News

Georgia Baptist women vow to "press on" in Christian commitment, missions involvement
By Margaret Dempsey
Published April 22, 2004

More than 900 Georgia Baptist women of all ages, occupations and ethnic backgrounds converged on this West Georgia town this past weekend to celebrate missions and renew their missions commitment. Representatives from churches in 66 associations gathered at First Douglasville for the 121st session of Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union (BWMU) of Georgia annual meeting on April 16-17. This year’s theme was “Press On.”

Revival sweeps across Southwest Georgia counties
405 accept Christ in five nights of meetings
By Gerald Harris, Editor
Published April 22, 2004

“This regional evangelistic crusade has brought revival to our churches and created a spirit of love and unity to the people of our area that crosses all racial and denominational lines.”

"When Revival Comes"
Acts 2:2-47
By Tony Dickerson, pastor, Pinehurst Baptist Church
Published April 22, 2004

Vance Havner said, “We are not going to move this world by criticism of it nor conformity to it, but the combustion within it of our lives ignited by the Spirit of God.”

Sunday School growth requires accountability, caring, pastors say
By Scott Barkley, Staff Writer
Published April 22, 2004

In a study recently released by Sunday School/Open Group Ministries of the GBC, 37 Georgia Baptist churches were identified as having consistent Sunday School growth over a five-year period.

In the face of disaster Georgians provide relief
By Scott Barkley, Staff Writer
Published April 22, 2004

Most World War II veterans aren’t hopping on a plane to go to the most volatile region on the planet. However, Harvey Hyatt looks at his recent mission trip to Iran as simply part of fulfilling the Great Commission.

Churches making much of The Passion
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published April 22, 2004

Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of the Christ, has gotten the nation’s attention focused on the atoning death of the Son of God. Millions of Americans are leaving theaters across our nation with a vivid awareness of the price Jesus paid in order to redeem sinners. Countless churches are using the Gibson film as a tool for evangelism and lives are being changed. Christians are renewing their own faith and unbelievers are asking pertinent questions about the purpose and passion of the Christ.

Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief in Bam, Iran
Published April 22, 2004

Bam disaster relief photos

Georgia NewsBriefs

Rome native elected as dean at Southwestern
Published April 22, 2004

Trustees at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas elected David Allen as dean for the seminary’s theology school during their semiannual meeting held April 6.

Cox to serve on SBC Resolutions Committee
Published April 22, 2004

SBC President Jack Graham has named the members of the Resolutions Committee who will serve during the June 15-16 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Indianapolis.

GBCC-Norman Park to sponsor golf retreat
Published April 22, 2004

Georgia Baptist Conference Center-Norman Park will be sponsoring a spring Ministers Golf Retreat on April 29-30. The retreat will begin with an evening fish fry and trip to a local driving range.

Proposed amendment to GBC Constitution
Published April 22, 2004

GBC messengers will consider a proposed amendment change at this November’s state convention meeting in College Park, a suburb of Atlanta.

Religious NewsBriefs

Soldiers cope with stress through prayer
Published April 22, 2004

A survey of U.S. military members has found that approximately 50% of men and 70% of women use prayer among the coping mechanisms used to deal with stress.

Arab-American group objects to latest Webster’s Dictionary’s anti-Semitism listing
Published April 22, 2004

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee has raised objections to the definition of “anti-Semitism” in the Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, published in 2002.

University report suggests school abuse “100 times” worse than among Catholic priests
Published April 22, 2004

Sexual abuse of children in public schools may be “100 times” worse than in the Roman Catholic Church, according to a leading education journal.

Family-friendly movies do well at box office, Christian Film and Television Commission finds
Published April 22, 2004

Researchers have found that the more sex and nudity a movie included, the worse it did at the box office.

British Muslims urged to aid Prime Minister and police in preventing terrorist attacks
Published April 22, 2004

In a letter to the imams, ulemas, chairmen and secretaries of the country’s mosques, Islamic organizations and institutions, the Muslim Council of Britain’s secretary general, Iqbal Sacranie, cited the concern expressed recently by Prime Minister Tony Blair and police chiefs about the high probability of imminent terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom.

People and Places

Obituaries
Published April 22, 2004

Dedications
Published April 22, 2004

Groundbreakings
Published April 22, 2004

Honors/Anniversaries
Published April 22, 2004

Ordinations
Published April 22, 2004

Revivals
Published April 22, 2004

Retirements
Published April 22, 2004

Ministerial Moves
Published April 22, 2004

Cooperative Program Stories

Troup Association volunteers for Habitat for Humanity
By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC
Published April 22, 2004

Building houses, leading children’s camps, ministering to tourists. Georgia Baptist associations work together across the state to make a difference.

Georgia Mountain Resort Ministries reaches out to tourists, residents, and employees
By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC
Published April 22, 2004

Georgia Mountain Resort Ministries is a ministry program sponsored by three associations: White County, Notla River, and Hiawassee. Located in the heart of the North Georgia mountains, this ministry exists to offer Christian-based family services to tourists who visit the area, as well as residents and employees of the resort areas.

Bible Study

Trusting God
By Allan Lockerman, Pastor, First Baptist Elberton
Published April 22, 2004

Does it seem to you that some people are making the Christian life more difficult than it should be? The glorious thing about the gospel is how wonderfully simple it is. Yet these days’ strident voices are calling for a kind of faith that requires intricate knowledge of deep spiritual truths in order to fully experience God.

Loving Spouses
By Allan Lockerman, Pastor, First Baptist Elberton
Published April 22, 2004

How do you define marriage? Many have tried and failed, some with negative statements. One pundit said, “Marriage is a temporary state of insanity that can last a lifetime.” Another described marriage as an institution for the matrimonially insane.

Columns

Georgia Baptist Children's Homes offer hope for a lifetime
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published April 22, 2004

The story is told of an orphanage years ago where life was cheap, compassion was non-existent and brutality and abuse were commonplace. A little boy who resided there was seen by one of the guardians throwing a piece of paper over the wall. The boy was immediately taken to the office of the superintendent of the orphanage to await certain punishment for such an act was considered an offense requiring disciplinary action.

The oppressive old master
By Gregory Tomlin
Published April 22, 2004

There are days Americans will always remember. Dec. 7, 1941; Nov. 22, 1963; and Sept. 11, 2001 are but a few of those days when the course of history changed and our country showed itself resolute in its defense of freedom.

Living on a low income
By Howard Dayton
Published April 22, 2004

People with low incomes – or interrupted incomes – often feel like they are living hand-to-mouth, and there always seems to be more month left at the end of their money.

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published April 22, 2004

A little over two years ago I wrote an Open Door about the premature birth of my granddaughter, Lauren. She weighed 3 pounds, 15 ounces at birth and was nurtured in her earliest days by a very fine neonatology team at University Hospital in Augusta.

Seeds From The Sower
By Michael Guido
Published April 22, 2004

A London church bears this sign: “Not everyone who attends this church is converted. Watch your handbags.”

Appeasement is rarely successful in relationships
By James Dobson
Published April 22, 2004