News

Baptisms slow their decline in 2003 Annual Church Profile report
By Joe Westbury, Managing editor
Published May 20, 2004

Georgia churches reported slightly fewer baptisms in 2003 than in the previous year, but that minimal drop was a significant improvement from the 5.3 percent decrease reported in 2001.

The Georgia Connection: From Brooklyn to the Ivory Coast
By Gerald Harris, Editor
Published May 20, 2004

Stephen and Elaine Haber are both from Brooklyn - home of Ebbets Field, the Old Dutch Church, the Lott House and the place where the USS Monitor was built to combat the Merrimac. Their journey that has taken them through Flatbush will ultimately take them to the Ivory Coast, where they are willing to invest their lives as career missionaries.

Mercer opens University Center
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published May 20, 2004

You will have to travel far and wide to find anything comparable to the brand new $40 million University Center at Mercer. The University Center and Griffin B. Bell Board Room were dedicated April 15. R. Kirby Godsey, president and CEO of the university, presided over the ceremony and indicated that the 230,000-square-foot building will become the signature facility on the university’s Macon campus.

Georgia volunteers supply Moldova for medical needs and with Christian love
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published May 20, 2004

For nearly 200 residents of this small town in northern Moldova, Elementary School Number 3 was the center of the universe for a few hours on May 3. They came with a variety of ailments to be seen by a Georgia Baptist medical team, their hope tied to spending a few minutes with a doctor or nurse who could relieve their discomfort.

Georgia pastor receives Dove Award for Songwriter of the Year
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published May 20, 2004

Mark Hall is the student pastor at Eagle’s Landing First Church, but his ministry extends far beyond the ministry of a local church. He is the lead vocalist in the Christian band known as Casting Crowns and was recently hailed as songwriter of the year by the Gospel Music Association.

Religious NewsBriefs

Methodists join boycott of Taco Bell
Published May 20, 2004

PITTSBURGH (RNS) The United Methodist Church became the largest U.S. church body to join a boycott against Taco Bell, urging the fast-food giant to improve working conditions for migrant tomato-pickers in Immokalee, Fla.

Promise Keepers’ study shows men rank family matters and career over faith as top need
Published May 20, 2004

(RNS) Promise Keepers officials say they intend to change the focus of their Christian men’s ministry after a survey they commissioned found that most men do not consider matters of faith a top need or challenge in their lives.

Alliance of Baptists adopts statement favoring same-sex marriage at annual meeting
Published May 20, 2004

(RNS) The Alliance of Baptists, a progressive Baptist group, has adopted a statement in favor of same-sex marriage.

Christian leaders say Bush environmental policy is immoral in Earth Day rebuke
Published May 20, 2004

(RNS) One hundred Christian leaders told President Bush in a pointed Earth Day rebuke on April 22 that they have “grave moral concern” about his clean air policy.

Dead Sea Scrolls museum wing set to reopen after year-long renovation
Published May 20, 2004

JERUSALEM (RNS) The Israel Museum will reopen the Shrine of the Book, the wing that houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, on June 7 after a year-long renovation.

People and Places

Anniversaries
Published May 20, 2004

Obituaries
Published May 20, 2004

Ordinations
Published May 20, 2004

Honors
Published May 20, 2004

Groundbreakings
Published May 20, 2004

Retirement
Published May 20, 2004

Ministerial Moves
Published May 20, 2004

Cooperative Program Stories

Georgia's small churches making a big difference with CP giving
By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC
Published May 20, 2004

Delwood Church is so far out in the country, even the pastor is surprised that people find it.

Bible Study

Being Friends
By Allan Lockerman, Pastor, First Baptist Elberton
Published May 20, 2004

How many friends do you have?

Baptism
By Allan Lockerman, Pastor, First Baptist Elberton
Published May 20, 2004

To the uninitiated, baptism is a most peculiar ordinance, especially as it is practiced in our circle of faith. To submit oneself to a public display of humility that requires appearing before a congregation wet from head to toe will seem extreme to some people. But what is strange and extreme to some is for us both the initial and central expression of our faith. What makes baptism so important? This is a challenging question that I fear is not being addressed fully enough in our churches.

Columns

Christian schools no substitute for parental guidance
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published May 20, 2004

The public schools of America and, yes, Georgia, too, have come under meticulous scrutiny and unmitigated criticism in recent years. Some of it is justified, because nothing of the monumental proportions of public education can be all honey and no bees.

Paying the ultimate price
By Peter Beck, Director of Marketing, Southern Seminary
Published May 20, 2004

I’d never heard of Pat Tillman before he joined the Army two years ago.

Nagging wife and overworked husband equal troubled marriage
By James Dobson
Published May 20, 2004

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published May 20, 2004

I recently preached at an Alabama Baptist State Convention event for senior adults. It was their Senior Adult Evangelism Conference. The meeting was held at the East Memorial Baptist Church in Prattville, Alabama. What a thrill it was to see more than 1,000 senior adults show up for the meeting. They came in cars, vans and buses. They literally packed out the church.