by Allie Martin

July 20, 2006

(AgapePress) - - A leading Southern Baptist pastor is encouraging churches in the denomination to provide Bibles to Muslims.

Johnny Hunt is pastor of First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Georgia, near Atlanta. Several years ago Hunt became involved in a project, through the SBC's International Mission Board, to provide God's Word to those in the Islamic faith. Now, as the fifth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks draw near, Hunt says churches can provide Bibles to those trapped by Islam.

"What needs to be changed is not their philosophy but their hearts -- and I know of nothing that can change them like the gospel," says Hunt. "And we know for an absolute fact that there's a minimum of two million Iranians right now, asking for a copy of God's Word."

According to the Georgia pastor, virtually all churches can participate in the outreach effort to Muslims. "I challenge churches to give their Vacation Bible School offering, their Sunday school offering, take a church love offering [toward the purchase of Bibles to be given to Muslims]," he says, explaining why the best time do it is close to September 11.

"During that time of remembrance, do something positive in the context of our grief -- and I believe that will rebound to God's glory," he says. "So I trust that hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars will come in this year for that cause."

Pastor Hunt believes the recent increase in violence in the Middle East will result in a greater hunger for God's Word throughout the region.

Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.

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Is your church big or great?
by Troop Hays

The photo of the church building you see on the left could lead one to believe that it is a church with a small congregation. In fact, it has a rather large group of members. However, like many congregations it has a precious few engaged in Kingdom work.

Its membership is a diverse group which signifies there is little room for cliques and groups that often discourage prospective members looking for a place to serve.

It has a small staff which might indicate difficulty or lack of time for each one to communicate with other workers and members.

What is the point? The church depicted is not a big church, but a great church. An observer might conclude that it moves and motivates and reaches people much like a large church. However, talking to a staff person is not diffucult as he or she is always willing to talk to parishioners. There are churches where an appointment is required to talk to a pastor which often leads to a wait of several weeks.

Want to know what makes this church great? There is no kicking and screaming when a member of a beloved Bible class is asked to serve in the children's or young adult departments. A servant attitude is displayed leaving behind the "clinging vine syndrome."

Is your church big, or great? It is our conclusion that we need more great churches and fewer big churches.

What do you think?