The Open Door


	Helping Georgia Baptists Share the Good News

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The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published May 8, 2008: Mother’s Day among Georgia Baptists is a very special day of worship and celebration of our mothers and the importance of the Christian home.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published April 24, 2008: Allen Hill and I have just returned from an incredible mission experience in India.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published April 10, 2008: Having grown up in the home of a Southern Baptist pastor, I had a lot of great church experiences early in my life.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published March 27, 2008: Georgia Baptists are blessed with three very fine colleges, Shorter College in Rome, Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, and Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon/Ailey.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published March 13, 2008: For me, the most glorious day of worship in the year is Easter. On this very special Lord’s Day we remember with joy that the Lord Jesus did not remain in the grave. He came out alive demonstrating His power over sin and death.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published February 28, 2008: A couple of weeks ago associational missionaries from across Georgia got together for their annual meeting at Norman Park Baptist Conference Center.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published February 14, 2008: On November 14, 2007, Governor Sonny Perdue conducted a prayer meeting at the State Capitol as he called upon all Georgians to pray for rain. The response of the media and the pooled spiritual disbelief and ignorance of some respondents to newspaper articles and TV news reports was nothing less than astonishing.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published January 31, 2008: I guess that for most of my life I have been interested in the wonders of space. The reason, of course, is that I am deeply, intensely interested in and committed to the One Who created all things.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published January 17, 2008: The process of selecting the next president of the United States has begun.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published January 3, 2008: Each year toward the conclusion of the year, I receive a report from Dr. Morris H. Chapman, president and chief executive officer of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published December 20, 2007: God gave our family an early Christmas gift. Grace Katherine Millage was born to our daughter Jennifer, and her husband Aaron, in Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday afternoon, November 29, at 3:37. She weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces and measured nineteen inches long. Janice and I had the inexpressible joy of being in the birthing room when Gracie was born.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published December 6, 2007: I received an early Christmas gift from Timothy L. Hall, who serves as pastor of the Elim Baptist Church in Ludowici, Georgia. Brother Hall sent me a letter expressing appreciation for the ministry of our Georgia Baptist Convention staff in his church in recent days. His words are not only encouraging to me, but I believe they would be informative to the good folks in our churches as they speak of the willingness of our staff to be as involved in the ministry of our local churches as we have opportunity to be.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published November 22, 2007: I learned the 100th Psalm as a child and have never forgotten it. It’s amazing how quickly a child can memorize scripture, and even more amazing, is the fact that it never leaves you.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published November 8, 2007: This year, Janice and I celebrate the completion of fifteen wonderful years of ministry with the Georgia Baptist Convention. I want you to know that these years have been the most thrilling of my ministry. You have been so generous in inviting me to preach in your churches and at association events.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published October 25, 2007: Who will win this Eskimo child to faith in Christ? Sitting atop her Daddy’s four-wheeler alongside the Kobuk River where she lives in Ambler, Alaska, this Eskimo child is one of a population of 307 in this remote village of North Alaska. If she comes to faith in Christ it will likely be through the ministry of a Georgia Baptist couple, Paul and Glenda Worsham.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published October 11, 2007: The Georgia Baptist Convention is involved in missions in Georgia, the United States, and around the world. Your support of the Cooperative Program, the State Missions Offering, Lottie Moon Offering, and the Annie Armstrong Offering touches so many needs at home and around the world that it is truly amazing to consider the variety of ministries taking place.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published September 27, 2007: I request your prayers for me as I prepare to preach a revival at the First Baptist Church of Kotzebue, Alaska. First Baptist of Kotzebue is located approximately 30 miles north of the Arctic Circle on the western side of Alaska. This church has a rich history of ministering to Eskimos and others.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published September 13, 2007: Our State Missions Season of Prayer and Offering theme this year is “Sow, Reap, Rejoice … Together.” The theme Scripture is found in John 4:35b: “Listen to what I’m telling you; Open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest.”
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published August 30, 2007: Last February I was in a meeting of state executive directors when Jim Hamilton, executive director of the Dakota Baptist Convention, expressed an appeal for help in ministering at the Sturgis Biker Rally.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published August 16, 2007: Eagles Landing First Baptist Church will be hosting a “Do Missions NOW Acts 1:8 Rally” on Sept. 8 from 1 until 5 p.m. Anyone and everyone who is sincerely committed to being an Acts 1:8 Christian, to participating in an Acts 1:8 church, to being involved in an Acts 1:8 association, and to participating in an Acts 1:8 convention should make plans to be a part of this Acts 1:8 event.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published August 2, 2007: There are numerous opportunities that I have as executive director of the Georgia Baptist Convention. I enjoy none better than the opportunity to preach in our churches.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published July 19, 2007: Janice and I made the decision this year that we would drive to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in San Antonio. An important part of this trip would be the opportunity to drop down from I-10 to travel along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and on the return to ride into New Orleans to view lingering damage from Katrina and see how the relief effort is progressing. What a great blessing Georgia Baptist folks have been to those who have suffered from this amazingly devastating storm.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published July 5, 2007: You have an outstanding opportunity to impact Senior Adult ministry in the Georgia Baptist Convention this July. The third Sunday in July is set aside for “Senior Adult Ministries Day.” This day has been reserved among our Georgia Baptist churches for the purpose of celebrating our senior adults.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published June 21, 2007: I recently received communication from Terry Sharp with the International Mission Board, regarding the final accounting of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions for the year 2006. I am happy to report to you that Southern Baptists exceeded the 2006 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal with the largest gift ever given in the 118-year history of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. This is great news for Southern Baptist ministries across the world.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published June 7, 2007: As you receive this edition of The Christian Index, Southern Baptists will be gathering in San Antonio, Texas for the annual meeting of the Convention. Dr. Frank Page has served Southern Baptists well during the past year as he has literally traveled the world visiting mission stations, encouraging missionaries, being on the frontlines with our Disaster Relief personnel, attending multiplied meeting after meeting, writing, and speaking prolifically as he has held high Southern Baptists’ devotion to the Bible, to missions and evangelism, and to the Cooperative Program.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published May 24, 2007: Janice and I recently returned from a mission trip to Russia. We traveled with the Sons of Jubal, our Georgia Baptist singing men. There were one hundred in the chorus and brass ensemble and they were absolutely incredible. I want to thank our pastors who not only allowed, but also encouraged, their ministers of music to make the trip. We will not know this side of heaven the amount of good that was done for the Kingdom of God, but I am confident that it was significant.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published May 10, 2007: The theme for this year’s Children’s Home Day Offering is “We Believe!” When you read the words of Dr. Kenneth M. Dobbs, president and CEO of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries, Inc., you will understand the meaning of this year’s theme, “We Believe!”
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published April 26, 2007: Today I was involved in two meetings at the Missions and Ministry Center that took the entire day. The first was the Administration Committee; the second was the Committee on Nominations.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published April 12, 2007: The Georgia Baptist Convention sustained a great loss on Palm Sunday afternoon when Diane Reasoner, specialist in Communications for the Convention, lost her life in a tragic automobile accident in Atlanta. Even as I type these words, they seem so unreal to me. Through nearly fifteen years of working closely together, Diane and I had developed not only a very close working relationship, but a deep and abiding friendship as well.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published March 29, 2007: One of the most inspiring moments Janice and I have experienced was the day in Jerusalem that we visited two historically acclaimed sites of the tomb of Jesus. One was a garden tomb, the other a tomb inside a church that had been erected over it.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published March 15, 2007: One of the outstanding ministries of the Georgia Baptist Convention is our disaster relief ministry under the leadership of Stuart Lang. Stuart, who recently joined our staff, has plunged into this ministry thoroughly in a very short period of time. You will be glad to know that when the tornadoes hit Alabama and Georgia recently that your Georgia Baptist disaster relief units responded to the needs across Georgia.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published March 1, 2007: In case you are not already aware, let me inform you, or remind you if you are aware that Congress has extended the duration of Daylight Saving Time beginning this year. Instead of Daylight Saving Time starting at the traditional time, it will begin on March 11 at 2 a.m. and will conclude on November 4 at 2 a.m.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published February 15, 2007: As Executive Director of the Convention and also as a member of North Metro First Baptist Church in Lawrenceville, I want to extend an invitation to you to attend the 2007 Georgia Baptist Evangelism Conference, which will be held in our church February 26-27.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published February 1, 2007: Today we had a staff meeting at the Georgia Baptist Missions and Ministry Center and it was truly inspiring. At one point in our meeting we went around the room and each staff member shared how God was blessing their ministry and also talked about important events that have recently transpired as well as those that are being anticipated in the near future.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published January 18, 2007: A spiritual giant has gone home. Under the theme: “A man was sent from God…” family and friends numbering close to 800 gathered at the First Baptist Church of Cartersville to remember the life and ministry of Dr. Stan Wilkins.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published January 4, 2007: One of the phenomenal ministry events of the past year was the film Facing The Giants written and produced through the ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. The film has grossed approximately ten million dollars and we are aware of some 800 professions of faith that have been made at screenings of Facing The Giants. Since Facing The Giants did not have the opportunity to get to more than 1,000 theaters, there are thousands of communities in America that never got the experience of seeing this fantastic Christian film.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published December 21, 2006: Is there anything quite as wonderful as hearing your grandchildren call out your name? I think not. God has blessed Janice and me with six precious grandchildren ages six and younger. When we all get together at our house the noise level raises by several decibels and I love it.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published December 7, 2006: It is Sunday night after Thanksgiving and I am rejoicing in the glorious times of worship that I have experienced today. As you may be aware, I preach just about every Sunday in a different Georgia Baptist church. I love doing that. It is one of the great joys of my service among Georgia Baptists.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published November 23, 2006: Dr. Wayne Hamrick has been re-elected president of the Georgia Baptist Convention. I could not be more pleased. Wayne did an outstanding job as president over the past year. He is highly organized, enthusiastic about the Georgia Baptist Convention, supportive of our convention staff, energetic in his ministry of church growth and evangelism in churches across Georgia and perceptive in working with the Order of Business Committee in the planning of the Convention program for the annual meeting.
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.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published October 26, 2006: If the annual association meetings are an indicator of the health of the Georgia Baptist Convention, we are in excellent condition. It has been my joy to preach in a good number of our association fall meetings this year and the spirit of the meetings has been outstanding.
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.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published September 28, 2006: Not many churches can claim that they have celebrated their 200th anniversary, but White Plains Baptist Church in White Plains, Georgia can. On Sept. 13, 1806 the White Plains church was established and for two hundred years this Georgia Baptist congregation has been preaching the gospel, giving witness of their faith in Jesus Christ, and supporting missions.
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.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published August 31, 2006: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published August 17, 2006: As I write this article, it is the end of a glorious day of worship at our church, North Metro First Baptist where Frank Cox is pastor. First of all, as I have the privilege and joy of preaching in Georgia Baptist churches across our state, I have only rare opportunities to be with my family at our home church. So anytime I can be at home it is a special occasion.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published August 3, 2006: On a recent Sunday evening, my wife, Janice, and I went to a local restaurant to get a bite to eat. It was one of those nice occasions when everything seems to go right. We were seated at a very nice booth and our waiter could not have been more accommodating. He anticipated our every need.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published July 20, 2006: Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, where Michael C. Catt is pastor, is investing itself in an incredible out-of-the-box vision for reaching people with the Gospel of Christ. They are making motion pictures with excellence and outstanding spiritual impact.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published July 6, 2006: Georgia Baptists are uniquely blessed in our ministry among senior adults through the diligent efforts of the Baptist Village Retirement Communities and Baptist Retirement Communities of Georgia to meet the needs of our senior adult population. As Georgia Baptists age, a vibrant and creative ministry is needed to touch their lives. These ministries are provided through these two outstanding entities of the Georgia Baptist Convention.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published June 22, 2006: I have been on many mission trips, both as a pastor and as executive director of the Convention, but I have never been on one that has inspired me more than my recent trip to Moldova. What a thrill it was to preach the Gospel among people who are hungry to hear a word from God. Hearts were open and ready to receive the Gospel. Many came receiving Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. The churches of Moldova were encouraged and strengthened, as were those of us who participated in the crusades across Moldova.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published June 8, 2006: Since 1925, Southern Baptists have been devoted to the Cooperative Program as the way we do missions and support the various ministries of our convention. Prior to 1925, Southern Baptists practiced societal missions where each entity head and each missionary was responsible for raising his own support.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published May 25, 2006: Thankful that the stock market is performing better these days has made me think more about investments. It’s funny, when the market is doing poorly, I am fairly disinterested in checking on my investments, knowing that, not only are they not growing, they are decreasing. On the other hand, when the stock market is on the rise, I get enthused about getting on my computer to check my retirement account with GuideStone and anticipate seeing growth.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published May 11, 2006: It is with great excitement and anticipation that your Georgia Baptist Convention staff prepares for the move to our new Georgia Baptist Missions and Ministry Center located at 6405 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth, Georgia. My mind goes back to March of 1999, when a study committee was formed and we began to consider the need to make a move from our present facilities to the new location.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published April 27, 2006: Last year, in Georgia, 99 children died as victims of abuse and neglect. This is unthinkable and unacceptable! Every fifteen minutes, of every hour, of every day, of every month, there is a confirmed case of child abuse in Georgia. Currently, in our state, there are almost 15,000 children in State childcare custody.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published April 13, 2006: From our house to your house our family sends you greetings and best wishes for the most wonderful Easter you have ever experienced. Even if your life over the past year has been marked with the greatest suffering, the greatest sadness and loss in your entire life, this can still be the greatest Easter you have ever experienced.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published March 30, 2006: I am sure that the word has been well broadcast by now that we are initiating an automobile fleet program for our traveling employees who drive at least 7,500 miles in their work for the Convention.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published March 16, 2006: I believe the Evangelism Conference we just completed at Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins was the finest we have had in the thirteen years I have been with the Convention. It was one of those meetings where you feel the presence of God in such a dynamic way that it is an awesome experience.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published March 2, 2006: Janice and I just returned from the annual state executive director’s fellowship meeting that was held in one of the most beautiful locations on the North American continent, Banff, Alberta, Canada. Banff is surrounded by the magnificent, towering, granite peaks of the Canadian Rockies.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published February 16, 2006: We live in a world of incredible distractions. There has never been greater temptation to lose focus than that which we experience today.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published February 2, 2006: As I write this column, Janice and I are preparing to go to Norman Park Conference Center to participate in the Deacons, Pastors and Spouse Retreat. We will gather for a two-day conference under the theme: “Partners in Ministry.” We are looking forward to this event for a number of reasons.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published January 19, 2006: I was emailed an Associated Press story yesterday that was absolutely incredible. I told Janice about it and she confirmed that the story was true and actually saw it reported on television.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published January 5, 2006: Bill Tanner is a dear friend whom I respect and appreciate greatly. Bill used to be president of the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, among other highly visible and important positions.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published December 22, 2005: One Christmas season when I was pastor at First Baptist Church in Paducah, Kentucky. I decided to do a children’s sermon. I had all the children to join me down front and I told the Christmas Story after reading a portion of the Luke 2 account. I didn’t normally do this sort of thing because we were on live television on the NBC affiliate and with the children there was no way to predict what might happen.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published December 8, 2005: A certain Christmas song states, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year ... It’s the hap-happiest season of all.” Though the lyrics approach Christmas from a secular view, I could not agree more with the sentiment. This is absolutely “the most wonderful time of the year” and “the hap-happiest season of all.”
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published November 24, 2005: My observations over the past thirteen years have caused me to conclude the following. This is a wonderful family of Baptists who love one another and who love the Lord and His church. We are a people who are on mission for Christ, spanning the globe with over 10,000 missionary families and 160,000 volunteers on mission from Georgia Baptist churches every year.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published November 10, 2005: November is Annual Meeting time for the Georgia Baptist Convention. Every year I look forward to seeing Georgia Baptists as we gather at our meeting location. We come from the cities, towns, villages, and rural areas of Georgia with the singular purpose to give praise and glory to God. It is our sincerest desire to be faithful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ and to demonstrate our service through commitment to missions in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published October 27, 2005: In 1925, God led Southern Baptists to establish the Cooperative Program as the means through which they would support mission ministry around the globe. Little could they have known how God would bless this glorious means of supporting Kingdom ministry.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published October 13, 2005: Grandchildren are a blessing from God! You may know that Janice and I enjoy six grandchildren under the age of four and one-half. I have never had more fun in my life than I do when I am playing with my grandchildren.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published September 29, 2005: A few weeks ago I sent a letter to all Georgia Baptist pastors requesting that a special offering for Katrina disaster relief be received on the following Sunday.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published September 15, 2005: In what has been called the worst natural disaster in the history of our country, Hurricane Katrina first stormed across the tip of Florida before slamming into the Gulf coasts of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. With gusts nearing 200 miles per hour and storm surges exceeding thirty feet, entire towns in Southern Mississippi were swept away, while downtown Mobile was under water and New Orleans was under as much as thirty feet of water in some places.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published September 1, 2005: Revival at Bethel Baptist in Sycamore is done in the “old- fashioned” way, just the way I like it. What some churches seem to be looking for by way of a great revival spirit, Bethel possesses. In fact, I’ve known this church for the entire time I have been in Georgia and I don’t think Bethel ever lost the wonderful revival spirit that permeates the church and radiates through its radio station and its congregation throughout the surrounding community.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published August 18, 2005: Each September Georgia Baptists join hearts and resources together in support of the Georgia Baptist State Missions Season of Prayer and Offering. This year's goal is 1.5 million dollars, and the suggested emphasis dates are September 7-11. A fourteen-day prayer guide is available to you through the offices of the Georgia Baptist Convention to assist you and your church as you pray specifically about Georgia Baptist state missions.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published August 4, 2005: Recently Dr. Steve Parr produced a powerful brochure titled, "The Enrollment Brief: A Challenge to Georgia Baptist Sunday School Leaders." In this newly produced material, Steve asks the question, "What would happen if 100 Georgia Baptist leaders committed to lead their churches and those over whom they have influence to enroll 1,000 people in Sunday School in one year?" This number would include "all, 'open groups,' including cell groups, home groups, Sunday morning adult Bible Study, and/or any other name a church associated with its 'open group' strategy known in most churches as 'Sunday School.'"
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published July 21, 2005: Yet again, God has blessed our family with a precious gift from heaven. I would like to introduce you to my newest granddaughter, Hannah Reagan Curtin. She is an angel.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published July 7, 2005: In 1953, a motion was made at the Georgia Baptist Convention meeting in Columbus for Georgia Baptists to consider a ministry to senior adults. That motion and subsequent study and events resulted in the creation of Baptist Village Retirement Communities in 1958 and Baptist Retirement Communities in 1967. Today, Georgia Baptists provide homes and health care for seniors from Lake Park, to Waycross, to Macon, to Atlanta.
Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published June 23, 2005: My wife, Janice, was with my daughter, Karen, this week when she took her car to one of those fast oil change places to get the oil changed. Before Karen left the house, her husband, Stephen, gave her some good advice. He said, "Now, you know how they always try to sell you on doing extra things to the car while you are there. Don't let them talk you into anything. Just get the oil changed. That's all that is needed right now."
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published June 9, 2005
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published May 26, 2005: I was having dinner in a restaurant located on a large cove along the Pacific coast. A large picture window was in front of me perfectly framing the view that was unforgettable. A young couple entered the restaurant and was ushered to a table adjacent to mine. I would later learn that this near-30 couple was on a first date.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published May 12, 2005: The Jennifer Wilbanks' story that has been so prevalently communicated through the media has caused me to think about the pressures that are common to weddings and what to do about them. It is ironic that Jennifer's effort to run away from the approaching wedding thrust her into a national spotlight beyond comprehension. Her picture was plastered on every television screen and every newspaper in the country. At once, within a few short hours there was scarcely anyone in the country who was not aware of the "runaway bride."
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published April 28, 2005: Each year on Mother's Day, Georgia Baptists receive a very special offering, the Children's Home Offering. Why is it so special? It is special because the Georgia Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries is making a significant and positive difference in the lives of a multitude of children in a day when our society gives every evidence of having devalued the lives of children.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published April 14, 2005: I would like to introduce you to a Georgia Baptist treasure, Andy and Elizabeth Hammack and their ten beautiful children. Several friends had told me about this wonderful family, but as I preached a revival for their church, I was able to experience for myself what a treasure they are.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published March 31, 2005: Family has always been important to me. I think it all started with a mother and father who loved the Lord and who were supremely devoted to their children and to quality time together as a family. If there is any word of advice I could give to young ministers' families it would be to make room for your family in your busy schedule.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published March 17, 2005: If the Wave Revivals are blessing everybody else as much as they are blessing me, then we have a convention full of happy folks right now! I just got home from preaching a revival meeting at the First Baptist Church of Thomaston where Bill Barber is the pastor. What a delightful church this is! No wonder I have had such a wonderful twelve years in my ministry in Georgia as executive director.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published March 3, 2005: For months we have been talking and writing about the WAVE Revivals to begin in February and extend to May. This wave of evangelism would sweep from churches in extreme South Georgia to extreme North Georgia until we see an amazing demonstration of the power of God at work among Georgia Baptists.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published February 17, 2005: Churches can, and do, experience continued growth and development throughout the interim experience. Oftentimes when the pastor of the church announces his resignation there is a sense of impending doom that sweeps over the congregation. "What are we going to do now?" "How are we going to make it without our beloved pastor leading us forward?"
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published February 3, 2005: For the past two weekends I have preached in the 280 corridor and have been greatly inspired and encouraged by the warm-spirited, enthusiastic, committed Georgia Baptists with whom I have worshipped.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published January 20, 2005: As the death toll tops 150,000 the world is in shock over the incredible loss of life as a result of the tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia. In our lifetime, we have not seen a natural disaster to compare. Daily our hearts and prayers go out to the people of this region of the world and to all who have rushed to the area to offer relief. I am so thankful for the helping agencies around the world and the countries that have poured out billions of dollars to help the devastated areas.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published January 6, 2005: The New Year presents the opportunity for a new beginning. This can be a significant time for you to correct past behavior, improve your life in certain areas, strengthen your devotion to your family, your church and make new commitments to Christ. What you do with the opportunity to start anew could impact the rest of your life.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published December 16, 2004: When we think of the Christmas story many characters come to mind. Certainly, front and center are Mary and Joseph as they make their journey to Bethlehem and seek a place for the birth of the Christ Child. Just imagine how weary they must have been. How anxious they must have been to find a safe place for Mary to have her baby. How disappointed they must have been to be turned away at the inn, but how resourceful to take up residence in the stable.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published December 2, 2004: I recently had the privilege of represent-ing Georgia Baptists at the 150th Anniversary of the Florida Baptist Convention. The Convention was organized on November 20, 1854 in the Clifton Mansion home of Richard Johnson Mays in Madison County, Florida. It was very interesting, as I prepared my remarks, to see the close relationship between Georgia Baptists and Florida Baptists across the years. The following excerpts from my message will illustrate those close ties.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published November 18, 2004: "Praise God from whom all blessings flow!" For the first time in our history as a Baptist state convention, Georgia Baptists have sent more than $20,000,000 in Cooperative Program receipts on to the Southern Baptist Convention to support Southern Baptist mission work at home and around the world.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published November 4, 2004: I recently received the following communication from Jim Van Matre who serves on the staff at Dauphin Way as minister of music and worship. Many of you are aware that Jim Van Matre formerly served as minister of music and worship at First Baptist Church of Jonesboro. His letter is inspiring as he speaks of the ministry of Georgia Baptist disaster relief teams working in the wake of Hurricane Ivan. I wanted to share it with you.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Editor, GBC Published October 21, 2004: I have read a number of interesting articles recently regarding the need to involve more young leadership in the life of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Jimmy Draper wrote a couple of articles using the analogy of the frog in the kettle to discuss the long-term future of Southern Baptist ministry. These articles received an amazing response from readers across the country. I believe Dr. Draper was right to caution all of us about failing to dream great dreams for the future and to accept new talented leadership.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published October 7, 2004: Southern Baptists are so blessed to have the capable, devoted, and enthusiastic leadership of our President, Bobby Welch. As many of you know, Bobby is riding a motor coach across America to promote his "Everyone Can Kingdom Challenge for Evangelism."
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published September 23, 2004: I work in my office today, Hurricane Ivan is bearing down on Georgia and my mind and heart are with our disaster relief workers who have been serving tirelessly and with great commitment now for several weeks. We should praise the Lord for every one of them and for their profound commitment to demonstrate through action what they believe in their heart - that God has called us to serve, to care for the broken-hearted, to uplift those who are suffering loss, to encourage the discouraged.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published September 9, 2004: During the month of October our churches will be receiving our annual World Hunger Offering. I encourage all of you to participate because the needs worldwide are staggering.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published August 26, 2004: As I travel throughout Georgia visiting and speaking among our churches, I receive some of the greatest blessings of my entire ministry. Last Sunday was certainly one such occasion.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published August 12, 2004: Recently I received from the North American Mission Board the most recent statistics on recorded baptisms in Southern Baptist churches from 1971 through 2003.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director GBC Published July 29, 2004: In this day as debates rage on about what it means when we speak of marriage and family, I am thankful for the clarity of God’s Word which speaks of marriage by saying, "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh" (Ephesians 5:31). In a following verse the Bible says, "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director GBC Published July 15, 2004: If everyone had in-laws like the in-laws I have been blessed with over the years, there would never have been “in-law jokes.”
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published July 1, 2004: Sunday, July 18 is Senior Adult Sunday in Georgia Baptist churches across our state. As we celebrate Senior Adult Sunday in Georgia Baptist life, we are mindful of the outstanding ministry that is taking place through Baptist Village Retirement Communities and the Georgia Baptist Retirement Communities.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published June 17, 2004: Paul Kummer, a minister in Destin, Florida wrote an article for the Walton Sun newspaper titled, “One Person Who Never Broke A Promise.” It was impossible to miss that this was a proud dad who was writing about his very bright four-year-old daughter whose name is Hosanna.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director GBC Published June 3, 2004: So many good things are happening in the life of the Georgia Baptist Convention that it is impossible in the course of a column, even one that is written every two weeks, to share everything that is happening and recount the many glorious ways that God is at work. I do want to take the opportunity of this column on this occasion, however, to tell you about the incredible ministry of the Sons of Jubal recently completed in Moldova.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published May 20, 2004: I recently preached at an Alabama Baptist State Convention event for senior adults. It was their Senior Adult Evangelism Conference. The meeting was held at the East Memorial Baptist Church in Prattville, Alabama. What a thrill it was to see more than 1,000 senior adults show up for the meeting. They came in cars, vans and buses. They literally packed out the church.
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.
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.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published April 8, 2004: Last week I traveled to Dallas, Texas for a meeting at the Annuity Board. At the Dallas/Ft. Worth airport, I boarded a bus to be taken to the car rental area. There was a pretty good crowd on the bus already, and we made several stops at various airline areas to pick up and drop off passengers.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published March 25, 2004: What I know about litigation I have learned from three sources: Perry Mason, The Practice, and the Shorter College lawsuit against Georgia Baptists. The first two sources of knowledge have been entertaining, but the third has been anything but entertaining.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published March 11, 2004: Having two children just sixteen months apart can be hard on a mother. Mindful of that, Janice has been diligent to help Karen with our new arrival, Ben, and Ryan, who is now seventeen months old. Add to this the fact that we have our two-year-old granddaughter, Lauren, at our house while her parents are away for a few days and anyone can understand that the ladies need a break.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published February 26, 2004: Every year in February the state executive directors from the forty-two state conventions gather for our annual meeting. This year we enjoyed being in Portland, Oregon. Our host was Jeff Iorg, executive director of the Northwest Baptist Convention.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published February 12, 2004: My family is growing and I am loving every minute of it! On January 29, at 5:32 p.m., God blessed Janice and me with another grandson. His name is Benjamin Robert Lillard. He weighed 7 pounds and 14 ounces. He was nineteen and one-half inches long. He is brilliant! You may not believe this, but the day after he was born I was able to spend quite a bit of time holding and rocking Ben. I looked into his beautiful face and he looked back at me.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published January 29, 2004: First of all, I have to say that I really enjoy going to Southeast Georgia. What a beautiful part of the state it is! I have always been partial to coastal areas. When I catch a whiff of salt air, every tightened muscle in my body suddenly relaxes.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published January 15, 2004: Recently I visited a posh office in an Atlanta high-rise office building with a couple of friends. As we rode the elevator back down to the street level, one of my friends said, "You know that you have arrived when your office is in a building so tall that your ears pop every time you ride up or down on the elevator."
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published January 1, 2004: Recently Tim Millwood, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Warner Robins, shared with me a wonderful poem that he has written. The poem blessed my heart and inspired me as I anticipate a new year of ministry among Georgia and Southern Baptists. I asked Tim for permission to share it with you so that you would have an opportunity to be blessed and inspired for your ministry in building Christ's Kingdom in 2004.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published December 18, 2003: Last night Janice and I had the privilege of enjoying fellowship with the pastors and wives and lay leadership of Rehoboth Baptist Association at Westside Baptist Church in Warner Robins, where Mike Holloway is pastor.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published December 4, 2003: Thanksgiving had special meaning to me this year. The week of Thanksgiving I returned from a mission trip to Moldova.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published November 20, 2003: Two weeks ago I represented Georgia Baptists at the annual meeting of the Baptists of New York. Dr. J.B. Graham serves as the Executive Director-Treasurer of the New York Convention. The meeting was in Corning, New York. I was glad to get a chance to see Corning.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published November 6, 2003: The Georgia Baptist Convention annual meeting time has arrived. Many Georgia Baptists from across this great state will be gathering in Columbus to transact Kingdom business, to sing, to pray, and to worship. I trust that when we return to our homes following the meeting we will do so rejoicing over the great way God spoke to our hearts during these days.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published October 23, 2003: Praise God from Whom all blessings flow! I just received the Cooperative Program gifts report from Morris Chapman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.

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