsEph. 4:25-32Bible Studies for Life, Sept. 28

    Andy Cook, pastorShirley Hills Baptist Church

    Warner Robins

    If you want to find a connecting point with a group of believers, just pay attention to your

    words.

    Need visibility

    www.christianindex.orgThe Christian Index

    Reach across the state of Georgia by advertising with your state Baptist paper.

    for your company's services, ministry, church or event?

    (770) 936-5591 Call for rates.

    The Christian Indexby advertising with your state Baptist paper.

  • Almost everyone struggles at some time or another with selfish thoughts, and it is just human nature to place ourselves into boxes blocking out the needs of others. The danger is that this self-imposed isolation warps our minds and suddenly our wants become our needs and obtaining those wants becomes the chief goals of our lives. In other words, what I want is what I deserve, and I’ll do what it takes to make it happen.

    Pay careful attention to how you walkEphesians 5:15-17

    It is natural to desire the bet-ter things in life. There are few people who don’t want nicer homes, more toys, popularity, or power, but in this letter to the church at Ephesus Paul issues a warning to “be very careful” in how you live. Paul is reminding us through this letter to consider our actions and the consequenc-es of those actions.

    There is evil all around, and we can fall into its snares and cause harm to others and our-

    selves. When we do these kinds of things and call ourselves Christians, then we are not just harming ourselves and others, but lumping all of Christendom in with us. Selfishness has no place in the lives of those com-mitted to follow Christ.

    Paul’s warning is simple enough, but its scope is huge and covers every aspect of our daily lives. He tells


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