News

Plagiarism: Whose message is it?
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published November 9, 2006

When Jeffrey Locke travels six hours to the Georgia Baptist Convention annual meeting next week, he is hoping to return to his Faceville congregation with more than just good memories of friends and a few good meals under his belt. With pen in hand he will be busy getting sermon ideas for messages he can preach later in the year.

Cleveland couple hikes to share Jesus on Appalachian Trail
By Mickey Noah
Published November 9, 2006

Craig and Suzy Miles’ mission field is located amongst the pines and hardwoods of the Appalachian Mountains. They share it with hikers, the occasional black bear, snakes, and other creepy-crawly things better left alone.

Messengers to gather in Gwinnett County next week
New GBC headquarters to be dedicated Monday evening
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published November 9, 2006

Georgia Baptists will gather in the Arena at Gwinnett Center Nov. 13-14 for the 185th annual session of the state convention. Under the theme “Back to the Basics,” messengers will cast the second and final vote on the dissolution of the relationship with Mercer University, worship and focus on the need to reach Georgia for Christ, and formally dedicate the new state convention headquarters across the street from where sessions will be held.

PastorLife offers sermon helps for tips not rip (offs)
Published November 9, 2006

PastorLife is a website “designed to minister to those who minister,” says founder and former GBC Evangelism Vice President Mike Minnix.

Jonestown documentary traces cult from promise to perdition
By Stephen Whitty, c. 2006 Religion News Service
Published November 9, 2006

Here’s a list of questions to remember if a friend or child ever tells you he or she has found a wonderful new group of friends.

Weather-resistant Bibles to be sent to troops overseas
By Scott Barkley, sbarkley@christianindex.org
Published November 9, 2006

Georgia Baptist churches are joining others this Christmas looking to give soldiers a new kind of Bible resistant to the rigors of military life.

Program IMPACTs students during "gap year"
By Julie McGowan
Published November 9, 2006

Georgia students and others from nine states and one foreign country have embarked on a journey called IMPACT 360 that not only will prepare them for college, but also will equip them to develop a biblical worldview.

WMU children's curriculum to make missions education easier
By Julie Walters
Published November 9, 2006

Today’s children are tomorrow’s missionaries and missions leaders in Southern Baptist churches, so Woman’s Missionary Union is taking children’s missions education to the next level, describing their new materials as “relevant, redesigned and ready-to-use.”

Pitching a tent, plying technology, preserving tradition
By Scott Barkley, sbarkley@christianindex.org
Published November 9, 2006

To reach others on campus, Ken Jones taught his new school students about a little old school evangelism.

Wall Street Journal raises criticisms about 'Purpose-Driven' model
Published November 9, 2006

A Wall Street Journal story Sept. 5 focusing on California pastor Rick Warren asserts that upheaval has occurred in various churches that have embraced his “Purpose-Driven” emphasis.

Ghana hospital shares love of Christ
17-year physician is former Georgia Baptist
By Shawn Hendricks, International Mission Board
Published November 9, 2006

“It’s always been hard with long hours and hard work,” says George Faile, who has been a physician at the hospital for 17 years. “(But) this is the first time in a couple years that I’ve wondered if maybe God had something else for me.”

Plaintiff in Mount Soledad cross case dies
By Adelle M. Banks
Published November 9, 2006

The man behind the lengthy dispute over a 29-foot cross on city land in San Diego has died.

Georgia NewsBriefs

Associational reports needed for Index listing
Published November 9, 2006

The Index is looking for reports from association meetings throughout the state to include in an upcoming report on Baptist work in Georgia.

"Giants" rolls into seventh week, tops $7 million
Published November 9, 2006

As “Facing the Giants” enters its seventh week from its Sept. 28 opening, feedback from churches and the Hollywood box office continues to underscore the staying power of the movie.

Baptist News Summary

With 2008 China Olympics in view, Baptists pray & plan ministries
Published November 9, 2006

As China races to spiff up for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Southern Baptist workers are preparing for a different kind of gold.

SBC leaders build Kingdom relationships in Germany
Published November 9, 2006

At the invitation of Russian-speaking German Baptists, Morris H. Chapman, president of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention; Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Seminary; and Craig Blaising, Southwestern’s provost and executive vice president, attended the annual Bibelseminar Bonn Conference on evangelism and missions.

Miller, Hillman re-elected as national WMU officers
Published November 9, 2006

Kaye Miller of Little Rock, Ark., and Kathy Hillman of Waco, Texas, were elected to serve another year as national officers of Woman’s Missionary Union Sept. 29 at LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina.

Lottie Moon missions resources available for 2006 offering
Published November 9, 2006

The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering has helped support missionaries since 1888 in taking the gospel around the world. The 2006 goal is $150 million, with 100 percent of Southern Baptists’ gifts undergirding more than 5,100 missionaries working in almost every nation.

Canadian Southern Baptists consider changing their name
Published November 9, 2006

As the Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists seeks new directions, the convention also is considering a name change. Messengers at its annual meeting July 4-5 were nearly unanimous in mandating that the CCSB national leadership board to recommend a new name to be voted on at next year’s annual meeting.

Seminary delays movement of $90M to management firm
Published November 9, 2006

Trustees of Southwestern Seminary delayed the transfer of $90 million away from the Baptist Foundation of Texas to the seminary’s own foundation during their semiannual meeting Oct. 16-17 after questions surfaced about the investment strategy of the company that would manage the money.

'Unified vision' for family ministry relayed to Southern’s trustees
Published November 9, 2006

Southern Seminary’s School of Leadership and Church Ministry will alter its approach to equipping students for local church ministry by giving more attention to the family, new dean Randy Stinson told seminary trustees Oct. 10.

Religious NewsBriefs

Colson resigns as Prison Fellowship chairman
Published November 9, 2006

Prison Fellowship founder Chuck Colson has announced his resignation as chairman of the board of the ministry he started 30 years ago.

Evangelicals urge aggressive action on Darfur
Published November 9, 2006

President Bush should adopt an aggressive policy – guided by faith, not politics – to end the violence in Sudan’s western Darfur region, prominent evangelical leaders said Oct. 17.

Self-governance urged for Iraqi Christians
Published November 9, 2006

The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees says Assyrian Christians, who made up 5 percent of Iraq’s total population before the U.S. invasion in 2003, now comprise “upwards of 40 percent of (Iraqi) refugees,” most fleeing to Jordan and Syria.

People and Places

Anniversaries
Published November 9, 2006

Obituaries
Published November 9, 2006

Note Burnings
Published November 9, 2006

Ordinations
Published November 9, 2006

Revivals
Published November 9, 2006

NAMB appoints missionaries with Georgia ties
Published November 9, 2006

Eight missionaries with ties to Georgia have been appointed by the North American Mission Board.

Ministerial Moves
Published November 9, 2006

Cooperative Program Stories

A fire lit, a passion pursued
By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC
Published November 9, 2006

It was long after dark on a street corner in Venezuela. Chuck Chambers, pastor of Woolsey Church in Fayetteville, looked at the missionary he was with and asked, “What does the Cooperative Program mean to you?”

Bible Study

Live in Reality, Not Delusion
By Mike Griffin, Pastor, Liberty Baptist Church, Hartwell
Published November 9, 2006

Isaiah 40:1-46:13
Related Sunday School Lesson, Family Bible Series, Nov. 19

"Live Now ... and Forever"
By Mike Griffin, Pastor, Liberty Baptist Church, Hartwell
Published November 9, 2006

Isaiah 52:13-55:13
Related Sunday School Lesson, Family Bible Series, Nov. 26

Columns

Unless your pastor is perfect, pray for him
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published November 9, 2006

According to Baptist Press one of the crown jewels among Southern Baptist churches, Bellevue Baptist Church in the Memphis, Tenn. area, is embroiled in a controversy. For me, it was surprising, even disappointing to see Baptist Press take virtually the same course as the secular press in exposing the internal struggles of a local church. However, without getting into the details of the dispute, there are some who think Pastor Steve Gaines should resign.

The lost members of the church
By Peter Beck
Published November 9, 2006

Baptists are a peculiar people. We insist that one make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We insist that they be baptized before they can join our church. And, yet, some of us insist upon nothing else once they’re members.

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published November 9, 2006

I love the church. I always have. That’s why I get very excited when Georgia Baptists plant a new church. As you come to the convention this year, you will learn that Georgia Baptists added about 60 new churches last year. New churches infuse fresh enthusiasm and life into our Convention. New churches are aggressive in giving, soul-winning, and church growth.

Calculating your child's misbehavior
By James Dobson
Published November 9, 2006