President’s Perspective
By Dr. Scott Carson, President • Southeastern Baptist College
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).
I delivered the first chapel message of the spring semester, and five students responded to the invitation to accept Jesus as their Savior! In the last four years, we have had 25 students publicly respond to the gospel in our chapel services. Many others have come to know the Lord in one-on-one witnessing opportunities between students and professors or with staff members.
In addition, students are growing in their understanding of God’s Word and in their commitment to Him. It is not uncommon for one of our coaches or deans to be contacted by a student in the middle of the night with a personal crisis. Although an inconvenience, our workforce always make time to personally counsel individual students with biblical principles.
Southeastern Baptist College is a mission field. Students come from all backgrounds and cultures, and they are at varying levels in their Christian walk with Christ. We recognize that the Lord has brought these students to us and that we have a spiritual responsibility to engage them with godly wisdom. The first lines of SBC’s mission statement are: “Our mission as a biblical higher education provider is to glorify God by providing quality post-secondary education from a biblical world view in a Christian atmosphere.”
As to quality education, I am very proud of our fall semester 2020 honor roll students! Dean Foster and I presented their certificates at this week’s chapel program. We had 14 making the President’s List and 10 achieving the Dean’s List. In order to be on the President’s List, a student must take a minimum of 12 hours and receive straight As, which reflects a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Ten students made the Dean’s List. For students to be on this list, they must also take a minimum of 12 hours and have a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.9. Together, these 24 students represent 26% of the total student body who achieved academic excellence last semester!
In reference to SBC having a biblical world view, every SBC professor, whether a Bible teacher or an Algebra professor, strives to relate their subject matter with a biblical perspective with today’s increasing secular society. In addition, I have set the message theme for this semester’s chapel program as “A Biblical World View.” Every guest speaker is assigned a contemporary, hard hitting issue to be addressed with biblically grounded doctrine. A sample of topics are: Jesus is Lord, Only Two Genders, Truth is Eternal, Fornication. Our chapel speakers received their topics enthusiastically and are already delivering solid biblical truth to the student body.
And, in regard to our campus being one with a Christian atmosphere, we are a Bible college. Every student must take a minimum of 16 hours of Bible courses, even if they are pursuing a major in business administration. Of course, our ministry students are fully immersed in biblical studies. We have fellowships established such as TNT (Tuesday Night Talks) where local churches, ministries and individuals can sponsor a meal accompanied with a devotional. Each semester, every student must perform a certain number of Christian service hours to our community, and we encourage Bible studies in the dormitories. As stated before, our professors, coaches and staff each day engage the spiritual lives of our students.
SBC truly is a mission field. Please continue to pray for the continued influence of SBC throughout our local community and far beyond!
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16).
Peace in the Midst of Chaos
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Chaos! It seems that we are constantly reacting to rapidly changing conditions and expectations. I just read that we are approaching the date for the first two week lock down to “flatten the curve” of the Coronavirus plague. I remember when government officials reassured us it was a temporary situation, but, after a year, we are still reacting to ever-changing requirements that continue to disrupt every aspect of our lives.
Here at SBC, we currently have in-person classes, as well as online options for our students. This has brought a sense of normalcy to this aspect of the school’s operation. However, we have had several staff members and employees quarantined over the last 12 months, disrupting daily work requirements. Government agencies that SBC must report to seem to always lose our first and sometimes second attempts to meet their due dates. We do the work while shorthanded, and miraculously meet the required dates, only to be told the agency has no record of receiving the data!
Our basketball season has been a nightmare. Games were not confirmed until 24 hours beforehand and sometimes later! Numerous games were cancelled or rescheduled. Each of the other colleges and universities had differing requirements
for our team in regard to COVID 19 testing that we had to meet before they would confirm the games. And, of course, without paying spectators, our financial support for games increased substantially — and then there’s the weather. Our very first home baseball game was rained out. In addition, I have received notice after notice of SBC supporters being ill with a spectrum of causes, and the sad news of deaths.
It seems like we have had challenge after challenge, and disappointment after disappointment; but I learned many years ago, that God knows what is happening, He is, and will always be, on His throne and in total control. We can rest in His eternal promises and encourage ourselves of His living presence in our lives.
I Corinthians 14:33 says, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” Confusion and chaos come from another source. That source is Satan, the god of this world, that attempts to distract us from our resource of peace and comfort.
As we face these perplexing days, may we focus on our living Savior, Jesus Christ. The Bible and history testify that we are not the first believers to live in challenging times. We can endure and overcome chaos by the power of the Holy Spirit living in us! We are on a life-course that God has set for us. May we determine to push forward as He leads us toward our heavenly reward.
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1).
Let us pray as Paul recorded in Phil. 4:7 — that “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
More Than We Want to Hear
By Don Brown, Editor
In the past few weeks (and in the past year), we have heard more news that is disturbing, frightening and heartbreaking. In our last three issues (including this one), we have listed 10 obituaries of friends, coworkers and children of friends. Some of these are the result of individuals who were stricken with the COVID-19 virus. How heartbreaking it is for a life to be lost to this virus that otherwise would have continued for years to come.
Both of my children and their husbands have recovered from the virus, and I have a grandson who is recovering as I write these words. I have other relatives and too many friends and coworkers who also have had to deal with this illness. We pray that this will soon be past, and life can return to a pre-2020 status.
As many of you know our Trustee and Assistant Editor Corbey Jones has been hospitalized for a number of weeks with COVID-19. We have news that he is making progress and seems to be on the road to recovery. We ask that you pray for him, his wife Cindy and their family. They also recently lost one of their children. Information on Andrew Jones’ passing can be found in the Jan. 20 issue of the Baptist Trumpet.
I feel certain that the events of the last two months have taken a toll on the Jones family both emotionally and financially. If you would like to make a love offering to the Jones family, I would encourage you to send it to the Mississippi Baptist, P.O. Box 8181, Laurel, Miss. 39441, and designate it to “Jones Family Love Offering.” I know you will be blessed, and the Jones family will be appreciative. If you have any questions, please call me at (601) 426-3293.
News Not Well Received
Regardless of your political leanings and desires, I am sure you are as disturbed as I am by recent events in our nation. The new administration is making decisions and going in directions that are direct opposition to good biblical positions. This new adminstration has given permission for transsexuals (men who claim to be women and women who claim to be men) to serve openly in our armed forces. History tells us this makes no sense and is a disruption of cohesiveness and purpose. It is also against the will of God for mankind.
Another direction is allowing boys who claim to be girls access to girls’ sports and dressing and restroom facilities. What could possibly go wrong with that?
This administration has even appointed a man who claims to be a woman (transsexual) to a cabinet post. How far our nation has fallen and how fearful we should be about God’s coming judgment.
May the Lord touch hearts, save souls and purge our nation of evil ways. May we return to the values upon which our nation was founded, and may we please God in all that we do. Pray!
Students sharing Bible verses
Dealing with Teens Who Use Self-Harm
By Anders Lee, Pastor
Central • Southaven, Miss.
It is no secret that youth ministry has moments where it is very difficult. Most of the time, we see the youth pastor or the youth director’s job as the easiest in the church, but that is not true! Yes, they get to be with all the fun-loving teens at church and have all the activities that are lighthearted and stress free. But then there are those moments when a teen comes to them with the worst problems of life or a parent comes through the door, crying over what they have found out is true.
Years ago, after a youth service, a parent walked in needing to talk. Once we sat down, the tears began to flow. She said, “I have no idea what to do or why this is happening!” I had never in my ministry, at that point, dealt with the problem she shared with me — she had discovered, by the providence of God, that her daughter had been cutting herself.
The girl was from a good home, they were faithful to church and she was normally a bubbly young lady, involved in everything at school and youth group. Suddenly, she was quiet, withdrawn and had a total 180° in her disposition. I had noticed it, but, at age 15, I dismissed it as girl hormones and the changes of life.
I didn’t have a clue what to tell the Mom. I felt inadequate to help her, so I had to seek help to help her. We did get that young lady help and she got through her situational pain and emotions.
Who struggles with self-harm? — Teens and college students (very few adults) really do this! Up front, let me say that, most of the time it is a teenage girl who will do this because boys tend to fight, cuss or lash out instead. They want to harm someone else because that testosterone pushes them to do it. Statistically, it’s a girl that will cut herself. In fact, since 2005, the gurus tell us that out of 10 teens that cut themselves, 7 of them are girls. Cutting for girls was up 11% over the last 5 years, as of 2019.
What is self-harm? — They cut themselves on their arms or legs. Most of the time they hide it from everyone so it’s a private act that is done late at night or closed up in their room or bathroom. It’s their little secret until someone finds out or they get to a breaking point where they can’t handle it any longer by themselves. It varies how each person cuts themselves. They may use a knife, sharp paper edges or the end of a paper clip. I even knew of one who used their cat’s claws. And, yes, they may use the obvious razor blade. Newsflash — some people actually get a lot of tattoos or multiple piercings to achieve the same result as cutting. Don’t let that one slip by you. It may not be the case, they may just like tattoos, but if your college student suddenly spends all their cash getting tats, you may need to look into it.
Why do they do it? — How they do it is really irrelevant; it is the why that you want to find out! Each teen’s situation is unique, and I certainly can’t give you an exhaustive list of whys in one article, but here are a few reasons:
• It’s a fad or peer pressure. Who your teen hangs out with at school, in the neighborhood or yes, even church, is so important! Teens are so easily influenced. Just as a teen could hand your son or daughter a beer at a friend’s party or a joint in the bathroom at school, that same kid could be a cutter. You know the ole saying, “Misery loves company?” It’s true. A kid that is going through things expects that other kids are too, that it’s normal for everyone. So, when they get close enough, they expose their own private habit and invite a friend to join in.
One time, a guy in my youth group had a girl drawing on his arm at school, when she suddenly took the pencil and pressed into and across his forearm. He yelled out; “That hurt! Why did you do that?” She replied, “I thought you might like it.” Yep, his girlfriend was cutting herself, and she viewed it as normal, so she wanted the “love of her life” to join in.
• It’s from emotional pain. Teens are not to the point in life where they know how to verbalize their emotional hurt. They may have seen their parents go through a bitter divorce and have been deeply hurt. They may have been neglected or abused by a parent at home. They may have been sexually abused by someone in their life. They could have endured verbal abuse from a parent or someone close to them. They may have lost a parent in death early in life.
They don’t know how to verbalize it to someone close to them and they need so badly to release all the hurt, pain and even anger — so they cut themselves. They don’t understand their pain, so they do something to themselves that they do understand. They know how to heal a simple slash on the arm, so they cut themselves to feel released and then they watch as their body heals itself. It satisfies them to release the pain and also to see that something in life can actually heal, even though they can’t seem to heal emotionally.
• They feel they should suffer. Whatever happened in their life, they have blamed themselves for it. This type of teen doesn’t want to heal. They feel they should continually suffer. Kids blame themselves for their parents’ divorce. They may be bullied or picked on at school and have developed an inferiority complex. They feel inadequate and like a “nobody.” They are failing school, got dropped off the football team or bounced out of the band and now they feel worthless. So, they cut themselves and keep opening the wound, or they cut themselves multiple times.
• They want attention. I knew of a kid whose brother was a long-term patient in the hospital with leukemia. He started cutting himself so his parents would notice him. Girls who feel unattractive or overweight will turn to this and often reveal it to someone to get the love and attention they crave.
How Do I Handle This?
• Don’t blow up. The last thing that teen needs is for you to blow up at them. This should be a non-judgment issue with pastors and parents. Parents are ashamed about what their child has done and just let them have it. It may be true that a parent doesn’t want anyone to know or think that something is wrong at their house. That parent needs a wakeup call!
We are all human! We all have mental, emotional, sexual or spiritual problems. To act like your kids can’t have problems is being unrealistic! Parents get preachy and demand that “this stops immediately.” Some parents don’t want to discuss the why or try to help, they just put their foot down and say this is over now! Don’t do that!
• Talk in love and share biblical and personal truths. This kid/teen needs to talk. Like I said, this is a result of not being able to communicate what is going on inside of them. If you will patiently discuss it with them, let them know that it’s okay to share what’s happening on the inside and let them know that we all have problems to deal with, eventually they will trust you enough to talk about it. Provide Scripture for them to see — post it on their mirror, their dresser or by their doorways. Once you know they are struggling — affirm, affirm, affirm! Tell them how much they are valued and how much they mean to you. Love them with words and actions. Spend time with them. Make it abundantly clear that you are in this to help!
• Connect them. If, over time, the teen isn’t talking to a parent or to you as a youth pastor, then you have to connect them with a solid Christian counselor who can help them and is qualified to do so! Every pastor or youth pastor needs to have at their disposal Christian counselors who can help where you can’t. If you haven’t already, take time in your schedule to find such a group or person. Sometimes larger churches have them on their staff. If the parent can’t afford one or their insurance doesn’t cover it, get them financial help so they can be ministered to. Churches should look into budgeting this for their members in need.
• Teach them alternatives. They need to know there are other ways to express their feelings without hurting themselves. Some of these may not seem right to you, but if you think about it and admit it, you might have had a time in your life when you needed to do something like this. It might be that they need to get some anger out!
Have you ever wanted to punch a bed or a pillow (just not someone else)! Have you ever said, if this happens “I’m just going to scream!” I have. Does that make us crazy? No! It makes us human. So, go ahead and scream, get that anger out (Eph. 4:26-27)! They could do something physical — take a walk, exercise, punch a punching bag, etc. Doing something physical often subdues the emotions.
Tell them, if they can’t talk about it, to write it out in a journal. Girls are good at that! Listen to music — it soothes the hurting soul! Some experts tell teens to write the phone number of a friend on their arm instead, then call and talk to that friend. Alternatives work for many once you discuss it with them.
• Warning! In extreme situations, this is a warning of suicide on the horizon. Teens or kids who dabble with this long term often admit to contemplating death. Don’t let them be alone for extended periods of time. Don’t let them be locked up in their rooms or bathrooms without accountability. Don’t delay handling this situation!
Although I have had to deal with this many times since that first one, I didn’t learn all of this on my own. My thanks to Kelly Ross, who helped me clarify my thoughts as I wrote this article. Kelly is Editor Don Brown’s daughter, a licensed counselor and a member at my church. (anders.lee571@gmail.com)
New officers for spring quarter
Children’s Home Ministry
By Dwight Lindsey, Director
Miss. Baptist Children’s Home
This ministry is a calling much more than just a career. A career is a profession or occupation chosen as one’s life’s work; a calling is listed as a strong urge to minister to the needs of others in a vocation. While a secular dictionary gets part of this right, it ignores the most important part. Christians recognize that callings do not come strictly from our own suitabilities, rather they come from the Lord.
Paul pens these gloriously soothing words in Acts 17:25-27, “…He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord….”
God has given every creature life, the things they claim to be their own and the times and places they will live those lives. As God has appointed those things, it is only natural to deduce that He has appointed our callings as well.
Scripture is rife with illustrations of God’s calling to His people. He called Adam and Eve to forgiveness. He called Noah to build an ark. He called to Abram to faith. He called Jacob instead of Esau. He called Moses from a burning bush. He called Joshua to follow the only leader Israel had known. He called Samuel to service. The list goes on and on through God’s Word. In all these callings, the people were not what made the calling special, it was the calling that gave the people a special task.
I can attest to the fact that I am not special in my calling to serve at the Children’s Home. God’s calling to this ministry is the only thing that gives me courage and stamina to continue in what He has placed before me. I bring attention to this special task in hopes that I am a part of God calling other laborers to this harvest. While I desire qualified and competent help in this ministry, I know it will be short lived without the calling of God on this help. Parenting should not be taken lightly, and the parenting of children with very unique needs definitely should not be taken lightly.
If these words begin to stir your heart toward the ministry of the Children’s Home, please do two things for me:
• First, pray for us in our wisdom of hiring another couple to help with the duties of this ministry.
• Second, pray asking the Lord if He may be stirring “your” heart to the calling of this ministry.
If it is you or you know of someone that might be fitting for the call please direct resumes to info@msbch.org. We appreciate all your prayer and support.
An Encouraging Month
By Danny Eddy, ABS Director • Louisiana Tech University
It’s been an encouraging month for us at ABS, even with all the safety precautions still in place. We’ve only had one more student to contract a light case of the virus, so all is well here. Attendance at our weekly IMPACT worship has been on the increase, with a high of 21 this past week. We are still only allowed to have 25% capacity, and we were pretty close to that this week, but hopefully that limitation will change soon.
We said goodbye to two students this week. Makayla will graduate this month, and has a job awaiting her in the ICU of a nearby hospital. Avery will be leaving us next month to do Marine bootcamp and other training. He will be back in the fall as a reservist. These two leaders will certainly be missed. We have added three new officers and look forward to working with them.
We’ve had a Prayer Breakfast and a Friday Fun Night this month, as well as a fun time giving away packaged snacks on campus as we invited students to ABS. But the best times of all were when they stood and shared their favorite verses and why they mean so much to them. Some read from their phone, some from their Bible, while others quoted. It has been a real joy this quarter to see them bringing their friends, leading Bible study, standing to give their testimony and growing in their walk.
Thank you so much to all who support this ministry and allow us this awesome privilege of working with these young men and women!
Louisiana Baptist Builder
Deryl Jones, Editor
labaptistbuilder@gmail.com • (318) 285-0215
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Friday Fun Night