News

A new Page in convention leadership
Former Georgia pastor elected with majority vote
Published June 22, 2006

Frank Page, the Southern Baptist Convention’s new president, declared in his first news conference a commitment to broadening the involvement of Southern Baptists in decision-making opportunities.

Hispanic pastor: Don’t forget ministry to the foreigner
By Scott Barkley, Staff writer
Published June 22, 2006

Eighteen years ago, John Sanders lived in a small rural town in Georgia. Wanting to move to a growing area with greater opportunities for his two daughters and son, the roofer made his way to the Atlanta area, leaving his family to stay with relatives.

New SBC president: an irenic inerrantist
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published June 22, 2006

In what many thought to be a surprising outcome Frank Page, pastor of First Baptist Church of Taylors, S.C. and former pastor of Warren Baptist Church in Augusta, was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention against two formidable opponents, Ronnie Floyd, pastor of First Baptist Church in Springdale, Ark., and Jerry Sutton, pastor of Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn.

Rice: Moral leadership needed to confront evil, spread liberty
By Gregory Tomlin
Published June 22, 2006

Without America’s moral leadership, the world could easily descend into chaos and despotism, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said June 14 at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Greensboro, N.C.

Southern Baptists elect Frank Page president, hear emphasis on unity, CP
By Michael Foust
Published June 22, 2006

In an annual meeting marked by repeated calls for cooperation in evangelism and missions, Southern Baptists June 13-14 in Greensboro, N.C., elected a new president, stressed increased giving through the Cooperative Program and remembered the late Adrian Rogers, whose widow urged the denomination to “graciously work for unity in the body of Christ”.

Blogging comes of age as a new influence in Southern Baptist life
By Adelle M. Banks, c. 2006 Religion News Service
Published June 22, 2006

On the eve of this year’s annual meeting of Southern Baptists, Micah Fries spoke of how he, as a 27-year-old pastor, often feels left out of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.

Former Georgia pastor's widow tells of recovery
By Wendy Ashley
Published June 22, 2006

When Haven Bailey learned that her 34-year-old husband Tim had died while saving their son from drowning, her fears threatened to overwhelm her.

GuideStone asks churches to optimize minister compensation
Published June 22, 2006

GuideStone Financial Resources President O.S. Hawkins has sent a letter to the chairman of deacons in every Southern Baptist church encouraging adequate compensation for their ministerial staff.

Longtime SBC photographer and Georgia Baptist Paul Obregon dies at 61
By Mickey Noah
Published June 22, 2006

Paul G. Obregon, a veteran photographer for the North American Mission Board, died of cardiac arrest June 5 in Atlanta. He was 61.

Georgia trustees comment on NAMB calling Roy Fish as interim president
By Martin King
Published June 22, 2006

Trustees of the North American Mission Board have called seminary evangelism professor Roy J. Fish to serve as the agency’s interim president. Fish has accepted the call and began his part-time responsibilities last week at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting.

Moldovan response to festivals inspires Georgia Baptists
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published June 22, 2006

The rich, black, fertile soil of Moldova makes it an agrarian’s delight. Moldova, and the adjacent country of Ukraine, both formerly a part of the Soviet Union, were once known as the “bread basket” of the USSR. This eastern European country is the poorest nation on the continent and in recent years many farmers have not been able to anticipate a harvest, because they simply have not had the money to buy the seeds to plant their crops.

SBC resolutions include call for balance on immigration
Published June 22, 2006

Messengers to the 2006 Southern Baptist Convention approved a motion June 14 that sought to balance faithful enforcement of the United States’ immigration laws with compassionate outreach to all immigrants.

Katrina cleanup continues among Georgia Baptists
By Scott Barkley, Staff Writer
Published June 22, 2006

Members of Crossroads Baptist Church here became part of a larger ministry effort when they traveled to the Biloxi, Miss., area April 2-6.

Adrian Rogers wouldn't want a "narrower" SBC, wife says
Published June 22, 2006

Joyce Rogers, widow of Adrian Rogers, longtime pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, commented on what she described is the narrowing of parameters in Southern Baptist life June 12 during a tribute to her late husband in the Pastors’ Conference at the Greensboro Coliseum.

SBC Convention wrap-up
Published June 22, 2006

Georgia NewsBriefs

Family of Covington pastor continue to recover after vehicle attack
Published June 22, 2006

Stephanie, Jake and Isaac Casola continue to recover from injuries sustained after being run down by a car in the parking lot of a McDonald’s May 23.

Corrections
Published June 22, 2006

Baptist News Summary

Compensation study: Ministers' salaries outpace inflation
Published June 22, 2006

Average compensation for fulltime Southern Baptist pastors increased more than $3,400 since 2004, according to a biennial ministers’ compensation study.

Southern Baptist aid in Indonesia feeding more than 5,000 families
Published June 22, 2006

Southern Baptist relief funds are providing food for more than 5,400 families affected by the May 27 earthquake in Indonesia’s central island of Java.

NAMB to transfer "Vancouver Focus" campaign to Canadian Convention
Published June 22, 2006

The North American Mission Board (NAMB) has transferred coordination of “Vancouver Focus” – Southern Baptists’ multi-year church planting and evangelism initiative in Vancouver, British Columbia – to the Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists (CCSB).

Ridgecrest's 100th anniversary chronicled in coffee table book
Published June 22, 2006

A coffee table book commemorating LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center’s 100th anniversary was unveiled during the Southern Baptist Convention’s June 13-14 annual meeting in Greensboro, N.C.

Missouri conference center ordered to stop selling land, incurring debt
Published June 22, 2006

Cole County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Brown III issued an injunction against Windermere Baptist Conference Center after a June 1 hearing to prohibit the breakaway Missouri Baptist Convention entity from selling more of its land, incurring additional debt or cutting more trees without court approval.

Southeastern Seminary and longtime dean launch Faith & Culture Center
Published June 22, 2006

Southeastern Seminary launched the L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture June 1. The center is designed to lead the way in responding to controversial cultural issues and equipping Christians to do the same.

Golden Gate Seminary 'eLearning' campus to offer master's courses
Published June 22, 2006

Golden Gate Seminary will offer graduate-level seminary courses online starting this fall.

People and Places

International Mission Board appoints five with Georgia ties
By Scott Barkley, Staff Writer
Published June 22, 2006

Five new missionaries with Georgia ties were among the 95 appointed by the International Mission Board May 23 at Hoffmantown Church here. The appointments bring the total to 5,075 missionaries serving worldwide through the IMB.

New Orleans Seminary awards degrees to 17 Georgians
Published June 22, 2006

Seventeen students with Georgia ties were awarded degrees at New Orleans Seminary’s 88th commencement services held May 13.

Twenty Southeastern graduates claim Georgia as home state
Published June 22, 2006

Southeastern Seminary celebrated its 2006 commencement May 26 with more than 260 students receiving graduate or undergraduate degrees.

Obituaries
Published June 22, 2006

Honors
Published June 22, 2006

Athens native graduates from Midwestern Seminary
Published June 22, 2006

Southern has graduates with Georgia ties
Published June 22, 2006

Southern Seminary held its 197th graduation commencement May 19 with its first outdoor graduation in the school’s history on the seminary lawn.

Revival Report
Published June 22, 2006

Ministerial Moves
Published June 22, 2006

Cooperative Program Stories

Georgia Baptist Bible drillers compete & place at national tournament
By Sherri Brown, GBC Communications
Published June 22, 2006

Ethan Bloodworth didn’t know just how big his award was until he touched it. Bloodworth won an award for his perfect score in the National Youth Bible Drill and Speakers Tournament Invitational, held in Birmingham, Ala.

Bible Study

I Will Turn to God for Help
By Cecil Clegg, Pastor, Heritage Baptist Church, Douglasville
Published June 22, 2006

Exodus 1:5-14; 2:23-25
Related Sunday School Lesson, Family Bible Series, July 2

I Will Trust in God's Purpose and Power
By Cecil Clegg, Pastor, Heritage Baptist Church, Douglasville
Published June 22, 2006

Exodus 3:4-8a, 19-21; 4:10-12, 27-31
Related Sunday School Lesson, Family Bible Series, July 9

Columns

Southern Baptist Convention has powerful, intended and underlying themes
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published June 22, 2006

The Southern Baptist Convention’s most recent past president, Bobby Welch, has been relentless in his passion to get all of us to become personal soul winners. He preaches and promotes his “Everyone Can!” “I’m It!” campaign with the fervor of a general attempting to rally his troops for a critical battle or with the zeal of a football coach seeking to inspire his team to win a national championship.

Why attend and support a Georgia Baptist College?
By Mike Simoneaux, Vice President for Academic Services, Truett-McConnell College
Published June 22, 2006

The most precious opportunity we have as Christian parents is to raise our children in the Lord and armed with a Christian worldview. Yet 80% of us will send our children to institutions to study under faculty who disdain the message of Christ. In addition, numbers of believers will decide to support those same secular institutions, rather than the colleges that reflect the values espoused in Georgia Baptist pulpits.

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published June 22, 2006

I have been on many mission trips, both as a pastor and as executive director of the Convention, but I have never been on one that has inspired me more than my recent trip to Moldova. What a thrill it was to preach the Gospel among people who are hungry to hear a word from God. Hearts were open and ready to receive the Gospel. Many came receiving Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. The churches of Moldova were encouraged and strengthened, as were those of us who participated in the crusades across Moldova.

Mom and teen daughter are in constant battle
By James Dobson
Published June 22, 2006