The West

NickImage

In The Nine Nations of North America, Joel Garreau argued that the political boundaries between Mexico, Canada, and the United States are in certain respects less important than the economic and cultural differences between regions. Garreau re-drew the map of North America into nine cultural regions or nations which, he said, would provide a key to understanding the most important commonalities of each region. The nine regions were Quebec (for Garreau, a nation unto itself), New England (including the Maritimes), the Foundry (the industrial Northeast), Dixie (the Old South), the Islands (the whole Caribbean and much of Central America), the Breadbasket (the agricultural Midwest), Ecotopia (the Pacific Coast), Mexamerica (the desert Southwest and Mexico), and the Empty Quarter (the open spaces of the Rocky Mountain West and the far North).

Garreau wrote during the early 1980s. If he were to redraw his map today, I suspect that Mexamerica would extend far into the region that he characterized as the Empty Quarter. In 1981, he considered Denver to be the capital of the Empty Quarter, and it still dominates much of the Rocky Mountain West. Now, however, it has become much more Hispanic and Southwestern in its flavor. In other words, the boundary between the West (or what used to be the West) and the Southwest is not as clear as it used to be.

Another feature that might be more prominent than Garreau reckoned is the presence of a virtual Mormon nation in the middle of the Empty Quarter. As a cultural unit, the Mormon nation blankets not only Utah, but also much of Idaho and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, and Nevada. Some of the strongest (and, frankly, zaniest) Mormon influence is focused on all sides of the Four Corners area.

Ministry in the West and Southwest is different than ministry in the East, the Midwest, or the Old South. For one thing, distances are much greater, meaning that church congregations are likely to be more widely dispersed, as are opportunities for inter-church fellowship. People often value privacy and are accustomed to isolation, matters that require a unique pastoral approach. Western individualism and self-reliance can easily cross the line into colorful idiosyncrasy. History also has lingering effects: the people who settled the West were often looking to make a fortune or to have a good time, and pursuit of recreation often outpaces spiritual interests—even for long-time church members.

Men who intend to minister in the West need to have some idea of its values, customs, norms, and rites of passage. No training institution east of the High Plains or west of the Sierra Nevadas is equipped to fulfill this task. It cannot be accomplished by simply adding a course in, say, Rocky Mountain Culture or Latino Influences to an eastern institution. You learn the West by living in the West and experiencing its mores. The best way to prepare men to be effective at Western ministry is to train them in the West.

Of course, I am not suggesting that only born cowboys can minister in the West. Many easterners have experienced successful ministries in places where semi-formal means clean jeans, a new belt buckle, and a Buck knife. To some extent, however, they have all had to re-learn ministry in order to be effective. Those who can make the transition have contributed to the Lord’s work; those who cannot have usually gone home. When it comes to preparing ministers for the West, however, there is no substitute for training them in the West.

In this respect, the West is no different than anywhere else. Wherever missionaries go into new cultures, they first lead souls to Christ, then plant churches, then personally train pastors, and then establish training institutions. Sending Brazilians or Filipinos to Illinois for their ministry preparation has not exactly been a successful plan. The most effective training comes from within the culture itself: Romanians teaching Romanians in Romania or Indians teaching Indians in India. Putting Bible colleges and seminaries in the West or Southwest is nearly as important.

At one time, such an institution existed in Colorado. Known as Denver Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary, it grew out of the heritage of the so-called Conservative Baptist Hard Core. While the school (especially the seminary) had much to offer, it could not survive the political exigencies of Baptist fundamentalism from the East. Some looked askance at its ruin simply because it did not require the right version of the Bible, others refused support because it did not enforce the stricter taboos of Eastern fundamentalism, and still others vowed its ruin because they identified too closely with some ecclesiastical potentate who lived on the other side of the Missouri. Both college and seminary were permitted to die, creating a vacuum of education from which the West has never recovered.

Part of that deficiency is now being addressed by another school, International Baptist College and Seminary in Chandler, Arizona. International opened its doors as Denver was declining. It has been consolidating and improving its ministry over the past thirty-odd years. Much of its ministry was erected under the leadership of Pastor Jim Singleton and president Jerry Tetreau. The school has continued to flourish under the pastorate of Mike Sproul and the presidency of David Brock. It represents well the better traditions and perspectives of historic fundamentalism while also serving the culture of the West and Southwest.

International Baptist College is still small enough to allow a very personal relationship between teachers and students. It offers very credible biblical training, an urban environment, a strong focus upon the local church, and a good dose of Southwestern culture. IBC occupies a new campus and is beginning to offer an array of new and generous scholarships. It is within range of ministry to Hispanics, Mormons, various tribes of First People, and several Anglo constituencies. It is a good choice for college students who want a smaller school. It is also a good training institution for men who plan to minister in the West.

Because of its small size and strong connection to a local church, International Baptist College may not always receive the credit that it deserves. As someone who began pastoral ministry in the West, however, I am grateful that it exists and I hope that it flourishes. Right now, International Baptist College is able to fulfill a role that few (possibly no) other institutions are capable of accomplishing.

Lauds
David Oestreich (1970- )

At last sunrise, for the first time
in this new year, I woke to hear
an oriole call out sublime
delight at merely being the bird
it was. Its song exposed, I thought,
as incomplete each dawn without.

Could ever I—how better fed
and clothed, how better loved!—
leave any word of joy unsaid
or fail to lend my syllables
to daybreak’s hymn? Herein I sing
my poor and truant offering.

Copyright ©2012 David Oestreich

Discussion

Interesting analysis of differences in ministry in the out of the way places. I think much of what can be said about “west/southwest” is also true of rural just about anywhere.

Nice to see http://sharperiron.org/users/davido] Oestreich’s poem, too. Nice work.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

Aaron, have you lived in the West? I intend that as an honest question. I’ve lived in rural areas and have lived in the West. Bauder is right: while some overlap in practical experiences may exist (for example, being accustomed to traveling fair distances for visits & shopping), the culture in the West is different. Dr. Bauder, thank you for highlighting ministry in the west. I appreciated knowing about opportunities at IBC.

MClark, I have been involved in several ministries in the Midwest and have been the pastor of a church in rural Idaho and now in urban Phoenix. I would agree that there are cultural idiosyncrasies that are unique to geographic regions but those idiosyncrasies are fading fast. With the pervasiveness of modern pop culture, it is easy to find families in the Midwest where teens have more in common with teens in Los Angeles than they do with their own parents or grandparents.

I would also agree that cultural distinctions in America are not as much geographic but rural verses urban. That may not have been the situation in the 1980’s but it is now. A rural Arizona rancher probably has more in common with a rural Iowa farmer than he does with a man from Phoenix who spends his days in an office cubical. I’m not saying there are no geographic differences but the rural-urban differences are vastly more substantial.

I will always be grateful for how God used IBC in my life. I received two degrees and one wife from IBC. My father (Dr. Jerry Tetreau) who presently serves as chancellor and the founder of Tri-City Baptist Church (Dr. Jim Singleton) were two of the most Godly and important mentors I’ve ever had. Thx Kevin for the article. I’m sure I share the views of the alumni - we are grateful for the good years spent in study at IBC. I’m sure all of us are prayerful for God’s continued direction and blessing on the present batch of prof’s and students. One of the untold hero’s of IBC has always been the church family of Tri-City Baptist Church. The congregation is a loving one and frankly has done a wonderful job of reaching out to the college students who can be found in a variety of ministries there at TCB. I can tell you also - the MA in Biblical Studies at IBC is in my opinion one of the best…..if not the best in the country. Of course I’m biased.

Straight Ahead!

jt

Dr. Joel Tetreau serves as Senior Pastor, Southeast Valley Bible Church (sevbc.org); Regional Coordinator for IBL West (iblministry.com), Board Member & friend for several different ministries;

I agree that in order to effectively minister, one must understand and respect regional culture. I also agree with Mr. Leavell that there also a major disconnect between urban and rural.

Then there is WV, which qualifies as an alternate dimension.

http://www.hollyeats.com/images/Wheeling/Hillbilly-Building2.jpg(link is external)

( http://www.hillbillyhotdogs.com/(link is external) famous restaurant just down the road from where I grew up)

Scenescape Media(link is external)

[MClark] Aaron, have you lived in the West? I intend that as an honest question. I’ve lived in rural areas and have lived in the West. Bauder is right: while some overlap in practical experiences may exist (for example, being accustomed to traveling fair distances for visits & shopping), the culture in the West is different.
No, haven’t lived in the west. I’m sure there are major differences from rural churches in general. I’m just saying it sounds like there are also a lot of similarities. It seems like much of seminary education—at least in the practical theology department—assumes a metro-area/thriving suburb as the church environment. For the most part, books, seminars, conferences are even worse in that dept. (with some exceptions… the http://www.rhma.org/index.php/conferences(link is external)] RHMA conference always has the rural church much in view).

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

[Susan R] ( http://www.hillbillyhotdogs.com/(link is external) famous restaurant just down the road from where I grew up)
Just saw this dive highlighted on Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives. Looks like they have some awesome dawgs & burgers—like downing 1 could clog your arteries give an immediate stroke! :O

[BryanBice]
[Susan R] ( http://www.hillbillyhotdogs.com/(link is external) famous restaurant just down the road from where I grew up)
Just saw this dive highlighted on Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives. Looks like they have some awesome dawgs & burgers—like downing 1 could clog your arteries give an immediate stroke! :O
Saw that episode too. I was just so proud of my home ‘town’ :D (Lesage doesn’t really qualify as a town…).

Scenescape Media(link is external)

[Susan R]
[BryanBice]
[Susan R] ( http://www.hillbillyhotdogs.com/(link is external) famous restaurant just down the road from where I grew up)
Just saw this dive highlighted on Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives. Looks like they have some awesome dawgs & burgers—like downing 1 could clog your arteries give an immediate stroke! :O
Saw that episode too. I was just so proud of my home ‘town’ :D (Lesage doesn’t really qualify as a town…).
Since, according to a now-deceased native(?) of WV, the fine state is “almost heaven,” does that mean in the re-creation of all things we could enjoy a “Home Wrecker” without indigestion, heartburn, horrific weight gain, and a major heart attack? Hmmmm…..

I grew up in Tucson, and after my youthful experiences in fundamental Baptist churches in that city, my only plea is to please send more trained expositors out west.

AA

another institution San Francisco (Conservative) Baptist Theological Seminary. SFBTS died because “spiritual” Easterners thought San Francisco was the next step to Sodom and Gomorrah. So, students were not encouraged to attend and support from back East was all but non-existent

Hoping to shed more light than heat..

Aaron wrote:

“It seems like much of seminary education—at least in the practical theology department—assumes a metro-area/thriving suburb as the church environment. For the most part, books, seminars, conferences are even worse in that dept. (with some exceptions… the RHMA conference always has the rural church much in view). “


There are not only cultural differences but also population differences. As I have observed comments on Christian forums, I have read something to the effect of- if your church is established and only has 30 attenders on Sunday you are not even a real church. Let us not forget that many pastors and missionaries have come out little churches like this.

About 15 years ago, I helped canvas a small town of about 5000 people (a big town compared to where our church was located) that did not have any fundamental work and the closest thing to a conservative evangelical work was the Assemblies of God. As we went door to door we surveyed church attendance and the view on the gospel. Very, very few came even close to giving an answer that even resembled trusting in the grace of Christ for salvation. Most either had no clue or were basing their hope on works. We then followed up with the same survey in our little town of about 700 where there had been an established Baptist church for years. Even though the people were attending similar churches to the first town we had canvased, many were able to give the right answer to the question, “why should the Lord let you into heaven?”

In a small town, a faithful church and its members have a huge impact just by their very presence and interaction with the members of the community. We do not have the budgets, manpower, or other resources to implement some of the outreach programs other churches are using, but that does not mean God is not being glorified through many of these small ministries. Kevin’s article was a great reminder to all of us that we should not all be using the same approaches as we minister and that we must be careful that certain areas not be forgotten.

It has been my pleasure to be with Dr./Pastor Mike Sproul on numerous occasions at Tri-City Baptist Church now located in Chandler, Arizona. The new facilities are very, very impressive. The College and Seminary have a beautiful new home. Some good friends of mine whom I highly respect, Dr. McCune and Dr. Gerald Priest, have taught special classes at the seminary. These men are solid Baptists, separatists, God-centered theologians, and classical dispensationalists. The fact that Pastor Sproul brings in these men of such high/noble character and doctrine gives me confidence that the school will be a blessing to those who attend there.

My personal relationship with Mike Sproul has grown through the years. I spent time with him last Friday touring all of his new facilities. I am impressed with a man who could orchestrate a ten-year re-location and end up growing the church and school at the same time–an amazing accomplishment. God did it, as Mike constantly reminded me, but I know God used a faithful and tenacious worker/leader to do so. This church reminds me of Inter-City Baptist Church in some ways. Tri-city, in addition to its congregation of nearly 700 people, has a school of 350, a pre-school of 50, a college, a seminary, and a mission-board. I get a little tired just thinking about it. To my knowledge it is one of the few non-KJV only fundamental educational institutions of higher learning west of the Mississippi.

Pastor Mike Harding

I just read this article, don’t know why I didn’t read it closely when it first came out…

And in saying ‘objection’, I should say that I don’t object to the basic premise of the article or the good comments about IBC. I am looking forward to seeing the ministry there first hand this summer during the national FBF fellowship meeting there, June 12-14.

My objection is to the book KTB cites about the 9 regions of North America and its lumping of Canadian regions in with American ones, except for Quebec. This reflects a typical American misunderstanding of Canada. Canadians are decidedly not Americans. Our country is founded on the principle, “We don’t want to be Americans.” (Doesn’t have quite the ring of “Give me liberty or give me death,” but, really, Canadians don’t want either one of those options.)

Consequently, a crying need for Canadian churches are good quality Bible colleges in Canada. (And this is in harmony with what KTB said in his article.) There are a few small efforts here that are helping to build for the future, but the constituency of Bible-believing churches is quite small which makes their efforts challenging. One such effort is http://foundationbaptistcollege.ca/(link is external) Foundation Baptist College in Edmonton, Alberta. My son is a part-time professor there and I serve on the advisory board, so we are partial to this effort. Another is http://www.ebbi.ca/cms/welcome-to-EBBI(link is external)] Emmanuel Baptist Bible Institute in Moncton, New Brunswick, led by a good friend, Tim Friesen.

So… I don’t object to the premise of the article at all. Just got my Canadian goat getting lumped in there with the Americans. (Even though I am married to one and the father of five of them!)

Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3