Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: The Baptists are coming!

Sunday, Dec. 5, 1999 | 10:02 a.m.

Mike O'Callaghan is the Las Vegas Sun executive editor.

THE BAPTISTS are coming! The Baptists are coming!

So? They aren't the enemy but you would never know it by the published remarks of a few religious leaders. The designation of Las Vegas as one of two Southern Baptists' "Strategic Focus" cities in 2001 resulted in remarks of concern by some religious leaders.

Evidently some of the literature the Baptist evangelists used in other cities also upset religious leaders. A large Chicago interfaith group went goofy about the Baptists' efforts to convert the people in that large city. They actually stated that the concentration of conversion efforts could "contribute to a climate conducive to hate crimes." That evaluation of the evangelical missionaries takes a leap from reality back to the Dark Ages. It takes a super mental athlete to make that leap.

There's nothing wrong with men and women defending their own religious beliefs. Such a defense is much more effective if done in a positive manner. Attacking the religious beliefs of another person or persons usually has a negative effect and only makes the targeted people stronger in their faith.

Over a period of several years a religious group would come by our house and hand out pamphlets that openly attacked our Catholic faith. Our family was taught to thank them and take the literature. If it was a hot summer day we usually offered a cold glass of water also. The literature demonized the pope and made vulgar references to other members of our church. After thumbing through the reading material it was properly disposed of in the garbage can.

The courts have ruled that some of the most salacious collection of pictures and writing can be handed out to Las Vegas families and visitors on the Strip. This practice and some of our backroom adult entertainment should be a bigger worry for our local religious leaders than the focus of several hundred Baptist missionaries. Their presence may bring a healthy dose of ideas not often found on Fremont Street or the Strip.

Sun writer Stacy Willis, when describing the event planned for the 2001 missionary campaign called "Loving Las Vegas" explained:

"Along with other missionary activities, local Southern Baptists expect to devote their resources toward distributing videos about Jesus, hosting block parties, sponsoring booths at sporting events, collecting and distributing food to the hungry and creating a counseling program for troubled Las Vegans.

" 'We're going to train volunteer counselors to help people who have drug issues or divorce issues -- there are tens of thousands of people out there who just need someone to talk to,' said the Rev. Tommy Starkes, Southern Baptist pastor of Tropicana Christian Fellowship and a member of the Loving Las Vegas planning committee. ..."

Starkes also made clear that he opposes the practice of focusing conversion efforts on specific faith groups like Jews and Hindus. It was this kind of action that triggered the negative response of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago. Instead of suggesting the Baptists not have Chicago as a "Strategic Focus City" next year they should have used Rev. Starkes' approach and discussed their concern about pinpointing specific groups for conversion.

Personally, I like the plans of our local Southern Baptists to collect and distribute food to the poor and offer counseling for troubled individuals. Helping the poor, homeless and confused people in the streets is something needed now and can't wait until 2001. Working with St. Vincents, Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels and other active groups feeding people is a practice we all can understand.

I want to repeat a Where I Stand column written in June 1989:

We can be proud that the three-day convention of the Southern Baptists is being held in Las Vegas. We are a better place to live because of their presence and they will leave here letting the rest of the country know that Nevadans are good hosts and good people.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to talk to some of the church visitors from the Southwest and was most impressed with their views of the Silver State. I was also impressed with their views as fellow Americans who want this to be an even better and stronger nation.

Welcome, Southern Baptists!