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State Missionary Rick Lance is executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.

Other Recent Blog Entries:

The Caleb Spirit in 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
In my mind, Caleb is the Barnabas of the Old Testament. When others seemed to lose hope, he offered encouragement to them.

A Year to Remember
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
This can be the most wonderful time of the year if we allow the Christ of Christmas to guide us through the experience. Rather than being caught up in the routined frenzy of long lines at stores shopping for gifts and the endless social gatherings during the season, we can focus on what is called the Advent.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Thursday, December 8, 2011
This can be the most wonderful time of the year if we allow the Christ of Christmas to guide us through the experience. Rather than being caught up in the routined frenzy of long lines at stores shopping for gifts and the endless social gatherings during the season, we can focus on what is called the Advent.

Finishing Strong
Monday, November 21, 2011
I do not pretend to be a football coach, but I do believe this "sports experience" translates into our everyday lives, most notably in our Christian lives. There are times when we have seemingly given our all and we feel spent, emotionally, physically and even spiritually.

Be Encouraged!
Thursday, October 28, 2011
In periods of history like the one we now face, Christians have often done some of their most effective service for Christ. But in order to be an effective servant, we must find our source of encouragement in the face of these discouraging situations.

SBC Today: An Interview
Thursday, October 16, 2011
Managing ourselves means more than controlling the calendar, staying morally and ethically pure, reading the latest books, keeping family time balanced, and running things smoothly in one's ministry. I am convinced this means staying in touch with Lord and with yourself in such a way that you make the right decisions and lead in the right direction.


April 2008

Partners in THE Cause

Submitted: Friday, April 25, 2008; 1:39 p.m.
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Partnership is a key word in the vocabulary of the business world and in the life of the church as well as in denominational endeavors. Everyone seems to be in agreement that working in partnership or as a team is the best way to be effective in life.

The difficulty is relating to each other in healthy ways so as to create and maintain a partnership which succeeds.

Author Mark Perry has written about one of the best partnership stories of the 20th century in a book titled Partners in Command. Perry describes in refreshing detail the partnership between Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall and Commanding General Dwight D. Eisenhower during World War II and the years following the cataclysmic conflict. Arguably, this historic partnership creating the frame work for a winning strategy between the U.S. and its allies.

Marshall was a military prophet who foresaw the coming of the Second World War and did all he could to prepare for it. He kept a famous "black book" with the names of emerging young officers whom he felt would be future leaders. Near the top of the list was Dwight Eisenhower. There were other notable names such as the flamboyant George Patton, but Eisenhower was chosen top field commander because he could work with all kinds of people.

At first, General Marshall was the mentor and advisor to "Ike" but, as the war in Europe moved forward, Eisenhower became the primary leader who had to take the risks and make the momentous decisions such as the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. Ike was the decision-maker and the diplomat. By this time, Marshall was the supporter and encourager who ran interference for Eisenhower in Washington with the President and at the Pentagon.

Mark Perry infers that this was the partnership that won the war against Hitler. In my mind, he does so most convincingly. General Marshall's credo was "never fight unless you have to, never fight alone and never fight for long." He instilled this philosophy in the hearts and minds of his younger commanders. He had no better student than Dwight D. Eisenhower. Ike knew that democracies had to fight wars differently than dictatorships. His skill as a commander of unified forces is evidence of the Marshall mentoring.

Partners in Command is essentially a dual biographical work, but it is also a treatise on leadership. There are many lessons to be learned from people who forged effective partnerships at critical times in their lives. For believers, we are "partners in the gospel" as Paul wrote to the Philippian Christians (Phil. 1:5). That is the best of all partnerships, and it makes an eternal difference for the world in which we live There is a true sense in which we are partners in the sharing of the gospel, seeking to liberate people from the throes of sin and its consequences. Like General Marshall in World War II, the apostle Paul challenges us "to never fight alone." We need each other. For Christians, we are "partners in a command" but partners in THE cause.

From Russia with Love

Submitted: Monday, April 14, 2008; 4:18 p.m.
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No, this blog entry is not a movie review of an oldie or the announcement of a James Bond remake coming to the silver screen. Instead, it is about a young Russian I met on a recent Sunday, while making a church visit.

As one of my ministry assignments this year, I called the pastor of First Baptist Church, Piedmont, earlier this year and informed that I was the state missionary assigned to come his way for a church visit. Philip Cooper, the pastor, was so kind to offer a mutually advantageous time for the visit, which was the second Sunday in April.

The weather had turned colder, but the fellowship among the people was warm and friendly. Philip had so graciously asked me to preach for him that Sunday morning, and I was excited about the opportunity. As is my practice, I arrived an hour or more before the worship service was to begin.

In the hallway I saw the pastor talking to young man and pointing to the pictures of the former pastors. When I stepped forward the pastor immediately introduced me to Vladimir from Russia. Vladimir did pronounce his last name for me, at least twice but I could not repeat it for the life of me.

The pastor indicated that he met Vladimir about 10 years ago on a mission trip. Since then the young Christian from Russia had visited the U.S. and now had returned for a second visit. He had been staying with the pastor for almost a week.

Vladimir is 35 years old and has been a Christian all his adult life. His family has a nominal affiliation with the orthodox Christian church in Russia, and they do not understand his fervor of faith in Christ.

Vladimir, in many ways, represents the new Russia, which has emerged since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. He is trained in software engineering, and his intelligence is further evidenced by the fact that he taught himself English by watching British and American television programs.

Vladimir is concerned for his country. He wants to see his fellow Russians turn to Christ. As a young single adult in his country, Vladimir is worried that the ill of the old Soviet system of centralized government is now being replaced by another ill: the self-absorption of the Russian people, similar to attitudes in the West.

This young man is the genuine article. He is bright and blessed with a godly wisdom. He visits America as one coming from Russia with love.

Vladimir identifies with evangelical Christians and loves to worship our Lord. I told him that he was a part of our family of faith. He understood what I meant. Our identity in Christ transcends geographic boundaries, linguistic communications, demographic categories and nationalistic allegiances. He literally radiates the love of Christ, and Vladmir's presence made this church visit both unique and enjoyable. I am glad I have made a new friend and met one of my family members.