News

Georgia Baptists hear evangelism challenge at annual session
Dickerson re-elected president
By Sherri Brown, Special Assignment Reporter
Published December 2, 2004

COLLEGE PARK - Messengers attending the 183rd annual session of the Georgia Baptist Convention annual meeting were challenged to pray for a "tsunami" of revivals in 2005 that will lead to a record 50,000 baptisms in the state.

72 churches, missions welcomed into the GBC
Next year's goal is 100 as part of "What Now, Georgia?" emphasis
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published December 2, 2004

COLLEGE PARK - Georgia Baptists added 72 churches last year through new starts and congregations voting to affiliate with the state convention.

Georgia Revival Update
Published December 2, 2004

Developmental Disabilities Ministries creates self perpetuating board, removes itself from GBC
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published December 2, 2004

In a letter to the Georgia Baptist Convention dated Nov. 3, Georgia Baptist Developmental Disabilities President Richard Davis announced the agency's intention to separate from the GBC.

Columbus Baptists rally for support of Fort Benning
By Sherri Brown, Special Assignment Reporter
Published December 2, 2004

It was a day of American contrasts in Columbus.

Baptists working together in perfect harmony for Utah relief
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published December 2, 2004

Southern Baptists have sometimes been known for having a pugilistic spirit. The truth is that Baptist churches are made up of unique individuals with varying ideas and opinions and it is certainly true that no two Baptists are alike.

Welch's new book equips 'warrior leaders' for spiritual battle against 'unseen terrorists'
By Don Beehler
Published December 2, 2004

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) - Southern Baptist Convention President Bobby Welch is seeking to capitalize on the country's growing spiritual interest through an ambitious effort to baptize a million people in one year and develop "warrior leaders" who will take seriously the biblical call for evangelism and discipleship.

Photos from the 183rd session of the Georgia Baptist Convention
Published December 2, 2004

Georgia NewsBriefs

Kim Griffin named circulation coordinator at The Index
Published December 2, 2004

Kim Griffin has been named circulation coordinator for The Christian Index, effective Dec. 1.

Index seeking information for stories dealing with prayer, 40 Days of Purpose, moral purity among teens
Published December 2, 2004

The Index is seeking information on Georgia Baptists involved in three areas of ministry.

Baptist News Summary

Hawkins reports positive trends for GuideStone insurance rates
Published December 2, 2004

LifeWay survey explores "Top 10 Issues Facing Today's Church"
Published December 2, 2004

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) - "The Top 10 Issues Facing Today's Church" is the focus of a two-month online research project launched Nov. 8 by the e-business department of LifeWay Christian Resources.

Study updates stats on health of Southern Baptist churches
Published December 2, 2004

NEW ORLEANS (BP) - For some 20 years, a disturbing statistic has left its mark on Southern Baptists - 70 percent of Southern Baptist churches are plateaued or declining. A new study now has examined whether the statistic remains true.

SBCstudents.com offers array of free youth ministry resources
Published December 2, 2004

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) - Youth pastors who need help programming, scheduling and administering their youth ministries have a new online resource in www.SBCstudents.com.

25 certificates mark milestone in women's studies program at SWBTS
Published December 2, 2004

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) - Southwestern Seminary's fledgling women's studies program reached a key milestone with the certification of 25 women Nov. 4.

IMB appoints 68 new missionaries
Published December 2, 2004

DEL CITY, Okla. (BP) - A group of 68 new Southern Baptist missionaries were commissioned during a Nov. 16 appointment service at First Southern Baptist Church in Del City, Okla.

Cleveland selected as next site for Strategic Focus
Published December 2, 2004

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) - Cleveland was chosen for the North American Mission Board's 2006-07 Strategic Focus City church planting and evangelistic outreach initiative.

Religious NewsBriefs

Dutch faithful denounce filmmaker's murder
Published December 2, 2004

(RNS) Worshippers in churches, mosques and synagogues in the Netherlands paused for thought and prayer Nov. 5-7 after the killing of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh.

Vatican and Italy to catalog Inquisition documents for open study and research
Published December 2, 2004

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican will open its archives to Italian state officials and academics for a computer-driven project that will catalogue all available documents on the Inquisition in Italy.

Korean missionaries advised not to travel to Iraq after group is taken into protective custody
Published December 2, 2004

(RNS) The South Korean government warned Christian missionaries in the country Nov. 3 not to travel to Iraq after five South Koreans were taken into protective custody and flown home.

Survey suggests Iraq War was most important 'moral' issue in presidential election
Published December 2, 2004

(RNS) The war in Iraq was the most important "moral issue" for voters in last month's election, according to a national poll by progressive groups, far outpacing abortion and gay marriage as top-shelf concerns.

People and Places

Anniversaries
Published December 2, 2004

Obituaries
Published December 2, 2004

Ordinations
Published December 2, 2004

Ministerial Moves
Published December 2, 2004

Cooperative Program Stories

Building resources through partnerships and accountability
By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC
Published December 2, 2004

The first Barnabas award was presented by the mission volunteers ministries at the Georgia Baptist Convention annual meeting to First Baptist Church Duluth.

Bible Study

Follow Jesus, the Messiah!
By Mike Stone, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Blackshear
Published December 2, 2004

One of the challenges that will often occur in evangelistic churches is the struggle to balance evangelism with discipleship. Pastors of strong soul-winning churches are constantly confronted with the need to disciple new converts. Well-intentioned believers will express concern that the evangelistic church has become too "shallow" and has forsaken the "deep water" of discipleship.

Praise Jesus, Our Savior!
By Mike Stone, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Blackshear
Published December 2, 2004

I still recall the Christmas I received the trumpet. As a serious musician in high school I had longed for a professional grade instrument. Years earlier when I started junior high school my parents had purchased a very inexpensive trumpet. Like all wise parents they wanted to make sure their son would "stick with it" before they made a major investment.

Columns

Thinking locally and globally
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published December 2, 2004

The Christian Index encouraged messengers to the Georgia Baptist Convention to evangelize by offering gospel tracts to those who would faithfully share the glorious story of redemption. Within three days we distributed 85,000 tracts to those who came by our booth. I believe that is a sign that Georgia Baptists are serious about sharing the Good News.

Those threatening Boy Scouts are at it again, believing in the big guy
By James Lileks, c. 2004 Religion News Service
Published December 2, 2004

Move over, OBL (Osama Bin Laden) - our new national threat comes from the BSA. They're a strange, religiously oriented group whose stated purposes ought to make your blood run as cold as chilled mercury. We've had remarkable success in recent years keeping them from undermining American power, thanks to the U.S. military. But now it's official, and what was once a shadowy war is out in the open.

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published December 2, 2004

I recently had the privilege of represent-ing Georgia Baptists at the 150th Anniversary of the Florida Baptist Convention. The Convention was organized on November 20, 1854 in the Clifton Mansion home of Richard Johnson Mays in Madison County, Florida. It was very interesting, as I prepared my remarks, to see the close relationship between Georgia Baptists and Florida Baptists across the years. The following excerpts from my message will illustrate those close ties.

Prolonged depression requires active professional treatment
By James Dobson
Published December 2, 2004