Associated Baptist Press 10/6/2008

Associated Baptist Press
October 6, 2008 · (08-96)

David Wilkinson, Executive Director
Robert Marus, News Editor/Washington Bureau Chief
Bob Allen, Senior Writer

In this issue
Support for 'two-state' solution troubles some Palin backers
Men's recovery home possible through CBF grant in Illinois
CBF partners recall 9/11 with community service

Support for 'two-state' solution troubles some Palin backers
By Bob Allen

(ABP) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's answer during her Oct. 2 vice-presidential debate expressing support for a "two-state" solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is drawing criticism from some of her strongest supporters -- pro-Israel conservative Christians.

"A two-state solution is the solution," the GOP vice-presidential candidate said, expressing support for President Bush's plan.

That answer put her at odds with some Christian Zionists -- like San Antonio-based pastor and evangelist John Hagee, who is on record as opposing the Bush administration's proposed "roadmap for peace" or any other solution that causes Israel to cede land. Based on his reading of Bible prophecy, Hagee has predicted that God would punish the United States for asking Israel to exchange land for peace. Such punishment, Hagee has asserted, would come through terrorist attacks.

Hagee was one of the earliest Religious Right supporters of Palin's running mate, Sen. John McCain, in his presidential bid. McCain later rejected Hagee's endorsement after controversy erupted over previous references the TV preacher had made to Hitler and the Holocaust.

Before that, however, the Arizona senator appeared in at Hagee's Christians United for Israel gathering in 2007 to declare himself a Christian and "proudly pro-Israel."

Palin, an evangelical Christian who reportedly displays an Israeli flag in her governor's office in Juneau -- even though she has never been to the country -- said during the debate that brokering peace in Israel would be a "top-of-an-agenda item" under a McCain-Palin administration.

While largely overlooked by the mainstream media, that comment jumped out for the authors of some Christian Zionist blogs. The Amerisrael blog called Palin's words "deeply troubling and disturbing" and said they "could cost McCain valuable votes."

Another blog -- Jerusalem Watchman -- called Palin's proposal "nothing less than a total betrayal of Israel" and predicted that, "unless they are repented from," following through with those views "will fundamentally and detrimentally affect the national history of the United States."

Blog Amy J's Worldview, which describes itself as coming "from a conservative Christian point of view," said, "The land that the Palestinians want as their state is the land that God gave to the Israelites several thousands of years ago."
The post continued, "Sarah Palin should know this and she should know the consequences of taking away the God-given lands from Israel."

Not all pro-Israel Christians responded so harshly, however.

Michael Hines, the U.S. media director for International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, called Palin's answer "a very nuanced response" that suggested "a lot of knowledge on the issue."

Hines, who lived in Israel five years, said "everyone arrives in Israel as an expert," but when they leave they aren't so sure about easy answers. He noted that a two-state solution is also the position advocated by Israel's government.
"If you say you love Israel, you've got to give it the right to make its own sovereign decisions," he said in an interview. "You can't love Israel more than Israelis."

Hines also gave Palin high marks for repeating an earlier pledge by McCain to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv, where it has been since the creation of Israel, to Jerusalem -- a move that would likely inflame Palestinians.
A 1980 United Nations Security Council resolution called on all nations to withdraw their embassies from Jerusalem in a censure of Israel's acquisition of territory by force.

Congress enacted legislation in 1995 calling for the United States to move its embassy to Jerusalem, but the president can postpone the move every six months, based on national-security interests. President Bush last exercised that waiver June 4.

Churches for Middle East Peace, a group of Orthodox, Catholic and mainline Protestant U.S. religious bodies, says the Jerusalem should remain a "final-status issue" to be determined in future negotiations between Israel and Palestine. Unilaterally moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem now, they said, would pre-empt those talks.

Hines said recent candidates in both parties have promised, while running for president, to move the embassy -- but continued to postpone the move after taking office. Based on McCain's voting record as a senator, Hines said that might change.

"I think he might actually be the president who would make a difference on that" he said.

Howard Bess, a retired American Baptist pastor in Palmer, Alaska, who has known Palin for years and battled against her churches in local culture-war issues, noted with interest that Palin described having an embassy in Jerusalem as a top priority.

"I suspect that her thinking is overly informed by Christian apocalyptic theology," Bess said in an e-mail interview. "Jerusalem is not the center of the world."
Bess, who has been interviewed about his clashes with Palin's forces by Salon.com and ABC News, said he has encouraged the media to "take a hard look" at Palin's churches and how their end-times theology might influence her thinking on foreign policy.

Asked during the debate whether a nuclear Pakistan or Iran posed a greater threat, Palin said both are "extremely dangerous."

"An armed -- nuclear-armed, especially -- Iran is so extremely dangerous to consider," she said. "They cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, period. Israel is in jeopardy, of course, when we're dealing with [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad as a leader of Iran. Iran claiming that Israel [is], as he termed it, a 'stinking corpse' -- a country that should be wiped off the face of the earth."

Some evangelicals believe a nuclear war involving Israel and Iran is prophesied in the Old Testament book of Ezekiel.

Christian Broadcasting Network founder and former presidential candidate Pat Robertson says in a new letter on his Web site, PatRobertson.com, that he believes between 75 and 120 days remain before the Middle East "starts spinning out of control."

He called on supporters to pray that God would "change the hearts of the leaders of Russia and Iran" to save Israel. "Hopefully, our Lord will intervene and head off the disaster that seems to be approaching," Robertson wrote.

Hines, of the International Christian Embassy, said Palin's debate opponent, Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), is "probably the most knowledgeable and experienced senator on international affairs," but "knowledge isn't everything." He said he is more interested in a candidate's "worldview" and "moral/philosophical understanding" in determining U.S. Mideast policy.

Hines' organization -- a non-governmental group -- recently delivered a petition signed by 55,000 Christians from around the world asking the U.N. to indict Iranian leaders for incitement to genocide against Israel.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution supporting the petition, but it is being held up in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which Biden chairs.

Hines said that while his organization is a tax-exempt non-profit agency that doesn't endorse candidates, "I take some issues with [Biden's] claim that he's Israel's best friend in the Senate."

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Men's recovery home possible through CBF grant in Illinois
By Sue Poss

ATLANTA (ABP) -- Men with chemical dependency in Waukegan, Ill., now have a home to help them recover and build new lives -- thanks to a local church and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

First Baptist Church in Waukegan and CBF helped start the ministry, Blessed Above Measure (BAM), a faith-based, state-licensed facility for men.

The church began thinking about a community ministry when several nearby buildings came up for sale. Jorge Zayasbazan, an associate pastor, said the buildings' proximity to the church seemed an ideal ministry opportunity, but the congregation lacked the finances and people to move forward.

BAM House director Kevin Means, right, works with members of Trinity Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C., to renovate the house.

However, a man who had purchased one of the houses worships at First Baptist. He wanted to start a home for men recovering from chemical dependency.

"At the same time, we were completing the Fellowship's 'It's Time' study and were seeking God's will in regards to a ministry to impact our community," said Zayasbazan, who also serves as coordinator for North Central Region CBF.

"One easily identifiable stronghold in our community is the problem of alcoholism and drug addiction, and our church already hosted the largest Narcotics Anonymous meeting in the county. The opportunity presented by BAM House was a clear answer to prayer.

First Baptist received a $15,000 CBF missional ministry grant for facility improvements that would qualify BAM House to be licensed by the state, and making it possible for state agencies to refer clients. The CBF provides grants to churches that complete the "It's Time" study and that want to develop ministries that have an impact on their communities.

In a short time, windows were replaced, equipment purchased, repairs made, remodeling and painting completed and inspections passed. An 82-member team from Trinity Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., provided much of the labor for the renovations.

State licensure was granted in June for the facility, which can accommodate up to eight men.

"We have always been a missional church, but we were looking for something that we could focus on, one thing that we could put our energy into," Zayasbazan said. "When we listened to God, we found the BAM House."

BAM House is one of only three faith-based, state-licensed recovery homes in the north Chicago area, Zayasbazan said. It focuses on the spiritual and behavioral development of its clients and helps them become more responsible and productive members of society.

Among its services, BAM House offers substance-abuse counseling, spiritual counseling, Bible study, vocational and employment resources, 12-step recovery meetings and personal-finance education.

It is also a place where men find a Christian community. They are involved with service projects throughout the week, and often work with church members to assist the elderly and people with disabilities with yard work and home repairs. The men also deliver donated furniture to those who need it.

"In the short history of BAM House, we have already baptized two residents and had one commit his life to Christian ministry," Zayasbazan said. "Not every story ends in success, but there have already been several men who were homeless and without hope, who found jobs and permanent housing, reconciled with their children and, most important, found purpose in Christ."

"First Baptist Waukegan's story illustrates the level of missional awareness that is raised as churches engage in the 'It's Time' church-wide experience," said Rick Bennett, CBF's director of congregational life.

"Like FBC, many churches are called to a deeper awareness of what it means to be the presence of Christ in their community and around the world. The BAM House ministry is a perfect illustration."

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CBF partners recall 9/11 with community service
By Sue Poss

ATLANTA (ABP) -- Young adults at Freemason Street Baptist Church in Norfolk, Va., got their hands dirty for missions at a seamen's center. Teens at Metro Baptist Church in New York City learned the value of feeding the homeless, talking with them and hearing their stories.

The two churches were among 20 Cooperative Baptist Fellowship partner congregations and organizations that participated in this year's 11-on-11 day of service, held on and around Sept. 11. Facilitated by Current, CBF's young-leaders' network, the local mission projects offered a constructive way for CBF supporters to make a difference in their communities and honor the memory of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the United States.

"Eleven-on-11 was a great event for the young adults of our congregation," said Abby Thornton, minister of spiritual formation at Freemason Street. "People in this age range are eager to be involved. They don't want just to give money to missions, but want to get their hands dirty right in their own community. This event helped speak to that passion in our congregation."

The Freemason Street group worked at the International Seamen's House in Norfolk, a hospitality ministry for merchant seafarers.

"This is a ministry that our congregation has supported for decades. But most of our group had never even seen the section of Norfolk where the house is located, let alone known anything about this ministry," Thornton said. "With a few hours of work, we were able to improve a space enjoyed as a home away from home by people from all over the world, and also have our own worldviews -- and community-views -- broadened a bit."

Metro Baptist Church, located in Manhattan just a couple of miles away from where the World Trade Center's twin towers once stood, has participated in 11-on-11 the past two years.

This year, Amanda Hambrick, director of youth programming at Metro-sponsored Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries, took a group of teens from a youth center associated with the church to work at a Madison Avenue homeless shelter.

"[It was] kind of funny that we're on Madison Avenue and there's a homeless center here," said Angelo, one of the youth. "That's like the most extreme money and the poorest in the same place. Something's not right about that."

"I was happily amazed that Angelo, a freshman in high school, was able to notice the blatant injustice present in his own city; something that some people never notice, or choose not to notice," said Hambrick, a CBF field worker.

At the center, four young people served hot lunches while the rest played games and talked with clients.

"Our teens' initial responses to the homeless were challenged," Hambrick said. "We projected that if everyone would take the time to hear people's stories, events like 9-11 could possibly be prevented.

"I loved seeing the youth from the teen center -- youth who themselves have stories that often include homelessness, economic strife and exposure to gang and domestic violence, drug abuse and other realities of urban life -- realize that the gift of their time on a Saturday morning, their willingness to listen to another's story and their ability to see the homeless as dignified and significant members of society are some of the greatest things they can offer the world."

Ashley Gill, associate pastor at University Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, Miss., and Shannon Rutherford, minister to college students at University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, La., coordinated the projects.

Some additional projects completed on 11-on-11 Day include:

-- University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, La., put a tarp on a couple's roof in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav, and cleaned a room in a child development center.
-- The Oaks Baptist Church in Lyons, Ga., provided care and cleanup at a hospice house.
-- Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Va., worked with a shelter for families facing homelessness and abuse;
-- Gayton Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., worked with a non-profit organization helping families transition out of homelessness.
-- Columbus Fellowship Church in Columbus, Miss., created a community garden wall and cleaned up a local park.
-- The Cooperative Student Fellowship of Mercer University worked with HIV/AIDS patients in a housing/resource center.
-- University Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, Miss., cleaned and made minor repairs at the local Christian Women's Job Corps office.

Sponsors included the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Campbell University Divinity School, CBF Church Benefits Board, CBF of Florida, CBF of Georgia, CBF of Mississippi, CBF of North Carolina, CBF Virginia, Duke Divinity School, Kentucky Baptist Fellowship, McAfee School of Theology, and PASSPORT Inc.

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