News

Home on the Range
Georgia's cowboy church serves up country gospel in Henry County horse barn
By Thailan Pham, Index Intern
Published September 23, 2004

Cowboy boots and flip-flops shift among plastic chairs as the rhythmic fanning of programs barely alleviates 90 degrees of late summer heat. The freedom of open air is only 15 paces to the right of the pulpit through a set of doublewide doors, but the devoted congregation has gathered for relief beyond corporal comfort.

GBC Executive Committee approves 2005 budget, accepts gift from Baptist Health Care System to name chapel for Louie D. Newton
By Gerald Harris, Editor
Published September 23, 2004

Dean Haun, pastor of Jonesboro's First Baptist Church and chairman of the Georgia Baptist Convention Budget Planning Committee, presented the proposed 2005 Cooperative Program budget of $48,750,000 for the GBC at the September 14 meeting of the Executive Committee. Haun explained that the budget represented a 4.84% increase over the current year's budget, and that present giving trends indicate that the budget goal is realistic and reachable.

Richmond Hill minister recounts time in Iraq
Former Army chaplain says soldiers need U.S. support & faith in God
By Joni B. Hannigan
Published September 23, 2004

Noting that America's freedom did not come without loss of life, a former Army chaplain who was with the first troops to enter Baghdad last year said people critical of the war in Iraq should take a few cues from history.

Ga. Supreme Court to hear case pitting Georgia Baptist Convention v. Shorter College
By Art Toalston
Published September 23, 2004

The Georgia Supreme Court is the next stop in the legal battle between the Georgia Baptist Convention and Shorter College over the college's intent to separate itself from the convention.

In March, the college lost in the Georgia Court of Appeals, which ruled in favor of the Georgia convention's position that Shorter had acted illegally in April 2003 in dissolving itself and transferring all its assets to a new corporation with a self-perpetuating board of trustees.

Schrader resigns, accepts presidency at Brenau
Published September 23, 2004

Shorter College President Ed L. Schrader, who orchestrated the attempt to sever the college's ties with the Georgia Baptist Convention, resigned on Sept. 16 to accept the presidency of Brenau University.

Pastor Rastus Salter of Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins recounts his 48 years at the congregation
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published September 23, 2004

Rastus Salter of Second Baptist Church in Warner Robbins has been a mainstay of the Houston County congregation for 48 years. Recently he sat down with Index editor Gerald Harris to talk about nearly half a century of ministry at Second Baptist

Bethany Baptist Church of Tennille celebrates 200 years
Two centuries old, two centuries strong
By Scott Barkley, Staff Writer
Published September 23, 2004

With a flavor of the past meeting the present, Bethany Baptist Church in Tennille celebrated its 200th birthday Aug. 29.

Georgia Revival Update
Published September 23, 2004

Scholarships
Published September 23, 2004

Music and Worship Ministries of the Georgia Baptist Convention recently awarded eight scholarships at the 2004 Youth II Music Camp.

Georgia NewsBriefs

Georgia Baptist Convention minutes listing
Published September 23, 2004

Lists of ordained ministers who are not serving in the pastorate at the present time and full-time evangelists in fellowship with a church in cooperation with the Georgia Baptist Convention will be published in the 2004 Georgia Baptist Convention Minutes.

Georgia disaster relief prepares for more cleanup after hurricanes pound Southeast
Published September 23, 2004

Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief teams prepared to go back into areas suffering from damage brought on by Hurricane Ivan Sept. 17.

Baptist News Summary

Clinton criticizes SBC iVoteValues.com campaign in addressing NYC church
Published September 23, 2004

Former President Bill Clinton criticized the Southern Baptist iVoteValues.com voter-awareness initiative Aug. 29, saying that the values debate should not be framed around the issues of abortion and same-sex "marriage."

FDA authority over tobacco products draws support from SBC ethics arm
Published September 23, 2004

The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission is urging adoption of legislation that would authorize the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products.

AB Funds Trust marks 3rd anniversary as a registered mutual fund family
Published September 23, 2004

Funds Trust marked its third year as a registered mutual fund family on Aug. 27. Sponsored by GuideStone Financial Resources (formerly the Annuity Board) of the Southern Baptist Convention, the fund's assets were $7.5 billion on June 30 this year.

SBC funds helping Baptists minister in wake of Russian school massacre
Published September 23, 2004

Southern Baptist relief funds are assisting victims' families and survivors of the Sept. 3 terrorist massacre in Beslan, Russia.

Republican convention hears from Ouachita Baptist Univ. student
Published September 23, 2004

Twenty-year-old Princella Smith, a Ouachita Baptist University junior, savored a rare opportunity for someone her age as she addressed the Republican National Convention Aug. 31 in New York at the opening night's session.

FamilyNet staff reduction among steps toward financial viability
Published September 23, 2004

The North American Mission Board has announced a staff reduction and other measures to strengthen the financial viability of its FamilyNet broadcasting network.

Names in the News
Published September 23, 2004

Religious NewsBriefs

McCartney moves from men's movement to effort to support Messianic Jews
Published September 23, 2004

Promise Keepers founder Bill McCartney has announced a new effort to reach out to Messianic Jews.

Some take offense in seeing Christian crosses at Republican convention lectern
Published September 23, 2004

Some offended observers saw Christian crosses in the wood panels of lecterns at the Republican National Convention, but others say these critics are cross-eyed.

American Baptists face shortfall that could prompt missionary recall
Published September 23, 2004

Leaders of the American Baptist Churches USA say they must close a $1.5 million budget gap to avert the recall of missionaries.

Representative retires amid rumors
Published September 23, 2004

U.S. Rep. Edward L. Schrock, R.-Va., has announced his retirement amid rumors he is a homosexual. Schrock has been an outspoken opponent of gays in the military and a supporter of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex "marriage."

People and Places

Anniversaries
Published September 23, 2004

Honors
Published September 23, 2004

Ordinations
Published September 23, 2004

Retirements
Published September 23, 2004

Revivals
Published September 23, 2004

Ministerial Moves
Published September 23, 2004

Cooperative Program Stories

BSU students at UGA reach their community with hoops, sand art, & face paint
By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC
Published September 23, 2004

It isn't for them. It won't bring in any money to support their projects. But students at the University of Georgia Baptist Student Union are already starting to plan for their second annual spring basketball event.

Bible Study

Showing Love
By Bill Harrell, Abilene Baptist Church, Martinez
Published September 23, 2004

Hoping For Help
By Bill Harrell, Abilene Baptist Church, Martinez
Published September 23, 2004

Columns

Religious Freedom: Is it slipping away?
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published September 23, 2004

News reports have indicated that in recent years Christians have been murdered in the Middle East, imprisoned in China, and enslaved in northern Africa. While such atrocities are almost inconceivable to us and these horrific reports come from far away, we must not be oblivious to the encroachments upon our religious freedom at home.

Sept. 11 has taught us to kill or be killed
By David P. Gushee, Graves Professor of Moral Philosophy, Union University, Jackson, Tenn.
Published September 23, 2004

I made a commitment to read the report of the Sept. 11 commission before the third anniversary of those horrible attacks arrived. Two movie images came into my mind as I read the parts of the report that discussed the organization and activities of the Islamist terrorist network, especially al-Qaida.

Why give to World Hunger?
By Ricky Thrasher, Consultant, Church and Community Ministries, Georgia
Published September 23, 2004

As we approach World Hunger Day on October 10, there is always the question: "Why give to World Hunger?" There are so many answers that can be given to that good question.

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published September 23, 2004

I work in my office today, Hurricane Ivan is bearing down on Georgia and my mind and heart are with our disaster relief workers who have been serving tirelessly and with great commitment now for several weeks. We should praise the Lord for every one of them and for their profound commitment to demonstrate through action what they believe in their heart - that God has called us to serve, to care for the broken-hearted, to uplift those who are suffering loss, to encourage the discouraged.

Explore treatment options for attention deficit disorder
By James Dobson
Published September 23, 2004