Bauman's Blog

Thoughts on our brother Chan Kilgore turning 40

OK, maybe the last thing by pastor, friend, confidant, partner, and fellow brother Chan Kilgore would want is a blog entry devoted to him.  But today is a special day.  Today Chan turns 40, I want to celebrate what God has done in this man's life.  Sometimes underestimated and underappreciated, Chan has not only done an excellent job leading CrossPointe Church, but also in investing in literally dozens - perhaps even hundreds - of men planting churches over the past eight years.  This is a story behind the story of CrossPointe Church.  This investment in these men has paid dividends, not only with the churches planted out of CrossPointe, but with churches planted through Vision360 and the Acts 29 Network, where he sits on the board.  

Chan's emphasis on the gospel is relentless.  This gospel-centeredness has impacted all of us around him, as we learn how to apply the gospel not only intellectually, but also situationally in our lives.  Chan also has the capacity to make you feel like a million bucks after talking with him, while still showing you that you are a sinner in desperate need of the Gospel.  Few men have this capacity.

This past Sunday at CrossPointe, Chan reflected on turning 40 and indicated that he is praying that God will bear much fruit in the next decade.  I believe this will be true.

I thank God for Chan Kilgore, his wife Stacy, and their family.  May God continue to use him, by Christ's power, to help shape those of us impacted by his life to be more like Christ.  

New Video from the "Day of the Dead" Demonstration

On November 1, 2009 Rio de Paz held a demonstration in the very favela (slum) that just two weeks ago was in the middle of a civil war.  We spoke with one mother whose young son was killed simply taking out the trash.  

Child Prostitution & Sex Trafficking - Not just in the East

This article claims that there are at least 1800+ places on Brazilian highways where child prostitution is found.  We need organizations like the International Justice Mission here in Brazil to help curb child prostitution.  It is not just in the East - Thailand, etc. - it is alive and well in South America.  

1.5 million people marched for Jesus in Sao Paulo on Sunday.  We need some of these people to work in the areas in desperate need of a gospel light.  We need the church in Brazil to rise up and say enough is enough - we will make a difference in the lives of these children.

Piper on the Prosperity Gospel

Thank You to my Blog Readers: 1 Year & 10K page visits later

This November marks the one-year anniversary of Bauman's Blog.  About one year ago I decided that what I had been thinking of doing for a couple of years - blogging - could no longer wait.  And so when I went on my sabbatical to Brazil last fall, I was determined to begin blogging to document what God was doing in my life and in the lives of those around me.  I had no idea that people would actually read the things I have written, but I figured that it would be an opportunity nonetheless to express myself.

Since then, one year has passed.  By God's grace, people have engaged in the dialogue.  Dialogue about theology, evangelicalism, church planting, cultural and social issues, and of course, Brazil.  I want to say thank you to all of the readers who have faithfully followed Bauman's Blog.  Thank you for reading, responding, commenting, and participating so faithfully.  Just as we near the 1-year mark of Bauman's Blog, we have seen 10,000 page visits since November 2008.  I am saying this as a humble celebration of what God has done.

Now that I am living in Brazil, I am seeing that blogging offers an opportunity for me to stay connected with my American friends.  

Of course I will continue to blog on church planting.  What's great is that there are dozens of blogs on church planting as well.  I plan to continue to address economic, political and social issues in my blog, because many times I feel like there is a void of pastors & theologians who are willing to address some of these issues for fear of being labeled as a part of the religious right - the ultimate insult in American popular culture.   When we fear addressing political and social issues from a Biblical perspective because of a perceived negative response, many times we are bowing before an idol of cultural acceptance.

At the same time, I know that politics and social change alone certainly does not transform lives - only Jesus Christ does.  And so it is the pursuit of Him and His purposes that I hope shines through in this blog.

Thanks again for reading - and blessings!

Restore Brazil Video Update #1 - November 2009 (Jay Bauman)

A Welcome to Restore Brazil from the Brazilians

Ministry Thoughts: A Lessened Celebrity Culture where Unsung Heroes Abound

One of the cool things about working in a larger city (Rio is about 9 million) is the opportunity to interact with pastors and leaders of all types.  Already I am seeing that here in Brasil, the celebrity culture for pastors is not as cultivated as it is in the States, where several pastors dominate the online communities with their podcasts and methodologies, be it for good or for bad.  The lessened celebrity culture is refreshing because instead of churches and pastors branding themselves with high-paid consultants, many pastors here are busy without computers actually doing things like working among the poor.  I am not critical of megachurches and do not think any megachurch pastor in the US necessarily wants to be a celebrity, but unfortunately they often end up being a product of their environment.

This brings us to unsung heroes.  I've been meeting with some of these pastors and leaders.  They work in rough areas, and oftentimes they don't have a lot of money.  They are almost always bi-vocational.  They don't have cars and ride the bus.  They go through difficulties beyond a Sunday morning service not being perfect.  

Welcome to the rest of the world I guess...  

To be sure, the church in Brasil is far from perfect.  But it's nice to see so many unsung heroes walking out the Gospel.

A Fruitful Weekend for Rio de Paz: Front Page in Rio & Sao Paulo's largest newspapers

Rio de Paz held a demonstration commemorating 20,000 homicides since 2007 on Saturday at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.  The participants used shopping carts to illustrate those who were left in shopping carts dead after last weekends violence.  Sources now say the total dead from last weekends violence is near 50, possibly higher.  Amazingly, the pictures of the protestors ended up on the front page of two of the largest newspapers in Brasil, on Sunday to boot!  You can not pay $1 million for this type of publicity.  Bravo to everyone involved!

Brazilian President Lula Compares Himself to Jesus and Allies to Judas

In a totally strange commentary, President Lula again has baffled everyone by comparing himself to Jesus and his allies to Judas.  Read here.  While I certainly have respect for Lula's office, I'm wondering if the recent wins - both economically avoiding a recession (which many feel have been propped by primarily by massive foreign investment in Brazilian equities) and internationally (with the win of the Olympics) - have gone to his head.

Observations on IHOP-KC & Mike Bickle: A Gospel-Centered Course Correction?

Just last fall, I attended an event called The Call in Orlando one evening out of curiosity.  I thought it was very interesting that scattered throughout the book-selling tables were many John Piper books and Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology.  This was in the midst of some other titles that I would probably not recommend to my church at the time.

IHOP, the International House of Prayer, is the founder of the Call, the One Thing conferences, and is very active in prayer ministry around the world.

Those of us in the "gospel-centered" Reformed, missional circles (whatever you want to call us) oftentimes overlook our more charismatic brethren neglecting the greater good that is being accomplished for the Kingdom. 

IHOP, the International House of Prayer, is celebrating 10 years of essentially 24/7 prayer from their headquarters in Kansas City.  This is something that I think we all should celebrate. 

For many years I didn't openly recommend IHOP as an missions option for young adults because of increasing concerns about their theology on a number of levels, not the least of which is their almost seemingly endless fascination with concerns of eschatology.  This fascination borders not only on speculation at times, but has manifested itself into dominion theology at times in the past.

Those things may be somewhat present, but I have observed some positive signs.  Interestingly, in a recent video interview founder Mike Bickle seems to be more concerned than ever with the essential elements of the Gospel.  In his observations on what the Holy Spirit is doing in the church, and with reference to the emerging church, he notes the following.

"It troubles me deeply how many Godly young adults are being sucked into compromise about the doctrine of the grace of God, compromise about the deity of Jesus, compromise about a life of abandonment, compromise about what justice really is.  There are a lot of voices coming out of the church that are muddying the waters and we need clarity and we need boldness."

Those who are unfamiliar with IHOP should not neglect the power of this movement.  It is not about over 1000+ staff members serving around the world, nor the hundreds of "prayer houses" that have been started in the US and abroad, nor the 15,000+ at their conferences.  Nor is it just several of their musicians that are writing songs that are being used in churches all over the world (Misty Edwards, for example). 

Rather instead, it has captivated a generation of young adults (much like Passion did) that want to give their lives to Jesus radically.  This is in sharp contrast to many of this generation who seem to want to have the world and Christ too.  This radical passion for Christ and intercession, combined with a more Biblical understanding of the doctrines of grace, the deity of Christ, and the necessity of evangelism, could prove to be a reckoning force for the Gospel in the future.

Let us celebrate 10 years for IHOP, and let us pray that this course-correction will prove to stimulate a movement to continue to grow in passionately pursuing Christ.

Properly translated response to recent events in Rio from Rio de Paz (English)

After another weekend of terror - executed civilians, dead policemen, a police helicopter shot down, burned-out buses, rifle bursts, and widespread fear - we are confronted by the same old question whose answer is essential if lives are to be saved in Rio de Janeiro: What does Rio de Janeiro need to reach its target of reducing the violence?

For the target of reducing the violence to be reached, Rio de Janeiro will need the same kind of action that was used to achieve its goal of hosting the Olympics in 2016.

What happened and what was so decisive in causing this unlikely event to materialize? Everyone realized that winning the right to host the Olympics was something so important to the city, and at the same time so difficult, that they tried to do whatever is necessary for a society to do when faced with a challenge that appears to be beyond what is possible.

The three spheres of government came together. There was a broad mix of efforts, with each part doing what it should - municiple, state, and national.

It appears that there was planning. A feasible and well prepared project was presented to the International Olympic Committee, beating cities that do not live with the serious social problems that we face.

The population was invited to participate. A panel that had popular support for the realization of the games in Rio was set up in Copacabana beach, and clear information was passed to the society in reference to the planning and goal of realizing the Olympics. There were, therefore, joint efforts by the state apparatus, use of intelligence, and popular participation (though not high enough).

The Department of Public Safety cannot stand alone in this battle against crime. Serious errors were committed by it. Can we in good conscience, however, say that these men alone can put an end to the presence of organized crime in the thousand slums of the metropolitan region of Rio, in a context where members of our parliament are involved in crime, and where weapons, drugs, and ammunition freely enter the city? What can they do for thousands of young people, out of school, without reference to their fathers, with a boundless need in the area of self-esteem, and ready to fill the posts left by murdered comrades? Who, apart from the support of the population, can expect that the benefits derived from having a police force could work apart from the integrity and honesty of our police?

We may have our differences with the current management of public security in Rio de Janeiro, but we cannot be so unjust as to say that the responsibility lies only with the governor, the secretary of security, the commander of military police, and the civil police chief. The failure belongs to all of us. We are fighting both irresponsibly and without passion against a problem that has already been represented in this current government by 20 000 violent deaths (that's what the ISP will say in its next report) - a sea of blood (of those who were killed) and tears (of those who buried them).

A social problem of this magnitude demands the attention and involvement of the whole of society. No nation has ever won a social challenge almost beyond its strength on the basis of the vain voluntarism of a few who, on the basis of a messiah complex, want to secure their names in the annals of history.

It is up to our society to assume its responsibilities, following events closely, pressing the government through the lawful channels already established within the democratic state, and learning to take to the streets to fight for its rights – in our case, what a right! The right to life.

The state government should be humble. We are at the end of the third year in office of the current government. It is proud of the occupation of four communities that were under the control of organized crime but have been rechristened under a certain model of community policing. But friends, what about the murdered children (remember João Hélio, Fabiana, and João Roberto?), the thousands of cases of missing persons, the 200 000 intentional injuries, the police killed in unnecessary confrontations, the executions perpetrated by the police, the murders in broad daylight on public roads, the invasion of Morro dos Macacos (where the security secretary acknowledged that there was nothing to do to prevent the imminent massacre), and the 20 000 violent deaths in 2 years and 9 months? The state government must come forward and give explanations, present its policy of public security (we, the citizens, want very much to know how the police intend to use the monopoly of force, inasmuch as we should have the right to say what is not acceptable to us under any circumstances in terms of police procedure), and admit its own failure to bring about a solution to the biggest social challenge at this moment in our history.

In conclusion, society must be more responsible and humane, and the government more transparent and humble. Otherwise, in the Olympics of Life we will be the world champions in the number of the dead.

Antônio Carlos Costa
President of Rio de Paz

Rio de Paz's Response to Recent Violence in Rio and The 2016 Olympics (English version)

This piece was written by Antonio Carlos Costa in Portuguese and translated via Google (so forgive me)...

==================================================================

After another weekend of terror - executed civilians, policemen dead, police helicopter shot down, burned-out buses, bursts of rifle and posturing widespread fear - we are confronted by the same old question whose answer is essential if lives are to be saved in Rio de Janeiro: What is needed for the Rio de Janeiro to reach its target of reducing the violence?

For the target of violence reduction is reached, Rio de Janeiro will need the same kind of action was to achieve its goal of holding the Olympics in 2016.

What happened and that was so decisive for the unlikely to materialize?  Everyone realized that winning the right to host the Olympics was something so important to the city and yet it was so difficult that they tried to do whatever is necessary for a society do when faced with a challenge appears above to be impossible.

The three spheres of government have come together. There was a broad mix of efforts, with each part doing what it should have done - county, state and union.

It is perceived that there was planning. A feasible project was well prepared and presented to the International Olympic Committee, beating cities that do not live with the serious social problems that we face.

The population was invited to participate. A panel that had the popular support the achievement of the games was set in Rio's Copacabana beach and clear information was passed to the company for the planning and goal on the day of the Olympics. There was, therefore, joint efforts by the state apparatus, use of intelligence and popular participation (though not high enough).

The Department of Public Safety can not stand alone in this battle against crime. Serious errors were committed by it. We can in good conscience, however, say that these men alone can put an end to the presence of organized crime in the thousand slums of the metropolitan region of Rio, in a context where members of our parliament are involved in crime, and weapons, drugs and ammunition freely enter the city? What can they do for thousands of young people, out of school, without reference to his father, with a boundless demand in the field of self-esteem and ready to fill the posts left by comrades murdered? Who, without the support of the population, may allow the good police work from the cleaning of our police?

We may have our differences with the current management of public security in Rio de Janeiro, but we can not be unjust as to say that accountability is only the governor, the secretary of security, the commander of military police and civil police chief. The failure is all of us. We are dealing with impossibly irresponsible and a problem that has played in this current government 20 000 violent deaths (that's what the ISP will tell the next report) - a sea of blood (those who were killed) and tears (of the buried).

A social problem of this magnitude demands the attention and involvement of the whole of society. No nation has ever won social challenge almost beyond their strength on the basis of voluntarism vanity of a few who want to secure their names in the annals of history from a messiah complex.

In our society it is up to their responsibilities, following the events closely, pressing the government through the channels already established by the democratic state of law and learning to take to the streets to fight for their rights - in this case, that right! The right to life.

The government of the state should be humble. We are at the end of the third year in office the current government. He is proud of the occupation of four communities that were under the control of organized crime and be renamed a certain model of community policing. But friends, what to speak of the murdered children (remember the John Helium, Fabiana of John and Robert?), Thousands of cases of missing persons, from 200 000 intentional injuries, the police killed in clashes unnecessary executions perpetrated by police, the murder in broad daylight on public roads, the invasion of the Apes Hill (where the security secretary acknowledged that there was nothing to do to prevent the imminent massacre) and 20 000 violent deaths in 2 years and 9 months? The state government must come forward and give explanations, present policy of public security (US citizens, we both know how the police intend to use the monopoly of force as having the right to say that we should be under circumstances in terms of police) and admit his own failure to bring solution to the biggest social challenge of this moment in our history.

In conclusion, society must be more responsible and humane, and the government more transparent and humble.  Otherwise, the Olympics of Life will be the world champions in the number of dead.

Antônio Carlos Costa

President of Rio de Paz

City in Chaos? An interesting weekend in Rio.

Living in Rio for just a few weeks has been quite the experience.  In the past I would sometimes think that Brazilians were being a little dramatic when describing the challenges of the city, as well as the violence and general chaos that sometimes ensues.  I was proved wrong this weekend.

On Saturday, a form of chaos ensued as drug traffickers shot down a police helicopter, killing 2 in the helicopter and injuring 4 inside.  This was not just a normal helicopter.  This was a helicopter that was prepared for war, with the same type of exterior and safety features that the US requires.  What kind of bandits would have guns and ammunition sufficient to shoot down this type of helicopter is beyond me...  All I can say is that organized crime is alive and well in Rio.  How do I know this? 

At the same time that the helicopters were shot down, a coordinated effort by the bandits across the city set 10, that's right TEN buses on fire in approximately five areas (mostly around favelas).  (Imagine this in the US, this would be on the news for weeks)...  This was to distract the police from finding the culprits behind the initial violence.  In a measure of compassion the bandits allowed innocent people to get off the buses, but still...  Again I was thinking how coordinated the drug traffickers must be, with a simple phone call to set fire on buses across the city by coordinated gangs.

A friend once told me that organized crime never exists without police corruption, and this is surely the case in Rio.  

The governer of the state of Rio declined help from the Federal government of Brazil.  I'm not sure why, it appears that the city is in constant denial of how ridiculous these events are, and how many lives are tragically impacted (inside sources say there were not 12, but over 30 fatalities related to the violence this weekend, but major Brazilian news outlets avoid sharing this for harming the public reputation).  The international community and news outlets have not ignored this either, just a couple of weeks after Rio won the 2016 Olympics, it has been on the front pages of several news outlets.  But for Globo and the Brazilian news outlets, it appears to be just another day in the city of Rio.

I'm not sharing all of this to scare anyone from visiting.  Normally, life here is peaceful and we generally avoid dangerous areas.  But it is tragic that the officials of the city are so accustomed to these problems that they won't even accept help from the Federal government of Brazil.  Pride comes before the fall I guess...

At the same time, last night I was able to go to a new church plant in Rio with 19 people.  This was a great experience with Pastor Dell and Igreja Plena Villa Dos Teles.  We will be working together to help this church, started in a home just a few weeks ago, to grow by God's grace.  For I know it's only the Gospel that will transform lives and the city I now call home.

Recognizing my Consumer ways... the Gospel working in Me

After just living in Brazil for a couple of weeks, it has become increasingly clear to me how accustomed I am to my Consumer ways...  While I never was the kind of guy that bought 64-ounce Super Big Gulps at 7-11, it has been hard to get accustomed to using 6-oz cups and sharing 1-liter bottles of limited selections of soda.  12-oz cans are kind of a luxury, meaning that you never chug them but oftentimes share them with your spouse, and you never buy 12-pack of soda unless you are really rich.  Thanks to an incredibly weak dollar (thanks to the Fed flooding the market with dollars!) versus the strengthening Brazil Real (currency) we are forced even more to not be Consumers, which I guess for me while frustrating at times is overall a good thing - it's the Gospel working in me.

Not having the Soda I want is hardly suffering for the gospel, but in a culture where everything from the rooms to the food to the closets to the bathrooms are all in smaller proportions, you learn to do more with less.  Sometimes I stumble, almost breaking things as I go from one place to another because I am used to so much space...  Now I actually am careful how I walk, how I open doors, how I approach almost everything.  Not having the open spaces of the farms of Wisconsin or the gated communities of Florida, living in a small apartment is quite an adjustment - but again, it's the Gospel working in me.

Eating less is a good thing for sure.  I recognize that I often over-ate in the US, where gluttony is a sin rarely mentioned even from the pulpits as pastors typically are among those most indulgent.  Except for the occasional indulgence at a churrascaria (think Texas de Brazil or Fogo de Chao), again, the Gospel is working in me.  Quit being a pig, Jay.

The fact is in Brazil, I can't have whatever I want, when I want it, how I want it.  Getting things is often difficult.  No dollar menus exist, and instead you often have to wait for food prepared from scratch, which again is a good thing.  

We need to buy some fixtures - just go to Home Depot, right?  Not so easy here, buddy...  Not only are some things incredibly expensive (think $110 for a metallic towel rack) it is irritating since i know the real price in the US.  Makes me almost justify a trip back to the US to get all the things I should have bought so much cheaper and add them to my already-crowded one-time-only-tax-free cargo container.  I have a new respect and understanding for the thousands of Brazilians that descend upon the outlet malls in Orlando, spending hours in Ross and Wal-Mart in the US in order to pack their 70-lb bags full of stuff so they don't have to pay Brazilian prices. 

Better to pay an extra $100 for a third bag than $110 for a towel rack.

Or maybe we just don't need so much stuff after all anyways...  Would it be a blessing if my stuff didn't arrive?  I always told my wife I only needed a Bible, a guitar, and a laptop in order to be happy.  Oh yeah, I needed her too!

I am feeling a little too transparent so I should probably stop here.  Jesus, please kill at least some of the consumer in me.