News

Moncrief Baptist Center: Reflecting the ministry of its namesake
By Scott Barkley, Staff Writer
Published December 8, 2005

Terry Moncrief’s philosophy of ministry can be summed up on his recent comment concerning the inner city.

Mercer chooses Underwood to succeed Godsey
Board unanimously elects new president
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published December 8, 2005

Mercer University trustees elected William “Bill” Underwood as the university’s 18th president on Dec. 2. He will succeed longtime President R. Kirby Godsey upon his retirement on July 1.

Recommendation of the Executive Committee of the Baptist Convention of the State of Georgia concerning Mercer
Published December 8, 2005

The below document is the resolution proposed to and approved by messengers to the 2005 Georgia Baptist Convention held Nov. 14-15. The motion will be voted on a second time at next year’s Convention meetings.

In his final days, Adrian Rogers told those gathered around him, ‘I am at perfect peace’
By Michael Foust
Published December 8, 2005

Even in the face of death, friends say, Adrian Rogers exemplified the Christian faith he spent a lifetime sharing.

Partnerships lengthened, recognized at Columbus Convention
Published December 8, 2005

Messengers to the 184th meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention witnessed the growth of relationships and partnerships in addition to the move to sever ties with Mercer University. A record 104 new churches were welcomed into the Convention, 32 more than last year. Moreover, members from 310 ethnic and 116 African-American congregations spoke to messengers.

North Metro honors Frank Cox on 25th anniversary as pastor
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published December 8, 2005

The North Metro First Baptist facility would not have held the number of people who attended Frank Cox’s 25th anniversary as pastor of the Lawrenceville church, so the Gwinnett Civic Center was the site of the grand celebration on Nov. 20th.

Teachers’ life-witnessing in public schools
First in a three-part series
By J. Emmett Henderson, GBC Ethics and Public Affairs, Retired
Published December 8, 2005

A Georgia radio talk show host regularly thunders away at public schools: “This nation would be better off if responsible parents would all make a vow to remove their children from government schools as soon as practicable,” he says.

Georgia natives among 89 IMB missionaries appointed Nov. 15
By Michael Chute
Published December 8, 2005

God has called missionaries to the nations to “declare they can be free in Jesus Christ,” International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin told 89 new Southern Baptist workers appointed Nov. 15, as well as the crowd assembled in the Von Braun Center in conjunction with the annual meeting of Alabama Baptist State Convention in Huntsville.

IMB Trustees appoint 89 missionaries, set new personnel selection
Glossolalia, baptism of missionary personnel
By Michael Chute
Published December 8, 2005

International Mission Board trustees voted to appoint 89 new missionaries during their Nov. 14-17 meeting in Huntsville, Ala. They also learned that Southern Baptists last year took the Gospel to 137 previously unengaged people groups and planted the first evangelical Baptist churches among 14 of those groups that had no evangelical work.

10 Commandments may return to Barrow County ... but not alone
Published December 8, 2005

The Ten Commandments may return to the Barrow County courthouse from which they were removed this past summer, but they would appear in a slightly diminished role.

Baptist News Summary

Firing squad executes Yemeni for killings of Baptist workers
Published December 8, 2005

A Muslim militant connected to the 2002 murders of three Southern Baptist medical workers in Yemen was executed Nov. 27.

Commuter classes at New Orleans to begin in Jan., Kelley announces
Published December 8, 2005

New Orleans Seminary will hold classes on its New Orleans campus starting in January, NOBTS President Chuck Kelley has announced. He also said that the May graduation ceremony will be held on campus in Leavell Chapel.

Carson-Newman to honor disputed author Ralph Elliott
Published December 8, 2005

The man whose view of biblical authority triggered an outcry among conservative Southern Baptists is being honored by Carson-Newman College as its 2005-06 distinguished alumnus.

Biloxi Baptists give 17,000 turkeys to families in Katrina’s path
Published December 8, 2005

Southern Baptist volunteers gave away 17,000 Thanksgiving turkeys in a two-day event in Biloxi, Miss., that culminated with a worship service featuring Christian music artists Newsong and Clay Crosse and country music singer Mark Wills and a message by First Baptist Woodstock pastor Johnny Hunt Nov. 21-22.

January simulcast to launch missions prayer initiative
Published December 8, 2005

Churches are invited to join in a national “Lift Up Your Voice ... A Call to Prayer” simulcast Jan. 27 and Jan. 29 to help launch a yearlong prayer initiative to connect churches with God’s work around the world.

New application, EZWord, inserts Bible verses into documents
Published December 8, 2005

EZWord, a new tool from the e-business department of LifeWay Christian Resources is designed to, among other things, help alleviate some of the small inaccuracies that can occur when even the most meticulous person tries to hold a Bible open and type complicated text into a document at the same time.

NOBTS campus housing units available in spring, officials say
Published December 8, 2005

From as far away as Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and as close as Houma, La. volunteers are giving their time and energy to help restore New Orleans Seminary.

Names in the News
Published December 8, 2005

People and Places

Obituaries
Published December 8, 2005

Honors
Published December 8, 2005

Groundbreaking
Published December 8, 2005

Ordinations
Published December 8, 2005

Ministerial Moves
Published December 8, 2005

Cooperative Program Stories

Local churches respond to international needs
Published December 8, 2005

Just out of college, Tommy Williams read a Sunday school lesson about Russian soldiers tricking children in order to “prove” there was no God.

Bible Study

Why Try?
By Jim Perdue, Pastor, North Cross Baptist Church, Cumming
Published December 8, 2005

“Everyone complains about the weather but no one ever does anything about it.”

Why Jesus?
By Jim Perdue, Pastor, North Cross Baptist Church, Cumming
Published December 8, 2005

Columns

Let it be “Merry Christmas” now and forever
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published December 8, 2005

Last year Target stores became the Scrooge of 2004 and told the Salvation Army that they could no longer have their red kettles available to collect money for benevolent purposes. Consequently, the Salvation Army indicated that Target’s decision was a devastating blow to their “Sharing is Caring” campaign because Target locations produced an estimated $9 million in donations the previous year.

England’s other state religion, multiculturalism
By James Lileks, c. 2005 Religion News Service
Published December 8, 2005

“I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published December 8, 2005

A certain Christmas song states, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year ... It’s the hap-happiest season of all.” Though the lyrics approach Christmas from a secular view, I could not agree more with the sentiment. This is absolutely “the most wonderful time of the year” and “the hap-happiest season of all.”

The difficult task of letting go
By James Dobson
Published December 8, 2005