News

Lost in Georgia
Demographics don't lie; there are more residents today but fewer have a relationship with Christ
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published February 17, 2005

When tourists in coastal Georgia glance out of their car windows, they see moss-draped trees reminiscent of tales of the Old South. As real estate developers study the growth patterns of surrounding counties that stand ready to explode with new employment opportunities, they see dollar signs.

Church's new art gallery honors worldwide photos of Don Rutledge
Former Georgia Baptist's photography featured
By Bill Bangham
Published February 17, 2005

TEMPLE, Texas (BP) Warm walls, wood floor and generous lighting set the stage for simply framed photographs spaced precisely about the room. People, plates of finger food in hand, circle the exhibit while a string ensemble and keyboard play beneath the murmur of quiet conversation.

Bush praises faith groups for tsunami aid, pushes conservative agenda
By Kevin Eckstrom, c. 2005 Religion News Service
Published February 17, 2005

WASHINGTON - President Bush praised the role of faith in the country Feb. 3, singling out faith-based groups for their response to the devastating tsunamis in South Asia.

A Georgia evangelist looks at the role of harvest evangelists in revivals
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published February 17, 2005

The Christian Index recently interviewed Keith Fordham of Fayetteville, who is serving as president of the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists (COSBE). The national organization provides networking between churches and evangelists across the denomination.

"Choose Life" license plates spur legal brouhaha in several states
By Wangui Njuguna, c. 2005 Religion News Service
Published February 17, 2005

(RNS) - State governments have discovered they can raise millions of dollars in revenue by offering license plate logos and slogans - such as "Friends of the Smoky Mountains" and "Scouting teaches values" - while drivers have learned they can communicate their passions on their vehicles.

Sisters Who Care: Summit spurs missions awareness/involvement among African American women
By Margaret McCommon Dempsey, Special to the Index
Published February 17, 2005

College Park - They talked about missions. They prayed about missions. They gave to missions. And they did missions.

Collegiate missionary defines success in one word: Obedience
Indiana University-Perdue University, Indianapolis
By Lee Weeks
Published February 17, 2005

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Jonathan Pettigrew doesn't remember anything about his 100-foot fall down a Colorado mountain in December 2002.

What do a shopping mall and a church have in common?
More than most Georgia Baptists might think
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published February 17, 2005

David Suddath is used to seeing churches slip behind the times as communities grow and expand - or transition and die. He's also noticed surprising similarities in the life cycle of shopping malls, and that's what he tries to impress on congregations as he helps them keep in tune with those in their communities.

Revival Report
Published February 17, 2005

U.S. immorality fuels terrorism of radical Muslims, experts say
By David Roach
Published February 17, 2005

WASHINGTON (BP) - Widespread immorality in the United States could be a key reason for Islamic terrorists' acts of violence against Americans, according to a government commission, a scholar and a Southern Baptist pastor.

Governor Perdue, motivated by faith, pushes for faith-based initiatives
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published February 17, 2005

ATLANTA - Georgia's governor, Sonny Perdue, shared with The Christian Index his views on the proposed Senate resolution to give the state new legal authority to contract with faith-based organizations in providing services to the poor and needy.

Baptist News Summary

Jimmy Draper slates retirement for 2006 from LifeWay presidency

Published February 17, 2005

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) - LifeWay Christian Resources' trustees immediately will begin the search for a new president following the Feb. 7 announcement by James T. Draper Jr. that he plans to retire from the position effective Feb. 1, 2006.

Spanish-language magazine marks 50 years of missions commitment
Published February 17, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) - Nuestra Tarea, the Spanish-language magazine of missions and ministries published by Woman's Missionary Union, is marking its 50th year in print this month.

'Fast 50' SBC seminar info available for pastors on LifeWay.com
Published February 17, 2005

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) - Church leaders can find information online about a series of intensive ministry training seminars to be conducted in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in June.

NOBTS releases list of reservations; SBC lawyers say they are unfounded
Published February 17, 2005

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) - New Orleans Seminary has released a document approved by the executive committee of the seminary board expressing its reservations about adopting sole membership. Southern Baptist Convention attorneys say the concerns are unfounded.

'Men's Fraternity' offers avenue to help guys become authentic men
Published February 17, 2005

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) - God created men to be leaders in their homes. Pastors and churches have a responsibility to teach them how to accomplish this mandate. LifeWay Christian Resources has teamed up with Pastor Robert Lewis to offer churches "Men's Fraternity" to show them how.

WMU announces six-member National Acteens Panel
Published February 17, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) - The 2005 National Acteens Panel has been announced by Woman's Missionary Union.

Names in the News
Published February 17, 2005

Rudy Hernández, a past Southern Baptist Convention second vice president and former president of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, died Jan. 28 at his Grand Prairie, Texas, home after battling cancer. He was 77.

Religious NewsBriefs

Satellite TV program offers voice for Iraqi Christians in spreading the Gospel
Published February 17, 2005

BAGHDAD (BP) - Violence fueled by those who oppose the march of democracy in Iraq causes many citizens to seek refuge inside their homes, where they enjoy a privilege not afforded to them under Saddam Hussein - satellite television.

French president warns against anti-Semitism
Published February 17, 2005

PARIS (RNS) - French President Jacques Chirac warned against anti-Semitism in France as he paid homage to a new wall bearing the names of some 76,000 Jews deported from France to Nazi concentration camps.

Some British Christians offended by BBC airing of "Jerry Springer - The Opera"
Published February 17, 2005

LONDON (RNS) - The BBC's decision to broadcast a recording of the hit West End show Jerry Springer - The Opera has aroused strong reaction from some British Christians.

Scientist says new tests show Shroud of Turin could be older than first thought
Published February 17, 2005

LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (RNS) - A New Mexico scientist said the Shroud of Turin - the linen cloth that many believe was used for Jesus' burial - could be 1,300 to 3,000 years old, which puts it in the same time frame as Christ's death.

People and Places

Anniversaries
Published February 17, 2005

Obituaries
Published February 17, 2005

Ordinations
Published February 17, 2005

Ministerial Moves
Published February 17, 2005

Cooperative Program Stories

Breaking barriers, building bridges
Literacy missions giving the Word a voice
By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC
Published February 17, 2005

He was 7 years old when his daddy died and left his mother with seven hen houses and seven children. Someone had to stay home and help run the farm, so Lamar Holland was chosen to help.

Bible Study

God's Tough Love: Can God fix this?
By Larry S. McDonald, Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, Truett-McConnell College
Published February 17, 2005

Can God make anything meaningful out of the mess I have made of my life? When life crumbles, can God restore structure and hope? As our culture drifts further away from God's design and moves toward godlessness, people find it more and more difficult to overcome the struggles they face.

More Than a Prophet
By Tony Romans, Senior Pastor, North Peachtree Baptist Church, Atlanta
Published February 17, 2005

My Dad used to tell me, "What you don't know can hurt you." Dad dabbled with electrical appliances and small electrical jobs. Dad was not formally trained and knew enough to respect the dangers involved in what he was doing. In this week's lesson the Apostle Peter saw first hand how "What you don't know can hurt you."

Columns

Christian revival shakes the Big Apple, with more to come
By Tony Carnes, c. 2004 Religion News Service
Published February 17, 2005

NEW YORK - They are patriotic, hard-working, mostly Democratic and mainly from immigrant families. They are also born-again Christians. Their faith is increasingly typical of this city. On Sunday mornings about 1.5 million out of 8 million New Yorkers now attend an evangelical, charismatic or Pentecostal church, according to a recent religious census.

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published February 17, 2005

Churches can, and do, experience continued growth and development throughout the interim experience. Oftentimes when the pastor of the church announces his resignation there is a sense of impending doom that sweeps over the congregation. "What are we going to do now?" "How are we going to make it without our beloved pastor leading us forward?"

Adopting children is one of life's greatest privileges
By James Dobson
Published February 17, 2005

Do we have more in the show window than the storeroom?
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published February 17, 2005

Catherine Zeta Jones, one of Hollywood's most celebrated stars, is often seen wearing a cross of gold and diamonds. Jennifer Anniston, the darling of the television series Friends and estranged wife of Brad Pitt, wears a cross of platinum and diamonds. Fashion model Naomi Campbell is reported to have a collection of enormous, jewel-studded crosses. Italian fashion stylist Giuliana Cella has more than four hundred of them.