News

Carpeting Dalton, North Georgia with the Gospel
Bob Bagley named Associational Missionary of the Year for work with Hispanics
By Scott Barkley, Staff Writer
Published May 6, 2004

DALTON — Whitfield and Murray counties in North Georgia have seen a constant increase in the Hispanic population in the past decade. In a setting where some may see nothing but obstacles common with immigration, Bob Bagley has seen opportunities.

'Kingdom Forever' is SBC focus for June 15-16 meeting in Indy
By Michael Foust
Published May 6, 2004

INDIANAPOLIS (BP) — Southern Baptists will gather in Indianapolis June 15-16, continuing their Empowering Kingdom Growth initiative.

Brewton-Parker College commemorates years of surviving and thriving with centennial celebration
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published May 6, 2004

It was through the vision of Georgia Baptist pastor John Carter Brewton and the faith and financial support of McRae businessman Charles B. Parker that Union Baptist Institute was founded in 1904. The towns of Mt. Vernon and Ailey welcomed the idea of having a Baptist school in their part of southeast Georgia and offered the founders $15,000 and 15 acres of land to locate the school in their community.

Georgia native follows God's call to plant church in New York
By Gerald Harris, Editor
Published May 6, 2004

Robbie Lankford grew up in Cedartown and was saved during Vacation Bible School at Limebranch Church. As a teenager he frequently felt that God wanted him to be a “preacher,” but basically dismissed the idea until he met Shannon Garner, whose father was pastor of Pine Bower Church, also in Cedartown.

Baptist Center employees pause for personal revival
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published May 6, 2004

Baptist Center employees paused from their work schedule April 20-22 to focus on personal revival as the emphasis of the annual staff retreat.

Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting; schedule for June 15-16
Published May 6, 2004

WMU Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting June 13-14
Published May 6, 2004

"Jesus Came Preaching" is theme of Pastor's Conference; schedule for June 13-14
Published May 6, 2004

Hope ... for a lifetime
Children's Home Day, May 9
Published May 6, 2004

Since its humble beginning in 1872, Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries, Inc. has reached out to hurting children and broken families providing hope, healing, and love in the name of Jesus Christ.

Georgia NewsBriefs

Tallapoosa Association disbands July 30
Published May 6, 2004

The Future Study Committee of the Tallapoosa Baptist Association has voted 26 to 4 to disband the association, effective July 30.

Evangelization office changes name
Published May 6, 2004

The Executive Office for Evangelization is now Evangelism Ministries.

Religious NewsBriefs

Pentecostal minister – and bank robber – sentenced to jail for six-and-a-half years
Published May 6, 2004

BOSTON (RNS) An armed Pentecostal minister who threatened tellers at five New England banks and made off with more than $13,000 before police finally caught him will spend the next six-in-a-half years behind bars.

Christian bookstore won’t stock latest Left Behind book
Published May 6, 2004

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (RNS) Regent College Bookstore, one of the largest Christian bookstores in Canada, won’t be selling the 12th installment in the phenomenally popular Left Behind series, Glorious Appearing, saying it promotes a dangerous worldview that exacerbates global tensions.

Oregon street preacher wins free speech case
Published May 6, 2004

PORTLAND, Ore. (RNS) U.S. District Judge Ancer L. Haggerty ruled April 13 that groups holding events in city parks cannot eject people who express an opposing viewpoint, stating the action violates the First Amendment guarantee of free speech.

Federal Judge orders Alabama to pay $550,000 in Commandments case
Published May 6, 2004

MONTGOMERY (RNS) A federal judge has ordered Alabama to pay more than half a million dollars in lawyer fees and expenses in connection with the suit to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the state judicial building rotunda.

Poll: Two-thirds use web to look for religion
Published May 6, 2004

(RNS) Nearly two-thirds of American adults with Internet access have used it for spiritual or faith-related reasons, according to a recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life project.

People and Places

Births
Published May 6, 2004

Honors
Published May 6, 2004

Ordinations
Published May 6, 2004

Retirements
Published May 6, 2004

Anniversaries
Published May 6, 2004

Groundbreakings
Published May 6, 2004

Ministerial Moves
Published May 6, 2004

Bible Study

Nurturing Family Relationships
By Allan Lockerman, Pastor, First Baptist Elberton
Published May 6, 2004

Imagine an angel suddenly appeared with an assignment – a simple little job – you are to fix America. No other instruction is given. Where would you start? If you are the political type, you might run for elected office. If you are an educator, you might conclude the need is best addressed through the schools. If you are religious, you would look at the church as the natural starting point.

Improving Sibling Relationships
By Allan Lockerman, Pastor, First Baptist Elberton
Published May 6, 2004

I really did not mean to do it. She stepped into my line of fire. Unaware of her presence, I pulled the trigger and shot her between the eyes. Fortunately she was far enough away that the BB did not penetrate the skin. No harm done.

Columns

A Convention by any other name
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published May 6, 2004

When Southern Baptist Convention President Jack Graham addressed the Executive Committee in February he called for a new name for the denomination and indicated that he would appoint a committee to study the idea. Graham said the committee would represent the SBC both “geographically and generationally” and would report back to the Convention at the annual meeting in Nashville in 2005.

Defending the faith in a post-Christian era
By Hal N. Ostrander, Chair, Religion & Philosophy Division, Brewton-Parker College, Mt. Vernon
Published May 6, 2004

Apologetics – the discipline teaching us how to defend our beliefs – is one of many stones adorning the jewel-encrusted crown of Christian faith. The apostle Paul polished this particular stone before the Roman procurators, Felix and Festus (Acts 24 & 25), and Agrippa, the Jewish king (Acts 26), confessing both his doctrine and piety in masterful ways. Much is learned from him, and whatever the era, the gospel is preached and God’s Kingdom is advancing because of the efforts of both evangelism and apologetics, the twin pillars of the kerygma.

Patient parents typically rewarded after teen years
By James Dobson
Published May 6, 2004

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published May 6, 2004

I wish you could have been with me recently as I interviewed Ken Dobbs about the ministry of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries. His remarks would have thrilled your heart as they did mine. Since we are approaching Mother’s Day when we will receive in our churches our Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries Offering, I thought it would be encouraging to you to read some of the things I heard Ken say. This truly is a remarkable ministry that needs and deserves our sacrificial support.