News

NAMB trustees place controls on president for greater accountability
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published March 30, 2006

North American Mission Board trustees placed executive level controls on the agency’s president on March 23 in a move to restore accountability.

NAMB issues response to Index article
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor, and Art Toalston, Baptist Press
Published March 30, 2006

A 19-page report – nine of which deals with issues raised in an Index story in mid-February – assures Southern Baptists that church planting and evangelism will remain priorities at the North American Mission Board.

IMB board rescinds action to remove trustee, appoints 45 missionaries at Tampa meeting
By Michael Chute
Published March 30, 2006

Trustees of the International Mission Board, during their meeting in Tampa, Fla., March 20-22, overturned their action in January to recommend that the Southern Baptist Convention remove trustee Wade Burleson of Oklahoma.

Georgia trustee among those in favor of new criticism policy
Published March 30, 2006

International Mission Board trustees formalized a new process for approving missionary candidates and adopted a formal document explaining trustee responsibilities and relationships during their meeting March 20-22 in Tampa, Fla. The document represents two years of work for a three-member subcommittee, but its release follows a controversy over the use of “weblogs,” particularly the one by IMB trustee Wade Burleson of Oklahoma.

Opportunities for inspiration abound at state convention in November
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published March 30, 2006

Attendance at the annual sessions of the Georgia Baptist Convention has declined in recent years, but GBC President Wayne Hamrick hopes to reverse that trend at the next meeting scheduled for November 13-14 at the Gwinnett Arena in Duluth.

“Reaching Out Through Christ”
By Jimmy F. Orr, Board of Trustees, Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries, Inc.
Published March 30, 2006

“Ronnie” was my first exposure to the Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries, Inc. It was late July 1969. The Braves were headed to the playoffs, and my family was headed to the new Palmetto campus of the Children’s Homes to pick up “Ronnie.” Each summer, Ronnie spent two weeks with us. He attended church with us, cheered with us at Braves games, played pitch in the yard, and, accompanied us on vacations. Ronnie taught me to keep a score card of Braves games. Ronnie always introduced himself with his full name – first, middle, and last name.

Different kind of NASCAR series brought to Calvary Baptist in Rome
Learning life lessons in mid-race
By Scott Barkley, Staff Writer
Published March 30, 2006

With a mixture of ‘oohs’ and gasps, the crowd watches as the stock car slams into the wall, pirouettes in midair, careens back toward the infield and finally comes to rest before the driver climbs out unscathed.

Young again at 100
Tippettville Baptist Church rebirth aided through VBS
By Scott Barkley, Staff Writer
Published March 30, 2006

When Harold Sangster arrived as the new pastor of Tippettville Baptist in June 2003, the church had 11 in Sunday School. Now, involvement and membership are growing, due in large part to Vacation Bible School.

New Hebron worship center can accommodate every resident of Dacula and more . . .
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published March 30, 2006

Hebron Baptist Church can accommodate every resident of the town in their new worship center.

Like other teens, church arson suspects revealed details online
By Gregg Garrison, c. 2006 Religion News Service
Published March 30, 2006

The three college students accused of setting fire to nine Alabama churches left a computer chat room trail that was a window into their personalities.

Georgia NewsBriefs

GBC evangelism tools available for free
Published March 30, 2006

Evangelism Ministries of the Georgia Baptist Convention are offering free materials for evangelism and mentoring to prospective churches.

People and Places

Obituaries
Published March 30, 2006

Ordinations
Published March 30, 2006

Ministerial Moves
Published March 30, 2006

Cooperative Program Stories

Teen girls learn about God’s relevance in life’s journey
By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC
Published March 30, 2006

More than 170 teenage girls came together for a three-day retreat in March to learn how God can and should be relevant to everyday life.

Bible Study

You Have a Motive
By Stan Wilkins, Associational Missionary, Bartow Baptist Association
Published March 30, 2006

Luke 23:32-47
Related Sunday School Lesson, Family Bible Series, April 9

You Have a Risen Lord
By Stan Wilkins, Associational Missionary, Bartow Baptist Association
Published March 30, 2006

Luke 24:5b-8, 36-48
Related Sunday School Lesson, Family Bible Series, April 16

Columns

What are we thinking?
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published March 30, 2006

In the city of Columbus Mayor Bob Poydasheff is helping to facilitate a group of community leaders who have worked to establish One Columbus. This group’s stated purpose is “to create unity and respect within a diverse community.” Their stated objective is “to promote and encourage multi-cultural dialogue among all sectors and at every level of the community.”

As evangelicals, it ’s time we focus on our own sins
By Anne Graham Lotz
Published March 30, 2006

When I attended the “The Hand of God in U.S. Politics” seminar recently at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the attendees seemed alarmed about the power of “the religious right.” As the panelists and attendees voiced their concern, I sat quietly wondering, “How is it that when the world thinks of American evangelicals, it thinks primarily of political issues instead of our love for others or our loyalty to Jesus?”

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published March 30, 2006

I am sure that the word has been well broadcast by now that we are initiating an automobile fleet program for our traveling employees who drive at least 7,500 miles in their work for the Convention.

Teen’s discovery has parent hunting for right words
By James Dobson
Published March 30, 2006