Baptist Press Stories for Aug. 8 2012 --------------------------------------- Heartbroken: Students, IMB workers reach out to Sikhs http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38450 What do Sikhs believe? http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38451 Baptists have 'opportunity' to reach out to Sikhs http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38452 FIRST PERSON: Sun sets on a Sikh massacre http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38453 U.S. wrestler open about faith, on & off mat http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38454 Olympic Park area home to incredible diversity http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38455 Saudis deport Christians caught meeting http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38456 Christian baker criticized for ban on gay wedding cakes http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38457 B&H launching new children's book division http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38458 FIRST-PERSON: 3 questions every preacher/teacher should ask when studying http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38459 FIRST-PERSON: The Penn State debacle: what now? http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38460 --------------------------------------- Heartbroken: Students, IMB workers reach out to Sikhs By Caroline Anderson Aug. 8 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38450 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is part of a package of stories on Sikhs. Read the others: [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38451]What do Sikhs believe?[/URL] [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38452]Baptists have 'opportunity' to reach out to Sikhs[/URL] [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38453]FIRST PERSON: Sun sets on a Sikh massacre[/URL] BANGKOK (BP) -- He wept for them. His heart broke for them. He now feels called to serve them. Chris McKean, a senior at Truett-McConnell Christian College in Cleveland, Ga., knows God has placed Sikhs on his heart. McKean says he was heartbroken when he read about the Aug. 5 shooting in a Sikh temple in Milwaukee, Wis. The shooting left six Sikhs dead, plus the shooter, and four wounded. "Many people in the Christian faith don't know about Sikh people," McKean says. "A year ago, I didn't know who Sikhs were. I thought they were a branch of Islam." There are 25 million Sikhs globally. The majority live in India's Punjab state, but there are large populations in Great Britain, Malaysia, Canada and the U.S. There are roughly 700,000 Sikhs living in the U.S., according to the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF). The largest populations live in California and New York. "I'm praying God would use this event to open the eyes of the church," McKean says. "[I'm praying] that the church would be awoken ... to pray for them." McKean and 13 students majoring in world missions from Truett-McConnell recently visited Bangkok as part of their senior capstone to learn about what Sikhs believe. They spent time with IMB workers Bryan and Anne Evans,* whose ministry focuses on the people group. Bryan, who is preparing to start doctoral studies in Sikhism, has spent hours reading and learning about the people and their culture; his passion is to see Sikhs come to know Christ as their Savior. Growing up in New York, Bryan says his friends were two Sikh brothers. Every Saturday, the three would hang out and eat Punjabi food. "From a young age, He's [God] given me a heart for Sikh people," Bryan says. "God's put Sikhs in our lives. Our heart is to share with them." He was devastated and furious when he heard about the shootings in Wisconsin. "This is not only heartbreaking but also embarrassing as an American," he says. "I have many Sikh friends around the world. I appreciate the contribution of Sikhs to their communities around the world." Says Anne of their close Sikh friends in Asia, "They are really lovable people. They go out of their way to be friendly. They put other people before themselves." Bryan says he knows of Sikhs who were beaten after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, because they were mistaken for Muslims. A Sikh tailor in Bangkok told Truett-McConnell students about one of his friends who was strip-searched in an airport because of his turban. The tailor says he's been mistaken for being Muslim many times. "Americans have a huge need to become educated in other religions," Anne says. Ninety-nine percent of men who wear turbans in the U.S. are Sikhs, SALDEF reports. Sikhs believe men and women shouldn't cut their hair; the men cover theirs with a turban. Uncut hair is one of five physical symbols to which Sikhs adhere. Before sending the Truett-McConnell students to meet Sikhs in Bangkok's Little India, Bryan gave them a crash course in Sikhism and some pointers for how to share their faith. Though he has extensive knowledge about the people, Bryan says he enjoys sitting down with Sikhs, whether in a temple or on the street, and asking about their beliefs and sharing his. "Knowing a little about them [Sikhs] makes a huge difference," Bryan says, including taking the time to learn their greeting, "Sat Sri Akaal Ji." "When you can greet them, it really resonates with them," he adds. McKean and his fellow classmates spent a day on Bangkok's streets, learning about Sikhism and sharing the Gospel. One Sikh man committed his life to Christ. McKean says the experience affirmed his call to missions and to work with Sikhs. He plans to spend the summer of 2013 ministering alongside the Evans. Bryan says several pastors he partners with believe God is preparing the hearts of Sikhs, and this is a crucial time. "Please pray for these amazing people during this difficult time," he says. Learn more about Sikhs and how to share the Gospel with them at sikhoutreach.org. Download a free one-page prayer guide concerning Sikhs at [URL=http://bit.ly/RvXe2U]http://southasianpeoples.imb.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Prayer4_SouthAsians_Sikhs.pdf[/URL] and find related information at [URL=http://southasianpeoples.imb.org]southasianpeoples.imb.org[/URL]. --30-- *Name changed Caroline Anderson is an IMB writer living in Asia. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- What do Sikhs believe? By Caroline Anderson Aug. 8 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38451 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is part of a package of stories on Sikhs. Read the others: [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38450]Heartbroken: Students, IMB workers reach out to Sikhs[/URL] [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38452]Baptists have 'opportunity' to reach out to Sikhs[/URL] [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38453]FIRST PERSON: Sun sets on a Sikh massacre[/URL] DELHI (BP) -- His untrimmed beard and carefully wrapped turban set him apart in a crowd. He isn't Muslim, though many of his brothers in the faith are mistaken for followers of Allah. The silver bracelet (kara) around his wrist reminds him and others of the commitment he's made. He wears modest undergarments (kaccha), and carries a wooden comb (kanga) and a sword (kirpan) -- some of the articles of his faith. He is a Sikh man. Sikhism is the world's fifth largest religion and was founded in the 1500s in India's Punjab state. More than 500 years ago, Muslim descendants of Genghis Khan, known as the Moghuls, ruled India. Forced conversions and violence were common. Sikhism began as a reaction to Islam and Hinduism, Bryan Evans* says. Evans is an IMB worker focused on ministry to Sikhs. Evans soon will start work on a doctorate in Sikhism. The first of 10 gurus and the founder of Sikhism, Nanak Dev, lived at the same time as Martin Luther and John Calvin. During the time of the Anabaptists and the Reformation, Guru Nanak was trying to bring reformation to India. Nanak disagreed with the way women were treated in Islam and Hinduism, Evans says. Women are considered equal to men in Sikhism. Nanak observed the class divide, the caste system, and how it dictated interactions in daily life. In Hinduism, a person's caste is known by his or her last name. In Sikhism there are no castes. Men have the last name "Singh," which means lion, and women have the last name, "Kaur," which means lioness. Sikhs have five physical symbols of their faith, known as the five Ks: Kesh (uncut hair), Kara (a steel bracelet), Kanga (a wooden comb), Kaccha (cotton underwear) and Kirpan (a dagger). Sikh men cover their uncut hair with a turban. "If you have things that set you apart, it's easier to tell who you are. When you are set apart, you act differently," Evans says. Sikhs are monotheistic and do not believe in worshipping idols. "Sikhs believe in reincarnation, like Hindus, but like Muslims, they believe there is one god," Evans explains. Sikhs believe a person's actions dictate his or her standing in the next life. Sikhism is works-based and service is valued. Many Sikhs donate money to build temples, hospitals and schools. There are three main ways Sikhs believe they can achieve salvation: through meditation, good works and by the grace of their god. Sikhs worship in a temple, known as a "gurdwara." Every morning, Sikhs serve a meal, called "langar." The meal is free and for everyone. Sikh temple services involve music from "ragis," temple singers, who play the harmonium and an instrument called the "tabla." Their scriptures are recited by one of the temple's caretakers, who are called "granthi." Granthi also give a sermon. Temple services also include congregational prayer and "prasad," an offering. Prasad contains flour, butter and sugar. The 10th guru decreed that their scriptures would become the next guru and there would be no more living gurus. The Sikh scriptures are treated with the utmost reverence. Every evening, the scriptures are "put to bed" in air-conditioned rooms. Learn more about Sikhs and how to share the Gospel with them at sikhoutreach.org. Download a free one-page prayer guide concerning Sikhs at [URL=http://bit.ly/RvXe2U]http://southasianpeoples.imb.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Prayer4_SouthAsians_Sikhs.pdf[/URL] and find related information at [URL=http://southasianpeoples.imb.org]southasianpeoples.imb.org[/URL]. --30-- *Name changed Caroline Anderson is an IMB writer living in Asia. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- Baptists have 'opportunity' to reach out to Sikhs By Tobin Perry Aug. 8 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38452 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is part of a package of stories on Sikhs. Read the others: [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38450]Heartbroken: Students, IMB workers reach out to Sikhs[/URL] [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38451]What do Sikhs believe?[/URL] [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38453]FIRST PERSON: Sun sets on a Sikh massacre[/URL] ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) -- In the wake of one of the greatest tragedies to hit the Sikh community in North America, Southern Baptists have an unprecedented opportunity to reach out to their Sikh neighbors with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, says Aslam Masih, North American Mission Board's (NAMB) national coordinator for Muslim people groups and South Asians. Masih's comments come after a man entered a Sikh temple near Milwaukee on Sunday (Aug. 5) and killed seven people, including himself, turning the nation's attention to a religion of more than 20 million people worldwide. "We have an opportunity now to turn this very sad situation into a life-changing encounter with the Gospel for Sikhs throughout North America," Masih said. Masih estimated there are more than 1.1 million Sikhs on the continent. Many of those Sikhs are concentrated in major metropolitan areas like New York City, Vancouver, Toronto, Los Angeles and Chicago. Yet, Masih says, Southern Baptists have no churches specifically focused on reaching Sikhs with the Gospel. Masih expressed hope that through Send North America, Southern Baptists with a passion to reach Sikhs will partner together to start new works among them. Send North America is NAMB's church planting and evangelism strategy to penetrate lostness in 29 urban areas in North America. Through Send North America, NAMB is connecting church planters with partner churches and church planters with places that need new churches. Founded in the Punjab province of South Asia in the 15th century, the Sikh religion represents the melding of devotional elements of Hinduism and the monotheism of Islam. Masih said he has already seen ministry opportunities emerge this week. He mentioned one Sikh temple next door to an SBC church in Baltimore. On Monday, Masih talked with the pastor, who told him about his struggles to build a relationship with the neighboring temple. Masih then, with the pastor still on the phone, called the temple's priest and, in his own Punjabi language, expressed his sorrow over Sunday's tragedy. He asked for the opportunity to bring local Southern Baptists -- including members of the neighboring church -- to visit the temple and to give the Sikh community a tour of an SBC church. He said the temple leadership enthusiastically agreed -- and even volunteered to bring the food. Both sides will have an opportunity to share what they believe and Masih plans to share his own testimony. He also plans to leave them with a film on Jesus in their Punjabi language. Masih noted that believers who feel led to reach out to Sikhs in their community should start by building bridges -- much like what happened in Baltimore. "When we start with us and what we believe, they're not going to listen," Masih said. "When you talk about them, they'll listen. That's how you build a bridge. Show an interest in their lives, and you'll build a relational bridge." Masih said that the Trinity and Incarnation are two beliefs that will be real stumbling blocks to Sikhs as evangelicals share Christ with them. Sikhs take a very strong belief in the unity of God from Islam and often struggle with Christian explanations of the Trinity. Sikhs also see God as more of an abstract principle that cannot be defined by a human incarnation and have trouble understanding the incarnate Jesus. Masih encourages Christians not to argue theology with Sikhs. Ask a lot of questions. Find out what they believe. Greet them with their own traditional greeting (pronounced "Sat Sri Akal"), if you'd like. If you choose to visit their temple, follow their instructions and be good guests. Instead of focusing on the differences between Christianity and Sikhism, be prepared to share your testimony and show them in your attitudes and actions how much God loves them, Masih said. "The language of love is understood by all cultures," he added. For more about how you can get involved in reaching Sikhs near you -- or elsewhere in the United States and Canada -- through Send North America, visit namb.net/mobilize-me. For more information on Sikhism, visit [URL=http://4truth.net/Sikhism]4truth.net/Sikhism[/URL]. --30-- Tobin Perry is a writer for the North American Mission Board. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- FIRST PERSON: Sun sets on a Sikh massacre By Caroline Anderson Aug. 8 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38453 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is part of a package of stories on Sikhs. Read the others: [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38450]Heartbroken: Students, IMB workers reach out to Sikhs[/URL] [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38451]What do Sikhs believe?[/URL] [URL=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38452]Baptists have 'opportunity' to reach out to Sikhs[/URL] DELHI (BP) -- It's sunset on the day after a massacre. I'm standing in a Sikh temple in Delhi, India, wanting so badly to tell the Sikh men and women here that I'm sorry, that I'm ashamed at what happened to their Sikh brothers and sisters in the U.S. A shooter in Wisconsin killed six people Aug. 5 in a gurdwara, the Punjabi word for temple, just like this one. I realize that I walked into the temple with a frown on my face. It has been a long day -- it's hot, a motorcycle almost hit me and a man purposefully shoved me aside on the street. I realize these are all trivial things, and I have a chance to show Christ's love to a people who are hurting because of this tragedy. Everyone's eyes are on me. Granted, I'm the only Westerner in the temple. I wonder if they're thinking, is she different? Is she American? Does she think we are Muslims, too? My facial expressions change after this realization. I smile and look people in the eyes. I say, "dhanwad," which means "thank you" in the Punjabi language, to the woman I give my shoes to before entering the temple. She holds my gaze and returns my smile. I say, "Sat Sri Akaal Ji," the customary Sikh greeting, to an older woman as I enter the temple. As soon as I say this, her face changes from a scowl to a smile. A man with a neatly wrapped blue turban approaches me and introduces himself. I tell him I'm studying Sikhism. "I am a Sikh history teacher!" he says excitedly. "Let me teach you!" He leads me to the balcony of the temple and as the sun sets, he tells me the history of this temple. It is a memorial to a massacre. One of the Sikh gurus was beheaded near the temple hundreds of years ago by the Moghuls, Muslim descendants of Genghis Khan. This gurdwara is his tomb. My new friend asks where I'm from. I first tell him I live in Thailand. I am not sure if telling him I'm from the U.S., where six Sikhs were just killed, will change his mind about being friends. But I decide to tell him so he knows all Americans don't act like the shooter in Wisconsin. The news I'm American doesn't change anything. He asks to take my friends and me to a Sikh museum, and we have plans to meet with him later this week. Soon I take a seat, joining dozens of men and women, facing the palanquin that holds their scriptures. A man sitting next to me explains the rituals as they unfold. There is music from the ragis, the temple singers, as well as congregational prayer and the recitation of scripture. This man's son lives in New York, and he's been to visit him there. Earlier that day, I met with a former Sikh who became a Christian. He mentioned the shooting and his sadness over what happened. He didn't dwell on it -- his main mission that day was to see that his Sikh brothers and sisters discover Christ just as he had. I've learned Sikhs don't judge a people by the actions of one. A Sikh businessman told me people's individual choices are their own. I've learned this week in India that Sikhs are a kind, hospitable and generous people. They've been some of the only people here who've approached me on the street and asked if I need directions or assistance. This week Sikhs have given me free rides in auto rickshaws and others wouldn't let me pay the full fare in taxis when they hear I'm learning about Sikhism. Sikh men don't stare at me lustfully like some other men in India do. In Sikhism, women are equal and to be respected. Sikhs have invited me into their businesses for tea and have made me feel at home in India. I'm blessed to have met Sikhs. I pray they'll see the same kindness in me and in Americans. I pray they'll see the light of Christ in me and want to know more. Sikhs are seekers of truth -- it's part of their beliefs. I pray they'll seek the ultimate Truth. I pray you'll take the time to get to know a Sikh. Approximately 700,000 Sikhs live in the U.S. Learn more about Sikhs and how to share the Gospel with them at sikhoutreach.org. Download a free, one-page prayer guide concerning Sikhs at [URL=http://bit.ly/RvXe2U]http://southasianpeoples.imb.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Prayer4_SouthAsians_Sikhs.pdf[/URL] and find related information at [URL=http://southasianpeoples.imb.org]southasianpeoples.imb.org[/URL]. --30-- Caroline Anderson is an International Mission Board (IMB) writer living in Asia. -- End of story -- U.S. wrestler open about faith, on & off mat By Tim Ellsworth Aug. 8 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38454 EDITOR'S NOTE: Tim Ellsworth, editor of BP Sports and director of news and media relations at Union University, is in London to cover the 2012 Olympics in tandem with Baptist Press' London bureau. Baptist Press will publish features about Christian athletes in the Olympics, recap results of their competition and cover Baptist initiatives to share the Gospel during the Summer Games and in London's rich cultural milieu. LONDON (BP) -- In qualifying for the U.S. wrestling Olympics team, Sam Hazewinkel did more than just fulfill a lifelong dream. He made history, both for himself and for his dad. Dave Hazewinkel, Sam's father, wrestled in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics. With Sam wrestling in London this week as part of the U.S. team, the pair becomes the first U.S. father and son wrestlers to compete in the Olympics for the United States. "It's hard to put in words," Sam said about competing in the Olympics. "It's been a dream of mine that I've been chasing since I was really young. It's not everywhere that you get the kind of support that I got from my dad, where I understood that I could be an Olympian. He did it. I could do it. Hard work pays off." Dave and Sam share more than a father-son relationship, however. They're also brothers in Christ, ever since Dave led Sam to the Lord when he was 6 years old. "I was in bed one night and realized that I wanted Christ as my Savior," Sam said. "I didn't want to follow any other life." Dave is obviously excited about his son following in his footsteps and competing in the Olympics. But he gets even more excited talking about some of the fruit he saw after Sam's conversion. "In elementary school, we'd always go to national tournaments and wrestle," Dave said. "During the tournament, he would hand out Gospel tracts to guys that he wrestled." One time, Sam gave a tract to a boy that he beat. The boy raced up into the stands and gave it to his mother, and then his parents came down and wanted to talk to Dave. Dave was a bit fearful at first about what they might say. "You know what?" the boy's dad said. "This is so good, we should do this." Several months later at another tournament, Dave encountered this father again. "Your son gave my son a Gospel tract, and we decided to do that with our team," the man reported to Dave. "We had a chance to lead two wrestlers to the Lord this year." For Sam, who attends Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond, Okla., the connection between wrestling and his Christian faith has always been tight. If he's struggling with a certain sin, he thinks about how he'd handle a problem in wrestling. He'd go talk to a coach. He'd practice daily. "I'd do the things I need to do, so then I try to do that in my Christian life," Sam said. "I'd go find my dad or a pastor and talk with them and learn the verses and learn how to defeat that demon." The same holds for wrestling. If he's having a difficulty with something in his sport, he considers how he would deal with it spiritually. He prays about it, asking for God's help to overcome the struggle. "I think there's a lot that can be learned between sports and the Christian walk if people are willing to look into it and understand it," Sam said. "It really is a great avenue to better yourself as a Christian and as an athlete." When he steps onto the mat for his competition Thursday, Aug. 9, Sam knows that he's capable of winning the gold medal. But whatever the outcome, he wants to use his position and his status as an Olympic athlete to make a positive impact on others, especially kids. "I can be a testimony through wrestling," he said. "I can lead others to the Lord. There's so much in the sports world that is just backwards. I hope and I pray that I can be the right kind of model for kids. "Now, making the Olympic team, with the Lord's help, I can do that," he continued. "I've got a bigger audience, if you will. I'm wrestling for God. I'm trying to use what He's given me. It's not about me becoming famous and me doing these things. It's about God." --30-- Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- Olympic Park area home to incredible diversity By Ava Thomas Aug. 8 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38455 EDITOR'S NOTE: Baptist Press' London bureau, in tandem with Tim Ellsworth, editor of BP Sports and director of news and media relations at Union University, will be providing coverage of London Olympics. Baptist Press will publish features about Christian athletes in the Olympics, recap results of their competition and cover initiatives to share the Gospel during the Summer Games and within the U.K.'s cultural milieu. LONDON -- Bikes. That's what Parveen* sells. Not the racing kind that flew around the track in the new Olympic Velodrome or the ones that competed just across the street from where she works in London's Stratford community. What Parveen sells from her street stand is the sturdy, practical kind of bike that would get you to and from work. But she hasn't sold many of those lately. "The Olympics have made things more difficult," said Parveen, an Indian immigrant who has lived in the UK for 36 years. "I have no needs but business, and I haven't been able to sell anything really since the new mall was built." The Westfield mall, a massive new shopping complex, sits between Parveen's market and the new Olympic Park. The park contains the Velodrome, Olympic Stadium, other sports venues and the Olympic Village, which houses athletes and staff. The mall -- Europe's largest urban shopping center -- contains a lot of people. Tourists especially flock to indoor viewing decks built for looking at Olympic Park and browse shops full of Olympics souvenirs. "The people who've always lived in London's East End have watched all of this change in such a short amount of time with an element of amazement," said Robert Turner, a church planter in the area. Before the decision was made to build Olympic Park in Stratford, the area was "basically an industrial wasteland of abandoned buildings and warehouses," he said. The East End, Turner explained, has traditionally been the lowest area of the city -- low wages, not much education and a lack of development. It's been that way for decades. The construction that has happened since the Olympic bid in 2008 is staggering, Turner said. "One old guy told me he walks outside his door every morning, and it looks like aliens have landed." Parveen's bike business isn't seeing much help from all the new development. But Evie* has higher hopes. "Oh, I hope the Olympics are going to help," she said, smiling and waving crossed fingers in the air. The jovial grandmother, like Parveen, runs a street stand in Stratford's City Centre, selling Jamaican food. "It's kind of busy, but I hope it will get even busier soon." Busy is true enough. In Stratford, throngs of people rush in all directions. Few talk to each other. Few slow down at all. And few show any outward signs of similarity. "Newham, the borough of London that contains Stratford, has one of the highest ethnic minority populations of all districts in the country and is the second most deprived in England," Turner said. "Many of these immigrants arrived in London because they were fleeing religious or political persecution in their home country and found relative safety in the U.K." Stratford is diverse, but diversity doesn't play out there like it has in cities in the past. People don't settle much into enclaves of their own ethnicity. They pick where they live and whom they live with based on cheap rent or a short commute or a roommate. Sometimes they intentionally stay away from their own people group because of stereotypes or problems they say they would like to escape. Some people live in two-room shacks with up to seven other people. Others live in nice flats. "There is a very large, young, ethnically mixed population living in Stratford," Turner said. "Some are highly educated and prosperous, which makes for a unique mix of people almost anywhere you walk in the area." And it makes a unique challenge for Turner and others attempting to reach Stratford's unreached with the Gospel -- and, in doing so, reach the world. "The spiritual natures of the people in the Stratford area and East End in general are so extremely mixed that they are difficult to classify," Turner said. Muslim mosques, Jewish synagogues, Hindu temples and a range of other worship centers are within walking distance of Olympic Park. "The older generations tend to cling to the religious ways of the mother country, while their children who've grown up in Britain are less and less interested with each passing generation," he said. "Many Muslim immigrants, particularly from Bangladesh and Pakistan, fall in a range from ultra orthodox to culturally ambivalent." And the ethnicities that have been there centuries might not have a strong appetite for the Gospel either, he said. "Most traditional white British types have no use for the established church, Jesus or religion in general. They find it irrelevant." Turner and his colleagues have their work cut out for them, but they aren't shrinking back. Church planters are spending intentional time strategizing and sharing the Gospel in Stratford and the surrounding communities. Seminary students have helped with people group research. International Mission Board missionaries who have spent decades in other parts of the world have been brought to London to work among the diaspora of their people group in the city. The hope is that those groups will then reach out to unreached people groups in areas like Stratford. It's working. But there is still much work to be done, Turner said. Newham borough has yet to be adopted through the Adopt London project, an effort to pair churches in the United States with boroughs of London. "The Olympics are a great opportunity for ministry, but we don't need the Olympics for a reason to do ministry in London -- it already holds every one of the nations as residents," said Matt Fontenot, partnership coordinator for the Adopt London project. "The nations are all here waiting to hear the Gospel 365 days a year, no event needed. We have access to 190 nations and more than 300 language groups. And, as a bonus, the majority of the people speak English." To learn more about how you can help engage London with the Gospel, visit adoptlondon.com. The Summer Olympics in London run July 27 through Aug. 12. For more information about Christian ministry going on during the Games, visit morethangold.org.uk. --30-- *Names changed. Ava Thomas is an International Mission Board writer and editor based in Europe. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp). -- End of story -- Saudis deport Christians caught meeting By Staff Aug. 8 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38456 WASHINGTON (BP) -- Saudi Arabia has deported the last of 35 Ethiopian Christians who were arrested during a December prayer meeting and imprisoned during the ensuing months. Meanwhile, a 28-year-old female reportedly has become the first Saudi woman to announce publicly by video she has converted from Islam to Christianity. The now-deported Ethiopian Christians -- 29 women and six men -- were praying Dec. 15 in the city of Jeddah when Saudi police raided the private home in which they were meeting. On Aug. 1, the Saudis completed deportation of the Ethiopians, according to International Christian Concern (ICC). Some of the Ethiopians had lived in Saudi Arabia for as many as 16 years prior to their arrests. Saudi officials assaulted, harassed and sought to coerce the Christians to convert to Islam while in prison, ICC reported. They strip-searched the women, including searches of their body cavities, and physically abused the men, some of the Ethiopians told ICC by phone during their imprisonment. A Muslim preacher came to the prison at authorities' request in February in an effort to persuade the Christians to leave their faith, according to ICC. "The Muslim preacher vilified Christianity, denigrated the Bible and told us that Islam is the only true religion," a female prisoner told ICC by phone. "The preacher told us to convert to Islam. When the preacher asked us, we didn't deny ... our Christian faith." Saudi Arabia -- which bars all public expressions of religious belief other than an extremely strict interpretation of Islam referred to as Wahhabism -- is one of the world's worst violators of religious liberty. The U.S. State Department has designated the Middle East state as a "country of particular concern," a designation reserved for governments that are particularly severe in violating religious freedom. The Saudi government, which prohibits all non-Muslim houses of worship, has said since 2006 it permits worship held privately in house churches, but its actions regarding the Ethiopian Christians appear to be part of mounting evidence its assertion is false. "Saudi Arabian officials clearly demonstrated their utter disregard for religious freedom by arresting, mistreating and deporting the Christians for holding a prayer meeting," said Jonathan Racho, ICC's regional manager for Africa, in an Aug. 3 written statement. "The Saudis deceive the international community by pretending to promote tolerance among followers of different religious beliefs; however, in reality they don't tolerate any other religion besides Wahhabi Islam. The international community must pressure Saudi Arabia to respect religious freedom." In February, the bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom urged the Ethiopians' release, but its plea failed to move the Saudis to free the Christians. The newly converted Saudi woman appeared in an online video in her Hijab, or head covering and veil, to confess her faith in Christ, Mohabat News reported Aug. 5. In the short video, the 28-year-old introduced herself as "Maryam" and said, "I have quit the darkness of Wahhabi Islam and entered the light of Christianity. I dreamt that I needed to do this. Jesus Christ came to visit me in my dream and gave me the name of Maryam (Arabic pronunciation of Mary). "The morality police's treatment caused me to not take fasting and prayer seriously and to eventually convert to Christianity," she said, according to Mohabat News. Saudi's "morality police" are responsible for enforcing Wahhabism. The video's online posting angered Saudi government and religious officials, who urged steps be taken to halt Christian evangelism in the country, the report said. "Maryam" wore her Hijab to conceal her identity and protect her life, she said in the video. Mohabat News describes itself as the news agency for Iranian Christians. --30-- Compiled by Tom Strode, Washington bureau chief for Baptist Press. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- Christian baker criticized for ban on gay wedding cakes By Todd Starnes/Fox News & Commentary Aug. 8 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38457 NEW YORK (BP) -- The owner of a Colorado bakery said in spite of picket lines and online petitions he will not change a store policy against baking wedding cakes for homosexual couples -- a policy that critics call hateful and bigoted. More than 5,300 people have signed an online petition calling on the Masterpiece Cake Shop to ends its policy banning gay wedding cakes. Several dozen people picketed the privately owned store in Lakewood, Colo. "Everyone has the same rights," one protestor told television station KDVR. "A gay wedding cake, a straight wedding cake -- it's the same thing." Jack Phillips, the owner of the cake shop, said his ban on making cakes for gay weddings is a result of his religious beliefs. "I'm not going to change my business because of a petition," he told the Denver Post. "I'm just going to do the best I can do to honor Jesus Christ." In fact, he told KDVR that business is booming. "[On Monday, July 30] we had about twice as much business as normal," Phillips said. "There are people coming in to support us" He said he would shut down his business before he makes a cake for a gay wedding. Phillips found himself in the middle of the controversy several weeks ago when David Mullins and Charlie Craig asked the bakery to make a rainbow cake for their wedding reception. Gay marriage is not legal in Colorado, nor are civil unions. "He quickly informed us that his business did not provide cakes for gay weddings," Craig said in a statement. "This moment was offensive, dehumanizing, awkward and quite painful." Mullins told the Denver Westword he told Phillips, "[Expletive] you and your homophobic cake shop." The couple then posted the encounter on Facebook which spread across the nation. "This was the first time that either of us had ever been turned away from a business because of our sexuality," Craig said. "The venality of a cake shop denying a loving couple a wedding cake is symbolic of the small thinking that permeates American society." Phillips told local media that a number of people have either called or dropped by to show their support for his stance. --30-- Todd Starnes is host of Fox News & Commentary, heard daily on Fox News Radio stations around the nation. He is the author of "Dispatches From Bitter America" and "They Popped My Hood and Found Gravy on the Dipstick." This article first appeared at www.toddstarnes.com. Used by permission. -- End of story -- B&H launching new children's book division By Staff Aug. 8 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38458 NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- B&H Publishing Group will launch a new children's division this fall called B&H Kids. B&H Kids will print biblically based books and products for children, pre-teens and youth, including picture books, fiction titles, full-text Bibles and study Bibles. Initial releases for B&H Kids include two titles with faith-based movie tie-ins and two children's Bibles. The "Read-to-Me Toddlers Bible," available in both English and Spanish, will offer interactive mobile apps. The "365 Day Children's Bible Storybook" also is scheduled for a fall release. Titles with movie tie-ins include "Firebird" -- an illustrated tale featured in the new film "Unconditional" (in theaters Sept. 21) -- and "Courageous Teens," the latest in a series of products based on the box office hit movie, "Courageous." Selma Wilson, president of B&H, said the new children's division will "provide tools for parents to build strong connections with their kids. We want to become a trusted teaching partner for parents whenever they need biblically and theologically sound, age appropriate, engaging content." The main age group focus will be 4- to 8-year-olds and 8- to 12-year-olds. "These two age groups are where lifelong fundamentals are adopted and when the majority of decisions for Christ are made," B&H Kids Editor Dan Lynch said. "B&H Kids is taking off in a big way with a strong commitment toward publishing fun and innovative content and tools to engage children. Whether it's print or digital, a book or an app, our products will be geared to help parents and leaders interact with their kids in ways that truly make an impact, a powerful difference in their lives." B&H Publishing Group is a division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. --30-- Compiled by staff of LifeWay Christian Resources. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- FIRST-PERSON: 3 questions every preacher/teacher should ask when studying By Trevin Wax Aug. 8 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38459 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- There has been a lot of talk in recent years about making the Gospel announcement of Jesus Christ front and center in our preaching and teaching. As our society becomes increasingly post-Christian, it is critical for us to not assume lost people know who God is, what He is like, and what He has done for us. We need to be clear in what we teach, with a laser-like focus on Jesus Christ our Savior. But how do we make sure that Jesus is center-stage in our church? How do we keep other things from taking His place in our sermons, our Sunday School classes or our small groups? In other words, how do we maintain Christ-centeredness when there are so many other good things vying for our attention and time? As editor of The Gospel Project, LifeWay's new curriculum for Sunday School classes and small groups, I've wrestled with this question. It's one thing to have "core values" like "Christ-centered" and "mission-driven" written on the page. It's another thing entirely to make sure that these values are actually expressed in the lessons. To help our writers, we've put together three big questions we want them to ask of every lesson. The more I've thought about these questions, the more I am convinced that pastors ought to ask these questions of every sermon they preach. Teachers ought to ask these questions of every lesson they prepare. The questions are a helpful guide to keeping Christ as the focus of our ministry. 1. How does this topic/passage fit into the big story of Scripture? It's not uncommon anymore for me to talk with lost people who have little, if any, knowledge of the Bible. Surprisingly, I even meet church-goers who know individual Bible stories and some of the morals taught in the Bible, but don't know how they connect to the Gospel. They don't know the overarching storyline of the Bible that leads from creation, to our fall into sin, to redemption through Jesus Christ, and final restoration. If we are to live as Christians in a fallen world, we must be shaped by the grand narrative of the Scriptures, the worldview we find in the Bible. Asking the "big story" question will help you as a pastor or teacher to connect the dots for your people. We need to help people learn to read the Bible for themselves, to understand the flow of the narrative, how the different genres fit into that narrative, and how to apply the truths of the Bible with wisdom. 2. What is distinctively Christian about the way I am addressing the topic/passage? Here's the question that will lead you back to the Gospel. The distinctively Christian thing about Christianity is Jesus and His grace. It's the good news about how He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave on the third day. So how do we ensure that our preaching and teaching gets to Jesus? I suggest three follow-up questions under this one. -- Is there anything about my treatment of this Old Testament text that a faithful Jew could not affirm? If we preach the story of Moses, for example, without ever pointing forward to our Passover Lamb (Jesus Christ), then we are preaching the Old Testament much like a rabbi, not like a Christian herald of the Gospel. On the road to Emmaus, Jesus told His disciples that the Old Testament pointed to Him. The Baptist Faith and Message says "All Scripture is a testimony to Christ." So when we preach from the Old Testament, it's imperative that we point people forward to the Messiah. -- Is there anything about my treatment of this New Testament text that a Mormon could not affirm? LifeWay's Ed Stetzer often says that this is one of the questions he asks of every sermon he preaches. The issue isn't whether or not you talk about Jesus. Mormons talk about Jesus. Jehovah's Witnesses talk about Jesus. Self-help preachers talk about Jesus. The question here is about how we present Jesus. Is He Savior and Lord? Or is He just a helper? Is He God in the flesh? Or is He just a good teacher? We must make sure we do not present Jesus only as a moral example, but that we present Him as the only Savior, the One who calls for repentance and faith. -- Is there anything in my application that an unbeliever off the street would be uncomfortable with? We're not asking this question from the seeker-sensitive perspective that wants to alleviate any discomfort. We're asking this question from the perspective of the pastor who wants to make sure that application goes beyond "be nice." In other words, if the application at the end of your message is "Husbands, love your wives," we should ask: Would an unbeliever have a problem with that? Probably not. We could survey people from different religions and they'd probably agree that husbands ought to love their wives. So how do we tighten up this application to focus on Jesus? By doing what Paul did. By saying, "Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her." When we tell people to forgive, we ought to ground it in the Gospel: forgiving one another, "as Christ loved and forgave you." When we tell people to be generous, we ought to ground it in the Gospel: "for Christ, though He was rich, became poor for your sakes." Ground your application in the Gospel. 3. How does this truth equip God's church to live on mission? There is no true Gospel-centeredness that does not lead to mission, because the Gospel is the story of a God with a missionary heart, a Father who desires that all come to repentance, a Shepherd who seeks and saves the one lost sheep. The purpose of God's Word is to reveal God and His plan to us, in order that we might then be empowered to fulfill His Great Commission. God's plan is that people from every tongue, tribe and nation would bring glory to Him. When we study the Bible, we ought to see it in light of its purpose -- to equip us to be God's missionaries in our communities and around the world. CONCLUSION If there's one thing we need to be clear about in our preaching and teaching, it's the Gospel announcement that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived a perfect life in our place, died on the cross for the sins of the world, rose again to launch God's new creation, and is now exalted as Lord of the world. In response to this message, we must call people to repent and believe. And as Christians, we must continue living every day in repentant faith, witnessing to the love of our great God. --30-- Trevin Wax is managing editor of The Gospel Project, a curriculum line developed by LifeWay Christian Resources for all ages. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- FIRST-PERSON: The Penn State debacle: what now? By Richard Land Aug. 8 2012 http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38460 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- First, let me put my cards face up on the table. I am a very dedicated college football fan. Let's put it this way. My favorite sports are college football, spring football and college recruiting. This has been true since I was a small boy listening to and watching college football games with my father. Some of my fondest memories of those early years recall times spent discussing college teams, players and games with my dad. Furthermore, I grew up in Texas where high school and college football conduct a perpetual struggle for ascendency, community by community, county by county, across the Lone Star State. Trust me, I know how Penn State's avid fans feel. They are devastated. Although I was never a Penn State "fan," I did have tremendous respect for Joe Paterno and the Penn State motto of "success with honor." The child sexual abuse scandal covered up for so many years by Penn State's top leadership would have been shocking at any college or national football power, but perhaps nowhere as shocking than to have it at Penn State, where Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions held themselves to a supposedly higher standard. After all, there was always the looming presence of "Joepa," the head coach who won a lot more than he lost and maintained enviably high graduate rates for his players. Now, we know from the Freeh Report that the "culture of reverence" surrounding Joe Paterno and his Penn State Nittany Lions football team caused the school's top leadership to cover up former top assistant coach Jerry Sandusky's sexual molestation of young boys, even in the team's athletic facilities. The ugly truth must be acknowledged. The Freeh Report documents that Paterno was cognizant of reports that Sandusky, his defensive coordinator, had molested a child in 1998. Then, in 2001, top university officials apparently were ready to report yet another allegation of sexual abuse, witnessed by graduate assistant coach Mike McQueary, only to have Paterno apparently dissuade them from doing so. Indefensible? Yes. Despicable? Certainly. How could the Joe Paterno we thought we knew have done such a thing? He was a man of personal moral rectitude. He was a father. How could he let Sandusky remain free to continue to molest and forever damage the lives of vulnerable young boys? Sandusky could have been stopped in 1998 had Paterno and Penn State officials done the right thing, the lawful thing, the honorable thing, and reported him to the police. They did not do so and that is their indelible shame. They are partially responsible for every boy raped by Sandusky during and after 1998. Nothing can undo the harm they have done to these boys whose lives are forever changed by having had their innocence stolen from them in such a brutal way. All of the penalties leveled against Penn State will forever pale in comparison to the ongoing suffering of the boys victimized by defensive coordinator Sandusky's vile crimes. Penn State's football program will need at least a decade to recover on the field. What then? After all, football is only football. How will the university recover beyond its athletic programs? How does it get its reputation back? I believe the only way the university can do so is to "embrace" their shame and dedicate themselves to committing whatever resources are necessary to build the foremost center in the country for the study of child sexual abuse and how best to treat its millions of victims. Child sexual abuse is one of the most underreported crimes in America. Millions of our citizens are carrying with them into adulthood the secret, invisible scars of having been molested as children. Penn State should strive to be the number one place in America where people can turn for help and understanding, assisted by the best minds and research that can be provided in a university setting. Penn State's goal should be that a generation from now, Penn State would be synonymous with the treatment and cure of child sexual abuse, not the aiding and abetting of it. --30-- Richard Land is president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter ([URL=http://www.Twitter.com/BaptistPress]@BaptistPress[/URL]), Facebook ([URL=http://Facebook.com/BaptistPress]Facebook.com/BaptistPress [/URL]) and in your email ([URL=http://baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp] baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp[/URL]). -- End of story -- Copyright (c) 2013 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press 901 Commerce Street Nashville, TN 37203 Tel: 615.244.2355 Fax: 615.782.8736 email: bpress@sbc.net