News

A major role player on/off the field
Faith in Christ the ultimate rush for Falcons' Justin Griffith
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published September 14, 2006

Justin Griffith, Atlanta Falcons fullback, looks taller than the 5’11” height ascribed to him on the team roster. Number 33 weighs in at 232 pounds with muscles like polished steel. The Magee, Miss., native is a formidable force on the gridiron, but off the field his winsome smile and affable demeanor contribute to a somewhat unassuming, but magnetic, personality.

Shorter installs Newman as 18th president, celebrates record enrollment
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published September 14, 2006

Buoyed by fresh reports of the highest enrollment in the school’s history, supporters of Shorter College gathered on Aug. 29 for the inauguration of Harold E. Newman as the school’s 18th president.

Blackshear Place: baptizing and building
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published September 14, 2006

Flowery Branch, established in 1874 and now known as the gateway to Hall County, is no longer a sleepy little town located on the shores of Lake Lanier.

Giving 'til Jesus comes back
Georgia Baptist Foundation a growing option for those looking to leave a lasting impact
By Scott Barkley, sbarkley@christianindex.org
Published September 14, 2006

Charles Asbell talks fondly of the youth camp sponsored by Ebenezer Baptist Association. It was there as a ten-year-old that Asbell prayed to receive Christ, impacting his life and leading him to enter the ministry.

Christianity, not communism, now offering people hope in Moscow
By Erich Bridges
Published September 14, 2006

The sun shone bright and warm Aug. 19 as a martial anthem glorifying communism and the old Soviet Union echoed across Moscow’s Red Square.

Collegiate Ministries begins school year with new faces, new name
Georgia intern training program the only one in SBC
By Scott Barkley, sbarkley@christianindex.org
Published September 14, 2006

In just a few months Marshall Kerlin went from having the longest tenure of any Georgia Baptist campus minister at one school to one of the shortest.

A clear call to lead
Former Georgia BCM intern becomes state's youngest campus minister
By Scott Barkley, sbarkley@christianindex.org
Published September 14, 2006

Fro Joe Wood, this mihgt apepar nomrla.

Bible student uses Web to raise college funds
By Kat Glass
Published September 14, 2006

For struggling Moody Bible Institute sophomore Bill Van Kirk, starting his fundraising Web site was an act of faith – a last-ditch effort to find cash as he faced mounting college bills.

Getting the year off on the right foot
Record enrollment bodes well for new academic year
Published September 14, 2006

Shorter College is stepping into its new academic year with plenty of good news. Not only has the lawsuit filed by the former administration against the Georgia Baptist Convention been settled, cementing the relationship between the two entities, but students are affirming their faith in the college by enrolling in record numbers.

First Baptist Savannah gets new license following fine for Cuba travel
By Adelle M. Banks
Published September 14, 2006

As the Alliance of Baptists appeals a $34,000 penalty for allegedly violating travel rules to Cuba, two of the five churches charged with breaking the rules have recently received new licenses to visit the island nation.

Mission house at the center of Baptist outreach in N.Y.
By Mickey Noah
Published September 14, 2006

It’s just another nondescript red-brick building in Brooklyn dating back to the 1920s. It has been a furniture store and funeral home. During World War II, it housed a draft board that sent troops.

Worshiping the King? Elvis has devotees all shook up
By Greg Garrison, c. 2006 Religion News Service
Published September 14, 2006

Elvis impersonator Rob Langford, sweating through his white jumpsuit, got all shook up singing Elvis Presley hits such as “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Love Me Tender.”

Chapel speaker's comments raise ruckus at Southwestern Seminary
Published September 14, 2006

A chapel speaker whose statements about a private prayer language sparked media attention Aug. 29 has written a letter to the president of the seminary where he spoke, amplifying his view of speaking in tongues but affirming the seminary’s right to disagree with him.

Southern Baptists 'most political' in survey on political involvement
Published September 14, 2006

Two studies conducted by the Phoenix-based Ellison Research company for Facts & Trends, a bimonthly publication of LifeWay, found that protestant clergy and laity are far from being of one mind about religion and politics, though most clergy and laypeople agree that their church is not heavily involved in politics.

GBC study reveals key factors in healthy churches
Published September 14, 2006

Participants of a study by Research Services of the Georgia Baptist Convention indicated three areas that help determine a healthy church.

Pinocchio, Heidi receive Islamic makeover in Turkish books
Published September 14, 2006

Book publishers in Turkey, reacting to controversy that arose over inclusion of such titles as Pinocchio in the Turkish government’s recommended reading list for schoolchildren, have reprinted several of the classics with Islamic elements inserted into the storylines.

A letter from Dwight McKissic to Paige Patterson
By Dwight McKissic, senior pastor, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Arlington, Texas
Published September 14, 2006

A letter from Dwight McKissic, senior pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas and Southwestern Seminary trustee, to Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern

Baptist News Summary

Welch honored for 32-year pastorate
Published September 14, 2006

Bobby Welch’s 32-year pastorate at First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Fla., came to an end Aug. 27, focusing attention on the theme of his ministry – winning people to faith in Jesus Christ.

President Bush greets seminarians at Habitat for Humanity worksite
Published September 14, 2006

When a group from New Orleans Seminary arrived at a Habitat for Humanity project in the Upper Ninth Ward on Aug. 29, they expected a hard day’s work. What they didn’t expect was to meet the president of the United States.

Baptist Press launches Spanish initiative
Published September 14, 2006

BP en Español, a Spanish-language product published by Baptist Press, debuted Sept. 1.

Southwestern Seminary launches live streaming video of chapel
Published September 14, 2006

Southwestern Seminary will produce live, online, streaming video of its chapel services beginning this semester.

LifeWay Research announces projects; Calvinism in the SBC is first study
Published September 14, 2006

LifeWay Research has announced four projects scheduled for the remainder of 2006, releasing one a month beginning in September. The four topics of study deal with Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention; the formerly churched – why they left church and what would bring them back; churches that are effective in evangelism over a 10-year period and why; and from which sources Southern Baptist churches draw ministry help.

Students to 'Capture the Vision' at 6th BP journalism conference
Published September 14, 2006

Students will be challenged to “Capture the Vision” of the future God has for them at the 6th annual Baptist Press Collegiate Journalism Conference Oct. 5-7 at the SBC Building in Nashville, Tenn.

Names in the News
Published September 14, 2006

Religious NewsBriefs

Coast Guard changes rule, will allow some religious headgear on duty
Published September 14, 2006

The U.S. Coast Guard has changed its rules and will now permit some religious headgear to be worn on duty.

College to pay burned churches $368,000
Published September 14, 2006

Birmingham-Southern College has begun paying out $368,000 donated to help rebuild rural Alabama churches burned by arsonists earlier this year.

Scientologists win tax battle with British
Published September 14, 2006

The Church of Scientology has won a tax fight with British authorities, a victory that means the government will be forced to reimburse the millions of pounds in past payments the church has made.

Poll shows declining religious influence on society, less than half favor conservatives
Published September 14, 2006

A new poll released Aug. 24 shows Americans’ attitudes toward a host of issues touching on faith and public policy. The poll was a joint effort of the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

People and Places

Groundbreakings
Published September 14, 2006

Homecomings
Published September 14, 2006

Honors
Published September 14, 2006

Ordinations
Published September 14, 2006

Retirements
Published September 14, 2006

Revivals
Published September 14, 2006

Special Praise
Published September 14, 2006

Ministerial Moves
Published September 14, 2006

Cooperative Program Stories

Training for Sunday School expansion
By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC
Published September 14, 2006

Brenda Howard has been a member of First Baptist Blackshear for 46 years. During that time she has taught Sunday School to just about every age group – children, teenagers, and adults. She’s always been a good and reliable teacher, the kind that a minister of education really likes to have.

Bible Study

Pass on the Baton
By Steve Kimmel, Pastor, First Baptist Smyrna
Published September 14, 2006

Joshua 24:14-28, 31
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, Sept. 24

Take Hold of the Truth
By Mike Griffin, Pastor, Liberty Baptist Church, Hartwell
Published September 14, 2006

I Timothy 1:3-7, 12-20
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, Oct. 1

Columns

The Muslim (Islamic) march across America
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published September 14, 2006

Islam is the second largest religion in the world with more than 1.3 billion adherents. In the United States, Islam is the fastest growing religion, a trend fueled mostly by immigration. There are almost 7 million Muslims in the United States.

Sept. 11, five years on
By Erich Bridges
Published September 14, 2006

Five years after one of our worst national nightmares unfolded in broad daylight, the echoes of Sept. 11, 2001, continue to reverberate.

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published September 14, 2006

In a few short weeks we will enter the fourth quarter of the year. Generally, among our churches, the last quarter of the year is the strongest quarter financially.

Overprotective parents not necessarily off base
By James Dobson
Published September 14, 2006