News

Makers of 'Fireproof' busy producing next movie
By Michael Foust
Published July 29, 2010

If this was a Hollywood film, they would already be advertising it as "bigger" and "better."

A tribute to a pastor and his congregation
Roger Taylor and Satilla Baptist Church
By Joe McGee, Director of Missions, Consolation Baptist Association
Published July 29, 2010

The health and commitment of any relationship is not as apparent in the easy times as in the rough times.

Tebow: football, NFL not source of true success
Former Florida star, First Jacksonville member starts training camp Sunday
By Mickey Noah
Published July 29, 2010

With dozens of kids toting Florida Gator signable footballs or miniature orange football helmets, or decked out in blue jerseys with "15" on the back - and grown-ups wearing their game-day Gator shirts - it could have been October in Gainesville, Fla.

Wright calls SBC to new missions heights
"Great transitions ahead" for SBC's Executive Committee, mission boards
Published July 29, 2010

In a video and letter, the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention calls on church leaders and their congregations to take their missions engagement to a whole new level.

Pastor compensation keeps pace with inflation
Published July 29, 2010

Compensation for full-time Southern Baptist pastors is rising slightly faster than inflation, but the mounting cost of benefits is forcing churches to provide fewer pastors with medical insurance.

Pastor attended 65 straight SBC meetings
Published July 29, 2010

For 65 consecutive years, pastor Bill Dodson attended the annual meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention, and his streak only came to an end this year because a brief illness kept him from traveling.

Gulf spill seeps into spiritual life
By Bruce Nolan, c. 2010 Religion News Service
Published July 29, 2010

Twice a day, precisely at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., alarms ring on dozens of cell phones, alerting those participating in Jim Woodard's week-old Internet prayer initiative to spend one minute praying for relief from the BP Gulf oil spill.

Churches converge in Atlanta as part of PowerPlant 2010
By Scott Barkley, Production Editor
Published July 29, 2010

J.T. Thompson's best friend is a church planter in Portland, Ore. He's heard about his friend's challenges and triumphs the past four years but only recently did he get a closer look, albeit in Georgia.

Julian Pipkin, longtime Georgia Baptist, dies on May 27
Published July 29, 2010

Longtime Georgia Baptist Convention executive and pastor Julian Thomas Pipkin, 93, died on May 27 at Baptist Village.

BPC alumna named Georgia Teacher of the Year
By Kelley M. Arnold, Director of News & Public Information
Published July 29, 2010

Brewton-Parker College alumna Pam Williams, an Appling County High School teacher, is Georgia's Teacher of the Year.

Oil spill, hurricane response taking shape
By Karen L. Willoughby
Published July 29, 2010

There's plenty Southern Baptists can do for people affected by the Deepwater Horizon explosion and the millions of gallons of oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico: provide hope for those who think they have none.

Georgia total baptisms for 2009
Published July 29, 2010

Rick Warren has sight loss; expects recovery
Published July 29, 2010

Author and pastor Rick Warren experienced some temporary vision loss during an accident at his home July 19 but is expected to recover fully, a spokesperson for his church says.

YMCA rebrands itself as 'the Y'
By Alfredo Garcia
Published July 29, 2010

The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) will now call itself by the shortened "the Y" as part of its newest brand strategy, but officially will still identify itself as the YMCA.

For shy worshippers, church can be overwhelming
By Lilly Fowler, c. 2010 Religion News Service
Published July 29, 2010

If Jesus were to take a Myers-Briggs personality test, would he rank as an introvert or an extrovert?

Baptist News Summary

Texas church makes $1 million pledge to IMB
Published July 29, 2010

A Texas church has promised to double its gifts to the International Mission Board while maintaining its commitment to the Cooperative Program.

Church mourns loss of worker in Uganda
Published July 29, 2010

An American who was among 74 people killed in a Uganda terrorist attack was related to Summit Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in Durham, N.C.

LifeWay to launch 'True Love Waits 3.0'
Published July 29, 2010

True Love Waits will launch "True Love Waits 3.0: A Path of Purity" during the National Youth Workers Conference sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources in mid-September.

Sturgis biker outreach calls for volunteers
Published July 29, 2010

Plans of the Dakota Baptist Convention to expand ministry opportunities has brought a call for more volunteers to the 70th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, held Aug. 9-15.

Religious NewsBriefs

Fourth-century portraits of apostles found
Published July 29, 2010

Portraits that may be the earliest known images of four apostles have been uncovered in a catacomb beneath the streets of Rome.

Somali teen suffers abuse after conversion
Published July 29, 2010

A 17-year-old girl in Somalia who professed faith in Jesus Christ was severely beaten and shackled to a tree for more than a month by her parents.

Reformed Christians challenged to leave upscale Geneva
Published July 29, 2010

A U.S. church leader has challenged the new World Communion of Reformed Churches to move its headquarters out of Geneva, Switzerland and follow the global shift of Christianity to the Southern Hemisphere.

Church brokers deal to free 52 dissidents
Published July 29, 2010

The Roman Catholic Church has brokered a historic deal to release 52 political prisoners in Cuba, following three-way talks between Cuban President Raul Castro, Spanish Foreign Secretary Miguel Angel Moratinos, and Havana Cardinal Jaime Ortega.

People and Places

Obituaries
Published July 29, 2010

Ordinations
Published July 29, 2010

Honors
Published July 29, 2010

Ministerial Moves
Published July 29, 2010

Cooperative Program Stories

Unprecedented cooperation at Truett-McConnell College
By John Bryan, Cooperative Program Advancement and Endowment Ministries, State Missionary, GBC
Published July 29, 2010

God is at work in the lives of the students, faculty, and staff at Truett-McConnell College (TMC) as evidenced through their personal and spiritual growth.

Bible Study

Focus on God's Purpose
By Dennis Nunn, evangelist
Published July 29, 2010

2 Samuel 7:1-7, 11b-16, 18-21
Bible Studies for Life, Aug 8

Demonstrate kindness
By Dennis Nunn, evangelist
Published July 29, 2010

2 Samuel 9:1-13
Bible Studies for Life, Aug 15

Columns

Sonorous editorials or inconsequential drivel
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published July 29, 2010

For more than seven years I have been writing editorials for this publication, some I thought were relatively sonorous and some probably nothing more than inconsequential drivel - 183 of them and never missing an issue doing so.

The church's main business
By Bill Fay
Published July 29, 2010

What is the main business of the church? It's to be a witness for Jesus Christ.

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director GBC
Published July 29, 2010

I was teaching in our Bible Institute in Mexico recently when a middle-aged woman who was taking the class stood and wanted to tell about her nephew.

Family must unite when loved one has a drinking problem
By James Dobson
Published July 29, 2010