News

Examples of living proof
Fayette County church makes its mark publicly
By Scott Barkley, Production Editor
Published August 13, 2009

Scott Smith used to be a runner.

Georgian Phil Wilkes
ministers in the seedbed of American history
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published August 13, 2009

New Colony Baptist Church, where Atlanta native Phil Wilkes serves as pastor along with his wife Sue, is a thriving church in the heart of New England Catholic country.

GCR website goes live at pray4gcr.com
Published August 13, 2009

A website encouraging support for the Southern Baptist Convention's Great Commission Resurgence Task Force has been launched at www.pray4gcr.com.

Brewton-Parker providing online options for classes
Published August 13, 2009

Non-traditional students needing ministry education but hampered by work and family responsibilities have some help courtesy of Brewton-Parker College.

A VBS that could be the beginning of a new church
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published August 13, 2009

Blackshear Place Baptist Church knows nothing of relaxing their evangelism efforts in the hazy, lazy days of summer.

China cracks down on human rights lawyers
Published August 13, 2009

Chinese authorities have closed a legal research center in Beijing and revoked the licenses of more than 50 attorneys in what some observers says is a bid to exert greater control over human rights activists.

Will the real Christmas in August please stand up?
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published August 13, 2009

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's guests on "To Tell the Truth" are two missionaries ministering in completely different parts of the world yet serving on identical assignments. One is dressed in traditional Western clothing common in the United States while the other is wearing an interesting wardrobe that is more at home in Cairo, Egypt than Cairo, Georgia.

Diggin' it
First Shorter archeological trip yields discovery
By Scott Barkley, Production Editor
Published August 13, 2009

Alan Hix hopes a recent find in Israel leads Shorter College students to see archeology as more than Indiana Jones motifs, but as a viable glimpse into the past.

CP giving among Great Commission Task Force members' churches ranges from 1 to 18 percent
By Reprinted from The Alabama Baptist
Published August 13, 2009

During the recent Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting in Louisville, Ky., messengers voted to approve a Great Commission Task Force.

Christmas in August supports NAMB missionaries
By Jessie Gable
Published August 13, 2009

Thanks to members of WMU missions organizations, Christmas continues to come early for North American missionaries.

Baptist News Summary

Texas church pays families' bills
Published August 13, 2009

During challenging economic times, First Baptist Church in Katy, Texas has decided to give 5 percent ($150,000) of its undesignated receipts to a benevolence ministry aimed at helping people stay afloat when ends don't quite meet.

Second victim of church bus crash dies
Published August 13, 2009

Maggie Lee Henson, a 12-year-old girl who was pinned under a church bus when it crashed near Meridian, Miss., died Aug. 2 after struggling three weeks with severe head injuries and brain trauma.

CP down 2.69%; off '09 budget by 2.65%
Published August 13, 2009

Year-to-date contributions through the Southern Baptist Convention's Cooperative Program are 2.69 percent below the same time frame last year and 2.65 percent off budget for 2009, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Morris H. Chapman.

Religious NewsBriefs

Georgia to allow headscarves in courtrooms
Published August 13, 2009

Georgia court officials unanimously voted on July 27 to allow individuals to wear religious head coverings in state courtrooms.

Fiji bans massive Methodist hymn-sing
Published August 13, 2009

Fiji's military government has banned a massive annual hymn-singing contest and church conference out of fears that the crowd of some 10,000 singing Methodists could destabilize the strife-torn nation.

In sharp contrast to the general public, only one-third of scientists believe in God
Published August 13, 2009

Only a third of scientists say they believe in God, according to a new survey, and while 18 percent believe in a high power, four in 10 scientists believe in neither.

Abstinence, mosque construction among U.S.-funded religious programs in Africa, Iraq
Published August 13, 2009

he federal government used taxpayer dollars to rebuild mosques in Iraq and teach Bible-based abstinence in Africa, violating a prohibition on funding "inherently religious activities," according to a recent audit of the U.S. Agency of International Development (USAID).

People and Places

Obituaries
Published August 13, 2009

Honors
Published August 13, 2009

Ministerial Moves
Published August 13, 2009

Cooperative Program Stories

Stepping up
By Sherri Brown, GBC Communications
Published August 13, 2009

This fall, 29 outstanding college freshmen will receive scholarships through the Georgia Baptist Student Achievement Award program.

Bible Study

Will You Remain Faithful?
By John Darsey, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Hazlehurst
Published August 13, 2009

Matt. 26:36-46; 1 Peter 4:12-14, 19
Bible Studies for Life, Aug 30

Are You Running from God's Will?
By John Darsey, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Hazlehurst
Published August 13, 2009

Jonah 1:1-3,17; 3:1-5,10; 4:5-11
Bible Studies for Life, Aug 23

Columns

Peace talks at a Beer Summit
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published August 13, 2009

Drinking alcoholic beverages is nothing new for occupants of the White House.

Should we rename Sunday School?
By David Francis
Published August 13, 2009

I responded recently to a question that went something like this: "Our Sunday School needs to be revitalized, so we're thinking about changing the name. What do you think?" Here is the essence of my response:

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director GBC
Published August 13, 2009

What do the following ministries have in common: Church Planting, Language, Evangelism, Mission Volunteers, Associational Missions, Area Missionaries, Regional State Missionaries, Disaster Relief, New Ministers' Orientation, Ministerial Relief, Sunday School and Open Group, Discipleship, Children, Youth, Men's, Women's, Music and Worship, Leadership, Public Affairs, Collegiate, Church Minister Relations, Conference Centers, and much more?

Men must be brought out of their shells, encouraged to talk
By James Dobson
Published August 13, 2009