wfn.org | AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS FOR OCT 29, 1998

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AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS FOR OCT 29, 1998
American Baptist News Service
Office of Communication
American Baptist Churches USA
P.O. Box 851
Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
 E-MAIL: RICHARD.SCHRAMM@ABC-USA.ORG
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UPDATE: October 29, 1998

'LIVING WORSHIP' CONVOCATION OPENS AT GREEN LAKE
 GREEN LAKE, Wis. (ABNS)--More than 525 
pastors, lay leaders and national and regional 
staff gathered here last night to open
"Living Worship: An American Baptist Worship 
Convocation" at the American Baptist Assembly. 
 The convocation encompasses Bible studies, 
workshops and both worship experiences and 
extensive presentations on the nature
and content of worship.  It reflects the current 
denominational emphasis, "ABC 2000: Renewed for 
Mission," which encourages congregations to seek 
appropriate resources and directions for 
revitalization in worship and outreach.  
 Greeting participants last night were Dr. 
Emmett V. Johnson, chair of the Planning Committee, 
and Dr. Daniel E. Weiss, general secretary of 
American Baptist Churches USA.  "American Baptists
yearn to be renewed by God," Weiss said.  But, "for 
the spirit of God to sweep across our 
denomination," we first "must learn to worship 
Almighty God."  "Worship," he said, "is the most 
important thing a Christian does."
 Highlighting the opening evening was a 
dramatic monolog featuring Dr. Randy Gauger as John 
of Patmos, author of the Book of Revelation late in 
the first century A.D.  Gauger, former American
Baptist Churches vice president and currently 
senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Champaign 
at Savoy, Ill., brought John's message that "hope 
begins in worship" and that "the discouraged
church needs to rediscover joy in worship."
 "Worship puts everything in the right 
perspective," John emphasized.  The only real way 
to worship effectively in our churches,
he said, "is to keep our eyes on heaven."  "In the 
presence of the worship of God, hope is 
empowered....  There is power in ministry when we 
realize Who reigns." 
 Through worship, John said, "God reveals a 
greater understanding of our [worldly] struggles.  
Worship helps us remember the great climactic event 
in history...it helps us be obedient even in the 
face of suffering."
 "I was writing simply," John said, as one 
"who loved the church," and who felt the call to 
encourage vital discipleship.  Referring to 
struggles of his time, under Roman oppression, and 
of different but equally potent challenges today, 
he noted that "being around people with the wind 
gone out of the sails of their faith can be 
discouraging."
 Heaven will be "one big chorus of praise...of 
thanksgiving.  If you plan on going there," John 
said, "you better get in practice."

 In a Bible study this morning focusing on
Psalm 100, Dr. Steven Voth, dean and professor of 
Old Testament and Hermeneutics at Bethel Seminary, 
maintained that the impetus for praise "is not 
within ourselves naturally; its origin is within 
God Himself." It is "not dependent on how we feel," 
he said, but rather is "an active obedient response 
to a divine command. Praising God begins with God."
 In order for worship to be complete "worship 
must permeate every nook and cranny of our lives.  
The command to know God is central and decisive," 
and our mandate to know God to the fullest extent 
must involve all of the "intellectual, experiential 
and emotional" resources God has granted us.

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