News

Getting on the ground
By Scott Barkley, Production Editor
Published January 28, 2010

Shortly after the first images of the destruction of Haiti began to emerge, many immediately wanted to aid in the relief effort. But Stuart Lang, Georgia Baptist state director for disaster relief, offers a word of caution.

Southern Baptists assessing Haiti needs
Published January 28, 2010

A Southern Baptist disaster relief assessment team arrived in Haiti Jan. 20, according to Baptist Press via an email from Jim Brown, U.S. director for Baptist Global response and a member of the team.

Praying and waiting
Georgians help following Haiti earthquake
By Scott Barkley, Production Editor
Published January 28, 2010

"When I got the call, it felt like someone took a knife and cut me in the intestines."

Evangelists Hall of Faith dedicated at NAMB
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published January 28, 2010

The chapel at the North American Mission Board was filled to capacity Jan. 14 with NAMB staff, Southern Baptist evangelists, and families and friends of the evangelists. The occasion for the gathering was the much-anticipated dedication of the "Evangelists Hall of Faith."

COGBE retreat ignites passion, fervor for reaching the lost
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published January 28, 2010

The Conference of Georgia Baptist Evangelists (COGBE) met for their annual retreat in Norcross Jan. 8-9. Despite the wintry cold and hazardous highway conditions almost 60 of the GBC's finest vocational evangelists met for a time of fellowship and inspiration.

Divine intervention needed: Let us pray
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published January 28, 2010

Southern Baptists are being called to intercede in fervent, united prayer on Sunday, Jan. 31.

Long-term Haiti commitment ahead
Published January 28, 2010

Southern Baptists' response to the Haiti earthquake will be a long-term commitment, much like the response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, according to Baptist leaders.

Haiti Baptist pastor among the dead
By Maria Elena Baseler
Published January 28, 2010

The devastating earthquake that shook Haiti Jan. 12 has claimed the life of a leading Haitian Baptist pastor in Port-au-Prince, according to reports received from the vice president of the Baptist Convention of Haiti.

Mississippi pastor delivers supplies
By Alan James
Published January 28, 2010

"It's a miracle from God," exclaimed Joel Trimble, a Haiti for Christ missionary on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince after two truckloads of food, water, fuel, and medical supplies arrived in his driveway Sunday evening, Jan. 17, thanks to the perseverance of a Mississippi Baptist pastor.

YMCA tries to accentuate the 'C' in its name
By Nancy Haught, c. 2010 Religion News Service
Published January 28, 2010

The wooden box, not quite big enough to hold a pair of shoes, sits on the reception desk, just inside the Sherwood YMCA. Once a day, Roger Button empties the box, finds a quiet place to sit and prays over the slips of paper he finds inside:

Moscow: An afternoon in Victory Park
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published January 28, 2010

Tim Rhodes is used to the slow-paced lifestyle of small-town Toccoa and the north Georgia mountains. His wife, Beth, is slightly more adjusted to city living, having lived in Snellville, an Atlanta suburb, for several years.

Chapel construction relies on volunteers
By T. Patrick Hudson
Published January 28, 2010

Midwestern Seminary leaders are in the midst of planning the construction of a new chapel complex – one of the largest projects in MBTS history encompassing a welcome center, increasing chapel capacity to more than 1,000 seats and creating additional classroom space.

Luis Rodríguez: Southern Baptists expand God's work in Puerto Rico
By John J. Correa
Published January 28, 2010

At the onset of his missionary career, pastor Luis Rodríguez and his wife, Lourdes Santiago, were dismayed at the lack of commitment from church members at the church they'd planted in Coamo, Puerto Rico. However, this apathy did not hamper the efforts of these Southern Baptists. Besides, from God's divine perspective, this was only the beginning.

Missionaries, Dominican Baptists aid, counsel quake survivors
By Maria Elena Baseler
Published January 28, 2010

As Southern Baptist disaster relief officials were heading to Haiti Jan. 19 to assess needs, International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries in neighboring Dominican Republic were providing immediate relief supplies, medical aid, and spiritual counseling to survivors of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti the week before.

Experts hope joint principles can ease church-state fights
By Adelle M. Banks, c. 2010 Religion News Service
Published January 28, 2010

Legal experts from the left and right say they hope a new statement of shared principles on religious expression in public life will lead to fewer church-state lawsuits.

Christian retailers seek federal probe of competitors
By Adelle M. Banks, c. 2010 Religion News Service
Published January 28, 2010

Christian retailers, long besieged by the lower prices available through big-box stores and online retailers, have asked the Department of Justice to investigate what they call "illegal, predatory pricing" by Amazon.com, Target, and Wal-Mart.

Haitian congregation 'holds on' after loss
By Alan James
Published January 28, 2010

A blue tarp tied to what's left of Shiloh Baptist Church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, serves as a safe haven for some members who survived the Jan. 12 earthquake.

Haiti stories - Summary
Published January 28, 2010

Religious NewsBriefs

U.S. Postal Service to honor Mother Teresa with 2010 stamp
Published January 28, 2010

The U.S. Postal Service plans to honor Mother Teresa with a stamp this year in recognition of her humanitarian work.

Nazareth house dates to Jesus' time
Published January 28, 2010

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a dwelling in Nazareth that can be dated back to the time Jesus lived in the area, making it the only known structure to portray what His home may have looked like.

Leader of militant Hindu extremist group turns to Christ following prison witness
Published January 28, 2010

The leader of a militant Hindu extremist group in Nepal, jailed for bombing a church in 2008, has repented because of the grace Christians in prison have shown him.

'Davey and Goliath' and 'Gumby' creator Art Clokey dies at 88
Published January 28, 2010

Art Clokey, the creator of the animated icon Gumby and his clay Christian counterparts "Davey and Goliath," died Jan. 8 at his home in California. He was 88.

People and Places

Deaths
Published January 28, 2010

Honors
Published January 28, 2010

Ministerial Moves
Published January 28, 2010

New deacons and ordinations
Published January 28, 2010

Cooperative Program Stories

Helping fill the plate
By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC
Published January 28, 2010

"Is there anything special we can pray about for you today?"

Bible Study

What Will It Take to Change Your Mind?
By Bill Barber, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Thomaston
Published January 28, 2010

Phil. 3:2-15; 4:8
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, Feb. 14

Are You in the Right Mind?
By Bill Barber, pastor, First Baptist Thomaston
Published January 28, 2010

Rom. 8:5-8; II Cor. 4:3-4 I Cor. 2:12-16
Bible Studies for Life, Feb. 7

Columns

Finding love in the Big Apple
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published January 28, 2010

I went to church on January 17 and God showed up. Going to church is always gloriously thrilling and spiritually transformational when God is unmistakably present for the worship experience.

Does God hate Haiti?
By R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Published January 28, 2010

The images streaming in from Haiti look like scenes from Dante's Inferno. In many ways, Haiti has almost ceased to exist.

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director GBC
Published January 28, 2010

Recently, one of our fine pastors, Jerry Speer, concluded his service as chairman of the Executive Committee of the Georgia Baptist Convention. In his parting remarks, he made some wonderful and challenging statements that blessed and inspired me, and I felt it would encourage you to read them. I asked Jerry to write out those remarks so that I could share them with you through this column. He was kind to do so.

The 'First Globals'
By Erich Bridges
Published January 28, 2010

A father who lives down the street from me turned his small backyard into a state-of-the-art batting cage, complete with a high-velocity pitching machine, when his son was in elementary school.

Children deserve plenty of quality time with parents
By James Dobson
Published January 28, 2010