moral values getting worse
More than eight in 10 Americans say the country’s moral values are getting worse, a new Gallup poll shows. The 81% of adults who say the nation’s “state of moral values” is getting worse is a record high for the question, which was first asked in 2002. It registered at 67% in each of the first two years and 77% in 2004 and 2005 before inching even higher this year.
Only 11% of Americans say the nation’s moral values are getting better.
The 10-point spike between May 2003 and May 2004 (when the polls were conducted) came during a time in which “homosexual marriage” was legalized in Massachusetts and several Canadian provinces and Janet Jackson was exposed on nationwide television during the Super Bowl.
Also in the survey, pollsters asked Americans about their feelings on several moral issues. Following are some of the findings.
44% of all Americans say homosexual relations are “morally acceptable” and
51% say they are “morally wrong.”
43% of Americans say abortion is acceptable, 44% say it’s wrong. (It’s the first time since 2001 that the percentage of “morally wrong” answers fell below 50%.)
71% of adults say the death penalty is morally acceptable.
61% of Americans say embryonic stem cell research is okay. (The question did not note that the embryos are destroyed, a fact that pro-life advocates say can change a poll’s outcome.)
Source: Baptist Press
Johnny Hunt on Church Planting
 One of the passions that has become part of the DNA of First Baptist Church Woodstock is church planting. With the help of Almighty God, our church will be involved in more than 20 church plants in North America before the sun sets on December 31, 2006. I feel that I draw inspiration from the deep-hearted passion of seeing a church planting movement across our nation, with emphasis in the West. Our people have taken ownership of this dream that is monthly becoming a reality, and they have given the necessary funding. Nearly every small group in our Sunday school is connected some way to one of our church plants. I agree with Spurgeon and Moody of yester-year that if we are going to influence this nation we must influence its major cities. With that in mind, we have committed to start churches in Seattle, New York City, Cleveland, Atlanta and Las Vegas, to name a few. What God has done in Las Vegas is nothing short of a miracle. This causes us to look, with great anticipation, as to who God will raise up from our congregation to lead our next church plant. Once the leader and place is determined, someone sitting in one of our pews will find themselves ready to embrace the next vision. It’s impossible to have Christ’s heart in your church without possessing His heart for the world. We, at Woodstock, pray we will never rest until everyone locally, nationally, and globally has had the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ at least once.
Pastor Johnny Hunt
First Baptist Church Woodstock, Georgia
Cowboy churches can round ‘em up, rope ‘em in
by Don Martin, pastor, Happy Trails Cowboy Church, Taylorsville, North Carolina
You know about the horses and the hats. But did you know cowboy churches can attract new members to your more traditional congregation? It’s true.
The cowboy church movement is an effective tool for evangelism in a growing number of Southern Baptist associations. Cowboy churches attract new converts who often wind up active members in other area churches. In fact, the cowboy church is a missional model for church planting that provides opportunities for discipleship, leadership development and partnership among several churches—all under the umbrella of their helpful local association.
Here’s how it works at Happy Trails. We recognize dual memberships with other churches. Some folks are “members” of Happy Trails and some are “partners.” Either way, we treat ‘em the same.
For example, Joe and Sue, newlyweds, may be on the rodeo circuit and only need Happy Trails as their church home for worship when they’re back in town on Monday evenings.
What about Sam and Mary? Maybe they have kids, and as a family came to know Christ through Happy Trails. But the cowboy church model can’t really compete with churches nearby who have Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, youth groups, Wednesday night services, etc. So we encourage folks like them to take advantage of those opportunities.
Fact is, members from neighboring churches attend our Monday night services on the lookout for folks like Sam, Mary and their youngsters. And we encourage them to do so, because we recognize they need discipleship.
And those “partners” from other churches? Often they’re more mature Christians, and they benefit from the leadership development experience of coming alongside newer believers and helping them grow.
What I like about this win-win is that it exercises the true cooperative spirit at the heart of Southern Baptist life. It recognizes that some churches are stronger in evangelism, others in discipleship, still others in missions, etc. It provides a model for thinking in Kingdom terms, rather than territorially (“These are my members…leave ‘em alone.”).
You may be wondering why newlyweds Joe and Sue or Sam, Mary and their kids don’t go to one of the other churches to begin with. Well, I’ll tell you. Whether real or imagined, barriers exist in some people’s minds. They may think people won’t accept them because of how they dress. Or because they climb right off their tractors or head to services straight from their barns or factories. (Truth be known, plenty who attend cowboy churches leave air-conditioned offices and set out for a horse arena, content to sit on metal bleachers listening to western-dressed singers and a preacher, all conducting worship from a dirt or sawdust floor. They just plain like the atmosphere.)
But, as we all know, coming to the foot of the cross has a leveling effect. Barriers often come down. After they come to know Christ, lots of new believers find they’re comfortable with believers in all walks of life. Some prefer to stay in the cowboy church environment, and that’s fine too. By definition, it’s an accepting culture, so there’s really no pressure either way.
Which brings me full circle to why investing your more traditional church’s resources in a cowboy church can reap rewards for your congregation as well as the Kingdom. Who knows? Cowboy church converts may come to you for further discipleship and grow to become long-term, active members.
Or your more traditional members may reap blessings just by scouting for partnering members. Because of the high numbers of professions of faith and baptisms at cowboy churches, they’re exciting places for ministry—good places to keep your congregation on fire for the Lord.
I’ve seen this truth over and over at Happy Trails where we’ve worked with two associations (Theron Rankin and Alexander) and several churches, including two I’ve pastored, Covenant and Linney’s Grove. Covenant, a planned mission start in the 1980s, understood the vision and—without being asked—became a sponsoring church and donated $10,000. Linney’s Grove runs a church van bringing folks to Happy Trails for services.
These and other churches see the cowboy church not as competition but as an extension of their work for God. They understand that, as Southern Baptists, we serve best by combining our strengths for the Kingdom.
For more information on how you or your church can become involved in a cowboy church mission, contact Pastor Don Martin at 828-635-1260
or pastor@djmc.com.
How often do you wonder?
NAMB’s Center for Missional Research (CMR) partnered with Zogby International to learn what questions Americans are asking about spiritual issues. The standard evangelistic approach for several decades has begun with the question, “If you were to die today do you know for sure you would go to heaven?” In fact, many people are wondering about their eternal destiny. One of every 5 (20%) respondents said they wonder daily about the certainty of going to heaven. Another 13% think about this weekly, 12% monthly and 9% annually. 44% said they never wonder about this. Interesting numbers, indeed. But, are there other questions people are asking?
The CMR also asked “How often do you wonder, how can I find more meaning and purpose in my life?” Remarkably, almost 1 of every 3 (32%) respondents wonders about this question daily. Another 17% contemplate this weekly, 13% monthly, and 10% yearly. Half of those interviewed wonder about how to find more meaning in their life at least once a week. The idea of purpose is very relevant to our culture. In fact, only 26% said they never wonder how to have more meaning or purpose.
For more trend info on North America visit www.missionalresearch.info.
If we’re in the money
 When asked by Ellison Research “how would your church spend an unexpected financial windfall?” a quarter of all SBC clergy and laity agreed their top spending priority would be missions and evangelism. However, they differ on how the funds should be allocated. SBC clergy would like to see focus placed on local outreach with 16% given to local missions and evangelism and 6% each being given to domestic and international outreach. SBC laity would like to see domestic outreach be the top priority allocating 11% to this category while giving 7% to local outreach and 9% to international.
Source: Facts & Trends, May/June 2006
Katrina victims praise churches
A Louisiana State University survey of local residents scored church relief efforts higher (8.1 on a scale of 1 to 10) than state and local agencies (4.6) in their response to Hurricane Katrina.
Source: Citizen, February 2006
4 steps to inspiring ministry and missions leaders
by Jim Burnett
How do you motivate church leaders to not only support ministry and missions but to passionately participate? As a pastor I know the exhilaration that comes when the movers and shakers get turned on to ministry and missions. I also have experienced the frustration of being seemingly the only one pumped about ministry opportunities.
Here are four helpful insights for motivating church leaders to be involved in ministry and missions.
Offer leaders a buy-in
Sometimes those of us who are card-carrying seminary grads erroneously believe we alone are equipped with spiritual ears to hear from God. Perhaps we even think our love and commitment to Jesus is stronger than all other church leaders. In my 17 years of pastoring however, I’ve been in partnership with numerous leaders who receive daily guidance from God and possess a love for Jesus that is second to none.
Welcome the input of your leaders. This will motivate and inspire them to get involved. Nowhere does the Bible advocate that pastors are omniscient. On the contrary, “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice” (Proverbs 13:10). Accepting leaders’ input fosters ministry ownership.
Challenge leaders, not coerce them
Leaders should be consulted not insulted. In other words, challenge them instead of coercing them. Give them options. Don’t force them to do something they’re neither equipped to do nor want to do.
Jesus never used forced labor. His disciples were volunteers not indentured servants. Sometimes leaders feel obligated to go along with a pastor’s proposal fearing to do otherwise would earn them the title rebel. To be sure, this type of decision making will eventually bankrupt a church and cause great resentment to arise between church leaders and staff.
I’d received a call from a friend in Massachusetts who led a small congregation with little resources. He requested that our church, my first pastorate, come and help minister to the church and community children. I took this request before our leaders fearing they would laugh me out of the room. I told them of the financial challenge as well as the time demand that would be required and then closed my mouth. A few minutes passed when suddenly the eldest person in the room responded with a hearty recommendation that we make the trip. There was a second, then a third. Unanimously, these leaders agreed the mission endeavor was worthy of our participation. I learned a great lesson that day: church leaders need not be coerced into ministry and missions; they only need to be challenged.
Be flexible
Interestingly, we made the mission trip but it was not to Massachusetts. Unfortunately, there were some unforeseeable issues that kept us from making that trip. Our 15-member team was ready to serve somewhere, so our destination changed to a small church in Missouri that needed our help.
As we arrived on location, two vans and a trailer in tow, our place of lodging was uncertain and the prospects for the Backyard Bible Club were sparse. But with a “whatever-it-takes” attitude, we trusted God to provide the rams in the bush. One by one, barriers tumbled down. Within hours after arriving, our lodging was secured—the family life center of a neighboring church. And as we canvassed the area, we found an abundance of children.
Sometimes we cheat God by over structuring projects, ministries, worship services, etc. We mistakenly measure our successes by how much control we exerted over the event or ministry. We must learn the delicate balance between human organization and divine provision or else God will be cheated out of glory.
Keep a servant’s heart
Ministry and missions involvement is caught more than taught. We’re never more like Jesus than when we’re helping others. When church leaders see your shirt sleeves rolled up, it will motivate them to do likewise. We can’t expect leaders and other church members to do what we are unwilling to do ourselves.
Jim Burnett is pastor of Willow Pointe Church in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
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