A P U B L I C A T I O N O F A R I Z O N A S O U T H E R N B A P T I S T S

May-June 2016Vol. 20 No. 3

BIBLICAL AUTHORITY

It should come as no surprise that Arizona Southern Baptists included biblical authority as one of the core values of our Centennial Vision.

After all, we are people of the Book! But how do we express this value as we work together to make disciples of all peoples in Arizona and around the world? We teach the Bible, preach the Bible, and take our marching orders from what it says. We want everything we do to be consistent with its teachings and truth. But what does that look like in the local church? Pastor Matt Gaston at Burton Baptist Church

near Show Low recently challenged every family in their church to create a banner that would express their desire to honor God and follow Christ. I had the privilege of being there on the day the families brought their banners and shared them. Like the tribes of Israel in the Old Testament, each family posted their banner with verses of Scripture and artwork expressing who they were and how God had worked in their lives. It was a powerful moment listening to them share, both

joyfully and tearfully, how God had spoken to them through His Word about what He wanted them to be and to do! It was a wonderful expression of what it means to value the Bible as the only inerrant and sufficient source of truth as the standard for all we believe and what we do. You will read about some other great examples of churches expressing this value around our state in this issue of Portraits, but after all is said and done, the real question is, “How are you and your church expressing this value?” It is not just about saying we believe the Bible — it is what we do and how we live in response to the Bible. If we really believe it, we will live it. Only then is it truly a value!

The purpose of Portraits is to support the mission of Arizona Southern Baptists: Working together to make disciples of all peoples in Arizona and around the world.

Published bimonthly by the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention, 2240 N. Hayden Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85257. Internet: www.azsbc.org. For information, call (480) 945-0880 or (800) 687-2431.

Portraits is supported by Arizona Southern Baptist churches through their Cooperative Program giving. Additional funding comes from advertising and subscriptions.

EditorElizabeth Young

Portraits TeamDallas BivinsGolden Gate Baptist Theological SeminaryRik Danielsen Yavapai AssociationLainee PegelowChristian Challenge, FlagstaffMichelle ClementsArizona Baptist Children’s ServicesTony ValentiThe Bridge Church

David JohnsonFernando AmaroKen BelflowerJosue CastroKeith HenryMitch McDonaldEddy Pearson Arizona Southern Baptist Convention

DesignWhiten Design

Subscriptions: Portraits is sent at nocharge to the homes of ArizonaSouthern Baptists and to all ArizonaSouthern Baptist churches. Additionalcopies are available on a subscriptionbasis for $7.00 per year.Subscriptions for those living out ofstate are $10.00 per year. To subscribe,call (480) 945-0880 or (800) 687-2431.

Change of address: Please respond inwriting by sending the mailing labelfrom this issue and the new addressto Portraits, 2240 N. Hayden Road,Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85257or email the old and new addressesto Portraits@azsbc.org.

Advertising: For display advertisingrates or to place a classified ad, emailadvertising@azsbc.org or call602-942-8069. Email written classifiedads to advertising@azsbc.org ormail to Portraits, 2240 N. Hayden Road,Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85257.Presence of advertising in thispublication does not necessarilyrepresent endorsement by the ArizonaSouthern Baptist Convention.

On the cover:Aman Hamid and his wife, Amel, are planting Tucson Arabic Church. When he was a practicing Muslim, Aman says, God gave him a desire to read the Bible, where he found John 3:16 and accepted Christ as his Savior.Photo by Rosalva Zimmerman

Connecting Point ...David Johnson Executive Director Arizona Southern Bapt ist Convent ion

HOW DO YOU VALUE THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE?

If we really believe it,

we will live it.Only then is it truly a value!

Like Arizona Southern Baptists on Facebook

Follow AZBaptistson Twitter

Read the ASBC blog, “Fuel,” at

www.azsbc.org

ike so many Americans, I like a good deal. This last Black Friday, one store had a great deal on

a porch heater. I awoke before sunrise, joined other shoppers in line outside

the store, and when the doors opened, I quickly went to the outdoor section and got one of the heaters. Yea! I returned home, opened the box, laid out the pieces and began to assemble the heater. Due to past experiences, I now actually read and follow the instructions when I buy something that has “some assembly required.” I put the porch heater together exactly

like the instructions said, connected a propane tank and lit it. The flames came on, and we had heat on the deck behind our house. Two months later, my wife and I went out to enjoy some outdoor time, but the heater wouldn’t come on. I went to the drawer with the instruction manual and turned to the troubleshooting page. I found what I needed and got the heater working again. Biblical authority in our lives is like my experience with the porch heater. First and foremost, we are to build our lives according to the instructions in God’s Word. However, when life is not working

correctly, we also turn to the Bible to troubleshoot. We need to allow the Bible to instruct us how to assemble our lives. This is done through consistent reading, study and memorizing of God’s Word. When crises or questions arise, we also search the Bible for answers. However, there is great danger in only using the Bible to troubleshoot problems in life. For example, when we began a family, we carefully studied what the Bible says about raising children and developed a plan for following those instructions. Things went well until our children began to enter the teen years. Some things

HOW SHOULD YOU

BY PAUL SMITH PHOTOS BY LEO SO

USE THE BIBLE?L

happened that we were not prepared for, so we looked through the Bible for specific passages that would help us through some of those situations. Biblical authority means we needed to develop parenting skills that are taught in the Bible. Using God’s Word only for solutions to problems is not truly submitting to biblical authority. As a pastor, I have taken biblical authority very seriously for more than 30 years. I preach verse by verse through Bible books. The goal is to allow God to instruct us in assembling our lives. Yes, there have been times when I needed to take a Sunday or two and address a specific situation. Those could be called troubleshooting Sundays. However, if I spent most Sundays addressing what I perceived to be problems in people’s lives, the congregation would catch the idea that the Bible is only to be used to find answers. That reduces biblical authority

4 PORTRAITS

Paul Smith

This is done through consistent reading, study and memorizing of

God’s Word.”

‘‘the Bible to instruct ushow to assemble our lives.

We need to allow the

As pastor of First Baptist Church, Chandler, and as a professor at Golden Gate Seminary’s Arizona Campus, Paul Smith teaches that “the Bible is to be our instruction book guiding us in how to live.”

Arizona Southern Baptists are fortunate to have a fully accredited Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary campus located in Scottsdale. I am one among many students looking forward to graduating this May. My seminary story began years ago when our small-group leader challenged us to pray about committing a decade of our life to full-time Christian service. Soon after, I read John Piper’s Rethinking Retirement in which he suggests that “Finishing life to the glory of Christ means finishing life in a way that makes Christ look glorious.” An image of our future in ministry began to take shape, and I retired early to follow that calling. I began seminary classes in August 2011. I was surprised to meet classmates who were already pastors yet still in the process of earning a seminary degree. I’ve made many new friends, such as Dominick Grimaldi, pastor of Desert Sky Baptist Church, Casa Grande; Aaron Chicoine,

pastor of Quartzsite Southern Baptist Church; and Chris Baker, pastor of First Baptist, Apache Junction, to name a few. I have also enjoyed the privilege of getting to know many aspiring youth pastors, women’s ministry leaders, returning missionaries and those training to become international missionaries. Josh and Deidra Hodges, Mission Service Corps volunteers who relocated from Kentucky to Arizona and minister to Native Americans at First Indian Baptist Church, represent the uniqueness of each student’s call to ministry. And there are others like me who are answering a midlife call to ministry. Each student has a different story, but we all seek to serve the same Lord. The six Southern Baptist seminaries receive about 40 percent of their funding through the Cooperative Program. Without that support, the cost of a seminary education would be beyond the financial means of most students, and our

pastors would be burdened with student debt. Instead, about 46,000 autonomous Southern Baptist churches pool their resources to support the work of the seminaries in training ministers and Christian workers. It’s an investment that returns eternal benefits.

CP investment pays eternal dividends

PORTRAITS 5

PARTNERSo n t h e J o u r n e y

By Robert PeltierStudent, Arizona Campus of Golden Gate SeminaryMember, HiWay Baptist Church, Mesa

to a self-help book to be consulted only when problems arise. Instead, the Bible is to be our instruction book guiding us in how to live.

In classes I teach at Golden Gate’s Arizona campus, I constantly remind students the Bible is our ultimate authority. I try to demon-

strate how seriously I take the Bible. In class, we look at the Bible and how it instructs us in faith and practice. I don’t just give background information to help students understand the Bible but also discuss how we are to live and apply it in life. Because the Bible is inspired by God and without error, it is the standard for what we believe and do. Biblical authority means we come to the Bible as our instruction book to believe and live as it tells us. We also come to the Bible for answers when we need specific help. In other words, the Bible is first our instruction guide, then it is our troubleshooting source.

Paul Smith is pastor of First Baptist Church, Chandler, and associate professor of Old Testament studies at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary’s Arizona campus. Leo So, a freelance photographer, is a member of First Baptist Church, Chandler.

Get INVOLVED • StartaregularBible-readingplan.YoucanfindlotsofplansontheInternet.

The best option is to get a plan for reading through the Bible in a year. Themainthingistobeconsistent.ReadeverydayatthesametimefromthesameBible.It

will quickly become a habit. As you are reading, note verses that you would like to memorize. Note passages that speak

to one area in life and pray that God will apply those instructions to your life. Some examples wouldbemarriage,parenting,money-management,forgiveness,patience,temptationandfriendship.

Don’ttrytodoitallatonce.Ibuilttheporchheateronesectionatatime,andthatishowGod builds us. Allow Him to use His Word to shape one part of your life at a time.

• Anotherhelpfulideaistomakealistofpassagesyouwillwanttocomebacktowhenyouhaveaspecificquestionorneed.Makealistofversesabouttrust,faithfulness,disciplineorprayer. There are also books that organize Bible passages around topics. These lists or books function like the troubleshooting section of an owner’s manual.

• Ihaveseveral“go-to”versesthathavemeantmuchtomeovertheyears.Makeashortlistofversesthatareespeciallyhelpful.Memorizethem.

The importance of Bible memorization is for spiritual warfare. When the Holy Spirit goes to your arsenal, make sure there is more than Psalm 23 and the Lord’s Prayer. The more verses you memorize, the more He has to recall to your memory when you need them.

A

BY ROSALVA ZIMMERMAN | PHOTOS BY DANIEL YU

THE BIBLE TOLD HIM SO

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man Hamid was nearly as far as one can get from recognizing the Bible as the ultimate standard of authority.

“I was a Muslim. I loved Muhammad. I loved the Qur’an. I thought Muhammad would save me and take me to paradise,” says Hamid, who, along with his wife, Amel, is now planting Tucson Arabic Church. Before he became a Christian, Hamid says, he didn’t know what it was to feel the love of God — he saw no assurance, no hope. “There is no ‘God is love’ in Islam — it is just judgment. God is far away,”

he says. “You just have to obey Him or God will punish you.” In 1986, while Hamid was living in Sudan, Christian neighbors talked to him about Jesus. They had many translations of the Bible in their home, but Hamid would not ever even touch one of them, because he viewed those Bibles as corrupt, not sacred like the Qur’an. For Muslims, the only authority is the Qur’an, and they believe it should not be translated because the language of heaven is Arabic. Despite his belief in Muhammad as his “savior,” Hamid knew that the Qur’an contained many wonderful stories about Jesus and the miracles He performed. He also knew that the

Qur’an said Jesus was a prophet, which left him with many questions and caused him to have doubts about his beliefs. Surprisingly, it was a verse in the Qur’an that Hamid believes God used to draw him to Christ. In that verse, Allah told Muhammad that if he had doubts about his faith, he should ask the people of the Book — Jews and Christians who follow the Torah and the Bible. “So I asked God to show me who I should follow, Jesus or Muhammad,”

ATHE BIBLE TOLD HIM SO

Aman Hamid, a former Muslim who came to faith in Christ after God gave him a desire to read the Bible, leads Bible study at Tucson Arabic Church.

says Hamid. “When I asked God, he gave me a desire to read the Bible, where I found the verse John 3:16. I was ready to open my heart and accept Jesus. I felt joy and freedom.” The Holy Spirit had opened Hamid’s mind and heart to understand and respond to the message of Christ and recognize the authority of Scripture. “After I believed, I was excited to read the Bible and saw His Word was different from the Qur’an. It touched my heart,” says Hamid, “Since the first day I became a follower of Jesus, there was something in my heart that wanted to share the Good News. I wanted to proclaim the gospel.” God opened the door for Hamid to go to Lebanon to study at a Baptist seminary, where he graduated in 1995. Now, as Aman and Amel plant Tucson Arabic Church, they have plans to incorporate community-based services, such as English language learning classes and a food pantry, as a way to reach out to the Muslim community.

8 PORTRAITS

Get INVOLVED • PraythatunbelieverswillbeledtoreadtheBibleandcome

to know Christ just as Aman did.•PrayabouthowyoumightassistAmanandAmelinreachingthe

MuslimcommunityinTucsonforChrist.TucsonArabicChurchhasseveral pressing needs:

—English-speakingteachersforchildren’sandyouthBibleclasses — Assistance in developing a resource center that will provide a food

pantry,aplaceforwomen’sgroupsandEnglish-learnerclasses — Volunteers to help with visitation — Partners to pray for God to open doors as this new church ministers — A church van to help with transportation.•AsNorthAmericanMissionBoardchurchplanters,theHamidsare

partially supported by your church’s gifts through the Cooperative Program. Bulletin inserts telling their story may be ordered to share withyourcongregationathttp://IamCP.azsbc.org.

There is no ‘God is love’ in Islam – it is just judgment.”

‘‘Aman Hamid

Hamid cites Acts 18:9-11: “… keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you … I have many people in this city.” There are thousands of Muslims in Tucson, from students at the university to refugees from Syria, Iraq and Sudan. So, Hamid prays, “Where are the people? Show me where they are.”

Rosalva Zimmerman, a freelance writer living in Tucson, is a member of Presidio, a new church plant in Tucson. DanielYu,amemberofTucsonChineseBaptistChurch,isownerofDanielYuImaging.

Aman Hamid, pictured with wife Amel and daughter Grace, is planting Tucson Arabic Church. He has plans to incorporate community-based services to reach out to the Muslim community.

PORTRAITS 9PORTRAITS 9

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Seeking God together for revitalization

Door Prizes:One iPad Half-scholarship to Auxano Co-lab

Free book:

Registration: 8:30 a.m.9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., lunch provided

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PREACHING FOR REVITALIZATIONDr. Adam Greenway Dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism andMinistry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC PROCESS FOR CHANGE Dr. Darwin MeighanDirector of Church Revitalization/Evangelism Nevada Southern Baptist Convention

PRACTICAL STEPS TOWARD REVITALIZATIONDr. Kenneth PriestDirector of Convention Strategies Southern Baptists of Texas Convention

MY316 IN REVITALIZATIONDr. Randy McWhorter Evangelism SpecialistCalifornia Southern Baptist Convention

A C O O P E R AT I V E P R O G R A M M I N I S T RY O F T H E A R I Z O N A S O U T H E R N B A P T I S T C O N V E N T I O N

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$25 for the first person$5 for each additional personfrom the same church » Register by May 13, 2016,

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BREAKOUTSESSIONS »

T10 PORTRAITS

BIBLICAL LIVING UNDER

AS TOLD TO JEAN BIHN PHOTOS BY JEAN BIHN

AUTHORITY

he authority of the Bible is a core value of Arizona Southern Baptists: “We value the Bible as the only inerrant and sufficient source of truth as the standard for all we believe and what we do.” Portraits asked five Southern Baptists in Arizona to describe how biblical authority impacts their lives. Here, a worship pastor, a college student, a young man just moving to Arizona, a 71-year-old widower and a mother of

eight from Germany share their thoughts on biblical authority.

Craig Anderson, worship pastor, Foothills Baptist Church, Ahwatukee: For me, the authority of Scripture determines everything that we do in life, not just our worship. If we don’t believe in the sufficiency of Scripture, then we don’t have anything. The lyrics of what we present to our congregation are most important. When selecting music, you must pay attention to the content and narrative of the song. Is it Bible-centered? Worship music needs to have a strong gospel content: that Jesus came, that He died, that He was resurrected. It needs to point to who Jesus is. It’s encouraging for our people to sing and rehearse the truths of God through music. Finally, whatever we sing should point our people to the Scripture, to being able to sink their hearts and their lives into what we’re singing and know that it is truth. Ultimately, what we offer has to be pleasing to God. Worship is for Him, and so we want it to be a blessing, a sweet aroma — as we read in Corinthians — to Him. The posture of our life ought to be coming to the cross every day. Now we’re back to Scripture again. We don’t just come to the cross once. It’s every day —

TLIVING UNDER

PORTRAITS 11

whatever we‘‘craig anderson

sing should point our people to the

Scripture.”

12 PORTRAITS

sometimes it is every hour, every minute of our day — that we repent, we turn and we submit ourselves to God. Serving God as a pastor and worship leader is an honor. The call to lead God’s people carries with it great responsibility and purpose. What a privilege!

Morgan Panknin, college junior, president of Christian Challenge at the University of Arizona: I incorporate biblical authority into my outreach work with Christian Challenge through henna. We do free henna designs coupled with Bible stories on the mall every Wednesday. Our main goal is to bring people to Christ, but we have our weekly meetings to encourage individuals in their walk, too. I also try to send out a text message every morning asking for prayer requests, because that allows me to love on people. The henna stories come directly from the Bible. We talk about Jesus’ works on earth. We did Noah’s Ark when the movie Noah was coming out, because we knew it wouldn’t be accurate. And we have a Christmas story we do the last Wednesday we’re on the mall in December. We do the woman at the well frequently. It’s great for outreach — it shows Jesus welcomes anyone, anytime. Friendship is very important to what we’re doing. The henna is a terrific way for an introvert like me to start talking to people. In Luke 12, Jesus said, “Do not be afraid for whenever you are speaking in front of others, I will give you the words to say.” I paraphrase, but when it comes to matters of importance, God is always there to give us the words to say.

Above, U of A Christian Challenge President Morgan Panknin shares a Bible story while painting a henna design on the hand of a fellow student. Below, Felix Juan, whose wife of 46 years died last year, recently became a pastor for the first time.

PORTRAITS 13

Prayer is integral to all that happens at the Rio Vista Center, as seen here on Turkey Day, when more than 1,150 frozen turkeys are distributed and 2,500 hot meals are served.

Middle school teacher Jordan McDugle, 25, is moving his young family from Tennessee to Arizona to be part of Cross Life Church, a new church plant in Anthem: I was born in Honduras and adopted at birth. The same way the Lord adopts us, my mom gave everything, all her resources, to get me. She chose me, she wanted me, she pursued me. It was nothing I did; I didn’t have any say in it. That’s the perfect analogy that the Lord showed me. My wife, Kimberly, and I just knew the Lord brought us together to do some kind of ministry or missions. By the time we married, we both knew we weren’t being led overseas. At the same time, we started hearing about this church plant near Phoenix. The Lord showed us we were well-equipped — we both had generations of preparation. Psalm 145:4 (NIV) says, “One generation shall praise Your mighty works to another” — the concrete things He does, like my adoption, a mighty act right there. Stories about my grandfather — stories that my mother and grandmother taught me. Even though I was 2 when my grandfather died, he declared the Lord’s mighty acts by the way he treated my grandmother. When I read the mandate in Deuteronomy 6 — “These commandments that I give you today ... impress them on your children; talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (NIV) — I thought, that’s been my life! My grandmother, my mother, that’s been it! This is what the Lord has been working toward the whole time.

Felix Juan, 71, a widower, was recently called as a first-time pastor: I was a supervisor at a bank, but I always felt inferior, and that kept me from being a good leader. I was an alcoholic, too. I know what causes all the misbehaviors: it’s sin. When Christ came into my heart, I began thirsting for God. I studied and studied the Bible, and it gave me the truth, and the truth began to work in my life. Now I have the confidence that what I’m saying is true; I don’t have to doubt myself. I still study the Bible. I want to know what I’m talking about. I want to see God revealing things to me, and I can share that truth. I was asked to pastor Christ’s Fellowship Community Church in Hikiwan in the Tohono O’odham Nation. I accepted, because I felt the call from God. When my wife died — we were married 45 years — I knew my wife’s faith, so I knew where she was going. If she stayed, she would have suffered more. My wife traveled with me when I preached as a substitute, and she would share her testimony. We used to sing special music together. When I hear that song “He Touched Me,” I can hear her voice and tears come to my eyes. But my comfort comes from Philippians 4:6-7. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

my mom gave everything,

‘‘the Lord adopts us

The same way

all her resources,to get me. She chose me, she wanted me, she pursued me.” Jordan McDugle

•Examineyourheart:howdoestheauthorityofthe Bible inform your life? Ask God to illuminate His Word in a new way in your Bible study.

•FromtheBiblestorieswelearnaschildreninSundaySchooltoin-depthBiblestudy,praythattheLordwilluseHisWordtolead your daily walk.

•ManyofushavefallenawayfromconsistentlyreadingtheBible. Pray that God will renew our desire to learn from His Word.

Get INVOLVED

Heike Deadmone is a wife and mother of eight. She and her family, who live in Sahuarita, are members of The Church at Tubac in Tubac: I was born and raised in Germany in a very loving family but a very secular environment. After I married Dave and we moved to the United States, I began to see people going to church every Sunday. I thought, how much is there to learn about God and the Bible? Through 10 years of marriage and children, whenever I heard the gospel, I answered, “I don’t get it. I am a good person. Why would God not let me into heaven?” Then we received an invitation to AWANA. They explained AWANA was a Bible-based children’s ministry. Anxious to be in a Bible-believing church, I said, “OK, we’ll come, and can we come on Sunday mornings, too?” The same week, some people from the church visited and shared the gospel. I really heard it this time. I understood my own sinfulness and pride. That night in 2005, I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior, and Dave rededicated his life. I believe biblical authority starts with our personal relationships with the Lord, because that affects all the other relationships we have. In 2010, God placed it on our hearts to become foster parents.

Two weeks after we welcomed our first foster child, I found out I was pregnant. Later on, we took in another little guy and eventually his sister. Foster care is not about us. The scary part is these children might not ever live in a loving home or experience Jesus.

Jean Bihn, a freelance writer and photographer, is a member of MountainRidgeBaptistChurch,Glendale.

because that Affects all the other relationships we have.”

‘‘

Heike Deadmone

biblical authoritystarts with our personal relationships with the lord

I believe

14 PORTRAITS

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PORTRAITS 15My316 materials are paid for through the Cooperative Program

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Classes include:June 2016 Intro to Church Planting

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at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary

Ray Meadows is planting CrossLife Church in Anthem and has served in church planting since 2003. Along with his wife,

Deeni, Ray planted a multi-housing church in Memphis. He also served on the church planting team for the Hudson Baptist Association in New York. Dr. Meadows has a Ph.D. from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, and has taught in colleges in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and New York.

Meet Ray Meadows, Church Planting Professor

HELP YOUR CHURCH MEMBERS LEARN A SIMPLEWAY TO HAVE A JESUS CONVERSATIONUSING JOHN 3:16

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starts with our personal relationships with the lord

16 PORTRAITS

uriosity energizes the room. Pointed questions spark a fire of conversation and active contemplation. The Word of God lives and breathes in this group. “Anytime we talk about the fact that God’s

Word is truth, we have fertile ground for discussion,” says Bob Peltier, teacher of the young married couples small group at HiWay Baptist Church in Mesa. His goal is to help students develop a deep and intimate relationship with

Christ through Scripture and guide them to live accordingly. Peltier, a semi-retired engineer about to graduate from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary’s Arizona campus, and Lead Pastor George Barnes began coordinating small group curriculum with sermons in March 2015. They tackled the book of Ephesians first. “The lessons were originally written toward the young marrieds,” Peltier says. “We have about a dozen couples from a variety of backgrounds. Many of them are new believers. Some

C

PORTRAITS 17

are not believers yet but come because they find the relationships fulfilling.” The Bible study lessons come before the sermons on the same passages. “By the time a group hears the pastor’s message, they’ve already learned the background of the passages and have had time to discuss and digest it,” Peltier says. The technique is quite effective. “For me, it’s about understanding the context of where we are

in the books,” says Leha Larson, a student in Peltier’s group. “Bob does a really good job of explaining where we are in the Bible and [how it corresponds] with other things that have happened in a time-line fashion. The extra time helps.”

LEARNING TO LIVE

OUR LIVES IN TRUTH

STORY AND PHOTOS BY IRENE A. HARKLEROAD

Bob Peltier (far right) teaches the young married couples small group at HiWay Baptist, Mesa. In the photos above, class members had picked up their children following Sunday morning Bible study and returned to the room to visit and pray.

18 PORTRAITS

“We decided to use the curriculum as a churchwide study when we got to the spiritual warfare scriptures in Ephesians,” says Peltier. “Other adult groups have been using it since then.” Studies include both the Old and New Testaments. “We are trying to get people to look at Scripture as continuous,” Peltier says. “We want to chip away at those preconceived notions that the Old Testament is something we want to avoid and the New Testament is all we want to look at.” He often spends weeks or months preparing an extensive study guide for teachers and an abstracted version for students. He writes much of his curriculum but includes information that he customizes from commentaries and other reliable resources. He then edits the entire curriculum into useful documents for the groups. Student booklets include relevant

Scripture, a lesson and discussion questions for each week. The study is actually less curriculum-driven and more related to the purpose of Scripture. The focus is on the “what” and “why” of the truth — facilitated and supported by the curriculum. His work pays great dividends. Nate Hulen agrees. “It’s more like a history lesson,” he says. “It’s amazing to hear it that way. It’s made a huge difference in how we see the Scripture.”

“The teaching from Bob really makes you think about how you are living,” says student John Ball. “We’re able to fit what the Bible says into our daily life. When you study week after week, you realize this is the truth; this is the way we should be living. We can do that by being in fellowship and doing it together.”

IreneA.Harkleroad,afreelancewriterlivinginCarefree,isamemberofBlackMountainBaptistChurch, Cave Creek.

Bob Peltier seeks to help young adults in his small group apply Scripture to their daily lives.

Get INVOLVED • AreyouinvolvedinaSundaySchoolclassorsmallgroupBiblestudy?

As disciples, we continue to grow in our faith as we study God’s Word together.• Checkyourpastor’spreachingschedule.Ifthereareanyseriesplanned,askifrelated

materials are available for small group study. Start a small group or study on your own for each week of the series.

• Doyouhaveagiftofteachingorfacilitatinginaninteractivesetting?StartasmallgroupinyourhomeusingaLifeWaystudyorotherbiblically-basedresource.CompletestudypackagesareavailablewithDVDsandlessonbooklets.Yourchurchmayalreadyhaveafew from previous groups.

anytime we talk about the fact that

God’s Word is Truth, we have fertile ground for discussion.”‘‘

Bob Peltier

PORTRAITS 19

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ALL ARE WELCOME!

PORTRAITS 21

By Elizabeth Young

David Johnson presented “The Ugly, the Bad and the Good” in a 2015 Centennial Vision (Annual

Church Profile) progress report to Arizona Southern Baptists’ Convention Council March 1 at CrossPoinTempe Church. The ugly, said Johnson, Arizona Southern Baptists’ executive director, is that the preliminary report shows a net loss of 19 churches, down to 447 from 466 in 2014. Two factors contributed to the loss, he said. One was that 13 churches were planted last year, down from 34 in each of the two prior years. In addition, Arizona Southern Baptists lost 32 churches. “That didn’t mean they all went away or died or disbanded in 2015,” Johnson said. Much like a church tries to maintain an accurate membership roll, in reviewing the list of churches, the convention

discovered several that had actually disbanded in prior years, he said. “Now, for someone who has cast a vision of planting 50 churches per year and trying to reach 1,000 churches by 2028, that’s a setback,” Johnson said. “It’s a bad year. We’re hoping to press on, move forward, and we’re giving our best efforts to church planting and ... [church] revitalization. We’re attacking that on a number of different fronts.” Johnson said he believes 2016 will be a much better year for church planting. In addition, he said, “I don’t want to take away from the 13 churches that were planted. There were some amazing, amazing stories that came out of 2015 in church planting.” The good news, Johnson said, is that 75 percent of Arizona Southern Baptist churches turned in an Annual Church Profile for 2015, up from 61 percent in 2014. Also, baptisms increased by 428 to 2,944 in 2015.

In addition, Cooperative Program giving increased by almost $59,000 in 2015. Churches gave an average of 5.7 percent of their undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program last year. This is an increase of .3 percentage points since the start of the Centennial Vision process, Johnson said. During the same time period, he said, “our Cooperative Program giving has increased rather dramatically, which probably means our churches are doing better. ... They are actually doing more in Cooperative Program giving because they are receiving more. ... At 5.7 percent, it certainly is not yet to the 10 percent average that we would like to reach in our Centennial Vision, but I think we’re moving in the right direction.” Another move in the right direction is a decline in the number of churches that give nothing through the Cooperative

See Report on page 22

Johnson shares vision progress report

By Jennifer Deibel

Recent research shows that more than 64 percent of Arizona Southern Baptist churches are either in plateau or decline, leaving pastors and church leaders

searching for ways to break down the barriers to growth. While God does the revitalizing, the Revitalize conference, set for May 21 in Phoenix, can be the platform to facilitate the needed changes. “God is in the restoring business,” said Keith Durham, Arizona Southern Baptists’ Church Revitalization Team leader. “The answer isn’t simply methodology or strategy, but it is a belief that God can restore any group of people if they humbly seek Him.” Durham, pastor of First Baptist, Arizona City, encourages all pastors to take an unbiased look at their church growth over the last five years. If active church membership has stalled, or declined by 10 percent or more, he urges them to come to Revitalize, and to bring one or two key church leaders. There’s so much great content offered, you want to be able to maximize your exposure to the ideas and concepts, he said. In its second year, Revitalize is offering an expanded format this year with four out-of-state leaders, as well as four leaders from within Arizona, offering their expertise. Breakout sessions will be led by various authorities in church

revitalization, including Darwin Meighan from the Nevada Southern Baptist Convention, Kenneth Priest from the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, Randy McWhorter from the California Southern Baptist Convention, and more. Breakout session topics include Preaching for Revitali-zation, Developing a Strategic Process for Change, Practical Steps Toward Revitalization, and MY316 in Revitalization. Keynote speaker Adam Greenway, dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, will also be leading a breakout session. “Revitalize will reenergize, renew and restore the pastor and leaders to believe that God is capable and able to use them to revitalize the church,” Durham said. Registration is open through May 13. The cost of the conference is $25 for the first person and $5 for each additional person in your group. Revitalize will take place at Foothills Baptist Church, Ahwatukee (15450 S. 21st St., Phoenix), Saturday, May 21, from 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Lunch is included in the registration price. To register, visit http://www.azsbc.org/revitalize. Churches interested in knowing more about how to revitalize their church can contact Keith Durham at pastorkeith3629@hotmail.com or Keith Henry, Arizona Southern Baptists’ leadership facilitator, at keith@azsbc.org.

Revitalize event aims to help churches

22 PORTRAITS

By Elizabeth Young

While celebrating the 75th anniversary of Baptist collegiate ministry in Arizona this year,

Christian Challenge is making some transitions, Brad Schneeflock told Arizona Southern Baptists’ Convention Council at their meeting March 1 in Tempe. “Today we’re holding on to [our] heritage and our history, our missions focus, and we’re moving forward into what God has called us to do as we engage campuses with the gospel,” said Schneeflock, who became Christian Challenge statewide director a year ago. The task is large, with 500,000 college students in Arizona and more than 30 campuses where Christian Challenge would like to have a ministry presence, he said. To guide a new unified statewide strategy, leaders have developed mission and vision statements. The mission statement defines the three things Christian Challenge does: “We exist to engage college students with the gospel, develop disciples of Jesus Christ, and

mobilize servant leaders for the church.” The vision statement says, “We are committed to seeing vibrant communities of college students, who love God, live for Christ, and serve in the power of the Holy Spirit, impacting every university and community college in Arizona.” The regional model Schneeflock employed during his six years as metro collegiate evangelism strategist in the Phoenix area is being expanded to encompass the state, he said. With six regions, the urban centers with major state universities and the community colleges in those areas are covered. The regions include northern Arizona, southern Arizona and four regions across metro Phoenix. “Our goal is to establish teams of campus missionaries engaging all of the campuses in a particular region rather than to just have one staff member on one campus,” Schneeflock said. “We want teams of staff members engaging those campuses together,” with each region being led by a regional director. Christian Challenge also wants to see ministry in more rural areas, including

the White Mountains, the Colorado River cities, Prescott, Payson, Sierra Vista and Thatcher, he said. “We have college campuses in all of these communities that need an evangelical presence on the campus,” he said. The strategy will be different here, because of the lack of availability of full-time missionaries, he said. However, he said, churches in several areas have expressed interest in partnering with Christian Challenge and taking ownership of the ministry on a particular campus. The prayer now is to find a key leader — a part-time staff member, a volunteer, a parent, a church staff member, a professor — for the ministry. Schneeflock is expanding statewide the funding strategy that has been used in metro Phoenix, with campus missionaries raising their own support. “That has to be our strategy,” he said. “We see a mission field that desperately needs missionaries, and the way to multiply our effort and raise up more missionaries is going to be through support development.” This year, Christian Challenge will move to this model as the sole funding strategy, with frontline missionaries who have previously been salaried, including Schneeflock, raising their support. Campus missionaries will receive training and coaching in how to raise support and will be expected to maintain their complete support goal, he said. With a current staff of 15 campus missionaries, Schneeflock said the dream of Christian Challenge is “to mobilize an army of well-equipped and fully-funded campus missionaries,” doubling, tripling or more the present number. Other goals and dreams include having a ministry on every college campus in the state, engaging thousands of students with the gospel every year and creating a leadership pipeline that feeds local churches with young ministry leaders. In order for the God-given dreams to come true, Schneeflock said, Christian Challenge is praying for and asking for prayer support, more campus missionaries to be mobilized, strong partnerships with churches and church staff, and financial resources for present and new ministries.

Christian Challenge moving forward

Report from page 21 -------------------------------------------------------------------Program. In 2015, a total of 22 more churches gave through the Cooperative Program than the previous year, dropping the number of nongiving churches from 143 to 121, Johnson said. One remarkable note was that Calvary Baptist Church, Lake Havasu City, led Arizona Southern Baptist churches in Cooperative Program giving in 2015 with $146,082 and also led in baptisms with 146, Johnson said. “I don’t know how long it’s been since we had a church that led in Cooperative Program giving and baptisms at the same time,” he said. The news is also good for giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, Johnson said. From March 1, 2015, through Feb. 15, 2016, Arizona churches had given $630,135 to the offering, up $93,507 from the same time frame in 2014-15. Also during his report, Johnson announced plans for the 2016 annual meeting, which will be held Nov. 18 at Palm Vista Baptist Church, Surprise.

Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans and the first African-American president of the Southern Baptist Convention, will be the keynote speaker. We hope the mission tour prior to the annual meeting and the mission projects “will especially highlight our need for reaching immigrants and ethnic groups,” Johnson said. “The theme is ‘For God so loved ... Arizona,’ and we’re emphasizing how diverse Arizona is and how much Arizona ... needs to hear this message of John 3:16.” During the business session, the Convention Council approved two recommendations. Following a process approved by the Convention Council in March 2015 for non-SBC churches to affiliate with the AZSBC, Harvest Bible Chapel, Chandler, was approved for affiliation with Arizona Southern Baptists. The Council voted to engage Romek, Sanders & Company, P.C. to perform the 2015 audit.

PORTRAITS 23

My316 materials are paid for through the Cooperative Program

By Beth Vaughan

When Christopher and Lauren Thomas* opened their home to Andrew Hipps* to sell him

some furniture, they had no idea God was opening the door of provision for them. The Thomas family was serving a six-month stateside assignment in September 2015, when the International Mission Board (IMB) announced the Voluntary Retirement Incentive (VRI) for personnel at least 50 years of age who had served for at least five years. “We had served with the IMB for 15 years in Thailand,” Christopher recalled. “We never expected to move back to America at this time.” However, as the VRI deadline approached, the Thomases’ hearts were stirred. “We didn’t want to leave the field, or the IMB,” Christopher said. “But we found as the deadline grew closer, we simply couldn’t say no to the VRI.” They did not know what God had in store for them in America, but the Thomases were convinced that the Lord was leading them to accept the VRI. So on January 5, Lauren and Christopher boarded a plane to their home in Thai-land — not to return to the ministry there, but to pack their belongings and say goodbye. “It was very difficult,” Lauren recounted.

“The work was vibrant, and the need so great. Plus, it was home — the only home our youngest son had ever known.” As the couple sorted and packed, worries mounted. Where would they live? What would they do for work? What would they do for transportation? Despite the questions, the Thomases knew God was asking them to obey. Arizonans and new IMB appointees Andrew and Beth Hipps were fresh off the plane and came to the Thomases’ home to discuss buying their dining room table. As they talked, Andrew asked Christopher if they had a car in the states. “Well, yes,” Christopher answered, “but we have to return it soon.” As only God can orchestrate, the Thomases were going to Arizona to be with Christopher’s parents, and Hipps had a truck in Arizona that needed an owner. Through a series of emails with Mitch McDonald, Arizona Southern Baptist Convention missions facilitator, arrange-ments were made to get the truck to the Thomases when they arrived. “We were hurting and discouraged. God used so many little things to affirm that we were, in fact, doing what He wanted us to do,” Christopher said. One by one, God began to answer each question, and Hipps’ truck was just the beginning.” There is so much more to this story than just the truck,” Lauren said. “But the

truck is a big piece of the puzzle.” Since the announcement of the VRI, and subsequent Hand Raising Opportunity (HRO) for personnel not qualified for the VRI, the IMB has been in a raw state of flux. Seeing God bring things full-circle by using a family just starting their service overseas to bless a returning family is exciting. It’s a reminder that God can use anything to edify the body of Christ. Even a red pickup truck.

*names changed

By Jennifer Deibel

On a crisp Friday evening in Feb-ruary, 520 middle- and high-school students and leaders from

28 Southern Baptist churches from every corner of the state descended upon Camp Pinerock in Prescott for the seventh annual WinterFresh retreat. This year’s theme, Fearless, focused not only on boldly sharing Christ with others, but also doing whatever Christ calls us to do without fear. The weekend included small-group discussion times, numerous games and even an ice cream sundae bar featuring bacon-covered Oreos. However, the highlights of WinterFresh were the corporate worship times that

featured the music of The Benjamin Hunter Band out of Las Vegas, Nev., and messages from Runks, a dynamic speaker and evangelist from Lubbock, Texas. “WinterFresh gets students away from the noise of normal life to a place where they can hear from the Lord,” said T.J. Lewis, student pastor at Village Meadows, Sierra Vista, and a member of Arizona Southern Baptists’ Student Ministries Team. Designed to be a spiritually transforma-tive environment for youth from around Arizona, emphasis is placed on equipping youth leaders to minister to their students during the weekend. With 33 students mak-ing a profession of faith, 41 repenting and re-dedicating their lives to Christ, and a

handful of others sensing the call into min-istry, it is clear the event is succeeding in the areas of equipping and transformation. “High value is placed on providing a high-quality, purpose-driven event for churches that may not be able to afford other events of this caliber,” said Curt Blocker, Student Ministries Team leader. WinterFresh, which took place Feb. 12-14, is planned and hosted by the Student Ministries Team. The team also provides youth ministry training, coaching and resources for Arizona Southern Baptist leaders and churches. The next statewide youth event will be the popular Zona Camp, planned by the Zona Team and held on the campus of California Baptist University.

WinterFresh draws 520 to Prescott

Christopher and Lauren Thomas*

God, missions and a red pickup truck

24 PORTRAITS

Top 25 ChurchesBaptisms-to-Worship-Attendance RatioMountain Ridge Metro, Phoenix 0.77North Yard Church, Kingman 0.88Beckett Apt., Lake Havasu 1.00Set Free Church, Needles 1.12Skyline, Benson 1.25West Phoenix, Phoenix 1.48Vaqueros Por Cristo, Chandler 1.50Set Free, Phoenix 1.80Redemption, Tucson 2.00Peach Springs, Peach Springs 2.00Mision Bautista, Parker 2.00Streams of Life, Chandler 2.75Sierra Vista Cowboy, Hereford 3.00Rincon Valley Cowboy, Vail 3.17Solution Church, Peoria 3.17Tierra Fertil, Yuma 3.30Hualapai Yard Church, Kingman 3.33Ekklesia, Yuma 3.44GracePointe, Sun City 3.50McNary Apache, Whiteriver 3.57Cockleburr, Sacaton 3.67Igl Baut Gethsemani, San Luis 4.00Palominas, Hereford 4.00Douglas Tabernacle, Douglas 4.17Canelo Cowboy, Sonoita 4.19

WORKING TOGETHERThe 341 ArizonaSouthern Baptistchurches whoreported statisticslast year baptized2,944 people, up428 from 2014.The CentennialVision goal is forchurches tobaptize 12,000annually by 2028.

Top 26 Churches in BaptismsCalvary, Lake Havasu City 146Casas Church, Tucson 122Set Free Church, Needles 120Set Free, Phoenix 89North Yard Church, Kingman 80North Phoenix, Phoenix 64Solution Church, Peoria 63Pinal County Cowboy, Casa Grande 54West Phoenix, Phoenix 54Mountain Ridge, Glendale 48Palm Vista, Surprise 46Tierra Fertil, Yuma 43Stone Ridge, Yuma 43Church at Sun Valley, Buckeye 42First Southern, Phoenix 41The Bridge, Phoenix 32Tucson Mountain, Tucson 29First Southern, Avondale 28First Southern, Buckeye 27HiWay, Mesa 27First Southern, Tucson 26Mustang Mtn., Huachuca City 25Oasis, Yuma 24RiverPointe, Mohave Valley 24Northwest, Tucson 23Sandario, Tucson 23

WMU holds missions celebrationBy Jean Bihn

Riveting personal stories from missionaries and recognizing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

were among the learning opportunities packed into the Arizona Woman’s Missionary Union Celebrate Missions — 2016 held Feb. 19-20. The event, which drew about 50, was held at CrossPoinTempe Church. Retired educator Tom Toone was Friday’s keynote speaker. “Even when going through a trial, we must ‘surrender to serve,’” Toone said, speaking to the event’s theme. The former principal and administrator spent five years fighting cancer. The disease is now in remission. Toone shared wisdom he acquired while working through the depression that accompanied the illness. Calling depression “a slippery slope into darkness,” Toone suggested studying the Psalms and serving God by serving

others. He also encouraged individuals in similar circumstances to ask God to “help me to use this to glorify You.” Arizona WMU held their annual election at Friday’s meeting. Serving with Executive Director Terrie Sullivan in 2016 are President Nadine Peterson, Vice President Linda Hopson and Recording Secretary Jennifer Orkin. Saturday, Roger Daniels, statewide director of New Life Counseling for Arizona Baptist Children’s Services & Family Ministries, led a breakout session about the causes and symptoms of PTSD. Daniels said God built many coping mechanisms into our brain to deal with both physical and emotional trauma. Eric and Brittany Gibbs, Mission Service Corps missionaries with the North American Mission Board, told of waiting for their call while taking part in many mission trips. Eric was given an opportunity to travel to the Tohono O’odham Nation in Arizona. In 2009, as he stepped off the

airplane, he knew this was where he and Brittany belonged. Once in the village of Hikiwan, Eric befriended a 17-year-old. By the end of the week, the boy had accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized. “It was the first baptism in that church in 10 years,” Eric recalled. The Gibbses now serve on the Gila River Reservation in Sacaton. AZSBC Executive Director David Johnson, Saturday’s keynote speaker, told members of Arizona WMU, “You are our partners. We need you now more than ever.” Johnson said many Southern Baptists are not learning about the Cooperative Program. “We need your help to educate Christians about the Cooperative Program,” he said. On sharing the gospel, Johnson said John 3:16 is “the most important missions verse ... because if you have only one verse you can use, it tells the whole story.”

nder the warm Arizona sun, Turner was taking a big snooze. Our favorite Labrador was dreaming his way into “yellow” adventures. Oh, how he loved looking for those tennis balls!

Soon, Turner’s dream was taking him down a hall filled with fish and seashells and WAIT! ... is that a ship’s anchor? Poking his wet nose into a room, he noticed a sandy beach where kids were making squiggly octopuses out of colorful paper and tubes. Turner found himself wishing he could make one, too. Creeping on, Turner saw a “porthole” (that’s sailor talk for window). Peering through the glass, he saw a scuba diver swimming toward a chest full of gold. Bubbles were everywhere as kids sang fun songs. “Bubblin’-up, Bubblin’-up … up to the surface.” Our pup found himself humming along. Moving toward the laughter, Turner saw kids playing fun water games, which he loved, especially if he could catch some fishy crackers! Crunch! Suddenly, Turner’s paws started sweating; his dream had him standing smack in the middle of -- YEP, YOU GUESSED IT -- a YELLOW submarine!

On deck, a teacher welcomed everyone to Vacation Bible School. She said the kids would be “Finding the Truth Below the Surface” and growing to be more like Jesus! Turner dreamed he could be “SUBMERGED” in that yellow submarine all summer long while churches across Arizona participate in Vacation Bible School. From a distance our sleepy pup faintly heard, “Wake up … Wake up, Turner!” Slowly, he yawned and stretched as his eyes opened. Standing beside him, his friends were pointing at a large banner at the church next door. On the banner was the biggest, YELLOW submarine he had ever seen. And you know what that means … FRIENDS, FUN, MUSIC, GAMES, STORIES OF GOD’S LOVE … and lots of fishy crackers! How about that? Turner was not going to miss VBS after all. Now, that’s a dream come true!

By Lori Pruit IllustrationbyEdselArnold

TURNER’S DREAM COMES TRUE

U

HAVE FUN SOLVING THE VBS MOTTO! HINT: ONE DICE IS CALLED “DIE”

HELP TURNER FIND HIS BALL

Turner’s yellow ball has rolled away and is hiding in the pages of the magazine. Can you find it? Think small!

ANSWER: “Jesus Sees Jesus Knows Jesus Saves”

“Search me, O God, and know my heart…lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23-24

Be on the lookout for Vacation Bible School this summer! It’s bound to be loads of fun, so get your gear on and DIVE-DIVE-DIVE!

TURNER'S TIP OF THE TALE

Go fishing with a few cupcake papers and imagination!

“God created … every living creature that moves.” Genesis 1:20

26 PORTRAITS

Ranked as a U.S. News & World Report Best College for more

than a decade, California Baptist University has designed an

educational experience that equips the mind while energizing

the heart. More than 8,000 students from across the nation and

world travel here to discover and live their purpose from among

more than 150 majors and concentrations including accounting,

engineering, marketing, music, nursing and theology.

Find out more at calbaptist.edu

LIVE YOURS.

OUR PURPOSEIS TO HELP YOU

cbu-azscb-portaits-FP-ad-Nov2015.indd 1 11/5/2015 11:14:28 AM

PORTRAITS 27

CLASSIFIEDADVERTISING

An orchestra at your fingertips with Lowery Majesty 50 Deluxe Organ with bench. Like-new condition. $4,500 obo. Includes manuals. Call Tucson, 520-743-0297.

Superstition Foothills Baptist Church in Gold Canyon, AZ, located in a retirement community that draws visitors in the winter months, is seeking a Sr. Pastor. Please send resume to SFBC, 6338 S Kings Ranch Rd, Gold Canyon, AZ 85118 oremail to: email@sfbaptist.net.

Classified ads are $25 each for up to 30 words and $1.00 for each additional word, with a minimum charge of $25. Next available issue: July-August 2016. Advertising deadline is June 10. Send written ads to Portraits, 2240 N. Hayden Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85257 or email advertising@azsbc.org. For further assistance, call 480-945-0880 or 800-687-2431.

Faith in Action Write to Faith in Action, Portraits, 2240 N. Hayden Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85257

Do you have a story of statewide interest about how your church or a group in your church is ministering to others?

NEW PASTORSMichael Heath, First Baptist, Show LowLane Weldon, Summit Vista, GilbertDominick Grimaldi, Desert Sky, Casa Grande

NEW CHURCH STAFFJason Thomas, student pastor, The Church at Arrowhead, Glendale

Ranked as a U.S. News & World Report Best College for more

than a decade, California Baptist University has designed an

educational experience that equips the mind while energizing

the heart. More than 8,000 students from across the nation and

world travel here to discover and live their purpose from among

more than 150 majors and concentrations including accounting,

engineering, marketing, music, nursing and theology.

Find out more at calbaptist.edu

LIVE YOURS.

OUR PURPOSEIS TO HELP YOU

cbu-azscb-portaits-FP-ad-Nov2015.indd 1 11/5/2015 11:14:28 AM

God has merged an architect, a former industrial technology teacher and

a current home school teaching coach into a team of visionaries in set design. For the past few years, Terry Barry, John David Auten and Nicholas Sachleben have brought their talents and skills into designing and building background sets for Vacation Bible School at Laveen Baptist Church, Laveen. With each passing year, the sets have become bigger and more detailed. They start planning at the beginning of the year. Other churches have also benefited from their work as the sets have been passed along during the summer. The trio has also ventured into parade float design, assisting in assembling the AWANA parade float for the annual Laveen Community Parade. This year, the AWANA float was the grand winner.

Jeff Vanderford, pastor of Authentic Life Church, Tucson, a two-year-old

church plant, said guests who attended the church’s Easter Egg Hunt at a local park March 19 visited the church on Easter Sunday. “On Easter Sunday we had two people trust Christ as their Savior,” he said. “Easter also set a new record attendance for us.”

Below is a sampling of posts on the “Arizona Southern Baptists” Facebook page. If you’re on Facebook and haven’t “liked” this page, you’re missing a way to keep up with the Arizona Southern Baptist family!

Arizona Southern Baptists March 29

Shared from Village Meadows Baptist Church, Sierra Vista: It’s baseball season and we are sponsor-ing 2 teams! Pastor Bryan (Johnson) is coaching the Angels and Pastors T.J. (Lewis) and Josh (Maciel) are coaching the Maruaders. Pray for them all, and we are using this as another way to reach into our community. ... As pastor T.J. likes to say, “God loves baseball, so we do too.”

Arizona Southern Baptists March 24

Awesome story from IMB missionaries from Arizona! This picture (of people in various places in and around a swimming pool) asks the question: “If the swimming pool represents a relationship with God, which person would you be?” From today’s English Corner: “The Diver.” “What do you want to do now?”

“Dive in.” The 4 Spiritual Laws was shared in the native language and we have a new brother today! We just had to share the good news. Pray for those who said they are standing on the edge or those dipping their toes in the water that they might “take the plunge” as well. Your prayers matter!

Arizona Southern Baptists March 17

Students from Christian Challenge U of A spent part of their spring break today sharing the gospel through henna storying at ASU. Tonight, the group will join with Christian Challenge at ASU Tempe for worship. Wildcats and Sun Devils working together for the gospel!

Arizona Southern Baptists March 14

Only in Arizona — outreach at the Ostrich Festival. Well done, First Baptist, Chandler! Church members were able to give out gospel tracts and church information from Friday to Sunday and were able to talk with many people about Jesus.

Arizona Southern Baptists March 20

Palm Vista Phoenix (19th Ave. and Grovers) launched today with 144 people present. Palm Vista lead pastor Jackie Allen preached. Andrew Bailey is the campus pastor for this new church.

Arizona Southern Baptists March 13

Condensed from a post from Rising Star Baptist Church, Tucson: The youth served at an Arizona Baptist Children’s Services foster care event at McCormick Park March 12. The teens helped with games of kickball, potato sack races, an Easter egg hunt and egg relay races. Church members also grilled hot dogs and hamburgers.

Arizona Southern Baptists February 13

Shared from 22nd Street Baptist Church, Tucson:LOVED LOUD at our community school!!! It was a great time serving alongside the teachers & principal as we painted, planted and spruced up some areas that were in need of some LOVE!

Non—Profit OrgU.S. Postage

P A I DPhoenix, AZPermit No. 437

Arizona Southern Baptist Convention2240 N. Hayden Road, Suite 100Scottsdale, AZ 85257

CHANGESERVICEREQUESTED

A P U B L I C A T I O N O F A R I Z O N A S O U T H E R N B A P T I S T S

Imagesoffaithinaction

Biblical authority is one of Arizona

Southern Baptists’ seven core

values: We value the Bible as the only

inerrant and sufficient source of truth as

the standard for all we believe and what

we do.

Biblical scholars and theologians

can parse the statement and discuss

and disagree about the exact meaning.

For the rest of us, it really comes down

to this: what do you believe about the

Bible, and how does this belief impact

your life?

As I contemplate the meaning of

biblical authority, my mind settles

on these musical lines learned as a

preschooler: “Jesus loves me! this I

know, For the Bible tells me so ...” The

core of my faith rests on Jesus’ death

and resurrection, which brought about

reconciliation for me with God the

Father.

It’s the story the Bible tells. As

the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message

statement says, “All Scripture is a

testimony to Christ ...”

I grew up learning about Jesus’ love.

I have heard this message preached,

sung about and taught. But, the

bedrock my faith rests upon is found

in the Bible and is confirmed in my

personal experience of knowing God

through Christ.

The question then becomes, “How

does my understanding of the Bible

affect how I live my life?”

Several scriptures immediately come

to mind that serve as guides for me.

•“Hehastoldyou,Oman,what

is good; And what does the Lord

require of you But to do justice, to love

kindness, And to walk humbly with

your God?” (Micah 6:8 NASB).

•“ButthefruitoftheSpiritis

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

goodness, faith, gentleness,

self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23a

HCSB).

•“Thentheytoowillanswer,

‘Lord, when did we see You hungry,

or thirsty, or a stranger, or without

clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not

help You?’

“Then He will answer them, ‘I assure

you: Whatever you did not do for one

of the least of these, you did not do

for Me either’” (Matthew 25:44-45

HCSB).

Your list of verses may look

different, but, as we all continue to

grow as disciples, I hope we will think

about how the Bible impacts how we

live. Sincerely placing a high value on

biblical authority should inevitably

result in our looking more and more

like our Savior.

Truly valuing biblical authority

FinishingTouchesElizabeth Young Editor, Portraits magazine, Arizona Southern Baptist Convention