News

North America: Hanging in the balance
An Analysis
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor, with additional reporting by J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published February 16, 2006

Expectations were high in 1997 when the North American Mission Board was forged out of three previous Southern Baptist entities during the ambitious Covenant for a New Century restructuring. Increased operational efficiencies from the merger into NAMB were projected to allow Southern Baptists to be more effective than ever in impacting the United States and Canada with the Gospel.

Former Georgia Baptists feel at home in Canada
By Mickey Noah
Published February 16, 2006

For 10 years now, North American missionaries Kevin and Alicia Madden have lived 2,200 miles away from Kevin’s birthplace in the historic little town of Washington – located about 100 miles east of Atlanta. Today, their home and hearts are firmly rooted in Canada.

Securing a line of communication
Members of southwest Georgia Baptist church adopt platoon
By Scott Barkley, Staff Writer
Published February 16, 2006

After his arrival in Iraq, Lt. Nathan Hicks’ only news of home would come from his wife.

Jerry Vines retires, returns to Georgia
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published February 16, 2006

After fifty illustrious years as a pastor, including more than 23 as pastor of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., Jerry Vines is transitioning to a new phase of Christian service, with Woodstock becoming his new home and the home for Jerry Vines Ministries.

Coretta Scott King, a woman of faith and devotion
By Adelle M. Banks, c. 2006 Religion News Service
Published February 16, 2006

Coretta Scott King, who died Jan. 31, held firmly to her faith as one of the nation’s most famous pastor’s wives before becoming a civil rights leader in her own right.

Abilene honors Bill Harrell on his 25th anniversary as pastor
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published February 16, 2006

Abilene Baptist Church had a four-day preaching extravaganza Jan. 15-18 to honor Bill Harrell on the occasion of his 25th anniversary as pastor. David Miller, minister of education and administration, declared, “Brother Bill’s ministry has been built around the expository preaching of God’s Word. We could think of no better way to honor him for twenty-five years of ministry than to celebrate with a preaching conference with some of America’s greatest preachers.”

Sisters Who Care participate in missions
By Margaret McCommon Dempsey, Special to the Index
Published February 16, 2006

It was a simple stack of Sunday newspaper ads, brought in to protect the craft room tables from exuberant youngsters’ paint and glue. But to Kevin*, one of the young residents of the children’s home, it was an opportunity to sit with a caring woman, casually looking at and talking about the pictures of food in the random stack of ads. It was a poignant reminder of the tender love of ordinary days.

‘Outdoor Bible’ built to withstand the elements
By Jason Kane
Published February 16, 2006

While many believers have long believed the Christian Bible to be infallible, a publishing company has made it waterproof and tear-resistant, too.

Southern Baptists minister following deadly Florida auto crash
By Joni B. Hannigan
Published February 16, 2006

Standing bravely behind four white caskets trimmed in gold, 40 youth from Fellowship Baptist Church in Raiford, Fla., paid tribute to their friends Nikki, Elizabeth, Johnny and Heaven.

Georgia fourth-largest for megachurches
Published February 16, 2006

Researchers reviewing the total number of megachurches found that the states with the most megachurches are California (178), Texas (157), Florida (85) and Georgia (73).

Southern Baptist baptism momentum
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published February 16, 2006

Southern Baptist church plants
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published February 16, 2006

Are Southern Baptists moving toward a self-funded missionary force?
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published February 16, 2006

Georgia NewsBriefs

Houston Association names Burnette as next leader
Published February 16, 2006

Ray Burnette has been named associational missionary for Houston Baptist Association, beginning his position Jan. 23. Previously, he served as pastor at Red Oak Baptist Church in Sylvester for seven years and at Arabi Baptist Church for ten years.

Foster succeeds Poole as Flint River associational missionary
Published February 16, 2006

Steve Foster, association director of missions for Flint River Association since 2003, was promoted Jan. 9 to associational missionary. Foster takes the place of Swayne Poole, who retired last year.

Floyd Association names Reynolds as associational missionary
Published February 16, 2006

Jim Reynolds, former pastor of Spring Creek Baptist Church in Rome, began his tenure as associational missionary for Floyd Association Jan. 30.

Religious NewsBriefs

Swiss Guard marks 500 years of service
Published February 16, 2006

Jan. 22 marked 500 years of the most iconic unit of bodyguards protecting the popes of Rome.

Lawsuits filed against Walgreens on behalf of religious pharmacists
Published February 16, 2006

A conservative interest group has filed a series of lawsuits against Walgreens after the drugstore chain fired four pharmacists for refusing to dispense the “morning-after” pill to patients.

Google China criticized for censorship
Published February 16, 2006

Although Google is fighting a U.S. Justice Department probe into Internet pornography, it has begun acquiescing to the Chinese government.

Muslims offended over newspaper cartoons
Published February 16, 2006

Muslim anger over Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad is expected to rise after French and German newspapers reprinted the caricatures Feb. 1, saying they did so in support of free expression.

People and Places

Obituaries
Published February 16, 2006

Honors
Published February 16, 2006

Ordinations
Published February 16, 2006

Special Birthdays
Published February 16, 2006

Ministerial Moves
Published February 16, 2006

Cooperative Program Stories

Partnership brings about a home for Haitian believers
By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC
Published February 16, 2006

They were a church without a home.

Bible Study

Doing My Part
By Tony Guthrie, Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministries/Preaching, Luther Rice Seminary
Published February 16, 2006

“God has a plan for your life” is a statement with which many Christians struggle. But God does have a plan and He desires His followers to involve themselves in it.

Put Christ First
By Kurt Smith, Pastor, Lakeview Baptist Church, Lenox
Published February 16, 2006

There is a growing division between what goes for the “popular Gospel” and what we read in the Word of God. What is popular today is a Gospel of self-fulfillment. It is a message purposely driven to meet the “felt-needs” of self-centered people who look at Jesus for self-improvement. For example, if you come to Jesus you will hit more homeruns, increase sales, get better grades, and ultimately you will be healthy, wealthy, and comfortable.

Columns

Needed: Fearless Prophets
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published February 16, 2006

Several years before his death I heard Robert Greene Lee, perhaps the last great pulpit orator in America, preach. He said, “One of these days I am going to cast off this earthy tabernacle and do something common to all men. I am going to die; and they are going to bury me in this terrestrial soil. And there is some chance that some little pusillanimous preacher will stand over my grave and say, ‘There lies the body of R. G. Lee, a man who did not have an enemy in this world.’”

Will Southern Baptists keep their eyes on the ball?
By James T. Draper Jr.
Published February 16, 2006

Think about how many sports involve a ball – baseball, golf, football, just to name a few. The one thing they have in common is that if you don’t keep your eye on the ball, you’re not going to be very successful.

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published February 16, 2006

We live in a world of incredible distractions. There has never been greater temptation to lose focus than that which we experience today.

Don’t rock your child’s boat unless he’s ready to founder
By James Dobson
Published February 16, 2006