Religious freedom and pro-life advocates have praised a Trump administration action putting on notice the state of California for its imposition of insurance mandates that require even churches to provide abortion coverage.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Jan. 24 it had notified California it was guilty of violating federal conscience protections in requiring abortion coverage by all health insurance plans and issuers. The HHS Office of Civil Rights informed the state it has 30 days to demonstrate its intent to comply or risk restrictions on funding from the department.

Southern Baptist public policy specialist Travis Wussow expressed gratitude that the HHS Office of Civil Rights “is standing on behalf of conscience rights by holding this state government accountable for this violation.”

California’s mandate “is an egregious overuse of state power,” said Wussow, general counsel and vice president for public policy of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, in written comments for Baptist Press. “This state fiat on such a sensitive and contested issue violates federal civil rights law and the consciences of thousands of Californians with sincere objections to abortion.”

Charmaine Yoest, vice president at The Heritage Foundation, applauded the Trump administration “for putting all states on notice. Abortion coverage mandates like this one violate federal conscience laws and force patients to unwillingly purchase coverage that goes against their deeply held beliefs.”

Conscience objections arose when the California Department of Managed Health Care informed health insurers in 2014 they could not prohibit or restrict coverage for elective abortions. Under President Obama, HHS rejected in 2016 complaints that California had violated federal law by its mandate.

In its Jan.24 notice, however, the Office of Civil Rights in the Trump administration told California it had disobeyed the Weldon Amendment by compelling all plans and issuers to cover abortion. The office said the state’s action had stripped 28,000 people of plans that previously did not cover abortion. The office’s investigation of the California policy came in response to complaints by Skyline Wesleyan Church in La Mesa and the Missionary Guadalupanas of the Holy Spirit, a Catholic order of sisters.

Source: Baptist Press

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Noting the growing administrative needs in Academic Services and overall growth at Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College, president Jason Allen announced changes in the school’s organizational structure that will provide “greater administrative effectiveness, overall balance and continued organizational health.”

In doing so, Allen named Thor Madsen as dean of doctoral studies and academic initiatives, Rodney Harrison to the position of dean, academic strategy and institutional effectiveness, and John Mark Yeats’ title changed to dean of students and student success.

“At Midwestern Seminary, we are continuously evaluating our organizational structure, particularly as it relates to maximizing the skills and talents of the immensely gifted individuals that God has providentially sent our way,” Allen said. “Our ongoing conversations have been both thorough and healthy, clarifying the seminary’s current needs and opportunities, and how best to support those.”

As such, Madsen, who has served at Midwestern Seminary for more than two decades in various professorial and administrative capacities, will transition from the role of dean of graduate studies to dean of doctoral studies and academic initiatives.

The change, Allen explained, enables Madsen to give primary attention to all doctoral studies programs due to the size and growth of these programs. Further, he will continue to assist the provost in various academic initiative projects related to curriculum development and related tasks.

“Dr. Madsen’s service to Midwestern Seminary over the past 20-plus years has been invaluable to this institution,” Allen said. “He possesses incredible intellect and yet has a heart for preparing students to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These traits, in addition to his oversight of multiple academic departments within our seminary and college over the years, will serve him well in leading our doctoral program to even greater success in the future.”

Harrison, who has administrated and taught courses at Midwestern Seminary for more than 16 years, will transition to the role of dean of academic strategy and institutional effectiveness.

While maintaining his supervisory responsibility over the dean of Asian Studies, the dean of online studies, and now the new dean of doctoral studies, and the continued supervision of all non-English language programs, Allen said this new role would allow Harrison to give more focus to aiding the provost with academic strategy and innovation initiatives as well as providing increased oversight to all areas of institutional effectiveness.

“Dr. Harrison has already been leading the areas of academic strategy and institutional effectiveness with excellence for a number of years,” Allen said. “He is a creative, outside-the-box thinker, and this move will enable him to devote more time to thinking through strategies that will continue to move Midwestern Seminary forward as a leader in theological education for the Southern Baptist Convention and greater evangelicalism.”

Source: Baptist Press

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Presidential inaugurations require a certain amount of formality and pomp, but Jamie Dew wanted a portion of his inauguration week to focus on servanthood and Gospel proclamation.

Since coming to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) and Leavell College in June as the school’s ninth president, Dew has called the seminary community to take up the “towel and basin” and serve like Jesus.

In the midst of this week with all its formalities, the NOBTS family took time out to serve in mission projects around the city, reflecting the tone Dew wishes to set for his tenure.

Faculty, staff and students worked in teams throughout the city and saw at least three people come to faith in Christ. One of the people who responded to the Gospel that day lived just next to the seminary campus. A team going door to door in the neighborhood that abuts NOBTS struck up a conversation with a man working in his yard. After hearing the Gospel, he prayed to receive Christ in the shadow of a seminary building.

Before dispersing into the city, Dew reminded the more than 300 participants gathered in Leavell Chapel just how Christ served others. He warned them not to stop at intellectual devotion to the Gospel.

“I’m afraid we often do miss in the midst of all that God is doing in our lives, in the place and location we’re in, with the tasks before us — I’m afraid we miss how simple this really is,” Dew said. “Christ … the Master, the Teacher, the Messiah, the King — our King — came into the world as a servant and took a towel and basin and took the posture of the lowest of them all and washed his disciples’ feet.”

Dew expressed his love to the seminary family and said he “fell in love” with them because of their humility and service.

“So today, and every day from this point forward, you start this journey with me,” Dew said. “I submit myself to you and the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention to be your and their servant. With Christ, I call you into that with me.”

Lifting up the towel and basin that Dew carried to the pulpit, he gave his final charge.

“Let’s show Gentilly and New Orleans and all the places we will go what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus Christ. He is our example and today we honor Him by obeying.”

Some teams prayer walked and shared the Gospel in neighborhoods (Gentilly, Lakeview and the French Quarter) and on a university campus. Others served at Global Maritime Ministries, a seafarer ministry at the Port of New Orleans, or at the Baptist Friendship House, a ministry near the French Quarter that cares for women and children in transition and human trafficking victims.

Teams sorted and organized hygiene items and articles of clothing for backpacks the center distributes to those in need or those escaping human trafficking and provided other needed services.

Key Bennett, Baptist Friendship House executive director and a North American Mission Board Send Relief missionary, pointed to Jesus’ example in Matthew 25 and the admonition in 1 John 3:17-18 to show the importance of service.

“[Serving others] is what Jesus did,” Bennett said. “Hurting people have experienced trauma in their lives, so my homeless and human trafficking survivors and folks living in poverty have a lot of need. It’s simply meeting a need, building a relationship and changing a life through Jesus Christ.”

Source: Baptist Press

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Troy Sadowski was the first All-American tight end that the University of Georgia ever had, and he went on to have a 10-year career in the National Football League playing for six different teams, including the Falcons, Steelers and Jets. Despite the sterling athletic career, something was missing.

“The first 31 years of my life, I was as lost as a duck in the desert,” Sadowski said. “In the NFL, I got to a low point. It was a very dark time. It wasn’t until I went to the First Baptist Church of Woodstock (Ga.) and heard Johnny Hunt preach that I understood what the Gospel was all about.”

Sadowski learned that morning that he had a problem with sin and needed to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior. He recently shared his testimony as a part of #AnyGivenWeekend, a new story-telling video series being launched by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) during Super Bowl Weekend. The videos are a component of NAMB’s Who’s Your One evangelism emphasis.

When two teams meet to compete, just about anything can happen. The same thing takes place in churches any time believers meet and worship, especially when believers bring those who need Christ to church.

“Just as sporting events are taking place on any given weekend, churches are also gathering, the Gospel is being shared and lives can be changed,” said Catherine Renfro, an evangelism specialist at NAMB.

As a part of #AnyGivenWeekend, athletes are sharing their testimonies and telling about the people who first reached out to them, while also challenging those watching to participate in Who’s Your One by identifying one person they will pray for and share the Gospel with.

Source: Baptist Press

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Midwestern Seminary welcomed MORE THAN 1,000 students from more than 90 local and regional churches on Jan. 24-25 for its annual Ready Conference, which exists to equip the youth of the church to defend their faith.

This conference — which is based off of Jude, verse 3 — encourages students to be ready to defend “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” It featured main sessions from speakers Sam Bierig, Cam Triggs, Jared Bumpers and Noe Garcia, and included a number of breakout sessions. Additionally, students were treated to a hip-hop concert with Christian artist KB.

“Existing For the Church means reaching out to all generations, and the Ready Conference offers the next generation of church members and leaders an opportunity to be equipped for the future,” said president Jason Allen. “It is encouraging to see the passion these students possess for Jesus Christ, and our prayer is that they’ll take what they’ve learned during this conference and use it to develop their personal walk with Christ and employ it to further His kingdom.”

In opening the conference, Bierig, who serves as the undergraduate dean and as assistant professor of Biblical Studies at Spurgeon College, preached from Jude, verses 1 and 2. He noted that the epistle consists of the apostle, Jude, exhorting believers to remember who they are in Christ.

Fleshing out his message, Bierig encouraged the attendees by offering four marks of “real Christians.” These marks include that when a person comes to salvation in Christ it completely changes and humbles them. Second, he said those saved by Christ are called by the Holy Spirit, and that’s a purposeful act, not an accident.

Third, Bierig noted that those found in Christ are truly loved by God, and the fourth mark was that real Christians are guarded, protected, and never let go of by Christ.

Bierig explained what believers are protected against, saying, “Primarily Satan, sin, and death. These are unconquerable foes for you and me, and this same cosmic muscle that God the Father, by the person of the Spirit, taps into to raise Jesus out of the grave strapping on him invincibility, that same power, He now deploys on your behalf as a Christian.”

Garcia, who serves as senior pastor of North Phoenix Baptist Church in Phoenix, Ariz., preached the second main session from Jude, verses 3 and 4, and warned attendees that culture is always changing and shifting, and if they are not careful, their identity will shift and change with culture too.

Speaking of Generation Z, Garcia said, “One of the big things they are concerned about is identity. So, part of Generation Z goes like this, ‘be whoever you want to be.’ ‘It’s not wrong to be whoever you feel like being.’ ‘Let’s just all love and get along.’ However, that’s countercultural from Scripture. And if we’re not careful, we begin to believe those lies. You, then, believe you. You begin to substitute the truth of God for the lies of the enemy. It is incredibly important that you know the truth of Scripture and that it becomes your foundation.”

Garcia added that once a person comes to faith in Christ, there then becomes a daily struggle not to conform to the world and to contend for the faith. This is a vital component to their growth as a believer.

Kicking off the conference’s second day, Bumpers, who serves as director of Student Life & Events and assistant professor of preaching and ministry at Midwestern Seminary, preached from Jude, verses 5-16.

He shared that everyone has made sinful decisions, and often people take their sin too lightly. This cheapens what the Bible says about sin, which is lawlessness and rebellion. In essence, sin is following one’s heart and not the heart of God.

Jude, in this passage, warns readers that following their hearts leads to destruction because the bottom line is that God judges sin.

Source: Baptist Press

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Matt Henslee (@mhenslee) is managing editor of LifeWay Pastors, coauthor of the book “Replanting Rural Churches” and pastor of Mayhill Baptist Church in Mayhill, N.M. He is married to Rebecca, and they have four daughters. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily represent those of BCNN1.

Social media can be an awesome tool, but it can also be a terrible temptation. It’s a mixed bag that gives people a platform to say whatever they want — the good, the bad, and the ugly — whenever they want, with little to no consequence.

I’ve made several friends on social media and have been encouraged by thousands of tweets and Facebook posts. There have been days, however, when I’ve been ready to delete every last one of my social media accounts.

But I’ve determined every second God gives me is an opportunity to “make the most of the time” (Ephesians 5:6). For this reason, I block the trolls, mute the troublemakers and am intentional and particular with what I decide to post.

Another reason I do this is because of what Jesus says in Matthew 12:36: “I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak.” Social media can be a breeding ground for careless words, which is why wisdom and caution are necessary.

While I’m not always successful, before sending on an online message, I try to ask myself:

— Is this true or false?

— Does it build up or tear down?

— Does it amplify or diminish Christ’s Gospel?

These questions help me accomplish three things in an effort to post to the glory of God:

1. Speak the truth

“Lying lips are detestable to the Lord, but faithful people are his delight,” (Proverbs 12:22).

I might have tens of thousands of friends and followers on social media, but the audience that really matters consists of three persons in one: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

It’s out of the new nature I received from Christ I aim to speak the truth in love to those in my circle of influence (Colossians 3:9-10; Ephesians 4:15).

These verses also inform how I process and respond to the news. When breaking news occurs, I try to wait at least 72 hours before giving commentary, as more facts often come to light after the story breaks.

May we be known as a people who value honesty and likewise share the truth in love.

2. Share to edify, encourage and embolden

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

I’m a pastor of a normative size church in the middle of absolutely nowhere. The people I have the privilege of serving and leading are gifts from the Lord.

But like all pastors, there are days when the rise and grind of ministry gets me down. Since most of my online friends and followers are pastors who are in the same boat, the absolute last thing I want to do is add to their headaches and heartaches.

There’s a time for everything, and I’ve found the time I spend on social media should be primarily dedicated to cheering on my brothers and sisters in Christ. Do I agree with all of my social media contacts on everything they post? Of course not.

Source: Baptist Press

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Jimmy Scroggins, pastor of Family Church in West Palm Beach, Fla., has announced his intention to nominate Chad Keck, pastor of First Baptist Church Kettering (FBK) in Dayton, Ohio, for vice president of the 2021 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Pastors’ Conference.

The 2021 Pastors’ Conference will be held in Nashville, Tenn., in conjunction with the 2021 SBC annual meeting.

The vice presidential election will take place at the 2020 Pastors’ Conference in June in Orlando, Fla.

In a release, Scroggins said Keck is focused on supporting and encouraging other pastors.

“Chad is a proven leader and someone who is passionate about reaching people in Dayton as well as investing in local, state, and national denominational endeavors,” Scroggins said.

Keck has spent time serving in his local Baptist association and state convention.

He was the SBC Executive Committee’s Cooperative Program catalyst for the Midwest from 2016-2018, during which he worked with pastors and churches to promote the vision and value of the Cooperative Program.

In addition to his pastoral ministry and SBC entity work, Keck teaches courses at Cedarville University in the Master of Ministry program and has worked with LifeWay Christian Resources in event planning.

Source: Baptist Press

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JERUSALEM, Israel – The voice of a Chinese pastor living in the epicenter of the deadly coronavirus outbreak is being heard around the world and it’s persuading many Christians to stand with him in prayer. 

An anonymous pastor in Wuhan, China penned a letter to the global Church describing what it’s like to leave your home not knowing if you’ll contract this virus, and if you will live for long if you do. He is one among millions of Chinese citizens on complete lockdown in an attempt to contain the disease. 

While he says China is suffering, he believes something bigger is happening, saying it is time for Christians to proclaim the gospel in a country where their faith is under fire. 

Read the full letter below:
A Letter from a Wuhan Pastor

Brothers and sisters, peace be upon you:
During these past days the Wuhan pneumonia (virus) has been at the center of my thoughts and life. (I am) always watching the latest news, and always thinking about how our family and the church should face this. 

As for family, I have gathered masks and foodstuffs and have ventured out of doors as little as possible. When venturing out in public I have worn a mask, but as for the rest, I have placed it in the Lord’s hands. 

As for the church, the safety of the congregation, a faithful witness, the possibility that members could contract the illness, have all become a great area of struggle. It is readily apparent that we are facing a test of our faith. 

The situation is so critical, yet (we are) trusting in the Lord’s promises, that his thoughts toward us are of peace, and not evil (Jeremiah. 29:11), and that he allows for a time of testing, not to destroy us, but to establish us. Therefore, Christians are not only to suffer with the people of this city, but we have a responsibility to pray for those in this city who are fearful, and to bring to them the peace of Christ. 

First, we are to seek the peace of Christ to reign in their hearts (Hebrews 3:15). Christ has already given us his peace, but his peace is not to remove us from disaster and death, but rather to have peace in the midst of disaster and death, because Christ has already overcome these things (John 14:27, 16:33). Otherwise we have not believed in the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15), and, with the world, would be terrified of pestilence, and lose hope in the face of death. 

Why do only Christians have this peace? Because of sin, humans deserve the trials and tribulations that come upon them, Jehovah says: the wicked have no peace (Isaiah 48:22). We were all sinners, but Christ, because of faith, took our penalty and gave us his peace. Therefore Paul says, who can bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. (Romans 8:33). Christians may with the world face the same tribulations, but such tribulations are no longer punishment, but a new opportunity to grow nearer to the Almighty, to purify our souls, and an opportunity to proclaim the gospel.

In other words, when disaster strikes us, it is but a form of God’s love. And, as Paul firmly believed, “who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger or sword? . . .  in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Roman. 8:35-39).

Spoken for today, Wuhan’s pestilence cannot separate us from the love of Christ; this love is in our Lord Jesus Christ. These words are so comforting for us, we have already become one body with Christ. We have a part in his sufferings, and we have a part in his glory, all of Christ’s is ours, and our all is Christ’s. Therefore, Christ is with us as we face the pestilence in this city; the pestilence cannot harm us. If we die in the pestilence, it is an opportunity to witness to Christ, and even more to enter into his glory.

Thus, my brothers and sisters, I encourage you to be strong in Christ’s love. If we more deeply experience death in this pestilence, understanding the gospel, we may more deeply experience Christ’s love, and grow ever nearer to God. Our Lord Jesus through faith experienced an incomparable suffering of death, yet God raised him from the dead, and sat him at his right hand.  (Acts 2:32-36)

If in reading these truths you still have no peace, I encourage you to diligently read the above cited scripture and call on the Lord to give you insight until the peace of Christ reigns in your heart. You must know, that this is not just an observable disaster, but even more it is a spiritual struggle. You should first wage a battle for your heart, and secondarily battle for the soul of this city. 

We earnestly hope that you would know that not a sparrow falls without the will of the Father (Matthew 10:29). With so many souls facing pestilence, can it be outside God’s will? All that we are experiencing, is it not like Abraham facing Sodom, and Jonah facing Nineveh?

If God, because of a righteous man withheld judgment on Sodom, or because of 120,000 who didn’t know their left hand from their right, withheld destruction, what of the city of Wuhan in which we live?  We are clearly the righteous in this city, far more than a single righteous person there are thousands and thousands of us. Yet, may we like Lot be grieved over all those in this city (1 Peter 2:7), and like Abraham who earnestly prayed for Sodom (Genesis 18:23-33). You see, Jonah with difficulty proclaimed the gospel to Nineveh, and Nineveh repented and was saved. We are this city’s Abraham and Jonah. We must pray for God’s mercy upon this city, and bring peace upon this city through our prayers and testimony. 

I believe this is the command of God calling those of us living in Wuhan. We are to seek peace for this city, seek peace for those who are afflicted with this illness, seek peace for the medical personnel struggling on the front lines, seek peace for every government official at every level, seek peace for all the people of Wuhan! And we can through online networks guide and comfort our friends and loved ones with the gospel, reminding them that our lives are not in our own hands, and to entrust their lives to God who is faithful and true. 

The past few days I have received many inquiries from foreign pastors. They and the whole church are concerned for this city, even more for us; and confronting this epidemic, seek to serve the city with us. 

Thus, I especially ask them to turn their eyes upon Jesus. And do not be concerned with my welfare, nor be agitated or fearful, but pray in the name of Jesus. Good hearted people are through their actions serving this city, especially the medical personnel who are risking their own lives. If they can take on such worldly responsibilities, how can we not more readily take on spiritual responsibilities!

If you do not feel a responsibility to pray, ask the Lord for a loving soul, an earnestly prayerful heart; if you are not crying, ask the Lord for tears. Because we surely know that only through the hope of the Lord’s mercy will this city be saved. 

A Wuhan Pastor
January 23, 2020

This story was first published in ChinaSource.

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