News

Annie Armstrong Offering sets record three months ahead of time
May exceed national goal for only fourth time in 25 years
By Martin King
Published October 12, 2006

Southern Baptist giving to the 2006 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions has been so generous that the offering has set a new record with three months still remaining in the giving period.

Sharing Christ where the Sandinista influence is strong
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published October 12, 2006

The lone, unmarried Nicaraguan girl with sparking eyes was only 14 years old and seven months pregnant. As she walked down the street, her tattered dress gave unmistakable evidence of her poverty. She had moistened a brightly colored cloth, fashioned it just so, and placed it on her head to facilitate a rather remarkable balancing act. On her head she was precariously transporting a five-gallon bucket of hot tamales, which she hoped to sell in the marketplace for a few cordobas.

Just 60 percent of churches 'functioning' in New Orleans
By Gary D. Myers
Published October 12, 2006

An ongoing study by Bill Day at New Orleans Seminary revealed that only 60 percent of all the greater New Orleans-area churches are open and functioning one year after Hurricane Katrina.

SBC reaches $200-million record in CP giving
Published October 12, 2006

The Cooperative Program surpassed $200 million in gifts for national causes for the first time in the Southern Baptist Convention’s history during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, according to an Oct. 3 announcement by Morris H. Chapman, president of the SBC Executive Committee.

Tennessee Baptists file suit against Belmont University
Published October 12, 2006

The Tennessee Baptist Convention has filed a lawsuit against Belmont University, citing breach of contract and seeking damages in the amount of all past contributions the convention has made to the school since 1951, an amount that exceeds $58 million without consideration of inflation.

Loving the street kids of Dakar wins hearts in Senegal
By Erich Bridges
Published October 12, 2006

It’s a tough life for a kid. You wake in the darkness before dawn and roll off a wooden pallet – one of the “beds” you share with 30 other boys on the dirt floor.

Facing the Giants fares well on opening weekend ticket sales
Grosses $1.3 million, places twelfth overall; rated #1 by Yahoo users
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published October 12, 2006

Facing the Giants fared well on its opening weekend debut on Sept. 29, rating the fourth-highest per theater average among 14 other Hollywood releases that either opened or were playing on at least 1,000 screens.

Embryonic stem cell research
By Ray Newman, Specialist, Ethics & Public Affairs, GBC
Published October 12, 2006

Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (NIV). This passage makes it clear that our life began in the eternal mind of God even before the day of our conception. The much debated issue of stem cell research reached a major point as President Bush used his veto pen for the first time in his administration.

Vote
Published October 12, 2006

The day I registered to vote was a proud and happy day in our family. I was so excited I dropped by for a visit with my parents to let them know I had registered to vote and planned to vote in the next election. I will never forget how pleased my parents were.

The Corporate Equality Index
By Michael Foust, Baptist Press
Published October 12, 2006

According to the Human Rights Campaign 138 companies made a prefect score on the “Corporate Equality Index.” What must a company do to make it to this list? 1. Offer domestic partner benefits, such as health insurance, to spouses of same-sex employees. 2. Provide at least one “transgender wellness benefit” (such as paying for a “sex-change” operation or offering short-term leave for it).

New ministers learn of tools, programs available at orientation
By Scott Barkley, sbarkley@christianindex.org
Published October 12, 2006

A trip to the Georgia Baptist Missions and Ministry Center yielded much more than Parrish Meyers was expecting.

South Georgia pastor: "We are co-laborers with God"
Oakland Baptist celebrates 25 years with Royce Hullett
By Scott Barkley, sbarkley@christianindex.org
Published October 12, 2006

Royce Hullett took the foam padding and laid it along the oak wood pews. After that, he attached the upholstery and secured it into place. It took a week, but he and his wife, Carol, finished the job. Thirty-three pews. Fifteen on each side with three holding the choir.

Revival Reports
Published October 12, 2006

Christian Coalition of Georgia splits from national group
Published October 12, 2006

One of the most powerful political groups in the state announced Sept. 25 that it will leave its mother organization amid charges of liberalism and a failure to “preserve [its] original mission.”

Floyd County Baptists refocus at annual association meeting
By Scott Barkley, sbarkley@christianindex.org
Published October 12, 2006

An estimated 1,300 Floyd County Baptists came together here Oct. 1, validating what outgoing moderator David Harper called an effort to “broaden the audience.”

NAMB trustees approve Executive Level policies
Reset focus to evangelism, church planting, missions
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published October 12, 2006

North American Mission Board trustees have approved a 45-page document outlining Executive Level policies to provide a greater level of accountability by future presidents and, in some instances, by staff.

Baptist News Summary

FamilyNet Radio moves to channel 161 on Sirius
Published October 12, 2006

FamilyNet Radio has moved to a new spot on Sirius satellite radio – channel 161 – in order to place it in the network’s expanded family category.

Baptist higher ed prominent in U.S. News annual rankings
Published October 12, 2006

More than 40 colleges and universities affiliated with the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities have been listed among the nation’s best in the annual survey conducted by U.S. News and World Report magazine.

San Diego selected as SBC's newest Strategic Focus City
Published October 12, 2006

The North American Mission Board has named San Diego as the next Strategic Focus City – an initiative that will bring an all-out effort to share the gospel with metro San Diego’s three million residents.

President of William Carey dies
Published October 12, 2006

President Larry Kennedy of William Carey University died from complications from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease) Sept. 21 at his home in Hattiesburg, Miss. He was 64.

Amid speculation, Missouri Baptist board affirms leadership of exec
Published October 12, 2006

After more than six hours of discussion in executive session Sept. 22, the Missouri Baptist Convention’s Executive Board affirmed the MBC’s executive director, the chairman of the nominating committee, and the works of that committee and all other MBC committees.

Arizona Baptist officials sentenced
Published October 12, 2006

Two top executives with the Baptist Foundation of Arizona were sentenced to prison Sept. 29 for orchestrating a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme.

Group severs ties with college over perceived liberalism in SBC
Published October 12, 2006

The president of Cedarville University says his school is glad to be endorsed by Southern Baptists despite a recent decision by the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC) to sever ties with Cedarville because of perceived liberalism in the SBC.

Religious NewsBriefs

Muslim cable station expands into six states
Published October 12, 2006

Seeking to improve the image of Muslims in the U.S., an English-language Muslim-oriented TV station has expanded its availability into parts of Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas, Florida, and New York.

Georgetown University creates task force to review Protestant student ministry
Published October 12, 2006

After banning six evangelical groups from campus, Georgetown University has formed an advisory board to review how it serves Protestant students at the Catholic university.

Germany ordains first post-WWII rabbis
Published October 12, 2006

For the first time since the end of World War II, rabbis have been ordained in Germany.

Islamic Somali radio station back on the air – minus love songs
Published October 12, 2006

Islamic militants in Somalia are allowing a radio station to air again – as long as it stays away from music, according to wire reports.

People and Places

Obituaries
Published October 12, 2006

Dedications
Published October 12, 2006

Homecomings
Published October 12, 2006

Honors
Published October 12, 2006

Ordinations
Published October 12, 2006

Revivals
Published October 12, 2006

Ministerial Moves
Published October 12, 2006

Cooperative Program Stories

Calling all cars … for missions
By Sherri Brown, Communication, GBC
Published October 12, 2006

Chip Woodruff likes cars. He likes them a lot. But he doesn’t tinker with them, he doesn’t race them, he doesn’t even collect them.

Bible Study

Take Hold of Usefulness
By Mike Griffin, Pastor, Liberty Baptist Church, Hartwell
Published October 12, 2006

2 Timothy 2:14-26
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, Oct. 22

Take Hold of Endurance
By Mike Griffin, Pastor, Liberty Baptist Church, Hartwell
Published October 12, 2006

2 Timothy 3:1-4:8
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, Oct. 29

Columns

Autumn = Andy Griffith = Football = The Harvest
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published October 12, 2006

Even as a lad I loved the poetic artistry of James Whitcomb Riley. You can almost feel the brisk autumn air as you read his poignant words: “When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock.”

Observations of an evangelist
By Jerry Drace
Published October 12, 2006

Since February 1975 when God led me to establish the Jerry Drace Evangelistic Association He has allowed me to preach in more than 1,000 churches in our nation. During that time I noted observations where my team and I spoke.

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published October 12, 2006

The summer months in the life of the Georgia Baptist Convention bring a very special focus upon ministry with and through young people. Without a doubt SuperWow has consistently been one of the finest youth ministry events that I have ever witnessed in my ministry.

Teen's hard times can help build character
By James Dobson
Published October 12, 2006