News

Public light, private darkness
By Sherri Brown, Special Assignment Reporter
Published October 11, 2007

Michael and Natalie Flake first headed to the North Georgia mountains as newlyweds. Married less than two months, the two signed on as semester missionaries with Helen First Baptist and Georgia Mountain Resort Ministries. Michael became the assistant to Kyle Woodfin, who was both pastor of the church and director of the fledgling resort ministry. Natalie became youth minister at the church.? It was Michael’s energy and enthusiastic faith that first struck Woodfin.

How to help a family dealing with bipolar disorder
Published October 11, 2007

Natalie Flake readily admits she lived through the last years of her husband’s illness with the help of close friends in her Christian community.

What are the causes of bipolar disorder?
Published October 11, 2007

While the exact cause of bipolar disorder is not known, most scientists believe that bipolar disorder is likely caused by multiple factors that interact with each other to produce a chemical imbalance affecting certain parts of the brain.

Life on the other side of the fall
By Sherri Brown
Published October 11, 2007

When Michael Flake, a Georgia Baptist resort missionary in Helen, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder he immediately decided to keep it a secret. Fearful of losing his job – his family’s sole income – he convinced his wife, Natalie, that living the secret was the safest way.

An open letter to Georgia Baptists:
Published October 11, 2007

Georgia Baptists will meet November 11, 2007, at 6:30 p.m., for the pre-convention inspirational rally at Curtis Baptist Church in Augusta.

Construction with a cause
Georgia/California project can save money for missions
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published October 11, 2007

Georgia Baptists who enjoy driving nails or installing sheetrock are encouraged to consider helping California Baptists with a major construction project.

Bureau of Prisons changes course on banning religious texts
By Adelle M. Banks
Published October 11, 2007

After receiving criticism from religious leaders and Capitol Hill, the Federal Bureau of Prisons says it will scale back its effort to ban religious texts from prison libraries.

Game about religion seeks to build interfaith understanding
By David Briggs, c. 2007 Religion News Service
Published October 11, 2007

According to Islam, do humans carry the sins of their ancestors?

562 baptized in church's parking lot
By Erin Roach
Published October 11, 2007

The idea of tailgating before a baptism celebration might seem rather unusual to some, but at NewSpring Church, it’s part of an effort to reach people with the creativity and relevance found in the Bible.

Frank exchanges aired at conference on emerging church
By Tammi Reed Ledbetter, Compiled from Baptist Press Reports
Published October 11, 2007

Southeastern Seminary entered the emerging church minefield with a “Convergent” conference, the name itself hinting at President Daniel Akin’s call for Southern Baptists to combine the best practices of traditional and emerging churches in order to “minister with truth and ?urgency.”?The participation of Mars Hill Church pastorMark Driscoll of Seattle as a speaker at the Sept. 21-22 conference at Southeastern’s Wake Forest, N.C., campus elicited outrage from one Southern Baptist who said the church planting-oriented Acts 29 Network, which Driscoll leads as president, encourages lax attitudes toward sinful behavior in order to gain a hearing among unbelievers.

Photographer captures faith on the side of the road
By Shona Crabtree, c. 2007 Religion News Service
Published October 11, 2007

Sam Fentress has spent the past 25 years crisscrossing America’s highways and byways, stopping along the way to snap shots of religious signs in every state except Hawaii. He found everything from John 3:3 on a farm silo in Ohio to “Obey God or Burn” scratched into a rock in Harlem.

Facing the Giants' momentum continues year after debut
Novel based on movie published Sept. 7
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published October 11, 2007

Demand remains strong for the “Facing the Giants” franchise barely a year after the Georgia-based feature movie hit the big screen nationwide. And, its popularity has spurred renewed interest in Sherwood Production’s first big-screen release, Flywheel: The Movie.

Insurance offered for church fender benders
Service an option for Georgians
By Adelle M. Banks, c. 2007 Religion News Service
Published October 11, 2007

When Pastor Jim Goforth’s Pontiac Aztec got hit by a teenage driver in a church parking lot a couple of years ago, his insurance company waived his $500 deductible.

Phil Keaggy, The Winans, among GMA Gospel Hall of Fame inductees
Published October 11, 2007

Christian musicians Phil Keaggy and The Winans are among this year’s inductees to the Gospel Music Association’s Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Natural burials take dead gently to a green good night
By Elizabeth Birge, c. 2007 Religion News Service
Published October 11, 2007

In life, Lou Tafuri loved to fish in the waters off the New Jersey coast. In death, he sleeps with the fishes. His family couldn’t be happier.

New ministers, families get a Georgia welcome at orientation
By Scott Barkley, Production Editor
Published October 11, 2007

Forty-five ministers and their families new to the state of Georgia became familiar with the number of ways to expand their church’s impact through the GBC New Ministers Orientation held here Sept. 27-28.

Georgia NewsBriefs

New Orleans Seminary alumni invited to meet at GBC convention in Augusta
Published October 11, 2007

The Georgia alumni chapter of New Orleans Seminary will meet for a reunion on Nov. 13 in Augusta during the annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention.

Jones named to lead Laurens Association
Published October 11, 2007

Bobby Jones, pastor of Tattnall Square Baptist Church in Macon, is the new associational missionary for Laurens Association. He began his service with the association Sept. 17.

Baptist News Summary

Baptist General Convention of Texas trims budget, eliminates 30 staff
Published October 11, 2007

The Baptist General Convention of Texas will trim its budget by $473,644 and eliminate as many as 30 staff if messengers to its annual convention approve the budget as recommended by the state convention’s Executive Board.

Midwestern Seminary responds to reported conflict
Published October 11, 2007

Midwestern Seminary’s administration responded via a six-paragraph statement Sept. 21 to a reported conflict between MBTS President R. Philip Roberts and trustee chairman Gene Downing of Oklahoma City.

Wildfire relief underway for Greece
Published October 11, 2007

Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers from five states are planning trips to Greece in the aftermath of wildfires that raged across 469,000 acres in late August, destroying more than 100 villages and killing at least 67 people.

CP grows $5 million in fiscal year
Published October 11, 2007

Southern Baptist churches boosted their Cooperative Program giving by more than $5 million for international and national missions and ministries during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Morris H. Chapman.

Momentum growing for West Virginia prayer conference in November
Published October 11, 2007

Expectations are rising for an extended time of prayer at a conference in West Virginia this fall.

Three-time Baptist exec Stringer dies
Published October 11, 2007

Dan C. Stringer, who served as executive director-treasurer of three Baptist state conventions, died Oct. 2. He was 80 and had been diagnosed with terminal cancer two weeks earlier.

Collection of rare books at New Orleans Seminary gets attention
Published October 11, 2007

The strong but pleasant smell of old leather and parchment fills the rare books room in New Orleans Seminary’s John T. Christian Library.

Names in the News
Published October 11, 2007

Harry S. Dent, who worked under Presidents Nixon and Ford before launching a lay ministry at age 55, died Sept. 28 at age 77 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Religious NewsBriefs

Jews ask for kosher snacks on planes
Published October 11, 2007

With airlines cutting back on in-flight food options, the Orthodox Union has asked eight major airlines to provide kosher snacks on flights.

Historic Sixteenth Street Baptist Church nears end of renovations following campaign
Published October 11, 2007

Recent renovations to this city’s historic Sixteenth Street Baptist Church – where four black girls were killed in a 1963 bombing – are nearing completion, said pastor Arthur Price.

Pentagon concludes probe of Muslim chaplain
Published October 11, 2007

The Pentagon’s inspector general has concluded a review of a former Muslim chaplain who was detained and later cleared of espionage charges, saying the Department of Defense acted properly in investigating the Army chaplain.

Insurers must now cover travelers to Israel
Published October 11, 2007

The House approved a bill Sept. 19 that prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage to people who travel to Israel, a step that was welcomed by Orthodox Jews.

People and Places

Anniversaries
Published October 11, 2007

Homecoming
Published October 11, 2007

Ordinations
Published October 11, 2007

Retirements
Published October 11, 2007

Cooperative Program Stories

A home for new beginnings
By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC
Published October 11, 2007

An examination of the birth records at one house in Chatham County could produce some raised eyebrows. The rambling brick house on a quiet residential street in Savannah has chalked up an amazing 200 births in the last 11 years.

Bible Study

The Heart of the Matter
By Scott Barkley, Production Editor, The Christian Index
Published October 11, 2007

Matthew 5:21-32
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, Oct. 21

RESPECT – Find Out What It Means
By Scott Barkley, Production Editor, The Christian Index
Published October 11, 2007

Matthew 5:33-48
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, Oct. 28

Columns

Needed: a wholesome respect for authority
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published October 11, 2007

I was taught to respect authority when I was growing up. I memorized the Ten Commandments in public school and learned to honor my father and mother as the fifth commandment specifies. My parents taught me that my teachers in school and church were to be respected and admired. I was also instructed to highly esteem the pastor of our church, who was God’s man and worthy of honor.?

How to 'flunk' retirement
By Erich Bridges
Published October 11, 2007

“Old soldiers never die; they just fade away,” Gen. Douglas MacArthur observed in the twilight of his long military career.

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published October 11, 2007

The Georgia Baptist Convention is involved in missions in Georgia, the United States, and around the world. Your support of the Cooperative Program, the State Missions Offering, Lottie Moon Offering, and the Annie Armstrong Offering touches so many needs at home and around the world that it is truly amazing to consider the variety of ministries taking place.

Lack of support system worries mother
Focus On The Family
By James Dobson
Published October 11, 2007