BAPTIST NEW MEXICAN 8/23/2014
The Baptist New Mexican is published weekly by the Baptist Convention of New
Mexico.
To receive the complete paper each week for one year, send $5.50 to the Baptist
New Mexican, P.O. Box 94485, Albuquerque, NM 87199-4485.
The editor's email address is [email protected].
The views and opinions expressed by writers of letters and articles appearing in this
paper are not necessarily those of the editor.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
State Convention in Deming Oct. 21-22
BCNM Buildings Flooded
Deadline for New Churches Sept. 21
HISPANIC MINISTRIES
¿De Dónde Eres?
Where Are You From?
YOUR TURN: The Readers’ Forum
State Church Library Conference in Albuquerque Sept. 11-12
BCNM Messenger Forms
Bergstrom Led Churches in Eastern N.M.
BCNM EVANGELISM
BCNM – Area Lodging
NEW MEXICO ROUNDUP
Hoffmantown Discipleship Conf. Sept. 19-21
Prayer Needs
Churchmen Concert in Rio Rancho Aug. 26
MISSIONARIES WITH N.M. TIES
THESE ROADS WITH DR. B
Introduction to Biscochitos
COOPERATIVE PROGRAM
MINISTERIAL MOVES
BCNM COACHING
NEW BOOKS
HEART MEDICINE
State Convention in Deming Oct. 21-22 (Photos, logo)
By John Loudat
“Standing Strong” will be the theme when messengers from Baptist churches
across the state gather for the Baptist Convention of New Mexico’s 2014 annual
meeting at First Baptist Church in Deming Oct. 21-22.
The Baptist Convention of New Mexico’s president, Tar Henderson,
encourages everyone to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in this
year’s meeting in southwestern New Mexico.
The convention will consist of three sessions: Tuesday afternoon, 1:30-4:30;
Tuesday evening, 6:15-8:30; and Wednesday morning, 8:45-12 p.m.
It will be preceded on Tuesday morning by the annual meeting of New
Mexico Baptists’ WMU and the annual meeting of pastors and laymen at Bethel
Baptist Church. Pre-convention activities will have begun on Monday with the
BCNM’s Missions Celebration at the Mimbres Valley Special Events Center.
(More on pre-convention activities will be printed in an upcoming edition of the
Baptist New Mexican.)
Presiding during the convention will be this year’s officers: Henderson, who
is pastor of Gila Valley Baptist Church, Gila; Jonathan Richard, pastor of First
Baptist Church, Estancia, first vice president; and Dennis Dunn, pastor of
Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Albuquerque, second vice president.
This year’s guest preacher is Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist
Church, New Orleans, who served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention
from June 2012-June 2014. He will bring messages in each of the convention’s
three sessions.
Howell Scott, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Alamogordo will be bringing
the convention’s Annual Sermon on Tuesday afternoon. He was elected to the
responsibility during last year’s annual meeting, and Garland Moore, pastor of
Immanuel Baptist Church, Milan, was chosen to be the alternate preacher.
The convention’s executive director, Joseph Bunce, will present his annual
report at the close of the Tuesday evening session, and Henderson will wrap up the
convention on Wednesday morning with his President’s Address.
The New Mexico Singing Churchmen will lead worship during the Tuesday
evening session.
Opportunities to conduct the convention’s necessary business are scheduled
for the opening and closing sessions.
The Tuesday afternoon session will include presentation of the Executive
Board report and introduction of new business; and the Wednesday morning
session will include consideration of reports of the Executive Board and
committees and the election of BCNM officers for the upcoming year.
Henderson and Richard have served in their respective positions as officers
for the past two years, so they will be ineligible to serve a third consecutive term.
Dunn was first elected to his responsibility last year.
Reports from the BCNM’s four entities: the New Mexico Baptist Children’s
Home, the New Mexico Baptist Foundation, Inlow Baptist Camp and Conference
Center, and Sivells Baptist Retreat and Conference Center—are scheduled for
Tuesday afternoon.
Messengers to last year’s annual meeting unanimously asked the boards of the
BCNM’s two camps and the BCNM Executive Board “to consider the merger of
the two camp corporations into the (BCNM), and if approved by the boards, then
to take the action necessary on their parts to cause the merger of the two camp
corporations into the (BCNM), collaborating among their respective boards during
the consideration process and submit documents to the messengers constituting the
2014 (BCNM) annual meeting for approval.”
Those elected last year to serve with Henderson on the committee responsible
for preparing this year’s convention program were Joe Byers, Deming First; Clark
Henderson, Albuquerque Sandia; Carlos Pino, Santa Teresa Emmanuel; and
Wayne Turner, Salem.
—30—
BCNM Buildings Flooded
By John Loudat
Two Baptist Convention of New Mexico ministries—the BSU Christian
Challenge at the University of New Mexico and Inlow Baptist Camp and
Conference Center—are thankful for the quick help they received from college
students and disaster relief workers following heavy rains that flooded their
facilities in central New Mexico this month.
UNM Christian Challenge
When Gayle, a member of the UNM’s Christian Challenge, arrived at the
BSU building in downtown Albuquerque at about 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1, she
was welcomed by 2 inches of water standing in the apartment she shared with
Sophia.
While most of the water was in the studio apartment the young ladies rented,
the heavy rain that poured through the roof also reached other parts of the building.
Gayle promptly called the ministry’s director, BobbyE, and a couple of other
leaders, and by midnight 15 students, equipped with three power vacuums, mops
and whatever else they could find, were removing the water on the inside and
clearing out gutters on the roof that had gotten plugged up resulting in 2 feet of
standing water on top of the building.
By 3 a.m. the volunteers were able to remove all the soaked ceiling tiles that
had fallen onto the floor and get the carpet relatively dry. They also moved all of
the girls’ belongings onto “dry land.”
BobbyE told the Baptist New Mexican on Aug. 13 that he was “really
impressed” by the quick response of the students and, especially, their “great
attitudes,” which made the unwelcome ordeal “kind of fun.”
“It was a great opportunity to see a servant spirit in action,” he said.
While the roof and ceiling have been repaired, the director said it looked like
the carpet would have to be replaced.
Inlow Camp
That same weekend, it rained 1.5 inches at Inlow Baptist Camp and
Conference Center in the Manzano Mountains southeast of Albuquerque, Inlow
Manager Kerry Chadwick told the Baptist New Mexican Aug. 12. Monday
evening, Aug. 4, brought an additional 3 inches in just three hours and a total of
4.2 inches in 24 hours to the already saturated soil, flooding not just the grounds
but also the Claude Cone Complex, the Ted Roberts Dining Hall and the Taylor
Tabernacle.
A dozen New Mexico Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers arrived just three
days later to more than take care of the damage and to take steps to keep it from
happening again.
Supported by a feeding team, so that the Inlow staff would not have to cook
for them, the volunteers, over the next week and a half, power-washed the Cone
Complex, tore out the vinyl wall covering in its bathrooms and removed the
sheetrock, power-washed the dining hall and made extensive repairs to the
tabernacle.
Chadwick said that the workers went “above and beyond” in repairing the
damage, even cutting wood out of the tabernacle that had been rotten for some time
and raising the structure. They also came up with a comprehensive plan to improve
the camp’s drainage, so that the buildings would be spared from further flooding
for the foreseeable future.
While most of the volunteers were wrapping up their work around mid-week
last week, a bulldozer and its NMBDR operator were expected to spend the rest of
the week working on the drainage improvement, Chadwick said.
“It’s incredible what they’ve done in the short time they’ve been here,” the
grateful camp director declared.
Their work is not yet completed. Chadwick expected another crew to show up
this week to replace the sheetrock that had been removed, so that the camp’s
important ministry can continue.
Photo cutline: More than a dozen Christian Challenge students rushed to the
flooded BSU building at UNM in the middle of the night Aug. 1.
—30—
Deadline for New Churches Sept. 21
Churches that have never had their messengers seated at a meeting of the
Baptist Convention of New Mexico are required to “present to the Credentials
Committee, at least 30 days prior to the annual meeting of the Convention to which
the church desires to send messengers, evidence that the church is in friendly
cooperation with the Convention and sympathetic with the Convention’s work, and
evidence of their faith and practices, which are not in conflict with the Holy Bible,
the Old and New Testaments.” New churches that wish to seat messengers at the
BCNM’s upcoming annual meeting in Deming Oct. 21-22 must send the required
material by Sept. 21 to BCNM Executive Director Joseph Bunce, P.O. Box 94485,
Albuquerque, NM 87199-4485.
—30—
HISPANIC MINISTRIES
¿De Dónde Eres? (Photo)
Por Ricardo Rivera
Al encontrarme con alguien por primera vez, usualmente me preguntan: “¿De
qué parte de México eres?” Esta pregunta es usualmente muy común dado que el
grupo hispano predominante en los Estados Unidos es de origen Mexicano. Sin
embargo, esta pregunta asume que todos los hispanos que hablan español son de
ese país en particular.
Cuando un hispano se encuentra con otro hispano por primera vez la pregunta
que se hacen es: “¿De dónde eres?” Sin embargo, esta pregunta que es hecha no es
tanto acerca de la área geográfica de donde viene el individuo. El Dr. Daniel A.
Rodriguez, en “A Future for the Latino Church” (El Futuro de la Iglesia Latina),
dice:
“Para los Latinos en los Estados Unidos, esta pregunta es usualmente menos
sobre la geografía y más sobre la identidad étnica. Su significado actual es:
‘¿Quien eres?’ La Encuesta Nacional de Latinos del 2002 descubrió que entre
todos los Latinos adultos de dieciocho y en adelante, la mayoría sobresaliente
prefería ‘identificarse por el país de donde ellos, sus padres, o parientes nacieron.’
Eso es, ellos preferían identificarse como ‘Mexicano,’ ‘Puertorriqueño,’ ‘Cubano,’
y lo semejante.”
En otras palabras, hay una diversidad en el país de origen entre los hispanos.
Los hispanos vienen de diferentes paises. El número más grande es de México (64
por ciento de toda la población hispana), Puerto Rico (9 por ciento), Cuba (3.4 por
ciento), El Salvador (3.1 por ciento), la Republica Dominicana (2.8 por ciento),
Guatemala (2 por ciento), Colombia (1.8 por ciento), y Perú (1 por ciento).
Esos del menos de 1 por ciento incluye gente de España, Nicaragua, Venezuela,
Argentina, Panamá, Costa Rica, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay y Paraguay.* Estos
números continúan aumentando,
De acuerdo al U.S. Census Bureau, la población estimada de Nuevo México
en el 2013 era 2,085,287. Cuarenta y siete por ciento de esta población es Latina o
Hispana. De acuerdo a Pew Research, 53 por ciento de los hispanos elegibles para
votar en Nuevo México son de origen Mexicano, mientras solo el 1 por ciento son
Puertorriqueños, y el 46 por ciento son de otro origen hispano. Del 47 por ciento de
los hispanos que hay en Nuevo México, el 83 por ciento han nacido en los Estados
Unidos y solo el 17 por ciento han nacido en un país foraneo. Lo que esto nos
indica es que no solo hay diversidad en el país de origen de los hispanos en Nuevo
México, pero que también hay diversidad en las generaciones (otro tema que
trataré en otro blog).
Por lo tanto, el poner a todos los hispanos en una categoría de “todos encajan”
o “un crisol” es un gran error. Como mencioné en el blog previo, no todos nos
parecemos. Tampoco venimos todos del mismo país, aunque podemos hablar el
mismo idioma. Las prácticas culturales, los dialectos, la selección de comidas y las
costumbres son diferentes y hace cada grupo hispano único. Lo que nos une es el
lenguaje y la etnicidad común.
¿Por qué presento el tema de la diversidad del origen de país de los hispanos
en los Estados Unidos? La razón es simple. Como el grupo menor que está
creciendo más rapidamente tenemos que hacer todo lo que sea posible para
alcanzarlos con el evangelio de Jesucristo. Mientras intentamos hacer eso, tenemos
que tomar en consideración mucho más que el tema del idioma. Conocer el país de
origen es esencial, y todo lo que eso involucra es crucial para alcanzar a cada
grupo en nuestras comunidades. La conciencia, el conocimiento y el análice de la
gente que se va a alcanzar nos ayuda en el proceso de desarrollar una estrategia,
igualmente en el encontrar el plantador o pastor apropiado para ministrar.
En el libro “Neighborhood Mapping: How to make your church invaluable to
the community,” (La Cartografía del Vencindario: Como hacer su iglesia
inestimable para la comunidad) el Dr. John Fuder hace esta declaración:
“Así como compartimos nuestra fe, hacemos discípulos, y oramos
constantemente, es igualmente importante que hagamos un ‘exégesis’ de, ‘leamos,’
nuestro public, en orden de sacar significado de él.”
El poner a todos los hispanos en “un molde” o conectarlos a todos con un país
de origen ignora la complejidad que se encuentra en los vecindarios hispanos en las
ciudades de nuestro país. El Dr. Daniel Sanchez dice que “los varios grupos siguen
diferentes patrones relacionados con el establecimiento de relaciones, la manera en
que las decisiones son hechas, la manera en la que ellos se organizan, la manera
que adoran, y en la manera que ejercen el liderazgo. La diferencias entre estos
grupos, por lo tanto, tienen implicaciones significantes para el evangelismo, la
plantación de Iglesias, el crecimiento de Iglesias, y los esfuerzos misioneros.”**
Sí, los Hispanos en los Estados Unidos han venido de muchos, pero muchos
paises latinos, centrales, sureños y del caribe. Hablamos el mismo lenguaje (con
muchos dialectos), pero tenemos diversidad cultural por causa del país de nuestro
origen. Entonces, la próxima vez que se encuentre con un hispano en la tienda, la
escuela, el doctor o la iglesia, pregúntele: “¿De dónde eres?” Tome el tiempo para
aprender de las diferencias entre el país que ellos han venido y de los otros
hispanos en su comunidad. Le ayudará a contextualizar el mundo donde ellos han
vivido, cómo piensan y cómo de diferente ellos pueden ser a los otros hispanos.
También les podrá dar perspicacia acerca de las implicaciones de alcanzarlos con
el evangelio de Jesucristo.
* De “Reaching Hispanics in North America”
** De “Hispanic Realities Impacting America”
Ricardo Rivera es el estratega Hispano del estado de la Convención Bautista
de Nuevo México.
—30—
Where Are You From?
By Ricardo Rivera
When meeting someone for the first time, I am usually asked, “What part of
Mexico are you from?” This question is usually very common, since the
predominant Hispanic group in the United States is of Mexican origin. However,
this question assumes that all Hispanics are from that one particular Spanishspeaking country.
When a Hispanic meets another Hispanic for the first time the question they
ask each other is, “¿De dónde eres?” (Where are you from?) Yet, this question is
not so much about the geographical area the individual is from. Dr. Daniel A.
Rodriguez, in “A Future for the Latino Church,” says:
“For Latinos in the United States, this question is usually less about
geography and more about ethnic identity. Its actual meaning is closer to, ‘Who are
you?’ The 2002 National Survey of Latinos discovered that among all Latino
adults eighteen years and older, the overwhelming majority preferred ‘to identify
themselves by the country where they or their parents or ancestors were born.’
That is, they preferred to identify themselves as ‘Mexican,’ ‘Puerto Rican,’
‘Cuban,’ and so on.”
In other words, there is a diversity in the country of origin among Hispanics.
Hispanics come from many different countries. The largest numbers are from
Mexico (64 percent of the Hispanic population), Puerto Rico (9 percent), Cuba (3.4
percent), El Salvador (3.1 percent), the Dominican Republic (2.8 percent),
Guatemala (2 percent), Colombia (1.8 percent), Honduras (1.1 percent) and Peru (1
percent). Those under 1 percent include people from Spain, Nicaragua, Venezuela,
Argentina, Panama, Costa Rica, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay. * These
numbers continue to increase.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated population for New
Mexico in 2013 is 2,085,287. Forty-seven percent of this population is Latino or
Hispanic. According to Pew Research, 53 percent of Hispanic eligible voters in
New Mexico are of Mexican origin, while just 1 percent are Puerto Rican and 46
percent are of another Hispanic origin. Of the 47 percent of the Hispanics in New
Mexico, 83 percent are native born (born in the U.S.) and only 17 percent are
foreign born. What this indicates is not only that there is a diversity in the country
of origin among the Hispanics in New Mexico, but also that there is diversity in
generations (a subject to be addressed in another article).
Therefore, to put all Hispanics in a “fits-all” or “melting pot” category is a
great mistake. As I mentioned in my article in the July 19 Baptist New
Mexican, all of us do not look alike. Neither do we all come from the same
country, even though we may speak the same language. Differing cultural
practices, dialects, food choices and customs make each Hispanic group unique.
What binds us together is a common language and a common ethnicity.
Why do I bring up the issue of the diversity of country of origin of Hispanics
in the U.S.? The reason is very simple. As the fastest-growing minority group in
the country, we must do all that is possible to reach them with the gospel of Jesus
Christ. As we attempt to do that, we must take into consideration more than just the
language issue. Knowing the country of origin is essential, and all that it involves
is crucial to reaching each group within our communities. Awareness, knowledge
and the analyzing of the people to be reached helps in the process of developing a
strategy and in finding the appropriate planter or pastor to minister.
In the book “Neighborhood Mapping: How to make your church invaluable to
the community,” Dr. John Fuder makes this statement:
“Just as we share our faith, make disciples, and consistently pray, it is equally
important to ‘exegete,’ or ‘read,’ our audience, in order to draw meaning from
them.”
Putting all Hispanics in “one mold” or connecting them all with one country
of origin ignores the complexity found in the Hispanic neighborhoods in the cities
of our country. Dr. Daniel Sanchez says that “the various groups follow different
patterns related to the establishment of relationships, the manner in which
decisions are made, the way in which they organize themselves, the way in which
they worship, and the manner in which they exercise leadership. The differences
between these groups, therefore, have significant implications for evangelism,
church planting, church growth, and missionary efforts.”**
Yes, Hispanics in the U.S. have come from many, many Latin, Central,
Southern and Caribbean countries. We speak the same language (with many
dialects), but we are all diverse culturally due to our country of origin. Next time
you run into a Hispanic in the store, school, doctor’s office or church, ask him
“¿De donde eres?” (Where are you from?) Take the time to learn about the
differences between the country they have come from and the other Hispanics in
your community. It may help you put into context the world in which they have
lived, how they think and how different they may be to other Hispanics. It may
also give you some insight as to the implications to reaching them with the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
* From “Reaching Hispanics in North America”
** From “Hispanic Realities Impacting America”
Ricardo Rivera is the Baptist Convention of New Mexico’s state Hispanic
strategist.
—30—
YOUR TURN: The Readers’ Forum
Retired University President Thankful for BCNM Scholarship
It was 50 years ago, 1964, that I graduated from Lovington High School and
was awarded a Ministerial Tuition Scholarship by the Baptist Convention of New
Mexico to study religion at Eastern New Mexico University. I wish to express my
thanks to the Baptists of New Mexico for their investment in my education.
I was pastor of the Crossroads Baptist Church in north Lea County when I
entered Eastern and became active in the BSU. Through the work of campus
ministers and quality Bible teachers, I focused my calling to do campus ministry
and have been involved in Christian higher education for the past half century. I
formally retired as president of Judson University in Illinois two years ago but
would never have taken that route without the scholarship grant from New Mexico
Baptists.
My prayers and appreciations are with you today, and I hope you continue to
invest in the lives of ministry students through the BCNM. I am grateful for your
investment in me. Thank you.—Jerry B. Cain, chancellor, Judson University,
Elgin, Ill.
Thanks From East Asia
We wanted to write and thank you and all our New Mexico Baptist family.
Thank you for giving so generously to make it possible for us to serve our Father
overseas. We are serving in East Asia reaching out to university students. In this
city we have around 45 universities and colleges, which equals to a lot of students
studying here. Most have never heard the name of JC and need to hear the Good
News. Just recently we had the opportunity to share with a university student who
has been helping us babysit for our son, who is 1. She has received and believed.
This is all because of people lifting us here and giving. Thank you so much for
your generosity and support!—The Valle Family in East Asia
“Your Turn” gives readers an opportunity to express their views, which do not
necessarily reflect those of the editor. Letters to the editor are welcome but will be
printed at the editor’s discretion. All letters are subject to editing for space, clarity
and style. They should reflect Christian dignity and courtesy, and be no more than
300 words. Name may be withheld for sufficient reason, but anonymous letters
will not be printed. Please include mailing address and phone number for
verification.
—30—
State Church Library Conference in Albuquerque Sept. 11-12
The Baptist Convention of New Mexico and Central Baptist Association are
providing a statewide church library conference on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 11
and 12 in Albuquerque.
The conference will be held at the Del Norte Conference Center, 6100
Montgomery Blvd. NE. Eva Nell Hunter, library specialist for LifeWay Christian
Resources, will lead the conference.
Topics to be covered on Thursday include “Concourse: Beyond the Basics.”
In that class participants will learn how to do inventory, with and without
barcodes; how to do reports and use graphs; how to use filters; and more. There
will be a time for questions and answers about Concourse library software in the
afternoon. There also will be a class on “How to Reach Men and Youth.”
Friday morning will deal with “Media Selection: What to look for, what to
avoid, what every good library should have, a list of good suppliers, and publishers
to avoid.”
The conference will begin each morning at 8:45 and end at 4 p.m. on
Thursday and at noon on Friday. Participants will be responsible for their own
lunch.
There is no cost for the conference, but registration is requested. Register by
contacting Fran Allen at (505) 884-4859 or [email protected] or Pat Phipps at
(505) 299-8490 or [email protected].
—30—
BCNM Messenger Forms
Messenger forms for the 2014 annual meeting of the Baptist Convention of
New Mexico at First Baptist Church, Deming, Oct. 21-22, have been mailed to
each church. They should be returned by Oct. 17 to the Baptist Convention of New
Mexico, P.O. Box 94485, Albuquerque, NM 87199-4485, for pre-registration.
To register online, go to www.bcnm.com and click on “2014 Annual State
Convention” and “Messenger Registration.” Forms are also available there for
download or by calling the BCNM’s recording secretary, Nancy Faucett, at the
BCNM, 924-2325 (Albuquerque), or 1-800-898-8544 ext. 325. All messenger
registration requires authorization by the church’s moderator or church clerk.
According to the convention Bylaws, Article 2:
Section 3. “As an autonomous Baptist group, the Convention reserves the
right to determine what constitutes a cooperating Baptist church. Churches shall be
considered in friendly cooperation who are sympathetic with the purpose and work
of this Convention, having demonstrated cooperation by contributing a minimum
of $250 to the Cooperative Program through the BCNM during the twelve months
immediately prior to the call to order of the annual or special meeting of the
Convention. The faith and practices of each cooperating church, in the opinion of
the Convention in session, shall not be in conflict with the Holy Bible, Old and
New Testaments. The Convention in session shall be the final judge of the
qualifications of its members.”
Section 4. “Each church shall be entitled to two messengers and one
additional messenger for every twenty-five members or major portion thereof
above twenty-five; but in no case shall any church be entitled to more than eight
messengers.”
Members of mission congregations are considered members of the sponsoring
church and should be included as messengers of that church. Only duly registered
messengers will be permitted to vote on business matters. Registration forms may
be mailed to Nancy Faucett, Baptist Convention of New Mexico, P.O. Box 94485,
Albuquerque, NM 87199-4485; scanned and emailed to [email protected]; or
faxed to (505) 924-2349.
—30—
Bergstrom Led Churches in Eastern N.M. (Photo)
By John Loudat
Herbert Eugene Bergstrom, who ministered in eastern New Mexico for most
of the 20th century, died Aug. 1 at the age of 97 in Lubbock, Texas, where he and
his wife, Sue, moved in 1995. A memorial service and burial were held in Clovis
Aug. 5.
Born in Thrall, Texas, Bergstrom grew up in Denton County and Ponder,
Texas. He moved to Portales following his graduation from high school.
Bergstrom surrendered to God’s call to the gospel ministry in 1943 at Bethel
Baptist Church near Portales. While attending Eastern New Mexico University in
Portales, he pastored Mt. Zion Baptist Church near Dora. After graduating from
ENMU with a bachelor of arts degree, Bergstrom attended Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., where he earned bachelor of divinity and,
later, doctor of theology degrees.
Bergstrom served a full three decades as a senior pastor. After leading the
church in Ranchvale, he pastored First and Parkland Baptist churches in Clovis and
First Baptist Church in Portales. He later served as associate pastor of Sandia
Baptist Church in Clovis.
Bergstrom estimated that through the years that he helped with or conducted
more than 1,000 funerals and performed more than 400 weddings. He also taught a
men’s Bible class in Clovis for eight years, and he taught the Bible at senior
centers in Clovis and Portales.
From 1953-60, Bergstrom was a full-time visiting professor at ENMU, where
he later taught part time for another 29 years. The university awarded him its
outstanding alumni award in 2002.
A member of Rotary International clubs in both Clovis and Portales,
Bergstrom was named a Paul Harris Fellow in 1995. He also served as secretarytreasurer of the board of directors for the Retirement Ranch in Clovis. After
moving to Lubbock, he taught part time for Wayland Baptist University and served
as a volunteer hospital chaplain, which provided him opportunities to minister to
many of his friends from eastern New Mexico.
Bergstrom served as a member of Southern Seminary’s board of trustees for
13 years and the Southern Baptist Historical Commission for nine years.
Bergstrom was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Lawanna, his
son, Jimmy Bergstrom; his daughter, Sara Nell Marquis; a granddaughter, Carol
Gary; two brothers and one sister. Survivors include his wife, Sue Bergstrom, of
Lubbock; children: Judy (Al) Gary of Lubbock, Rhonda (Tom) Holtz of Charlotte,
N.C., Dawn (Mark) Boney and Mark (Valerie) Bergstrom of Carrollton, Texas,
and Darinda (Bill) Rupp of Loveland, Colo.; 15 grandchildren; 21 greatgrandchildren and one sister, Bernice Smith of Carbon, Texas.
—30—
BCNM EVANGELISM
Mission Trip to the State Fair
By Cheryl Vaughn
Are you looking for a short-term mission trip for your youth group or church
to participate in this year? Well, look no further!
The evangelism/discipleship team of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico
will be sponsoring two booths at the New Mexico State Fair Sept. 10-21. The
booths provide a free ministry to the fair attendees of clean and private rooms for
diaper changing and nursing moms. One booth is indoors and one is outdoors.
You may ask how this can work for a mission trip. Simple. You choose a day
or more when you want to come to Albuquerque to the fair, and you choose to
work the indoor or outdoor booth. The BCNM’s evangelism and discipleship team
provides a coordinator for each booth.
The ministry of the booths involve greeting all people as they walk by,
handing out stickers to children, showing families the diaper-changing area and
supplies that are available, sanitizing the changing tables, taking out the trash,
visiting with those family members who are waiting and directing the moms to the
nursing-mom side of the booth.
While part of your team is manning the booth, the other team members can be
prayerwalking the fairgrounds and passing out flyers that give directions to the
booths. This is a vital element in the ministry. People are more inclined to look at a
flyer that is handed to them than they are to stop to read signs that are along the
walkway.
Last year there were 135 volunteers representing 20 churches who ministered
during the fair. Those volunteers represented Jesus to more than 7,000 people who
came through our booths. Can you imagine how many more seeds could be planted
in people’s lives with more volunteers?
Each booth is stocked with resources in English and Spanish: New
Testaments, tracts, stickers and gospel coins. We also provide a list of all New
Mexico Southern Baptist churches, so if someone from out of town wants to find a
church in their area, our volunteers can easily locate the address and phone number
for them.
We have one equipping time this year for the state fair booths: Thursday,
Sept. 4, 6-8 p.m. It will be held at the BCNM building, 5325 Wyoming Blvd. NE,
in Albuquerque.
This ministry is provided by your generous gifts through the Cooperative
Program. Thank you for your sacrificial giving.
To sign up for the equipping time or for more information about the
opportunities awaiting you at the 2014 New Mexico State Fair, contact me, Cheryl
Vaughn, in the EDT office at 924-2314 (Albuquerque), or 1-800-898-8544 ext.
314, or [email protected].
Cheryl Vaughn is the ministry assistant on the BCNM evangelism/discipleship
team.
Photo cutline: Parents line up to use the Baptist Convention of New Mexico’s
Nursing Moms/Diaper Changing Center at the State Fair. (John Roe)
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Baptist Convention of New Mexico
First Baptist Church, Deming
Oct. 21-22
Area Lodging
The following list has been compiled by Baptist Convention of New Mexico
administration to assist messengers planning to attend this year’s annual meeting,
which will be held at First Baptist Church, Deming.
BW Mimbres Valley Inn
1500 W. Pine St., Deming
(575) 546-4544
Comfort Inn
1010 W. Pine St., Deming
(575) 544-3600
Days Inn
1601 E. Pine St., Deming
(575) 546-8813
Grand Motor Inn
1721 E. Pine St., Deming
(575) 546-2632
Hampton Inn
3751 E. Cedar St., Deming
(575) 546-2022
Quality Inn
4600 E. Pine St., Deming
(575) 546-2661
Holiday Inn & Express
3801 E. Cedar St., Deming
(575) 545-6500
La Quinta Inn
4300 E. Pine St., Deming
(575) 546-0600
Motel 6
4601 E. Pine St., Deming
(575) 546-2623
Super 8 Motel
1217 SW. Pine St., Deming
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(575) 546-0481
NEW MEXICO ROUNDUP
Want to see your church’s news briefs on this page? Ask your church to send
us the information after each Lord’s Day by phone, fax, email or mail. Contact the
Baptist New Mexican, P.O. Box 94485, Albuquerque, NM 87199-4485; (505) 9242326, or 1-800-898-8544 ext. 326; fax (505) 924-2319 or email
[email protected].
AVAILABLE & WANTED
Items in this section are published without charge as a service to BCNM
churches and individuals. Publication does not constitute endorsement.
Position available immediately: full-time children’s ministries director at First
Baptist Church, Portales. For more information or to submit a résumé, go to
www.fbcportales.org or send résumés in a sealed envelope to First Baptist Church,
Children’s Search Committee, 100 S. Ave. C, Portales, NM 88130.
8/23
Highland Baptist Church in Roswell is seeking a bivocational pastor—God’s
man to lead and shepherd God’s church. Send résumés to Highland Baptist
Church, 2001 S. Lea Ave., Roswell, NM 88203; or [email protected],
Subject: Pastor Search.
8/30
Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church in Rio Rancho would like to donate an
organ to another BCNM church. Call the church office at (505) 896-6901.
8/30
First Baptist Church, Eunice, is seeking a full-time pastor. This is a Southern
Baptist church in southeastern New Mexico. Résumés may be sent to First Baptist
Church, Pastor Search Committee, P.O. Box 1449, Eunice, NM 88231 or email to
[email protected].
8/30
Rio Mimbres Baptist Church in southwestern New Mexico is seeking a fulltime or bivocational pastor. Bilingual (Spanish and English) is a plus. Résumés
may be sent to [email protected] or to Rio Mimbres Baptist Church, Pastor
Search Committee, P.O. Box 8, Mimbres, NM 88049.
8/30
Mescalero Baptist Mission is seeking an evangelistic pastor. The mission runs
25-40 in attendance and has the possibility of running 100 or more. Mescalero is
25 miles south of Ruidoso and about 13 miles from Tularosa. If God is leading,
send your résumé to First Baptist Church, 270 Country Club Drive, Ruidoso, NM
88345; or [email protected].
8/30
Church at the Butte, in Elephant Butte, is seeking a full-time senior pastor.
The church is seeking a trained and experienced pastor with great people skills and
leadership ability who will work with a leadership team to guide the church to help
fulfill the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. The church began 15 years ago
in a retirement community and has transitioned to reaching young families. Send
recommendations and applications to [email protected] or to the church
at P.O. Box 1346, Elephant Butte, NM 87935.
8/30
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Hoffmantown Discipleship Conf. Sept. 19-21
Hoffmantown Church in Albuquerque is holding its annual discipleship
conference on Friday-Sunday, Sept. 19-21, 2014.
The aim of the “weekend for all ages” will be to enable participants to get
“Zeroed In on the Word” through teaching, encouragement and refreshment.
For more information about the “2014 Engage: Zeroed In Discipleship
Conference,” go to www.hoffmantownchurch.org.
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Prayer Needs
Albert Everts Graff, the father of Bobby Graff, pastor of Albuquerque Deaf
Baptist Church, died in Joplin, Mo., June 30 at the age of 91. The longtime song
director and deacon of First Baptist Church in La Russell also is survived by a
daughter, Bettie Craig of Sarcoxie, Mo., 10 grandchildren, eight greatgrandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Memorial contributions may be
made to Gideons International.
Mary Patricia “Patty” Thomas, a resident of Phoenix, Ariz., and the mother of
Matt Sellers, pastor of Paragon Church in Rio Rancho, died July 31 at the age of
59. She is being remembered for being a “loving mother and nanny” who “was full
of laughter and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.” Other survivors
include children Rachel, Stephanie, Devin and Sasha, and five grandchildren.
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Churchmen Concert in Rio Rancho Aug. 26
Everyone is invited to the New Mexico Singing Churchmen’s concert at First
Baptist Church in Rio Rancho on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m. The concert will
include a few new songs the men will learn during their annual two-day retreat,
which will precede the presentation.
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MISSIONARIES WITH N.M. TIES
Joseph and Leann Andrews, missionaries to American Peoples, will be on
Stateside assignment April 15, 2015, through Oct. 15, 2015. They may be
contacted at 11709 La Vista Grande, Albuquerque, NM 87111.
Randall and Joan Bell, missionaries to European Peoples, will be on Stateside
assignment beginning Sept. 1, 2014, through Jan. 10, 2015. They may be contacted
at [email protected].
Bob and Vickie Butler, missionaries to Southeast Asian Peoples, will be on
Stateside assignment beginning Dec. 14, 2014, through March 31, 2015. They may
be contacted at [email protected].
Robert and Kay Holcomb, missionaries to Southeast Asian Peoples, will be on
Stateside assignment Dec. 20, 2014, through March 20, 2015. They may be
contacted at [email protected].
Kelly and Jeanne Manire, missionaries to European Peoples, will be on
Stateside assignment beginning June 1, 2015. They may be contacted at
[email protected].
Carol Smith, missionary to European Peoples, will be on Stateside assignment
beginning Feb. 3, 2015. She may be contacted at [email protected].
Jim and Charlotte (Tarry) Whitley, missionaries to the European Diaspora
Peoples in Brazil, are currently on Stateside assignment through May 2015. They
may be contacted at [email protected].
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THESE ROADS WITH DR. B
Ministry Life: How Do You Measure That? Part 2
By Joseph Bunce, BCNM Executive Director
One of the great frustrations that pastors have shared with me over the years is
discovering a way to measure what is happening in their ministry. An architect can
see a finished set of plans and then rejoice over a building upon its completion. A
farmer experiences the joy of driving a combine through his harvest field. A
surgeon can observe a patient healed as result of his surgical skills. For pastors,
observable results are more difficult to ascertain. I heard about a frustrated pastor
who spent much of his ministry doing marriage counseling. He announced one
Sunday to his congregation that he was resigning and planned to become a
mortician. When asked by the congregation why he would do such a thing, he
replied, “As a pastor, I have worked so hard to help people get straightened out
only to see their lives tangled up again. As a mortician when I straighten people
out, they will stay straightened out.”
A few weeks ago, I shared an article that described success as not being a
good way to measure ministry. There were several reasons that I gave for success
not being a good standard. First, success creates comparison. Second, I shared that
the lure of success was addictive. I also shared that seeking to measure one’s
success was deceptive. So this leads to the question, is there an appropriate way to
measure ministry? I would suggest that the answer is yes. I am convinced that God
holds people to two standards. The first standard is that of faithfulness. The word
“faithfulness” is a statement of one’s faith. Faithfulness is also an attribute of God
Himself. In Psalm 40:10 is a declaration of God’s faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23
gives us assurance of great faithfulness from our God. Ministry, in any form or
fashion, requires that someone faithfully stay with the task assigned to them by
God. Moses discovered that what should have been a short journey in leading
people to the Promised Land required 40 years. The apostle John wrote the Gospel
of John and the Revelation after faithfully serving God for decades.
A second way to measure ministry is fruitfulness. The first commandment
given to living creatures by God was to be fruitful and multiply in Genesis 1:22.
The apostle Paul, in writing the letter of Colossians, stated that he prayed that the
people of this great church would “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him,
being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”
(Colossians 1:10 NKJV). Paul’s prayer in Colossians is threefold: to live in such a
way that our life pleases the Lord, that we be fruitful in every good work and,
finally, that we increase in the knowledge of God.
In the Bible, there is the promise of rewards to those who are both faithful and
fruitful. There are two types of crowns mentioned in the New Testament. First,
there is a diadema, or crown, that is worn by royalty. There is a great old song that
says, “Bring forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all.” The second type
of crown is called the victor’s crown, or stephanos crown. This is the type of crown
that will be given to those who are faithful and fruitful. Five such crowns are
mentioned in the New Testament.
• 1 Corinthians. 9:25—incorruptible = mastery of spiritual life
• 1 Thessalonians. 2:19—crown of rejoicing = faithful soul winners
• 2 Timothy. 4:8—crown of righteousness = all who long for the appearing of
Christ
• 1 Peter. 5:4—unfading crown = faithful shepherds
• James 1:12—crown of life = suffering great tribulation
Let me remind both pastors and church members that only God can measure
ministry. For pastors, I can only say that I am fully persuaded that God not only
called you to this place of service, but that He will reward you for faithfully
serving. For church members, I would warn you to not make the mistake of
measuring your pastor’s success by comparing his messages or ministry merely by
attendance or budgets. If you closely read the Bible, you will discover that, by
human standards, not a single major prophet of the Old Testament would have
been declared successful. Jeremiah’s sermons went unheeded. His sermon
manuscripts were cut up with a knife and tossed into the fire. But Jeremiah
declares that there was a fire in his bones to preach regardless of the response.
Isaiah the prophet, when commissioned in Isaiah 6, was told that his message
would not be received or obeyed by those who listened.
May God help us all to be faithful and fruitful in our service to Him.
Love,
Dr. B
Need a smile?
A novice gardener who was looking for some advice asked an experienced
farmer, “What would be good to plant in an area that gets very little rain, has too
much late afternoon sun, has clay soil and lies on a rocky ledge?” The farmer
replied, “How about a flagpole?”
THANK YOU for your giving to the Cooperative Program and Mission New
Mexico! These are mission offerings you can support year-round.
Given this year through Aug. 15:
Cooperative Program — $2,189,066
Mission New Mexico — $64,201
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Introduction to Biscochitos
At the Baptist Convention of New Mexico’s Ministers and Family Retreat in
Albuquerque July 31-Aug. 2, a number of ministers’ wives asked Sharon Bunce,
wife of BCNM Executive Director Joseph Bunce, about the delicious “New
Mexico cookies” they enjoyed during the retreat. Mrs. Bunce told the women, who
are new to the state, that she would be more than happy to share with them the
recipe she uses, which is based on a recipe she read in a New Mexico Magazine
several years ago. It is printed here so that all New Mexico Baptists may benefit.
BISCOCHITOS
2 cups lard or vegetable shortening
1 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups flour
¼ teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon liquid anise
½ cup milk
Cream lard and sugar together. Beat in egg yolks one at a time. Mix in flour
and baking powder, then flavorings and milk. If mixture is too soft to roll out, add
more flour. Roll out on floured board and cut in shapes. “Bake by smell.” Try 375
degrees for 10 to 12 minutes—or until light brown. Dust in ¼ cup sugar and 1
tablespoon of cinnamon.
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COOPERATIVE PROGRAM
CP Demonstrates Unity (Photo)
By Monty Mullenix
I’m new to First Baptist, Bloomfield, but not to the Cooperative Program. I’ve
always been thankful that the Cooperative Program provides every church, no
matter their size or budget, the opportunity to be a part of fulfilling Jesus’ last
instructions to us in the Great Commission and in Acts 1:8.
It is truly a privilege to be a part of reaching the world for Christ by working
together with fellow believers. Giving to the Cooperative Program is one of the
greatest and most visible things a church can do to demonstrate what true unity is
all about. The financial sacrifice that comes with contributing is far outweighed by
the rewards of being able to impact so many, by demonstrating the love of Christ
and by sharing the hope that comes through a relationship with God through Jesus.
The Cooperative Program allows us as a church to do together what we could
never begin to do alone.
Monty Mullenix is pastor of First Baptist Church, Bloomfield.
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MINISTERIAL MOVES
Edwards to Bosque Farms First (Photo)
First Baptist Church of Bosque Farms is pleased to announce that Rick
Edwards has come from North Carolina, along with his wife, Jean, to be the
church’s new head pastor.
While the Edwardses have served in three Southern Baptist churches in North
Carolina and Arizona, they say they love the Southwest.
Edwards accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior in 1966 and was called to fulltime ministry in 1989. He earned his master of divinity degree from Southeastern
Baptist Theological Seminary in 1992. Edwards is a strong supporter of the
Southern Baptist Convention’s “Baptist Faith and Message,” the Cooperative
Program and local and international missions. He has been identified as a leader,
shepherd, team builder, visionary, crisis counselor and communicator, and the
churches he has led have consistently grown.
In addition to serving his church, he believes in being involved in the
community and has served on a local school board, coached football and taught an
“Abstinence Only” curriculum in his local high school.
The Edwardses have three children: Natalie, 23, will attend Dallas
Theological Seminary this fall; Rickey, 22, is in Western Carolina University in
Asheville, N.C., majoring in business administration; and Christopher, 21, attends
Emory and Henry and is pursuing a degree in teaching and hoping to coach
football.
Prior to Edwards’ arrival, Jerry Evans of Albuquerque served the church as
transitional interim pastor for 23 months. He told the Baptist New Mexican that it
was a blessing for him and his wife, Becky, to see what God accomplished during
that time, saying that the process was “great for the church.”
Churches that wish to announce their new pastor or ministerial staff member
are encouraged to send biographical information, picture and the date he or she
will begin their new ministry, to the Baptist New Mexican.
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BCNM COACHING
Everyone Needs a Coach
By Chad Spriggs
Which pastor are you?
A. I know what my church culture is. I know the ministry climate that I am
engaged in. I know better than anyone the pressures that I face as I walk in the
light that God provides.
B. I know that God has called me to church ministry, but I’m struggling to
identify what my next steps are. I love being a minister, but I’m having a hard time
finding balance in my life. I wish I could make sense of all my thoughts and
dreams. This is overwhelming.
These are only two scenarios out of dozens that we could find ourselves in.
No matter the scenario, we all need a coach. A coach is a partner that seeks to ask
questions that help unwrap the pastor’s heart for Christ’s missional work. You are
the expert, and the coach’s main goal is to serve you.
Do you need a coach? Ask yourself these questions.
1. Could I benefit from someone that would champion my call to ministry?
2. Could I serve others more effectively knowing that someone stands in the
gap for me?
3. Could I profit from a relationship that is centered on me being all that God
desires me to be?
\Allowing a coach to walk with you will encourage personal and professional
growth in and through Christ. This will reveal the glory of God and the fullness of
His call on your life. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To
him be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36 ESV).
Chad Spriggs, Ed Meyers and Carlos Pino are serving with the Baptist
Convention of New Mexico as coaching champions in the state. For more
information, contact the BCNM’s missions mobilization team at 924-2315
(Albuquerque), or 1-800-898-8544 ext. 315.
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NEW BOOKS
These are announcements, not advertisements of new books. Listings are not
to be construed as endorsements of the books.
QUOTES FROM BILLY GRAHAM, by Billy Graham. B&H Publishing.
A world-renowned author, preacher and evangelist, Graham would just say of
himself that he is humbled to have been called by God to faithfully proclaim the
greatest message the world will ever hear: Jesus Christ came to earth to bring hope
to a lost and dying world. Graham also has been spiritual advisor to many U.S.
presidents, was an encourager to Martin Luther King, Jr. during the civil rights
movement, and has appeared on Gallup's poll of most admired men and women
more than 50 times since 1955. His life of faith is gracefully captured in this gift
book of quotations.
UNVEILING THE END TIMES IN OUR TIME, by Adrian Rogers. B&H
Publishing.
The late Adrian Rogers said about this book that it didn't break any new
ground in prophecy study. Instead, what Rogers did was provide a glimpse of the
heart of God in prophecy: He is a merciful, compassionate, yet holy and just
being, who fulfills his promises to the world. This verse-by-verse commentary will
be helpful for those who enjoy studying Revelation, for preachers seeking
additional thoughts on the Scripture, or for those who just enjoy an encouraging
vision of God's plan for the future.
PERFECTLY MATCHED, by Maggie Brendan. Revell Books.
In the third book of the Blue Willow Brides series, Ann Olsen decides that it’s
time for her to start a life of her own. She becomes a mail-order bride, just like her
sisters; and after a short time of correspondence with jeweler and clockmaker
Edward Parker, she moves to Denver to become his wife. But it’s immediately
obvious that Anna and Edward are painfully different. Can this mismatched couple
see past their differences to a harmonious future? Or will their disparate passions
create obstacles neither is willing to overcome?
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HEART MEDICINE
A father was picking up his son’s preschool friend for summer swim lessons.
As the friend left the house, the dad noticed an older woman hugging him.
“Is that your grandmother?” he asked when the boy got in the car.
“Yes, she’s visiting us for a few weeks.”
“That’s nice. Where does she live?”
“At the airport. Whenever we want her, we just go out there and get her.”
“Just to establish some parameters,” said the professor, “Mr. Tarr, what is the
opposite of joy?”
“Sadness,” said the student.
“And the opposite of depression, Ms. Helms?”
“Elation.”
“And you, Mr. Fields, how about the opposite of woe?”
“I believe that would be giddy up!”
(From Nelson’s Big Book of Laughter, by Lowell D. Streiker. Copyright 2000
by Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tenn. Used by permission. All rights
reserved.)
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