SOUTHERN BAPTISTS-RICK WARREN
Warren urges pastors to let God use their pain
BALTIMORE (AP) — The Rev. Rick Warren, whose youngest son committed suicide last year, is urging his fellow pastors to let God use the pain they’re going through.
The pastor of California’s Saddleback Church told ministers attending the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting that their greatest ministry can come out of their deepest pain, but only if they turn to God and then share the comfort they receive with others who are suffering.
Warren said pain is “God’s megaphone” that he uses to direct, inspect, correct, protect and perfect his people.
Hundreds came forward at the end of Warren’s message as he knelt to pray with those who were hurting. He prayed that God would turn them into “an army of wounded healers in a world that desperately needs to be healed.”
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315-a-11-(The Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of California’s Saddleback Church, addressing Southern Baptist Pastors Conference)-“to perfect me”-The Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of California’s Saddleback Church, says he’s learned that God uses suffering. (9 Jun 2014)
< 316-a-09-(The Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of California’s Saddleback Church, addressing Southern Baptist Pastors Conference)-“of my life”-The Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of California’s Saddleback Church, says he lost a child last year. (9 Jun 2014) < 318-a-11-(The Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of California’s Saddleback Church, addressing Southern Baptist Pastors Conference)-“talk about it”-The Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of California’s Saddleback Church, says the comfort we receive from God can be used to comfort others. (9 Jun 2014) < 317-a-07-(The Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of California’s Saddleback Church, addressing Southern Baptist Pastors Conference)-“a stepping stone”-The Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of California’s Saddleback Church, says great suffering can be God’s tool. (9 Jun 2014) < 319-a-12-(The Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of California’s Saddleback Church, addressing Southern Baptist Pastors Conference)-“our deepest pain”-The Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of California’s Saddleback Church, asks God to minister to others who are suffering. (9 Jun 2014) < SOUTHERN BAPTISTS-CONFERENCE Southern Baptists could elect another minority president BALTIMORE (AP) — The Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting this Tuesday and Wednesday in Baltimore could feature the election of another minority president. Two years after electing its first African-American president, the 15.7-million-member denomination will choose its next leader from a slate of candidates that includes the Korean-American pastor of Maryland’s largest Southern Baptist church and the white pastor of an Arkansas megachurch. Though supporters of both downplay the significance that race will play in the vote, a win for the Rev. Dennis Kim of Silver Spring, Maryland, could send a powerful message about the denomination’s commitment to diversity, which some members consider key to expanding their appeal and reversing a trend of declining membership. Southern Baptists also may consider whether to expel a California congregation that has stopped condemning homosexuality and allows church members to disagree on the issue. The denomination’s confession of faith states that homosexual acts are sinful. SOUTHERN BAPTISTS-MATT REDMAN Christian hymn writer leads worship for pastors BALTIMORE (AP) — English hymn writer Matt Redman has crossed the Atlantic to lead worship for pastors gathered in Baltimore for this week’s annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. Redman led the assembly Monday afternoon in singing his Grammy Award winning song “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord).” Redman told the pastors that the hymn writer he admired most, Charles Wesley, composed a final lyric as he lay dying in 1788: “In age and feebleness extreme, who shall a helpless worm redeem? Jesus, my only hope thou art, strength of my failing flesh and heart. O, could I catch one smile from thee, and drop into eternity.” After the rousing worship service, Redman joked that he was flying back to England “to catch the next episode of Downton Abbey.” Sound: 320-r-27-(Matt Redman, Christian songwriter and worship leader, at Southern Baptist Pastors Conference)–Matt Redman, Christian songwriter and worship leader, leads Southern Baptist pastors in singing his Grammy Award winning song “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord).” (9 Jun 2014) < 321-a-48-(Matt Redman, Christian songwriter and worship leader, at Southern Baptist Pastors Conference)-“in those lyrics”-Matt Redman, Christian songwriter and worship leader, says one of his favorite lyrics was written in 1788. ((note length of cut)) (9 Jun 2014) < 322-a-15-(Matt Redman, Christian songwriter and worship leader, at Southern Baptist Pastors Conference)-“lots of love (applause fades)”-Matt Redman, Christian songwriter and worship leader, bids farewell to the pastors conference. (9 Jun 2014) < US-SEATTLE-CAMPUS-SHOOTING Student who stopped campus shooting releases statement SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle college student who tackled a gunman last week, likely saving lives, says he hopes the shooter will find the grace of God. Jon Meis (MEES) is a senior at Seattle Pacific University, a Christian college near the city’s downtown area. He was working as a building monitor when the gunman walked in and began firing a shotgun. When the gunman paused to reload, Meis pepper-sprayed him and took him down. Suspect Aaron Ybarra is being held without bail. A 19-year-old student was killed and two others were injured. In a statement issued through the university, Meis says he’s not ready to forgive the shooter, but he has been overwhelmed by the public’s generosity and support. An online campaign has raised nearly $50,000 for him, and supporters bought items on a wedding registry for Meis and his fiancee. BRITAIN-EXTREMISM Inspectors criticize schools over Islamist ‘plot’ LONDON (AP) — The British government has announced that schools will be required to teach “British values” after inspectors found school board members with hard-line Muslim views had intimidated teachers and imposed religiously motivated restrictions at several institutions. Inspectors were called in after an anonymous letter alleged a plot called “Operation Trojan Horse” by Muslim fundamentalists to infiltrate schools in Birmingham. Authorities believe the letter was a hoax, but the alleged plot triggered inquiries and inflamed tensions in Britain’s second-largest city, which has a large Muslim population. The Office for Standards in Education says five of 21 schools it inspected had failed to protect students from extremism. One school attempted to ban mixed-sex swimming lessons; at another, music lessons were dropped because they were considered un-Islamic; and at a third, board members vetted the script for a nativity play and told staff they could not use a doll to represent the baby Jesus. Sound: 237-a-06-(Michael Wilshaw, chief inspector of schools in England, at news conference)-“and other cultures”-Michael Wilshaw, chief inspector of schools in England, says some Muslim school board members in Birmingham were imposing religiously-motivated restrictions on students. (9 Jun 2014) < 239-a-07-(Michael Gove, British Secretary of State for Education, addressing House of Commons)-“fresh new direction”-Michael Gove, the British Secretary of State for Education, says five schools in Birmingham were found to have failed to protect students from extremism. (9 Jun 2014) < 236-a-08-(Michael Wilshaw, chief inspector of schools in England, at news conference)-“were last inspected”-Michael Wilshaw, chief inspector of schools in England, says school board members with Muslim views were imposing restrictions at schools in the English city of Birmingham. (9 Jun 2014) < 238-a-10-(Michael Gove, British Secretary of State for Education, addressing House of Commons)-“put it right”-Michael Gove, the British Secretary of State for Education, says the government will take action to protect students from extremism. (9 Jun 2014) < 182-c-19-(Charles de Ledesma, correspondent)-“mixed-sex swimming lessons”-Correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports that U.K. inspectors have found a culture of fear at several British schools checked after allegations of an Islamic plot. (9 Jun 2014) < 181-v-33-(Charles de Ledesma, correspondent)–U.K. inspectors have found there’s been a culture of fear and intimidation at several British schools investigated over allegations of a plot to run them along strict Islamic lines. Correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports. (9 Jun 2014) < NORTH KOREA-AMERICAN DETAINED Lawyer: Detained American was touring North Korea CINCINNATI (AP) — A family spokesman says a third American being detained in North Korea was on vacation as part of a tour. Tim Tepe (TEEP), an attorney who is acting as a family spokesman, says 56-year-old Jeffrey Edward Fowle (FOWL) of Miamisburg, Ohio, “loves the adventure of experiencing different cultures and seeing new places.” Tepe says Fowle’s wife and three children miss him and are anxious for his return. Mark Edward Howard, who attends Fowle’s church, said Friday that he’s “a very good Christian father” and husband. The state-run Korean Central News Agency said that Fowle was being detained for acts inconsistent with a tourist visit, but provided no details. One of the other two U.S. detainees is missionary Kenneth Bae, who is serving 15 years of hard labor for what North Korea says were hostile acts against the state. North Korea says the third detained American, Matthew Miller, entered the country in April with a tourist visa, but tore it up and shouted that he wanted to seek asylum. CHURCH STEEPLE RESTORATION Storm-damaged church steeple nearly restored DETROIT (AP) — Restoration is nearly complete on a more than 200-foot-high church steeple near downtown Detroit that was feared beyond repair after high winds heavily damaged it six months ago. The Detroit Free Press reports that the 113-year-old St. Josaphat Roman Catholic Church building is expected to reopen within weeks. Church officials thought they would have to remove the structure after the November storm whipped up gusts of 70 mph. But a structural engineer says the restored steeple should be able to withstand gusts of 110 mph after getting new shingles, floors, a metal bracket and crisscrossing cables. Officials say about $90,000 has been raised for the restoration but costs could reach $500,000. It’s unclear how much insurance money will come in. The church is on the National Register of Historic Places. ISLAMIC CAB DRIVER Muslim driver fights St. Louis taxi wardrobe rules ST. LOUIS (AP) — A Muslim cab driver in St. Louis is challenging the regional taxi commission’s wardrobe rules in court after receiving dozens of tickets for wearing traditional religious clothing. Raja Naeem says his religious beliefs require him to wear a traditional hat, shirt and pants rather than the Metropolitan Taxicab Commission’s mandated uniform of black slacks and a white, button-down shirt. His lawyer says Naeem has received more than 30 tickets and had his taxi license revoked. The taxi commission says it has tried to accommodate Naeem’s ideology while still enforcing its rules. On Monday, the two sides squared off in St. Louis Circuit Court as part of a lawsuit Naeem hopes will allow him and other Muslim cab drivers to more freely wear religious clothing.
