ALBA—In the fall of 2011, International Mission Board President Tom Elliff issued a challenge to the churches of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. Presented with the statistics relating for unengaged, unreached people groups (UUPGs) across the globe and their need for the gospel, SBTC churches from across the state responded with enthusiasm.

Lake Fork Baptist Church in Alba answered that call. After becoming aware of the IMB’s Embrace initiative, Pastor Perry Crisp and Missions Pastor Bob Stephenson began praying to discern the direction the Lord was leading their church.

“We began to go to Embrace conferences and did a lot of online searches, looking at the IMB website to read about different UUPGs,” Stephenson said. “The unique thing about it was that as my pastor and I began to pray about it, we didn’t share any information with each other about where God was leading us. We just continued to pray.”

As the two sought direction from the Lord on Lake Fork’s budding missions initiative, a common theme began to emerge in each of their hearts: East Africa.

“One day the pastor came into staff meeting and wrote a people group number on the board,” Stephenson explained. “It was the Sonjo people of the Temi Valley in East Africa, the same people I had been praying about.”

At that point, the people of Lake Fork Baptist Church wholeheartedly embraced that UUPG, voting unanimously to adopt the Sonjo people in August of 2012 as a part of the IMB Embrace initiative and the broader gospel mission.

“Since that time, our missions giving has increased,” Stephenson said. “Our congregation has given over and above their usual tithes and offerings to help with material needs, travel and Bibles for the believers in the Temi Valley.”

Although the area was originally deemed too difficult to reach and the people considered too hostile, Stephenson said that they have found just the opposite to be true. While the trip to the Temi Valley is certainly arduous (consisting of a two-day flight and a 10-hour drive over unpaved roads), the people of the Sonjo tribe have responded overwhelmingly to the gospel.

“We got there and found out that they were a very loving people. We found some people of peace and had a great vision trip,” Stephenson said. “God gave us a harvest—more than we ever dreamed of. More than 1,000 people came to know Christ on our first trip.”

Thirteen members of Lake Fork Baptist Church have traveled to the Temi Valley so far over the course of four mission trips, and according to Stephenson, most of those people are awaiting another opportunity to return. The church’s fifth trip to East Africa will be this month.
“The spiritual growth of the Sonjo people has been amazing,” Stephenson explained. “They are studying the Word and applying it to their lives. On our last trip, six of them went with us to another village to do evangelistic work. God used them to lead many of their own to Christ. They have learned to tell the ‘Creation to Christ’ story, they are holding their own services, and each of the churches is increasing in numbers.”

In addition to significant numerical growth in the churches, Stephenson also notes the stories they have seen of individuals who have experienced the power of the gospel.

“On our very first trip and our very first day of evangelizing among the Sonjo, a young man named Joseph walked with one of our teams and translated the gospel into the language of his people,” Stephenson said. “Between huts Joseph asked questions. He had recently heard about Jesus and prayed to receive Jesus while on business outside of the Temi Valley, but he had not learned much about his new faith.

“While walking between huts that day, he asked, ‘What is Baptist?’ Our pastor gave a quick answer: ‘Baptists are people who believe the Bible, only the Bible and all of the Bible. And we believe baptism is by immersion for those who choose to follow Christ. It testifies to Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.’

“Joseph nodded and continued walking to the next hut. After translating and seeing another family pray to receive Jesus, we resumed our walk to the next hut and Joseph asked if he could be baptized,” Stephenson recalled. “Our pastor assured him that he could be baptized that very day. As they continued along the path, Joseph made a statement that answered our prayer.

“He said to our pastor, ‘We need a church. We need a pastor. I want to be that pastor.’”

Joseph was baptized that day in a river that was ankle deep in water. “Before our pastor could join him in the river, Joseph used his hands in the sandy bottom of that river to dig his own baptismal grave. When our pastor baptized Joseph, the water was still too shallow at Joseph’s head and his nose was still above water. Of his own accord, Joseph turned his head so that he was completely immersed. He is now the pastor of the very first Baptist church in the Temi Valley.”

When Lake Fork first began their Embrace initiative with the Sonjo people, there were a reported 3,800 UUPGs across the globe; according to the most recent statistics, however, that number is down to around 3,030.

“The three main ingredients for embracing a people group are prayer, prayer and prayer,” Stephenson said. “God is still in the business of reaching out to those unreached people groups, and our prayer is that other churches would catch the vision.”

MIDLAND—Death and fighting. That is what Hyeon-koo Shim remembers most of the Korean War. His wife, Sung-shil Shim, recalls being crammed onto an already overcrowded train bound for the relative safety beyond the embattled capitol city Pyongyang. Infantryman Jim Shaw still wonders what became of five orphan boys he helped rescue and secretly care for on the outskirts of his company’s base. Lives inextricably linked by what is often called “The Forgotten War” were brought together by a pastor who remembered to say “thank you.”

Hongkak Koo, pastor of Midland Korean Baptist Church, was born almost two decades after the conclusion of the Korean War in 1953. But the 42-year-old understands his native South Korea came perilously close to communist rule and only avoided the fate of modern day North Korean because of the willingness of America to join the fight. For that he is grateful.

“Koreans owe a lot to Americans. Without the sacrifices of American soldiers South Korea could not be what it is today,” Koo said.

From the rubble of war, South Korea has risen to be the world’s 12th-largest economy in the world with a democratically elected president. By contrast, North Koreans suffer under the political, religious and economic rule of a communist dictatorship.

Koo said a look at a nighttime satellite image of the divided Korea illustrates the stark contrast between the two nations. With the exception of a glimmer of light representing the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, the northern country is shrouded in darkness. Within its borders South Korea shines bright.

In 1997 Koo came to the United States to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. While working on his dissertation in 2005 he was called as interim pastor of the Midland church. Each weekend he flew the 600 miles round trip to serve the congregation that would eventually call him to full-time ministry.

Emigration to the U.S. from South Korea has steadily increased since the mid-1970s. In Texas most newcomers settle in larger cities like Houston and Dallas that have established Korean communities. Midland, more readily associated with the oil industry, ranches and the hardscrabble roughnecks such enterprises produce, is home to about 100 Koreans, according to Koo. Many of them attend Midland Korean Baptist Church.

On behalf of his church and the local Korean immigrants, Koo wanted to find and thank the Korean War veterans in his community. The church is a mix of English and Korean-speaking members. Some, like the Shims, are old enough to remember the war. Others have never visited the country to which they owe their heritage. Services at the church are in English and Korean.

In 2011 the church hosted the first celebration service honoring the veterans. Again this year, the church treated veterans to food and entertainment unique to the Korean culture.

“I thought it was pretty neat,” Shaw said. “It was sure something they didn’t have to do.”

The 90-year-old veteran was 32 years old when he served in Korea. He downplayed the role he had in defeating the threat of totalitarianism. As a member of the First Marine Division, Shaw said he was just doing his job.

“I’m proud we did it,” Shaw said.

Koo said he took time to meet each veteran and listen to their stories of a time and place he never knew.

“As I listened I had an affection for them,” Koo said.

He was especially moved by Shaw’s tale.

During patrol by a river, Shaw said his unit noticed “five of the dirtiest little boys” he had ever seen. Orders dictated soldiers not associate with civilians—a command easily observed since few remained in the region that would later become the 38th Parallel. But Shaw could not leave boys behind.

“I just picked them up and hid them on the outskirts of the company area,” he said.

Shaw doesn’t know if his commanders never found out about the children, ages 12, 8, 8, 7, and 6, or just turned a blind eye, but he and the soldiers fed and clothed the boys and gave them a tent and stove for the winter. They even gave them chores—washing clothes—to keep them occupied during the day.

After six months Shaw was reassigned to Busan. He never knew what became of his five orphan boys.

Sung-shil Shim, 73, was familiar with their plight.

“I recall many orphans lost and abandoned on the streets,” she said, answering questions provided by the TEXAN and translated by Koo.

She was 10 years old when her family tried to flee Pyongyang.

“So many people crammed into the train that many were left behind, including our parents. I never thought that would be the last moment to see them.”

Sung-shil Shim and her sisters were raised by an uncle.

Also speaking through Koo, Hyeon-Koo Shim, 75, said his village was occupied alternately by North and South Korean soldiers. Air raids “bombarded” his home, killing his uncle and injuring his brothers and sisters.

“I still remember things clearly as it was yesterday. My memory of war is horrible. I saw soldiers fighting each other and killing people,” he recalled.

The Shims’ separate experiences during the Korean War left them with different views of soldiers. As a 12-year-old-boy Hyeon-koo Shim could not understand why people killed each other. He didn’t like war or the soldiers who participated. But Sung-shil Shim and other children were befriended by the American troops who gave then treats like candy and gum.

“It was so delicious. And, in fact, I never had a chance to eat chocolate before,” she said.

The celebrations at Midland Korean Baptist Church gave Americans and Koreans who endured the war an opportunity to revisit and reevaluate their experiences. Koo said the celebrations in 2011 and this past June gave war generation Americans and Koreans the opportunity to share their stories with younger generations.

“They need to know what we Koreans owe America so they can appreciate it and contribute to this country,” he said.

Sung-shil Shim was unable to attend the June celebration but her husband did.

“Through the event by our church, I came to appreciate more about the sacrifices of many American soldiers. Looking back, I was too young during the war to appreciate their sacrifices. But now I realize how much I am indebted to them and sincerely want to express my gratitude,” said Hyeon-koo Shim.

He now makes regular donations to two Veterans of Foreign Wars offices.

Shaw, member of a Christ Church Midland, said he was glad to reconnect with the Koreans whom he called “the workingest people in the world.”

“They’re nice people. I love the Korean people,” he said.

Koo would like to see other Korean churches duplicate the efforts of Midland Korean Baptist Church—while there is time. There is a dwindling opportunity to hear first-hand accounts of the Korean War from veterans and civilians of that era.

Koo reflected on the war and his gratitude.

“Living in the States and having the opportunities to meet Korean War veterans has been such a blessing and privilege to me. While preparing this ceremony I have come to appreciate Korean War veterans more than before. As I meet and listen to the stories of each and every individual veteran, I was often overwhelmed emotionally.”

We are having an earlier than usual time for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Annual Meeting. When we go out west we have a late October time mainly because we don’t want to get caught in the first snow of the fall. When we are in the Gulf area we want to have the meeting as late in November as possible because we want to avoid the threat of a hurricane. Calendaring around weather is not a bad strategy. Any strategy is better than no strategy. Planning under the guidance of the Holy Spirit is essential for the future of ministry.

November 14 the SBTC in partnership with the North American Mission Board will be hosting a church revitalization conference at the North Richland Hills Baptist Church. The purpose of the conference is to get churches to evaluate the effectiveness of their current ministry strategies. While remaining biblically faithful we must stretch ourselves to reach people for Jesus. I don’t have to recount the dismal statistics about Southern Baptist churches in decline. A committee has been established to study the downward trend in baptisms among SBC churches. The obvious solution is to tell people about Jesus and his power to save. When pastors and churches are intentionally evangelistic baptisms will follow. It is the law of sowing and reaping.

New churches baptize more people than older churches. The SBTC and SBC emphasize the need to start new churches. The resources are available to start twice the current number of funded church plants. Texas needs qualified church planters. Spanish language planters are being trained in several locations across our state. I’m optimistic we are about to see a church planting movement among Hispanics. While the number of Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic background people continue to grow in Texas they remain a small part of the overall population. Your gracious gifts through the Cooperative Program and the Reach Texas Offering make it possible for the SBTC to have people group specialists to assist in penetrating lostness in these communities. With shifting population trends traditional and contemporary style Anglo church starts are needed in the suburbs and inner cities where gentrification has taken place. Pray about being a part of the strategy of reaching Texas with a church start that has your church’s DNA.

The 2014 Empower Evangelism Conference will be February 23-26 at Sagemont in Houston. Be ready for a number of exciting changes. Training events will be added to the usual powerful preaching lineup. Praise and worship music is to have a greater part of the program. The location itself gives us an opportunity to hold the gathering in the beautiful new sanctuary of Sagemont as well as be in the Houston area. New approaches without abandoning the biblical plan of telling the old, old story are necessary to reach the next generation. 

Strategies come and go. The Word of God never changes. Our vision must be his vision for us. Placing ourselves before him to find his plan for our lives and the church is vital not just for our survival but to put us in a position to give glory to God. As 2013 comes to a close and we look toward another year should the Lord Jesus not come before, let me encourage you to find God’s direction in how you can be strategic in reaching people for the glory of God.

This year’s SBTC Annual Meeting theme says it all, “So others may live”. Psalm 102:18, “This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.” Let’s live for the glory of God so others may have eternal life!