News

In with both feet
By Scott Barkley, Production Editor
Published October 8, 2009

The elementary math of a flood is as simple as "less than-greater than."

White says SBC needs strong NAMB, Cooperative Program
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published October 8, 2009

The North American Mission Board is 'absolutely essential" to Southern Baptists as a standalone agency and is critical to reaching the continent for Christ.

Study: One in five Americans may be secular by 2030
By Angela Abbamonte, Religion News Service
Published October 8, 2009

The number of American adults who do not identify with a particular religion is growing and may comprise more than 20 percent of the population in two decades, according to a new study.

Harvest time in Forsyth County
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published October 8, 2009

The Forsyth Family Fest on Sept. 13 drew thousands of people from the county to the Cumming Fairgrounds for a day of family activities, shows by Chaos on Wheels, performances by contemporary Christian music artists, and a great evangelistic worship service including a stirring message by Will Graham, grandson of Billy Graham.

NAMB hosts state execs strategy, vision session
By Mike Ebert
Published October 8, 2009

Executive directors from 37 state Baptist conventions discussed strategy and direction as well as plans for the upcoming "God's Plan for Sharing" (GPS) evangelism initiative, Sept. 17-18 at the North American Mission Board in Alpharetta.

Georgians gearing up for 2010 GPS emphasis
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published October 8, 2009

With just four month before Georgia rolls out its Across Georgia 2010 evangelism emphasis, churches and associations are in full swing as they plan their varied outreach approaches.

Morris Chapman sets September 2010 retirement from Executive Committee
By Art Toalston
Published October 8, 2009

Morris H. Chapman has announced his plans to retire as president and chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee effective Sept. 30, 2010.

New ministers gather for fellowship, orientation
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published October 8, 2009

Pastors and spouses new to the Georgia Baptist Convention gathered at the Missions and Ministry Center on September 24 for a day of fellowship, orientation, and brainstorming new ways of reaching their communities for Christ.

Growing quantity of 'Christian' films now focus on quality, story line
By Adelle M. Banks, c. 2009 Religion News Service
Published October 8, 2009

Director Brian Baugh's upcoming teen film "To Save a Life" may be many things, but one thing it's not, he says, is a "Christian" movie.

Muslims pray on Capitol Hill
Published October 8, 2009

Thousands of Muslims gathered Sept. 25 on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol for prayer in what may have been the first such event of its kind at the site.

Georgia flooding activates disaster relief teams
Ten die in "once-in-500-year" flood
By Mickey Noah and Carol Pipes
Published October 8, 2009

Thirty-four Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams from six state conventions assisted victims of the recent historic flooding in Georgia, which resulted in 10 deaths and damages estimated as high as $500 million across the northern half of the state.

For Graham daughter, it's about relationship, not religion
By Greg Garrison, Religion News Service
Published October 8, 2009

Anne Graham Lotz enunciates precisely and speaks in distinctive clipped cadences that are reminiscent of her famous father, evangelist Billy Graham.

Oral missions network wins award
Published October 8, 2009

The International Orality Network, of which the International Mission Board is a sponsor, received The Mission Exchange's Innovation in Mission Award at a Sept. 22 conference in St. Louis.

Baptist News Summary

Post-tsunami SBC aid heads to American Samoa
Published October 8, 2009

A Baptist-sponsored Seafarers' Center has been lost in the destruction by a deadly tsunami that struck several islands in the South Pacific Sept. 29.

Relief teams gear up for Philippines
Published October 8, 2009

Southern Baptists are gearing up a major disaster response in the wake of a typhoon that flooded the homes of 2.3 million people in the Philippines.

Hawkins: GuideStone, other denominational plans at risk
Published October 8, 2009

President Obama's health care proposal would spell the end of denominational health insurance programs such as the one run by the Southern Baptist Convention's GuideStone Financial Resources, GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins says.

SBC Executive Committee authorizes search to replace Chapman
Published October 8, 2009

Members of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee voted Sept. 20 to authorize their chairman to name a search committee for a successor to Morris H. Chapman, who announced his plans to retire effective Sept. 30, 2010.

Former SBC pastor Huckabee wins poll
Published October 8, 2009

Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee easily won a straw poll Sept. 19 testing social conservatives' preference for the 2012 presidential race, beating Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty, and a field of other candidates at Family Research Council Action’s Values Voter Summit.

Molly imparts missions to kids
Published October 8, 2009

Meet Molly, a brightly smiling little girl in a yellow shirt and red capri pants ready to help children learn more about what happens on church missions trips.

World Hunger Fund 'Thank you' video available for download
Published October 8, 2009

A video thanking Southern Baptists for the crucial ministry their World Hunger Fund is providing in Kenya's ongoing food crisis is now available for download from the Baptist Press website.

People and Places

Obituaries
Published October 8, 2009

Honors
Published October 8, 2009

New Deacons
Published October 8, 2009

Ministerial Moves
Published October 8, 2009

Revival Reports
Published October 8, 2009

Cooperative Program Stories

Showing Christ's love in a disaster
By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC
Published October 8, 2009

It was just a cup of hot, fresh coffee and an encouraging word. That's doesn't seem much when your house has been hit by a tornado on Mother's Day.

Bible Study

The Hero Victorious
By Daniel Garnett, pastor, Beacon Baptist Church, Albany
Published October 8, 2009

Mark 15:1-5, 12-13, 32, 37-39; 16:1-7
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, Oct 25

The Hero Betrayed
By Daniel Garnett, pastor, Beacon Baptist Church, Albany
Published October 8, 2009

Mark 14:27-34, 37-38, 43, 48-50
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, Oct 18

Columns

A strong home front is essential
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published October 8, 2009

Earlier this year United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates addressed the Senate Armed Services Committee to emphasize that "the National Guard's domestic responsibilities must not suffer."

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published October 8, 2009

As I attended the Southern Baptist Executive Committee meeting in Nashville a little over a week ago, I listened as Dr. Morris Chapman, president and CEO of the Executive Committee, read a statement in which he expressed his intent to retire on September 30, 2010.

What have we learned?
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published October 8, 2009

For the past two issues The Index has focused on ways Georgia Baptists can improve their health by developing a better lifestyle. In short, the take-away was to eat food (meaning real food, not processed substitutes), not too much, and mostly plants.

Intellectual stimulation has good effect on kids' brains
By James Dobson
Published October 8, 2009