thinking mission

Billy Graham - Advance Warning

The phrase ‘a living legend’ is often over-used, but in the case of Billy Graham, the title is not misplaced.  I’m spending two days in Chicago on my back to the UK, and visited the Billy Graham Centre at Wheaton College, Illinois today.  Billy and Ruth Graham were students here in their youth and this magnificent centre is a superb tribute to arguably the most influential Christian preacher of the 20^th Century. 

The Centre details the history of evangelism in the US, from the arrival of the early settlers, but it's Billy Graham’s ministry that is the clear focus.  It’s brilliantly presented, with words and images, audio and video, and I found it very moving.  I found as I watched clips of some of his campaigns from the 1930s through to the late 1990s the simplicity of his message is compelling.   Our alienation from God, God’s redemptive work in and through Christ, and the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit is clear and unequivocal and when presented well, demands a response.

There are many people quoted, from a number of well known personalities, as well as anonymous comments from ordinary men and women who attended his rallies.

An unnamed doctor from Canada says - “My medical practice had been intensely satisfying and I had received many honours.  But Dr Graham seemed to be speaking right to me.  That night I confessed to God I was a hypocrite, and asked Jesus to come into my life and change me.  That was 28 years ago and that encounter with Jesus Christ has made me a better physician and person.”

Muhammad Ali is pictured sitting on the porch with Billy and Ruth Graham and is quoted later as saying “When I arrived at the airport Mr Graham himself was waiting for me...we drove up to this house made of logs – no mansion with crystal chandeliers and gold carpets.  It was the kind of house a man of God would live in.  I look up to him”.

A woman from England: “Our divorce was almost through and I went to the meeting in anger, thinking my husband was stupid.  But Jesus ‘cracked’ me that night.  I gave my life to him and was born again – and so was my marriage.”

And finally Billy Graham speaking at Richard Nixon’s funeral, with Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush Snr and Bill Clinton sitting on the front row. He spoke with his customary clarity, whether to ordinary men and women or King and Queens.: “There comes a moment when we must all realise that life is short, and in the end the only thing that counts is not how others see us, but how God sees us.  For the believer there is hope beyond the grave, because Jesus Christ has opened the door you heaven for us by his death and resurrection.”  

I am an incurable optimist, and wondered as I walked round whether there is still a place for this kind of evangelistic ministry these days.  J John and others would say yes, but they are the exception.  I sense the gospel message would be as effective as ever, even if some of the 'packaging' seems understandably dated - the photo above carries the headline "6th Great Sin-Smashing Week!" 

The real challenge would be to get people there in the first place. Would they come?  Would we invite them?

David Kerrigan

BWA Congress 9 - a big finish

A big Congress needs a big finish.  And they don’t come much bigger than Dr Lance Watson (R), Senior Pastor at St Paul’s Baptist Church in Richmond Virginia.  Big not in size, but in impact. 

I couldn’t even begin to describe the sermon because such sermons, preached by African American preachers are a combination of oratory, theatre, drama, performance, exposition, application and inspiration.  And that is probably only the half of it.

A stupendous sermon on Acts 3 and the story of Peter and John going up to the temple when they heal a beggar waiting there. 

Such preaching needs a cultural context – and that context is a congregation that moves into the rhythm of the message, a congregation that rises and falls with the cadence of the preacher’s voice, instinctively stepping into the rhythm of response. 

But way above and infinitely beyond all these things, there is also the power of God at work.  If we ever reduce preaching to cerebral presentation of the great truths of the Bible (and we regularly do) then we have reduced the word of God to something dry as dust.  Listening to someone like Lance Watson reminds us that preaching is of the heart and not just the mind.  And I am in no doubt that many hearts were touched this morning. 

And so the Congress drew to a close with a wonderful video invitation to come to Durban in 2015.  I know that Jon Clark, one of our BMS staff members had a hand in preparing that, and it was superb. Which leads me to offer this thought, albeit a UK-centric one, but still valid for all that.

The production team was largely the same team that we have been blessed in having for several years now at the Baptist Assembly.  They produced the BWA Congress in 2005, Youth Congresses in Hong Kong and in Leipzig, the BWA 400 celebrations in Amsterdam in 2009, now Hawaii, and who know where else next. 

They are an exceptional group of skilled and talented people.  Coming to Hawaii might sound glamorous but once you’re in the shell of the building, its just hard work for days on end, often 16-18 hours a day.   This is what produces the end result.  So, at the risk of missing names (and if I do I’ll add the others later) well done to Steve and Jon, Martin and Jon, Daniel and Jackie, Paul and Steve and CJ...

As people head back to the different corners of the globe, many of my hopes have been realised.  The stories that came from Vietnam, China, Haiti, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas have reminded us of the blessings and the hardships of the church.  Times of learning have been significant. Conversations have been hugely fruitful.  Many will return having known God's blessings.

And a final thought is for the BWA staff who will rightly reflect on what I believe has been a very successful Congress.  They have served us well and Neville Callam and his team have earned the right to draw breath before their thoughts begin to turn to South Africa in five years time.

David Kerrigan

BWA Congress 8 - fragile leadership

When John Upton was inducted as President of the Baptist World Alliance this morning, outgoing President David Coffey presented him with a gift.  An African carving, it depicts a hand holding an egg between thumb and forefinger.  The meaning: Leadership is Fragile – Handle with Care. Most people’s  reaction was like mine, I imagine.  “Ah yes, very profound.” 

And of course it is a profound notion, yet it merits further reflection.  In what sense is leadership fragile?  Is it one’s hold on office?  Ask a Premier League Football Manager and they would recognise that notion of fragility.  Or is it the inherent weakness of the men and women who hold office, the character flaws that could bring them down in a moment?  How many leaders have fallen from grace in a public way.  Church leaders too sadly.

Perhaps the greatest fragility is in the bond of trust between leader and followers that gives legitimacy to someone’s leadership.  As Christians we desire to see leadership that reflects the example of Christ.  Some of the most significant passages in the Bible have direct relevance to leadership.  Passages such as when Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist to wash the feet of his disciples (John13:4), or when Jesus had to reprimand his disciples who were arguing about who was greatest, and remind them that if anyone wants to be first, he must be last. (Mark 9:34-35)  Add to that Phil 2:5-11 and a host of others passages of scripture that give us no shortage of guidance about leadership.

That bond of trust is weakened or broken to the extent that we do not lead in the way that Jesus led.  Often we get the outward things right – we say the right things use the right words, ‘act’ as a leader should act.  But as in all things, its not the outward things that impress God but the inner things.  And sooner or later its the inner things that ordinary people see too.  And in that regard we all fall short. 

Pray for John Upton as he takes up the office of BWA President, and for Neville Callam as he serves as General Secretary, and for all who exercise leadership.  And I believe we can pray selfishly too, for ourselves, that our leadership, in whatever role we have, is authentic. 

Of the many leaders I admire from the Middle East, Elie Haddad, President of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut, is one of them.  Meeting together, we talked about the strategic importance of ABTS, a place we have the privilege of being involved through personnel and student scholarships, training leaders for the years to come. I was excited to hear of plans underway for enlarging the reach of ABTS work across the countries of the region.

It was so good too to meet friends from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF).  I’ve known a number of their leaders for some years but it was the first time I had met Harry Rowland (L) and Chris Boltin (R) .  They have a strong plan for the future years in Haiti following the devastating earthquake earlier this year, and it seems possible that we will partner with them as well as others.  Within hours of our meeting, project plans they had already drawn up were in the hands of my colleagues in Didcot.  Final decisions on this will be made in the coming weeks.

This evening Paul Msiza (L), General Secretary of the Baptist Convention of South Africa, preached on the theme of transformation. 

Drawing on his own experience as a young man, he remembered how hard it had been as a young black Christian under the apartheid regime to see that the people who were oppressing him and his people were the same people behind the pulpit preaching on Sunday.   

They were leaders too.  But they did not lead as Christ would lead.  The bond of trust was broken.  Their legitimacy evaporated and it was only a matter of time before their leadership came to an end.

David Kerrigan