Archive Issue

News

Churches poised to answer questions raised by The Passion
By Scott Barkley, Staff Writer
Published February 12, 2004

Georgia Baptist churches are seizing the opportunity of using Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ in evangelistic outreach.

FCC chairman: Super Bowl halftime 'offensive'; fines can be sweeping
By Michael Foust
Published January 12, 2004

The fallout from the Super Bowl halftime show has led to new discussion of the current levels of decency on America’s airwaves.

Resources with 'rest of the story' offered to Mel Gibson's Passion
By James Dotson
Published February 12, 2004

As the buzz surrounding Mel Gibson’s The Passion of The Christ mounts prior to its Feb. 25 launch, the North American Mission Board has begun offering detailed evangelistic resources to help churches answer questions the movie raises.

The Passion: One man's perspective
By Gerald Harris, Editor
Published February 12, 2004

In January I was privileged to preview Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of The Christ at the Global Pastor’s Network conference in Orlando, Fla. If what I saw is the final edition of the film I am of the opinion that its potential spiritual impact is inestimable.

Jim Perdue: Pastors and politicians share a sacred calling
Speaking at annual Legislative Prayer Breakfast
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published February 12, 2004

Georgia church planter Jim Perdue, son of Gov. Sonny Perdue, urged pastors and legislators on Jan. 28 to live up to their sacred calling as public servants and to remember that their authority ultimately comes from God.

From Vietnamese prison to Georgia neighborhoods, missionary passionate about pointing Asians to Christ
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published February 12, 2004

God has uniquely protected An Van Pham so that he could serve as a Southern Baptist missionary in Georgia.

Religious NewsBriefs

Report reveals shortage of pastors willing to lead small churches
Published February 12, 2004

A Duke Divinity School report on the clergy shows that there is a shortage of pastors willing to lead small congregations.

Religious, secular groups in the European Union debate nod to God in Constitution
Published February 12, 2004

As the European Union moves forward with long-term plans to broaden its membership, its leaders are struggling to encompass more ethnicities and religions under one banner than at any time since the Roman Empire.

Study: teens not as hostile to organized religion as stereotype says
Published February 12, 2004

American teens are not as hostile toward organized religion as researchers once thought, according to a recent study conducted at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

People and Places

Special Birthdays
Published February 12, 2004

Ordinations
Published February 12, 2004

Honors/Anniversaries
Published February 12, 2004

Retirements
Published February 12, 2004

Ministerial Moves
Published February 12, 2004

Cooperative Program Stories

Ministers' wives are not left out in the cold during trying times
By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC
Published February 12, 2004

Every year more than 100 Georgia Baptist ministers are fired from their churches. Resources are available to help ministers cope with the trauma, as well as to help them find a new job. But often, the minister’s wife’s grief goes undetected.

Bible Study

Disciplined Giving
By John S. Connell, Senior Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Savannah
Published February 12, 2004

If you believe the truth about giving, then freedom and joy are yours. If you reject the truth about giving, then you will find yourself imprisoned and bitter toward life, especially in financial matters.

Disciplined Service
By John S. Connell, Senior Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Savannah
Published February 12, 2004

Philippians 2:5-7 says, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who ... emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant.” Jesus said it in a somewhat different way in Matthew 20:28, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Those words are not only the theme of Christ’s life, but they depict the heart of genuine discipleship.

Columns

Who is the Fugitive?
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published February 12, 2004

On 9/11, 1963, The Fugitive began its four-year run on television. The mystery thriller starred David Janssen as Dr. Richard Kimble, a man who had been falsely accused and arrested for killing his wife. Lt. Sam Gerard doggedly pursued the innocent doctor for four years as Kimble valiantly sought to find the one-armed man who was responsible for his wife’s death. The final two-part episode was the highest rated television program at that time.

Pete Rose should have stepped to plate a long time ago
By David L. Chancey, pastor McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville
Published February 12, 2004

So Pete Rose finally admitted he bet on baseball. It only took him 15 years. Here is a man whose performance on the field clearly merits his entrance into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published February 12, 2004

My family is growing and I am loving every minute of it! On January 29, at 5:32 p.m., God blessed Janice and me with another grandson. His name is Benjamin Robert Lillard. He weighed 7 pounds and 14 ounces. He was nineteen and one-half inches long. He is brilliant! You may not believe this, but the day after he was born I was able to spend quite a bit of time holding and rocking Ben. I looked into his beautiful face and he looked back at me.

Seeds From The Sower
By Michael Guido
Published February 12, 2004

A preacher’s wife had a great liability. She insisted on lying around all day. One day she saw her husband trying to sew a button on his shirt.

Discipline your son according to his intent
By James Dobson
Published February 12, 2004

Forum

Trends must stop
By John R. Pennington, Barnesville
Published February 12, 2004

I would like to respond to the guest commentary in the Dec. 18 issue of The Index by David Gushee entitled “Gay Marriage? How We Got Here.”

Dislikes Super Bowl advertisements
By David L. Shelley, pastor, East Athens Baptist Church
Published February 12, 2004

As usual, the commercials for this year’s Super Bowl were probably watched as much as the game. Did anyone notice the Chevrolet commercial about the yellow sports car?